XIII: The Series s02e09 Episode Script

Pong

2x09 - "Pong" Open that for me, quickly! Victor? Victor Gong? Go check it out! What is the meaning of this? We've come to check on our investment.
What did they do to you? Can I have some water? I said, can I have some water? I was a secret agent, betrayed by my own people.
Robbed of my face, my memories, my history.
Hidden in my past is a secret that threatens all humanity.
I search for answers with nothing to hold onto but the tattoo that has become my name.
I am Thirteen.
Give him his drink! More.
You're struggling with the language.
Yes we've been here before.
It will take some time for you to detach from your persona.
Do you even know who I am? Do you know who I am? What does that symbol means? It means heaven.
It's the Chinese character for heaven.
Xu Corporation CEO PONG.
Pong.
From XU.
That's right Victor Still needs to drink! Do you have the final Tesla letter? I don't have it.
Your communiqué before you left the United States said you had secured it.
We had an agreement.
It seems your asset has come up short.
- Let me have him.
- The letter is all that's important here.
I'll take this all the way to the General Secretary if I have to.
You know I have Beijing's ear That maybe so but you cannot have Victor Gong's! Look, honestly I don't even remember who Tesla is, let alone where I hid the letter.
It'll come back.
- We can help with that.
- Rest will jog his memory.
Victor represents an eight million yuan investment, and years of strategic planning.
Add to that billions in HEARPE development.
We're this close to a workable targeting algorithm.
And you want to stick a wrench in the gears.
Your planning is unsound.
You've searched the ship from stem to stern and found nothing.
I seriously doubt your methods, his sanity even more.
Your man's too far gone.
Kindly let Mr.
Gong rest and rejuvenate.
We will speak later.
SHANGHAI I'm so happy to have you back Victor.
It's quite astonishing.
Your stamina.
You remained submerged in this identity for a year.
Uh, right.
To another successful performance.
I was quite skeptical when we first approved that mission, clearly I should have shown you more faith.
Oh, it's better late than never, I guess.
You dealt a crippling psychological blow to Synequanon.
You rattled Samuel Amos took his head out of the game for months.
That web that dirty history together.
- You exploited it beautifully.
- Yeah well it's not exactly neuroscience.
It's interesting.
I thought we'd lost you when your ship disappeared off the radar grid.
But I was quite relieved when we got word that you were unloaded to that warehouse.
Uhm ten days in a box.
Yeah, that was fun.
What happened with the crew? Cultural misunderstanding.
You have a visitor.
Victor! Finally you return! English, please.
- Still? Every time? - It's who he is.
He's acclimating.
He needs time.
Enjoy your evening, Victor.
- Maybe we should erm - I thought I would die.
My body ached and longed for your hands.
You can't imagine how much I've missed you.
I'm starting to get the idea.
You play your role so well.
But you can't disguise your wit.
It always comes out.
You can't help it.
If I'm acting strange, it's just that I I prefer strange.
You know that.
Yeah.
Of course.
Say my name, Victor.
Uh uhm Ai Ning.
Hello, Ai Ning.
Riots in America Carrington frosty on transfer of power We have reported that Ben Carrington is excluded in presidental bunker at the recent terrorist attack on the White House.
No official statement has been made regarding the pending inauguration of Harriet Traymore.
Can this be the cause of the civil unrest that seems to be erupting all over the country? But turning to the other top story people are talking about: the weather Scientists are now reporting "unusual" fluctuations in sea levels at the Arctic icecap, and disturbances in the upper atmosphere.
Some scientists are openly suggesting that these weather events may be man-made the result of secret experiments by Chinese and American Governments.
President-elect Harriet Traymore gave Gosh! I mean I don't know the scientists there they're smart ones you know but I will say that in couple days we've seen some pretty strange things.
Yeah I wouldn't pass the government that treats their own people for that they do.
We've got to get at top of China.
You know we've we've got tell them they can take our debt, but they can't take our sunshine.
Alright? Okay.
Thank you.
Oh and God bless America.
Here at the News One many of are struggling to ask, what is the connection between Carrington's extraordinary power grab and what's going on For now the Carrington White House has no comment THE WHITE HOUSE I got your comment right here for you Mischa: Harriet Traymore can kiss all the Chinese ass she wants, but negotiation uhm Negotiation is about concession.
And we are not gonna concede on the weather, no! They are not gonna talk us into a hurricane.
Bra-vo.
You were always good at giving speeches, Ben.
Not a man of your word of course but, brilliant at playing with them.
I always turned my words into actions Oh, I'm aware of that but talk is what's required now.
Two equally inept, obscenely well armed foes are playing with lightning.
It doesn't end well.
So pick up the phone.
Find a way to back them down mutually disarm and take HEARPE completely off the table.
Could you just see the look on her face? Oh oh oh oh if we take away Traymore's rain stick? But it's too late.
The people have spoken.
You're still the most powerful man in the world.
You are the hurricane, the lightning and the thunder.
Now grow some balls and make that call before it's too late.
To the Victor goes the spoils.
Well, look at you.
Enjoying Victor's spoils.
She's kind.
She's better than you deserve.
I woke and you were gone.
I thought I'd only dreamed you.
You were talking to yourself.
It's fine.
It's what you do.
It's how you come back to me.
There's comfort in your mumbling.
Custom tailored.
Only the best for my love.
- It fits perfectly.
- What is it that you say? "Last years shirts are rags for dogs.
" That certainly sounds like me.
Don't worry, I kept this one.
It smells like me.
Of course it does.
You've worn it for years.
Each time you come back.
- Your drawings, they kept me alive.
- I did this? Everyone of them, I waited each day for the mail to arrive.
Like you always say, "the palest ink is - "better than the best memory.
" - "better than the best memory.
" When you look at me you have no doubts? - Why would I? - My face Oh, Victor.
How many faces have you worn for me? How long have I learned to look beyond? I still see you.
I see only you.
To the Victor goes the spoils.
- What are you doing here? - Oh - Did you rest well? - Where's Pong? I wanted to talk to you first.
We have a lot of catching up to do.
- You're not with Xu.
- You really don't remember? Winslow Wong.
I'm with the People's Republic.
A government stooge.
I know the type.
- I'll drive you to Pong.
- No you won't.
- Don't you touch her.
- Or? You know, if you weren't in such good graces with the heir to the Xu corporate dynasty, you might find the gloves a little rougher.
Interesting that Pong must endure you sitting on his shoulder, questioning his judgment.
Our interests are complementary.
Don't mistake them for identical.
Don't make a fool of yourself.
Fifteen / love.
Your turn.
Thirty / love.
Better get dressed before we start breaking the furniture.
Forty / love.
Do something! Stop it! Game? You can't win a fair fight against him.
Yes! Yes, Mr.
Premier.
Yes now look, I understand, I understand that you are as hampered in your ability to rein in XU, as I am in my ability to rein in Synequanon, but it is my hope, my fervent hope however naive that we can both They're chattering among themselves.
Are there other Central Committee members on the call? Yes, Mr.
Premier, yes I understand it's Who? Traymore? She did, did she? All right you listen to me.
You know very well there is only one leader of the United States of America at a time, and right now you are speaking to him! No! I won't wait for a translation! There's a new General in town.
And so far she wields the knife a little better than you do.
By the way, I believe that's yours.
- Sir? - Yeah.
Yeah.
I'm fine.
I'm fine.
NEWS ONE STUDIO - Shh, shhhh.
- What do you want? We're gonna talk about the weather.
Just drive.
- That's enough, Thomas.
- That's enough! - Are you sure, Mr.
President? - Lights.
Whenever you're ready, Mr.
President.
Mr President we are live in in 3,2,1 Live from the White House Carrington declares martial law My fellow Americans.
Over the history of our great nation, the transfer of power from one President to another has always been accomplished peacefully.
Regrettably, we face a dark hour.
Through many tours of duty as a Commanding General, I have learned how to keep this country safe.
Therefore, with a heavy heart I invoke Executive Order 12919.
I done this uniform today in recognition of the extraordinary steps taken on this day and I pledge that civilian control of the United States will return.
Until then, I will remain in the White House, watching over my constituents; protecting the rights and freedoms that we all hold so dear.
I thank you all.
And God bless The United States of America.
And we're out.
- Excellent, sir.
- Yeah Get in.
Get in! - Oh God.
- You ready to listen now? I dunno why you think I can help you.
I'm just I'm not a hero, I'm a journalist Not even that.
I just read the teleprompter.
And half the time that breaks.
- Have you heard of HEARPE? - I'm blonde, but I read.
Everything that is happening now goes back to that.
The strange weather.
The bombings they blamed on The Veil.
Everything.
You just sound like a conspiracy theorist.
They've called me worse.
Like 'terrorist'.
Look I need you to help me.
So I can go to Guantanamo, too? No thank you.
Read this.
- You're gonna have to untie me.
- I'll flip the pages for you.
Are you really a terrorist? - What do you think? - I think I'm your hostage and I'm your hostage.
Okay All right where do I fit into that picture? Who says you can't also write what you read? XU I regret that we must steal much of your time away from Ai Ning.
I sincerely hope she's helping you acclimate.
Uhm uhm Among other things.
A little respect! You are still in "limbo".
That's between identities.
There are still chances of unexpected reactions.
But then we always expect the unexpected from you.
Victor, the letter.
Do you remember? Yeah pieces are starting to come back, but Did you check the boat? Thoroughly.
It wasn't there.
Something tells me you already knew that.
- This is a waste of time.
- I disagree.
Victor's neural conditioning, plus his years in the field Will be taken into consideration when interpreting the data.
A polygraph? Ask your questions by all means.
I'm more in the dark than you are.
It'll be interesting to hear your findings.
I'll ask the questions.
You answer with a simple "yes" or "no".
Are we in an office? Yeah.
Did you arrive here by boat? Yes.
Did you betray the People's Republic? No.
Have you collaborated with the American agent, XIII? No.
Did you possess a letter by Nikola Tesla? Yes.
Do you have the letter in your possession? No.
Do you know the whereabouts of the letter? No.
Are you Victor Gong? Uhm repeat the question please.
I said: Are you Victor Gong? Yes.
News One reporter, Mischa Martin, was last seen after her shift yesterday Supporters of President-elect Harriet Traymore have expressed outrage at President Carrington's move to delay the transfer of power.
We now take you live now to Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, where President-elect Traymore is poised to deliver her response.
Second amendment's gotten a bad rap from some misguided folks.
I want to implore all Americans to contemplate why our forefathers put this prudent and prophetic, amendment together.
They envisioned a time when the will of the American voters would be spat on by the politicians who exploited our electoral process.
I'm gonna tell.
President "for live" Carrington says he is protecting us.
Oh, he's done a hell of a job, don't you think? Do you want his fail presency to continue? No! Do you lack livin' on a martial law? Okay, I wanna read something to you.
From our founding documents.
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security "of a free state, the right of the people to keep "and bear arms shall not be infringed.
" Are you going to give up your liberty? No! All right.
We are proud Americans.
And we have guns.
And we will not sit passively by while these tyrants steal our liberty from us.
Benjamin Carrington may ignore our ballots but he cannot ignore our bullets.
Let's take America back, by any means necessary.
All right Let's get out of here.
Okay, let's get outta here.
See ya, thank you Get out of here! Did you see what just happened? Ya, ya I saw what just happened.
I also heard that incendiary tirade you unleashed before all hell broke loose.
What did you expect was gonna happen? I expect to rally the patriots of this country.
And that's what I've done.
- I've awakened America from its apathy.
- You called for Civil War.
Some of us still believe in the rule of law, Harriet.
You're gonna slow your roll.
And you need to refer to me as Madame President.
You're not in the White House yet.
And as for this Harriet! I love you! Oh my goodness.
Oh yeah all right.
You're gonna reap a whirlwind.
We're losing, Victor.
There was a moment where I thought you might fail The miles, the disorientation I'm surprised I didn't.
I'm losing faith.
We're losing time.
Wong is ambitious and he has the ear of powerful factions.
It always comes down to power.
Doesn't it? Thirty-six million.
That's how many starved in the Great Famine.
What good are our towers and prosperity if that can happen again? You're talking about using HEARPE to fight famine? If we can target the array.
We can bring stable irrigation growth, and prosperity to areas where our people are barely scraping by.
That's why I need the last Tesla letter, Victor.
I need you to be fully lucid.
If they take me down, I will not be able to protect you anymore.
Protect me from my friends.
- I can take care - Of my enemies.
You need to go.
Buh-bye.
Can you get me the number of the head of the XU Corporation? Pang, Ping, Pong whatever his name is? Tell him I have a present for him.
I surely do.
You left me all alone.
For a whore? Ai Ning! Betty!!! Victor! Victor.
Help me.
- Betty! Stop! - You betrayed the movement.
And now you collaborate with the Chinese.
And not just any Chinese.
I know who she is.
- Let her go.
- Heir to the Xu fortune.
Pong's her puppet.
And now so are you.
No, Betty, it's not like you think.
Pong is a thousand times better than men like Amos.
You can't trust any of them.
You know what's going on but you don't even know what's yours and what's his! You don't even know what's yours and what's his! - Does Xu know about this? - I wanted to see you alone.
Xu is full of ears, and not all friendly.
I thought I'd proved my trustworthiness by now.
I don't like your methods, Victor.
To me, you're nothing but a cold blooded murderer.
For the greater good, right? I'm not sure you're that much of a patriot.
If this is an execution, that means you believe me when I say I don't have that goddamn letter.
Patience, Victor.
If I was going to kill you, I could've saved the trip.
Who's that? Xu's laboratories have an infestation, it seems.
This man here is a geophysicist.
He was put on the HEARPE project by your friend Terrence Pong.
We discovered he was selling well-financed research to other parties.
You've performed the same service a hundred times before.
You know the drill.
- You don't have to do this.
- Shut up.
I need to think.
I stayed for Xu.
As for Chinese you can understand that.
You don't know the first thing about me.
Are you kidding? You're celebrity.
A part of team that They think I sold our research, but I never sold anything to anyone! - Kneel.
- You don't understand! I only wanted to make a life for my family.
Promises were made! They said we could have a second child! Please! - Come on, get out of here.
- What? I said, go! Go on! Run! Go! Now! Go on! - Victor would have done it.
- What? There! That's what you asked for! Isn't it? How many times am I gonna have to prove who I am?! You know, you weren't actually supposed to kill him.
That's why we gave you an empty gun.
- Well it wasn't exactly a fair test.
- It's a case you failed.
I'm taking you to Beijing.
We'll extract the information there.
Nah.
I'm more of a Shanghai kind of guy.
Idiot! Tired of running? Always running.
Always running away from pain.
Don't you ever want to run toward something, brother? What matters are the little pieces of happiness we steal for ourselves.
The gorgeous moments.
Come on My life was good.
It's yours now.
Take me home.
So you're saying the government is trying to control the weather and making you take all the rap? Yep.
We're not killers.
All right.
Uhm What if I agreed to give you a voice? Do an interview? - I'm listening.
- You're the best story going.
I mean It's like you're a Golden ticket.
My God! I go live in front of twenty million viewers everyday.
You let me go and I swear I'll make network on you.
Okay Did you hear that? Hell no! Man! It was a scene straight out of a Hollywood action thriller.
Police descended on a highway overpass where News One anchor Mischa Martin was being held hostage by an unhinged assailant in a decrepit minivan.
Mischa Rescued ! Retrieved From Terrorist Van I'm trusting you, tell them about HEARPE! We're not terrorists! - Mischa! - Lips! Lips, lips lips! - Hi.
- Whenever you're ready.
Go! Get lost! Mischa, are you okay? Can you give us a statement? Of course, Brian.
Good to see you.
I want to thank Empire City Police Forces for their professionalism.
I have gazed into the heart of a bloodthirsty terrorist.
His sick demands, his paranoid desperation, will all be coming soon to News One, in my exclusive, first-person account.
Here, this is cold.
I brought you a fresh one.
What's wrong? You seem so distant.
What do you want from me? I want nothing but you.
Here.
Let me You showed me this before.
Match my breathing.
Shh.
Free your mind I'm amost scared I won't recognize your new face.
Not only will you look the part, you will be the part.
How? - What did you - It's just an exercise That's what happens when you come back.
It's not real.
What's here, that's what's real.
Now come to bed.
Okay just give me.
Just give me a minute.
- How many times? - What? How many times has has Victor had to "come back?" Each time I beg you not to go.
This is your last time Victor! Finally the face you save will be your own.
- Victor? What's going on? - I have a photographic memory - Victor? - It just takes a while to develop.
Victor Welcome home.
Come in.
I didn't expect you so soon.
You're right.
He led us right to it.
I will get this analyzed right away.
Now your end of the deal.
You help me find Victor.
This one certainly thinks he's Victor.
- Looks like Victor, acts like Victor.
- He's not.
- A woman knows.
- Uhm.

Previous EpisodeNext Episode