Fear Inc. (chapter 3)
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Sasha walks slowly so as not to spill his soup on Arthur's salad. He reaches Arthur's small room, gives him a dish, and sits outside on the floor with a bowl of soup.
Arthur does not pay attention to Sasha, but he is glad that the food now comes to him by itself and there is no need to be distracted by such trifles.
SASHA
Why didn't she pick up the phone? Suddenly something happened to me. Does she even care?
Arthur doesn't answer. He eats without being distracted from his work, and Sasha is his background noise.
Mark approaches them. He notices Sasha sitting on the floor, depressed. His cheeky grin immediately appears on his face.
MARK
I know you are at the bottom, but now it is visible.
SASHA
Don't you have to bring your boss coffee or lick his ass? I don't know your to-do list.
MARK
You know everything. There was already coffee. Now I'm going to lick ass, and in the evening visit your wife. I would like to say that we will meet there, but you still have three months to sit here. Sorry for you.
Mark walks past Sasha with a victorious smile.
SASHA
Aren't you tired of it?
Mark turns to Sasha.
MARK
Piss you off? No.
SASHA
I can complain about you.
MARK
You can, but you won't. That's not manly, is it? You're not a whiner. Yes, Arthur?
Arthur is so immersed that even Mark's presence doesn't excite him as much as it used to.
MARK (CONT'D)
This is a valuable employee. Everything for the company. Don't bother him. Do something useful.
Mark goes towards the archive.
Sasha gets up from the floor before finishing his lunch. He looks at Arthur with a "Is this my friend?" look, puts his plate on a tray on Arthur's table and leaves. Arthur continues to work.
Sasha wanders through the corridors. He walks slowly, looking at his feet. He walks in zigzags. He depicts walking on the windowsill with his fingers. In one of the corridors he meets Kirusha.
Kirusha looks mysteriously out the window at the October rainy sky, the yellowed leaves of the trees in the courtyard, and raindrops on the window.
Not expecting any conversation from the taciturn Kirusha, Sasha walks past him.
KIRUSHA
Why don't you just leave here?
Sasha is surprised. He does not turn to Kirusha, but walks with his back to him. Sasha stops next to him, too close, fearing that they might be overheard.
Kirusha is serious. He doesn't care about Sasha's eccentricities. He hates Sasha.
SASHA
What about the rumors?
KIRUSHA
There are just rumors.
SASHA
I don't want to be experimented on.
KIRUSHA
What kind of experiments? Ordinary statistics. Nothing criminal.
SASHA
What about confidentiality?
KIRUSHA
Are you bringing out something secret?
SASHA
No.
KIRUSHA
You want to prove Mark wrong, don't you?
SASHA
I do.
KIRUSHA
What's stopping you?
SASHA
We are being watched every step of the way. Can't you see the camera?
KIRUSHA
I'm alone in the server room. There aren't many staff to check every camera. I don't think they work at all.
SASHA
But what about the guards? You heard that asshole: "try to escape and be shotting".
KIRUSHA
This is an ordinary office with paperwork. There are no snipers.There's no one here.
SASHA
So just leave? Through the main entrance?
KIRUSHA
Well yeah. We went through it.
SASHA
What about the guard at the entrance? How am I going to get past him?
KIRUSHA
He goes to the toilet, to the cafeteria, sleep. Jumped over the turnstile and you are free. And you don't have to come back. You're not doing anything anyway.
SASHA
True. And when to run?
KIRUSHA
Youmake it sound like that's what I want.Leave whenever you want.
SASHA
Oh, right. Then today.
Sasha perks up. He's looking at the cameras, waving at them. He jumps up. Finally, there is some decent distance between him and Kirusha, which does not create awkward feelings for Kirusha.
SASHA (CONT'D)
You turn out to be a cool guy. Why didn't we become friends before?
KIRUSHA
You said I would never have an affair with girls.
SASHA
Yes, I'm sorry, I forgot already.
KIRUSHA
But I remembered.
SASHA
Don't be angry. We'll cross paths. Behind the fence. Agreed?
KIRUSHA
Can't wait.
SASHA
See you.
Sasha leaves happy from the long-awaited return home.
Kirusha watches after him, he is glad to push Sasha to what is about to happen.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CAFETERIA - EVENING
Only Sveta and Kirusha are present at the dinner. For the first time at dinner, the lights are on. Someone must have plucked up the courage to complain. But it was better without the light. The tiles on the walls and floor are all white. The white lamp light is blinding. The cafeteria turned into a laboratory where everything must be sterile.
Kirusha is sitting next to Sveta, but he is not looking at her. He is looking at the door, expecting Sasha to enter it.
A Guard enters the cafeteria. He picks most of the desserts from the showcase and leaves.
Kirusha does not turn away from the entrance. Sasha can still come.
A confused Arthur comes in with a tray. He closes his eyes with one hand, not expecting bright lighting after dark corridors.
Arthur takes the tray to the kitchen. He goes to the showcases. Kirusha is watching him. Arthur turns around to the table where the interns should be sitting. He is looking for Sasha, who is not there. Kirusha turns to the table so as not to look suspicious.
Arthur picks up a new tray of food and leaves.
Kirusha exhales with relief. The plan worked. Everything should be fine now.
Sveta sits tense. She gets scared when Kirusha suddenly relaxes, exhales noisily and strokes her knee. Sveta doesn't move, she continues to eat. She hopes Kirusha will leave off, but for him it's like an invitation to continue. He doesn't get any further than a knee this evening.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. DASHA'S ROOM - EVENING
Dasha continues her research in the room. Her desk is littered with books, folders with documents from the sitting room, and torn pages from a notebook with attempts to change the universal flowchart.
Like Arthur, Dasha has dirty plates and glasses on the table. But her reasons for not having lunch with others are not the same.
Now Dasha is more focused on researching the effect of a flashlight on her body. The pillow is on the floor, and the blanket will soon be there.
Dasha has been experimenting for a long time. Her home T-shirt is soaked with sweat. Her hair sticks to face. Dasha hurriedly removes them with her free hand to hold onto the hard back of the bed due to muscle spasms, and with the other she tries not to let go of the flashlight in order to have control over the situation.
Dasha is trying to control her legs, which act on their own. She squeezes them hard, but it doesn't always help. The spasm can be so strong and unexpected that the foot can hit the wall. It needs to be quieter, it's not just about hitting the wall. No one should know about what's going on.
Finally, there is a strong spasm in the body that causes it to clutch. It's hard to breathe, as if an invisible hand is pressing the neck. Trembling in the body. I don't think those seventeen people who were killed felt the same way. But I don't give a damn about them, about the one who killed them, at all. It's too good now to worry about the past.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. THE HEAD'S OFFICE - DAY
Alexander Andreevich brings Dasha to his office for the first time. He lets her go ahead.
Dasha is delighted. She looks around the office, spinning in one place. She inspects the bookshelves with childish delight, touches the furniture. She is surprised when sees an antique candlestick with candles on it.
The office doesn't seem unusual to her. There is no computer, no TV, no screen or electrical appliance in it. She doesn't care about that. Even the suspiciously benevolent Alexander Andreevich no longer looks threatening.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Do you like it? Sit wherever you want.
Dasha looks around the office in search of where it would be convenient for her to sit. She chooses a seat in an expensive armchair near the window. She probably liked that it was the only uncurtained window with a lot of light coming from it. It becomes very scarce by the beginning of November.
DASHA
I thought there are no lights only in the corridors.
Alexander Andreevich sits down at his workplace to be at a safe distance from Dasha, but at the same time to see her every action and reaction.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
I'm a man of the old era who never got used to technology.
DASHA
You have a machine to calculate people's behavior on the first floor. Are you a man of the old era?
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Caught it. I don't like the noise, that throbbing sound. It makes me uneasy.
DASHA
He's invisible to me. After all, I grew up in this noise.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
A modern child, what can I say? I wanted to ask, when was the last time you saw Sasha?
DASHA
About a week ago. Sveta and Sasha quarreled and chose to avoid each other.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
And how did you react?
DASHA(with regret)
I supported him. Yes, I behaved as Sveta taught - not to judge and support others.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Two days ago, he killed his wife, her lover, and himself. The neighbors called the police. Mark is dealing with this.
DASHA
So he was right. Well done.
Dasha does not react to the news in any way. More precisely, there are no expected reactions. She usually acts like she's buying lunch at the cafeteria.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Haven't you ever had a relationship?
DASHA
What kind of relationship? He's married to a girl who's eight years older than me. I don't really need it that much.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
I wanted to make sure you're okay.
DASHA
I am okay.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Are you sure? You're acting weird. I'll understand if you found my stash of rum to deal with stress.
DASHA(pretending surprised)
Do you have a stash of rum?
(laughing)
Just kidding, I don't drink. I don't like that. I love sweets. Chocolate. I could kill for it. By the way, if that's all, can I skip to the cafeteria? Maybe they have chocolate buns. I've been waiting for them for two weeks now. It's like someone's eating them in advance.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Lunch is only in an hour…
Dasha quickly gets up from her seat and walks to exit. Alexander Andreevich does not have time to finish, and the door of his office has already slammed shut.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha quickly leaves the head's office. She looks annoyed and angry, but she doesn't notice it and ready to deny it.
Dasha turns the corner and crushes into Mark, who also did not expect to meet anyone in this part of the building. Mark is bigger and stayed on his feet after the collision. Dasha bounced off Mark like a ball and fell on her bottom.
Everything happened too fast. Mark looks down at her. No help to get up or words of encouragement.
MARK
Start watching where you're going.
He shouldn't have done that. Dasha comes to her senses, but not in the self-contained version he expects.
DASHA
Wow, that's manners. And why don't you have a date yet.
MARK
Probably the same reason as yours.
Dasha laughs loudly and sincerely. Even though she's sitting on her bottom on the floor, she thinks Mark is a fool.
DASHA
No, not the same.
Dasha gets up from the floor on her own. She passes by Mark and goes in her direction.
Mark turns to watch after her
MARK
I am watching you.
Dasha doesn't stop for a second. She doesn't even turn to Mark.
DASHA
You better watch where you're going.
Mark is shocked, he silently watches after Dasha, even when she has already left the corridor and turned the corner.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CAFETERIA - DAY
There's still an hour before lunch. Some dishes are already in showcases. But some of the boxes are still empty and waiting for their turn.
Dasha's attention is attracted by the desserts in the showcase. That is, not one showcase, as usual during lunch time, these are 4 storefronts standing on 2 levels.
This is the first time Dasha sees a chocolate cake that sells 1 piece per plate. Dasha immediately takes three for herself, she laughs at the situation with Mark or she is happy now. Dasha goes to the table, taking a bite of the cake from the plate without using the tableware.
Lena and Lenya were already sitting at the table. They sit together, Lena in her place, and Lenya in Igor's place. Opposite them sits the same couple - Sveta and Kirusha, but they look unhappy.
Dasha sits down at the head of the table. There are already 3 empty seats at the table, but everyone decided to sit closer to Dasha. But she doesn't care anymore.
Dasha notices that Kirusha has his hand on Sveta's knee. Dasha feels physically uncomfortable, as if her knees are being touched.
Sveta immediately turns to Dasha to tactfully shake Kirusha's hand off her knee. Kirusha is also tensing up. He looks at Dasha with the hope that she will forgive Sveta, and he can safely start a relationship with Sveta.
SVETA
You and Sasha haven't been seen for a week. Can you already be considered a couple?
Kirusha freezes, waiting for Dasha's answer.
DASHA
He killed himself.
SVETA
What?
Kirusha sees Sveta's fright. He looks at Lena and Lena, who are shocked by what they have heard. It needs to feign shock too.
DASHA
He went home a couple of days ago, caught his wife with her lover, and then the tragic ending.
SVETA
How do you know?
DASHA
Alexander Andreevich told me. We work with him in the archive.
SVETA
The head of the Corporation?
DASHA
Yeap.
SVETA
Why didn't you tell me?
DASHA
I just found out.
SVETA
I'm talking about your research with the head of the Corporation. You're so calm about it.
Dasha bangs her fists on the table.
DASHA
I'm tired of you.
(sarcasticly)
I'm sorry that I'm not crying over the death of a man who did literally everything to get into this situation.
Angry, Dasha leaves the cafeteria, taking the plate with the long-awaited dessert with her.
Lena, Lenya and Sveta reflect on what is happening. Sveta did not look happier, reconciliation did not happen. Kirusha realizes what he has done. He starts crying.
Sveta rolls her eyes irritably when she sees Kirusha's tears. Sveta runs after Dasha.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha, with a plate of chocolate cake, quickly walks along the corridors to her room.
Around the next corner, she crash Mark again, but this time she jumps away from him and walk past him.
MARK
Maybe you should apologize?
DASHA
Maybe.
Dasha does not turn around at such a small obstacle as Mark. She had almost reached her room, where no one would bother her.
Dasha runs to her room and slams the door. Sveta runs right behind her. She had clearly heard the door slam.
Sveta runs up to Dasha's door. She knocks, waiting to be invited inside. There is no response. Sveta is not going to wait, she is tired of all this too. She brazenly enters Dasha's room.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. DASHA'S ROOM - DAY
Dasha definitely did not expect this. Entering the room, Sveta turns on the light and freezes in shock at what she sees: there is a mess on the table, a pillow and a blanket on the floor, as well as clothes. Dasha took off her gray pants and threw them on the floor.
Dasha is facing the table. She knows Sveta here, but does not turn to face her. She froze. Her hand is reaching for something on the table.
SVETA
I'm not leaving until we talk.
Dasha immediately goes to the bathroom, which she closes from the inside.
Sveta goes to the locked door and knocks on it, hoping that Dasha will come out and let her be helped.
SVETA (CONT'D)
I can see that something is wrong with you. Tell me. We'll get through this together.
Sveta strokes the door.
SVETA (CONT'D)
I know how to deal with the loss of loved ones.
Dasha doesn't respond.
Sveta is pacing the room. She picks up the fallen pages of a notebook and a book from the floor. She tucks in the sheet, puts a pillow and a blanket on the bed. Clothes are neatly hung in the cabinet.
Sveta sits on the bed, inspects her work. She sees that there is a plate of cake on the table.
SVETA (CONT'D)
If you don't come out, I'll eat your cake.
The trick doesn't work. There is no movement from the bathroom.
SVETA (CONT'D)
I am starting.
Sveta wasn't lying. She picks up a plate from the table, puts it on her lap and breaks off a piece with a fork. She notices a keychain flashlight on the table where the plate was. Sveta picks it up and examines it. She breaks off another piece. She twirls the flashlight in her hand. One more piece. Sveta finds the switch on the flashlight and presses it.
Sveta is instantly paralyzed. She wants to call for help, but she can't breathe because of the cake stuck in her throat. Sveta drops the flashlight, grabs her head and neck. Sveta tugs at the roots of her hair. She falls to the floor like a sack, but the sound of the plate falling is louder.
Dasha comes out of the bathroom. She reacted to the sound of a falling plate, which Sveta, like someone else's, would not drop to attract attention.
Dasha runs up to Sveta, sits down on the floor closer to her to see what's wrong. The same symptoms as described by Alexander Andreevich. But why is Sveta like this?
Sveta is lying on her back. The body shudders. Her arms and legs are twitching erratically. Sveta scratches the floor with her nails, tugs at her hair again. She scratches her face.
Dasha realizes that Sveta is dying. She needs to find a flashlight. Maybe it will help, but where is it? Dasha looks around.
Dasha tries to turn Sveta over, but a pleasant spasm in her own muscles prevents her from lifting her. Dasha looks under the bed, but the dim light in the room does not allow her to see what is there.
Sveta is breathing faster, trying to inhale something. She's not panicking. She's ready to accept what's coming. Sveta forcefully crosses her arms over her chest, as if hugging herself, and waits. A tear rolls down her face and gets lost in her hair. Sveta calms down.
Dasha has mixed feelings. A man had just died in front of her eyes. Not someone else, but the one who wanted to be closer, who wanted to be her friend, and paid the price for it.
The flashlight is still working, but Dasha realizes that her playing with it is not normal.
Dasha finds a flashlight next to Sveta's head. Her hair covered it. Dasha turns it off. The sensations haven't changed. Now the devastation has been added to them.
Dasha's room is broken into again, but this time by Mark. He opens the door wide and walks inside, not embarrassed by the appearance of Dasha. Mark is delighted with what is happening and does not hide it.
MARK
What will he do to you when he finds out?
Dasha doesn't want Mark to see her depressed. It's better to think she's a bitch than to play with her feelings.
DASHA
She choked, you idiot.
Dasha, wearing shorts and a T-shirt, gets up from the floor. Mark likes what's happening more and more. He examines Dasha.
MARK
Prove it.
Dasha clutches a flashlight in her hand. She's afraid of Mark, but she doesn't hesitate to look into his eyes and smile sarcastically.
DASHA
Here's the body. Are you going to dissect it right here?
This time, the tightness of the room does not allow Dasha to go away without touching Mark. Dasha pushes Mark with her shoulder. Dasha leaves the room. Mark shouts to her.
MARK
Where are you going?
DASHA
Do your job.
Mark is furious. He leaves Dasha's room.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha walks quickly down the corridor. She can't show Mark that she feels bad, that she's sorry, that she can't handle her own emotions and has never been able to.
Dasha hears footsteps approaching behind her. She clutches the flashlight tighter in her hand, preparing to use it here and now.
Mark catches up with Dasha. He pushes her face against the wall, presses her down with his body and wraps his arms behind her back. He sees Dasha is hiding something in her hand. He presses Dasha harder against the wall so she would give in to him and loosen her arm. Mark takes the flashlight from Dasha's hands and turns her around, holding her by the neck.
Dasha is on edge. No one will come. She's alone again. Without a flashlight. He shouldn't see fear. He shouldn't see anything. He shouldn't be here.
Mark examines the keychain flashlight. With a sharp movement, he brings it closer to Dasha's face. Dasha visibly twitches, which amuses Mark.
MARK
What is it?
DASHA
I don't know.
MARK
Why was it in your hand?
DASHA
You can turn it on.
Dasha feels a little more confident when she realizes that Mark doesn't know what's going on. He may have heard about silent weapons, but he doesn't know what it looks like or how it works. There is a chance to escape.
MARK
Don't take me for a fool.
DASHA
I can take something else.
The height difference can work for both sides. Dasha runs her hand from Mark's chest and down.
Startled, Mark lets go of Dasha and takes a couple of steps back. Now he's afraid too.
Dasha is portraying innocence. She takes another step forward towards Mark, but he runs into the opposite wall of the corridor. It's like they're holding him by the neck and not letting him leave.
DASHA (CONT'D)
Duty calls.
Dasha leaves in an unknown direction.
Mark rolls down the wall to the floor. He examines the flashlight in his hands. He wants to turn it on, but after Dasha's words, he is afraid.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. ARCHIVE - DAY
Dasha hasn't been here for a long time. No one had closed the door since her last visit. That's right, she was going to come back, and she hadn't been gone for weeks.
Dasha puts her chair and Alexander Andreevich's chair next to each other. She lies down on them and cries softly. All the feelings come at once.
Dasha quickly falls asleep again, as she does after any prolonged interaction with a flashlight and a night light.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. ARCHIVE - NIGHT
Dasha wakes up, for the first time on her own, and not because of the alarm system. She's completely crushed. Her head is splitting. Complete confusion inside and out - Dasha looks at the mess from her study on the table.
He looks at one of the first variants of the flowchart of the conflict development. Maybe sometimes it makes sense to resort to actions? Maybe conversations can't make a difference when the other opponent refuses to listen?
Dasha draws a new flowchart: "how to start a war" and what is needed for this. Dasha writes out that she needs a plan and those who will help her implement it. But what's the plan?
Dasha stumbles upon the most suitable option from the book with chronologies of wars, which Alexander Andreevich read - to burn down the Corporation so that no one could claim it. Even she.
Dasha looks out of the archive to check if it's safe to go out. But it turns out that the only light source in the night corridors is the archive in which Dasha is right now.
Dasha quickly closes the door, as if she saw someone is going to get inside. She moves the chairs next to each other, but it's completely impossible to lie on them.
Dasha begins to panic. She looks at the door, waiting for someone to actually open the door from the outside.
Dasha pulls the table up to the door and puts chairs on it. Yes, the door opens outward, but this way Dasha will at least have a chance to see who she is fighting and fight back.
Dasha can't sleep. Fear does not allow her to stand still. Dasha remembers that she has unfinished business in the archive. She takes out the "September 99" drawer, takes out an unknown folder with papers that lies behind the next drawer and opens it.
She had already seen this photo of a 5-6-year-old girl. Dasha turns over the first page for the first time. Behind it is a newspaper clipping that Margarita Vyshina showed excellent athletic results at competitions.
Dasha laughs. She never asked her mother about her childhood. But Mom was also reluctant to talk about it. And there's no point in thinking about grandparents at all.
Dasha turns the page. It shows a photo of a boy about 4 years old, who is holding the hand of a young Alexander Andreevich. The newspaper article is dedicated to the construction of the Dreamland Corporation.
Dasha flips through several pages. Margarita Vyshina and the already grown-up boy from the previous photo are standing together near the entrance to the institute, where Dasha could go to study instead of internship.
Dasha realizes that this boy is her dad she has never seen. But then who left this folder?
Dasha looks at the door. Her fears are increasing. All this talk about inheritance, death under strange circumstances, silent weapons, the entire internship program organized just for her. This place must be destroyed.
Dasha spends the whole night hugging a folder on the floor, waiting for someone to come in.
The alarm system announces the time to get out of bed. That means 8 o'clock in the morning. The corridors are still dark, but there will certainly be people in them.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. DASHA'S ROOM - MORNING
Dasha quietly enters the room, looking around. Dasha turns on the light.
There was no Sveta. The desk is clean. All the research notes are gone. The bed remained as Sveta had left it.
Dasha sits down on the bed and looks around. Nothing.
Dasha turns on her night light. A small bright star reminds her of Sveta. Dasha is crying into her pillow.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CAFETERIA - MORNING
Lenya comforts Lena with hugs. She doesn't cry like she's lost someone close, but she realizes the fact of a person's death.
Kirusha is sitting in front of them, red and swollen from crying. Does he mourn Sveta, or Sasha, or does he blame himself for everything?
Dasha comes into the dining room. She's in her gray uniform. She goes confidently and quickly. She looks tired, but determined. Dasha sits down at the table, calls the three gathered to her to move closer. They look at her suspiciously, but they move closer.
DASHA
We need to destroy this place.
LENYA
What?
DASHA
Three people have disappeared here in four months. No one will come here to look for evidence. This place is going to burn down.
Lenya is annoyed. He sees no point in drastic measures.
LENYA
There are two people who disappeared next to you. But this loony is smarter than all of us and went home. But I'm not coming home. No way.
DASHA
You don't have to come home, but this place will continue to recruit other interns, do you want them to suffer too?
Lena wants to say something, but Lenya's authority is stronger. She sits in silence and looks from Dasha to Lenya.
LENYA
If you're not here, they're safe. Otherwise, I don't care. No one is trying to kill us.
Lenya gets up from her seat. Lena repeats after him. They both leave.
Dasha stays at the table with Kirusha. It turns out that getting people together is more difficult than coming up with a plan.
KIRUSHA
I can help you.
Dasha is surprised. She had never heard Kirusha's confident voice before.
DASHA
Are you sure?
Kirusha's confidence is disappearing again, he is trembling, about to cry.
KIRUSHA
Sasha left because of me.
Dasha looks at him in disbelief. Her look literally means "You?".
KIRUSHA (CONT'D)
You didn't want to talk to Sveta. She was worried about you, and I didn't want that. I feel sad when she's sad too. If Sasha had returned home, you would have reconciled, and everything would have been fine.
Kirusha is crying. Tears fell on his T-shirt. He covers his face with his hands.
Dasha doesn't react to him in any way. She's focused on thinking through the logic of his thought. Although, logic aside, he agreed to help.
DASHA
The plan is that I want to burn this place down. All the papers, all the evidence. It's better if they don't exist at all.
Kirusha doesn't listen to the plan, he's still crying. It's like he's waiting for Dasha to calm him down. He definitely wasn't close to her, since he expected a normal human reaction from her.
DASHA (CONT'D)
Do you think we can get a fire in the kitchen? It will be more noticeable, but it's worth a try.
KIRUSHA
We can set fire to the server room.
For Dasha, Kirusha opens up from a new perspective. It's a good idea, but it's Alexander Andreevich's life's work.
DASHA
How to do it? Won't the fire go to our rooms?
KIRUSHA
You're the one who suggested burning everything. Why do you care about others?
Dasha is silent. Kirusha starts to get angry.
KIRUSHA (CONT'D)
Are you in or out?
Kirusha calms down. He is focused on the case and is ready to make suggestions.
DASHA
I'm in.
KIRUSHA
In the server room we can make a short circuit and disable the cooling system. The fire will spread slowly and people will have time to get out when the warning system turns on. If they are autonomous, then the fire brigade will not arrive soon. And to extinguish the building, they will have to get into its courtyard, which is not provided for by the building's design. Whoever designed it clearly didn't plan for such an ending.
Dasha has nothing to say to Kirusha. He obviously understands what he's saying, but Dasha doesn't.
DASHA
Could you set something on fire for me? I want to burn the archive of old research.
KIRUSHA
These rooms are nearby. The archive will burn anyway. Do you want to wait for me to bring you the fire?
DASHA
I want to know that the archive was definitely burned down.
KIRUSHA
Your wish. I'm not insisting. When do we start?
DASHA
Right now.
KIRUSHA
Let's go.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - MORNING
Dasha and Kirusha are standing near the large doors of the server room.
DASHA
Do you have anything that will burn for a long time?
KIRUSHA
I can give you a menu.
DASHA
Sorry. I'm worried. What if something doesn't go to plan?
KIRUSHA
Since when is "set on fire and run" considered a plan? Weren't you planning on getting a fire in the kitchen?
DASHA
I get it, you're worried too. But you agreed, and you offered to burn down the server room. How long to wait for the fire?
KIRUSHA
Three or four hours. Maybe more, maybe less.
DASHA
What? Why is it taking so long?
KIRUSHA
There's a server room the size of two floors. I'm sorry it needs time to overheat.
DASHA
Good. Do what you know. I'll be waiting here.
Kirusha disappears behind the doors of the server room. Dasha stays outside. She worries that she looks suspicious. Dasha goes to the archive.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. ARCHIVE - DAY
Dasha takes out all the drawers from the shelves. She shakes out all the papers from most of the drawers, creating a "fuel" for the fire. Dasha takes the folder with photos of her parents. She doesn't lock up the archive, as she still hopes to return here.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha tries to look natural by hiding a folder with photos under her hoodie.
She passes by Arthur's small room. He doesn't look well, as if he hasn't slept in days. There's nowhere else to put the dishes on his table. Arthur taps the keys loudly and with all his might. Dasha, without a flashlight in her pocket, is very easy to scare and she speaks to Arthur as gently as possible so as not to provoke.
DASHA
If there's a fire in the building, will you be able to leave in time?
ARTHUR
There is no fire here. Go away.
DASHA
This is a hypothetical question.
ARTHUR
I can get you out, and I don't care about the consequences.
Dasha gets scared. It seems that Arthur's last self-control is exhausted. Dasha leaves.
Dasha slowly walks past the server room. She listens to what is happening. Everything is quiet. Dasha slowly walks on. She looks around every corner to avoid running into Mark.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. DASHA'S ROOM - DAY
Dasha enters the room. She takes out a folder of photos from under her hoodie and hides it on top of the cabinet, where it definitely won't be found.
Dasha looks around the room. She takes the night light. Surprisingly, even her toothbrush was taken from here, but not the night light. Dasha puts it in her pocket and leaves the room.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha walks slowly through the corridors again, fearing a meeting with Mark. She finds herself at the door of the server room again.
Dasha leans her ear against the door, hoping to hear what is happening inside. The door has become warmer, Dasha doesn't understand if it's because she's warmed up from anticipation, or if there is a fire outside the door. Dasha touches her face with her hand - it's cold, touches the door - it's hot.
Something is happening and is not going to plan. Kirusha had to come out. What if I'm late? But he knows that I want to set fire to the archive. He might be there.
Dasha runs to the archive, but everything in it is as Dasha left it - piles of papers and drawers on the floor.
Dasha runs to Arthur.
DASHA
Arthur, there's a fire in the building, you need to go outside.
Dasha is afraid to approach him, it's not a fact that the fire will spread beyond the server room. And the threat of getting it from Arthur is real.
ARTHUR
Didn't you hear me the first time? Get out of here.
Dasha runs back to the server room. The doors are closed again. Dasha tries to pull the door handle, but it has warmed up. Dasha looks at her hand - it's not a burn, but redness has appeared. Dasha runs away.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. SITTING ROOM - DAY
Another rainy autumn day. Lena and Lenya are sitting on the windowsill and looking out the window.
Dasha runs in and takes several thick books from the nearest shelf. She sorts them out among themselves, choosing the thickest one. She ignores the remaining mess and runs out of the room.
Lena and Lenya have been watching her all this time. Lena looks worried.
LENA
It seems she really needs help. She looks…
(pause)
Puzzled.
LENYA
She looks sick in the head, but that's how it was before us.
LENA
This is strange. We grew up in the same circles. My parents are friends with her mom. My grandparents know her grandparents.
LENYA
Did you know her personally?
LENA
No, she was often on the sidelines, and then completely absent. I didn't even recognize her on the first day.
LENYA
That explains a lot. Do they have any other children in their family?
LENA
If we count from the parents' generation, then there are two girls in her family, the eldest Olya and the youngest Rita - Dasha's mother. Aunt Olya has a daughter, Masha, but she was crossed out as a disgrace to the family. Therefore, Dasha remains the only representative of her family.
LENYA
What kind of family is this, where you can choose family members?
LENA
Rich and powerful. I also come from a family like this. My older brothers have been assigned to my father's ministry, and I, as an undesirable one, have to get married to increase the power of our families.
LENYA
Yes, you told me. Do you want to go back to them?
LENA
I'm with you. The wedding went wrong and I'm not sorry.
LENYA
So can I offer you to run away with me?
LENA
Anywhere. When we finish our internship.
LENYA
Deal.
Loud explosion and sounds of breaking glass.
Lena and Lenya look out the window. They see black smoke and it's very close. There is no burning smell yet, and the alarm system is not working. Lena and Lenya are peering out the window, trying to find the cause of the fire.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha pulls the door handle, wrapping a hoodie around it.
She also hears a loud bang and falling glass. But the glass also falls inside the server room. The plan fails. The fire may not reach beyond the server room. But where is Kirusha? He should have been out a long time ago.
Dasha continues to pull the door handle. It gets hotter, but not from physical exertion, but because of the heat from the door.
Another pull and the door opens. Dasha can't stay on her feet and falls on her back.
All the heat from the server room bursts out. Dasha quickly gets up from the floor. There's not a second to lose. Dasha takes the hoodie from the door handle and covers her head, nose and mouth. She picks up one of the books she brought from the sitting room.
Dasha goes inside and comes out with a book burning in her hands.
She leaves the book for the sitting room in place, as she will be back later. But how often does she come back when she promises?
Dasha runs to set fire to the archive. She doesn't go inside, but throws the book into a pile of papers. After making sure everything works to plan, she closes the door and runs away.
Dasha runs into Arthur small room again. She tries to lift him from his place and take him to a safe place. Arthur breaks free and resists.
In the midst of the struggle, Dasha almost got her way and took Arthur outside, but suddenly the light in the small room turns off. Even the computer and monitor turned off.
An inhuman anger awakens in Arthur.
Dasha gets scared of the dark and gets distracted for a second, which is what Arthur uses. He pushes Dasha hard, causing her to literally fly out of the small room. Dasha falls to the floor.
Arthur examines the computer, tries to press the buttons, but nothing works. He is ready to take out his anger on anyone who is involved and not involved in what happened. He breaks the keyboard on the table.
Dasha sees this and wants to crawl back, but it seems that her leg was injured in the fall. Dasha makes a sound like a quiet scream when the pain in her leg makes itself felt. Now Arthur is going to take revenge on her.
Arthur is coming fast. A second later, he kicks Dasha in the ribs. Dasha quietly bears this blow. She doesn't resist or try to close herself with hands. Another second and another punch to the stomach. Again, no attempts to close or respond.
Arthur seems to have calmed down, or maybe he's bored when there's no reaction. He returns to the small room, sits down at the table and tries to adjust the equipment.
He starts coughing, but he's not going to come out. He is determined to fix everything. He pulls the wires, turns on and off the outlet.
Dasha is watching him. She can't get up. She doesn't want to get up. It's done. There's nowhere to go back to. Mark was right, no one will leave alive.
Dasha loses consciousness, but it's more like dreams, after experimenting with a flashlight. It looked like she was losing consciousness the whole time. It was not sleeping.
Dasha wakes up from a sore throat. She's still lying by Arthur's small room.
Arthur is sitting in his seat, but his head is resting on the table. Is he still alive or has he already died? What's the difference? I'm still alive.
Dasha struggles to stand up. There is no hoodie nearby, there is nothing to cover yourself with. It needs to get out of here faster.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. HALL - DAY
Lena and Lenya come running into the hall. Lenya looks around. Lena is watching him in fright.
LENYA
I told you she was sick. She killed them, and now she will kill all of us.
LENA
This is nonsense. No one in their right mind would do that.
LENYA
That's exactly what I'm saying.
Lenya jumps over the turnstile. No one tried to hide his yellow backpack. They dragged it closer to the wall so that he wouldn't get in the way.
Lenya gestures for Lena to come closer to the turnstile. Lenya gets into the rack to pick her up and carry her through the turnstile.
LENA
And we'll just run away? Where?
LENYA
To forest.
Lena gets scared by his words. She takes a few steps back from him.
LENA
I've never lived in a forest.
LENYA
But I lived. I hid from my father when he got drunk and beat my mother.
LENA
But they'll be looking for us.
LENYA
They won't. Consider us dead here.
Lena thinks about her decision. Lenya worries that she won't agree and will break her promise.
LENA
There's no one in the kitchen right now. We need to stock up on food.
Lenya had never been so proud of his choice. He is happy that fate has given him such a girl. He's looking for a roll of large trash bags in his hiking backpack. He jumps over the turnstile.
Lena ran a little ahead. Lenya grabs her by the arm and turns her around. He kisses her hard, hugging her by the waist. Lena breaks away. Lenya doesn't understand what's going on.
Lena laughs at him, runs and pulls him by the hand.
LENA(CONT'D)
Now is not the time.
Lena and Lenya go up the stairs together.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - DAY
Dasha is already at a safe distance from the fire and Arthur. She walks slowly along the corridors, limping on one leg. She's completely devastated. Maybe this was a bad decision to go away from fire.
She hears rapid footsteps approaching her from the front. Dasha changes her gait to a confident one, without any signs of weakness.
Lena and Lenya run towards her, happy. Lenya has a roll of garbage bags in his hand. Although Lena was running ahead, but at the sight of Dasha, Lenya covered her with himself. They stand in place, waiting for Dasha to pass by.
Dasha goes to them and takes a quick look at them. Time slowed down for Lenya. He also looks at Dasha - she doesn't look angry or seeking revenge, she looks devastated, she doesn't care about them.
Dasha passes by and disappears into the next corridor.
Lena and Lenya look at each other in fright. Maybe it's a deception or a trap. For Lenya, Dasha is not the kind of person whose calmness can be trusted. Lena and Lenya turn around and slowly walk away in the direction of the exit.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. HALL - DAY
Lena and Lenya descend the stairs fast. Lenya purposely runs a little ahead to jump over the turnstile and help Lena.
He holds out his hand to Lena to help, but she jumps over the turnstile herself.
Lenya struggles to put on a heavy backpack.
LENA
Give me something.
LENYA
Let's get to a safe distance first.
Lenya goes ahead. Lena is behind, trying to help Lena carry his backpack, but it doesn't work out well. Lenya shows Lena to go ahead so that he can see her. They leave the Corporation building together.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. DASHA'S ROOM - DAY
Dasha goes into her room, turns on the light. She's not alone. Alexander Andreevich is waiting for her in the room with a pistol in his hands. His head is down, and he holds the gun in his lap. Alexander Andreevich is dozing and does not immediately understand what is happening. He sees Dasha in front of him.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH
Do you mind that I'm uninvited?
Alexander Andreevich invites Dasha to enter, holding a pistol in his hand, and with his other hand pointing to the bed on which to sit.
Dasha remains standing in the doorway. She keeps her eyes on the gun. Alexander Andreevich, seeing this, puts it on his lap, showing Dasha that he does not threaten her.
Dasha doesn't move, but now she can look into Alexander Andreevich's eyes.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH (CONT'D)
It was my life's work. I thought you could do something like this. You grew up to be who you were supposed to be, and I was wrong.
Alexander Andreevich examines the pistol lying on his lap again.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH (CONT'D)
I understand yesterday's event was an accident. I'm sorry. She was a good person. Stupid, but good. You've attracted a lot of attention, and it needs to be justified. The Corporation is yours, starting today. Mark will keep an eye on you. He's gone to sort out the paperwork, and I'm the messenger with the news. With the good ones or the bad ones, your choice.
Alexander Andreevich takes a pistol in his hand and aims it at his head.
ALEXANDER ANDREEVICH (CONT'D)
Are you going to watch me succumb to the temptation not to shoot you?
Dasha quickly leaves the room. The sound of a gunshot and a loud door slam sound at the same time.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - EVENING
It's getting darker outside. The day seemed long, but the daylight hours were getting shorter and shorter.
Dasha lays her forehead to the door of her room. She tries to take a breath, but a lump in her throat from impending tears prevents her from doing so.
Mark immediately runs up to her, who was waiting nearby for Dasha to come out. He turns Dasha around to face him, presses her against the door and threatens her with a flashlight, holding it to her head.
MARK
Just make a move and I'll turn it on.
Dasha doesn't resist. The sight of Mark makes her feel better. Dasha smiles sweetly at him, but with tears on her cheeks and a stained T-shirt, it looks unconvincing to Mark.
MARK (CONT'D)
Come in.
Mark points to the door of the room and takes a step back so that Dasha enters first. Dasha opens the door of the room.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. DASHA'S ROOM - EVENING
Dasha walks first. Mark is standing right behind her, threatening her with a flashlight in the back.
Alexander Andreevich's body is sitting on a chair. The gun fell out of his hands. Mark goes into the room to pick it up.
Dasha stands at the entrance to the room, watching Mark. She reaches up to the top of the closet to pick up the folder of photos.
Mark hears the rustle of a folder and turns to Dasha, threatening her with a flashlight and a pistol.
MARK
Don't move.
Dasha calmly takes out a folder from the cabinet and hugs it to her chest. She looks condescendingly at Mark as he squats and threatens her with a pistol stolen from a dead man. It's low even for him.
DASHA
I'm in charge here. Shove that squeaker up your ass. And yes, that's an order.
Dasha leaves the room. Mark gets up and runs after Dasha.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. CORRIDORS - EVENING
The corridors are getting darker. Dasha is uncomfortable, but she hears Mark's approaching footsteps behind her. Dasha looks forward to what will happen next with a satisfied smile. She slows down her pace.
But Mark stops at a distance from her. Is he afraid of repeating past experiences? Dasha is still slowing down.
MARK
Then I'll shoot you.
Dasha stops and turns to look at Mark. She looks in his eyes with an indifferent look. Without breaking eye contact, Dasha walks towards Mark, slowly, to maintain the intrigue. Mark's gun rests against Dasha's stomach, but she takes another step forward. She likes the pain of the gun pressing in bruised rib.
Dasha comes right up to Mark. He's more scared, but he's in control.
DASHA
Did you know that I get turned on in these situations? Don't be shy, please the unhappy girl.
Mark is afraid. He takes a few steps back. He aims a flashlight and a pistol at Dasha. Dasha rolls her eyes at the predictability of Mark's actions.
Mark decides to turn on the flashlight. Nothing happens. He turns it on and off several times again.
No effect whatsoever. Mark throws the flashlight aside, but it lands softly on the linoleum. Mark runs towards the sound of falling.
Dasha turns around and walks away from all this. Mark's footsteps are heard again behind Dasha. He follows her, holding a gun in front of him.
MARK
Don't think I'm a fool. I have a reason to kill you. You've ruined fifteen years of my life in one day.
DASHA
Do it if you want.
MARK
How does it work?
Dasha stops and turns abruptly to Mark. He stops in fright.
DASHA
Are you totally fucked up? Do I have to play along with you?
Mark lowers the gun to the floor, shows his lack of weapons by raising his hands up.
MARK
Let's talk.
DASHA
There's nothing to talk about.
MARK
What are you going to do with us?
DASHA
With who?
MARK
You're in charge. We're all your employees now. We are ready to start work right now.
DASHA
Why didn't anyone leave when they had the chance?
MARK
We have nowhere to go. We all ran away from something. We're better off here.
DASHA
Is that why all the business of the Corporation does not go beyond its borders? So that no one would come and look for the truth?
MARK
Almost. You and I can leave the Corporation. We have a fairly large influence, and sometimes we need confirmation that everything is in order with the leadership.
DASHA
So, another good person just died because of me?
MARK
Guess so.
Dasha can no longer hold back her tears behind her show of confidence. She throws herself into Mark's arms. He's still in shock, unarmed, and has more work experience than calming down girls.
DASHA
Why did he do it? He promised he would be with me.
MARK
He probably wanted to run away from something too. He built a peaceful world for everyone, but he didn't find one for himself.
Dasha cries harder and clings to Mark more tightly. He's worried that she's going to pull another trick that he won't recover from.
He softly pushes Dasha away from him with his hands. He straightens his jacket and his hair. A tearful Dasha looks at him with a look full of judgment for his actions.
MARK (CONT'D)
Do you have any orders? Maybe I can bring you something?
DASHA
What?
MARK
To calm down.
DASHA
I do not drink. Give me the squeaker. It quickly relieves stress. Faster than my grandfather's rum.
MARK
No. I need to calm down too. We both know he's nobody to you.
DASHA
You can't prove it.
MARK
I'll find a way. Give me some time. In the meantime, are there any orders?
DASHA
Yes, I would like to take the sitting room. Whole room. Move the mattresses and blankets there? We don't have electricity or heating, and we won't have any in the near future. We'll have to keep warm on our own. Will you join me?
MARK
There will be mattresses and blankets. I'll finish work at 8, and arrive at 8:10 a.m. to join you.
Mark picks up the gun from the floor and walks away along the dark corridor. Dasha looks after him with a "we're not done yet" look.
INT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. SITTING ROOM - MORNING
There are several mattresses on the floor that form a single space for Dasha to live in: a corner for sleeping, a corner for eating, a corner for work and an empty corner just in case.
Dasha is sleeping in a sleeping corner, wrapped in a lot of blankets. In the food corner, on the floor next to the mattresses, there are foil plates with some more food in them. Since it's cold in the room, it does not have to worry about its safety. Dasha has books on the physics of electromagnetic fields in her work area. It seems she wants to figure out how to fix the server.
Mark enters the sitting room, dressed in several sweaters and gloves. In his hands he carries several folders with papers and a battery-powered alarm clock. Timely, the clock in the sitting room had not been working for several years.
Mark squats down next to Dasha. He sets the alarm. The alarm clock is ringing. He brings it to Dasha's head, which makes her wrap herself even more tightly in blankets.
MARK
The Corporation has never been in greater decline than during your month-long reign.
DASHA
I can't start work until I'm officially appointed.
MARK
There's no one to officially appoint you. According to the documents, you are already working.
DASHA
But I want to be official.
Dasha sticks her hand out from under the blanket and hits the floor. Mark takes her hand and kisses it. Dasha hides her hand back in the blanket.
Mark puts the folders with papers and the alarm clock on the floor, takes off his shoes and climbs onto the mattresses next to Dasha.
Dasha opens the door to her blanket fortress for him. Mark examines Dasha, she prefers to wrap herself in a lot of blankets rather than put on clothes that are not her own. The bruises on her ribs and stomach have already turned yellow, but Dasha still can't lie on her stomach.
Dasha covers Mark with blankets. But not to warm up.
MARK
The New Year is coming soon, and the heads of all Corporations will gather at the general celebration, where we will officially appoint you. How's the idea?
DASHA
Will it be on TV?
MARK
Why? We don't even have a TV.
DASHA
I want everyone to see me.
MARK
You're too moody for your position. Did anyone tell you?
DASHA
I just asked for a live broadcast of me on all the TVs in the world. Maybe that's the first and only thing I'm asking for.
MARK
I'm your right-hand man. No, not the first one, and no, not the only one.
DASHA
Boring.
MARK
Adult life is boring.
DASHA
I'm an adult and I don't want boring.
MARK
It's not our choice.
DASHA
I want to choice.
MARK
You need to prepare a speech.
DASHA
No, you need to prepare a speech.
MARK
Okay. What are you going to wear?
DASHA
What am I going to wear? My gray uniform has not been returned from the laundry for the second week.
MARK
People are leaving. There is no one to work. Have you noticed that I bring you ready-made food from the store?
DASHA
I could have guessed. Where did we get the foil plates…
MARK
I'll try to contact the Corporation that made the costumes for Alexander Andreevich. Maybe they have a couple of dresses for you.
DASHA
I don't want a dress. I want my gray clothes.
MARK
It needs a dress. I'll try to negotiate on gray.
DASHA
Okay. The dress is just a dress. But I want gray clothes too. Please. I like it.
Mark gets out from under the blankets. He puts on his shoes. Dasha hugs him from behind.
MARK
Any orders?
DASHA
Eight o'clock in the evening?
MARK
Yes, as always.
DASHA
I'll be waiting here.
Mark leaves. Dasha bides a little time to make sure of this.
Dasha does not pay attention to the folders with documents left behind. She needs a battery-powered alarm clock.
Dasha rolls from a corner for sleeping to a corner for work. She hides her night light under the mattress. Dasha takes it, turns it on and brings it to the alarm clock - she hears the familiar sound of electric current, which is not produced by the alarm clock, but by a night light, which amplifies this sound. Great, I can act.
INT. BANQUET HALL - EVENING
A spacious banquet hall, each wall is decorated with solid garlands, each table has its own TV with various programs to suit the taste of those who sit there. Lots of lamps and flickering lights.
The guests have been sitting for a long time, someone has already gone home, someone is smoking outside, someone is dancing lazily on the dance floor.
Mark, in an expensive suit, stands slightly apart from Dasha, who came in a gray uniform.
Seeing all the electronics in the hall, Dasha had devilish lights in her eyes.
She turns around to check behind Mark, but he has already disappeared into the crowd.
Dasha goes inside the hall. She examines everyone. No one is looking at her, which means the costume is working.
Dasha sees Mark standing alone in the crowd with 2 glasses of champagne. He turns his head around. Maybe he's not waiting for her, why then 2 glasses of alcohol, which Dasha does not drink?
Dasha comes up to Mark from behind and scares him with a tickle. Mark is intimidated by any of Dasha's gaiety. He holds out one of the glasses to Dasha with a tight smile.
DASHA
I don't drink, have you forgotten?
MARK
It is a New Year party.
DASHA
I don't even celebrate birthdays, I don't care about New Year. It is new every year.
MARK
Have a drink. Your speech will sound better.
DASHA
I don't want. By the way, when is my speech?
MARK
You will be announced. Drink.
Mark gives a glass to Dasha in her hand. Dasha examines the glass, examines Mark. Mark manipulates Dasha's hand, forcing her to bring the glass to her lips. Mark takes a sip from his glass.
Dasha looks into Mark's eyes and drops her glass on the floor. The sound of breaking glass attracts the attention of the guests, but only for a couple of seconds. Even the music in the hall hadn't stopped playing.
Dasha takes a couple of steps towards Mark, gets close to him so that he can hear her.
DASHA
I'll show you my thing if you show me yours.
MARK
What?
Dasha takes her star shape night light out of her pocket. Mark takes a flashlight keychain from the inner pocket of his jacket. Dasha looks at the flashlight. She wants to take it away whatever it takes.
MARK (CONT'D)
Tell me how it works.
DASHA
Maybe it's better to show?
MARK
Are you crazy? It killed seventeen people and your friend.
DASHA
I don't care about anyone, including you and me. But I can't even fit in here. Do you want to see it?
MARK
You won't do that.
DASHA
Why don't you ever listen to me?
MARK
You are completely crazy.
DASHA
I'm tired of you. I can't let you come back. You are a murderer.
MARK
And you too.
DASHA
Yes, two murderers have no place under the same roof.
Dasha turns on the night light. It resonates with the equipment of the hall, but not as much as a flashlight keychain could. Dasha's idea should work, she should force Mark to turn on the flashlight.
Mark feels a little dizzy, but it could be champagne. He's not ready to admit that Dasha might be right.
MARK
I'll take you with me.
Mark turns on the flashlight. The effect is much stronger. The guests are panicking. They don't know what's going on. Now the classic effect - headaches and muscle cramps. Only Dasha tries not to moan with pleasure from the pain in her body.
Mark looks at her. He finally understood all her words and who she is. Has the last month been something important to her, or is this just another game? But why is that?
MARK (CONT'D)
Why?
DASHA
You're too good right-hand man.
Mark falls to the floor. Dasha squats down to be closer to him. It's hard for Mark to talk, but he can't not talk. The one who says the last word wins.
MARK
You are…
(pause)
Afraid…
(pause)
All of them.
Dasha looks at Mark. She's waiting. It's hard for her to look at him. He doesn't seem like a stranger to her, and she will definitely remember his death, like the deaths of Sveta and Alexander Andreevich.
She watches Mark die, gasping for less and less air. After a few quick breaths, Mark finally exhales. Dasha snatches the flashlight from his hands and turns it off along with the night light.
Dasha does her best to confidently move her legs towards the exit. Dasha makes her way past the bodies. Someone else is moving, but perhaps it's the convulsions of a dead body.
NAT. CITY STREETS - EVENING
Dasha, in a gray uniform of cotton trousers and a hoodie, runs out into the street. She walks along the snowy street without turning around, warming herself from the wind with her hands.
Dasha walks through the empty streets. No people, no cars. Even dogs don't bark.
A car is coming for Dasha. It's a taxi. The TAXI DRIVER (25) is a charming guy, too handsome for this job, actively honking at her, attracting attention. He drives closer to Dasha.
TAXI DRIVER
Where are we going? Would you rather have a ride?
Dasha looks around. There's still no one here. She's already pretty cold.
Dasha walks to the car, clutching a flashlight in her hand.
DASHA
Do you know where the Dreamland Corporation is?
TAXI DRIVER
The Fear Inc, where people are tortured? Why would you go there? The New Year is coming soon. You need to be with your family.
DASHA
I don't have a family. If you're not going there, goodbye.
Dasha goes back to the sidewalk.
TAXI DRIVER
Okay. Sit down. I'll take you there.
Dasha goes to the car.
INT. TAXI CAR - NIGHT
Dasha sits in the back seat, diagonally from the driver. Dasha presses her back into the corner between the seat and the door. The taxi driver checks that Dasha got in through the rearview mirror.
Dasha looks at the Taxi Driver through the rearview mirror with her scrutinizing, inquisitive gaze. She hopes he doesn't realize how scared she is. And the scary thing is not that he will attack, but that if he attacks, she will kill him and continue to live on the next day.
TAXI DRIVER
Do you mind if I don't take you right there?
Dasha gets tense. She's ready to turn on the flashlight right now. The taxi driver sees through the rearview mirror that Dasha has turned white with fear.
TAXI DRIVER (CONT'D)
Oh, no, no, no, no. I'm not one of them. Sorry. I'm afraid to drive there. I'll drop you off on the next street. Sorry for scaring you.
Dasha looks at the Taxi Driver. He seems to be sincere.
DASHA
There is nothing to be afraid of. I mean, yes, okay, to the next street, but there's nothing to worry about.
TAXI DRIVER
Aren't you afraid to go there?
DASHA
I'm afraid of the dark. And there's no light there…
(pause)
Can I borrow your phone? I only have a flashlight, and it doesn't work.
Dasha shows the Taxi Driver a keychain flashlight like a trinket, without a hint of how many people it has killed.
The taxi driver hands Dasha the phone. But who should she call? Dasha calls 911.
DASHA (CONT'D)
Hello, I know this is not your case, but I had a break-in to the building, the power supply system was damaged. I'm afraid they're still in the building, and could you send someone with a real flashlight?
(pause)
Yes, thank you. Dreamland Corporation.
(pause)
No, they don't clone people there.
(pause)
Okay, sorry to bother you.
Dasha gives the phone to the Taxi driver.
TAXI DRIVER
Do you need a flashlight? I can borrow it.
DASHA
I'm afraid I'll need it forever. And...
(shy)
I have some kind of hallucination.
(pretending to be a fully)
I like to see things that aren't there. I check with others what is and what is not. It probably looks strange from the outside, but they haven't been in my head.
I have no one to tell about it. No one will believe it anyway.
TAXI DRIVER
Are you a patient in this Corporation?
DASHA
No, I'm the head of this Corporation.
TAXI DRIVER
And I drive a taxi because I like to drive a car. Communicate with people. If you're lucky, you'll make useful connections. It's nice to find your place in life, isn't it?
DASHA(thoughtfully)
I guess so.
The car stops near a low building with bright lighting. The gloomy Corporation building is very close.
TAXI DRIVER
Shall I escort you?
DASHA
No need. You're afraid. I understand.
TAXI DRIVER
You're afraid too, but you'll go anyway.
DASHA
You said this is my place, now it doesn't look scary.
TAXI DRIVER
At least take a flashlight. You'll look at it and remember it more often.
The taxi driver gives Dasha a large flashlight. Dasha takes it away, tries to turn it on in the car, but blinds herself.
DASHA
Thank you.
Dasha holds out her hand to the Taxi driver.
DASHA (CONT'D)
I'm Dasha. I mean Daria Sergeevna Vyshina. The head of Dreamland Corporation.
The taxi driver holds out his hand in return.
TAXI DRIVER
And I'm Mitya. Dmitry Ivanovich Vetkin. The taxi driver.
NAT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT
Dasha gets out of the car. Shee waves to the taxi driver with a flashlight. He signals her with the headlights, Dasha signals him back with the light of his flashlight. They go their separate ways.
NAT. DREAMLAND CORPORATION. PORCH - NIGHT
Dasha goes to the Corporation. Dasha walks through the clear, smooth snow. She walks up the steps to the entrance. She opens the door, and there's only darkness behind it.
Dasha is nervous, afraid to come in and discover that her hallucinations are true. There is no one in the Corporation and there is no one to check what is and what is not.
Dasha turns on the flashlight the taxi driver gave her, goes inside and closes the door behind her.