Lonely No More: Episode 5: “The Gathering”

With Nikesh and Nina’s wedding drawing closer, tension and uncertainty ripple through every corner of their lives. Lucette’s cryptic return sparks more questions than answers, while unsettling structures continue to appear across the countryside. At Heathrow, Nikesh faces a mysterious transformation in his father, Syed, whose miraculous recovery defies all medical logic.

As the rehearsal dinner begins, unexpected guests—including the enigmatic Zane Benedetto—bring the shadow of the Lonely No More campaign into sharp focus. Meanwhile, Nina and Haroun’s encounter with a strange installation on the motorway escalates into a dangerous confrontation. When eerie behaviour disrupts the wedding preparations, the couple is left questioning if their world can ever return to normal—or if Lonely No More has already changed it forever.

Transcript

LONELY NO MORE

by SEBASTIAN BACZKIEWICZ

EPISODE 5

SCENE 1              INT. NINA’S FLAT

SFX                      LUCETTE IS ARRANGING FLOWERS IN A VASE

1. NINA                 And you like it here?

2. LUCETTE          Sorry?

3. NINA                 Living in our apartment?

4. LUCETTE          I’ve never been happier, Nina. And what about these flowers? Aren’t they something?

5. NINA                 I love love love those flowers so much.

6. LUCETTE          Far as I’m concerned they really pull the room together. Tokyo style.

7. NINA                 Shame I never thought of doing that all the years Nikesh and I lived here.

8. LUCETTE          Really?

9. NINA                 Hundred per cent, Lucette.

10. LUCETTE        Those poor astronauts. What made them do it do you suppose?

11. NINA               What makes anyone do anything?

12. LUCETTE        Even so, Nina. Opening an airlock and stepping out naked into space.

13. NINA               Unthinkable.

                            NINA SHUDDERS

                            But hey, here we are safe and happy and a long way from all that nastiness. Sushi?

14. LUCETTE        Reunited at last. No thanks.

15. NINA               I’ll drink to that. Cheers.

16. LUCETTE        Cheers. Feels like I’ve been searching for a home like this for years and years. And now at last.

17. NINA               Happiness.

18. LUCETTE        Like I’ve never known.

19. NINA               And Liv?

20. LUCETTE        What about her?

21. NINA               She must be glad you’re home too. Relieved.

22. LUCETTE        Matter of fact we’ve not had much of anything to do with one another. Plus she doesn’t like flowers.

23. NINA               I’m not sure that that’s true.

24. LUCETTE        Says they attract bees and wasps and butterflies.

25. NINA               They do.

26. LUCETTE        Well, you don’t want to get stung by a bee.

27. NINA               It’s the sting of last resort.

28. LUCETTE        Of that, Nina there can be no doubt.

TINY BEAT

29. NINA               A few of us were wondering about what happened.

30. LUCETTE        Huh?

31. NINA               To you. Disappearing like that.

32. LUCETTE        I’m not sure I did disappear. Not disappear disappear. But I had a lot of questions needed answering in my life. Big questions of truth and meaning and significance.

33. NINA               OK.

34. LUCETTE        Like if we actually had any. Or was this human existence of ours just some kind of an enormous chromosomic jest with us as the not so very funny punch line?

35. NINA               Those are very very big questions.

36. LUCETTE        And everyone’s got a theory? Everyone’s got their own personal theory as to what those questions might mean or how to answer them. And, far as I’m concerned, that’s the problem right there. We’ve all got our own theories but nobody’s any closer to anything definitive. Would you pass me that vase please?

37. NINA               Sure.

38. LUCETTE        Thank you.

39. NINA               I don’t have a theory.

40. LUCETTE        Because your mum shot your dad?

41. NINA               Excuse me?

42. LUCETTE        That is what happened? I’m not mistaken.

43. NINA               That was an awful awful accident.

44. LUCETTE        A joke with no punchline.

45. NINA               It was war. There’s nothing funny about war.

46. LUCETTE        There’s nothing funny about a vase full of flowers but try telling that to the secateurs. I’ll take this exit right here if I may?.

SFX                      LUCETTE CROSSES TO A CONTROL CHANNEL AND TYPES IN SOME CODE

47. NINA               But isn’t that the airlock?

48. LUCETTE        Initiate opening sequence.

SFX                      DOOR LOCKS DISCHARGING

49. NINA               Are you absolutely sure you live here now because, because I thought this was my apartment?

SFX                      LUCETTE PUNCHES OUT A CODE – THE AMBIENCE BECOMES VERY COLD AND SPACE STATION -Y

50. NINA               Well, you don’t want to open that, do you?

51. LUCETTE        Don’t I? Why?

52. NINA               Because you’ll let the universe in.

53. LUCETTE        Congrats again on your big secret.

54. NINA               You mean the baby?

55. LUCETTE        The baby. I mean the end of the world as we know it.

56. NINA               No, no Doctor Urqhart’s found a way to stabilise the rogue chromosome.

57. LUCETTE        K30

58. NINA               Bingo. The remedy’s going global, Lucette. We’re out of danger. You’re out of danger.

SFX                      LUCETTE STARTS TO MAKE THE CLICKING THROAT SOUND AS THE AIRLOCK OPENS WITH A VIOLENT RUSH OF AIR

                            No, Lucette. No. No. Don’t do it.

SFX                      NINA SCREAMS FOR LIFE AS SHE DESPERATELY ATTEMPTS TO CLING TO THE DOORWAY AS THE CONTENTS OF THE APARTMENT ARE SUCKED OUT INTO SPACE

59. LUCETTE/CLIFTON Wake up wake up you sleepy head

SFX                      THE AIR IS SUCKED OUT WITH EXTREME VIOLENCE. NINA WAKES UP WITH A GASP

SCENE 2              INT. A COFFEE BAR

                            CLIFTON HOVERS OVER NINA

60. NINA               Clifton?

61. CLIFTON         And very good to see you too Doctor Nina Markovic.

62. NINA               I must have, have. Where are we?

63. CLIFTON         The café. The café we arranged to meet in.

64. NINA               Right. Right. Sorry.

65. CLIFTON         May I?

66. NINA               Hm?

67. CLIFTON         Put the coffees down?

68. NINA               Of course. Apologies. Let me, let me clear a space.

69. CLIFTON         Grateful to you for showing up.

70. NINA               Wasn’t it me who asked you?

71. CLIFTON         And here I am. Large as life. And twice as horny.

72. NINA               You and I, Clifton have a few things to discuss.

73. CLIFTON         That sounds ominous. The flowers are nice aren’t they?

74. NINA               What?

75. CLIFTON         On the counter over there. Just seem to pull the whole cafe together don’t they?

76. NINA               Tell that to the secateurs.

77. CLIFTON         Huh?

SCENE 3              EXT. HEATHROW AIRPORT

SFX                      NIKESH IS WHEELING A TROLLEY WITH SYED’S LUGGAGE ON IT

78. NIKESH           And you’re not too tired?

79. SYED              Tired, Nikesh? Why would I be tired?

80. NIKESH           After your flight, baba?

81. SYED              The flight was absolutely superb. Champagne and canapes all the way.

82. NIKESH           Should you really be drinking champagne, baba?

83. SYED              What?

84. NIKESH           Well, your.

85. SYED              My heart for the very last time is all good, Nikesh. You picked up all the suitcases?

86. NIKESH           Safe in the trolley.

87. SYED              What your mother would have given to be here today, to see you about to be married. And you a radio star now giving that man a jolly good run for his money.

88. NIKESH           You mean Xavi Anderson?

89. SYED              Was that his name?

90. NIKESH           Crazy conspiracy theorists believe crazy conspiracies. His are just a little crazier than most.

91. SYED              Desperate people jumping into moving traffic like that. Impossible to comprehend. But most fortunate that you and Nina were there.

92. NIKESH           I barely did a thing. It was Nina mainly.  And not really.  Now, we need to get to terminal 3 – which is, ah, this way, I think.

93. SYED              I thought we were going to Brighton?

94. NIKESH           We are, we are.  Come on.

SFX                      NIKESH MOVES OFF WITH THE TROLLEY

95. SYED              Look at that now.  On the side of that suitcase.  Lonely No More.  Y’know it’s even daubed on the wall outside my house. Lonely No More. (IN MARATHI) Lonely No More[1].

96. NIKESH           And what do people over there in Mumbai make of it?

97. SYED              People are crazy for it the way they are everywhere. You know what I think? I think it’s an invitation.

98. NIKEHSH         To what?

99. SYED              To what indeed?

100. NIKESH         Well, as long as it’s not affecting us I don’t. Oh.

101. SYED            What’s up now?

102. NIKESH         Looking at us. Man over there.

103. SYED            What man over where?

104. NIKESH         He was standing by those suitcases.

105. SYED            Getting paranoid in your old age, Nikesh?

105. NIKESH         What? No. Why would you say that?

107. SYED            I’m not saying anything, son. It’s you that’s seeing phantoms.

SFX                      NIKESH SUDDENLY ENRAGED BUT CONTROLLING IT, STOPS PUSHING

108. NIKESH         I’m sorry, baba, I am, but, I don’t, I really don’t see how this, this miracle can possibly have happened.

109. SYED            Hm?

110. NIKESH         Your heart. Your heart not only miraculously improving but thriving.

111. SYED             You sound cross Nikesh.

112. NIKESH         I’m not cross I’m happy. Of course, I’m happy. Why wouldn’t I be happy but after everything, after everything we’ve been through with your failing health and keeping you comfortable over the last ten years.

113. SYED             Everyone was very diligent.

114. NIKESH         Yes they were. Diligent is exactly what we were, so I’m not going to lie and pretend I’m not just the tiniest bit confused because three months ago you were looking at six to eight months tops.

115. SYED             Is that a disappointment?

116. NIKESH         What?

117. SYED             A man could wonder.

118. NIKESH         About my joy to see you fit and well? Don’t be insane.

119. SYED             Then what’s with all this crazy you’re saying, Nikesh because something certainly seems to be vexing you?

120. NIKESH         I’m simply delighted to see you looking so, so…

121. SYED            In the pink.

122. NIKESH         In the pink. Precisely. So - let’s leave it at that.

123. SYED            Let’s leave it at that.

                            THEY MOVE ON

124. SYED            And where is number two son today? In his pet shop with the cats and hamsters I suppose.

125. NIKESH         Haroun’s picking up Nina when her shift ends and driving her down to Brighton.

126. SYED            A doctor in the family at last. Not that I’m going to need one.

127. NIKESH         Quite the ironic twist then.

                            THEY BOTH LAUGH

128. NIKESH         Listen baba, maybe you need to take a little rest before the drive.

129. SYED            For the last time, Nikesh. I’m absolutely raring to go. Now, let’s please get out of this airport.

130. NIKESH         We’ll be straight on our way just as soon as the Zagreb flight arrives.

131. SYED            Nina’s mother’s coming? You didn’t say she was coming.

132. NIKESH         It’s her daughter’s wedding, baba. Of course she’s coming.

133. SYED            You don’t think Cristina knows about the…

134. NIKESH         About the investigation you had done on her?

135. SYED            Nikesh.

136. NIKESH         Far as I know she has no idea.

SCENE 4              INT. THE CAFÉ

                            CLIFTON AND NINA ARE DRINKING COFFEE

137. CLIFTON       In Brighton?

138. NINA             In Brighton tomorrow.

139. CLIFTON       The wedding of the year.

140. NINA             Just our wedding.

141. CLIFTON       You and Nicholas.

142. NINA             Nikesh

143. CLIFTON       Sincere and hearty congratulations.

144. NINA             Thank you Clifton.

145. CLIFTON       You are very welcome.

146. NINA             So - work? How’s work for you?

147. CLIFTON       I’ve left St. Edwards.

148. NINA             You’ve left the hospital?

149. CLIFTON       After witnessing miracles this doctor felt a little superfluous.

150. NINA             Your patients started recovering too?

151. CLIFTON       Not just recovering. No longer requiring medical treatment of any kind.

152. NINA             Yes! Yes. And your opinion on that is what, Dr Hayes?  I’m interested.

153. CLIFTON       This is an age of miracles and wonders.

154. NINA             Is that from a song? I think that’s from a song.

155. CLIFTON       Who cares where it’s from if it’s occurring.

156. NINA             Only it’s not occurring. Not to all my patients. Some show no signs of recovery whatsoever.

157. CLIFTON       There’s them that’s lucky and there’s them that ain’t.

158. NINA             That’s not a very scientific analysis Doctor Hayes.

159. CLIFTON       And here was me thinking I was summoned here to talk about us.

160. NINA             Well, I suppose the most astonishing phenomenon in modern medical history romps in a very poor second after “us”.

161. CLIFTON       There’s no call for testiness, Nina. Although I’m grateful you used the us word.

162. NINA             Yes, but why do you think this is happening now Clifton.

163. CLIFTON       You know why, Nina? L. N. M.

164. NINA             Excuse me?

165. CLIFTON       Don’t try and tell me you don’t feel it down there in the depths of you.

166. NINA             Feel what exactly.

167. CLIFTON       That we’re teetering on the edge of something. Those astronauts last week striding naked into the void. Lonely No More.

168. NINA             That doesn’t freak you out?

169. CLIFTON       It thrills me not freaks me.

170. NINA             And was that why you were sending me all those hundreds of texts?

171. CLIFTON       I don’t want you left behind.  Can’t believe you don’t feel it.

172. NINA             When you and I last communicated you were at least still thinking a little like a doctor.

173. CLIFTON       Until I realised the truth.

174. NINA             OK Clifton. That’s enough. I’ve no idea what medication you‘ve prescribed for yourself but all this unwelcome Lonely No More texting has to end, y’understand?

175. CLIFTON       Like you and I ended.

176. NINA             When you ended it – yes. Only a million times more ended than that.

177. CLIFTON       The good season has at last arrived. For you. For me. For Nicholas.

178. NINA             Nikesh.

179. CLIFTON       I’m not here to rake over the still smouldering coals of the past. I’m here to reap.

180. NINA             Reap?

181. CLIFTON       Yes, Nina. Reap. And I would like to reap the future of this beautiful planet with you.

182. NINA             Contact me again in any shape or form and I will report you to the police for stalking and harassment. Are we clear?

183. CLIFTON       That sounds a bit heavy.

184. NINA             I’m serious Doctor Hayes.

                            NINA GETS UP TO LEAVE

185. CLIFTON       But what about Lonely No More? The good news.

186. NINA             You’re completely ridiculous you know that?

187. CLIFTON       Nina. Nina? Where are you going?

188. NINA             Enjoy the end of the world. No need for a postcard.

SCENE 5              INT. THE AIRPORT

                            NIKESH AND CRISTINA HUG A LONG TIME

189. CRISTINA      Oh Nikesh, Nikesh how lovely.

190. NIKESH         So very good to see you, Cristina.

                            EVENTUALLY THEY BREAK

191. CRISTINA      And who’s this impressive man?

192. NIKESH         May I introduce you to my father. Syed.

193. CRISTINA      How lovely to meet you at last, Syed. I’ve heard so much about you over the years.

                            SYED SHOOTS A NERVOUS GLANCE AT NIKESH.

194. SYED            All good I hope, Mrs. Markovic.

195. CRISTINA      Cristina, please. And all very good. Why, aren’t we all family now?

                            CRISTINA GOES IN FOR A HUG

196. SYED            Oh, I say. Hello to you.

                            THE HUG BREAKS

197. CRISTINA      And look how handsome your son is. A prince.

198. SYED            Your Nina’s a Princess. We’ll get some pretty grandchildren out of these two.

199. NIKESH         Dad.

200. CRISTINA      Handsome like their grandfather.

201. SYED            Beautiful like their grandmother.

202. NIKESH         Well, if that’s the grandkids sorted maybe we should be making our way to the car.

SFX                      NIKESH PHONE GOES OFF AND HE TAKES THE CALL

203. NIKESH         Hey Liv. Everything OK? Yes, we’re just here at Heathrow. He’s what? You’re kidding?

204. SYED            (SINGS) I’m getting married in the morning

205. NIKESH         (TO SYED) Please, dad.

                            (TO LIV) He’s there in the hotel? But that’s. Is Freddy with him too? 

                            (TO SYED) I mean it, baba. 

                            (TO LIV) He’s really there in the hotel? Yeh, we’ll be there in an hour or so.

                            NIKESH TURNS OFF THE PHONE

206. NIKESH         (SHOCK) Fuck

207. SYED            Everything A-OK, Nikesh?

208. NIKESH         Ah yeh, yeh. It’s. I’m. Maybe we should be on our way.

SCENE 6              INT. CAR

                            HAROUN DRIVES AND NINA SITS NEXT TO HIM

209. HAROUN       You‘re saying I’m welcome?

210. NINA             You’re seriously asking me that?

211. HAROUN       I am, yeh. I’m seriously asking you that.

212. NINA             Then loud and clear you need to hear this. The wedding wouldn’t be the same without you.

213. HAROUN       And this is you and Nikesh speaking?

214. NINA             Absolutely.

215. HAROUN       Cos we had a bit of a thing of it at that Brentford roundabout the other day.

216. NINA             The riot, the rocks and the cops you mean? Yeh, you could say you had a bit of a thing of it.

217. HAROUN       You tell me who built that structure then?

218. NINA             No, you tell me, Haroun.         

219. HAROUN       He has us wrong you know? Nikesh.

220. NINA             Because he won’t subscribe to all your conspiracy doo-dah.

221. HAROUN       The world, Nina is on the brink of transformation.

222. NINA             Haroun.

223. HAROUN       And what’s more I think you know that. The secret facility at Hazel Hill.

224. NINA             The what?

225. HAROUN       You’re not going to tell me that the men who jumped off the motorway didn’t have their bodies taken there for the post mortem examinations.

226. NINA             I’ve absolutely no idea what you’re talking about?

227. HAROUN       Hazel Hill is what I’m talking about. Our very own Area 51 housing our very own aliens.

228. NINA             Now, you’re just being.

229. HAROUN       You meet him again?

230. NINA             Meet who again?

231. HAROUN       Urqhart. He was your tutor and mentor back in the day wasn’t he?

232. NINA             Drive the car, Haroun.

233. HAROUN       Well, wasn’t he?

234. NINA             Doctor Urqhart is not only an internationally renowned scientist and teacher - he’s also my friend – as you know. What he isn’t is some leading character in the, in the fantasy show you and your buddies are currently inventing for yourselves.

235. HAROUN       Can’t deny that some properly strange shit is going down everywhere.

236. NINA             I’m not denying it.

237. HAROUN       So - what did you speak to them about?

238. NINA             Who?

239. HAROUN       The security guys who turned up at the scene.

240. NINA             You really want to know?

241. HAROUN       I really want to know.

242. NINA             People not only dying in the most distressing and horrendous ways imaginable, but also threatening the lives of all the drivers below. Including me and your brother, should you be at all interested? That’s what we talked about.

243. HAROUN       So how do you explain it?

244. NINA             Terrorism, protest, extinction rebellion, we haven’t heard from any political groups, so we don’t know yet.

245. HAROUN       Right.

246. NINA             And how do you and your lot explain it? 

247. HAROUN       People changing?

248. NINA             Nobody changed.

249. HAROUN       Then what was with their eyes going violet and the weird clicking noises they made?

250. NINA             Those poor people jumped and then they died. You’ve seen the footage.

251. HAROUN       Oh, yeh I’ve seen the footage and some say they weren’t jumping at all. Some say they were trying to fly.

252. NINA.            Well there you have it.

253. HAROUN       Those men and women up there on the International Space Station. Last thing anyone hears from them. Lonely No More.

254. NINA             And you take that to mean what?

255. HAROUN       I take that to mean transfiguration. Assimilation. 

256. NINA             Right.

257. HAROUN       “Right”.

258. NINA             I’m not your enemy, Haroun. And neither is Nikesh. And you know what would be great? You finally making some peace with that. Now, maybe we could please drop the subject and try focusing on the happy day ahead.

SCENE 7              INT. THE HOTEL DINING ROOM

SFX                      TABLE AND CHAIRS ARE BEING PUT OUT

259. LIV                I swear to God I had no idea he was coming.

260. NIKESH         Zane Benedetto just pitched up at the Belvedere Hotel unannounced?

261. LIV                Maybe it’s just a coincidence.

262. NIKESH         No, it’s not a coincidence. Nothing connected to Tucker Lane King is ever a coincidence. Is he on his own? Benedetto?

263. LIV                Seems to be, so maybe we can just ignore him.

264. NIKESH         Ignore him, Liv? Of course we can’t ignore him. Is Freddy dropping by unannounced too?

265. LIV                No, but he’s been on the phone all morning. Maybe it’s best if we talk to Zane. See what he wants.

266. NIKESH         He wants to intimidate us into working on the LNM campaign. I mean look around you, Liv. This room’s getting set up for my wedding tomorrow. Last thing I need to be worrying about is Zane fucking Benedetto.

267. LIV                Would you like me to talk to him?

268. NIKESH         You haven’t heard anything from Nina have you?

269. LIV                Only that she’s on her way.

270. NIKESH         With Haroun I hope?

271. LIV                With Haroun who you want me to keep an eye on, right?

272. NIKESH         Right.  He’s very very high on this Lonely No More thing. Totally tight with the fruitball Xavi Lonely No More Anderson.

273. LIV                Maybe we ought to sit Haroun next to Zane.

274. NIKESH         You’re joking right?

275. LIV                Yes I am.

SCENE 8              INT. THE CAR

276. NINA             If I had an answer for you Haroun then believe you me I’d be the first to share it.

277. HAROUN       But you do agree it’s unusual. You do agree it’s out of the ordinary.

278. NINA             I know what you want me to do. Make two plus two make seven. Well, I’m not going to do it.

279. HAROUN       Because my dad flouting every rule of medical science is just a run of the mill thing, right?

280. NINA             It’s way too early for anyone to make anything of it. There’s just not enough data been gathered.

281. HAROUN       At Hazel Hill?

282. NINA             Give me strength. Right now I’m just looking forward to seeing the healthy Syed.

283. HAROUN       That I could say the same.

284. NINA             Syed’s very proud of you.

285. HAROUN       No he’s not.

286. NINA             Haroun. He is

287. HAROUN       Really not interested in getting into it. Who have you got me sitting with at the rehearsal dinner?

288. NINA             Our friend Olivia.

289. HAROUN       She’s to be my minder then?

290. NINA             Absolutely not.

291. HAROUN       Absolutely yes.

292. NINA             Truth be told you’d be doing us both a huge favour if you kept an eye on her for us.

293. HAROUN       Because?

294. NINA             Because she’s having a tough time of it just now. Remember there’s a turn off onto the M25 coming up.

295. HAROUN       I know, I know. Tough in what way?

296. NINA             Just tough.

297. HAROUN       Just tough?

298. NINA             Her partner Lucette disappeared a couple of weeks ago.

299. HAROUN       Disappeared disappeared? Like an astronaut walking naked out of a spaceship disappears?

300. NINA             We’d just like you to keep an eye on her.

301. HAROUN       Hell is going on up there?

302. NINA             Huh?

303. HAROUN       Structures up on that bank?

304. NINA             (QUIETLY) K30

305. HAROUN       Huh?

306. NINA             Did you and your mates set this up?

307. HAROUN       Swear to God I had no idea about this at all. None. But you ever seen anything like it ever?

SFX                      HAROUN PULLS OVER

308. NINA             No, Haroun. No way. I’ve got to get to Brighton

309. HAROUN       Five minutes. Just five minutes

SCENE 9              EXT. THE BELVEDERE HOTEL. BRIGHTON

SFX                      ZANE SITS WITH A BEER OVERLOOKING THE SEA

310. NIKESH         (APPR) Mr. Benedetto.

311. BENEDETTO  Nikesh as ever a pleasure.

312. NIKESH         You too. Had no idea you were staying at the Belvedere.

313. BENEDETTO Hear you’re here to get wed.

314. NIKESH         Tomorrow.

315. BENEDETTO Sincere congratulations.

316. NIKESH         Thank you.

317. BENEDETTO Tucker sends his too along with a few cases of champagne.

318. NIKESH         That’s quite unnecessary but much appreciated.

319. BENEDETTO And he wondered if you’d had any further thoughts.

320. NIKESH         On the campaign?

321. BENEDETTO I’ve got a head full of ideas.

322. NIKESH         Soon as we’re back in London, I intend to get right down to it.

323. BENEDETTO Unless you and GGC decide to pull out of the deal?

324. NIKESH         Beg pardon?

325. BENEDETTO You’re not intending to do that are you?

326. NIKESH         GGC has made its commitment to Mr. King very clear.

327. BENEDETTO But as the lead creative on the campaign, you have your reservations?

328. NIKESH         And I voiced them in Tokyo.

329. BENEDETTO Yes you did.

330. NIKESH         But that’s not to say that we can’t recalibrate the campaign to meet any or all of Mr. King’s desires.

331. BENEDETTO Still seems like there’s an awful lot of people sympathetic to your somewhat sceptical point of view.

332. NIKESH         With all due respect Mr. Benedetto, I’m on leave right now.

333. BENEDETTO And Tucker and I respect and understand that. We do. But the LNM movie can’t be put on hold.

334. NIKESH         It’s a movie now? A movie movie?

335. BENEDETTO And have no fear you and your crew at Grainger Grant and Colby’ll get a full credit.

336. NIKESH         Then you’re not just rebranding?

337. BENEDETTO Jazz is the teacher funk is the preacher.

338. NIKESH         I have absolutely no idea what that could possibly mean.

SCENE 10             EXT. THE MOTORWAY BANK

SFX                      HAROUN AND NINA ARE CIRCLING THE STRUCTURES. IT’S VERY STILL AND UNSETTLINGLY QUIET

339. HAROUN       But you’ve not seen one of these structures up close?

340. NINA             Only in photos. How’s it compare with the one in Brentford?

341. HAROUN       Least double the size.

342. NINA             And the material?

343. HAROUN       Mud and old rags. The same.

344. NINA             Must have taken an age to construct.

345. HAROUN       And look. All along the Downs. One after another.

346. NINA             Eerie isn’t it?

347. HAROUN       What I’d like to know is who built it?

348. NINA             And why.

349. HAROUN       You said a number back in the car. K something.

350. NINA             It’s a chromosome.

351. HAROUN       (INSPIRED) It’s a chromosome?

SFX                      SUDDENLY A SHOT GUN AT DISTANCE

352. NINA             Fuck was that?

353. HAROUN       You think someone’s shooting at us.

354. NINA             Hell if I want to stick around and find out.

SFX                      ANOTHER SHOT

355. HAROUN       Run! Run!

SFX                      THEY DO SO AT SPEED.

SCENE 11             EXT. THE BELVEDERE

SFX                      ZANE LOOKS OUT OVER THE SEA

356. BENEDETTO You’d never think to look at it would you?

357. NIKESH         The sea, you mean?

358. BENEDETTO So still and blue and beautiful. Touches one does it not? Affects.

TINY BEAT

359. NIKESH         You all right, Zane?

360. BENEDETTO I’m good. Appreciate the concern.

361. NIKESH         My colleague Olivia’s here. Maybe you ought to be talking to her.

362. BENEDETTO She of the lovely teeth?

363. NIKESH         Er, yeh.

364. BENEDETTO My mom.

365. NIKESH         Sorry?

366. BENEDETTO Disappeared straight out of her house last Tuesday.

367. NIKESH         Oh.

368. BENEDETTO Whatever this is, Nikesh - is happening and happening now.

369. NIKESH         She may yet reappear. Your mum.

370. BENEDETTO She may yet be Lonely No More.

371. NIKESH         Or she may not be.

372. BENEDETTO Maybe ask Olivia. Isn’t it her partner who’s recently evaporated into thin air?

373. NIKESH         Lucette is just taking some personal time.

374. BENEDETTO And hand on heart you believe that?

375. NIKESH         How do you know all this stuff anyway?

376. BENEDETTO What does it matter?  Love to know a little more about where they took her. Your bride.

377. NIKESH         This is now officially a nightmare.

378. BENEDETTO And how about all these strange and curious structures popping up all over the place. Just like the Doggerland originals we talked about in Tokyo, remember?

379. NIKESH         Them I’ve actually had some experience of.

380. BENEDETTO Of the structures?

381. NIKESH         They’re pretty hard to miss.

382. BENEDETTO Hotel manager says there’s a load just appeared all across the countryside here.

383. NIKESH         Sure there’s some kind of a rational explanation.

384. BENEDETTO Well, maybe rationalism is your achilles heel, Nikesh?

385. NIKESH         What are we without our reason, Zane?

386. BENEDETTO What are we with it?

387. NIKESH         Human?

388. SAM              (APPR) Niko! You dog!

389. NIKESH         Hey Sam.

390. BENEDETTO Who’s this now?

SFX                      SAM APPROACHES WHEELING A SUITCASE 

391. SAM              Oh my God I don’t believe it. Is that who I think it is?

392. BENEDETTO Don’t get any ideas, son. I’m not here for the nuptials.

393. NIKESH         Mr. Benedetto. This is Sam Butler.

394. BENEDETTO Sam.

395. SAM              An honour Mr. Benedetto.

396. BENEDETTO Zane please.

397. SAM              Why we were just talking about your films the other day in my newsroom.

398. BENEDETTO You’re a journalist?

399. NIKESH         Sam hosts a daily phone in show.

400. BENEDETTO So you’re a journalist, Sam?

401. SAM              For my sins.

402. BENEDETTO And what are your thoughts on the Lonely No More phenomenon.

403. NIKESH         Oh.

404. BENEDETTO Something you want to say, Nikesh?

405. SAM              Phenomenon is right, ah, Zane. I’d love to interview you or better still have you come onto the show and talk about it.

406. BENEDETTO Well, let’s see if we can’t just make that happen, dog. Might even create a bit of a buzz for the movie.

407. SAM              The movie?

408. NIKESH         Still very early days.

409. SAM              But you’re thinking of making a film?

410. BENEDETTO We’re doing a little more than thinking about it. Right, Nikesh?

411. NIKESH         Ah, right.

412. BENEDETTO The world needs to know and understand all about this LNM.

413. SAM              Then you’re a true believer?

414. BENEDETTO I’m not a total sceptic like your buddy here.

415. NIKESH         Zane –

416. BENEDETTO … to be honest, I’m going to take a lot of convincing that the LNM thing is not the single most pressing global issue in the world today.

417. SAM              When you say issue?

418. BENEDETTO I mean apocalypse. Ain’t that right Nikesh?

419. NIKESH         Maybe not apocalypse.

420. SAM              You don’t think so. Niko?

421. NIKESH         I think I quit.

422. BENEDETTO Excuse me?

423. NIKESH         As of this second I’m resigning from this project cos this is way more than I or anyone else thought it was going to be and I’m not going to be the one responsible for peddling “now that’s what I call the ultimate apocalypse volume one” onto an unsuspecting world.

424. BENEDETTO Now, that’s what I call the ultimate apocalypse volume one. Well, I like it, Niko. I like it very much.

425. NIKESH         And I have a rehearsal dinner to attend, dog.

SCENE 12             INT. THE BALLROOM OF THE BELVEDERE

SFX                      EVERYONE IS GATHERED FOR THE REHEARSAL DINNER. SYED TAPS HIS GLASS AS HIS SPEECH PROGRESSES, WE MIX AWAY 

426. SYED            If I might trouble everyone’s conversation for just one minute. My name’s Syed Bhakta – Nikesh’s father and soon to be proud father-in-law of my son’s beautiful bride to be Doctor Nina Markovic – and it gives me great pleasure to welcome everyone to this rehearsal dinner this evening. For so long my life has been defined by illness and frankly I despaired of ever being in a position to make the trip to England and attend my son’s wedding. What occurred two short weeks ago is providence, and my good fortune. Dumbfounding family and medical profession alike. Right now I’m supposed to be undergoing exploratory tests in a Mumbai hospital. But you know what I said? I said no. Wild horses would not stop me boarding that plane. Jamila, mother to my two sons, Nikesh and Haroun, used to say that our family was not only lucky but blessed. For years I was aware only of the good luck – we had our health and enjoyed prosperity – now I know that we are blessed too. Blessed to be together. Blessed to be able to share this meal together. Blessed to be able to welcome all of Nikesh and Nina’s guests to their wedding tomorrow.

427. NINA             I’m telling you it’s true, Niko. Two of our waiters walked straight out of the dining room and then out into the moving traffic. Hotel manager just told me.

428. NIKESH         When was this?

429. NINA             Just now.

430. NIKESH         Were they hurt?

431. NINA             No idea.

432. NIKESH         When you say you were shot at?

433. NINA             More there was someone shooting.

434. NIKESH         Because you and Haroun were standing at the structure?

435. NINA             I don’t know. Maybe.

436. NIKESH         So maybe whoever it was wasn’t shooting at you?

437. NINA             I don’t know Nikesh. What I do know is it’s not too late to reconsider…

438. NIKESH         No, Nina, no. No you are not to say that.

439. NINA             Maybe everything is a little too uncertain.

440. NIKESH         We’re not uncertain.

441. NINA             I mean in the world.

442. NIKESH         Well, I guess I did resign from GGC this afternoon.

443. NINA             You did what?

SFX                      SOME SHOTS OUTSIDE THE HOTEL. CARS STOPPING. HORNS BEEPING.

444. NINA             It’s the waiters.  I know it’s the waiters.

445. NIKESH         Hey everyone. Sure there’s no need for any panic. Maybe we should let the outside be the outside and stay right where we are. Thanks dad. Thanks for that lovely speech. Syed.

446. ALL                Syed.

SFX                      THE GUEST STAND UP AND HEAD TO THE DOORS

[1] Ātā ēkaṭē nāhī