“Final DECISION” – Script

Duo ex Mania
(Show #04)

Written by: Jeremy Sears

FIRST DRAFT:
06/07/08
SECOND DRAFT:


Script Terms
Ext – Exterior – Setting outside
Int – Interior – Setting inside
POV – Point of view – from characters perspective
CLOSE ON – Focusing on a body part(s)/object(s)
WIDEN ON – Zoomed out on a person/people/object(s)
OV – Over View
UV – Under View
SV – Side view
FV – Front View
VO – Voice over
OS – Off screen

PROLOGUE

OPEN ON

BLACK SCREEN while the unlined words in the following dialogue fades in and out on the screen.

Jem (VO)
I hate this writer’s block.

Connie (VO)
Jem, it’s over.

Jem (VO)
It frustrates me.

Connie (OV)
I HATE YOU!

Chelsey (VO)
So do you work?

Jem (VO)
I’m afraid…

Pocky (VO)
You have something I want and I’ll do anything to get it.

Jem (VO)
I don’t understand any of this!!!

Reggie (VO)
Want some chamomile tea?

Jem (VO)
It’s all her fault!!!

Pocky (VO)
My name is Strawberry Flavored Pocky! But you can just call me Pocky!

Jem (VO)
You got to look to the bright side of things, right?

Pocky (VO)
You creative people are so weird!

Jem (VO)
I should’ve seen this coming
~
Gaaaaah!! I can’t even get past the title!

END OF PROLOGUE

Duo ex Mania

ACT ONE

OPEN ON

Ext. downtown area ruins – day – hazy

CLOSE ON (UV FV) Jem standing silently amidst the ruined hometown as a couple black hawk helicopters fly over his head.

POV – behind one of the helicopters – the chopper flies over the area and looks down at the ruins, while the sound of its rotating blades fills the air.

POV – helicopter – looking down at Jem as an armored military truck stops near him and a massive crowd made up of every survivor in the city forms around him from very far away.

WIDEN ON (FV) Jem standing silently for a moment and then PAN around him counterclockwise to a right-side view as a bold man in a military uniform along with Chelsey and another solider walk up to him with the military truck they came out of in the background.

Colonel Miller
Are you the one they call Jem?

Jem
Huh?!

Jem quickly turns to his left to face the Colonel Miller, Chelsey and the solider.

POV – Colonel Miller – Jem nods slowly.

…Yeah,

Colonel Miller (OS)
Then you’re here by under arrest.

CLOSE ON Jem’s eyes as they widen.

Jem
(shallow gasp)

POV – Jem – PAN from looking straight at Colonel Miller to Chelsey while she quietly stands behind him to his right.

CLOSE ON Chelsey while she keeps her head down.

(OS)
…Chelsey?

Chelsey
I’m sorry…. From the beginning it was obvious that Pocky was the one behind everything and that you shared no direct responsibility for those events…but what concerned us was what she was after…

Chelsey looks down to her left.

And based on the information I’ve been sending to government during my investigation, they’ve determined that she was after a power known as “Dues ex Machina” and believed you were its host…

Chelsey looks up at Jem (OS) with a subtle sense of heartbreak in her eyes.

A power we’re after as well…

CLOSE ON Jem as he blinks with great shock and confusion.

Jem
Huh? How do you know about the power?

Suddenly several soldiers ambush Jem.

Uh?! AH!

POV – behind Jem – Jem thrust around and tries to get the soldiers off of him while Colonel Miller stands in front of him calmly with his arms folded over his chest.

Colonel Miller
Have him restrained and put into the back of the truck, we need to get him to the base as soon as possible.

WIDEN ON Jem getting forced to the ground by the soldiers while Colonel Miller and Chelsey just stand in front of him and watch.

CLOSE ON Jem’s ankles, as they’re their shackled together.

CLOSE ON Jem’s wrists as their put behind his back and shackled together.

CLOSE ON Jem’s face while it’s roughly shoved against the ground.

Jem
Ah!

Jem turns his head left and looks onward with a wincing look on his face while gritting his teeth.

Er…mmm?

POV – Jem – about 50ft from Jem, the circle of survivors watching Jem get arrested grows even larger.

CLOSE ON (FV) a few people at the front of the crowd as Connie makes her way through them to get to the front herself.

Connie
Excuse me; excuse me, thank you – sorry.

CLOSE ON (FV) Connie’s face as she lifts her head up quickly and her eyes widen.

(shallow gasp)

CLOSE ON Jem’s defeated face as narrows his eyes slowly.

Jem
Connie…

Suddenly a soldier puts a blindfold over Jem’s eyes and pulls him back onto his feet (pulling him OS).

Ah!?…Mm!

CLOSE ON Connie’s face while she has her hands over her mouth and watches all of this speechlessly.

Connie
Oh god…

Connie’s fingers curl up and form into fists.

Jem…

WIDEN ON Connie as she begins to make a dash towards Jem (OS).

JEM!!!!!

CLOSE ON (FV) Colonel Miller’s eyes as they snap into a tight glare and shift to his left as he hears Connie (OS).

WIDEN behind Colonel Miller calmly extends his left hand and points at Connie (OS) while in the background; Jem struggles with the soldiers as they put a ball gage in his mouth.

Colonel Miller
(not amused)
Subdue that girl; we don’t need anyone getting in the way.

Soldier #1 (OS)
Yes sir!

Three soldiers run past Colonel Miller in the foreground (going left OS).

WIDEN ON (UV) Connie running towards Jem (OS) until the 3 soldiers rush her!

CLOSE ON (OV) Connie’s feet as they skid back roughly against ground.

WIDNE ON Connie being held back by the three soldiers as they try to suppress her but she thrusts around with all her might in an attempt to get free.

Connie
AH! Hey! Stop! Let go of me!!

CLOSE ON (SV) Colonel Miller smugly looking over to his left (facing the screen) at Connie as he sees her brave (OS) efforts sink into defeat.

Colonel Miller
Hmm,

Colonel Miller looks back at the soldiers restraining Jem (OS) and swings his left arm back, pointing at the armored truck (OS).

Alright, get him onto the truck! Let’s not waste anymore time.

CLOSE ON (FV) Connie continuing to struggle with the soldiers holding her back.

Connie
Gr! Err! Let go!

CLOSE ON (FV) Connie face as she raises her head quickly and her eyes widen.

Huh?!

POV – Connie – A soldier shoves Jem and he starts making his way slowly towards the armored truck.

CLOSE ON (SV) Colonel Miller while he looks over and watches a soldier walks past him, followed by Jem as he keeps his head down and another soldier right behind him.

CLOSE ON Connie’s widened and horrified eyes as they tremble.

Mmm…!

CLOSE ON (SV UV) Connie as she begins thrusting around VERY hard against the soldiers.

Mmmmmmmm…!!

Connie manages to free her left arm as she swings it out as far as she desperately can.

Jem, I’m sorry!!!

CLOSE ON Jem’s face as he looks over his shoulder upon hearing Connie’s desperate words. He’s then hit in the back of the head by a soldier and quickly looks down again.

(OS)
I’M SORRY JEM, I’M SORRY!

POV – Connie – her held out hand trembles as she watches Jem walk up to the ramp/backdoor of the armored truck with several soldiers while Colonel Miller and Chelsey head towards the front of the vehicle.

(OS)
JEM!!!!!!!

WIDEN ON (UV) the back of the armored truck as Jem is guided up the ramp/backdoor with the small group soldiers. The ramp/backdoor then lifts up and closes like a rising drawbridge.

Int. armored truck – driver/passenger seats

POV – passenger seat – Colonel Miller steps into the driver’s seat of the armored truck while maintaining a stern look on his face and strapping on his seatbelt.

Colonel Miller
Hmm, that went well.

ZOOM OUT to the REVEAL Chelsey sitting in the passenger seat while she leans against the window and looks through it with her eyes narrowed.

Chelsey
Agreed…

WIDEN ON (UV) the armored truck as it’s put into ignition with a powerful rev roaring from its engines. The vehicle begins to drive ahead but makes a light turn to its left and then picks up speed right towards the screen.

POV – helicopter – the armored truck drives away from the scene, traveling down a torn up road (going OS).

CLOSE ON Connie continuing to struggle with the three soldiers as two of them let go of her and walk away.

Connie
Mm! No! Damn it, no!

WIDEN ON (OV) Connie as she struggles with Soldier #2 who’s got her by her forearms while Soldier #1 stops about 8ft from them and looks over at Soldier #2.

Soldier #1
Come on, let go of her already. We got more important things to take care of right now.

Soldier #2
Hmm, you’re right.

Soldier #2 simply releases Connie without any hassle and walks away from her with Soldier #1.

CLOSE ON (FV UV) Connie as she silently falls to her knees.

CLOSE ON (FV) Connie’s face as she blinks slowly and looks over to her right.

POV – over Connie’s shoulder – she sees the three soldiers that were holding her back now walking over to the other survivors and helping them with their fellow soldiers as they supply them with any necessary aid.

CLOSE ON (SV) Connie as she turns her head forward and stares off into space. She then lowers her head and closes her eyes tightly, rushing through more emotions then she can handle.

Connie
Mm…!

Connie shakes her head.

Why?

Ext. city ruins – day – hazy

WIDEN ON (OV) the armored military truck driving down a long and heavily torn up road with small mountains of rumble piled up on each side of the road.

Int. armored truck – back section

CLOSE ON Jem sitting quietly against the left wall between two soldiers on a bench seat with his head down while the bumps the truck drives over causes his head to rock up and down slowly like a rag doll.

Ext. city ruins – day – hazy

WIDEN ON (OV) the armored truck as it continues down the road (driving OS). ZOOM OUT to reveal Joshua the buffalo standing atop a small mountain of junk on the right side of the road with Reggie the British talking penguin sitting on his back.

CLOSE ON (FV) Joshua and Reggie as they blink and tilt their heads while they watch the armored truck (OS).

Reggie
Hmm…

Joshua
Moo…

Ext. military base – day – hazy

WIDEN ON (OV) a large military base with a big research facility in the middle as the armored truck drives through the front gate as it opens.

CLOSE ON the front of the armored truck as it comes to a halt.

CLOSE ON (SV) the back end of the truck as the backdoor/ramp swings down and the soldiers quickly guide Jem out of the vehicle.
CLOSE ON Jem as a soldier shoves him forward.

Soldier #3
Come on! Keep it moving!

Jem keeps walking (going OS) as Colonel Miller and Chelsey follow from not far behind.

Colonel Miller
Hmm,

WIDEN behind Colonel Miller and Chelsey as they walk forward behind Jem, PAN UP to reveal they’re stepping towards the entrance of the big research facility in the background.

Int. research facility – lab camber

CLOSE ON Jem’s right arm as its’ wrist are strapped down to the arm of a chair by automatic metal restraints.

CLOSE ON Jem’s left arm as its wrist is strapped down to the arm of a chair by automatic metal restraints.

CLOSE ON Jem’s shins as his ankles are strapped down to the chair by automatic metal restraints.

WIDEN ON (FV) Jem sitting completely restrained to a long metal chair in a lonely dark gray room with a big spotlight beamed down on him, he keeps his head down while two scientists wearing radiation suits walk around him with research devices and apply wired suction cups to his chest, arms, cheeks and forehead.

POV – over Jem’s shoulder – Colonel Miller stands on the other side of a large window at the end of the small room with his arms behind his back while he carefully watches the scientists as they work.

WIDEN behind Colonel Miller standing in front of the window as Chelsey walks beside him and salutes.

Chelsey
Colonel Genero Smith Miller,

Colonel Miller
At ease Major,

Chelsey lowers her hand and turns to face the window as well. A brief moment of silence passes.

Chelsey
Have they confirmed if Jem has the power yet?

Colonel Miller
No, they’re still performing that examination.

Chelsey
…Colonel, there’s something I need to know,

Colonel Miller
What is it?

CLOSE ON (SV) Chelsey while she looks through the window at Jem (OS) while Colonel Miller stands in the background.

Chelsey
Why are we doing this?

POV – Chelsey – one of the scientists stands behind Jem, lifting his head up while the scientist in front looks down at the readings coming off the device in his hands

(OS)
Why are we after this power?

CLOSE ON Jem’s left eye as it opens up a little bit at the sight of Chelsey on the other side of the window (OS).

Colonel Miller (OS)
Because that kind of power can be used as a weapon.

POV – Colonel Miller – looking over at Chelsey as she turns to face Colonel Miller and looks up at him; blinking with a growing sense of mortification.

Chelsey
Huh? That’s true, but it doesn’t have to be~

Colonel Miller (OS)
Don’t be naïve!

Chelsey
Huh?!

POV – Chelsey – looking up at Colonel Miller while he continues to sternly stare into the lab chamber at Jem (OS).

Colonel Miller
A long time ago I realized that humanity was the must disgusting part of the world, and that if anyone with half a brain were able to get a hold of a power like the ability to do anything; they’d use it for their own greedy and destructive purposes…

POV – Colonel Miller – looking over at Chelsey as she looks up at him, raising her fists as she looks up at her superior more pleadingly.

Chelsey
But sir! Jem is kind and has a pure heart; he’d never use his power like that!

CLOSE behind Colonel Miller as he looks down at Chelsey.

Colonel Miller
Oh really? According to early tests on this kid’s brainwave patterns he appears to be suffering from a bipolar disorder and a slowly growing resentment towards humanity.

POV – Colonel Miller – Chelsey leans herself forward a bit.

Chelsey
But that can be fixed! He just has to grow a little more, accept change and realize how much the people he hates really love him! Had this disaster never happened I might’ve been able to achieve all that and he’d never have a reason to use this power!

CLOSE behind Chelsey while Colonel Miller looks down at her and a scientist walks up beside him in the background.

Colonel Miller
Well, too bad that’s not how it’s going to be.

Scientist #1
Colonel Miller, sir!

Colonel Miller looks over at the scientist.

Colonel Miller
What is it? Have you confirmed if the subject has the Dues ex Machina power?

Scientist #1
Yes we have! The radiant signal we’ve received from his body is undoubtedly the power and it’s on the borderline of releasing!

Colonel
Good, then move onto the next procedure immediately.

Scientist #1
Right away sir!

CLOSE ON Chelsey as she blinks again and looks up at Colonel Miller (OS).

Chelsey
Huh? What procedure?

CLOSE behind Chelsey as she stares up at Colonel Miller while he keeps his focus on the events corresponding behind the window.

Colonel! What’re you doing?!

Colonel Miller
Hmm, it’s a simple.

CLOSE ON Chelsey’s face as her eyes start the tremble and she turns to look inside the lab chamber (OS).

Chelsey
Huh…?

POV – Chelsey – one of the scientists pulls a switch at the back of the room and suddenly Jem’s chair folds out into a flat table while a scientific device in the shape of a large upside-down wedding cake slides in from the ceiling, hanging about 8ft above Jem.

Colonel Miller (OS)
To start were going to use this device to have “Jem’s” power suppressed to the point that he’d never be able to unleash it even if the world was on the brink of destruction.

CLOSE ON Jem’s right eye as he looks up at the device (OS) and his eyes blink and quickly widen.

CLOSE ON the device as the circles curving the surface of each layer of it light up brightly and charge.

POV – Chelsey – suddenly the device shoots MANY bolts of intense energy down on Jem and he quickly arches his back up while he screams in pain

Jem
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

WIDEN ON Jem’s face while he moves his head around franticly, eyes closed tight which he’s painfully shocked.

POV – Colonel Miller – looking down at Chelsey as she presses her hands against the window as she watches this torture commence.

Chelsey
Jem!!!

Chelsey looks up at Colonel Miller (OS) with a horrified look in her eyes.

But why?!

POV – Chelsey – Colonel Miller watches the torture (OS) without even flinching or showing any sympathy.

Colonel Miller
Its safety precaution incase anyone manages to kidnap Jem, to prevent him from being able to use his power to fuel anyone’s plans but ours…

CLOSE ON Chelsey’s face while her eyes tremble.

Chelsey
“Our plans”…?

CLOSE ON (SV UV) Colonel Miller’s face as he nods.

Colonel Miller
Yes…

POV – Colonel Miller – Jem thrusts around in great pain and his back arched while the bolts of energy continue to come down on him

(OS)
Because after the power has been completely suppressed, we’ll then move onto a series of brain modification experiments. Manipulating his mind; cleansing it of any of his past memories, making him completely loyal to only our nation, and give his power a keyword that can only be activated by us…and control the purposes his power will serve.

CLOSE ON Jem’s face while he continues to shake his head around.

(OS)
Essentially…

CLOSE ON (SV UV) Colonel Miller’s cold starring face.

We’ll turn him into the ultimate bio-weapon.

WIDEN behind Colonel Miller and Chelsey as she can’t take it anymore and grabs her superior’s right arm.

Chelsey
What? No, you can’t do that too me!

Colonel Miller
GRRRR RAH!

Colonel Miller thrusts his right arm, easily tossing Chelsey to the ground.

POV – Colonel Miller – looking down at Chelsey as she falls back, and winces a little as she looks up at Colonel Miller.

Chelsey
AH!!

POV – Chelsey – looking up at Colonel Miller as he glares down at Chelsey.

Colonel Miller
Know where you stand Major and NEVER come at me like that again or I will have shot! You hear me!?

CLOSE ON (SV UV) Colonel Miller while he turns and looks back at Jem (OS).

A power such as this is like putting a gun in the middle of room with 5 people locked inside. Even if they all knew the door would be unlocked in an hour, eventually one of them would go for the gun, because even if you have no intention to use the it, that gun represents power. And the one who has the power is the one who controls the world…

CLOSE ON (OV) Chelsey as she blinks once and gets up very slowly and looks through the window.

POV – Chelsey – everything goes silent with a slow and saddening song in the background while she watches Jem continue to go through this painful torture.

(SV) PAN from Jem’s waist to his head as he thrusts it around.

Jem
GR! GRAAAAAH!!!!

He holds his head back and opens his mouth wide, screaming his very heart out.

CLOSE ON (FV) Chelsey’s widened eyes as they tremble rapidly and swell with tears.

Chelsey
Mm…mm…!

ZOOM OUT to show her entire face as she reaches her breaking point, mortified, horrified and traumatized by what she’s seeing.

Mm…! No!

Chelsey turns to her right and runs away.

POV – (OV) beside Colonel Miller – he looks over to his right as he watches Chelsey run down the very dark and gloomy halls of the laboratory. Colonel Miller then looks back at Jem (OS) without a care.

Colonel Miller
Hmm, she did her job.

Int. research facility – random hall

PAN DOWN on Chelsey curled up in a ball against the wall a dark and quiet hall as she cries heavily.

CLOSE ON Chelsey’s face as she raises her head slowly with her eyes narrowed and gushing with tears.

Chelsey
(thinking)
This isn’t what I signed up for…

CLOSE ON (SV) Chelsey while she hugs her knees.

(thinking)
My nation…the world…they can’t really be this sinister…this cruel…this evil!

CLOSE ON Chelsey’s pistol holster as she unclips it slowly and wraps his fingers around the handle.

(thinking)
But if this really is the truth…

CLOSE ON (SV) Chelsey’s face as she closes her eyes tightly and puts the gun in her mouth!

(thinking)
Then I don’t want to be any part of it!

POV – standing in front of Chelsey – she trembles as she prepares to pull the trigger, and just as she’s about to…someone with a gloved hand grabs onto the gun. Chelsey’s eyes quickly widen.

Huh?!

BLACK SCREEN – a gunshot is heard.

END OF ACT ONE