tc2x06
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE – HALLWAY – DAY
CAROLINE MORGAN lifts a cardboard box out of the closet.
Kicking the door closed with her foot, she HUMS to herself
as she walks down the hall. She turns through a doorway.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM – DAY
She places the box on the coffee table. Two more boxes rest
nearby - unopened.
Caroline sits on the couch and opens the box. Her face
brightens.
CAROLINE
Oh!
Smiling, she pulls out a dusty photo album.
FOOTSTEPS are heard thumping down the stairs. Through the
doorway, VI MORGAN reaches the hall.
Caroline spots her.
CAROLINE (CONT'D)
Vi! Come see this!
Vi enters. She sways impatiently in the doorway.
VI
What?
CAROLINE
I'm finally getting around to
unpacking the last boxes from the
move, and look...
She holds up the album.
CAROLINE (CONT'D)
Photos!
VI
Yeah, that's great, Mum.
CAROLINE
Well don't sound too excited
about it.
(beat; hopeful)
Don't you want to look through
them with me?
Vi shakes her head.
VI
Maybe later. Bye!
She throws Caroline a wave and ducks back into the hall.
The front door is heard OPENING, then CLOSING again.
Caroline sighs and turns back to the album. She opens to
the middle and runs her fingers down the page.
She smiles sadly down at a photo of a YOUNG VI (5 or 6),
holding tightly to the hand of a YOUNGER CAROLINE.
INT. THE COMPANY – RECEPTION OFFICE – DAY
The elevator CHIMES, the doors slide open. Vi steps out and
looks around anxiously.
The room is empty.
Checking her watch, she walks over to the conference room.
She presses her ear against the closed doors.
BENSON (O.S.)
(loud; agitated)
This person is, without question,
an enemy of the Company. They
willingly shared Company secrets
with a civilian, thereby putting
our entire organisation at risk.
Given that we have the name of
the perpetrator, I ask you – why
haven't we found him yet?!
A soft BUZZING alerts Vi to her mobile phone vibrating in
her pocket.
She steps away from the door and checks the screen of her
phone. Flipping it open, she smiles.
VI
(into phone)
Hey, you!
EXT. BEACH – DAY
Despite the overcast sky and slight chill in the wind, a
high school BEACH PARTY is still going strong.
ERIN FOWLER, with his phone to his ear, sits on a log by a
small, crackling fire.
A few of his FRIENDS are attempting to cook sausages while
MORE KIDS play a casual game of football further along the
sand.
ERIN
(into phone)
Hey. I've been trying to call you
all morning.
VI (O.S.)
(filtered)
Yeah, sorry. I've been busy.
ERIN
You were supposed to be busy
seeing me today.
There's a beat.
VI (O.S.)
(filtered; annoyed)
What do you want me to say?
Erin chuckles.
ERIN
Okay, Vi, calm down. I wasn't
trying to be --
INT. THE COMPANY – RECEPTION OFFICE – DAY
Vi sighs. She rubs her tired eyes.
VI
(into phone)
I know. I'm sorry. Look, I've got
to go.
EXT. BEACH – DAY
ERIN
(into phone)
Can you make it to the party at
all?
VI (O.S.)
(filtered)
I'll see.
INT. THE COMPANY – RECEPTION OFFICE – DAY
VI
(into phone)
After this, I sort of promised
Shane I'd --
ERIN (O.S.)
(filtered; clipped)
Yeah, okay. Hang out with Shane.
I'll be fine.
VI
Erin...
ERIN (O.S.)
(filtered)
No, seriously.
EXT. BEACH – DAY
ERIN
(into phone)
Talk to you later, Vi.
He hangs up a little too quickly. Shoving his phone into
his pocket, he looks out across the beach.
His eyes land on the top of the sand dunes, rising up next
to the parking lot.
BIANCA PARRY stands at the crest, watching the party. She
locks eyes with Erin. Neither looks away.
INT. THE COMPANY – RECEPTION OFFICE – DAY
Vi lowers her phone in shock. Then, she snaps back to
reality as the doors to the conference room open and half a
dozen EMPLOYEES exit.
Vi falls into step with ANDREW FRIAR who holds a thick
bunch of papers.
VI
My life really sucks.
They turn the corner.
INT. THE COMPANY – HALLWAY – DAY
Still walking, Andrew hands the papers to Vi. She takes
them. Looks down. It's a copy of "The Company" by Peter
Morgan.
ANDREW
Look on the bright side. It could
be worse.
As the words leave his lips, a strange TREMOR ripples down
the hallway. Lights FLICKER, the floor SHAKES.
Vi and Andrew stop, startled.
INT. THE COMPANY – CONTROL CENTRE – DAY
The huge wall-sized computer screen does dark.
EMPLOYEES cry out in alarm as, row by row, their computers
all shut down.
JENNA COOKE steps out of her office, looking over the room.
She leans over the railing, calling down to a FLOOR MANAGER
- holding a clipboard and looking horrified.
JENNA
Wilson! Call IT support. See if
there's --
With a WHIR, the computers (including the wall unit) re
start automatically.
A beat.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Never mind.
INT. THE COMPANY – HALLWAY – DAY
The SHAKING stops. Vi looks to Andrew.
VI
You just had to say it, didn't
you?
Off this...
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. WICKER RECORDS – LOFT – DAY
SHANE EVANS plays a few notes on his electric guitar,
tuning the strings accordingly.
Behind him, BB plays a melody on his keyboard while VINKLE
looks on in admiration.
VINKLE
(wistful)
I wish I could do that.
BB
What?
VINKLE
Play an instrument.
BB motions to Vinkle's own drum kit. Vinkle, suddenly
horrified, looks around. He wildly brushes himself off.
VINKLE (CONT'D)
What? Is there a spider? Where is
it? Where?!
BB, face blank, turns to Shane.
Shane continues to tune his guitar but stares down, over
the loft railing, at the front door.
BB
Shane?
Shane turns to him.
BB (CONT'D)
I don't think she's coming, man.
SHANE
We have plans. Vi isn't the kind
of girl who would just bail on...
(beat)
Actually, she's exactly the kind
of girl who would do that.
Vinkle, now standing, inspects the underside of his cymbals
for eight-legged foes.
VINKLE
We could practice more. While you
wait.
SHANE
Yeah, I guess.
BB
You guess? Shane, we've got a gig
in less than three days. We
barely know enough songs to cover
a fifteen minute set. We don't
even have a band name yet and you
guess we should practice?
A beat and then:
SHANE
I've never heard you say that
many words in a row before.
BB sighs.
VINKLE
BB's right. We're not ready.
SHANE
That hasn't stopped us before.
VINKLE
But... but before we had that...
bass player. The girl. Hannah.
BB
She was hot.
Shane rolls his eyes and turns back to look out over the
store.
SHANE
(quiet)
C'mon, Vi. Where the hell are
you?
INT. THE COMPANY – RANDOM OFFICE – DAY
Vi sits in the chair behind the desk, reading through the
printed copy of Peter's manuscript.
Andrew passes by the open door. Seeing her, he taps on the
door frame and enters.
ANDREW
Been looking for you.
Vi smiles half-heartedly.
VI
Well, here I am. And Mister...
She looks at the name plate on the desk.
VI (CONT'D)
... Kidman was kind enough to not
be here.
(beat)
Do you think he's related to
Nicole?
Andrew glances back out into the hallway. He closes the
door.
Moving further into the room, he smiles at her
sympathetically.
ANDREW
How are you holding up?
VI
Jeez, Andrew. Nobody died.
Andrew sits down in the chair across from Vi. He fiddles
with the name plate.
ANDREW
Yeah, but... This has to be kind
of... rough. It's your Dad's book
and all.
Vi narrows her eyes.
VI
Rough? Really? Never would have
guessed. Thanks for pointing that
out.
Vi props her feet up on the desk, burying her nose deeper
in the pages.
Andrew rolls his eyes. He's about to say something snarky
but, instead, watches Vi trying to hide her face.
ANDREW
What do you say, you sneak outta
here and I come up with some
outlandish excuse to tell Benson?
Vi looks up, her expression surprised and hopeful.
VI
Really? You'd do that?
ANDREW
Yeah. I'm too responsible to play
hooky but I don't see why you
can't take some time off.
Vi closes the book, smiling. She stands.
VI
Thanks Andrew. You're the best.
She hands him the manuscript. Andrew hefts its weight.
ANDREW
And don't I know it.
Vi exits, skipping in glee.
Andrew opens to the first page of the manuscript. He starts
to read. Then:
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Hang on... Me? Responsible?
He stands and drops the manuscript on the floor. He comes
around the desk - plonking himself down in Mr. Kidman's
chair.
He unashamedly pulls open the drawers and starts sifting
through them.
Finding something, he gasps.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Oh. My. God.
He pulls out a deck of Uno cards - a picture of Charlie
Brown on the pack.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Peanuts Uno!
Excitedly, he tears open the packet and starts dealing.
After a few moments, he slows to a stop - his hands poised
to deal for an invisible second player.
He looks towards the door.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
(weak)
Vi?
His shoulders slump in disappointment.
INT. THE COMPANY – BENSON'S OFFICE – DAY
ALISTAIR BENSON watches impatiently as a REPAIR MAN
crouches by the wall, fiddling with the telephone line
going into it.
REPAIR MAN
Try it now.
Benson picks up the phone but is greeted with an ear
splitting SCREECH. Benson slams it back onto the cradle.
BENSON
(unimpressed)
No.
The Repair Man sighs and stands. He sits in Benson's chair
and inspects the telephone.
REPAIR MAN
Maybe it's the machine.
BENSON
It's not the machine. It's the
line. All of them. Every single
bloody one in the office. All I
want is to make one little phone
call to Head Office, is that so
much to ask?
The Repair Man is unfazed by Benson's tirade.
REPAIR MAN
Got a mobile?
BENSON
If that was an option, don't you
think I would --
The door opens and Jenna enters.
JENNA
Benson? I mean, sir?
Benson throws the Repair Man an irritated look and turns to
Jenna.
BENSON
Yes, Jenna?
JENNA
Any luck getting through to Head
Office?
Benson's face says it all.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Oh. Well, all the computers are
on the fritz so e-mail's out.
(beat)
Looks like we're on our own for
now.
BENSON
Brilliant.
He throws a glance at the Repair Man, working diligently on
the telephone.
Benson takes Jenna's arm and guides her gently into the
room adjoining his office.
INT. THE COMPANY – BENSON'S OFFICE – LIBRARY – DAY
Benson closes the sliding doors. He turns to Jenna.
BENSON
What do the employees know?
JENNA
Nothing as far as I can tell.
I've been telling them that this
is all because we're doing some
adjustments to the electrical
system and everything should
clear up on it's own.
She shrugs, a hopeful expression on her face.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Who knows. Maybe it will.
BENSON
Good. Just as long as they
believe everything's business as
usual, maybe we can continue
with, well, business as usual.
REPAIR MAN (O.S.)
I, uh, I don't know about that.
Jenna and Benson turn to find the Repair Man pushing open
the door.
BENSON
Excuse me?
REPAIR MAN
There are rumours flying around
like nothing I've ever heard
before.
(beat)
People are scared, boss. If they
don't get some answers, they
might just start getting the hell
outta here. And I'm guessing you
don't want to be the only
Director of a Company without any
employees.
There's a tense beat.
BENSON
(to Jenna)
Call a meeting. I want everyone
in the dining hall.
JENNA
When?
BENSON
Now.
Off Benson's expression, cut to:
EXT. CITY STREET – DAY
Vi exits a large, multi-story apartment building. Shrugging
on her jacket, she isn't looking when she passes --
ERIN
Vi!
Vi jerks to a stop and turns around, grinning.
VI
Erin! Hi! I didn't see you.
Erin, a little surprised himself, kisses her on the cheek.
He nods to the apartment building.
ERIN
Visiting someone?
VI
Oh, no. Just using the elevators.
ERIN
What?
Vi's eyes go wide. Did she really just say that – and so
casually, too?
Smiling, Vi links arms with him and starts to walk down the
footpath.
VI
(quickly)
Why aren't you at the... You
didn't leave the party because of
me, did you?
ERIN
Uh, no. It just... It got a
little... crowded.
(beat)
But I figured it out, though.
VI
What?
ERIN
Why you didn't want to come.
Vi stops.
VI
Erin, of course I wanted to come.
Why would you --
ERIN
Vi, I'm not an idiot.
(beat)
I know that my friends are hard
to like sometimes. And I can't
blame you for not warming up to
them. Because, well, it's not
exactly like they were all that
nice to you last year.
VI
Oh, yeah.
ERIN
So, I'm right?
Vi, relieved, smiles and nods.
VI
Totally. I hate your friends.
Erin cracks a smile. He kisses her sweetly. He pulls away,
but remains close.
ERIN
We'll have to work on that, then.
Vi sighs happily, leaning into him.
VI (PRE-LAP)
And so I basically had to lie to
him. Again.
INT. SHOPPING CENTRE – DAY
Vi and Shane walk past rows of stores, not meandering but
on a mission.
VI
I've sort of lost count how many
times it's been now.
SHANE
But, Vi... You do hate his
friends.
VI
Yeah but that wasn't the reason I
didn't meet him. It's all the
Company's fault.
SHANE
Now, there's something I've
always wanted to know.
VI
Yeah?
SHANE
Who exactly is the Company?
VI
Um... Did your memory just erase
itself or do I need to kick
Benson's butt when I go back?
SHANE
I just mean, who controls it?
God? A mysterious millionaire?
Apple?
VI
I don't know if it works like
that.
(beat)
Besides, I think if the Company
was run by Apple we'd at least
get a free ipod with our
Christmas bonuses.
SHANE
Well, you've gotta get your
assignments from somewhere. And
you said there's a Head Office,
right?
VI
So?
SHANE
Sounds like a bunch of old, rich,
white guys run this thing, then.
Which has basically been done by
every government conspiracy movie
in existence.
VI
Well, unfortunately my life isn't
a movie.
SHANE
If it ever is, I want someone
awesome to play me. Like Michael
Cera.
VI
Who?
Shane sighs. He digs a torn bit of newspaper from his
pocket. He scours the list of movie times.
SHANE
Please tell me they're still
showing Superbad.
They come to a row of elevators. Vi pales.
VI
Uh, Shane? Do you mind if we take
the stairs?
SHANE
C'mon, Vi.
He presses the button.
SHANE (CONT'D)
You can't let the Company control
your life.
VI
It's not that.
The doors open and Shane steps inside. He gives her a
knowing look.
VI (CONT'D)
Okay, fine. It's just --
SHANE
(warningly)
Ah! Violet Louise Morgan.
Vi takes a deep breath. She steps in beside him.
INT. SHOPPING CENTRE – ELEVATOR – DAY
Shane presses the button for the cinemas. Vi wrings her
hands nervously.
Shane eyes her with concern.
SHANE
Jeez, Vi. If I'd known you would
have a total freak out, we could
have just taken the stairs.
VI
I'm just stressed about all this
stuff with my Dad and the book.
Being in here just reminds me of
it all.
(beat)
The Company isn't making it any
easier. I'm lucky I could escape
to come see you, actually.
SHANE
Andrew covering for you?
Vi nods.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Ah, I remember the good old days.
Covering for you when you skipped
school. It now seems the roles
have been reversed.
His overdramatic tone of voice makes Vi laugh.
VI
But I like this better.
SHANE
Me too.
They share a smile. The elevator stops, CHIMES, and the
doors open.
INT. SHOPPING CENTRE – CINEMAS – DAY
Vi steps out.
VI
Y'know, Shane, I'm glad we're
doing this.
She turns around. Shane is gone. The elevator – doors still
open – is empty.
VI (CONT'D)
(confused)
Shane?
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