001 - a brief interrogation

Note: I recommend listening to the album Actually Good by Lambert as you read.

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INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY

There are no windows in the small, grey, cold room. A small hum from the ceiling fan starts to irritate DION. She touches her jacket’s right pocket to find a box of cigarettes. She grabs a cigarette and puts it in her mouth. She starts to search for a lighter when Agent VIKTOR walks into the room with a black folder and a tape recorder.

DION: You wouldn’t happen to have a lighter, would ya?

A.VIKTOR: You can’t smoke in here.

DION puts their cigarette back in the box in disappointment.

A.VIKTOR puts the tape recorder and folder on the metal table and sits down. They press record.

DION: Look, officer. Whatever this is, I can prove I am innocent.

A.VIKTOR simply looks at DION and opens the black folder.

DION: Except if it is about jaywalking the 19th, then I am guilty as charged.

DION laughs nervously.

A.VIKTOR, unimpressed, takes out a few photographs from the folder and lays it out on the table, facing DION.

A.VIKTOR: Do you know what these are?

DION: Pictures.

A.VIKTOR fixes themselves up on their chair in frustration.

A.VIKTOR: Let’s start over.

DION smiles.

A.VIKTOR: My name is Agent Viktor. Will you state your name for the recording?

DION: Dionysus, but everyone calls me Dion.

A.VIKTOR: Like the Greek god?

DION: Hey I don’t question your name, don’t question mine.

A.VIKTOR: Dionysus. Do y-

DION: Dion. Call me Dion.

A.VIKTOR puts a hand on their forehead and sighs.

A.VIKTOR: Dion. Do you know why you are here today?

DION: I’m assuming it is not for the janitor position I applied to months ago.

A.VIKTOR: These photographs. You are on all of them.

DION leans forward to look at the pictures.

DION: Oh yeah. I look good in them. (pause) Maybe not that one. Bobs did not do good to my face struc-

A.VIKTOR: Will you please sh-

A.VIKTOR stops himself to recompose. They get up from the chair and start to pace around.

A.VIKTOR: You see, Dion. The problem I am having here is figuring out how you ended up in pictures from as early as 1800’s.

DION: I don’t know. Probably a bored kid with a photoshop machine.

A.VIKTOR stops pacing. They approach the table and grab a photo.

A.VIKTOR: This is you? Correct.

DION nods.

A.VIKTOR: Next to President Kennedy!

A.VIKTOR waits for a reaction from DION. None is found. They put the picture down and pull up another.

A.VIKTOR: Oh. Here. This picture is from the 1920’s. You, right here.

A.VIKTOR points to a female figure in a tailored suit.

A.VIKTOR: And this.

A.VIKTOR points to a man holding an odd object.

A.VIKTOR: That is Ripley. As in thee Robert Ripley.

DION: So? Like I said, it is photo-

A.VIKTOR: It is not photoshop! These were found across different libraries inside different books.

A.VIKTOR starts to pick on the other photographs that sit across the table.

A.VIKTOR: Here is one with you and Merlin Monroe. You and Einstein. You and Churchill. You and Hitler. And these are just the ones we have found in New York so far. And all of them were found inside books. As if you were trying to send a message.

DION: Look, uhhh Agent. I don’t know what you want from me.

A.VIKTOR: Tell me the truth!

DION: What do you want me to tell you?

A.VIKTOR gets more and more heated. His face turning red.

A.VIKTOR: That you are a time traveler. An immortal! Perhaps indeed a god!

DION (composed): And then what? You will arrest me for taking a picture with Hitler? I think you are a bit late for that.

A.VIKTOR: Answer m-

Director THOMPSON walks into the room.

D.THOMPSON: What is this?

A.VIKTOR turns around.

DION: Oh, I was just telling Agent here that I am a time traveler.

D.THOMPSON looks at DION, who is lively, then at A.VIKTOR who is still breathing heavily. He walks toward the table and sees various different photographs. He turns around to the officers that stand by the door.

D.THOMPSON: Help this young lady out of the building.

A.VIKTOR: But sir.

D.THOMPSON: We have already gone over this Agent Viktor. These are likely just the doings of a bored teenager with a photoshop machine.

A.VIKTOR: I al-

D.THOMPSON: Should I suspend you, Agent?

A.VIKTOR leaves the room. The other officers guide DION towards the building entrance.

EXT. OUTSIDE CIA BUILDING - DAY

DION lights up a cigarette. A car parks right in front of her. Three women about the same age are in the car, they are all dressed in party outfits.

LUCY: Will you get in the car, before you freeze to death?

DION walks towards the back seat. BAP opens the door from the inside.

BAP: Can I bum one?

DION takes out the pack of cigarettes from her jacket and offers one to BAP. She climbs inside the back seat and closes the door behind them.

LUCY: Hey! No smoking in the car.

DION opens the window and throws out her cigarette. MORY turns around from the passenger seat.

MORY: So… did they catch you? How was it? Tell me everything!

DION: Like weaving a rich man through a needle.

LUCY: I still don’t get that one.

BAP: It is sarcasm, Lucy.

DION: It was easier than G.K’s takeover.

MORY turns to face the front of the car.

MORY: We have news.

DION: What?

LUCY turns around.

LUCY: They found her, D.

DION looks at Lucy then BAP.

BAP: France.