Artemis and The Armada

Episode 1 Linus and Chase Exchange

INT. ARCADI - BUTTERFLY BUILDING - UPPER LEFT WING - BARRACKS HALLWAY - AFTERNOON
In the cold steel hallway stands COMMANDER CHASE MAYS, 35, against the wall, watching the other soldiers come and go in his white tank and black cargo pants. He brushes his short blond hair back over his head, while putting a cigarette in his mouth. His muscles pulsing through his shirt.


LINUS HAYTER (O.S.)
There's no smoking in the halls, Commander.

Linus stops short of Commander Chase. Chase removes the cigarette and walks down the hall with Linus beside him speaking quietly, keeping an eye on everyone around them. They speak low.

LINUS HAYTER
Did you hear back from the scouts we sent?

COMMANDER CHASE
Yeah. They found some of the body parts of the first unit hung up on trees.

LINUS HAYTER
What?

The Commander stops and waits for the hall to clear. Nodding at passing soldiers. They continue on.

COMMANDER CHASE
All soldiers were accounted for. Their gear was missing and their hearts were removed...

EXT. FOREST - DAY
Two trees drip blood as the limbs of five soldiers dangle in the fall breeze. Between the tress, the five heads sit in a circle facing each other on a giant rock just a few feet from the mouth of the waterfall. The blood from the heads paint the rock red. The gentle breeze blows the leaves across the ground. Each face shows the fear and agony the soldiers felt upon their deaths.


COMMANDER CHASE (V.O.)
(cont'd)
Placed in their mouths.

INT. ARCADIA - BARRACKS - COMMANDER CHASE’S OFFICE - AFTERNOON
Commander Chase holds the door open for Linus who takes a seat in front of the desk and crosses his legs.

LINUS HAYTER
We didn't catch any of them?

Chase sits behind the desk and rests his arms on the table.

COMMANDER CHASE
We didn't catch them there, but...

Linus takes a deep breath and tilts his head to the side as his temper starts to flare.

LINUS HAYTER
Don't play games with me Mays.

COMMANDER CHASE
Based on the lack of blood at the site and all the injuries sustained, They were placed near the waterfall for a reason.

The confusion on Linus' face shows.

LINUS HAYTER
And we believe that is what, exactly?

COMMANDER CHASE
To throw us off. I sent a unit of trackers out. A team of two.

LINUS HAYTER
They'll need back up, in case...

COMMANDER CHASE
It's to risky to send out a large task force. Richard made it very clear he doesn't want anyone going out there. He doesn't want a war.

Linus scoffs and begins biting his thumb.

COMMANDER CHASE
(cont'd)
Who can blame him being so cautious. Think about it. You kill someone and string 'm up like that, you're trying to send a message... But going out of the way to stage the bodies somewhere else, also sends a message.

Linus slowly rises from the chair, grinning. He realizes instantly what it means. His heart races from the satisfaction.

LINUS HAYTER
We finally have the last of them.