CAPRICA
by
Remi Aubuchon and Ronald D. Moore
FIFTH DRAFT: September 28, 2006
2ND NETWORK REVISION: October 6, 2006
ACT TWO:
FADE IN:
INT. CAPRICA CITY HALL - DAY
At Caprica City Hall, a LARGE GATHERING of the FAMILIES of the victims of the MLMT accident are gathered. On the stage, the MAYOR of Caprica City stands at the podium. His face is projected on a large screen behind him. This is not a friendly crowd -- their pain is still fresh and they give him a jaundiced, skeptical look.
SUPER: TWO WEEKS LATER
MAYOR
In this senseless tragedy, it’s
important for you to know that the
government of Caprica takes matters
of terrorism seriously and that
this case will be pursued until
justice is served.
JOSEPH ADAMS
Is in the crowd. Most people here are wearing BLACK ARMBANDS, but he’s wearing BLACK GLOVES instead. His
expression is serious, but he’s not really listening as the Mayor hands over the podium to another MAN.
MAYOR
Agent Duram?
Agent JORDAN DURAM, 40s, a suit draped around a thin steel wire of a man, steps up to the podium. There’s a laser-like intensity to Duram, as well as a vast reservoir of patience, the kind of man who is perfectly capable of following a case for years if necessary.
DURAM
On behalf of the President, let me
express your government’s deepest
sympathy. This is what we know: a
group known as “Soldiers of the
One” claimed responsibility.
A hush from the crowd. They’ve clearly heard about this organization.
REPORTER
The “Soldiers of the One” haven’t
been heard from in years.
DURAM
Ten years to be precise. We still
have a lot to sift through but
everything points to their
involvement.
REPORTER
Were there any demands?
DURAM
Not that we know of. But as we
speak, we are gathering evidence...
Joseph’s mind isn’t really here.
-- FLASHBACK
His daughter Tamara and wife Shannon, leaving what we’ll come to know as their high-rise APARTMENT for the last time.
RESUME SCENE
Duram continues on stage, a power-point like graphic now on the screen behind him, illustrating the organization of the “Solders of the One” group. Its symbol is an INFINITY LOOP.
DURAM
As I’m sure you all know, the
“S.T.O.” espouses a monotheistic
religious philosophy advocating the
worship of a single, all-knowing,
all powerful God whose mission is
to quote, “drive out the many
gods,” end quote.
Joseph gets up and WALKS OUT of the room.
EXT. CAPRICA CITY HALL - PORTICO - DAY
Joseph comes outside, reaches into a pocket and takes out a pack of cigarettes. Taps one out. Then realizes he doesn’t have a light. Annoyed, he’s about to throw it away when --
DANIEL (O.S.)
I’ve got it.
He turns to see Daniel pull a LIGHTER out of his pocket. Daniel is wearing the black ARMBAND.
JOSEPH
Thanks.
Joseph takes a deep drag, shoots Daniel a look out of the corner of his eye -- Daniel is famous.
JOSEPH
Never see you smoke on TV.
Daniel starts slightly -- always a little surprised when he’s recognized in public, even now.
DANIEL
No, well... company image and all
that. I did quit a few years ago,
actually. Started up again last
week.
JOSEPH
Yeah. I’ve been trying to quit
myself. Not much of a priority
now. My name’s Joseph Adams.
DANIEL
Daniel -- well, you know.
Daniel sticks out a hand, then notices Joseph’s gloves.
DANIEL
Oh -- I’m sorry. I... uh... didn’t
know...
JOSEPH
It’s okay. Taurons shake hands
during mourning.
(shakes his hand)
The gloves are symbolic -- helping
keep our distance from the world
during mourning... or something.
It’s an old custom. Not even sure
why I do it.
DANIEL
Well... times like this... the old
ways are supposed to help, I guess.
(beat)
I... lost my daughter.
JOSEPH
(nods, then)
Wife and daughter.
A quiet beat as they stand and smoke.
DANIEL
Could use a cup of coffee.
JOSEPH
There’s a cafe around the corner.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAPRICA GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY
A sleek and modern facility in the heart of the city.
INT. CAPRICA GENERAL HOSPITAL - O.R. - DAY
This operating room is close enough to our own to recognize it as such but it is full of esoteric technological instruments and robotic arms surrounding the Patient. That’s when we realize the Patient is the only one in the room.
INT. CAPRICA GENERAL HOSPITAL - O.R. CONTROL ROOM - DAY
And there is Dr. Amanda Graystone, surrounded by NURSES and TECHNICIANS as she guides a probe through an exact HOLOGRAPHIC replica of the Patient in the other room only without skin, exposing the inner organs.
AMANDA
Increase pressure on the carotid
three percent...
Amanda reads the slight change in colors of the organs.
AMANDA
Twenty-five LPs of sedo-chlorican.
Amanda stretches her neck -- she’s not wearing a mask or operating gown, but the tension and stress in the control
room is just as intense. She looks at a MONITOR: Elapsed Time: 5 hrs. 35 min. 45 secs...
-- FLASHBACK
Amanda yelling at Zoe.
AMANDA
... 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...
RESUME SCENE
Amanda focussing back on the monitors before her. She checks everything, then renders her verdict:
AMANDA
Okay, that’s that.
(turning to a Nurse)
Let’s close it up.
The Nurse nods.
INT. CAPRICA GENERAL HOSPITAL - AMANDA’S OFFICE - DAY
As Amanda comes out of the OR Control Room, a nurse hands her the phone as she heads for her desk.
AMANDA
This is Dr. Graystone.
MAN (PHONE)
Hello, Mandy.
Amanda stops, almost stumbles with surprise -- and not a pleasant one either.
>MAN (PHONE)
Hello...?
AMANDA
What do you want, Tomas.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAY
TOMAS VERGIS, a handsome, well-dressed man in his 40s, stands in an expensive hotel room talking on his personal communicator.
VERGIS
I wanted to tell you how sorry I am
about your loss. It must be
devastating. I can’t imagine what
you’re --
AMANDA
No you can’t, so don’t try. That
it?
VERGIS
(gentle)
I’m in town on business.
AMANDA
Good for you.
VERGIS
I have reservations at Sage. Can I
buy you dinner?
AMANDA
Don’t call again.
Amanda hangs up but there’s something in her eyes that tells us she wishes she hadn’t.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET CAFE - DAY
Daniel and Joseph sit at a small, metal table, the whir and hum of street traffic only a few feet away. Two cups of coffee on the table. Neither says a word. Each of them just smoking and watching the traffic roar past at what seems like impossible speeds...
INT. SISTER CLARICE’S OFFICE - DAY
Lacy Rand sits across from Sister Clarice, staring at the floor.
CLARICE
Zoe walks with the gods now. She
is cared for and loved and
cherished by the goddess Athena.
Someday we will reap that precious
reward as well.
Lacy is nonresponsive. Clarice studies her for a beat, decides to shift tack.
CLARICE
Not very comforting, is it? In
truth, it doesn’t do much for me
either.
Lacy finally looks up, surprised.
CLARICE
Zoe’s gone and all the scriptures,
all the prayers, all the sacrifices
offered in the temples... none of
it will bring her back to us.
(beat)
At times like this, the faith...
fails us. The ancient words fall
short of salving our wounds... and
we rage against the injustice of
gods who would dare to inflict such
wounds on our hearts.
LACY
I... I am angry...
CLARICE
At the gods?
LACY
At... whoever did this. It’s not
right.
CLARICE
No. No, it’s not. To be cut down
when her life was full of so much
promise... when she was about to
embark on a new chapter of her
life.
Lacy looks at her in shock.
CLARICE
Zoe told me she was planning to run
away to Gemenon.
(beat)
With you and Ben.
LACY
I don’t--
CLARICE
Everything said in this room, stays
in this room. I am bound by my
oath as a servant of Athena.
Lacy struggles for a moment, then it all comes pouring out.
LACY
I... just... chickened out.
Couldn’t... face it. Running
away... going off-world... never
coming back...
(beat)
I know I should have been on that
train. I should be dead.
CLARICE
No, my love. It wasn’t your time.
The gods weren’t ready to call your
spirit. They have another purpose
for you here.
LACY
Really? What? I mean, Zoe was
somebody special -- a genius. The
things she could do with a
computer...? But me? I’m a frak-
up -- I ask forgiveness.
CLARICE
And it is given.
(beat)
What kind of things could Zoe do
with computers?
LACY
(thrown by the question)
Oh. I-- I don’t know. Stuff.
Doesn’t matter...
CLARICE
If I ask a question, Lacy, then it
matters.
LACY
Yes, Sister.
(beat)
I don’t know what she did...
exactly. I’m not that into
computers, she just seemed...
gifted that way.
CLARICE
I see.
Clarice gets up, walks around the room, tries to be casual.
CLARICE
I was thinking that if you knew of
any particular work Zoe was
doing... any work you could find...
that perhaps it would be a way for
you to... reconnect with her. Find
comfort in discovering her in a
different way...
Which gives Lacy an idea.
LACY
Reconnect...
CLARICE
Yes.
LACY
(gets up)
I’m going to be late for dinner. I
should be going. Thank you for...
caring. This really helped..
CLARICE
(smiles)
I’m glad. You are a true daughter
of Athena, Lacy. You must never
forget that.
Lacy kisses her hand then flies out the door. The second she’s gone, the smile vanishes from Clarice’s face.
EXT. STREET CAFE - NIGHT
Daniel and Joseph are still sitting there, the cigarettes piling up in the ashtray, the empty coffee cups scattered
across the table as the traffic lights play across their faces...
INT. GRAYSTONE ESTATE - ZOE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Amanda is standing in the doorway of her daughter’s room, arms crossed, as she peers inside. All of Zoe’s things are still there -- all the detritus of a teenage life cut short are on garish display, all of them waiting to be picked up and examined. But Amanda won’t cross over the threshold, won’t actually go inside.
SERGE (O.S.)
Doctor Graystone?
Amanda JUMPS at the sound of the butler robot. She sets her jaw.
AMANDA
Yes?
INT. GRAYSTONE ESTATE - FOYER - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER
Amanda ENTERS the foyer just behind Serge, to see Lacy standing there.
AMANDA
Lacy?
LACY
Hi.
An awkward beat. Lacy can’t seem to meet her eyes.
AMANDA
Are you all right?
LACY
Yeah. I, uh... I know this is
going to sound kinda... kinda, you
know -- weird. But I was, um...
kinda wondering if I could just...
sit in her room for... a while?
Amanda is taken off-guard, acquiesces almost out of some misplaced sense of guilt.
AMANDA
Of course.
(get me out of here)
Serge?
The Servant robot comes up to Lacy.
SERGE
Ready.
AMANDA
Allow entry -- Lacy Rand.
A SCANNING beam emanates from Serge and envelopes Lacy and then shuts down.
SERGE
Welcome, Lacy Rand.
AMANDA
(to Lacy)
Stay as long as you like.
LACY
Thank you.
Lacy heads up the stairs. Amanda makes a sudden, impulsive decision.
AMANDA
(to Serge)
I’m going out. Tell Daniel I won’t
be home for dinner.
Amanda heads for the door.
SERGE
Yes, Doctor.
EXT. CAFE - NIGHT
Joseph and Daniel are each lost in his own reverie, each literally watching the world go by. A long, still moment before:
JOSEPH
(awkwardly)
I should be going. Thank you for
the coffee.
He sticks out his hand.
DANIEL
Sure.
Daniel takes Joseph’s hand, but then suddenly his entire being seems to collapse and suddenly he's sobbing into the other man's shoulder.
DANIEL
Sorry.
JOSEPH
No, I...
DANIEL
This isn’t... it’s not me... I
don’t...
JOSEPH
It’s okay. I know.
(beat)
Tell you the truth... I’m about
five seconds from throwing myself
in the middle of traffic.
Daniel nods, pulls himself together, takes in a deep, shuddering breath. Daniel looks back at the table of discarded coffee cups and cigarette butts.
DANIEL
I needed that. To just sit.
Smoke. So... thanks.
JOSEPH
Easiest job I had all day.
The hints of a smile briefly play across both their features as Joseph nods and Daniel signals his Driver, who smartly opens the car door for him.
DANIEL
Can I give you a ride home?
JOSEPH
No. Thanks. I live in the city.
They shake hands and Daniel heads off toward his car, then stops and looks back.
DANIEL
Hey -- you follow Pyramid at all?
JOSEPH
I've been known to lay a few cubits
down on the Bucks.
(beat, wry)
To my great misfortune.
DANIEL
Bucks suck this year. But I've got
courtside seats. You interested?
Joseph hesitates for a moment. Then...
JOSEPH
I have a son. Could I bring him --
he’s nine.
DANIEL
Absolutely.
Daniel hands him a card.
DANIEL
My private number. Call me and
we’ll work out the details.
JOSEPH
Okay. Thanks.
Daniel gets in the car and Joseph watches him drive away...
INT. SAGE RESTAURANT - NIGHT
In a dark corner of a dark restaurant, Tomas Vergis sits in a booth, nursing a drink and perusing a menu. Amanda suddenly sits down next to him without preamble and puts a hand to her forehead as if to hide her face from -- herself.
AMANDA
I’m only staying half an hour.
VERGIS
Gods you look great, Mandy. Can’t
tell you how glad I am you changed
your--
AMANDA
(without looking at him)
Shut up and order me a drink.
He’s smart enough to shut up. A small smile crosses his lips as he flags down a waiter...
INT. ZOE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Lacy sitting in the same room looking very small on the bed as she remembers her now dead friend and happier times. Her eyes roam over the artifacts of a young girl’s life -- finally landing on the DESK.
Lacy gets off the bed and goes over to the desk and sits down. She hesitates for a moment, then reaches into the drawer and pulls out a COMPUTER SHEET. She touches the side and TURNS it on.
Where Lacy is entering in the same complex equations and strings into the computer sheet on the desk. The INFINITY SYMBOL appears. Lacy takes deep breath, then puts on her holoband and TOUCHES the symbol on the page --
INT. THE V-CLUB - BAR
Lacy, now wearing the same little black dress we saw earlier, stands in one of the enormous bars of the sprawling V-Club where it’s business as usual but Lacy ignores all of it. A HOT BOY tries to approach her at one point and she just PUTS UP A HAND and he’s REBUFFED as if by an invisible WALL. He makes an obscene, silent gesture at her, but she continues on...
INT. THE V-CLUB - OUTSIDE VIP ROOM
Lacy stands in front of door marked with the INFINITY SYMBOL.
Lacy puts her HAND on the door and it instantly OPENS for her. She hesitates for a moment, then goes inside...
INT. THE V-CLUB - VIP ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Lacy ENTERS and looks around the plush furnishings in this opulent den and reacts to something she sees o.c.
REVEAL:
A FIGURE IN SILHOUETTE...
FIGURE
Is that you, Lacy?
Tears come unbidden to her eyes and she puts a hand to her mouth.
LACY
Yes. It’s me.
FIGURE
Thank God you’re here. I can’t
help feeling something terrible has
happened.
And with that, the figure steps out into the light, revealing Zoe’s Avatar (ZOE-A), the left side of her body covered in BLOOD.
