Chenalos presents
A 14 rivers play for the screen
Based upon Puella Magi Madoka Magica
The Magic of Hope
Episode 6: Mercy
mail Chenalos at yahoo dot com
twitter at ChenalosFiction
Teaser
Amani is getting her mug shot. She is in shackles and is stubbornly defiant. She is forcefully turned to get the profile by a female officer there is another officer in the room typing the dossier. She is sat down by the officer again, forcefully. Lemon enters the interrogation room.
COMPUTER COP
Hello, Lemon.
LEMON
Do you have the evidence
on the suspect?
COMPUTER COP
Not much but it should be
All in that bin.
The Computer cop points to a plastic Bin with a wallet and some keys and a cell phone in it along with four grief seeds.
LEMON
Well good, because it's going
Across town in half an hour.
Last car of the night.
COMPUTER COP
Like I said, take the bin.
Lemon gives Amani a quick look over.
LEMON
You do know you must confiscate
All personal belongings.
Computer cop taps the plastic bin with a pen without breaking focus.
LEMON (CTD)
All personal belongings.
Including Jewelry.
Amani suddenly realizes he is talking about her ring.
AMANI
Wait! Wait! No. No.
Not my ring! You can't take
My ring!
The female cop moves to Amani's hand.
FEMALE COP
Miss, all of your belongings
Will be returned to you at
A later time.
AMANI
You can't take it! I need it.
Amani struggles against the officer and tightens her grip.
FEMALE COP
Miss, this is just a formality.
You belongings will be returned.
Give up the ring.
AMANI
Stop! Stop! You can't.
The female cop picks up Amani and bends her over a table in a violent but controlled motion and shouts in an intimidating manner.
FEMALE COP
I am not dealing with this right
Now do you hear me? Open that
Hand. Open your hand! That's an
order!
AMANI
No! No!
Forcefully the female cop removes the ring Amani reaches for it helplessly. Her eyes horrify at the sight of her soul gem being placed in a little plastic baggie and dropped into the plastic bin. Amani is forcefully sat down.
FEMALE COP
Don't give me any more shit.
Not dealing with the atmosphere of the room Lemon shrugs off the events and takes the bin out of the room. Amani's eyes trace it all the way out.
COMPUTER COP
I'm done here take her to
interrogation.
Amani is brought to her feet and is led by the female cop down the hall. Amani looks everywhere to spot her soul gem. Police and walls give the atmosphere the impression of enclosure, oppression and helplessness. Out of the corner of her eye she spots the bin as it is whisked away out the door to a parking lot.
Interrogation room. Amani is alone and tries to calm herself when the door swings open. Hastor enters and sits across from her and allows the moment to breathe in silence. After the pause Amani calms herself enough to talk.
AMANI
Detective Hastor-
HASTOR
Seventeen hundred dollars.
AMANI
What?
HASTOR
I only buy American tires
And you forgot labor cost
And towing.
AMANI
Oh. Right.
HASTOR
Well, before we begin, is
There anything you want to
Say?
AMANI
Mercy, I'm going to die.
HASTOR
What?
AMANI
In less than 30 minutes I'll
Be dead and you're the only
One who can stop it.
HASTOR
How do you know my name?
Hastor leans on one hand and looks at her, with fingers tapping on the surface of the table.
AMANI
I can't die. Not now. I need your help.
Without you, I'm dead.
HASTOR
What to do? What to do?
Hastor smiles at the helpless girl.
TITLE
MERCY
Intro
Act 1
Hastor is still staring at Amani with no intention of doing anything, just waiting for her to talk.
AMANI
Don't you care I'm going to die?
Your only suspect?
HASTOR
I'm not worried at all. You see
Amani, I'm your only friend.
AMANI
What?
HASTOR
I told you. There are two agents:
One from the DHS the other from
The NSA. They are going to be
Very forceful about your
interrogation when they get here.
Not me. I want to talk you down
For your sake.
AMANI
Oh spare me the good cop bullshit.
HASTOR.
It's not bullshit.
AMANI
I don't have time.
HASTOR
…Because you're going to die?
AMANI
Yes. Exactly.
HASTOR
Then just like you said, I'm
The only one who can help you.
Tell me where the bomb is and
I'll do whatever I can.
AMANI
The bomb? Right. That's what
You want.
HASTOR
I told you I want the collar.
You tell me where the bomb is, I
Get my arrest. There's no way
Around that now, right? It's
Time to give up, Amani. You've
Run long enough.
AMANI
Oh, you have no idea.
HASTOR
Easy. So just make the deal
With me right here and I'll
Do whatever I can to make sure
You go to trial alive. You're
Not really in a position-
AMANI
Not in a position? Hastor…The
Bomb is on a timer. I'm the
Only one who knows where it is
And how to deactivate it. It
will detonate in three days
at dawn. Thousands might die.
With me dead, you'll be just as
guilty as I am.
Hastor re-adjusts anxiously.
HASTOR
How did you know that they took
My badge?
AMANI
Statistics.
Again, Hastor sensing the power dynamic has changed sits up to plan the next strategy.
HASTOR
You want me to really level
With you? OK, you got it.
You were right. I'm off force.
I'm your only chance, but I'm
Not a cop right now. The
Only way I can help you is
If you help me. Those agents
Are coming. Assure them that
You will cooperate with me and
Me alone and I've got a shot
At getting everyone out alive.
AMANI
Not if I'm dead.
HASTOR
We're getting to that. Strike a
deal with me let me set all the
terms and I will meander the both
of us out of this.
AMANI
I want Hope DelSoro to be with
Us.
HASTOR
What?
AMANI
The girl that was with me in
The museum. The one you were
Stalking. I want her to be
With me through this entire
Process.
HASTOR
Non Compos mentes.
AMANI
Quid pro quo.
HASTOR
Just say for a second I believe
You. You're going to die, the bomb
Is going to go off. How is it you
Are dying? Just so I know for sure.
A pause as Amani steels herself for the delivery.
AMANI
I've taken poison.
HASTOR
OK, go on.
AMANI
That's right. I'll be poisoned
To death very shortly.
HASTOR
Less than 30 minutes, according
To you. Listening.
AMANI
The first stage is paralysis.
My body will go completely limp
I will not respond to anything.
My breathing will stop and I'll
Enter a stasis.
HASTOR
When did you take this poison?
AMANI
A long time ago.
HASTOR
And you know for a fact it's
Going to kick in now.
AMANI
I just know it will happen soon.
HASTOR
Get your story straight.
AMANI
Paralyzed: the first stage. It lasts
For maybe ten minutes. Afterwards There
is no Second stage. No. I'm going
to be gone unless you help me.
You'll…You'll see for yourself.
HASTOR
What do I do to save you?
AMANI
The antidote for this poison is
In the ring that was taken from me.
Once my ring is back in my hand
The antidote will work naturally.
HASTOR
OK. So let me get your demands.
You want your ring and you want
Hope DelSoro to help you through
interrogation. Sounds a little
more reasonable than a prisoner
swap or say ten million dollars
in small unmarked bills. I'll
give you that.
AMANI
Hastor. You want the collar.
I'll give it all up to you if you
Follow my instructions.
Hastor stands suddenly.
HASTOR
Enough of wasted time.
AMANI
Don't go! This is your only
Chance to-
HASTOR
I think I've done enough to get
re-instated. Maybe it is best if
the NSA handles this one.
AMANI
No, Hastor, listen to me. You're
All in danger. I have to get to-
Hastor leaves the room and Amani's cool unsettles as she is alone. She looks into the one way mirror. On the other side Lemon looks on and Hastor enters the room.
LEMON
She's trying to play you.
HASTOR
No. I've got her. Just watch.
The agents?
LEMON
They know. They'll be here in
Less than an hour.
HASTOR
Shit. Everything is played so
Close to the vest. What's the
Situation with that ring?
LEMON
Should be headed over to
The locker in a few minutes.
HASTOR
The rookie's taking it over, right?
LEMON
Want me to call him, bring in the
Ring?
HASTOR
No. I got his number anyway.
LEMON
Oh.
HASTOR
I get everybody's number, Lemon.
LEMON
You never call me.
HASTOR
Some other time, OK?
LEMON
She made a big fuss when we
Took that ring away. I happened
To be there for that.
HASTOR
OK.
LEMON
Do you believe her?
HASTOR
About the poison? No. But
I'm sure she will throw some
Surprises at me if I let my
Guard down.
LEMON
What's your next move?
HASTOR
Tell you to get out of here.
LEMON
What?
HASTOR
You've helped me enough. If
Dixon or DeWitt know how much
You pitched in then we'll both
Be eggs in the frying pan.
LEMON
But like you said you've got her.
You made the arrest. You get the
Credit for it, everything. They
Have to reinstate you.
HASTOR
All I did was wound their pride
over and over. What helps me
hurts them and when this turns bad
I don't want you taking the heat.
LEMON
Hastor!
HASTOR
Lemon. Thanks for the help.
Now walk away.
Reluctantly Lemon leaves the room. Hastor re-directs attention to Amani who stares into the one-way mirror.
Lemon goes out to where the drivers are dispatched. Dispatcher and Rookie are here. Rookie is texting on a cell phone. Lemon rummages through Amani's bin and finds her ring. He examines it for a moment, curiously before putting it back in the bin.
LEMON
Evidence headed over?
DISPATCHER
Just about ready.
LEMON
What are we waiting on?
Dispatcher points at rookie.
DISPATCHER
Him.
Lemon angrily approaches rookie who never unlocks his focus on texting.
LEMON
Hey, Driver. You're late. That
Car was supposed to be headed over
Ten minutes ago.
ROOKIE
What's the rush?
LEMON
The rush is that evidence locker is
Going to close up in less than an hour.
ROOKIE
Oh, Morning shift can handle it.
LEMON
Morning shift?
ROOKIE
Even if I get it over there they
Won't log it until tomorrow anyway.
LEMON
Well, you've got a point there.
Incensed Lemon takes his phone away and turns it over to the dispatcher.
ROOKIE
Hey!
LEMON
Shut up.
ROOKIE
That's my phone!
LEMON
I don't want you texting while
Driving.
ROOKIE
Give me my fucking phone back you-
Driver approaches threateningly and Lemon shows his badge.
LEMON
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, Rookie,
How about a little respect?
ROOKIE
I'm just saying you can't-
LEMON
I'm just saying do your goddamn
Job. I mean for the love of
Christ take some pride in
Something you slacker piece of
Shit. Don't give him his phone
Back until the job's done.
Lemon leaves. Rookie flips him off behind his back then gets the keys from behind the dispatch desk.
ROOKIE
Fascist asshole.
Rookie heads out to the Van and stows the evidence bin. In the back the purple gem of Amani's ring is glowing. Rookie starts the car and drives away. As the car gets further and further the light in the ring dims more and more.
Back in the Police department Amani can feel the connection with her Soul Gem weakening. She panics a bit and struggles in the chains of the shackles. In the van the light in the ring fades away. Amani drops. Hastor enters the room from the partition and sets her back in the chair.
HASTOR
Amani! Snap out of it! Amani!
Ms. Stanton! Can you hear me?
Oh my god.
Hastor runs down the hall to the dispatch. She's on her phone calling the driver.
HASTOR (CTD)
Pick up. Pick up. Pick up!
Hastor runs into the dispatch area, looking out the window for the van. Hastor then turns and sees the ringing phone on the desk.
HASTOR
Shit!
Hastor runs out to see two officers coming in from a patrol.
B&W1
Hey, Hastor.
B&W2
Hastor? I thought you were
suspended.
HASTOR
I need your patrol car!
B&W1
What?
HASTOR
It's an Emergency! Give
Me the keys.
B&W1
OK. Here you go.
Hastor jumps in and hits the lights and the siren and gunning through traffic racing up behind the van heading across town. In the van Rookie checks his rear-view seeing the flashing blues he pulls to one side. He's surprised to see the unit pulling over ahead of him with a screeching halt. Hastor emerges and runs to the driver's side.
ROOKIE
Hey, Hastor, what are you
Doing here?
HASTOR
Open the van!
The van door is opened and Hastor finds the bin marked 'Stanton.' Looking inside Hastor finds the ring. Hastor runs back to the car and with the sirens still blaring she heads to the precinct.
At the station a black car pulls up and Lemon watches it.
LEMON
Oh, no.
Dixon and DeWitt emerge. Lemon comes out front to meet them.
DIXON
Where is Hastor?
LEMON
What do you mean?
DEWITT
Don't even tempt us with going
After you for obstruction.
DIXON
Where is Hastor?
LEMON
Last I checked, with the suspect.
Blaring, Hastor's patrol car pulls into the station. As Hastor emerges. The agents turn on her
DIXON
You!
DEWITT
We have put up with you long
Enough.
DIXON
At this point we might as well
Treat you like a national security
Threat.
Hastor looks distantly to Lemon as the agents close in, puts the ring onto the key-ring of the patrol car keys.
HASTOR
Lemon!
Hastor tosses the keys to Lemon.
HASTOR (CTD)
Get that ring to Amani Stanton
Right now!
The agents turn on Lemon.
DIXON
Officer, anything to do with her
is under our jurisdiction. Whatever
that is, give it to me.
DEWITT
You will cooperate with our
Investigation, detective.
HASTOR
Lemon!
Lemon looks at Hastor.
HASTOR (CTD)
Go!
Lemon turns and runs through the precinct, the athletic agents in pursuit and Hastor following behind. He dodges officers along the way to get to the interrogation room, finding Amani passed out. He throws the keys thoughtlessly on the table and they slide off and into Amani's lap.
LEMON
Ms. Stanton! Ms. Stanton!
Wake up!
Dixon and DeWitt burst into the room
DIXON
Welcome to your new living hell.
DEWITT
You are as done as that rat
Hastor.
Hastor enters.
HASTOR
Lemon! Is Stanton awake?
DIXON
What do you mean awake?
DEWITT
Shut up! Shut up!
DeWitt approaches Amani and tries to rouse her. She does not respond. Dixon turns and pins Hastor to the wall.
DIXON
What have you done to our
Suspect?
HASTOR
She did it to herself.
DIXON
In your custody.
HASTOR
I did everything I could to-
DIXON
DeWitt, get some officers
In here and have these two
Arrested.
LEMON
No, wait, at least let-
DEWITT
You are both under arrest!
This investigation is over.
You! Turn in your badge!
LEMON
Hastor?
HASTOR
I don't know. She's supposed to
snap out of it. She said so.
DIXON
No talking you piece of-
Amani suddenly gasps to life and wide eyed is hyperventilating in the seat. The moment calms as all eyes are on Amani.
HASTOR
Amani, meet agents Dixon and
DeWitt. They're from the NSA
And Department of Homeland
Security.
Amani nods and looks down at the glowing amethyst colored stone of the ring in her lap. She looks back up at the agents.
AMANI
I will only cooperate with officer
Hastor. If you want your bomb back
then Hastor must be leading the
investigation.
Dixon sneers at Hastor.
DIXON
You slimy little-
HASOTR
Yeah. Well. Slime is not a crime.
Let's get down to business.
ACT 2
School. Hope is barely keeping it together. She looks at Prudence's empty seat and images of the witch fills her head. She looks at the desk across where Amani sits and closing her eyes she remembers Amani's arrest. Hastor putting the handcuffed Amani in the back of his rental car. She was screaming at her, though her voice was muffled by the closed car window.
HASTOR
I won't be taking you in
And I can't legally ask you
Any questions without your
Parent's authorization.
HOPE
I don't have anything to say
To you.
HASTOR
There will be a time for you
To tell me what I want to know
and I think you will.
HOPE
There are things out there that
Only she can do, officer.
HASTOR
I'll contact your folks and
We'll see what can be arranged.
For now, I've called you a
Ride home. There it is.
A cab pulls up.
HOPE
Amani and I-
HASTOR
Believe me I'm going to want
To hear all of it. For now
Just be on your way.
Hope nods and enters the cab defeated. She looks at Amani and the two lock eyes for a moment. The image of Amani is locked in her memory as she opens her eyes. She doesn't notice Amity approaching.
AMITY
Hope.
HOPE
She's gone.
AMITY
What?
HOPE
Prudence is gone. That's what
You were going to ask, right?
AMITY
How is she gone?
HOPE
I asked her to come back and she
Wouldn't so she's gone now. Do
You feel better?
AMITY
She left me a message and I
Want to-
HOPE
Well you can't. Nobody can.
AMITY
Hope, I didn't mean to-
HOPE
How could you? Amity, How could
You? Do you know what it did to
Her? I'm going to the park just
To get away from you. You're
horrible!
Hope rises from her seat and leaves the school.
Park. Woods.
HOPE
I know you're out here somewhere.
I want to talk.
ARVESS
I'm here.
Arvess floats down and lands on a stone.
HOPE
You never told her. You never
Told any of them what the
Witches are.
ARVESS
I wasn't keeping it a secret.
We have bound ourselves to
Honesty. We will answer any
Question about being a puella
With absolute accuracy.
HOPE
What you're doing is wrong.
ARVESS
Is it? If you think so, just
Look around you. The puella
Making wishes for humans and
Fighting for their survival
Are part of what has built your
Species into this state. Cities,
Technology, more things than you
Know came about only because we
Have been pushing your species
Along.
HOPE
You can't take credit for
Everything we've done.
ARVESS
Even so you can't live in a system
Where you benefit greatly and not
Be respectful that this system
exists. Regardless of how it keeps
itself going.
HOPE
The puella have no chance to save
Themselves!
ARVESS
Of course not. All they can do is
Give up everything. We don't force
it on them. We are totally honest.
We give them the world they want.
Wouldn't you say we've been at least
more grateful Than your cruel
civilization?
HOPE
What? What have we done?
Suddenly images of cattle, cows, swine, chickens caged up and restrained in pens. Implements used to slaughter animals are sharply intercut with the desperate faces of cattle. Hope is shocked backwards and stumbles.
ARVESS
The animals you devour have
Feelings but because they cannot
Speak or build or make rules
You consume them without thought.
Your species refuses to understand
Them. We know what we do to
puella. But unlike you we are
willing to make Sacrifices. Give
up some of the Cleoneum's energy
for a wish to change the world.
The Cleoneum and its power are as
Much as responsible for this society
As it is for ours. Trust me when I
tell you that if it weren't for us
you'd all still be living in Jungles
and Caves.
HOPE
Arvess, Amani is the last one left?
ARVESS
For now.
HOPE
What's going to happen to her?
ARVESS
She intends to fight Walpurgisnacht
day after tomorrow.
HOPE
What does that mean?
ARVESS
She's going to be killed.
HOPE
What? No.
ARVESS
If she's right, and Walpurgisnacht
Will come then she most certainly
Doesn't have the energy to beat
It alone. She has gathered human
Implements that might accomplish
the task but in the process of using
them while in combat she will
Expend her soul gem. There is no
way out. Whether she is killed or
her karma inverts and she becomes
a witch Amani is going to die in
two days.
HOPE
Is there no way to save her?
ARVESS
Have you not listened to me? You.
You have the power to change
everything. Your wish can save her.
HOPE
But I'll become a witch.
ARVESS
You become a puella first. Born
From a blessing though you bring
A curse. You will be more
mighty than anyone. Your energy
Will power our civilization and
We will carry the memory of your
Life forever, as we have all puella.
If you choose to die for the sake
of the universe and live forever
in our debt and the memory of the
cleoneum's eternal resonance let me
know.
Arvess floats away. Hastor enters. Hope walks away.
HASTOR
Miss DelSoro.
HOPE
Leave me alone.
HASTOR
I've called your parents. Your
Father gave me permission to talk
To you and I want your help.
This is a confusing time for
All of us and we're asking you to
Cooperate.
HOPE
No. I keep telling people I can't
do anything.
HASTOR
Have you ever been to the Cunningham
Hotel?
HOPE
No!
HASTOR
There was a fire there. They found
The body of a girl. Your friend
Prudence is missing isn't she?
HOPE
No!
HASTOR
Your friend is dead. She's the one
Who died in that fire isn't she?
HOPE
No!
HASTOR
Ms. DelSoro-
HOPE
No! No! No! No!
She turns defiant at Hastor, deeply shaken.
HOPE
No. No. No.
Hastor stands opposite her but refuses to console her.
HASTOR
I'm sorry. I don't know how all
Of this fits together. The only
Chance I have is that girl Amani.
But she refuses to cooperate unless
You are assisting. Why is that?
HOPE
I don't know! She hates me! All
She ever does is scream at me.
She tells me to leave her alone to
Never interfere with her and now
She wants my help?
HASTOR
Will you help her?
HOPE
No!
HASTOR
Why not?
HOPE
Because I can't help. I'm not
Special. I can't do anything.
Prudence was strong. The other
Girls they knew what to do.
They're all gone now and only me
The helpless little girl is left
Over. Leave me alone, officer.
There's nothing for me to do.
HASTOR
Why was Prudence strong? Strong
Against what? You wanted to tell
Me last night. Now you have the
Chance. I don't understand half
The things that have gone on
Recently.
HOPE
She's a Puella.
HASTOR
What is a Puella?
HOPE
The saddest thing in the world.
She's cursed to fight her own
Kind until she is killed. There
Is no way to stop it. You think
I'm crazy.
HASTOR
I've seen too much to think
You're crazy at this point.
HOPE
Then you know I can't help. I
Don't want it to be this way.
She's at the end now for whatever
it is she's planning. But you are
stopping her. So right now if you
don't let her go people will be
in danger.
HASTOR
I was wrong. That's crazy.
HOPE
It is. I know it is. That's why
I can't do it anymore. I won't
Go with you. I'll have no part
Of this! Am I free to go, officer?
HASTOR
You're free to go.
(F1) Tales of Brave Ulysses by Cream begins to play. The first note is the resounding chord as Hope in slow motion turns to run off. Hastor acquiesces and returns to his car. Hope runs until she finds herself in front of the Cunningham hotel, looking into the burnt out window of the room where Prudence lay just the day before. She hangs her head in sadness then looks up with affirmation and walks away. From behind the glass of the partition Dixon and DeWitt are shown questioning Amani as Lemon observes. They appear to make grand threats and accusations but are getting nowhere. Hastor enters the partition doubtful. A girls feet are shown walking into the station. Back at the interrogation room Dixon and DeWitt point fingers and make threats. The girls feet walk down the hall she enters the interrogation partition Hastor reacts immediately. Dixon and DeWitt turn as Hope enters.
AMANI
Get out. Both of you.
DIXON
Excuse me?
AMANI
You wanted to hear me talk.
That's the person I'm going
To talk to.
DIXON
We'll be listening in.
AMANI
I know. Leave.
Dixon and DeWitt leave to the partition. Hope sits down across from Amani.
HOPE
Why are they doing this to you Amani?
AMANI
I have stolen some weapons to
Complete my tasks. They want
Them back.
HOPE
Why do you always follow me?
AMANI
I have to prevent you from making
A wish.
HOPE
Why?
AMANI
If you don't understand that by now
Then we have nothing to talk about.
HOPE
It's because of my ability, isn't it?
I'm going to become some kind of
Super witch aren't I? Something you
Can't beat.
AMANI
Don't be so dramatic.
HOPE
Amani, they're all dead now. We're
Alone in this. I watched Prudence
Die. Do you know what that feels like?
AMANI
Hope DelSoro, I have seen things a
Hundred times worse a hundred
times over. Again and again.
Hope looks in the one-sided mirror.
HOPE
They must think we're out of our minds.
AMANI
That doesn't matter. Where is
Their focus? They're watching me.
Where's my focus? I'm watching
You. You may think I hate you but
The truth is I'll do anything you ask.
HOPE
As long as I don't make a wish.
AMANI
Exactly.
Hope sits back in her seat and sterns herself.
HOPE
Amani, give the police what they
Want.
AMANI
What?
HOPE
I'm telling you to give up.
AMANI
Give up? The day after tomorrow-
HOPE
I don't care anymore. You've
Done enough haven't you? Aren't
You tired? Don't you want this
To end?
AMANI
You can't ask me to stop.
I'm not done! I've come too
Far. My wish Hasn't been granted yet!
HOPE
What did you wish for, Amani!?
You said it was what you wanted most
in the World. You said you didn't
regret it. But you can't even tell
me. So I can't trust you.
Hope gets up to walk away.
AMANI
Every day I tell myself today
I'll do it. This time I'll do it
At last. At the same time I tell
Myself if not today then tomorrow.
Today, tomorrow, sometime someday
I'll figure this all out. I don't
Know if I'm lying to myself anymore,
Hope DelSoro. I'm just completely
Lost in the night walking to the only
Light I can see. I can get so very,
Very close to it. Close enough to
Feel warm, but every time it vanishes.
There is, someday…a bright and
beautiful day, A new day It's not
yesterday, today or tomorrow. The
rain ends. The sun shines. There is
peace. If you could see that day you
would understand But I can't bring
you there because it's just some silly
wish from one stupid girl. But it's
all I have.
HOPE
I'm done, Amani. You're on your own.
AMANI
I'll do this. I'll take them to the
Bomb they want. I'll give them
Everything and all I ask for is that
We talk again, just like this.
HOPE
That's all, just talk?
AMANI
Yes.
HOPE
I'll tell them.
AMANI
They're listening. They already know.
I'm asking you. Please listen to me
once this is all done. Sit down and
talk to me and let me be honest.
Hope approaches the table to look Amani in the eyes.
HOPE
OK. I promise. Whatever you need
To say I'll listen.
AMANI
Thank you.
Hope exits to the partition. DeWitt and Dixon immediately re-enter and start screaming at Amani to give up the bomb's location. Hastor kills the audio from the interrogation room.
HASTOR
Why help us now?
HOPE
I knew I would come to you. I just
needed to see what happened to
Prudence first.
HASTOR
Can you tell me anything about
Her plan?
HOPE
You won't believe it.
HASTOR
I don't need to believe it. You
Need to say it.
HOPE
In two days Walpurgisnacht arrives.
HASTOR
What is Walpurgisnacht?
HOPE
All I know is that she will die.
HASTOR
Is that what you want?
Hope shakes her head.
HASTOR (CTD)
What do you think we should do?
HOPE
Whatever she wants to say, I'll
Listen. Will you let me talk to
Her after all this?
HASTOR
I will but do you trust her?
HOPE
She's screaming.
HASTOR
What?
HOPE
She's screaming, look.
Amani is shown screaming at the top of her lungs. Over Dixon and DeWitt. Hastor turns the mic back on. Above the barking agents Amani's voice rings clear.
AMANI
HASTOR! HASTOR! HASTOR!
Hastor leaves the partition and enters the interrogation room.
HASTOR
Please, please, everyone, calm
Down. Quiet. Quiet.
The agents step back nonchalantly.
AMANI
Hastor?
HASTOR
I'm listening.
AMANI
Bring a table and two chairs to
A warehouse 64-14a E106th street.
I'll give you your bomb and
I want to have one last
Conversation with Hope DelSoro.
HASTOR
How about I send a squad out to
Get it for us?
AMANI (Shaking her head)
You don't want to do that.
DIXON
We're taking charge from here.
We have an address. We get the
Bomb you get the arrest if that's
All you want.
HASTOR
Fair deal.
DeWITT
We'll be moving in a Humvee with
Military guard so look
professional.
Dixon and DeWitt leave. Amani cows her head, defeated.
HASTOR
Well, let's go.
ACT 3
Night.
Hastor folds up a table and tosses it in the back of a police SUV. He returns and under guard Amani is marched in shackles to the SUV and put into the back seat. Amani watches as Hastor takes out a ring full of keys. Vignette still frame of the key ring. Hastor puts the keys in her front coat pocket.
HASTOR
East 106th street? There is
Nothing out there. You
Wouldn't bring the bomb out
There unless you aren't
Planning to hurt anyone. Why
Not plant it in the city where
You could do some real damage?
AMANI
Where is Hope DelSoro?
HASTOR
Making a call to her family.
She'll be coming along after
Us. Lemon, the other officer
He'll take care of it.
AMANI
I won't cooperate without her.
HASTOR
I'm no longer concerned about your
Cooperation. I don't see you have
Any options left.
AMANI
How about your partner?
HASTOR
He'll be bringing her to the site.
Lemon's not my partner. He's
A friend who respects my methods.
He likes my technique.
AMANI
Is that all he likes?
HASTOR
If there is anything else he doesn't
Talk About it.
AMANI
You're not a good person, you know
That, detective Hastor?
HASTOR
All depends on how you define good.
I like to think of a good person
As someone who never gives up on
the goal they've set for themselves
No matter what the cost.
AMANI
Is that so?
HASTOR
Yeah. Wouldn't you say I'm a good
Person by that measure?
AMANI
Well, maybe, but by those standards
I assure you I'm the best person
you'll ever meet.
Amani rattles her chains and looks out the caged window. Hastor starts the car and drives off.
The car pulls up to the destination. It is a dimly lit warehouse construction site. Hastor pulls the car up to the shell of the construction. Walls on all side and a roof with a bare concrete floor. The Hum-vee has perimeter lights Sharply cutting the dark room. Some further LEDs shine showing the surreal sillouettes of the two agents and three soldiers who've come to identify the weapon and secure the area. Hastor parks the car and marches out Amani. A soldier approaches her. It is the first guard she saw from the airbase.
GUARD
I remember you. You broke my
Perimeter. You are so lucky
The cops got to you first.
Hastor steps between them.
HASTOR
Yes she is, soldier, so be
Reminded I have the situation
Under control.
GUARD
We're detaining your suspect.
HASTOR
How so?
The other soldiers erect a cage complete with Chain-link floor and ceiling. When completed Dixon steps forward, unlocks the door to the cage and opens. Obligingly, Amani walks in and the door is slammed shut behind her. She turns. The helplessness in her expression wrought in defeat has replaced her normal calm. Hastor sets up the table and chairs as requested and sits. The angry soldiers and agents wait impatiently for the payoff.
Hope and Lemon are driving along the same road. The car pulls into the Warehouse. Hope exits and sees caged Amani she runs over to her but stops short of the cage itself. DeWitt backs Hope away from the cage. Hastor rises.
DEWITT
Please step away from the suspect.
HASTOR
Have a seat here, miss.
Hope complies as Dixon opens the cage.
DIXON
This is everything you asked.
Show us the bomb.
Amani walks from the cage and across the bare concrete expanse of the warehouse. She looks back at Hope one last time but sees no reassurance from her. Amani reaches out her hand and in a magical flash of purple light the bomb appears, foreboding and enormous on the warehouse floor. DeWitt approaches smiling and looks over the bomb, then takes Amani by the arm.
DEWITT
That will be enough for you.
Let's go.
AMANI
Wait! I was promised-
DEWITT
Shut up.
HASTOR
Hang on, agent DeWitt.
DEWITT
Shut up.
HASTOR
I made a promise.
DEWITT
Well I took an oath. Go to Hell.
Hastor gets right into DeWitt's face.
HASTOR
You promised me an arrest. This
Is my arrest. I made a vow to
This suspect and I'm taking
Responsibility.
DEWITT
You're arrest is-
HASTOR
Why don't you go inspect your
Bomb? Make sure it's safe. I
Have to stay with my suspect and
Keep my ears open for whatever
she's going to say.
DeWitt grimaces angrily for a moment then shoves Amani into Hastor. Hastor walks Amani to the table as the agents inspect the bomb with one of the soldiers. Hope tries to look reassuringly into Amani's eyes.
HOPE
You did the right thing, Amani
It's all over for you now.
So you can rest.
AMANI
No, Hope. This means I have
To try something different.
HOPE
Why won't you just stop yourself?
AMANI
You won't let me. The very thought
Of you won't let me. Every night
You leave. Every morning you return.
I can't stop it any more than I can
Stop the dawn or the sunset. But I
Have to. I have to!
HOPE
What are you saying?
Amani extends her hands to the limit of the shackles and feebly reaches out her fingers.
AMANI
Take my hand, Hope.
With pity that melts into sympathy, Hope puts her hand in Amani's. Amani begins to whisper to her. Hastor is curious. The distracted Agents continue to inspect the bomb while the soldiers stand guard. Lemon sits on the hood of the car, keen on Hastor's next move. Trying to overhear Hastor approaches closer. Amani's hands tremble holding on to Hopes as she continues to whisper. Hastor takes one fateful step closer. Amani's eyes shoot to Hastor and in that instant she freezes time. Amani's Soul gem moves to her hand. It is heavily tainted but fully lit indicating a full charge. Everything is now in vignette and desaturated colors except for Hope and Amani. A tiny clock is heard ticking away fast.
AMANI (CTD)
Hope. There isn't much time.
Hope looks around, perplexed.
HOPE
Wait. Amani. What's going on?
AMANI
It's my soul gem. I'm freezing
Time but it won't last long.
Do you see the detective?
HOPE
What are you doing, Amani?
AMANI
In the front pocket of the
Detective is a ring of keys
I need it to get free. But If I
Make contact with her then I'll
be caught so you have to do it.
Amani's Soul Gem is now a quarter drained of light.
HOPE
Amani!
Hope pulls away. They begin to talk frantically to one another
AMANI
No, Hope! Don't let go! Please!
Listen to me! Listen! I have to
Fight Walpurgisnacht. It could
Destroy the city and kill hundreds!
HOPE
What?
AMANI
It's a curse! It's a giant witches
Curse. I'm the only one who can
Fight it. I have to save them.
I have to save the city!
HOPE
I can't just-
AMANI
I'm the only one left, Hope! No
One else can fight it! You have
To trust me now. All those
People will die if you don't!
HOPE
No. No.
AMANI
Hope. It's easy. Just reach into
That pocket. Get the keys. That's
All. I can do the rest.
HOPE
Uh-
AMANI
Just reach out, Hope. Get the key
For me. Go on. You've got it.
Hope timidly raises a hand and brings it to the pocket of the detective. Then Hope comes back.
HOPE
What are you trying to do here,
Amani? We can't-
AMANI
You need to work with me here!
HOPE
What?
AMANI
Do you want people to die?
HOPE
No.
AMANI
You know I save people, right?
HOPE
Yes.
AMANI
I am going to save those people
But I have to get out of here.
Get those keys! Now. Just do
it now. Don't even think.
Hope rises again, and gets her hand up to Hastor's pocket.
AMANI (CTD)
You're doing just fine. It's just
Down there. Don't worry. Don't be
Nervous. One…two-
She goes on two, pulling out the keys easily enough, though trembling and nervous.
AMANI (CTD)
That's it! You did it! Just don't
Think about the rest. Put the keys
In my hand. It's all you need to do.
You can do it, Hope. It's easy.
Hope now suddenly hesitates and realizes the gravity of what she is doing.
AMANI (CTD)
What are you doing? It's already
done! Hope! Listen to me! You
did it! Come on, just give me the
keys! I'll save everyone. I'll
defend the city. This is it.
You can trust me. I came here to
save you.
Amani is suddenly silent as though a secret has nearly escaped her without her. Hope grits her teeth and puts the keys in Amani's hand. Amani grips hopes hand and flips it over showing the soul gem is half drained.
AMANI (CTD)
OK, Hope. This next bit is going
to be scary. But you have to
trust me.
HOPE
What do you mean scary?
AMANI
Trust me!
HOPE
What are you doing, Amani?
Amani lets go of Hope's hand and in that moment she disappears. The world returns to normal and the shackles drop empty to the table where they slide off to the floor. The sound of bodies hitting the floor as Hope suddenly freezes up for the worst. A machine gun fires. Hope turns to see Amani brandishing one of the soldier's assault rifles.
AMANI
Everyone! Hands in the air!
You! Off the car and move
Over there!
She runs, putting her gun in Hastor's face.
AMANI (CTD)
Move it! Over there, with the
rest of them! Line up! All of
you! Keep those hands up!
Interlock your fingers above
Your heads. Right now. Stay put
Hope, put your hands down.
The agents, Lemon and Hastor comply. Everyone is put at a standstill by Amani's action. A light is trickling up the side of Amani's soul gem. It is recharging to its full status. While it does Amani just holds everyone steady. The gun in the agent's faces, Hope, shocked and stuck in her chair. Amani looking down the sites of her weapon. Extreme close ups Sergio Leone spaghetti western stuff. The soul gem fully recharges.
AMANI
OK, everyone.
DIXON
Listen, terrorist scum our-
Amani points her rifle at him and approaches.
AMANI
Stick out your tongue and bite it!
Do it right now. Teeth and tongue!
Dixon complies.
AMANI (CTD)
Hope! The soldiers have all been
knocked out. Go over and disarm
them. Toss everything but the
clothes on their backs.
HOPE
Amani…
AMANI
Do it Hope!
Hope reluctantly follows the order and moves to the first soldier tossing off a wireless and a sidearm. She moves to the next soldier.
AMANI
The rest of you, take off your
Shirts and empty your pants
Pockets. Then show me your
backs. Toss all weapons.
DeWitt takes this opportunity to make a reach for his pistol. Just as he draws Amani vanishes and re-appears behind DeWitt. She fires her rifle which she has tucked alongside of DeWitt's thigh. The bullet shims across his leg and DeWitt collapses cupping the wound in pain. Amani steps back and away, refocusing her gun on the others. Hope trembles.
AMANI(CTD)
That's a graze. It's the last
Wounding shot I will fire.
Shirts off to your bare chest.
Hastor can keep her bra. That's
it. Pockets empty. Hope, when
you're done, there should be a
first aid kit in the truck. Get it.
She points the gun at Lemon and gestures to DeWitt.
AMANI
You! He gets stripped to his
Undies once you're done. Toss
His ankle pistol too.
The officers and agents strip their shirts and empty their pockets, guns, phones, keys and wallets spill to the floor along with the shirts and jackets. Hope comes over with the first aid kit.
HOPE
Here, Amani.
Amani takes and tosses it to Lemon with one motion.
AMANI
Treat the wound. You other two,
Each take one of those soldiers
and drag them into the cage.
Stay in there when you're done.
Dixon walks to the soldier then suddenly bolts for the door. Amani appears right in front of him and bats his face with the butt of the rifle. Amani points the rifle at the agent and he gets his hands up before he complies to drag a soldier. The unconscious soldiers are dragged into the cage. Lemon finishes patching DeWitt. Amani addresses Lemon
AMANI (CTD)
Stand up and get in the cage.
As for you, red shank, drag
yourself there.
DeWitt limps inside and the last knocked out soldier is taken inside the cage with Lemon and Amani points her gun therein.
AMANI (CTD)
Hope, shut the cage door.
Hope does nothing.
AMANI (CTD)
Now, Hope.
Hope walks to the door and lays her hand on it.
HASTOR
If you lock that door you will
Be an accessory to an act of
Terrorism.
Amani moves to the cage and aims right at Hastor
AMANI
She is not an accessory. She
Is my hostage…Say it.
HASTOR
She's a hostage.
AMANI
Hostage, close the door and lock it.
Hope closes the door and shuts it locked. Amani throws down her gun in relief. The prisoners run at the cage and rattle at the bars, jolting Hope back. They are screaming at her. Hope is getting to her limit at this point. Amani puts her hand on Hope's shoulder. This stabilizes her but she is not calm.
AMANI
Throw your phone into that pile.
Then get back to the truck.
Hope discards her phone with the officer's belongings then retreats. Amani walks over to the bomb. The caged prisoners are helpless as she absorbs the bomb back into her Soul Gem and walks confidently to the Humvee. She picks up the Humvee keys from the ground and jumps inside the cab. She starts the engine. (F2) Bon Jovi's "Living on a prayer" comes on the stereo and the lyrics "She says we've got to hold on to what we got" ring out as the vehicle rolls away from the warehouse. Hope is a blank. Amani is now stoic.
HOPE
I…I don't even know.
AMANI
Yes. It was scary. I told you
It would be. It's over now.
HOPE
I want to get out Amani.
AMANI
I'm sorry. We can't now.
One more day is all. I promise.
This is going to be over.
HOPE
Where are we going?
AMANI
We have to ditch the Truck and walk
for a distance but it's dark and we
can go unnoticed to the safe house
if we use my timeouts.
HOPE
What safe house?
AMANI
Joy's place. I've paid her
Bills and I've sent out
Mails in her parents name.
I told the school she's at a
Family Funeral in France.
Alsace-Lorraine. She's
supposed to come back to town
in the morning, but the storm
is going to cancel her flight.
HOPE
What storm?
A peal of thunder is heard. Hope looks to see lightning in the distance. The two are silent once more.
AMANI
Thank you for trusting me.
HOPE
Well, it's what you said, right?
I think if only-If only they knew
You are trying to save this city.
You're a hero and you're doing what
Is best for everyone. If only they
Knew that about you.
Amani suddenly stops the truck and pulls out the key to focus herself
HOPE
Amani?
AMANI
When I was nine I went out into
The yard and found an ant hill.
Red fire ants and their terrible
Little stings. Those bastards
in their hill. I kicked it over.
The next day it was rebuilt.
I did the same thing for three
days and on the fourth day I
sprayed it with the hose to get
rid of it. They built it even
larger. This city is no
different. No matter what
Walpurgisnacht does it won't go
away. So what's the point in
that? I don't care about this
place.
HOPE
Then why do you do what you do,
Amani? What are you fighting for?
AMANI
The storm is about to hit. Let's
Go so we don't get caught in the rain.
Amani starts the car again and drives to town.
Joy's apartment.
The door opens and the two girls walk in with nightlights lit. There is hardly any light as outside wind is heard picking up and thunder is distant.
AMANI
We walked about four miles from
The truck, so I can tell you're
Tired. You can lie down.
HOPE
OK.
Hope sits on the couch for a moment before laying out. She sees the book on the floor. Hope opens it on the living room table, turning on the desk lamp and on the inside cover it is written 'To Joy, this book changed my life. It's a little out there but read it and you'll totally get me, you know? –Charity-' Hope shuts the book as Amani closes the drapes, turns off the light Hope was using and sits in a chair across the table.
AMANI
We have to keep the lights off.
No TV. No music. I'm unplugging
The wi-fi. You can read or draw.
No using the appliances or
Microwave. Not risking the smoke
Detectors going off. Stay quiet.
Wear slippers when you walk and
Don't speak too loudly. If you can
hear water in the building's pipes
then you can use the bathroom or
shower. The bathroom doesn't have
windows so you can use the lights
in there but switch them off before
you leave the room. Don't open any
of the drapes or walk too close to
the windows.
HOPE
Do you have what you need?
AMANI
Yes. I'm ready.
The two stare at one another as rain begins to pelt the side of the window.
HOPE
Show me how many Grief seeds you have.
Amani stares at Hope for a moment before she stands.
AMANI
It's late. You should sleep.
Joy's bed is-the bed is down the
Hall. Use any clothes you want.
Hope sets a grief seed on the table in front of Amani.
HOPE
Use this.
AMANI
Where did you get it?
HOPE
She was my best friend.
Shaken to her core Hope rises and leaves down the hall.
HOPE (CTD)
Good night.
AMANI
Sweet dreams.
Amani watches as the door closes behind Hope. As soon as the door is shut Amani rushes to the grief seed. She forms her soul gem of dark, murky purple and injects the seed. She doubles over in pain as the taint seeps out of the gem. Amani makes a fist and bites into the knuckles to stop herself from making a sound. When finally done Amani removes the seed, on the verge of tears when she hears Hope. Hope cries uncontrollably down the hall and Amani sits up and stares at the door longingly for a moment.
ARVESS
That was close.
Amani spins around to see the angel in chiaroscuro, darkened, silhouetted, foreboding staring at her across the table.
ARVESS (CTD)
You used so much of your energy
To escape from those people with
Badges. I thought for sure you'd
Never make it out. Once a soul
Gem starts to crack it can't be
Repaired, even with time magic
and you just barely caught it.
AMANI
Why are you here, Harvester?
ARVESS
This is the only place I can be.
A potential who will reap us more
Energy than ever before,
Walpurgisnacht on its way, the
Mysterious time puella with all
The secrets hidden inside of her.
Where else do I belong?
Arvess' Halo untethers from his head and opens into an inter-dimensional pit in front of Amani. Murky dark curses flow in an endless vortex within with foreboding terrible wails of grief.
ARVESS
You drained it. Throw it in.
Amani looks at the grief seed. The details have sunken in and before her very eyes the injector needle withdraws and all that remains is a carbon black sphere. With an ambivalent nod Amani holds the sphere over the void and drops it. The sphere does not drop but lingers as though in a vortex before rapidly spinning and being broken into pieces and sucked away into the abyss. Arvess' Halo returns to normal.
AMANI
You're done here.
ARVESS
Her suffering is in there now.
It no longer belongs to her or anyone.
Formless and assimilated to the
Void, indistinct. A single drop into
An ocean of the final tears of dying
eyes, mixed together a sea of sadness
That will never end.
AMANI
Enough.
ARVESS
You know it will be the same for you.
You will be sent into that place forever
and ever. That girl down the hall, I
will grant her wish. What you have just
done she will do to you.
AMANI
Leave me.
ARVESS
Then someday another puella will do it to her.
AMANI
(At the top of her lungs)
GET OUT!
The rain pelts, the wind blows and the thunder resounds. Hope sobs. Amani is enraged. Arvess' Halo opens again, this time with a shaft of light that floods the room.
ARVESS
Our entire society is in
Anticipation. We can't wait
To see what happens.
Personally, I'd rather find
Out how this all started.
We'll speak again once I've
Figured that out. Savor what
You have because your time is
Short. Actually, your time is
Always short, isn't it?
Arvess enters the Halo which collapses thereafter. Amani, head in hands regains her composure as outside the storm grows in ferocity and Hope weeps down the hall.
AMANI
Hope.
Credits
