BATTLE FOR POWER
PROLOGUE Part 3
Ext: Darien and Serena are by the lake kissing.
Jay'a: (passing by) Hey, hey, hey, no suckin' face in public.
Serena: (sticks her tongue out)
Darien: Don't you have someplace to be?
Jay'a: You forget, I'm paid to be here. Bye kids. And keep it clean, huh? (she smiles, waves, and keeps walking; a few minutes later she sees a flash of light and then pink; she turns just in time to see the pink-haired wonder, complete with meatballs, fall from the sky onto Darien) Oh, this should be fun.
Int: Jay'a and Rini in the arcade, after several battles with the four sisters. Light music plays in the background.
Rini: (sips her chocolate milkshake) What do you want?
Jay'a: What makes you think I want something?
Rini: I hear you at battles. You don't like me anymore than Serena or Sailor Moon does. So why else would you agree to baby-sit?
Jay'a: I offered because, contrary to popular belief, I do like you. You're smart for a five-year-old. Smart and plucky. You remind me of my niece and nephew. They're five. And to prove the point, you're quite right, I do want something. I want to know where it is you really came from, and I want to know what you want.
Rini: I already told everyone, I want the Silver Crystal so I can go save my mommy.
Jay'a: And where is your mommy?
Rini: At home.
Jay'a: Which would be…?
Rini: Not here.
Jay'a: I see. So how did you get your hair into pointy meatballs like that?
Rini: Don't make fun of my hair! It's my mommy's hair; Serena stole it. And I told her so too.
Jay'a: Did you? And does your mommy have pink hair too?
Rini: No. It's yellow. Nyah.
Jay'a: (thinking) She's only five, she's only five, she's only five…
Int: Arcade, a few days later.
Andrew: Hey Darien! Why so glum today?
Darien: (mumbles) I broke up with Serena.
Andrew: (pauses) I'm sorry, what?
Darien: I broke up with Serena.
Andrew: Why? You guys were the perfect couple. It's like you were destined for each other.
Darien: (under his breath) You have no idea.
Andrew: What?
Darien: Nothing. It's just that, well, it's really complicated. I don't think I can talk about it.
Jay'a: (enters) Finally! Adult company. What's up guys?
Andrew: Darien broke up with Serena.
Darien: Thanks Andrew.
Jay'a: Do I have to ask, or should I just guess?
Darien: I don't love her anymore.
Jay'a: (pause) All right, I'll bite. Why?
Darien: I told you, I don't love her anymore. (grabs his coat and leaves)
Jay'a: He's a worse liar than my boyfriend is. I'll catch up with ya later Andrew.
Ext: Park bench. Jay'a's reading a magazine.
Luna: Good morning Jay'a.
Jay'a: Morning, Miss Paranoia. Getting an early start at jumping at shadows, are we?
Luna: (bristling) For your information, I was making sure Serena and Rini got off to school all right.
Jay'a: Oh yeah? They make it on time?
Luna: No.
Jay'a: (snorts)
Luna: Haven't heard much from you lately.
Jay'a: What's to say? What's left of those four crazy sisters haven't really done anything overtly stupid. Yet. Unless you count showing up in a poor costume five minutes before they do something. Then again that's old news and if the girls haven't figured it out by now, I say, why bother, it's not worth the effort.
Luna: What confidence.
Jay'a: And anything that I could hint at to the girls I've already done a bazillion times. Rini this, Rini that, the four sisters, where they came from, blah, blah, blah. Personally, I find this Darien/Serena business much more fascinating. They've been at this for what, two weeks now? And I still don't know why he did it. I just haven't been able to catch him by himself yet. But when I do, he'd better be talkin'.
Luna: An interesting opinion. I thought you didn't want them to date?
Jay'a: I don't. Doesn't mean they can't be friends and date later, when Serena's not a minor. Oh, and as long as you were just leaving, do me a favor and look up the word "pedophile" in the dictionary.
Luna: I know what it means.
Jay'a: Do tell. (collects the magazine) see ya 'round cat.
Int: Arcade.
Jay'a: Any luck in the Darien department?
Serena: No.
Jay'a: Well, if you want my advice –
Serena: I don't particularly want your advice.
Jay'a: Have you asked him why?
Serena: Of course I have! A hundred times. And I get the same answer every time. 'I don't love you anymore.' I just don't understand.
Jay'a: How did you ask?
Serena: What?
Jay'a: Were you typical Serena: a whiny, sniffling, bawling-your-eyes-out junior high kid, or were more like me: calm, cool, and professional?
Serena: Of course I was crying. I was - am - upset.
Jay'a: A hundred yen says he'll tell you if you do it my way.
Serena: (angry music) Bet! (leaves the arcade)
Andrew: (when she's out of hearing range) You're going to cheat now, aren't you?
Jay'a: (grinning) Oh Andrew, 'cheat' is such a harsh word. I prefer to think of it as giving the inevitable a good swift kick in the butt.
Ext: Park.
Jay'a: Darien! Lovely to see you again.
Darien: What do you want?
Jay'a: Such cruel words! Could it be that your anger at me stems from a hatefulness of self at having ditched your pretty little princess?
Darien: Don't you have somewhere else to be?
Jay'a: Why'd you do it? And if you give me that 'I don't love her' crap, I swear by all that is holy in any religion you can think of that I will make your nose grow.
Darien: (giving a defeated sigh) I've been getting these dreams. I see us at our wedding, but there's some catastrophe and she's torn from me. A voice in the dream tells me to stay away from her or she'll die.
Jay'a: Interesting. Who is the keeper of this voice?
Darien: I don't know. It's male, familiar, but I don't know. One night I woke up from this and looked at a picture of us. The glass cracked and she slumped over right in the picture. I looked away, and when I looked back, it was back to normal. I have to keep her safe. I have to stay away.
Jay'a: (gives him a small push and he falls over)
Darien: Ow! What was that for?
Jay'a: You really are something else. Why don't you just tell her that? At least then she'll know you're doing this because you do love her.
Darien: I can't. She wouldn't accept it. Besides, it's really easy not to tell her when she comes up all whiny and sniffly-nosed.
Jay'a: Well, hell, if she came up to me all whiny and sniffly-nosed I wouldn't give her the time of day. But if she came calm and cool, then we could have a normal discussion. I want you to promise me that if she approaches you like a normal person, you'll tell her. You owe her that much, anyway.
Darien: Oh, all right. You win.
Jay'a: Good. (sits) So why do you think you're getting these dreams?
Darien: Maybe someone is sending them to me. Though, I can' understand why someone who knew us would want to keep her safe by separating us. It's counterproductive in more ways than one. It just doesn't make sense!
Jay'a: Another reason to let everyone in on your secret so we can help you out. Now look, I just remembered that I promised to meet my friend Angela for lunch. I gotta go, but I'll see ya tomorrow. Don't forget your promise.
Darien: Right…Maybe.
Jay'a: Maybe?! (Darien disappears) 'Maybe' my ass. We'll see how he likes being cold for a while. (waits for a bout twenty seconds, when a crowd comes into the park) Uh oh, can't bring him back now. Guess I'll have to send him somewhere else and bring him back later.
Int: A desert town, early afternoon. Something John Williams-esc floats through the air.
Woman's voice: Excuse me, are you all right? See, you just appeared out of no where looking a bit befuddled. (extends her hand) Oh, Mares Fleeceson.
Darien: (accepts the hand) Darien Chiba. I'd tell you about my friend Jay'a, but you probably wouldn't believe me.
Mares: Jay'a? Oh, Jay'a!
Darien: You know her?
Mares: Oh sure. We go way back. So, what'd you do to make her mad and end up here?
Darien: I'm not sure exactly. I was in some snowy, icy place first –
Mares: Hoth? Jeez, you did piss her off. Come on, let's go inside before someone comes along asking annoying questions. (she leads him to a modest house on a side street and offers him a seat and a drink)
Darien: (tells her the compressed version of events) …and here I am.
Mares: She was frustrated with you. And with every right to be. She was quite right. You should tell her.
Man's voice: (as door opens) Hi Mares.
Mares: Hey Luke, come on in. Luke this is Darien Chiba, one of Jay'a's friends.
Luke: (thoughtfully) Oh yeah. Sailor Scouts, isn't it?
Darien: That's right. Um, can I ask you a question?
Luke: Shoot.
Darien: Jay'a keeps telling us she has a boyfriend named Luke, but some of the girls don't believe her. Are you her boyfriend?
Luke: (throws an eyebrow up at Mares) No.
Darien: Does she even have a boyfriend?
Luke: Well, I should certainly hope not. (Darien looks confused and Luke grins as Mares hits him with a balled up paper napkin)
Mares: I think it's time we sent our boy home, don't you?
Int: That evening, outside Darien's apartment.
Serena: (stands up straight, takes a deep breath, and knocks on the door) Darien?
Darien: Serena. What do you want.
Serena: (firmly) I want to know why you are avoiding me. You owe me that much and I would very much like to avoid repeating any mistake I made the next time I have a boyfriend.
Darien: (blinks a couple times) We need to talk.
Ext: Tokyo sidewalk.
Jay'a: (sees Amy, Raye, Lita, and Mina) Hello ladies. You seem to be lacking in numbers today.
Amy: Rini's home and last night Serena went to Darien's apartment. Poor girl.
Mina: I know. She's just going to keep getting her heart broken. I'm the Goddess of Love. I know about these things.
Jay'a: Pessimists.
Mina: You think they'll get back together?
Jay'a: I'll betcha a hundred yen.
Raye: I'll take that bet!
Lita: Me too.
Mina: Me too.
Jay'a: Hey Blue, you in?
Amy: I don't bet.
Jay'a: Come now, consider it giving your opinion some weight.
Amy: Oh fine. It's only a hundred yen.
Jay'a: Ha. Suckers.
Lita: Hey, there's Serena.
Raye: And Darien.
Jay'a: Serena! You're up awfully early this morning! It's only 11:30!
Serena: Shut up! Did you beat up my boyfriend in the park?
Jay'a: I'm sorry?
Serena: (slowly) Did you beat up my boyfriend in the park?
Jay'a: Is that what he told you? I didn't beat up anyone. I pushed him; he fell over. That hardly qualifies as beating someone up.
Serena: Oh, and here's your stupid hundred yen. Thanks for cheating.
Jay'a: Woman, I did you a favor.
Raye: You knew they'd be back together when you made our bet!
Jay'a: Jeez, the one time I make an active effort to help…
Darien: And were you only trying to help when you forgot to bring me home yesterday?
Jay'a: Dude, I knew I forgot something. Nobody's perfect.
Darien: Your friend Mares had to send me home.
Jay'a: You met Mares? Isn't she the greatest?
Darien: She's nicer than you are. I also met Luke, your "boyfriend".
Raye: Hah! So we were right!
Darien: Not only did he say that he wasn't your boyfriend, but also that you didn't even have a boyfriend.
Jay'a: He told you that?
Darien: That's right.
Jay'a: He is so way too literal sometimes. Either that or he's just trying to be a dick head to me again. But I'm sure you guys wouldn't understand.
Int: Raye's temple.
Mina: I wish we knew who Rini's mom was. It would help a lot in protecting Rini.
Lita: We know she's from Crystal Tokyo. And we know she's called Small Lady. Maybe that's a reference to her mother.
Jay'a: (whistles something foreboding)
Raye: (throws a pillow at her) Can't you do something useful?
Jay'a: What, and get yelled at again? Besides, if I were to be useful, you would have no reason to think for yourselves. (Rips a piece of paper from one of Raye's notebooks)
Raye: What are you doing?
Jay'a: (scribbles on it and folds it into a tight Chinese football) This little piece of paper contains your much sought after answer. I'm going to give it to Amy because I know she's the most trustworthy, responsible, and reliable member of this team. Amy, can I trust you, can I have complete faith in you that you will neither look at this paper, nor give it to someone else?
Amy: Um…I …guess so.
Jay'a: That wasn't very definitive.
Amy: Yes. Yes, you can.
Jay'a: Good. I want you to keep this paper on you at all times. You never know when I might ask you to take a gander at it.
Int: Crystal Palace
Jay'a: So…wait. You're telling me that this crystal of yours just up and walked away?
King Endymion: That is correct.
Jay'a: (gives Darien a disbelieving look) Uh huh. This is the voice you couldn't identify? Should I start being scared now?
King Endymion: Sailor Moon, Tuxedo mask, there is something else you should know about Rini.
Jay'a: Hey Amster, why don't you have a look-see at that paper.
King Endymion: Rini is the Princess of Earth. She is your future daughter.
Sailor Moon: This little rugrat is my daughter? No way!
Sailor Mercury: Incredible. Everyone, listen to what this paper says. It says: Princess Serenity, Serena Tsukino, Sailor Moon, Neo-Queen Serenity, and Rini's mother are all the same person.
Jay'a: In that order, no less.
Sailor Mars: Thanks for telling us now. What's the point in that?
Jay'a: The point was that I knew and you should've too. You guys are smarter than that. You knew she was from the future, you knew her hair style came from her mother, you could infer that she lived in the palace and that she was important to Crystal Tokyo from the way Sailor Pluto treated her, and you knew she had some sort of power. It wouldn't have been much of a stretch to guess that her mother was the Queen. Most queens were princesses at some point. The only high level princess you know is Serena, which ties in with the hair thing. Add to that her attachment to Darien and it makes that much more sense.
Sailor Mars: I'm not talking to you anymore.
Jay'a: You never did talk to me.
Int: Diamond's hidey-hole.
Diamond: You will be my Queen! (ominous music plays)
Serena: No! Never!
Jay'a: Hey dude, you do know that she's only fourteen right?
Diamond: Who are you? And where did that damn music come from?
Jay'a: And you can't be any less that eighteen. She is a minor. You are not. That is illegal.
Diamond: What about him then? (points to the newly arrived Tuxedo Mask)
Jay'a: I tell him that all the time. Just because he's stupid and ignores me doesn't mean you have to. (music lightens)
Serena: He's not stupid! He's my Prince!
Tuxedo Mask: We love each other!
Diamond: I love her! And I'm a Prince!
(The three argue until after a few minutes, they hear the music change from lilting orchestral to a solid rock beat. They all look at Jay'a who is in her own little world singing and dancing around.)
Jay'a: 'One two, Princes here before you,
(That's what I said now)
Princes, Princes who adore you,
(Just go ahead now)
One has, diamonds in his pockets
(That's some bread now)
This one, he wants to buy you rockets
(Ain't in his head now)
'This one, he got a princely racket
(That's what I said now)
Got some, big seal upon his jacket
(Ain't in his head now)
Marry him, your father will condone you
(How 'bout that now)
Marry me, your father will disown you
(He'll eat his hat now)
(bridge) Aww, marry him, or marry me,
'I'm the one that loves you baby, can't you see?
Ain't got no future or family tree –
But I know what a prince and lover ought to be
I know what a prince and lover ought to be…
(chorus) 'Said, if you want to call me baby (just go ahead now)
An' if you want to tell me maybe (just go ahead no)
If you wanna buy me flowers (just go ahead now)
And if you'd like to talk for hours (just go ahead now)
(repeats first verse, bridge, and chorus)'
(There are several seconds of complete silence after the song ends. Everyone stares at each other)
Serena: (turns to Tuxedo Mask) Darien, what kinds of flowers do you like? I'd like to buy you some.
(Jay'a cracks up on the floor while Serena smirks triumphantly. Darien is turning red trying not to laugh and Diamond is glaring angrily around the room trying to figure out when and how exactly it was that he lost control of the situation.)
Ext: Middle of the street. Sapphire approaches to talk to Diamond as the Scouts, Tuxedo Mask, Wiseman, and Wicked Lady look on.
Sapphire: Can't you see brother, that Wiseman is deceiving you?
Jay'a: (runs in urgently) Everyone stop! Be quiet! Listen!
Sailor Mars: What do you think you're –
Jay'a: Shut up Raye. Just listen. (everyone looks around with expressions ranging from curiously awed [Serena], to somewhat annoyed [Wiseman], to genuinely pissed off [I give you one guess].) It's quiet. No yelling. No screaming. No stupid dialogue. Let us all bask in the glory that is silence. (she is rewarded for a few more seconds)
Sailor Mars: IS there a point to any of this?
Jay'a: (pause) Well, I thought that since we were all in the same place at the same time, a rarity in and of itself, I might take the time to explain how silly all of this is.
Sailor Mars: Since when do you explain anything?
Jay'a: (ignoring her) You see, Diamond, your surprisingly smart younger brother is quite correct: Wiseman really doesn't care about any goal you have. All he wants is to kill Sailor Moon, get her Crystal, and destroy the Earth. I haven't quite figured out why yet, but that's not really important. What's important is that it's not going to work.
Wiseman: Fool! I am more powerful than you realize!
Jay'a: Yeah, well, power doesn't do you any good if you're not smart enough to use it. I would have thought that people capable of time travel would have at least some idea of how it works. But obviously you do not. You might, and that's a big might, have been able to pull this off if you hadn't done what you did with the kid, but once you did that you really screwed yourself over. Especially if you planned on keeping her around. I mean, you might as well pack up and leave now, 'cause you're done.
Wiseman: Why you –
Jay'a: Oh, wait, here it comes.
Wiseman: Insolent brat!
Jay'a: It came. (grins) But listen, it's all very logical. You want the Rini, the Crystal, and to destroy Earth, am I right?
Wiseman: Right, but –
Jay'a: And in order to do that, you need to get rid of Sailor Moon, am I right?
Wiseman: Right, but –
Jay'a: Let me tell you what happens when you, of the future, kill her, of your past. Without her, Crystal Tokyo will never be created. Studley here won't have anyone to marry. Rini will not be born, so you're already down one thing that you want. Everyone else from the future, like our darling brother pair and that troupe of sisters will not exist either. So by this point, not only do you have no minions, you have no Crystal Tokyo or Earth to bother with so the you who started out attacking Crystal Tokyo will have no reason to stop doing what he was doing before that. Leaving with exactly what you had before, nothing. But you can't let her live either 'cause she's not gonna give up. Eventually she'll either die, or do you in. It's physically impossible for you to win anything here. Go home, right now.
Sailor Mars: Why are you telling us this?
Jay'a: Time travel is not exactly a common occurrence. My progression of logic is not something I would have expected anyone to pick up on. Except the Wiseman since he seems to be in charge of the whole time travel affair. I find that very disappointing.
Sailor Jupiter: But your logic didn't really make any sense.
Jay'a: I realize that too. You have to understand that this is what I do for a living. Not time travel specifically, though I do see it on a semi-regular basis. I've decided that I don't really care for it. But I do these types of odd situations and explanations all the time. I know it's not easy to understand. Hell, I don't get it half the time. But I understand enough to know that it's not really something you want to be messing with unless you're looking to screw yourself over. (she shrugs) Check it out, I'm earning my paycheck today.
Ext: Last battle.
Jay'a: (watches as the Scouts and Darien battle Wicked Lady and eventually bring her back to the Land of the Semi-Normal. Rini rejoins the fight after having remembered what happened to her mother's Crystal.) Well, that's dumb. The little squirt had it the while time. Theoretically none of this had to happen… Where do I find these people?
Ext: Dock by the pond where Rini first appeared. The Scouts have said their good-byes.
Jay'a: You're a smart, plucky little kid. Don't lose that. Well, you can ditch most of the little kid part at some point. But hold on to the smart and plucky parts.
Rini: I will. Thanks Jay'a. It sure wasn't boring with you here.
Jay'a: Yeah well, I try. Now I want you to go home, stay outta trouble, and especially, be nice to your mom. Got that?
Rini: Sure thing Jay.
(Jay'a steps way back as Rini and Serena say their good-byes. Everyone waves as Rini travels back to the future.)
Mina: Wow, it'll be so quiet without Rini here anymore.
Serena: I'm going to miss her.
Darien: But not forever.
Jay'a: I think I shall take my leave of you as well.
Raye: It'll be loud again tomorrow when Jay'a comes back with something new to harass us about.
Jay'a: (chuckles and shakes her head) No, no, I'm taking off for good. We won't have to put up with each other any more Raye, aren't you excited?
Lita: You're really leaving?
Amy: Has it been six months?
Jay'a: More than that I think. But it's not like I need to be here. I barely had enough to complain about to keep me busy this last time around. You guys met the cavalry and did well with it. Not something I would have expected from the way you guys started out. That's good stuff. Besides, Luke says I spend too much time here and should come home.
Raye: You're non-boyfriend.
Jay'a: Okay, ya caught me. He's not technically my boyfriend.
Raye: I knew we could get her to admit it before she left!
Jay'a: See actually, we're married. (silence reigns)
Darien: (mutters) 'I certainly hope not.'
Jay'a: What?
Darien: That's what he said when I asked if you had a boyfriend.
Jay'a: Oh, that was just him being a dick. He knew perfectly well what you were talking about and that you would come back and tell me. But anyway… I really should be going. (she turns and then turns back) Oh, Serena?
Serena: Yes?
Jay'a: That flower shop on River Street is having a sale. (she grins and winks at Darien)
Serena: (she and Darien laugh) Thank you Jay'a.
Jay'a: Good luck guys. (she waves as she disappears into the park)
Silence floods.
Raye: I wonder if we'll ever see her again…
