Fic: Series 6 Episode 1 part 1/4
Title: Series 6.1 Chapter 1/4
Author: Darkhorse_99
Rating: PG-13 for some language
Pairing: Connor/Abby, Emily/Matt
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: Nope, this is set in series 6 episode 1.
Beta'ing: Huge thank you to fredbasset for beta'ing the early draft of this and encouraging me to post it. Also a huge thank you to anonyme1 for giving it a run through. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Summery: Six weeks after convergence the team struggles to adapt to the new reality of the whole world knowing about anomalies. All they managed to keep secret was Burton's New Dawn project, but now everyone has questions for the ARC.
Disclaimer: I don't have anything to do with Primeval or ITV except loving it from a distance.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Back around series 5 aired, when rumors of the show being cancelled started to swirl, I got the sudden urge to do something just to see how it might look if it was continued into another series. So I did.
FADE IN:
EXT. TREELINE OUTSIDE THE ARC - JUST BEFORE DAWN
Two shadowy figures - teenagers TAYLOR and BENNENT (16-17) - dressed in black creep through a stand of trees towards a high cement wall. They each carry a long pole. They crouch under some shrubs and look across a thirty foot cleared area between them and the wall.
TAYLOR
This is it. Are you sure?
BENNENT
No going back now.
They both sprint across the clearing. Skilfully, they plant the poles at the base of the wall and vault up to the top. Taylor lands on the top and swings herself down. Bennent bounces on the edge, barely manages to hang on, and scrabbles over.
Inside the wall is a thick forest of shrubs and trees.
Taylor turns on a red-tinted torch. She grabs Bennent's arm and leads him into the trees.
TAYLOR
Stay close.She’s looking everywhere, especially the ground.
TAYLOR
We don't know what's in here.
BENNETT
Nothing good.
The young trespassers vanish into the trees. They creep along quietly. The outline of a building in the distance becomes visible as they hear a strange trilling sound off to one side. The teenagers freeze.
A pair of hands in black gloves reaches out from the shadows and grabs Bennett, one hand on his mouth and the other around his stomach. He struggles. Taylor spins around - and slumps.
TAYLOR
Buggeration.
The man that grabbed the boy steps out into the light of her torch, it's an ARC soldier. He lets Bennett go and puts his finger to his lips. Another soldier steps out of the shadows and sweeps around with his weapon.
SOLDIER 1
(whispers to them)
Shut up. Follow me. Don't make a sound.
He touches his earpiece and leads the way towards the building, weapon ready. His team mate follows and guards behind them.
SOLDIER 1
(whispering on earpiece)
I've got them. It's two kids. I'mbringing them in.
He leads them to the building and puts his hand on the door knob before pausing. He points with his weapon. Forty feet away, four shadowy raptors devour a cow carcass. Each one is easily as big as the soldier. Cow flesh rips and the raptors trill to each other. Bennett gasps and edges closer to the soldier. Taylor stands her ground, unafraid. The soldiers open the door and motion them through.
INT. MENAGERIE CORRIDOR - SAME TIME
An entire squad of soldiers waits for them inside the Anomaly Research Centre.
BENNETT
My dad's going to kill me.
INT. LESTER'S OFFICE - DAY
CAPTAIN BECKER waits for his boss. LESTER arrives, annoyed.
LESTER
Don't you have teenagers to interrogate?
How did they get over the wall?
CAPTAIN BECKER
I'm letting them stew in isolation for a while, and
they pole-vaulted. Very creative. I warned you
that was a possibility when we expanded.
Lester drops his briefcase and sits down at his desk. Becker tries and fails not to look smug.
LESTER
Fine. You can dig a moat.
Becker turns to leave and Lester calls after him--
LESTER
But only on the menagerie side! I
don't want to drive across a ruddy
drawbridge to get to the car park!
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Bennett sits, alone and terrified. Becker and another soldier enter. Becker has a folder in his hands. He drops it on the table and carefully turns it so Bennett can't see what's inside.
BECKER
Do you have any idea how much
trouble you’re in, Bennett?
BENNETT
(focused on the folder)
How'd you know my name?
Becker ignores the question.
BECKER
Why were you trying to break in?
What did you hope to accomplish,
besides getting arrested?
Bennett starts crying. Becker is appalled.
BENNETT
Please... I was just trying to save
my sister. Taylor said she could
work out how to do it.
BECKER
Now we're getting somewhere. Talk.
INT. A SMALL CELL - SAME TIME
Taylor paces. She stops to bang on the door.
TAYLOR
I've got rights! You can't keep me in
here forever! I want to talk to Professor Cutter!
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TAYLOR'S CELL - SAME TIME
Lester, MATT and several soldiers wait. Becker walks up, he still has the folder in his hand.
BECKER
Her name is Taylor Craig, she went
through an anomaly years ago with
Professor Cutter and Stephen Hart.
Her partner in crime lost his
sister to a swimming accident.
Becker jumps as Taylor bangs on the door again.
BECKER
Taylor convinced him that if he helped
her break in, she could find an anomaly
that would take him back to before
his sister died.
LESTER
Lovely. How long can we hold them?
BECKER
The boy’s 16, the girl’s just turned 17.
Frankly, we're pushing it now. They
need to be transferred to police custody.
Or their parents called.
MATT
Let me talk to her.
Becker hands him the folder.
BECKER
Take this.
MATT
Is it her records?
BECKER
No. Just some old paperwork.
LESTER
How did you work out who they were?
BECKER
They were bright enough not to have
any identification on them while breaking
into a classified government facility, but they
left their phones logged into facebook.
LESTER
Sometimes I despair for the future.
INT. THE HUB - SAME TIME
JESS tries to isolate a flickering anomaly signal. CONNOR leans over her shoulder. They both watch as the map zooms
in... and then fades as the signal fades.
CONNOR
It's just blinking in and out.
They're not supposed to do that.
JESS
It's not manifesting long enough to
get a fix on it. Somewhere in Wales
is as close as I can get. This has
been going on for hours!
CONNOR
We just need to go there. Maybe when
we’re closer we can find it and lock it.
JESS
Maybe you can catch those Pterosaurs
that have been hanging around while you're at it.
Connor looks around the surprisingly empty hub.
CONNOR
Where is everybody? Are they still questioning
those kids that jumped nto the raptor pen?
JESS
Yes. Here.She hands him a folder
JESS
Give this to Lester when you
see him, it's their information.
The screens light up again as the detector tries in vain to locate the anomaly.
JESS
--and it's back... Gone again. At
least nothing can have come through
in that short a space of time.
Connor leaves to find Matt. They've got a mission.
INT. SMALL SECURITY OFFICE - DAY
A bank of camera monitors cover one wall. Lester, Becker, Matt and two security guards watch Taylor pace in her cell
and Bennett sit quietly terrified in his. Connor walks in and hands the folder to Lester.
CONNOR
We need to go to Wales. Something odd is going on.
LESTER
I don't want to hear about any more oddness.
He flips though the folder briefly.
LESTER
I have a press conference to attend, then
meetings with too many puffed up bureaucrats.
(to Matt)
After you're done satisfying your curiosity
have the police come and pick them up.
Connor glances at the monitor and almost recognises Taylor.
CONNOR
Do I know that girl?Lester points to Matt.
LESTER
Deal with this. I'm late.
INT. TAYLOR'S CELL - LATER
Matt sits opposite the belligerent teenager. He tries the silent treatment. She doesn’t fall for it.
TAYLOR
I've seen TV shows. Are you supposed
to be the good cop or the bad cop?
MATT
I'm not a cop at all. Why did you break in?
Did you think that you would just be able to
find a room with the perfect anomaly in it and
waltz back to save his baby sister?
Taylor won't look at him.
MATT
You're a kid. Did you honestly think you would
be able to just wander around the building?
TAYLOR
I'm not a kid!
MATT
Then you can go to jail.
TAYLOR
I'm just a kid.
(beat)
Fine. I'm not a kid. If you want to
ship me off to prison, whatever.
INT. SECURITY OFFICE - SAME TIME
Becker’s still there with two of his men. They watch the interview on the monitor.
Security screen:
TAYLOR
I didn't really expect to get over the wall.
Don't you have people watching the perimeter?
Becker glares down at his men. They both have the grace to look abashed.
INT. TAYLOR'S CELL - SAME TIME
MATT
Yes, actually. That's why you aren't currently
being eaten by a raptor. But we're very particular
what we feed them.
TAYLOR
It was a raptor that got my dad. He never had
a chance. I just want to know the truth.
MATT
About?
TAYLOR
Convergence. There's a lot of rumours that the
ARC opened the first anomaly, that it was an
experiment gone wrong. My dad died!
(slams fist on table)
I want to know what really happened.
MATT
Anomalies are naturally occurring--
TAYLOR
Spare me the official statement! I've heard it before.
Ship me off to prison, but don't lie to my face.
INT. SECURITY OFFICE - LATER
Matt joins Becker and his pair of soldiers.
MATT
I don't think they're a danger. Just stupid and impulsive
kids. Threaten them with death and call their parents.
BECKER
Threatening children really isn't in my job description.
MATT
Or call the police. Lester won't mind having them charged
for trying to break in. But they will get a criminal record.
Matt pulls Becker aside, out of earshot from his men.
MATT
The boy was just trying to find a way to save his sister.
I don't think they're hardened criminals.
Becker wavers. Somehow, he knows he's going to regret this.
EXT. MENAGERIE - DAY
ABBY’S in a small pen that has a dirt hill mounded up in the middle. A pair of Diictodons, SID and NANCY, live here. They
look like turtles if turtles acted like cocker spaniels. Sid romps around at her feet. Abby dumps some veggies into a bowl for them.
ABBY
Nancy... oh Nancy... I have some
nice carrots for you...
Nancy scrambles out of a tunnel in the hill and eats. Abby starts to rake the sand at one end, mucking the pen out. Abby sees something unusual in the sand, and crouches down to get a closer look. She grins, then pulls out her phone and dials.
ABBY
Connor? There’s something I have to show you.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
A podium is set up at the front of the room. The chairs are packed with journalists. The entire back wall is lined with cameras pointed at the stage. Lester steps out into the barrage of flashing bulbs.
LESTER
I'm only going to answer questions about the unclassified
portion of the project, so don't bother with anything else.
FEMALE REPORTER
Mr. Lester, what do you have to say to the people that claim
their family members have been abducted and taken through
an anomaly for secret government experiments?
Lester’s expression shows exactly what he thinks about that, but sadly, he's been firmly instructed to behave.
INT. BENNENT'S CELL - DAY
Bennett waits anxiously. The door opens and Captain Becker walks in, followed by Bennett’s worst nightmare. His father.
MR. MARTIN
Bennett Christopher Martin! What the devil were you thinking?
You're a good boy, why would you do such a thing? They could
arrest you!
BENNENT
I'm sorry, dad! I was just trying to find a way to save Susanna,
Taylor said--
MR. MARTIN
Taylor said? This was her idea?
Bennett freezes. He hadn't meant to give that part away.
MR. MARTIN
First I catch you smoking and now this? Look around you
boy, you were such a good lad before you talked us into
letting that girl live with us! No more. She's not welcome in
our home any more.
BENNENT
What? NO! You can't kick her out! Dad, she hasn't got
anywhere else to go! Please, this wasn't her fault, I
made her, it was my idea.
His father is unmoved by his pleas.
MR. MARTIN
No. That girl is a bad influence.He turns to Captain Becker.
MR. MARTIN
Thank you for not calling the police. I'll take my son home
now, but I don't want that girl under my roof any longer.Mr. Martin shrugs regretfully.
MR. MARTIN
It's tragic what happened to her father, but
I can't deal with her any more.EXT. MENAGERIE - DAY
Connor couches down by Abby, grinning.
CONNOR
We’re gonna be parents!
They examine the nest of dozens of eggs in the sand. Sid and Nancy waddle up and quickly rebury the eggs. The Diictodons chirp and rub happily on Connor and Abby.
CONNOR
Sid! My man! You’re gonna be a daddy! High-five!
Connor holds his hand out and Sid head-butts it.
INT. DETECTOR - DAY
Becker walks up to Jess and EMILY. Jess has a ‘Basic Computer’ textbook open between them. Becker interrupts them.
BECKER
Jess, can you find out if Taylor has anywhere
else she can go? I don't want to give her a lift to
the homeless shelter.
EMILY
Homeless shelter? Why?
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TAYLOR'S CELL - DAY
A single guard stands by the door when Emily hurries up.
EMILY
Let me talk to her please.
SOLDIER
No.
EMILY
Is she supposed to be in solitary?
Was that a specific order?
Annoyed, the soldier radios up the chain of command.
INT. ARC GARAGE - DAY
Matt supervises as soldiers load the trucks with boxes of extra-sensitive equipment and weapons for their trip to Wales.
Emily corners him, and pulls him aside.
EMILY
I'm going to need to borrow your car.
MATT
(Highly suspicious)
Why?
INT. PRESS CONFERENCE - MUCH LATER
Lester looks at his watch, pointedly. What tiny shreds of patience he possessed were destroyed ages ago by the inane, boring, and downright stupid questions he has been answering.
LESTER
I have time for one more question. Can anyone manage
to ask something that hasn't already been answered?
Lester randomly points to a man in the middle of the room.
MALE REPORTER
My question has three parts, part one, if other
governments begin research into creating artificial
anomalies and prove it’s possible, would
the victims’ families be compensated--
A government lawyer jumps up out of his chair.
LAWYER
Convergence was an act of God. We had nothing to do
with it. It's not possible to create an artificial anomaly.
The lawyer returns to his chair, he waits eagerly for the next actionable comment. The reporter blushes, consults his notes.
MALE REPORTER
But some of the other countries that are participating in
the anomaly response training you’re offering--Lester cuts him off.
LESTER
I see you didn’t even read the briefing we provided.
Any country that sends teams to be trained at the
ARC has to agree to abide by our rules.
He reaches up to hold the podium, knuckles tense.
LESTER
Rules that we have learned by trial and error, and
seeing far too many good people die.
(beat)
I'm done here.
He walks off stage to another barrage of camera flashes.
INT. ARC GARAGE - DAY
Emily has just finished explaining her plan to Matt.
MATT
Why me? Why us? She's got mates, hasn't she? I'm not
sure living on our sofa is the best place for a young girl.
EMILY
It's only for a few months, until she starts university.
And I've got a soft spot for lost young ladies.
Matt doesn’t want a delinquent teenage orphan living at his house, but he also doesn’t want to annoy Emily.
MATT
Jess has a spare room. Can't she keep her,
if you're determined to take in a stray?
EMILY
I... didn't think of that.
MATT
You lived with her for a month.
EMILY
Fine. She can stay with Jess.
MATT
Does Jess know about this?
EMILY
(lying)
Yes.
Matt crosses his arms and stares sceptically.
EMILY
Jess likes company. She won't mind.
(beat)
I still need your car keys. We've got to retrieve
her things before Mr. Martin throws them out.
Matt gingerly digs out his keys.
MATT
Just... Don't ride the clutch too hard, and
for the love of god,remember to signal!
He calls after her as she walks away,
MATT
Emily, on second thought, does Taylor have a license?
TBC
Author: Darkhorse_99
Rating: PG-13 for some language
Pairing: Connor/Abby, Emily/Matt
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: Nope, this is set in series 6 episode 1.
Beta'ing: Huge thank you to fredbasset for beta'ing the early draft of this and encouraging me to post it. Also a huge thank you to anonyme1 for giving it a run through. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
Summery: Six weeks after convergence the team struggles to adapt to the new reality of the whole world knowing about anomalies. All they managed to keep secret was Burton's New Dawn project, but now everyone has questions for the ARC.
Disclaimer: I don't have anything to do with Primeval or ITV except loving it from a distance.
AUTHORS NOTE:
Back around series 5 aired, when rumors of the show being cancelled started to swirl, I got the sudden urge to do something just to see how it might look if it was continued into another series. So I did.
FADE IN:
EXT. TREELINE OUTSIDE THE ARC - JUST BEFORE DAWN
Two shadowy figures - teenagers TAYLOR and BENNENT (16-17) - dressed in black creep through a stand of trees towards a high cement wall. They each carry a long pole. They crouch under some shrubs and look across a thirty foot cleared area between them and the wall.
TAYLOR
This is it. Are you sure?
BENNENT
No going back now.
They both sprint across the clearing. Skilfully, they plant the poles at the base of the wall and vault up to the top. Taylor lands on the top and swings herself down. Bennent bounces on the edge, barely manages to hang on, and scrabbles over.
Inside the wall is a thick forest of shrubs and trees.
Taylor turns on a red-tinted torch. She grabs Bennent's arm and leads him into the trees.
TAYLOR
Stay close.She’s looking everywhere, especially the ground.
TAYLOR
We don't know what's in here.
BENNETT
Nothing good.
The young trespassers vanish into the trees. They creep along quietly. The outline of a building in the distance becomes visible as they hear a strange trilling sound off to one side. The teenagers freeze.
A pair of hands in black gloves reaches out from the shadows and grabs Bennett, one hand on his mouth and the other around his stomach. He struggles. Taylor spins around - and slumps.
TAYLOR
Buggeration.
The man that grabbed the boy steps out into the light of her torch, it's an ARC soldier. He lets Bennett go and puts his finger to his lips. Another soldier steps out of the shadows and sweeps around with his weapon.
SOLDIER 1
(whispers to them)
Shut up. Follow me. Don't make a sound.
He touches his earpiece and leads the way towards the building, weapon ready. His team mate follows and guards behind them.
SOLDIER 1
(whispering on earpiece)
I've got them. It's two kids. I'mbringing them in.
He leads them to the building and puts his hand on the door knob before pausing. He points with his weapon. Forty feet away, four shadowy raptors devour a cow carcass. Each one is easily as big as the soldier. Cow flesh rips and the raptors trill to each other. Bennett gasps and edges closer to the soldier. Taylor stands her ground, unafraid. The soldiers open the door and motion them through.
INT. MENAGERIE CORRIDOR - SAME TIME
An entire squad of soldiers waits for them inside the Anomaly Research Centre.
BENNETT
My dad's going to kill me.
INT. LESTER'S OFFICE - DAY
CAPTAIN BECKER waits for his boss. LESTER arrives, annoyed.
LESTER
Don't you have teenagers to interrogate?
How did they get over the wall?
CAPTAIN BECKER
I'm letting them stew in isolation for a while, and
they pole-vaulted. Very creative. I warned you
that was a possibility when we expanded.
Lester drops his briefcase and sits down at his desk. Becker tries and fails not to look smug.
LESTER
Fine. You can dig a moat.
Becker turns to leave and Lester calls after him--
LESTER
But only on the menagerie side! I
don't want to drive across a ruddy
drawbridge to get to the car park!
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Bennett sits, alone and terrified. Becker and another soldier enter. Becker has a folder in his hands. He drops it on the table and carefully turns it so Bennett can't see what's inside.
BECKER
Do you have any idea how much
trouble you’re in, Bennett?
BENNETT
(focused on the folder)
How'd you know my name?
Becker ignores the question.
BECKER
Why were you trying to break in?
What did you hope to accomplish,
besides getting arrested?
Bennett starts crying. Becker is appalled.
BENNETT
Please... I was just trying to save
my sister. Taylor said she could
work out how to do it.
BECKER
Now we're getting somewhere. Talk.
INT. A SMALL CELL - SAME TIME
Taylor paces. She stops to bang on the door.
TAYLOR
I've got rights! You can't keep me in
here forever! I want to talk to Professor Cutter!
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TAYLOR'S CELL - SAME TIME
Lester, MATT and several soldiers wait. Becker walks up, he still has the folder in his hand.
BECKER
Her name is Taylor Craig, she went
through an anomaly years ago with
Professor Cutter and Stephen Hart.
Her partner in crime lost his
sister to a swimming accident.
Becker jumps as Taylor bangs on the door again.
BECKER
Taylor convinced him that if he helped
her break in, she could find an anomaly
that would take him back to before
his sister died.
LESTER
Lovely. How long can we hold them?
BECKER
The boy’s 16, the girl’s just turned 17.
Frankly, we're pushing it now. They
need to be transferred to police custody.
Or their parents called.
MATT
Let me talk to her.
Becker hands him the folder.
BECKER
Take this.
MATT
Is it her records?
BECKER
No. Just some old paperwork.
LESTER
How did you work out who they were?
BECKER
They were bright enough not to have
any identification on them while breaking
into a classified government facility, but they
left their phones logged into facebook.
LESTER
Sometimes I despair for the future.
INT. THE HUB - SAME TIME
JESS tries to isolate a flickering anomaly signal. CONNOR leans over her shoulder. They both watch as the map zooms
in... and then fades as the signal fades.
CONNOR
It's just blinking in and out.
They're not supposed to do that.
JESS
It's not manifesting long enough to
get a fix on it. Somewhere in Wales
is as close as I can get. This has
been going on for hours!
CONNOR
We just need to go there. Maybe when
we’re closer we can find it and lock it.
JESS
Maybe you can catch those Pterosaurs
that have been hanging around while you're at it.
Connor looks around the surprisingly empty hub.
CONNOR
Where is everybody? Are they still questioning
those kids that jumped nto the raptor pen?
JESS
Yes. Here.She hands him a folder
JESS
Give this to Lester when you
see him, it's their information.
The screens light up again as the detector tries in vain to locate the anomaly.
JESS
--and it's back... Gone again. At
least nothing can have come through
in that short a space of time.
Connor leaves to find Matt. They've got a mission.
INT. SMALL SECURITY OFFICE - DAY
A bank of camera monitors cover one wall. Lester, Becker, Matt and two security guards watch Taylor pace in her cell
and Bennett sit quietly terrified in his. Connor walks in and hands the folder to Lester.
CONNOR
We need to go to Wales. Something odd is going on.
LESTER
I don't want to hear about any more oddness.
He flips though the folder briefly.
LESTER
I have a press conference to attend, then
meetings with too many puffed up bureaucrats.
(to Matt)
After you're done satisfying your curiosity
have the police come and pick them up.
Connor glances at the monitor and almost recognises Taylor.
CONNOR
Do I know that girl?Lester points to Matt.
LESTER
Deal with this. I'm late.
INT. TAYLOR'S CELL - LATER
Matt sits opposite the belligerent teenager. He tries the silent treatment. She doesn’t fall for it.
TAYLOR
I've seen TV shows. Are you supposed
to be the good cop or the bad cop?
MATT
I'm not a cop at all. Why did you break in?
Did you think that you would just be able to
find a room with the perfect anomaly in it and
waltz back to save his baby sister?
Taylor won't look at him.
MATT
You're a kid. Did you honestly think you would
be able to just wander around the building?
TAYLOR
I'm not a kid!
MATT
Then you can go to jail.
TAYLOR
I'm just a kid.
(beat)
Fine. I'm not a kid. If you want to
ship me off to prison, whatever.
INT. SECURITY OFFICE - SAME TIME
Becker’s still there with two of his men. They watch the interview on the monitor.
Security screen:
TAYLOR
I didn't really expect to get over the wall.
Don't you have people watching the perimeter?
Becker glares down at his men. They both have the grace to look abashed.
INT. TAYLOR'S CELL - SAME TIME
MATT
Yes, actually. That's why you aren't currently
being eaten by a raptor. But we're very particular
what we feed them.
TAYLOR
It was a raptor that got my dad. He never had
a chance. I just want to know the truth.
MATT
About?
TAYLOR
Convergence. There's a lot of rumours that the
ARC opened the first anomaly, that it was an
experiment gone wrong. My dad died!
(slams fist on table)
I want to know what really happened.
MATT
Anomalies are naturally occurring--
TAYLOR
Spare me the official statement! I've heard it before.
Ship me off to prison, but don't lie to my face.
INT. SECURITY OFFICE - LATER
Matt joins Becker and his pair of soldiers.
MATT
I don't think they're a danger. Just stupid and impulsive
kids. Threaten them with death and call their parents.
BECKER
Threatening children really isn't in my job description.
MATT
Or call the police. Lester won't mind having them charged
for trying to break in. But they will get a criminal record.
Matt pulls Becker aside, out of earshot from his men.
MATT
The boy was just trying to find a way to save his sister.
I don't think they're hardened criminals.
Becker wavers. Somehow, he knows he's going to regret this.
EXT. MENAGERIE - DAY
ABBY’S in a small pen that has a dirt hill mounded up in the middle. A pair of Diictodons, SID and NANCY, live here. They
look like turtles if turtles acted like cocker spaniels. Sid romps around at her feet. Abby dumps some veggies into a bowl for them.
ABBY
Nancy... oh Nancy... I have some
nice carrots for you...
Nancy scrambles out of a tunnel in the hill and eats. Abby starts to rake the sand at one end, mucking the pen out. Abby sees something unusual in the sand, and crouches down to get a closer look. She grins, then pulls out her phone and dials.
ABBY
Connor? There’s something I have to show you.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
A podium is set up at the front of the room. The chairs are packed with journalists. The entire back wall is lined with cameras pointed at the stage. Lester steps out into the barrage of flashing bulbs.
LESTER
I'm only going to answer questions about the unclassified
portion of the project, so don't bother with anything else.
FEMALE REPORTER
Mr. Lester, what do you have to say to the people that claim
their family members have been abducted and taken through
an anomaly for secret government experiments?
Lester’s expression shows exactly what he thinks about that, but sadly, he's been firmly instructed to behave.
INT. BENNENT'S CELL - DAY
Bennett waits anxiously. The door opens and Captain Becker walks in, followed by Bennett’s worst nightmare. His father.
MR. MARTIN
Bennett Christopher Martin! What the devil were you thinking?
You're a good boy, why would you do such a thing? They could
arrest you!
BENNENT
I'm sorry, dad! I was just trying to find a way to save Susanna,
Taylor said--
MR. MARTIN
Taylor said? This was her idea?
Bennett freezes. He hadn't meant to give that part away.
MR. MARTIN
First I catch you smoking and now this? Look around you
boy, you were such a good lad before you talked us into
letting that girl live with us! No more. She's not welcome in
our home any more.
BENNENT
What? NO! You can't kick her out! Dad, she hasn't got
anywhere else to go! Please, this wasn't her fault, I
made her, it was my idea.
His father is unmoved by his pleas.
MR. MARTIN
No. That girl is a bad influence.He turns to Captain Becker.
MR. MARTIN
Thank you for not calling the police. I'll take my son home
now, but I don't want that girl under my roof any longer.Mr. Martin shrugs regretfully.
MR. MARTIN
It's tragic what happened to her father, but
I can't deal with her any more.EXT. MENAGERIE - DAY
Connor couches down by Abby, grinning.
CONNOR
We’re gonna be parents!
They examine the nest of dozens of eggs in the sand. Sid and Nancy waddle up and quickly rebury the eggs. The Diictodons chirp and rub happily on Connor and Abby.
CONNOR
Sid! My man! You’re gonna be a daddy! High-five!
Connor holds his hand out and Sid head-butts it.
INT. DETECTOR - DAY
Becker walks up to Jess and EMILY. Jess has a ‘Basic Computer’ textbook open between them. Becker interrupts them.
BECKER
Jess, can you find out if Taylor has anywhere
else she can go? I don't want to give her a lift to
the homeless shelter.
EMILY
Homeless shelter? Why?
INT. CORRIDOR OUTSIDE TAYLOR'S CELL - DAY
A single guard stands by the door when Emily hurries up.
EMILY
Let me talk to her please.
SOLDIER
No.
EMILY
Is she supposed to be in solitary?
Was that a specific order?
Annoyed, the soldier radios up the chain of command.
INT. ARC GARAGE - DAY
Matt supervises as soldiers load the trucks with boxes of extra-sensitive equipment and weapons for their trip to Wales.
Emily corners him, and pulls him aside.
EMILY
I'm going to need to borrow your car.
MATT
(Highly suspicious)
Why?
INT. PRESS CONFERENCE - MUCH LATER
Lester looks at his watch, pointedly. What tiny shreds of patience he possessed were destroyed ages ago by the inane, boring, and downright stupid questions he has been answering.
LESTER
I have time for one more question. Can anyone manage
to ask something that hasn't already been answered?
Lester randomly points to a man in the middle of the room.
MALE REPORTER
My question has three parts, part one, if other
governments begin research into creating artificial
anomalies and prove it’s possible, would
the victims’ families be compensated--
A government lawyer jumps up out of his chair.
LAWYER
Convergence was an act of God. We had nothing to do
with it. It's not possible to create an artificial anomaly.
The lawyer returns to his chair, he waits eagerly for the next actionable comment. The reporter blushes, consults his notes.
MALE REPORTER
But some of the other countries that are participating in
the anomaly response training you’re offering--Lester cuts him off.
LESTER
I see you didn’t even read the briefing we provided.
Any country that sends teams to be trained at the
ARC has to agree to abide by our rules.
He reaches up to hold the podium, knuckles tense.
LESTER
Rules that we have learned by trial and error, and
seeing far too many good people die.
(beat)
I'm done here.
He walks off stage to another barrage of camera flashes.
INT. ARC GARAGE - DAY
Emily has just finished explaining her plan to Matt.
MATT
Why me? Why us? She's got mates, hasn't she? I'm not
sure living on our sofa is the best place for a young girl.
EMILY
It's only for a few months, until she starts university.
And I've got a soft spot for lost young ladies.
Matt doesn’t want a delinquent teenage orphan living at his house, but he also doesn’t want to annoy Emily.
MATT
Jess has a spare room. Can't she keep her,
if you're determined to take in a stray?
EMILY
I... didn't think of that.
MATT
You lived with her for a month.
EMILY
Fine. She can stay with Jess.
MATT
Does Jess know about this?
EMILY
(lying)
Yes.
Matt crosses his arms and stares sceptically.
EMILY
Jess likes company. She won't mind.
(beat)
I still need your car keys. We've got to retrieve
her things before Mr. Martin throws them out.
Matt gingerly digs out his keys.
MATT
Just... Don't ride the clutch too hard, and
for the love of god,remember to signal!
He calls after her as she walks away,
MATT
Emily, on second thought, does Taylor have a license?
TBC