I/E. OUTSIDE OLD WOMAN’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Sargent Humstable knocked on the door of the Underwood cottage, in light rain, accompanied by a Reaper and two other police officers. He waits for a response and is evidently uncomfortable in the presence of the Reaper
Sargent Humstable: 46, thinning brown hair, overweight, dark blue eyes, five feet eight inches tall, wearing a long dark brown coat, blue trousers and black shoes.
SARGENT HUMSTABLE: Sorry to bother you Mrs Underwood, but we have to search the premises.
Without, giving her enough time to respond, the Sargent’s two accompanying police officer’s barge past her and search the premises, overturning furniture, pots and pans, and checking the walls for any possible cavities.
Moments later Mrs Underwood, Sargent Humstable and the Reaper stand in the living room.
THE REAPER: Are there any other rooms in this house?
MRS UNDERWOOD: Why, no
The Reaper, bends down and removes the rug in the centre of the room. He then opens the trapdoor.
MRS UNDERWOOD: Why that’s just the cellar
The Reaper climbs down and turns on the light. There are two large kegs located in the cellarand a small open space with a wooden floor.
THE REAPER: They were here. I can smell them.
The Reaper attempts to rip the wooden panels from the walls.
THE REAPER: Beds? You have beds here. Where are they?
MRS UNDERWOOD: I don’t know what you are talking about young man.
THE REAPER : Where are they?
MRS UNDERWOOD: Don’t take that tone with me young man.
The Reaper slapped the old woman across the face.
THE REAPER: Where are they?
INT. TUNNELS UNDERNEATH THE CITY - EARLY MORNING
Charlie follows Atticus who holds a burning torch. The tunnels that made up the sewer are low and wet.
Atticus reaches a large room where a number of tunnels meet. In this large area, were several large wooden structures that help to form numerous beds that are almost twenty feet high around its perimeter. There are about sixty beds in all in this area, almost half of which are occupied.
JESSE: Who are these people?
JESSE: 32 years old, six feet two inches, broad, bald, with brown skin and wears rags that stained with dirt.
ATTICUS: They are friends. The Reapers are looking for them.
JESSE: Even I recognise this man, They might bring more trouble than they are worth. How do we know they are not changelings impersonating fugitives in an attempt to infiltrate our group.
JEFF: If we are unwanted here. I don’t see why I should stay. I can look after myself. Charlie here was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He may need more looking after. I’m not going to be a burden on you. I wouldn’t want to impinge. You lot would probably only weigh me down just like he has.
ALEXIS: Nobody is a burden on us. We leave no one behind. Any friend of Atticus is a friend of mine.
ALEXIS: Long fair hair, 52, Five Feet Five Inches, overweight, wearing tarnished clothing
At this point a group of three men and a woman entered the same large room. They brought with them, several dead rabbits, some small fish and a dead fox.
CLAYTON: What have we got here?
CLAYTON: 29, Slim, rugged and unshaven, full head of dark hair, Five feet ten inches tall
ATTICUS: New recruits.
STANISLAS: Have they been vetted?
STANISLAS: Five Feet ten inches, Broad, 41, Short fair hair, confident, fit looking.
ATTICUS: They are wanted by the police. I trust them.
Dorothy approaches Charlie
DOROTHY: Blonde, blue eyes, slim, very attractive, wearing shorts with a knife tied to her waist, boots a bra and a light jacket.
DOROTHY: This one looks soft. He’s not hunting material. I bet he wouldn’t last two days down here.
STANISLAS: How did you come to meet them?
ATTICUS: They were being chased by the police, the army and the Reapers. I helped them. I trust them.
CLAYTON: I know this guy, (referring to Charlie). He’s all over the news. This is bad. If anyone sees this guy in public, we’re in trouble. Trust me. These guys are more trouble than their worth.
STANISLAS: We have a motto here, Clayton. It applies to everyone. No man or woman gets left behind. No one. If they are moles, then that is a different story, but we can’t throw them out because they are soft. Besides, now they know where we are. If we did throw them out we would be taking an even greater chance.
CLAYTON: We could kill them.
STANISLAS: If we were to kill them we would be just as bad as the Kylons we oppose so vehemently.
INT. WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC - MORNING
Donald Davis, the Press Secretary to President Westwood walks down the corridor of the White House, past two Secret Service Agents and into the Oval Office
Donald Davis: 32, red hair, light blue eyes, six feet, two inches in height, very pale skin, relatively thin in build.
Inside the Oval Office are President Westwood, a senior Adviser by the name of Greg Townsend and the Secretary for the Interior, Harold Becker.
Greg Townsend: Average height and build, Thinning brown hair, dark brown eyes, freckled and wrinkled face, 47.
HAROLD BECKER: 61, Five Feet 7 inches, white hair, light blue eyes, relatively slim, pale skin.
The Press Secretary sits down in a comfortable seat in front but slightly to the left of the Presidents desk and waits to be addressed.
PRESIDENT WESTWOOD: Donald, we were just discussing the case of a prisoner who escaped right from under our noses. His name is Charlie Morrison. It’s all really embarrassing. We have discovered he is also really an ex CIA terrorist by the name of Roger Steinham. He is a total headcase and is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent American soldiers and civilians. This man has to be stopped. We have prepared a speech for you, which I have here in my hand. It goes into all his terrorist dealings and we have proof that he is in fact a changeling. We want to flush him out.
HAROLD BECKER: His last known location was in the city of Burbank. We know that in that district there is a terrorist cell in operation there and they are responsible for many deaths and violent acts. If there is anything suspicious going on people should be encouraged to present the information to the authorities. No one should approach them.
PRESIDENT WESTWOOD: I suggest you read the document in full before you reveal it to the press. Any questions?
DONALD DAVIS: No Mr President, everything is perfectly clear.
PRESIDENT WESTWOOD: Good. You should be aware that this matter has been thoroughly investigated by the Secretary for the Interior and the FBI themselves. We will catch this son of bitch.
INT. CONFINED INTERROGATION ROOM - MORNING
Charlie Morrison wakes from his sleep to find himself bound to a chair.
In front of him is a high-ranking army officer flanked by a male and female subordinate.
Army Major: 56, six feet tall, dyed black hair, red skin, holding a cane which he taps agains the palm of his left hand
ARMY MAJOR: Mr Morrison, we have reason to believe that you know the location of the rebel base. With your cooperation we would like you to inform us of its whereabouts. If you don’t cooperate, the situation could become very unpleasant.
It was a small room with otherwise bare walls made of wood. There was a small wooden chair by the doorway. Attached to the ceiling was a large dome shaped light of about thirty centimetres in diameter. It caused Charlie to close his eyes from time to time.
ARMY MAJOR: Tell me. Where are your friends?
CHARLIE MORRISON: I don’t know.
The interrogator lashes his cane against Charlie’s arm and Charlie winces.
ARMY MAJOR: Where is the camp?
CHARLIE MORRISON: I really don’t know.
ARMY MAJOR: Very well then. I know you are lying, Mr Morrison. We will have to engage in more effective methods of interrogation.
The Army Major produces a battery powered drill which he turns on briefly.
ARMY MAJOR: This is your last chance Mr Morrison. I need the location.
CHARLIE MORRISON: I told you that I don’t know. I really wish I did.
The army officer turns on the drill once more. When the point of the drill is an inch away from his ear, he speaks above the noise.
ARMY MAJOR: Last chance, Mr Morrison.
CHARLIE MORRISON: Okay, okay I’ll tell you what I know.
The drill stops and the lighting in the room becomes even brighter. The army officer and his two subordinates change shape, into Stanislas, Dorothy and Jesse.
CHARLIE MORRISON: I’m sorry, I’m sorry
The ties that bind him are untied
CHARLIE MORRISON: I let you down. I failed.
The walls and foof of the interrogation room are raised so that now, many of their colleagues can be seen.
STANISLAS: On the contrary, Mr Morrison, you passed. Nobody goes through with the drill test.
DOROTHY: Yeah, your friend Jeff cried like a baby. I’ve never seen such a macho guy reduced to such a blubbering mess.
JEFF: Hey, look, I told you I don’t do drills. You can knock all my teeth out but I hate drills. I bet you cried too.
DOROTHY: I’m sure my response wasn’t as laughable as yours. And no I didn’t shed a tear.
STANISLAS: Ok, enough. They both passed, though some better than others. They’re probably both still tired so we’ll let them rest a little longer.
JEFF: Rest? After that? I normally don’t do nightmares, but I don’t think I’ll sleep so easy, thanks very much.
INT. REBEL LAYER - DAY
At lunchtime Charlie is eating his small meal. He observes a lsrge alien creature at the end of the table and turn to Dorothy.
CHARLIE MORRISON: Who is that?
DOROTHY: That’s Ackbar
Ackbar: Reptilian like skin, predominantly green in colour with traces of yellow and red, beige eyes, wide but flat nose, with a streak of small horns down from the top of his head to his neck six feet six inches tall
DOROTHY: He’s a changeling who isn’t a changeling. He can’t change form. The poor guy is an outcast. He looks miserable most of the time and keeps mainly to himself. He’s been here as long as anyone else.
INT. REBEL LAYER - DAY
Charlie approaches Ackbar
CHARLIE: I’m the new guy.
Ackbar doesn’t respond.
CHARLIE MORRISON: You must have an interesting life story Ackbar.
ACKBAR: No not really. I’m just a freak
CHARLIE MORRISON: I’m sure there are others like you. You are not alone Ackbar
ACKBAR: It sure doesn’t feel like it.
CHARLIE MORRISON: You must feel good that you don’t have to change form every five minutes and pretending to be someone you are not.
ACKBAR: I came from another country. I was mocked there and on my journey I was laughed at or despised. There is nothing positive to come from being me.
CHARLIE MORRISON: Someone once said that positivity is a state of mind. No matter what life throws at you, it doesn’t stop you from being positive.
ACKBAR: Who said that?
CHARLIE MORRISON: I don’t know. I just made it up to make you feel better.
ACKBAR: Charlie Morrison, you’re full of it as they say in your country.
CHARLIE MORRISON: Yeah, I get that a lot.
INT. REBEL LAYER - MORNING
Charlie wakes up, tired as usual.
STANISLAS: Morrison, get down here
Charlie duly climbed down off his bed.
Stanislas is standing next to Dorothy and Clayton, both of whom are unhappy with him.
STANISLAS: Morrison, you go with Dorothy and Clayton and rustle up some food for us. The fresh air will do you good.
CLAYTON: You’re taking a risk, Stanislas.
DOROTHY: I agree.
STANISLAS: I know he’s recognisable but we have to integrate everyone into the entire group. Everyone should feel important, valued and useful.
DOROTHY: Stanislas, you talk like an idealist but we don’t exist in an ideal world. This will be your Achilles heel. If we take risks, everyone’s livelihood is at stake including Charlie’s. He can’t defend himself, He’s weaker than any of us and worst of all, most people will recognise him.
STANISLAS: He goes.
CHARLIE MORRISON: I don’t mind, if it’s too much of a problem I can stay behind. I don’t want to be a burden and I have no issue with being undervalued as long as it means that I’m alive.
STANISLAS: Shall we put it to a vote?
DOROTHY: Ok Stanislas, but don’t say we didn’t warn you. Come on junior. Let’s go.
Charlie followed, Dorothy and Clayton out of the room.
CLAYTON: Just try not to be to conspicuous kid.
EXT. EDGE OF THE CITY - MORNING
Lead by Dorothy they ascended a small winding stairway that led to a manhole cover. Dorothy lifted it up a fraction and had a quick look around. She then removed the manhole cover and climbed out, followed by her colleagues.
EXT. FOREST NEAR BURBANK - MORNING
They had enough food and were ready to retreat back to camp when they spotted a man in a clearing. It looked as though he had injured himself in a snare.
CLEMENT: Help, help.
Clayton releases the snare from the man’s foot.
CLEMENT: I don’t want to go back there. They beat me and tortured me. I am not a changeling and they wouldn’t believe me. Please help me.
CLEMENT: Relatively long, dark curly hair and light blue eyes. 37, with a rugged complexion. bruising on his face and arms, wearing a prisoner’s uniform
CLEMENT: I came from Terra. There were rebels there also, but there was a clampdown and the rebel community were crushed their also. I was working as a waiter in Terra but the authorities must have mistaken me for a rebel and that is why they arrested me. I’m no rebel but I’m no enemy of theirs either. Please can you help me?
DOROTHY: Don’t worry. We will do what we can to help you. Make no mistake. If you cross us, we will kill you.
CLEMENT: I am grateful.
DOROTHY: How did you escape?
CLEMENT: A security guard helped me. He was such a decent guy and he’ll probably be punished for what he did, perhaps even executed.
DOROTHY: Stay still.
Dorothy produces a scanning device from her person and begins scanning for bugs or tracking devices. After a thorough search she found nothing whatsoever.
DOROTHY: What is your name?
CLEMENT: Clement
DOROTHY: Clement, Can you put weight on your foot?
CLEMENT: It’s bleeding. I wouldn’t want to risk it.
DOROTHY: You have no choice. There are only three of us and we have plenty to carry. Either limp on it or stay behind until we can get help.
CLEMENT: O.K.
DOROTHY: Charlie you go ahead to base camp and get help.