bald man

(to himself)

Laugh that off.

 

INT: Torture Chamber

Dreadlock is slumped in the chair, his good eye slowly opens.

dreadlock

Haven’t they got any better ways to get off.

He takes a breath and looks up.

dreadlock

Gotta get out of here.

Dreadlock looks down at his bonds.

He turns his left arm over so that the palm is perpendicular to the chair arm.

The blade slides out of his index finger and begins glowing.

He bends his finger so that the blade touches the plastic bonds.

The blade burns through and into his flesh.

Dreadlock

Aaaah!! When am I going to learn to more careful?

He quickly releases the other three bonds.

He rises from the chair, looking around the room for surveillance gear.

Dreadlock moves to the wall and finds the hidden door. He carefully checks it.

He opens the door and peers through.

There is a corridor decorated in the same stark whiteness of the torture chamber.

It is clear.

 

INT: Corridor

Dreadlock steps into the corridor.

He closes the door and heads to his left.

He continues down the corridor and comes across another door.

He tries the handle. It is locked.

He moves on.

 

INT: The bald Man’s Office

He reaches forward and switches the monitor on. The torture room is now empty.

BALD Man

Ha, ha. He did it. You’re more versatile that I thought Mr. Dreadlock.

He reaches forward and presses another button. Nguyen comes into view on the monitor.

Nguyen

Yes Sir. What can I do for you?

bald Man

Last chance Nguyen. Dreadlock has escaped from the Torture Room. Find him and bring him to me.

The Bald Man reaches forward to turn off the monitor. He stops.

bald man

Hang on. Release a few of the Morphs to track him down. I want to see how he goes against them.

Nguyen

But, what if they kill him?

bald Man

See to it that they don’t.

Nguyen looks extremely agitated now.

Nguyen

Ah, yes Sir.

The Bald Man pushes the button again, the screen goes black.

bald Man

(to himself)

Fuckwit. I shall have to kill him soon.

 

INT: Corridor

Dreadlock has moved further down the corridor.

The knob, of the door he just tried, slowly turns and the door opens.

Something exits the room and moves slowly and quietly towards Dreadlock.

Just as it comes within a couple of feet of Dreadlock, he suddenly turns.

His expression is one of extreme shock.

Dreadlock is face to face with one of the morphs. It is a light cream colour, as opposed to the stark white of the walls.

Before Dreadlock can react, it backhands him sending him flying backwards.

He lands on his back and slides about ten feet.

He slowly sits up and shakes his head.

He looks up to see the creature loping quickly towards him.

He looks down at his left hand.

It clenches into a fist and the stiletto comes sliding out of the middle knuckle.

Dreadlock looks up again. The creature is almost upon him.

It leaps at him.

He puts both feet up and kicks the creature over him. It crashes down, but regains its feet almost immediately.

Dreadlock gets up slowly into a crouching position. His left hand held slightly forward for protection.

The creature lunges again.

Dreadlock darts out of the way as it gets close. He punches with his left hand. The creature is just a blur, it falls forward in a heap.

Dreadlock looks at the stiletto. Blood drips from it.

The creature slowly gets to its feet. Its right hand goes up to a puncture in its left shoulder. Blood flows freely from the wound.

It looks down at the blood on its hand.

It turns its gaze on Dreadlock.

A smile comes across its face.

Dreadlock’s reaction is instantaneous.

He leaps at the morph, knocking it and himself to the ground and starts punching with his left hand.

The morph thrashes around, its arms and legs flaying wildly.

Dreadlock holds on and punches more frantically.

The morph goes limp.

Dreadlock stands up and backs away. He is spattered with blood.

He looks down at the morph and suddenly it leaps to its feet and jumps towards Dreadlock.

It almost reaches him, stops, and crashes to the ground.

It lies still for a couple of seconds and then liquefies.

Dreadlock smiles, licks his right index finger and draws a one in the air.

Dreadlock

Dreadlock one, ugly fuckers zero.

 

INT: Bald Man’s office

The Bald Man has been watching the whole scene on his desktop monitor.

He laughs to himself.

 

INT: Corridor

bald man’s voice

Well done Mr. Dreadlock. It takes a special type of person to overcome one of my morphs, especially without the aid of a real weapon. We shall have to give you a better test.

Suspiciously, Dreadlock looks around quickly for his next escape route.

Two more creatures enter the corridor behind him.

He looks about as if he has heard something.

His eye darts sideways, and he pricks up his ears.

His eye looks straight forward in an "They are right behind me type gesture".

He slowly turns and sees the two creatures.

dreadlock

(mouthing silently)

Oh, fuck

He runs.

The creatures take off in hot pursuit.

Dreadlock runs down the corridor, turns a corner and heads down the next corridor.

He comes across an off-shoot and turns into it.

He stops and backs up against the wall.

The first creature runs blindly past him.

Dreadlock aims his left hand out.

The dart shoots from his hand, burying itself in the wall opposite.

The second morph runs past.

It’s neck catches the line of cord and let’s out a squeal as it falls backwards.

Dreadlock jumps out from the corridor and retrieves the dart.

The other creature hears the squeal and turns.

It starts running back at Dreadlock.

As it nears him its arms extend and grab hold of the ceiling. It vaults over Dreadlock’s head and lands behind him.

He turns to face it, immediately realising he is surrounded.

The other creature has gained its feet, but is holding its throat.

It moves towards Dreadlock.

He spins around in time to see the creature leap at him.

He brings the stiletto up, impaling the creature under the chin.

He grabs it by the throat and spins around again, just in time as the second creature is shooting its arms at him.

The first creature is impaled on the razor sharp talons of the second creature.

It liquefies around Dreadlock’s upraised hand, covering it in slime.

His face contorts in a revolted look.

He flicks the slime off his hand.

Dreadlock

Jesus!!

He starts to back away, but slips in the slime and falls on his butt.

dreadlock

Shit!!

He looks up, the creature is eyeing him off.

Dreadlock stands slowly, and starts to back away.

The creature steps forward, matching Dreadlock’s pace.

Dreadlock quickens his pace. The morph does too.

Dreadlock turns and runs. The morph follows.

The corridor ends abruptly at a door.

Dreadlock sprints to the door, stops and tries the knob.

It doesn’t turn.

He turns. His face drops in horror.

 

INT: Room behind door

A bare room.

Dreadlock and the morph come crashing though the door into the bare room.

The roll onto the floor and Dreadlock kicks the morph back over his head.

Dreadlock gets to his feet. The morph does the same.

They face off again, warily circling each other.

Dreadlock springs at the morph. Punching with his left hand.

The morph ducks and Dreadlock punches the wall. The stiletto burying in a couple of inches.

He tries to pull it out, but finds it stuck.

The morph tenses and springs. It tackles Dreadlock around the midriff.

The stiletto breaks off and Dreadlock and the morph fall to the ground.

Dreadlock struggles, but comes face to face with the creature. It smiles at him, showing a set of neat, but nasty teeth.

Dreadlock

God you’re ugly.

Saliva drools from the morph’s mouth and drips onto Dreadlock’s face.

Dreadlock

Jesus Christ!!

With a disgusted look on his face, Dreadlock pushes with all his might.

The morph flies backwards, landing on its back, but quickly regaining its feet.

Dreadlock picks himself up.

The morph extends its right arm at Dreadlock.

He parries the arm and grabs it.

The morph rushes him, its arm shrinking again.

It grabs Dreadlock and they spin around.

Dreadlock is smashes into the wall, inches from the protruding end of the stiletto blade.

He sees it and reacts in shock.

He turns and punches the morph in the jaw with his right hand.

The morph doesn’t move, but Dreadlock reels in pain. He staggers back holding his right hand.

Dreadlock

(screaming)

Shit!!

The morph seems to laugh and closes in on Dreadlock again.

Dreadlock goes on the offensive, he grabs the morphs throat and spins it around, driving it against the wall.

The morph reacts, spinning Dreadlock around and throwing him into the opposite wall.

Dreadlock shakes off the pain, and letting out a primal scream dives at the morph.

He shoulder charges the morph, who trips and crashes sharply into the opposite wall.

Dreadlock tenses expecting the morph to counter attack.

The morph does nothing. It just leans against the other wall.

After a second, its face relaxes and it starts to dissolve.

The slimy residue drips down the wall, revealing the protruding end of Dreadlock’s stiletto.

Dreadlock smiles and looks down at the slimy puddle.

Dreadlock

Shit. You lot are worse when you’re dead.

Dreadlock turns and leaves the room.

 

INT: corridor

Dreadlock moves warily down the corridor.

bald man’s voice

I’d like, if I may, to take this opportunity to once again congratulate you. Nobody has ever bested three of my morphs. I shall have to include your DNA in their genetic makeup.

Dreadlock looks up and flips the bird at the ceiling.

bald man’s voice

Ha. Ha. Well said Mr. Dreadlock.

Dreadlock moves on.

As he enters a four way intersection, he looks aimlessly to his left.

Three of the creatures are waiting for him.

His face drops.

Dreadlock

Aw, give me a break.

He sprints onwards.

The creatures start off after him.

Dreadlock keeps running and peering over his shoulder.

He takes a few turns, alternating between looking forward and looking backwards.

He turns one last corner whilst looking over his shoulder.

He takes about five steps and looks forward.

A squad of heavily armed men is standing in front of him.

The Lead Armed Man raises a huge plasma gun at Dreadlock.

Dreadlock

(screaming)

Noooooooooo.

He ducks for cover, crouching down with his hands over his head.

The soldier fires as the three creatures come around the corner.

Dreadlock hears the gun go off, and realises he is still alive.

He slowly gets up and looks behind him and sees the blasted puddles of goo.

He turns back to see the squad of men right next to him.

Dreadlock

Geez, am I glad to see you guys?

Armed Man

You shouldn’t be.

He raises his rifle and smashes it into Dreadlock’s face.

 

INT: bald man’s office

The style is elegant. The type of office owned by high powered business men. A desk sits in front of the far wall. Along the right hand side is a bank of computers.

Sitting in the chair is the bald man. His face indicates that he is in his late fifties, but carries an air of distinction about him. This is AARON BLACK. The founder and president of WestCo, the direct rival of EastCorp.

Dreadlock is sitting, strapped to a chair in front of Black’s desk. His wrists bound individually to the arms of the chair.

Nguyen walks up to Dreadlock, bends down holding a gun to his head and looks at Dreadlock’s face.

NGUYEN

He’s coming to.

black

Good. Good.

Nguyen moves away. Black gets up and walks around his desk and across to Dreadlock.

He slaps him a couple of times on the face.

Dreadlock comes too a little more.

black

Mr. Locke, I’m so glad to meet you. Let me introduce myself, I am Aaron Black, the founder and president of WestCo. I’ve been looking forward to this for so long.

 

Dreadlock looks up groggily, trying to focus.

Dreadlock

I know who you are. Killed any photographers lately.

Black looks a little taken aback.

black

Yes.

Black moves his face closer to Dreadlock’s.

Black

Well at least you know I’m not the sort of person that can be fucked with.

Dreadlock makes a grunting noise and struggles at his bond.

Black stands up and turns away.

black

You’ll find those bonds are a bit stronger than the ones in our torture room.

Dreadlock struggles a bit longer and looks down at his bonds. His wrists are securely fastened to the arms of the chair. He moves his arms forward and back, realising that there is still a small amount of give.

He looks back at Black.

Dreadlock

What do you want from me?

Black

What do you know about cloning?

Dreadlock keeps his face dead-panned.

Dreadlock

Nothing. Should I?

Black

Yes, you should. You’re a man of the world. A man of intelligence. You should keep up with all the latest scientific advances.

He bends down closer to Dreadlock.

Black

Especially those being developed in sub-basement level III of the Science Department Building.

Dreadlock feigns ignorance.

black

Oh, don’t give me that. Your people have perfected the cloning technique that my people have completely failed to find.

He walks away, turns back and smiles.

Black

You’ve met our Morphs.

Dreadlock looks at him a little more interested.

A message pops up on the monitor on Black’s desk.

BLACK’s COMPUTER

TIME: 14:35

AUTOMATIC MEMORY UPLOAD

SUBJECT: AARON BLACK

STARTED

Replaced immediately by:

PROGRESSING (flashing)

black’s voice

Yes, those things. We call them Morphs. It can change its body at will, colour, shape to a certain degree. They are great. I use them as my shock troops. I believe you met an earlier version in New Zealand a few years ago. They are wonderful, but a little unpredictable.

black’s COMPUTER

TIME: 14:35

AUTOMATIC MEMORY UPLOAD

SUBJECT: AARON BLACK

FINISHED

NEXT UPLOAD DUE AT: 14:36

BLACK

The fact you defeated three of them just now was excellent. I needed a decent test for them and you provided it. Thank You.

He grins and laughs a little, before walking back to Dreadlock with a scowl on his face.

BLACK

I want your technology.

He taps Dreadlock on the forehead.

black

In here, are stored all the codes and contacts that we need to break into your Science department and get that technology.

Black clasps his hands together and laughs.

BLACK

Don’t worry, you don’t have to betray your city to tell me. We can suck it out ourselves.

He laughs heartily, then turns to Nguyen.

BLACK

You know what to do.

Nguyen leaves and exits through a door in the far wall. As he exits, Michelle Zucco enters.

Dreadlock looks at her and says.

DREADLOCK

Should have known that you’d be in on this. Couldn’t get the promotion you needed in the East, so you sold your soul to the West.

ZUCCO

Sounds good to me. Just remember, I’m standing here, and you’re the guy sitting there about to get your brain wiped.

Nguyen re-enters wheeling a tray which has a small terminal and a headset on it.

He moves close to Dreadlock’s chair and picks up the headset.

As he attempts to place the headset on Dreadlock’s head, the small blade slips out of his index finger, he bends the finger back to try and slice through his bonds.

Black breaks the silence.

black

Michelle, he’s doing it again.

Zucco walks over and grabs Dreadlock’s hand. She places a gun on the index finger and fires. The finger flies off leaving a stump trailing small wires and bits of twisted metal.

Dreadlock screams.

Dreadlock

You bitch, don’t know why I even bothered saving your miserable ass.

Zucco bends down closer to Dreadlock.

zucco

(seductively)

That’s cause you really want to get your hands all over it. Oh, don’t be bothered Dared, after this is over we will be the best of friends. Know what I mean!

dreadlock

In your dreams.

zucco

No, see I don’t think you’ve grasped the possibilities here. It will be in your brain.

Dreadlock looks at her as if she is insane.

dreadlock

What the fuck are you talking about?

Zucco indicates the computer.

zucco

Aaron’s scientists can not only read your mind, but reprogram it. From now on we will be partners, and you know what’s really good.

She grins as she straightens up.

zucco

You are going to help me set a trap for your best friend Mr. Thelman Drake.

Dreadlock’s face goes extremely serious.

zucco

That’s right. He is going have a little accident. Then I’ll take over IIC, and we will make sure that we get into Science and relieve them of all control over the Cloning project. Brilliant isn’t it.

Dreadlock’s expression changes to one of anger.

Dreadlock

You people are crazy. The soldiers in IIC will never follow you. You’re just a bitch who slept her way to the top and after you just got twelve men killed, I’m sure the policy board would never favour electing you.

Zucco stands up and gestures to Black. They both laugh. Zucco walks back as she says.

zucco

That’s the beauty of all this. We have already, how would you say, changed the view point of seven of the board members.

dreadlock

(under breath)

Shit.

zucco

And that’s not all.

She walks back to Dreadlock. She gestures into the air.

zucco

Imagine if you can, an army of young punks armed with the latest weaponry, all under the control of a single unifying force.

Realisation dawns in Dreadlock’s face, his expression changes slightly to fear, then back to anger.

zucco

That’s right. With every free offer of a Plasma-gun comes an instant brain washing. We now have a veritable army in Sydney. All under our command, all at no expense. And when we get back, we will be in control of them all.

She stands up and walks away.

zucco

Isn’t it great?

Dreadlock’s head drops down as he works out the reality of the situation.

He shakes his head, and raises it, a look of resignation on his face.

dreadlock

I’ve haven’t got a chance, have I.

black

No, not really.

Black stands and picks up Dreadlock’s gun and activates it.

He walks from behind the desk and across to a point near Dreadlock.

BLACK

(as he walks)

I must say I love this gun. My scientists had a bugger of a time disabling the DNA signature lock. But, I’m glad to say that even I can use it now.

Black aims off to the right of Dreadlock.

Dreadlock looks around and sees Dandra strapped to a chair, unconscious.

Dreadlock

No!!!

Black aims at Dandra and fires point blank at her. Her chest explodes and she is knocked over backwards.

BLACK

See.

Dreadlock screams at him. His face turning to complete rage.

Dreadlock

You fucker, I’ll kill you for that.

Dreadlock attempts to move, but is held down by Nguyen.

Dreadlock is trying to look around at Dandra. Black walks over to Dreadlock and points the gun at his head.

Dreadlock quickly turns back.

Black bends over and whispers into Dreadlock’s ear.

BLACK

That’s just to stop you having any residual contacts over here.

He stands up and laughs.

He nods to Nguyen.

BLACK

Get on with it.

NGUYEN

Yes, sir.

Dreadlock pulls his left arm as far away from the binding as possible.

The two blades slide out from the sides of his arm.

He jerks his arm forward. The blades cut through the bindings effortlessly.

Nguyen moves in front of him with the headset.

He starts to place the headset on Dreadlock.

He pulls his left hand back and slashes the blades across Nguyen’s throat.

Nguyen’s hands go to his throat. Blood pours through his hands and a horrible gurgling sound issues from his mouth.

Dreadlock quickly cuts the binding of his right hand.

Zucco springs in to action, and raises her gun at Dreadlock.

Dreadlock grabs Nguyen by the shirt and moves him in line with Zucco.

Zucco fires.

Nguyen’s back explodes in a shower of blood.

Dreadlock throws Nguyen at Zucco, knocking her to the ground. She drops her gun and it slides away to her right.

Black ducks down behind his desk.

Dreadlock frees his legs from the chair and rises.

Zucco stands and faces off against Dreadlock.

The warily move around each other, keeping their distance, but holding their fighting stances.

Zucco

Well, this is probably the last position you wanted to get me into.

Dreadlock

Ten minutes ago, any position would have suited me. But, right now, lying dead on a slab would do me just fine.

Zucco

Ooooh, tough words.

She launches at Dreadlock with a forward kick to the head.

Dreadlock blocks.

Zucco punches and kicks at Dreadlock, with a banshee’s fury.

He blocks most, but receives a couple of blows to the midriff, which have him staggering.

Dreadlock starts to falter from the rain of blows, but finds room and delivers a left uppercut which sends Zucco hurtling through the air.

She lands heavily near Nguyen’s body.

She slowly picks herself up into a sitting position.

She looks up at Dreadlock, with tears in her eyes.

Zucco

How could you, I’m a woman?

Dreadlock

Hey, I’m sorry, but you’re not like any woman I’ve ever known.

Zucco brings her gun up from under Nguyen’s body.

Zucco

Who cares? Sucker.

Dreadlock shoots the dart out from his left hand.

It buries itself in Zucco’s temple.

Her eyes roll up and she falls backwards.

Dreadlock

(mockingly)

I care, really I do!

He walks over to Zucco’s corpse and pulls the dart free.

He picks up Zucco’s gun and stands up.

Only to find himself looking down the barrel of his own gun.

Black is standing behind his desk, pointing Dreadlock’s gun at him.

Dreadlock

Shit!!

BLACK

Yes. As you can plainly see, I have the upper hand once again.

DREADLOCK

(slightly louder than normal)

SAFETY

The safety light on Dreadlock’s gun turns red.

Black

What? Safety. You want safety. I don’t think so.

Black pulls the trigger on the gun.

Nothing happens.

He tries again. Same result.

Dreadlock

You forgot to check the safety, Dickhead.

Black looks at the gun, looks up and mouths "BUT".

Dreadlock raises his gun to Black’s head.

Dreadlock

Ciao.

Black

No!!!

He fires. Black’s head is blown off, his body flies backwards.

Dreadlock looks down, smiles and puts the gun on the desk.

dreadlock

Nobody sucks my brain. Nobody.

He turns and runs to Dandra. He bends down and checks her pulse.

DREADLOCK

(to self)

Shit! She’s still alive.

He bends down and listens to her breathing.

Dreadlock

(to self)

Only just though.

He looks around, and springs to action.

Dreadlock runs to the computer that Nguyen was going to suck his brain with.

He wheels it across to Dandra’s prone figure.

He puts the headphones on her head and stands up.

He moves to the console and checks the screen.

DANDRA’s COMPUTER

MEMORY UPLOAD

READY TO PROCEED

He taps on a couple of keys.

DANDRA’s COMPUTER

MEMORY UPLOAD

PROGRESSING (flashing)

2% COMPLETE

BLACK’S COMPUTER

BRAIN WAVE DETECTION FAILURE

RUNNING HARDWARE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS

Dreadlock is watching the screen.

He looks at Dandra. She is still breathing very slowly.

DANDRA’S COMPUTER

10 percent.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

SYSTEM CHECK COMPLETED

SYSTEM CHECK PASSED

BODY FAILURE DETECTED

STARTING AUTO REGENERATION AND UPLOAD

dandra’s computer

15 percent.

Black’s computer

REGENERATION UPLOAD COMPLETE

BODY PREPARATION STARTED

dandra’s computer

20 percent.

Black’s computer

BODY PREPARATION COMPLETED

AARON BLACK MARK IX RELEASED

A door opens in the back wall of the office.

A pair of legs walk through the door.

dandra’s computer

25 percent.

Dreadlock

Jesus this is slow.

He looks at the computer, he is getting worried.

Dreadlock

What are they using? Rat power?

The door closes. The feet start to walk across the carpet.

Dreadlock still intently watching the screen.

dandra’s computer

30 percent.

 

Dreadlock looks down at Dandra.

A figure is slowly moving towards him.

dandra’s computer

40 percent.

The figure is closing in on Dreadlock.

Dreadlock hears a sound and turns quickly.

Aaron Black in a slightly younger version is standing behind him.

Black swats Dreadlock with a back-hander which causes him to fly sideways into a bookcase. He crashes to the floor, books tumble around him.

Black stands and looks down at him.

Black

Tsk Tsk. Dreadlock, shame on you, some of those books are over 100 years old.

Black runs across to Dreadlock and lifts him physically off the ground. He throws him across the room.

Dreadlock takes out a small table and chairs.

Black

Those, my dear fellow, were antiques.

 

dandra’s computer

60 percent.

Black’s computer screen comes alive again.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

TIME: 14:45 (top left hand corner)

AUTOMATIC MEMORY UPLOAD (centre)

SUBJECT: AARON BLACK (centre)

STARTED (centre)

THEN

PROGRESSING (centre - flashing)

Black races across as Dreadlock is getting to his feet and slaps him sideways again.

He crashes against a wall.

Black runs across and kicks at his chest.

Dreadlock flies over Black’s desk and lands in a heap on the ground near Black’s corpse.

dandra’s computer

80 percent.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

FINISHED

NEXT UPLOAD DUE AT: 14:46

Black starts to walk slowly towards the desk.

Dreadlock shakes himself to consciousness and spies his gun lying near the dead Black’s hand.

The younger Black jumps up onto the desk, looking down at Dreadlock.

Black

Like the new body Dared? It’s not quite as matured as my last one, but gee can it kick butt.

He grins down at Dreadlock, obviously pleased with himself.

Black spies Nguyen’s gun lying on the desk.

He bends down and picks it up.

Dreadlock reaches for his gun.

Black

Uh, uh, aaaahhh.

Dreadlock looks up at Black who is now holding Nguyen’s gun on him.

Dreadlock

Shit!

Black

Looks like I’ve got the edge on you this time. And this gun isn’t DNA or Voice protected. It’s just a typical killing machine. Like me really.

Dreadlock

Why don’t you just get on with it? The only way you’ll turn me to your way of thinking is killing me anyway, you may as well make it permanent.

Black

Why don’t you understand me Dared? My people are already creating clones of you. I just need your brains to complete the picture, and even that I can download when you’re dead.

Dreadlock looks up at him with a vile expression on his face.

Dreadlock

Fuck you.

Black

No, Fuck you.

He raises the gun, ready to fire.

dandra’s computer

MEMORY UPLOAD COMPLETED

The computer beeps causing Black to look around.

Dreadlock jumps at the chance.

He grabs for his gun, rolling across Black’s body as he does.

dreadlock

Safety Off.

The gun instantly melds with his hand, he turns and fires.

The young Black turns as he hears Dreadlock, just in time to see him fire.

Black catches a round in the chest and flies back off the desk, landing in a crumpled heap.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

BRAIN WAVE DETECTION FAILURE

RUNNING HARDWARE SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS

Dreadlock stands up and looks at the prone figure of Black’s clone.

The computer makes a slight beep and Dreadlock looks down.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

STARTING AUTO REGENERATION AND UPLOAD

Dreadlock

What the fuck?

He studies the computer. Tapping a few keys.

The screen now says:

BLACK’S COMPUTER

REGENERATION UPLOAD COMPLETE

BODY PREPARATION STARTED

Dreadlock

What the fuck is this?

He keeps tapping keys, until he notices the palm pad to the right of the keyboard.

He looks around and grabs Black’s dead right hand.

He drags the body across and places the hand on the palm-pad.

A red scan line runs down the pad.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

DNA CONFIRMATION COMPLETE.

WELCOME MR. BLACK

Dreadlock

Well what do you know? It worked.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

BODY PREPARATION COMPLETED

AARON BLACK MARK X RELEASED

Dreadlock

What now?

The door opens again and an even younger pair of legs come out.

Dreadlock is still tapping keys and looking at the screen.

The even younger Aaron Black is walking towards Dreadlock.

Dreadlock is tapping keys.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

REGENERATION MENU

He notices movement to his left and looks up.

Aaron Black the Xth is only about twenty feet away.

Dreadlock

I get it now.

He raises his gun and blows the new clone away.

Immediately a message pops up.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

BRAIN WAVE DETECTION FAILURE

CHECKING HARDWARE SYSTEMS FOR FAILURE

Dreadlock

Not again you don’t, you fuck.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

TERMINATE AUTO REGENERATION - Y/N

Dreadlock presses the "Y" key.

BLACK’S COMPUTER

AUTO REGENERATION PROCESSES TERMINATED

DELETE AUTO REGENERATION UPLOAD FILE – Y/N

Dreadlock

Yea.

His finger hovers over the "Y" button.

A concerned look comes over his face.

He pulls his finger away and hits the "N" button.

Dreadlock

Not just yet. As you said yourself Mr. Black, it could take years to sift through your memories, but I’m sure it will be worthwhile.

He looks up and remembers Dandra.

Dreadlock

Dandra!

He runs across to the screen and notices that it has finished.

He bends down and checks her pulse again.

Her eyes flicker open slightly, she looks at Dreadlock, a hint of recognition on her face.

She smiles, then her eyes look off into the distance and her body slumps.

Dreadlock face drops.

Tears come to his eye.

He picks up her body and hugs it to him.

DREADLOCK

No, no, no.

 

INT: DRAKE’S OFFICE

Dreadlock is sitting in front of Drake’s desk. Drake is behind the desk on the phone. He replaces the receiver.

DRAKE

That was the President. She’s very happy. Thanks to you we have captured all the outlets in Sydney that were going to ship arms. We’ve managed to track down all the creatures. Our technicians are having a field day, especially over the files you transmitted from Perth.

Laura appears on Drake’s screen.

laura

She’s here sir.

Drake looks at the screen.

DRAKE

Send her in Laura.

He looks back at Dreadlock.

DRAKE

And the tech boys have pulled out all the stops to thank you.

The door opens and in walks Dandra.

Dreadlock looks back at Drake with a big smile.

DRAKE

And they assure me that everything has gone well. She’s perfect in every way.

Dreadlock rises and holds out his arms. Dandra runs over to him and hugs him.

DANDRA

Darling I’ve missed you, so much.

DREADLOCK

Oh, you don’t know the half of it.

DRAKE

So, what are your plans now?

DREADLOCK

First a holiday. Then I’ve got to go back to Perth. I’ve got a company to run.

drake

I was going to ask. How did you transfer all of Black’s assets to yourself?

Dreadlock

Well I had access to Black’s computer. So, I got Van to do some creative record updating.

drake

What about Security and the Board Members?

dreadlock

It seemed that the Morphs were programmed to respond to the head of Westco. When that became me, I had an instant army. The Security forces decided that all’s fair in love and war, and surrendered. The Board Members were easily brought round to my way of thinking.

DRAKE

I can just picture you as a business man. I’ll give you six months. By then you’ll have either ruined Perth, or destroyed its economy.

He waves a dismissing hand at the couple.

DRAKE