The Mentor
By A. Peter Swearengen
Copyright © 2001 Idyllist, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
ACT II
ACT III
FADE IN:
EXT. BUSY MANHATTAN SIDEWALK -- DAY
KYLE (V.O.)
The root of all evil is an identity
crisis. We define ourselves by
similarities and differences, and by
how we think other people percieve
those similarities and differences.
If at some point we decide there's
nobody left out there to compare
ourselves with, that's when the real
trouble starts.
INT. PRACTICE ROOM -- DAY
CLARENCE, mid-50's, unathletic, shy, couldn't finish a bottle
of beer if you payed him, practices his violin with intense
concentration.
KYLE (V.O.)
There are three people alive today I
consider have something in common
with me. First, there's Clarence,
the cheese store salesman. Clarence
took up the violin at age 52, well
beyond that point where most of us
decide we have nothing more to learn.
INT. FLOWER SHOP -- EVENING
JEN, MID-30's, overweight, and unstylish, grooms her plants
and talks to them, gently. She stops to shed a tear for the
characters on a small television with a coathanger antennae.
KYLE (V.O.)
Next, there's Jen, divorced, soap-
opera addict with the IQ of a
houseplant.
She walks into an adjoining room, filled floor-to-ceiling
with out of date computer hardware and testing equipment.
KYLE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
She's also designs and builds
microcomputers out of broken machines
she finds in the local landfill.
EXT. WEST VILLAGE STREETCORNER -- MORNING
Before the city is awake, RUDY, mid-40's, deposits a stack
of The Post newspapers in front of the corner liquor store.
He climbs back into his truck, flips to a dogeared page in
the journal, Findings in Mathematics, and furiously scribbles
arcane symbols on a dashboard notepad.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
KYLE (V.O.)
Rudy's the one I like the most. Nice
guy. He never finished the seventh
grade. Rudy develops solutions to
math problems he finds in academic
journals, the variety that have been
attributed to the high incidence of
suicides among professors and graduate
students in that field.
EXT. LARGE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX -- AFTERNOON
A truckload of high carbon steel beams passes through the
security gate of Ubiquitous Manufacturing, a subsidiary of
Nebulous Corporation. Clean and efficient in every detail,
even the suburban landscaping is groomed to precision.
KYLE (V.O.)
But, it's not an accident that I
know about Clarence, Jen, and Rudy.
No. To appreciate them fully, I had
to be the victim of what the
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration calls a "Unsupervised
Human-Machine Accident."
INT. LOADING BAY -- AFTERNOON
Immaculate EMPLOYEES work under the supervision of HENRY
MIDDLES, mid-40’s, plant supervisor, to unload the heavy raw
metal. He is unaware that he is under observation. From a
window, the Nebulous Corp. senior management team, JEFFERY
STERN, middle aged CEO with a flare for unpredictability,
NORMA LEE, mid-30’s VP of Fabrication, takes compromise for
weakness, and KYLE BLACK, mid-twenties, on his first day as
Plant-Efficiency Manager, conduct an orientation tour.
Middles looks up, double-takes, and checks his watch:
MIDDLES
(mutters)
Awww. Fuckin’ son of a bitch. They’re
early!
INT. OBSERVATION LOUNGE -- AFTERNOON
Stern and Norma Lee openly discuss the dim future of the
plant, while observing Kyle's reaction. Kyle, a little more
tense than usual, catches himself slackjawed.
STERN
Two years ago, I would have shut it
down and shifted our sourcing to the
Asia Unit.
NORMA LEE
My recommendation exactly.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
They wait for Kyle. Noticing the lull, Kyle jumps.
KYLE
I think I see a great deal of
unexploited potential.
STERN
Which is precisely why I am
reconsidering.
NORMA LEE
With all due respect, I realize this
plant has been part of Nebulous
Corporation for twenty years, but—
STERN
But don’t let my sentiments cloud
good business judgement.
Norma Lee, bites her tongue, for fear of sounding overly
aggressive.
STERN (CONT'D)
Black, I'm giving you 6 months to
boost the output of this plant by
50%.
Kyle gathers his wits.
KYLE
I know there are many factors which
could affect efficiency cost of
operations here. I’d hoped to complete
a tour before—
STERN
Absolutely. Keep cost on your mind
at all times. Let's keep moving.
He gestures them toward the door. Norma Lee gives Kyle an
annoyed glance as they proceed.
INT. MACHINE SHOP -- DAY
A few workers move among a large assortment of advanced
fabrication robots. Sparks fly from lathes, drills, and
other machines. Conveyor belts, mechanical arms, and robots
move materials from one stage to the next. Obviously stressed,
Middles, leads the inspection team around the activity.
MIDDLES
We’ve been able to match the best
tolerances of the German and Japanese
plants, in part, by using the new
shape-recognition systems developed
by the Nebulous Software group.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
STERN
Your father used to work at this
plant, correct?
KYLE
Yes, sir. There was an accident.
STERN
Regrettable. I appreciate your
potential influence here, Kyle.
MIDDLES
Further, we’ve made great
breakthroughs in timing optimization
with the help of Operations. You’ll
notice, no human hand touches the
fabricated parts from stage one, the
point at which the raw metal is
inserted, to the Quality Assurance
stage.
NORMA LEE
I'd should point out that you've
implemented half of our
recommendations.
MIDDLES
Ah, yes. Well. We have to prepare
for retraining the fabrication team,
and the footprint of the lift-robots
has proven to be an issue.
He looks at Stern and holds his hands apart.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
Too wide.
NORMA LEE
Explain.
Middles directs the group to a forklift-and-grip robot. He
opens the computer interface and begins typing.
MIDDLES
This will take just a moment.
They stand back. The robot comes to life, drives past the
group, who are forced to step out of the way. The robot
follows a dotted yellow line on the floor through a maze of
machines.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
The line indicates the open path on
the floor. It would be more efficient
if it could go anywhere, which would
get rid of our bottlenecks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.
The robot turns off the line and proceeds between two
machines. The wheels wedge, and the robot’s horn honks. It
tries three times before stopping entirely. A flashing light
comes on.
NORMA LEE
I have a simple solution.
All turn to her.
NORMA LEE (CONTD) (CONT'D)
Get rid of some machines to make
room.
MIDDLES
That will drop our output
significantly.
NORMA LEE
Perhaps you’ve reached your maximum
capacity.
Middles realizes where this is going.
KYLE
I’m certain there's room for
improvement with no sacrifice of
capacity.
Middles nods, relieved. Norma Lee looks unconvinced.
STERN
We still haven’t seen the casting
operation.
MIDDLES
Quite true! I believe you’ll find it
very impressive.
He leads them through a door. When nobody's looking, Kyle
inserts a disk into the robot's disk-drive.
INT. WELDING ROOM -- DAY
Workers move about with handheld computers. Machined parts
enter from the Machine Shop on conveyor belt. Robot hands
sift parts, and an OPERATOR guides a mechanical arc-welder
through the process of annealing a large valve and armature.
MIDDLES
This is the bonding department.
Basic annealing, and low-stress welds.
We can crank out a thousand complex
welds in an eight hour day. Oh,
stay off the lines, by the way. The
robots will stop only after they run
into you.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6.
He laughs nervously. Stern finds this funny. Norma Lee and
Kyle laugh automatically. Relieved, Middles leads them quickly
across the room.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
We move a hundred tons of high carbon
block units through here a day. They
go in, as raw metal. And come out—
He picks a hand-sized component off a conveyor.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
—as precision components. This happens
to be a hydraulic interface for the
B-2 Stealth Bomber. The part is
manufactured to .001 millimeter
tolerance.
Stern, not paying attention, talks into his cellphone:
STERN
Okay. Fifty five hundred is the order?
Tell them we’re not interested. NO!
Let them try to find a different
vendor. We’ll do fifty thousand,
minimum.
He hangs up.
STERN (CONT'D)
(to middles)
Mr Middles, I’m afraid we’ve got to
wrap this up.
Middles hurries to the double doors.
MIDDLES
Absolutely, sir. This way.
Norma Lee is checking her watch. Kyle, fascinated, watches a
robot efficiently drive along its yellow path. He backs out
of the way and accidentally connects with a control panel.
An alarm blares.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
Watch out!
A picker arm swings a heavy part over the group's head, and
drops it squarely on the control panel for the welder.
Another alarm blares. Middles vaults the conveyor for the
emergency cutoff switch. Evading the robot, Kyle steps around
into the robot's way. The robot hits his shins, stops, and
honks at him.
KYLE
OUCH!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.
Kyle looks up just in time to see a heavy cable, severed
from the welder-arm, snake down toward him.
INT. FORGE ROOM -- DAY
STERN
Black! Are you with us?
Kyle snaps out of it, staring at a transport robot which is
bearing down on him. He moves out of the way and hurries to
catch up wit the group. Stern studies him carefully.
KYLE
Sorry. A lot to take in.
STERN
(to middles)
Mr Middles, I’m afraid we’ve got to
wrap this up.
Middles hurries to the double doors.
MIDDLES
Absolutely, sir. This way.
Middles leads the Inspection Team up a ramp over the largest
room yet. At the center of the room, is the forge. At one
end, the raw metal bars which arrived earlier, are fed in by
lift-and-grip robots. At the other end, white-hot molten
steel is poured into molds. Heat radiates through the room.
The managers loosen their collars. Middles must yell over
the noise.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
Out of respect for Mr. Black's father,
this has been named the Arthur Black
forge. The only one of its kind in
the world. The close control of the
casting process ensures proper
crystalization, consistent tensile-
strength. A jet engine built from
these parts will have no flaws.
Middles indicates what appears to be a giant metal spider
standing by the casting-end of the forge. The operator
manipulates a variety of complicated casts, fills them with
liquid metal and sets them on cooling racks. Middles puts
on a headset.
MIDDLES (CONT'D)
(on radio)
Ben, this is Middles. How’s it going?
The Spider turns, slightly, exposing a view port to the Team.
Inside, BEN SYKES waves at them. Stern and Kyle wave back.
Norma Lee scowls.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8.
STERN
Very impressive.
MIDDLES
Yes, sir. He can get much closer to
the molten metal than in a traditional
insulation suit. After the- ah-
accident, we installed a computer
control unit. The sensors allow you
to get within a centimeter of heat
tolerance, but no closer.
STERN
What do you think, Black?
KYLE
It's the first time I've seen it
since the accident.
STERN
I couldn't think of anyone more
qualified than you to manage this
plant.
Kyle stares at the white-hot maw of the forge.
KYLE
I think you're right, sir.
NORMA LEE
Okay. Well, we’ve seen it—
All turn, and Middles, exhausted with stress, is relieved
that it's over.
KYLE
You know. I'd like to take a closer
look at the Spider.
STERN
Good idea, Black. Give it your once-
over. Make it quick.
(checks his watch)
I've got a plane to catch in one
hour.
INT. CONTROL ROOM -- DAY
Kyle changes into a work jumpsuit while Sykes, a middle-aged
engineer who loves his work instructs him on operation of
the Spider.
SYKES
Movement is pretty intuitive. You
can use the arms if you like. Try
not to bump the cooling casts.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9.
He watches Kyle change,
SYKES (CONT'D)
I knew your father. He was a good
man. We used to like this place when
he was around. I'm sorry.
KYLE
Thanks.
Sykes returns to business.
SYKES
I’m turning off the production queue
while you’re out, so you don’t have
to worry about fucking anything up
on the hot end.
KYLE
Don’t worry about it. I want to see
it running.
SYKES
Okay. Your call, sir.
KYLE
Thanks. And one more thing.
SYKES
Yes, sir.
KYLE
You guys have a damned impressive
operation. I never doubted it.
SYKES
Thank you. I'm looking forward to
working with you.
INT. FORGE ROOM -- DAY
Sykes and Middles observe the operation from the walkway.
SYKES
Reminds me of his dad.
MIDDLES
Feel like he'll keep it open.
SYKES
Might not be his choice.
The Spider walks up to the forge, a bit awkwardly at first.
It bumps a beam with one leg. The men wince.
SYKES (CONT'D)
Shit, I hope this wasn’t a bad idea.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.
The white fire of the forge mouth reflects on the view port
of the Spider.
INT. MACHINE SHOP -- DAY
Baffled, a MACHINIST ejects Kyle's disk from the drive of
the Lift and Grip robot. He can find no marking to indicate
its origin.
KYLE (V.O.)
I was a VP at Nebulous Corporation.
I had power. Power over lives and
money. Some people would say I had
just about the best job on the planet.
Why would I throw that away?
The robot comes to life. The Machinist leaps back. The robot
spins and starts on a rapid path toward a stack of large,
raw steel cubes. The Machinist tries an emergency shutdown.
The robot ignores him.
The robot lifts the pallet and places it, entirely, on the
conveyor. The Machinist doesn’t know what the hell to do.
He hits an emergency shutoff for the whole room, which fails
to work. The pallet proceeds along the conveyor, dropping
bars and damaging robots as it goes.
KYLE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Maybe my education was too good.
INT. TESTING AND QUALITY ASSURANCE ROOM -- DAY
Chaos has broken out. Damaged robots run haywire with
dangerously heavy loads, smashing other robots. Workers duck
and scramble to get out of the way. Transport robots are
backed up at the door, unable to deliver their loads, horns
blaring.
KYLE (V.O.)
I was a mass-produced engine part,
cut, groomed, and polished for my
position.
INT. FORGE ROOM -- DAY
A transport robot, with full load, bumps into the closed
door with its horn screaming. Another transport is bumped
by a lift-and-grab robot, which rotates, tips, and knocks a
steel bar into the legs of the Spider. Two legs fold under.
Above, Middles and Sykes are hitting every emergency shutdown
switch they can find.
Stern and Norma Lee run out onto the floor and are driven
back by an off-course transport.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11.
KYLE (V.O.)
Top one percent of my class.
Sykes grabs Middles’ sleeve and point, in horror, to the
forge. The Spider, it’s legs crippled, limps into the fearsome
mouth of the forge.
Stern and Norma Lee stare, open mouthed.
KYLE (CONT'D)
Good family, good connections.
The Spider’s body plunges into fire and burns in a flash.
Middles shuts down the fuel valve to the forge, which goes
dark, too late.
INT. FORGE ROOM -- NIGHT
The forge now cool, a CLEANUP CREW, directed by Middles,
pries the black, deformed Spider from the slag. Surveying
the destruction, Middles shakes his head in horror. The entire
factory will be down for weeks.
KYLE (V.O.)
I was sorry about the damage to the
plant. But it hardly mattered. Stern
was going to shut the plant down
anyway. If anything, the cleanup
extended everyone’s job by two weeks.
INT. NEBULOUS SERVER FARM -- DAY
Row after row of server racks fill the vast, clean, warehouse.
A lone ADMIN strolls, bored. He takes no notice of when
machines become active, even if they have signs reading:
CORPORATE SECURITY ONLY
KYLE (V.O.)
It was simple to do. A small bit of
code on that disk was a loader-
program. It contacted a server at
the Nebulous Corporate HQ Server
Farm, and loaded an instruction
sequence to every robot in the plant.
INT. MACHINE SHOP -- DAY
FLASHBACK: Kyle loads a program into the lift and grip robot.
KYLE (V.O.)
I could have done this anywhere.
Made myself a spectacular exit at
any one of a hundred Nebulous
Corporation industrial operations.
The fact that I died like my father
was intended as a message for one
man.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12.
INT. FORGE ROOM -- DAY
The crippled spider falls into the mouth of the forge. Sykes
and Middles try everything they can think of to shut down
the system.
Stern and Norma Lee dodge a careening transport.
Middles kills the main forge.
The machines quiet, the plant is eerily silent.
STERN
DON'T TELL ME BLACK WAS IN THERE!!!
He knows the truth.
STERN (CONT'D)
GOD DAMNIT!!!
INT. CONFERENCE DINNER, CONFERENCE HALL, SHANGHAI -- NIGHT
Speeches concluded, the guests of honor circulate among the
black-tied scientists and Chinese businesmen. Among them,
DR. R.J. BITTERROOT, mid 60’s, the Galileo of Computer
Science, eyes damaged from decades of hard research, and a
guillotine wit, hands Kyle a straight shot of whisky.
R.J.
Nice speech, kid. I brought this for
you.
KYLE
Thanks. That felt completely unreal.
Kyle drinks, winces, and smiles his gratitude.
R.J.
Get used to it. MIT... "Money Is
Technology"
Marguerite, mid-20’s, a Romanian student, circles in like a
sexual raptor, with claws extended.
MARGUERITE
And technology is money. Mr. Black,
you are a talented speaker. I really
enjoyed it.
(to R.J.)
He can make slack arrays and neural
networks sound like good sex.
Kyle laughs, embarrassed.
R.J.
Are you certain you were paying
attention? Kyle, this is Ms. Drapaca.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.
Kyle extends his hand.
KYLE
Kyle Black. Glad you enjoyed it.
She shakes it and he liquifies.
MARGUERITE
I was riveted.
KYLE
Thanks. I thought it sounded better
on paper.
MARGUERITE
I'm looking forward to reading it.
KYLE
Are you in Neuro-Cybernetics?
SHARI
Just starting. Hey, you better catch
up with him.
(indicates Bitterroot)
I think you've got someone important
to meet.
Kyle turns and realizes Bitterroot has moved away.
KYLE
Uh. Thanks.
MARGUERITE
See you later.
She watches him hurry to catch up with his mentor.
R.J.
You get your work done over there?
KYLE
(laughs, nervously)
Oh, yeah. All taken care of.
R.J.
Good. there’s someone here who wants
to meet you. I promised an
introduction.
KYLE
Sure. Lead the way.
R.J. takes them across the room. Many attendees shake Kyle’s
hand and congratulate him as they pass. They arrive at a
group of BUSINESSMEN, Chinese and Western. Among them is
Jeffrey Stern. Stern immediately ends a conversation when he
sees R.J. approach.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14.
R.J., among the few in history, never sweats in the proximity
of extreme wealth.
STERN
R.J.! How excellent to see you. I
tried everything I could to get seated
at your table.
R.J.
Had you succeeded, I’m sure someone
would have been fired.
Laughter.
R.J. (CONT'D)
Jeffrey, I’d like to introduce you
to Kyle Black.
Stern enthusiastically shakes Kyle’s star-dazed hand.
STERN
My god! That was bracing delivery
on software design. I know executives
who would craw across broken glass
to offer you a contract.
Everyone laughs.
KYLE
Thank you. I, uh, haven’t officially
graduated yet.
R.J.
He’s still mine for another six weeks,
Jeffrey, you old hawk.
STERN
Well, don’t worry. I’m not going
anywhere.
Unseen by anyone except R.J., Stern presses a business card
into Kyle’s hand.
STERN (CONT'D)
Let me introduce you.
(turns)
Mr. Kwong, meet Dr. Bitterroot and
Dr. Black.
Mr. Kwong, mid-50's, a technology-investor, with the assurance
of the well-connected, shakes their hands.
KWONG
It is a great honor. Thank you both
for coming to Shanghai.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15.
R.J.
It's nice to get out of Boston once
a year, isn't it Kyle?
Laughter.
KYLE
Yeah. That was the beginning of my
contract with the devil.
Kyle drops the business card in his coat pocket.
EXT. CONFERENCE HALL -- NIGHT
Kyle and Shari leave the dinner together, early. At the bottom
of the steps, Kyle’s Fraternity Brothers, QUINCY, PETER,
HOWIE, and their DATES wait in a stretch limo.
Replace with Doreen scene here. Kyle watches her and she
flirts with him.
QUINCY
Ladies and Gentlemen! The Genius has
emerged!
ALL
Hurraaaayyy!
The brothers congratulate him and the women kiss him as they
guide Kyle and Shari into the limo. The limo drives.
INT. STRETCH LIMO -- NIGHT
HOWIE
How’d it go, Kyle?
PETER
You fuck up your lines?
SHARI
Are you kidding? He was so smooth!
She gives Kyle an erotic squeeze, and everyone cheers.
KYLE
It was the weirdest thing I ever
did. It was like… It was like nobody
was there. Like the room was empty
and I was talking to myself.
After an awkward pause, everyone laughs.
QUINCY
Hey, man. Whatever works, Genius!
SHARI
Guess who practically offered him a
job?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16.
PETER
Who?
Everyone looks at Kyle.
KYLE
Um. Jeffrey Stern gave me his card.
Kyle shows the card and the limo erupts into ecstatic cheers.
Kyle allows himself to fall into the spirit, but not without
allowing himself one last glance at the card. He won’t lose
that one.
EXT. WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK, NEW YORK -- DAY
TEXT: TWO YEARS AGO
The throng of Spring semester students converge and pass. A
few stop to pay attention to LECHNER, mid-50's, the anti-
corporation, anti-christ, holdover from '68 who rants, wearing
a black T-shirt with the words: "Kazinsky Was Framed!"
Most who stop can only deal with a minute of Lechner's
ravings. Kyle, skeptical and amused, with a heavy bookbag at
his feet, listens:
LECHNER
You are on the mass-production line!
You, who will become the managers
and executives of tomorrow, wake up!
They don't care! All they think
about is their nice cars and clothes
and retirement. You've been set up
to inherit a planet despoiled of its
natural beauty. And you're expected
to love it! You'll get a nice car
too! And a nice house! Just sign on
the dotted line!
Bored, Kyle wanders around the perimeter of the fountain. A
collection of RAGTAG PERCUSSIONISTS hold together a lopsided,
but catchy rhythm.
Lechner appears next to Kyle.
KYLE
Oh, hey Jake.
LECHNER
You left.
KYLE
Sorry.
LECHNER
Good thing I don't take it personally.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17.
Kyle laughs, halfheartedly.
LECHNER (CONT'D)
Why are you working so hard?
KYLE
Look who's talking. When's your next
book deadline?
LECHNER
Ah. Glad you asked.
Lechner takes a wrinkled manuscipt out of his bag and hands
it to Kyle.
LECHNER (CONT'D)
I want you to read that.
KYLE
(reads)
"Work Is Death." Sounds like the
Sixties, dude. "The worker must one
day throw himself on the wheels of
the machine..." Who's going to read
this?
LECHNER
It's a book deal.
KYLE
No shit? Have you told Dad?
LECHNER
I thought maybe we'd break it to him
together.
KYLE
(discouraged)
Right.
LECHNER
No, seriously. I've got a car. We
can drive there in less than a day.
KYLE
You've got a car? What about petroleum
addicted mass-commodity economy?
LECHNER
That can wait. My agent gave it to
me after we landed the last advance
because I was an hour late for the
meeting. It's over there.
He points toward the street. Kyle scans a line of nondescript
cars. Lechner shakes his head until Kyle stops at a Porsche.
He breaks into an ear-to-ear grin.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18.
KYLE
No way, dude.
LECHNER
I'll get rid of it when I'm finished
with this project.
KYLE
No way! Jack Lechner drives a fucking
Porsche?
Kyle jumps, exuberant, and they run to the car, whooping. A
few HOMELESS PEOPLE join in the noisemaking. Catching their
breath, they admire the sexy machine.
KYLE (CONT'D)
Jack. This blows everything. I don't
know what's right anymore. You gonna
be president next?
LECHNER
Let's get in and talk about the
campaign.
They laugh as Lechner holds the door for Kyle to throw in
his books.
INT. LECHNER'S PORSCHE -- DAY
Still having a blast after half a day of driving, Kyle and
Lechner drive to the gate of the Ubiquitous Manufacturing
Plant. The GUARD recognizes Kyle, gives him a long look for
the wheels, and waves him in.
INT. WELDING ROOM -- DAY
Kyle's father, ARTIMUS, mid-50's, a hard-hewn mechanic,
inscrutable to most of the world, flips through Lechner's
manuscript leaving grubby fingerprints on the pages. Kyle
and Lechner exchange an amused glance.
ART
What a bunch of pompous crap!
KYLE
You say that about everything he
writes.
ART
Nobody will buy this.
(thinks)
Oh, I get it. Kyle's gonna let you
sleep on his couch.
Art hands the manuscript back to Lechner and heads to the
sink to wash his hands.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19.
LECHNER
Coulda washed 'em first!
ART
Hey! You handed it to me! When are
you gonna get a normal job? You're
influencing my son.
He turns around to see both Kyle and Lechner grinning at
him. Baffled, Art looks around and checks his fly.
ART (CONT'D)
What?!!
INT. BREW-PUB -- EVENING
Kyle, Art, and Lechner pick from a plate of nachos and chug
beer. Kyle, ever the hungry student, stuffs his face.
Baseball and basketball games blast from televisions.
Students add to the noise.
ART
Jesus, Kyle. We outta order you a
shovel. So, Lechner, you swear you
didn't steal that thing?
Lechner pulls the pink slip from his pocket and shows it to
Art.
LECHNER
(laughs)
I figured you might not take this
very well. So I brought proof.
ART
No shit. Well, you're right. I've
been working my ass off for 40 years.
I don't have one of those goddamn
toys.
(to Kyle)
Bet you think you can drop out now
and be mister fuck off political
organizer for awhile until someone
hands you a sportscar for your fatass
biography.
KYLE
I'm not going to drop out.
ART
You better not. I'll kick your ass
to Florida.
LECHNER
Kyle's going to graduate school.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20.
ART
Oh, is that right?
KYLE
I don't know. Maybe.
LECHNER
His teachers practically beg him.
ART
In what?
KYLE
Manufacturing Theory, I think.
ART
Jeeze, that sounds useless. I see
those guys at the plant every once
in a while. Most don't know their
heads from their assholes.
KYLE
I was hoping you could help me get
an internship.
Art snorts critically.
ART
Doing what? You can theorize to me
while I work. That ought to be fun.
LECHNER
Arthur, practicality is numbing your
mind.
ART
No. I read books about "welding
theory" every night before I go to
bed.
Art looks at Lechner who raises his eyebrow. Art realizes
he's been rude, laughs and clinks their glasses with his.
ART (CONT'D)
Goddamn intellectuals.
The insult is forgotten and everyone laughs.
INT. CLASSROOM, NYU -- DAY
Kyle sits among a small group of SELECT STUDENTS, obvious
nerds, laden with books, laptops, brains freshly crammed
with abstractions and useless knowledge. They wait quietly,
except for a couple whispered conversations.
The DEAN OF STUDENTS and a PRESENTER, both middle-aged, career
bureaucrats, enter together.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.
The Presenter carries a clipboard.
DEAN
Thank you for coming, everyone. Given
that it’s a Saturday afternoon, I
know you all have studies you want
to get back to, so we promise this
will be brief. But I know you’re all
interested. Does everyone here know
what the Mentor Program is?
Everyone seems to. Kyle looks bored.
DEAN (CONT'D)
Kyle Black, do you think you can
explain it to us?
KYLE
Um. It’s a private industry… um…
investment in education to increase
the practical preparation of students
for after they graduate.
DEAN
Thanks, Kyle.
The Dean hands it over to the Presenter.
PRESENTER
That’s the gist of it. You’re right
on. To be more specific, it’s a
program to give the brightest one-
half percent of our population access
to the most advanced learning
resources available.
This sounds nice to the students.
PRESENTER (CONT'D)
It was started by an investment from
the Ubiquitous Corporation for just
the reason you describe, Mr. Black.
We found that the best and the
brightest in our country were, more
or less, dragged down by the middle
tier, average student. And when
they entered the workforce, not only
were they not really using their
true abilities, they were generally
cynical about "Corporate America,"
and in a real world sense, lagged
behind lower-degree graduates in the
practical knowledge of day to day
business.
The Dean takes a seat among the students. The Presenter gives
the Dean a smile before continuing.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22.
Kyle finds it all somewhat ridiculous. The Presenter glances
at his clipboard and points to a SKINNY LINGUITICS MAJOR.
PRESENTER (CONT'D)
Sara Lawing, isn’t it? Yes? You’re
at the top of your linguistics class.
How would you like to spend a year
studying with Noam Chomsky?
She likes that so much she almost drops her books.
PRESENTER (CONT'D)
Or you, Paul Snow, the President,
heads of Congress, you shouldn’t
just be working for them, you should
be working with them in the Capitol,
spending every minute learning how
to be them, to take that job, to
make those decisions, and inhabit
the hallways of power, because that’s
your destiny.
SNOW, looking as polished as though he were already in office,
looks at the Presenter like he’s the Messiah.
PRESENTER (CONT'D)
I believe, and the founders of the
Mentor program, believe that the
best and the brightest must oversee
the affairs of the world, because it
is only they who are capable. Is
everyone still with me?
He looks around, to check, and smiles. They watch him like a
Las Vegas illusionist. Kyle gets up to leave.
PRESENTER (CONT'D)
Are you leaving?
Kyle doesn’t want a confrontation.
KYLE
You’re not finished?
PRESENTER
We’re just getting started!
KYLE
I think I’ll pass.
PRESENTER
Okay! See you!
Kyle walks out, ignoring the stares of the astonished
candidates.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23.
INT. CLASSROOM -- DAY
In partitioned cubicles, the Candidates take written exams.
Kyle stops to look around. The Presenter smiles at him.
INT. CLASSROOM -- NIGHT
In front of a computer terminal, Kyle watches plots of complex
math equations. He chooses his answers swiftly. The Dean
notices Kyle focus. Some exhausted Candidates sleep, eat, or
rub their eyes.
INT. OFFICE -- NIGHT
Annoyed, Kyle faces an oral interview with three relentlessly
unsympathetic COMPUTER SCIENCE EXAMINERS, SNOOTY, SOUTHERN,
and MOUSEY. He answers their questions rapidly. Finally,
he’s stumped.
KYLE
Hold it. I have to think about that.
SNOOTY
Don’t waste our time if you don’t
have an answer.
KYLE
Just hang on… Wait a minute. You
already excluded recursion from our
solution set. That means it’s a
logical null. An error. You might as
well truncate it.
SNOOTY
Well, that’s not-
SOUTHERN
Hold it, Janice.
The Mousey Examiner gives her a meaningful look. They might
not have considered it correctly. Kyle might be right. That
pisses them off. Kyle knows he’s got them.
KYLE
Are we done yet? I don’t know about
you, but I’ve just about had enough.
INT. OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS -- DAY
Kyle sits alone, unshaven and tired, waiting. Just as he’s
about to get up, the Dean enters.
DEAN
Sorry to make you wait, Kyle. Well?
What did you think?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24.
KYLE
What did I think? Jesus. Where did
you get these pompous assholes? Three
days of fucking tests?!!! What did
they do? Go and read Plato’s Republic
and decide "it’s time to reinstitute
the rule of the Intelligencia!"?
This hurts. The Dean likes Kyle.
DEAN
I know what it sounds like. Ignore
the bullshit. These guys will get
you the best job you can get in the
fucking planet.
KYLE
Yeah, working for Ubiquitous
Corporation, in what, Panama…? Forget
it.
DEAN
There are four hundred CS and EE
Undergrad and Grad students in this
school, and I bet you not one of
them would walk away from an offer
like that!
KYLE
Well. Maybe they should reconsider.
The Presenter enters.
PRESENTER
How about considering a chance to
work very closely with R.J.
Bitterroot, the Cognitive Computing
pioneer, at his research center at
M.I.T? I mean very closely.
KYLE
(snaps)
He works alone! Don’t think I haven’t
tried to contact him.
PRESENTER
We know you have, and yes he does
work alone. Until now. Mr. Black,
I’d like to extend an offer from the
Mentor Program of America, to join
as a student of Computer Science.
Dr. R.J. Bitterroot will be your
Mentor.
DR. R.J. BITTERROOT enters the room. He extends his hand to
Kyle.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25.
R.J.
Nice to finally meet you, Kyle.
Stunned, Kyle panic for just a moment, before he shakes. The
Dean waxes enthusiastic. R.J. laughs and everyone else does
too.
INT. EVENT CENTER -- NIGHT
Onstage, DIGNITARIES sit with Jeffrey Stern, behind a podium
before an AUDIENCE of a hundred well-dressed Mentor Program
candidates and parents. They applaud. The PROGRAM DIRECTOR
speaks into the mic.
DIRECTOR
After the orientation, you will begin
your six-month mentorship. During
that time, we discourage the
participants from making phone calls,
writing letters, or even email. So
prepare yourself, Mom and Dad. You
are most welcome to write to your
sons and daughters, but they may be
unable to reply. We will be sending
you all a monthly report on how
they’re progressing. The Mentor
Program will take care of everything,
food, housing, clothes, everything.
Some parents see it as a good
opportunity to take a vacation.
Laughter.
DIRECTOR (CONT'D)
Now, it is my pleasure to introduce
the visionary who made it possible,
through countless hours of organizing
mentors and schools, and millions of
his own money, Mr. Jeffrey Stern.
Thunderous applause. Stern takes the podium and waits for
the applause to end. Kyle watches from a rear row, next to
his Father, who rolls his eyes toward Kyle.
KYLE (V.O.)
My Freshman year in high school,
when he took me to see the Rolling
Stones and told me Mom had gone away
with some corporate guy to South
Africa. Since then, anyone in a suit
was the same person. I knew he thought
this guy was just another corporate
crook. But, he had a way of speaking
that made you feel like you were in
on a big secret, like he was going
to take you out with him to fleece
the world. I was interested.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26.
STERN
Thank you. I’m glad Richard mentioned
them, because I do not see myself as
the most important person in this
room… contrary to what a few of you
might think.
Laughter.
STERN (CONT'D)
I am merely a facilitator. It is
you, you who make this possible.
Even the mentors, these architects,
scientists, composers, leaders of
our age, will say the same thing. It
is you. Your hunger. Your obsession
with learning, with realizing, no,
transcending your potential, you
students who make this possible.
Kyle doesn't fit in this crowd of true believers. His father
elbows him and gestures they should leave. Kyle refuses. He
feels like Stern is staring straight at him. Kyle stares
down at the cover of a book by R.J. Bitterroot: Modeling
Consciousness.
STERN (CONT'D)
For the next six months, you will
live and breathe the genius of the
man or woman your are assigned to.
You will learn what they have learned,
absorb it, put it to use, and build
on it. Each generation becomes a
foundation for the next. You will
become the mentors of the future.
Applause.
EXT. STERN'S HOME -- EVENING
The Recruits arrive at Stern's mansion by bus, dressed-up
and ready to party. Most are overwhelmed by the scale and
glamour of the place. Stern greets each one warmly as he or
she ascends the steps.
INT. STERN'S HOME -- NIGHT
The Mentor Program Recuits happily mill around the mansion,
eating hores d'vours from trays, drinking, ready to embark
on their new lives.
KYLE (V.O.)
Stern had some of the recruits to
his Mansion in Santa Clara where we
all got shitfaced and basked in the
glow of his money, feeling special
(MORE)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27.
KYLE (V.O.) (CONT'D)
about ourselves, our various talents,
and the fact that we'd been
"discovered." Little did we know how
much work was in store...
Kyle has trouble focusing his eyes. A WOMAN speaks to him
about her home in Alabama. He can't take his eyes off her
cleavage. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees someone fall
over.
INT. COGNATIVE COMPUTING LAB -- MORNING
R.J. works at a large computer monitor, years of notes piled
around him. He speaks instructions to the computer and touches
points on the display resembling complex neural networks. A
bedraggled Kyle, two laptops in his arm, appears behind R.J.
and stops to observe.
R.J.
End simulation.
COMPUTER
Okay.
R.J.
Load Standard Regression Analysis,
Title "self-doubt."
COMPUTER
Ready.
R.J. touches the display in several points.
R.J.
Stimulate and Measure in these
regions. Execute.
COMPUTER
I am not sure. Am I wrong? Could
this be false? If I am wrong but I
don’t believe, then am I correct?
R.J.
Stop. Measure emotion.
COMPUTER
Scared. Lonely.
R.J.
Stop. End simulation.
R.J. reflects on what has happened. He notices Kyle and turns.
R.J. (CONTD) (CONT'D)
Interesting, isn’t it?
(MORE)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28.
R.J. (CONTD) (CONT'D)
We can practically simulate the entire
range of human emotional response
with fuzzy logic. I told the computer
to run a "self-doubt" simulation and
it made a best guess at the emotion.
Kyle sets down the laptops and collapses onto a chair.
KYLE
Sounded right-on to me.
R.J.
Exactly. Maybe emotions are highly
predictable. Now, I’m guessing yours
are frustration, despair…
KYLE
Sick of these machines.
R.J.
Irritability.
KYLE
I can’t solve these problems, R.J..
I’ve been staring at these things
for fifteen days. All I want to do
is throw them on the floor and stomp
on them.
R.J.
Perfect. You’ve just about reached
saturation. Work on it another day.
Give me a binary network algorithm.
KYLE
(exasperated)
Saturated! I’m fucking drowning in
it. I can’t think about anything
else! You’ve got me programming my
every breathing moment. Eating,
sleeping, taking a shit. I can’t
even talk on the phone. Writing
programs in my brain. I’m afraid to
drive! I can write this program a
thousand different ways. Same result.
R.J.
Excellent. You’ve probably engaged
about ten percent of your brain.
When you reach the threshold, your
subconscious capacity will kick in.
Then you will be able to solve the
problem! That is how you must learn
to work. Focus!
(MORE)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29.
R.J. (CONT'D)
Einstein, Neihls-Borr, Planck… Genius
is the power to focus and engage the
whole mind, Kyle! Push yourself!
Kyle’s shoulders slump. He’s heard it before. Defeated, he
gathers the computers and leaves R.J. to his work.
INT. KYLES C.C.L. OFFICE -- NIGHT
Kyle sleeps with his face on the keyboard of his laptop.
INT. KYLES MIND -- NIGHT
In a vast, windowless space of unfolding dimension, Kyle
manipulates a large, floating ball of electric spaghetti. He
pulls a strand, and the ball disintegrates and reforms. All
around him, lines of cryptic computer instructions appear
and dissolve.
The spaghetti tangles up Kyle’s arm, ensnaring him. Kyle
struggles. He’s sucked in, choking.
A FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT!
INT. DREAM ROOM -- DAY
Kyle opens his eyes to the brightest daylight he has ever
seen. He cannot move. Around him, infinitely, in every
direction, other Kyles are sleeping on stone beds.
KYLE
No!!! Let me go!
DOREEN, 30, in white, with SAD EYES appears immediately. She
hushes Kyle, worried that his cries may wake the others. She
strokes his face.
Fantasy sequence of Doreen making love to Kyle. (Fausten was
her lover)
KYLE (CONT'D)
(whispers)
Help me.
DOREEN
Shhhhhhhh.
She kisses him lightly. Kyle closes his eyes.
SNAP!
INT. KYLES OFFICE -- MORNING
QUINCY, mid-30's, a uncredited, but dedicated researcher,
cultivating a grudge, turns on the lights. Kyle sits bolt-
upright. The computer keyboard is imprinted on his face.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30.
QUINCY
Morning, brain-man! Hey, nice
headlines. J-K-L-Semicolon. I don’t
think I’ve ever seen that before.
Kyle rubs his face and stands to look in a small shaving
mirror. QUINCY holds up a copy of Wired.
KYLE
Oh, man.
Kyle admits he jsut had a dream about Doreen. Quincy says
she's a fast mover and he'd better be ready.
QUINCY
The chick from Nebulous was poking
around here yesterday, asking for
you. You got something going?
KYLE
Huh? No. I never met her.
QUINCY
With the amount of money they give
the Doc., they consider us employees.
I should see about getting on their
health plan.
Dubious, Kyle takes a look at last night's work. A realization
hits him.
KYLE
Is wasn't a dream!
QUINCY
What?
KYLE
The problem! I solved the fucking
problem with the multi-variable
dependency!
QUINCY is clueless, but humors him.
QUINCY
Nice going, dude!
KYLE
God damn, I can’t believe it.
QUINCY
(bored)
That’s using the old noodle.
Kyle glances at QUINCY suspiciously, and returns to the
computer.
INT. KYLE'S C.C.L. OFFICE -- NIGHT
TIME LAPSE:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31.
Kyle works, sleeps, and eats in his office. Papers and notes
pile up and then are jammed into the wastebin. Dr. Bitterroot
appears now and then, briefly, to check on his progress.
Kyle's facial hair grows.
KYLE (V.O.)
I worked for the professor right up
until the day of my interview,
eighteen hours, sometimes twenty. I
practically never left. And I liked
it. I was an athlete just released
from months of convelesence.
INT. HOTEL ROOM -- MORNING
The radio comes on, blaring music. Kyle, with a beard, sits
up in his bed, gasping for breath, looks at his clock: 6am.
He stumbles to the bathroom, shaves, and takes a shower.
After cleaning up, he looks in the mirror and notices a spot
of blood on his left temple. He rubs it off, but the blood
wells up again. He staunches it with a tissue. Then, he
notices an envelope on the floor by the door. He picks it
up, sees his name, opens, reads, and sags, slowly to the
bed.
KYLE (V.O.)
The day of my interview, I woke up
in my hotel room and I couldn't
remember how I got there. I hadn't
left my office in practically six
months. Now I was going to interview
for a position at Nebulous
Corporation. The company minted new
millionares every month. My hands
practically shook with excitement.
And then the letter arrived informing
me my father had died in an accident
at the plant.
INT. UBIQUISOFT COMPUTER SCIENCE R&D FACILITY -- DAY
Kyle takes a tour through the state-of-the-art complex with
Jeffrey Stern. He broods while Stern talks.
STERN
Creativity, Black. You can't put a
price on creativity! We attempt to
harness every ounce of research that
goes on here in some way. Heat
simulations are applied to our
automobile engine design in
Dusseldorf. Over here, network
analysts are designing an Internet
that will be a million times faster.
Full streaming video, real-time. Fly
an airplane from your desk.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32.
KYLE (V.O.)
I was a skydiver at 30,000 feet and
I just discovered I forgot to strap
on my parachute. I looked down, and
there was Jeffrey Stern with his
arms out, smiling, waiting to catch
me.
STERN
(looks at Kyle)
You with me, Kyle?
KYLE
Very impressive.
STERN
Software is probably our most
important division. Next to
Accounting.
Stern smiles. Kyle gets the joke, laughs.
INT. STERNS PRIVATE JET -- DAY
Kyle accompanies Stern on a cross-country flight. Stern's
lightning-quick assistants, PALMER, SMITH, and LEESE take
notes from Stern as he multi-tasks on a laptop.
STERN
We created the Mentor Program to
help find people like you, Kyle.
Your average executive is not up to
the challenges of running a company
the size of Ubiquitous.
(to Palmer)
Palmer, get me a cost for
reconfiguring the Salvadoran garment
plants for these new denim
opportunities. And get me a shut-
down value on the Raleigh plant.
Kyle stares at the clouds, then turns his attention back to
Stern.
STERN (CONT'D)
Our H-R department was always throwing
me these clowns with their Ivy League
degrees who were pure shit and air.
They’d drive the business into the
ground and feel perfectly fine about
it. I’ve always found people like
you, hiding in these dark corners.
(to Smith)
No offense. I want somebody to find
us a block of votes on that import-
tax bill…
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33.
SMITH
The Waters-Jersey bill?
STERN
That’s the one. Make sure that does
not pass. Find out what we’ve got to
do to buy these guys.
(to Kyle)
I heard about your father. I'm sorry.
Let me offer you a drink. What'll
you have?
He gestures and the STEWARD approaches.
KYLE
(startled)
Oh, thanks. I'm okay.
STERN
I want you to work with me, Kyle.
Why don't you take a couple weeks
and think it over?
Kyle nods and stares at the clouds.
KYLE (V.O.)
I'd already made up my mind.
INT. NEBULOUS CORPORATE HQ --DAY
Kyle works at a computer in a well-appointed executive office.
He has the "graduated" look of a man who hit his stride in
the corporate world.
EILEEN, mid-20’s, hot and ambitious, sees Kyle as her road
to the top, enters. She sets a stack of reports on one corner
of the desk and takes another stack from the opposite corner.
She gives him a sweet smile with pleasant connotations as
she leaves.
Kyle flips the image on his monitor from a spreadsheet to
that of a young model. He zooms in on her eyes.
KYLE (V.O.)
Within a year, I was supervising a
hundred separate software initiatives
within Nebulous Corporation. I knew
what each one was about, the principle
challenges, risks, who was on it,
the budget… I felt like I’d been
doing it for years. Millions of
dollars and a thousand people.
BAXTER, a skinny, overcautious hypochondriac with an
expiration date practically stamped on his forehead, knocks
on Kyle's door and walks in, surveying the room.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34.
BAXTER
Hey, there! New guy, huh? Gave you
the corner office, too.
They shake hands.
KYLE
Kyle Black. Nice to meet you.
BAXTER
Baxter, John D. You came in through
the Mentor Program. I can tell. You're
too young. Who'd you study with?
KYLE
Dr. Bitterroot. At MIT. Cog-
BAXTER
Cognative Computing! Very impressive.
Maybe half a dozen like you on the
planet! I was a Mentor-kid too.
Economic Theory and Manufacturing
with Dr. Grund in Hamburg.
Kyle is equally impressed.
KYLE
Well, I've got a meeting I must attend-
BAXTER
Meeting, huh? You do that. Always be
on time.
Baxter watches as Kyle collects his PDA. He moves close to
Kyle and takes his arm.
BAXTER (CONT'D)
Eh, Black?
KYLE
Yes?
BAXTER
(menacing)
You'll learn. Don't trust anyone.
Not me, not your mother. They all
know something. You'll want to know
what it is, but you can't find out.
It's like a thing in your eye. You'll
look at it and it moves away
They stare at each other.
KYLE
I gotta get going.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35.
BAXTER
(recovering)
Righto. Never be late!
INT. ART GALLERY -- DAY
The GALLERY OWNER shows Kyle a very rough painting of a Bull
almost ready to charge.
GALLERY OWNER
We call it "Art Brut." Rough and
full of the energy of the untutored
hand. Five years ago, the artist was
unknown, painting alone in a shack
outside of Tuscon. Now his pieces
approach the one million dollar
threshold.
KYLE
I'll take it. I like that one too.
Kyle indicates a half-melted grill of a Mercedes on the
opposite wall.
GALLERY OWNER
Oh! Excellent choice, sir!
INT. ELEVATOR -- EVENING
Kyle holds his boxed painting and grill, next to a wealthy
couple with a dog. Nobody makes eye contact. Kyle and the
dog stare at each other.
KYLE (V.O.)
My first year’s starting salary was
a quarter of a million, to be raised
to one point five on my second year.
I had a nice car, huge apartment in
the most expensive city in the
country.
INT. KYLES APARTMENT -- EVENING
The lights fade up automatically as Kyle walks into his vast,
modern apartment, which is partially furnished with art deco
furniture emphasizing reds. Boxes and Painter’s Paper on the
floors of some rooms tells his recent arrival. Kyle sets his
acquisitions on the large hardwood table and goes to the
balcony.
KYLE (V.O.)
I grew larger in my own eyes, every
day, as the memory of my father faded.
I knew I'd found myself.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36.
INT. UBIQUISOFT OFFICE -- DAY
Cloaked in authority, Kyle strolls down a long row of
cubicles, followed by Eileen, who takes notes on a clipboard.
PROGRAMMERS of all shapes and sizes take notice as he passes.
Occasionally, he stops and engages with a programmer, offering
helpful, appreciated, suggestions.
EXT. KYLE'S BALCONY -- EVENING
Kyle stares at the sunset and lights a cigar.
KYLE (V.O.)
And I liked what I found.
INT. BALLROOM -- NIGHT
Dressed in black tie, Executives and Senior Managers of the
Nebulous Corp. and its subsidiaries fill the ballroom,
drinking and talking, and picking food from an enormous
spread.
Kyle, drinks a Martini and talks with SARA and JORGE, both
Kyle’s age, groomed and cut to the Nebulous specifications.
SARA
Half the people here came in through
the Mentor program.
JORGE
Those who didn't are at a
disadvantage.
KYLE
Why do you say that?
JORGE
(gestures)
"Glass Ceiling"
SARA
That's not true!
JORGE
Gimmie a break!
They turn to watch Stern enter with a knot of VP’s and well-
tailored spouses and dates. Bored, Kyle looks away toward
the dance floor and sees:
DOREEN, mid-20’s, who might be the identical twin of
Marguerite, dances with her friend LOUIS, a mid-40’s Sales
Manager. She laughs but her eyes seem sad.
Kyle flashes to the eyes in his dream. Dazed, he wonders
across the room to her. She looks up and covers the slightest
flash of what might be recognition with a friendly smile.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37.
DOREEN
Hello. Uh. Margaret?
LOUIS
Hey there, how’s it going? Do I know
you?
Kyle shakes his head.
KYLE
(to Doreen)
Are you Marguerite?
Amused, she shakes her head.
DOREEN
No, it's Doreen.
KYLE
MIT? Cal? Did you attend a conference
in Shanghai?
DOREEN
No, sadly, I've never left the
continent.
LOUIS
I’m out of New York. Corporate Sales.
Louis Freeling. This is Doreen Hudson.
She's in Pharmacology.
DOREEN
Idaho. Nice to meet you-?
Kyle shakes their hands, but can’t keep himself from staring
at Doreen.
KYLE
Oh. Kyle Black, Ubiquisoft.
LOUIS
No kidding? Software huh? I woulda
pegged you for, oh, cars or Marketing.
I meant that as a compliment.
KYLE
Huh? Oh, thanks. I get it.
Louis tries to interrupt the stare which causes Doreen some
discomfort.
LOUIS
Had anything to eat yet? Why don’t
we all go grab something?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38.
DOREEN
I’ve got to visit the ladies room.
How about if I meet you?
LOUIS
Sure. Okay. We’ll be over there.
He points to an opening at the spread. Doreen excuses herself.
Kyle looks after her and walks with Louis.
LOUIS (CONT'D)
She’s something else, huh? We met at
the last corporate function. I tell
you. Since I’ve been married, they
just come out of the woodwork.
Kyle laughs, halfheartedly. When they reach the table, he
excuses himself.
KYLE
I think I’d better wash my hands
first. I’ll be right back.
INT. HALLWAY -- NIGHT
Kyle runs down the hallway to the bathroom doors. A MAN exits
one door, glances at Kyle, and walks away. Moments later, A
WOMAN exits the other door.
KYLE
Excuse me, is there another woman in
there?
WOMAN
I didn’t notice. You want me to check?
KYLE
No, that’s okay.
She shrugs and keeps going. After a minute, Kyle opens the
Women’s door a crack.
KYLE (CONT'D)
Hello? Anyone there?
No answer. He opens the door the whole way. Empty. Kyle turns
and runs.
INT. BALLROOM -- NIGHT
Kyle moves quickly through the crowd, scanning faces. He
spots Louis, eating from a large plate, talking to a FEMALE
EXECUTIVE.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39.
INT. ENTRY -- NIGHT
Signs on the wall name Nebulous and every subsidiary. Late
arrivals check their coats at the coat room. Kyle spots Doreen
retrieving her coat from the coat check. He comes up and
startles her.
KYLE
Doreen?
DOREEN
What?
KYLE
Sorry, I didn’t realize you had to
go.
DOREEN
I got a page. I have to leave,
unfortunately.
KYLE
I’m sorry to hear that.
She starts toward the door. Kyle follows her.
DOREEN
Anyway, it was nice meeting you.
KYLE
Uh. Maybe we could meet again.
DOREEN
My office is in Boise.
KYLE
I can travel anywhere. Boise’s fine.
Instead of pleased, she laughs nervously.
DOREEN
You have a good job.
KYLE
It’s a dream job.
She starts away again.
KYLE (CONT'D)
You got a car? Can I give you a lift?
DOREEN
You’re still at the party.
KYLE
How about a phone number.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40.
They reach her car, a little rental. She takes a pen and
scrap of paper out of her purse and scribbles on the paper.
DOREEN
Here’s my employee ID. I’m in the
system.
Kyle takes it.
KYLE
You sure you never met me?
DOREEN
When would I have met you?
KYLE
I don’t know.
DOREEN
I guess I don’t know either.
She kisses him on the cheek and gets into her car.
DOREEN (CONT'D)
It’s better if you forget about me.
Kyle watches her drive away.