VOID - SEASON 2, EPISODE 5

Written by Sean McKnight

With Jeni Miller

Breaking Ties and Building Bonds

NARRATOR

Season 2, episode 5. During the last episode of VOID, Nova continued the search for crew and met the pilot Regina Rex. Jonas may have found the medical doctor they'll need for their journey, while learning more about the forces governing his new province from Earth. Nova later ended up in the hands of those not fond of technology, as she uncovers the dark underbelly of life on the station.

INT. INJURY WARD - DAY

VOICE OVER

(VO with music bed, sounds like a Ken Burns documentary)

The 5 tenets that the station's future depends on are: science, faith, intellect, vice and engineering. Every principal plays a critical role in maintaining balance, equanimity and equality within the New Hope. Each discipline of The 5 has a dedicated annex where devotees of the principals can study, grow, and expand themselves, as well as their contributions to our way of life. Governed by the High Members of The 5, the organization dates back to...

SOUND: TABLET CLICKING OFF

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Ok, two hours of that is enough. I get it.

SOUND: HATCH OPENING, FOOTSTEPS

URSULA NASH

Looks like you're getting out of here today. How's your head?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Tip top, I feel like new. Do you know where I'll be going once I leave here?

URSULA NASH

They've assigned you to quarters near your friend Ms. Bayflower. Mr. Huxley will explain everything this afternoon. We just need to finish clearing you and you'll be on your way.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Sick of me already?

URSULA NASH

Sorry to see you go.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Me too, well, sort of. You know.

URSULA NASH

I know. Guess you haven't heard anything about me joining your crew?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Not yet. I'll make sure to talk to Nova as soon as I can and will let you know later today.

URSULA NASH

Ok, fingers crossed.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

I have a good feeling you'll be getting in.

URSULA NASH

Good.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Do you know a lot of the scientists that work here?

URSULA NASH

A good number, I studied with many of them while earning my degrees.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Nova gave me some names to try out for the crew. I'm not sure how to find them though.

URSULA NASH

You can look them up in the science annex. They have a big kiosk at the entrance.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Thanks, guess I'll be heading there first.

SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, STRUGGLING

INT. SPACE STATION CORRIDOR - DAY

NOVA BAYFLOWER

What are you doing?!

ROGUE MEMBER #2

We've got to get her out of here, too much noise!

ROGUE MEMBER #1

The chip has to be fried first. Hold her down!

SOUND: STRUGGLING, ELECTRICAL SHOCK LIKE A TASER

NOVA BAYFLOWER

(screaming out loud) Agggghh!!!

SOUND: BODY HITTING THE GROUND

ROGUE MEMBER #1

She's out, pick her up. Let's go, I want to get her deprogrammed.

SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, PERSONAL QUARTERS ROOM

INT. JONAS’ QUARTERS - LATE AFTERNOON

JONAS ALDRIDGE

The features here are overwhelming.

MAX HUXLEY

You'll have to excuse me for taking everything for granted since I was raised here.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Nova and I must seem primitive by your standards.

MAX HUXLEY

A little, but not in an insulting way. I see you both as being very quaint.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

I see. Thanks? With these chips we have implanted, you said I can find anyone in a public space?

MAX HUXLEY

Correct.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Nova hasn't been answering communications I've sent.

MAX HUXLEY

Just ask Astrid for her location.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Astrid, locate Nova Bayflower.

ASTRID

Scanning for Nova Bayflower.

SOUND: SCANNING SOUND

ASTRID

Unable to locate.

MAX HUXLEY

That's strange. We only can't find someone who is in a private space that's locked down at high levels. Astrid, locate Nova Bayflower, include private nexus.

ASTRID

That scan requires an authorization key.

MAX HUXLEY

Authorization key Max Huxley, Y-7- B-9-13.

ASTRID

Scanning for Nova Bayflower, including nexus.

SOUND: SCANNING SOUND

ASTRID

Unable to locate.

MAX HUXLEY

Something happened to her chip.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

What do you mean?

MAX HUXLEY

The chip implanted in her was tampered with or destroyed somehow.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

How would someone do that?

MAX HUXLEY

EMP or a good shock will do it. Do you think she would do something like this intentionally?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

No, I can't imagine why she would!

MAX HUXLEY

You know, I had an interesting conversation with your friend Council... What was his name?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Harris, and he's far from being my friend.

MAX HUXLEY

Yes, I got that impression as well. I wonder: it's convenient for you both to hate each other. And yet here you are learning all kinds of things about our life here on the station.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

What are you getting at?

MAX HUXLEY

That little council of yours on Earth has been trying to work its way into our administration for quite some time. They feel that we owe them something since they "gave" us all their scientists.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

That's a lie! You know damn well the scientists fled the colony to the station out of fear!

MAX HUXLEY

And yet you stayed.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

I, and some others stayed to help the people that were left behind. They didn't grow up with the things you grew up with here. They grew up living underground and needing drinkable water and filtered air.

MAX HUXLEY

Surely you have technology on Earth.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

We had an abacus back on Earth compared to you using a supercomputer here. Look, I'm not some damn spy for the colony, if that's what you're implying.

MAX HUXLEY

Harris really has it in for you and your friend Ms. Bayflower?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

That hatred is genuine; I assure you.

MAX HUXLEY

That's good to hear. I can't stand that wretched group of zealots.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

If Nova's chip isn't working, is there any other way to find her?

MAX HUXLEY

I'll put out notice to our security personnel. They're efficient at locating people. They can look up her last known location and work from there.

SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, ROGUE HIDEOUT

INT. ROGUE HIDEOUT - EVENING

ROGUE MEMBER #1

Wake her up. SOUND: ELECTRICAL JOLT

NOVA BAYFLOWER

Ahhh!! Dammit! Stop shocking me!!! What do you want?!?

ROGUE MEMBER #1

To save you. To show you that technology is a lie!

NOVA BAYFLOWER

You hypocrite! You're using technology now! The lights! That computer over there and that stupid stick thing you keep shocking me with! All technology!

ROGUE MEMBER #1

Yes, but we're using it for good! Not for the sake of commerce or credits. You've become a slave to your comforts.

NOVA BAYFLOWER

I'm not from here you asshole!

ROGUE MEMBER #1

(not really listening to Nova)

You don't understand. This is for your own good. We need to deprogram you.

NOVA BAYFLOWER

I'm from Earth you idiot. I only got here a few days ago. I've been living in a hole in the dirt since I was born. Much worse than what you have in this room alone.

ROGUE MEMBER #2

Are you sure we should be doing this?

ROGUE MEMBER #1

Don't you understand that she's lying? She was told to come up with these stories to protect her identity. Make her see the light!

SOUND: ELECTRICAL JOLT

NOVA BAYFLOWER

Aggghhhh!!!

ROGUE MEMBER #1

Put her in the sensory deprivation tank.

SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, SCIENCE ANNEX LOBBY WITH PEOPLE TALKING AND WALKING AROUND

INT. SCIENCE ANNEX LOBBY - EVENING

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Dr. Castialo is on level 394? Just how big is this place?

SOUND: LIFT DOOR OPENING, BUTTON PRESSED, DOOR CLOSING, VERY QUICK ELEVATOR SOUND, DOOR OPENING, FOOTSTEPS, DOOR CLOSING

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Already? You've got to be shitting me. Hi, can you tell me how to find Dr. David Castialo?

Science annex GREETER Yes, Dr. Castialo is in the Quantum Mechanics Parlor. Through there.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Wow, thank you.

(walking and geeking out)

I can't believe there's a Quantum Mechanics Parlor!

SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, HATCH OPENING, FOOTSTEPS, HATCH CLOSING, VARIOUS BACKGROUND LAB SOUNDS, AN OCCASIONAL SMALL EXPLOSION

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Excuse me, Dr. Castialo please? Over there? Great, thanks.

SOUND: BACKGROUND WALLA, FOOTSTEPS

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Ah! Dr. Castialo I presume!

David Castialo

Yes? This is my colleague Dr. Anko Lumen.

Anko lumen Pleasure to meet you.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

My name is Dr. Jonas Aldridge, I...

DAVID CASTIALO

What are you a doctor of?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Geology and chemistry.

DAVID CASTIALO

Is that it? Are you an intern?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Uh, no.

DAVID CASTIALO

Then what do you want? We're in the middle of an important experiment.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

I'm from Earth.

DAVID CASTIALO

Oh. I'm sorry to hear that.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

That's actually why I'm here. You see the Earth's atmosphere has degraded to the point where...

DAVID CASTIALO

Cut to the chase, uh, "doctor" Aldridge.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Well, you see, radiation levels are getting so high that...

DAVID CASTIALO

When I say cut to the chase, I mean tell me what you want from me now so I can say ‘no’ and we can be done.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Fine. I'm looking for a scientist to join our crew. We're searching for a new home planet.

DAVID CASTIALO

No.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Please, you're the 6th scientist I've tracked down. The others wouldn't even talk to me. If you just give me a moment to explain...

DAVID CASTIALO

I don't care. I never will. I'm doing real work, important work your brain will never comprehend.

ANKO LUMEN

Where are you going?

DAVID CASTIALO

Don't indulge him.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Uh, Europa to start. If that doesn't work, Proxima B.

ANKO LUMEN

Laughable! That's where you're starting? Europa?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

That's the plan.

ANKO LUMEN

The plan should be to go to Titan.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Saturn's moon?

ANKO LUMEN

It's the clear choice. It has a sustainable atmosphere and bodies of liquids like rivers and lakes. It makes perfect sense.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Titan's atmosphere is mainly nitrogen and those liquids you're talking about are largely methane and other hydrocarbons.

ANKO LUMEN

Sure some terraforming would need to be done, but I've developed the technology to harness it!

DAVID CASTIALO

Not this again.

ANKO LUMEN

You're just upset because this sun you've made keeps collapsing in on itself.

DAVID CASTIALO

Once I get the alignments correct, unlimited energy!

SOUND: SMALL SUN COLLAPSING IN ON ITSELF

ANKO LUMEN

You mean like the 30 other scientists trying to do the same damn thing?! Ha! Hey, I might be interested in joining your crew. Forget him, it's not going to happen.

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Ok. What are your degrees in?

AnkO LUMEN

Quantum Theory, Astrophysics, Applied Probability, Abstract Trigonometry and Botany. Botany is more of a hobby though. I prefer to grow my own. How many credits are you offering?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Unfortunately we don't have any credits to work with.

ANKO LUMEN

Barter, eh? Ok then. Here's my price - we go to Titan first, your crew helps me with my machines on the surface to prove my theories. I get all scientific credit for any findings on Titan. I also own any related patents. For that, I'll give you a year of my service. It doesn't count against you if we have to go into stasis - I'm not a dick. Agreed?

JONAS ALDRIDGE

Agreed. I just have to confirm with my partner.

AnkO LUMEN

Here's my card.

SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, PERSONAL QUARTERS ROOM

INT. URSULA NASH QUARTERS - NIGHT

PHINEOUS NASH

Ursula, I forbid you to go!

URSULA NASH

I don't recall needing your permission, Phineous!

PHINEOUS NASH

We are bound by the clause! You know damn well one of us must remain out of harm's way! I can't do that because of my job in security!

URSULA NASH

I'm sick of you holding that over me my entire life! You know I've always wanted this! Now I finally have a real chance to go into space and you are trying to hold me back.

PHINEOUS NASH

Let's be clear for a moment. You want to go into space for who knows how long with people you don't know. How well have you thought this through?

URSULA NASH

I trust the guy in charge, and his friend. I've gotten to know him a bit. He has a good heart.

PHINEOUS NASH

Some Earth dweller shows up in your ward for a few days and you're ready to run off with him? What, are you in love or something?

URSULA NASH

(defensively)

It's not love! I don't even know him yet.

PHINEOUS NASH

You've got the hots for this guy. That's why you're running off into space.

URSULA NASH

That's not it, stop trying to turn this around. You know me better than that. Please, you're the only person who really understands me. Why are you acting this way?

PHINEOUS NASH

(reluctantly)

Because you're leaving the station and I don't know how to handle it. I can feel you leaving; it hurts. I just want you to change your mind. I don't know what I'll do without you here. We've never been split up before.

URSULA NASH

I know. It's strange. I can feel it too. But this is my dream and I finally have a chance to be part of a crew and something much larger than me. I can be part of something that helps a lot of people. Maybe the people here, too.

PHINEOUS NASH

I can't go with you, can I?

URSULA NASH

No, the clause forbids it. Only one of us can leave the station at a time.

PHINEOUS NASH

And you don't know how long?

URSULA NASH

No, I just know we won't be back for awhile. Years maybe.

PHINEOUS NASH

You're going to send me messages. Every day.

URSULA NASH

Every day. And you're going to take care of my things.

PHINEOUS NASH

No one will be commandeering your place. I'll make sure.

URSULA NASH

It might be for nothing anyway. Jonas still has to confirm with his partner. Who can say? She may kill the whole thing for me. I don't think she likes me.

SOUND: TRANSITION SOUND, ROGUE HIDEOUT

INT. ROGUE HIDEOUT - NIGHT

ROGUE MEMBER #2

She's been in there for awhile.

ROGUE MEMBER #1

I agree. Pull her out. Let's get back to it.

(pauses to listen to something)

Wait a minute... What's that?

SOUND: DISTANT THUMPING, GETTING LOUDER, SOUNDS OF POUNDING METAL, HATCH EXPLODES IN, FOOTSTEPS, COUGHING, "SONIC" GUNSHOTS, PEOPLE'S BODIES HURLED THROUGH THE AIR, SCREAMS OF SURPRISE, SONIC GUNSHOTS AND HURLED SOUNDS CONTINUE AND THEN SETTLE. FOOTSTEPS WALKING AND THEN STOPPING. LID TO SENSORY DEPRIVATION TANK OPENS. NOVA IS PULLED OUT.

SEREBELLA REON

Nova Bayflower?

NOVA BAYFLOWER

(sputtering out water and trying to get her footing)

Yeah, who are you?

SEREBELLA REON

My name is Serebella Reon. I'm a security contractor. I was sent to find you.

END OF EPISODE 5