“SWORD & ROSE” Part 4
- MARK
- (To himself):
Seems like a lot of muscle for a fashion shoot.
- TECHNICIAN:
The Professor wants you for the “social interaction exercise”.
- LAURA
- (pointing at the sandals):
I say, I rather doubt those will fit you.
- LAURA
- (small giggle):
Shy? How adorable. (Whispers while taking his free hand). I know a more private spot. (She takes him into a spare bedroom. He closes and locks the door, as he does she lays on the bed in a seductive pose.)
- LAURA:
So, shy boy, what brings you to our studio?
- MARK
- (moving closer to the side of the
bed):
My friend was here today for the fashion shoot, and the silly minx forgot her shoes. I’m just here to collect them for her. Maybe you know her, Rose Campion.
- LAURA:
Of course I know Rose...but there was no photo shoot...only dress rehearsal for tonight’s command performance. And I’m quite sure she has no need for those things. (She lifts her left foot, points it at the sandals, and then rubs her toes on the side of his leg.). You see, our company is a barefoot school, a la Isadora Duncan.
- MARK
- (sitting on the side of the
bed):
Tell me more about this Dance Rose is going to perform.
- LAURA:
Plenty of time for talk later, shy boy. (She quickly pulls him down and begins kissing him passionately. Mark tries to gently push her away, but after a second gives in and kisses her back. Fade out.
- WEMBLY:
Sir...that’s far too heavy for you.
- Control:
Er...thanks, I suppose.
(He sits at his desk, takes out a large cigar and lights it. He is shocked when Wembly takes the cigar and pushes it into an ashtray.)WEMBLY!!!! What the blazes are you doing?
- WEMBLY :
Sir...you know Dr. Bloom wouldn’t approve.
- CONTROL:
What does bloody Dr. Bloom have to do with it?
- WEMBLY:
Lady Rose came to me...sir, she told me about your heart.
- CONTROL:
WHAT?
- WEMBLY:
Don’t be cross with Lady Rose, sir. She had to tell me about your retirement so I can help her take over commanD of Rapier.
- Control
- (Close up on his beet red
face):
Wembly, you twit.....sit down and tell me all about your talk with Agent Campion.
- MARK
- (somewhat breathlessly):
I....I think we need a breather...you haven’t told me your name....
- Laura:
I’m Laura. (She begins kissing his neck). And who are you?
- Mark:
I’m.....wait...let’s just say I’m a friend...if you could just stop that for a second so we can have a proper conversation.
- Laura
- (giggling):
But that’s so unfair...I told the shy boy my name, and....
- MARK
- (Concerned):
What’s the matter, darling?
- THUG:
Comrade...you need to convince Comrade Professor that the girls need longer seduction training sessions.
- TECHNICIAN:
Enough, Comrade. You need to get his bags to the limo. He’ll be wanting to leave after giving the ladies their final instructions. (Their voices fade. Mark goes back to near the living room entranceway, staying again just around the corner, his gun out.
- ZINOVIEV:
Well done, Barbara and Lisa. I’m told you performed brilliantly in your “social interaction exercise”. My ballerinas must always be ready to use their charms to get information from men. Laura, I apologize that I had to take a call.....you and I will rehearse your seductive skills someday, in the future. (Shot of Laura’s entranced face).
(Face shot of Zinoviev. Turns to the Technician). Once they have completed the final exercise, you can take them from here and return them to their normal lives. You shouldn’t need it, but I am leaving a micro recorder with you just in case you need to re-trigger one of them. When you are done, report to the Melbourne safe house.
(Turns back to the women)There are enemies out back. In a moment, you will go to the table just outside of the back door, arm yourselves, and eliminate all of our enemies in the training area. After you have completed this exercise, Pavel will speak to you, but you will hear my voice come from him. You will see him as your Dance Master. You will hear Pavel as your Dance Master, and you will obey him just as you obey me. Now go.
- LAURA:
Enemy.....I must kill our enemies.....
- MARK
- (Face shot):
Laura....it’s me Mark....the shy boy....I’m going to get you and your friends out of....
- LAURA:
Kill....the enemy...kill.....
- MARK:
Laura....what are you talking about....snap out of it.
- CONTROL:
Blade! Where the devil have you been?
- MARK
- (Driving at high speed):
You need to send a team to 5091 Kallawaloo Road. There’s a hostile there and three girls...Watch them as well....they’re being controlled somehow. Sir...I’m afraid Rose also has been.......
- CONTROL:
Brainwashed. We know. The intelligence sweep on that passport turned up gold. The man in the photo is a known KGB operative in their psi ops division...goes by the codename “Dance Master”. CIA has a Russian defector who claims this Dance Master is their top expert in Hypnosis...that he’s perfected a way to control women by stimulating neural pathways in the soles of their feet. CIA thought it rubbish but...
- MARK:
It’s not rubbish at all, sir....I saw this Dance Master in action. Any idea where Rose is now? One of the girls said she was performing a ballet tonight.
- CONTROL:
Not the foggiest. I was hoping she was with you. I am afraid this all has something to do with the summit.
- MARK:
At least she doesn’t know about Carrington House. (Shot of Wembly looking guilt stricken. Shot of Control.)
- Control:
She does Blade.... thanks to our besotted Horace Wembly. A few minutes of playing footsie with him, and he sang like a canary.
- MARK:
if Rose was half as good as the bird I met at the house....well I wouldn’t be too harsh on Wembly. You better call Agent Harris and warn him about Rose.
- CONTROL:
My thought exactly.......Agent Blade...Mark....you know that if our Rose has been programmed to harm anyone at the summit...you must stop her by......any means. Any means, do you hear me?
- MARK:
Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. He hangs up.
- ROSE:
You got me, dead to rights, Agent Harris.
- HARRIS
- (Whirling around):
Agent Campion...(relaxes, re-holsters his pistol)..you gave me a start....I thought Control wanted you out of this job.
- ROSE
- (friendly):
You know ole sly boots....that’s what he wanted everyone to think. Freed me up to act as his lone wolf, so I could covertly back up you lads. What’s the current status?
- HARRIS:
All good until a minute ago. Our beach sentries just missed a radio check, and I can’t raise them. You were just down there....anything odd?
- ROSE:
They seemed fine when I was there, must be some communications foul up. (She stops, and points towards the bay). Wait..isn’t that one of them over there?
- HARRIS:
Where...I don’t see anything, where are you pointing? (There is a thud, then Harris turns towards Rose, a feathered dart sticking out of his neck. He crumples to the deck. Rose, now blankly entranced, kneels next to him and takes his walkee talkee radio, and a code book from his jacket. Close up of her blank face as she opens the code book. After looking for a moment. She places the radio to her head. Though her face looks blank, her voice sounds normal.)
- ROSE:
Attention all Rapier personnel on site. This is is Agent Campion. I am taking command of the mission. Command override Fox Baker 557. Rapier Australia has been compromised. Agents from Rapier Singapore are arriving to take over. All units are to cooperate with Rapier Singapore agents. Radio silence is now in effect.. (She changes the channel on the radio. Her voice is now a hypnotised monotone. Close up of her entranced face).
Dance Master...this is Prima, Dance Master, this is Prima, over. (There is inaudible speach from the radio.) This is Prima....the stage is set. I repeat the stage is set.....over.
- CONTROL
- (on the radio):
Harris this is Control, over. This is a secure line, your ears only. Command ID Victor Victor 2792. Harris...answer me...over.....Agent Rose Campion has been compromised and is not to be trusted, over......