PREMISE
In 2052, a scientific research team, led by Doctor Harper Keogh, discovered the key to time travel in humans. The process was achieved by combining dark matter, exposed to a contained nuclear reaction, with dead human tissue. The matter reacted with a dormant human cell, believed to have been repressed following the evolution into homo sapiens, which contributed to the recording of memory and special awareness. The process worked in about 8% of the population, but further research managed to attain the same results through technology.
Naturally, warring governments meant everything got out of hand and a dozen prototypes were stolen by rival nations. However, interest quickly dissipated in 2061, when Lithuania announced it had perfected the process of Terraforming, which would allow residents of Earth to survive in the secondary galaxy located in the Black Hole Ripple of 2045, an event which kick-started a number of scientific advancements. Worldwide preparations began for the mass migration from Earth, which had been acknowledged as declining sometime earlier. By 2070, Earth's eight billion residents had been relocated amongst seven new terraformed planets.
Now, it's 2102. Technology has seen a big jump, but humanity has yet to truly evolve from where it was a hundred years ago. Gordon Sophoes is a cop with a severe rebellion problem. Gordon has long been striving for answers about his aunt Miranda, a government agent who disappeared over twenty years ago after accusations of treason.
What Gordon doesn't know is that he is one of the 8%.
Pretty soon, Gordon finds himself stumbling upon a secret branch of the government, filled with agents who, thanks to Keogh's research, can now travel in time after a surgery to enact their gene. These people combat those who use the time-travel tech long lost amongst the criminals, tech with potentially-catastrophic repercussions, to abuse the timeline for their own gain. To his surprise, Gordon is offered a place amongst their ranks.
Of course, it is no coincidence that Gordon "stumbled" upon this division. Gordon uses his newfound resources to search for the truth about Miranda while sparring with his new colleagues, unaware of the role he is really playing.
Meanwhile, hot-headed reporter Carrie Dunn has been stuck with a long-gestating story: is there really a secret force of time-travelling agents out there? But, after a suspiciously close encounter with the extraordinary, Carrie begins to think there could be some truth to the tales, and plunges deep into a world she does not recognise, scavenging for the truth.
And while Carrie and Gordon explore their new worlds, a new threat begins to emerge that could very well tie everything together, right before it tears it all apart...
MAIN CAST
Gordon Sophoes (Karl Urban) - Gordon may enforce the law, but he's no stranger to breaking it. Ever since the disappearance of his aunt after a treason charge, Gordon has been driven down a shady path in law enforcement before he stumbles upon the time-travelling agents of the government. Of course, it was anything but coincidence - answers are being hidden, and they may just be answers Gordon has been searching for.
Trissa Canning (Kristen Bell) - If you think Trissa Canning is only where she is because of her father, you may just lose an eye or two. Despite being the only daughter of high-ranking officer Adrian Castor, Trissa graduated top of her class and trained in four styles of combat before adopting her mother's maiden name to forge her own career. By-the-books but empathic when needed, Trissa is not happy when the unqualified Gordon waltzes in and becomes her partner. It doesn't mean she'll do her job any different: it just means, as field team leader, she has one more person to keep in check.
Jeremy 'Anders' Anderson (Jeff Hephner) - The stoic, hard-headed weapons specialist, Anders keeps his personal and professional lives very separate. The others know Anders only for what he is: someone who'll have their back and, if needed, a rifle or three.
Abby Lockman (Jeanine Mason) - Bubbly-bordering-on-annoying, Abby is the team's computer specialist, one of the most gifted hackers and programmers around. Abby is innocent, through and through, but even she has a secret, one with a difference, that has her constantly looking over her shoulder.
Jace Gunner (Sam Palladio) - If Jace really applied himself, he could be a genius: but, slacker that he is, he'll have to settle for extraordinary. With a vast knowledge of computers and the quickly-evolving tech of the 22nd century, Jace proves an amiable presence to the team and a capable partner-in-crime to Abby. Jace isn't bogged down by a dark secret or a suspicious past - he's just here to have fun.
Carrie Dunn (Katie Holmes) - With drive that burns brighter than advised, Carrie Dunn has fired on all cylinders during her promising journalism career. Stuck in a rut after some unfounded accusations caused a career setback, Carrie has a close encounter that convinces her the time-travelling government agents story she was assigned isn't such an urban myth after all. Damning her life for the sake of a story, Carrie delves into the mystery from square one which could end up shedding light on more than just the story at hand.
Adrian Castor (Robert Patrick) - Military-bred and with thirty-plus years on the job, Adrian Castor has rightfully established himself as a force to be reckoned with. While trying to maintain some kind of relationship with his estranged daughter Trissa, Adrian oversees the team and tries, against Elsbeth's wishes, to learn just who Gordon Sophoes really is.
Elsbeth Scarrow (Sigourney Weaver) - Department Head Elsbeth Scarrow has seen her fair share of action, a revered agent with an eye for talent. Although she is in charge of every task force, Elsbeth is anything but in power: someone is pulling her strings. Despite the threats facing her, Elsbeth continues to try and get out from under and put a stop to whatever it is she is a pawn in.
RECURRING CAST
Miranda Grace (Amy Acker) - Gordon's aunt, Miranda was a high-ranking, trusted agent before she disappeared amidst accusations of treason. Finding out what really happened to her has hung over Gordon's head for twenty-two years. She appears in flashbacks throughout the series.
Lyle Steenburgen (Patrick J. Adams) - An ace attorney and Carrie's fiancée. Despite his love for her, he tires of when she chooses work over him. This, as it happens, occurs quite a lot.
Cliff Lowell (TBA) - The leader of a second task force separate from Adrian's, Cliff proves to be a sleazy thorn in our heroes' sides. Though his task force is the bane of the department's existence, Cliff nevertheless is willing to do whatever it takes to keep operations under wraps.
Kaya Montez (TBA) - A talented but villainous agent, Kaya has aligned herself with Cliff in the hopes of progressing with her own frowned-upon method of justice.
Tane Kravensale (TBA) - Another member of Cliff's team, a dim-witted agent who provides muscle and little else.
Hal Dominic (Lance Gross) - Carrie's boss at the Pantheon Press, Hal tries to be a source of sanity for Carrie (not that she's really listening).
Detective Hartley (TBA) - A friendly young police detective who provides a voice of reason for Gordon, Hartley proves to be a valuable asset to Gordon's search in ways he couldn't have imagined. But, just like everyone else, there is more to Hartley than meets the eye.
EPISODES
1. "Pilot" - Gordon Sophoes (Karl Urban) is somewhat unwillingly inducted into the special branch of the government that deals with time-travelling and other strange cases. On his first time out, the team work to track down a local crook, working for an unknown boss, who is using illegal technology to get shipments from the future. Meanwhile, reporter Carrie Dunn (Katie Holmes) gets stuck with a story that could be something bigger than expected.
2. "The Future Ain't What It Used To Be" - As Carrie begins her investigation, Gordon learns the truth about how his teammates operate and is forced to decide if he is willing to go all the way. Elsbeth (Sigourney Weaver) fights off an investigation over Gordon's hiring, but Adrian (Robert Patrick) is unwilling to lay things to rest.
3. "Never Let Me Go" - The agents struggle with what to do when they discover a man abusing the timeline for reasons that blurs right and wrong. Carrie attempts to get to the team through the police force, which could spell trouble for Lyle (Patrick J. Adams). Gordon bonds with Jace (Sam Palladio), while Trissa (Kristen Bell) and Anders (Jeff Hephner) deal with villainous co-worker Cliff Lowell (Ken Marino).
4. "Only By Blood" - When Anders' sweet mother (Special Guest Star Mary Beth Peil) comes to visit, the team discover she may be involved in the case they are investigating - a matter made even worse by the fact that Gordon's ex-wife is running it. Abby (Jeanine Mason) and Jace are forced to partner with sly co-workers Cliff, Tane (Jeremy Gabriel) and Kaya (Sarah Sanguin Carter).
5. "Contagion" - The team come into contact with Jill Hillard, a normal woman whose superhuman empathy causes great destruction. Carrie's searching begins to put a strain on her personal life. Elsbeth is forced to go to dangerous lengths to keep Gordon on the force.
6. "Get Chen" - Anders' past comes back to haunt him when a deadly assassin, known only as Chen (Special Guest Star Lee Byung-Hun), resurfaces and performs a series of deadly but apparently unconnected murders, forcing the team to turn to shady businessman Holmes (Jared Harris) for help. Lyle faces Carrie with an ultimatum and Dinah (TBA) returns for a talk with Gordon.
7. "Miracle" - A strange little boy has a huge impact on Trissa, and she will stop at nothing to protect him from those who wish to abuse his superhuman abilities. At the same time, Gordon learns some surprising information about Miranda through his work on the case, Abby and Jace bond over a strange connection and Carrie comes into contact with Hartley (Special Guest Star Dianna Agron).
8. "Time is a Four Letter Word" (season finale) - The team are forced to partner with rivals Cliff, Tane and Kaya and leave the Hub behind when a break in a case regarding a rising cyber terrorist movement occurs in nearby space. Gordon and Trissa try to make amends, a secret about Anders is revealed, and Carrie's investigation comes to a head.
CREATOR'S NOTES
So this is a series I’ve been working on for a VERY long time. This is intended as, first and foremost, a drama with some notable sci-fi elements, being case-of-the-week in some instances but very much having season-long (and series-long) arcs. Despite the time travel, the characters will not be hopping across time every episode – I intend to keep it very grounded for the time being. Any comments and constructive criticism welcomed!
Also, please suggest titles: I’ve been using ‘Continuum’ for over a year (wasn’t TOTALLY aware of that show’s existence at the time) and I’m fresh out.
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