In this episode, Jenny forms an uneasy alliance with her former enemy, anarchist Ed Astra, against Annette and Hunger.

Transcript:

Brittle Tourniquet, Episode 3

by Alicia E. Goranson

Scene 1. Introduction Theme

Scene 2. INT. Mansion sitting room, flashback

SFX:

(Quiet large interior space ambiance.)

JENNY:

(BRIGHT, OPTIMISTIC, CLEARLY JENNY *BEFORE* THE EVENTS OF EPISODE 1 HAPPENED, HOLDING BACK HER MANIA)

Mr. ROXDALE, what’s a god? Best way I know how to say it – a force of nature with opinions. If you listen to them, they’re very clear with what they want. Don’t try to become one. Uh uh. Denied. They’re really territorial. And don’t try to reason with them. They don’t understand this world like we do. Bless ‘em, they’ve got their own agendas. But what about spirits? Daemons? Entities? The deities put up with them provided they don’t step on anyone’s turf. So tell me this. What if you could put them together like gears in a celestial machine?

ROXDALE:

(SUPERIOR, POLITE BUT OBVIOUSLY TALKING DOWN TO JENNY, HAS HEARD PROPOSALS LIKE THIS BEFORE)

I’m going to stop you there. I don’t trust spirits any more than I trust a wolf to stay food motivated. They’re unpredictable.

ANNETTE:

(CHIPPER)

Oh, we thought that too. But the only alternative we had were artifacts.

ROXDALE:

(SNOOTY, WANTS TO HEAR SOMETHING THEY HAVEN’T HEARD BEFORE)

Yes and you can’t create them. The Djinn cabal have been working on making one for generations. I cut their V.C. funding last year. I was sick of waiting.

JENNY:

(SMILING, KNOWS HOW TO SELL THIS)

We don’t want to create any more artifacts. The ones we got do plenty. Besides, making more would devalue those you keep in your vault.

ROXDALE:

(IMPATIENTLY, SNOOTY)

We’re not discussing my vault. Is that clear? I have many clients who keep their prized artifacts with me. Anything that involves them is off the table.

ANNETTE:

(IN AGREEMENT, MATTER OF FACT)

Absolutely.

JENNY:

(SMILING, CONFIDENT SHE CAN MAKE THE SALE)

One hundred percent. Now, our tech could be used in security applications, but that is up to the client.

ROXDALE:

(INTERNALLY SIGHING, SORE POINT FOR THEM)

If you’re implying I have a security problem, granted. Yes, the anarchists made it disturbingly far into the compound a few months ago. Trying for the Deus Trystero again probably.

ANNETTE:

(CHIPPER, MATTER OF FACT)

We’re very glad you wanted to meet with us, whatever the reason.

JENNY:

(GRINNING, TWISTING THE KNIFE TO MAKE THE SALE)

Yeah, and while we’re being candid, the next phase of our research requires substantial funding. And you’re not the only interested party, Mr. ROXDALE.

ROXDALE:

(SPARRING WITH JENNY)

And yet you came to me, first.

JENNY:

(GRINNING, SPARRING WITH ROXDALE)

Of all the V.Cs, you seemed the most motivated to see our product.

ROXDALE:

(CONCEDING WHILE RETAINING CONTROL)

Very well. I want an actual, physical door that will let me through and no one else. Something unreliant on biometrics. We can expand from there.

JENNY:

(ABSOLUTELY BEAMING)

That’s fantastic. As a sample, we’ve brought the exact opposite. Please, grip the handle of the drawer in this box and open it.

ROXDALE:

(TO SECURITY, MATTER OF FACT)

Security, watch them.

(TO JENNY, SUSPICIOUS)

All right. Here I go.

SFX:

(ROXDALE grips the handle. Loud clink of chains.)

ROXDALE:

(SURPRISED BUT NOT IN PAIN)

Ah! My wrist! It’s stuck to the table!

JENNY:

(RELISHING THE MOMENT)

It sure is.

ROXDALE:

(STILL PUMPED WITH ADRENALINE BUT CURIOUS)

How?

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

Well, you’ve attracted the attention of a daemon we’ve nicknamed “Lockington.”

ROXDALE:

(EDGE OF CRUELTY IF THEIR DIRECTIONS ARE NOT FOLLOWED)

Release me.

JENNY:

(PLEASED AS PUNCH, ACQUIESCING)

Just a moment.

SFX:

(JENNY slides open the box. ROXDALE collapses in relief and pants.)

ROXDALE:

(SNOOTY BUT CURIOUS)

And you can do that again?

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

Oh, yes. Lockington is absolutely singleminded.

ROXDALE:

(DEMANDING)

How?

JENNY:

(LAUGHS MANIACALLY, EAGER TO SPILL THE BEANS)

Spirits have vices too. In that box, our tech emits a frequency absurdly pleasurable to this spirit. And the spirit finds it threatening when anyone but ANNETTE and I approaches its box.

ROXDALE:

(IMPRESSED, A RARE EVENT FOR THEM, LESS SMUG)

A spirit addict. Impressive. How long have you been working with this spirit?

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

Three weeks. We suspect it’ll lose efficiency after a month or so and you’ll need to swap it out.

ROXDALE:

(SMUG, REGAINING CONTROL OF DISCUSSION)

If I fund you, I want full specifications on how to train these spirits. I want to sell these replacement spirits, not you. Is that clear?

JENNY:

(GRINNING, TWISTING THE KNIFE FOR A BETTER CUT)

I wouldn’t be much of a bargainer if I said yes.

ROXDALE:

(PLAYING HARDBALL, ANNOYED)

You don’t want my money, you’ve wasted my very expensive time.

JENNY:

(GRINNING, PUSHING ROXDALE FOR A BETTER DEAL)

Mr. ROXDALE, we are not looking to make these publicly available. You’d be paying us to become an exclusive customer.

ROXDALE:

(PLAYING HARDBALL, ANNOYED)

Would you make this same offer to other investors?

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

Gracious, no. We’d have to sell to multiple clients to make up for what you’d pay us.

JENNY:

(DROPPING THE TRUTH BOMB ON ROXDALE, PLEASED AS PUNCH TO DO SO)

Mr. ROXDALE, either you become our client, or your friends do.

ROXDALE:

(ANNOYED, SIZZLING IN ANGER)

I should have expected nothing less from the Mammons.

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, BREAKS HER COOL EXTERIOR)

Nonsense! I’m sure the Dianites will catch up to our technology in a decade or so.

(CACKLES)

ROXDALE:

(ANNOYED BUT RELENTING)

I’ll have to discuss this with my legal team and…

SFX:

(ROXDALE’s cell phone beeps.)

ROXDALE:

(ANNOYED, PROFESSIONAL)

I have to check this.

(PAUSE)

This report says there are more badges on the compound than the ones we made for you and your team. Security?

SFX:

(Guns are raised and racked.)

ROXDALE:

(COOL, PROFESSIONAL, MATTER OF FACT)

What did you do?

JENNY:

(PRETENDING TO BE AGHAST)

I am offended. I wouldn’t want to interrupt my own negotiations.

ANNETTE:

(ALSO PRETENDING TO BE AGHAST, ACTING LIKE ROXDALE SHOULD KNOW BETTER)

Any one of your people might have leaked the ethereal imprints on our badges to blame us.

ROXDALE:

(CONFIDENT, ANNOYED)

My staff are well-vetted and well-compensated.

JENNY:

(GRIN RETURNS, TWISTING THE KNIFE AGAIN)

Yeah, about that. Some might not be sufficiently grateful for the opportunities you’ve given them. You know the sort of people you attract, Mr. ROXDALE? Ordinary folks happy to draw a paycheck and go home after eight hours? Naw, you get folks hungry to rise to your approval. When did you give out your last promotion?

ROXDALE:

(REALIZES SHE’S NOT WRONG, IRRITATED)

Son of a beehive.

SFX:

(ROXDALE’s phone rings again. They answer it.)

ROXDALE:

(VERY IRRITATED)

How did you get this number?

ED:

(ON PHONE, DRY, SARDONIC, THEN BOASTFUL)

Ah, Mr. ROXDALE. I’m really glad you finally noticed us on your property. Because your staff sure didn’t.

ROXDALE:

(SEETHING)

ED Astra. How do you say ‘die in a fire’ in anarchist?

ED:

(ON PHONE, CANDOR LIKE TELLING A CUSTOMER AT THE AUTO SHOP THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR BUSTED UP VEHICLE)

How’s it going yourself? I’m not going to waste either of our time. We’re working on getting to your vault again, like the last time you caught us. Now, you could come at us and hope we don’t break inside soon to loot the place. Or you could give us JENNY and the Mammons. We’ve been watching them a while now. They’re a slippery bunch.

ROXDALE:

(RELIEVED, SMUG)

They’re yours. I don’t like the deal they offered me.

JENNY:

(FURROWED BROW, ANNOYED)

And frick you, too.

ROXDALE:

(IRRITATED)

Or their insinuations about my staff.

ANNETTE:

(OFFENDED)

Whoa now. I’m an independent contractor here.

ROXDALE:

(SARCASTIC, THEN RELIEVED)

Noted. ED, I’ll meet you at the front gates.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC, BEING CLEAR ABOUT THE SITUATION AS IF CORRECTING A DOG)

Sorry bud, no easy executions for you today. We’re in the vault’s compound. Bring them over here before we get past the gate to your goodies.

ROXDALE:

(COMMANDING, IRRITATED)

You’re not getting in my vault.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SLIGHT GRIN, LOVES TO THREATEN RICH PEOPLE)

Whatever we get doesn’t have to be in the vault. How about we broadcast details about how we got in here in the first place? Sure would be a shame if anything happened to us.

ROXDALE:

(COLDLY)

I’ll send them over.

ED:

(ON PHONE, GRINNING)

I appreciate your time. And your interest in avoiding a scandal.

SFX:

(ROXDALE’s phone hangs up.)

ROXDALE:

(VERY IRRITATED, CALMLY THREATENING)

JENNIFER, you like doing business with me. If you survive this, I hope you plan on giving me a little more respect in the future.

JENNY:

(SLIGHT GRIN, TRYING TO SWEETEN ROXDALE UP)

You aren’t the least bit curious about our process?

ROXDALE:

(COLDLY, ANNOYED)

I’ll buy it from whoever you sell it to. Security, escort them to the vault headquarters.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT)

You don’t mind if we bring the box with us?

ROXDALE:

(GLEEFUL AT THE THOUGHT OF GAINING A NEW TOY)

Oh, that’s a lovely idea too. Security, please bring my new box along. Put it with the other treasures to be analyzed and transferred to the Vault.

JENNY:

(SMILING, TWISTING THE KNIFE AGAIN)

Trinkets for the trinkets pile, Mr. ROXDALE? More warm fuzzies in the guts of the super rich. I bet you don’t even know how your own Vault works.

ROXDALE:

(EXTREMELY ANNOYED)

Hmmf.

SFX:

(ROXDALE walks from the room in a huff.)

ANNETTE:

(VERY ANNOYED)

All right. Security, we’re going. We know the way.

JENNY:

(SLY, RIBBING SECURITY)

Did you want your badges back?

SFX:

(Security roughly escorts them from the room.)

Scene 3. INT. Large holding area outside the vault room

SFX:

(Security, JENNY, ANNETTE, and Mammons walk in.)

ED:

(GRINNING FEROCIOUSLY, SARCASTIC)

As I live and breathe! Mammons!

JENNY:

(PRETENDING TO BE IMPRESSED, SARCASTIC WARMTH)

ED. It’s been forever!

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, NOSE IN THE AIR)

I want to reiterate. I am an independent contractor worth nothing to nobody.

ED:

(COOLY DEMANDING)

Of course. Hey, security? Mind if I have a few moments with the hostages? And by that I mean, get out. Right now.

SFX:

(ED’s team’s guns rack.)

ED:

(SARCASTIC GRIN)

You can leave us the box too.

SFX:

(Security walk out of the room. A door closes.)

ED:

(ED LETS HIS SARCASM DROP, BACK TO BUSINESS)

Did you get ROXDALE’s biometrics?

JENNY:

(GLEEFUL, BUT PROFESSIONAL)

The box got it all. Everything you need.

ED:

(GRINNING MADLY, GLAD TO GET THIS OVER)

Fantastic. Okay, crew. Secure the Mammons.

JENNY:

(ED WOULDN’T DARE, WOULD HE? YOU’RE SO PREDICTABLE, ED)

Wait a minute.

ED:

(MATTER OF FACT, CHIPPER)

No ifs, ands, or buts, capitalist hogs. Your god requires you to sell us out to the highest buck. We’re just being reasonable here.

JENNY:

(SARCASTIC, KNIFE TWISTING)

Rude. Last I checked, there’s no getting out of here without some leverage from the Vault. And the biometrics only get you TO the Vault door.

ED:

(GRINNING, HOLDING THE SITUATION FIRMLY IN HIS HANDS)

Oh, I trust you’ll get us in the vault. You just don’t need your freedom to fetch us the Deus Trystero and whatever else is in there.

JENNY:

(SARDONIC, KNIFE TWISTING)

Ah. That’s the aroma of someone without a backup plan.

ED:

(PROFESSIONAL, GLEEFUL TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND OVER THESE MAMMON PRICKS)

Hands behind your backs. Thank you. And thank you for the biometrics. Right, the gate to the vault door only opens for ROXDALE. So let’s get these sensors thinking I’m him.

SFX:

(Anarchists shuffle. Laptops beep.)

ANNETTE:

(DRIPPING IN SARCASM, COOL)

Excellent projection equipment, ED. If I didn’t have eyes, I’d say you were the real thing.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, NOT GIVING ANYTHING AWAY)

You’re positive you want to be ROXDALE.

ED:

(GRINNING, NOT LETTING HER GET UNDER HIS SKIN)

I’m positive about a lot of things.

SFX:

(Mechanical door beeps, and opens.)

ED:

(GRINNING, ECSTATIC THINGS ARE GOING WELL)

Well, the gate sensors liked me. Heeeey! Look at that lovely Vault door.

JENNY:

(SMUG, KNIFE TWISTING)

Oh and, uh, the lovely box that security left behind.

SFX:

(Hard clink of a metal chain. ED slams against a wall.)

ED:

(FURIOUS, SURPRISED, PULSING WITH ADRENALINE)

Ah! Get me off the wall! I’m stuck!

JENNY:

(TUT-TUT, ED, KNOWING SHE ALWAYS HAD THIS UNDER CONTROL)

ED, I wanted to keep our deal. But now you’ve gone and blown it.

SFX:

(Plastic wrist straps snap off.)

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

And your wrist strap game is really lacking.

JENNY:

(SMILES, THEN DROPS TO PROFESSIONAL)

Mammon crew, bind the anarchists properly.

ED:

(ANNOYED BUT CURIOUS HOW THE MAMMONS GOT ONE OVER ON HIM)

And how exactly is your box doing this?

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

Lockington?

JENNY:

(LIKE EXPLAINING TO A KID, RUBBING IT IN)

It’s an artifact, not a spirit. Identifies the biometrics of a person and locks them the heck down. Actually, it’ll do the same to multiple people if they all look like the same person.

ED:

(GLUM, DISBELIEVING)

ROXDALE would have seen through that.

JENNY:

(GRINNING, KNIFE-TWISTING)

But you didn’t. Which is why we brought you in! Also to access the vault. We’ve had such bad luck with our infiltrations.

ANNETTE:

(SERIOUS, PROFESSIONAL)

We have three minutes before security raids us.

JENNY:

(BEAMING TO BE IN CONTROL)

Well, ED will keep the door propped open for us. Thank you, ED!

ED:

(SEETHING)

Last time we ever work with you.

JENNY:

(GRINNING, KNIFE-TWISTING)

Oh, such promises.

(LAUGHS)

SFX:

(JENNY, ANNETTE, and MAMMONs walk into the adjacent vault room.)

Scene 4. INT. Outside the vault

SFX:

(Large room with concrete walls ambiance.)

JENNY:

(HOLDING BACK HER GIDDINESS)

The vault door. Let’s break in.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, PROFESSIONAL)

On it.

SFX:

(ANNETTE types on a keyboard.)

JENNY:

(TURNING PROFESSIONAL)

Mammon crew, get out the oxygen canisters. ROXDALE might flood us with gas in here.

ED:

(SNIDE)

I can give you some tips on using those.

JENNY:

(BARELY LISTENING TO HIM, DISMISSIVE)

I bet.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, PROFESSIONAL)

Nothing unexpected here. He even keeps his software up to date.

SFX:

(ANNETTE types and stops.)

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, RELIEVED)

And we’re in.

SFX:

(Computer beeps. Vault door hums and swings open.)

JENNY:

(PROFESSIONAL, IMPRESSED)

Fantastic work.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, HOLDING BACK HER GLEE)

Of course. Oh, I’m going to help myself to a little extra in there.

JENNY:

(PROFESSIONAL, GRIN GROWING ON HER FACE)

I’m not telling CLYDE. Go for it. Heck, you better not look my way either.

SFX:

(A sudden rush of air as the vault door swings open. The room vents into outer space.)

ANNETTE:

(TERRIFIED AS SHE FEEL HERSELF GETTING SUCKED OUT)

JENNY!

JENNY:

(SURPRISED, TERRIFIED)

What the heck?

ANNETTE:

(NEAR SHOUTING, TERRIFIED)

I can’t hold on!

SFX:

(ANNETTE loses her grip on the table and flies out into space.)

JENNY:

(DESPERATE)

Medic! Throw her your bag!

SFX:

(Bag flies out into space. The vault hums and closes.)

JENNY:

(SCARED, GRIPPING WHATEVER SHE CAN)

Hang onto something!

ED:

(AMUSED AT JENNY’S HUBRIS)

Easy for me.

SFX:

(Air rushing stops. Vault thumps closed.)

JENNY:

(SHAKEN, QUIET, DEVASTATED)

It was space.

ED:

(SARDONIC)

Looked like the upper atmosphere.

JENNY:

(FLUMMOXED, ANGRY)

She’s out in space. How? We’re on Earth. You can’t do that.

ED:

(GRINNING,TEASING, TWISTING THE KNIFE)

How’s ANNETTE doing out there?

JENNY:

(FURIOUS, TRYING TO COOL HERSELF DOWN)

Shut up! Okay. She’s got oxygen canisters.

SFX:

(JENNY kicks the wall.)

JENNY:

(COMMANDING, DESPERATE)

Somebody get a message to CLYDE. Priority. I don’t care who hears it.

ED:

(SARCASTIC, KNIFE-TWISTING)

Hey, my hands are free.

JENNY:

(LOW, FURIOUS AT ED FOR JOKING NOW, HOLDING HERSELF TOGETHER)

I will not warn you again. Come on. Come on.

SFX:

(ROXDALE and security enters.)

ROXDALE:

(SNIDE, KNIFE-TWISTING)

I think I can handle that for you.

JENNY:

(LOW, ANGRY)

What was that? In the Vault?

ROXDALE:

(MATTER OF FACT, GRINNING)

I was very clear. You cannot get in my Vault.

ED:

I believed you, if it’s any consolation.

JENNY:

(ANGRY, READY TO TEAR ROXDALE A NEW ONE)

Where is ANNETTE? Where does that open to?

ROXDALE:

(CHUCKLES, SNIDE)

On the floor. All of you. Let’s see how much each of you are worth.

Scene 5. INT. CLYDE’s Office in Mammon cabal’s office headquarters

SFX:

(Office ambiance. JENNY walks into CLYDE’s office. She sits down.)

CLYDE:

So, JENNY, you’re fired.

JENNY:

(BARELY HEARING HIM, MONOTONE, WORRIED ABOUT ANNETTE)

That all?

CLYDE:

With no hope of rehiring.

JENNY:

(LOW, MONOTONE, DOESN’T CARE)

Okay.

CLYDE:

And we’re going to release a statement about your actions to all the cabals.

JENNY:

(WHATEVER, CLYDE IS TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT DON’T MATTER)

Fine.

CLYDE:

And we’re taking your favorite candy away.

JENNY:

(BARELY HEARING HIM, JUST RESPONDING AUTOMATICALLY)

Great.

CLYDE:

(PAUSE)

I don’t think you’re really listening to me.

JENNY:

(LOW, MONOTONE, DEVASTATED)

I am.

CLYDE:

You’re worrying about ANNETTE.

JENNY:

(UTTERLY DRAINED, DEVASTATED)

Space sucks.

CLYDE:

Upper atmosphere.

JENNY:

(LOW, ENGAGING WITH CLYDE AGAIN, NEAR MONOTONE)

Stop it. Don’t make this any worse.

CLYDE:

(SIGHS)

I’m not here to do any emotional labor for you. I’m simply asking for you to get your things and leave the cabal.

(PAUSE)

We can talk about it if you want.

JENNY:

(LOW, DISBELIEVING, DISTRACTING)

I have nothing to say.

CLYDE:

I get it. You love her.

JENNY:

(ANGRY AT HERSELF, LOW)

I should have known.

CLYDE:

That would have been nice.

JENNY:

(LOW, MONOTONE)

I know.

CLYDE:

You certainly won’t be forgotten. This is probably the most damage anyone’s done to our organization.

JENNY:

(DRAINED, DEVASTATED, EDGE OF ANGER)

Don’t try to make me feel better.

CLYDE:

You’re welcome. You want pain, okay. No other cabal will hire you after this.

JENNY:

(UTTERLY DRAINED)

Stop pretending that twisting the knife will help.

CLYDE:

It wasn’t your fault.

JENNY:

(REFUSES TO ACCEPT HELP, LOW, MONOTONE)

Bite me.

CLYDE:

JENNY, I hate your guts. You’ve destroyed at least three major operations I’ve been working on for years. I heard the news, and I was so mad I had to spend the night in a hotel. But I made the call to ransom you.

JENNY:

(LETS SOME EMOTION BACK IN HER VOICE, DEJECTED)

To save face in the company. Who’d work with you if they didn’t think you’d pay their ransom?

CLYDE:

Yes, and because I owe you. You’ve given the cabal so much. You personally have brought me more artifacts than anyone. You were unlucky. No one had ever been in that vault. We didn’t know it was a dead end.

JENNY:

(THE FACT THAT SHE HAS TO LEAVE THIS SUPERVILLAIN WORLD IS STARTING TO ENVELOPE HER)

I hope my career’s worth knowing that.

CLYDE:

(SIGHS)

Maybe someday we’ll get a drink together.

JENNY:

(COLDLY, DEVASTATED)

Yeah. I still know where you live. Maybe you’ll have to move.

CLYDE:

Wouldn’t be the first time. You know, I’ve never been to space before.

JENNY:

(REFUSES TO BE AMUSED BY HIS JOKE, DRAINED)

Stop it.

CLYDE:

You saw Earth like so few people have.

JENNY:

(LOW, MONOTONE)

It wasn’t a priority at the time.

CLYDE:

You’re right. Like right now. Your life’s just been decided for you and it’s not a priority. You were a Mammon. Be selfish for once in your life. I just took your career and connections away. Tell me off.

JENNY:

(DRAINED, DEVASTATED, MONOTONE)

Thank you for your service.

CLYDE:

You’re welcome. Was that so hard?

JENNY:

(OVERWHELMED BY LOSING EVERYTHING)

I hope you have a good replacement for me.

CLYDE:

You know I don’t.

JENNY:

(STILL OVERWHELMED, DOESN’T WANT TO THINK ANYMORE)

Yeah. Well, I don’t care. I’m glad you fired me. I’m going to need a lot of time to think about this.

CLYDE:

Wouldn’t have it any different. Any last words?

JENNY:

(MEETS HIS EYES, MONOTONE)

When will I hear about her?

CLYDE:

Nothing about ruing the day I doubted you and cast you out?

JENNY:

(EXHAUSTED, DOESN’T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO PUSH BACK)

Lay off it.

CLYDE:

Fine. Shall we leave?

JENNY:

(DRAINED, DEVASTATED, MATTER OF FACT)

I know the way out.

Scene 6. INT. Mammon cabal’s office headquarters

SFX:

(CLYDE and JENNY stand up from their chairs. They walk out into the office open floor plan together.)

JENNY:

(NOSTALGIC, DRAINED)

I’ll miss this.

CLYDE:

I’ll have to replace your pictures on the Employee of the Year wall.

JENNY:

(RELENTS, ALLOWS CLYDE TO SEE HOW SHE’S FEELING, TRYING TO TAKE CONTROL)

You’re good people, CLYDE. Hey, those are Aradia’s pot shards in that case, right?

CLYDE:

Yes?

SFX:

(JENNY shatters a glass exhibit.)

CLYDE:

(DEADPAN, CLOYING)

What do you think you’re doing.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, RUBBING IT IN A LITTLE)

Getting my frickin’ severance.

SFX:

(JENNY scoops up clay and glass fragments and puts them in a paper bag)

CLYDE:

We’ll be deducting that from your actual, money severance.

JENNY:

(LETTING HER ANGER OUT)

Oh, wow. You’re pretending this is a real business and not a fetch service for whatever Mammon wants today.

CLYDE:

Great. Fine. You know, Mammon doesn’t want you.

SFX:

(JENNY finishes scooping up pieces, shakes the bag)

JENNY:

(SNIDE)

For someone who doesn’t want me, he says that an awful lot.

CLYDE:

Okay. Take it. Let it blow up in your face for all I care.

SFX:

(Office door opens, footsteps approach)

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, HOLDING SELF TOGETHER)

Hello. CLYDE, I’m back. Thank you for the ride.

JENNY:

(THRILLED TO SEE HER, EXHAUSTED, CONFUSION)

ANNETTE! You’re okay! Oh my gosh!

SFX:

(ANNETTE smacks JENNY’s face.)

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, IGNORING JENNY AFTER THE SLAP)

I’m ready to give a full report.

CLYDE:

Let’s head for my office?

JENNY:

(RELIEVED TO SEE HER, ECSTATIC EVEN THOUGH SHE GOT SLAPPED)

Hey. How did they get you?

ANNETTE:

(SCOFFS)

SFX:

(ANNETTE does not respond. She walks silently to CLYDE’s office.)

JENNY:

(MAD AT BEING ABANDONED)

Frick.

CLYDE:

Do you need an escort to your car?

JENNY:

(ANGRY AT EVERYTHING FALLING APART)

Piss off.

SFX:

(JENNY walks off.)

CLYDE:

Security, let her go. She can keep the cup. Whatever it does.

Scene 7. EXT. Town square, back to present

SFX:

(Quiet town, traffic in distance)

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, SLIGHTLY GLEEFUL)

This godling. HUNGER. Whatever. It would be a fantastic weapon if we could harness it. What do you think?

(BEAT)

You want in?

SFX:

(JENNY smacks ANNETTE’s face.)

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, MILDLY ANNOYED)

Was that from you or Aradia?

JENNY:

(DRAINED, FURIOUS)

Okay, I spent most of today with my memory gone and being someone I’m not. I don’t care what you or Aradia think. I want it dead.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT BUT REASSURING)

I know you’ve been through a lot.

JENNY:

(CALLING A BOUNDARY)

End of discussion.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, READY TO OPPOSE JENNY)

Killing a god is no easy task.

JENNY:

(EXHAUSTED, FURIOUS)

Banished then. Dead preferably.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, MADE UP HER MIND)

Good luck. Don’t ask me how to do it.

JENNY:

(ANGRY AT ANNETTE)

Wasn’t planning to.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, ALMOST SNIDE)

Have you considered banishing Aradia? You bound her to something from the trash, right?

JENNY:

(ANGRY, MATTER OF FACT)

To my eye.

ANNETTE:

(SURPRISED, PARTLY REASSURING)

Oh. Well, that bites.

JENNY:

(EXHAUSTED, WISHING SHE COULD DO SOMETHING)

I doubt she’d let me, anyway.

ANNETTE:

(CHIPPER, REASSURING)

You want help? You gave up your eye for me.

JENNY:

(CONFUSED, CURIOUS ABOUT WHEN THAT HAPPENED)

I did? When?

ANNETTE:

(CONFUSED, REALIZING SHE MUST HAVE GIVEN UP THAT MEMORY)

You don’t remember?

JENNY:

(TRUTHFUL)

I don’t.

ANNETTE:

(CHUCKLES, REASSURING)

You must have given that memory up to bind Aradia to your eye.

JENNY:

(DISTRUSTING, MILDLY SNIDE)

Enlighten me.

ANNETTE:

(REASSURING, COMFORTING)

You had glaucoma, bad. You started canceling our dates.

JENNY:

(RECALLS, ANNOYED AT BEING REMINDED)

I remember.

ANNETTE:

(REASSURING, COMFORTING)

You called me one night and said you’d had enough.

(PAUSES, WAITING TO SEE IF JENNY REMEMBERS)

You wanted to see me again. You said you were getting your eye replaced so we could be together again. You were so sappy. It was magical.

JENNY:

(DISMISSIVE)

We were young.

ANNETTE:

(AGREEING, MATTER OF FACT)

That we were.

JENNY:

(DISMISSIVE, ANNOYED)

And that’s not who I am now. I just went through the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. So forgive me if I’m not feeling the romance right now.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT)

Noted.

JENNY:

(DISMISSIVE, ANNOYED)

Especially not after I thought I’d lost you and then you slapped me in the face, first thing when you got back.

ANNETTE:

(ICY)

You can’t imagine what it was like, falling with only an oxygen canister in your arms, freezing and burning.

JENNY:

(HEATED, REMINDING HER AS IF THAT’S JUSTIFICATION)

I threw you that canister.

ANNETTE:

(ICY, HOLDING HERSELF TOGETHER, READY TO SNAP)

It was your mission. You should have either researched it better or prepared for that contingency.

JENNY:

(ALMOST LAUGHING AT HOW FAR FETCHED THAT WOULD HAVE SOUNDED)

An actual portal? You think CLYDE would have signed off on the mission if I’d come in spouting nonsense like that?

ANNETTE:

(SERIOUS, LINGERING ANGER)

We knew one existed.

JENNY:

(ANGRY WITH HER)

We had no idea that it was THERE. And the whole compound being a trap? What sense does that make? How can you blame me for that?

ANNETTE:

(STOIC PRESENCE IS DROPPING, ANGER SHOWING THROUGH)

I was in shock. I was in the process of dying. And I was not ready. I had trusted you. And there was nothing I could do.

(PAUSE)

So it was easy to hate you.

JENNY:

(HONEST, DEADPAN)

I wanted to help you.

ANNETTE:

(HOLDS HERSELF TOGETHER, TURNING REASSURING)

I know you did. CLYDE told me everything. ROXDALE made the call and CLYDE sent out a plane with a very good medical team. He said you offered ROXDALE a lot to call.

JENNY:

(FORCING ANNETTE TO ADMIT THAT JENNY MIGHT BE THE BETTER PERSON)

Wouldn’t you?

ANNETTE:

(PAUSE, REFUSING TO FALL FOR THE TRAP)

Of course.

JENNY:

(TRUTHFUL, RELEASING A LOT OF LONG HELD TENSION)

I was so happy to see you after that. You have no idea how much it killed me that you might be lost.

(PAUSE)

If we were over, you should have avoided me before I left CLYDE and the Mammons.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, WARMING TO JENNY)

I lied to you. About being out. Well, I am. Sort of. Fewer clients want me. It’s a long story.

JENNY:

(DISMISSIVE)

I really don’t care.

ANNETTE:

(REASSURING, CALM)

If you say so. But we’ve been through the same fire together. That’s not nothing.

JENNY:

(ACCEPTING)

I know.

ANNETTE:

(NOSTALGIC, SAD)

You seemed like you hated me for ditching you after the mission.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, NOT WANTING TO SHOW MORE)

I had a lot going on.

ANNETTE:

(WARM, KIND)

Yeah but time makes us stupid. So I came back.

JENNY:

(ANNOYED)

For an opportunity.

ANNETTE:

(TURNING JENNY’S ANNOYANCE BACK ONTO JENNY, KNIFE-TWISTING)

And you didn’t summon Aradia for the same reason? How’s she doing in there, by the way?

JENNY:

(ANNOYED, FRUSTRATED)

I don’t know. Probably stewing. If I was her, I wouldn’t like me either.

ANNETTE:

(CHEERFUL)

Oh, being in and out of existence probably gives you a good perspective. I think the gods like us because we’re more interesting than the cosmos. And we’re only around for a little while.

JENNY:

(RELENTING, FRUSTRATED)

I want to talk to her. I’ve tried it.

ANNETTE:

(COMFORTING)

You can’t demand someone’s time. Especially if you feel they’re very important.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED THAT CLYDE COULD COMMUNICATE WITH ARADIA)

CLYDE did.

ANNETTE:

(EAGER TO POINT OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CLYDE)

And look what happened to him. Eaten.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, GIVING IN)

You really know how to make me feel better.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT)

That part of me hasn’t changed. Much.

JENNY:

(ENGULFED IN A LOT OF MIXED FEELINGS FOR ANNETTE)

I hate you.

ANNETTE:

(SMUG, MATTER OF FACT)

I appreciate that you care.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)

You’re still going to do it. You’re going for that godling.

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, COOL)

Please calm down.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)

So who is it? Who are you chasing? Who do you want? Me or HUNGER?

ANNETTE:

(MATTER OF FACT, COOL)

I’ve already lost you. HUNGER it is.

JENNY:

(COMBATIVE, DETERMINED)

I’ll stop you.

ANNETTE:

(DISMISSIVE)

No, you won’t.

JENNY:

(COMBATIVE, DETERMINED)

I will destroy it before it serves you.

ANNETTE:

(DISMISSIVE, SMUG)

It’s already destroyed you. I know you’ll try though. I wish you luck.

SFX:

(ANNETTE opens her car door.)

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, DETERMINED)

I know it better.

ANNETTE:

(DISMISSIVE, SMUG)

You know it too well. You have history with it. I don’t care what it’s done. Goodbye.

SFX:

(ANNETTE shuts her car door. The car starts. The car drives away.)

JENNY:

(FURIOUS, HOLDING IT IN)

Frick.

(PAUSE AS ANNETTE DRIVES AWAY)

I need a burner phone.

Scene 8. EXT. Parking lot

SFX:

(Town exterior ambiance with traffic. Beeps of a pay phone. JENNY hangs up the pay phone. JENNY dials a number on her new burner cell phone.)

JENNY:

(RELIEVED AFTER CHECKING OFF THE LAST BOX IN A LONG LIST)

Okay, burner’s all set.

SFX:

(JENNY’s cell phone speaker rings. ED picks up.)

JENNY:

(CHEERFUL, UPBEAT)

Hello, ED?

ED:

(ON PHONE, LAUGHS, SARCASTIC)

No.

SFX:

(JENNY’s cell phone hangs up. JENNY redials. Cell phone speaker rings. ED picks up.)

ED:

(ON PHONE, IMMEDIATELY DISMISSIVE)

I don’t want to hear it.

JENNY:

(REMINDING ED, CHEERFUL)

You didn’t block me.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC)

I enjoyed your stream. I especially enjoyed the callout. You do care.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, CALM)

It’s not a social call.

ED:

(ON PHONE, INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED)

So I should hang up now. Because the last time you called me, I got the snot beat out of me. And my people had to take out loans I’m still paying off. Maybe nobody told you but anarchists aren’t exactly rolling in cash.

JENNY:

(COOL, MATTER OF FACT)

I am not sorry that I did that mission with you. I had no idea the Vault opened to space.

ED:

(ON PHONE, FRUSTRATED, COOL)

No, but you got a nice bailout. I’ve seen your place.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, IMPATIENT)

Does everybody just know where I live?

ED:

(ON PHONE, CALM, SARDONIC)

Yeah but you’re not important anymore.

JENNY:

(DEAD SERIOUS, MATTER OF FACT, EAGER TO TELL)

Now I know you think you’re hurting me. But I have to tell you. I’ve been though something I wouldn’t wish on you. We’ve got a problem.

ED:

(ON PHONE, READY TO HEAR JENNY)

Must be pretty bad if you’re calling me.

JENNY:

(DESPERATE)

You’re the last person I would ever call. I have no one else to go to.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC, REMINDING HER THAT WHATEVER IS HAPPENING ISN’T HIS PROBLEM)

That’s a “you” problem.

JENNY:

(DESPERATE, KNIFE-TWISTING)

I would go to the Mammons except it ate every one of them in this state.

ED:

(ON PHONE, VERY CONFUSED, VERY CURIOUS)

Ate?

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, EAGER TO SHARE)

Yup. Every one.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SERIOUSLY BLOWN AWAY)

Wow.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

I do not trust anyone else with this job but you.

ED:

(ON PHONE, GRINNING, KEEPING HIS OPTIONS OPEN)

Flattery will only get you to first base with me.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, ED NEEDS TO KNOW THE STAKES)

Look, every cabal is going to want a piece of this thing. You’re the only person who would want to destroy it.

ED:

(ON PHONE, FLUMMOXED, WANTS THINGS TO BE CLARIFIED)

What is “it?” What exactly do you mean, “ate?”

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, HOLDS HERSELF BACK WHILE SHE THINKS ABOUT HOW TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED TO HER)

It’s.

(THINKS)

We’re calling it “HUNGER.” We think it’s a young god, barely a day or so old. It is massively stupid and incredibly powerful. I think it heard conservative news on the radio and assumed all people were like that.

ED:

(ON PHONE, FRUSTRATED, SARDONIC)

It ain’t that wrong.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)

It transmogrified a whole town into something from the fifties. It convinced them they would be ‘chosen’ if they queerbashed someone. It gave me amnesia and detransitioned me. I want it dead and if you saw it, so would you.

ED:

(ON PHONE, REELING FROM THIS REVELATION, NEEDS PROOF, HAS BEEN LIED TO BY THIS WOMAN BEFORE)

Why is this not the hottest thing on the cabal networks?

JENNY:

(FLUSTERED, ANGRY)

It only showed up yesterday. The only people who know about it are me, ANNETTE, and CLYDE. And it ate CLYDE.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SUSPICIOUS)

And why not you?

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

Because I have Aradia bound to my eye.

ED:

(ON PHONE, VERY SURPRISED, SLIGHTLY SCARED FROM ARADIA’S REPUTATION)

Holy. Did she have something to do with this?

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

Absolutely.

ED:

(ON PHONE, FEELING THE SITUATION IS DEEP OVER HIS HEAD)

And what’d she say when you asked her to get rid of HUNGER?

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED,ANGRY)

I think she wants it fed. I don’t know why. But I can guess.

ED:

(ON PHONE, REALIZES WHY JENNY NEEDS HIM, CURIOUS)

So you can’t stop it.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

Not alone.

ED:

(ON PHONE, GIVING JENNY A SHOT WHILE DISTRUSTING HER)

What evidence do you have for this?

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

I’m sending you some videos. News reports. They’re local. For now.

ED:

(ON PHONE, UNDERSTANDING, BUT DISTRUSTING)

Okay.

(READS)

I’m not seeing anything in here about a new godling.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, THINKING ABOUT BEING IN HUNGER IS TRAUMATIZING)

It spoke on the phone when I was in its domain.

ED:

(ON PHONE, CURIOUS, NEEDING MORE FROM JENNY)

What’d it say?

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, GRASPING AT STRAWS)

The whole thing was kinda a dream. It wants to eat but it can’t just devour anyone. They have to want to be eaten.

ED:

(ON PHONE, CURIOUS BUT NEEDING MORE)

Can you clarify what “eating” entails?

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED AT NOT HAVING MORE PROOF FOR HIM)

It opens its mouth somewhere and people walk into it. Heck, they run. And they vanish with nothing left of them. No clothes. Nothing.

ED:

(ON PHONE, OPENING UP TO JENNY)

Do you know why I agreed to join that ROXDALE mission with you?

JENNY:

(SARDONIC)

Artifacts from the world’s richest idiots?

ED:

(ON PHONE, MATTER OF FACT, ANGRY)

The Deus Trystero. I wanted the nuclear option. The God Muzzle. To have every god in existence to fear that I would shut them up as near to permanent as we can. However you planned to screw me over, I still had the chance for it. And believe it or not, I think I was right. We were close. It’s just that these folks have everything better than us.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, FEARFUL)

HUNGER could become one of their toys.

ED:

(ON PHONE, MATTER OF FACT, WANTS TO TRUST JENNY BUT NEEDS A HOOK)

You’re missing the point. You’re probably, partially, lying to me. Every time we’ve talked. So, whether or not you’re telling me the truth, I want something out of this.

JENNY:

(FLUSTERED)

I have nothing. I have no connections.

ED:

(ON PHONE, WANTS JENNY TO TRY HARDER TO OFFER HIM SOMETHING, EAGER)

You say that. But come on. This could be another op. You folks spend years on these ops. Sometimes generations. I just want a free world where I get to sleep with whomever I want, consensually. Where capitalism is razed to the Earth, and salted along with racism, sexism, transphobia, you name it. Why am I talking to you? What do I get out of this, even if it goes to crap?

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, CALLING ED OUT)

I’m not falling for that and neither are you.

ED:

(ON PHONE, AMUSED BY HER AUDACITY)

I don’t want what’s best for the world’s people?

JENNY:

(SLIGHT GRIN, KNIFE-TWISTING)

No, that you want something at all, just like every industrialist and cabal. You despise that about us. You think of yourself as selfless. You do things because you think they’re right. You may be a self-centered prick but you want me to believe you’re helping the world? I’m calling you to feed that fantasy. You want to save the world? Nip HUNGER in the bud before it gets any larger. It’s going to keep eating. It’s going to gravitate toward population centers. It doesn’t discriminate and it brings out the worst in people. I don’t even know what it gets from eating folks.

ED:

(ON PHONE, FRUSTRATED BY BEING CALLED OUT, TURNING THE POWER DYNAMIC AROUND AT JENNY)

You want me to clean up your mess.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, COMMANDING)

I’m going to keep sending you every news report I find of mass disappearances. You can decide when you want to do something about them.

ED:

(ON PHONE, ED’S NOT QUITE BUYING IT YET)

The world has a lot of problems right now.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)

And you don’t see anyone else working on them. I hear you. But ANNETTE’s going to wind up controlling this thing. You want to see a pawn turn into a queen in real-time?

ED:

(ON PHONE, GRINNING, PROUD HE THOUGHT OF THIS ANALOGY)

I’ve got a history of checkmates.

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY THAT HE WAS DISMISSIVE)

I sure hope so. This better not be the last time we speak. Goodbye.

SFX:

(JENNY hangs up the phone, which beeps. JENNY exhales. Her cell phone rings. She lets it ring. Then she picks it up.)

ED:

(ON PHONE, MAD AT HIMSELF FOR FALLING FOR HER BLUFF)

Mammon trash.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

Pleasure to be working with you again.

ED:

(ON PHONE, DEAD SERIOUS)

How do we stop it?

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, SERIOUS)

I don’t know. But if Aradia created it, it’s got to be brittle.

ED:

(ON PHONE, MATTER OF FACT)

I want to see it.

JENNY:

(ED DOESN’T KNOW WHAT HE’S ASKING, SARDONIC)

Okay.

ED:

(ON PHONE, MATTER OF FACT)

I want to go inside it. I want to see what it can do.

JENNY:

(ALMOST CHUCKLING, THAT’S SUCH A DUMB IDEA)

I really don’t recommend that.

ED:

(ON PHONE, GRINNING, WANTS TO SEE JENNY PUT HER MONEY WHERE HER MOUTH IS)

That’s why you’ll be with me. You want my help, ensure my safety.

JENNY:

(WORRIED, UNSURE)

I don’t know if I can do that. I couldn’t before.

ED:

(ON PHONE, MATTER OF FACT, PUT UP OR SHUT UP JENNY)

I go in and I come out. That’s the deal. If I’m going to learn this thing’s M.O., I experience it firsthand. I’ve been on every hallucinogen known to medical science. I’ve lost myself and come back again. All you do is make sure I’m not eaten. If you can’t manage that, nothing we can do against it anyway.

JENNY:

(WORRIED, WISHES SHE HAD BETTER WORDS FOR BEING INSIDE HUNGER)

You’re asking a lot.

ED:

(ON PHONE, MATTER OF FACT)

Can I run a drone in?

JENNY:

(FRUSTRATED)

Aradia barely had my phone working in there.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC)

Swell. Then I go in or I don’t waste your time. Or mine.

JENNY:

(VERY FRUSTRATED, IF ONLY HE KNEW WHAT WAS INSIDE)

I want to say yes.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC)

What’s stopping you?

JENNY:

(SUPER FLUSTERED AT THE THOUGHT OF BEING HELD DOWN AGAIN BY ARADIA)

You know who.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC, BUT SYMPATHETIC)

Sounds like you two need to have a conversation.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT)

It doesn’t work like that.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SARDONIC)

Maybe you haven’t said anything worth replying to.

JENNY:

(MIRRORING ED’S SARDONIC DELIVERY)

Lovely. I never thought of that one. A plus insult. Go you.

ED:

(ON PHONE, SMILING, SARDONIC)

Call me back when you get your answer.

JENNY:

(SARDONIC, BUT JOKING)

I’ll call you every name in the book you gun loving antifascist hypocrite.

SFX:

(JENNY hangs up. The cell phone beeps. She sighs.)

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, SOFT, FRUSTRATED)

Aradia, maybe I don’t have to kill it. But I’ve got to stop it. I don’t know how many of those people were bigots before HUNGER got its hook in them. I know it’s a baby. But I also know you’re not teaching it to grow. Nobody is. You’re stuck with me. You’ve got this feral child running through the country and do you think it’s going to grow a conscience? Do you think it will mature, somehow gobbling up everyone it can get its hands on? I don’t know how you see HUNGER. But you care for it. I’m mad at it. It abused me. It hurt me in ways that you, a god, cannot understand. But I also do not want it to become a weapon. We’re mature adults here. We understand we don’t always get what we want. So let’s get something. I’m going to call ED back. If you don’t want his help, stop me.

SFX:

(Pause, cell phone dials number. ED picks up.)

ED:

(ON PHONE, GLAD TO SEE SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS CALL)

Heya. Thanks for the callback.

JENNY:

(MATTER OF FACT, AMAZED)

I didn’t. I let the phone sit in my hand. I didn’t touch it. Aradia and I are good.

ED:

(ON PHONE, WARMING TO JENNY)

All right, then. Where should I meet you?

JENNY:

(CHEERFUL, AT LAST)

It depends. Hey, Aradia? Where’s the next showdown? Slap it on my phone.

Scene 9. END CREDITS