REHASHED PILOT

EXT: FRINGES AND CITYSCAPE

ZOOM TO:

THE EDGE OF THE CITY. A BOY OF SIXTEEN IS LEANING AGAINST A WALL

HE IS USING A TRASH-FIRE TO KEEP WARM. THERE IS A MIXTURE OF HUNGER, THIRST,

INTELLIGENCE, AND THE KIND OF PAIN THAT COMES FROM HAVING TO SELL ONE'S BODY

IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, AS DISTASTEFUL AS IT MAY BE.

BRYCE

(SHIVERS AND RUBS HIS HANDS OVER THE TRASH-FIRE. HE LOOKS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE WHORE-HOUSE HE HAS ESCAPED FROM JUST A FEW DAYS AGO. THEN, HE TURNS TO LOOK AT...)

CUT TO:

EXT: NETWORK 23. THE CAMERA MOVES TOWARD IT AND

CUT TO:

INT.

WE ARE IN THE CONTROL ROOM AT NETWORK 23. A BALDING MAN IN HIS LATE 40S HAS HIS EYES ON SEVERAL TELEVISION SETS. EACH ONE IS SHOWING A DIFFERENT REPORTER.

EACH REPORTER IS BEING HANDLED BY A CONTROLLER. TWO OF THESE CONTROLLERS ARE THEORA JONES AND ARLENE DUNHAM. THEIR RESPECTIVE REPORTERS ARE EDISON CARTER AND PADDY ASHTON.

MURRAY

Miss Jones. What's Carter's angle for tonight's show?

THEORA

He wants to focus on how television as a medium has taken the focus off of entertainment in general for the sake of advertising.

MURRAY

They're not going to like that up at the top.

THEORA

Since when has that ever bothered Edison Carter?

MURRAY

What about you, Miss Dunham? What has Mr. Ashton got for us?

ARLENE

He's doing a show about the new vehicles they're preparing for next weekend's scumball game.

MURRAY

Excellent. At least that'll sooth Cheviot's nerves, which I'm certain Edison Carter will frazzle quite a bit with his report.

FADE TO:

EXT.

ZIK ZAK. IT IS DARK AND THE NEW TOKYO SKYLINE IS BRIGHT

WITH NEO SIGNS. SOME STEADY. OTHERS FLASHING.

ZOOM TO:

INT. ZIK ZAK. BOARD ROOM. THE ROOM IS CLEAN. THERE IS VERY LITTLE ORNAMENTATION, SAVE FOR A FOUNTAIN IN THE CORNER ADORNED WITH BONSAI TREES AND FLAT PEBBLES.

PED XING

(SITS CALMLY AT THE HEAD OF THE TABLE. HIS SMALL STATURE HIDES A MAN OF GREAT POWER AND CAPABILITY.)

MR. KIYOKO

I do not approve of Mr. Carter's choice of topics. We must keep a lid on any broadcast which threatens..

PED XING

And tell me. What do you suggest, Kiyoko-san? Shall we send our Yakuza after Mr. Carter? There are very few assassins in Neo London who aren't working for at least one of the Networks.

MR. KIYOKO

We might consider hiring from the Blanks. They have no love for the Networks.

MR. SAKAMOTO

There are rumors of a pair that might fit our plans. Their true names are not known.

PED XING

How do we find these unknowns?

MR. SAKAMOTO

They call themselves Breughal and Mahler.

FADE OUT.

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