tc2x14
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                                      TEASER

                                                          OVER BLACK:

               TEXT OVERLAY: "DENIAL"

               The text fades away, leaving only black.

                                                             FADE IN:

               INT. THE COMPANY - KOU AND DIANA'S APARTMENT - DAY

               The front door opens to reveal a grinning, happy DIANA
               CROSS, arms overflowing with shopping bags. She can barely
               fit them all through the door.

                                   DIANA
                             (calls out)
                         Kou! A little help here?

               No answer. Diana frowns, but manages to push her way
               through the door. She drops the bags in a heap and
               collapses on the couch.

               She pulls one bag closer and begins digging through it. She
               pulls out a tiny, ornate purse and sets it on the table.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                             (still yelling)
                         You would not believe the sales
                         out there today. I mean, I got a
                         Gucci handbag for less than two
                         hundred! It might be a knockoff,
                         but...

               She trails off, sounding a little disappointed. She looks
               up and frowns.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                         Kou?

               She stares into a bedroom doorway, her face falling - until
               KOU YIMOU appears. He sees the many shopping bags.

                                   KOU
                         Geez, Diana, is there a mall
                         left?

                                   DIANA
                         Hi to you too, stranger.

               Kou plops down next to her on the couch. He pulls a bag
               over and rifles through it.

                                   KOU
                         Diana, you have a whole bag
                         devoted to just black skirts.

                                   DIANA
                         Yup.
                             (beat)
                         Oh! And...

               She turns and reaches into another bag, then pulls out
               something; a BOOK! In fact, the very same book of
               quotations that Kou gave to Vi! She hands it over.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                         Saw this in the bargain bin,
                         thought it was up your alley.

                                   KOU
                             (deadpan)
                         How thoughtful.

                                   DIANA
                             (meaning it)
                         Plus, y'know, you inspire me.

               She smiles at him, suddenly five years old, and Kou is
               genuinely touched. 

               Kou reaches out and pulls her into a hug, resting his chin
               on her head.

                                   KOU
                         And here I thought I was just --

                                                        SMASH CUT TO:

               INT. THE COMPANY - KOU AND DIANA'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

               The lights are off in the apartment; the only light comes
               from the open doorway, where Diana stands holding a stack
               of cardboard boxes.

               Fumbling for a moment, she extricates an arm long enough to
               switch on the light. 

               Where Diana was glamorous before, here she looks a little
               hollowed out, with no makeup and her hair clearly unwashed.

               She moves through the room limply, moving towards:

               INT. THE COMPANY - KOU'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

               Diana enters the dark room, boxes in her arms. She bumps
               the light switch with her arm, and light floods over the
               large room. She flinches at the change.

               She puts the boxes down on the floor, and pulls one out of
               the stack. She goes to the closet and opens it.

               Inside are his clothes hanging up, and a few pictures. Kou
               hugs another ASIAN WOMAN near his age at a park;
               him and Diana on the beach, he and ANDREW in the
               apartment's living room.

               Diana reaches out and grabs the picture of Kou and the
               woman, places it into the box. Next is the picture of him
               and Andrew, dropping it into the box carelessly.

               She reaches out for the last photo, but her hand stops
               halfway. She stares at the picture.

               She turns her gaze to the clothes, grabbing a shirt off the
               rack. Dropping the box, she backs up and sits on the bed,
               burying her nose in the shirt and inhaling deeply.

               She falls back onto the bed. She brings the black shirt
               back up to her nose, inhaling again, and chokes back a SOB. 

               A tear forms at her eye and rolls down along her cheek.

                                                            FADE OUT.



                                   END OF TEASER
                                     ACT ONE

                                                          OVER BLACK:

               TEXT OVERLAY: "ANGER"

               The text fades away, leaving only black.

                                                             FADE IN:

               A CARTOON. BUGS BUNNY and YOSEMITE SAM onscreen, the latter
               so angry that steam is coming out of his ears. 

               Reveal this is on a TV screen in:

               INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - MORNING

               The cartoon plays on the TV to a lost-looking VI MORGAN.
               She's not looking her best by a long shot, and her eyes are
               completely vacant. She's somewhere else.

               She definitely doesn't notice CAM MORGAN, who stands
               awkwardly in the doorway of the living room. He frowns, and
               turns to enter:

               INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

               Cam enters the kitchen where the family is congregated: at
               the table are CAROLINE MORGAN, with a coffee, and PENNY
               MORGAN, doing her nails, while PETER MORGAN moves around
               the kitchen, filled with nervous energy.

                                   PETER
                             (rambling)
                         First day! Haven't had a first
                         day in a while, not for a real
                         job, with writing and computers
                         and not having to clean grease
                         spots off of aprons.

               He approaches the counter, throwing some things into a
               briefcase.

                                   PETER (CONT'D)
                         It's so exciting!

               He grins at his family, who are less excited. He follows
               Caroline's gaze to the practically comatose Vi in the next
               room, and the corners of his grin sag a little.

                                   PETER (CONT'D)
                             (sad)
                         Um... Maybe I should say home.
                         For today, I mean. Take Vi for
                         ice cream, see what's wrong?

               Caroline waves him off, though her expression doesn't
               change, and she continues her unbroken staring at Vi.

                                   CAROLINE
                         You should go, Peter.
                             (off Vi)
                         I spoke to the doctors, and post
                         traumatic stress disorder is
                         common among assault victims.

               Penny looks up from her nails.

                                   PENNY
                             (nonchalant)
                         I know what it is. Cheryl Wicks,
                         her boyfriend cheated on her with
                         Meghan Danvers, and she went,
                         like, comatose. She wouldn't
                         talk, wouldn't eat.
                             (beat)
                         I mean, she didn't eat anything
                         anyway, but she totally stopped
                         talking.

               Caroline gives Penny a worried, exasperated look.

                                   CAROLINE
                         Vi's stronger than that.
                             (beat; sinking in)
                         Erin cheated on Vi? He always
                         seemed like a nice boy.

                                   PENNY
                         No, but I overheard them a couple
                         weeks back. Vi dropped the L word
                         on him and Erin didn't, you know,
                         say it back.

                                   CAROLINE
                             (confused)
                         Lesbian?

               Penny rolls her eyes.

                                   PENNY
                         No, mum. She said she loved him.

               Caroline winces, but shakes her head.

                                   CAROLINE
                         I think this is definitely from
                         what happened in the bush. I
                         mean, she was assaulted by a mad
                         man.

                                   CAM
                             (out of nowhere)
                         But, what if it's something
                         bigger than that?

               Everyone looks to Cam, but he's staring at Vi, a thousand
               unsaid things lurking under his face.

                                   PENNY (O.S.)
                         Trust me, kid. True love can
                         really mess a girl up.

               ON VI

               Whose lifeless gaze continues, unabated.

                                                              CUT TO:

               INT. THE COMPANY - JENNA'S OFFICE - MORNING

               JENNA COOKE sits at her desk, working furiously at her
               computer. She looks like she's a bit behind on her sleep.

               The door opens, and ANDREW FRIAR pops his head in. 

                                   ANDREW
                         Morning.

               Jenna gives him a spare glance and a brief smile, then
               returns her eyes to her monitor.

                                   JENNA
                         Morning, Andrew.

               He steps into the office, the picture of nerves. His hands
               are clasped tight behind his back.

                                   ANDREW
                         So, I was thinking week after
                         next, we could --

                                   JENNA
                             (cuts him off)
                         Sorry, Andrew. I'm really busy,
                         and I don't think I can make
                         plans right now.

               Andrew, a little put out, still steps forward and slips
               into the chair in front of Jenna's desk.

                                   ANDREW
                         What're you doin'?

                                   JENNA
                         Sidney's still getting settled,
                         so I'm responsible for getting
                         Kou's funeral arranged. Also, I'm
                         in charge of arranging sessions
                         with Doreen Brennan for most of
                         the employees, especially the
                         Runners.

               Andrew gives her a confused look.

                                   JENNA (CONT'D)
                         You know, the psychiatrist.

                                   ANDREW
                         Oh yeah, her. Bags of fun,
                         really, with the interrogation
                         and the notebooks and the 'How do
                         you feel about that?'. Fun lady.

               Jenna nods abruptly.

                                   JENNA
                         On that note, have you seen Vi
                         today? 

                                   ANDREW
                         She's at home, I think.

                                   JENNA
                         I think you should go see her.
                             (smiles)
                         She'll need a friend right about
                         now.

               Andrew smiles and nods, standing and moving towards the
               door. Jenna frowns at herself:

                                   JENNA (CONT'D)
                             (calls out)
                         Hey.

               Andrew stops in the doorway, turning back to face her.

                                   ANDREW
                         Yeah?

               Jenna stops typing and focuses her attention squarely on
               him.

                                   JENNA
                             (concerned)
                         How are you holding up?

               Andrew considers the question, then nods towards Jenna's
               monitor.

                                   ANDREW
                         Sign me up for this afternoon,
                         yeah?

               Giving her a tip of the imaginary hat, he exits. Jenna
               stares after him for a moment, then returns to her monitor.

               ON SCREEN

               She types, in a box marked 14:00, ANDREW FRIAR.

               On Jenna, as she sighs sadly.

                                                              CUT TO:

               INT. THE COMPANY - DOREEN'S OFFICE - LATER

               A typical psychiatrist's office, familiar to us from the
               psychometric testing with Vi, Andrew and Jenna last year.

               In a comfortable seat is DOREEN BRENNAN.

               Lying on the couch across from her, head resting on her
               hands, is Diana. She's curled up in a vulnerable, open
               position.

               Doreen clicks on a tape recorder and places it on the table
               beside her.

                                   DOREEN
                         So, Diana. How are you feeling?

                                   DIANA
                         Honestly? I have no idea.

               Doreen crosses her legs.

                                   DOREEN
                         What do you mean by that?

                                   DIANA
                         Ever since Kou's death, my head's
                         been very fuzzy. I can't work, I
                         can't think. I couldn't even go
                         into my bedroom to sleep last
                         night; I couldn't walk past his
                         bedroom and not pop my head in to
                         say good night.
                             (beat; embarrassed)
                         I slept on the couch.

                                   DOREEN
                         That's not surprising. I've had
                         patients who have had much more
                         volatile reactions to a death,
                         and after much more time than
                         this.
                             (beat)
                         Never forget, Kou was a very
                         important piece of your life for
                         a long time. Every way you grieve
                         is perfectly valid. 
                             (smiles)
                         Except felonies. Those are bad.

               Diana chuckles, and pulls herself into a sitting position.
               She faces Doreen, warming up a little.

                                   DIANA
                         He was the only one I really
                         loved in this world. He was like
                         a brother to me.

               Diana stares at Doreen's face, then looks down.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                         I'm sure you've read my file, you
                         know why that mattered to me.

               Doreen nods slightly, but returns Diana's gaze impartially.

                                   DOREEN
                         Diana, death brings up a lot of
                         complex emotions, especially for
                         those of us at the Company who,
                         I've noticed working here, begin
                         to see themselves as immortal.
                             (beat)
                         Death sometimes forces us to face
                         up to things we thought we had
                         moved beyond. It can set us back
                         decades, sometimes.

               Doreen grabs a file and flips through it.

                                   DOREEN (CONT'D)
                             (without looking up)
                         Can you tell me about how you
                         died, Diana?

               Diana stares at Doreen. She's not surprised at this topic
               coming up.

               SUDDENLY -- The sound of SHATTERING GLASS, a quick flash of
               Diana in a seatbelt being JERKED sideways --

               Back on Diana in Doreen's office. She closes her eyes and
               moves to lie down more comfortably. 

                                   DIANA
                         It was 2003. June. 
                             (beat)
                         It used to be my favourite month.

                                                              CUT TO:

               INT. DIANA'S CAR - DAY (FLASHBACK)

               We see a pair of hands on a steering wheel, before pulling
               back to see:

               Diana, four years younger. Sporting her trademark 'big shot
               actress' sunglasses, she's nonetheless a little softer than
               the bitch we know now. Her smile is gentler, more genuine.

               We hear the sounds of a GAMEBOY, segueing us into seeing
               the bright face of 13-year-old JAMES JUNIOR (J.J.), Diana's
               younger brother, sitting in the passenger seat.

                                   DIANA
                         Come on, J.J.; do you have to
                         play that in the car? 
                             (playful)
                         Do I need to confiscate it? I
                         can, you know, being an adult and
                         all.

               J.J. looks up at her with a grin.

                                   J.J.
                         Come on, sis, we both know who
                         the adult is here.

               Diana grins and gives him a punch on the shoulder.

                                   DIANA
                         You should respect your elders.
                         Or else, when I'm a big movie
                         star, you won't get a cent.

               J.J. gasps overdramatically as his older sister gives him a
               wink.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                         Seriously, though, how was Aunt
                         Saffron's?

                                   J.J.
                             (rolls his eyes)
                         You know. Lots of hugging and
                         squealing.
                             (mocking female voice)
                         "Oh James Junior, you've gotten
                         sooooo handsome, just like your
                         father."

                                   DIANA
                         I always did think she had a
                         thing for dad.

                                   J.J.
                         A very solemn 'ewwww'.

               Diana grins and fiddles with the radio.

                                   DIANA
                         Sorry that I was late, by the
                         way.
                         The audition ran a little
                         overtime. I think I nailed it,
                         though.

                                   J.J.
                             (sincere)
                         Of course you did.

               Diana chuckles, heartened by his utter certainty in her.

                                   DIANA
                         Thanks. I really think I'm this
                         close to my big break, though. I
                         mean, L.A. was a bust, but I'm
                         thinking of going back in the
                         fall.

                                   J.J.
                         Don't worry, sis, I know you're
                         gonna be --

               Unfortunately, J.J. is interrupted by another car, seen
               through Diana's window, SMASHING directly into Diana's
               side!

               Diana's car SKIDS across the ground, FLIPPING over onto its
               roof. Diana is JERKED to the side, before being held into
               position by the seatbelt.

               Silence. 

               Diana's eyes flutter open. She looks relatively alright,
               though shaken and currently UPSIDE DOWN. She looks over --

               -- at J.J., whose face is BLOODY and whose eyes are closed.
               He hangs at an odd angle from the seat belt, his arms
               limply hanging towards the ceiling of the upside-down car.

                                   DIANA
                         Oh God, J.J. Can you hear me?
                         J.J., wake up!

               Diana moves to help him, but winces and JERKS back. She
               looks down her torso --

               -- which is caught in the TWISTED metal of the car, the
               jagged edge plunged deep into her abdomen.

               Diana gasps, finally feeling the pain of the wound. Murmurs
               of VOICES can be heard from outside the car.

               She reaches out and GRASPS J.J.'s hand, eyes fluttering in
               pain as she tries to stay conscious. As she holds it tight:

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                             (whispered)
                         I'm sorry...

               With this, her eyes close for the last time; or so she
               thinks.

                                                        MATCH CUT TO:

               INT. THE COMPANY - DOREEN'S OFFICE - DAY

               Again on Diana's closed eyes, but she's back on the couch
               recounting her story. She opens her eyes and looks at
               Doreen.

                                   DIANA
                         When I got here, it didn't take
                         me long to sign the contract.
                             (bitter laugh)
                         Even then, J.J. was gone by the
                         time I woke up. 'Internal
                         bleeding'. Died on the table
                         while I was sitting in an office
                         being read a damn sales pitch.

               She looks down, shame in her eyes.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                         I was stupid, just a stupid kid.
                         I should have paid more attention
                         to the road. J.J. died because of
                         me.

               Doreen stays quiet for a moment.

                                   DOREEN
                         Except, really, that isn't true.
                         The other driver was as much at
                         fault as you.
                             (beat)
                         As as for Kou's death, Diana, you
                         can hardly blame yourself for
                         that. You were nowhere near the
                         marina that day.

               Diana blinks, surprised that Doreen would assume this.

                                   DIANA
                         I don't blame myself for Kou's
                         death.

               Diana looks at Doreen, meaning it, before she comes to a
               sudden realisation.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                             (grim)
                         I blame Violet Morgan.

               Off this startling confession:

                                                              CUT TO:

               INT. THE COMPANY - ELEVATOR - DAY

               Vi stands in the elevator, alongside Andrew. She's still
               not looking too great.

                                   VI
                         So... What happens now?

                                   ANDREW
                         Well, there's the funeral --

                                   VI
                         No, I mean about the Breakers.

               Andrew looks at her, confused. Vi's eyes narrow in
               annoyance.

                                                              CUT TO:

               INT. THE COMPANY - RECEPTION OFFICE

               At the front desk, SIDNEY DOBBS stands holding GLENDA
               MORRISON's hand in his, patting it comfortingly.

                                   SIDNEY
                         There you go now, Glenda miss.
                         Don't worry yourself too much.

               Glenda, however, doesn't seem to be in much need for
               comforting, merely looking at Sidney as if he were a
               particularly uninteresting form of insect.

                                   GLENDA
                         I assure you, Director, I'm
                         completely fine.

                                   SIDNEY
                         And I assure you, you're not. I
                         blubbered like a baby this
                         morning and I barely knew the
                         bloke.

               Glenda nods, but before she can respond, a DING announces
               an elevator's arrival --

               -- And out steps a very pissed off Vi, who points directly
               at Sidney.

                                   VI
                         Dobbs!

               Sidney looks up, a bit alarmed. He turns to face the
               oncoming teenager with worry.

                                   SIDNEY
                             (confused)
                         That's my name, don't wear it
                         out.

                                   VI
                             (yells)
                         What the hell is the deal with
                         the Breakers?!

               Her yelling catches the attention of ALISTAIR BENSON, who
               steps out of the conference room.

                                   SIDNEY
                         Um, well, if you'll step into my
                         office --

                                   VI
                         I told you, Nathan Percy and
                         Kieran James killed Kou, and
                         you're standing there like a
                         bloody, I don't know, statue!

                                   SIDNEY
                             (perplexed)
                         I'm a statue?
                             (beat; authoritative)
                         In my office, Morgan, now.

               He looks at Benson and gives him 'the nod', then leads Vi
               into:

               INT. THE COMPANY - SIDNEY'S OFFICE - DAY

               Sidney moves to sit at his desk, offering Vi to sit across
               from him. Vi slams down into her chair, arms crossed. Pure
               angry teenager in every way.

                                   VI
                         I want to know why nothing's
                         happening.

               Sidney narrows his eyes at Vi, not responding well to her
               attitude. 

                                   SIDNEY
                             (calm)
                         Why nothing is happening, Miss
                         Morgan, is because nothing is
                         going to happen. Kou Yimou's
                         death was ruled an accident by
                         Head Office. I submitted the
                         initial complaint myself.
                             (beat)
                         Well, through Glenda but that
                         isn't important.
                             (beat)
                         What is important is that you
                         realise those two men weren't
                         even there. 

               Vi stares at Sidney, baffled. Sidney sifts through some
               papers on his desk.

                                   SIDNEY (CONT'D)
                         After you gave us your statement
                         of events, I submitted the
                         complaint to Head Office. They
                         investigated and...  

               He finds the correct paper.

                                   SIDNEY (CONT'D)
                             (looks over paper)
                         ... It seems a Miss Carlyle
                         confirmed Nathan's alibi. He was
                         working on an assignment with
                         her, him being her mentor. And as
                         for Kieran, well, Director
                         Pierson vouched for his
                         whereabouts.

                                   VI
                         I saw them kill him.

                                   SIDNEY
                         Unfortunately, Ms. Morgan, your
                         testimony at the time wasn't
                         exactly credible. Or do we need
                         to revisit the beetroot fish?

                                   VI
                         But... Kieran's a serial killer!
                         Doesn't that mean anything to you
                         people?

                                   SIDNEY
                         Kieran's actions at the Garreton
                         National Park were unfortunate,
                         but it was concluded by Head
                         Office that he legitimately
                         thought he was doing his job.

                                   VI
                             (sarcastic)
                         All this talk about them 'doing
                         their jobs'; was he just 'doing
                         his job' when he shot Michael
                         Winchester?

               A confused beat, as Benson and Sidney share a baffled
               glance.

                                   VI (CONT'D)
                         Come on, guys. Big scary
                         standoff, me hiding in the
                         closet, Kieran with a gun.
                         Doesn't ring a bell?

                                   SIDNEY
                             (honest)
                         Nope.

                                   VI
                         It was in Kou's assignment
                         report. 

               Benson steps forward.

                                   BENSON
                         Violet, I've read every
                         assignment report since I became
                         Director, up until I was...
                             (sideways glace at
                              Sidney)
                         Kou has never mentioned Kieran
                         James or any other Breaker.

                                   VI
                         But... Kou said he'd take care of
                         it.

               Vi's face falls, but she stands.

                                   VI (CONT'D)
                         This makes no sense.

                                   SIDNEY
                             (annoyed)
                         Yes, the fact that you decided to
                         waste my time on a hugely
                         important day like this does make
                         no sense. The next time you want
                         attention, try setting something
                         on fire.
                             (beat; harsh)
                         Worked for your mentor back in
                         the day, didn't it?

               Benson throws a glare at Sidney, but Sid keeps his gaze
               soundly on Vi.

                                   SIDNEY (CONT'D)
                         Out. Now. Before I get Dautry
                         down here.

               Vi, tearing up, turns to the door - but the door SLAMS open
               to reveal Diana!

                                   SIDNEY (CONT'D)
                         Diana?

               She crosses the room in a stride and BACKHANDS Vi across
               the face! 

               Shocked and surprised, Vi presses a hand to her stinging
               cheek. She steps backwards.

               Diana turns to Sidney, nonplussed.

                                   DIANA
                         I'd like to file a formal
                         complaint to about Violet Morgan,
                         requesting immediate
                         repositioning or, ideally,
                         termination.

               Sidney just stares at her, completely blown away.

                                   SIDNEY
                         What's that now?

                                   DIANA
                         Not only have her indiscretions
                         involving Shane Evans and Peter
                         Morgan been glossed over by
                         previous incompetent management --
                             (to Benson)
                         Sorry, Alistair.
                             (back to Sidney)
                         -- But I also believe her actions
                         to have contributed significantly
                         to the death of Kou Yimou,
                         Garreton Fixer.

               As she begins to shake in fury, she looks at Vi.

                                   DIANA (CONT'D)
                         This little bitch has caused this
                         branch nothing but trouble. I,
                         for one, would be happy to never
                         see her ugly little face again.

               Diana stares at Vi, utter hatred in her eyes as Vi's world
               falls apart. 

               She turns and exits, SLAMMING the door behind her and
               leaving Vi, Sidney and Benson completely shocked. 

                                                            FADE OUT.



                                  END OF ACT ONE
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