CAPRICA
by
Remi Aubuchon and Ronald D. Moore
FIFTH DRAFT: September 28, 2006
2ND NETWORK REVISION: October 6, 2006
ACT THREE:
FADE IN:
INT. THE V-CLUB - VIP ROOM
A few minutes later. Zoe-A is sitting on the couch as Lacy wipes the blood from her body with a hand towel.
ZOE-A
So I’m dead -- she’s dead?
LACY
Yes.
ZOE-A
Ben too?
LACY
Yes. I don’t see any wounds on
your body...
ZOE-A
God.
LACY
What happened? Where’d all this
blood come from?
ZOE-A
I... I think it must be from the...
bombing.
LACY
The bombing...? But you weren’t
even there -- you couldn’t be
there.
ZOE-A
I know.
(realizes)
Zoe told me... she was working on a
biofeedback protocol... she wanted
me to feel what she felt -- in real
time. She never got it working
exactly, but... something happened.
Lacy pulls back slightly.
LACY
You mean you... “felt” her death?
Zoe-A gets off the couch, takes a couple of steps to grapple with the memory.
ZOE-A
It started as... as fear. Terror.
An intense, sudden wave of horror.
Then, this blunt pressure all along
the left side of my body... and
this white noise. I couldn’t move,
couldn’t think. Just... sat here
for... I don’t know how long.
(beat)
When I heard you open the door, it
was like... waking up. I looked
down and saw all this blood...
Lacy is totally creeped out. She drops the bloody hand towel
in a trash can like it might bite her.
LACY
Digital blood. This is frakking
weird.
ZOE-A
What am I going to do now, Lacy?
If Zoe’s dead... what happens to
me?
LACY
I -- I don’t know. She had some
kind of plan for you once we got to
Gemenon, but... I don’t even know
what that was.
ZOE-A
And we’re not going to Gemenon
anymore, are we?
LACY
No.
ZOE-A
What am I without... her? She’s
me. I’m her. I’m... supposed to
be her “gift” to the Movement. I’m
supposed to herald a new age or
something -- but I don’t even know
what that means! Am I real? Do I
exist? Help me, Lace! Make me
understand!
Lacy steps back from her.
LACY
Okay -- whoa. I don’t have the
answers you want, okay? I-I didn’t
even know for sure if you were
gonna still be here once Zoe died.
I just wanted to -- I don’t know...
see her again.
Zoe-A looks into Lacy’s eyes for a long beat.
ZOE-A
You’re scared. Of me.
LACY
I don’t know you.
ZOE-A
You grew up with me.
LACY
Oh, God, what am I doing here...?
ZOE-A
Lace!
LACY
Stop it! You’re not Zoe, all
right? You’re not. You’re
something she... created. You’re
just a... thing. I don’t know why
and now, I’m sorry she ever did.
Zoe-A reacts as if she was slapped. She steps away from Lacy with tears bright in her eyes. Her lower lip betrays a slight tremor.
ZOE-A
I know I’m not real, Lacy. I know
I’m just a buncha ones and zeroes.
Zoe used to say... I’d see the real
world one day.
(beat)
But the crazy thing is -- I already
know what the real world looks
like. I remember it. Like I
remember growing up with you. But
I’ve never been out of this stupid
club... I’ve never been to your
house, I’ve never played in your
room, never puked in your bathroom,
never put on your makeup or tried
on your clothes -- but I remember
all of it.
(losing it)
I’m so lost... I’m not a person...
I know that... but I feel like
one...
She starts to cry and Lacy finds herself walking across the room and putting her arms around Zoe-A before she even realizes what she’s doing and as she does, miraculously all of the bloodstains on Zoe-A’s clothes DISAPPEAR.
INT. GRAYSTONE MANSION - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Daniel is home and walking through the quiet, dark hallway toward his bedroom. He’s about to go inside when he notices--
LIGHT
Coming from beneath Zoe’s door down the Hall. Why’s the light on in Zoe’s room? He heads down the hallway, quietly OPENS the door --
INT. ZOE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)
Daniel ENTERS to see Lacy, her HoloBand on, with her arms around empty space in front of her.
LACY
It’s gonna be okay...
INT. THE V-CLUB - VIP ROOM
Lacy holding Zoe-A in her arms.
LACY
Somehow... I promise.
INT. ZOE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Daniel approaches her.
DANIEL
Lacy?
INT. THE V-CLUB - VIP ROOM - NIGHT
Lacy lets go of Zoe-A and quickly whips around...
INT. ZOE’S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Lacy whips around, pulls off her HoloBand, then focusses on Daniel; her face the very definition of guilt.
LACY
Dr. Graystone!
DANIEL
I didn’t know you were here. What
are you doing?
LACY
Nothing. I--uh... just... I gotta
go--
She bolts out of the room, past Daniel. He follows her out into the Hallway in puzzlement.
DANIEL
Lacy, wait --
But Lacy is down the stairs and GONE. He looks after her for a beat and then Daniel goes back into Zoe’s bedroom. He looks around. This is the first time he’s been in here since the accident.
Daniel looks over at Zoe’s desk and sees the Computer Sheet. Something about it spikes his curiosity. He looks down at the esoteric code on the screen. Odd. As he picks up the Computer sheet...
CUT TO:
EXT. CAPRICA CITY - COURTHOUSE - MORNING
Establish a highly polished marble building.
JUDGE (V.O.)
How does the defendant plea?
INT. COURTROOM - MORNING
Joseph, still wearing his armband, is standing with the DEFENDANT, whose face is covered in face tattoos; a sign that he is a member of the Tauron Ha’la’tha (e.g. the Mafia). They are in front of the JUDGE in a small, working courtroom which is still more technologically advanced than anything we could imagine. The Defendant nervously looks over at Joseph, who nods.
DEFENDANT
(accent)
Not guilty, your Honor.
The Judge makes eye contact with Joseph for a beat. Joseph remains stoic, expressionless... except he purposefully CLOSES his eyes and opens them again. The Judge nods -- clearly a sign has been given. The Judge bangs his gavel.
JUDGE
Clerk will set a date for trial
within the month. Bail will be set
at ten thousand cubits.
The PROSECUTOR jumps up in protest.
PROSECUTOR
Your Honor, the Defendant is a
known member of the Ha’la’tha.
There is a serious flight risk to
Tauron. The State strongly
recommends that bail be denied.
JUDGE
I thank the State for its input.
Ruling stands.
The Judge hits the gavel.
The Defendant offers thanks to Joseph but he turns to leave the court room without even looking at the Defendant. As Joseph walks out, he sees his brother SAM (40s), big and burly, standing at the door. Sam is also wearing BLACK GLOVES just like his brother. They walk out together into...
INT. COURTHOUSE - HALLWAY - MORNING
As they walk, Sam hands Joseph a thin envelope.
SAM
Ten thousand cubits for the bail.
He hands Joseph another thin envelope.
SAM
And twenty thousand for His Honor.
Without comment, Joseph takes the two envelopes and puts them
in his breast pocket. They walk for a beat. Then...
SAM
The Guatrau is grateful for the
work you have done for him. All
the work. So much so that he’s
pledged to help us find the
frakking terrorist scum that killed
Shannon and Tamara.
JOSEPH
That won’t be necessary.
SAM
Blood for blood. It’s the Tauron
way.
JOSEPH
It’s not my way. We're on Caprica
now, brother.
SAM
Caprica. What has this frakking
planet ever done for us?
JOSEPH
(ignoring him)
I’ve got a deposition in--
Sam grabs his brother by the shoulder and stops him.
SAM
(angry)
Do you feel nothing?
JOSEPH
(low)
Yes. I feel like my brother, who I
love and respect, needs to let me
grieve in my own way.
The words cut through Sam. He loves him, doesn’t want to push Joseph to places he can’t or won’t go.
SAM
One day, little Brother, you will
wake up to the fact that the world
only understands an iron fist
shoved in its face. Until that
day, I will respect your wishes...
but I will also pray to the gods
for swift and terrible vengeance to
come to the men who’ve torn out our
hearts.
JOSEPH
There are no gods, Sam.
SAM
Then all the more important we make
our own justice.
Sam disengages from Joseph and walks away. Off Joseph, thinking about Sam’s words...
EXT. GRAYSTONE INDUSTRIES - MORNING
Establish GRAYSTONE INDUSTRIES which seems to be made of nothing but pure glass - you wonder how it could possibly stand on its own.
INT. GRAYSTONE INDUSTRIES - TESTING ARENA - DAY
Standing in the center of this large, all-white arena is a...
...CYLON CENTURION... or so we think at first glance. As we get closer, we realize it is a very different model than
we’ve seen but it has the tell-tale scanning beam where its eyes should be only this one’s blue.
UP ABOVE...we see DANIEL and CYRUS XANDER (20s) along with a number of other Tech Support Personnel observing from a glassed in area.
INSIDE...
CYRUS
Evaluation protocol forty-two...
independent identification,
acquisition, resolution and
execution of conflict.
They watch as down below, other TECHNICIANS and MANAGERS prepare a test on the basic robot we’ll now refer to as U-87. Daniel is distracted throughout.
Cyrus isn’t willing to push Daniel or challenge him, but he does need to bring certain things to his attention.
CYRUS
I had a conversation with Secretary
of Defense Chambers this morning.
(beat)
President’s getting a lot of heat.
Media’s playing up the fact that
we’re five years behind schedule
and half a billion cubits over
budget. He’s starting to get a lot
pressure to yank the robot soldier
contract from us and go off-world
with it.
(beat)
They’re talking about going to
Vergis.
Daniel doesn’t answer, continues to watch as down below, a TECHNICIAN actives a control station and...
A PANEL
In the seamless wall OPENS and out rolls a ROBOT like Serge, the robot servant we met at Daniel’s estate. The panel closes and the robot starts rolling around right into the scanning beam of the U-87.
Suddenly the U-87 becomes animated and it extends its arm forward. Much like its descendents will one day do, the arm rapidly reassembles itself into a weapon and the U-87 begins to move (albeit haltingly) towards the Serge-robot who in turn, realizing it’s being stalked, starts taking off for another part of the arena.
DANIEL & CYRUS
Watch with mounting tension as the U-87 gains on the Serge...
-- When it’s in range, the U-87 begins to FIRE rounds.
-- Which are PAINTBALLS.
-- Not a single one hits the mark. The Serge robot is clean as a whistle.
-- The U-87 starts to get twitchy and the next thing you know it’s shooting paintballs up AT THE OBSERVATION WINDOW.
Cyrus turns to Daniel with a tense expression.
DANIEL
It’s still not ready. I’ll be out
for the rest of the day. No calls.
Cyrus watches as Daniel heads out the door.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - MORNING
Vergis sips coffee in his bathrobe as Amanda exits the bathroom, half-naked, putting her earrings in. Without so much as a sideways glance, she begins to put her clothes on.
VERGIS
Is there a chance...
AMANDA
It’s best if you don’t talk.
VERGIS
I’m leaving in a week.
AMANDA
Good.
(then)
This can’t happen again.
VERGIS
(smiles)
We’ve been doing this dance for so
many years, Mandy. Do you have any
idea why?
AMANDA
You should ask yourself that
question, not me.
VERGIS
I do it because I love you.
AMANDA
Please...
VERGIS
It’s completely true and you know
it. On that I have always been
clear. Ever since we were at
University. I even thought,
naively, that you loved me too.
AMANDA
Back then, it was simply revenge.
VERGIS
Punishing Daniel for his
indiscretions. But what are you
doing now?
AMANDA
Punishing myself.
Now fully dressed, Amanda grabs her purse and has her hand on the doorknob when...
VERGIS
There’s something you should know.
She stops but does not turn around.
VERGIS
Caprica’s President has lost
confidence in the ability of
Graystone Industries to deliver his
U-87 military project.
AMANDA
After all these years, you should
know the one thing I couldn’t care
less about is Daniel’s business
affairs.
VERGIS
He’s in for a shock. Your
president is actually going to give
a Tauron company the contract -- my
company.
AMANDA
And you’re telling me this -- why?
VERGIS
Maybe I just don’t like to kick a
man when he’s down.
AMANDA
But you’ll sleep with his wife.
Off Vergis, as the door closes behind her...
INT. GRAYSTONE ESTATE - DANIEL’S LABORATORY - DAY
Zoe’s Computer Sheet is on the worktable with a lot of other THINGS CLIPPED ONTO IT. This place is beyond a state-of-theart technological wonderland. Daniel is struggling to break the codes that we saw Lacy punch in to Zoe’s computer.
In front of him is a polished chrome case with his initials engraved into it and the following inscription:
“HoloBand”
In Acknowledgement
of the
One Millionth Unit Sold
He opens the case and there is Daniel’s own personal model of the HoloBand (his company invented it). He activates one of the MONITORS, runs a physical LEAD from the Band to the Computer.
Daniel places his personal HoloBand onto his forehead. He checks a few of the many monitors he has wired into Zoe’s computer and then enters his best guess as to the code.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. THE V-CLUB - NIGHT
Daniel is now in the virtual nightclub, his own personal avatar looking much like his living self, and drawing stares among the teenaged denizens of this world. The patrons reject his attempts at communication and he's given the virtual equivalent of talk to the hand as more and more teen avatars “silence” Daniel and refuse access. Others digitally SHADE their faces, effectively hiding their identities.
Daniel is amazed by it - it's an underground kind of thing, something he's heard about, but never paid attention to.
He watches the teen patrons as they take drugs, drink, have public sex on the couches.
DANIEL
This isn’t your kind of place
Zoe...
Or is it...? Before he can explore this world any more...
Daniel pulls off the headband in irritation and clicks on one of the many MONITORS, where Cyrus Xander appears.
CYRUS
I know you said no calls, but it’s
important. Tomas Vergis is on
Caprica. He’s meeting with
Secretary Chambers today. He’s
making a play for the U-87
contract. I hate to say I told you
so, but...
DANIEL
There’s got to be kickbacks
involved. Vergis Corp. is years
behind us technologically.
CYRUS
Not anymore. Word is... Vergis has
developed a Meta-Cognitive
Processor.
That stops Daniel.
DANIEL
C’mon. We’ve been trying to crack
that technology for two decades.
CYRUS
I have it on very good authority
that Vergis is going to tell
Chambers that he has a MCP. And it
works -- don’t ask me how. But if
they’ve got a viable, independent
artificial brain, then the only
thing they’re missing is a robotic
body. Put the two together and
you’ve got a completely autonomous
robot -- a sentient, intelligent
machine. It’ll be the breakthrough
of the century...
DANIEL
Frakking Vergis... he’s been
chasing me since university...
CYRUS
Defense can take the U-87 away from
us -- technically, the government
owns it already --
DANIEL
... now he wants to be the man who
created the worlds’ first thinking
soldier robot.
CYRUS
Daniel. Are you listening? They
can take the U-87 and they can give
it to Vergis and have them become
lead on the entire project,
reducing us to...
(distaste)
A subcontractor.
DANIEL
First thing is find out if it’s
true. Saying you’ve got the MCP is
one thing -- actually having it is
another.
(beat)
See what you can find out.
CYRUS
You’ve got it.
Cyrus is about to sign off.
DANIEL
You ever hear of... virtual
nightclubs... for kids? Teenagers?
You know -- they hack the
HoloBands, create these places
where they go and... do... things?
Cyrus looks at him like he just asked if he’s ever heard of the telephone.
CYRUS
It’s only been an underground
phenomenon for about, oh -- five
years now.
Daniel struggles for a beat, isn’t sure what he’s getting at.
DANIEL
Keep me posted on Vergis.
Daniel signs off and the screen goes blank leaving Daniel to stare down at the HoloBand in his hand. He takes a beat, then puts it back on his head and touches the computer sheet--
INT. THE V-CLUB
-- and finds himself back in the virtual Nightclub, being systematically ignored by the patrons. He moves through the scene, unable to reconcile the image of his daughter with someone who would be coming here regularly.
But the trance music and the debauchery is getting to him, and he's about to leave when he sees --
ZOE-A
Sitting at the bar and talking to SOMEONE O.C. She feels eyes on her and turns to see Daniel. He’s staring at her with shock and pain etched into every inch of his face. Zoe-A bolts up from the barstool and into the crowd.
DANIEL
Zoe? ZOE!!
Daniel pursues, pushing and clawing his way through the press of humanity. He loses sight of her for a moment -- then sees her disappearing into the VIP ROOM with the INFINITY SYMBOL on it.
The door slams closed, but Daniel races toward it, determined to break it down if necessary. He grabs the doorknob --
WHAM!!!!!!!!!!
Everything goes WHITE and a loud SCREECHING sound blasts at Daniel, causing him to fall backwards...
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. DANIEL’S PRIVATE LAB - DAY
Daniel falls backwards on to the floor and scrambles to get the HoloBand off. He winces with pain, rubbing his temples. He gets up and looks at the Computer screen.
DANIEL
Oh, my gods... oh, my gods... oh,
my gods...
EXT. WILLIAM’S SCHOOL - AFTERNOON
Joseph waits as the doors fly open and Kids start pouring out. He scans the river of students until he catches sight of a NINE-YEAR OLD BOY wearing BLACK GLOVES walking out, not interacting with any of his peers.
JOSEPH
(calling out)
Willie!
WILLIAM ADAMS looks up to see his father -- hard to read how he feels about seeing him here. He’s an inward, withdrawn kid under the best of circumstances and these have hardly been the best of circumstances lately. He slows walks over to Joseph.
JOSEPH
How was school today?
WILLIAM
(shrugs)
Okay.
And that’s usually about the extent of father/son bonding on most days. But these aren’t most days anymore and Joseph both wants and needs to reach out to his son.
JOSEPH
I, uh... got off early and thought
we could walk home together. Maybe
stop and grab a shaved ice.
After a beat, William shrugs.
EXT. STREET - AFTERNOON
Joseph and William walk down the street, both of them eating shaved ice out of cup.
JOSEPH
I met a man who has offered to take
us to see the Buccaneers play.
What do you think?
WILLIAM
(noncommittal)
Sure.
JOSEPH
I thought you liked Pyramid.
WILLIAM
Sort of...
JOSEPH
Courtside seats...
WILLIAM
(after a beat)
Could Tsattie go with us too?
JOSEPH
No, I thought we’d give grandma the
night off. This is just a guy’s
night out. We haven’t gotten to
spend much time together lately.
WILLIAM
Ever.
It’s one of those things kids just blurt out, not meant to be hurtful but matter of fact. Still, it hits Joseph hard.
JOSEPH
I want to change that, Willie.
They walk together in silence until...
WILLIAM
Do you think they still feel pain?
JOSEPH
Sorry?
WILLIAM
Mommy and Tamara. Where they are,
do you think they still hurt?
How do you even begin to answer a question like that?
EXT. LACY’S HOUSE - DAY
In contrast to the Graystone mansion, Lacy Rand’s family lives in a very middle-class house, in one of the suburbs ringing Caprica City.
MOTHER’S VOICE
Lacy! Someone here to see you!
INT. LACY’S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - AFTERNOON
Lacy comes down the stairs to see Clarice sitting on the couch.
LACY
Sister Clarice.
Clarice smiles warmly and Lacy smiles back.
CLARICE
Lacy, I’d like you to meet Agent
Duram.
And that’s when Lacy (and we) notice Agent Duram in the room, he smiles in typical fashion to men of his profession.
DURAM
Hello, Ms. Rand.
A lump forms in Lacy’s throat and travels down to the pit of her stomach.
CLARICE
Agent Duram has a few questions to
ask. I know this is a traumatic
time for you and all your fellow
students, so I thought it best if I
accompany him on his interviews.
DURAM
Which I greatly appreciate.
Lacy sits on the couch as Agent Duram pulls a chair up close to her in a sort of scary-friendly manner...
DURAM
I understand you were friends with
Ben Stark.
LACY
(trying to calm down)
Sure. I knew Ben.
DURAM
We have evidence to suggest he was
involved in the attack on the Lev.
Which is the last thing she was expecting to hear. Her surprise and disbelief have the ring of truth to them.
LACY
That’s... crazy.
CLARICE
I have to agree with Lacy. It’s an
absurd allegation, Mr. Duram.
DURAM
I’m afraid we have forensic
evidence linking him to the
bombing.
(to Lacy)
Were you aware of his involvement
with the Soldiers Of The One?
Lacy tries not to react, but Duram notes her tense slightly.
CLARICE
(offended)
Ben Stark was a good and decent
boy. He would never be involved
with some kind of--of terrorist
organization.
DURAM
(ignoring Clarice)
Lacy, did you know if Ben was
involved?
Lacy tries to keep her voice calm and steady.
LACY
No. And I don’t believe it.
DURAM
What about Zoe Graystone? Were you
aware that she was in "Soldiers of
the One" as well?
LACY
What about her?
DURAM
Do you know if she was involved
too?
Lacy sits back on the couch and crosses her arms, clearly at the end of her cooperation. Duram watches her closely and Lacy tries very hard not to flinch.
CUT TO:
EXT. LACY’S HOUSE - DAY - MOMENTS LATER
Duram and Clarice leaving the house.
DURAM
She’s hiding something.
CLARICE
She’s gone through an incredibly
traumatic event.
DURAM
(abrupt)
Where does the Athenian Academy
stand on the question of
monotheistic belief, Sister?
CLARICE
Am I under investigation now?
DURAM
Just a question.
CLARICE
The Academy is dedicated to
following in the path of the gods --
the goddess Athena is our
patroness. We are, however, open
to all forms of worship, including
belief in one god.
DURAM
Very tolerant.
(beat)
And how many of your students are
practicing monotheists?
CLARICE
Agent Duram, you know I can’t
answer a question like that.
DURAM
It doesn’t concern you that there’s
a proven link between worship of a
single god and an absolutist view
of the universe? A belief that
right and wrong are determined
solely by a single all-knowing, allpowerful
being whose judgement
cannot be questioned? A god in
whose name the most horrendous
crimes can be sanctioned without
appeal?
Clarice looks at him for a beat, then smiles sweetly.
CLARICE
You know a great deal about the
subject.
DURAM
Know your enemy, Sister Clarice.
CLARICE
Love your enemy, Agent Duram. That
is what Athena teaches us. Even of
those who are intolerant of us.
Duram holds her eyes for a moment longer.
DURAM
I’ll be in touch.
Duram walks away, leaving Clarice alone on the walkway.
ANGLE ON A WINDOW
Where Lacy is watching them from her bedroom. Clarice glances back up at the house --
INT. LACY’S BEDROOM - DAY
Lacy steps back from the window. She can barely breathe.
