#kloraphate

[kloraphate]

INT. GENERAL ANDREWS' OFFICE - MORNING Anna is seated at one of the two chairs across from General Andrews at his desk. Her legs are crossed. GENERAL ANDREWS I have an issue I was hoping you could help me with. ANNA I will certainly try, General. GENERAL ANDREWS General Andrews, always. ANNA Yes, General Andrews. His computer is on, and he has a few physical files he's looking through. One is quite plump. He pulls it out and removes the rest from in front of him. GENERAL ANDREWS Is it possible to have a gizmo that would redirect a power signal to another location? ANNA Yes, a transmitter could if it were designed to do that. Most certainly. GENERAL ANDREWS Have you ever seen such a thing? ANNA No, not personally. GENERAL ANDREWS But you believe it's possible? ANNA I do. GENERAL ANDREWS Hmm. Okay. What I need you to do is go through this file. Come stand beside me so I can show you. ANNA (nervous) Okay. She stands beside him on his left. He has the file open and finds the file on his computer that he wants her to look at. There's a BUZZ from his intercom. It's his secretary, MARGERY STEVENS. He presses a button. GENERAL ANDREWS Yes, Margery. What is it? MARGERY STEVENS Alison is here to see you. GENERAL ANDREWS I'm in a meeting. Have her come back another time. MARGERY STEVENS Yes, General Andrews, I told her that. She's insisting on seeing you just for a few minutes, she assures me. GENERAL ANDREWS Send her in. ALISON ANDREWS enters, a tall, sexy blond wearing a black pencil skirt - slit in the front, a crisp white dress shirt with the cuffs rolled up once, and black pattern leather stilettos with a matching clutch tucked under her arm. She looks amazing. ALISON Daddy! What do you have my husband doing now? He was out most of the evening last night. I was worried sick. ALISON (TO ANNA) Hello. ANNA Hello. GENERAL ANDREWS Alison, I don't keep tabs on your husband. This is what was so important? ALISON Well, it is important. GENERAL ANDREWS Ask him yourself. Get out! ALISON You're no help! She walks out, closing the door behind her. GENERAL ANDREWS Please excuse my daughter. She's an only child and gets needy for her parents sometimes. Okay, see this list? These homes haven't registered that they have power or paid for it in 2 months. I know they all have it and are running it as normal households would. Their readings are showing not a single movement in those 2 months. I've been looking at this for an extended period of time. I need you to take over and tell me what the common denominator is. Use my desk. This file has the names of the people residing at such residences. He points to the computer file. GENERAL ANDREWS There is more information on these people here. This file is not to leave my office. He lifts the file on his desk. GENERAL ANDREWS I'll give you one hour. I'll arrange for your other work you were doing to be given to another administrator. ANNA Yes, Sir, General Andrews. She backs up so he can get up. He leaves, closing the door. She sits in his chair and picks up the file, opens it. She sees a list of about 45 homes: the addresses, the last payment date, amount owing, and if the residents work on base. She quickly scans, looking for her group of people. No. She closes the file and picks up the receiver on the phone, examines it. Places it back. She quickly looks at her watch. Time to get to work.

[kloraphate]

INT. MILITARY OFFICE - MORNING Anna is seated at her new desk, in her new office, wearing a military uniform - skirt and shirt. She is typing on the computer, looking to her right, entering what is on some papers inside a file. There are 10 files on her desk. She has the door closed. There's a KNOCK. She looks up. ANNA Come in. Sergeant Grant enters. SERGEANT GRANT Anna, I hope you are making out okay here. ANNA Yes, thank you, Sergeant Grant. I've done what I could with 2 files. Did you want to take a look? SERGEANT GRANT Yes. Grant comes around behind Anna's chair and looks over Anna's shoulder. SERGEANT GRANT Very good. I'll leave you to it. Pausing by the door … SERGEANT GRANT We have a program with lunch hours. You will receive your card, and you can eat in the cafeteria as part of your benefits, for free. ANNA Thank you very much. SERGEANT GRANT You're welcome. I should have that for you no later than next week. She exits. INT. DINING ROOM - SLAT AND REX'S HOUSE - NIGHT The group is around the table eating supper. Graeme isn't there, nor is Johnny. JOSH It's not like Graeme to miss a meeting. SLAT Ya, I know. REX Last night, we had a rescue go bad. REBECCA What happened? SLAT We found out a man was being released, and Rex went out and got him, brought him back to the attic. Turns out this guy is working for someone to find out about us. MELANIE Oh shit! BRENT How far did it go? REX A couple of drinks, just about to have a smoke. MIKE What the fuck happened? REX Guy had to take a leak. The entire group goes hush, all but Anna. ANNA I don't get it. What's the big deal? SLAT You can't pee the first night coming off Klora. ANNA Oh ya, I didn't all night with all that whiskey. Huh. JOSH About Graeme … MIKE He didn't answer your text? JOSH No. How about I go check his place tomorrow? SLAT Be fucking careful. This rescue thing and now Graeme - got a bad feeling. JOSH I think all of us do. INT. ANNA'S OFFICE - MORNING Anna is at her computer typing. There's a KNOCK on the door. Anna straightens herself. ANNA Come in. GENERAL EDWARD ANDREWS, 58, quite sexy and graying at the temples, enters, closes the door, and stands before Anna. ANNA Hello. GENERAL ANDREWS Hi Anna. I'm General Andrews. I wanted to come welcome you. ANNA Thank you general. GENERAL ANDREWS What do they have you working on here? Data entry? ANNA Yes Sir. GENERAL ANDREWS Are you enjoying that? ANNA It's fine, Sir. GENERAL ANDREWS Why don't we find something where you can use your talents and schooling? ANNA That would be wonderful. GENERAL ANDREWS Come with me. He turns, exits. Anna follows.

[kloraphate]

INT. ATTIC - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS Everything is the same as we saw with Anna when she was rescued. Sean looks around nervously. REX I hope you like whiskey, Sean. SEAN Ya sure, whatever you've got. Rex is at the table pouring the drinks but keeping an eye on Sean. REX Here you go, man. This'll help. Rex doesn't tap his glass to Sean's. They drink. SEAN I can't believe you were just right there for me. I'm fucking disoriented. He rubs his face with his free hand, takes off the hood. SEAN We're safe now, Bro? Rex pulls his own hood down. REX Ya man, the worst is over. Here have another. He pours them both another, and they drink. REX Ya, I remember when it happened to me. I was fucked right up. By tomorrow, you'll feel like yourself again. Smoke? SEAN Please. First, though, I've gotta take a piss. REX For sure. Right through there. Rex points to the bathroom. Sean puts his glass on the table and enters the washroom, closing the door. Rex quickly goes to the table, puts his glass down, reaches for his gun in his chest holster under his hoodie, points the gun at the bathroom door, and approaches it. REX One. Two. Three … Rex kicks the door in. We see Sean standing, talking on his cell phone. BANG! Sean's dead. REX Bad toad! Bad! BANG! - the phone is dead too. Rex grabs the phone and tosses it into the toilet, flushes. He kicks Sean's foot, ya he's dead. Rex gets his cell phone from the table, punches in a number. SLAT (V.O.) 'Ello? REX Need to order a pizza. CLICK. Slat ended the call. INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT The table is moved, the area rug is rolled up, and the trap door is open. We can see the light is on. INT. CELLAR - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS Rex and Slat are carrying Sean's body in a body bag into a room we haven't seen yet. It's got an incinerator in it, a very compact one for human cremation. It's square. REX O-ee-ya, eeohh-ya! O-ee-ya, eeohh-ya! SLAT (in a little girl's voice) We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz. REX O-ee-ya, eeohh-ya! SLAT We hear he is a wonderful wiz if ever a wiz there was. REX Eeohh-ya! They get to the incinerator, put Sean down. SLAT If ever if ever a wiz there was there was because because because because … SLAT (in his voice) What set you off? REX Had to piss. SLAT Fucker. REX I know. SLAT (TO SEAN) You're pretty big there, Sean, and you're gonna be a tight squeeze in our little oven. But we're pretty confident you deserve a nice toasty exit from this glorious world of ours. REX Fucking guy would weigh 250. (beat) It's been almost nice knowing you, Fuck nuts. SLAT And we're off to see the wizard … EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT - MINUTES LATER We see the house with smoke coming from a vent on the roof - round, silver, and about 3' tall.

[kloraphate]

Rebecca returns. REBECCA He's on his way. Said he is only a couple of blocks away. He'll just be a minute. Did you find the guy? ANNA No, not yet. I was sure I had seen him before. She keeps flipping through the pages for a bit until she finds him. ANNA Here! Here he is. Rebecca takes a look. REBECCA Oh ya. What was he like? ANNA Very for "The Power". Very scary and very sure someone would get me back with them, sooner or later. REBECCA Ya, a lot of them are like that. It's almost like Kloraphate gives a boost of confidence and a lack of brain function at the same time. I was pretty high on the whole thing when I was on it, too. Are you okay now? ANNA I'm okay. I'm glad Slat is coming. REBECCA Be forewarned, he'll want all the details, over and over, until he can see it all in his mind. There's a KNOCK on the front door. REBECCA There he is now. Rebecca answers the door to Slat in his uniform. He enters, closes the door. REBECCA She just got back minutes before I called. She was pretty shook. SLAT She's alright now? Anna goes to him. She curls into his arms. Rebecca is standing back watching. ANNA (TO SLAT) I was so scared, but you'd be proud of me; I didn't back down. SLAT I am proud of you. They kiss. Rebecca turns and exits to the kitchen. ANNA I need you. SLAT Can we go to your room? ANNA Yes. SLAT Bring the book. INT. REBECCA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY Rebecca is making coffee. There's a lit cigarette in an ashtray on the counter next to her. The phone RINGS. REBECCA (INTO PHONE) Hello? RECEPTIONIST (V.O.) Can I speak to Anna Clark, please? REBECCA She's not available at present. Can I take a message? RECEPTIONIST (V.O.) Yes, could you please ask her to report for her first day with the Department of Defense, the same place she applied, tomorrow at 7 am? REBECCA Of course. Thank you. Rebecca hangs up the phone. INT. ANDERSON'S GROCERY - DAY Rex is stocking shelves with product. It's a nice, convenient store that's semi-smallish. There are a few people roaming the aisles with baskets and others with buggies. DALE ANDERSON has a clipboard and pen. He's in the same aisle as Rex. Dale is counting "outs" and recording them on his clipboard. We can hear the DING of the tills as the cashiers ring products through at the check stands. INT. BASE KITCHEN - DAY May is at her station making a large potato salad. We see others doing the same. May and all the other staff have white aprons on. May wipes her hands on hers. She looks very content working in the kitchen. INT. NARROW STAIRWELL - NIGHT We see Rex and SEAN MILLER, 38, a big, tall man, going up the stairs. They're in all black. Both men have their hoods pulled up over their heads.

[kloraphate]

GIVEN

As I said before, KLORAPHATE was presented to me in a dream. As I wrote the story over, in 2021, I asked Jesus to be my partner in writing. Over the years that have passed, I was shown a different person in myself that began liking who I am, as a written voice. To You, God!! Thanks for the great ideas!! I couldn't have done it without You!

[kloraphate]

ANNA I was pretty stressed, I guess. MAY Are you still on your medication? ANNA Yes, Mom. Dan stands, gives Anna a hug, and kisses her on the head. DAN I have to get to work. Working on the general's Mercedes today. Love you, Cutie. ANNA Love you too, Dad. He kisses May. DAN (TO MAY) See you, Babe. MAY (TO DAN) Love you, Beautiful. He exits. ANNA You're still in love? MAY Yes. I need to get ready for work, too, Anna dear. Sorry. Oh, I wish I could stay longer. You'll come back soon? Where are you living? ANNA That's okay. I love you, Mom. I'm staying with a friend. Yes, I'll be back before you know it. I promise. They embrace. EXT. RESIDENTIAL STREET - DAY - MOMENTS LATER Anna and Bella are walking home. A MAN runs up to them, stops and stands about 5 feet away. MAN Anna, you bitch. She recognizes him from the book, unleashes Bella. Grabs her gun. Points it at him. MAN You think you're so fucking great, don't you? What, the army isn't good enough for you? We're the power. You can't get away. Me, the next … someone will get you back. Bella is growling. ANNA Why don't you turn around and save your pathetic little life while you can? He steps forward. Anna puts her hand up. ANNA Uh uh! Keep it there, Poncho. I will fucking kill you. Take one more step, you piece of shit, and you'll find out who the real power is. He chuckles. MAN Aren't you cute? All talk, though. You are so scared right now. ANNA Of you? Not on your life. MAN Of what's coming for you. There's a deep, dark shadow following you every step you take. It's going to smother you before you can even - He steps forward. BANG! He drops dead. Bella jumps on his chest. There's a blood stain on his heart. She's growling, pinning him. ANNA Oh fuck. Oh fuck. She looks around. ANNA (TO BELLA) Go home, Bells. Meet me at home. Anna runs up the street until she disappears. Bella waits a minute, then runs in the same direction Anna went. INT. REBECCA'S HOUSE LIVING ROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS It's a small, cozy room with bookshelves, plants, and contemporary art on the walls. Anna comes in. Rebecca is seated, reading. ANNA Holy fuck, Rebecca! REBECCA What is it? You look shook up. Rebecca puts her book on the side table. ANNA I just killed a man. He was from base. I recognized him from the book. REBECCA Show me. Rebecca stands and pulls an identical slim binder like Rex had down from one bookshelf. Bella barks at the door. Anna rushes to let her in. ANNA (TO BELLA) Oh, good girl! Come here, Baby. Anna hugs her and kisses her. Rebecca has the binder open. REBECCA Find him in here, Anna. We've got to call Slat. Anna takes the book, sits on the second chair. Rebecca exits. Bella sits by Anna's feet. ANNA (TO BELLA) That was a bad man, Bella. And you're such a good girl. Yes, you are.

[kloraphate]

ANNA Do they own this one? SLAT No. REX Power and water, garbage are triple for the homes not with Gov.HOME ANNA How do you afford power for that grow show you're running? Do you pay triple? REX Johnny Yan to the rescue! JOHNNY Ya, I rig it. MIKE Andrews has a bunch of shit going on thanks to us. SLAT I just don't know how everyone is appearing like he's this great guy. JOSH He's got the country on Klora. REBECCA Ya, but how? BRENT Maybe they jab you covertly and shoot you up every time you're out. GRAEME In the food. SLAT There! That makes sense, but … how could they? MELANIE Anna? Are you going to see your parents soon? ANNA What do you guys think? SLAT Tomorrow you can. Hey Rex? REX Ya, now that she's been on base, she should be safe. JOHNNY Anna, did you open that second clock? ANNA No. Thought it was the same. Is it? JOHNNY No, it's the player for your listening chips. REX Excellent! JOHNNY You're still a rodent. You know that, right? REX Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. EXT. FRONT PORCH - CLARK RESIDENCE - DAY - CONTINUOUS Anna is with Bella at her parents' place. She RINGS the bell. DING DONG! Her mother, MAY CLARK, 59, a beautiful, warm, and loving woman, opens the door. MAY Anna! Oh my goodness! Calling out behind her … MAY Dan! Anna's here! MAY (TO ANNA) Come in, Honey! INT. KITCHEN - DAY Anna walks in and hugs her mom. MAY What on earth have you done to your hair? Are you alright? ANNA Totally great, Mom. Just needed a change. MAY This is a bit extreme, don't you think? ANNA Well, ya, but it's done now. DAN CLARK, 59, a happy, tired-looking man, enters the room. DAN Anna, Sweetheart! And who's this? Bending, he pets Bella. She sits. ANNA This is Bella. I just got her. Isn't she beautiful? DAN She sure is. I've always loved dogs. Do you remember we had that little multi-poodle for a year or two before we moved, Anna? ANNA No! May goes to the sink and washes her hands. MAY He was beautiful. Freddy. DAN Come sit. ANNA Sure. Is it all right if I take her leash off? DAN Sure. Anna does that, and Bella curls up beside the table. The group sit at the table. MAY (TO ANNA) Want a drink, Honey? ANNA No thanks. I applied on base. MAY How wonderful! You'll love it. They treat us really well. DAN Ya, helps us get by fairly well. We're not rich, but these days, who is? MAY Is that why you cut your hair? ANNA Nope. Just wanted change, Mom. (beat) When was the last time I saw you? MAY Oh …? My … Dan? DAN Just over a year ago. Don't you remember? ANNA No, I had a lot going on. MAY You were placed on a special team or something like that for that year, right out of school. You called. Do you not remember?

[kloraphate]

ANNA Thank you. INT. OFFICE - DAY SERGEANT GRANT, 52, a stern-looking lady, sits at her desk. Anna is across from her, seated as well. Grant has Anna's resume and is reading it. SERGEANT GRANT Miss Clark, why do you have an interest in the armed forces? ANNA Oh, well … I just need to be a part of the forces. It's in my blood. I need to stand for our beautiful country, take part in the building of a new tomorrow. I can't express how deeply I feel a need to be here with you all. SERGEANT GRANT Very good. I was hoping to hear your enthusiasm. This is an all-or-nothing kind of role we'd be asking of you. Are you able to commit to us 100%? ANNA More than willing! I hear General Andrews is a strong and powerful leader. I need direction in my life. I want to be in line with that power, for my fellow countrymen and for the strength I will gain in being a part of this great movement. SERGEANT GRANT Says here you've got some administrative experience. That could be a very good starting place for you here with us. Thank you for your time today, Anna. I'm very glad to see you come in. We'll let you know soon. ANNA Thank you so much! Take care. Anna stands, exits. Sergeant Grant puts a big red check mark on the top of Anna's resume with a thick marker and picks up her phone, dials a 4-digit number. INT. DINING ROOM - SLAT AND REX'S HOUSE - NIGHT They're eating. JOSH I mean, the way it is right now, we gotta amp it up. Put the pressure on Andrews, make him feel it. JOHNNY We need to get Anna inside first, Josh, to learn a few things. We've only had Slat on the inside. REX Now is good. We'll get Anna in there, hopefully near the computers. REBECCA Ya, as long as she doesn't have to get too close to Andrews himself. That man is slimy. MELANIE He's hot. The guys around the table semi-wince at the thought. REBECCA You would think so, Mel. MELANIE I'd do him. Anna laughs. BRENT How's the business doing? JOHNNY Ya. SLAT Good, very good. It's harvest time next week. We'll need all of you for a few days. Lots of work this time around. Got a few new contacts we're trying to line up. GRAEME Be careful, everyone. I think if we can stay where we are now, holding, we'll stay safe. ANNA How does the government own almost everything? And the people don't protest or fight or even acknowledge it, in a sense? REX About 5 years ago, the government started offering people a lower mortgage rate if they switched over to one of its lending institutions. Do you remember, Anna? ANNA No, I don't keep up with that kinda stuff. REX Well, they got about 88% of the people who had mortgages. It turned out that those people lost ownership of their homes. But the people don't know. It's really sneaky and evil. So far, nobody knows but us. The president says it's inflation. The cost of living is on the rise again, he's said that often. The guy is a puppy, I swear. ANNA What's his story then? SLAT He's the first president I've ever seen who gives his department heads full range in their positions. REBECCA For a while, we thought it was him, but watching him, like we do … SLAT With suspicious eyes. REBECCA You can't help but love the guy. MELANIE People at first wondered why it was so expensive, suddenly, just to live. JOSH It was when people tried selling their properties that got us involved. We see now the mess the country is in. ANNA What happened when someone wanted to sell? REX Knot after knot turning into a big tangled up mess. The institutions with Gov.HOME would only agree if the buyer would use them, saying the market is flooded, and so many more excuses.