tc3x09
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - PETER'S STUDY - DAY
PETER, PENNY and CAM (who is dressed in his school uniform)
crowd around a window overlooking the back yard.
CAM
I have to say, I'm concerned.
PETER
Don't be silly. She's fine.
PENNY
Dad, you once blocked a McDonald's
drive-through and demanded that the
Hamburglar be prosecuted to the
full extent of the law. You get no
say when it comes to what is and
isn't a mental breakdown.
Outside, CAROLINE pops up from beneath the window. She is
dressed for a day of gardening - dirt streaked overalls,
floppy hat, gloves and a trowel. She smiles brightly.
CAROLINE
I'm planting hydrangeas!
Penny mimics Caroline's enthusiasm.
PENNY
That's great, Mum!
(quieter; still smiling)
She's getting worse.
Caroline waves, then drops out of view.
CAM
It's because of Vi. She misses her.
PENNY
Good. You don't just kick your kid
out onto the street. Not even a
clearly maladjusted kid like Vi.
PETER
It's a bit more complicated than
that, Penn. Your mum didn't want
this any more than I did.
She just stares at him, eyes silently judging. Then, to Cam:
PENNY
Come on. I'll drive you to school.
The pair make their way to the door. Peter calls after them.
PETER
Everything's going to be okay. I
bet Vi misses us like crazy. She'll
come crawling back any day now!
He smiles a little too confidently.
INT. BATHROOM - DAY
Steam fills the tiny room. VI is in the shower doing her best
Avril Lavigne impression. She's having a great time.
VI
(sings/butchers)
Why'd ya have to go and make things
so complicated?
Acting like you're somebody else
getting me frustrated.
Honestly you promise me I'm never
gonna find you fakin'. No, no, no.
Vi shuts off the water and gropes outside the plastic
curtain. She pulls back a tiny hand towel. Sighs.
She hops out of the tub and turns, just as...
SHANE walks in, wearing pajamas, a towel slung across his
shoulders. Vi yelps in alarm.
VI (CONT'D)
Shane!
He flings a hand over his face. Vi yanks the shower curtain
over to cover herself.
SHANE
Sorry! Sorry!
He retreats. The door slams behind him.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. EVANS RESIDENCE - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Shane leans against the door. His hand still covers his face
through now it's more due to embarrassment. A long beat.
SHANE
Vi?
Still clutching the shower curtain around her:
VI
Yeah?
SHANE
Sorry.
VI
It's okay.
SHANE
We should probably work out a
system or something, now that
you're staying here.
VI
Can I suggest knocking?
SHANE
Good call.
(beat)
So, are you excited for the uni
visit this week? At least it gets
us out of History, am I right?
He chuckles lightly. Vi doesn't.
VI
Really? You're gonna do this now?
SHANE
What's the rule here - no eye
contact for thirty minutes?
VI
Make it forty-five.
SHANE
Done.
He turns to leave when the door opens. Vi pops her head out.
She grabs the towel from around his neck.
VI
But could I just grab...? Thanks.
An awkward smile. She closes the door. Shane gulps, shakes
his head, and dumbly shuffles off screen.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - QUAD - DAY
A freshly cut lawn spider-webbed by pathways that lead to
clusters of collegiate looking buildings. A wide array of
STUDENTS gather to chat, to make-out, to catch up on sleep.
A GRUNGY GUY with an ill-advised soul patch hands out flyers.
One ends up in the hands of Shane as he passes.
SHANE
Check it out. Our first uni party.
He hands the flyer to Vi who reads it with disdain.
VI
Vodka cruisers and ping-pong? Can't
miss that.
SHANE
(takes the flyer; folds it
away)
Knives to my soul, Vi. Knives.
VI
I'm sorry but I just think this
whole thing is a waste of time. For
all of us.
BIANCA clomps into frame, teetering on thick wedge sandals.
BIANCA
Just because you can't handle
higher education and the Company at
the same time doesn't mean others
can't. And by others I mean moi.
SHANE
Well, I'm excited. We'll get a tour
of the campus, check out some
classes, maybe even start a
political protest.
(fist in the air)
Down with this sort of thing!
This earns him some weird looks from the passing students.
VI
Check you out. Walking on the
brighter side of life.
(beat)
I guess you're fine with that whole
"New Doc" thing now?
SHANE
Fine might be reaching. It'll take
some getting used to and I'm not a
hundred percent sure what I'm
actually supposed to do as the new
Doc but at least Benson promised me
Head Office won't try to experiment
on my brain.
BIANCA
At least not until you settle in.
Vi leans around Shane to shoot her a glare. Then:
VI
What about Bonnie? Has she told you
any more about how this is supposed
to work?
BIANCA
Yeah. What happens when she stops
being Bonnie and goes back to being
some freaky ball of energy?
Shane takes a breath, a little daunted at the thought.
SHANE
She said it'll be like...
intuition. When she needs me to do
something...
VI
You'll just know.
SHANE
Exactly.
He smiles. A beat as they hold each others gaze.
EXT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - LAWN - LATER
Vi, Shane and Bianca gather with a bunch of other high school
students. Vi flips through her tour booklet.
VI
The dining hall doesn't even have a
sundae bar. What a gyp.
SHANE
Shh!
He points ahead where a pretty black girl comes to stand in
front of the group. FAYE (23) is shy, plainly dressed and
lacking the confidence she so rightly should possess.
FAYE
(nervous wave)
Hi. Hi, everyone.
Most of the group don't even notice her. She clambers onto a
nearby bench. This gets their attention.
FAYE (CONT'D)
Welcome to Garreton University. My
name's Faye and I'll be your tour
guide for the next few days.
As she continues, Shane leans over to whisper in Vi's ear.
SHANE
You think she's related to Benson?
VI
Jeez, Shane! Just because they're
both black! I thought you were --
Shane shows her the back of the tour booklet. Under the tour
guide heading is her name: 'Faye Benson'.
VI (CONT'D)
Oh.
INT. THE COMPANY - BENSON'S OFFICE - DAY
A clock TICKS softly in the background. BENSON, seated at his
desk, smooths his fingers along the edge of a photo frame.
A sharp KNOCK at the door.
Benson places the photo on his desk - revealing a high school
graduation snap of Faye and an older woman, her mother.
BENSON
Come in.
He repositions himself over paperwork as GABRIELLE enters.
BENSON (CONT'D)
What can I do for you, Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Sir, we may have a problem.
She slaps down a thick manila folder and puts her hands
behind her back, feet apart. As Benson leafs through:
GABRIELLE (CONT'D)
The surveillance department has
reported a spike in some
undesirable activity.
(beat)
Mostly civilian chatter about
strange people showing up out of
the blue and helping them or
seemingly ruining their lives.
Also, elevators. Lots of people
suddenly very interested in those.
BENSON
I see. Send out some teams. A few
simple memory wipes should do it.
He closes the file and pushes it back to her.
GABRIELLE
I'm afraid it won't be that easy.
This chatter - it's coming from
people who have already had their
memories erased.
(beat)
They're starting to remember.
A grim beat as Benson realises the severity. Gabrielle takes
out her mobile, ready to dial.
GABRIELLE (CONT'D)
I can inform Abigail Ford if you
want to --
BENSON
No.
GABRIELLE
No?
Benson stands.
BENSON
I want to keep this away from
Abigail for the time being.
Gabrielle considers him. She puts her mobile away.
GABRIELLE
Alistair, if there were something
going on that I needed to know...
BENSON
I'd tell you.
(beat)
If there were something.
GABRIELLE
(beat; nods)
Guess I'll keep digging then.
BENSON
Appreciated. Thank you.
As she heads for the door, her face unreadable:
GABRIELLE
Just doing my job, Sir.
INT. GARRETON HERALD - NEWSROOM - DAY
The room hums. Peter is at his desk in a cramped back corner.
Someone dumps a stack of papers in front of him. Peter sighs
and sifts through the pile. Unsettling headlines flash by -
'3 dead in helicopter crash, inexperience to blame',
'Arsonist still at large', 'Domestic violence on the rise'.
PETER
(under his breath)
World's falling apart...
WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Morgan!
The tall and striking EVIE MALONE (early 40s but tells people
she's 29) snaps her fingers at him from across the room.
Peter is up like a shot. He jogs over to her.
PETER
Yes, Evie?
She beckons for him to walk with her. They jet off through
the newsroom. Everyone leaps out of Evie's way as she nears.
EVIE
You're a writer, aren't you?
PETER
Well, fact-checker but --
EVIE
You used to write novels, right? I
read one once. Something about a
mystery solving...
She clicks her fingers for the end of the sentence.
PETER
Organic vegetable farmer. "Beet to
Death". B-E-E-T, get it?
He chuckles. Evie doesn't. Peter shrinks.
PETER (CONT'D)
It wasn't my best.
Evie stops outside a row of offices.
EVIE
How'd you like to put some of that
imagination back to work?
PETER
Are you... Are you asking me to
write an article?
EVIE
(laughs)
I'm not that desperate. No, I'm
talking about the advice column.
PETER
But that's Sam's page.
EVIE
And it still would be, if he
bothered to show up. Sam's M.I.A.
She taps the frosted glass door nearest to them. The words
'Sam Fielding, Advice Columnist' are still there.
EVIE (CONT'D)
So, do you want the gig or not?
Peter looks stunned. Not sure how to respond.
EXT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - WALKWAY - DAY
Faye leads the group of about fifteen high school students -
including Vi, Shane and Bianca - along an undercover walkway.
FAYE
Now, this wing of the university
has a long and interesting history.
A few of the group stifle groans. Faye smiles cheekily.
FAYE (CONT'D)
Just kidding. It was built in 2005.
They near some glass double doors.
FAYE (CONT'D)
But it does house our brand new
state of the art library. In we go.
She pulls one of the doors open and holds it for the students
as they file past. Vi and Shane hang near the back.
SHANE
You should ask her.
VI
About what?
SHANE
About Benson.
VI
I've learned my lesson when it
comes to meddling. Remember Jenna
and a certain psycho ex?
SHANE
You're not meddling. Just making
conversation.
He disappears into the library. This leaves Vi as the last in
line. She stops and Faye curiously lets the door fall closed.
FAYE
You're not coming in?
VI
You know how criminals aren't too
fond of the police? Well, I've been
racking up late fees since kindy.
Faye laughs. Vi awkwardly leans against a pillar.
VI (CONT'D)
Hey, uh, weird question. You
wouldn't happen to be related to an
Alistair Benson, would you?
Faye's pleasant expression is replaced with shock.
VI (CONT'D)
Aaaand stunned silence means I've
crossed a line. I didn't mean to --
FAYE
He was my dad. I was just a baby
when he died. How did you know?
VI
I, ah, I recognised your last name.
My little brother likes to collect
old obituaries. I've tried to get
him into stamp collecting but...
(beat; guilty)
I didn't mean to make you
uncomfortable.
Faye smiles and shakes her head. She's about to speak when
GRIFFIN (22, lanky hipster type) appears and grabs her.
GRIFFIN
Faye! Thank God! Hide me!
Vi looks surprised but Faye seems used to it.
FAYE
Hide you from what?
GRIFFIN
Tucker! He keeps after me to hand
out flyers for his friggin' party.
FAYE
Griff, you're his roommate. Just
tell him no.
Griffin puts his head on her shoulder and moans pathetically.
GRIFFIN
But he's so hot!
The goatee guy from earlier - the one handing out flyers -
joins them. This is TUCKER (22). He slaps a handful of flyers
into Griffin's chest and winks.
TUCKER
Help me with these and maybe we can
work something out, stud.
CARLY (19, cute in a ditzy sort of way) bounces at Tucker's
side. She pulls the lollipop from her mouth and pouts.
CARLY
Enough with the boy-flirting,
Tucker. We're late for class.
TUCKER
Lighten up, babe. We're young. We
should be enjoying the sunshine,
making new friends...
(spots Vi)
Hello, there. Faye, gonna introduce
us?
FAYE
Sure, sorry. These are my friends.
Griffin, his roommate Tucker and
Tucker's girlfriend, Carly. Guys,
this is...
She squints. She doesn't know Vi's name.
VI
Vi. Nice to meet you...
Vi spots something out of the corner of her eye. It's ANDREW,
out in the courtyard, looking lost.
VI (CONT'D)
And I'll be right back.
She hurries off. The others watch her as she goes.
GRIFFIN
She's cute. Can we keep her?
EXT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - COURTYARD - DAY
Vi joins Andrew and taps him on the arm. He turns around.
VI
Hey, what are you doing here?
ANDREW
Feeling nostalgic for my med school
days. Oh, and there's this.
He pulls BONNIE into frame. She smiles and waves.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
I tried to call but it went
straight to voicemail.
VI
Yeah, my phone's dead and I left
the charger at home.
BONNIE
You should go home and get it.
VI
Is that an assignment or just you
trying to be helpful?
BONNIE
I'm not being helpful?
VI
(beat; unamused)
Is there something you wanted to
tell me, Bonnie?
BONNIE
Faye.
VI
Faye?
BONNIE
(nods)
Faye.
VI
(sighs)
Faye.
She looks back to the walkway. Faye is now talking to a terse
looking woman - PROFESSOR DAWSON. They walk off together.
Vi frowns.
INT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - CORRIDOR - DAY
Vi walks along, looking around. She's lost them. She hears
VOICES from a nearby classroom.
FAYE (O.S.)
Professor Dawson, please. There's
been a mistake.
PROFESSOR DAWSON (O.S.)
You're my TA, Faye. The tests were
accessed from my account. You were
the only other person with access.
FAYE (O.S.)
But that doesn't mean I stole them.
Vi slides along the wall, nearing the door. She peeks in.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
Faye and Professor Dawson stand in the empty room. Faye is
distressed - arms folded, hugging herself protectively.
FAYE
You know me. Why would I steal
those tests from the university's
intranet? I don't even take Intro
to Archaeology!
There's a beat. Professor Dawson arches an eyebrow.
PROFESSOR DAWSON
I never said which classes they
were for, Faye.
Faye's face drops. Professor Dawson leans in, her eyes cold.
PROFESSOR DAWSON (CONT'D)
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed
your time here. Believe me, it
won't last much longer.
She turns on her heel and stalks out. Vi flattens herself
against the corridor wall as Professor Dawson walks off.
Vi looks shocked, not wanting to believe what she just heard.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. THE COMPANY - LAB - NIGHT
A stark white room filled with silent machines. Four
exhausted TECHNICIANS work over what looks like a row of
slender metallic flashlights. The memory wiping devices.
INT. THE COMPANY - DOC'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Benson and Jenna watch through the window of Doc's cluttered
office. Bulging cardboard boxes are stacked on every surface -
a halfhearted attempt to clear the place out.
Jenna faces the lab, her arms folded.
JENNA
The devices are deteriorating.
Something in their design means
that the effects of the memory wipe
aren't lasting like they should.
(turns to Benson)
But there's one thing that doesn't
make sense to me. Why haven't we
heard of this happening anywhere
else? Why is it just Garreton?
Benson opens one of the boxes. It is packed with exercise
books. Journals. Benson leafs through one, taking in the
nonsensical scribblings of a madman.
BENSON
Doc.
JENNA
Benson, we went through all his
paperwork when he was first taken.
It's all nonsense.
BENSON
Maybe to us.
(putting the journal
aside)
But what I mean, Jenna, is that Doc
invented this technology. He
pioneered it. After the testing
phase, his designs were implemented
in branches the world over.
(beat)
Except for this one.
JENNA
What are you saying?
BENSON
The memory wiping devices in
Garreton - both those used by
Fixers and Breakers - they're not
like the others. They're the
designs Doc was working on, trying
to make them better. More
effective.
JENNA
Well, obviously he failed.
(beat)
And Head Office authorised this?
Guilt flashes across Benson's face. He says nothing. Jenna
looks surprised then narrows her eyes in annoyance.
She leans down, her arms resting on the back of an office
chair, to collect herself.
JENNA (CONT'D)
So does this mean that everyone
that got a dose of Doc's prototypes
are going to start remembering?
BENSON
It seems like only the strongest
held memories are resurfacing.
A beat. He looks down at her sadly.
BENSON (CONT'D)
I considered Doc my friend, Jenna.
I trusted him.
JENNA
I know.
She sighs and straightens up.
JENNA (CONT'D)
Maybe we can tell Abigail that we
lost all of ours. Ask for some
replacements. She might not think
you're totally incompetent.
She offers a cheeky smile. Benson smiles back. Then, the
hopelessness settles over them. They look back to the lab.
JENNA (CONT'D)
What are we going to do? It's not
like Doc left us a repair manual.
A thought strikes Benson.
BENSON
I don't think we'll need one...
INT. GARRETON UNIVERSITY - DORM COMMON ROOM - NIGHT
Shane stands in a line of students, each of them chugging a
cans of beer. The crowd yells encouragement over the MUSIC.
Shane, standing in between Tucker and Griffin, finishes his
can first. He throws it down and raises his arms in triumph.
The crowd is audibly disappointed in the outcome. Tucker
finishes off his beer and claps Shane on the back.
TUCKER
You should consider applying for
GU, Shane. You'd fit right in.
(waves his empty can)
Another? Griff?
Both Shane and Griffin wave him off. Tucker shrugs.
TUCKER (CONT'D)
More for me.
He leaves. There's an empty table nearby. Griffin sits, Shane
follows suit. Griffin takes a swig of his half-full beer.
GRIFFIN
So, you got a boyfriend, High
School? That's my nickname for you.
High School. It's cute, right?
SHANE
I'm, uh... That's not me.
GRIFFIN
Guess you're right. Does make you
sound a little "jail-baity".
SHANE
I mean the gay thing. Because
I'm... not.
A beat as Griffin scrutinizes him. He sighs, heaves himself
up and walks away, not looking back. Shane looks put out.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Nice talking to you too.
Vi appears and bobs down beside him.
VI
Something's not right about this
"Faye Benson is a cheater" thing.
SHANE
What are we gonna do about it?
VI
David and I are going to check out
her dorm room while everyone's
distracted.
SHANE
You need any help?
VI
We've got it covered. You have fun.
She pats his shoulder and smiles, then moves off.
BIANCA (O.S.)
Because they certainly will.
He turns. Bianca has appeared in Griffin's empty seat - a
vodka cruiser in one hand. Shane sits, suspicious.
SHANE
What is that supposed to mean?
BIANCA
As much as I hate that office
gremlin Judy, she's always good for
a bit of gossip.
(leans forward; wicked
smile)
I heard that Morgan and the
beefcake took the plunge.
SHANE
They got married?!
BIANCA
They had sex, idiot.
She leans back and takes a sip. Shane is flabbergasted.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.