Writing: Timmons Chronicles Pilot: Act IV

This is the final act that covers things not in the Theater Boy book. It's very revealing, and I hope it translates as dramatically on the small screen as I'd like it to be. Especially the final scenes. Anyway, enjoy!

ACT IV
EXT. BASEBALL FIELD - DAY
Seven years has passed, June 1979. DOTTIE, now 13, lean, tall, slightly flat-chested, plays baseball with a group of boys. She is the pitcher. Her fastball typically makes the catcher shake his hand in pain. Yet she strikes out batters.
COACH #1, coaching the other team, sidles up to COACH #2, Dottie’s coach.

COACH #1

You gonna let that girl embarrass my boys?

COACH #2

It’s all about winning.

COACH #1

Heck, your own players don’t like her.

COACH #2

What do you want me to do? Pull her from the game because she’s too good?

COACH #1

At least give us a chance without losing to a girl.

Coach #1 pats Coach #2 on the back.

COACH #1

(Cont.) I know you’ll do the right thing.

He goes back to his own dugout. Dottie strikes out the last batter and comes into the dugout. She grabs a helmet and a bat.

COACH #2

Dottie, I’m going to let Matthew hit for you.

DOTTIE

What!? I’ve got a no-hitter going!

COACH #2

I know, and since this game is out of hand I want to save you for another game.

Dottie looks at him incredulously. She puts the bat and helmet down, grabs her glove and walks out of the dugout.

COACH #2

Hey! There’s no call for that!

Dottie turns to him.

DOTTIE

Answer me truthfully: If I were a boy I’d still be in the game, right?

Coach #2 stays silent.

DOTTIE

(Cont) I thought so. I quit.

She leaves the ballfield. PENNY Thomas, now 12, and SARAH, Dottie’s six-year-old sister, join her.

PENNY

Where are you going?

DOTTIE

Home.

SARAH

But you were doing so well!

DOTTIE

Life’s not fair. It’s a man’s world.

PENNY

Oh not that again.

DOTTIE

(turns to her) It’s true. You saw their coach talking to mine. Then he takes me out! I’m embarrassing them because I’m a girl.

They walk in silence for a while, Dottie with her head down. They pass some construction and Sarah gets excited.

SARAH

Hi daddy!

They stop walking. Her father stands from where he is pouring concrete and waves at her.

PENNY

What are they building there anyway?

DOTTIE

Some kind of theater. The owner only contracted dad to build the foundation. Says he’ll do the rest.

Brad Timmons stands close to their dad, talking to him. Dottie shudders softly.

DOTTIE

(V.O.) No! I got rid of you! Why are you coming back?

She turns away from the construction and walks toward home. Penny and Sarah follow her.
INT. BOBBY’S CHICAGO ROOM - DAY
It is July 1979. BOBBY, now 13, is in his room with a friend, DOUG. They are pouring over books. A blackboard sits in front of them.

BOBBY

Read that question again?

DOUG

(math question)

BOBBY

Okay...(answers using chalkboard to explain)

DOUG

How do you do that? You always explain things better than the teachers.

BOBBY

Oh, well I can visualize the problems a lot better than they can.

DOUG

Oh I know, and they get mad at you, brother.

BOBBY

I don’t let it bother me.

Doug looks around the room. He stands and goes to a stack of trophies, and a large pile of baseballs, all with something written on them.

DOUG

Hey you still have that Karate trophy. I remember that.

BOBBY

You mean your nose remembers. I still can’t believe I broke it.

DOUG

That was 3 years ago. And besides, it was my fault, I moved the wrong way.

BOBBY

I stopped competing because of that. I felt so bad that I hurt you.

DOUG

That’s silly. You were the best. I’ll bet even now you’d beat me.

BOBBY

(smiles) I don’t even want to think about that.

DOUG

Come on. Just you and me. We’re both tougher now!

There is a knock on the door and Brad comes in.

BRAD

Time for Doug to go home, Bobby.

DOUG

All right, but you owe me a match, Timmons.

Doug leaves the room.

BRAD

We need to talk.

He sits on Bobby’s bed.

BOBBY

It’s safe, guys.

Bobby’s room becomes filled with motion. Robots of all sizes come from every corner. Some even hover. Bobby sits at his desk.

BOBBY

So what’s up?

BRAD

You do know that you’re gifted, right? Smarter, more compassionate, tougher than normal?

BOBBY

(smiles) What do you think, guys, am I normal?

Robots shake their heads and a chorus of robotic voices says ‘Negative’.

BRAD

You have a sense of humor at least. I hope I’ve instilled a sense of humility as well. (pause) But have you ever wondered why you’re so different?

BOBBY

All the time. But even my magic ball couldn’t tell me the answer to that one.

BRAD

It’s because you have a mission in life.

BOBBY

(sits up) Do tell. Is this where I find out I’m a starchild?

BRAD

(laughs) No, you’re not from another planet.

BOBBY

Aww...

BRAD

You’re from another time.

BOBBY

(Raises an eyebrow) Einstein didn’t think time travel was possible.

BRAD

Hmmm, interesting, isn’t it? There’s more, of course. I’m glad you’re taking this so calmly.

BOBBY

One thing you did teach me, sensei, is patience.

BRAD

Good. One lesson learned. There is, however, a lot of information to be shared. We’d like to put it directly into your brain, but the process is a bit painful.

BOBBY

No pain, no gain.

BRAD

Good. Follow me.

They get up and leave the room.
INT. SECRET ROOM - DAY
The door opens and Brad and Bobby enter. Lorie is already there.

LORIE

I’m glad you’re here Bobby. Have a seat and I’ll explain the process.

Bobby looks around the room.

BOBBY

You’ve hidden this from me the whole time?

He sits in the chair in the middle of the room.

LORIE

What’s going to happen is a helmet will drop down from the ceiling and fit itself around your head. It has needles that will attach to your skull, but not penetrate it. The needles will carry the information to the parts of the brain that hold memories. Okay so far?

Bobby nods. The helmet comes down and Bobby watches it until it covers his head.

LORIE

Try to relax.

BOBBY

Easy for you to say.

The lights flicker and Bobby tenses. In his eyes images form: complex Mathematical formulae, chemical formulae, an image of the Earth being covered with a black cloud. The last image is of Brad, Lorie and the Old Man. They stand for a moment, then all 3 disappear at once. The Old Man appears again and slowly becomes younger until he becomes an infant, with Brad and Lorie holding him. The image of a red light on a massive computer comes into his mind.
The lights come back on and Bobby relaxes. He pants for a moment, looking inward.

BOBBY

What a rush. (pants, looks at Brad and Lorie) So (pause) you’re not real?

BRAD

We’re as real as you want us to be. We’re still here for you.

Bobby gets up, touches Lorie on the arm.

BOBBY

And I can’t read your thoughts, because you have no brain in that body. Funny, it never occurred to me before. (Spreads arms wide) Wow, I mean (pause) wow! So much you haven’t told me before now. (pause) But there’s something missing. (Looks up) Hey Old Man? You out there? Show yourself!

The Old Man appears.

OLD MAN

Scan him for damage.

BOBBY

No, no, I feel fine, just so much to process. But one question still lingers: Why? Why go through all this just to lay the mission on me?

OLD MAN

You’ve seen what happens to the Earth.

BOBBY

That doesn’t explain why you’re so obsessive about this. Going to all this trouble, building a massive computer hidden away somewhere to hold all this information; making holograms of (pause) everything and making yourself young again, into me. Why? What drove you to such extremes? And why is this Dottie Brown such a key?

The Old Man pauses, a gleam in his eye. Zooming in on the gleam, we find a scene playing out.
INT. OLD DOTTIE’S LAB - DAY
It is 2036. OLD DOTTIE, around 70,mostly red hair with a white streak, sits in front of a glowing portal. A bucket of baseballs at her side. Her eyes glaze over. She picks up a ball, writes something on it, and tosses the ball through the portal. The ball disappears.
The Old Man comes in.

OLD MAN

What are you up to?

OLD DOTTIE

Sending messages, like a note in a bottle.

OLD MAN

You’ve never been able to get that time portal to work. You said yourself it takes too much power.

OLD DOTTIE

For a person, maybe, but not a baseball.(Smiles and gets up) The theory is sound. We just need bigger batteries.

The portal glow fades.

OLD MAN

I’m good, but not that good.

She kisses him.

OLD DOTTIE

You play with your toys, I’ll play with mine.

OLD MAN

We’ll be late for the reunion.

OLD DOTTIE

Nah, flight traffic is light today.

She takes him by the hand and they leave the room.
EXT. TIMES SQUARE - DAY
In the middle of Times Square, the usual crowds of people walk by. Taxis hover on standby or fly by at various heights. XAVIER LOPEZ, in his 20’s walks up to a large advertising screen. He carries a suitcase and sets it down on the ground. He opens it, and takes out a large container, filled with a clear liquid. He takes out 2 smaller containers and puts them to the side.

XAVIER

Ladies and gentlemen, I represent a group of very unhappy South Americans.

Some of the crowd stop to listen.

XAVIER

In the last year many of our people have been put out of work because of the work of one of your American scientists. One Sarah Simmons-Jackson. You may remember her as winning the Nobel Prize recently for her work in curing the addiction to cocaine and other drugs. I worked for one of the groups that happily provided this cocaine to your citizens. I am now out of a job because too few people want to buy my product.

Several of the people watching jeer him.

XAVIER

I know. Our product led to death and addiction, yet it was the lifeblood of my family. I am here today not to apologize for the problems my friends and I have caused, but to seek vengeance in the best way I know how, to cause more death.

He takes one of the smaller containers, opens it and pours it into the larger container. The contents bubble.
A policeman comes up to him. A floating news camera hovers near him.

POLICEMAN

What are you doing?

XAVIER

I hereby exact vengeance against America. May one die for every one of my people who are now destitute or dying themselves!

The policeman tries to grab him, but Xavier lifts the other small container and pours it into the larger one. The contents bubble over and a black cloud forms. The cloud quickly spreads and grows thicker by the minute. The people watching cough and retch, then fall. Xavier himself, with a smile on his face, breathes deep and then falls.
The policeman knocks over the container, and its contents spill. The cloud only gets denser. The cloud continues to spread through Times Square and then through New York City.
EXT. PARK - DAY
The Simmons family Reunion takes place in a park in the small town where Dottie grew up. The park is filled with men, women and children, all related somehow to Dottie and the Old Man. In a nearby parking lot, cars hover, and other cars fly by.
In the midst of the celebration, one bored teenaged girl walks away from the celebration, put on her holo-glasses, and put on her favorite teen soap opera. The broadcast is interrupted for a news report. At the same time beeps are heard throughout the party.

OLD DOTTIE

That’s the terror alert!

Everyone stops what they are doing and puts on holo-glasses.

REPORTER

Once again, a black cloud that started in Times Square is spreading very quickly around the globe, engulfing every place it reaches with what appears to be Carbon Monoxide and other toxic fumes. We urge our viewers to get to a terror shelter at once.

A map appears, showing the position of the cloud and it’s projected spread-rate.

OLD DOTTIE

Everyone evacuate! Now!

The gathering breaks up as families rush to their cars.
INT. OLD DOTTIE’S CAR - DAY
Old Dottie and the Old Man climb in. The Old Man grabs his pocket computer.

OLD MAN

At this rate, we have maybe 45 minutes before it hits us. I’m gathering info from central processing now.

OLD DOTTIE

Home, top speed.

OLD MAN

No, we’re not sheltered enough at home. Head for the shelter.

OLD DOTTIE

If I’m right, no place is safe for very long. Look at the corrosive nature of that cloud! It’s eating through everything. We need to open a time portal and prevent this from happening.

The Old Man stares at his computer screen.

OLD MAN

Very well, home then. Break the sound barrier.

The car lifts off and rockets forward. A sonic boom is heard momentarily.
INT. DOTTIE’S LAB - DAY
Old Dottie and the Old man come running into the room.

OLD DOTTIE

You still connected to central processing?

OLD MAN

No, it went down a few minutes ago. But I think I have enough information on when it happens to stop it. We need to go back 3 hours. It was a Latin American drug cartel set off the cloud. I’m still trying to work out its composition, but it appears to be primarily carbon monoxide. Can you take us back 3 hours?

OLD DOTTIE

Only one of us needs to go. I need to stay behind to run the equipment. I have to find the power somewhere.

OLD MAN

No. We promised each other that we’d never part.

OLD DOTTIE

I’m not sure I can fine tune it for 3 hours. Grab some supplies. You might be in for a long wait.

OLD MAN

You’re not listening to me.

OLD DOTTIE

Yea I am. If I can find the power for two people to get through, I’ll follow you. Now get those supplies ready, especially the video camera.

The Old Man starts to gather boxes of supplies. A glowing portal appears for a moment, then fades.

OLD DOTTIE

I don’t suppose you’d like to get a sample of that cloud? It might come in handy.

OLD MAN

Do you have anything that would hold it?

OLD DOTTIE

Try those self-capping vials on my workbench. They’re as tough as nails.

The Old Man grabs a vial from the bench and heads out. Old Dottie looks at her scanner.

OLD DOTTIE

That cloud is picking up speed as it moves. It should be here soon.

OLD MAN

(V.O., over intercom) I’ve got the vial hooked up to our atmosphere sampler system, but it may allow the cloud in.

OLD DOTTIE

I just need another minute to reroute power.

An alarm sounds.

OLD DOTTIE

(Cont.) Time’s up.

She goes to the Old Man’s computer, sitting on one of the boxes, and types furiously at the keyboard. She comes back to her console. The Old Man comes back into the room and seals the door. He puts the vial in one of the boxes.

OLD MAN

It’s eating through everything, but I got the sample. Seems safe so far.

OLD DOTTIE

All right then, let’s begin. Get ready with the camera. I don’t know where or when that will come out.

Old Dottie presses a series of buttons and a loud hum fills the air. A glow appears, large enough for the Old Man to walk through. The Old Man plunges a video camera through the portal. The picture shows what appears to be farmlands and a sunny sky.

OLD MAN

Looks clear.

OLD DOTTIE

Great, get the supplies through, your computer first.

The Old Man picks up the first box and steps through the portal.
EXT. FARMLAND - DAY
The Old Man steps out of the portal, takes a deep breath, puts the box on the ground and steps back through.
INT. OLD DOTTIE’S LAB - DAY
The Old Man steps back through, grabs another box and steps back through. He repeats the process until all the boxes are gone.

OLD MAN

Come with me!

OLD DOTTIE

Get through while you can. I have my hands full finding power.

OLD MAN

I won’t go without you!

OLD DOTTIE

(looks at him) I promise I’ll be right behind you!

The Old Man nods and steps through the portal.
EXT. FARMLAND - DAY
The Old Man turns and sees Old DOTTIE still at the console on the other side.

OLD MAN

Hurry! I’m through!

Old DOTTIE frantically presses buttons, glances up.

OLD DOTTIE

One more burst and we’re done.

She presses a button, the hum becomes louder. She makes a beeline for the portal, but the hum dies down and the portal begins to shrink.

OLD DOTTIE

It’s not stable. I can’t get through.

OLD MAN

(softly) Dottie!

He reaches his hand out, she does the same.

OLD DOTTIE

You have to stop this!

OLD MAN

I will.

Their hands almost touch and the portal closes. The Old Man breaks down in tears.
END OF ACT IV.

Timmons Chronicles: Pilot - Act III

This is act III of the pilot script for The Timmons Chronicles. Any comments are welcome. If you have read the Theater Boy book, you might want to know that everything in the first 4 acts takes place before the scenes in Theater Boy, except parts of Act IV, which take place in the future.

Act III
INT. YOUNG BOBBY’S ROOM - DAY
Five months have passed, June 1972. Young Bobby’s room is filled with small robots. Some more sophisticated than others. Some are wind-up, some are radio-controlled. The most sophisticated work off voice-command. Young Bobby tinkers with one of them at his desk/workbench. He puts the finishing touches on it and sets it on the desk. Its eyes light up and its head turns toward Young Bobby.

YOUNG BOBBY

Take two steps forward, my mechanical friend.

The robot takes 3 steps forward.

YOUNG BOBBY

(cont) Hey, I taught you how to count better than that!

ROBOT

Sorry, master.

It takes two steps forward.

YOUNG BOBBY

That’s better.

Young Bobby’s door is open a crack and Lorie’s eyes peer through.
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Lorie steps away from Young Bobby’s door.

LORIE

Do you really think he’s ready for this?

OLD MAN

(V.O.) Intellectually? He’s a college student.

LORIE

But physically, mentally, he’s still just six.

OLD MAN

(V.O.) It will give him time to get accustomed to the power. Besides, the arrangements have already been made. She’s on her way.

INT. YOUNG BOBBY’S ROOM - DAY
It’s later in the day. Young Bobby is playing chess with one of his robots. He moves the queen.

YOUNG BOBBY

Queen to E6, check.

The robot picks up a pawn and moves it.

ROBOT

Pawn to C6.

YOUNG BOBBY

You can’t do that. You’re still in check.

ROBOT

It was a valid move for the pawn.

YOUNG BOBBY

(sighs) That’s true, but part of the game is defending your King. Your King is in check, which means you have to do something to block it.

ROBOT

(Looks over the board) Chess is a hard game. How about checkers?

Young Bobby rolls his eyes. There is a knock on his door and Lorie opens it.

LORIE

Bobby, there’s someone we’d like you to meet.

A girl, YOUNG SASHA O’BRIEN, comes up behind her. She’s 7, black hair and eyes, with a pale complexion. Young Bobby stands.

LORIE

This is Sasha O’Brien.

Young Bobby looks her over, glances at his robots.

YOUNG BOBBY

Well just don’t stand there, bow to the lady!

About half of his robots turn and bow to Young Sasha. She giggles.

LORIE

I’m going to get Sasha settled. Why don’t you go take a bath and get ready for dinner?

Young Bobby rolls his eyes and heads for the bathroom.
INT. SECRET ROOM - DAY.
Lorie escorts Young Sasha into the same room where Young Bobby was for his birthday. It is dark. The old man appears from the shadows and the lights come on in the room.

LORIE

Have a seat, Sasha.

Young Sasha hesitates, then sits in the chair at the center of the room. The old man approaches her.

OLD MAN

Do you know me?

YOUNG SASHA

(Looks at him, shakes her head) No, should I?

Her accent has a New Jersey tang to it.

OLD MAN

(Shakes his head) I knew your parents before you were born. (Speaks a sentence in Russian, translates to ‘Can you understand me?’

YOUNG SASHA

What was that?

OLD MAN

Russian. Did it ring a bell?

YOUNG SASHA

(Shakes head) I only speak English.

OLD MAN

Fair enough. Start the procedure.

The ceiling opens and a helmet comes down. Young Sasha’s arms and legs are clamped down.

YOUNG SASHA

(Fearfully) What’s going on?

OLD MAN

Something to bring back old memories.

Sasha screams in pain as the helmet begins to glow. The process takes a minute, then stops. The helmet is lifted off her head. Young Sasha’s eyes glaze over a moment, then come back to life slowly. The clamps are removed from her arms and legs.

OLD MAN

What is your name?

Young Sasha shakes her head slightly. Her accent changes to Russian.

YOUNG SASHA

But Babushka, you know me. I’m your Sasha!

OLD MAN

(Speaking in Russian) Do you remember how to open minds?

YOUNG SASHA

(Speaking in Russian) Of course, one does not forget one’s gift.

She looks around herself.

YOUNG SASHA

But what is this? My skin is so young? (gasps) It worked? I am young again?

OLD MAN

(Nods) Your body is 7 years old.

YOUNG SASHA

But you are so old, darling. Why did you not make yourself young?

OLD MAN

(Smiles) I did. And he’s waiting to meet you for dinner.

He spreads his hands out.

OLD MAN

(cont) This body is just for show.

He vanishes. She gasps.

OLD MAN

(V.O.) Now I need you to open his mind as you did mine.

Lorie comes out of the shadows and offers her hand. Young Sasha takes it, gets up and they exit the room.
INT. DINING ROOM - DAY
Young Bobby sits at the table, playing with a robot. Lorie escorts Young Sasha in, whispers in her ear and leaves. Young Sasha sits next to Young Bobby. A moment later Brad comes in with dinner.

BRAD

Here you go. You kids eat alone. Us grownups will eat later.

Young Sasha stares at Young Bobby while he plays. He looks up and notices her staring.

YOUNG BOBBY

What? Did I forget to wash behind my ears?

YOUNG SASHA

(Shakes head, Russian accent) No, Babushka.

Young Bobby looks at her from the corners of his eyes.

YOUNG BOBBY

Huh? What’s with the accent?

YOUNG SASHA

(Catches herself, Jersey accent) Oh nothing. I learned I had Russian heritage and I’m trying something new.

YOUNG BOBBY

That’s better. I hope you like meatloaf.

YOUNG SASHA

I prefer a good stroganoff.

YOUNG BOBBY

Do that again, switching from American to Russian accents. That’s weird.

YOUNG SASHA

Haven’t you learned how to speak Russian?

YOUNG BOBBY

(Shakes head) Just a few words. We’re going to France in a week and I’ve been learning French, but not much Russian.

YOUNG SASHA

(Nods) You will learn.

YOUNG BOBBY

(Rolls eyes) Great.

INT. YOUNG BOBBY’S ROOM - NIGHT
Dinner is over and Young Bobby takes Young Sasha to his room to see the robots. Young Sasha sits on Young Bobby’s bed.

YOUNG SASHA

Come sit with me.

Young Bobby reluctantly sits next to her. Young Sasha looks him over.

YOUNG SASHA

(Cont.) They really haven’t told you anything?

YOUNG BOBBY

About what?

YOUNG SASHA

About me, about Russia, about your history?

YOUNG BOBBY

I don’t understand.

Young Sasha stands, grabs Young Bobby by the face and looks into his eyes.

YOUNG SASHA

Look at me.

Young Bobby struggles for a moment, but cannot move.

YOUNG SASHA

Don’t fight it. This is bigger than you know. Relax. Just look into my eyes and think nothing more.

Young Bobby’s eyes glaze over.
INT. WHITE ROOM - NIGHT
The room is completely white. No walls or edges can be seen. Young Bobby stands by himself, dressed completely in white. He shakes his head.

YOUNG BOBBY

Hello?

His voice echos. Young Sasha suddenly appears, also dressed in white.

YOUNG SASHA

Oh, it worked! Just like last time!

YOUNG BOBBY

I’m confused.

YOUNG SASHA

(Russian accent) Oh but of course you are Babushka. Let me explain. We’re in a kind of mind limbo. Our minds are joined together and it manifests itself like this. Like a blank piece of paper, waiting for writing or painting. Oh there’s just no end to what we cn do here!

OLD MAN

(V.O.) Get on with it!

YOUNG SASHA

(Looks up) Oh you were always so impatient. But we have time now, an infinite amount of time.

OLD MAN

(V.O.) Open his mind and then we’ll talk.

YOUNG SASHA

Oh all right. (turns to Young Bobby) Think of it as another way of communicating. Outside of this room, I’m touching your face while you sit on your bed. That’s the key: Tactile contact. I found that I have the gift naturally, but he somehow suppressed it, until he restored my memory. But the point is, as long as we touch, we can read each others’ minds, and go into our minds like this and create our own virtual reality!

A sofa appears, very regal.

YOUNG SASHA

I did that! With my imagination. Now you try. Think of something real to you.

Young Bobby still looks confused, then concentrates a moment. A robot appears.

YOUNG SASHA

That’s got it! I knew you’d get the hang of it. But there’s more. That bully you call grandfather wants me to rush through, not like the first time at all. We spent hours in here before I opened his mind.

YOUNG BOBBY

You opened his mind? But you’re my age.

YOUNG SASHA

He doesn’t want me to tell you. He thinks you’re not ready for it yet. But I’m ... we’re older than we look.

The old man appears, followed by an old woman. They dance for a moment, then disappear.

YOUNG SASHA

It was beautiful. (Sighs) He’s tapping on my shoulder now, threatening to break contact. Very well, we’ll rush it.

A door appears.

YOUNG SASHA

This is the door that opens your mind. Once you go through it, you’ll be able to read the minds of anyone you touch, but they won’t be able to read yours. They don’t have the gift. Go ahead and open it!

Young Bobby stands, watching the door.

YOUNG BOBBY

What if I don’t want to?

YOUNG SASHA

He’ll make your life miserable, your grandfather. But you must, because it opens up such a world of understanding. Oh the secrets I’ve learned.

Young Bobby approaches the door slowly, turns the know and the door opens. A faint glow comes from the other side.

YOUNG SASHA

Go ahead.

Young Bobby steps through.
INT. YOUNG BOBBY’S ROOM - NIGHT
Young Sasha stands in front of Young Bobby, hands on his face as before. Young Bobby blinks, looks around sleepily. Young Sasha also wakes and caresses his face. The door opens and Lorie comes in.

LORIE

Time to go Sasha.

YOUNG SASHA

But he doesn’t know how to use it, not fully.

LORIE

He’ll learn.

YOUNG BOBBY

Wait, what’s going on? Why do I feel so sleepy?

He lays down and goes to sleep.

YOUNG SASHA

He’ll think it’s all a dream now

Young Sasha turns to Lorie and touches her arm.

YOUNG SASHA

(Cont.) I can’t read you.

OLD MAN

(V.O.) No. It’s time to turn the clock back for you, Ms. Putin.

YOUNG SASHA

You won’t let me keep it? This isn’t what we agreed to. We agreed to be together forever if it worked!

OLD MAN

(V.O.) You agreed to be with me, Sasha, but he’s not me, not really.

YOUNG SASHA

Semantics. I won’t go!

Young Sasha falls over, asleep.

OLD MAN

(V.O.) Take her back to the memory room and we’ll see what we can do.

INT. YOUNG BOBBY’S BEDROOM - DAY
Young Bobby wakes, shakes his head a few times, gets up and plays with his robots. Lorie comes in.

LORIE

Bonjour Monsieur, etes-tu prete allons a France?

YOUNG BOBBY

Oui madame. (Pauses) Funny, I had a dream last night that someone came over.

LORIE

Mind playing tricks on you so close to our trip?

YOUNG BOBBY

Must be. (Shrugs and sighs, sings) Sur la pont, d’Avingnon, l’on y danse, l’on y danse.

EXT CHAMPS ELYSEE - DAY
Young Bobby sits on a bench overlooking the Champs Elysee in Paris, feeding pigeons. A short distance away, Lorie, Brad and the Old Man huddle.

LORIE

Are you certain you want this to happen?

OLD MAN

The earlier he meets his adversaries, the better.

LORIE

But he’ll meet her too. She won’t seem like an adversary to him.

OLD MAN

True, but it will be a fleeting memory. We’ll fill it with others.

Arthur Thomas, his wife JESSICA, Young Penny, Uncle Jack and his French girlfriend, YVETTE, approach the area. Young Bobby decides to bring out one of his robots, and sends it walking after a pigeon. Young Penny sees it, and is charmed. She sits next to him.

YOUNG PENNY

Bonjour!

YOUNG BOBBY

(Looks up) Bonjour.

Young Penny tilts her head.

YOUNG PENNY

English, or American?

YOUNG BOBBY

American. How did you know?

YOUNG PENNY

Your accent is flat. I’m American too!

YOUNG BOBBY

Really? I’m from Chicago.

YOUNG PENNY

I’m from a rinky-dink little town you’ve never heard of, but my family travels a lot.

Young Penny waves to her father and mother.

YOUNG PENNY

I’m Penny Thomas. What does your family do?

YOUNG BOBBY

Bobby, Bobby Timmons. Oh dad’s a lawyer and mom’s a doctor. This is the first trip we’ve taken outside the United States.

YOUNG PENNY

Oh, you’ll love Paris. It’s so... French.

She reaches out and touches Young Bobby’s arm. Young Bobby stiffens.

YOUNG PENNY

(Cont.) Well we’re on our way to Germany. My German isn’t very good, so I hope I learn more. Nice to meet you!

She blows him a kiss and rejoins her family. Lorie approaches Young Bobby.

YOUNG BOBBY

Nice girl. I (pause) felt something when she touched me. Like a soda can spraying out if you shake it too much. What does that mean?

LORIE

Sounds like she has an effervescent personality.

Young Bobby shrugs. A baseball drops from the sky and lands next to Young Bobby.

YOUNG BOBBY

Not again.

He picks up the baseball. Written on it: ‘Remember her. Penny Thomas. Save her.’ Young Bobby looks at Lorie, who turns away with a worried look on her face.
INT. ARTHUR THOMAS’ HOTEL ROOM, FRANKFURT - DAY.
The suite of rooms where the Thomas family is staying is filled with suitcases and other luggage. Jessica supervises valets. Young Penny comes in carrying a suitcase.

YOUNG PENNY

Mom, which one’s my room?

JESSICA

(points) At the far end, dear. Let the valets do their job.

YOUNG PENNY

I got it!

Young Penny drags her suitcase to her bedroom. Arthur Thomas comes in as the phone starts to ring. He answers.

ARTHUR THOMAS

Hello? Yes Felix, we’re just getting settled. (pause) Now? (crosses arms) I thought we went over this. (sighs) Oh very well. I suppose we can drive there. No, I don’t want to drag Penny all over Germany. She can stay with Yvette. Oh., I’m sure Jack won’t mind the drive. It will give us time to talk. All right, see you then.

He hangs up the phone.

ARTHUR THOMAS

(cont.) That bastard. I don’t know why I don’t fire him.

JESSICA

What is it?

ARTHUR THOMAS

Felix Lighter has called an emergency meeting of the Board of Directors in Bonn later today. He suggested we all drive down there, even Penny, but she’s tired enough from the plane ride here.

JESSICA

A nice leisurely drive down the autobahn sounds relaxing.

Arthur picks up the phone and calls Jack’s room.

ARTHUR THOMAS

Jack, Lighter called. Oh, he’s called you already? Fly? What do you think we’re made of, money? It’s a two hour drive at best. Besides, I’d like to talk to you. Penny can stay with Yvette if that’s all right with her. (sighs) All right, fly then, but it’s coming out of your pocket.

He hangs up the phone.

ARTHUR THOMAS

(Cont.) Says he’d rather fly in and out to spend more time with Yvette.

JESSICA

Why does he try to keep their relationship secret? Like we don’t know.

ARTHUR THOMAS

He’s trying to keep his reputation as a playboy.

INT. UNCLE JACK’S HOTEL ROOM - DAY
Uncle Jack hangs up the phone. Yvette sits on a couch.

UNCLE JACK

Can you watch Penny for a few hours?

YVETTE

Oui, She reminds me so much of Veronique.

UNCLE JACK

I think Arthur suspects, but Penny, she’s not to know, okay?

YVETTE

You think it would break her heart of she knew you were married?

UNCLE JACK

(smiles) Let’s just say I like being her role model.

INT. THOMAS CAR - DAY
The couple are driving on the autobahn. They are about halfway between Frankfurt and Bonn. A car comes up behind them. Arthur waves for it to pass. The car instead bumps them heavily from behind. Arthur barely maintains control.

ARTHUR THOMAS

What the devil is he doing?

Arthur slows down. The car behind him backs up a little, then roars past them. Just as the car passes, it bumps Arthur again. Arthur loses control and the car spins. They come to a stop in the middle of the road, perpendicular. A heavily laden truck crashes into them.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Uncle Jack, Felix Lighter and several board members gather in the conference room. One of the phones rings, and Lighter answers.

LIGHTER

Yes? (Pause) What? (pause) Yes, he’s here. One moment.

Lighter hands the phone to Uncle Jack.

LIGHTER

There’s been a terrible accident.

Uncle Jack takes the phone. Lighter whispers to the other members of the board.

UNCLE JACK

This is Jack Thomas. (long pause, has a shocked look on his face.) Are you sure it’s them? (Pause) I see. Thank you. I’ll be in touch to (pause) make arrangements for the bodies.

Uncle Jack hangs up the phone. He turns to Lighter.

LIGHTER

Look Jack, we’re all very sorry to hear about this. And I realize this is a bad time, but we really need to talk about QSA.

UNCLE JACK

(sighs) Do what you think is best, Felix. I’m done here. I have to get back to Yvette and Penny and (pause) tell them the bad news.

Uncle Jack leaves, Lighter has a smile on his face.
INT. JACK THOMAS’ HOTEL ROOM - DAY
YOUNG Penny and Yvette play a game. The door opens Jack comes in. Young Penny jumps up and hugs him.

YOUNG PENNY

Uncle Jack! You’re back! Are mom and dad coming too?

Uncle Jack hugs her tightly.

YOUNG PENNY

Is something wrong?

UNCLE JACK

Your parents... were killed in an automobile accident. I came back as soon as I heard.

Young Penny stiffens in his hug.

UNCLE JACK

I want you to know that I’m here for you, sweetheart. I’ll take good care of you.

Yvette gives him a questioning look. Young Penny bursts into tears. Uncle Jack consoles here.
End of Act III