Scene 8
[Taxi pulls up outside a brownstone on a city side street. We see Vivienne
in the back seat looking up at the building. She is wearing a bulky black
sweater, blue jeans, and a waist length black leather jacket. She glances
down at her watch, which we see is a ladies Rolex.]
Vivienne: How much?
Driver: Ten bucks even.
[Her accent is English. Vivienne hands the driver a bill and steps out of
the cab slinging a canvas cargo bag over her shoulder. The cab pulls away.
She pulls out a pack of Dunhill's and light's one. She inhales and cough's
a bit.]
Vivienne: I hate this part.
[She glances from side to side while she takes a deep drag and notices the
van parked at the corner of the street in front of a fire hydrant.]
Vivienne: Amateurs.
[She makes her way up the front stairs of the building. Cut to interior of
apartment as she closes the door. It is furnished generically there is a
side table next to the door. Written in blocky printing is VIV. She opens
and begins reading, close up of note.]
Viv- I assume your cover has been arranged.
Hope you like the accommodations.
I will be by later after I attend to business.
There's a gift in the fridge.
[Viv walks to the refrigerator, and opens the door. The only thing in it is
a bottle of Stolichnaya Vodka.]
Vivienne: Bruce, you are a bastard.
[She takes the bottle, rummages around to find a glass, pours a healthy
amount, and removes from underneath her bulky sweater an automatic with
silencer and places it on the table. She takes a pile of file folders from
the cargo bag, puts on a pair of reading glasses, and sits down at the
kitchen table. She ashes into a coffee mug. Cut to Orangeman's]
[Bruce and Dave walk in together, shaking off the cold. Cut to their POV, 7
tables set end to end on the lower level of a noisy sports bar. There are
at least 30 people gathered around the table talking to each other. The
table surfaces are a sea of glasses. Huey Dewey and Looie are sitting side
by side, enjoying the anecdotes being told by the Remora Group technicians
(yes, the company is now named the Remora Group, they are parisitic fish in
case you were interested). Simon vonMesmer sits near them listening,
occaisionally speaking. It is obvious he is watching everything they do.]
Bruce: I am really not in the mood for this…
Dave: neither am I really…whose going away is this?
Bruce: Ross from InternetProgrammer…but I talked to him this afternoon and
he decided not to leave.
Dave: Isn't that the guy whose head almost exploded on a call?
Bruce: Yeah…too much espresso, I have something to do anyway…listen, why
don't you tag along with Simon when he gets down to business. See what
kind of information you can get out of the terribly bland trio over there.
[Bruce turns and walks out. Dave walks over to the group with some
hesitation. Cut to Vivienne's apartment]
[Knock at the door. Vivienne picks up the automatic. ]
Bruce: It's me Viv.
Viv: It's open.
[Bruce enters. They stare at each other. He walks into the kitchen without
saying anything, and reemerges with a glass. He sit's down at the table
opposite her.]
Bruce: Been a while Viv.
Viv: Not long enough.
Bruce: Nice to see you too.
Viv: Yeah.
Bruce: Anyway, why the hell did they send you?
Viv: To help you in your hour of need.
[She pushes a manila envelope across the table to him. He opens it. Inside
are 8x10 color glossies]
Bruce: Shit. Didn't expect any of this.
Viv: Not a surprise, you have a habit of underestimating stupid people.
Bruce: True enough, I just didn't see them as the operative type. Your job
or mine?
Viv:Yours. Your reports indicated the target was easily accessible.
Bruce: It is. Why else are you here…I mean other than Mr. Shiny Thing.
Viv: I do hate it when you develop stage names for targets, you give
everything a stage name.
Bruce: Makes it easier, why YOU.
Viv: I requested it and the whole thing is about to fold.
Bruce: Fold?
Viv: It is entirely a coincidence…the Ministry of Justice proceedings have
forced them to reconsider management strategies. You've taken too long
with this little side project of yours. As much as I don't want to say
this, you have earned the latitude, but you aren't going to do any more
recruiting, or saving anyone. Most of those employees wouldn't care if you
shoved a coffee can full of truth down their throat.
They just want to get paid. It's time to mop up. Have Simon do as much as
he can with Garretts assitants and then get ready to leave.
Bruce: Why the push, can't you just spit it out?
Viv: Most prefer otherwise…. Monolith cancels the Coding Cluster Contract
on Thursday.
Bruce: Oh man…….so what's the plan.
Viv: We do as much damage as possible in the time available. We will have a
month at the most.
Bruce: Once it's announced what happens? Do we incite the locals?
Viv: Try to get a few of your recruits to take jobs with Monolith. The rest
is simply encouraging people to follow their own lack of conscience.
Bruce: I want to take Dave with us, I'd like you to meet him tomorrow night.
Viv: Sounds fine.
Bruce: So the timeline is pretty straightforward. Simon needs to program
as many of them as he can by the end of the week, hoping that once they
return to Monolith headquarters one of them takes Magnus out.
Viv: And in the meantime we use the ensuing confusion to cause even more
chaos, we may even use Magic School Bus.
Bruce: Do you think you'll be able to get the access codes to the CallOps
Server?
Viv: That may be the only thing I may get done.
Bruce: Well, you're mere presence is going to do A LOT.
Viv: I read the profile…a lot like Derry, where I did the research.
Bruce: They don't have a prayer…this will be fun to watch.
[Vivienne frowns.]
Bruce: Sensitive all of the sudden are we?
Viv: Fuck off Bruce.
Bruce: That's my cue.
[Bruce down's the rest of his vodka, and stands.]
Vivienne: You recruited me…remember that.
Bruce:You recruited yourself. Good night Vivienne.
[Bruce leaves the apartment. Vivienne puts a bullet through a flower vase
on the opposite side of the room with the automatic. Cut to van]
Voice: Operatives have made contact.
[Pause]
Voice: Driver, return to base.
[Cut to Simon and Dave, propping up Huey, the Monolith liason. They manage
to drag him across the parking lot, as he babbles about his one true love,
who was named Jack, and how he really really misses him. With a lot of work
they get him into the back of the van. They both get in and the van pulls
out of the parking lot. Cut to van interior. It has started to rain. It
pelts the roof of the van. Inside there is a converted dentist chair with a
complex looking electronic head piece. One side of the van is covered in
racks of computer, audio and communications equipment. Simon sits on a
stool next to the dentist chair holding a deck of cards. Dave sits on a
small bench to the side smoking a cigarette. Simon puts the deck of cards
down and rolls up Huey's sleeve.]
Simon: I'll be damned. This asshole is a some kind of Nazi.
[Close up of Huey's arm. On it is a black swastika]
Dave: Huh? He was babbling about some guy earlier like he was a lovesick
school girl….he's a GAY Nazi?
Simon: Apparently so….this makes things a lot easier for us.
[Simon gives Huey an injection]
Dave: How's that?
Simon: Well, it's no surprise Monolith has Nazi's working for them…but he
is obviously repressed about his sexuality, and only expresses his feelings
when under the influence of chemical de-inhibitors. In order for him to
have identified with a group which obviously preaches to the disposessed
and those that feel powerless, a group that HATES what he is….the
conclusion is obvious.
[Simon swabs the injection with some iodine]
Dave: The conclusion being???
Simon: He's really fucked up and not too bright.
Dave: Oh.
Simon: The answers are usually a lot simpler than you'd think.
[Simon slaps Huey on the side of the face]
Simon: Huuuuueeeyy.
Huey: errrrmmm
Simon: Huey…LOOK AT ME.
[Huey's eye snap open. They are glazed and unfocused.]
Simon: Huey, are you listening?
Huey: Uhhhh.
Simon: good, do you see this man?
[Pictures of Magnus Reece appear on all of the monitors in the van.]
Simon: This man is why you are confused. This man is the cause of your
shame. He took Jack away. He took your collection of Barbara Streisand
albums away. He made you what you are.
You are miserable. You are trapped. You are TRAPPED.
Simon: What are you Huey?
Huey: Trapped.
Simon: Do you want to be free Heuy?
Huey: Yesssssss.
Simon: This man is in your way Huey…THIS MAN.
[Simon points to the monitor. Magnus Reece looms in a still frame close up]
Simon: Kill him Huey, and you will be free.
Huey: freeeeeeee
Simon: How will you be free?
Huey: I must kill Magnus Reece to be free…..
Simon: Huey, …you must do something else to be free…
Huey: yeesss
Simon: You must have your Nazi tattoo removed with laser surgery. You must
kill Magnus first, but until the tattoo is gone you will still feel trapped.
Huey: Trapped.
Simon: What are you Huey?
Huey: Traaaped.
Simon: excellent Huey, and you know how to be free?
Huey: killllllll, killlllll, killlll
Simon: Good….Huey, when you see this-
[Simon holds up the queen of diamonds from the deck of cards]
you will remember what you have to do, you will find magnus Reece, you will
free yourself by killing him…
Huey: And then I must have my tattoo removed…
Simon: Excellent….WHAT must you see?
Huey: The queen of diamonds…
Simon: On the count of three, you will fall into a deep sleep, when you
awake you will remember flirting with the waiter, but no one noticed, and
it will make you happy. One…two….three.
[Huey falls to one side.]
Simon: easier than I thought.
Dave: That's it? You just tell him that his boss is the reason he's
miserable and show him a playing card and he becomes a killer?
Simon: Yeah.
Dave: How is going to see the queen of diamonds anyway, you going to email
him?
Simon: You aren't the only support tech that plays solitaire Dave… let's
go get the other two before they realize they're in your car and not the
VIP lounge at the plaza.
Dave: This hypnosis stuff is kind of cool.
[Cut to the Remora Building, next day. Vivienne walks down the main aisle
of Basically GUI! She is wearing a bright purple tube dress, and 2 inch
spike heels. As she passes each cube, the techs lean backwards out of the
cube and watch her walk by. Purple Haze by Jimi Hendricks plays in the
backround. She stops at Dave's cube]
Viv: You Dave McBeth?
[Dave stares at her. His mouth drops open]
Viv: I'm Vivienne, I'll talk to you later.
[Cut to Bruce's cube.]
Bruce: You wore THAT??
Viv: Sorry Dad, I didn't know it was a school day. I'm not worried, I'm
carrying my weapon.
Bruce: Where??
[Vivienne smiles. Bruce leans over and places his head in his hands.]
Bruce: This was not the kind of disruption I was hoping for.
Viv: Why is it so goddamn cold in here.
Bruce: Evil bunny.
[Bruce stands. ]
Bruce: I need some more tea. You want coffee?
Viv: Yeah.
[They begin to walk through the building, as they do, more heads peek out
of cubes to stare at Vivienne as she walks by.]
Viv: So, you had Jeeter send you that thing? Who's in there?
Bruce: A guy named Tony…and another guy named Dan. Long story. I'm trying
to get Tony to tell me who killed him but he's too embarrassed by what
happened. I almost had him there, but then the other dead guy took over.
Viv: This Dan person?
Bruce: Stupid manager type, doesn't even know he's dead.
Viv: The ones that are alive don't recognize it either, why should HE change.
Bruce: Good point. Listen how many people saw you?
Vivienne: About 50 guys, all furtively staring at me.
Bruce: 50…not bad, the record is 22 around here, girl named Emily. You have
yourself a little army of saboteurs when the time comes.
[Vivienne smiles an evil smile.]
Bruce: Sometimes I do miss working with you…anyway. The word is the
meeting will be in the morning on Thursday, which gives us plenty of time.
We'll meet at Dave's place tonight.
Vivienne: He's under surveillance you know, and so am I.
Bruce: I know, I ordered it.
Viv: Figures. Anyway, I have to bouncing through the building for a few
more hours, pretending to be genuinely friendly and interested in all the
guys I meet.
Bruce: Don't bounce too much, you might hurt yourself.
[They arrive at the coffee machine. It flashes a warm pink color]
[CoffeeMachine: HELLO Vivienne, how have you been??]
Viv: Quite well. Sal? Could I have a French Roast please?
[CoffeeMachine: Certainly]
Bruce: How did you do that?
Viv: You never had the touch with machines.
Bruce: Word is you've had more practice.
[CofeeMachine, glowing RED: Bruce is a lying deceitful jerk]
Viv: Apparently she knows you well.
Bruce: At least I don't shoot things for fun…. SHE?
Viv: It's a girl thing Bruce. And a small detail you have forgotten.
Bruce: What?
Viv: These machines were modeled after my personality.
Bruce: No wonder the coffee tastes like-
[The coffee machine display glows a DRAK RED, with no words]
Bruce: Nevermind.
[Bruce squints and turns to the side listening intently.]
Bruce: Viv- get the hell out of here, now….
[Bruce pushes her down the aisle. He turns and there is a staring group of
Docker and T-shirt clad technicians.]
Rat Tech: Where is she Bruce??
Bruce: who?
Tech1: The girl….in the dress…we need to take her picture.
Bruce: Um….she stepped out for a bit. Why do you guys need pictures?
[The group stares in silence, they look mildy embarrassed]
Bruce: Boys, boys, boys…. Why don't you try talking to her?
Tech2: Well why does she talk to you, is it because you work out??
Tech3: Or is it that Karate thing?
Tech4: Or is it the way you dress??
[Bruce looks down at what he is wearing. Clean blue jeans, a dark green
Irish sweater and black boots…he looks back up them with one eyebrow raised
above the other]
Bruce: Jiminy Christmas…what the hell are you all talking about????
[They stare back at him]
Tech1: She won't talk to us.
Bruce: Trust me…Vivienne, that's her name, is a very nice person, who
wouldn't be mean to anyone, and I am SURE she would like to get to know all
of you…so why don't you put the Polaroids away and maybe you start a new
shrine to someone else. Just wait for her to talk to each of you. Do
something nice for her in the meantime….how about Welcome flowers?….let me
give you her office assignment.
[Bruce turns. Cut forward to Bruce with his legs up on his desk sipping tea
out of his CIA mug. It is now late afternoon. He rubs his knee as though it
is sore. Dave and Greg sit in the aisle outside his cube in chairs. Bruce's
phone rings. He hits Speaker]
Viv: Bruce…I was wondering…..
Bruce: Yes my sweetest?
[A long pause]
Viv: You bastard you DID put them up to this, there is no room to maneuver
in here. I can't even take these godforsaken high heels off!! Do you know
how much space 50 flower deliveries take up???
Bruce: Do you know how long it takes to recover from a bullet wound to the
knee?
Viv: THAT was an accident.
Bruce: I was changing the channel to the television, in my own apartment……
Viv: You deserved it.
[Greg and Dave begin to laugh]
Viv: You have me on speaker phone????
Bruce: yep.
Viv: I'll see you at your place after work, bring the other 2 along.
[The phone clicks off hook]
Dave: She SHOT you?
Bruce: Well I did deserve it.
Greg: He really did.
Dave: What did you do?
Greg: It's what he didn't do.
Dave: Can't anyone give me a straight ANSWER???
Bruce and Greg: NO.
[Cut to the pile of cigarettes. It now obscures the Remora Group sign at
the front of the building]