ACT I
INT. WOODCOMB LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Devon and Ellie are cozily curled up on the couch, watching
TV. The station is tuned to the News Ring Network.
Logan Reed smiles charismatically at the camera.
LOGAN
For those just joining us, I'm
Logan Reed. Tonight, we investigate
the ever-rising cost of candles in
America. Erika Strauss reports...
ERIKA
Thank you, Logan.
A nearly nonsensical reports drones on in the background. On
the coffee table, Ellie's phone buzzes. She grabs and opens
it. She smiles then uses the remote to turn off the TV.
DEVON
Babe, what are you doing? I was...
Devon shakes his head.
DEVON (CONT'D)
Why was I getting invested in a
report about candles in America?
ELLIE
Exactly. You need to go to bed.
DEVON
You're not coming with me?
He wraps his arms around her.
ELLIE
Sarah's coming over.
Devon tilts his head.
DEVON
It's almost midnight.
Ellie slips out of his grasp.
ELLIE
It's a girl thing.
Devon grins suggestively.
DEVON
Awesome.
Ellie furrows her brow. Devon forces an innocent look.
ELLIE
Did you really just go there?
DEVON
The only place I'm going is to bed,
Babe. Besides, you know I'm not the
kind of guy who gets in the way of
two girls... on a mission.
EXT. WOODCOMB RESIDENCE - NIGHT
Casey sits in his car a little way down the street. He lets
out a curious grunt as Sarah walks up to the front door.
The car door opens. Casey looks up in alarm, reaching for
his gun, but leaves it when he sees Vanessa. She climbs in.
VANESSA
Do you ever sleep?
CASEY
It's only midnight.
(beat)
How'd you sneak up on me like that?
VANESSA
Practicing my stalker skills.
Vanessa holds out a Subway bag to Casey.
VANESSA (CONT'D)
So... what are you doing here?
CASEY
Taking care of some personal
business.
Casey takes the bag. He pulls out the sub and sets it on the
dash then pulls out a cookie. He smiles very, very briefly.
VANESSA
Tailing Sarah is personal business?
CASEY
I didn't say it was my personal
business... or how I was going to
take care of it.
A beat as Casey take a bite of the cookie.
VANESSA
I have something else for you.
Casey cocks an eyebrow.
CASEY
I hope it's a link into the house
surveillance feed.
VANESSA
Sorry. Dr. Bartowski is a bit
private when it comes to family.
Casey takes another bite of cookie. Vanessa pulls out a
small case and holds it out to Casey.
VANESSA (CONT'D)
Totally unrelated. But really cool.
Casey holds the remaining half of his cookie in his mouth as
he takes and opens the case. An ammo clip lays inside.
CASEY
If you were my real stalker, you'd
already know I always carry plenty
of extra ammo.
VANESSA
None like this.
Casey holds the clip up and examines it, finishing his
cookie as Vanessa speaks:
VANESSA (CONT'D)
My newest invention. Let's say, you
shoot a guy and he gets away. How
do you find him?
CASEY
Follow the blood trail?
VANESSA
Or... use the global positioning
and tracking chip that was
implanted when you shot him.
Casey takes another look at the clip.
CASEY
GPS bullets?
VANESSA
They're already synced up with all
your tracking devices. Enjoy.
Vanessa starts to get out of the car.
CASEY
Quinton?
She pauses and looks back at Casey.
CASEY (CONT'D)
Thanks.
INT. UNDERGROUND LAB - NIGHT
Steve sits in front of a computer. He has several video
feeds pulled up: Chuck's living room, Ellie's kitchen,
Casey's car across the street, the trashcan entrance.
A crash sounds just before Vanessa enters via the portal.
VANESSA
You're just as bad as Casey.
Steve ignores her and touches the window for Ellie's
kitchen. It takes over the whole screen. Steve pulls out a
set of headphones and plugs into his monitor.
VANESSA (CONT'D)
Maybe worse.
Vanessa walks over to her work bench.
INT. WOODCOMB KITCHEN - NIGHT
Ellie and Sarah sit next to each other on counter stools.
SARAH
Wow.
ELLIE
I know. This is so amazing.
Sarah nods.
ELLIE
I mean, this is amazing, right?
Sarah puts on a real smile.
SARAH
Of course.
ELLIE
(freaking out)
Because if you don't think it's
amazing, what's he going to think?
SARAH
I think... he'll think... it's...
(she grins)
Awesome.
Ellie matches her grin and raises her a squeal.
ELLIE
Thank you. Thank you, Sarah, for
sharing this moment with me.
Ellie gives Sarah a big hug, a few happy tears falling.
ELLIE
I hope you know this permanently
solidifies your position in the
Bartowkski-Woodcomb clan.
Sarah closes her eyes and swallows. In the living room, in
the background, the News Ring Network is still broadcasting.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CHUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Morgan watches the same channel. On screen, Erika Strauss
reports on the importance of sunscreen.
Down the hall, Chuck exits his bedroom in a t-shirt, pajama
bottoms and bare feet. He opens the door to Sarah's room.
Inside, the room looks like a home office, no bed deployed.
Chuck closes the door and walks on into the living room.
MORGAN
That took longer than I thought.
Chuck looks insulted.
MORGAN (CONT'D)
And, wow, I had no idea you were
so... experimental, Chuck.
CHUCK
Can we just... not...
MORGAN
Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure. Hey, do you
think Sarah'd let Anna borrow that
getup, huh? I have this fantasy--
CHUCK
So... whatcha watching, buddy?
Morgan smiles sheepishly.
MORGAN
The News.
Chuck's brow furrows until he sees the woman onscreen. She
shows the proper way to administer sunblock.
MORGAN (CONT'D)
Have you watched this channel
before? News Ring Network: We Watch
the World for You.
CHUCK
That's a little...
Chuck glances at the screen, focusing on the logo: a thin
red ring with an eye inside.
FLASH: A photo of the logo in a folder, a file on the Erika
Strauss, a photo of her shooting a gun, a dead CIA agent.
Chuck blinks out of the flash.
CHUCK (CONT'D)
Creepy.
Chuck slides down onto the couch, staring at the screen in
an almost trance-like state.
MORGAN
The lovely lady lathering herself
up is Ms. Er--
CHUCK
(monotone)
Erika Strauss.
MORGAN
They're all like her. The anchor
women are hotties. The anchormen
are Captain Awesome clones.
Chuck stares at the television screen, entranced.
INT. UNDERGROUND LAB - NIGHT
Steve watches Morgan and Chuck watching television. In the
background, Vanessa works at her station.
STEVE
What is this channel?
Steve grabs his keyboard and with a few keystrokes,
navigates away from the surveillance and to the News Ring
Network. He stares at Erika Strauss. Vanessa looks over.
VANESSA
News Ring. It's only been on the
air for about a week. Kind of the
MTV of news networks.
Steve stares at the screen.
STEVE
Something's not...
Vanessa looks at him curiously. Steve doesn't even blink.
VANESSA
Dr. Bartowski? Are you okay?
Steve stands up suddenly.
STEVE
Are you my handler?
VANESSA
No...
STEVE
Tell them nothing. I have to go.
Steve walks toward a small trap door in the wall by the
portal. He opens the trap door and climbs inside.
VANESSA
What are you doing?
Vanessa sighs and follows him into the passage.
EXT. WOODCOMB RESIDENCE - NIGHT
Sarah walks down the driveway. She glances at Casey's car,
but averts her eyes and picks up her pace toward her car.
CASEY (O.S.)
What the hell do you do you think
you're doing here, Walker?
Sarah freezes with her hand on her car door. Casey steps up,
out of the darkness, on the other side of the car.
SARAH
I think... I'm protecting my cover.
Casey scoffs and widens his eyes in disbelief.
SARAH
What is it you think I'm doing?
CASEY
I think you're screwing Chuck. And
I don't mean in the good way. At
least, not this time.
SARAH
Okay, you are way out of line.
CASEY
Says the broad who picks and
chooses what to tell the guy she's
supposed to be protecting.
SARAH
Supposed to be protecting? Chuck is
protected. Because of me.
CASEY
Chuck is confused because of you.
SARAH
You said yourself that I'm the only
one who knows how to handle
Chuck--so let me handle him.
CASEY
Handle, not manhandle.
Sarah stares at Casey.
SARAH
Trust me, I'm using kid gloves.
Casey coughs away a scoff. The sound of a trashcan lid
falling and spinning on the ground grabs their attention.
Down the street, Steve climbs out of one of two silver
trashcans then wanders down the street. Vanessa climbs out
and spots Casey and Sarah. She waves them over.
VANESSA
A little help?
They jog over. Steve walks slowly away from them. Vanessa,
Sarah and Casey follow behind.
CASEY
Experiment gone wrong?
VANESSA
I don't know. He was watching TV.
Then, all of a sudden, he said...
CHUCK (V.O.)
I have to go.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CHUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Chuck sits erect, staring at the television. Morgan lounges.
MORGAN
Yeah, tell me about. I've been
holding it for an hour. Hard to
drag yourself away from--
Morgan watches as Chuck stands up and walks toward the door.
MORGAN (CONT'D)
Whoa, hang on. Chuck?
Morgan hops up.
CHUCK
I have to go.
MORGAN
Okay. Go where?
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT
Vanessa, Sarah and Casey continue to follow Steve.
VANESSA
I don't know. All he'd say is--
CHUCK (V.O.)
It's a secret.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CHUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Chuck opens the front door.
MORGAN
Can I go, too?
CHUCK
I must go alone. Stay here.
MORGAN
Is this a joke? Is Ashton Kutcher
waiting outside right now? That
would explain the maid costume.
CHUCK
Don't tell Sarah and Casey.
MORGAN
Casey? Yeah, you know, me and Casey
don't really chat it up so I think
we're good. That man is unstable.
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT
Steve walks. The rest follow.
CASEY
Should I shoot him with one of my
fancy new bullets?
Sarah and Vanessa look mortified.
SARAH
Let's restrain him.
Casey nods. He and Sarah cut Steve off. Steve stops moving.
STEVE
Are you my handlers?
Casey and Sarah look to Vanessa. She shakes her head no.
SARAH
No.
STEVE
Tell them nothing.
CASEY
Sure, you got it. Lips are sealed.
STEVE
(to Sarah)
I'm going to be a grandpa.
Vanessa and Casey glance at each other.
SARAH
That's supposed to be a secret.
STEVE
(becoming more aware)
I'm supposed to go, but... I want
to stay. I don't want to go.
VANESSA
Go where, Dr. Bartowski?
INT. LIVING ROOM - CHUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Morgan blocks Chuck's path to the door.
MORGAN
This doesn't make any sense, Chuck.
Chuck takes off his watch and hands it to Morgan.
CHUCK
Put that on.
Morgan slips it on, looking at Chuck quizzically.
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - NIGHT
Steve stands surrounded by Vanessa, Sarah and Casey. They
all look at him apprehensively as he spins, looking at each
of them individually. He blinks a few times.
STEVE
(perfectly lucid)
If all of us are here, who's with
Chuck right now?
Sarah and Casey look at each other.
SARAH
Chuck's fine. He's at home, asleep.
CASEY
No, he's up fretting about his
cover girlfriend's "personal
business." And with good reason,
apparently.
Sarah rolls her eyes.
VANESSA
Actually, he was watching TV with
Morgan. That's how this started.
Dr. Bartowski turned on the News
Ring Network.
STEVE
The signal was encoded.
SARAH
Did you say... News Ring Network?
CASEY
Were they trying to make it easy?
STEVE
(ominous)
It won't be easy at all. And if
Morgan was the only thing standing
between Charles and the Ring... we
may already be too late.
INT. LIVING ROOM - CHUCK'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Morgan stands between Chuck and the door. He bends down to
pick up Chuck's shoes from where they lay by the front door.
MORGAN
At least put on some shoes before--
Chuck quickly reaches out and chops Morgan on the shoulder,
instantly knocking him out. He reaches down and grabs his
shoes from Morgan's hand then steps over him and exits.
END OF ACT I