tc2x05
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY - HALLWAY - DAY
A brightly coloured banner reads, "COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER
WEEK".
Moving BENEATH this, we find the hallway bustling with
activity as STUDENTS crowd around various stalls.
We find VI MORGAN and SHANE EVANS as they weave their way
through the crowd. Vi eyes each stall with interest.
VI
I just think it might be kind of
cool, that's all.
SHANE
But Vi, you help people every
day.
VI
Because I have to. Volunteering
is different.
Shane watches as a TEACHER marches a SLACKER STUDENT over
to a table for the Red Cross.
SHANE
It's not real volunteering when
it's compulsory.
Still walking, Vi tears her eyes away from the stalls. She
frowns.
VI
Okay, what's up?
Shane shrugs.
VI (CONT'D)
Oh my God. You're being all emo
because Gwen doesn't know you
exist, right?
SHANE
How'd you know?
VI
I'm very observant.
WHAM! She slams her hip into a table corner. Vi grimaces in
pain as Shane guffaws. She glares at him.
VI (CONT'D)
Shut up.
GWEN HART - who stands by the table Vi just walked into -
turns around. Concern is etched on her face.
GWEN
Gosh, what was -- Vi? Hey, ouch.
That must have hurt.
Shane is caught between laughter and shock at Gwen's sudden
appearance. He starts to choke, his face red.
Gwen thumps him on the back.
GWEN (CONT'D)
That's what you get for laughing
at your friend, Evans.
Amused, Vi glances from Gwen to Shane. Shane is quickly
recovering but his face still glows crimson.
VI
Thanks Gwen.
(beat)
I think I'm going to, uh, hobble
over there now. See you guys
later.
She smiles and slips away, rubbing her sore hip.
A beat.
SHANE
Gwen. Hi. How are you?
Gwen gives him a friendly smile and turns back to the
volunteer stall. She picks up a pamphlet.
GWEN
I'm very well, thank you.
(beat)
I'm thinking about signing up,
actually. What about you?
SHANE
Uh... What?
She nods to the stall.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Oh, yeah. Me too!
Gwen puts down the pamphlet and pulls a clipboard towards
her. She scribbles her name at the bottom of the sign up
sheet.
GWEN
Great! We can be volunteer
buddies.
She hands the clipboard to Shane. He absentmindedly signs
his name, not taking his eyes off her.
SHANE
That would be great. I'd love to
be your buddy.
Shane holds out the clipboard. NIKO SHELBY, stepping up
behind Gwen, reaches his arm over her and takes it.
He quickly glances over it before kissing Gwen on the
cheek, obnoxiously chewing gum at the same time.
NIKO
Hey, babe.
GWEN
Niko! Want to sign up?
NIKO
Nah. Don't have to do any of this
volunteer crap this year. Got a
free pass coz of being soccer
captain and everything.
He tosses the clipboard onto the table. Takes Gwen's hand.
NIKO (CONT'D)
C'mon, we're gonna see how many
jellybeans Marco can put up his
nose.
He starts to pull her away. Gwen throws Shane an apologetic
smile.
GWEN
See you later, Shane.
Shane is crestfallen - unable to speak. Finally, Gwen and
Niko are out of sight.
There's a long beat.
SHANE
(calling)
Bye, buddy!
Too little. Too late.
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY - HALLWAY - MEANWHILE
Further away, Vi browses a row of stalls. She passes ones
advertising positions at the ANIMAL SHELTER, SOUP KITCHEN,
DAY-CARE CENTRE and the JUNIOR POLICE FORCE.
At this one, there's a life size cardboard cutout of a
tough looking COP. He holds a stop sign across his chest
that reads, "HELP STOP CRIME".
Vi ignores this and turns to the other side of the hallway.
She faces a stall looking for mentors in Garreton's "LITTLE
MISS LOVELY PAGEANT".
VI
Yeah, right.
She turns around again. The cardboard Cop now holds a stop
sign that reads, "SIGN UP".
Vi looks skeptical and glances back at the Little Miss
Lovely stall. Surely he can't mean that?
She looks back to the Cop. He wears a tiara. His stop sign
is replaced with a bouquet of flowers and his eyes water
with tears of joy.
Vi raises an eyebrow.
VI (CONT'D)
You've gotta be kidding me.
She glances around. No one else can see this absurd change.
Vi sighs. She turns back to the pageant stall and sourly
drags the sign up sheet towards her. She leans down,
writing her name.
VI (CONT'D)
I guess it won't be so bad.
BIANCA (O.S.)
Excuse you.
As Vi straightens up, BIANCA PARRY pushes past her and
writes her name on the sign up sheet as well.
When she's done, she looks Vi dead in the eyes and moves
off.
Vi turns back to the Cop. His stern cardboard face is back
to normal.
As she walks past, she punches the cutout which topples to
the ground.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. THE COMPANY - CONTROL CENTRE - DAY
Like always, the room is busy with EMPLOYEES and whirring
computers.
Vi trails after JENNA COOKE like a lost puppy as the older
woman moves swiftly around the room.
VI
I think there's something wrong
with your magic super computer.
JENNA
That's silly. Everything's fine.
VI
Then how do you explain me
getting a Sign when I don't even
have an assignment? Seriously,
you should get this thing
checked.
She kicks at the back of a computer desk. The EMPLOYEE
behind it peers over the top, glaring.
Jenna flashes him a smile and grabs Vi's arm, dragging her
away.
JENNA
Look, Vi. This place is strange.
Not everything can be explained.
They reach the staircase leading up onto the control
centre's observation deck.
Vi pulls away from Jenna and grabs onto the railing,
swinging herself childishly back and forth.
VI
More like nothing can be
explained. This building? It
doesn't exist. Commuting to work
means catching an elevator and
some big nothing seems to just
decide when we should help
people. And even that isn't
consistent.
(beat)
How am I supposed to do an
assignment if I don't have an
assignment or... you know what I
mean.
She stops swinging, wraps her arms around the railing and
places her chin down onto it.
Jenna sighs and puts her hands on her hips.
JENNA
Vi -- Oh!
Jenna pats her jacket pocket and pulls out a slip of paper.
She unfolds it. Glances at it.
There's an awkward beat. She sheepishly hands the paper to
Vi.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Sorry. It's been really busy
around here lately.
Vi doesn't look impressed as she takes her assignment.
VI
(reading)
Ava Booth.
(then)
Right. That's more like it.
JENNA
I said I was sorry.
VI
Yeah, I know. I don't mean to be
a brat.
JENNA
You're a teenager. It sort of
comes with the territory.
They share a smile.
Vi steps away from the stair railing and they start to walk
again - slower this time, with Vi matching Jenna's pace.
VI
So, you were saying it's been
busy?
JENNA
The search hasn't been going
well.
VI
You mean for this... Crenshaw
guy? The one who helped my Dad
with the book?
JENNA
Yes.
Out of the corner of her eye, she glances at Vi.
JENNA (CONT'D)
(cautious)
It seems the name just isn't
enough. Sure, there are some
generalised matches but nobody
that we can definitively link to
the Company. It seems without
further evidence, we're going to
spend the next few months
aimlessly --
VI
Jenna...
Vi slows to a stop. Jenna looks at her innocently.
VI (CONT'D)
(sighs)
I'll see what I can do.
Jenna smiles, grateful.
EXT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - NIGHT
Establishing shot.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - PETER'S STUDY - NIGHT
A SHADOW prowls around the darkened room.
There's a THUMP and the Shadow hisses in pain, hopping up
and down on one foot.
CLICK!
The room is illuminated. CAM MORGAN stands in the doorway,
his hand on the light switch.
Vi turns, frozen with one foot in the air.
There's a long beat.
Vi lowers her foot and calmly walks out of the room,
stepping around Cam.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - FRONT HALL - NIGHT
Vi walks down the hallway. Coming around the foot of the
stairs, she moves up them.
Cam follows.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - MASTER BEDROOM - NIGHT
Vi enters quietly. Cam steps into the doorway behind her.
He watches her curiously.
Vi ignores him, although she knows he's there, and starts
sifting through the dresser drawers. Finding nothing, she
kneels and checks under the bed.
Cam moves further into the room and spreads open the
closet. He begins looking, shoving aside clothes to peer at
the junk nestled in the back.
Vi, noticing the sound of movement, rocks back on her
heels.
VI
You don't even know what I'm
looking for.
Closing the closet, Cam turns to her.
CAM
Do you?
Vi gets back on her stomach, peering under the bed. Cam
climbs onto the bed and Vi sits up quickly.
VI
(horrified)
Cam! Shoes!
He gives her an "Are you serious?" look as he kicks aside
the pillows.
VI (CONT'D)
Yeah. Right. Sorry.
Vi stands and moves to the bedside table, piled with novels
- reading glasses sit on top.
Cam runs his fingers behind the bed head.
Vi picks up the reading glasses - Peter's - and smiles
softly.
She moves to put them back and her fingers brush the cover
of the book on top of the pile. She pulls her hand away.
Her fingers are covered in dust.
Vi looks disheartened.
CAM
Uh... Vi?
Vi looks up at him. With some effort, Cam pulls a raggedy
notebook from it's hiding place - jammed behind the bed
head.
It's almost like a revered, sacred object. Neither of them
can tear their eyes away.
INT. THE COMPANY - BENSON'S OFFICE - NIGHT
ALISTAIR BENSON sits behind his desk. He flips casually
through the worn notebook.
ANDREW FRIAR and Jenna stand across from him.
Benson reaches the last page. He closes the notebook and
tosses it down onto the desk.
JENNA
Sir?
BENSON
Well, they're definitely Peter
Morgan's original notes.
Andrew sits down.
ANDREW
And here I was thinking it was
the eighth Harry Potter.
He reaches across the desk and picks up the notebook.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Does it say who this Crenshaw guy
is?
As he opens it, Jenna snatches it away.
JENNA
He could be a she, you know.
ANDREW
Yeah, yeah. And girl serial
killers never get caught, I know.
BENSON
It says nothing.
A long beat.
JENNA
(stunned)
How could it say...
BENSON
Nothing.
He stands.
BENSON (CONT'D)
We need Vi.
ANDREW
Should I get copyright for that
idea because I've been saying
that for --
JENNA
She's on an assignment.
Benson frowns. He isn't happy to hear this.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Sorry.
She smiles - attempting to be cheerful - and holds out the
notebook to him.
INT. EVENT CENTRE - LOBBY - NIGHT
Vi, looking considerably overwhelmed, stands alone by the
entrance.
People swarm around her. Mostly, they are GIRLS (aged 6-10)
and their PARENTS or HANDLERS.
Vi takes a deep breath and walks nervously over to the
reception desk.
The man behind it, DAMON (22), is busy. He types at a
computer, takes calls and sifts through paperwork. Simple
enough tasks but he makes it look like life-or-death stuff.
Damon carries a squawking walkie-talkie at his belt and
wears a yellow and blue employees shirt.
VI
Um, hi. I'm Violet --
Damon holds up a finger and grabs a RINGING PHONE.
DAMON
(into phone)
Garreton Event Centre. This is
Damon speaking. Hold please.
As he does this, Vi studies him. He has a plastic C-3PO
wrist watch.
While talking on the phone, he fiddles with a Luke
Skywalker figuring, partially hidden behind a desk plant.
Vi tries to pretend that this isn't amusing.
He presses a button on the phone and hangs up. Another
phone starts RINGING.
Damon ignores it and starts to type. Vi waits. A beat.
DAMON (CONT'D)
Yes, Violet?
VI
Oh. I... I'm from Garreton Acad --
Damon points to a bulletin board on the wall.
DAMON
Little Miss Lovely volunteers
have already been assigned a girl
to mentor. List is over there.
He peels off a "Hi! My Name Is..." sticker and thrusts it
at her.
DAMON (CONT'D)
Write your name on here and wait
by the auditorium doors for
orientation.
Vi takes the sticker.
VI
Um, thanks.
Damon is already on the phone.
DAMON
(into phone)
Garreton Event Centre. This is
Damon speaking. Hold please.
Vi, throwing him one last look, moves off.
INT. GARRETON EVENT CENTRE - LOBBY - MOMENTS LATER
Vi, scribbling her name on the name tag, steps up to the
roster posted on the wall.
She moves her finger down, searching for her name. Finding
it, she moves across. The name of her girl is Xanthe Ogden.
VI
What?
She scours the rest of the board. She finds Ava Booth.
Trailing her finger back, she finds Ava's mentor.
VI (CONT'D)
(glowering)
Bianca Parry.
(beat)
Wonderful.
She steps back and crosses her arms. She notices that she
still holds a pen. She smiles.
INT. THE COMPANY - BENSON'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Andrew sits in a chair in the corner, laptop balanced on
his knee.
Jenna is in Benson's chair, shoes kicked off and feet up on
the desk. Luckily Benson isn't here at the moment.
She flips through a few pages in the notebook. Sighs in
boredom.
Andrew looks up, eyes scanning her bare legs. He catches
himself, coughs and sits a little straighter. His fingers
flex over the keyboard.
ANDREW
So, what else does it say?
JENNA
A few pages of plot ideas. Some
character profiles...
ANDREW
Anyone we know?
Jenna runs her finger down the page. Smiles.
JENNA
You'll like this one.
(reads)
The boss. Enigmatic, perplexing
and dictator-like. Probably has
all the answers but doesn't like
anyone enough to share. He --
BENSON (O.S.)
-- Enters the room with an air of
surprise.
Benson calmly walks into the room. KOU YIMOU trails behind
him.
Jenna blushes furiously and snaps the notebook closed.
BENSON (CONT'D)
With a curious gaze, he surveys
his employee's current choice of
seating.
A beat. Jenna throws her legs down and scoops up her shoes.
Moving quickly, she steps away from Benson's desk.
Andrew looks straight down at the laptop, clenching his jaw
in an attempt to stop laughing.
JENNA
(mumbles)
Sorry, sir.
She holds out the notebook and Benson waves her to Kou.
BENSON
Never mind.
He moves past them, sitting down. Kou takes the notebook,
giving Jenna a grateful nod. He leans against the wall and
starts to read.
BENSON (CONT'D)
So, you've found nothing of use?
JENNA
Um, well, not... not exactly.
We've just...
She lets out a breath, giving up. She sits down next to
Andrew. He chuckles. She elbows him in the side.
ANDREW
Nope. Nothing. I mean, Crenshaw's
mentioned but in more a "got to
ask W. R. about those crazy
elevators". Not really so much
with the physical description.
(then)
We're probably lucky Peter
remembered how to spell his name
properly.
KOU
He didn't.
Andrew, Jenna and Benson look to Kou who's still staring
intently down at the notebook.
BENSON
Kou?
Kou moves to the desk and places the notebook down.
KOU
Well, he did but...
He grabs a piece of paper and a pen. He scribbles
something.
KOU (CONT'D)
This is the letter "C".
He holds up the paper. It is indeed the letter "C".
ANDREW
Is today's episode also brought
to us by the number seven?
KOU
And this is how Peter Morgan
writes the letter "G".
He scribbles something else. Holds it up. It's scrawled and
messy and could be either a "C" or a "G".
JENNA
So he...
Andrew laughs.
ANDREW
You're telling us that Peter
Morgan can't read his own
handwriting?
BENSON
Andrew, look up W. R. Grenshaw.
Andrew immediately steps back to his laptop. Types
something in. Moments later...
ANDREW
Uh... Guys...
BENSON
Did you find him?
ANDREW
Yeah.
BENSON
And? Who is he?
ANDREW
Well... W. R. Grenshaw was sort
of... the original name for
Wilhelm Garreton.
(beat)
And, I mean, it's been a long
time since I did year ten history
but I'm pretty sure Wilhelm
Garreton sort of... founded our
town.
Off their stunned silence, cut to:
INT. EVENT CENTRE - AUDITORIUM - NIGHT
Once again, Vi looks lost and out of place.
She stands about halfway down the centre aisle of the room
while across the stage and down the aisles, young GIRLS are
being paired with their MENTORS.
WOMAN (O.S.)
Excuse me. Violet?
Vi looks around. A WOMAN (30s, nicely dressed) clambers
down the row of seats towards her.
VI
I'm Violet.
She looks down, motions to her name tag.
VI (CONT'D)
Well, yeah.
As the Woman reaches the aisle, she puts out her hand. Vi
goes to shake it.
The Woman, holding the hand of a tomboy-ish GIRL, thrusts
the girl's hand into Vi's. The girl has a dirt smear across
one cheek.
VI (CONT'D)
Um...
WOMAN
I'm Gardenia Booth. This is Ava.
MRS. BOOTH rustles around in her purse while AVA (10),
blinks up at Vi.
She pulls out a packet of wet-wipes. She bends down and
starts to wipe Ava's face.
AVA
(whining)
Muu-uum.
MRS. BOOTH
I wouldn't have to if you stopped
crawling around everywhere, Ava.
Ava pulls her hand away from Vi and jerks away from her
mother. She stuffs both her hands into her pockets.
AVA
I don't wanna do this. Can't I
just --
MRS. BOOTH
No, Ava. This is supposed to be
fun, remember?
She scrunches the used wet-wipe back into her purse and
turns to Vi, shaking her head.
MRS. BOOTH (CONT'D)
But this one's idea of fun is
climbing around in trees and
poking things with sticks. I had
to practically drag her out of
the car.
(beat; cheerful)
Well, good luck.
She smiles down at Ava and smooths her hair.
MRS. BOOTH (CONT'D)
Be good, sweetie.
Ava moves her head away. Mrs. Booth looks hurt for a moment
before plastering on a smile and walking away.
Vi watches after her for a moment. Then, she looks around
the hall at the other Mentors. They all seem to be
"bonding" with their contestants.
VI
Okay, Ava. I guess we should...
She looks back to Ava. She's gone.
VI (CONT'D)
... Run away.
(beat)
Good idea.
She sighs and walks up the aisle, looking around for the
girl.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.