The Thirteenth Floor

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INT. HOTEL ROOM-MIGHT 1930 L.A. Fuller writes a letter

FULLER:

They say, "Ignorance is bliss." For the first time in my life, I

agree. I wish I had never uncovered the awful truth. I know now.

once they find out, they will try to silence me. That is why I've

written this all down for you in this letter. You*re the only

one whom I can tell this to. The only one who could possibly

understand. Good luck, my friend.

INT. HOTEL-NIGHT

CLARK:

I hope you enjoyed your stay with us.

GENE:

Mr. Fuller, nice having you here tonight. Your usual table?

FULLER:

No thanks. Gene.

ASHTON:

Her name's Erika. She's from Toledo.

FULLER:

Ashton, would you do me a favor?

ASHTON:

You'd like to meet her?

FULLER:

I want you to keep this letter. Somebody will ask for it. A man

named Douglas Hall. Remember, it's crucial that he receives it.

ASHTON:

It's a walk in the park.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOTEL-NIGHT

DRIVER:

Going home, Mr. Fuller?

FULLER:

Yes, Charlie.

INT HOME BEDROOM- NIGHT

WOMAN:

We're out of cat food.

FULLER:

Yes, I'll buy some in the morning.

WOMAN:

You've been smoking again.

INT. COMPUTER ROOM -NIGHT 2000

COMPUTER:

Download complete. Link to simulation terminated.

INT. BAR- NIGHT

BARTENDER:

One martini.

FULLER:

You forgot the olive.

BARTENDER:

We're out of olives. How about some pretzels?

FULLER:

No thank you.

PHONE:

Please leave a message at the tone.

FULLER:

Douglas, it's me. Listen, I've stumbled onto something

incredible. This changes everything.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE BAR -NIGHT

FULLER:

I don't know. I don't even know how to begin. What are you doing?

INT. DOUGLAS'S HOUSE- MORNING

PHONE:

You have new messages. You have 3 new messages.

PHONE:

First new message

Five twenty-five a.m.

HILLARY:

Douglas, it's Hilary. Don't forget to call Marshall. Legal is

screaming for the contract. I'll have a notary come to the

office at lunch.

PHONE:

Next new message

Five forty-eight a.m.

HILLARY:

It's me again. Please call me as soon as you get up.

PHONE:

Next new message

Six thirteen a.m.

McBAIN

Mr. Douglas Hall, this is Detective McBain, LAPD. I'd appreciate

a callback, please. My phone number is 555-7876.

INT.POLICE OFFICE - MORNING

BERNTEIN:

I'm Detective Zev Bernstein. Sorry to drag you out of bed so

early. This is Detective McBain.

McBAIN

Mr. Hall? Thanks for coming down.

DOUGLAS:

Where is he?

McBAIN

Can I get you some coffee?

DOUGLAS:

No.

McBAIN

We found him in an alley at Spring and Grand. Looks like he ran

into some guy who wasn't just asking for a quarter. Carved him up

like a ham. Took everything

Wallet, credit cards. Got a real kick out of it. What's your

connection to the old man?

DOUGLAS:

I worked with him for 6 years. He was may boss. My friend.

McBAIN

Hey, cigarette?

DOUGLAS:

I don't smoke.

McBAIN

We found these on him. Traced the prescription. According to his

doctor. Fuller listed you to call in case of medical

emergencies. He had no next of kin?

DOUGLAS:

No he didn't.

McBAIN

Sure?

DOUGLAS:

I think he would've told me.

McBAIN

Have any idea who killed him?

DOUGLAS:

Everybody liked him.

McBAIN

Mind if I tag along? Or we can continue in my office, if that's

more convenient.

DOUGLAS:

That's fine.

McBain, What do you do for a paycheck, anyway?

DOUGLAS:

Computer software. Would you mind taking care of the car this

morning?

McBAIN

Must make some decent bucks, huh?

DOUGLAS:

I make a living.

INT. FULLER'S OFFICE -MORNING

DOUGLAS:

This was his apartment.

McBAIN

You could be home already.

DOUGLAS:

What?

McBAIN

I see these signs every time I leave work - " You could be home

already. Apartment living in downtown." Never expected it could

look anything like this.

DOUGLAS:

This company was Fuller's life. He worked and lived here.

McBAIN

So what exactly do your people do here?

DOUGLAS:

I don't think you wouldn't be interested.

McBAIN

I'm paid to be interested.

DOUGLAS:

Computer research. Fuller was onto a whole new frontier. Very

sensitive material. Not at liberty to discuss it.

McBAIN

A lot of money involved. This apartment must be worth a few

million dollars.

DOUGLAS:

One of the perks of the job.

McBAIN

This job has a whole lot of perks.

(A woman comes in)

DOUGLAS:

Can I help you?

JANE:

I just talked to him 2 days ago. I can't believe he' gone. My

name is Jane Fuller. Hannon was my father.

DOUGLAS:

I'm sorry. I'm Douglas Hall.

JANE:

You are the one he always wanted me to meet.

DOUGLAS:

Really? He never mentioned to me that he had a daughter.

JANE:

he didn't? I just arrived from Paris this morning. I was supposed

to meet him. But then I heard.

McBAIN

My condolences, Miss Fuller. I'm Detective McBain, LAPD. I have

to ask you some questions.

JANE:

of course.

McBAIN

Would you excuse us, Mr. Hall?

DOUGLAS:

Sure. Have we ever met before?

JANE:

No, that's not possible.

DOUGLAS:

You look very familiar. Nice to meet you, Miss Fuller.

INT. THE 13TH FLOOR

DOUGLAS:

Hey, Whitney. How you doing?

WHITNEY:

Sliced him up like an animal. And for what? He was the Einstein

of our generation. It's a waste.

DOUGLAS:

What the hell happened while I was away?

WHITNEY:

He was jacking into the system a lot.

DOUGLAS:

What?

WHITNEY:

I thought you knew. You didn't know?

DOUGLAS:

No, I thought we were months away from the first trial run.

WHITNEY:

We are. But you know, he was taking a big chance. What was I

supposed to do? You know how he is.

DOUGLAS:

Any complications?

WHITNEY:

None that I know of yet.

DOUGLAS:

Did he ever tell you he had a daughter?

WHITNEY:

Why?

DOUGLAS:

Because I just met her.

WHITNEY:

You're kidding me.

INT. OFFICE ROBBY

DOUGLAS:

John, I need the number of that cab company.

GUARD:

No need, sir. She went to the Omni Hotel.

INT. THE 13TH FLOOR

WHITNEY:

Doug?

McBAIN

Detective McBain. Sorry to disappoint you.

WHITNEY:

I'll find Doug.

McBAIN

Actually it's you I want to have a few word with.

WHITNEY:

What for?

McBAIN

Want me to catch your boss's killer?

WHITNEY:

Of course.

McBAIN

The whole thing's a giant computer game?

WHITNEY:

No not at all, it doesn't need a user to interact with it to

function. Its units are fully-formed, self-learning cyber beings.

McBAIN

Units?

WHITNEY:

Electronic, simulated characters. They populate the system. They

think they work, they eat,

McBAIN

They f***?

WHITNEY:

Let's just say that they're modeled after us. Right now we have

a working prototype

Los Angeles, circa 1937.

McBAIN

Why '37?

WHITNEY:

Fuller wanted to start by recreating the era of his youth. You

see, while my mind is jacked in, I'm walking around experiencing

1937. My body stays here and holds the consciousness of the

program link unit.

McBAIN

You think one of them units crawled up an extension cord and

killed its maker?

INT. HOTEL ROBBY

DOUGLAS:

Miss Fuller checked in yet?

DOUGLAS:

Glad I caught you.

JANE:

Mr. Hall. What are you doing here.

DOUGLAS:

Well, it's about your father. Actually. You said you spoke with

him a few days ago. Can you tell me anything about that

conversation? Did he seem strange to you at all?

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