Severance Script Ep01 Under the Gun Xtract

8/6/2019 Severance Script Ep01 Under the Gun Xtract

1/21

SEVERANCE

"Under the Gun"

Written by

Peter Ingham

1ST DRAFT

01 06, 2011


2/21

SEVERANCEUnder the Gun

TEASER

INT. PRISON - HALLWAY - NIGHT1 1

Footsteps echo down a corridor, a WARDEN, though from no agewere familiar with, walks past rows of heavily armoredcells. He stops, two men have been shadowing him, armed tothe teeth, theyre on his side though.

The Warden takes out a small device, flat-panel display,scans a node next to the door. Data blooms on the screen,cuts through the dark, no image, MURDER, 5 counts.

Warden looks to the men, nods, presses a button, the dooropens, slow, revealing nebulous black inside.

INT. PRISON - CELL2 2

Reeve, Mid 30s, fit, disheveled sits on the edge of bed.Flashlights skim the room but not him. It finally rests onhis hands, theyre linked calmly and bound in metal cuffs.With their rifles leveled, the Warden slips a pair of glasseson Reeves face, a shudder of electricity causes the wholeface to become absorbed in matte black. A digital blindfold.The Warden grabs his arm, leading him away.

INT. PRISON - HALLWAY3 3

Reeve stumbles lackluster down the hallway flanked by the

guards.

INT. PRISON - CHECKOUT STATION4 4

The Warden stops by a terminal, keys in info and brings upthe cell number, ready to sign Reeve out-- another Reeveshand beats him to the punch. He turns to see a SUIT, dressedlike he should be at a funeral, face cold, PROFESSIONAL.

SUIT(letting the hand go)

As my associates stressed, and asyou have well surmised, this Reevewas never here. Just like my friendand I were never here. And likewiseWarden, you and your friends werenever here.

The Suit takes out a small black slate from his breastpocket.


3/21

SUITTake it, cash it anywhere. Its themost youve gotten paid for doingnothing at all. Am I correct?

The Warden turns to the guards, shrugs, takes the slate.

WARDENHes all yours.

The Suit nods to the OTHER SUIT, who grabs Reeve roughly bythe arm, leading him away.

EXT. PRISON - ELEVATOR5 5

The two suits, with Reeve in tow stand in the elevator as itbegins its ascent.

SUIT

(Grits his teeth)We-- no-- I, have invested a lot oftime and effort in locating you.Years pouring over data, trying tofind which hole you crawled into.Honestly, I half expected to findyou dead in a trash-crater on thefar side of Vallis, perhaps I wasexpecting too much.

The Suit punches Reeve in the stomach, keeling him over, theother suit picks him back up. Reeves breathing heavilythrough the mask.

The Suit, now having expelled whatever current demon waseating him up, straightens his hair. The elevator grinds to ahalt. The doors open.

EXT. PRISON - GATES6 6

Were outside, this prison however, is located on an asteroidbelt circling a giant planet.

SUIT (V.O.)Remember my friend, there isnowhere in the Reaches that wecannot go.

EXT. PRISON - YARD7 7

The Suits guide him along the dirt track to their vehicle, acompact space cruiser, two in the front, room in the back forsmall cargo. Unmarked.

SEVERANCE - EP1 - "Under the Gun" - 2.

Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:4 4


4/21

The Suit pushes some keys on a door panel, the lockdisengages and opens.

The Other Suit withdraws a punch syringe and thrusts it intoReeves neck. They promptly shove Reeve in.

The cruiser takes off, bright spark jettisoning into thefirmament.INT. CRUISER - A FEW HOURS LATER8 8

Reeve sits on a bench as the Cruiser breaks through theatmosphere of a heavily industrialized planet, all smoke,steel, and neon. He starts to come to, digital veil stillintact.

OTHER SUITLook alive sunshine.

SUIT(turning round)Give him another shot, we just needhim with us, not conscious.

The Other Suit reaches into his pocket, gets the syringe,goes to jab it into his neck-- BAM! -- Reeves cuffed handslance out, twisting the syringe into his neck. Reeves handsfind the gun in his jacket, takes it out, caps him in thestomach. Then-- still blindfolded, tags the driver in theback, sending the cruiser on a sharp descent.

Circuits scream and hiss, a klaxon sounding off as Reeve

scrambles to remove the glasses. Casting them on the floor asthey break through the clouds, he pushes the Suit out of theway and pulls on the wheel. Hopes for the best.

I/E. LADY LUCK - HANGAR - SAME TIME9 9

The airship-- Mass Transport Model-- sits in wasteland withBECK, mid 20s, grunge/punk look, a Driver.

BECK(smiles incredulously atthe crashing Cruiser)

Now theres somethin you dont seeevery cycle.

WOREEVE(jabbing a rifle intoBeck)

Keep. Movin.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:7 7


5/21

BECKOkay-- okay.

He starts walking down the ramp to the yard, behind we seevarious people with their guns trained on him. He turnsround.

BECK (CONTD)At least tell me we had some goodtimes-- did I not pay enoughattention-- I know I wasnt alwaysthe best Jacket, but--

SILIts not you Beck, its us.

BECKTell me youre gonna treat hergood, shes the best in theReaches.

SIL(sighing)

Sure, right until we scrap herafter the jobs done.

Beck marches towards her, they all collective cock theirweapons, he stops.

BECK(incensed)

She is a treasure. In your nextlife Sil, I hope you come back as a

bug that gets flattened on mywindshield.

SILUnless you want to be waiting forme down there to give pointers, youbetter take your ass off MY ship.

Beck looks at the rest of the crew, then Sil, then spits onthe floor, but turns round and walks.

SIL (CONTD)(turns round to two men)

Check out that wreck, the rest ofyou, LOAD OUT.

EXT. WASTELAND - MOMENTS LATER10 10

The Cruiser sits nose-first in a dense patch of brush, smokebillowing from its busted thrusters. The door opens, Reevepushing one of the suits out of the opening, hes a MESS.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:9 9


6/21

He lands on the ground with a thud, Reeve rifling through hispockets. He finds a black slate, screen cracked, powers itup. A logon and initials appear: H.S.B.T. He grits his teeth,throws it away.

He finds a swipe key, casts the cuffs to the side while hetakes off Reeves suit. When he removes his jumpsuit he seesthat hes sustained damage to his side, doesnt care. Twoencroaching flashlights in the distance grab his attention.

EXT. WASTELAND - CONTINUOUS11 11

Two of the crew walk through the undergrowth towards theship. Steps cautious-- CRUNCH-- one guy turns as ReeveAPPEARS from nowhere grabbing him and shooting the other crewmember. He snaps his neck and lets him fall.

I/E. LADY LUCK - HANGAR - SAME TIME12 12

Sil and the crew turn to the flash from the gun. She finishestightening his cuffs to a post and cautiously returns to theship.

SILLETS MOVE.

CREWMANWhat about those two?

SILYou wanna check theyre still

alive, be my guest.

Beck looks around frantically.

EXT. WASTELAND - SEVERAL FEET AWAY13 13

Reeve hides in the brush, looks toward the light of the ship,sees one man protesting. Moves closer.

EXT. LADY LUCK - MOMENTS LATER14 14

He approaches the rear of Lady Luck, Beck several feet away,looking like a kid sent to a naughty step. While the mutinouscrew are busy losing excess baggage, Reeve holds a gun toBecks head.

REEVE(breathless)

Im... gonna need that ship.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:10 10


7/21

BECK(looks at him, doesntcare)

Think youre too late pal.

Beck gesticulates toward the crew, who now have their guns

trained on Reeve.

SILYou off two of my crew then havethe stones to come to my ship.

Reeve looks to the several men and women with their guns onhim, levels his pistol at them--

BECKId take it easy pal, these peoplehave a shoot first ethos goin on.

SILShut it Beck. This guys dead inthe water.

Reeves gun hands shaking, lead weight in his hands.

REEVEI need... that ship.

BECK(whispering)

Guy, cmon, this aint worth dyinfor.

SILBurn em.

BANG-- tags two guys next to her. The crew return fire, Becktrying his best to not get shot, made difficult by the facthes tied to the post.

Cant take all of them out though, Sil caps him, hecollapses.

BLACK OUT.END OF TEASER


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:14 14


8/21

ACT 1

EXT. LADY LUCK - MINUTES LATER15 15

Reeve lies on the floor, blood pooling. Beck looks cautiouslytowards Sil and her few remaining crew as they toss the

deadweight off the side.

His foot stretches out to try and snag Reeves pistol--Reeves hand stops him though-- Beck tries to hide a yelp.Reeve brings a finger to his bloody lips.

REEVEHow... many?

BECK(like hes seen a ghost)

Err... three.

Reeve waits a moment till the crews back is turned-- picks upthe pistol and stumbles up the cargo ramp.

A HAIL of gunshots off-screen, Beck watches stuck betweenfear and bewilderment, this situation filtered through somelens of unreality. FLASHES light the hold-- then as quicklyas they came, die down.

Reeve walks out, bloodied soaking up blood like a sponge, Silwith a gun pointed to her head.

BECK (CONTD)Oni...

He leads her down the ramp, stops at Beck. Nods at her, cocksthe gun.

BECK (CONTD)NO-- dont. Youd be wastinbullets.

REEVE(to Sil)

Jog.

Sil runs off into the night. Reeve lets the gun rest at hisside, near the point of collapse. In the distance we can seelights of approaching vessels.

EXT. CORPORATION CRUSIER - CONTINUOUS16 16


Peter Ingham 2011


9/21

A digital screen, a wash of green grid-lines on black. Ittracks around Lady Luck-- zooms in on Beck, data comes up:BECK, QUENTIN with an array of offences: robbery, corporatederailment etc.

It tracks to Reeve, no info, red frames his image: TARGET.

EXT. WASTELAND - LADY LUCK HANGAR17 17

Looks towards the lights, walks toward the ship.

BECK(looks at the lights)

HEY-- Pal, while Im real gratefulyou massacred my treacherous crew,you think you could get me outtathese bracelets?

Reeve carries on walking.

BECK (CONTD)(looking franticallyaround)

Cmon! They find me, theyll lockme in the deepest, darkest Gulagthis side of the Reaches.

His pleas dont faze him.

BECK (CONTD)If you wanna get outta here Imyour best shot, I can go places

they cant-- best Driver out there--I can get you gone. You hear me?

Reeve stops, turns, sound accreting.

REEVEYou got connections-- to lay low?

BECKCourse-- just get me out!

Reeve tosses a swipe key his way, he catches it and the cuffscome off. Beck runs up the ramp.

BECK (CONTD)Cmon, stay with me.

INT. LADY LUCK - HANGAR18 18

Beck enters ahead of Reeve, he follows as best he can butcollapses.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:16 16


10/21

Beck clicks his teeth, slams the hangar lock button, thendrags Reeve and hastily secures him by some cargo. He runsoff.

INT. LADY LUCK - BRIDGE19 19

Beck jumps into the drivers seat, flicks numerous switches,the whole thing lights up like a Christmas tree. One screendisplays a feed showing the encroaching ship.

The thrusters fire up. One vid-screen comes to life--INCOMING TRANSMISSION.

CRUISER CAPTAINMTM Driver, power down your shipand exit the vehicle. Failure tocomply will permit the use ofexcessive force. You have--

Beck flicks off the screen.

BECK(preps the ship)

Thanks cap, Ill let my imaginationfill in the finer details of myimminent and fiery death.

EXT. WASTELAND - LADY LUCK20 20

The ship taxis for a second and then breaks for the skies.The Corp Cruisers follow.


Beck guides the ship through the firmament, on the screen wesee several cruisers on his tail. A screen flares, Beckchecks the screen, a wireframe model of the cruisers, EMPSCHARGING. He sighs.EXT. CITY SKIES22 22

Lady Luck weaves through atmosphere, the Cruisers fire theirEMPs, they manage to dodge several bolts but JUST as theybreak through the stratosphere a bolt glances the ship.


Lights spark on and off. Beck hits a console.

BECKCmon.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:18 18


11/21

Beck thumbs a console, it calculates how much they have leftand where itll get them. A myriad of destinations light up.

BECK (CONTD)(sighs)

Lemonade...

He engages the destination lock: CERES.

EXT. STRATOSPHERE24 24

The ship catapults into the black, leaving the Cruisers intheir wake.


Beck lets out a breath hes been holding, wipes his face withhis hands. Flicks on a screen, Reeve still in the hangar.Gets out the seat and runs.

INT. LADY LUCK - HANGAR - MOMENTS LATER26 26

REEVES POV

Vision blurred, he sees Beck in front, the man grabs him,BLACK OUT.

INT. LADY LUCK - CABIN - FEW HOURS LATER27 27

White light, hes still alive, barely. Tries to move hisshoulder-- OUCH, swings his legs over the bed. Gets up,stumbles over to the mirror and sink, bloodied gauze

everywhere.

Vomits. Runs the tap, washes his face, looks in the mirror.Cuts and scrapes, the shoulder wound bound, other scars andwounds on his body, hes been through something.

He hears CLUNKING from somewhere in the ship, goes toinvestigate.

INT. LADY LUCK - ENGINE ROOM28 28

Becks fiddling with some high-tech engine components, staresintently a chip board thats taken a beating.

BECKFried-- special EMP, used to safelytake down ships-- guy in my line ofwork always has contingenciesthough.

He looks at Reeve.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:23 23


12/21

BECK (CONTD)Hows the shoulder, Im no fixerbut itll hold.

REEVEDid a good job.

BECKYou pick up a few tricks in theReaches.

(holds his hand out)Beck.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - MEETING ROOM29 29

A stranger, slick looking in a suit.

CARTER(holding his hand out)

Carter.

FLASH--

INT. LADY LUCK - ENGINE ROOM30 30

REEVE(clasps his hand)

Reeve.

BECKFancy enlightening me on what inthe nether just happened? You were

on that crusier right-- came outtathe sky like a meteor.

REEVESome suits-- corporate, took aliking to me.

BECKLet me guess, you dont plan ontellin me?

REEVE(nursing his shoulder)

Not right now, Im runnin is all,same as you. That corp off ourtail?

BECKOur tail.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:28 28


13/21

REEVEYou wanted to keep your ship, thatwas the deal.

BECKGuess I shouldve read the fine

print.

REEVEWhere we headin?

BECK(tossing the board away)

CERES-- not my first choice but theonly place we could gun it tosafely. Well have to keep it stumthere, more than a few people havethe hots for me and the Lady.

REEVEHunters?

BECKAnd then some, but I guess youdknow all about that.

(walking away from theengine)

Fact is, if we wanna be up crusinthe Reaches again, Im gonna need anew Navicular-Driver. This placesis the only shot.

REEVESafe?

BECKBlue as we can get it at the moment-- Black-light territory-- a moon,corps got no hold there-- outlawcountry. If I were you though, Idworry more about whats down there,than whats out here.

REEVEWhatd they want you for?

BECKThe usual: smugglin, corporateespionage, bounty huntin, a listlonger than a dead-heads tongueimplant.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:30 30


14/21

REEVEYou get around then.

BECKI make it a priority to never letthe engines cool down.

Reeve goes to leave.

BECK (CONTD)Hey-- When I get the Lady fixed...youre not gonna kill me oranythin?

REEVE(smiles)

I got no reason to kill you, I needyour services. All youve got is myword. That gonna be enough?

BECKPeoples words been a little shakyrecently.

REEVEId picked up on that. If I wereyou, Id be more cautious afterwhat just happened.

BECK(angry)

I dont remember you givin me a

choice.

REEVEYou made your choice Beck.

BECKYeah, cause I didnt want somestranger takin the Lady from meand lets not forget, I saved yourass.

REEVEId say were on pretty evenground.

Beck shakes his head, leaving Reeve in the engine room.

INT. LADY LUCK - HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS31 31


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED: (2)30 30


15/21

Becks walking, passes a door with Sils name on it-- her oldcabin-- looks at it-- SLAMS a fist into it, BEAT, wipes hisface, composure regained.EXT. WASTELAND - NIGHT32 32

The Suit sits in the back of a black cruiser, looking out aship and bodies around the scene. A MEDIC sees to the woundson his back, two through-and-throughs. Hes on a handheld.

SUITWiden the net, find out where inthe Nether he got to.

SPEAKER (O.C.)Theres half a dozen black-lightterritories-- three possible Hubs--

SUIT

I dont care, you get anyone wehave connections with-- any sidetheyre on, send them the image--nothing else-- tell them we needhim alive.

SPEAKER (O.C.)He was with another too, the shiphe took.

SUITName?

SPEAKER (O.C.)Quentin Beck.

SUITExpendable?

SPEAKER (O.C.)No-- someone wants him alive.

SUITVery well. Do what you have to.

The Suit hangs up, looks over the wreckage, rubs his chin.

INT. LADY LUCK - CABIN - FEW HOURS LATER33 33

Reeve is on the bed, sleeping-- SHUDDER-- hes awake,somethings up with the ship. He gets up, rushes off.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:31 31


16/21


Reeve comes in, grabs something to steady himself at anothershock.

REEVE

Whats going on?

BECKThink I was a bit too optimisticabout whether the Lady could standthe jump.

Another shock, Reeve straps himself in.

BECK (CONTD)Without the power runnin atoptimum shes under-coolin on thedescent--

The Ladys lights flicker off for a second and then comeback.

BECK (CONTD)Cmon baby, just a little longer.

An orchestral array of BEEPS sound off. Shes going down.Beck slams the wheel a couple of times as they make theirdescent-- they breach the atmosphere and she starts to evenout. PHEW.

REEVE

We gonna land okay?

BECKYeah, but I think my healin handswont be enough.

REEVEMeaning?

BECKLook at her-- shes a big lady,wish I could take care of her bymyself but the fact is she needs acrew.

REEVEThat safe?


Peter Ingham 2011


17/21

BECKHonestly, Id rather ride blindthrough an asteroid belt then lookfor people on Ceres.

REEVE

Were not in a position to bepicky.

BECKTell me about it.

EXT. CERES - DOCK - NIGHT35 35

The ship lands in the port through a haze of smog and neon.Like a floating strobe light in a gloomy disco. Other shipsare lined up, the place is bustling, stalls set up, like ashanghai market after a downpour.


BECKIm gonna go topside and find thatpart. You better stay put.

REEVEIm taggin along.

BECKDont think thats such a good ideapal.

REEVEI wasnt askin.

BECK(exhales)

Fine-- theres some getup in thecabin you were in, not like thecrews gonna need it anymore. Imgonna grab some stuff. Meet me downthere in five.

Reeve takes off.

INT. LADY LUCK - HANGAR37 37

Becks rummaging round a container through lots of debris asReeve walks down the stairs, T-shirt, jacket, jeans etc. Heraises an eyebrow at him.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:34 34


18/21

He comes up with two black, burka-looking goggle helmets,tosses one to Reeve.

BECKI told you people would be onto us.

Reeve tosses it away. Beck waves him off.

BECK (CONTD)Well, dont come cryin to mewantin to be rescued.

Beck slips the mask on, he looks like an idiot.

REEVEId rather take my chances.

EXT. CERES - DOCK38 38

The hangar lock hydraulics disengage, the ramp decends. Reeveand Beck walk down, the ramp folds back up.

BECK(unintelligible speak)

(BEAT)(exposes his mouth)

Were lookin for a Navicular-Driver, series 5, model 1300 for anMTM-- the other parts are a littlemore complicated so Ill worryabout them.

(reaches into his pocket

takes out a handheld)You find it, you gimme a call,well meet back in an hour.

Beck hands over the handheld.

REEVEWhat about a crew?

BECK(audible sigh)

We really need a mech, but Im notholdin out. At best, well get oneto come to the Lady, sort her out.Then we hightail outta here.

Reeve nods, starts to walk away.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:37 37


19/21

BECK (CONTD)Hey-- If you find this part asquickly as you find trouble wellbe set.

Reeve shakes his head, continues walking. Meanwhile--

EXT. CERES - DOCK - STALL39 39

A handhelds scans over the Lady Luck from a distance, zoomsin on the ships insignia: MATCH-- quickly scans over Reeve--NOTHING-- pans to Beck, filters through body type matches ofthe crew, lands on him-- MATCH

EXT. CERES - MARKET40 40

Reeve walks through the market, sees an empty drinks stall,walks over to it.

REEVESake.

The SERVER grabs the bottle, places it down, Reeve goes topick it up but its pulled away.

SERVER(Japanese)

Kane-- kane. (Money-- money.)

Reeve shakes his head, dives into the pockets of his jacketand trousers but finds nothing. He exhales, then leaves.

EXT. CERES - MARKET - TECH SECTION41 41

Beck walks down a lane of tech stalls, like a section ofMarrakesh gilt in steel. He stares at one set up, seeminglynot impressed with their lack of his parts.

GIRL (O.C.)You wont find what youre lookinfor there.

Beck looks round in his burka, tunnel vision a problem. AGirl stands there: LINK, mid teens, Japanese, candyflossdiesel punk.

BECKYou psychic or somethin?

LINKMaybe...


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:38 38


20/21

BECK(dismissive)

Right... Im just gonna carry ondoin what Im doin.

LINK

Tell me what youre lookin for andI bet I can get it.

BECKIm set, kid.

The Girl kicks him in the back of the leg.

BECK (CONTD)(grabbing his leg)

What the hell?

LINK

Cmon, try me.

BECKFine-- Navicular-Driver, series 5,model 1300 for an MTM-- Happy?

The Girl whips out a handheld, taps its surface frantically.

LINKYatta! (yes!)

She thrusts it in his face, sure enough, a picture of thechip on the digital screen.

BECKSeems I underestimate you streeturchins. How much we talkin?-- Iwont go a chip over five-thou.

LINKDont you wanna check it out first?

BECK(scratching the back ofhis head)

Suppose I should...

LINKCmon!

She grabs his arm and pulls him along. They pace down astreet, the Girl pulls him into an alley.


Peter Ingham 2011

CONTINUED:41 41


21/21

EXT. CERES - ALLEY42 42

Winding past broken equipment they arrive at a busted door.The girl taps in some numbers, it opens.

INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE43 43

Shafts of light pierce the roofing, dust covering everysurface... derelict.

BECKKid, you sure this is the place?

LINKAww Bibiri (scaredy cat)

Becks not too enthused, he feels for the gun at his back...

BECK

Kid. Hey--

We see a pistol come in to shot. Someones got the drop onhim. Again.

BECK (CONTD)Cmon...

BLACK OUT.END OF ACT ONE


Peter Ingham 2011

Severance Script Ep01 Under the Gun Xtract

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Transcript of Severance Script Ep01 Under the Gun Xtract