Ep 11

Scene 1: Josh’s office. Josh is on phone, Ess comes in.

Ess: Joshua.

Josh: Hey.

Ess: You busy?

Josh: I'm.. on the phone.

Ess: This will only be a minute.

Josh: 'kay.

Ess: I need you to sign off on my transfer to Ringo from the 7th to the 18th.

Josh (beat): What?

Ess: I need you to sign off on my transfer to Ringo for the next week and a half.

Josh: Is this a joke?

Ess: If it was a joke, I'd have said-

Josh: Ess.

Ess: Sorry.

Josh: What's going on?

Ess: Ringo's going to Israel.

Josh: Yeah?

Ess: They're short an officer because Davis is on his honeymoon.

Josh: And Marshe wants you?

Ess: I volunteered.

Josh (annoyed): Did you?

Ess: I did.

Josh: Why?

Ess: I want to go.

Josh: Really.

Ess: Yes.

Josh (shrugs): Sucks to be you.

Ess: Josh!

Josh: You work for Sierra. I'm not going to let Marshe or anyone else play general with my men.

Ess: But I'm okay with it.

Josh: I couldn't care less if you‘re okay with it.

Ess: You're being awfully cold about this.

Josh (sighs): You know this stuff makes me crazy.

Ess (beat/quietly): You have any idea how badly I want to see it? My grandfather can't even get in, and he lived there for forty-seven years. This... this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Please, Josh?

Josh: What did Gerrard say?

Ess: It's your call.

Josh: Is that what you're saying or did he-

Ess: That's what he said.

Josh: I'll need to talk with Marshe.

Ess: Okay.

Josh: I'm not saying anything. I don't like doing this.

Ess: I know. Thank you.

Josh: Yeah.

Ess (beat): You're still on hold?

Josh: I'm starting to wonder.

Ess: Okay. (exits his office/Josh continues to hold)

Shift - ADTEO lobby.

Caelyn: It's a little fast.

Luke: It is?

Caelyn: Yeah.

Luke: I disagree.

Caelyn: You don't think it's a little fast?

Luke: No. No, I don't.

Caelyn: Okay.

Luke: In fact, I think it's slow, if anything.

Caelyn: Really.

Luke: We click.

Caelyn: You click?

Luke: Yes.

Caelyn: Like those veiny-blue aliens on Star Trek?

Luke; What?

Caelyn: It takes more than clicking.

Luke: You don't even have a boyfriend.

Caelyn: I could.

Luke: You don't.

Caelyn: You're meeting her parents already. The next step is to become engaged.

Luke: Yeah, if this was 1937.

Caelyn: Okay.

Luke (beat): Maybe it is too fast.

Caelyn: I think so.

Luke (sighs): What am I doing?

Caelyn: I do not know.

Luke: Caelyn!

Caelyn: What are you mad at me for?

Luke: You could be... I don't know, supportive or something.

Caelyn: I don't want people to associate me with the chaos that is your relationship.

Luke: What?

Caelyn: I'm kidding.

Luke: What do I do?

Caelyn: I don't know.

Luke: Aren't you supposed to be a relationship guru or something?

Caelyn: Not really, no.

Luke: It shows.

They enter elevator. Shift.

Alec: I've found a hobby.

Josh: You did?

Alec: I did.

Josh: You didn't have one before?

Alec: A hobby?

Josh: Yeah.

Alec: No.

Josh: Okay.

Alec: Want to know what it is?

Josh: Not really.

Alec: That's okay.

Josh: 'cause you're going to tell me anyway.

Alec: That's right.

Josh: Okay.

Alec: Sailing.

Josh: Sailing?

Alec: Sailing. The wind on my face, the open water, serenity and freedom.

Josh: You haven't been out yet, have you?

Alec: Not exactly.

Josh: Do me a favor and let me know how that goes, alright?

Alec: Sure. What did Ess want?

Josh: She didn't tell you?

Alec: Tell me what?

Josh: You should probably ask her.

Alec: I'm asking you.

Josh: Yeah, well, stop it.

Alec: Josh.

Josh: What?

Alec: What's going on?

Josh (shrugs): Ask your girlfriend.

Alec (beat): Okay.

Josh: You have an instructor?

Alec: I'm sorry?

Josh: For the sailing.

Alec: Yeah, until I get the hang of it.

Josh: Good, because otherwise you’d mess it up.

Alec: Whatever.

Josh: Bows and ports every which way.

Alec: You know even less than I do.

Josh: Yeah.

Alec: Okay. I'm going to go to my desk.

Josh: Okay.

Shift. Gerrard enters ADTEO.

Janie: Secretary Torrie is in your office.

Gerrard: Really.

Janie: For about thirty-five minutes now.

Gerrard: You should have called me.

Janie: I did.

Gerrard: Yeah, my cell was off.

Janie: Yeah, it was, eve though we‘ve talked about that. You remember talking about that, don’t you, boss?

Gerrard: Leave me alone.

Janie: She’s still in there, by the way.

Gerrard: Okay.

Janie: I offered her something to drink.

Gerrard: Fine.

Janie (beat): Gerrard.

Gerrard: What?

Janie: How you doing?

Gerrard: Yeah. (goes into his office)

Shift to Gerrard's office.

Gerrard: Secretary.

Torrie: Commander.

Gerrard: I apologize for keeping you waiting.

Torrie: Yes.

Gerrard (slight beat): How can I help you?

Torrie: ADF has recently come into possession of information that confirms Nicholas Bonite has commissioned a terror cell within our borders. We have reason to believe that the surrogate leader is one Terry Raglin.

Gerrard: Bonite's nephew.

Torrie: Yes. ADF wants you to take Raglin out.

Gerrard: They want me-?

Torrie: Your team.

Gerrard: Because I'm getting a little old for that kind of thing.

Torrie: This isn't a joke.

Gerrard: I... didn't think it was.

Torrie: We'd like Moritz or Wright. Both, if you can spare it.

Gerrard: Wright doesn't do this anymore.

Torrie: Inter-department-?

Gerrard: Assassinations.

Torrie: Mortiz, then?

Gerrard: It's his call.

Torrie (annoyed): Of course.

Shift.

Caelyn: Kevin?

Kevin: Just a second. (types something for a beat, then looks up) What can I do for you?

Caelyn: I have to go to Denmark next week.

Kevin: For the, uh-

Caelyn: Wilcomb-

Kevin: Wilcomb Initiative, yeah. Yeah, sorry about that, kiddo.

Caelyn: It’s okay. Part of the job.

Kevin I like your attitude.

Caelyn: Well, you have to be professional about these things.

Kevin: Yeah.

Caelyn: Won’t do to be unprofessional.

Kevin: What is it you need?

Caelyn: There’s just one problem with me going to Denmark.

Kevin: What’s wrong?

Caelyn: I don’t want to go to Denmark.

Kevin: Caelyn.

Caelyn: Don’t make me go.

Kevin: I have absolutely no say in these kinds of things.

Caelyn: You could go for me. Take your wife, make a vacation out of it.

Kevin: Vacation to Denmark?

Caelyn: You could visit a shoe factory.

Kevin: That’s the Netherlands.

Caelyn: What’s in Denmark?

Kevin: The Danish?

Caelyn: Yeah.

Kevin: I’d have a hard time convincing the missus on this one.

Caelyn (whining): Kevin.

Kevin: What happened to professional?

Caelyn (beat): I’m getting shipped to Denmark!

Kevin: Sorry. You drew the short straw on this one.

Caelyn (almost pouting): I don’t want to go to Denmark.

Kevin shrugs. Shift.

Alec: Hey.

Ess: Hey there.

Alec: What's going on?

Ess: I'm going down to Lucky's to get a cappuccino.

Alec: I mean with Josh.

Ess: What?

Alec: You know what I mean.

Ess: I don't.

Alec: I think you do.

Ess: Well… okay, but I don’t.

Alec: Ess.

Ess: What's going on with Josh?

Alec: I asked him what you two were talking about and he wouldn't tell me.

Ess: Ah, that.

Alec: He told me to talk to you.

Ess: Really?

Alec: Yeah.

Ess: He didn't tell you?

Alec: No.

Ess: Well, good for him.

Alec: Ess-

Ess: I asked to transfer over to Ringo for their operation to Israel.

Alec (beat): You're kidding.

Ess: Josh hasn't okayed it yet.

Alec: Why didn't you-

Ess: I wanted to, honey. I really did. I... kept chickening out.

Alec: You were scared?

Ess: Yeah, I figured you'd be against it, and get mad, and then we'd yell at each other.

Alec: That's... bleak.

Ess: Yeah.

Alec: So what, you were going to avoid me until the plane left?

Ess: I admit it was a long-shot.

Alec: Ess!

Ess: Sorry. I'm kidding. I was kidding. Look, I was going to tell you, but then I felt bad I hadn't told you earlier, and then it got later so I became more worried, and the tension kept building until every time saw you I was torn between the pressure to fall at your feet or to flee, and-

Alec: Okay.

Ess: What?

Alec: It's okay.

Ess: It’s okay?

Alec: I'm not mad.

Ess (skeptically): You're not?

Alec: No. I would have preferred that we could have talked about this together, but I understand how important seeing Israel is to you. I'm not going to try and talk you out of it. (beat) Although, you know that I think Marshe is a complete idiot.

Ess (laughs): Yeah.

Alec (smiles slightly): You want me to talk to Josh?

Ess (smiles for a moment, and then hugs him): You're such a good guy, Alec.

Alec (sighs): I know.

Shift - main offices.

Gerrard: Josh. (Josh goes into his office)

Josh: Secretary Torrie was here?

Gerrard: She was.

Josh: How's your blood pressure?

Gerrard: It's fine.

Josh: It's fine?

Gerrard: There aren't any problems with my blood pressure.

Josh: Because sometimes you get upset.

Gerrard: Not this time.

Josh (nods, beat): Been known to throw things.

Gerrard: Josh.

Josh: Sorry.

Gerrard (sighs): She wanted... Josh, there is no pressure on you to do this, from me especially.

Josh: Do what?

Gerrard: She wants you to make a hit.

Josh (beat): Really.

Gerrard: Listen to me, you don't have to do this, okay?

Josh: Who's the mark?

Gerrard: Josh-

Josh: It's okay. Who's the mark?

Gerrard: Bonite's nephew. Uh, Raglin. He's the head of a state-side cell.

Josh: Okay. (beat) Who's the back-up?

Gerrard: After you?

Josh: Yeah.

Gerrard: Lasham.

Josh: Lasham's new.

Gerrard: He'll be alright.

Josh: She asked for me?

Gerrard: And Alec.

Josh: Don't tell-

Gerrard: Yeah.

Josh: Okay. (beat) Tell her to send the specs.

Gerrard: Okay.

Shift - Alec and Caelyn.

Caelyn: Hey, Alec.

Alec: Hey, guess what?

Caelyn: What?

Alec: I’m not taking your place in Denmark!

Caelyn (acting offended): I wasn’t-

Alec: Yes, you were.

Caelyn: Yes, I was, and I think you should hear me out.

Alec: Watch them make shoes?

Caelyn: I get confused.

Alec: Yes.

Caelyn: It’s because I’m unstable.

Alec: Again, I’m not disagreeing.

Caelyn: Too unstable to go to Denmark.

Alec: If only you could do something to prove it, like wear a dress around the camp- no, wait.

Caelyn: That’s funny.

Alec: I’m hilarious.

Caelyn: Alec.

Alec: Sorry, but I can’t help.

Caelyn: Well, then, I guess we’re not as good of friends as I thought.

Alec (sighs, beat, then brightly): Guess not.

Caelyn: Alec!

Alec: Ess tell you she was going to Israel?

Caelyn: Of course. She tells me everything.

Alec: Really?

Caelyn: No. Yes. Maybe.

Alec: Quite the flake, aren’t you?

Caelyn: I don’t want to go to Denmark.

Alec: And I don’t want Ess to go to Israel. We all have to make sacrifices.

Caelyn: Well, of course you don’t.

Alec: Why do you say that?

Caelyn: You know.

Alec: No, why do you say that?

Caelyn: Because she and Marshe used to have a thing.

Alec (freezes, beat): What?

Caelyn: I’m kidding.

Alec: Caelyn!

Caelyn: Your face went (makes a face). It was funny.

Alec: You’re very cruel.

Caelyn: Denmark makes me so.

Alec: You haven’t even been there yet.

Caelyn: I’m anticipating.

Alec: Yeah.

Shift - Hallway, Ess and Luke.

Luke: Hey, you leaving us?

Ess: I'm trying.

Luke: Israel, huh?

Ess: Yeah.

Luke: My dad got in there once.

He couldn't go anywhere without an armed escort.

Ess: Do you know why Secretary Torrie was here?

Luke: I didn't know she was.

Ess: Yeah.

Luke: Did Gerrard blow a fuse?

Ess: People really still say that?

Luke: I'm bringing it back.

Ess: Does he ever?

Luke: Gerrard?

Ess: Yeah.

Luke: I hear things.

Ess: You hear things?

Luke: The Antares Incident.

Ess (beat): What?

Luke: The Antares Incident. Alec told me.

Ess: Alec made that up.

Luke: I don't think so.

Ess: Antares is a planet on Star Trek.

Luke (beat): Am I this gullible?

Ess: No. Luke: Really?

Ess: Yeah, you are.

Luke (sighs): Thanks.

Ess: Hey, Caelyn tells me that you're meeting Adriana's parents?

Luke: Yeah. (beat) She thinks it's too soon.

Ess: It's not.

Luke: Yeah?

Ess: Not at all.

Luke: Well, thank you, Ess. I appreciate you saying that.

Ess: How much did the ring cost you?

Luke (looks at her blankly): What?

Ess: The ring. You better not have skimped. She's only going to get one of these, you know.

Luke (beat): Is there any chance at all that you two are playing me right now?

Ess: A slight one.

Luke (beat, begins to walk away): 'kay.

Ess: If you guys haven't picked a band yet, I know some people.

Shift - Prep room. Josh is packing, Caelyn is there, sitting on a table.

Caelyn: One good thing- just one.

Josh (beat): It's the setting of Hamlet.

Caelyn: The setting of Hamlet?

Josh: Yeah, with, you know, Rosencrantz and friends. (beat) I think it's kind of cool.

Caelyn: Yeah, but you're a huge nerd.

Josh (agreeably): Yeah.

Caelyn: So where are you going?

Josh: Still can't tell you.

Caelyn: Really?

Josh: Really.

Caelyn: Can't or won't?

Josh: Either.

Caelyn: 'Cause you're a sissy?

Josh: Yeah.

Caelyn: You going to whack someone?

Josh: Could you ask that with any more glee?

Caelyn laughs.

Josh: There any Tylenol in there? My head is killing me.

Caelyn (opens drawer): Most people would have said something other than Rosencrantz.

Josh: Yeah, I'm weird that way.

Caelyn (throws him pills): I was kidding, before.

Josh: Most people would have said something other than Rosencrantz.

Caelyn: I mean about you making a hit. It was a joke.

Josh: Yeah.

Caelyn: I don't really think you'd do that.

Josh (tiny beat): Yeah.

Caelyn: You okay?

Josh: My head hurts.

Caelyn: It's probably from stress.

Josh: Why would I be under any stress?

Caelyn: Because you won't tell me the secret mission and it's building up inside.

Josh: No.

Caelyn: Could be.

Josh: It's not.

Caelyn: I'm saying it's possible.

Josh: I'm saying you're wrong, and, interestingly enough, giving me a headache.

Caelyn: Okay. (beat) I get anxious.

Josh (beat): About what?

Caelyn (shrugs uncomfortably): My friends. You're going somewhere that you say isn't dangerous, but you have enough firepower to take Maine. Ess is going away without any of us. (beat) Anyway. Sometimes I get anxious.

Josh (beat): You know, I could probably take Maine with a Beretta and my thumbs, so really- (Caelyn breathes a laugh) you know I wouldn't sign off on Ess' leaving if I wasn't absolutely certain-

Caelyn: Yeah, I know. (beat) Sorry; it's left over, I think.

Josh: It's okay.

Caelyn: So... where are you going?

Josh: You really want to know?

Caelyn: Don't taunt me, Josh.

Josh (grins): I'll see you when I get back.

Caelyn: Okay. I'll be here.

Josh: Me too. (exits)

Caelyn: Better be.

Fade out.

Scene 3: Gerrard's office, late. Josh looks in.

Gerrard: Josh. How'd it go?

Josh: Lovely.

Gerrard: Josh?

Josh: He's dead. (beat) It was a good shot.

Gerrard: Yeah?

Josh (distantly): One of a kind.

Gerrard: Well, good job, then. I'll finish things up with the department. You want the, uh, the same account?

Josh (looks confused for a slight beat): Yeah.

Gerrard: You okay?

Josh: My head hurts.

Gerrard: You look pale.

Josh: I'm always pale.

Gerrard: Yeah.

Josh (beat): Caelyn said something-... before I left, Caelyn said something to me. She jokingly asked if I was making a hit, then said she doesn't think of me like that.

Gerrard: That bothered you?

Josh: Well... yeah.

Gerrard: You'd rather she did think of you like that?

Josh: No. Well, I'd rather she... she knew who I was, and was okay with it.

Gerrard: Then tell her.

Josh: And then she isn't okay with it, and things get...

Gerrard: Awkward?

Josh: Yeah.

Gerrard (beat): Can I give you some advice?

Josh: Please.

Gerrard: Take tomorrow off.

Josh: That's your advice?

Gerrard: It's good advice.

Josh: No, it's not.

Gerrard: Okay.

Josh: I can't. I need to talk to Marshe.

Gerrard: I can talk to Marshe.

Josh: Yeah, that'd be fun. I'll see you in the morning.

Gerrard: Okay.

Shift - ADTEO, Gerrard's office, morning. Conference (everyone but Kevin, Janie, and Josh)

Gerrard: Good morning. Over the past month I have been receiving numerous complaints about my agents failing to meet their domestic and academic obligations. I know some of you see these duties as meaningless and I'm here to tell you to knock it off.

Alec: Can I just-

Gerrard: No. From now on, there will be no cancellations, and there will be no rescheduling. If you are assigned a lecture, a class, or a training day, you will attend, and you will represent Sierra well.

Ess raises her hand.

Gerrard: What?

Ess: Josh isn't actually here.

Gerrard (sighs): Yeah, I know.

Ess: I only mention it because-

Gerrard: Yeah.

Ess: -he's not very reliable.

Gerrard: He wasn't feeling well.

Alec: But you went ahead with your little lecture anyway?

Gerrard: Yes, Alec, I did.

Alec: Well, I admire your bravado.

Caelyn: Josh is your favorite, isn't he?

Gerrard: At the moment?

Shift- Main offices. Elevator opens, Josh exits.

Janie: You aren't supposed to come in today!

Josh: Why not?

Janie: You're not feeling well.

Josh: I'm feeling fine.

Janie: Except you're gravely ill.

Josh: Janie-

Janie (follows him into his office): The brink of death.

Josh: Can I help you?

Janie: Gerrard said-

Josh: I'm fine.

Janie: Then why are you late?

Josh: I had to talk to Commander Marshe.

Janie: You sure you didn't collapse in the parking lot?

Josh (beat): Maybe once.

Janie: Okay, you're going home.

Josh: That was a joke.

Gerrard enters from his office.

Gerrard: Go home.

Josh: I'm fine.

Gerrard: You don't look fine.

Josh: It's a... disguise.

Gerrard: You talk to Marshe?

Josh: Yeah.

Gerrard: Then go home.

Josh: Maybe later.

Gerrard (beat, calls into his office): You guys are done.

The others come in.

Ess: Look who shows up now.

Caelyn: How was your trip?

Josh: Quick.

Alec (to Luke): I hear you're getting married.

Luke: I'm not.

Alec: Ever?

Luke: No, I mean-

Alec: Oh, to Adriana.

Luke: That's... not exactly-

Alec: She seemed nice enough to me, but I'm sure you know best.

Luke: I hope you're having fun.

Alec: I am. (to Josh) Come here.

They move to a more private area.

Josh: What's up?

Alec: You should have told me.

Josh: About what?

Alec: I would have come with you.

Josh: I neither wanted nor needed you. (beat) To be there.

Alec: Doesn't matter. You should have told me.

Josh: Yeah, because I need an extra helping of guilt right now. How'd you find out?

Alec: It was in the channels.

Josh: Does Caelyn know?

Alec: I'm sorry?

Josh: Does (rubs his forehead)... does Caelyn know?

Alec (beat): I don't think so.

Josh: Okay. (sighs) You're out. I'd be no friend to pull you back in.

Alec: I thought you were out, too.

Josh (quietly): Yeah.

Alec: You okay?

Josh: Yeah. You know, my head....

Alec: You should go home.

Josh (laughs slightly): Listen, I'm going to sign off on Ess's transfer.

Alec (nods): You talked to Marshe?

Josh: Yeah. It's low-grade, routine for our guys. It'd be solo if it were in the states. (beat) She really wants this.

Alec: You tell her yet?

Josh: No. Can you do it for me?

Alec: Seriously?

Josh: Yeah.

Alec: You know that you're basically giving me a lot of goodwill that she would otherwise show to you?

Josh (laughs): Yeah.

Alec: Okay.

Josh: I have to talk to Caelyn, then I'm going get out of here.

Alec: 'Bout what?

Josh: What?

Alec: What do you have to talk to Caelyn about?

Josh: Nothing. Prior conversation... it got left hanging. Hey, how did sailing work out?

Alec: I’m still… I haven’t…- the boat looks nice.

Josh (beat): I have to talk to Caelyn now.

Alec: You going to tell her you love her?

Josh: Get out.

Alec (laughs): Get some rest, bro. (exits)

Josh: Caelyn!

Caelyn: Hey.

Josh: Hey.

Caelyn (beat): You okay, Josh?

Josh: Yeah. Yeah, sorry. Can we talk in my office?

Caelyn: Are you firing me?

Josh (laughs slightly): No.

Caelyn: Promoting me?

Shift to office as they enter.

Josh: Not exactly.

Caelyn: Do I still have to go to Denmark?

Josh: Yeah.

Caelyn: Well... okay. But this is sounding anti-climatic already.

Josh: I'm hoping. (shuts door) (long beat) I was making a hit. That's why the Secretary was here. She wanted me to take out a state-side terrorist, and I did.

Caelyn: Josh-

Josh: I'm that guy. I worked by specialized-contract before Gerrard hired me here. (beat) I am that kind of guy. (beat) I just... I didn't want to lie to you.

Caelyn (quietly/beat): Josh, did you think I'd condemn you for killing a terrorist?

Josh: No. I thought you might find me... repulsive. That's probably not the right word. (sighs) My head hurts.

Caelyn (walks over and gives him a hug): You're a good man.

Josh (sincerely, tiredly): Thank you.

Caelyn (holds on for a moment): You should go home.

Josh: Yeah.

Caelyn: Josh, it's very sweet that you were worried about what I would think.

Josh: I wasn't worried.

Caelyn (opens door): It was sweet.

Josh: Okay, but I wasn't worried.

Caelyn: Just a bit.

Josh (smiles, beat): I'm going home now.

Caelyn: Good.

Josh exits. She sits at her desk, and smiles after a moment. Fade out.