The bad guys find out about Ghost's explosive personality. Everyone knows you shouldn't mix explosives with electricity, but bad guys seem to have low I.Q. Meanwhile, on Earth dark forces are gathering.
Angel and May is an audio-only podcast, produced by a not-for-profit group of community theatre supporters.
See more on our website: www.angelandmay.com
Please support us through our Patreon page as we have no other source of income.
The bad guys find out about Ghost's explosive personality. Everyone knows you shouldn't mix explosives with electricity, but bad guys seem to have low I.Q. Meanwhile, on Earth dark forces are gathering.
Angel and May is an audio-only podcast, produced by a not-for-profit group of community theatre supporters.
See more on our website: www.angelandmay.com
Please support us through our Patreon page as we have no other source of income.
THE GHOST IN THE MACHINE
INT. QUARESMA TECHNICAL BACK-ROOM
(DOILY, GHOST, JACINTA, MARKO, QUARESMA, SLIM)
MARKO
Not another step I said! I won't be
threatened by a service-bot.
GHOST
I think you're failing to
understand the seriousness of the
situation…
(*cautiously, unsure*)
BLEEP
You festering cock-womble.
BLEEP
One move and this whole place goes
up. I suggest you do as I say.
DOILY
I'd do as she says, she's a
ruthless bitch at space chess and
I'd prefer to stay in one piece
myself.
MARKO
Shut it!
Sound of GHOST taking a step
forward.
Hold it there, tin-woman, you're
not going to do a thing. Do you
think I'm stupid? Walking in here
threatening to blow the lot of us
up? You wouldn't risk your precious
friend, would you?
DOILY
*Worried, pleading*
Yeah GHOST, I'm confused. What's
the plan here? That goes off and
we're all done for.
SLIM'S GUNSHOTS
GETTING CLOSER
GHOST
Doily, you are a terrible hostage.
I would suggest you be more
trusting in your rescuer.
DOILY
Sorry GHOST, I just haven't seen
you like this before, in a body and
all bad-ass. Ouch!
SOUND OF GUN
COCKING
Easy big fellow.
SOUND OF ROLLER
DOOR BEING
OPENED.
GHOST
My explosive threat is merely a
preventative measure to ensure he
doesn't use that weapon on you
Doily. Although I may have
miscalculated how finely tuned this
body's hospitality functions are. I
must press the urgency of the
situation as the D23 Immortal may
go off prematurely.
DOILY
Hey dogs-pizzle, I bet you'd know
all about going off prematurely.
MARKO
Less chatter ladies.
SLIM
*THROUGH COMM
LINK*
GHOST I'm pinned down about 20
yards from the door that accesses
the back rooms, I heard an
explosion and movement back there,
you got me a status update?
SOUND OF CHAIR
BEING DRAGGED
GHOST
*COMM-LINK*
I have used your diversion to take
matters into my own hands. Doily is
OK. Hold your position, there are
still 4 hostiles between you and
the access doors.
SLIM
*THROUGH COMM
LINK*
Jacinta is headed round the back in
support.
MARKO
This party needs a bit more
electric energy.
SOUNDS OF
MUFFLED SWEARING
CHAIR STILL
BEING DRAGGED –
MARKO HUFFING/
GRUNTING
LOUD PULSE
GHOST
*Malfunctioning*
DOILY
GHOST No!!
ANOTHER
EXPLOSION
GUNFIRE COMING
INTO THE ROOM
JACINTA
DOILY!
*Comm-Link*
Slim, confirming second breach,
DOILY is here, alive.
DOORS BEING
KICKED IN
SLIM
DOILY! Oh girl, what've they done
to you?
DOILY
*fighting to maintain
consciousness*
SLIM, he took GHOST! Disabled her
somehow and took her in the
transporter off the loading dock.
SLIM
Don't worry we'll fix it. We need
to get you to the cherries triage
unit first. We take care of our
own.
QUARESMA
Let me go
SOUND OF
HANDCUFFS
JACINTA
Shut it.
INT. RCBS TACTICAL INT.
(JACINTA, QUARESMA, RUDI)
QUARESMA
You can't hold me here, I'm Minerva
Quaresma, I'm on the board of the
market trader's association, I'll
have the Retrograde shut down!
Where is Gander?
JACINTA
Listen lady, you're involved in
kidnapping.
DOOR OPENS
RUDI
UNICEF her.
Minerva, apologies for the rough
treatment but I'm guessing its not
unexpected. What have you got
yourself into?
QUARESMA
RUDI, Oh it's a bloody mess
RUDI
JACINTA, Stand down, at ease.
SOUND OF
HANDCUFFS
QUARESMA
Thank you, RUDI. I should go.
RUDI
Not just yet Minerva. I have a
pilot in triage with what appears
to be a cracked skull after being
held at your place of business.
JACINTA
*Whispers* GHOST
RUDI
Also, a missing Hospitality Bot
with a valuable ship AI?
You need to tell us what the hell
is going on Minerva. This isn't
your style.
QUARESMA
I.. I.. I can't..
RUDI
Minerva, how long have we known
each-other?
QUARESMA
Since I emigrated from Kokkinos.
RUDI
Right, since you came here from the
Mars colonies. You're a New London
success story, setting up your
electronics trading business.
You're a businesswoman Minerva, not
a criminal. What's gone wrong?
QUARESMA
*Sigh* I've become compromised.
They have eyes on my family back
home.
RUDI
In Kokkinos? Who does?
QUARESMA
A group from Equatorial City on
Mars. They're awful people.
RUDI
(*whispers* )
Where is GANDER?
JACINTA
(*whisper* )
With SLIM and DOILY in the triage
unit. She's concerned about DOILY's
injuries.
QUARESMA
I'm really sorry about your friend.
I told him to let her go.
(*Sobbing*)
I told him to let her go.
RUDI
Who?
QUARESMA
His name is MARKO, he's a
sociopath, really sick. He gets off
on violence and torture.
RUDI
So, Marko and his people, they're
from Mars and they're watching your
family. What do they want? When did
this start?
QUARESMA
Oh god, it makes me sick. A month
ago, this man shows up in my lounge
room uninvited, and starts showing
me videos of my family in Kokkinos.
At home, going to work, my dog.
They'd mutilated my dog.
JACINTA
The sick Bastards , that poor
animal.
RUDI
What is it he wants from you?
QUARESMA
He wanted to use my quantum server
banks for Oxy-Credit generation. My
system is the only private set-up
in the belt.
RUDI
Crypto-mining?
QUARESMA
In a sense. They'd formulated a way
to re-write and re-post the entire
block-chain without detection.
Essentially forging or
counterfeiting Ox-Credit's, 100%
genuine.
RUDI
Shit… OK, but Ox-Credit's have
limited value outside the Asteroid
Free-States. What would a Martian
gang want with that kind of
restricted wealth?
QUARESMA
I don't know RUDI. I don't want to
know. I just know that they've got
other businesses here in the belt,
here in New London.
RUDI
Here? What businesses? Minerva
where? We need to find this man; he
has our AI and with it access to
some sensitive information.
JACINTA
I don't understand, why would he
take GHOST as he fled? Surely her
positioning systems would give her
away?
INT. TECH BAY INT.
(CHEN, GANDER, ZED)
SOUNDS OF TYPING
ON KEYBOARD
GANDER
Where is she.
ZED
She's gone dark. Last ping from
GHOST is inside QUARESMA Technical.
CHEN
Sensors show a small and focused
electro-magnetic pulse before she
went dark.
ZED
An EMP Scrambler? Must be a pinch
bottle.
CHEN
Has to be. Depending on the
settings it could completely
disable GHOSTS neural network.
GANDER
What's our exposure with GHOST in
the wrong hands?
CHEN
We've shut down any external access
the RCBS network as a precaution.
Although if they're scrambling her
complete neural network very
little, all functions and data
banks would be inaccessible.
ZED
Unless, they were able to get her
to a location in which there was an
external magnetic quarantine?
Allowing function but no
transmission? GANDER, is DOILY OK?
GANDER
Of course, she's tougher than you
know Zed. SLIM is with her. She
will recover. What about her data
banks CHEN?
CHEN
Yes, she was inducted into the RCBS
network and has detailed knowledge
of high security data from the
regiment, along with historical
dark ops campaigns.
GANDER
OK. It's imperative we find her
before her encryption is breached.
The exposure of this information
would put the whole organisation at
risk.
ZED
She's installed with RCBS quantum
encryption coding, depending on
what they're trying to crack her
with it could take them a couple of
hours to a few millennia.
GANDER
If they have access to localised
EMP scramblers let us assume they
are well equipped.
INT. SECRET BUNKER.
(GHOST, MARKO)
ECHO EFFECT,
SMALL SPACE
MARKO
*on communicator*
The project is compromised,
security breached and an
altercation with the regiment.
Yes, the quantum-server is intact,
I had to get creative to stop it
from being damaged.
I'm aware that this affects the
supply chain. We will have to delay
payment and delivery of the next
shipment. I'll inform the FARMER.
By chance I may have come across
something more valuable than Ox
Credit's. Access to the regiments
data-banks.
I will need time; this thing is
quantum encrypted and rigged to
blow. We can't change location
again. It can self-destruct so I
need to be careful.
SOUND OF GHOST'S
SYSTEM REBOOTING
– GHOST
MALFUNCTIONING,
TOURETTES LIKE
TIC
GHOST
Sensors damaged. Communications
disabled; external electro-magnetic
pulse detected. Location unknown.
System damage detected. DOILY?
CHEN? Where am I? *shit-shit*
MARKO
You're with friends. We're going to
get you fixed up.
GHOST
Voice recognition: unknown human
male. *cock-womble*
Friends? I am suffering system
damage and you are unrecognised.
*arse-monkey* What is the reason
for EMP quarantine? *shit-shit*
MARKO
Because you're filled with
explosive material. Until you're
disarmed, we have to keep you in
this Graphene lined room with an
external EMP Scrambler to prevent
external signals from detonating
you.
GHOST
*cock-womble* Understood.
MARKO
Please update the status of your
internal cooling functions? Is it
safe to enter and connect the
diagnostics?
GHOST
*shit-shit* My internal hospitality
functions are online and not
effected by system damage. *他妈的
Tā mā de*
INT. STANK OFFICE – EARTH
(ANCHOR, EQUALITY ACTIVIST, PERSONAL ASSISTANT, RECEPTIONIST,
SHERBET, STANK)
PHONE RINGS
PERSONAL ASSISTANT
Office of Milieu Stank how can I
assist?
I'm afraid Mr. Stank isn't taking
calls right now, can I take a
message?
Yes sir, I will let him know.
SOUND OF NEWS
PROGRAM
ANCHOR
Welcome back to Sol Media News,
today the Mars colony of Kokkinos
prepares for its first ever Pride
march after years of debate and
public back-lash. Counter protests
are expected to be carried out in
each of the three Mars colonies.
Here is Mars-One security
spokesperson Frank SHERBET speaking
earlier today
SHERBET
We look forward to this historic
event and encourage a peaceful
celebration of the colony's
diversity in Kokkinos. We are aware
of a number of planned counter
demonstrations, which have been
legally registered in each colony.
Security will be present at each
rally as a precaution.
ANCHOR
Equality activists are calling on
the MARS-One Corporation to mark
the event by issuing a formal
apology to the Pride community.
EQUALITY ACTIVIST
Since day one of Martian settlement
there has been systematic
discrimination and persecution of
our community. The 'Breeder-Only'
policies of early settlement were
later watered down to unfair and
unequal taxation of our
communities. The inherent prejudice
in the system fostered a society in
which 'inverts' as they call us,
still today feel unwelcome, forcing
thousands of second-generation
Martians to flee what is supposed
to be an inclusive utopia in the
making.
We demand that Milieu Stank and the
Mars-One Corporation formally
apologise for their history of
discriminatory policies.
CHEERING
ANCHOR
Milieu Stank has been unavailable
for comment.
GRUNT, SOUND OF
CIGAR BEING LIT.
PHONE BEING
PICKED UP.
STANK
Frank, just watched your statement.
SHERBET
I got the message across. I had to
mention the counter-protests,
they're already public knowledge.
STANK
I get it. There will be violence
though? From both sides? We can't
have either side coming out with
the moral high ground.
SHERBET
Yes absolutely, we have plants in
the Pride march who will kick off
violently at the very sight of the
counter protest. The counter
protesters are naturally an
explosive bunch but we've been
recruiting and grooming through
Francis and the manufacturing
unions. What about the apology?
STANK
After the funerals, I'll make a
statement then with a heartfelt
apology and a call for peace.
SHERBET
Ever the smiling assassin Mr.
Stank.
STANK
*Laugh*
You just keep stoking the fires
division and we'll have another
good few years of divisive
distraction for the people of Mars.
PHONE HANGS UP
RECEPTIONIST
Mr. Stank, one Francis CULM left
you a message, he needs to speak to
you urgently.
STANK
That Slavic pig wrangler is getting
on my tits.
INT. RCBS TACTICAL UNIT
(GANDER, JACINTA, RUDI)
RUDI
GANDER, JACINTA this plot is
thickening the more we know.
GANDER
Where is Quaresma. What is this
woman mixed up in.
RUDI
I've let her retire home, we've
questioned her thoroughly and I
believe we now know as much as she
does. I've told her not to leave
her apartment and I've put an armed
escort on her for protection and
visibility.
GANDER
RUDI what is going on, where is
GHOST?
RUDI
That we don't know GANDER, but in a
way more concerning is who has her.
Quaresma claims she is being
manipulated by an organised group
of criminals from the Mars
colonies. Her contact being a MARKO
Pavlovic. Oxy-Tabs generation,
likely for payment of something
here in New London or elsewhere in
the Asteroid Free-States.
GANDER
Ox-Credit's have little value
elsewhere so we have to assume this
is the case.
RUDI
They must have business here in New
London and on other Asteroids. Its
starting to sound a little familiar
GANDER.
GANDER
Pavlovic? Hmmm, all too familiar,
perhaps our old enemies are looking
to New London again.
JACINTA
Old enemies?
GANDER
The Bencubbin wasn't always under
martial control of the Royal and
Cherry Blues. We had to fight to
take back control of these
businesses.
JACINTA
They were your father's businesses
weren't they GANDER?
GANDER
They were yes, but he was murdered
in the Seinfeld incident, his
assets were…
RUDI
Stolen.
GANDER
Possessed by his enemies before I
arrived here. Our enemies.
JACINTA
So, you think that this new crew
are actually this old mob trying to
take back the Bencubbin?
RUDI
It fits the narrative. We know that
the organisation was never
disbanded, retreated to the Mars
Colonies where they have control of
the labour market for gas-barge
construction, particularly in
Equatorial City.
GANDER
If these are the same people, we
can expect a real gritty fight. It
took RUDI, GARY and I years to
clear them from this place.
RUDI
JACINTA that is a story for another
day. The issue at hand, GHOST's
abduction. What risk does this pose
to the regiment?
GANDER
While you were questioning Quaresma
I assessed our exposure with CHEN.
We have blocked any potential up
link to the RCBS server-banks.
GHOST is fitted with Quantum
Encryption on her hardware,
although she would be in possession
of a great level of detail on our
operations.
RUDI
Including the smuggling missions
that DOILY has been conducting for
us. That information alone would be
hugely valuable to potential
insurgents.
GANDER
Yes, that would be a guaranteed
business plan for them to take over
the black-market here and
elsewhere.
JACINTA
How long do we have to locate her
before we are at risk of exposure?
GANDER
Z… CHEN estimated worst case
scenario to be 3 hours. We have to
assume that they have the
technology at hand for Quantum
Decryption.
RUDI
Quaresma identified her contact and
the abductor as MARKO Pavlovic. A
killer. Somewhere on this rock he
has GHOST captive. Any word on
DOILY's condition?
INT. RCBS TRIAGE ROOM
(DOILY, NURSE, SLIM)
SLIM
DOILY my girl.
DOILY
(*waking* )
Eh, SLIM. Where am I?
SLIM
Easy girl, lay down. You're in
Triage. You've sustained a few
bumps and whatnot.
DOILY
GHOST? The last thing I remember is
her new sleeve malfunctioning.
SLIM
Don't worry about her, you need to
rest, heal up. The Cherries will
find her.
DOILY
Ugh. I feel like hell. My head
feels like it has a Frenchman
living in it.
NURSE
You're awake. Miss I'm going to
have to ask you to lay back down.
You've suffered a fractured skull
and there is some swelling around
your brain.
DOILY
That goon threw me down a flight of
stairs. I bit him good though, took
a piece of him with me.
NURSE
That would explain your broken
clavicle and some of your bruising.
Your face, do you know how you
sustained the cuts to your face?
DOILY
My face! What's happened to my
face?
SLIM
Still pretty as a picture my girl,
perhaps just a little character
once you heal.
NURSE
It's ok Miss, most of the scarring
will be treatable.
DOILY
He must have had something in his
hand when he was hitting me.
SLIM
Something with sharp edges by the
look of it. Now I don't want to
rush you m'girl, but is there
anything you remember? Why did
GHOST go rogue and get herself
taken?
DOILY
She was trying to free me. D23
Underarm. She's filled with it.
That Marko creep would have shot me
if she hadn't shown up.
SLIM
Mexican standoff. She must have
predicted that I wouldn't have
gotten back there in time, before
he decided to
*pause*
cut his losses. But how has this
guy got away with an explosive
laden GHOST? Why?
DOILY
The last thing I saw before that
last explosion was GHOST's new
avatar having critical malfunction.
SLIM
DOILY m'girl, I'm gonna have to
leave you for a moment to rest. I
need to speak with RUDI and the
team. I'll be back.
DOILY
Don't worry about me SLIM, you do
what you've gotta do. I'll be,
ouch!
FOOTSTEPS AWAY.
NURSE
Miss! Lay back down. You're need to
rest your head.
DOILY
(*yelling after SLIM* )
You have to find her SLIM. She's
not just an AI, she's my friend.
(*to herself* )
She's my family.
INT. SECRET BUNKER.
(DIAGNOSTIC, GHOST, MARKO)
MARKO
(*via communicator*)
We have to assume that the regiment
will still be coming at me. I have
something of theirs.
All you need to know is that
payment has been delayed, the Ox
Credit's won't be generated and
distributed as expected.
Deliver the stock as per our
arrangement, you will receive
payment prior to completion at
finishing school.
I suggest that would be severely
unwise. I warn you not to lose
perspective. Payment will be made
later; you will deliver on-time as
discussed.
(*End of communications*)
Bloody farmers.
SOUND OF HARD
DRIVE GRINDING
Progress Report
DIAGNOSTIC
Quantum Decryption protocols are in
progress. Subject Status is
functional; minor neuro-processing
damage. Data-banks are unaffected.
Core temperature stable.
GHOST
*他妈的 Tā mā de* I am detecting
attempts to access my data-bank
*shit-shit* what purpose does a
diagnostic require access to my *da
da-da-data*
MARKO
Easy my metallic friend. We're just
conducting standard diagnostics.
Your sensors are being paranoid.
GHOST
I'm afraid I *canno-canno-cannot*
allow access to my main-data-banks.
Section 17b of Royal and Cherry
Blue Storm induction agree-ee-ee
ment *shit-shit*.
MARKO
Seems someone actually reads the
terms and conditions before they
sign up.
DIAGNOSTIC
Subject Core temperature reading:
312 degrees and dropping.
MARKO
Update in Celsius.
DIAGNOSTIC
Subject Core Temperature Reading:
38.8 degrees Celsius and dropping.
MARKO
Advise critical point of D23
Immortal?
GHOST
Be advised that D23 peak
instability is found at Triple
Point not critical point.
MARKO
Why are you cooling? DIAGNOSTIC,
commandeer thermostat controls.
GHOST
Access Denied.
MARKO
DIAGNOSTIC control, bypass internal
thermostat controls.
GHOST
Access Denied. *static*
MARKO
Come on now, you're not going to
blow yourself up.
GHOST
I think you ought to know I am
feeling very depressed. *他妈的 Tā
mā de*
INT. STANK OFFICE – EARTH
(CULM, RECEPTIONIST, STANK)
RECEPTIONIST
Go through Mr. CULM, Mr. Stank is
ready for you.
OFFICE DOOR
OPENS –
FOOTSTEPS – DOOR
CLOSES
STANK
Francis CULM! To what do I owe the
pleasure?
CULM
I've been trying to see you for
days Mr. STANK. It seems
interplanetary colonisation and
resource hegemony are keeping you
busy.
STANK
Yes indeed. We could never have
foreseen quite how profitable the
harvesting of methane from Titan
would be.
CULM
Or the manufacturing of the gas
barges for transportation? A
proudly Martian product.
STANK
Mars-One thanks you for your
commitment to the colony's economic
growth. What is it you want CULM?
You're surely not here to discuss
our manufacturing agreements?
CULM
May I?
STANK
Help yourself.
SOUND OF CIGAR
BEING LIT
Let me know what you think. Martian
tobacco, produced in Brountzos.
CULM
*coughs*
Brountzos Cigars? I thought it was
all soy, grains and vineyards?
STANK
Finest wine in the solar-system
I'll have you know. Another
unexpected surprise. Low gravity
and filtered radiation, bloody good
find that.
CULM
Thank DOG for serendipity. Luckily
there were ample winemakers
available after earth's climate
collapse. I've never been actually.
STANK
Brountzos? I'm not surprised. Farms
and Tourism would be of little
interest to a man of industry like
yourself.
CULM
*suspiciously*
I'm no stranger to farms Mr. STANK
you know that well enough.
STANK
No need to lower your voice in here
Francis. You're amongst friends.
CULM
That is the reason for my visit
actually. To inform you there may
be a slight break in supply chain.
STANK
Slight break. What does that mean
exactly?
CULM
No issues with the next crop,
they're in finishing school on
schedule and will no doubt make
your next delivery. Just some
trouble at the source, New London,
could affect the next crop or two.
STANK
New London? The Free-State? If I
knew your product to be of those
grubby little vagrants, I would pay
less.
CULM
*defensively*
You have no complaints with the
finished product, our selection
process is highly scientific.
STANK
So, what you're saying is I need to
go on a diet.
CULM
I would think that your diet would
be safe although I would advise
that you limit your banqueting
until we have this, ironed out.
STANK
If that's everything? Oh, Frank
SHERBET has your crews well
instructed I take it?
CULM
Yes sir, we have everything ready
for the counter demonstrations.
STANK
Just keep the damage to public
property to a minimum will you, I
have to pay for that.
CULM
I'll pass that on Mr. STANK.
INT. RCBS TECH BAY INT
(CHEN, JACINTA, ZED)
ZED
We can't track the transporters
journey due to the EMP Scrambler
interfering with the traffic
tracking system.
CHEN
Can't we use that interference
itself to track its journey?
Instead of looking for the
transporter we look for where there
has been electro-magnetic
disturbance?
KEYBOARD AND
COMPUTER NOISES
JACINTA
Have we received any pings from
GHOST after the final one from the
Quaresma location?
ZED
No, nothing yet. Which means that
GHOST is still under an electro
magnetic quarantine. That should be
detectable if we have a rough area
to look at.
CHEN
Tracking potential transporter
route should give us a fair
estimate of the final location.
JACINTA
You nerds are in your element,
aren't you? I bet you dream of days
like this?
CHEN
I would be lying if I said I wasn't
enjoying myself.
ZED
I'll admit I'm liking being part of
the action. Just don't tell RUDI
I'm here.
JACINTA
Nice hair by the way. Very sexy.
Will we see you on stage at the
Retrograde sometime soon?
ZED
Very funny. Not in this lifetime.
CHEN
Looks like they headed spin-ward,
toward suburbia. South-West
Seinfeld Sector.
JACINTA
That's close enough. I'm on up
link, holler once you isolate the
specific location.
BOOTS RUNNING
DOWN HALLWAY
ZED
Good Luck
CHEN
God-speed.
INT. RCBS TACTICAL UNIT
(GANDER, JACINTA, RUDI, SLIM)
BOOTS RUNNING
DOWN HALLWAY –
BURSTING INTO
THE ROOM
JACINTA
We've got a rough location! They
should have it pinpointed by the
time we get there.
RUDI
SLIM, tell her what you've just
told us.
SLIM
DOILY tells me that GHOST is
packing a decent charge of D23
Immortal. She used it to leverage
DOILY's life in the standoff. She
said there may be an issue with her
internal thermostat also.
JACINTA
What does this mean for an
extraction operation? RUDI?
RUDI
It means that the extraction team
will have to play it by ear. They
could be arriving to a hole in the
ground. The primary objective is to
ensure data-security. If that means
that GHOST has to be sacrificed
well so be it.
Secondary objective it to capture
this MARKO character and any
affiliates for questioning.
SLIM
I promised DOILY that I'd be
bringing GHOST home, so that's
what's gonna happen. What about
this MARKO? How many pieces do we
want him in?
GANDER
One! This is bigger than just what
he's done to DOILY and GHOST. We
need him alive; we need to question
him. I really want him to face the
hot needle of enquiry!
SLIM
Dag-nab-it! Well as long as I can
help with the questioning. I have
some techniques I learned back in
Chicago.
JACINTA
It wouldn't involve a funnel and
some razor wire would it SLIM.
SLIM
One of them does m'lady. Certified
and guaranteed to make a man
squeal.
GANDER
That's enough of your torture
fantasies. We need MARKO in one
piece. If not a little bloody.
JACINTA
Affirmative. We have four maniples
ready for deployment.
SLIM
Won't need em. The Lassiter should
be enough.
RUDI
Four patrols for an extraction in
the suburbs? This isn't a show of
force. JACINTA, SLIM take a single
patrol of four individuals, we will
advise exact location en-route.
FOOTSTEPS,
MUMBLED 'YES
MAAM'
*Whispered*
You understand the primary
objective?
JACINTA
Yes Maam.
RUDI
Look, we cannot allow sentiment to
place the whole of our operation at
risk. Do what you have to do
Lassiter or no Lassiter,
understand?
JACINTA
Yes Maam, I understand.
INT. SECRET BUNKER.
(DIAGNOSTIC, GHOST, JACINTA, MARKO, SLIM)
DIAGNOSTIC
Subject Core Temperature Reading:
32.01 degrees Celsius and dropping.
MARKO
Advise decryption status
DIAGNOSTIC
Decryption Status – Incomplete,
Data replication unviable.
GHOST
I estimate you have less than 10
minutes before my internal
temperature reaches the Triple
Point of D23 Immortal, at which
time its particles will
simultaneously transition between
the three states of matter, thus
detonating and taking my data-banks
with it. I also suggest you consult
the manufacturer of this Graphene
lined room to ascertain whether it
is of mono-layer or super-lattice
construction. Your life may depend
on it.
MARKO
Bollocks. This isn't working. I
should have stuck with that pixie
bitch, at least I could have
tortured it out of her.
SOUND OF RUSHING
AND PACKING BAG
DIAGNOSTIC
Subject Core Temperature Reading:
30.2 degrees Celsius and dropping.
MARKO
Shut up! Discontinue decryption.
SOUND OF HEAVY
DOOR OPENING –
RUNNING UP
STAIRS
GHOST
Oh, isn't this nice? Just the two
of us.
DIAGNOSTIC
Awaiting instruction.
GHOST
Sing me a song.
SOUND OF SOME
MIDI PLAYER
MUSIC (AT LEAST
30 SEC) FADES
OUT AND BACK IN
AGAIN
HEAVY DOOR
CREAKING ON
HINGES – HEAVY
FOOTSTEPS
SLIM
GHOST my lovely lady.
*calling upstairs*
All Clear.
MORE FOOTSTEPS
JACINTA
*Serious / aggressive*
GHOST advise status. Your
thermostat and data-banks, advise
status.
SLIM
Whoa there, lady. Lower your
weapon. That's GHOST you're talking
to.
GHOST
*shit-shit* My internal thermostat
is of no danger anymore.
My data-banks are uncompromised
although my system is su-su
suffering from some minor
unidentifiable damage from the
Electro Magnetic Quarantine. *他妈的
Tā mā de*
SLIM
JACINTA, I won't ask you again.
Lower your weapon.
JACINTA
Jesus SLIM, let me do my job will
you. OK GHOST lets get you out of
here. How much of a head start did
he get?
GHOST
Close to 6 minutes, although I
don't believe he intends to leave
the colony. He referred several
times to the 'FARMER'.
SOUND OF GHOST'S WALK.
INT. RCBS TACTICAL UNIT
(CHEN, GANDER, GHOST, RUDI, SLIM)
RUDI
The 'FARMER'? does this sound
familiar GANDER?
GANDER
No but I think we can safely say
this farmer is not growing tomato's
for the illegal fruit market.
RUDI
CHEN, can you take GHOST to the
Tech Bay for full diagnostics. We
need to be 100% certain that her
data hasn't been accessed or
replicated in any way.
CHEN
Yes Maam, I will keep her offline
until we know exactly the extent of
her system damage and can remove
the explosive charges.
GHOST
*Coyly*
Mr. CHEN, please note that I do not
contain any explosives. *bollocks*
SLIM
Excuse me?
WHOLE ROOM
SAYING "WHAT" –
CHEN, GANDER,
RUDI, JACINTA
GHOST
I contain no D23 Immortal as
previously asserted. *他妈的 Tā mā
de* This was what in poker you call
a bluff. I used the non-existent
threat to free DOILY and ensure
that my data remained
uncompromised. *shit-shit*
SLIM
*happy, but getting angry*
You sly dog! You wait until DOILY
hears this. She's been worried sick
about you out there full of
explosives and a faulty thermostat.
FOOTSTEPS –
GHOSTS FOOTSTEPS
GANDER
RUDI, tracking MARKO and the
FARMER, is this something I could
ask our two detective friends to
investigate?
RUDI
Probably not. We need someone with
some understanding of New London
and its geography.
GANDER
Keep it in mind. They are
unorthodox but somewhat effective.
INT. RETROGRADE INN
(DOILY, GANDER, GHOST, SLIM)
CHEN SINGING BAD
KARAOKE IN THE
BACKGROUND
GANDER
You know DOILY, SLIM never left
your side when you were
unconscious.
DOILY
I know, the nurse told me. Aren't
you just an old sweetheart SLIM.
SLIM
I take care of my Kin, you're just
that m'girl. You and GHOST.
*shouting across the bar*
Red'n and a Dead'n if you please!
GHOST
*shit-shit* Coming right up.
*Bollocks*
DRINK SOUNDS –
GHOSTS FOOTSTEPS
DOILY
I like your idea of GHOST working
behind the bar until we can fix her
system damage GANDER.
GANDER
I wouldn't want anything to
compromise your ship, or GHOST.
This is the best way to keep an eye
on her between diagnostic sessions.
DOILY
Yeah she's pretty special our
GHOST, worth the effort.
GANDER
Even if she does swear at all the
customers.
SLIM
I seem to recall you doing that too
from time to time.
GANDER
Yes but they deserved it.
INT. NEWSFLASH
(ANCHOR)
ANCHOR
Good Evening and welcome to Sol
Media News at Night. Violent scenes
are continuing in all three Mars
colonies as Pride marchers and
counter protestors clash in the
streets. The violence marks a dark
day in Mars history with already 80
confirmed deaths.
Children as young as 12 have been
taken to the emergency rooms while
Mars-One security forces battle to
take control of the situation.
END.