Beyond - Legends Coruscant Time (thriller in the style of 24!)

ANTHONY seated in a seedy bar. He is watching the holoscreen.

BARTENDER: Anything for you, pal?

ANTHONY: No thanks.

A PATRON seated next to ANTHONY watches the screen as well.

PATRON: Crazy, huh?

ANTHONY: Sorry?

PATRON: This whole thing. You'd think anybody would be glad to see the NR and the Empire finally get a treaty.

ANTHONY: One would think so.

PATRON: And here they're trying to stop it. Kill everybody involved.

ANTHONY: Some people are not healthy.

PATRON: What?

ANTHONY: Mentally, I mean. They . . .

ANTHONY pauses. A picture of DAN has appeared on the holoscreen; it is obviously a much younger DAN, but it is recognizeable.

ANTHONY: Some people . . . they have no soul. . .

PATRON: Sorry? Didn't catch that.

ANTHONY: Nothing important.

ANTHONY's hand has moved to his pocket. He pats it absentmindedly, checking for the blaster.

ANTHONY: Nothing important . . .

FOUR images fill the screen:

DAN's image on the screen
DAN walking down a dark alley
WEDGE and IELLA bursting out of the closet they have been locked in
WES watching through a glass window as PAGE is lifted from a bacta tank

BLACK SCREEN

COUNTER: 8:40:01PM

BLACK SCREEN

 

ANTHONY: Some people . . . they have no soul. . .

PATRON: Sorry? Didn't catch that.

ANTHONY: Nothing important.

 

BLACK SCREEN

COUNTER: 8:47:16 PM

FOUR IMAGES fill the screen.

PAGE being wheeled down a hall in a wheelchair
WEDGE and IELLA making their way down a dark alley
PELLEAON reading a datapad
RILTER watching news coverage of the assassination attempt

WEDGE and IELLA fill the screen.

WEDGE: There's got to be a bar around here somewhere.

IELLA: Julian wouldn't live in a neighborhood without one.

WEDGE: There. Come on.

The two of them run into the bar.

WEDGE: Public comm?

BARTENDER: Back there.

IELLA takes the comm.

IELLA: Face?

WEDGE: Anybody who can get us a kriffing extraction. My back hurts and I'm tired.

IELLA: Such language.

WEDGE: It's been a bad day.

IELLA: Face, are you there? Answer, if you're there.

CUT to:

 

So glad to see you're posting on this one again!

 

PAGE arrives in the waiting room. He slowly stands from the hoverchair with the help of the NURSE.

PAGE: Thanks.

WES: You look great.

PAGE: Liar.

WES: Well, considering.

PAGE: Is my wife here?

The door slides open and KITHA enters.

KITHA: Jud.

PAGE tries to turn, but can't quite manage it before she catches him in a tight hug.

PAGE: Hey.

KITHA: Thank the Force . . .

PAGE: I love you.

KITHA: I . . .

Another door slides open and FACE appears. KITHA's face turns to stone.

FACE: Perfect timing.

WES: Like a vote on that?

FACE: Glad to see you up, Page. I've got a brief prepared for you in the speeder on the way back to headquarters.

PAGE: No rest for the weary.

WES meets KITHA's eyes.

FACE: Not today. Personal request from Gavrisom. Pelleaon's due to land shortly; Gavrisom wants you to head up the site security sweep and be on hand for the signing.

WES: Give the man a moment with his wife, for Sith's sake.

FACE: A minute. No more, I'm afraid.

PAGE turns to KITHA.

PAGE: This'll all be over soon.

KITHA: You have to do this?

PAGE: Someone does. They seem to think it's me.

KITHA: I know.

PAGE: Did you get the results back from the doctor?

KITHA: No. Nothing yet.

WES catches her eye over PAGE's shoulder and furrows his brow. KITHA shakes her head, almost imperceptibly. PAGE does not notice. He kisses her and then steps away.

PAGE: I'll be back.

KITHA: I know.

PAGE leaves and FACE turns to follow. WES catches his eye.

FACE: What?

WES: You've changed. You know that?

FACE: And you haven't.

WES: Yeah. I guess that's it.

FACE: History could be made today, Wes. Finally, some sort of peace.

WES nods slowly.

WES: Let's hope it's worth it.

FACE: Peace is always worth it.

WES: Maybe. Maybe.

CUT to:

 

Hooray! Glad to see this one going again!

WES: You look great.

PAGE: Liar.

WES: Well, considering.

 

DAN walking in a communications booth. He is speaking into the commlink.

DAN: Come on, come on, answer.

A large, heavyset man appears in split screen.

MAN: This is Neol.

DAN: Neol. It?s Dan.

NEOL: Dan who?

DAN: Shut the kriff up. I?m in trouble.

NEOL: Oh, that Dan.

DAN: Seriously. I need transport off planet immediately.

NEOL: You took a shot at Pelleaon, eh?

DAN: Listen . . .

NEOL: What on earth made you do that? You used to be a loyal Imp, same as me.

DAN: Like you, I got screwed one too many times. Can you arrange it?

NEOL: Of course. Give me an hour.

DAN: I?ll give you half an hour.

NEOL: Are you crazy?

DAN: I?ll be there in half an hour. Have the ship ready to go.

NEOL: Dan, one of these days.

DAN: Tell me about it.

DAN disconnects and leans his head back, closing his eyes in weariness.

CUT to:

 

NEOL: Dan, one of these days.

DAN: Tell me about it.