tc3x08
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. FACTORY DISTRICT - DAY
Black smoke billows into the sky as a factory goes up in
flames. FIREFIGHTERS bravely battle the blaze.
WOMAN'S VOICE (V.O.)
Early reports say that it is
unlikely anyone was inside the
building at the time of the fire.
Arson investigators are currently
on the scene.
PULL BACK to reveal the disaster is playing out on a TV in:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
PETER is on the couch. He's dressed in a t-shirt and boxers,
hair flattened to his forehead in a sweaty mass.
On the TV, the image of the fire changes to that of a
REPORTER at an in-studio desk.
REPORTER
We'll continue to follow that story
as it develops. Next up, local
weather with Weatherman Rob. Rob?
Cut to WEATHERMAN ROB in a Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses.
WEATHERMAN ROB
Heat, heat and more heat! That's
what we can expect from this week
with temperatures expected to hit
the high thirties.
Peter glances out the window.
EXT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - BACKYARD - DAY
PENNY is on a lounge chair in the shade. She holds a hose on
a shirtless CAM. He is sprawled on the grass, cooling off.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - DAY
Peter turns back to the TV.
WEATHERMAN ROB
As this unseasonable heat wave
continues to roll across the state,
remember these sun safe tips -
drink plenty of water, always wear
sunscreen and if worse comes to
worse, I've got two words for you.
(reveals toy water pistol)
Cold shower.
He squirts the water pistol at the camera.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - VI'S ROOM - DAY
VI and DAVID are tangled on her bed, a forgotten game of
cards spread out around them as they kiss passionately.
VI
(pulling back; pained)
Mmm. David, wait.
His hands are off her in an instant.
DAVID
Sorry. Damn, I'm sorry.
He sits up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed.
Vi frowns in confusion, only half paying attention to him as
she gropes around on the bedspread beneath her.
VI
Sorry about...
She yanks a bent playing card from under her butt. She tosses
it aside and crawls over to him. David doesn't see this.
VI (CONT'D)
... About what?
DAVID
I don't want to push you.
VI
Seriously? Don't worry about it.
DAVID
But you said you weren't ready.
VI
When did I say that?
DAVID
When we were helping that pregnant
girl, remember? It was before we...
(takes her hand)
Before this.
Vi smiles softly at their linked fingers.
VI
Oh, yeah.
(beat; nervous)
David, have you ever... You know?
An awkward beat. The question is answered in his silence. Vi
drops his hand and shifts away, embarrassed.
VI (CONT'D)
Right. Of course you have.
DAVID
I hope that's okay.
VI
Yeah, I mean, at least one of us
should know where everything goes.
(quickly)
Not that anything is going to go
anywhere anytime soon... Right?
Before he can answer, CAROLINE enters, a full laundry basket
under one arm. Vi and David jolt apart.
VI (CONT'D)
Mum!
Caroline, oblivious to what she just walked in on, opens Vi's
closet and starts to pack away clothes.
CAROLINE
Just dropping off some laundry, Vi.
Make yourself useful. Go through
these undies and make sure I didn't
mix in any of your sister's.
Much to Vi's horror, Caroline starts grabbing pairs of
panties from the basket and throwing them across the room.
David dodges the hail of multicoloured intimates while Vi
plucks them out of the air and shoves them under her pillow.
VI
Mum!
A pair of daggy white granny panties hit her in the face.
VI (CONT'D)
Caroline!
Caroline turns and sees Vi, red faced and fuming.
CAROLINE
Oh. Sorry.
She exits, closing the door behind her. A beat. Caroline pops
back in and pushes the door open halfway.
CAROLINE (CONT'D)
I'll just leave that... there.
With Caroline gone, Vi looks to David. He fights a smile.
VI
Don't.
DAVID
What?
VI
It's not funny!
They both break into a fit of laughter. Vi leans in for
another kiss but David gently pushes her back.
DAVID
Actually, I should be going.
VI
What? Why?
DAVID
(climbs off the bed)
Don't you have an assignment to do?
Vi screws up her nose in annoyance. David gives her one last
lingering kiss. As they part:
DAVID (CONT'D)
You missed one.
Vi opens her eyes. A pair of polka dot undies dangle from
between his fingers. She takes them. David grins. Exits.
Vi looks at the underwear scrunched in her hand. She lets out
a giddy laugh and collapses back onto her pillows.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. THE COMPANY Ð RECEPTION Ð DAY
BENSON waits by the elevator with a few EMPLOYEES. The doors
open, releasing a flood of people. ABIGAIL is among them.
She spots Benson and maneuvers through the sudden crowd.
ABIGAIL
Morning, Benson! Looks like the
morale around here is picking up.
She nods to the people heading into the elevator.
ABIGAIL (CONT'D)
Hello, hi, how are you?
(reaching Benson;
suspicious)
Were those Runners? They look
strangely focused.
BENSON
Assignments.
Abigail arches an eyebrow. Benson remains calm.
BENSON (CONT'D)
A tech uncovered some more
uncompleted assignments that were
stored in our backup hard drives. A
glaring oversight on our part.
A tense beat as he waits her for reaction. She nods curtly.
ABIGAIL
At least you're taking care of it
now. There's no reason Head Office
needs to know.
(winks; then)
Shall we get this meeting started?
She starts over to the closed conference room. Benson leaps
forward, swiftly taking her arm. He leads her away.
BENSON
I'd prefer we use my office today.
ABIGAIL
But aren't the Department Heads
coming? Bit cramped in there.
BENSON
I like cramped. Emphasises
camaraderie.
Abigail shrugs and allows herself to be guided into Benson's
office. As she goes, HANNAH emerges from the conference room.
HANNAH
(hushed; beckoning him
over)
Benson!
He glances into his office, speaking to Abigail.
BENSON
Excuse me for a moment.
He closes the door and joins Hannah.
BENSON (CONT'D)
Yes, Miss Marshall?
HANNAH
We have a problem.
INT. THE COMPANY Ð CONFERENCE ROOM Ð MOMENTS LATER
Benson and Hannah enter.
BENSON
What do you mean she's doesn't feel
like writing any more assignments?
THWACK! A balled up yellow post-it hits him in the head.
BONNIE lies on the conference table wearing a breezy floral
sundress. Her bare feet dangle lazily over the edge.
She peels another post-it from the block, scrunches it up and
throws. It sails past Hannah and hits the wall.
A WIDER ANGLE reveals that the floor is covered with little
yellow balls of paper. Hours of wasted time.
HANNAH
That's what I mean.
Off Benson's concern, CUT TO:
DIRTY SNEAKERED FEET
pounding on the pavement.
EXT. CITY STREET Ð DAY
A young man runs as if the Devil is at his heels. Several
yards back, a thick-necked POLICEMAN gives chase.
NOAH (early 20s) is all limbs and elbows - a lanky kid who's
almost swallowed by the dark hoodie he's wearing.
He crashes into SHOPPERS (all of which are wearing far more
weather appropriate gear).
NOAH
Sorry! 'Scuse me! Gang way or
whatever!
Behind him, the Policeman is gaining.
POLICEMAN
Stop! I said stop!
A GIRL'S NETBALL TEAM exit an ice cream shop. They start to
fill the footpath. Noah sees his chance. He speeds up --
-- And darts past, just as the girls block the whole path.
The Policeman doesn't quite make it. As he careens into them:
POLICEMAN (CONT'D)
Watch out!
ON NOAH
Still running. The sound of SHRIEKING GIRLS fills the air.
EXT. ALLEY Ð DAY
Noah skids around the corner. There's a dumpster, some wooden
packing crates and a high barbed wire fence. Dead end.
NOAH
Crap.
He whirls around but comes face to face with Vi.
NOAH
Crap!
POLICEMAN (O.S.)
Out of the way!
Noah bounces nervously, getting desperate. Making a decision,
he sprints to the packing crates and crawls behind them.
Vi watches this with bemused interest. She looks at her
watch: "11:15". Next, she takes out a post-it note.
CLOSE ON POST-IT
The handwritten message reads: "11:15am. Lawson Lane".
BACK TO VI
She looks to the street sign pointing down the alley. "Lawson
Lane". She sighs and heads over to Noah's hiding place.
VI
Hi. You need some help?
NOAH
Shut up, shut up, shut up!
The Policeman runs into the alley Ð huffing and puffing. He
looks around for Noah, though there's no sign of him.
POLICEMAN
Damnit!
(spots Vi)
Hey, kid!
VI
I'm eighteen so not a kid but I can
see how my youthful zest for life
would confuse you. I'm very zesty.
POLICEMAN
Did you seen a guy come down here?
VI
A guy?
She looks over her shoulder. Noah's terrified eyes peer out
form between the slats in the packing crates.
VI (CONT'D)
Skinny guy? Wearing a hoodie in
thirty-five degree temperature?
The Policeman nods. Vi points towards the main street.
VI (CONT'D)
He went that-a-way, Officer.
The Policeman dashes off. Vi cranes after him.
VI (CONT'D)
A thank you would be nice!
Noah crawls out of his hiding spot. He dusts off his jeans.
NOAH
Thank you. Seriously. You just
saved my life.
VI
Don't mention it. I'm Vi.
NOAH
Noah.
Vi holds out her hand. Noah slaps it then continues with a
complicated handshake. Vi follows dumbly. Noah gives up.
NOAH (CONT'D)
We'll work on it.
INT. DINER Ð DAY
Vi and Noah are in a booth by the window. A WAITRESS clears
their empty plates and puts down a bill.
NOAH
I got this. I owe you.
He grabs the bill, looks at the total. Ouch. He bites his
cheek and fumbles around in his pockets.
Vi sighs and reaches across. She takes the bill from him. As
she takes out her own wallet:
VI
So, tell me about this fugitive
thing. Did a one armed man kill
your wife and blame it on you?
NOAH
It's kind of a long story.
VI
I saved you from the cops and I'm
paying for your tuna salad - which,
by the way, smelled like cat food.
She slaps some money onto the table and leans in.
VI (CONT'D)
I think I have a right to know.
Noah runs his hands through his hair, making it stick
straight up like he has just put his finger in a socket.
NOAH
Okay! Okay, but... You have to
remember that I didn't do what they
think I did. And even -- even if I
did, I swear it's not that bad.
GRUFF PATRON (O.S.)
Hey, turn that up!
The GRUFF PATRON, a sweaty man eating a burger at the
counter, points to a tiny TV hanging above.
The Waitress turns up the volume on a news report. Images of
the factory fire play out over the Reporter's shoulder.
REPORTER
Breaking news on the factory fire
story from earlier today. Arson has
been confirmed as the cause and
police have released a sketch of
the alleged arsonist. This man was
seen fleeing the scene shortly
before firefighters arrived.
The sketch appears on the TV. Vi squints, trying to get a
better look. Noah pulls up his hood and sinks down.
The sketch is a little rough, a little too beady on the eyes
and wide in the forehead, but it's him. It's Noah.
INT. THE COMPANY Ð SURVEILLANCE DEPARTMENT Ð DAY
A large, busy room full of cluttered work stations. Employees
scan images through facial recognition software, study grainy
satellite photos and monitor phone conversations.
ANDREW barges in, finishing a donut. The door swings closed.
JENNA catches it before it smacks her in the face.
ANDREW
Why not come on another assignment
with me? That was fun, right?
JENNA
It's nothing personal, Andrew.
Being a Runner just isn't for me.
ANDREW
But working for the surveillance
department and spying on people is
right up your alley?
He licks the icing from his fingers, looks around for a place
to wipe them and settles for a jacket hanging on a chair.
JENNA
I don't know. Could be.
(points)
There's Jerry.
Across the room, JERRY (mid 40s, bulging middle and bald
spot) goes over some work with an Employee. He spots her,
holds up four fingers and points. Jenna nods and sets off.
ANDREW
And look at that, you're using
code. You're a spy already.
JENNA
That's my desk number and I don't
appreciate the mocking, thank you.
ANDREW
He gave a newbie on a test run her
own desk? Looks like Jerry's got an
office crush. Should I be worried?
JENNA
I don't have my own desk.
ANDREW
You didn't answer my other
question.
He grins cheekily. Jenna is not impressed. She stops walking.
JENNA
What are you even doing here,
Andrew?
Andrew wilts. He looks down, scuffs his shoes on the carpet.
ANDREW
It's your first day. Thought you
might need some encouragement.
Jenna softens and smiles, feeling a little bad.
JENNA
Oh. Thanks.
(walking again)
But I'm honestly looking forward to
this. It'll be nice to just sit and
stare at a screen for awhile. No
assignments, no distractions, no
dramas.
They reach desk number four. It's already occupied. Jenna's
desk mate swings around, smiling cheerfully.
NATHAN.
Both of their excited smiles drop simultaneously.
INT. DINER Ð BATHROOM Ð DAY
Vi, alone in the small bathroom, paces in front of the
mirror. She's on her mobile.
VI
I need to talk to Bonnie.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. THE COMPANY Ð DAVID'S APARTMENT Ð DAY
Shirtless and shining with sweat, David does crunches. His
mobile is on speakerphone and is on the floor beside him.
DAVID
No can do. Hannah says she's out of
commission.
VI
Out of commission? What does that
even mean?
DAVID
Dunno.
Vi looks suspicious.
VI
Wait, you're breathing weird. What
are you doing?
DAVID
Working out.
VI
Seriously?
A beat. She fixes her hair in the mirror.
VI (CONT'D)
What kind of working out?
David pauses mid-crunch, looks to the phone in surprise. Vi
shakes it off.
VI (CONT'D)
No! Ngyah!
(deep breath; then)
I'm on an assignment and it just
went and did a "frying pan to fire"
sort of deal. As in, badness.
David grabs the phone and stands.
DAVID
Anything I can do?
VI
No. Well, if you've got any ideas
on how I'm supposed to fix this...
DAVID
Vi, you can do this. You just have
to trust your instincts. I believe
in you.
Vi smiles, touched. Then, Noah bursts into the room.
END INTERCUT:
INT. THE COMPANY - DAVID'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Through the phone, David hears Vi SCREAM.
DAVID
Vi?! Vi, what's wrong?!
There's some muffled scrambling. Vi comes back on the line.
VI
I'm fine. Talk later.
The line goes dead. David looks perturbed.
INT. DINER - BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS
Vi puts her phone away and turns to Noah. He has his back
against the door, a pathetic attempt at a barricade.
VI
What are you doing?
NOAH
They know.
VI
Who?
He pushes off from the door and hurries to her side.
NOAH
Everyone out there! They know my
face! They know what I --
VI
What you did?
(raises an eyebrow)
I thought you were innocent?
NOAH
I am, I swear! The cops -- They're
targeting me because I've, well
I've had some problems in the past.
VI
Problems with what?
A beat.
NOAH
Fire.
Vi growls in frustration and turns to face the mirror.
VI
Okay, it looks like you've got two
options. You turn yourself in and --
NOAH
What?! No, are you crazy?
(beat; calmer)
Look, I just -- I need somewhere to
hide until the heat dies down.
Vi considers his reflection - eyes as big as they can get,
lips parted in a nervous grimace, hands clasped beneath his
chin in a begging gesture.
She closes her eyes and takes a few deep breaths.
NOAH (CONT'D)
What are you doing?
VI
I'm trusting my instincts.
NOAH
And what do your instincts say
about me?
Opening her eyes, she turns from the mirror and faces him.
VI
I might know a place that's empty.
NOAH
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
He jumps on her in a gangly, yet powerful, hug. Vi gets a
mouthful of sweaty hoodie and gags. Something BUZZES.
Vi pries Noah off and takes out her phone. She sighs.
VI
But we have to make a stop first.
ANGLE ON PHONE
A new text message: "Family meeting".
INT. THE COMPANY Ð SURVEILLANCE DEPARTMENT Ð DAY
The room hums with activity but Nathan and Jenna sit at their
desk in awkward silence. They look anywhere but each other.
Jenna lifts a steaming cup of coffee. She murmurs into it:
JENNA
So...
Jumping at the opening, Nathan turns to her.
NATHAN
Hmm?
JENNA
Oh, I was just... Um... What
exactly are we supposed to be...
She glances around the busy room.
JENNA (CONT'D)
... doing?
NATHAN
Oh, right. Here.
Nathan types something into the computer. A series of CCTV
footage pops up - people scurrying about the streets.
NATHAN (CONT'D)
Jerry had me get started. Basically
an assignment's gone off the rails.
He hits a key. A photo of a grungy looking guy pops up.
NATHAN (CONT'D)
Name's Mick Toller. Problem
gambler, owes a bunch to a loan
shark. His ex-wife is this close to
moving to Cairns with his two kids.
JENNA
And what do they need us for?
NATHAN
He's gone. The Fixer on the case
can't find him anywhere. And she
needs to know where he is to --
JENNA
Fix.
NATHAN
Exactly. I've started with the CCTV
and traffic camera footage from
around his apartment.
He looks her way. She's focused on the screen but seems to
sense his eyes on her. She clutches her coffee cup tighter.
NATHAN (CONT'D)
So... How about we speed up to the
last time he was seen...
Nathan reaches for the mouse. As his hand passes by her,
Jenna jerks back, dousing herself in piping hot coffee.
She gasps and leaps up. Nathan scrambles for some tissues.
NATHAN (CONT'D)
Sorry! Oh, man. Here's some
tissues. That really was my...
He holds out the handful of tissues, but Jenna has already
bolted to the door. Nathan watches her leave - helpless.
NATHAN (CONT'D)
... Fault.
INT. THE COMPANY - ELEVATOR - DAY
Jenna enters, jacket and purse in hand. As the doors close,
she shakes out the still damp coffee stain on her blouse.
Overcome by emotion, she slumps against the wall. Looks down
at her hand - the one Nathan barely grazed. It's shaking.
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE Ð LIVING ROOM Ð DAY
Vi, Penny and Cam are on the couch. All face forward, each
with various looks of shock and disbelief on their faces.
VI
Wait, what?
PENNY
Therapy?!
CAM
Is this a joke?
Peter and Caroline stand across from them.
CAROLINE
No joke. I've booked us in for some
family sessions and I don't want to
hear any complaints about it.
A beat and then a cacophony of noise.
VI/PENNY/CAM
This is so not fair! / I can't
believe you did this without even
asking us! / My mental health is my
own business!
PETER
Okay, okay. Everybody calm down.
They shut up, but Penny isn't quite done yet.
PENNY
Fine. I'll go. Just as long as you
admit who this is really about.
She and Cam look to Vi. Vi's mouth drops open in shock.
VI
Me?! I'm not the one forcing
everybody to go to therapy!
CAROLINE
I'm doing this for us. We haven't
exactly been functioning like a
normal family since...
A pause. She tries to select her words carefully.
PENNY
Since Vi kicked the bucket?
CAM
Bought the farm?
PETER
Shuffled off the mortal coil?
CAROLINE
Peter!
(sighs)
Isn't there anybody who thinks this
could actually be good for us?
REVEAL Noah on the arm rest next to Vi. He raises his hand.
PENNY
Call me when it's time to get my
head shrunk. And don't expect any
tears or heartfelt revelations.
CAM
(follows her)
It could be interesting from a
scientific perspective. Do you
think they'd mind if I took my own
notes?
PENNY
Oh, they are gonna love you, Cam.
Peter slips out of the room as well, through the second
doorway into the kitchen. Vi chases after him.
This leaves Caroline with Noah. She smiles, strained.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.