Slow ARC SHOT FULL CIRCLE around Grey and Kliks as they 
speak, getting increasingly agitated. Kliks screwed up this 
containment somehow, and Grey knows it. 


KLIKS 
What are you suggesting? | have no 
idea how this happened, but I'll 
find out, of that you can be 
certain. 


GREY 
Did one of your double agents turn 
triple? It's happened before. 


KLIKS 
Way ahead of you, Special Agent. 
We've already found two traitors 
that helped the Sarkite. Two DEAD 
traitors, so not even clear they 
actually turned. Dupes, perhaps. 


GREY 
Who cares, Kliks? Of course we get 
breaches with you in charge. 


KLIKS 
Please. If you had a clue about 
actual field work, you'd wet 


yourself. There are tradeoffs. 


GREY 
MY field work's had zero deaths. 
It's all catching up with you, 
Kliks. 


KLIKS 
Just wait until you have to kill a 
few civilians to clinch a mission. 
Then lecture me about your field 
record. 


CLOSE IN on Grey's face, then FLASHBACK TO an unknown older 
Agent being shot while a younger Agent Grey looks on in 

horror. FADE TO CLOSE IN on Agent Grey's face, and then 
resume ARC SHOT. 


KLIKS (CONT'D) 

And you're changing the subject! | 
want to know why you're on this 
"skip" at all. There's no reason 
you should have any clearance on 
140, let alone be a backup 
containment specialist. 


GREY 
(distressed) Why are you 
complaining about something that 
just bailed you out? Or do you want 
to waste time finding someone else? 


KLIKS 
Do not tempt me. Using you is pure 
expediency. Anyone else would be 
preferable right now. 


GREY 
Maybe I'm better at my job than you 
think? Is that possible? 


KLIKS 
Keep telling yourself that, 
"Special" Agent! Without that 
anomaly detector in your head, you 
couldn't shine my shoes. 


GREY 
(penny drops, slowly) | know what 
this is. (faster) Our project's 
gone pear-shaped, right? 
(furiously) | knew it was a bad 
idea! 


KLIKS 
(coldly) Without admitting 
anything, what's our alternative? 
You KNOW we need access. You KNOW 
there's no hope otherwise. That 
Sarkite was right...it's only a 
matter of time. 


GREY 
No, it's not worth it. What 
about... 


ARC SHOT ends on Dr. Mahto and Guard as they enter, 
interrupting this fight. ANGLE ON speaker in turn. 


DR. MAHTO 
(handing over book to Grey) Here 
you are, Simon. But, how can a book 
be Keter? What are the Daevas? I'm 
so- 


GREY 
Not now, Doctor, it has to wait. 
Guard, escort Dr. Mahto to the 
nearest safe room. 


DR. MAHTO 
But Simon- 


KLIKS 
Doctor, Grey's right for once, we 
have a lot to do, and we still 
don't know if this breach is locked 
down. Please go. 


GREY 
I'll get you up to speed when it's 
over, | promise. Guard? 


GUARD #4 
Let's go, Doctor. 


Dr. Mahto scowls, then leaves with the Guard. 


KLIKS 
(to Grey, calmer) How many guards 
do you want? 


GREY 
Leave four. (beat) When do we call 
in the Diggers? 


KLIKS 
Depends upon what you find. I'll at 
least notify the dig site. 


GREY 
Geezus, what did it do this time? 


KLIKS 
Well, the Foundation is still here, 
yes? | think we're still a secret. 
It can't be that bad yet. 


GREY 
Maybe, but Zeta-9? 


KLIKS 
The Diggers know the score. We all 
do. My network awaits. Guard, 
attend. 


3 of the 7 remaining Guards stand by Kliks' side. They start 
to leave, then Kliks turns to Grey. 


KLIKS (CONT'D) 
Seal it up, Special Agent. And 
watch yourself. 


Kliks and Guards leave, SHOT OVER SHOULDER of Grey 
Grey looks around the room, then to the Guards. 


GREY 
Two of you, mind the corridors. 
(they move immediately) You two, 
attend the cell door. Close it 
behind me after | enter. 


CLOSE SHOT as Grey steels himself. Then SHOT ON cell door as 
Grey turns and slowly enters the chamber. Shot CUTS AWAY just 
as Grey crosses the threshold. 


CUT TO: 
INT. SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM 


Room has a number of tables, chairs, and amusements. Two 
dozen or so Foundation personnel are chatting, standing, 
sitting, waiting out the lockdown. There are a few Guards 
watching the crowd. 


Dr. Mahto is wandering around the room surveying the scene. 
She notices some side booths labeled "Research Pod", and she 
enters an empty one. 


CUT TO: 
INT. RESEARCH POD IN SITE-76 RECREATION ROOM 


POV Dr. Mahto. The pod has a small desk and computer 
terminal, a standard Foundation data station. The terminal 
screen shows the ubiquitous trefoil. ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto as 
she sits down in the desk chair. 


CLOSE SHOT on panel to the left of the keyboard as Dr. Mahto 
touches her smartwatch to it. CLOSE SHOT on computer screen 
as trefoil disappears and a Foundation data menu appears, 

along with the words "Good Morning, Dr. Mahto". CLOSE SHOT on 
Dr, Mahto looking over the screen, then CLOSE SHOT on screen 
as Dr. Mahto works the keyboard through some menu options 
until she pulls up SCP-140's entry screen. She requests the 
Special Containment Procedures for SCP-140. Screen clears and 
is replaced with the title page for SCP-140. A photo of SCP 

140 is in the upper right corner of the screen. Camera ZOOMS 

IN slowly on photo... 


CUT TO BLACK 


ACT 3 
INT. CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140 


[Director's Note: This act consists mostly of Agent Grey 
sitting at a table, conversing with a computer, and flipping 
through pages of a book. The challenge is to give this the 
same tension as if Grey were disarming an explosive device.] 


The cell is a small room, like a very spare office. It 
contains only a single desk with a standard Foundation data 
terminal. On a shelf on the desk is the book, SCP-140. 


ANGLE ON open door, as GREY enters the room carrying the SCP 
140 copy. The copy is twice as thick as the real book. Grey 
briefly glances back as the door closes behind him. 


CLOSE SHOT of SCP-140, then CLOSE SHOT of Grey, who 
winces in 

pain. An electrical effect is seen around Grey's head, and 
unintelligible murmuring is heard. Grey shakes his head 
clear, and speaks to the desk. 


GREY 
You're not getting in my head. You 
never have. 


ANGLE ON desk as Grey walks to it and sits down, setting the 
copy next to the keyboard on the right. Grey pulls out his 
phone and touches it to panel to the keyboard's left (Grey 
does not use a smartwatch, unlike the majority of Foundation 
personnel). The welcome screen comes up as it did for Mahto. 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Enable voice interface. 


COMPUTER 
Voice interface enabled. 


GREY 
Begin log. 


The screen clears and "<BEGIN LOG>" is seen at the top. From 
this point on, the computer records the conversation in text, 
which we will cut to occasionally during the scene. 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Recognize Agent Grey, Simon, ready 
to commence re-containment of SCP 

140. 


After a beat, a different female voice responds. This is a 
human, not a computer. 


CONTROL 
Roger, Grey, this is your Control. 
How's the cleanup going? 


GREY 
Could be better. Damn Sarkite let 
some blood. Let's see how much 
damage it did. 


CONTROL 
Roger that, Grey. Prepare for two 
step identification of SCP-140. 


GREY 
Ready to begin identification, 


Control. 


CONTROL 
Begin step 1: verify anomalous 
signature. 


GREY 
Roger, Control. 


Grey takes SCP-140 from the shelf, and holding it in his 

hand, he opens the front cover. On the inside front cover is 

a bizarre, twisting signature, almost serpentine in nature. 

It seems to shimmer, even change shape slightly, as if alive. 
Again Grey winces in pain, sees the electrical crackle, hears 
the murmurs, and sees a shadowy image of an elderly man. He 
slams the cover shut, shakes his head clear, and places SCP 
140 back on the shelf. 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Check, Control. Signature is 
anomalous. 


CONTROL 
Roger, Grey. Begin step 2: verify 
anomalous page count. 


GREY 
Roger, Control. Set timer for 10 
seconds. 


A stopwatch graphic appears onscreen. Grey again takes SCP 
140 and holds it in both hands. 


CONTROL 
Begin. 


As the stopwatch ticks down, Grey rifles the pages of SCP 

140. It becomes quickly apparent that SCP-140 has far too 

many pages to fit inside a book of its size. 

Numerous JUMP CUTS between the book, stopwatch, and Grey's 
face. Grey whistles at one point while he flips. Finally, the 


stopwatch reads zero and a chime sounds. Grey is still 
rifling pages with no end in sight. He again slams the book 
closed, replaces it on the shelf, and wipes his brow with his 
sleeve. 


GREY 
Check, Control. Page count is 
really anomalous. 


CONTROL 
Roger, Grey. Control is satisfied 
that you possess the genuine SCP 
140. Do you concur? 


GREY 
Affirmative, Control. This is the 
genuinely horrible SCP-140. 


CONTROL 
Keep it professional, Agent. 


GREY 
Sorry, Control. It's been a long 
morning. 


CONTROL 
Understood. Prepare to re-contain 
SCP-140. 


GREY 
Roger, Control, ready to begin re 
containment procedure. 


CONTROL 
Verify last known good page count. 


GREY 
Roger that. 


Grey picks up the archive copy this time, turns the book over 
so its back faces up, and opens the back cover, flipping to 
the last numbered page. This is not visible to the viewer. 


0717 L 


Command: Command to Team One, we are aborting 
your mission at this time. Exit to Point B, backup will be 
arriving in one hour. 


T1-Lead: Copy, Command. Wait, there appears to be 
some kind of [static] rolling in. 


Command: Say again, Lead? 


T1-Lead: [static] appears to be some kind of fog [static] 
Command? 


Command: Lead, you are breaking up. 
T1-Lead: [static] is on, | repeat the [static] 


Command: Team One, get clear of the house! Do you 
read me? 


T1-Lead: [static] 
Command: Team One, do you read me? Team One? 
End of Transcript (Contact Lost) - 0712 L 


Approximately 24 hours after contact was lost with Team One, the 
fog dissipated and a second team was dispatched. Team Two found 
the manor and lighthouse completely abandoned in a state of 
extreme disrepair inconsistent with the reports of Team One. A 
thorough search of the manor turned up the clothing and equipment 
of the Team One members, folded neatly and stacked in the center 
of an empty second-floor room. The batteries of all of their electronic 
equipment had been completely drained, and recording media and 
memory cards were empty. 


Team Two's search of the lighthouse turned up only broken 
lighthouse equipment and empty rooms, although Team Two 
members reported being able to hear a faint buzzing or static that 
persisted for several days after leaving the area. 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Verifying last known good page 
count as- 


A black bar blocks out Grey's mouth, and a low buzz cuts out 
his voice. This is the Foundation AutoDact System, which 
automatically censors spoken information based upon clearance 
levels. The audience is not cleared on SCP-140 but Control 
hears Grey just fine. Grey finishes his sentence: 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Checksum A-4-6-u. 


CONTROL 
Check, Grey, page count and 
checksum are valid. Verify new 
preliminary page count. 


GREY 
Roger, Control. Drumroll please... 


Grey puts down the copy and takes SCP-140 from the shelf. He 
again flips the book over, opens the back cover, and flips to 
last page. 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Verifying new preliminary page 
count as (beat) SHIT! 


CONTROL 
Mind yourself, Agent! 


GREY 
Sorry, Control. (slower, a bit sing 
song) New preliminary page count is- 


Count is again censored as before, but Control hears fine. 


CONTROL 
SHIT! 


GREY 


See, | was right the first time. 


CONTROL 
(pause) Agent Grey, please await 
additional instructions. 


GREY 
(concerned) Ah, roger, Control. 
Awaiting instructions. 


Grey hears some cross-talk, occasionally sounding heated. 


GREY (CONT'D) 
Is everything OK, Control? 


CONTROL 
Please hold, Agent! 


Grey squirms a bit in his chair as he waits. 


CONTROL (CONT'D) 
(disturbed) Agent Grey, (pause) the 
O5 Council has requested additional 

verification. 


GREY 
(freezes, eyes widen, then slowly) 
Well, Control, we better try and do 
that, pronto. What do the O's want? 


CONTROL 
(pause) Please attempt to verify 
new preliminary extinction date. 


GREY 
(very concerned) Are you joking, 
Control? Have you read this thing? 
| don't know what half the words 
mean! 


CONTROL 
Understood, Grey, but we have to 


try. 


GREY 
Of course, the O's have spoken. But 
it won't be quick. 


Frustrated, Grey snatches SCP-140 off the shelf, turns to the 

back page. Montage of CLOSE SHOTS as Grey pours over pages, 
attempting to find the requested information. Because Grey 

must read more, there are more instances of SCP-140 trying to 
get into Grey's head. We see shadowy images of battles, of 
hideous riders on monstrous horses, of mages conducting 

terrible rituals, and the elderly figure from before. Grey 

becomes noticeably fatigued. Finally, Grey examines a passage 
more intently, and seems to calm down a bit. 


GREY (CONT'D) 

Grey here, Control. | think | found 
the information. And it's not so 
bad. | think the new preliminary 
extinction date is-(AutoDacted) 


CONTROL 
(pause) Roger, Grey, that does 
sound like good news. Relatively. 


GREY 
Yeah, looks like most of the new 
pages are rituals and stuff. The 
Daevas didn't live all that much 
longer. 


CONTROL 
Roger, Grey. (pause) But we still 
can't stop it from happening again. 


GREY 
No, not yet. 


CONTROL 
(pause) Agent Grey, Control is 


satisfied that SCP-140 is back in 
preliminary containment. Do you 
concur? 


GREY 
(pause, quietly) Yeah, | guess so. 
(pause, normally) | concur that SCP 
140 is back in preliminary 
containment. (pause) Recommend we 
activate Mobile Task Force Zeta-9. 


CONTROL 
They've already been notified. 


GREY 
(pause) God help the Grave Diggers. 
Or anyone else who can help. 
(pause) Requesting permission to 
close log on SCP-140. 


CONTROL 
Permission granted. Be safe, Grey. 


GREY 
Great advice for us all, Control. 
End log. 


The screen dictation finishes with "<END LOG=>", and the 

trefoil returns, now in green. The breach is closed. Grey 

puts SCP-140 back on the shelf, pushes back his chair, rubs 

his eyes, and inhales deeply. He rises, picking up the now 
obsolete backup copy. ANGLE ON door as Grey approaches, and 
keys in a code on the panel to the right. The door clicks 

open a crack. Grey pulls the door open, and leaves the cell. 


INT. OUTSIDE CONTAINMENT CELL OF SCP-140 


CLOSE SHOT of Grey emerging from doorway. He stops with an 
expression of surprise. REVERSE POV Grey reveals DR. MAHTO 
standing outside the doorway, with a very concerned look. 


GREY 
Doc! How, how long have you been 
here? 


DR. MAHTO 
Not long, the lockdown ended 5 
minutes ago. | came here straight 
away. (takes a step towards Grey) 
Simon, | have been studying SCP 
140. My God, Simon, | had no 
idea... 


GREY 
Not in front of the guards. Let's 
find a conference room. 


CUT TO: 


INT. NEARBY SITE-76 CONFERENCE ROOM 


ANGLE ON Dr. Mahto bursting through the door, followed more 
slowly by Grey. Dr. Mahto is agitated and paces throughout 
the scene. 


DR. MAHTO 

Simon, you told me, told us, that 
the anomalous world was not just 
some collection of monsters and 

magic items from a role playing 
game. But | realize now that | had 
no idea what else there could be. | 
had no idea that anything like SCP 

140 was even possible. 


GREY 
Well, technically, 140 is one hell 
of a magic item that can bring 
forth one hell of a horde of 
monsters. 


DR. MAHTO 


But Simon...am | understanding this 
correctly? SCP-140 is re-writing 
history? 


GREY 
Trying to rewrite history. | don't 
fully understand it. Something 
about..retrocausality, whatever. 
But yeah, every time it gets close 
to anything that looks like ink. 


DR. MAHTO 
So that Sarkite...was it...