Eventful Evening

If you're just here to read, scroll down past the outline.

Outline:

Annie rides the metro to the station
A shady figure in a black hoodie is there
- Approaches Annie before she can even get off the train
- tells her to stay on
- Turns out it's Lucas
Lucas speaks to her quietly, asking if she's interested in leaving the city while being mysterious about it
They get off a couple stations later and go to a bar
- Lucas gets some alcoholic drink
- Annie, being kinda tired, gets a coffee or energy drink
They go to a back room where ppl are waiting for them around a table
- Amongst them is Karl
secret organization discusses secret organization things
Annie gets the keys to the library
- Lucas can't go himself because he needs to attend some important event
  - he gives her a description of where to find the relevant computer
  - he gives her some login credentials to use
- other ppl have excuses
- Karl would join but he's unable to run in case they get caught
- he gives Annie a list of useful computer commands and instructions on how to boot up the computer

Annie looks through the window in the door as the train enters the station. The platform is empty except for a shady figure in a hoodie leaning against the wall, observing the train from under his hood. She looks at the clock in the station: 10:34 PM - a bit late. As soon as he notices her, he starts walking up to the train. The pressurized air for the doors hisses in the lines. Annie presses the button; the door opens.

Hey, wait...
He had made his way to the door and looks directly at her. It's the guy from behind the library counter.
We're gonna take this one for a couple stations.
Annie steps aside and he gets on.
I'm Lucas, nice to meet you. He extends his hand.
Annie. He probably knew that already, right?
The door chime sounds and the doors close.
Sorry for being late.
The hum of the motors sets in and the train begins to move.
Perfect timing, I'd say. We were gonna take this one anyway.
He makes a short pause before continuing quietly:
So about that interaction we had earlier today – I assume you want to leave the dome?
Not directly...
Okay then disregard my question and we have never met.
Wait. You say there is a way out of the dome?
Well, there might be. Some friends of mine say there is.
Annie thinks about it for a moment. Before yesterday, she wasn't even aware that life could exist outside the dome - and now she might find out about a way to go there?
Tell me more, she replies.

They get off at a station near the city center - a place that is never asleep. In contrast to the empty stations everywhere else, the stations here are busy with people seeking entertainment, clubs, or the many bars. Lucas hurries down the stairs; Annie follows him.

The streets are alive with people, seeminly few of them purposefully moving in a specific direction; most are just meandering from bar to bar. The street they are walking down is illuminated by strings of lights hanging from the buildings and between street lights. The muffled bass of techno is in the air. She enjoys the atmosphere, she hadn't been here in a little while.

Lucas suddenly turns left and enters one of the bars. Annie follows. The air feels dense and depleted, and carries the smell of alcohol. A guy is playing ragtime on a piano in the corner. They make their way through the crowded room towards the counter.
Hey Kate, I'll take a Braincell Rattler and my uhh... friend here looks like she needs a coffee.
Okay. Going to the back room?
Yeah.
Coffee sounds good... The back room? Annie raises an eyebrow. He opens a door next to the counter and gestures her to follow.

Lucas takes off his hoodie and hangs it on a hook on the wall. Annie does the same with her jacket. She looks into the room: A bunch of people sitting around a large, round table - to her surprise including her grandpa.
You here? ...
Before she has time to further voice her confusion, Kate sets their drinks on a small table in front of the window connecting to behind the counter.
Here you go, enjoy!
Lucas walks up to it. Thank you!
Annie takes a moment to process the situation. Is there a better way to say this?
Thanks.

A woman addresses her grandpa: Karl, you two seem to know each other?
My granddaughter Annie – good that you're here, we were about to discuss the call we had yesterday.
He introduces Annie and the othe group members and everyone sits down at the table. Karl ergreift das Wort:

TODO: whole paragraph speech formatting I guess I owe you an explanation. We are working on opening up the gates connecting Sunside Cove to the outside world. When the city was built, it was seen as sort of a temporary plan B for humanity in case things would get worse, not as a hiding space for all eternity. Over time though, knowledge of what happened outside turned into fear and a bunch of what ifs, and any attempt to talk sense into city officials fell on deaf ears.

TODO: whole paragraph speech formatting My dad used to always say - and maybe this was naive hope on his part - that it would get better one day and that we could open up the airlocks and leave. That was many, many years ago. It's been over a century now since the city was sealed - even if it was naive hope on his part, we should at least take a look outside and see for ourselves what it's like.
Voices of agreement all around the table. move this outside of the speech paragraph

missing: more dialog to tie this together
Important information: The door Jack wants to open is of similar type as the doors used for the airlocks.
The whole Jack topic needs to be brought up in general. They could talk about how having someone outside might be useful.

I mean we have that manual at the library. says Lucas. It's just classified because they really don't want anyone to open or use the air locks.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a key chain.
If you want, you can try getting it - I can't because I disappeared from a birthday party with an excuse and they are probably waiting for me to be back.
He places the keys in the center of the table.
Karl says: I would love to, but I'm afraid I can't run if things go south.
A bunch of other excuses from other people. Finally, Annie takes the initiative:
I could go. Anyone want to help me with this?