Episode 1
OZA ISLANDS
STAR CLOCK
37:09:13:02
[SCENE BEGINS WITH B-ROLL OF OZA ISLAND CHAIN]
[B-ROLL UP TO ELENA OPENING HER EYES]
[VISITOR HELPS ELENA TO HER FEET, AND THE TWO EMBRACE FOR A LONG HUG]
ELENA:
It’s so good to see you again. How have you been?
JONAS:
You already know my life is pretty routine. How have YOU been?
ELENA:
I’ve been ok. Doing better. Some days are harder than others, but every day gets a little easier. That’s what I tell myself anyway.
JONAS:
…Believe me… I wish I had some deep, meaningful thing to say right now…
ELENA:
(smiles) Honestly… it’s just so good to see you.
JONAS:
Well it’s good to see you smile again. Been way too long. I wish I had time to come see you more often.
ELENA:
That busy huh?
JONAS:
(looks over his shoulder as if trying to build the courage to say something difficult)
Wanna go for a walk?
[THE TWO ARE SEEN WALKING THROUGH THE WALKWAYS ON OZA
THEIR CONVERSATION AT FIRST IS INAUDIBLE, THEN GRADUALLY WE CAN HEAR WHAT THEY’RE SAYING]
ELENA:
I know, I know… I’m just not ready yet.
JONAS:
You can’t hide out here forever. Granted though, I have to give you credit. There are plenty worse places to hide.
ELENA:
You just like coming to Oza.
JONAS:
(chuckle) You got me there. This place is a paradise.
ELENA:
So… you just wanted to see some palm trees?
JONAS:
Do I gather from your tone that you’re aren’t exactly thrilled to see me?
ELENA:
I’m always happy to see you Jonas. But you have no poker face.
[JONAS STOPS WALKING, AND LOOKS CONFUSED BY WHAT SHE JUST SAID]
ELENA:
[STOPS WALKING AND TURNS AROUND]
I’m wondering why you’re here. Why you’re really here.
JONAS:
(Jonas hesitates for a second)
I’m here because I need your help.
ELENA:
Jonas-
JONAS:
I’m not asking you to come back to the Paseo.
ELENA:
Why do I not believe that?
JONAS:
(Jonas pauses to collect his thoughts)
The ECS is failing.
ELENA:
What do you mean it’s failing? Which system?
JONAS:
All of them. The whole Environmental Control System is destabalizing, but it’s operating at full power.
ELENA:
How is that possible that they all can be failing? I mean I can see if ONE system fails but-
JONAS:
The Plate System is the first one to show the signs. Overall the planet tectonics are stable, but there’s been earthquakes.
ELENA:
How bad?
JONAS:
Not too bad, but they’re getting worse.
ELENA:
What about the other systems? Climate, magnetic field-
JONAS:
They’re managing, but barely. It’s like everything is overwhelmed and barely holding on. At first I thought maybe one system was causing a domino effect with the other ones, but I’ve never seen anything like this.
ELENA:
So what is it you want me to do?
JONAS:
This is your life’s work. You and your father. Nobody knows more about it than you.
ELENA:
Jonas, even if there WAS some way I could help, I don’t even have access to anything in the Paseo anymore. I wouldn’t—
JONAS:
What if I can get you access?
ELENA:
You can’t.
JONAS:
Wow. Glad to see your opinion of me—
ELENA:
Jonas…. you can’t.
JONAS:
So is this how it’s gonna be?
(Elena stops and looks at Jonas face to face with a mix of confusion and anger)
ELENA:
Is this how what is gonna be?
JONAS:
Well I’m basically coming to you telling you that the system that keeps life on this planet alive, that keeps this PLANET itself alive is failing, YOUR life’s work, and you just don’t seem to give the slightest shit about it. I know you’re still dealing with your father’s death, and I get why you hold a grudge with the Paseo about it, but—
ELENA:
Jonas don’t. Just don’t. This isn’t about my father.
JONAS:
Then you gotta help me out here, because I’m just not getting it. What is it you’re not telling me Elena?
(Elena looks down, and starts walking away casually as if going on a leisurely walk)
[CLOSING MUSIC STARTS, SCREEN FADES TO BLACK]
LIEUTENANT
(as LIEUTENANT is talking, cut to the things he is talking about one by one, and overlay the audio so it’s just loud enough to hear. The buzzing of the tattoo laser, the humming of the different colored gates)
"Inmates, your attention. This is your orientation to this facility, so pay attention, because none of this will be repeated. For those of you who may be thinking about it, escape is not possible. This compound is built into one of thousands of asteroids in orbit. You are a needle in a planet-sized haystack. That collar around your neck is what allows you movement throughout this compound. There are forcefields all throughout this prison. Pay close attention to the light on your collar. You may ONLY pass through the field that matches your color. If your light is red, you can ONLY move through red fields. If your light is blue, you can only move through blue fields. Around the inside of your collar is an iris. If you attempt to remove the collar, the iris will close and your head will go with it. These are Arm Drones. They maintain this facility and everyone in it, including you.. and me. ”
[THE DOOR OPENS AND THE ARM DRONES SPEAK IN UNISON]
ARM DRONE:
Inmate70429-083 please rise.
Your collar is now red. Please come with me.
I am to accompany you to the Ryuka to be released.
ARM DRONE:
Inmate, please accompany me to the Ryuka to be released.
[INSIDE THE HOLDING CELL]
OFFICER:
Remain still. I will now remove your collar.
(the arm drone walks off camera but can be heard walking away)
OFFICER:
Get your clothes and get dressed.
(Lijho turns the corner and walks toward the Ryuka station)
OFFICER:
This is a one-way Ryuka. There is-
(the camera shows a close up of the console with Lijho walking toward the dais in the background)
LIJHO:
I already know where I’m going. Paseo City. 722
OFFICER:
Please take your position on the dais. Paseo City 722 will be the destination. Please confirm.
LIJHO:
Paseo 722, confirmed.
OFFICER:
Remain still. Ryuka begins in 3-2-1
[DALLAN SLIDES THE DOOR OPEN, BUT THE CAMERA CUTS BACK TO LIJHO]
DALLAN:
Nooooo way… what the HELL?! Look at you, you’re back!
LIJHO:
Look at me? Look at YOU! You work for the Paseo now?!
DALLAN:
I know right? (laughing) Me of all people. It’s a long story. Speaking of, I actually need to head out. (he puts on his EIC card, pointing to it)
Duty calls.
Are you gonna hang out here, or…
LIJHO:
Nah, I’m starving, I think I’m gonna hit up the diner and grab a bite to eat. Been awhile since I’ve had a decent meal.
DALLAN:
The diner is ‘decent meal’?
[DALLAN SLIDES THE DOOR CLOSED AND THE TWO WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY TOGETHER AS THE CONVERSATION TRAILS OFF]
[THE TWO ARE WALKING OF THE BUILDING SAYING GOODBYE]
DALLAN:
I assume you’re crashing here tonight?
LIJHO:
That’s the plan.
DALLAN:
Alright bro I gotta run I’ll talk at ya later!
LIJHO:
Sounds good, have fun up there.
[LIJHO STARES UP AT THE SUN AGAIN, SUSPICIOUSLY]
LIJHO:
What is going on? (he says to himself under his breath, thinking out loud)
LANFERNO
CHLOR
Holy shit.
(Chlor is typing on his computer when he looks up to see Lijho walking toward him, but we don’t see him yet)
CHLOR
Well well well… Thought you were on the asteroid.
LIJHO
I was. Just got out yesterday actually. How you been?
CHLOR:
(pats his stomach)
Well I haven’t been going hungry.
LIJHO:
Well that’s good news.
CHLOR
Yeah man. By the way… I have a little… welcome home present for you…
(camera cuts to Lijho with lowered eyebrows, curious)
I assume… you’re working again?
LIJHO
(stares at Chlor with an eyebrow raised)
I’m laying low for now. Why, what’s the welcome home present? Or do I even want to know…
CHLOR:
(Chlor gestures for Lijho to follow him to the back room, establishing shot of the back room, then the two are seen entering, then a shot of Lijho looking puzzled/concerned. )
You alright?
LIJHO:
Yeah, it’s just weird being back in this room. Everything is exactly the same. Even the smell. It’s just weird…
CHLOR:
(digging through the drawers as Lijho is talking)
Why is that weird?
LIJHO:
Ever since I got out… something just doesn’t feel right.
CHLOR:
Nah, take it easy brother. That’s called getting out of prison. You’ve only been back for a day.
Takes a minute. It did for me too.
LIJHO:
Yeah but it’s not that. I don’t know how to explain it.
CHLOR:
Well… don’t get to going crazy on me now. I need that brain of yours.
LIJHO:
Whatcha got?
(he hands Lijho the EIC)
CHLOR:
So I know it’s called an EIC, but what can you tell me about this?
LIJHO:
Well yeah it’s an EIC - Electronic Identification Controller. My roommate works for the Paseo, he has one too. It’s how they all get into the Paseo network. It’s the ONLY way, really. These things control everything. Access, security clearance, movement tracking… your whole life on a chip. Who does it belong to?
CHLOR
I don’t know. All I know is it belongs to a very high rank at the Paseo. A Red Stripe.
LIJHO:
How do you know that?
CHLOR:
Because my guy who gave it to me swiped it from a Red Stripe. But—
LIJHO:
OK but you do realize that these EIC’s are how people get access to the building. They have to get scanned as soon as they walk off the elevator. You know they’re going to know this is missing when the Red Stripe it belongs to can’t get into the building.
CHLOR:
Right… BUT... This particular Red Stripe has two of these. This is the number two.
LIJHO:
(looking visibly confused/puzzled)
But.. that’s not how that works. Everybody at the Paseo only has one. It’s tied to everything. Movement, Access, All that. How could there even BE a second one?
CHLOR:
Exactly.
So whatever this thing can access, it must be important.
(camera cuts to Lijho’s stoic/curious face)
But get this- I don’t think they know it’s missing.
LIJHO
Why do you say that?
CHLOR
It’s still active.
LIJHO
(raises his eyebrows in shocked surprise)
So what do you want me to do with it then?
CHLOR
Information is currency my friend. Whatever that thing can access must be very valuable to the right people. You’re the only one I know that can pull it off, and you’re the only one I trust with this… Anything you need… (Chlor nods at Lijho)
(Lijho puts the EIC in his hand, and plays with it. He puts it in his pocket and looks down at the ground)
[THE SCENE FOLLOWS CHLOR BACK INTO THE LOBBY AREA OF LANFERNO, AND HE SEES LIJHO IS GONE, AND THE EIC IS MISSING.
THE CAMERA CUTS TO CHLOR WHO HAS A SMUG “TOLD YOU SO” GRIN.
FADE TO BLACK]
EARTHQUAKE
(the scene opens with quiet shots of Paseo City at night. Lijho is asleep on the couch when suddenly the earthquake hits)
LIJHO:
What the hell is that?! (says to himself, being startled awake)
(Lijho continues to lay on the couch as the earthquake subsides. He looks around startled and uneasy)
(he walks through the apartment to Dallan’s bedroom door, which is cracked, pushes it open slightly to see Dallan sound asleep and unaware of the quake)
(Lijho goes back to the couch, and begrudgingly goes back to sleep)
(The next morning Lijho stirs awake on the couch again. It is now daytime, and Dallan is in the kitchen making coffee. He brings Lijho a cup of coffee and sits at his feet on the couch)
DALLAN:
How’d you sleep?
LIJHO:
Honestly I don’t even think I did.
DALLAN:
Oh damn really, why?
LIJHO:
No idea. Honestly… everything feels different.
DALLAN:
Having trouble re-adjusting to the outside world?
LIJHO:
I don’t know. Something just feels… off. Like yesterday when I walked out of the Ryuka station, I look up at the Star, and it just looks.. bigger than I remember it. And at first I thought, OK you’ve been on Genocy, you haven’t seen it in awhile, you forgot what things look like on the planet.. fine, but I swear, it just looked bigger. Same thing like when I walked out of the diner yesterday and I looked up at the star… something deep down just told me… thats not… right. And you know we had an earthquake in the middle of the night right?
DALLAN:
Oh shit, I must have slept right through it.
LIJHO:
Yeah you did. But I guess the bigger question for me is why are we even having earthquakes? Isn’t the Plate System supposed to keep that from happening?
DALLAN:
Yeah, and believe it or not they are. After the first one we had, we ran a bunch of system checks on Lizan…
(Lizan marker)
Everything was normal. We’ve actually been having quite a few earthquakes lately. Not enough to really cause any problems though. Just a few tremors here and there. We pretty much think it’s just the plates releasing stress. We’re all just kinda used to it now I guess. I should have told you, my bad. Didn’t even think about it.
(Lijho takes a sip of coffee and pauses, looking down into his coffee cup thinking)
LIJHO:
But that’s what doesn’t make sense- if the Plate System is doing it’s job and functioning normally, there should be no earthquakes.
DALLAN:
Well yes and no. The Plate System basically works off the magnetic field of the planet core. It uses magnetic harmonics to stabilize the magnetic fields of the planet. If the planet’s magnetic field is, let’s say +10, the Plate System will put out a magnetic field of -10 to cancel it out. It’s like balancing weight on a scale, except with magnetic fields. That’s how they can precisely control the movement of the planet crust. It’s been doing its job exactly as it’s supposed to, but the magnetic field of the planet has been spiking here and there recently. Nothing to worry about though, it’s nothing the Plate System can’t handle, it’s just.. hiccups.
(Lijho looks back at Dallan suspiciously, but doesn’t say anything)
DALLAN:
Oh God I know that look... This is gonna be your new obsession now isn’t it…
(the camera cuts to Lijho’s face, unchanged)
DALLAN:
.
(Lijho chuckles and takes a sip of his coffee)