THE MEDUSA FILES

"PILOT"

Written by Thiago Nolla

FADE IN:

INT. LABORATORY - THE MEDUSA PROJECT - NIGHT

LILITH HOFFMAN, 51, is at her laboratory, analyzing something

on the microscope. Eventually, she writes something on her
notebook, quickly returning to the microscope.

Suddenly, PRESTON CROSS, 44, appears at the door, with arms

crossed and a smile on his face.

PRESTON
You know-- Just because you wanna save
the world, doesn't mean you don't have
to sleep.

Heather looks at him and smiles back.

LILITH
I thought you were home.

PRESTON
Yeah, I probably should. But I didn't
want to be alone, so--

LILITH
Preston, I told you that we can't do
that in here. And I don't have time.
Neither do you. We're being part of
something far too big.

PRESTON
And does that mean we don't get to
have a little fun.

Lilith looks at him, reproachful. Preston gets defensive.

Lilith gets back to the microscope, yawning.

PRESTON (CONT'D)
Okay, if you ain't listening to me, at
least listen to yourself. You have got
to get some sleep and you know that.
So why don't you go home?

LILITH
I can't, I have to finish this.

PRESTON
Then let me help you. I can finish it.
You go get some rest and tomorrow
you'll be brand new. I promise.

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 2.

Lilith hesisates and then gives up. She gets up, takes of her
coat and throws it in an iron basket. She stretches and goes
to a cabinet, getting her purse. She busts Preston looking at
her.

LILITH
What?

PRESTON
Nothing-- It's just-- You amaze me
with this passion. It's impeller.

Lilith laughs.

LILITH
Well, impelling is our motto. It
should be, at least. We're changing
stuff. Don't you feel excited.

PRESTON
Of course I do.

Lilith puts on a jacket.

LILITH
I'm gonna go now. But if you need
help, call--

PRESTON
Call you. I know. I'll be fine.

Lilith flinches and then leaves the lab.

INT. HALLWAY - THE SAME

Lilith is heading to the elevator, looking for something in

her purse. Before she reaches it, she finds out that she
forgot her keys at the lab.

Moaning, she quickly returns to the lab, but stops

immediately once she hears Preston talking to someone. Lilith
stays close to the door.

PRESTON (INSIDE)
I know-- She won't-- We both know
she's not gonna do anything. We just
have to tell her.
(silence.)
Eventually we'll have to tell her. And
if she-- If she doesn't get along with
it-- Okay. Okay, we'll do it your way.

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 3.

(silence.)
We're almost there.

Lilith frowns. Suddenly, she bumps into an extinguisher,

making some noise. Preston stops talking inside.

PRESTON
Hello?

Lilith stays quiet. We see Preston head to the door. When he

opens the door, he looks around: there is no one. At the end
of the corridor, Lilith is panting.

SNAP TO BLACK.

FROM THE BLACK-- "ONE MONTH LATER"

EXT. STREET - DAY

HEATHER GRANGER-HOFFMAN, 31, is outside her car, smoking a

cigarette. She observes a group of people approaching a big,
fenced house across the street. She sighs, finishes the cigar
and throws it on the street. Heather puts her sunglasses on
and starts walking towards the house.

EXT. BACKYARD - PRUDENCE'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Heather stands still at an opened iron gate, looking up,

expressionlessly. She passes through the gate, drawing
attention from the people inside the house. Suddenly, her
aunt, PRUDENCE DELFINO, 53, comes rushing through the front
door.

PRUDENCE (SCREAMING)
Heather!

HEATHER (SMILING, CANDIDLY)

Hello, auntie.

They hug for a few moments.

HEATHER (CONT'D)
How you're holding up?

PRUDENCE
Well-- I'm as fine as possible, but
how are you?

Heather takes another cigarette out of her pocket.

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 4.

HEATHER (LIGHTING UP THE CIGAR)

I'm fine. I mean, I don't know how I'm
supposed to be feeling, to be honest.

PRUDENCE
It must've been a shock. I wish you
were here when they called us.

HEATHER
I wish I was here too. For you.

Prudence smiles and takes her hand.

PRUDENCE
C'mon, let's go inside. Preston's
here.

Heather sighs again, almost imperceptible.

INT. HALL - PRUDENCE'S HOME - MOMENTS LATER

Hesitant, Heather goes in. She is greeted by sorrow eyes that

come from people she does not know. Trying to avoid them, she
goes straight to the kitchen.

INT. KITCHEN - THE SAME

Going towards a cabinet, she takes a bottle of whisky out and

pours it in a nearby glass, soaking it in one sip. She pours
a little bit more. Preston appears, holding a glass of vodka.

PRESTON
Hi, babe.

HEATHER
Preston!

He hugs her for a brief moment. Heather can see that he's
been crying, due to his swollen eyes.

HEATHER (CONT'D)
How are you? I mean, given the
circumstances?

PRESTON
I'm devastated, but I wanna check on
you. You seem surprisingly normal.

Heather drinks.

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 5.

HEATHER
Well, you know that my mother and I
never had an usual relationship. But,
I mean, I'm in a quiet grief. And I
don't think those people quite
understand it. It seems they're
waiting for me to meltdown or
something.

PRESTON
I don't blame you. I know how Lilith
was difficult. But I never thought
she'd do-- It--

Preston hawks and drinks, shaking his head briefly before

drawing a smile.

HEATHER
Do you know what really happened? I'd
ask Prudence, but I didn't want to
give her another reason to cry.

PRESTON
I only know what the police told me. I
found her in the lab. Dead. Apparently
she poisoned herself with the drug we
were testing.

Preston cries quietly.

PRESTON (CONT'D)
I should've seen it coming--

HEATHER (INTERRUPTING HIM)

Don't. Don't do this to yourself.
(puts her hands on his shoulders)
Lilith wasn't much of a talker. And
you know that. There wasn't much you
could've done.

PRESTON
But I knew she was having problems. I
noticed how different she'd become.
Some sort of depression, I don't know.
I wish she'd told me something--
Anything!

HEATHER
Blaming yourself won't do any good. I
wish she'd told anything to anyone.

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 6.

PRESTON
I wish I were more helpful--

HEATHER
You know you were. You don't have a
fucking crystal ball.

PRESTON
I know, I know.
(brief silence)
I'm gonna get another shot. Do you
want anything?

Heather holds her glass up. Preston smiles one last time
before walking away. Prudence appears at the door.

PRUDENCE
You okay, honey?

HEATHER
Better than Preston, for sure.

PRUDENCE
Do you wanna see her?

HEATHER (MOMENTS LATER)

I'll be right there. Just not now.

PRUDENCE
Okay, baby.

Prudence leaves. Heather finishes her drink and heads to the

bottle again. She stops and looks at it, eventually taking it
and dodging people, heading upstairs.

INT. HEATHER'S OLD ROOM - THE SAME

Heather opens the door and, once she's in, she closes it. She
takes another sip of the whisky and wonders around the room.

She sees her old music posters hanging on the wall, her old
books dusting in the shelves and, in a nightstand, and old
picture of her as child and her mother. She takes the picture
and looks at it.

HEATHER (MURMURING)
You should've told me.

She puts the picture down and she hears noises outside.
Heather heads to the window, pulling the curtains and
noticing that the press has arrived at Prudence's house.

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 7.

EXT. BACKYARD - THE SAME

Dozens of photographers and journalists are standing outside

Prudence's property, screaming something inaudible. The
people inside the memorial are looking through the windows,
scared or intrigued.

Prudence is outside, being protected by the closed iron gate.

She's asking the press to go away. Heather breaks out the
front door, rushing to help her aunt.

HEATHER
C'mon Prudence, let's go inside.

PRUDENCE
I knew this would happen. I should've
asked for security or something.

HEATHER
They can't get inside. Just leave them
and we'll sneak everybody out through
the back door.

Heather goes along with Prudence, looking back at the press.

JOURNALIST #1
Miss Hoffman!

HEATHER (LOOKING BACK AND SCREAMING)

GO AWAY!

JOURNALIST #2
Miss Hoffman, how do you feel about
what happened?

JOURNALIST #3
Were you close to Lilith?

JOURNALIST #4
How are you grieving?

Heather leaves Prudence and goes back to the journalists.

HEATHER
How am I grieving? Did you really ask
me that?
(brief silence)
Look,I really don't know what you guys
expect to get coming here. She's dead.
That's all there is to it. There's
nothing else to say. If you want more

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information, you can go to the police

and leave us the fuck alone. This--
(pointing to them)
--Is not good journalism. Believe me.
This is just a bunch of motherfuckers
trying to get a scoop about a
scientist to killed herself. And it
takes a lot of nerve coming here and
bothering my aunt, who's already
having a really awful time dealing
with this.

JOURNALIST #2
Do you know why she killing herself
has something to do with The Medusa
Project?

JOURNALIST #3
What about the bribe scandals? Do you
think it had anything to do with that?

HEATHER (GETTING CLOSER TO THEM)

What the fuck are you saying? That she
killing herself was some kind of
spectacle to draw attention? Are you
serious?

A car appears at the back. Two security guards come out of

the front seats. Another one comes out of the back and opens
the door. AMANDA DAVENPORT, 35, gets out of the car, wearing
sunglasses and a round, beach-esque hat. Amanda draws
immediate attention from the press, who run to talk to her.

Amanda is escorted by her securities until the gate. Heather

rushes to open it.

AMANDA (TAKING OFF THE SUNGLASSES)

Heather, my darling. I'm so, so sorry
for your loss.

HEATHER (SURPRISED)
Amanda! I didn't expect you to come
today.

AMANDA
I had to. To pay my condolences.
Lilith was one of the best people I
had ever had the pleasure to work
with. And she was such a close friend.
The company's only running 'cause of
her.

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HEATHER
Ahn-- Thank you-- For showing up.

JOURNALISTS (FROM OUTSIDE)

Miss Davenport! Miss Davenport!

AMANDA (TURNING TO THEM)

I'm just going to say one thing:
Lilith Hoffman was a brilliant, hard-
working woman and a dear friend of
mine. Her passing is a tragedy to the
scientific community, to her peers and
specially to her family, to whom I
happen to be very close with. You
coming here not only shows how
desperately sordid you are all are,
but how disrespectful you can be.
Questioning the severeness of
depression is disgusting. You should
be ashamed of yourselves.

Amanda hugs Heather and they both walk to the door, among
screaming protests from the journalists.

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE SAME

Amanda and Heather are sit in the living room. Amanda is

looking candidly to Heather, while she keeps drinking her
whisky.

After a few moments, Amanda reaches for Heather's hand.

AMANDA
I just want you to know that I'm here
for you. For anything. I know you and
Lilith didn't have quite the
relationship, but she really cared
about you and so do I.

HEATHER
Thank you.
(silence.)
Ahn-- Have you heard any news from the
police? About-- The case?

AMANDA
I wish they'd talked to me, dear. But
I know as much as you and everybody
else. Being a CEO doesn't make you
special for the special forces.
(she giggles and stops abruptly.)

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If it makes you a little more

comfortable, no one really knew what
was going on.

HEATHER
I know, I know-- Preston told me the
same thing. Not even I knew what was
going on, she was a really closed
person to the world.

AMANDA
Did you speak with Preston? Did he say
anything?

HEATHER
Nothing much-- He blames himself for
what happened, cuz you know, they were
partners and everything-- The only
thing he mentioned was that she kinda
poisoned herself with the thing they
were working on.

AMANDA
Uhum-- And what else?

HEATHER (FROWNING)
Just that-- Why?

AMANDA (SMILING)
I just wanted to know.

Heather keeps frowning. Prudence appears at the door jamb.

Heather and Amanda look at her.

PRUDENCE
Hello, darlings. We're gonna start
now.

HEATHER
We'll be right there, auntie.

Amanda stands up. Heather follow her.

INT. BACK PATIO - SAME - MOMENTS LATER

A lot of people are sitting in wooden chairs. They are

gathered around a huge portrait of Lilith. A minister is up
on an improvised stage, getting ready to speak. Prudence is
sitting right beside Heather, while Amanda is standing
acrosse the patio.

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MINISTER (CLEARING THROAT)

We are gathered here today to
celebrate the life and the legacy of
Lilith Hoffman, who has tragically
passed away and has left our world.
Lilith was a beloved mother and
friend, and devoted her entire career
to try to make a world a better place--

Amanda starts walking to the back of the patio, drawing

attention from Heather. Heather follows her with the eye
until she stops right beside Preston, who has been quiet this
whole time. They start talking normally.

HEATHER (MURMURING)
What the--

They keep talking. The conversation evolves to a vivid, but

still low-volumed argument.

PRUDENCE (TO HEATHER)

What's going on, sweetie?

HEATHER
Amanda and Preston are talking back
there. She seems-- I don't know,
agitated--

PRUDENCE (WHISPERING)
Everyone's weird these days, Heather.
I don't blame them for acting like
this.

Amanda and Preston glance to Heather, who frowns.

HEATHER
D'you think it has something to do
with mom? And what happened?

PRUDENCE (POLITELY LOOKING BACK)

Maybe. But don't worry. I'm sure it's
nothing.

Amanda and Preston look again to Heather, doing a few

movements with their hands. Heather twitch her lips,
intrigued and confused.

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE SAME - END OF DAY

Prudence stands next to the door, saying goodbye and thanking

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people for showing up. She hugs people, who give condolences
once again before leaving. As soon as a group of them finally
leave, she closes the door and sighs. There are still a few
people in the house, spread through the house.

Prudence narrows her eyes and sees Heather in the kitchen,

fetching a drink. Prudence starts walking towards her.

INT. KITCHEN - THE SAME

Prudence enters. Heather is mixing some drinks. Once she sees

Prudence, she briefly smiles.

PRUDENCE
You okay, babe?

Heather holds her glass up and soaks the drink in one gulp.

PRUDENCE (CONT'D)
I'll take that as a no.

HEATHER
I'm fine, Prudence-- I'm just tired.
I'm glad it's finally over.

PRUDENCE
Me too, it's been a busy day. I just
wanna sleep.
(brief silence.)
I wish you were at the burial.

HEATHER (TAKING THE WHISKY BOTTLE)

It wouldn't have mattered to her.

PRUDENCE
But it mattered to me.

Heather looks at her and sighs before pouring more whisky.

Prudence follows her moves quietly.

HEATHER
I am here. For you. And I wouldn't
know what to do there.

PRUDENCE
That's okay-- I know you and her
weren't exactly the most normal
concept of mother and daughter-- But
at least you're here and I'm glad--

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AMANDA (SUDDENLY APPEARING, INTERRUPTING

PRUDENCE)
Heather, darling!

Amanda approaches Prudence and Heather and hugs them for a

while.

AMANDA (CONT'D)
I have got to go, but you both must
call me if you need anything. I'm here
for you the same way Lilith was always
there for me.

HEATHER
We appreciate, Amanda. Thank you.

Amanda looks candidly and pitifully to her.

AMANDA
The service was remarkable, Prudence.
I'm very sorry for your loss.

PRUDENCE
Thank you dear.

AMANDA
I'm gonna go now, but you know: you
can call me whenever you need to. And
you should visit me back at the
company, whenever you have the time.

HEATHER
Sure will.

AMANDA
Okay, bye--

Amanda leaves. Heather and Prudence wait for her to get out
of the house.

PRUDENCE
Can I say something? I really didn't
expect her to come.

HEATHER
Yeah, I thought that was weird to. But
I guess it wouldn't have looked good
for her boss to not acknowledge what
happened. Specially when it happened
inside one of her labs.

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PRUDENCE
My goodness, child! Maybe she was just
being empathetic.

HEATHER
Maybe--

Heather drinks again.

HEATHER (CONT'D)
Come on, Prudence, I'm gonna help you
clean that up before leaving.

PRUDENCE
Nah, you don't have to. I like
cleaning, I find it very therapeutic.
And besides, people are still here and
I know they're gonna keep messing
things up.

HEATHER (GIGGLING)
Are you sure? Do you need me to stay
for the night?

Prudence holds her cheek with her right hand and smiles.

PRUDENCE
I'll be fine.
(imitating Amanda.)
And if I need anything, I'll call you.

Heather laughs and hugs Prudence. Heather kisses her aunt on

the forehead and leaves the glass on the table before going
back to the living room.

INT. LIVING ROOM - THE SAME

Heather goes straight to a BEIGE, LEATHERED ARMCHAIR and

starts looking for her purse. When she finds it, she turns to
the door and sees a big picture of her mother staring at her.

Heather ignores it, expressionlessly, and opens the door to

get out.

Her phone beeps. She takes it and opens the messages. It's
ELIZABETH "LIZZIE" PARKER, 30, Heather's romantic affair.

WE READ--

LIZZIE
Hey, babe. U coming home yet? Got

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outta work early today.

HEATHER (TYPING)
Leaving now. Be home soon. Gotta do
something first.

EXT. BACKYARD - THE SAME

Heather's walking towards the gate. Prudence appears at the

door, holding a BOX.

PRUDENCE (SCREAMING)
Heather, wait!

Heather looks back. Prudence walks fast to her.

PRUDENCE (CONT'D)
I forgot to give you something.

Prudece gives the box to her. Heather hangs the bag on her
shoulder before taking it.

PRUDENCE (CONT'D)
The police brought this earlier after
the investigation. They said it
wouldn't help them with the case. I
didn't know what to do with that,
maybe you'll find it useful.

HEATHER
What is this?

PRUDENCE
Stuff from your mother's work. Just
some videotapes. She used to record
basically everything to review later--
I guess it helped her, I don't know.

HEATHER
Well-- thank you, auntie. I dont know
what to do with them, but I'll think
of something.

PRUDENCE (HUGGING HER)

Okay, honey. Drive safe. Love you.

HEATHER
Love you too.

Prudence walks back to the house. Heather looks at the box

again, confused.

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EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER

Heather gets into her car, putting the box on the passenger's
seat. She starts the engine and drives through the street,
looking one last time to Prudence's home.

EXT. STREET - LATER

Half an hour later, Heather is stuck in traffic, pattering

her fingers at the steering wheel. Suddenly, she glances to
the box beside her, hesitating before passing her fingers
through the lid.

A honk frightens her. Heather looks at the green traffic

light and starts driving, sighing again.

EXT. CEMETERY - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT

Heather stops the car. She hesitates a little, before getting

her coat at the backseat and getting out of the car. She
looks around, staring at the gravestones as she walks to the
middle of the field.

Suddenly, she stops. She is front of Lilith's grave. Heather

kneels and stays in silence for a moment.

HEATHER
I don't know why I came here tonight--
But it mattered to Prudence, so--
Hello, mother.
(silence.)
I really wish you'd told me what was
going on. I know we weren't close or
anything, and I know you had your work
and you didn't care about feelings and
anything-- But look at you now. Look
where you are.
(silence.)
You should've told me. Maybe I
could've helped you. Or you should've
told Prudence-- You hurt her. She's
completely broken and she's trying to
be strong again. But you didn't tell
her what the fuck was going on. And
now it's all gone.
(silence.)
I used to miss you, you know? I used
to think that someday we would be a
real family-- But I just stopped
missing you. Prudence was my family.
She even met Lizzie. And I guess you

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didn't even know she existed.

(silence.)
If you're hearing me, now you know how
I feel. At least for once.

Heather gets up. She takes a flower out of her pockets and
drops onto the grave. When she starts walking back to her
car, she notices a BLACK CAR parked all the way across the
graveyard.

She frowns and decides to stop, a little scared. Nothing

happens. Heather starts walking again and, suddenly, the car
starts the engine and leaves the place in a hurry. Heather
follows the car with her eyes until it disappears into the
night.

Heather frowns, intrigued and anxious.

INT. HEATHER'S APARTMENT - HALL - LATER

WE HEAR-- key chain.

A door opens. It's Heather. She's having trouble getting into

the apartment, since she's holding the box Prudence gave her
and a few supermarket bags.

After some struggle, she gets in, closing the door behind
her. She looks around, staring at the small kitchen and the
conjoined dining/living room further along. The TV is off,
but she hears something in the bedroom.

Heather puts the bags on a marble counter.

HEATHER
Lizzie?

No one answers. A subtle sound of running water in the shower

can be heard. Heather walks slowly and seed a note stuck on
the fridge.

WE READ--

LIZZIE
There's mac and cheese in the fridge
and some pie in the oven. Love you.

Heather sighs, briefly smiling. She opens the fridge and

takes a half bottle of wine.

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INT. LIVING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Heather is on the couch, the glass of wine placed on a

hardwood center table and a half-eaten mac and cheese in a
tupperware. She's looking inside her mother's box, taking out
some videotapes, some documents and a few pictures she kept
when she was away.

One of the picture displays a younger version of her standing

beside a happier version of her mother. Heather is
expressionless, looking a few seconds to the pictures before
puting it aside.

Eventually, she takes one of the videotapes. WE READ-- Work

#4. Heather hesitates for a second. She looks at the TV.

Suddenly, Lizzie appears. She's wearing a robe and drying her

curly hair.

LIZZIE
Heather!

Heather smiles and gets up. Lizzie comes closer and kisses
her.

LIZZIE (CONT'D)
I didn't know you were already here.

HEATHER
Well, you know me-- Quiet as a rock.

They giggle briefly. Lizzie looks to the open box in front of

the couch.

LIZZIE
What is it?

HEATHER
Nothing much-- Just some stuff
Prudence gave to me. It was from
Lilith's work.

Lizzie looks at her with pity. She holds Heather and hugs
her, not quite sure what else to do.

LIZZIE
I'm sorry I couldn't be there. I was--

HEATHER
I know babe.
(looking deeply to her.)

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You don't have to apologize. And It

was a good thing you didn't go. You
wouldn't like there. Too morbid, even
for you.

LIZZIE
Well-- I'm not gonna say it was hard
for you, because-- you know, because
of everything. But it's still sad.

HEATHER
It was harder for Prudence, that's for
sure. But I'm glad I'm home.

Heather goes back to the couch and throws herself in it.

Lizzie sits beside her, laying on her shoulder.

LIZZIE
Are you sure you're okay.

HEATHER
Lizzie--

LIZZIE
I just want to be sure.

HEATHER
I am. I promise.

LIZZIE
Okay, then.
(silence.)
So-- Where did you go? You texted me
saying you needed to go somewhere--

HEATHER
I went to see her. I mean, not see
her, but you know-- I didn't even know
what I was doing, but something
Prudence said made me go there, I
don't know--

LIZZIE
Did you feel better?

HEATHER
I guess-- I think I needed some
closure. She's had one. She's gone.
But I'm still here and I never got the
chance to say to her what I wanted.
And now she didn't have anywhere to

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go, so she had to listen to me.

Lizzie puts her hands on her shoulder and looks straight into
her eyes.

LIZZIE
I'm glad you did that, Heather, I
really am. But don't hold any grudges
againt her. It won't do any good to
you. You had your differences and
problems, but it's all in the past
now.

HEATHER (SMILING)
I won't.

LIZZIE
I know.

Lizzie and Heather look at each other. They kiss

passionately. Heather interrupts the kiss.

HEATHER
I need to take a shower first.

Lizzie frowns and gets up. She starts walking towards the
bedroom and unties her robe, dropping it to the floor. She
looks through the shoulders to a perplexed Heather.

LIZZIE
Well? Don't you need to take a shower?

Heather laughs and follows her.

INT. BEDROOM - THE SAME - NEXT DAY

An alarm goes on. Heather wakes up, still sleepy, and reaches
for her cellphone, turning the alarm off. She turns to the
other side and kisses Lizzie, waking her up too.

INT. LIVING ROOM - LATER

Heather is on the couch, looking again through the videotapes

and documents. Lizzie is walking desperately through the
corridors, trying to finish her cup of coffee while getting
dressed.

HEATHER
Babe, are you sure you don't want me
to help you?

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LIZZIE
Nope. You have to rest.

HEATHER
Who says I have to rest?

LIZZIE (APPROACHING HER)

Everyone else. It's what you're
supposed to do during the mourning
time or whatever.

Lizzie kisses her on the forehead.

HEATHER
But I'm not mourning.

LIZZIE (PACKING UP)

Yeah, I know, but you can't go back to
work yet, so you'll have to.

Heather grumbles. Lizzie closes her suitcase and goes to the

mirror, fixing her tie.

HEATHER
Do you know when you'll be back?

LIZZIE
Well, I'm going back to the court
today. Apparently the judge is fond of
adjourning sexual harassment cases,
and I've had it.

HEATHER
I can't believe they still haven't
closed it.

LIZZIE
Well, you know: white, rich people
covering shit up to protect whatever
it is they're protecting.

HEATHER
You're gonna get them, babe.

LIZZIE
I hope.

Lizzie goes to the kitchen to get more coffee. Heather sighs,

bored, looking aroung the living room and then to the
videotapes one more time.

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 22.

HEATHER
Lizzie?

LIZZIE (FROM THE KITCHEN)

What?

HEATHER
Do you know if we still have that VCR
somewhere?

LIZZIE (FROM THE KITCHEN)

VCR? I didn't even know we still had
one of those.

HEATHER
I had one of those when I was still
working from home. But I don't know
where the hell I put it.

LIZZIE (RETURNING)
Then we probably threw it out at some
point. When you went back to the
Daily, remember?

HEATHER (MURMURING)
Shit--

Lizzie goes to Heather and kisses her before taking the

suitcase and heading to the door.

LIZZIE
If you need anything, call me. Love
you.

HEATHER
Love you too.

Lizzie slams the door. Heather stands still, looking at the

door, not knowing what to do.

Heather returns to the couch, throwing herself in the midst

of videotapes and single sheets. She looks at the picture of
her and Lilith.

HEATHER (CONT'D)
Fuck it.

Heather takes her phone and dials.

HEATHER (SECONDS LATER)

Hello, Joe? It's Heather. So, I really

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 23.

need a favor and you're the only one

who can help me.

EXT. STREET - THE DAILY HERALD - DAY

Heather is reclined in a glass window, near an iron sign that

says The Daily Herald. She's smoking, anxious, while tapping
her feet on the sidewalk. She's carrying a big bag full of
Lilith's videotapes.

Suddenly, the front door opens. It's JOE RILEY, 23, a young
writing assistant who once was helped by Heather. He looks
around and sees her. Heather waves at him. Joe runs to her.

JOE
You are insane, you know.

HEATHER
Thank you so much, Joe. But now we're
even.

JOE
No, no-- You owe me, big time. I could
lose my job for that, you know? And my
bills won't pay themselves.

HEATHER
Okay, okay, no need to give me a
lecture. How am I going in?

JOE
Through the back. Zedd lent me the
keys and there's almost no one in the
building right now. You have like ten
minutes.

HEATHER
Okay, let's go.

Heather and Joe turn the corner and head to an alley.

EXT. BACK ALLEY - MOMENTS LATER

When in the alley, Heather looks around. Joe tries a few keys
before opening a metal door, as quick as possible. The door
creaks.

JOE (TO HEATHER)

Go, go, go.

Heather enters, followed by Joe, who closes the door behind

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 24.

them.

INT. INCOMING LOADS - THE DAILY HERALD

Joe turns on the lights. The dimly-lit place is destined for

incoming loads to the company. It is full of boxes, mail,
discarded material and some old issues of the newspaper.

JOE
This way.

Joe starts walking through the boxes, heading to another

closed door.

JOE (CONT'D)
I still don't know why you did that,
you know.

HEATHER
What are you talking about?

JOE
C'mon Heather, you know damn right
what I'm talking about.

HEATHER
People are overreacting, Joe. I didn't
do anything.

JOE
You snapped. You literally went after
someone. Everyone thought you went
nuts.

HEATHER
Everyone?

They go in an empty corridor, now inside the building.

INT. FIRST FLOOR - THE SAME

CONTINUE--

HEATHER
Everyone?

JOE
You know what I meant, Heather. We're
not supposed to do this kinda shit.

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 25.

HEATHER
Joe, the cameras weren't supposed to
get that. They were off. I wasn't even
working, and you know that. That
fucking piece of homophobic shit was
coming for me. I wouldn't let that be.

JOE
And you jeopardized your entire career
for that.

HEATHER
I'd do it again if I had the chance.
Me being suspended doesn't change the
fact that I was right and that this
place should've backed me up. Don't
you think?

JOE
I know you're right. But now you're
gone and I don't have anyone else
here. Specially after seeing that they
don't give a fuck about us.

HEATHER
Joe, I'll be back. This is temporary
and you know that. They know I'm
right. I shouldn't have acted like
this, but I did. There's nothing else
to say. And I'm here for you, inside
or outside of here.

Joe sighs.

JOE
We're almost there.

Joe and Heather approach a room entitled Exhibition Room. Joe

use another key to open it. They go inside, locking the door.

JOE (CONT'D)
Okay. We have an unused VCR back
there. I don't really know if it
stills works, but it's the only one
you can use. It's in the back. I'm
gonna stay here if someone shows.

HEATHER
Okay.

Heather starts walking to the back of the room.

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 26.

HEATHER (CONT'D, TURNING TO HIM)

Joe?

Joe looks at her.

HEATHER (CONT'D)
Thank you.

JOE (LOW)
Go!

Heather heads to the VCR, trying to hide herself through

dozens of shelves and filming equipment. She takes an
earphone out of her bag, connecting it to the VCR. She takes
one of the videotapes out of the bag and places it in the
VCR.

The monitor takes a little long before starts working. Lilith

appears on the screen.

LILITH
Is it working?

Heather lays back on the chair, staring at the sight of her

mother.

LILITH (CONT'D)
Okay-- First day of work. I was hired
by The Medusa Project a few days ago
and it didn't take much time for they
to have me starting on their study. I
haven't got much information yet, but
I'm excited. I think I haven't been
excited for something like this since
I got my Master's Degree.
As far as I know, I have a team
working with me, including Preston.
We're analyzing data over the impact
of newly developed vaccines and their
effect on diseases. We have come to
the conclusion that, as we dive into
the future and the world keeps seeking
for progress, ancient viruses,
bacteria and organisms unknows to the
society as we know it today are being
spread through melting glaciers,
through rampant consumption of animals
and natural resources and the
continuous growing of socioeconomic
disparity. Over a thousand years

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 27.

later, it seems that we're heading

back to the Middle Ages, on the verge
of facing another global health crisis
that doesn't seem inclined to stop.

Our main goal is to find something

else. A substance, a vaccine, a pill
that can perpetuate the existence of
human race on Earth, before is too
late. Some of my co-workers have
already started the researches and we
believe that we'll find something.

Heather takes the videotape off. She moves on to the next

one.

LILITH (CONT'D)
I decided to come back to the
videotapes as soon as we find
something. And thirty days later, it
seems our efforts are paying off. We
have found some kind of biomass hidden
inside our own genetic code. It
appears to be a different crack to a
certain kind of amino acid that has
its own purpose but, with a thoroughly
and cautious enhancement, it can be
reinserted into our DNA to improve our
own organism. But we haven't found a
way to extract this especific crack
without impregnations.

Heather takes the second videotape off. She moves on to the

next.

In a series of repetitive movements, Heather watches a lot of

the videotapes, still not surprised or caught up by what she
sees. Then, she takes one of the few tapes left, putting it
into the VCR.

LILITH (CONT'D)
There's something wrong about this.
All of this. And I don't think I can
stay here.

Heather frowns, suddenly interested. Lilith looks pale and

exhausted in the video.

LILITH (CONT'D)
When I was first called to be a part
of this project, I thought I was

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 28.

finally going to do some good, which

was the main reason I got into
biomedicin in the first place. But
things are not black and white. There
are some people who would do
unthinkable things to achieve what
they want. And the unthinkable is
happening here, even if everyone else
chooses not to see that.

I don't know what to do and I don't

know if I can do anything. Because I
think they know. They know I'm aware.
They know I'm awake. And they won't
let me be.

Someone calls for Lilith in the video. She quickly turns it

off. The video turns to static.

Heather stays in shock, her eyes wide open. She keeps staring
at the static and, suddenly, she turns to the back in search
of another videotape. She puts it in the VCR, but it doesn't
work. Nor does the next one and the last one.

Heather frowns. In a hurry, she takes her phone and calls

Lizzie. It goes straight to the voicemail.

HEATHER
Lizzie, call me as soon as you can. I
think I found something. About Lilith.
I have got to show you. Hope you get
this message soon.

Heather hangs up. She takes her and her mother's picture out
of her pocket, staring at it.

HEATHER
Oh, Lilith-- What have you done?

SNAP TO BLACK.

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