PART OF THE LETTER.
No expense will be spared in the funding of your new project.
BEN stands up, sticks his passport and tickets in one pocket, and the letter in another. He walks calmly to the door and taps on it.
The CUSTOMS OFFICIAL is waiting outside, and quickly opens the door. He beckons BEN to follow him.
CUSTOMS OFFICIAL
“This way, sir. The flight’s been held for you.”
BEN
(Confidently)
“Good! Lead the way!”
CUT TO SCENE 129: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
NURSE KAYE is wheeling a telephone trolley into the ward. She wheels it towards one of the beds.
NURSE KAYE
“There’s a phone call for you, Matthew.”
MATTHEW levers himself up in bed as NURSE KAYE reaches him. She plugs the phone into a socket on the wall.
MATTHEW
“Not my mum again?”
NURSE KAYE
(Smiling)
“No, it’s a woman! Got a secret admirer have you? And there’s me thinking you were all mine!”
MATTHEW looks embarrassed, and NURSE KAYE laughs as she walks away.
MATTHEW’S hands shake as he picks up the phone.
MATTHEW
(Nervously)
“Hello?”
JAYNE’S VOICE
(Cheekily)
“Hello, nerd! Did you miss me?”
MATTHEW
(Overjoyed)
“Jayne! Are you alright? What happened? I thought you had died in the fire! Where are you?”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Shut up, Matthew! Gosh! You never did let me get a word in, did you? I’m fine. Not a scratch. I took a dive into the river from the second floor. What about you? I thought you were dead.”
MATTHEW
(Excited)
“I nearly was! It was Sandra! She shot at me and I fell in the river, too. But the bullet must have got caught up in my lap-top, and it didn’t go in very far. But it still feels very sore.
(MATTHEW rubs at his chest as he speaks)
“The doctors said I was very lucky not to have drowned before the firemen pulled me out.”
JAYNE’S VOICE
(Softly and concerned)
“I’m glad you’re okay. I would have been very upset if you weren’t. I would have missed you, Matthew.”
CUT TO SCENE 130: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image pretends to look sick.
JULIA’S VOICE
“If this gets mushy, I’m heading for the nearest database. Get on with it, Jayne. I’ve got a tap on the exchange in Chicago.”
A brightly lit worm appears. JULIA’S image produces a large bat. She quickly smacks the worm with it and the worm is smashed.
JAYNE’S VOICE
(Impatiently)
“Move it, then! Try Boston! I want to talk to Matthew!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“Matthew, spatthew! If you play hide the sausage with him, make sure I’m asleep first!”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Shut up!”
CUT TO SCENE 131: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
There is a slight pause while MATTHEW thinks of something to say.
MATTHEW
“You know the MedTec building burnt down, don’t you?”
MATTHEW grimaces, wishing that he hadn’t said what he said.
JAYNE chuckles.
JAYNE’S VOICE
“I had noticed.”
MATTHEW
“How are you feeling, Jayne? Are you alright? Inside, I mean.”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“You mean in my head? Am I nuts yet?”
CUT TO SCENE 132: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image laughs.
JULIA’S VOICE
“Nuts? I’ll say! We’re a Psychiatrists worst nightmare!”
JAYNE’S VOICE
(In exasperation)
“Will you be quiet?”
CUT TO SCENE 133: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
MATTHEW
“I didn’t mean it like that!”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“I know what you meant, and don’t worry, I’m fine. But thanks for asking. I have to admit, it was a bit rough back there. I was always a bit confused by my two personalities. It was as if I always had to be either the one, or the other. I think the Jayne side of my mind couldn’t quite accept Julia because of the possibility that she might have killed my Mum and Dad. It happened after the download had taken place, so I wouldn’t have known. But with all that fighting in my head between you and Tyler, and with me and Julia in the middle, everything sort of glued itself together in my head.”
MATTHEW
(Concerned)
“I’ve had a devil of a time explaining things, you know. The police never leave me alone. And they’re looking for you. They think you killed all those people in Exchange Quay. You didn’t did you?”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Don’t worry. I only killed Casarotto and Sandra. The rest of them killed each other long before I got there.”
MATTHEW
(Puzzled)
“Who’s Casarotto?”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Nobody you need to worry about. She went for a swim a short time after you.”
MATTHEW
“Oh, she must have been the woman full of holes they found in the river.”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Yes, that’ll be her. What have you told the police?”
MATTHEW
“The truth. Everything I know. For a while I think they thought I was nuts. And I’m still not sure that they believe me. Was that alright?”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Yes, it was probably for the best.”
MATTHEW
(Hesitantly)
“They said Julia was killed too.”
CUT TO SCENE 134: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image looks proud.
JULIA’S VOICE
“He fancied me rotten!”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Tits and arse! He fancies me more! Anyway, I thought you didn’t like him?”
JULIA’S VOICE
“I can be coy, can’t I?”
CUT TO SCENE 135: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
JAYNE’S VOICE
“You liked Julia, didn’t you?”
MATTHEW looks embarrassed.
MATTHEW
“I like you more.”
JAYNE’S VOICE
(Cheekily)
“Are you blushing, Matthew? You are, aren’t you? Admit it!”
MATTHEW looks even more embarrassed. He looks around quickly.
MATTHEW
“Can you see me? Where are you?”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“No, Matthew, I can’t see you. I’m miles away. And don’t be too sorry about Julia, because in a way, you’re talking to her right now.”
JAYNE’S voice changes as she speaks. It becomes JULIA’S voice, and it never changes back.
JULIA’S VOICE
“And you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve repaired the car. The parts cost me a fortune! I don’t know! I leave you alone with it for five minutes and you fill it full of holes!”
MATTHEW
(Surprised and hurt)
“It wasn’t my fault! It was Sandra!”
JAYNE chuckles on the other end of the phone.
MATTHEW
(Smiling)
“I love you, Jayne.”
JULIA’S VOICE
(Softly)
“I love you too, Matthew.”
CUT TO SCENE 136: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image pretends to put a finger down her throat.
JULIA’S VOICE
“I’m going to be sick, ergh!” <
br />
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Will you stop it!”
Two more brightly lit worms appear. JULIA smacks them both as before and they disintegrate.
JULIA’S VOICE
“Boston’s gone, and so has London. Hurry up!”
CUT TO SCENE 137: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
JULIA’S VOICE
(More seriously)
“Look, Matthew, you’re the only friend I’ve got, so look after yourself, won’t you?”
MATTHEW
(Desperately)
“You’re not going, are you? When will I see you?”
JULIA’S VOICE
“I don’t know. The Corporation will leave you alone, I’m sure of that. There’s nothing more you can tell the police, so there wouldn’t be much point.”
MATTHEW
“They could try and make me do it again.”
JULIA’S VOICE
“They could. But with me still running around, they know that would be a non-starter. That’s why they’re never going to give up on me. And that’s why you and I can never meet. The two of us together in one place would make it too easy for them. You do understand, don’t you, Matthew?”
CUT TO SCENE 138: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image looks frantic. She smacks several more brightly lit worms that have appeared.
JULIA’S VOICE
(Urgently)
“Will you hurry up! I’ve got wormy things coming at me on all these telephone exchanges, and all you do is ramble to lover boy! Get on with it!”
JAYNE’S VOICE
“Alright! Alright! Just don’t let them trace us!”
CUT TO SCENE 139: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
MATTHEW grips the telephone very tightly.
MATTHEW
(Annoyed and upset)
“No! I don’t understand! It’s not fair! I want to see you! I love you, Jayne! I want to be with you!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“We can’t! It’s too dangerous!”
MATTHEW
“Then why did you phone me? Why didn’t you just let me go on thinking you were dead?”
JULIA’S VOICE
“Stop it, Matthew! I’m doing this for you! You still have a chance! You can go back to a normal life and forget about all this! You can have a life without worrying that someone is hunting you and trying to kill you all the time!”
MATTHEW
“But I don’t care! I want to be with you!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“Do you? Do you have any idea what it would be like? Worrying that everyone you meet might be an assassin? Do you think I’m talking to you on a phone?”
MATTHEW
(Puzzled)
“Well, of course you are.”
MEDIUM SHOT - INT. A DARKENED OFFICE. NIGHT.
JAYNE sits on the floor, a cable connects her to a computer terminal.
JULIA’S VOICE
“No! No, I’m not! I’m talking to you through the socket in the back of my head! I’m sitting in the dark in an empty office I’ve broken into, and I’m plugged into a computer terminal that’s connected to the Internet through a modem. I’m connected to you on the phone line through three different computer networks on two continents. And I’ve changed networks twice! My voice is being electronically reproduced. And all the time we’ve been talking, part of me has been keeping an eye on the line, making sure that no one tries to put a trace on it. I’m not even in the same country as you. Is that how you want to live? Is it?”
MATTHEW
(Without hesitation)
“Yes! If it means living with you!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“And what about your parents? Or your friends? I have no one to worry about, but you do!”
MATTHEW
“I don’t have to see my parents all the time. I can talk to them on the phone. And I don’t care about my friends. I just care about you!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“You’re being stupid, Matthew! It won’t work! They’ll be watching your parents! They’ll use them against you! And they’ll use you to get to me!”
MATTHEW
“They’ll do that anyway! You said yourself that the only way to be safe was to beat them! You’ve made a start, but you haven’t finished it yet! I can help you! We can work together, Jayne! We’re the only two that know about them, so it makes perfect sense! And you know I’m good! I helped you before!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“You know Julia always thought you were an arrogant little git. She was right! You’re far too confident for your own good! You’re not a spy, Matthew! And in case you forgot, you got shot on your first outing!”
MATTHEW
“Alright! So I’ll be better next time!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“Matthew!”
MATTHEW
(Determined)
“It makes sense, Jayne! If we don’t work together we’ll just be making it easier for them! You know I’m right!”
CUT TO SCENE 140: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image is dressed in a tennis outfit as she smacks more and more of the brightly lit worms.
JULIA’S VOICE
“Say yes, will you! He’s right anyway! But whatever you say, say it quick! If this gets any worse, I’ll be seeded at Wimbledon!”
JAYNE’S VOICE
(Worried)
“But he doesn’t know what he’s letting himself in for!”
JULIA’S VOICE
“He does now! Anyway, he’ll be better off where we can keep an eye on him! Tell him! Or I’ll pull the plug on you!”
CUT TO SCENE 141: INT. HOSPITAL WARD. DAY.
There is a pause before JAYNE replies.
JULIA’S VOICE
“Nuts! Oh, alright, then! It might be fun, anyway!”
MATTHEW is ecstatic.
MATTHEW
(Enthusiastically)
“When will I see you? What are we going to do first?”
JULIA’S VOICE
“I’ll surprise you. But the first thing you’re going to do is get well. And when you leave hospital, do exactly what you were planning to do. Remember, the police are after me as well as the Corporation, so stop smiling, or you’ll give the game away.”
MATTHEW is smiling.
MATTHEW
“I can’t wait to see you, Jayne. I want to tell you that I love you face to face. Not on the phone, or with my computer. I want you to hear my voice when I say it, and I want to hear you say it. I want to see you and hold you! And I want to—”
JULIA’S VOICE
“Alright! Alright! I get the picture! We can think about all that, and playing hide the sausage, once we meet! Now let’s stop this conversation before the lines go all mushy!”
MATTHEW
“What’s ‘hide the sausage’? Oh....yes, I know....”
MATTHEW looks embarrassed again.
JAYNE chuckles softly on the phone.
JULIA’S VOICE
“Oh, Matthew! You really are a nerd!”
The connection is broken, and MATTHEW smiles as he puts the phone down.
CUT TO SCENE 142: VIRTUAL REALITY. INSIDE JAYNE’S MIND.
JULIA’S image looks relieved. She fans herself with her bat.
JULIA’S VOICE
“Thank God for that! That call cost a fortune.”
JAYNE’S VOICE
(Happily)
“I don’t care! It was worth it!”
JULIA’S VOICE
(Smiling brightly)
“Never mind, I logged it against Grant’s phone bill. I’m a clever little devil, aren’t I?”
THE NARRATIVE VERSION