INT - ADELAIDE ELECTRIC POWER CO. EXECUTIVE OFFICE - EARLY MORNING
The CEO (Bruce Brewster, 54, overweight, well-dressed, smarmy) is in the midst of a heated meeting with AMELIA WATTS (27, attractive, customer service representative and social media influencer).
AMELIA
"All I'm telling you is it happened again last night. We have to do something. Make an announcement."
CEO
"The last thing we want to do is cause a panic!"
AMELIA
"Then call in the military! This can't keep happening and we can't keep it under wraps!"
CEO
"The authorities have been looking for an excuse to shut us down for good. Telling them there are ion-powered alien spaceships scanning across the state causing rolling blackouts would give them just the excuse they need. So, keeping it under wraps is exactly what we're going to do."
AMELIA
"What will I tell the customers who message me on Facebook looking for explanations?"
CEO
"Tell them a wallaby crawled into our flux capacitor."
AMELIA
"There's no such thing!"
CEO
"Really? I thought there was. Okay, then, tell them a bat flew into our flux capacitor."
AMELIA
(sighs) "They're not going to believe me."
CEO
"They better, if you want to still have a job."
SFX: CELL PHONE "WALTZING MATILDA" RINGTONE
AMELIA
(pulls out and silences phone) "There's another one!"
(looks pensively at message on phone while CEO turns toward )
(softly to herself) "Security camera on backup power?"
CEO
"So can I count on you, attractive 27 year old customer service representative Amelia Watts?"
AMELIA
(still looking at phone) "Uh, of course." (hurries out of office)
CUT TO:
INT - HOME OFFICE DESK - EARLY MORNING
CLOSE ON a laptop computer on a table. HANDS type on the keyboard bringing up an EMAIL REPLY which is a video recording of AMELIA speaking, her face close to the recording camera, in a low urgent voice.
AMELIA
(on screen) "I'm sending you this e-mail because I can't reply on Facebook. It's censored. My name is Amelia Watts and I'm with Adelaide Electric Power Company. I'm 27 years old and attractive. I got your message, and I need that recording you made. Don't tell anyone else about it. You're on to something, but this is bigger than both of us. Your life is in danger. We're not so different, you and I. Follow the money. The day may come when the strength of men fails, but it is not this day. Turn in your gun and your badge. I have something extremely important to tell you, but not now. I'll meet you tonight, ten PM, in Ambush Alley. Come alone. Bring the cash. Rosebud."