tc1x13
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET – DAY
The soft vocals and slow piano of Something Corporate's
"Globes and Maps" carries us into the starkly bright
morning.
We follow a butterfly, breathtakingly colourful, as it dips
and weaves through air.
It nears a familiar house and twirls towards the second
storey – coming in through an open window.
The butterfly lands on a book – a plain white manuscript
with the words, "The Company - a novel by Peter Morgan"
printed on the front.
A hand moves into frame, brushing the butterfly away, and
we PAN UP as it flies out of the window – passing VI
MORGAN's tired face.
We are in:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE – VI'S BEDROOM – DAY
She leans forward, closing the window gently, and sits back
on the window seat.
She's not at all startled when her MOBILE PHONE starts to
RING from somewhere beside her. She flips open the phone
and speaks into it, not waiting to hear the person on the
other end.
VI
(into phone)
Front door's unlocked. Upstairs.
Third on the right.
She hangs up and waits.
The CAMERA stays on her for several long moments as we hear
the sound of a DOOR OPENING and CLOSING and then FOOTSTEPS
coming up the stairs.
Finally, we swing around to see ANDREW FRIAR enter Vi's
room. He's out of breath.
ANDREW
Vi, what is it? Are you okay? Is
everything...
She holds out the manuscript and Andrew takes it, reading
the title. He sinks down onto her bed, flipping through the
pages.
Vi's eyes don't leave the window.
VI
I didn't say anything. I don't...
I don't know how he found out.
ANDREW
I believe you.
VI
They'll do that memory thing,
right? Like they were going to
with Shane?
ANDREW
Maybe. I... I guess so. Vi, I'm
not really - -
She turns sharply, meeting his eyes for the first time. She
looks fierce although fighting back tears.
VI
Well you should be "really".
Andrew sighs sadly and he comes to sit beside her on the
window seat. He wraps his arm around her shoulders.
VI (CONT'D)
(quiet)
I can't take this away from him.
He's happy, Andrew. For the first
time in forever.
She takes the book from Andrew and stares down at the
cover.
They sit silently together as we PULL BACK towards the open
doorway.
One the last strains of the song, we:
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. THE COMPANY – BENSON'S OFFICE – LATER
CLOSE ON: FILE
As it's placed gently down on Benson's desk.
REVEAL: JENNA COOKE
Alone in the room and looking mighty relieved about it too.
She backs up, about to slip out when - -
- - ALISTAIR BENSON enters, blocking her exit. Jenna stops,
barely avoiding a collision.
JENNA
(laughing nervously)
Sir! Sorry! It's, ah - -
BENSON
My fault, Jenna.
He comes around her and moves further into the room.
BENSON (CONT'D)
I should make myself more
noticeable. Purchase an air horn
perhaps.
Jenna calms down. A joke. Jokes are good.
JENNA
I just... My report's on your
desk and I...
She trails off, watching as Benson pours himself a glass of
water from a jug on his desk and then sinks down into his
chair, rubbing his temples.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Are you okay, Sir?
BENSON
I fear we have a long way to go
until the backlash from Miss
Morgan's little stunt the other
day dies down.
Jenna sits down across from him.
JENNA
What happened?
BENSON
The employees. They're demanding
to know why Violet is allowed to
tell those close to her about the
Company but they must keep every
detail a closely guarded secret.
It's just difficult. Without
knowing more about the Shane
Evans situation - -
JENNA
What more is there to know?
BENSON
If Violet was right – if
assignments are continually
leading Mr. Evans into the path
of the Company – then he must
have some connection to us that
even I can't decipher.
(beat)
It would show weakness. If I were
to announce the real reason
Violet's friend kept his memory.
A reason being one I don't fully
understand myself.
JENNA
Sir, I'm sure nobody here thinks
of you as weak. I mean, me.
There's some weakness there. I've
made mistakes... Ones which I
feel... There were times in the
past few days that...
BENSON
I forgive you, Jenna. I'm not
angry.
Jenna sighs in relief. Benson raises his glass to take a
sip.
BENSON (CONT'D)
I'm just disappointed, I suppose.
Her face crumbling, we realise that, to Jenna, this is far
worse.
CUT TO:
EXT. MORGAN RESIDENCE – DAY
Establishing shot.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE – KITCHEN – DAY
Andrew, taking in the quiet of the house, moves around the
room.
ANDREW
(calling)
What if they come home? We can't
pull the cousin trick on them
since, well... I think they'd
catch on.
VI (O.S.)
Mum's at work, dad's out grocery
shopping or something - -
Vi enters from the front hall, drying off her damp hair
with a towel.
VI (CONT'D)
- - And Penny and Cam have gone
to school. My parents thought I
left early.
Andrew turns and sees her outfit for the first time.
She's wearing her school uniform but it's a little more
jazzed up than usual. Her shirt is untucked, she wears
bright coloured socks and sparkley dangling earrings.
ANDREW
Let me guess, this is what you
wear when The Cat in the Hat
gives a guest lecture?
Vi narrows her eyes – tossing her wet towel at him.
VI
It's the end of school. Last day.
Everyone gets to... cut loose a
little. Relax, y'know?
Andrew slings the towel over the back of a chair as Vi,
watching her reflection in the toaster, does her hair up
into a messy bun.
ANDREW
Except for you.
VI
What do you mean?
ANDREW
Well... I figured you'd be
spending the day... Y'know.
Vi's reflection just stares at him blankly.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
.... Trying to figure out what to
do about...
He sighs, giving up.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Remember that three hundred page
monster that details every single
aspect of our un-deadness? No?
I'm surprised because you seemed
pretty broken up about it a
little earlier.
She straightens and turns to face him.
VI
Look, I'll deal with that. I
will. Right now, I just need to
get through this one last day of
school. Can you let me do that?
Please?
Andrew's stern look crumbles.
ANDREW
Come on, I'll drive you.
He exits and Vi smiles, bouncing after him.
CUT TO:
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY – HALLWAY – LATER
ANGLE ON BANNER
Slung across the hallway, it reads, "SCHOOL'S OUT!".
PAN DOWN to reveal Vi walking arm in arm with ERIN FOWLER. He
cranes his neck back, reading the banner.
ERIN
I feel like we should throwing
papers into the air and singing
"We Belong Together".
VI
Maybe next year.
ERIN
So, two months of freedom. Plans?
VI
Hmmm... Beach?
ERIN
Awesome. If you do go the beach –
make sure you tell me so we can
be doing the exact same thing at
the exact same time.
VI
Uh... okay.
ERIN
You look confused.
VI
I am confused.
ERIN
I just mean, you can be at the
beach here while I'll be at the
beach in Queensland. It'll be
like we're together but... not.
Vi pulls Erin to a stop.
VI
Wait. Queensland?
ERIN
I thought I told you.
VI
Told me what?
ERIN
My parents and I are flying up to
Queensland to visit my
grandparents all holidays.
Vi takes a moment, trying to comprehend what he means.
VI
Like... all... holidays?
ERIN
Christmas, New Years, the lot.
Right up until school starts
again.
Vi, slightly depressed now, keeps walking. Erin quickly
catches up to her.
ERIN (CONT'D)
It's not all bad. We can still
call each other. And there's
letters. Postcards, if you want
me to get all touristy.
VI
(disappointed)
Yeah.
ERIN
Vi, I'm sorry.
A group of boys walk past them, heading in the opposite
direction.
One thumps Erin on the shoulder and motions to the other
end of the hall. Erin nods.
ERIN (CONT'D)
(to Vi)
I've got a soccer meeting. So
I'll see you after lunch, okay?
Vi gives him a smile – although we can tell she's
struggling.
VI
Okay. See you.
Erin hurries after the others.
Before Vi can feel too down, SHANE EVANS pops out from
around a corner and joins her.
SHANE
Vi...
A little startled, Vi jumps but continues walking.
VI
Were you just lurking?
SHANE
Little bit. Yes. Is that a
problem?
Vi gives him a strange look and then shrugs, letting it go.
VI
So what's up?
SHANE
I was gonna ask you the same
thing. Y'know... What's up
with...
(lowering his voice)
the Company?
VI
Shane, we can't really talk about
that here.
SHANE
I know. So, I was gonna suggest a
code word or something. Like we
could be saying this but it
actually means that.
VI
Please don't make the code word
"this".
SHANE
I was thinking more like
"Copacabana".
Vi sighs.
VI
Do you mind if we talk about
something else?
Shane, sensing something's bothering her, throws her a
worried look but decides to move on.
SHANE
Gwen Hart's end of year party.
Big blowout. Everyone's invited –
even us. You wanna go?
VI
Yeah, sounds like fun.
(her face drops)
Oh but if I don't show up it's
either because I'm still grounded
or I was killed in a Benson-led
firing squad. Both of which have
a very, very high likelihood of
actually happening.
Shane nods, perhaps not fully grasping the seriousness of
her words, and the two push through a pair of double doors.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY – RECEPTION – DAY
CLOSE ON: VI
She's nervous. Her eyes dart around like she's got
something to hide – and we all know that she does.
As she walks, she moves almost in slow motion. The sound of
her breathing covers everything else until...
ANDREW (O.S.)
You nervous?
Vi snaps out of her daze to see Andrew leaning against the
wall by the closed doors of the conference room, biting his
nails. Vi joins him.
VI
It's just a meeting, right?
Another assignment?
ANDREW
Hope so.
He pats her on the shoulder and pushes himself off the wall.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
I'm going to go and find Jenna,
okay? Let her know about the...
thing.
VI
Yeah. The thing.
She leans closer.
VI (CONT'D)
(whispered)
Don't forget about the b-u-g-s.
Andrew rolls his eyes.
ANDREW
(whispered)
I'm pretty sure they can spell.
Vi glares and steps around him.
VI
Just go. Leave me to my grisly
fate.
Saluting, Andrew skips off down the hallway. Vi turns to
the doors.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY – CONFERENCE ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
Benson, the only other person in the room besides Vi, hands
her a piece of paper – her assignment. Vi takes it
hesitantly.
VI
Um, thanks. Is... is that all?
Benson smiles eerily. We're not sure if it's meant to be
eerie but it sure as hell is anyway.
BENSON
Yes, I believe it is.
Vi nods and slowly backs up.
VI
I guess I'll be going now.
(beat)
To do my assignment.
(beat)
Because it's my job.
She turns around but instead of walking, she keeps turning
– doing a full rotation until she faces him again.
VI (CONT'D)
Did I do something wrong?
(quickly)
I mean aside from the obvious.
Benson chuckles.
BENSON
No. Everything's fine.
Vi, trying to believe him, exits.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY – WOMEN'S BATHROOM – MEANWHILE
Completely empty and silent aside from the slow DRIP DRIP
DRIP of a leaky tap.
The door swings open and Andrew enters, pulling Jenna by
the hand.
JENNA
Andr - -
ANDREW
Don't say my name. Call me...
Carlos.
Jenna raises an eyebrow as Andrew lets her go and proceeds
to check the stalls – all of them being empty.
JENNA
Okay. Would you care to explain
the meaning of this, Carlos?
ANDREW
I'd love to but just give me a
sec.
He turns on every hand drier – creating a storm of noise.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Alright. We're good.
JENNA
What's all this about?
Andrew takes a deep breath.
ANDREW
Last night Vi found a copy of a
book her dad's been writing which
just happens to be all about the
Company including characters and
events which are bizarrely close
to real life but, at the same
time, Vi has no idea how her dad
got this information because she
sure as hell didn't tell him and
now we don't know what to do
about it because there's no way
Benson's gonna let this one slide
so we're pretty much screwed
unless you help us out.
There's a long beat as Jenna takes this in.
JENNA
Wow. It's really not Vi's week is
it?
ANDREW
At the moment, we need you to
keep your ear to the ground. If
you hear rumblings of this, make
sure it stays away from Benson
and that psycho, Dautry, for as
long as possible. Vi and I just
need time to figure out a
solution.
JENNA
So you don't have a solution now?
ANDREW
Not so much.
The hand driers switch off. After standing in the silence
for a beat, Jenna launches forward, hugging him.
JENNA
(quiet)
Everything's going to be okay.
Andrew simply blinks as Jenna pulls away and hurries out of
the room, leaving him stunned.
CUT TO:
INT. ANDREW'S CAR – DAY
Andrew pulls up in front of a tall building. Vi, in the
passengers seat, checks her assignment sheet against the
number above the doorway.
VI
Yep. This is it.
ANDREW
Do you want me to wait and drive
you home?
VI
No, that's okay. I'll just take
the bus.
ANDREW
I'm concerned.
VI
Concerned? That's a new word for
you.
ANDREW
Seriously. You need to talk to
your dad.
Vi rolls her eyes and gets out of the car. She leans down,
looking at him through the open door.
VI
And I will but right now, I've
kind of got other things to deal
with.
She holds up the assignment sheet.
Andrew, irritated, motions towards the building as if to
say, "well, go on then".
Vi shuts the door and Andrew drives away.
CUT TO:
INT. GARRETON HERALD – RECEPTION – LATER
Out of breath, Vi tromps up the flight of stairs into the
office. She heads straight for the main desk behind which
sits a RECEPTIONIST, typing on a computer.
RECEPTIONIST
(without looking up;
still typing)
Sorry about the stairs. The
elevator's busted.
Vi turns to see an "Out of Order" sign stuck over the
closed elevator doors.
VI
(turning back)
Not a fan anyway.
RECEPTIONIST
Are you here for the assistant
job?
Vi takes a beat, unsure. The Receptionist stops typing and
lifts a coffee mug to her lips. On it is the word, "Yes".
VI
(quickly)
Yes. Yep. Exactly.
The Receptionist nods and hands her a clipboard with a
sheet of paper and a pen attached. She goes back to typing.
RECEPTIONIST
Take a seat over there and fill
this out. Someone will be with
you in a moment.
VI
Thanks.
Vi takes the clipboard and starts to move over to a row of
comfy looking chairs when a woman blurs past her.
WOMAN (O.S.)
Are you here for the assistant
job?
Vi looks up to see a high powered business woman, EVIE
MALONE (30s), standing a few metres away.
VI
Uh... Yes.
Evie turns and keeps walking. As she nears the corner...
EVIE
Then keep up, chipmunk.
Vi hurries after her.
CUT TO:
INT. GARRETON HERALD – MAIN FLOOR – MOMENTS LATER
Evie plows her way through the bustling room with Vi a few
steps behind, trying to keep up.
Staff members practically jump out of Evie's way when they
see her coming.
EVIE
My name is Evie Malone, I'm the
junior editor here at the
Garreton Herald. Although you
might not be able to detect it, I
say "junior" with intense
bitterness because I've been
working here for longer than our
current editor, Mr. Holland, but
am still required to do the work
of an office mail boy.
She glances pointedly at Vi who has hurried up to her side.
EVIE (CONT'D)
Have you filled out your
application yet?
Vi looks down, hoists the clipboard up and starts to write
haphazardly.
VI
Still working on it.
EVIE
This assistant job is dangerous,
let's just get that clear right
now. You'll be required to go
above and beyond the call of
duty. That means on top of
sorting, filing, typing and
taking calls, you'll also be
required to pick up dry cleaning,
buy coffee, order lunch and shred
incriminating evidence. Do you
have a problem with any of that?
VI
No.
(beat)
Ma'am.
EVIE
Good.
They walk swiftly past the water cooler, where an employee
holds out his paper cup for Evie. She takes it – still
moving.
EVIE (CONT'D)
That's the water cooler. That's
where you get your water.
(pointing around the room)
Paper room for paper, break room
for breaks, bathroom for - -
VI
Baths?
Evie throws her an unamused glance and Vi shrinks down.
VI (CONT'D)
Your assistant plus jokes equals
bad. Got it.
They stop outside an office with frosted glass windows and
door. We can't see inside.
EVIE
Oh, you won't be my assistant.
Vi raises her eyebrows.
VI
But I thought - -
EVIE
Ever heard of "Dear Sam"?
VI
The advice column?
EVIE
The assistant job is for Sam
Fielding.
BANG! A folder of papers comes hurtling at the window and
Vi jumps, startled. Evie, not caring, nods to the room.
EVIE (CONT'D)
That's Sam's office.
She holds out her hand.
EVIE (CONT'D)
Your application?
Vi hands over the clipboard.
EVIE (CONT'D)
You'll start work tomorrow.
VI
Just like that?
Evie smiles for the first time.
EVIE
Just like that. I assume you can
find your way out?
Vi nods and Evie steps past her, heading back the way they
came. After a moment, she stops and turns back.
EVIE (CONT'D)
Oh and by the way...
Vi drags her eyes away from Sam's office.
EVIE (CONT'D)
Good luck.
CRASH! A coffee mug – hitting the door frame – shatters.
EVIE (CONT'D)
You're going to need it.
Evie disappears, leaving Vi to throw a wary glance at the
closed door.
FADE TO:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.