by Daniel Slack
Maybe.
BRIAN
Nah, I'm more of a dog person.
ELIZA
I got bit by a dog once, look at this.
She pulls up her sleeve revealing a deep scar.
BRIAN
Nice. But take a look at this.
He pulls off the bandage across his face.
ELIZA
Oh, that's ugly, you should put that thing back on.
BRIAN
What's wrong with it?
ELIZA
You have no pupil, that's fucked up.
Brian puts the bandage back on.
BRIAN
I'm blind you know. You guys wouldn't take out a disabled guy?
ELIZA
It's an easy fix. How did you do it?
BRIAN
There was this loose bit of carpet in one of the corridors, I tripped over it and smashed my face into a dead woman's high heel. It went straight into my eye socket spinning my eyeball out of place.
ELIZA
Bullshit.
BRIAN
I kid you not.
ELIZA
Fuck off, tell me the truth.
BRIAN
You wouldn't believe me.
ELIZA
I'll have to if you tell the truth.
BRIAN
Ok, so there was a gorilla...
ELIZA
Brian, you dick.
BRIAN
All right. The same virus that infected Jack got into my system.
ELIZA
How ironic. Doesn't that mean that you should be raping dead corpses by now, or is that why you decided to kill everyone on the space station?
BRIAN
How unprofessional. No, I was a maniac before the virus, but still smart enough to extract it from my system before it took over.
ELIZA
Clever you.
BRIAN
Thanks. Hey, isn't there anyone else in that room.
ELIZA
No, it's like two foot squared. There's this control panel and a door, that's about it.
BRIAN
So you sit in there all day?
ELIZA
No, just when you call.
BRIAN
That's too bad.
ELIZA
There's probably people that are supposed to supervise our communications, but I doubt they've been taking this very seriously.
BRIAN
What? I kill thousands of people on a space station and only you and that dickhead Ed notices? I guess your hubris makes this a tragedy on your end then.
ELIZA
Well, it's company policy to deal with any and all emergencies discreetly. This way there is no panic, no media frenzy and people are lead to believe they live in a peaceful world.
BRIAN
So, wait. This kind of thing happens a lot?
ELIZA
No. Probably not. But, I wouldn't know. They teach you how to communicate with crazies and how to notify the right authorities, but I've only been on the job four weeks. This is my first situation.
BRIAN
How on earth did you get this job?
ELIZA
What? It interests you?
BRIAN
No. It just seems like you're so bad at it.
ELIZA
(laughing)
Thank you.
BRIAN
No problem.
ELIZA
Well, you're not too great at yours.
BRIAN
Hey, I'm an ok astronaut.
ELIZA
No, I meant this whole mastermind business.
BRIAN
Well, this is my first situation too, and anyways I think it's going quite well.
Eliza catches something on another screen.
ELIZA
It looks like Jack is about to be taken down, that means in a few minutes you will be detained and taken in.
BRIAN
You forget that I can still push the button.
ELIZA
There's doubt on that one.
BRIAN
You should all be really afraid.
ELIZA
Meh, I don't think you'd press the button knowing my sweet ass is down here.
BRIAN
I'm taken, don't forget that. P.S. Don't think I don't know that you're humouring me to stall and keep me sat still. It seems you're very good at your job, you know. This isn't you first situation is it? I mean, getting to be the head of sector seven takes experience, no?
ELIZA
(sighs)
What can I say?
BRIAN
Made you seem more likeable though?
ELIZA
I don't know what you're talking about.
INT. CORRIDORS - SAME
The Team Leader signals his team to stay put as he pushes his back to a corner.
Jack can be heard humming to the beat of his footsteps.
The Team Leader brings his gun up and leans around the corner.
BANG
The bullet hits Jack in the spine. He drops to the floor instantaneously.
Team Leader steps out from the corner.
His team follow him over to Jack's body, crowding around him, looking down, full of hatred.
He groans and spits up a little blood.
TEAM LEADER
Motherfucker!
BOOM
The team of soldiers stomp Jack to death.
B-B-B-B-BOOM
It only takes three seconds, but they continue to stomp, breaking bones and bloodying their yellow gas tight suits.
INT. SCARLETT'S COCKPIT
BRIAN
So what happens when the soldiers are finished with Brian?
ELIZA
You get brought to headquarters.
BRIAN
Will you be there?
ELIZA
Maybe tomorrow. You know, when they've finished torturing you.
BRIAN
Tomorrow as in like twenty hours from now or in the morning?
ELIZA
That depends on how quick you break.
BRIAN
You lot are really sure that this remote doesn't do anything. Shouldn't I be considered a worldwide threat?
ELIZA
Don't think you're not, you're way up there.
BRIAN
Then what the fuck is going on here?
ELIZA
Listen, I'm new here. I don't know how things work yet, I've never been through the process.
BRIAN
(not believing her)
Yeah...
ELIZA
Why would I lie?
BRIAN
(checks time)
Are those soldiers wearing those yellow suits again?
ELIZA
What else would they wear?
BRIAN
Here's me thinking I'd have to boot up Scarlett and run off. The only way to survive in this air is to be immune to it. Even when you are, you're not really safe.
(taps his bandage)
There are some of my viruses that eat through materials, those will get into their suits and kill them. They're probably already dead.
ELIZA
How do you know this?
BRIAN
Number one, I made them and number two, I've seen it happen.
ELIZA
Shit.
BRIAN
Uh-huh. You know, you're luckier than you think. If I died earlier the planet would have had it. Just utter annihilation. My brain would have died or succumbed to the...
Brian's attention is stolen by Eliza's face trying to figure something out.
BRIAN
What?
ELIZA
Nothing.
He tries to gauge the situation, but gives up.
BRIAN
Anyway. Don't worry. Send me the coordinates of headquarters and Scarlett will get me there.
ELIZA
You truly are crazy.
> BRIAN
How? I don't want you guys bombing the space station. And you forget, I still have leverage here.
ELIZA
(questions, then concedes)
Whatever you want, Brian. Don't forget we've got a lock on your network now.
BRIAN
Yeah, yeah. Hey, where's Ed?
ELIZA
Probably dealing with some other situation.
BRIAN
Nice to know. How about the guys at my house?
ELIZA
Not great.
Eliza works on another screen for a moment. Brian snaps his fingers.
BRIAN
Just figured it. The guys at my house aren't doing well because the disease and signal is freaking them out. Every time I'm rolling about in pain, they get warnings that the things going to blow.
ELIZA
(sighs)
Clever you.
BRIAN
Ah, it doesn't matter. They wouldn't have by-passed it anyway.
ELIZA
Ok, I've sent the coordinates. Are you truly going to bring yourself in?
BRIAN
I said I would.
ELIZA
Then I wish you luck, Brian, and I'll see you shortly. Or eventually.
BRIAN
Thanks.
The screen switches off.
BRIAN
Ok, Scarlett.
No response.
BRIAN
Scarlett?
SCARLETT
Seatbelt.
Brian straps himself in with a sigh.
INT. DOCKING BAY 2
Scarlett lifts up and backs out toward the airlock, it opens up and she passes through.
The airlock closes, leaving half a team of ambling soldiers cursing and spluttering toward their ship.
EXT. NASA SECURITY HEADQUARTERS - LATER
Scarlett pulls up to an opening air lock on a massive space station with NASA printed in large on the front face.
INT. SCARLETT'S COCKPIT
BRIAN
(to himself)
Why am I here?
Brian pulls into a docking spot.
BRIAN
(to us)
By the way, they still call it NASA because it sounds so cool and the heritage. Still run by the UGG though. I told you that before, right?
SCARLETT
System's being overridden again, Brian.
BRIAN
It's fine, just open the doors. I'll go meet them.
(gets up)
See you in a bit, Scarlett.
SCARLETT
In a bit.
Brian walks out pulling the remote.
BRIAN
(to us)
P.S. Watch this.
He clicks the button.
Nothing.
Brian gasps.
BRIAN
Ohhhhhh! So he's been bluffing all the way!?
He takes the pocket knife out and uses it to twist a small screw in the back of the remote.
It turns on.
BRIAN
No. I was just showing you that it needs activation. You know how many times I've fallen over? Shit, I'm not stupid. It's also why they have doubts as to whether it's real or not--just in case you're wondering.
INT. NASA RECEPTION
Brian signs in at a desk with a receptionist.
He raises his eyebrows to us, then double takes a glance at the receptionist. He snaps his fingers.
BRIAN
Julie.
JULIE
Mm-huh?
BRIAN
Brian. I'm a pilot. You used to work up stairs.
JULIE
I know. I'm not supposed to talk to you.
He looks over his shoulder to the security guard, then leans in.
BRIAN
You've got to know why they brought me here. Tell me, and I'll make you my receptionist when I'm president.
JULIE
(huffs)
It's a conference. No one knows anything else.
SECURITY GUARD
Come on now.
The security guard steps in.
BRIAN
I've still got the button and you've not even got a gun, mate.
He steps back.
BRIAN
See you, Julie.
She nods a dismissive goodbye.
The security guard gestures the way down the corridor, all of which are completely empty.
BRIAN
(taps desk)
I was serious, Julie.
He starts off down the corridor, another security guard leading Julie from reception.
BRIAN
(to us as he walks)
Late character addition, I know, but nice girl that.
INT. NASA CONFERENCE HALL
Brian walks into a huge circular conference room with a single chair and table surrounded by a multitude of men and women of all nationalities at desks of their own around him.
Brian's walked by the security guard to the table and sat down. The security guard then returns the doors.