| abstract
| - [Church bell ringing] [Helen stands in front of a projection screen showing medical data from an abnormal patient.] HELEN: This case study shows an enlarged hypothalamus, nearly twice the size of a normal human. Such increased scale is often the first indicator of abnormal abilities, which is why detailed brain mapping is often our best recourse when diagnosing new patients. And now, in this situation, the patient was able to lower her body temperature to well below life-sustaining levels for days at a time. [Helen pauses as Nikola Tesla enters at the back of the room.] HELEN: Such examples of this simple genetic mutation are part of a larger-scale trend we are seeing worldwide. More appearances of extraordinary genetic abilities are cropping up at an ever-increasing rate. [Nikola Tesla hands a note to an assistant and whispers something. The assistant carries the note to the front of the room.] ASSISTANT: [whispering] Scusi. (Excuse [me].) [Assistant whispers inaudibly in Helen’s ear and hands her the note.] HELEN: Grazie. (Thank you.) [Helen opens it and reads, “You will be killed in less than three minutes. Meet me now. Tesla. PS. You look hot.” Helen looks up with alarm.] HELEN: Mi scusi. An urgent matter has come up. Can we take a short recess? Fera uno breve pause. [Helen exits.] [Tesla waits as Helen walks up to him.] TESLA: Helen Magnus. Kiss me and I’ll save your life. HELEN: And if I don’t? TESLA: [scoffs] It’s been over sixty years, just plant one on me already. [Tesla turns his face to the side. As Helen moves in to kiss his cheek, Tesla turns back and catches the kiss on his lips. Helen shoves back with irritation.] HELEN: Nikola Tesla. You always did know how to get attention. TESLA: And you’re still boring as ever when it comes to giving a lecture. But to business: Cabal agents are all over the building. If we don’t leave now, things are going to get… rather bullet-ridden. [Tesla takes Helen’s elbow and begins walking away from the conference room. Helen stops and turns to face him.] HELEN: And why should I believe you? [In background, Cabal agents with rifles enter the conference room. Helen sees them and resumes walking quickly with Tesla.] HELEN: I assume you have a plan other than kissing me? TESLA: Genius, remember? HELEN: Ah. [Helen and Tesla come down the stairs and stop at a door. Tesla brandishes a key before unlocking it and pushing it open and gesturing for Helen to precede him.] TESLA: Beauty before brains. [The catacombs stretch off into darkness until the lights come on as Tesla throws an old-fashioned sliding bolt across the door.] HELEN: Charming. [They begin walking rapidly down the corridor.] TESLA: I know. Part of a 200-year-old system of catacombs underneath the city. HELEN: I’m assuming there are other exits further on? TESLA: Should be. My contact said there would be. HELEN: Contact? TESLA: Umhmm. Concierge at my hotel. [grins] Don’t you love Rome? [Helen glances back the way they came at the banging sound of Cabal agents trying to force the door. The lock falls off as agents come in with guns raised.] HEAD AGENT: Get me thermal imaging of these tunnels, ASAP. Make sure every possible exit is covered. They either surrender or they die.
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