TRIUMVIRATE SE Chapter Twelve
By The Host
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. GAULEIUS BASE – DAWSON’S OUTER OFFICE - BRIGHT
Dawson’s outer office is bright and pleasant, not too
ostentatious. An elderly SECRETARY argues at her desk awith
Jack Davies as Dawson enters the room.
SECRETARY
I’m sorry, young man, but the
Admiral is busy right now, and I
don’t know if he’ll get a chance
within the next week, you
understand, so I’d suggest-
Dawson comes right up behind Davies and puts his arm around
the man.
DAWSON
Nonsense, Gretel. I’ll speak to
Mr. Davies right now.
Davies is slightly surprised; the secretary more than
slightly miffed. Dawson steers Davies around and heads
toward his office.
DAWSON (CONT’D)
Well, Jack? How are you getting
along?
INT. DAWSON’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
Dawson’s office is relatively small and comfortable compared
to Compley’s. Davies hardly notices; he seems embarrassed
and confused.
DAVIES
Why did you put me with them? I
don’t belong there!
DAWSON
Them? Flight Wing Eleven?
The door closes behind them; Dawson sits down in a chair
nearby and indicates for Jack to sit across from him. Jack
remains standing. A moment passes.
DAWSON (CONT’D)
Jack. You’re inexperienced, but
you could be one of the Fleet’s
great commanders one day. Call it
my intuition; at my age, I
increasingly rely on it. You could
languish in the dust-bin of this
army, or you could be challenged
to excel. The choice is yours. If
you would like to be transferred,
I will put through the order. I’ll
be disappointed, but I’ll
understand.
There is a long pause. Jack thinks. He almost unconsciously
withdraws the vial from his pocket and slowly places it on a
table beside Dawson. Dawson is fixated on the vial.
DAVIES
I’ll stay where I am, sir.
(Beat)
This is yours.
Dawson’s hand darts out and grabs the vial with lightning
speed. The Admiral hops out of his seat.
DAWSON
I’d best see to this. Help
yourself to some champagne. And be
ready, Mr. Davies. We go to war!
He leaves Davies alone in his office.
EXT. PRESIDENTIAL TOWER - DAY
The Presidential Tower looms above the city of Magnapolis.
INT. PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - DAY
The President sits at his desk, head in his hand, fighting
sleep as he flips slowly through a stack of papers. After a
moment, his SECRETARY’s voice fills the room.
SECRETARY (V.O.)
Sir, we have a communications
request from Admiral Dawson.
The President sits bolt upright, rubs his eyes, runs his
hand through his hair, and shifts in his seat. On the whole
he now looks very Presidential.
THE PRESIDENT (CONT'D)
All right, Joyce. Put him through.
There is a beep and the holographic image of Admiral Dawson
appears before the President.
THE PRESIDENT
Speak.
DAWSON
Mister President—
THE PRESIDENT
No, on second thought, I think
I’ve got something to say.
DAWSON
Sir—
THE PRESIDENT
Why are you doing this?
Dawson stammers a moment.
DAWSON
Mister President, I – I feel that
this government has been corrupted
under the unwarranted influence of
the Corporation. I feel that this
government is weak—
THE PRESIDENT
I can see why, but you’ve
misjudged—
DAWSON
And I know about the weapon you’ve
been secretly manufacturing. I
have Jack Davies. I have the cure.
And I have every intention of
making this state great again, if
I have to use force to do it—
THE PRESIDENT
And what’ll you do with that
force, Admiral? Overthrow this
government, I guess. And then
what? You take over?
DAWSON
(Laughing sardonically)
Mister President, if you think—
THE PRESIDENT
You, Dawson, think that I’m a
fool. Maybe I am. But then again,
maybe I’ll fool you.
DAWSON
I hardly know what to say to that.
THE PRESIDENT
That’s a change. Scriptwriter on
vacation? You’re more politician
than I am.
DAWSON
You’re more puppet than
politician.
THE PRESIDENT
We’ll see.
DAWSON
I have contacted you only to
announce that I and my Fleets have
defected from service to the
United Star Systems.
THE PRESIDENT
A bit redundant at this point,
isn’t it?
DAWSON
I’ve had enough of this. Good day
to you, and good bye.
Dawson disappears. The President sits smiling, running his
hands along his desk, asserting his posture.
INT. GAULEIUS BASE - COMMUNICATIONS CENTER - CONTINUOUS -
DIM
The communications center is lit only by a shaft of light
falling upon a low round platform and the warm glow of
monitors and relays around the space. As Dawson steps off of
the platform the lights come on revealing a cramped space
full of complicated equipment. The Admiral strides out of
the room.
AUTOR'S COMMENTARY:
The first scene I changed in editing, both to shorten it and
to increase Jack’s anger. He storms to Dawson he thinks
because he’s angry that he’s been placed with a group of
people so far above him. Really, though, I think Dawson’s
become a parental figure for Davies, and in a way Jack is
tugging at mother’s apron string and pouting. The exchange
between Dawson and the President I thought about cutting. It
had appeared in earlier versions of the story, but here
instead of cutting it I decided to change it: the President,
I think, gets the upper hand. Sometimes characters surprise
me. I think what happened here is that Dawson, excited that
he now has the cure, became a little over-zealous – he
contacted the President to gloat. The President, however, is
a lot smarter than even I initially thought. He doesn’t like
Dawson, who he sees as being a manipulative self-serving
politician, and makes this known. It catches Dawson off-
guard, and Dawson is rarely caught off-guard. I think it
might be the only time that happens in the film, the only
time Dawson shows even a smidgeon of vulnerability. I’m
starting here to really like the President, and starting –
just a little bit – to dislike Dawson.
NEXT CHAPTER
PREVIOUS CHAPTER
SCENE ACCESS
MAIN MENU
4/11/2003 10:12:24 PM
(Updated: 4/12/2003 5:50:04 PM)
Comment on this fan fiction!
|
