Script Maker Template - SimplyScripts
“virtual reversal”
Written by
David Allen Rigsby
| |David Allen Rigsby |
| |WGA #1014035 |
| |(818) 989-1722 |
| |daverigsby@ |
"virtual reversal"
FADE IN:
INT. DR. KIDWELL’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
An elaborately decorated home filled with wicker furniture, waterfalls, and little Buddha statues throughout.
A Ph.D. for a “Dr. Theodore Kidwell” hangs on the wall.
A current “LA TIMES” lies on top of a cherry wood desk.
insert - newspaper headline
Dated: Thursday, July fifteenth; “California to undergo more brownouts to conserve electricity as the summer heat swells.”
Dr. kidwell’s bedroom
A man sits at a small desk playing a video game on a bright red laptop. It’s DR. THEODORE KIDWELL (mid 30’s), an intelligent man with a dark side hidden beneath the surface.
“VIRTUAL HOMICIDE” by Dr. T. Kidwell, appears onscreen.
The female character Dr. Kidwell plays is beautiful and well endowed. She walks around the room in a defensive stance.
He gets bored, PAUSES the game.
He picks up a high-tech, wireless visor. It looks like a sleek pair of sunglasses. He puts it on.
dr. kidwell’s pov – game world
HIS VIEW looks the same as without the visor. He’s in a simulation game, but his world in the game looks exactly like his real world.
His laptop monitor displays only a test pattern now.
As he LOOKS DOWN, instead of seeing himself, HE SEES the chest of a large-breasted woman. He begins role-playing again as the buxom, female character.
An eerie GREEN LIGHT glows beneath a closet door. The door CREAKS as it slowly opens. Several Ninjas emerge.
She (the character that Dr. Kidwell is playing) uses martial arts to fight off the dark-clad Ninjas as they enter.
The Ninjas
use swords while Dr. Kidwell’s female heroine uses chrome-plated sais to defend herself.
The darkly clad villains appear to come from his kitchen, windows, doors, etc.
Dr. Kidwell (o.s.)
Pause.
THE GAME CHARACTERS FREEZE IN THEIR TRACKS, SOME ONLY A FEW FEET FROM HIM.
His female-looking hands come into the edge of OUR VIEW as he takes the visor off.
As THE VISOR slips away from his eyes, the characters simply disappear against the b.g.
back to scene
He holds the visor, studies it from all angles. He picks up a mini tape recorder.
dr. kidwell
(into recorder)
I’ve finally created the most realistic way to enjoy a game. I just finished the final version. I’m saving it now. This is my first game for the visor’s initial pitch to the video game industry. It’ll be the first game that feels just like the real world.
A CORDLESS PHONE RINGS. HE PICKS IT UP.
Dr. kidwell
Hello? Oh hey... Yes, I’m just about done with the final test. Some kids from one of my classes are testing a previous version so I can work out any bugs.
HE SETS THE MINI RECORDER DOWN, FORGETS TO TURN IT OFF.
While he listens to the other person, he loads a blank CD into his red laptop and begins burning a copy of the game.
His attention turns to an open leather briefcase, which sits on his bed beside several more visors.
dr. kidwell
(explaining)
Of course, I had to loan them some visors too. Don’t worry, it was only four and I’ll get them back. I’m telling you, this is gonna be a huge hit. It’s the perfect escape device.
THE LIGHTS FLICKER AS THE ELECTRICITY FAILS, WHICH CAUSES HIS CORDLESS PHONE CONNECTION TO DISCONNECT.
dr. kidwell
Hello? You there?
HE SETS THE PHONE DOWN.
The lights flicker again as the power is restored.
Dr. kidwell
(looking around)
Wow, I just had deja vu.
DR. KIDWELL PUTS THREE EXTRA VISORS INSIDE HIS BRIEFCASE.
His laptop switched to a battery and SIGNALS it’s finished burning the CD. He ejects the CD from the CD burner.
He writes “7-15, 10 p.m.” on the disk.
He puts the CD copy into his briefcase alongside the visors. He slides the briefcase under his bed. A secret compartment in the floor opens, receives the briefcase, and closes.
A grandfather CLOCK CHIMES that it’s 10:00 PM.
Dr. Kidwell walks over to his desk where his laptop sits beside a bottle of Scotch. He pours some into a glass, takes a sip. He pushes his chair in under the desk.
Dr. Kidwell
I just need to try it out now.
THE GAME “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE” BOOTS UP ON HIS LAPTOP. HE SELECTS THE SETTING OF “AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE,” WHICH DEFAULTS TO “TWO HOURS.”
His grandfather CLOCK continues to CHIME.
He sets down the glass of alcohol, puts on the visor.
professor’s pov
as he looks in his mirror. Instead of seeing himself, he sees a beautiful, buxom WOMAN.
Ninjas come from all over his own house as she (Dr. Kidwell) begins to fight them.
The battle begins.
One of the Ninjas is an Asian female. She wears an eye patch. She throws a mechanical-looking device at the feet of the beautiful woman fighting them.
The CLOCK CHIMES its last tenth and final bell.
Dr. Kidwell’s heroine LOOKS DOWN, as terror fills her eyes.
woman (o.S.)
Uh oh...
THERE’S AN EXPLOSION AND BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT.
ext. downtown los angeles – next morning - aerial view
A smoggy morning with the usual overflow traffic headed toward the downtown Los Angeles skyline. A traffic helicopter flies overhead. The HELICOPTER PILOT makes his report over a local radio station.
helicopter pilot (on radio)
It’s bumper to bumper traffic as usual, but I think I speak for everyone when I say, “thank God it’s Friday!”
THE RADIO STATION STARTS A ROCK SONG IN THE B.G.
ext. police shooting range – morning
The sound of GUNFIRE fills the air. Dozens of uniformed police officers and several undercover cops target practice.
Two targets displaying a human silhouette become bullet-ridden, but only along the outer edges of the silhouette.
grimes (v.o.)
A captain once told me to always live every day as if it were your last, because one day it will be.
THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE NEAR MISSES USES BOTH HANDS TO FIRE TWO SILVER-PLATED REVOLVERS. HE WEARS A GOLD RETIREMENT WATCH AND SHINY WEDDING BAND ON HIS LEFT HAND.
The man twirls both guns, crosses his arms, holstering them in twin shoulder holsters, which double as suspenders. We finally see his chiseled face. He wears a gray fedora.
This is Detective JIM GRIMES (mid 40’s), a down-to-earth, tough guy who flirts with danger and strange women equally.
A German shepherd K-9 dog, RICOCHET, sits in Grimes’ stall. He wears dark sunglasses and noise protection earmuffs.
grimes (v.o.)
This is my partner, Ricochet. I honestly believe this dog has nine lives. He’s been through hell and back with me repeatedly and he’s still here by my side.
AN ATTRACTIVE, WELL-ENDOWED, HISPANIC FEMALE OFFICER, LUCIA MARTINEZ (MID 20’S) IS IN THE NEXT STALL. SHE REACTS TO HIS UNUSUAL DOUBLE-FISTED SHOOTING STYLE, NOTICES THE TARGETS.
martinez
He might still be alive. Of course, he could bleed to death.
GRIMES
Maybe. I always aim to maim.
MARTINEZ
I’m afraid to ask why?
HE CROSSES HIS ARMS AGAIN, DRAWS BOTH PISTOLS AND BEGINS FIRING THEM AT A SINGULAR TARGET’S BULL’S EYE.
grimes
My first day as a homicide detective, I accidentally shot and killed a six year-old girl during a drug bust. I aim to maim, that’s my motto now. I haven’t killed anyone else... and since today’s my last day, I plan on keeping it that way.
HE TWIRLS BOTH GUNS SIMULTANEOUSLY AGAIN AND HOLSTERS THEM.
martinez
What a coincidence, today’s my first day as homicide detective. I just transferred from traffic.
THE TARGET MOVES TOWARD THEM FOR INSPECTION. EVERY SHOT JUST FIRED HIT THE BULL’S EYE.
grimes
(offering his hand)
Detective Jim Grimes, homicide, thirteenth precinct, LAPD.
MARTINEZ
(shaking his hand)
Detective Lucia Martinez. I’m supposed to start at your...
GRIMES’ GUN-SHAPED CELL PHONE RINGS. HE TWIRLS IT OPEN.
grimes
Excuse me...
(INTO PHONE)
Yeah?
CAPTAIN (V.O.)
Grimes, I hate to break this to you, but looks like you got one more homicide to investigate. Get over to the UCLA main entrance. I’ve got a patrolman waiting for you there. Oh yeah, your replacement starts today. You’ll like her; she’s got a lot upstairs...
GRIMES
... A “her?”
CAPTAIN (V.O.)
Yeah, but don’t get any ideas. She’s not into men if you know what I mean. Besides, you’re married. Just get to UCLA.
GRIMES
I’m on my way.
HE HOLSTERS HIS CELL PHONE IN A CUSTOM HOLSTER ON HIS BELT.
martinez
Nice cell phone.
GRIMES
I have a matching lighter too. Oh well... so much for an easy transition into retirement from the force and into my own private practice. Nice meeting you, rookie.
MARTINEZ
(smiling)
Maybe I’ll see you around...
HE CHECKS HER OUT, NODS, AND WALKS AWAY.
ext. dr. kidwell’s house – later that morning
Cops and other emergency medical crews surround the professor’s house.
An unmarked car pulls up. It’s a faded, older model Caprice. It BACKFIRES, KNOCKS and PINGS as the engine dies. Smoke rises from underneath the hood.
Detective Grimes opens his door, lets out Ricochet.
grimes (v.o.)
UCLA... I was here awhile back investigating a break in. As for me, I never went to college. I never had the time. I learned all I needed to know in high school. My twelfth grade English teacher used to say the mind is like a book... you have to open it to get something out of it. I used to wonder if a locksmith ever finds the key to happiness. I’ve been a detective for twenty years and I’m still looking...
INT. DR. KIDWELL’S HOUSE – BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
A Medical Examiner and photographer surround a badly burnt chair that sits in front of Dr. Kidwell’s red laptop.
The floor around the chair is covered with a viscous, oily, yellow liquid.
Grimes enters the bedroom with Ricochet on his heels. Grimes walks up to his CAPTAIN (50’s), a white-haired man who carries more than enough take-out food around his midsection.
Ricochet sniffs around the room.
captain
Poor bastard...
GRIMES
It’s okay, Cap. It’s just one more case.
CAPTAIN
Not you, the professor. I’ve never seen anything like this. I read something about it on the Internet... They called it Spontaneous Human Combustion. Some kind of paranormal thing.
GRIMES
I thought that was just a myth.
CAPTAIN
I’d like to see you come up with a better explanation. Why is this guy completely burned-up, his clothes singed, yet intact?
DETECTIVE MARTINEZ ENTERS THE ROOM.
grimes
(to the Captain)
Did he smoke?
MARTINEZ
Your car does. I think it’s on fire...
CAPTAIN
Grimes, this is your replacement and new temporary partner, Detective Lucy Martinez.
MARTINEZ
(correcting him)
Lucia... and we already met.
GRIMES SCRATCHES HIS HEAD, STARES AT HER FOR A MOMENT.
martinez
Any evidence to suggest the victim fell asleep with a lit cigarette? Are there any ashtrays lying around?
GRIMES PULLS OUT A CIGARETTE, FLIPS OUT HIS GUN-SHAPED LIGHTER, STARTS TO LIGHT UP.
captain
I haven’t found any yet, so don’t light that please.
GRIMES STOPS HIMSELF, GIVES THE CAPTAIN A DIRTY LOOK.
captain
I can tell you his wife - now his widow - smokes. Some of their wedding photos show her holding a cigarette.
HE POINTS TO A PHOTO OF DR. KIDWELL AND AN ASIAN WOMAN.
Grimes walks over to the photo. He sets his cigarette and lighter on the dresser, puts on a pair of disposable gloves, and picks up the photo.
grimes
He looks familiar for some reason... Was his wife home last night?
CAPTAIN
Negative. She’s out of the country on personal business. I verified it earlier with INS.
MARTINEZ
Immigration?
CAPTAIN
Yep. Turns out she’s one of those mail-order brides. She visits her family abroad often. We notified her... she should be back in town soon. I’ll send her your way.
AN EMPTY BOTTLE OF SCOTCH LIES NEXT TO THE CHARRED CHAIR.
grimes
The liquor bottle near the chair, was it empty?
CAPTAIN
That’s affirmative. Looks like our victim was celebrating something... or simply unwinding.
MARTINEZ
But isn’t that one thing all SHC’s have in common? The presence of alcohol...
GRIMES
... along with a source of ignition, possibly a cigarette in this case.
GRIMES POINTS TO A LIBRARY FILLED WITH MYSTERY BOOKS. ONE SHELF HOLDS A COMPLETE SET OF HARDY BOY DETECTIVE BOOKS.
martinez
Our professor must’ve been a mystery fan from his youth. Nothing wrong with a good murder mystery late at night...
CAPTAIN
Something else... it appears that he was playing some kind of video game at the time of his death.
GRIMES
Is the game still loaded on his computer?
CAPTAIN
Yes. We also found some kind of visor. Looks like an expensive pair of sunglasses. I think he had it on when he burst into flames. As you can see, it’s singed, but it looks okay.
MARTINEZ HOLDS UP THE VISOR WITH A PENCIL, CAREFUL NOT TO DISTURB ANY FINGERPRINTS ON IT.
Grimes takes out a magnifying glass to get a closer look.
grimes
Never seen one like this before... must be something new. I’ll have it checked out.
CAPTAIN
There’s one more thing...
THE CAPTAIN PICKS UP THE PROFESSOR’S MINI TAPE RECORDER WITH HIS GLOVED HAND.
captain
He was making some notes last night when interrupted by a phone call. He forgot to turn this off. We’re assuming it was his wife. We’re pulling phone records. On the tape, Kidwell tells the caller he loaned four visors to some of his students.
GRIMES
I’ll have the Dean pull a student roster. I’ll interview all of them --
MARTINEZ
(correcting him)
-- We’ll interview all of them, if we have to.
MARTINEZ NOTICES RICOCHET SNIFFING AROUND THE CLOSET DOOR.
martinez
Your dog seems to have found something.
GRIMES WALKS OVER, LOOKS AT THE PLACE WHERE RICOCHET SNIFFS. HE SPOTS A SMALL STONE BY THE CRACK OF THE DOOR, PICKS IT UP.
grimes
Looks like some kind of rock.
(TO MARTINEZ)
What is this?
SHE PUTS ON A GLOVE, TAKES IT, AND HOLDS IT UP TO THE LIGHT.
martinez
I haven’t seen one of these in awhile. It’s a gemstone... a Tiger’s Eye.
THE CAPTAIN WAVES HIS HAND NEAR HIS NOSE, MAKES A SOUR FACE.
CAPTAIN
I can’t stand the smell of burnt flesh any longer. I want the professor’s computer taken back to the station. Let’s wrap it up here for now until we can get rid of this smell. We’ll section off the crime scene and finish the investigation later.
HE WALKS TOWARD THE DOOR, TURNS BACK.
captain
Grimes, Martinez... I’ll see you both at the station.
GRIMES AND MARTINEZ EXCHANGE LOOKS AS THE CAPTAIN EXITS.
grimes
Could I get a lift? I think my car just needs a little tune up. I’ll have it towed to my private office, get it fixed on Monday.
MARTINEZ
I’ll warn you, I drive fast.
GRIMES
I like fast women.
MARTINEZ
What a coincidence, so do I...
EXT. UCLA CAMPUS – MORNING (FLASHBACK BEGINS)
Subtitle: “Twenty-four hours earlier. Thursday.”
Several buildings stand out, one after another, ending with the Computer Science building.
int. computer science lab - morning
Bright sunlight filters into an empty computer science lab.
A chalkboard has “Dr. Kidwell” written along the top.
A DOOR OPENS as Dr. Kidwell enters. He sets a leather briefcase on his desk, opens it, and takes out his red laptop. He turns it on. It boots up.
He reaches into his briefcase, pulls out his wireless, high-tech visor. He studies it.
int. ucla campus – cafeteria - morning
Students do homework while they grab a quick breakfast.
Four students sit together at one table.
DYLAN (early 20’s), laid back, muscular, a jock with brains. He plays paper football across the table with ETHAN (early 20’s), an insecure loner, wears glasses -- smart as a tack.
dylan
I’m so not ready for this test.
HOPE (EARLY 20’S) IS A SPOILED RICH GIRL, BRUNETTE, ATHLETIC, AND PRETTY. SHE WORKS A CROSSWORD PUZZLE ON HER LAPTOP.
hope
If you’d studied instead of bugging me all night...
DYLAN
Hey, I was just relieving some pre-test stress and anxiety.
CHET (EARLY 20’S) IS BLACK, CHUBBY, WEARS GLASSES -- A REAL COMPUTER GEEK. HE PLAYS A FOOTBALL VIDEO GAME ON HIS LAPTOP. IT BEEPS AS IT REACHES THE TWO-MINUTE WARNING.
Chet
Know how I relieve stress? Eat!
HE GRABS A CREAM-FILLED DONUT, SHOVES IT ALL INTO HIS MOUTH.
hope
That’s disgusting, Chet. No wonder you can’t lose weight.
DYLAN’S PAPER FOOTBALL STOPS JUST OVER THE EDGE IN FRONT OF ETHAN.
ethan
You need the extra point to tie.
JUST BEHIND DYLAN, A BEAUTIFUL BLONDE WALKS INTO THE CAFETERIA. IT’S GABRIELLE (MID 20’S), AUSTRALIAN NATIVE, SHY, CONSERVATIVE, AND WELL ENDOWED.
Ethan notices her. He watches her with lust in his eyes.
Hope turns around to see who he’s looking at.
hope
That’s my new volleyball partner. She transferred here from Australia this semester. Forget about anything serious though... she’s got a kid.
GABRIELLE SPOTS HOPE AND WALKS THEIR WAY.
gabrielle
Hey, Hope. I thought that was you. Ready for the big scrimmage game today?
HOPE
You kidding? I live for the shit. One more year and I’m ready for the Olympics. Gabby, these are friends of mine. My boyfriend, Dylan, and his loser friends, Chet and Ethan.
ETHAN
Hi. We’re really not losers. Hope’s just a bitch. You’ll get used to it. We all did.
HOPE ROLLS HER EYES, TURNS HER ATTENTION BACK TO HER PUZZLE.
Ethan shoves the paper football back to Dylan. He stands it up on its edge, eyes Ethan’s handmade goal post.
dylan
He splits the uprights!
DYLAN FLICKS IT, BUT MISSES BADLY AS THE TRIANGULAR-SHAPED, PAPER FOOTBALL LANDS SQUARELY BETWEEN GABRIELLE’S BREASTS.
Hope rushes to Gabrielle’s defense.
hope
Hey, those aren’t goal posts.
DYLAN STARES AT GABRIELLE’S CHEST.
Hope glares at Dylan.
Gabrielle plucks out the football, hands it to Dylan.
Hope looks back at her crossword puzzle.
hope
What’s a four letter word for, “a contemptible person?”
ETHAN
“J-E-R-K.”
DYLAN LOOKS AT HIS WATCH.
dylan
What’s a four letter word for “missed test?”
CHET
“L-A-T-E?”
THEY CLOSE THEIR LAPTOPS, BOLT FOR THE DOOR.
int. computer science lab – later that morning
Students visibly struggle with their answers on this midterm.
Dr. Kidwell sits at his desk, looks at answers on his laptop.
Chet’s laptop reveals his answer sheet is blank. He opens some kind of hacking program, enters some numbers and code.
Kidwell’s cell phone RINGS. He walks away from his desk, talks M.O.S. by the windows.
Chet has access to Kidwell’s computer. He downloads the answers, pastes them onto his own answer sheet.
Kidwell finishes his call, walks back to his desk.
Chet disconnects from Kidwell’s computer, closes his laptop.
Kidwell sits down, sees a “warning message” on his computer.
He traces the security warning back to Chet’s ISP.
Ethan and Dylan finish their test and close their laptops together.
As other students finish, they close their laptops. After the final laptop closes, Dr. Kidwell stands.
dr. kidwell
Let’s review. A firewall is...
CHET RAISES HIS HAND FIRST. KIDWELL POINTS TO HIM.
Chet
... a security measure that prevents unauthorized users from gaining access to a computer.
DR. KIDWELL
Good, Chet. I have a feeling you know a lot about overriding security measures on computers.
CHET
Harry Houdini was the greatest escape artist that ever lived. He’s my idol. I bet Houdini could escape from hell if it takes a lock and key to secure it. As for me, if it takes a password -- I’m in.
DR. KIDWELL
Tell me Chet... have computers replaced your social life?
SCATTERED LAUGHTER SPREADS THROUGHOUT THE CLASSROOM.
Chet
My computer is my only friend.
ETHAN
I’ll second that professor. He plays with his... computer ... all the time.
THE CLASS LAUGHS.
ethan
I was the video game champ in our fraternity before Chet joined us.
CHET
Doctor Kidwell, you spend a lot of time on a computer... How do you spend your spare time?
DR. KIDWELL
(thinking)
Well, I love a good murder mystery...
(SMILING)
... I too enjoy a good video game. And on a personal note, I like women who are well endowed.
NERVOUS LAUGHTER ERUPTS FROM SOME OF THE GIRLS. THE GUYS LISTEN MORE INTENTLY NOW.
dr. kidwell
But not all women are blessed from their creator in this manner. Why do I bring this up? I’m sure most of you guys have noticed that video games display only women of perfection. Is it the game creator’s preference or the industry catering to a male dominated audience?
CHET’S HAND DARTS UP. KIDWELL POINTS TO HIM.
chet
When I play “TOMB RAIDER,” I know how to make Lara Croft topless.
SOME GIRLS CRUMPLE UP NOTEBOOK PAPER AND TOSS THEM AT CHET.
dr. kidwell
Just remember to enjoy the reality that life offers and take time for those that love you. Let’s move on.
HE WALKS UP TO THE CHALKBOARD AND WRITES, “VIRTUAL REALITY.”
dr. kidwell
What is virtual reality?
ETHAN AND DYLAN RAISE THEIR HANDS SIMULTANEOUSLY. DR. KIDWELL POINTS TO ETHAN, TO DYLAN’S DISAPPOINTMENT.
ethan
Virtual reality is when the user becomes fully immersed in an artificial, three-dimensional world that is completely generated by a computer.
DR. KIDWELL
What kind do we call that Dylan?
DYLAN
Immersive?
DR. KIDWELL
Correct. I have a feeling some of you play video games so often, they seem real to you.
THE CLASS
laughs at this as the bell RINGS, ending class time.
dr. kidwell
There’s a test next Thursday on the next chapter in your textbook, Virtual Reality.
THE CLASS GROANS AS THEY EMPTY THE ROOM.
Ethan, Dylan, and Chet head toward the door.
The professor motions to them.
dr. kidwell
May I talk to the three of you for a minute?
THE TRIO WALKS OVER TO THE PROFESSOR. CHET IS NERVOUS.
Dr. Kidwell hands Ethan a video game CD. He also hands each of them one of his experimental visors.
dr. Kidwell
You three are my best students. Have you ever wanted to take a break from your real world?
ALL THREE OF THEM NOD IN PERFECT UNISON.
dr kidwell
I’ve developed a huge list of virtual reality games, but I need some feedback before I approach the video game industry. That’s where you guys come in. Play this first game over the weekend and tell me what you think. Then, I’ll loan you some more.
ETHAN CURIOUSLY STUDIES THE CD. THE LABEL READS, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE.”
ethan
This is a virtual reality game?
DR. KIDWELL
Yes. That’s what the visors are for. The game will tell you when to put them on.
DYLAN
How real does it look?
DR. KIDWELL
As real as the room you start playing in. The trick’s in my new patented visor. Now listen up, you’ll always find a closet door that becomes the gateway into the game’s world. When you see a green light appear beneath a closet, go inside. You’ll know what to do from there.
ETHAN
What if we get lost or have any questions?
DR. KIDWELL
Send me an e-mail to the address on the disk if you have any.
CHET
This wouldn’t constitute as extra credit, would it?
DR. KIDWELL
Maybe. Let’s wait for your report, and we’ll go from there.
ETHAN NODS. HE PLACES THE CD IN HIS LAPTOP CASE.
ethan
Thanks, Doctor Kidwell.
DYLAN
What kind of game is it?
DR. KIDWELL
You like murder mysteries?
DYLAN
Are you kidding, Doc? I watch “N.Y.P.D. BLUE” all the time.
DR. KIDWELL
Then you should enjoy this one. The version I’m working on tonight will have a magic key hidden in it. With that key, you can combine any two video games, and theoretically, two worlds. The key also unlocks my secret vault, giving access to all of my company’s games. I’ll let you play that version next week. I’ll have an internship for whoever finds that magic key.
DYLAN
(confidently)
Cool! I’ll go ahead and order a nameplate for my desk.
CHET
In your dreams. That internship is mine.
ETHAN
Any two video games?
DR. KIDWELL
Imagine playing your favorite beach volleyball video game and your favorite action-noir video game at the same time... with both worlds overlapping...
DYLAN
What about my girlfriend, Hope? Can I get an extra visor?
DR. KIDWELL
Sure, I have an extra one here.
HE REACHES INTO HIS LEATHER BRIEFCASE, TAKES OUT A VISOR, AND HANDS IT TO DYLAN.
ethan
Thanks for trusting us with this assignment, professor. We won’t let you down.
DR. KIDWELL
I’m looking forward to your feedback.
EXT. SAND VOLLEYBALL COURTS – DAY
A women’s beach volleyball scrimmage game is in progress. Gabrielle and Hope are teammates and wear red gym shorts and T-shirts.
Two girls on the opposite side of the net wear blue.
Hope is set to serve.
hope
Game point!
GABRIELLE’S AT THE LINE. SHE STUDIES THEIR OPPONENTS, SIGNALS TO HOPE WITH TWO FINGERS POINTED DOWNWARD BEHIND HER BACK.
Hope releases the ball.
The ball sails to the other side as their opponents set up a return at the net.
The ball comes right toward Gabrielle.
Gabrielle jumps up and stuffs the other girl - Game over!
Their female COACH (30’s) struts onto the sandy court.
coach
Good job, girls. Hope... you have the most kills. I want you and Gabrielle together for the noon match.
GABRIELLE AND HOPE EXCHANGE HIGH-FIVES.
coach
Gabrielle, nice stuffs and blocks today. You’re team captain.
GABRIELLE
But Coach...
COACH
Fine. Hope, you’re captain. Don’t forget we play at Venice Beach on Saturday. Your match is at noon. Be there an hour early. What time’s that Hope?
HOPE
Eleven in the morning, Coach.
COACH
Don’t be late! Now, hit the showers and get out of here.
THE OTHER GIRLS HEAD TOWARD THE LOCKER ROOMS.
Hope and Gabrielle walk together.
gabrielle
Thanks for rescuing me there.
HOPE
You shouldn’t be so shy just because you’re new here.
GABRIELLE
I’d love to be class president someday, but I’d never have the nerve to do something like that. I get goose bumps just thinking about it.
SHE RUBS HER BARE ARMS, NOW COVERED WITH GOOSE BUMPS.
hope
You really should run for office. I could be your campaign manager.
GABRIELLE
Don’t hold your breath.
HOPE
Are your parents still out of the country?
GABRIELLE
Yeah. They’re not due back ‘til sometime next week.
HOPE
So, I guess you’ll have your boy with you this weekend?
GABRIELLE
Sure, but Timmy’s been dying to go to the beach.
HOPE
The only thing I hate about beach matches is all the sand. It gets underneath my nails.
(ADMIRES HER NAILS)
You were awesome at the net today... as usual.
GABRIELLE
My big old breasts almost got me into the net on that last stuff.
GABRIELLE IS VISIBLY MORE TOP-HEAVY THAN HOPE.
hope
I wish I had your build.
GABRIELLE
Trust me. Be glad you don’t. They can make playing volleyball difficult. And since I know you want to go pro...
HOPE
... I’ll accept the trade-off.
BOTH GIRLS LAUGH, AS THEY REACH THE LOCKER ROOM DOOR.
Hope
Don’t let me forget we’ve got to pick up some beer for tonight.
GABRIELLE
Are there going to be a lot of frat boys there?
HOPE
I doubt it. Most of ‘em are out for summer break... and you know how dead it is after midterms...
THEY ENTER THE LOCKER ROOM DOOR.
int. Frat house – living room - night
A typical fraternity house. Quiet due to summer break.
Dylan and Ethan play a video game, “BEACH VOLLEYBALL.”
insert - VIDEO MONITOR
of girls stretching between games. They wear small, tight fitting, bathing suits and are well endowed.
back to scene
The guys enjoy the sexy images even though it’s just a game.
Chet’s room (upstairs) - continuous
Various posters of magician Harry Houdini cover every wall.
Chet plays a sharp-shooting video game with a video gun.
It’s an old-fashioned, carnival-type, arcade game with moving ducks, BELLS, lights, etc.
He’s very accurate.
A game clock in the lower corner of the monitor indicates the time remaining. It counts backwards to “zero.”
insert – video monitor
as it reads, “Game Over. Accuracy: One hundred percent.”
back to scene
Chet blows across the tip of the plastic gun, as if to cool it. He twirls the gun, holsters it.
living room - continuous
Ethan and Dylan, joysticks in hand, rise to their feet as their game intensifies.
The red bikini-clad girl Ethan controls aces the girl controlled by Dylan in blue.
ethan
Eat my dust, bitch!
DYLAN
Damn it! That’s five in a row.
ETHAN
I believe I get to write “Loser” on your forehead now?
DYLAN
Fine, just don’t write it so big this time.
DYLAN TOSSES HIS GAME CONTROLLER ONTO THE COFFEE TABLE, SITS DOWN ON THE COUCH. HE GRABS THE TV REMOTE CONTROL, FINDS THE PLAYBOY CHANNEL.
Ethan sits beside him, takes the cap off of a red sharpie. He begins writing the letters, L-O-S-E-R on Dylan’s forehead.
ethan
You think Hope can hook me up with her new Australian friend?
DYLAN
Gabrielle? I think she’s coming over with her tonight.
ETHAN
I wish she didn’t have a kid.
DYLAN
Why? You were a kid once.
ETHAN
Yeah, but I don’t picture me settling down ‘til I’m at least in my mid-to-late thirties.
DYLAN
You mean, you’re not gonna grow up until then.
ETHAN
Look who’s writing on whose forehead with a sharpie...
DYLAN
Hey, we made a bet. And besides, only adults can legally gamble.
ETHAN
I was an only child... never had to share. I’m not ready to play catch with someone else’s kid.
(FINISHES WRITING)
You playing football this year?
DYLAN
My dad will kill me if I don’t. He got me my scholarship here.
DYLAN RUBS HIS FOREHEAD. THE RED INK DOESN’T SMEAR.
dylan
I’ve been living his dream all my life just because he played football here at UCLA. The only football I want to play is the kind I can design on a computer.
THE DOORBELL RINGS.
dylan
There’s Hope, late as usual.
ETHAN
Oh yeah, I believe the loser has to get the door.
DYLAN GETS UP, WALKS TOWARD THE DOOR.
dylan
Fine, but I’ll bet it’s the real volleyball babes...
HE ALMOST TRIPS OVER SOME JUNK LYING IN FRONT OF A CLOSET.
dylan
(catching himself)
... and it’s my face they’ll see first.
ETHAN NOTICES THE PILE OF JUNK.
ethan
Let’s pick up real fast.
ETHAN OPENS THE CLOSET AS MORE JUNK FALLS OUT WITH A CLANG.
The two boys scoop up the piles, toss them into the closet. While Ethan forces the door shut, Dylan rushes to the front door as the DOORBELL RINGS again.
He OPENS the door.
Hope and Gabrielle hold a six pack of beer in each hand. Hope notices the bright red letters on Dylan’s forehead.
hope
Lose again? You can drown your sorrows now... we have beer.
GABRIELLE
I brought Fosters beer... I hope that’s okay.
DYLAN
Absolutely! Ladies, come in.
HOPE GIVES DYLAN A KISS ON HIS CHEEK AS SHE ENTERS. THE GIRLS WALK TOWARD THE LIVING ROOM WITH DYLAN CLOSE BEHIND.
Hope stops by a huge mirror, admires herself. Dylan stops behind her, makes a silly face. Through the mirror, the letters on his forehead are backwards.
hope
At least I can’t make it out in a mirror, sweetheart. And that works, since you spend most of your time in front of one.
DYLAN
Look who’s talking. I’ll leave you two alone. I know you’re dying to ask it the, “who’s the fairest of them all” question.
DYLAN SHAKES HIS HEAD, WALKS TOWARD THE LIVING ROOM.
Both girls walk in to find Ethan on the living room computer. He wears a headset and plays Chet upstairs via the Internet.
chet’s room - continuous
Ethan’s red volleyball team STUFFS Chet’s blue team.
Chet also wears a wireless communications headset.
Chet
Damn Ethan, take it easy on me!
LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Ethan rises to his feet as he puts the final move on Chet’s team, winning another volley.
ethan
I’m still the king!
IN THE EXCITEMENT, HE KNOCKS OFF HIS HEADSET, WHICH LANDS AT HOPE’S FEET.
Hope eyes the video monitor as the bikini girls give each other high five’s, etc.
hope
Oh come on you guys... we’re not playing your twisted version of volleyball. Let’s play something else.
GABRIELLE
Yeah, we need a break from being volleyball babes tonight.
AS ETHAN STOPS THE VIDEO GAME, A PS2 LOGO APPEARS ONSCREEN.
insert – computer game screen
“Live in your world, play in ours.”
back to scene
Ethan
You’re in luck. Dr. Kidwell created a game for us to try out. He says he needs our feedback.
HOPE
(to Dylan)
Sounds like a thinking game. Are you sure you’re up for it?
DYLAN
Are you implying we guys can’t outwit you girls?
GABRIELLE
Okay... let’s partner up. Girls against the guys.
ETHAN
Sounds incredibly unfair.
HOPE
Oh yeah? We’re going to kill you guys and stuff you back in the hole you crawled out of.
GABRIELLE
What about Chet? Won’t he want to play?
DYLAN
Ethan and I were hoping to get a head start without Chet. Trust us, we have our reasons.
ETHAN
Besides, we only have four visors. Don’t both you girls want to play?
THE GIRLS NOD EXCITEDLY AND SIT BESIDE THE GUYS ON THE COUCH.
Ethan takes Kidwell’s CD out of his laptop case. He loads the game into the computer’s CD ROM drive.
Everyone grabs a beer and a game controller.
The video screen displays, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE. A crime-solving, role-playing detective game.”
A PS2 logo appears, “Play in your world, die in ours.”
The next screen is a disclaimer.
insert – computer monitor
“For educational purposes only. Strengthens deductive skills. Are you ready to turn your world around?”
back to scene
As the game continues booting, a screen displays the setting of “average intelligence,” which defaults to “two hours.”
dylan
Two hours sound long enough?
HOPE
What time is it?
ETHAN
It’s almost ten o’clock. In fact, I set my alarm to go off at ten.
GABRIELLE
Why? Got a pill to take?
ETHAN
(sheepishly)
I was going to watch “AFTER HOURS” on the Playboy Channel.
GABRIELLE
(rolling her eyes)
So, we’ll be done by midnight?
HOPE
It’ll be okay. Trust me... we’ll get plenty of sleep tonight.
AN ELECTRONIC VOICE ADVISES THE PLAYERS TO, “PUT ON THE VISOR AT THIS TIME TO ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE IN VIRTUAL REALITY.”
Ethan
I guess we put these on now.
EVERYONE PUTS ON THEIR VISOR. ETHAN’S FITS OVER HIS GLASSES.
Their computer monitor displays only a test pattern now.
A GREEN LIGHT appears underneath a closet door.
All four of them get up and walk over to the door.
dylan
Doc said this is the gateway into the game world. Ready for a stroll down the rabbit hole?
THE GIRLS NOD. DYLAN CAREFULLY OPENS THE CLOSET – NO JUNK.
living room (mirror image – game world) - continuous
They enter the closet, but it has become a mirror image of the living room they just left; everything’s reversed.
We don’t see them wearing their visors in here. We still see their wireless communications headsets though.
Dylan walks past the mirror and sees his reflection. To his amazement, he can read the word “LOSER” on his forehead.
dylan
That’s odd...
THE TV IS TUNED TO “SUNRISE SERVICE” ON THE PLAYBOY CHANNEL. HUGH HEFNER INTERVIEWS EX-PRESIDENT, BILL CLINTON.
HUGH HEFNER (on tv)
So, you admit to having sex with Monica?
BILL CLINTON (ON TV)
Yes Hugh, it’s true. I cannot lie. I’ve turned my life around and found religion, much like you. I don’t even tell little white lies anymore.
HUGH HEFNER (ON TV)
Amen, brother. The best thing I ever did was turn my Playboy Mansion into a Church.
ALL FOUR KIDS LOOK AT EACH OTHER, DUMBFOUNDED.
ethan
Too weird. A politician telling the truth and Hugh Hefner finds religion?
DYLAN
Tell me about it.
DYLAN PICKS UP THE REMOTE AND CHANGES THE CHANNEL. A USED-CAR COMMERCIAL IS ON.
car dealer (on tv)
That’s right, folks. I’m telling you the honest truth. Most of these cars have had their odometers rolled back, so we’re rolling back prices here at “Honest Abe’s Used Cars.”
DYLAN LOOKS AT HIS REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR AGAIN, STUDIES THE WORD “LOSER” ON HIS FOREHEAD.
dylan
Everything’s backwards here. It’s like everything’s the opposite of the real world.
DYLAN TURNS THE CHANNEL AGAIN. THIS TIME, IT APPEARS HE’S FOUND SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GAME. A COMPUTER GENERATED THREE-DIMENSIONAL GIRL (20’S) APPEARS IN FRONT OF THE TV.
3-d GIRL
Welcome, I’m your guide and hostess. Allow me to explain the rules here and equip you before you embark on your journey. First, you’ll need these.
SHE POINTS TO SOME OBJECTS LOCATED ON A NEARBY END TABLE. THE KIDS SEE FOUR WATCHES LYING THERE.
3-d girl
These are your life-force meters. They must be worn at all times while in the game. Go ahead and put them on now.
EACH OF THEM TAKES A WATCH AND PUTS IT ON THEIR WRIST. THEY ALL LOOK AT EACH OTHER AS IF SURPRISED BY SOMETHING.
Ethan
I’m right handed, but I just picked that up with my left hand and put it on my right wrist.
DYLAN
So did I.
GABRIELLE AND HOPE
(together)
Me too.
3-D GIRL
Everything is reversed here. That’s rule number one. Don’t forget it. Now you’ll notice that your meter is green. That’s good. When it flashes yellow or red, you need to find a first aid kit or Life Pack.
SHE POINTS TO A FIRST AID KIT HANGING ON A NEARBY WALL.
3-d girl
In it are pills and syringes. If your meter is yellow, take two pills and it will return to green. If flashing red, you’ll need a shot to restore your meter to green. But remember, time could be a factor so treat yourself early.
DYLAN
Too cool. I need one of those after an all-niter.
HOPE
Shhh! Pay attention.
3-D GIRL
One more note...
(MORE)
3-D GIRL (CONT’D)
... You’ll always see a map on the wall behind the monitor used to load the game. Once you’re wearing your meters, you can touch any area on the map and you’ll instantly be transported there.
THE GIRL STARTS TO DEMONSTRATE BY TOUCHING THE MAP. AS HER HAND GETS CLOSER TO AN AREA SHE’S ABOUT TO TOUCH, IT BECOMES BRIGHTER AS IF LIT FROM WITHIN.
The girl simply vanishes.
Ethan’s watch alarm CHIMES that it’s ten o’clock.
There’s a bright FLASH of LIGHT.
int. dr. kidwell’s house – bedroom – night (same time)
We’re at Kidwell’s house the moment after he died.
His chair smolders. His visor lies in it.
His grandfather CLOCK CHIMES its tenth RING and displays the time, “ten o’clock.”
Kidwell’s red laptop monitor flashes, “Game Over.”
int. frat house – living room
The lights flicker. The power failure causes their computer monitor to short-circuit and die.
The four kids sit in darkness. They exchange confused looks as they’re back in their real world.
The monitor begins to smoke.
ethan
Great! We’ll need to get another one out of storage.
DYLAN
I think we’ll need a new spike protector too.
THEY TOSS THEIR GAME CONTROLLERS ONTO THE COFFEE TABLE.
hope
Well... I don’t know ‘bout the rest of you, but I’m starved.
GABRIELLE
Ditto.
THE SOUND OF SOMEONE RUNNING DOWN THE STAIRS GETS LOUDER. CHET JUMPS PAST THE LAST THREE STEPS, LANDS WITH A THUD.
chet
Did someone say... food?
EVERYONE GROANS AS THEY STUMBLE AROUND IN THE DARK. TRYING TO FIND THE FRONT DOOR, THEY AD LIB “HOW HUNGRY THEY ARE.”
fade to: black.
FROM BLACK: FADE IN.
int. ucla cafeteria – the next morning (end flashback)
Subtitle: “The present.”
Ethan, Dylan, Chet, Gabrielle and Hope sit at their usual table. They look sad, confused.
No one speaks for several beats.
ethan
He was the only professor I ever got this close to.
DYLAN
Just my luck, I think I actually did well on that test yesterday.
HOPE NUDGES DYLAN IN THE RIBS HARD.
dylan
Ouch! That hurt.
HOPE
Serves you right.
CHET
Wow... what a way to go, huh? I heard he got fried. They’re calling it Spontaneous Human Combustion. Of course I didn’t think that stuff was for real. Too bad he bought it... I really wanted to find that key.
DYLAN
I thought you said you could hack into Doc’s computer?
CHET
I already tried. It must not be connected to a modem.
ETHAN
I sent Kidwell an e-mail last night. I told him the power went off so we couldn’t finish playing the game. I also requested another visor.
GABRIELLE
So? It’s not like he’s gonna be writing you back anytime soon.
ETHAN
What if the cops find that e-mail? They might come around asking a bunch of questions. They might take away our visors.
DYLAN
(mischievously)
Maybe after the cops clear out, we can sneak into his place, find another visor and the game with the magic key...
ETHAN
(thinking about it)
Seriously?
DYLAN
Why not? Who’ll ever know?
ETHAN
That game last night was pretty awesome. I’d like to see all of them and find the key that can combine video game worlds.
HOPE
We’re with you guys. This sounds exciting.
GABRIELLE
(nervously)
Yeah, count us in.
EXT. DR. KIDWELL’S HOUSE - THAT NIGHT
An ominous FULL MOON rises above the treetops. The five kids slip past the police tape that blocks the entrance.
Chet pulls out a set of small tools to pick the lock.
Chet
Like I said, if it takes a key...
ETHAN
(overlapping)
... or a password to secure it, you’re in. We know.
INT. DR. KIDWELL’S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
As they enter the living room, the girls hold their mouths as they almost puke.
Gabrielle
Gross! What’s that smell?
HOPE
(holding her nose)
I think it’s a very well-done, Dr. Kidwell.
DYLAN
(whispering)
Ladies, keep it down, okay? You realize how much trouble we’d be in if we got caught?
HOPE FLASHES HIM A MISCHIEVOUS GRIN.
ethan
Yeah. Let’s hurry up and get out of here. I’m starting to think this wasn’t such a good idea.
CHET
I’ll second that. This place is giving me the creeps.
THEY SEE THE BURNT CHAIR IN FRONT OF DR. KIDWELL’S DESK. EXTRA POLICE TAPE SURROUNDS THE DESK AND CHAIR AREA.
ethan
Wow! So, this is where our teacher cashed in his chips. Everyone stay back. We don’t want to leave footprints too close to the scene.
EVERYONE TAKES A FEW STEPS BACK AS THEY SCAN THE AREA WITH FLASHLIGHTS.
dylan
Don’t shine your light in the windows. Someone might see it.
BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
As Chet reaches the professor’s bedroom, he doesn’t see something sticking in the doorjamb just inches from his head.
As he walks into it, he JUMPS out of his skin with fright and FALLS to the floor!
ext. K-9 kennels – night
Grimes escorts Ricochet to a kennel gate. A MAN comes over.
MAN
Is this the dog going to Miami?
GRIMES
Yeah. Ricochet has a big drug bust to attend this weekend.
MAN
Just turn in your paperwork to the desk sergeant. I’ll take good care of him.
THE MAN LEADS RICOCHET OUT OF SIGHT.
Grimes reaches for his lighter, realizes it’s not there. He whips out his cell phone, dials a number.
grimes
Hey, I’m done here at the kennel, but I must’ve left my lighter at UCLA. I’ll get a loaner here, drop by, pick it up, and I’ll be right there.
MARTINEZ (V.O.)
The captain wants you to try out the video game we found on the professor’s laptop. You up for a game called, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE?”
GRIMES
Only if my partner in the game is as hot as you are.
MARTINEZ (V.O.)
Down boy... I think you’d be disappointed with the real thing. Better stick to virtual reality.
INT. DR. KIDWELL’S BEDROOM – SAME TIME
As Chet falls, his glasses scatter across the floor. They slide under the bed, just out of reach.
Chet
What the heck was that?
ETHAN COMES OVER WITH HIS FLASHLIGHT. HE INSPECTS A METAL SAI STUCK IN THE DOORWAY.
ethan
It’s some kind of martial arts weapon. It’s stuck in the door. Good thing you wear glasses or it might’ve poked your eye out.
DYLAN
I’ve seen a lot of oriental, martial arts stuff ‘round here... so be careful.
CHET
I can’t see to find my glasses. Do you see them?
ETHAN
No, but they can’t be far. Stay put while I look around.
ETHAN PANS HIS FLASHLIGHT ALONG THE FLOOR. SOMETHING UNDER THE BED CATCHES HIS EYE. HE GOES OVER TO INVESTIGATE.
Hope enters the room. She pans her flashlight along the top of the dresser. She spots Grimes’ lighter. She picks it up.
She notices the wedding photo and picks it up too. She studies the Asian woman’s face.
Ethan looks under the bed with his light, spots Chet’s glasses, reaches in to retrieve them. He hands them to Chet.
ethan
Here... and I think there’s something else under here.
ETHAN REACHES UNDER THE BED. THE SECRET COMPARTMENT THAT CONTAINS THE PROFESSOR’S BRIEFCASE OPENS UP.
Ethan’s hand finds the briefcase and pulls it out, sets it up on the bed, tries to open it.
Hope puts the wedding photo back on the dresser, but sticks Grimes’ lighter in her back pocket.
ethan
It’s locked.
CHET
Here, let me open it.
CHET PICKS THE LOCK ON THE BRIEFCASE, OPENS IT.
int. grimes’ car – night
Grimes drives an older fleet car. He scans the radio dial as he passes anything and everything on the road in front of him. An unlit cigarette dangles from his lips.
He pushes the cigarette lighter in on the dashboard, but it doesn’t work. He pops open the glove box. Empty.
He pushes down on the accelerator.
ext. grimes’ car - continuous
As he comes upon heavy traffic, he turns on his red and blue strobe lights in his headlights, and motors past.
He drives past the main entrance of UCLA.
INT. DR. KIDWELL’S BEDROOM
Chet looks inside the briefcase. He sees the three visors and game CD labeled “7-15, 10 p.m.” that Dr. Kidwell put inside.
Chet
Maybe he has the upgrade in here. This was made last night.
ETHAN
Should we take all three of them?
DYLAN
Why not? What if we ever break one? We’ll need some backups.
CHET TAKES OUT THE GAME CD AND THE THREE VISORS. HE CLOSES THE BRIEFCASE AND PUTS IT BACK UNDERNEATH THE BED.
hope
Good. Let’s get out of here.
THEY HEAD TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR.
ext. dr. kidwell’s house - night
They make sure the coast is clear, then walk out the door. Hope is last out and last to get in the car.
They pull out quickly.
Grimes arrives in his car, just missing the kids. He gets out, walks toward the front door.
int. dr. kidwell’s house – continuous
Grimes walks inside the bedroom, looks on the dresser.
He doesn’t see his lighter next to the photo, but he does see the cigarette he left behind. He picks it up, puts it in his mouth. He looks around, scratches his head.
int. Frat house – Chet’s room – later that night
Chet connects with everyone downstairs via the Internet.
He has one of the visors. It fits over his glasses. He puts on a wireless communications headset.
Chet
I’m hooking up now gentlemen... and ladies...
LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Dylan, Hope, Ethan, and Gabrielle sit in front of the main computer screen. They also wear wireless headsets.
Ethan takes out the game found in the professor’s briefcase marked, “7-15, 10 p.m.”
He loads it into the computer’s CD ROM drive. It boots up. A message appears on the screen.
insert – computer monitor
which reads, “No matter where you go, you are always there.”
BACK TO SCENE
An electronic voice tells them to “put on their visors.”
They put on their visors and stare at the monitor, which displays a test pattern now.
Chet’s room - continuous
Chet studies his monitor. He overrides the test pattern and opens a computer hacking program.
He runs random codes, searches for something. The laptop BEEPS LOUDLY.
Chet studies his laptop monitor, which displays a warning, “You can never be too safe!”
Without warning, a 3-D SAFE falls from out of nowhere. It CRASHES to the floor right in front of Chet.
living room - continuous
The four students huddle in front of the closet, wearing their visors and headsets. They HEAR a thud above them.
dylan
(into his headset)
Chet, is everything okay?
CHET (V.O.)
(nervously)
Yeah... everything’s fine.
A GREEN LIGHT APPEARS BENEATH THE CLOSET DOOR.
Dylan looks at his watch as it CHIMES... it’s 10:00 p.m.
ethan
It’s show time!
CHET’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Chet steps closer to the safe, places his ear next to the door as he spins the combination dial in different directions. He likes what he hears, smiles.
With three more quick spins, the door unbolts.
Chet licks his chops as he slowly opens the door.
living room (mirror image – game world) – continuous
The kids are now inside an exact mirror image of their living room. They walk over to the life-force meters lying on an end table and put them on. They all flash green.
The map on the wall behind the monitor begins to glow.
ethan
The rabbit hole beckons...
GABRIELLE
Can I touch the map?
HOPE
Hey, I wanted...
(UNSURE OF HERSELF)
... to let you touch the map.
DYLAN
That’s a first.
ETHAN
Go ahead, we’re right behind you.
THEY WALK CLOSER TO THE MAP.
The three-dimensional computer generated girl APPEARS.
3-d girl
Remember, whenever you need my help, just call out my name.
GABRIELLE
What’s your name?
3-D GIRL
Computer.
THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL GIRL DISAPPEARS.
Gabrielle’s hand gets closer to the map. As her hand gets closer, it brightens as if lit from within.
gabrielle
I always wanted to go here...
THE ENTIRE ROOM DOES A ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-DEGREE TURN. THE SCENERY BEHIND THE FOURSOME BECOMES...
EXT. GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY (game world) – DAY
... the observation deck where all four of them stand.
They stare at each other in disbelief.
dylan
Whoa! That was trippy.
HOPE
I’ve got butterflies in my stomach.
GABRIELLE
I want to do it again!
ETHAN
Has anyone noticed it’s daytime?
THEY LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SUN OVERHEAD IN THE SKY.
dylan
My game watch says it’s ten in the morning!
A SMALL AIRPLANE FLIES OVERHEAD, BUT IT FLIES BACKWARDS.
ethan
The opposite’s rule!
INT. CHET’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Chet opens the safe door, revealing a golden key inside. He picks it up, inspects it closer.
The handle is the head of a tiger. A Tiger’s Eye gemstone is the eye of the tiger.
Behind Chet, a GREEN LIGHT appears beneath a closet door. He’s so engrossed with the key that he doesn’t notice it.
As he holds the key, a keyhole magically appears on the wall. He inserts the key, turns. The wall opens up to reveal a wall filled with video game covers.
Chet walks closer to the wall. As he gets closer to the covers, his key lights up. The cover he’s nearest to, “BEACH VOLLEYBALL,” also lights up.
Chet touches the key to the “BEACH VOLLEYBALL” cover. It remains highlighted.
He notices the cover for “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE.” He touches the key to that one, which causes it to light up.
Like a hologram, the TWO COVERS float away from the wall and move toward each other. They MORPH together and VANISH.
He HEARS something behind him, freezes.
int. Police Station – night
A neighborhood police substation. Traffic is minimal. A desk clerk near the front answers a RINGING phone.
An officer removes handcuffs from a prisoner, and then releases him into a holding cell.
Detective Grimes sits at his desk, studies “Student Rosters.” A lit cigarette dangles from his mouth. A matchbook from a Chinese restaurant sits beside an ashtray.
He looks at Dr. Kidwell’s red laptop. It’s connected to a modem and turned on. He grabs the wireless mouse.
He opens various windows on the computer. He finds the game Dr. Kidwell played the night he died, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE.”
He also finds a new e-mail in Dr. Kidwell’s inbox. He notes whom the e-mail is from.
grimes
Ethan... I saw an Ethan on the Computer Science student roster.
THE DETECTIVE STARTS THE GAME. HE GETS TO THE PART WHERE IT MENTIONS THE VISOR.
grimes
That must be this contraption.
AS HE PUTS IT ON, A GREEN LIGHT APPEARS BENEATH A GIRL’S BATHROOM DOOR, UNNOTICED BY GRIMES.
jim’s pov – the room
His VIEW is the same as without the visor.
grimes
I guess I’ll need help from this Ethan guy to show me how this thing works.
GRIMES NOTICES A DIGITAL CLOCK ON HIS DESK FLASHES 12:00 AM.
grimes
Damn, power outages.
AS HE REACHES FOR THE CLOCK, A FEMALE HAND ENTERS THE FRAME.
int. Frat house – Chet’s room - night
Chet turns around, looks around his room with the visor on. Over his shoulder and through a mirror, we see someone else in the room, unnoticed by Chet.
He HEARS something behind him again. He turns around, faces the stranger.
chet
Well, hello beautiful.
THE MYSTERY PERSON IS A GIRL. SHE HOLDS A GUN IN HER HAND. WE CAN’T MAKE OUT HER FACE IN THE SHADOWS.
Girl
(with a slight
Chinese accent)
Sorry, Charlie.
CHET
Chet... the name’s Chet.
THERE’S A BRIGHT FLASH OF LIGHT.
Chet starts to scream.
EXT. GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY (game world) – DAY
The four kids stand on an observation deck, admiring the city view of Los Angeles.
They HEAR a SCREAM in their headsets!
hope
Did you hear that? That sounded like Chet.
ETHAN
You’re right. It did sound like him.
DYLAN
Quick, how do we get back?
GABRIELLE
Computer.
THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL GIRL APPEARS.
gabrielle
How do we get back to our world?
3-D GIRL
You always have the ability to end the game by clicking your heels together three times.
GABRIELLE
Click our heels together?
SHE LOOKS DOWN AT HER TENNIS SHOES, CLICKS HER HEELS TOGETHER.
The observation deck does a one-eighty as the b.g. all around them BECOMES...
int. frat house – living room
... where all four kids sit back in their living room.
They have their visors now. Chet’s voice FADES with STATIC.
int. Police station - night
Grimes reaches for the digital clock as the female hand touches his hand. He jumps up, knocks off his visor.
It’s Detective Martinez.
Martinez
I was going to set that for you. It’s been doing it all day. Damn power outages.
SHE PICKS UP THE CLOCK AND SETS IT.
Martinez
Are you going to be here all night? Don’t you have a family to go home to?
GRIMES
My wife’s probably asleep by now. She stopped waiting up years ago.
MARTINEZ SETS THE CLOCK DOWN. SHE WALKS TOWARD THE DOOR. AS SHE GETS TO THE DOOR, SHE TURNS BACK.
martinez
Need a lift?
GRIMES
Sure, can we stop by a bar along the way?
MARTINEZ
Only if you’re buying the first round...
GRIMES SMILES, GRABS HIS HAT, AND WALKS TOWARD THE DOOR.
int. Frat house - night
Everyone stares at the lifeless monitor. They tear off their headsets and visors.
Gabrielle
We should check on your friend.
THEY RUN UPSTAIRS.
ethan
What’s that smell? Maybe Chet’s cooking something and went off headset...
THEY OPEN CHET’S DOOR. CHET’S CHAIR SMOLDERS, BUT THERE’S NO SIGN OF CHET.
His visor lies on the floor.
insert – video game monitor
as it flashes, “Game Over.”
int. martinez’ patrol car – night
Martinez drives. She weaves in and out of traffic really fast. Grimes is impressed with her maneuvering abilities.
grimes
They teach you to drive like that at the Academy?
MARTINEZ
My brothers taught me. I used to race sprint and pony cars. You know... dirt track stuff.
GRIMES
You’re that good with a car?
MARTINEZ
I was the only girl out of seven brothers. I was kind of a tomboy. Heck, I used to give my brothers tune-ups for Christmas.
GRIMES
Maybe you can look at my car.
MARTINEZ
At this hour?
GRIMES
Sure, the clubs stay open late.
THE CAR SCREECHES TO A HALT.
martinez
You buying me dinner too?
GRIMES
Sure, there’s a Chinese place right next to my new office.
MARTINEZ’ CELL PHONE RINGS. SHE ANSWERS.
martinez
Hello? Sure... I’m on my way.
SHE PUTS THE CAR IN DRIVE, AND PULLS BACK ONTO THE ROAD. SHE PUTS HER CELL PHONE AWAY, LOOKS DISAPPOINTED.
martinez
I’ll have to take a rain check. My girlfriend needs me home now.
GRIMES
Can I ask you a question?
MARTINEZ
As long as it’s not about a ménage à trois...
GRIMES
When did you know you liked women instead of men?
MARTINEZ
When did you? Look, I didn’t turn gay... I never came out of any closet. I was born this way. I’ve always liked women...
GRIMES
Well, if you ever get curious...
MARTINEZ
(smiling impishly)
If I come out of the straight closet, you’re first on my list.
GRIMES NOTICES SHE JUST MISSED HER TURN.
grimes
Oh yeah, my office is back there...
HE POINTS BACK. MARTINEZ U-TURNS QUICKLY, HEADS BACK.
ext. grimes’ private office – night
Grimes gets out of Martinez’ patrol car.
grimes
Thanks for the lift. I’ve got some unpacking to do. I’ll call a cab for a ride home.
MARTINEZ
So, tell me something... you aren’t even curious about men?
GRIMES
Are you?
MARTINEZ
Sure... sometimes.
GRIMES
Well, I never think about two guys, but I have no problem thinking about two girls.
MARTINEZ
Neither do I.
SHE SPEEDS OFF.
He reaches for his lighter, remembers it’s missing. He walks toward the Chinese restaurant next to his office.
int. GRIMES’ PRIVATE OFFICE – later that night
Half unpacked boxes litter the tiny office. An old ceiling fan ROARS in harmony with a window air conditioner. Large Venetian blinds hang at very window.
Grimes sits at his desk amid the time worn clutter. A blue PARROT in a nearby cage watches silently as Grimes surfs the Internet.
grimes
(reading aloud)
“Spontaneous combustion is defined as the ignition and burning of a mass independently of contact to any burning body. In other words, human beings suddenly burst into flames for no discernible reason.”
(BEAT)
Sounds like hot air to me.
PARROT
(mimicking him)
Sounds like hot air to me.
HE LOOKS UP AT THE PARROT.
grimes
Who pulled your string?
THE FRONT DOOR OPENS WITH A STRONG GUST OF WIND.
A BELL over the top of the door RINGS repeatedly.
A very beautiful, Asian woman enters. She’s dressed to the hilt, all in black and wears an eye patch over her left eye. Her name is KAMI LI KIDWELL (mid 20’s).
When she enters, the parrot WHISTLES.
grimes
Please, come in. Door’s open.
KAMI LI
(with a slight
Chinese accent)
Are you investigating the death of a Doctor Theodore Kidwell?
GRIMES
That would be me. Detective Jim Grimes at your service. This is my private firm, which opens on Monday, but I’m the LAPD homicide detective on the investigation.
KAMI LI
I’m his widow, Kami Li Kidwell.
GRIMES
I’m sorry.
KAMI LI
(winking at him)
We all have to go sometime.
THE WIND CATCHES THE DOOR, AS IT SLAMS SHUT! KAMI LI’S ONLY EYE DOESN’T EVEN BLINK.
grimes
(reacting)
If you’ll forgive me for being so bold... but you don’t seem real torn up about his death.
KAMI LI
I’m in mourning, Mr. Grimes. I loved my husband very much. How would you feel if the person you loved were suddenly out of your life? And just like that, you had to live without them forever?
SHE LOOKS DEEP INTO HIS EYES TO SELL HER POINT. HE LOOKS AWAY, BREAKS THE STARING CONTEST.
grimes
I’m sorry. I was out of line.
(CHANGING SUBJECT)
So, when’s the service?
KAMI LI
Sunday. At the Hollywood Cemetery. Will you attend?
GRIMES
I planned on it. I want to get a look at everyone who shows up. Some murderers visit the funerals of their victims.
KAMI LI
Do you think my husband was murdered?
GRIMES
I haven’t ruled it out yet.
KAMI LI SITS DOWN IN A CHAIR OPPOSITE FROM GRIMES. HE GETS A BETTER LOOK AT HER BUILD. SHE’S WELL ENDOWED. SHE CROSSES HER LEGS SEDUCTIVELY, GRIMES SQUIRMS IN HIS SEAT.
Kami Li
Detective Grimes, I came here to make you a proposition... one that could make you very wealthy.
GRIMES
At last, someone who speaks my language.
KAMI LI
How does one million dollars sound?
THE PARROT WHISTLES AGAIN, AS IF IT UNDERSTANDS.
grimes
If I had other clients, I’d give them up for that. So, what do I have to do? And just so you know, I won’t kill anyone... or have anyone killed.
SHE TAKES OUT A FANCY CIGARETTE CASE AND ELEGANT LIGHTER.
Kami Li
May I?
GRIMES
You got an extra?
SHE HOLDS OUT THE CIGARETTE CASE, OFFERS HIM ONE. HE TAKES ONE OUT. HE TAPS IT AGAINST THE TOP OF HIS DESK.
Kami Li
Need a light?
GRIMES
Nah, I have my own.
SHE LIGHTS HER OWN, EXHALES A SMOKE RING.
KAMI LI
You see Detective... my husband was a very smart man. He was developing a new type of video game and an experimental visor that went with it.
JIM LIGHTS HIS FROM A PACK OF MATCHES WITH THE CHINESE RESTAURANT LOGO FROM NEXT DOOR DISPLAYED ON THE FRONT COVER.
KAMI LI
He told me if it worked, he could quit his teaching job. I know for a fact that he was finished with the prototype. He was going to test it the night he died.
GRIMES OFFERS HER AN ASHTRAY, SHE ACCEPTS.
Kami Li
I understand the police have his laptop, video game, and visor down at the station?
HE NODS.
She smiles just big enough for him to get a glimpse of her perfectly straight teeth.
Kami Li
Can you get them for me?
GRIMES
Get them for you?
KAMI LI
Just before my husband’s death, he mentioned something about loaning four visors and a copy of his game to some of his students. I’ll need you to find those too.
GRIMES
Let me get this straight, all I have to do is get your husband’s stuff down at the station, find those missing visors and an extra game, and give all that to you?
KAMI LI
You’ll get one hundred thousand-dollar bonuses for each visor you return.
GRIMES
That’s not a lot of work for a million bucks... plus bonuses.
KAMI LI
There’s a catch.
SHE BLOWS ANOTHER SMOKE RING IN GRIMES’ DIRECTION.
kami li
You have to help prove my husband’s death was a homicide or an accident.
GRIMES
Why is that?
KAMI LI
If it’s ruled a suicide, I won’t get the insurance money. That’s where the million dollars comes in... I get paid, you get paid.
GRIMES
The investigation’s still young, but I’m willing to bet suicide can, and will be, ruled out.
GRIMES TAKES A LONG PUFF ON HIS CIGARETTE, AND EXHALES.
grimes
You can help me rule out homicide right now. Did your husband have any enemies?
KAMI LI
None that I’m aware of...
GRIMES
My next question is more personal. How long were you two married? How’d you meet? The usual twenty questions...
KAMI LI
We met on the Internet. I had a profile on a mail-order bride site. I lived in China and worked as a translator at the American Embassy. Three years ago, I was driving my parents home when our car crashed. They both died. I lost my eye.
SHE LIFTS HER EYE PATCH, SHOWS A SOLID BLACK GLASS EYE.
kami li
I had no other family so I wanted out. Theo saw my photo on the web and fell in love.
GRIMES
He had good taste.
GRIMES RISES, WALKS OVER TO A COFFEE POT. HE TAKES A WHIFF OF THE BREW, MAKES A SOUR FACE. HE POURS IT OUT.
grimes
Would you like some fresh coffee?
KAMI LI
No thanks. I hear caffeine is bad for you.
SHE EXHALES SMOKE IN HIS DIRECTION.
Jim collects his thoughts for a moment, proceeds.
grimes
My captain said you frequently visit family in China.
SHE FLASHES HIM A SINISTER SMILE.
Kami Li
Okay. You busted me... There’s a man. We used to be close. There was no future for us. I go back for the good time he likes to show me. Is that a crime?
SHE UNCROSSES HER LEGS SLOWLY, ONLY TO CROSS THEM AGAIN WITH THE OTHER LEG. IT’S OBVIOUS SHE DID THIS TO DISTRACT HIM.
grimes
If it is, I’m sure it’s just a misdemeanor. So you came here, got married, and now you’re a widow with a green card?
KAMI LI
I’ve never worked a single day since coming to your country, Mr. Grimes. I hope to keep it that way. Get me the game and visors, help me get the insurance money, and neither one of us will ever have to worry about money again.
GRIMES
Do I get some kind of retainer up front?
KAMI LI
What did you have in mind? I have very little money of my own.
HE LOOKS HER UP AND DOWN.
The parrot WHISTLES again.
Kami Li picks up a picture from his desk. It’s a picture of Grimes with his wife. She studies it.
Grimes comes to his senses.
grimes
Forget it. Do you at least have a number I can reach you at?
SHE REACHES INTO HER PURSE, PULLS OUT A CARD, HANDS IT TO HIM. SHE SMILES SEDUCTIVELY.
insert – the card
with Chinese letters and a seven digit number.
back to scene
Grimes stands as Kami Li rises. He walks toward the door, opens it for her.
grimes
I’ll be in touch.
KAMI LI
I’m sure you will be.
SHE TURNS AND SMILES AT HIM.
kami li
Don’t forget to take time for those that love you.
EXT. GRIMES OFFICE - NIGHT
Grimes stands outside his door and watches Kami Li leave. As her black car pulls out, another black car pulls up.
TWO MEN dressed in black suits get out, walk toward him.
man one
Detective Jim Grimes?
GRIMES
I seem to be very popular today.
MAN TWO
(flashing badge)
FBI.
GRIMES
Hey, she said she just turned eighteen...
MAN ONE
Relax Jim... we’re here on official business regarding international espionage.
MAN TWO
An informant has tipped us that you may be contacted soon by a woman claiming to be the wife of a recently deceased Doctor Kidwell, your current case.
MAN ONE
You could be in danger. She’s a double agent. She’s trying to steal the technology created by Doctor Kidwell. She’ll kill anyone that gets in her way.
GRIMES CELL PHONE RINGS.
grimes
If you’ll excuse me gentleman, but there’s a man named Murphy that insists today be made as long as humanly possible.
(INTO HIS PHONE)
Yeah?
(SHAKES HIS HEAD)
You’re kidding... I’m on my way.
AS HE HANGS UP, HE TAKES A FEW STEPS TOWARD HIS OFFICE.
grimes
Say, could you guys give me a lift to UCLA? We can talk on the way.
MAN ONE
Sure.
GRIMES WALKS INSIDE HIS OFFICE, GRABS HIS HAT, TURNS OFF THE LIGHTS, AND LOCKS THE DOOR.
ext. frat house – night – a little later
The black FBI car pulls in front. Grimes gets out, turns back to the two FBI agents.
grimes
Thanks for the 4-1-1. I’ve got your number. I’ll give you a call if I run across your spy.
MAN ONE
Don’t forget the one million-dollar reward for her capture.
GRIMES
Trust me, I haven’t forgotten that part.
MAN TWO
Just beware of the “Eye of the Tiger,” Detective Grimes.
GRIMES
If I hear a band singing that song, I’ll write ‘em a citation.
INT. FRAT HOUSE – CHET’S ROOM - LATER THAT NIGHT
Several uniformed policemen inspect Chet’s room, dust for fingerprints, take pictures and make notes.
As an officer sections off the area with yellow, caution tape, Detective Grimes makes his way into the room.
grimes (v.o.)
For a guy who never went to college, I’m spending a lot of time on college campuses lately.
HE EYES THE BURNT CHAIR.
Grimes (v.o.)
Another case of Spontaneous Human Combustion? I thought it was supposed to be a rare phenomenon.
GRIMES WALKS OVER TO THE BACK WALL WHERE THE CLOSET DOOR IS LOCATED. IN FRONT OF THE DOOR ARE TWO VIDEO GAME COVERS.
A photographer takes a picture of them.
Grimes puts on his gloves, and picks them up.
insert – video game covers
“Virtual Homicide” and “Beach Volleyball.”
int. frat house – living room
Detective Martinez talks M.O.S. to another officer.
Ethan and Dylan sit on the couch beside Hope and Gabrielle. They have their heads down as they whisper to each other.
ethan
Dylan, did you get Chet’s visor?
DYLAN
I hid it in our room. Let’s hope they don’t snoop around in there.
ETHAN
I put the other visors and game in the kitchen...
GRIMES ARRIVES DOWNSTAIRS, GREETED BY MARTINEZ.
martinez
I got their statements, but I don’t think they’re telling me everything. See if you can get anything out of them. I’ve got to coordinate Forensics.
GRIMES
Sure, not a problem.
GRIMES WALKS OVER TO THE KIDS.
grimes
So, who wants to tell me what happened?
ETHAN
All we know is Chet was playing video games... like he always does on Friday nights. We smell something burning; go upstairs to check on him, and well...
GRIMES
Which one of you is Ethan?
ETHAN
That’s me.
GRIMES
The night Doctor Kidwell died, you sent him an e-mail. Why?
ETHAN
Do I have to answer that?
GRIMES
What do you know about a game he created that required a visor?
ETHAN AND THE OTHERS SHRUG THEIR SHOULDERS.
Ethan
Look, we told Detective Martinez everything. We don’t really know anything else. And to be honest with you, we just lost our best friend. We were getting ready to go eat when this happened. We’re starving. May we be excused?
GRIMES
Just don’t anyone leave town. The police may want to question some of you tomorrow.
HOPE
We have a volleyball game tomorrow at Venice Beach.
GRIMES
That’s fine... and good luck.
GRIMES CROSSES OVER TO MARTINEZ.
The kids head toward the front door, via the kitchen.
grimes
You’re right. They do know something, but they’re hiding it. I’ll keep an eye on ‘em.
MARTINEZ
Well, I’ve got to get home now. Pretty hectic first day...
GRIMES
Can I get a lift home? We can stop by my office first and drop off some of the victim’s stuff. I’ll look at it tomorrow.
KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Ethan reaches inside a box of cereal, removes the stash of visors and video game.
ethan
Hope, I want you to take two visors to your apartment. Gabrielle... take a visor home with you. I’ll e-mail you both a copy of the game that we stole. We’ll all have a copy this way.
DYLAN
We’ve got to figure out if this game had anything to do with Chet’s death. Doc’s too. We can’t let Sipowicz here know about the game or visors yet. I’m gonna take the game Doc gave us over to Hope’s place.
EXT. DETECTIVE GRIMES’ HOUSE – LATER THAT NIGHT
Martinez pulls in front as Grimes gets out.
grimes
Get some rest. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.
MARTINEZ
Now I’m wide-awake and my girlfriend’s probably asleep.
GRIMES
Seems everything’s backwards today.
INT. GRIMES’ HOUSE – MOMENTS LATER
He comes in the front door, closes it behind him gently. He places his coat and hat on a nearby desk, careful not to make any noise.
He tiptoes into the bedroom. The bed’s made and there’s a note on the pillow. He picks up the note -- stares at it.
grimes (v.o.)
What the hell’s this? She’s leaving me?
HE WALKS TO THE NIGHTSTAND, PICKS UP THE PHONE, AND DIALS.
grimes (v.o.)
Maybe she’s at her mother’s.
THE PHONE IS BUSY.
grimes (v.o.)
Who could she be talking to at this hour? Must have the damn thing off the hook...
HE GETS AN IDEA, DIALS AGAIN.
grimes
Why don’t you come back and pick me up. I’m in the mood to... do more video game research.
MARTINEZ (V.O.)
What about your wife?
GRIMES
I have a feeling she won’t care.
INT. POLICE STATION – NIGHT
Grimes and Martinez sit behind his desk. The professor’s laptop is on. The game “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE” boots up.
Grimes puts on the visor.
He notices the clock displays 12:00 AM.
GRIMES
I thought we reset that clock.
MARTINEZ
We did. That’s the actual time. It’s twelve midnight. That’s why it’s so dark outside.
EXT. VENICE BEACH – SUNNY – NEXT DAY (SATURDAY)
It’s a hot summer day at the beach.
montage
A) Hundreds of people cram into every section of the beach.
B) Surfers ride the waves just beyond the pier.
C) Several kids use boogie boards as they skim the water.
D) Merchants and VENDORS sell their wares along the sidewalk.
E) Street performers perform for impromptu crowds.
F) Joggers, roller-skaters and bicyclists fill the walkway.
G) Muscle beach has its share of bodybuilders and spectators.
end of montage
A volleyball game is in progress. A timer/clock near the net displays the time, it’s 12:00 pm.
Gabrielle and Hope
wear matching blue bikinis.
Their competitor’s bikinis are colored red. All four girls wear dark sunglasses.
dylan and ethan
cheer on the girls from the bleachers.
Standing between them is TIMMY (8), Gabrielle’s son, thick Australian accent -- innocent.
He watches the game through his digital camera’s viewfinder.
dylan
Come on Hope! Show these girls what you’re made of!
ETHAN
Yeah, come on Gabrielle. Kick some serious A-S-S!
HE REALIZES HE SAID THAT IN FRONT OF TIMMY.
ethan
Just don’t repeat what I say.
TIMMY
You’re kidding, right? I say worse than that... dingo-butt.
VOLLEYBALL COURT
Both girls get into position as their opponent prepares to serve the ball.
As the game gets underway, we get lots of GOOD VIEWS of the girls’ bodies. Many of them in SLOW MOTION as the ball goes back and forth across the net.
Both sides seem evenly matched, as the score remains close.
Hope serves
as Dylan yells AD LIBBED words of encouragement.
During this volley, Gabrielle sets up Hope.
Hope dives for the ball.
She almost gets a mouthful of sand. She dusts herself off.
As Hope pulls her bikini bottoms out of her crack, GUYS in the crowd CHEER, showing their approval.
Dylan and Ethan give each other high five’s.
dylan
This is so much better than a stupid video game!
ETHAN
I’ll second that!
OUT OF THE CORNER OF ETHAN’S EYE, HE SPOTS DETECTIVE GRIMES.
ethan’s pov
of Grimes, wearing shades, dark socks, and long shorts. He tries to blend, but stands out like a sore thumb.
Grimes realizes Ethan has spotted him, walks toward Ethan.
back to scene
ethan
You’ve got to be kidding me.
HE POINTS OUT THE DETECTIVE TO DYLAN.
dylan
Is this guy following us?
AS GRIMES GETS CLOSER, HE LOOKS UP AT THE GUYS AND WAVES. RELUCTANTLY, THEY WAVE BACK. GRIMES WALKS UP THE BLEACHERS AND STANDS NEXT TO THEM.
grimes
Nice day for a volleyball game.
ETHAN
Beautiful day.
EVERYONE’S ATTENTION RETURNS TO THE GAME.
Hope and Gabrielle score another point.
grimes
Beautiful girls too... They’re pretty good, huh?
ETHAN
Didn’t we answer all of your questions last night, detective?
GRIMES
Glad you brought that up, Ethan. I was in your neighborhood last night talking to eyewitnesses who might’ve seen anything unusual. Funny, you failed to mention a well-dressed Asian woman walked out of your fraternity about ten last night.
ETHAN AND DYLAN EXCHANGE PUZZLED LOOKS.
ethan
You’re kidding, right?
GRIMES
Would you like to go with me and look at their statements?
DYLAN
Look... girls go in and out of our place all the time. I’m not squealing on anyone, but an Asian woman fits about half the guys’ taste in hookers. Get my drift?
THEIR ATTENTION SHIFTS BACK TO THE GAME.
Hope
stuffs her opponent, winning another point.
The CROWD CHEERS.
Ethan eyes the score as the girls set up for match point.
ethan
If you’ll excuse us...
GABRIELLE SERVES AS HOPE GUARDS THE NET.
Gabrielle
delivers a perfect ace to win the match.
The CROWD CHEERS.
grimes
Are you attending Kidwell’s service?
ETHAN
Yeah.
GRIMES TAKES OUT A CIGARETTE, LIGHTS IT.
grimes
Is Chet’s service on Monday?
DYLAN
Yeah. It’s at the cafeteria. It was his favorite place on campus.
GRIMES
Maybe I’ll see you there.
GRIMES WALKS DOWN THE BLEACHERS.
ethan
(to Dylan)
Let’s catch up to the girls.
EXT. VENICE BEACH – AFTERNOON – A LITTLE LATER
Dylan and Hope hold hands as they walk toward the pier. Timmy walks between Ethan and Gabrielle.
timmy
(to Gabrielle)
Mom, I want to take a picture of you and Hope with the Ferris wheel behind you.
GABRIELLE
Hope?
HOPE
Sure...
GABRIELLE AND HOPE PUT THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER. HOPE MAKES A “BUNNY EAR” SIGN BEHIND GABRIELLE’S HEAD AS TIMMY PREPARES TO TAKE THE PHOTO.
timmy
Say cheese!
GABRIELLE AND HOPE
(together)
Cheese!
TIMMY SNAPS THE PHOTO.
Everyone huddles around the camera to view the image.
timmy
Know why I wanted the Ferris wheel behind you two?
GABRIELLE
Let’s see, because it’s your most favorite ride in the whole world?
TIMMY
Yep!
GABRIELLE
Want to ride the Ferris wheel right now, with me?
TIMMY
Really?
WITH THAT, GABRIELLE GRABS TIMMY’S HAND AND RUNS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FERRIS WHEEL AND THE PIER.
Ethan rolls his eyes, reluctantly runs after them.
ethan
Hey, you two... wait up!
EXT. CLOSER TO THE PIER - CONTINUOUS
Ethan catches up to them. Timmy grabs Ethan’s hand and Gabrielle’s hand and swings between them again. They walk up onto the pier.
gabrielle
You riding with us?
ETHAN
Sure, why not. I used to love that old ride.
SILENCE. GABRIELLE NOTICES HOW UNCOMFORTABLE ETHAN IS.
gabrielle
Don’t worry; you’re not the first guy to feel awkward about this.
ETHAN
Do you still see his father?
THEY STOP WALKING. GABRIELLE KNEELS DOWN TO TIMMY.
gabrielle
Timmy... why don’t you go, get in line for the ride and we’ll catch up to you, okay?
TIMMY
Okay!
TIMMY RUNS TOWARD THE FERRIS WHEEL LINE. GABRIELLE AND ETHAN WATCH HIM AS THEY WALK SLOWLY IN HIS DIRECTION.
gabrielle
On my sixteenth birthday, I went out partying. I got really wasted. To this day, I don’t know who the father is. My parents made me go to Christian school after that and they’ve helped me raise him. As for me, I’ve lived the life of a saint ever since. I to church on Sundays, turn the other cheek...
ETHAN LOOKS INTO HER EYES. HE’S WARMING UP TO HER. THEY CATCH UP TO TIMMY.
ethan
Let this ride be on me.
HE PULLS OUT A TWENTY FROM HIS WALLET, HANDS IT TO TIMMY.
ext. shoreline - continuous
Hope and Dylan wade through the shallow waves. They hold hands and walk toward the Pier too.
dylan
You love the water, don’t you?
HOPE
We used to go out on my Dad’s boat every weekend when I was growing up in Malibu.
(LOOKING DOWN)
You know what else I’d love?
DYLAN
What’s that?
HOPE
I’ve always wanted to make love in the ocean, with the waves breaking all around.
DYLAN
Maybe we can do that sometime...
HOPE
I’d like that. You know what else I’d like?
DYLAN
What’s that?
HOPE
For you to stop staring at Gabrielle’s breasts all the time.
DYLAN
(kidding)
But they’re so...
HOPE GIVES HIM AN EVIL LOOK.
dylan
Okay... I’ll stop.
DYLAN LOOKS DOWN AT HOPE’S FLAT CHEST.
dylan
You know, a lot of girls these days get boob jobs...
HOPE
Well, I’m not one of those girls. I would never consider that, so just deal with it... or find someone else. Okay?
HE STOPS WALKING, GRABS HER BY THE WAIST AND PULLS HER TIGHT.
dylan
Too bad the water’s so cold year-round and there are so many people around...
THEY KISS PASSIONATELY.
ext. the ferris wheel – continuous
Timmy sits in the middle of Gabrielle and Ethan as they get to the top. Timmy screams with delight.
Ethan puts his hand on Gabrielle’s shoulder, smiles at her. She smiles back.
Timmy screams with delight again.
int. Detective grimes’ office - day
Grimes enters. The box of Chet’s personal stuff lies on top of his desk. His parrot SQUAWKS loudly.
grimes
What’s the matter with you?
HE SETS THE BOX DOWN ON THE FLOOR. HE LOOKS OVER HIS DESK, WHICH IS CLEAN AND ORGANIZED. BANK RECORDS SIT OUT.
INSERT – BANK LEDGER
indicates “zero” money in the account. The words, “ACCOUNT CLOSED” are stamped across the page in bright red ink.
back to scene
grimes (v.o.)
My wife cleans up my office to make up for cleaning me out?
HE PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS A NUMBER, BUT THE LINE IS STILL BUSY. HE HANGS UP.
He picks up several pages entitled, “Homicide Report.” He studies it, deep in thought.
He dials another number.
grimes
Coroner’s office? This is Homicide Detective Jim Grimes, LAPD. I need to send you my report regarding the Doctor Kidwell investigation... I have that number. I’ll fax it now.
HE SETS THE PHONE DOWN. IT RINGS. THIS STARTLES HIM. HE CATCHES HIS BREATH, ANSWERS.
GRIMES
Hello?
MARTINEZ (V.O.)
Hey, I need you to come down to the station. I can’t get this game to do anything.
GRIMES
I’ll call that Ethan kid and have him come down and give us a demonstration. Does half an hour sound okay?
INT. POLICE STATION – LATER THAT AFTERNOON
Martinez sits at Grimes’ desk, looks at Kidwell’s computer. Grimes sits beside her. Martinez puts on the visor.
Martinez
I thought Ethan was on his way.
GRIMES
You know kids these days. Half an hour means two hours, two hours means sometime tomorrow.
ETHAN WALKS IN. HE SPOTS GRIMES, WALKS TOWARD HIM.
grimes
There he is now.
(TO ETHAN)
So, how does this thing work?
ETHAN
Did you plug it in?
GRIMES SMIRKS AT THE REMARK. ETHAN WALKS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK WHERE MARTINEZ SITS. MARTINEZ TAKES OFF THE VISOR, HANDS IT TO ETHAN. HE PUTS IT ON, STARTS THE GAME.
martinez
I’ll leave you boys alone so you can play. I gotta go to the little girl’s room.
ETHAN WATCHES HER WALK AWAY THROUGH THE VISOR.
ethan’s pov – her butt
as he follows her all the way to the ladies’ room.
back to scene
Grimes looks at Ethan, shakes his head.
grimes
Trust me, you’re not her type.
EXT. GABRIELLE’S HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON
A middle-class, suburban home.
int. gabrielle’s bedroom - continuous
Gabrielle checks her e-mail. She notices a new letter with an attachment from Ethan.
She opens it. It’s a copy of the professor’s game.
Gabrielle
(reading aloud)
“Making sure we don’t lose it.”
SHE OPENS THE GAME, STARTS IT. AN ELECTRONIC VOICE TELLS HER TO, “PUT ON THE VISOR.” SHE PICKS UP THE VISOR, PUTS IT ON AND ADJUSTS HER HAIR. SHE STARES AT THE COMPUTER MONITOR.
insert – computer monitor
displays an overhead live video feed of her room. She can see Timmy as he enters her room.
Gabrielle (o.s.)
How’s that possible? I thought it displays a test pattern now?
INT. UPPER CLASS HOTEL – LATE AFTERNOON
A woman watches television from her bed. She picks up an ashtray, puts out a cigarette. We can’t make out her face from behind.
She watches a CNN news program. All of a sudden, the signal becomes distorted as if it’s being pirated and over-ridden.
The male news anchor BECOMES a female, ASIAN WOMAN (30’s).
asian WOMAN (on tv)
The tiger’s in the cage? The Commander is not pleased with your progress. You must acquire the four missing visors and video game right away. My next communication will be at 1400 hours tomorrow. Do not fail me.
THE SIGNAL GOES BACK TO THE CNN NEWS PROGRAM.
int. Hope’s apartment – early evening
Hope’s apartment looks like that of a spoiled, rich girl with volleyball trophies and posters displayed everywhere.
Dylan and Hope study from their computer science textbook together.
A RADIO in the b.g. plays the SONG: “THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT, I GOTTA WEAR SHADES.”
Hope’s laptop sits on her coffee table. The professor’s game is on, but paused.
The lights flicker, but the power stays on. This causes the radio to reset, as the MUSIC goes to STATIC.
HOPE
Damn power company. I’ll have to reset all the stations again.
DYLAN
I’ll find something.
HE GETS UP AND ADJUSTS THE RADIO DIAL. THE INSTRUMENTAL OPEN FOR THE SONG, “WHITE RABBIT” BY JEFFERSON AIRPLANE, BEGINS.
Hope’s computer BEEPS. An ELECTRONIC VOICE tells them to, “Please resume the game now.”
They look at the visors, the monitor, and then each other.
hope
What’s it gonna hurt? We’ll just play for a little while.
DYLAN
Sure. Why not?
DYLAN HITS THE “ENTER” KEY. AN ELECTRONIC VOICE TELLS THEM TO, “PUT ON YOUR VISORS NOW.”
They put them on.
dylan’s pov
as he looks around. HIS VIEW through the visor is the same as without it.
He looks at a digital clock on the dresser. It’s 6:27 p.m.
Then, the NUMBERS appear to RUN BACKWARDS. Then, back to the regular time.
back to scene
Dylan looks at Hope, puzzled.
The GREEN LIGHT appears beneath a closet door. A LOUD SCREAM can be heard behind the door.
dylan
That sounded like Chet!
THEY BOTH JUMP AS HOPE’S PHONE RINGS.
int. Police station – early evening
Detective Grimes looks at Ethan, who still wears the visor. Ethan stares at the computer monitor, which displays only a test pattern. Ethan looks at the DIGITAL CLOCK on the desk.
insert – clock
as it shows the time, 6:27 p.m. Then, the DIGITAL CLOCK begins to run BACKWARDS.
int. Police car – early evening
A black PRISONER, early 20’s, is in the back seat. Two cops in the front AD LIB while a POLICE RADIO squawks in the b.g.
Their RADIO is tuned to the same station as Dylan and Hope. The first verse of “WHITE RABBIT” begins.
radio (v.o.)
“ONE PILL MAKES YOU LARGER. AND ONE PILL MAKES YOU SMALL...”
THE PRISONER USES A BOBBY PIN TO PICK HIS HANDCUFFS.
The cops in the front seat don’t notice this.
int. Hope’s house – early evening
Hope’s phone still RINGS. The RADIO seems louder.
radio (v.0.)
“AND IF YOU GO CHASING RABBITS, YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO FALL.”
DYLAN MOTIONS FOR HER TO PICK IT UP AS HE TURNS THE RADIO DOWN. SHE ANSWERS. THERE’S A FEMALE VOICE ON THE OTHER END.
female voice (v.o.)
Hope? This is Chet’s mother. I have to see you. It’s about his death. Can we meet? Somewhere safe... the phone could be tapped and I’m scared.
HOPE GLANCES AT DYLAN NEARBY. HE NODS.
hope
Okay, where?
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Griffith Park Observatory?
HOPE
Be there in a half-hour... Wait, how will I recognize you?
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Don’t worry, I’ll find you.
THE LINE GOES DEAD. HOPE LOOKS AT DYLAN, HANGS UP.
hope
We can get there faster by using the map.
DYLAN
In the game? In the closet?
SHE NODS AS THEY BOTH EYE THE CLOSET DOOR.
int. Police station – early evening
Ethan stares at the digital clock. His attention shifts to the front door.
Two officers escort the black prisoner we saw earlier. One officer prepares to remove his cuffs. Since the prisoner already has one hand free, he reaches for the officer’s gun.
Grimes sees this, pulls Ethan to the ground with him. The visor falls to the floor.
EXT. Griffith Observatory - SUNSET
Dylan and Hope APPEAR on the observation deck.
HOPE
It’s still daylight here...
DYLAN
You’re right, it’s not reversed.
DYLAN
Let’s spread out. I’ll head down to the parking lot area. You check around up here.
HOPE
(kissing him)
Be careful, Dylan. She sounded really scared.
HE NODS. DYLAN RUNS DOWN A FLIGHT OF STEPS TOWARD THE LAWN AND PARKING LOT AREA AS HOPE WALKS AROUND THE UPPER DECK.
INT. Police station - SUNSET
The prisoner has a gun, waves it around.
Then, with a move performed by a trained Martial Arts expert, Grimes jumps up, does several
BACK FLIPS
across the room, ends up in front of the prisoner. Grimes kicks the gun out of his hand, strikes a defensive pose, and motions with one hand, “bring it on.”
The fight begins. They use advanced martial arts techniques.
While the two men fight, Ethan stays low. He looks over and sees a GREEN LIGHT appear beneath the ladies room door.
EXT. Griffith Park - SUNSET
Hope gets to the top deck. She notices an attractive Asian woman wearing a hat who stands near the platform’s edge.
Hope walks up to her.
HOPE
Excuse me, but have you seen an older, black woman lately? She might’ve been looking for someone about my age?
THE WOMAN TURNS, FACES HOPE. WE CAN’T MAKE OUT HER FACE SINCE HER WIDE-BRIMMED HAT HIDES IT.
hope
Wait a minute... I know you. I saw you in a photo... You’re...
WOMAN
(with a slight
Chinese accent)
Hello, Hope. I’ve been waiting for this moment.
HOPE
is fearful as she looks at something in the woman’s hand.
int. Police station - sunset
Grimes and the prisoner are still deadlocked.
Ethan’s attention turns from the bathroom door to the fight.
Grimes backs the prisoner up to a wall. The prisoner, desperate, runs toward Grimes, kicks off his chest, somersaults forward and over him, lands behind Grimes.
Stunned, Grimes is defenseless as the prisoner hits him with multiple hand and feet combinations.
Ethan realizes Grimes is in trouble. He eyes the gun on the floor. He leaps forward from his crouched position, dives, rolls, and lands face down in front of the weapon.
ethan
Detective Grimes!
ETHAN TOSSES THE GUN TO HIM.
Grimes snatches it out of the air. He aims it at the prisoner. Defeated, he raises his hands.
ethan
Wow! Did they teach you that stuff at the Academy?
GRIMES SCRATCHES HIS HEAD FOR A MOMENT.
grimes
I have no idea where I learned to fight like that.
HIS CELL PHONE RINGS.
Grimes
Hello?
CAPTAIN (V.O.)
Grimes, we’ve got another one. It’s one of those volleyball broads... Hope. I’ve got a unit in your vicinity. I’ll have him pick you up. I told you to trade that piece of junk you called a car a long time ago...
HE HANGS UP. HIS EXPRESSION TURNS SERIOUS.
grimes
We’ve lost Hope.
ETHAN GLANCES OVER AT THE LADIES ROOM DOOR. THE GREEN LIGHT HAS DISAPPEARED.
ext. Griffith Observatory – observation deck - night
All that remains of Hope is a pile of ashes and her clothes.
Dylan is distraught. Martinez stands beside him.
The Captain coordinates the investigation, talks M.O.S. to various officers.
Gabrielle arrives, looks at Hope’s ashes. She can’t believe her eyes. She runs over to Dylan. They embrace.
gabrielle
(sobbing)
Oh Dylan...
DYLAN
Where’s Timmy?
GABRIELLE
My neighbor is baby-sitting him for me ‘til I get back.
GRIMES AND ETHAN ARRIVE ON THE SCENE. THEY SPOT THE ASHES AND HOPE’S CLOTHES. THE CAPTAIN SPOTS THEM.
captain
Grimes! Interview Dylan, then get over here.
GRIMES WALKS OVER TO DYLAN.
grimes
Did you see what happened?
DYLAN
No... I heard a scream, I, I ran up here and...
HE DROPS HIS HEAD.
Grimes
What were you two doing here?
DYLAN
Hope got a call... from Chet’s mother. She... she said she had some information... about Chet’s death. She asked us to meet her here.
GRIMES
Chet’s mom?
DYLAN
That’s what Hope said...
MARTINEZ
(interrupting)
Jim?
GRIMES WALKS OVER TO HOPE’S ASHES WITH MARTINEZ.
Dylan and Ethan exchange looks. They move closer together.
Dylan
What were you doing earlier?
ETHAN
Playing the game for the detective. Why?
DYLAN
We were playing the game too when Hope’s phone rang.
GRIMES OVERHEARS THEM, SECRETLY TUNES IN.
Ethan
When did you start playing?
DYLAN
It was six twenty-seven. I remember... that’s when her clock started acting up.
ETHAN
That’s odd... that’s about the same time Detective Grimes saved our asses by kicking the shit out of some guy waving a gun.
DYLAN
Ethan... when I heard Hope scream, I ran back up here. On the way up, I passed an Asian woman. She was in a big hurry. She got in a black car, sped out of here like a bat out of hell.
ETHAN
I’m getting nervous about playing this game anymore. That’s a body count of two... three if you count Kidwell.
DYLAN
I say we include the detective now. It’s out of our hands.
DETECTIVE GRIMES HAS OVERHEARD ENOUGH. HE WALKS OVER.
grimes
Did you say you two were playing a game? I thought you didn’t know anything about it.
ETHAN AND DYLAN EXCHANGE LOOKS.
ethan
Okay, we admit we lied about that. Our professor, Doctor Kidwell, offered us a trial version of a game he developed.
DYLAN
Hope and I were playing the game earlier tonight before Chet’s mom called.
ETHAN
While we’re confessing here, you should know that we were playing that game the night Chet died.
GRIMES
Did the game require a visor?
ETHAN
Yes, Chet was wearing one.
GRIMES
How many visors did the professor loan all of you?
DYLAN
Four.
GRIMES
You know I’m going to have to ask you for the game and visors.
DYLAN
You can have them. We don’t want to play that game anymore. Too many people we care about die after playing it.
GRIMES NOTICES HOW DISTRAUGHT THE KIDS LOOK.
grimes
You attending Kidwell’s funeral?
ALL OF THEM NOD.
grimes
Just bring everything to the funeral. You’ll get to meet his widow too. She’s a real pistol.
GRIMES WALKS AWAY AS THE KIDS HEAD TOWARD THE PARKING LOT.
ext. griffith parking lot – night
Dylan, Ethan and Gabrielle walk toward her car.
ethan
Dylan, if you’re up for it, we need to go by Hope’s place.
DYLAN LOOKS AT ETHAN, NODS.
ethan
We can pick up the two visors there. We’ll leave one with Gabrielle. We can take one from the stolen visors; give Grimes the four, leaves us with three. That gives us each one if we ever decide to play again.
DYLAN
I’m okay with going back there. I left my car there anyway.
EXT. GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY – CONTINUOUS
Grimes and Martinez stand beside their Captain as they watch Gabrielle’s car pull away.
captain
Keep a close eye on them. They all may be in danger too.
GRIMES
Cap, I got to attend their professor’s funeral tomorrow. Do you mind if I go home?
CAPTAIN
Get some sleep. You look awful.
GRIMES
Thanks, but I think I’ll get a second opinion on that.
(TO MARTINEZ)
Can I get a lift?
MARTINEZ
Sure... and you do look awful.
INT. GABRIELLE’S HOME - NIGHT
Timmy sneaks into her room. His attention turns to her computer. It’s on.
He takes his digital camera and connects it to the computer with color-coded cables. The picture he took of Hope and Gabrielle appears onscreen. He prints it out on a printer.
The computer BEEPS as the professor’s game boots up. An electronic VOICE tells him to “put on the visor.”
He spots the visor on the desk, puts it on.
timmy’s pov
Timmy fidgets with the computer mouse and stares at the test pattern on the computer monitor.
He doesn’t notice the GREEN LIGHT appear beneath Gabrielle’s closet door.
Then, a female hand reaches around in front of his visor.
Timmy jumps back in fear, falls to the floor. This knocks the visor off as he looks up at his female BABYSITTER (14).
babysitter
Hey, I just gotta run next door real quick. I’ll be right back.
EXT. HOPE’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Gabrielle pulls in behind Dylan’s parked car.
Everyone gets out, walks toward Hope’s apartment. Gabrielle puts her arm around Dylan.
gabrielle
Dylan, are you going to be okay?
DYLAN LOOKS UP AT HER, NODS.
ethan
(to Gabrielle)
I’m driving him home from here. You should go home and get some rest. Are you going to tell Timmy about Hope?
GABRIELLE
No... I’m not ready. Not tonight... maybe tomorrow...
DYLAN UNLOCKS HOPE’S DOOR, THEY ENTER.
Int. hope’s apartment – continuous
They walk in and immediately hold their noses.
gabrielle
What’s that smell?
DYLAN
We weren’t cooking anything...
ETHAN
I wouldn’t eat whatever that is.
THEY STOP IN THE LIVING ROOM, NOTICE A BURNT SPOT ON ONE SIDE OF HOPE’S COUCH. GRIMES’ LIGHTER LIES IN THE BURNT SPOT.
ethan
Where’d that come from?
DYLAN
I never saw it before. That’s where Hope was sitting when we started playing the game.
BOTH VISORS LIE ON THE COUCH. ONE SITS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BURNT SPOT. ETHAN PICKS UP THE VISORS AND THE LIGHTER.
Dylan walks over to Hope’s computer, ejects the game labeled, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE,” hands it to Ethan.
Ethan puts Grimes’ lighter in his back pocket.
Ethan
I have the stolen CD. We’ll give Grimes this one tomorrow. I e-mailed a copy to Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
I got it. It works. The other visor’s on my desk at home.
JUST THEN, THE POWER GOES OUT.
gabrielle
What if Timmy finds the visor? He knows how to use a computer!
SHE RUNS TOWARD THE FRONT DOOR.
int. Gabrielle’s home - night
Timmy wears the visor as he walks around the house.
The doorbell RINGS.
He goes to the door, opens it partially. We don’t see who it is, but it’s someone he recognizes.
timmy
Oh, hey...
HE OPENS THE DOOR WIDER.
ext. Grimes’ house - night
Grimes tries to unlock his door, but the key doesn’t fit.
grimes (v.o.)
I know this is the right key. Has someone changed the locks?
THE POWER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOES OFF. GRIMES PULLS OUT A MAGLITE, LOOKS IN A WINDOW, SEES STACKS OF CARDBOARD BOXES.
grimes (v.o.)
Great. Did I forget to pay the rent? Now what?
INT. GABRIELLE’S HOUSE – TIMMY’S ROOM – NIGHT
Gabrielle enters Timmy’s bedroom. His TV and lights are on. He’s asleep. He clutches his picture of Gabrielle and Hope. She takes the photo, sets it on his dresser. A tear comes to her eye as she looks at Hope in the picture.
She turns off his television, turns out his light, and closes the door to his room. Thinking twice, she cracks the door.
GABRIELLE’S ROOM
Gabrielle enters her room. She almost steps on the visor lying on the floor. She looks at her computer monitor, which says, “Game interrupted, press any key to continue.”
fade to: black
FROM BLACK: FADE IN
int. Gabrielle’s house – the next morning (sunday)
Gabrielle fixes pancakes in the kitchen. Timmy sits at the dining room table, waiting for the first batch.
timmy
Mom, do I have to go today?
GABRIELLE
Yes. I’ve got a lot to do today, so you can’t tag along.
TIMMY
Are you going to the teacher’s funeral?
GABRIELLE
Yes. And we’re all going to Chet’s service tomorrow.
TIMMY
I don’t like funerals. I’d only go if you or Hope died. Is Hope coming over later?
GABRIELLE
(staying calm)
No. Hope went away on a long trip last night. I don’t think she’ll be back for awhile.
TIMMY
Where did she go?
GABRIELLE
Timmy, I don’t want to talk about this right now, okay?
SHE NERVOUSLY FLIPS A PANCAKE. IT FALLS APART.
gabrielle
So what did you do last night, little man?
TIMMY
Nothing. I just watched TV... then went to bed.
TIMMY SEES A CLOCK PLUGGED INTO THE WALL. IT’S 7:30 AM.
timmy
Is it really seven-thirty?
GABRIELLE
(looking at her
watch)
No, it’s nine-thirty...
SHE TURNS OFF THE STOVE, THROWS THE SKILLET IN THE SINK AND RUNS SOME WATER OVER IT. SHE RUNS TOWARD THE LIVING ROOM.
Gabrielle
Grab your stuff... we’ve got to go now! We’ll pick up something at McDonalds on the way.
EXT. GRIMES PRIVATE OFFICE - MORNING
Grimes arrives at his office in a cab. He gets out, looks back at the driver.
grimes
Thanks for the ride. I’ll have the tip next time, I promise.
THE CAB DRIVER IGNORES HIM AS HE POURS OUT A COLD CUP OF COFFEE. IT ALMOST HITS GRIMES’ SHOES.
grimes
Hey! That’s not necessary.
AS THE CAB SPEEDS AWAY, GRIMES SEES SEVERAL PARKING TICKETS ON HIS WINDSHIELD AND A METAL BOOT ON ONE OF HIS TIRES.
The parking meter beside his car shows, “Time remaining: forty-five minutes.”
grimes
What’s this, a joke? I see the guys at the station have nothing better to do.
INT. GRIMES’ OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Grimes enters. His parrot sits calmly on its perch.
grimes
(to the parrot)
Any messages?
PARROT
“Eye of the tiger. Eye of the tiger.”
GRIMES
What the hell? Eye of the tiger... Where’d you hear that?
THE PARROT IGNORES HIM NOW.
Grimes plops down behind his desk. He stares at his phone.
His answering machine indicates, “no messages.”
Grimes picks up the phone, dials a number. BUSY.
grimes
I’m not surprised. She’s the only woman I know that can get sunburn on her tongue after a day at the beach.
HE WALKS OVER TO THE CLOSET, OPENS THE DOOR. MOST OF HIS CLOTHES HANG INSIDE. HE PICKS OUT A BLACK SUIT AND TIE.
ext. hollywood memorial CEMETERY – day
The sky is cloudy. A storm is on its way.
A funeral procession led by a motorcycle cop, followed by a hearse and a long line of black cars with headlights on.
Located several cars behind the hearse is
ethan’s car
Ethan chauffeurs Gabrielle and Dylan. They both stare out the window in a daze.
Ext. cemetery – graveside – CLOUDY SKIES
Several rows of fold-up chairs sit out under a tent.
Kami Li takes a seat in the front row next to Grimes. She’s dressed in black and wears dark sunglasses.
A MINISTER steps up, faces the decent-sized crowd.
minister
Dearly beloved, it’s under great sadness that we are brought together on this gloomy Sunday.
ETHAN, DYLAN, AND GABRIELLE SIT IN THE BACK ROW. DYLAN TRIES TO GET A BETTER GLIMPSE OF KAMI LI. HE LEANS TOWARD ETHAN.
dylan
I think... I think I saw her somewhere yesterday.
ETHAN
At the beach?
DYLAN SHAKES HIS HEAD, SITS UP.
As the minister continues, Dylan stares at Kami Li. She turns around and looks right at Dylan. She looks over the top of her sunglasses, makes eye contact. She smiles.
Dylan’s face lights up. He leans toward Ethan again.
dylan
That’s the woman I saw leaving Griffith Park in such a hurry!
LIGHTNING FLASHES, FOLLOWED BY LOUD THUNDER.
Ext. cemetery – graveside – a little later
The funeral is over as well-wishers bid final farewells.
Ethan, Dylan and Gabrielle walk over to Grimes and the widow.
grimes
Glad to see you made it. How are you doing today Dylan?
DYLAN
Okay, I guess.
ETHAN
We have the visors and the game disc, detective.
GABRIELLE OPENS HER PURSE, TAKES OUT THE FOUR VISORS AND CD ENTITLED, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE.” SHE HANDS THEM TO GRIMES.
grimes
Thank you. I’d like for you all to meet the professor’s widow, Mrs. Kami Li Kidwell.
KAMI LI
Nice to meet you. Did you enjoy playing my husband’s video game?
ETHAN
Yeah, it was cutting edge.
DYLAN
Are you still going to launch his software company?
KAMI LI
I have to discuss it with my attorney. We’ll see...
GABRIELLE
Well, I have to go pick up my son from Church so...
GRIMES
Yes. Thanks for dropping off the visors and game. I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me soon.
GABRIELLE
It was nice meeting you Mrs. Kidwell.
DYLAN
Sorry about your loss.
KAMI LI
Sorry about yours.
THE KIDS TURN, WALK AWAY. GRIMES LOOKS AT KAMI LI. HE HANDS THE FOUR VISORS AND THE GAME CD TO HER. SHE SMILES.
grimes
Well, that’s an extra four hundred thousand.
KAMI LI
Just get me in the clear with the Coroner and we’ll talk.
GRIMES
I’ve already filed my report. I’ll be in touch soon.
SHE WALKS AWAY FROM HIM, HEADS TOWARD HER CAR.
grimes
If it’s not too much trouble, can I get a lift?
EXT. TIMMY’S CHURCH – LATER THAT AFTERNOON - RAINING
Gabrielle pulls in front under the carport where Timmy waits. She reaches over, opens the door for him. He jumps in.
int. Gabrielle’s car
Gabrielle pulls onto the main road.
Gabrielle
How was Sunday school?
TIMMY
It was fun. Did you know it rained for forty days and forty nights a long time ago?
GABRIELLE
(teasing him)
I saw an old man walking across the road today with some animals following him, two by two.
TIMMY
Very funny.
A SERIOUS LOOK COVERS HIS FACE.
Timmy
This morning, you said Hope wasn’t coming back for awhile... Maybe she went to get a boob job.
GABRIELLE
(caught off guard)
What? Why would you say that?
TIMMY
When I saw her last night, her boobs were bigger.
GABRIELLE
You mean you had a dream about Hope last night?
TIMMY
No, she came by while you were gone. I said you had to go out, but she couldn’t wait.
THIS FREAKS HER OUT AS SHE RUNS A STOP SIGN.
A black sedan BLOWS its HORN as it’s forced off the road.
Gabrielle, shaken up, pulls off the road too. Her arms are covered with goose bumps. She looks over at the other car.
Its driver is an Asian woman, who flips off Gabrielle as her black sedan speeds off.
Gabrielle’s windshield WIPER blades POUND back and forth, mixed with the SOUND of RAIN as it falls HARDER.
Gabrielle
Timmy, stop messing with me. Did you really see Hope last night?
TIMMY
Yes.
GABRIELLE
Timmy. Listen to me. Hope’s not coming back. Ever. Do you understand me?
TIMMY
Why? Is she going to play for another team somewhere else?
GABRIELLE STARES OUT AT THE OPEN ROAD AHEAD, DEEP IN THOUGHT.
Gabrielle
(to herself)
I can’t do this.
SHE PULLS HER CELL PHONE OUT OF HER PURSE AND DIALS A NUMBER.
Gabrielle
Ethan? Is Dylan there with you? Good. Stay there. I’m going to drop Timmy off. The neighbor said she’d watch him. Then I’m on my way. Don’t go anywhere!
GABRIELLE PULLS BACK ONTO THE ROAD.
int. black sedan – raining
The Asian woman behind the wheel is Kami Li. Her watch beeps. She looks at the time -- 1400 hours.
Her cell phone RINGS. She answers.
Kami Li speaks in Chinese first, then in English.
kami li
The Tiger is out of the cage. I have acquired the four visors and the missing game. I’m ready to return to my homeland.
FEMALE VOICE (V.O.)
Your orders have been changed. You are to eliminate any of the subjects that were allowed to play the game or use the visors, then come home immediately.
KAMI LI
It will be my pleasure...
SHE HANGS UP. A SINISTER SMILE FILLS HER FACE.
int. The Frat house – living room – later that afternoon
Ethan and Dylan sit in a daze.
Gabrielle runs in the DOOR, as she SLAMS it shut behind her.
ethan
Whoa! Is everything okay?
GABRIELLE
Something’s going on here. Last night, Timmy swears he saw Hope. And that’s not all. I think he was playing Kidwell’s video game. I think the power going off last night was the only reason he stopped.
ETHAN CALMS GABRIELLE, MAKES HER SIT ON THE COUCH.
ethan
Are you sure he saw her last night?
GABRIELLE
I’m positive. And get this... he said he thought she got a boob job, because her breasts were bigger. How do you explain that?
DYLAN
Hope would never get a boob job, and we know she didn’t go near your house last night. Who could he have seen? Not Hope.
ETHAN
Do you think it had something to do with the game? It seems to be in the middle of everything bad happening around us.
GABRIELLE
Guys, I know that this is going to sound crazy... but I think that somehow Chet and Hope’s death may have something to do with that game. I don’t think we should play it anymore.
ETHAN
She’s right. Nobody plays the game anymore until we know more.
THEY ALL NOD IN AGREEMENT. ETHAN GRABS A GAME BOX AND TAKES OUT THE CD LABELED, “7-15, 10 P.M.”
Ethan opens a metal lock box, places the game inside. He puts their two visors in it and locks it. He hands the box and key to Gabrielle.
ethan
Put your visor in this when you get home... and hide that key.
GABRIELLE
Oh no...
ETHAN
What?
GABRIELLE
My visor... What if Timmy plays the game again?
INT. GRIMES’ PRIVATE OFFICE – LATE AFTERNOON
Grimes looks at photos of Dr. Kidwell, Chet, and Hope. He ponders something. He picks up the PHONE, dials a number.
BUSY.
Grimes takes out a matchbook, lights a cigarette. He studies the matchbook cover. Notices a phone number. He dials.
BUSY.
grimes
(thinking aloud)
1-800-Flowers.
HE TRIES THAT NUMBER. BUSY. HE HANGS UP.
He paces for a moment then sits down.
His phone RINGS. He answers.
Grimes
Hello?
(BEAT)
Honey? Is that you? Where have you been?
HE LISTENS TO THE CALLER FOR A MOMENT.
grimes
I’ve been trying to reach you at your mother’s...
(LISTENING)
Where are you?
HE PAUSES, LISTENS FOR AWHILE.
Grimes
Of course I’ll meet you now.
(BEAT)
What are you doing there? Of course... I’m on my way.
HE HANGS UP, GRABS HIS HAT, AND RUNS OUT THE DOOR.
int. Gabrielle’s house – late afternoon
Timmy enters her room as Gabrielle’s computer BEEPS.
An ELECTRONIC VOICE says to, “Please resume the game now.”
Timmy fidgets with the joystick. He puts on the visor.
int. Gabrielle’s car - continuous
Gabrielle drives fast, pulls out her cell phone. She dials.
Gabrielle
Come on Timmy, answer! Please don’t get on my damn computer.
THE PHONE IS BUSY.
int. Gabrielle’s house – living room – moments later
Gabrielle runs in her front door.
gabrielle
Timmy! Timmy, I’m home!
NO REPLY. SHE GETS NERVOUS, RUNS UP TO HER ROOM.
Gabrielle’s bedroom - continuous
She discovers her computer and game on. She loses it!
Gabrielle
Timmy! Timmy, where are you?
TIMMY’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
She runs into Timmy’s room -- empty.
She HEARS his VOICE call her name from her room.
Gabrielle’s room - continuous
She rushes in.
gabrielle
Timmy? Are you playing hide and seek? Where are you?
GABRIELLE NOTICES A GREEN LIGHT UNDERNEATH HER CLOSET DOOR. SHE WALKS OVER, FIRMLY GRASPS THE DOORKNOB AND OPENS IT.
her pov – the closet
One of Timmy’s toys lies on the closet floor. It has a green light that glows. She picks it up, turns it off.
back to scene
She breathes a sigh of relief.
She HEARS his voice again.
timmy (v.o.)
Mommy!
HIS VOICE COMES FROM HER COMPUTER’S SPEAKERS.
The visor lies on the floor in front of her desk. Timmy’s picture of Gabrielle and Hope lies beside the visor.
Gabrielle
Oh no!
GABRIELLE LOOKS AT THE MONITOR. SOMETHING MOVES ONSCREEN.
insert – computer monitor
It’s Timmy! He looks at Gabrielle.
timmy (v.o.)
Help me Mommy! I can’t get out of here. I heard Hope, but now I can’t find her.
HE HEARS SOMETHING NEARBY. FRIGHTENED, HE RUNS OUT OF FRAME.
gabrielle (o.s.)
Timmy! Oh my God... Timmy!
INT. FRAT HOUSE - SUNSET
The PHONE RINGS. Ethan answers. It’s Gabrielle.
Gabrielle (v.o.)
Timmy’s missing. I know this sounds crazy, but he’s inside the game and we have to get him out. And I think I know where to look for him once we’re in.
INT. FEDERAL PENN – EARLY EVENING
Detective Grimes walks past security as he enters the visitors’ waiting area.
A female guard BUZZES him through secure door behind her.
INT. PRIVATE VISITING ROOM - continuous
Grimes enters, looks around. There’s a bed located by the wall, apparently used by prisoners for conjugal visits.
He sits down. He waits. He takes out his cigarette pack, starts to light up, but sees a “No Smoking” sign.
grimes
Bet that kills the moment after.
TWO PRISON GUARDS ESCORT A BLACK MAN IN A STRAIGHT JACKET. IT’S THE BLACK PRISONER FROM THE POLICE STATION.
As the prisoner sits down, the two guards leave. The DOOR CLOSES behind them.
Grimes
What are you doing here?
PRISONER
(imitating a woman)
Detective Jim Grimes, seen your wife lately? Can’t seem to get anything but a busy signal? I thought you were a detective.
GRIMES
What’s that supposed to mean? How do you know about my wife? And how is it you can imitate her voice?
PRISONER
(his real voice)
Listen to me, my needs are simple... just drop the case you’re currently working on.
GRIMES
The Kidwell case?
PRISONER
That’s the one.
GRIMES
I can’t. You see... his widow’s paying me a lot of money.
PRISONER
Forget the money. I’m talking about saving lives. If you don’t drop the case, more innocent people will die.
GRIMES SITS UP, PAYS CLOSER ATTENTION.
prisoner
And that means I’ll have to kill you, because if you die, the game’s over. It can end right now. No one else has to die... just quit.
GRIMES
Sorry...
GRIMES STANDS UP.
prisoner
Fine. Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.
WITH THAT, THE PRISONER’S STRAIGHT JACKET FALLS TO THE FLOOR.
Prisoner
Allow me to introduce myself. My friends just call me Harry... Harry Houdini.
THE TWO MEN GO AT EACH OTHER USING MARTIAL ARTS.
Int. Frat house - night
Ethan, Gabrielle, and Dylan sit in front of the computer.
Ethan loads the disk labeled, “7-15, 10 p.m.” He sits back down. He feels something sticking in his back, gets back up. He pulls out Grimes’ lighter, sets it on the coffee table.
Ethan
Everyone ready?
DYLAN
Ready.
ALL THREE OF THEM PUT ON THEIR VISORS.
gabrielle
I feel like we’re forgetting something...
ETHAN
We’ll get our life-force meters in the closet. What else?
GABRIELLE
Wait a minute... what was rule number one?
DYLAN
Everything is reversed?
GABRIELLE
That’s it. In Australia right now, it’s winter. What if it’s that way in the game?
DYLAN
We have plenty of fraternity cloaks in the coatroom. Should we take one for each of us?
GABRIELLE
Grab an extra one for Timmy.
ETHAN JUMPS UP, GRABS SEVERAL HOODED CLOAKS FROM THE COATROOM, AND DISTRIBUTES THEM. THEY PUT THEM ON.
A GREEN LIGHT appears beneath the closet door.
int. Federal Penn – night
Grimes and the prisoner exchange blows in mortal combat.
The door BUZZES as Detective Martinez enters.
Martinez
I just came by to tell you...
SHE STOPS HERSELF, REALIZES WHAT’S GOING ON. SHE REACHES UNDERNEATH HER CLOAK AND PULLS OUT TWO METAL SAIS. SHE TWIRLS THEM, STRIKES A POSE. SHE TEAMS UP WITH GRIMES.
Grimes
How did you know I was here?
MARTINEZ
The desk sergeant heard you tell a cab driver.
GRIMES
If he said I was going to a strip club, would you go there?
MARTINEZ
You have to ask?
THE FIGHT CONTINUES. GRIMES AND MARTINEZ COME AT THE PRISONER WITH EVERYTHING. THE PRISONER DEFENDS HIMSELF EFFORTLESSLY.
int. Frat House - night
No one home. Silent.
The three visors lie on the floor.
insert – computer monitor
as a game clock indicates time remaining: thirty minutes.
int. Federal Penn - night
Grimes, Martinez, and the prisoner still locked in mortal combat. Their skill level is comparable to a Black Belt.
prisoner
After I defeat you both and escape from here, I have some advice for you.
GRIMES
You really think you can defeat us both?
MARTINEZ
And escape from this place?
GRIMES AND MARTINEZ BACK THE PRISONER UP TO A WALL.
prisoner
Don’t let your eyes deceive you. Detective Martinez... you may have never come out of a closet, but if you play the game again, you might want to go into one... and walk toward the green light.
THE PRISONER SWEEPS THEM BOTH OFF THEIR FEET WITH ONE KICK. HE SOMERSAULTS OVER THEM, LANDS ON THEIR OTHER SIDE. HE FACES THE ONLY DOOR. HE TURNS BACK, LOOKS AT GRIMES.
prisoner
Detective Grimes... there’s a valuable clue at your office. Just look through Chet’s stuff again. Use your eyes this time.
THE PRISONER THROWS SOMETHING AT THEIR FEET.
A bright FLASH forces them to close their eyes. When they open them, the prisoner has vanished.
Grimes runs to the door, sounds the ALARM. He holds his left wrist as if in pain.
Martinez collapses.
grimes
Are you okay?
MARTINEZ
I’m... diabetic. I... need my insulin shot, but I don’t have a syringe.
GRIMES SPOTS A FIRST AID KIT THAT HANGS ON THE WALL.
Grimes grabs it, opens it, and takes out a syringe.
Martinez takes out a bottle of insulin from her pocket.
Grimes prepares the shot.
martinez
How much did you tell that guy? “You never came out of a closet...” What was that about?
GRIMES
No idea... I never said a word.
MARTINEZ
I almost forgot... I came by to give you some good news.
GRIMES
What? You just saved a bunch of money on your car insurance by switching to Geico?
GRIMES ADMINISTERS THE INSULIN SHOT TO MARTINEZ.
Martinez
Very funny, but it does involve insurance... and money. The Coroner and Medical Examiner submitted their report on Dr. Kidwell. Seems your input swayed their decision. It was ruled an isolated, yet bizarre, case of Spontaneous Human Combustion. Looks like Kidwell’s widow gets the insurance money after all.
MARTINEZ FEELS WELL ENOUGH TO STAND ON HER FEET.
Grimes swallows a couple of painkillers from the First Aid kit. He moves his wrist without any trouble now.
Grimes
That is good news.
EXT. SANTA MONICA BEACH – NEAR THE PIER (GAME WORLD) - NIGHT
We’re in the game. The stormy sky looks surreal – film noir.
Gabrielle, Ethan and Dylan walk through an eerily lit alley.
dylan
(to the others)
We’ll split up to cover more ground. I’ll check the beach. You two take the pier. Just take different streets. We’ll all meet up at the pier.
EXT. VENICE BEACH - THE SHORE – NIGHT – MOMENTS LATER
Dylan walks near the water. The wind HOWLS. He pulls his cloak tighter. It begins to snow.
DYLAN
(yelling)
Timmy! Timmy, where are you?
DYLAN HEARS A WOMAN’S VOICE CALL TO HIM THROUGH THE WIND.
He turns to find the direction of the woman’s voice.
woman’s voice (o.s.)
Dylan! Dylan, help me!
IT COMES FROM THE WATER. DYLAN GOES CLOSER TO THE SHORELINE. A FULL MOON PEEKS THROUGH THE CLOUDS, LIGHTS UP THE BEACH.
He can’t believe his eyes --
It’s Hope!
She treads water just beyond the waves.
Dylan strips down to his underwear, dives in.
ext. Santa Monica beach - near the pier – (snowing) night
Gabrielle and Ethan get closer to the pier.
gabrielle and ethan
(yelling together)
Timmy! Where are you?
EXT. THE PIER – THE FERRIS WHEEL – (SNOWING) NIGHT
A frightened Timmy gets to the top. The ride stops. The WIND slows to a gentle breeze.
Timmy HEARS someone YELL his name. He recognizes Gabrielle’s voice.
timmy
Mom? Mommy, I’m up here!
EXT. SANTA MONICA BEACH, NEAR THE PIER – (SNOWING) NIGHT
The wind dies down as Gabrielle makes out Timmy’s VOICE. She YELLS back to him, runs toward the pier.
Gabrielle
Timmy! I’m coming!
INT. DETECTIVE GRIMES’ OFFICE - NIGHT
Grimes enters, tosses his hat on a rack.
He rummages through some of Chet’s stuff. He tosses the two video game covers onto his desk, pulls out a yearbook.
Grimes flips through the pages, finds a picture of Chet.
insert – yearbook
where Chet has signed it: “Houdini, No lock can hold me and there isn’t a firewall I can’t get past.”
He looks up Chet’s main photo in the yearbook. He studies Chet’s eyes. He notices something.
back to scene
grimes
Oh my God... It can’t be.
HE PICKS UP THE PHONE, DIALS A NUMBER.
grimes
Come on guys, be there!
THE PHONE IS BUSY.
He grabs his hat, runs out the DOOR.
ext. Frat house – night – minutes later
Detective Grimes arrives. He KNOCKS on the door, RINGS the doorbell, but nobody answers.
He KICKS the door down.
int. frat house – LIVING ROOM - continuous
The computer game in the living room is on, displays a test pattern. Three empty chairs sit in front of the monitor. A visor lies in each chair.
He runs upstairs to Chet’s old room.
INT. CHET’S ROOM - continuous
Grimes darts in the door. Nobody.
He looks around at the Houdini posters on the wall.
grimes
It is him...
EXT. VENICE BEACH - THE SHORE – (SNOWING) NIGHT
Dylan’s in the water as he rescues Hope. The WAVES and strong WIND hamper his efforts. He pulls her to shore. They both lie on the wet sand, exhausted.
The moon peeks out again.
Dylan notices Hope’s chest.
dylan
Oh my God... Hope? You’re even bigger than Gabrielle...
SHE SMILES AND TURNS TO DYLAN, LAYS HER HEAD ON HIS CHEST.
Hope
I thought you’d like them. Would you make love to me Dylan?
DYLAN RAISES HIS HEAD, LOOKS INTO HER EYES.
dylan
Right here? Right now?
HOPE NODS; HER LIPS MOVE CLOSER TO DYLAN’S.
They kiss -- passionately.
Hope grabs his hand, pulls him back toward the water.
Hope
Come on... the water’s warm in the game world.
DYLAN GOES BACK INTO THE WATER WITH HER. THEY STAND WAIST DEEP IN THE OCEAN. HE KISSES HER AND FONDLES HER BREASTS.
He doesn’t notice the evil look in her eyes.
hope
You always loved it when I got the kill... Me, Gabrielle, or one of your video game tramps.
HOPE FORCES DYLAN BENEATH THE WATER. HER STRENGTH IS ALMOST SUPERNATURAL.
hope
This is for looking at Gabrielle’s chest all the time.
DYLAN STRUGGLES, BUT LOSES THE BATTLE.
Dylan drowns!
Hope stands up in the water, wearing only a red bathing suit.
The Ferris wheel in the distance catches her eye. A GREEN LIGHT glows in the pupil of her eyes. She smiles evilly.
int. Frat house – Chet’s room - night
Grimes rummages around in Chet’s room. He HEARS a NOISE downstairs and bolts out the door.
living room - continuous
As he arrives downstairs, he stops dead in his tracks.
One of the chairs in front of the video game is toast.
A life-force meter lies in the burnt chair. It’s so hot, Grimes has to pick it up with a pencil to inspect it closer.
insert – life-force meter
with Dylan’s name on it. It flashes RED.
back to scene
Grimes’ face lights up.
grimes
When they’re in the game, they can die out here?
HE NOTICES HIS CIGARETTE LIGHTER ON THE COFFEE TABLE.
grimes
What the hell? How’d this get here?
HE PICKS IT UP, TESTS IT, HOLSTERS IT IN ITS PROPER PLACE.
He takes out his cell phone and reaches into his pockets. He pulls out the card that Kami gave him. He dials her number.
GRIMES
Hello? Kami Li?
KAMI LI (V.O.)
Detective Grimes... I do believe I’m talking to a millionaire.
GRIMES
I guess you heard the good news regarding the coroner’s report.
Kami Li (v.o.)
Meet me at your office right away. Your bonuses are cutting into my profits. But not to worry, I’ve got enough to cover your share.
HE LOOKS AT THE THREE VISORS.
grimes
I’m on my way.
HE GATHERS THE VISORS, PUTS THEM IN HIS FRONT JACKET POCKET.
insert – video game monitor
As it shows time remaining, twenty minutes.
ext. The Pier – (snowing) night
Ethan and Gabrielle run toward the Ferris wheel at the end of the pier. The harder they run, the LONGER the pier BECOMES. They stop to rest. Ethan has to kneel down.
Sections of electricity go off nearby.
Gabrielle
We’d better hurry. If the power failure reaches the Ferris wheel, he could stay stuck up there.
ETHAN
(breathing hard)
I’m not in the best of shape. I’m just holding us back. You go... I’ll catch up.
GABRIELLE
That’s the difference between playing volleyball and playing volleyball video games.
ETHAN’S LIFE-FORCE METER FLASHES YELLOW.
Gabrielle spots a First Aid kit nearby. She grabs it, tosses it to Ethan.
gabrielle
Take two pills... I’ll see you in a minute.
ETHAN
(nodding)
Just go!
GABRIELLE RUNS OVER TO ETHAN, KNEELS CLOSE TO HIM, HOLDS HIS CHIN UP. SHE GIVES HIM A PASSIONATE FIRST KISS.
Ethan smiles at her. She winks at him, and then takes off. She runs toward the Ferris wheel.
ext. the pier – Ferris wheel - continuous
She arrives to discover someone at the controls of the Ferris wheel. They wear a hooded fraternity cloak.
Gabrielle realizes she’s covered with goose bumps.
She almost loses her nerve. Her lip purses.
gabrielle
Hey you! Why don’t you pick on someone your own size!
THE HOODED PERSON TURNS TO HER -- IT’S HOPE!
hope
My, my, my... look who’s not afraid of the big, bad wolf.
HOPE REACHES INSIDE DYLAN’S CLOAK, PULLS OUT TWO CHROME-PLATED SAIS, TWIRLS THEM, THEN HURLS THEM AT GABRIELLE’S HEAD. THEY MISS BY INCHES AND STICK IN THE WALL BEHIND HER.
Hope tosses off the cloak, stands there only in a bikini.
Gabrielle
My, my, my... what large breasts we have.
HOPE
The bigger to kill you with, my dear.
HOPE CARTWHEELS OVER TO GABRIELLE.
hope
Dylan loved them... to death. Now I have it all, a nice rack... and a killer ass.
GABRIELLE PULLS THE SAIS FROM THE WALL, TWIRLS THEM.
Gabrielle
Well, your ass is grass!
HOPE PULLS OUT TWO MORE SAIS. THE BATTLE BEGINS.
int. Detective grimes’ office - night
The door to his office already open, Grimes walks in.
Kami Li sits behind his desk. She plays the professor’s video game on Grimes’ desktop computer. She wears a visor.
Kami Li
I always did enjoy killing time playing video games. You can get away with murder in them.
GRIMES
I see you let yourself in.
KAMI LI
Thanks to you, I had a copy of the game and a visor, saw your computer, and couldn’t resist.
HIS PARROT CAGE IS EMPTY.
A suitcase sits beside Kami Li.
Grimes
Where’s my bird?
KAMI LI
How should I know?
GRIMES
So where’s my money?
KAMI LI TAKES OFF HER VISOR, STANDS UP. SHE PICKS UP THE SUITCASE AND HANDS IT TO GRIMES.
Kami Li
Did you get me all the visors?
GRIMES
That’s it. You have them all.
KAMI LI
I think you’re lying.
SHE PULLS A HANDGUN ON HIM.
Kami Li
Remember the first night we met... I asked how you’d feel if the person you loved... suddenly vanished from your life? And just like that, you had to live without them... forever?
GRIMES TAKES A COUPLE OF STEPS BACK. HE PONDERS HER WORDS.
Kami Li
Tell me Detective Grimes, when was the last time you saw your wife? Or spoke to her?
GRIMES
Are you saying you had something to do with her leaving?
KAMI LI
You’re a detective and you still haven’t figured out who I am... or what I’m capable of. Did you think I forgot about the game and visor at the police station?
SHE REACHES INTO HER PURSE, TOSSES HIM ANOTHER VISOR.
kami li
Put the visor on...
(PUTTING HERS ON)
I know a shortcut.
A GREEN LIGHT APPEARS BENEATH GRIMES’ CLOSET DOOR.
ext. santa monica pier - night
Gabrielle and Hope still locked in a duel.
Ethan arrives, watches in disbelief. His life-force meter flashes green now.
Hope gets the upper hand as she knocks Gabrielle’s weapons into the ocean.
Hope kicks Gabrielle in the chest, knocks her down.
With one fluid move, she somersaults over to Gabrielle, lands on top of her. She straddles her.
Hope raises both sais, prepares to stab Gabrielle.
hope
I’m the one with the most kills, remember? Stuff this!
WE HEAR THINGS IN THE ARCADE BEHIND THEM POP OFF ONE AT A TIME UNTIL SOMETHING HITS HOPE IN THE HEAD.
Hope’s body is reduced to a pile of ashes.
Everyone turns to see where the objects came from.
They see a black man along the edge of the pier. It’s the black fugitive known only as, HOUDINI.
He holds a gun with silencer. He twirls his over-sized revolver several times, then holsters the gun.
He does several back flips over to the controls for the Ferris wheel, SLAMS the lever UP, and STARTS the ride again.
As Timmy reaches the bottom, the Ferris wheel STOPS. Timmy runs over to Gabrielle and Dylan. They embrace. All three of them turn to look at the young black man.
houdini
The name’s Houdini. Harry Houdini. Don’t worry. That wasn’t Hope. The computer assumed her identity. It can become anyone it assimilates. I had to use a silencer or she would’ve heard the shots before they hit her. Sound travels faster than light here.
A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THE OTHER END OF THE PIER.
Ethan, Gabrielle, and Timmy huddle closer together. Gabrielle clicks her heels together. Nothing.
gabrielle
Computer. Computer. Computer!
HOUDINI
It won’t work now. Detective Grimes took your visors. The computer guide can’t help either.
ETHAN
What do we do? How do we get back home?
HOUDINI
If you want to live, follow me.
HE WALKS OVER TO A WOODEN WALL BETWEEN TWO ARCADE GAMES.
A door APPEARS in the center of the wall. He opens the door, revealing a bright, fiery light behind it.
houdini
It’s a firewall. Your only chance of escaping the game is to pass through here. With this...
HE HOLDS UP A KEY.
He closes the door, takes the key, and turns it several times. We HEAR the sound of a dead bolt unlock.
He opens the door again. This time, there’s no fire behind it, just a long, dark corridor.
houdini
If you don’t leave now, you won’t be able to. Ever.
ETHAN
Why are you helping us?
houdini
Sometimes, even a good computer game shouldn’t come between friends. Now go!
HE ASSISTS EACH OF THEM THROUGH THE DOOR. THEY TURN AROUND TO SAY “GOODBYE,” BUT WHAT THEY SEE MAKES THEIR JAWS DROP.
THEIR POV
as they see the reflection of the black man in a carnival-type, fun-house mirror, the kind that makes you look fatter. Instead of seeing the prisoner known as Houdini, they see their old friend Chet!
houdini (chet)
I told you... I could escape from hell if it takes a key or a password to secure it. Things aren’t as they appear here. When you’re safely back in the real world, turn the computer off. It’s the only way to stop it from coming after you. Never play the stolen game again. It has a fatal flaw and glitch. Just enjoy reality for awhile.
A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THE OTHER END OF THE PIER AGAIN.
houdini (chet)
Go!
THE TRIO RUNS DOWN THE DARK CORRIDOR AS THE DOOR CLOSES.
Chet has vanished!
int. Police station - night
Detective Martinez sits alone at her desk as she plays the video game on Kidwell’s computer. She wears the visor.
She HEARS a commotion come from the ladies room. She looks over at the door, SEES a GREEN LIGHT appear underneath.
Detective Grimes walks out with Kami Li right on his heels.
Martinez
Do I even want to know what you two were doing in there?
GRIMES CARRIES THE SUITCASE FULL OF MONEY, VISORS, AND GAMES.
martinez
Mrs. Kidwell, did Detective Grimes tell you the good news?
GRIMES WALKS TOWARD MARTINEZ. KAMI LI STAYS ON HIS HEELS. SHE WEARS A THIN TRENCH COAT AND HOLDS A GUN THROUGH HER POCKET. SHE PRESSES THE BARREL OF THE GUN INTO GRIMES’ BACK.
Kami Li
As a matter of fact, he did. We were just talking about that on the way over here.
MARTINEZ
I figured with money like that, you could buy the first round...
(WAITS)
And the second round...
KAMI LI LOOKS HER OVER. MARTINEZ LOOKS DORKY WEARING THE VISOR. KAMI LI SHAKES HER HEAD.
Martinez retreats, her feelings slightly hurt.
The front door BUZZES as the Captain enters with Ricochet.
captain
Glad you’re here. I’ve got your best pal right here. If you ask me, I think he’s holding out on the Department. He’s been wound up pretty tight. I think he sniffed out too much coke, if you know what I mean...
GRIMES SETS THE SUITCASE DOWN, MOTIONS FOR RICOCHET TO COME TO HIM BY PATTING HIS CHEST.
grimes
Come here, boy! I got a treat for you in here.
THE CAPTAIN RELEASES RICOCHET WHO LEAPS TOWARD GRIMES’ CHEST. GRIMES DUCKS, CAUSES THE DOG TO LAND ON KAMI LI’S CHEST.
This knocks Kami Li down. Her gun falls to the floor.
kami li
Stupid mutt!
RICOCHET GRABS THE GUN, TAKES IT TO GRIMES. HE POINTS IT AT KAMI LI AS SHE GETS UP.
captain
Grimes, what the hell is going on here?
GRIMES
Don’t worry Cap, I’ve got everything under control.
(EXPLAINING)
Seems this visor is very special. You could even say it’s valuable.
HE WALKS OVER TO MARTINEZ, WHO STILL WEARS THE VISOR.
grimes
May I?
ALTHOUGH CONFUSED BY THE TURN OF EVENTS, MARTINEZ TAKES OFF THE VISOR, HANDS IT TO GRIMES.
insert – video game monitor
which shows the game is still running.
back to scene
Grimes walks over to the suitcase full of money, picks it up. Ricochet stays on his heels.
He sets the suitcase on the desk where Martinez sits. He opens it, puts the visor inside.
Martinez
Jim, do you have to point that gun at all of us?
GRIMES
Sorry sweetheart, but it’s necessary for the moment.
MARTINEZ HOLDS UP BOTH HANDS, SHOWS NO RESISTANCE.
The door BUZZER sounds as someone enters.
A cop escorts the black prisoner, a.k.a. “Houdini” (Chet), who wears handcuffs.
The sound of the door startles Grimes. He looks away long enough for Kami Li to kick the gun out of his hand.
She somersaults across the floor, lands with the gun at her feet. She picks it up, holds it on everybody.
Kami Li
Don’t anyone move, or I’ll shoot. All of you get over there... and keep your hands up.
SHE MOTIONS FOR EVERYONE TO FACE THE BACK WALL. THEY COMPLY. SHE POINTS TO THE CAPTAIN AND THE COP THAT JUST ENTERED TO REMOVE THEIR WEAPONS.
They lay their guns on the floor. Kami Li kicks them away. She motions for them to face the wall. They turn around.
Kami Li
This isn’t your ordinary, average gun. It has two settings. One for stun...
SHE FIRES THE GUN AT THE COP. HE FALLS TO THE FLOOR.
Ricochet raises his ears, watches her closer.
kami li
The other setting causes the victim to disintegrate into a pile of ashes. Spontaneous Human Combustion... simplified.
KAMI LI FIRES ANOTHER BLAST AT THE CAPTAIN. HE SLUMPS TO THE FLOOR, PASSED OUT COLD.
Ricochet, apparently trained for situations like this, LEAPS for the gun in Kami Li’s hand.
Kami flips the “stun” setting to “kill.”
She pulls the trigger as the dog is VAPORIZED!
Kami Li
Who’s next?
GRIMES GLARES AT KAMI LI WITH BLOOD IN HIS EYES.
Houdini (Chet) is almost out of his restraints. His handcuffs pop open. He muffles the sound.
Kami Li
I’m a secret agent from Red China. I’m to take the visors and game back to my government.
KAMI LI CLOSES THE SUITCASE ON GRIMES’ DESK, LATCHES IT SHUT. SHE SETS THE SUITCASE UPRIGHT ON THE FLOOR.
Grimes
But I don’t understand... Why hire me to prove your husband’s death wasn’t a suicide?
HOUDINI (CHET) GETS CLOSER TO KAMI LI AS SHE LOOKS AWAY.
Kami Li
Like you, I want to retire someday soon. Since no one’s ever seen the effects of this gun, I knew I could kill him and get the insurance money. A policy I begged him to get.
THE POWER OUTSIDE GOES OFF, ONE SECTION AT A TIME.
Grimes inches closer to the red laptop.
Finally, the lights GO OFF in the police station.
insert – video game monitor
shows it’s switched to battery backup. It BEEPS twice.
Time remaining: ten minutes.
back to scene
The moment of darkness caused by the power outage gives Houdini (Chet) time to leap forward and knock Kami Li down. Her gun falls too far to retrieve.
Emergency backup lights come on, dimly lighting the place.
The suitcase full of money, games, and visors is gone!
The ladies room DOOR SLAMS shut.
Houdini (Chet) grabs Kami Li’s gun, tosses it to Grimes.
houdini (chet)
If you catch that bitch, fry her with that!
GRIMES
We have to get in the game. Can you show us how?
HOUDINI (CHET)
(nodding)
You’ll need some visors...
GRIMES REACHES INTO HIS FRONT POCKET, PULLS OUT THE THREE VISORS. HE TOSSES ONE TO MARTINEZ.
grimes
When we get in, I’ll need you to drive. If we catch her, I’ll split the money with you.
GRIMES TOSSES THE OTHER VISOR TO HOUDINI (CHET).
grimes
Bring that red laptop. You can ride in the back. Let’s go!
EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – NIGHT – THREATENING SKIES
Kami Li’s black sedan speeds through the streets, eerily lit by green streetlights.
Martinez’ patrol car rolls into view not far behind and closes fast. She turns on her SIREN and flashing lights.
int. martinez’ car
Martinez is behind the wheel while Grimes rides shotgun. Ironically, Grimes loads a sawed-off, pump-action shotgun.
martinez
I can’t get used to the steering wheel being on this side.
SHE SWERVES BACK TO THE LEFT LANE, BARELY MISSING AN ONCOMING VEHICLE.
martinez
I can’t get used to driving on this side of the road.
HOUDINI IS IN THE BACK SEAT, WATCHES A MOVING BLIP ON DR. KIDWELL’S RED LAPTOP.
houdini (chet)
It’s the opposite’s rule. It’s the virtual reality we’re in.
GRIMES
Virtual reality?
GRIMES CLOSES THE SHOTGUN, LAYS IT IN HIS LAP. HE CROSSES HIS ARMS, RETRIEVES HIS SILVER-PLATED REVOLVERS, AND STARTS RELOADING THEM.
houdini (chet)
Haven’t you figured it out yet? This is a game. Someone else is playing a game, and you’re just a virtual game piece. The reason I tried to kill you was because if you died, the game would’ve been over. It would’ve saved lives in the real world. Hope, Dylan...
GRIMES SHAKES HIS HEAD IN DISBELIEF.
houdini (chet)
Two semesters ago, you came to the Computer Science building at UCLA investigating a break-in. That’s when Kidwell saw you.
GRIMES
That’s why his face looked so familiar...
HOUDINI (CHET)
He modeled his Detective character after you for his first mystery game. We started playing it the night he died.
GRIMES SCRATCHES HIS HEAD, TRIES TO MAKE SENSE OUT OF THIS.
houdini (chet)
That’s when you stopped existing in your real world. Your wife left, your office closed... You’ve been in this game since that first night. Power outages are what happen when someone turns off their game computer.
EXT. DARK ALLEY – NIGHT
Kami Li’s car swerves down a narrow alley, knocks a power pole down along the way. Sparks fly everywhere.
Martinez almost loses control as her car fishtails and spins into a wall before it makes its way down the small alley.
Grimes (o.s.)
I saw your yearbook picture. I realized that you were Chet, just thinner. I also figured out you kids got into the game, but I wasn’t sure how...
KAMI LI’S CAR MAKES ANOTHER SHARP TURN, BUT THIS TIME DOWN A BUSY STREET.
Martinez loses ground. She accelerates.
It begins to SNOW.
grimes (o.s.)
I get it now... Kami Li is the villain created by Kidwell. Without her, I would have no homicides to investigate...
INT. GRIMES’ CAR – CONTINUOUS
Martinez turns on her windshield wipers.
Chet watches the blip on the computer. It slows down.
HOUDINI (chet)
... and she can show up whenever and wherever she wants. She’s simply a character played by the computer itself. But someone else is playing you.
GRIMES CROSSES HIS ARMS, HOLSTERING HIS PISTOLS.
grimes
Who?
HOUDINI (CHET)
You’re about to find out.
EXT. BUSY INTERSECTION – SNOWING HARDER
Kami Li comes upon a stalled garbage truck and is forced to make a quick evasive maneuver.
This causes her to CRASH into a Shell gas station sign.
INT. KAMI LI’S CAR - continuous
Kami Li is dazed, barely able to move. She looks up at the gas station sign, barely hanging now.
kami li’s pov
She can see that the “S” in “Shell” has fallen off so the sign reads, “Welcome to hell. Open twenty-four hours.”
kami li (o.s.)
What the... hell?
EXT. BUSY CITY STREET – NIGHT - SNOWING
Martinez sees the garbage truck in the middle of the road and slams on her brakes, but it’s too late.
Her car SLIDES and SLAMS into the truck.
martinez
Damn it!
GRIMES
Don’t worry, we can follow on foot. Get on the radio and request a police helicopter.
GRIMES JUMPS OUT OF THE CAR, TUCKS KAMI LI’S GUN INTO HIS BELT. MARTINEZ STARTS TO GET OUT, BUT SHE’S TOO WEAK.
Her life-force meter flashes red.
martinez
I can’t make it. I need a shot.
GRIMES
There’s a first aid kit under your seat.
HE RUNS BACK TO THE REAR DOOR AND OPENS IT FOR HOUDINI. THE RED LAPTOP SIGNALS THE, “FIVE-MINUTE WARNING.”
houdini (chet)
We don’t have much time.
GRIMES HANDS HOUDINI THE LOADED SHOTGUN.
grimes
Let’s go! Bring that laptop.
EXT. SHELL STATION – SNOWING
Kami Li opens her car door. She looks back, sees Grimes and the black prisoner get out of their car.
She eyes an open door to a nearby building. She grabs the suitcase, runs for it.
Grimes and Houdini arrive just in time to see her dart inside. They follow in hot pursuit.
ext. rooftop – night - SNOWing
Kami Li arrives on top of the roof through an open door.
She runs across the rooftop, jumps, somersaults, and lands with ease on the next roof over twenty feet away.
Grimes and Houdini arrive through the rooftop door.
grimes
(breathing hard)
Of course, elevators don’t work.
THEY TURN AND SEE KAMI LI ON THE FARAWAY ROOFTOP.
The red laptop SIGNALS the, “two-minute warning.”
Grimes and Houdini back up and run toward the next rooftop. They both make the jump -- barely.
Kami sees them, runs and jumps to another rooftop.
Grimes and Houdini lose sight of her.
A LOUD HELICOPTER appears. Its searchlight finds Kami Li.
houdini (chet)
(pointing)
There she is!
GRIMES RUNS AND JUMPS ACROSS A HUGE GAP IN ROOFTOPS, LANDS ONLY A FEW YARDS FROM KAMI LI.
Kami Li realizes how close he is, looks up, takes out a high-tech device, aims it at the helicopter overhead.
She SHOOTS out a wire with a grappling hook, which connects to the helicopter’s landing skids.
She squeezes the trigger on the device as it pulls her upwards. She has the suitcase.
Chet sees Kami Li rise higher into the air. He levels the shotgun at the middle of her towline. He squeezes the trigger as the BLAST severs her connection to the helicopter.
Kami Li falls back to the roof, lands beside Grimes.
insert – red laptop
flashes a countdown, “Ten, nine, eight...”
Houdini (Chet) backs up, gets ready to make a running jump to join Grimes. His watch CHIMES -- it’s twelve midnight! He MORPHS into an overweight, familiar person –- Chet!
chet (houdini)
(yelling)
It’s too late! I can’t make it.
KAMI LI SMILES AS SHE SQUARES OFF WITH GRIMES.
kami li
It’s just you and me...
GRIMES
I’m not afraid of a little girl.
KAMI LI
You should be.
THE MARTIAL ARTS SHOWDOWN COMMENCES.
Grimes gets in a wicked combination to Kami Li’s head, knocks off her eye patch. He sees that her glass eye is a solid Tiger’s Eye gemstone.
grimes
Eye of the tiger... so it’s you!
CHET’S WATCH
continues to CHIME as Chet watches from the other rooftop.
Kami Li executes a perfect roundhouse kick that knocks Grimes off his feet. She reaches inside her high-heeled boot, pulls out a knife.
kami li
It’s time to cut my losses.
KAMI LI FLIPS THE KNIFE HANDLE IN THE AIR, CATCHES THE BLADE, AND PREPARES TO THROW IT AT GRIMES.
Grimes pulls Kami Li’s gun from his belt, aims at her.
grimes
This is for Ricochet.
HE PULLS THE TRIGGER! INSTEAD OF KILLING HER, IT NICKS HER.
kami li
An unfortunate lack of nerve...
KAMI LI THROWS THE KNIFE AT GRIMES.
He quickly rolls out of the way. The knife impales a natural gas pipe instead. The gas HISSES with great force.
Grimes realizes this, takes out his gun-shaped cigarette lighter, holds it in front of the gas leak.
Grimes
Die the old-fashioned way... burn in hell you cold-hearted bitch!
HE LIGHTS IT, CREATING A FLAME-THROWER. IT INCINERATES HER. SHE SLUMPS OVER ON TOP OF A LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS TANK, WHICH
EXPLODES!
The blast wave from the explosion distorts the virtual world, lifts Grimes off the rooftop, and throws him to Chet’s roof.
The suitcase falls from the sky, lands right between them.
The red laptop BEEPS.
insert – computer monitor
as it signals, “Game Over.”
back to scene
It stops snowing as the morning sun rises in the West, just over the Pacific Ocean.
Grimes and Chet exchange looks.
Grimes picks up the briefcase filled with cash.
Grimes
Damn my luck... just when I finally made the big bucks.
CHET LOOKS OVER AT A ROOFTOP DOOR BEHIND GRIMES. A GREEN LIGHT UNDERNEATH GETS BRIGHTER.
Chet smiles at Grimes.
chet (houdini)
Want to escape... from hell?
THE PROFESSOR’S RED LAPTOP BEEPS AGAIN.
insert – computer monitor
A digital face appears onscreen. It’s a caricature of Kami Li. Her VOICE sounds synthesized as she SCREAMS.
ext. city street – morning
Martinez sits on the curb beside her car, administering herself a shot from a first aid kit.
She stands up quickly as her life-force meter flashes green.
A parking meter beside her flips from, “Time Remaining: one minute” to, “TIME EXPIRED.”
A GREEN LIGHT appears beneath the Shell station ladies room. Martinez runs toward the door.
Fade to: black.
FROM BLACK: FADE IN
int. dr. kidwell’s house - night
We return to the professor’s home the night he began playing the game. His grandfather clock CHIMES -- it’s midnight.
He still wears his visor. He takes it off.
He grabs his miniature tape recorder, speaks into it.
dr. kidwell
Wow... what a ride.
HE STILL STANDS IN FRONT OF HIS LAPTOP, WHICH SITS ON HIS DESK. THE COMPUTER SCREEN FLASHES, “GAME OVER.”
dr. kidwell
Of course, if I want to shorten the game, I’ll have to set the detective’s intelligence level higher than “just average.”
HE GRABS HIS BOTTLE OF SCOTCH AND A GLASS, POURS.
He picks up a framed wedding photo.
Kidwell studies the Asian girl’s face – it’s Kami Li!
Dr. kidwell
These pictures of this Asian woman and me really threw everyone off. My wife... Amazing what Photoshop can do. As if someone this pretty would be interested in me...
HE SITS IN FRONT OF HIS COMPUTER, SIPS FROM HIS GLASS.
dr. kidwell
I felt something funny at the beginning of the game... perhaps just a glitch. I just need some feedback from my students now.
INT. FRAT HOUSE - LIVING ROOM – MIDNIGHT
An alarm clock RINGS. It displays “12:00 A.M.”
A LOUD THUD can be heard in the closet, followed by AD LIBS.
The door flies open as Ethan, Gabrielle, Timmy, Dylan, and Hope fall out. They land flat on their backs on the floor.
They HEAR a LOUD THUD upstairs.
ethan
What was that?
DYLAN
It couldn’t be...
HOPE
Last one upstairs buys breakfast at Denny’s...
INT. CHET’S ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Hope is first in the door as all of them run into Chet’s room. Their jaws drop.
Chet lies in the center of his open closet.
chet
Whew! We all made it!
EVERYONE HELPS HIM OUT OF THE CLOSET, SETTING HIM ON HIS BED.
chet
Never thought I’d be glad to be coming out of a closet...
EVERYONE LAUGHS. THEN THEY NOTICE THE BACK WALL OF CHET’S ROOM. THE GAME VAULT IS VISIBLE AND OPEN. DOZENS OF GAME TITLES LINE THE WALL. THE MAGIC KEY CHET FOUND IS PARTIALLY STUCK IN THE WALL. ETHAN WALKS OVER, TAKES IT OUT.
ethan
Wow! You found the magic key and unlocked Kidwell’s vault.
DYLAN
(disappointed)
There goes my desk job.
GABRIELLE SQUATS DOWN TO LOOK TIMMY IN THE EYES.
gabrielle
Are you okay?
TIMMY
I’m fine. Can we do it again?
GABRIELLE
I hope not for awhile.
ETHAN
I’ll second that. No more video games tonight.
INT. POLICE STATION – NIGHT
The station is silent.
The cop and Captain wake up, and sit up slowly.
We see a GREEN LIGHT appear beneath the ladies room door.
A LOUD THUD comes from inside the bathroom.
The cop and Captain exchange puzzled looks.
fade to: black
FROM BLACK: FADE IN
ext. downtown los angeles – aerial view
A smoggy morning with the usual overflow traffic headed toward the downtown Los Angeles skyline. A traffic helicopter flies overhead. The HELICOPTER PILOT makes his report over a local radio station.
helicopter pilot (on radio)
It’s bumper to bumper traffic as usual, but I think I speak for everyone when I say, “thank God it’s Friday!”
THE RADIO STATION STARTS A ROCK SONG IN THE B.G.
int. ucla cafeteria – morning
Chet, Ethan, Gabrielle, Dylan, and Hope sit at their favorite table. They sit across from each other, silent.
Chet eyes a nearby vending machine.
The sight of fresh candy makes his mouth water.
Chet
Can anyone loan me fifty cents?
HE LOOKS AT HIS FRIENDS. THEY SHAKE THEIR HEADS IN DISBELIEF. JUST THEN, A CUTE, CHUBBY, BLACK GIRL WALKS PAST CHET. SHE SMILES AT HIM, WINKS, CONTINUES PAST HIM.
Chet
Aw, never mind. I’m going to start my diet today. After all, you are what you eat...
ETHAN
Tell me about it. What have we been feeding our minds lately?
DYLAN
I know what I’m not feeding it for the rest of the weekend...
HOPE AND GABRIELLE
(together)
Video games!
THEY ALL LOOK AT EACH OTHER AS IF DEEP IN THOUGHT.
dylan
I know I’ll never stop playing video games entirely, but I’m going to mix it up now... find a healthy balance between reality and virtual reality.
ETHAN
Same here. In fact, I’m joining a gym and I’m going to start working out. Maybe, play some real volleyball.
GABRIELLE
Then I’ll be your coach and trainer.
DYLAN
I can get you both free memberships at my Dad’s gym.
GABRIELLE
(to Ethan)
You can pay me back by playing catch with Timmy on weekends.
ETHAN
How ‘bout tonight?
GABRIELLE
Hope... I think I will run for class president this fall. Will you help me make posters?
HOPE
Hell, I’ll be your damn campaign manager. If I can’t get you elected, nobody can.
(EYES THE OTHERS)
Since we’re all making changes for the better, I’ve been thinking about a boob job.
EVERYONE STARES AT HER WITH HIS OR HER JAW DROPPED.
Hope
Hey, I kind of liked them.
DYLAN
I thought we were sticking to reality from now on? But just for the record, I liked them too. So if you really feel like this is something you want to do to make yourself feel better about yourself...
THE OTHERS IN THE GROUP MAKE A COLLECTIVE “GROAN” AS THEY GET UP TO LEAVE THE CAFETERIA TOGETHER.
ext. ucla cafeteria area – morning
Dr. Kidwell walks toward the Computer Science building. The five students come from the cafeteria. Kidwell spots them.
He turns and walks in their direction.
dr. kidwell
(calling out)
Hey Ethan... I got your e-mail. I have an extra visor here in my briefcase if you still want to borrow it.
THEY STOP IN THEIR TRACKS, UNSURE OF HOW TO RESPOND.
ethan
Oh hey, Doctor Kidwell. You don’t know how glad we are to see you alive, I mean -- again.
DR. KIDWELL
I also have the version with the magic key... that is if anyone’s still interested in finding it.
DYLAN
Is the internship still up for grabs?
DR. KIDWELL
Absolutely.
DR. KIDWELL REACHES INTO HIS BRIEFCASE, PULLS OUT AN EXTRA VISOR AND A GAME CD LABELED, “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE.” HE HANDS IT ALONG WITH AN EXTRA VISOR TO ETHAN.
Dylan, Ethan, and Chet all exchange looks.
chet
You know us... we love a good game. Can we just take this weekend off? We need to take a virtual reality break.
EVERYONE NODS IN AGREEMENT. THEY ALL LOOK AT EACH OTHER AS IF SOME OF LAST NIGHT WAS REAL, BUT THEY’RE NOT SURE.
dr. kidwell
I tell you what, since you were all at least willing to try it out, I’ll give each of you extra credit on the upcoming virtual reality test. How’s that?
THE GUYS NOD IN UNISON.
ethan
Your wife is beautiful, Dr. Kidwell. You met her online?
DR. KIDWELL
Wife? I’m not married. I have been looking at mail-order brides on the Internet. One site features Asian women...
CHET
(interrupting)
... Trust me professor, you don’t want to do that.
DYLAN
Yeah, I hear those type of relationships... don’t work out.
HOPE
Yeah, I heard that too. Oprah did a show on it once.
DR. KIDWELL
(awkwardly)
Well, thanks for the advice... all of you. I’ll watch my step.
ETHAN
We have other classes... so we’d better run.
DR. KIDWELL
Have a good weekend. Gabrielle and Hope... good luck on your game tomorrow.
GABRIELLE AND HOPE
(together)
Thanks, professor.
DR. KIDWELL WALKS TOWARD THE COMPUTER SCIENCE BUILDING AS THE OTHERS GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS. HE PULLS OUT HIS MINIATURE TAPE RECORDER.
Dr. kidwell
(into the recorder)
This game was real to them.
(SMILING)
This is gonna be huge.
HE CONTINUES WALKING AS A BEAUTIFUL ASIAN WOMAN WEARING SUNGLASSES CROSSES HIS PATH. SHE TURNS TO LOOK AT HIM.
ASIAN WOMAN
(with a slight
Chinese accent)
Excuse me, do you know where the Computer Science building is?
DR. KIDWELL
(pointing)
Yes, it’s over there. That’s where I teach.
HE STUDIES HER, NOT SURE OF SOMETHING.
dr. kidwell
Do I know you?
ASIAN WOMAN
I don’t think so. I just arrived in your world last night.
SHE PEEKS OVER THE TOP OF HER SHADES, A STREAMLINED VERSION OF KIDWELL’S VISOR.
her pov – of dr. kidwell
the area above her sunglasses is nothing but bright light. The area through the sunglasses appears normal.
back to scene
ASIAN WOMAN
Now that you mention it, you look familiar to me too.
SHE SMILES AT HIM. HER TEETH ARE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT.
ASIAN WOMAN
I’m looking for a Doctor Kidwell.
DR. KIDWELL
Really? At your service. Are you a student?
ASIAN WOMAN
No, but I have an idea for a virtual reality video game and I heard you’re the man to talk to.
DR. KIDWELL
Really? What’s it about?
ASIAN WOMAN
Well... It’s a role-playing game. The main character is a homicide detective...
SHE TAKES OFF HER SUNGLASSES MOMENTARILY... HER RIGHT EYE IS A GLASS TIGER’S EYE, THE OPPOSITE OF KAMI LI’S LEFT EYE.
dr. kidwell
(to himself)
How can it be?
SHE PUTS HER SUNGLASSES BACK OVER HER EYES.
asian woman (kami li)
I beg your pardon?
DR. KIDWELL
(thinking quickly)
Uh... perhaps I could buy you a cup of coffee? They have a Starbucks in the cafeteria.
ASIAN WOMAN (KAMI LI)
No thanks. I hear caffeine is bad for you.
(GRINS IMPISHLY)
I am out of cigarettes though.
DR. KIDWELL
You’re in luck... they even stock foreign brands there.
THEY WALK TOGETHER TOWARD THE CAFETERIA. THEY SMILE AT EACH OTHER, TALK M.O.S., WALK INTO THE SUNLIGHT.
grimes (v.o.)
In a way, I brought them together. But hey, without Doc, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Oh yeah, and I gotta give credit to that kid, Chet. Houdini has nothing on him. Theoretically, that magic key could combine two worlds... Well, it did.
EXT. THE BAHAMAS – DAY
The SUN sets on a beach, time-lapse. WAVES mix with the sound of Caribbean MUSIC.
The bare feet of a man and woman lying on a beach towel are in the f.g. The man’s feet belong to Detective Grimes, dressed in Bermuda shorts. His female companion is Detective Martinez, dressed in a skimpy bikini.
Both of them wear sunglasses, which are Dr. Kidwell’s visors.
grimes (v.o.)
As for Detective Martinez, well... she finally came out of the closet... the straight closet, if you can believe that sort of thing.
RICOCHET SITS BESIDE THEM BOTH ALSO WEARING A VISOR.
grimes (v.o.)
Like I said, this dog has nine lives...
GRIMES REACHES OVER, PICKS UP A VIDEO GAME BOX.
grimes
(to Martinez)
Are you up for some beach volleyball?
MARTINEZ
The video game, or the real thing?
GRIMES
What’s the difference?
HE HOLDS UP THE GAME CASE FOR HER TO SEE.
insert – game case, “beach volleyball”
with two girls in red and blue bikinis -- Hope and Gabrielle!
back to scene
A young WAITRESS walks up to Grimes and Martinez.
WAITRESS
Can I get you two anything?
MARTINEZ
Two more margaritas... and a bucket of Coronas. And can you deliver them to our yacht?
THE WAITRESS SMILES, WINKS, AND WALKS BACK TOWARD THE HOTEL’S OUTDOOR BAR, “THE BLUE PARROT.”
Martinez watches the girl as she walks away.
grimes
So, tell me... aren’t you even curious about women now?
MARTINEZ
Are you?
GRIMES
You have to ask?
MARTINEZ
If only they looked as good without these glasses.
GRIMES
Who wears glasses in bed?
MARTINEZ
Someone who likes to read a good murder mystery late at night...
MARTINEZ SMILES, JUMPS UP, AND RUNS TOWARD THE COASTLINE.
Grimes gets up, follows. He still wears his gold watch.
grimes (V.o.)
You’re probably wondering, what’s my opposite? Well, I was married, doomed to work past retirement, and poor. It’s a virtual reversal. I heard the professor fixed that glitch and bought a mansion in Malibu. He married that Asian woman, but don’t worry about him. Remember the opposite rule... she turned out real sweet. As for me, it turns out the key to happiness was just that... a key.
AS GRIMES WALKS AWAY, A VIDEO GAME COVER FALLS OUT OF HIS ROLLED-UP BEACH TOWEL. IT LANDS FACE DOWN ON THE SAND.
insert – video game cover
for “VIRTUAL HOMICIDE.” We can read the back cover, “Solve the big case, make the big bucks, and retire in the Bahamas.”
The photo of the detective sipping margaritas on the beach and wearing sunglasses is... Detective Jim Grimes!
back to scene
Grimes and Martinez walk into the bright sunset.
Song: “THE FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT, I GOTTA WEAR SHADES” begins.
fade out.
the end
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