"Frozen"
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters - James Cameron does.
Rating: PG - PG13
SCENE 1: JAM PONY, NOONTIME
"Hey Girl," Original Cindy said to Max as she rode in, "Back from your visit to Mr. Got-It-All already?"
"He's not my boyfriend," Max argued, dismounting her bike.
"Sure, babe," Cindy said, "If that's what you want to call him. But if I had a decent-lookin-mr.moneybags-man wantin' to look after Original Cindy, I wouldn't think twice, but that's if I were into that side of the dessert cart."
Max made a face. "He's not - "
"Bip, bip, bip," Normal said walking past them, "Time is money, Ladies."
Max and Cindy just watched him.
"Man that's gotta be one giant stick," Max commented.
"Mmhm, more like a tree," Cindy replied.
"Max, Original Cindy," Herbal said joining their little party, "That's been there since he was born."
"You got that right," Cindy began, but the rest of her reply was cut off by the sound of static coming from the TV cut her off.
"Here he goes again," Cindy rolled her eyes, "Be prepared for another 'Eyes Only' sermon of the week."
"Do not attempt to adjust your monitor. This is a Streaming Freedom Internet Bulletin. This cyber hack will last 60 seconds. It cannot be traced. It cannot be stopped. And it is the last free voice on the internet. . ." Eyes Only's voice came over the air.
"Blah, blah, blah," Cindy commented, "Tell us something we don't know."
"Shhh," Max told her.
"This week, heating oil prices are going to rise. They will be virtually unaffordable. Why? Not because of OPEC or an oil shortage, but because those who control the pipelines are taking it for themselves and trading it for personal and political favors. There's a cold spell coming. Stay warm. Peace. Out." And he was gone.
"Great. I can work my ass off for this tweed in a headset or freeze my ass off," Cindy said.
"Either way, you loose your fat ass," Max teased.
"My ass is smaller than yours," Cindy shot back.
"Sorry, don't have time to compare asses," Max said as a now-disappointed Sketchy walked over, "Gotta blaze." She jumped on her bike and pedaled out the door.
SCENE 2: LOGAN'S PLACE, A LITTLE LATER
"Hey, knock-knock, anybody home?" Max asked walking in the door.
"Max," Logan turned away from his desk to face her, "What brings us the pleasure of your company?"
"Are heating prices really gonna skyrocket? 'Cuz I wouldn't mind a trip to Hawaii or some place warm like, oh, the. . ."
"Nice try," he told her, "What's up?"
"Well, the night we all escaped from Manticore, it was snowing. It was the coldest it had ever been, and well, I was just wondering, well, have you found anything lately on the others?"
Logan shook his head, "Sorry, Max."
"Oh, okay. I gotta get back to work anyway," she turned to the door.
"Max," Logan called.
"Yeah?" she turned back to him.
"If it gets really cold, come here. You can crash in the spare room. I don't want you to freeze," he told her.
"Yeah, it wouldn't do to have a sophisticated piece of machinery all frozen up when you need it. Thanks," she opened the door, "Duty calls."
"Bip, bip, bip," he teased her.
She smiled. "Its a lot cuter when you say it." And she was gone.
SCENE 3: MAX AND KENDRA'S APARTAMENT, LATER
Max walked into her apartment and dropped her bag. Kendra was seated on the floor, surrounded by papers.
"Zup?" Max greeted her, "Job give good pay?"
"Good enough for the amount of work they gave me," Kendra told her.
"Anything interesting?" Max asked.
"Nah, a bunch of accounting stuff and translations. Beats me how they do it, I'm just copying it and I'm confused."
"Lemme see," Max said, kneeling next to her. The paper Kendra handed her was covered in numbers. It was part of an account ledger.
"Okay, you take the income and subtract the expenses to get the profit, then divide--" Max stopped when the word 'oil' caught her eye.
"Kendra, who are you working for?"
"Some Australian investor. His name is Casey Austin. He's in transportation and shipping. I think he owns a pipeline. Why?"
"Nothing," Max shoved it to the back of her mind. She'd tell Logan later. "Just curious." She handed the paper back to Kendra and got up. "You eaten yet?"
"Actually, I'm going to a party tonight. Its a dinner party for some of Austin's business partners."
"Okay, sure," Max said, looking in the refrigerator, "There's nothing to eat here. When'd you last go shopping?"
"Last week," Kendra reminded her, "But it wasn't much."
"When is it ever?" Max replied, "What's a girl gotta do to get somethin' to eat 'round here?"
"You could always call Logan. I'm sure he wouldn't mind having dinner with you. In fact, I think he'd love to have you for dinner," Kendra commented.
Max rolled her eyes, "Right. We're not--"
"I know, I know, you're not a couple. He's not your boyfriend," Kendra said, "Yet."
SCENE 4: LOGAN'S, LATER
Logan leaned back in his wheel chair. He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It had been a long day of hacking. He'd done what he could, but people were still going to freeze tonight. His thoughts drifted to Max. Would she be okay? Or should he go check on her?
'Get your mind back on track, Cale!' he scolded himself, 'Max can take care of herself and those thoughts are the beginning of a dangerous path.' Logan wondered why everyone kept asking about him and Max. Its not as if they were. . .
He returned his thoughts to the current crisis. If only he could do more. . .
"You can't save the world all by yourself in one night," Max's voice greeted him, "Stop blaming yourself."
"I'm not blaming myself," Logan told her, "Just wishing I could do more."
"Same thing," Max reminded him. She walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. "I know what'll make you feel better." She began to massage his shoulders and neck.
"Max," Logan began.
"Don't," She told him, "Just relax."
Logan let go and allowed himself to relax under her touch. Max was right, he did feel better.
"Bahamas sound good to you?" he asked.
"What?" Max sounded slightly distracted, if that was possible.
"Warm enough for you?" He grinned up at her.
"Oh," she smiled, "By the way, I think I might know some of the people behind the oil shortage," she said.
"Really?" Logan turned to face her, "Who?"
"Well, Kendra's working for some dude named Austin - he owns a pipeline. And he's throwing a mega bash for his business partners tonight," she told him, "Bet they'll have heat."
"Austin?" Logan scratched his chin, "Casey Austin?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I know him - we were friends, briefly. He invited me to that 'mega bash', as you called it," Logan informed her.
"And you're not going to a night of champagne swilling? I'm shocked," Max commented sarcastically.
"I told you, we were friends. Austin still thinks everyone can be bought with money."
"Most people can be," Max reminded him, "but not you."
Logan smiled. It was as close to a compliment as he would get from her.
"Hey, listen, I've been working on getting the word out about staying warm tonight. I think we'll be okay as long as it doesn't snow," Logan told her, "But . . ."
"What now?" Max asked knowingly, "Want me to beat him up? Force him to turn everyone's heat back on?" She smiled.
"Not exactly what I had in mind," Logan wheeled himself over to a closet and opened it. Max peered inside. It was full of old coats, mittens, scarves, hats, and blankets.
"Lemme guess. You want me to play Santa Claus with these," Max said, gesturing to the closet's contents.
"What a great idea," Logan feigned innocence, "I was going out of my mind trying to figure out what to do with them . . ."
"Sure you were," Max grinned and grabbed an armful, "Back in a flash."
"Hey, Max," Logan called to her as she was headed out the door.
"Yeah?"
"Stay warm yourself."
"Don't worry about me," she said. She walked out, closing the door behind her.
"But I do," Logan said to the sudden emptiness that always accompanied Max's departure.
SCENE 5: THE STREETS OF SEATTLE
Max wove her way through the streets, handing out the coats and blankets she'd collected from Logan's apartment. The people on the street were actually very grateful for them. Most people Max knew hated and distrusted charity, even though they were struggling to get by. They didn't want handouts from the rich who wanted to save their souls by doing good.
'I guess it's all the cold, everyone's reaching out for all the warmth they can get, even if it's just goodwill from others.'
Her arms empty of 'gifts', she turned back to Logan's, but stopped to look up at the heavens in wonder when she felt a tiny, wet kiss of a snowflake upon her cheek. It was snowing.
'Lovely,' Max sarcastically said under her breath, 'snow.' Snow had been a regular event in at Manticore due to its location in Gillette. But post-Pulse snow in Seattle was a rare sight when one accounted for the global warming effect the pulse had created. Max stopped, in spite of herself to look at it. It was white, but by the time it reached the ground it would be dirty, just like everything else in the city. Everything except Logan.
But Max's snow contemplation was getting her into trouble. She'd been spotted by the police. And it was after curfew.
"Hey, girl," one of them called to her.
Max ignored him and kept on walking.
"Hey, you! Stop!" There was pounding to feet and they caught up to her. She stopped and turned.
"Yes, officer?" Her voice was sweet, the kind of tone that to anyone who knew her meant danger.
"You're out past curfew, and the city is freezing," he said to her, "Let me take you home and there won't be any trouble."
Yeah, right. Max smiled, but it never reached her eyes, "Oh, I didn't realize it was that late. I'm very close to home, so I'll just walk, ok?" She started off again.
"Hey!" He grabbed her arm, hard, "I said -" But Max had his arm bent back painfully and she pushed him to his knees.
"And I said 'No'," she told him, "And I'd better not hear about you and your partner terrorizing any other young girls, you got it?"
Max looked to see the cop's partner watching this in fear. He'd never seen a girl be able to fight like that before. He was, however working up the courage and coming over. Max's leg flew out and kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground. The cop she was injuring was nodding his head, agreeing to behave and begging to be let go. Max released him with a shove, and left them to pick up their dignity on the polluted streets.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters - James Cameron does.
Rating: PG - PG13
SCENE 1: JAM PONY, NOONTIME
"Hey Girl," Original Cindy said to Max as she rode in, "Back from your visit to Mr. Got-It-All already?"
"He's not my boyfriend," Max argued, dismounting her bike.
"Sure, babe," Cindy said, "If that's what you want to call him. But if I had a decent-lookin-mr.moneybags-man wantin' to look after Original Cindy, I wouldn't think twice, but that's if I were into that side of the dessert cart."
Max made a face. "He's not - "
"Bip, bip, bip," Normal said walking past them, "Time is money, Ladies."
Max and Cindy just watched him.
"Man that's gotta be one giant stick," Max commented.
"Mmhm, more like a tree," Cindy replied.
"Max, Original Cindy," Herbal said joining their little party, "That's been there since he was born."
"You got that right," Cindy began, but the rest of her reply was cut off by the sound of static coming from the TV cut her off.
"Here he goes again," Cindy rolled her eyes, "Be prepared for another 'Eyes Only' sermon of the week."
"Do not attempt to adjust your monitor. This is a Streaming Freedom Internet Bulletin. This cyber hack will last 60 seconds. It cannot be traced. It cannot be stopped. And it is the last free voice on the internet. . ." Eyes Only's voice came over the air.
"Blah, blah, blah," Cindy commented, "Tell us something we don't know."
"Shhh," Max told her.
"This week, heating oil prices are going to rise. They will be virtually unaffordable. Why? Not because of OPEC or an oil shortage, but because those who control the pipelines are taking it for themselves and trading it for personal and political favors. There's a cold spell coming. Stay warm. Peace. Out." And he was gone.
"Great. I can work my ass off for this tweed in a headset or freeze my ass off," Cindy said.
"Either way, you loose your fat ass," Max teased.
"My ass is smaller than yours," Cindy shot back.
"Sorry, don't have time to compare asses," Max said as a now-disappointed Sketchy walked over, "Gotta blaze." She jumped on her bike and pedaled out the door.
SCENE 2: LOGAN'S PLACE, A LITTLE LATER
"Hey, knock-knock, anybody home?" Max asked walking in the door.
"Max," Logan turned away from his desk to face her, "What brings us the pleasure of your company?"
"Are heating prices really gonna skyrocket? 'Cuz I wouldn't mind a trip to Hawaii or some place warm like, oh, the. . ."
"Nice try," he told her, "What's up?"
"Well, the night we all escaped from Manticore, it was snowing. It was the coldest it had ever been, and well, I was just wondering, well, have you found anything lately on the others?"
Logan shook his head, "Sorry, Max."
"Oh, okay. I gotta get back to work anyway," she turned to the door.
"Max," Logan called.
"Yeah?" she turned back to him.
"If it gets really cold, come here. You can crash in the spare room. I don't want you to freeze," he told her.
"Yeah, it wouldn't do to have a sophisticated piece of machinery all frozen up when you need it. Thanks," she opened the door, "Duty calls."
"Bip, bip, bip," he teased her.
She smiled. "Its a lot cuter when you say it." And she was gone.
SCENE 3: MAX AND KENDRA'S APARTAMENT, LATER
Max walked into her apartment and dropped her bag. Kendra was seated on the floor, surrounded by papers.
"Zup?" Max greeted her, "Job give good pay?"
"Good enough for the amount of work they gave me," Kendra told her.
"Anything interesting?" Max asked.
"Nah, a bunch of accounting stuff and translations. Beats me how they do it, I'm just copying it and I'm confused."
"Lemme see," Max said, kneeling next to her. The paper Kendra handed her was covered in numbers. It was part of an account ledger.
"Okay, you take the income and subtract the expenses to get the profit, then divide--" Max stopped when the word 'oil' caught her eye.
"Kendra, who are you working for?"
"Some Australian investor. His name is Casey Austin. He's in transportation and shipping. I think he owns a pipeline. Why?"
"Nothing," Max shoved it to the back of her mind. She'd tell Logan later. "Just curious." She handed the paper back to Kendra and got up. "You eaten yet?"
"Actually, I'm going to a party tonight. Its a dinner party for some of Austin's business partners."
"Okay, sure," Max said, looking in the refrigerator, "There's nothing to eat here. When'd you last go shopping?"
"Last week," Kendra reminded her, "But it wasn't much."
"When is it ever?" Max replied, "What's a girl gotta do to get somethin' to eat 'round here?"
"You could always call Logan. I'm sure he wouldn't mind having dinner with you. In fact, I think he'd love to have you for dinner," Kendra commented.
Max rolled her eyes, "Right. We're not--"
"I know, I know, you're not a couple. He's not your boyfriend," Kendra said, "Yet."
SCENE 4: LOGAN'S, LATER
Logan leaned back in his wheel chair. He took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It had been a long day of hacking. He'd done what he could, but people were still going to freeze tonight. His thoughts drifted to Max. Would she be okay? Or should he go check on her?
'Get your mind back on track, Cale!' he scolded himself, 'Max can take care of herself and those thoughts are the beginning of a dangerous path.' Logan wondered why everyone kept asking about him and Max. Its not as if they were. . .
He returned his thoughts to the current crisis. If only he could do more. . .
"You can't save the world all by yourself in one night," Max's voice greeted him, "Stop blaming yourself."
"I'm not blaming myself," Logan told her, "Just wishing I could do more."
"Same thing," Max reminded him. She walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. "I know what'll make you feel better." She began to massage his shoulders and neck.
"Max," Logan began.
"Don't," She told him, "Just relax."
Logan let go and allowed himself to relax under her touch. Max was right, he did feel better.
"Bahamas sound good to you?" he asked.
"What?" Max sounded slightly distracted, if that was possible.
"Warm enough for you?" He grinned up at her.
"Oh," she smiled, "By the way, I think I might know some of the people behind the oil shortage," she said.
"Really?" Logan turned to face her, "Who?"
"Well, Kendra's working for some dude named Austin - he owns a pipeline. And he's throwing a mega bash for his business partners tonight," she told him, "Bet they'll have heat."
"Austin?" Logan scratched his chin, "Casey Austin?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I know him - we were friends, briefly. He invited me to that 'mega bash', as you called it," Logan informed her.
"And you're not going to a night of champagne swilling? I'm shocked," Max commented sarcastically.
"I told you, we were friends. Austin still thinks everyone can be bought with money."
"Most people can be," Max reminded him, "but not you."
Logan smiled. It was as close to a compliment as he would get from her.
"Hey, listen, I've been working on getting the word out about staying warm tonight. I think we'll be okay as long as it doesn't snow," Logan told her, "But . . ."
"What now?" Max asked knowingly, "Want me to beat him up? Force him to turn everyone's heat back on?" She smiled.
"Not exactly what I had in mind," Logan wheeled himself over to a closet and opened it. Max peered inside. It was full of old coats, mittens, scarves, hats, and blankets.
"Lemme guess. You want me to play Santa Claus with these," Max said, gesturing to the closet's contents.
"What a great idea," Logan feigned innocence, "I was going out of my mind trying to figure out what to do with them . . ."
"Sure you were," Max grinned and grabbed an armful, "Back in a flash."
"Hey, Max," Logan called to her as she was headed out the door.
"Yeah?"
"Stay warm yourself."
"Don't worry about me," she said. She walked out, closing the door behind her.
"But I do," Logan said to the sudden emptiness that always accompanied Max's departure.
SCENE 5: THE STREETS OF SEATTLE
Max wove her way through the streets, handing out the coats and blankets she'd collected from Logan's apartment. The people on the street were actually very grateful for them. Most people Max knew hated and distrusted charity, even though they were struggling to get by. They didn't want handouts from the rich who wanted to save their souls by doing good.
'I guess it's all the cold, everyone's reaching out for all the warmth they can get, even if it's just goodwill from others.'
Her arms empty of 'gifts', she turned back to Logan's, but stopped to look up at the heavens in wonder when she felt a tiny, wet kiss of a snowflake upon her cheek. It was snowing.
'Lovely,' Max sarcastically said under her breath, 'snow.' Snow had been a regular event in at Manticore due to its location in Gillette. But post-Pulse snow in Seattle was a rare sight when one accounted for the global warming effect the pulse had created. Max stopped, in spite of herself to look at it. It was white, but by the time it reached the ground it would be dirty, just like everything else in the city. Everything except Logan.
But Max's snow contemplation was getting her into trouble. She'd been spotted by the police. And it was after curfew.
"Hey, girl," one of them called to her.
Max ignored him and kept on walking.
"Hey, you! Stop!" There was pounding to feet and they caught up to her. She stopped and turned.
"Yes, officer?" Her voice was sweet, the kind of tone that to anyone who knew her meant danger.
"You're out past curfew, and the city is freezing," he said to her, "Let me take you home and there won't be any trouble."
Yeah, right. Max smiled, but it never reached her eyes, "Oh, I didn't realize it was that late. I'm very close to home, so I'll just walk, ok?" She started off again.
"Hey!" He grabbed her arm, hard, "I said -" But Max had his arm bent back painfully and she pushed him to his knees.
"And I said 'No'," she told him, "And I'd better not hear about you and your partner terrorizing any other young girls, you got it?"
Max looked to see the cop's partner watching this in fear. He'd never seen a girl be able to fight like that before. He was, however working up the courage and coming over. Max's leg flew out and kicked him in the stomach, sending him to the ground. The cop she was injuring was nodding his head, agreeing to behave and begging to be let go. Max released him with a shove, and left them to pick up their dignity on the polluted streets.