Original and adapted teleplays based on existing series.

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'Why's the 'Status Quo' got a Latin name?'
TEASER/ACT ONE
EXT. NOISY 'U' STREET BAR & GRILL WASHINGTON DC-NIGHT-
We observe, moving ever closer from setup perspective shot, a trendy nightspot for the upwardly mobile in DC, mostly African American professionals, with assorted other hangers-on; the streets are wet, but it is not raining. A conservatively dressed black man, shaved head, horn-rimmed glasses is making his way into the establishment, largely unnoticed; he does not use a white cane or other such stereotypical antique but, rather, special glasses derived from night vision technology, a gift from a friend at DARPA, DOD's blank check; he has many such connections in the 'well-fed FED', as he calls it.
As he finds his seat at a corner table, he is joined by Kat, who is responding to his curious, and curiously delivered, 'message' introducing himself: a note constructed in braille, with a comprehensible introductory part, then an encrypted section.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Ah, you're here.....
(extends his hand)
KAT
How........
(cut off)
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Sixth sense.
(laughs discreetly)
KAT'S P.O.V.
She scans his face, moderately tinted glasses and the seeming inattention being paid him, them; she decides it is safe to talk and then he is seen to order two cocktails for them, she demurring in favor of mineral water, her voice-over only being heard aside from the moderate din of the busy background which is seen via an
INCREASINGLY OUT OF FOCUS PULLBACK:

END OF TEASER/ACT ONE
ACT TWO
INT. NONDESCRIPT HOTEL SUITE-WASHINGTON, DC-DAY
Kat is downloading some data from a laptop regarding Kingsley's place of employment; her laptop sounds a beep for an incoming videophone transmission.
KAT
(listens, smiling wryly)
We secure? OK, here goes: 'Office of Information Technology', in the feds' alphabet soup, strictly bottom of the bowl......they call it 'O', as in zero, 'IT', like put downs in a game of tag, only this tag marks you as nonentity, off the radar.
CHAIRMAN
So he's no alpha male, it's a bet......
(self-bemusement)
Just how did we deserve this 'favor' he's ready to do for us?
KAT
I copy your skepticism, my read is the guy's a purist with a genuine sixth sensibility about the merits of our work.
CHAIRMAN
Did I hear that right, 'sixth sense' of what?
KAT
Affirmative, he knows about our mission, right down to the mission statement......hey, he's at 'IT', remember?
CHAIRMAN
Ok, Ok, relax; he needs more vetting, let's do some double blind testing, yes?
KAT
Pun intended, right?
(giggle)
Cool, by all means; from where I sit, he's alright, checks out with my profile.
CHAIRMAN
Not the profile I worry about, but the 'front', if you take my meaning; one more thing, why the Braille?
KAT
He thought it was the right sort of symbolism, you know, messages formed in three dimensional relief, but it was the history of it....
(cut off)
CHAIRMAN
Ah, I see......it was invented as a secret military code in the late 1700's by a French artillery officer, very clever; I must go my dear, keep up the good work.
KAT
See you soon.
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
INT. NEW YORK INSTITUTE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION-DAY
It is 1967, and young August Kingsley is a blind student, adept with the Keidograph, a machine for embossing the New York Point system on paper; it is a practical typewriter for the unsighted, now in general use.

INSTRUCTOR
That's wonderful work, August; would you be interested in learning more about the history of what you're doing?
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Would I! I want to know as much as I can, to help our people.

INSTRUCTOR
You mean Negroes, why, yes, a worthy....
(cut off)
AUGUST KINGSLEY
I mean those like me, who can't see, understand what those who are able to see take for granted, sir.
The generally condescending instructor leads August into a small study, filled with Braille books; he pulls one in particular down from a dusty shelf.
INSTRUCTOR
Here, then; this is a complete history of the Braille method; it is a truly fascinating one, filled with military intrigue and happy accidents.
August begins reading, coming across a diary of a Frenchman, one whose name rings a bell with him, from a statue at his church, Riverside Church, the ecumenical progressive institution whose leaders had taken the bright child under their wing. He mouths the words aloud, so moved is he by them.
WE SEE, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORICAL RECOUNTING BY THIS PRECOCIOUS BOY, THESE EVENTS, PERSONAGES, LARGER THAN LIFE, SANS DIALOGUE, IN SEPIA TONE DREAMLIKE DEPICTIONS, ANGLED AND OTHERWISE SITUATED TO PUNCTUATE THE NARRATIVE.

AUGUST KINGSLEY (V.O.)
"Diary of Valentin Hauy, entry on 14th September, the Year of Our Lord the One Thousand Seventy Seventh, on the occasion of St. Ovid's Fair: As I wandered the street spectacle, it no longer redeemed by nominal homage to one anciently beatified I happened upon revulsion, paraded as entertainment: there, at the Place de la Concorde, a burlesque so cruel as to belay the luncheon I had undertaken. Arrayed as a madman's orchestra were sundry pitiable souls attired in dunce caps, exaggerated paper eyeglasses and the ears of an ass, oddly accoutered with, now, useless instruments of that which the ancients' Muse renders sublime! Was this some misguided offense aimed at those seeming pagan goddess by a merciless civilized Church whose mere nominee did somehow sanctify this inhumane display? These miserable inhabitants of the Hospice Quinze-Vingts, the place of honor erected by King Louis IX for those blinded by lance and boiling oil and tar in the battles for the Holy Land, had been employed in this mockery of discord for the eye and ear so as to earn their supper!
He pauses, impressed and moved by the passion of this sighted man; he reads on into the evening, now focused upon the military connection mentioned by the instructor.
WE SEE, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORICAL RECOUNTING BY THIS PRECOCIOUS BOY, THESE EVENTS, PERSONAGES, LARGER THAN LIFE, SANS DIALOGUE, IN SEPIA TONE DREAMLIKE DEPICTIONS, ANGLED AND OTHERWISE SITUATED TO PUNCTUATE THE NARRATIVE.
AUGUST KINGSLEY (CONT'D)
"Hauy became a zealous authority on the blind, visiting wealthy persons who were blind to learn of their coping strategies. His brother was an esteemed member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, and he augmented his own energies and many linguistic talents with that valuable asset; one day while on a walk in Paris from a church service, he pressed an alms offering of a coin into the hand of a young boy---instantly, the boy called out the coin's denomination! The young boy, blind since birth, became Valentin's first pupil, astonishing scholars at the Academy with his learning skills. Opening the world's first school for the blind, whose pupils were taken to Versailles at Christmas to demonstrate for the King their skill at reading, arithmetic and map reading. At one such performance, a nobleman from Coupvray near Paris was in attendance; in that very town, a few years later was born Louis Braille whose childhood injury led to the loss of both eyes' sight. During the Napoleonic wars, the town suffered greatly; the wars led to much emigration by the people, and one such emigre was the priest, Abbe Jacques Palluy and a schoolmaster, Antoine Becheret, both of whom, learning of young Braille, pressed for his attendance of the local sighted school. Against the government's decrees concerning schooling, help from that same nobleman was sought who managed to gain admittance for him to the school for the blind in Paris on scholarship. A visitor to the school, one Charles Barbier de la Serre, a former military school classmate of Napoleon himself. Having avoided the harsh Revolution's early years---his father had managed the King's farms---he had fled to America, returning to join the Grand Armee, publishing therefor a table for quick writing called 'expediography'. His interest in fast, secret writing stemmed from the brilliant successes of the Armee in artillery; a tactile system for sending and receiving messages was useful at night and in the chaos of combat. This method, coincidentally, was on display alongside the Institution for Blind Children's at the Museum of Science and Industry, at the Louvre. This lit a fire within Barbier who decided to take his own dot and dash based artillery code, sonography, to the Royal Institution for Blind Children. Louis Braille was thunderstruck when he first touched the dots of the sonograph samples, knowing then that he had found his medium and quickly learned to use Barbier's 'ruler', closely resembling today's slate....."
AUGUST IS SEEN IN THE DIMLY LIT ROOM, WITHOUT LIGHTS ON, OF COURSE, HAVING HIS OWN EPIPHANY ABOUT TRUTH AND THE NEED FOR IT TO BE 'SEEN', BY ALL, INCLUDING THE SO-CALLED SIGHTED.
END OF ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
INT. NOISY 'U' STREET BAR & GRILL WASHINGTON DC-NIGHT-
We are 'back', so to say, at their meeting, Kat and August, rejoining it already in progress; here we learn the sum of his revelations, and their value to the Corporation.
KAT
I'm impressed, but not surprised.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
So am I, with your.....
(he pauses)
Mission.
Kat decides to test his mettle.
KAT
Look, aren't you watched, scrutinized, as part of your sensitive job?
AUGUST KINGSLEY
My dear Kat...may I...
(cut off)
KAT
Save it for the charm school grads; go on.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
While many would choose to see me as 'in the belly of the Beast', it's more accurate to say that I've been thoroughly digested and excreted by a gluttonous system, very large, very arrogant--- its most human characteristic--- and, therefore, as forgotten as last week's gourmet meal once consumed. They are sure they know all about the little black prodigy who is immersed in technical modalities, the fruits of which they will enjoy when the ultimate corporation, Sammy, Inc. takes title to the patents.
KAT
Sounds quite a bit more like the 'pat' in patent; I'm far more interested in your latent qualities.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Well, I'm everyone, and no one....it's their style, you see, make every GS something think they're important, monitored and, then, you get an Aldridge Aimes....for crying out loud, the creep was using FBI facilities to collect and count payoffs. I'm that sort, the complete 'blind' spot profile, pun intended, friend to everyone, and no one.
KAT
(coquettish)
So, you've been stealing government pens, have you....
(quickly pensive)
Spanish proverbs aside, why do they trust you?
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Precisely because they feel they don't have to, I'm yesterday's news, an itch they've already scratched. Stevie Wonder and I are 'stuck in the '70's', as us 'cull-odd' folks like to say.
(he grows grave)
You really want to know who, what I am? I'm old Valentin back in France growing ill in the pit of my stomach watching a cruel 'dumb show' at the expense of those who are blind, this time by default....they let co-opted scientific gurus do their thinking, their seeing; I want to open eyes.

KAT
(pausing for effect)
August, may I......
(smilingly sincere)
Are you REAL?!
AUGUST KINGSLEY
(takes off glasses)
Try me.
END OF ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
INT. OFFICES OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCES BETHESDA, MARYLAND-DAY
A grant performance task force is meeting for a routine review of the work of an emigre Russian scientist at Cornell; his original grant encompassed the Sagan archives and he has now asked for a supplemental grant to collate and elucidate Professor Sagan's latest work, begun two years before his untimely death....of cancer. The committee is peopled by gray headed Cold War era types, offput, albeit obliquely, by this upstart 'Red' looking so carefully at the potentially revealing work product of this 'national treasure'.
DR. QUISINGTON
(to a staff researcher)
Are you telling us that Carl was planning to revamp his 'Cosmos' series, bootstrap the whole thing?
RESEARCHER
Well, no, not the entire series, but, nevertheless, the larger questions having to do with, well, our earliest ancestry, life on Mars, really some fundamental matters.
DR. QUISINGTON
(looking around the table furtively)
Thanks......uh, thank you, Ms. Wells; that'll be all.
(she starts to leave)
Er, that's alright, just leave your materials, I think this collection of Ph.D.s can sort it all out.
(mechanical smile)
DR. WILSON
Frank, I don't like this one little bit; why, the very idea of this....Russki using federal dollars to rehash this business....
DR. FALLS
Let's not be hasty, after all the original grant was well-vetted; we don't want to appear ideological, do we?
DR. WILSON
Let me remind you that this thing was funded under another administration.....
(holding up a document)
DR. QUISINGTON
Can we agree on one thing: that under no circumstances should a decision be made without further investigation, and I mean the kind Ms. Wells isn't exactly equipped to undertake. I'm recommending we send this little potential embarrassment over to another, uh, agency, far more adept at this sort of thing.
END OF ACT FIVE
ACT SIX
INT. CORPORATION HQ IN SWITZERLAND-EVE
The Team is assembled to be further briefed by Kat on her latest contact with/from August Kingsley, now code named 'Shaft'; he has been tested and, perhaps, has passed the initial examination with flying colors.
KAT
Sorry to pull you all in on short notice, but this may be something we might have missed, at least before the shredding began.
MEL
And this is sourced by way of your new best buddy in his basement office in Zero Bureau, or something, right?
KAT
(stares at Mel)
Are you through......now, anyone not heard of Sagan, as in Cornell, as in 'Cosmos'....
(cut off)
DAVID
(duly impressed)
As in 'Contact'; got my attention, Hell, he was one of my profs.
KAT
It gets better: a certain Dr. Stanislav Zeitsev is something of a rising star there, major thinker in his own right. Under a grant from the Feds Sagan's archives were being totally restored, collated and, well, in the course of this process in comes Zeitsev who comes across plans, in his own hand, to revamp the whole 'cosmic' view, so to speak, of this pillar of the scientific status quo. He applies for a supplemental grant to really dig into this discovery, that's when the red---as in 'Commie', can you believe it---flags start unfurling, with major institutional hand wringing to boot.
ISHMAEL
I take it we're not too late.
KAT
Thanks to our 'Shaft', looks like we may be able to shed some light into this modern day crypt.
DAVID
Can we get a meeting, make contact with Zeitsev?
KAT
Eric says we can, but it's got to be strictly extracurricular, as in way off campus; he's got contacts in Russia who can set it up so that the Institute never sees us coming. He wants you to handle it, David.
DAVID
Homecoming, huh......hey, you never know, maybe this prof'll actually wanna read some of this dropout's stuff...
(smiles wryly)
ISHMAEL
Too late for extra credit, I'm afraid....look, David, you sure you wanna handle this, solo I mean?
DAVID
How would Mr. Solo have put it, wouldn't miss it for the.....'Cosmos', pal.
(smiles intently)
END OF ACT SIX
ACT SEVEN
INT. CORNELL UNIVERSITY'S SAGAN ARCHIVES-EVE
A BLUR OF FLASHLIGHTS, GLOVED HANDS GOING THRU BOXED MATERIALS; ON ONE PARTICULAR BOX WE SEE A LABEL: 'REVISION RESEARCHES/NOTES FOR PROGRAM UPDATES/COSMOS'; THIS BOX IS CARRIED OUT OF THE ROOM, FADING TO STARRY BLACK NIGHT OUTSIDE SHADOWY STRUCTURE.
FADE TO BLACK.
EXT. LAKE COMO IN GENEVA, HOTEL CONVENTION HALL-DAY
It is a week later; Dr. Zeitsev is attending a physics conference, a perfect cover for David to hook up with him, unobserved. David is posing as a reporter for an obscure science fiction magazine, 'Out There'. A prearranged time has been set, along with a rendezvous point which features a false trail for any unwanted 'observers'.
DAVID
Dr. Z, I presume.
(extending hand, smiling)
DR. ZEITSEV
Ah, yes, my friend, welcome, or should I to say, er, greetings....
(quiet laughter)
Is from favorite sci/fi film, 'Starman', you know it?
DAVID
'I mean you no harm, Stanislav Zeitsev'....answer your question?
(also laughs)
Truly, I'm so glad to meet you; your reputation precedes you.
DR. ZEITSEV
The feeling is mutual, I am sure.
(he points to a summerhouse nearby)
Shall we?
They have entered the structure, in the midst of a public area, peopled by ordinary persons enjoying the weather, picnicking, etc.; the background cacophony will serve to 'cover' their already guarded conversation.
DAVID
I need for you to know that I, we are unable to reveal to you our sources having to do with the grant, regarding the papers....
(cut off)
DR. ZEITSEV
There is no need for that; we share a common goal, yes, science, a process which used to mean a relatively pure search for the truth.

DAVID
We do, and it's a goal that's become more and more difficult, seems that those on top of the food chain find it pretty comfortable, whatever lies may support that cushy spot.
DR. ZEITSEV
I am, how do you say, used to this one party line from my youth in Soviet system, not unlike what you describe. And that is why I am here, to share what I have learned.
DAVID
You're a breath of fresh air, especially coming from academia, a particular place that wasn't exactly thrilled with my thinking.
DR. ZEITSEV
I have heard of your experience, one of the reasons I agreed to this meeting---what did Einstein write: 'Something deeply hidden had to be behind things.' Late in his life, Sagan began to engage in such thinking, yes; I have proof of this, in his own handwritten notes, research documents apparently culled by him from his days of extraordinary access based upon his very public persona as THE authority on these subjects.
DAVID
I'm at a loss for words, except to say WOW; does that translate?
DR. ZEITSEV
Universal, I'm sure, throughout the cosmos; perhaps Sagan should have put that on the disk sent with Pioneer and Voyager probes, yes?
DAVID
(laughs heartily)
Do you have them, in a secure place, I mean, can they be authenticated, any third party stuff that would seal it?
DR. ZEITSEV
David, I will speak frankly, as I have much reason to trust you; in my former life, in that country, that system, one developed an acute paranoia; we Russians are necessary practitioners of 'trust but verify'. I have left much bait, but have everything, even things they will not miss, safe.
(he hands David thick package)
JUMP CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL LOBBY-DAY
A DARK-SUITED MAN, FLASHING INTERPOL CREDENTIALS, HAS SHOWN A PHOTO OF DAVID TO THE CONCIERGE, WHO HAS EXPRESSED NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE MAN; THE PICTURE IS FROM HIS COLLEGE DAYS AND NOT A VERY GOOD CURRENT LIKENESS.
The status quo operatives, operating on the 'mushroom' theory of management, go through the motions, not necessarily knowing what, or whom, they are after.




INTERPOL MAN
Are you certain?
(gets shake of the head)
Then perhaps you can tell me about one Dr. Stanislav Zeitsev, is he a guest?
END OF ACT SEVEN
ACT EIGHT
INT. EDITORIAL OFFICES OF ICARUS PLANETARY RESEARCH JOURNAL-DAY
A submission has arrived which has caused a major buzz in the offices of this normally sober professional peer publication; it bears all the authentic marks they expect with one exception: the author has been dead for years.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
(into the phone)
Please, Ann, I would never joke about something so....serious, but here it is, with his signature, written in his unique style.....
(listens intently)
Certainly, of course, I'll fax it to you immediately. Goodbye, and, again, my apologies.
He turns to his staff aide in frustration.
STAFF PERSON
What the Hell do we do?
EDITOR IN CHIEF
She's livid; obviously, this is too hot to publish, not now, not ever, so far as I'm concerned----Jesus, he's a past long-time editor.
STAFF PERSON
That's not what I mean.....I don't think it's our call exactly, at least from a public at large standpoint.
EDITOR IN CHIEF
What are you talking about?
STAFF PERSON
The internet; it's already 'out there', God I hate that phrase!
EDITOR IN CHIEF
For crying out loud......
(he pauses)
That's the solution: this is a hoax, Hitler's Diary, they're still debating that crap.
STAFF PERSON
A press release, right?
(now animated, smiling)
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Absolutely, let's fling this thing right back at these jerks, whoever they are. Get one up, asap; and, here, be sure and include it with this fax transmittal to the widow.
The phone rings; the Editor answers, pauses, waving his aide out.
EDITOR IN CHIEF (CONT'D)
Mr. Director, to what do I....
(cut off)
That's right, we received it yesterday, Fedex, no traceable data as to who sent it......
(listening intently)
No, of course not, we have no intention of aiding this sick prank. I see, we'll be sure and turn over whatever we have to your man, of course; this isn't our sort of thing, you know, we're academics! You're most welcome, and, th, thank you for the.....
The caller from the Inner Sanctum of the governmental apparatus which tracks this 'sort of thing' has hung up before he could finish his brown nosing.
EDITOR IN CHIEF (CONT'D)
(buzzes for aide)
Yes, could you please come back in?
(she does)
Did anyone else know about this, I mean our having received it, its content?
STAFF PERSON
Absolutely not; there hasn't been any time, much less knowledge outside this room. Here's the press release, guess should put it out asap, huh?
EDITOR IN CHIEF
(distracted)
Oh, just leave it with me, don't want to fan any flames; let's hold off for now; that's all.
END OF ACT EIGHT
ACT NINE
INT. CORPORATION HQ IN SWITZERLAND-EVE
Kat is meeting with the Chairman, via videophone as he is out in the field, his usual haunt.
KAT
How goes it?
CHAIRMAN
Exploring, it's a dirty job, but someone has to do it......what've you got for me?
KAT
Follow up with Shaft on the Sagan thing.......looks like he hasn't steered us wrong; we sent the teaser material from what David secured from Zeitsev and Standard Operating Procedure was followed by the establishment, page one of the hoax manual.
CHAIRMAN
This is the one thing I treasure about the status quo, predictability; what else, you're breaking up.
KAT
He has urged us to now use the material to lead us to Sagan's sources and methods; now that the bait's been taken.
CHAIRMAN
Good, yes....one thing, we are not through testing him.
KAT
I agree; my intuition says you want him to choose where and what we focus on next, as well as when.
CHAIRMAN
Bingo! You are a regular HAL 9000.
KAT
I prefer the twin triple niner back on Earth, if you don't mind.
CHAIRMAN
So do I......this guy might be a lip reader.
(laughs)
KAT
You doubt he's blind?
CHAIRMAN
(grows serious)
No, I just don't want us flying blind....must go, working with my own local shaft, chiao.
END OF ACT NINE
ACT TEN
EXT. ARECIBO OBSERVATORY PUERTO RICO-DAY
The buzz has spread despite 'official' attempts to stave off a media circus; academics, it seems, are first rate gossips.
DR. AINSLEY
You heard the latest on Sagan?
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
No, sir, too busy with assignments.
DR. AINSLEY
Well, it seems that he was privy to some sort of actual contact data, derived from this facility, can you believe what people will put out on the strength of some bloody rumor.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
What the blazes are they....I mean, what's being suggested, that 'Contact', featuring this Cornell run facility, was factual?!
(laughing)
DR. AINSLEY
We certainly don't allow this sort of thing at Cambridge, positively scandalous.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
Now that you mention it, I have heard that he was using contraband during his last days, for pain relief, that sort of thing.
DR. AINSLEY
Pshaw, another damnable rumor, happen to have known the chap, invited us here....very sober, skeptical, you see.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT
This supposedly comes straight from his editor, guy named Grimspoon or something at Harvard, claims Dr. Sagan actually contributed to a book in the early seventies advocating benefits of marijuana usage......used a pen name, of course.
DR. AINSLEY
Blimey, just goes to show, one never knows whom to trust.....
JUMP CUT TO:
INT. BASEMENT OFFICE OF AUGUST KINGSLEY-DAY
August has picked up 'chatter' over officialdom's channels to the effect that a cover story may be needed on the recent 'false' leak of Sagan's later findings/conclusions having been real, leading to his book/film 'Contact'; he is scrambling to sort it out.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
(to his secretary)
Suzie, could you get me the data on a Dr. Stanislav Seitzev.
He is hunkered down at a translation device via headsets which allows him to 'hear' the email and other electronic traffic. She brings in a diskette and a folder pouch with other formats, etc.
AUGUST KINGSLEY (CONT'D)
(sotto voce, muttering)
'.....and it is strongly urged that this contraband thing be exploited.......have co-opted his former publisher, Grimspoon, apropos to flaky leanings, even then in the early 70s upon first going to Cornell....'
(pauses, takes off headphones)
Wow.
CUT TO:
WE SEE AUGUST SENDING OUT HIS AGREED UPON BRAILLE ENCRYPTED MESSAGE TO KAT VIA COMPUTER.
INT. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS READING ROOM-LATE DAY
August is seated at the rendezvous point; as Kat approaches, without his even looking up, he slides a document across the highly polished surface of the old ornate table; she is startled, as before, at his apparent 'radar'.
KAT
How did you......
AUGUST KINGSLEY
(pointing to his head/glasses)
Motion sensors, some call them e-motions.
(smiling)
August seems to be revealing his personal interest in Kat; she is suspicious, aloof, as best she can be, as she finds him strangely charming.
KAT
(looks at the document)
What's this supposed to be?
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Their 'smoking gun', aimed at Sagan's 'flaky'-sided reputation.
KAT
(she peruses it)
You weren't kidding....cheap shots at our boy's occasional---and rather relevant--- smoking habit.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
They're concerned, that they didn't get it all, what with that crazy Russian's hand in this Alice B. Toklas style cookie jar.
KAT
(reading softly)
'Sometimes a kind of existential perception of the absurd comes over me and I see with awful certainty the hyprocrises and posturing of myself and my fellow men....I find in the morning a message from myself the night before informing me that there is a world around us which we barely sense, or that certain politicians are desperately frightened men, I may tend to disbelieve.....so I have a tape in which I exhort myself to take such remarks seriously. I say "Listen closely, you sonofabitch of the morning! This stuff is real!"'
AUGUST KINGSLEY
And so is this smear campaign, real; Hell, his wife is on the Board of NORML! Sure, he was useful when he talked the talk..
(reading a braille text)
'There's not the slightest bit of evidence to convince us that the Earth has been visited by creatures from other planets', US New & World Report, blah, blah, blah. But, when he flips, they say he's flipped out, on grass.
KAT
What'd he call them, 'desperately frightened' politicians.....frightened people do stupid things.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Stupid or not, this is for keeps, as in deadly. Fore you know it, some folks might start having heart attacks, gettin Jack Ruby cancer overnight, that bag 'o tricks, you dig?
KAT
(concerned)
I...we don't want you to be such a target; you've got to cover your tracks, lay low.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
(smiling thru double entendre)
'Fools rush in'.....
KAT
That's what I mean, dammit....
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Not what I mean, exactly, anyway: no, it's that Russian better watch his back; don't worry 'bout this blind boy, got eyes in the back of my head....and on their next move, sure enough learned that from the streets.
KAT
It's our next move I'm not sure about.
AUGUST KINGSLEY
Not to worry: 'who's the cat who won't cop out....'
cut off
KAT
'When there's danger all about...'
(grinning)
END OF EPISODE









ACT 3

ALIAS EPISODE: 'PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE'



COLD OPENING



TEASER/ACT ONE

EXT. NOISY 'U' STREET BAR & GRILL WASHINGTON DC-NIGHT-

We observe, moving ever closer from setup perspective shot, a
trendy nightspot for the upwardly mobile in DC, mostly
African American professionals, with assorted other hangers
on; the streets are wet, but it is not raining. A
conservatively dressed black man, shaved head, horn-rimmed
glasses is making his way into the establishment, largely
unnoticed; he does not use a white cane or other such
stereotypical antique but, rather, special glasses derived
from night vision technology, a gift from a friend at DARPA,
DOD's blank check; he has many such connections in the 'well
fed FED', as he calls it.

As he finds his seat at a corner table, he is joined by
Sydney, who is responding to his curious, and curiously
delivered, 'message' introducing himself: a note constructed
in braille, with a comprehensible introductory part, then an
encrypted section.

AUGUST KINGSLEY

Ah, you're here.....

(extends his hand)

SYDNEY BRISTOW
How........
(cut off)

AUGUST KINGSLEY

Sixth sense.

(laughs discreetly)

SYDNEY'S P.O.V.

She scans his face, moderately tinted glasses and the seeming
inattention being paid him, them; she decides it is safe to
talk and then he is seen to order two cocktails for them, she
demurring in favor of mineral water, her voice-over only
being heard aside from the moderate din of the busy
background which is seen via an

INCREASINGLY OUT OF FOCUS PULLBACK:



END OF TEASER/ACT ONE
ACT TWO

INT. NONDESCRIPT HOTEL SUITE-WASHINGTON, DC-DAY

Sydney is downloading some data from a laptop regarding
Kingsley's place of employment; her laptop sounds a beep for
an incoming videophone transmission.

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(listens, smiling wryly)

We secure? OK, here goes: 'Office

of Information Technology', in the

feds' alphabet soup, strictly

bottom of the bowl......they call

it 'O', as in zero, 'IT', like put

downs in a game of tag, only this

tag marks you as nonentity, off the

radar.

CIA HANDLER

So he's no alpha male, it's a

bet......
(self-bemusement)

Just how did we deserve this

'favor' he's ready to do for us?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

I copy your skepticism, my read is

the guy's a purist with a genuine

sixth sensibility about the merits

of our work.

CIA HANDLER

Did I hear that right, 'sixth

sense' of what?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Affirmative, he knows about our

mission, right down to the mission

statement......hey, he's at 'IT',

remember? Read I get is that he

has picked up interest in the

Rambaldi caches from quarters in

direct competition with Sloane.

CIA HANDLER

Ok, Ok, relax; he needs more

vetting, let's do some double blind

testing, yes?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Pun intended, right?
(giggle)

Cool, by all means; from where I

sit, he's alright, checks out with

my profile.

CIA HANDLER

Not the profile I worry about, but

the 'front', if you take my

meaning; one more thing, why the

Braille?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

He thought it was the right sort of

symbolism, you know, messages

formed in three dimensional relief,

but it was the history of it....
(cut off)

CIA HANDLER

Yeah......it was invented as a

secret military code in the late

1700's by a French artillery

officer, very clever; you going

ahead with the Sloane meeting?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Affirmative, it's a good way to

test Kingsley's bona fides---he

says Sloane could be ready to deal.

FADE IN:

SHOT: MODERN OFFICE BUILDING IN LA DIRECTORY: 'UNIVERSAL
EXPORTS, LTD.'

Sydney has come to the site of one of Arvin Sloane's many
front 'presences', with the seemingly independent
encouragement of August Kingsley and Francie; she proceeds to
the marbled security desk.

SYDNEY BRISTOW (CONT'D)

Excuse me, how long has Universal

Exports been here?

SECURITY OFFICER

Oh, since '95, they own the

building.

Security man is seen, not heard, to speak into a
communication device.

SEGUE TO:

INT. ELEVATOR TO THIRTEENTH FLOOR-DAY

Sydney proceeds to double office doors, announces her
identity and is shown into a spacious private office; pro
forma pantomime, unheard by audience---background music up.
Arvin is expecting her, seated on his throne, in his
throneroom.

ARVIN SLOANE
(Cheshire smile)

Thank you for coming;
(he motions to a seat)

And, don't worry, no one could

possibly know you're here, with

me....that is.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

You're forgetting that I know I'm

here; for that, I suppose we can

both thank Francie.

ARVIN SLOANE

Yes....a loyal friend...
(cryptic smile)

One shows wisdom in listening to

such a friend.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

The question is, was she wise in

listening to you?

ARVIN SLOANE

Wise enough to wish to help a good

friend fill a deep void in her

life: just who were, are, your

parents?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Oh, I get it: this is the part

where the young, unsuspecting Jedi

in me asserts strong denial of your

dark implication, am I warm, Lord

Vader!?

ARVIN SLOANE

Fair enough, Sydney, I'll be

direct; do you remember ever seeing

a single school photo---or any

other, for that matter---of your

younger self?

He has hit very close to 'home'; she finds herself
rationalizing, hesitantly.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

I'm sure my mom has those......the

few I would sit still for.

ARVIN SLOANE

What if I told you she doesn't have

any, and never did, by design.

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(confused)

She has to, unless they were lost,

or destroyed----
(glaring)

is that what I can thank you for:

pretty poor salesmanship, Arvin.

ARVIN SLOANE

Sydney--- or should I call you

Sandy?---- no matter, either way,

you won't have to trust me much

longer.

A well-dressed messenger arrives with a medical file.

ARVIN SLOANE (cont'd)

Ah, here we are; good, now, Francie

should be calling any minute on the

videophone, secure encrypted line,

of course....

(smirks)

The phone receiver device rings; Arvin hits the speaker
button, answering it; we see Francie's face in a nondescript
room.

ARVIN SLOANE (cont'd)

Hello, Francie....

FRANCIE
(sounds nervous)

Yes....hi, uh, has Sydney arrived?

ARVIN SLOANE

Yes, yes indeed; say hello.

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(suspicious)

Francie, are you...alright? Where

are you?

FRANCIE

Why shouldn't I be? Listen, I

don't know how Mr. Sloane knows

about me, us, but...well, maybe you

should listen to what he has to

say; he might just be able to, you

know, fill in those black holes we

talked about, in your life.....
(cut off)

Arvin jumps in so as to create the impression Francie may be
in some undefined jeopardy.

ARVIN SLOANE

Thank you, Francie, I'm grateful

for your help.

He hangs up and Sydney loses her cool.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Where the Hell was she! And what

could you possibly know about my

early life.....
(looks at messenger)

And who the Hell is she?

ARVIN SLOANE

She's from the Mayo Clinic....just

flew in with your---our---DNA

results.
(to messenger)

Thank you, would you mind waiting

outside?

Arvin dismisses the messenger with a wave of his hand and
hands Sydney the file; she opens it.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Just how would this, this little

charade of yours prove anything?

ARVIN SLOANE

Well, for starters, any court,

anywhere in civilization would take

judicial notice of this test as

conclusive evidence.

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(flustered)

Uh, huh.....and where exactly did

you happen to come by my sample,

and where the Hell's the chain of

custody...?

ARVIN SLOANE

My dearest Sydney, your SD-6

physical, your doctor, remember?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

And yours is, I'm supposed to

believe, is perfectly kosher?!

Arvin, nonchalantly swivels around in his chair, buzzing his
intercom.

ARVIN SLOANE
(into intercom)

Please send in our guest from Mayo.

She's a nurse practitioner, I can

have her swab me, right here and

now, even draw blood.....you may

accompany her to a lab of your

choosing....
(smug)

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(pissed)

Enough! This is no doubt some

Rambaldi-inspired wizard's trick;

what do you...want from me!?

ARVIN SLOANE
(sincerity drenched)

Nothing from you, and everything

for you.

Arvin motions the nurse out and leans forward.

ARVIN SLOANE (cont'd)

I have a proposition for

you......if, after a joint

regressive hypnosis session,

clinically conducted by the best

people---you decide whom----you are

still, with your considerable

agent's skills, the least bit

dubious, this meeting is finished,

back to status quo; do we have a

deal?

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(pregnant pause staring)

When, where?.....and, you never

answered me about Francie!

ARVIN SLOANE

She'll be joining us, soon, in the

very near future.....but what about

the present moment, the moment of

truth, as they say: shall we seize

it?

SYDNEY BRISTOW

And, what if my choice is out of

town, out of the country, or just

not available?

ARVIN SLOANE

In a phrase, world-class, on call,

and right here in LA.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Fine, let's get this over with: I

open the phone book and point.

ARVIN SLOANE

Very well, Sydney, uh, Sandy.....as

you wish, but...it may, however,

delay Francie's....arrival; look,

there happens to be an

internationally peer-reviewed

double-blind study under way at

UCLA Medical Center---and I've

never laid eyes on the shrinks

running it.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

And, you just happen to know about

it---more like a double dare,

right, like when I was a kid? Oh,

wait, we didn't take hostages at

gunpoint then, did we?
(a look that kills)

ARVIN SLOANE

Yes.....I try to keep informed,

especially on the chance that you

would accept my....invitation.

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(calls his bluff, sternly)

Let's go!

SEGUE TO:

INT.-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER-DAY

SHOT: GLASS DOUBLE DOORS WITH 'DR. IRWIN ROTWEINER, M.D.,
PSYCHIATRY'.

We see Arvin Sloane wince when he spies the name; this should
grant semi-humanity to Arvin and some comic relief. Francie
is there in the inner waiting room, apparently calm and
collected; she and Sydney hug, and Sydney has seemingly
forgotten her deep reservations. She and Arvin are seen being
prepped for the examinations---paperwork, etc.

SHOTS: THEY ARE BEING VIDEOTAPED IN SEPERATE EXAM ROOMS,
DIMLY LIT WITH THE TRAPPINGS OF A SHRINK'S OFFICES, LEATHER
COUCH, ETC.; KEY IS THAT THEY HAVE SEPERATE EXAMINERS, REAL
PROS WHO ARE NO NONSENSE AND CAN SPOT FAKERS, OUT OF ANY
CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER DURING SIMULTANEOUS QUESTIONING ABOUT
HER YOUTH. IN ALTERNATING JUMP CUTS TIMED FOR DRAMATIC
EFFECT: E.G., HE WILL PROVIDE STRATEGIC EXPLANATION FOR HER
KEY EXPERIENCES, ENCOUNTERS, ETC. WHERE SHE CANNOT.

SEGUE TO:

INT. UCLA EXAMINING ROOMS-DAY

Starting with Sydney, she is put under and begins regression.
Her eyes are closed, as in REM sleep, while the examiner asks
her to conjure when she was 18, in high school.....

SEGUE TO:

EXT. PUBLIC SCHOOL CLASSROOM/SUBURBIA USA-DAY

Sandy has rushed to school, reluctantly as usual; an
excellent student, she is under-socialized due to extreme
shyness, and has no intention of having her picture taken,
'mom' having given her written notes excusing this as somehow
inadvisable based on her doctor's advice---she's a transplant
to SoCal from NYC, her parents are divorced, dad is living
abroad, or so she believes; uncertain gender awareness and
overall teenage angst heightened by her keen intelligence and
curiosity.

HOME ROOM INSTRUCTOR

All right people, you know today is

class photo day
(embarrassing smile at
Sandy)

so you'll need to be in the gym

early.......have a great day....

ANGLE ON

Sandy, again, has no intention of being there; she makes her
way to the library after her last class has let out early, in
search of her new best friend, a wealthy volunteer at the
increasingly well-endowed library.

HELEN BLAVATSKY

There you are.......there must be

some sort of group gathering; what

shall we talk about today?

SANDY BICHET

Time travel, maybe......for the

last two nights, it's been, well,

weird.

HELEN BLAVATSKY

Now, maybe we should slow down

our....readings in certain texts.

SANDY BICHET

Are you kidding......I could use a

lot more, say Camelot, compared

to.......this!
(waves hand, head in
hands)

HELEN BLAVATSKY

Just as long as you

understand......
(cut off)

SANDY BICHET

Oh, please, you don't have to worry

about me------I am the Sphinx----

that is, when I speak at all.
(zips her lips)

SEGUE BACK TO
HYPNOSIS
SESSION:

SYDNEY BRISTOW
(entranced)

She, Helene, she showed

me....strange old books, in ancient

Greek and Latin, mostly...but, I

still felt comfortable, as if I'd

seen them, before....

JUMP CUT BACK TO
REMEMBRANCE:

HELEN BLAVATSKY

That reminds me.....

MUSIC CUE

Cue pop tune, instrumental 5 note refrain, 'Walk like an
Egyptian'. They proceed to a room off the history stacks, to
a locked ornate glass cabinet which seems hermetically sealed
with a faint trace of fog-like dry ice effect when it is
opened. Helene withdraws a large leather-bound tome.

RESUME SCENE

HELEN BLAVATSKY (cont'd)

Beautiful, isn't it?!

SANDY BICHET

This one looks alot like

the....last One you showed me...
(excited)

HELEN BLAVATSKY

Well, they do refer to one another,

as it seems that Abra-Melin the

Jew, writer of that text, is said

to have descended of Moses.....

SANDY BICHET

Who was a Prince of Egypt!

Sandy catches her volume, placing her index finger over her
lips.

HELEN BLAVATSKY
(hikes eyebrow)

Yes.....it seems that many of the

magical protocols come to us from

misunderstood , often disguised

writings; see here....

(points to passage)

V.O. OFFSCREEN

Behold, the sage words on no other

than Aristotle:

"Those who would be initiated do

not so much learn anything as

experience certain emotions and are

thrown into a special state of

mind."

SANDY BICHET

Kind of like New York, huh....

MUSIC CUE

Cue tune, instrumental refrain, 'New York State of Mind'.

HELEN BLAVATSKY

I know you're homesick, but, no,

more like the mind of a whole

universe or two.
(smiles knowingly)

You see, my dear, what makes modern

life so.......
(cut off)

SANDY BICHET
Unbearable.....
(drama queen)

HELEN BLAVATSKY

Exactly.....the very word used by

the Greeks to describe life

without.....mysteries.


Helen has paused with the pregnant poise of one who knows

whereof the Greeks---the ancient sort--- speak.

SANDY BICHET

Show me....more.....

FADE OUT.



INT. BEDROOM OF YOUNG WOMAN-EVE.(4)

Sandy has returned home, a framed photo of Dad is prominently
displayed; her mom---a rent-a-mom, referred to cynically as
an 'ap-parent' by Arvin, her employer--- is not home and she
is digesting her fascinating afternoon with Helene.
She has gone to her bathroom mirror, and begun to mimic her
eye make up after the Egyptian style. She then returns to
her bed, assuming a pose she was shown in the text that
afternoon, chanting softly, almost inaudibly....

SANDY IS WITHIN THE WALLS OF A CHAMBER OF SOME KIND; IT IS A
SEPIA TONE DUSK SETTING, TORCHES BEING LIT IN THE DISTANCE BY
A BLURRY VISION OF A BEARDED OLDER MAN; HE IS APPROACHING
HER, GETTING CLOSER; SHE FEELS PARALYZED, AND THIS SEEMS TO
SAVE HER AS SHE IS APPARENTLY NOT SEEN; SUDDENLY HE IS NEAR
HER, TURNS AND HOLDS OUT HIS HAND, IN THE HEBRAIC GREETING
POPULARIZED BY SPOCK THE VULCAN; HE OPENS HIS MOUTH TO
SPEAK......

SEGUE BACK TO
HYPNOSIS
SESSION:

ARVIN SLOANE

Her....'mother'....I had to keep

her away, Russian, deadly....it was

enough for me to handle her, no,

Sandy, she was innocent, she needed

protection; I gave her a mom who

would keep her from harm....and,

Jack, Jack Bristow, he was in

absentia, conveniently, a perfect

cover dad for my benign purposes...

JUMP CUT BACK TO
REMEMBRANCE:

SANDY'S MOM

Yoo hoo, Sand, it's me, you home?

She continues her arrival ritual, oblivious to her immediate
greeting; she opens her closet door, finding Sandy, wrapped
in a sheer boa hanging there.

RESUME SCENE

SANDY'S MOM (cont'd)

Ahhh! You scared the life.....

SANDY BICHET

Ma......mom, hi, uh, how are you?!

SANDY'S MOM

Sur-prised.....what the.....

SANDY BICHET

Mom, I've got real problems......

SANDY'S MOM

It's my fault, I'm never around....

SANDY BICHET

No, mom, it's not about you...it's

just that, I've got a....

SANDY'S MOM

What, my baby?!

SANDY BICHET

A date......and I don't know what

to wear......

A 'THOUGHT' BUBBLE POPS UP NEXT TO SANDY'S HEAD---LIKE IN A
COMIC BOOK,WITH COMIC EFFECT A LA A SERIOUS TOPIC; IT READS:
'I HAVE NO IDEA HOW I GOT HERE!'

Sandy's mom is very relieved, having taken the 'coming of
age' bait Sandy knew would work.

SANDY'S MOM

That's wonderful news, sweetie;

we'll go shopping, Saturday.

SANDY BICHET

The date is Saturday.....look, it's

fine, we'll make do with what we've

got, ok?

They hug; Sandy wins one, again. Parental guilt to the
rescue.

CUT TO:



EXT. PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL-DAY (5)

The boyz have indeed begun to notice, albeit with the usual
'Grease' dynamics; a Latino hunk is hanging out, pretending
he's one of da guys....

BOY ONE

Hey, it's Sandy.....Sandy Beaches,

man.......where we all wanna be,

you pickin up what um puttin down?!

He high fives his pals.

SANDY BICHET

You don't know.....me....no one

does....

BOY TWO

Well, you're right about that,

Sandy......that's the whole point,

right, to....know you, 'bitchette'.

SANDY BICHET

You know...oh, wait, you don't do

you.....Rome was founded by a she

wolf, and your name's not Romulus,

bozo.

Sandy storms off, contemptuously; she decides then and there
to change her 'look' regularly.

CUT TO:


INT. PUBLIC SCHOOL HALLWAY-LATER THAT DAY (6)

Sandy has kept her word; she has radically restyled her hair
in home economics class, dying it deep purple, for power,
with black streaks. This scene is a homage to 'Grease'.

TONY GONZALEZ

Look, Sandy.......I'm glad we're

alone.

SANDY BICHET

That makes one of us.

TONY GONZALEZ

Look, please, I'm not like those

guys, really; I like you.....for

your brain, too.

SANDY BICHET

Well, here's a flash from that very

lofty place: 'this just in, Sandy

doesn't like surfers, or surfing,

unless it's on the net'.

TONY GONZALEZ

Please...give me another shot--

hey, I'll prove what I say is true-

-Saturday night, on our date you

don't yet know about, and, even if

you did, you'd want to cancel....I

want you to meet someone, someone I

know you'd really want to meet,

he's kind of a spiritual guy, a way

cool guru.

SANDY BICHET
Well.......
(smiles)

Alright.

TONY GONZALEZ
(stunned)

Say that again, please, I just like

the sound of it...

SANDY BICHET

I said yes, can you guess why?

TONY GONZALEZ

You're as kind as you are pretty

and smart?
(blushes)

SANDY BICHET
(points at hair)

You didn't notice!

They both laugh, both relieved from the potential tension of
the moment.

CUT TO:



INT. SCHOOL AUDITORIUM-DAY (7)

Yearbooks are being distributed-----of course, Sandy is not
there; Tony opens his to the Seniors page:

'SANDY BICHET, PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE'

FADE OUT & IN:

INT. LIBRARY STACKS-DAY (2)

Sandy and Helene are @ their usual rendezvous.....

SANDY BICHET

Now, I know you said go slow, to be

careful and, and, I promise you, I

have....

HELEN BLAVATSKY
(smiling cautiously)

Sandy, suppose you take a deep

breath and.....show me what

occurred, precisely.

SANDY BICHET

Sandy literally takes the deep breath, giggling nervously.

SANDY BICHET

Well, I was fooling around with my

eye makeup---the Egyptian look

thing----for this date I have
(blushes)

Anyway, I remembered the heiroglyph

we looked at, and the sort of

haunting chant you read to me......

HELEN BLAVATSKY

You remembered all that?
(impressed)

Sandy's voice is deeper, more mature somehow, albeit not self
conscious.

SANDY BICHET
(almost trancelike)

Like it was branded..on... my

soul......

HELEN BLAVATSKY
(muttering)

As well it should, for it concerns

the feminine soul....of us all,

really....

Helene is herself taken with the moment and its
momentousness. Sandy, still a young girl, albeit keenly
bright, is preoccupied with her date.

SANDY BICHET

I didn't think it mattered to me

all that much.....I'm not

comfortable with boys......

HELEN BLAVATSKY

Please, tell me who is----they are

always boys, you see, our special

little burdens. Continue...

SANDY BICHET

But, there I was, in my mom's

closet, wrapped in some silly old

school boa---no offense.

HELEN BLAVATSKY
(self-consciously patient)

None taken, my dear. Sandy, do you

recall anything else?

SANDY BICHET

Oh, yes....sorry, I was in a

chamber, or something, & a bearded

old man was lighting

torches....and, before any real

time, he was near me, doing this...

SANDY FORMS THE SHEKHINA 'VULCAN' GESTURE FOR THE HEBREW
LETTER SHIN, FOR 'SHADDAI'.

HELEN BLAVATSKY
(gasps)

It's Mosaic, from the Torah, the

five books.....

SANDY BICHET

I've never seen it before, except

on TV when I was a kid...what does

it mean?

HELEN BLAVATSKY

It is....the shekhina, the feminine

spirit of the almighty. Your

mother, she is a Jewess, correct?

SANDY BICHET

Yes, but, we don't go to temple

really, not since the divorce. Can

we explore this symbol some more,

please.

HELEN BLAVATSKY
(notices clock)

Tomorrow, perhaps, hmmm?

(pensive)

SANDY BICHET

Tomorrow's Saturday, my date,

Monday?

HELEN BLAVATSKY

Certainly, then....Monday.

They hug.

WISTFUL FACE OF HELENE; SANDY IS DISTRACTED BY HER TEENAGE
MINDSET AND DOES NOT FULLY REALIZE WHAT IS HAPPENING & WHO
HELENE TRULY IS.

FADE OUT.



EXT. BEACH PARTY-EVE.(8)

The usual Saturday night high school crowd is present; Tony
is conservatively dressed, almost old school, well-groomed
when he picks up Sandy. She looks stunning, hair slicked
back, dressed almost flapper-like, but it works.

PARADISE FOUND; A SMALL GROUP SURROUNDS A BEARDED, THOUGHT
BLIND POLYNESIAN MAN, WEARING SUNGLASSES; TONY LEADS SANDY
OVER, ALL EYES ON HER.

From the throng come the usual comments, garbled: 'Who's
that'/'Never seen her around before'.

TONY GONZALEZ

Guys, meet Sandy Bichet.

BOY

You're in the right place!
(nervous laughter)

TONY GONZALEZ
(scowling)
Verrry original!

They sit down on a large Mexican blanket.

EL KAHUNADUDE

Greetings......you're not from

around here.......
(removes glasses)

Sandy maintains her focus on him while the others are simply
enjoying him, a real prankster, as far as they are concerned.

SANDY BICHET

Tony has told me about.....

EL KAHUNADUDE

Don't speak......

Here Kahunadude holds up his hand, in the Spock gesture;
Sandy excuses herself to the restroom, feeling overwhelmed,
flushed....

SHE PUTS WATER ON HER FACE, AND HER MIRROR IMAGE SEEMS TO
GLOW.

In her absence, Kahunadude is to all others his usual jovial
self; when she returns, she is certain he was just shielding
his frail eyes from the setting sun; he is holding court.

EL KAHUNADUDE (cont'd)

.....and, throughout these many

years there has been one thing, one

seeming little thing that gives me

wisdom.....

HE MOTIONS FOR SOMETHING BEHIND A LARGE ROCK: A BEER COOLER.
AS ALL THE OTHERS GATHERED ERUPT IN LAUGHTER, SANDY SEES NO
ORDINARY BOTTLE OF BEER FETCHED FROM WITHIN, BUT THE SPOCK
SYMBOL ON THE LABEL, GLOWING LIKE THE SUN.

TONY GONZALEZ

Sandy, you alright? Sandy....

Sandy almost reflexively raises her hand forming the same
symbol, then faints. After being attended to by El
Kahunadude, he holds a glass to her lips; while it came from
the apparent beer bottle, it is a strange color,
luminous.....

SANDY BICHET
(groggy)

What....happened.....

EL KAHUNADUDE

You were overcome by

the...light.....

TONY GONZALEZ

You mean the heat, right?

EL KAHUNADUDE
(smiles wisely)

She...... understands.

SANDY BICHET

Your medallion, where did you get

that?

Around his neck is a cartouche, featuring the Spock symbol.

EL KAHUNADUDE

Why, I found this in Egypt, at the

temple....I was just drawn to it.

SANDY BICHET

So....was I, or it to me; it's

the...
(cut off)

EL KAHUNADUDE
(stern visage)

Yes, my people have known of it

forever: presence of the feminine

power.......
(smiles)

Why do you think we invent the

hula?!

Laughter from him, then everyone else, but Sandy sees him
wink, perhaps only at her; his lips do not move, but he
'telepaths' to her:

EL KAHUNADUDE (cont'd)

Please to understand, my dear,

these others are mere...mortals,

they do not understand.

Sandy knows somehow what she must do.

SANDY BICHET

Tony, let's take a walk down the

beach....

EL KAHUNADUDE

Yes, the Moon, she will light your

way.

FADE TO WHITE.

INT. SCHOOL LIBRARY-DAY (10)

Sandy has sought out Helene early as she has cut gym class
and the team photo session. She cannot find Helene.

SANDY BICHET

Excuse me, have you seen Ms.

Blavatsky?

No one can seem to find Helene; in fact, now that they are
pressed, they cannot recall her ever having been there before
Sandy transferred in last year.

LIBRARIAN

She's from abroad, you know, very

old family from Eastern Europe....
(interrupted)

LIBRARIAN (cont'd)

Oh, here, this appears to be for

you.

LETTER: 'MY DEAREST SANDY, I AM SORRY I DID NOT HAVE THE
CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE........ACTUALLY, MORE LIKE ADIEU; I'VE
BEEN CALLED AWAY FOR AWHILE ON FAMILY BUSINESS. I PROMISE TO
RETURN AS SOON AS PLAUSIBLE; IN THE MEANTIME, HE....WILL
GUIDE YOU. YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL, HELENE'

The hypnosis session ends with Sandy, and the audience,
wondering---amongst a host of other things---- how did She
know about Him?

SEGUE TO:

INT. ADJOINING RECOVERY ROOM-DAY

Sydney and Arvin are in phase-down after their separate,
lengthy sessions; a white-coated woman enters the room,
relieving the attendant on duty.

RELIEF ATTENDANT

Ms. Bristow, don't be alarmed, but

Mr. Kingsley needs to see you; he's

just next door....

Sydney instinctively trusts him and complies, cautiously,
walking into the private office adjacent; Kingsley sits
there, in the dim light from the window.

AUGUST KINGSLEY

Good of you to stop by.....
(smiles)

SYDNEY BRISTOW

It's you who's stopped by; how did

you....

AUGUST KINGSLEY

You know my stock answer; we

sightless persons have our ways--

what did the prophet say, "you have

eyes, but you do not see". You're

being set up, not sure of the

details, but, now, you gotta

suspend your disbelief, he's into

cloning, humans.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

Rambaldi?

AUGUST KINGSLEY

Wouldn't surprise me, what I

hear...and see.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

From whom, August, I need to know,

and now.

She is adamantine and he is sympathetic, or seems so.

AUGUST KINGSLEY

It's called the Order of the

Reliquaries, and it's quite a bit

older than Rambaldi and his Vatican

patrons.

Let's just say that they're

watching Sloane, closely, and

I'm....locked onto them.

SYDNEY BRISTOW

What's in it for you and your

agency?

AUGUST KINGSLEY

For them, it's easy: budget; me, I

just don't like the idea of a short

balding male playing at being a

deity, do you?

They hear some footsteps; she leaves and returns to the
recovery room; they open the office where Kingsley has been,
he is gone, seen in a wheelchair with a robe on, head down,
being wheeled by his operative down the corridor.

FREEZE FRAME:
FADE OUT.

INT. UNIVERSAL EXPORTS, LTD. SLOANE'S PRIVATE OFFICE-EVE

They are back where it all started, on terra firma; Sydney
has remained quiet, somewhat dazed, albeit cooperative,
somewhat traumatized to have learned that her childhood was a
soap opera, whose 'mother' was no more than an understudy.

ARVIN SLOANE

How do you feel, Sandy?

There is no response from Sydney/Sandy. Arvin plows ahead,
at the known risk of deeper trauma.

ARVIN SLOANE (cont'd)

You now see, my dear, do you not:

'has there ever been a man more

misunderstood?'
(waves his right hand to
an opening door)



In walk Helene & El Kahunadude, smiling cryptically yet
warmly.

ARVIN SLOANE

Welcome, my dear child, to....the

next....Phase, Phase 2.

END OF SHOW


NOTE TO PRODUCER(S): WHILE PERHAPS
NAIVE, I ENVISION MADONNA IN CAMEO
ROLE OF HELENE, INASMUCH AS IT AND
THE STORYLINE IMPLY KABBALISTIC
DYNAMICS.

PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE


Episode 2: 'It's Greek to Me'

COLD OPENING
FADE IN:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS-DAY
It is three weeks later and still no 'contact' with or from Helene B.---as predicted, El Kahunadude and Sandy have clicked, with poor Tony G. the third in two's company. Tony & Sandy have hung out at the beach, sans EKD, for Spring Break.
SENIORS ARE SHOWING OFF COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE LETTERS/OFFERS IN GENERAL MAINSTREAM EUPHORIA; SANDY AND TONY ARE NOT AMONG THEM.
JUMP CUT TO:
INT. SANDY'S LIVING ROOM-EVE
She and her mom are talking about everything & nothing in particular, a rare moment of girl talk, relaxed, when, out of the blue......(that happens alot in this home).....
SANDY'S MOM
So, how are things? We should do this more......
(cut off)
SANDY BICHEZ
(preoccupied)
I've...decided....
SANDY'S MOM
(taken back)
Oh, about...I'm almost afraid....what?
SANDY BICHEZ
Archaeology.
SANDY BICHEZ (CONT'D)
The Institute founded by Champollion....
There is only a blank stare from mom.
SANDY BICHEZ (CONT'D)

Worked for Napoleon, found the Rosetta Stone, hello?
Sandy waves her hand in front of mom's eyes.
SANDY'S MOM
I think I need him, now.
SANDY BICHEZ
Now I'm confused.
SANDY'S MOM
You'll find him in the liquor cabinet, the one with that cute little sign: IN Emergency Break Out the Glass.
SANDY BICHEZ
Very funny.....I'm serious, mom. It's the best in the world, my history teacher says.
SANDY'S MOM
(under her breath)
So does my bartender friend.....But, why this sudden interest in archaeology....don't you have those scholarship offers?
SANDY BICHEZ
That was then, this is....now----think global, the ancients did.
SANDY'S MOM
I certainly feel like one of them......what about the money?
SANDY BICHEZ
No problemo: one of my.....ad....visors, he's new, you don't know him.....um, says it can all be arranged through some wealthy donor types.
SANDY'S MOM
Have you got anything in writing.....I can have an accountant or somebody look at it, see if it's kosher....who'd you say told you this?
Sandy, negotiating between necessay secrecy and legitimacy resorts to a feigned admixture of the comic and melodramatic.
SANDY BICHEZ
Yes....It is written...!
Both laugh heartily; it has worked, she has changed the subject.
FADE TO WHITE:
INT. SANDY'S BEDROOM-LATER
She is sitting on a chair, exchanging stares with her new cat Cleo, an unconventional gift from EKD.
SANDY BICHEZ
And, what do you think about all this?!
WE SEE A BLURRED SCENE OF CLEO STALKING PREY NEAR SOME HIGH SEPIA GRASS NEAR A TEMPLE; CLEO SEIZES HER PREY BY THE JUGULAR, WE HEAR A LOW THROBBING PULSE SLOWLY FADE; SHE DRAGS THE ANIMAL NEAR A TEMPLE WALL, WHERE THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON A CARTOUCHE WITH THE SHEKHINA SYMBOLOGY.
CUT TO:
EXT. SCHOOL LIBRARY BUILDING GROUNDS-DAY
For the first time in weeks, students are back on campus. Construction crews are everywhere; Sandy approaches a trailer.
SANDY BICHEZ
This is..amazing---I haven't even been near this place since....
EL KAHUNADUDE
(Cheshire grin)
Yes, yes, I know, busy with college prep, huh?
SANDY BICHEZ
No, Spring Break, and what are you doing here?!
EL KAHUNADUDE
He takes and shows off his hard hat.
Pretty cool, huh?! Even has my name on it, though they misspelled my.......
(cut off)
SANDY BICHEZ
Dude, that's not what I mean.....you haven't been at the beach---- you just vanished; no one's heard from you in weeks.
EL KAHUNADUDE
(impish)
You have....don't you remember, hmm?
SANDY BICHEZ
Ok, yeah, Cleo....thanks for just dumping her in my yard!
EL KAHUNADUDE
But there was a lovely note, you know, the higher end greeting card, nice paper.... and money for her special food......
(feigns hurt)
SANDY BICHEZ
Oh, you big baby; I've missed you!
They hug, all smiles/tears.
EL KAHUNADUDE
And I you----but that's why I took this gig, for you, a kind of legacy----you're gonna be famous, like Amos!
SANDY BICHEZ
Legacy?
EL KAHUNADUDE
(catches self)
For .....your mom, that was quite a handsome donation......made to this school.
SANDY BICHEZ
Whoa, wait a minute.....since when are you in construction? and, and you know we don't have any money!
EL KAHUNADUDE
Did I say you did?----it was made anonymously in her name, that sorta spookiness----don't you just love it when people do that, it's so....interesting;
And, I'll have you know, I've been building stuff all over since way back, wild child.
SANDY BICHEZ
(sweetly sarcastic)
Oh, man.......ever build any temples, hmm!
EL KAHUNADUDE
(mutters smiling)
That darn cat.....
Uh, sure, lots, long time ago----oye vey, um part Jewish ya know.
SANDY BICHEZ
So that rules out Egypt, I guess, huh?!
EL KAHUNADUDE
Well, yes......Exodus, right: 'Let my people go!'-----big deal, in all the papers.....wait, they only had papyrus...anyway, you musta heard about it?!
SANDY BICHEZ
(laughing)
Ha, ha......and, yes, I did, in a TEMPLE!
A truck honks.
EL KAHUNADUDE
(on cue)
Look, gotta get back to it.......Oh, Jehosophat, almost forgot----this came for you.
(winks)
ORNATE ENVELOPE CALLIGRAPHICALLY ADDRRESSED TO SANDY WITH LOGO & NAME OF 'THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY, RUE ST. HELENE, PARIS'.
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL GROUNDS-DAY
Sandy and Tony are discussing their brief but interesting relationship, EKD and the leaps of appreciation, mutual and otherwise, he has seemingly led them to; they talk of the future.
TONY GONZALEZ
You know, I've been talking with my family about school and, well, you know----I've made a decision.
SANDY BICHEZ
About college.....where?
TONY GONZALEZ
U.S. Air Force.........advanced pilot training!
SANDY BICHEZ
How....do your folks feel about this: didn't they want you to go on to college?
TONY GONZALEZ
Yeah, but this way I can do both, with Uncle Sam paying the bills.
SANDY BICHEZ
(pensive)
Cool.....I'm in the middle of my own tough battle: the old heart versus head kind.
TONY GONZALEZ
Who's winning?
(smiles)
SANDY BICHEZ
Well, my head seems to be waving the white flag lately.
TONY GONZALEZ
So.....what does your heart intend for....you....and, uh......
He's fishing for sentimental connection evidence. Sandy, of course, is way ahead of him, cautioning against the awkwardness of needless commitment.
SANDY BICHEZ
Patience, most of all------a luxury too often overlooked by us.......
(pregnant pause)
The young, that is.
(smiles)
Tony is no dope and senses a need for the cerebral change of tack.
TONY GONZALEZ
Hey, what did the Greeks say about it.....
SANDY BICHEZ
Maybe you can tell me....
TONY GONZALEZ
It's Greek to me!
(laughs)
SANDY BICHEZ
The Fates: they hold and cut the strings.
TONY GONZALEZ
So, we're just puppets?
Sandy can't resist her large and varied store of knowledge, it's her....Nature.
SANDY BICHEZ
Well, there is a scientific version, involving superstrings, called M theory.
TONY GONZALEZ
M for mystery, to me anyway.
SANDY BICHEZ
Not just you, believe me......you know, the guys---and gals---who came up with it, that's how even they sometimes refer to it and its implications, eleven dimensions and all----it's almost kabbalistic, really, when you think.....
She sees his confusion mixed with awe.
SANDY BICHEZ (CONT'D)
Sorry, guess a string or two got pulled.
TONY GONZALEZ
Hey, I have a theory of my own: I call it the Prom Equation---me + you=mystery date----whaddya think?!
SANDY BICHEZ
Not my usual field of interest, but.......it might just be worth a joint experiment.....
They embrace modestly: she's in control and he knows it.
JUMP CUT TO:
INT. OF ORNATE HIGH RISE OFFICE IN EUROPE-DAY
An important call has come into the offices of a Swiss banker; this is no ordinary client.
SWISS BANKER
Yes, madame: I can assure madame there shall be impeccable private service and, of course, complete anonymity for the Society and its special beneficiary.
He hangs up, wiping his brow.
HIS RIGHT HAND BEARS A LARGE RING, WITH A CARTOUCHE FEATURING THE SHEKHINA SYMBOLOOGY.
FADE OUT.
INT. SWANK BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL-PROM NIGHT
The usual suspects, with one notable exception: EKD is, now, donning a tux, as he is General Manager of the toney hotel.
EKD IS SEEN GREETING CELEBRITIES, MOST NOTABLE A CAMEO BY MADONNA AS MADONNA; SHE IS VERY INTIMATE WITH HIM. TONY AND SANDY ARRIVE IN A STRETCH LIMO WITH HOTEL LOGO SLYLY SIMILAR TO THE SHEKHINA SYMBOLOGY.
Sandy approaches El Kahunadude.
SANDY BICHEZ
What!?......how the......
EL KAHUNADUDE
Can't tell, old company secret!
(they kiss)
TONY GONZALEZ
Than....thanks for the limo, we were so surprised!
(handshake)
EL KAHUNADUDE
Nonsense-----I am owed favors...you would not believe who owes me---
(distracted by design)
Hey, Jack!
JACK NICHOLSON IS SEEN WITH SHADES IN PROFILE GESTURING THE SPOCK GESTURE BACK AT EKD.
EL KAHUNADUDE (CONT'D)
Gotta run kids----big meeting.....upstairs, ciao!
He leaves, disappearing into the crowd.
TONY AND SANDY TURN AWAY FOR A NANOSECOND AND HE IS LITERALLY GONE TOO FAST FOR MORTAL MAN.
JUMP CUT TO:
EXT. BALCONY OF BALLROOM-LATER
The two young people have segregated themselves in more ways than one, here it is physical.
TONY GONZALEZ
Sandy, you know you never told me.....where your heart was leading you.
SANDY BICHEZ
Oh, right------I'm going to the Middle East to study---Cairo, the French Institute.
TONY GONZALEZ
(trancelike)
Founded by Napoleon's scientists.....
SANDY BICHEZ
How.....did you know?
TONY GONZALEZ
Honestly, it just popped into my head----it's weird, that sort of thing always seems to happen when I'm around.....the Dude....
SANDY BICHEZ
(muttering)
Tell me about it......now that you mention it, I......see you in.....Israel, soon.
TONY GONZALEZ
This is incredible: my advanced flight training starts in Nevada, then I'm off to joint training with the IDF....it's all because of my test results, they're off the charts!
SANDY BICHEZ
Hmmm, let's just say that our Mr. Dudeness has some 'splainin' to do-----let's put him on the spot for once!
They start for the the executive suite floor of the hotel,upstairs.
RECEPTIONIST
Hello, how may I help you?
SANDY BICHEZ
Hi----we'd like to see the Manager: he's a friend.
RECEPTIONIST
May I ask why?
SANDY BICHEZ
Why is kind of...confidential.
RECEPTIONIST
Oh, no, I wasn't prying, my dear: it's just that the Manager position here has been vacant for.....
She sees their puzzlement.
RECEPTIONIST (CONT'D)
Is there anything I can do to....help, you seem distressed?
TONY GONZALEZ
No.......no, thanks, we must have been confused.....a practical joke played, that's all...
They leave, with Sandy deeply pensive.
TONY GONZALEZ (cont'd)
Sand, you alright?
SANDY BICHEZ
I should have known.....

(smiling broadly)
TONY GONZALEZ
Known? Known...what?
SANDY BICHEZ
Remember that silly game: 'I knew that you knew that I knew that you knew.......' blah, blah, blah....
TONY GONZALEZ
Yeah....so...
SANDY BICHEZ
Don't be alarmed, Tony, you're.....NEW....
(smiles intently)
That's without the 'k'....
TONY GONZALEZ
Yeah, like some naive kid: what's going on?
SANDY BICHEZ
(raises glass to his)
Here's to our always interesting KNEW world....that's with the 'k' this time......
Tony has an epiphany....and finally gets that to be in Sandy's orbit is to be no ordinary planet.
TONY GONZALEZ
So, we're two of a kind; well, you left out one very important thing....
SANDY BICHEZ
Go on......
(expectantly)
TONY GONZALEZ
You left out the 'o', it's my own personal contribution to that KNEW world....
SANDY BICHEZ
I see...........O......K!
FREEZE FRAME/FADE OUT.
END OF EPISODE