Epiphany: 4 Events Rolled into One

 I have a Ring of Jesus-Fire 

to Guide My Decisions.

 For Those Who Understand, 

no explanation is necessary; 

For Those Who Don't, 

no explanation will suffice. 

Epiphany: 4 Events Rolled into One

EXT. 437TH CIVIL AFFAIRS COMPANY - DAY 16

 Archie sits on a folding chair facing 

COLONEL HORN, 45, who is furious. 

Soldiers and vehicles pass. 

 COLONEL HORN

 You're supposed to make her feel good 

about the stories we want, 

not push stories we don't want, 

and you don't walk away from her 

to fuck another journalist. 

 ARCHIE GATES

 I never wanted this job, Ron. 

 COLONEL HORN

 It's a great job, Arch, Your Work in Iraq was over, 

I'm trying to help you out. 

 ARCHIE GATES

 I don't even know What We Did over here. 

 COLONEL HORN

 Don't even start that with me, 

because this has been a huge success. 

ARCHIE GATES

 Oh you got your star clinched. 

 COLONEL HORN

 (touches his collar)

 It's not my fault you plateaued a long time ago, 

big-mouthed N.C.O.  at heart. 

 ARCHIE GATES

 I don't even know What 

We Did Here, Ron. 

 COLONEL HORN

 You want to occupy Iraq 

and do Vietnam again, 

is that what you want? 

ARCHIE GATES

 Fuck it, I'm retiring, anyway. 

I don't care. 

 COLONEL HORN

 Until you do, you're an Army  officer, 

and you're still taking care 

of that reporter, 

so do it right. 

Maybe she'll hook you up to 

consult with the media at home. 

ARCHIE GATES

 Fuck that. 

 INT. CAPTAIN'S TENT - DAY

 17

 SPLASH -- rubbing alcohol is poured 

over Vig's extended hand by Chief. 

 TROY

 You've washed your hands 

like a thousand times, Conrad. 

 VIG

 Lord knows what vermin live 

in the butt of a dune-koon. 

 CHIEF

 Don't say that around me. 

CHIEF

 Why do you let this cracker 

follow you around? 

 TROY

 He's all right, man, 

he's got no high school, 

he's from a group home in Dallas,

he doesn't know any better --

VIG

 Don't tell people that. 

 CHIEF

 I don't give a shit if he's from Johannesburg. 

I don't want to hear dune-koon or sand-n*gger 

from him or anybody else. 

 

VIG

Captain uses those terms -- ?

 

CHIEF

 No. 

 TROY

 No. 

 VIG

 I apologize but it's a little confusing 

with all of this pro-Saudi, 

anti-Iraqi language and all that. 

CHIEF (O.S.)

 These are definitely Saddam's bunkers 

between Karbala and Nazaria. 

 TROY

 What's inside? 

CHIEF

 According to Intel, 

Picasso, Sony, Rolex, Armani. 

Kuwait was Arab Beverly Hills 

and Saddam sacked it. 

TROY

 It would be nice to bring something home 

besides sand fleas --

 CHIEF

 Whatever, The Good Lord put this map in Our Path 

and we're gonna find something --

 TROY

 He could also put a land mine 

in our path if we go out there --

 CHIEF

 Don't Worry.  

I was Fire-Baptized,

and This Feels Safe. 

 TROY

 What the hell are you talking about? 

 CHIEF

 I have a Ring of Jesus-Fire 

to Guide My Decisions.

TROY

 I'm not following this. 

You're putting me on, right? 

 CHIEF

 For those who understand, 

no explanation is necessary; 

For those who don't, 

no explanation will suffice. 

Scene 2: Three Wise Men with Bad Senses of Direction

holy music

BABY BRIAN COHEN: 

crying

WISE MAN #1: 

Ahem.

MANDY COHEN: 

Ohhh!

whump

Who are you?

WISE MAN #1: 

We are three wise men.

MANDY: 

What?!

WISE MAN #1: 

We are three wise men.

MANDY: 

Well, what are you doing creeping around a cow shed 

at two o'clock in the morning? 

That doesn't sound very wise to me.

WISE MAN #3: 

We are astrologers.

WISE MAN #1: 

We have come from The East.

MANDY: 

Is this some kind of joke?

WISE MAN #2: 

We wish to praise the infant.

WISE MAN #1: 

We must pay homage to him.

MANDY: 

Homage? You're all drunk. 

It's disgusting. Out! 

The lot, out!

WISE MAN #1: 

No--

MANDY: 

Bursting in here with tales 

about oriental fortune tellers. 

Come on. Out!

WISE MAN #2: 

No, no. We must see him.

MANDY: 

Go and praise someone else's brat! Go on!

WISE MAN #2: 

We--

WISE MAN #1: 

We were led by A Star.

MANDY: 

Or led by a bottle, more like. 

Go on. Out!

WISE MAN #1: 

Well-- well, we must see him. 

We have brought presents.

MANDY: 

Out!

WISE MAN #2: 

Gold. Frankincense. Myrrh.

MANDY: 

Well, why didn't you say? 

He's over there. Sorry the place is 

a bit of a mess. 

Well, what is myrrh, anyway?

WISE MAN #3: 

It is a valuable balm.

MANDY: 

A balm? 

What are you giving him a balm for? 

It might bite him.

WISE MAN #3: 

What?

MANDY: 

That's a dangerous animal. 

Quick! Throw it in the trough.

WISE MAN #1: 

No, it isn't.

MANDY: 

Yes, it is. It's great, 

big mmm...

WISE MAN #3: 

No, no, no. It is an ointment.

MANDY: 

Aww, there is an animal called a balm,... 

or did I dream it? 

So, you're astrologers, are you? 

Well, what is he then?

WISE MAN #2: 

Hmm?

MANDY: 

What star sign is he?

WISE MAN #2: 

Uh, Capricorn.

MANDY: 

Uhh, Capricorn, eh? What are they like?

WISE MAN #2: 

Ooh, but... he is

The Son of God, Our Messiah.

WISE MAN #1:

King of the Jews.

MANDY: 

And that's Capricorn, is it?

WISE MAN #2: 

Uh, no, no, no. 

That's just him.

MANDY: 

Ohh, I was going to say, 

'Otherwise, there'd be 

a lot of them.' sniff

WISE MAN #1: 

By what name are you calling him?

MANDY: 

Uh, 'Brian'.

WISE MEN: 

We worship you, O Brian, 

who are Lord over us all. 

Praise unto you, Brian, 

and to the Lord, our Father. Amen.

MANDY: 

Do you do a lot of this, then?

WISE MAN #2: 

What?

MANDY: 

This praising.

WISE MAN #2: 

No, no. No, no.

MANDY: 

Er, well, um, if you're dropping by again, do pop in. Heh. 

And thanks a lot for the gold 

and frankincense, er, but don't worry too much about the myrrh next time. All right? 

Heh. Thank you! Good-bye! 

Well, weren't they nice? 

Hmm. Out of their 

bloody minds, but still.

WISE MEN leave

Look at that. Hoo hoo hoo.

WISE MEN return and grab presents

Here! Here! Here, that-- that's mine! Hee. Hey, you just gave me that! 

Oh.

whump

holy music

BABY BRIAN: 

crying

MANDY: 

Shut up. 

smack

Janeway's Third Law

• Keep Your Shirt Tucked in

• Always Go Down with The Ship

• Never Abandon a Member of Your Crew.

They'll PUSH You. 

They'll THREATEN You. 

But They NEED You. 

They NEED This Alliance. 

You HAVE to Make This WORK. 

I WANT You to Make This Work. 

GET This Crew HOME.

The Three Kings were distinguished foreigners in the Gospel of Matthew and Christian tradition. 

They are said to have visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

AMIR

That's right.

TROY

What are you doing here?

ARCHIE GATES

He helped us find you.

TROY

All right. You're all right.

He hugs Amir. Archie scans nervously.

TROY

How's your girl?

AMIR

She's Safe. For The Moment.

TROY

Outstanding. 

Excellent. 

How can we help?

AMIR

We had a deal to get us to The Border, 

but we need more vehicles for these people.

Troy moves nervously.

TROY

We're gonna work it out. 

We can do it. 

We have to work it out.

CHIEF

I'm not sure how. 

This is a lot of people.

TROY

Okay, you choose who we take. 

You tell the others it's not convenient, 

they'll have to die.

Hey -- where's Conrad?

Troy and Archie look at each other. It is silent again.

Amir hears a NOISE. They all jerk to the side, weapons

pointed. The wind blows, silently. They wait.

VIG (O.S.)

Yes. Yes. All right.

They all turn to look.

211 EXT. DESERT - NEAR OASIS BUNKER #3 - 

WIDE SHOT - DAY 211

Vig pops up in the desert, 150 yards away. 

VIG

You made it.

Vig comes running.

VIG

I thought that was you. Yeah.

Troy smiles as he steps in the direction of Vig.

Suddenly a RIFLE SHOT RINGS OUT, Troy jumps.

SLIGHTLY SLOW MOTION -- Vig is hit in the collar bone,

ONLY the SOUND of the BULLET SMASHING his FLESH and BONE.

He is jerked, falls to his knees, but gets up, keeps

staggering toward Troy, 125 yards away.

Troy looks stunned.

Archie turns sharply to his right and, in pain, wound

bleeding, FIRES a RIFLE.

A Republican Guard 150 yards to the side, drops to the

ground as Archie and Chief continue to HIT him with

GUNFIRE.

Troy runs as hard as he can toward Vig.

ARCHIE GATES

Cover him.

Chief looks around frantically with his pistol pointed.

Archie scans the area and directs three civilian riflemen to spread out.

ARCHIE GATES

Lock it down. Shoot anything that moves.

AMIR

(in Arabic)

Shoot them if they move.

Troy runs, catches the staggering Vig in his arms and

embraces him. 

Blood runs from Vig's mouth, onto Troy's

shoulder, as Vig tries to talk.

VIG

You made it, man --

Troy cries as he runs with Vig in his arms.

TROY

Help him.

Chief takes Vig from Troy's arms and carefully lays him

on the ground, cradling his head in his lap. Vig spits

blood.

VIG

What happened to the Jesus fire, Chief?

CHIEF

It's around you right now, man, 

it works on this side or the other side.

VIG

You never told me that part.

CHIEF

That's what it's all about.

VIG

I'm going to hell for this.

CHIEF

I told you, we did exactly what

Jesus asked us to do, My Man,

starting with The Gold.

VIG

Lemme go to one of them shrines

that erase the bad you did, cuz

I'm going to hell for this --

TROY

We made The Right Choice today,

Conrad.

VIG

Yeah, all right, Troy.

The hole in Vig's collar bone is pumping out blood. Troy puts his hands over it. Chief looks sad and scared as he tries to turns Vig's head to help him breathe.

CHIEF

Dear Lord watch over this man,

Help Him if You can. 

Our Father who art in heaven --

Fifty prisoners -

- children and adults -

- sit on the ground near the bunker, watch from afar.

Troy stands up looking around helplessly.

TROY

Help.

CHIEF

-- Hallowed be Thy Name, 

Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on

earth as it is in heaven --

A GUNSHOT RINGS OUT and -- SLIGHTLY SLOW MOTION -- hits Troy in the lower right chest -- and comes out again

three inches over, piercing a thin piece of his side --

with ONLY the sound of TEARING TISSUE. 

Troy looks stunned as he is spun around by the shot.

Archie spins around in the desert and looks at Troy.

ARCHIE GATES

Goddamn it.

He runs hard across the desert toward Troy.

Troy falls next to Vig and they look at each other.

Troy's eyes are wide with pain as he breathes with great difficulty -- rasping.

217 INT. TROY'S RIB CAGE 217

His breathing creates an air pocket, 

crushing his organs to the left side.

218 EXT. DESERT - NEAR OASIS BUNKER #3 - TROY'S POV 218

thru thru

221 LOOKING UP AT Chief, who is saying something to Troy, 221

there's NO SOUND -- except Troy's LABORED BREATHING.

The POV TURNS TO the side -- Vig is no longer breathing.

Archie and Amir step INTO FRAME. Archie looks down at

Troy, opens his waist pack, pulls out a sterile wrapped

scalpel.

221 CONTINUED: 221

Troy's POV TURNS TO the side --

FISH-EYE LENS

The Jaguar pulls up in SLIGHTLY SLOW MOTION.

Amir's little girl gets out of the passenger side,

SLIGHTLY SLOW MOTION, NO SOUND. 

Amir scolds her and gesticulates, indicating she should be back with the others where it is safe. 

The little girl embraces Amir and stares down at Troy over her father's shoulder.

EXT. DESERT

Troy's eyes are wide, staring up at the girl as he has

great difficulty breathing. Archie rolls Troy's shirt

up, exposing Troy's chest, with the bullet wound. Archie points to a spot on Troy's upper chest, near the collar bone --

Chief squeezes a small tube of brown disinfectant gel

onto this spot -- the only sounds are the SQUIRT of the

OINTMENT and TROY'S BREATHING.

Archie looks nervous, then focused as he brings the shiny

metal scalpel down. Troy is in great pain as he watches

Archie plunge the scalpel into his upper chest. Archie

twists the scalpel to open the incision wide --

There is a pronounced HISSING as trapped AIR RUSHES OUT.

Huge relief comes over Troy's face as he breathes

normally.

REGULAR SOUND FADES BACK IN, the first sound is the

GIRL'S THIN, INTERMITTENT HUMMING --

TROY'S POV (FROM GROUND)

LOOKING UP.

ARCHIE GATES

I've been waiting 18 years to get that right.

He tears open a short IV tube and plunges the IV into the

scalpel hole. 

There is a small valve on the end of the tube, which he tightens.

A GUNSHOT sounds -- Archie turns and looks over --

222 EXT. DESERT - OASIS BUNKER #3 - DAY 222

Five civilian riflemen chase down and SHOOT, at 30 yards, the last Iraqi gunner in the desert.

Troy sits up slowly and watches for a moment.

223 EXT. OASIS BUNKER #3 - FRONT - LATER 223

thru thru

224 The Twins and Amir wrap Vig's body in cloth while they 224 chant; Troy, Chief, and Archie watch and chant also.

Troy cries.

Civilian women and children chant and pray around Vig's corpse as it lies in the open trunk of the Jaguar. Troy and Chief do a muted version of Vig's karate arm dance as they look down at his corpse -- only Vig's closed eyes are visible now.

CHIEF

He wanted to go to one of those shrines.

TROY

(tearful)

Did he say that?

Chief nods.

AMIR

Kajatar in Iran. We can take him.

Archie takes Vig's glasses off.

ARCHIE GATES

Good. Take him there.

Troy tightens Vig's wrapping.

225 EXT. DESERT/OASIS BUNKER #3 - LATER 225

Troy sits in a folding chair nearby. He looks pained

and uncomfortable.

ARCHIE GATES

Air pressure will build up about every fifteen minutes. Release the valve, close it up again.

Archie unscrews the valve on the tube in Troy's chest,

and AIR HISSES out. 

Troy looks relieved. 

Archie closes the valve.

TROY

How long can I keep doing this?

ARCHIE GATES

Maybe four hours, if you're not bleeding too bad inside.

TROY

I'm really thirsty.

AMIR

There's no water anywhere.

CHIEF

(to Archie)

You're hooked for the call.

LATER. Archie operates a radio hooked up to a car battery.

ARCHIE GATES

(into the radio)

Bolo, this is Brer Rabbit, do you read me?

TROY

We're going to jail.

ARCHIE GATES

No, We're Not.

Chief watches, tense.

ARCHIE GATES

(into the radio)

Bolo, this is Brer Rabbit.

226 EXT. DESERT - WALTER - DAY 226

Walter drives the dune buggy, nude, wearing his helmet

with radio attachment. Cruz and Paco ride along. Walter

picks up his handset. Archie is heard in a CRACKLING

RADIO transmission.

WALTER

(into radio)

This is Bolo, come in.

ARCHIE GATES (V.O.)

Where are you?

WALTER

(into radio)

About two clicks outside camp.

ARCHIE GATES (V.O.)

We're about ready for the briar

patch, over.

WALTER

(into the radio)

Right.

He looks uncertain, worried. 

Adriana tries to grab the radio.

ADRIANA CRUZ

Let me talk to him. 

I want to know where he is.

WALTER

Ma'am, please. I'm transmitting a code goddamn it.

ARCHIE GATES (V.O.)

You got me, Bolo?

WALTER

I think so -- who handles the briar patch?

ARCHIE GATES (V.O.)

You do.

WALTER

Oh, okay, and the Tar Baby goes to the briar patch if everything's okay, right?

ARCHIE GATES (V.O.)

No, the other way around.

WALTER

Right. Shit, I don't remember how

the code goes, sir, I'm sorry --

INTERCUT WITH:

227 EXT. DESERT/OASIS BUNKER #3 - ARCHIE - DAY 227

who looks exasperated. He is sweating with a fever and

his arm hurts.

ARCHIE GATES

I need three personnel trucks and a humvee.

WALTER

That's a tall order for a secret op, sir.

ARCHIE GATES

Talk to my friend Teebaux. 

Each driver will get 100K.

WALTER

Did you say 100K?

ARCHIE GATES

Roger. Brer Rabbit at 239 North.

Add one medavac pack to the order,

and be sure to bring the reporter.

WALTER

Roger. Give me two hours.

(turns to Adriana)

Don't ever grab my helmet like that, ma'am, not ever. 

And don't mess with me when I'm working a code.

228 INT. BUNKER #3 - SNOW GLOBE ROOM - CLOSEUP - SNOW GLOBE - 228

DAY

is shaken and little green dollars swirl inside the

little world, settling upon an early desert oasis, old

buildings, palm trees, donkeys, Three Kings, peasants

carrying the baby Jesus, and a Mobil gas station.

WIDEN to reveal hundreds of snow globes are pulled from the shelves and put into old cloth bags.

229 EXT. OASIS BUNKER #3 - DAY 229

Chief cracks open a snow globe with pliers as all the

water and dollars drain out. Amir filters the water

through a cheese cloth held above an urn.

CLOSE ON PLASTIC THREE KINGS AND BABY JESUS with the Mobil gas station glistening in the wet palm of Archie's hand.

BACK TO SCENE

Archie looks at the Three Kings in his hand.

Troy cracks open a snow globe, filters water with an Iraqi civilian.

Dozens of civilians are doing the same.

Archie passes an urn to some parched civilians who drink the water thirstily. Troy, Chief do the same. Archie turns to Chief.

We MUST Do NOTHING.

WE WILL BEGIN.

(A Borg grabs Janeway and pushes her to her knees. Another grabs Tuvok.) 

TUVOK : 

What are you doing?

THE BORG : 

A NEURAL TRANSCEIVER 

IS REQUIRED FOR 

MAXIMUM COMMUNICATION. 

WE WILL WORK 

AS ONE MIND.

JANEWAY : 

NO. That WASN’T 

The Agreement.

THE BORG : 

THE NEURAL LINK 

IS TEMPORARY.

YOU WILL NOT 

BE DAMAGED.

JANEWAY: 

I Don't CARE —

I prefer to communicate 

verbally, THANK YOU.

THE BORG : 

YOUR PRIMITIVE COMMUNICATION 

IS INEFFICIENT.

TUVOK : 

On the contrary --

We work better with 

Our Individuality intact. 

Surely, we've proven that to you by now.

THE BORG : 

IRRELEVANT. 

YOU MUST COMPLY.

JANEWAY:

 We MUST Do NOTHING. 

Tell your drone to remove the transceiver. 

….What about choosing 

a representative? 

A SINGLE Borg we can 

Work with and Talk to Directly.

THE BORG : 

ELABORATE.

JANEWAY : 

You've Done it BEFORE — 

When you transformed Jean-Luc Picard into Locutus. 

We Will NOT Be Assimilated. 

Choose A Representative 

or The Deal's OFF.

(The neural transceivers are removed from their necks. A door opens, and a Borg is released from its alcove. It walks towards them. This one is clearly human female, with an hour-glass figure.) 

SEVEN of NINE,

Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix 01 : 

I Speak for The Borg.

An Honest Boy

Caught in Providence: An Honest Boy

Truth & Reconciliation

Desmond Tutu and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission | 60 Minutes Archive

Desmond Tutu’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

heard Testimony from apartheid’s worst criminals 

in exchange for a chance at amnesty. 

In 1997, Bob Simon reported on the commission.

Archie, Troy, The Chief & Conrad, Too.

In the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War, 

four soldiers set out to steal Gold 

that was stolen from Kuwait, 

but they discover people 

who desperately need their help.

Archie, Troy, The Chief 

& Conrad, Too.

Cocteau

Jean Cocteau speaks to the year 2000, subtitled - 1962

"Vengeance is Mine," Sayeth The Lady-Version

"Vengeance is Mine," 

Sayeth The Lord;

And if that ain't reason enough 

to convince you that 

God is a Woman, 

then I can't see any way 

in which anything else

ever COULD --

HE WHO REMAINS: 

No. 

(CHUCKLES) 

No. Nope, this is where we diverge from The Dogma. 

That first variant encountered a creature 

created from all the tears in Reality, 

capable of consuming Time and Space Itself.

A Creature… You both know.

LOKI: 

Alioth.

HE WHO REMAINS: 

Bingo! I harnessed The Beast’s Power 

and began experimenting on it.

 

I weaponized Alioth and I ended… 

I ended The Multiversal War. 

Once I isolated Our timeline, all I had to do was manage the flow of time and prevent any further branches. 

Hence, The TVA. 

Hence, the Time-Keepers and a highly efficient bureaucracy. Hence, ages… 

(GRUNTS) 

…and ages of cosmic harmony. 

Hence… You’re Welcome. 

… You came to Kill The Devil, right? 

(CHUCKLES) 

Well, guess what? 

I keep you safe. 

And if you think I’m evil, well, 

just wait till you meet my variants. … And that’s the gambit! Stifling order or cataclysmic chaos. (CHUCKLES) You may hate the dictator, but something… (EXHALES DEEPLY) …far worse is gonna fill that void if you depose of him. I’ve lived a million lifetimes. I’ve gone through every scenario. This is the only way. The TVA, it works.

SYLVIE: Or you’re a liar.

HE WHO REMAINS: Or I’m a liar.

LOKI: So you just… continue to prune innocent timelines?

HE WHO REMAINS: Mmm-mmm. You two would. There’s two options! One… you kill me and destroy all this, so you don’t just have one devil, you have an infinite amount. Or… you two. You two run the thing.

LOKI: You’re lying. Why would you give up being in control?

HE WHO REMAINS: (SIGHS) Buddy… I’m tired. And I’m older. I’m older than I look. This game is for the young, the hungry. I’ve gone through a lot of scenarios… trying to find the right person to take this spot. It turns out that person came in two. (EXHALES) But it’s definitely you two. So, no more lies. You kill me and the Sacred Timeline is completely exposed. Multiversal War. Or you take over and return to the TVA as its benevolent rulers. Tell the workforce who they are and why they do what they do.

SYLVIE: You treated real people’s lives like some kind of game.

HE WHO REMAINS: It’s not personal, it’s practical.

SYLVIE: It was personal to me.

HE WHO REMAINS: (GROANS) Grow up! Grow up, Sylvie! Murderer! Hypocrite! We’re all villains here. (CHUCKLES) We’ve all done horrible, terrible, horrific things. But now, we, you… have a chance to do them for a good reason.

(DISTANT RUMBLING)

HE WHO REMAINS: We just crossed… the threshold. (CHUCKLES)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

HE WHO REMAINS: Oh. So, I fibbed. I fibbed earlier when I said I know how everything’s going to go. I… I know… I knew… (CHUCKLES) …everything up to a certain point, and that point was about… seven, eight, nine, ten seconds ago. But now I have no idea. No idea how the rest of this is going to go. I’m being candid.

(HE WHO REMAINS EXHALES DEEPLY)

LOKI: So, that’s it? That’s it? This is what happens at the end of time? And now you’re just gonna sit there with all that freedom and… let us decide your fate?

HE WHO REMAINS: Yes! Yes! Yes! What’s the worst that can happen? You either… take over and my life’s work continues or you plunge a blade in my chest and an infinite amount of me… start another Multiversal War. And I just… end up right back here anyways. (CHUCKLES) Reincarnation, baby.

SYLVIE: No, it’s just another lie. Another manipulation.

HE WHO REMAINS: Oh. No lie. No manipulation.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(HE WHO REMAINS SIGHS)

HE WHO REMAINS: Wow. (CHUCKLES) I love this. I love… all this honesty. … Feels like a fresh start. … Oh, holy…

(LOKI GRUNTS)

SYLVIE: What’re you doing?

LOKI: Hang on a moment. Let’s just talk about it.

SYLVIE: Well, how about we finish what we started and kill him?

(GRUNTS)

(BOTH GRUNTING)

LOKI: What if he’s telling the truth?

SYLVIE: So what?

LOKI: I believe him.

SYLVIE: Believe what? That a bazillion boogeymen will turn up just because we give people free will? He’s a liar, Loki.

LOKI: So am I. (PANTING) And I don’t think he was lying. Not about that. Insane? Yes. But maybe he was telling the truth.

HE WHO REMAINS: Better hurry. Timeline’s already branching.

SYLVIE: So, what are you suggesting?

LOKI: That we think about it.

SYLVIE: And what precisely is there to think about?

LOKI: Weren’t you listening to what he was saying? That’s the gambit. Remove the dictator and what fills the void?

SYLVIE: Ah. You want the throne?

LOKI: No, that’s not it. No.

SYLVIE: I don’t believe you.

LOKI: Sylvie, the universe is in the balance, everything we know to be true. Everything. I know the TVA has hurt us both. But what if by taking him out, we risk unleashing something even worse? All I’m suggesting is we just take a minute to think about it. I promise you from my heart this isn’t about a throne.

SYLVIE: What was I thinking trusting you? Has this whole thing been a con?

LOKI: Really? That’s what you think of me… after all this time? Sure. Why not? Evil Loki’s master plan comes together. Well, you never trusted me, did you? What was the point? Can’t you see? This is bigger than our experience. 

 SYLVIE: Why aren’t we seeing this the same way?

LOKI: Because you can’t trust… and I can’t be trusted.

SYLVIE: Then I guess we’re in a pickle.

LOKI: Sylvie, wait. (PANTING) Wait.

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(GRUNTS AND GROANS)

LOKI: Sylvie. Sylvie.

(SYLVIE GRUNTS)

LOKI: Maybe he’s lying! Maybe he’s not. The cost of getting this wrong is too great.

SYLVIE: 

Fine. Do it. Kill Me. 

Take your throne.

LOKI: No.

(SYLVIE GRUNTING)

(GRUNTS)

LOKI: Sylvie, stop. Stop.

(SWORD CLANKS)

(BOTH PANTING)

LOKI: Stop.

(SYLVIE BREATHING HEAVILY)

LOKI: 

Stop.

(SYLVIE SNIFFLES)

LOKI: 

I’ve been where you are. 

I’ve felt what you feel. 

Don’t ask me how I know. 

All I know… is 

I don’t wanna hurt you. 

I don’t want a throne. 

I just… (SIGHS) 

I just want you to be okay.

(SYLVIE SNIFFLING)

(SIGHS)

(SWORD CLANKS)

SYLVIE: But I’m not you.

(GRUNTS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

HE WHO REMAINS: Incredible. (LAUGHING)

SYLVIE: Aren’t you gonna beg for your life?

HE WHO REMAINS: Um, could, could. (CHUCKLES) … (GRUNTS) I’ll see you soon. (CHUCKLES)

(SOMBER MUSIC CONTINUES)

(SYLVIE CRYING)

(CRACKLING)

(RAPID BEEPING)

MOBIUS: No turning back now.

Who said anything about turning back?

“For all time.”

“Always.”

(LOKI SIGHS)

MAN: Copy. Reporting to the armory, sir.

That’s, what, 63 new branches in this unit alone?

Does he want us to just let them all branch?

At this point, how are we gonna stop it?

LOKI: We can’t!

What? What’d you say?

LOKI: It’s done, Mobius. We made a terrible mistake.

What’s done?

(MOUTHING) What?

LOKI: We freed the Timeline. We found him beyond the storm. A Citadel at the End of Time. He’s terrifying. He planned everything. He’s seen everything. He knows everything. It’s complicated. Okay?

Right.

LOKI: But someone is coming. Countless different versions of a very dangerous person. And they’re all set on war. We need to prepare.

Take it easy. You’re an analyst, right? What division are you from?

LOKI: What? What are you talking about?

Who are you? What’s your name?

Boots on the ground now. Archives.

Who are you?

(LOKI BREATHING HEAVILY)

(SHUDDERS)