tc3x03
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. THE COMPANY - CONTROL CENTRE - DAY
The room is crowded, multiple EMPLOYEES to each work station.
ANDREW saunters in, a calm figure amid the panic. He spots
JENNA talking to a timid female ASSISTANT.
JENNA
No, you're right. That is a stupid
question. This one --
(shoves a file at the
Assistant)
-- Goes under "fix". This one --
(shoves another)
-- Goes under "break". That's what
the colour coding is for. You do
know what colours are, don't you?
The Assistant sobs and scurries off.
JENNA (CONT'D)
(under her breath)
Moron.
ANDREW
Hey, babe. Got a minute?
She whips around.
JENNA
Does it look like I have a minute?
ANDREW
Wow. No need to bite my head off.
Jenna begins to walk through the room. Andrew follows.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
I just thought we could talk.
(low)
You know, about the other night in
your apartment... With the crying.
JENNA
Andrew, I'm busy.
ANDREW
I know, I just --
JENNA
If you knew, you wouldn't be here
wasting my time, would you?
She stops, turns to him. That was harsher than anticipated.
JENNA (CONT'D)
I'm sorry. Even though we aren't
getting new assignments, there are
still piles of unclaimed ones I
have to deal with.
She motions to the dark wall-sized monitor.
JENNA (CONT'D)
And without our main processor, I
can't figure out which employee
they were meant for. It's gotten to
the point where I just have to take
my best guess and hope whoever I
send can handle the job.
She eyes him hopefully.
JENNA (CONT'D)
And I'm sure you could handle one
more assignment, right?
He bites his cheek. Grimaces. Jenna sighs in frustration.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Just go and find Vi or something.
ANDREW
But we're in a...
Jenna's already walking away.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
... Fight.
He sighs.
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - DAY
A COUNSELOR (late 20s, female, hip) adjusts her glasses,
flashing the spangley bracelets adorning her wrists.
COUNSELOR
So, who wants to go first?
REVERSE ANGLE
A circle of TEENAGERS sit on metal folding chairs. As we PAN
the group, we notice that the girls are all visibly pregnant.
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
You know the drill. If no one
volunteers, I'll just have to pick
someone. And I know how you all
love that.
The teens try to shrink down in their seats. The Counselor
looks around and holds her gaze on someone.
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
How about our newcomer.
(beat)
Violet?
VI jerks up, almost falling off her chair. She crosses her
arms over her flat stomach.
VI
Oh, no. That's okay.
COUNSELOR
If you're here, it must mean you
want to talk about what you're
going through.
VI
I'm not going through anything.
COUNSELOR
It's very normal to feel that way.
Most of the girls here have talked
about the denial they went through
when that little strip turned blue.
VI
I'm not in denial. I'm not pr --
She stops herself, grossed out. Some SNICKERS from the group.
COUNSELOR
Violet, if you can't say the word,
you can't come to terms with your
situation. Come on. Try it.
(reassuring smile)
We're all here for you.
A beat. Vi grits her teeth.
VI
Preg --
She takes a deep, defeated breath.
VI (CONT'D)
Pregnant! Fine! I'm a real "Juno:
Down Under". Can someone else talk
now?
COUNSELOR
But I want to hear about you. Oh,
and the baby's father, of course.
This is about both of you.
WIDER ANGLE
DAVID sits on the other side of Vi.
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
David, would you like to share?
He slings an arm over Vi's stiff shoulders and grins.
DAVID
Where do you want me to start?
Vi shrinks down, completely mortified.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - DAY
David has the rapt attention of the group. They lap up every
word. Vi has a hand to her cringing face.
DAVID
Then she opened the music box...
PREGNANT GIRL WITH BRACES
The one you hand crafted yourself?
ANOTHER PREGNANT GIRL
From the driftwood you found on the
beach?
COUNSELOR
After you released your
grandmother's ashes into the sea?
David nods. His eyes glisten with tears.
DAVID
And inside was a note, tied with
the ribbon she wore in her hair,
the night we met at the spring
carnival. Remember, sweetie?
Vi drops her hand, glaring daggers at him.
COUNSELOR
What did it say?
A long beat. David licks his lips. He is nervous under Vi's
irritated gaze. Vi's eyes soften in confusion. Then --
-- The door BANGS open, signalling the arrival of two teens.
SLOAN and ZACK (both 17) drink Slurpees. Zack has a
skateboard and Sloan's blonde hair is streaked with bright
shocks of colour. She's also several months pregnant.
Seeing them, the Counselor sighs a little under her breath.
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
Sloan, Zack. Better late than
never. Come and join in.
As they sit:
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
Let me introduce you to our new
faces. This is Violet and her
boyfriend, David.
VI
He's not my boyfriend.
DAVID
Hey.
They exchange sharp looks.
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
Well, er, let's move on.
(beat)
Sloan. Any thoughts on what we
discussed last session?
Sloan sucks on the Slurpee straw defiantly.
ZACK
That means "pass".
COUNSELOR
There's no passing in these
sessions, Zack. And no outside
food, either.
Sloan and Zack share a look, silently communicating. Zack
puts both their cups on the floor.
COUNSELOR (CONT'D)
Sloan?
SLOAN
What we spoke about last session...
Oh, you mean "What do I want to do
about this"?
She lifts her shirt, revealing her protruding belly (plus
naval piercing).
SLOAN (CONT'D)
I'm liking option one. Which is the
time machine. I could go back to
that fateful Saturday night, turn
to Zack and say, "No, Zack. I do
not want to watch that re-run of
Bones with you". Problem solved.
ZACK
Pssh! It wasn't Bones. It was...
He looks to David.
ZACK (CONT'D)
What's manlier than Bones?
COUNSELOR
Well, since time travel isn't on
the table --
VI
Yeah, the flux capacitors on e-bay
are way expensive.
Sloan cracks a smile. The Counselor frowns in Vi's direction.
COUNSELOR
(back to Sloan)
Have you given any of the other
options some consideration?
Sloan looks down. Nervously plays with the edges of her
shirt. Her tone has shifted.
SLOAN
I'm too far along to... Yeah,
obviously I'm too far along. Which
sucks but there's nothing I can do
about that now. So... I guess I can
either keep it or give it away.
COUNSELOR
And being an adopted child
yourself, do you think that might
impact your final decision?
Sloan fixes her with a hard stare.
SLOAN
I have to pee.
She pushes her chair back forcefully. Zack smiles awkwardly.
ZACK
Pregnant chicks do that.
As Sloan walks away, Vi watches her with concern.
INT. THE COMPANY - HOSPITAL WING - DAY
DOC is tucked into bed, still unconscious. He is attached to
all manner of monitoring equipment which BEEPS steadily.
BENSON and SIDNEY are at his bedside. Benson studies a chart.
BENSON
He's still unresponsive.
He slips the chart back onto the end of the bed.
BENSON (CONT'D)
We're lucky Abigail thought to
check the hospitals when she did.
SIDNEY
Yes, brilliant plan. Does she have
one for figuring out why he's now a
vegetable?
Sidney's mobile phone BUZZES. He checks the screen. Sighs.
SIDNEY (CONT'D)
A director's job is never done.
He gives Benson a curt nod and exits. Benson looks back down
at Doc's pale, unmoving form.
YELLING, the sounds of a fight, bring us to --
INT. THE COMPANY - RESIDENCE HALLWAY - DAY
Two MEN scuffle while a CROWD watches. Sidney pushes through.
SIDNEY (CONT'D)
Enough!
He hauls them apart.
SIDNEY (CONT'D)
I said enough! I suggest you go and
make yourselves useful.
The Men slink off. Sidney eyes the crowd sharply.
SIDNEY (CONT'D)
That goes for all of you.
The crowd disperses and yet the hallway doesn't seem to get
any less busy. Employees carry boxes and suitcases, moving in
and out of apartments, struggling for enough living space.
Sidney adjusts his jacket and turns, his eyes landing on
DIANA where she stands in the doorway to her apartment.
SIDNEY (CONT'D)
(beams)
Diana! My heroine, my angel!
They kiss hello. Diana smiles, picks up a laundry basket.
DIANA
That's what I like to hear.
SIDNEY
You've got a two bedroom, yes?
Her smile drops a little.
DIANA
Uh... Technically.
SIDNEY
Excellent! We can move at least
one Breaker in with you by this
evening. Maybe another on the
couch. I know it'll be tight but --
DIANA
No.
Beat. Sidney blinks in surprise.
SIDNEY
No?
DIANA
Nobody is getting that room.
SIDNEY
Sweetheart, it's empty.
Behind them, Andrew passes by...
DIANA
And that's how I like it. I don't
do roommates.
... And Andrew backpedals right into their conversation.
ANDREW
That's what she said!
(beat; chuckles)
I'm totally Tweeting that.
He takes out his phone and types away.
SIDNEY
We really need the space, Di.
DIANA
I'm sorry, Sidney. I know you're
under a lot of pressure to find
somewhere for all these Breakers
but I just... I can't.
ANDREW
I've got an idea. Why don't you two
just move in together?
Sidney and Diana go wide-eyed.
SIDNEY
I, ah --
DIANA
We're not --
SIDNEY
It's a little --
DIANA
-- Soon for that.
(beat)
Isn't it?
SIDNEY
Worst idea I've ever heard.
A beat. Diana, shrinking in disappointment, nods.
DIANA
Sure, well, I should go. Laundry.
Averting her eyes, she hurries off. Sidney realises his
mistake. He turns on Andrew. Murder in his eyes.
SIDNEY
Right, you little git! You're going
to pay for that.
Andrew's face drops.
INT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - DAY
The session is over. Everyone trickles out. David is at the
snack table, perusing the cookies, when Vi joins him.
VI
You're sick, you know that?
DAVID
I'm a genius. I keep them wrapped
up in the details of our epic
Nicholas Sparks love story and they
won't be asking about --
(pointedly clears throat)
-- the finer points of conception.
He takes a bite of a cookie. Vi narrows her eyes.
DAVID (CONT'D)
But you're going to blow our cover
with that "He's not my boyfriend"
stuff.
Vi folds her arms and leans against the table. She surveys
the last stragglers out of the therapy session.
VI
(muttered)
I can do this just fine on my own.
DAVID
What was that?
She straightens up.
VI
They're leaving.
DAVID
Who?
She points. Sloan and Zack are walking out.
DAVID (CONT'D)
Isn't that a bit premature? How can
you be sure we're here for them?
VI
We may not be getting Signs
anymore, but I still know when the
Company is trying to tell me
something. I can feel it.
Vi puts a hand over her stomach, indicating that this is
where the feeling lies. The Counselor walks past and smirks.
VI (CONT'D)
Oh, bloody hell!
She throws her hand off her stomach and stomps away.
EXT. COMMUNITY CENTRE - CAR PARK - DAY
Vi exits the building and zeroes in on Sloan and Zack.
Sloan watches from the curb as Zack shows off some
unimpressive skateboard tricks a few metres away.
As she casually sidles up to Sloan:
VI
He's cute.
SLOAN
Zack? He's kind of a dork.
(then)
Violet, right?
VI
Call me Vi. Can David and I give
you a lift?
SLOAN
Thanks but I'm covered.
(apprehensive)
My mum's picking me up.
VI
You don't sound too happy about
that.
SLOAN
I guess.
She quiets, looks intently at Vi - considering her for a long
moment. Vi quirks an eyebrow. Finally, Sloan nods, decided.
SLOAN (CONT'D)
Macadamia.
VI
The nut?
SLOAN
The ice cream. We're getting some.
She grabs Vi's hand. Vi looks back.
VI
But what about your mum?
SLOAN
She'll survive.
Vi allows Sloan to drag her away.
EXT. ICE CREAM PARLOUR - DAY
A bright blue and white exterior with cow-print awning.
INT. ICE CREAM PARLOUR - DAY
The group enters. Sloan goes to a table. Zack digs out his
wallet on his way to the counter.
SLOAN
Make mine a double!
David is already taking out his money.
VI
You're not paying for me, are you?
DAVID
(over the top)
Well, I am your boyfriend.
He jerks his head in Zack's direction, still standing close
enough to hear them. Vi rolls her eyes and turns around --
-- Where she sees something off screen. She smiles, liking
it, and grabs both Zack and David's shoulders.
VI
Put your money away, boys. This
one's on me.
INT. ICE CREAM PARLOUR - COUNTER - MOMENTS LATER
Vi props her elbow up on the counter.
VI
Hi.
The server, in a blue and white uniform, turns. It's BIANCA -
an embarrassing ice cream cone shaped hat atop her head.
BIANCA
What the hell are you doing here?
VI
I could ask you the same question.
She bites her lip, dying to laugh. Bianca glares.
BIANCA
Shut up. Like you never had to take
a crappy job for an assignment.
VI
I have. This is my therapy.
Something CLATTERS in the back and NATHAN, wearing an
identical uniform to Bianca, pushes out through the doors.
NATHAN
Oh. Hi.
VI
Hey.
It's awkward. Not friendly but not cold either.
NATHAN
(to Bianca)
Have you found the target yet?
BIANCA
No! This "No Sign" stuff is hard. I
have no idea what I'm doing.
Nathan puts a hand on her shoulder and smiles.
NATHAN
That's why I'm here.
He starts to wipe down the counter. Bianca's eyes linger on
him, a giddy smile on her face. Vi raises an eyebrow.
Bianca sees Vi watching her and collects herself.
BIANCA
We're, ah, we're out of cookies and
cream. Would you mind?
Nathan sighs and heads into the back.
VI
What was that?
BIANCA
What?
VI
You making goo-goo eyes at Grosse
Point Blank. Have a crush, do you?
BIANCA
(rolls her eyes)
Please! He's like thirty.
VI
Not to mention a confessed killer.
BIANCA
That was ages ago!
Vi blinks in shock.
VI
Oh my God. You do.
BIANCA
Shh!
VI
You're in love with him!
BIANCA
I swear to God, Vi, if you --
Nathan re-emerges from the back room with a tub of ice cream.
He pauses, straining with the weight, and looks to Bianca.
NATHAN
Where do you want me?
Bianca SQUEAKS. Her face turns a fiery shade of red. She
flees into the back room. Nathan looks confused.
NATHAN (CONT'D)
What was that about?
Vi shrugs.
INT. THE COMPANY - JENNA'S OFFICE - DAY
Jenna sits behind her desk, swamped with paperwork. The
Assistant from earlier, the one prone to tears, knocks.
ASSISTANT
Ms. Cooke? I was told
to give you these.
She places a box on Jenna's desk. It is stuffed with files
and rolls of paper. Confused, Jenna looks through it.
JENNA
Schematics... expense reports...
This isn't for me.
ASSISTANT
Well, I could --
The Assistant reaches for the box. Jenna grits her teeth.
JENNA
No. Don't. I'll take care of it.
Just hand out these assignments.
The employee's name is at the top.
She pushes a folder across the desk. The Assistant reaches
out but Jenna slaps her hand over it.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Wait.
She pulls one slip of paper back. Guards it.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Not this one.
The Assistant backs up slowly and exits. Jenna swivels her
chair away from the door and looks down at the paper.
In the upper corner is a name. Nathan Percy.
INT. ICE CREAM PARLOUR - DAY
Sounds of COMPUTER GENERATED VIOLENCE emanate from an arcade
game in the corner. David and Zack play with gusto.
Back at the table, Sloan and Vi finish off their ice creams.
VI
Won't your mum be worried?
SLOAN
Less worried, more fire breathing
she-demon.
(off Vi's wide-eyed look)
Don't worry. My sister'll calm her
down. It's like she's got special
powers - being the sole biological
offspring and everything.
VI
So you do this stuff a lot?
Sloan puts aside her empty cup and glances to her belly.
SLOAN
In case you haven't noticed, I'm
not one to do things quietly.
(then)
What about your mum? How'd she
handle the whole "grandma" thing?
Vi takes a long beat, considering her lie.
VI
How did she handle it...
(beat)
The first friend she made at work
was this guy - totally gay. But
when she talks about him, she won't
say that he has a boyfriend. It's
always Lawrence and his "roomate".
(then)
Point is, she's a lot more close
minded than she thinks she is.
She'll never say it out loud but,
in her eyes, first comes love, then
comes marriage...
SLOAN
(nods)
No room for the teenage girl with
swollen ankles and a big decision
to make.
A sad beat. Vi sighs.
VI
Look, normally I'd wait for some
magical sign to show me the right
way to tackle this but since that's
not really an option right now, I'm
just going to come out and say it.
(beat)
What can I do to help?
SLOAN
(confused)
I don't want any help.
VI
What do you want, then?
Sloan considers. Meets Vi's eyes.
SLOAN
I want to find my birth mother.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF ACT ONE
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.