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01x04 - The Nexus Event

Posted: 06/30/21 06:58
by bunniefuu
(WIND BLOWING)

Dragon swoops towards the palace, the Valkyrie flies over, defeats the dragon, and saves Asgard.

(DEVICE BEEPING)

There’s our Variant.

On the authority of the Time-Keepers, I hereby arrest you for crimes against the Sacred Timeline.

Reset it.

Wait!

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

MAN: No! No!

(GRUNTING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(GRUNTS)

Help him!

Next case!

(GRUNTS)

Next case!

Right here!

(DEVICE BEEPING)

(GASPS)

(INHALES AND EXHALES)

(OPENING THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

What’d they say? Are you okay?

No, no, Mobius. I’m not.

Under the best of circumstances, it’s jarring to stand before the Time-Keepers.

And this is not the best of circumstances.

Yeah, but they can’t blame you.

They can and do.

The Variant was right here.

What if she got to the Time-Keepers?

I know. But she didn’t.

No. But she got away.

Along with the Variant that I got you permission to bring in here.

Do you have any idea how impossible it is to keep the timeline stable?

The Time-Keepers are all that stand between us and full-scale calamity.

And I’m glad they’re on our side.

But if they want me to find Loki and the Variant, (WHISPERS) I need access to Hunter C-20.

I’m sorry, but that’s impossible.

Look, when we found her, she kept saying, “It’s real. It’s real.”

Over and over. I need to find out what that meant and what else she saw when she was with the Variant.

Look, I know there’s protocol, but she could have information…

She’s dead, Mobius!

What? How?

The Variant, she enchanted C-20, scrambled her mind.

I don’t get it. She seemed okay. She seemed fine.

RAVONNA: At first, yes.

But by the time she got in here, she could barely speak.

The decline was steeper after that.

I didn’t know. What…

Nobody does.

We don’t want people to panic.

Can I trust you to keep that between us?

Of course. Yes.

I’m sorry.

Every moment those Variants are out there, we’re all in danger.

Find them!

(PEOPLE YELLING)

(EXPLOSIONS)

I’m sorry.

I remember Asgard.

Not much, but I remember.

My home, my people, my life.

The universe wants to break free, so it manifests chaos.

Like me being born the Goddess of Mischief.

And as soon as that created a big enough detour from the Sacred Timeline, the TVA showed up, erased my reality, and took me prisoner.

I was just a child.

I escaped.

Stole a TemPad and I ran for a long, long time, which really sucked.

Everywhere and every-when I went, it caused a nexus event.

Sent up a smoke flare.

Because I’m not supposed to exist.

Until, eventually, I figured out where to hide.

And so that’s where I grew up, the ends of a thousand worlds.

(SCOFFS)

Now…

…that’s where I’ll die.

ANALYST 1: There’s nothing, sir.

MOBIUS: Even with the magnified nexus threshold?

That one should be setting off alarms if somebody steps on the wrong leaf.

ANALYST 2: Wherever they are, I’m not sure anything survives.

Yeah. Don’t underestimate them. You see anything down at Roxxcart?

They’re gone.

Leaping across time, plotting their next m*ssacre.

(COMPUTER WHIRRING)

Any news on C-20?

No.

We need to find them.

We will.

SYLVIE: Not long now.

Do you think that what makes a Loki a Loki is the fact that we’re destined to lose?

LOKI: No.

We may lose.

Sometimes painfully.

But we don’t die.

We survive.

I mean, you did.

You were just a child when the TVA took you, but you nearly took down the organization that claims to govern the order of time.

You did it on your own.

You ran rings around them. You’re amazing!

We’ve got something.

ANALYST 1: Temporal lock.

(RUMBLING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Okay, that’s not someone stepping on the wrong leaf.

You ever seen a branch like that?

No.

(COMPUTER WHIRRING)

MOBIUS: Well? LOKI: Well, what?

I know you got some quip you’re dyin’ to say.

I don’t have a quip. I’ve got nothing to say.

Come on.

By the way, I should have an equal amount of security. This is insulting!

You just can’t help yourself.

You betrayed me!

You betrayed me!

Grow up!

You grow up.

MOBIUS: You know, it occurred to me that you’re not really the God of Mischief.

LOKI: Oh, here it comes.

The folksy, dopey insult from the folksy dope.

What am I? The God of Self-Sabotage, yeah? The God of Back-Stabbing?

Just kind of an assh*le and a bad friend.

Yeah, chew on that for a little bit. All right. It’s ready.

What is this?

You’ll see.

Mobius!

Okay. No, no, no, let him, one last desperate trick from the desperate trickster. Go ahead.

(PANTING) The TVA is lying to you.

Put him in.

No. (GRUNTS)

What?

(CHUCKLES)

Seriously?

You.

Sif.

You conniving, craven, pathetic worm.

You did this.

What?

LOKI: Ow.

I hope you know you deserve to be alone and you always will be.

All right.

A bad memory prison? How quaint.

LOKI: Ow!

Some punishment. (GRUNTS)

I remember exactly what I did after that.

I went and had a nice, hot bath and a glass of wine, and I never thought about it again, because it was just a bit of fun.

SIF: You.

Huh?

You conniving, craven, pathetic worm. You did this.

Hang on. Ow.

I hope you know you deserve to be alone and you always will be.

Just…

(GROANING)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Time loops. How lovely.

You.

You conniving, craven, pathetic worm.

Okay. Okay, Sif. Hang on.

No, you hear this. You deserve to be alone…

And I always will be. All right, I get it.

Listen. You are a reconstruction of a past event created by the organization that controls all of time.

So you need to trust me and you need to help me escape. Yeah?

Okay, good.

Pathetic.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Hey.

(CHUCKLES)

Shouldn’t you be interrogating the Loki Variant?

He’s softening in the Time Cell, but while he marinates, I thought maybe I’d interview the other Variant.

Oh, no. Just stick with your Loki and figure out what that nexus spike was.

I know, but I think I can get there faster if I work ’em both together.

You said we have a part to play, and the part I play…

Absolutely not. She’s just too dangerous.

Too dangerous? Come on, Ravonna. This is what I do.

And this is what I do.

Nobody speaks with that Variant.

I mean, if there’s a mastermind here, I don’t think it’s Loki.

Good.

Then he should be the easiest to break.

Work your Loki and figure out what caused that spike.

Time-Keepers are watching, Mobius.

They’re always watching. “Work your Loki, work your Loki.”

That ought to be my mantra.

You all right?

Is she in there?

Mm-hmm.

(SCOFFS)

They don’t go gently, do they?

Aren’t you supposed to be interrogating your Variant pet?

Just stretching my legs.

You know, we brought in Kree, Titans, vampires.

Why is it the two orphan demigods are such a pain in the ass?

And yet it was your idea to bring in another one.

I’m happy to share credit for that idea.

Mobius?

Did Loki say anything while you were in there?

Yeah. He said the TVA is lying to me.

Why?

Just doing my job.

SIF: You.

(SIGHS)

You conniving, craven…

Sif. Sif.

…pathetic worm.

Please, please, no more. Please, I beg you.

I’m a horrible person. I get it. I really am.

I cut off your hair because I thought it’d be funny.

And it’s not.

Uh… I crave attention… because I’m…

(SIGHS)

I’m a… I’m a narcissist.

And I suppose it’s… It’s because I’m scared of being alone.

You are alone and you always will be.

Okay, Loki.

You ready to talk?

Fancy technology.

Threatening interrogation tactics.

Seems you and I are in a loop of our own.

Well, there’s been a lot of water under the bridge since then.

LOKI: Certainly has.

Okay, you said the TVA is lying to me. Go ahead.

Or is that just a cockroach’s survival mechanism kicking in?

Let me out of this place, stop b*ating me up, and I’ll tell you.

Cockroach. Got it.

How long have you been working for the Variant?

Me? Working for her? Please.

If you’re not working for the Variant, what is it? You’re partners?

Absolutely not.

She’s difficult and irritating, and she tries to hit me all the time.

No. Not partners, no.

Yeah, I guess you don’t do partners.

Unless, of course, it benefits you, and you intend to betray them at some point.

It was a means to an end, Mobius.

Welcome to the real world.

Down there, we’re awful to get what we want.

Now I gotta have a prince tell me how the real world works?

Why don’t you just tell me what caused the nexus event on Lamentis?

Let me say this again.

I’m not going to tell you just so you can turn around immediately afterwards and prune me.

I guess we’ve reached a dead end then.

Okay, it’s over.

I’m going to miss these little tete-a-tetes.

LOKI: Me, too.

One guy playing checkers, you, old Mobius playing chess, but, yeah, give my regards to Lady Sif.

What… No. What? No, no, no.

Please, not… Well, just wait, wait, wait.

Yeah?

Of course it was me pulling the strings all along.

She came to me on Asgard a long time ago and then she took me to one of her apocalypses and that’s where we hatched our plan together.

Which is?

Coming along very nicely, thank you.

MOBIUS: And the Variant?

Doesn’t matter. She’s a pawn.

Something very, very big is gonna happen.

And when it does, I’ll dispose of her.

Well, we saved you the trouble there.

She’s already been pruned.

So assume I do set you free.

Hang on, wait.

What’d you just say?

What? Assume I do set you free.

LOKI: The Variant. She’s gone?

Yeah. Not before she took out two of ours.

Yeah, she was going to her Time Cell, broke free.

Hunter B-15 stepped in, popped her.

So you might want to fire off a thank you note to Hunter B-15, because it looks like you’re the superior Loki.

I would’ve bet on her, but that’s what makes a horse race.

Good riddance.

(CHUCKLING)

What’s so funny?

Come on.

Look at your eyes. You like her.

What?

You like her. Does she like you?

LOKI: Was she pruned?

No wonder you have no clue what caused the nexus event on Lamentis.

Both of you are swooning over each other.

LOKI: Tell me the truth.

It’s the apocalypse.

Two Variants of the same being, especially you, forming this kind of sick, twisted romantic relationship.

That’s pure chaos. That could break reality.

It’s breaking my reality right now.

What a incredible seismic narcissist.

You fell for yourself.

Her name was Sylvie.

Ah, Sylvie.

Lovely.

How do you spell that? Is that with an I-E or just an I?

Is she alive?

For now.

(SIGHS)

And was infiltrating the TVA, was that always sort of the grand plan?

Our interests are aligned.

MOBIUS: Overthrowing the Time-Keepers?

Maybe they need to be overthrown.

I ought to box your ears.

LOKI: Mobius, listen.

If what Sylvie told me about this place is true, it affects all of us.

Here we go. Now, you’ve already told me about 50 lies in the past 10 minutes.

I’m not lying.

Now, I’m supposed to believe your girlfriend.

It’s the truth.

She’s not my girlfriend.

Whatever you want to call her.

What, your female self that you have some demented crush on…

You’re all Variants!

Everyone who works at the TVA.

The Time-Keepers didn’t create you. They kidnapped you from the timeline, and erased your memories.

Memories she can access through enchantment.

So before this, you had a past, maybe you had a family, a life.

Nice try.

That was good. You two, what a pair!

Gosh! Unbelievable. Wherever you go, it’s just death, destruction, the literal ends of worlds.

Well, I’m gonna have to close this case now, ’cause I don’t need you anymore.

Yeah, or as you might say, our interests are no longer aligned.

You know, of all the liars in this place, and there are a great many, you’re the biggest.

Why? ‘Cause I lied about your girlfriend?

Oh, no. That I can respect. I mean, the lies you tell yourself.

(EXHALES)

Open the door.

Hello… Oh, I don’t know.

Your name’s a number. Can’t read it from here.

(DEVICE BEEPING)

Come with me.

(THEREMIN MUSIC PLAYING)

Mobius?

Oh, yeah.

You okay?

Yep, I’m good.

Case closed.

Yes.

Cheers.

Cheers.

To putting all this behind us.

(SIGHS)

Amen.

If you could go anywhere, anytime, where would it be?

I can go anywhere, anytime.

You know what I mean.

Why wouldn’t you let me interrogate Sylvie?


Sylvie?

The Variant, that’s what Loki calls her.

Why wouldn’t you let me, you know, question her?

I told you, we couldn’t risk her escaping again.

She wouldn’t have escaped.

The other Variant got away during your first interrogation, didn’t he?

Ouch. (CHUCKLES)

Come on. Anywhere and anytime on the timeline. Where’d you go?

I like being here now, with you, doing the work.

Fine.

I received word from the Time-Keepers.

They want to personally oversee the Variant’s pruning.

And they want you there, too.

It’s about time. Great.

When… When did you first notice what was going on with C-20?

Mobius, what is going on with you?

Nothing.

We did it.

I know.

The Time-Keepers are happy.

It’s great.

Mission accomplished.

Mission accomplished. It was just that she seemed fine when I…

When I saw her. I mean, a little freaked, but fine.

Well, she quickly wasn’t fine.

Okay.

Okay.

C-20? The Variant?

All these questions, what are you getting at?

I don’t know. I…

Something just seems a little off.

Fine. You want the truth?

I’m trying to protect you.

Would you normally interview someone like that? Yeah.

But the Variant scares the hell out of me, and I didn’t want to see anything happen to you.

C-20 lost her mind.

She couldn’t even form words by the end.

I just couldn’t deal with that happening to you or anyone else.

Is that what you wanted to hear?

Yeah, if it’s the truth.

You’ve been spending too much time with Lokis.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah.

I definitely have been spending too much time with Lokis.

What we do here matters.

I know.

When we’re out there fighting for the fate of the Sacred Timeline we’re also fighting for this. For us.

Friends against time, allies to the end.

You’ve seen all of existence, same as me. So, you know, friendship like ours is uncommon.

And worth fighting for.

Same as the Sacred Timeline.

It was a good speech.

Thank you.

I knew I was your favorite analyst. Was that so hard to admit?

What are you gonna do with that trophy?

Oh!

Where’s that gonna go?

You’re right.

Let’s see.

RAVONNA: Uh…

How’s that?

Looks perfect. You’re running out of room there.

All right, I will see you later on.

One drink?

MOBIUS: I had two, didn’t I?

Mobius!

This is a career case. You sure you’re okay?

I’m just exhausted, dealing with all these Lokis.

Fair enough.

Let’s finish this.

For all time.

Always.

I’ll see you up there. Thanks for the drink.

Fine. You wanted a fair fight. I respect that.

When you were in my head, I saw something.

What did you do to me?

I showed you your life before the TVA.

That’s a trick. It’s a deception.

No, it’s not.

I was created by the Time-Keepers.

No. I can’t create memories.

I can only use what’s already there.

The Time-Keepers took your lives from you.

From all of you.

You’re Variants.

We’re the same.

Show me.

(BREATHING SHAKILY)

(GASPS)

I looked happy.

What now?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(DEVICE BEEPS)

You’re not hearing me. I was there.

This was real, what I saw. This is a place that I’ve been.

This wasn’t the TVA. This was a memory.

I lived down there. I went to that bar. I had friends.

I had a whole life on the Sacred Timeline.

INTERROGATOR: Calm down.

“Calm down”? I’m a Variant.

So are you. So is every single person in this place.

I’m ending this.

I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a thousand times.

“You. You conniving, craven, pathetic worm. You did this.”

Right?

What are you doing?

Passing the time.

Do you care about her?

Sylvie? I’m not sure if it’s the right word.

We’ve covered this back in there.

Shut up!

Do you really think you deserve to be alone?

Loki!

You told me to shut up.

Do you believe you deserve to be alone?

I don’t know.

You better figure it out quick, because the nexus event the two of you caused, whatever that connection is, can bring this whole place down.

So we better understand…

“We”?

Do you swear she didn’t implant those memories in Hunter C-20?

Mobius, no. I believe her.

So, I just have to trust the word of two Lokis?

How about the word of a friend?

You were right, about the TVA.

You were right from the beginning.

And if you wanna save her, you need to trust me.

Can we do that?

Yes.

MOBIUS: Okay.

You could be whoever, whatever you wanna be, even someone good.

I mean, just in case anyone ever told you different.

I think you have something of mine.

Yeah, I got all the way down there before I even realized I picked up yours.

What’s going on?

What’s the problem, Ravonna?

You know where I’d go if I could go anywhere?

Wherever it is I’m really from.

Yeah, wherever I had a life before the TVA came along.

Maybe I had a jet ski.

That’s what I’d like to do.

Just riding around on my jet ski.

Prune him.

(GROANS)

(GASPS)

Wait for me at the elevator.

Who was in here with her?

Sorry, ma’am, B-15 insisted.

Put out an alert for Hunter B-15.

She too has been compromised by the Variant.

(WHISPERS) You okay?

I’ve got them from here.

(DOOR OPENS)

Do you remember me?

I do.

What do you wanna say to me, Variant?

What was my nexus event?

Why did you bring me in?

What does it matter?

It was enough to take my life from me, lead to all of this.

Must have been important.

So, what was it?

I don’t remember.

RAVONNA: Gracious Time-Keepers, as promised, the Variants.

After all your struggle, at last, you’ve arrived before us.

What do you have to say for yourselves before you meet your end, Variants?

Is that the only reason you brought us here?

To k*ll us?

I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been k*lled, so go ahead.

Do your worst.

You and your bravado are no thr*at to us, Variant.

Oh, no, I don’t think you believe that.

I think…

(STATIC)

I think you’re scared.

No, Variant. You’re nothing but a cosmic disappointment.

Delete them.

No, I’m not done with you yet.

(STATIC)

(BEEPS)

For all time.

Always.

Protect the Time-Keepers!

LOKI: A little help here?

Here.

Come on.

This time I finish the job.

(GASPS)

You’re a child of the Time-Keepers too, Sylvie.

We can talk.

SYLVIE: Oh, yeah?

(TIME-KEEPERS LAUGHING)

Wait.

(POWERING DOWN)

Don’t.

Fake.

Mindless androids.

It never stops.

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Then who created the TVA?

I thought this was it.

Sylvie…

Not another pep talk, please.

No, I have to tell you something.

We will figure this out.

How do you know that?

Because, uh…

Well, back on Lamentis…

This is new for me. Um…

What?

What is it?

Do it.

No.

You’re gonna tell me everything.

(SLOW ROCK SONG PLAYING)

If the sun

Should tumble from the sky

If the sea

Should suddenly run dry

If you love me

Really love me

Let it happen

I won’t care

If it seems

That everything is lost

I will smile

And never count the cost

If you love me

Really love me

Let it happen

Darling, I

Won’t care

Shall I catch a sh**ting star?

Shall I bring it where you are?

If you want me to, I will

You can set me any task

I’ll do anything you ask

If you’ll only say you love me still

When at last

Our life on earth is through

I will share

Eternity with you

If you love me

Really love me

Let it happen

I won’t care

I you love me

Really love me

Let it happen

Darling, I…

(GASPS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

Is this Hel?

Am I dead?

VOICE: Not yet.

But you will be unless you come with us.

(GRUNTS)

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)