TIO Rogue – No One Of Consequence – Project TIO

TIO Rogue – No One Of Consequence – Project TIO
By
T James
Memoirs Of An Underacheiver:
The Life And Times Of No One Of Consequence
by
T. James
2010-2021 timothyjsipp@yahoo.com
505-221-2534
TIO ROGUE – ORIGIN STORY
EXT./INT. WASHINGTON D.C. – PENTAGON – 33RD SUB-FLOOR
INSERT: WE FLY IN FROM OUTSIDE THE PENTAGON THROUGH PASSAGES
INTO STAIRWELLS PAST CHECKPOINTS OF INCREASING LEVELS OF
REQUIRED SECURITY CLEARANCES AND INCREASING SECURITY DOWN TO
THE 33RD SUB-FLOOR MARKED TS-SCI-Q-33 COSMIQ.
On Screen: We see it is 0400hrs, Saturday, April 29th, 2007.
A US Navy 4-Star Admiral, Denzel Washington-type, stands at
the heavily armored doors to TS-SCI-Q-33 COSMIQ.
He is scanned from head to foot. The screen embedded in the
doors says “Confirmed Admiral Rodney Archibald Green – Head
of Defense Intelligence”.
The doors open and a 4-Star US Army General ushers the
Admiral inside.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
(Bruce Willis type)
Morning Admiral Green. Thank you
for being here this morning. I
realize it’s a bit early for a flag
officer—
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
(Denzel Washington type)
Well Bob, if it isn’t too early for
a Green Flag it isn’t too early for
a Blue Flag. But it might be time
to shoot the signal corps.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Well said Rodney. Coffee? (No)
Right. Then let’s get right to it.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Very well. What’s the Sit-Rep Bob
and why did we have to meet here?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
As you know Rodney several of our
long-term deep cover operations
have been activated and our assets
have gone live.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Yes Bob, I’m aware of all of
them. So—
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Well, maybe not all of them. This
one has been close hold. my eyes
only. on Executive Order since ’86.
two years before you became
director of DIA.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Bob are you telling me that you’ve
been running a Black Op down here
without my knowledge since 1986?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Here and off-site. Yessir. That is
exactly what I’m telling you.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
What’s changed? Why reveal it now?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Because it’s time Rod. Have you
heard of a Clandestine Operator
codenamed TIO?
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
TIO? The die-hard, unbreakable
perfect assassin? The 50 foot Black
Dragon? The ghost story we tell new
spooks to put the fear of God into
them?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Yes Admiral. But he’s also a real
guy. Nice guy too. Well, if it’s
personal… Professionally he’s a
thorough-going bastard whose earned
his reputation. But he needs your
help. And we need you to take him
on and develop him further.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Give me the real background on this
guy and I’ll see what I can do.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Fair enough Admiral. Back in
1986…
3.
NM DESERT – TOP SECRET MILITARY BASE – NASSOCOM – DAYBREAK
We follow a late model military vehicle with a gold star
flag on it deep into a highly-classified remote section of
the base that looks deserted.
On the screen we see: North American Space Special
Operations Command. This morning June 13, 1986.
The vehicle pulls up to an old well next to a barn. And a
cage springs up around the car.
The well turns into a giant scanner that scans the vehicle
turning it into x-ray, thermal and ultrasound images.
EXT./INT. – TOP SECRET MILITARY BASE – CONTINUOUS
The vehicle clears the lowered barricade and enters the
barn. The barn doors close.
INT. – TOP SECRET MILITARY BASE – BARN – CONTINUOUS
The floor of the barn opens and the vehicle drives down the
ramp and into a futuristic underground parking area with
robotic valets.
The unrevealed brigadier general exits the car and takes the
holographic ticket from the robotic valet who gets into the
car, peels out and drives off with the general shaking his
head.
INT. – UNDERGROUND FACILITY – CONTINUOUS
We follow the general as he passes through a series of odd,
serious and comical security measures reminiscent of Get
Smart.
After retrieving his wallet from the pick-pocket robot the
general tries to get his favorite pocket knife back from the
other robot, with an apparent pocket knife fetish.
The general jingles his keys to distract the weird robot
while he swipes his pocket knife and quickly moves past the
momentarily open barrier.
4.
INT. – UNDERGROUND FACILITY – CONTINUOUS
The general walks into the control room while adjusting
himself and looking over his shoulder shaking his head. As
he turns back he sees his contact.
Dr. Violet Jones (Alice Eve or Margot Robbie type) is
beautiful, nerdy and repressed. It’s obvious that she
doesn’t get out much.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Good morning General Scoundrel. I
trust our security officers weren’t
too intrusive this time.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Scounrel, not scoundrel. Dr. Jones.
Intrusive!? At least this time I’m
still wearing my underwear.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes sir we had them adjusted after
that last incident. It seems it was
somebody’s idea of a joke after a
night of drunken programming that
they forgot to undo.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
A joke huh?!, being sexually
assaulted by a robot is no fun I
can assure you.
Violet smiles awkwardly and bites her bottom lip.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
But this time, one of the robots
was stroking the blade of my pocket
knife in a… sex, a…
disconcerting way—
DR. VIOLET JONES
—Yessir. We’ll have our cyber
experts Hans Schizebauer and Mark
deSade look into that this week.
For now if you’ll follow me I will
update you on project TIO.
5.
INT. UNDERGROUND FACILITY – MAINFRAME ROOM – CONTINUOUS
We see a giant computer working like mad to power an early
IBM 286 PC and an original Apple IIc with monochromatic
screens, the IBM in green and the Apple in orange.
Two computer dorks with name tags, Hans Schizebaur and Mark
deSade, are playing head to head PONG over old modems on the
desk. They don’t stop when Dr. Jones and General Scounrel
enter.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
(Austrian accent)
Your Apple is no match for my open
platform PC’s 16K processing.
MARK DESADE
(French accent)
Well your IBM clone is as ugly as
it is stupid… green screen?
Really, what’s next: blue screen?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Boys. The general is here.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR & MARK DESADE
Uh-huh.
MARK DESADE
Die shit farmer!
Mark deSade beats Hans Schizebaur and grabs Hans’s phone
receiver out of the cradle and air humps it. The Modems say
DARPANET- Official Use Only OUO-3.
MARK DESADE
Ah hah, damn your 16K open
platform. My Apple two-C rocking an
overclocked
MOS-Tech sixty-five-zero-two is
the far superior Pong machine.
(replacing receiver in modem
cradle) Better Ping for the Pong.
Get it Schotzy?
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Aside from your attempt at
neanderthal wit with a ping pong
pun your not bad for a Cromagnon
computer hack.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
MARK DESADE
Say my name! Say it swine!
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
(sighing)
Fine. Abacus rex.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Boys! The general is here to be
updated on Project TIO not watch
you two abusing government
property. Sorry, sir, they don’t
get out much. (Leaning in) We,
don’t get out much.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
I see that. My time is limited. So
if we can please continue without
further delay…?
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Sorry sir. Certainly.
MARK DESADE
Right this way your highness.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Never gonna happen scum-puppet.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Shot down!
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Gentleman and I use the term
loosely—
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Speaking of loosely, how was your
security check this time? (Giggles)
MARK DESADE
Yeah. Did our program provide a
kinder, gentler (German Accent)
inzpektion? (Giggles)
DR. VIOLET JONES
Inappropriate!
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Boys, I think you might just get
drafted and assigned to my unit one
of these days. How would you like
that?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
Hans and Mark quit laughing immediately and apologize.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR & MARK DESADE
Sorry sir… We didn’t…
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Lets move on with this little freak
show I have general-stuff to do.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR & MARK DESADE
Yessir.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Please, follow me.
MARK DESADE
Us.
The general and Dr. Jones follow Hans and Mark to a vault
door.
INSERT – HANS AND MARK GET OUT THEIR HP SCIENTIFIC
CALCULATORS WITH INFRARED EMITTERS AND PROGRAM EQUATIONS
WHICH FUNCTION AS ENCRYPTED LOCKS THAT OPEN THE VAULT DOORS.
DR. VIOLET JONES
The vault only opens when both of
them solve their equations on
specific calculators with infrared
emitters simultaneously preventing
any one person from gaining access.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Remarkable what these two can do
when their not humping telephones.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Danke schoen mein heiren.
MARK DESADE
May bien sur Monsieur.
The Vault Door swings open smoothly revealing an even more
futuristic clean room with a single workstation marked
T.I.O. – Total Information Operations.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Welcome to Project TIO General
Scounrel. The heart and soul of the
world of tomorrow.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
MARK DESADE
T.I.O. stands for Total Information
Operations.
DR. VIOLET JONES
From this single workstation a
cleared individual can access all
of the computers on DARPANET and
civilian networks including
corporations and banks linked
through our satellites at the
National Reconnaissance Office.
MARK DESADE
This means that all communications
ON EARTH AND IN SPACE between
friendlies and Soviet-Bloc
intercepted by the NSA is funneled
into this room—
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Where it is accessed by us and
analyzed by our mainframe TIO for
pattern recognition of potential
threats and opportunities.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Every network? Everywhere? All the
time? How good is the analysis?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Well, Bob, so far TIO is a bit
kinky (Hans and Mark giggle), but
we’re ironing out the wrinkles. TIO
predicted Reagan’s re-election,
Iran-Contra, and the space-shuttle
tragedy, but it also predicts that
the Soviet Union will fall within
five years, that DARPANET will
become a civilian “Internet” and
that mobile supercomputers will be
small enough and cheap enough for
children to play video games on
pocket-sized devices linked through
that “Internet” in 20 years.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
What?! That’s the dumbest crap I’ve
ever heard!
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Like the lady said—
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
MARK DESADE
We’re still working out the kinks,
huh.
INSERT – WE HEAR A RIFF FROM THE KINKS “YOU REALLY GOT ME”.
DR. VIOLET JONES
One more odd thing Bob. TIO
predicts that even with advances in
computing and data storage that
eventually an exceptional human
being could better predict world
events than any computer system
because of the evolving complexity
of science-technology and society
outpacing a programmer’s ability to
build algorithms to accurately
model global behavior.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Really?! A computer that predicts
its own obsolescence to a human?
Fascinating.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
Debatable sir.
MARK DESADE
But possible, sir. The human brain
can process more non-linear
information and arrive at correct
conclusions than any computer, when
properly motivated.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR
The theory is that an exceptional
human being, high IQ,
highly-trained, well-read, etc,
could become a walking encyclopedia
of all things strategic and
tactical.
DR. VIOLET JONES
A savant Bob. A savant’s savant to
be exact general. A polymath the
likes of which the world has never
seen. Think Sun Tzu and DaVinci
have a love child with Clausewitz
and Einstein.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Interesting. Does TIO have any
leads on this savant? Does this
person exist?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
HANS SCHIZEBAUR & MARK DESADE
Uh—
DR. VIOLET JONES
Actually Bob, TIO has pinpointed
just such a candidate, but as I
said we’re not entirely confident
in TIO’s predictions.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Why not? Who is this
multiple-genius? Is he a military
man, Ivy League?, Yale?!?
American!?!
DR. VIOLET JONES
He’s twelve.
EXT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD
We fly down a blue collar suburban Ohio neighborhood street
with children of multiple races playing games in the
streets, Mennonites sitting on their porch looking at
Jehovah’s Witnesses going door-to-door.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
And from TIO’s data that we’ve
analyzed we just don’t get the
prediction. This kid isn’t
privileged, never tested up a
grade, never won anything and is
constantly blowing his nose so the
other kids want nothing to do with
him. There are none of the classic
identifiers for prodigy or
leadership. But we’ll keep an eye
on him and keep you informed.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Interesting. Please do.
We see a chubby boy wearing hand-me-down too-tight brown
corduroy pants with huge bulges at both front pockets
walking lazily towards the corner wearing an empty newspaper
carriers bag. The boy starts to run awkwardly. He stops and
pulls out a nasty handkerchief and blows his nose, balls up
the hanky and puts it back in his pocket and wipes his hands
on his pants.
A newspaper van drives by and a mean looking guy throws two
stacks of newspapers off the back of the van. The bundles
explode when they hit the ground. The man laughs. Newspapers
are everywhere.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
Our kid is stunned. His mouth wide-open. His shoulders
slump. TJ begins refolding the papers and inserts.
TJ
Dang! Not again… I’m gonna be
late again and be blamed for the
wrinkles… again. JERK!
Two black kids TJ’s age walk up with a basketball.
REGGIE
Hey TJ. Newspaper guy screwed you
again?
RONNY
Dang, that dude’s a real jerk TJ.
TJ
Hey Reggie. Hey Ronny. Yeah, I
think somebody dropped him on his
head as a baby, cuz he’s a real
POOP-HEAD!
REGGIE
Aw Dude! Language! I’ll tell your
Mamma your getting closer to
cursing.
RONNY
Yeah TJ, one of these days you’ll
actually say “Shit!” and find out
how good it feels.
TJ
Aw come on guys. You know I don’t
curse. Only losers curse. The good
guys use words properly.
REGGIE
Right…
RONNY
Come on Reg, the court is calling.
REGGIE
Yeah it is. Peace TJ have fun
tossing papers. We’ll be tossing
rocks.
TJ
Thanks guys, but my customers don’t
like tossed papers, so I place
papers, (wipes nose) but thanks
anyway.
12.
EXT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD – CONTINUOUS
We see TJ lugging around an enormous paper delivery-bag up
and down the streets of several neighborhoods.
INSERT – HE STOPS TO BLOW HIS NOSE IN BETWEEN DELIVERIES.
TJ looks both ways before crossing the street. It is clear.
TJ walks into the street and hears a muscle car rev engine.
INSERT – TJ TRIES TO RUN BUT THE PAPER-BAG IS TOO HEAVY AND
BULKY. TJ TRIPS UP THE CURB JUST AS THE CAR SWERVES AT HIM
AND PULLS BACK INTO THE STREET.
INSERT – THE DRIVER LAUGHS.
INSERT – TJ BUMPS INTO BUTCH THE LOCAL BULLY ON HIS BIKE.
BUTCH
(dropping bike)
Watch it dip shit! Watch where yer
goin’ jackass! What the hells wrong
with you?
TJ
What’s wrong with you?! I mean,
sorry Butch, but that jerk nearly
ran me over and—
BUTCH
That jerk is my mom’s new boyfriend
and he’s cool and it was your
fault. I’m gonna kick your fat ass
for calling Ricky a jerk and for
bumping into me!
Butch shoves TJ to the ground. TJ stands and steps back.
TJ
Aw, come on Butch, I didn’t mean
anything by calling Ricky a jerk, I
didn’t know who he was, only that
he nearly killed me just now.
Honest, I didn’t mean to bump into
you either. I’m sorry. Please
forgive me?
BUTCH
I’ll forgive you unless you bleed
on me while I’m kicking your ass
you dorky wimp!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.
TJ
Butch, dude, if you kick my ass and
I bleed on these papers, my parents
will find out and when they ask me
why I’m late and bled on my
newspapers I’ll have to tell them
that you kicked my butt after Ricky
tried to run me over and you don’t
want that. Nobody needs that
trouble. You know how my dad gets
on Sundays. You don’t want to be
this week’s sermon illustration any
more than I do.
INSERT – TJ BLOWS HIS NOSE INTO A NASTY HANKY AND PUTS IT
BACK IN HIS POCKETS AND WIPES HIS HANDS ON HIS PANTS.
BUTCH
That is nasty. Hell, I ain’t gonna
hit you. Your gross man. Snot on
everything. You ain’t worth juvy.
You’re too stupid to give a rat’s
ass about anyway. Watch where your
going from now on asshole!
TJ
Thanks Butch. You too. I mean, you
have a nice day too. OK bye.
Butch gets back on his bike and rides off. TJ walks up to
the next house and rings the bell.
A leery old man wearing a robe and slippers comes to the
door smoking a cigarette.
MR. PRENDERGAST
Well hello TJ, how’s my favorite
boy in the neighborhood today?
TJ
I’m well sir. Here’s your paper.
Sorry I’m late, I had… delays. By
the way sir it’s collection day.
You owe me for this month’s
subscription.
MR. PRENDERGAST
So I do. Why don’t you come on in
and have some punch while I look
for the money in my bedroom. If you
like you can help me look.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.
TJ
No thanks Mr. Pedernast, I’m in too
big a hurry today.
MR. PRENDERGAST
Prendergast. My name is pronounced
Prendergast.
TJ
Oh, I’m sorry sir, what did I say?
MR. PRENDERGAST
Nothing, paperboy. I’ll be right
back with your money.
TJ
Yes sir. Thank you sir.
Pretty neighborhood girls walk by.
INSERT – TJ WAVES. THEY IGNORE HIM.
EXT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD – EVENING
TJ delivers his last newspaper and walks up to the five and
dime store counting his change.
INT. ELYRIA, OHIO – FIVE AND DIME STORE – EVENING
TJ looks at the candy and the cheap toys and firecrackers
and notices a drape pulled back revealing another room.
TJ begins to turn the corner into the room and sees posters
of half naked and naked women posing with Rigid Tools and of
weird looking plants and colorful Alice in Wonderland
characters and strange glass and plastic bottles and tubes.
STORE CLERK
(Jeff Andersen type)
Hey you, kid! Stay outta there.
You’re too young to be in that
room.
TJ
Why mister? What’s in that room?
STORE CLERK
That room’s for adults. Come back
when your sixteen.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.
TJ
Yessir. I guess I’ll just have a
gobstopper and these firecrackers.
STORE CLERK
That’ll be 35 cents.
TJ sees a GI JOE comic titled: “GI JOE: Special Operations –
Now the story can be told” with a picture of the USSR and
American flags Emblazoned with “Cold War Covert Operations”.
TJ
How much for the comic mister?
STORE CLERK
Comic? You never buy comics!
TJ
I got no use for super heroes in
their underwear, but Cold War
Covert Operations and Soviet Spies
I can use all day.
STORE CLERK
Alright that’ll be a dollar and
ten.
TJ
A dollar and ten!? What happened to
five and dime?
STORE CLERK
You want it our not?
TJ
(…sigh…)
Yessir. Thank you sir.
EXT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD – EVENING
TJ walks home looking at his plastic wrapped GI JOE comic
with anticipation and puts it into his empty paperbag then
pulls it out and tucks it into the small of his back under
his jacket.
EXT./INT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – TJ’S HOME – EVENING
TJ wipes his feet on the foyer mat and walks in through an
unlocked door of a large three-story Dutch Colonial with
leaded-glass windows. The house is well kept and nicely
decorated with inexpensive items and a few antiques.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.
TJ’S MOM
(Helen Hunt type)
Is that you Boy-o? You’re late.
Everything ok?
TJ
Yes ma’am. The delivery van dropped
my papers everywhere, again, and
well, things just took time after
that. I had to collect from Mr.
Prendergast who keeps inviting me
in to drink punch while he looks
for the money.
TJ’S MOM
Well, you know better than to go
into that man’s house or anyone’s
house you don’t know from us or
church.
TJ
Yes ma’am. I told him I couldn’t
cuz I was already late.
TJ’S MOM
Well, put away your bag and your
candy you think I don’t know about
and get washed up for supper.
You’re daddy will be home soon and
hungry so don’t keep him waiting.
TJ
Yes Ma’am. What candy?
TJ’S MOM
Don’t try to fib to me boy. I know
you and you couldn’t lie to save
your own hide. But don’t worry I
won’t tell your dad. Now git!
TJ
Yessem!
TJ disappears into his tiny corner bedroom on the first
floor of the house next to the kitchen.
INT. ELYRIA, OHIO – TJ’S HOME – TJ’S ROOM – AFTERNOON
On Screen: November 25, 1988 – TJ’s 15th Birthday
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.
TJ’s dresser has a mint condition Diecast Optimus Prime
Transformer on it with an original Snake Eyes with swords GI
Joe next to it and a cool Lego structure with other GI Joes
and Transformers on it.
We circle around TJ’s room there are posters of bikini babes
on his walls and he is looking through a Frederick’s of
Hollywood catalog.
We see a red light flash on his dresser and we hear “We wish
you a Merry Christmas” coming from a card.
INSERT: CLOSE IN ON THE CARD AND A WIRE RUNNING DOWN THE
BACK OF THE DRESSER UNDER HIS CARPET TO HIS BEDROOM DOOR
INTO THE HALLWAY TO A HOMEMADE PRESSURE-PAD.
TJ jumps up and hides the catalog in his pillow case and
flips the three posters around to reveal airplanes as we
hear a knock on his door. He disconnects the card.
TJ’S MOM
TJ? (door opens) It’s time for your
party. Why do I hear that card
whenever I walk by your room?
TJ is sitting at his desk with an ohm-meter and the card
fiddling. TJ’s wide smile is full of braces. He is handsome.
TJ
Hey mom. Cool. I’m just figuring
out how this thing works. It’s
pretty cool engineering for a
holiday card.
TJ’S MOM
Uh huh. Well put it away and come
help me set the table. By the way
my mother invited you to go visit
her next summer and tour the
research laboratories again.
Interested?
TJ
Yes Ma’am! Be there in a minute.
TJ’s Mom shuts his door.
18.
EXT. NAVAL AIR STATION ATLANTA – ACCESS ROAD – DAY
On Screen: Summer 1989
We FOLLOW a WHITE 1979 CHEVETTE pulling onto a tiny ACCESS
ROAD that DIVERTS us from the HEAVILY GUARDED main gate.
EXT. ACCESS ROAD – CONTINUOUS
We FOLLOW as the little car makes its way around the winding
tree lined two-lane road as twelve foot razor-wire fences
appear on both sides.
INT. CHEVETTE – FROM PASSENGER SEAT – CONTINUOUS
To our left, beyond the female driver, a brunette Sigourney
Weaver-type, behind the fencing is one of the runways on the
huge military base that goes as far as the eye can see.
On the right is a similarly fenced in area with red-dirt
embankments covered in grass and pine trees, obscuring the
view of bunker-like buildings.
EXT. ACCESS ROAD – CONTINUOUS
The side road turns into a driveway that leads us up to a
twelve foot tall, sliding, razor-wire mechanical gate with a
callbox and number pad.
EXT. CCRF MAIN GATE – CALLBOX – CONTINUOUS
The signs simply read “PRIVATE”, “DO NOT ENTER”, “CLEARANCE
AND ID REQUIRED”, “ALL VISITORS MUST HAVE AN ESCORT AT ALL
TIMES”, and “WELCOME TO CCRF”.
EXT. CCRF MAIN GATE – CALLBOX – CONTINUOUS
We see TJ’s GRAMMA reach out with her MAGNETIC STRIPED PHOTO
ID CARD and swipe it next to the number pad.
SECURITY GUARD (V.O.)
(African-American southern
accent)
Welcome to CCRF ma’am, we’ve been
expecting you.
TJ’S GRAMMA
I’ve got my fifteen year old
grandson TJ with me today.
INSERT – WE FOLLOW TJ AND HIS GRAMMA ONTO THE BASE AS THE
SECURITY GUARD SPEAKS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.
SECURITY GUARD (V.O.)
He’s on the visitor’s list too
ma’am. Come on in once the gate
opens all the way and follow the
drive down past the goose pond and
stay to your left. You’ll see signs
for Building One. You’ll know
you’ve gone too far if you pass a
bunch of rusty old tanks and radar
trucks on the right. Is that clear
ma’am?
TJ’S GRAMMA (V.O.)
Yessir, thank you sir.
SECURITY GUARD (V.O.)
My pleasure ma’am. Y’all have a
pleasant visit and a nice day now.
EXT. CCRF MAIN CAMPUS – VISITOR PARKING LOT – DAY
TJ’s GRAMMA and TJ get out of the Chevette.
TJ is dressed in baggy shorts, a Public Enemy T-shirt and
Adidas Samba indoor soccer shoes and TJ’s EYES get WIDE as
he spins around slowly taking in the unique view.
EXT. CCRF MAIN CAMPUS – VISITOR PARKING LOT – CONTINUOUS
We sweep 360 degrees seeing several single-story concrete
bunker looking buildings with tiny slit windows sunk three
feet into the concrete.
We see the goose pond with a flock of white geese with black
markings, the old rusty tanks and radar trucks, a
motor-pool, several hangars, more parking lot and finally
the bunker buildings in front again.
TJ’S GRAMMA
Come on now TJ, we don’t want to be
late for my appointment now do we?
TJ
No ma’am. We don’t. This place is
something else!
TJ’S GRAMMA
Honey, you haven’t seen anything
yet. But you will.
EXT/INT. CCRF – BUILDING ONE MAIN ENTRANCE – CONTINUOUS
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.
We watch TJ’s GRAMMA and TJ walk up two flights of concrete
stairs surrounded by precisely manicured landscaping.
They walk up to the front door, look up at the cameras and
are immediately buzzed-inside. They enter reception.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING ONE – RECEPTION – CONTINUOUS
The RECEPTION room is nicely appointed in LATE SEVENTIES
POST-MODERN FURNITURE. A SIX FOOT TALL PLAQUE behind the
VERY ATTRACTIVE OLDER WOMAN at the desk reads, “Shhh, the
ENEMY IS LISTENING!
The RECEPTIONIST, Kim Basinger type, smiles as she greets
TJ’s GRAMMA and TJ.
RECEPTIONIST
(professional southern accent)
Well, good morning to the both of
you! And welcome to CCRF Building
One Reception. You must be
Maddie-Ann with Research
Communications and you must be her
grandson.
The RECEPTIONIST looks at TJ who is eyeing her up and down
with a pubescent smile when their eyes meet.
RECEPTIONIST
(reaching out to shake hands)
Now aren’t you a handsome young
man!? What’s your name?
TJ
TJ ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet
you and if I may say so, (TJ kisses
her hand) I think that you are
lovely too.
INSERT – WE SEE THE RECEPTIONIST’S EYES THEN TJ’S GRAMMA’S
IN REACTION TO THIS UNEXPECTED AND MATURE REMARK.
RECEPTIONIST
My, and such worldly-wise manners
so young. You must be a
heart-breaker, young man.
TJ
Not at all ma’am, I’m just too
honest for my own good sometimes.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.
RECEPTIONIST
A lady never minds a gentleman’s
compliment, especially one so
eloquently delivered. (BEAT) Now,
normally we would have a graduate
research assistant walk y’all back
to Building Two to Doctor Singh’s
office, but it’s semester break so
there aren’t any students around,
but the doctor just phoned and said
he would be over promptly. Y’all
will be going through this door.
The RECEPTIONIST motions to her left.
TJ’S GRAMMA
Thank you very much, ma’am.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING ONE – RECEPTION – CONTINUOUS
TJ looks around the room more intently and notices two other
doors, while waiting for the doctor to arrive.
TJ
Excuse me ma’am, but what happens
if we go through these other doors?
RECEPTIONIST
Well, then large men with guns
would escort you off the premises
and I suspect they’d hand you over
to the FBI for questioning, but
that’s all.
TJ
Oh, right…
TJ looks sufficiently scared into place, while both older
women smile at each other knowingly.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING ONE – RECEPTION – DAY
A SALT AND PEPPER BEARDED, ASIAN-INDIAN MAN in his FIFTIES,
A Sir Ben Kingsley type, wearing a gray suit, come walking
briskly in through the door to the RECEPTIONIST’s LEFT.
DOCTOR SINGH
(Oxford English/Indian accent)
Hello, my name is Doctor SINGH and
I am the Branch Director for the
Aero-Acoustics Laboratory.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.
YOUNG GRAMMA
Hello Doctor Singh, it’s a pleasure
to finally meet you face to face
after the phone calls.
DOCTOR SINGH
Yes, it is very very nice to meet
you as well, Ms. Segal.
YOUNG GRAMMA
Oh, please, call me Maddie-Ann. And
this is my grandson TJ. I brought
him with me today because he’s
always been into airplanes and
spaceships and I thought that this
might be a good first look for him
at the engineering side of things.
DOCTOR SINGH
Your grandson? You hardly look old
enough to have a son his age let
alone a grandson.
TJ’s GRAMMA smiles.
GRAMMA
You are too kind, sir.
DOCTOR SINGH
(shaking TJ’s hand)
Ah, excellent, TJ is it? Very good
TJ. Come let us see what’s behind
door number three.
Doctor SINGH swipes his ID card in the slot next to the door
and the little red light turns green. We see the Doctor hold
the Door open for TJ and his GRAMMA.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING ONE – DAY
We follow DOCTOR SINGH, TJ’s GRAMMA and TJ down a short
hallway that turns left then ten feet later turns right and
then again ten feet later turns left and stops at a closed
door.
INSERT – WE SEE DOCTOR SINGH SWIPE HIS ID CARD IN ANOTHER
SLOT AND OPEN THE DOOR TO A LARGE, MUCH BRIGHTER ROOM.
DOCTOR SINGH
That was our Electro-Magnetic
signal detection and absorption
hallway and this is our campus
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.
DOCTOR SINGH (cont’d)
cafeteria, where many employees eat
their meals.
They walk quickly through the cafeteria to a door in the
back right corner of the room. DOCTOR SINGH swipes his ID
card again and opens the door for his guests.
EXT. CCRF LAWN – BETWEEN BUILDINGS ONE AND TWO – DAY
We watch them walk to “Building Two – Aerospace Sciences”.
TJ’S GRAMMA
So, Doctor Singh, how long were you
with Heedlock Aerospace?
DOCTOR SINGH
I graduated Oxford in
nineteen-sixty-eight with a
bachelor’s in aerospace
engineering, I got my MBA degree
from Harvard two years later and
was awarded my PhD. in
Aero-Acoustics at MIT in
nineteen-seventy-three. I’ve been
here with Heedlock Aerospace since
then, until their consolidation to
southern California and subsequent
bequeath of these facilities to
your prestigious institution.
DOCTOR SINGH swipes his ID CARD through another slot by the
INDUSTRIAL GLASS DOOR, opens the door for his guests and
bids them to enter the buildings TINY GLASS-WALLED FOYER.
EXT/INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – FOYER – CONTINUOUS
DOCTOR SINGH walks in to the tiny foyer behind TJ and TJ’s
GRAMMA. We see a garbage can, a paper recycling bin, and a
copier marked “NO CLASSIFIED COPIES ON THIS MACHINE.”
There are three more doors in the center of each wall.
DOCTOR SINGH oddly passes by TJ and TJ’s GRAMMA and slides
his ID CARD through the slot, we hear the loud click of an
electronic lock opening as the light turns green.
DOCTOR SINGH opens this inner door to a long, narrow,
low-ceiling hall with orange industrial wall-to-wall
carpeting. The walls are painted pale institutional yellow.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.
DOCTOR SINGH
Please, right this way…
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
DOCTOR SINGH LEADS TJ and TJ’s GRAMMA down the hall while he
continues to give them the “Tour”.
DOCTOR SINGH
This is our main hall from which
you may access my office, the other
engineers’ offices, the restroom
facilities, and of course…
THEY turn LEFT and stop at a windowless steel door. Dr.
Singh opens the door. The hallway is flooded with light.
DOCTOR SINGH
… the main laboratory facilities
bay for the Aerospace and
Aero-Acoustics Research and
Development Departments.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – MAIN LAB BAY – CONTINUOUS
We see THROUGH TJ’S EYES an ENORMOUS ROOM with the SKELETON
of a GREEN ANODIZED BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER off to the left
SURROUNDED by GREEN ANODIZED ALUMINUM PARTS.
EVERY WALL is LINED in LOCKING STEEL FILING CABINETS.
The CEILING is THIRTY FEET TALL and JUST BELOW IT all kinds
of PIPES and CABLES are EXPOSED from WALL-TO-WALL. It is a
noisy environment.
DOCTOR SINGH
(loudly, over the noise)
This is our main laboratory bay,
large enough, as you can see, to
house full size helicopters,
smaller airplanes and all sorts of
other vehicles depending, of
course, on the nature of the
project or projects in question.
We see TJ’s GRAMMA taking NOTES as DOCTOR SINGH speaks. TJ
is silent and wide-eyed.
TJ and TJ’s GRAMMA follow DOCTOR SINGH to the RIGHT of the
BAY to a set of BLACK MATTE DOUBLE-DOORS. The SIGN on the
door reads, “SMALL EXPERIMENTS LABORATORY”.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 25.
DOCTOR SINGH
(loudly, over the noise)
This is our small experiments
laboratory where we perform, well,
small scale experiments in fluid
dynamics, cavity resonance, active
noise control and also LDV or Laser
Doppler Velocimetry.
DOCTOR SINGH opens the door, TJ and TJ’s GRAMMA go inside.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – SMALL EXPERIMENTS LAB – CONTINUOUS
We see the SMALLER BUT STILL rather LARGE room PAINTED MATTE
BLACK FULL of odd-looking SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT and
EXPERIMENTS. It is QUIETER but still noisy.
TJ’S GRAMMA
Wow, that last part certainly was a
mouthful. Would you mind repeating
some of that please.
DOCTOR SINGH
Certainly, Maddie-Ann, I would be
happy to. Perhaps it would be best
if I were to explain each
experiment’s purpose and some of
the innovations that have resulted?
TJ’S GRAMMA
Oh, would you please, that would be
most excellent. Thank you very
kindly.
TJ
Thank you, sir.
DOCTOR SINGH
Please, TJ, you have excellent
manners but there is no need to
call me sir. Rather, just call me
Doctor Singh.
TJ
Thank you Doctor Singh.
DOCTOR SINGH
Very good. Now, over here is an
inexpensive demonstration device
that shows airflow around
wing-sections in a Plexiglas
tube with smoke generated by
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.
DOCTOR SINGH (cont’d)
dripping baby oil down a hot wire.
TJ would you like to try this one
out for yourself?
They all put on OLD, DARK GREEN-TINTED SAFETY GOGGLES.
SERIES OF SHOTS
INSERT – FIRST WE SEE DOCTOR SINGH TURN ON THE AIR
COMPRESSOR AND DIAL IN THE DESIRED AIR PRESSURE, THEN THE
DOCTOR FLIPS A SWITCH ON AN AC/DC POWER CONVERTER AND THE
WIRE BEGINS TO SMOKE A LITTLE.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ’S HAND FLIP THE SWITCH.
INSERT – WE FLY AROUND EVERYONE AS THE RED LASER ILLUMINATES
THE ROOM WHILE EMITTING A VERTICAL PLANE OF LIGHT THAT
DIVIDES THE ROOM AND THE SMOKE FLOWING THROUGH THE CLEAR
TUBE.
INSERT – WE WATCH THE SMOKE DANCE AROUND THE SMALL-SCALE
MODEL OF A WING CROSS-SECTION AS DOCTOR SINGH ROTATES A KNOB
THAT CHANGES THE ANGLE OF THE WING TO THE SMOKY AIRFLOW.
INSERT – DOCTOR SINGH TURNS ON A VERY BRIGHT HANDHELD
STROBELIGHT PERPENDICULAR TO THE EXPERIMENT.
INSERT – WE SEE THE VIOLENTLY DANCING RED SMOKE SEEMINGLY
FREEZE, THEN GROW IN ONE DIRECTION THEN SHRINK BACK AGAIN
AND STOP.
TJ
WOW! That is totally awesome!
TJ’S GRAMMA
My, that is impressive. How does it
work Doctor?
DOCTOR SINGH
Ah, there it is.
TJ
So you can take high-speed
photography lit by strobe light of
airflow and tell what the pressure
and speed of the Laminar and
Turbulent Boundary layers are?
DOCTOR SINGH
Precisely TJ, that is exactly what
we do. It is called
Flow-Visualization or Flow-Viz and
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 27.
DOCTOR SINGH (cont’d)
it helps us make measurements that
improve airflow around airfoils. We
have a much larger dedicated
facility for full-scale studies.
INSERT – DOCTOR SINGH TURNS OFF THE STROBE LIGHT AND AIR
COMPRESSOR AS TJ TURNS OFF THE OIL AND LASER WITHOUT BEING
ASKED.
INSERT – DOCTOR SINGH SMILES APPROVAL AND MOTIONS THEM TO
FOLLOW HIM TO THE NEXT EXPERIMENT.
We FOLLOW DOCTOR SINGH, TJ’s GRAMMA and TJ as THEY ENCIRCLE
a LARGE PLEXIGLASS BOX with SPEAKERS MOUNTED on OPPOSITE
sides of EACH OTHER on top of a black table.
DOCTOR SINGH
This is a demonstration device for
technology that this lab pioneered
called Active Noise Cancellation.
The theory is that sound waves of
the same frequency aimed at each
other but out of phase with each
other create a destructive
interference pattern that nearly
cancels out the noise altogether.
TJ’S GRAMMA
That is amazing Doctor! So two
speakers aimed at each other can
cancel each other out?
DOCTOR SINGH
Very good Maddie-Ann and it has
wide ranging applications from
airplanes and automobiles to
helping people that work in loud
environments like factories and
airports.
(slightly rushed)
It also, of course, could have
various military applications.
Would you like a demonstration TJ?
TJ
Yes sir! I mean Doctor Singh.
DOCTOR SINGH
Very good.
INSERT – EVERYONE PUTS ON THEIR HEADPHONES.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 28.
INSERT – DOCTOR SINGH TURNS ON THE POWER SUPPLIES, THE
AMPLIFIERS AND THE SIGNAL GENERATORS AS DENOTED BY THEIR
LABELS.
INSERT – TJ AND TJ’S GRAMMA JUMP EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE
PREPARED FOR THE LOUD NOISE. DOCTOR SINGH TURNS THE SELECTOR
SWITCH TO SINE WAVE TONE FROM WHITE NOISE ON THE SIGNAL
GENERATOR.
The INSANELY LOUD NOISE DISAPPEARS INSTANTLY and we see
DOCTOR SINGH REMOVE his HEADPHONES. DOCTOR SINGH motions
that it is OK for TJ and TJ’s GRAMMA to do the same.
TJ GRAMMA
Oh my goodness! I wouldn’t have
believed it if I hadn’t heard it
myself. I can still hear it but it
is very faint.
DOCTOR SINGH
Correct. This particular setup
reduces the sound by eighty-five
percent, other systems can reduce
vibrations by up to ninety-five
percent. Come, let’s move on to the
bigger toys.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – ANECHOIC CHAMBERS – DAY
We see DOCTOR SINGH finishing his guided tour of this large
vault like room covered in dark grey acoustic foam wedges.
DOCTOR SINGH
This facility is one of only three
in the world that has similar
capabilities, the others are in
France and the Soviet Union. In
this thirty feet by thirty feet by
thirty feet free-floating
steel-reinforced concrete chamber
we can test jet nozzles at
temperatures as high as thirteen
hundred degrees and velocities as
high as Mach Three, or three times
the speed of sound while measuring
their acoustic signatures. Each
airplane, indeed each nozzle gives
off a specific sound called Jet
Screech that readily identifies
what type of plane is in the air to
an educated observer. Come, let’s
see our final stop for today’s
tour.
29.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – MAIN LAB BAY – DAY
The group re-enters the main bay; we can see the anodized
green helicopter skeleton in the distance. A tall, beautiful
curvy blonde woman in her late-twenties approaches them.
It’s Dr. Violet Jones
DR. VIOLET JONES
Doctor Singh, I’m sorry to interupt
you, but the General is on line
one.
DOCTOR SINGH
(to TJ’s GRAMMA and TJ)
Ah, Dr. Jones, my assistant.
Please, excuse me as I must take
this call. I will return promptly.
Thank you.
We see DOCTOR SINGH WALKING AWAY QUICKLY as the others turn
to greet each other.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Hi, my name is Violet and I’m
Doctor Singh’s post-doctorate
assistant and branch administrator.
Is there anything I can get you?
TJ smiles seductively at this stunning older woman.
TJ’S GRAMMA
Well, Hi there Violet, I believe we
spoke on the phone a few times. I’m
Maddie-Ann and this young man is my
grandson, TJ.
TJ
Hello Dr. Jones. It is an absolute
pleasure to make your
acquaintance…
INSERT – TJ KISSES VIOLET ON THE HAND AND BOWS SLIGHTLY.
DR. VIOLET JONES
What a handsome, well-mannered,
gentleman!? It is a pleasure to
meet you as well TJ. And please,
just call me Violet.
INSERT – TJ AND VIOLET MAKE SUGGESTIVE EYE CONTACT AS GRAMMA
SPEAKS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 30.
TJ’S GRAMMA
Why thank you Violet for all of
your kindess and consideration, but
I think my fifteen year old
grandson and I will be fine here
until the doctor can return.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Very well.
VIOLET’S eyes flit open wide. Violet smiles, CLEARS HER
THROAT and returns to her office.
TJ’S GRAMMA
You better watch yourself boy-o.
Don’t ya think maybe she’s a little
too mature for you.
TJ
No ma’am, I figure she’s just about
right. (TJ leans around Gramma to
watch Violet walk away) I like
older women. They’re prettier, more
interesting and much more fun too.
TJ’S GRAMMA
AH! TJ, don’t you go getting
yourself into any trouble with
women that much older than
you. Besides, Doctor SINGH is one
of the best in the world at what he
does. This is a chance of a
lifetime.
We see DOCTOR SINGH walk briskly by the GREEN ANODIZED
HELICOPTER SKELETON towards them.
DOCTOR SINGH
Ah, so sorry for the interruption,
but when the General calls…
Anyway, where were we? Ah Yes the
final test chamber of which I spoke
earlier today. TJ do you remember
what it is for or what it is
called?
TJ
I, uh, I’m pretty sure you said
Flow-Visualization. Did I say that
right?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 31.
DOCTOR SINGH
Correct! Now come let’s take a
closer look at this rather unique
facility.
WE FOLLOW ABOVE as they walk over to this SMALLER ROOM
WITHIN A ROOM complete with its OWN ROOF, SMOTHERED in
CABLES and PIPING.
INSERT – JUST AS WE ARE ENTERING THE ROOM THE DOOR IS CLOSED
PREVENTING US FROM FOLLOWING THE GROUP.
As quickly as the door is closed it re-opens and our group
re-emerges. We see TJ NODDING and TJ’s GRAMMA taking notes.
DOCTOR SINGH
TJ, I see you nodding as though you
comprehend, but do you really
understand what I just explained to
you?
TJ
Well sir, I mean, uh, Doctor Singh,
I think—
DOCTOR SINGH
Please, in your own words is fine.
There is no need to try to quote
the technical details verbatim.
TJ
OK. If I understand you’re
presentation then what you are
doing is using lenses to take a
strong but narrow laserbeam and
expand it so that you can pass it
through the jet exhaust in order to
see the shock waves, as denoted by
the darker regions indicating a
higher air density in order to
understand the propagation of “Jet
Screech” in relation to Mach number
and Reynold’s number. Is that
correct, doctor?
DOCTOR SINGH
(eyeing TJ inquisitively)
TJ, what makes an aeroplane fly?
TJ
(astonished look)
The wings.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 32.
DOCTOR SINGH
(satisfied dominant look)
Ah, so close, TJ, but incorrect. It
is LIFT that makes an aeroplane
fly.
(to TJ’s GRAMMA)
Most people think it is the engines
that—
TJ
Excuse me Doctor, I don’t mean to
interrupt, but you asked me “What”
makes a plane fly, inferring an
object, not which Force is
responsible for flight. It is the
wings that provide Lift, except, of
course, in the case of a Lifting
Body.
DOCTOR SINGH
(shocked)
You know about LIFTING BODIES!? TJ,
How old are you?
TJ
I’m fifteen, sir.
DOCTOR SINGH
Hmmm, how would you like to hang
out here for a while and perhaps
learn a little and see if you like
aerospace engineering hands-on?
TJ
Really!? Oh I’d love to sir, but
I’m afraid I’m flying home
tomorrow. My visit with my Gramma
is over now.
DOCTOR SINGH
Ah, I see. That is unfornute—
TJ
But, I plan to see my Gramma again
next summer at this same time, as
long as she’s ok with it, and I
would be happy to come here and
hang-out and learn.
INSERT – TJ’S GRAMMA WATCHES IN AWE AS TJ AND DOCTOR SINGH
NEGOTIATE TERMS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 33.
DOCTOR SINGH
Really? How long do you intend to
stay with your Grandmother next
summer?
TJ
Well, I was planning on two weeks,
but…
(TJ looks at Gramma)
I could extend my stay to a month
if that’s OK with my Gramma and it
fits with your schedule, sir.
DOCTOR SINGH
Really? Is this OK with you
Maddie-Ann.
GRAMMA
Oh! Well, of course! I’d love to
have TJ stay with me for a month
next summer and work here.
DOCTOR SINGH
You understand of course, that this
is not a job offer. There is no
pay.
TJ
Oh, I understand, sir. I have a job
already and I’ll save up for next
summer, so I won’t be broke—
DOCTOR SINGH
You will come work here, next
summer, for one month, for free?!
TJ
Yessir!
DOCTOR SINGH
For one month? For free??
TJ
Certainly sir, and if I perform
respectably, might there be a paid
internship the following summer?
DOCTOR SINGH
Ah ha, there it is. You are a sharp
young man TJ and an excellent
negotiator, maybe you should go
into politics instead.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 34.
TJ
I appreciate that sir, but they
don’t have all the toys.
DOCTOR SINGH
Speaking of toys, do you know how
to use powertools?
We see TJ’s eyes blink and as they close we FLASHBACK
INT. TJ’S PARENT’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – DAY – FLASHBACK
WE SEE a SMOKE FILLED LIVING ROOM. TJ is HOLDING the HOSE of
a VACCUUM CLEANER BILLOWING SMOKE and FLAME out of the
EXHAUST HOLE trying to clean up ASHES on an ORIENTAL RUG in
FRONT of the WOOD-BURNING STOVE. The SMOKE ALARM is LOUD.
TJ’s DAD, young Mel Gibson type, runs into the room soaking
wet with a TOWEL WRAPPED around his WAIST.
TJ’s DAD grabs the SMOKING, MELTING PLASTIC VACCUUM CLEANER
from TJ’s hands and OPENS the FRONT DOOR.
INSERT: WE SEE TJ’S DAD FROM THE SNOWY FRONT YARD THROW THE
SMOLDERING HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCE INTO A DEEP SNOW DRIFT. STEAM
JOINS THE SMOKE AS WE HEAR A LOUD HISSING SOUND.
TJ’s DAD SLAMS the FRONT DOOR!
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – MAIN LAB BAY – DAY
As TJ’s EYES BLINK OPEN WE FLASHBACK to TJ, TJ’S GRAMMA and
DOCTOR SINGH standing right where we left them.
TJ
Yeah! I can use powertools.
DOCTOR SINGH
So, next Summer, for one month, for
free? Agreed.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ AND DOCTOR SINGH SHAKE HANDS.
INT. ELYRIA, OHIO – TJ’S HOME – TJ’S DOOR – MORNING
On Screen: Monday, September 16, 1989
TJ opens his door and walks out wearing red Bugle Boy pants
and a Tommy Hilfiger plaid shirt with Adidas Samba Classic
indoor soccer shoes.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 35.
TJ is a handsome young man with braces and has lost his baby
weight. TJ has a skater page-boy haircut with bangs to his
chin that he pushes back as he closes his door.
He grabs his bookbag and walks to the front door where he
picks up his old french horn case and bag of music. He bangs
everything against the door jam as he walks out the front
door.
A car horn honks out front.
EXT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – TJ’S HOUSE – FRONT YARD – CONTINUOUS
TJ’s older brother and younger sister are waiting in a
running brown 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Station Wagon.
TJ opens the hatchback and puts his french horn next to a
violin case and book bag.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER
Hurry the hell up stupid and don’t
you dare scratch my gorgeous violin
with that monstrosity of a horn.
We’re late because of you.
TJ shuts the hatchback and gets in the front passenger seat.
INT. ELYRIA, OHIO – OLDSMOBILE STATIONWAGON – CONTINUOUS
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER
I still have to drop your little
sister off at the kindergarden
before we get to school and if I
get detention because of your
retarded ass I’ll have some of the
seniors on varsity soccer kick your
ass during practice so father
doesn’t blame me. Got it.
TJ
Dude. Got it. But You need to chill
out dude. Your gonna like blow a
gasket before you graduate being
all wound up. And if you didn’t hog
the bathroom all morning doing your
hair I wouldn’t be late anyway.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER
Shut up asswipe. My hair matters.
I’m asking out Jen today and I need
to look totally awesome. She’s
exquisite. You wouldn’t understand.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 36.
TJ
Oh I understand your violin playing
sensitive artiste routine requires
extreme coiffing to win the hot
volleyball captain from all those
“Neanderthal jocks” with rockin
bods and slick rides.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER
Screw you tard boy. I was gonna
invite you to Jen’s party this
weekend so you could totally try to
make out with her lil sis Jessica,
the girl you’ve loved since 5th
grade but treats you like you got
the plague, but you can forget it.
TJ
Good luck going to Jen’s party
without me and OUR little sister
covering for you. You won’t even
make it to the party and if you do,
you’ll get grounded till your
sophomore year of college.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER
Bastard! I oughtta—
TJ
You oughtta reconsider inviting me.
Right sis?
TJ’S LITTLE SISTER
Right!
EXT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – PARKING LOT – CONTINUOUS
TJ’S LITTLE SISTER
Stop here. This is my door. TJ, you
walk me in.
TJ
OK Dookie, I’ll walk you to class
and sign you in. (Beat) And you had
better not leave me here. Jerk
face.
TJ walks his little sister inside.
37.
EXT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – PARKING LOT – CONTINUOUS
TJ walks back outside to find his french horn and bags on
the ground.
TJ
Bastard! One of these days. He will
pay…
TJ puts on his backpack and picks up his french horn and
music bag.
INSERT – THE HANDLE ON HIS FRENCH HORN CASE BREAKS AND THE
CASE HITS THE GROUND AND OPENS AND THE HORN FALLS OUT INTO
THE PARKING LOT AND A CAR FLATTENS THE BELL. TJ SIGHS AND
SHAKES HIS HEAD.
EXT./INT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – CONTINUOUS
SERIES OF SHOTS:
TJ WALKS ACROSS A HUGE PARKING LOT CARRYING HIS HORN
TJ WALKS INTO THE PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE AND RECIEVES DETENTION
TJ WALKS INTO THE BAND ROOM AND DROPS OFF HIS HORN AND MUSIC
TJ WALKS TO ALGEBRA SITS DOWN AT HIS DESK AND SEES HIS
GRADED TEST: BTJ WAVES AT CUTE GIRLS NEARBY, THEY BLOW HIM OFF AND GIGGLE.
TJ GOES TO BAND PRACTICE AND POUNDS OUT HIS HORN WHILE HIS
TEACHER LOOKS ON SHOCKED. HE IS FIRST CHAIR.
TJ GOES TO LUNCH
INT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – LUNCH ROOM/GYM – DAY
TJ walks past his older brother and senior friends on
varsity soccer.
TJ and his brother exchange dirty looks.
TJ bumps into Matt the square-jawed but total skater-type
varsity soccer captain.
MATT
Watch it Junior! Sophomores ought
to be more careful around seniors
especially on combined practice
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 38.
MATT (cont’d)
days. Little JV wimps could get
hurt during practice if they don’t
watch their step and pay respect.
TJ
Sorry Matt, I didn’t see you there.
You’re right. I should be more
careful. Too bad I got detention
and will be late to practice today.
MATT
We’ll wait. Now get lost scrub.
TJ walks to the sophomore table and sits next to the hot
girls who immediately get up and go to the bathroom leaving
him alone. The seniors laugh. Two band geeks sit next to TJ.
INT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – DETENTION – DAY
All the other kids look bored. TJ is busy drawing something
in his notebook.
We see a freehand shaded sketch from multiple angles of what
looks like a futuristic Apache helicopter complete with
specifications on engine, power, performance and armaments.
He flips through the pages of his notebook and we see
similar sketches of F-22 and F-35 fighter jets, spaceships,
tanks and sports cars all with specifications. He stops on a
page of dangerous looking bladed weapons of all sorts.
The bell rings. Detention is over.
TJ
(to no one)
Time to play full contact soccer.
EXT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – SOCCER FIELD-CONTINUOUS
TJ is running laps for being late while the Varsity and JV
teams do shooting drills.
The coach calls TJ in for Corner Kick drills.
COACH DINKLE
(lisp & white spittle lips)
Alright men! Listen up. We’re not
all conference champions three
years in a row because we suck at
corner kicks. It’s JV-Offense
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 39.
COACH DINKLE (cont’d)
against Varsity-Defense. Everytime
the ball hits the ground before a
shot on goal JV runs suicides with
the closest man on your back. Any
goal means the same for Varsity.
Now heave to you sloths.
Coach Dinkle blows his whistle and kicks the ball.
TJ is covering far post and steps into the box to head the
ball into the goal.
INSERT – THE VARSITY GOALIE LEAPS OFF THE LINE AND PUNCHES
TJ IN THE HEAD WHILE GOING FOR THE BALL. TJ FALLS HARD TO
THE GRASS.
COACH DINKLE
Good defense. Goalie’s prerogative
TJ, but good effort. No blood no
foul.
TJ
(under breath, fake lisp)
What about concussions coach.
TREVOR, VARSITY GOALIE
Your brother says hi TJ.
TJ
Whatever’s clever Trevor.
The whistle blows and another kick comes to TJ. This time
instead of heading it TJ does a flying backward scissorkick
smashing the ball into the goalies face breaking his nose
and knocking him unconscious.
TJ
Oops. Did Trevor fall down go boom?
COACH DINKLE
(foaming at mouth)
TJ!!! SUICIDES TILL I SAY STOP AND
I WONT SAY STOP UNTIL THE LAST MAN
WALKS OFF THIS FIELD! NOW MISTER!
TJ
Yessir! Thank you sir.
TJ waits till the coach turns around before giving the
finger to the Varsity guys staring him down.
40.
EXT./INT. OBERLIN CONSERVATORY – ORCHESTRA HALL – DAY
On Screen: Oberlin College Youth Orchestra Saturday,
September 23, 1989. We fly in through a grand window to an
orchestra rehearsal hall as the black female conductor taps
her lectern and begins Mozart’s Horn Concerto in D Major.
The orchestra wasn’t together so the disgusted conductor
taps the lectern while shaking her head.
NANCY ROTH
What was that?! People! We are
scheduled to perform Mozart’s Horn
Concerto in D to open for the
Oberlin Concert Orchestra in front
of a paying audience in less than a
month. Need I remind you how
embarrassing it will be for all of
us if you sound like band-camp
flunkies instead of prodigies?
The conductor shakes her head looking at the section heads.
NANCY ROTH
That’s it. Section leaders it’s
time you started acting like you
earned first chair. Gerald, you are
first violin and Concert Master, so
act like it and lead your people to
the promised land. I’m stepping
down for a few. Take the ensemble
through the first movement.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER (GERALD)
Yes madame conductor, with
pleasure. Everyone on my count.
Watch for tempo changes and horns
don’t be late again!
TJ
(Principal French Horn)
Douche.
Gerald counts off and the orchestra plays through the first
movement of Mozart’s Horn Concerto in D Major until the
French Horns big solo entrance… Gerald halts the orchestra
and in an ugly condescending tone says.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER (GERALD)
HORNS! YOU WERE LATE! AND FLAT!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 41.
TJ
FUCK YOU! WE WERE NOT FLAT!
INSERT – THE OTHER FRENCH HORNS ARE SNICKERING. THE
ORCHESTRA IS SHOCKED AND GASPING.
Gerald is irate but calmly stands and places his antique
violin on his chair and then rushes TJ from across the
semi-circle.
NANCY ROTH
(to an aid)
Leave em. Let’s see how long this
takes.
TJ reacts and drops his horn re-flattening his horn bell.
TJ
Damnit!
TJ steps over his damaged horn and turns just in time to
catch a hard right in the mouth from his older brother.
INSERT – CLOSE-UP ON TJ’S MOUTH AS GERALD’S FIST SMASHES HIS
LIPS INTO HIS BRACES. WE HEAR THE SOUND OF FLESH TEARING AND
FINGERS POPPING.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ’S EYES WIDEN WITH PAIN AS GERALD PULLS
HIS HAND AWAY HOLDING HIS WRIST IN AGONY.
NANCY ROTH
(to an aid)
And Fini! I told TJ to use the wax
for his braces. Bet he’ll listen
now.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ PEAL HIS SMASHED LIPS OUT OF HIS BRACES
AND HEAR MORE FLESH TEARING AS BLOOD POURS FROM HIS MOUTH.
TJ
(spitting blood)
Asshole! You’ve ruined my ombesure!
Gerald is trying to move the fingers of his bow hand.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER (GERALD)
You insolent shit! If my bow hand
is broken—!
TJ
You’ll what!? Break your fingering
hand busting my lips again you
idiot? Since when do we throw
punches at each other?!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 42.
TJ’S OLDER BROTHER (GERALD)
Since from now on you fag!
INT. TOYS ’R US – WAREHOUSE – BREAK ROOM – DAY
On Screen: Saturday, December 23, 1989 Christmas Time
Several employees are gathered in the warehouse for a
meeting. The store manager has their attention.
STACY MORONSKI
(heavyset Polok, Ohio accent)
OK team, today is going to be a bit
crazy. We’re short two employees
with spectacular excuses for their
absences two days before Christmas,
one dead grandma who got ran over
by a John Deer and one my car won’t
start, again, but only on a
Saturday when she has plans.
TONY BLOCK
(stocky 18yr old Swede
stockboy)
Becky’s car has timing issues.
Excellent timing issues.
STACY MORONSKI
And remember people, time is of the
essentials today so get it right
the first time and cut corners
where you can, OK? OK. Tony and TJ,
stay behind please.
The team leaves except TJ and Tony.
STACY MORONSKI
Now TJ and Tony, yous two are gonna
be in a side competition back here
to spice things up a wee bit.
Whoever sells and stocks the most
merch wins a day off with pay. OK?
OK. Have fun and play nice.
TONY BLOCK
Of course Stacy. I got this. I’ll
show the new guy how things are
done right and fast.
TJ
Yes Ms. Moronski. I look forward to
learning how to stack boxes from
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 43.
TJ (cont’d)
Tony while selling Schwinns to
second graders’ parents.
STACY MORONSKI
Don’t you be a smarty pants with me
mister I’m 16 and all the girls
want me. I’m 26 and over that crap.
TJ
Yes ma’am. Thank you ma’am.
TONY BLOCK
Dork.
Stacy Moronski leaves and Tony and TJ are alone next to the
cardboard compactor.
INT. TOYS ’R US – SALES FLOOR – BICYCLES – DAY
MONTAGE:
WE SEE TJ SHOWING BICYCLES TO KIDS’ PARENTS
WE SEE TJ RIDING A LITTLE KIDS BMX BIKE AROUND THE STORE
WE SEE TJ DOING TRICKS PROVING HOW DURABLE THE BIKES ARE
WE SEE TJ CLOSING THE DEAL WITH A HANDSHAKE
INT. TOYS ’R US – WAREHOUSE – DAY
TJ walks into the dock area and sees Tony.
TJ
Hey Tony, have you seen any of
those badass little Schwinn’s on
the shelves? I just sold two.
TONY BLOCK
Screw that TJ, have you seen your
two trucks? They need to be
unloaded in less than two hours so
my truck can dock to unload.
INSERT: TJ TURNS TO LOOK AT THE DOCK. THE DOORS TO THE
TRUCKS SWING OPEN. THEY ARE PACKED TO THE ROOFS: ONE WITH
BOXES OF DIAPERS AND BABY PRODUCTS, THE OTHER WITH 50LB
SANDBAGS AND SANDBOXES.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 44.
TJ
Holy shit box those trucks are
packed to the rafters!
TONY BLOCK
Yeah dude and they need emptied as
soon as you haul those bike boxes
off the top of the tower racks.
INSERT – TONY POINTS TO THE TOP OF THE 40 FOOT TALL STOCK
RACKS PACKED WITH MERCHANDISE.
TJ
The top?! Those bikes are on the
top racks? NO problem, where are
the stairs?
TONY BLOCK
No stairs! They’re broken. Now get
your ass to the top and get those
bikes down without damaging them
and out to the customers pronto and
then get those damn trucks unloaded
or I’ll tell Stacy you can’t hack
it! Newbie.
TJ
This is so not worth three dollars
an hour. I need that twenty-five
cent raise.
TONY BLOCK
Well handle it TJ and I’ll tell
Stacy that you’re worth the
three-twenty-five an hour. Now hop
to it!
TJ
(looking up thinking)
Hop to it? Hop to it. Hop to it!
TJ does a few quick stretches and breathes deep then
explodes like a parcour monkey up the racks.
TONY BLOCK
What the fff…? Hey don’t go
showing off and getting hurt, cuz
you got fired before you hit the
ground. Clear?
TJ
(jumping from ledge to ledge)
CLEAR!
45.
INT. TOYS ’R US – WAREHOUSE – DAY
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1) TJ UNLOADS THE TRUCK FULL OF SAND AND SANDBOXES FIRST
TAKING 200LBS OF SAND AT A TIME ON HIS SHOULDERS FROM THE
DOCK TO THE SALES FLOOR AND STACKS THEM NEATLY.
2) TJ FILLS TWO STANDARD PALLETS TO CHEST HEIGHT WHILE SEXY
BLOND CASHIER MONICA WATCHES WITH INTEREST.
3) TJ PLACES THE LAST 6 BAGS, 300 LBS OF SAND ON THE PALLET.
MONICA
Don’t hurt yourself little man it
ain’t worth the three dollars an
hour.
TJ
Nah but it was worth it to get your
attention now wasn’t it?
MONICA
(sexy shocked)
You mean?! You did that? Just
to…talk to me?
TJ
Nah Baby Girl I did that cuz I
could and I knew it’d make you want
to talk to me. So Whassup Boo?
MONICA
TJ! Your brother and I are best
friends! I’m like his sister, which
makes me—
TJ
Which makes you a fine-ass senior
Betty wit a bubble butt and a
bounce in need of a baby boy like
me. What?!
Monica is shocked, turned on and trying to hide it.
TJ grabs Monica by her waist and pulls her to him. Her large
breasts press up against his chest. She feels his biceps and
bites her bottom lip.
STACY MORONSKI
TJ. Diapers. Now!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 46.
TJ
Damn. I’m just saying, DAMN!
MONICA
Damn.
TJ
I’ll see you later young lady. Keep
it warm fer me.
INT. TOYS ’R US – WAREHOUSE – CONTINUOUS
TJ walks back into the loading area to find Tony unloading a
half truck of Christmas crap.
TJ
Half a truck!? Half a mother-truck
of Christmas Crap?! Bastard!
TONY BLOCK
Awe dude. Like it ain’t like that
homey. This truck coulda been like
the mother load of shit. Good job
on that sand by the way. I didn’t
know you had it in you.
INT. TOYS ’R US – WAREHOUSE – RACKS – CONTINUOUS
We see TJ stack hundreds of cases of diapers next to the
racks without a pallet jack.
INSERT: WE SEE ONE OF THE BOTTOM ROWS OF BOXES GIVE WAY
SLIGHTLY
TJ
(to Tony)
Damned weekday dudes stocked this
pallet weak. Those lazy bastards!
TONY BLOCK
I see that. Wanna tell Stacy.
TJ
I gotta finish those diapers bro
and you got Christmas to unload.
TONY BLOCK
Ho ho ho. Now get to the top and
bring down that case.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 47.
TJ
What!?! There’s no stairs.
TONY BLOCK
Figure it out.
INT. TOYS ’R US – WAREHOUSE – CONTINUOUS
TJ climbs thirty foot tall stacks of diapers to get the box
at the top while Tony watches.
TONY BLOCK
Careful Holmes. If Stacy catches
you up there she’ll fire you for
safety violations.
TJ
Or she’ll give me a raise for
cutting corners.
INSERT – CLOSE-UP ON THE MISS-STACKED BOXES COLLAPSING AT
THE CORNERS UNDER TJ’S WEIGHT
INSERT – THE THIRTY-FOOT TALL STACK WOBBLES
INSERT – TJ FALLS BACKWARDS LOOKING OVER HIS SHOULDER
INSERT – TONY MOUTHS “OH SHIT!”
INSERT – TJ LANDS ON A SINGLE CASE OF “SQUEEZIE ULTRA”
DIAPERS ON AN EMPTY PALLET AND FLATTENS THE BOX.
TJ
Hahahahahahaha HOLY SHITSKI! They
should sell tickets! Hahahahaha Hey
Tony, when was the last time you
wore diapers?
TONY BLOCK
You lucky retard! You landed on the
only box of diapers within ten
feet. Sweet Jesus! Somebody loves
you.
TJ
Help me outta this diaper box
before Stacy thinks we’re getting
weird back here and fires the both
of us. You saw nothing. You hear
me? You saw nothing.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 48.
TONY BLOCK
Nothing?! Holy Clean up on aisle my
pants. You need new underwear?
TJ
Nah, I Didn’t have time to shit
myself. Maybe next time.
INT. TOYS R US – STOREFRONT – EVENING
TJ takes off his apron and heads to the front of the store.
The manager, approaches him sternly in front of the others.
STACY MORONSKI
TJ, I heard what you did and I’m
not happy.
TJ freezes and looks confused. Monica looks concerned.
TJ
Ma’am?
STACY MORONSKI
Don’t you ma’am me mister. I know
you were doing tricks on the kids
BMX bikes earlier and I don’t want
you horsing around any more!
TJ
Oh that. Right. No more horse play
on bikes, promise. I did sell em.
STACY MORONSKI
I don’t care. But good job today
anyway handling the trucks and the
floor but I’m giving the bonus to
Tony for following the rules.
TJ
Of course ma’am. Thank you ma’am.
TJ smirks at Tony who smirks back.
Monica eyes TJ. TJ catches her and winks.
49.
EXT. TOYS R US – PARKING LOT – NIGHT
TJ and Monica walk out together. There is a foot of fresh
snow on the ground.
TJ
Need a ride?
MONICA
You need to quit boy.
TJ
Why should I quit when I’m so
close?
INSERT – TJ SLIDES ACROSS THE SNOW TO MONICA.
MONICA
(flustered)
You! are my—
INSERT – TJ KISSES MONICA SHE KISSES HIM BACK PASSIONATELY.
MONICA
My God! You are trouble!
TJ
Mmmhmmm. And you are delicious.
MONICA
I gotta go. And you need to calm
down. I need to calm down. Goodbye.
And Don’t tell Gerry.
TJ
Not a word baby. Merry Christmas.
Monica leaves in her car without cleaning off the snow.
INT. NARROW PATH CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – HALLWAY – DAY
On Screen: Last Day of School June 9, 1990
TJ is wearing a tight t-shirt showing off his manly body,
his chin-length hair flops in his face as he cleans out his
locker.
INSERT: TJ FLICKS HIS HAIR OUT OF HIS FACE REVEALING TWO
VERY PRETTY GIRLS IN SHORT SHORTS AND TIGHT TIED-OFF
T-SHIRTS REVEALING MIDRIFF.
It’s Jessica and Courtney the girls he always waved at and
got ignored by. TJ straightens up.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 50.
TJ
Hey Jessica. Courtney.
JESSICA
Hey you.
COURTNEY
Hi TJ.
TJ
(French)
Ce va au’jour’dhui? C’est bon n’est
pas?
COURTNEY
Jessica and I were wondering if you
wanted to participate—
JESSICA
Participate?! Cort! Ugh, Dude,
we’re gonna study French in a small
group this summer so we don’t
forget it and—
COURTNEY
And we were wondering if you wanted
to join us to practice French this
summer poolside at my house.
JESSICA
Yeah, it’s me, Cort, Britney and
Amber, and you too, maybe?
TJ
Huh, thanks I appreciate the
invite, I really do, but I won’t be
around much this summer, but
absolutely come fall I’m in like
Flynn.
COURTNEY
No?! But?
JESSICA
Saying No to poolside with the four
girls you’ve crushed on since 5th
grade?! What are you doin that’s so
hot?
COURTNEY
Yeah! What could be more important
than practicing French with the
most popular girls in the class, in
our bikinis, at my pool?!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 51.
TJ
I’m beginning to wonder that
myself. But, I’ve got plans. I’m
doing aerospace research and
development for the government at a
top secret facility out of state.
JESSICA
That is the lamest excuse I’ve ever
heard! Fine! Your loss.
COURTNEY
Yeah, I saw that movie last summer,
JERK! Now you’ll never get…
Popular!
Courtney and Jessica storm off.
TJ
So much for honesty. C’est la vie
du merde su mere. N’est pas?
(ONSCREEN SUBTITLES: Such is the
life of shit in the sea. Is it
not?)
EXT. ATLANTA, GA – SOUTHERN INST OF TECH PARKING LOT – AM
TJ is alone in a huge Research Institute parking lot.
INSERT: TJ LOOKS AT HIS SWATCH WATCH, IT IS 6:30AM
A white Chevy van with government plates pulls up and a
muscular Black Muslim man wearing a Kofi ushers him into the
back of the van full of mail and packages.
BARAK
Good morning. You must be the young
man I’m to drive out to the base?
TJ
Yessir. Thank you sir.
BARAK
Aw man, no need to sir me brother.
I wasn’t even a sir in the Army in
Nam. Call me Barak.
TJ
Dig it Barak, my name is TJ unless
I’m in trouble, then it’s “young
man.”
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 52.
BARAK
I dig where you’re coming from man.
Alright. Let’s get this show on the
road.
They leave the parking lot. Theyr’e on the highway.
BARAK
Say TJ, how old are you anyway?
TJ
Why do you ask?
BARAK
Well, it’s just that I sometimes
drive graduate students out to the
base, but I ain’t never had one as
young as you. You an undergraduate?
TJ
No sir. I’ll be a junior in the
fall. I’m sixteen.
BARAK
High school?!
TJ
Yessir?
BARAK
And you workin at the lab?! You
must be some kinda smart son.
TJ
Well, Barak, it’s an unpaid
internship, so—
BARAK
So what man! Cats spend whole
careers trying to get into this
place and you waltzing in in high
school! Damn the money. There’ll be
time for that.
EXT. CCRF MAIN CAMPUS – EMPLOYEE PARKING LOT – MORNING
The WHITE VAN drops TJ off at a rear employee entrance. The
van drives off.
TJ approaches the glass double doors marked with warning
signs about security clearances, FBI Prosecution for
Espionage “Beware the Siren and Be Indoors” and “Shhh The
Enemy Is Listening”.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 53.
INSERT: WE SEE TJ ON SEVERAL SECURITY MONITORS FROM
DIFFERENT ANGLES AND DISTANCES.
EXT./INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – REAR ENTRANCE – CONTINUOUS
TJ rings the intercom labeled “Little Red Button”.
INSERT: WE SEE TJ ON SEVERAL SECURITY MONITORS
MAGS
(British accent, Helena
Bonham-Carter-type)
Allo? Yes? Well?
TJ
Um?
MAGS
Out with it already?
TJ
It’s me.
MAGS
Me who?! Don’t you know there’s a
Cold War on?! Can’t let in just any
pathetic person because it’s “them”
and they say so, I mean what kind
of a secure installation would this
be if all the Sovs had to do was
send some whiny boy round to ring
the buzzer and act stupid? I mean
really?!
TJ
Good point ma’am. Sorry. This is TJ
Stoner, Maddie-Ann’s grandson. Your
high school intern.
MAGS
Of course you are, silly boy. Why
didn’t you say so?
TJ
Uh, I did?
INSERT: WE SEE AN ARMY GENERAL’S HAND PRESS A BUTTON ON A
LARGE COMPLEX CONSOLE.
A very loud air raid siren goes off and lights start
blinking outside the buildings and an even louder whooshing
sound begins building in intensity.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 54.
TJ
Ma’am please, what’s going on?
MAGS
Oh right, that sound means bad
things that cause instant death are
about to happen and you’ll want to
be in the building before the siren
changes to— that tone.
TJ looks nervous and covers his ears with one hand and his
other shoulder and tries the door with his free hand.
INSERT: THE LOCK CLICKS OPEN LOUDLY AND TJ YANKS OPEN THE
DOOR AND CLOSES IT AS FAST AS HE CAN JUST AS A SONIC BOOM
GOES OFF THAT RATTLES THE GLASS FOYER KNOCKING HIM BACK.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – REAR FOYER – CONTINUOUS
WE HEAR RINGING. TJ is moving his jaw and wiggling his ears
with his fingers trying to get his hearing back.
INSERT: WE SEE TJ ON SECURITY MONITORS IN THERMAL, X-RAY AND
ULTRASOUND IMAGING.
A fit and beautiful older British woman, Helena
Bonham-Carter-type, with wild hair walks in beaming.
MAGS
Allo TJ! Sorry about that. Forgot
the highspeed boys were going BOOM
today.
The RINGING in TJ’s ears fades.
TJ
Boom?
MAGS
Yes boom. You’re not damaged are
you? I mean fine start that would
be you haven’t even signed your
paperwork and already there’s more
of it to fill out. That just
wouldn’t do now would it?
55.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Mags starts walking away briskly, TJ follows.
TJ
No ma’am. It wouldn’t. I’m, I will
be fine. What was that?! That was a
sonic boom wasn’t it?
MAGS
(sarcasm)
Oh! You’re a bright one aren’t you?
Yes I see what all the fuss is
about, you’re a bleeding genius. Of
course that was a sonic boom you
novice. That is what the siren
means. Didn’t you read the signs.
TJ
Uh, I uh yes.
MAGS
Right. Enough lolly-gagging about
then we’ve got to get you signed
in.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – MAGS’ OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
Mags sits behind her desk and pulls out an envelope marked
Top Secret and pulls items out of it. Mags places a large
paper packet on the counter.
MAGS
Right. Here you are TJ, sign here,
here, and here.
TJ signs without reading.
MAGS
I wouldn’t do so much of that
moving forward dear. You have no
idea what you’ve just signed.
TJ
Uh, nope, but I figured I don’t
have a choice if I wanna work here,
I can’t be sued because I’m a minor
and my parents are poor so suing
them would be pointless.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 56.
MAGS
Not as dumb as you look are you
boy. Very well. You also signed the
Espionage Act stating that what
happens here stays here and that
anything you develop belongs to the
Institute. So you might be too
young to be sued but your old
enough to be robbed and imprisoned.
Right?
TJ
Right.
MAGS
Right. Enough of the pleasantries
then. Here’s your badge, it’s
magnetic, it’s encoded and it’s
always on your shirt or on your
lanyard around your neck. Got it?!
TJ
Yes ma’am.
MAGS
Right. Violet will be round to
collect you momentarily. Ooh I
almost forgot. Here sign this
waiver of liability stating that
you or your parents won’t sue if
anything interesting happens to you
while you’re here.
TJ
Interesting?
MAGS
You know, industrial accidents,
chemical spills, radiation leaks,
minor explosions, deafness,
blindness, warts and nightmares,
you know the usual.
TJ
Right?
MAGS
Right.
TJ
Bathroom?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 57.
MAGS
Left.
TJ
Right.
INT. CCRF BUILDING 2 – MAGS’ OFFICE – DAY
TJ walks back into Mags’ office to see Dr. Violet Jones
waiting for him. The ladies are snickering.
MAGS
Bit young though…
DR. VIOLET JONES
Good morning TJ and welcome to your
first day behind the second wire.
TJ
(looking around)
Second wire?
MAGS
Inside the secure laboratories
stupid boy. Honestly Violet you’ll
have a hell of time teaching this
one the lab language.
TJ
Lab language?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Slang, acronyms and initialisms.
It’s hardly English, but it saves a
lot of time and confusion.
MAGS
And OpSec SIMRs with the ICIRBADP
FBI, NSA, DoD and the bloody Select
Committees on golf outings!
TJ
The who what?!
DR. VIOLET JONES
Operational Security Security
Incident Management Review with the
Intelligence-Counter-Intelligence-Review-Board-And-Disciplinary-Panel—
TJ
Thanks, I understood the rest.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 58.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Right.
MAGS
Right.
TJ
(pause)
Right?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Right. Bye Mags. Lunch?
MAGS
Not today love I’ve got a thingy
with you know.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Right. Well, TJ it looks like it’ll
just be me and you for lunch today.
TJ can’t hide his smile and Mags throws Violet a cautionary
but approving look.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – MAIN LAB BAY – CONTINUOUS
Dr. Violet Jones takes TJ on his second more detailed tour
highlighting the OFF LIMITS SECURE AREAS. TJ is curious.
DR. VIOLET JONES
So whatever you do, don’t try to
get into those areas or it’ll be
the end of your young career and
probably prevent you from ever
getting a security clearance again.
TJ
Again? I have a security clearance?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes and believe me it wasn’t easy
explaining this internship to the
higher-ups in operational security.
TJ
What do you mean?
DR. VIOLET JONES
TJ, we do top secret research and
development for NASA, the
Department of Defense and special
defense contractors during the
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 59.
DR. VIOLET JONES (cont’d)
height of the Cold War. Have you
heard of the Skunk Works?
TJ
Absolutely! It’s where the SR-71
Blackbird was developed among other
toys that don’t exist.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Precisely. But have you ever heard
of Ghost World?
TJ
Ghost World? Is that a Halloween
thing?
DR. VIOLET JONES
No. It’s not. If it existed, it
would make the Skunk Works look
like an after school program.
TJ
Wow! So does it exist?! I mean, can
you tell me?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Come on TJ, time to show you your
office and lab space.
TJ
I have an office and lab space?
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – STUDENT CUBICLES – CONTINUOUS
Dr. Violet Jones escorts TJ into the student cubicle area.
There is no one else there.
TJ
Where is everybody?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Well TJ, next summer several
graduate students will be working
here, but for now it’s all yours.
TJ
Really?! But why aren’t there any
grad students this summer?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 60.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Due to the transition from Heedlock
Aerospace to the Southern Technical
Research Institute the necessary
protocols aren’t in place for
student assistants.
TJ
And that’s why my internship is—
DR. VIOLET JONES
Extraordinary. Next stop, your
laboratory space where you’ll be
working unless otherwise tasked by
myself, Dr. Singh or other senior
personnel.
TJ
Tasked?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Tasked.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – SMALL EXPERIMENTS LAB – CONTINUOUS
It’s pitch black and hushed until the door opens in and the
room is flooded in bright flourescent light and filled with
noise. TJ and Dr. Violet Jones walk in casting shadows.
TJ
I remember this room. Dr. Singh
showed it to me last year on the
tour. That’s the LDV setup, the
active noise cancellation setup
and—
DR. VIOLET JONES
And this is your workbench and
desk, however the entire small
experiments lab is yours since no
one else is here this summer.
TJ
All mine?! I get to—
DR. VIOLET JONES
Don’t touch the LDV or active noise
cancelling setups without
permission and supervision.
Otherwise, enjoy yourself and feel
free to look around. I’ll be back
at lunch.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 61.
TJ
Thank you Violet. You’ve been
awesome and I’m really looking
forward to working with you.
Dr. Violet Jones smiles as she leaves TJ alone in his new
domain full of equipment and possibilities.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
Dr. Violet Jones walks into a secure operations center with
security monitors and joins General Scounrel.
DR. VIOLET JONES
He’s all set General. What we’ll be
judging next is his ability to
follow instructions and or ignore
them without getting caught.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Excellent. I want someone who can
follow orders, but need someone who
follows their instincts despite
orders. A…
DR. VIOLET JONES
A dependable free-thinker?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Exactly. And a patriot to boot. Did
you plant the manual?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes Bob, but I couldn’t make a
convincing fake one so I had to use
the real SR-71 technical manual.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Unredacted? Complete?! You put the
Russians wet dream in that boy’s
hands?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes sir, I figured throw him in the
deep-end and save time. If he
attempts to remove it or make
copies he’ll be arrested and the
project is terminated. If he
attempts to disseminate the
classified information—
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 62.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
He’s just a kid with no credentials
that no one would ever believe.
He’s the poster-child for plausible
deniability! Brilliant Violet!
Remind me not to piss you off.
DR. VIOLET JONES
(winks)
Yessir.
On several monitors we watch as TJ explores the laboratory.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – SMALL EXPERIMENTS LAB – CONTINUOUS
TJ begins to casually look around the workbench and desk and
open the drawers.
The light is low and uneven so TJ goes to the walls and
flips all of the switches. Some work. Others don’t.
INSERT: TJ SITS ON THE STOOL AT HIS WORKBENCH AND CASUALLY
LOOKS AROUND THE CEILING AND WALLS.
INSERT: GENERAL SCOUNREL AND DR. VIOLET JONES WATCH HIM ON
THEIR MONITORS.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
What’s he doing now?
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
It looks like he’s taking stock,
deciding what he should do next.
INSERT: TJ LOOKS DIRECTLY AT SEVERAL CAMERAS SEQUENTIALLY.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Did he just look at us? Did you
conceal all of the surveillance
equipment?
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
Yes General. There’s no way he
could know, unless…
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Unless what?!
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
Unless he’s more gifted than we
imagined. Wait, there he goes.
63.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – SMALL EXPERIMENTS LAB – CONTINUOUS
TJ goes over to the cabinets and opens them one by one and
sifts through various tools, instruments, and wiring.
TJ opens the middle cabinet and pauses and turns his head
sideways and makes a face then turns around and looks right
at several cameras sequentially.
INSERT: DR. VIOLET JONES AND GENERAL SCOUNREL LEAN INTO
THEIR VIDEO MONITORS.
TJ reaches into the cabinet and pulls out the SR-71
Technical Manual. We HEAR his heart racing.
INSERT CLOSEUP: TOP SECRET TS-SCI-26 SR-71 BLACKBIRD
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS MANUAL OUO-12 EYES ONLY
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
He’s found the manual. His heart
rate and respiration are spiking.
TJ takes a deep breath and shakes it off.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
His vitals are returning to normal
General. That’s ridiculously fast
for a trained spy let alone a kid.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Are we sure he isn’t a Soviet
sleeper. I hear they are using
children as young as 12 now.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
We’ll find out soon enough.
TJ takes the technical manual to his desk and turns on his
desk lamp and flips through the book to the exploded cutaway
view of the SR-71 with its Specifications.
INSERT CLOSEUP: CUTAWAY EXPLODED VIEW OF THE SR-71 WITH
ATTACHED DRONE CRAFT ON THE BACK OF THE SPYPLANE. THE
SPECIFICATIONS SAY: MAXIMUM CRUISING SPEED MACH 10+. MAXIMUM
SERVICE CEILING UNKNOWN.
TJ
Holy crap! I knew it was faster
than Mach 3! Mach 3 is an F-15 with
afterburners not the sexiest
titanium super-sled balls to the
wall at 100,000 feet. Hot damn! I
Have Got To Have This.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 64.
TJ (V.O.)
This… This incredibly sensitive
material that just happened to be
lying around in an unlocked cabinet
in my lab space with know one else
around.
TJ
Oh shit.
TJ (V.O.)
Wait. This is government. This
could happen. Couldn’t it?
TJ
I just want a copy of this page for
myself. I won’t show it to anyone.
Ever. But aw man this has got to
hang on my wall.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
Interesting response.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Interesting How?
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
He suspects surveillance but he
doesn’t think we have audio because
of the noise.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Or he’s playing us.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
General Scounrel and Dr. Violet Jones look back at the
monitors but TJ has disappeared and so has the manual.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Goddamnit that didn’t take long!
I’m calling TacForce to take him
out.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Wait General, I think I’ve found
him.
INSERT: TJ IS WALKING DOWN THE MAIN HALLWAY TOWARDS THE
BUILDING TWO FRONT EXIT AND STOPS IN THE FOYER STARING AT
THE FRONT DOOR.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 65.
DR. VIOLET JONES
He’s in the Building two foyer,
holding some file folders.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
(holding phone)
Does he have the manual or not?
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – FRONT FOYER – CONTINUOUS
TJ stops just before the exit door.
TJ flips through the manual and stops toward the back.
INSERT: WE SEE A SMALL ELECTRONIC STRIP GLUED TO THE PAGE.
TJ shakes his head and turns to the copier and opens the
lid.
TJ opens the SR-71 Technical Manual to the page he wants
then stops and takes a breath.
INSERT: WE SEE A SIGN ON THE COPIER THAT SAYS “NO CLASSIFIED
COPIES”.
TJ
But how would they know if anybody
made classified copies unless…
INSERT: WE SEE A SIGN THAT SAYS “ENTER PROJECT COPY CODE”
AND AN ANALOG ROLLING COUNTER SHOWING THE NUMBER OF COPIES
MADE SINCE THE COPIER WAS INSTALLED.
TJ (V.O.)
That’s how! Stupid. Such an idiot,
of course they can tell what each
copy is. They probably keep a
record and an image on a database
somewhere. Let’s put this back
before…
Dr. Singh walks in with Dr. Violet Jones.
DR. VIOLET JONES
There you are TJ. Dr. Singh and I
were just talking about you.
DR. SINGH
Yes, young man. So how are you
finding your first day? My
apologies for not being able to
greet you this morning, but as Lab
Director my time is precious.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 66.
TJ
Oh, no worries Dr. Singh. So far so
good, just getting lost, I guess I
walked through the wrong door and
found myself out here instead of
the main bay.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Really? Very good. It happens.
DR. SINGH
No worries as you say TJ, You’ll
get used to the layout soon enough.
Come join us for coffee in Building
One and let’s catch up.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes TJ join us—
TJ
I’d love to, but I really need to
use the restroom and then I’ll be
right over. OK?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Very good. See you then.
DR. SINGH
Yes. Excellent TJ. See you in a
few.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
General Scounrel is watching the monitors.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
NO biometric alteration while lying
and holding classified material
with intent. Hot Damn this kid has
potential! Sociopath or super-spy?
Nature versus Nurture.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – CONTROL ROOM – DAY
Dr.Violet Jones and TJ walk into the Anechoic Chamber
Control Room filled with mainframes, a Spectral Dynamics
SD360 Spectral Analyzer and banks of older controls with
analog dials and buttons.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 67.
DR. VIOLET JONES
As you know TJ this is the Anechoic
Chamber Control Room where we run
all of our high speed hot and cold
flow jet nozzle tests.
TJ
(checking her out)
Uh huh. Hot and cold. Right.
They stop in front of a big red button marked “Emergency
Shut-Off”.
DR. VIOLET JONES
This big red button is the
emergency shut-off switch that
instantly kills the high pressure
systems and burners in case of
emergency.
TJ
Big red button. MmHmmm.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Unfortunately, during the
facilities transition it was
somehow disconnected and we can’t
run experiments until it is fixed.
TJ
Really? That makes sense I suppose.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Let me explain why it’s important.
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1) EXT. HOT JET TEST FACILITY JUST OUTSIDE
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
A few years back two engineers were
running a supersonic hot jet test
in the hut just outside and no one
was manning the controls…
2) INT. A PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE FREEZES
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
The pressure release valve froze
shut causing a catastrophic failure
and…
3) EXT. HOT JET TEST FACILITY JUST OUTSIDE – A LARGE
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 68.
COMPRESSED AIR TANK EXPLODES THROUGH THE TIN ROOF AND FLIES
A HUNDRED FEET IN THE AIR.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
launched a half ton air tank
through the roof of the facility a
hundred feet into the air.
TJ (V.O.)
No way! Anyone hurt?
INSERT – WE ARE BACK IN THE CONTROL ROOM.
DR. VIOLET JONES
No but the experiment was ruined,
the facilities were badly damaged
and two engineers nearly lost their
jobs because of it.
TJ
Fair enough.
DR. VIOLET JONES
You’d think that they had learned
their lesson about high pressure
systems safety, but the following
year…
SERIES OF SHOTS:
1)EXT. BETWEEN BUILDING TWO AND HOT JET TEST FACILITY –
BELOW THE ROOF-LINE WE SEE SIX INCH DIAMETER THICK-WALL
STEEL PIPES ANGLED UPWARDS AS A PIDGEON LANDS IN ITS NEST
INSIDE THE PIPE.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
We had emergency burst plates and
vents installed to prevent the same
type of accident.
TJ (V.O.)
Burst plates?
2) INT. STEEL PIPE WITH BURST PLATES AND CROSSHAIR SHAPED
STEEL RAZORS IN CROSS-SECTION.
DR. VIOLET JONES (V.O.)
Thin steel safety disks mounted
next to large steel razor blades
that buldge out under high pressure
and burst like a jiffy-pop-top when
they hit the razors releasing the
air pressure.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 69.
3) INT. WE SEE THE CONCAVE STEEL DISK BULDGE INTO A CONVEX
DISK AND BURST AS IT HITS THE BIG RAZOR BLADES WITH A LARGE
“WHOOSH” SOUND.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – CONTROL ROOM – DAY
TJ
Cool idea.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Thanks. It was mine. Anyway, the
engineers ignored safety protocol
again and ran an experiment before
checking the burst plates and went
to lunch.
TJ
What happened?
EXT. CCRF – JUST OUTSIDE BUILDING TWO BY HOT JET – DAY
We hear a sonic boom.
INSERT – WE SEE THE NESTING PIDGEON EXPLODE WITH FEATHERS
EVERYWHERE.
We hear another series of sonic booms in the distance.
INT. AIR BASE CONTROL TOWER – OTHERSIDE OF THE BASE
An air Traffic Controller and Radar Operator spill coffee on
themselves as their alarms go off as a bright streak shoots
across the radar screen.
They look out at the airfield lined up with fighters and see
a tiny object streaking across at Mach 3 leaving Sonic Boom
clouds in its wake before disappearing.
EXT. AIR BASE – GRASSY FIELD – DAY
A smoking fully cooked mangled pidgeon corpse lands on the
green grass with a sizzling sound as air raid sirens can be
heard in the background.
70.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – CONTROL ROOM – DAY
TJ is standing next to Dr. Violet Jones wide-eyed and
smiling.
TJ
OH MY GOD! Super-sonic pidgeon?!
Hahahahaha!
DR. VIOLET JONES
(chuckling)
It was no laughing matter. The
whole base went on high alert. They
thought it was the Russians
launching a sneek attack.
Dr. Violet Jones begins to walk around to the back of the
colossal control console. TJ follows her.
TJ
Poor pidgeon never knew he beat
Chuck Yeager.
DR. VIOLET JONES
It didn’t take long before
the control tower called over and
asked if we were testing anything
“special” like supersonic stealth
because the radar cross section was
the size of a bird. We just said
“what’s stealth?” and left it at
that.
TJ and Dr. Violet Jones are standing at the open back of the
colossal control console. Thousands of Wires are
crisscrossing everywhere.
TJ
Stealth?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Big red button. Take your time.
It’s pretty complicated wiring and
try not to forget what you
disconnect so you can reconnect it.
TJ
Hahuh, lucky pidgeon.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Have fun TJ and don’t get
discouraged, this ought to take you
a few days and be a great learning
opportunity. Right?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 71.
TJ
Right.
Dr. Violet Jones walks out. TJ enjoys the view then scans
back to the mess in front of him.
TJ
Helluva first day. Let’s do this.
TJ checks his Swatch Watch, it is 10:10am.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – DR. JONES/SINGH’S OFFICE – DAY
The clock on the wall says 10:25am.
TJ walks in smiling. Dr. Violet Jones is on the phone and
gives TJ the one second gesture.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yessir. I’ll keep you informed sir.
Thank you sir. Hi TJ, given up
already?
TJ
Not exactly Voilet, but I did have
a question for you that requires
that we be in the control room. Do
you have a minute?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Sure, just let me tell Dr. Singh
that I’ll be stepping out.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – CONTROL ROOM – CONTINUOUS
TJ leads Dr. Violet Jones into the room smiling. TJ is
holding a notepad and pencil.
DR. VIOLET JONES
So what is your question TJ?
TJ
Well Violet, as much as I
appreciated you taking me round
back and showing me the view I
decided to start up front and
sketch a schematic from the button
backwards.
TJ flips around the notepad to reveal a crude line drawing
of a button labeled “Big Red Button” and a single wire.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 72.
Dr. Violet Jones has a puzzled look on her face.
TJ hands her the notepad which she inspects.
DR. VIOLET JONES
This is as far as you got TJ?
Forensic engineering can be tedious
but reverse engineering demands…
TJ reaches behind the panel and pulls out an eight inch wire
connected to the Big Red Button and attaches it to a relay.
TJ
My question Dr. Jones was am I
correct in assuming this wire and
this relay labeled “Emergency
Shut-Off” go together?
DR. VIOLET JONES
(impressed)
It would appear—
TJ
Violet, I don’t mean to be rude but
if this was some kind of test, I’m
a little insulted. I want to do
real work and really help and
really learn about aerospace
engineering, not take IQ tests.
DR. VIOLET JONES
I assure you TJ that this was
something that had to be done and
you have excelled at it. The truth
is I hadn’t prepared a project for
you yet and was hoping that this
would buy me some time.
TJ
I’m sorry ma’am. Please forgive my
youth and passion, but I was born
to do this.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes TJ I believe you were. Well why
not call it a great first day and
Dr. Singh and I will have a real
project for you tomorrow.
TJ
Thank you Violet. I really
appreciate it but what will I do
for the rest of the day? The mail
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 73.
TJ (cont’d)
van doesn’t return to campus until
five.
DR. VIOLET JONES
There’s an unclassified team
meeting in the annex after lunch to
discuss control systems problems in
a new helicopter that you can sit
in on.
TJ
Awesome! Thanks again.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
Dr. Violet Jones is sitting with General Scounrel studying
documents together.
DR. VIOLET JONES
(excitedly)
He’s off the charts General! I mean
I’ve never even heard of someone
like him let alone met someone like
him. He’s smart, funny, handsome,
emotionally intelligent—
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
He’s Sixteen! Violet, sixteen will
get you twenty.
DR. VIOLET JONES
This is Georgia General. But I
know—
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Just cuz it’s legal don’t make it
right. Besides it’d be a breach of
ethics. You’re studying him not
dating him. We clear?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes General, we’re clear. I was
just saying that he’s remarkable
and good looking and if he weren’t
my test subject and he was older
he’d be perfect. That’s all.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
That is all. Thank you.
Dr. Violet Jones leaves.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 74.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Son of a bitch is perfect. He’s
even got her flustered. I can’t
wait to train this kid.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO ANNEX – DARKENED ROOM – DAY
On Screen: After Lunch
TJ walks into a darkened conference room where a team of
engineers is gathered around a large television watching
video of a helicopter.
Nobody notices TJ walk in as they are talking heatedly.
ENGINEER 1 (JACK)
I’m telling you I think I saw it
before I heard it.
ENGINEER 2 (TED)
We’ll have to play it back again.
Everyone pay close attention.
INSERT: THEY REPLAY THE VIDEO OF A BLACKHAWK HELICOPTER
HOVERING FIFTY FEET IN THE AIR WITH A PLATOON OF US MARINES
INSIDE. THE HELICOPTER BEGINS MOVING RYTHMICALLY THEN A
NOTICABLE BENDING IN THE AIRFRAME THEN A LOUD CRACK SOUND
AND THE AIRFRAME BREAKS AND THE HELICOPTER FALLS OUT OF THE
SKY WITH SCREAMS FROM THE MARINES INSIDE AS IT HITS THE
GROUND AND BURNS WITH MARINES YELLING AND SCREAMING.
INSERT: WE SEE TJ FROZEN WIDE-EYED AND HORRIFIED.
FEMALE ENGINEER (PEGGY)
Whoa. Hold the tape Jack there’s a
kid in here. Who are you?
ENGINEER 1 (JACK)
Is it bring your kid to work day?
Who’s kid is this? Kid, who are
you? What are you doing in here?
TJ
Sorry to interupt your meeting,
sir, (showing badge) but I work
here. Today is my first day. Dr.
Jones told me to come observe.
FEMALE ENGINEER (PEGGY)
Observe this? Dr. Jones told you to
come observe this forensic
investigation?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 75.
TJ
Yes ma’am. She thought it, that
I…
FEMALE ENGINEER (PEGGY)
I don’t think this is appropriate.
How old are you? You’re no graduate
student.
TJ
I’m sixteen ma’am. I’m the intern.
FEMALE ENGINEER (PEGGY)
No way! Absolutely not! My kid’s
his age and I wouldn’t want my kid
seeing and hearing this.
ENGINEER 2 (TED)
I have to agree with Peggy on this.
ENGINEER 1 (JACK)
What’s your name kid?
TJ
My name is TJ sir.
ENGINEER 1 (JACK)
You want to be an aerospace
engineer?
TJ
All my life. Nothing else.
ENGINEER 1 (JACK)
Well then I think the sooner you
realize what happens when we screw
up the better off we’ll all be.
These Marines died because of
forced time lines, cut corners and
professional egos. Hardly worth it.
TJ
Yessir. I agree sir. Their Blood
was too high a price to pay for
anybody’s ego.
ENGINEER 1 (JACK)
Sit down TJ. Let’s get to work.
76.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – DR. JONES/SINGH’S OFFICE – DAY
TJ walks in and puts his packed lunch in the office
refrigerator. Dr. Violet Jones sticks her head in.
Dr. Violet Jones ushers TJ into Dr. Singh’s office.
DR. SINGH
Good morning TJ and welcome back to
day two of your internship.
TJ
Thank you sir. It’s an honor to be
here.
DR. SINGH
Dr. Jones tells me that you have
surpassed our expectations, fixed
the big red button and sat in on a
forensic engineering session that
was more intense than I knew. My
apologies for that, but still it is
important to know that people’s
lives depend on our work.
TJ
Yessir. It was tough to watch, but
exciting to see the passion and
dedication of the engineers to
solve the problem and prevent more
loss of life.
DR. SINGH
Well said TJ. You see Dr. Jones, I
told you he was exceptional.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes Dr. Singh. He is.
DR. SINGH
That is why Dr. Jones and I have
cooked up a little conundrum for
you. If you’ll excuse me I’ll let
Dr. Jones walk you through it while
I attend a different meeting.
They leave the office.
77.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – SMALL EXPERIMENTS LAB – CONTINUOUS
TJ and Dr. Violet Jones are sitting facing each other on lab
stools. Violet’s skirt is mid-thigh legs crossed and she is
wearing heels. TJ’s in baggy jeans and a tight t-shirt.
There is a sketch pad on the workbench between them.
DR. VIOLET JONES
So TJ, the theory behind acoustic
levitation is that you can use
sound waves to float material in
air.
TJ
So, you’ve got two areas of high
pressure on either side of an area
of low pressure, like you and me
and nothing in the middle.
TJ picks up the sketch pad and holds it between them and
motions for her to put out her hand.
TJ
And the two high pressure sides
push against each other in the
middle and can hold something in
place.
Dr. Violet Jones puts out her hand and together with TJ
pushing on opposite sides of the notepad they suspend it in
mid-air.
INSERT CLOSEUP: TJ AND DR. VIOLET JONES ARE PALM-TO-PALM
WITH A NOTEPAD BETWEEN THEM. WE HEAR HER BREATH.
DR. VIOLET JONES
That is precisely how it works.
TJ
Funny. It’s kinda like holding
hands too. I don’t mean to be
forward but that was rather
pleasant Violet.
DR. VIOLET JONES
TJ, I’m only going to say this
once. You’re only sixteen and just
cuz it’s legal doesn’t make it
right. Let’s keep it professional
please.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 78.
TJ
You’re right Dr. Jones. I
apologize. I forget I’m still just
a kid. It won’t happen again.
DR. VIOLET JONES
TJ, I didn’t mean… You’re great,
but you are too young and we do
work together. Ethics demand—
TJ
That I behave. You’re right. Thank
you. I appreciate it and you.
You’re very kind and patient.
DR. VIOLET JONES
(getting up)
Are we good here?
TJ
Totally solid. I’ll get to work on
designing an experiment right away.
Thanks again Violet. You rock.
Dr. Violet Jones walks out cooly, but with a huge grin and
biting her bottom lip.
INT. CCRF BUILDING TWO – SMALL EXPERIMENTS LAB – DAY
On Screen: Two weeks later.
TJ is leaning over a vertical large diameter clear
plexiglass tube with metal endcaps, a speaker driver at the
bottom end and a plunger at the top end.
INSERT CLOSEUP: ACOUSTIC LEVITATION TEST SETUP
TJ puts in foam earplugs and then puts on large headphones.
TJ flips a switch and white styrofoam balls jump around in
the tube as he turns up the volume.
TJ adjusts the frquency.
INSERT CLOSEUP: THE WHITE STYROFOAM BALLS STOP JUMPING
AROUND LIKE POPCORN AND ALL LEVITATE INTO AN ORDERLY DISK IN
THE CENTER OF THE TUBE. THEN HE CHANGES THE FREQUENCY AGAIN
AND THE BALLS TURN BACK INTO POPCORN, THEN HE HITS ANOTHER
FREQUENCY AND THE BALLS LINE UP NEAR THE TOP LIKE A
STARFRUIT GEAR TURNING CLOCKWISE AND COUNTER-CLOCKWISE AS HE
FINE-TUNES THE APPARATUS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 79.
INSERT: WE PULL BACK FROM THE APPARATUS TO REVEAL DR. SINGH,
DR. VIOLET JONES AND A ROOM FULL OF ENGINEERS AND MILITARY
BRASS INCLUDING GENERAL SCOUNREL.
TJ turns off the experiment and motions that it is safe to
remove the headphones and ear plugs. TJ is wearing an MC
Hammer suit.
TJ
The second phenomenon is caused by
a previously unknown perpendicular
resonance that could be useful for
micro-gravity containerless
materials processing.
AIR FORCE TWO STAR GENERAL
English son?
TJ
It could come in handy for
space-based manufacturing.
DR. SINGH
Yes TJ is quite correct. The
resonance you have just observed
has been predicted but never before
seen and could be useful in NASA’s
next space shuttle launch with the
thing from that company.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
How loud was that son?
TJ
That was 153 decibels General. Well
above the pain threshold.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Yeah, I’m still a little deaf in
one ear.
DR. VIOLET JONES
TJ’s test setup is the loudest
single source acoustic system in
the world General.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Really?
TJ
Yessir. I lost my hearing for three
days before I realized I needed two
layers of protection. Two is one.
One is none.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 80.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Spoken like an Operator TJ. So
what’s next for you?
TJ
Next week I go back to Ohio and
start my junior year of high school
sir, then if Dr. Singh thinks I’m
worth it, hopefully a paid
internship next summer.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
What do you say Dr. Singh? Is the
boy worth the budget cuts
elsewhere?
DR. SINGH
What budget cuts General? You’re
here to increase my funding not
pick my pockets.
Everyone laughs. Dr. Violet Jones winks at TJ. The
photographer takes a picture of TJ with his experiment.
EXT./INT. – ELYRIA, OHIO – TJ’S HOME – AFTERNOON
TJ’s parents are having a yard sale. A family with two young
kids leaves with a big box and a smile on their faces as TJ
and his older brother, Gerald, pull up.
Gerald goes inside without a word. TJ carries his own bags.
TJ’S MOM
Welcome home TJ!
TJ’S DAD
Welcome home son. How’s my little
Einstein doing? Still have all your
fingers and toes?
TJ
Yessir, but my hearing’s a bit
worse for the wear. It was amazing!
Hey what’s going on here? What’s
with the yard sale.
TJ looks around and sees a sign that shocks him.
INSERT: THE SIGNS SAY “YARD SALE” AND “MOVING SALE”.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 81.
TJ’S DAD
We’re moving to Jew Jersey in two
weeks so we thought now would be a
good time to sell everything we
don’t need.
TJ’S MOM
Oh TJ, and here’s your Twenty
dollars.
TJ
Twenty bucks for what? I didn’t
sell anything.
TJ’S MOM
For your old toys.
TJ
Moving? New Jersey?! What old
toys!?! What the heck’s going on
here?! I leave you two alone for a
couple of weeks and now we’re
moving half way across country?!?
TJ’S DAD
Watch your tone boy. Don’t
disrespect your mother and me.
TJ
And what old toys!?!
TJ’S MOM
Your old legos and GI Joes and
Transformers—
TJ
WHAT!?!?!?! OH MY GOD!!!
TJ’S DAD
Son lower your voice! Now!
TJ
First of all, sir, no matter what I
say we’re moving so give me my
outrage over this.
TJ’S DAD
Boy you lower your tone or I’ll
lower it for you! Your mother was
trying to help you make money off
of old junk.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 82.
TJ
JUNK!?! That was highly collectable
junk.
TJ’S DAD
Son that’s enough. Apologize. NOW!
TJ
I’m sorry mom. I know you meant
well, but—
TJ’S DAD
But nothing! We’re done here. Go
unpack.
EXT./INT LARK, NJ – JOHNSON L ARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
We Fly in through the window of the main office to see TJ
and TJ’s Mom sitting in the Principal’s office wrapping up
introductions.
PRINCIPAL SMITH
(speech impediment)
Well Mithuth Thtoner I’m thure that
TJ will thoon find himthelf at home
here. Our thchool hath
conthithtently achieved among the
top thchoolth in the thtate in
thcience and math.
TJ’S MOM
Thank you Principal Thmith, Smith.
My husband and I, and TJ really
appreciate you admitting TJ to the
Chemistry and Physics courses
simultaneously and on such short
notice.
PRINCIPAL SMITH
Yeth, TJ is the firtht thtudent in
thtate hithtory to take them
together with intent to take
advanthed plathement phythicth and
chemithtry hith thenior year. We
wouldn’t have allowed it exthept
for hith imprethive work at the
Thouthern Inthtitute of Technology
thith latht thummer.
TJ’S MOM
Yes we’re all very excited about
our move here and I know TJ is
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 83.
TJ’S MOM (cont’d)
looking forward to getting to know
his new classmates. This will be
his first time attending public
school.
TJ
Mom?!
PRINCIPAL SMITH
Well TJ, I underthtand your
parentth conthern coming from a
parochial background to public
thchool can be duanting tho I’ve
athked one of the motht popular
boyth in your grade who ith altho
the thtarting quarterback on our
football team to walk you to your
firtht clath which ith chemithtry.
Who knowth you could end up being
lab partnerth.
TJ’S MOM
Well, isn’t that nice. Thank you!
What do you say TJ?
TJ
Thank you sir. I certainly
appreciate your concern for my
successful assimilation into the
scholastic social scene.
A handsome dark curly-haired tan boy saunters into the
Principal’s office.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
(North Jersey accent)
Hey Coach, you sent for me?
Whatever it was, it wasn’t me.
Whoever says otherwise is lying.
PRINCIPAL SMITH
Thuch a kidder. Caliber Kowalthki
thith ith TJ and hith mother
Mithuth Thtoner. Their from Ohio.
Today ith hith firtht day here at
JLA and he ith in your chemithtry
clath and I’d like you to take him
with you and introduthe him to the
clath.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 84.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Uh… OK. Whatever you say Coach.
Mrs. Stoner. TJ. Nice to meet you.
Now coach?
PRINCIPAL SMITH
Yeth Cal. Now would be good.
TJ’S MOM
Bye honey! I love you. (Hugs TJ
awkwardly, Cal snikkers)
TJ
Goodbye mom. Thank you. I’ll see
you tonight.
INT. LARK, NJ – JOHNSON L ARTHUR SCHOOL – HALL – CONTINUOUS
TJ and Cal walk down the hall. Every cute girl waves at Cal.
All the cool guys give him a nod. Cal nods back.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Stoner?
TJ
What?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Your last name is Stoner?
TJ
Yeah. Funny name for a preacher’s
kid.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Your father’s a father? I mean a
priest?! How’s that work?
TJ
My dad is an ordained evangelical
minister not a Catholic priest.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
So, yous guys are Christians
though?!
TJ
Yeah, Prodestants.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Oh! Prodestants. Those I’ve heard
of, but not that evangel thing. So
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 85.
CALIBER KOWALSKI (cont’d)
yous guys don’t believe in the Holy
Mother n saints in shit.
TJ
Oh we believe in shit, just not so
much of it.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Oh, ok then. So Ohio?
TJ
Yup.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
So yous hicks like do what for fun,
go cow-tipping?
TJ
Cow-tipping? Never heard of it.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Ah come on! In the movies that’s
what all yous mid-west types do for
fun when your not dancing in a barn
like a bunch of freakin weirdos.
TJ
Guess I never got invited to that
party. Speaking of parties. Any
good ones here?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
You a cop? You 21 jump street?
What’s with all the questions about
parties?
TJ
Seriously? Me a cop? The parties
must be pretty good if your asking
that?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Sorry kid. Recent events… You
know how it is. I’m looking at a
conference championship and a
football scholarship for college so
I gotta be careful.
TJ
I dig it dude.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 86.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
OK kid, we’re here. Jack Aragon’s
class. Good guy. Good luck.
INT. JLA SCHOOL – ARAGON’S CHEMISTRY CLASS – CONTINUOUS
The door opens during the end of role call. Everyone looks
at TJ and Cal.
JACK ARAGON
There you are Kowalski, I almost
marked you tardy. Who’s your
friend?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Sorry there J.A. but Coach Smith
called me down to bring the new kid
to class.
All the popular girls have enormous hair and heavy makeup.
All the kids are talking amongst themselves staring at TJ.
INSERT – THERE IS ONLY ONE VACANT SEAT IN THE CLASS BEHIND A
PIMPLY FACED KID WEARING THICK GLASSES WITH A GREASY BLOND
PONYTAIL WEARING A TIE-DYED T-SHIRT, KHAKI CARGO SHORTS AND
PENNY-LOAFERS WITHOUT SOCKS SIPPING ON ICED-COFFEE EATING
SUSHI.
JACK ARAGON
New kid got a name?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Oh yeah sorry coach. This here is
TJ Stoner, he’s from Ohio but
claims he’s never been cow-tipping,
yeah right, and his dad’s a priest
but they ain’t Catholic, go figure.
JACK ARAGON
That’s quite an introduction
Kowalski. Thank you. You may sit
down. (Cal nods and sits) You’ve
already met the Polish Rifle so
Welcome Mister Stoner, have a seat
wherever you like.
TJ looks around trying to find anywhere but next to the
weird kid.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 87.
TJ
Polish Rifle?
Everyone is looking at him like he’s the weird kid.
JACK ARAGON
Kowalski’s nickname. Football.
Quarterback. Dumb Polock. Hey I can
say that cuz I married one and what
do I know I’m just a greasy
Sicillian, so…
TJ reluctantly sits behind the weird kid.
JACK ARAGON
So TJ it would be foolish of me to
attempt to teach any chemistry
until we manage to answer a few
questions about you so all the
gossip can stop and we can get to
work, right Stacy Hawczk?
The hot blonde Polish girl in the front row stops whispering
turns around and looks shocked but smiles.
STACY HAWCZK
What who me?! Mr. A! Come on…
From Ohio and never been
cow-tipping?! (Class laughs)
JACK ARAGON
Well it seems we have a different
understanding of his culture and
I’m sure he must have some strange
ideas about ours.
TJ
No kidding.
JACK ARAGON
So TJ, what do you know about
Jersey?
TJ
All I know about New Jersey I
learned from Dance Party USA.
INSERT: CLIP FROM DANCE PARTY USA HIGHLIGHTING BIG-HAIRED
GUIDETTES AND HAIRY CHESTED GUIDOS WITH GOLD CHAINS IN
SWEATSUITS TRYING TO DANCE TO CLUB MUSIC.
Some of the class laughs.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 88.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Yeah Sleezeside Sluts! Going Down
the shore.(High-fiving other jocks)
JACK ARAGON
Yes, thank you Cal. Sluts indeed.
But Cal did point out something of
value. In Jersey, none of us says
“New” or “going to the beach”.
Jersey kids (points to class) say.
JA’S CHEMISTRY CLASS
Going Down The Shore!
TJ laughs. The tie-dye kid in front of him sips his
iced-coffee stone-faced.
JACK ARAGON
Any other misnomers we can correct
for you TJ?
TJ
So you’re not all grease-balls and
wanna be gangsters with bad hair
and gold chains like in the movies
just like not everybody from the
midwest tips sleeping cows and goes
to barn dances.
STACY HAWCZK
See I told you he knows what it
was.
JACK ARAGON
No TJ we’re not all grease-ball
wanna be gangsters, but the mafia
is real they live somewhere around
here and they have fabulous hair.
(touches his hair)
The whole class laughs even the tie-dye kid chuckles.
TJ
Right.
JACK ARAGON
(deadly serious)
I’m not kidding. The mafia is real
and dangerous, so—
TJ
Yeah, I know. My great grandfather
worked for Al Capone in Cisero as a
… a janitor.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 89.
JOCK
Bullshit!
The class falls silent instantly staring at TJ.
JACK ARAGON
(mock awe but not sardonic)
The Don! May he rest in peace. Well
then TJ you’re practically a “real
guy” and you should adjust to life
here just fine.
TJ
Except for not being able to drive
again till next year! Load a crap.
Everybody looks at him funny. Stacy raises her hand.
JACK ARAGON
Yes Stacy?
STACY HAWCZK
I’d like to ask TJ what he means by
that. (He nods permission) What’d
yous mean by dat anyways?
TJ
Hey Stacy, I mean I’ve been driving
since I was fifteen and even had my
own car for almost a year until
moving here and my parents wouldn’t
sponsor my out of state license for
three months until I turn seventeen
cuz the insurance is so high, so
now I’m walking again which SUCKS!
STACY HAWCZK
He’s lying right Mister A? No way a
fifteen years old kid is driving!
The class murmurs. The weird kid is paying attention now.
STACY HAWCZK
Hold on a minute. Were yous held
back or something? How are yous
gonna be seventeen this fall and
still be a junior if yous wasn’t
held back a grade?
TJ looks at the teacher who nods assent to answer.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 90.
TJ
Because when I started school the
district we were in had a rule and
my birthday was a month past the
cut-off so I had to wait till the
next year. And if you’d like to
know more we can get together after
school and have a pop.
Stacy is confused, the others are in shock.
STACY HAWCZK
Did he just?! A Pop!?! You trying
to get laid on your first day?!
Bastard. I thought yous were a
priest’s kid. And how can a priest
have a kid and still be a priest?!?
The class laughs, some of the jocks stare angrily.
JACK ARAGON
(looking at TJ)
Allow me. Translation Stacy. TJ was
indeed suggesting that if you had
any further questions that you and
he could have a “SODA-POP” after
school and get to know each other
better. Not the other thing. And
his father is a Prodestant
Minister, not a priest, They’re
allowed to marry and have kids.
STACY HAWCZK
Oh sorry TJ. No disrespect. (To
jocks) Calm down. My bad. We’re
good here. And no thank you TJ I’m
not interested.
JA’S CHEMISTRY CLASS
OOOOH Burn Kid! Damn that was COLD!
Ouch. Hahahaha! Polish fire…
Welcome to Jersey kid.
ROBERT CRIST
(Tie-dye kid)
Ignore them. Doing otherwise
dignifies the wretches.
TJ
Thanks. What’s your name man?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 91.
ROBERT CRIST
Robert Crist, but you can call me
Bip or Bob or bastard, just don’t
call me bitch.
TJ
Fair enough Robert. Nice to meet
you.
ROBERT CRIST
By the way, everyone else already
chose lab partners at role call.
Looks like we’re stuck with each
other. I hope you don’t mind.
TJ
I’m having third grade kickball
flashbacks. Word. Let’s do this
heterosexual male partner thing.
Robert laughs genuinely. TJ chuckles.
INT. PENTAGON – SUB-BASEMENT-Q-33 COSMIQ – DAY
General Scounrel and Dr. Violet Jones are sitting with
someone else, a JK Simmons-type, at a conference table
looking at a presentation about TJ.
DR. VIOLET JONES
TJ has been relocated to the school
for the gifted and talented in New
Jersey disguised within a regular
high school, however, he missed the
entire application process—
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
In other words, Director, we
couldn’t get him admitted to the
actual gifted and talented program
without raising too many questions
from too many people including TJ.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Your telling me that with all of
your resources that you couldn’t
get around a high school
application process?!
DR. VIOLET JONES
Sir, it would have raised too many
flags to maintain the covert nature
of long-term underage asset
development.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 92.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Someone was bound to figure out
that TJ mattered to us and could
have screwed it up. The last thing
we want is people realizing how
special this kid is until he’s
properly trained and reliable.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Understood. Ridiculous how nations
rise and fall because of us, but
one mid-level high school
administrator could ruin everything
with one phonecall because of the
“rules”.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Yessir. On the bright side sir TJ
has been successfully inserted into
the parallel physics and chemistry
programs, a first in company
history, and has been partnered
with our best new recruit,
codenamed Bip.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Bip?! Codenamed Bip? Innoccuous
enough I suppose. And Bip is…?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Sixteen. Almost as intelligent as
TJ, but much more highly trained
and developed. He is already a
capable and competent hard asset.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
A hard asset?! A high school kid?
Already an assassin?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
He is trained and capable but has
not yet been deployed, sir.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
God help us when the USA actually
has to deploy sixteen year old kids
to do its dirty work. Alright. So
what’s next?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Next we’ll test TJ’s ability to
assimilate to his new environment,
make friends, influence people, and
break rules and not get caught.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 93.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Sounds like a bag of cats. What
about his combat training?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Our agent Bip will be assessing TJ
and encouraging TJ to take up
training and weightlifting.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Encourage him how?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
We thought a street fight with some
of the football players should do
the trick.
DR. VIOLET JONES
(shocked)
Or seriously injure the poor boy!
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Well, if this kid can’t hack it
then he isn’t our guy and his
injuries aren’t our problem and you
need to keep this professional Dr.
Jones. He’s a program candidate.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes Sir, and he’s more than just
another potential assassin, he’s a
multiple genius and we don’t want
him brain damaged before we can
fully explore and exploit his mind.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Just make sure that’s all you’re
exploring and exploiting Violet.
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
Sounds like there’s some history
there I don’t want to hear about.
So, Bob, don’t kill this kid right
away, just make it one really tough
drop out type with nothing to lose
and see how this kid handles
himself.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Yessir. Thank you sir.
94.
INT. JLA SCHOOL – GYMNASIUM – HALLOWEEN DANCE – NIGHT
ON SCREEN: JLA Halloween Dance – Halloween 1991
Cheezy “Club Music” is playing. It’s a typical high school
dance with Halloween themed decorations and kids in
costumes. Some of the girls are dressed very slutty and have
big hair.
A bunch of black leather trench coat wearing Guidos with
gold chains, beepers and spiked hair are milling around
checking out the slutty girls.
TJ walks in wearing a black and white MC Hammer suit without
a shirt and his hair done like Vanilla Ice. TJ is wearing a
vintage Ethiopian silver cross on a long black silk cord.
TJ walks around the perimeter trying not to look insecure
when two hot Italian senior girls dressed like sluts walk up
to him.
MARIE GUCHIANI
Hey, ain’t yous that new boy
whatshisname?
DEBBIE PARISI
From somewheres out west right?
TJ
Yeah, I’m TJ and it’s Ohio, more
northeast coast than west.
DEBBIE PARISI
Whatever, I didn’t do so good at
geography cuz I skipped it to smoke
stogies n shit.
MARIE GUCHIANI
Well hello there TJ, this is Debbie
Parisi and I’m Marie, Marie
Guchiani. So whose are yous suppose
to be anyways?
DEBBIE PARISI
Go ahead, tell her your Vanilla Ice
and watch her cream her panties.
MARIE GUCHIANI
Deb! Shhut up slut, besides I ain’t
wearin any. So yous suppose to be
who exactly?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 95.
TJ
Vanilla Ice.
MARIE GUCHIANI
Ooh mmm I knew it. See Deb, I told
you, you know it all. She said you
weren’t in costume.
DEBBIE PARISI
Yeah ok Marie, but can he dance
like Vanilla Ice or is he just eye
candy? Well Vanilla? What yous got
anyways? Yous got moves?
Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” comes on in the background and
TJ busts out some late 1980s early 1990s dance moves he’s
rehearsed. He ends by sliding up between Debbie and Marie
and grinding with both of them pissing off a lot of guys.
EXT. LARK, NJ – WAWA CONVENIENCE STORE – PARKING LOT – NIGHT
TJ and Robert Crist walk out of the convenience store and
are stopped by a bunch of toughs. One rough looking kid
postures with TJ.
THE SWEDE
Hey. How you doin? Your that TJ kid
right?
TJ
Yeah, that’s me. I know you?
THE SWEDE
(looking around laughing)
Know me? Not yet, but I know you.
Around here kids call me The Swede
and when they do they show some
freaking respect! Not like you with
some of our finer senior girls the
other night at the dance.
TJ
Hey, nobody said nothing about
boyfriends and I didn’t touch
either of em, well maybe a little.
THE SWEDE
Oh! So yous like to dance do you?
What are yous some kinda fairy or
something or just one of them
greasy club jerk nigger wanna
bees?!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 96.
ROBERT CRIST
Clearly this has nothing to do with
me, so—
THE SWEDE
Shut your freakin mouth four eyes.
You’re with him, so it has
everything to do with you too.
ROBERT CRIST
I’m just saying I’ll be over here.
Robert Crist walks over to the wall sips on his drink and
neatly folds his food bag and places it gently on the floor.
TJ
Hey Swede, I got no beef with you
dude,and I didn’t disrespect those
girls, we were just being nice to
each other and having some fun.
So—
THE SWEDE
So freaking what! Forget those
stupid bitches. I’m here. You’re
here and you like to dance. So
let’s dance! Come on punk.
All The Swede’s friends are laughing and posturing. The
Swede takes off his jean jacket and starts flexing.
TJ looks over at Robert who wants nothing to do with this.
TJ takes a long drink of his Snapple and places it behind
him. TJ smiles and runner stretches his legs.
THE SWEDE
What the hell are yous doin?! You
see this freakin kid?! Gabbaghoul!
TJ
I’m stretching. I wouldn’t want to
pull a muscle while we’re, uh,
dancing. I take it you like to lead
when you dance with other boys?
THE SWEDE
Whadafu?! Did this spazole just
call me a fagola?! You got balls
kid! And now you bleed.
The Swede rushes inside TJ’s guard and throws hard and fast
jabs and combos, but TJ blocks all of them.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 97.
Robert slowly calmly sips his ice coffee while watching.
TJ and The Swede circle around as The Swede tries to grapple
with TJ but TJ is bigger and has better reach.
TJ trips backwards over the concrete parking stop and The
Swede pounces on him & bends him backwards over a car hood.
TJ wraps up both of The Swede’s arms so he can’t swing.
LARK POLICE OFFICER
What are yous kids doin? You
fightin in the Wawa Parking lot?
Really?! Us cops is always here
getting coffees. What are yous
retards or something?
THE SWEDE
Oh hey Officer Pat, no… Uh, no I
mean we’re not fighting sir. This
is my friend TJ and we were just
blowing off some steam right TJ?
TJ
Yeah. Sure. Sorry officer, not
fighting, just screwing around.
THE SWEDE
Slap-boxing, you know, no blood no
foul.
TJ
Yeah, no blood no foul so no fight.
Just boys being boys sir.
LARK POLICE OFFICER
Well cut that shit out or do it
somewheres I can’t see you. Don’t
make me write a freaking report on
yous two. Got it?
TJ
Yessir.
THE SWEDE
Yeah sure.
LARK POLICE OFFICER
Alright. Now get outta here.
The cop goes inside the store. The Swede turns to TJ.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 98.
THE SWEDE
You lucky bastard!
TJ
Says you. Took you long enough and
I didn’t even swing back once did
I? Just blocked your shit.
THE SWEDE
What?! Yeah, what gives?
TJ
Like you said no blood no foul.
Just dancing.
THE SWEDE
You’re alright kid, but watch your
ass. Next time others might not be
so nice as me.
TJ
I’ll remember that. Take it easy.
TJ and Robert walk away. The others get into their IROC Z.
ROBERT CRIST
Funny how the verbal sparring is
almost as important as the fighting
itself, don’t you think?
TJ
Oh now you got something to say?
Now you’re involved?
ROBERT CRIST
What? You two were slow dancing and
everybody knows three’s a crowd.
TJ
Bastard.
ROBERT CRIST
(nodding while sipping coffee)
Mmm.
INT. JLA GYM – SIDE ROOM – DAY
The room has wrestling mats on the floor and there are
punching bags, jump ropes, medicine balls and free weights.
INSERT – WE SEE ROBERT CRIST SHOWING TJ FIGHTING TECHNIQUES
WITH LOTS OF KICKS.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 99.
INSERT – ROBERT CRIST AND TJ ARE SPARRING WITH STICKY HANDS
TRYING TO GET EACH OTHER TO SHIFT THEIR FEET OR FALL OVER.
INSERT – ROBERT CRIST AND TJ ARE EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE AND FAST
GRAPPLERS BUT TJ IS BETTER.
INT. JLA GYM – HALLWAY – DAY
TJ and Robert Crist are walking down the gym hallway after
their workout carrying their gym bags.
INSERT – TJ AND ROBERT CRIST ARE HYPER-AWARE AND WE SEE THEM
PINGING THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND EACH OTHER WITH PSYCHIC ENERGY
AS THEY SPEAK.
ROBERT CRIST (V.O.)
Not bad TJ. You learn rather
quickly for a village idiot.
TJ (V.O.)
Easy Socrates, you’re just pissed
cuz I picked it up without years of
training. But your’e an excellent
peer mentor, for a bitch.
ROBERT CRIST (V.O.)
Bastard! I’m a bastard! I am not a
bitch. You bastard.
TJ
Like I said—
TJ (V.O.)
Biotch!
ROBERT CRIST
I see we’re going to have to
revisit Robert’s Rules for orderly
conduct.
TJ and Robert Crist both laugh hard and nudge each other.
TJ and Robert Crist turn the corner and see two varsity
baseball players from their chemistry class standing and
hanging their arms from the awning above them.
JAKE
Look Bobby, it’s the unscrewable
nerd brothers.
INSERT – TJ FOLLOWS ROBERT CRIST AS HE WALKS THROUGH THE GAP
IN BETWEEN THE BASEBALL PLAYERS WITH THEIR ARMS DANGLING
ABOVE THEM.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 100.
INSERT – IN SLOW MOTION ROBERT CRIST SIMULTANEOUSLY
BUTTERFLY KICKS BOTH OF THE BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE BILLS OF
THEIR BASBALL CAPS PUSHING THE HATS BACK ON THEIR HEADS
WITHOUT KNOCKING THEM OFF.
Without skipping a beat Robert Crist says.
ROBERT CRIST
As I was saying, good etiquette is
essential moving forward.
TJ
(looking back)
What da Fuuu? Dj’you mean to do
that?
ROBERT CRIST
Are their hats still on their
heads?
TJ
Uhhh yup! Holy schnikey boy. How?
ROBERT CRIST
I’ve been practicing.
TJ
I see that. Damn.
TJ (V.O.)
Bastard.
ROBERT CRIST (V.O.)
Thank you.
EXT. ATLANTA – FOX THEATER – NIGHT – PRE-SHOW
On Screen: Summer 1991 Midtown Atlanta
Flying down the street we see the marquis with the names
from smallest to biggest: Young Black Teenagers, Gang Of
Four, Warrior Soul, Public Enemy and Sisters Of Mercy.
TJ is standing outside the venue buying a ticket from a guy
in a college fraternity t-shirt.
TJ, below chin-length bangs in face, looks Goth in black and
white horizontally striped short-sleeve shirt, black baggy
dress shorts, black knee socks, dress shoes and covered in
real silver jewelry.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 101.
ANDY
Tell you what, you seem like a good
kid, so just give me face value.
TJ
Face?! Twenty bucks?! Done! Thanks
man. I really appreciate it.
ANDY
Yeah man. Have fun. Should be one
hell of a concert.
TJ
Hope so cuz it’ll be my first.
ANDY
This is your first show?
TJ
Yeah…
ANDY
Lucky Bastard!
TJ smiles and nods and walks into the venue.
Dr. Violet Jones, dressed like a sexy Goth, follows him
inside smiling.
INT. ATLANTA – FOX THEATER – CONCERT – CONTINUOUS
TJ is taking in the awesomeness that is the Fox Theater
while finding his seat.
INSERT – TJ WANDERS DOWN TO THE SECOND ROW CENTER STAGE
RIGHT NEAR A ROPED-OFF AREA AND LOOKS AT HIS TICKET.
TJ
No Freaking Way! Front and center?
Hell yeah! BAM!
TJ looks around and nods to the people nearby.
TJ’s the only white guy up front.
INSERT – WE SEE DR. VIOLET JONES TAKE HER PLACE A SEVERAL
ROWS BEHIND TJ AS HE SETTLES INTO HIS SEAT LOOKING AROUND.
The crowd is split 50/50 between young black kids there for
the hip-hop and the other half, white Goths and metal heads.
INSERT – FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN ON STAGE – WHEN THE PUNK OR
ROCK BANDS ARE PLAYING THE WHITE KIDS ARE UP FRONT AND WHEN
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 102.
THE HIP-HOP BANDS PERFORM THE BLACK KIDS ARE UP FRONT. THEY
FLOW FRICTIONLESSLY, BUT DON’T MIX.
INSERT – FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN ON STAGE – TJ STAYS IN HIS
AREA THE WHOLE TIME AND ONE BY ONE THE OPENING BANDS JOIN
HIM IN THE ROPED-OFF AREA.
INT. ATLANTA – FOX THEATER – BACKSTAGE – CONTINUOUS
We are the next act, backstage, looking at TJ as the
announcer says:
CONCERT MC
PUBLIC ENEMY!!!
Chuck D walks out on stage right up to TJ as the Soldiers
March On Stage to APPLAUSE.
INSERT – S1 SOLDIERS STEP IN FORMATION TO THE MUSIC.
INSERT – CHUCK D WALKS UP TO TJ AND POINTS WITH CONVICTION.
CHUCK D
YES! The rhythm, the rebel…
INSERT – TJ IS HIT WITH A SONIC ENERGETIC PULSE THAT RIPPLES
THROUGHOUT HIM AS WE SEE FRACTALS, CHEMICAL REACTIONS, BLOOD
FLOWING AND MUSCLES MOVE.
INSERT – TJ STARES WIDE-EYED AND APE-JAWED AT CHUCK D AS
“REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE” DROPS AND THE CROWD ERUPTS. TJ IS
GLOWING.
INSERT – DR. VIOLET JONES IS AWE-STRUCK THEN BITES HER
BOTTOM LIP.
INSERT – TJ IS DANCING TO PUBLIC ENEMY WITH THE OPENING
BANDS WHEN FLAVA FLAV COMES UP TO TJ AND SLAPS HIM FIVE
DURING “911 IS A JOKE”.
INSERT – DR. VIOLET JONES SCRIBBLES NOTES, PUTS THE NOTEBOOK
AWAY, REMOVES HER GLASSES AND LETS DOWN HER HAIR.
EXT./INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – TJ’S LAB – DAY
On Screen: Wednesday, July 3, 1991
We are a robot insect flying towards the front door until we
smack into the glass and slide down with streaking sounds.
INSERT – WE SEE THE ROBOTIC DRONE “BUG”FLITTING AROUND
RIGHTING ITSELF AND TAKING-OFF AGAIN.
103.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
We see uniformed personnel operating swarms of these
emptomopters in embassies around the world.
INSERT – WE ARE A COUNTER INTELLIGENCE EMPTOMOPTER FLYING
AROUND THE CONTROL ROOM SPYING ON EVERYONE’S SPYING.
EXT./INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – TJ’S LAB – CONTINUOUS
We Follow “The Fly” over TJ’s shoulder to reveal TJ cooking
a hot dog connected to some electrical wires connected to a
WWII surplus amplifier with a big dial.
TJ’s desk drawer is open and the nooks have condiments in
them, the cranny has a napkin holding a bun.
INSERT – A COOKING HOT DOG HOOKED UP TO AN ELECTRICAL
AMPLIFIER BY ALLIGATOR CLIPS AND WIRES.
The door to the Lab bursts open.
DR. SINGH (V.O.)
Yes Colonel Jones, that is exactly
what I am telling you, he is only
17 and he is in here.
COLONEL JONES
I find it hard to believe that
there’s a kid his age who is as
capable as you say he is. It makes
no sense, unless—
DR. SINGH
I’m telling you Ernest, that this
is no … Do you smell? hot dogs!
COLONEL JONES
Either we’re having the same stroke
or somebody’s having a BBQ in here.
TJ is wide-eyed.
SERIES OF SHOTS
INSERT – TJ SMACKS THE HOT DOG OFF OF THE ALLIGATOR CLIPS
AND INTO THE BUN IN HIS TOP DESK DRAWER.
INSERT – THERE ARE STILL CHUNKS OF HOT DOG IN THE ALLIGATOR
CLIPS.
INSERT – TJ GRABS BOTH OF THE CLIPS AT ONCE.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 104.
INSERT – TJ’S CHIN-LENGTH HAIR STANDS ON END.
INSERT – TJ’S HANDS ARE SHAKING AND HIS FISTS ARE TIGHT.
INSERT – TJ IS WIDE-EYED AND BREATHING DELIBERATELY THROUGH
FLARRED NOSTRILS.
DR. SINGH (V.O.)
I definitely smell hot dogs
cooking.
COLONEL JONES (V.O.)
Son, you having a BBQ in here. Are
we crashing your party?
TJ manages to shut off the amplifier, drop the alligator
clips, wipe his hands on his pants and shake hands with the
Colonel.
TJ
Hello sir, uh no, no, uh no party
here sir, no BBQ but I was just
getting ready to eat a freshly
cooked hot dog.
Colonel Jones looks at his now greasy fingers after shaking
TJ’s hand.
TJ tames his hair by using the hot dog grease on his
fingers.
Dr. Singh and Colonel Jones look comically disturbed.
DR. SINGH
Hot dogs eh? But there is no
microwave anywhere near here. How?
COLONEL JONES
Sorry to interrupt your lunch son,
but I need you to bring me up to
speed on a few things regarding
your project for the Environmental
Protection Agency.
TJ
Yessir. My pleasure Colonel…
COLONEL JONES (V.O.)
Jones. Colonel Ernest Jones.
TJ
(shock and fear)
Jones? Ernest Jones?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 105.
TJ (V.O.)
Violet? Oops.
COLONEL JONES
Yes. Violet. Oops. Moving on—
TJ
Yessir.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – TJ’S LAB – CONTINUOUS
TJ wipes his hands on his jeans and shuts the desk drawer
holding his Hot Dog with his hip.
Colonel Jones is stairing hard studying TJ, but doesn’t
notice the hot dog in the drawer.
TJ
(distracting hand gestures)
Ah, yes, the EPA study on ozone
depletion at high altitudes using
Acoustically-Lensed LIDAR that
could be mistaken for
(BEAT)Zero-Culpability Area
Domination And Targeting Systems or
ADATS (BEAT)a.k.a. Project STRADA?!
COLONEL JONES
(Outraged and Animated)
HOW THE FffCUF DOES THIS GUY KNOW
ABOUT PROJECT STRADA!?!
COLONEL JONES (V.O.)
Violet?! Oops!
TJ
Yes, Violet, Oops.
Colonel Jones studies TJ.
TJ stairs back vacantly.
Colonel Jones nods.
COLONEL JONES
You were saying son?
TJ
Thank you sir. I was saying that
having proved the feasibility of
this system I can envision—
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 106.
COLONEL JONES
Envisage.
TJ
I can envisage a practical
application wherein this primary
pulse aids the oblique target
acquisition without leaving an EM
signature alerting the would-be
target that they have indeed been
marked for death and unbeknownst to
them Death in some form is already
on its merry way.
COLONEL JONES
Son. Anyone ever tell you you’re
one scary sonuvabitch?!
TJ
(pensive to powerful)
No… Hahahahahahahaha. No.
COLONEL JONES
(Impressed)
Very well. Dr. Singh we want it
battle field ready in six months!
DR. SINGH
But Colonel Jones?! TJ isn’t
cleared! He hasn’t been read into
Project STRADA!
COLONEL JONES
Oh yeah?! Tell that to him!
INT. – UNDERGROUND FACILITY – CONTINUOUS
We see General Scounrel in uniform and Doctor Violet Jones
looking sexy in a minidress and lab coat alone in the
control room.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Violet!?!
VIOLET JONES
Bob!?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
General.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 107.
VIOLET JONES
Fine! General. Sir. What?! I told
you he was amazing… We good?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Speachless…?! This kid is
amazing! And now of course he knows
too much, (BEAT)so from now on it’s
Promote Or Die! (BEAT) Good? We’re
Outstanding!
VIOLET JONES
(sexy pouty)
Fuck!
EXT./INT LARK, NJ – JOHNSON L ARTHUR HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
We see TJ in his Silver with Red Racing Stripe 1981 Renault
LeCar drifting into the empty parking lot into a space. TJ
gets out with his bookbag and runs into the building.
On Screen: Senior Year Monday September 2nd 1991 6:58AM
INT. JLA SCHOOL – GUYACHEVSKI’S AP CHEMISTRY CLASS – DAY
TJ runs in out of breath and the teacher, an Alan Alda-type,
points at the clock above the door. Robert Crist is sitting
at his desk near an empty desk.
INSERT – CLOCK ABOVE DOOR STRIKES 7:01AM
TJ stairs in awe and tries to explain.
TJ
Oh, TG! I’m sorry, but—
TG
Save it. You’re Late. The last
thing you wanna do is piss me off
with your excuses on top of your
tardiness. And where’s your
homework? Nevermind you can lie to
me about that after you finish
today’s pop quiz which is due in
three minutes and thirty five
seconds, no calculator. Go.
INSERT – TJ SLUMPS INTO A NEARBY DESK AND RUMAGES THROUGH
HIS BACKBACK TO FIND TWO NUMBER TWO PENCILS A SHARPENER AND
A PINK ERASER.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 108.
INSERT – TJ STAIRS AT THE PAGE AND THE TITLE READS “KINETIC
REACTION RATES AND DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS – I CAN’T GET NO
TITRATION.”
TG
Three minutes you lousy swine!
TJ
Uh TG? TG?
TG is eyeing TJ but not responding.
TJ
TG?!
TG
Yes TJ. What is it?! Why must you
distract your peers who were on
time and already turned in their
homework assignments and whose very
pop-quiz grades depend on remaining
focused on their task and not on
overhearing your ignorance while
suffering your hubris.
TJ
You know I’m just smart enough to
know that I should feel bad about
what you just said—
TG
And yet here we are Stoner!
TJ
Yessir, it’s just that well, I
don’t know Calculus. I’ve never had
it. I mean literally it’s Greek to
me.
TG
This is a CALCULUS based ADVANCED
PLACEMENT CHEMISTRY class Mister
Stoner taken by highly-intelligent
highly-motivated individuals who
seek to succeed in society.
TJ
You don’t say?! Sssir so many
syllables with similar sounds
saying stuff I assumed.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 109.
TG
Isn’t it a little hard Mister
Stoner to breath with your head so
very far up your own ass?
TJ
I don’t know TG! You tell Me?!
There is a general murmur among the class.
TG
Time! Pencils down. Too bad for TJ.
Apparently he prefers to argue than
particpate in required curricula
and that behavior will be rewarded
with what class?
ROBERT CRIST
A Zero for the quiz which means a
permanent loss of one third of a
letter grade. (BEAT) Smartass!
TJ
Fuck!
TG
Detention!
TJ
Goddamit! Like I don’t see enough
of him everyday for this class and
AP Physics, but now I got detention
too!? That’s like four and half
hours of my day with this freaking
guy. What da fff…?
ROBERT CRIST
Won’t you be late for work at the
art supply store?
TJ
Yep. Today sucks! This day is just
one cascading shit storm—
TG
TJ! Homework?!
TJ
Homework?! Fff—
TG
Yes Mister Stoner that is what your
grade sounds like.
110.
Class snickers at TJ.
INT. JLA SCHOOL – MRS. HOOPER’S HISTORY CLASS – DAY
TJ takes his seat in the back-left of the room nearest the
window and furthest from the door.
The other kids warily fill in around him until one kid sits
next to TJ and looks him in the face blankly.
TJ
Hey…
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Hey. Hahahahow how you doin’…?
TJ
Alright… You?
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Yeah. Yeah. Same. Alright. You. You
You You’re that TJ kid right?
TJ
Really? Here?
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
I’m, I’m, I’m just sa saying, that,
ya ya you are thhhat guy…
TJ
Well, there’s that guy, and There’s
That Guy! And there is THAT GUY.
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Well, ob, ob obviously you ain’t
THAT GUY or Thhhat Guy! So…
TJ
TJ Stoner.
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Ah,Aaron. Aaron ZsZsah ZSss
Zseslewski.
They shake hands.
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Sss So, TJ, you’re thhhat kid
t-t-t-taking AP Chemistry and ah a
ah AP Physics right?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 111.
TJ
(pensive but street)
Yeah, and you’re that Polock
looking to buy a vowel…
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Sss so if you’re thhhat kinda smart
, thhhen why are you t-t-taking a
djh-junior history class your
sssenior year?
TJ
What? Did I kick your dog? I hurt
you!?! Why you trying to make me
that guy?! I’m not a freaking cop!
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Ea! Eeeasssy, Mmmy apologies I
meant no dis-disrespect. I, I, I
was just saying, it didn’t mmmake
no no sense a ssstupid-ssmart
sssenior taking jjjunior history.
That’s all…
TJ
Fair enough kid. My bad…
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Nnnah, we’re cool.
TJ
Square? Alright then.. My last
school never had a class like this
so I never took it and now that I’m
here it’s required to graduate
So…
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
No shit?!?
TJ
Nope. Truth can be pretty boring.
AARON ZSESLEWSKI
Huh…
EXT./INT. PEARL ART AND CRAFT – WOODBRIDGE, NJ – EVENING
TJ parks in the parking lot far from the entrance and runs
through the rain puddles to the store entrance.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 112.
TJ walks in briskly and removes his hat and coat and hangs
them in the changing area and puts on his work apron as a
beautiful Portuguese girl walks up behind him.
CLAUDIA
Timmy, what the hell did you do?!
The GM is downstairs! They’ve
questioned everyone else! And now
they are waiting for you! What did
you do!?!
TJ pulls her close and kisses her lips, she kisses back.
TJ grabs her ass and she melts into him then smacks him.
CLAUDIA
Ohhh my God! You need to stop!
We’re at work! And you’re the guy
everybody likes for the head of the
smuggling ring!
TJ
THE WHAT!?!?! The Hell djyou
jus’say?!
CLAUDIA
Nothing!? Just go! Just, you’ll be
fine, cuz you didn’t do it. Did
you?! Oh My God!
TJ
Claudia, baby, No more daytime TV
for you. It’s messing up your
brain.
CLAUDIA
Ssstupid! Gorgeous.(Kisses TJ) Boy.
Now Go To work!
INT. PEARL ART AND CRAFT – WOODBRIDGE, NJ – CONTINUOUS
TJ walks down the stairs to the Drafting Department with a
large glass doughnut sales counter and sees his manager
eyeballing him.
TJ gets to the sales floor in the nearby Craft section when
the head of store security walks by ominously.
A sales girl whose nametag says “Heather” stops TJ.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 113.
HEATHER
(quiet intesity)
Dude!?! Today is a day you either
want to be in on-time or miss
all-together.
TJ
What up girl? There is a weird vibe
up in here and Claudia is acting
stranger than normal talking
about—
TJ’s Crypt-Keeper of a manager creeps up behind him.
TJ
Norman.
NORMAN
TJ. You’re late.
TJ
Yes Norman. I know. I called to say
I would be due to school stuff.
NORMAN
Yes TJ. I know. I’m here to tell
you that the GM and owner want to
meet privately with you about that
airbrush return you did for your
friend and the other $20,000 a
month your smuggling out of here.
TJ
You. You What!? The Hell are you
talking about?!?
NORMAN
Didn’t you accept a returned
airbrush kit without a receipt last
week from some girl you know for
her boyfriend?
TJ
Yes. No! I mean, yes, I accepted a
return and no, I didn’t know her,
but she a had a good excuse. It was
a present for her boyfriend but she
said that the needle was bent and
wanted a new one, so I apologized
and swapped it. What?!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 114.
NORMAN
Ha… well that is not what anyone
here thinks or has said and you’re
up next. So have fun with that
version of reality.
TJ
Hey man, it is what it is! I ain’t
scheming nobody up in here and I
ain’t taking the blame if anyone
else is. My name ain’t Punky!
NORMAN
It should have been obvious to
anyone that that was a used
airbrush and he bent his own tips.
You got played or you were in on
it!
TJ
Suck as it may to admit being
played I DON’T AIRBRUSH! Never
have. Can’t afford it so you can’t
blame me for trying to provide
excellent customer service without
appropriate training.
A petite blonde in her thirties walks briskly up to TJ.
PEG
TJ, come with me. I’m glad you’re
here. We need to talk. We’re not
calling the cops yet, but if we
don’t like your answers we will
have you arrested.
They walk to a door marked ’Private’.
TJ
Good evening Peg, nice to see you
too. Now what’s this all about
anyway?
PEG
TJ this is the franchise owner, Mr.
Kureshi. Please sit down.
Peg shuts the door to the cramped office.
115.
INT. PEARL ART AND CRAFT – WOODBRIDGE, NJ – CONTINUOUS
Peg, Mr. Kureshi and TJ are sitting in a cramped office.
Peg continues the debrief.
PEG
What we’re wondering is if your
high positive customer service
comments are being bought with
heavily discounted or free
merchandise at the store’s expense.
MR. KURESHI
My money godddammit! Sorry. Please
continue Peg.
TJ
Hold on. I need to stop you there.
First, I heard about the airbrush
return, which I will admit to
swapping, but her story seemed
legit and the product looked
perfect to me, but what do I know ,
I’ve never airbrushed anything in
my life. I do mechanical drawings
not graffiti. Second: I take pride
in my work, I take pride in the
service that I provide and I am not
a thief. Go through my locker, go
through my pockets, hell, go
through my apron, there’s at least
5, 6, $8.35 worth of pens and
pencils found on the floor and used
for work that you could accuse me
of stealing, but not one Mont
Blanc, not one Fine Liner, not one
airbrush disappears on my watch.
PEG
TJ what we’re saying—
TJ
Oh I know what you’re saying and if
you are saying it while looking at
me then you’re planning to ruin my
life with no proof of wrong doing
which means I will have to sue you
and You Sir for wrongful
prosecution and defamation of
character.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 116.
PEG
Whoa! No one is saying…
TJ
Cops!? Darn right no cops, because
if you do accuse me and I’m
innocent then it will cost you a
ton of money and won’t save you
any. Let me save you the time and
the expense. It wasn’t me! OK?
Mr Kureshi nods. Peg opens the door.
PEG
Ok, thank you TJ. We appreciate
your honesty and if you hear
anything let us know…?
TJ walks back to his drafting counter.
TJ
Uh huh…
TJ (V.O.)
There must be something wrong with
me cuz that was too much fun. Not
it!
INT. PEARL ART AND CRAFT – WOODBRIDGE, NJ – CONTINUOUS
Mr. Kureshi and the GM leave the office together and walk up
the stairs to leave the store.
A coworker whose name tag says “Steve” and “Store Security”
walks up to TJ restocking shelves in the fabric paint area.
STEVE
Hey TJ what up kid? How’s
everything?
TJ
Helluva day Steve. Helluva day.
STEVE
I know Kureshi and Peg were trying
to sweat you for some “smuggling
ring”, so Who you giving
five-finger discounts to and why?
TJ
I don’t know what you mean Steve. I
show up late after a shitty school
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 117.
TJ (cont’d)
day and the shit has hit the fan
and the writing on the wall is my
name?!
Steve stares at TJ blankly.
STEVE
Are you saying what I think you’re
saying?
TJ
That All Depends. How good is your
imagination?
STEVE
(chuckles)
Pretty damn good.
TJ
Yeah. So is mine. So what gives
man?
STEVE
This stays between us. And I Mean
I’m Trusting You! So…
TJ
Yeah. Duh. Man, I’m Street Silent
and Tone Deaf.
STEVE
Aight. Kureshi’s a prick who
over-charges artists who can’t
afford to make art because they
can’t afford their art supplies!
TJ
OK. So…
STEVE
So Me and a few other managers,
like Jackie in crafts and Jake in
frames and a few other employees
soak this store for about twenty
grand a month in well-organized
shrinkage timed to supply regional
art students in area colleges and
communities—
TJ
But don’t profit from our Robin
Hood schemes cuz that would be
wrong. Right?!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 118.
STEVE
Well, there are certain operating
costs that need to be covered, but
yea mostly that Robin Hood shit
with a hint of Ocean’s Eleven.
TJ
So now that you’ve told me you’re
gonna have to Try and kill me?
STEVE
Relax! No. None of that man. You’re
one of us. You’re cool man. I see
your apron full of nicer mechanical
pencils and pens. Not grand larceny
but still not legal.
TJ
Really?! You call that leverage?
Dock my pay for a day. I’m out.
TJ begins to walk away but Steve blocks his path.
STEVE
TJ, walk with me please?
TJ
OK. But I ain’t no snitch, you do
you and I’ll do me, and I don’t
know Jack from Bobby. You dig?
STEVE
Dig. Now, the way this works is we
take orders from clients and
piggy-back the regular store orders
with our own. They get lost in
translation between the wharehouse
and the floor. Some discount
clients come into the store for a
staged transaction complete with
receipt and return policy.
TJ
Ok. I follow. It’s a pretty
sophisticated operation.
STEVE
Yes. While others prefer to meet us
off-site for bulk orders. Sometimes
it can take an entire month to
accumulate all of the merchandise
ordered for a particular client.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 119.
TJ
Holy Shit! That’s a lot of art
supplies.
STEVE
Enough to supply that prick
Kureshi’s next biggest competitor!
TJ
So why tell me all of this?
TJ and Steve have reached the Frames and Framing Department.
A twenty-something with a bushy black beard and long hair
named Frank walks up to the counter.
FRANK
Hey Steve. Hey TJ! What it is man?
TJ
Twilight Zone. Season Two. Edisode
Five.
FRANK
Deep…
TJ
Yep.
STEVE
What?
FRANK
Nothing. It’s cool. We’re cool.
STEVE
So TJ here just passed the grilling
from Kureshi and Peg.
FRANK
Nice one dude! Silence is Golden.
TJ
Word.
STEVE
He claims he wasn’t theiving But
has no problem with us doing it and
he doesn’t want any part of it.
TJ
Word!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 120.
FRANK
Right. No worries TJ. I got that
baby blanket to give your dad from
his orphanage days framed and ready
today.
TJ
Awesome! Thank you. Wow! It looks
amazing! Thanks again. So how much
do I owe you?
STEVE
TJ doesn’t want to participate in
the organization despite the perks.
FRANK
TJ. It’s one hundred and fifty
dollars, but TJ you’ll upset a lot
of people if they think that you’re
gonna rat em out. Only way out is
if you walk this frame out the
front door at close tonight to
prove that your one of us. Then the
others will mellow.
TJ
So either I pay the hundred and
fifty bucks that I can’t afford And
get my ass kicked and lose my job
for being honest or I can’t pay it
and lose my father’s most cherished
possession, his baby blanket from
the orphanage, the only thing his
birth parents left him And get my
ass kicked by him and lose my job!
Or I steal a one hundred and fifty
dollar framed baby blanket from my
job to give to my father as a
keepsake and risk getting my ass
kicked in jail?!
STEVE
Come on, it ain’t like that.
FRANK
No need to be melo-dramatic man.
Just take it as a token of our
respect for you and a token of your
respect for us and for your father.
It really is a nice sentiment.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 121.
STEVE
Yeah TJ. You’re a good kid and this
is just business. So… Badabing.
TJ
Aight. Thanks fellas. My Pop will
love it. Front door?
FRANK AND STEVE
Front door!
INT. PEARL ART AND CRAFT – WOODBRIDGE, NJ – NIGHT
The clock on the wall says 9pm.
TJ is walking up the stairs towards the main front door
holding the two foot by three foot framed baby blanket.
TJ approaches the checkout lanes near the front door where
all the employees are punching out, and putting on coats.
TJ (V.O.)
Oh shit, I have to punch out! The
frame!?! Breath.
TJ sets down the frame and non-chalantly punches out.
TJ
Night everybody. See yous guys
later
EMPLOYEES
Night. Laterz. Peace dude.
TJ walks out the front door in full view of the managers and
employees with the frame under his arm.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
Dr. Violet Jones and General Scounrel are watching TJ
leaving the store from different angles on multiple screens.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
His vitals are spiking more while
stealing a damned picture frame
than top secret intelligence?! I’m
confused.
DR. VIOLET JONES
His reaction is not due to the
stress of the action but the motive
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 122.
DR. VIOLET JONES (cont’d)
behind it. He is not ok with
committing a crime with intent.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
You mean to say that he’s feeling
guilty about stealing because he’ll
benefit personally?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes. Precisely, well that and the
amount he was told the frame was
worth. It’s a week’s pay after
taxes.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
So if he’s caught he can’t buy his
way out?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes Bob, his vitals are spiking not
because he’s afraid, but because he
doesn’t like his options and they
violate his principles.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Such as they are. I saw that video
of him helping himself to some
acrylic paints last week.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes Bob, but those weren’t for him.
They were for the girl he has a
crush on who couldn’t afford them
for her art project, and he wanted
to see if he could do it without
his vitals spiking. So he did.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Didn’t see that part—
DR. VIOLET JONES
It’s in the report Bob.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Right. So what’s next?
DR. VIOLET JONES
We’ll push him to his breaking
point and see how he handles
failure in every aspect of his
life. He has six hours of homework
per night and works six days a
week. Something’s gotta give.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 123.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Sounds good to me.
INT. LARK, NJ – LARK OPTICIANS – EYE EXAM ROOM – DAY
TJ is being examined by the Doctor while TJ’s Mom watches
with a concerned look on her face.
DR. KOWALSKI
(Caliber Kowalski’s dad)
I’ve never seen anything like this
before?! When I first see you last
year you have perfect twenty ten
vision. Two months ago you’re near
sighted in the right eye and far
sighted in your left eye and now
your prescription has
flip-flopped!?
TJ’S MOM
But what does that mean Dr.
Kowalski?! Why is this happening?
TJ’s been having bad migraine
headaches, lower back pain and his
eyes are getting worse!
DR. KOWALSKI
TJ, what are you doing differently
from the first time I saw you and
the last time I saw you and now?
can you think of anything?
TJ
Well sir, I’ve got between six and
eight hours of homework every night
including weekends and I work
thirty-five hours a week. I get
home around nine-thirty and do
homework until about three or four
in the morning, sleep until six or
six thirty and then rinse and
repeat.
TJ’S MOM
No wonder you’re always so tired
and grumpy? Well, not always
grumpy, but—
DR. KOWALSKI
Anything else? Do you pull
all-nighters?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 124.
TJ
Yes sir, I pull an average of two
all-nighters every week.
TJ’S MOM
Two!?! Honey, you can’t do that
it’s not good for you.
TJ
I don’t have a choice! OK? Sorry,
but I need this for college.
DR. KOWALSKI
TJ, you’re mother is right. I know
how driven young people can be. My
son is Cal Kowalski, the
quarterback. But he’s also an honor
student who works hard and as a
parent I’m both proud and
concerned. So I understand that not
doing your homework is not an
option, but how do you do your
homework?
TJ
I lay face down on my bed and do my
reading and homework. I used to
lean on my right hand and then
switched to my left hand last
month—
DR. KOWALSKI
Stop! Mrs. Stoner I can fix all of
TJ’s problems with some very simple
advice…
TJ’S MOM
Yes? What is it doctor?
DR. KOWALSKI
Son, do your homework sitting at a
damn desk and turn on a lamp and
your eyes will go back to sniper
sharp and your headaches and back
pain will go away shortly.
TJ’S MOM
A desk? Oh my gosh I can’t believe
it’s that simple and we didn’t
think of it?! Boy, let’s go get you
a desk.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 125.
TJ
Yes ma’am. Thanks doc.
INT. LARK, NJ – TJ’S HOUSE – TJ’S ROOM – NIGHT
TJ’s room is dark except a single architectural desk lamp.
We see the digital clock on TJ’s desk reading 4:20AM.
TJ’s bed is covered in organized stacks of books, folders
and papers.
TJ is writing something at his desk.
INSERT – TJ IS COPYING THE CHAPTER FROM HIS PHYSICS BOOK IN
A THIN-LINED NOTEBOOK USING MULTIPLE COLOR PENS AND PENCILS
AND STENCILS TO DRAW THE GRAPHS IN THE BOOK.
TJ’s father quietly opens his door and watches TJ work.
TJ’S DAD
Boy are you still up from
yesterday?
TJ
(hushed)
Oh dude! You scared me to death.
Yessir, I’m sorry I’m up past
curfew Pop, but I have to finish
rewriting this week’s physics
chapter on Quantum Dynamics in my
own words complete with graphs by
six thirty so I can eat before my
quiz at seven.
TJ’S DAD
Boy, I love that you’re a man and
handle your business, but like
Dirty Harry said, a man’s got to
know his limitations. I don’t care
who says what at that school, you
need to sleep and I’ll write a note
to whoever needs one. Now lights
out, get some rest. Love you boy.
TJ
Thanks dad. Love you too.
126.
INT. LARK, NJ – TJ’S HOUSE – TJ’S ROOM – MORNING
TJ is passed out wearing boxers with one leg above the
covers and one leg below them.
TJ’s digital clock reads 6:30AM.
TJ’s Dad walks in smiling carrying two cups of coffee and
sets one down on TJ’s night stand.
TJ’S DAD
Morning Boy! Here’s your coffee,
cream and sugar. It’s six-thirty.
Time for school.
TJ sits up and momentarily appears alert.
TJ
Yessir! Thank you sir.
TJ sips his coffee as TJ’s Dad smiles and leaves.
INT. LARK, NJ – TJ’S HOUSE – TJ’S ROOM – CONTINUOUS
TJ’s Digital Clock says 6:35AM and TJ is still asleep.
TJ’s Dad walks in and smirks.
TJ’S DAD
Boy!? I thought you were awake and
moving already. What gives?
TJ
(fumbles for mug and drinks)
I’myum I’m yum this is cold. Agh…
TJ’S DAD
Alright boy, I’ll go microwave your
coffee while you get up. Now Both
Feet on the Floor Stoner.
TJ swings his legs and puts his feet on the floor and leans
forward.
TJ’s Dad walks out and shuts the door as TJ folds back into
bed face up and snores.
TJ’s Dad opens the door and walks in to find TJ sleeping
again.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 127.
TJ’S DAD
(sighs)
Boy! You were nearly standing as I
was leaving and now you’re…
TJ smiles with his eyes closed. TJ’s Dad sets TJ’s now hot
coffee mug on his chest.
TJ’S DAD
You know what son, hold your own
coffee.
TJ just lays there until the heat sinks in and he jumps
spilling hot coffee on his chest and grabs the cup and
stands up.
TJ’S DAD
You need to leave in ten.
TJ’s Dad walks out smiling sipping his coffee.
EXT. LARK, NJ – JOHNSON L. ARTHUR HS – ATHLETIC FIELD – DAY
ONSCREEN: JUNE 8TH 1992. GRADUATION DAY AND PROJECT
GRADUATION
SERIES OF SHOTS
WE SEE THE SENIORS LINED UP FOR GRADUATION IN BLUE CAPS AND
GOWNS WITH GOLD AND WHITE TASSLES.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ’S MOM AND DAD IN THE CROWD OF PARENTS AND
SIBLINGS SITTING IN THE BLEACHERS.
INSERT – ROBERT WALKS ON STAGE TO GET HIS DIPLOMA AND SHAKES
HANDS WITH THE PRINCIPAL.
INSERT – TJ WALKS ONSTAGE AND RECIEVES HIS DIPLOMA AND
SHAKES HANDS WITH THE PRINCIPAL.
PRINCIPAL SMITH
Congratulationth TJ! You are by far
the motht accomplithed
under-achieving thmart-ath I’ve
ever met.
TJ
Yessir I certainly and sincerely
exercised my access to excess
without considering the
consequences on some occassions.
Sir.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 128.
PRINCIPAL SMITH
Cuff you! You little prick! If you
only knew… You wouldn’t be tho…
Sssmug! (Sense of accomplishment)
TJ walks offstage a little bewildered.
EXT. LARK, NJ – JOHNSON L. ARTHUR HS – ATHLETIC FIELD – DAY
TJ and Robert Crist are talking to one another as TJ’s
Parents walk up to them.
TJ’S MOM
Congratulations Boys!!! Wow Robert,
your’re mother and father must be
so proud of you today. Where are
they, I’d love to meet them!
ROBERT CRIST
They’re not here. My mom and her
boyfriend had plans and my dad
lives somewhere in Florida I think.
TJ’S DAD
Well done Lads! Good job TJ. Great
job Robert! I know that I’m proud
of both of you. I hear you’re both
going to Project Graduation
tonight.
TJ
To Project What?!
EXT. LARK, NJ – DRIVING TO LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – EVENING
We follow TJ driving him and Robert in TJ’s LeCar.
ROBERT CRIST (V.O.)
It’s called Project Graduation.
It’s a community sanctioned sixteen
hour quarantine of the entire
senior class to prevent any “real
partying”, and they use drunk
driving prevention as the main
reason to wrongfully imprison us in
a Sports Club with Junk Food and
Jolt Cola to keep us sleep
deprived—
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 129.
TJ (V.O.)
Sounds delightful. And they
actually call it Project
Graduation? Seems a little, I don’t
know, Suspicious.
ROBERT CRIST (V.O.)
Oh Come on it’ll be fun. We can
screw with the jocks one last time.
TJ (V.O.)
You Brilliant Bastard! Let’s mess
with their heads a little and their
egos a lot. Was that mean? Am I
bad?
TJ and Robert Crist laugh aloud.
EXT./INT. LARK, NJ – PARKING LOT/LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – NIGHT
SERIES OF SHOTS
WE FLY THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AND INTO THE CROWDED LOBBY OF
A NICE SPORTS CLUB FULL OF SUPER SUB SANDWICHES, PIZZAS AND
CHIPS WITH DIPS AND SODAS.
INSERT – THE NERDS ARE IN MATH CLASS ATTIRE WITH GLASSES AND
POCKET PROTECTORS.
INSERT – THE GOTHS AND THE METAL-HEADS LOOK LIKE THEY NEED
TO GO SMOKE CIGARETTES.
INSERT – THE DRAMA KIDS ARE ALL VYING FOR EACH OTHERS
ATTENTION WHILE DUDE PLAYS A GUITAR.
INSERT – THE JOCKS ARE ALL DRESSED LIKE IT’S GYM CLASS.
INSERT – THE CHEERLEADERS ARE ALL DRESSED LIKE SLUTS IN HOT
PANTS AND TIGHT TANKS SHOWING A LOT OF BRA AND CLEAVAGE.
INSERT – THE NOT YET OUT OF THE CLOSET LESBIANS ARE
CONGREGATED HOLDING FIELD HOCKEY EQUIPMENT AND SOFTBALL
GLOVES STARING AT THE CHEERLEADERS.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ AND ROBERT CRIST SOAKING IN THE SCENE.
TJ
Christ on a stick!?
ROBERT CRIST
It’s pronounced Crist like crust
with an eye.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 130.
TJ
Sorry Lord.
ROBERT CRIST
Hmmm. Yes. Shame on you. But damn
this infernal collection of idiots
just the same.
TJ
Dude!? No need to be a dick. I’m
just saying that despite our
ridiculously high IQs, stunning
good looks, masculine physiques—
TJ and Robert both laugh.
ROBERT CRIST
(laughing)
Right!
TJ
Seriously, despite all that we have
to offer a modern woman, those
schmucks are gonna get blow jobs in
the bathroom when no one’s looking
and you and me—
ROBERT CRIST
I. You and I.
TJ
Mothercuffer! You and I will be
bickering about grammar.
ROBERT CRIST
At least we’ll be discussing
something that matters.
TJ
I hate it when you make sense.
Bitch.
ROBERT CRIST
Bastard! I’m a Bastard!
TJ
Hmmm.
ROBERT CRIST
Not a Bitch.
131.
INT. LARK, NJ – LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – CONTINUOUS
Caliber Kowalski stands on a chair surrounded by sluts and
linemen.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Hey! HEY! Shut up yous Sluts! Yous
too yous fat bastards! Thank yous.
Alright! So it’s Project
Graduation. Come on give it up!
Tonight’s our last chance to party
with each other like this and revel
in the glory of our yute. So right
now me and Ryan challenge any and
all comers to two on two Basketball
or Vollyball.
There are no takers.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Hey Forget about it! I know it’s
intimidating since I’m the Prom
King and Class President and we’re
both varsity all-star Football and
LaCrosse players. So it wouldn’t be
fair unless we went easy on yous.
TJ leans into Robert Crist and whispers.
TJ
You shoot hoops at all or play
vollyball?
ROBERT CRIST
(adjusting glasses)
My dojo has a vollyball team. I
play. Regarding basketball, I’ll
vizualize skipping stones.
TJ
Good enough. Let’s bake these guys
some humble pie. (BEAT) Hey
Kowalski! Hows about us two nerds
embarass yous two schmucks, I mean
jocks, in a contest of sport. Jocks
versus Nerds!?
TJ winks at the Cheerleaders who are eyeballing TJ and
Robert Crist with interest.
Caliber Kowalski stares back at TJ trying to figure out his
next move.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 132.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
What are yous two kidding me?! You
and him against the Captains of the
Football and Lacrosse teams? You’re
on Kid! It’s your Funeral.
TJ
Good luck with that kid. Hoops
first?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Yeah! Hoops first. Let’s go do
this. NERD STOMPING TIME!!
A hot Cheerleader sashays past TJ.
HOT CHEERLEADER
TJ, I hope you’ve been hiding some
serious skills or those two will
mop the floors with both of yous.
I’ll be embarassed for you. Him not
so much. Good luck boys. You’re
gonna need it.
ROBERT CRIST
Hmmm. If she only knew…
TJ
Knew what?
ROBERT CRIST
You know? (taps his inside thigh)
TJ
HA! Right? Down to here madame.
ROBERT CRIST
Shit down Monet Penny.
They both laugh and then get serious.
TJ
Crass! Come on let’s go embarrass
these guys infront of everyone they
know on the biggest night of their
lives.
ROBERT CRIST
Vicious much? But I couldn’t agree
more. They’ve got it coming.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 133.
TJ
It’s a Public Service really.
INT. LARK, NJ – LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – BASKETBALL – CONTINUOUS
TJ and Robert Crist walk onto the court where Caliber
Kowalski and Ryan are standing and dribbling.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
(throwing ball hard to TJ)
Here! Take it out! Half Court. D up
Ryan. I got TJ.
RYAN
Right. I got Nerd Number Two. How’s
it feel to be such a nerd that
you’re another nerd’s sidekick?
ROBERT CRIST
(ryely)
You’d have to Ask TJ.
TJ
Same Team man?!
ROBERT CRIST
What did I do? Was I bad?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Shut up and Bring It! Ball IN!
TJ
Hold on, I gotta stretch.
ROBERT CRIST
Ooh, yes, me too.
TJ and Robert Crist do yoga stretches and runner’s
stretches.
RYAN
Christ on a stick!?!
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Christ!
ROBERT CRIST
Patience! Patience. And it’s
pronounced CRIST like TWIST.
Robert Crist and TJ lock eyes and spring into action.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 134.
INSERT – ROBERT CRIST SETS A PICK ON CALIBER KOWALSKI BUT
CALIBER KOWALSKI ROUNDS THE PICK.
INSERT – TJ GOES LEFT BUT RUNS INTO BOTH HIS OPPONENTS SO TJ
PASSES TO ROBERT CRIST AND THEN WALKS BACK TO THE TOP OF THE
KEY.
INSERT – ROBERT CRIST AWKWARDLY HANDS THE BALL TO TJ WHO
LOOKS INSISTENT ON MOVEMENT.
INSERT – TJ THEN LOOKS LEFT TO ROBERT CRIST DRAWING CALIBER
KOWALSKI TO HIS RIGHT WHILE TJ SLIPS THE BASKETBALL THROUGH
CALIBER KOWALSKI’S LEGS, SPINS AROUND CALIBER KOWALSKI TO
THE OPEN BASKET RETRIEVES THE BALL AND SCORES A LAYUP.
INSERT – TJ AND ROBERT CRIST QUIETLY SLAP FIVE AND SMILE.
ROBERT CRIST
Where the hell did that come from?
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Where da Freaking Hell did that
come from?!
RYAN
Hey! Lucky! That shit won’t happen
again. Not in our house!
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Damn right! Winner’s take.
TJ and Robert Crist beat Caliber Kowalski and Ryan 10 – 7.
TJ
That’s Game ten to seven. Don’t
feel bad Cal. Robert and I really
appreciate you and Ryan taking it
easy on us.
RYAN
Yeah! Easy. Right. But don’t expect
that this time. We’re gonna murder
you in Volleyball.
ROBERT CRIST
Hmmm. No. But I might murder you.
RYAN
(freaked out)
Da hell you’d jus say?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 135.
ROBERT CRIST
Oh I’m sorry, was that out loud? My
bad. (Wide smile)
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Hey, he’s just trying to get into
your head and psyche you out. These
nerds think they’re smart, but
we’ll show em whose boss. Come on
there smart guy let’s do this. To
fifteen.
TJ
With pleasure. Serve first.
INT. LARK, NJ – LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – VOLLEYBALL – CONTINUOUS
Caliber Kowalski picks up the ball and walks to the other
side of the net with Ryan.
TJ and Robert Crist confer.
TJ
How do you wanna do this?
ROBERT CRIST
Let’s Drop Em Like Seventh Grade
Spanish.
TJ laughs while Robert Crist adjusts his glasses and clears
his throat.
INSERT – CALIBER KOWALSKI SERVES FIRST TO TJ WHO BUMPS IT TO
ROBERT CRIST WHO SETS IT FAR SIDE TO TJ WHO SPIKES IT BACK
ACROSS HITTING RYAN FOR A POINT.
INSERT – TJ AND ROBERT CRIST TRY NOT TO SMILE TOO WIDELY.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
So it’s like that is it?! Fine. Hey
Ryan, it seems like the nerd
brothers over there think they’re
players. Let’s show em what real
athletes can do.
RYAN
Hell yeah! That was a dick move
kid. Bad mistake! Bad. Real bad.
TJ
You’re right. I apologize. I
promise I’ll be more, uh, more…
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 136.
RYAN
Sportsmen-like.
TJ
What he said.
INSERT – TJ SERVES A STRONG UNDERHAND WITH SPIN TO CALIBER
KOWALSKI WHO BUMPS IT TO RYAN WHO FAKE SETS IT AND DINKS IT
ACROSS THE NET SURPRISING ROBERT CRIST.
INSERT – ROBERT CRIST SHRUGS SMILING DOPISHLY. TJ EYES HIM.
INSERT – RYAN SERVES OVERHAND TO ROBERT CRIST WHO BUMPS IT
TO TJ WHO CROSS-SETS IT TO ROBERT CRIST WHO SPIKES IT HARD
BETWEEN CALIBER KOWALSKI AND RYAN FOR A POINT.
MONTAGE – WE SEE A HARD FOUGHT GAME WITH BOTH TEAMS PUSHING
EACH OTHER TO ACROBATIC FEATS BUT TJ AND ROBERT CRIST WIN
15-5. THE CHEERLEADERS ARE SHAKING THEIR HEADS. THE OTHER
JOCKS ARE SCREAMING AND CURSING. EVEN THE NERDS AND DRAMA
KIDS ARE WATCHING, SMILING.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Holy Shit!? How? How?! Did They
beat Us?!
RYAN
I have no idea. I had no idea that
nerds like that could also be
athletes like that. Dicks.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Dude we’re a freaking laughing
stock even the drama-fags and dirt
bags are laughing at us. At Us! Nah
Uh!
RYAN
Hey, you’re right but not right
now. Wait a few till people leave,
then we’ll find em and have a
private conversation about respect.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Hell yeah! (Beat) Hey good game
fellas. I had no idea yous two were
so coordinated. Good for you.
TJ
Thanks. Good games. We’re gonna go
chill. Laters.
TJ and Robert Crist walk away graciously, sorta.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 137.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Dead. Meat.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
We see Dr. Violet Jones and General Bob Scounrel watching
events on multiple screens.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
OUTSTANDING!! Simply outstanding!
They absolutely destroyed those
jocks in front of everyone. They
might as well have kicked em in the
balls. This will require
retaliation. Outstanding!
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes General TJ and Bip have ensured
that the Final Test of Phase Three
will be genuinely robust. Locked in
an enormous gym facility with
enraged humiliated jocks and lots
of places without eyes and ears and
plenty of team members to help.
This should be interesting.
INT. LARK, NJ – LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – BASKETBALL – CONTINUOUS
TJ and Robert Crist walk into an empty smaller basketball
court and come to a stop facing each other.
TJ
That was awesome!
ROBERT CRIST
Mmm. Yes. Satisfying to say the
least.
TJ
So how long before they show up?
ROBERT CRIST
Right about now…
Caliber Kowalski, Ryan and a bunch of football and lacrosse
players walk into the court and post guards at the door.
ROBERT CRIST
Remember, any idiot can destroy an
opponent but it takes mastery to
disable them without leaving a
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 138.
ROBERT CRIST (cont’d)
mark. and for Christ’s sake don’t
kill anybody. Here. Tonight.
TJ
Roger Roger. What’s the vector
Victor?
ROBERT CRIST
Stick and move, three touches and
turn and use them against one
another and feel free to break
their fingers cuz that doesn’t
count as leaving a mark.
TJ
Groovy dude.
Caliber Kowalski and Ryan approach and posture.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
TJ I’m gonna kick your ass for
disrespecting me, us, on the
biggest night of our lives.
RYAN
Yeah nerds! We’re gonna remind you
that there’s a pecking order and
we’re top dog.
ROBERT CRIST
Hmmm and I’ll remind you that you
failed biology in ninth grade.
TJ
Which came first? the chicken or
the dog? Schmuck.
SERIES OF SHOTS
INSERT – RYAN SWINGS HARD AT ROBERT CRIST WHO BARELY MOVES
TO AVOID THE WILD STRIKE CAUSING RYAN TO FALL DOWN.
INSERT – CALIBER KOWALSKI THROWS A COMBINATION THAT TJ
BLOCKS WITH LIGHTNING FAST HANDS AND OPEN HAND SLAPS CALIBER
KOWALSKI IN THE FACE.
TJ
Let the Games Begin!
ROBERT CRIST
Show-off.
The jocks encircle TJ and Robert Crist taunting them.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 139.
Caliber Kowalski charges TJ throwing disciplined
combinations that don’t connect as TJ counters all of them.
Ryan gets up and rushes Robert Crist who sidesteps and kicks
Ryan in the ass causing him to fall again.
Several jocks charge Robert Crist who takes a Hapkido stance
and swims through the crowd tossing jocks to the ground with
grace and aplomb.
Caliber Kowalsk rushes TJ to tackle him.
INSERT – TJ ABSORBS THE SHOCK AND ROTATES SO HE LANDS ON TOP
OF CALIBER KOWALSKI AND PINS CAL’S ARMS WITH HIS KNEES.
TJ
You tackle like a quarterback.
INSERT – AN ENORMOUS FOOTBALL PLAYER DIVE TACKLES TJ THEN
STANDS TO HELP UP CALIBER KOWALSKI.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Thanks Hoagie. I’ll take it from
here.
HOAGIE
You got it boss.
ROBERT CRIST
TJ. Three touches and turn.
TJ is getting up shaking his head.
INSERT – ONE OF THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS KNEELS BEHIND TJ AND
MOTIONS FOR ANOTHER PLAYER TO PUSH TJ BACKWARDS.
INSERT – TJ SEES THE SHADOW OF HIS OPPONENT BEHIND HIM AND
JUMPS OVER HIM AS THE JOCK IN FRONT TRIES TO PUSH TJ.
INSERT – TJ KICKS THE GUY ON THE GROUND HARD IN THE RIBS
THEN SIMULTANEOUSLY KARATE CHOPS THE OTHER GUY ON BOTH SIDES
OF HIS NECK CAUSING HIM TO PASS OUT AND FALL ON TOP OF THE
OTHER GUY ON THE GROUND HOLDING HIS RIBS.
INSERT – TJ SPINS INTO CALIBER KOWALSKI AND LUNGE PUNCHES
HIM IN THE STOMACH KNOCKING THE WIND OUT OF HIM.
INSERT – CALIBER KOWALSKI IS TRYING TO BREATH WHILE
STUMBLING BACKWARDS. TJ JUMPKICKS CALIBER KOWALSKI IN THE
CHEST KNOCKING HIM DOWN HARD.
INSERT – HOAGIE THE LINEMAN RUSHES TJ SCREAMING WITH HIS
HANDS OUTSTRETCHED. TJ GRABS HOAGIE’S FINGERS AND WRENCHES
THEM AS HE ROLLS OUT SIDEWAYS. WE HEAR FINGERS BREAKING.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 140.
INSERT – ROBERT CRIST IS WATCHING TJ FIGHT WHILE HANDLING A
FEW OF THE OTHER JOCKS WHO HAVEN’T GIVEN UP YET.
ROBERT CRIST
Good call TJ. Punching him will
only make him mad.
Hoagie is Down.
Caliber Kowalski is Down.
Ryan is down and so are three other guys.
The other players stop fighting and go help their teammates.
SCOTT
Ok! Enough! You guys proved
yourselves. No need to hurt anybody
and go to jail—
TJ
Hey, you schmucks started it and it
was high time that you assholes
found out the truth!
SCOTT
The truth?! What truth?
ROBERT CRIST
Scott, you pampered popular
Cromagnon athlete-types disrespect
everybody in school and you finally
got what you deserved…
The doors are open and the nerds, drama geeks, metal-heads
are all watching the jocks pick themselves up off the floor.
TJ
Yeah, what he said. And if you
can’t handle the truth the night is
still young and you guys are
welcome to seconds.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
Hey. Goddammit! (Cough) That’s
enough. Ain’t nobody gonna try
nothing else. You have my word.
Look. I’m sorry for the disrespect.
It’s high school. What can I say?
TJ
You just did. Apology accepted. You
alright?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 141.
CALIBER KOWALSKI
I will be. You hit like a freight
train. Hey uh, thanks for not
hurting my throwing arm.
TJ
Hey man. Lesson learned. No need to
be mean. Jesus likes it when we’re
nice to each other. (TJ smiles
psychotically)
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 3 – SUB-BASEMENT 5 – CONTINUOUS
General Scounrel and Dr. Violet Jones are watching the scene
on multiple monitors.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
I like this kid! He’s got class,
character and balls.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes General. That he does. And
more.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Well, don’t go re-igniting that
fling when he gets here next week.
I need you to do your job and not
him.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Bob. I told you that was a spur of
the moment thing and it won’t
happen again. Just don’t punish him
anymore. It wasn’t his fault and he
didn’t know about us.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Us? That was a one time thing
Violet and now that my wife and I
are reconciled it won’t happen
again. So what’s next?
DR. VIOLET JONES
Well general, Southern Tech is a
state school so they have to let in
everyone but they have to purge
their ranks by sophomore year to
maintain their reputation. The
drop-out rate is eighty percent.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 142.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Eighty Percent wash-out?! Sounds
like Ranger School. Where do you
expect him to be weakest?
DR. VIOLET JONES
He’s easily distracted, has ADHD,
suffers from existential wanderlust
and his math skills are nearly
non-existent. I doubt he’ll be able
to keep up with the advanced
calculus—
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
And if he can’t do the math than he
can’t do the other course work and
he’ll wash-out first year.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yes general. But we could assist
him with tutors—
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
No. Dr. Jones. If he can’t do the
math he’s not our genius, but he’ll
make one hell of an assassin.
DR. VIOLET JONES
Yessir. That he would.
INT. LARK, NJ – LUXURY SPORTS CLUB – CONTINUOUS
TJ and Robert Crist are sitting alone eating pizza and subs.
ROBERT CRIST
So what are your immediate plans?
TJ
I’m flying to Atlanta next week and
get back to work at the lab.
ROBERT CRIST
You say that like it’s a real job.
TJ
Screw you! It is a real job.
ROBERT CRIST
But your’e an idiot with no math
skills.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 143.
TJ
Yeah maybe, but I got instincts,
mechanical ability and grad
students to do the math.
ROBERT CRIST
To what skills are you referring?
You wash the test tubes better than
anyone else?
TJ
Ha! Funny. Why don’t you come visit
me sometime and I’ll give you the
tour. And then you’ll see that we
don’t even have any test tubes.
ROBERT CRIST
I just might do that.
EXT./INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – REAR ENTRANCE – DAY
We follow TJ as he swipes his badge and walks into CCRF
Building 2 through the back entrance.
TJ (V.O.)
I learned a lot that summer…
We follow TJ out to the Hot Jet Facility where a Hot Jet
Nozzle Test is ending. TJ opens the door to a blast of super
hot hair that forces him to drop back.
TJ (V.O.)
Like waiting half an hour to go
read the instrumentation in the Hot
Jet Facility.
INSERT – TJ WALKS INTO THE HOT JET FACILITY AND CLIMBS ONTO
A PLATFORM COVERED IN LASERS AND MIRRORS UNDERNEATH THE JET
NOZZLE EMANATING HEAT WAVES.
INSERT – TJ TRIPS IN SLOW MOTION TRYING NOT TO STEP ON THE
OPTICS TJ REACHES OUT AND GRABS THE ONLY THING AROUND, THE
HOT JET NOZZLE.
INSERT – WE HEAR HISSING. TJ’S FOREARM AND HAND ARE STUCK TO
THE PIPE LEADING TO THE JET NOZZLE. TJ GETS HIS FOOTING AND
PULLS HIS ARM AWAY. WE SEE AN OUTLINE OF HIS FOREARM AND
PALM PRINT IN SALT ON THE STEEL.
TJ (V.O.)
That having a layer of salty sweat
saved my arm from a third degree
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 144.
TJ (V.O.) (cont’d)
burn. Who knew salt was an
insulator.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ IN THE MAIN TEST BAY WITH THE ANECHOIC
CHAMBERS TRIP OVER A POWER CORD THAT HADN’T BEEN TAPED DOWN
THAT WAS CONNNECTED TO A TABLETOP BOX LABELED “MICROWAVE
EMITTER HORN”.
INSERT – WE SEE THAT THE ORANGE LIGHT IS ON AS THE
DIRECTIONAL HORN SLOWLY SWIVELS AROUND TO FACE TJ AS HE
CATCHES HIMSELF ON THE EDGE OF THE TABLE.
TJ (V.O.)
I learned that graduate students
have no sense of lab safety.
INSERT – WE HEAR THE CRACKLING SOUND AND SEE THE SPARKS FLY
AS THE POWERFUL MICROWAVES HIT THE METAL IN THE ROOM AS THE
HORN SWIVELS AND FACES TJ. TJ SCREAMS AND DIVES OUT OF THE
WAY AND TURNS OFF THE MICROWAVE EMITTER.
TJ (V.O.)
I also learned what food feels like
in a Microwave. I’m pretty sure I
inspired the Marines Microwave Area
Denial weapon.
INSERT – WE SEE GRADUATE STUDENTS EYEBALL TJ AS HE POSTS A
HOMEMADE PLAQUE IN HIS CUBICLE NEXT TO HIS NAME “TJ –
RESIDENT GENIUS”.
TJ (V.O.)
I also learned to never, ever call
yourself a genius, especially when
everyone else is too.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ RIDING THE CHERRY PICKER BUCKET IN THE
LARGE ANECHOIC CHAMBER NEAR A JET NOZZLE. THE BUCKET STOPS
MOVING. TJ SMACKS THE CONTROLS AND LOOKS UP.
INSERT – THE GRADUATE STUDENTS EYEING TJ TURN OFF THE MASTER
POWER BOX, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS AND SHUT THE VAULT DOOR. ERIE
SILENCE IS DISRUPTED BY THE SOUND OF THE JET STARTING UP.
TJ (V.O.)
And now I know what it’s like to
sit in a bucket suspended twenty
feet in the air six feet away from
a jet engine while everyone else
goes to lunch. All in all, it was
very educational.
145.
EXT. ATLANTA – SOUTHERN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY CAMPUS – DAY
We see TJ looking for his name on a long printout of grades
in Calculus. TJ finds his name with a “D” for his grade.
TJ (V.O.)
School however, wasn’t so
educational.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ DOING A KEG-STAND SURROUNDED BY CO-EDS.
TJ (V.O.)
I learned how to do keg stands and
Chug beer for adoring fans.
INSERT – TJ IS DANCING WITH A SEXY NURSE AT A FRATERNITY
HALLOWEEN PARTY.
TJ (V.O.)
I learned how to pick up the
hottest girl at the party.
INSERT – TJ AND THE SEXY NURSE ARE HAVING SEX.
TJ (V.O.)
And I finally got to play adult
doctor with a naughty nurse.
INSERT – TJ IS AT THE GRADES BOARD AGAIN AND SEES AN “F” FOR
HIS GRADE. TJ WALKS AWAY ANGRY AND FRUSTRATED.
TJ (V.O.)
Sure, I could have spent more time
trying to learn Calculus, going for
tutoring and doing the homework,
but I had this mental block and the
more I tried the dumber I felt and
the angrier I became so the more I
partied to improve my mood.
INSERT – WE SEE TJ’S QUARTERLY GRADES. HE HAS A’S AND B’S
AND AN “F” IN CALCULUS WITH A “B-” OVERALL AND A WARNING
THAT HE’S ON “ACADEMIC PROBATION”.
TJ (V.O.)
My first quarter of school sucked
academically to say the least. But
the party was over and I was glad
to go back to work at the lab for
the next quarter of my Co-op
contract.
146.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – TJ’S LAB – DAY
TJ is working with several older students, engineers and
military officers around a large cryogenic tank shaped like
a decompression chamber with thick windows surrounded by
liquid nitrogen tanks and computer equipment.
TJ (V.O.)
I might not be able to do the math
in class, but in the lab, I was the
Miracle Worker who could do no
wrong.
INSERT – A PH.D STUDENT SLAPS TJ FIVE AND COLONEL JONES
SHAKES TJ’S HAND SMILING AND PATTING HIM ON THE BACK.
TJ (V.O.)
I worked on multiple simultaneous
projects while managing one of my
own. This was the coolest project
no pun intended. Something called
Sonoluminescence kinda like Cold
Fusion or so the Swedish Physicist
who later won a Nobel Prize told
me.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – ANECHOIC CHAMBER CONTROL – DAY
TJ is in the main bay of the anechoic chambers staring at a
computer screen full of raw data.
INSERT – THE ROWS AND COLUMNS OF NUMBERS BEGIN TO DANCE AND
PULSE AND TAKE SHAPE AS TJ STARES JAW DROPPED AT THE GROWING
FRACTALS ON HIS SCREEN.
A graduate student with long wild hair wearing a tie-dyed
Grateful Dead T-Shirt walks up to TJ and starts talking but
all we hear is the background noise of rushing air.
PHIL
TJ? TJ are you listening to me?
Dude it’s your turn. You’re up
after Bob.
TJ turns slowly away from the screen full of fractals.
INSERT – PHIL IS RADIATING TECHNICOLOR AURAS, HIS THIRD EYE
IS SHOWING AND LIGHTNING IS SPARKING FROM PHILS’S HAIR.
TJ
Huh?… Wha?… Phil, is that you?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 147.
PHIL
Dude?! You didn’t hear a word I
said. Wassup man? Are you?
(Whispers) Are you stoned at work
bro?
TJ
Wha?! No! Never… But I think I
might still be tripping from last
night’s acid.
PHIL
(beaming and smiling)
Oh my GOD! You dropped acid and
came to work at the lab?! You’ve
got balls man. But Dude! You’re
annual evaluation is in like
fifteen minutes after Bob’s.
TJ
Annual Review?! That’s today? Whoa!
Do you see this screen man? I’ve
never seen anything like it before
in my life! Is this the acid?
PHIL
No it’s the screen saver one of the
guys wrote for fun, but I can
imagine the LSD tweaks it just a
bit. Dude! You’re peaking HARD! We
gotta get your brain out of the
ionosphere and back to earth. You
gotta reel it in brother.
TJ
Oh shit! I can’t go to my review
like this! This magnificent world
we live in. How? How do we, how do
I reel it in?
Phil mimes using a fishing pole and reeling in a fish.
PHIL
Do this and imagine you coming down
from outter space and back to earth
while you say “Reel it in.”
TJ
(imitating Phil)
Reel it in. Reel… it… in. Hey
man this is cool, but it ain’t
helping me man. What do we do?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 148.
PHIL
Dude there’s only one way to calm
your mind in time to do your
review. Come with me and try not to
engage anyone. Just smile and nod a
little but not too much.
TJ
OK. Where we going?
PHIL
To the retirement party in the
Annex. They made a bowl of punch
and spiked it with enough liquor
for a Kennedy family function.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – ANNEX – CONTINUOUS
We follow TJ and Phil into the Retirement Party and see
older engineers mixing with graduate students and military
officers.
INSERT – THROUGH TJ’S EYES WE SEE A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE.
EVERYONE IS GLOWING EXCEPT A FEW MILITARY OFFICERS. SOME
PEOPLE HAVE THIRD EYES BUT MOST DON’T.
PHIL
Just relax and keep a straight
face. No ape jawing or staring into
people, it’s a dead give away that
you’re on something.
One of the graduate students arives holding a thermos like
canister in a heavily gloved hand.
LUIS
Scuze me. Coming through. Don’t
touch the canister.
PHIL
What gives Luis? What’s with the
liquid nitrogen?
LUIS
They forgot the ice for the punch
and nobody drinks warm punch. So I
did some rough calculations based
on the volume of the punch bowl and
the temperature of the liquid and
the desired drinking temperature of
thirty eight degrees and voila!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 149.
PHIL
Outstanding! This I gotta see. Hey
TJ I know that you will appreciate
this.
TJ
OK Phil. Hey Luis.
LUIS
Hey TJ. You seem different today.
PHIL
He’s just feeling last night a
little and needs a drink before his
review in a few minutes.
LUIS
Gotcha. Well give me thirty seconds
and a spoon and the punch will be
ready to serve. Stand back. This
will splash and ruin your day.
Luis removes the top of the canister and pours the smoking
liquid into the punch bowl.
INSERT – WE SEE THE PUNCH BOIL AND HEAR THE HISSING AS THE
ENTIRE BOWL FREEZES SOLID.
INSERT – TJ IS STARING WIDE-EYED AT THE TECHNICOLOR PUNCH
BOWL VOLCANO.
LUIS
(looking at watch holding a
large spoon)
Hey TJ watch this. If my
calculations are correct when I hit
the frozen punch with this spoon it
will turn back into a super-cooled
liquid in three – two –
Abbra-Caddabra.
INSERT – LUIS TAPS THE FROZEN PUNCH ONCE AND LIKE MAGIC THE
ICE TURNS INTO LIQUID PUNCH WITH FLOATING ICE CHUNKS.
PHIL
Niiice!
TJ
Whoa! That was Righteous! But
why…How?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 150.
LUIS
Dudes, the liquid nitrogen reacted
with the warm punch and expanded
because of the heat exchange, but
when it did that it lost heat
rapidly cooling the whole bowl, but
wait thirty seconds and add a touch
of kinetic energy and bam! Thirty
eight degree Fruit Punch.
Luis ladles punch for Phil and TJ.
LUIS
Cheers fellas!
TJ AND PHIL
Cheers!
TJ slams his drink and pours another and another.
LUIS
Slow down man, there’s three
bottles in that punch. It’s
literally flammable.
PHIL
He’ll be fine. He’s just nervous
about his review.
LUIS
Dude. TJ, it’s ok I get it. Your’e
the youngest person in history to
work in the labs and now it’s real
and not a high school thing. You’ll
do fine.
TJ
(wide-eyed but calmer)
Thanks Luis. Thanks Phil. This
punch is doing its job.
A conservative looking graduate student walks in the room.
BOB
Hello gentlemen. It’s punch o-clock
for me. Tough review. TJ it’s your
turn. Doctor Singh is waiting for
you. Good luck.
TJ
Thanks Bob. OK bye.
INSERT – TJ WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM AND DOWN THE HALL THAT
151.
KEEPS GETTING LONGER AND IS COMPRISED OF SWIRLING PULSATING
PATTERNS.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – DR SINGH’S OFFICE – DAY
The door to Dr. Singh’s office is open and we follow TJ
inside.
DR. SINGH
Ah yes. TJ. Please come in and sit
down. I want to finish your annual
review so that I may attend the
retirement party. What kept you?
INSERT – THROUGH TJ’S EYES WE SEE A PSYCHEDELIC WORLD
COVERED IN SWIRLING PATTERNS. DR. SINGH LOOKS LIKE
EIGHT-ARMED BLUE VISHNU WITH GLASSES.
TJ
Whoa…
DR. SINGH
(looking down writing)
I’m sorry TJ what was that?
TJ
I’m sorry Dr. Singh, but I was
caught up doing data analysis and
forgot what time it was.
TJ is trying to look normal.
INSERT – TJ’S EYES ARE WIDE AND HIS PUPILS ARE DIFFERENT
SIZES.
DR. SINGH
I understand it is easy to get lost
in the data, but punctuality
matters. It is never good to be
late to your annual review, but
let’s move on.
TJ
Yessir. Thank you sir.
DR. SINGH
TJ I have a dilemma. You are a
miracle worker in this laboratory.
There is no job too Mickey Mouse
for you and no job too Einstein.
You make yourself available to
other team leaders while running
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 152.
DR. SINGH (cont’d)
your own show. You accomplished in
three hours and with one hundred
dollars what Soviet scientists with
enormous resources couldn’t do in
ten years. You defeated stealth
technology before lunch and
discovered a new technology before
dinner. But—
TJ
But?
DR. SINGH
But, your housekeeping needs
improvement. You’re lab and desk
area are unsightly and do not
reflect well on this lab when we
have unannounced visitors.
TJ
Yessir. I’ll work on being neater.
DR. SINGH
TJ. While I appreciate you and your
work ethic and uncanny ability to
solve complex engineering problems
well above your educational level I
cannot ignore your poor performance
in school. You failed Calculus and
are now out of sync with the
program.
TJ
Yessir. I’m sorry, but I just
couldn’t grasp the concepts and
nobody seemed to be able to tutor
me—
DR. SINGH
I’m sorry TJ but without the maths
there is no engineering. No one has
told on you but I know that the
graduate students have been doing
your math here at work. This is
unprofessional.
TJ
Yessir.
DR. SINGH
I’m sorry TJ, but I can’t keep you.
I cannot employ you because of your
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 153.
DR. SINGH (cont’d)
grades. The funding criteria are
very clear. You have a B minus and
this position requires a minimum of
a B plus and no failed classes.
TJ
(shocked)
But! But. I… I can do better. I
can fix this—
DR. SINGH
No TJ. I’m afraid that this is one
thing that you cannot fix. I am
sorry, but after this quarter I
cannot bring you back. I’m telling
you this so that you have time to
transition your long term projects
to the graduate students and
engineers.
TJ is bewildered and looks like he may cry.
TJ
I… I… I’m sorry I failed you
sir. It won’t happen again. I’ll
prepare my projects for transition
to the others.
DR. SINGH
Thank you TJ.
TJ
Thank you sir. I—
DR. SINGH
As I once told you TJ you are very
polite, inquisitive and intelligent
and may do better in politics, but
it is clear that your place is not
here. Will you be at the retirement
party.
TJ
No sir. I uh. I have too much work
to do to transition project
ownership in the next two weeks.
DR. SINGH
Ah TJ! And that is why this makes
me so sad. If my other students had
your intelligence and committment
to excellence this world would be a
better place. Please be well.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 154.
TJ
Ah Dr. Singh?
DR. SINGH (V.O.)
Yes TJ what is it?
TJ
My uh best friend from high school
is flying in next week to visit and
I promised him a tour…
DR. SINGH (V.O.)
TJ your friend is welcome here and
I hope you enjoy giving him a tour
and showing him all of the
unclassified things you’ve done.
TJ
Thank you Dr. Singh. That means
alot to me sir.
DR. SINGH
You’re welcome TJ. Goodbye.
INT. CCRF – BUILDING 2 – ANECHOIC CHAMBER CONTROL – DAY
TJ and Robert Crist are walking into the room from the small
labs facility. Robert Crist has a fresh recruit Army haircut
an Army T-Shirt and is much stronger.
TJ
Seriously?! I can’t believe you
quit school and joined the freaking
ARMY! You were supposed to become a
theoretical physicist and I was
gonna be the aerospace engineer
that built your stupid experiments!
ROBERT CRIST
Seriously, I can’t believe that
they let you work in here?! I mean,
no disrespect, but this is like a
serious place that does serious
work. Do you have a security
clearance?
TJ
Of course I have a security
clearance. And That’s why they
hired me, because I’m serious about
this kind of work. Not exactly
washing test tubes am I?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 155.
ROBERT CRIST
No. And I admit it. I am quite
impressed with your acoustic
levitation apparatus. You are much
smarter than I realized.
TJ
Try not to sound so shocked when
you say it if you want it to be a
compliment. OK there Sparky?
Besides I’m not that smart.
(Exhale)
ROBERT CRIST
What? I complimented you didn’t I?
Are you OK?
TJ
Damnit! (Exhale) I lost my job here
even though I’m like the best
research assistant ever just
because I failed Calculus!
Bastards.
ROBERT CRIST
(smiling widely)
You FAILED CALCULUS?!? (Snickers)
TJ
Dude?! I’m standing right here
bearing my soul and you snicker you
cold-hearted schize-foos schmuck?!
The HEll!
ROBERT CRIST
Sorry duder. I mean that sucks, but
You Failed Calculus at a top
engineering school! Of course
you’ll lose your scholarship and
research job. Oh shit! Did you fail
out of school too?
TJ
No. Not yet, but if I can’t cut it
this quarter I’m out. Out of
engineering. Out of school. And out
of luck. All I ever wanted was to
be an astronaut and pilot who
designs em builds em and flies em.
ROBERT CRIST
A generation X Burt Rhutan? Noble.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 156.
TJ
Yeah, But the truth is I realized
that this job, this place,
aerospace engineering, that ALL I
WOULD EVER GET TO DO is build stuff
that kills people I’ve never met
over politics I disagree with for
economics that won’t benefit me.
ROBERT CRIST
Well if you put it that way you
might as well be all you can be and
join me in the Army…
TJ
Ha! That’ll be the day.
ROBERT CRIST
Come on it’ll be great. Hard long
hours of intense training, shitty
food and the worst mattress ever!?
How could you not want that?
TJ
You’re asking me to sign my life
over to a bunch of mental midgets
dumb enough to give you, YOU! a TOW
Missile and teach your legally
blind ass to drive an M-1
Battletank?!
ROBERT CRIST
What?! They gave me the eye surgery
for free if I signed up infantry.
TJ
You have a higher IQ than your
entire platoon combined and you
went INFANTRY?!
ROBERT CRIST
Well, yeah. They get to shoot
people. Often. And Blow Stuff Up! I
mean come on dude. Admit it! You
know you wanna get suited and
booted and go be scary in the dark.
TJ
Damn it! You know I do. Come on who
doesn’t wanna go be that guy. But I
hate being told what to do, now
more than ever. I’d spend my entire
tour in the brig.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 157.
ROBERT CRIST
Or in Special Forces…?
TJ
S-F? Spec For? Benning! That’s
where you’re going next isn’t it?
ROBERT CRIST
Uh… I can neither confirm nor
deny—
TJ
You sonofabitch! This is that
conversation?
ROBERT CRIST
What conversation?
TJ
The Plausible Deniability
Conversation. Junior year we joked
about you and me becoming either
world class physicists or world
class assassins? I said I’d be the
face-man in the front of the house
and you’d be the hitter working the
field…
ROBERT CRIST
Yes.
TJ
So?—
ROBERT CRIST
So are you ready to carry a light
sabre and do the hard work with me?
INT. PENTAGON – SUB-BASEMENT-Q-33 COSMIQ – DAY
On Screen: We see it is 0600hrs, Saturday, April 29th, 2007.
We See General Bob Scounrel and Admiral Rodney green sitting
down reviewing Project T.I.O. – TOP SECRET – Classified
files and documents.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
It took another six months of
intense Isolation Phase Recruitment
before TJ was willing to sign on.
Then we prevented contact between
Robert Crist and TJ during TJ’s six
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 158.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (cont’d)
years of increasingly intense
live-fire training operations.
SERIES OF SHOTS
INSERT – WE FLY THROUGH THE NYC SKYLINE AT NIGHT DOWN TO TJ
WALKING INTO A RAVE IN MANHATTAN.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
TJ is a perfect fit for urban
covert ops because he’s a
fashionista who loves dancing and
night clubs. That is where TJ
discovered he has a knack for
Shaolin Drunken Boxing.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN (V.O.)
Drunken Boxing? That Jackie Chan
crap?! That’s a real martial art?
INSERT – TJ IS AT A RAVE IN NYC DANCING SLIDE-STEP TO JUNGLE
DRUM AND BASS “SIX MILLION WAYS TO DIE” WHEN HE IS ATTACKED
BY SEVERAL THUGS. TJ PROCEEDS TO DISCOVER DRUNKEN BOXING
WHILE DANCING THROUGH THE CROWD DEFEATING THE THUGS WITH
STYLE.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Very real. And apparently the most
effective way to fight a whole room
at once, if you know how.
INSERT – BACK IN THE SUB-BASEMENT AT THE PENTAGON
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Tio also expressed a unique talent
for shooting firearms. He can pick
up a gun he’s never seen or used
before and challenge anyone in
accuracy and speed in training and
live-fire.
INSERT – ON SCREEN “DIRECT ACTION RESOURCE CENTER TEAM
QUALIFICATIONS”. TJ IS AT AN INDOOR GUN RANGE QUALIFYING FOR
AN ELITE COUNTER-TERRORISM UNIT. SIX MEN ARE ON THE FIRING
LINE. FIVE ARE DRESSED IN TACTICAL GEAR, BUT TJ IS DRESSED
IN JINCO WIDELEG JEANS AND A T-SHIRT THAT SAYS, “THE LAST
THING I WANNA DO IS HURT YOU BUT IT’S STILL ON THE LIST.”
THE FIVE GUYS IN TACTICAL GEAR ARE GIVING TJ MOCKING LOOKS.
TJ IS SHOOTING AT A 8 X 11 SHEET OF PAPER THE OTHER FIVE ARE
SHOOTING AT LARGER 11 X 17 PAPER TARGETS. THE RANGE MASTER
CALLS “READY AND FIRE”. IN SLOW MOTION WE SEE THE OTHER FIVE
STANDING STILL, BUT TJ HAS ALREADY PULLED FROM THE HOLSTER
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 159.
AND FIRED THREE ROUNDS KEYHOLING HIS TARGET BEFORE THE NEXT
FASTEST GUY FIRES HIS FIRST ROUND HITTING HIS TARGET CLIP
MAKING THE WHOLE LINE DANCE AS TJ FIRES HIS FOURTH ROUND.
THE OTHER FOUR MEN HAVEN’T EVEN MOVED. THE OTHER GUY SHOOTS
HIS SECOND ROUND OF HIS DOUBLE-TAP CUTTING THE WIRE
SUSPENDING THE LINE OF NOW FALLING PAPER TARGETS.
TJ (V.O.)
Too shoot or not to shoot that is
the question.
INSERT – TJ FIRES HIS LAST TWO ROUNDS HITTING HIS TARGET IN
THE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER AS IT GOES ON EDGE LEAVING THREE
INCH TEARS IN THE PAPER AS HIS TARGET FALLS BEHIND THE
RICOCHET DEFLECTORS.
INSERT – THE RANGE MASTER STOPS HIS STOPWATCH WHICH READS
0.87 SECONDS
INSERT – BACK IN THE PENTAGON SUB-BASEMENT
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Six Shots in Point Eight Seven
Seconds?! At a falling piece of
paper from seven yards.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
On edge with a Glock forty-five.
It’s still the unofficial World’s
Record.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Holy Pistolero!—
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
And he’s a surgeon with a shotgun.
He can drop three twelve gauge
slugs into a three inch grouping at
fifty yards standing with no stock
and no rear sight in two seconds.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
No?!
INSERT – TJ IS OUTDOORS IN A RAVINE WITH LARGE WOOD STUMPS
COVERED IN SPENT SHOTGUN SHELLS AND ONE INCH AND THREE INCH
PAPER TARGETS.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
TJ does his three-gun practice by
himself so nobody knows what he’s
capable of—
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 160.
INSERT – TJ STARTS THIRTY-FIVE YARDS OUT SHOOTING AT THE
SPENT SHOTGUN SHELLS WITH HIS RIFLE HITTING A TARGET WITH
EVERY TRIGGER PULL. TJ CHANGES MAGAZINES LIGHTNING FAST AND
GOES THROUGH SIX MAGAZINES THEN IN ONE FLUID MOTION TOSSES
THE RIFLE ON A TWO POINT SLING OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER WHILE
BRINGING HIS TWELVE GAUGE BREACHER SHOTGUN AROUND UNDER HIS
RIGHT ARM AND UNLOADS SEVEN SHOTS IN RAPID SUCCESSION THEN
TAKES A KNEE AND RELOADS FIVE ROUNDS FROM HIS LEFT WRIST
SPEED-CUFF IN THREE SECONDS, STANDS WALKS AND EMPTIES THE
SHOTGUN AGAIN, TAKES A KNEE AND RELOADS SLUGS FROM HIS RIGHT
WRIST SPEED-CUFF AND CUTS A LARGE ROOT OFF FROM A TREE
TRUNK. TJ THEN THROWS THE SHOTGUN OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER
WHILE DRAWING HIS GLOCK FORTY-FIVE AND EMPTIES THIRTEEN
ROUNDS WHILE WALKING FORWARD. TJ TAKES A KNEE AND RELOADS
MAGAZINES FOUR TIMES WHILE WALKING UP TO THE FIRST STUMP. TJ
TAKES A KNEE AND LOADS HIS FIFTH MAGAZINE AND FIRES THIRTEEN
ROUNDS INTO A THREE INCH TARGET TWENTY-FIVE YARDS AWAY THEN
DROPS THE SMOKING GLOCK INTO THE MUD DOES A DIVING ROLL OUT
UNDER A LARGE HORIZONTAL ROOT DRAWING HIS COMBAT KNIVES AND
SLICING AN EMPTY BEER CAN WITH ONE AND STABBING ONE WITH THE
OTHER.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
TJ began practicing the internal
arts and discovered that he has
unusual gifts.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN (V.O.)
How unusual?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
He’s one of the best Combat Remote
Viewers we’ve ever seen, he’s
telepathic and we think he may be
pyrokinetic as well.
INSERT – IT IS NIGHT AND TJ IS DOING KUNG FU BAREFOOT IN A
BONFIRE. TJ FINISHES HIS TAI CHI AND WALKS OUT OF THE
FIREPIT ONTO THE GRASS, WE HEAR BRIEF HISSING, TJ PATS OUT
THE FIRE ON HIS FRAYED WIDELEG JEANS.
INSERT – BACK IN THE PENTAGON SUB-BASEMENT.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
So what’s the downside Bob? Why
haven’t I known about him and
tasked him yet?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
Tio doesn’t play well with others.
INSERT – WE SEE A SPECIAL FORCES OPERATOR GRAB A GIRLS ASS
AND SHE SPILLS HER DRINK ON TJ WHO BEATS UP THE WHOLE TEAM.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 161.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
He works best when he works alone.
INSERT – WE SEE A BLACK-CLAD NINJA BREAKING NECKS, PICKING
UP A MEMORY CHIP THEN RUNNING ACROSS ROOFTOPS DOING PARCOUR.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL (V.O.)
We occassionaly send him in as the
Cleaner to back-up Black-Ops teams.
INSERT – WE SEE A NINJA USING A SWORD IN CLOSE QUARTERS
COMBAT SAVING A TEAM OF OPERATORS FROM AN AMBUSH.
INSERT – BACK IN THE PENTAGON SUB-BASEMENT
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Tio’s the equivalent of the
invisible hand of God. If someone
impossible needs to have a fatal
accident, or commit assisted
suicide overnight, Tio’s your guy.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
And now? Why change the M.O. now?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Tio hates authority and has
developed a proclivity for drugs
and alcohol to cope with his
disillusionment and physical
injuries after that fiasco in
Mexico.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Mexico? That was him?! Bob, I don’t
need another burnt out operator
committing slow suicide under my
command. Especially if they’re an
unhinged fire-starting
uber-assassin.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
I know Rodney and I guarantee you
that Tio is not burnt out, but he
needs some TLC to be turned into
the guy we need for what comes
next. You’ve seen the threat
assessments. You know the state of
disarray of the “academic experts”
and analysts.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 162.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
So what do you need from me
General?
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
We need you to take the most
dangerous man alive and remind him
that he may just be the smartest
man alive, a good man and not just
an assassin. A man with a lot to
offer to this nation, Our Nation,
and the whole world.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
But without him knowing it and
running game on us.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Exactly Rodney. Tio has some
amazing potential but right now
he’s healing physically and
psychologically and he needs
Mentoring and a whole new bag of
tools.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
And you want me to take this broken
but brilliant Operator and turn him
into what? An Analyst?!
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
No Admiral. He’ll turn himself into
an Analyst by trying to change the
world by changing the minds of
those in power. We want you to turn
him into The Best Analyst Ever and
The Dear Leader that we need him to
be.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
Ok Bob. We’ll get him into the
School for the Gifted and put him
in the same co-ed dorm as my
daughter. That way she can report
on him to me and he can keep an eye
out for her safety too.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
That’ll work.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN
But Bob, if he goes near my
daughter with that “Daddy” swagger,
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 163.
ADMIRAL RODNEY GREEN (cont’d)
I’ll forget this conversation ever
happened and act like a father.
GENERAL BOB SCOUNREL
Understood Admiral. And thank you.
(aside smiling) This should be
interesting.
INT. PENTAGON – SUB-BASEMENT-Q-33 COSMIQ – CONTINUOUS
Walking out with Tio We Fly out of the Pentagon Sub-basement
and through the layers of security reminiscent of Get Smart
in Reverse Order.
INSERT – CLOSE-IN ON TIO’S FACE IN HIS UNITED STATES MARINES
COLONEL’S SERVICE UNIFORM.
INSERT – TIO’S UNIFORM IS DRENCHED IN MEDALS AND RIBBONS AND
SPECIAL OPERATIONS BADGES INCLUDING A SEAL TAB. TIO’S SLEEVE
HAS FOUR GOLD AND RED SLASHES SIGNIFYING AT LEAST SIXTEEN
YEARS OF SERVICE.
We Fly above the Pentagon rotating until we see the White
House and the other Monuments to America’s Secret Heritage.
We hear Trip Hop build then fade to an echo…
FADE OUT.
THE END