6. Serenia, part 2
Scene 1
As the STRANGER walks through the stone forest, her attention is drawn to a small circular pool by the side of the path. As she watches, a shapeless, transparent form with nothing but eyes and a mouth rises briefly out of the water, before sinking back down again.
STRANGER: Oh look, it's Casper the Friendly Ghost!
NECKLACE: No, that's a water spirit. You need to find one for Wind.
STRANGER: (Rolls eyes) OK, suspension of disbelief getting close to breaking point here...
She continues down the path until she reaches a circle of grass surrounded by stones. A similar SPIRIT, this time apparently composed of dust, appears in it.
STRANGER: I can't believe I'm doing this. (She cringes, mortified, then attempts to keep a straight face as she addresses the SPIRIT) Oh, Great Spirit of Wind... will you agree to be my guide in the Dreamworld?
The SPIRIT does not answer.
NECKLACE: You've got to make an offering to him, remember?
STRANGER: Oh, yes. So where do I get one?
NECKLACE: Well, you know those sparkly trees that shed dandelion seeds everywhere?
STRANGER: You mean the ones that look like something from a five-year-old's drawing of Fairyland? I thought they were just for decoration.
NECKLACE: No, those seeds are the offerings. Just catch one in your hand and take it to the spirit.
The STRANGER returns to the last tree she saw to catch a dandelion ball, then brings it carefully back to the SPIRIT. As she holds it out to him, a heavenly-sounding chorus begins to play. There is a sudden blinding flash... and the SPIRIT vanishes in a shower of green sparks.
STRANGER (uncertainly): Does that mean he liked it?
NECKLACE: Well, you'd better hope so. Otherwise you're going to have a major Wind problem. (Quickly) No, seriously, if you don't have a guide you might get lost in Dream and be stuck there forever. And believe me, you do not want that to happen.
STRANGER: (Suddenly suspicious) Why? What's it like, this Dream place?
NECKLACE (blithely): Oh, I couldn't possibly tell you that. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for you.
STRANGER (sarcastically): Oh, thanks a lot, Necklace. Remind me to have you melted down when we get back home, will you?
Scene 2
The STRANGER enters the Memory Chamber and ascends the stairs to the top, where there is an uncomfortable-looking stone bed. By its head stands ZANIKA, one of the Protectors.
ZANIKA: Time seems to be against us. Fortunately there is little I can say to prepare you for what you are about to experience – the mirror realm is different for everyone who travels there. (She holds out her hand, in which are a couple of small white pills.) Here, take these and lie down on the bed.
STRANGER (uneasily): You know, I promised my mother I'd never do anything like this...
ZANIKA: Oh, don't worry. Only about one person in 10 gets really bad side effects. (She hands the pills to the STRANGER, who very reluctantly swallows them and lies down on the stone slab.)
ZANIKA: Normally I would remain until you return, but with everything that's happened today I cannot. So you'd better have this. (She hands the STRANGER a sign that says 'I ATEN'T DEAD'.) There is a variety of sugary snacks waiting for you downstairs, should you have need of them later. Enjoy!
STRANGER: Hang on, don't g- (But ZANIKA has already left.)
The STRANGER stares up at the ceiling, and everything starts to go blurry. Music begins to play, bright lights and swirling clouds appear, and figures presumably representing the three spirits dart around in their midst. Then, PETER GABRIEL's voice begins to sing...
PETER GABRIEL: Ohhhhh, draw the bliiinds, we can shut out the night... Pull up the blankets, pull the blankets up tight...
STRANGER: (Beginning to panic) My God, what's happening? Make it stop! Get me out of here!
The clouds morph into a never-ending tunnel of fire, rushing towards the STRANGER at a terrifying rate. PETER GABRIEL continues to drone on in the background.
PETER GABRIEL: And there are angels on our curtains; They keep the outside out...
STRANGER: (Now really terrified) Zanika? Necklace? Somebody please help me!
The strange hallucination continues for an inhumanly long time. At long, long last the music fades away and the lights disappear, leaving the STRANGER in total darkness. As she lies there, shaking and gasping for breath, the voice of the SPIRIT is heard.
SPIRIT: Not what you expected, is it, Traveller?
STRANGER (breathing heavily): Look, whoever or whatever you are, will you just tell me what I have to do so that I can get the hell out of here?
SPIRIT: (Pompously) You are here because you want to find the answer to something that troubles you. Why, then, wouldn't Dream seem dark and mysterious at first?
STRANGER (through gritted teeth): Look, I am most definitely not in the mood for this psychobabble stuff, OK? Just. Tell. Me. What. To. Do.
SPIRIT (plaintively): But I only want to be your friend!
STRANGER: (Trying to stay calm) All right then. In that case, could I have some light here, please?
SPIRIT: Very well. I shall light this darkness for you, and lead you to the ones you call the Ancestors.
A distant light appears, gradually growing brighter and brighter. Then it fades, and small lights in all colours of the rainbow appear around the STRANGER.
STRANGER: (Begins to calm down.) OK, so how do I communicate with them?
SPIRIT: The Ancestors are willing to shape Dream for you, but they need your help. By brushing against each one, you can impart some of your own energy to it. This will place each Ancestor in closer harmony with the others; when all are as one, their combined wisdom will reveal the answer you need.
STRANGER: Huh?
SPIRIT: (Sighs) Just try to turn all of them white, OK?
The STRANGER brushes her hand over some of the Ancestors. As she does so they cycle through a series of colours: red, purple, blue, cyan, green, yellow, white.
STRANGER: OK, this doesn't look too difficult...
Actually, the puzzle turns out to be considerably more difficult than she had thought. What's more, every time she makes a mistake she is forced to start again from the beginning. What seems like hours later, she is close to tears...
STRANGER: Aaaaarrgh! I can't do this! What the hell were they thinking, putting in a stupid puzzle like this?
SPIRIT: Look, you can't blame them. It was a perfect opportunity to include a random puzzle that doesn't need to be integrated into the plot or environment in any way.
STRANGER: Tell me about it. (Pleadingly) Look, couldn't you just give me the message? Pleeeeease? If I spend one minute more on this puzzle I think I'm going to go completely insane.
SPIRIT: Well...
STRANGER: I'll be your friend!
SPIRIT (relenting): Oh... all right then. Pay attention, for you will never see this revelation again!
A bright white light appears ahead of the STRANGER. It separates into two smaller lights, each of which becomes a triangle of colours.
STRANGER: Hang on... this is the big revelation I've been waiting for? It's just a bunch of colours!
SPIRIT (solemnly): The answer has been seen – there can be no turning back. Goodbye, traveller, until we journey together again!
The light grows brighter, and the Dreamworld fades away.
Scene 3
The STRANGER wakes and sits up shakily, her eyes like saucers. She stumbles down the stairs and out of the chamber, where ANYA is waiting for her.
ANYA: Ah, you've returned. Did you find the answer you were looking for?
STRANGER: Well... sort of. But it didn't make any sense...
ANYA: What a shame. (Holds out her hand) Well, that'll be thirty dollars, please.
STRANGER (bewildered): What?
ANYA: You didn't honestly expect us to give you that stuff for free, did you? It doesn't come cheap, you know!
STRANGER: But... but I don't have any money!
ANYA: Oh dear. (Smiles nastily.) Big Steve gets very annoyed when people don't pay...
STRANGER: (Desperately) So what am I supposed to do?
ANYA: (Begins to grin) Well, for a start, you could try and get our life-stone back for us. Try looking in the old Memory chamber on the other side of the island. (Walks to the door of the chamber.) I must stay here and protect the memories until this crisis is ended. Oh, and don't even think about trying to leave Serenia until then, understand?
She begins to close the doors. At the last moment, she turns back to the STRANGER and puts on her 'mystical' voice again.
ANYA: I wish there was another way... but in all of our dreams, the last task always fell to you.
She smiles sweetly, then slams the door in the STRANGER's face. The STRANGER remains completely still, a shell-shocked expression on her face. Finally, breathing in deeply, she manages to speak.
STRANGER: Never, ever again. (Looks up at the sky) You hear me, Atrus? This is absolutely, categorically the last time I ever try to sort out one of your family crises. They're your children, remember? If your brats start blowing things up or killing people or kidnapping each other again, you can bloody well sort it out yourself!
She stomps off, still snarling to herself.
Scene 4
The STRANGER makes her way to the old Memory Chamber on the other side of the island. Her attention is drawn to one of the stone statues along the path.
NECKLACE: Ting!
The voices of SIRRUS and ACHENAR are heard. Their discussion clearly took place before they became trapped in the Prison Ages.
ACHENAR: Remind me again why we chose Hippy Dippy Wonderland as our home base?
SIRRUS: Because the 'Protectors' here only protect the place in the daytime. Apparently it didn't occur to them that intruders might be sneaky enough to come here at night. (They both snicker.) Anyway, it leaves us free to carry out our plan once they've gone home.
ACHENAR: Oh, yeah. (Pauses for a moment) Just what is our plan, anyway?
SIRRUS: (Groans in exasperation) One more time, you moron, it's... (Hesitates) You know, I'm not actually sure either. Something to do with Father's books, maybe? Ah well, it's probably not important...
The voices fade away.
STRANGER: Huh? What was that about?
As she puzzles over this, the door to the Memory chamber suddenly opens and SIRRUS steps out. As the STRANGER looks up at him in horror, an expression of recognition spreads over his face...
SIRRUS (shocked): It's you!
STRANGER: (Backing away nervously) You... recognise me?
SIRRUS: Ah, yes. The one who failed to believe my story on Myst, condemning me to twenty years' solitary confinement on a lifeless, windswept rock in the middle of nowhere. (He gives her a horrible, sickly smile.) Still, no hard feelings, eh?
STRANGER (uncomfortably): Um... glad to hear it.
SIRRUS: (Suddenly remembers himself) Anyway... thank God you've come! (Clasps his hands together) Achenar's kidnapped my little sister. He says he'll kill her if I don't help him steal Serenia's treasures!
STRANGER: (Bursts out laughing) Serenia's treasures? You're joking. What the hell is there here that's worth stealing?
SIRRUS: Er, well... nothing, of course. That... that just shows you how crazy he is! (He takes a step forward, and the Stranger backs away again.) Listen, I know you have no reason to trust me –
STRANGER: Too right.
SIRRUS: You saw me blow up the harvester, but I only did it to stop Achenar from poisoning the memory chamber! His confinement on Haven drove him totally insane - all he cares about now is destroying everything Father created. (Pleadingly) We have to stop him!
STRANGER (warily): So what do you want me to do?
SIRRUS: Go back to Tomahna and find my father - explain everything that's happened here. Maybe if you bring him here, the three of us can somehow manoeuvre my sick brother into a trap! I'll try to get Yeesha away from him while you're gone. (Dramatically) Now go. Go, before it's too late!
He hurries back into the chamber, slamming and locking the door behind him.
STRANGER (acidly): Nice performance, Sirrus. It might have been semi-convincing if I hadn't seen that little bomb-making factory of yours on Spire. (Suddenly a thought strikes her.) So is it possible to bring Atrus here?
NECKLACE: It should have been, but they cut that bit out. (The STRANGER looks disappointed.)Anyway, you can't leave Serenia yet. Big Steve, remember?
STRANGER: Oh yeah. Damn. (Shrugs) Well, I guess I'd better get inside the chamber and see what's really going on here...
She continues down the path that leads to the old harvester.
