THE LIAM SMITH SHOW
Episode 3.08 - "A Moment of Silence"
Written by Jason Donner
INT. AN APARTMENT - NIGHT
Outside the window, we see the night-time skyline of a city.
It could be any city, any where. The room is dark, but
silhouetted at the window, we see the outline of a woman in
her forties. Somewhere, we hear a television reporter
speaking.
REPORTER
(on television)
And so, in a show of remembrance
and respect, the lights of New York
City were dimmed today for one
minute on this, the 11th of
September, 2011... The 10th
anniversary of the World Trade
Center disaster...
WOMAN
Television off.
The television snaps off at the sound of her voice. She
makes her way to a desk and sits.
WOMAN
Computer on.
The computer turns on illuminating the woman's face. We see
that it's Stacy aged ten years but still as beautiful as she
has ever been.
STACY
Computer, bring up file nine eleven
oh-one and begin audio playback.
Stacy sits back in her chair and shuts her eyes as the
computer begins reading the file in Stacy's words.
STACY (V.O. FROM COMPUTER)
We woke up in a different world
today... Last night, we were calm
in our complacency thinking that
nothing could touch us, but as the
sun rose over the nation, something
terrible happened and nothing would
ever be the same for any of us
again....
FADE TO:
INT. TEMPUS' PLACE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: 8:40 AM
Tempus' home is dark, but we see a single sliver of light
visible from the darkened living room.
The camera follows this light to an open door where we see
TEMPUS doubled over a toilet and vomiting. Finished, he
rolls over into a sitting position and we see that tears are
going down the side of his cheeks. He looks up to a display
on the wall that reads 9/11/01 8:41 AM.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY - SEPTEMBER 11, 2001: 8:44 AM
We see all of the New York City skyline including the twin
Trade Towers.
INT. WORLD TRADE CENTER
Inside a little restaurant in the North Tower, DONNER is
sitting at a table with his head in his hands. A waiter,
PETER, approaches him and pours him a cup of coffee.
PETER
Bad day?
DONNER
(looks up)
The piss. How much?
PETER
On the house, friend.
DONNER
Well, thanks.
PETER
You're Capeman's old agent, aren't
you?
DONNER
Cape-who? I'm sorry, that name
doesn't seem to ring any bells with
me... Oh, you mean Cape-Dick? The
man who has single-handedly knocked
me out of the Fortune 500 and send
profits in DonCo plummeting so much
so, that I fly all the way to New
York and I still can't get a single
investor to go in with me on any
business deals? Oh yeah, I used to
be his agent.
The waiter pours him another cup.
PETER
I think you need this.
DONNER
Thanks
He takes a drink. Suddenly, we hear a loud boom and the
building shakes. Donner and Peter look up in confusion.
INT. LIAM'S APARTMENT
LIAM enters followed by BIPPO and THAD. Bippo is dressed in
pirate attire and is holding a map.
LIAM
No, no, no, no, NO! For the last
time, no!
THAD
So, you'll think about it, then?
BIPPO
I'm telling you, Liam, that this
map in my hands is a genuine map to
the pirate stash of One-Eyed Willy!
THAD
You know, that was my old
girlfriend's nickname for my...
BIPPO
All you have to do is lend us a
thousand dollars and we can pay
that old coot at the souvenir shop
and he'll give us the other half!
LIAM
Bippo, use that small calm rational
voice that's screaming in the back
of your brain for once. This is
not a treasure map.
BIPPO
What's your proof, doubting Thomas?
LIAM
Well, for one thing... This is Las
Vegas and it's no where near the
ocean therefore negating the
possibility that a pirate ship
could have made it here. Secondly,
there is a big "TREASURE ISLAND"
logo in the corner leading me to
believe that this, in face, is a
placemat from the Landlubber's
eatery in the Treasure Island
casino.
THAD
I was a little curious why there
was a maze on the back... And why
it had been solved in crayon.
BIPPO
I means NOTHING! The treasure of
One-Eyed Willy will be MINE! ALL
MINE!
LIAM
One-Eyed Willy? Wait a minute,
wasn't he the pirate from The
Goonies?
BIPPO
I have no idea what you're talking
about.
LIAM
He was!
BIPPO
Was not!
LIAM
Was!
Liam, Bippo, and Thad begin to argue when ARTURO and DORIS
enter. Both appear to be in shock.
BIPPO
What's up with you two?
ARTURO
What do you mean "what's up"!?
Haven't you been watching
television?
Arturo walks over to the TV and turns it on. Liam, Thad, and
Bippo watch the screen for a few seconds and then fall back
into their seats stunned.
THAD
W-what happened?
DORIS
A couple of airplanes ran into
them. The pentagon's been hit too.
LIAM
Good God, this is madness.
Thousands of people work there!
A thought.
LIAM
Where's Chocolate Treat? Has
anyone talked to Chocolate Treat?
ARTURO
(indignant)
Whatever for?
Liam gets up and heads for the door.
LIAM
(angry)
Her mother is from New York,
professor!
Liam exits.
EXT. THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY
Donner falls to the ground choking on the dirt and debris
from the collapse. Someone grabs him by the arm and hoists
him to his feet and they run for it. The scene is played out
in slow motion.
PRESIDENT BUSH (V.O.)
Today we've had a national tragedy.
Two airplanes have crashed into the
World Trade Center in an apparent
terrorist attack on our country. I
have spoken to the Vice President,
to the Governor of New York, to the
Director of the FBI, and have
ordered that the full resources of
the federal government go to help
the victims and their families, and
to conduct a full-scale
investigation to hunt down and to
find those folks who committed this
act. Terrorism against our nation
will not stand. And now if you
would join me in a moment of
silence. May God bless the
victims, their families, and
America. Thank you very much.
INT. CHOCOLATE TREAT'S APARTMENT
CHOCOLATE TREAT is frantically dialing on her telephone, but
we keep hearing an Operator's voice saying that all lines are
busy. She looks at the television set and, suddenly, a look
of rage crosses her face.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
Where are you, you son of a BITCH!?
I know you can hear me! OPEN UP!
A door made of light opens. Chocolate Treat marches through
it. The door shuts and the apartment is empty. Suddenly,
there is knocking at the door.
LIAM
(through door)
Chocolate Treat? Open up, it's
Liam. Treat? Come on.
INT. TEMPUS' PLACE
Chocolate Treat marches through the room.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
God-dammit, where are you!?
TEMPUS
I'm over here.
Chocolate Treat walks over to Tempus who is watching the
events of the day on a console.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
You knew. You son of a bitch, you
KNEW!
TEMPUS
I knew.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
AND YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING!? You
couldn't warn us? You just sit by
and LET THIS HAPPEN!?
TEMPUS
I couldn't interfere.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
Don't give me that bull crap time
traveler stuff, Tempus. Don't sit
there and tell me that there was
NOTHING you could have done.
TEMPUS
There was NOTHING I could have
done.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
You unfeeling bastard.
TEMPUS
Have you ever heard of Pariah,
Treat?
CHOCOLATE TREAT
What's that got to do with
anything?
TEMPUS
Pariah was a man cursed to know the
future, but unable to do anything
about it. Sure, he tried... He
pleaded with people to hear his
visions and try to save the people
he saw dying, but there wasn't a
person he talked to that believed
him.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
What are you...
TEMPUS
What could I have done, Chocolate
Treat? Call the president and tell
him what was going to happen today?
No one would have believed me and,
even if they did, it's doubtful
that anything could have prevented
this...
CHOCOLATE TREAT
My mother could be DEAD!
TEMPUS
And you think I don't care!? Do
you think I haven't been able to
sleep a wink for a month because I
KNEW this was coming!? I'm SORRY
all right? I'M SORRY!
Tempus falls to his knees weeping.
TEMPUS
We've been taught about today since
I was in grade school, dammit.
That's part of the reason that time
travel isn't permitted in this
era... Because the temptation to
change things is too great...Oh,
God... I'm so sorry.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
You've been living with this since
you got here?
TEMPUS
Imagine you were sent back to 1941
just days before Pearl Harbor.
Would you warn them that the attack
was going to happen?
CHOCOLATE TREAT
I don't know...
TEMPUS
If you did, the United States might
not have entered World War II until
it was too late to stop the Axis.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
What, so you're saying that there's
some kind of a greater good to come
out of this?
(a beat)
Right now, I find that very very
hard to believe.
TEMPUS
I'm not saying anything. I'M just
trying to make you understand why I
didn't intervene... and to let you
know how sorry I am.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
Tempus, you've been carrying this
with you for months, haven't you?
Tempus nods.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
Shouldering the burden of this
attack alone?
TEMPUS
Yes.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
Must have been tough.
TEMPUS
It was.
Chocolate Treat helps Tempus to his feet.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
I can't forgive you for this. You
know that, don't you?
TEMPUS
Yes.
CHOCOLATE TREAT
But that weight you've been
carrying with you, Tempus? You're
not handling it alone anymore.
Chocolate Treat turns and leaves.
EXT. THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY
Donner is sitting on a curb, dusty powder covering his
expensive suit, as a paramedic gives him oxygen. The scene
seems to move in surreal slow motion as the paramedic rushes
to another injured passerby. Donner puts his head in his
hands and begins to weep.
STACY (V.O.)
Everything changed that day. It
was the day that Kennedy was shot,
the day that the Civil War began,
the day that the Titanic sank, and
the day that the Challenger
exploded.
INT. LIAM'S APARTMENT
Liam, Thad, Bippo, Arturo, and Doris are watching PRESIDENT
BUSH on television.
PRESIDENT BUSH
The resolve of our great nation is
being tested. But make no mistake:
We will show the world that we will
pass this test. God bless.
BIPPO
Well, I'm not going to stand for
THIS!
ARTURO
Where are you going?
BIPPO
I'm going to go BEAT those
terrorists!
Bippo marches out the front door.
STACY (V.O.)
I have to stop writing now.
INT. AN APARTMENT - 2011
Older Stacy is listening to the dictation from her computer.
STACY (V.O. FROM COMPUTER)
I thought I'd write down my
thoughts as this horrible day went
on... For later when my memory
fades but I can't do that anymore.
Maybe someday... I'll finish this.
COMPUTER
End of file.
Stacy sighs and sits forward.
STACY
Computer, begin dictation and add
this to the end of the nine-eleven
oh-one file.
COMPUTER
Ready to begin.
Stacy takes a deep breath and begins.
STACY
Of course, the president was right.
Our resolve was tested and,
although it took a long time and
cost us dearly... It was a test we
passed.
INT. CHOCOLATE TREAT'S APARTMENT
Chocolate Treat is watching her television and trying to call
her mother. A hand is placed on her shoulder and we see that
it's Tempus.
STACY (V.O.)
Chocolate Treat's mother was one of
the many victims of the tragedy.
Her body was never recovered or
identified... and I think that was
the wort part for her.
(beat)
Tempus was person non grata for a
while... At least until the rest of
us could get over our anger and
understand why he did what he did.
(beat)
When I think of what happened to
these two later that year, I can't
even begin describe the irony.
EXT. NEW YORK CITY
CAPEMAN, NIGHTFLYER, ULTRAWOMAN, CAPTAIN SPAZ, COLOSSAL
CHUNK, BLUE FAIRY, COSMIC WEASEL, DOCTOR WHAM, and other
superheroes are working side-by-side with rescue workers.
STACY (V.O.)
Although they had been elsewhere in
space at the time of the disaster,
the superheroes of the world
swallowed the guilt they were
feeling about not being able to
stop the attack and helped in the
cleanup effort. Truthfully, with
the remains of the building as
unstable as they were, the great
heroes strength and special powers
were of no use to them. They, like
many other volunteers, picked
through the rubble looking for
survivors.
(a beat)
A year later, an editorial was
written in the New York Times
blasting Capeman and the Justice
Squad for being absent when the
towers fell. The article was
called "Why Were There No Heroes in
New York?"
The camera pivots over to a group of New Yorkers digging
through the debris.
STACY (V.O.)
That was nonsense, of course. The
heroes... The real ones... Had been
there all along.
INT. THE MGM GRAND
Donner walks down a hall in silence.
STACY (V.O.)
It wasn't until months later that
we learned that Donner had been at
ground zero during the attack.
He just came back from a trip a
couple of weeks later, locked
himself up in his office for
another week, and then went back to
scheming and profiteering. He made
out... He was one of the lucky
ones, but for the rest of his life
he never spoke of that day again.
(a pause)
Not once.
INT. LIAM'S APARTMENT
Liam, Arturo, Doris, and Thad are watching television in
shock. Bippo walks in.
LIAM
Bippo, where have you been? We've
been worried SICK!?
BIPPO
Huh? Why?
ARTURO
You said you were going to go and
kill the terrorists!
BIPPO
I never said I was going to kill
them, professor, I said I was going
to beat them... And I DID!
DORIS
What? How?
BIPPO
First, I walked outside the
apartments on my way to work and
saluted old glory as she waved
proudly overhead. I went to work,
did my job, picked up some
groceries on my way home and then
came here.
THAD
But that's what you always do.
BIPPO
Exactly.
LIAM
So... How exactly did you beat the
terrorists?
BIPPO
Liam, If I have to explain it to
you then you've got the wrong idea
what it means to defeat a
terrorist.
Bippo exits.
STACY (V.O.)
Of course, Bippo was right...
INT. AN APARTMENT
Stacy is finishing up her dictation.
STACY
It was rocky at first, but we
managed to go on. It took a long
time, but the ones responsible for
the attack were found and
punished... But at no small price.
The Trade Center was eventually
rebuilt and life slowly returned to
normal, but for those of us who
were there... For those of us who
never believed that it would happen
to us, September the 11th, 2001 was
a sobering day. Given all the
crisis' that I ever had to deal
with in Las Vegas involving the
freaky, the bizarre, the
supernatural, and the stupid...
It's a day that i will never
forget.
(pause)
Computer, end dictation and save.
Attach message to an e-mail and
send it to everyone on the Upda
Creek mailing list with the
following message:
(a beat)
Never forget, my friends... Never
forget.
FADE OUT:
THE END