Page 1

Panel 1 A little girl and her father, looking at the stars twinkling.

Caption My dad and I used to stand outside at night and look at the stars.

Panel 2 Close up of the hand clenching.

Caption I knew he could never take me there, and I couldn't trust him.

Panel 3 VICTOR SERAPHIN, yelling at other men in a trailer, while Autumn cowers behind.

Caption Dad was never a good man.

Panel 4 Close up of Victor's face.

Caption But he changed.

Page 2

Panel 5 A little girl and her father in a beat up old truck at night.

VICTORI just have to make one more stop tonight, Autumn. I have to see some guys, and then we'll go home.

AUTUMNCan we go skating?

VICTORAbsolutely, I'll take you skating just as soon as I see these guys.

Panel 6 The pickup truck parks. Victor gets out.

VICTORI'll be right back, Autumn. Stay right there, honey.

Panel 7 Autumn sits alone in the dark truck.

Caption I waited for a long time.

2Panel 8 Victor returns to the truck, blood on his hands. Autumn notices.

VICTORLet's get out of here, honey.

Caption I didn't say anything. I knew when he'd killed.

Page 3

Panel 9 A lonely Autumn stands on the front porch of the trailer in morning, watching Victor drive away.

Caption There was something about him that was never the same after that day. Not better or worse. Different.

Panel 10 Autumn sits in school, working on math problems, in a darkened classroom.

TEACHER(off panel)

Autumn, is everything all right?

AUTUMNWhat? Oh, yeah... just trying to concentrate.

Panel 11 Close-up of her math problem.

Caption I always loved math because it was something I could solve, something that made sense.

Panel 12 Autumn walks home alone, backpack slung over her shoulder.

Caption I always felt like something was missing. Like there was something I was supposed to find, but never did - something that could make it all make sense.

Panel 13 A nice sports car speeds away from the old trailer on a warm, sunny day... Autumn rides beside her father, curled up cautiously away from him.

3VICTORYou're going to love the new place. Much better neighborhood.

AUTUMN(thought bubble)

Couldn't be much worse than the old one.

Panel 14 A mansion, five stories tall and technologically sophisticated, almost like a cyberpunk castle; Autumn and her father stand beside the sports car in the drive way.

Caption My father's drug business got him a ratty trailer. I don't what happened that night when he came back with blood on his hands...

Page 4

Panel 15 Victor stands in front of a dropping tapestry that reads "Seraphin Industries," opening a new factory.

VICTORMy passion is for developing the electronics technologies that will define our nation and our generation.

Panel 16 Close up on Victor's face, now clean-shaven but still square-jawed and aggressive, in front of the banner.

VICTORBut I'm not from Silicon Valley.

Panel 17 View of a massive industrial park from above.

VICTOR(off panel)

That's why I'm building Seraphin Industries' main research and development lab right here, in Mayview, Wisconsin.

Panel 18 Autumn, as a sixth grader in her first year of middle school, surrounded by pretty

4girls at a lunch table - looking awkward.

Caption Suddenly, the popular kids wanted to talk to me. Wanted to be friends with me. I was the richest girl in Mayview.

Panel 19 Autumn walks home with MADISON DAHL, a blond, short young woman.

MADISONMind if I stay at your place after school?

AUTUMNSure, I don't see why not! We've got plenty of space. Dad probably won't even come home tonight - he's super busy.

Page 5

Panel 20 Madison looks at us, looking excited.

MADISONOh yeah! I heard the new PlatoOS phones are coming out! I want one so bad!

Caption Her hinting isn't exactly subtle, but hey, I don't blame her. If I'd had a rich friend back in the day, I'd have begged for crap too.

Panel 21 Autumn stands out behind the mansion, looking off into the distance.

Caption But in between all the attention and the reporters every time Dad released some new world-altering technology, sometimes I just needed to get away.

Panel 22 Autumn wanders off up a hill and into some woods.

Caption There's a big hill where the radio towers are in Mayview.

Panel 23 Radio towers atop a cliff overlook a junkyard literred with the debris of a culture whose technology is advancing at an untold rate.

5Caption It's weird, it's where all the signals and energy from my dad's business goes - but when I stand on that quiet peak overlooking the junkyard...

Panel 24 Autumn stands on the edge of the cliff...

Panel 25 ...and stretches out her arms to the cloudy sky.

Caption I feel alive.

Page 6

Panel 1 Someone grabs Autumn from behind on the cliff's edge.

AUTUMN*urk*

KIDNAPPERGot her. Don't move and you won't get hurt.

Panel 2 Three kidnappers, masked and hooded, shove Autumn into the back of a van.

KIDNAPPERGot her. We still clear?

KIDNAPPER #2We're clear. Let's move.

Panel 3 Chicago. The city's skyline pierces the clouds of this gloomy day.

VICTOR(off panel)

...PlatoOS 2001 is the most advanced mobile phone operating system in existence. Its new features include -

Panel 4 Inside a boardroom, Victor Seraphin is presenting to a group of white, male execs.

6EXECUTIVEExcuse me, Victor, but we've heard this a million times. Your company already dominates the market in mobile OSes. Why should we shell out for your new version?

Panel 5 Victor Seraphin's face - some machinelike twinkles behind his eye.

VICTORRight now, your telephone helps you check SocialNet, send some emails, gets you directions. PlatoOS 2001 offers an intelligent phone that understands what you say.

Panel 6 Victor's secretary, MARJORIE MATHERS, approaches him, phone in hand -

VICTORThe new PlatoOS is a true artificial intelligence. We want to begin the new millennium with -

MARJORIE*whispers*

VICTORExcuse me, I have to...

Page 7

Panel 1 In the hallway, Victor and Marjorie walk side by side. A new face, PHOEBE WALLACE, approaches. She is a Black woman with an FBI badge.

VICTORWhat do you mean taken?

PHOEBEI believe I can explain that. Mr. Seraphin, I presume?

Panel 2 Seraphin holds out his hand reluctantly to Agent Wallace; she does not take it. She is impatient.

7PHOEBEMr. Seraphin, if you value your daughter's life I suggest you let me skip the pleasantries and get down to business.

VICTOR...

PHOEBEPhoebe Wallace, Federal Bureau of Investigation. I believe a group of criminals working for a rival tech firm has snatched Autumn.

Panel 3 Victor's face - INFURIATED.

VICTORThat's not possible. I took every precaution.

PHOEBEAs I said, Mr. Seraphin, if you value your daughter's life, you're going to be as cooperative as you can be.

Panel 4 Victor, lowering his head in front of Phoebe to nod acceptance.

VICTORHave they sent any demands?

PHOEBEWe just got the call.

Page 8

Panel 1 Black.

Caption Black. That's all I can see. I hear voices...

Panel 2 One of Autumn's captors, a stocky man named BILL HAVERFORTH, yanks a hood off of her head. She is tied to a chair in a nondescript location

8BILL HAVERFORTHYour daddy wants to talk to you, kid. Tell him you're all right, and you will be.

Caption I'm supposed to say I'd never been more afraid in my life... but that wasn't true.

Panel 3 A hand shoves the phone in Autumn's face.

VICTOR(on phone)

Honey, are you okay? Have they hurt you?

Caption These men are nothing compared to the man I remember my father to be.

Panel 4 Autumn, with the men on either side of her holding guns, and Haverforth still holding the phone to her ear.

AUTUMNI'm all right, Dad. They've got me in -

BILL HAVERFORTHThat's enough, kid.

Panel 5 Victor, Marjorie, and Phoebe, in another boardroom; Victor's still on the smartphone.

KIDNAPPER #2(on phone)

Release the source tonight, or we will kill your daughter.

VICTORI release the PlatoOS code, and you let Autumn go?

KIDNAPPER #2(on phone)

You release the code, and she lives through tonight. No more promises. *click*

Panel 6 Hands shivering, Victor slams his phone to the table.

9MARJORIE(off panel)

Mr. Seraphin, I don't think they're bluffing. Whoever hired them -

VICTORI know who hired them. Get me Gates and Jobs on the line - now!

Page 9

Panel 1 Phoebe gestures at Victor to stop.

PHOEBEI wouldn't do that, Mr. Seraphin. Whether your conjecture is right or not is irrelevant.

VICTORYou're with the damn FBI! Shouldn't you be doing something?

PHOEBEWe are, Mr. Seraphin.

Panel 2 Autumn is still tied to the chair. One of the kidnappers, MALCOLM ANDERSON, a slender blond boy, walks over to her with a bowl of soup and some water, and sets them on the table beside her.

MALCOLMHere, let me untie you here. Sorry you've had a rough day.

Caption At this point, I'm too exhausted to think about how stupid that sounds coming from him.

Panel 3 Autumn eats some soup as Malcolm sits opposite her, quietly.

Panel 4 Still sitting opposite one another.

Panel 5 Still sitting.

10

MALCOLMAre you... ok?

AUTUMN...

MALCOLMLook, I know what you heard on the phone, but... we're not going to hurt you. I promise.

Panel 6 Victor walks angrily out into the Chicago air; a limo awaits him. Marjorie is tagging along behind him, but there's no sign of Phoebe.

VICTORMarjorie, get me Juuka on the phone.

MARJORIEBut the woman from the FBI -

Page 10

Panel 1 Victor rounds on Marjorie; his face shows rage, and his eyes glow mechanically.

VICTORGet. Me. Jukka.

MARJORIEYes, sir.

Panel 2 JUKKA SALVANEN, wearing a Google Glass like implant, is driving a car when the calls comes in.

JUKKAYes Boss?

VICTOR(over phone)

Autumn's been taken.

JUKKAYou... you're sure?

Panel 3 Victor and Marjorie in the back of the limo. Victor lights up a cigarette; Marjorie

11

looks disgusted.

VICTORI don't think you people understand the situation. My daughter has been taken.

Panel 4 Victor's eyes, glowing with sinister affect and machinelike precision, clashing with his rage.

VICTORI am not the kind of person whose daughter gets taken. And in the event that my daughter is taken -

Panel 5 Victor's mouth, speaking into the mobile phone.

VICTORI am not the kind of person whose employees argue with him if they value any part of their existences.

JUKKA(over phone, off panel)

Understood, boss. We got a trace on them yet?

Panel 6 Victor plays with a tablet in his lap, which holographically projects a map upward

VICTORWe will, momentarily.

Page 11

Panel 1 Autumn, her hands tied behind her, rests fitfully on a nice leather couch in the kidnappers' nondescript location

Caption Something they don't tell you about being kidnapped is that it's as boring as it is scary. Can't say I'm a fan.

BILL HAVERFORTH(off panel)

Just got the call from Seraphin. He's notified the media. The code leak starts in an hour.

12

Panel 2 Close up on Autumn's face - she is tired, scared, yet oddly happy.

Caption He's releasing the code. For me.

BILL HAVERFORTH(off panel)

Malcolm, wake her up. He'll want to talk to her.

Panel 3 Bill, Malcolm, and some other kidnappers are in the kitchen, weapons at the ready.

MALCOLMGotcha. Bill -

BILL HAVERFORTHDon't use my name, you *$*$*$ idiot.

MALCOLMGotcha. Sorry. Boss, uh... I just want to know...

Panel 4 Close up - Bill's worried face.

MALCOLMWe are letting her go, right?

Panel 5 A moment of uncomfortable silence among the kidnappers.

MALCOLMRight?

KIDNAPPER #2Just get the bitch over here.

Panel 6 The "ready room" at Seraphin Industries. A map of the world is holographically projected at the center; employees surround it. Victor is entering.

MARJORIEVictor, you have a call, from the -

13

VICTORTell the damn FBI lady to wait in the lobby! Juke!

JUKKA(over phone)

Boss, I... we've tried the implantation before.

Page 12

Panel 1 Jukka is standing in a dark lab, with some sort of strange cybernetics before him.

VICTOR(over communicator)

Juke, I thought we had an understanding about the reason you're still breathing.

JUKKAWe do, Mr. Seraphin. It's just -

VICTOR(over communicator)

Oh, we do, huh? Why don't you tell me? Why don't you tell me the reason you're still breathing, Juuka?

Panel 2 Juuka's mouth in front of the communicator.

JUKKATo... to keep Autumn safe, sir.

Panel 3 Victor, in the ready room, Marjorie beside him.

VICTORThat's right, Jukka. And right now, Autumn's life depends upon you completing the implantation.

Panel 4 Jukka looks at the spike, terrifying machinery, and puts his arm up next to it.

JUKKAI - yes, sir.

14

VICTOR(over communicator)

I survived it in '91, you can survive it now. Just remember - the machine is not you. The machine is there to serve you.

Caption A newsroom; a news anchor is delivering breaking news.

ANCHORIn breaking news, Seraphin Industries is wracked with scandal as tech magnate Victor Seraphin's teenage daughter Autumn has been kidnapped by an unknown group!

ANCHOR #2Indeed, Rachel. I can't imagine how terrifying it must be for a sixth-grade girl to be going through this.

Panel 5 The kidnappers are watching the news coverage on the television.

ANCHOR(on TV)

In any case, rumor has it that in response to threats against Autumn Seraphin's life, the source code to the upcoming PlatoOS 2001 mobile phone operating system will be released online in the next twenty minutes.

BILL HAVERFORTHDo we have Seraphin on the line.

MALCOLMI got him, boss.

Panel 6 Haverforth holds the phone.

VICTOR(on phone)

Do you have my daughter, you son of a bitch?

BILL HAVERFORTHThat depends on the status of your source code, Mr. Seraphin.

15

Page 13

Panel 1 Autumn is still tied up on the couch.

Caption It's weird being the person everyone's talking about, and having absolutely no power whatsoever to change anything.

Panel 2 The TV newsroom again.

ANCHOR #2We've just received reports that a copy of the source code has leaked - going now to our studio tech experts to offer some opinions on whether it's genuine -

Panel 3 Victor Seraphin is standing in the ready room - some heat signatures are visible on the map, and he's gesturing.

VICTORDo you have her, you *%*%&*%&?

BILL HAVERFORTH(on phone)

Autumn is safe, Mr. Seraphin. But you had to know this wasn't all our requests.

Panel 4 Haverforth and the kidnappers - Malcolm is absent.

BILL HAVERFORTHSeraphim Industries has outpaced every other technology company. You've only been on the scene for nine years, and in that time you've nearly destroyed Microsoft, IBM, and Apple. This is a state of affairs which cannot be allowed to continue.

Panel 5 Malcolm kneels beside the couch with Autumn.

MALCOLMLook, kid - I know this is really rough -

16

AUTUMNI'm okay.

Panel 6 Close up of Autumn's face.

AUTUMNReally.

Page 14

Panel 1 Victor in his ready room.

BILL HAVERFORTH(on phone)

In the next two days, you are to release the full technical specifications of fabrication machinery at all Seraphin Industries bases -

Panel 2 In the dark room, Jukka convulses in agony, a cybernetic machine running up his arm and to his spine.

JUKKAAAAAAAAAA!

Panel 3 Inside Jukka's head, the spider-like beast, Hemlock.

Panel 4 Jukka collapses to the floor, a new, more terrified man.

VOICE(over Jukka's communicator)

We have a lock on Autumn's location.

Panel 5 Victor, in the bathroom, hunched over the sink in a posture that mirrors Juuka's. His phone rings - he ignores it for the moment.

Panel 6 The bathroom door is punched over and Phoebe Wallace comes striding into the men's room.

PHOEBEYour goons won't save Autumn, Seraphin. Not without my help.

Page 15

17

Panel 1 Autumn, back in the chair, assault rifle pointed at her head.

Caption It must have been several hours. I'm losing track of time. I wish...

Panel 2 Inside Autumn's head, the peaceful bluff over the junkyard.

Caption So much in my life just doesn't fit together. I wish I could be back at my bluff, where it all feels...

Panel 3 Close up of Autumn's tear-stained face.

Caption All right. Like it never freaking does.

Panel 4 Jukka driving his car along a dark highway, pistol in his hand; a couple of other armed men are in the car with him.

Panel 5 Victor and Phoebe, face to face in the bathroom.

VICTORAre you threatening my daughter's life?

PHOEBEI'm trying to save it.

VICTORDo you... do you even understand who I am?

Panel 6 Phoebe's face, close-up.

PHOEBEBetter than anyone.

Page 16

Panel 1 Jukka and his men are setting up positions around an apartment building. The same strange glow appears in Jukka's eyes that we saw in Victor's.

Panel 2 Autumn's tear-stained face.

18

BILL HAVERFORTH(off screen)

He's heard the demands. He's got twenty minutes, I'm tired of waiting.

MALCOLMBut we can't -

BILL HAVERFORTHMalcolm. Shut the hell up.

Panel 3 Victor and Phoebe.

PHOEBEDo you really think anyone believes you when you say you had "youthful indiscretions"? I was investigating the three bodies found in the Mayfield meadow behind a meth lab nine years ago - until someone bought off my superiors.

Panel 4 Victor's anxious face, a close-up. No machine-like glow this time.

PHOEBEI know who you are, Victor Seraphin. And I want your daughter to live.

VICTORWhat are you offering me?

Panel 5 Phoebe's face.

PHOEBEWe have an inside man with the kidnappers.

Panel 6 Malcolm stands nervously behind Bill, trying to avoid Kidnapper #2 behind him. Everyone's hands are on their weapons.

Page 17

Panel 1 Autumn, trying in vain to sit up on the couch.

Caption And then... it all starts.

Panel 2 The third kidnapper who is unnamed is standing by the door when it blasts open.

19

KIDNAPPER #3#&^& GRENADE!!!

Panel 3 Autumn, on the couch. Gunshots are heard behind her.

Panel 4 Victor, head bowed in the men's room in front of Phoebe.

VICTORDo what you need to. For Autumn.

PHOEBEThen we have a deal, Mr. Seraphin?

Panel 5 Victor's face, sweating.

VICTORWe have a god damn deal. Now save my daughter.

Page 18

Panel 1 Victor, looking down the sights of his gun and firing; Bill and Malcolm are both dodging, but Kidnapper is caught by the bullets.

Panel 2 Kidnapper #2 fires and kills one of Seraphin's non-augmented men.

Panel 3 Malcolm. In his head, a voice.

PHOEBE(in Malcolm's head)

Malcolm. Do it now.

Panel 4 Malcolm's hand, aiming a pistol.

Panel 5 Bill Haverforth, shot in the back by Malcolm.

Panel 6 Bill Haverforth, Jukka's gun to his head.

BILL HAVERFORTHMalcolm, you (##( son of a bitch.

Page 19

20

Panel 1 Jukka, pulling the trigger; Bill's head is off screen.

JUKKAGoodbye.

Panel 2 Malcolm raises his hands.

MALCOLMI'm with you.

Panel 3 Jukka, a sinister glint in his eye.

Caption And so it was over.

Panel 4 Autumn, untied, is led downstairs by Jukka and his two surviving men.

JUKKAAre you all right?

AUTUMN...I'm fine.

JUKKAGood. Let's get you home.

Panel 5 Autumn and Jukka, framed against the apartment complex's shadowy door.

AUTUMNSure. Yeah. Just...

JUKKA*sigh* What is it, girl?

Panel 6 Autumn's exhausted face close up.

AUTUMNThe... the surviving kidnapper. He tried to help me.

JUKKA(off panel)

Yeah, I guess he did.

21

AUTUMNDon't hurt him, okay?

Page 20

Panel 1 TV newsroom, with the two anchors.

ANCHORReports indicate that Autumn Seraphin, daughter of technology magnate Victor Seraphin, has been recovered safely from kidnappers!

ANCHOR #2But the source code to PlatoOS was still released! Our tech consultants verified it - it's the real deal!

Panel 2 Victor and Autumn, standing together, silhouetted in front of Jukka's car.

Panel 3 Victor embraces Autumn; she doesn't resist.

Panel 4 A body, floating face down in the river.

Caption They found Malcolm Anderson's body in the river later that week.

Page 21

Panel 1 Autumn sits on her bluff, the wind blowing her hair.

Caption I know who my father is.

Panel 2 A picture of the Earth, crisscrossed by networks representing the Internet and the tendrils of Seraphin Industries.

Caption I know that if there's an electronic communication - an email, a phone call, SocialNet - he's listening.

Panel 3 Jukka's face, his eyes now consumed by madness and technological despair.

Caption I know wherever I go, Jukka is watching, and that if anyone threatens me,

22

Jukka will make sure that stops.

Panel 4 In Autumn's hand, a diary.

Caption But there are secrets he cannot take from me. Everything he does, I write down - somewhere where he'll never find it.

Panel 5 Autumn, silhouetted in the cold autumn air, sitting on the edge of her cliff.

Caption Somewhere where he'll never find me.

Page 22

Panel 1 The limo, dropping Autumn and Victor off at the high school.

Caption Starting high school is going to be weird.

Panel 2 The sky, with purplish distortions and lightning.

Caption The weather's been bizarre the past few days. I feel like something... or someone... is coming.

Panel 3 Autumn and Victor walking in the entrance to the school side by side.

Caption Something is going to change.

Panel 4 AMY and KEVIN are already in line to register when they catch Autumn's eye. Amy's hair is longer now - she looks androgynous. She clearly notices Autumn, and Autumn notices her.

Panel 5 Autumn's eyes glisten - not with the artificial terror of Juuka or her father, but with hope.

Caption It's going to be a good year.