295. Cedar Falls - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. CEDAR FALLS - DAY


• Despite its pleasant name, Cedar Falls is a sprawling slum that feels like a fungus that has slowly grown together, creating miles of internal hallways and the possibility of going in and never again seeing sunlight.


• Beyond the sprawl, the gleaming towers of a metropolis stretch to the horizon, seemingly infinite.


• INT. CEDAR FALLS Zone 35 - DAY


• IARA stands in the dark hallway, flashlight by her side, waiting.


• Her slight, muscular frame is tense and she swivels her head quickly, on the lookout.


• A tattered sign is pasted onto the wall next to her; it shows a large eye and reads "We Watch for the Good of All."


• A radio crackles faintly from down the hall.


• RADIO ANNOUNCER(VO)
• So the last caller was an idiot, wouldn't be surprised of the enforcers are at his door tomorrow; but he made a good point, folks. Registration is inevitable. I went down a few days ago and got myself registered - ridiculously easy folks. Listen, it's for your own good. And to Senator Lee, wherever you are, you will be found and hunted down like the scum you are.


• Static drowns out the announcer.


• DARIUS LEE, A HOODED FIGURE appears at end of the hall and Iara's body relaxes just a bit.


• She meets him and they embrace.


• IARA
• Darius, you made it back.


• DARIUS
• It's getting more violent in the middle sectors


• She shakes her head.


• IARA
• You have what we need?


• DARIUS
• We'll have the backup we need. The Enforcers will be here any minute. Let's go.


• He strides down the hall, throwing the hood off his head and Iara follows.


• He is tall, commanding figure with a face creased with dirt and worry.


• Hints of gray are scattered through his hair, but his face reveals that the gray is premature.


• He finds the door he is looking for and presses his finger to the door, then taps rhythmically on the surface.


• The door unlocks.


• INT. CEDAR FALLS: DARIUS LEE'S RESIDENCE - DAY


• The senator and Iara slip into the room.


• It is packed with books and papers.


• A desk is stacked with electronics, a large screen showing a tactical display.


• Armed guards nod respectfully and return to their watch.


• The senator sits at his desk with a sigh.


• IARA
• So today it begins.


• DARIUS
• I'm not sure that six months ago I could have even imagined myself leading a resistance.


• IARA
• What was it like, to debate on the senate floor?


• DARIUS
• Exhilarating...frustrating. To see your country slide away from you and be able to do nothing. The day I watched the President get registered...


• IARA
• I hear they started registering in the European Union last month.


• Darius shakes his head.


• DARIUS
• Funny, that such a small chip could change so much. To be able to track every single citizen - absolute power.


• Children pass the door outside.


• LITTLE GIRL (OS)
• My daddy fought in the battle of Nairobi.


• LITTLE BOY (OS)
• That's nothing! My daddy's in Antarctica now, he must be a better soldier than yours.


• LITTLE GIRL (OS)
• Is not!


• LITTLE BOY (OS)
• Is so!


• LITTLE GIRL (OS)
• Is not!


• Their voices fade.


• A guard nods at Darius.


• DARIUS
• They're here.


• Iara looks out the window.


• Dozens of armored carriers have pulled up on Cedar Fall's perimeter.


• Gunships come into range, their rotors humming menacingly as they circle.


• A bullhorn blares.


• ENFORCER (OS)
• We detect numerous unregistered persons within the premises. We are entering for registration purposes as allowed by the 35th Amendment. Resist and you will be terminated.


• Enforcers swarm from the vehicles.


• IARA
• You know, Sir, I didn't have much hope before you showed up. At least we can fight now.


• DARIUS
• Oh we have not yet begun to fight.


• Iara smiles.


• IARA
• Appropriate. Thank you.


• DARIUS
• Today, the resistance is born. Watch.


• He stands from his chair, picking up a rifle and checking it.


• There is silence, then a few screams.


• IARA
• What am I watching for?


• DARIUS
• Just wait.


• The silence continues.


• Darius paces.


• DARIUS
• Where are they?


• IARA
• What's wrong.


• DARIUS
• The fighters should be engaging them. I don't hear anything.


• Iara pales.


• The door explodes into splinters and Iara dives to the ground.


• The senator is still standing, his face expressionless.


• The guards fall almost in unison as Enforcer marksmen target them.


• The Enforcers are encased in lightweight and strong body armor, their faces covered in armored gas masks.


• A LIEUTENANT steps forward scanning the room.


• LIEUTENANT
• Senator Lee.


• Darius looks him straight in the eye.


• LIEUTENANT
• I'm afraid you were naive enough to think the heavy gunners couldn't be bought off. They would have given us a real fight too. Will you register?


• DARIUS
• Never.


• The lieutenant nods, raises his gun and fires once.


• Iara is passed out cold, her hand on her weapon.


• She begins to regain consciousness.


• LIEUTENANT
• She's pretty enough. Take her. The chairman could always use another, he uses them up fast enough.


• An ENFORCER WITH A MEDIC BADGE kneels, removes a syringe and injects her.


• MEDIC
• She's in the system sir.


• LIEUTENANT
• Oh the joys of paperwork. And so the resistance ends, not with a bang but with a whimper and a flurry of Q3 forms.


• The medic chuckles.


• Iara looks around carefully, then grabs her gun slams the butt of it into his helmet-he stumbles back.


• The lieutenant laughs.


• LIEUTENANT
• Looks like we need to keep this one sedated, she's got fight. Well? Sedate her.


• MEDIC
• Gladly.


• He grabs his rifle and slams the butt into her head and the world goes black.


• FADE TO BLACK.