Disclaimer: I own no rights to The Lost World...
Chapter One
Challanger turns around and the cave hole is now a back street in London.
CHALLANGER: That's impossible! We can't be back in London.
MARGUERITE: (Sarcastic) spoil the moment why don't you.
MALONE: Since when is London right next to South America?
MARGUERITE: Who cares? Anything can happen on the plateau, remember? It's practically our favourite motto.
ROXTON: Do you have a scientific explanation Challanger?
CHALLANGER: Not yet no, but lets not get our hopes up too soon...I should get to the Zoological Society and report my findings.
He starts to walk away deep in thought.
ROXTON: Maybe you should wait until morning.
He suddenly realises it's pitch black outside.
CHALLANGER: Oh...That would probably be better.
Malone turns to Veronica.
MALONE: Isn't this amazing? We're home!
He pulls her into a hug but she pushes away from him a worried look on her face.
VERONICA: No! You're home, I don't belong here.
MALONE: But you will once you get used to it.
VERONICA: I don't want to get used to it! How do I get back?
Malone shakes his head.
VERONICA: Challanger?
CHALLANGER: Well we obviously can't get back the way we came so I suppose you'd have to travel the same way we did when we first came to the plateau.
VERONICA: Then lets go, now.
ROXTON: We can't go in the middle of the night.
VERONICA: At first light then.
MARGUERITE: Until then we should get you something else to wear, that outfit might work on the plateau but here...You'd be taken to the nearest circus to be shown off as the jungle girl.
VERONICA: I'm not planning on staying that long.
MARGUERITE: Wearing that you won't even get across the street let alone half-way across the world.
MALONE: Veronica you could stay with me until tomorrow.
MARGUERITE: And then we can go to Harrods.
ROXTON: Got any time for me in your new schedule?
CHALLANGER: We'll meet up outside the Zoological Society tomorrow at 9am.
The others nod in agreement.
ROXTON: Tomorrow then.
Challanger, Malone and Veronica move off leaving Marguerite and Roxton alone.
ROXTON: You haven't answered my question.
She looks at him innocently.
MARGUERITE: And what question might that be?
A light flashes in their faces.
"Whose there?"
They shield their eyes from the torches bright light and can just make out a policeman who unfortunately for them has seen Roxton's rifle.
POLICEMAN: Stop right there!
ROXTON: (Whispers) this would be a good time to leave.
He takes Marguerite's arm and they run through the wet streets, the policeman blows on his whistle to alert his collegues. Margueirte and Roxton run round the backs of the houses.
MARGUERITE: If he was a raptor you'd have shot him by now.
ROXTON: Yes well he isn't and I don't want to spend my first time home in a cell.
MARGUERITE: (Sarcastic) maybe tomorrow then...He's gone.
She starts walking down the cobbled London streets, Roxton catches up to her.
ROXTON: So where are you staying tonight?
She stops suddenly and looks around.
MARGUERITE: I need a cab.
He follows her onto the main street, she looks at the deserted road.
ROXTON: (Sarcastic) must be their night off.
MARGUERITE: I hope your paying.
ROXTON: For what?
MARGUERITE: A hotel room.
He starts grinning.
ROXTON: Room?
MARGUERITE: Rooms, one for you and one for me...Unless of course you want to share.
She looks at him mischieviously.
ROXTON: That would probably be for the best.
MARGUERITE: Good, I'll take the bed you can take the couch.
His smile fades.
ROXTON: The...Couch?
MARGUERITE: Unless of course you'd prefer sleeping on the floor.
He sighs.
ROXTON: No, the couch sounds...Fine.
* * * * * *
VERONICA: You live here?
Malone turns to her and smiles.
MALONE: Yes.
VERONICA: It's big.
MALONE: It is compared to the treehouse.
The door swings open suddenly and Gladys runs over to Malone, she flings her arms around his neck and hugs him.
GLADYS: Oh Neddy! I'm so glad your back.
MALONE: You are?
Veronica steps back.
GLADYS: Of cousre silly, how was the country? I hope your friend wasn't too angry about not being invited to the wedding...You'll have to tell me absolutely everything that happened..
She suddenly notices Veronica, she looks at her like a bug that needs to be squatted.
GLADYS: Neddy, whose your little friend?
MALONE: This is Veronica, Veronica this is Gladys.
Gladys links Malone's arm and reast her head on his shoulder, she holds out her left arm and a large ring is present on her finger.
GLADYS: His wife.
Malone steps away from Gladys clearly shocked.
MALONE: What?
* * * * * *
Challanger walks into his parlour and a young boy around three runs over to him and hugs him, a woman follows soon after.
CHALLANGER: Jesse.
JESSE: Robert let your father sit down.
ROBERT: Will you read to me daddy!
CHALLANGER: Excuse me?
JESSE: We'll be up later, Hilda take Robert to his room please.
An elderly woman takes Robert and they walk up the stairs, Jesse kisses Challanger lightly on the cheek.
JESSE: How was your trip George?
He looks at her puzzled then masks his confusion by smiling.
CHALLANGER: We can talk about that later.
JESSE: It's very late you should rest...I'll read to Robert tonight.
She walks up the stairs.
CHALLANGER: What the devils going on here?
* * * * * *
Roxton opens the door to the hotel room and steps aside.
ROXTON: After you.
Marguerite walks in and looks around.
MARGUERITE: Not bad.
Roxton walks in after her and is about to shut the door when a teenage boy knocks and waits by the door.
ROXTON: Can we help you?
BOY: Lord Bradly wants the missus.
ROXTON: You have the wrong room.
MARGUERITE: Lord? Bradly.
Roxton turns to her.
ROXTON: You know him?
MARGUEIRTE: By reputation only.
A tall uniformed man appears in the doorway, he pushes the boy out of the way.
ROXTON: (Sarcastic) how many visitors can we have in one night?
The man walks over to Marguerite, ignoring Roxton he kisses her
LORD BRADLY: I've missed you darling.
ROXTON: Reputation only huh?
BRADLY: (To Roxton) It's quite innapropriate for a man to be alone in a room with another man's wife.
Marguerite looks at him in confusion.
MARGUERITE: Wife?
ROXTON: So this is one of the big secrets you've been keeping from me.
He looks at her with a hurt look that crushes her, she shakes her head as he steps towards the door.
MARGUERITE: John?
Roxton walks out of the room and strides down the corridor, Marguerite ignores Bradly's objections and follows him.
MARGUERITE: I don't know him!
He doesn't seem to hear her as jeolousy takes over.
ROXTON: At least the room won't be a complete waste.
As he turns to walk away from her she grabs hold of his arm and glares at him.
MARGUERITE: I swear to you I've never met him before tonight.
Lord Bradly walks out of the room and stands behind Marguerite, he looks at Roxton with a dirty look.
BRADLY: Is there a reason why you've angered my wife?
He puts his arms around Marguerite's waist, he feels the holster and takes out her gun, he looks at it with obvious distaste.
BRADLY: You shouldn't be carrying this my dear, a woman has no place holding a weapon.
He hands the gun to Roxton who tucks it into his belt.
BRADLY: Please dispose of this and don't speak to my wife again.
Marguerite pulls away from Bradly and stands by Roxton.
BRADLY: What are you doing?
MARGUERITE: I don't know how you came to think we're married, but...
BRADLY: (To Roxton) I don't know what you've done to her but you had better leave right now before I have you arrested.
Lord Bradly pulls Marguerite back into the room, the teenage boy whose seen the display looks up at Roxton.
BOY: God help her now.
ROXTON: What do you mean?
BOY: Nothing! Just rumours I've heard.
ROXTON: What rumours?
BOY: I'd heard she's ran away with another man to escape 'Lord' Bradly.
ROXTON: What other man?
BOY: Some man she went to Shanghai with some years ago...Word has it some of her 'business' transactions went sour and she had to marry Bradly to save herself.
ROXTON: How do you know this?
BOY: Just things I've heard on the street.
The boy runs off down the corridor and seconds later Roxton hears a gunshot coming from Marguerite's room.
To be continued...
Tell me what you think, R&R.
