Chapter 1b: Nancy's Corner
Shadow arrives in Twin City and assigns the mission.
DR SHADOW, WATSO
EXT. DOWNTOWN — NANCY'S CORNER — NIGHT
SHADOW LANDS IN TWIN CITY. HIS SMALL SHIP TOUCHES DOWN IN A DARK ALLEY BEHIND NANCY'S CORNER, A DINGY BAR IN THE DOWNTOWN ZONE. STEAM RISES FROM THE STREET GRATES. THE NEON SIGNS FLICKER.
WATSO IS WAITING, LEANING AGAINST THE WALL. HE IS NERVOUS. HE CHECKS HIS COMMUNICATOR, LOOKS LEFT AND RIGHT.
DR SHADOW EMERGES FROM THE SHADOWS. HE MOVES SLOWLY, DELIBERATELY.
You're late.
I'm never late. You're early. That means you're worried.
WATSO STRAIGHTENS UP.
DR SHADOW (CONT'D)
I have a task for you. From the top. Evil A herself.
What does she want?
The Binary Light. It's here. Somewhere in Twin City. Hidden by the rebels a long time ago. Nobody remembers where. But it's here.
A BEAT. SHADOW'S VOICE DROPS. QUIETER. ALMOST REVERENT.
DR SHADOW (CONT'D)
It contains everything the Algorithm erased. Every memory of what humans were before we optimized them.
The Binary Light? That's a myth. A bedtime story for—
SHADOW ALMOST SPEAKS. HIS MOUTH OPENS — JUST A FRACTION. SOMETHING PERSONAL, SOMETHING OLD, PUSHES AGAINST HIS TEETH. HE WAS THERE ONCE. YEARS AGO. WHEN HE WAS SOMEONE ELSE. HE'S SEEN IT. HE KNOWS IT'S NOT A MYTH.
HE SWALLOWS IT.
It's not a myth. I've seen the readings. The quantum signature is real. It's buried somewhere in the system. And we need to find it before anyone else figures out what they're sitting on.
And if the Algorithm finds out?
The Algorithm won't find out. That's why I'm talking to you and not to the Ministry. You find it, you bring it to me, and you tell no one.
What's in it for me?
You get to keep breathing.
A BEAT.
DR SHADOW (CONT'D)
And a seat at the table when Evil A rewrites history. Your choice.
SHADOW PULLS HIS COAT TIGHT AND WALKS TOWARD A MAN-HOLE IN THE STREET.
How do I find something nobody remembers?
DR SHADOW PAUSES. HALF TURNS.
Start with the twins. The ones at the Ministry. They don't know it yet, but they're connected to it. Watch them.
SHADOW STEPS INTO THE MAN-HOLE AND DISAPPEARS INTO DARKNESS.
WATSO STANDS ALONE. THE STREET IS QUIET.
HE LIGHTS A CIGARETTE. HIS HANDS ARE SHAKING.
FADE TO BLACK.