Tower Prep (2010): Season 1, Episode 7 - Election - full transcript

Previously on Tower Prep...

[Gabe]
Most of us are
what you call special.

We can do something really
weird in a really awesome way.

[Suki]
Back when this
used to be a laboratory,

they must've manufactured
all kinds of freaky stuff.

Those aren't students.
They're guinea pigs.

[C.J.]
Are they still doing it?
I mean, now? To us?

Emerson Poencet
has a natural microscopy.

He can see at the macro level
without a microscope.

[Whisper 119]
Congratulations, Ray.

10 reps and at 225 pounds.



You sure about that?

In front of you
is your midterm exam.

Each specimen before you

has been given a specific and
controlled cause of termination.

None are the same,

so don't bother looking
at the team beside you.

You are to examine
the specimen,

identify all abnormalities,

determine the cause of death,

and complete a written report.

You have one hour.

[murmuring]

Who wants the honors?

Oh, you want me to.



Uh, yeah,
Ian would love to, I'm sure.

Ian.

Fenton, you're running for school
president against Emily, right?

Emily Wright. Correct.

She's running for re-election.

That's-- That's
a tough opponent.

She's... perfect.

Yeah, maybe.

Listen, what do you say
you cut that thing open,

and Gabe and I
will vote for you?

Will you wear my button?

Only if Congress
went this smooth, huh?

Rather a good deal for me.

I have received the two votes
while my father is a surgeon,

so none of this dissection
business disturbs me at all.

Whoa. Fenton,
are you all right?

Dude, you okay?

Going...

going...

gone.

[metal trays clatter]

Biology, we need the nurse.

Hey, hey.

[Whisper]
Medical assistance needed,
Biology lab.

Did you see what happened?

♪ Tower Prep 1x07 ♪
Election
Original Air Date on November 30, 2010

[Monitor]
Let's raise him up.

That's fine.

- You okay?
- [moans]

[Monitor]
Okay, let's roll.

We'll come see you, man.

You'll be okay, man.

[chattering]

[thunder cracks]

That was, uh--

That was
pretty weird today, huh?

Yeah.

Hope he's okay.

Yeah, me, too.

You know what's even weirder

is now that Fenton's

out of the election,

no one's running against Emily.

[chuckles]

No one was going to beat her

anyway, man.

What if I did?

But why, Gabe?

I mean, you and me,
Ceej and Suki,

we're making plans to...

escape.

Why spend the energy
on an election

and getting in deeper here?

It's all part
of the escape plan.

How?

[sighs]
Well, for starters,

the student president
must be able to get

some sort of information
about the school, we could use.

I don't know.

School government was always
such a joke at my old school.

Well, it's better
than nothing,

just sitting here.

We're not sitting.

Maybe not you.

Look, Ian, it's always you.

And it's not a bad thing.

It's just-- I don't know.
You've always got a plan.

You do all this stuff to try
to discover what you can--

the gnomes, the Rooks.

This is something
I can do for all of us.

Me.

And look. I understand
it's not much-- I know--

but it's something.

Emily Wright, though, Gabe?

- Dude, you picked a tough one.
- I know.

And that campaign-manager
friend of hers, Ross--

she's ruthless.

Indeed,
but I thought this one out.

I should be able to persuade
everyone into voting for me.

But she's so popular.

It would be like running
against Abraham Lincoln or something.

Oh, my G.

Gaberaham-- yeah, I know.

Gaberaham Lincoln.
Gaberaham Lincoln.

Why didn't I think of that?

Vote for honest Gabe.

I'm writing that down.
That's too good to be true.

Emily has a huge head start
over you.

Huge head start.

And everyone knows her
because she's president.

But I think you can catch her
in the candidates' presentation.

Yes, that's the most important
focus of our campaign.

The two candidates each make a
presentation to the school.

Mm-hm.

At the presentation--
look, they'll see your charm,

your personality,
what you stand for.

Dude, we're going
to change that.

You'll blow her away at the
candidates' presentation,

in front of
an audience of students.

Oh, snap.

Guys, I would just not bother
with this whole thing,

but if I can get
just one piece of information

that'll help us with...

it'll all be worth it.

Oh, God, here we go.

- Is it true?
- What?

The rumors?
You're running against us?

"Us"? Emily Wright
is running for president,

not you, Ross.

You're a politician, Forrest.

Let other people not answer
your questions for you.

No, you know what?

Yes, Ross, the rumors
are true, very true.

- Gabe Forrest is--
- You're going to get crushed.

Keep talking to my friend
like that,

and the only thing that'll get
crushed around here is your face.

Don't get all worked up.

It's nothing personal,

just business.

As Emily Wright's
campaign manager,

I take care of business.

So do we.

It's too bad
our first opponent got sick,

but it's allowed us to jump
to a huge jump start,

almost impossible to catch us.

Well, we will. Don't you worry
your pretty, little head.

Whatever. I'd like to offer you
one of our campaign buttons.

But that's against you.

I mean, why would you want me
to wear that?

It's the level
of my confidence.

It should be a reminder
to how badly you'll be beaten.

It's for him, not you.

The only thing he wants
from you

is a congratulations
when he wins.

Crushed.

Where'd she get
the button from?

It's not like you
can just call up 1-800 Buttons

and get them delivered
up to Tower Prep.

Good campaign starts
with buttons.

I need buttons.

[whistle blows]

Ray, no head shots.

Yeah, yeah.

What are--
What are you doing?

Man.

[grunting]

Archer!

- [whistle blows]
- [Coach] Time!

Ray, I said no shots
to the head in rushball.

Sorry, coach.

Must've gotten away from me.

Yeah.

Ian, you okay?

Yeah.

All right, that's game.

Wrap it up.

That's the first time you've
ever been hit in rushball.

Yeah, just dropped my head
looking for the ball.

Still, you don't need your eyes to
know something's about to happen.

I don't know, Coach.
Just one of those things, I guess.

Are you sure you're okay?

Yeah, yeah.

You know, midterms, stress,
and all that.

All right.

- [door closes]
- Guys, check it out.

Article 10, Section 2

clearly states that there's
a supply of campaign buttons

that are to be recycled
each election,

divided evenly
between candidates.

Boom, toasted.

[sighs]
Gabe, focus.

You should be preparing for
your candidate's presentation.

Done. I'm done
with the campaign poster.

It's just as you ordered.

I feel like I've seen it
somewhere before.

It's just what Gabe
said to do.

Only...

better.

Nice job, Ceej.
Gold star.

I'm telling you.

Can't place
where I've seen it before.

You know what? This little
puppy is going to look great.

[groaning]

[Gabe]
It's great.
It's great.

Now all we need
is those campaign buttons.

Dude, move on
from the buttons.

Move on from
the whole thing already.

Instead of getting further
involved with the school,

all our available time
should be spent

on how to get out of here.

That's what this is about, Ian.

But you know what?

Obviously you have
an issue with it,

so we could talk about it

because you know we don't keep
anything from each other,

and if you do,
let's hear it.

[Ian]
There's got to be something
more to Fenton's illness.

I mean, have any of you heard
what happened to Fenton,

how he is,
where he is, anything?

His roommate says
he's in the infirmary.

Look, I don't mean
to take away anything

that you're trying to do here,
Gabe.

I really don't, but if
Fenton is at the infirmary,

then that's where
we're going to find our answers,

not here.

Hey, Ceej, please tell me
you got a read on that.

I had the weirdest read.

At least you got a read.
What is it?

It was nothing.

I couldn't do it.

Fenton?

Fenton.

Nurse.

Feeling under the weather?

I was just looking for Fenton.

I wanted to see
how he was doing.

He's under
medical supervision.

Where? Can I see him?

What was wrong with him?

You look tired.

No, I feel okay.

Sit.

Really, I was just wondering
what was wrong with Fenton,

and you're probably busy,
so...

I always have time
for patients.

He's under medical supervision,
testing.

As soon as we have
a diagnosis,

I'll disclose the results.

Stressed?

Midterms.

Fatigued?

Midterms.

You feel warm.

Could you raise your hand
and hold it out for me,

like this?

Huh.

I guess I'm more fatigued
than I thought.

We should take some blood.

- Blood?
- Just to be safe.

Safe about what?

You're a recent arrival here,
Ian.

Your immune system
hasn't had time to adapt

to the foreign pathogens
found in this region.

I'd hate for you
to have caught something

your system isn't prepared
to fight.

Tower Prep wants you
to feel your best.

Okay, so I researched it.

The most foot traffic
happens in this hallway,

so we're going to put it
somewhere--

What is this?

That's where I've seen it.

Come on.

No, you know what?

We're going to put them up
anyway.

- It shows we won't back down.
- Are you sure?

Yeah, we're going to put it...
there.

Yes, right there.
Come on.

Let's do this.

A little left,
little left, little down.

Why you hanging it there?
Everyone's going to think they're Emily's posters.

It's the high-traffic area.
It's how campaigns work.

It's a rip-off
of Emily's poster.

Ray, so you're on
first-name basis with Emily.

That is adorable.

Yeah, well, it's a rip-off,

so I should rip it down.

Let me ask you something.

Are you, like, Emily's goon?

Get your hands off it.

Go get it.

Go get it.

[Gabe]
Come on, Ian.
You got it!

- Watch out.
- Come on, Ian.

Nice.

Nice. You're stronger than him.
You know you are.

Come on.

[Student chuckles]

Come on, Ian, get up.
Get up.

[Whisper]
Monitor alert.
Monitor alert.

- Get up!
- Main building.

- Headmaster, now.
- Okay, okay.

[clears throat]

[as Headmaster]
All right, you two.
Break it up.

Take your best shot.

I've been waiting to do this since the
first day you came to Tower Prep.

Oh.

- [groaning]
- Wait, wha--

He's hurt.
What happened?

[Suki]
I don't know.

Get the nurse.

- Come on. He did it to himself.
- Get the nurse.

Ceej, go.
Go, go, go.

You know the other day
in Biology

when Fenton said,
"Going, going, gone"?

Now I know what he meant.

Ian, why didn't you tell us
you had symptoms?

You know how it is.
You get sick.

You don't want to tell your parents,
hoping it will go away.

Whatever.

I'm not sure what to tell

or who to tell it to.

Wait, you, too?

It's not, like, gone,

but it feels like my abilities
are being blocked.

We should tell the nurse.

I think they already know.

Are you thinking they're
the ones doing this?

I have a hard time
believing that.

Why?

Guys, we said this
a million times before

that we think they're using
us as experiments,

so why not this?

Yeah, the nurse did take
a sample of my blood,

like she was suspicious
something might be going on.

You think maybe they heard
about our plans to escape?

Maybe they're trying
to stop us.

Ray and Fenton have it.

They're not part of our plan.

Is this a virus?

Is it being spread
through air or contact?

Maybe some virus
that got in through the forest,

beyond the wall,
something we're not immune to.

How long till we have no
choice but to go to the nurse?

I mean, I wouldn't even be
able to tell

if the Headmaster or nurse
were afraid or hiding anything.

Even if they bring the entire
school into the nurse for an exam,

it might give them answers,

but not us.

We need to find our own.

Ian.

You can't go alone.

I'm going to check in
on Headmaster,

and there's only room
for one of us.

Besides,
you're showing symptoms.

I don't want Gabe or Suki
to come down with it.

If it's spread
through the air, it's too late.

If it was through the air, I think
more of us would be showing symptoms.

Uh, Ian, what if-- you know,
when you're down in the tunnels,

what happened
to Fenton happens to you,

and I'm only asking this
because...

dude, we won't even know.

I've got nothing for that...

but we can't just do nothing.

Gabe, while I'm poking around,

you've got to keep your
campaign running full blast

so the faculty
doesn't get suspicious.

You're going to have to nail
this candidate's presentation

if you have any chance
of beating Emily.

Thanks for the support.

I know, I know.
You're right.

Ian.

Not this time.

It might be spreading
through contact.

Yeah.

All right.

Is this going to be
like 1971 all over again?

- No.
- How can you be sure?

I was there.

I was there, too.

You were just a student.

I was faculty.

Student faculty, of course,

but involved.

You still haven't answered
my question, Nurse.

No, that was controlled.

The Headmaster 40 years ago
was careful.

That Headmaster
nearly destroyed

the very purpose
of this school.

Spare me the lecture.

We were on the same side
and won.

I'm not saying he was right
or even justified,

but he was careful.

What's happening now--

this is reckless.

Let's confirm that it is
Chemica Desin.

I'm waiting for the centrifuge
plasma separation results.

My assistant should have
the tests completed by now.

Trying to hide it.

[door opens]

[closes]

What are you doing here?

Me? What are you doing here?

Ray is a friend of mine,

and Fenton was my opponent,

but I don't want him
to be sick.

No one will tell me
what made them sick.

What do you think it is?

Why don't you tell me?

You say that
like you think I know.

I'm here to find out
what she knows.

You think she's involved,
the nurse?

Well,
I'm about 80% sure she is,

and Headmaster, too,

but zero percent
on understanding why.

Look, I just offered up some
of what I think is going on,

and, frankly, I don't have
much reason to trust you, so...

I'm just saying.

I'm just looking
for any information

on something I think
is called "Chemica Desin."

Chemica Desin?

What do you know about it?

I was in here the other day

when my campaign manager Ross

was doing her work-study,

and I tried to look
at Nurse's computer,

and I saw it, but--

and she came back, and...

this place is so busy,
I planned to come here at night

when I thought--

well, I thought
no one would be here.

Hm.

So you really think
it's the nurse?

Who else could it be?

Well, I think--

there are rumors
that there are outsiders

trying to infiltrate
the school.

Outsiders?

I mean, I heard that there
were different people

who ran the school
a long time ago.

You think it's them

trying to take
the school back?

I don't know who they are,

but do you think
they might be using this Desin

to bring down the school?

[door opens]

Come on.

[typing]

[laptop beeps]

[whispering]
Come on, let's go.

What?

What do you want, Forrest?

Ross, as a representative
of an elected official,

I'm sure you're very familiar

and, more importantly,

respectful of the rules
and guidelines

of an election?

And?

And, well, you see...

I'm sure you would wish
to do what is both right and fair

when it comes to the buttons?

Buttons.

The candidates' presentations
are at 3:00,

and when I'm done with mine,

I am going to throw these
puppies out into the crowd.

All right.

Oh, before I forget,

Suki found the button
that Fenton gave you.

What, you're not
going to put them on?

Uh, I don't know, man.
I mean, Emily's all right.

I kind of like her.

She's almost one of us,
you know.

Um, Ian, I recall you saying that
I was doing this for all of us.

Okay, the least you could do
is wear the lousy buttons.

Good.

All right, all right.

- Happy?
- Thank you.

You guys holding up?

The incubation period
is different in each of us.

The more the symptoms
don't get worse,

the more worried I get,
you know?

It's the waiting that's tough.

No more waiting.

I tested positive
for this Chemica Desin.

We could be giving it
to the entire school.

I'll go to the nurse and see how
they treat whoever has this.

If there wasn't
a deadly outbreak in 1971,

then they must've developed
a vaccine

or some way to arrest it,

or else there wouldn't be
any kids here.

Unless it's mutated.

Yeah, but what can we do?

We don't even know
what this thing is.

There's no way
for us to study it.

To start,
we need a microscope.

Emerson, we need you
to take a look at my blood

and tell us what you see.

There's, like, stuff on it.

- Okay.
- What kind of stuff is in it?

Not in it.
On it.

It's like nothing
I've ever seen before,

like a film.

It's like this--

blood cells

and the enzymes

and these things like this.

Inhibitors.

Enzyme inhibitors.
Remember in Biology?

Yeah, they're molecules that bind to
an enzyme to prohibit its function.

That's why the skills
are going away.

Chemica Desin is a chemical
designed to block them.

[Gabe]
Hello, my fellow students.

Hello, my fellow
Tower Prep academics.

No, no.

My skilled friends.

[beeping]

All right,
no more interruptions.

I have to practice.

This is an irreversible
emical bond.

There's only a little bit of time
before it becomes permanent.

So it is possible to reverse
the symptoms and effects.

If we catch it in time

and contain it.

Maybe the nurse
has a vaccine in her office.

We have to get back in there.

Well, at least it's contained.

Fenton, Ray, me,

Suki, and C.J.

- As far as we know.
- Yeah.

Thanks, Emerson.

- [Emerson] There.
- What?

Chemica Desin
is on that button.

And fingerprints,

six different sets.

Fenton, Ray, you,
C.J., Suki...

Gabe.

He gave it back to me
a while ago.

That's how it's spreading.

All right.

Are you okay?

Yeah.

It's Gabe.

He doesn't know he spread the
Chemica Desin to all those buttons,

like, a hundred of them.

He's going to throw them
out into the audience.

They'll all be exposed.
I've got to get a hold of him.

He's not answering.

Ow. Something stuck me.

Um, my presentation's in,
like, 10 minutes.

Who am I kidding?

- I can't go.
- Go.

No, guys, forget
the election, okay?

I don't want to leave
you guys.

Ian will be back soon.

- We'll go with him.
- Are you sure?

- Mm-hm.
- Okay.

I'll find Gabe and see
if I can secure those buttons.

I'm on my way
to the presentation,

so if I see him first,
I'll tell him.

Okay, good.

Gabe. Gabe!

Where is he?

He went to the candidates'
presentations.

We were waiting for you.

Oh, no.

- Did he take those buttons?
- Yeah.

Okay, you think
you guys can walk?

You need medical attention.
We have no choice but the nurse.

Come on.
I'm taking you there now.

Come on.

- [grunts]
- Ian.

Are you okay?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.
Come on.

Come on.
Come on.

[students chattering]

Come on, Gabe.
Answer me.

You okay?
Give me a hand.

- Give me a hand.
- You got it.

[Whisper]
Candidate presentation
will begin

in 15 minutes
in the assembly room.

[Gabe]
Where's Emily?

[banging on door]

Locked doors?
What kind of hospital is this?

One where objects and information
that belong to the hospital get stolen.

Yeah, well,
they need to be looked at.

You need to get to Gabe.

Emily's there.
She'll tell him.

You, too, Ian?

You know I do.

All right, quiet down,
take our seats.

Well, as this presentation was
meant to begin 15 minutes ago,

I can only assume
that Emily Wright

has elected to skip the event.

Is this true, Ross?

In that case, let's proceed with
the candidate who is here--

Mr. Gabriel Forrest.

[students applaud]

Oh, sir,
would you like a button?

I think it's best
if I maintain my neutrality.

Honorable, sir.

Thank you, Headmaster.

Quite an honor.

Good afternoon, my fellow...

uh, uh...

- He looks like Shrek.
- [Gabe] Well, um...

[students chuckling]

I mean, are we students?

Are we citizens?

What does it mean to be
at Tower Prep?

Most of the time
we don't have any choice

but to put up
with the secrets around here,

but not now.

You tell me
about Chemica Desin.

I seek a new era
of transparency

with the administration
of Tower Prep.

[Male Student, sarcastically]
Yeah, right.

And, of course, I look forward
to working with the Headmaster

in the coming term.

Although its purpose
remains the same,

Tower Prep often assumes
the personality

of the Headmaster.

In 1971 the sixth Headmaster
came to believe

if students could be freed
of their skills,

if that could be done,

the school would no longer
be necessary.

In the school's research labs,

Chemica Desin was designed

and administered.

And the results?

Look at them.

Look in the mirror.

Are they going to be okay?

The seventh Headmaster
stopped the experiments.

A reversible inhibitor
was created,

but this current version
of Desin--

someone has modified it.

It's different.

The old reversible
isn't working.

If it's only made at Tower Prep,
how could anyone get it

unless they live here?

You know the world
has the technology

to eradicate smallpox,

but the World Health
Organization

keeps two vials--
one in Russia, one in the U.S.--

for study,
to develop new vaccines just in case.

A vial of Chemica Desin
was refrigerated

in this office
since the '70s

for that reason.

It disappeared
two months ago.

[students applauding]

Don't ask what Tower Prep
can do for you.

Ask what you can do
for Tower Prep.

[door closes]

[Nurse]
Get her here.

The outbreak is active.

I need all my work-study
technicians here immediately--

Jed Bynum, Morty Bumbel,
Ross Anderson...

Wait, Ross Anderson.

Emily's campaign manager
works for you.

She had access
to the Chemica Desin,

and it started
with Fenton's campaign button.

Emily-- Emily,
did you get to Gabe?

No.

And there is nothing to fear
but fear itself.

...and that a government
of students by the students

and for the students

shall not perish
from Tower Prep.

Thank you.
I love you guys.

Who wants buttons?

Don't hog.
Don't hog.

Hey, watch it.

You? You want buttons?

Gabe, don't!

Ross is trying to infect

all of Emily's opponents
by blocking their abilities.

It's way out of her control.

You, me, those buttons
in your hands--

they're all infected, Gabe.

[students murmuring]

Everyone, move.
Everyone, move.

It's all right, buddy.

[Whisper]
Medical assistance needed.

Medical assistance needed.
Assembly room.

Get the nurse!

What the science faculty
at Tower Prep created

was a reversible enzyme
inhibitor,

and with the aid of several
students,

including
our former class president

and her campaign manager,

prior to sentencing
to the West Campus,

a reversible inhibitor

to Chemica Desin 2010

was quickly manufactured

and administered
to the student population.

- Yes, Gabe.
- Yes.

Thus ushering in

the first success
of my new administration.

[applause, jeers]

What? What?

Oh, come on, why so mean?

Anything further to declare,
Mr. President?

You know what?
If we have time, that would be lovely--

I just want to make
my people happy.

Um, got it.
You know what?

I declare no homework tonight.

- [applause]
- I knew that would change
your mind.

You know what?
Wait, wait.

Calm down.

Go outside, have a good time,

get some sun,
not too much, though.

It's not safe for you.
Put on some sunscreen.

And you know what?
Grab a juice box.

Let's have a good time.
Just be cool.

Thank you. Thank you.
I love you guys.

I love you.

And your homework tonight is,
offer a 10-page explanation

as to how the universal
inhibitor worked

and why it was effective.

Thanks.

So much for my platform

of a change
you can believe in.

Am I to believe

that while you were performing
your work-study duties

in Nurse's office,

you not only discovered
the history of Chemica Desin,

but you stole
the last remaining vial of it,

modified it using
information you learned

in biology classes
about inhibitors,

and that you did it all
with Tower Prep equipment?

Yes.

I did it to weaken the
abilities of Emily's opponents

so she would win.

Yes.

I'm impressed.

Could you show us how?

Yes, Ross, all will be forgiven
if you just show us how.