Chenalos presents
A 14 rivers play for the screen
Based upon Puella Magi Madoka Magica
The Magic of Hope
Episode 2: Joy
Chenalos at yahoo
at ChenalosFiction twitter
Suburban household. Predawn. Hector and Judy, a couple in their 40s get into their car. Judy calls for her daughter.
JUDY
Joy! Come on. It's time to go.
JOY
I'm coming. I'm coming.
Joy, still groggy gets into the back seat with her bag and a pillow.
HECTOR
Judy, did you check to make sure I
brought everything?
JUDY
Yes, Hector. It was all
packed last night, so don't be nervous.
HECTOR
I'm not nervous. That's hardly enough
to go a weekend, Joy.
JOY
I have everything I need.
JUDY
All your toiletries?
JOY
Yes. It's four AM. Shut up.
HECTOR
We have to make it to the resort
in time. But don't worry. Just
sleep for the ride.
JUDY
Yeah. It's a long ride, sweetie.
JOY
Thanks dad. Night, mom.
The car pulls out and the family rides off into the rising dawn.
Further down the road the car crosses a van where partiers are crashed out and drinking. There is a cliff on the other side of the road.
HECTOR
Wow. Can you believe that?
JUDY
There was a concert up the road a
little last night. Heard about it
on the news.
HECTOR
Oh, Jesus.
JUDY
Yeah. There could be drunks on the
road. Be careful.
HECTOR
Yeah. I am.
Just up the road there is a car that is swerving coming from the opposite direction.
JUDY
See? That guy's drunk.
HECTOR
I'll slow down, we'll get right
past him.
Another car pulls out and the oncoming car swerves to avoid it, fishtails, and loses control
JUDY
Hector! Look out!
The oncoming car swipes the side of Hector's car and sends it through the guard rail. The car nose-dives down the gorge before tumbling into a horrible wreck.
Joy is laid out bleeding on the face of a rock. She gasps for air, scarcely even aware of what is going on. Arvess appears.
ARVESS
Hello, Joy.
JOY
What happened?
ARVESS
When the car crashed you were thrown
out and landed here.
JOY
Mom. Dad.
ARVESS
They're at the bottom of this gorge.
But their brains have stopped working.
JOY
What?
ARVESS
In a few minutes your brain will stop
working too. Then it will go cold and
your body will deteriorate.
JOY
No.
ARVESS
It's true.
JOY
No.
ARVESS
If you stay the way you are there
is nothing I can do.
JOY
Help.
ARVESS
But you can keep going.
JOY
Help.
ARVESS
Just make a contract with me and
become puella magi.
JOY
Help me.
ARVESS
I'll grant you one wish. Anything
you want. Make a contract with me.
Joy raises her blooded hand off the rock face reaching up to the miniature angel.
JOY
Please help me.
ARVESS
Is that all?
TITLE
JOY
End Teaser. Roll intro.
ACT 1
Winchell airbase. A soldier guards the perimeter. He is stationed at one of the gates and reports back to his booth to do some paperwork. A pair of jets takeoff down the runway. Their roar fades into the distance as the Guard looks up to see a figure in the distance. It is clad in a white cloak, and a wide brim panama hat. The guard goes back to paperwork, only to look up and see that the silhouetted figure has come even closer, and at a surprisingly fast rate, somehow. The shape is stationary and ominous. The guard picks up a wireless comm.
GUARD
Perimeter to base.
COMM
Go ahead.
GUARD
I got a civvy. Range 150 meters East.
COMM
Yeah. We see 'em.
GUARD
Any info on this?
COMM
Probably just a hiker. Might have
come out of the hills. Advise to
clear to Rackeston.
The guard looks away for a moment and when he looks again, the figure is much closer. The guard walks to speaking distance.
GUARD
Civilian, you are within the perimeter
of Winchell Airbase, I've been advised
to direct you to Rackeston. It's a
town five miles down the road going
North.
The figure does not respond.
GUARD (CTD)
Are you in need of water or supplies?
I can arrange for rations or call
a taxi.
The figure is still motionless as a Jet's engine roars overhead
GUARD (CTD)
If you are injured, or in need of
medical assistance please let me
know. Otherwise I am going to ask
you to get on the road.
The figure starts to walk towards the guard.
GUARD (CTD)
The road is to your right please move
in that direction.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
Please bear right, I am asking you
not to approach the perimeter.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
Civilian, this is a military facility
you are not permitted entry.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
I repeat, you are not permitted to
enter this facility. Be on your way.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
You are behaving in a hostile manner.
I will not hesitate to defend this base.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
This is your final warning. If you
continue to approach this base I will
detain you.
Still approaching. Guard raises his sidearm.
GUARD (CTD)
Get on the ground. On your knees,
hands up facing me right now. Open
up your poncho.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
Stand down. You are being placed
under arrest. Lay flat on the
ground right now.
Still approaching.
GUARD (CTD)
One more step and I open fire.
Is that understood?
The figure stops.
GUARD
Get on the ground. Get on the
ground right now. On your knees.
On your knees. Open your poncho
And put your hands behind your
Head. On your knees.
A reverse of the figure framed on the guard shows that the two have made direct eye contact. The figure raises up one big goose step into the air, the screaming guard goes safeties off. Vignette still frames of the guard aiming, the overhead of the base and the Jets flying high above. The figure knees the guard in the stomach, removes his gun and beats him unconscious with the butt of the pistol. The figure throws off the Hat and Poncho and Amani, with a bandana covering her face, is revealed to be the aggressor. She points the gun into the air and unloads shots into the sky until the magazine is dry. Soldiers in the base stand to ready after hearing the shots. Each of them arm up and leave their barracks, to assume defensive positions. Alarms sound.
Amani, now with a different gun, a Styr AUG, walks into the base as (B1) "To sing true of love" by Crushed Out starts playing.
Soldiers pour out from behind a building, but suppressive fire from Amani forces them to take cover behind a building. Once her fire stops the soldiers come from around the corner to find that she is gone. The soldiers fan out looking for her as Amani looks out at them from inside the window of one building. Soldiers move around a corner, and see a Humvee moving directly at them. They duck out of the way. The soldiers turn and open fire on the Humvee. The vehicle hits another building and lurches to a stop. Soldiers rush in to open the passenger door, but the cab is empty and the throttle has been weighted down. Bullets come raining down from Amani firing an MP40 above from a rooftop, forcing the soldiers to again duck for cover. One of the soldiers takes a hit to the leg and is dragged away.
SOLDIER
She's moving toward the control tower.
Everyone fortify that position.
Soldiers redeploy around the command center. Things become quiet as the song continues to list away. Sniper rounds hit above the soldiers heads. They fire in all directions guessing where the shot came from.
SEARGENT
Hold your fire! Hold your fire!
SOLDIER
I don't have a location, Sergeant.
SEARGENT
Everyone Prone! Eyes up.
The soldiers go belly down and scan the base for Amani. The sergeant sees a muzzle flash across the base and a bullet zips by him and hits a building in the background.
SOLDIER
Suppressing fire!
The troops shoot at the hanger.
SEARGENT
On your feet. She's pinned in
Ordinance hanger. Flank and
move in.
The soldiers comply. Three troops move into the hanger, guns drawn but see nothing until one of the men, Murphy, spots blood drops.
MURPHY
I've got blood.
The men follow the droplets to a locked door that reads "Heavy ordinance."
MURPHY (CTD)
She got inside the heavy ordinance
Bunker.
Clancy, another soldier steps up.
CLANCY
That's impossible. There's no way
in there without clearance.
MURPHY
We're in an unusual situation here,
Clancy. The way she's moving around
I wouldn't doubt anything. Brutus,
you're on ordinance you can open it,
right?
Brutus approaches and enters the key combination.
BRUTUS
Be ready for whatever is in there.
Reverse shot as the door opens reveals that Amani is behind them. A nightstick is shown swinging into the Heads, bellies and sides of the soldiers. The next shot are the soldiers all knocked out Amani standing. She drops the nightstick and a packet of fake blood then walks into the bunker, down some stairs. At the bottom are racks and racks of bombs and rockets for aircraft. She makes her way past them all and into a wide space where an enormous bomb, 30 Feet long with "MOAB" written on the side of it. She reacts ambivalently to seeing the weapon.
Back up top a second wave of soldiers enter the hanger inside they find the injured trio. A soldier makes his way down the stairs and into the bunker where he finds the MOAB's loading trolley empty. He comms up to the surface
SOLDIER
Sarge, we got a problem down here!
At that moment another Humvee springs to life and rolls across the tarmac. Soldiers left up top start opening fire but the truck blows through a security gate and heads down the road. Amani is shown driving. She checks her rear view mirror and continues on.
Joy's apartment. She serves up a tomato fontina torte to Prudence and Hope. They eat. Prudence looks at Joy.
PRUDENCE
Joy, marry me.
HOPE
You made this yourself?
JOY
Yeah. I wanted to be a chef, but
my plans changed.
HOPE
Hey there's still a chance. I'm
sure once you're not a puella
anymore you can do whatever you
want.
Joy's attitude softens.
JOY
Hope, I'm always going to be a
puella.
HOPE
Huh?
PRUDENCE
What? Arvess' contracts can't
last forever, right?
JOY
They do.
HOPE
You mean you won't graduate or
grow up or get a job? You won't
get married or take trips or
raise a family or anything?
JOY
When I made my wish I made my
choice. I'm a Puella now. I
will always be a puella.
And it means more than that.
Joy takes out the grief seed she obtained from killing the last witch. She lays both the Grief seed and her soul gem on the table. Her soul Gem has a brownish tiger's eye shade, not the brilliant golden amber it once had.
JOY (CTD)
This is the Grief seed I got from
killing the witch. Now look at my
soul gem. It's not as clear as before.
HOPE
Is there something wrong with it?
JOY
Yes. And you should see what it is
before you make your wish.
ARVESS' voice comes out from above.
ARVESS
Remember, though, you can make your
wish anytime. Even now if you want.
The girls look up to see the angel floating down to rest on a counter in the room.
JOY
That's right. But if I'm going to
teach you, then I want you to see
everything.
The grief seed is a black sphere with pewter etchings and there is something like a pin that goes through it, a pointed end on one side and an etched head on the other. Joy takes her Faberge-egg like soul gem and holds it in her hand, then puts the jagged end of the grief seed in its base. She takes several deep breaths to brace herself. Then she pushes the point of the grief seed into her soul gem, even pushing the head down into the seed, fully extending the needle of the seed into the gem. She clenches her teeth, gasps and winces in pain before twisting the seed in the base of the soul gem. The gem lights up and the opaque fragments in the soul gem are drawn to the pin of the grief seed, leaving the soul gem brilliant, golden once more. Wincing in pain, Joy twists the seed back to its original position, extracts it, before setting them both back on the table and keeling back, suddenly exhausted. The other two girls rush over to her.
HOPE
Joy! Are you alright?
PRUDENCE
Hey! What was that? Joy, what
just happened?
Joy regains her composure.
JOY
I'm OK. The pain only lasts for
as long as you have to do it.
HOPE
Pain? What pain? What did
you just do?
JOY
The taint that can build up in
Your soul gem will distort
your perceptions. If you want to
keep your head clear you have to
keep using grief seeds. What's
more, The seeds you use get filled
up to the point where they become
useless. So you have to keep
hunting witches for more. But look,
You see my soul gem now? It's
Back to the way it was. Golden
and clean. If you become puella
you have to keep your soul gem
pure. That's what the grief
seeds are for.
PRUDENCE
Oh my god.
HOPE
Joy. Is there any other way?
JOY
No. Wishes don't come for free.
This is the price you pay. I've
saved some people, I've failed
others. For everything you give
something gets taken. That's what
it means to make your wish. Grief
seeds give you that reminder.
PRUDENCE
So you're always doing this to yourself?
ARVESS
Witches must be destroyed. As puella
are born from wishes, witches are
born from despair. Puella magi
spread optimism and happiness
and witches spread sorrow and curses.
JOY
Yes, so it only makes sense that Puella
would stop people from giving into
that curse as that woman was doing.
PRUDENCE
What does it feel like to use a grief
seed?
JOY
Being crushed under ice cold broken
glass. It never feels any better
than the first time. There's nothing
you can do to avoid it. But it's short.
Thirty seconds every two days should
be fine. I know it's a lot to bear.
But if you believe in your wish and in
yourself you can make it through
anything. Don't you think so, Amani?
The other girls turn and they see Amani on the balcony.
PRUDENCE
Hey! Don't sneak up like that!
JOY
Don't worry. She's been there for
the last ten minutes at least.
If she was going to do anything
she would have by now.
PRUDENCE
Hey, creeper. Maybe you could, I
don't know, be less of a stalker?
Might work out for you.
AMANI
A witch is hatching.
JOY
Where?
AMANI
Three blocks from here.
HOPE
Joy. Should we do something?
JOY
You could have told me sooner.
Amani does not respond.
HOPE
You want us to help on this one?
Joy reaches into her purse and gets a key.
JOY
Not now. Amani and I need to talk.
Here's my spare key. Let yourselves
out and lock up.
Hope takes the key.
HOPE
OK, and good luck, Joy.
Amani looks cold at not having been acknowledged. Joy gets to the window.
JOY
Let's move.
Dark streets, the girls now transformed and with Arvess in tow run under the street lights to an alley way.
AMANI
Corner of fifth avenue and Green.
It's in there.
Joy lights up her soul gem and the two walk towards the ethereal grief seed at the back. The seed is very faint.
JOY
This is pretty new.
ARVESS
It can't be more than a day since
it appeared.
JOY
Usually these things take a full day
day to a week before I can detect
them.
AMANI
Shall we begin?
JOY
It's almost like you knew it
would be here. How did you know
Amani?
AMANI
I'm good at detective work.
JOY
We can talk about this later.
The girls enter the grief seed and it is a gothic cathedral with a factory. A jungle of carved stone, churning pistons and gears.
ARVESS
This witch has built a big labyrinth
in such a short time. It may be hard
to navigate.
JOY
Should we scout it out before making
an assault?
AMANI
No need. I know the way. Just so you know
you see this emblem?
Amani points to a symbol etched in rock it's of a pair of tennis shoes.
JOY
What about it?
AMANI
It's etched throughout the labyrinth
and it gets bigger as you approach
the witch. If you see an emblem smaller
than the last one then you're going the
wrong way.
JOY
Let's go then.
Amani cocks a sawed-off pump action shotgun.
JOY (CTD)
And please, wait until we meet trouble
before bringing those out.
The girls run through the labyrinth following larger and larger icons abruptly they cross a familiar which is in the form of a great stone angel statue with gears protruding from its form.
AMANI
It's spotted us.
JOY
That's trouble.
The girls unleash their firepower as the angel swings a sword of a multitude of grinding gears and chain at them. Joy dodges.
JOY
Amani, I can't push him back with-
Amani has vanished.
JOY (Ctd)
Amani? Where are you?
The angel charges and Joy retreats, slinging into the ceilings with her ribbon, but the ribbon is caught in a drive shaft and begins to pull her in. Out of desperation, Joy shoots out the mechanism which comes loose and Joy falls back to the ground just as the angel towers over her. As it raises up its sword Amani is now seen on its back holding on to one of its wings. She puts her shotgun to the head of the angel and fires blowing out a spray of stone and gears, dropping the familiar inanimate at Joy's feet. The girls look at each other uncertainly for a moment before a work whistle blows loudly.
AMANI
Things are about to be re-arranged.
Remember what I said.
JOY
What do you mean?
Suddenly the ground shifts, and the block which Amani is standing on is whisked away on tracks in the pillars. Joy's block is sent plunging down, as she hangs on. The Cathedral sends blocks and arches whisking in different directions, rearranging everything. When it is all done Joy gets to her feet and starts running. She keeps pressing on, seeing that the repeated emblem is becoming bigger and bigger with each one she passes until she runs over an enormous tile on the ground that is just that single emblem. Upon this she exits a corridor, and sees Amani waiting for her at a huge sealed stone gate.
AMANI
You made it. Well done.
JOY
It's in there, isn't it?
AMANI
Yes. It's very dangerous right now
because it's coming to grips with
itself.
JOY
Coming to grips?
AMANI
Witches know that they are
monsters.
JOY
I don't get it but it doesn't
really matter. We'll have to
wait until this gate opens, or
pull back until the seed is
more mature. I mean unless you
can think of a way to bust-
Amani is holding a remote detonator, extending the antenna with her teeth. Joy looks again to see that high explosive charges have been rigged all over the gate. Amani clicks the safety off, the indicator light going from green to red. Joy runs to an alcove and covers her head. Amani is right there with her, as if she was waiting for her there.
AMANI
Fire in the hole.
Amani hits the button and the blast blows the gate open in an enshrouding billow of smoke.
AMANI
I didn't need that much.
Wasteful.
JOY
You want to move in?
AMANI
No. the witch is coming.
A huge, faceless woman having long black hair with a rainbow dress, walking on spider's legs emerges from the smoke. A name in runes "Brunhilde" is shown on screen. It cranes its head on an elongating neck to seemingly survey the area. She is suddenly pelted with bullet holes. Amani is laying prone with a fifty caliber sniper rifle pointed at the witch.
AMANI
You take point. I'll cover you.
JOY
Where are you getting all these
guns?
AMANI
This is America.
Amani opens fire again as Joy slings her ribbon up to a high arch and swings into action. She lays out a line of her muskets which fire their shots into the body of the witch, and slings her back. Joy lands and moves in but the beast gets to its feet and knocks Joy down with a spider's leg strike. The witch walks over Joy and its abdomen opens to reveal a great and terrible eye which comes in close to stare at Joy in hostility. Amani shoots the eye and the witch cranes back with a scream.
AMANI
Joy! Now!
Joy fans out eight muskets which shoot the eight legs and pass through them into the walls beyond. Ribbons appear through the bullet holes which pull taught, suspending the witch in the air. Joy springs to her feet, points her finger as a gun at the restrained witch, Joy's cannon re-appears and comes to the witches face at point blank range.
JOY
Tiro finale!
The cannon shot obliterates the witch, and the labyrinth disintegrates leaving the girls standing in the alley way, now with a fresh grief seed lying on the ground. Amani stands, shouldering her browning fifty cal rifle. Joy is shown holding her teacup, but she shakes slightly now and has to calm her nerves before taking a sip. She takes a few moments to compose herself.
A park, fountain, night, street lights. Joy and Amani sit at a park bench. Joy converts her soul gem into a ring which she places on her finger. The finger has her emblem marked on the nail.
JOY
You need to use the grief seed?
AMANI
Yeah.
Amani quickly extrudes the contamination from her soul gem, clenching her teeth under a grimace before removing the seed. Amani looks at her purified, glowing purple soul gem. She hands the seed over to Joy.
JOY
I've got extras. Plus I already
fixed once today. You keep it.
AMANI
Alright.
JOY
That was very impressive back there,
Amani. If we were to work together
Like that, I'll bet we'd have the whole
city under control.
AMANI
No. Things won't be that simple.
Arvess appears.
ARVESS
You were quite impressive. But
more than that, you're mysterious.
JOY
Yes. You were trying to kill
Arvess earlier but now you
don't even seem to care that
he's around.
AMANI
I only wanted to prevent him from
making a contact with Hope DelSoro.
Having failed that, there's no point
in trying to kill him anymore.
ARVESS
But more so, you appear to be
a full puella yet there is no
point on the timeline where a
wish could have been granted
to you. I don't know what the
wishes are but I do know where
and when I grant them, but I never
even met with you.
JOY
What? That's not possible. Could
someone else have done it? One of
your friends?
AMANI
I'm right here, you know.
ARVESS
I could ask, but it seems unlikely.
It's my job to grant the wishes of
young girls. There are no previous
ley lines which lead her to a wish
nexus. Her powers just seem to
Have appeared. She shouldn't exist.
AMANI
E pur si muove.
ARVESS
The only more mysterious person
I've encountered recently is
Hope DelSoro.
JOY
Hope? What about her?
ARVESS
Her resonance is the highest I've
ever seen.
JOY
What does that mean?
ARVESS
It means that when she makes the
contract, she'll become the most
powerful puella that ever was.
AMANI
If she makes the contract, you mean.
ARVESS
Well, in any case, seeing you
two work together made me certain
that the witches should be no problem
at the moment. Plus with two
potentials the people of this city will
be quite safe.
JOY
Right. So with that in mind, Amani, how
about we-
Joy looks back to find Amani only to see that she has vanished.
ACT 2
School. Joy is shown silently doing her school work alone at a table in the library as somber piano music plays. School bell. Establishing shot of the full cafeteria. Joy is seen eating lunch in an empty corridor. Crack of a softball bat and kids are playing softball at gym class. Joy lays on her back on the school roof, looking intently at her soul gem ring. The bell rings and school is let out. Joy walks home alone. Solitary at her apartment Joy examines a picture on the coffee table of herself with her parents and gets lost in reminiscence. Her phone rings and she is jarred out of her focus. She answers.
JOY
Yes?
HOPE (V.O)
Hi, Joy it's me.
JOY
Oh, hello Hope.
HOPE (V.O)
Are you doing anything tonight?
JOY
Well it's a school night so no.
HOPE (V.O)
It's Friday, Joy. You should do
something.
JOY
Hope, you need to understand
That I have obligations to stand
Ready.
HOPE
And you can! But even Puella
Need to have fun sometimes.
JOY
I…I have lots of fun.
HOPE
Yes. Exactly what I mean. So
come and Hang out with me.
JOY
Well what are your plans?
HOPE (V.O)
It's Karaoke night at the rec center.
JOY
Well, I guess I could, but-
HOPE (V.O)
Great! I'll be there. Don't
Stand me up.
Hope hangs up as Joy looks once more at the photograph, then with a smile, shakes her head and stands to go.
Police station. Hastor's office. Hastor and Lemon watch security footage from the base robbery.
LEMON
Look! She's over there now.
HASTOR
How?
LEMON
She must have gone behind that building
HASTOR
What? At the world land speed record?
A knock at the door. Two agents stand there.
HASTOR
Can I help you?
Lemon closes the video and leaves the room, under watchful glares from the two agents.
DIXON
Are you detective Hastor?
HASTOR
Yes.
DIXON
You're handling the freedom hawks
Militia robbery?
HASTOR
That's me.
DIXON
I'm agent Dixon, Homeland security
DEWITT
DeWitt, NSA.
HASTOR
Oh, I thought you guys were the ATF.
Don't have any coffee here for you
but if you want to sit down.
DIXON
No. This won't take long.
DEWITT
The freedom Hawks militia robbery
is now a matter of national security.
We'll be taking over your case.
HASTOR
Wait, what? It's a bunch of idiot
gun nuts running around playing GI Joe
in the woods.
DIXON
We will not be discussing this case
with anyone who does not have clearance.
HASTOR
What? It's classified?
DEWITT
Do you have the case file on hand?
Hastor taps her lap top.
HASTOR
It's all in here.
DEWITT folds up, unplugs and takes the laptop.
HASTOR
HEY! HEY!
DIXON
Again, National security. These
are the only copies?
HASTOR
That won't do you any good, it's
all password protected.
DEWITT
The NSA doesn't worry about
passwords.
HASTOR
You can't just come in here and
take my-
DIXON
American lives are now at risk. We
can do whatever we need to do. If
You wait here, we'll probably have
this back to you in an hour. Just
take a long lunch in the meantime.
The agents walk out the door. Lemon reenters.
HASTOR
Sons of bitches. I can't even play
solitaire now.
LEMON
Do you think they'll find the video
footage?
HASTOR
No. I made sure to run it off your
machine in the network, but I don't
think we should exploit your security
clearance anymore.
LEMON
So that's it, you're off the case?
HASTOR
Officially, yes, but I'm not done yet.
LEMON
That was DHS and NSA that just came
in here.
HASTOR
Yeah, but give them a footprint they'll
send it off to a lab, and take three
weeks acid testing for a trace rubber
sample without ever figuring out what
size shoes they are. I don't care what
those federal apes want to do. I'm a
detective. I am on the case, whether
they know it or not. Just like I said.
Do some detective work. Black female
five foot four. You hear anything,
just come to me.
LEMON
You are talking about hiding an
investigation from the country's top
intelligence agencies.
HASTOR
They want to find their bomb, I know.
LEMON
And even that, there's 11 tons of
TNT lost out there somewhere. Are
you really willing to gamble on being
the one who finds it before time runs
out?
HASTOR
Lemon, I'm the best this case could ask
for. No matter what letters are on my
badge I can get this done cleaner than
they could hope.
LEMON
That bomb could kill hundreds of people
and we've got nothing to go on as of
now, in a case out of our Jurisdiction.
HASTOR
Black female. Five foot four. I'm
Going to close this case.
Lemon tentatively nods before leaving. Hastor leans back, closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
Rec center, social rejects, poor kids, goths, punks and misfits sit around as Hope finishes up the last verse of to the moon's 'Shut up and dance with me.' An MC takes the mic.
MC
That was Hope, performing 'To the moon.'
there. Put your hands together for her.
Feeble applause as Hope takes a bow and jumps off the platform
MC
Next up we have Amity, and she's going
to be giving us some Ariana Grande.
Amity goes on stage as Hope takes her seat again next to Joy.
JOY
Do you two always go to this?
HOPE
Well, normally Prudence is with us
but she wanted to visit Will again.
Not many people sing because like
the punk and goth kids who usually
hang out here on the weekdays get
their space invaded, they're surly
but they always listen. I think
they want to sing too, but don't
want to do it in front of their
friends. I talk to them after when
Karaoke is finished.
JOY
You really like people don't you?
HOPE
What's not to like? Everyone has
something special about them.
JOY
Well, alright but are you willing to
protect them?
HOPE
Huh?
JOY
I used to think that just liking
people and just being with them was
enough. Now I know the truth. It's
never that easy. If you like something
you have to go out of your way to protect
it.
HOPE
What? I don't get it.
JOY
Well, Hope...I won't get into it, but
just before I made my wish I thought
I had everything I needed. I thought
everything was OK, and everything would
go on being alright with nothing to
worry about. Then something happened
and I lost it all because there was no
one there to protect me or the ones I
cared about.
HOPE
What happened?
Joy pauses for a moment but does not resolve to tell Hope the whole story.
JOY
When you are all done fighting a witch,
when you have to use a grief seed, when
you're all alone in your room all you
have is the certainty that you are
protecting someone, somewhere who needs
you, even if they don't know it. What
then?
HOPE
But I'm not alone. I have Prudence and
Amity and other friends, and I'm always
meeting new people. Even if I make a wish
and become puella nothing will change that
right?
JOY
What are you protecting with your life
right now?
HOPE
Nothing.
JOY
That's going to change. Look around you.
They didn't clap after you sang. They
probably forgot your name right after the
guy up there said it. Are these people
who don't know you really worth protecting?
HOPE
Are they to you?
JOY
Yes. I know what it means to lose it all.
I'll never let that happen to the innocent
that's the meaning I've found beyond my
wish. Before you make yours you had better
find that reason beyond for yourself. OK?
HOPE
And then what?
JOY
Then you make a wish, and it will come true.
HOPE
OK.
JOY
Really?
HOPE
Yeah.
Joy smiles at having really connected.
HOPE
One question.
JOY
Yeah?
HOPE
That grief seed from last night
Was it at fifth and green?
Joy gets surprised for a moment.
JOY
Yeah. It was. How did you
Know?
HOPE
I don't know. I had a feeling
And I guessed.
JOY
That's it?
HOPE
That's it.
JOY
Make sure you tell Amani that.
HOPE
Sure. Are you going to sing one?
JOY
No. I'm tone deaf.
HOPE
Just one song. Please.
JOY
Hope, I won't sing.
HOPE
Aw. Why'd you come out?
JOY
Well you invited me.
HOPE
Well then what do you normally do
on nights out?
Joy shrugs and smirks.
JOY
Usually I just practice.
HOPE
What do you mean, practice?
Joy smiles and she glances side to side as though she's about to reveal a secret.
JOY
Let's go find some empty
bottles.
Vacant lot, Joy's Soul Gem is brightly lit as a car's headlight and on the ground in a lamp shade pointed out to Hope who is a few yards away and has three recycling bins full of glass beer bottles.
JOY
Pull!
Hope tosses the bottle into the air and Joy quickly draws a pewter musket which shoots the bottle and shatters it not just into shards but into fine dust that sparkles and glitters in the distant light like fireworks.
HOPE
Good one!
JOY
Again. Throw higher this time.
Hope tosses overhand and Joy shoots it quickly.
JOY
No. Underhand. Here I'll show you.
Joy walks over and puts a bottle into Hope's hand and shows her the type of underhanded lob she wants.
JOY
You have it gripped by the neck, right
HOPE
Yeah.
Joy takes Hopes hand with her other hand on Hope's waist standing behind her, holding her hand to show exactly how the throw should be. Hope feels slightly flustered by Joy's closeness.
JOY
OK. You can picture your arm swinging
Like this, right? Like softball. So
Swing up and toss it high.
HOPE
Yeah. Easy.
JOY
Is this OK?
HOPE
The throw?
JOY
No. I mean. Is it OK?
HOPE
I guess. I-What do you mean?
JOY
Yeah, the throw. Just like that.
Joy backs off a bit.
HOPE
Sure.
JOY
Good. You're set, then.
HOPE
What's the matter, Joy?
JOY
Do you know about yourself, Hope?
HOPE
Know about myself?
JOY
Arvess told me you have a very high
Resonance.
HOPE
What does that mean?
JOY
It means you have high potential.
You can detect grief seeds already.
I don't know how you're doing it but
It goes to show you're gifted for
this.
HOPE
I don't understand. So what?
JOY
When you make your wish, you'll be
More powerful than I am now. You
don't need me. You can do it all on
Your own.
HOPE
Does this mean you don't want to
Be a team?
Joy comes around, placing her hand on Hope's.
JOY
No. No. I'm just saying don't
Worry about it. You have what
You need already. We don't have
to be scared.
HOPE
I'm not scared.
JOY
Right. You'll be fine.
HOPE
So you want a high throw this
Time, right?
JOY
Yeah. Underhand lob. High as
You can.
HOPE
Fifty feet. I've got potential.
JOY
Just throw it, show off. Pull!
Joy gets back in position as hope tosses the bottle and Joy shoots it out at its apex.
HOPE
Nice!
JOY
OK. Trick shot. Throw the bottle
so the open end points at me. I'll
shoot inside it, bounce it and break
it with the second shot.
HOPE
You can't be that good.
JOY
Pull!
HOPE
You really think so?
JOY
PULL!
Hope tosses the bottle up as instructed, and just as she said Joy Shoots the shot into the bottle. The shot bursts inside which bounces the bottle into the air, sending it off rapidly. She pulls a second musket and finishes the bottle off midair.
HOPE
No way! Amazing.
JOY
You get good at predicting
Exactly how things are going
To move.
HOPE
OK, then. So how about three
At once?
JOY
Easy.
Hope gets three bottles into her hands.
Joy (CTD)
Pull!
Hope tosses the bottles into the air.
Vignette shots of Hope, Joy, the soul gem and the bottles frozen in air.
The bottles all burst midair simultaneously into jagged shards as the booming sound of a loud gunshot rings out that contrasts sharply with the magical bursting sound from Joy's muskets. The shards shatter on the ground.
HOPE
Wow. I didn't even see you shoot
them that time!
JOY
Because I didn't.
Joy turns behind her to where Amani stands with an M1 rifle she's in a t-shirt. Public enemy maybe.
JOY
Fancy meeting you here. Love the
shirt.
Hope runs over.
HOPE
Hi, Amani. Did you come for target
practice?
AMANI
Why is she here?
JOY
No reason.
HOPE
Hey, Amani. That witch you hunted
Last night?
AMANI
What about it?
HOPE
Was it near fifth and Green?
Amani is surprised a moment.
AMANI
Did she talk about it?
HOPE
No, I just kind of figured it out.
AMANI
Just figured?
HOPE
I just had a feeling that it would
be there. I asked Joy and she said
I was right.
Amani swallows slightly and tries to play this off as nothing.
JOY
That's what Arvess was talking about
wasn't it?
Shot of Arvess' face
ARVESS
Of course. Her resonance allows her
to do things even puella can't do
despite the fact she hasn't made a
wish yet.
AMANI
You always interject at the worst time
don't you?
ARVESS
I'm here to grant wishes. You have
to be ready at any time.
JOY
Hope, you need to know more than just
A part of the truth.
AMANI
Don't.
JOY
Don't ever say 'don't' to me.
HOPE
Hey, Easy. Easy. Amani, I'm sure
just learning more about being
puella won't hurt, right? Let me
hear it out. OK? What is it, Joy?
JOY
Tell her about her resonance, Arvess.
ARVESS
The potential of your resonance?
High doesn't begin to describe it.
JOY
When you make your wish you are
going to become the most powerful
puella magi ever.
HOPE
What?
ARVESS
It's true. Your resonance allows
you to tap more energy than should
be possible. You could call it
geometric.
HOPE
There must be some mix up.
I'm really not that special.
AMANI
That's not true.
JOY
And that's why you want to stop
her isn't it Amani? Why you
constantly terrorize her.
AMANI
OK, Joy, we need to talk.
Amani leads her away. Shot of the night sky. Joy and Amani walk a distance then stop to face each other.
JOY
So what did you wish for?
AMANI
Something other than saving my own skin.
JOY
Did you come to finally have it
out with me or would you like to
help me?
AMANI
I didn't come here to make enemies
or to team up. I came here to warn you.
A great trial is approaching us.
Before it can do any damage I
have to make sure that Hope
DelSoro does not make the contract.
JOY
Why? Are you so concerned about
losing your edge to someone better
than you?
AMANI
This is bigger than what you can
understand, Joy.
JOY
What I understand is that we fight
witches. We have two potentials on
deck, one with more ability than any
puella ever and if you weren't being
obstinate-
AMANI
Teamwork? Like you and Charity?
Joy cannot hide her outrage at hearing this comment.
ARVESS
That's all in the past now, isn't it,
Amani? Joy is being very hospitable
with her offer.
AMANI
It's not an offer, it's a plea.
She may have the strong skills but
her heart is the weakest of any
puella. You're begging me not to
abandon you because that's your
nature, Joy. You'll drag anyone
down with you just so you can tell
yourself you're not alone.
JOY
You don't know anything about me.
AMANI
I made my wish, you made yours
and they aren't the same. No matter
how you look at it we are going to
fight for different reasons.
JOY
This is your last chance.
AMANI
All I want you to do is keep Hope
DelSoro out of this for the next
three weeks. No matter what.
JOY
What happens in three weeks?
AMANI
The unthinkable. We'll be fighting
side by side, just like you asked
and if we're lucky we get to die
together. Does that sound like fun?
JOY
I think you're right, Amani. We are
going to fight for different reasons.
Do what you want, but don't cross
paths with me again. It will not
end well.
Amani sneers, then brushes her hair aside to turn away. Joy stands bitterly in the night.
JOY (CTD)
Hope! Come here please.
Hope walks over.
HOPE
What is it, Joy?
JOY
We can't do this anymore.
HOPE
Huh? What? Why?
JOY
What do you know about being a
Puella?
HOPE
Uh, I know that you fight
Witches and protect people and
You have to use grief seeds.
JOY
That's not what being a Puella
Is about. That's just what a
Puella does. The only way you
Can understand what it's like
is to make a wish.
HOPE
Well, maybe but even so-
JOY
No, Hope. I could talk to you
Forever and you wouldn't know
A thing about it. We're not
going any further together.
HOPE
But Joy, you don't have to-
JOY
I am Puella Magi. That's all I am.
It's my duty to protect you. Even if
you did make a wish you wouldn't need
me anymore. I'm-I'm saying goodbye,
Hope. It was stupid of me to come
here.
Joy leaves, trying to keep her composure.
HOPE
Joy! Wait. Don't leave like this.
Come back. Joy!
Joy's silhouette slips into the darkness.
Act three.
Hope and Prudence sit in the park.
PRUDENCE
So she just left?
HOPE
Yeah. I could tell she didn't
want to.
PRUDENCE
Well, when you think about it
It does make sense. It's a
Different world she lives in.
Having all those magical powers
This whole city must feel like
Living in a giant doll house.
HOPE
And she didn't even sing at
Karaoke!
PRUDENCE
That's what you're worried about?
HOPE
She has a great singing voice
I can tell.
PRUDENCE
All I'm saying is think about it,
She has a point. We don't know
Anything about how she feels.
HOPE
Did you come up with a wish yet?
PRUDENCE
Did you see what it was like to
Use a grief seed? I wouldn't
Do that to myself for a million
Dollars.
HOPE
Yeah, I guess you're right.
PRUDENCE
Look at it this way, you can
Magically be granted your dreams
By Arvess you'd get what you want
But wouldn't it bother you? Because
Then you'd always know someone
Else gave it to you. If you
Work real hard, make your dreams
Come true, then you'd be able to
Feel good about doing it for yourself.
That's the best way to make your
Wishes come true.
There is a resonant hum that Hope senses.
HOPE
So do you think Joy was wrong in
Making her wish?
PRUDENCE
I don't know what she wished for.
HOPE
Yeah. Me neither.
PRUDENCE
So I guess we don't make that call.
Images of the hospital appear in her mind. Hope stands up.
HOPE
The hospital.
PRUDENCE
Oh, Will? He's getting quiet.
It's not really like him. He never
Had much to say, but he always spoke-
HOPE (Urgently)
No. We have to go to the hospital.
We have to go right now.
She takes off and Prudence sprints to catch up. The girls run through the streets. Prudence keeps pace right behind Hope.
PRUDENCE
Are you absolutely sure, Hope?
HOPE
Well, I'd love to be wrong about this.
The girls make it to the entrance of the hospital out of breath.
PRUDENCE.
So where is it?
HOPE
We're very close.
Hope walks to a pillar on the side of the structure. She gets around the opposite side of it.
PRUDENCE
Hope?
HOPE
Yeah. It's here.
PRUDENCE
No.
The image pans to reveal a grief seed shadow stuck in the pillar.
PRUDENCE
What do we do?
HOPE
There's nothing we can do.
PRUDENCE
Then we have to get Joy.
HOPE
OK, let's go.
PRUDENCE
No. I'm staying here.
HOPE
Prudence?
PRUDENCE
Will is in this hospital.
If a witch wants to take him
It will have to go through me first.
HOPE
But you can't-
PRUDENCE
Go to Joy.
HOPE
Prudence-
PRUDENCE
Run! Now!
Hope nods timidly then turns and runs full out for Joy's apartment.
Prudence stands guard as the Seed hums and releases waves of negative energy.
Joy's apartment. Joy sits reading a copy of being and nothingness.
The door suddenly unlatches and Hope bursts in. Joy at first reacts coldly to her, but seeing distress in her eyes she drops the book, to follow Hope as she runs back.
Hospital
Prudence Watches as waves of shadow emanate from the seed.
HOPE (VO)
Prudence, are you there?
PRUDENCE (VO)
Yeah? Where are you?
Joy and Hope running through the streets.
HOPE (VO)
I've got Joy, we've sent Arvess ahead
To meet you. It won't be long.
PRUDENCE (VO)
Joy can you hear me?
JOY (VO)
Yes. What is it?
PRUDENCE (VO)
The seed. There are shadows coming
Off of it.
ARVESS
Get away from it!
Prudence looks up to see the angel land on her shoulder
PRUDENCE
Arvess! What's it doing?
ARVESS
The seed is reacting to you it may-
A shadow rolls over Prudence and Arvess and they vanish into darkness, so only the seed remains.
Joy and Hope arrive on the scene.
HOPE
Where's Prudence and Arvess?
JOY
They're inside. You wait here.
I'll get them out.
HOPE
No. I'm coming with you.
JOY
This isn't the time-
HOPE
Joy, there's no way I'm leaving
Here without Prudence. So you can
Take me with you or go in alone and
Let this seed gobble me up.
JOY
You don't belong here!
HOPE
You can't say that to me!
Joy and Hope square off for a moment, but finally Joy nods.
JOY
Just like last time, stay close.
HOPE
Let's go.
The girls dive into the seed, and are in a hallway made of cookies and gingerbread.
HOPE (VO)
Prudence?
PRUDENCE (VO)
Bad news, I'm in something like a big
Stadium or theatre the grief seed shadow
is Floating in the middle of it
JOY
She's in the nest. We have to act now.
Joy spreads a circle of magical flower sigils around the hallway.
HOPE
What's that for?
JOY
Protection. You'll see. But
Before we go, Amani, how long
Have you been here?
Amani walks down the hall.
AMANI
A bit now. I was here first
so I was inside and couldn't
stop the Idiot from falling in.
JOY
The situation is secure. I'm
Going ahead.
AMANI
Like I said, I was here first.
I'll be taking out this prey
The two of you head back.
JOY
I'm the one fighting this witch
And I'm not interested in debating
You right now.
Amani steps forward, unwittingly into the ring of flower sigils
AMANI
Joy, listen. You don't know-
JOY
What did I say about that word!?
The sigils unfurl into chain-imprinted ribbons which ensnare and capture Amani.
HOPE
Joy, wait.
JOY
Not now, Hope. We have to get
Moving. I'm not going to hurt
Her.
AMANI
Joy, please stop. This witch
Has a molting ability, you
Have to-AAAH!
JOY
Watch out for those restraints,
Amani. They tighten if you
struggle.
AMANI
Please, Joy, listen – aah.
JOY
Let's go, Hope.
Joy departs.
HOPE
We'll be right back, Amani.
I'm sure this will work out.
Hope departs
AMANI
No! Hope! Stop!
Deeper in the Labyrinth. Strange Familiars float about and go about what appear to be chores. Hope and Joy make their way further in.
HOPE
It's long and it's dark and
There isn't anyone here.
JOY
Don't get your nerves on end.
HOPE
Aren't you scared?
JOY
There's no need for me to
Be scared anymore.
HOPE
What do you mean?
JOY
There is nothing left to lose.
HOPE
Well…You can't mean that.
JOY
Even if I don't mean it, I have
To keep it in mind to go on.
HOPE
Joy, when you-
JOY
Hope, I have to concentrate, so
please.
HOPE
I'm sorry.
JOY
You don't have to be sorry
You have to be quiet.
The two venture further in and come across a nest of familiars who look at them with simultaneous gaze and all involve freeze for a moment before the familiars scatter and scurry out, even over the girls feet. Hope takes Joy's hand as the creatures depart from the room. With the familiars gone the two proceed in, still holding hands and Joy begins to silently sing to herself a Blondie song.
JOY
One way or another, I'm gonna
Find you. I'm gonna get ya,
Get ya, get ya get ya. One
Way or another. I'm gonna find you
I'll get you. I'll get you. And
when the lights are all down I'll
see who's around.
The girls find an empty alcove.
JOY (CTD)
It's clear here. Let's rest.
HOPE
OK, sounds good.
JOY
How are you holding up?
HOPE
I'm not the one who was singing.
Joy laughs off nervously, and earns a smidge of relief.
JOY
I did, didn't I? That's my mom in
Me. Was it blondie?
HOPE
I don't know.
JOY
Usually Blondie or Madonna.
Lucky star. Mom loved records.
HOPE
Where are your parents?
JOY
They're not here anymore.
They died. The same day I became
A puella.
HOPE
Oh.
JOY
I wished to save myself as my
Parents died. When I started
I told myself if a girl with my
powers had been there, she would
have Saved them. But that's not
true. Puella fight witches, that's
All they do. There are other
things people have to be saved from
but we can't help. I can't stop
every car crash. So this is all
I have.
HOPE
Joy, what you're doing is the right
thing. Your parents would be
proud.
JOY
I'm done reminiscing. Let's
Move.
They proceed further down the labyrinth passing familiars who pay them no mind. Joy leads and does not show Hope her face.
HOPE
I was thinking about what you
Said before.
JOY
Oh?
HOPE
About needing to find something
To protect.
JOY
Did you find it?
HOPE
I don't know yet.
JOY
Well don't stress it. You need
A wish first. Without that
you're fine as you are.
HOPE
Joy, if you were to sum up being
A puella in one word what would
It be?
JOY
Well…Let me think on that.
HOPE
You don't have to answer right
Now but-
JOY
Sadness.
HOPE
What?
JOY
I wouldn't wish this on anyone.
You're all alone, and terrified
All the time for the next witch
You have to fight, always wondering
How it can possibly ever end. No
one stands along with you. Everyone
who should help you leaves you
behind. It's nothing But sadness
being puella magi.
HOPE
Really?
JOY
If I were to tell you anything
It would be to never make a wish.
HOPE
But Joy, That's what needs protecting.
JOY
What do you mean?
HOPE
You asked me if there was something
That I needed to protect. What about
Someone everyone else relies on, but
Is alone in the world? I don't want
that for you.
JOY
So you wish to help me?
HOPE
I still don't know what I wish for
But what I want to do is be with you.
Stay by your side and help you fight.
JOY
I've heard talk like that before.
Comradery, partnership, trust,
It ended in nothing, and I was
On my own all over again.
Joy turns to show her eyes have welled up with tears. She takes Hope's hands again.
JOY (CTD)
But you mean it, don't you?
Joy takes Hope's hands. Blind Melon's 'I wonder' begins to play starting with the acoustic introduction. "All along the broadening skies…"
JOY (CTD)
Do you really want to stay with me
Through the worst of fate?
HOPE
You said I have more potential as
A puella than anyone. I want to
Meet my potential and help you.
You don't have to walk this dark
corridor all alone.
JOY (Wiping her tears)
Some leader I am. Who can't even
Compose herself. But still, you
Have to make a wish.
HOPE
But I don't know what I want.
JOY
You can have anything. Wish
For the moon.
HOPE
I don't need the moon. How can
I have the moon? What does that
Even mean?
JOY
Well, I don't know. It's something
None of us have. But then we all
look up into the night and we all
have it at once.
HOPE
You're so weird.
JOY
Yeah. I am.
ARVESS(VO)
Joy! Hope!
JOY
What is it Arvess?
The stadium Prudence is growing fearful and Arvess looks on warily something is happening to the Grief seed.
ARVESS
We're out of time. The seed is
Hatching. You need to get here
Right now.
JOY (VO)
We're on our way.
Hope puts her hand on Joy's shoulder. The intro of the song ends and faintly Shannon Hoon's 'let's get out of here.' Whispers are heard.
HOPE
Let's do this. We're a team now.
JOY
Right.
The song proper begins and Joy transforms into her full magical girl form. As if aware of her presence familiars appear all over the place, and Joy protects Hope in a barrier, then unleashes a fury of muskets and bats them away and blasts them with ease. She wraps her tether around one and swats several others away with it.
JOY (VO)
My body feels light.
She drops into a room of familiars, not ready for her who cower in her presence. With an outstretched arm she has six muskets stand at the ready, while a string of them appear in a chain formation. The central six begin to spin around, and begin to fire in rapid succession, flying off once fired and replaced by the next in the string. It acts as a minigun, tearing through the lineup of familiars. She slays a legion of them.
JOY (VO-CTD)
I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
Heroically, Joy opens the path and takes Hope by the hand. And the two run to the final destination through doors that seem to throw themselves open for them.
JOY (VO-CTD)
Because now I know I'm not alone.
The pair arrive at where Prudence and Arvess have forted up.
PRUDENCE
Hey! You guys made it!
JOY
How are things here?
ARVESS
No time. Here she comes right now.
The grief seed morphs into a Russian doll who sheds her shells, each going in a different direction in the amphitheater. Gingerbread men and candies appear in the bowls of the doll husks, that now coat the surrounding area, which opens itself, into a twin bowled arena, with platforms beyond, and when they finally open one last time, within is a tiny doll. Runes appear on screen reading "Charlotte." Joy bats the doll away with the butt of one of her rifles.
JOY
Sorry, but this is where it ends
For you.
She stands above the fallen doll, putting a musket to her head. Then she fires and from the bullet hole emerges ribbons which wrap around the doll and hoist it high in the air. Joy takes aim.
JOY
Tiro finale!
Joy fires the blast and no sooner is the shot released as the teacup appears in her hand, and she takes it to her lips to drink in victory. The two girls on the side smile and rejoice in her victory, and the shot peels through the witch. Who is ripped in half. But the top half opens its mouth and bears its teeth which shed as a long snakelike form. The serpentine witch quickly rushes down at Joy, who only has enough time to drop her teacup in surprise and horror as the jaws open to consume her. The song does not stop.
Amani, restrained in the labyrinth is dropped from her restraints which turn into a bloody, fleshy, gory gel.
AMANI
Oh no.
Against a vingnetted shot of the hallway, Amani runs to where the pair had gone.
The amphitheatre. Joy's headless, lifeless body falls from the mouth of the witch and crashes onto the ground. The serpentine witch consumes the corpse, as Hope and Prudence look on with horror.
ARVESS
You have to make a wish.
Both of you. Make a contract
With me. This witch will kill
You next if you don't.
Frozen in terror the girls cannot react in time. Arvess looks directly at Hope. The witch looks up at Hope.
ARVESS (CTD)
Make a wish. Right now.
HOPE
I…I…
AMANI
There's no need for that.
Amani arrives just as the lyrics "I don't remember who I was before" come up the witch. She opens fire and the witch quickly singles Amani out and dives down to eat her whole. It appears that she does so, but from above comes gunfire from a scorpion SMG and the witch re-assesses and flies at her, mouth open as before to consume her. Again this appears to work and again Amani appears elsewhere to fire small arms at the witch this happens five times before the snake like witch bats her away with her tail. The witch closes in for the kill.
HOPE
Amani! Run!
Amani comes up with the same remote detonator which she used previously, hits the button and explosions rock the insides of the witch. New iterations of itself emerge from the dead shells of the last, until the final version emerges and rushes at Amani who has already taken aim with a shoulder-mounted RPG.
The shot fires into the last form of the witch. Blood sprays across Amani's outfit and upon the broken remains of a shattered tea cup and saucer. The blood and tea mix with one another as the Labyrinth fades. The three girls are now in the Hospital lawn where they began and in the setting sun the grief seed descends at Amani's feet and she picks it up.
I only wanted to be 16 and free, yeah.
PRUDENCE
Give it back!
Amani turns to the girls, Prudence indignant and Hope collapsed in shock and grief.
PRUDENCE (CTD)
That belongs to Joy.
Give it back to her.
Out of respect at least.
AMANI
Believe me when I tell you.
You don't ever want to touch
One of these things.
Amani turns and departs as Prudence comforts the weeping Hope. Back to Joy's now empty apartment. There are shots of the room just as she left it and the sunlight sets on a picture of her with her mom and dad as the last bar of 'I wonder' draws to a close.
Credits.
