When a young woman is kidnapped, secrets are revealed about Uno and another Centre 16 project...
FILE FIVE – Remembered Love
(Written by Jack, edited by Vokal)
EXT – CITY STREET – LATE AFTERNOON (TWILIGHT)
An ordinary city street, people abound. Among them, we pick up on a young Asian woman, who in pale jeans, runners and a short-sleeved button down shirt, fits right in with the bustling crowd. She's carrying a beige canvas satchel (typical modern school bag!) which seems to be full up with heavy books. She carries a bottle of water by the neck.
The woman, who we'll come to know as EMILIA, turns off the street and into a large park which, surrounded by tall trees and bushes, is well hidden from the street. Emilia follows the gravel path at a brisk pace, checking her watch as she goes.
Just as she passes under an outdoor lamp, two men jump from the brush on one side of the path and push Emilia into the bushes on the other side. Taken by surprise, she is quickly pinned down in the tiny area which seems to have been cleared.
One of the men looks to other, and the second man nods. The first one, having pressed a cloth in her mouth, relents his grip on Emilia's neck, and stands, content with his boot planted firmly on her stomach. He pulls a walkie-talkie out of his pocket and presses down a button.
MAN #1
Captain, we've got her.
CAPTAIN'S VOICE (from speaker)
Good. Don't muck it up.
The first man slips the walkie-talkie back into his pocket, and from a slim pack around his waist produces a capped syringe and a penlight. He pulls off the cap and depresses the plunger slightly, so a small amount of liquid spurts out. Emilia sees the needle and begins to squirm in desperation.
MAN #1
Hold still!
He kneels down, placing his knee on her chest and the small torch in his mouth as he grabs her arm and pins it to the ground, and quickly, professionally, puts the needle into her arm and depresses the plunger. Emilia's struggles quickly subside and her eyelids droop.
The two men pick her up, support her weight between them, and as they move out of the clearing onto the path, we see her bag and water bottle left lying on the ground. They hurry out of the park the way she came in to find a waiting van, the door open. The two men push her in and man number one slides the door shut as it drives away.
OPENING CREDITS
From 1982 – 1998, an insular, secretive agency known only as 'The Centre', carried out the most advanced program ever attempted by such an organization. The program, deemed 'Project Prodigy', involved the most talented and intelligent minds of this millennia; 15 children, raised from infancy in the sub-levels of Centre 16, Salt Lake City, Utah, whose collective intelligence exceeded even advanced computer systems. They were The Prodigies. Child Geniuses. A resource unlike any other. A living super-computer with the ability to think, feel and predict. For more than a decade these children fabricated some of the most highly developed systems and programs ever created by the human mind… until one night, The Prodigies ran away…
CUT TO: EXT – (OUTSIDE VIEW) CENTRE 16, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
CUT TO: INT – PRODIGY WING TECH ROOM, CENTRE 16
Text on Screen: Tech Room, Sub-level 2
Prodigy Wing, Centre 16
JC sits at his computer in the room. He is the only one there, all the other places are unoccupied and most computers are covered with drop cloths. Miss Monroe enters the room, JC oblivious to everything except the information on the screen in front on him.
MISS MONROE
(nose screwed up in contempt)
Nice place you have here.
JC jumps at the sound of her voice and turns around in his chair.
JC
(attempting to be jovial)
Miss M! What brings you here?
MISS MONROE
(slightly confused)
I thought you did. Didn't you leave a memo on my desk to come down first thing?
JC
No.
MISS MONROE
You said you had something important to show me.
JC
Wasn't me…
In the background, one of the uncovered computer screens comes to life, a pale blue glow which catches the attention of JC
JC
What's that doing on?
He rolls his seat across the floor down to the glowing screen and is about to turn it off when he pauses, points to the screen…
JC
Miss M, you better see this.
Miss Monroe walks the few paces and leans over the desk. On the screen is an open window, words appearing.
ON SCREEN:
Q: How much is info on one of your science projects worth to you?
The cursor blinks for a minute until Miss Monroe grabs the mouse, clicks 'reply' and taps at the keyboard.
ON SCREEN:
Depends who's asking.
MISS MONROE
(while typing)
JC, can you trace this?
Straight away, more words appear on screen.
ON SCREEN:
Don't bother trying to trace this transmission.
Answer the Question.
As Miss Monroe types, JC jumps up, grabs his own laptop and starts fiddling with wires in the background, plugging things in and typing on his own keyboard.
ON SCREEN:
A: If you have good stuff you'll get good money
The reply pops up
ON SCREEN:
Q: How much?
A: Enough. Let's meet F2F.
Q: Is it worth 12.05 million?
A: Depends how much there is.
Q: Do you really want to risk it?
A: Risk what?
Q: The info going to someone else?
Miss Monroe pauses. The cursor blinks and a final message appears.
ON SCREEN:
You have until the same time tomorrow.
The screen abruptly goes black. JC pops up from behind the screen, a smile on his face.
JC
(sly grin, happy with himself)
Got 'em.
CUT TO: EXT – RESTAURANT – AFTERNOON
A freshly painted sign above door proclaims it to be the Rybeck East Tea House.
Cars drive and people walk by.
CUT TO: INT – RESTAURANT – AFTERNOON
Mercedes, dressed in a waitresses uniform, and is bustling about the busy kitchen
She is frantic as other waitresses duck in and out the kitchen. Her hair is a mess, and she looks quite disorganised as we see her place three bowels on a tray.
An annoyed waitress hands her a carton. Mercie looks back blankly, and the waitress raises her eyebrows and looks past Mercie to a back door. Mercie nods stupidly and carries the carton away. She walks past a small office toward the back of the kitchen, where a middle aged man who we will know as THOMAS is sitting at his desk working a calculator and scrawling on a notepad. He sees Mercie and looks up, smiling.
THOMAS
How's everything going Mercedes?
MERCEDES
(lying)
Good... good.... you know, you didn't have to give me a job Thomas...
THOMAS
Oh please, it's the least I could do, if it weren't for you and your brother helping me out with that loan shark, i would've lost the place... not to mention my life...
Mercedes smiles awkwardly, takes the carton out back, and picks up the tray of food she was preparing before she went to take the carton out back.
WAITRESS #1
(peeks her head through the swinging kitchen door.)
Mercedes!
MERCEDES
(walking toward the waitress)
Yes?
WAITRESS #1
There's someone here who wants to talk to you!
MERCEDES
(pauses)
Who is it?
WAITRESS #1
(jerks her thumb over her shoulder)
He wouldn't tell me his name, just said he needs to see you.
Mercedes looks over the waitress' shoulder and sees UNO. She gives a small sigh of relief, and she gives a small smile
MERCEDES
It's okay, I've got it.
She steps out of the kitchen and into the dining room, placing the tray she was holding on the counter in front of the other waitresses. She takes Uno by the arm and leads him into a quiet room.
WAITRESS #2
(looking after them)
Who was that?
WAITRESS #1
(shrugs)
Maybe he's the boss' fella.
(glancing to the tray of food. On it are three bowels of a porridge-looking gunk. She winces at the thought of eating it)
How else would she have gotten this job?
CUT TO: INT – QUIET ROOM
Mercedes flicks on the light switch to reveal a bare room. She turns to face Uno.
MERCEDES
So what are you doing here?
UNO
Giving and receiving…
MERCEDES
…what?
UNO
Information. Help.
MERCEDES
In that order?
UNO
Possibly. Listen to this.
Uno pulls a micro cassette recorder from his pocket and depresses the play button. A TV newscasters' voice is heard.
NEWSCASTER'S VOICE (from player)
Police were baffled Tuesday by the disappearance of 21-year-old Emilia Tagaki, a foreign language student at the University of California. As yet no information has come to light about what may have happened. She was last seen in the vicinity of Mason Square Park at 6pm Tuesday evening. She has long black hair, brown eyes, weighs approximately 118 pounds, stands at 5 foot nine inches, and is of Asian appearance. If you have information as to her whereabouts –
Uno presses the stop button and then rewinds the tape. Mercedes stands, arms crossed across her chest, unimpressed.
MERCEDES
Can you tell me what that was about?
UNO
That tape was broadcast around the entire state on television, along with a picture. I saw the picture, Mercie. It's one of the Linguals.
MERCEDES
(Unbelieving)
Are you sure?
UNO
Her hair's longer, but I'm sure. I couldn't mistake her… I couldn't mistake anyone.
MERCEDES
So why are you here?
UNO
I need your help. I have her bag and a bottle of water she was holding when she was kidnapped. I want you to see if you can get anything from them.
MERCEDES
Why me? Trinity is back at the hotel. And you wouldn't be interrupting my work-day either.
UNO
(lookin at her skeptically, he had obviously seen her trying to 'work')
I would rather you.
MERCEDES
Trinity wouldn't like to hear that.
UNO
She's not going to.
MERCEDES
(sighs)
Let me see if I can get the rest of the shift off.
UNO
(Raising his eyebrows)
I don't think that that will be a problem
CUT TO: Miss Monroe's Office at Centre 16. Miss Monroe is seated, as is Calvin and Roschelle, in "guest chairs", JC leans against the back of Roschelle's.
Text on Screen: Prodigy Wing, Centre 16;
Salt Lake City, Utah
Calvin is scanning a handwritten transcript of the mysterious conversation. He drops it on Miss Monroe's desk.
CALVIN
I think they're bluffing.
ROSCHELLE
(surprised)
Why do you say that?
CALVIN
(motioning to the paper)
You said they asked for 12.05 million?
MISS MONROE
Yes
CALVIN
Nothing is worth that. They couldn't get anyone to buy anything, not even one of the kids themselves, for 12.05 big ones
JC
That's it!
ROSCHELLE
That's what?
JC
They have one of the kids. They have number five.
MISS MONROE
And you jump to this conclusion because…?
JC
Why else would they ask for such an obscene amount?
MISS MONROE
I don't know JC, it's a stretch.
ROSCHELLE
Wait, there was another project involving gifted children... not too long ago, dubbed project 12, it had five subjects
MISS MONROE
Well, The Centre sure does love terrorising little children
JC
They don't have information. They have one of the kids, a prodigy or one from this 'project 12' It's got to be something subtle, a game.
CALVIN
I know one person who knows a lot about these kids… but it's not a game to him.
ROSCHELLE
(grimly)
The Captain
MISS MONROE
The Captain?
CALVIN
He's a player, interested in only one thing - money. He had sources inside C-16, and managed to obtain highly classified information.
MISS MONROE
Who?
CALVIN
The original L&R sweepers. He offered them a stab at some cash, and they turned their backs on us faster than you can say 'traitor'. He got away that night in Vegas.
MISS MONROE
Why didn't you tell me you knew?
CALVIN
No point. He'd already gotten away and the man is as slimy as a snake.
JC
Snakes aren't slimy.
CALVIN
Thanks for the trivia. The point is, this man knows who and what he's looking for. And if this is him, we have an uphill battle in trying to get the information out of him.
A short pause.
MISS MONROE
JC, did you manage to find out where they were coming from?
JC
Still working on it. I got the source code and I'm running it through automatic decryption as we speak. I should have the provider location within the hour.
MISS MONROE
Good.
CUT TO: EXT – THREE STORY BUILDING
Text on Screen: Tulandero Apartments,
Rybeck, California
Mercedes runs up the path and enters.
INT – MERCEDES' ROOM
Mercedes grabs her bag and begins throwing odds and ends inside. Dina appears in the doorway, looking sleepy.
DINA
Mercedes, what's going on? For a minute I thought there were sweepers in here taking the place apart.
MERCEDES
Sorry I woke you. I have to go.
DINA
Where?
Mercedes pauses, she doesn't really want to reveal that Uno has contacted her individually.
MERCEDES
I need to help a friend. That's all I can tell you.
DINA
Mercedes, if you're going to –
MERCEDES
No, I'm not going back there. But I'm going away for a day or two and who knows if you guys will still be here by then.
DINA
(Seeing the point, nodding slowly)
Okay. Is there anything I can do?
Mercedes reaches up and takes off her necklace. She drops it in a plastic bag and hands it to Dina.
MERCEDES
If you really need to find me… maybe Trinity can get something off this.
DINA
(understanding)
Sure.
Mercedes flashes a small smile, flings her bag over her shoulder and goes to walk past Dina, out the door. Dina raises a hand and puts it on Mercedes' shoulder. Mercedes stops.
DINA (cont.)
Take care
MERCEDES
(nodding)
You too.
Mercedes exits and Dina remains leaning in the doorway.
CUT TO: EXT – RYBECK PUBLIC LIBRARY
CUT TO: INT – RYBECK PUBLIC LIBRARY, READING ROOM.
The camera pans from the sign on the door and we see Uno sitting in one of the over-stuffed chairs with several books open in his lap.
We close in as Uno leans back in the chair and closes his eyes. He has a short FLASHBACK
Flashing images of a teenage girl (approx 16 years old) we will know as SAKURA. Particularly is one shot shown several times, SAKURA's face is happy and smiling, intermixed with facial shots of YOUNG UNO – 18 YEARS OLD, also smiling happily. The faces match up and seem to be one.
At that moment, the flashback disappears, Uno has been shaken awake.
ELDERLY MALE LIBRARIAN
Are you okay, young man?
UNO
Uh, yeah… thanks.
The books that were on his lap have fallen to the floor, Uno leans down to pick them up.
UNO (cont.)
Sorry
The librarian nods and takes the books Uno hands him, then moves off. Mercedes enters the room carrying her large backpack over one shoulder. She puts a hand on Uno's shoulder. He smiles, relieved that she has come and gestures for her to sit down. She does so, then speaks her mind.
MERCEDES
So, you said you were going to explain all this.
UNO
As much as I can
MERCEDES
You mentioned the Linguals. I thought they were a fairy tale, a joke.
UNO
You never trained with them…
MERCEDES
No, I guess there wasn't much call for interlingual empathy.
UNO
Look, I don't want to talk about all that –
MERCEDES
I do. Tell me everything. Please.
Uno pauses and takes a deep breath, then begins.
UNO
The Linguals..., 'project 12', were a spin-off of the Prodigy Project. We… were all under Monroe's control, but – but things weren't the same.
Mercedes understands he is referring to some of the horrible sims they have done and the experiments conducted. She nods.
MERCEDES
Go on.
UNO
These kids… they had a gift for languages. Before they were one year old, they were all showing signs of advanced speech and brain capacity. So Centre 16 did what Centre 16 does best…
MERCEDES
Took innocent kids away from their families for their own use.
UNO
(dryly)
Bingo! There were five of them, and they were brought up in a special part of the Prodigy wing. I started working with some of them when I was seventeen or eighteen and I think Justin worked with them a bit too. There was only a few of us doing it.
MERCEDES
Kind of like a crossover episode on TV? In the first hour a few characters from the second show are on the first and in the second hour, visa-versa?
UNO
You've been doing your homework out here.
MERCEDES
(shrugging)
I liked that show, er, 'Profiler'. To think they had to shoot all those extra frames and everything! I get that all the time, free of charge, no remote required. Anyway… back to the Linguals…
UNO
(reluctantly)
We did sims with them sometimes. We always spoke designated languages. Chinese, German, Spanish, Japanese, French, but never English. The kids were never allowed to learn it… I was teamed up with Emilia, and we spoke Japanese, Chinese and Spanish, which were my best languages. Something went wrong at one stage and all five of them were discharged from Centre 16.
MERCEDES
Discharged?
UNO
Released. I've done a bit of digging and it seemed they were sent to foster homes arranged through –
MERCEDES
Let me guess. A Centre 16-funded Social Service Sector?
UNO
(sighing)
Should I bother to fill in the rest of the blanks?
MERCEDES
I think I've got a handle on it. But what's so special about this girl?
UNO
What?
MERCEDES
Well, why is it so important to you that we get this girl, er, Emilia, out of whatever jam she's in?
Uno pauses and a quick flash of Sakura's face, followed by a flash of Emilia: We realise that Sakura IS Emilia. He takes a breath.
UNO
Because she's one of us, and she's in trouble.
MERCEDES
(looking at him astutely)
Good enough. Where's her stuff?
UNO
My place. Let's go.
CUT TO: INT – DINA/TRINITY'S HOTEL ROOM
Justin, Luke, Dina and Trinity are sitting around the room: Luke and Trinity sit next to each other on a small couch, Justin on the edge of one of the single beds and Dina sits back-to-front on a wooden desk chair.
JUSTIN
How could she just take off alone like that?
LUKE
She's not a soldier, Justin, she doesn't take orders. Mercie's a free agent, and if she wants to go off on her own for a bit –
JUSTIN
But why didn't she tell us where she was going?
DINA
Too much of a security risk, Justin… if someone's captured, then imagine the things Centre 16 would do in order to get a location out of them.
TRINITY
You're the one who drilled that into us.
JUSTIN
I just never thought she'd turn it around on me like that.
Justin is obviously concerned. He jumps up, restless.
JUSTIN (cont.)
Look, I'm going to skip dinner.
He pulls out his wallet, takes out a few bills and hands them to Dina.
JUSTIN (cont.)
Knock yourselves out.
Justin leaves the room. The other three sit silently for a minute, then Dina holds up the money Justin just gave her with a devilish grin on her face.
DINA
Well, he told us to go for it…
CUT TO: INT – JUSTIN/LUKE'S ROOM
Justin flops down on his bed and idly picks up the remote from the table between his and Luke's bed. He points it at the television on the bench, but it doesn't turn on. Sighing, he gets up and manually presses the power button. The sound starts first as Justin backs away to sit down again and then he looks up to see a news anchor.
NEWS ANCHOR
Three days on, the search for missing foreign languages student Emilia Tagaki has yet to pick up a strong lead as to what motivated what police now think to be a kidnapping.
A picture of Emilia, smiling and happy (obviously cropped from a larger photo of some joyous event) is shown on the screen and Justin gasps.
NEWS ANCHOR (cont.)
Emilia Tagaki has long black hair, brown eyes, weighs 118 pounds, stands at 5 foot nine inches, and is of Asian appearance. If you have information as to her whereabouts, please call the Crime-stoppers hotline on –
A wide shot of the room reveals that Justin has left again, the door left wide open.
CUT TO: EXT – CENTRE 16 (MORNING)
CUT TO: INT – PRODIGY WING TECH ROOM, CENTRE 16
Miss Monroe, JC and Roschelle are waiting. Miss Monroe sits at the computer used the day before; and JC sits next to her, wires and clips connecting the desktop and his laptop already in place. Rochelle stands behind Miss Monroe's chair, arms crossed, not convinced. In her clasped hand is a folder labelled 'Project 12'.
MISS MONROE
(looking at her watch)
Where is Calvin? And where is our informant?
Behind them, a screen across the aisle comes to life.
ROSCHELLE
Calvin's not coming, he thinks this is a waste of time.
(she turns away as if to leave)
And so do –
(she spots the glowing screen, then speaks quietly)
Wrong screen, Miss Monroe.
MISS MONROE
What?
Miss Monroe and JC turn in their seats and see the other screen
JC
Damn!
As JC hurries to disconnect from the first computer and link up to the second, Miss Monroe rolls her seat across the aisle and reads the writing on the screen.
Q: Have you made your decision yet?
Miss Monroe types.
ON SCREEN
A: Yes
Q: And?
A: We'll pay if we can verify it.
Q: Do you have the money?
A: We have 5 million available. We believe the amount to be sufficient for the merchandise being offered.
When you have it in cash, call 06 793 751 548.
You have 24 hours, or we find another buyer.
We understand.
A thick blue line appears in the window and Miss Monroe knows the connection has been terminated.
MISS MONROE
(over her shoulder to Roschelle, who looks surprised)
Believe me now?
Roschelle nods almost dumbly, surprised. She opens the folder, sifts through some papers, and comes to photograph of Sakura/Emilia. In the corner is the text 'P12 - S05'
MISS MONROE
Did you get them, JC?
JC
Not enough time. Why didn't you keep them on the line?
MISS MONROE
I didn't want them getting suspicious.
At that moment Mr. Fallen enters, looks at the three of them around the computer.
MR FALLEN
Did we have a slumber party?
(he smirks)
Why wasn't I invited?
MISS MONROE
In case you haven't realized yet, we don't like you.
MR FALLEN
Should I take that as a compliment?
MISS MONROE
Only as one to our good taste.
(She stands)
Let's go, we have money to find.
Miss Monroe leaves, followed by Roschelle and JC, with cables trailing from his laptop, as Mr. Fallen watches. Once they are out of the room, he leans over and snaps the computer off, a satisfied look on his face.
CUT TO: EXT – MARRIOT HOTEL
Text on Screen: Marriot Hotel
Rogers City, California
CUT TO: INT – UNO'S SUITE
Mercedes steps out of one room, wrapped in a fluffy bathrobe. She walks over to a table, where a breakfast trolley is waiting, laden with several plates of breakfast food and a coffee pot and tea service. We see a close-up of the table, one plate is already finished, only the leftovers remain. She picks up a slice of toast and walks over to the window. (A clock in the background shows it is 8:30am)
UNO
(from behind)
Nice view, isn't it?
Mercedes jumps in surprise.
MERCEDES
Can't you walk up noisily behind someone for a change? Let them know you're coming?
UNO
Sorry
MERCEDES
It's okay. And yes, it's a nice view. When you said 'your place' I imagined something a little less spectacular
UNO
A bit more modest, perhaps?
MERCEDES
I must have been dreaming. What's modest with you around?
UNO
Obviously not you
He points to her robe, which has opened up and shows her upper leg. Mercedes gathers her robe closer around her, and Uno looks away.
MERCEDES
I meant a different 'modest', smarty-skirt
UNO
(idly, distracted, looking out the window)
Smarty-pants
MERCEDES
Whatever. Are we going to get started?
UNO
Whenever you're dressed
Uno turns and heads into his room, Mercedes walks in the opposite direction to hers.
CUT TO: JUSTIN/LUKE'S ROOM
Luke is shaving in front of the sink in a corner of the room, already dressed in a pair of mechanic's overalls. Justin is straightening his tie in the same cracked mirror Luke is using, looking over his shoulder. They seem to be continuing a conversation started earlier.
LUKE
Justin, calm down, okay? Mercie can take care of herself… she'll find us again soon enough.
JUSTIN
(worried)
I guess…
LUKE
(confident)
I know. Get your mind off your sister and go to work.
JUSTIN
Right.
Justin steps away from the mirror with his tie perfectly knotted, picks up a briefcase and walks out of the room.
LUKE
(To himself)
That fellow worries too much.
CUT TO: INT/EXT – RYBECK TRAIN STATION
We see Justin jump on a train bound for Rogers City just as the doors close.
CUT TO: INT – CENTRE 16 VAULTS
Text on Screen: Centre 16 Secure Vaults
Sub-level 1
Miss Monroe is talking urgently with an older man on the other side of the bars and bulletproof glass
MISS MONROE
I told you, I have the authority to remove 5 million dollars from these vaults: How can you argue with a directive from The Tower?
BURSER
Sorry Miss Monroe, but I need to see written authorisation.
JC rushes up and hands a faxed sheet through the small slot. The burser holds it up to read it and as the camera closes in we can see it is indeed a "Tower Directive" that appears to have been faxed from "The Centre; Blue Cove, Delaware". It has a short written statement which we don't see but assume indeed releases the money because:
BURSER
(sighing)
Alright, alright. 20 minutes.
MISS MONROE
Make it fifteen, Junior.
CUT TO: INT – UNO'S SUITE
Mercedes is now dressed in jeans and tank top, sitting on the floor of the lounge room in the sunlight flooding in from the window with her eyes closed. Uno walks in, making noticeable noise and Mercedes smiles slightly. Uno comes up beside her and without opening her eyes, she holds her hands out. Uno leans down and places a chunky book which we see is a Japanese-English Dictionary in her hands and Mercedes gets a VISION
A hurried flash shows dark shadows and a fuzzy shape moving in the background
MERCEDES
(quietly, as if to herself)
C'mon, Emilia, focus. Focus!
She puts the dictionary down and holds her hands out again, Uno places another book in her hands but while doing it, his hands touch hers and she gets a different VISION
Young Uno and Sakura (Young Emilia) are kissing in a shadow when someone pulls Sakura away roughly
Mercedes puts down the book and holds her hands up again, not interrupting to confront Uno. As Uno hands her another book, the camera pulls away…
CUT TO: EXT – ROGERS CITY POLICE STATION
Text on Screen: Rogers City Police Precinct 203
CUT TO: INT – ROGERS CITY P.D. DETECTIVE OFFICE
Justin sits at the back of a briefing room with at least 10 other detectives in attendence.
The senior detective,
DETECTIVE MICHAEL YEARLING ~ Mid 30's ~ Male
Is making an announcement.
Detective YEARLING
Folks, this is the fourth day of our search and during the night we got no new leads. We're still working in the locale; trying to find the last person who saw her.
He points to a whiteboard with pictures of Emilia, the park entrance and several other places in the park.
YEARLING
This is our last chance, if we don't get anything good today, odds are that she won't be found alive.
Justin pipes up.
JUSTIN
You said there were no leads, Sir. No anonymous tips?
The senior detective stops his spiel and stares at Justin, several other detectives in the room also turn to look at him.
YEARLING
What's your name, son?
JUSTIN
Murray, Sir, Justin Murray
YEARLING
And when I say there have been no tips, Murray, there have been no tips. Anonymous or otherwise. Understand?
JUSTIN
Yes Sir, I was just –
YEARLING
It doesn't matter what you were "just". We have a girl to find and only another 24 hours tops to find her. Let's go, people!
The meeting breaks up and the other detectives get up and leave the room noisily, leaving Justin still at his desk and Yearling still at the front of the room.
YEARLING
Got a problem, Murray?
JUSTIN
A small one, Sir.
Justin stands and walks to the front of the room, pointing to the whiteboard.
JUSTIN (cont.)
If it was determined she was kidnapped in the park, why wasn't it closed off ASAP? And why did we wait so long to begin investigating? Tagaki's been missing five and a half days and –
YEARLING
And we had to wait the regulation 24-hours to make sure she was missing and not waylaid.
JUSTIN
Waylaid?
YEARLING
Stopped at a boyfriend's house and hasn't told anyone. Or a friend's house. Or just decided to take off for a bit of quiet.
JUSTIN
She doesn't have a boyfriend, rooms with three of her best friends and is in the middle of the college semester. Sound to you like she'd "take off for a bit of quiet"?
YEARLING
(angrily)
Look, Murray, I don't know why on earth you were reassigned to us this morning but surely they don't stand for this kind of impertinence wherever you come from. Do you always talk to your superiors like this?
JUSTIN
Only when they act like idiots. You waited an extra 12 hours to begin the search. Why?
YEARLING
(ego deflated)
To avoid… a panic.
JUSTIN
What kind of panic?
YEARLING
(despondent)
I was called at home and told that I took this case front-on my wife and kids wouldn't live to regret it.
JUSTIN
Did the callers identify themselves?
YEARLING
They just said they had her and they'd kill her and my family if I took it straight away. They said to wait until the next day to begin.
JUSTIN
You gave them a 12-hour head start to covering their tracks.
YEARLING
What could I do? And why am I telling you this?
JUSTIN
Nothing then. But you can do it now. And you're telling me because you care. You're a good cop Sir… just too easy to scare.
YEARLING
But…
JUSTIN
It doesn't matter – Only Emilia matters now.
Yearling nods, and leaves the room.
JUSTIN (cont.)
(to himself)
What are you doing, Mercie?
CUT TO: INT – MISS MONROE'S OFFICE, CENTRE 16
Miss Monroe sits at her desk, fingering a piece of paper. JC stands in front of her desk, Roschelle and Calvin are seated. Mr. Fallen enters and moves to the front of the desk, JC noticeably shys away, almost hiding behind Roschelle's chair.
MR FALLEN
So, have we made the all-important call yet?
MISS MONROE
(seemingly pulled out of a reverie)
No, not yet.
MR FALLEN
Well then, shall I?
Mr. Fallen puts his hand out for the paper. After a moment, Miss Monroe hands it to him and he smiles almost victoriously. He picks up her phone and dials. The call goes through.
MR FALLEN
Good afternoon. I believe we have some business to conduct.
(pause)
Fallen, Sir; Mr. Fallen. Co-Director of Special Projects.
(pause)
Well, Certainly.
He takes the phone away from his ear, covers the mouthpiece and offers it to Miss Monroe.
MR FALLEN
They want to talk to "the young lady they negotiated with".
(Miss Monroe leans forward to take it)
I'll leave it to you
As soon as Miss Monroe takes the receiver, Mr. Fallen leaves the room. JC visibly relaxes and Miss Monroe speaks.
MISS MONROE
Hello?
We hear the Captain's voice on the other end of the line.
CAPTAIN
Is this Miss Monroe?
MISS MONROE
(surprised)
Yes. Can I ask your name?
CAPTAIN
You can call me Captain. Now, we have some business to discuss. By now I'm sure you've realised that I have Subject Five of Project 12. May I be assured you have the money in order?
MISS MONROE
We do. 5 million
CAPTAIN
Excellent. My associates and I will choose a place to meet and we will get back to you within eight hours. May I call you at this number again?
MISS MONROE
Yes, and if I'm not here the call will be forwarded
CAPTAIN
Good. I look forward to doing business with you Miss Monroe.
The Captain hangs up and so does Miss Monroe
JC
What did he say, Miss M?
MISS MONROE
He said he was checking that the money was ready and that when he and his heavies are ready they'll call back to arrange the swap.
CALVIN
I still don't like this.
MISS MONROE
You wouldn't. It was your old friend the Captain. You didn't tell me he was foreign.
CALVIN
(puzzled)
Foreign?
MISS MONROE
Well he's not American – Perhaps British or Australian?
ROSCHELLE
No, he is an American. Well he was last time we spoke... about two months before the prodigy subjects escaped...
CUT TO: UNO'S SUITE
Uno and Mercedes are ready to leave: 2 bags and a briefcase are packed and waiting near the door. Uno now wears jeans, a dark shirt and a thigh-length leather jacket and is sitting at a table, checking his gun. Mercedes enters the room silently from behind and sees the gun. She quickly exits; Uno hasn't noticed her. She walks back down the hallway, then re-enters, making more noise, giving Uno time to slip the gun into his waistband under the jacket. Mercedes has also changed, from her tank top into a dark long-sleeved shirt and she is now wearing heavy boots.
MERCEDES
Ready ?
UNO
Yeah, let's get going.
They pick up their bags at the door and leave the suite.
CUT TO: INT – ROGERS CITY POLICE STATION: DETECTIVE'S ROOM –
JUSTIN'S DESK (INTERCUT WITH: INT – JUSTIN/LUKE'S ROOM)
Justin dials a number and gets Luke on the line.
JUSTIN
Luke? It's me – I'm in Rogers City
Luke stands next to the table, his face now dirty and sweaty from work
LUKE
About time, J, we were getting worried.
JUSTIN
Look, I need to know if Mercie left anything behind.
LUKE
Hang on, I'll check
A pause, then Dina is on the line.
DINA
Justin, it's Dina. Mercie left her necklace with me in case we needed to find her. You want Trini to give it a try?
JUSTIN
Please
DINA
Right, just a sec.
Trinity grasps at the necklace, running her fingers along it, looking relaxed. She reaches the clasp - nothing. She touches the small silver pendant and jumps slightly, opening her eyes and reaching for the phone.
TRINITY
Justin, she's at a high rise in the city…
JUSTIN
Name? Address?
TRINITY
I'm trying!
She hands the phone to Dina and runs the necklace through her hands again, this time stopping on the clasp.
TRINITY
Henray… Henray Apartments…
DINA
(into the phone)
Henray Apartments
TRINITY
(opens her eyes and sighs)
Basement. Maybe… boiler room.
DINA
(into the phone)
The basement, Justin, possibly a boiler room.
CUT BACK TO: INT – ROGERS CITY POLICE STATION: DETECTIVE'S ROOM – JUSTIN'S DESK
JUSTIN
Thanks
He slams the phone down and runs out.
CUT TO: EXT – HENRAY APARTMENTS
A Prosperous-looking eight-story building
CUT TO: INT – BASEMENT
Three "Rogue Sweepers", the Captain's new team, sit around a room watching a game of football on television. A shadow appears in the doorway.
CAPTAIN
Put the news on, kids.
ROUGUE SWEEPER #1
Oh, sure, Cap.
He uses the remote to change the channel to a news station. The Sweepers are quiet while their leader watches for a moment
CAPTAIN
Good. Nothing on the girl.
ROGUE SWEEPER #2
Do you think they've given up on her?
Uno and Mercedes quietly appear out a dark hallway
UNO
Not a chance
The Rogue Sweepers jump up in surprise, the Captain seems to disappear, melting into the shadows. One sweeper reaches for the gun in his shoulder holster and Uno steps forward to ensure the rogues can see the pistol he already holds. He nods to the door behind the television and Mercedes opens the door and enters, reemerges moments later supporting Emilia; gaunt and thin from her imprisonment. Uno tilts his head back to indicate they should go upstairs but the situation quickly changes as the three sweepers act in unison and pull their guns. The girls freeze and Uno responds by pulling the second gun from his waistband, now holding one in each hand.
ROGUE SWEEPER #3
Let it go, man, she's not worth copping a bullet
UNO
(angrily)
How would you know?
ROGUE SWEEPER #3
(licks his lips suggestively)
Oh, I know
Uno looks like he is about to shoot the man but can't.
ROGUE SWEEPER #3
See, boy, it's not so hard. Put your guns down and we'll let you and your girlfriend leave intact.
UNO
Haven't you people destroyed enough lives? She doesn't belong there. No one does. Except maybe creeps like you.
ROGUE SWEEPER #3
You got a smart mouth on you, kid. But of course she belongs there. They own her. Thinking anything else is just a fantasy.
EMILIA
(croakily)
A fantasy come true
ROGUE SWEEPER #3
Look kids, you two go now or we shoot you all.
UNO
Fine. Let's go
He shepherds Mercedes and Emilia toward the door knowing that the men don't want to shoot and alert people to their presence. Sweeper #2, the youngest, is sweating; gripping his gun with both hands. Without warning a shot sounds and Emilia falls. As the sweepers try to move in, Uno shoots them.
Mercedes leans over Emilia, trying to stop the bleeding but blood pours out of the chest wound. Uno leans over her too, as Emilia gasps with the pain but with a faint smile on her face.
UNO
(disbelieving)
You spoke English!
EMILIA
Hai. Motou bekyo shimashita, Ichi
[Subtitles read: Yes. I studied a lot, One]
UNO
Sakura… Itsumo Aishiteimashita.
[Sakura… I always loved you]
EMILIA
Shitteru
[I know]
UNO
Ima Aishiteru
[I love you now]
EMILIA
Watashi mo
[Me too]
Emilia leans back, eyes going glassy.
UNO
Ikenai! Ikenai!
[Don't go! Don't go!]
EMILIA
Daijyobu, Ichi.
[I'm okay, One]
UNO
Boku no namae wa "Uno" desu yo.
[My name is "Uno"]
EMILIA
Uno… Tenshi ga miru dekimasuka?
[Uno… can you see the angels?]
UNO
Hitori ga…
[One]
EMILIA
(Smiling weakly)
Futari
[Two]
(points to Mercedes and Uno, puts her hand up on Uno's cheek as a tear runs down it)
Arigato… demo iko!
[Thank you… but go!]
UNO
Dekinai!
[I can't!]
EMILIA
Dekiru… iko
[You can… go]
Uno leans down and kisses her on the cheek and whispers into her ear.
UNO
Anatawa wo kokoro kara aishiteimasu
[I love you with all my heart]
EMILIA
Itsumo?
[Always?]
UNO
Itsumo
[Always]
A smile touches Emilia's face as she leans back and closes her eyes for the last time.
A moment pauses and then a door bursts open, throwing light on Uno, Mercedes and Emilia. Justin steps through with his gun drawn but as soon as he sees Emilia his shoulders droop.
CUT TO: INT – MISS MONROE'S OFFICE, PRODIGY WING; CENTRE 16
JC sits timidly in a chair, Roschelle sits in the other and Miss Monroe paces, looking at her watch.
MISS MONROE
He's an hour late!
JC
(reasonably)
Maybe he lost track of time…
MISS MONROE
(irritably)
You don't "lose track of time" on something as important as this, JC
Mr. Fallen enters the room
MR FALLEN
I see your savior hasn't come through
MISS MONROE
(sarcastic)
Yes, Jesus fails me constantly.
MR FALLEN
I meant the one who's actually on Earth at the moment – this Captain fellow Calvin was talking about. It's ten p.m. and he still hasn't called back to arrange a meet. I'd say he was playing you for a fool.
MISS MONROE
Or maybe he just doesn't want to risk hearing your voice on the line again.
MR FALLEN
Quick. Not funny, but quick.
MISS MONROE
Quick is my job.
MR FALLEN
Or your life
MISS MONROE
Was that a threat?
MR FALLEN
A friendly warning
MISS MONROE
And you were surprised I had friends.
Miss Monroe leaves the room, Roschelle stands and follows. JC remains seated, uneasy. Mr. Fallen looks down and sees him there. He plants a hand on either arm of JC's chair and leans forward, toward JC, who pulls himself as far back into the seat as he can. Mr. Fallen stands there studying JC for a moment… then snaps his teeth at him before straightening up and leaving. We pick up on JC, still seated and looking freaked out.
CUT TO: UNO'S JEEP – OPEN HIGHWAY
Uno is driving, Justin is sprawled out in the backseat asleep, and Mercedes sits in the passenger seat. Uno is obviously trying to keep rage, anger and sadness under control.
MERCEDES
Uno…
UNO
What?
MERCEDES
Nothing.
They drive another minute before Mercedes tries again.
MERCEDES
Uno
UNO
(short-tempered, explosively)
What?
MERCEDES
… You… loved her… Emilia, I mean.
UNO
Yes
MERCEDES
So… why…?
UNO
Why what?
MERCEDES
Why… why don't you cry?
UNO
Because she's gone… and a million tears wouldn't bring her back.
MERCEDES
But they'd sure make you feel better
UNO
Self pity, Mercie, and I can't do that. I did it once and I nearly went postal.
MERCEDES
(not quite getting the expression)
FedEx or International?
UNO
(looking sideways and realising she's quite serious, he cracks a small grin)
It's an expression, Mercie. You should check your slang dictionary.
MERCEDES
(seriously)
I could only find the '98 edition.
UNO
Right… So, where do you want me to drop you off?
MERCEDES
Home is where the rump rests… but Rybeck, if it's not too far out of your way.
UNO
In fact, I was just heading that way…
(he makes a turn off the highway)
…so you've seen the Lion King too, hey?
MERCEDES
Stunning animation
UNO
Good jokes
MERCEDES
Soppy love songs…
(noticing Uno's expression)
Sorry
UNO
(shrugs)
Hakuna Matata.
They drive off "into the sunset" as the screen goes black for the Closing Credits.
NEXT WEEK - Black, White And The Many Sades Of Gray - Dina befriends an orphan, while Trinity and Mercedes explore their empathic abilities, and Luke and Justin track a killer with an all too familiar call sign...