"Threnody 217" by Sharon Coller

Threnody 217

Prologue….

[SCENE- A young boy is suspended in a green liquid, with cables coming out from his body. His eyes are closed.]

VO- They say that when you die, you live on in the memories of others. So these memories must make you immortal. Memories are powerful stuff. Really, they make you who you are.

[SCENE- The face of a doctor, mirror-like glasses, half staring at the reader, half looking into the chamber at the boy.]

VO- Without memories, your experiences, the things that make up your life, just happen, and are gone. So then, what if something so terrible happens and you lose all your memories?

[SCENE- It all goes black and the next words are white against the black cell.]

VO- Are you dead? Or can you be reborn?

Chapter One: In Memoriam

[SCENE- A city. Dirty, crowded, futuristic. People fill the streets, all with their own destinations. The view is slanted as if to emphasize the disjointedness.]

VO- Haven New York. Doesn’t exactly live up to its name, if you get what I mean. But then, after the Gene Wars, there haven’t been many havens. It’s all so Darwinistic, the whole survival of the fittest. But humankind decided to help that survival along a little.

[SCENE- Some of the people aren’t quite like the others. Some are "normal" others are "deformed."]

VO- Mother Nature doesn’t like to be fooled with. She likes things to go at her own pace. But the scientists found this out too late. All their hard work had to go to waste. Soon ‘Netics and Norms were fighting with each other. The ones not strong enough to fight, hid.

[SCENE- A group of people in the sewers. Some of them look "normal" enough. Others, it’s clear they’re ‘Netics. On a few of them, bar codes can be seen on their arms.]

VO- The Wars pretty much changed everything. Paranoia is pretty commonplace now. You can’t escape it. It’s like the witch-hunts all over again. A whole new class struggle.

[SCENE- Norms dragging a ‘Netic out into the street. Kicking her over and over again.]

VO- You get used to it. You have to. You know what class you belong in, and you stick there. Only problem is when you don’t know what you are. Then you’re screwed.

[SCENE- The view focuses in on a teenage boy. He’s seventeen. He has unkempt dark black hair. You can’t quite see his face yet. His clothes consist of an oversized green army jacket, dirty/ripped jeans, and black boots. He walks through the crowd as if he doesn’t want to be noticed. But someone has noticed him. A few paces back, two men, all in black, follow. The boy stops, turns. We see his face. He looks young, but old at the same time. His eyes are grey. He turns back around, head down, walking faster now. The men behind him speed up. At the last minute, he turns into an alley. Once in the alley, he opens a sewer grate, drops himself in, and disappears. The men come into the alley and look around, but can’t find him.

SCENE- The same boy is walking through the alley. Another boy is at the entrance of a tunnel. His clothes are as old and dirty as the first boy. His arms are crossed.]

BLAKE (guard at tunnel)- You’re back early. What’d you get?

DOMINIC- Nothing. Too many suits.

BLAKE- Damn. You’d think they got better things to do.

(Dominic shrugs)

[SCENE- Dominic goes through the tunnel. It leads into a strange room full of other children all of various ages. Some are as young as six, and as old as 19. Dominic heads through the room into another one that serves as the sleeping area. He removes the jacket. Underneath he wears a black tank top. On his left arm is a tattoo of a barcode. He lies down on a cot, pulls the coat over him like a blanket.]

[SCENE- An office at LAD Enterprises. Silhouetted against a large window overlooking the city is a man in a dark suit. The door opens.]

LACKEY- Sir? A Mr. Andrew Jenkins to see you.

MR. GREY- Send him in.

[SCENE- The man (Samuel Grey) turns from the window as another man, in a blue suit, enters. Both men are well dressed and clean-cut. A sharp contrast from the kids in the sewers.]

MR. GREY- You have something to report Andrew?

ANDREW- Yes sir. We’ve picked up five more ‘Netic kids.

MR. GREY- And?

ANDREW- None of them are Threnody 217.

MR. GREY- Damn the wars. Before the wars it was fairly easy to keep tabs on our ‘Netics. But now, between the Purists and the bleeding hearts, it’s all we can do to balance the losses. I want Threnody 217 back. He was our best subject.

ANDREW- Yes sir. We’re doing the best we can. But there are so many ‘Netic children out there. After all, we may be the biggest Lab, but we’re certainly not the only.

MR. GREY- It’s like another fad. But it is where the money is to be made. All right. Take the ones we have now to processing. Make sure they won’t escape again. And keep looking.

ANDREW- Yes sir.

[SCENE- Same boy from before, this time tied down to a table, surrounded by a few doctors. There are cables, and IV tubing coming from his body.]

VO- Dreams are supposed to be the way your unconscious relaxes, gets rid of excess baggage.

Could they be the key to your past? If you forget something, does it come back in your dreams?

[SCENE- Green blasts explode from the boy’s hands as he screams.]

VO- Maybe I don’t want to remember after all.

[SCENE- Dominic is asleep on the cot. A girl with red hair shakes his shoulder.]

MAGGIE- Dominic, wake up! Wake up!

[SCENE- Dominic stirs slowly.]

DOMINIC- What’s going on?

MAGGIE- Suits! We’ve got to get out of here.

[SCENE- Dominic, with his coat on, is following a group of the others on the way out of the sewers. Behind them, several men and women, all in dark black clothes, follow with tranq guns. A little girl trips and falls. Dominic picks her up, and carries her. Lifting her out of the sewer, he follows. A crowd has gathered outside the sewer entrance. Only about five people watch. Dominic climbs out of the sewer. A suit follows. The suit shoots his traq gun, and it hits Dominic. He cries out. Another suit appears, grabbing Dominic. Dominic struggles. Suddenly, bright green flashes explode from his hands. He cries out again. The Suit is thrown back and into a wall. Dominic turns, as he does, we see his coat has been pulled a little off his shoulders. On the back of his neck is another bar code, and the numbers 217. The POV shifts so we see a man who isn’t dressed as shabbily as the others. He seems surprised. Stumbling, Dominic is helped by another kid, dragging him away. The POV follows the man who was watching.]

[SCENE- At the door of an apartment, the man has just knocked. The door opens, a woman answers it. Her hair is sleep tousled.]

GRACE- Theo, what the hell are you doing here?

THEO- I need to ask you something. Are you still working for LAD?

GRACE- I got transferred to Processing, but yeah.

THEO- Jeez.

GRACE- Spare me your lecture on the ethical treatment of ‘Netics. It pays well, and LAD does good work. I’m lucky I wasn’t fired. It’s not like there are plenty of decent jobs just floating around any more.

THEO- I’m not here to lecture. I just need some information. Can I come in?

[SCENE- Her body language is aggressive, and more than a little pissed off at him, but she seems resigned to the situation.]

GRACE- Fine.

[SCENE- They sit on opposite ends of the couch. Theo is a little hunched over, as if he has the grace to be uncomfortable about this. Grace seems to be enjoying his discomfort.]

GRACE- Let’s get this straight before you say anything. I am not going to risk myself for you again. Got it?

THEO- Yeah. I got it. I just want what you probably already know. LAD suffered a lot of losses at the outbreak of the Wars, right?

GRACE- Yeah. They had to shut down a lot of projects. But you know that

THEO- What about Threnody 217? Was it shut down?

GRACE- The Threnody project was supposed to be LAD’s crowning glory. If you’re asking if 217 was the last, he wasn’t. However, thanks to the damage, 217 hasn’t been duplicated.

THEO- They’re still looking? He hasn’t been found?

GRACE- Of course LAD is still looking. Threnody 217 was not an acceptable loss. They were so close to success, they could taste it. His liberation doesn’t stop that. Why the sudden interest? That was seven years ago. You weren’t nearly as concerned when he got loose.

THEO- That’s not true. I looked all over for him. If things hadn’t gone wrong, I would have raised Threnody 217 as a Norm.

[SCENE- Grace has turned to glare at him. Theo shrinks slightly.]

GRACE- But things did go wrong, and instead he’s out on the streets, if he isn’t dead from exposure already. You know, you Moralists are such a bunch of hypocrites. You moan and groan about the way that ‘Netics are treated, and yeah, maybe the Companies don’t treat them all that well sometimes, but when you liberate the ‘Netics, what happens? They end up on the street. They’re just kids, and they end up without any place to go. You can’t take them all in, so you don’t take any of them in. And that’s without mentioning the Muties. The ones who have been genetically altered due to the fallouts. Those you just ignore.

[SCENE- Now Theo turns on Grace, defensive.]

THEO- Are you finished? In case you’ve forgotten, I only ever intended to liberate Threnody. I didn’t attack any of the Companies any other times. I agree with you for the most part. The ‘Netics do have it rough, but that’s exactly why I’m against the Companies. But I am not here to argue. I’m interested because I feel responsible.

GRACE- You should.

THEO- Let me finish. I’ve been looking for him this whole time, but looking for Threnody 217 in a city that’s saturated with ‘Netics isn’t easy. But…I think I may have seen him today.

GRACE- What?

THEO- I was downtown today during a recent raid of the sewer rats by the Suits. A bunch of kids just sort of exploded from the sewer. One of them got hit by a tranq. That same kid was grabbed, and when he was, it must have set something off in him, because this green blast exploded from his hands. And he had Threnody’s flaw. I could see the blast burning his hands.

GRACE- A lot of ‘Netics have that flaw. It’s one of the things LAD was working on with…

THEO- I know. That on its own wouldn’t have meant much, but I saw his neck when he turned. Obviously he had the barcode on his shoulder, like all the rest of the ‘Netics, but LAD uses a barcode on the neck too, right?

GRACE- It’s added security.

THEO- This kid had the barcode on his neck, and he had numbers. More specifically, the number 217. I know that LAD only used the numbers with project Threnody.

GRACE- Okay, so you saw him. I guess I’m still not sure what you want from me.

THEO- I just wanted to know if it was possible. If he hadn’t been caught yet. You say no, so… It could have been him.

GRACE- So now you’ll find him, raise him, and all will be hunky-dory? LAD is never going to give up. You’re better off being the one to give up.

THEO- That’s not going to happen. I owe it to 217 to at least try.

[SCENE- Theo makes his move to leave. Grace looks unhappy but lets him go.]

GRACE- You shouldn’t go up against the companies. You’re just a Norm, you have to live in this world like everyone else.

THEO- I have to do what’s right.

GRACE- You are such a damn idealist. It’ll get you in trouble.

THEO- I can handle trouble.

[SCENE- On that, Theo leaves. Grace hunches over on the couch, still looking unhappy.]

GRACE- I hope you’re right Theo. I hope you’re right.

Chapter two: Hide and seek

[SCENE- A bunch of ‘Netics swarm in a run down building. There are blocks of cement everywhere. Some ‘Netics are perched on them, some younger kids found a ball and are playing with it.]

VO- It’s the same old song and dance, and whether or not the Suits actually catch doesn’t matter, you’re screwed either way. When you escape, you don’t have anywhere to go. The Suits keep their eyes on the place for a while, and by the time they’re convinced you aren’t coming back, somebody else’s gang will have noticed the place is empty. That means you gotta move on.

[SCENE- Dominic sits on one of the slabs of concrete as Maggie wraps his hands in bandages. His eyes are a little glazed over, but he’s pretty much shaken off the effects of the tranq.]

MAGGIE- Better?

DOMINIC- Yeah. Thanks.

MAGGIE- You should be more careful.

[SCENE- Maggie gives him a kiss on the cheek.]

MAGGIE- Now what? We can’t stay here very long. The Trevers’ll only put up with us for so long.

DOMINIC- I know. What about the place over on 21^st?

MAGGIE- Suits just raided it two weeks ago. Maybe the sewers under Centrel?

DOMINIC- No, Kepler’s gang is hanging there. ‘Sides it’s too crowded.

MAGGIE- I hate the Suits. We finally found a decent place that was big enough, and dry, and we have to be run out of it not a month later. Maybe the old subway lines down on 3^rd and Bangkok?

DOMINIC- They’re empty last I heard. A little small, but we’ll manage. C’mon, we’ll go check it out.

[SCENE- Maggie and Dominic head out.]

[SCENE- Theo walks down the street with another man. The other man is blond, and kind of beefy looking. He wears sunglasses.]

MAX- Tell me again what he looks like?

THEO- He’s tall, kinda lanky looking, shaggy black hair.

MAX- So in other words, he looks just about like all the rest of ‘em.

THEO- Yeah.

MAX- We’re never gonna find ‘im.

THEO- You don’t have to help.

MAX- Nah, I like a challenge. What’re you gonna do with ‘im once you find ‘im?

THEO- What I was supposed to do in the first place. I’m going to try and raise him.

MAX- Uh huh. He’s gotta be about seventeen by now. May not want to be raised, y’know? He won’t be the same little defensive ‘Netic that you liberated. Livin’ on the street hardens a guy.

THEO- I owe it to him to try. It’s my fault he’s on the street.

MAX- If he’ll listen to ya maybe you’ll have a chance.

[SCENE- The two continue down the street. As they walk, it seems pretty hopeless (duh). Then they see two ‘Netics coming out from one of those subway stair thingies that’s been roped off with yellow tape. They look from side to side, as if checking to see if it’s clear. We know it’s Dominic and Maggie, but Theo and Max wouldn’t know that. Theo recognizes Dominic as the kid from before.]

THEO- There. That’s him.

MAX- You’re lucky.

THEO- Hey! Wait up.

[SCENE- Dominic and Maggie both look in Theo and Max’s direction before running the other way.]

MAX- Maybe not that lucky. Or smart.

THEO- Max…

MAX- I’m on it.

[SCENE- They separate. Max, apparently a ‘Netic because he runs off in a blur, takes the long way to cut them off. Theo, the Norm of the duo, runs after them a little behind.

SCENE- A green blast sort of explodes a little ways off.]

THEO- Damn!

[SCENE- Theo rounds a corner. Max is against a wall, a little singed around the edges. Dominic is against another wall, tears in his eyes. The bandages seem on fire, and Maggie tries to pull them off.

SCENE- Theo approaches Dominic and Maggie, Maggie gets to her feet.]

MAGGIE- Leave us alone or I’ll drop kick you! I’ll do it.

[SCENE- She begins to pull Dominic to his feet. He’s a little incoherent.]

THEO- Wait. Please, I can help you. Threnody 217, I can help…

[SCENE- But she’s already half-way out of the alley, and Max moans, pulling Theo’s attention from the kids. By the time he turns back, they’re gone.]

THEO- Great. [to Max] You okay?

MAX- Get the number of that hover? Kid packs a punch.

THEO- That’s how LAD wanted him. C’mon, I’ll get you home.

[SCENE- Another abandoned building, but in better shape than the last. Dominic is seated on a cot with a very big, very muscely, very GREEN guy working on his hands. Despite his size, he is very gentle.]

VO- Everyone needs sanctuary. These days it’s hard to find, but even ‘Netics have Sanctuary. When you’re really hard up, you can go there to get your wounds nursed. There are rules. And no fighting allowed. You can only stay as long as you need it, then it’s back out on the streets. But until then, you’re safe. Sanctuary is well hidden.

JENKS (green guy)- Need be more careful I tink. Only bandage hands so many times.

DOMINIC- Not much I can do. It’s my flaw.

JENKS- More flawed in dere I tink. (touches the side of Dominic’s head gently.) Can’t heal in dere.

[SCENE- Jenks stands back.]

JENKS- De patient will live.

DOMINIC- Thank you Jenks.

JENKS- Need to rest. Sleep will do your body good.

[SCENE- Turns to Maggie.]

JENKS- Shoo now. Let 'im sleep. Shoo.

MAGGIE- I'll go see if I can find the others, let them know where you are.

[SCENE- Maggie and Dominic kiss, she's careful of his hands. POV follows Maggie as she leaves. As she leaves you can see Dominic stretch out on the cot. At the "door," Maggie checks to see if it's clear. When she sees it is, she heads out.

SCENE- POV shifts a little. We see that a Suit follows her, but Maggie doesn't notice.]

[SCENE- Distorted visions of the young boy from before. In some he's in the liquid bath in different positions, in one he's in a cell, his knees against his chest, one he's on the table, writhing, one he's at Processing, being "brainwashed."]

VOICES- (echoing) 217…Is Threnody 217 ready?…..Fix the flaw….He's stopped eating…Make him eat!….Put him on intravenous if you have to!….Vitals are good…217…217…

[SCENE- Dominic sits up, sweating, gasping. A 'Netic passing by stares at him.

SCENE- Jenks hurries over.]

JENKS- Nightmare?

DOMINIC- I think so. Maybe memories.

JENKS- Mem'ries of past all gone?

DOMINIC- Yeah. Comes to me in dreams sometimes, I think. Maybe they're just dreams.

JENKS- I tink you're right. I tink it's mem'ries tryin' to struggle through. Maybe you afraid of what they want to show you.

DOMINIC- Maybe.

[SCENE- Blake comes running up to Dominic and Jenks. His eyes are wide, and he's breathless.]

BLAKE- Dominic…Dom…it's…

JENKS- Easy boy. Catch your breath before you speak. In…out…good.

DOMINIC- Blake, what's wrong?

BLAKE- It's Maggie. The Suits got her. I just happened to see it. She was on her way back here, I think.

DOMINIC- Damn it!

[SCENE- Grabs coat as he jumps off of the cot.]

JENKS- Just where do ya tink you are goin’? You be in no shape to go runnin’ after yer girl.

DOMINIC- I have to. I can’t let her be Processed. C’mon Blake, we’ll get some of the others.

[SCENE- They hurry out of there, despite Jenks’ warnings.]

Chapter three: Come out come out wherever you are…

[SCENE- Grace is at work in Processing at LAD enterprises. It’s your typical sci-fi type room. A large dentist chair like...um...chair takes up the majority of the room. There’s a head piece, and restraints, and other wires and buttons and pretty lights. There’s a computer readout, a TV screen, and other nifty things. A boy is being lifted out of the chair as Grace makes notes on an electronic clipboard she holds in her hands. Another ‘Netic is dragged into the room. It’s Maggie, and she’s gagged so she can’t scream. She’s restrained and Grace begins fiddling with dials.]

GRACE- Try not to resist. It’ll only hurt if you try to resist. (sighs) I don’t know why we say that every time. Of course they’re going to resist. Vitals?

ANONYMOUS LAB DUDE- She’s healthy. You can proceed.

GRACE- Good.

[SCENE- Mr. Samuel Grey enters the room. Grace stops what she’s doing.]

GRACE- Mr. Grey, sir, what a pleasant surprise. How can I help you?

MR GREY- I just wanted to get a look at your progress. Things going well?

GRACE- We’re on schedule. The Su-Gaurds just brought in this one.

[SCENE- Gestures at Maggie who is crying around the gag in her mouth.]

GRACE- She isn’t one of ours though.

MR GREY- It doesn’t matter.

GRACE- Of…of course not sir.

[SCENE-She turns to the lab assistant.]

GRACE- You can continue.

MR GREY- There was something else I wanted to discuss with you Miss Dawson. You are aware that we have all of our employees watched? Since the beginning of the Wars, and the Raids, it’s been in our best interest to make sure we know what our employees are up to.

[SCENE- He’s taken her aside. It’s clear that Grace is uncomfortable, not only because she’s been watched, but because Samuel Grey himself has come to tell her.]

GRACE- Of course. It’s just good business.

MR GREY- I’m glad you understand. Then you also understand why we’d be a little…uncomfortable with your involvement with a known Liberator. Thelonius Black. I understand he was by to see you recently.

GRACE- Theo did come by, but I haven’t seen him in a while. We aren’t exactly friends. And, with all due respect Mr. Grey, he isn’t a known Liberator. He has only waged one attack.

MR GREY- That we know of. If it’s been so long, what exactly is it that he needed?

GRACE- I…he only wanted to know if I was still working for LAD Enterprises. I told him I was. He isn’t a Liberator, but he still feels strongly about the ethical treatment of ‘Netics.

MR GREY- I see. You know Miss Dawson, you do good work here, and I would hate to see your job jeopardized by your affiliation with those people who do not understand what we do here. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?

GRACE- N-No sir.

[SCENE- Grace is staring at the floor uncomfortably as Mr. Grey speaks. He seems to loom over her.]

MR GREY- Good. I’m glad we had this little talk.

[SCENE- Mr Grey turns to leave, and says almost over his shoulder.]

MR GREY- Oh, and one more thing, I know that Mr. Black was involved in the attack on the Threnody project. I also happen to know that he’s still looking for 217. If you see Mr. Black again, do your best to convince him that he does not want to continue this foolhardy search. He does not want to keep from us what is ours.

GRACE(said very small)- Yes sir.

[SCENE- Mr. Grey leaves. Grace stands silently for a minute. That’s the last cell.

SCENE- Theo’s apartment is nothing much. It’s an efficiency one bedroom. He and Max are in the living room. Max has a bottle of something in his hand that he’s drinking. Theo looks unhappy.]

MAX- You’ve found ‘im twice before on accident, you can find ‘im again.

THEO- But you’re right. He won’t listen to me, and why should he? He’s grown up to distrust every Norm. And now that he knows it’s not only Suits that are after him, he’ll hide even deeper underground. It was hard before, now it’s damn near impossible.

MAX- Um…maybe not.

THEO- What?

MAX- Even 'Netics need a place to go when stuff gets too hot to handle. We call it Sanctuary. After the damage the kid got, he'd probably go to Sanctuary.

THEO- Do you know where it is?

MAX- Sure. All 'Netics do. But I don't know 'bout takin' you there. I shouldn't even mention it.

THEO- Max, you trust me don't you?

MAX- I do. But that don’t matter. There are rules. And you could get into trouble.

THEO- Let me take care of myself. Please Max.

MAX- Eh, I’m going to end up regrettin’ this.

[SCENE- Max and Theo are at Sanctuary. Theo looks a little overwhelmed at all the ‘Netics.

SCENE- Jenks approaches them.]

JENKS- Can I help you boys? I…what do you tink? Brinin’ Norm to San’tuary?

MAX- You can trust him.

JENKS- No.

THEO- We’re just looking for someone. If you can tell us if you’ve seen him, we’ll be out of here.

JENKS- I don’t see no one.

THEO- I liberated a ‘Netic…

JENKS- Congrats to you.

THEO- No, I mean I liberated one back seven years ago, and I meant to raise him…but things went wrong. I’ve been looking since then.

JENKS- You want a medal?

THEO- I can help him now. I still want to give him a place to live, but at the very least, I may be able to fix his flaw.

MAX- You should trust him. I wouldn’t bring just anybody, but Theo’s good people.

THEO- I know I’m a bleeding heart to you, but I mean this.

JENKS- Tell me who ya seek.

THEO- He’s about seventeen, tall, with black hair and grey eyes. Um…his hands should be bandaged. It’s part of his flaw. I know, this doesn’t help much, but try this. Like all ‘Netics he has the bar code on his upper arm, but he’s a LAD ‘Netic, so he should have the barcode on his neck. And below the barcode should be the number 217.

[SCENE- As Theo waits anxiously, Jenks seems to be thinking. Then slowly…]

JENKS- I know ‘im. You speakin’ of Dominic. He come earlier, speakin’ of men chasin’ him. You be the men?

MAX- We…weren’t subtle.

JENKS- You get ‘im riled up ‘nough to use powers. I fix ‘im up. He heal. But he not here.

THEO- You said he was earlier though. Will he be back?

JENKS- Don’t know. His girl get grabbed by Suits. He go to LAD to get her.

THEO- Is he out of his mind? He’s going to the very place that’s looking for him? Doesn’t he know that as Threnody 217, he’s about the most important thing to LAD Enterprises since their development?

JENKS- He don’t know anyt’in’. His mem’ries all jumbled inside. He only know what he is now.

THEO- We gotta try and stop him. If LAD gets their hands on him…

MAX- Even if we get to ‘im in time, he won’t listen to us. We were chasin’ after him.

THEO- Damn!

JENKS- Might be a way he listen to you. He trust me. Tell ‘im Jenks sent you, and tell ‘im Jenks say you can heal the mess in dere. [Jenks touches the side of his own head.] Heal what Jenks can’t. He know what you mean.

THEO- Thank you for your help.

JENKS- Dominic be a good kid. He deserves help. But I find out you hurt ‘im…

THEO- I understand. Max, we better hurry.

MAX- Right behind ya.

Chapter four: I’m sorry, there’s been a processing error, we cannot continue with your request

[SCENE- Several ‘Netics gather outside a large building. There is a sign that says "LAD Enterprises" The ‘Netics are Dominic, Blake, Specs, James and Cam. They’re all dressed in black.]

DOMINIC- Just like we planned it. In and out guys.

[SCENE- All of them, except Cam who stays outside.

SCENE- Follow the ‘Netics inside. One of them is good with computers and places a hand over the card lock. It beeps and the door opens.

SCENE- Max and Theo come running up to the building from where they parked.]

THEO- We’re too late! Unless they aren’t here yet.

MAX (pointing)- Nah. Look they’ve got a look out. They’re gonna end up getting’ caught.

THEO- Maybe not. I have an idea.

[SCENE-Theo heads to another back door. He punches some keys on the pad.]

MAX- What are you doin’? They must’ve changed the codes.

THEO- I’m good with computers.

MAX- Yeah. You’re no ‘Netic, though.

THEO- I’m trying to think.

[SCENE- He continues different combinations until it beeps and the door opens.]

THEO- Unless they’ve changed things, the security room is this way.

[SCENE- The security room is a room full of TV’s. The guard sits with his legs up on the counter as he watches the TV’s. There’s a knock on the door.

SCENE- The guard gets up, startled. He goes to the door to open it, but before he opens it, the door slams open, knocking him to the floor unconscious. Max and Theo enter.]

THEO- Keep your eye on the guard. We don’t want him waking up.

[SCENE- Theo turns to the screens, searching for the ‘Netics. He finds them.]

THEO- They’re almost to the holding cells. One of the ‘Netics must be cyber gifted. But they’ll never get past the security there. It’ll be ten times what they’ve gone against so far.

MAX- Unless they get a little help.

[SCENE- Theo grins. He turns to a keyboard sorta thing and begins typing things.

SCENE- The POV flows through the TV where the ‘Netics are until it fades and it is the scene.

SCENE- The ‘Netics are in a room with lots of cells. Dominic looks for Maggie. She sits in a cell by herself, her legs drawn up to her chest.]

DOMINIC- Maggie!

BLAKE- She’s been processed.

DOMINIC- I don’t care, we’ll get her out anyway. Specs, get the doors open.

SPECS- I can’t. It’s too complicated or something.

DOMINIC- We have to get her out.

[SCENE- Specs is standing away from the door when it suddenly opens. The ‘Netics stare at each other.]

SPECS- I…I didn’t do that.

DOMINIC- Who cares? Let’s get her out of here.

[SCENE- Blake, Specs and Dominic run into the cell. Blake and Dominic prop her between the two of them and begin to carry her out.

SCENE- Back in the security room, Theo is frantically making sure the ‘Netics won’t get caught.]

MAX- They’re out.

THEO- Good, that’s our cue.

[SCENE- Max and Theo leave the security room.

SCENE- The ‘Netics have made it outside, but now that Max and Theo aren’t watching over them, the alarms go off.]

CAM- Damn! What’d you do?

SPECS- Nothin’. Everything was going well.

DOMINIC- We gotta get out of here.

[SCENE- Max and Theo peel up in their car.]

MAX- Get in!

CAM- No way man! No f’n way!

THEO- You don’t have a choice. The suits are coming.

SPECS- How do we know they ain’t suits?

THEO- Jenks sent us, Dominic. He said we can help heal the mess that he can’t. You have to believe us.

DOMINIC- Jenks….come on, if we don’t take the ride we’ll be caught. What do we have to lose?

[SCENE- They pile into the car with the adults.

SCENE- Back at Sanctuary. Maggie is laid out on a cot with Dominic watching over her. Max stands near Dominic. A little ways away Jenks speaks to Theo.]

JENKS- Messed up real bad.

THEO- Will she be okay eventually?

JENKS- LAD hard on the processess. Wipe her clean almost. Make her feel like she need to be back at company. She among friends here. Dominic watch over her.

THEO- Now is probably a bad time to talk to him.

JENKS- Prolly.

THEO- This card has my address on it. When he’s up to it, ask him to stop by.

JENKS- Still don’t trust you.

THEO- I know.

JENKS- Gotta try? For a norm, you decent.

THEO- It’s this damn conscience of mine.

Chapter Five: Life after death

VO- a month later

[SCENE- Theo’s apartment. He’s reading a book while sitting on his couch when his door buzzes.

SCENE- Door shot. Dominic is on the other side looking uncomfortable.]

THEO- Dominic. Hi.

DOMINIC- Hey. Jenks said you wanted to talk to me. This is probably a mistake, but you did help us out at LAD so I guess I figure I owe you something.

THEO- Come in.

[SCENE- Dominic sits on the edge of the couch, as far from the chair that Theo sits in as possible.]

DOMINIC- You said something about knowing how to fix me. Do you mean my flaw?

THEO- Yes.

DOMINIC- How do you know so much about me? Why were you following me?

THEO- Seven years ago you were liberated from LAD Enterprises, and I was the one who did it.

DOMINIC- Really?

THEO- Yeah, I know. Any Norm can say that to you. But it’s the truth. You don’t have to believe me, but it is the truth. I was going to liberate you and take you in to raise.

DOMINIC- Why didn’t you?

THEO-Something went wrong. There was an explosion and a fire. I spent the next three months in the hospital, but I couldn’t say anything about you because they’d then know I was the one who libereated Threnody 217.

DOMINIC- What? What’s a Threnody 217?

THEO- You are. It’s your project and your number. The Threnody project was LAD’s biggest project. You were supposed to ensure LAD’s fame and stature. But you don’t remember do you?

DOMINIC- The first thing I remember is waking up at Sanctuary. Some ‘Netic saw me, burned all over, and took me there. Don’t know who. I didn’t remember anything before that. Jenks is the one who named me. But you know everything about me?

THEO- Just about. I’ve been looking for you since then. I still want to take you in.

DOMINIC- I don’t know about that.

THEO- It’d be better than living on the street.

DOMINIC- Maybe, but there’s a freedom that comes with living on the street. Look, I’ll have to think about it.

THEO- That’s fair.

DOMINIC- But I want to know more about my past.

THEO- I can’t tell you everything, but I know where to look. We’ll take it slow. And then we’ll work on fixing your flaw so you can use your gifts.

DOMINIC- Yeah. Okay.

THEO- Good.

VO- So it’s a rebirth then. And rebirth means new things, and good things. In life you can take as many allies as you can get. Norm, ‘Netic, Mutie, it’s all the same. And if this Norm can stop the dreams, then it’s worth it. Things seem to be looking up.

[SCENE- LAD Enterprises. Mr. Grey sits at a board room table watching a TV screen that popped up in the middle of it.]

MR GREY- We need to beef up security.

LACKEY- Yes sir. Right away.

MR GREY- These kids never should have gotten as far as they did. I know one of them was a cyber, but still.

[SCENE- The scene that he’s watching on the screen is when Dominic helped support Maggie’s weight. His jacket his pulled off his neck.]

MR GREY- Wait. Freeze frame.

[SCENE- The scene freezes. Dominic’s neck is seen very clearly. Mr Grey sees the barcode and the number.]

MR GREY- Well, this certainly makes up for the loss of a ‘Netic. Welcome home Threnody.

END BOOK ONE