CAPRICA
by
Remi Aubuchon and Ronald D. Moore
FIFTH DRAFT: September 28, 2006
2ND NETWORK REVISION: October 6, 2006
ACT ONE:
FADE IN:
ON A FIELD OF WILD FLOWERS...
Rushing by. PULL BACK to reveal two boys, ONE SMALL, ONE HEFTY, wearing plain clothes and a GREEN CLIP on their collars. Pull back further to realize they’re riding on a transport bus with a dozen or so children, dressed plainly with green clips. NOTE: A slight sepia tone lets us know this is many years ago.
SMALL
(in Tauronese)
What are they?
HEFTY
(Tauronese)
I dunno.
SMALL
(Tauronese)
They’re beautiful.
A HAND...
Suddenly slaps down on the Small Boys shoulder. REVEAL a severe looking WOMAN dressed in black uniform...
WOMAN
You’re on Caprica now. Speak the
common tongue here, not that vulgar
Tauronese.
The two boys look up at her, not understanding at all.
WOMAN
(shaking her head)
You don’t understand a word I’m
saying, do you? *
She disengages her hand from the small boy and walks away, muttering...
WOMAN
Savages. Should have let them all
rot on their miserable world if you
ask me...
But the small boy just turns back to look out the window in awe of the sight outside. Miles and miles of wild flowers, freely blowing in the wind.
FADE TO BLACK.
SUPER TITLE: 51 YEARS BEFORE THE FALL OF CAPRICA
FADE IN:
ON A MASSIVE PARTY CROWD
An enormous gathering of ecstatic TEENAGERS are DANCING and SWAYING in time to the pulsing rhythms of TRANCE MUSIC as it pounds a hypnotic beat into our retinas. REVEAL:
INT. THE V-CLUB - DANCE FLOOR - WIDE - NIGHT
The dance floor of the V-Club is vast and more akin to Lincoln Center than a contemporary nightclub, with a ceiling
arching easily five stories over our heads and walls lined with dozens of small private balconies. The teens are packed so tight on the dance floor below that their bodies appear to send ripples and waves marching across the vast sea of humanity.
ZOE GRAYSTONE
Watches the scene from one of the small balconies overhanging the dance floor. She’s sixteen -- going on forty -- her hair and makeup severe and out of place in this world of fullthroated revelry. Her little black dress is fashionable and perfectly tailored, but not as overtly sexual as the many more revealing outfits on display down below.
A DOZEN HALF-NAKED FEMALE DANCERS
Move out onto the stage from the wings. Exuding sexuality with every tightly choreographed step, they begin dancing and strutting for the crowd. The music pulses FASTER.
A STATUE
Rises from beneath the stage to tower over the still-dancing women. The statue depicts HECATE, Goddess of the underworld and the dark rites, her voluptuous woman’s body topped by the lurid heads of three beasts: a LION, a HORSE, and a DOG.
THE CROWD
Goes WILD with excitement.
ZOE
Looks down in disgust.
BEN (O.C.)
Is she there?
Zoe glances over as BEN STARK, another sixteen year old dressed in simple black clothes and sporting close-cropped hair steps up next to her. There’s an intensity to Ben, a sense of a kid who’s gone someplace far away and may not be coming back.
ZOE
Right down front.
BEN
It’s not their fault. They don’t
understand what they’re doing.
LACY (O.C.)
Guys!?
REVEAL LACY RAND, another sixteen year old girl, running up to Ben and Zoe. She lacks the edge of genuine deep anger that both Ben and Zoe exude, instead conveying the more familiar angst and anxieties of a typical girl her age.
BEN
Sit down, Lacy.
LACY
We’re going to get busted.
ZOE
Sit down. It’s happening.
Lacy crouches down next to Zoe and Ben as...
THE FEMALE DANCERS
Lost in their own frenzied passions, their bodies completely intertwined.
THE SIX EYES OF HECATE
Begin to GLOW RED and the crowd SHRIEKS again as a MASKED MAN, stripped to the waist, strides out onto the stage as the dancers kneel down before him, their arms swaying back and forth in time to the frenzied music.
LACY
Don’t they ever get tired of this?
It’s so... sick.
BEN
This will all change.
ZOE
And she’s going to help change it.
LACY
(peers down below)
Where is “she?”
ZOE
Just to the left of center stage --
wearing my green headband.
BEN
(grins)
How do you feel about that?
ZOE
(wry)
You know the expression -- “Like
someone just walked over my grave.”
Ben grins and then looks down into the crowd --
MOVING THROUGH THE CROWD
We snake past the screaming, crazed teens to where we see the BACK OF A GIRL wearing a mottled green HEADBAND standing in front, just to the left of center stage. Unlike the rest of the dancing and partying teens around her, she’s standing stock still, rooted in place before stage.
WE MOVE around her to reveal her face --
She looks just like Zoe Graystone. Too exact to be a coincidence and too perfect to be her twin, this woman is an exact replica of Zoe, and soon we’ll learn that the resemblance is more than physical. Call her ZOE-A.
Zoe-A watches the faces of the teens around her on every side -- the wild, leering smiles, the overt sexuality and lasciviousness on open display -- with an expression more of sadness and heartbreak than the judgement and moralism of the real Zoe and her friends up above. The music BUILDS --
THE MASKED MAN
Suddenly pulls a LONG-HANDLED KNIFE from a sheath and holds it over his head -- the wicked blade catching the crazily strobing lights. The screaming of the crowd reaches a fever pitch just as he suddenly brings the knife down in a SLASHING ARC --
ZOE-A
Begins to feel ill from whatever horrible thing is happening on the (o.c.) stage. She puts a hand to her mouth as she
takes one more look up at the leery, lurid eyes of Hecate and then turns away, pushing her way back through the crowd of teens, the number of dancing bodies making it hard for her to escape. The crowd presses in on her... she feels the first hint of panic touching the back of her throat... she struggles to get out... the noise is deafening... the lights blinding...
... she begins to SCREAM -- then suddenly WINKS OUT and DISAPPEARS COMPLETELY from the dance floor.
ZOE, BEN AND LACY
React up in the balcony.
ZOE
Dammit.
LACY
What -- what happened? Where’d she
go?
ZOE
She de-rezzed. She just... flipped
out or something. Probably
defaulted back to the last copy.
BEN
Guess she’s not as tough as you.
Yet.
He smiles at Zoe and she gives up her first smile in return -- she has a winning smile. Ben takes her in his arms.
>LACY
(rolls eyes)
C’mon, guys.
BEN
(to Zoe)
I have faith in you. She’ll be
perfect because you’re perfect.
Zoe almost melts in his arms.
ZOE
I love you...
BEN
And I love you...
He pulls her in for a kiss, but then --
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. ATHENA ACADEMY - GIRL’S ROOM - TOILET STALL - DAY
Zoe is sitting on top of the toilet seat, no longer dressed in chic black but in a rather plain school uniform with “Athena Academy” stitched on the breast pocket. Facing her is a very annoyed female PREFECT holding a highly polished platinum “HoloBand” blinking red and blue that she just pulled off of Zoe’s head.
PREFECT
Zoe Graystone. What a surprise.
ZOE
Go frak yourself, Caston.
And as the Prefect narrows her eyes...
INT. SISTER CLARICE’S OFFICE - DAY
The Prefect and a contrite Zoe stand before SISTER CLARICE WILLOW, late 30s, dressed in the traditional clerical robes of an Athenian High Priestess, sitting at her imposing but simple desk.
CLARICE
That will be all, Ms. Caston.
CASTON
Yes, Sister Clarice.
Caston obediently leaves, but not before giving Zoe a look as if to say “good luck, sucker.” Once the door closes behind Caston, Zoe relaxes.
ZOE
I can explain.
CLARICE
I doubt that very much.
ZOE
But--
CLARICE
I’m sorry -- I wasn’t clear. I
have no interest in hearing your
explanations, Zoe.
(then)
Sit down.
Zoe, reluctantly sits. Clarice looks Zoe straight in the eye. It is a deep, penetrating look.
CLARICE
You’re having second thoughts.
ZOE
No -- no, I’m not.
CLARICE
It wasn’t a question -- you’re
having second thoughts. Acting
out, looking for ways of getting
caught, practically begging for
someone to step in and stop you
before --
ZOE
That’s not true.
Silence. Zoe has trouble holding Clarice’s eyes -- finally, she folds.
ZOE
I ask forgiveness.
CLARICE
And it is given. With grace.
(beat)
Having second thoughts is perfectly
natural -- especially in someone so
young. You need not be ashamed of
your fear. Your weakness is to be
expected, and it too is forgiven.
Zoe quietly burns at the condescending implication, but says nothing.
CLARICE
So you find yourself at the
crossroads. You can go back or you
can go forward. Which will it be?
After a beat...
ZOE
I’m going forward, Sister. I’ve
never been more certain of anything
in my life.
Clarice continues to hold her gaze -- then...
CLARICE
I’m sending your parents an
official notice of misconduct. I’m
sure that will pose additional
problems for you, but it cannot be
helped.
She holds out her hand. Zoe stands and kisses it.
CLARICE
Good luck to you.
ZOE
(surprised)
“Luck”?
CLARICE
Yes -- luck. Even fate can
sometimes be a victim of chance.
Zoe thinks about that for a moment, then EXITS...
CUT TO:
INT. ATHENA ACADEMY - HALLWAY - DAY
Zoe emerges from Sister Clarice’s to find Lacy pacing outside, waiting for her. She shoots a questioning look at Zoe who gives nothing away but instead continues walking down the hallway. A beat and then Lacy speeds to catch up to her.
LACY
Well...
ZOE
Nothing.
LACY
Really? Nothing? Maybe we should
rethink...
Zoe stops and squarely faces Lacy.
ZOE
Are you having second thoughts?
LACY
(yes)
No.
ZOE
Because that would be perfectly
natural. Really. You don’t have
to be ashamed of weakness.
LACY
(offended)
I’m not having second thoughts.
ZOE
Well, the choice is still yours.
You can scat on the whole thing if
you want but just so you know, I’m
doing what we set out to do.
LACY
I’m not backing out. I’m... with
you. All the way. You know that.
But there is a lingering uncertainty in Lacy’s conviction. Zoe sees it but decides not to pursue it further.
ZOE
We’re going to be late.
And as they rush out down the hallway...
CUT TO:
EXT. ATHENA ACADEMY - FRONT ENTRANCE - DAY
An imposing edifice -- the architecture combines the very ancient with the extremely modern. A FLOOD OF STUDENTS bursts from the front doors and rolls down the huge marble steps. Somewhere in this mass of suddenly paroled youth, we FIND Zoe and Lacy. Zoe suddenly turns back, looks up at the towering edifice and the carved words over the entrance:
CAST ASIDE THE TEMPORAL, REACH FOR THE ETERNAL
She stares at them for a long moment, then looks around at the laughing, carousing faces rushing past her.
ZOE’S POV
TIME SEEMS TO SLOW DOWN and as it does, the joyful faces of her fellow students seem somehow more grotesque, more like caricatures of joy as they whip out the many CELLPHONES and other GADGETS that are part and parcel of teen life on Caprica. Zoe watches them all with an opaque expression that could be disdain, anger or even sadness until she spots...
BEN
He’s not quite the same cool looking guy that he was in the VClub -- in fact, he verges on geekdom here, with an
awkwardness of posture and the epitome of unhip clothes that probably means Zoe is one of the few girls ever to give him the time of day. The one thing that is the same, however, is the intensity of the look in his eyes -- something deep and dangerous roiling down in there somewhere.
BEN
You okay?
ZOE
Yeah. Anything happen after I was
gone?
BEN
Just more blood and guts. I logged
out a couple minutes after you.
Did you get a chance to check on
our girl after she disappeared?
ZOE
No. Frakkers confiscated my
holoband. Don’t worry, I can
access her from home.
BEN
(worried)
From home?
ZOE
We’re not splitting for Gemenon
until tomorrow. There’ll be plenty
of time for tweakage.
BEN
But...
ZOE
Not buts. Not ever. For the one
true God knows all and directs us
all.
All three touch their foreheads with their index finger.
BEN & LACY
So say we all.
And they head off down the street.
EXT. GRAYSTONE ESTATE - TENNIS COURTS - AFTERNOON
A TENNIS BALL...
...Connects with a RACKET.
DANIEL GRAYSTONE, early 40s, is in the middle of an invigorating set with his wife AMANDA GRAYSTONE, late 30s.
We see the scope of the Graystone Estate, Zoe’s home.
A sprawling mansion, the size of which would put Bill Gates to shame, meanders along a mountain ridge, with a commanding view of the entire valley floor below them.
As they play, we can see that Daniel and Amanda have been together for a very long time and know each other so well they're even anticipating shots in the match itself.
AMANDA
Out.
DANIEL
What!
AMANDA
It was as out as out can be. Do we
need to turn on the line sensors?
DANIEL
That’s exactly what I’m going to
do, Cheater-girl. Serge?
SERGE, a cylindrical ROBOT SERVANT which balances on a single large ball bearing, and has been waiting patiently with towels and bottled water, turns to Daniel.
SERGE
(smooth, calm but
electronic)
Yes, Sir.
DANIEL
Activate the line sensors, please.
And suddenly the court’s outline begins to glow.
AMANDA
And the auto-umpire.
A POLE full of elaborate SENSORS rises from the ground where an umpire would normally be and immediately begins scanning. Daniel grins a shit-eating grin at Amanda.
DANIEL
Come on, cheater. Double sets.
AMANDA
Oh, don’t go all immature on me
just because I’m better than you.
DANIEL
What’d you say, cheater? I can’t
hear you, cheater?
AMANDA
Gods, if only the worlds knew what
a baby you really are!
SERGE
Excuse me, Daniel?
DANIEL
(chuckling)
Yeah? What is it?
SERGE
There is an urgent message for you
and Amanda from the Athenian
Academy regarding Zoe.
The joy goes out of Daniel and Amanda almost instantly. They look at one another with the look of two parents who just know this isn’t good.
AMANDA
Here we go again...
DANIEL
Let’s not prejudge this.
AMANDA
(to Serge)
Is Zoe home?
SERGE
She’s in her room.
AMANDA
Tell her to get her... ass
downstairs and meet us in the
kitchen.
SERGE
Of course, Amanda.
Serge wheels away.
AMANDA
Damn her...
DANIEL
(gently)
Mandy -- don’t go into overreaction
mode. We don’t even know what
we’re dealing with yet.
But Amanda isn’t hearing him and Daniel decides not to pursue it any further. He heads off the court and toward the house. Amanda heaves the ball in the air and then SMASHES it over the fence.
INT. GRAYSTONE ESTATE - KITCHEN - AFTERNOON
Amanda, tears into Zoe, still dressed in her “Athena Academy” school uniform.
ZOE
I’m sorry, okay?
AMANDA
No you’re not.
ZOE
Okay. You’re right. I’m not.
Daniel is getting a drink of water from the sink.
AMANDA
The attitude’s not helping you.
DANIEL
(to defuse)
Let’s all just take a deep breath
here...
AMANDA
Holobands at school. Cutting
class. Defiant.
ZOE
Guess you better lock me up, huh?
DANIEL
Hey --
AMANDA
You think that’s funny? Do you?
Maybe you’ll think this is funny?
No car privileges. No holoband.
No phone. And you’re grounded for
a month.
ZOE
How predictable.
AMANDA
Okay. Two months.
Mother and daughter shoot daggers at one another, while Dad tries to change the subject.
DANIEL
Hey -- I almost forgot. Tomorrow’s
the big day, Z. Your building.
ZOE
Sorry. Can’t go.
(to Amanda)
I’m “grounded.”
DANIEL
(quickly)
We’ll make an exception. It’s not
every day you get a building named
after you.
ZOE
Oh, there’s something to be excited
about -- having your name plastered
over the new computer science wing
at Apollo University tomorrow
‘cause your Dad donated about a
billion cubits to the alumni fund --
AMANDA
You are on thin ice already --
ZOE
-- like I even want to be
associated with you and the filthy
science that’s corrupting the
planets! It’s like having your
name on the side of a
slaughterhouse!
AMANDA
(losing it)
That’s enough! You are so lucky
and you have everything in the
worlds you could possibly want and
all you can do is run down our
family and complain about society --
you have no idea what it means to
build something, what it means to
have discipline or to work hard for
anything -- it’s all been handed to
you by the gods!
ZOE
Yeah, I guess I’ll just have to
learn to how to marry into money.
Amanda’s hand is out and SLAPS Zoe even before she knows she’s doing it. Her regret is just as swift, but it’s too
late. Zoe’s shocked, but recovers quickly. She faces her mom evenly.
ZOE
You’re going to regret that for the
rest of your life.
Something in the way she says it gives Amanda pause -- then Zoe turns on her heel and stalks out of the kitchen. Daniel tries to step into the awkward silence and reach out to Amanda.
AMANDA
Can’t believe I did that...
DANIEL
It’s okay. She knows you didn’t
mean --
AMANDA
It’s not okay. Not everything is
“okay” all the time, Daniel! Some
things just don’t... ever become...
“okay.”
She turns away from him, on the verge of angry tears and Daniel can’t decide whether he should hug her or leave her
alone. He hesitates... then opts for the latter and EXITS.
INT. ZOE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Zoe goes over to her desk. She pulls out another holo-band and a computer “sheet” from her desk drawer. As she touches the sheet, it lights up, revealing a series of arcane images, not the least of which is the “infinity” symbol”. Zoe puts on the holo-band, touches the symbols in a specific order then...
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. THE V-CLUB - NIGHT
Zoe appears in the V-club dressed in the same outfit we saw her in before. She ignores the proceedings around her and heads deeper into the Club. As Zoe heads through the Club we again see only TEENS in evidence, all provocatively dressed and engaged in a variety of decidedly adult activities: a girl is stripping on the bar to the delight of a crowd of onlookers, a sprawling group of kids are lying on couches and smoking something powerful from a large hookah, a couple of boys are fighting to the cheers and taunts from their friends. But Zoe walk purposefully towards...
INT. THE V-CLUB - OUTSIDE VIP ROOM
Literally HUNDREDS of VIP ROOM doors stretch down a long corridor, each with its own logo and entrance decoration. Zoe stops in front of one that is decidedly plain, marked only by the INFINITY SYMBOL we saw on the computer sheet. She puts her HAND on the door and it instantly OPENS for her.
INT. THE V-CLUB - VIP ROOM - NIGHT
As Zoe enters, she notices a FIGURE of a woman sitting on a red velvet couch. As she turns around, we realize it’s ZOE-A from the earlier scene. She gives Zoe a tentative smile.
ZOE-A
I’m sorry.
ZOE
It’s okay.
ZOE-A
I just couldn’t -- when he pulled
out that knife and starte --
ZOE
Hey. I said it’s okay.
ZOE-A
Why do they do it? Why do they
think watching something like that
is... fun?
ZOE
Because they don’t understand what
they’re doing.
ZOE-A
No... that’s too easy an answer. I
saw the faces of those kids... they
knew what they were doing...
(chilled)
... and they loved it.
Zoe stares at this version of herself for a moment.
ZOE
God... you sound like me.
ZOE-A
Wonder why?
They share a smile.
ZOE-A
(moving on)
So now what?
ZOE
Now, we need to make sure you don’t
de-rez on us again. Thought I’d
solved that in the fail-safe
algorithms, but clearly not.
ZOE-A
Just don’t make me go in there
again and you won’t have to worry
about it.
Zoe steps up to Zoe-A, brushes a lock of hair from her face with a gentle hand.
ZOE
It really scared you, didn’t it?
Zoe-A bites her lip and nods.
ZOE
Why? What was it... exactly? The
blood? The violence?
ZOE-A
No... I mean, I knew that wasn’t
real. Nothing in here’s real. It
was... the people watching. The
way they... drew strength from what
was happening... it was like they
were feeding on the violence...
like they loved watching
suffering... loved watching
death...
She takes a quick intake of breath and Zoe quickly puts her arms around her.
ZOE
It’s all right... it’s all right.
I won’t make you go back there...
it’s all right...
ZOE-A
Are people really like that? Are
they really...?
ZOE
Some...
(beat)
But it’s all going to change. And
you’ll help to bring that change.
You’re a gift... a gift from the
one true God...
As Zoe stands there holding and comforting a scared version of herself...
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. GRAYSTONE ESTATE - MORNING
It’s RAINING the next day.
INT./EXT. AMANDA’S CAR - MORNING
Amanda impatiently sits behind the wheel of her sleek, expensive car in the driveway, as Zoe deliberately walks down the driveway with her backpack. Amanda can see that Zoe is taking her good sweet time to get down the driveway. She HONKS the horn.
ZOE
Smiles every so slightly, pleased at getting under her mother’s skin. Again. She makes it to the door and is about to open it when her expression turns bittersweet. She looks up at the house. Her home.
She’s never coming back.
Another HONK and Zoe finally gets in the car.
EXT. ATHENA ACADEMY - FRONT ENTRANCE - MORNING
As Amanda’s car pulls away from the curb where STUDENTS are STREAMING up the steps toward the entrance through the pouring rain. Zoe stands there for a beat, looks around -- finds Lacy’s face in the crowd.
Lacy seems nervous. She forces at smile at Zoe, who glances around and then the two girls disappear for a moment into the river of girls...
... and then emerge on the far side of the Academy entrance, heading not into the school, but walking quickly down the sidewalk and around the corner.
EXT. CAPRICA CITY - STREET - MORNING
Zoe and Lacy move quickly through the rain, glancing behind them occasionally to be sure no one’s following. Ben steps out of some bushes and falls into step with them -- he’s carrying three HEAVY BACKPACKS, two of which he hands off to Lacy and Zoe.
BEN
(to Zoe, re: backpack)
Thought the whole idea was to
travel light.
ZOE
Yeah, well...
The three of them are a study in contrasts: Zoe is giddy with excitement, Lacy is scared, and Ben... well, Ben is nervous too, but with a strung-out, edgy, vaguely dangerous quality to him. If Zoe wasn’t so wrapped up in her own
excitement, she’d notice that something is very wrong with her boyfriend this morning...
ZOE
Got the passports?
BEN
What? Oh -- yeah. Yeah, don’t
worry about it.
Ben holds his coat tightly closed around his body as they head down a flight of STAIRS toward the Metropolitan
Levitation Mass Transit platform (think subway).
INT. MLMT PLATFORM - DAY
Down below, in the MLMT at the platform (where, thanks to some amazing kind of technology, it is a beautiful day) we meet TAMARA ADAMS, 15, and her mother, SHANNON, 30s. They've just come from a mom/daughter shopping and spa day and are laden down with shopping bags. Shannon is talking on her hands-free mobile.
SHANNON
Hey. Just checking on your ETA
tonight.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. JOSEPH ADAMS’ OFFICE - DAY
JOSEPH ADAMS (40s) is working at his desk. Joseph’s hair is already starting to go iron-grey and his entire demeanor is that of someone who’s already put on more miles than most men his age. There’s a gravitas to Joseph, an intelligence, and a strong sense of someone you wouldn’t want as your enemy.
JOSEPH
I’m thinking about seven.
SHANNON
You always say that.
JOSEPH
Shouldn’t be much later than that.
SHANNON
The party starts at seven-thirty.
Tamara grabs the ear clip from Shannon.
TAMARA
Dad -- you can’t be late this time.
It’s his birthday -- you wanna put
Willie in therapy the rest of his
life?
JOSEPH
(can’t help but smile)
I’m pretty sure I’ll be outta here
by seven.
TAMARA
No, Daddy. No. Unacceptable. You
have to promise you’ll be there on
time. Then you’ll be there.
JOSEPH
“Unacceptable?” Glad I’m not
appearing in your court.
TAMARA
You should be. So? Do I hear a
promise?
JOSEPH
Alright, your honor. I promise.
Now give me back to your mother.
Tamara hands the ear clip back to Shannon, but the connection is filling with STATIC.
SHANNON
(fritzed)
Hey. We’re getting on the Lev.
JOSEPH
(fritzed)
What?
SHANNON
(fritzed)
Can’t hear you -- Talk to you at
home.
JOSEPH
(fritzed)
What? Wait a minute, I want to
tell you something...
The connection is CUT OFF and Joseph hangs up as Shannon and Tamara step into...
INT. MLMT CAR - DOOR - DAY
As Shannon and Tamara squeeze into the crowded car so does...
...ZOE and BEN with LACY right behind them. Zoe and Ben make it in and hold out their hand to Lacy but she BACKS away from them. Zoe and Lacy lock eyes. Lacy’s are the size of saucers.
ZOE
Come on, Lacy.
LACY
I can’t. I’m sorry. It’s too
much. I can’t just... leave.
ZOE
It’ll be okay, I promise. They’ll
welcome us on Gemenon -- it’s not
like it is on Caprica. We’ll have
a whole new family there.
LACY
Sorry.
Lacy ducks out the doors just before they close and the train takes off, leaving Lacy at the platform.
INSIDE...
Zoe and Ben manage to find a place to sit. They stare out the window at the fake scenery rolling by. Ben’s mind is definitely somewhere else -- is that sweat or rain drops on his forehead?
ZOE
(more in sorrow)
I knew she’d back out. Frakking
knew it.
(beat)
She won’t tell anyone before we’re
off-world.
She takes Ben’s silence as disagreement.
ZOE
She won’t.
BEN
Huh? Yeah. Sure. Okay.
ZOE
Relax. You’re more keyed up than I
am.
She tries to put an arm around him, but he quickly gets up and stands at the window.
ZOE
Whatever.
ACROSS THE AISLE...
Shannon and Tamara stand, holding on to straps.
TAMARA
... so anyway this little creep
actually says, “She smells like a
Tauron. You can smell’em a block
away.”
SHANNON
I hope you walked away.
TAMARA
I did. After I kicked him in the
balls.
SHANNON
Tamara! You didn’t!
TAMARA
He deserved worse.
Shannon shakes her head, but can’t conceal her amusement -- she’s actually smiling and trying not to laugh as the Train moves through the dark tunnel at close to the speed of sound. It's practically a blur.
Inside, however, it seems as if we're moving at a normal speed through a pastoral countryside -- just another technical illusion provided to enhance a sense of well-being and ease among the passengers. And we see it in the faces of those surrounding Zoe and Ben.
ZOE
Is lost in thought for a beat. Finally, she makes a decision and pulls out of her pocket what looks like a piece of PAPER, but which is actually a sophisticated computer sheet. She unfolds the sheet, touches the edge and it comes to life. She writes a message quickly on the sheet. On the computer page we see she’s written:
Don’t live in regret, Mom. I forgive you.
She touches a part of the sheet and the writing VANISHES and is replaced with MESSAGE SENT. Then she folds it up, puts it in her pocket. Her mind eased, she looks up at Ben, who is still standing there with his back to her.
ZOE
(annoyed)
So you gonna be like this all the
way to Gemenon or what?
(beat)
Ben?
(beat)
Ben.
But when Ben turns around, Zoe knows instantly that something is very, VERY wrong. His eyes are bright with tears, his face is pale, and there’s a tremor in his voice.
BEN
I’m sorry, Zoe... but this is God’s
will.
ZOE
What...?
Ben pulls open his JACKET, to reveal EXPLOSIVES taped to his chest. Zoe’s eyes widen --
ZOE
No, Ben -- PLEASE --
BEN
THE ONE GOD WILL DRIVE OUT THE
MANY!
Ben presses a button and the ENTIRE MLMT CAR IS SUDDENLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES!
INT. TUNNEL - DAY
We see the TRAIN spin out of control as the flames create a chain reaction of EXPLOSIONS down each car.
INT. CAPRICA CITY - MAIN STREET - DAY
The pavement quivers, shakes and eventually erupts like a volcano as the LTP TRAIN bursts forth as a FIRE BALL.
