S02-E13 - THE THING IN THE CORRIDOR



               INT. RETROGRADE LOWER CORRIDER 5 ALPHA
               (COSTAS, JACINTA)

                                   COSTAS
                         Well that goal of yours was a real
                         fluke Sarg. I tell you have to
                         practice more with your left foot,
                         it makes all the difference.

                                   JACINTA
                         Left foot, right foot, its just too
                         bloody hard nowadays.  There's no
                         doubt about it I'm definitely
                         slowing down.  Say, do you fancy a
                         beer, I think the bar will still be
                         open?

                                   COSTAS
                         Well, it's my turn, so I'm up for a
                         few bevies.  Have you tried that
                         new one, its from that micro
                         brewery over in Widmanstaten. 
                         GANDER is giving it a try, I heard
                         a rumour that she is thinking of
                         getting a small micro set up
                         herself.

                                   JACINTA
                         Now that would be an excellent
                         move, we could have a 'Retrograde
                         Cringer' or a 'Cherry Blue Pale'.
                          (laughter).

                                   COSTAS
                         I was thinking more like 'Heavy
                         Scowl' or 'Frown'

                                   JACINTA
                         Yep thats more like it.

                                                       DISTANT METALLIC
                                                                  GROAN
                         Say, (pause) did you hear a noise,
                         I think it came from five beta
                         section.  Thats weird, it's little
                         used at this time of night. Sounded
                         like metal being knocked. I think
                         we should investigate. 

                                   COSTAS
                         You sure its not just expansion
                         clicking, you know you get that as
                         the station rotates.

                                   JACINTA
                         (Whispered) No it sounded like
                         something being dragged or scraped
                         and theres a shush, shushing,
                         whispery sound as well.  There it
                         is again!

                                   COSTAS
                         (Whispered) Hmmm, definitely not
                         expansion clicks.  Have you got any
                         weapons Sarg?

                                   JACINTA
                         (Whispered) No, look lets not jump
                         to conclusions.  Lets get real
                         quiet and sneak up, I'll move up
                         and take a look around the corner. 

                                   COSTAS
                         (Whispered) OK.

                                                          SOUND OF FEET
                                                         VERY CAREFULLY
                                                              MOVING UP
                                                               CORRIDOR

                                   JACINTA
                         (Whispered) Can't see much, its
                         dark and the light tubes haven't
                         sensed anything.  Hold on, I think
                         I can see a dark shape at the end
                         of the section.  It's got a deep
                         red glow, wow it just flashed blue.

                                   COSTAS
                         (Whispered) What the hell is it.
                         Should we challenge?

                                   JACINTA
                         (Whispered) I'm surprised they
                         haven't heard us.  Hang on, its
                         like smoke its not a figure.  I
                         think,  no, no, that's not right,
                         it can't be.  Its moving up the
                         corridor ohhhhh, (scream).

                                   COSTAS
                         Ahhhh! Urgh.  

                                                       WHISPERED SOUNDS
                                                           OF THE DEAD.



               INT. RETROGRADE C&C
               (BOY, COSTAS, RUDI, SEATON)

                                   RUDI
                         JACINTA, wake up, JACINTA.  (RUDI
                         on Comms) "BOY we have an
                         incursion, get the DOC down to
                         section five beta, med-vac for two.
                         Also get a decontamination down to
                         the section, there are strange burn
                         marks on walls, might be radiation"
                         Soldier you OK, feeling well enough
                         to explain? (Slap sound) Stay with
                         me solder. Focus.

                                   COSTAS
                         (Breathless and ill) Marm, we were
                         just coming back from football,
                         (cough) we heard this noise like a
                         shushing metallic sound scrape.  We
                         went to investigate.  It was
                         section five, oh. This thing came
                         at us, it was (coughing)  

                                                            SICK NOISE,
                                                               COUGHING
                         The lights where dim and almost
                         out, it glowed, it was horrible
                         Marm.

                                   RUDI
                         OK soldier, take it easy. 

                                                       SOUND OF RUNNING
                                                       FEET AND MEDICAL
                                                       FIRST RESPONDERS
                         OK, get her up to medical
                         immediately.

                                   COSTAS
                         (Coughing) Ah I feel bad, I think
                         it contaminated us.

                                   SEATON
                         What's the situation?

                                   RUDI
                         No visible wounds, breathing is
                         fine and her airways clear. JACINTA
                         is unconscious. COSTAS is also out
                         cold.  Possible contamination,
                         perhaps radiation, looks like they
                         have burns. Please get both to
                         infirmary. I will come by as soon
                         as I can, but, I'm just going to
                         talk to SEATON 

                                                          SOUND OF FEET
                                                       THEN URGENT CALL
                                                             TO SEATON.

                                   RUDI
                         We have a medical emergency two
                         coming up to medical, looks like
                         burns and possibly radiation.

                                   SEATON
                         Roger, is medivac on its way.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes, I datavised.

                                   SEATON
                         Good, I'll prep this end.

                                   BOY
                         Marm, I had an urgent call.

                                   RUDI
                         (Whispered) Major, we have had
                         another incident, just like last
                         week.

                                   BOY
                         What, with JACINTA this time?

                                   RUDI
                         Yes and COSTAS, Major, look we
                         can't ignore this now, clearly it's
                         not going away.  We need to
                         determine if this is an overt act,
                         and put plans in place.  We can't
                         dismiss this as a vivid
                         imagination.  

                                   BOY
                         Well we did a check for
                         Psychedelics in the air, there is
                         nothing, no active molecules.  The
                         air is clear.  To be honest I'm out
                         of idea's.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes, so am I.  This looks like a
                         more serious attack, there are some
                         marks on the walls. Get a forensic
                         team down here and take a look.
                         I've been keeping it under wraps
                         because I didn't want to spook the
                         troops. Word will get around. I
                         think we now need to get out in
                         front of this.  So call a general
                         meeting in bay Beta please for
                         16:00 zulu. 
                         Also can you contact our two tame
                         detectives, we will need their
                         forensic skills.



               INT. ANGEL AND MAYS RECEPTION
               (ALEX, SHARROW, SOPHIE, ZED)

                                                       SOUNDS OF COFFEE
                                                        MACHINE BREWING

                                   ALEX
                         I tell you SHAS, this blend of
                         coffee is not as smooth as that
                         Earth grown stuff, I don't care how
                         much the science says otherwise. I
                         can definitely tell the difference. 
                         (Pause) SHAS, are you there.

                                                       SOUND OF SERVERS
                                                        AND RACKS BEING
                                                                  MOVED

                                   SHARROW
                         Yep, sorry, ALEX, (raised voice but
                         distant) I'm in the server room
                         with ZED, we were just moving some
                         of the racks around so we can
                         change the patching.  ZED had some
                         idea's on how we can improve the
                         speed.

                                                         SOUND LOCATION
                                                       MOVES TO SERVERS
                                                           AND NOISE OF
                                                                   FANS

               AleX moves through office to server Room.

                                   ALEX
                         So, it looks like you are starting
                         to really get into this tech again
                         SHAS.

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, not really, I have a loaded a
                         module but theres a lot of new
                         stuff to absorb. ZED is trying to
                         help in his inimitable style.

                                   ZED
                         Hey, its like trying to teach a
                         blind monkey to code. 

                                   ALEX
                         What's that like?

                                   ZED
                         Painfully slow. Actually she's not
                         bad, but she need to go to
                         experience club

                                   ALEX
                         You mean you want her to go back to
                         school?

                                   ZED
                         Well, its the only way to exercise
                         the new knowledge to build a deeper
                         understanding.

                                   SHARROW
                         Actually ALEX I want to go, it
                         would be good to have find out what
                         this generations teenagers are
                         really like. You see the problem
                         with the implant's is that whilst
                         the knowledge is there,  it's
                         difficult to relate to.  It really
                         needs the recommended practical
                         exercises.  So if we are serious
                         about this agency, we need as much
                         heavy duty technical expertise as
                         possible.  ZED's good but he
                         doesn't have the nasty suspicious
                         perspective, that only years of
                         dealing with humankind's
                         underbelly, will give you. 

                                   ALEX
                         Yep, some of the stuff we've seen,
                         yuk. 

                                                             DOOR OPENS
                         Oh Hi SOPHIE, so how you going. 
                         Ready to front this amazingly busy
                         operation.

                                   SOPHIE
                         Oh yes the minute by minute
                         transactional nature of the role,
                         is really feeding my Solitaire
                         skills, I have made some really
                         important life changing decisions
                         as a result of this job.

                                   ALEX
                         Oh, so what's that?

                                   SOPHIE
                         I have finally figured out what I'm
                         going to wear next Saturday at the
                         racing. 
                         Say, this secretary, receptionist
                         gig, it doesn't seem that exciting.

                                   SHARROW
                         It will pick up Sophie, I promise.
                         Good because I'm going batshit
                         crazy out front!

                                   ALEX
                         Well, then, you can join the rest
                         of us!

                                                         BLEEPING NOISE

                                   SHARROW
                         Oh, were's that coming from?

                                   SOPHIE
                         Oh, I set it up to sound like a
                         James Bond sound. Let me see, Ah,
                         it's a datavise from RUDI, it
                         sounds like a case. Shes asking for
                         you to meet her in C&C

                                   ALEX
                         That's does sound like a case.  Any
                         indication what its about.

                                   SOPHIE
                         No nothing, must be urgent though,
                         she says she is waiting now.

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, then we better go, now you
                         two no messing with the coffee
                         machine whilst we are away, we know
                         you fiddled with the setting last
                         week.

                                   SOPHIE
                         Who, me (All innocent)



               INT. RETROGRADE C&C
               (ALEX, RUDI, SHARROW)

                                   RUDI
                         Thank you for responding
                         immediately, I think I'm going to
                         need your skills.  I trust I didn't
                         interrupt anything. 

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, we are always ready to help
                         RUDI so we will always fit you
                         around our heavy case load.

                                   ALEX
                         (snort)

                                   RUDI
                         Oh, is it an issue

                                   ALEX
                         No RUDI, its just that we don't
                         have any case load.

                                   RUDI
                         Well, this one will certainly
                         exercise you.  It's a very strange
                         thing. It involves a multiple
                         hostile incursion.  I'm just going
                         to flick you some video files if
                         you could review please.

                                   ALEX
                         Oh, that is weird, but it's just
                         some lights in a corridor.

                                   RUDI
                         Well, the camera's don't do it
                         justice, we have two injured
                         solders in infirmary.  It's
                         happened several times.

                                   SHARROW
                         Were did this take place, it looks
                         like the lower levels.

                                   RUDI
                         Correct level five beta section
                         corridor twelve.  I think it will
                         be helpful to add your
                         investigative skills to our own. 
                         Perhaps give us some new angles to
                         try and crack this mystery.

                                   ALEX
                         OK, so were do we start?

                                   RUDI
                         Well, four days ago some of the
                         younger Cherries were coming back
                         from a combat simulation exercise
                         in the VR suite. Now, (pause) hang
                         on let me pull up a map as I think
                         location may be of importance.  OK,
                         so the combat VR suite is here, and
                         section five beta is here. 

                                   SHARROW
                         So, they were heading back to
                         barracks by the look of it, they
                         need to get to the lifts, right.

                                   RUDI
                         Precisely.  Whilst they were
                         walking back, one of the party
                         heard some whispering voices and
                         went to investigate. When they got
                         closer, two of the party had what
                         can only be described as a
                         nightmare experience which left
                         them badly traumatised.

                                   SHARROW
                         What did they see?

                                   RUDI
                         Well they described a black cloud
                         shape, one of them said she saw her
                         dead fathers face.

                                   SHARROW
                         Ah, I guess that would traumatise
                         anyone. Did they undergo medical
                         checks.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes of course. Apart from a slight
                         bruise where they ran into a wall
                         section, whilst trying to get away.
                         There was no other visible effects. 
                         I think it would be useful for you
                         to interview them and see if you
                         can turn up anything else.

                                   ALEX
                         OK, what about forensics, also did
                         the DOC take bloods.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes of course, but I know what you
                         are going to ask.

                                   ALEX
                         Yes, well I'll ask it anyway. Were
                         there any signs of drugs,
                         hallucinogenic substances for
                         instance?

                                   RUDI
                         Absolutely nothing apart from
                         raised stress hormone levels. I'm
                         going to flick you all the files.
                         I can tell you there were no drugs,
                         absolutely nothing in their bloods.

                                   ALEX
                         What about the corridor itself? Are
                         there are security and monitoring
                         camera's throughout the complex? 
                         What did they see?

                                   RUDI
                         Thats the weird thing.  They only
                         saw what you could see in the
                         datavise I sent. Some lights and a
                         shushing sound and thats all.

                                   ALEX
                         That is weird, how could some
                         lights injure anyone.

                                   SHARROW
                         So what about the soldiers
                         implants, could some entity have
                         hacked into the messaging channels
                         and sent images directly to their
                         optic nerves? Perhaps started a
                         limited form of sequestration?

                                   ALEX
                         Yeah, good one SHAS, it's an
                         obvious move!

                                   RUDI
                         No, we did a full diagnostic on the
                         implants when we ran the medicals,
                         apart from some logged raised
                         levels of neuro transmitters, in
                         the medical monitoring suite. There
                         was nothing. The whole data set was
                         entirely consistent with a flight
                         response.

                                   SHARROW
                         So are you sure the camera's didn't
                         pick up anything.  Did you run
                         clean up routine's on the images
                         and try to pull out any hidden
                         detail.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes we did that too.  There was
                         some slight glitching, but we put
                         that down to the fluctuating power
                         levels.

                                   SHARROW
                         OK, what happened to the power, how
                         did it fluctuate?

                                   RUDI
                         Well, we don't have that level of
                         telemetry on the power systems.  We
                         surmise however, that the voltage
                         fluctuated slightly consistent with
                         varying power drains. 

                                   SHARROW
                         Did those power drains align with
                         the glitching in the camera's?

                                   RUDI
                         Yes they did as far as we can tell.

                                   SHARROW
                         Hmmm, this place is a faraday cage
                         right?

                                   RUDI
                         Tight as a nut, its double screened
                         with high density copper mesh.

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, I don't know, how could any
                         external electro magnetic radiation
                         get through the screen.  It might
                         be purely magnetic, but the walls
                         are steel, so that would be quite
                         difficult to get through.  ALEX you
                         got anything.

                                   ALEX
                         Has it happened just this one time?

                                   RUDI
                         Ahh, thats the thing, it just
                         happened again last night, JACINTA
                         and COSTAS were both affected.

                                   ALEX
                         Oh, are they OK.

                                   RUDI
                         Well not really, JACINTA's in the
                         infirmary. FIONA's a little
                         brighter, she got the lesser dose.
                         However JACINTA's got your little
                         nanities working for her.  I think
                         that saved her arse. The dose
                         meters are off the scale.

                                   ALEX
                         Radiation, what type?

                                   RUDI
                         We think its gamma, they both got a
                         fair dose, but we have some good
                         drugs nowadays and with the
                         nanities doing internal cellular
                         repair on JACINTA who was the
                         closest we are going to be alright. 
                         It's a good thing COSTAS was well
                         away from the source, otherwise she
                         would be very poorly.

                                   SHARROW
                         Oh, are they well enough for us to
                         conduct an interview?

                                   RUDI
                         I'll check with the Doctor, just
                         hang on, I'll see how see is going.

                                                             DOOR OPENS

                                   SHARROW
                         This is interesting, looks like a
                         form of back channel offensive
                         action.

                                   ALEX
                         I don't no, it's clearly not
                         lethal.  It's an ineffective means
                         of disabling the RCBS.  I think
                         it's very easy to jump to
                         conclusions based on the outcome
                         but it may be something else. We
                         clearly need more data.  I think
                         our next move is definitely to see 
                         what JACINTA or FIONA has to say.

                                   SHARROW
                         Agreed

                                                             DOOR OPENS

                                   RUDI
                         Yep, FIONA's good but a little
                         fragile, JACINTA is weak but awake,
                         probably feeling like shit, so go
                         easy on her.

                                   SHARROW
                         Don't worry we'll be very gentle.



               INT. RETROGRADE RCBS MEDICAL
               (ALEX, JACINTA, SEATON, SHARROW)

                                   SEATON
                         Ah, hello you two, how are you
                         going?

                                   SHARROW
                         Oh, were fine, but more to the
                         point how is JACINTA, it sounded
                         serious.

                                   SEATON
                         She's weak just received a goodly
                         dose of radiation, then panicked,
                         she ran into COSTAS and they both
                         lashed out at each other.
                         Luckily those nanities saved her. 
                         She now sports a fine black eye.
                         FIONA ducked.

                                   SHARROW
                         Why would JACINTA attack FIONA? I
                         thought they where the best of
                         mates.  Doesn't make sense.

                                   SEATON
                         Well, you can ask them both, they
                         are in adjacent medical booths.

                                                             DOOR OPENS
                                                       MEDICAL BLEEPING

                                   ALEX
                         Hi you. (Pause) Whoa, that's an eye
                         alright, it's a beaut.

                                   JACINTA
                         Well, not from my point of view,
                         Fiona has a hell of a right hook.
                         (coughing and then puking)

                                   ALEX
                         You OK, here let me get that. So
                         how come she took a swipe at you?

                                   JACINTA
                         Thanks, she wasn't fighting me, she
                         was fighting those things.

                                   SHARROW
                         Sorry, what things were they?  Can
                         you describe them more accurately.

                                   JACINTA
                         It's was the dead, I looked into
                         hell.  Oh god it was horrible,
                         there was this shushing clicking
                         noise and a sense of overwhelming
                         power.  The was this beam in the
                         sky like the eye of doom. It was,
                         like another universe, I could feel
                         the energy being pumped out.

                                   SHARROW
                         You can't really mean the spirits
                         of the dead, surely.

                                   JACINTA
                         Yes, I do mean the spirits of the
                         dead.  I could feel we were being
                         sucked in to that place. 
                         We only just got away I could feel
                         a sucking force. I could see a
                         planet, dark and cold, there was a
                         glow on the horizon, and the sky
                         had what looked like a lighthouse
                         which glowed blue.

                                   ALEX
                         So did you see actually see any
                         dead, like zombies? What you
                         described sounds like a real place.

                                   JACINTA
                         Well, it was real alright. I don't
                         know, to be honest it was just a
                         glimpse.  I could see enough to
                         know that I didn't want to be
                         there.

                                   SHARROW
                         Did FIONA see the same place?

                                   JACINTA
                         Why don't you ask her.

                                   SHARROW
                         Good point.  Alex you stay I'll go
                         and talk to FIONA, see if I can get
                         more details.

                                   ALEX
                         Great. (Pause) So JACINTA, did you
                         see any other effects when this
                         'event' was occurring.  For
                         example, could you see the corridor
                         section five, simultaneously as
                         this (pause) 'death world'. Was the
                         corridor showing behind this world? 

                                   JACINTA
                         Well, it was like a rippling
                         curtain effect, kinda black waves. 
                         The ripples moved slowly and as
                         they passed in front of us.  Parts
                         of this other place showed through.
                         The edges were fuzzy, like a
                         distortion.

                                   ALEX
                         Right.  So how long did this go on
                         for?

                                   JACINTA
                         Well it seemed like ages, probably
                         ten seconds or so.

                                   ALEX
                         When you moved, how did the
                         'apparition', for want of a better
                         phrase, how did it move.

                                   JACINTA
                         What do you mean.

                                   ALEX
                         Well, was it like a projection,
                         like from some other view point, or
                         was it linked to the reality of the
                         corrider.

                                   JACINTA
                         Hmmm, well, It did move with us,
                         like it was attracted to us, but it
                         did sort of wander about a little
                         as well.

                                   ALEX
                         Was it wobbling like it was being
                         projected from a long way off?

                                   JACINTA
                         No not really, it had like a
                         rhythmic pulse almost, I can't be
                         sure but maybe it was in time with
                         the pulses. It looked a little like
                         a heart beat, it did look half
                         alive. Look to be honest, I was
                         terrified.  The sounds were
                         horrible like a clicking whisper
                         against a sort of rumbling, it had
                         a unimaginable sense of power. I
                         thought I could here screaming.

                                   ALEX
                         So would you describe this as a
                         religious experience? Did you have
                         a sense of revelation or spiritual
                         understanding, or communicating
                         with some entity.

                                   JACINTA
                         Well, sort of, it was other
                         worldly, I think. There was no
                         entity communicating if thats what
                         you mean.

                                                             DOOR OPENS

                                   ALEX
                         SHAS, how did you go?

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, I have quite a few notes. I
                         think I have enough for the time
                         being.

                                   ALEX
                         Are you OK, you look a little pale?

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, I must say I think this is
                         the strangest story, I have heard
                         in my years as a detective.

                                   ALEX
                         Yeah copy that.  Look lets get back
                         and compare notes and plan our next
                         steps.  OK Thanks JACINTA and
                         FIONA. You rest up, were going to
                         report back and get on the case, we
                         will let you know as soon as we
                         have further information. Stay away
                         from that area of the RETRO, right?

                                   JACINTA
                         You've no issue persuading me of
                         that.

                                   ALEX
                         Just one more thing, you've both
                         got implants haven't you?

                                   JACINTA
                         Yes of course.

                                   ALEX
                         Did you have any of the sensorium
                         files on record.

                                   JACINTA
                         Yes we were both recording, but the
                         high radiation levels messed with
                         the storage lacuna, the files are
                         very garbled.  I've requested live
                         uplink for all personal involved
                         with any future actions.

                                   ALEX
                         Yes, that was my thinking, which
                         was why I asked.



               INT. RETROGRADE C&C
               (ALEX, RUDI, SHARROW, SOPHIE, ZED)

                                   SHARROW
                         RUDI, what she said gave me the
                         creeps, I think it sounds like some
                         sort of illusion or perhaps its
                         like a portal to another world, in
                         space. The big issue I think is
                         that the 'thing' didn't show
                         clearly in the camera's.  Perhaps
                         it was the camera angle, perhaps
                         the light coming out had a peculiar
                         wave function. We're going to go
                         away and start working on this. I
                         think you should immediately deploy
                         every military grade sensor and
                         camera around that area of the pub.
                         If it happens again we need to
                         collect more hard data. Oh and get
                         camera's in the closed rooms in
                         case this thing is appearing in
                         places and is not being seen.

                                   ALEX
                         Yep all good, points, totally agree
                         there. SHAS I think you and me need
                         to perhaps camp out around the same
                         area tonight. We can be tooled up,
                         perhaps with recorders running off
                         our implants. RUDI I don't know if
                         this is possible but can you store
                         the images we see in our minds eye
                         so to speak, in these new implants.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes they can they can store an hour
                         or two depending on the fidelity,
                         it can be set on rotation as a
                         buffer. 

                                   ALEX
                         Great, it will be interesting to
                         take a look into what is actually
                         experienced by the recipient.

                                   RUDI
                         I already anticipated the need for
                         the deployment of more sensors and
                         I have CHEN on that as we speak. 
                         Major CALVIN is readying this
                         control room to receive the data
                         streams and we will flick it into
                         the holo tanks.

                                   SHARROW
                         RUDI, is GANDER aware of this
                         issue, perhaps she has some
                         historic information which might
                         shed some light. 
                         For example has this ever happened
                         at the Retrograde in the past.
                         Perhaps their are rumours of a
                         ghost, which may be the same
                         phenomenon.  That sort of thing.  I
                         think what people see is partly
                         caused by the panic and the
                         weirdness of the event, its so far
                         out of the ordinary. Perception is
                         a created thing after all. Oh and I
                         think some highly accurate
                         temperature sensors and perhaps
                         thermal imaging camera's might be
                         useful, FIONA said the room felt
                         cold, then it went hot. It would be
                         interesting to see if we can pick
                         that up.

                                   RUDI
                         Yes, all good idea's. I'll get BOY
                         on to your personal sensor suite
                         and telemetry.

                                   SHARROW
                         OK, I'm going back to our office I
                         want to try and get my head around
                         this.

                                   RUDI
                         OK, could you be back around
                         eighteen hundred Zulu, we are going
                         to fit you with exoskeleton rigs.  

                                   SHARROW
                         What, why's that, its not a combat
                         situation?

                                   RUDI
                         Well multiple reasons, but for one
                         they can stop you clobbering each
                         other, and they will give you
                         superior strength to resist any
                         compulsion from an outside agency. 
                         We will monitor telemetry from C&C
                         and if, for instance you are
                         sequestrated, by something, we can
                         intervene and freeze the suits. 
                         They also have magnetic clamps
                         which will grip the corridor walls
                         and stop you being moved if you
                         don't want to be moved.

                                   ALEX
                         I thought these implants couldn't
                         be sequestrated?

                                   RUDI
                         Well, they can't by anything from
                         this world, but maybe we are
                         dealing with something entirely
                         different.

                                   ALEX
                         It sounds like a plan.  Not sure
                         I'm wildly enthusiastic though. 
                         Problem is I can't think of
                         anything else as a way forward.



               INT. ANGEL AND MAYS RECEPTION
               (ALEX, SHARROW, SOPHIE, ZED)

                                   SOPHIE
                         Oh hi, guys, oh, not sure what that
                         look on your faces means.

                                   SHARROW
                         It means SOPHIE, that we have a
                         job, I very strange and intriguing
                         job, and we need you and ZED to
                         help out.  So can you get hold of
                         ZED we are definitely going to need
                         him on this one.

                                   SOPHIE
                         No problem he is back around behind
                         the server racks, I believe it is
                         his natural habitat. 

                                   SHARROW
                         Like some creature of the night?

                                   SOPHIE
                         Exactly!

               Alex moves to the back and into the server room and looks
               around the cabinets.

                                   ALEX
                         ZED you there? We have a job! Oh,
                         there you are, why are you laying
                         on the floor? You look like some
                         one in your element.

                                   ZED
                         Well, these patch wave guides don't
                         fix themselves and we need to get
                         the servers crosslinked with more
                         bandwidth. Otherwise Quantum
                         servers or not there just some much
                         junk.

                                   ALEX
                         OK, if you say so.  We have a case
                         and I think it's going to require
                         some heavy data analysis
                         particularly of video and telemetry
                         information. This one is right up
                         your street, and its a really weird
                         one, your'e going to love it!  We
                         are going to use the spare room
                         with its pin board.

                                   ZED
                         Pin board, what the hells that for? 
                         Thats a little antiquated isn't it?

                                   ALEX
                         It sure is, but it works and
                         doesn't require power, and its a
                         great way to bring all the pieces
                         of information together, anyway we
                         need to start collating the
                         information.

                                   ZED
                         Wouldn't a database be more
                         effective, we could put a virtual
                         space and then you effectively get
                         an infinite play area with
                         zoomability, much better than a
                         physical wall.

                                   ALEX
                         Well, I'm not saying no, but I
                         think you need to show me.  Also it
                         does sound like it may be
                         expensive.

                                   ZED
                         Not expensive, what do you think
                         these servers are for.  Also I know
                         that GANDER had some screens she
                         used in one of the shows. I am
                         fairly sure if I tell what you want
                         it for, she will be happy to lend
                         it to you.  Its just sitting in the
                         inn in storage somewhere.

                                   ALEX
                         SHAS,  ZED's come up with an idea
                         about some sort of electronic wall
                         thingy.  Sound's kinda funky. What
                         do you think, of a virtualised
                         place to look at cases.

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, ZED's usually on the money
                         ALEX, what he thinking?

                                   ALEX
                         Well he says it's a, zoomable
                         movable thingy display other
                         doodads.  Oh what the hell, can you
                         please explain ZED, this thing is
                         your baby.

                                   ZED
                         Well, its kinda of like an
                         infinitely large space where you
                         can display any data in three
                         dimensions, and show any causal
                         links.  You can even go into the
                         space using your implants and walk
                         around.  I think it would be really
                         cool.  SOPHIE and I can prepare and
                         enter the data, as it you find it,
                         and I can work the pattern search
                         networks and use the display to
                         show links. It would be a like a
                         secure play space for each case, it
                         would be stored encrypted on our
                         servers. We have to use them for
                         something and its a cool project
                         for me and SOPH

                                   SHARROW
                         Oh, so its SOPH now is it! I'm all
                         for it ZED sounds like a real step
                         up, I think we should give it a
                         try.  What do you think SOPHIE?

                                   SOPHIE
                         Oh, its definitely cool alright, I
                         think it could give the agency an
                         edge. It will give me something to
                         do, to be honest I'm getting a
                         little bored.

                                   SHARROW
                         Well, you'll be bored no more, I'm
                         just data-vising interviews we have
                         just conducted with JACINTA and
                         COSTAS, they had a bad experience
                         last night if you could store it
                         for later analysis. Can you pick
                         out the key characteristics and tag
                         the video.  Now I think its about
                         time we took you guys out to lunch
                         as a kind of 'kick-off' for our
                         little agency, whilst we explain
                         this very weird case.  Do you know
                         any good places to go. 

                                   SOPHIE
                         Oh, if you like Italian,
                         Stromboli's is fab, its a little
                         pricy, but its worth it. Oh and the
                         ice cream is to die for.

                                   ALEX
                         Well, that got my vote. You in ZED.

                                   ZED
                         Well, I guess the tech can wait for
                         an hour, and I can't work on an
                         empty stomach! I'm in.

                                   ALEX
                         Now A-RAY, you just watch this
                         office, if nasty human breaks the
                         locks, you can really go to town. 
                         There likely to be bad people OK.
                         If your good I have some dead flies
                         I've been collecting when we get
                         back. Oh SOPHIE how you getting
                         along with A-RAY?

                                   SOPHIE
                         Oh, no problems I bonded
                         immediately, with her, she is a
                         gas.  A women of simple tastes.
                         I've been reading some stuff off
                         horticultural websites, you know
                         who is being cross bred with whom.
                         She gets quite excited sometimes.

                                   SHARROW
                         Really, you two are as bad as each
                         other, and ALEX, sometimes I think
                         you're having more than a platonic
                         relationship with that plant.

                                   SOPHIE
                         What you mean like Gilbert and
                         Suilvan, 'Then a sentimental
                         passion/ of a vegetable fashion/
                         must excite your languid spleen./
                         An attachment (a la Plato)/ for a
                         bashful young potato/ or a not too
                         French French bean.'

                                                               LAUGHTER

                                   SHARROW
                         Wow, SOPHIE, I didn't know you
                         liked light opera!

                                   SOPHIE
                         Well, I had to do it for school,
                         the reference just came to mind
                         immediately. 
                         You do know I not just an extremely
                         pretty face don't you?

                                   ALEX
                         Oh, yeah, I think we figured that
                         out some time ago!



                                           END.