INT. DOCTOR FATE'S LABYRINTH
Below a thick mist sits a great labyrinth that stretches out seemingly endlessly out in all directions. In one remote corner, Clark Kent wanders aimlessly around a corner.
HENRY BLACK It's your move.
HENRY WHITE
I'm very much cognizant of that verity, thank you.
Clark's eyes widen as he is met with two distinct versions of fellow Smallville High School student Henry Jones, one dressed in an all black suit with black shoes, a black tie, and a black rose pinned to his lapel, and the other dressed exactly the same but in all white. The two Henrys sit on opposite sides of a clear glass chess table in a rather large corner of the labyrinth, their game already in progress. They don't seem to notice Clark.
HENRY WHITE
I'm still thinking.
HENRY BLACK
You do a lot of that, it seems.
HENRY WHITE
You make it sound as if that's a bad thing.
HENRY BLACK
Oh, heaven's no. There's nothing wrong with a little good old fashioned forethought. I just figured you'd be courteous enough to put one of your thoughts forth at some point.
HENRY WHITE
I've told you. I'm thinking.
Overcoming his initial shock, Clark takes a step towards the duel Henrys.
CLARK
Henry?
Henry White ignores Clark completely, but Henry Black looks up.
HENRY BLACK
Clark! What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to see you in here.
Henry Black greets Clark with a great big smile, but doesn't get up.
HENRY BLACK Have you come for a game?
Clark doesn't seem particularly sure how to answer that question.
CLARK
Well, I.
HENRY WHITE
::sarcastic:: Yes, I'm sure that's precisely why he's come. He came to play a game of chess.
Clark hesitates, more than slightly confused.
CLARK
To be honest, I don't really know why I'm here.
HENRY BLACK
You don't know? Well isn't that bizarro? How could you not know? You're obviously here for a reason.
Henry White gruffly clears his throat.
HENRY WHITE
I beg your pardon, but I am attempting to concentrate here.
HENRY BLACK
But it's Clark. We mustn't be rude. He's our friend.
HENRY WHITE
He's your friend, not mine.
HENRY BLACK
Oh, you're just irritable, Lord only knows why. You're winning. Just look at the board.
Henry Black motions to the piece positioning on the board.
HENRY BLACK You have me.
HENRY WHITE
Or maybe that's just what you want me to think.
HENRY BLACK
Don't ignore your favorable position just because you're afraid of me. That's giving in to your opponent.
HENRY WHITE
Can I ignore you?
HENRY BLACK
::insulted:: No. You can't.
After much deliberation, Henry White makes a move using one of the white chess pieces.
HENRY WHITE
Your move.
Henry Black barely even glances at the board before moving one of the black chess pieces.
HENRY BLACK Your move.
Henry White seems confused and goes back to thinking. Henry Black turns back his attention to Clark.
HENRY BLACK
Well, don't be shy, Clark. Stay a while. Pull up a chair.
Henry Black motions towards nothing in particular. There are no chairs.
CLARK
I think I'll just stand.
HENRY BLACK
Hm. Suit yourself. Just don't say I didn't offer.
CLARK
I won't.
HENRY BLACK Of course you won't. That's what I like about you, Clark. You're a real stand-up guy.
Henry Black laughs at his own joke, nudging Henry White from across the board.
HENRY BLACK
Get it? Stand-up guy?
HENRY WHITE
::shakes head:: You're not funny.
HENRY BLACK Yeah? And you're ugly.
Clark interrupts.
CLARK
Can I ask you a question?
HENRY BLACK
Absolutely.
CLARK What is this place? Where am I?
HENRY BLACK
That's three questions, Clark, not one.
CLARK
What?
HENRY BLACK You asked me if you could ask a question. That's the singular form of the word, and in asking, you had actually already asked one question. Your other two makes three.
HENRY WHITE
You're just being difficult now.
HENRY BLACK I'm trying to explain the situation.
HENRY WHITE
You're doing a lousy job.
HENRY BLACK I'd like to see you do better.
Clark again interrupts.
CLARK
Can I ask you several questions then?
HENRY BLACK Ah, see that? He's learning. Go right ahead, Clark.
CLARK
What is this place?
HENRY BLACK You mean you don't know?
CLARK
Not really.
HENRY BLACK Well, why not?
CLARK
I don't.
HENRY BLACK
Well, how'd you get here?
CLARK
I don't really know "how" exactly. I was.
Now Henry Black interrupts.
HENRY BLACK
You don't know how?! Get a load of him! He doesn't know!
HENRY WHITE
Give him a break, will ya? He's just asking you a simple question. Just answer the poor guy.
HENRY BLACK
Okay, okay.
Henry Black looks up at Clark, subverting his amusement for the time being.
HENRY BLACK You. are here.
CLARK Here?
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: Here.
CLARK
Could you be a little more specific?
HENRY BLACK Specific how?
CLARK Where's here?
HENRY BLACK
What do you mean where's here? Here is where you are. There was a point when you were not here, you left that place, and now you're here.
Henry White makes a move using one of the white chess pieces.
HENRY WHITE
Check.
Henry Black looks at the board, a newly developed furrow in his brow.
HENRY BLACK
Hmm. Didn't see that coming.
CLARK
Maybe I should rephrase the.
HENRY BLACK
Shh. One second, Clark.
Henry Black deliberates for just a few seconds longer than last time before making his move. with one of the white chess pieces.
HENRY BLACK
Your move.
HENRY WHITE
Wait a minute! You can't do that. That's one of my pieces.
HENRY BLACK
But I'm you.
HENRY WHITE
So?
HENRY BLACK
So, that makes it one of my pieces too.
Henry White goes to argue, but is ultimately left to grumbling under his breath when he can't think of a counterpoint. He goes back to thinking on his next move.
HENRY WHITE
::grumbling:: Now you're just making the rules up as you go.
Henry Black turns his attention back to Clark, but not before smiling wryly in Henry White's direction.
HENRY BLACK
Okay, so what were we talking about? Oh, that's right, here.
CLARK
Right. What is this place?
HENRY BLACK
Well, I guess that would depend on your perspective. Where we are now is really just defined by where we were and where we're going to. Though, I suppose the beginning and the end are always the easy parts. It's the path that connects the two that gets a little confusing. So, I guess to answer your questions, you have to ask yourself where were you and where are you going?
Clark thinks a moment.
CLARK
I was at the old Cabot Farm looking for my Dad. I found this blue flame and, when I tried to get to it, there was a bright flash of light. The next thing I knew, there was this big ball of fire just hovering in mid- air.
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: A portal entrance.
CLARK A portal?
HENRY BLACK
It's used to transport things, in your case people, across great distances.
CLARK
I got pulled inside. That's when I found myself here. This place, it's like a big maze. I feel like I've been wandering around for hours.
HENRY BLACK
You probably have been, although, time is sort of a subjective thing in here.
CLARK
So, you're saying I'm inside this portal?
HENRY BLACK
You are on the path, which is exactly where he wants you to be.
CLARK Who?
HENRY BLACK
Fate.
CLARK
Fate? Is that a person?
HENRY BLACK
::nods:: Doctor Fate, a very powerful and very dangerous mystic who would like nothing more than to see you live out the rest of your days wandering around in this godforsaken labyrinth of his.
CLARK But why? I don't even know this Doctor Fate.
HENRY BLACK Because, Clark, he knows that your stories, yours and his, are intertwined. He knows that where yours is just beginning, his has reached its twilight. Where your story begins, his must end.
CLARK Why?
HENRY BLACK
Who's to say? That's just how these things happen. But he believes that as long as he can keep you on the path he can continue to avoid his destiny, because as long as you're on the path, you're neither at the beginning nor are you at the end. That's why he's setup this little playhouse for you. and me. There's always a beginning and there's always an end. just like there's always an entrance.
CLARK
And always an exit.
Henry Black nods.
CLARK What are you doing in here?
HENRY BLACK
::smiles:: That's actually a slightly more involved question than you probably know. You see, I'm not actually here.
CLARK
You're not?
HENRY BLACK No. What you see before you isn't the Henry that you've come to know and love, not at all. You see, that Henry is actually an entirely different person than I, and he.
Henry Black motions across the table at Henry White.
HENRY BLACK
.used to be. I wouldn't expect you too. You see, my real name isn't Henry Jones.
CLARK
It isn't?
HENRY BLACK
::shakes head:: My true name is Henry King, and I, not too unlike yourself, was blessed with some rather extraordinary abilities in life.
CLARK
::worried:: I don't know what you mean.
HENRY BLACK
Oh come now, Clark, there are no secrets here. I know who, and what, you are and I know where you're from. I know everything about you, which is probably even more than you know yourself. It's also how I know about your powers. Unlike you, however, I was slightly less discrete with my abilities. I became overconfident. I felt as if I was invulnerable. I was wrong.
CLARK
Fate?
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: Very perceptive. As I said before, he is very powerful and he could simply not accept that there were those in this world with power to rival his. That is why he stripped my mind clean, separated my identity from my body, and shattered it into a million pieces, scattering the remnants about the labyrinth . That is why you see two of me here and will undoubtedly encounter more of me as you make your way through this maze. I am very literally my own best friend.
CLARK
What are you exactly?
HENRY BLACK
I am a piece of a much larger puzzle, as is my counterpart here.
CLARK And the Henry I know?
HENRY BLACK
The Henry Jones you know is merely the shell of my former self, a new identity implanted within him by some of the more ambitious psychiatrists at Arkham Asylum in Gotham City. My mind wiped clean, my body was sent there for rehabilitation. After four years, I was released with a clean bill of mental health to the care of my foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jones. Unfortunately, Henry Jones remains unaware of his past, and his rather unlimited potential, and so has been condemned to live out an all too normal existence in the not-so-normal town of Smallville.
CLARK
Then, he doesn't know what Doctor Fate did to him?
HENRY BLACK
He is completely unaware of the crimes against his soul, though, I suppose that is for the better. I, however, remain constantly aware of the trials of his life through the last shred of mental telepathy I managed to salvage from Fate's otherwise quite efficient raping of my mind.
CLARK
I'm sorry.
HENRY BLACK
It's not your fault, Clark. Besides, it seems you have qualms of your own with the much beloved Doctor Fate.
He understands Henry Black perfectly.
CLARK
Fate has my father?
It was more a statement of fact than a question.
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: He is holding your father prisoner on the other side of the portal. The only way you can save him is if you find your way through the labyrinth, past the mystic's illusions, and find the portal exit.
CLARK
Then, there is a way out?
HENRY BLACK
Of course there is. I've seen it. well, part of me has seen it, anyway. I'm not exactly sure which part, anymore. It's been so very long. I'm sure you'll run into me, or him as it were, along the way, though. Find the right me, and perhaps you might be able to convince him to you find the way out. Of course, Doctor Fate will undoubtedly do his very best to make things all but impossible for you along the way. Just remember, there is always a beginning and there is always an end; not even Fate can change that.
CLARK
If you found the exit once, why didn't you leave yourself?
HENRY BLACK
What would have been the point? I am incomplete and I've no body to return too. I've already met my destiny. Yours. yours is still very much before you.
Henry White goes to move one of the black chess pieces, sparking Henry Black's notice.
HENRY BLACK
What are you doing?
HENRY WHITE
I'm making my move.
HENRY BLACK
You can't do that. That's one of my pieces.
Henry White grins, thinking he's smart.
HENRY WHITE
But I'm you.
HENRY BLACK
Right, but it's not my turn.
HENRY WHITE
But. you're me. and it's my turn.
HENRY BLACK
Well, if I'm you, and it's your turn, that means it's my move.
Henry Black makes a move with one of the black chess pieces.
HENRY BLACK
Checkmate. I win again.
HENRY WHITE
But. No! Wait a minute. You. You're cheating!
HENRY BLACK
How am I cheating?
HENRY WHITE
::angry:: You're making up the rules as you go!
HENRY BLACK
You're just mad because you lost. again!
Henry White stands up out of his chair and, in a fit of rage, slaps the remaining pieces of the board onto the floor.
HENRY WHITE
This is why nobody wants to play with you, because you cheat. All you care about is winning, and as long as you get to make up the rules, you get to win every time!
HENRY BLACK
I can't help it if you're all sore losers.
HENRY WHITE
Sore losers?! Go to hell!
Henry White turns and walks away from the table.
HENRY BLACK Where do you think you're going?
HENRY WHITE
Anywhere but here! You'll just have to find someone else to play with. I'm leaving.
HENRY BLACK
Fine! Leave then! I didn't want to play with you anymore anyway!
Henry White storms off and disappears around a corner, retreating into the labyrinth.
HENRY BLACK Honestly, I never knew I had the capacity within me to be such a crybaby. Well, Clark, it looks like it's just you and me. Care for a quick game?
Thoroughly taken aback by the confrontation, Clark shakes himself a bit to snap himself back into the moment.
CLARK
Maybe. some other time?
HENRY BLACK
Oh, that's right. You probably want to start looking for you father. Well, that's understandable. I suppose I could probably just sit here and play by myself.
Henry Black merely glances at the board the pieces, including those from the floor, magically reappear in their starting positions. He moves one of the black pieces.
HENRY BLACK
Can't say it's very much fun, though. I've played enough of these games to know my every move. If you do decide you're up for a game, do feel free to come back, though. I don't think I'll be seeing myself for a while after that tantrum.
CLARK
Aren't you going to help me find my way out?
Clark waits for an answer that never comes as Henry Black sits, by himself, moving both the black and white chess pieces about the board in succession. Intent on the game, it's as if he suddenly completely oblivious to Clark even being there.
Frustrated, confused, and a little angry, Clark takes a preparatory breath before turning the corner and moving deeper into Doctor Fate's Labyrinth.
Below a thick mist sits a great labyrinth that stretches out seemingly endlessly out in all directions. In one remote corner, Clark Kent wanders aimlessly around a corner.
HENRY BLACK It's your move.
HENRY WHITE
I'm very much cognizant of that verity, thank you.
Clark's eyes widen as he is met with two distinct versions of fellow Smallville High School student Henry Jones, one dressed in an all black suit with black shoes, a black tie, and a black rose pinned to his lapel, and the other dressed exactly the same but in all white. The two Henrys sit on opposite sides of a clear glass chess table in a rather large corner of the labyrinth, their game already in progress. They don't seem to notice Clark.
HENRY WHITE
I'm still thinking.
HENRY BLACK
You do a lot of that, it seems.
HENRY WHITE
You make it sound as if that's a bad thing.
HENRY BLACK
Oh, heaven's no. There's nothing wrong with a little good old fashioned forethought. I just figured you'd be courteous enough to put one of your thoughts forth at some point.
HENRY WHITE
I've told you. I'm thinking.
Overcoming his initial shock, Clark takes a step towards the duel Henrys.
CLARK
Henry?
Henry White ignores Clark completely, but Henry Black looks up.
HENRY BLACK
Clark! What a pleasant surprise. I didn't expect to see you in here.
Henry Black greets Clark with a great big smile, but doesn't get up.
HENRY BLACK Have you come for a game?
Clark doesn't seem particularly sure how to answer that question.
CLARK
Well, I.
HENRY WHITE
::sarcastic:: Yes, I'm sure that's precisely why he's come. He came to play a game of chess.
Clark hesitates, more than slightly confused.
CLARK
To be honest, I don't really know why I'm here.
HENRY BLACK
You don't know? Well isn't that bizarro? How could you not know? You're obviously here for a reason.
Henry White gruffly clears his throat.
HENRY WHITE
I beg your pardon, but I am attempting to concentrate here.
HENRY BLACK
But it's Clark. We mustn't be rude. He's our friend.
HENRY WHITE
He's your friend, not mine.
HENRY BLACK
Oh, you're just irritable, Lord only knows why. You're winning. Just look at the board.
Henry Black motions to the piece positioning on the board.
HENRY BLACK You have me.
HENRY WHITE
Or maybe that's just what you want me to think.
HENRY BLACK
Don't ignore your favorable position just because you're afraid of me. That's giving in to your opponent.
HENRY WHITE
Can I ignore you?
HENRY BLACK
::insulted:: No. You can't.
After much deliberation, Henry White makes a move using one of the white chess pieces.
HENRY WHITE
Your move.
Henry Black barely even glances at the board before moving one of the black chess pieces.
HENRY BLACK Your move.
Henry White seems confused and goes back to thinking. Henry Black turns back his attention to Clark.
HENRY BLACK
Well, don't be shy, Clark. Stay a while. Pull up a chair.
Henry Black motions towards nothing in particular. There are no chairs.
CLARK
I think I'll just stand.
HENRY BLACK
Hm. Suit yourself. Just don't say I didn't offer.
CLARK
I won't.
HENRY BLACK Of course you won't. That's what I like about you, Clark. You're a real stand-up guy.
Henry Black laughs at his own joke, nudging Henry White from across the board.
HENRY BLACK
Get it? Stand-up guy?
HENRY WHITE
::shakes head:: You're not funny.
HENRY BLACK Yeah? And you're ugly.
Clark interrupts.
CLARK
Can I ask you a question?
HENRY BLACK
Absolutely.
CLARK What is this place? Where am I?
HENRY BLACK
That's three questions, Clark, not one.
CLARK
What?
HENRY BLACK You asked me if you could ask a question. That's the singular form of the word, and in asking, you had actually already asked one question. Your other two makes three.
HENRY WHITE
You're just being difficult now.
HENRY BLACK I'm trying to explain the situation.
HENRY WHITE
You're doing a lousy job.
HENRY BLACK I'd like to see you do better.
Clark again interrupts.
CLARK
Can I ask you several questions then?
HENRY BLACK Ah, see that? He's learning. Go right ahead, Clark.
CLARK
What is this place?
HENRY BLACK You mean you don't know?
CLARK
Not really.
HENRY BLACK Well, why not?
CLARK
I don't.
HENRY BLACK
Well, how'd you get here?
CLARK
I don't really know "how" exactly. I was.
Now Henry Black interrupts.
HENRY BLACK
You don't know how?! Get a load of him! He doesn't know!
HENRY WHITE
Give him a break, will ya? He's just asking you a simple question. Just answer the poor guy.
HENRY BLACK
Okay, okay.
Henry Black looks up at Clark, subverting his amusement for the time being.
HENRY BLACK You. are here.
CLARK Here?
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: Here.
CLARK
Could you be a little more specific?
HENRY BLACK Specific how?
CLARK Where's here?
HENRY BLACK
What do you mean where's here? Here is where you are. There was a point when you were not here, you left that place, and now you're here.
Henry White makes a move using one of the white chess pieces.
HENRY WHITE
Check.
Henry Black looks at the board, a newly developed furrow in his brow.
HENRY BLACK
Hmm. Didn't see that coming.
CLARK
Maybe I should rephrase the.
HENRY BLACK
Shh. One second, Clark.
Henry Black deliberates for just a few seconds longer than last time before making his move. with one of the white chess pieces.
HENRY BLACK
Your move.
HENRY WHITE
Wait a minute! You can't do that. That's one of my pieces.
HENRY BLACK
But I'm you.
HENRY WHITE
So?
HENRY BLACK
So, that makes it one of my pieces too.
Henry White goes to argue, but is ultimately left to grumbling under his breath when he can't think of a counterpoint. He goes back to thinking on his next move.
HENRY WHITE
::grumbling:: Now you're just making the rules up as you go.
Henry Black turns his attention back to Clark, but not before smiling wryly in Henry White's direction.
HENRY BLACK
Okay, so what were we talking about? Oh, that's right, here.
CLARK
Right. What is this place?
HENRY BLACK
Well, I guess that would depend on your perspective. Where we are now is really just defined by where we were and where we're going to. Though, I suppose the beginning and the end are always the easy parts. It's the path that connects the two that gets a little confusing. So, I guess to answer your questions, you have to ask yourself where were you and where are you going?
Clark thinks a moment.
CLARK
I was at the old Cabot Farm looking for my Dad. I found this blue flame and, when I tried to get to it, there was a bright flash of light. The next thing I knew, there was this big ball of fire just hovering in mid- air.
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: A portal entrance.
CLARK A portal?
HENRY BLACK
It's used to transport things, in your case people, across great distances.
CLARK
I got pulled inside. That's when I found myself here. This place, it's like a big maze. I feel like I've been wandering around for hours.
HENRY BLACK
You probably have been, although, time is sort of a subjective thing in here.
CLARK
So, you're saying I'm inside this portal?
HENRY BLACK
You are on the path, which is exactly where he wants you to be.
CLARK Who?
HENRY BLACK
Fate.
CLARK
Fate? Is that a person?
HENRY BLACK
::nods:: Doctor Fate, a very powerful and very dangerous mystic who would like nothing more than to see you live out the rest of your days wandering around in this godforsaken labyrinth of his.
CLARK But why? I don't even know this Doctor Fate.
HENRY BLACK Because, Clark, he knows that your stories, yours and his, are intertwined. He knows that where yours is just beginning, his has reached its twilight. Where your story begins, his must end.
CLARK Why?
HENRY BLACK
Who's to say? That's just how these things happen. But he believes that as long as he can keep you on the path he can continue to avoid his destiny, because as long as you're on the path, you're neither at the beginning nor are you at the end. That's why he's setup this little playhouse for you. and me. There's always a beginning and there's always an end. just like there's always an entrance.
CLARK
And always an exit.
Henry Black nods.
CLARK What are you doing in here?
HENRY BLACK
::smiles:: That's actually a slightly more involved question than you probably know. You see, I'm not actually here.
CLARK
You're not?
HENRY BLACK No. What you see before you isn't the Henry that you've come to know and love, not at all. You see, that Henry is actually an entirely different person than I, and he.
Henry Black motions across the table at Henry White.
HENRY BLACK
.used to be. I wouldn't expect you too. You see, my real name isn't Henry Jones.
CLARK
It isn't?
HENRY BLACK
::shakes head:: My true name is Henry King, and I, not too unlike yourself, was blessed with some rather extraordinary abilities in life.
CLARK
::worried:: I don't know what you mean.
HENRY BLACK
Oh come now, Clark, there are no secrets here. I know who, and what, you are and I know where you're from. I know everything about you, which is probably even more than you know yourself. It's also how I know about your powers. Unlike you, however, I was slightly less discrete with my abilities. I became overconfident. I felt as if I was invulnerable. I was wrong.
CLARK
Fate?
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: Very perceptive. As I said before, he is very powerful and he could simply not accept that there were those in this world with power to rival his. That is why he stripped my mind clean, separated my identity from my body, and shattered it into a million pieces, scattering the remnants about the labyrinth . That is why you see two of me here and will undoubtedly encounter more of me as you make your way through this maze. I am very literally my own best friend.
CLARK
What are you exactly?
HENRY BLACK
I am a piece of a much larger puzzle, as is my counterpart here.
CLARK And the Henry I know?
HENRY BLACK
The Henry Jones you know is merely the shell of my former self, a new identity implanted within him by some of the more ambitious psychiatrists at Arkham Asylum in Gotham City. My mind wiped clean, my body was sent there for rehabilitation. After four years, I was released with a clean bill of mental health to the care of my foster parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Jones. Unfortunately, Henry Jones remains unaware of his past, and his rather unlimited potential, and so has been condemned to live out an all too normal existence in the not-so-normal town of Smallville.
CLARK
Then, he doesn't know what Doctor Fate did to him?
HENRY BLACK
He is completely unaware of the crimes against his soul, though, I suppose that is for the better. I, however, remain constantly aware of the trials of his life through the last shred of mental telepathy I managed to salvage from Fate's otherwise quite efficient raping of my mind.
CLARK
I'm sorry.
HENRY BLACK
It's not your fault, Clark. Besides, it seems you have qualms of your own with the much beloved Doctor Fate.
He understands Henry Black perfectly.
CLARK
Fate has my father?
It was more a statement of fact than a question.
HENRY BLACK ::nods:: He is holding your father prisoner on the other side of the portal. The only way you can save him is if you find your way through the labyrinth, past the mystic's illusions, and find the portal exit.
CLARK
Then, there is a way out?
HENRY BLACK
Of course there is. I've seen it. well, part of me has seen it, anyway. I'm not exactly sure which part, anymore. It's been so very long. I'm sure you'll run into me, or him as it were, along the way, though. Find the right me, and perhaps you might be able to convince him to you find the way out. Of course, Doctor Fate will undoubtedly do his very best to make things all but impossible for you along the way. Just remember, there is always a beginning and there is always an end; not even Fate can change that.
CLARK
If you found the exit once, why didn't you leave yourself?
HENRY BLACK
What would have been the point? I am incomplete and I've no body to return too. I've already met my destiny. Yours. yours is still very much before you.
Henry White goes to move one of the black chess pieces, sparking Henry Black's notice.
HENRY BLACK
What are you doing?
HENRY WHITE
I'm making my move.
HENRY BLACK
You can't do that. That's one of my pieces.
Henry White grins, thinking he's smart.
HENRY WHITE
But I'm you.
HENRY BLACK
Right, but it's not my turn.
HENRY WHITE
But. you're me. and it's my turn.
HENRY BLACK
Well, if I'm you, and it's your turn, that means it's my move.
Henry Black makes a move with one of the black chess pieces.
HENRY BLACK
Checkmate. I win again.
HENRY WHITE
But. No! Wait a minute. You. You're cheating!
HENRY BLACK
How am I cheating?
HENRY WHITE
::angry:: You're making up the rules as you go!
HENRY BLACK
You're just mad because you lost. again!
Henry White stands up out of his chair and, in a fit of rage, slaps the remaining pieces of the board onto the floor.
HENRY WHITE
This is why nobody wants to play with you, because you cheat. All you care about is winning, and as long as you get to make up the rules, you get to win every time!
HENRY BLACK
I can't help it if you're all sore losers.
HENRY WHITE
Sore losers?! Go to hell!
Henry White turns and walks away from the table.
HENRY BLACK Where do you think you're going?
HENRY WHITE
Anywhere but here! You'll just have to find someone else to play with. I'm leaving.
HENRY BLACK
Fine! Leave then! I didn't want to play with you anymore anyway!
Henry White storms off and disappears around a corner, retreating into the labyrinth.
HENRY BLACK Honestly, I never knew I had the capacity within me to be such a crybaby. Well, Clark, it looks like it's just you and me. Care for a quick game?
Thoroughly taken aback by the confrontation, Clark shakes himself a bit to snap himself back into the moment.
CLARK
Maybe. some other time?
HENRY BLACK
Oh, that's right. You probably want to start looking for you father. Well, that's understandable. I suppose I could probably just sit here and play by myself.
Henry Black merely glances at the board the pieces, including those from the floor, magically reappear in their starting positions. He moves one of the black pieces.
HENRY BLACK
Can't say it's very much fun, though. I've played enough of these games to know my every move. If you do decide you're up for a game, do feel free to come back, though. I don't think I'll be seeing myself for a while after that tantrum.
CLARK
Aren't you going to help me find my way out?
Clark waits for an answer that never comes as Henry Black sits, by himself, moving both the black and white chess pieces about the board in succession. Intent on the game, it's as if he suddenly completely oblivious to Clark even being there.
Frustrated, confused, and a little angry, Clark takes a preparatory breath before turning the corner and moving deeper into Doctor Fate's Labyrinth.