THE IMPERFECTION, PART 7
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE SADLER’S OFFICE - EVENING
Sirens are blaring, the ambulance is taking Clarence away after he was hit by a car. Amber’s crying. Charlie calls Pauline.
Charlie’s determination to find Dr Sadler is kicked up a notch- now, people’s lives at being lost. And he’s pissed.
CHARLIE
Pauline? Its me. Clarence is dead.
PAULINE
What?!
CHARLIE
He was hit by a van about a block from Sadler’s office. The coroner just showed up, they’re taking his body to the morgue.
PAULINE
Holy shit.
CHARLIE
We gotta find Sadler. I don’t know about you, but I have some questions for that fucker.
PAULINE
You know where he is?
CHARLIE
Well... we’ve talked to the Arena, and we’ve been to the Old Factory, so there’s only one place left to look.
PAULINE
The Inventor’s Basement.
CHARLIE
Exactly.
PAULINE
But where is it?
CHARLIE
It has to be under Sadler’s building, in those tunnels. I think he was trying to let me know the first time I went to his office.
PAULINE
Under his office. Of course. The Inventor’s basement.
CHARLIE
Amber and I are going there now.
PAULINE
Ok. I have an idea. I’ll meet you there.
They hang up.
CHARLIE
Amber! Amber, its time to go.
AMBER
Where? Where the fuck can we go Charlie?
CHARLIE
To find Sadler and get some fucking answers!
Music full of tension and anticipation comes up. Sounds of them walking down the street.
AMBER
I should’ve peed. Fuck. I got all excited and forgot.
CHARLIE
I need to stop at the coffee shop, You can pee there.
AMBER
Did you hear those voices? I mean, on the phone, after Clarence got hit by the bus... They said something about “The Meadow.”
CHARLIE
Yeah, I heard that too. We can ask Sadler all about it when we find that fuckface.
The music kicks up a notch as they walk around the corner to the coffee place. They arrive surprisingly quickly, the music is cut off abruptly to the sound of the bells on the front door.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - CONTINUOUS
Charlie and Amber go into the coffee shop.
CHARLIE
I have to talk to Inés.
AMBER
I know. Do what you got to do. I’ll be in the can.
Charlie’s footsteps lead up to the counter.
CHARLIE
Inés? Inés! Sorry to bother you at work, but, I just wanted you to know, I’m going to find Dr Sadler, and, well, I think its dangerous. I’m not sure I’ll be back.
INÉS
(to a coworker)
Hey, Phil, can you cover for me a sec? Charlie, outside.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE - CONTINUOUS
Inés and Charlie step back out onto the street. She lights a cigarette
INÉS
Fuck this wind.
CHARLIE
I didn’t know you smoked.
INÉS
Yeah, well. There’s a lot you don’t know about me Charlie, because we’ve only been on one date.
CHARLIE
Yeah, look, about the other day, I swear- I didn’t go to your place on purpose--
INÉS
How do you wind up in my building by accident, Charlie, that just doesn’t make sense.
CHARLIE
Well, it does, just give me a second to explain it, ok? I was told by a reliable source that Sadler lived in an old factory near that train stop. So Amber, Pauline and I, we just went to take a look. There’s a lot of people counting on this guy- he had about 15 patients, and they’re not doing very well. One of them, this really sweet guy, Clarence, he got hit by a bus today because he was hallucinating that people were chasing him.
INÉS
Fuck. I’m sorry.
CHARLIE
So I’m just saying that we kind of want to follow up on any leads we can, even if they seem a little far-fetched.
INÉS
But, let me just ask you a question. How sure are you at these things are actually happening in real life? I mean, I don’t know much about your... disorder, but it seems like reality can be a little slippery. Like, who told you to go to the old factory?
CHARLIE
A waitress at a Chinese restaurant down on 8th street.
INÉS
Ew I hate that place.
CHARLIE
Right?
INÉS
Greasy as fuck.
CHARLIE
Its not great.
INÉS
So, ok, the police can’t find him, but a waitress at a Chinese restaurant has the answers? And she told you to go to the factory where they keep the robots?
CHARLIE
(frustrated)
Well, whatever the police are doing, they’re certainly not telling us! So as fucked as it seems, we’re on our own in this. And I’m trying to look out for my friends- these are good people, and they need some help. But I really like you, and...
(switching gears)
And if I’m honest, that dinner at red lobster, it was one of the nicest, most genuinely happy evenings I’ve had in, well I don’t even know.
INÉS
For me too. Fun isn’t really part of the equation I’m in. So I really liked spending that time with you. But, I think you need to go do whatever this weird thing is, and maybe we talk when you get back, ok?
CHARLIE
(releived)
Great. Good. Good call.
AMBER
Oh hey, there you are! Sorry, I thought I had to pee but then it was like, a massive shit. Surprise! Got you a coffee. Oh hi Inés.
INÉS
Hi Amber, how are you?
AMBER
I’m great, man, really good. Oh, hey, I had a question for you... I do this thing where I can tell a fortune based on someone’s initials. Learned from my gramma, she’s was into Santeria.
INÉS
Cool.
AMBER
So what are your initials?
INÉS
I.M.S. Inés Marie Salvano.
AMBER
Ohhh that’s good! That’s good luck! Wow.
INÉS
It is? Why?
AMBER
Oh its complicated as fuck, but I’ll break it down for you when we get back. Its like Cabala numerology kind of shit. Come Charlie, don’t we have to get to that thing.
INÉS
Oh cool I love math.
(to Charlie)
Charlie, be safe, ok?
CHARLIE
Danger is my middle name.
INÉS
Your middle name is Francis.
CHARLIE
Wait-- how did you know--
AMBER
Bye!
Amber tugs Charlie down the street, and Inés leaves, back inside the coffee shop.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE COFFEE SHOP - CONTINUOUS
Amber and Charlie walk away from the coffee shop.
AMBER
Oh there’s no doubt about it at all.
CHARLIE
I know. She’s a robot. Fuck.
AMBER
Her last names starts with SA...
CHARLIE
And she knew about the people being plugged in, but I never mentioned anything about that.
AMBER
I’m sorry man.
CHARLIE
I really liked her. We had, like a connection.
AMBER
Well, who knows, man. Maybe a human and a robot can get it on. Love is love.
CHARLIE
Here it is, Sadler’s building. You ready to do this?
AMBER
Fuck if I know.
CHARLIE
Great. Here we go.
INT. SADLER’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Sounds of Charlie and Amber going into the building lobby.
AMBER
Elevator?
CHARLIE
Yeah, hit the button. The down button.
DING.
AMBER
That was fast.
CHARLIE
Come on. Hit B.
The doors close. Muzak plays. And plays.
AMBER
Does it seem like B is a long way down?
The phone rings.
CHARLIE
Don’t answer it.
AMBER
Really?
CHARLIE
Yeah.
The phone keeps ringing.
AMBER
That’s just too annoying.
She grabs the phone.
AMBER
Hello?
ELEVATOR PERSON
Are you ready for the truth?
AMBER
Who the fuck is this? I have zero patience left, motherfucker, so just say what you gotta say.
ELEVATOR PERSON
Ok, easy, easy. Just follow the signs.
AMBER
Follow this sign.
CHARLIE
He can’t see you.
AMBER
Yeah but he knows what I’m doing. Don’t you, motherfucker?
DING and the doors open. Its the echoey tunnels.
AMBER
Gotta run. Bye.
They exit the elevator and survey their options.
CHARLIE
Which way do you think?
AMBER
I don’t know, there’s 3 choices- that way, that way, or get back in the elevator and get the fuck out of here.
CHARLIE
Do some of your Santeria shit.
AMBER
Oh man, I made that up. Grammy’s Episcopalian. I’m more of a secular humanist.
CHARLIE
I don’t know how much that’s going to help us.
AMBER
Dude on the phone said ‘follow the signs.’ You see any signs?
CHARLIE
Shit. Yeah. Right over there.
AMBER
Sadler Institute for Human Research? Really?
CHARLIE
So I guess we go that way.
INT. TUNNELS UNDER SADLER’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
We hear Amber and Charlie’s footsteps in the echoey tunnel. Boiler room sounds and elevator engines groan behind thick steel doors. Charlie pulls out his phone.
CHARLIE
I’m going record this. Hold on.
(a little ding signifies the recording starts)
Hi doc. Its Charlie. I’m here with Amber... say hi Amber.
AMBER
Hey Doc whats up.
CHARLIE
And we’re in the tunnels below your office. It seems like this is somewhere we’re supposed to look for you... And I have to be honest, its scary as fuck down here.
AMBER
Like horror movie scary! Flickering lightbulbs and shit!
CHARLIE
So at this point I’m pretty much expecting to find a body slumped in the corner, which would suck.
AMBER
You get used to it, its a lot like where I work.
CHARLIE
But it looks like we’re in one of those Saw movies.
AMBER
Oh fuck. You’re right.
CHARLIE
Anyways, unless Amber and I are sharing hallucinations, I think this is real. But if its real, then its so fucked its probably going to make us both crazy.
AMBER
Charlie, there’s another sign.
CHARLIE
Where?
AMBER
On the wall, over there. You see it?
CHARLIE
Let’s keep going.
They tramp up a hallway. Charlie’s phone rings.
CHARLIE
Hello?
AMBER
How the fuck do you have any reception down here? Are you on the special White People Network?
MARCELLO
Charlie, its Marcello.
CHARLIE
Uh, hi?
MARCELLO
I want you to think before you go any further. Its very likely that whatever you find out down there is going to be a lie.
CHARLIE
But, how do I know you’re not lying? I don’t know you. I know Sadler.
MARCELLO
No, you don’t. You didn’t know he had an institute hidden hundreds of meters below his office building, did you?
CHARLIE
No.
AMBER
Definitely not.
MARCELLO
Hi Amber.
AMBER
Hey. Is this Marcello? Nice to meet you.
MARCELLO
Yeah, you too. The people I work with, the Arena, we’re working to expose Dr Sadler. He’s been manipulating you for a long time. Since before he was even your doctor.
AMBER
How the fuck could he do that?
MARCELLO
Before you were with Sadler, you had Dr Camden, right, Amber? And Charlie, you were with Dr Liu?
AMBER
He’s right.
CHARLIE
If he’s manipulating us, then why did he disappear? And what’s the point? Just to have some lab rats? He was never trying to get us to do anything, or give him money. This doesn’t make any sense.
MARCELLO
We managed to... well, we managed to confine him to his Institue for a while. Probably not for long.
CHARLIE
Wait, so you guys kidnapped Sadler?
MARCELLO
No! Not kidnapped. Fuck. Look, we need for you to see him, really SEE HIM. If we try to tell you what’s going on, you’d never believe us. NEVER. Plus, you all have this disorder- we call it The Imperfection- so you’d doubly think we were full of shit, and you don’t even believe yourselves, so, you know, its been a complicated situation.
Amber’s tone changes- surprise and fear.
AMBER
Charlie, can you, uh, hang up the phone?
CHARLIE
(whispering)
Not now Amber!
MARCELLO
There’s a lot more to the situation...
AMBER
Spider!
CHARLIE
NOT NOW--AHHHHHHH!
Slither pitter patter SFX of approaching LEGS.
LEGS
Hey Amber! Sup. Who’s your friend?
CHARLIE
(dazed AF)
Marcello, did you know that there are half-spider half-humans living in the tunnels down here?
MARCELLO
What? Oh, yeah. Yeah they’ve been down there a while, a couple hundred years at least.
CHARLIE
(still dazed)
Oh. Ok.
MARCELLO
I’m just saying, if you see Sadler, make sure you see the real him. Don’t be fooled.
CHARLIE
Yeah, I gotta go.
Click.
AMBER
Legs! Whattup. This is my friend Charlie. Charlie, this is Legs.
LEGS
Hey.
AMBER
Well his name isn’t really Legs, but that’s what I’ve been calling him, for pretty obvious reasons. I guess its a little on the nose.
LEGS
Cause of these.
Flickety flick flick.
CHARLIE
I’m freaking out.
LEGS
He’s taking this way better than you did, Amber.
AMBER
Well, I have a thing about spiders, so... But I’d say I’ve really come around, right?
LEGS
I didn’t know, but sure. Hey, what are you guys doing over here? I thought you always stayed in front of that scary door?
AMBER
Actually, we’re trying to find something. Maybe you could help. We’re looking for, like a hospital, or an institue?
LEGS
Huh. You mean, like a place where there are lots of people, doing things.
AMBER
Sure.
LEGS
Well, its probably right around the corner here...
He starts walking, and they follow
LEGS
...But I think you’ll be surprised.
CHARLIE
Here’s another sign. We’re going the right way.
LEGS
I tried to explain music to my brothers and sisters, but they didn’t get it.
AMBER
Oh, oh yeah, the downtown train to funk town!
LEGS
Our brains just aren’t wired for it, I guess.
CHARLIE
You guys were talking about funk?
AMBER
Yeah.
CHARLIE
Two questions. When?
AMBER
Oh, he comes by the spot where I work--
INT. TUNNELS UNDER SADLER'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
They come around a corner into a larger tunnel, and stop abruptly.
AMBER
What the fuck!
CHARLIE
What?
AMBER
That’s where I work. That’s the fucking door I sit on my ass and guard all day.
LEGS
I told you you’d be surprised.
CHARLIE
S.I.H.R.
LEGS
What?
CHARLIE
That’s what it says on the door. Amber, it says S.I.H.R. on the door!
LEGS
What does that mean?
CHARLIE
Sadler Institue for Human Research!
AMBER
What the fuck? You mean to say I’ve been getting paid minimum wage to sit outside and guard the door of... of... the secret clubhouse of these dark overlord manipulating motherfuckers!??
LEGS
I don’t get it.
CHARLIE
Wow. That’s dark.
(to Legs)
We’ve been looking for someone, our doctor, actually. He’s been missing. Turns out, he’s probably in there.
AMBER
Right behind the door I’ve been supposed to guard.
LEGS
Ironic.
CHARLIE
And cruel. We think they’re the ones who hired Amber and put her here.
LEGS
Yowza. I’d be pissed. I mean, our spider society doesn’t really have a work structure like that, but from what I gather, that’d suck hard.
AMBER
So hard.
CHARLIE
We gotta go in.
AMBER
I know. And I’m fucking pissed.
Charlie presses the buzzer. A woman’s voice answers. Its Susan/ boss lady again.
SUSAN
Hello?
AMBER
Hi there, we’re patients of Dr Sadler’s and we’ve been looking for him, he seems to be, uh, missing?
SUSAN
(pause)
You guys had better come inside.
AMBER
Legs, you coming?
LEGS
Sure, I’ll check it out.
SFX of a door lock buzzing open.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CHINESE RESTAURANT - EVENING
Pauline is posing as a prospective renter for the Chinese restaurant space.
PAULINE
Hi! I’m Pauline.
REBECCA THE REALTOR
Hi! Nice to meet you! I’m Rebecca, from Bizzy Brunettes Realty. I know, I know- I’m blond right now. It isn’t real!! Well, I’m so glad your office called.
PAULINE
And this is Hamish, my partner.
HAMISH
(being smooth)
Ciao.
REBECCA THE REALTOR
Hello. I’ve heard so much about you from Pauline’s assistant! Very exciting to meet a famous chef!
HAMISH
You are too kind.
PAULINE
I hate to bring you out in the evening to show me the place. There’s just such a rush on this project... Investors. You know how it goes.
REBECCA THE REALTOR
Oh I do, I do! And restaurant licenses in this neighborhood?! It’ll move in a matter of days. The market is so hot right now.
HAMISH
So hot.
Sue Ellen walks up.
SUE ELLEN
Hi! I’m here! I made it!
PAULINE
Hi Sue Ellen. This is Rebecca.
SUE ELLEN
Hi. We spoke on the phone before, I’m Pauline’s assistant.
REBECCA THE REALTOR
Oh hi! Welcome. Well, should we take a look inside?
HAMISH
Let’s do this.
INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS
Rebecca pulls out a shitload of keys and starts fussing, finally pulling back the folding grate and opening the front door.
REBECCA THE REALTOR
There we go! Come in.
They walk inside, and fan out into the dining room.
HAMISH
These guys left in a hurry.
REBECCA THE REALTOR
You’re right, sure looks that way. I’m not sure what the situation was... I only found out about this listing today!
SUE ELLEN
There’s still food on the tables.
PAULINE
Hamish, let’s look at the kitchen. Sue Ellen, can you go over the details with Rebecca? Thanks.
We follow Pauline and Hamish, Sue Ellen’s voice fading in the distance.
SUE ELLEN
Ok lots to go over here. Exactly how many square feet are we talking about? And what’s your price per square foot...
INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
We enter the kitchen with Pauline and Hamish. Sue Ellen and Rebecca the Realtor’s conversation fades away.
PAULINE
I’m so glad I never ate here.
HAMISH
Not very healthy.
PAULINE
Not very clean. Ew. Ok, look for a door. There’s got to be another door.
HAMISH
(in his ‘talking to my dog’ voice)
Oh hi buddy! Hi!
PAULINE
Hamish?! We do not have time for your imaginary doggy friend! Its not there!
HAMISH
(still talking to his imaginary dog)
What’s that? Where you going?
Hamish starts to follow his imaginary dog friend.
HAMISH
What’s that? There’s something in the meat grinder?
PAULINE
That’s not a meat grinder, its a can opener.
HAMISH
How am I supposed to know? But my dog is barking at it. He’s acting really strange.
PAULINE
Well, I guess, turn it?
HAMISH
Like this?
A wall opens up behind. SFX of a pneumatic seal being broken and gears turning. Like a bank vault.
PAULINE
Fuck. I knew it.
HAMISH
Did the whole wall just, like, fold up?
PAULINE
Yes.
HAMISH
And there’s a stairway going down, right?
PAULINE
Yep. I see it too.
HAMISH
So that’s verification.
PAULINE
Yes, Hamish.
HAMISH
Well high five!
PAULINE
No high fives, Hamish. Not yet. Come on, let’s go.
INT. TUNNELS UNDER SADLER'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
They start descending the stairs into echoey tunnels.
PAULINE
Look at that.
HAMISH
The exit sign?
PAULINE
Yeah. Its pointing back the way we came. So, apparently, this is an exit for something.
HAMISH
For what?
PAULINE
Well, I’m not sure exactly. But Sadler’s office is on the other side of this block, and the door to Amber’s work is over there about a block away. So this forms kind of a triangle. I knew there had to be another way in. Or out.
HAMISH
Out of what? What are you talking about, Pauline?
PAULINE
The Inventor’s Basement.
HAMISH
What’s the Inventor’s Basement?
PAULINE
Hamish. You’re cute, but man. A little slow on the uptake.
Hamish and Pauline are following the tunnels from in back of the Chinese restaurant.
PAULINE
These tunnels are filthy! Doesn’t anyone tidy up down here?
HAMISH
Doesn’t look like they’ve been used much.
PAULINE
Well, I see footprints in the dust- look.
HAMISH
Look at that. You’re like Sherlock Holmes, but hotter.
He inspects.
HAMISH
Stan Smiths. Men’s, probably a 10 or 11. I’d know that sole pattern anywhere.
They start walking again, slowly.
PAULINE
I used to play tennis when I was a kid. I was pretty good.
HAMISH
I never took you for the athletic type.
PAULINE
Well, it doesn’t really show anymore. But I do like to compete.
HAMISH
Yeah I can see that.
PAULINE
Plus, look at these guns.
She’s pulling up her sleeves and showing her biceps (or so we infer).
HAMISH
Damn. Nice one.
There’s the sound of a man singing Bollywood jams coming from the distance.
PAULINE
(whispering)
Do you hear that?
HAMISH
Yeah. Up ahead.
PAULINE
Come on.
They creep ahead in the tunnel. The sound of the man singing gets a bit louder.
PAULINE
Excuse me- don’t run! I don’t mean scare you!
MAHMOUD
You! What are you doing down here?!
PAULINE
Mahmoud? From the Pharmacy? Is that you?!