Author's note 4/21/04: I am making another run at finishing this fic. Beginning today, I will be posting essentially complete versions of most of the chapters, starting with chapter 3. …LS

BLOOD OATH OF PATRIOTS
Volume III
THE CITADEL OF LOU MANCHU
by GALEN HARDESTY
Chapter Five
ROOT OF ALL EVIL

(Revised and expanded 21 April 2004)

Scene 15: Ext. Morgendorffer house, Saturday morning. Two squirrels play tag around the trunk of the big tree to the right of the driveway. Cut to: Int. Morgendorffer house, upstairs hallway. Daria emerges from her room, dressed, and goes to Quinn's bedroom door. She listens a second, then knocks.

DARIA: Quinn? Can I come in? (At a muffled word from within, she opens the door and enters)

Scene 16: Int. Quinn's room. Quinn is dressed in her usual boots and jeans and a sky-blue bra. She's holding a pink baby tee with silkscreened smiley face in front of her as she looks in the mirror and talks on the phone. Two pink pullover shirts with three-quarter length sleeves are laid out on her bed, nearly vanishing against the pink bedspread. Daria closes the door and steps toward her.

DARIA: (motions to Quinn to cover phone mouthpiece; Quinn does so.) Quinn, after breakfast I'm going to put most of my winnings in the bank. You probably don't have a secret account yet, so do you want to put some of your money in my account till you get yours set up?

QUINN: Sandi, I'll have to call you back. Mom's yelling, and she sounds mad about something. Well, I won't know until I go down there and find out, will I? Gottagobye. (hangs up, looks over at Daria.) Oh, Daria, Daria, that's so sad. You're wallowing in dough, and all you can think of to do with it is put it in the bank. I could help you if you'd let me.

DARIA: (smirks a little, steps back and peeks out the door into the hallway, closes it carefully, turns back to Quinn. Quinn holds up the baby tee and one of the pullover shirts and raises her eyebrows questioniongly at Daria.) Go with the butterfly. It speaks to me of flowers that will bloom again in Spring.

QUINN: (slightly awed smile) That's... beautiful. Daria! I knew you had a fashion sense down in there somewhere! (She pulls on the longer-sleeved shirt with the embroidered butterfly.) So come go shopping with me! Shake off those dowdy feathers and fly a lttle bit!

DARIA: Actually, it was foreshadowing, not fashion. A literary device. Hey! Did you just match me old-song-quote for old-song-quote? Way to go, Quinn! I knew you had a wit down in there somewhere!

QUINN: (flattered) Oh, well, I get one off every so often. (thought v.o.) Recall previous conversation for later playback and analysis- what did I say that Daria thought was witty?

DARIA: (heads to far side of Quinn's bed, motions her to follow) Look, the main danger to both our young fortunes is Mom. She has very good money radar. If, for instance, you suddenly have a bunch of new clothes that she didn't pay for and you shouldn't have been able to pay for, she'll be all over you like a chicken on a junebug, as they say in Highland, and she won't let up until you've told her everything. Which means you'll rat me out, which means I'll kill you.

QUINN: Daria, there's no call to get ugly here! I haven't done anything to you! In fact, I helped you win all that money you're scrooging!

DARIA: No, you haven't, and yes, you did. I'm just reminding you that your resistance to Mom's interrogation is practically zero. Your only chance to hang onto your money is to not let her suspect that you have it. Now I know you're just itching to hit the mall, but you'll be able to buy pretty much everything you want using your regular money sources, without having to spend your own. You always have, right? You bet a hundred. Keep a hundred fifty or two hundred, and let me put the rest in my account till I can help you open one of your own. Later, I'll even invest some of it, if you like. I'm going to invest some of mine, after I do some research.

QUINN: (looks Daria in the eye) You'll give it back to me when I ask for it?

DARIA: Yes.

QUINN: (hesitates) Well... all right. I don't like it, but something tells me to go along with you on this. Now go stand over there by the door and cover your eyes while I get it.

DARIA: (when Quinn finally hands her the money) Maybe you should avoid Mom as much as possible for a couple of days, until you can stand her looking at you without spilling your guts.

QUINN: Daria!

DARIA: Not an insult, just advice. Remember, If you ever want me to cut you in on any other profit opportunities, you must prove yourself worthy this time. (exits)

Scene 17: Ext. Lane house. Daria stands at the front door and knocks. The door opens. Jane sees Daria, opens the door wider. Daria enters and the door closes. Cut to:

Scene 18: Int. Lane house. Daria and Jane regard each other awkwardly for a moment. Then Daria pulls several Federal Reserve notes from a pocket and hands them to Jane. This elevates Jane's mood considerably.

JANE: Hey, thanks, Daria. You didn't have to make a special trip, but I'm glad you did. Trent and I were just scrounging for money. He needs a new guitar string and I need a tube of Alizarin Crimson. (rustling sounds are heard from upstairs) He's looking underneath all the junk in his floor for forgotten piles of pocket change.

DARIA: (quizzical expression) I see. I was going to deposit my winnings in the bank. Want to come along? We can loaf around downtown awhile, and I'll spring for lunch at Roly Poly Oley's.

TRENT: (from top of stairs) I found about five bucks' worth. That's about all I'm gonna find without actually cleaning my room. Oh, hi, Daria.

JANE: That's okay, Trent. I found some. (fans out the bills Daria gave her, holds them up) I can lend you enough for a string, and a couple of picks, too.

TRENT: Whoa. Good looking there, Janey. You guys want a ride downtown?

TRENT: Sounds good to me. What about you, Daria?

DARIA: (blushing slightly) Uhh, sure. You, uh, want to join us for lunch at Oley's? Drivers eat free.

TRENT: (smiling) Sure, Daria, I'd like that. I think the 'drivers eat free' thing is just for tour bus drivers, though.

DARIA: (blushing harder) I know. I, uh, meant that lunch is on me. You know, since I, uh, won that money on the game. Oh, here's what you won. (She reaches in another pocket and brings out more bills.)

TRENT: (takes money) Cool. Thanks, Daria. Shall we go? (he starts toward the door, reaches in his pocket, stops, thinks for a minute, then heads for the stairs.) Gotta get my keys. Hope I didn't bury 'em too deep while I was looking for change.

DARIA: (looking up the stairs after him) Does he ever clean that room? I mean, except when he's been looking for his car keys for several days?

JANE: (smirking) Not to my knowledge. But I'm sure you could change him, Daria. The love of a good woman is…

DARIA: (scowling) I'm sure I could superglue your sphincter shut, Jane. One quick swipe in the locker room and you're closed for renovations.

JANE: Eep!

(Trent's laugh/cough is heard from upstairs. Daria blushes even harder.)

SCENE 19: Ext. Roly Poly Oley's Smorgasbord Restaurant. Cut to: Int. Roly Poly Oley's. Daria, Jane, and Trent are seated at a table eating. Several extra plates and salad bowls clutter the table.

TRENT: (drops chicken bone onto plate) Thanks for lunch, Daria. I really like eating here. And I'm glad that you and Janey are friends again.

JANE: Not so fast. I haven't decided whether to seek revenge for Daria's revenge or not. I mean, she glued me to Upchuck! In public!

DARIA: (evil smirk) Any time you feel lucky, sucker.

TRENT: (frowns) Hand to hand, right? Janey, considering where you glued my finger, you should be grateful that Daria let you off as lightly as she did.

DARIA: (says nothing, but nods very slightly, regarding Jane from beneath a cocked eyebrow.)

JANE: (sighs) Oh, all right. I hate to admit it, but I know when I'm outgunned. (offers Daria her hand) Peace?

DARIA: (smiles, shakes Jane's hand) Peace. (groans) Ooog! Well, we've done the banking, and we've definitely had lunch. I'd like to hit the Read House preloved book store. How about you?

JANE: Sounds good, if we can stop off at Crazy Vincent's Cut-Rate Art Supplies on the way. Coming, Trent?

TRENT: You girls go ahead, Janey. I'm, uh, not quite finished. I'll pick you up at the bookstore.

JANE: (gets up) Okay, Trent. Don't give yourself a tummy ache. (She and Daria head for the exit.)

DARIA: (smiles) That boy sure can eat. I think Oley's going to take a loss on him.

JANE: (smirks) I know he will. But Trent really likes his nap after a big meal. Don't be surprised if we find him asleep in the parking lot.