Scene 12

[Wednesday 1200 hrs. 107 hours until HotChoc reactivation. 2 hours before Bruce finally wakes up. 15 minutes before Dave's coffee is done brewing. 5 hours after the MetroPolice wake MrShinything up by banging on the windshield of his car. 24 hours before Vivienne has to return the movies Dave rented. 5 hours before Greg has to return the Morton's Salt Girl outfit he rented from and Adult Store formerly supplied by Mr Shinything. 19 hours until the Big Meeting]

[Cut to Bruce asleep on Karen's living room floor. Sunlight creeps slowly over his face through the sliding door. Karen opens the door. Cold ocean air flows into the room. She takes a sip of coffee and rubs her eyes. She walks over to Bruce and kicks him with a slippered foot.]

Karen: Bruce. Wake up. Bruce.... for God's sake if you don't stop snoring I'M going to shoot you in the other knee.
Bruce: If you made a pass at me I wouldn't say no. Besides her gun was loaded with blanks.
Karen: It was a trick?
Bruce: She had a temper...
[Bruce sits up and looks around...Simon set it up for me... programmed her the day before.
Karen: And all this time you let her think she shot you?
Bruce: If you were me, would you want Vivienne out there, waiting for an opportune moment to prove herself?
Karen: I suppose not. The coffee is ready. By the way, your cell phone is back on. Don't know what that's all about.
Bruce: I'm sure I'll find out.
Karen: Are you going to stay for the whole day.
Bruce: I think I will, I haven't taken a day off for 18 months.
Karen: good lord... we can go out for breakfast if you'd like?
Bruce: let me get semi conscious first
[Bruce turns on the television, and switches the station to CNN]

{And in a recent story, Fred Doestoevsky of the Foreign Trade Commision was found last night, after an apparent suicide. His car was engulfed in a raging fire when authorities came on the scene. A later autopsy found he died instantly from a self inflicted gunshot wound}

Bruce: Oh FUCK...they got Fred....damn it. I told him to wait.
Karen: Fred is dead? Wait for what?
Bruce: Either that or he decided to take an early retirement in a very public way... they got him. Who shoots themselves and then lights their car on fire? I told him to wait to contact me, no matter what happened. He probably figured I'd want out becuase of the Ministry of Justice investigations and started snooping for me.
Karen: He ran into opposition then?
Bruce: Monolith, and they were probably looking for me.
Karen: I take it I need to buy groceries for a few days?
Bruce: Yeah. And rent alot of movies. I can't go anywhere until I figure this out.
Karen: What about the meeting?
Bruce: Dave will take care of it.
[Cut to Dave's apartment. His kitchen table is covered in pizza boxes, two liters of soda, and bags of varying junk food, Chinese, and Thai food. Techs sit at different terminals in Dave's living room. Greg is stretched out on one of the couches holding a fanfold read out of code. Simon is perched on the back of an easy chair with a lap top. Dave sits in his recliner indian style with a phone tucked under his chin, and a pad of paper. Vivienne walks out of Dave's bedroom with a large cardboard box full of mirrored sunglasses]

Tech1: That will only take it down for 30 minutes.... try this.
[Tech one passes a pience of paper with a network path and a file name on it to tech2]

Tech2: i know it will only take it down for 30 minutes, but if we do that, then the other server will have to open its ports to take up the backlog....we can do it this way!
[he points to his monitor]

Dave: Greg, what about the database, how long will it take to copy everything out?
Greg: 7 million records... who knows how big....2 hours....and thats at a Meg a second.
Dave: Too long....Simon, how long will it take for them to trace it?
Simon: I have no idea.
[Greg and Dave turn to look at him]

Simon: Hey, I hack into these things, but no one ever comes looking for me okay? We have complete access, what fun is that?
Viv: We need to kick all of the other administrators OUT.
Dave: We have all weekend to figure that out. First, psychological warfare. Viv, do we have enough sunglasses?
Viv: Enough for the whole coding cluster.
Dave: Greg, our list of important and weird questions?
Greg: Finished it this morning before I came over.
Tech3: As far as I can tell, this isn't a root password, but it gives us access to the password file, which is encrypted....we need faster processors to break it down in time, we need something really powerful ... like one of those Department of Defense Artificial Intelligence system's...I read about them in the latest Jane's defense tech guides, the AI 149 Advanced Processor Matrix.... fastest decryption outside of a Cray.
Viv: The AI 149 APM created by Lockhorn Merton for full control autopilot of jetfighters.....
Tech1:(to tech2) See I told you she was different. She's awesome.
Dave: Viv?
Viv: Sal, the CoffeeMasterPlus... or the HotChoc9000, either one of them would be able to decrypt the system in seconds.
Dave: We'll get back to that in a minute....becuase I think it's going to take a few minutes to talk about.
Greg: Okay here are some of the questions... if you want we can play house, I'll be a door and you can-
Viv: Greg.
Greg: Okay...given the sudden termination of our contract what form of severance package can we expect?
Viv: Good.
Greg: If all of us were to die right now, after our termination has been announced, would our families still receive the garaunteed life insurance?
Dave: Twisted, but kind of serious.
Greg: If Diane gives us our exit interviews, will she wear her cheerleader outfit like she did for me?
[Simon laughs.]

Dave: You got Diane to-
[Vivienne puts her hand on her hip, where her gun is secured]

Dave: We'll use that one if we really need to fluster her.
Greg: What kind of outplacement services can we expect.
Simon: A swift kick to the curb.
Greg: Knowing that Monolith has made a deal with Satan for it's success, does this mean our immortal souls are now free of any implied obligation as it's representatives.
Dave: I like that one...
Greg: If you were to describe our situation in a metaphor, would you choose a) we've run out of road or b) Remora has bent us over so far, we're going to be able to perform our own proctology exams?
Simon: Shouldn't that be proctological?
Greg: Will we be able to take our PTO before we are forced to leave, or can we trade it in for cash, prizes, and other free merchandising?
Viv: Amusing in a topical way..
Greg: what's the real reason this is happening, and answer me truthfully, becuase if you don't, this is the last meeting any of us will ever attend.
Dave: Lets phrase it that way only if they get physically violent.
Greg: So I should leave the Semtex in my cube?
Dave: uh, yeah, fact of the matter is, nothing we say is going to matter that much, we just need to confuse them.
Viv: And we need to buy a little time in order to pull this off. We need access to the network until Wednesday at least.
Dave: Okay this brings us back to the AI 149 apparently, Greg make sure to pass out those questions early in the morning..
Viv: The CoffeeMaster contains one of those processor's, the central unit that is. It's located in the broom closet off of the main corridor in Remora, no locks on the door, or security. It had a twin, programmed with a different personality....
Tech1: The HotChoc9000, the bastards took it out of the building about 2 years ago...
Viv: Yeah, the HotChoc9000 is in storage somewhere, but Bruce was never able to trace it.
Dave: So we just ask the CoffeeMaster for help right?
Viv: Should be that easy.
Dave: Excellent
Simon: Speaking of which has anyone talked to Bruce?
Dave: I haven't heard from him, Viv, Greg, you try to call him?
Greg: I called earlier, his cell is working, but his voicemail is answering.
Tech3: Who's Diogenes?
[Dave jumps up and walks over to the monitor.]

Diogenes: Dave?
Dave6789: I'm here.
Diogenes:Tell Lara Croft that I'm with Father, feeling a bit ill, but enjoying the visit. Make sure to feed the cat. Diogenes has disconnected.
Dave: Father? I didn't know bruce had a cat.
[Greg, Viv, and Simon look at each other quickly]

Viv: He doesn't... he means be careful. He thinks someone wants him dead, but he's safe.
Dave: who's Father?
Viv: I'll explain it later, I'm not sure who it is.
Simon: I am...
[Vivienne turns to Simon]

Viv: You know?
Simon: I went to school with him remember?
Dave: Okay....what about the rest of the party toys for the meeting.
[Vivienne reaches over behind a chair and pulls out a large bag of clip on bells]

Viv: Bruce asked me to get these.
[Simon smiles, but says nothing]

[Cut to the office of Magnus Reece. His desk is littered with empty Volt Cola cans. He sits in his chair with his head tilted back. Chapstick walks into the office, and surveys the housekeeping carnage.]

Chapstick: Master?
Magnus: errrm, yes, what is it Chapstick...
Chapstick: I ran through the employee records at Remora....there is no Bruce Casey on the payroll, or Vivienne Agincourte....I did find a few entries which are suspicious though...
Magnus: Chapstick, get to the point...
Chapstick: James Bond, Lara Croft, Harry Houdini, and a Capt. William Bligh all receive regular paychecks...I had the system print one of each to bring to you, they came out like this.
[Chapstick hands the checks over. They bear the names Bruce Casey, Vivienne Agincourte, Simon von Mesmer, and Gregory Donovan in like order]

Magnus: Our Mr. Casey is quite the smartass. Diane will be taking care of Mr. Casey shortly.... after she determines what's going on.
Chapstick: Oh, by the way sir, those three technicians that visited the Remora Group are available for interviews today.
Magnus: Not today Chapstick...how about a week or so from now...make it early in the morning on Thursday.
Chapstick: yes master, um, may I ask something....were you coding last night?
Magnus: yes Chapstick, I needed to discipline an errant Artificial Intelligence.
[Cut to CoffeeMaster. It's display is green, it simply reads 'Make your selection."]

[Cut to Karen's house. Bruce sits at her kitchen table, wires run from the back of a laptop to the wall, a scanner, and a metallic black box are wired into the computer]

Bruce: She has got to be in here somewhere...
Karen: Where are you looking?
Bruce: CIA, NSA, DOD, every service record and terrorist profile I can think of in the States.
Karen: Why the States.
[Bruce stares.]

Bruce: Good point I assumed she was American, I also forgot she isn't a real blonde.
[Karen raises an eyebrow]

Bruce: Greg informed me. This changes things a bit.
Karen: I'll make more coffee, you must still be hung over to have missed this stuff.
Bruce: Either that or rusty.
[Wednesday: 2200 hrs. Diane's apartment. it is decorated entirely in white and black. Her living room is full of excercise equipment, one chair, and a large screen TV. CNN Headline news is broadcasting. Close up of Diane as she does chin ups. Sweat drips down her nose.
Diane: Bruce has dissapeared.
[She pulls up and exhales.]

Diane: Vivienne, Simon, and Greg were out of work today....
[She pulls up and exhales.]

Diane: Who would know the most....
[She pulls up and exhales.]

Diane: Who would Casey trust.
[She pulls up and exhales.]

Diane: Who would he use.
[She pulls up and exhales.]

Diane: Not the woman....not the pervert.
[She pulls up and exhales.]

Diane:(gritting her teeth in a smile) You know my name is Simon....
[She pulls up and exhales.]

[Cut to Vivienne, Dave and Simon. They sit surrounded by the trash of 4 technicians. Dave gets up and grabs a trashbag from his kitchen, he starts to throw empty food containers into it]

Dave: These guy's leave one hell of a mess.
Viv: But they code well...I think the programs they wrote will work, once we have the password file descrypted.
Dave: So what's the deal with Bruce, why won't he call?
Simon: he doesn't want to give his position away, no contact, no risk.
Dave: Who's Father?
[Vivienne looks over at Simon]

Viv: I know who father is supposed to be, Simon acts like he knows a little more.
Simon: Not much really.
Viv: Father is the administrative contact for the Underground. As far as I knew, none of us had ever met him, even Bruce. We file all of our reports, and receive all of our orders from Father. They are the liaison between the Underground hierarchy and Ken and Terrie.
Simon: Exactly...
Viv: But you know who they really are.
Simon: You'll be happy to know it's a woman.
Viv: it is?
Simon: Don't be so surprised, you aren't the only female running around playing spy.
Viv: You mentioned college? Does Bruce know her from college?
Simon: yeah...
Viv: You aren't telling me something...
Simon: I'll let you know when it doesn't matter anymore.
Viv: Could you be more specific?
Simon: I'm not in the mood. Listen, I have to get out of here if I'm going to be rested for the meeting tomorrow, I'll see you guys later. 8 45 in the parking lot right?
Dave: You got it.
[Simon leaves the apartment.]

Dave: if I'm going to continue with this, you need to let me know how it all works...
Viv: I guess I do...
[Vivienne walks into Dave's bedroom and returns with a file folder]

Viv: I prepared this for you a few days ago. Bruce put some notes in there too.
[She tosses him a file of two folders. One marked. TRU- Ops procedures and Guidelines, the other TRU op. 42]

Dave: this should be pretty educational.

[Remora Group Building 0845 hrs. Slow fade in. Three cars pull in side by side in the remora parking lot. Slow motion. The techno version of Bella de Fortuna plays over the entire scene. Greg gets out of his Bronco wearing black jeans, a black t-shirt and, a black leather coat, and black reflective sunglasses. He slings a black carry bag over his shoulder and lights a cigarette. Dave and Vivienne get out of his car, Dave is wearing blue jeans, a tan suede vest with a black t-shirt, alligator skin boots, and a long black leather trechcoat. he lights a cigarette. Vivienne rises out of the car looking away from the camera, close up as she turns her head. Her hair hangs down beside her face. She looks at the camera over the frames of her glasses. She stands, lights a cigarette, and pulls a satchel bag out of the car and closes the door. She is wearing a black silk shirt, jeans, and snakeskin boots. Simon enters camera view stage right. He is wearing blue jeans, a Green lantern t-shirt, and a black flannel shirt. All of the other employees of the Remora group pour into the parking lot behind. They exit their cars, all wearing reflective mirror sunglasses. When the group is large enough Dave looks side to side and smiles. He points to the building and starts walking. The four of them flick their cigarettes. Camera follows . They travel an impossible distance, and land in the large pile of butts which has now completely engulfed the Remora group sign. Cut back to group. The four Reality underground members lead a motley crew of tech's toward the building. Cut to meeting room. Music fades. The entire Coding Cluster sits silently, wearing their reflective sunglasses. The clock reads 8 59. Close up on the second hand of the clock. When it strikes 9, everyone in the room pulls out a small set of bells, and clips them to their cuff or sleeve.]

Dave: We're ready.
Greg: Oh yeah.
Viv: Viv la revolution.
Simon: This should be amusing.
[Enter- Patty O'Furniture, Mr. Shinything, and Diane. They all look warily at the group.]

Patty: (to MrST) Do you think they know what were going to tell them.
MrST: They're all technical...how could they?
Patty: Okay then, you or Diane make the announcement.
MrST: I'll do it.
[Mr Shinything walks forward a few paces to the center of the room.]

MrShinything: Good morning everyone! I have a few announcments to make... the Coding Cluster contract has been cancelled, and we no longer need your services. We will be shutting down operations completely in two weeks!
[He smiles as brightly as possible. No one in the audience does the same. They stare back with their reflective lenses]

MrST: Of course we will be providing outplacement services and resume writing workshops. Monolith and Gigawatt consulting have also expressed interest in recruiting some of our personnel, and there are several headhunters who know the value of a good Remora employee.
Tech1: Minus the Remora!
[MrShinything simply stands and smiles]

Diane: How about the question and answer period Dirk?
MrShinything: Excellent idea. So who's first.
[Vivienne turns to Simon angrily.]

Viv: I thought you said he would be NON-functional??
Simon: Bruce gave me other instructions. I liked his better.
Viv: How long did he have this planned?
Simon: Oh, quite a while. he left it out of the operation guidelines. We decided to do it this way about a year ago if the opportunity ever came up.
[Simon smiles a small contented smile]

Viv: What exactly are we in for?
Simon: Watch, enjoy, you're way too uptight.
[A tech raises his hand in the audience, Mr Shinything twitches]

MrST: yes?
Tech2: Are we getting some kind of severance package?
MrST: You're out of your fucking mind if you think were giving you jack shit. And Jack just left. Next question.
[The bells ring again as Tech4 raises his hand. Mr ST twitches.]

Tech4: Are these outplacement services you're providing any good?
MrST: No. You won't see them anyway. We'll delay their implementation until the two weeks are over. Fend for yourselves. next question?
Tech3: Why did we lose the contract?
[Mr Shinything has ceased to smile, his forehead has broken out in sweat]

MrST: We...we... asked for too much money, Rosencrantz came up with some lamebrain New math scheme which looked good on paper but cost us in the long run. When we had a chance to make up for it, we asked for too much money. Monolith ditched us. The Ministry of Justice is after their ass, you think they give a shit about tech support?? Next question.
[Diane scans the crowd looking for reactions, she settles on Simon, and the rest of the Underground, among the four, he is the only one who does not seem in the least bit amused, or shocked. he is simply content]

Tech5:(jingling) So do we at least get unemployment.
MrST: If we could, we'd screw you out of that too and get our money back, but it's a well known law and benefit, Diane will help you fill out the forms. I'm out of here this afternoon, I already have another job.

Viv: Tell us Dirk, what did you do for a living before you came here?
[Mr. ShinyThing sweats profusely]

MrShinything: I sold adult sex toys to pornography shops, and I enjoy being a weasel. Next question.
[Blood begins to drip from Mr Shinything's nose]

Tech6: Do we get an exit interview?
MrShinything: Aren't you the guy with a hawk living in your cube? You don't even work for the Coding Cluster, why are you here?
Tech6: I was on break, and I used to work for BasicallyGUI! I think they have a right to an exit interview.
MrShinything: Theoretically they do, but Diane over here, being a master of personell relations decided against it. Then again she can't tie her shoes, which is why she wears dress shoes all of the time.
Diane: Okay Dirk...why don't I address the human Assett's issues, and continue to answer the more benefit specific questions.
Tech7: Are our raises going to be calculated into our initial unemployment figure.
Diane: I'm afraid not...now everyone, why don't you get back to work, before I have you all fired, and none of you can collect.
[Diane smiles, a sincere, bright cheery, ice cold smile. Dirk sits in a chair by the door shaking. Blood forms in tears at the corner of his eyes]


Viv: Simon, that was alittle much don't you think?
Simon: No.
Viv: not even just a little?
Simon: No, it did what it was supposed to.
Dave: how's that, we just gave mrShinything brain damage.
Simon: Trust me, it didn't do that much damage. We know who the spy for Monolith is now.
Greg: We do?
Simon: Bruce thought it might be Steve, Steve hasn't looked over here once. Diane has been watching us the whole time.
Dave: You think she's the reason Bruce took a vacation, the one that wants him dead.
Simon: Not dead, she just wants to know what were up to...let's get out of here, I like my unemployment.
[Thursday 1500 hrs. Vivienne walks up to the CoffeemasterPlus with a mug]

Viv: hey Sal.
[The machine is silent]

Viv: Sal??
[Vivienne bangs on the side of the machine. Nothing happens. The display simply offers coffee]

Viv: Oh shit.
[Vivienne runs to Dave's cube.]

Viv: Come with me, we need to get the CoffeeMaster out of here....
Dave: What's wrong?
Viv: Something has happened to her.
[Cut to broom closet. The central Coffee unit lays dormant, only one light is blinking. it's network jack is unlit]

Dave: She's offline apparently...you want to get her out of here?
Viv: We'll need her to get into the Call Ops server...and we may need to repair her... security may be a problem.
Dave: We could move a walk in refrigerator out the front door, noone would notice.
Viv: Let's go then.
[Dave and Vivienne pick up the CoffeeMaster together and walk her down the hallway, as they exit the front door Dave looks at the securty guard]

Dave: Solar powered...need to recharge it.
[The security guard nods. Another employee attempts to exit the building with an envelope in his hand. the guard stops him. Follow Dave and Vivienne into the parking lot.]

Dave: We couldn't have waited?
Viv: I don't think so....look.
[A CoffeeMaster truck pulls up to the door of the building. There is a small magnetic sign underneath the logo of the truck which reads. Now owned by Monolith. Dave struggles to get the machine into the backseat of his car]

Dave: maybe it is just broken?
Viv: Impossible, it's AI only shut's down if it's in danger of being erased....that's how they got the HotChoc.....
Dave: This wasn't in the dossier...
Viv: Bruce left it out....he felt responsible, he wanted to fix it before anyone else knew...
Dave: Oh...well, what now?
Viv: We finish the work week.
Dave: Good idea.
[Cut to Diane's office. She is speaking into the phone]

Diane: I have my man. You'll know by the middle of next week.
[She places the phone back on the receiver, and closes the personnel file of Simon vonMesmer]

Diane: You should have destroyed ALL the paper copies Bruce.
[Cut to Bruce in Karen's kitchen]

Bruce: Son of a bitch!
Karen: I take it you found what you were looking for...
Bruce: I missed it, all of this time, it was right in front of me! Remember I told you I took over another operatives file, their dossier, and history?
Karen: Yeah?
Bruce: It's her....Diane....she's not dead....everyone from that Operation's group is supposed to be dead. She's had plastic surgery, but her method is the same.
Karen: How do you know she's supposed to be dead?
Bruce: I was never an assassin...that's true enough, but I was in charge of the operation's group that had been co-opted by Monolith... I ordered their disposal....oh shit.
Karen: There's more?
Bruce: Simon was the one who did it....
Karen: huh?
[Bruce gnaws on his index finger knuckle]

Bruce: I never told you everything.....

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