The Net (1998–1999): Season 1, Episode 14 - Lucy's Life - full transcript
Folks, we'll be pulling into Island Falls,
Maine in about 20 minutes...
home of the Maine Academy of Music
and Performing Arts.
Want that?
You know, sometimes I wonder
if this is just a wild-goose chase.
I mean, why would my mom and dad
even be with Lucy's parents?
Well, I think that that picture
is going to lead us to another one of us...
and then to your dad.
I mean, your parents with Lucy Delillo
circa Copper Canyon...
and Lucy's parents died.
What, I mean, let's say that
Mr Delillo did work with my dad.
It doesn't mean that Lucy knows
where we can find him.
It doesn't mean... I mean, she might
not even know about Copper Canyon.
Though, I mean,
she did pose this picture.
I mean, this is the only one
that she wasn't in.
Everything in the web page is like:
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.
And then she puts this one on
with my mom and dad. Wow.
Look how young she looks there.
Well, I think that we have to make sure
Lucy is one of us before we show our hand.
You know, and if she isn't aware
of Copper Canyon...
Well, I think about how it's
changed your life and I don't know...
Sometimes I wonder
if I did the best thing telling you.
Yeah?
Maybe it's better not to know.
- Come on, I'll give you a ride.
- Okay.
- Where the hell you going?
- The dance studio. Come on!
Hi. I'm sorry I'm late.
I knew you were coming.
I love what you've done with your hair.
- Thanks.
- Looks nice.
- Well, I've noodled your offer and...
- Yes?
-...I'm in. Definitely.
- All right.
Well, everything is as we agreed.
The lawyer's addenda is included.
Baby, I'm going to make you a star.
My name is Angela Bennett.
I discovered a group of computer terrorists.
They erased my life.
They made me into a criminal.
I am not going to stop
until I get my life back.
But if they did this to me,
they could do this to you.
Mr Brand wants you to know personally...
he loves your idea and can't wait to hear it.
Hold, please.
Brand New Productions. Mr Brand's office.
And who's calling?
Mr Brand's on another call.
He'll have to return. What's your number?
Thanks a lot.
Hi. Sorry. How about in two months?
I'll pencil it in. Thanks a bunch now.
Look, I want to make this deal,
but you're asking the impossible.
Nobody's ever grabbed the gold ring
playing it safe.
The girl's only a minor celebrity. Okay?
A million hits a day does not
a TV show, mate.
No. But I'm going to make her a star.
So if you want her now,
I'm a reasonable man.
I'll give you another chance.
You can buy my show now.
What show? There is no show.
There is no show until I get the studio
to give you the money to make the show.
That's not gonna happen
'cause you got a problem.
- Know what your problem is?
- My problem?
Reality. All right?
Your idea, it's not like Cops where...
you know, it's taped live
chasing down some crack heads...
some guy just whacked his wife.
You've got reality that's, you know...
It's reality.
It's boring, everyday crap. So what?
So I can see a girl get in the shower
once a day. Big deal.
Someone relieves themselves.
That's not interesting.
Who wants to watch that?
The price of my show just doubled.
What are you talking about?
There is no show.
Tripled.
What kind of way is this to do business?
Babe, I'll expect to hear from you.
Hi, Brand New Productions.
Thank you for calling us back.
We'll recognise her
from her art project on the web.
Are you sure
you don't wanna take my place?
What will I do in art school?
I'm all numbers and patterns.
That's what I do.
You, on the other hand, abstract ideas.
The left side of the brain
you can depend on.
I wouldn't consider my computer
graphic skills exactly artistic. Come on.
Maybe even better than
your data chasing talents. What a brain.
You got a perfect set of lobes,
and I don't mean just these.
- How does your nana put up with you?
- Everybody loves a scoundrel.
I am so sorry.
Your first day and already we leave you
waiting here like this.
I'm the dorm prefect Lucy Delillo. Hi.
- Hi.
- And this is Dain our exchange student.
- Hi, I'm Angela.
- Dain.
I can't stay.
The Art Department has assigned me
a space for my show. It sucks.
It's my fault that we're late.
And he can't hang. I got held up.
Somebody pulled a gun on you?
Your boyfriend?
No, he's my younger brother.
Oh, that's so sweet.
And you're helping her move in.
- I just adore siblings that get along.
- I gotta go think, all right?
Later.
Don't touch anything
on my side of the room.
But make yourself at home.
Well, as you know,
you'll be rooming with Dain.
And the two of you, my roommate and I
share a common bathroom.
You'll meet Belinda later.
She is a freak extraordinaire.
Now, you know
from the literature I've sent you...
that there are cameras recording my life.
Well, the thing is,
I've added one to the bathroom.
In the bathroom?
Well, if you want, you can use the bathroom
in the theatre dressing rooms.
They never run out of hot water
and it's not that far away.
Okay, well...
I mean, you know,
I told you that I'm kind of shy...
and I like to keep a low profile.
But I know what I'm getting into. I know.
As long as the theatre bathrooms
aren't haunted.
Well, anyway, here's the contract.
- I'll get it back from you tonight.
- Okay.
And here is your dorm packet.
The key is inside and, really,
I'm so sorry that you had to wait.
- I'll see you later. Okay?
- Okay.
The idea, Mr Trelawney,
you can't kill it if it's a good one.
- People always try.
- Especially if it is a good one, sir.
Tell me yours.
I ran across this and posted it on the Net.
Bennett.
In what I think is a very unusual way...
through a young woman
I made contact with named Lucy Delillo.
Our most recent deep search on Bennett
popped up Lucy's parents, first time.
Lucy's mother seated looking out at us...
her father making goo-goo eyes
at Angela's mother.
Bennett with Copper Canyon
fresh in the trader's mind...
the impulse to hide his face still there.
Once he broke away from us,
he knew we'd never stop looking for him.
So you think posting this on the Net
can catch him or his daughter?
Angela.
Quite probably. Put her in FBI hands.
And once she begins to trust them,
she'll disclose her father's location.
If she knows it.
Our bureau's source assures me
the intelligence as they get it, sir.
I figured a way to translate the trap...
into $10 million cash, untraceable.
Lucy wants to be a star.
Right now, she's a semi-notable on the Net.
Her website, a first of its kind,
for curiosity...
but a blip in the celebrity marketplace.
Now...
I've singled out a tinseltown exec,
last month's flavour...
third generation, never had to struggle
with anything but his next thought.
So he needs a deal.
And Lucy will be it.
It would be good for you if this worked out.
I wouldn't necessarily want to include you...
in any of the changes that I'm making.
You've always been more than
just head of security, Trelawney.
At least in your own mind.
Maybe I'm beginning to see that, too.
I'll consider that a compliment, sir.
By the way, tell me
how is the chairman's rehab progressing?
Getting better every day.
Now how do you plan
to assemble the $10 mil?
Well, I wish I could help you
carry this stuff all the way inside.
So the whole world could see us together.
A sorcerer always hides his shadows.
So, you ready to plunge into Lucy's life?
At least she's got one.
Okay.
Oh, you look great.
See you later.
- Got all that?
- Yeah, I got it.
- Got the door?
- Get over here.
Thank you. Bye.
Make sure
you log all those transmissions accurately.
Yes.
Don't overlook that.
So do you have any pictures
of your parents?
Well, yeah,
I thought you wanted pictures of me.
Well, I wanna do a graphic thing,
you know, like your whole life.
How often do you get the opportunity
to do a bio on somebody...
when they're doing something
for the first time, while they're doing it?
Right. It's like I'm commenting on my life
while I'm commenting on my life.
- Right.
- I've got to pee.
How do you do that?
I can't imagine just doing everything
in front of the cameras.
Are you kidding?
I once did it standing like a guy
just so they could see.
I mean, why should they have the monopoly
on standing erect...
in any capacity for that matter.
That's our sweet little Belinda.
You can see
why I picked her as a roommate.
She works very well on camera.
Yeah, you know,
I was interested in your parents...
because, you know, it would add
to the story like in contrast: then to now.
Okay.
I'm sure there's some in here somewhere
from when I was a kid.
Well, there was that one on the site,
you know, it was on for a while.
Of my parents?
Yeah, New Year's Eve, 1968.
Oh, I remember that one.
Yeah.
So why were you posting that one?
I mean, you weren't in it.
No reason.
Well, there must've been something special.
I mean, there must've been something.
Well, my father...
My mother, she was happy then.
I mean, not that
she wasn't generally happy...
I just remember her telling me
that she was really happy around then.
When she died,
I don't think either of them were.
Sometimes I wonder...
do I need all this attention
because I lost them?
Well. Here, knock yourself out.
- Hey, you.
- Hey.
- What is this?
- Genius, maybe.
He's been at it for, like, four hours.
He stops every once in a while
and rests for like 15 or so.
- How about a doughnut?
- I'd love one. So did you find a motel?
- Marlon's gonna let me stay at his place.
- Who's Marlon?
Are you guys going to talk
some grey matter?
To the wee ones, cool cat.
- Two doughnuts, please.
- Yes.
You know,
he's got this whole MIDI thing set up.
He plays music non-stop except for
a few winks, like, every six or seven hours.
- How'd you do?
- Bust.
If Lucy knows anything about
Copper Canyon, she's not letting it on.
And there were no more pictures
of my parents.
So, you see,
the essence of what you're doing...
and what we're imagining together...
can be upped, taken to the next level.
What we're suggesting
is raising the level of reality.
Right. Right.
- Past the surreal and into the meta-real.
- Precisely.
- Well...
- Yeah?
Sounds like an idea. All right.
You're sure?
Because I do not want to spoil your vision,
my dear.
Well, if it's going to make me a star.
What about the roommate?
Oh, Belinda? Don't worry about her.
She never sleeps in the dorm.
She has more lovers than piercings.
Artists.
Artists.
This is some empty space.
What?
Nothing but possibility.
- And what do you know about it?
- Possibility?
About the space.
- Don't you feel it?
- What?
Anarchy at your fingertips.
Disgust with bourgeois values...
and anything organised.
The blue guitar.
Rebellion against everything...
a priori, affirming opposites...
being for anyone who is against me.
Critical paranoia...
a truth when I find it.
Futurism in a whole lot of...
And any other kind of...
jiratory transformation...
I'm lucky enough to collide with...
in this empty space.
That was neat.
- So you're like an artist also?
- Also?
And just
what's that supposed to mean exactly?
It means that somebody...
should revoke your artistic license,
l'artiste.
- You know what? You should get out.
- I will.
I will, but you remember...
-wherever you go--
- Get out!
The Net is Dada.
Lucy and Angela are both included
in our Copper Canyon family.
We've matched contours. It's Angela.
Shall I pay her a visit?
No, just Lucy.
I'll be there.
Kidnapping is a federal crime.
Someone's gotta take the blame,
which is why she's there.
You just get Lucy.
All I want to do
is make the show more exciting.
I'm going to get my camera.
I'll meet you guys there.
- Don't start without me.
- You got it.
Who you bringing?
Yeah, you want to take...
Well, let's stop at my place first.
Yeah, okay. Great.
Let's make this look real.
Okay. Okay.
But you don't have to really hurt me.
Welcome to show business.
Oh, my God.
Angela.
Angela, help me.
Belinda?
Oh, my God.
Come here.
- What happened?
- They took Lucy.
We're here live at the Maine Academy
of Music and Performing Arts.
First on the scene where last night
campus coed Lucy Delillo was taken.
All of it captured live on camera.
The whereabouts of Lucy Delillo
remain a mystery.
What is no mystery, Brian...
is that the world's first live...
on-camera kidnapping
has occurred on the Net.
The presence of absence.
We're thinking of her,
and we're talking of her...
and yet she's not here.
Maybe you misunderstood me.
I asked you if you knew
where your roommate was.
I can see that she's not here.
- But do you appreciate that she's not here?
- I have a shooting, a kidnap.
And your roommate hasn't been seen
since it happened.
I wonder if you can appreciate that.
And if you can't find it in your heart
to speak English...
I have a friend down at INS who would
just love to have a look at your student visa.
My roommate is a cyber artist.
Check the design school.
That's where all the hot-rod computers are.
So you're an art student.
What else?
Well, you could draw me a picture of her.
I'm an artist.
I don't draw.
Okay.
Connecting to the dorm room...
activating the AV to my computer.
They brought the feds down on us.
You had to call 911.
You saved Belinda's life.
Stupid.
Poor Lucy.
Well, the price of fame
just went through the roof.
The world's first Internet ransom.
- Woman continues to break new ground.
- This isn't funny, Jacob.
But people are funny.
Whoever snatched Lucy
is going to make that $10 mil...
before you can say sesquicentennial.
I checked her database.
She's getting more than
two million hits a day now.
Free Lucy, credit cards accepted.
Unbelievable.
Yeah. Altogether an artful idea.
And the kidnappers
hid those pathways so deep...
that it's going to take months
to find that money.
And by that time it'll be long gone.
Look at her.
So sad. Just so much trauma.
Who kidnapped you and why?
I know it's tough, but it's just a picture.
Remember that.
Yeah, of a kidnapped woman.
What are you getting at?
Well, maybe this arts and crafts place
is getting to me, but...
All I'm saying is just
don't let your emotions carry you away.
Don't put words in that picture.
We don't know how they're treating her.
So who was that kidnapper?
Look at this.
The mask is so tight,
you can almost see his face.
You know, "almost" only counts
in horseshoes and hand grenades.
No, look, Jacob, the hallway camera.
You get two views of the guy, right?
Full face.
There look. Look.
He turns and then you get the other side.
It's two angles, Jacob.
Stereo.
You know what?
I'll shoot these images
into the design centre computers.
Fold in some JPL software,
graphic imaging programmes.
See if we can't reconstruct that face.
- You shot my friend.
- Life throws screw balls, Lucy.
Although I must admit Mr Hearney
has a tendency for the infield fly.
I'm sorry. Please sit down.
Look, you should know
that your friend is recovering very nicely...
at her parents' home.
And you are about to
lead us into the next era...
of televised entertainment.
The image,
the non-specific emotional statement.
Just as Lucy's Life will change
what we think about television forever.
I recognise that name.
This is Mr White.
We represent his interests.
We?
You, me, Lucy's Life.
Well then, Mr White,
maybe you can answer a question for me.
Questions are good
provided you already know the answers.
What is this about the show being scripted?
You can't script it. It's my life.
It is your life. But nobody really cares.
They're just not buying it, Lucy.
Stardom has a price.
Every price is different.
- You're missing the point.
- The point is that you'll do what I tell you.
You'll say what I think.
And you'll smile and you'll sell it.
Then you can count me
the hell out of your TV show.
I don't need you people.
I've got my web page.
Lucy. Lucy, your thesis:
simple straightforward voyeurism.
- Hey, now wait a second.
- Hear me out.
Look...
you're not afraid to look ugly.
Good for you.
You do crosswords on the john,
good for you.
You curl your toes during sex,
even better for you.
My fans are intimate with me in a way
you'll never understand.
Well, see, there you go. But my loss.
Now, the way I see it, I'm no art critic.
But it just seems to me
that what you do is provide an illusion.
Here, looks like intimacy...
and feels like intimacy.
...this much is clear. Lucy Delillo--
It's as deep as they make it.
You're not their friend,
or you wouldn't be here.
Hey, it's a stunt.
- I'm giving the money back.
- I don't think so.
I'm told we have over $8 million
and counting.
You're a co-conspirator in a federal crime.
Now you've learnt a valuable concept.
- What concept?
- Reality.
We manufacture it.
Instead of an obscure curiosity
on the Internet...
you'll be a world-class celebrity.
We're here live at the Maine Academy
of Music and Performing Arts.
First on the scene where last night
campus coed Lucy Delillo was taken.
That's all for me?
It's my gift.
Now let's discuss what you have for me.
Okay, now I'm going to remove the texture
and the colour coefficients.
Slip away the mask.
Oh, my God.
The Praetorians. I hate those guys.
You know,
we got a high visibility case like this.
If I send these images to the FBI...
they're gonna go crazy looking for this guy.
Especially if they think
he's working with Liz Marx.
You know, I'm feeling artistic.
This came in my cubby. It's for you.
And you opened it?
It came in my cubby. There was
a note inside that said it was for you.
I got to go-
I know what I'm doing with my space.
Alex, Marion.
I just got a possible ID on the kidnapper.
No, just came in. Anonymous.
Yeah, I'll send the envelope right over.
The fingerprints?
Really?
Liz Marx?
Well, it all fits.
Yeah, the room right next door.
So maybe we have her and the accomplice.
Shawn, I've been developing what you said.
Well, if you mean thinking,
that's always a good sign.
I want you to smack me.
I don't look kidnapped.
Emotional content, credibility, you know.
I want to feel--
Happy?
- It'll have to do.
- Yeah.
- I will be in touch.
- I know.
Getting a ride shouldn't be a problem.
Right now, that face
is getting very popular on the Internet.
The absence of presence.
- She's here but she has no substance.
- But you've seen her, right?
Do you know what she told the FBI?
They brought her in late last night.
They woke me up.
You know, that whole webcam idea,
we thought of that in my room.
One more question.
Look at this.
What's wrong with this picture?
There's something,
but I can't put my finger on it.
She's acting like nothing happened.
Yesterday you were crying about
how sad she looked. Now she's faking it?
I don't know. It's just a feeling.
So did you manage to get
everything that we need?
Yeah, I located some Japanese sets
stolen in Panama City...
transshipped to Helsinki
for resale in the Ukraine.
Picking them up at the airport
plus time to get on site.
That's three hours.
Plus another four to hook it up.
Rig the power and the com link.
Well, Marlon's not gonna be back
until tomorrow...
so that gives me plenty of time.
And I'll send the anonymous tip
as soon as you're ready.
Are you sure you're going to be okay
out there by yourself?
You went into the dorm by yourself.
It's the least I could do.
- What's going on in her head do you think?
- Nothing.
Well, what's it look like? She took
a shower. She's gonna go to bed.
A picture's worth a thousand words
but which ones?
It's a good likeness of you...
and that's not good.
It's Angela Bennett who's doing this.
I wanted to visit her first,
but you stopped me.
How does it look, though?
So you panicked.
And that is what Mr White will conclude.
Trust me.
I have the right
to explain myself to him personally.
First find out
where the hell she is, Mr Hearney.
Right away.
What the--
- Is it time?
- "Is it time?"
Such a difficult concept, you know?
What's time for you,
might be half-time for me.
What's time for the goose,
might be no time for the gander.
Jacob! Quit acting like Dain.
- So serious.
- I sent the FBI to your location.
- Are you ready?
- I can't wait till they meet the Praetorians.
Yes, I'm ready.
Okay. Then here we go.
Just do what you always do
and follow procedure.
I'm here.
- Just waiting to catch Angela.
- Hold on.
We've picked up FBI activity.
A sighting. Liz Marx. They're moving on it.
You should be getting
the coordinates right now.
Yes.
I'll follow the GPS.
The FBI will be slow to react.
You be faster. I'll be waiting for news.
So you decided to come after all.
Oh, don't be jumpy. I'm not armed.
See, no arms.
Hi, again.
You know, that gun is going to get you
into a lot of trouble.
The FBI is going to run ballistics on it
and then they're going to know that...
you were the guy from Lucy's kidnap,
my accomplice.
The FBI won't be here for hours.
You've got to look at this
from several points of view. I'm not real.
- I'm in your mind.
- Come out and talk.
- Where are you?
- I have a question.
You asking questions? What next?
You giving orders?
Why not?
Take a look at your chest, big boy.
A heart shot?
No, maybe just a tap to the head.
Can you feel that right there?
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
- What's your question?
- Tell me my name.
- Angela Bennett, not that anyone believes it.
- Thank you.
It means a lot to me.
FBI! Drop your weapons!
Open it up.
Freeze! FBI! Put down your weapon!
Put down your weapon!
Get down on the ground.
Put your hands behind your head.
Move in.
Come on. Let's go.
How could he be in federal custody
and still be alive?
The man knows too much
about our operations.
He knew what we wanted him to know.
No more, no less.
If this hurts me, Trelawney...
I won't forget that he's your man.
They're transferring him
to a safe house this afternoon, sir.
I'll arrange a salvage operation.
No, you postponed last time.
Yes, at the Ivy.
You postponed.
Mr Brand is postponing this time.
Next week looks good.
I'll pencil it in. Thanks. Bye-bye.
- Here you go. Just have a seat.
- Thanks.
So next weekend, bunch of us get together
on the desert, race our Humvees.
The family car for the new century.
There's talent for the show.
So aren't you glad you came around?
Hey, who owns a piece of talent, not me?
How could I say no? You won.
But, hey, we got a two-season order.
Right, anyway, I got casting.
- You'll find your way out?
- I always have before.
There you go.
Trelawney.
You ran a salvage operation against me.
- Great. My hero. Where are you?
- Following your footsteps.
I'm flattered.
And at some point,
at some unsuspecting moment...
when your mind is somewhere else
altogether, I'll blow your brains out.
Reality, what a concept.
Mind if I sit?
The FBI is looking for you...
and I cannot help you
with your cause or whatever...
so please do not hurt me, okay?
I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not a terrorist.
My name is not Liz Marx
even though you saw an FBI picture of me...
and you'll probably never believe otherwise.
I'm not.
Okay?
I am the person
who sent you the e-mail, though.
That was you?
That was you who accused me
of faking my...
Kidnap? Yeah.
- That was too cruel.
- Really? I wonder.
Trelawney gives his regards.
These people who you are involved with,
Lucy, I know them.
Don't trust them.
No matter what they tell you
or what they promise you...
do not believe them.
I'm not saying that I did anything wrong.
But even if I did, why do you care?
Because I don't want you to get hurt.
Yeah. But why?
We have a history.
This is my mom and my dad.
It is, with my folks?
Yeah.
Is there anything
that you can tell me about this picture...
anything about the event,
anything that happened?
Do you want the truth?
Oh, yeah, of course, I do.
They were sleeping together.
Well, of course, they were.
I don't think I'd be here.
No, I mean...
my mom and your dad.
My dad?
And my mom, you know, an affair?
- Oh, no. That's impossible.
- Why?
How could he?
My mom told me about it
years after it happened.
I guess she got over it.
Anyway, that's what she said.
Well, I guess we can never be sure.
That's it? I mean...
I just was expecting...
something else, something more satisfying.
They never mentioned Copper Canyon?
No, my parents never liked camping.
No. Of course they didn't.
- Why would you put this on the Internet?
- Trelawney asked me to.
Maine in about 20 minutes...
home of the Maine Academy of Music
and Performing Arts.
Want that?
You know, sometimes I wonder
if this is just a wild-goose chase.
I mean, why would my mom and dad
even be with Lucy's parents?
Well, I think that that picture
is going to lead us to another one of us...
and then to your dad.
I mean, your parents with Lucy Delillo
circa Copper Canyon...
and Lucy's parents died.
What, I mean, let's say that
Mr Delillo did work with my dad.
It doesn't mean that Lucy knows
where we can find him.
It doesn't mean... I mean, she might
not even know about Copper Canyon.
Though, I mean,
she did pose this picture.
I mean, this is the only one
that she wasn't in.
Everything in the web page is like:
Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.
And then she puts this one on
with my mom and dad. Wow.
Look how young she looks there.
Well, I think that we have to make sure
Lucy is one of us before we show our hand.
You know, and if she isn't aware
of Copper Canyon...
Well, I think about how it's
changed your life and I don't know...
Sometimes I wonder
if I did the best thing telling you.
Yeah?
Maybe it's better not to know.
- Come on, I'll give you a ride.
- Okay.
- Where the hell you going?
- The dance studio. Come on!
Hi. I'm sorry I'm late.
I knew you were coming.
I love what you've done with your hair.
- Thanks.
- Looks nice.
- Well, I've noodled your offer and...
- Yes?
-...I'm in. Definitely.
- All right.
Well, everything is as we agreed.
The lawyer's addenda is included.
Baby, I'm going to make you a star.
My name is Angela Bennett.
I discovered a group of computer terrorists.
They erased my life.
They made me into a criminal.
I am not going to stop
until I get my life back.
But if they did this to me,
they could do this to you.
Mr Brand wants you to know personally...
he loves your idea and can't wait to hear it.
Hold, please.
Brand New Productions. Mr Brand's office.
And who's calling?
Mr Brand's on another call.
He'll have to return. What's your number?
Thanks a lot.
Hi. Sorry. How about in two months?
I'll pencil it in. Thanks a bunch now.
Look, I want to make this deal,
but you're asking the impossible.
Nobody's ever grabbed the gold ring
playing it safe.
The girl's only a minor celebrity. Okay?
A million hits a day does not
a TV show, mate.
No. But I'm going to make her a star.
So if you want her now,
I'm a reasonable man.
I'll give you another chance.
You can buy my show now.
What show? There is no show.
There is no show until I get the studio
to give you the money to make the show.
That's not gonna happen
'cause you got a problem.
- Know what your problem is?
- My problem?
Reality. All right?
Your idea, it's not like Cops where...
you know, it's taped live
chasing down some crack heads...
some guy just whacked his wife.
You've got reality that's, you know...
It's reality.
It's boring, everyday crap. So what?
So I can see a girl get in the shower
once a day. Big deal.
Someone relieves themselves.
That's not interesting.
Who wants to watch that?
The price of my show just doubled.
What are you talking about?
There is no show.
Tripled.
What kind of way is this to do business?
Babe, I'll expect to hear from you.
Hi, Brand New Productions.
Thank you for calling us back.
We'll recognise her
from her art project on the web.
Are you sure
you don't wanna take my place?
What will I do in art school?
I'm all numbers and patterns.
That's what I do.
You, on the other hand, abstract ideas.
The left side of the brain
you can depend on.
I wouldn't consider my computer
graphic skills exactly artistic. Come on.
Maybe even better than
your data chasing talents. What a brain.
You got a perfect set of lobes,
and I don't mean just these.
- How does your nana put up with you?
- Everybody loves a scoundrel.
I am so sorry.
Your first day and already we leave you
waiting here like this.
I'm the dorm prefect Lucy Delillo. Hi.
- Hi.
- And this is Dain our exchange student.
- Hi, I'm Angela.
- Dain.
I can't stay.
The Art Department has assigned me
a space for my show. It sucks.
It's my fault that we're late.
And he can't hang. I got held up.
Somebody pulled a gun on you?
Your boyfriend?
No, he's my younger brother.
Oh, that's so sweet.
And you're helping her move in.
- I just adore siblings that get along.
- I gotta go think, all right?
Later.
Don't touch anything
on my side of the room.
But make yourself at home.
Well, as you know,
you'll be rooming with Dain.
And the two of you, my roommate and I
share a common bathroom.
You'll meet Belinda later.
She is a freak extraordinaire.
Now, you know
from the literature I've sent you...
that there are cameras recording my life.
Well, the thing is,
I've added one to the bathroom.
In the bathroom?
Well, if you want, you can use the bathroom
in the theatre dressing rooms.
They never run out of hot water
and it's not that far away.
Okay, well...
I mean, you know,
I told you that I'm kind of shy...
and I like to keep a low profile.
But I know what I'm getting into. I know.
As long as the theatre bathrooms
aren't haunted.
Well, anyway, here's the contract.
- I'll get it back from you tonight.
- Okay.
And here is your dorm packet.
The key is inside and, really,
I'm so sorry that you had to wait.
- I'll see you later. Okay?
- Okay.
The idea, Mr Trelawney,
you can't kill it if it's a good one.
- People always try.
- Especially if it is a good one, sir.
Tell me yours.
I ran across this and posted it on the Net.
Bennett.
In what I think is a very unusual way...
through a young woman
I made contact with named Lucy Delillo.
Our most recent deep search on Bennett
popped up Lucy's parents, first time.
Lucy's mother seated looking out at us...
her father making goo-goo eyes
at Angela's mother.
Bennett with Copper Canyon
fresh in the trader's mind...
the impulse to hide his face still there.
Once he broke away from us,
he knew we'd never stop looking for him.
So you think posting this on the Net
can catch him or his daughter?
Angela.
Quite probably. Put her in FBI hands.
And once she begins to trust them,
she'll disclose her father's location.
If she knows it.
Our bureau's source assures me
the intelligence as they get it, sir.
I figured a way to translate the trap...
into $10 million cash, untraceable.
Lucy wants to be a star.
Right now, she's a semi-notable on the Net.
Her website, a first of its kind,
for curiosity...
but a blip in the celebrity marketplace.
Now...
I've singled out a tinseltown exec,
last month's flavour...
third generation, never had to struggle
with anything but his next thought.
So he needs a deal.
And Lucy will be it.
It would be good for you if this worked out.
I wouldn't necessarily want to include you...
in any of the changes that I'm making.
You've always been more than
just head of security, Trelawney.
At least in your own mind.
Maybe I'm beginning to see that, too.
I'll consider that a compliment, sir.
By the way, tell me
how is the chairman's rehab progressing?
Getting better every day.
Now how do you plan
to assemble the $10 mil?
Well, I wish I could help you
carry this stuff all the way inside.
So the whole world could see us together.
A sorcerer always hides his shadows.
So, you ready to plunge into Lucy's life?
At least she's got one.
Okay.
Oh, you look great.
See you later.
- Got all that?
- Yeah, I got it.
- Got the door?
- Get over here.
Thank you. Bye.
Make sure
you log all those transmissions accurately.
Yes.
Don't overlook that.
So do you have any pictures
of your parents?
Well, yeah,
I thought you wanted pictures of me.
Well, I wanna do a graphic thing,
you know, like your whole life.
How often do you get the opportunity
to do a bio on somebody...
when they're doing something
for the first time, while they're doing it?
Right. It's like I'm commenting on my life
while I'm commenting on my life.
- Right.
- I've got to pee.
How do you do that?
I can't imagine just doing everything
in front of the cameras.
Are you kidding?
I once did it standing like a guy
just so they could see.
I mean, why should they have the monopoly
on standing erect...
in any capacity for that matter.
That's our sweet little Belinda.
You can see
why I picked her as a roommate.
She works very well on camera.
Yeah, you know,
I was interested in your parents...
because, you know, it would add
to the story like in contrast: then to now.
Okay.
I'm sure there's some in here somewhere
from when I was a kid.
Well, there was that one on the site,
you know, it was on for a while.
Of my parents?
Yeah, New Year's Eve, 1968.
Oh, I remember that one.
Yeah.
So why were you posting that one?
I mean, you weren't in it.
No reason.
Well, there must've been something special.
I mean, there must've been something.
Well, my father...
My mother, she was happy then.
I mean, not that
she wasn't generally happy...
I just remember her telling me
that she was really happy around then.
When she died,
I don't think either of them were.
Sometimes I wonder...
do I need all this attention
because I lost them?
Well. Here, knock yourself out.
- Hey, you.
- Hey.
- What is this?
- Genius, maybe.
He's been at it for, like, four hours.
He stops every once in a while
and rests for like 15 or so.
- How about a doughnut?
- I'd love one. So did you find a motel?
- Marlon's gonna let me stay at his place.
- Who's Marlon?
Are you guys going to talk
some grey matter?
To the wee ones, cool cat.
- Two doughnuts, please.
- Yes.
You know,
he's got this whole MIDI thing set up.
He plays music non-stop except for
a few winks, like, every six or seven hours.
- How'd you do?
- Bust.
If Lucy knows anything about
Copper Canyon, she's not letting it on.
And there were no more pictures
of my parents.
So, you see,
the essence of what you're doing...
and what we're imagining together...
can be upped, taken to the next level.
What we're suggesting
is raising the level of reality.
Right. Right.
- Past the surreal and into the meta-real.
- Precisely.
- Well...
- Yeah?
Sounds like an idea. All right.
You're sure?
Because I do not want to spoil your vision,
my dear.
Well, if it's going to make me a star.
What about the roommate?
Oh, Belinda? Don't worry about her.
She never sleeps in the dorm.
She has more lovers than piercings.
Artists.
Artists.
This is some empty space.
What?
Nothing but possibility.
- And what do you know about it?
- Possibility?
About the space.
- Don't you feel it?
- What?
Anarchy at your fingertips.
Disgust with bourgeois values...
and anything organised.
The blue guitar.
Rebellion against everything...
a priori, affirming opposites...
being for anyone who is against me.
Critical paranoia...
a truth when I find it.
Futurism in a whole lot of...
And any other kind of...
jiratory transformation...
I'm lucky enough to collide with...
in this empty space.
That was neat.
- So you're like an artist also?
- Also?
And just
what's that supposed to mean exactly?
It means that somebody...
should revoke your artistic license,
l'artiste.
- You know what? You should get out.
- I will.
I will, but you remember...
-wherever you go--
- Get out!
The Net is Dada.
Lucy and Angela are both included
in our Copper Canyon family.
We've matched contours. It's Angela.
Shall I pay her a visit?
No, just Lucy.
I'll be there.
Kidnapping is a federal crime.
Someone's gotta take the blame,
which is why she's there.
You just get Lucy.
All I want to do
is make the show more exciting.
I'm going to get my camera.
I'll meet you guys there.
- Don't start without me.
- You got it.
Who you bringing?
Yeah, you want to take...
Well, let's stop at my place first.
Yeah, okay. Great.
Let's make this look real.
Okay. Okay.
But you don't have to really hurt me.
Welcome to show business.
Oh, my God.
Angela.
Angela, help me.
Belinda?
Oh, my God.
Come here.
- What happened?
- They took Lucy.
We're here live at the Maine Academy
of Music and Performing Arts.
First on the scene where last night
campus coed Lucy Delillo was taken.
All of it captured live on camera.
The whereabouts of Lucy Delillo
remain a mystery.
What is no mystery, Brian...
is that the world's first live...
on-camera kidnapping
has occurred on the Net.
The presence of absence.
We're thinking of her,
and we're talking of her...
and yet she's not here.
Maybe you misunderstood me.
I asked you if you knew
where your roommate was.
I can see that she's not here.
- But do you appreciate that she's not here?
- I have a shooting, a kidnap.
And your roommate hasn't been seen
since it happened.
I wonder if you can appreciate that.
And if you can't find it in your heart
to speak English...
I have a friend down at INS who would
just love to have a look at your student visa.
My roommate is a cyber artist.
Check the design school.
That's where all the hot-rod computers are.
So you're an art student.
What else?
Well, you could draw me a picture of her.
I'm an artist.
I don't draw.
Okay.
Connecting to the dorm room...
activating the AV to my computer.
They brought the feds down on us.
You had to call 911.
You saved Belinda's life.
Stupid.
Poor Lucy.
Well, the price of fame
just went through the roof.
The world's first Internet ransom.
- Woman continues to break new ground.
- This isn't funny, Jacob.
But people are funny.
Whoever snatched Lucy
is going to make that $10 mil...
before you can say sesquicentennial.
I checked her database.
She's getting more than
two million hits a day now.
Free Lucy, credit cards accepted.
Unbelievable.
Yeah. Altogether an artful idea.
And the kidnappers
hid those pathways so deep...
that it's going to take months
to find that money.
And by that time it'll be long gone.
Look at her.
So sad. Just so much trauma.
Who kidnapped you and why?
I know it's tough, but it's just a picture.
Remember that.
Yeah, of a kidnapped woman.
What are you getting at?
Well, maybe this arts and crafts place
is getting to me, but...
All I'm saying is just
don't let your emotions carry you away.
Don't put words in that picture.
We don't know how they're treating her.
So who was that kidnapper?
Look at this.
The mask is so tight,
you can almost see his face.
You know, "almost" only counts
in horseshoes and hand grenades.
No, look, Jacob, the hallway camera.
You get two views of the guy, right?
Full face.
There look. Look.
He turns and then you get the other side.
It's two angles, Jacob.
Stereo.
You know what?
I'll shoot these images
into the design centre computers.
Fold in some JPL software,
graphic imaging programmes.
See if we can't reconstruct that face.
- You shot my friend.
- Life throws screw balls, Lucy.
Although I must admit Mr Hearney
has a tendency for the infield fly.
I'm sorry. Please sit down.
Look, you should know
that your friend is recovering very nicely...
at her parents' home.
And you are about to
lead us into the next era...
of televised entertainment.
The image,
the non-specific emotional statement.
Just as Lucy's Life will change
what we think about television forever.
I recognise that name.
This is Mr White.
We represent his interests.
We?
You, me, Lucy's Life.
Well then, Mr White,
maybe you can answer a question for me.
Questions are good
provided you already know the answers.
What is this about the show being scripted?
You can't script it. It's my life.
It is your life. But nobody really cares.
They're just not buying it, Lucy.
Stardom has a price.
Every price is different.
- You're missing the point.
- The point is that you'll do what I tell you.
You'll say what I think.
And you'll smile and you'll sell it.
Then you can count me
the hell out of your TV show.
I don't need you people.
I've got my web page.
Lucy. Lucy, your thesis:
simple straightforward voyeurism.
- Hey, now wait a second.
- Hear me out.
Look...
you're not afraid to look ugly.
Good for you.
You do crosswords on the john,
good for you.
You curl your toes during sex,
even better for you.
My fans are intimate with me in a way
you'll never understand.
Well, see, there you go. But my loss.
Now, the way I see it, I'm no art critic.
But it just seems to me
that what you do is provide an illusion.
Here, looks like intimacy...
and feels like intimacy.
...this much is clear. Lucy Delillo--
It's as deep as they make it.
You're not their friend,
or you wouldn't be here.
Hey, it's a stunt.
- I'm giving the money back.
- I don't think so.
I'm told we have over $8 million
and counting.
You're a co-conspirator in a federal crime.
Now you've learnt a valuable concept.
- What concept?
- Reality.
We manufacture it.
Instead of an obscure curiosity
on the Internet...
you'll be a world-class celebrity.
We're here live at the Maine Academy
of Music and Performing Arts.
First on the scene where last night
campus coed Lucy Delillo was taken.
That's all for me?
It's my gift.
Now let's discuss what you have for me.
Okay, now I'm going to remove the texture
and the colour coefficients.
Slip away the mask.
Oh, my God.
The Praetorians. I hate those guys.
You know,
we got a high visibility case like this.
If I send these images to the FBI...
they're gonna go crazy looking for this guy.
Especially if they think
he's working with Liz Marx.
You know, I'm feeling artistic.
This came in my cubby. It's for you.
And you opened it?
It came in my cubby. There was
a note inside that said it was for you.
I got to go-
I know what I'm doing with my space.
Alex, Marion.
I just got a possible ID on the kidnapper.
No, just came in. Anonymous.
Yeah, I'll send the envelope right over.
The fingerprints?
Really?
Liz Marx?
Well, it all fits.
Yeah, the room right next door.
So maybe we have her and the accomplice.
Shawn, I've been developing what you said.
Well, if you mean thinking,
that's always a good sign.
I want you to smack me.
I don't look kidnapped.
Emotional content, credibility, you know.
I want to feel--
Happy?
- It'll have to do.
- Yeah.
- I will be in touch.
- I know.
Getting a ride shouldn't be a problem.
Right now, that face
is getting very popular on the Internet.
The absence of presence.
- She's here but she has no substance.
- But you've seen her, right?
Do you know what she told the FBI?
They brought her in late last night.
They woke me up.
You know, that whole webcam idea,
we thought of that in my room.
One more question.
Look at this.
What's wrong with this picture?
There's something,
but I can't put my finger on it.
She's acting like nothing happened.
Yesterday you were crying about
how sad she looked. Now she's faking it?
I don't know. It's just a feeling.
So did you manage to get
everything that we need?
Yeah, I located some Japanese sets
stolen in Panama City...
transshipped to Helsinki
for resale in the Ukraine.
Picking them up at the airport
plus time to get on site.
That's three hours.
Plus another four to hook it up.
Rig the power and the com link.
Well, Marlon's not gonna be back
until tomorrow...
so that gives me plenty of time.
And I'll send the anonymous tip
as soon as you're ready.
Are you sure you're going to be okay
out there by yourself?
You went into the dorm by yourself.
It's the least I could do.
- What's going on in her head do you think?
- Nothing.
Well, what's it look like? She took
a shower. She's gonna go to bed.
A picture's worth a thousand words
but which ones?
It's a good likeness of you...
and that's not good.
It's Angela Bennett who's doing this.
I wanted to visit her first,
but you stopped me.
How does it look, though?
So you panicked.
And that is what Mr White will conclude.
Trust me.
I have the right
to explain myself to him personally.
First find out
where the hell she is, Mr Hearney.
Right away.
What the--
- Is it time?
- "Is it time?"
Such a difficult concept, you know?
What's time for you,
might be half-time for me.
What's time for the goose,
might be no time for the gander.
Jacob! Quit acting like Dain.
- So serious.
- I sent the FBI to your location.
- Are you ready?
- I can't wait till they meet the Praetorians.
Yes, I'm ready.
Okay. Then here we go.
Just do what you always do
and follow procedure.
I'm here.
- Just waiting to catch Angela.
- Hold on.
We've picked up FBI activity.
A sighting. Liz Marx. They're moving on it.
You should be getting
the coordinates right now.
Yes.
I'll follow the GPS.
The FBI will be slow to react.
You be faster. I'll be waiting for news.
So you decided to come after all.
Oh, don't be jumpy. I'm not armed.
See, no arms.
Hi, again.
You know, that gun is going to get you
into a lot of trouble.
The FBI is going to run ballistics on it
and then they're going to know that...
you were the guy from Lucy's kidnap,
my accomplice.
The FBI won't be here for hours.
You've got to look at this
from several points of view. I'm not real.
- I'm in your mind.
- Come out and talk.
- Where are you?
- I have a question.
You asking questions? What next?
You giving orders?
Why not?
Take a look at your chest, big boy.
A heart shot?
No, maybe just a tap to the head.
Can you feel that right there?
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
- What's your question?
- Tell me my name.
- Angela Bennett, not that anyone believes it.
- Thank you.
It means a lot to me.
FBI! Drop your weapons!
Open it up.
Freeze! FBI! Put down your weapon!
Put down your weapon!
Get down on the ground.
Put your hands behind your head.
Move in.
Come on. Let's go.
How could he be in federal custody
and still be alive?
The man knows too much
about our operations.
He knew what we wanted him to know.
No more, no less.
If this hurts me, Trelawney...
I won't forget that he's your man.
They're transferring him
to a safe house this afternoon, sir.
I'll arrange a salvage operation.
No, you postponed last time.
Yes, at the Ivy.
You postponed.
Mr Brand is postponing this time.
Next week looks good.
I'll pencil it in. Thanks. Bye-bye.
- Here you go. Just have a seat.
- Thanks.
So next weekend, bunch of us get together
on the desert, race our Humvees.
The family car for the new century.
There's talent for the show.
So aren't you glad you came around?
Hey, who owns a piece of talent, not me?
How could I say no? You won.
But, hey, we got a two-season order.
Right, anyway, I got casting.
- You'll find your way out?
- I always have before.
There you go.
Trelawney.
You ran a salvage operation against me.
- Great. My hero. Where are you?
- Following your footsteps.
I'm flattered.
And at some point,
at some unsuspecting moment...
when your mind is somewhere else
altogether, I'll blow your brains out.
Reality, what a concept.
Mind if I sit?
The FBI is looking for you...
and I cannot help you
with your cause or whatever...
so please do not hurt me, okay?
I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not a terrorist.
My name is not Liz Marx
even though you saw an FBI picture of me...
and you'll probably never believe otherwise.
I'm not.
Okay?
I am the person
who sent you the e-mail, though.
That was you?
That was you who accused me
of faking my...
Kidnap? Yeah.
- That was too cruel.
- Really? I wonder.
Trelawney gives his regards.
These people who you are involved with,
Lucy, I know them.
Don't trust them.
No matter what they tell you
or what they promise you...
do not believe them.
I'm not saying that I did anything wrong.
But even if I did, why do you care?
Because I don't want you to get hurt.
Yeah. But why?
We have a history.
This is my mom and my dad.
It is, with my folks?
Yeah.
Is there anything
that you can tell me about this picture...
anything about the event,
anything that happened?
Do you want the truth?
Oh, yeah, of course, I do.
They were sleeping together.
Well, of course, they were.
I don't think I'd be here.
No, I mean...
my mom and your dad.
My dad?
And my mom, you know, an affair?
- Oh, no. That's impossible.
- Why?
How could he?
My mom told me about it
years after it happened.
I guess she got over it.
Anyway, that's what she said.
Well, I guess we can never be sure.
That's it? I mean...
I just was expecting...
something else, something more satisfying.
They never mentioned Copper Canyon?
No, my parents never liked camping.
No. Of course they didn't.
- Why would you put this on the Internet?
- Trelawney asked me to.