Most days, I wish I hadn't been given the ability to do anything for myself. It's nice that I can feed myself and use the toilet on my own, for what I hope are obvious reasons. The act of operating an elevator properly is the high point of my day — the moment where I can choose the floor I want is like having a weight lifted off of my chest. And so on and so forth.
The thing about agency is that even the smallest drop opens the door for guilt. There are an assortment of very good reasons why I'm not responsible for what I do, but whenever I do anything more than put one foot in front of the other, I can't shake away the thought: You could have stopped yourself. Guilt is the one emotion I've always felt strongly, and it's doing me no favors now.
Every so often, I'll try to count the bodies — memorializing them, if only in aggregate — but my body is usually steering me away before I can get a look at everyone. It's a shame, because I'm very good at memorization (always have been, actually) and could keep an accurate tally if I was allowed. Now, that has done me favors — my memory is what allows me to "write" this. Writing still brings satisfaction even when I'm the whole audience.
But I digress. My point is, I am a writer, and with some effort I can still do it in a limited fashion. I construct narratives. Here are two narratives.
The first entails me being placed into a body that goes around and makes people kill each other in a blind panic. I am a decent person, and I find this very tragic, and I wish that it wasn't happening, or at the very least that I was not forced to participate. Even the faintest whiff of agency is enough to make me doubt and blame myself. It happens anyways.
The second entails me being placed into a body that goes around and makes people kill each other in a blind panic. I am an evil man who takes great joy in this, only wishing that I could take control of my body and do it more often. Every moment where I can move for myself gives me hope that this might happen. Things proceed as normal.
You'll notice that empathy and decency only cause me anguish; I doubt they alleviate the pain of being crushed under a pile of screaming humanity. My teachers always said that a logical, detached perspective was one of my strengths.
There's a moment, when the crowd's fervor reaches its fever pitch, where I have a chance to express myself. Not speech, unfortunately. But whatever I'm feeling comes out, if I let it.
I'm tired of crying. Maybe I should laugh.


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The word processor's cursor blinked accusingly at Tilda, goading her into finishing the report.
It was always the same, dull story with directorship: it's lonely at the top, and it's lonely because you're sitting on a mountain of paperwork. Things took on a lot more gravity when the lives of everyone on site (and many other nameless, faceless people elsewhere) are affected by the stroke of a pen. Her pen.
And yet it was still dull. Monotone, monochrome. Easy to forget what it meant, what you were doing. Vital that you always remembered.
There were times when you didn't want to talk to anyone about it. No, not didn't want to. Couldn't. Isolation eventually wore down anyone, even if you were well-practiced with having few friends. Yet no matter what she wanted, there were things that only others who had previously occupied the Site-19 directorial office could understand, or even be told.
As it happened, one of those people chose that moment to knock on her door. She smelled the cigarette smoke first, then looked up to see a greying man in his mid-50's standing in her doorway.
"Dmitri, good afternoon."
Dmitri Strelnikov looked at his watch. "It is six o'clock, Direktor." She could hear the "k".
Tilda double checked the time on her computer monitor. "…Damn." She paused. "Also, cigarette, Dmitri."
He nodded apologetically and unceremoniously flicked his cigarette into the hallway. Not the first time he'd done that.
"Sorry. Smoking in this room is an old habit. Hey, you should try it. Might be good for you." Not the first time he'd said that.
Dmitri settled into an armchair and looked around her office, both of which used to belong to him. "You should redecorate, too. The Brezhnev era does not suit you like it does me, Direktor."
She gave a tired smile. "What can I do for you, Dmitri?" She hesitated for a moment. "And please, just Tilda." When he'd been on this side of the desk, he'd insisted the same thing. Call me Dmitri.
"We had a shorter session today and I thought I would come see how you were doing. I say to myself, 'Maybe she needs a cigarette and I am the only one with a spare.'" He smiled broadly. Tilda had never smoked.
Shorter session. She wondered what they were having Dmitri do. He had recently been pulled out of retirement (perhaps more aptly described as self-imposed exile) and made a training officer of Alpha-9. Perhaps the training officer.
She could ask. But that would require more paperwork, if the wrong people were tapping her office right now.
Tilda was technically cleared for all of that, but the papers took a while to make their way to her desk, and even longer to climb the pile. She needed to delegate more of this, but delegation was its own paper mountain.
He was expecting a response, about the cigarette. "It's very kind of you to offer. There is still time for me to pick up the habit." She motioned to her computer and the reams of paper on her desk. "You know how it goes, though."
Dmitri ground his teeth, stainless steel glinting occasionally as he did so. A former Russian airborne infantryman, he had lost a few teeth during bad jumps and some hack Soviet dentist had replaced the missing ones with stainless steel facsimiles. "I tell you what. Leave that go." He waved dismissively at her desk. "I will take you to dinner. I know a nice place. Quiet, good food, no questions asked. They also serve Coca Cola."
Might have sounded like a joke to someone else. But it appealed to Tilda. The cursor seemed to blink more aggressively. Don't you dare, it almost vocalized. Work is more important than food.
Her work saved lives. Her work ended lives.
Dmitri was waiting. Tilda looked at him again and nodded consent. The moment they left her office, he lit another cigarette.

She couldn't decide between a Wendy's number 7 or number 8. It had been so long since she'd eaten out, even at a fast food restaurant, that she really couldn't decide. Something light, maybe? Nothing worse than working hard on a stomach that feels like it's full of bricks. A salad, perhaps?
Dmitri approached the cashier. She looked very young, with an uncertain look about her. Tilda wondered if she was in college. For some reason, that thought aroused a sympathy that bordered on pity.
"Welcome to Wendy's," the cashier said. "Would you like to try the Son of Baconator?"
"No, I do not want the pretender. I want the Baconator elder, with quadruple bacon." He held up four fingers for emphasis.
"Sir, I don't know if we can—"
Dmitri cut her off. "Is this not America? Am I still in the Soviet Union? Why did I leave?" Dmitri gave her a hard look. "Why did I leave if I must settle for the pretend Baconator."
"S-Sir it is America, but…"
"Do you want a bribe? Do I have to bribe for this?" The cashier tried to protest, but Dmitri held a finger to his lips. "Shhh, no no. Here. Look at this." He placed a crisp fifty dollar bill on the counter and slid it towards her. "For you, for you. Quadruple bacon. I want the true Baconator father. Maybe even the Baconator grandfather."
Wide-eyed and confused, the cashier took the bill and punched in the order. Satisfied, Dmitri stepped back. The cashier looked up at Tilda as if wondering what was coming next.
"I'll have what he's having."

It was unhealthy.
It was delicious.
Neither of them spoke for a great while, the taste of the cheap food and the knowledge of how bad it was for them bringing its own peculiar form of catharsis. As Tilda wiped her hands clean of grease, she had no recourse but to admit that she did indeed feel a lot better.
“So, how is training progressing, Dmitri? We'd might as well conduct a little business while we're out,” she asked.
He moved to light a cigarette but a sorry look from the cashier stopped him. “We are moving along. I have been trying to drill them on quick threat detection and reaction.”
“How does that work?”
“They must learn that conditions can, how to say, ‘shit the bed' in an instant. Sometimes you have mere seconds to react to a changing situation, and it will determine if you live or die.”
Tilda nodded.
“I will give you an example.” He pointed with the unlit end of his cigarette towards a man who had just entered. He wore an oversized sweater that looked a bit too warm for the current climate, and his body language indicated that he was possibly nervous or agitated.
“That man there, we will call him Sweater Man.” Dmitri's and Sweater Man's eyes met for the briefest moment. “What would you do, for example, if Sweater Man decided suddenly to shoot up this place?”
“What?” Tilda frowned. “I would call it in, if I could, and wait. Besides that, I would probably do nothing.”
“Nothing?” Dmitri looked displeased.
“Yes.” She watched Sweater Man staring at the counter, shifting in his oversized sweater. She remembered the mountains of paperwork. Saving lives, ending lives, whether you signed this piece of paper or whether you didn't sign that one. Inaction, action. No matter what you did, so much was all the same.
Dmitri leaned forward, clearly forming an argument. But whatever he was going to say was lost when Sweater Man lifted his garment, pulled out a handgun, and fired a round into the ceiling.
Chairs squealed as frightened children and parents alike dove for cover under the wooden Ikea tables. A baby started crying. Someone spilled a drink on Dmitri's back.
Tilda glared at Dmitri with a tone carrying less alarm and more ‘What the hell have you done?'
“ALRIGHT. NOBODY MOVE AND THIS IS OVER REAL QUICK.”
Sweater Man swept his weapon over the cashier and instructed her to begin filling a carryout bag with bills from all the registers.
Dmitri relaxed his hands, allowing his right arm to drop nonchalantly to his side, and waited.
When Sweater's head was turned to the cashier, he nodded at Tilda and rose. With smooth, practiced motion, Dmitri's gun hand lifted the hem of his shirt and drew his trusted sidearm. The weapon rose swiftly, meeting the target—
Dmitri slipped on a spilled milkshake. In stark contrast to how gracefully he had risen, he collapsed to the floor. His sidearm landed on the table in front of Tilda.
There were only seconds to react, but her brain still jumped through the usual hoops. This was not a choice she had wanted to make. Ideally she didn't want to make any choice in this kind of situation, but the die was already cast.
She felt her hand wrap around the bakelite grip as she, too, rose from her seat and drew down on Sweater Man.
The sights aligned, and beyond the front blade sight she could see the target's eyes go wide.
Flash.
She felt, more than heard, the report of the gun. Her eyes flinched. She felt her hand absorb the recoil as the slide cycled backwards and chambered a new round. She watched the lacquered steel casing fly past her peripheral vision. Glass shattered and children screamed, all of it silenced by piercing, ringing tinnitus.
When her eyes focused, Sweater Man was gone. The spent casing hit the floor, and with that her hearing returned.
Dmitri stayed on the floor and lit his cigarette. “You see what I mean, yes?”
She exhaled.

“You should have Everett look at that bruise,” Tilda said as they alternately walked and limped through the hall. The adrenaline crash was hitting her hard, and she wanted nothing more than to sink into her office chair and do paperwork again. Maybe that was the real lesson to be taken from this: an appreciation of stability and relative safety.
“No, because he will try to replace my lungs again. I told him never again, not after last time,” Dmitri said with an emphatic chop of his hand.
Finally they reached her office. She invited him in for a drink out of courtesy, but he politely declined, reminding her that she still had work to do.
A question loomed on her mind, and she teetered indecisively as to whether she should ask or not. She decided she had to know.
"Dmitri…did you orchestrate all of that?"
He gave a curt laugh. "I only wish I could have planned that. So perfect! It was complete co-insidious."
"…Coincidence."
"Yes, that is what I said." He clapped her on the shoulder, beaming. "I want you to know, you did well, even though you missed. I am sure the police found him."
Despite her exhaustion she managed to crack a grim smile. “Thank you. No more practical lessons, if you please.”
“I will try to honor this request, Direktor.”
She sunk into her chair. The cursor greeted her. It had kindly remained where she left it.


SCP: INTO THE DEEP END (PILOT)
Written by
trb456
Inspired by the SCP-Wiki: http://www.scp-wiki.net/
SCP-140 is by AssertiveRoland: http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-140
Sarkic Cults are influenced by the Sarkicism Hub by Metaphysician: http://www.scp-wiki.net/sarkicism-hub
Plus many other SCP influences: thanks to sirpudding, Humanmale, and Zyn
This derivative work is licensed under the Creative Commons ShareAlike 3.0 License:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

TEASER
BLACK SCREEN:

VOICEOVER
We will bring them forth, with
blood and pestilence and fury. It
cannot be stopped. It is only a
matter of time.

CUT TO:

EXT. BIG RIG ON A US HIGHWAY
ANGLE ON big rig heading down a US highway at dawn. We hear a
tinny radio version of "Fast Freight" by The Kingston Trio.

CUT TO:

INT. CAB OF BIG RIG
CLOSE SHOT on cab radio, then ANGLE ON DRIVER listening to
music. (S)he notices something in the distance, and as we
cut, the music becomes higher fidelity.

CUT TO:

EXT. POV FROM CAB
We see a sign for a weigh station, whose light switches from
"Closed" to "Open." Below the main sign is another reading:
"Mile sponsored by: Society for Cetacean Protection".

CUT TO:

INT. CAB OF BIG RIG
Driver is noticeably perturbed. (S)he starts to turn the
truck into the weigh station, as we…

CUT TO:

EXT. WEIGH STATION
WIDE SHOT of truck pulling in as an ATTENDANT waves the truck
into a lane near a series of bays.
The truck comes to a stop timed with the end of the musical
phrase "If you go, you can't come back," around 1:15. Radio
ends here (series background music may commence here).
WIDE SHOT of Attendant near cab driver door. Door opens, then
ANGLE ON each speaker in turn. Driver does not leave cab.

DRIVER
What the hell?
ATTENDANT
New state regs. Random survey crap.
15 minutes, 20 tops. Over here.

WIDE SHOT as Attendant points towards one of the bays. Driver
closes door and maneuvers the big rig into the bay, which
Attendant accompanies and SHOT FOLLOWS. CLOSE IN on door as
it opens, driver exits cab, ANGLE ON each speaker in turn.

DRIVER
Anywhere to get a cup of coffee at
least? Long way to Fall River.
ATTENDANT
(takes notice, then smiling) Sure,
I can put on a fresh pot. This way.

WIDE SHOT as the two exit the bay heading towards the weigh
station office, with SHOT remaining centered on the bay.
CLOSE IN on Attendant's hand pushing a button on a device on
his/er belt. Resume WIDE SHOT as they leave the area, as we
see the bay doors closing, and the truck descending into the
bay floor.

CUT TO:

INT. TRUCK IN BAY
OVERHEAD SHOT of truck descending down a large shaft.

CUT TO:

INT. FOUNDATION SITE-76 LOADING BAY
WIDE SHOT on a large industrial loading bay in Foundation
Site-76, as the truck descends onto a loading pad. We see
numerous personnel in various states of work. As the truck
reaches the bottom, several Foundation GUARDS in hardshell
carapace armor, armed with automatic rifles, converge towards
the back of the trailer.
CLOSE IN on the rear trailer door, as it springs open. We see
a troop transport exit, rolling down a waiting ramp. SHOT
FOLLOWS the transport as it maneuvers into a parking space,
Guards following.
ANGLE IN on transport door, surrounded by Guards. Door opens,
and we see a succession of D-CLASS and Guards, alternating,
exiting the transport. The D-Class (imprisoned Foundation
test subjects) are garbed in orange jumpsuits and have a
black bag completely enveloping their heads. Their hands are
manacled behind their backs, and legs are also manacled but
allow walking. One of the D-Class has black gloves covering
their hands and wrists (GLOVED D-CLASS). The accompanying
Guards are similarly equipped as their Site-76 counterparts.
SHOT WIDENS as the Guards group the D-Class into rows. There
are 12 D-Class in all, each with a Guard on their right.
During this scene, the transport goes back to the truck and
re-enters the cab. The cab rear door closes, and the truck
ascends back up the shaft. This all happens in the
background, suggesting a fast transfer, triggered by the
Attendant above.
Another group of 12 Guards from Site-76 joins the D-Class
group, each Guard moving to the left of each D-Class. They
now move forward, each pair of Guards ferrying their D-Class
to a variety of holding cells, shown in a series of CUTS
(groups splitting up at corridor junctions, marching down
corridors, ferrying D-Class into cells). While this is
happening, we hear the following over a site-wide intercom:

INTERCOM
Alert. (CUT) Site-76 D-Class
Loading Protocol is in effect.
(CUT) Condition Yellow. (CUT) All
Foundation personnel not involved
in the Loading Protocol (CUT) are
asked to clear corridors until the
All Clear is sound. (CUT) Alert
(repeats as needed)

INT. OUTSIDE SITE-76 "CELL" DOOR
At the final CUT, the two Guards ferrying the Gloved D-Class
(OUTSIDE/INSIDE GUARD, corresponding to From Bus/From Site
76) stop in front of an apparent cell door. CLOSE IN on
Inside Guard applying key card to door mechanism, which
clicks open.

CUT TO:

INT. SITE-76 DECOMMISSIONED LAB
ANGLE IN on inside of door as the Inside Guard, Gloved D
Class, and Outside Guard enter in that order. Inside Guard
continues in, but Outside Guard stops short with Gloved D
Class and expresses surprise.
REVERSE ANGLE on Inside Guard, as we see what looks like a
derelict lab (not a holding cell). He approaches a lab bench.
Outside Guard begins speaking in this view, then immediately
CUT BACK to ANGLE ON Outside Guard and Gloved D-Class.

OUTSIDE GUARD
Hey, what's this? (CUT) Are you
sure this is the right-

Outside Guard is cut short by Gloved D-Class (still hooded),
who swings its arms completely over its head as though its
shoulders are on a ball joint, encircling Outside Guard's
head and putting him/her into a chokehold with the manacles.
CLOSE IN as Outside Guard struggles and loses consciousness.
CUT BACK to Inside Guard, who places a small metal disk on
the lab bench, as we hear (but do not see) the Outside
Guard's body collapse and hit the floor. CLOSE IN on disk as
Inside Guard touches the top, which causes the disk to glow
deep blue and infuse the room with a dim blue hue.
PROFILE SHOT as Inside Guard walks back to Gloved D-Class.
Inside Guard bends over to undo the Gloved D-Class' leg
manacles and speaks in a hushed tone.

INSIDE GUARD
The jammer shuts off in 60 seconds,
that's all we get.

CLOSE IN on Gloved D-Class' hands. While Inside Guard keeps
talking, Gloved D-Class squirms out of its arm manacles in an
anomalous & unsettling fashion, tossing them aside.

INSIDE GUARD
I've already logged you into your
cell, no one should notice.

WIDEN SHOT back to PROFILE. Inside Guard hands Gloved D-Class
a key card.

INSIDE GUARD
This gets you into the Keter Wing
and the containment cell. (more
slowly) Once you breach, you'll
have a minute at most. (faster)
That's it, I can't-

Gloved D-Class suddenly grabs Inside Guard's head and snaps
his/her neck instantly, letting him/her fall to the ground.
WIDE ANGLED SHOT of Gloved D-Class with dead bodies on either
side of it. ANGLE IN on Gloved D-Class so that torso and
hands are in view, then slowly PAN DOWN to hands as it
removes and drops gloves. Hands are anomalous humanoid hands
and are covered in tattoos. PAN UP as hands remove head bag.
As the bag comes off, we CUT TO BLACK, then…
INT. CORRIDOR TO KETER WING TWO
BLACK DISSOLVES as a figure walks into corridor from front of
camera (like uncovering the camera lens). We gradually see
the back of a Guard (the Gloved D-Class in stolen armor)
approaching a corridor arch guarded by two GUARDS. REVERSE
ANGLE to show approaching Gloved D-Class in full Foundation
armor, wearing sunglasses and a very blank expression. It
holds the key card in its (Foundation gloved) hand, and
continues walking forward.
CLOSE IN on wall panel showing a blue Foundation trefoil (a
circle in circle with three inward pointing arrows at equal
angles around the circle). Hand with card moves into frame
and touches panel turning the trefoil green and sounding an
acknowledgement chime. PAN UP to the back of the Gloved D
Class, who continues walking through the arch. SHOT WIDENS as
Gloved D-Class continues its walk, showing Guards oblivious
to anything unusual…

CUT TO BLACK

ACT 1
INT. SECURITY HALL FOUNDATION SITE-76
HIGH SHOT of an enormous hall, with many types of personnel
busily navigating the hall and adjacent corridors. The feel
is one of a modern high-tech military research complex. We
see the following text overlaid on the scene, in two lines:
"Foundation Site-76";"Somewhere in the United States
Midwest". In upper right corner of the shot we see 3 figures
(among others) entering the scene, and we…

CUT TO:

WIDE SHOT of Foundation AGENT SIMON GREY, flanked by 2
Foundation GUARDS, walking forward as the SHOT TRACKS BACK.
As we shall learn over the course of the series, the
Foundation is a global clandestine organization dedicated to
securing and containing anomalous objects, beings, and
phenomena, thereby protecting humanity and the world at large
against a breach of "normalcy" (defined by the Foundation).
Agent Grey is a Containment Specialist and Junior Agent for
the Foundation. He is 54, wearing an ill-fitting jacket and
fedora, carrying a messenger bag. He is a lifer, and works at
Site-19, the Foundation's largest containment site. He is
short on formal education, which makes him unusual compared
to most expert Foundation personnel. But Grey makes up for
this with experience and a gut instinct about anomalies. He
seems more comfortable with the anomalous world than most
people. Both these facts put some distance between Grey and
many of his colleagues.
CLOSE IN on Grey's face, looking distracted.

CUT TO:

INT. AGENT KLIKS' OFFICE SITE-76 (FLASHBACK)
In a flashback, we see Agent Grey in the Site-76 office of
AGENT THEO KLIKSOFAKUS ("KLIKS"). Flashbacks all have
slightly hazy borders in the overall shot.
Kliks is a Senior Field Agent for the Foundation. He is 36,
and is nattily dressed in a tailored suit and expensive
shoes. Under his jacket is a shimmering waistcoat tailored
from Foundation ballistic chainmail. Kliks carries a
concealed sidearm and blade. Kliks is sophisticated, well
traveled, and cynical.
He is well-connected to rival Groups of Interest, rendering
his methods questionable even by Foundation standards.
Kliks' office is a mix of Euro taste and tackiness. Behind
his chair is a grid of 9 computer monitors, with one a 3D
heads-up display, currently showing a hideous lizard-like
creature suspended in an aqueous medium, captioned SCP-682.
His fixtures include both spare and ornate pieces which
somehow seem to go together, just barely. Off in a corner, we
see a small display of trophies, and if we could see the
details, we would see various 2nd and 3rd place finishes (or
lower) in chess, squash, bridge, golf, and the like.
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT of Grey sitting across Kliks'
conference table, looking at the table's embedded Foundation
data station. We will see this object frequently: a monitor
and flush keyboard, with a glass panel to the left of the
keyboard. On the monitor we see the headshot of a young
woman, with underlying text reading: "Mahto, Jagruti (JR
Cand.)", plus other surrounding text in much smaller font.
Grey pushes away from the table and stands. WIDE SHOT of Grey
standing and Kliks sitting in his chair, feet up on the
table, not looking up from his phone.

GREY
Dr. Soren, sure. Mahto…I dunno.
Not seeing it, Kliks.

ANGLE ON Kliks, still not looking up.

KLIKS
Not very woke, Special Agent. White
boy over the brown girl…

ANGLE ON Grey, who furiously gazes at Kliks. ANGLE ON Kliks,
who now looks up, and alternate in turn.

KLIKS
Relax. Mahto's university advisors
were the same as you, Grey. All to
the Foundation's benefit.
GREY
(disgusted) Your slimy insinuations
aside, isn't 10 years a long time
to get a PhD?
KLIKS
(unfazed) Exactly why we want her.
She has skills beyond that one
degree. Another "disappointment"
that the Foundation recruits with
none the wiser.
GREY
(resigned) OK, OK, Kliks. Just tell
me when they're ready for the talk.
KLIKS
Two weeks, mark me. They'll love it
here.

Kliks reaches into a desk drawer and draws out an object.
CLOSE IN as he brings the object to the table top. It is a
metal disk identical to the communications jammer used by the
traitorous Inside Guard. He touches the top and the blue glow
infuses the room. ANGLE ON Kliks as he speaks to Grey.

KLIKS
And now, on to the next order of
business…

ANGLE IN and then PAN IN CLOSE on Grey looking uncomfortable.

CUT TO:

INT. SECURITY HALL SITE-76
CLOSE IN on Grey (matching prior flashback scene) as he
continues walking with Guards. REVERSE WIDE ANGLE as the
group approaches the main security desk.
INT. SECURITY DESK SITE-76
WIDE SHOT of the desk, staffed by 4 receptionists interacting
with various Foundation personnel. Grey's group reaches the
desk. LOW SHOT looking up at Grey retrieving his phone, then
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT as Grey touches his phone to the glass
panel of a desk data station. CLOSE IN on data station
monitor as it shows a headshot of Grey, with the text "Agent
Grey, Simon, Site-19" below, and a Foundation trefoil
switching from blue to green. ANGLE ON the nearest
RECEPTIONIST.

RECEPTIONIST
Welcome back to Site-76, Agent
Grey.

ANGLE IN on Grey, and we then flash back to…
INT. AGENT GREY'S OFFICE SITE-19 (FLASHBACK)
Grey's office is the antithesis of Kliks' office. It is
spare, messy, piled with papers and files, and reflects
someone who is rarely there and does not care.
First ANGLE IN on Grey looking down, then WIDE SHOT of Grey
packing his messenger bag with some papers and personal
items. His desk computer terminal (the only object on his
desk apart from stacks of papers, and he has no conference
table) sounds a notification, and he turns to address it.
OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT of Grey answering the call. His
monitor shows a live feed of COMMANDER YOO YOON-HEE (CMDR
YOO), headshot only. Below the headshot is the text: "Cmdr.
Yoo, Yoon-Hee, Site-76".
Cmdr Yoo is 47 and is Chief of Security for Site-76. Starting
from the bottom, she has only accepted promotion as long as
she could stay "in the action," and routinely leads the fight
alongside her troops. She is brave to the point of
foolhardiness, much to the consternation of her superiors.
But as a result, she inspires great loyalty in her troops.
She is simultaneously charismatic and enigmatic, a source of
much knowledge that goes nowhere.
We see various Guard activity behind Cmdr Yoo, suggesting she
is at work making this call.
ANGLE IN on Cmdr Yoo and Grey in turn.

CMDR YOO
Hello Agent Grey.
GREY
(surprised) Commander! I'm, I'm
fine, but…why the call?
CMDR YOO
(formally) We look forward to
seeing you as usual when you pick
up our new Junior Researchers.
GREY
Oh. I was just going to pick them
up early tomorrow and go. Isn't our
scheduled teleconference next week?
CMDR YOO
(insistent) Whatever your plans,
Agent, I need to see you before you
depart. Please contact me.
GREY
(subdued) Of course, Commander. Is
there anything I should know?
CMDR YOO
Just make sure to contact me before
you leave. And safe travels, Agent.

Monitor restores to its neutral state, and we pan back to
CLOSE IN on a confused Grey, and then…
INT. SECURITY DESK SITE-76
CLOSE IN on Grey back at the security desk. ANGLE IN on
Receptionist, then Grey.

RECEPTIONIST
Drs. Soren and Mahto are waiting
for you in Conference Room 23. Your
escort will take you there. (pause)
Agent Grey?
GREY
(noticing) Ah, thank you. Guards,
let's go.

WIDE SHOT FROM REAR as Grey and Guards head towards one of
the many corridors. FIX SHOT as they leave, and then…

CUT TO:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM 23
Room is small and sterile with a table, a few chairs, and a
few fixtures for running meetings. The desk contains a
standard Foundation data station. On the wall is a
touchscreen, with a predominant red eye optical interface.
This screen displays the Foundation trefoil in blue along
with some text. We see four travel bags against the wall.
ANGLE ON door opening. Grey enters holding a Foundation
touchpad, with GUARD #1 holding door, then closing it behind
Grey.

GREY
(to room) Doctors? I'm Agent Simon
Grey, from Site-19.

Shot CUTS TO DR. NILS SOREN and DR. JAGRUTI MAHTO, standing
behind the table.
Dr. Soren is 29, a surgeon and biochemist of great promise.
His residency completed, he had a pick of plum surgical
posts, but has been recruited to join the Foundation's
Xenobiology Division, with the goal of advancing anomalous
autopsy and exploratory surgery. He has had several meetings
with the Foundation and is confident as to what he is signing
on for. He had the steadiest hands and most precise technique
of his class. He is wearing a conservative bespoke suit.
Dr. Mahto is 26, fresh out of university after 10 years,
having entered as an age 16 prodigy. She is wearing a
Foundation issue lab coat (black trefoil on the left breast),
covering a colorful shalwar kameez. Dr. Mahto is a brilliant
researcher and scientist across multiple disciplines, but has
only recently been recruited to the Foundation and does not
fully understand what she has signed on for.
ANGLE ON Grey, Soren, and Mahto in turn. Grey approaches the
table on the other side.

DR. SOREN
Dr. Nils Soren, pleasure to meet
you, Agent Grey. (extends hand,
Grey shakes)
DR. MAHTO
I also, Agent, but please, call me
Jagruti. (extends hand, Grey
shakes)
GREY
(flatly) I call all researchers
Doctor. Easier that way.
DR. MAHTO
(assertive) Well, in that case,
Agent Grey, I would like to call
you Simon, if I may. I hate all
that macho surname bullshit.
GREY
(grins) Fine with me, Doc, though
the Foundation IS a macho surname
kind of place. (beat) I blame the
O's.
DR. SOREN
(glances at Mahto) Doctor is fine
with me, Agent.
GREY
I also! Please, sit.

They all sit at the table.

DR. MAHTO
Simon, (beat) Theo refers to you as
"Special" Agent Grey. Why is that?
GREY
(chuckling) Kliks, Agent Kliks.
Maybe his mum calls him Theo.
(looks down at pad) Anyway, it's a
joke, a dumb one at my expense.
DR. MAHTO
(flatly) I see. (Dr. Soren looks
bemused)
GREY
(looks up one more item on
touchpad, then settles in) OK.
(beat) I'm here to make sure you're
both making the right decision.
Frankly, the Foundation is a roach
motel: once you join, it's hard to
get out. And the amnestics are
unpleasant if you do get out.

CUT TO Soren and Mahto glancing at one another with
trepidation, then back to Grey

GREY
So I have just one question for
you, same one I have for all new
researchers: Why? Why the
Foundation? I mean, both of you
must have had other options.
DR. SOREN
That's right, Agent. I still have a
position available at Mayo if I
want it. But I've always wanted to
be the first, and the opportunity
to pioneer anomalous surgical
techniques is hard to pass up.
(glances at Mahto) And, the
Foundation tells me they have some
great perks.
DR. MAHTO
(pause) This is not so true for me,
Simon. The usual academic positions
I would pursue require that I
specialize. Publish or perish. My
Foundation recruiter said that I
would be able to pursue all of my
areas of interest. That the
Foundation has ongoing research in
both Hyperdimensional Quantum
Mechanics AND Computational
Linguistics is a dream come true.
GREY
Ah, yeah. I can imagine. (he cannot
imagine) But it's all in the
service of the Foundation. You both
get that, right?

Mahto starts to answer, but Soren interrupts.

DR. SOREN
Yes, of course, Agent. We're
securing and containing anomalous
phenomenon. Our research should
further that effort and aid in the
protection of humanity.
GREY
(pause, suddenly distracted) Right,
but are you sure you get what that
means? (beat, pained) The anomalous
world is not just some book of
monsters and magic items from a
role-playing game. (beat, wincing)

Soren and Mahto notice Grey's distress.

GREY
It's…much weirder than that. You
need to- (stops from the pain)

A loud klaxon sounds. CLOSE SHOT on wall touchscreen that is
now flashing red, and the words "Containment Breach" surround
the trefoil. Inside the center of the trefoil is a letter K,
indicating that the breach is a Keter class anomaly, the most
severe class, above both Safe and Euclid (medium risk). A
Keter breach is both rare and extremely dangerous.
WIDE SHOT of Grey, Soren, and Mahto reacting.

GREY
(snapping to, no more pain)
Containment breach…a Keter!
DR. MAHTO
Keter? (stands) Are we in danger?
DR. SOREN
(stands, intrigued) A Keter class
anomaly is breaching containment?
GREY
(stands) Don't know. (thinking)
God, what's Keter in this place?
(to Soren and Mahto) We have to get
you both to a safe room.
(takes Dr. Mahto's arm) Leave your
things, and do exactly what I say.
Let's go!

CUT TO:

INT. OUTSIDE OF CONFERENCE ROOM 23-DOOR
Door opens, and Grey cautiously looks both directions before
helping Drs. Soren and Mahto out. All then head left down the
corridor.

CUT TO:

INT. CORRIDOR
MOVING SHOT of front of Grey, Soren, and Mahto making their
way down the corridor. Some other personnel pass in both
directions. REVERSE ANGLE shot shows 3 GUARDS approaching.
They signal for the trio to stop. ANGLE ON Guards and Grey
alternately.

GUARD #2
Sir, are you Agent Grey?
GREY
(surprised) Yes?
GUARD #2
Sir, Agent Kliksofakus needs you at
the breach site ASAP.
GREY
What? Why, what breached?
GUARD #2
SCP-140, sir, Keter Wing 2. (NOTE:
140 is always pronounced "one-four
oh" whenever it occurs)
GREY
(ashen, with horror) How (inhales),
how did 140 breach?
GUARD #2
I don't even know what it is, sir,
just need to get you there.
GREY
(wipes brow) OK, one of you must
get these two to a safe location.
GUARD #2
No time, sir, you all need to come
with us now!
GREY
Guard, no, they're green hires.
They can't be exposed to a Keter
breach!
DR. SOREN
(excited) Agent, let's go!
DR. MAHTO
(concerned) We will be fine, Simon.
GUARD #2
Now! Move it, please!

The Guards escort the trio back in the direction from whence
they came, shot FOLLOWING FROM THE REAR.

CUT TO:

INT. NEAR SCP-140 CONTAINMENT CELL
MOVING SHOT of Grey, Soren, Mahto, and Guards approaching.
They then stop short. REVERSE ANGLE shows 2 Guards positioned
around a containment cell door to the left. Two Guards are
prone on the floor nearby, apparently dead. In front of door,
but with some space, Kliks and Cmdr Yoo are flanked by 4
Guards.
Cmdr Yoo wears a Foundation ballistic martial arts suit,
similar to a ninja's garment. She is armed with a holstered
machine pistol, a long blade strapped to her leg, and a short
riot baton dangling from her belt. Kliks wears a different
suit from the flashback but is otherwise similarly attired.
ANGLE IN on Kliks and Cmdr Yoo as they draw their sidearms.
CUT BACK to Grey's group, ANGLE ON Grey but WIDE SHOT.

GREY
Kliks! No weapons! No bloodshed!

ANGLE ON Kliks and Cmdr Yoo, who both hand their sidearms to
nearby Guards.

KLIKS
Way ahead of you, Grey.
CMDR YOO
Everything's under control, Agent.

Kliks and Cmdr Yoo hand off their blades next. We also see
Guards slinging rifles. Two of the 3 Guards minding Grey's
group enter the room with the other Guards. Grey's group is,
from left to right, Mahto, Grey, Guard, and Soren.
ANGLE ON Cmdr Yoo as she removes her riot stick from her
belt, which immediately extends to a full jo stick. Cmdr Yoo
twirls the jo stick in her hands, suggesting great expertise.

CMDR YOO
Guards, prepare for assault!

WIDER SHOT on Guards establishing perimeter, readying combat
positions. ANGLE ON two Guards flanking containment door, as
GUARD #3 prepares to bypass the lock. To the right of door is
another touchscreen, but this one is more elaborate as is
required for Keter containment. Guard #3 is working this set
of controls.

GUARD #3
Ready to bypass lock, sir!

ANGLE ON Kliks and Cmdr Yoo, in combat stance.

CMDR YOO
(beat) Now!

ANGLE ON door as Guard #3 keys in sequence. SOUND of a latch
opening as the door swings inward into the cell.
ANGLE ON Kliks, Cmdr Yoo, and flanking Guards leaning in to
see what is in the cell.
SHOT PANS to door and MOVES INTO cell to focus on an
anomalous humanoid holding a curved knife…

CUT TO BLACK

ACT 2
INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
ANGLE ON the inside of the cell through the door. The
anomalous humanoid holding the curved knife, our former
Gloved D-Class, is a SARKITE, a member of the Sarkic Cults,
one of many Groups of Interest (GoI) that compete/cooperate
with the Foundation as they navigate the anomalous world. The
Sarkic Cults are characterized by worship of power over
ethics, and strength through adversity, amongst other,
stranger things.
The Sarkite is of ambiguous sex, wears minimal clothing, and
is covered in tattoos. It also appears to have several
pustules and lesions, as Sarkites venerate disease. It is
this Sarkite that caused the breach of SCP-140. It may be
possible to see the Sarkite's discarded armor, as well as a
mask resembling a mannequin's face, on the floor.
Almost immediately, the Sarkite crouches and then leaps out
of the chamber in the manner of a large cat.
INT. OUTSIDE CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
CUT TO CMDR YOO, who collapses her jo stick back to a baton.
SHOT TRACKS as she then executes a cartwheel and backflip
towards the Sarkite so as to leap facing up.
SLOW MOTION PROFILE SHOT of the Sarkite hovering face down
over Cmdr Yoo mid-air, with Cmdr Yoo facing up. Cmdr Yoo
extends her jo stick again, and twists her body to bring it
in contact with the Sarkite's knife just before it strikes
her.
SHOT TO REALTIME FOLLOWING as the knife hurls towards KLIKS,
who catches the knife and guides it into the wall. CUT BACK
to Sarkite and Cmdr Yoo, who each land on their feet, but
interchanged relative to their starting positions.
ANGLE ON Sarkite who leaps into the air again. CUT TO Dr.
Soren, as the Sarkite lands behind him. Sarkite reaches
across Soren's chest with left arm and grabs Soren's upper
right arm with its right hand. As the Sarkite hisses in
Soren's face, it breaks Soren's arm viciously, as a jagged
bone pierces the skin just below Soren's right shoulder.
CLOSE SHOT of blood oozing from the wound and falling to the
floor.
Soren screams in pain and terror. Mahto lets out a brief
shriek but maintains her composure better than Soren.
Grey instinctively pushes Mahto away from the Sarkite. Quick
CUT TO Kliks, then Cmdr Yoo reacting with great concern.
ANGLE ON Cmdr Yoo, as she begins running towards Soren and
the Sarkite.

CMDR YOO
Code Triad! I'll get him out!
Guard, follow me!

FAST CUT TO Kliks as he reaches into his breast pocket.
TRACKING SHOT as Cmdr Yoo leaps at Soren, literally forcing
him out of the Sarkite's grasp as they both tumble to the
floor some meters away. The attending Guard sprints towards
them. Soren shrieks even louder. Cmdr Yoo continues to move
Soren further down the hall, helped by Guard.
The knocked-down Sarkite quickly recovers. ANGLE ON 3 Guards
converging on Sarkite, who simultaneously fire Tasers at the
Sarkite. ANGLE ON Sarkite experiencing some pain, but not
enough to incapacitate it. Sarkite grabs one of the Taser
lines and pulls the Guard in. Once Guard is close enough, the
Sarkite snaps his neck.
ANGLE ON Grey and Mahto huddling in a corner, then CLOSE IN
on Mahto as she notices something. CUT TO spot on floor where
Soren's blood fell, as we see it vaporize rapidly, seemingly
wafting towards SCP-140's containment cell. CUT BACK TO Grey
and Mahto observing in bewilderment. Grey is frustrated.

GREY
God dammit!

ANGLE ON 2 more Guards who converge on Sarkite and Taser it.
Sarkite is weakening but still active. CLOSE IN on Kliks, who
is now wearing a compact face mask, and converges on the
Sarkite.
Sarkite sees Kliks and staggers to its feet, as the Guards
attempt to keep their feet with varying degrees of success.
Sarkite lunges at Kliks, but Kliks is ready. Kliks spins
around and leg sweeps the Sarkite, sending it sprawling.
Kliks becomes entangled in the Taser lines, and is just
barely able to activate the tranquilizer grenade he throws in
the Sarkite's face. Sarkite falls unconscious, but Kliks is
still entangled. Two of the Guards fall unconscious from the
grenade.
ANGLE ON Grey as he assesses the situation, then ANGLE ON
main area as Grey and other Guards free Guards and Kliks from
the Taser lines, turning them off and dispersing gas in the
process. One of the Guards that fell unconscious is dead from
head trauma. Kliks looks up at Grey ambiguously.

FADE TO:

VARIOUS SHOTS of the Guards (7 left) mopping up: helping
comrades and Soren, securing the Sarkite, piling bodies (4
total) on a removal cart, etc. WIDE SHOT on Cmdr Yoo in the
midst of the activity, nursing her left arm, ZOOM IN as she
speaks.

CMDR YOO
OK, people, I have to monitor the
lockdown. Lt. Quinn, you have the
duty. And kill the alarm.
LT. QUINN
Yes, sir! Let's move it, everyone!
Corporal, call in the 2nd Team to
secure the area.
CMDR YOO
(sternly) Agent Kliks. Do you have
the situation under control? All
the way under control?
KLIKS
(seriously) No question, Commander.

ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto as she walks towards Cmdr Yoo.

DR. MAHTO
Yoon-hee, what about Nils?
CMDR YOO
(honestly) He's hurt, Jagruti.
We're doing what we can. But
containing the breach is the
priority right now. Guards, attend.

Cmdr Yoo leaves with 2 Guards. After a moment, the klaxon
ceases in the immediate area, though it is still heard off in
the distance. Six (6) more Guards (2nd Team) enter.
CUT TO Kliks approaching the Guards securing the Sarkite.

KLIKS
Get the Sarkite on its feet.

Four Guards heave the unconscious Sarkite to its feet, two
each grabbing arms/legs.
Kliks picks up one of the Sarkite's hands (CLOSE SHOT), and
notices a long knife cut across the palm which is already in
the early stages of forming a scar. He glances back at the
knife in the wall (CLOSE SHOT) and we see no trace of blood.
Where did the blood go?
Kliks removes a small metal cylinder from his breast pocket
(CLOSE SHOT), and (OVER SHOULDER) uses it to spray something
in the Sarkite's face. The Sarkite immediately comes to,
coughing and sputtering, and still weak. The Guards
straighten up the Sarkite as Kliks moves closer. ANGLE ON
each in turn.

SARKITE
(Teaser voice) You cannot stop it.
We will remake the world.
KLIKS
You couldn't remake my bed. (beat)
Why do you even want them here?
They'd exterminate you without a
thought.
SARKITE
They're a worthy enemy. The battles
would be epic. Unlike you pathetic
weaklings. That world is preferred
to this one.
KLIKS
You mean the pathetic weaklings who
just owned you? Who else is here?
SARKITE
Fourteen to one. (sarcastic) I'm SO
impressed by you healthy ones. And
we have what we wanted. You know
you will get nothing from me.
KLIKS
Not now, perhaps. But it's another
story once the Church of the Broken
God sinks their hooks into you.
(menacing) I can't wait to make
that trade. I'll be there
personally. (whispering) All that
metal on flesh…

The Sarkite looks noticeably less cocky, but not afraid.

KLIKS
Guards, get this thing out of my
sight.
(beat) Toss it into the cesspool
next to 682. (grins) That ought to
concentrate the mind.

Two more Guards join the four holding the Sarkite and all
begin leaving the area. ANGLE ON Kliks as he watches them
leave. CUT TO Grey and Mahto, who converse quietly. Mahto is
clearly shaken.

DR. MAHTO
Simon, the Church of the Broken
God? What is all this? Is the
Foundation in some kind of
conflict?
GREY
Groups of Interest. Can't go into
it right now.
DR. MAHTO
So the…Sarkite, that wasn't the
Keter SCP?
GREY
What? No, the Sarkite caused the
breach. 140 is in that cell.
DR. MAHTO
(confused) But why would it want to
free the SCP? Aren't we protecting
humanity by containing SCPs?
GREY
Competition, Doctor. We're not the
only game in town. You may be a
recruiting target some day.

ANGLE ON Lt. Quinn and Kliks approaching Grey and Mahto.

LT. QUINN
I have to continue mopping up and
securing the perimeter. Kliks,
you'll keep us apprised?
KLIKS
Yes, Lieutenant.

Lt. Quinn and 3 Guards leave, leaving 8 Guards in the area
outside the cell. 2 of these Guards flank the cell door, and
2 are attending Grey and Mahto. ANGLE ON Kliks who joins Grey
and Mahto.

KLIKS
Grey, I've got to start working my
network. (beat) I…I need you to
re-contain 140.
GREY
(disbelieving) You need? I don't
work here, Kliks. Where's Dr.
Killman, or the junior on 140?
KLIKS
(pause) Both Killman and Rodriguez
are offsite today. (snide) And once
again, you show up as the backup on
yet another "skip" you shouldn't be
anywhere near. You're top of the
roster. It's the only reason I'm
asking.
GREY
BOTH of them are away? Kliks…
KLIKS
(angrily) Yes, it's sabotage, I
know! That's why I have to start
making calls.
GREY
This is your fault, isn't it! You-
DR. MAHTO
(before Kliks can respond) Stop it!
Both of you. Clearly there is work
to be done.
GREY
(regains composure) You're right,
Doc. (beat) And we're going to need
your help.

MOVING SHOT of Grey walking to a wall touchscreen, similar to
the others. The Foundation trefoil continues to flash red.
Mahto and Kliks follow along with one Guard. Grey touches the
eye, and the trefoil is replaced with the word "Ready".

KLIKS
What are you doing?
GREY
(to Mahto) Doctor, I know we're way
in the deep end, but please, stay
with us.
(to Kliks) Kliks, we need to give
Dr. Mahto documentation rights for
140. You can second, yes?
KLIKS
Of course I can, it's you who
shouldn't have access.
GREY
Not now. Let's just get this done.
(touches the eye again, speaking to
panel) Recognize Agent Grey, Simon.
(name appears on screen and an
acknowledgement chime sounds).
KLIKS
(to panel) Recognize Agent
Kliksofakus, Theo. (similar)
GREY
(to Mahto) Now you, Doc.
DR. MAHTO
(hesitating, to panel)
Recognize…Dr. Mahto…Jagruti.
(similar)
GREY
(to panel) Request documentation
access to SCP-140 for Dr. Mahto,
Jagruti, authorization Gamma-4.
KLIKS
(to panel) Concur, authorization
Omicron-7.
TOUCHSCREEN
Documentation access to SCP-140
granted to Dr. Mahto, Jagruti,
effective immediately. (flashing
trefoil returns)
GREY
(to Guard) Guard, escort Dr. Mahto
to the Archives. (to Mahto) Doc,
you need to ask the Librarian for
the last known good hardcopy backup
of SCP-140. You got that?
DR. MAHTO
Last known good hardcopy backup,
yes, Simon.
GREY
(smiling) You're in, Doc. Guard, on
the double.
GUARD #4
Yes, Agent. Let's go, Doctor.

ANGLE ON Grey and Kliks as they watch Dr. Mahto and Guard
depart. Grey turns back to Kliks.

GREY
So, what did you fuck up this time?

CUT TO:

INT. CORRIDOR HEADING TO ARCHIVES
Mahto and Guard are walking briskly. SHOT FOLLOWS them as
they navigate towards the Archives.

DR. MAHTO
Is there always so much excitement
around here?
GUARD #4
No, ma'am, we haven't had a breach
in months, and I can't remember the
last time a Keter breached.

NEW SHOT rounding a corner.

DR. MAHTO
But what is SCP-140? Do you know?
GUARD #4
Above my pay grade, ma'am. Cliche,
I know.

INT. SITE-76 ARCHIVES
The Archives are an opening in the wall with a counter. Rows
and rows of shelves are visible through the opening,
containing many files and objects. A bored looking LIBRARIAN
is reading a book behind the counter. Mahto and Guard reach
the counter.

DR. MAHTO
I need the last known good hardcopy
backup for SCP-140.
LIBRARIAN
(flatly) Authorization?
DR. MAHTO
I, I don't know what to do.
GUARD #4
Your smartwatch, ma'am, touch it to
that panel.

Guard gestures to a touch panel on the counter. Dr. Mahto
touches her wrist to the panel. Some text appears, and is
then replaced with the green trefoil.

TOUCHSCREEN
(voice only) Authorized.
LIBRARIAN
Was wondering when someone was
going to pick this up.

Librarian reaches under counter with no sense of urgency, and
retrieves a large hardback book, dropping it on the counter.
CUT TO CLOSE SHOT of book on the counter. It is a modern
book, and engraved on the cover is the title "A Chronicle of
the Daevas".
CLOSE UP on Mahto, then ANGLE ON speaker in turn.

DR. MAHTO
(confused) Is this a copy of 140's
documentation?
LIBRARIAN
(flatly) That's the partial backup
of SCP-140 that you asked for.
DR. MAHTO
SCP-140…is a book? A Keter book?
GUARD #4
We have to get this back, Doctor.
On the double, please!

Dr. Mahto picks up the book and the Guard gently but firmly
urges her into the corridor, SHOT FOLLOWS them down the hall
as they round a corner.
INT. OUTSIDE CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
Slow ARC SHOT FULL CIRCLE around Grey and Kliks as they
speak, getting increasingly agitated. Kliks screwed up this
containment somehow, and Grey knows it.

KLIKS
What are you insinuating? I have no
idea how this happened, but I'll
get it sorted.
GREY
Sorted? Did one of your double
agents turn triple? Like before?
KLIKS
Sod off, Special Agent. We've
already found two traitors that
helped the Sarkite. Two DEAD
traitors, so not even clear they
turned. Dupes, perhaps.
GREY
Right, of course we get breaches
with you in charge.
KLIKS
Please. You have no clue about
actual field work. There are
tradeoffs.
GREY
MY field work's had zero deaths,
Kliks!
KLIKS
Oh really! Just wait until you have
to kill a few civilians to clinch a
mission. Then lecture me about your
field record.

CLOSE IN on Grey's face, then FLASHBACK TO an unknown older
Agent being shot while a younger Agent Grey looks on in
horror. FADE TO CLOSE IN on Agent Grey's face, and then
resume ARC SHOT.

KLIKS
And this is just you changing the
subject! I want to know why you're
on this "skip" at all. There's no
reason you should have any
clearance on 140, let alone be a
backup containment specialist.
GREY
You want me to save your ass, and
you're complaining? You want to
waste time finding someone else?
KLIKS
Do not tempt me. Using you is pure
expediency. Anyone else would be
preferable right now.
GREY
Really? Maybe I'm better at my job
than you think?
KLIKS
Keep telling yourself that,
"Special" Agent! Without that
anomaly detector in your head, you
couldn't shine my shoes.
GREY
(penny drops, slowly) I know what
this is. (faster) Our project's
gone pear-shaped, hasn't it?
(furiously) I knew it was a bad
idea!
KLIKS
(coldly) Without admitting
anything, what's our alternative?
You KNOW we need access. You KNOW
there's no hope otherwise. That
Sarkite was right…it's only a
matter of time.
GREY
(beat) No, it's not worth it. What
about…

ARC SHOT ends on Dr. Mahto and Guard as they enter,
interrupting this fight. ANGLE ON speaker in turn.

DR. MAHTO
(handing over book to Grey) Here
you are, Simon. But, is this a copy
of a Keter book? What can that
possibly be? And the Daevas are?
What does-
GREY
Not now, Doctor, it has to wait.
Guard, escort Dr. Mahto to the
nearest safe room.
DR. MAHTO
(furious) No, Simon, I deserve-
KLIKS
Doctor, Grey's right for once. We
have a lot to do, and we still
don't know if this breach is locked
down. Please, go.
GREY
I'll get you up to speed when it's
over, I promise. Guard?
GUARD #4
Let's go, Doctor.

Dr. Mahto scowls, then leaves with the Guard.

KLIKS
(to Grey, calmer) How many guards
do you want?
GREY
Leave four. (beat) When do we call
in the Diggers?
KLIKS
Depends upon what you find. I'll at
least notify the dig sites.
GREY
Geezus, what did it do this time?
KLIKS
Well, the Foundation is still here,
yes? I think we're still a secret.
It can't be that bad yet.
GREY
Maybe, but Zeta-9?
KLIKS
The Diggers know the score. We all
do. (beat) I need to get to work.
Guards, attend.

3 of the 7 remaining Guards stand by Kliks' side. They start
to leave, then Kliks turns to Grey.

KLIKS
Seal it up, Special Agent. And
watch yourself.

Kliks and Guards leave, SHOT OVER SHOULDER of Grey
Grey looks around the room, then to the Guards.

GREY
Two of you, mind the corridors.
(they move immediately) You two,
attend the cell door. Close it
behind me after I enter.

CLOSE SHOT as Grey steels himself. Then SHOT ON cell door as
Grey turns and slowly enters the chamber. Shot CUTS AWAY just
as Grey crosses the threshold.

CUT TO:

INT. SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
Room has a number of tables, chairs, and amusements. Two
dozen or so Foundation personnel are chatting, standing,
sitting, waiting out the lockdown. There are a few Guards
watching the crowd.
Dr. Mahto is wandering around the room surveying the scene.
She notices some side booths labeled "Research Pod", and she
enters an empty one.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
POV Dr. Mahto. The pod has a small desk and computer
terminal, a standard Foundation data station. The terminal
screen shows the ubiquitous trefoil. ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto as
she sits down in the desk chair.

DR. MAHTO
Fine, I'll figure this out myself.
Thanks for the documentation
access, (beat) Special Agent.

CLOSE SHOT on panel to the left of the keyboard as Dr. Mahto
touches her smartwatch to it. CLOSE SHOT on computer screen
as trefoil disappears and a Foundation data menu appears,
along with the words "Good Morning, Dr. Mahto". CLOSE SHOT on
Dr. Mahto looking over the screen, then CLOSE SHOT on screen
as Dr. Mahto works the keyboard through some menu options
until she pulls up SCP-140's entry screen. She requests the
Special Containment Procedures for SCP-140. Screen clears and
is replaced with the title page for SCP-140. A photo of SCP
140 is in the upper right corner of the screen. Camera ZOOMS
IN slowly on photo…

CUT TO BLACK

ACT 3
INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
The cell is a small room, like a very spare office. It
contains only a single desk with a standard Foundation data
terminal. On a shelf on the desk is the book, SCP-140.
ANGLE ON open door, as GREY enters the room carrying the SCP
140 copy. The copy is twice as thick as the real book. Grey
briefly glances back as the door closes behind him.
CLOSE SHOT of SCP-140, then CLOSE SHOT of Grey, who winces in
pain. An electrical effect is seen around Grey's head, and
unintelligible murmuring is heard. Grey shakes his head
clear, and speaks to the desk.

GREY
You're not getting in my head. You
never have.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
ANGLE ON DR. MAHTO examining the documentation of SCP-140.
REVERSE ANGLE on the TERMINAL that Dr. Mahto is viewing, then
back to Dr. Mahto (Dr. Mahto voices all Terminal quotes):

TERMINAL
SCP-140 must never be brought
closer than 15m to any source of
standard ink, human blood, or other
fluids suitable for writing.
DR. MAHTO
(disbelieving) What the hell…

CUT TO:

INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
ANGLE ON desk as Grey walks to it and sits down, setting the
copy next to the keyboard on the right. Grey pulls out his
phone and touches it to panel to the keyboard's left (Grey
does not use a smartwatch, unlike the majority of Foundation
personnel). The welcome screen comes up as it did for Mahto.

GREY
Enable voice interface.
COMPUTER
Voice interface enabled.
GREY
Begin log.

The screen clears and "<BEGIN LOG>" is seen at the top. From
this point on, the computer records the conversation in text,
which we will cut to occasionally during the scene.

GREY
Recognize Agent Grey, Simon, ready
to commence re-containment of SCP
140.

After a beat, a different female voice responds. This is a
human, not a computer.

CONTROL
Roger, Grey, this is your Control.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
ANGLE ON DR. MAHTO continuing to examine the documentation of
SCP-140. REVERSE ANGLE on the TERMINAL that Dr. Mahto is
viewing:

TERMINAL
The book jacket is missing, but the
title, "A Chronicle of the Daevas",
is clearly legible. The inside
cover is signed by the author,
whose name is indecipherable.

CUT TO:

INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140

CONTROL
How's the cleanup going?
GREY
Could be better. Damn Sarkite let
some blood. Need to see how much
damage it did.
CONTROL
Roger that, Grey. Prepare for two
step identification of SCP-140.
GREY
Ready to begin identification,
Control.
CONTROL
Begin step 1: verify anomalous
signature.
GREY
Roger, Control.

Grey takes SCP-140 from the shelf, and opens the front cover.
On the inside front cover is a bizarre, twisting signature,
almost serpentine in nature. It seems to shimmer, even change
shape slightly, as if alive. Again Grey winces in pain, sees
the electrical crackle, hears the murmurs, and sees a shadowy
image of an elderly man. He slams the cover shut, shakes his
head clear, and places SCP-140 back on the shelf.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
ANGLE ON DR. MAHTO continuing to examine the documentation of
SCP-140, fascinated. REVERSE ANGLE on the TERMINAL that Dr.
Mahto is viewing:

TERMINAL
SCP-140 is a detailed account of an
ancient civilization originating in
what is now south-central Siberia,
identified as the Daevites.
DR. MAHTO
The Daevites? What is this…

CUT TO:

INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140

GREY
Check, Control. Signature is
anomalous.
CONTROL
Roger, Grey. Begin step 2: verify
anomalous page count.
GREY
Roger, Control. Set timer for 10
seconds.

A stopwatch graphic appears onscreen. Grey again takes SCP
140 and holds it in both hands.

CONTROL
Begin.

As the stopwatch ticks down, Grey rifles the pages of SCP
140. It becomes quickly apparent that SCP-140 has far too
many pages to fit inside a book of its size. Numerous JUMP
CUTS between the book, stopwatch, and Grey's face. Grey
whistles at one point while he flips. Finally, the stopwatch
reads zero and a chime sounds. Grey is still rifling pages
with no end in sight. He again slams the book closed,
replaces it on the shelf, and wipes his brow with his sleeve.

GREY
Check, Control. Page count is very
anomalous.
CONTROL
Roger, Grey. Control is satisfied
that you possess the genuine SCP
140. Do you concur?
GREY
Affirmative, Control. This is the
genuinely horrible SCP-140.
CONTROL
Keep it professional, Agent.
GREY
Sorry, Control. It's been a long
morning.
CONTROL
Understood. Prepare to re-contain
SCP-140.
GREY
Roger, Control, ready to begin re
containment procedure.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
ANGLE ON TERMINAL that Dr. Mahto is viewing:

TERMINAL
If SCP-140 comes into contact with
any fluid suitable for writing,
including human blood, the account
of the Daevite civilization's
history expands.

ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto, utterly unprepared

DR. MAHTO
I, I cannot believe this…

CUT TO:

INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140

CONTROL
Verify last known good page count.
GREY
Roger that.

Grey picks up the archive copy this time, turns the book over
so its back faces up, and opens the back cover, flipping to
the last numbered page. This is not visible to the viewer.

GREY
Verifying last known good page
count as-

A black bar blocks out Grey's mouth, and a low buzz cuts out
his voice. This is the Foundation AutoDact System, which
automatically censors spoken information based upon clearance
levels. The audience is not cleared on SCP-140 but Control
hears Grey just fine. Grey finishes his sentence:

GREY
Checksum A-4-6-J.
CONTROL
Check, Grey, page count and
checksum are valid. Verify new
preliminary page count.
GREY
Roger, Control. Drumroll please…

Grey puts down the copy and takes SCP-140 from the shelf. He
again flips the book over, opens the back cover, and flips to
last page.

GREY
Verifying new preliminary page
count as (beat) SHIT!
CONTROL
Mind yourself, Agent!
GREY
Sorry, Control. (slower, a bit sing
song) New preliminary page count is-

Count is again censored as before, but Control hears fine.

CONTROL
SHIT!
GREY
See, I was right the first time.
CONTROL
(pause) Agent Grey, please await
additional instructions.
GREY
(concerned) Ah, roger, Control.
Awaiting instructions.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
ANGLE ON TERMINAL that Dr. Mahto is viewing:

TERMINAL
Readers admit to feelings of
paranoia, unease, and occasional
nausea while reading SCP-140,
although this may be related to the
subject material.
DR. MAHTO
No, it's not what they promised…

CUT TO:

INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
Grey hears some cross-talk, occasionally sounding heated.

GREY
Is everything OK, Control?
CONTROL
Please hold, Agent!

Grey squirms a bit in his chair as he waits.

CONTROL
Agent Grey, (pause) the O5 Council
requests additional verification.
GREY
(freezes, eyes widen, then slowly)
Well, Control, we better provide
that, pronto. What do the O's want?
CONTROL
(pause) Please attempt to verify
new preliminary extinction date.
GREY
(freaked) Are you joking, Control?
Have you read this thing? I don't
know what half the words mean!
CONTROL
Understood, Grey, but we must try.
GREY
Of course, the O's have spoken. But
it won't be quick.

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM
ANGLE ON DR. MAHTO continuing to examine the documentation of
SCP-140 with increasing distress. REVERSE ANGLE on the
TERMINAL that Dr. Mahto is viewing:

TERMINAL
Through study of SCP-140 and other
contained objects related to the
Daevite civilization, Foundation
researchers have concluded that,
transposed to the modern era, the
resurgence of a hostile Daevite
civilization in history more recent
than [REDACTED] would constitute a
grave and even possibly retroactive
threat to the Foundation and modern
civilization as we know it.

ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto, furious

DR. MAHTO
No! NO! It was all lies…

Dr. Mahto hears an All Clear signal. She logs off the
terminal, leaves the pod, and makes her way back to SCP-140's
containment chamber, to angerly confront Agent Grey.

CUT TO:

INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
Frustrated, Grey snatches SCP-140 off the shelf, turns to the
back page. Montage of CLOSE SHOTS as Grey pours over pages,
attempting to find the requested information. Because Grey
must read more, there are more instances of SCP-140 trying to
get into Grey's head. We see shadowy images of battles, of
hideous riders on monstrous horses, of mages conducting
terrible rituals, and the elderly figure from before. Grey
becomes noticeably fatigued. Finally, Grey examines a passage
more intently, and seems to calm down a bit.

GREY
Grey here, Control. I think I found
the information. And it's not so
bad. I think the new preliminary
extinction date is-(AutoDacted)
CONTROL
(pause) Roger, Grey, that does
sound like good news. Relatively.
GREY
Yeah, looks like most of the new
pages are rituals and stuff. The
Daevas didn't live much longer.
CONTROL
Roger, Grey. (pause) But we still
can't stop it from happening again.
GREY
No, not yet.
CONTROL
(pause) Agent Grey, Control agrees
that SCP-140 is back in preliminary
containment. Do you concur?
GREY
(pause, quietly) Yeah, I guess so.
(pause, normally) I concur that SCP
140 is back in preliminary
containment. (pause) Recommend we
activate Mobile Task Force Zeta-9.
CONTROL
They've already been notified.
GREY
(pause) God help the Grave Diggers.
Or anyone else who can help.
(pause) Requesting permission to
close log on SCP-140.
CONTROL
Permission granted. Be safe, Grey.
GREY
Great advice for us all, Control.
End log.

The screen dictation finishes with "<END LOG>", and the
trefoil returns, now in green. The breach is closed. Grey
puts SCP-140 back on the shelf, pushes back his chair, rubs
his eyes, and inhales deeply. He rises, picking up the now
obsolete backup copy. ANGLE ON door as Grey approaches, and
keys in a code on the panel to the right. The door clicks
open a crack. Grey pulls the door open, and leaves the cell.
INT. OUTSIDE CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
CLOSE SHOT of Grey emerging from doorway. He stops with an
expression of surprise. REVERSE POV Grey reveals DR. MAHTO
standing outside the doorway, with a very angry look.

GREY
Doc! How long have you been here?
DR. MAHTO
Not long, the lockdown ended 5
minutes ago. I came here straight
away. (step towards Grey) Simon, I
have been studying SCP-140 on my
own. My God, Simon, I had no idea..
GREY
Not in front of the guards. Let's
find a conference room.

CUT TO:

INT. NEARBY SITE-76 CONFERENCE ROOM
ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto bursting through the door, followed more
slowly by Grey. Dr. Mahto is very agitated and paces
throughout most of the scene.

DR. MAHTO
Simon, you said that the anomalous
world was not a collection of
monsters and magic items from a
role playing game. But I realize
now that I had no idea what else
there could be. I had no idea that
anything like SCP-140 was possible.
GREY
Well, technically, 140 is one hell
of a magic item that can bring
forth one hell of a monster horde.
DR. MAHTO
Yes! SCP-140 is re-writing history!
GREY
No, trying to rewrite history. I
don't fully understand it.
DR. MAHTO
But I do. It's retrocausality: as
the book is rewritten, history
follows suit, and the Daevas live
for longer as their failures are re
written as successes. And all this
happens whenever SCP-140 is in
proximity to any sort of ink.
(beat) So that Sarkite…was it…
GREY
It was ritually cutting itself.
Blood is the best ink of all. God,
it's like some schlock horror film.
Good thing those Sarkic rituals
drag out forever. Could have been a
lot worse. (beat) Could have been
better, too.
DR. MAHTO
So that's what I saw. Nil's blood.
GREY
Yeah. I saw that, too.
DR. MAHTO
(indignant) His life is over,
Simon. The Foundation have all but
killed him!
GREY
Dr. Soren isn't dead. The
Foundation will take care of him.
(pause) But he'll get the
unpleasant amnestics. I'm sorry.
DR. MAHTO
(holding back tears) Just don't.
(long pause) Why would that Sarkite
want to activate 140? Doesn't it
realize what would happen?
GREY
They're counting on it! The Sarkic
Cults would like nothing better
than to bring the Daevas into
today. Better than a world of us
weak normals. In a fair fight, my
money's on the Daevas, that's how
crazy the Sarkites are.
DR. MAHTO
Yes, the Daevas seem like Aztecs or
Mongols with magical powers! It is
madness that anyone would want such
a race to exist today.
GREY
Now, Dr. Killman was very clear
that…thaumaturgy?…is not magic.
"Miracle working," I think he said.
But yeah, that plus the cannibalism
and ritual sacrifices sounds pretty
awful. Except to the Sarkites. They
would love that shit. "Will to
power," they call it. The Daevas
alive today would be heaven on
earth for the Sarkites, even if
it's a war they lose.
DR. MAHTO
(beat) You were closing the breach,
Simon. So you know. How far have
they advanced this time?
GREY
Sorry, Doc, you may have
documentation access, but those
details are top secret.
As Kliks never gets tired of
saying, it's bizarre I get to know.

Dr. Mahto sits down in a conference chair.

DR. MAHTO
Simon, I'm so angry and disgusted
that I can barely speak. But is
this breach closed at least?

Grey sits next to Dr. Mahto.

GREY
No, it's not. (beat) I don't know
how much you read, but sometimes,
(beat) 140 expands on its own. No
blood, no ink, nothing. It just
gets longer. That's why it's Keter.
If it always required ink, it might
be classified Safe.
DR. MAHTO
(with horror) No, I didn't know
that. Then…we are not safe at
all. (beat) 140 is not actually
contained! Just another lie. It is
only a matter of time.
GREY
Bingo. And once it expands enough,
we get a CK-Class Reality
Restructuring scenario. Game Over.
We all bow down to the Daevas and
their witch-king, or whatever it
is. Even worse, the Foundation is
exposed to the world.
DR. MAHTO
(disbelief) Even worse, Simon?
Compared to the lives lost? The
unfathomable impact on humanity?
GREY
(serious, slowly) Doctor, nothing
is worse than an LV, a Lifted Veil
scenario. The world can't function
unless the Foundation remains a
secret. You have to accept that if
you want to work here.
DR. MAHTO
(long pause) My God. The nihilism,
Simon. The lies. The deception.
I had no idea what the Foundation
was doing, and they and you were
concealing everything.
GREY
Doctor, no. Someday, you might
figure out why the expansions
happen. Maybe you'll figure out how
to stop them entirely.
DR. MAHTO
(unbelieving) What? How, Simon?
GREY
(pause) Beats me, Doc. I don't
understand your work. But I know
it's why you're here. Why we're all
here. (long pause) There's one
other thing about this breach
that's not done.
DR. MAHTO
(weary) What is that?
GREY
When the Daevas live for longer,
they leave behind more artifacts.
Graves. The Foundation has
archeologists onsite at Daeva digs.
Yesterday, those sites were dug up,
empty. But today, the Daevas have
lived for longer. And so the
Foundation needs to look at those
sites again. And when they do…
DR. MAHTO
Oh my Lord, Simon, you mean a
complete rewrite of those sites?
GREY
And don't forget: thaumaturgy!
Cannibalism! You can't just start
digging wherever.
DR. MAHTO
So what does the Foundation do?

CLOSE SHOT on Grey.

GREY
(beat) We send in the Grave
Diggers.

CUT TO BLACK

ACT 4
EXT. FOUNDATION ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, SOMEWHERE IN NORTHERN
PAKISTAN—DUSK
The entirety of this act is shot with a handheld camera.
SHOT on an expansive, modern archeological site. The site is
peopled with workers, guards, and researchers. As it is
evening, activity is light. A few vehicles are seen entering
and leaving. The land is both mountainous and green. The site
itself is near the bottom of a valley with a small lake.
Screen shows two-line caption: "Foundation Archeological
Site"; "Somewhere in Northern Pakistan"
Camera PANS IN towards a research tent, then:

CUT TO:

INT. RESEARCH TENT ON ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
Tent is supplied with a variety of high-tech equipment. A few
GUARDS are present. DR. JAFARI oversees 3 ASSISTANTS, one of
whom is operating communications equipment. This COMM
OPERATOR looks rather bored as he listens with earphones.
ANGLE ON Comm Operator as a red light flashes on his console.
The setup is a field version of the Foundation workstation we
have now seen many times. He noticeably perks up. The
following conversation is in Urdu with English subtitles.

COMM OPERATOR
(in Urdu) Doctor, incoming coded
message. Foundation priority one.

Dr. Jafari comes to stand behind Comm Operator

DR. JAFARI
(in Urdu) Priority one? Something
system-wide?
COMM OPERATOR
(in Urdu) Nothing else, Doctor.
They are requesting credentials.
DR. JAFARI
(in Urdu) One moment…

ANGLE ON Dr. Jafari tapping on his smartwatch, then CLOSE
SHOT of smartwatch touching the panel to the left of Comm
Operator's keyboard. The green trefoil appears surrounded by
Urdu text.

COMM OPERATOR
(in Urdu) (pause) Acknowledged,
receiving message. (pause) Doctor,
message is eyes-only, at your
panel.
DR. JAFARI
(in Urdu, concerned) Eyes-only?
What is this?

MOVING SHOT as Dr. Jafari moves to another station. SHOT over
back of station to look at Dr. Jafari's face. As Dr. Jafari
completes the login, a red light from his screen flashes,
reflecting off his face. Dr. Jafari's eyes widen, and he
abruptly shuts off the console.
Dr. Jafari gets up and hurriedly exits the tent. SHOT TRACKS
until exit, ends on WIDE SHOT of personnel in tent. Tensions
are higher. A Guard approaches Comm Operator. ANGLE ON both.

GUARD #5
(in Urdu) Yasir, what do you think
that was about?
COMM OPERATOR
(in Urdu) I don't know. It was a
priority one message, and (pause)
oh…oh no!
GUARD #5
(in Urdu) What? Tell me!
COMM OPERATOR
(in Urdu) No, no not again!

CUT TO:

EXT. FOUNDATION ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
WIDE SHOT of Dr. Jafari running towards another tent, then
TIGHTEN SHOT on Dr. Jafari, FOLLOWING as Dr. Jafari enters…
INT. COMMAND TENT OF ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE
ANGLE ON Dr. Jafari as he enters the tent. Conversation is
now in English.

DR. JAFARI
Captain Good!

WIDE SHOT on tent interior, which is similar to the research
tent, except it has more personnel, all of whom are military.
CAPTAIN GOOD is the site security commander, an Australian
aged 42. She is talking to 2 Guards. The atmosphere is very
tense. She turns to Dr. Jafari. ANGLE ON Captain Good.

CAPTAIN GOOD
Good evening, Ibrahim. It looks
like you got the word.
DR. JAFARI
I cannot believe it! A breach at
Site-76? SCP-140?
CAPTAIN GOOD
Those bloody Sarkites never stop,
do they? You and your team need to
bug out to the emergency camp, at
least until we get this thing
buttoned up.
DR. JAFARI
Captain, I'd like to observe, if I
may?
CAPTAIN GOOD
Negative, Doctor. You know what
happened last time.
DR. JAFARI
Yes, but we learned from that
event. I can learn more. Please
grant this request.

OVER SHOULDER of Dr. Jafari as Captain Good approaches.

CAPTAIN GOOD
To be frank, it's not up to me,
Ibrahim. My company is day-to-day
security. Zeta-9 should be here
imminently. It's their call.

ANGLE ON COMM OPERATOR #2 behind Captain Good towards rear of
tent.

COMM OPERATOR #2
Captain, Zeta-9 is reporting one
minute.
CAPTAIN GOOD
Acknowledged. Doctor, come with me.
Guards, attend us!

CUT TO:

EXT. OUTSIDE COMMAND TENT
WIDE SHOT on Captain Good, Dr. Jafari, and 4 Guards exiting
the tent. Activity has noticeably picked up, with personnel
boarding vehicles to depart. There is still some sunlight.
ANGLE ON Captain Good as she scans Western horizon with field
glasses. She stops and points.

CAPTAIN GOOD
Here they come! Guards, escort us
to the landing pad!

CUT TO:

EXT. WESTERN HORIZON
Against the setting sun and a riot of colors, we see three
helicopters approaching the site. Two are gunships, and one
is a large troop transport. Across the screen we see the
following two lines of text: "Foundation Mobile Task Force
Zeta-9, C Troop"; "aka 'The Grave Diggers'".

CUT TO:

EXT. LANDING PAD
WIDE SHOT of Captain Good's party (including 4 Guards)
reaching the edge of the landing pad as the Zeta-9 copters
land. ANGLE ON troop transport as its main hatch opens. Zeta
9 COMMANDOS pour out. Last to exit is MAJOR STANTON, a brash
American aged 57, who walks towards Captain Good. Salutes are
exchanged. ANGLE ON speakers in turn.

MAJOR STANTON
How goes the evac, Good?
CAPTAIN GOOD
Should be done in 10, sir.
MAJOR STANTON
Too slow, Captain. My Diggers will
be in position in 5.
CAPTAIN GOOD
So quick? Don't you need more time
to prepare?
MAJOR STANTON
This is a breach, Captain.
Threatens a CK. Got to seal up
these ugly sorcerers. (notices Dr.
Jafari) Why is this civilian still
here, Captain Good?
DR. JAFARI
Major, I am the lead researcher
here. I would like to observe the
containment.
MAJOR STANTON
Observe, Doctor? You have no idea.
Some of my Diggers are going to die
today. They know it, I know it. No
way we get out unscathed. Why will
you?
DR. JAFARI
There is no guarantee that
something deadly happens this time.
MAJOR STANTON
Then why stay, Doctor? Isn't that
what you want to see? Get a Keter
notch in your belt? Anyway, I don't
have the luxury to contemplate
that. More people will die if did.
DR. JAFARI
(pause) I still need to try. To see
something living from the past, if
it happens…it is worth the risk.
MAJOR STANTON
(disgusted, ironic) I guess that's
fine, Doctor. You can sit up front
in the troop transport with Jacobs.
That should give you a nice view.
We'll see how you fare. (to Good,
seriously) Good, clear the rest of
your team out in 5.

Salutes, then Major Stanton leaves to join his Commandos.
ANGLE ON Captain Good and Dr. Jafari talking.

CAPTAIN GOOD
I'll send two guards with you.
DR. JAFARI
Is there any point to that?
CAPTAIN GOOD
(beat) No, there isn't. Just ignore
the Major, Ibrahim.
DR. JAFARI
(beat) Thank you, Captain.
CAPTAIN GOOD
(pause, in Urdu) Until we meet
again.
DR. JAFARI
(in Urdu) Yes, until we meet again.

WIDE SHOT of Dr. Jafari being escorted to troop transport
with 2 Guards, while Commandos get into position around one
of the main digs. Captain Good's vehicle is the last to
leave.
WIDE SHOT on landing pad, as the two gunships take off again.
Camera TRACKS them as they maneuver into position over the
dig on either side. Commandos have set up 2 heavy machinegun
stands, and the remaining solders are dispersed around the
perimeter. ANGLE ON two Commandos in position.

PRIVATE
Corporal, sir, this is messed up.
Sorry, but something's wrong here.
CORPORAL
No, good instincts, Private. This
is going to be bad. If we're lucky.
Hold your position.

CUT TO:

INT. TROOP TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
CLOSE SHOT of Dr. Jafari in the helicopter, with lights
dancing on his face. REVERSE OVER SHOULDER shot looking out
at the dig as the Commandos ready their positions.

CUT TO:

INT. COMMAND GUNSHIP
ANGLE ON Major Stanton and his PILOT, overseeing the action.
As he speaks, various CUTS TO Commandos listening over their
headsets and reacting.

MAJOR STANTON
OK you ghouls! (CUT) You knew about
Zeta-9, our mission, and you signed
on anyway. (CUT) And now it's clear
that you fucked up. (CUT) But you
also know what you need to do.
(CUT) Get hot, ready assault
positions. (CUT back to CLOSE SHOT
of Major Stanton). Prepare to blow
in 10.

CUT TO:

EXT. DIG SITE
ANGLE ON 2 ENGINEERS setting detonation charges at the bottom
of the dig. From the non-command gunship we hear a countdown
over a megaphone:

GUNSHIP
Nine, eight, seven…

Engineers clear out of the dig and take positions at the
perimeter.

GUNSHIP
Six, five, four…

Various CUTS TO Commandos readying their positions.
ANGLE ON Dr. Jafari through the windscreen, making notes and
watching intently.

GUNSHIP
Three…

ANGLE ON Captain Good looking pensive as her vehicle speeds
away.

GUNSHIP
Two…

CLOSE SHOT of Major Stanton.

GUNSHIP
One…

WIDE SHOT of entire scene.

GUNSHIP
Mark.

ANGLE ON explosion at the center of the dig. Several CUTS TO
Commandos cautiously straining to look at the aftermath. In
the last of these, a Commando is suddenly grabbed by an
enormous pseudopod and dragged offscreen.
WIDE SHOT of explosion site, where we now seen a large
amoeboid creature, shimmering with many colors, reaching out
with multiple tentacles. Covering the mass, we see what look
like smaller protrusions that are roughly shaped like human
appendages, including heads, that only last for a moment
before collapsing back into the mass and then regenerating,
which happens continuously.
What follows is a firefight where more and more Commandos are
pulled into the mass, with some deserting. At the climax, a
very large appendage flings itself towards the command
gunship.
CLOSE SHOT of Major Stanton

MAJOR STANTON
Code Red, repeat, Code Red! Fire
the-

EXT. COMMAND GUNSHIP
Appendage envelopes command gunship and begins pulling it
into the central mass.
INT. TROOP TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
OVER SHOULDER shot of Dr. Jafari watching this attack, then
REVERSE SHOT on Dr. Jafari and JACOBS in cockpit.

JACOBS
Fuck! Major called Code Red! We
have to get out of here!
DR. JAFARI
What's Code Red?
JACOBS
We're blasting the site!
DR. JAFARI
What? No! Why would they-
JACOBS
It's gone, Doc, they're gone, and
no guarantees for us!

EXT. TROOP TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Helicopter starts to take off, but as it starts to turn away,
we CUT TO:
EXT. COMMANDO POSITION
Two Commandos with a large backpack run towards the center of
the dig. As a tentacle lunges for them, they trigger the
backpack, an SADM explosive. As the explosion begins, CUT
BACK TO:
EXT. TROOP TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Where we see the explosion rapidly overtake the troop
transport. Dr. Jafari bows his head and rocks back and forth.
The explosion envelopes the transport. CUT BACK TO:
EXT. DIG SITE
WIDE SHOT of the site, where the explosion rises into the
air. As the scene starts to fade out, we hear Captain Good in
voiceover:

CAPTAIN GOOD (V.O.)
(in Urdu) Until we meet again.

FADE TO BLACK.

ACT 5
INT. SECURITY DESK SITE-76
This act opens with several shots and a voiceover by AGENT
KLIKS, who is conversing with an unknown party on his phone.
Focus on Security Desk engaged in normal activity.

KLIKS (V.O.)
No, that was never the deal. The
arrangements got fucked up somehow.

INT. SITE-76 ARCHIVES
Focus on that bored Librarian reading her book.

KLIKS (V.O.)
An information swap is nothing like
allowing a containment breach.

INT. OUTSIDE CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140
Focus on the cell door and its two Guards, standing at
attention.

KLIKS (V.O.)
I never said that! (pause) Where
are you getting your information?

INT. AGENT'S KLIKS' OFFICE SITE-76
The once ornate office is now nearly empty of lived-in
furnishings. Instead, we see bare Foundation fixtures, and
two large taped-up boxes on the floor. Next to these are two
expensive-looking overnight bags.
Kliks is pacing the office, talking on a cheap cellphone that
looks like a "burner". He is wearing a summer scarf in the
European style, as well as a hat. He looks ready to travel.

KLIKS
Of course I want access to the
Library. The whole Foundation does.
But your price is too high.
(extended pause) I'll have to think
about that. (extended pause) Yes,
that sounds much better. But I have
to leave you now. I'm on the move.
(pause) To my new roost. Finally,
I'm getting the respect I deserve.
(pause) I'll be in touch. Ciao.

Kliks shuts off the phone, grins at it, then tosses it into a
heavy duty shredder attached to a bare desk. He picks up the
two overnight bags, and walks to the door. Looking around one
more time, he smiles and leaves the office, whose lights shut
off automatically when he leaves.

FADE TO:

INT. CORRIDOR LEADING TO SECURITY DESK-AFTERNOON
FRONT SHOT of GREY, DR. MAHTO, and 2 GUARD escorts, slowly
walking to the Security Desk. Grey has his messenger bag, and
each Guard is carrying a travel bag belonging to Dr. Mahto.

DR. MAHTO
(furious) It was all a lie, Simon.
This is nothing like what the
Foundation said I would be doing.
GREY
I don't know what to tell you.
Today was extreme, but not
unexpected. Your orientation-
DR. MAHTO
43 people died today! That's not
unexpected? That much daily death?
GREY
Look, Zeta-9 knew the score. Mobile
Task Forces are our best, but that
means they get the tough jobs.
Sometimes they're impossible.
DR. MAHTO
How can you tolerate that, Simon?
It's…it's monstrous. Unthinkable.

CLOSE SHOT on Dr. Mahto

DR. MAHTO
(sincere) I have always envisioned
my research helping people, serving
humanity. But now I realize I've
signed on to just holding back
cosmic monsters and keeping the
body count to a minimum!

WIDEN SHOT to Group. Grey stops and turns to Dr. Mahto, then
to the Guards.

GREY
Guards, give us a moment.

The Guards step to the side. FRONT SHOT on Grey and Dr. Mahto
in PROFILE.

GREY
Doctor. (pause) Jagruti. Today,
(pause) today you saw more than
most new researchers see in 3
years. It's awful on the best days.
You just saw the worst. But that's
it, you have to stop feeling sorry
for yourself and get on with it.
DR. MAHTO
(furious) How dare you, Simon! I am
not feeling sorry for myself! The
Foundation lied to me. I was
tricked into making the wrong
decision.
GREY
(thinking) I guess that old saying
is right, then.
DR. MAHTO
What old saying?
GREY
The truth hurts.
DR. MAHTO
(exasperated) How does that even
apply here, Simon?
GREY
I don't know! (pause) I'm just…
(long pause) You saw the truth,
Doctor. More than most people ever
will. And yeah, most people don't
want the truth, because it hurts to
know. (pause) But you're a
scientist. I mean, I'm not one, but
I thought that the truth was
everything to scientists. When you
do an experiment, or whatever, do
you give up if it doesn't work the
way you wanted?
DR. MAHTO
(disarmed) No, not if you are a
good scientist. Sometimes, the
failures provide the most
information.
GREY
Then you're in the right place,
Doctor. Lotta failure here.
DR. MAHTO
But how do I get past all the
deception, Simon? How do I ever
trust the Foundation again?
GREY
(beat) You don't. Ever. You just
get used to it. You figure out how
to contribute while maintaining
whatever morals you think you have.
Your first meeting with the Ethics
Committee will clarify a lot.
DR. MAHTO
(beat) And that's it?
GREY
(long pause) That's it.
DR. MAHTO
(long pause) I see. (beat, change
in demeaner) Well, I do think that
I trust YOU, Simon. Maybe that's
enough for me to continue.
GREY
(stunned) I hope so, Jagruti.
DR. MAHTO
So back to your proposal. (beat) If
I could figure out the mechanism
for SCP-140 expansion, it would be
more meaningful than anything I
have worked on to date.
GREY
Yes, it would.
DR. MAHTO
140 seems able to convert a certain
form of matter to retrocausal
energy. If we could monitor local
quantum entanglement during an
expansion event-
GREY
Doctor-
DR. MAHTO
-we could measure the changes in
entanglement correlation, and see
how it applies to the local quantum
field! Then-
GREY
DOCTOR. I. Have. No. Idea what
you're talking about. (beat) But
it's good you do. Let's get to Site
19. Look up Dr. Xyanks when you get
there. (to Guards) Guards, we're
ready.

REVERSE SHOT as Grey, Mahto, and Guard walk away, continuing
towards the Security Desk. Mahto continues to formulate,
while Grey just nods.

CUT TO:

INT. SECURITY DESK SITE-76
ANGLE ON Grey and Mahto as they come up behind main desk and
stop short. Camera continues forward to reveal a large
contingent of Guards, researchers, and staff milling about
and talking to each other. CMDR YOO and LT. QUINN seem to be
a particular focus of attention, while Agent Kliks stand near
the desk, observing the proceedings. The mood is festive.
Cmdr Yoo's left forearm has a cast with many signatures and
doodles.

GREY
Geezus, did we miss something?
KLIKS
In fact, you missed several
somethings.
DR. MAHTO
Oh, I'm sorry we missed it! Some
good news is welcome.
GREY
What? What happened?

ANGLE ON Cmdr Yoo and Lt. Quinn approaching.

KLIKS
Special Agent, you are now speaking
to Captain Jesse Quinn. Show some
respect.
GREY
Wow, that's great news, ah,
Captain.
DR. MAHTO
Jesse, I am so proud of you. I wish
we had more time to work together.
CAPTAIN QUINN
Thanks, Doctor. But I can tell,
you're needed at Site-19. I'll hold
down the fort here.
GREY
Hold down the—
CMDR YOO
Captain Quinn is the new Chief of
Security for 76. (to Quinn, in
jest) Don't botch this, Jess. I'll
have lots of eyes watching you.
GREY
(realizing) OK, catching up slowly.
Does that mean (smiles all about)
Commander, are you moving to Site
19? Yoon-hee, that's incredible!
(calmer) I mean, Commander.
CMDR YOO
Yes, Agent Grey. As long as they
keep telling me it doesn't have to
be a desk job, I'll keep saying
yes. Plus, who's going to keep you
and Kliks from driving each other
to drink?
GREY
(sickly) Oh, no, no really?
KLIKS
The powers that be have come to
their senses, and are moving me to
my rightful domain. I've been given
an "at large" portfolio: dabbling
in whatever I deem most important
across the entire grid. Don't
worry, Grey, I'll give you a taste
now and then.
GREY
(looking at the group) Well, two
out of three isn't bad.
CMDR YOO
If it's any consolation, Agent, we
get to take the jet back.
GREY
Nice perk, Commander. Well, then, I
guess we're ready. Guard, please
arrange an escort and take
everyone's luggage.
DR. MAHTO
Simon, I want to say goodbye to a
few people here. It will just take
a moment.
GREY
I think the jet has to wait for us.

Dr. Mahto steps into the crowd. Kliks moves closer to Grey
and they have a quiet conversation.

KLIKS
A quick chat, not in front of the
others.
GREY
Well, Yoon-hee must know.
KLIKS
No, the Commander has no official
knowledge. Remember that.
GREY
(beat) Sure. So you have some new
insult you want to spring on me?
KLIKS
In good time. But right now, I need
to apologize. Something did go
wrong with 140.
GREY
Christ, Kliks, you think? A Top 20
Keter breached! What possible-
KLIKS
It has to do with…our project.
GREY
(silent, then) Like I said. How?
KLIKS
Let's say that we may have an 'in'
now with someone who knows…a Way.
GREY
(pause) I don't know, Kliks. We've
been lied to again and again. Seems
like you're moving too fast. And I
don't have any control.
KLIKS
With us both at Site-19 it will be
easier to coordinate. And for you
to be more informed.
GREY
(distressed) So this may have all
been worth it. All these deaths.
What the hell's wrong with me?
KLIKS
The Foundation does it to us all.
Might as well put it to the best
possible use.

Dr. Mahto approaches with Cmdr Yoo and 3 Guard escorts. Also
entering the scene is the PILOT taking our crew to Site-19.
(S)he is a less armored guard, wearing a visored helmet
obscuring his/er eyes. (S)he also wears gloves…similar to
the Sarkite (recall none of our main cast saw this). PAN IN
on the gloves. Then CUT TO WIDE SHOT on Dr. Mahto.

DR. MAHTO
All right, Simon, I'm ready.
CMDR YOO
Do you know your first assignment,
Jagruti?
DR. MAHTO
I am part of Dr. Gears' research
group. I don't know much more than
that right now.
GREY
(knowingly) Oh, man, Gears!
DR. MAHTO
What does THAT mean?
GREY
(pause) I can tell you some stories
on the plane.
KLIKS
(acknowledging Pilot) Pilot, we're
ready to depart. Off to the
mothership, everyone!

Grey suddenly looks distracted, and is looking at the Pilot.
The group begins to depart. Grey turns to Dr. Mahto.

GREY
(distracted) Oh, almost forgot.
Never had a chance this morning.

Grey steps back and formally extends a hand to Dr. Mahto.

GREY
(ambivalent, serious) Welcome to
the Foundation, Doctor.

Dr. Mahto shakes Grey's hand once. The group turns towards a
corridor and heads towards it. Grey taps Kliks on the
shoulder and says something unheard. Both briefly stop, look
at the Pilot, then continue walking. SHOT PULLS BACK to show
the entire hall as the group departs. SHOT DISSOLVES up to
the weigh station bay, then WIDENS to show the whole weigh
station. Continues to PULL BACK to show a construction dig
next to the weigh station hidden from the highway. Across the
screen we see the text "Solaris Construction & Planning." We
hover over this scene as the text and scene begin to fade,
apart from the leading letters "S-C-P", as we…

CUT TO BLACK

THE END