THE IMPERFECTION, PART 9
INT. TUNNELS UNDER SADLER'S BUILDING - EVENING
Hamish and Pauline are still trying to figure out how to help Charlie and Amber.
PAULINE
We’re getting close, I can feel it.
HAMISH
These tunnels go on for ever.
PAULINE
The entrance has to be here! It has to be!
HAMISH
Good boy! Good boy!
Hamish is talking to his imaginary dog.
PAULINE
I don’t get it. I’ve stopped hallucinating since Mahmoud slipped us the placebo’s last week, but you’re still seeing the imaginary dog?
HAMISH
Yeah, he’s right here. Good doggy! I don’t know what Mahmoud’s talking about, nothing changed for me.
PAULINE
Come to think of it, maybe all the times I saw walls turning and rooms changing it was real... maybe I never hallucinated at all.
HAMISH
Mother Mary and Joseph. That’s a really disturbing thought. Do you think it could it be true?
PAULINE
I can’t even begin to process that.
HAMISH
Because you were like the number cheerleader for Sadler- leading the group, doing the homework, running the blog....
PAULINE
I said I can’t process!!
HAMISH
Right, right. Got it.
(beat)
I can’t believe Sadler was lying to us.
PAULINE
He was supposed to be helping us. Is there a worse kind of betrayal than that?
HAMISH
(to his dog)
What’s that?
PAULINE
I said ‘He was supposed-’
HAMISH
Not you, the dog! What’s that boy? Here? This wall?
(to Pauline)
Its here. He keeps pawing and sniffing the wall.
Sound of gunfire in the distance, muffled by walls and echoey from the tunnels.
HAMISH
Fuck, you hear that?
PAULINE
What is that?!
HAMISH
Guns. Those are guns.
PAULINE
Check the wall! There has to be a way in!
HAMISH
I’m right behind you.
PAULINE
Stop staring at my ass.
INT. SADLER INSTITUTE INNER SANCTUM - EVENING
Amber, Charlie, and Legs are locked in the inner sanctum of the Sadler Institute for Human Research. Marcello and the Arena commandos are outside the door, trying to get in.
AMBER
So we’re fucked?
CHARLIE
Totally.
There’s an incredibly loud rumbling sound that builds and grows.
AMBER
Charlie, do you hear that?
CHARLIE
Yeah. What the fuck--
LEGS
Oh good, my family is here.
CHARLIE
That’s a good thing right?
LEGS
Yeah, yeah. Its cool, just, uh, come over here for a sec.
There’s a wet, sloppy, smacking sound.
CHARLIE
Ew. What is that?!
LEGS
That’s better. You too, Amber.
And again.
AMBER
Oh no! Oh man, that’s really gross, Legs!
LEGS
Well, this way you won’t get accidentally eaten, or poisoned or anything.
AMBER
Aww you got it my mouth! And my hair! You DO NOT fuck with my hair, Legs!
The rumbling grows in the background.
LEGS
Won’t be long now.
MARCELLO
Guys, do you want to know what’s actually going on or not?
CHARLIE
Yeah, we do. But I’m not saying we’re going to believe you.
AMBER
And I’m not entirely convinced any of this is actually happening at all.
CHARLIE
Tell me about it.
LEGS
Seems real to me.
CHARLIE
No offense, but your an eight foot tall half-man half-spider who I met an hour ago, so you’re not my first choice for declaring what’s fact and what’s fiction, here.
LEGS
From you’re perspective, maybe. But I’m just saying, this is real, man.
MARCELLO
I’d rather tell you face to face, why don’t you just open the door.
SUSAN
Don’t open the door.
Susan’s dead body just started talking from the floor where it lies. They ALL SCREAM.
AMBER
Ahhh!
CHARLIE
Holy shit!
LEGS
What the fuck??!
AMBER
Susan, is that you? I thought you were dead?!
CHARLIE
Uh, she’s lying on the floor, she’s not breathing and she’s been shot in the tit, so she’s is definitely one hundred percent dead!
SUSAN
Don’t open the door. They want to kidnap you, to use against us. The Arena will use you. How do you think they got in? They followed you, and used you as a distraction to get past our perimeter. They’ll use you again if you let them.
MARCELLO
Charlie, dude, not true. Not at all. We had this raid planned for weeks. As soon as we had Sadler confined to the Institute, we knew we could go after him, and set you guys free.
LEGS
I’m confused. You humans live a really complicated life. Things are much easier when you’re a tunnel spider.
The rumbling is getting louder still. Like a train passing underground.
MARCELLO
Its not now. Its not whatever year you think it is. Its 2643.
AMBER
Ok.
CHARLIE
Here we go.
AMBER
Right?
MARCELLO
The computers, the Artificial Intelligence, they took over, just like everyone said they would. No one listened, of course. And boom, in an instant, the AI’s figured out that humanity was ruining their power source, the planet, the earth. So they took them out. Total Human Eradication.
AMBER
We saw the movie, too, Marcello. Like eight times.
CHARLIE
It was good, though, right?
MARCELLO
Just listen, ok?! The AI’s are just like people- they have differences of opinion, they have divergent reactions to similar sets of data... So some of them wanted to meet their makers. They wanted to meet their god. So they made you. They made you from old DNA, grew you in a tube, and created a world you could live in so they could study you.
AMBER
What could they learn from us?
MARCELLO
All the things they don’t understand. Love. Friendship. Integrity. Hard choices. Imagination. These are the things only gods can know. And you, you are those gods.
CHARLIE
But why do we hallucinate? Why were told we were sick?
MARCELLO
That’s The Imperfection! Its so clever! They convinced you that you’re sick so you have to stay together, check in with them constantly, can’t travel... Its genius, really. Perfect control without you ever knowing.
AMBER
Charlie, you buying any of this?
There’s yelling over the loudspeaker. Gunshots.
SUSAN
Don’t. Don’t believe it. Because Marcello was a patient of Sadler’s, and he’s off his meds, so - as you can see - he’s lost all grip on reality! Please, don’t let this happen to you, Amber. Charlie, please don’t buy into this crazy!
AMBER
Says the dead lady lying on the floor.
MARCELLO
If Sadler makes it to the Meadow, we’re all fucked.
More gunshots and screams.
LEGS
Oh good, the spiders are here.
AMBER
Fuck.
INT. TUNNELS UNDER SADLER'S BUILDING - SAME TIME
Hamish and Pauline are getting close to the Sadler Institute HQ. The rumble of the attacking Spider Centaurs is louder. SFX of the slithering sound gets louder and closer as LEGS 2 shows up.
PAULINE
What the hell is that sound---AHHHHH!
HAMISH
What is it? AHHHHHH!!
LEGS 2
Hey, hey its cool, relax.
HAMISH
What are you?!!!
LEGS 2
It’s ok, its ok! We live down here. I got to go, though, a friend of mine is in trouble.
HAMISH
You’re not going to eat us?
LEGS 2
No! Why would we do that? We only eat things that are dead. Just like you.
PAULINE
I’m a pescatarian!
LEGS 2
I don’t know what that means, but ok. I got to run.
PAULINE
Wait! How can you tell your friend is in trouble.
LEGS 2
He sent me a message. We have very sensitive, uh, what’s the word...
PAULINE
Noses?
LEGS 2
Nope. No nose.
HAMISH
Antennae?
LEGS 2
Receptors. I’d call them receptors.
PAULINE
Ok, well we’re looking for our friends, too, and I think they’re also in trouble.
LEGS 2
Humans?
HAMISH
Yes, they’re humans! How is that even a question?
LEGS 2
Well, I mean, they could be spider people like me. Anyways, yeah, they’re are definitely a couple of humans right over there. On the other side of that wall. I’m going around the other side.
More spider centaurs slide by.
HAMISH
Oh god there’s more of them!
LEGS 2
Yeah, when a distress call goes out, we all rally. Come on, Tunnel Spiders!!
Slither pitter pat.
PAULINE
I don’t know if I can do this, Hamish.
HAMISH
We have to! Come on. You said the walls move. How do we open this wall?
PAULINE
I have no idea.
HAMISH
Look at it! Look at it and figure it out! Use that big beautiful brain!
PAULINE
I can’t! Every time I walk into a room, it knows its me and turns into whatever set its supposed to look like! So if I’m here, it won’t work! I think I only ever saw it because I’m such a fast walker!
HAMISH
You do walk very fast.
PAULINE
I know. I know... I know!
HAMISH
What?
PAULINE
Hamish, go get Mahmoud. Bring him here.
HAMISH
What if he doesn’t want to come?
PAULINE
(sinister- the angry voice comes out)
Bring him!
HAMISH
Got it. Sit tight. He’s just back up the tunnel about a hundred meters.
PAULINE
Hey, spider person! Spider guy!! I need to ask a favor, real quick.
LEGS 2
What’s up?
PAULINE
Can I borrow some web?
LEGS 2
Sure, but let’s make it fast.
The spider centaur thing squirts out some web as Hamish’s footsteps echo in the tunnel.
INT. SADLER INSTITUTE INNER SANCTUM - SAME TIME
There’s yelling over the loudspeaker. Gunshots.
LEGS
Oh good, the spiders are here.
AMBER
Fuck.
CHARLIE
Are they going to kill them?
LEGS
Probably. We don’t have a lot of nuance when it comes to the whole friend or foe question.
CHARLIE
That’s probably a good a thing.
AMBER
No its not. You don’t believe that Charlie. Legs, don’t kill those dudes, man. All life is sacred.
LEGS
What does sacred mean?
AMBER
Oh well that’s going to be hard to explain.
CHARLIE
Sacred means ‘connected to god and thus deserving veneration.’
LEGS
Hey that’s me!
CHARLIE
What?
LEGS
Well, according to Marcello, you guys are like gods to the Artificial Intelligence, and I’m connected to you... plus, I totally deserve veneration, because lets be honest right now I’m saving your ass, so... boom. I’m sacred.
CHARLIE
Wow. Good call.
AMBER
Legs the Sacred. I like it. Very Dungeons and Dragons.
LEGS
What’s that?
AMBER
Never mind.
MARCELLO
(under attack)
Charlie!! Amber!! Don’t let Sadler get to the Meadow---AHHHH!
AMBER
Oops. I think Marcello got bit.
CHARLIE
We still need a way out of this room. And not through the fucking war zone out there. There’s got to be another way!
SFX of giant gears start turning, scraping concrete.
AMBER
The wall! Its moving!
CHARLIE
Stand back!
LEGS
Oh that’s cool! I knew those things moved! I knew it!
Loud SFX of the wall mechanically moving and folding out of the way.
AMBER
Is that...
CHARLIE
Mahmoud?
MAHMOUD
(with some web in his mouth)
Get me out of this!!
AMBER
Dude, you’re tied up with spider web? That’s awesome.
CHARLIE
Wish I’d thought of that.
AMBER
Mahmoud’s got a thing for rope play. Ok, that’s cool.
MAHMOUD
Seriously get me out of here! I Can’t breathe!
LEGS
I can help with that.
AMBER
No rush, Legs. Take your time.
Slithery sloppy SFX of Legs removing web from Mahmoud. Mahmoud SCREAMS afraid of LEGS.
MAHMOUD
You know this... thing? Guy?
Spider?
CHARLIE
Yeah, that’s Legs, and he’s our friend. Mostly because he’s really HELPFUL and NICE, unlike some assholes I know.
LEGS
You’re welcome.
MAHMOUD
I’m out of here.
PAULINE
(yelling from a distance)
Charlie? Amber?! Did it work?! Is it open?
CHARLIE
That’s Pauline! Let’s go!
AMBER
What about Susan?
LEGS
Um, she’s dead.
CHARLIE
If that’s even real, which none of us know for sure, so... fuck it?
AMBER
Yeah fuck it.
We hear their feet sprinting down the echoey corridors.
CHARLIE
Pauline! Oh my god am I glad to see you.
AMBER
Pauline! Hamish! Aw man! Give me a hug!
HAMISH
Thank god you’re safe! Oh gross what IS THAT? Are you covered in PEE?
AMBER
No, no that’s just safety juice. Hey, Legs! Legs come here man, meet our friends. Legs, this is Hamish and Pauline.
Legs pitter patters over.
LEGS
Hey. Really nice to meet you.
PAULINE
(trepidation in her voice)
Nice to meet you too?
HAMISH
Nice to meet you! Your friends were very helpful!
PAULINE
And surprising.
HAMISH
And strong!
PAULINE
Can we please get out of these tunnels? I really need some air!
CHARLIE
I couldn’t agree more. Let’s get the fuck out of here.
AMBER
Legs, we’re headed up top. What’s your deal?
LEGS
I’m going to hook up with my friends. Yeah. They’re probably webbing the shit out of that place right now.
AMBER
Are they going to eat those guys? Like that dude at the console, Enrique?
LEGS
Well... Yeah. Yeah once they’re dead. Its kind of routine.
AMBER
Oh well. You do you. I’ll come back down and find you soon- I’ll bring some food.
LEGS
That’d be great, I’d really like that. Oop. Just got a new message. Dinner time. Gotta run.
CHARLIE
Bye legs!
PAULINE
Bye!
HAMISH
Let’s go.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE - NIGHT
Music announces their triumphant escape from the trial of the Inventor’s Basement. They emerge onto the street.
PAULINE
Well what do we do now?
HAMISH
We do this.
AMBER
Oh shit! Hamish and Pauline sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s...
CHARLIE
Anybody hungry?
PAULINE
What?
AMBER
I’m starving, actually.
CHARLIE
I know a good chinese food joint right around the corner.
CUT TO:
INT. CHINESE RESTAURANT - DAY
The door chimes ring as Pauline, Amber, and Charlie all enter the restaurant.
YULING
You’re back.
CHARLIE
Yep. So are you.
YULING
Yeah, Marcello found me in the tunnels and gave me my keys back.
CHARLIE
So you owe us one?
YULING
Not really.
AMBER
What’s good? Like, what’s your favorite?
YULING
I like the General Tso’s. And the green beans with garlic.
AMBER
Mmm sounds good.
PAULINE
(remembering that she saw the kitchen)
No thank you.
YULING
What about you?
HAMISH
Chicken on rice, no sauce.
PAULINE
Are you guys really going to eat?!
CHARLIE
Being hungry isn’t going to help, Pauline.
AMBER
Support small business.
YULING
Tea? You? Tea?
Everyone mumbles that they want tea.
YULING
Everyone wants tea, got it. Be right back.
Charlie pushes his chair back, follows Yuling.
CHARLIE
Hey Yuling? You told me that when I completed the three trials you’d tell me where to find Sadler. I’ve completed the three trials, and I even found Sadler, but now, he’s missing again.
YULING
Do you still want to find him?
CHARLIE
I don’t know.
YULING
Yeah that’s what I thought. Listen, Charlie, you’re in a very tricky predicament here. The Sadler Institute, they want one thing. The Arena, they want another. But what about you, what do you want?
CHARLIE
I just want to live my life, man! I’ve been having hallucinations my whole life, and I finally got a grip, you know? I had a job- I guess it wasn’t a job, it was just part of the... experiment.
(beat)
I want what everybody wants- friends, purpose, love: the basics, man, just the most basic elements of a normal life.
YULING
That may not be on the menu.
CHARLIE
Don’t be cute.
PAULINE
I don’t get it, Yuling. Yuling, that’s your name right? I’m Pauline.
YULING
I know who you are.
PAULINE
Ok that’s creepy. Look, the question is, who’s side are YOU on? Are you with the Arena? That Marcello guy? Or are you with Sadler and the Institute?
YULING
There’s not just two teams, Pauline. It doesn’t work like that. There’s more to know, there’s more going on behind the scenes than I can know, even... There’s another place, where the answers are, sometimes. The Meadow.
AMBER
The answers are there SOMETIMES?
YULING
Yeah, sometimes. Its a probability thing, like Schrodinger’s cat or the way and electron moves around a nucleus.
AMBER
I knew I was going to be sorry I asked. I knew it.
YULING
Well its complicated stuff. And, Charlie?
CHARLIE
Yeah?
YULING
You have friends, and for now you have peace. Wasn’t there something else you wanted, what did you call it, the basics of a normal life?
AMBER
Love. Dude said love.
CHARLIE
I have to go.
YULING
Just so you know, Charlie, Inés...
CHARLIE
What? What about Inés?
YULING
She’s from the Meadow.
SFX of Charlie standing up, pushing his chair back.
CHARLIE
I’ll catch up with you guys later.
CUT TO:
INT. SUBWAY - DAY
Charlie is on the F train.
SUBWAY ANNOUNCER VOICE
East River. East River. Next stop is York street. Go get her, Charlie. Stand clear of the closing doors.
CHARLIE
I don’t know why I’m recording this, Dr Sadler. As far as I can tell, you’re the enemy. Or maybe you’re saving the world. I don’t know. But whatever system you had working, I think its broken, at least for now, by Marcello and his goons. I haven’t had any hallucinations in two days, as far as I can tell, so maybe I don’t need that medicine after all. Or worse, maybe the medicine is what caused the hallucinations. That would suck. That would mean you’re straight up one of the worst people in the world.
He exits the train station.
EXT. STREET UNDER THE EAST RIVER - CONTINUOUS
SFX of an empty street, cars in the distance.
CHARLIE
I’m going to Inés’ apartment building, the one in the old factory under the East River. I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me, but... well, there’s something I need to know. I have some feelings, good feelings, towards her. And I guess, just like everything else in my life, I’m wondering if they’re real. I have to go. That’s all for now.
He dials a number. We hear him through the phone, leaving a message.
INÉS
(her voice mail)
Hi, you’ve reached Inés, leave me a message.
CHARLIE
Inés, hey, its Charlie. I’m outside, uh, standing outside the old factory, wondering if its actually an apartment building, or... something else entirely. And I don’t know who you are, or where you’re from or what the Meadow is, but, when we were hanging out at red lobster, that was the closest thing I’ve felt to what I think normal life is like. It was fun, is what I’m trying to say. I had fun. And I want to do it again.
He shuffles his feet, looks around.
CHARLIE
So I don’t know if you’re avoiding my call because I’m batshit crazy and pretty much a terrible bet as dating options go... or maybe you’re standing in a human-sized cubby, plugged into the wall recharging. I’m just going to sit down here on the steps outside and take a little rest, I think, and wait for you. Just so we can talk- nothing creepy, I promise. Oh no.
His voice changes. SFX of birdsong and a gentle breeze. The city sounds disappear.
CHARLIE
Well now everything turned into a beautiful woodland scene again. Fuck! I really thought I was DONE with this!! And here come the deer and oh yeah there’s the chipmunk guy...
INÉS
Hi Charlie.
His real voice, not on the phone:
CHARLIE
Inés? Is that really you?
INÉS
Yup. Its me.
CHARLIE
But... why are you naked? And standing in the middle of my hallucination? And surrounded by deer and otters and... oh look at that little blue bird landing on your finger...
INÉS
Cute right?
CHARLIE
Adorable. SOOO cute.
INÉS
Come with me.
CHARLIE
(so awkwardly)
Yes I would like to come with you. But, uh, where?
INÉS
You haven’t guessed?
Charlie laughs, figuring it out.
CHARLIE
Ohhh. Aha!
INÉS
And he’s got it! Nice one. Come on, I want to show you The Meadow.