CAT 9 PILOT EPISODE
Max Headroom - Cat 9 : Pilot Episode - Plague 2005 -ACT V- -SCENE I- -FADE IN FROM GREY- -EXT. STEPS leading to the main door of THE ACADEMY OF COMPUTER SCIENCES. A CHESHIRE CAT MOON is overhead and a few CLOUDS are starting to gather. JENNY, ROBERT, PAULINE, SARAH, JACK and BLANK BRUNO are there. They are dressed in dark colors, each holding a WHITE TAPER. Each TAPER has a SILVER or GOLDEN (not yellow or orange) flame. They stand silently in their circle, facing each other, but with their heads bowed. A moment later, they turn to face outward, silently raising their CANDLES. -CUT TO: INT. ACS. HEAD SYSOP SIDNEY HARDING is in his office. Unable to sleep, he has decided to use the time he is awake to do a little work. Through the WINDOW, he can see the faint flicker of the silver and gold TAPERS. SYSOP HARDING stands up and goes over to the window. He watches the silent vigil for a moment. Then he goes over to the COAT RACK, grabs his jacket, and heads outside -We FOLLOW SYSOP HARDING to the steps where BRYCE's old classmates and former SYSOP are holding vigil- SYSOP HARDING (a look of recognition appearing on his face): Jenny Wilcox. Robert Small. Pauline Rose. Sarah Davidson. and Jack Warren. And... Blank Bruno is it? BLANK BRUNO nods SYSOP HARDING: I must say, this is most irregular. If I were to make a guess, I'd think you were holding a candlelight vigil for a fallen friend. The others lower their CANDLES but keep them upright and lit. JENNY: Bryce Lynch, sir. SYSOP HARDING (puts a shocked hand over his heart): Oh my goodness. Lynch is dead? But how? JENNY: Plague sir. Though he's not entirely gone. He's in cryo at Network 23, linked to the mainframe as an AI. SYSOP HARDING (amazed but pleased): Oh well done! Well done indeed. How did you find out, though. Network employees don't usually call other networks. JENNY: Theora Jones contacted me. Apparently they still need manual work done there so they've asked me to transfer since Bryce felt I was the best person to work in the area where his cryo unit is located. SYSOP HARDING: Yes. He always did trust you most. I sometimes almost think he might've fallen in love with you some day. JENNY: That will never happen now. So there's no need to dwell on it. SYSOP HARDING: Quite right, child. Quite right. Still. It's quite a pity. The pair of you would've had fine offspring. Of course, if he's in cry his DNA is still... JENNY glares at SYSOP HARDING BLANK BRUNO: Sir, Perhaps now is not the time. SYSOP HARDING: Oh, of course. My apologies. JENNY nods coldly, then rejoins the other ALUMNI in their vigil. SYSOP HARDING (in a whisper to BLANK BRUNO): It would be a shame to lose Lynch's DNA. BLANK BRUNO (whispering back): I agree. But there is a time and place for all things and this is neither for such a conversation. (he rejoins his former students.) SYSOP HARDING watches the vigil silently, then goes back inside. -SCENE II- EXT. GLADHAND MEADOWS CEMETARY. BRYCE's MEMORIAL STONE. EDISON CARTER is there. ALSO PRESENT ARE THEORA JONES, MURRAY, BEN CHEVIOT, LAUREN, GENE ASHWELL, EDWARDS, ANGIE BARRI, JANIE CRANE, TED, VANNA SMITH, BLANK REG, and DOMINIQUE VANNA: I was asked to come here to say a few words about our dear friend, who has departed this world, and who yet has left behind his mind so that we may continue to benefit from his wisdom. But as I stand here with you all, I can not find the right words to properly honor a young man so unique, so wise, and so pure. I know that while we will continue to hear his words and his voice, we will grieve to know that he will never receive his first kiss or a walk on the beach. THEORA sniffles. EDISON, TED, and MURRAY offer her tissues. She takes the one MURRAY is offering. EDISON and TED exchange looks with raised eyebrows and shrug. THEORA steps up and swallows back a tear VANNA nods to hear, seeing that THEORA wishes to speak THEORA: Bryce was a tender soul His research was important to him, but so were his friends. We should remember his kindness. EDISON: You want us to forgive Peller for causing his death? THEORA: No. But we should not be bloodthirsty in our choice of sentencing. VANNA: She's right, Edison. Bryce would not want that. EDISON: I will try to be fair as fair to Peller as I am to the people I interview. VANNA: Like the people at Mind's Eye? (She looks over at the grave next to BRYCE's which reads "PADDY ASHTON") EDISON takes a calming breath. We Follow EDISON to PADDY's grave EDISON: Paddy. Old friend. Whatever part of Bryce's soul is with you if any, please watch over it. (He looks down silently for a moment, then returns to BRYCE's grave)
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