In this episode, Annette holds an auction to sell Hunger’s services, while also turning Jenny and Ed against each other.
Transcript
Brittle Tourniquet, Episode 6
by Alicia E. Goranson
Scene 1. Introduction Theme
Scene 2. INT. Lavish Ballroom on top of a Seattle Skyscraper, afternoon
SFX:
(Patrons mulling about. ANNETTE clinks her water glass.)
ANNETTE:
(CUTTING THROUGH THE CONVERSATIONS, MATTER OF FACT)
Attention! Attention.
SFX:
(Patrons quiet themselves.)
ANNETTE:
(PROFESSIONAL, AS IF GIVING A TED TALK)
Welcome, to each and every one of you. I know some of you came a long way to be here and we will not disappoint you this evening. Watching us from above is our illustrious guest of honor who I know you’re all anxious to meet. It and I have been working together for the past month to improve its frankly astounding abilities. I think you’re going to like what you see. Now, I appreciate the restraint each of you are showing in this room. Many of you have had disagreements with each other, spanning generations. It’s the cabal life. We all understand it. We also know that today’s guest of honor is a very big deal. Especially since it intends to offer its services to the winner of the auction this evening. Of course, many of you have your doubts. But our guest of honor would like to prove it is no longer a rogue agent. It intends to work within our system and obey our rules. As I have. I’ve worked with many of you. You know me. I do not take your trust lightly. Neither does our guest. And now, a demonstration. TRISHA, would you take the stage please?
SFX:
(TRISHA walks on stage with confidence. The audience applauds.)
TRISHA:
Hello everyone! ANNETTE, thank you for inviting me.
ANNETTE:
(PLEASANT, TREATING TRISHA AS A PIECE OF MEAT FOR DISPLAY)
Look at you! Such confidence after meeting with our guest. Would you synchronize your watch with my tablet? Everyone will want to see your vitals.
TRISHA:
Of course!
(PAUSE, FRUSTRATED, LOW)
It’s not syncing.
ANNETTE:
(WARM BUT SCHOOLTEACHER CORRECTING)
No, you have to press the dots, and then “Pair.”
TRISHA:
Got it.
ANNETTE:
(CHEERFUL BUT STILL IN PRESENTER MODE)
Excellent! Heart rate sixty-five. Blood pressure is one twenty over seventy. Fantastic.
(TO SCARE TRISHA, TRYING TO GET HER BLOOD PRESSURE UP)
Boo!
(LAUGHS)
TRISHA:
(CONFUSED INSTEAD OF SCARED)
Okay?
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, PRESENTER MODE)
Please take a seat in this small amusement machine. Buckle yourself in for safety.
TRISHA:
Can do.
SFX:
(TRISHA climbs into the seat. She buckles herself in.)
ANNETTE:
(TED TALK MODE)
This crude device is intended to simulate a five mile per hour impact. It was originally developed to convince teenagers not to drink and drive. Completely pointless. A scam for siphoning money from Federal funding. Until today. TRISHA, could you describe for the audience how you’re feeling right now?
TRISHA:
Well, the seat’s not very comforta…
SFX:
(TRISHA’s seat flies forward as TRISHA speaks, interrupting her. The seat slams loudly to a stop after a second.)
TRISHA:
What the heck?
ANNETTE:
(DOES NOT BAT AT EYE, MATTER OF FACT)
As you can see, her heart rate remains sixty-five and her blood pressure continues at one twenty over seventy. This machine was called “Scared Straight” but when the rider entirely lacks fear, it’s useless. Thank you, TRISHA. You may step out now.
SFX:
(TRISHA unbuckles herself. She steps out of the seat.)
TRISHA:
(FURIOUS)
You said you’d warn me before you turned it on.
ANNETTE:
(SPEAKING MORE TO THE AUDIENCE THAN TRISHA)
I did warn you things would be a little different. For science!
SFX:
(Audience chuckles.)
ANNETTE:
(TED TALK, MATTER OF FACT)
One last thing, TRISHA. On the table by the lectern, I’ve left an iron. Would you tap its bottom for me, twice, please?
TRISHA:
What are you… no!
ANNETTE:
(SCHOOLTEACHER MODE)
And why not?
TRISHA:
It’s plugged in, right there.
ANNETTE:
(SCHOOLTEACHER MODE)
So what does that mean?
TRISHA:
It’s hot.
ANNETTE:
(TED TALK PROMOTION)
Fantastic! While an individual without fear may no longer have a fear response, they still remember what can cause them harm. Anything new however… You know. Thank you, TRISHA, for the demonstration.
SFX:
(Audience applauds.)
TRISHA:
(ANGRY)
I’m not doing this again.
SFX:
(TRISHA stomps offstage.)
ANNETTE:
(ENGAGING AUDIENCE, BUTTERING THEM UP)
There she goes. And don’t be alarmed. We have her assigned to an excellent psychologist who will help her redevelop what our guest has eaten. Now, our distinguished guest and I have been practicing on a range of subjects over the past month. And our thanks to each of the cabals who provided our “volunteers.” After removing a subject’s fear, we started with safely waterboarding them, which I’m pleased to say did not result in a single panic attack. Without fear or shame, each subject felt entirely justified whatever task they were rewarded for doing. They did not anticipate any repercussions for their actions.
(PAUSE, DELIGHTFULLY WICKED BUT MATTER OF FACT)
Or we can go the other way. Without fear or empathy, subjects have no gut feelings warning them against suspicious offers. They become ridiculously easy to exploit. Do you have a product you want to sell? Do you have a militia you want to operate without ethics? Do you have a union you want to break? Do you control a nation you want subservient? Our guest’s services can be yours. Everyone is self-conscious about themselves. They have something in their minds they do not want. Our guest can take it from them and leave them exactly as you want them. Tonight, we bid on its first job. Will it be for you?
(PAUSE, PROFESSIONAL AGAIN)
Please enjoy our refreshments. Peruse the portfolios I left on your seats. Watch the videos of our tests. I’ll be here all day to answer any questions you have. We’ll begin the auction after dinner tonight. I’ve taken enough of your time.
SFX:
(Audience stands up out of their seats. They walla again. ANNETTE drinks her glass of water. ROXDALE approaches her.)
ROXDALE:
(SNIDE)
Excellent introduction.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Thank you, ROXDALE.
ROXDALE:
(SARDONIC)
I wanted to remind you that you and the Mammons still owe me a considerable debt.
ANNETTE:
(STANDING UP TO HIM, ANNOYED)
For what? We paid your ransom.
ROXDALE:
(SMILING BUT ANNOYED)
The additional security I had to install because of you.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Out with it.
ROXDALE:
(SMILING)
Give your distinguished guest to me.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Why?
ROXDALE:
(SMILING)
I can keep it entertained.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, AMUSED)
You couldn’t keep me entertained. Why do you think I took contracts with the Mammons?
ROXDALE:
(TEMPTING)
I have a unique place for it in my organization.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, BEMUSED)
What organization? There’s only you. And you’re not beholden to any deity. You are, as the kids say, a fan. You’re an otaku for cabal business.
ROXDALE:
(GRINNING, UNFAZED)
I am highly invested in the goings-on in our political and spiritual scenes.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, PUTTING HER FOOT DOWN)
Cash isn’t skin in the game. Our guest’s services are for sale. Our guest is not.
ROXDALE:
(TEMPTING HER)
It could be.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, ANNOYED)
It can hear you. Especially whatever you say to me.
ROXDALE:
(TEMPTING HER)
God or man, everyone wants their needs satisfied. I am uniquely skilled in that.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, ANNOYED)
You couldn’t get a date in a dive bar.
ROXDALE:
(ALSO MATTER OF FACT)
We’ll see how the bidding goes tonight.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I look forward to your offer. Goodbye.
SFX:
(ANNETTE walks away. ROXDALE fades out in the background.)
ROXDALE:
(RUBBING IT IN HER FACE)
Enjoy having something of value for once.
Scene 3. INT. Stairwell
SFX:
(POV follows ANNETTE opening the stairwell door, walking in, and closing the stairwell door. She exhales, which echoes down the stairwell.)
JENNY:
(INTERRUPTING ANNETTE, SEETHING AT HER)
So. Hello.
ANNETTE:
(NOT IN THE LEAST BIT STARTLED, MATTER OF FACT)
There you are. I was disappointed not to see you in the audience.
ED:
(ANNOYED)
We’re not here to bid.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Of course you aren’t. You don’t have any money. How’d you get by the checkpoint?
JENNY:
(GRINNING)
They didn’t scan us that hard.
ANNETTE:
(MAKING A MENTAL NOTE TO HERSELF, MATTER OF FACT)
I’ll have to get them better wards. ED, arms up. Let me check you.
ED:
(SNIDE)
No firearms. No explosives. I didn’t even bring my ID.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Then what good are you?
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
We heard your talk.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Are you committing war crimes again?
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
How can they be crimes if the police are helping me with them?
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Nuremberg, eat your heart out.
JENNY:
(SNIDE, QUIZZICAL)
I don’t suppose there are, uh, any mental health orgs bidding today?
ANNETTE:
(INVITING THEM INTO TROUBLE, GRINNING)
There could be. You could step in and find out.
JENNY:
(CONCERNED)
Security’s better in there?
ANNETTE:
(GRINNING, KNOWS SOMETHING JENNY DOESN’T)
You’ve no idea. Very well.
(REACHES IN POCKET, RELAXES)
Here are a couple passes. See, I even put your names on them.
ED:
(ACCUSATORY)
Why?
ANNETTE:
(BEAMING, PROUD)
You’ve got to be more specific.
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
Training HUNGER on actual people.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
It’s eating fewer of them now. I consider that better than your track record.
JENNY:
(SNIDE)
Did you at least send it to any, say, scientific institutions to figure out how the brain actually works? What concepts it’s built from? No?
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
And how would our guest do that ethically? “Please remove my coordination? I guess I can learn that again.”
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
Jury’s still out on that.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT, PROUD)
All my subjects are in therapy to rebuild everything our guest has removed. The brain is malleable. It can relearn.
JENNY:
(SNIDE)
And be eaten again.
ANNETTE:
(BEAMING)
Our guest really likes that concept.
ED:
(SMOLDERING)
I should toss you down the stairwell.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
But you won’t. You have a good sense of your priorities. You’re not here to see me.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
But you’re always a bonus, hon.
(THINKS, WORRIED)
Have you noticed that the air’s heavier up here?
ANNETTE:
(LAUGHS, AMUSED)
You would catch onto that.
ED:
(CONFUSED AS TO WHAT’S GOING ON)
Am I missing something?
ANNETTE:
(AMUSED)
Always. As long as I’ve known you.
JENNY:
(WORRIED)
HUNGER’s here.
HUNGER:
(SPEAKS LIKE CLYDE BUT WITH MORE EFFECTS)
Don’t call me that.
JENNY:
(SURPRISED, CURIOUS)
Okay? Sorry to hurt your divine feelings?
HUNGER:
I understand you want to empathize with me, but it’s a little late now.
ED:
(CONFUSED)
Uh, did something happen with your voice?
JENNY:
(REALIZING)
You sound like CLYDE.
HUNGER:
He was the first person I ate, so I’m told. I don’t remember much from then.
JENNY:
(SLIGHTLY SNIDE)
Look at you, all grown up.
HUNGER:
I’ve eaten well. It turns out that entire humans are bad for me. They kept me overburdened and childlike.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Brain food and memories were its perfect diet. You’ve nothing to worry about.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Lovely.
(PAUSE)
Well, I’m waiting.
HUNGER:
For what?
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Let’s start with an apology.
HUNGER:
I’m sorry I detransitioned you. I’m sorry for shaving you into a wisp.
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
No no no no no. You don’t get off with a simple “I’m sorry.” You killed hundreds. You traumatized just as many. You are a monster. You may talk and justify your own actions but you are still reprehensible. You haven’t changed a bit since I last saw you. Wait, no. You did have a moment when you wanted to change. When you were starving in the Sky Deck.
HUNGER:
JENNY, please.
JENNY:
(SEETHING, THEN MATTER OF FACT)
Now you have the world on your doorstep, begging you to be the worst version of yourself you can be. And I accept that.
ANNETTE:
(SURPRISED)
You what?
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
You won’t change. We get that.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
You’re consistent. You know what you want.
HUNGER:
Is this some kind of reverse psychology? I don’t appreciate when people talk down to me.
JENNY:
(EDGE OF SEETHING)
I am one hundred percent serious. You. Do. You. Now, I hate it. I loathe that you won’t change. But that’s on me. It’s my burden. I want you doing what you want to do.
HUNGER:
That’s a one eighty. But, thanks. You helped me through my growing process too. You said to listen to people, and I am.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
That’s perfect.
JENNY:
(SEETHING, GLOWING)
You listen to them so you don’t have to exert yourself before dinner.
HUNGER:
I am full of memories of everyone I’ve eaten. Vague, but a lot. I can almost understand a few languages now. Some say I am closer to you than a god.
ANNETTE:
(REASSURING)
No one says that.
HUNGER:
(ANGRY)
I heard them say it!
(PAUSES, RESTORES COMPOSURE)
But I’m working on that. The more I eat, the more I grow beyond myself.
JENNY:
(GRINNING)
That’s super because we’ve got a proposition for you.
ED:
(AMUSED)
You’re going to love this.
HUNGER:
All right.
JENNY:
(GRINNING)
We want you to eat everybody here.
HUNGER:
(TAKEN ABACK)
I don’t think you know what you’re asking.
ED:
(ENCOURAGING)
Every cabal member in that ballroom.
ANNETTE:
(SUSPICIOUS)
JENNY? I thought you summoned Aradia to get back in with them.
JENNY:
(RELISHING HER POSITION)
I wanted to be a player again. I say obliterating a roomful of cabal folks makes a pretty big splash.
HUNGER:
I’m not eating my business partners. Shame on you.
JENNY:
(TEMPTING HUNGER)
Imagine the feast. You will never know a better one.
HUNGER:
And then what do I eat tomorrow? Hmm? I don’t want to get hounded and chained by the DUKE again.
JENNY:
(TEMPTING HUNGER)
You were fine working outside of major population centers.
ANNETTE:
(DEFENSIVE)
For crying out loud. That’s not going to happen.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
So what’s stopping it?
ANNETTE:
(ANNOYED)
Enough of this.
JENNY:
(TEMPTING HUNGER)
I know you want to eat them. Every cabal member, rich in power and knowledge.
HUNGER:
Go home. Take Aradia with you. If you’ve come to change my mind, you can’t. You’re absolutely right. You can’t change me. And with what I’m being offered tonight, you can’t compare. To be named in the Pantheon…
ANNETTE:
(INTERRUPTS, SEETHING)
Don’t tell them.
HUNGER:
Fine. ANNETTE said you brought Aradia into this world, twice. So you could be a player. Well, you can’t. You’re done. You’ve over. Nobody cares. Go home.
ANNETTE:
(SUBTLE GLOATING)
Let her stay. You’re right. She’s done. She wants a chance to mingle with her former colleagues for the last time, I’ll give her that. What harm is there in letting her stay?
HUNGER:
Fine. Enjoy your food, JENNY. I’ll be enjoying mine.
JENNY:
(TWISTING THE KNIFE)
Pleasure to meet again, HUNGER.
HUNGER:
Don’t call me that. Of all people, you should know how much deadnames hurt.
JENNY:
(PAUSE, CURIOUS)
What do you want me to call you?
HUNGER:
You’ll know before the day’s out.
ANNETTE:
(TO HUNGER, WARNING)
Don’t tell them any more.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Later, “honored guest.”
ANNETTE:
(PAUSE, PRESENTER MODE, MATTER OF FACT)
I have some extra portfolios if you want to read them.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I’m good.
ED:
(SLIGHTLY ANNOYED)
Same.
ANNETTE:
(SUBTLY GLOATING)
Enjoy the party. Between you and I, I’m very proud of our guest of honor.
SFX:
(ANNETTE opens the stairwell door.)
ANNETTE:
(SUBTLY GLOATING)
Very proud.
SFX:
(ANNETTE walks through the stairwell door and closes it.)
JENNY:
(RELEASES HER TENSION, ANNOYED AT ANNETTE)
All right, there’s a reason HUNGER’s not eating the cabals.
ED:
(ANNOYED)
I’m betting on an artifact.
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
Yup. This crew wouldn’t be here without thorough protection from HUNGER. And each other.
SFX:
(Mystical hum)
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT, SUSPICIOUS)
I’m checking the pass over. Doesn’t appear to have anything mystical in it.
JENNY:
(QUIZZICAL)
There could be something that protects anyone with an RF tag?
ED:
(ANNOYED THAT ANSWERS AREN’T COMING FAST)
No idea. Everyone’s drinking in there. Someone’s got to have a loose tongue.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Right. We learn what the artifact is, find where they’re keeping it, and deactivate it. Boom. “Honored guest” gets the munchies and our problems are, well, not solved. But you know.
ED:
(WARNING JENNY)
ANNETTE won’t be protected.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED THAT SHE DOESN’T HAVE A SURE PLAN)
I don’t know. Worst case, we find nothing. Stay to the end, see who wins the bid. Stop ‘em later.
ED:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Always a new day. Always a new battle.
JENNY:
(ENCOURAGING THOUGH DEJECTED)
Let’s do it.
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
Hang on. Let’s split up.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
This better be good.
ED:
(EXCITED, FRUSTRATED)
There’s representatives from dozens of cabals here. They’re going to keep low to prevent another war from breaking out. We should be considered generally harmless.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Until we learn about the artifact. If it is an artifact.
ED:
(EXCITED, FRUSTRATED)
Either of us learns something, we excuse ourselves and meet outside.
JENNY:
(CONCERNED)
Okay but stay in my sight.
ED:
(CONCERNED)
You too.
JENNY:
(CONCERNED)
Good. We’re going to end up with a bloodbath in there, whatever we do.
ED:
(ANNOYED)
It’s too good for them, with everything they’ve done.
JENNY:
(CONCERNED)
I know. I used to work with them. Against them. You know.
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
If you were still a Mammon, I’d have you eaten too.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Good we understand each other.
ED:
(DEAD SERIOUS)
Yup. Let’s rock.
SFX:
(JENNY and ED open the stairwell door. They walk through. POV follows them.)
Scene 4. INT. Lavish Ballroom on top of a Seattle Skyscraper
SFX:
(Stairwell door closes. People inside are talking (walla), mingling.)
JENNY:
(CURT)
Later.
ED:
(CURT)
Later gator.
SFX:
(POV follows ED walking into the crowd.)
ED:
(PLEASANT THOUGH ROUGH)
Excuse me. Hey, how’re you doing? Oh, hey.
ROXDALE:
(SURPRISED, ANNOYED)
What are you doing here?
ED:
(PLEASANT WITH SALTY EDGE)
Got a free day pass.
ROXDALE:
(RUBBING SALT IN ED’S WOUNDS)
Ah. You’ve come to see the winning bid.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
And enjoy the shrimp cocktail.
ROXDALE:
(DISMISSIVE)
We have real food here. Not whatever passes for it at the supermarket.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Hey, as long as everyone else is eating it, I’m good.
ROXDALE:
(DISMISSIVE, RUBBING IT IN)
I really don’t care what the whisper network is leaking about the winning bid. You know what can stop our guest? Our guest. And that’s it.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Ah, so you don’t have any god-stopping artifacts on you.
ROXDALE:
(DISMISSIVE)
Feel free to inspect me as security did. I don’t have a single artifact on me. I don’t need one.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
So our guest is on its best behavior then.
ROXDALE:
(BORED NOW)
Oh, you don’t know? You have no idea at all. Well, I’m not wasting any more time on you. Good day.
SFX:
(ROXDALE walks away.)
ED:
(MIMICKING)
“Good day.”
SFX:
(ED hears BIDDER1 talking nearby. He goes over closer to overhear them.)
BIDDER1:
(TO BIDDER1’s FRIENDS)
Look at her over there. Like nothing’s happening. I know. How dare she bring Aradia in here?
ED:
(SUSPICIOUS)
Huh.
BIDDER1:
Well, if she makes a scene, it’s all the more reason to destroy her. Maybe Aradia’s bound to something on JENNY. Her watch? Her phone? Let security break them and see what happens.
ED:
(WORRIED)
Oh dear.
SFX:
(POV follows as ED moves toward JENNY. SPD steps in front of him.)
SPD:
Don’t go any further, ED.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Huh. Do the taxpayers of Seattle know the police union is here?
SPD:
You’re not walking out of here.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
I have a pass.
SPD:
I have a warrant.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
In a room full of supervillains. Like any of them care about the law in here.
SPD:
No one will object to us removing you.
ED:
(CONFRONTING)
Ask the guest of honor.
SPD:
(CHUCKLES)
You don’t know.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
Apparently not.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Take him in.
ED:
(SURPRISED)
What?
SPD:
Don’t make a scene.
ED:
(MUFFLED, STRUGGLES)
SPD:
I’ll bring her the message.
SFX:
(POV follows SPD as they walk through the crowd to JENNY.)
JENNY:
(POLITE BUT FIRM)
Absolutely not.
BIDDER2:
Just give us the opportunity.
JENNY:
(POLITE BUT FIRM)
You’re not speaking with Aradia.
BIDDER2:
We know your feelings on the guest of honor.
JENNY:
(POLITE BUT FIRM)
Exactly why I don’t want another.
BIDDER2:
That’s not up to you.
JENNY:
(POLITE BUT FIRM)
She can jump in anytime. And she hasn’t.
BIDDER2:
A second godling could keep our guest in check.
JENNY:
(POLITE BUT FIRM)
Or become best buds. I don’t want to think about that either.
SPD:
JENNY. Hi.
JENNY:
(ANNOYED)
Oh, great. Cops. Look, I don’t care. You’re not speaking with Aradia.
SPD:
ED is waiting downstairs for you.
JENNY:
(POLITE BUT ANNOYED)
So why’d he send you?
SPD:
Professional courtesy.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
You know what? I like being in public here with everybody watching.
SPD:
You’re not the problem.
JENNY:
(PAUSES, REALIZES, DEFENSIVE)
Who the heck cares if Aradia is here?
SPD:
Some of the other guests.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Well, lets ask her. You feel like leaving, Aradia? Sorry, I’m stuck in place. You’ll have to move the whole skyscraper to move me.
SFX:
(SPD takes out a phone. They press some buttons and hand the phone to JENNY.)
SPD:
Take it. This call’s for you.
JENNY:
(CONFUSED)
Sure?
ED:
(ON PHONE, COMMANDING)
JENNY, leave now.
JENNY:
(FLOORED)
You okay?
ED:
(ON PHONE, COMMANDING)
So far. They got me.
JENNY:
(CONFIDENT, UNFAZED)
ED’s a big boy. He can handle himself.
ED:
(ON PHONE, COMMANDING)
No, I’m serious. Leave now.
JENNY:
(UNFAZED)
I think she wants me to stay.
ED:
(ON PHONE, COMMANDING)
You’re being played.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
By who?
ED:
(ON PHONE, COMMANDING)
Aradia. This is her big moment in the spotlight and she’s willing to risk you.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
What spotlight?
ED:
(ON PHONE, LOUDER, INTIMIDATING)
They’re all here. With their cabals. They intend to name and bless HUNGER after the auction tonight. They’re letting it in the Pantheon!
JENNY:
(FLOORED)
All of them?
ED:
(ON PHONE, INTIMIDATING)
Every cabal has their own patron deity here. The DUKE. Mammon. Everybody. Why do you think HUNGER isn’t trying anything? There aren’t any artifacts. HUNGER wants them to like it!
JENNY:
(REALIZING)
And they all hate Aradia.
ED:
(ON PHONE, COMMANDING)
They’re going to try to break her binding object…
SFX:
(On phone, ED is pulled away. SPD grabs the phone back and ends the call.)
SPD:
Follow ED’s advice. Walk out.
JENNY:
(THINKS, PAUSES, THEN SHOUTS TO EVERYONE)
Excuse me!
SFX:
(People in the ballroom become quiet.)
JENNY:
(COMMANDING)
The divine being Aradia demands a seat at these proceedings! As the mother of our honored guest, she requests the opportunity to name it. I also demand an auction paddle!
(PAUSE, LOW, SARDONIC)
Yeah, I didn’t think that was going to work. Can I run now?
SFX:
(JENNY bolts from the ballroom. She throws open the stairwell door.)
Scene 5. INT. Stairwell
SFX:
(JENNY runs into the stairwell. She lets the stairwell door swing closed behind her.)
JENNY:
(DESPERATE)
Hey Aradia? I really need a miracle. I’m going to jump down the center this stairwell. Thirty stories up. Make sure I reach the bottom alive. Thanks.
SFX:
(JENNY exhales. She jumps down the stairwell. She hits several banisters as she falls.)
JENNY:
(SHARP PAINS)
Ow. Ow.
SFX:
(JENNY hits the floor. She pants.)
JENNY:
(IN PAIN, MATTER OF FACT)
I deserved that.
SFX:
(JENNY gets up and runs away.)
Scene 6. INT. Office room
SFX:
(Office ambiance. ED pants in a chair.)
SPD:
Well, congrats. She’s disappeared.
ED:
(SEETHING)
Why did you want her gone anyway?
SPD:
Aradia’s unpredictable. And we’re not going to kill our guest’s mother in front of it.
ED:
(SEETHING)
You’re assuming it wants to behave.
SPD:
There’s consequences if it doesn’t. It could be very useful in the fight against the socialization of America.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
It sure could be.
SPD:
We’ll have JENNY soon. Hey, heads up. There’s someone who wants to talk to you.
ED:
(SARDONIC)
If it’s the union president, I’ll tell him where he can go.
SPD:
I don’t like this any more than you. And I really hate there’s a good chance you’ll walk away from all this.
SFX:
(SPD walks to the office door. They open the door.)
SPD:
(TURNING BACK)
Until you mess up again.
SFX:
(SPD walks out. ANNETTE walks in. The door closes.)
ED:
(ANNOYED)
Oh no.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
ED.
ED:
(DEADPAN)
Lawyer.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
There’s no recording devices here. Now, I know you don’t trust me. So I’ll just say things I don’t want recorded. I lied about JENNY’s eye to her. I wanted to see what else she’d forgotten. I am also responsible for two other break-ins into ROXDALE’s artifact vault. How’m I doing?
ED:
(SEETHING)
Nothing you can’t have erased.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I’ll cut you a deal. I have a lot of sway with the police right now. You won’t have a day of jail time.
ED:
(BEMUSED)
HUNGER’s going to let you hold its leash? Really?
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Depends on how many more lessons it wants. And how many more connections to the cabals. So, a deal?
ED:
(SEETHING)
Let’s hear it.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I get your records in the justice department cleared. In return, you destroy Aradia.
ED:
(PAUSE, DEADPAN)
I don’t care about Aradia.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Then this should be a short conversation.
ED:
(SEETHING)
I meant she’s not my concern. HUNGER is. Killing Aradia does not destroy HUNGER.
ANNETTE:
(QUIZZICAL)
How do you know?
(PAUSE, GROWING INCREASINGLY WORRIED)
It probably doesn’t. But it stops another honored guest from manifesting. Did you hear all the buzz in the ballroom? Everyone wants their own! So when they find JENNY, they will incapacitate her. And then they will offer Aradia things that Aradia wants. You have a few more problems then. It’ll start a new arms race. Every government can keep themselves in power for the right price. Populations will be made docile. Wars will become predictable. Maybe that kills more. Maybe that kills less.
ED:
(ACCUSATORY)
Maybe they get to choose who is and isn’t part of those populations. They can eliminate the concept of being queer. They can stick you in a kitchen with an assigned husband. Or wife. You know how this goes.
ANNETTE:
(GROWING FURIOUS)
I know exactly. Every few generations we rise and then we’re poofed away into the closet or worse. Unless you’re in power. Well, you can stay closeted but maybe I can do more good in power than not. Have you considered that when we go back to the racist, sexist Dark Ages, that money and influence will still matter? I am protecting me and mine. Including JENNY. I know we’ll never be together again. But I want what’s best for her. She wants back in the game? When I am the game, she’ll have a place in it. Do you believe me?
ED:
(DEADPAN)
I do.
ANNETTE:
(STILL HEATED)
Do you want what’s best for her too?
ED:
(DEADPAN)
Yes.
ANNETTE:
(HEATED)
Then forget Aradia. Banish her. Break her. Whatever. Aradia is bound to JENNY’s glass eye. This would be a problem but I’ve noticed Aradia never manifests when JENNY is asleep or unconscious. So you know what you have to do.
ED:
(DEADPAN)
And if she can read minds?
ANNETTE:
(ACCUSATORY)
Evidence?
ED:
(SCARED)
HUNGER sure can.
ANNETTE:
(CHUCKLES, CALMS, MATTER OF FACT)
So do it quick or don’t think about it too hard. I’ll give you a sedative. You can put it in her tea. Her soda. Her rum. Feel free to drink it with her. When she’s out, I know a good doctor who will swap out her eye with another.
(PAUSE)
She’ll get over it.
ED:
(DEADPAN)
What makes you think I know where she is?
ANNETTE:
(ACCUSATORY)
Oh, please. You didn’t come without a rendezvous point. You know exactly where she is.
ED:
(SEETHING)
Ask HUNGER to pull that from my mind.
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Eventually. We’re still working on that.
ED:
(INTRIGUED)
Ah. Well. You’re going to follow me?
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Oh heavens no. Aradia will see us coming. We’re just going to slap a tracking anklet on you. I know you could still skip town. But then I’d have to trust someone else to take down Aradia. And I don’t trust anyone else for JENNY’s sake.
ED:
(THINKS, BREAKS)
Do I have to say it?
ANNETTE:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Of course you don’t.
(EXHALES)
Put out your leg.
Scene 7. INT. Empty office space
SFX:
(Hum of air conditioning.)
JENNY:
(JENNY’S VOICE IS SLIGHTLY DISTORTED THROUGHOUT THIS SCENE)
(EXCITED, SING-SONG)
HUNGER! HUNGER! Hey, I heard you’re looking for me. So I’m he-ere! I’d call you something else but you didn’t tell me what. HUNGER!
HUNGER:
(ANGRY)
What!?
JENNY:
(SNIDE)
Good. You’re not busy.
HUNGER:
You went all the way up the building beside ours’, just to talk to me.
JENNY:
(GRINNING, SNIDE)
It’s a little more private.
HUNGER:
I can expand over miles in your world. Going “next door” isn’t a meaningful distinction for me.
JENNY:
(FAUX SERIOUS)
I won’t waste your time. So, you’re being judged by all the bigwigs over there.
HUNGER:
ANNETTE has made the point that I won’t have a chance like this again.
JENNY:
(SNARKY INTO SEETHING)
So, uh. What do the patrons do for the cabals? They give. Inspiration. Influence. Means to opportunity. Whatever translates to power. Now, what do you do? You take. You offer nothing but confusion and destruction.
HUNGER:
They still translate to power.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT, RUNNING IT IN)
You are their dog. They want to sic you on their problems. And that’s it. You will never be more than a dog because you offer nothing. And you will always be hungry.
HUNGER:
I am far more than that now.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Then prove it and change. Declare you are no longer a rapacious stomach.
HUNGER:
You wanted me to eat the cabals.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
I didn’t understand the stakes.
HUNGER:
Don’t lie. You are no different than the cabals. And you are terrible at trying to manipulate me. I know my worth. Everybody starts somewhere. Every god has a creation myth. This is mine. I was recognized for my strength and I was brought into the fold. I was tempted to leave and become… I don’t know what you want me to be.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT, HONEST)
A healer. You could help PTSD victims by eating their traumas. There’s a lot of trauma out there.
HUNGER:
I can be both a healer and a destroyer. I like that thought.
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Not the multitudes I wanted you to contain, hon.
HUNGER:
Now, at least, I can tell the DUKE where you are. All the gods want you and Aradia dead. They think it’ll hurt my feelings. And it might. I don’t know yet.
(BREATHES DEEPLY)
But they have a lot to offer me. Joining the Pantheon. I even get my own name.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
You speak with ROXDALE at all?
HUNGER:
The man without a patron? A little.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Did he mention how I broke into his vault?
HUNGER:
No.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT, BECOMING INCREASINGLY SNIDE)
You understand, electronics and deities don’t “see” like humans do. You aren’t limited to the narrow light spectrum we perceive. And you don’t process it like our brains do. I’m just saying, ED’s crew has a projector that can fake a person’s biometrics, like ROXDALE’s.
HUNGER:
You’re not here.
JENNY:
(KNIFE-TWISTING)
The projector is.
HUNGER:
You’re. Not. Here.
JENNY:
(HONEST, MATTER OF FACT)
I am giving you a choice.
HUNGER:
I’ll find you.
JENNY:
(MATTER OF FACT)
Good luck.
SFX:
(In the background, a door opens in JENNY’s radio filter.)
JENNY:
(CONFUSED)
The heck?
Scene 8. INT. Dank basement
SFX:
(Scene fades into the basement that JENNY is actually in. ED walks in.)
ED:
(COMMANDING, WARM)
You have to go.
SFX:
(ED closes the door behind him. JENNY flicks a switch to turn off the transmitter.)
JENNY:
(WORRIED, MATTER OF FACT)
You said this room was safe.
ED:
(COMMANDING, WARM)
It is. I will tell you more when you are safe and out of the city.
JENNY:
(PAUSE, SUSPICIOUS)
How’d you get away?
ED:
(HONEST, GETTING EXCITED)
ANNETTE made a deal for me. Look, everything SPD told me is true. They want Aradia gone. ANNETTE wants you okay.
JENNY:
(REASSURING)
Hey, calm down a second.
ED:
(WORRIED, HOLDS SELF STILL)
All right.
(EXHALES, FAUX-WARMTH)
Mix me a drink?
JENNY:
(REASSURING)
Sure.
SFX:
(JENNY mixes drinks for ED and herself.)
JENNY:
(EXHAUSTED)
So we run and fight another day.
ED:
(ANNOYED)
ANNETTE will tell us who wins the bid. She’ll be gloating over it.
JENNY:
(EXHAUSTED)
I don’t know if there’ll be another fight after this.
ED:
(DEADPAN)
There’s always a new fight.
JENNY:
(EXHAUSTED)
Not if it gets too big. When it was just me, Aradia, and HUNGER, that’s two against one. Great odds. But now, I don’t know what she’s teaching it. And now it’s being inducted into the Pantheon?
(BREATHES)
Wow. This is a lot for me to fight.
ED:
(REASSURING, COMMANDING)
I’ve got your back.
JENNY:
(EXHAUSTED)
ED, you’ve been fighting the DUKE as long as I’ve known you. Which is a long time. I look at that and think how long I’ll be fighting with HUNGER. And everyone who backs it. That’s a lot. And I’m burning out.
ED:
(REASSURING)
We have solidarity, comrade. People will rise when they see how bad it’s getting.
JENNY:
(EXHAUSTED, FRUSTRATED)
Except they won’t see it. By the time they notice, HUNGER may have eaten the right and wrong of half the population. I don’t see a good path ahead. I’m this close to settling down in a good forest commune with Aradia. Maybe make some glass art on Etsy. Stay out of the limelight. I don’t want any of us killed.
ED:
(HONEST, DEJECTED)
I don’t know if that’s an option.
HUNGER:
It’s true. Someone will always be at your door, begging my mother for a sibling.
JENNY:
(STARTLED)
How’d you find me?
HUNGER:
ED’s tracking anklet. Didn’t he mention?
ED:
(DEADPAN)
I’d never put you at risk, JENNY.
JENNY:
(SCARED)
It’s okay.
HUNGER:
And you’re right. All this is over. After the auction, I’ll have my new name during my induction. I will then have one of many banquets.
JENNY:
(KNIFE-TWISTING, HATEFUL)
Your name will be accursed. Your legacy will be a scorched planet.
HUNGER:
I will not be an apostate exile like my mother! I will not be hounded all my days and cast out beyond time until some idiot pulls me back for a year or two. I will live and grow in ways she never did. No one knows how old she is. What if she’s, like, a teenager? I want to mature and I’m sorry, that involves living in this world for centuries if I have to. She’s taken her own path. But that’s not mine.
JENNY:
(KNIFE-TWISTING, HATEFUL)
You’re on the road to despots and death.
HUNGER:
You had that choice, too. I started with nothing.
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
As much as you’ve eaten, you know it’s wrong.
HUNGER:
I had no concepts of this world. How was I supposed to do that with this “freedom” you gave me?
JENNY:
(CONFUSED, ANGRY)
What are you talking about?
ED:
(REALIZES, INTERRUPTS JENNY)
Shh!
HUNGER:
You never said that! I didn’t know.
(PAUSE)
The corrupt fed me better than the righteous.
(PAUSE)
I don’t need your justifications. I can be more than you.
ED:
(REALIZING, LOW)
You know who it’s talking to.
JENNY:
(REALIZING, FLOORED)
Oh my gosh.
SFX:
(ED swigs his drink in the background.)
HUNGER:
You didn’t feel what the DUKE did to me! How do I eat with him around?
(PAUSE)
I don’t see how I could have become otherwise. You abandoned me.
(PAUSE)
How could I have reached out? I was a child! I don’t care if you care for me. I was alone.
(PAUSE)
That’s not enough. You can’t repair a wrong. No. No!
(SILENCE)
JENNY:
(QUIZZICAL)
Are you there?
ED:
(WARM, ALSO QUIZZICAL)
You feel it?
JENNY:
(BREATHES, FRUSTRATED)
It’s gone.
(PAUSE)
You’re right, kid. She’s a real piece of work.
SFX:
(ED hands JENNY a drink.)
ED:
(DEADPAN, FAUX WARM)
Hey, have a drink.
SFX:
(JENNY accepts the drink. ED falls to the ground.)
JENNY:
(SCARED)
Oh gosh!
SFX:
(JENNY kneels beside ED on the floor.)
ED:
(ANNOYED)
I told you to get lost.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, SCARED)
I got to get you to the Harborview ER.
ED:
(ANNOYED, COMMANDING)
Listen! You’re going to get away. I did this so I don’t know where. You’re going to call this number. My people are going to come for me and free me from this ankle bracelet.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, DOESN’T WANT TO LOSE ED)
You have done too much for me to let you go.
ED:
(GETTING TIRED, COMMANDING AS BEST HE CAN)
That’s an order. I’m not. Going to be awake. Much longer.
JENNY:
(FRUSTRATED, NEAR CRYING)
I can’t lift you.
ED:
(EXHAUSTED)
Goodbye.
JENNY:
(PAUSE, NEAR CRYING)
Frick. Frick! ED? Hey, ED. ED.
SFX:
(JENNY sobs quietly.)
Scene 9. INT. Lavish Ballroom on top of a Seattle Skyscraper, evening
SFX:
(People settle down.)
ANNETTE:
(CALM, PRESENTER MODE)
Very good. We’ll start the bidding at ten million and one month’s banquet. Do I hear? Thank you. Eleven million. Thank you. Do I hear twelve?
SFX:
(While ANNETTE speaks, the stairwell door opens. JENNY walks in. She lets the door close behind her.)
ANNETTE
(GROWING MORE EXCITED WHILE STAYING PROFESSIONAL)
Thank you, twelve. Fifteen? Do I hear fifteen? And two months.
(SLOWS DOWN AS SHE SEES JENNY)
Thank you. Twenty? Twenty million?
SFX:
(JENNY approaches the stage.)
JENNY:
(DEADPAN)
Hello, ANNETTE. Honored guest. Everyone.
ANNETTE:
(WORRIED)
Hold.
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here, in a space where neither of us are wanted. I know half of you want me dead and the other half want Aradia banished. So, you know, this is pretty bad for me.
ANNETTE:
(WORRIED BUT KEEPING PROFESSIONAL)
Security, please escort her out.
JENNY:
(SEETHING)
You know that’s not going to happen. I know this is the end of the line for me. I could’ve run.
(PAUSE, HOPEFUL)
But I didn’t. I’m here if this is the last thing I do.
HUNGER:
What’s your game?
JENNY:
(SARDONIC)
Well, ED drugged himself. I figure he was told to drug me. But you know how bad he is at following directions.
(PAUSE, HONEST)
So I sat over him. And I cried. I cried for a while. And you know what happened then?
(PAUSE, REALIZATION)
Nothing at all.
(PAUSE, SARDONIC)
Which I thought was kinda weird, seeing as half of you want me dead, and the other half want Aradia banished.
HUNGER:
Don’t say it.
JENNY:
(KNIFE-TWISTING)
I wondered why our honored guest didn’t tell anyone where I was. You were there, weren’t you? We spoke. You talked with your mom. Maybe for the first time.
HUNGER:
She’s lying.
JENNY:
(KNIFE-TWISTING)
Am I? I got to say, there’s deities in here who have seen what a lie looks like for hundreds, thousands of years? Is that me? Or you?
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Did you let her go?
HUNGER:
I had a lot to think about.
THIN BLUE DUKE:
Untrustworthy. Doesn’t obey.
(PAUSE)
The Pantheon has convened. This little one doubts its purpose. It is not dependable. It is useless.
HUNGER:
I trained weeks for you!
THIN BLUE DUKE:
The Pantheon has moved to adjourn these premises.
HUNGER:
You can’t! I need my name!
THIN BLUE DUKE:
I had better not see you around again. Stay clear of my cities.
HUNGER:
(PAUSE, GROWLS)
They’re all gone!
ANNETTE:
(TRYING DESPERATELY TO GET THIS EVENT BACK ON TRACK)
Let’s get back to the auction.
HUNGER:
JENNY, I will find a way to eat you. I will destroy whatever holds you to this world.
JENNY:
(HOPEFUL, CONVINCING)
Now you can grow. Nothing holds you back.
HUNGER:
Into what? A healer? I want to eat. Who wants to feed me?
ANNETTE:
(NERVOUS, TRYING TO STAY PROFESSIONAL)
Twenty? Do I hear twenty?
HUNGER:
I know you want to bid for me. You’re just
(BEAT)
A bit scared to.
SFX:
(Astral sound of flesh ripped from the bone.)
BIDDER1:
Twenty!
BIDDER2:
Twenty-five!
BIDDER1:
Forty!
ANNETTE:
(TRYING TO CALM THE BIDDING)
Settle down!
HUNGER:
Why would they settle down? Their patrons are gone. There’s no one to stop me. There’s nothing they won’t give me now.
BIDDER2:
Forty-five!
BIDDER1:
Sixty-five!
SFX:
(Cacophony of people bidding.)
HUNGER:
Stop with the money! Sure, get something nice for ANNETTE. But now you’re all bidding directly to me. Cash is no good to me. What can you possibly offer a god?
SFX:
(Cacophony of crazy offers. Ping everyone I know to record these. Let each submitter make up their own offer.)
ANNETTE:
(TERRIFIED)
JENNY!
JENNY:
(SCARED)
I know.
ANNETTE:
(TERRIFIED)
Our guest is feral. We have to get out of here before it consumes us.
JENNY:
(SCARED)
Yeah.
SFX:
(ANNETTE and JENNY run for the stairwell door. They swing the door open.)
HUNGER:
(OVER CACOPHONY)
Yes! Yes!
ROXDALE:
(DROWNED OUT BY THE OTHER BIDDERS, PROFESSIONAL BUT DRIPPING WITH GLEE)
I will help you start your own cabal.
HUNGER:
Silence!
SFX:
(All bidders stop.)
HUNGER:
ROXDALE, I accept your offer.
ROXDALE:
(GLEEFUL, POLITE)
I’m so glad. At your earliest convenience.
Scene 10. END CREDITS