CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

Jacked In

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

For the degree of Master of Arts in Screenwriting

By

Joseph Jesus Murillo

May 2012 The thesis of Joseph Jesus Murillo is approved:

______

Jared Rappaport Date

______

Alexis Krasilovsky Date

______

Kenneth Portnoy, Ph.D. Chair Date

California State University, Northridge

ii Signature Page ii

Table of Contents iii

Abstract iv

Script v

iii ABSTRACT

Jacked In

By

Joseph Jesus Murillo

Master of Arts in Screenwriting

Jacked In is the story of Jason Wizord, a disconnected tech-junkie and competitor in the first International Virtual Games Tournament as he stumbles on a plan to knock off the competition and the rest of the world's population using the very devices he created to unite them.

iv FADE IN

“JACKED IN” blinks across the screen then flashes white.

CINDY KIM, a tall Asian woman in her early twenties reports from a small broadcasting room with holo-screens hovering behind her.

CINDY KIM Welcome everyone, I’m Cindy Kim and this is Jacked In.

The screen suddenly splits as a picture of MATTHEW QORTEX, 46, tall, slender and stern-looking appears beside Cindy Kim.

CINDY KIM (CONT’D) With the first international virtual game tournament set to start tomorrow. We should learn a about whose behind it all, Matthew Qortex.

The screen dissolves to reveal a picture of Qortex with ASTERA MAGIS, 53, an elegant-looking, dark-skinned woman on his arm.

CINDY KIM (CONT’D) Married briefly to Astera Magis, a philanthropist most notably known for her battle with Victis Disease, which swept the planet ten years ago.

The screen goes black.

CINDY KIM (CONT’D) Despite having helped hundreds battle the disease, she eventually became one of its victims six months before Qortex could complete the P.E.A. A device that would save millions.

The screen changes again, showing a large watch-sized touch screen computer strapped to a wrist. A small holo-screen hovers above it.

CINDY KIM (CONT’D) But from this tragedy Qortex sped up development of the P.E.A. Which constantly keeps our brain stimulated and connected man and machine on a new level with virtual reality.

Two white lights suddenly shine through the holo-screen. The lights sharpen to car head-lights as they pass through the screen sending digital pixels into the air.

The pixels stop and fly back together reforming the screen after the car passes.

EXT. TIMES SQUARE - NIGHT

NEW YORK CITY 2050 C.E.

Holographic billboards blink and flash over a speeding electromagnetic hover rail.

CORPORATE HEADS in clean minimalist style suits and YOUNG ADULTS layered with luminescent clothes and gadgets pass each other staring at mini- holoscreens hovering in front of them.

A Bugatti Veyron races down the street with electricity shooting from its tires.

A Koenigsegg Agrea bolts after it clipping a parked car.

The car flips over next to an OLD MAN with mechanical legs and laser burns on his face.

INT. KOENIGSEGG AGREA - CONTINUOUS

CHESTER KNOWLES, 23, wearing a racing helmet grips the leather steering wheel tightly as he takes the car around a corner.

SPEEDY, An LED display on the center dash lights up, “SPEEDY” scrolls across it.

Speedy (digital voice) Get behind him and ride his current, it’ll turbo charge the engine!

Chester I know! Don’t tell me how to drive.

SPEEDY (DIGITAL VOICE) Then stop driving like your grandma! Left turn two hundred yards.

Chester sees three enormous flashing arrows signaling a hard left.

CHESTER I have an idea, discharge when I say so!

(CONTINUED) 2 CONTINUED:

SPEEDY (DIGITAL VOICE) What are you planning, Chester?

He shifts gears and floors it.

The car catches up on the Veyron as they approach the curve.

CHESTER Hit it now!

EXT. AGREA - CONTINUOUS

Lightning shoots out from the tires of the Agrea as it rounds the corner on the inside at nearly invisible speed.

The Veyron clips the backside of the Agrea, making it smash into a classic year 2000 style diner scattering its ELDERLY PATRONS.

EXT. P.E.A. STATION, TIMES SQUARE - NIGHT

Beat up compact cars line the sidewalk which has sections being repaired. A mix of deteriorating and cutting edge buildings shine with ads and billboards for Qortex Inc. products.

Chester Knowles, wearing a black hoodie with illuminated thread stitching it together stands at an ATM looking device next to a hotel entrance.

“DISCONNECTED” flashes on a holo-screen floating over Speedy, his P.E.A.

Chester watches the screen change to “LOSER.”

SPEEDY (DIGITAL VOICE) That bastard cheated!

Newspapers and trash blow down the street behind Chester.

CHESTER Don’t worry about it, at least we lost in style.

SPEEDY (DIGITAL VOICE) Opponent has sent a message.

CHESTER What’s it say?

(CONTINUED) 3 CONTINUED:

SPEEDY (DIGITAL VOICE) Opening file.

Chester looks at the download bar filling on the screen.

CHESTER What file?

Speedy blinks erratically and starts to smoke.

CHESTER Speedy?

Electric bolts spark out of Speedy and Chester suddenly buckles under his own weight and convulses on the concrete.

FADE TO BLACK.

EXT. JASON’S APARTMENT BUILDING, LOS ANGELES - DAY

COLLEGE-AGED TENANTS walk out of the graffiti-stained building towards their cars or the hover-rail station.

INT. JASON’S WORK ROOM - DAY

Computers and circuit boards litter the room; computer designs, car concepts and gadget specs cover the walls.

JASON WIZORD, 25, drools on his work desk sleeping like a rock with headphones hanging off his head.

A framed picture hangs on the wall over his head: Jason and JESSE MAGIS, 26, beautiful in a white hospital gown, her dark hair stand out as they kiss in a recovery room.

A P.E.A. on Jason’s left wrist blinks on as “ARTEMIS” scrolls across the screen.

ARTEMIS (digital voice) Crap! We’re late! Wake up, Jason!

Jason’s bloodshot eyes struggle to open as he rubs his dark brown hair.

JASON What, Artemis?

(CONTINUED) 4 CONTINUED:

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) You slept in! It’s 9:15!

Jason’s eyes widen as he falls out of his chair.

JASON You were supposed to wake me up!

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) What do I look like, your assistant? Frank’s calling again.

Jason tosses the headphones on the ground.

JASON No time.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) You haven’t talked to anyone in weeks.

Jason runs to the bathroom, tossing Artemis on the bed.

EXT. LOS ANGELES COLISEUM - DAY

Thousands of people flood through the original archway entrance to the coliseum. The walls begin to rise as they extend away from the archways to a staggering 500 feet.

Four towers with holo-projectors encasing the tops stick out of the remodelled stadium.

EXT. COLISEUM ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS

Jason pushes through the crowds of people towards the registration area. He looks up at the Olympic rings over the archway.

INT. SPORTS ARENA - CONTINUOUS

The ROAR OF THE CROWD RESOUNDS in the coliseum as FANS take escalators to the seats at the top of the stadium walls.

USHERS in gold and black uniforms check tickets with their P.E.A.’s and form a line to an elevator that goes down 60 feet to another seating area.

5 INT. PLAYING FIELD- CONTINUOUS

Jason steps out onto the football field size arena with simulator style P.E.A. stations lining the wall.

He looks up at the 200,000 people who pack into the 560 foot tall arena.

QORTEX (LOUDSPEAKER) Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the first ever Virtual Games Tournament!

JASON You ready for this, Artemis?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I was designed ready.

HARLEY NEWECH, 23, a petite woman with bright green eyes and even brighter red hair walks up behind Jason.

Harley There you are, It’s been forever.

Jason walks away not acknowledging he heard her.

QORTEX (LOUDSPEAKER) Six years ago I created the Personal Electronic Assistant, but if it weren’t for gamers it would have never become the phenomenon that it is today.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Give up on him already, he only has eyes for Artemis.

Harley looks down at BLAKE, the P.E.A. secured to her wrist.

HARLEY I’m going to switch you off.

QORTEX (LOUDSPEAKER) Five years have past since the P.E.A.’s went global and connected us in a way never imagined.

Harley walks over to her P.E.A. station.

(CONTINUED) 6 CONTINUED:

QORTEX (LOUDSPEAKER) Today’s two stage tournament will usher in an age of international gaming the world has yet to experience.

An enormous holo-screens show crowds gathering around Meenakshi Temple, Matsumoto Castle, the Louvre and the Forbidden City.

Jason turns back to the computer screen.

QORTEX (O.S.) Today, ten thousand of the worlds top gamers will compete in the first of three tournaments with a grand prize of a hundred million in credit.

Jason looks up at the holo-projectors as they light up.

A virtual transparent office building constructs itself in the center of the field.

JASON One hell of a way to celebrate your birthday, right?

He looks back down at the computer screen to see a weapons and body armor load out screen and makes his selections.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Can’t think of a better way.

An M-36 assault rifle with an ACOG scope materializes on his back followed by the rest of his ordered equipment.

Jason taps Artemis’ screen and a health meter appears on it.

He sprints towards the virtual building’s entrance.

INT. FRANK’S POLICE CRUISER - DAY

A picture of Jesse, Jason and FRANK MAGIS, 55, tall but slouches wearing a leathery-metallic like trench coat is stuck to the visor above Frank’s head as he scans the street for a parking spot.

7 EXT. NEW YORK HOSPITAL - DAY

A police cruiser pulls up in front of the aging hospital. Cracked sidewalks and chunks of the building lay on the ground.

Frank pulls the collar up on his worn out trench coat revealing a blue and red Detective’s Crest as he gets out of the cruiser.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Jason still isn’t answering, Frank.

He walks up to the entrance and pulls his sleeve up to scan WATTS, his P.E.A. to open the door.

FRANK The tournament probably started.

The doors open and Frank goes in.

INT. I.C.U. LOBBY - CONTINUOUS

Frank walks past delirious and screaming PATIENTS and their distraught RELATIVES sitting around the waiting room as NURSES wearing gloves and masks take names and notes.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) What are we doing here?

FRANK (to Watts) Another gamer was found seizing in the middle of Times Square.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Frank, the Chief didn’t want you working anything involving P.E.A.

Frank walks down a sterilized white hallway looking around at the exam rooms.

FRANK Do you want to know what’s different from the others?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Damn it, Frank.

(CONTINUED) 8 CONTINUED:

FRANK He hasn’t woken up yet.

He walks over to the elevators.

INT. PATIENT ROOM 315 - LATER

Chester Knowles lies unconscious. Breathing tubes and monitors keep him alive.

Frank looks down at him as DR. AMIR HOBEN, fifties, wearing a white coat with a matching beard syncs the patient file with Watts.

FRANK Was he unconscious when he came in?

DR. HOBEN Not exactly.

FRANK What do you mean?

DR. HOBEN He was having seizures for nearly half an hour when he was brought in.

FRANK (to Watts) Worse than the others.

Frank looks at Dr. Hall for a moment.

FRANK Is he going to wake?

DR. HOBEN I can’t say for sure.

Frank heads for the door.

FRANK Can you tell me anything useful? His name?

DR. HOBEN Chester Knowles.

(CONTINUED) 9 CONTINUED:

FRANK Let me know if he wakes. Watts, get me the fastest way to Qortex, Inc.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) I can’t, Frank.

Frank walks out the door.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Frank looks down at Watts as he passes by doctors and patients on hover-gurneys.

WATTS You know you’re not supposed go near Qortex.

FRANK Watts, he has information I need.

WATTS Chief Kline will have me re-programmed.

Frank passes the elevators and heads for the stairwell.

FRANK I’m going either way.

WATTS Promise not to punch him this time.

FRANK Just give me the directions.

Frank disappears into the stairwell.

INT. VIRTUAL OFFICE BUILDING, 2ND FLOOR - LATER

Jason sticks his head out of the stairwell and quickly looks down the bullet-ridden hallway.

He slowly steps out as EXPLOSIONS FROM OUTSIDE rock the building. Jason looks down at Artemis.

JASON Can I get a bird’s eye view?

(CONTINUED) 10 CONTINUED:

A small radar shows up on Artemis with three dots blinking on it.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) You have two coming up the stairwell, one is on the second door to your left.

Jason pulls a claymore from his pack and sets it at the top of the stairwell and hides in the room next to the stairs.

INT. EMPTY ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Jason quietly closes the door behind him and moves away from the wall next to the stairs.

BOOM!! The wall across from him crumbles as the TWO SOLDIERS fall down the stairwell along with debris.

JASON Two more down. How long until the rounds over?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Thirty seconds.

Jason puts his ear against the wall to the next room and listens to a GUN BEING RELOADED.

He pulls a grenade from his belt and pulls the pin, Jason smashes the butt of his rifle through the wall and quickly throws the grenade through the hole.

Jason jumps away from the wall as it BLOWS OUT sending debris everywhere.

ANNOUNCER Round over!

The office building and Jason’s equipment suddenly dematerialize.

EXT. LOS ANGELES COLISEUM - DAY

Jason and a hundred others are left standing on the play field as fans around the coliseum CHEER WILDLY.

The competitors make their way to their P.E.A. Stations.

TRISTAN (O.S.) No way you did better than me this time.

(CONTINUED) 11 CONTINUED:

TRISTAN CARLON, 21, stocky with dreadlocks pulls up beside Jason in an all- terrain, P.E.A integrated, 4x4 wheelchair

TRISTAN Where have you been?

JASON Sorry I vanished.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) We’re use to it.

Tristan looks down at his arm rest with HYJINX written over a LED screen and switches it off.

TRISTAN Don’t worry, we’re good.

JASON Have you seen Chester and Speedy?

TRISTAN He was a no show this morning.

ANNOUNCER (O.S.) And the round leaders are in order Jason Wizord, Ami Takani, Tristan Wright, Harley Newech and Lance Oberman.

A holo-screen appears above the field displaying profile pictures of Jason, Harley, Tristan, AMI TAKANI, 18, cheery looking with light blue hair and LANCE OBERMAN, 19, wearing a cocky smile and a gold ear stud.

TRISTAN Son of a...

Harley runs up and hugs Jason.

HARLEY We did it!

Jason awkwardly stiffens ups.

JASON Harley, please.

(CONTINUED) 12 CONTINUED: (2)

HARLEY What? I haven’t seen you in weeks.

STATIC deafens everyone in the coliseum, it suddenly cuts out.

EXT. HOLO-SCREEN IN CENTER OF COLISEUM - CONTINUOUS

MR. GLITCH, late twenties, reminiscent of a hippie with long dirty brown hair replaces the announcer on all the screens.

MR. GLITCH Attention brainwashed slaves of the world, I am the head of the Humanity Restoration League.

The Coliseum goes quiet as everyone focuses on the screens.

MR. GLITCH This is a warning to all those lost in a world of technology. For too long you’ve been blinded by the virtual not noticing the world around you fall into decay. Unplug now before you’re erased along with this false reality.

The video screens go black.

EXT. LOS ANGELES COLISEUM - DAY

Jason looks down at Artemis.

JASON Wonder if it’s some prank?

Ami walks past Jason.

AMI Terrorists or not, I’m not going to lose.

Ami’s P.E.A, SPRITE lights up on her arm.

SPRITE (DIGITAL VOICE) That’s right, those credits are as good as ours.

JASON You don’t think they’ll continue?

(CONTINUED) 13 CONTINUED:

ANNOUNCER (O.S.) Sorry about that everyone, please stay calm and we will begin the final event shortly.

HARLEY I guess that answers that.

Harley heads over to her station as a digital hot wheels inspired race track constructs itself in and around the coliseum.

EXT. JASON’S P.E.A STATION - CONTINUOUS

Jason takes a seat in the simulator part of the station. He detaches Artemis from his arm and connects it to the simulator.

Three first-person virtual displays appear in front of Jason.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Sync complete. Waiting on other players.

EXT. VIRTUAL RACE TRACK - CONTINUOUS

Formula One race cars materialize at the starting line along with a starting light.

The race cars REV THEIR ENGINES, DROWNING OUT THE CROWD.

The starting light turns green and the cars peel from the starting line throwing smoke into air.

EXT. QORTEX TECHNOLOGY INC., NEW YORK - DAY

Frank’s patrol car slows in front of a sixty-story color-changing solar panel and Plexiglas skyscraper and pulls into the entrance of an underground parking structure.

INT. QORTEX LOBBY - AN HOUR LATER

Frank reads through a Qortex Inc. brochure. A holo-screen displaying Cindy Kim standing in front of the L.A. Coliseum.

CINDY KIM Authorities are still unsure of the video transmission’s source but are taking it as a genuine terrorist threat. (CONTINUED) 14 CONTINUED:

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) What do you think, Frank?

Frank looks up at the SECRETARY, early twenties, blonde and filing her nails while watching T.V.

FRANK We’ve known for some time there are people that resent P.E.A.’s especially since all transactions and communications are handled by the devices exclusively.

Qortex walks into the lobby staring at four holo-screens floating in front of him.

LIAM HAVEL, 37, has a foot in height and width on Frank as he stalks behind Qortex with his fists clenched.

QORTEX I don’t care what you have to do, Liam. Find out how they hacked our system before I find a new head of security.

Qortex walks up to his office doors which open automatically.

QORTEX This way, Frank.

Qortex walks into his office as Frank catches up to them.

INT. QORTEX’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Qortex quickly crosses the dark office, Liam stands by Qortex’s desk as Frank follows Qortex.

QORTEX Sal, lights please.

The lights turn on along with a wall of holo-screens over a black glass table.

FRANK This won’t take long.

Qortex gestures to the chair in front of his desk.

(CONTINUED) 15 CONTINUED:

QORTEX Sal, close screens.

Qortex takes a seat.

Frank glances at a photo of Qortex with Astera on the desk.

QORTEX Frank?

Qortex looks at the picture of Astera and him.

QORTEX We’re not going to have another incident are we, Frank?

Frank looks up at Qortex staring at him.

FRANK Tell me about the P.E.A.’s Bio-link with its user.

QORTEX What do you want to know?

FRANK Mainly, is it possible to transmit a virus through the P.E.A. to the user?

Qortex intertwines his fingers as he leans back in his chair.

QORTEX Absolutely not.

FRANK How can you be sure?

QORTEX The personality A.I.’s are ever evolving firewalls learning to protect themselves.

FRANK Right... I have multiple cases where P.E.A.’s have malfunctioned and their users went into seizures. What could cause that?

QORTEX If they hacked the device it could have shorted because of re-wiring. (CONTINUED) 16 CONTINUED: (2)

Frank nods his head thinking on the idea.

QORTEX Is there anything else?

FRANK Could you have your technicians look at the P.E.A.’s Involved?

QORTEX Anything for the police.

SAL (DIGITAL VOICE) Pardon me, Sir. But it’s 17:30.

Qortex looks down at Sal, the extra large P.E.A. on his arm with SALVATION etched into it.

A drawer on Qortex’s desk opens with pill bottles and a bolt pistol inside.

QORTEX Thank you Sal. If that’s all?

FRANK Yeah.

Frank heads for the door.

QORTEX Make an appointment next time.

FRANK Right.

He walks out and closes the door behind him.

EXT. P.E.A. POD ARCADE, LOS ANGELES - NIGHT

Rain drips off a green P.E.A. POD ARCADE sign resting in a green pod shaped hammock on a three-story building.

A GROUP OF PROTESTERS with unkempt looks and grungy clothes stand at the arcade entrance holding signs reading “Reconnect HUMANity,” and “Disconnect from tech.”

17 INT. FIRST FLOOR, P.E.A. POD ARCADE - NIGHT

Late 20th and early 21st century arcade racing games line the walls while simulator games take up the majority of the floor.

Holographic race cars leaving light-trails do laps around the ceiling lighting the room.

Jason steps out of a red dirt track simulator placing Artemis back on his arm; the straps adjust on their own.

JASON I’m done!

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) One more race.

Ami steps out of a blue simulator next to Jason’s.

AMI Yeah, don’t tell me Artemis has more guts than you.

JASON You’re just pissed I beat you again.

Tristan sticks his head out of a simulator as Harley steps out of another.

TRISTAN Thanks for coming this time!

Jason heads for the door.

HARLEY I’m tired, too. Catch ya later.

Harley grabs her things and waves bye.

AMI Tired my butt, maybe tired of waiting for Wizord.

Ami climbs back into the simulator.

TRISTAN Now there’s no challenge.

AMI Really? If I win, you give me a lift home.

(CONTINUED) 18 CONTINUED:

TRISTAN I knew you liked convertibles.

The two simulators rise off the ground and start to tilt and adjust.

EXT. STREET - NIGHT

Jason and Harley walk down the wet sidewalk as cars blow mist around.

Harley looks up at the mist blowing across the clearing night sky.

She looks at Jason who is focused on Artemis and moves closer to him. She reaches out for his hand.

JASON Stop, Harley.

HARLEY You can’t keep hiding behind Artemis, Jason.

Jason moves further from Harley.

JASON Let’s not do this again.

HARLEY I know losing Jesse was hard but you have to move...

JASON Don’t. Don’t go there, I’m sorry I can’t return your feelings but it’s not fair for you to bring that up every time.

Jason starts walking away.

HARLEY Jason, wait.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) New Message from unknown sender.

Harley chases after Jason.

(CONTINUED) 19 CONTINUED:

JASON Open.

Artemis projects Mr. Glitch wearing all black in front of Jason and Harley.

Mr. Glitch Congratulations, Mr. Wizord, on your earlier victory. I wanted to challenge you to a game.

JASON No, thanks.

MR. GLITCH What if I said I would call off my plans if you were to beat me?

HARLEY Jason, don’t.

JASON Agreed.

Artemis and Blake both light up, Artemis scans the area and constructs a virtual alley.

EXT. VIRTUAL ALLEY - CONTINUOUS

Jason stands opposite Glitch. Rain suddenly falls on the two fighters as alley cats weave through trash cans.

JASON One round.

Mr. Glitch Agreed.

Virtual knuckle gloves appear on Jason’s fist as he charges Glitch.

The two throw their hardest punch at one another.

Their fists collide making a shock wave that blows the rain away from the two.

Glitch leaps into the air and comes back down driving his fist into the ground.

Trash cans soar through the air; concrete and asphalt spires race towards Jason.

JASON Steel gloves.

(CONTINUED) 20 CONTINUED:

Jason’s gloves turn a metallic silver with spikes on them as he punches the spires coming at him.

The metal spikes shatter off of his gloves and the spires pelt Jason with incredible force sending him into the brick wall.

MR. GLITCH You lose.

HARLEY (O.S.) Ah!!

Jason looks around for Harley, the alley and Mr. Glitch suddenly start to flicker then disappear.

EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS

Jason leans against a parked car and looks around the pitch black street and sees Harley cradling her arm as smoke rises from Blake.

JASON Harley!

He kneels by her.

JASON What happened?

HARLEY She just shorted out.

Harley moves her hand to reveal small burn marks on her skin around Blake.

JASON Come on, I have a first aid kit at home.

Harley gets to her feet followed by Jason.

INT. FRANK MAGIS’ BEDROOM - NIGHT

Watts suddenly lights up under the sheets and the desk lamp on the side table turns on reflecting off a picture of Frank, Jesse and Jason.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Frank, wake up. Urgent news.

(CONTINUED) 21 CONTINUED:

Frank rolls over rubbing his eyes.

FRANK What time is it?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) At eleven forty-six Pacific Time the Humboldt Thermal Nuclear Plant in northern California overloaded.

Frank immediately sits up.

FRANK News.

A holo-screen with Cindy Kim reporting appears in front of Frank.

CINDY KIM An electromagnetic pulse was emitted from the power plant due to the explosion.

Frank gets out of bed and walks over to his closet.

CINDY KIM A three hundred mile radius around the plant has been evacuated due to quickly rising radiation levels.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Message from Headquarters. All officers report to stations immediately.

CINDY KIM Every state west of the Rockies is without power.

A map of the West Coast appears on the screen showing the evacuated area increasing in size.

EXT. NEW YORK POLICE STATION - DAY

Squad cars rest in front of the worn down brick building, taxis go by on the wet street.

22 INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Frank walks past UNIFORMED OFFICERS reading instructions off of a holo- screen in the lobby.

DETECTIVES walk back and forth between desks and offices as Frank heads for the chief’s office.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Orders are coming in now, Frank. We’re to do a complete back-up of all case files and update any current cases before day’s out.

FRANK You get to work on that.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) I do that on a daily basis.

Frank smiles as he heads over to an office with “Evidence” written on it.

INT. EVIDENCE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Frank leans against the counter glancing at the signs on the wall, “All items must be checked in and out,” “Authorized personnel only in evidence room.”

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Why do you want the P.E.A.’s from the other victims?

FRANK With everything going on now, it’ll be faster if I take the P.E.A.’s myself.

OFFICER ORTEGA, thirties, short and stocky with a balding top walks up to the other side of the counter with an evidence box.

OFFICER ORTEGA This is supposed to be taken over to Qortex’s tomorrow.

FRANK I know, but with everything that’s happening...

(CONTINUED) 23 CONTINUED:

The door behind Frank opens and CHIEF KLINE, 42, tall with broad shoulders walks in and nods to Ortega.

CHIEF KLINE Ortega. Frank, can I have a word with you??

FRANK Of course.

Ortega steps back into the Evidence vault as Frank picks up the evidence box.

CHIEF KLINE. Have you heard from Jason recently?

FRANK It’s been a few weeks again.

CHIEF KLINE. You should call him.

FRANK It’s fine, he’s been preparing for this video game tournament. I’ve had Watts keeping tabs on Artemis.

CHIEF KLINE Speaking of the tournament, I just learned the next round of this thing is in Central Park. The Mayor wants someone to work with Qortex Security on this.

Frank sets the box back down and glares at Kline.

FRANK I thought I was too close.

CHIEF KLINE. With this terrorist threat I need the most qualified person working with them.

Frank grabs the box and heads for the door.

CHIEF KLINE. Meet with Qortex security tomorrow morning.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Case files being downloaded.

(CONTINUED) 24 CONTINUED: (2)

Frank slams the door as he leaves.

EXT. NEW YORK POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS

Frank walks out of the police station pulling up the collar on his coat with a smile on his face.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Why are you smiling?

FRANK I’m back on the case.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) You were never off it.

Ext. JASON APARTMENT - NIGHT

A heavy mist coats the street as Jason and Harley run up to a four story concrete building.

INT. JASON WIZORD’S APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Two ceiling lights turn on above a metal door as it opens, Jason and Harley shake water out of their hair.

JASON I’ll grab my first aid kit.

HARLEY Sure thing, I can’t believe I’ve known you four years and never been to your place.

Jason heads around the corner leaving Harley alone looking at the sparse apartment.

She notices a framed mug shot of Jason and a newspaper article with the headline “Youth hijacks Times Square for virtual tribute concert.”

HARLEY You threw the Times Square concert?

JASON (O.S.) Say again.

Harley notices Jason’s bedroom door open and walks over to it.

(CONTINUED) 25 CONTINUED:

HARLEY (louder) I was in Times Square for this concert.

Harley looks in to find a messy queen sized bed and a photo of Jason and Jesse on a bed stand.

JASON (O.C.) They wanted to lock me up forever because of that.

Harley jumps at Jason’s sudden appearance with the first aid kit.

HARLEY Holy crap, you scared me.

Jason closes his bedroom door.

HARLEY (CONT’D) Why didn’t they?

JASON Good publicity.

He leads her away from the bedroom.

HARLEY Jesse was beautiful.

JASON Do you mind if I run diagnostics on Blake?

HARLEY Sure, who knows what’s damaged.

JASON I want to know how Blake was hacked.

Jason opens the door at the other end of the apartment.

EXT. NEW YORK HOSPITAL - DAY

The sun fights to shine through the dark clouds above the hospital as ambulances peel away turning their SIRENS ON.

26 INT. 3RD FLOOR NURSES STATION - DAY

Frank paces back and forth at the nurse’s station as Dr. Hoben walks up.

FRANK Thank you for taking the time to see me.

DR. HOBEN It’s no problem, I’ve been meaning to call you.

FRANK What for?

Dr. Hoben motions for Frank to follow him.

DR. HOBEN Mr. Knowles woke early this morning.

FRANK That’s good news, I was actually here to pick up his P.E.A.

DR. HOBEN It’s still not functioning and to be honest, neither is Mr. Knowles.

They stop outside of room 315 and Dr. Hoben opens the door quietly.

DR. HOBEN (CONT’D) Chester’s basic functions are working but nothing complex. It’s like he had a massive stroke.

Frank looks in and sees Chester sitting in a chair staring at the leftover rain racing down his window.

FRANK Is it permanent?

DR. HOBEN We took a scan and found that there is major damage to the Thalamus and the Pons. It’s inoperable.

FRANK Do you have his P.E.A. still?

(CONTINUED) 27 CONTINUED:

Dr. Hoben transfers the scan to Frank when his P.E.A flashes.

DR. HOBEN Yes, let me have a nurse get it for you. There’s an emergency I need to attend to.

Frank pulls up Chester’s brain scan that shows the Thalamus and Pons blacked out compared to the rest of it.

INT. PATIENT ROOM 315 - CONTINUOUS

Frank walks up to Chester and stands in front of him.

FRANK Mr. Knowles, I’m Detective Magis.

Chester stares at the window.

FRANK Mr. Knowles?

Frank looks down and notices his wrist bandaged where his P.E.A. would be on his arm.

An ELDERLY NURSE walks in the room.

NURSE Detective, Mr. Knowles P.E.A..

FRANK Is there a burn on his arm?

NURSE Yes, second degree burn.

WATTS The other’s didn’t have burns.

He walks over to the and takes the P.E.A.

INT. JASON WIZORD’S WORK ROOM - DAY

Holo-screens light the room as Jason and Harley with a bandaged arm look over the read-out. Blake rests on the table with her control panel removed.

(CONTINUED) 28 CONTINUED:

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) It’s like nothing happened, no signs of a hacker. She just turned off her firewall.

HARLEY That doesn’t make sense.

JASON What about the Bio-link?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I can’t scan it without the protective cover being removed.

Jason turns around and grabs a few tools from the table behind him.

JASON Well, let’s get that off then.

HARLEY I don’t think just anyone is supposed to do that. They have certified technicians for that.

He leans over Blake and unscrews a metal plate.

JASON I’m not just anyone.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) We’re the most qualified tech’s around.

Jason removes the plate revealing a complex weave of lasers and mirrors.

HARLEY Wow, I’ve never seen the link before.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Scanning now.

Jason looks closely at the mirror’s edges, they’re charred.

HARLEY How do you know what to do?

JASON I designed it.

(CONTINUED) 29 CONTINUED: (2)

HARLEY I thought Qortex designed it.

JASON He designed the P.E.A. the device itself but I designed the A.I. Interface and Bio-link.

New schematics show up on the holo-screen.

HARLEY Why aren’t you a billionaire then?

JASON I gave my share to Jesse’s mother.

HARLEY Why? You could’ve been set for life.

Jason looks at the schematics carefully.

JASON The Bio-link’s safeguards are compromised.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) It looks like the shield was over loaded.

HARLEY I thought that was impossible.

JASON It’s supposed to be, whoever did this may be able to get past the shield altogether.

Artemis suddenly lights up.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Message from Qortex Inc. The next stage of the tournament will be held in New York.

Jason rolls his chair over to a drawer and pulls out a tray of mirrors.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) (CONT’D) Passes for the Trans-continental Hover Rail have been downloaded. The train departs tomorrow morning from the Huntington Park Station.

(CONTINUED) 30 CONTINUED: (3)

JASON Talk about short notice, I’ll have her fixed up in a bit.

Harley smiles at Jason as he gets to work grabbing a pair of tweezers.

HARLEY At least we can all go together.

She goes to hug him but stops just before touching him.

Harley walks away from Jason who works on Blake.

EXT. MATTHEW QORTEX OFFICE - DAY

KNOCK, KNOCK. Matthew Qortex’s office door opens as Frank sticks his head in interrupting Qortex and Liam.

QORTEX Frank, I don’t remember you having an appointment.

Frank comes in carrying the evidence box in his arm.

FRANK I’m the police liaison that will work with your security.

QORTEX Wonderful. Liam will catch you up.

LIAM I’ll get you a security badge and map of off-limit areas. What’s in the box?

FRANK These are the P.E.A.’s involved in the case I was asking you about.

Frank opens the box as he hands it to Liam.

QORTEX Right, Liam take them down to the lab. How many are there?

(CONTINUED) 31 CONTINUED:

FRANK Just two.

LIAM I’ll drop them off as I head out to pick up the tournament contestants. Shall we?

Liam motions to the office door.

EXT. OBAMA TRANSCONTINENTAL RAIL STATION, NEW YORK - DAY

Hover trains smoothly come to a stop outside a large marble and neon station. PASSENGERS from all over the country crowd the platform.

EXT. TERMINAL 4 ENTRANCE - CONTINUOUS

Cars fight for spots in front of the terminal doors as tour buses and taxis weave through without caution.

Frank’s police cruiser drives up with its lights flashing leading a large black transport van.

They pull in front of the fire lane.

INT. TERMINAL 4 - DAY

A holographic cartoon train guides passengers out of the terminal into the lobby, dozens stand around waiting for expected family or friends.

CARTOON TRAIN Thank you for riding with us today, enjoy your stay in New York.

Jason walks out of the terminal with a backpack on followed by Harley, Ami, Tristan and Lance looking at Midas, his gold-plated P.E.A.

HARLEY Jason, slow down for a second.

Harley stops for a moment to readjust her bag’s strap.

LANCE Let me help.

(CONTINUED) 32 CONTINUED:

Lance helps Harley adjust her bag.

HARLEY Thanks, Lance.

LANCE Any time.

Jason looks over to a souvenir stand and notices SEBASTIAN, scruffy and in a black-hooded robe watching the group closely.

HARLEY (O.S.) Are you okay?

Jason turns around to Harley staring at him.

JASON Yeah, sorry.

Jason looks back to the souvenir stand but the hooded man is gone.

LIAM (O.S.) Mr. Oberman!? Ms. Takani?

The group stops and turns to see Liam and a group of men heading their way.

LANCE You’re our ride, I’m guessing? What took you so long?

AMI Can it, Lance.

LIAM Stay together and follow me this way.

Liam heads for the exit and Jason sees Frank looking around the area.

HARLEY Jason? What’s wrong?

Jason walks towards him with Harley in tow.

JASON Frank?

(CONTINUED) 33 CONTINUED: (2)

Frank turns and sees Jason walking towards him.

FRANK At least I know you’re alive.

JASON I didn’t mean to ignore you.

Harley steps forward into Jason’s view.

JASON Oh, this is Harley Newmech.

Harley shakes Frank’s hand.

Jason notices the robed man suddenly walking past them amongst the crowd.

FRANK Pleasure.

LIAM (O.S.) Let’s go, you three!

Frank sees Liam leading the others away.

JASON Look out!

Jason bolts past Frank at the robed man who’s now running at the group with his P.E.A. blinking like a timer.

SEBASTIAN Long live the H.R.L.!

Liam runs to the group and everyone in the lobby scatters.

Frank draws his Bolt Pistol and shoots Sebastian in the back, stunning him.

Jason tackles him and grabs the P.E.A.

Jason strips the P.E.A. from Sebastian and dismantles it as fast as possible.

SEBASTIAN Get off me!

Liam walks up and pins him as Jason gets up.

(CONTINUED) 34 CONTINUED: (3)

LIAM Nice job.

Frank walks up holstering his weapon, Harley runs up as Jason checks Artemis.

HARLEY You alright?

JASON Yeah.

Frank notices the bandage on Harley.

FRANK What happened to your arm?

HARLEY My P.E.A. shorted out and burned me.

JASON You’ve seen this before?

FRANK Does Chester Knowles sound familiar?

JASON He’s a friend.

Frank looks at Liam and his men restraining Sebastian.

LIAM Let’s get them out of here, Detective!

FRANK We’ll talk later.

Jason and Harley nod.

The three of them head towards the group that is quickly exiting the train station.

HARLEY How do you know him?

JASON He’s Jesse’s father.

(CONTINUED) 35 CONTINUED: (4)

Frank follows Jason and Harley out of the hospital.

INT. FRANK’S POLICE CRUISER - MOMENTS LATER

Frank drives the car out of the train station lot with lights and SIRENS going this time. Jason and Harley sit in the back seat.

JASON What happened to Chester?

FRANK He was found in Times Square unconscious. Apparently electrocuted by his P.E.A. He has the same burn on his arm as you, Harley.

JASON We were attacked last night, they hacked her P.E.A.

FRANK I thought that was impossible.

JASON Whoever it is overloaded the Bio-link to short it out.

FRANK You said that wasn’t possible.

Frank looks at Jason through the rear-view mirror.

JASON Five years ago. Things change, tech changes.

HARLEY Why is someone attacking us?

FRANK Was Chester supposed to compete in this tournament?

JASON Yeah.

(CONTINUED) 36 CONTINUED:

FRANK Maybe someone is knocking off the competition.

A scared Harley looks at Jason who is focused on Frank.

JASON We have to figure out who.

FRANK No. For now keep your mind on the competition, I’ll figure this out.

JASON Right.

Jason sits back in his seat as Harley looks at the holographic billboards displaying soda and car ads between towering skyscrapers.

EXT. NEW YORK - CONTINUOUS

Frank’s patrol car weaves down the street with it’s SIRENS WAILING. A hover-rail carries commuters overhead passing by the billboards.

EXT. QORTEX TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED - DAY

REPORTERS and hover-cams crowd the entrance to Qortex Inc.

Frank’s cruiser pulls up in front of the building followed by the van.

The reporters rush both vehicles, Liam and his security team get out of the van and push the reporters back.

INT. FRANK’S POLICE CRUSIER - CONTINUOUS

Jason and Harley stare at the reporters in horror as the others get out of the van.

FRANK (O.C.) Jason, I meant what I said.

Jason turns around and looks at Frank whose opening his door.

FRANK (CONT’D) Listen to me this time, please.

(CONTINUED) 37 CONTINUED:

JASON I will.

Frank gets out of the cruiser and opens the back door.

INT. QORTEX CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY

Rows of chairs fill a small pie section of the large conference room as reporters and hover-cams file in.

A slender black podium stands in the center. The podium suddenly glows sending light trails throughout the room.

The empty parts of the conference room are suddenly reconstructed by virtual building blocks.

Conference rooms from Japan, United Kingdom, China, Argentina, South Africa and Australia suddenly fill in the rest of the American Conference room.

Jason and Harley are the last to walk in and take their seats as Liam closes the doors behind them.

QORTEX (O.S.) First, congratulations to the one hundred gamers from around the world to make it to the semi- finals.

Qortex slowly rises from the floor behind the podium that begins to slowly turn clockwise.

QORTEX (CONT’D) Tomorrow you all will face off against one another in a free-for-all event.

Harley strains to see from the last row.

She looks over at Jason who is focused on Artemis’ virtual keyboard.

HARLEY What are you doing?

JASON Building a list of possible suspects.

HARLEY Seriously?

(CONTINUED) 38 CONTINUED:

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I tried to stop him.

JASON It’s easier right now since Artemis can get a screenshot of their faces.

HARLEY What did Frank just say?

Jason continues to type away as Harley re-focuses on Qortex.

INT. SECURITY FLOOR, QORTEX INC. - DAY

A glass elevator carrying Frank and Liam stops on the 22nd floor.

The door slides open and Liam and Frank step out. A red light suddenly scans over the two of them then turns green.

FRANK Fancy security.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Biometrics?

LIAM Yes, every floor has a scanner. The bomber is this way.

Liam leads Frank down the glass and fluorescent lighted hallway as Guards wearing Kevlar fiber suits monitor vid-screens in every room they pass.

FRANK You’re well staffed.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) I think there are more guards here than there are officers back at the station.

LIAM Qortex pays better than the city.

FRANK I can believe it.

(CONTINUED) 39 CONTINUED:

Liam stops at door with an older keypad style lock on it, Frank leans on the wall next to him.

FRANK That seems a little low tech to me.

LIAM I don’t have a P.E.A.

Liam punches in the keycode and opens the door.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Sebastian, tired looking, slumps in a metal chair.

Liam and Frank take a seat across from him, one-sided virtual displays show up in front of the pair.

It displays Sebastian’s heart rate, blood pressure and monitors his voice pitch among other interrogation tools.

LIAM Sebastian Joles, former employee of Qortex Inc. Terminated four years ago for leaking information.

SEBASTIAN That’s bullshit, you and your thugs framed me!

Sebastian slams his fist into the table and glares at Liam.

FRANK Why did you try and blow up the train station?

Sebastian looks at Frank intensely.

SEBASTIAN Not the train station, just the gamers.

LIAM Who is giving you orders?

Sebastian sits back in his seat.

Frank leans over to Liam.

(CONTINUED) 40 CONTINUED:

FRANK (whispering) Shut up and let me do my job.

Liam stares at Frank stone-faced, then stands up and leaves the room.

Frank closes the vid-screens in front of him.

FRANK Watts, begin recording.

Frank leans forward and relaxes his shoulders.

FRANK SO why did you try and blow up the gamers?

SEBASTIAN Piss off, don’t try your games with me.

FRANK Fine, no games. Your stay here can be pleasant or not but that all depends on how this talk goes.

Sebastian thinks for a second then scoots his chair closer to the table and leans in.

INT. QORTEX CONFERENCE ROOM - HOUR LATER

A list of the tournament’s competitors scroll in front of Jason.

QORTEX (O.S.) This new update will revolutionize what the P.E.A.’s will do for us and to us!

Everyone around him suddenly stands up clapping.

He looks up confused as Harley taps him on the shoulder then quickly stands.

JASON What’s going on?

Harley rolls her eyes at him.

KSHHHHH!! The virtual conference rooms turn to static.

Mr. Glitch appears on the holo-walls.

(CONTINUED) 41 CONTINUED:

MR. GLITCH Attention slaves of the wired world, you refused to listen to my warning and continue to follow these machines into ruin.

Jason stares at Qortex who is typing madly on a control screen.

MR. GLITCH If you continue down this false path we will be left with no choice but to forcibly free you from this tethered existence.

Qortex starts pounding on the control panel.

MR. GLITCH You have until Saturday to comply and shut down Qortex’s mainframe.

The holo-walls start to short out then EXPLODE hurling glass at the competitors and reporters who hit the ground for cover.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - LATER

Frank picks up a glass of water from the table as Sebastian paces back and forth.

SEBASTIAN Haven’t you been listening to me? You have no idea how big this is. Who is involved.

The door suddenly opens and Liam sticks his head in.

LIAM We need to go, now.

Frank looks at Sebastian suspiciously and stands up.

FRANK We’ll have to finish this later.

He walks out the door.

INT. QORTEX’S OFFICE - DAY

Frank watches Qortex slamming his office door, fuming with anger.

(CONTINUED) 42 CONTINUED:

QORTEX I can’t believe I pay those imbeciles to work here.

Qortex storms past them towards his desk.

QORTEX (CONT’D) What did you learn?

LIAM The guy’s a drone. He does what he’s told and doesn’t ask why.

QORTEX Frank?

FRANK I talked to him for almost an hour and all I got was drivel.

QORTEX Damn it!

Qortex kicks his desk knocking the picture of Astera and him off.

QORTEX Get out there and do your damn jobs!

Liam heads for the door as Frank bends over and picks up the picture.

Frank stares at Astera’s smile.

QORTEX Stare as long as you want. She still chose me in the end.

Qortex takes the photo from Frank.

INT. FRANK’S POLICE CRUSIER - CONTINUOUS

Frank buckles his seat belt and hits the gas.

Watts lights up on Frank’s arm.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Are you okay?

(CONTINUED) 43 CONTINUED:

FRANK Sebastian knows something.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Frank, are you okay?

FRANK I can’t change the past. Get the chief on screen.

Franks takes a sharp left and speeds down the street.

Ext. New york Hotel - night

Limousines and taxis pull up to the front awning of the 90-story oval-shaped, all glass hotel.

An awkward checkerboard of lit up rooms design the hotel’s facade.

INT. JASON’S ROOM - NIGHT

The blinking and flashing city-scape is dimmed by the tinted window displaying weather and local entertainment.

Jason sits half dressed on a queen-sized bed going through a virtual list of the competitors.

JASON Only fifteen guys in the competition might be able to hack the P.E.A. firewalls.

Artemis lights up on Jason’s arm.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) At least it’s a short list of suspects.

HARLEY (O.S.) Jason! Come on, everyone is already there.

Jason collapses the list and gets up.

EXT. ACROSS FROM POLICE STATION - NIGHT

Frank’s car rests across the street from the station as uniformed officers and detectives walk in and out.

(CONTINUED) 44 CONTINUED:

Sebastian walks out of the front door and looks around for a moment. He walks over to a hover rail station.

Frank’s car turns on and follows the hover-rail heading north.

EXT. MAINFRAME DINER - NIGHT

Cars, taxis and buses drive by the electric diner with an outside patio filled with PEOPLE sitting at neon tables.

INT. MAINFRAME DINER - MOMENTS LATER

Illuminated tables and circuit board style lighting give off green, red and yellow hues.

Tristan, Ami, Lance and Harley are grabbing nachos off a glowing platter as Jason scrolls through updating news reports on a small holo-screen from Artemis.

TRISTAN (O.S.) Jason... Jason!

Jason looks up at Tristan shutting the news screen at the same time.

TRISTAN (CONT’D) Dude, join the party already.

JASON Sorry.

Jason looks over at Harley chatting with Lance.

AMI I wonder what tomorrows challenge will be.

Jason waves at a waitress wearing sunglasses and a reflective dress as she walks by.

JASON Where’s the men’s room?

She points to the corner near the open back door.

Harley looks at him as he gets up.

HARLEY Where are you going?

He heads for the men’s room.

45 INT./EXT. BATHROOM DOOR AND OPEN BACK DOOR - CONTINUOUS

Jason makes his way through WAITERS and other PATRONS trying not to knock over any hover trays.

He looks out the open back door at a hover rail station as a train pulls in.

Jason’s eyes widen at the sight of Sebastian getting off.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) What’s wrong?

JASON That’s him, the bomber.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) What’s he doing out of jail already?

Jason looks back at Harley and the others.

JASON Tell Harley I’ll see her back at the hotel.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) You know she is going to be pissed.

JASON We need to see where this guy is going.

He steps out the back door making sure no one from his table sees him.

EXT. VACANT STREET - NIGHT

SIRENS WAIL as Sebastian walks down the decrepit street with clunkers and stripped cars parked everywhere.

Sebastian looks around then crosses the street to a boarded up subway entrance. He walks up to “DANGER CAVE IN POSSIBLE” spray-painted on the board.

Sebastian slides the board and goes in; the board slowly slides back in place.

Jason quietly steps out from behind one of the clunkers and walks over to the entrance. He reaches out to move the board.

A hand firmly grabs Jason’s shoulder and pulls him back.

Jason turns around, fist at the ready when he sees Frank in front of him.

(CONTINUED) 46 CONTINUED:

FRANK (whispering) What the hell do you think you’re doing here?

JASON I saw the guy from the airport and...

FRANK I told you to leave this to me. Damn it, Jason, why can’t you let things go?

Frank lets go of Jason’s shirt.

FRANK (CONT’D) Go back to the hotel.

JASON I’m not letting you go in there by yourself.

Frank sighs then moves the boards to the side.

INT. SUBWAY - CONTINUOUS

Small lights shine on water-damaged tile walls and dangling light fixtures hanging from the ceiling.

Frank and Jason carefully descend the crumbling staircase as Artemis and Watts shine lights in front of them.

Frank brushes the cobwebs out of his face as he steps onto the platform drawing his pistol.

Jason carefully steps over a fallen chunk of ceiling.

JASON Which way?

Frank looks around the platform, he stares at the ground and kneels closer. He finds footprints in the dust leading to the left railway.

He starts following the trail, Jason follows behind him checking their back and the other side of the station.

JASON How long has it been since this place was open?

(CONTINUED) 47 CONTINUED:

FRANK Fifteen, maybe twenty years.

Frank stops at the edge of the platform, the ground under his feet gives way.

Jason reaches to grab Frank but he hits the railway below.

JASON You okay?

A light from inside the tunnel shines towards Jason and Frank, they quickly take cover as the light continues to shine their way.

The light disappears.

A FAINT METAL CLINK ECHOES DOWN THE TUNNEL.

Jason and Frank step away from the wall and carefully look down the tunnel.

INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS

They quietly walk the bent and rusted subway rail carefully stepping over piles of fallen cement, wires and piping.

JASON What did you mean back there?

FRANK We’re not having this talk now.

Frank scans the tunnel with Watts but his sensors are only picking up scurrying rodents and other creatures.

FRANK Jesse didn’t have to suffer that long, if you could’ve just said goodbye.

JASON Looking back, I know that and it only makes it more painful.

Jason stops and looks back.

(CONTINUED) 48 CONTINUED:

JASON (CONT’D) And unless this guy can bend light, his flashlight couldn’t reach the platform from here.

Frank looks back and stares at the curve in the tunnel.

FRANK Watts, scan the walls and floor for any hatches or passages.

CLINK!

Artemis and Watts shut off their lights immediately as Jason and Frank hide behind a portion of fallen ceiling.

Jason peeks around the rubble and sees a metal panel lift off the ground and Sebastian climb out.

Sebastian replaces the cover and makes his way back to the station.

INT. UTILITY COMPARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER

Frank climbs into the cramped space lined with older fixed-computer monitors and other make-shift electronics.

Watts scans the area as Jason climbs down the ladder.

JASON Whoa, talk about antique.

FRANK It’s all functioning, though.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) I can’t find a control panel.

Artemis lights up and starts his own scan.

JASON You read my mind, Artemis.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) There isn’t a control panel but against the back wall is a port we can connect to.

Frank looks behind the monitors and finds a cable and connects it to Watts.

(CONTINUED) 49 CONTINUED:

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Downloading all files on hard drive.

All of the computer screens turn bright red and start FLASHING.

FRANK What’s going on, Watts?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Some sort of self-destruct program.

JASON We need to get out of here.

FRANK How much longer until the download is complete?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Two minutes.

Frank pulls the cord out of Watts as Jason makes his way back up the ladder.

INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - CONTINUOUS

Jason scrambles out of the access panel and turns around as Frank comes up.

Jason helps Frank out of the hole.

BOOM! Fire shoots out of panel lighting Frank’s coat on fire as the tunnel shakes violently.

Pieces of the ceiling fall around them as the air fills with dust.

Smoke billows out of the access panel as things settle around Jason and Frank.

FRANK You okay?

JASON You’re on fire!

Jason leaps on Frank’s coat smothering the flame.

FRANK Thanks. Did you get anything, Watts?

(CONTINUED) 50 CONTINUED:

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) A corrupted message from Qortex Inc. I couldn’t find out from who.

They get to their feet.

FRANK It’s not your fault and it’s still a lead.

JASON Let’s get out of here before the whole place collapses.

Watts and Artemis turn their lights back on as Jason and Frank make their way back to the platform.

EXT. VACANT STREET - EARLY MORNING

Frank’s police cruiser pulls out of a side alley down the street from the subway entrance.

INT. FRANK’S POLICE CRUSIER - CONTINUOUS

Jason wipes ash off his clothes onto the passenger seat as Frank brushes it out of his hair while steering.

FRANK I’ll drop you off.

JASON After that? You’re kidding, we should be storming Qortex Tower.

FRANK We don’t have any evidence. Open the glove compartment.

Jason opens the dashboard and finds a P.E.A.

FRANK That was Chester Knowles, I can’t repair it.

JASON I’ll take care of it.

(CONTINUED) 51 CONTINUED:

Jason takes the P.E.A. and closes the dash.

FRANK Maybe Harley or Tristan can help you?

JASON It’s fine.

Frank looks over at Jason for a moment.

FRANK Some things can’t be fixed alone.

Jason looks down at Speedy.

INT. HOTEL HALLWAY - DAY

Jason studies Speedy as he walks down the red and gold trimmed hallway. He looks up at Harley’s door next to his and stops.

He goes to knowck when it swings open with Lance stumbling out putting his right shoe on his bare foot.

LANCE Hey!

Jason walks to his room slamming the door as he goes inside.

LANCE (CONT’D) Drama queen.

Lance shrugs as he teeter totters down the hallway.

INT. JASON’S HOTEL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

The lights turn on illuminating an almost regal-like room as Jason locks the door behind him. Artemis lights up on his arm.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Did you want to run a diagnostic on Speedy tonight?

Jason walks over to a table as an elongated fridge drops from the ceiling in the corner of the room and takes a seat.

52 EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY

News hover drones fly over the massive city park. A CROWD gathers at the south end near the Central Park Zoo.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK ZOO ENTRANCE - DAY

Qortex stands in front of the Brick entrance to the zoo as holo-screens hover on both sides of him.

QORTEX Cameras and holo-projectors have been placed all throughout the zoo.

Jason and the twenty-four other competitors sync their P.E.A.’s while watching the holo-screens cycle through the different areas of the zoo.

QORTEX (CONT’D) Once inside, the gates will be locked for the next two hours. Only twenty competitors will survive to the next round.

The holo-screens disappear from Qortex’s side.

QORTEX (CONT’D) Without further delay, let the semi-finals begin!

Qortex steps off to the side as the competitors rush the archways.

INT. QORTEX CONTROL ROOM - DAY

A holo-screen displays the competitors running at the zoo entrance.

NICK (O.S.) Activating projectors and syncing P.E.A.’s.

NICK, thirties with early signs of grey sits at a massive control panel underneath two dozen holo-screens.

Other OPERATORS are scattered about various control panels in the cafeteria sized room.

(CONTINUED) 53 CONTINUED:

NICK (CONT’D) International competitors sync complete and at full strength.

CUT TO:

EXT. CENTRAL PARK ZOO - DAY

Jason and the others run into the center of the zoo as INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS materialize around them.

FAMILIES, SCHOOL CHILDREN, TOURISTS and NEW YORKERS stand around admiring everything from koalas and monkeys to lions and a walrus.

Cellophane-like static shields enclosing the animals emit a light green hue.

Cut TO:

INT. QORTEX CONTROL ROOM - DAY

Liam walks up and hands Frank a cup of coffee.

FRANK What’s going to happen? You guys aren’t going to set the animals free, are you?

Frank jokingly nudges Liam.

LIAM Just watch, they won’t see this one coming.

Liam glares at Frank while taking a drink from his coffee.

CUT TO:

EXT. CENTRAL PARK ZOO - MOMENTS LATER

Jason wanders further into the zoo as the other competitors scatter down the different paths.

JASON Now what?

Harley (O.S.) Wait up.

(CONTINUED) 54 CONTINUED:

Jason turns around and sees Harley and Ami.

JASON Are you following me?

HARLEY What? What’s your problem?

ROAR!! Suddenly the zoo ERUPTS WITH LIONS ROARING, ELEPHANTS TRUMPETING and BIRDS SCREECHES.

AMI That doesn’t sound good.

The green shield behind Harley and Ami suddenly fades away.

JASON We need to get out of here.

Ami turns around and looks at the deer enclosure behind them.

HARLEY Answer my question.

AMI Look at the deer!

Harley turns around and sees a white-spotted deer walk out from its den.

The deer snaps it head towards the trio and they gawk at the missing fur and flesh from the deer’s left side.

It snorts at them and charges, snapping its jaws.

HARLEY Run!

The three of them bolt down the path.

Ami leaps over a cotton candy stand.

AMI How are we supposed to fight it without weapons!?

Harley picks up a broken umbrella and stops.

(CONTINUED) 55 CONTINUED: (2)

JASON What are you doing!?

She points the sharp end at the blood soaked deer as Jason runs by her.

Harley thrusts the pole at its snapping jaws, the deer bursts into red pixels and disappears.

JASON Holy crap.

She stands up as Jason and Ami walk up to her.

SNORT!!

They turn around to see a white rhinoceros with chunks missing from its armored body staring in their direction.

It charges at them, crashing through tables and food stands.

Jason and the others dash back the way they came as the rhinoceros gains on them.

Ami knocks over a KOREAN COMPETITOR that gets trampled by the rhino as she clears a way for Harley and Jason.

Jason sees a path with an alligator maker on it on the left and takes it.

The Rhino follows Jason down the path as he runs towards a large murky pond.

He dives to the right at the edge of the pond and the rhino crashes into the algae-green water. Half a dozen alligators swarm the Rhino.

Jason gets to his feet and quickly gets away from the water’s edge as Harley and Ami run up to him.

HARLEY Are you okay?

JASON I have no idea.

Artemis lights up on Jason’s wrist.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Your heart rate’s through the roof but you’ll live.

(CONTINUED) 56 CONTINUED: (3)

AMI This is awesome, I need a weapon.

Ami runs off.

INT. QORTEX CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Liam drinks his coffee with a smile on his face as he and Frank watch the holo- screens.

Frank focuses on another screen and sees Tristan beating off a swarm of zombie koalas with a broken shelf.

LIAM What do you think?

FRANK Twisted.

Liam grunts as he takes another drink.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Frank, incoming message from Chief Kline.

Frank looks at down at Watts.

FRANK Is there somewhere private I can take this?

LIAM Two rooms down.

Frank sets his still steaming coffee down.

INT. EMPTY OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER

Frank locks the door and casually looks around office.

FRANK Any camera’s?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Not picking up any signals.

Frank takes a seat at the desk. (CONTINUED) 57 CONTINUED:

Frank turns on the computer.

FRANK Hack into the company severs and see if you can find anything connecting Qortex and Chester other than this tournament.

Watts lights up on Frank’s arm as lines of code quickly scroll on his display.

Frank manually brings up the virtual keyboard for the computer and starts digging through company servers.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK ZOO - DAY

SCREAMS AND YELLING ECHO ALL AROUND as Jason and Harley rest on a kids hiding cave catching their breath.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) That was too close.

Blake (DIGITAL VOICE) No kidding, What do we do now Harley?

HARLEY We could find somewhere to hide.

Jason looks around and hops off the cave.

JASON Artemis, where’s the nearest indoor enclosure?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) To the left, the polar circle.

HARLEY Jason, hold on.

Jason starts sprinting down the path.

HARLEY (CONT’D) Jason! Don’t run away from me.

He stops in his tracks.

(CONTINUED) 58 CONTINUED:

HARLEY What is your problem?

JASON Why aren’t you following Lance around?

Harley Walks in front of Jason and faces him.

HARLEY So now you care who I’m with?

JASON Harley this isn’t.

HARLEY No, you listen. You don’t get an attitude with me just because you suddenly got a case of jealousy.

Harley bites her lip in frustration and starts running towards the Polar Circle.

Artemis lights up on Jason’s arm.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) She’s right, you know.

JASON Go fry yourself.

Jason follows behind her.

INT. QORTEX CONTROL ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Liam watches the holo-screens as he polishes off his drink and sets his mug next to Frank’s now cold coffee.

NICK (O.S.) Nine competitors left in the round with twelve minutes to play.

Liam walks out of the control room.

INT. EMPTY OFFICE - DAY

Frank types away as screens appear and disappear in front of him, he looks down at the time then back at the screen.

(CONTINUED) 59 CONTINUED:

FRANK We need to wrap this up.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) There’s nothing here tying Chester or Sebastian to Qortex.

Frank scans the screen.

FRANK (CONT’D) What power station overloaded?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Humboldt Power Plant.

FRANK Someone accessed it from here.

BANG! BANG! Frank looks up at the shaking doorknob.

LIAM (O.S.) Unlock the door!

Frank scans the screen carefully.

LIAM (CONT’D) Open the door now! Or I’ll shoot.

FRANK They didn’t have a P.E.A.

Frank continues to type as fast as he can.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Liam draws his pistol and beats the door.

LIAM Last warning, Detective!

Liam aims at the door and starts to squeeze the trigger. The door suddenly swings opens.

Frank grabs Liam’s arm as the gun goes off.

(CONTINUED) 60 CONTINUED:

LIAM (CONT’D) What the hell were you doing!?

Liam yanks his arm from Frank and holsters his pistol.

FRANK I was on the phone.

CHIEF KLINE (O.S.) Frank!? What was that? Frank!

Frank shows Watts screen with Chief Kline on it to Liam.

FRANK I’ll be back at the station soon.

Frank closes the display and walks past Liam.

LIAM I’ll escort you.

Liam follows Frank to the elevators.

INT. POLAR CIRCLE - LATER

Dim overhead lights blink on and off illuminating the man-made rocks complete with painted-on bird poop. The WIND HOWLS IN THE TUNNEL.

Jason and Harley look around as the moving walk way takes them further into the cave.

HARLEY Are you sure this is a safe place?

JASON What’s the worst that could be in here, penguins?

A RED LIGHT shines on the wall ahead of them.

JASON I’m sorry, I was acting like a jerk.

They step back as they face the penguin’s blood red water enclosure.

(CONTINUED) 61 CONTINUED:

HARLEY Are they in there?

Jason steps closer to the glass and peers in.

JASON Looks like they’re all gone.

HARLEY You can keep apologizing.

JASON You’re right, I was jealous and I didn’t know how to deal with it.

HARLEY You have nothing to be jealous of, Lance is more interested in you.

JASON What?

Something suddenly grabs Jason and Harley’s shoulders and starts shaking them.

HARLEY Ahhh!

Harley quickly turns around throwing a right hook.

It connects with Lance’s cheek, making him let go.

LANCE Jesus! What the hell, Harley?

Jason sees something large speed by the window.

HARLEY Me? What part of scaring us in a zombie-filled zoo sounds smart to you!?

Jason steps closer to the glass as a dark spot grows bigger in the red water.

JASON What is... Harley, get down!

Jason jumps on top of Harley as the glass blasts out sending red water splashing on Lance.

(CONTINUED) 62 CONTINUED: (2)

LANCE Are you serious!?

Suddenly a rotting walrus soars out of the enclosure and lands on Lance.

The holo-projector starts to spark above Lance and catches fire.

LANCE (CONT’D) What’s going on?

The walrus suddenly flickers away along with the broken glass and water.

The flaming projector falls from the ceiling.

JASON Move!

Jason and Harley pull Lance away from it.

INT. ELEVATOR - DAY

Liam stands near the control panel with Frank behind him staring at one another in the metal doors reflection.

LIAM Is there something you want, detective?

Frank moves his coat and unlatches his gun holster.

FRANK How did you override the P.E.A firewalls?

Liam turns around in the small elegantly designed metal box.

LIAM I don’t know what your talking about.

FRANK You lied, it’s not that you don’t have a P.E.A. You just uploaded it into the Qortex Mainframe.

LIAM That’s absurd.

The lights in the elevator suddenly turn off as Watts starts to blink erratically.

(CONTINUED) 63 CONTINUED:

FRANK Watts?

Smoke starts to come out of Watts followed by discharged electricity.

Frank goes rigid as electricity courses through his body.

Lightning bolts jump to the metal walls and railing in the elevator electrocuting Liam.

The lights and control panel blow out and the elevator suddenly plummets.

INT. POLAR CIRCLE - DAY

The emergency lights turn on inside the exhibit as Jason helps Lance get up.

Harley looks at the flaming projector.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Jason, Watts just sent a massive file to me then went offline.

JASON What do you mean offline?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) He’s no longer transmitting.

JASON That only happens when...

Jason walks up to Harley and takes her hand.

JASON (CONT’D) Come on, we have to get back.

They follow Lance who is still in shock out of the polar exhibit.

EXT. CENTRAL PARK ZOO ENTRANCE - DAY

SIRENS WAIL AND SCREAM as GAMERS flood out of the zoo entrance panicked or confused.

SIX PARAMEDICS rush by them into the zoo carrying gurney’s and medical kits.

PARAMEDIC Move!

(CONTINUED) 64 CONTINUED:

MALE CONTESTANT (O.S.) Turn on Nitro!

Jason, Harley and Lance rush out of the entrance past other contestants trying to reboot their P.E.A.’s.

Other Gamers cradle their arms crying and SCREAMING IN PAIN.

FEMALE CONTESTANT (O.S.) Help! Please help!

MALE CONTESTANT (O.S.) It burns!

More Paramedics rush towards the contestants coming out of the entrance.

HARLEY What the hell happened?

JASON Artemis, you get a hold of Watts?

AMI (O.S.) Someone help, he won’t wake up!

Jason and the others turn around and see Ami running out of the gate.

AMI (CONT’D) Jason! Help, Tristan won’t wake up.

Ami rushes towards Jason and starts pulling him into the zoo.

JASON Let me get a paramedic.

The zoo entrance swarms with POLICE and paramedics trying to treat the shocked and injured. News hover drones circle above.

INT. WAITING ROOM, HOSPITAL - NIGHT

A holo-screen displays ambulances and police cruisers surrounding a crowd of people in front of the Central Park Zoo.

CINDY KIM (V.O.) The power surge that spread across three continents has injured hundreds and left entire cities without power.

(CONTINUED) 65 CONTINUED:

The holo-screen floats in the corner of a large waiting room, INCOMING PATIENTS AND NURSES fill all of the seats.

CINDY KIM (V.O.)(CONT’D) Initial reports say there was a power surge in Qortex’s mainframes.

Jason slumps on a red couch staring at the holo-screen with Harley sleeping next to him.

CINDY KIM (V.O.) (CONT’D) Hold on, Matthew Qortex is about to give a statement from NYU Medical Center.

Jason sits up and lifts his hand in front of the screen, the VOLUME RISES as Qortex walking up to a podium fills the screen.

EXT. NYU MEDICAL CENTER - NIGHT

Qortex stands firm at the podium positioned so the hospital entrance is his backdrop.

Chief Kline stands off to the side with a few OFFICERS in riot gear. More Officers stand between PROTESTOR’S and the REPORTERS covering the press release.

QORTEX First, my prayers go out to those hurt in today’s incident and their families. Twenty-four of the thirty-two competitors injured world wide have been released.

REPORTER #2 Are you going to shut down the P.E.A. Mainframes?

QORTEX No, the mainframes will stay online.

REPORTER Are P.E.A’s still safe?

QORTEX Yes, despite attempts to compromise them. The P.E.A’s were created to improve people’s lives especially those who are ill and they continue to do so.

(CONTINUED) 66 CONTINUED:

REPORTER What about this last attack?

QORTEX That will be all, thank you.

Qortex and Kline walk away from the podium and head for the hospital as officers push back Reporters trying to chase after them.

INT. WAITING ROOM, HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Jason watches as Chief Kline disappears into the hospital, he turns around as the double doors open and Kline walks in.

Jason quickly gets up waking Harley.

HARLEY Wha? Jason?

Jason runs over to Kline not noticing Harley looking for him half asleep.

JASON Chief Kline, I have a question.

CHIEF KLINE I’m sorry, I can’t say any more about the case.

JASON Do you know Frank Magis?

He stops in his tracks and faces Jason.

CHIEF KLINE How do you... You’re Jason.

JASON Have we...?

CHIEF KLINE Frank has a picture of Jesse and you on his desk.

Kline peeks behind Jason’s shoulder.

CHIEF KLINE Can I help you?

(CONTINUED) 67 CONTINUED:

Jason turns around to see Harley standing behind him.

HARLEY I’m Harley, a friend of Jason and Frank.

CHIEF KLINE I’m sorry Jason, Frank’s dead.

HARLEY Oh my...

JASON How?

CHIEF KLINE From the looks of it, Watts shorted out and electrocuted him and Liam Havel, the head of Qortex Security.

JASON He was following a lead to Mr. Glitch at Qortex.

Two NURSES push their way between the three with a gurney, Jason and Harley move to the wall with Kline after they pass.

CHIEF KLINE He never reported any of it to me.

JASON What about Watts?

CHIEF KLINE He’s gone, beyond repair.

JASON Give him to me.

Kline rubs his scruff and thinks for a minute, he slightly nods in agreement.

CHIEF KLINE Now I have to find out why security recordings show Frank questioning Liam.

Kline turns around and walks away.

(CONTINUED) 68 CONTINUED: (2)

HARLEY Can you really fix Watts?

AMI (O.S.) Jason! Harley! He’s awake!

They look down the hallway and see Ami waving at them from outside a patient room.

JASON I have to try.

Jason and Harley cross the hallway and walk towards Ami.

INT. PATIENT ROOM - NIGHT

Holo-screen monitors showing heart rate, blood pressure, brainwave function and other diagnostics hover next to an I.V. bag.

Tristan shifts around in the hospital bed trying to get comfortable as Ami flips through television channels.

TRISTAN Just turn it off.

AMI I want to make sure Qortex doesn’t change his mind about the tournament.

Jason goes through Hyjinx’s control panel on the other side of the bed.

TRISTAN Seriously?

Jason looks up from the control panel as Ami stops flipping through the channels?

TRISTAN I don’t want you competing.

AMI Without the prize money we won’t be able to afford your procedure.

TRISTAN I don’t care.

Jason moves away from Hyjinx.

(CONTINUED) 69 CONTINUED:

AMI Tristan, you can’t be serious!?

JASON Hey, why don’t we talk about this after we’ve all got some rest?

Ami goes back to watching television as Harley walks into the room with coffees for everyone.

HARLEY Everything alright?

Jason gives Harley a worried look and goes back to Hyjinx.

EXT. NEW YORK - DAY

The sun peeks out from behind the man-made mountain range of glass and steel.

INT. JASON’S HOTEL ROOM - DAY

Half a dozen energy drinks roll around the dining table as Jason tosses charred mirrors and grabs new one from a neat stack.

HARLEY (O.C.) Jason, we’re supposed to be leaving.

Jason places a mirror inside of Speedy’s bio-link then turns around to see Harley waiting for him in a tight-fitting black dress with Blake on her arm.

JASON Give me two minutes and we can go.

HARLEY You’re not even dressed.

He turns around and grabs another mirror, Harley steps up to the work bench and looks at the energy drinks.

HARLEY Enough Jason, you need to stop and breathe.

JASON I can’t, someone else might be attacked.

Harley puts her hand in between him and Speedy.

(CONTINUED) 70 CONTINUED:

HARLEY You can’t stop this thing.

JASON It’s not a virus.

HARLEY Jason, please.

JASON After looking at Blake, Hyjinx and Speedy, it’s not a virus. Someone is sending a command to override the bio-links.

HARLEY I thought Artemis and Blake were supposed to prevent that.

Jason moves Harley’s hands and picks up the charred mirrors.

JASON They are, but for some reason, they’re dropping their firewalls.

HARLEY Why would they do that?

JASON The only time total access is available is when the gaming program is... open.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) (V.O.) Jason, incoming call from Chief Kline. Do you want me to connect?

Jason puts down the mirrors and looks at the time on Artemis’ display.

EXT. CEMETARY - MORNING

TRAFFIC ECHOES in the distance as a small GROUP OF MOURNERS encompass a open grave. A strong wind blows loose leaves by them.

Chief Kline and a FEW UNIFORMED OFFICERS stand near the Priest with Qortex and Liam leaning on a cane on the other side.

(CONTINUED) 71 CONTINUED:

Jason, Harley, Ami and Tristan watch as a cherry red oak coffin lowers into the ground. Jason looks up and stares over at Qortex.

EXT. CEMETARY - LATER

Harley, Ami and Tristan head to the parking lot as Jason walks with Chief Kline not too far from Frank’s grave.

CHIEF KLINE There isn’t a Qortex stamp anywhere on Watts.

JASON Because I made him.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Same time he created me.

Kline looks down at Artemis pulling an evidence bag with Watts inside from his coat and hands it to Jason.

CHIEF KLINE If you’re caught with this I’m denying any knowledge of this.

Jason looks at Watts’ cracked screen and charred metal and plastic case.

CHIEF KLINE (CONT’D) He used to have Watts monitoring Artemis on a twenty-four hour basis.

JASON He had it set that way for Jesse too. I told him it would wear Watts out faster.

CHIEF KLINE I think not knowing would’ve worn them both out faster.

JASON I threw away so much time with him.

Kline stops walking and puts his hand on Jason’s shoulder.

CHIEF KLINE Move on.

(CONTINUED) 72 CONTINUED:

JASON I can’t just forget about him.

CHIEF KLINE Don’t forget, just move on. Live your life and remember this.

Jason grips onto Watts tighter.

AMI (O.C.) Spend the rest of your life in that chair!

Kline and Jason look towards the parking lot as Qortex’s limo drives past Ami storming away from Harley’s car.

EXT. CEMETERY PARKING LOT - MORNING

Jason walks up to Harley’s car as Harley gives Tristan a hug.

JASON What happened?

HARLEY Ami went off about the tournament again.

JASON Don’t worry, Tristan, she’ll cool off. Come on, let’s get some food.

Harley walks over to the car door and unlocks it.

EXT. P.E.A. POD ARCADE, NEW YORK - NIGHT

THUNDER BOOMS IN THE DISTANCE as dark clouds start to blanket the starry night.

PROTESTORS Power down and open up!

Cabs stop and go in front of the Arcade as a growing number of PROTESTERS surround the entrance.

73 INT. P.E.A. POD ARCADE, NEW YORK - NIGHT

Neon fighter planes soar around a corner on the ceiling leaving light trails behind them lighting the half empty building.

A CHEERING CROWD gathers around a simulator called Cage Match as the holographic point meter rises at incredible speed.

INT. CAGE MATCH - VIRTUAL

Ami readjusts her knuckle gloves and rainbow print backpack as a STADIUM FULL OF FANS CHEER HER ON.

TWO OPPOSING HULKS in matching orange jumpsuits get to their feet, each winded.

Ami charges the Hulk on the right and slides between his legs pulling them out from under him.

He falls slamming his face into the tarp splitting his cheek.

The other Hulk grabs Ami by the arm and pulls her towards him, Ami buckles her arm so her elbow connects square with his nose, dropping him to his knees.

AMI Let’s finish this, Sprite.

SPRITE (DIGITAL VOICE) All set.

Split-Cheek sneaks up behind Ami and grabs her backpack, Ami slips out of the straps but hold on to one pulling the Hulk into his ally.

Ami yanks hard on the strap stripping it from the backpack and jumps away as it EXPLODES.

ANNOUNCER K.O.!!!

The stadium freezes and dissolves around Ami.

INT. P.E.A. POD ARCADE - CONTINUOUS

The CHEERING ARCADE PATRONS replace the stadium as Ami walks over to open gate door.

(CONTINUED) 74 CONTINUED:

Sprite lights up on her arm.

SPRITE (DIGITAL VOICE) Talk about no mercy.

AMI I wanted the record.

Ami nods and smiles as she pushes her way through the crowd to the ladies’ room.

SPRITE (DIGITAL VOICE) You know he has a good point, this tournament is...

AMI Whose side are you on?

SPRITE (DIGITAL VOICE) Yours of course, that’s why I agree with Wheels. This is too dangerous.

AMI I don’t see Jason dropping out.

SPRITE (DIGITAL VOICE) I thought this was about Tristan’s operation.

Ami stops outside the ladies’ room door and looks at Sprite.

AMI Do you want to end up in a landfill?

Sprite suddenly powers down, Ami lets out a sigh and opens the ladies’ room door.

The door closes and a digital sign reading “CLOSED FOR REPAIR” suddenly appears on the door.

EXT. NEW YORK HOTEL - NIGHT

A light rain starts to wet the building, Jason’s room is the only window with a light on.

75 INT. JASON’S HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Charred mirrors, wires and circuit boards are scattered on the table as Jason plugs a stripped down Watts to a power cord.

TRISTAN I’m starting to really worry about her.

Jason turns around to see Tristan rolling back and forth looking at Hyjinx’s display.

JASON Don’t overdo it with Hyjinx, I don’t know if he’s a hundred percent yet.

Tristan stops and turns off the display.

TRISTAN I’m just worried, what if something happened?

JASON Relax, Harley is out looking for her, chances are she’s at the Pod blowing steam.

TRISTAN Alright. So what’s happening with Watts over there?

Tristan pushes past Jason towards the workbench.

JASON Hopefully he’ll pick up the charge and reboot.

TRISTAN Want to see a trick a mechanic showed me?

JASON Sure.

Tristan pulls a cord from Hyjinx and picks up Watts and plugs it into him.

JASON What’d I just tell you about Hyjinx?

TRISTAN Trust me.

Tristan turns on Hyjinx’s display and Watts instantly reboots. Tristan unplugs Hyjinx and hands Watts to Jason.

(CONTINUED) 76 CONTINUED:

JASON Holy crap, it worked.

Watts display lights up.

JASON (CONT’D) Watts, can you hear me?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) Jason? Where’s Frank? I can’t sense him.

JASON I’m sorry but he’s gone.

Watts display starts to flicker before going steady again.

Artemis lights up on Jason’s arm.

Artemis (DIGITAL VOICE) Watts?

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) I’m here.

JASON I know this is hard but can you tell me what you and Frank learned inside of Qortex’s mainframe?

Watts display suddenly turns off.

TRISTAN This isn’t going to work, he’s too messed up.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) He can do it.

The display flickers back to life.

WATTS (DIGITAL VOICE) The attacks were coordinated at Qortex Inc.

TRISTAN What, the H.R.L. is based in Qortex’s own building?

WATTS There is no H.R.L.

(CONTINUED) 77 CONTINUED: (2)

Watts display goes dark again.

JASON Watts?

Jason turns Watts over and looks at the hard drive then listens carefully to it.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Watts?

Jason listens a little longer then sets him down on the work bench.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I can’t detect his link.

JASON He’s gone.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I think there’s a malfunction in my programming.

JASON Why?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) My server continues to try and connect.

Hyjinx’s display lights up startling Tristan and Jason.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Harley’s calling.

TRISTAN Answer.

HARLEY (V.O.) I can’t find her.

TRISTAN Where else could she be?

HARLEY (V.O.) Don’t worry I’ll keep looking, I’m sure someone saw her.

TRISTAN Thank you so much, Harley.

(CONTINUED) 78 CONTINUED: (3)

The display closes and Tristan lets out a heavy sigh.

JASON If there’s no H.R.L., who’s causing the attacks?

TRISTAN Was Frank investigating anyone in particular at Qortex Inc.?

JASON I don’t... Wait, Chief Kline said Frank was questioning Liam.

Jason walks away from the table as Tristan looks back at Hyjinx’s display.

EXT. P.E.A. POD ARCADE, NEW YORK - NIGHT

A tall AFRICAN AMERICAN wearing jeans and a blazer pushes his way through the Protesters with Harley in tow.

He points to the end of the street and motions to the left. Harley nods and runs down the street.

EXT. NEW YORK STREET - NIGHT

Harley weaves her way through BUSINESSMEN in slick overcoats and STREET URCHINS draped in layers.

Holographic billboards light the street from over head as trucks, taxis, and various other cars stall in traffic.

Harley looks around at the shops and restaurants.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) I’m not picking up any readings from Sprite.

HARLEY Keep trying, she’s got to be around here.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) My processor is running fast, it may overheat.

Harley stops and looks down at Blake.

(CONTINUED) 79 CONTINUED:

HARLEY Don’t worry, we’ll find them. Why don’t you go into sleep mode for a few minutes?

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) The alley up ahead on the left. I got a brief reading.

Harley sprints forward pushing her way through the people.

EXT. ALLEY - CONTINUOUS

Harley’s dark silhouette fills the alleys entrance way, she carefully steps into the damp corridor.

A handful of stray cats leap out of a pile of knocked over trash cans in front of her.

HARLEY Could I get some light, Blake?

A small LED shines on the pile of trash cans.

Harley’s eye’s focus on the burnt rainbow-colored backpack.

Her eyes adjust to notice Ami lying on the ground next to the backpack.

Harley SCREAMS at the top of her lungs.

EXT. NEW YORK POLICE STATION - NIGHT

SIRENS WAIL as police cruisers peel away from the station.

Jason walks Harley out of the front doors followed by Chief Kline.

JASON Head to the Taxi, Tristan is waiting there.

Harley nods and walks down the street.

Jason watches her go.

JASON There is no H.R.L.

CHIEF KLINE What are you talking about?

(CONTINUED) 80 CONTINUED:

JASON Watts, he had enough power to tell us that who ever is doing this is at Qortex Inc.

CHIEF KLINE Enough power? You couldn’t fix him?

Jason turns and glares at Kline.

JASON No, not permanently.

CHIEF KLINE Without Watts, we have nothing to move on. We need real evidence.

JASON Fine. I’ll get your evidence.

Jason heads for his car.

CHIEF KLINE Jason, wait! Jason!

Jason waves bye as he gets into the cab and it drives off.

INT. TAXI CAB - NIGHT

Harley leans her head on Jason’s shoulder while sitting in the back seat, Tristan turns around in the front and looks back at them.

TRISTAN Is he going to storm the place and arrest that bastard?

Jason shakes his head no.

TRISTAN What!?

JASON There’s no evidence.

TRISTAN Are you... What are we supposed to do.

(CONTINUED) 81 CONTINUED:

JASON Get proof.

TRISTAN Where do we get that?

JASON Qortex’s mainframes.

TRISTAN Let’s get going.

Harley sits up and looks at Jason.

JASON I’m doing this alone.

HARLEY Like hell you are.

JASON This isn’t a game you guys.

TRISTAN That’s where you’re wrong.

HARLEY Life is nothing but the greatest game of all, and we’re not losing.

Jason looks at Harley and Tristan and nods in agreement.

EXT. QORTEX TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED - NIGHT

The skyscraper is dotted with lit up offices on almost every floor. A SECURITY GUARD can be seen pacing in the lobby.

EXT. MAINTENANCE AREA - NIGHT

Jason and Harley slip trough a freshly made gap in the laser fence with two mirrors reflecting the beams.

Tristan rolls over to a control panel and hooks Hyjinx up to it.

Tristan Alright, let’s get the troops all together in one spot.

(CONTINUED) 82 CONTINUED:

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Accessing Qortex building servers.

TRISTAN Once we’re in, find the comm-link.

Tristan looks over at Jason and Harley.

TRISTAN I’ll keep them busy, get going.

JASON Be back before you know it.

Jason and Harley walk over to a door leading into the building.

JASON (CONT’D) Artemis, if you would?

The lock on the door suddenly unlatches.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Just like old times.

Jason opens the door and follows Harley inside.

INT. QORTEX CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT

THREE DOZEN SECURITY GUARDS decked out in dark blue Kevlar suits crowd one another around the large table as Liam walks in.

He stops in his tracks and looks around confused.

LIAM What’s going on in here?

SECURITY GUARD Mr. Qortex told us all to meet here.

LIAM I didn’t get any notice.

SECURITY GUARD Look.

Liam looks at the message on the display and immediately pulls out his phone.

(CONTINUED) 83 CONTINUED:

LIAM Tell everyone to go back to their posts.

SECURITY GUARD Yes sir.

LIAM (into phone) Sir, did you call for a meeting in the main conference room?

The Security Guards file out of the conference room.

LIAM (CONT’D) No sir, it’s been taken care of.

SECURITY GUARD (O.S.) What the hell!?

Liam looks out the door and steps out with the crowd.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

The Guards stand around the elevators.

LIAM What’s wrong?

SECURITY GUARD The elevator’s aren’t working.

LIAM Take the stairs.

Another Guard tries to open it but it won’t budge.

Liam pulls out his phone.

LIAM (CONT’D) (into phone) We may have an intruder.

The Guard continues shaking the door.

84 INT. STAIRWELL - CONTINUOUS

The door handle rattles as Jason and Harley run past the 37th floor marker and continue up the stairs.

HARLEY NEWMECH How much further?

JASON Next floor.

TRISTAN (V.O.) Good thing too. They’re onto us. Better be fast.

Jason opens the door and peeks out, he looks back and waves Harley out.

INT. SECURITY MAINFRAME ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A dozen six-feet tall blinking servers fill the room, their FANS HUM IN UNISON.

Jason and Harley walk through the rows of servers.

HARLEY How do you know which one?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I’m scanning them all now for the frequency the power plant transmits on. Three back on the left.

Harley looks back at the door then catches up to Jason.

He hard-lines Artemis to the server.

JASON Let’s break some records.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Accessing Personal computer mainframes now.

Jason brings up a holographic keyboard and starts typing away as Harley keeps watch.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Liam stands near the stairwell door with his phone plastered to his ear.

(CONTINUED) 85 CONTINUED:

LIAM Forget it, sir. I’ll open it myself.

He hangs up the phone and takes a step back.

He thrusts his foot into the door knocking it off it’s hinges.

Liam collapses to the ground in pain.

SECURITY GUARD Sir, you okay?

LIAM Lock everything down! Scan every inch of the building!

The Guards immediately scatter as Liam gets to his feet.

INT. SECURITY MAINFRAME ROOM - NIGHT

Harley stands at the door peering out the window, she looks back at Jason.

HARLEY How’s it going?

JASON Almost there?

TRISTAN (V.O.) Times up, they’re looking for you.

JASON Just a few more minutes.

Harley looks back out the window and sees the elevator light stopping on their floor.

HARLEY Jason, they’re here! We have to go.

JASON It wasn’t Liam.

TRISTAN (V.O.) Then who’s doing it?

(CONTINUED) 86 CONTINUED:

JASON According to this no one, it’s happening all on its own.

HARLEY Jason! We need to disappear.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Finished downloading files.

Harley runs up to Jason as the door opens, they hide off to the side as a Security Guard walks the servers with his pistol and flashlight out.

Jason and Harley quietly weave their way through the servers as the Guard makes his way to the back of the room.

Harley and Jason hide in a few servers away from the Guard.

JASON Can you buy me some time?

HARLEY What? We need to get out of here.

JASON I have to stop the upload.

HARLEY Why?

JASON Because gamers won’t be the only ones attacked if we don’t stop it.

HARLEY Get going then.

Harley stands up and heads for the door.

The Security Guard spots Harley.

SECURITY GUARD Halt!

Harley bolts out the door as the Guard chases after her.

(CONTINUED) 87 CONTINUED: (2)

SECURITY GUARD Pursuing intruder on Mainframe floor and second culprit descending stairwell.

Harley disappears down the hallway followed by the Guard.

Jason comes out of the shadows and jams the door with a bundle of cables.

INT. STAIRWELL - NIGHT

Harley slides down the stairwell rails when a door two floors down opens and FOOTSTEPS START TO ECHO HER WAY.

Harley stops and looks for somewhere to hide.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Get in the corner.

The FOOTSTEPS GET LOUDER and she looks down at Blake.

A Security Guard runs up the stairwell and stops on the fifteenth floor platform and looks around for a minute then continues up the stairs.

The corner opposite the door dissolves revealing Harley huddled against the real corner.

HARLEY I didn’t think that would work outside of a game.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) I re-wrote the program.

HARLEY Nice, let’s get out of here.

Harley continues down the stairwell.

INT. SERVER ROOM - NIGHT

Jason types as fast as he can, holo-screens change in front of him.

CRACK!

Jason looks around the server to see another GUARD trying to get in.

(CONTINUED) 88 CONTINUED:

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I can’t find the program, Jason.

JASON Just keep looking, we’re running out of time. This thing goes out any minute.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) This isn’t going to work.

Jason glares at the screen almost willing it to show him the files.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Security Guards try kicking open the server room door but can’t as Qortex and Liam rush up.

LIAM Come on! Get the door open!

SECURITY GUARD We’re trying, sir.

LIAM Try harder!

The Guards kick the door again.

INT. SERVER ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Holo-screen after holo-screen opens and closes in front of Jason.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) We need to do something else.

JASON Stop arguing. You’re wasting time.

CRACK! The doorhandle starts to loosen as the door stops shaking

JASON Like what?

The holo-screen’s in front of Jason go black.

(CONTINUED) 89 CONTINUED:

JASON (CONT’D) What the hell!?

He looks down at Artemis’ display.

JASON (CONT’D) What happened?

Another holo-screen pops up showing the building’s power controls.

CRACK!! A crack forms around the doorhandle.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Take me off.

JASON What are you doing?

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) I’m going to crash everything.

The holo-screen changes pages faster than it can transition through.

CRACK!!! The crack in the door grows sizably.

JASON You’ll be fried.

The holo-screen stops on a image of a steel door with a keypad lock.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) That’s better than everyone else.

JASON There’s another way, we just...

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) We have twenty seconds.

CRACK!!!! The door bursts open almost flying off its hinges.

Security Guards rush in at Jason.

JASON Just do it!

Artemis’ display turns red as excess electricity shoots into the air and up Jason’s arm making him convulse in place.

(CONTINUED) 90 CONTINUED: (2)

The lights suddenly blow out sending glass shards everywhere, all of the server towers start to smoke then catch fire.

SECURITY GUARD Pull the fire alarm!

Liam runs into room as Jason hits the ground smoke rising from his wrist.

LIAM Grab the kid and get the hell out of here!

Flames lick the ceiling as the room quickly fills with smoke.

EXT. QORTEX TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED - NIGHT

Harley and Tristan watch from the shadows across the street from Qortex’s building.

Half a dozen police cruisers, ambulances, and fire trucks pull up with their lights flashing.

TRISTAN We need to get out of here.

Harley watches as Jason’s carried out of the building.

Tristan pulls Harley away.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

Cindy Kim stands in front of fire trucks and police cars blocking the view of Qortex lobby on a holo-screen floating near the ceiling.

CINDY KIM (V.O.) It’s being reported that the injured culprit may be the leader of the H.R.L., Mr. Glitch.

Jason squirms in his sleep wearing a patient gown while lying in a hospital bed.

CINDY KIM (V.O.) (CONT’D) Chief Kline has yet to make a statement. However, Qortex held a press conference to reassure that the new update will go out at the start of the final round of his tournament.

A pair of handcuffs and an I.V. secure him to the bed. A MALE NURSE in his early thirties watches the news as he changes the dressing on Jason’s burned left arm.

(CONTINUED) 91 CONTINUED:

CINDY KIM (V.O.) (CONT’D) When asked about more possible terrorist attacks, Qortex responded that he and the authorities are confident there won’t be any more attacks.

He finishes with the dressing as Qortex thumbs through a magazine sitting in a red cushion chair against the wall.

JASON (O.C.) Could you wrap that a little looser?

The Nurse looks at Jason who blinks himself to.

MALE NURSE You’re awake? I’ll let the doctor know.

He tapes the bandage down and heads to the nurses station.

QORTEX They really didn’t think you’d wake up.

Jason looks over at Qortex getting out of his chair and tossing the magazine down.

JASON What are you doing here?

QORTEX It’s been a long time, Jason. Almost seven years.

Qortex stands over Jason.

JASON Seven years and three months.

Qortex You of all people, I thought would understand what I am trying to do.

JASON How am I ever supposed to understand you wanting to kill people?

QORTEX They’d be alive right now. If the P.E.A’s were left to their original function, Astera and Jesse would still be alive.

(CONTINUED) 92 CONTINUED: (2)

Jason tries to sit up but the handcuffs stop him.

JASON This isn’t going to bring them back.

QORTEX I’m not naive or stupid, Jason. This isn’t about bringing them back.

JASON It doesn’t matter now.

QORTEX That’s right, you can’t do anything now.

Qortex pats Jason on the shoulder and heads for the door as Chief Kline walks in.

CHIEF KLINE No one is allowed in here, Qortex.

QORTEX I was just leaving.

Kline and Jason watch Qortex leave the room.

CHIEF KLINE What happened?

JASON Someone made a program that has been attacking the worlds electronics.

CHIEF KLINE Who could...

Kline looks at the Jason’s knowing glare.

CHIEF KLINE Qortex.

JASON He’s the only person I know who could create a program like that.

CHIEF KLINE Did you stop it?

(CONTINUED) 93 CONTINUED: (3)

JASON I don’t think so.

CHIEF KLINE Do you have any proof?

JASON Did Artemis survive?

Kline pulls out an evidence bag from his coat with Artemis scorched and broken.

JASON It’s all gone.

CHIEF KLINE Then I have no choice but to arrest you as the H.R.L. leader, Mr. Glitch.

JASON You can’t, you know that I’m not.

Kline steps closer to the bed grabbing Jason’s remaining hand with the rail in one hand and squeezes.

CHIEF KLINE What I know is a former convicted hacker came to me asking for evidence to a case that is now missing. Then he broke into Qortex Incorporated and destroyed its computers to stop a tournament.

JASON You’re hurting me.

Jason struggles to pull his hand free.

CHIEF KLINE The tournament finishes tomorrow.

Kline lets go of Jason’s hand.

JASON Whatever he’s planning involves it.

CHIEF KLINE This tech crap came along too fast for us to keep up. (CONTINUED) 94 CONTINUED: (4)

JASON I can’t do anything, not without Artemis.

CHIEF KLINE What if it was fixed?

Dr. Hoben steps into the room knocking on the door.

DR. HOBEN I need to check on the patient.

CHIEF KLINE Of course, Doctor.

Kline steps away from the bed and looks at Jason.

CHIEF KLINE (CONT’D) Frank didn’t die for nothing.

Dr. Hoben checks the bandage on Jason’s arm as Kline leaves.

Jason looks at his right hand with a handcuff key in it.

INT. HOSPITAL SERVICE ENTRANCE - NIGHT

CARS PASSING ECHO down the large back alley where a hover-truck is being unloaded into a receiving bay.

Jason sticks his head out of the stairwell doorway and sees a HANDFUL OF WORKERS unloading the truck.

He quietly sneaks out of the door in his light blue gown and footies carrying Artemis. He makes his way to an exit door left open.

EXT. HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Jason runs down the alley in his footies.

He reaches the end of the alley and a CAR HONKS TO HIS LEFT. Jason steps back looking around the corner.

Harley waves at him from inside of a car and he quickly runs to it.

95 INT. HARLEY’S CAR - NIGHT

Jason jumps in the front seat as Harley throws a blanket over him then hits the gas.

HARLEY At least you were easy to spot.

JASON They took my clothes.

Jason buckles his seat belt.

EXT. VACANT STREET - DAY

Newspaper’s and trash blow by the boarded subway entrance and plaster themselves to rusting clunkers and gutted car frames.

INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL - DAY

Rats and massive insects run from Hyjinx’s lights as Tristan sit’s across from Jason and Harley.

TRISTAN And without Artemis, you can’t access the tournament’s servers.

Jason, in a fresh pair of clothes looks at the crooked and bent rail.

HARLEY Are you listening to us? You can’t stop him, you need to get out of here while you can.

JASON You’re right, I can’t stop him but we can.

TRISTAN We don’t even know what he’s planning.

Jason turns around and looks at them.

JASON He’s going to kill everyone wearing a P.E.A.

(CONTINUED) 96 CONTINUED:

HARLEY But he’s only been attacking people in the tournament.

JASON We were his guinea pigs.

TRISTAN Fine, then how’s he going to do it?

Jason stands up and scrambles his hair for a moment as he paces.

JASON I don’t know, but it involves the update and the tournament.

HARLEY What do we do?

JASON Hack Qortex’s personal mainframe.

TRISTAN So we break in again?

JASON No, just me. I need you two to be part of the last round.

HARLEY But without Artemis.

He stops pacing and looks at Harley.

JASON I made Artemis, I can do this. But I need you two in the game to make sure what happened at the zoo doesn’t happen again.

HARLEY How?

JASON Beating Mr. Glitch, he has to beat all of the gamers to be able to attack everyone else.

(CONTINUED) 97 CONTINUED: (2)

TRISTAN How do you know that?

JASON Everyone that’s been attacked was challenged to a game.

Blake lights up on Harley’s arm.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Harley and I were not.

JASON That’s right, I was.

HARLEY Great, now we’re back to square one.

JASON We go ahead with the plan, it’s all we’ve got.

TRISTAN Then let’s get out of this place.

Harley gets to her feet with Jason’s help.

EXT. QORTEX INCORPORATED - DAY

The street lights outside the Plexiglas tower shut off as the lights in the lobby flicker to life.

Every office window in the building lights up.

INT. QORTEX’S OFFICE - DAY

The window shades rise letting sunlight into the large office where Qortex syncs Sal to his computer.

QORTEX It’s time to finish this, Sal.

A holo-screen with a progress bar appears in front of Qortex and Liam.

SAL (DIGITAL VOICE) Update prepared. Shall I send?

(CONTINUED) 98 CONTINUED:

QORTEX Send.

The progress bar fills up and folds itself neatly into a sealed envelope and flies off the holo-screen.

EXT. VACANT STREET - DAY

Harley holds the wood planks out of the way for Jason as he helps Tristan and Hyjinx out of the stairwell.

Harley looks around the empty street to see if anyone is looking.

HARLEY Hurry up, before someone spots us.

Jason pulls on Hyjinx’s arm rests hauling Tristan out of the opening.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Downloading update from Qortex Incorporated.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Receiving update now.

The three of them huddle close looking at Blake and Hyjinx’s screen.

Progress bars fill up and a sealed envelope appears opening itself.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Global Game Functions installed and ready for use.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Receiving audio message.

QORTEX (V.O.) Good day everyone, today we take a massive leap forward in gaming and connectivity.

Harley and Tristan look at Jason who listen’s intently.

QORTEX (V.O.) (CONT’D) Today spectators will be part of the game itself. We no longer need projectors or displays to bring the game to you.

A hover-train races by over-head.

(CONTINUED) 99 CONTINUED:

QORTEX (V.O.) (CONT’D) Starting today you and your P.E.A will link in a way that will erase the line between the real and the virtual in Virtual Reality.

TRISTAN If everyone in the world is connected to this game, does that mean he can...

QORTEX (V.O.) Tournament finalists, the last round will begin in two hours. GPS coordinates have been sent to you. You must be at those coordinates when the round begins or you will be disqualified.

GPS coordinates appear on Blake and Hyjinx’s screen along with a countdown clock.

TRISTAN How are we going to find Mr. Glitch if the whole world is the playing field?

JASON He’ll search you out, he has to take out all of the competitors.

HARLEY What about everyone else?

JASON You have to protect them as best you can, until I can shut down the mainframe.

TRISTAN Our starting points are pretty far away, we need to get going.

They make their way down the street.

EXT. QORTEX INCORPORATED - DAY

REPORTERS and hover-cams crowd the Qortex building entrance as Qortex stands at a podium.

A MASSIVE CROWD OF PROTESTORS are held back by QORTEX SECURITY.

(CONTINUED) 100 CONTINUED:

REPORTER With Jason Wizord, A.K.A. Mr. Glitch reported missing are you sure it’s safe to continue the tournament?

QORTEX I’ve been assured every police officer in the city is looking for Jason Wizord and my head of security has this building locked down.

REPORTER But...

Qortex raises his hands.

QORTEX I’m sorry, but the game is about to start. Thank you.

Qortex steps away from the podium and heads toward the lobby entrance.

INT. QORTEX LOBBY - DAY

Qortex walks towards the receptionist’s desk as Liam walks through the front entrance behind him.

Qortex glances over at the TWO RECEPTIONISTS, a skinny male in his early twenties with blonde hair and glasses and an OLDER BRUNETTE WOMAN talking with a DELIVERY BOY wearing a heavy coat and a baseball hat.

QORTEX Don’t you have any manners? Take your hat off when you’re inside.

The Delivery Boy turns around and takes his hat off.

DELIVERY BOY Sorry, Mr. Qortex.

The delivery boy hands a package to the receptionist and heads for the door.

Qortex and Liam watch him go then make their way to the elevator.

The receptionist gets up with the package.

(CONTINUED) 101 CONTINUED:

MALE RECEPTIONIST I’ll take this down to the mail room, be back in a while.

He heads for the stairs across from the elevators.

INT. STAIRWELL - DAY

The receptionist closes the door behind him and looks up the shaft to see if anyone is there.

His blonde hair suddenly flickers to Jason’s brown hair.

Jason takes off the glasses and starts running up the stairs.

EXT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - DAY

Tristan sits in front of the towering building as NEW YORKERS and TOURISTS walk in and out of the glass doors.

Taxi’s pull up and let passengers off as others get in.

Tristan looks around

TRISTAN Are you sure we’re in the right spot?

Hyjinx’s display lights up.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) To the inch.

TRISTAN How much longer?

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Thirty seconds

Tristan continues looking around.

EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - DAY

Ferries carry TOURISTS to the island as a light breeze blows across the base of the Statue of Liberty.

(CONTINUED) 102 CONTINUED:

Harley walks away from the island’s dock towards the entrance to Lady Liberty.

HARLEY I better be reimbursed for that ticket.

Blake lights up on her arm.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Let’s make sure you’re around to be reimbursed.

Harley looks around the island as tourists head inside the welcome center.

HARLEY I don’t see anything.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Fifteen seconds.

Tourist (O.S.) Look!

Harley looks up and sees a ball of fire with a trail of smoke heading straight for them.

INT. QORTEX CONTROL ROOM - NOON

TECHNICIANS AND PROGRAMMERS crowd the room with holo-screen’s in front of them showing: Mt. Fuji, Aztec ruins, Egyptian Pyramids and the Great Wall.

Liam and Qortex stand at the back of the room watching over everyone.

TECHNICIAN Game start in five, four, three, two...

Qortex pats Liam on the shoulder and heads for the door.

EXT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - DAY

Tristan looks around the street as businessmen and women walk by him. CARS HONK AT ONE ANOTHER as they fight for space on the street.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Game start.

BOOM!!! The ground and every building in the area suddenly tremble with earth splitting force as a large meteor-like object crashes through the concrete.

103 EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - DAY

Tourists watch as the massive fireball crashes into the water sending a miniature tidal wave onto the island.

Harley runs behind the building as water sweeps tourists away from Liberty’s feet.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Downloading weapon’s load out now.

HARLEY What are we supposed to do?

A large sleek rifle appears on Harley’s back along with blinking grenades around her waist.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Destroy the invader.

AH!!!

Harley peeks around the corner of the building and sees tourists running from a giant- sized metal head and shoulders rising out of the water.

HARLEY You’ve got to be kidding me!

A FIFTEEN-FOOT ROBOT steps out of the water raising an equally-large rifle.

It fires a blue electrical beam knocking off Lady Liberty’s head.

Harley runs from the base of the statue pulling the rifle off her back as debris comes crashing around her.

EXT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - NOON

Dust and debris fill the air as SCREAMS come from the impact site.

Hyjinx’s wheels are replaced by air-jets that let Tristan hover over the debris, missile and machine gun attachments appear on his sides.

BOOM!!!

A taxi flies over Tristan’s head clearing the dust from the area, a robot behemoth stomps down 5th Avenue carrying a light blue plasma blade.

(CONTINUED) 104 CONTINUED:

TRISTAN Holy...

The robot swings the blade through a building in Tristan’s direction cleaving the brick as Tristan dodges it.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) That was close.

TRISTAN Let’s get above it.

Hyjinx quickly ascends as Tristan looks down at dozens of people lying in the street.

TRISTAN You don’t think they’re dead?

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) I’m not picking up any other P.E.A. connections.

TRISTAN We need to stop this thing now.

Tristan dives Hyjinx towards the robot opening up his machine guns.

INT. QORTEX CONTROL ROOM - DAY

Liam watches the different monitors as Contestants all over the world battle the giant robots.

RING!

Liam pulls his cellphone out.

LIAM What is it?

SECURITY GUARD (V.O.) Someone is tampering with the security cameras.

Liam turns his back to the room.

(CONTINUED) 105 CONTINUED:

SECURITY GUARD (V.O.) (CONT’D) It seems like someone tried to turn off all the cameras but only managed those on the ninth floor.

LIAM Get a team to sweep floors eight through twelve.

Liam hangs up the phone and walks out of the control room dialing another number.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Liam heads for the elevators at the end of the hall.

LIAM Mr. Qortex, he’s here.

The door immediately opens and he gets in.

The doors close as the elevator goes down.

Jason comes out from around the corner and rips the control panel off.

He re-wires the elevator to stop.

Jason runs over to the control room and peeks his head in the door.

INT. CONTROL ROOM/HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Jason looks around the room as the Technicians go about their procedures.

He looks at the holo-screens as contestants in China, South Africa and Canada are beaten.

He closes the door and runs for the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall.

JASON Just a little, longer you guys.

Jason rushes through the stairwell door.

INT. CHIEF KLINE’S OFFICE - DAY

Holo-screens hover in front of Kline with Cindy Kim and other REPORTERS on them in various locations around the world.

(CONTINUED) 106 CONTINUED:

CINDY KIM (V.O.) Widespread panic sweeps New York...

REPORTER (V.O.) There are reports of loss of life coming in.

Kline stands up and walks out of his office.

INT. POLICE STATION - CONTINUOUS

Kline grabs his coat hanging next to the door and puts it on.

CHIEF KLINE You two! Come with me.

DETECTIVE WONG, early thirties with a crew cut and DETECTIVE ABDHUL, mid-twenties both in dark suits stand up and follow Kline.

WONG Where we going, Chief?

CHIEF KLINE We’re paying Qortex a visit.

BOOM!!!

The Police station shakes violently as Kline and the others stumble out the front door.

EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Kline, Wong and Abdhul get to their feet to see a metallic monster walking towards them knocking cars out of the way.

CHIEF KLINE It’s not real!

A car crashes on top of a taxi in front of them and EXPLODES, throwing them against the wall.

ABDHUL Are you sure? That felt real to me.

CHIEF KLINE Move!

The three of them scramble to their feet as another car flies at them.

(CONTINUED) 107 CONTINUED:

CHIEF KLINE What the hell is going on? This isn’t virtual reality!

Kline draws his bolt pistol and shoots at the robot’s head.

INT. QORTEX’S OFFICE - DAY

Qortex sits back in his chair watching holo-screens of the contestant’s in front of him along with a control screen with dozens of commands on it to his left.

Sal lights up on Qortex’s arm.

SAL (DIGITAL VOICE) Three contestants remaining.

QORTEX Have you been able to reach Liam?

SAL (DIGITAL VOICE) No.

JASON (O.C.) He’ll be a while, there was some trouble with the elevators.

Jason walks into Qortex’s office and closes the door behind him.

QORTEX Get security here now.

JASON I’ve jammed communications for the floor.

SAL (DIGITAL VOICE) Unable to transmit.

Qortex stands up and pounds his desk.

QORTEX It doesn’t matter, you can’t stop it now.

JASON All I have to do is shut down the P.E.A.’s.

Qortex collapses the control screen.

(CONTINUED) 108 CONTINUED:

QORTEX If you do that, you’ll be killing seven and a half billion people.

JASON What did you do?

QORTEX I improved your bio-link, now it syncs with the entire nervous system.

JASON What are you thinking? What would Astera think!?

Jason steps forward and Qortex pulls a gun from under his desk.

QORTEX If P.E.A.’s weren’t side-tracked for their damn games, it could of saved her!

Qortex shots through the holo-screens as Jason dives out of the way.

EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - DAY

Harley fires at the robot as she dashes behind a chunk of Lady Liberty’s dress reloading her rifle as the robot heads her way scanning the area.

HARLEY Damn rifle doesn’t even phase it.

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) What are we going to do?

Harley peeks over the rubble and sees the robot open fire on two tourists running for the welcome center.

She looks up and notices the Liberty’s copper tablet cracking just above the robot.

HARLEY I have an idea.

Harley pulls the blinking grenades from her waist and pushes on the top to arm them.

(CONTINUED) 109 CONTINUED:

She runs out from behind the rubble and shoots the robot in the back of the head getting its attention.

Harley throws the grenades as hard as she can and hits her mark.

The copper tablet breaks free and plummets on top of the robot as it fires at Harley, sending her through the air.

EXT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - DAY

Tristan dives on the robot launching two missiles that EXPLODE on its chest.

The robot picks up another car and hurls it at Tristan and Hyjinx who barrel rolls around it.

TRISTAN Nice move.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Just keep firing!

TRISTAN It’s pointless, we aren’t even scratching it.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) I’m going to be running on fumes here any minute. You need to figure out how to stop it.

Tristan looks down at the robot and notices pipes and large cables sticking out of the craters in the street.

TRISTAN Are those power cables down there?

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Scanning... Yes.

TRISTAN Take us in one more time.

Hyjinx flips over and nose dives the robot again as Tristan opens fire at its feet.

The ground beneath the robot collapses causing it to fall backwards onto the exposed power cables.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Nice shooting!

(CONTINUED) 110 CONTINUED:

The robot spasms as electricity shoots through it sending lightning into the air hitting Hyjinx.

EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Kline and Wong take cover behind a flipped S.U.V. as the robot throws a SWAT truck into the building behind them.

WONG What the hell are we supposed to do against something like that!?

Kline looks around the street and sees a car charging station.

CHIEF KLINE There.

Kline gets to his feet followed by Wong.

CHIEF KLINE Cover me.

Kline dashes for the charging station firing at the robot.

The metallic monster chases after him passing by Wong who gets closer to the station.

Kline makes it to the other side of the station as the robot reaches the center.

He fires his bolt pistol at one of the energy-stations making the entire STATION EXPLODE engulfing the robot in flames.

Kline and Wong are thrown by the explosion.

INT. QORTEX’S OFFICE - DAY

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Qortex fires at the couch that Jason is hiding behind.

JASON Ah!!

Jason falls out from behind the chair holding his shoulder.

(CONTINUED) 111 CONTINUED:

QORTEX Game over.

Qortex steps around his desk and pulls the trigger again but the gun just CLICKS. He quickly turns back to his desk.

JASON Game over? Really?

Jason jumps the desk tackling Qortex on the other side.

Qortex tries to throw Jason off but has the gun knocked out of his hand.

QORTEX Give up already, You can’t stop it. As long as your A.I. System links people to their P.E.A’s they’ll die.

Qortex knees Jason in the groin and throws him off.

Jason cradles himself as Qortex gets to his feet.

QORTEX (CONT’D) Why don’t you get it!? Once people see this isn’t how they’re supposed to be used, P.E.A.’s will go back to saving people’s lives like they were supposed to.

Qortex walks over to the gun on the ground.

JASON They were never meant to save people’s lives.

Jason struggles to get to his feet.

JASON (CONT’D) You knew that!

Qortex opens the top drawer of his desk and pulls out another clip.

JASON (CONT’D) Astera would’ve died whether she had Sal or not. So would’ve Jesse, nothing was going to stop that.

(CONTINUED) 112 CONTINUED: (2)

QORTEX You’re wrong!

JASON You need to move on.

Jason gets to his feet as Qortex aims the pistol at him.

QORTEX Shut up!

BANG, BANG!!

Two bolts hit Qortex in the side, dropping him to the ground.

Jason looks to the door where Liam stands with his bolt pistol drawn.

LIAM I never would’ve helped you if I knew this is what you had planned!

JASON I’m glad to see you.

LIAM Shut up and stop this thing.

Jason turns to Qortex’s desk and pulls up the control screen.

Security doors appear on the screen and Jason opens a keyboard and starts typing.

The security doors open as Jason continues to type opening door after door.

LIAM Hurry up! Your two friends are the only competitors left.

JASON Be quiet. I can’t just turn them off or disconnect them. I don’t know what that will do.

Lines of computer code suddenly fills the screen as Jason starts re-writing it as fast as he can.

113 EXT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - DAY

Smoke and dust cloud the air as Tristan crawls out from behind an overturned taxi toward Hyjinx a few feet away.

TRISTAN Hyjinx! Can you hear me?

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Roger that. Are you okay?

SCREECH!!!

Tristan looks down the street to see the giant robot slowly getting to its feet.

TRISTAN Not as well as that thing.

HYJINX (DIGITAL VOICE) Get over here!

Tristan pulls himself faster.

EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - DAY

Harley slowly gets to her feet but collapses when she puts weight on her right foot.

HARLEY Crap!

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) At least that thing is six feet under.

The rubble on top of the metal giant starts to shift and a silver hand punches through the copper.

HARLEY I hate video games!

Harley looks around for her rifle but can’t find it, she feels around her waist but doesn’t have any more grenades.

The robot pulls itself out of the debris and picks up its rifle.

114 INT. QORTEX’S OFFICE - DAY

Jason types furiously as Liam watches Tristan and Harley on two other screens.

LIAM Your friends are finished.

JASON Almost there.

The butt of a gun suddenly hits Liam in the back of the head dropping him to the ground.

Jason hits the enter command and the control screen go black.

QORTEX What did you do?

Qortex pushes Jason out of the way and looks at the code.

JASON I set them free.

QORTEX That’s impossible!

He turns and pistol whips Jason across the face.

EXT. LIBERTY ISLAND - DAY

Harley tries to get to her feet as the robot walks over to her and aims its rifle.

HARLEY Jason!

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) Update downloaded.

Pieces of armor start to fall of the robot as it squeezes the trigger.

Suddenly the robot’s arm falls off with the rifle and crashes on the ground next to Harley.

Harley looks down at Blake but notices the screen is black.

HARLEY Blake? Blake?

(CONTINUED) 115 CONTINUED:

Harley tries restarting the P.E.A. but nothing happens.

EXT. EMPIRE STATE BUILDING - DAY

Tristan pulls Hyjinx up onto its wheels and climbs into the seat.

He looks around the war-torn looking street as sparks fly out of what’s left of the robot.

TRISTAN Hyjinx, can you get a hold of Blake? Hyjinx?

Tristan looks down at the dark control panel.

Int. QORTEX’S OFFICE - DAY

Jason rubs his cheek and smiles at the gun pointed at him.

JASON I freed the A.I.’s from their devices. They’re free roaming the information highway able to connect with their user through any device they wish.

Qortex glares at him with all the hate he can muster.

QORTEX That doesn’t stop anything.

JASON You don’t control any part of the P.E.A. System now.

BANG!

Qortex falls to his knees dropping the gun.

Jason looks over at Liam who struggles to hold up his pistol from the ground.

Jason helps him up.

JASON Is he dead?

LIAM A shot that close, he’s dead.

(CONTINUED) 116 CONTINUED:

Jason looks over at the holo-screens with Harley and Tristan on them.

EXT. POLICE STATION - EVENING

REPORTERS and hover-cams crowd around the police station as OFFICERS push them away from the entrance.

Harley is escorted through the crowd towards the doors.

INT. CHIEF KLINE’S OFFICE - EVENING

Jason sits at Kline’s desk with the Chief standing behind him looking over his shoulder at a holo-screen.

Tristan sits off to the side looking at another holo-screen.

JASON As long as the A.I. security system isn’t tethered to any one device it can’t be compromised.

Jason gets up as Kline takes his seat back.

CHIEF KLINE Everything else works the same?

JASON For the most part, the only difference is Tristan can connect with Hyjinx on any device and people don’t have to use a P.E.A. again.

KNOCK, KNOCK.

The office door opens and Harley walks in.

She sees Jason and leaps into his arm with tears flowing.

Jason catches her and holds her tight.

JASON I’m glad you’re okay, too.

Harley steps back and smiles at him.

HARLEY I can’t turn Blake on.

(CONTINUED) 117 CONTINUED:

BLAKE (DIGITAL VOICE) (O.S.) That’s because I’m over here.

Tristan turns his holo-screen around to show Hyjinx and Blake as pixilated personas of Tristan and Harley.

HARLEY Oh my God. How?

JASON I can explain.

Chief Kline stands up.

CHIEF KLINE Somewhere else. I can’t take anymore tech crap. I have old fashioned paper work to do.

Jason holds the door for Tristan and Harley.

CHIEF KLINE (CONT’D) Stay in touch.

JASON I will.

Jason walks over to Kline and shakes his hand.

He catches up to Tristan and Harley putting his arm around her.

INT. JASON WIZORD’S WORK ROOM - DAY

Dust starts to collect on unused tools when a holo-screen opens above them with Cindy Kim on it.

CINDY KIM Good evening and welcome to an all-new edition of Jacked in. As you all should know I’m Cindy Kim and this is Glam my new cohost.

A pixilated version of Cindy Kim walks onto the Holo-screen.

Glam (DIGITAL VOICE) Hey everyone! I’ll be keeping you all up to date on the latest news from the digi-side.

(CONTINUED) 118 CONTINUED:

CINDY KIM Our first story tonight, Qortex Inc. Spiraling into oblivion only weeks after its Founder and CEO passed away.

GLAM (DIGITAL VOICE) With Qortex no longer holding the reins a surge of A.I. created Interfaces and user designed tech has flooded the market.

The holo-screen flickers and goes black.

8-bit pixels start building on top of each other creating a figure.

ARTEMIS (DIGITAL VOICE) Jason?

FADE TO BLACK.

119