artifact.txt Version 1.01 Copyright 2000 William Matheson
A full disclaimer can be viewed on the bottom of this document.

DEDICATION:

To whom The Artifact would show me.

Remember kids, don't do all your work on floppies and make sure you always back up your data!

CAST: (three categories, in order of appearance)

- The ta'veren

MOLLY - A woman to whom The Artifact brings some pressing issues.

MICHAEL - Our scientist and smart guy. Hated by Meghan. Is exiled, but he will return triumphantly and rally us together. A member of the Student's Council.

LAURIE - A good friend of Michael's. Also very bright.

MEGHAN - A woman who is getting along well in life, but won't stop to pat herself on the back. She is paranoid of everyone, thinking they're all making fun of her. She hates Michael for this 'reason', and she has an innate hatred for Theadore as well, but on the surface she doesn't know why. A woman with hidden talents. Also a member of the Student's Council.

CRAIG - A sitting-on-the-fence prep who has been shocked out of his prejudices and into near-emptiness. Another person on the Student's Council.

NOLA - A woman trying to put the puzzle pieces together who may be able to help Craig. May develop a weird friendship with Alex as well.

ALEX - A guy of a down-to-earthness and of a higher intellect. Enjoys a good joke and telling stories. He is developing an affinity for Nola.

THEADORE - Impossible to describe in a sentence. Meghan sure hates him, maybe she's seeing something everybody else isn't.

ANDRÉA - The woman who appears to Molly. She eventually manages to simultaneously ruin her life and make it worth living.

LEADER - A shapely woman who leads the FBRT assault on CPA. A ruthless killer, but that's how they're raised out in the Fall Badlands nowadays...

COMLINK - The manifestation of FBRT commands. Who could it be that has the power to command someone as fearsome as The Leader?

COMM OFFICER - A *very* cute and *very* cool communications, demolition, and security expert of the FBRT.

- The teachers and faculty

MACKENZIE - As of 2010, Staff Advisor for the Student's Council.

LEROUX - As of 2010, Principal. A man who is just trying to do his thankless job.

BURKE - As of 2010, a Biology teacher.

LAVALLEE - As of 2010, a Biology teacher.

QUINLAN - As of 2010, the *upper* Vice-Principal.

LAW - As of 2010, a Geography teacher.

HAMILTON-B - As of 2010, a Geography teacher.

MACDUFF - As of 2010, a CRS teacher.

MEAD - As of 2010, a Quantum Cosmology, Particle Science, Nuclear Fusion, and Biology teacher.

KENNEDY - As of 2010, an Accounting teacher.

RAY - As of 2010, an English teacher.

ZINCK - As of 2010, a Drama teacher.

SAVAGE - As of 2010, a Film and Video teacher.

MACDONALD - As of 2010, a Chemistry teacher. And shorter than ever.

- The wallpaper

MARIA - A fair-weather friend of Molly's.

EDNA - A secretary.

ANNA - The woman who appears to Craig.

KRISTI - A *very* cynical friend of Maria's.

JENN - A woman of logic and reasoning who provides support for Julie.

JULIE - The current obsession of Theadore, a pretty woman with a sarcastic personality.

JASON - The boy who appears to Meghan. Even hollow people like Meghan deserve someone...

CHRISTIANSEN - Michael's mother. A big, loud woman.

DAVIDSON - A lieutenant of The Leader.

SYMMONDS - Another lieutenant of The Leader. But they don't know that the beautiful Comm Officer has all the *real* power! hehe

AMBASSADOR - Sackville High's Ambassador to C.P. Allen. He is true to his word.

TELEPLAY:

BLANK SCREEN

Text on screen

IMPORTANT: The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons (besides the real teachers) living or dead or actual real events is purely coincidental.

ALSO: Some aspects of certain personalities in this story may upset and / or offend some viewers. No offense is intended, although we are making every effort to push the envelope and tell it like it is.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT: The actors (anyone besides the real teachers) are portraying ficticious characters, not themselves. Any aspect of a characters personality that an actor or actress must portray does not necessairly extend to the personality of the actor or actress. We ask you to please keep this in mind before jumping to conclusions about the personalities of our actors.

INT. SOLARIUM - SUNNY DAY (2F)

Various shots of students milling about the area in different groups - director's choice as to specific composition.

Text on screen

The Artifact is what it was called...
wait a second... you don't call things 'it'.
Not important things like this.
But it was simply called The Artifact because
in all the courses of our misadventures, no one
suggested a better name for it.

Pause

Well, that's my point-oh-two K worth.

Remember kids, don't do all your work on floppies and make sure you always back up your data!

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY (1F)

MOLLY and MARIA are sitting facing each other at a table. Molly is under some duress, and Maria looks at her with concern.

MOLLY
I hate this...

MARIA
...

MOLLY
I want to cry. Why can't I just go somewhere and cry?

MARIA
...

INT. MAIN LOBBY - NIGHT (1F)

MICHAEL is rushing inside out of the cold winter night, carrying THE ARTIFACT in his hands. The Artifact is a silver object of a shape with a name that this screenwriter is still trying to figure out... none of the math teachers were able to help him much. LAURIE is standing inside the Main Lobby waiting for him.

Brooke Barnard told me that I should describe The Artifact for the techie people, should this script get filmed. The Artifact is a silver three-pointed flat-on-the-bottom triangle, for lack of a better way to describe it. It's not very big, for it fits snugly into the palms of Michael's hands.

MICHAEL (proudly)
I found it!

LAURIE
Found what?

MICHAEL
Uh... this. It was lying out there in the snow.

LAURIE (sour-sweetly)
Oh, picking up garbage now, are we?

MICHAEL
Well, I don't know that it's garbage. (Examines Artifact) The object intriuges me. I'll have to figure out what it does, though.

LAURIE
Cool. Hey, I wonder why it's so shiny...

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DAY (3F)

We're stationed in the hall just outside Room 321 (Ms. MacKenzie's room). It looks as if a committee meeting of some sort was over a few minutes ago, and now MACKENZIE and MEGHAN are packing up their things.

MACKENZIE
... And I guess that's all for now then. See you tomorrow.

MEGHAN
Bye.

Michael slowly begins to walk by in front of the door, carrying The Artifact. Meghan notices, a worried look on her face.

MEGHAN (voice-over)
Oh no, there's Michael again. I wonder what he'll say to me this time.

Michael simply nods and waves to MacKenzie and Meghan, then continues on his way towards Room 325.

MEGHAN (voice-over)
What?? He didn't say anything?? Well, that was probably just because Ms. MacKenzie was here. He must have had something bad to say to me on his mind. He's so mean...

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

Michael enters, carrying The Artifact. Laurie is seated at a table. Otherwise, the classroom is empty of people.

MICHAEL
I've got it again.

LAURIE
Why'd you take it out of your locker?

MICHAEL
Well, I didn't think I'd learn anything about it if I kept it locked up in there, so I figured what the heck, and I took it out.

LAURIE
Sounds like a plan.

MICHAEL
Yep. (he sets The Artifact down on the table and takes a seat)

LAURIE
Michael, I've been thinking. Do you think we should tell someone about finding this?

MICHAEL
Why? No one seems to be looking for it.

LAURIE
Oh, okay...

MICHAEL
Besides, if we tell someone, we won't be able to study this thing anymore. We won't be allowed within 10 kilometers of it if some authority gets their hands on it. I think we should keep it to ourselves for now.

LAURIE
Good thinking.

INT. LEROUX'S OFFICE - DAY (1F)

LEROUX is seated behind his desk, typing something. The phone rings and he picks it up.

LEROUX
Hello, Charles P. Allen High School. ... No, I haven't seen anything like that. ... Are you certain? ... Well okay, I'll have my people looking for it then. ... Alright. Thank you. Goodbye. (he hangs up)

LEROUX (so as to be heard)
Edna, have you seen a silver triangular-shaped object anywhere?

EDNA (from Main Office)
No, I haven't.

LEROUX (so as to be heard)
Oh, alright. Thanks.

LEROUX (voice-over)
I've never heard of such a thing. I wonder what it is and why they want it...

LeRoux picks up a memo and walks out. We follow behind him all the way to the Staff Room. Along the way, we see the MESSAGE SIGN saying "Good morning CPA... Today is Wednesday, January 13th, 2010 day 3...", we also see the TV screen running Microsoft PowerPoint with "Stay tuned for another exciting episode of Steve Yorke and friends!" displayed, and we see by the CPA Staff photo board on the first landing of the Main Stairwell that there are only 10 teachers plying their trade at CPA. Soon we follow Mr. LeRoux into the far (from the 2F Corridor) entrance of the Staff Room. BURKE and LAVALLEE are seated talking, they are the only ones there. Lavallee notices the memo he is carrying.

LAVALLEE
That's not the memo we've been waiting for, is it?

LEROUX
I'm afraid it is.

BURKE
Well I guess I meant it when I said I'd be here 'till they turn the lights out.

LAVALLEE
Wow... Thirty-two years... it sure went by quickly.

LEROUX
Yeah, it's really too bad... but hey, we should think of it as a reunification of the school community right?

BURKE
Try telling that to the hockey teams.

LAVALLEE
Heh-heh... So when do we go back over?

LEROUX
Right when we go back to school in September... oh wait, 'school', that reminds me... Have either of you seen a triangularly-shaped silver object anyplace?

BURKE
No, not that I know of.

LAVALLEE
No, why, who wants it?

LEROUX
The old high school out in the Fall Badlands. Someone from there phoned me just a few minutes ago wondering if we had it. They seemed quite certain that we did for some reason.

BURKE
That sounds odd.

LEROUX
It sounded odd to me too. Anyway, could you keep an eye out for it for me?

LAVALLEE
Sure.

INT. ROOM 321 - DAY (3F)

There is a Student's Council meeting in progress. Meghan, Michael, and CRAIG are present, among others. MacKenzie is addressing everyone from her desk.

MACKENZIE
I'm sure you've all heard the news by now, but here it is again. Since we're moving our school community back into Sackville High for next year, we're all trying to figure out how Student's Council Elections this spring will be handled. We all agreed that it would be a good idea to get input on this from those currently serving terms on the respective Student's Councils, especially since a lot of you will want to run for another term. We've already tabled several options for the election of the Executive, the first being...

Now we'll take a shot from behind Meghan's back.

MEGHAN (voice-over)
Oh no. From what I've been hearing, those Sackville people sound really mean. I'm sure glad I'm graduating this year so I don't have to deal with those kind of people.

... and another shot behind Craig's back.

CRAIG (voice-over)
Heh. Sackville High. I actually met a few people from Sackville High once... on a bus to and from an N-quadruple'S'-A conference. They were actually pretty cool... they must have been the only cool people ever to come out of Sackville though. Yeah... our preps and their preps...

INT. SOLARIUM - SUNNY DAY (2F)

Craig and NOLA are seated in the Solarium, Craig on the floor and Nola on the bench; both pressed a moderate distance into the corner.

CRAIG
So anyway, I says to Mabel, I says... (a woman appears beside him) Anna! What are you doing here? (she disappears) Wha? Where'd she go?

NOLA
Who was that?

CRAIG
You saw her too? That was Anna, the girl from New Brunswick I told you about! How'd she get here? I haven't seen her in years!

NOLA
I don't know... strange she would just disappear again.

CRAIG
I know... Wow, I never realized how much I missed her... <sigh>

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY (1F)

Craig and ALEX are sitting off near the Cafeteria Stairwell. The others in this scene can be seen sitting in the cafeteria near to where the 'hot food' isle is. Molly, KRISTI, and Maria are at the table we see first, JENN and JULIE are at the second table, and THEADORE is off by himself at a table down at the rear. There are a few other people in the Cafeteria, and Craig and Alex never appear on camera again during this scene.

MOLLY (groggily)
(Yawn)... I'm tired... I don't know if I'll have the energy to... (falls forward, collapsing on table)

KRISTI
What's wrong with her?

MARIA
Oh, she had to take on a second job on the night shift to make ends meet; Sobey's will only pay her 6.1K an hour, and she's a few items short of a complete Erica Stevenson wardrobe.

KRISTI
Eh? That doesn't sound like Molly.

MARIA
Uh- I dunno.

KRISTI
Us teenagers have it so rough these days... I hate having to work and come to school every day…

CRAIG (quietly, off-camera, speaking under Kristi)
Oh, she's gonna go off on one of her tangents again...

KRISTI
... it's so hard.

MARIA
I'll drink to that.

The focus shifts to the other table where Jenn and Julie are sitting.

JENN
So how did your English presentation go?

JULIE (sarcastically)
Oh, it went *great*. The whole class didn't pay any attention to me... well, except for Theadore… Man, I hate having to be creative and to talk in front of other people!

ALEX (quietly, off-camera)
Yeah, speak for yourself...

JENN
So you're like a math or science person?

JULIE
You bet! I'm getting 90's in Science Math 12. It's awesome!

MARIA (staring at Julie)
*That's* your favorite class!?

JULIE
Of course! I even find it a refreshing change of pace at the end of the day-

MARIA
(Grr...)

JENN
Hey, that English thing reminds me... how did your date go with Theadore?

JULIE
Oh, it was terrible... well like I know he likes me but his mom sure had a problem with me.

JENN
Like what?

JULIE
Well, you know *her*... She didn't like the idea of him dating anyone who wasn't like protestant or Jewish or something like that. And then she saw my nipple and navel rings and she totally flipped. Like it's *my* fault the bedroom door won't shut.

JENN
I don't know how you can stand those things, don't they always get infected?

JULIE (rolling her eyes)
D-uh! That's the point! They're supposed to get infected!! All the different designer colors of polysporin are like all the rage! I'm going to get my tongue pierced next!

ALEX (quietly, off-camera)
Aw, why do they have to talk so loud?

JENN
What about your ears?

JULIE
Nah, that's so yesterday. 'Sides, if I get my tongue pierced now, it'll make for an interesting situation when I french kiss Theadore.

JENN
Um, about that... uh... hey, you wanna go for a smoke?

JULIE
Yeah, it must have been six minutes already.

Julie and Jenn begin to leave.

JULIE (Turning to Theadore, sweetly)
Theadore, will you babysit our stuff?

THEADORE (puppy-eyed)
Sure! (he goes and sits nearer Julie's table as they leave to the hallway exit)

MARIA (quietly, so Theadore can't hear)
Huh... someone's got a crush.

KRISTI (quietly, so Theadore can't hear)
Yeah, like really. He acts like he likes her or something and it's only the first date! (normal voice) Anyway, like I was saying earlier...

ALEX (quietly, off-camera, under Kristi)
Oh, please...

KRISTI
... all this stuff about having to work if you want anything... it's like saying we don't deserve it or something. And why do we have to go to school?

MARIA
Huh? You were still talking about that?

KRISTI
Well yeah, kinda. Oh well. (pauses - then whispers so Theadore can't hear) Oh! Did you see what clothes Julie (points at empty table) wore to school yesterday?

MARIA (whispering loudly)
Yes!! Like who didn't? She wore the exact same Erica Stevenson outfit that she wore last Monday!!

KRISTI (whispering loudly)
Yeah… like what does Theadore see in her anyway? (laughing) Obviously not her looks!

MARIA (whispering loudly)
Oh c'mon, you know that all that guys really want is sex. I betcha that whole thing about him liking her is just fake.

KRISTI (louder again)
Yeah, guys suck. So why can't I get one? Like you'd think that-

CRAIG (loudly, off-camera)
Will you *shut up*?!?!

The cafeteria people, off-camera of course, roar in assent.

KRISTI (not really recognizing Craig and Alex)
Man, you know what's weird?

MARIA
Hmm?

KRISTI
All those stupid 'teenagers in school' scripts that we keep doing in Film and Video! It's like they're all the same: A bunch of whiny teenagers complaining about everything like their clothes and boyfriends... I mean, what's up with that?

MARIA
Yeah, a lot of geniuses working in *that* class.

KRISTI
Yeah, it's like... Well, you know, it's like-

CRAIG (loudly, off-camera)
Aw, c'mon lady, give us a break!!

ALEX (loudly, off-camera)
Yeah, just shut up!!

Mortified, Maria and Kristi pick up their things and leave. The camera just sees the table with Molly still asleep and they leave the frame so to speak. After a long pause, Molly awakens.

MOLLY
Everyone left. Figures.

EXT. PIT - OVERCAST DAY (out)

Jenn and Julie are smoking cigarettes, coughing and hacking occaisionally - director's choice as to the exact cough and hack composition. They are the only ones in the Pit.

JULIE
(takes a puff, exhales) Hoo-boy...

JENN
Julie, can I talk to you about something?

JULIE
Sure, what is it?

JENN
Julie, I'm worried about Theadore.

JULIE
What do you mean?

JENN
Well I think that he's so obsessed with you that it's unhealthy.

JULIE
Obsessed? A little *desparate*, yeah, I can see that, but obsessed?

JENN
Well, let me put it this way. I was walking through the Solarium yesterday and he was telling everyone about his date with you that night and how you two have known each other for such a long time and-

JULIE
Well, we have known each other for most of this school year...

JENN
Yeah, but he was talking like you've been his girlfriend since you guys were little.

JULIE
Well, I feel sorry for the poor kid then... I mean I like him a bit, but...

JENN
I'm afraid that's not all. You know I'm in his Accounting class, right? (Julie nods) Well, he's there in class the day before yesterday really working intently on something and stuff, and then he gets up to go to the washroom. I glance over to his desk to see what he was so intent on, and I see stuff like "You are the most beautiful woman in the Universe, Julie, and I love you more than life itself..."... Julie, he's writing you mush notes! Really crazy ones that he wouldn't dare show to you!

JULIE
Oh... well I wish I could say the same about him, but I can't. I don't think I like the kid *that* much at all.

JENN
Well, I don't think he likes you entirely that much anyway. I think deep down inside he does know that he's not really in love with you, but up on the surface... Well it's just that you've been so sweet and kind to him - and you *are* a pretty woman - that he couldn't help but fall for you so completely.

JULIE
That's so sad...

JENN
I know. Anyway, I think you should have a talk with him or break it off or something.

JULIE
You're sure he won't do something rash?

JENN
I don't know, but I don't think there's any other way to fix this.

JULIE
Yeah, but he treats me like an angel, Jenn! How am I supposed to break it to him?

JENN
Well alright, leave it for a few days then. But you'll have to do something about this eventually... unless a major catastrophe occours in his world, this problem will just keep escalating.

INT. MAIN STAIRWELL - DAY (2F-1F)

This scene should proceed down the stairs from the second floor landing down to the next landing, but not down to the next landing after that, or to the first floor proper. A light crowd travels up and down the stairs. Theadore is halfway down to the first landing, Meghan is just exiting the Solarium doors to go down.

THEADORE (voice-over)
Yikes. I can't believe I wrote that stuff about Julie... maybe I'm too obsessed to know what my real feelings are.

Suddenly, a teenaged boy with blonde hair and a ball cap appears in the middle of everything, then disappears again. Meghan takes the most notice, followed closely by Theadore. No one else really sees him.

MEGHAN
Jason? Was that Jason? (she touches the arm of a WOMAN heading up the stairs) Miss, did you just see a boy with blonde hair and a ball cap?

WOMAN
No, I'm afraid I haven't.

MEGHAN
But... but he was just there! Didn't anyone see him?

THEADORE (turning to face Meghan)
I saw him!

MEGHAN
Be quiet Theadore, this is none of your concern.

THEADORE (muttering, heading back down the stairs)
Fine, be that way...

MEGHAN
Didn't anyone see him? Jason?

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

Michael is sitting alone in the room, back to the door, staring at The Artifact. Laurie walks in, a concerned look on her face.

LAURIE
Hello?

MICHAEL
...

LAURIE
Michael?

MICHAEL
Uh... yes?

LAURIE
How are you?

MICHAEL
Uh... fine.

LAURIE
Um, Mike, I was thinking... don't you think it might be time to tell someone about that thing?

MICHAEL
Why? They'd just take it away, and we'd never see it again! They'd say it would be something classified, and none of our business, and we wouldn't be allowed within ten kilometers of the thing!

LAURIE
Well I see that Mike, but you've spent the last three weeks pouring over it and you haven't found anything. And you never talk to me anymore, besides. And the mass hallucinations kicked in two days after you brought that thing in here-

MICHAEL
Yes... a conncection of some sort, right? Oh, I've suspected that too, and it just makes me want to know the secrets of this thing even more. When I hear about people seeing people they knew as children, or people they've never met before but know somehow... and friends collaborate! Almost everyone has seen someone... except me! I've been sitting here for weeks and I haven't seen a frigging thing!! Why not?! I should be entitled to something for all my efforts!

LAURIE
Maybe it's because you spend so much time in this room.

MICHAEL
Auggh... this isn't fair. Look what this thing is doing to me, Laurie. I'm a wreck...

LAURIE
Well maybe it's time you took it to Mr. LeRoux or something.

MICHAEL (detached, robot-like)
I suppose. Make it somebody else's problem. Good idea.

INT. LEROUX'S OFFICE - RAINY DAY (1F)

LeRoux is in the midst of a heated chat on the telephone. Michael meekly walks in, holding The Artifact behind his back.

LEROUX (on the phone)
... Yeah? Well I think you guys must be *blind* because obviously we don't have your stupid Artifact!

MICHAEL (voice-over)
Artifact?

LEROUX (on the phone)
I have *had* people look for it... all over the school, as a matter of fact! What makes you so sure we've got it here?! ... Oh, really? Well, same to you! (he hangs up, then notices Michael) Oh, I'm sorry... I was just... talking to someone. Can I help you?

MICHAEL
Uh... sir, I found this and I thought that-

LEROUX (excitedly)
You found it! You found it! Yes! Finally!

MICHAEL
You *knew* about it?

LEROUX
Yes, I- Um, I mean... well, thank you for finding it.

MICHAEL
What is it?

LEROUX
Uh...

LEROUX (voice-over)
Don't tell him you don't know what it does!

LEROUX
... it's uh... it's classified.

MICHAEL
Classified?!

LEROUX
I'm afraid so. What this object does is none of your concern now.

MICHAEL
*What*?!

LEROUX
I should also inform you that if this conversation were to continue to the point where I would find out just how long you've been keeping this from me, I might have to suspend you.

MICHAEL
*Suspend* me?! Listen here, Mr. LeRoux-

LEROUX
Michael, that's quite enough.

MICHAEL
Oh, no it *isn't* quite enough!! I have had it up to here with you and your little rules about everything!! And if it isn't *me* you're leaning on, it's my friends! Remember the time you suspended Joe for smoking over the line in the Pit?! He couldn't see!! His face was covered in snow!! And that's not all! How about when you refused to let one of Laurie's friends into the dance six weeks ago? It was his last day here in Nova Scotia, and you jumped down his throat for skipping classes! And *then* when Laurie found out, you wouldn't let her leave with him! What is wrong with you?!

LEROUX (lauging maniacaly)
What makes you think I have to answer to you? You should be the one answering to me, especially when you are (hand gesture) this close to being kicked off Student's Council and expelled in addition to being suspended.

MICHAEL
You can't suspend me for criticizing you! And you can't kick me off the Student's Council without due process!

LEROUX
Exactly, I can also expel you and ruin whatever aspirations you have for a carrer in the future. I can do lots of things to you! And as for your sorry little Student's Council, don't think Ms. MacKenzie and her naive children will rally to your cause when I can fire her whenever I feel like it! ... Haha... One more word, and you will no longer be a CPA student.

MICHAEL
*What*... Why do you want to do this to me?! What threat do I pose to the sanctity of this frigging school?!

LEROUX
Goodbye, Michael.

MICHAEL
What? Goodbye?

LeRoux picks up the phone and dials a number.

LEROUX (on the phone)
Hello? Mrs. Christiansen? Yes, I'm sorry to inform you that your son Michael has just been expelled for the remainder of the school year and I don't think we'll allow him back here next year either. ... Why? Well, he has been extremely rude to me and he has been hiding something important from me. ... That's all I can tell you. ... I will tell him. Bye. (hangs up)

MICHAEL (half-crying)
I don't believe this...

LEROUX
Well Michael, it's been a great two and a half years. Try not to scuff your feet on the way out.

MICHAEL
Wha?

LEROUX
Try not to scuff your feet on the way out.

MICHAEL
Why do I have to go outside?! (opens curtains, points) It's pouring rain!!

LEROUX (calmly and brightly)
Why, you've been expelled of course. You have no right to be here.

MICHAEL
Well isn't my mother going to pick me up?

LEROUX
No, she explained to me that that was the first part of your at-home punishment. Try not to scuff your feet on the way out.

MICHAEL
Wha?

LEROUX
Goodbye.

MICHAEL
But-

LEROUX
Goodbye.

Michael sadly and degectedly walks out of the office, of course scuffing and dragging his feet on the way out. He keeps walking out into the pouring rain, and down the driveway onto Rocky Lake Drive. A sign opposing the end of the driveway says < #2 North to 102, 107 - Sackville, Fall Badlands, Airport and #2 South to 101, 102 - Bedford, Downtown >. Michael starts walking down towards Beford, looking miserable.

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

Laurie is seated alone in the room.

LAURIE
Where's Michael?

INT. CAFETERIA - DAY (1F)

Craig and Alex are seated near the Cafeteria Stairwell, talking. Molly is by herself at a table far towards the 'hot food' aisle. Nola approaches Craig's table and takes a seat. Craig is kind of spaced out for most of this scene, perhaps because of seeing Anna again, if only for a brief moment.

NOLA
Hey guys, what's up?

CRAIG
Oh, not much.

NOLA
Really now.

ALEX
Yep, nothing out of the ordinary... besides what's usually happening out of the ordinary of course.

NOLA
Of course, the hallucinations.

ALEX
I've seen some people apppear out of the blue, but none of the apparitions were meant for me. From what I've been hearing and seeing, most of the time they're hot chicks. (looks at Nola) But hey, who needs a hallucination now?

NOLA
He-he... Riigght.

CRAIG
Sometimes it isn't a good thing you know, like after what happened to Jeff.

NOLA
I haven't heard about this! What happened to Jeff?

ALEX
Well, what happened was that Jeff was having a nice talk here at school with his then girlfriend Sally and all of a sudden Zarine appears to both of them.

NOLA
Zarine?

CRAIG
Someone the three of us knew way back in elementary school. She and Jeff were really close.

NOLA
Uh-oh.

ALEX
Yep, that about says it. She dumped him on the spot. Poor guy, he told me even though he and Zarine were probably meant to be together, he still really really liked Sally and now he's heartbroken. Doing kinda stupid things now too.

NOLA
Like what?

ALEX
Well lately he's been seeing how fast he can get from here to Truro and back on the 102. He leaves at the start of lunch and comes back with plenty of time to eat and get to class.

NOLA
Ouch.

CRAIG
Now that's something I'd kind of like to try...

Nola and Alex glare at him.

CRAIG
... in a computer simulation, I mean. Wouldn't that be cool? Zip right through the Fall Badlands, Metro Hants...

ALEX
I guess so.

NOLA
Hey! Look!

The camera pulls out to in front of Molly's table, where she is facing the camera. Awakened, she lifts her head and looks to her right to see ANDRÉA, who walks up to the table.

MOLLY
Hello.

ANDRÉA
Hi.

MOLLY
I suppose you must be an apparition?

ANDRÉA
I'm afraid so.

MOLLY
Oh well. Wow, I haven't seen you in years in either case.

ANDRÉA
Well, I wanted to keep in touch but the Witness Protection Program wouldn't let me.

MOLLY
That's too bad. Where'd you end up?

ANDRÉA
Iqaluit.

MOLLY
That must be why you don't have much of a sun tan.

ANDRÉA
He-he... probably.

MOLLY
So how is it that you're here and in Iqaluit?

ANDRÉA
I'm not sure... Maybe it's some sort of a dream.

MOLLY
Well, *I'm* not dreaming.

ANDRÉA
He-he... well that's great then. This way, we're both happy.

The camera zips back to Nola's crew.

NOLA
Did you see that? This time, the apparition talked! Remarkable!

ALEX
Yeah, and it was really neat too!

NOLA
Well now we know some of the rules about how this series of appearances behaves. From what we've been exposed to, they are all female, and all people known from childhood!

CRAIG
Brilliant, Holmes.

NOLA
Har-har. Now all we need to find out is what's causing the people to appear...

INT. QUINLAN'S OFFICE - DAY (1F)

QUINLAN and LeRoux are seated in the office, Quinlan behind her desk.

LEROUX
I can't believe I expelled Michael... he didn't really do anything wrong, you know. I don't know what came over me...

QUINLAN
Well, you can't call him back to school, it would weaken our authority.

LEROUX
I know, but can't we make an exception?

QUINLAN
We cannot on any count... (she puts on some reading glasses then pulls a book out of her desk labelled "Halifax Regional School Board Code of Conduct for School Administrators" and opens up a page) First, section 29.8 a) says "The administrator is always right. The administrator must avoid being seen to have made a mistake at all costs.". Then, section 45 says "Any student who questions the administrator's authority on a disciplinary incident must be expelled immeadiately.". Section 46 says that "... examples must be made of generally nice people who unwittingly violate stupid rules to the point where the real rotters get off scott free for everything short of murder.", and section 63 b) says "The administrator, when left in charge of an activity usually of a teachers jurisdiction, and where the teacher is of the sort to trust people and run things loosely, must trust no one and give everyone a rough time for the slightest breaches in protocol.". (she removes her glasses and replaces the book) Well that last one doesn't have anything to do with this, but it does help prove a point I am trying to make. Elwin, if you let Michael come back to school, we'll both lose our jobs!

LEROUX
I know... <sigh> I only wish Ray were here.

QUINLAN
Well he's probably around *somewhere*... those alien abduction things are usually temporary, anyway.

LEROUX
Well I suppose there's nothing doing but to give that guy a call (reaches behind himself for and pulls out The Artifact) and hand this thing back.

QUINLAN
Quite right.

LeRoux sits up and picks up the phone handset and is about to dial.

LEROUX
It just occoured to me. I don't know the guy's number.

QUINLAN
What do you mean? Can't you just phone the Fall Badlands / Beaverbank Life Long Learning Centre, Bingo Hall, and Off-Track Betting Parlor and find out?

LEROUX
Ah- I don't think I can. I don't think they have any phone lines up out there.

QUINLAN
Well how is it that we can phone the schools in Metro Hants then?

LEROUX
Must be some sort of satellite or microwave connection, I guess.

QUINLAN
Well, then I guess we'll just have to hang onto it until they phone again.

LEROUX
This worries me...

INT. ROOM 321 - DAY (3F)

A Student's Council meeting is in progress. Craig and Meghan are present, among others. MacKenzie is addressing the council.

MACKENZIE
Does anyone know what happened to Michael Christiansen? He hasn't been around for our last two meetings.

MEGHAN
I heard that he was expelled.

MEGHAN (voice-over)
Good riddance.

MACKENZIE
Well it's odd that he would be expelled just like that without anyone hearing of it. I'll have to ask Mr. LeRoux about it. (checks some papers) Now, we have to move on to some new business. I was going to ask Craig if he...

Fade out and fade in (to show that this is happening at the same time)

EXT. OLD DUKE STREET ENTRANCE - BLIZZARD DAY (out)

Through the blowing snow, we see some shadows and shapes moving about, but little detail. We and the platoon are stationed on the Duke Street side of the guardrail on the old entrance. The LEADER carries a COMLINK, and the Leader herself is is a shapely woman wearing camoflauge who carries a commanding voice, sort of a female Tommy Lee Jones is what we're going for here.

COMLINK
Gamma Bravo this is Gamma Base.

LEADER
Gamma Bravo here. We acknowledge your time signal, Gamma Base.

COMLINK
What's you status, Gamma Bravo?

LEADER
Gamma Base, Gamma Bravo is ready to crack the eggshell on the back side and scramble some eggs.

COMLINK
Then proceed at my signal, Gamma Bravo.

There is some movement among the troups as they ready themselves and their weapons for battle.

COMLINK
Scramble some eggs, Gamma Bravo. Gamma Base out.

LEADER
Forward!!

The troops rise, and after leaping over the guardrail, begin to run. They run straight across the parking lot, through the Concrete Yard, and up the side driveway towards the Rear Entrance. Switch to another shot facing the Rear Entrance, where the troops run around the corner, then station themselves in front of the door.

LEADER
Alright crew, we're deep in enemy territory now. From here on in we will maintain radio silence. And we're going to keep our voices quiet too. There's no telling what the scum Bedfordite's instruments can pick up.

The Leader makes a signal to her COMM OFFICER, who takes some electronic equippment off her back and rigs some wires to the door.

COMM OFFICER
... It's not any type of lock our instruments are capable of recognizing, sir...

LEADER
Damn.

COMM OFFICER
... but I am detecting *some* familiar alloys and mechanisms, sir. Give me forty minutes, and I'll have the door open for you.

LEADER
You heard the woman, people. Let's set up a flash camp!

INT. MICHAEL'S BEDROOM - BLIZZARD DAY (out)

Michael is sitting on his bed in his bedroom, alone. He is flipping through a 2008-2009 CPA Yearbook. When we see what he is looking at, we see that it is a picture of Laurie. We also see that Michael is sort of teary-eyed. After a few moments, his mom (CHRISTIANSEN) enters.

CHRISTIANSEN
Michael, when are you going to stop moping and start scraping the snow off our grass?

MICHAEL
But I just finished the driveway!

CHRISTIANSEN
Do you think you can just sit around... (snatches Yearbook from him) ... staring at pictures of girls (throws yearbook against the wall, splitting it into three or four pieces - Michael winces) when there's work to be done and you are being punished?!

MICHAEL
But I told you already, I didn't do it!!

CHRISTIANSEN
Har-har, a likely story! Now get your ass out there and start shovelling the lawn!!

MICHAEL
No!! I'm *not* going to scrape the grass! It *doesn't need to be done*!

CHRISTIANSEN
*What*?! You *dare* defy me again after what you pulled at school?!

MICHAEL
Yeah, I *do* defy you, because I didn't do anything at school!

CHRISTIANSEN
For *that* remark, you can just leave! Out into the snow with you! I am disowning you!

MICHAEL
You can't do that, I'm just a kid!

CHRISTIANSEN
Oh *can't* I?

EXT. MICHAEL'S HOUSE - BLIZZARD DAY (out)

The door to Michael's house opens, and we see Michael being bodily thrown out into the snow.

CHRISTIANSEN
And I'll be tossing your *things* out the door as soon as the snow stops!

EXT. REAR ENTRANCE - BLIZZARD DAY (out)

The platoon is still trying to figure out a way to break into the school.

COMM OFFICER
Alirght, that should just about do it... We're ready to flip the switch and go in.

LEADER
Do it.

The Comm Officer flips a switch on her equippment wired to the right-most steel door. There is a loud buzzing sound. A red LCD on her gear says "CMD UNLOCK - NOT READY ERROR READING LOCK, TRY AGAIN?".

COMM OFFICER
No effect.

LEADER
Damn! We'll have to force down the door! Alright... now let's see what kind of force we'll need here... (she pulls on the door handle, and the door swings open) ... The door's unlocked?!

Some troops mutter "Aw, geez..." or "Ah, crap..."

LEADER
We've lost some valuable time with this, but by no means is our cause lost! We're going in on my signal! You have thirty-five seconds to get ready!

INT. ROOM 215 - DAY (2F)

LAW is teaching a geography class with Theadore and Meghan being students, among others.

LAW
... and I never quite figured out how this tide thing is supposed to work if the moon is on the opposite side of the planet. If you want to know that, ask Mr. Burke.

THEADORE
Ha-ha...

MEGHAN (voice-over)
I hate being in this class with that kid.

LAW
Anyway, I won't be putting that part of it on a test, but I will expect you to know-

Suddenly, there is a loud crashing and running sound from just outside the classroom. Shouting on the part of both troops and students and teachers ensues.

LAW
*What* was that?

Law races out into the hall to see about fifty or so armed troops, mostly donned in black uniforms, tramping through the Rear Entrance and headed straight for the Staff Room. He glances over to Room 217, where HAMILTON-B is watching out his door. Hamilton-B shrugs his shoulders. We switch to a shot facing the door to Room 215. Theadore runs up behind to where Law is standing.

THEADORE
What's going on?

LAW
I don't know. Must be some sort of fire drill.

THEADORE
Then why do they have guns?

LAW
Well it can't be a school shooting thing, those don't happen until the middle of spring as a rule.

MEGHAN (running up)
That's a relief.

LAW
Maybe we'd better just shut the door and continue class.

MEGHAN
Yes, let's.

They retreat to the realitive safety of the classroom, shutting the door behind them.

INT. STAFF ROOM - DAY (2F)

Shot from inside the empty Staff Room. The soldiers come in the hall-side door, quickly and efficiently taking over, guarding, and setting up in the Staff Room. The comm officer gets out some computer-related equippment, which she hooks into both a power outlet and a nearby PC workstation. After a few moments, she starts working with her portable keyboard and video equippment.

COMM OFFICER (whilst typing)
Okay, we're physically plugged into their computer network. Access portal coming up now...

On her portable screen, the "Novell Client for Windows 95/98" login screen appears.

COMM OFFICER
What do I do?

LEADER (retrieving envelope from a pocket)
One of our agents inside this miserable building has given us the secret to infiltrating the CPA network... (opens envelope, reads message) "Press 'Cancel' to gain full access to our local intranet." Press 'Cancel'.

COMM OFFICER (pressing keys)
Affirmative... We are now able to interpret the entire CPA network.

LEADER
Good... this is good. Now we have complete control over all their computer systems. But as for combat tactics... we're far from the primary and secondary nerve-centers of the building. Symmonds, your men will go proceed down the Ramp and launch a suprise assault and take-over on the Main Office. Davidson, you take your troops and head for the Guidance Office. Take the Cafeteria Stairwell, then swing around through the Math, French and Computer Lab wings for a rear attack. My personal division stays here. All understood?

Everyone nods and murmurs.

LEADER
Then let's go!

INT. ROOM 303B - DAY (3F)

A CRS class is in progress. MACDUFF is teaching, students include NOLA, among others.

MACDUFF (to a student he is helping)
Oh, those are beautiful loops.

Suddenly, a NetWare Brodcast message from user "FBRT Comm Officer Rogerson" appears on everyone's screens. The message says "Stay where you are! The FBRT has taken over the school's computer network. Soon, the FBRT will take over the school itself. Please remain calm and continue class as usual... we will soon find what we are looking for and have what else we are looking for. - Gamma Bravo Unit"

MACDUFF
Okay, who's playing around with the NetWare messages?

NOLA
It says "Message from user 'FBRT Comm Officer Rogerson': Stay where you are! The FBRT has taken over the school's computer network. Soon, the FBRT will take over the school itself. Please remain calm and continue class as usual... we will soon find what we are looking for and have what else we are looking for. - Gamma Bravo Unit".

MACDUFF
That sounds dire...

At that moment, DAVIDSON and his troops tramp out of the Computer Lab Office (Room 304), through 303B, 303A, and into the back door of 302. Troops shout "Yeah! Great shortcut, sir!", among other things.

MACDUFF
Alright, new CRS project. Twenty bonus points to anyone who can restore our network!

A couple of nerdy guys in the corner shout "Yeah!!".

INT. LEROUX'S OFFICE - DAY (1F)

LeRoux (seated) is talking to Quinlan (standing).

QUINLAN
It's nearly March, Elwin. You know what that means.

LEROUX
Yes. Time to launch our National Skip Day Denial Program. This year, we'll-

We turn and see that LeRoux is violently interrupted by SYMMONDS and his unit charging into the Main Office, and, in turn, LeRoux's Office. One of Symmonds' cronies restrains Quinlan, while Symmond himself takes on LeRoux.

SYMMONDS
Alright, you Bedfordite scum!! Where's The Artifact?!

LEROUX
It's right here! (he opens a drawer, picks it up and hands it to him)

SYMMONDS (blankly)
Oh. (regaining composure) But that's not all we came for! We need access to your brodcast system!

LEROUX
It's right in the other room. Just make sure the red switch is up.

SYMMONDS
You heard him, men! Let's get ready to go on the air!

EXT. CONCRETE YARD - BLIZZARD DAY (out)

Michael is seen walking up the driveway through the snow, as if he has nowhere else to go.

MICHAEL (voice-over)
I suppose I might as well check out the school. They're not going to physically keep me out or anything... although I guess the teachers won't talk to me.

Michael hikes through the Concrete Yard and enters the school.

INT. MAIN LOBBY - BLIZZARD DAY (1F)

Michael quietly walks inside. He is not seen. Looking to his right, he notices the Main Office being held up by the FBRT thugs, and we see mouths moving but hear no noise because the doors are shut.

MICHAEL (voice-over)
Uh-oh.

Michael stoops over so as not to be seen from the Main Office. He quickly makes his way to the Main Stairwell. There, he crawls into the space below the first landing.

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

Lairie is alone in Room 325, sitting at the table where Michael once sat, staring at the empty tabletob where The Artifact once sat.

LAURIE (voice-over)
I wonder why I didn't see anything... I wonder why- wait a second... naw, that can't be it... can it?

EXT. PIT - BLIZZARD DAY (out)
Jenn and Julie are outside smoking, as usual.

JULIE
This is just one of those days that makes you want to stop smoking.

JENN
What?

JULIE
No, of course I'm delusional.

They both sigh of boredom. Then Theadore walks on.

THEADORE
Uh... hi.

JULIE
Oh, hi Theadore.

THEADORE
Hi. Uh... Julie, what are you doing next Thursday night?

JULIE
Why?

THEADORE
Well, the Downtown Hants High School is inviting C.P. Allen to their next dance... I was wondering if you'd like to go.

JULIE
Sure, Theadore, I'd love to go. Who with?

THEADORE
Well... me, I guess, if that's okay.

JULIE
Um... (she looks at Jenn, who is standing behind Theadore shaking her head) Um... well, you see um... well, I got a... um... I got something to tell you, Theadore. I don't think we should see each other anymore.

Theadore gapes at her, like Julie just dropped the sun on top of him.

THEADORE
W-what? But, Julie...

JULIE
I'm sorry, Theadore, but the truth is I don't cherish you as much as you do me.

THEADORE (choking tears)
B-but...

JULIE
I'm sorry, Theadore, that's all I can say.

THEADORE (crying)
B-but, Julie... Julie, I love you... Why can't we be together anymore?

JULIE
Theadore, we were never really that much together. You're really sweet, Theadore, but I think that you're just obsessed with me.

THEADORE (softly, defeated)
No... (he runs away crying)

JULIE (teary eyed herself)
I hated to do that. He's treated me better than any other guy I've been with.

JENN
Yeah, but it was for the wrong reasons. This is probably for the best... hopefully he won't spend too much more time obsessing about you.

JULIE
Yeah, really...

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY (1F)

Symmonds and his cronies have set up some audio equippment, which is plugged into the public address system.

SYMMONDS
Alright, men, get ready. In twenty seconds, we're going to blow the lid off of this school.

This is one of the biggest moments in the movie, we need tension! Symmonds gets his subordinates to flip some switches, then he picks up a microphone.

SYMMONDS
Good morning CPA!

INT. VENTILATION SYSTEM - DAY (??)

Michael is crawling through a dark pipe somewhere in the school, but now he is stopped, listening to the announcement.

Insert a few more clips of people in their classrooms turning their heads to the pa speakers, stopping their work. Symmonds' voice continues and echoes through the classrooms and corridors. We soon go back to the office.

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY (1F)

SYMMONDS
We are the Fall Badlands Reunification Team! We are here to reunify the school communities of the Fall Badlands and Bedford, whatever it takes! We finally came here when you stole and hid The Artifact from us, but even though we have recovered The Artifact, we are not through yet! We are now running the show here, Bedfordites. This school is *not* going to be assimilated into Sackville High next year! We are rolling back the clock to 1999!

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

LAURIE
1999?

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY (1F)

SYMMONDS
The power of the Artifact is ours again! We are going to roll the clock back to 1999! We will prevent the nuclear accident that destroyed the legendary "Fall River" of old! We will bulid a new school community... one that will dwarf all the schools of Metro Hants and Metro Halifax combined!

INT. ROOM 217 - DAY (2F)

HAMILTON
Why on earth would they want to do that?

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY (1F)

SYMMONDS
The power of The Artifact is awesome. We believe it is capable of many things, but we have only devised a few. Now we will use the equippment in your science labs to work out the rest. We know that the device itself comes from the fifth dimension, and as such it alters the natures of time and space as we know it to cause things to happen. We wanted the Artifact back *soon*... *soon* was what your Principal failed to recognize... soon because we lost our soulmates!

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

LAURIE (voice-over)
Soulmates?! So there *was* a connection... but why didn't I see anything?

INT. MAIN OFFICE - DAY (1F)

SYMMONDS
How did you expect us not to retaliate? Who did you think the people appearing were? No matter! CPA will be a name of power and glory again! Resume your classes but answer to the Leader, who in turn follows the orders of the High Commander! Good day.

INT. ROOM 303B - DAY (3F)

NOLA (voice-over)
Wow, I must have been wrong about the nature of the apparitions! But if the people are seeing their soulmates because of some "Artifact", then that must mean...

INT. ROOM 219B - DAY (2F)

The room is low lit. Molly is alone.

MOLLY (half-screaming, aghast)
Nooooooooooooooo!!!

INT. ROOM 207 - DAY (2F)

MEAD is in his classroom by himself, reading his newspaper. Page flipping is up to Mr. Mead, eh?

MEAD (voice-over)
Interesting turn of events... school taken over by a military force... that hasn't happened since 1998... or was it '99? The TSF incident.

Burke opens the door from Room 208 and walks in.

BURKE
Anything interesting going on?

MEAD
If you call the Fall Badlands Reunification Team interesting.

At that moment, some troops tramp through the hall in front of the open door, shouting and toting firearms.

BURKE
The most interesting thing since the Tantalon Separation Federation in 1999, I'd say.

MEAD
So that's when it was. Yes... I think I was teaching Quantum Physics 541 at the time.

BURKE
Hmm... So, what's your take on the Artifact?

MEAD
Mr. LeRoux showed it to me yesterday... I would have to agree with the Fall Badlands people's opinion that it's from the fourth dimension. Since the object somehow unfolded and wound up here, its fourth dimensional thethers must be unstable, which probably accounts for the people the kids have been seeing and the speculation about time travel.

BURKE
Time travel... that sounds dangerous. I hope they don't go through with it.

MEAD
Likewise.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DAY (3F)

We are facing down the hall towards Room 320, from just behind the Ramp Entrance. We hear a vent chamber lid crashing to the floor from inside the Ramp, and Michael making some disgusted groaning sounds. At length, he walks out into the hall.

MICHAEL
There's not much point of staying in there anymore...

Michael walks up beside the door of Room 326 and sits down out of sight of KENNEDY and the class he is teaching. He opens up his backpack, and takes out his binder and a pen. Kennedy hears the noise outside and walks out into the hall to investigate, only to see Michael there with his pen poised, trying to listen. Michael looks up and gasps.

KENNEDY
Hey! (points at Michael, gets the attention of passing RAY) He's tryin' to learn!

Michael grabs his things and runs down the hall towards Room 320, Kennedy and Ray pursue for a few steps, then give up.

INT. CORRIDOR 2F - DAY (2F)

We are travelling backwards watching The Leader hike up the front hall towards the labs with her beautiful Comm Officer. Davidson falls in line with them just after passing the Solarium.

DAVIDSON
The Guidance Office is secure, sir.

LEADER
Good.

DAVIDSON
What should I be doing now, sir?

LEADER
Right now... Right now what we want to do is move The Artifact to a central location. Form up an escort from the Main Office to Room 307. I want both you and Symmonds to be in it, we're not taking any chances now.

DAVIDSON
Understood. (he turns around and runs the other way)

LEADER
Officer, you'll get a hyperwire network set up between Room 307 and Room 203 here. (she points to the door of Room 203, which they are standing beside) We have some work to do.

INT. MAIN LOBBY - DAY (1F)

Molly is sitting by herself on a bench underneath the Message Sign, looking slightly distraught. Andréa appears and walks over to Molly, concern on her face.

ANDRÉA
Are you okay?

MOLLY
Not really.

ANDRÉA
What's wrong?

MOLLY
Well... look, you're really a very nice person and everything... (though you're not really here), and even though we were best friends when we were kids...

ANDRÉA
What?

MOLLY
Well, you... I want you to go away.

ANDRÉA (frightened)
Why?

MOLLY
It's not your fault, but my life is miserable now. This school is too backwards to accept people like us. <sigh>

ANDRÉA
But what do they matter? Since when do you let other people dictate-

At that moment, several FBRT ruffians, along with some jerk-ass CPA students in plainclothes walk in from the nearby corridor.

ASSHOLE
Those are the fucking lesbos we've been lookin' for!

FBRT THUG
Yeah, let's beat up the dike!

Over Andréa's screamed protests, the assholes start beating up Molly. Andréa can only watch from aside, due to her spectrality.

ANDRÉA
Stop it! You have no right-

FBRT THUG (turning from his assault on Molly)
No! *You* have no rights! You're just a hologram! (He takes a pocket-sized device out of his coat and tosses it on the floor in between Andréa's feet.)

ANDRÉA (disappearing, fading out within two seconds)
Noooo-!!!

We move our viewpoint up the hall a piece, from just behind the door to Room 103, looking down the corridor towards the Main Lobby. The assault on Molly is going on in the background. LeRoux walks up to Room 103 and knocks on the door, which is opened by ZINCK off-camera.

LEROUX
Mr. Zinck, are you going to be able to supervise the hall out here today at lunch?

ZINCK
No, I'm afraid not. I've got a Dramafest meeting to take care of.

LEROUX
I know it's not on the duty schedule, but it's been said that this stretch here isn't supervised enough and that we need to do something about it.

At that moment, a plainclothes CPA'er walks down towards the Main Lobby flinging about a switchblade. He is not noticed by either LeRoux or Zinck.

ZINCK (shutting door, slipping on his coat)
Well, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do.

The screaming down the hall ensues, and Zinck walks the other way down the Pit Stairwell Corridor, while LeRoux makes a beeline for the Pit.

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

Laurie is sitting by herself in the room, her back to the door, looking rather depressed. Michael enters, watching his back behind him. Laurie turns around to see him, and brightens up markedly.

LAURIE (amazed)
Michael! Where have you been?

MICHAEL
I was expelled.

LAURIE
Oh no. Why?

MICHAEL
I had a bit of a disagreement with Mr. LeRoux.

LAURIE
That's too bad. Hey, sit down.

MICHAEL
Gladly. (he takes a seat facing Laurie) Hey, have you seen... The Artifact around since the Fall Badlands people got here? I heard they took it.

LAURIE
Yeah, I think they did, but I'm not sure what they did with it.

MICHAEL
Oh. Well, I was hoping to get a chance to study it again. But I don't suppose that'll happen.

They look at each other for several moments with nothing to say.

LAURIE
Michael? ...

MICHAEL
Yeah?

LAURIE
... Well, you know how you and I haven't seen anything from The Artifact?

MICHAEL
Yeah?

LAURIE
Well... what - what would you say to the woman once you saw her? If someone appeared to you?

MICHAEL
I don't know. I've never thought about it.

LAURIE (secretly disappointed)
Oh...

MICHAEL (sort of sensing this)
But- but maybe there's a reason we- I mean, a reason I haven't seen anything.

LAURIE
I suppose... So, what are you going to do now? I mean, you're still expelled, right?

MICHAEL
That's the main thing, since I'm here (my mom kicked me out) the first thing I'm going to do is try to get myself unexpelled and back onto the Student's Council. As it is, the teachers won't even let me sit in on their classes, so I need to do something about it.

LAURIE
Well, what can you do?

MICHAEL
Well, I've been thinking. They don't just expel people or kick people off Student's Council without following a procedure. If I can get my hands on something that proves no procedure was followed, I can just fax it to the school board and then I'm back in.

LAURIE
Good idea. If you want your proof... you should try looking up the munutes of the Student's Council! Then anyone could see you weren't given your due process.

MICHAEL
Yeah, but they don't give the minutes out to non-members.

LAURIE
Ouch. I guess once you're off, you can never come back.

MICHAEL
Well that isn't fair, then.

LAURIE
Well there's got to be something you can do.

MICHAEL
I hope so. Something short of breaking into the office and walking out with the documents.

They look at each other.

INT. ROOM 303A/B - DAY (3F)

The curtain between Room 303A and 303B is open. Alex and Michael are standing in front of the filing cabinet next to the door to the Computer Lab Office (Room 304). The camera is facing them and facing the back wall and some windows.

ALEX
Alright, so first you have the problem of getting into the school. After hours, when nobody can see you, *but* with no danger of setting off any alarms.

MICHAEL
How 'bout the dance tomorrow night?

ALEX
That'll work. (realizing something) But you're expelled, they won't let you in in the first place.

MICHAEL
Could I hide in a classroom until nine o'clock?

ALEX
I don't see any problems with that. Don't drink too much beforehand.

MICHAEL
Great, then that's what I'll do. What about getting into the Council Office itself?

ALEX
Okay, I've got two suggestions for that. The first way you could get in is by kicking down the door, which would be a beautiful short-term solution, but then when that Meghan dame comes up to count the money, she'll be on to something.

MICHAEL
Oh, *she* wouldn't notice if there were a bloody crater where the Council Office was.

ALEX
Don't be so sure, that woman has a remarkable sense of intuition.

MICHAEL
Yeah, right. Well, that doesn't seem like such a good option anyway, so what else do you have in mind?

ALEX
Your other option would be to find a friend on the Student's Council Executive, borrow the key from them and copy it.

MICHAEL
That's a good idea. But who would even talk to me now?

ALEX
Well, you're fairly well liked, Michael, I'm sure you'll find somebody.

MICHAEL
Thanks, I guess. Well I guess I just have to get a hold of a key for tomorrow night, wait under a desk for six hours, walk in during the dance, and walk out with the latest Council minutes.

ALEX
Hey-hey, no, no, good buddy. You do that and they'll find you moved stuff around, they'd start looking for fingerprints... you don't want to get into that mess. Instead, (he gets out the HANDHELD STYLUS SCANNER from a box - NOTE: This is really a pen-style flashlight belonging to the author) you should make use of this bit of kit.

MICHAEL
Oooh, neat. What is it?

ALEX
It's your standard handheld automatic scanner.

MICHAEL
Don't those need to be hooked up to a computer?

ALEX
Nope, not this one. (shows it to Michael) This one compiles and stores images right on board, comes with OCR too. (clicks button on the base) This light comes on and shows you it's running. All you do is line it up with a page of something... (gets a document off a desk - 'scans' it), run it up and down the page here, the light shows you where you're scanning... (stops 'scanning' - clicks it off) and then use the v-clip attachment to interface with a computer. (shows the clip to Michael) Total image capacity: 2.6 terabytes in VHC format.

MICHAEL
(whistles) Sweet. So I can just scan their documents without having to touch them?

ALEX
Most of the time. Just as long as you don't REALLY disturb anything. Like you'll have to move some small suff I guess, if they didn't leave the Council Minutes right on Ms. MacKenzie's desk.

MICHAEL
Sounds good. I think we're ready to rock.

INT. ROOM 203 - DAY (2F)

Burke and Mead are studying a computer readout. There are a lot of wires hanging about the surface of the lab counter they are seated behind.

BURKE
Facinating...

MEAD
I'm picking up some more of these fifth-dimensional wavelengths...

BURKE
Try disrupting the 5D anchor again, and see what happens.

Mead pushes some buttons.

INT. ROOM 215 - DAY (2F)

This is a very very fast and dramatic shot. Meghan's face is all we really see, seated at a desk. Suddenly, her eyes turn completely black, and her face becomes fierce and intent. (Can't put these things into words, I'll have to have a word with the director...) Then the shot is over.

INT. MAIN LOBBY - DAY (1F)

Molly walks into the Main Lobby, sporting multiple casts and crutches. Maria happens to be walking through, and sees her.

MARIA
Hi.

MOLLY
Oh. Hello.

MARIA
I heard what happened.

MOLLY
Yeah, me too. (laughs weakly)

MARIA
I don't think you'll be able to see... what's her name... Andréa again. I heard the FBRT was trapping the holo soulmates of people they didn't like.

MOLLY
Well, I suppose it's just as well. Maybe people will finally stop harassing me.

MARIA
Hopefully.

INT. CORRIDOR 2F - DAY (2F)

Meghan storms out of Room 215, slamming the door behind her. She stalks her way across the hall and up the stairs. She walks into the Student's Council Office (Room 319) and confronts Craig.

MEGHAN
*YOU*!!

CRAIG
What?

MEGHAN
*YOU*!! You *dare* trifle with my authority?!

CRAIG
Huh?

MEGHAN
What the hell do you think you're doing - telling me that you're going to help set up for the dance tonight when all you mean to do is get your name on the list and get in for free! Well, nothing doing!!

CRAIG
That's not true, I -

MEGHAN
*Don't* give me that! You're lying! *Stop* lying to me! Just tell me you don't like me! Why doesn't anyone like me?! Aaaaa!!!

Meghan runs out of the room, leaving Craig by himself.

INT. MAIN LOBBY - NIGHT (1F)

It's the night of the dance! It's dark outside, and there are many people lined up waiting to purchase tickets and get in.

WOMAN TAKING TICKETS
Thank you. Enjoy the dance.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - NIGHT (3F)

Michael is stalking furtively across the back corridor of the third floor towards the Student's Council Office. He stops in front of the door and gets out a key. Suddenly, the FBRT Comm Officer drops down from the ceiling directly in front of him.

COMM OFFICER
Hey, what do you think you're doing?

MICHAEL
Huh?

COMM OFFICER
I hope you weren't thinking of breaking into the Student Council's Office.

MICHAEL
Well, actually... I was.

COMM OFFICER
That's not a good idea. This school belongs to the Fall Badlands Reunification Team, and it's *my* job to protect their property.

MICHAEL
I wasn't going to steal anything.

COMM OFFICER
Reeeeeally. Where'd you get that key?

MICHAEL
I copied Greg's.

COMM OFFICER
Oh... your President friend? Haven't seen him around much.

MICHAEL
Well, he's the introvert type.

COMM OFFICER
Sooo, Michael... what are you here for if you aren't here to steal anything?

MICHAEL
I was here to find copies of the last couple Student's Council Minutes.

COMM OFFICER
Oh. Are you sure you're not here just to stare at my beautiful body in this awesome uniform?

MICHAEL
That would be a draw, but I'm really here to get myself back on the Student's Council and unexpelled.

COMM OFFICER
I don't see why you'd want to; the Student's Council has no authority anymore. The FBRT really runs the school now. And why are you so anxious to get back to class?

MICHAEL (saddened)
They won't let me learn anything.

COMM OFFICER
Well, that's too bad. That kind of defeats the point of school.

MICHAEL
Tell me about it.

COMM OFFICER
Well, I guess I might as well let you inside then.

MICHAEL
Thank you.

The Comm Officer gets out a key of her own and opens the door.

COMM OFFICER
You're quite welcome.

They both go inside the darkened Council Office and start looking for the Council Minutes.

COMM OFFICER
Here's something that looks important. (Michael goes up to her side to look) This it?

MICHAEL
Yep. (he pulls out his scanner and scans the page) Perfect.

COMM OFFICER
"Michael has been deemed missing, presumed dead." What??

MICHAEL
Yeah, one hand doesn't know what the other's doing. Anyway, I got all I need here... (he goes to leave)

COMM OFFICER
Not so fast.

MICHAEL
Wha?

COMM OFFICER
I never said you could leave.

The Comm Officer strides up to Michael, grabs him, and kisses him.

COMM OFFICER
*Now* you can leave.

Michael looks like he doesn't know what to think, then runs off, scanner in hand. The Comm Officer locks up the Office and resumes her guard duty.

INT. ROOM 307 - DAY (3F)

Molly timidly walks into Room 307 and sees The Artifact placed atop a small stool with many thick cables portruding in all directions.

MOLLY
So... you're the one who's been making my life difficult.

She stares at The Artifact for several moments, as if trying to make up her mind as to what to think.

MOLLY
How is it that the FBRT people can keep me from seeing Andréa? Or other people from seeing who they want to see?

LEADER
Because we were the Guardians of The Artifact long before the Bedfordites stole it from us.

Molly jumps, startled by The Leader's presence at the door.

MOLLY
Wha?

LEADER (approaching Molly)
We felt we had the duty to grant the privelige of Viewing only to those who please us.

MOLLY
And why didn't I?

LEADER
Well, because some of us were... envious?

The Leader moves closer to Molly; Molly looks at her disgustedly, shouts

MOLLY
Get away from me, you witch!

and shoves her way out of the room.

LEADER
You can't get away from me you know. I am everywhere.

The Leader takes a remote control out of her coat pocket, presses a key and disappears.

MOLLY
Yuck.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DAY (3F)

Michael and Laurie are having a conversation in front of the Yearbook Room (Room 317).

MICHAEL
... and that's what happened. Now all I gotta do is get myself to a fax machine?

LAURIE
A *fax* machine? I haven't seen one of those since 2005!

MICHAEL
They're still good for legal documents; stuff that isn't verifiable through e-mail.

LAURIE
Oh. Well, maybe they have one in the Main Office.

MICHAEL
That's what I'm counting on.

LAURIE
Michael, before you run off, can I ask you something?

MICHAEL
Sure.

LAURIE
You've spent the last several nights here in the school, right?

MICHAEL
Well, at friends' places most times, but here sometimes, like last night.

LAURIE
Well, I know for someone who hasn't been home to bathe and change in a week, you're actually fairly well groomed. But isn't it time you went home to... er, freshen up?

MICHAEL
I would if my mom would let me. I think I have a house key on me... I'll sneak in when she goes to work this afternoon.

LAURIE
(laughing) Cool. See you later.

Michael waves and walks off. Way down the hall, at the door to Room 315, we see the FBRT Comm Officer glaring at both of them, though neither notice.

INT. CORRIDOR 2F - DAY (2F)

Michael walks confidently down the 'left-side' corridor towards the Solarium. Suddenly, he is confronted by a solid line of teachers blocking the way through, and they're walking towards him. Ray and Kennedy among them.

RAY (approaching)
There he is.

KENNEDY (approaching)
Will he know better than to try and gyp us anymore? You're not supposed to be here!

MICHAEL (walking backwards)
Wha - look, alright, I'll leave...

RAY (snatches scanner from his hand)
*Not* with that, you won't.

MICHAEL (standing ground for a moment)
Hey! That's not even mine!

RAY
Not now it isn't. (laughs)

KENNEDY
Let him walk off with the evidence needed to get unexpelled and make us all look bad? *That's* not going to happen.

MICHAEL
You can't do that!

RAY
We can do anything. It all started back in the 1980's when teachers were expected to take on the role of disciplinarians because the parents were too half-assed to do anything about their kids' behaviour. And then, in the 1990's, we were expected to become psychologists as increasing numbers of children with diseases created by the company who brought you methylphenidate HCL, also known as Ritalin, were working their way through our school system, leaving ripples of chaos in their wakes. Finally, in the earliest years of this decade, legislation was brought forth, transferring ninety-five percent of parental 'authority' to the school teachers. So, Michael, in answer to your protests: We can do anything we want.

MICHAEL
That's... not true!

He runs back towards the corner by the Cafeteria Stairwell and runs up the other corridor. There, he is blocked off by a similar barricade of teachers, consisting of SAVAGE and Zinck, among others.

ZINCK
Zeta alpha deuce, S Man.

SAVAGE
Ex typo zeuss, Z Man. Arko Michael fargo rot nopes.

Michael runs to the Caferteria Stairwell, where there is a line of teachers with Quinlan hiking up to the landing, and LeRoux walking down to the landing. Michael is now quite frantic. He tries the door to Room 215, but Law stops him from entering. He tries Room 217, but Hamilton stops him.

ZINCK
Yip arg hiatus, Michael.

SAVAGE
He doesn't speak 'Savageese', Mr. Zinck. (to Michael) He was trying to tell you "There is no escape, Michael".

Michael, in desparation, tries the door to Room 216, but it is locked.

LEROUX
We have him now.

MICHAEL
Noooo!!

EXT. REAR ENTRANCE - DAY (out)

Michael pounds on the back doors.

MICHAEL (pounding)
Noooo!! Let me in!!

After a few moments he gives up, and disappears around the corner of the school.

INT. SOLARIUM - DAY (1F)

Meghan is passing through among the people chatting. There is also a guy and a girl having a serious conversation nearby.

GUY
Aw, c'mon Jessica, why won't you come to the party with me tonight?

JESSICA
Well...

MEGHAN (concernedly)
I wouldn't go if I were you - he plans to get you drunk then take you back to his house and fuck.

JESSICA (alarmed)
Oh! How do you know?

GUY (upset)
That ain't true, ya dizzy prep!

MEGHAN
Yes, it's true! Geez, you're brodcasting it everywhere! You should really stop rehearsing over and over in your mind what you're going to do!

Meghan walks off, leaving them to argue. She heads into the 'left-side' corridor, passing more people.

MEGHAN (pointing, calmly)
He's the one who stole your portable DVD player. It's in the front pouch of his backpack.

She walks off, leaving more chaos in her wake. Then she runs into Theadore.

MEGHAN
**YOU**!!

THEADORE
What?!

MEGHAN
*Get* *out* *of* *our* *SCHOOL*!! (her eyes suddenly turn red)

THEADORE (clutching his skull in agony)
Nggghhh!

MEGAHAN
You deserve to *die*!

THEADORE
W-whyyyy...

MEGHAN
You're going to destroy our school! I'm not going to let that happen!

THEADORE
Get out of my head, you bitch!

MEGHAN
Shut up! I'm in charge here!

Theadore eventually fends her off and runs away up the Cafeteria Stairwell. Meghan gives chase.

INT. STUDENT'S COUNCIL OFFICE (ROOM 319) - DAY (3F)

The Leader is sitting behind MacKenzie's desk, the Comm Officer behind the desk by the window.

LEADER
I like this room; nice comfortable chairs.

COMM OFFICER
...

LEADER
What's wrong, officer?

COMM OFFICER (sadly)
Those teachers kicked Michael out of the school.

LEADER
Well, it's probably just as well they did, I think he was going to start plotting against us.

COMM OFFICER
He wouldn't if I could talk to him. He'd listen to me.

LEADER
Very well then. What you want then, is a way to lure him back into the school, to want to break through the teacher barricades.

COMM OFFICER
Why don't we just tell the teachers to unexpel him?

LEADER
Too suspicious. He'd suspect our meddling. We'll just let the woefully misinformed teachers keep doing their jobs. Anyway, do you have an idea for a lure?

COMM OFFICER
... (brightening) Of course!

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

There are many many people all bunkered into Room 305. Laurie is at the center of the room, with Craig, Alex, and Nola nearby. Also present are numerous extras.

LAURIE (getting people's attention)
So, everyone who shares the same interests is here?

ALEX
Yes. We want to be rid of the Fall Badlands Reunification Team.

CRAIG
And we want to see our friend Michael come back to school.

LAURIE
Good. I trust word has spread through channels about our gathering, but I'm surprised there aren't more people here.

ALEX
Most people have grown complacent with the situation. Some people even like the way the FBRT runs things. (He pulls up a poster:

1st Weekly
FBRT BEER BLAST!!
(comic picture of two kegs on a table)
(comic image of two students raising mugs, one saying in a talk bubble "It's fun!", and another saying "Great for school spirit!")
(in smaller print) Today at 12:15 in the gym.)

CRAIG
Let the festivities begin!

(Everyone chuckles at all this)

LAURIE
Well (laughs), I know that the FBRT's string of alcohol-related activities has been popular, but-

ALEX
That's not all. I got another one. (He pulls out another poster:

This Wednesday is
HOT BOX DAY
(comic picture of people smoking weed in an old car)
At 12:15 in (comic image of a vent panel switch set on recirculation as opposed to fresh air)
the South Parking Lot)

LAURIE (lauging)
Oh my. That's almost as funny as this one: (now *she* pulls out a poster:

SCHOOL TRIP
(comic image of people smoking, holding their cigs out the window on a moving school bus) Only $5K, not including cigarettes.
(bulleted item) When: Tomorrow at 1:30pm
(bulleted item) Where: To Mounir Grocery, where you can by cigarettes no matter *how* old you are!)

ALEX (smirking)
He-he, as if they'd let us do that when we get the teachers back.

CRAIG
Well, that's not really important. I mean, we all can do these things anyway, just not at school, right?

There are murmurs of "He's right.", "I suppose.", and "Yeah...".

LAURIE
Craig's right, we've got to start planning-

Suddenly The Leader and Davidson break into the room, followed by many FBRT troops.

LEADER
... Your own demise!!

LAURIE
What?

LEADER
Davidson, aprehend these scum-buckets. On the charge of 'Conspiracy against the FBRT and it's policy'.

DAVIDSON
Done.

Everyone in the room is summairily arrested and handcuffed, then led out of the room.

LEADER (to herself)
We wanted to send a message, this is it. Plus... (louder, to Comm Officer who walks in) I got to do you a favor!

COMM OFFICER
Thanks!

LEADER
Now I've only got one thing left to take care of. (she stalks off)

INT. SUNNYSIDE MALL FOOD COURT - SUNNY DAY (out)

Michael is sitting at a table in the middle of the food court, munching on some food. Spin the cameras around a bit to enjoy the splendor of bright light shining in the big windows. Michael is also wearing different clothes, and his hair is well-groomed and clean.

MICHAEL (voice-over)
At least I got myself cleaned up.

Suddenly, something inside his knapsack beeps. He hastily unzips it and takes out a POCKET VIDEO COMMUNICATOR. This is a rectangular affair, it looks just like a personal databank thing on the outside. Heck, with our progected budget, it probably will be *my* personal organizer.

MICHAEL
Alex! What's up?

ALEX
Well, Mike, we were having a meeting about getting rid of the FBRT and perhaps getting you back to CPA when the FBRT arrested all of us and threw us all in Room 301.

MICHAEL
Oh no. Who's us?

ALEX
Us includes Craig, Nola, and Laurie. Can't as say that I mind being trapped in a room with Nola (laughs) ... but there's lots of other people here.

MICHAEL
They've got Laurie?

ALEX
Yep. I heard something about 'bait', maybe us being captured is just a FBRT ploy to get you back into CPA so they can get you too. Or it could be because we were having the meeting and we were percieved - not entirely in error, if I may say so - as being a threat. Or they figured they could kill two birds with one stone. I think it's the latter.

MICHAEL
Yeah, me too. What should I do?

ALEX
Ya want my opinion? Stay the heck away from here. Enroll at Sackville High. Maybe you have enough friends left among the staff that someone will send them your transcript.

MICHAEL
Not likely, but I could give it a shot - No! You guys need me to bust you out of there!

ALEX
I'm actually sort of relieved to hear that. Now I can tell you that we're scheduled to be executed in six weeks without having to feel guilty about it.

MICHAEL (suprised)
Six weeks?

ALEX
Maybe they didn't want to seem too eager. No "Off with their heads!!" and that sort of thing.

MICHAEL
Great. I can just walk up.

He closes and replaces the communicator, packs up his things and leaves.

INT. ROOM 219B - DAY (2F)

The room is dark. The Leader walks in on Molly, who is crying.

LEADER
Hello, Molly.

MOLLY
Get away from me.

LEADER
Why don't you want to talk to me?

MOLLY (screaming at her)
Why the hell do you think?! You took away Andréa!

LEADER
I didn't take her away. She's still up in Iqaluit or whereever she is.

MOLLY
How do you know where she lives?!

LEADER (blankly)
I did some checking.

MOLLY
Why do you care?

LEADER
Because... because I sort of like you.

MOLLY
Well I don't like you. You're evil.

LEADER
<sigh> That's what they say about all of us evil overlords. (to Molly) Look, I'm sorry about Andréa, but I had my people beat the shit out of you and take her away because I was envious if that's any consolation.

MOLLY
It isn't.

LEADER
Oh.

MOLLY
Could you just go away?

LEADER (whining)
Why?

MOLLY
Because I have no inclination to make conversation with you, that's why!

LEADER
But- But why can't we be friends?

MOLLY
We will *never* be friends.

LEADER (pouting)
Fine! Suit yourself! (she storms out of the room, upset)

EXT. CONCRETE YARD - SUNNY DAY (out)

We see Michael walking up the sidewalk, then turn around and look up at the school, then look back to Michael. Michael walks up through the Concrete Yard and through the doors into the Lobby.

INT. MAIN LOBBY - SUNNY DAY (1F)

MICHAEL
Well, I'm back.

He looks around the Lobby. He sees MACDONALD sitting in a chair in front of the Honours Board. Michael is visibly startled, then sees that he is fast asleep. Michael reumes glancing around. He sees the Message Sign, which is now saying "Good morning CPA... Today is Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 day 3...".

MICHAEL (voice-over)
My God! It's been over three months since this mess started! Well, today we end it.

Michael walks out of the Lobby and starts up the Main Stairwell. After he disappears from view, Symmonds walks out from underneath the stairs and gazes up at where he would be.

INT. CORRIDOR 2F - DAY (2F)

We're outside Room 218, looking down the hall to the Solarium. Michael runs on and knocks on the door to Room 218. The door has a poster on it saying: "The Sackville High Embassy to Charles Pillsbery Allen High School (CPA's name crossed out, followed by) the Fall Badlands Reunification Team". By the way, this poster should be on the door throughout filming (with or without CPA crossed out, depending on the current situation).

AMBASSADOR
Enter!

Michael opens the door and walks in. The Ambassador is an older man, definitely *not* a high school student. He's actually more like the Professor in the BBC version of "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe".

AMBASSADOR
Oh, it's you. The fugitive.

MICHAEL
Yes, I suppose so. My name is Michael.

AMBASSADOR
Is that so. Go ahead; sit, sit.

MICHAEL (taking a seat)
Thank you.

AMBASSADOR
Now, what can I do for you? Do you wish to defect? That would be a good idea for you if you don't want to be winked out of existence when these FBRT people send this place back to 1999.

MICHAEL
Oh, I don't think they'll get that far. I don't intend to let them, and there are a lot of people who think the same way that I do.

AMBASSADOR
Yes, Michael, but they're all in prison. What do you expect to do for them?

MICHAEL
I don't know. Maybe you can help me.

AMBASSADOR
Me? I am only an Ambassador, Michael. I-

MICHAEL
I mean get Sackville High to help us out.

AMBASSADOR
Sackville High? They-

Suddenly, a Sackville High student walks up beside the Ambassador's desk.

SACKVILLE STUDENT
Why would you want us to help you? All you guys ever do is make fun of us in your stupid Pep Rally videos. Like that stupid "CPA Episode One: The Phantom Whitman".

AMBASSADOR
And you project those movies onto a screen borrowed from our school, I might add.

SACKVILLE STUDENT
Exactly. But we're not *completely* heartless...

MICHAEL
You'd help us? It could be taken as... a peace offering, maybe? Between our two schools before we consolidate?

AMBASSADOR
That is an excellent idea.

SACKVILLE STUDENT
I'll get on the horn and tell Roger to send some more Student Ambassadors over.

AMBASSADOR
Good idea. Michael, when the time comes for your final battle, just stop by this room first, if you can. Tell me where you want to put 100 Sackville High students into action for your cause, and it will be done.

MICHAEL (wide-eyed)
Great! That's great! Thanks!

AMBASSADOR
You are very welcome, Michael. I do wish, however, you were not in grade 12. You seem to be a person of superb moral character and good judgement who would make a fine addition to our school.

SACKVILLE STUDENT
Yeah, what he said.

MICHAEL
Uh, thank you. Thanks! Uh... bye!

Everyone waves 'goodbye' at each other and Michael leaves.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DAY (3F)

We are now in front of the second door to Room 301. The Leader is standing at the door, looking through the window to examine the prisoners.

LEADER
Good. Very good. Comm Officer, prepare to set up a province wide telecast on all frequencies so that we may alert Michael to the situation here and draw him in.

COMM OFFICER
It'll take a lot of power, but... Gladly, sir!

She runs off, and Symmonds walks on.

LEADER
Yes, Symmonds, what is it?

SYMMONDS
It's Michael, sir. I spotted him in the Main Stairwell earlier.

LEADER
Oh, well then we don't have to- (suddenly, the lights go dim and flash on and off - there is a powering down and powering up noise. The Leader speaks up) Uh, never mind, Officer! (the noises and lightwork continue for a moment, then cease. Because the power has gone out. It is now quite dark.) What'd she *do*, blow a fuse?! Symmonds, call a custodian!

Symmonds runs off to get help.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DAY (3F)

Theadore crests the top of the Pit Stairwell, panting.

THEADORE (to himself)
She's... still... *chasing*... me...

MEGHAN (roaring - distantly from downstairs)
Arrgghhhh!!!

Theadore picks himself up and keeps running out into the hall.

MEGHAN (roaring - distantly from downstairs)
I'm going to destroy you!!

Theadore runs down the darkened corridor towards the Computer Labs.

THEADORE (to himself)
Why the hell's the power out?!

Theadore, frantically, runs into Room 308. There are a few extras sitting in the room, playing cards.

GROUPEE (standing up, dropping the cards)
Hey! You stay out of here!

THEADORE
Wha- why?

GROUPEE
Because!! Meghan warned us all about you, and a damn good thing she did! You'll destroy us all if she doesn't get you first! Get out of here!!

Theadore runs from the room, out into the hall again.

INT. ROOM 325 - DAY (3F)

Room 325 is a bit worse for wear after the arrests, but still in decent shape. Michael is the lone occupant of the room now. He is sitting by himself, thinking.

MICHAEL (voice-over)
What to do... what to do... Well, first things first, I have to bust my friends out of Room 301. Then-

Suddenly, the FBRT Comm Officer walks in.

COMM OFFICER
Oh! You're here! Hello!

MICHAEL
Hello.

COMM OFFICER
I found a teacher carrying this. (she hands him the scanner pen) I figured it was yours, and that you might want it.

MICHAEL (suprised)
Thanks! Wow, this changes everything!

COMM OFFICER
Aren't you glad I'm always around to help you?

MICHAEL
Yes, very. You've been a fantastic help to me so far.

COMM OFFICER (blushing)
Well... thank you.

MICHAEL
Anyway, I wonder if you could help me again?

COMM OFFICER
About what?

MICHAEL
My friends are trapped in Room 301. I need to bust them out of there.

COMM OFFICER
Oh... well, why would you want to do that?

MICHAEL
What do you mean?

COMM OFFICER
Well, I mean look around us, Michael. The FBRT is making people happy, we'll soon get to go back to 1999, and you and I have no worries. And with the power of The Artifact, we could relax until the end of time, just the two of us.

MICHAEL
E-y-auh?

COMM OFFICER
Think of it, Michael! You and I, we'd be great to spend eternity together with each other! We won't have to worry about a thing! We'll achieve a total peace of mind!

MICHAEL
According to the lead singer of The Cranberries, that's impossible.

COMM OFFICER
Well, close to it anyway. C'mon, Michael. What do you say? Heck, let's be rid of the FBRT! I never cared for those militant thugs! I can make it so that the FBRT and your little friends will be out of our hair forever! What do you say?

MICHAEL
Does this mean you won't help me bust my friends out?

COMM OFFICER
Of course not, Michael! Michael, don't you realize that I love you? You don't need to hang around with that Laurie woman you're so facinated with!

MICHAEL
Well, uh-

COMM OFFICER (sweetly)
And don't you want to spend eternity with someone who loves you? Those FBRT idiots don't know anything... that 'going back to 1999' business is all a façade! I can send everybody back to where they came from in the blink of an eye!

MICHAEL
Huh?

COMM OFFICER
Don't you realize it, Michael? The awesome power of The Artifact? You've looked at it yourself, wouldn't you know! This school... (she makes a sweeping arm gesture) is now an interdimensional spaceship! We can competely circumvent the laws of time and space in this pitiful third dimension! In fact, we can evolve to a whole new level of existence! Just the two of us, Michael; wouldn't that be great?

MICHAEL
I suppose... but... (sobs) I don't know what to do! I'm in love with both of you! I love you,- Wait! You never told me your name!

COMM OFFICER (whispering)
Sometime in our future journeys across the cosmos together I will tell you my name.

MICHAEL
Oh, that's so beautiful I could cry... (cries, sobs some more)

COMM OFFICER
Now come with me, Michael. Drop your obligations to this puny little world and come with me!

MICHAEL
I - I *can't*!! I'd love to go with you, really! I love you! But those people need me!

COMM OFFICER
(a pleading sigh) Oh... I could never force you to go, Michael.

MICHAEL
Thanks... I'm - I'm glad you understand... just give me a few days to sort things out and maybe I'll -

COMM OFFICER
Thanks, Michael. I guess it's the most I could ask of you. I'm sorry, I really can't help you break your friends out of Room 301.

MICHAEL
That's okay. Thanks.

Together, they depart the room.

INT. ROOM 218 - DAY (2F)

Michael walks into the Sackville Embassy, an excited look on his face.

AMBASSADOR
Have you decided where to put our forces to use?

MICHAEL
Yeah! I've got an idea! Send them all to the Sydney Stephen Building!

AMBASSADOR
The Sydeney Stephen Building?? Michael, that's been abandoned for years!

MICHAEL
Yes, I know. I just want to draw as many FBRT forces as I can away from here.

AMBASSADOR
But surely they won't percieve a hundred lightly armed Sackville Students charging into the Sydney Stephen Building as a threat!

MICHAEL
I've got that figured. Make the FBRT *think* they were going to attack CPA, but got the wrong building by mistake.

AMBASSADOR
Well... Well, we agreed. It shall be done.

MICHAEL
Thank you! Trust me, sir, you won't be disappointed by the results!

AMBASSADOR
I do hope you're right.

INT. CORRIDOR 2F - DAY (2F)

The Leader is standing outside the door to Room 219B. Molly is seen to be by herself in the darkened room, crying.

LEADER (voice-over)
What am I doing here? I've got things to take care of. Like the power being out upstairs. (she looks in the door hastily, then retreats) Well, I just can't take my eyes off her. I-... (she hears the crying again) I should give Andréa back to her. I really should. (she gets out her remote control and presses a button)

We see Andréa appear in the other room, and we hear Molly shout for joy. The Leader slowly walks towards the Solarium, quite depressed.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DARKNESS (3F)

The corridor in the third floor outside Room 301 is completely dark. We see some shadows of FBRT troups moving around.

TROOPER
Sir, what should we do?

SYMMONDS
Nothing. We just have to wait for our Leader to ask the comm officer to try and get the power back on over here?

TROOPER
Sounds good, sir.

A new shadow appears and walks up to Symmonds.

SECOND TROOPER
Sir, a report in from our sentries and a message from our Leader.

SYMMONDS
I'll have them in that order.

SECOND TROOPER
Yes, sir. First, the report. Our sentry units have detected a sizable force that could be allied to our enemy advancing on the Sydney Stephen Building.

SYMMONDS
How sizable?

SECOND TROOPER
Lieutennant Rogerson reports anywhere from 90 to 110 troops sir.

SYMMONDS
Why are they attacking the Sydney Stephen Building?

SECOND TROOPER
We've been unable to determine that, sir.

SYMMONDS
Perhaps... Ah! Perhaps they came from Sackville High! It makes so much sense! They intended to attack here, but they got lost and attacked the old high school!

SECOND TROOPER
That brings me right into the message from our Leader, sir. She is ordering all our forces to launch an assault on Sydney Stephen and capture all the Sackville troops so they will no longer be a threat.

SYMMONDS
Wow, that's a *great* idea! What about Davidson?

SECOND TROOPER
He's going to be in charge of a team that goes into Sydney Stephen from the rear. It will be a pincer attack. You'll be in charge of the main attack.

SYMMONDS
Good. Let's go. (he and the others except Trooper turn to leave)

TROOPER
Sir, what about the prisoners?

SYMMONDS
Is the door locked?

TROOPER
Yes, sir, but-

SYMMONDS
Good enough, let's go.

They all leave, walking towards the Main Stairwell.

INT. MAIN LOBBY - DAY

The entire FBRT force is in the Main Lobby, packing equippment so as to prepare to launch a mission. Admist the bustle, the Comm Officer storms up to The Leader.

COMM OFFICER (enraged)
What is *this* I hear about all our troops launching an attack on Sydney Stephen?!

LEADER
There is a strong possibility that the Sackville troops are down there. We must eliminate them now, before they become a threat.

COMM OFFICER
Maybe, but you're leaving us defenseless!

LEADER
Not defenseless, Officer. You and I will stay here. We can handle this crowd.

COMM OFFICER
Why can't you just leave half our troops here?! And there's nobody watching the prisonners!

LEADER
Since when did you become the commander of Gamma Bravo Unit?! And if you're *that* concerned about our pathetic low-life prisonners, watch them yourself!

COMM OFFICER
I- I- Our leader gave no orders that we were to leave the school!!

LEADER
But he didn't say we *had* to stay here, did he? I'm just taking a little inititave. (to Symmonds and Davidson) All ready? (they nod) Move out! (they do so, exiting through the main doors)

INT. ROOM 301 - DARKNESS (3F)

Craig, Alex, and the gang are sitting in the darkness of Room 301. Suddenly, they hear some scraping noises, to their alarm. Then they hear a loud clang as a ventilation grill drops down onto the floor.

CRAIG
What's going on?!

MICHAEL
Calm down, it's only me.

ALEX
Oh, well that explains everything.

MICHAEL
We've got to get out of here. The FBRT has let their guard down now. We can take back the school.

CRAIG
That'd be a great idea. Well, it's a good thing we've all been getting some proper diet... it's gonna be a heck of a trip through that ventilation duct. Let's open some curtains in here so we can see.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DARKNESS (3F)

As if taking up The Leader's suggestion to guard the room herself, the Comm Officer walks up to Room 301 from the Main Stairwell in the dim glow of the light spilling through from the distant corridors on the other end of the floor. She looks in the inset window and finds the curtains of the room open, and Michael talking to his friends, who form a circle around him.

COMM OFFICER (voice-over)
Damn. Time for plan B.

She looks longingly at Michael, turns around, and walks the other way back towards the Main Stairwell.

INT. GUY'S WASHROOM 1F - DAY (1F)

Michael comes out of the Boiler Room, closing the door behind him. The male portion of his crew is standing around and inside the washroom... they're not doing anything, of course; they're just waiting for Michael.

MICHAEL
There. I got the power upstairs back on.

ALEX
Wow. How'd you know your way around the Power Generators so well?

MICHAEL
Well it didn't look too much different from the circut breakers back home, truth be told.

ALEX
Oh.

CRAIG
What do we do now?

MICHAEL
How many FBRT operatives are left in the school?

ALEX
I counted two.

MICHAEL
Good. Let's send them packing. To the third floor!

CRAIG
Why the third floor?

MICHAEL
I don't know, it just seems like a dramatically appropriate place to go.

They all leave the washroom.

INT. CORRIDOR 3F - DAY (3F)

Theadore is running away from Meghan 'clockwise' around the corridor. Here he passes Room 313, Room 312, and such forth. Passing the Pit stairwell, he hears Meghan's voice in his head.

MEGHAN (voice-over, echoing)
Oh, you're going around *here* again, are you?! Well, it doesn't matter where you run, Theadore, for I will find you and kill you wherever you run.

THEADORE (softly, whimpering, while running)
Oh no...

Theadore notices that the door to Room 307 is open. He ducks inside, and sees Molly talking to Andréa in front of The Artifact, which has now begun to glow.

MOLLY (blinking, suprised, but not mean)
What are *you* doing here?

THEADORE
I- I- ... (Theadore looks at Andréa, then at Molly, then at The Artifact, then stares at Andréa. He then addresses Molly.) Why should *you* be so lucky? (he begins to half cry) You get to see your soulmate, why can't I see mine?! (Molly and Andréa look at him, feeling sorry for him) I see absolutely *nothing*! *Nothing*!!

MEGHAN (voice-over, echoing)
I am going to get you, Theadore. Fear my name, Theadore, for I am going to kill you. But I will not stop there. My powers can reach beyond your grave to make you miserable for all eternity like you deserve... You have no right to destroy our school!!

Theadore snaps.

First he screams, then looks at Andréa with a pleading look as if to say "Why?".

MEGHAN (voice-over, echoing)
*Die*, vermin!

Now he clutches his skull, screaming. Then he shoves Molly out of his way, screams

THEADORE (screaming)
*WHYYYYY*!!!???

then he smashes The Artifact into pieces.

ANDRÉA (shocked)
Noooo...!! (she disappears)

At this point, we see a montage of shots from various points around the school. Always the same thing. Two people talking (usually) of opposite gender, one disappearing in the middle of a silent mouthed word. This montage plays itself out slowly and dramatically. Eventually, we return to Room 307. After a moment of stunned silence on the part of both Molly and Theadore, the school itself begins to shake and rumble. The destruction of the school has now begun, and a *large* explosion is inevitable. That's what happens when you mess with objects from another dimension!

MOLLY (crying)
Why- Why did you do that??

THEADORE (softly)
I don't know...

MOLLY
Just because you didn't have a soulmate doesn't mean you have to take them away from the rest of us! What gave you that right?

THEADORE (crying, whimpering)
No-nothing!

MOLLY
I... Why... (crying herself, she runs out of the room)

The next thing that happens is that Meghan runs up.

MEGHAN
*You*... you actually *did* destroy the school, and - (Theadore looks up sideways at her, his eyes completely black) ... and - ... Oh *no*, you're one of - you're just - you're the - you're a telepath *too*!

INT. ROOM 203 - DAY (2F)

Burke and Mead are in the Science Lab... probably not a terribly good place to be inside a school that's going to blow itself up within minutes.

MEAD (looking at monitor)
Uh-oh. The Artifact... er, getting smashed, is causing some side-effects...

BURKE (suprised)
Such as?

MEAD (looking at monitor, blinking)
It seems that in a very short while, this building won't even be a smoking crater.

BURKE
Whose bright idea was it to tie The Artifact into the school wiring?! That's probably what's causing the reaction!

MEAD
That's probably true.

BURKE (getting up to run)
Let's get out of here.

INT. STAFF ROOM - DAY (2F)

Burke runs into the Staff Room, grabs the peanut machine and his guitar, then runs back out, saying to Mead who is with him

BURKE
Can't leave without these!

INT. UPPER SOLARIUM - DAY (3F)

Everyone is here except for Meghan, Theadore and the Comm Officer. This is the final confrontation. "Awakening" by Yasunori Mitsuda might be a choice for background music during various parts of this scene. Everyone forms a circle around Michael and The Leader, who face off against each other in the middle.

LEADER
People gathered here, know that this hour marks the beginning of our absolute rule over the entire school.

MICHAEL
People gathered here, know that she is full of bullshit.

LEADER
Ha-ha. But first I must swat a fly.

MICHAEL
A fly? I've caused you more trouble than that! Ha-ha! You'll never have this school! Not now! It's taken a lot of time and effort, but I've got everyone behind me!

LEADER
Too bad that they will all have to die. Now with the pleasantries. So, Michael. We meet ag- Wait a second, I don't recall ever meeting you in person before.

MICHAEL
That's okay. We've heard a lot about each other.

LEADER
I must admit some events have taken me by suprise. Your Sackville allies for instance, or that child Theadore destroying The Artifact. Perhaps it can be repaired.

MICHAEL
It probably can be repaired. But we'll be the one's doing it.

LEADER
Ha-ha. Not likely.

MICHAEL
We'll see.

LEADER
Enough of this. Let us end it.

MICHAEL
Yes, let's!

ALEX
Is anyone else here reminded of DragonBall Z?

CRAIG
Not really, because what's happened here in the last five minutes would be equivalent to about six seasons of the show.

LEADER
Now, let us see who can truly harness the power of The Artifact. It will be difficult, I fear, due to the fact that it has been shattered, but I shall give it a try. This is for Molly!

MOLLY
Shut up!

MICHAEL
And *this* is for Laurie!

Let's get some serious camera movement here. Spin around The Leader, who is surrounding herself with blue sparks. Occasionally a green spark erupts and she winces, sometimes even cries out in agony. Michael, not knowing about these things, can only brace himself and clench his fists. Eventually, The Leader charges up a large ball of blue flame and prepares to hurl it at Michael.

LEADER
Now... now you *die*, Michael.

COMM OFFICER (from the 'left-side' corridor)
Stop!!

Both The Leader and Michael look to her.

LEADER
Who are *you* to tell *me* to stop, *Officer*?

COMM OFFICER
I am the true leader and founder of the Fall Badlands Reunification Team! (she produces a comlink identical to The Leader's)

LEADER (suprised would be an understatement)
*WHAT*?! *YOU*?!

COMM OFFICER
*Yes*, me! I command you to stop!

LEADER
How can you-

COMM OFFICER
Command Authorization Gamma Alpha Six!

LEADER
No!! You die, Michael, I don't care!

People around the circle rush out to try and subdue The Leader, but she still manages to hurl a bolt of blue flame towards Michael. The Comm Officer runs and dives in front of Michael, taking the shot for him. The music stops dead. She collapses into his arms, bleeding profusely.

COMM OFFICER (sweetly and softly, barely audible, with her final breath)
My name is... Gwenivere.

She dies. Michael is completely stunned, holding her dead body and looking into her face. Meanwhile, five or six people are struggling with The Leader to keep her subdued. Suddenly, the music starts again. The school rumbles and shakes. Everyone runs, taking The Leader with them, leaving Craig, Alex, Nola, Laurie and Michael desparately holding onto Gwenivere.

CRAIG
We'd better get out of here, Michael!

MICHAEL
Uh... Aaa... She's dead, Craig! She died to save my life! Gwenivere... Her name...

CRAIG
Yes, Michael, she saved your life. But it's not going to mean anything if we don't get out of here!

ALEX
Yeah, let's blow before the school does!

MICHAEL
Gwenivere...

CRAIG
Michael, let's *go*!!

LAURIE
C'mon, Michael!

MICHAEL (suddenly becoming coherent)
Laurie... Uh, yes... Yes, let's get out of here! (scared) Run!!

The celing begins to fall around the area as they hit the Main Stairwell and scramble like mad down the stairs.

INT. MAIN STAIRWELL - DAY (3F/2F)

Michael and the gang are having a rough going of running down the stairs. Beams are falling everywhere. Part way down, Michael trips over a step and falls flat on his face, hurting himself. Laurie stops and helps him up and half-carries him the rest of the way down the stairs. Michael murmurs something to Laurie, inaudible to the camera.

LAURIE (sweetly, struggling)
I love you too, ya lunkhead.

EXT. CONCRETE YARD - DAY (out)

We are facing the school, such as it is, blowing itself up and all. Our heroes run like heck out of the lobby doors, all running except for Laurie, who is struggling to carry Michael. They run through the frame towards the camera, and past it. After a few moments, there is a loud explosion sound and all the glass windows instantly shatter outwards.

EXT. PARKING LOT - DAY (out)

This is a farily long shot of the school. We see the glass explode again, then suddenly the school becomes a giant ball of orange flame, accompanied by more loud explosion sounds, approaching a crescendo. Then finally, the *whole thing* explodes. Boom. Shatter. Way up into the sky, all around. This is a very loud and dramatic thing that is happening, we would like to remind the director.

Text on screen

And then it was over.
No more C.P. Allen.
No more nothing.

EXT. PARKING LOT - A NEW DAY (out)

Alex walks up to Craig, who is looking at the rubble pile where CPA once stood.

ALEX
I feel like having an intelligent conversation.

CRAIG
You came to the right place.

ALEX
What do you suppose happened to Theadore?

CRAIG
Well, I think it's simple enough. It's a manifest prophecy.

ALEX
How so?

CRAIG
Well, look at it this way. Theadore didn't go really banannas until Meghan spotted him out for destroying The Artifact, and subsequently, the school itself.

ALEX
Yeah, but what about that thing about 'seeing absolutely nothing'... couldn't that have drove him mad?

CRAIG
Alone? I doubt it. He would have just assumed his soulmate was someone in the school. But after everyone began treating him as an outcast, no one would talk to him, so he realized that that was not the case. Anyway, the two things together, and Meghan's constant nattering, finally pushed the poor kid over the edge.

ALEX
But it wouldn't have happened if Meghan hadn't told everyone he was going to destroy the school!

CRAIG
Exactly! A manifest prophecy!

ALEX
Well, it doesn't matter now (looks at rubble), 'cause it's all over.

CRAIG
What makes you think that? It's not over yet. New stories remain to be told at Sackville High. And in a couple of years, we'll all be legends, every one of us.

ALEX
I see. (pulls out scanner pen)

CRAIG
What's that?

ALEX
Oh, just another object that caused some trouble. I don't think I'll be needing it anymore. (tosses it onto the rubble)

CRAIG
I see. Well, we'd better get moving. It's a long walk to Sackville High.

ALEX
Yep. (they walk down the driveway)

Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" begins to play in the background shortly after they begin to walk away. The credits roll over shot of driveway as Alex and Craig walk down the sidewalk and disappear over the miniature horizon. After several moments, the screen fades to black. The credits begin to roll.

ELTON JOHN
When are you gonna come down
When are you going to land
I should have stayed on the farm
I should have listened to my old man

You know you can't hold me forever
I didn't sign up with you
I'm not a present for your friends to open
This boy's too young to be singing the blues

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

What do you think you'll do then
I bet that'll shoot down your plane
It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics
To set you on your feet again

Maybe you'll get a replacement
There's plenty like me to be found
Mongrels who ain't got a penny
Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground

So goodbye yellow brick road
Where the dogs of society howl
You can't plant me in your penthouse
I'm going back to my plough

Back to the howling old owl in the woods
Hunting the horny back toad
Oh I've finally decided my future lies
Beyond the yellow brick road

The credits themselves should be a relatively plain affair, just upward scrolling white text on the Parking Lot backdrop, then on plain black. Eventually, the credits stop and the music winds down.

Text on screen

Epilouge

INT. ROOM 307 - CANDLELIT DARKNESS (??)

A glowing sliver shard of the shattered artifact sits behind Meghan. Meghan and Theadore are playing double solitare. The cards are suspended in mid-air and worked with their psionic powers.

MEGHAN (pouting)
This *sucks*, spending eternity with you with nothing to do but play cards.

THEADORE
Well, don't blame me. It's not my fault that the FBRT found you were a master psionic and showed you a fake soulmate to trigger your powers.

MEGHAN
Yeah, well *you* were the one who destroyed The Artifact and got us drawn in here.

THEADORE
Well, you're welcome then. You could use the time to cool off.

MEGHAN
And *you* could use the time to *grow up* a little!

Theadore sticks her tounge out at Meghan, Meghan returns the gesture.

Text on screen

Forty-five years later, when they finally realized that they were each other's soulmates, they lived happily ever after. And after. And after. Of course, not being born immortal, they had trouble coping with it at certain times, such as Sunday afternoons.

artifact.txt Version 1.01 Copyright 2000 William Matheson

Look for the lastest version, and other stuff I'm doing at http://surf.to/will > A View from the Solarium (or simply http://www.crosswinds.net/~willmatheson/solarium). You're allowed to save, copy and distribute this script however you like, except for three restrictions: You're *not* allowed to modify this document in any way except if you're playing around with it locally; You're *not* allowed to make any movies or other work based on what I've written; and, finally, you're not encouraged to put this up on your own website without contacting me first (but as soon as you contact me, I'll likely as not give you permission).

*** Version 1.00 FINALLY finished (more or less) Thursday, April 13th, 2000 around 11:38am in Room 303B using JG Soft's EditPad 3.5.1 (to download the best text editor on earth, go to http://www.jgsoft.com right now!). ***