Categories > Original > Drama > The Archive (A Screenplay)
EXT FLAT #2
Caption : 26th February, YOG 1,305. 9:30am
Sophia, Ariana and Michael are stood at the front door. Michael and Ariana are dressed for going out, while Sophia is in her dressing gown.
SOPHIA
Take care. And try to avoid getting in to
any trouble.
MICHAEL
Yes mother.
SOPHIA
(smiles)
Just promise you won't go out of your way to
look for trouble.
ARIANA
We rarely have to look for trouble, sweetie. It
generally comes looking for us.
SOPHIA
That's what I am worried about.
(she looks around)
You should go.
ARIANA
(hugs her)
And you should go pack.
(sees the surprised look on Sophia's face)
I know you want us to believe everything is
going to go alright, but I think that you
should be ready to leave in a hurry.
(hugs her again)
Take care, little one.
SOPHIA
You too.
(hugs Michael as well)
Come back safe, d'ya hear?
Ariana and Michael walk down the path, then down the street. Sophia watches them go, then turns back in to the house and closes the door.
EXT TUSCON HOUSE
Caption : 31st March, YOG 1,299. 8:55am
A young woman rushes along the street, and up to the front door and knocks loudly.
INT TUSCON HOUSE
Sophia walks to the door and opens it.
SOPHIA
Ariana?
ARIANA
You have to turn on the news.
She pushes past Sophia and in to the living room, and turns the tv on. Sophia walks up behind her, and watches.
ANNOUNCER
That news once again - Queen Leonara has ordered
the arrest of a member of the judiciary on
charges of treason.
(a picture flashes up on the screen behind her)
Judge Henry Atkins was arrested late last night,
under the CRA. In an unprecedented move, The
Queen herself ordered the arrest, acting on
information she received from other members
of the judiciary.
Ariana mutes the tv and turns to Sophia.
SOPHIA
My mother always spoke highly of Judge Atkins.
From what she said, I find it hard to believe he
would be involved in treason against The Queen.
(notices Ariana is smiling)
He is guilty?
ARIANA
It depends on your point of view.
(Sophia continues to look confused)
Treason against The Queen is not the same
as treason against the country.
SOPHIA
Ari - I had a long night, and it's far too
early to be playing word games. What's going
on?
ARIANA
According to another judge, Atkins was about
to file a motion to bring Queen Leonara to trial
for various crimes under the laws of Pallatium.
(sees the look of surprise on Sophia's face)
He believes there was enough evidence to at
least bring her to trial, even if there wasn't
much chance of a conviction.
SOPHIA
And that's why he has been arrested?
(Ariana nods)
How many people are aware of this?
ARIANA
A few of the other members, but the arrest was
carried out so quickly and quietly that very
little information has leaked out about it.
SOPHIA
(sees the look on her friends face)
Why do I get the feeling the words "I have a
favour to ask" are about to ruin my morning?
ARIANA
Despite the arrests, the PPA hasn't shut down.
But we need more members, and your position in
the medical school would make you a perfect
person.
SOPHIA
That's why I can't join.
ARIANA
But...
SOPHIA
Do you know what has been going on in with
the hospitals in the past few years?
(Ariana shrugs)
The majority of hospitals now deal soley with
the native-born people in the country. And the
few doctors that still treat non-native people
are treated with the upmost suspicion, and
shunned by the rest of the profession.
(shakes her head)
But because The Queen doesn't want it to
become obvious that she is trying to drive out
everyone who wasn't born here, she is using
medical students to fill the gaps.
ARIANA
And you think if you join the PPA then...
SOPHIA
Yeah.
(she sighs)
I know you are doing a good job, and that things
are going badly wrong in the country, but at
the moment I think I can do more good by staying
out of it for the moment.
Ariana stares at her for a moment, then nods.
ARIANA
Okay. But, if it's okay, I will keep you
up to date with various things.
SOPHIA
Of course. And I will let you know if I hear
anything of interest.
ARIANA
For which I am grateful.
They turn back to the tv, and Ariana turns the volume back on.
ANNOUNCER
We are expecting a statement from Queen Leonara
in about half an hour, and from the Judiciary
in about an hour.
SOPHIA
What do you think she is going to say?
ARIANA
That Judge Atkins is cleary guilty, and,
despite the fact that he is one of the few
male judges in the country, he is to be
disbarred and and sent to jail.
SOPHIA
And the judicary?
ARIANA
If she does say that, then I think the judciary
are likely to agree. Or else they will follow
him.
EXT PALACE PLAZA
Caption : Palace Plaza. 1st April, YOG 1,299.
11am
The Plaza is cordened off. On one side is a group of people in formal dress (dark suits and so forth). On the other side is a group of journalists. On the third side is a line of soldiers, while the fourth side is empty.
After a few moments, four soldiers lead a fifth man out and stand him at the empty side of the Plaza. The four soldiers walk to the middle of the Plaza and turn to face the fifth man, who is wearing a blindfold and a gag.
Queen Leonara comes out of the Palace, and stands behind the journalists.
LEONARA
Today is a sad day for Pallatium.
(she looks over at the man stood at the end
of the square)
Since the age of The First Queen, the judiciary
has been charged with upholding the law, and
defending the rights of the good people
of Pallatium. And it comes as a great blow to
me personally, as well as to The Office Of
The Queen, that a member of the judiciary has
been convicted of treason.
(pauses)
Last night, in a specially conveined court,
Judge Henry Atkins was tried, and found guilty
of conspiring to unlawfully overthrow the
government of Pallatium, and of using his
position to unduly influence the outcome of
a number of trials, going a number of years.
(pauses again)
After Judge Atkins was convicted, I called the
senior Judges in to extra-ordinary session, to
discuss the ramifications of the conviction
of one of their own for one of the most
heinous crimes imaginable.
(holds up an official folder)
The result of the session was this - The
Defence Of The Realm Act. It gives the
judiciary a broad range of discreation for
dealing with crimes, and increases the
punishments and sentences for those crimes that
damange the integrity of our beloved country.
(puts the document down)
And so, it is with a heavy heart, that I must
announce that, after his conviction for treason,
conspiracy to commit terrorist actions and for
perverting the course of justice, Judge Henry
Atkins has been sentenced to death by firing
squad.
(there are a number of gasps of surprise
from around the Plaza)
This decision was not taken lightly. It was not
my wish to be remembered as The Queen who
introduced the death penalty to Pallatium.
(pauses, then her voice hardens)
But neither was it my wish to be remembered
as The Queen who let her country be over-run by
traitors and terrorists. I have never been
one to shrink from my duty, however unpleasent
it may be, and, in these times of civil unrest,
it necessary to use whatever means necessary
to ensure the safety of the good and decent
people of my country.
(looks over at the fifth man again)
This sentence will be carried out at once,
and will be carried out in public, as a warning
to those who would plot against the government,
and would plot against the people of our fair
and wonderful country.
She steps back from the podium, then turns to the four soldiers lined up in the square.
INT QUEEN DARA MEDICAL SCHOOL
Caption : Queen Dara Medical School, Serenity.
A number of medical students, including Sophia, are watching the events on tv. We can not see the screen, but we can hear the sounds.
LEONARA
(OS)
Ready.
Aim.
Fire.
There are a number of gunshots, during which some students turn away (Sophia is not one of these). When the sound of the gunshots cease, there are a few moments of silence. Then one of the students reaches over and turns off the tv.
They all stare at each other for a few more moments, then they all walk off, and get back to work.
INT TUSCON HOUSE
Caption : 1st April, YOG 1,299
Sophia is sat in her garden, reading. Ariana walks up the path, and sits down next to her.
SOPHIA
Ari?
ARIANA
Yes?
SOPHIA
Count me in.
INT FLAT #2
Caption : 26th February, YOG 1,305. 10:30am
Sophia is watching the news coverage of the DOM Protest March. It is a typical protest march, with banners, songs, palacards and chants. It is also being conducted in an entirely peaceful manner
SOPHIA
(vo)
At that point, the PPA was merely a national
group of activists, who held protests,
organized work stoppages, co-ordinated action
on a nation-wide bases and generally tried
to undermine support for Queen Leonara's
government as much as they could.
(smiles as she catches sight of Ariana and
Michael walking hand in hand along the route)
I started joining in the marches, but I drew
the line at taking parts in the strikes.
(pauses)
Doctors have a duty to save lives, and they
can't do that if they are halfway across the
city waving a banner round.
(pauses again)
For a year after the judicial murd... after
the execution of Judge Atkins, the PPA continued
their campaign of civil disobedience. Despite
facing arrest, and now possible execution,
for their activities, they believed in the
righteous nature of their cause, and they
gained new members every week.
(pauses, then sighs)
Unfortunately, their campaign of peaceful
protest was brought to an end, in a way that
no one could have predicted.
EXT HOSPITAL
Caption : Queen Leonara Hospital, Serenity.
15th March, YOG 1,300. 4:55pm.
INT HOSTPIAL WARD
It is a typical hospital ward. There is a red, LED type clock on the wall, and a number of beds with young patients in (it is clearly the pediactric ward)
Sophia is sat next to the bed of a five year old boy,
talking to him softly.
A sound of beeping splits the air, and she turns to
see the clock blinking on and off. She stands up, rushes to the doors and pushes them open.
We follow her down the corridor, and see various other doctors and nurses following her, to the accident and emergency unit, and then out to the front of the hospital.
They stand for a few moments, then a fleet of ambulances starts to arrive.
The next few minutes are chaotic, as patients are unloaded and taken in to the hospital. Sophia and another doctor (LYNN BARCH) stay to manage the process.
Once it has calmed down, Sophia turns to one of the paramedics.
SOPHIA
What the hell happened?
PARAMEDIC
(clearly angry)
Damn protestors.
SOPHIA
The PPA?
PARAMEDIC
(notices the pin on her lapel)
You might want to reconsider wearing that.
SOPHIA
Tell me what happened.
PARAMEDIC
They were demonstrating at the Blackwall.
SOPHIA
And?
PARAMEDIC
(sneers in disgust)
They were not getting the reaction they wanted,
so they went on a rampage. Overturning bins,
cracking benches.
(pauses)
Smashing windows.
SOPHIA
No - they wouldn't...
PARAMEDIC
And when some of the shop owners tried to stop
them, things got worse.
(looks around)
The police arrived, and rounded up the
ring-leaders, but a lot of them got away.
(gestures to the door)
Hopefully some of them are in there, paying
for what they did.
SOPHIA
(frostily)
If you will excuse me - I have to go.
(turns to go)
PARAMEDIC
(calling after her)
If you want my advice, you will lose that pin,
and reconsider who your friends are.
INT TUSCON HOUSE
Caption : 9:25pm
Sophia is reading a paper, with lots of pictures of the damage within the Blackwall center.
There is a knock at the front door, and she opens it to see Ariana stood there. Sophia holds the paper up in front of her visitor.
SOPHIA
Tell me it's not true.
ARIANA
Can I come in?
SOPHIA
Is it true?
ARIANA
(stares at her)
We didn't start the riot. I think Queen Leonara
had someone on the inside.
SOPHIA
One person couldn't have done all that.
ARIANA
It spiralled out of control.
SOPHIA
Do you know how I spent my afternoon?
ARIANA
Soph...
SOPHIA
I spent it operating on a four year old girl.
She had been pinned down by an over-turned
bench when a window shattered above her. She
is lucky not to have lost her sight, and it
is highly likely she will be scarred for life.
(Throws the paper down at Ariana's feet,
followed by the pin from her lapel)
Don't come here again.
ARIANA
You aren't going to...
SOPHIA
No, I won't turn you in. I know what the outcome
of that would be, and I won't be responsible
for someone's death.
(steps back and puts her hand on the door)
But don't come here again. I want nothing more
to do with you, or your group.
(slams the door, leaving Ariana staring in to
space)
EXT QUEEN'S PALACE
Caption : 16th March, YOG 1,300. 8:35am
Queen Leonara is giving another press conference.
LEONARA
For too long I have been patient, and have
been willing to put up with the criminal
actions carried out by the Pallatium
People's Association in the name of freedom
of expression.
(looks around)
However, with the growing number of dead and
injured after their violant rampage at the
Blackwall center, I am forced to act for
the good of the country.
(looks around again)
I am hereby listing the Pallatium People's
Association as a proscribed organiztion under
Section 44 of the CRA. Membership of the
organization is now forbidden by law.
(waits for the noise to die down)
The full text of the new act will be available
after this conference, but I want to send a
message to all those who would put their own
petty, selfish desires above the good of the
country - We will no longer tolerate your
behaviour, and we will no longer let you carry
out your acts of terror and violance.
EXT CHURCH
Caption : Holborn Church, Holborn, Tiala District.
25th March, TOG 1,300. 9:35pm
The church is lit up, as it is dark outside. In the small patches of light that eminate from the church, we can see a large number of armed police officers surrounding the building.
INT CHURCH
Around fifty people are gathered in the church, including around eight or nine children. It is obviously a meeting of some type (as opposed to a service) and most of the people are listening to the two women stood by the altar (CLARA BROWN and EMMY MASTERS).
EXT CHURCH
We are now by a police car, with the officer in charge. He looks around, then picks up the bullhorn.
INT CHURCH
OFFICER IN CHARGE
(OS/Over the bullhorn)
This is the police. You are all to come out with
your hands up.
There is general surprise amongst the people. But before anyone can react, the lights go out, then light comes in from massive floodlights outside the building, and the doors are thrown open by countless armed officers bursting in.
MONTAGE
The next few minutes are all done in flash-frames (so we get frozen images of what is going on, rather than a moving image of what is going on)
The police burst in.
There are screams and shouts of terror.
The police open fire.
We see Clara get shot and go down. Emmy then gets shot and collapses next to her.
More gunfire fills the church, and more people go down after being shot. It appears that some are trying to flee when they are shot, but it also appears that some are trying to fight back.
About a minute after it starts, the screen fades to black completely.
END MONTAGE
EXT CHURCH
The floodlights are still on, and the officer in charge is now stood near the front door.
OFFICER IN CHARGE
Did we get them?
GENERAL OFFICER
Yes.
OFFICER IN CHARGE
Burn it down.
A number of police officers go to a truck near the back, take out a lot of molotov cocktails, and throw them in to the church, then close the doors.
Within a few seconds, the entire building is blazing.
EXT FLAT #2
Caption : 11:30am
Sophia is dresed for work, and walking down the path to the
bus stop.
SOPHIA
(vo)
The police reported it as a necessary raid on a
meeting of the PPA that was being used to plan
a campaign of terror across the Tiala district.
When questioned about the necessity of shooting
unarmed children, they said that there was
evidence to prove that children as young as
five were going to be used to deliver bombs and
other devices to government buildings.
(sighs)
And the majority of the public accepted it.
Suddenly her pager starts beeping.
EXT PUBLIC STREET
Caption : DOM Protest March, 11:15am.
The march is proceeding peacefully. However, after a minute or so, someone in the crowd attacks one of the protestors.
The protestor responds, and the fight escalates.
EXT HOSPITAL
Caption : Queen Leonara Hospital, Serenity.
11:45am
Sophia arrives at the entrance to see various ambulances arriving and leaving.
She weaves her way inside, and goes to the reception desk.
SOPHIA
What the hell happened?
RECEPTIONIST
The DOM March turned nasty. There are reports
of a few dead, several dozen injured.
SOPHIA
What can I do?
RECEPTIONIST
Get changed. Do what you normally do.
INT CASUALITY DEPARTMENT
Caption : 12pm
Sophia comes back in to the department, now in scrubs and so forth. She looks up as the doors open and a man is wheeled in.
SOPHIA
Mike?
She rushes over to him.
MICHAEL
(feebly)
Hey.
SOPHIA
Ari?
Michael shakes his head, then coughts.
SOPHIA
You'll be okay.
MICHAEL
(pulls her head close to him)
Don't let them take me.
(looks at her beseechingly)
Please?
SOPHIA
(to the nurse pushing the trolley)
I'll take him to exam three.
Sophia pushes the trolley along the corridor, and goes in to an empty room. She looks around, then closes the door, and pulls the curtains shut.
SOPHIA
Are you sure?
MICHAEL
Yes.
SOPHIA
(leans over and kisses him softly)
Then I will see you later.
She reaches over to a cabinet, pulls out a small bottle. Then she picks up a syringe, fills it with the contents of the bottle, and, with a deep breath, injects the entire contents of the syringe in to Michael.
Almost at once he stops breathing. She reaches over to feel for a pulse, then, finding none, she drops the syringe and crushes it under her heel. Then she does the same with the bottle.
She sweeps them up, and tips them in to a disposal bin. Then she opens the door, walks out of the room, and closes it behind her.
She walks back to the main area, takes a last look around, then walks out of the hospital.
EXT FLAT #2
Caption : 12:30pm
Sophia walks out of her house, carrying a knapsack. She looks around, then walks down the path and along the street.
A few houses down, she turns in to an alley, then puts the knapsack down. She looks around, then pulls out a detonator.
EXT FLAT #2
The house explodes in huge ball of flame, destroying everything within it.
EXT ALLEY
Sophia picks up her knapsack, and walks away, as sirens start to fill the air.
EXT ARMY BASE #1
Caption : Longshorn Barracks, Serenity.
28th March, YOG, 1,300. 12am
It is a typical army base. Soldiers on guard, various parked vehicles and so forth.
Suddenly there are a series of explosions throughout the camp.
A moment later sirens split the air.
EXT ARMY BASE #2
Caption : Tripidia Barracks, Callash, Rayson District.
1am
The scene from before is repeated, as more explosions devestate the barracks.
INT HOSPITAL
Caption : Queen Leonara Hospital, 1:30am
Sophia is on the night shift, and is on duty in Casuality when the wounded from the Longshorn Barracks start coming in. She performs various triage activities, then goes to deal with one of the patients.
INT HOSPITAL BREAK ROOM
Caption : 4am.
There are a few medical staff (including LUCY CHASE) in the room when Sophia comes in to the room and collapses in a chair.
SOPHIA
Any idea what caused this?
LUCY
(stares at her carefully)
Are you still in touch with your friends?
SOPHIA
(confused)
Friends?
(understands)
No - not since the riot at Blackwall.
LUCY
This was another of their little schemes.
SOPHIA
No. They wouldn't...
LUCY
They hit a barracks in Callash as well.
SOPHIA
Oh my.
(sighs)
How many casualties?
LUCY
Thirty dead. Sixty injured. Both bases are
pretty much out of commission for the near
future.
(shakes her head)
What can they hope to achieve?
SOPHIA
I have no idea. I can't believe that...
(trails off as she realises Lucy is
watching her)
It just seems unlikely that the people I knew
would resort to...
LUCY
To terrorism?
(Sophia nods)
Maybe Queen Leonara was right about them.
EXT HOSPITAL
Caption : 8am
Sophia is leaving work, and walking down to the bus stop. As she waits for the bus, a number of police cars drive past (sirens going). A moment later a couple of ambulances follow them.
She looks down at her pager, but it is silent, so she shrugs and gets on the bus.
EXT PUBLIC STREET (present day)
Caption : 1pm
Sophia is walking down the street away from her now exploded flat. She barely looks up as three police cars and two ambulances shoot past her.
SOPHIA
(vo)
Ariana explained it later as a proportional
reactionn. I have heard the term countless
times before, and never really understood it.
She looks up and sees a few officers coming down the street towards where she is (but not towards her, if that makes sense). She turns down a side path, then cuts in to a park.
SOPHIA
(vo)
The massacre at the church had been the last
straw - if Queen Leonara was going to use the
army and the police to do her dirty work, then
the newly renamed Pallatium People's Army were
going to ensure the police and the army would
find it difficult to do.
She walks across the park, then sits down on a bench. She pulls out a copy of the paper, and then puts a lunch-box down next to her.
SOPHIA
(vo)
She didn't get in touch right away. I think
that she knew that, after she and her group
had killed thirty people, I would be even less
inclined to support their goals and their
activities.
(she pauses)
And she was right. I was furious with the idea
that the people I had worked with were now
common murderers and killers.
She continues to read the paper, and after a moment she a young couple sit down on the swings near the bench (FRANCINE DELANY and BRIANNA JONES).
SOPHIA
(vo)
Which only made it all the more worse when,
eventually, I became one too.
The couple from the swings walk over and ask if they can sit down. Sophia moves the lunch-box, and then goes back to reading her paper.
SOPHIA
(outloud)
You from the coast?
FRANCINE
We came in today. The weather seemed to be
nice enough for a day in the capital, so we
came to see an old friend from home.
SOPHIA
(turns to them and lowers her voice)
Ariana and Michael are dead. The safehouse is
gone.
ADA
(also quiet)
So we heard. Our friends are regrouping after
the march.
(Hands her a book)
Come tonight.
SOPHIA
(still quiet)
I will be there. Is this what I think it is?
FRANCINE
(quiet, with a smile)
The coming storm.
SOPHIA
(smiles sadly)
I will be there.
They talk for a little while longer, then Sophia gets up and walks away. She heads for the nearest bus stop, and boards the next bus that comes along.
EXT QUEEN'S PALACE
Caption : Queen's Palace, Serenity.
5th May, YOG 1,300. 9pm
Queen Leonara is meeting with her cabinet and a few senior officers from the police and military. Amongst them is Lucinda Doyle and Prias Narson, both looking older than before, and ALEXIS GRAYSON)
LEONARA
Prias - what do you have to say for yourself?
PRIAS
I have no apologies your majesty. We have been
attempting to hunt down the people behind
these bombings, but so far...
LEONARA
You've failed?
PRIAS
Yes, majesty.
LEONARA
It's not good enough. These people have to be
stopped before the collapse the country into
absolute anarchy.
LUCINDA
Majesty?
LEONARA
Yes, Lucy?
LUCINDA
So far all the bombings have been carried out
against military and police targets?
(there is silence as they wait for her to
continue)
And so far the public, or at least part of the
public, seems to have sympathy for this action,
because
(pauses, trying to figure out how to say what
she has to say)
because they feel that some of the police are
over-reacting to the situation.
LEONARA
So what do you suggest? We stop the police
from doing their job?
LUCINDA
No, your majesty. But if, in these trying times,
we were to allow the families of the military
to stay on the bases with them, and were to
employ some civilian liasons to the police to
work in the police stations.
Everyone contemplates this for a moment.
LEONARA
You believe that that will work?
LUCINDA
It's worth a try. If it does work, and the
attacks stop, then all well and good. But if
it does, they are going to be forced to kill
civilians as well as
(searches for a word)
as well as government forces.
More silence as they contemplate this as well.
LEONARA
Okay. Start it first thing tomorrow.
EXT QUEEN'S PALACE
Caption : 9:55pm
A lone figure is walking away from the palace. As we watch her go, we realise it is Alexis.
EXT HOUSE
Caption : 10:25pm
Alexis walks up to a non-descript house. She looks around, then knocks on the door.
A moment later it is opened by Ariana.
ALEXIS
We have problems.
Ariana nods, and they both go inside.
Caption : 26th February, YOG 1,305. 9:30am
Sophia, Ariana and Michael are stood at the front door. Michael and Ariana are dressed for going out, while Sophia is in her dressing gown.
SOPHIA
Take care. And try to avoid getting in to
any trouble.
MICHAEL
Yes mother.
SOPHIA
(smiles)
Just promise you won't go out of your way to
look for trouble.
ARIANA
We rarely have to look for trouble, sweetie. It
generally comes looking for us.
SOPHIA
That's what I am worried about.
(she looks around)
You should go.
ARIANA
(hugs her)
And you should go pack.
(sees the surprised look on Sophia's face)
I know you want us to believe everything is
going to go alright, but I think that you
should be ready to leave in a hurry.
(hugs her again)
Take care, little one.
SOPHIA
You too.
(hugs Michael as well)
Come back safe, d'ya hear?
Ariana and Michael walk down the path, then down the street. Sophia watches them go, then turns back in to the house and closes the door.
EXT TUSCON HOUSE
Caption : 31st March, YOG 1,299. 8:55am
A young woman rushes along the street, and up to the front door and knocks loudly.
INT TUSCON HOUSE
Sophia walks to the door and opens it.
SOPHIA
Ariana?
ARIANA
You have to turn on the news.
She pushes past Sophia and in to the living room, and turns the tv on. Sophia walks up behind her, and watches.
ANNOUNCER
That news once again - Queen Leonara has ordered
the arrest of a member of the judiciary on
charges of treason.
(a picture flashes up on the screen behind her)
Judge Henry Atkins was arrested late last night,
under the CRA. In an unprecedented move, The
Queen herself ordered the arrest, acting on
information she received from other members
of the judiciary.
Ariana mutes the tv and turns to Sophia.
SOPHIA
My mother always spoke highly of Judge Atkins.
From what she said, I find it hard to believe he
would be involved in treason against The Queen.
(notices Ariana is smiling)
He is guilty?
ARIANA
It depends on your point of view.
(Sophia continues to look confused)
Treason against The Queen is not the same
as treason against the country.
SOPHIA
Ari - I had a long night, and it's far too
early to be playing word games. What's going
on?
ARIANA
According to another judge, Atkins was about
to file a motion to bring Queen Leonara to trial
for various crimes under the laws of Pallatium.
(sees the look of surprise on Sophia's face)
He believes there was enough evidence to at
least bring her to trial, even if there wasn't
much chance of a conviction.
SOPHIA
And that's why he has been arrested?
(Ariana nods)
How many people are aware of this?
ARIANA
A few of the other members, but the arrest was
carried out so quickly and quietly that very
little information has leaked out about it.
SOPHIA
(sees the look on her friends face)
Why do I get the feeling the words "I have a
favour to ask" are about to ruin my morning?
ARIANA
Despite the arrests, the PPA hasn't shut down.
But we need more members, and your position in
the medical school would make you a perfect
person.
SOPHIA
That's why I can't join.
ARIANA
But...
SOPHIA
Do you know what has been going on in with
the hospitals in the past few years?
(Ariana shrugs)
The majority of hospitals now deal soley with
the native-born people in the country. And the
few doctors that still treat non-native people
are treated with the upmost suspicion, and
shunned by the rest of the profession.
(shakes her head)
But because The Queen doesn't want it to
become obvious that she is trying to drive out
everyone who wasn't born here, she is using
medical students to fill the gaps.
ARIANA
And you think if you join the PPA then...
SOPHIA
Yeah.
(she sighs)
I know you are doing a good job, and that things
are going badly wrong in the country, but at
the moment I think I can do more good by staying
out of it for the moment.
Ariana stares at her for a moment, then nods.
ARIANA
Okay. But, if it's okay, I will keep you
up to date with various things.
SOPHIA
Of course. And I will let you know if I hear
anything of interest.
ARIANA
For which I am grateful.
They turn back to the tv, and Ariana turns the volume back on.
ANNOUNCER
We are expecting a statement from Queen Leonara
in about half an hour, and from the Judiciary
in about an hour.
SOPHIA
What do you think she is going to say?
ARIANA
That Judge Atkins is cleary guilty, and,
despite the fact that he is one of the few
male judges in the country, he is to be
disbarred and and sent to jail.
SOPHIA
And the judicary?
ARIANA
If she does say that, then I think the judciary
are likely to agree. Or else they will follow
him.
EXT PALACE PLAZA
Caption : Palace Plaza. 1st April, YOG 1,299.
11am
The Plaza is cordened off. On one side is a group of people in formal dress (dark suits and so forth). On the other side is a group of journalists. On the third side is a line of soldiers, while the fourth side is empty.
After a few moments, four soldiers lead a fifth man out and stand him at the empty side of the Plaza. The four soldiers walk to the middle of the Plaza and turn to face the fifth man, who is wearing a blindfold and a gag.
Queen Leonara comes out of the Palace, and stands behind the journalists.
LEONARA
Today is a sad day for Pallatium.
(she looks over at the man stood at the end
of the square)
Since the age of The First Queen, the judiciary
has been charged with upholding the law, and
defending the rights of the good people
of Pallatium. And it comes as a great blow to
me personally, as well as to The Office Of
The Queen, that a member of the judiciary has
been convicted of treason.
(pauses)
Last night, in a specially conveined court,
Judge Henry Atkins was tried, and found guilty
of conspiring to unlawfully overthrow the
government of Pallatium, and of using his
position to unduly influence the outcome of
a number of trials, going a number of years.
(pauses again)
After Judge Atkins was convicted, I called the
senior Judges in to extra-ordinary session, to
discuss the ramifications of the conviction
of one of their own for one of the most
heinous crimes imaginable.
(holds up an official folder)
The result of the session was this - The
Defence Of The Realm Act. It gives the
judiciary a broad range of discreation for
dealing with crimes, and increases the
punishments and sentences for those crimes that
damange the integrity of our beloved country.
(puts the document down)
And so, it is with a heavy heart, that I must
announce that, after his conviction for treason,
conspiracy to commit terrorist actions and for
perverting the course of justice, Judge Henry
Atkins has been sentenced to death by firing
squad.
(there are a number of gasps of surprise
from around the Plaza)
This decision was not taken lightly. It was not
my wish to be remembered as The Queen who
introduced the death penalty to Pallatium.
(pauses, then her voice hardens)
But neither was it my wish to be remembered
as The Queen who let her country be over-run by
traitors and terrorists. I have never been
one to shrink from my duty, however unpleasent
it may be, and, in these times of civil unrest,
it necessary to use whatever means necessary
to ensure the safety of the good and decent
people of my country.
(looks over at the fifth man again)
This sentence will be carried out at once,
and will be carried out in public, as a warning
to those who would plot against the government,
and would plot against the people of our fair
and wonderful country.
She steps back from the podium, then turns to the four soldiers lined up in the square.
INT QUEEN DARA MEDICAL SCHOOL
Caption : Queen Dara Medical School, Serenity.
A number of medical students, including Sophia, are watching the events on tv. We can not see the screen, but we can hear the sounds.
LEONARA
(OS)
Ready.
Aim.
Fire.
There are a number of gunshots, during which some students turn away (Sophia is not one of these). When the sound of the gunshots cease, there are a few moments of silence. Then one of the students reaches over and turns off the tv.
They all stare at each other for a few more moments, then they all walk off, and get back to work.
INT TUSCON HOUSE
Caption : 1st April, YOG 1,299
Sophia is sat in her garden, reading. Ariana walks up the path, and sits down next to her.
SOPHIA
Ari?
ARIANA
Yes?
SOPHIA
Count me in.
INT FLAT #2
Caption : 26th February, YOG 1,305. 10:30am
Sophia is watching the news coverage of the DOM Protest March. It is a typical protest march, with banners, songs, palacards and chants. It is also being conducted in an entirely peaceful manner
SOPHIA
(vo)
At that point, the PPA was merely a national
group of activists, who held protests,
organized work stoppages, co-ordinated action
on a nation-wide bases and generally tried
to undermine support for Queen Leonara's
government as much as they could.
(smiles as she catches sight of Ariana and
Michael walking hand in hand along the route)
I started joining in the marches, but I drew
the line at taking parts in the strikes.
(pauses)
Doctors have a duty to save lives, and they
can't do that if they are halfway across the
city waving a banner round.
(pauses again)
For a year after the judicial murd... after
the execution of Judge Atkins, the PPA continued
their campaign of civil disobedience. Despite
facing arrest, and now possible execution,
for their activities, they believed in the
righteous nature of their cause, and they
gained new members every week.
(pauses, then sighs)
Unfortunately, their campaign of peaceful
protest was brought to an end, in a way that
no one could have predicted.
EXT HOSPITAL
Caption : Queen Leonara Hospital, Serenity.
15th March, YOG 1,300. 4:55pm.
INT HOSTPIAL WARD
It is a typical hospital ward. There is a red, LED type clock on the wall, and a number of beds with young patients in (it is clearly the pediactric ward)
Sophia is sat next to the bed of a five year old boy,
talking to him softly.
A sound of beeping splits the air, and she turns to
see the clock blinking on and off. She stands up, rushes to the doors and pushes them open.
We follow her down the corridor, and see various other doctors and nurses following her, to the accident and emergency unit, and then out to the front of the hospital.
They stand for a few moments, then a fleet of ambulances starts to arrive.
The next few minutes are chaotic, as patients are unloaded and taken in to the hospital. Sophia and another doctor (LYNN BARCH) stay to manage the process.
Once it has calmed down, Sophia turns to one of the paramedics.
SOPHIA
What the hell happened?
PARAMEDIC
(clearly angry)
Damn protestors.
SOPHIA
The PPA?
PARAMEDIC
(notices the pin on her lapel)
You might want to reconsider wearing that.
SOPHIA
Tell me what happened.
PARAMEDIC
They were demonstrating at the Blackwall.
SOPHIA
And?
PARAMEDIC
(sneers in disgust)
They were not getting the reaction they wanted,
so they went on a rampage. Overturning bins,
cracking benches.
(pauses)
Smashing windows.
SOPHIA
No - they wouldn't...
PARAMEDIC
And when some of the shop owners tried to stop
them, things got worse.
(looks around)
The police arrived, and rounded up the
ring-leaders, but a lot of them got away.
(gestures to the door)
Hopefully some of them are in there, paying
for what they did.
SOPHIA
(frostily)
If you will excuse me - I have to go.
(turns to go)
PARAMEDIC
(calling after her)
If you want my advice, you will lose that pin,
and reconsider who your friends are.
INT TUSCON HOUSE
Caption : 9:25pm
Sophia is reading a paper, with lots of pictures of the damage within the Blackwall center.
There is a knock at the front door, and she opens it to see Ariana stood there. Sophia holds the paper up in front of her visitor.
SOPHIA
Tell me it's not true.
ARIANA
Can I come in?
SOPHIA
Is it true?
ARIANA
(stares at her)
We didn't start the riot. I think Queen Leonara
had someone on the inside.
SOPHIA
One person couldn't have done all that.
ARIANA
It spiralled out of control.
SOPHIA
Do you know how I spent my afternoon?
ARIANA
Soph...
SOPHIA
I spent it operating on a four year old girl.
She had been pinned down by an over-turned
bench when a window shattered above her. She
is lucky not to have lost her sight, and it
is highly likely she will be scarred for life.
(Throws the paper down at Ariana's feet,
followed by the pin from her lapel)
Don't come here again.
ARIANA
You aren't going to...
SOPHIA
No, I won't turn you in. I know what the outcome
of that would be, and I won't be responsible
for someone's death.
(steps back and puts her hand on the door)
But don't come here again. I want nothing more
to do with you, or your group.
(slams the door, leaving Ariana staring in to
space)
EXT QUEEN'S PALACE
Caption : 16th March, YOG 1,300. 8:35am
Queen Leonara is giving another press conference.
LEONARA
For too long I have been patient, and have
been willing to put up with the criminal
actions carried out by the Pallatium
People's Association in the name of freedom
of expression.
(looks around)
However, with the growing number of dead and
injured after their violant rampage at the
Blackwall center, I am forced to act for
the good of the country.
(looks around again)
I am hereby listing the Pallatium People's
Association as a proscribed organiztion under
Section 44 of the CRA. Membership of the
organization is now forbidden by law.
(waits for the noise to die down)
The full text of the new act will be available
after this conference, but I want to send a
message to all those who would put their own
petty, selfish desires above the good of the
country - We will no longer tolerate your
behaviour, and we will no longer let you carry
out your acts of terror and violance.
EXT CHURCH
Caption : Holborn Church, Holborn, Tiala District.
25th March, TOG 1,300. 9:35pm
The church is lit up, as it is dark outside. In the small patches of light that eminate from the church, we can see a large number of armed police officers surrounding the building.
INT CHURCH
Around fifty people are gathered in the church, including around eight or nine children. It is obviously a meeting of some type (as opposed to a service) and most of the people are listening to the two women stood by the altar (CLARA BROWN and EMMY MASTERS).
EXT CHURCH
We are now by a police car, with the officer in charge. He looks around, then picks up the bullhorn.
INT CHURCH
OFFICER IN CHARGE
(OS/Over the bullhorn)
This is the police. You are all to come out with
your hands up.
There is general surprise amongst the people. But before anyone can react, the lights go out, then light comes in from massive floodlights outside the building, and the doors are thrown open by countless armed officers bursting in.
MONTAGE
The next few minutes are all done in flash-frames (so we get frozen images of what is going on, rather than a moving image of what is going on)
The police burst in.
There are screams and shouts of terror.
The police open fire.
We see Clara get shot and go down. Emmy then gets shot and collapses next to her.
More gunfire fills the church, and more people go down after being shot. It appears that some are trying to flee when they are shot, but it also appears that some are trying to fight back.
About a minute after it starts, the screen fades to black completely.
END MONTAGE
EXT CHURCH
The floodlights are still on, and the officer in charge is now stood near the front door.
OFFICER IN CHARGE
Did we get them?
GENERAL OFFICER
Yes.
OFFICER IN CHARGE
Burn it down.
A number of police officers go to a truck near the back, take out a lot of molotov cocktails, and throw them in to the church, then close the doors.
Within a few seconds, the entire building is blazing.
EXT FLAT #2
Caption : 11:30am
Sophia is dresed for work, and walking down the path to the
bus stop.
SOPHIA
(vo)
The police reported it as a necessary raid on a
meeting of the PPA that was being used to plan
a campaign of terror across the Tiala district.
When questioned about the necessity of shooting
unarmed children, they said that there was
evidence to prove that children as young as
five were going to be used to deliver bombs and
other devices to government buildings.
(sighs)
And the majority of the public accepted it.
Suddenly her pager starts beeping.
EXT PUBLIC STREET
Caption : DOM Protest March, 11:15am.
The march is proceeding peacefully. However, after a minute or so, someone in the crowd attacks one of the protestors.
The protestor responds, and the fight escalates.
EXT HOSPITAL
Caption : Queen Leonara Hospital, Serenity.
11:45am
Sophia arrives at the entrance to see various ambulances arriving and leaving.
She weaves her way inside, and goes to the reception desk.
SOPHIA
What the hell happened?
RECEPTIONIST
The DOM March turned nasty. There are reports
of a few dead, several dozen injured.
SOPHIA
What can I do?
RECEPTIONIST
Get changed. Do what you normally do.
INT CASUALITY DEPARTMENT
Caption : 12pm
Sophia comes back in to the department, now in scrubs and so forth. She looks up as the doors open and a man is wheeled in.
SOPHIA
Mike?
She rushes over to him.
MICHAEL
(feebly)
Hey.
SOPHIA
Ari?
Michael shakes his head, then coughts.
SOPHIA
You'll be okay.
MICHAEL
(pulls her head close to him)
Don't let them take me.
(looks at her beseechingly)
Please?
SOPHIA
(to the nurse pushing the trolley)
I'll take him to exam three.
Sophia pushes the trolley along the corridor, and goes in to an empty room. She looks around, then closes the door, and pulls the curtains shut.
SOPHIA
Are you sure?
MICHAEL
Yes.
SOPHIA
(leans over and kisses him softly)
Then I will see you later.
She reaches over to a cabinet, pulls out a small bottle. Then she picks up a syringe, fills it with the contents of the bottle, and, with a deep breath, injects the entire contents of the syringe in to Michael.
Almost at once he stops breathing. She reaches over to feel for a pulse, then, finding none, she drops the syringe and crushes it under her heel. Then she does the same with the bottle.
She sweeps them up, and tips them in to a disposal bin. Then she opens the door, walks out of the room, and closes it behind her.
She walks back to the main area, takes a last look around, then walks out of the hospital.
EXT FLAT #2
Caption : 12:30pm
Sophia walks out of her house, carrying a knapsack. She looks around, then walks down the path and along the street.
A few houses down, she turns in to an alley, then puts the knapsack down. She looks around, then pulls out a detonator.
EXT FLAT #2
The house explodes in huge ball of flame, destroying everything within it.
EXT ALLEY
Sophia picks up her knapsack, and walks away, as sirens start to fill the air.
EXT ARMY BASE #1
Caption : Longshorn Barracks, Serenity.
28th March, YOG, 1,300. 12am
It is a typical army base. Soldiers on guard, various parked vehicles and so forth.
Suddenly there are a series of explosions throughout the camp.
A moment later sirens split the air.
EXT ARMY BASE #2
Caption : Tripidia Barracks, Callash, Rayson District.
1am
The scene from before is repeated, as more explosions devestate the barracks.
INT HOSPITAL
Caption : Queen Leonara Hospital, 1:30am
Sophia is on the night shift, and is on duty in Casuality when the wounded from the Longshorn Barracks start coming in. She performs various triage activities, then goes to deal with one of the patients.
INT HOSPITAL BREAK ROOM
Caption : 4am.
There are a few medical staff (including LUCY CHASE) in the room when Sophia comes in to the room and collapses in a chair.
SOPHIA
Any idea what caused this?
LUCY
(stares at her carefully)
Are you still in touch with your friends?
SOPHIA
(confused)
Friends?
(understands)
No - not since the riot at Blackwall.
LUCY
This was another of their little schemes.
SOPHIA
No. They wouldn't...
LUCY
They hit a barracks in Callash as well.
SOPHIA
Oh my.
(sighs)
How many casualties?
LUCY
Thirty dead. Sixty injured. Both bases are
pretty much out of commission for the near
future.
(shakes her head)
What can they hope to achieve?
SOPHIA
I have no idea. I can't believe that...
(trails off as she realises Lucy is
watching her)
It just seems unlikely that the people I knew
would resort to...
LUCY
To terrorism?
(Sophia nods)
Maybe Queen Leonara was right about them.
EXT HOSPITAL
Caption : 8am
Sophia is leaving work, and walking down to the bus stop. As she waits for the bus, a number of police cars drive past (sirens going). A moment later a couple of ambulances follow them.
She looks down at her pager, but it is silent, so she shrugs and gets on the bus.
EXT PUBLIC STREET (present day)
Caption : 1pm
Sophia is walking down the street away from her now exploded flat. She barely looks up as three police cars and two ambulances shoot past her.
SOPHIA
(vo)
Ariana explained it later as a proportional
reactionn. I have heard the term countless
times before, and never really understood it.
She looks up and sees a few officers coming down the street towards where she is (but not towards her, if that makes sense). She turns down a side path, then cuts in to a park.
SOPHIA
(vo)
The massacre at the church had been the last
straw - if Queen Leonara was going to use the
army and the police to do her dirty work, then
the newly renamed Pallatium People's Army were
going to ensure the police and the army would
find it difficult to do.
She walks across the park, then sits down on a bench. She pulls out a copy of the paper, and then puts a lunch-box down next to her.
SOPHIA
(vo)
She didn't get in touch right away. I think
that she knew that, after she and her group
had killed thirty people, I would be even less
inclined to support their goals and their
activities.
(she pauses)
And she was right. I was furious with the idea
that the people I had worked with were now
common murderers and killers.
She continues to read the paper, and after a moment she a young couple sit down on the swings near the bench (FRANCINE DELANY and BRIANNA JONES).
SOPHIA
(vo)
Which only made it all the more worse when,
eventually, I became one too.
The couple from the swings walk over and ask if they can sit down. Sophia moves the lunch-box, and then goes back to reading her paper.
SOPHIA
(outloud)
You from the coast?
FRANCINE
We came in today. The weather seemed to be
nice enough for a day in the capital, so we
came to see an old friend from home.
SOPHIA
(turns to them and lowers her voice)
Ariana and Michael are dead. The safehouse is
gone.
ADA
(also quiet)
So we heard. Our friends are regrouping after
the march.
(Hands her a book)
Come tonight.
SOPHIA
(still quiet)
I will be there. Is this what I think it is?
FRANCINE
(quiet, with a smile)
The coming storm.
SOPHIA
(smiles sadly)
I will be there.
They talk for a little while longer, then Sophia gets up and walks away. She heads for the nearest bus stop, and boards the next bus that comes along.
EXT QUEEN'S PALACE
Caption : Queen's Palace, Serenity.
5th May, YOG 1,300. 9pm
Queen Leonara is meeting with her cabinet and a few senior officers from the police and military. Amongst them is Lucinda Doyle and Prias Narson, both looking older than before, and ALEXIS GRAYSON)
LEONARA
Prias - what do you have to say for yourself?
PRIAS
I have no apologies your majesty. We have been
attempting to hunt down the people behind
these bombings, but so far...
LEONARA
You've failed?
PRIAS
Yes, majesty.
LEONARA
It's not good enough. These people have to be
stopped before the collapse the country into
absolute anarchy.
LUCINDA
Majesty?
LEONARA
Yes, Lucy?
LUCINDA
So far all the bombings have been carried out
against military and police targets?
(there is silence as they wait for her to
continue)
And so far the public, or at least part of the
public, seems to have sympathy for this action,
because
(pauses, trying to figure out how to say what
she has to say)
because they feel that some of the police are
over-reacting to the situation.
LEONARA
So what do you suggest? We stop the police
from doing their job?
LUCINDA
No, your majesty. But if, in these trying times,
we were to allow the families of the military
to stay on the bases with them, and were to
employ some civilian liasons to the police to
work in the police stations.
Everyone contemplates this for a moment.
LEONARA
You believe that that will work?
LUCINDA
It's worth a try. If it does work, and the
attacks stop, then all well and good. But if
it does, they are going to be forced to kill
civilians as well as
(searches for a word)
as well as government forces.
More silence as they contemplate this as well.
LEONARA
Okay. Start it first thing tomorrow.
EXT QUEEN'S PALACE
Caption : 9:55pm
A lone figure is walking away from the palace. As we watch her go, we realise it is Alexis.
EXT HOUSE
Caption : 10:25pm
Alexis walks up to a non-descript house. She looks around, then knocks on the door.
A moment later it is opened by Ariana.
ALEXIS
We have problems.
Ariana nods, and they both go inside.
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