Episode 5
SCENE 1
(The screen is still black.)
Kestrel: CROW!
(The camera fades in from black to show Crow about to leave the camp as the other girl shouts after her. Crow turns around and raises an eyebrow.)
Kestrel: I know you have a soft spot for the outcasts at the warehouses, but today I need you to do something for me, rather than walking around minding your own business. You're still a member of our tribe, aren't you?
Crow (frowns): Of course I am. Why are you like this?
Kestrel: I was just wondering. You hardly spend any time here and Sparrow saw you yesterday down by the creek.
Crow (angry): You let her spy on me?
Kestrel: No! Sparrow is our scout, she always knows what's up in the woods. You know that.
Crow: I also know her. Maybe I should have a word with her, when I come back.
Kestrel: Do what you want, but I think it's time we've made our proposal to the Mallrats. You go and talk to them. If they're interested in an alliance, I'll come with you to seal the deal.
Crow: Consider it done.
(Crow turns to walk again, but Kestrel holds her back.)
Kestrel: And you come straight back.
Crow: Why? Is it because you don't like Bray?
Kestrel (snorts): It's not about him or you for that matter. While you were busy yesterday, Vulture was in the city and picked up some gossip, we need to talk about as a tribe.
Crow: Fine, I'll be back as soon as I've talked to the Mallrats.
(She turns away and runs off. Kestrel looks after her, shaking her head as the camera cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 2
(Ruby is walking along the corridor, when Darryl walks out of his room. A wide grin appears on his face as he sees her.)
Darryl: Hey Ruby!
(The blonde girl turns around and smiles when she recognizes him. She stops to let him keep up with her.)
Ruby: Darryl.
Darryl: Couldn't sleep?
Ruby: What? No, I had a good night.
Darryl: I just thought because you were going outside in the middle of the night. I happened to see you leave.
Ruby: No, I was just checking up on Ram.
(Darryl puts an arm around her as they start to walk together.)
Darryl: You know, Ruby, if you ever get lonely, I...
Ruby (cuts him off): Don't even think about finishing that sentence, Darryl.
(She pushes his arm away.)
Darryl: I just thought... you know, to get your mind of things.
Ruby: Darryl, I like you, but we're just friends.
Darryl (shrugs): It's not like I'm in love or anything. You're just a babe.
Ruby (shakes her head): You're unbelievable, Darryl.
(She walks away leaving him to stand alone. Camera zooms in on his face, before cutting to the next scene.)
SCENE 3
(Ryan walks out of his tent with a bag slung over his shoulder. Dale and Brina are standing there together with Sebastian to say goodbye.)
Sebastian: You were a great addition to our tribe, Ryan.
Brina: It's sad to see you leave.
Ryan: I'll miss you. You guys were great. How long are you staying?
Sebastian: We're leaving today. There's nothing left for us here.
Dale: I'll remember you, you were a great friend.
Ryan (smiles): The same goes for you.
(They hug and pat each other on the backs, then Ryan turns around and walks into the city.)
SCENE 4
(Gel, Sammy and Lottie are enjoying their breakfast together as Jay and Amber walk in with Bray jr. They sit down at the same table and Gel throws Jay a dirty look before storming out of the café. The others look after her in confusion.)
Amber: What was that about?
Lottie (shrugs): Gel's a drama queen, she doesn't need a reason to be like that.
Amber: True.
(She sits Bray down in a high chair and starts feeding him.)
Sammy: Maybe she just wasn't happy with your tribal markings or your hair today.
(They laugh, but Jay drinks his coffee in silence.)
Amber: Jay? What's wrong?
Jay (sighs): Gel and I... we had a little fight while you were gone.
Amber: What?
Sammy: What about?
Jay: She said something in her usual way and I snapped.
Amber: What did you say?
Jay: Only the truth.
Amber (stern): What did you say?
Jay: That she was selfish and a brat. I know I shouldn't have, but...
Amber: You go apologize to her now!
(Sammy and Lottie look at each other as the conversation turns to the bad. They excuse themselves and walk out of the café.)
Jay: No, I'm not. I'm not sorry.
Amber: You should be! That was horrible to say to her. You can't blame her for being upset.
Jay: But she is selfish and I helped her to see that.
Amber: You apologize or you sleep on the floor tonight.
(She turns away from him and Jay shakes his head in disbelief before storming off.)
SCENE 4
(May approaches Salene's room. She knocks.)
Salene OV: Come in.
(May quickly walks in and closes the door carefully behind her. Salene tries with a smile but it soon fades, when she realizes how upset her friend is.)
May: Salene, I know you don't want to hear about it, but I love you.
Salene: May, I...
May (cuts her off): No, I talk now. I've tried to see you just as a friend, but I can't do it. It breaks my heart to see you everyday without being able to be with you.
Salene: I understand that feeling, May, but I can't change how I feel about you.
May: I know. That's why I decided to go.
Salene (shocked): You're leaving?
(May nods and looks away sadly, tears starting to form in her eyes.)
Salene: I don't want you to leave because of me. I'm sorry for making you feel this way.
May: It's not your fault. How could I be this stupid, I...
Salene: No, don't beat yourself up about this. I shouldn't have kissed you in the first place.
(May stands up abruptly and walks over to the door.)
May: It doesn't matter any more. I just wanted you to know. To say goodbye.
(Salene looks at her worriedly and tries again with a smile.)
Salene: I'll miss you. You're my best friend.
(May wipes away a tear and leaves the room, when she's gone. Salene starts to cry.)
SCENE 5
(KC and Kayla are walking through the entrance hall to the doors.)
KC: So let's see what our new home is like. You'll join me?
Kayla: Sure I do. You'll probably need me to save your neck anyway.
KC (snorts): How did you get that idea?
Kayla (laughs): Just the stories I heard since we got here.
(He laughs now, too, as they push through the doors and walk outside. The sun is shining down on them.)
Kayla: So what are you looking for, KC? A bar or a casino?
KC: None of that. I'm just checking the city out.
Kayla: Sure. Then I'll do the same.
KC: Did you have any plans?
Kayla (shrugs): I always liked books and as I was a slave, I don't have any books.
KC: Books? Really, Kayla, you have no idea of how to enjoy yourself properly.
(Kayla rolls her eyes, the camera stays fixed as the two of them walk past. KC drags her along.)
KC: I'll show you.
(The camera fades to black.)
SCENE 6
(Ryan is nearly at the hospital when he looks back at the alley again, where he was sure to see Bray the other day. He stops and stares for a while.)
Ryan (shakes his head): If it was him, he'd be with the Mallrats not chasing around with some girl.
(He moves on then, and the camera cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 7
(Camera is back with KC and Kayla. They pass empty buildings and people from other tribes. They get to to the school and the library and stop to look at it.)
KC: Guards in front of a school? Who would ever want to get in there so badly?
Kayla: You're unbelievable, KC. Look, the kids are happy.
(She points at a group of kids walking past the guards, chatting and laughing.)
KC: They're probably brainwashed.
Kayla (swats him lightly): Some people like to learn. I think it's a great idea to have a school running.
(Out of the shadows behind them a boy with brown hair and blue streaks in it steps out. His iceblue eyes linger on them, as a crooked smile appears on his face.)
Noel: It would be, wouldn't it?
(Kayla and KC jump and turn around. KC looks him up and down in dismay.)
KC: Who are you?
Noel: The name is Noel. The Consilium rule the school, they rule what kind of information is going out and what not. Yesterday they dropped the bomb that they're responsible for the Technos disappearance. They said they blew up the city and the Technos with them.
KC: That's a lie!
Noel: I thought so, too, but what makes you so sure?
Kayla: Our friends could escape the explosion, they know what really went on.
Noel: Well, then it's your word against theirs. And the Consilium are so nice people everyone knows they stand for honesty and knowledge, why would they lie?
KC: But they do!
Noel (shrugs): And nobody will believe your accusations.
(Camera pans around their faces before cutting to the next scene.)
SCENE 8
(Jay is pacing up and down in front of Gel's door. Finally he lets out a sigh and knocks. From inside a voice asks him in. As he enters Gel's smile fades and her face drops.)
Gel (snaps): What do you want? Any new insults you want to throw at me?
Jay: No, Gel, it's not like that.
(She lets out an annoyed noise and turns her back on him.)
Gel: Whatever it is, I don't wanna hear it. I'm selfish enough to just not listen to you.
Jay: Stop it, Gel! I'm here to apologize. You just rubbed me the wrong way and I said these mean things. I didn't mean it.
Gel: It still hurt, doesn't matter if you meant it or not.
Jay: I'm sorry. I didn't want you to feel bad.
Gel: Yes, you did. Why else would you've said those things.
Jay (shakes his head): You know what, Gel, if you can't even accept a simple apology, then leave it. I can't do anything else than feel sorry.
Gel: Right, I'm that selfish brat that doesn't accept your apology. Because you only do it, to feel better.
(Jay lets out a groan and storms off, slamming the door on his way out.)
SCENE 9
(Ryan arrives at the hospital, as he walks in, Ebony is just making her way to the café. She stops as she sees him.)
Ebony: Ryan, now we finally meet, too.
Ryan: You've been busy the last days, Ebony.
Ebony: Yea, helping with the search, you know.
Ryan: Really? I wouldn't have expected you to.
Ebony (smiles): Well, I've changed since we last met. It's good to have you back.
Ryan (confused): Thanks, Ebony. It's nice to hear that from you.
(She shrugs and keeps on walking, leaving Ryan to look after her in confusion.)
SCENE 10
(In the school Kaelem and Dima are both standing in the classroom. Dima is leaning against the wall leaving the talking to him.)
Kelly (cont.): So you hacked into their computers and then?
Kaelem: Well, it's hard to understand if you don't know anything about computers. I found that they had made a new version of the Virus and then we discussed it. We all made our points about the benefits and the downsides of releasing it.
Kian: You killed a whole city.
Kaelem: Yes, but we tried out best to evacuate the people. We used the City Net for a broadcast.
Tony: If so, how come the Technos didn't hear about it.
Kaelem: They did, but we had them trapped in their headquarters. They couldn't escape.
Kelly: Don't you think that was a little drastic?
Kaelem: You might say that, but there was more in their computers. Apart from lists about slaves and deleted people we also found plans for the future. They planned to make everyone their slaves and to use their zappers more freely. You know they had the resources to do it.
(The children start to talk under themselves and Kaelem shares a smile with Dima.)
SCENE 11
(Crow bursts into the hospital, heading for the café, without waiting for anyone. Slade, Lex and Ebony are sitting there talking. All three of them get up. Crow smirks and stops in her tracks.)
Crow: Well, if I haven't just run into the moody part of the tribe.
Lex: Shut up, Crow, what do you want?
Crow: I need to talk to Amber, is she around?
Lex: Why?
Crow: It's none of your business. Something I only discuss with the leader.
Slade (rolls his eyes): I'll go get her.
(He walks out leaving Crow with the other two, who look more then displeased with her.)
Ebony: What are you anyway? All you do is deliver messages.
Crow: Kestrel only comes to meetings when it's important, she has better things to do.
Lex: Like what?
Crow (smirks): Keeping the tribe together so we don't have to go looking for them.
(Lex raises his hand to slap her, but Ebony holds him back.)
Lex (snaps): Fuck you!
Ebony: Leave it, she's not worth it.
Crow (mocking): Yea, Lex, leave it. You don't want to get on my bad side.
(The camera zooms in on Lex's angry face before cutting to the next scene.)
SCENE 12
(Ryan has settled in into his new room, next to Kayla and Slade and Ebony. He's unpacking his clothes as a faint knock makes him turn around. May leans in the doorway with a sad look but a small smile on her lips.)
Ryan (concerned): May? What is it?
(She hesitates and takes a few steps into the room. Her fingers are trembling and she can't look at him.)
Ryan: May, what's wrong?
May: It's... I'm leaving.
Ryan: Why?
May (shakes her head): I don't want to talk about it. What I want to know is where I can find the Nomads.
Ryan: You want to join them?
(May nods and looks away again.)
Ryan: They're nice people, just don't let everyone see your weak spots. They're at the outskirts of the city, just always go to the west, and hurry. They're leaving today.
May: Thank you, Ryan.
Ryan: It's okay, although I'd rather you stayed.
(May walks to the door and turns around one last time.)
May: I can't. I'm sorry I have to leave when you just came back.
(She leaves and Ryan looks after her confused, but shakes his head and goes on unpacking.)
SCENE 13
(Slade returns to the café with Amber and Jay. The two men sit down and Amber stands next to Lex.)
Amber: Crow, I didn't expect to see you around here again so soon.
Crow (smiles): Don't worry, I'm not here with bad news or to ask more annoying questions.
Lex: Well, you didn't pop in on us to have a nice chat either.
Crow: No. Kestrel wants to form an alliance between our two tribes. After the Technos she doesn't trust the peace in the city and she wants to be prepared.
Ebony: And why doesn't she find friends in the other tribes?
Crow: The Astros are fruitcakes and we had our differences in the past and the Consilium... well they're no big help when it comes to a fight.
Lex: What do you mean with differences with the Astros? You said they were no harm.
Crow: Not to you, but as we're an all-female tribe...
Lex (cuts in): Nice!
(The three girl glare at him, before Crow goes on.)
Crow:...an all-female tribe and we know to survive with nothing. They think we're witches.
(Lex and Slade chuckle and Amber raises an eyebrow.)
Amber: Witches? Really?
Crow (shrugs): They're loonies, I told you that. A year ago they captured me and wanted to burn me alive. You know like they did in the old times.
Amber: What?! That's barbaric.
Jay: How did you get out of there?
Crow (dryly): With my witchcraft. Well, I'm not here to tell you stories about the Astros, but to hear your answer.
Amber: We don't even know your tribe, how can we decide that then?
Crow: I'm just here to hear if you're interested and if so, Kestrel will come by herself and talk everything over.
Amber: I can't decide that by myself. Our tribe is based on democracy, we will vote on this.
Crow: Well, I don't have much time, so hold your vote now.
(Amber nods and turns to Jay.)
Amber: Do you mind getting the others?
Jay: I'll be right back.
Crow: I'll be outside, call me when you're ready, but don't take too much time.
(She walks out and the camera fades to black.)
SCENE 14
(At the warehouses Bray is pacing back and forth. When the doors open he looks up excitedly, but his smile fades as he realizes it's just Noel walking in. The other boy walks up to him with a grin.)
Noel: Waiting for the little birdie, huh?
Bray: She said, she'd come by.
Noel: Yea, well, you know girls. I have news about the city outside though.
Bray: What's that?
Noel: The Consilium have started to teach the kids lies and there's no one who can prove it.
Bray: What do you mean?
Noel: They're saying they got rid of the Technos. They saved our lives from a lifetime of imprisonment, slavery and many many deaths.
Bray: How do you know they are lying?
Noel (rolls his eyes): The Consilium are smart, but smart people are often really good at lying. If it were true, why only tell the kids? Why not make it public? This way they're going to be heroes of the city and appear modest at the same time.
Bray: But the Consilium are liberal, they are not interested in power.
Noel: Looks like they are now. They've been playing the good guys for far too long. There are only three tribes they haven't infiltrated yet, well and us of course, but they don't know about us.
Bray: And that's how we're going to keep it. If you are right, maybe we should update our security.
(The two boys start to walk out together to check on the gates.)
SCENE 15
(Camera fades back in on the Mallrats gathered in the café. Amber stands in front of them.)
Amber (cont.): That's all we know about the Harpies and now they've asked us to form an alliance with them. The main point would be in a time of danger, but if we do I want to pursue a friendship with the girls and maybe also trade. So everyone who's in favour raises their hand.
(Amber and Jay's hands go up immediately. In the end it's only Lex, Ebony, Slade and Ram against it, but they're outvoted.)
Amber (smiles): Good, then it's decided. Kestrel will visit us soon so she and I can talk about this. Of course I'll inform you immediately. Sammy, go and get Crow in here, so we can share the outcome of the vote with her.
(Sammy gets up and runs out to get the girl from the Harpies.)
SCENE 16
(May's back in her room. Her bags are packed. She stands in front of her bed with a picture of all the Mallrats in her hand, with a finger she strokes the face of Salene, before letting it fall to the ground and turning around. She leaves the room and the camera zooms in on the picture on the floor before cutting to the next scene.)
SCENE 17
(Some of the Mallrats have left the café after the voting. Sammy returns with Crow, who stops in the doorway and looks expectantly at Amber. She crosses the arms in front of her chest.)
Crow: So?
Amber: We voted on it and we decided that we're interested.
Crow (nods): Good, I'll tell Kestrel. She should be paying you a visit in the next few days.
Amber: We'll be looking forward to it.
Crow (smiles): See you around.
(She turns on the spot and leaves.)
Lex: I still think it's a bad idea. What if they all got a temper like this one?
Jay: You're not making it easy for her, Lex. Besides they wouldn't have asked for an alliance if they weren't interested themselves.
Lex: That's what you say. Maybe these Astros aren't so wrong about them as she says.
Amber: Lex, shut it! I don't want you to talk bad about her and especially not about a whole bunch of people you haven't even met yet.
Lex: Just making sure, in case I won't have time to do it, when they stab us in the back.
(Amber rolls her eyes and Lex pushes past her out of the café. The camera cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 18
(Salene is leaving the café and heading for her room. Camera zooms in on her to show a figure walking behind her. As the camera moves closer we see it's Ryan.)
Ryan (shouts): Salene!
(The young woman turns around, a slight smile forms on her lips as she recognizes Ryan. She stops and waits for him to catch up to her.)
Salene: Ryan, what is it?
Ryan: I was wondering if we could talk. In private.
Salene (frowns): Uh... yea, sure. Come on.
(The pair walks in silence until they reach Salene's room. She motions for him to sit down and takes a seat next to him on the bed. He wrings his hands with an insecure smile on his lips, he looks up at Salene.)
Salene (worried): Ryan? What's the matter? I'm not going to bite your head off.
Ryan: You don't know?
Salene: Should I?
Ryan: When the Chosen took me away, it was because of you and the baby. What happened to our baby, Salene?
(She looks away, pain in her eyes as she remembers. A Flashback of her and Alice fighting and her falling down the stairs.)
Salene: I had an accident...
(Tears are forming in her eyes now. Flashback to her and Luke as he tells her she lost the baby.)
Salene: I fell down the stairs and lost the baby.
(Ryan's eyes widen in shock as he stares at her. His mouth opens to say something, but no words come out. Salene starts to cry soundlessly and he puts a hand on her shoulder as he also has tears in his eyes.)
SCENE 19
(Ruby stands in the corner next to the café entrance. Alice and Trudy walk out and her eyes follow them until somebody else leaves the café. Ruby pushes herself up and catches up with Ebony. The other girl gives her a dark look but keeps on walking casually next to her. Instead of heading down the corridor where their bedrooms are, she walks outside. After she made sure they're alone she grabs Ruby and pushes her into the building.)
Ebony: I'm not letting go of Slade. Not for a slutty bargirl like you.
Ruby (snaps): Oh you will! Or he'll just dump you either way, you're not going to play happy family.
Ebony: No that was your plan, wasn't it? Too bad, you can't be a family without a baby.
Ruby: Is this even about him, or are you just too proud to let him go?
Ebony: What's it to you? You're not getting him. He had you already and that didn't make him fall in love with you.
Ruby: He doesn't even know who you really are, so don't flatter yourself.
Ebony: And you like the peace in this place way too much. You haven't told anyone the truth yet, have you?
Ruby: No, but if you're not breaking up with Slade in the next days, I will.
Ebony: See if I care.
Ruby: Three days and we'll see how much you do.
(She grins and pushes Ebony away to walk back into the hospital. Camera zooms in on Ebony's face. Her expressions changes from fury to worry.)
SCENE 20
(Crow looks pissed while she's running through the woods, but lets the expression fall when she reaches the tree houses. All the other Harpies are already gathered around the camp fire. Crow steps into the circle and faces Kestrel.)
Crow: The Mallrats have decided to form an alliance with us. They await our visit within the next few days.
Kestrel: Great. I'll be deciding when I go and who to take with me. Sit down, Crow. We have something else to discuss.
(Crow raises an eyebrow at her friend, but sits down next to her in silence.)
Kestrel: Vulture, would you mind sharing what you heard with the whole tribe now?
Vulture: Sure (she stands up) I was down by the school, you know, where the Consilium live and they teach the kids of the city. Well, what I heard is, what they teach the kids. They are claiming to have caused the Techno's downfall. Some computer stuff, you know.
(Kestrel motions for her to sit down and gets up herself.)
Kestrel: I can't say for sure if this is the truth or if they are lying, but when all the city believes them, we'll be faced with a new hero and probably leading tribe of the city.
Vulture: That's just what they want, isn't it?
Kestrel (nods): I think so, too. A few of you might know that I had a visit from Kaelem the leader of the Consilium. He wanted me to send the younger members of our tribe to their school.
Dove: What's so bad about that?
Kestrel: Can't you see it, Dove? They get all the kids to believe them and then they are telling it to their tribe and soon the whole city will believe them.
Dove: It's just... I never thought the Consilium wanted the attention.
Kestrel (smiles sadly): Kaelem has always wanted the attention, but he has always been patient enough to wait for the right time.
Vulture (frowns): How do you know?
Kestrel: I've known him a long time.
(Camera cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 21
(KC and Kayla walk in to the hospital. They've been out the whole day and are now discussing what they heard about the Consilium.)
Kayla (cont.): Why? Shouldn't we tell Amber? She's the leader.
KC: Sure she is, but I've always been more comfortable with Lex.
Kayla (shrugs): As long as you promise me, we're going to tell her, too, no matter what Lex says.
KC (rolls his eyes): Sure... boy, you can be annoying.
Kayla (smiles): Someone has to keep you on track.
(KC remains silent and pulls her with him to Lex's room which is right next to the café and the entrance hall. As they enter Lex is lying on his stomach on his bed and lazily opens one eye.)
Lex (grumpy): Get out, I'm sleeping!
KC: Then wake up, we have something to tell you.
(Lex slowly sits up and looks at them expectantly. Kayla stands behind KC and lets him do the talking.)
KC: We were in the city today and we heard a rumour about the Consilium. They're telling everyone that they defeated the Technos.
Lex: So?
KC: It's not true.
Lex: Yes, and them telling lies is a problem why?
KC: Because everybody believes them.
Kayla: They are praising themselves and gaining popularity among the city. Soon everybody will swoon over them.
KC: We should tell them the truth.
Lex: Really? And why would they believe us?
KC: Because it's the truth.
Kayla: KC, don't be so stupid. He has a point.
Lex: Yea, KC, don't be so stupid. There's nothing we can do about it just now.
KC: So you won't do anything.
Lex: I will, but we can't prove anything without evidence.
Kayla: We should get the rest of the tribe in on this.
Lex: First of all, you're not a member of the tribe yet and second, we shouldn't make a bigger deal out of this as it already is.
KC: Lex, stop it. After this week, Kayla will be a member and there's no question about that.
(Lex shrugs and the camera turns to black.)
SCENE 22
(Noel and Bray have come inside the warehouses again after they've checked on the security. They head down to the far end of the warehouse they all sleep in and walk through a door into a smaller room with rations. The two men sit down on boxes.)
Noel: I've also been thinking. We agreed that the warehouses should stay a secret, but I still think we should be more active in the city. Get our opinions heard.
Bray: How would you do that? We're not even a real tribe and all the others would just suffer more.
Noel: Maybe if we could get someone in here? I mean get in some new people, who'd help protect them.
Bray: That would mean, we'd have to trust strangers.
Noel: We could start with people we already trust. Maybe some of the Harpies would stay. Hummy is always here.
Bray: Yes, but that's because she has to check on the others recently. Gabe has this thing with his lungs since the mines collapsed. Sheryll's stitches still need treating now and then and then we have people like Maria.
Noel (sadly): She won't make it.
Bray: No.
(There is a small silence between them, before Noel puts a brave face on.)
Noel: Another thing we have to talk about. What do we do with her body? We can't dig a grave.
Bray: I've though about burning it.
Noel: We could do that, but the smell is very intense. I think you should talk to Crow about another way when she comes.
Bray: I will.
Noel: So about being more effective...
(The camera pans out as Noel discusses his ideas and fades to black.)
SCENE 23
(The Harpies are still sitting around the campfire discussing the Consilium. Vulture stands up.)
Vulture: I think we should make a statement. Tell the people what we think and that we don't agree with the Consilium.
Kestrel: You mean, you want to be the opponent?
Vulture: Yes. It's either that or let them do what they do and then someday we have to pay for it.
Crow: But what should we do? We have no evidence so we don't have any arguments against what they're saying.
Vulture: We don't have to. We should just undermine them while they're still weak.
Kestrel (frowns): And you think picking a fight is wise? It could upset the rest of the city rather than benefiting.
Dove: Kestrel's right. Maybe we should wait.
Vulture: And what then? Maybe it's too late then.
(The girls burst out in conversation, but fall silent again, when Kestrel gets up and lets out a shrill whistle.)
Kestrel: Listen! I'm going to discuss this matter with the Mallrats, too. If we're going to form an alliance, we can't just go out and start a fight without talking to them about it. We would drag them in with us.
Vulture: Then make them join in.
Sparrow: Don't be stupid, Vulture. We won't make anyone join a fight if they don't want to.
Vulture: I would. Either that or don't form an alliance with those people.
(Camera zooms in on Vulture's face before cutting to the next scene.)
SCENE 24
(Most of the Mallrats are gathered in the café eating. Trudy walks in with a worried look on her face. Amber frowns.)
Amber: Trudy, what's wrong?
Trudy: It's May! Her room is empty, she's gone.
(The other Mallrats are shocked, except for Salene and Ryan.)
Amber: But where could she have gone?
Ryan (coughs): She asked me for the Nomads. I thought she'd say Goodbye to everyone before she left.
Trudy: You told her to go?
Ryan: No! She asked me where the Nomads are and I told her. She said it was unbearable for her to be here and she wanted to leave.
Amber: But why?
Salene: She wasn't happy with living in the city any more. We spoke before she left.
(Trudy gives her a sceptic look, but remains silent.)
Alice: Why did she leave without a word?
Salene: May was never good with goodbyes.
Lex: What else would you expect from a former stray?
Amber: I guess, you're right.
(Camera pans around the Mallrat's faces as the news of May's disappearance sinks in. The camera then cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 25
(Camera cuts in to show May walking out of the city. She gets to the outskirts where the Nomad Camp has been. The tents are already pulled down, but the tribe is still there packing the last few belongings. May walks up to them. Brina is the first to set eyes on her.)
Brina: What do you want? You're a bit late for trading.
(May smiles and shakes her head.)
May: I'm not here to trade. My name is May, I'm a friend of Ryan.
(Dale hears the mention of his friend's name and joins them.)
Dale: What about him?
May: Nothing, he's fine. I got the directions from him. I want to join the Nomads.
Brina (smiles): We're always happy for new members, especially when they're friends of our friends.
(She puts an arm around May and leads her to Sebastian. Throwing the bag she was packing to Dale, who just rolls his eyes.)
Brina: You just say Hi to Sebastian first. He needs to stay ahead of things here.
May: Thank you.
(They walk away from the camera. Moments of May's last day with the Mallrats flash across the screen, before the camera fades to black.)