The Organization

The Organization
10/30/03

By: Cherie B. Pfaff
A.K.A. Sharys Aogail


Act One:

(Film rolls. Camera shows a crowded business street lined with skyscrapers. The sidewalks are crowded, traffic is full, and everyone seems to be in a hurry. As the opening credits begin, the camera zooms in on a man who is carrying a heavy metal briefcase. The man, Shane, is dressed in a black business suit, leather gloves, and dark sunglasses. His dark red hair is slicked back. As he ascends the steps of a large corporate building his expression is calm, bordering on cold.)

-Flashback to the previous day-

(Nearly a dozen people are gathered in a small lecture hall, their attention more or less focused on a pale haired woman. Everyone is casually dressed. Shane lounges in the back of the room. Unlike the previous scene, his hair is loose and tousled and he is wearing baggy black pants, combat boots, and a tight blood-red shirt displaying a band logo. He half listens to the speaker.)

Darlon: (In a grave tone) This will be the defining moment for us. This mission will determine whether or not we will be alive when the month is out. Years of hard work and training will be tested. You may think that this mission will be like any other, but no. The stakes are high. If we can’t destroy that stolen information, then our entire unit will be destroyed.

(Murmurs can be heard among those gathered.)

Man 1: Was there some sort of breech?

Man 2: How is that even possible?

Shane: (He snorts, drawing attention to himself.) Isn’t it obvious? She messed up.

(Darlon turns pink but remains silent.)

Shane: (Grins.) See? The Snow Queen actually had a moment of poor judgment. (He kicks his feet up onto the desk, hands clasped behind his head.) Now she wants us to clean up her mess.

Darlon: (Straightens, giving her a faint military look.) Actually you were assigned to this case.

(Shane topples from his chair.)

-End Flashback-

(Scene is now inside the corporate building. Shane enters and is instantly greeted by a perky little woman with short black hair. This is Tawna, though the audience is currently unaware of her identity.)

Tawna : Damian Ravelle? My name is Terra Johnson, Mr. Dawson’s personal secretary. (They shake hands and then walk further into the building side by side.) Mr. Dawson sends his greetings and thanks you for your interest in his new Power project. He regrets that he could not meet you in person, but he had an urgent meeting to attend to.

Shane : (As they stop to wait for an elevator door to open.) That’s quite alright Miss Johnson. Does Mr. Dawson have all his priorities in order?

Tawna : (Smiles cheekily as the door slides open.) Yes sir!

-Flashback to the previous day-

(The Camera now shows only a handful of people. Darlon stands in front silhouetted by the blueprint of a complex building.)

Darlon : (To Shane, who is now sitting sullenly in the front row.) Upon arrival you will be greeted by one of our agents. Tawna has been undercover for over three years and is an asset to our unit. Don’t blow her cover. She will treat you as a potential business partner, escorting you past the first level of security. (The blueprint shifts as Darlon speaks, showing everyone their route. She points at an intersecting hallway.) You will part here.

-End Flashback-

(Shane and Tawna exit the elevator. Tawna is now holding the briefcase. Rounding a corner, they begin to approach a guarded checkpoint. Camera briefly zooms in on the metal detector and a handgun that is holstered on one of the guard’s hips. Once at the station, Tawna shows the guards an ID card. They let her pass around the metal detector. After a quick trip through the metal detectors, Shane is cleared moments later. Once out of sight of the guard station, Tawna hands over the briefcase. As the hall is intersected by another Tawna veers left, leaving Shane to continue alone. He approaches a heavy metal door with a card slot on the right side. The camera shows him reaching into his pocket.)

-The Previous Day-

Darlon : You will be given a key card. It’s a forgery, so one of our hackers will have to dive into their system to convince it otherwise. Tiaun, (The camera focuses on a young Hispanic-looking man, about 18 years of age. He lifts his head as his name is called.) that’s your job.

(Tiaun smiles and gives the thumbs up.)

Darlon : This next area will be much more crowded. Act important and you shouldn’t be bothered. If someone does challenge you the situation will be under your discretion. Try to keep it clean.

Shane : Where do I go from there?

Darlon : (Referring to the blueprint.) About here there should be a pair of sealed doors. Keep your eye on them and wait for the signal.

Shane : What’s the signal?

-End Flashback-

(A door slides open., letting Shane step in. camera reverses its view, displaying an entire floor crammed with computers and the people who were currently working with them. It’s hard to follow any one person in the rush. Shane makes his way along the outside border of the room. Gets a few glances here and there, but nothing more. As he nears the doors a SNAP is heard. Shane bolts for the now-open door a moment before all electronically powered items crash, leaving the room in darkness.)

(For the first few moments the screen is black. The first noise that the audience is aware of is the rushed footsteps of a runner, followed by faint panting. The scene lightens enough to see Shane running up a vast flight of stairs. As the camera once again focuses on him, Darlon’s voice can be heard. Audio only, no visual flashback.)

Darlon’s voice : (Slightly faint.) When Tiaun overloads their systems everything will shut down. Once you’re on the stairwell you have to run up four flights to get to your destination. You have to move fast. Once the backup generator kicks in, all doors will be locked down. The timing will be tight.

(Shane reaches a landing and slams open a door with his shoulder. Camera shows him standing in an empty room. The lights come on fully allowing the audience to see the room more clearly. The only thing of interest is a single computer station with an office chair placed before it. Shane ignores the door as it slams shut behind him. Panting slightly, he walks over to the computer and sits down.)

-The Previous Day-

Shane : But wouldn’t the data be fried along with everything else?

Darlon : (Agitated) Do you really think I would send you on this mission if it were? The data is salvageable. Tiaun’s little fireworks display would never be able to destroy it completely. You have to do it manually.

-End Flashback-

(Shane’s fingers are flying across the keyboard. His eyes are glued to the screen and he has a slightly frustrated look on his face. Camera shows the computer screen. The words “access denied” flash repeatedly across the screen. Gritting his teeth, Shane slams the metal briefcase onto the desk. He snaps it open and immediately gets to work. Camera show that inside of the briefcase is what looks like a miniature computer imbedded on the side of a large black box. Shane busies himself by connecting the two computers by a series of wires. Once finished, he grabs a small remote and makes to stand.)

(He freezes at the sound of a gun being cocked. Camera shows Shane’s face and then widens to show a sandy-haired man standing behind him aiming a glock.)

Man : Out of all her agents she sent you? She must be desperate. (He looks at the equipment Shane has set up and smirks.) Wiping the computer clean? I could always recreate the data that was there. After all . . . I’m a living hard copy.

-The Previous Day-

(Darlon and Shane are sitting across from each other. They are alone. Darlon places the briefcase on the table and slides it towards Shane.)

Shane : (Suspiciously) What’s that?

Darlon : I apologize for the fact that you were given this mission in the first place. It was my lack of foresight that caused this situation in the first place. I trusted someone I shouldn’t have and now . . . (She clears her throat) I didn’t want to give you this mission.

Shane : (Eyes narrowed) What are you trying to say?

Darlon : (She clasps her hands together on the tabletop and takes a deep breath.) It won’t be . . . efficient enough . . .to just destroy the computer. The source itself has to be wiped clean. Do you understand what I’m telling you?

(Solemnly Shane stands and salutes her.)

Darlon : (Softly) Please try to come back.

-End Flashback-

(Shane smiles somewhat bitterly.)

Man : Time’s up Shane.

Shane : Your right.

(Camera flashes to Shane’s hand. He presses the detonator.)

END