DARKNESS FALLS "BLUE" BY BETH MAYO SECOND DRAFT INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT JONATHAN is asleep at his computer. It scrolls through code while he sleeps. INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT The camera moves through maze-like hallways fast, jerkily, and seemingly at random. The color is a little off, suggesting that these scenes are not real. A girl is seen in the hallway. The camera runs up to her and around her, shakily. The girl is BLUE. She holds her hand out to the camera. BLUE Welcome to the Wired... INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT JONATHAN wakes up slowly, looking strangely at his computer. It is still scrolling through code. JONATHAN sits up and opens a program. He begins writing code and is apparently very nervous about what he is doing. He glances at the time on his computer. It is the middle of the night. JONATHAN They shouldn't be watching it now... INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT The camera moves through the hallways, like it's searching for something. Suddenly a closed door appears. On it is marked "THE CRYPT". INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT JONATHAN types furiously, like he's trying to finish as quickly as possible. Suddenly his computer makes a warning noise and windows begin opening. INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT The camera turns and sees LAWRENCE; a man dressed in black. It quickly turns around and begins heading the other way. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT JONATHAN Damn it! He almost freaks out but controls himself. He begins closing all the windows and getting rid of the code he was writing as fast as possible. EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT The camera gets out of the hallways and goes outside of the building. It slows and eventually stops moving, focusing on a lamppost. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Finally JONATHAN'S screen goes blank. He sighs in relief. The phone RINGS. Jonathan jumps and then answers it. JONATHAN Hello? BECKETT How's the code coming, Jonathan? JONATHAN Oh, Beckett. Well, I've been really busy lately... BECKETT You have? Doing what? JONATHAN (laughs nervously) Well, working at my desk job... You know how it is... BECKETT You need to finish it. Lawrence and I are getting wired in two days and if you don't have the code ready... JONATHAN I know. I'll get right on it. BECKETT Good. We don't tolerate people who slow us down. JONATHAN Yeah... BECKETT hangs up and the phone goes dead. Jonathan stares at it and then hangs up. He turns off his computer and goes over to his bed. He pulls a gun out from under his pillow and checks to make sure it is loaded. He sets it next to his bed and then goes to sleep. EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT JONATHAN is standing under the lamppost from before. He goes into a nearby building. INT. BUILDING - NIGHT JONATHAN is wandering the halls of the building. He comes to a door marked "THE CRYPT". JONATHAN tries the door but it is locked. BLUE walks down the hallway towards Jonathan. He doesn't notice her because he is staring at the door. BLUE Welcome to the Wired... JONATHAN whirls around and stares at BLUE. She is holding out her hand, and in it is a key. Jonathan stares at it and then back at the door. He looks suspiciously at Blue and then takes the key from her. He uses it to open the marked door. On the other side of the door stand BECKETT and LAWRENCE. JONATHAN stares at them in disbelief and then turns and runs. BLUE looks after him like she is confused. She then looks over to where Beckett and Lawrence were standing. The door is closed and there is no one there. INT. APARTMENT - MORNING The alarm clock BEEPS loudly. JONATHAN rolls over and gets up to turn it off. He turns on his computer and then goes into the bathroom. BLUE enters the room. She sits on Jonathan's bed. Jonathan comes back dressed in work attire (khakis with a shirt and tie). He sits down at his computer and starts running programs and checking his email. BLUE walks over and looks over his shoulder, but he doesn't notice her at all. JONATHAN opens up a screen full of code. He scrolls through it but doesn't write anything. BLUE The Crypt... JONATHAN The Crypt... If only I had the key... BLUE You could erase everything. JONATHAN They could never find me. BLUE To them, you would cease to exist. JONATHAN If I can just keep Beckett from finding out. BLUE They want to get wired. But they need you to help them. Once they get wired, they'll go to the Wired. Are you going too? JONATHAN I just wish I didn't have them looking over my shoulder anymore. BLUE looks hurt and backs away. She sits down on the bed and watches Jonathan. JONATHAN suddenly looks at the time on his computer. JONATHAN Damn it! He puts his computer back to scrolling through code and then gets the gun from beside his bed and stuffs it in his bag. He grabs a few more things and then leaves the apartment. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING JONATHAN is seen walking through the parking lot towards his car. BLUE is standing on the curb watching Jonathan. He notices her and then pretends not to. Jonathan gets into his car. He checks the mirror and sees that Blue is still watching him. Jonathan turns on the car and peels out of the lot. Blue turns and watches him leave. INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY JONATHAN is seated at a desk, talking on the phone. He cannot be heard but is obviously hassled, punching buttons on the phone and looking up stuff on a computer. Finally he hangs up the phone and sighs in relief. NEAL, one of Jonathan's co-workers, approaches. NEAL Rough day? Jonathan is visibly startled and reaches for the bag where he stuffed his gun that morning. Then he recognizes Neal. JONATHAN Neal... I didn't see you coming... NEAL Come on. Let's go and get some lunch. My treat. You look like you could use some down time. JONATHAN Sure... Jonathan grabs his bag and the two leave the building. INT. RESTAURANT - DAY NEAL and JONATHAN sit, just having finished eating. They are both drinking coffee. NEAL So what's bothering you? You getting to hate tech support that much? JONATHAN No, it's not that. My other job is giving me some problems. NEAL You still working for Beckett? JONATHAN Yeah. But not for much longer, if I can help it. NEAL So that's it. You're trying to get out. I'd be really careful if I were you. JONATHAN No kidding. I mean, I could quit whenever. But they'd come after me. NEAL So what are you going to do? JONATHAN If I can break into the Crypt, and erase all of the info they have on me... It'd be like I never existed. I could split and they couldn't find me. NEAL You think you can get in? Into the Crypt? JONATHAN Yeah, but I've got a deadline. Some people enter the restaurant. BLUE comes in behind them and stands by the door. NEAL Why? JONATHAN Because... Tomorrow Beckett and Lawrence are going to try and get wired. But they need my code to do it. NEAL Wired? What is that supposed to mean? JONATHAN I have no idea. All I have to do is write some code that they need to do it. Then I can erase myself from The Crypt, and they won't be able to track me down. But I think Beckett is getting suspicious... Jonathan looks around the restaurant suspiciously. Suddenly he sees Blue standing by the door. JONATHAN Oh no... NEAL What? JONATHAN It's that girl... I saw her this morning. I think she works for Beckett. NEAL What girl? JONATHAN The girl by the door! I gotta go. Thanks for lunch. Jonathan grabs his bag and leaves. NEAL I don't see any girl... Blue is still standing by the door. She walks over to Neal, who doesn't see her. EXT. APARTMENT - EVENING JONATHAN pulls up in his car and then goes up to his apartment. INT. APARTMENT - EVENING Jonathan puts dinner in the microwave and then checks his computer. He pulls the gun out of his bag and puts it down next to his computer. He then goes into the bathroom and running water is heard. The microwave BEEPS loudly. Jonathan emerges from the bathroom, hair wet and dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He gets his dinner and then sits in front of the computer eating. Jonathan eventually opens a window with code and he starts writing. INT. BUILDING - NIGHT The camera moves quickly and shakily through hallways. It keeps going past BLUE but never seems to notice her. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Jonathan has fallen asleep at his computer. The code scrolls on without him. INT. BUILDING - NIGHT Jonathan wanders through hallways. He comes upon the door to THE CRYPT. He stands staring at it for a while. Suddenly he turns and sees BLUE. JONATHAN You! Jonathan runs from Blue. EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT JONATHAN gets out of the building and is standing on the steps when Blue walks up to him. He turns and tries to get back into the building but the door has locked behind him. Blue walks up the steps towards Jonathan. JONATHAN What do you want? Blue faces Jonathan and stares at him, silently. JONATHAN I know you work for Beckett. BLUE They are going to get wired. And then they'll be in The Wired. JONATHAN The Wired? What's that? BLUE They need you to get there. JONATHAN I know! What do you want?! BLUE Are you going with them? JONATHAN What? BLUE Are you taking them with you? To the Wired? JONATHAN Who are you? Blue smiles and gestures at their surroundings. BLUE I am Blue. Welcome to the Wired. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Jonathan is asleep at his computer. There is a loud KNOCK at the door. Jonathan wakes up and looks at his computer. There is another KNOCK. Jonathan stands groggily and opens the door. BECKETT and LAWRENCE, two men in black, stand there. JONATHAN Beckett... BECKETT Hello, Jonathan. Just thought we'd stop by. BECKETT walks into the apartment, leaving Lawrence outside to stand guard. Jonathan closes the door. JONATHAN Sorry about the mess. If I had know you were coming, I'd - BECKETT cuts him off. BECKETT You know this isn't just a little friendly visit. So you can can the small talk. JONATHAN Okay. So what's up? BECKETT There's been some strange activity near the Crypt recently. Now, both Lawrence and I know it couldn't be you. Because we know you're hard at work writing that code for us. JONATHAN Yeah... BECKETT But I also know that since you're so good, maybe you finished the code already. Have you, Jonathan? JONATHAN No, actually... I've been working on it nonstop when I'm not at my day job. But I'm not finished with it. BECKETT So obviously it couldn't be you that's been hanging around at the Crypt. JONATHAN Yeah... BECKETT Good. Just wanted to make that clear. JONATHAN So when do you want it by? BECKETT What? JONATHAN The code. When do you want it by? BECKETT Lawrence will meet you tomorrow at 5. At the usual place. JONATHAN Okay. BECKETT Well, then I'll be going. Have a nice night, Jonathan. Beckett walks over to the door and opens it. He goes through and then turns around. BECKETT So stay away from the Crypt. Or you will join the others that rest there. LAWRENCE and BECKETT leave. JONATHAN closes the door behind them and sinks to the floor, head in his hands. Jonathan shakes his head and then pulls himself together. He goes into his room, turns off his computer, and grabs the gun and stuffs it in his bag. Then he leaves the apartment. EXT. CAMPUS PATH - NIGHT Jonathan is walking slowly along the path, obviously enjoying being away from his computer. However, he is still tense and reaches for the gun in his bag several times. He approaches a lamppost along the path. Suddenly he notices that BLUE is standing by the lamppost. Jonathan freezes. JONATHAN You... What do you want? BLUE begins walking slowly towards Jonathan. JONATHAN reaches slowly for the gun in his bag. BLUE Are you going to the Wired? JONATHAN I know you work for Beckett. I'm almost done with the code, I'm just out taking a break! What do you want? BLUE Do you want to get wired? JONATHAN Stop it! Jonathan pulls the gun from his bag and aims it at Blue. She seems unperturbed. BLUE I can take you to the Wired. JONATHAN Leave me alone! I'll shoot! BLUE They want to get wired. Are you going too? JONATHAN Shut up! He fires several shots at Blue. She doesn't even seem to be hit, though it would be almost impossible for Jonathan to miss since she is so close. JONATHAN drops the gun in disbelief. JONATHAN What are you? The screen goes black. A phone RINGS. INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT Lawrence is asleep in bed. The phone RINGS again. He rolls over and answers. LAWRENCE Hello? INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT BECKETT sits at a desk, talking on the phone. BECKETT Are you watching the Crypt? INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT LAWRENCE sits up quickly and goes to his computer, which is already on and running. LAWRENCE Yeah. Nothing's happening. I think you scared him good earlier. BECKETT Good. He needs all the time he's got left to finish that code. LAWRENCE You know, I was wondering... What are you planning to do with the code anyway? I mean, you say we're getting wired. But what does that mean? BECKETT Ah, Lawrence. It's a difficult thing to explain. Think of it this way - your computer is connected to the internet twenty four seven, right? LAWRENCE Yeah... BECKETT Now when you are using your computer, surfing or writing code or whatnot, you also are connected to the internet. But you always have to have the computer as a go-between for you and the internet. LAWRENCE Okay... BECKETT Now imagine that you can remove the computer and yet remain connected to the internet twenty four seven. That is getting wired. LAWRENCE What are you saying? That we can exist on the internet without having to use a computer? BECKETT Possibly. I'm not really sure what will happen - no one's ever done it before. Or if they have, they've kept their mouths shut. LAWRENCE Are you sure it'll work? BECKETT With Jonathan's code it will. Keep an eye on the Crypt, will you? LAWRENCE Sure. Beckett hangs up. Lawrence turns and stares at his computer, trying to comprehend what Beckett has said. INT. APARTMENT - MORNING JONATHAN slowly awakes in his bed. He looks around groggily, and then remembers what happened. He jumps out of bed, finds his bag, and digs out his gun which he makes sure is loaded. Jonathan goes through his apartment, gun drawn. He doesn't find anyone. He looks around the living room. JONATHAN Was I dreaming? I must be going crazy... He goes back to his room only to discover BLUE sitting at his computer. Jonathan aims the gun at her. JONATHAN Get out! Get out or I'll shoot! BLUE That didn't work last time. Remember? Jonathan stares at her in disbelief. He crosses the room to his bed but continues pointing the gun at her. JONATHAN What the hell do you want? I'm not finished with the code. Tell Beckett I'll give it to Lawrence tonight. BLUE I never said I worked for Beckett. JONATHAN Then who do you work for? Lawrence? BLUE Wrong again. JONATHAN Then who the hell are you? BLUE I told you. I'm Blue. JONATHAN And what the hell is that supposed to mean? Look, just leave me alone! I've gotta finish that code. BLUE So they can get wired. And once they're gone, you can erase your info from the Crypt. Jonathan visibly gets scared. JONATHAN How do you know that? Did Neal tell you? BLUE I heard it on the Wired. JONATHAN What does that mean? The Wired? BLUE It's the other world. The digital world. You can live in the Wired just like you live here, in this world. It's like being connected, but without a go-between. Jonathan is really scared and is trying to logically explain what Blue is saying. JONATHAN You mean like the internet? But you can't live there. You can get connected to the internet, But you're always still here. BLUE Not true. She pauses. Jonathan is trying to remain in control of the situation but is failing miserably. JONATHAN So what are you doing here? If you don't work for them, what do you want with me? BLUE Beckett and Lawrence want to get wired. They really don't know what will happen. But I do. When you get wired, you get into the Wired. The digital world. You can live in the online world, and leave this world behind. JONATHAN Why are you telling me this? BLUE Beckett and Lawrence don't really know what they're getting themselves into. I don't think they can appreciate the Wired for what it truly is. Blue looks meaningfully at Jonathan. JONATHAN What? And I can? Blue smiles. BLUE You already want to cease to exist in this world. Erasing your information from the Crypt is how you plan to erase yourself. Why not escape completely? Jonathan looks like he's considering the thought, but then shakes his head. JONATHAN I can't even get into the Crypt to begin with. BLUE That's where I come in. JONATHAN You can get me into the Crypt? How? BLUE I've learned many things from the Wired. JONATHAN Wait... What's in this for you? BLUE I get to keep two idiots from getting into the Wired, as well as adding a new member to the ranks of the Wired. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Jonathan considers, and then nods slowly. JONATHAN Alright. Where do we start? Blue smiles. INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY NEAL is looking through a sheaf of papers while he walks to the desk where Jonathan works. NEAL Hey, Jonathan? Neal looks up and sees that the chair is empty. Jonathan isn't there. Neal looks around. NEAL I wonder where he is? Neal walks away. There is a shot of the computer and the empty chair. INT. APARTMENT - DAY JONATHAN sits at his computer typing while BLUE looks on. BLUE There's actually a [techno babble - back door] into the Crypt. Just [techno babble - go around] and in through [techno babble]. INT. BUILDING - NIGHT The camera moves through hallways and comes upon the door marked "THE CRYPT". It pauses and then continues down the hallway. Eventually it reaches another, smaller door. INT. APARTMENT - DAY JONATHAN What's the password? BLUE Beckett. JONATHAN Should have known. So simple you'd never guess it. He continues typing. INT. BUILDING - NIGHT The door opens and the camera goes through. It travels through more hallways and a few stairwells. The camera comes upon a very large double door. It opens and blackness is beyond. INT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON Jonathan is still typing while Blue looks on. Suddenly a window opens and code begins scrolling past very quickly. JONATHAN Got it! We're in! INT. RESTAURANT - AFTERNOON LAWRENCE is seated at a table, alone. He continuously looks at his watch. BECKETT enters and approaches the table. Lawrence looks up and smiles when he sees Beckett. BECKETT He got into the Crypt. Let's go. LAWRENCE Do you think he finished the code? BECKETT We'll find out when we get there. The two leave the restaurant. INT. APARTMENT - AFTERNOON JONATHAN is typing and deleting stuff furiously, a huge grin on his face. He finishes and sits back in his chair, relieved. JONATHAN I'm done. It's all deleted. BLUE Congratulations. You no longer exist. JONATHAN smiles uncertainly, not sure how to take the comment. JONATHAN Now what? BLUE We get wired. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - EVENING A car pulls up to the apartment building. BECKETT and LAWRENCE get out. INT. APARTMENT - EVENING JONATHAN Okay... How do we start? There is a loud BANG from the direction of the door. BECKETT Jonathan... JONATHAN Oh, god. I was supposed to meet Lawrence and give him the code at five! BECKETT Jonathan, we know you're in there. Jonathan jumps up and grabs the gun. BLUE You don't exist in this world anymore. JONATHAN What? BLUE So let's go to the next. There is a substantial pause. JONATHAN To the Wired. EXT. APARTMENT - EVENING LAWRENCE kicks down the door to Jonathan's apartment. BECKETT and LAWRENCE enter, guns drawn. BECKETT Jonathan. All we want is the code. LAWRENCE (under his breath) And you splattered on the wall... Lawrence kicks down the door to Jonathan's room. The computer is running, code scrolling madly down the screen. Jonathan and Blue are not in the room. LAWRENCE Not in here... Lawrence checks the rest of the apartment while Beckett stares at the computer. Suddenly it clicks off and the screen goes black. Lawrence comes back into the room. LAWRENCE He's not here. He sees Beckett staring at the computer. LAWRENCE Hey, wasn't that on? Did you turn it off? Beckett simply stares at the empty chair. INT. BUILDING - NIGHT The screen is black. Then a door opens and blinding light comes in. The camera moves outside and focuses on the sky. BLUE Jonathan... Welcome to the Wired. FADE TO BLACK. THE END.