In this episode, Ed helps to lead a Seattle protest while Jenny helps Hunger against the god of police, the Thin Blue Duke.
Transcript:
Brittle Tourniquet, Episode 5
by Alicia E. Goranson
Scene 1. Introduction Theme
Scene 2. INT. Car
SFX:
(Car idling)
NEWS ANNOUNCER:
(FROM CAR RADIO)
A large crowd is marching through downtown Seattle, demanding that the Mayor restrict the actions of Seattle’s police department after the recent incident in which another man from Queen Anne was shot.
BOB:
(ANNOYED, IMPATIENT)
C’mon. C’mon. C’mon.
NEWS ANNOUNCER:
(FROM CAR RADIO)
Seattle’s police officer’s guild has come under increasing scrutiny after their Vice President disparaged a woman hit by a police cruiser as being only worth a paltry amount of money…
BOB:
(IMPATIENT)
Enough of this.
SFX:
(BOB turns off the radio, honks car horn, and opens car door.)
Scene 3. EXT. Downtown Seattle
SFX:
(BOB gets out of his car. Marchers are standing around chanting)
MARCHERS:
All cops are bastards! Hold the pigs accountable! All cops are bastards! Hold the pigs accountable!
BOB:
(FURIOUS)
Get out of the street, you punks! I got to get back to work! Get out of here!
ED:
(COMMANDING)
Shut it!
BOB:
(TAKEN ABACK AT BEING CHALLENGED)
What’d you say?
ED:
(COMMANDING)
I said, shut it, friend.
JENNY:
(WRY)
You heard the man.
BOB:
(INTIMIDATED, DISMISSIVE)
Whatever.
SFX:
(BOB gets back into his car. He closes the door.)
ED:
(ANNOYED)
No sign of HUNGER.
JENNY:
(INQUISITIVE, WORRIED)
It’s here. I know what it feels like. It’s kinda a ripple on the old subconscious, you know?
ED:
(DEJECTED)
Shame it had to come today. I want to be out helping out these marchers. Not whatever we’re doing.
JENNY:
(UNCHARACTERISTICALLY OPTIMISTIC)
Why not both?
ED:
(SOMBER)
Someone’s got to watch our backs. HUNGER picked a heck of a day to show up.
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
I wish it knew better too. It’s just a predator. It’s an animal sociopath.
ED:
(WRY)
And the city’s looking real tasty now.
JENNY:
(ANNOYED, WORRIED)
Marchers and shoppers and office workers and tourists. It’s a buffet. One big smorgasbord.
ED:
(WRY)
I wouldn’t mind if it scarfed up a few supremely rich people, but yeah.
SFX:
(Chittering high pitched snarls start. Feet scamper on concrete.)
JENNY:
(STARTLED, CONFUSED)
What the heck?
SFX:
(Creatures screech and hiss. People shout in panic.)
ED:
(WORRIED)
What are those?
JENNY:
(CURIOUS)
I have no idea.
SFX:
(People shout and start running. Creatures pursue them, paws on concrete.)
JENNY:
(DISGUSTED)
Nasty things.
ED:
(FEAR DAWNING)
You think HUNGER made them?
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
Yup. It’s right here. Like a sitting ghost. It’s everywhere!
ED:
(SERIOUS)
What’s its angle?
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
You got me. Chasing folks to its mouth? What’s the metaphor for being eaten this time?
ED:
(OBSERVING, ANNOYED)
Folks are running into any door that’ll open. So that’s something.
JENNY:
(REASONING, ANNOYED)
Yeah but there’s no shacks. No rec centers. Stadiums are way south of here. There’s just streets and office towers.
SFX:
(Cars honk. BOB’s car guns engine.)
JENNY:
(ANGRY)
Get out of the street!
ED:
(DISGUSTED)
Hey, they’re going to hit someone.
(TO BOB, COMMANDING)
Hey! Wait for the street to clear before you go driving into someone!
SFX:
(BOB’s car goes forward, stops. BOB honks at ED.)
ED:
(ANNOYED)
Yeah, same to you, bud!
JENNY:
(STARTLED)
Look out!
SFX:
(Creature nearby hisses and screeches.)
ED:
(WORRIED, PROTECTIVE)
I’m okay. JENNY, I’ve got to provide support for these folks. Whatever they need, I have to be here for them.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Get out of the street.
ED:
(KEEPING ANGER IN CHECK)
People are panicking! The cars are going to hit someone if they take off. Keep that monster away from me!
JENNY:
(GIVING UP, OKAY, YOU WIN, BOSS)
All right! All right!
SFX:
(JENNY runs at the creature.)
JENNY:
(COMBATIVE)
Hey, you want to bite someone? Bite me!
SFX:
(Creature hisses.)
JENNY:
(COMBATIVE)
Well, come on!
SFX:
(Creature screeches twice. It doesn’t attack her.)
JENNY:
(PAUSE, GEARING TURNING IN HER HEAD)
That’s new.
ED:
(REALIZING)
You called its bluff. It’s not attacking.
JENNY:
(CONFUSED, CURIOUS)
Just kinda standing there, huh.
ED:
(CALMLY REASSURING)
Hold the cars back. I gotta tell the marchers.
JENNY:
(ENERGIZED)
Okay!
SFX:
(ED runs off toward the dispersing MARCHERS. POV follows him.)
ED:
(TO MARCHERS, CALM BUT LOUD)
Hey! They’re okay! They’re just phantoms! They can’t hurt you! Their boss needs you alive!
SFX:
(Piece of paper rattles. ED catches it.)
ED:
(READING THE PAPER, SEES WHERE HUNGER WANTS PEOPLE TO GO, FRUSTRATED)
Aw. Don’t tell me.
SFX:
(ED runs back to JENNY. BOB’s car drives by him. BOB blares his horn at ED.)
ED:
(TO BOB, ANGRY)
Hey! You can wait a few. Give us a minute!
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, IMPATIENT)
ED, they’re Seattle drivers. They don’t understand basic commands.
ED:
(FURIOUS FROM READING THE PAMPHLET)
No. Here. Look at this pamphlet. They just showed up everywhere.
JENNY:
(READING, DRY)
“Seattle City Council plans to vote on eliminating monsters should sufficient voters meet in City Hall this afternoon.”
ED:
(EXASPERATED)
It’s herding folks to City Hall.
JENNY:
(ALSO EXASPERATED)
Dinnertime.
ED:
(ANNOYED)
Yup. “Save us from the monsters.”
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
And the angle is?
SFX:
(Car screeches around JENNY.)
JENNY:
(TO CAR, ANGRY)
Hey, Bozo! Hit me and get two angry gods on your stupid butt!
ED:
(REALIZING)
Wait a minute. The monsters have to represent something.
JENNY:
(IMPATIENT, FOCUSING ON THE CREATURES, NOT ED)
Sure. They’re feral. They’re dirty.
SFX:
(Creature screeches nearby.)
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
They scream a lot.
ED:
(PUTTING THE CONCEPTS TOGETHER, THINKING HARD)
They chase people inside. But look. They’re sticking to the sidewalk. They aren’t actually trying to go in any of the doors.
SFX:
(Creature nearby hisses at ED.)
ED:
(TO CREATURE, ANGRY)
Shut it!
SFX:
(Another car screeches by ED and JENNY.)
JENNY:
(TO CAR, ANGRY)
Watch it!
ED:
(BACK TO THINKING)
All right. Dirty. Animal. Loud. Everywhere. Somehow the City Council can stop them. Say you’re Karen in the city. What are they?
JENNY and ED together:
(PAUSED, DISGUSTED WITH HUNGER)
Unhoused folks.
ED:
(DISGUSTED)
Why’s it have to be like this?
JENNY:
(DISGUSTED)
I didn’t think it was possible to hate HUNGER any more.
ED:
(SUPREMELY ANNOYED)
It is the dumbest reflection of humanity I ever met. Everyone in the city thinks about unhoused folks. We have to cut this off, now.
JENNY:
(LIKE ASKING A ROOMMATE TO EMPTY THE SINK)
Hey, Aradia? How do we stop them? Aradia?
ED:
(VERY SCARED AT THE DUKE’S ARRIVAL)
Hey, JENNY? Heads up.
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
What?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
(BOOMING VOICE)
Hey. Hey, buddy. Little god. How’re you doing there?
ED:
(GETTING SLOWLY ANGRIER)
You know why most gods don’t try this sort of thing in public?
JENNY:
(DISGUSTED, REALIZING THE DUKE HAS ARRIVED)
Fudgesicles.
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
HUNGER got his attention.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Uh, little god. You’re new in town, aren’t you? You think you’re being funny, pulling this in my precinct?
JENNY:
(FASCINATED, WORRIED)
Oh. Heck. He’s actually here.
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
Right on time.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Heh, well, you have no idea who I am, do you? Why don’t I introduce myself? I’ll say this once, little god. Stop resisting.
JENNY:
(VERY WORRIED)
The god of police.
ED:
(SMOLDERING, ANGRY)
The THIN BLUE DUKE.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
That’s a “no” then, huh? Smarty pants. You should have kept it to the sticks.
SFX:
(Heavy echoing impact sound.)
HUNGER:
(SCREAMS IN BASS)
JENNY:
(CONFUSED AS NO ONE ELSE IS RESPONDING TO THE DUKE)
Doesn’t anyone else hear him?
ED:
(SMOLDERING, ANGRY)
Doubt it. We’re the lucky ones.
HUNGER:
Please. Stop.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
What’d I tell you? Stop resisting.
SFX:
(Creatures shriek, and then are pitch-shifted up until they fade away. Heavy echoing impact sound.)
HUNGER:
(SCREAMS IN BASS)
JENNY:
(RELIEVED)
Hey! HUNGER got rid of the monsters!
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
Great. Hold the traffic. I’ve got to get the marchers back and we can get this protest ready again.
SFX:
(ED runs off. POV stays with JENNY.)
JENNY:
(DRY, SARDONIC)
Okay. Just leave me here.
(TO CARS, ANNOYED)
Wait!
SFX:
(Cars horns blare.)
JENNY:
(FURIOUS)
Pedestrian streets! These are the people’s streets! And I am a people!
HUNGER:
(PANTS IN BASS)
JENNY:
(FLUMMOXED, REALIZING SHE IS ON THE DUKE’S SIDE)
Never thought I’d be on the cops’ side of anything.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Unlicensed. Unfriendly. Unnatural. Unprecedented. You, unfortunately, are going to go away for a while.
SFX:
(Cars gun engines.)
JENNY:
(SARDONIC, POINTING HER FINGER AT THE DRIVER)
Uh uh. Don’t try it.
SFX:
(Car engine revs down as its gas is taken off.)
JENNY:
(SMUG)
Right move.
SFX:
(Heavy echoing impact sound.)
HUNGER:
(GROWLS IN PAIN IN BASS)
SFX:
(MARCHERS run back. ED runs ahead of them.)
ED:
(SERIOUS, RELIEVED)
Hey, good news. I know some of these folks. They’re helping get the others back to the march.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC, ANNOYED)
Great. I don’t want to keep doing this! Our fight with HUNGER is done. We got to get out of here.
HUNGER:
(INTERRUPTING JENNY)
Jen. Nee. Help.
JENNY:
(STARTLED, LAUGHS)
You’ve got to be kidding me.
HUNGER:
Please. Help.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
(CHUCKLES)
A god praying to humans. Never gets old. You think they can help you, kid?
SFX:
(Sky chains rattle and echo.)
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Let’s uh, get you off the streets while we figure out what to do with you.
HUNGER:
Not chains.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Then, what’d I say? Stop resisting.
HUNGER:
Jen. Nee. Please. It hurts. So hungry.
JENNY:
(SMIRKING)
Good freakin’ riddance to you.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Bye HUNGER.
JENNY:
(SMIRKING)
Yeah. Later loser. Bye bye.
SFX:
(JENNY suddenly falls to the concrete pavement.)
JENNY:
(IN PAIN, BEING HELD DOWN)
Ah! Ow! Ow, crap!
(HAS DIFFICULTY BREATHING)
There’s something on me.
ED:
(WORRIED)
Hey. Hey, I don’t see anything.
JENNY:
(GRITTING TEETH, FRUSTRATED AT BEING UNABLE TO MOVE)
It’s holding me. It’s holding me here.
ED:
(REASSURING)
Take my hand. I’ll help you up.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)
She’s on my back. She’s holding me here. She’s holding me down.
ED:
(REASSURING)
There’s no one there.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)
Aradia.
ED:
(REALIZING, A LITTLE SCARED)
Oh. You sure?
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, ANGRY)
Yup.
ED:
(CURIOUS, NERVOUS)
You know why?
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
Wild guess.
HUNGER:
Jen. Nee. Help.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.
HUNGER:
Please.
SFX:
(HUNGER rattles its chains.)
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
I think she’s calling in a few favors right now.
ED:
(REASSURING)
Give me a second. I can lift you.
SFX:
(ED kneels, tries to lift JENNY’s shoulders. He cannot lift her off the ground.)
ED:
(FRUSTRATED)
Wow, she’s got you good.
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
This hurts.
HUNGER:
Jen. Nee. Jen! Nee!
JENNY:
(SEETHING, FRUSTRATED)
I don’t think she’s taking “no” for an answer.
ED:
(FRUSTRATED)
Your choice then.
JENNY:
(RELINQUISHING CONTROL, HAD IT UP TO HERE)
Okay! I’ll do it! Aradia! I’ll do it! I’ll help HUNGER! Okay?
SFX:
(JENNY sits upright. She can breathe again.)
JENNY:
(PANTING, FRUSTRATED)
Thank you. Thank you.
ED:
(REASSURING)
Let’s get you up.
JENNY:
(OUT OF BREATH, RELIEVED)
Appreciated.
SFX:
(ED helps JENNY to her feet.)
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, OVERWHELMED)
But we can’t fight the THIN BLUE DUKE.
ED:
(OVERWHELMED, SMOLDERING)
I’ve tried that my whole life. Why do you think I worked with you at ROXDALE’s?
SFX:
(More MARCHERS arrive and fill the street.)
MARCHERS:
Justice for all victims! Hold SPD accountable!
(REPEAT)
ED:
(MILDLY RELIEVED)
At least the march is starting again.
JENNY:
(SMUG)
Cops’ll hate that.
(PAUSE, REALIZES)
So will their god.
MARCHERS:
A C A B! All cops are bastards!
(REPEAT)
JENNY:
(DAZZLED BY HER OWN BRILLIANT PLAN)
Hey! Any way we can amplify all this? Everything the marchers are saying? Spread it all around the city?
ED:
(CYNICAL)
Eh, most people tune this out. ACAB especially. They don’t care. We’ve been trying for years.
JENNY:
(ENCOURAGING)
So mix it up. Change what folks are saying. But right now, we need this march to piss off the DUKE more than HUNGER is.
ED:
(AGREEING, INTERESTED)
I get it.
JENNY:
(ENCOURAGING)
We’re talking supernatural. Something that breaks rules.
ED:
(AGREEING, INTERESTED)
I hear you. Make them louder.
JENNY:
(INTRIGUED)
How?
ED:
(THIS IS YOUR PLAN, SWEETHEART, YOU FIGURE IT OUT)
I don’t know. Ask Aradia?
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
Then the DUKE comes for her.
ED:
(DEJECTED)
Yeah.
(THINKS, GETS AN IDEA)
But yeah. What if she wasn’t the one pissing off the DUKE?
JENNY:
(CURIOUS)
Okay?
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Hey, HUNGER. Can you duplicate Aradia?
HUNGER:
A. Rad. Dia?
ED:
(WORRIED THIS WON’T WORK)
Your mom. Your creator. The one in Jenny’s eye.
JENNY:
(UNHAPPY THAT HUNGER IS INVOLVED)
This is absurd.
ED:
(To JENNY, TWINKLE IN HIS EYE)
You know I’m right.
(To HUNGER, MATTER OF FACT)
HUNGER, can you do it?
HUNGER:
Not strong.
(PAUSE)
I will try.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
You know its terrible at making copies.
ED:
(REASSURING)
I don’t need a good Aradia. The worse, the better.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Worse than the one forcing me to help HUNGER.
ED:
(REASSURING, AMUSED)
“Worse” isn’t a line. It’s a spectrum.
HUNGER:
Hold. Out. Hand.
ED:
(DISBELIEVING IN THE SITUATION, SARDONIC)
Put her there!
SFX:
(Piece of sugar glass crinkles into existence and falls into ED’s hand.)
ED:
(QUIZZICAL)
Sugar glass. What’s this for?
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Aradia can only be bound to something brittle.
ED:
(ACCEPTING, OKAY THEN)
You know this stuff breaks if you breathe on it wrong.
JENNY:
(UNSURE THIS WILL WORK, QUIZZICAL)
Uh, Aradia II? Hello?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
(TO HUNGER)
Well, that’s a no-no, you little pervert. I can’t take my eye off you any more than I can take my eye off a barista with a trans flag pin.
HUNGER:
You didn’t say not to.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
I’m so sorry. You and I are going to have to have a trip upstairs, away from these distractions. That clear?
HUNGER:
No. Please.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Up you go.
SFX:
(Echoing chains clink.)
HUNGER:
(MOVING AWAY UPWARD)
Jen. Nee. Help. Me.
JENNY:
(OVERWHELMED)
Well, frick.
ED:
(REASSURING BUT ANXIOUS)
Hey. Plan hasn’t changed, okay? Get the DUKE away from HUNGER.
JENNY:
(ALSO ANXIOUS)
I know! Hey, Aradia II? Good to meet you. Your, uh, nibling got dragged off by the celestial pig patrol. You want to give us a hand?
MARCHERS:
We want justice! We want justice!
How many victims/Should there be/Before we disband/SPD?
(REPEAT)
JENNY:
(CONFIDENT, BUILDING UP EXCITEMENT)
Make their voices heard. Everywhere in the city. Every basement, every office, every lavatory, every changing room. Inside every bus, every car, every cruiser, and every snatch van. And every earpod. No one hides from what’s happening out here, okay? No one.
SFX:
(Car careens away around JENNY)
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
Are you trying to hit someone?
Scene 4. INT. Car
SFX:
(POV moves inside the car. Driver rolls up the window, dulling the MARCHERS’ voices. Driver revs the engine and drives down the street. MARCHERS’ voices fade away. Driver turns on the radio. The MARCHERS’ voices are chanting on the radio. Driver changes the channel. The MARCHERS’ voices are still chanting on the new channel. Driver desperately searches through channels but the MARCHERS’ voices are on every channel. Driver slows down at a stop light. Driver flicks off the radio. It does not stop the voices. The car’s speakers start to rumble with the MARCHERS’ voices. The MARCHERS’ voices grow louder. Driver turns off the car. The voices continue. Driver pants and starts the car again. The voices remain and grow a little louder. Driver revs the car and drives off. The MARCHERS’ voices grow louder and fade into the next scene.)
Scene 5. EXT. Downtown Seattle
MARCHERS:
We want justice! We want justice!
How many victims/Should there be/Before we disband/SPD?
(REPEAT)
ED:
(AWED, AMAZED)
I don’t say this as a point of personal principle, but good heavens.
SFX:
(SPD police sirens whoop.)
ED:
(ANNOYED)
Right on time.
JENNY:
(BEMUSED, SARDONIC)
Aradia. My Aradia. Are you holding out on me? Can you do what your clone is doing right now?
ED:
(SINCERE, CONCERNED)
Hey, heads up.
SFX:
(Sky rumbles)
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Looks like I’m needed down here again. You disturb the peace, you anger me, you little pricks.
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
Attention, marchers. You are causing a disturbance.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
You should all rot in a prison labor camp.
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
We support your right to protest.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Give me the chance to beat your faggot-ass commie-loving “comrades” into a paste so thick, the crows wouldn’t touch it.
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
But you have exceeded the lawful bounds of protest in this city.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
We are not sheep dogs. We are the wolves. And your filthy, filthy kind are why we are called to service.
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
We ask that you silence yourselves.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
You’re not worth the bullet’s cost, and the spray is too good for you.
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
Now.
MARCHERS:
No! No! No!
(REPEAT)
ED:
(SCARED)
Aw, this isn’t good. These kids could use some help.
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS)
Can you manage this?
ED:
(SOLEMN)
I can do what I can.
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS)
Can you keep the THIN BLUE DUKE here?
ED:
(MILDLY ANNOYED)
Not my priority but I think he’ll stay.
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS)
Good. HUNGER’s in the sky. I’ve got to get up somewhere to free it.
ED:
(CURIOUS, STILL ANNOYED)
“Up,” as in?
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS, CONCERNED)
We’re beside the Columbia Center tower. The Sky View Observatory’s at the top.
ED:
(ANXIOUS)
I mean, that’s not even cloud-level today.
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS)
It’s the metaphor that counts, okay? We’ll reach HUNGER.
ED:
(NERVOUS)
Good luck.
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS)
You too.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Best I can hope for, SPD unloads their pistols into their own feet.
JENNY:
(ANXIOUS BUT REASSURING)
You got this!
SFX:
(JENNY runs off. POV follows JENNY up the stone stairs toward the Center. She pants.)
Scene 6. INT. Columbia Center Lobby
SFX:
(JENNY pushes open a glass door and stops inside. Distant Marchers’ voices. Large echoing room. People milling about. JENNY walks to join the line inside and stops at the end.)
JENNY:
(HURRIED, SLIGHTLY RUDE)
Excuse me? Is this the line to the Observatory?
(PERSON IN FRONT OF HER NODS. JENNY IS FRUSTRATED BY THE LINE’S LENGTH. SHE SIGHS.)
All right.
SFX:
(JENNY waits for the line to move. It moves by one person. JENNY walks ahead briefly, and then stops.)
JENNY
(LOW, ANXIOUS)
Come on. Come on.
SFX:
(Elevator door opens. People file inside. JENNY cuts out of line and approaches the Columbia Center representative TRISHA in the front.)
MUSIC:
(IN DISTANCE, ELEVATOR MUSIC)
JENNY:
(RUSHED, TRYING TO BE POLITE)
Pardon me. When’s the next ride up to Sky View?
TRISHA:
I’m afraid we’re booked for the next two hours.
JENNY:
(SMOLDERING)
Two. Hours.
TRISHA:
There’s still tickets available for later this afternoon.
JENNY:
(SMOLDERING)
How much?
TRISHA:
Thirty-two fifty for adults.
JENNY:
(SMOLDERING)
To go up now.
TRISHA:
I’m really sorry.
JENNY:
(FUMING)
Aradia? Do you feel like waiting?
TRISHA:
If you could rejoin the line?
SFX:
(All sounds of people moving gently stop.)
JENNY:
(NERVOUS)
Hello?
SFX:
(JENNY walks around, realizes all the people are frozen and not responsive.)
JENNY:
(NERVOUS, CONCERNED)
Okay. Hello? All right, everyone’s frozen still. Uh. Aradia? How long are they going to stay like this?
SFX:
(JENNY walks into the elevator. Elevator MUSIC is louder.)
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Excuse me. Pardon me. Uh, you’re halfway in the door. I’m just going to push you in a bit.
SFX:
(JENNY pushes a person into the elevator with care.)
JENNY:
(PUZZLING OVER A PROBLEM)
All right. Which button is it?
SFX:
(JENNY pushes some elevator buttons.)
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Hey, Aradia? This button needs some kind of access code or key fob to hit the Sky View. Do you want to, you know? Make it work?
SFX:
(JENNY presses the button and the elevator doors close.)
JENNY:
(RELIEVED)
Oh, thank you.
SFX:
(Elevator rises. People inside move around again.)
TRISHA:
Thank you. Everyone, we’ll be arriving at the Observatory shortly. I hope you all enjoy the view.
JENNY:
(AMUSED, POLITE)
Hey, what kind of drinks do you serve up there?
TRISHA:
The bar has a full selection.
JENNY:
(AMUSED, ONLY HALF KIDDING)
That’s fantastic. I’m going to tip all your bartenders like I hit the lottery.
TRISHA:
(NERVOUS)
I’m sure they’ll appreciate it.
JENNY:
(BEAT)
(THINKING ABOUT THE PEOPLE FREEZING SITUATION)
There’s nothing weird about me being here, is there?
(LONG PAUSE, TRISHA DOESN’T ANSWER. RELIEVED)
I didn’t think so.
SFX:
(Elevator stops. Elevator doors open. People and JENNY step out. Elevator MUSIC fades.)
TRISHA:
Welcome to the view. Please take your time stepping out!
Scene 7. INT. Sky View Observatory
SFX:
(Bar ambiance.)
JENNY:
(LOW, AS OPTIMISTIC AS JENNY GETS)
This was the right call. I can feel you, HUNGER.
HUNGER:
(PAINED)
Help. Me.
JENNY:
(KEEPING A LOW PROFILE)
Give me a minute.
TRISHA:
The Sky View Cafe is around the corner. But here is your view of the entire city. Photos are encouraged.
SFX:
(JENNY walks to the window and puts her hand on the glass.)
JENNY:
(OBSERVING, CURIOUS)
Now that’s a long way down. I can feel the building rock.
TRISHA:
That’s probably vertigo. The building is very safe.
JENNY:
(SNARKY)
Sorry. I didn’t ask you.
SFX:
(JENNY walks away.)
JENNY:
(ANNOYED, SARDONIC)
And there’s security. Lovely.
HUNGER:
Help. Chains. Pain.
JENNY:
(PSYCHING HERSELF UP)
One thing at a time, pal. You’re out there. I’m in here. We’re going to have to fix that.
SFX:
(JENNY stops walking. She taps the glass.)
JENNY:
(GRINNING LIKE SHE’S ABOUT TO BREAK UNIVERSAL RULES)
Hmm. Pretty thick. I think that’s the march down there. Can’t even hear them like we should be. I’m guessing that’s you, Aradia? Why don’t we turn up the volume, just a bit?
TRISHA:
(SPOTS JENNY WINDING UP A PUNCH)
Please, ma’am. You can’t.
JENNY:
(GRINNING EAR TO EAR)
Watch me.
TRISHA:
Security!
SFX:
(JENNY punches through the glass. The wind rips inside. Glass tinkles.)
Scene 8. EXT. Outside Columbia Center
SFX:
(POV follows the glass tinkling downwards. Wind rushes. Glass hits the street and shatters.)
MARCHERS:
(CONTINUE CHANTING)
ED:
(CONFUZZLED, DISBELIEVING)
What the heck’s she doing up there?
SFX:
(SPD siren whoops.)
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
This is your final warning.
ED:
(ANGRY AT SPD, DISAPPOINTED THE MARCH MAY END)
Aw.
SPD:
We have you surrounded. Please disperse.
ED:
(PROTECTIVE, MATTER OF FACT)
Okay, folks. The organizers got a choice here. We can be a real pain in the state’s backside or we can back off and do this another day. What’s our arrestability looking like?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Little goddess.
ED:
(SOMBER, SMOLDERING)
Great. It’s The Man.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Sugar goddess. You’ve exceeded the legal decibel range without a permit. You know what comes next, right? The neighbors can’t have you shouting like this.
ED:
(CONFRONTING)
You scared of what people are hearing, DUKE?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Oh, this is good. Officers, this man is known to us. His name is ED ASTRA and has a file so long that no news crew will care how hard you take him down.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Why do you have to be like this, DUKE?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Every cop is a saint and every criminal a sinner. And you, sugar goddess, should have stayed Beyond Time with the rest of the Exiles. You’re only hanging on here by the thread though.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I guess that’s true.
SPD:
(ON MEGAPHONE)
This is your last warning! Disperse!
ED:
(AW GEE SHUCKS)
I guess you’ve got us, DUKE.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Enjoy the roughest of rides, Mr. ASTRA.
ED:
(AW GEE SHUCKS)
Only.
(PAUSES, ALMOST GRINNING, CONFRONTING)
What if I say “no?”
THIN BLUE DUKE:
So you’re resisting?
ED:
(ALMOST GRINNING, CONFRONTING)
Something like that.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
(CHUCKLES)
Then by all means, give it a shot.
(TO OFFICERS)
Officers, start with this one.
SPD:
You! On the ground! Now!
ED:
(PLAYING CONFUSED, HAS THE UPPER HAND)
Me?
SPD:
Now!
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
No.
SPD:
I will use force.
ED:
(CASUAL)
Always do.
SPD:
Keep your hands still! Still!
THIN BLUE DUKE:
What are you putting in your hand?
ED:
(ALMOST GRINNING)
Aradia II. Her sugar glass.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
(LAUGHS)
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
Hey, SPD?
SPD:
Get on the ground! Now!
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
Can you fly?
SPD:
Now!
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
I think you can.
SFX:
(ED punches an SPD officer. Sugar glass shatters. Explosion. Winds blow. All SPD officers fly away from the march and thud to the ground a block away. All SPD cruisers are thrown back and land with creaking suspensions and breaking windows.)
MARCHERS:
(CHEER)
THIN BLUE DUKE:
What in the eight hells? How dare you.
ED:
(PSYCHED UP, EXCITED)
Punch a cop? How about all of them at once? And their cruisers?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
No, no no no. For that, I’ll destroy you.
ED:
(ADMIRING HIS WORK)
Oh lookie. There’s not a single cop getting up from that. I guess you get knocked out when you fly a whole block away.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Little man, I actually care about you now. I will be on your throat until the day you die.
ED:
(CONFRONTING)
And you have no way to enforce that.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Well, your sugar goddess is gone.
ED:
(CONFRONTING)
So’s every cop you threw at us.
MARCHERS:
No more cops! No more cops!
ED:
(QUIET RELEASE OF JOY)
And today, nothing holds us back.
SFX:
(ED shakes a spray paint can. He sprays the wall.)
ED:
(LOUD, ECSTATIC)
And that’s for every shop that supports cops!
MARCHERS:
(CHEER)
SFX:
(MARCHERS spray the coffee shop window and run around.)
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Stop! Stop! Stop spraying everything!
ED:
(ECSTATIC, CONFRONTING)
It’s time to tear down your temples, DUKE. It’s time to be free from you.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
You won’t deny me. There will be no riots in my cities!
SFX:
(More windows are sprayed.)
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT, SMOLDERING)
Try and stop us.
SFX:
(POV moves upward from the street below, fading into wind.)
Scene 9. EXT. Outside Columbia Center Sky View Observatory
SFX:
(Wind blowing outside Sky View Observatory)
JENNY:
(ADMIRING THE SCENE BELOW)
Wow, ED. You’re having all the fun.
TRISHA:
(FROM INSIDE)
Security! Stop her!
HUNGER:
Jen! Nee!
JENNY:
(EXCITED, DISBELIEVING SHE’S DOING THIS)
Right here! I’m leaning out! Aradia, do your thing!
SFX:
(Chains shatter and fade away)
JENNY:
(MIXED FEELINGS AT FREEING HER ENEMY)
Hey! You’re free!
TRISHA:
Get back in here!
SFX:
(JENNY is pulled inside.)
Scene 10. INT. Sky View Observatory
SFX:
(People shuffling nervously. Wind rushes in.)
TRISHA:
Can someone call the police?
JENNY:
(SNIDE, KNOWING TRISHA IS IN TROUBLE)
Oh, hon.
TRISHA:
They’ve got to arrest her.
(PAUSE)
What do you mean, they’re not responding?
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
You’ve got bigger problems now.
TRISHA:
Everyone away from the window! Stand back for your own safety.
SFX:
(People back away from the window.)
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
You don’t get it. Momma goddess just freed her kid.
TRISHA:
Well, escort her downstairs. Get her somewhere else.
JENNY:
(SARDONIX)
And it’s really hungry.
SFX:
(Wind rush increases and then it suddenly cut off.)
Scene 11. INT. Void
SFX:
(Long silent pause)
TRISHA:
It’s dangerous out there. Come inside the Red Line.
SFX:
(People walk onto a tile surface, slowly.)
TRISHA:
Come on. Come along. There’s a woman who smashed a hole in a glass window with only her fist out there. There’s a crowd of wild rioters at street level. They’re spraying up your favorite coffee shops. There’s monsters and bad people everywhere.
SFX:
(Critter screeches)
TRISHA:
Just gather inside the Red Line. We’ll all be safe in here.
SFX:
(People walk inside and stop.)
TRISHA:
It’s all right. We’re behind the Red Line now. The Line has kept us safe for decades. And it’s keeping you safe now.
JENNY:
(VOICE IS DEEP AND KINDA SCARY, SARDONIC, THEN CONFUSED)
Yes, that’s very funny. What’s going on? Why can’t I get in?
TRISHA:
Don’t worry. She can’t get you in here.
JENNY:
(VOICE IS DEEP AND KINDA SCARY, CONFUSED, DEFENSIVE)
I’m not trying to mess with anyone. Look at me. I’m a kitten. I’m undangerous.
TRISHA:
Please don’t listen to her lies.
JENNY:
(VOICE IS DEEP AND KINDA SCARY, CONFUSED, DEFENSIVE)
Hey. I don’t advise following anything she says.
TRISHA:
I know she’s still scary. Take a moment. Take a breath. Calm yourselves.
JENNY:
(VOICE IS DEEP AND KINDA SCARY, WORRIED ABOUT HUNGER)
This isn’t the time to be calm.
TRISHA:
I know! Everyone take out your phones. You’ve got messages to check. You have videos to watch. You have music that will drown out every horrid thing around you. I bet you have a game on there that would hold you closer than your mother in a nest of insects. I know you have pictures from a million cherished memories. The Red Line is helping keep you safe. But it’s not enough, is it? Your phone will protect you.
JENNY:
(VOICE IS DEEP AND KINDA SCARY, AUTHORITATIVE, LIKE TELLING A PET)
No.
TRISHA:
Your phone will nourish you. Your phone will guide you past the dreadful moments as they tick, tick, tick by. Your phone will secure you gently as the ghastly cretins press against the Line. Your phone is always there for you.
JENNY:
(VOICE IS DEEP AND KINDA SCARY, AUTHORITATIVE, LIKE TELLING A PET)
Don’t listen!
TRISHA:
Why don’t you reach into your phone and crawl inside?
SFX:
(Wood creaks)
TRISHA:
It’ll be so nice for you in there.
SFX:
(Woman screams. People shout in terror and start to run.)
JENNY:
(JENNY’S VOICE RETURNS TO NORMAL, ANGRY)
HUNGER, stop this!
TRISHA:
Stay inside the Line! Stay in the Red Line! We can’t protect you on the outside!
JENNY:
(ANGRY, FRUSTRATED)
HUNGER, I mean this in the nicest way possible. You don’t have the time to acclimate people into climbing into their own phones!
Scene 12. INT. Sky View Observatory
SFX:
(Winds blow in from windows. People move around, scared. Someone slams the elevator button repeatedly.)
HUNGER:
So hungry!
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
I can tell.
HUNGER:
Need some thing!
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
I bet you do.
HUNGER:
Anee thing! I eat you!
JENNY:
(UNSURPRISED AT HUNGER’S NERVE)
I’m the last person who’d let you do that.
HUNGER:
Let me eat you! Please!
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Absolutely not.
HUNGER:
Oh kay! Oh kay. You win.
JENNY:
(VERY SURPRISED)
I, what?
HUNGER:
You win. I don’t eat any one. I do what you say. Save me.
JENNY:
(THINKS, PAUSES, DISAPPOINTED IN HERSELF)
I don’t know how.
HUNGER:
(PAUSE)
You know me. Why does Ah Rad Dia trust you?
JENNY:
(DISAPPOINTED IN HERSELF, CAN’T THINK OF AN ANSWER)
She doesn’t have a choice.
HUNGER:
She’s Bet Ter than that. She’s not dog. Does not come when called. She trusts you. Why?
JENNY:
(THINKS, PAUSES, REALIZATION DAWNING ON HER)
I don’t know.
HUNGER:
DUKE comes soon.
JENNY:
(WORRIED)
I know.
HUNGER:
Save me. So hungry.
JENNY:
(PRESSURED)
Give me a second. Just a sec.
HUNGER:
Please!
Scene 13. EXT. Street beside Columbia Center
SFX:
(HUNGER’s “Please!” echoes as the POV rushes down the side of the tower in a burst of wind.)
ED:
(CHUCKLES, AMAZED)
Justice in Seattle. This is a rare treat.
SFX:
(ED drops a sack of beans into the street. Marchers trample over them.)
ED:
(AMUSED AT THE SITUATION)
Mmmm. Crushed coffee beans in the road. Smells like the path to freedom.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
I know you’re having fun, but you should know they’re calling for you.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Who exactly?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Every city official who watched the camera footage of you punching my officers. The news is loving you. You should run. Doesn’t matter where.
ED:
(GRINNING, ENJOYING THIS)
I like your attention. I like you right here.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Every officer in every surrounding town is heading your way.
ED:
(GRINNING)
Let them come.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
You know, I can’t figure you out. You can’t defend yourself. You blew your only protection.
ED:
(SERIOUS, RUBBING IT IN THE DUKE’S FACE)
And look at what the unheard people of this town have managed. You can’t hold us down forever.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
I don’t have to make an example of you. I mean, it’ll be fun. But making you disappear works too.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT, GROWING EXCITED)
I have no expectation of being a martyr. If I’m gone, I’m gone. But while I’m here, this is what I’m doing. This, right here, right now, matters. Of course you’re coming for me. You might even catch me. But you almost never feel loss. You almost never feel helpless. Or dare I say it, regret. And now.
(PAUSE, TAUNTING)
Here you are. Feeling all three at once. And because you’ve never really felt them before, you have no idea how to handle them. You have no clue.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
My officers, my will, my power. You only have your little band of no-ones. My troopers will be here soon enough.
ED:
(RUBBING IT IN)
Yet I don’t see a single one.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
You’re a very smart man. Tell me what that means.
ED:
(CONFUSION AS THIS OCCURS TO ED)
What “what” means? I said I don’t see them.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Yes, exactly.
ED:
(OH CRAP THERE’S UNDERCOVERS AROUND)
You’ve got to be kidding.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Got to say, your clever fist only hit the officers you knew about.
UNDERCOVER:
That’s him.
SFX:
(ED is grabbed by UNDERCOVER officers and is thrown to the ground.)
ED:
(COUGHS, ANGRY)
Undercovers.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Give him some privacy in the snatch van.
UNDERCOVER:
Put him in the van. This is a priority target.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Lawyer.
SFX:
(ED is hauled to his feet by the UNDERCOVER officers. He is walked to the van forcibly.)
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Now I feel really good, Mr. ASTRA.
SFX:
(Van door opens. ED is thrown inside. Van door shuts. ED pants inside.)
Scene 14. INT. Sky View Observatory
SFX:
(ED’s pants fade into wind rush inside the Observatory. People huddling together. Someone is pressing the elevator buttons.)
TRISHA:
Everyone! Stop panicking! Just keep away from the windows! We’ll have rescue workers here soon.
HUNGER:
Please. Please help.
JENNY:
(EXCITED FROM HER EUREKA MOMENT)
HUNGER, I got it. Your mom takes a memory every time she shows up, right? I don’t know how it happens, but it just gets eaten up, right?
HUNGER:
Yes.
JENNY:
(EXPLAINING EXCITEDLY)
So what you do is the next level. You eat everything. But do you need it all? What if you don’t? I don’t see you use the bathroom or anything. You eat a mouse, you eat the skull, the claws, the scat. But what if you don’t need all of that? I’m asking honestly. What do you need? What fills you?
HUNGER:
I. Don’t. Know.
JENNY:
(EXCITEDLY TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER)
Okay. Can you just. I don’t know. Only eat their bladders?
HUNGER:
I don’t think so.
JENNY:
(THROWING EVERY IDEA SHE HAS AT THE WHITEBOARD)
Or maybe. Their memories of being born? Something they won’t miss?
HUNGER:
Some thing they do not miss.
JENNY:
(YES! THIS HAS TO BE THE ANSWER)
Exactly. Eat with a scalpel instead of a shovel.
SFX:
(People stop moving about, or shivering. They stop pressing the elevator buttons. The elevator door opens. People start walking around. Security approaches.)
JENNY:
(WORRIED)
What did you do?
HUNGER:
I ate their fear.
JENNY:
(VERY WORRIED)
You’re going to have to be more specific. You ate what they were scared of?
HUNGER:
No. Their fear. They aren’t afraid of any thing now.
JENNY:
(REALIZATION DAWNING ON HER HOW BAD THAT IS)
Sweetie, I can’t begin to tell you what a bad idea that is.
TRISHA:
(TO SOMEONE ELSE)
Hey, maybe don’t lean out the window? Please keep back. Thank you.
HUNGER:
I feel good now. Full. Thank you.
JENNY:
(SCARED)
Fear keeps us from doing some really stupid things.
HUNGER:
Got to go.
JENNY:
(EXCITED)
Hold on.
HUNGER:
Can’t stay. He’s coming.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
Frick.
TRISHA:
There she is. The one who punched through the glass!
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Well, well. You freed the little god. Into the wagon with you. We left space.
SPD:
Come on, ma’am. Don’t resist.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I invoke my right to remain silent. I invoke my right to an attorney.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
I invoke my right to do whatever I want to you in my custody. Have fun.
SPD:
This way. Move aside. Move aside!
Scene 15. INT. Back of SPD snatch van
SFX:
(Van door rolls open. JENNY is thrown inside. Van door rolls closed.)
JENNY:
(EXCITED HE’S OKAY)
ED!
ED:
(WARM)
Hey jail buddy.
JENNY:
(EXCITED)
How’d you do?
ED:
(WARM)
I think most everybody got away. I kept the spotlight on me. You should have seen those cruisers fly. Aradia II went hog wild on them. I love her.
JENNY:
(AMUSED)
First anarchist-deity love affair. Ever.
ED:
(WARM)
I’ll date anyone who’s antifascist.
(BEAT)
How’d your thing go? I saw your window raining down on us.
JENNY:
(EXCITED)
Check out my hand. Not even a bruise.
ED:
(VERY AMUSED)
Your arm summoned up the power of a God Hand. Very nice.
JENNY:
(GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION HITTING HER)
Yeah but we’ve still got problems. HUNGER’s free. It’s full though. So that isn’t nothing.
ED:
(SIGHS, DISAPPOINTED)
How many eaten?
JENNY:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
None. It’s worse than that. It ate their fear. As in, their ability to feel fear. It doesn’t get people at all.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Somehow, I’m not surprised.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
No fear, no holding back from dangerous new things.
ED:
(ALSO FRUSTRATED)
So someone out there wants to lose weight, it’ll just take their hunger, right?
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
Exactly. It’s not good.
ED:
(PROBLEM SOLVING VOICE)
Hmm, I’ve got contacts who can help treat folks like that. They’re specialized in dealing with celestial manipulations and such.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
When we get out of here.
ED:
(LAUGHS, SARDONIC)
When we get out of here.
JENNY:
(PAUSE, ALMOST JOKING)
Do you have a plan?
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
Not this time.
JENNY:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
Fudge.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Fudge is right. The THIN BLUE DUKE especially has it out for me.
JENNY:
(VERY NEGATIVE, EXPECTING THE ANSWER NO)
How’s your legal team?
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Gonna have a hard time talking me out of this.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Oh well. I was hoping to hire them for myself.
ED:
(FEELING THEY’RE BOTH ON THE SAME SINKING BOAT)
They got you on camera too?
JENNY:
(REALIZING, SARDONIC)
Probably, yeah.
ED:
(ACKNOWLEDGING)
Hmm.
JENNY:
(WORRIED)
Hey. Uh. Why is SPD leaving us alone in the back of a van?
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
I don’t want to think about it. I can’t break these cuffs. We’re not getting out.
SFX:
(JENNY grunts and tries to separate her hands.)
ED:
(UNSURPRISED BUT DISAPPOINTED IN HER)
What are you doing?
JENNY:
(HOPEFUL, FRUSTRATED)
Seeing if Aradia will help me with my cuffs.
(PAUSE, LOSES ALL HOPE)
Nope.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I regret none of this. I’d do it all again.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
I didn’t have a choice. You want me to waste my days in prison, Aradia? Is this worth everything to you?
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
She never answers.
JENNY:
(DEADPAN)
Not in words.
(SIGHS, DISAPPOINTED)
I hate this.
HUNGER:
Jen. Nee.
JENNY:
(SURPRISED)
Oh gosh. Don’t do that. You’ll give me a heart attack.
ED:
(ANGRY)
Why’re you here? I was keeping the DUKE from you. Run!
HUNGER:
Jen. Nee. Thank you.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
Don’t. Stop eating parts of people you think they don’t want. Talk to them. Learn about them.
HUNGER:
Takes too long.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
Look. Okay. Humans aren’t the most ethical eaters either. But you can be. You can know better.
HUNGER:
Teach me.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
I’m a little tied up right now.
ED:
(VERY DIRECT)
HUNGER, split. We’ll catch up with you later.
HUNGER:
Can’t teach?
ED:
(VERY DIRECT)
We will, later. We promise. But this is a bad time.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED BUT EXCITED)
Wait, I’ve got it. Start by talking with people in trouble. Learn what can help them.
HUNGER:
Don’t understand.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED)
It’s going to take time that you and I don’t have right now. Give me a few days.
HUNGER:
I’ll be hungry.
JENNY:
(BEGGING)
Please.
HUNGER:
I’ll ask Ah Nett.
JENNY:
(FEARFUL)
Don’t.
HUNGER:
I’ll tell her every thing.
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
I don’t advise that.
JENNY:
(ANGRY)
She is not your friend.
HUNGER:
I. Don’t. Care. You and your Pee Pull are what I eat. You want me not to eat? I Ree Fuse. I live. I learn. I know things you do not. You act like you are Bet Ter than me. But you served Maa Mon. You came from a place of Pow Wer. And you changed. You learned. You grew. I learn. I grow too. If we do not learn and grow To Geth Her, you are food. Like the rest.
JENNY:
(FURIOUS)
I don’t care if you were in your Stupid Phase when you first messed with me. You did things to me and others that were unconscionable. You are not only a mouth. And a child. You are an abuser. You need to own up to that, and you need to grow beyond that.
HUNGER:
What does Ah Rad Dia think?
JENNY:
(ANGRY, FRUSTRATED)
Don’t put this on your mom. I want to help you. You have so much to learn. And it kills me that I can’t fix you, right now, like you want. You have baggage beyond that of any child. You need to admit to it and grow beyond it!
HUNGER:
Goodbye.
JENNY:
(ANGRY)
HUNGER?
(PAUSE)
HUNGER!
(LONG PAUSE, FURIOUS)
Frick!
SFX:
(JENNY kicks the van’s wall.)
ED:
(CALM)
You were asking an awful lot of a kid.
JENNY:
(ANGRY)
I’m not the only crap parent here.
ED:
(CALM)
You’re not talking about me.
JENNY:
(ANGRY)
Nope.
SFX:
(Van door slides open.)
SPD:
Okay, you two. Get on the.
SFX:
(SPD freezes, all movement is silenced. JENNY pulls herself to her feet.)
JENNY:
(EAGER TO LEAVE)
Well, come on.
ED:
(SUSPICIOUS)
What is this?
JENNY:
(EAGER TO LEAVE)
Aradia’s ticket out of here. You coming?
ED:
(SIGHS, ACCEPTING HIS FATE)
Like I have a choice.
Scene 16. END CREDITS