Dark Season Episode One

Pre-title sequence: 

In a darkened control room, Eldritch and Brown watch a map on a computer screen.  To Brown’s concern, the computer selects a school.  Eldritch is jubilant: ‘Nothing in the world can stop me now!’   

Titles

Thomas and Reet collect their unconventional friend Marcie. Observed by the Polzinskis, Marcie’s next door neighbours, the trio set off for school. Marcie is unsettled.  Her friends dismiss her feelings, but she insists that ‘wherever you are, who ever you are, there is a strangeness in things.’ Arriving at the school, Marcie nonetheless finds something to intrigue her: the contents of a fleet of white transit vans are being unloaded.     

The trio attends assembly.  The gathered pupils talk and ignore the Headmaster until Eldritch enters.  Unbidden, the children fall silent and move aside for Eldritch.  The Headmaster announces that, in an act of great generosity, Eldritch is to supply an Abyss computer for every classroom and to every child, free of charge.  The hall erupts in cheers, but Marcie remains silent.

After assembly, Olivia, an over-eager pupil, elects to thank the school’s ‘benefactor’. 

Observing Olivia’s interest in computers, Eldritch asks teacher Miss Maitland if Olivia could be borrowed for some publicity shots.  Eldritch insists he has the Headmaster’s blessing, and Miss Maitland agrees reluctantly.  They leave in Eldritch’s car, observed by a concerned Marcie.

Thomas and Reet meanwhile decide to ignore Marcie’s warnings about the free computers.  They take one, intending to stash it in Thomas’s garage, and examine it later.

Olivia returns with Eldritch and Brown to the control room.  Eldritch however shows no interest in taking publicity photos.

At the school, Marcie confides some of her worries to Miss Maitland.  Miss Maitland is unconvinced, accusing Marcie of paranoia.  Marcie however maintains that ‘paranoia is an intelligent form of common sense.  None of us knows what’s going on around us… We’re all in the dark, and it’s getting darker.’

In the control room, Eldritch encourages Olivia to greet the computer.  She types ‘hello’ and in response, the computer screen floods with light.  The light grows brighter and seems to saturate Olivia.  Brown and the other workers in the control room shield their eyes, but Eldritch looks on.  Olivia’s irises become pure white.    

At the school lunchbreak ends, and children enter Miss Maitland’s classroom.  Olivia is absent, and Marcie is concerned.  Meanwhile, in Thomas’s garage, the pair of friends set up their new computer.  Light floods from the screen.

Olivia enters Miss Maitland’s classroom.  A brilliant white light surrounds her…