CAT 9 PILOT EPISODE

Max Headroom - Cat 9 : Pilot Episode - Plague 2005

SCENE: EXT. FRINGES. A HALF HOUR BEFORE SUNSET.

The scene fades in from early 70s style TV static until we can clearly see a rat scampering along. We follow the rat to the end of the alley which leads out to a patch of the FRINGES.

BRYCE LYNCH is on his way home from a college reunion that his coworker, EDISON CARTER, has talked him into attending. It is getting late, so he is taking a shortcut in order to get back to NETWORK 23 before dark. We follow BRYCE as he walks down the litter-strewn sidewalk. A sick-looking BLANK reaches out a trembling hand to him.

BRYCE (looks down hearing the BLANK cough)

BLANK (wiggling CUP): Spare a few?

BRYCE: Why not? I've already behaved more emotionally today than I normally do. May as well round it off nicely with a friendly gesture. (camera moves in to CLOSE UP of Bryce placing a bill in the BLANKs CUP)

BLANK: Kind of you, young sir. Most of the young don't approach me... (coughs)... what with the plague and all.

BRYCE: I wouldn't worry too much. (BRYCE pats the BLANK on the shoulder then looks up toward the NETOWRK 23 skyscraper about a mile away as BRYCE resumes his journey back to NETWORK 23.

SCENE II: SHOT OF NETWORK 23 BUILDING- ZOOM TO TOP and FADE THROUGH TO BOARDROOM-

INT. NETWORK 23 BOARD ROOM.

We BOARD ROOM TABLE from door. It is not a regularly scheduled meeting time, so many of the chairs are empty. CHEVIOT, EDWARDS, and LAUREN are in their respective seats. The face of SIMON PELLER is visible on the GIANT SCREEN that dominates the wall opposite CHEVIOT's chair.

CHEVIOT: Mr. Peller, I don't care what you think of the Blanks. This plague is serious.

SIMON PELLER: It's not serious. It's only the Blanks who are getting it, so I don't seen why you're so concerned. They don't buy your sponsor's products. Most of them can't even read...

EDWARDS: What if it were to get out of the Fringes? There's always a risk.

SIMON PELLER: Even if it did spread beyond the Fringes, so what? Like I just said this morning, that plague would do us no more harm than the common cold. We can afford proper health care and medicines that make us virtually immune.

CUT TO BRYCE. EXT. STILL IN THE FRINGES. .

BRYCE (STAGGERING)(VOICE OVER): What's wrong with me? Peller said just this morning that the plague only affects... that our medicines make us immune. But how can we have a medicine to fight it? It's brand new. I've got it now. Can't go back home. Can't risk infecting the others... But where to go... Need to help Edison. He's ... lost without me.

(BRYCE's vision begins to fail him. He spots Nightingale's Body Bank. We follow Bryce as he staggers to Nightingale's and approaches the window where FLORENCE is working.

FLORENCE: You don't look too good, kiddo. Smart of you to come directly here rather than waste time with the medical center if it's the plague you got.

BRYCE: I need you to sell me one of your cryo units.

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