Episode 14
SCENE 1
(Camera fades in on the Liam's face as he is pinned to the ground by Vulture and Noel. She raises her fist to punch him again, but one of the others guys grabs her hand and Noel gets off Liam.)
Noel: Don't we need him conscious.
Vulture: I'm so not surprised to see a Consilium. I thought the whole thing with Kaelem rescuing Amber stank.
Liam: Mind getting off me.
(She grumbles something and gets off. The two other guys grab him by both his arms and drag him into the apartment the Harpies were held captive in. Noel closes the door as good as possible and the guys make Liam kneel while Noel and Vulture stand in front of him.)
Liam: You know someone will come looking for me.
Vulture: Sure and if you don't behave, they'll even find your sorry ass... in pieces!
Noel: Vulture, keep it down.
Vulture: What, I didn't come here to play nice with this dickhead.
(Noel gives her a weak smile then turns back to Liam.)
Noel: So we know you're a Consilium, so tell us what you wanted the girls for.
Liam: I don't know.
Vulture: Of course you don't. How convenient. Maybe I should help jock your memory?
Liam: All I know is that taking Amber was a mistake. Kaelem wanted Kestrel.
Vulture: For what?
Noel: To scare your tribe and give up resistance, I guess.
(Liam nods, fear in his eyes now. He is clearly more scared of Vulture than what Kaelem might do to him.)
Vulture: So what's his big plan?
Liam: He doesn't tell us. Maybe he tells Dima, but not us.
Vulture: I don't believe you! With a little encouragement every little birdie learns to sing.
(Vulture kicks him in the groin, but Noel holds her back, when she tries to strike a second time.)
Noel: I don't think he's lying. Kaelem is a smart guy, he wouldn't risk someone spilling the beans in a situation like this.
Vulture: So what are we going to do with him?
Noel: We could let him go.
Vulture: No!
Noel: What then?
Vulture (smirks): He gets what he deserves and then we take him to the Mallrats and let him sing his song. We can't let Kaelem fool them.
(Noel steps back as Vulture takes her revenge on Liam.)
SCENE 2
(Amber feeds Bray Jr in the café, but stares into space absent minded. She doesn't notice Gel, Lex, Darryl and Trudy with Brady walking in. They chat among themselves for a while until Trudy notices Amber standing there. She leaves Brady with Gel and walks over to her friend. Comfortingly she puts a hand on her shoulder.)
Trudy: Hey, how are you doing? I heard about you and Jay.
(Amber snaps out of her stupor and looks at her friend, tears glistening in her eyes, but she fights them back.)
Amber: I guess everybody has by now.
Trudy: Yea, I guess. Do you want to talk about it.
Amber: There's nothing to say. It's for the better, we both know that, but it still hurts. (her voice cracks) He means so much to me, Trudy, I never meant to hurt him.
Trudy: Don't feel guilty for this, Amber. A breakup always involves two people.
Amber: Yes, but... No, this is my fault.
(She glances over at the other Mallrats, but they are out of earshot. Still she lowers her voice as she continues.)
Amber: He asked to marry me and I said no.
Trudy (shrieks): WHAT
Amber: Shh!
(The others look over to them interested, but can't hear anything.)
Amber: I just couldn't. He said, we should be a family and I couldn't do it.
Trudy: Because of Bray?
Amber (nods): Until KC came with the news that he wasn't dead after all, I thought I had moved on, but now I know that I haven't. And yes, I know he's with someone else and that he doesn't remember a thing, but I still can't let him go.
(Trudy wraps her arms around her and soothingly strokes her back.)
Trudy: It's okay. Jay is a reasonable person, he'll understand eventually.
Amber: He does already, but it hurts him. This is a pain, he doesn't deserve.
Trudy: Nobody does, but bad things happen and they make us stronger. You couldn't stay in a relationship with him and think about Bray, that would've been even worse.
Amber: And yet that was what I tried to do. I was going to string him along. If he hadn't broken it off, I'd probably have stayed with him.
Trudy: Amber, that's wrong? Why?
Amber: I couldn't hurt him like that and... I do love him in a way. I just got used to him always being there for me.
Trudy: You have the whole tribe, you don't have to depend on him.
(Amber smiles at her.)
Amber: Thank you. This really helped.
Trudy: That's what friends are for.
(She walks back to the table where she left Brady with the others.)
SCENE 3
(In front of the hospital, Salene sits on a bench patching a pair of Dylan's pants. Ruby walks out of the hospital, looks up at the sky with a smile then notices Salene sitting there and walks over to her.)
Ruby: Mind if I sit?
Salene: No, go ahead.
(Ruby sits down and Salene puts down her sewing.)
Salene: I haven't seen you around much. How is it going with Slade and Ebony?
Ruby: Nothing has changed with Ebony and Slade and I had a talk. We'll try to figure things out.
Salene: So you're over him?
Ruby (shrugs): Let's say I don't want to be with him any more after all the drama in the past weeks. You haven't told anyone about Ebony pushing me, have you?
Salene (sighs): No, it's not my place.
Ruby: Good, because I just want to forget about it now. It's in the past and we have other things to do than arguing about Ebony.
(Salene nods and remains silent. Ruby studies her for a moment, then puts a hand on her knee.)
Ruby: What's wrong with you? You've been working a lot lately, not standing still for a moment.
(Salene looks at the blonde girl and shakes her head. She resumes her sewing, but starts to speak quietly.)
Salene: It's nothing really. Lately I've just been trying to figure out my place in the tribe. Since May's been gone I lost my best friend and the thing with Ryan. I can't really get over the fact, he's not there for me like he used to. I guess, I'm just a little lonely.
Ruby: That sounds awfully selfish, Salene. The thing about Ryan, I mean.
(Anger rises in the red haired girl, but she knows Ruby is right. So she lets it go.)
Salene: I know, it's just something I've been used to with him.
Ruby: And you shouldn't feel left out. You're a Mallrat from the beginning all of these people are your friends and care for you. (pauses) I'm your friend.
Salene (smiles): With everything going on, it's been a little hard to be friends.
Ruby: Maybe and it's not over yet. Not at all. We have to get this whole Techno thing sorted out.
Salene: We're making ourselves a target by telling the city about Ram and Jay.
Ruby: Probably, but we can't step aside.
Salene: Amber said the Consilium are reasonable. It'll probably not be that bad.
(Ruby looks at her in a way that clearly says, she's not so sure about that.)
SCENE 4
(KC and Sparrow walk into the café chuckling amongst themselves and holding hands. KC starts preparing food for them while Sparrow watches. At a table Lottie, Sammy, Dylan and Chester watch the two of them with surprise. Both Lottie and Sammy look triumphantly at each other.)
Lottie & Sammy (simultaneously): Pay up!
Lottie: What no? He isn't with Kayla.
Chester: Well, he isn't with Gel either.
Dylan: And what now?
Lottie (groans): Guess nobody wins.
Sammy: Oh man, I've got the worst duties this week. Something Lottie could have done.
(Lottie glares at him as he just pokes his tongue out at her.)
Chester: We could make another bet.
Dylan: What kind?
(All four kids ponder the question for a while.)
Lottie: We could bet that Sammy will never get with Gel, but then we'd all win.
Sammy: Hey! I don't want to be with Gel.
Lottie: Yea, sure. That's why you were paroling her door, right?
Sammy: Trudy asked me to do that.
Dylan: Why?
Sammy (shrugs): Don't know. So she could rest.
Lottie: I say the beating did her good. She's been awful.
(All three boys look at her shocked.)
Sammy: Yea, what you just said was just as awful, Lottie. Sometimes I don't like you very much.
Chester: I thought you never like her.
Sammy: We tease each other, but this is different.
Lottie (huffs): Oh then go to your beloved Gel!
(She storms out of the café pouting.)
SCENE 5
(Slade who has been keeping watch over the cameras comes running into Amber's room, who looks at him shocked at the intrusion.)
Slade: Sorry to disturb, but someone's coming.
(Quickly Amber is on her feet and follows him next door to the control room to get a look at the outside camera of the hospital. Letting out a sigh of relief she smiles at Slade.)
Amber: That's just Kaelem and Dima from the Consilium, but thanks for the notice.
(He nods and she leaves the room, picking up Lex on her way to the main entrance. They reach the entrance hall right when Kaelem and Dima walk in. Amber greets them both happily while Lex just watches them and follows them into the café.)
Kaelem: Liam told me you had some concerns about the state of the city, Amber. From what you told us your tribe has been through a great deal and I've come to ask you for some advice.
Lex (snaps): Oh so you're in charge of the city now?
(As the four of them sit down at a table, Kaelem just smiles at him and shakes his head.)
Kaelem: No, but people like and respect me. They listen to me.
Dima: There's no need to be aggressive. We've come here in peace.
Lex: And telling lies!
Amber: Lex! Please, let me handle this.
Lex: Then why did you ask me to come?
Amber (rolls her eyes): Because you would've given me a hard time for not doing it.
Lex (grins): That's true.
(Dima eyes Lex with disgust now, but gets elbowed in the rib by Kaelem and she puts on a smile again.)
Dima: What do you mean, telling lies?
Lex: Taking credit for the downfall of the Technos.
Dima: Kaelem did it. We have proof.
Lex: What kind of proof?
Amber: How did you do it?
Kaelem: I hacked their computer system and I blew up the bomb. I know that a lot of people may have gotten hurt, but I tried to evacuate as many as I could by setting an alarm.
Amber: You know which city that was in, right?
Kaelem: One on the other island.
Lex: So you told him all about our adventures and didn't tell him, that we know he's lying?
(Amber nods, knowing it would have gotten her in danger, if she had told Kaelem in the school.)
Amber: That was our city, our home. There were no alarms, Kaelem. There was no plan to rule the world. Mega actually tried to help us defuse the bomb.
Dima (furiously): Are you saying he's a liar?
Kaelem: That makes your word against mine, Amber. I know, I'm not lying, but what's your reason? Honestly I don't understand this. We showed you nothing but kindness and this is how you repay us.
Amber: I'm grateful to you for getting me out of there, but I don't understand why you're sticking to that story. What's your gain?
(Kaelem and Dima get up and give both her and Lex cold stares.)
Kaelem: Come on, Dima. Seems like I made a mistake thinking the Consilium and the Mallrats could be friends.
Amber: What about the city, though? What are you going to do to stop the terror?
(They just walk, but Kaelem turns at the door and looks at her with a cold smile.)
Kaelem: Since you seem to know everything, why don't you make that your responsibility?
(Amber and Lex stare after them in disbelief and anger.)
Lex: Smug bastard!
Amber: I have a bad feeling about this.
Lex: Me too.
Amber: We have to talk to Kestrel about taking action.
Lex: What about Ellie's news sheet? She is making copies of the interview with Ram. If we release it now, we're going to have an army of those city kids running down our doors soon.
Amber: You're right. We have to keep that one in for the moment being. Although she might not like that.
SCENE 6
(Out in the woods Crow and Kestrel walk back to the camp from the small stream that flows through the forest. They both have wet hair, wear fresh clothes and have no tribal markings what so ever on their face.)
Crow: Nothing better than a bath in the stream. I feel renewed.
Kestrel: Well, somebody is awfully cheerful today.
Crow (grins): Sorry that I'm enjoying my freedom, and I'm going to see Bray today.
Kestrel: I'm sorry for being a bitch about that.
Crow: Already forgotten.
Kestrel: It was stupid really, but you can say I was jealous. I didn't want him to take you away from me.
(Crow smiles at her friend, knowing how hard it was for her to utter those words. She puts an arm around Kestrel's waist and gives her a short squeeze before letting go again.)
Crow: That'll never happen. We promised, you remember?
Kestrel: Of course I remember. Still, you and Bray, who'd have thought.
Crow: You, I guess.
(Kestrel looks at her chuckling.)
Kestrel: You can't hide anything from me, I might even have known it, before you did. I also knew about you fancying Kaelem back in the days.
(Crow looks shocked and stops in her tracks, which just makes Kestrel laugh harder.)
Kestrel: I don't know what you saw in him, though.
Crow: Trust me, I don't know either. I was young...
Kestrel: And stupid?
Crow: No, never stupid.
(They laugh again, but this time Kestrel's eyes roll into the back of her head and she falls to the ground. Crow lets out a surprised cry and kneels down next to her, lightly slapping her cheeks.)
Crow: Kestrel! Come on, girl, wake up.
(There's no response, so Crow puts one of her arms around her shoulder and carries her to the camp side where other Harpies are already hurrying towards them. Dove grabs Kestrel's other arm and they drag her to the fire, where Robin has already put a blanket they can lay her on.)
Dove: What happened?
Crow: I don't know. One moment we were just talking and laughing and the next she fainted.
(She turns to Robin.)
Crow: Get Hummy down here, now!
(The girl runs to find the medic of the tribe and Dove and Crow both kneel next to Kestrel. Dove holds two fingers to the side of her neck to check for a pulse.)
Dove: This is not good. Her pulse is too low.
(Crow pushes the blonde hair out of Kestrel's face and leans in to whisper in her ear.)
Crow: Now don't make anything stupid, okay? Just open your eyes and laugh about the good scare you gave us.
(Hummy comes running and Dove and Crow move away so she has room. She checks for vital signs and then pulls up her eyelids to look at her pupils then sits back, tears forming in her eyes.)
Crow: Hummy, what is it?
Hummy: Her right pupil is dilated while the left one isn't. Her pulse is low and she just lost consciousness all of a sudden. (turns to Dove) How's she been the last few days?
Dove: She's complained about a head ache and seemed to lose balance a few times.
Hummy (mumbles to herself): Dizziness, headache, fainting and the pupils...
Crow: HUMMY! What is wrong with her.
(Tears are now falling from eyes of Hummy as she turns to Crow.)
Hummy: She has a bleeding in the brain. If we're lucky she'll wake up again, but either way she...she..
Crow: She's dying?
(Crow is now pale as she clutches her best friends hand. A quiet murmur goes through the camp as everyone hears the news of their leader.)
SCENE 7
(Gel and Darryl are taking a walk outside in the park. She has her arms wrapped around her and Darryl is eyeing her worriedly.)
Darryl: You okay? Should we rather go inside.
Gel: No, let's stay out here.
(There's a small silence.)
Darryl: Are you going to tell me what happened yesterday?
Gel: Nothing happened.
Darryl: You were bleeding, that's not nothing.
(Gel stops and looks at him.)
Gel: That's what girls do once a month and I had some pain from what that nasty hag did to me. I overreacted.
Darryl: So you're okay now? You're sure?
Gel (smiles): Yes. I am a little cold, though.
Darryl: So should we go inside?
Gel (rolls her eyes): No, stupid. That's the cue for you to put your arm around me.
Darryl: Oh...
(He grins and does as he's told.)
Gel: You still have to take me on a proper date, don't forget that. I can't have a boyfriend who's cheap.
(Darryl sighs as they start walking again.)
SCENE 9
(Meanwhile inside Ellie is more than unhappy about Lex and Amber's decision not to let her publish the newest edition of the Amulet. She paces in her room, while the two other Mallrats watch her sternly.)
Ellie: This is stupid!
Amber: It's for the best of the tribe, Ellie.
Ellie: The Amulet is about telling the truth. We should make those lies stop.
Lex: Is the truth more important to you than our safety? If you hand that stuff out, we'll have guests by the end of the day and they won't be nice.
Ellie: The interview isn't that bad. Ram is actually sorry for his part in this whole thing.
Amber: We know that, that's why he's allowed to stay with us. I just don't think the rest of the city will be as understanding.
Lex: Especially not with the Consilium proclaiming us as liars.
(Ellie opens her mouth to argue, but Amber cuts her off.)
Amber: No, Ellie! You don't publish it and that's final. I want to hear no more of this. There's nothing to argue about. We're in enough danger already without you adding fuel to it.
(The younger girl lets out a frustrated groan as the other two leave. She walks over to the desk where a stack of news sheets already printed. For a while she looks at it, then she picks up the first piece of paper and rips it apart.)
SCENE 10
(Back in the woods the Harpies have given Crow a little privacy with the still unconscious Kestrel. She has a finger lingering at the side of Kestrel's neck, always checking for a pulse. Her tears and sobs have subsided, now she just waits.)
Crow (whispers): You can't do this to me. Remember how we promised to stay together no matter what? I want you to keep that promise, Kelly.
(She repeats the name a few times, then leans down and kisses her forehead.)
Crow: It's getting cold now, I know, but it'll be sunny on the other side. You won't have to bark orders at the girls any more and argue with me about everything. Your mom and dad will be there, so you don't have to be afraid. Just wait for me, okay? We can do stupid stuff together again without any responsibility. I promise you that.
(She moves her finger a little, but she can't find the pulse any more. Slowly she undoes one of the black feathers in her hair and braids it into Kestrel's hair.)
Crow: Goodbye.
(Many of the other girls look at her, as she stands up and leaves the camp. Dove comes running after her and grabs her arm, but Crow shakes her off.)
Dove: Where are you going?
Crow: I'm going to see Vulture. Who ever did this to us, is going to pay for it. You heard them yourself.
Dove: What about...
Crow: Bury her deep in the woods, she'd like that. You're in charge while I'm gone and when I'm back with Sparrow and Vulture we're going to vote.
Dove: Shouldn't we all have time to grieve?
Crow: No.
(As she walks away, tears spill from Dove's eyes.)
Dove (mutters): For once her clothes fit the occasion.
SCENE 11
(On the screen of a security camera we see two figures walk up to the hospital. The camera pans around to show Jack study the security cameras and frown at the picture. He then quickly gets up and marches to the entrance, where he waits for the arrival of the two. All three of them have huge grins on their faces as they stand in front of each other. Mouse now lets go of Bray's hand and takes Jack's right hand to look at the pentagram on it.)
Mouse: Yup, still a Mall Rat.
Jack: As we say: Once a Mallrats, always a Mallrats.
Bray: Jack, it's so good to see you.
(Jack looks taken aback at the mention of his name.)
Jack: Er... you uhm...
Bray: Remember? Yes, at least everything until the Technos came.
Jack: But they told us, you had forgotten.
Bray: I did, but it came back to me, when we rescued the Harpies the other day. The kidnapping reminded me of Amber and Trudy being ransomed for the Guardian and that triggered it, I guess.
Jack: I... Crap, this is a lot.
(He laughs nervously and leads the two old Mallrats inside. As they walk into the café he turns around.)
Jack: And you, too, Mouse. Sal will be so happy to see you.
(They enter the café, where Jay, Alice, Kayla and Ryan sit and watch the newcomers. Alice and Ryan rush to greet Bray and Jay goes to talk to Mouse although he watches Bray warily. Kayla just hangs in the back and watches the reunion.)
Jack: Can one of you please get Amber and Salene? I have to keep an eye on the cameras.
Kayla: I'll go.
(Both of them leave the café. Jay kneels in front of Mouse, while the older Mallrats catch up.)
Jay: Mouse, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the Eco tribe?
Mouse: We moved around for a while, but one night there was a storm and we got separated. I didn't know what else to do, so I walked back to the city, but there everyone was panicking. I hid in a boat at the harbour and got to this city, where I met Wren, and then we joined Bray and Noel at the warehouses.
Jay: Wow, you've been through quite a lot then. Come on, sit down.
(Mouse follows him to a chair and sits.)
Mouse: Is Sammy still here?
Jay (smiles): Yes.
SCENE 12
(Meanwhile Amber and Lex are discussing something with Ram in his room.)
Lex: I just think that those zappers could come in handy, if we get attacked.
Amber: And I say no. Those kids are manipulated, we should help them not harm them.
Lex: We could only stun them.
(Ram puts his hands up, having heard enough about this already.)
Ram: You don't need to fight about the zappers. First of all I'd need supplies we could maybe find in the rest of the hospital if we're lucky and it would take me forever to make them.
Lex: How long?
Ram (shrugs): If I have all the materials maybe 2-3 days for one.
Amber: See, it's unreasonable. We should use the time for something more useful.
Ram: Ah ah ah, they are useful, my dear Amber.
Amber: We're not using zappers on them!
Lex: And what about the Consilium, can we use zappers on them?
Ram: You don't have any.
Amber: Exactly. We don't have zappers, so we can't use them on any one. You're chief of security, so you figure something else out that doesn't involve killing the city kids and putting us in an even worse situation.
(Quick footsteps are heard on the corridor and then Kayla comes to a fast halt in the doorway. She smiles warmly at Amber.)
Kayla: Amber, there you are. I've been looking for you.
Amber: What is it, Kayla? I'm kind of busy.
Kayla: I know, but you have guests. Go fetch your baby and let him meet his daddy.
SCENE 13
(Kaelem and Dima have reached the school. Kaelem is clearly in a bad mood, so Dima takes his hand, but he just pulls it away.)
Dima: Why are you so mad? They're just liars.
Kaelem: Isn't that reason enough to be mad, Dima? I'm trying my best here to build this city and help the people and then this tribe comes in and claims me a liar even after I've been nothing but helpful to them.
Dima: You can't let them get to you.
(As they walk through a long corridor a few younger kids run past them to get to classes. Kaelem looks at her, then a cold smirk creeps on his face.)
Kaelem: Just like you never let anything get to you, right?
(She lowers her gaze and remains silent.)
Kaelem: That's what I thought. (pauses) I just hate it, when my plans don't work. Amber was supposed to be our friend now and let their kids visit our school.
Dima (softly): Why is that so important?
Kaelem: So they get separated from the Harpies and I could focus my attention on my sister. This whole thing would've been easier if you hadn't messed up the kidnapping.
Dima: I already told you, I was sorry. It was dark.
Kaelem: What's done is done.
(He walks away from her and disappears at the end of the corridor. Dima regains her posture now that he's out of sight and snaps at a young boy running past her. Scared he stops in his tracks, and Dima roughly grabs him by the shoulders and pushes him into a classroom.)
SCENE 14
(Meanwhile at the hospital the whole tribe has gathered in the café. Ebony is standing in a corner just watching already sensing she might get in trouble. Salene sits on a chair with Mouse on her lap, hugging her tightly and everyone is standing around Bray and asking him questions. When Amber approaches with Baby Bray on her hip, the others take a few steps back to watch the family reunion. Bray is clearly overwhelmed at the sight, his eyes fixed on his son.)
Amber: Bray, I want you to meet your son. Bray Jr.
(She holds him out to him and Bray holds his son for the first time. The baby coos and wraps his tiny fingers around Bray's thumb. Tears are glistening in his eyes, as he looks up at Amber again.)
Bray: You named him after me?
(She nods and takes a step forward to give him a squeeze.)
Amber: I'm so happy you're alive... and your memories are coming back.
Bray: Me too. If I had known, I'd have come earlier.
Amber: I know.
Trudy (bursts out): And we all know who we have to thank for that, don't we?
Salene: Yea, where's Ebony anyway?
(Ebony lets out a small sigh and walks into the centre. She has her arms crossed defensively in front of her chest and takes in all the accusing looks she's getting from the other Mallrats.)
Ebony: How is this my fault now?
Bray: You told me, Amber had a new boyfriend and a child.
Ebony: Yes, so? That wasn't a lie.
Bray: You didn't tell me it was my child.
Ebony: No, but neither did I say it was Jay's. Look, you can say what you want, but I'm not taking the blame for this. I told you, you two were a happy couple so you could've only asked, if it was your baby, but you didn't.
(Bray still looks furious, but he's defeated.)
Bray (sighs): She's right. It's not really her fault.
(Ebony looks at the rest of the Mallrats with a smug look, then walks off to stand next to Jay, who's also taken a back seat to this reunion. He watches Bray with a glum look, as he holds his son and the old friends start to catch up.)
Ebony: See that's a happy family. A sight I would've spared you.
Jay: Ebony, go away. Gloat somewhere else.
Ebony: Oh, I'm not gloating. With Bray back I'm going to have a hard time.
Jay: Well, who says he is coming back?
Ebony: What do you mean? I told you Amber and Bray are like glue, you can't keep them apart.
Jay: I'm not trying to, but doesn't he still have responsibilities with the warehouses and I remember him having a certain girlfriend.
Ebony (shrugs): Maybe he already dumped her as soon as he remembered Amber.
Jay: Maybe.
Ebony: Well, you can't feel sorry for yourself, you stepped aside.
Jay: Yea, you'd know all about that. You made room for Amber once yourself, didn't you?
(Ebony glares at him, then lets out a small laugh.)
Ebony: Actually I made room for Trudy and then you dumped her for Amber. Yes, I'm kind of glad, I was the one to walk away from that train wreck.
Jay: You were just scared.
Ebony: Even if I was, I had every right to be.
(She turns her back on him and leaves the café.)
SCENE 15
(Sammy is walking over to where Mouse and Salene are sitting. Lottie, Dylan and Chester follow a few steps after him. When Mouse sees her old friend, she jumps down from Salene's lap and hugs him.)
Mouse: Sammy!
(Sammy laughs and swings her around.)
Sammy: Hey there tree-hugger.
Mouse (frowns): Don't call me that!
Salene: Now don't you two fight already.
Lottie: Oh, but Sammy is so good at it.
Sammy: Only because you make it so easy.
(Mouse stands between the two and looks confused. Dylan is the one to notice and walks up to her, holding out his hand.)
Dylan: Hi, I'm Dylan.
Mouse (smiles): Mouse.
Sammy: Oh yeah, Mouse, these are my new friends Chester and Dylan, well, and Lottie.
Lottie (rolls her eyes): And we're not friends at the moment, because Sammy's being stupid.
(Mouse giggles as Sammy shoots Lottie a nasty look.)
Sammy: Come on, I'll show you around. You can bunk with me, if you want.
Mouse: Let's see that room first.
(The kids run out of the café as Salene looks after them with a happy smile on her face.)
SCENE 16
(A shrill whistle makes everyone in the café jump. Alerted Slade, Jay, Lex, Alice and Amber run into the entrance hall ready to fight the intruder. A stern looking Vulture and Noel drag in a badly beaten Liam and Amber holds up a hand to say it's okay. Slowly the rest of the tribe come into the entrance hall to see what's going on.)
Amber: Liam? Is that you?
Vulture: The hell it is!
Amber: Vulture, what are you doing?
Vulture: We waited for the kidnapper to get back with food and then we jumped him. Turns out the Consilium were behind this.
(Bray emerges from the café with his son still in his arms. Confused he looks at his best friend.)
Bray: Noel?
Noel: We didn't know where else to bring him.
Vulture: Since both our locations are secret, you know.
Lex: So you bring him here and let us deal with his tribe?
(A few of the other Mallrats agree with Lex and everyone starts to talk at once.)
Amber (shouts): ENOUGH!
(As the room falls quiet, she continues to speak)
Amber: I don't understand. When the Consilium were behind this, why did Kaelem rescue me?
Vulture: Probably a ruse.
Noel: What do we do with him, though?
(He gives Liam a little push, which just makes the other man groan.)
Vulture: Kill him!
Amber, Noel & Bray: No!
Lex: Well, aren't you all quick to decide that.
Amber: Lex, we don't kill him. When we didn't kill the Guardian we definitely won't kill Liam.
Vulture: Well, we can't let him go.
Liam (meekly): They'll be looking for me.
Vulture: So let them look, give them a taste of their own medicine.
Ram: Hey, I've just got an idea?
(Everyone turns to Ram who was just observing until now.)
Ram: You were all so worried about getting attacked for going head to head with the Consilium. Maybe if we have one of their own, they won't attack us.
Amber: You mean we keep Liam safe in return for our safety?
Ram: Exactly.
Lex: I like it.
Jay: Yea, I'm in.
Noel: Might be a good idea.
Amber: Okay, but were do we hold him?
Alice: I'll keep an eye on him!
(She leaves and comes back with a rope from the café that she uses to tie Liam's hands behind his back. Amber nods approvingly.)
Amber: Ryan, Jack? Could you two turn one of the spare rooms into a cell?
Jack: Sure.
(The two guys walk off and Alice pushes Liam down on the bench in the entrance hall to keep an eye on him while the other Mallrats and Noel and Vulture walk back into the café. Sparrow who had been hovering over KC up until now walks over to her sister, who flashes her a big grin despite the serious situation.)
Vulture: So you found yourself a boy after all. Do I have to have a talk with him about dating my little sister?
Sparrow: Oh shut up! Best you don't talk to him at all.
Vulture (laughs): I can't promise you that.
SCENE 17
(In another part of the city Crow climbs one of the barricades leading to the warehouses. She has a grim look on her face, but on her cheeks are the traces of dried tears, which she wipes off with the back of her hand. She runs the last metres to the warehouses and jumps as Yara jumps down one of the roofs and lands in front of her. The younger girl laughs as she cocks her head to the side.)
Crow: You could hurt yourself doing that.
Yara (shrugs): But I don't. Besides, Noel and Bray have told me that already.
Crow: Whatever. Where's Vulture?
Yara: Who?
Crow: Vulture. Tall girl with a silver mohawk.
Yara: Oh, she went to the building with Noel and the others, right? They came back a while ago, said that they bring the captive to the hospital.
Crow: So they got someone?
Yara: Yup.
(Crow turns around and starts running the way she came from.)
SCENE 18
(Noel, Bray and Vulture are now sitting at a table in the café discussing the recent situation with Amber, Lex, Ram, Jay and Slade while the other Mallrats have left.)
Amber: We need to talk about this with Kestrel.
Vulture: I already sent Sparrow to get her.
Slade: So turns out the Consilium aren't just liars, they're kidnappers, too?
Vulture: Don't forget huge dickheads!
(Lex and Ram chuckle at her remark, but the others keep a straight face.)
Jay: The thing is, we can't really prove that the Consilium are lying. All we have are our statements and Ram and I will probably put the Mallrats into an even worse place. If the city kids aren't going to attack us for "lying", they sure will for having Ex-Technos here.
(The three outsiders narrow their eyes at those words. Bray looks at Amber for an answer to the unspoken question why she would those people join the tribe.)
Vulture (spits): Technos? Are you kidding me?
Amber: Ex-Technos. They have redeemed themselves already.
Vulture (sarcastically): How? Did they say sorry?
Jay: Is this really what we should discuss now?
Noel: Why not? We have to know if we can trust you.
Ram: Well, Jay here has always been on your side, haven't you, Jay? Going behind your commander's back, complaining about the methods and then turning against us.
Bray: So why did you join them in the first place?
Jay: I liked the idea of what the Technos could have been, but obviously Ram had other plans.
(They now look at Ram, who just puts his hands up as if he was surrendering.)
Ram: I admit, I may have been a little... out of it.
Lex: You deserved everything that came your way.
Ram: We might have different opinions on that one. After all I did help bring the Technos down.
Slade: Yea, after they kicked you to the curb and left you to die.
Ram: Ah, Slade, always out for a mention of your good deeds, huh?
Slade: Cut it out, Ram.
Amber: Since Ram can't put it in words without rambling for another hour, I'm going to vouch for him. He has done terrible things, but he has helped this tribe, too. He did help bring down the Technos, when Mega took over.
(When the other three don't seem convinced, she continues.)
Amber: Look, you don't have to be his friends, but he's useful, so can you just accept that he's part of this tribe?
Ram: Thanks for the heart warming speech, Amber.
Jay: Why don't you keep your mouth shut for a change. You really don't know when to shut up, do you?
Ram (shrugs): I like to hear myself talk.
Bray (interrupts): Whatever! Shouldn't we talk about more pressing issues?
(The others nod and mumble I agreement and camera fades out.)
SCENE 19
(Out in the entrance hall Alice studies her captive, who is now lying down on the bench breathing heavily. She raises an eyebrow.)
Alice: You okay there? Would be a shame if you died on us now.
(Liam laughs which turns into a cough and looks up at her.)
Liam (sarcastically): I'm great. Just peachy.
Alice: Don't think I'm feeling sorry for you. You deserved everything you got for what you did to the girls.
Liam: Maybe. I just did, what I was told.
Alice: And you can't tell right from wrong? You don't have a brain to think for your own?
Liam: I can and I do have a brain.
Alice: So you just decided against using it.
Liam (smirks): I decided to stick with my friends. Don't tell me your tribe has never done something bad.
(Alice doesn't get to answer as Crow barges into the hospital. She sees the two figures on the bench and walks over to them.)
Crow: Where's Vulture?
Alice (sarcastically): Hello to you, too, sunshine. She's in the café.
(Crow turns to leave, then decides otherwise and kneels next to Liam.)
Crow: So you're the captive, Liam?
Liam: Crow. Long time no see.
Crow: I should've known. The Consilium were never to be trusted.
(She then balls her hand to a fist and punches him hard in the gut, before Alice can stop her. With a last look at him and ignoring Alice's complains, she marches into the café.)
SCENE 20
(Back in the school Kaelem sits in his room typing away at his computer. He in fact does have some of the Techno documents, but he's editing them to go with his lies. A knock at the door makes him look up, as Joanne pops her head in.)
Joanne: Sorry, to disturb you, but I'm getting worried about Liam.
Kaelem: What about him?
Joanne: He hasn't come back since you send him out.
Kaelem: Not back yet? That was hours ago.
Joanne: Should we send someone to check it out?
Kaelem: No, that might be too dangerous. We have to assume the Harpies got out and have him.
Joanne: Shouldn't we do something?
Kaelem: We wait. They'll talk to us.
Joanne: Or they take revenge on Liam.
Kaelem: No, Kestrel's reasonable.
(Joanne looks at him uncertain, but he goes back to work and she leaves. When the door closes he angrily grabs a pile of books of his desk and throws them against the wall.)
SCENE 21
(Meanwhile in the café everyone looks at Crow. A smug smile appears on Jay's face as he watches Amber frown at her. Bray is the first to notice something is wrong and gets up.)
Vulture: Crow? I send Sparrow to get Kestrel.
Crow: We must have missed each other.
Bray: Is something wrong? You look...
(He tries to put an arm around her, but she sidesteps him and raises an eyebrow at him, waiting for him to finish his sentence, but he doesn't.)
Crow: Actually I only came to get you and Sparrow, we have a bit of an issue, but I take it you're discussing the Consilium right now and that's just as important.
Amber: Yes, but Kestrel should be here for this.
Vulture: What kind of issue, Crow? You do seem a little out of it.
(Crow shoots both of them dark looks, then takes a seat next to Bray.)
Crow: Kestrel's dead.
(Everyone looks at her shocked at the news. Bray who knows how close the two girls were tries again to comfort her. This time she lets him take her hand, but shows no other sign of weakness.)
Vulture: Dead? That makes no sense. She was fine, when Sparrow and I left.
Crow: She hasn't been fine since the attack. Sparrow told me just before you left, Dove confirmed it, too.
Bray: But what happened to her?
Crow: She fainted and when Hummy looked at her, she said that Kestrel, was bleeding into her brain for the past days. It didn't take long until she stopped breathing.
Lex (bluntly): So who does that leave in charge?
Vulture (snaps): Obviously we have to vote on that one!
Jay: Lex! They just lost a friend.
Crow: He is right though. We can't waste any time and the vote will probably be between Vulture and me anyway.
Noel (to Vulture): Are you okay with this or do you want to go back to the tribe?
(Vulture looks at Crow, who seems to have gotten it all together, but just isn't her usual self. She takes a few deep breathes and then nods.)
Vulture: I'll be fine.
SCENE 22
(In one of the spare rooms Jack and Ryan just finished boarding up the window and Jack starts putting holdings onto the door and the wall next to it, so they can slide a bar through it and barricade the door.)
Ryan: I think we still need someone to guard him. The bar could easily slide out.
Jack: I know, but it's the best we can do. Maybe we can install another camera in here, but I don't think we have any more.
Ryan: Besides don't you think he'll destroy it?
Jack: Oh yea, that too.
Ryan: I'd never thought I'd say this, but I kind of miss the cage. That was so much easier.
Jack: True, but this room is right next to Ebony. He won't get anywhere without her noticing.
Ryan: That doesn't really calm me. For all I know, Ebony could just help him and find her place with the Consilium.
(At that comment Jack laughs and only stops, when he notices Ryan's confused expression.)
Jack: Think about it, Ryan. Can you really imagine Ebony with a tribe like the Consilium? Yes, they might have power right now, but she wouldn't fit in. She's not really the book reading type who gets along with kids, is she?
Voice off-screen: You seem to know that for sure.
(Surprised they turn around and see Ebony standing behind them, her arms crossed, looking rather peeved about the comment. Jack hesitates, then goes back to his work.)
Jack: We were just musing.
Ebony: Well, don't! And that piece of scum better not make as much noise as you two or he'll have a bigger problem than being held captive.
Jack (sarcastically): You're in an awfully good mood again, aren't you?
Ebony: People like you are getting on my nerves.
(She shrugs and walks off in the direction of the café. Jack rolls his eyes and turns to Ryan.)
Jack: I'm nearly done here. You could go look for a bar we can use.
Ryan: I'm on it.
(Jack goes back to his work and Ryan leaves to do what he's told.)
SCENE 23
(Back in the café, everyone is talking at the same time trying to get their thoughts across.)
Lex: I think we just go up there and handle it the old way.
Bray (rolls his eyes): You haven't changed at all, have you? We're heavily outnumbered.
Vulture: No, we're not. The Consilium aren't that big a tribe.
Noel: True, but they have all the city kids on their side. One word from Kaelem and they jump.
Amber: So what do we do?
Jay: Well, we probably should get out there after all. I mean, yes, the city kids could be a danger to us, but I bet there are lots of others who would be on our side.
Bray: True, the warehouses are filled with new faces and everyday more come.
Crow: The only way to stop this, is to get Kaelem to confess, though. When they hear from him that he lied, no one will rally around him any more.
Lex: And how do you want to do that?
Crow: I know a way to get him to talk.
Slade: How?
Crow (shrugs): Kaelem and I go a long way back. Before Kestrel and I became the Harpies we were part of the Consilium. So I know the building pretty well, too.
(Vulture looks at the other Harpy with surprise and that's also shown on most of the other faces. Crow is unmoved by this and turns to Amber, who she thinks the most responsible of the Mallrats.)
Crow: So if I could get him to confess, how are we getting it out to the city?
(Amber and Slade turn to Ram, who notices this with a smug smirk.)
Ram: I could probably get it to broadcast in the city, but either me or Jack would have to be there, too.
Slade: Do you think, you could get two people unseen to Kaelem, Crow?
Crow (shrugs): I can't promise anything. Besides it's been quite a while since I last set foot in there.
Noel: How about a distraction?
Jay: But wouldn't Kaelem be there then?
Crow: Not necessarily. He's not a good fighter, better at organizing things.
Lex: Sounds like a wimpy leader.
Slade: Sounds like someone else I know.
(He smirks at Ram, who gives him a nasty look.)
Ram: I didn't need to fight, I had a zapper.
Lex: And look where that got you.
Amber: Guys, could we please focus.
Jay: We also have the issue of the captive.
Amber: Liam, yes.
Ram: There's not much to do about him. We send the Consilium a message that we have him and he will be returned unharmed, when they play by our rules.
Vulture: Tell them, you'll keep Liam for your own safety and that you'll let him go as soon as the city riots have calmed down.
Bray: We still need a distraction so Crow and Ram can get into the school and get the confession.
(Silence falls over the group as everyone is thinking about this. Bray looks worriedly at Crow, who seems to be far away now and has let go of his hand again. Amber studies the two of them, but quickly averts her gaze.)
Noel: How about we demonstrate?
Slade: Demonstrate?
Noel: Yes. We make posters and start a friendly unarmed demonstration in front of the school. Of course we should be prepared for a fight and then we could broadcast Kaelems confession, when everyone is gathered in the same place anyway.
Jay: We could use Ellie's interview on Ram then.
Amber: Sounds good to me, what do you say?
(She looks into the faces of the others and everyone seems to be okay with this plan.)
SCENE 24
(With a bar in his right hand, Ryan walks up to Alice and Liam, who still sit on the bench. Alice looks really happy to see Ryan approaching. She gives Liam a soft kick, who then gets up mumbling something.)
Ryan: It's done. Put him next to Ebony.
Alice: Thanks, Ryan.
Ryan: Do you need any help?
Alice: Nah, I can handle him.
(She takes the bar from Ryan and puts her free hand between Liam's shoulder blades to push him forward. They start walking along the corridor to the new holding cell. As soon as Ryan's out of earshot, Liam starts to speak in a low, calm voice.)
Liam: You're a feisty one, huh? Can't take it when someone underestimates you?
Alice: Don't you start making assumptions about me?
Liam: Why not? You did it yourself just moments ago.
Alice: With the difference you're scum and our captive.
Liam: You can't really call me scum without knowing me.
Alice: I don't really want to know you, either.
Liam: And yet you're talking to me. Oh and not to forget you didn't want Crow to hit me.
Alice: Don't flatter yourself, lad. I just don't believe you should hit someone who can't defend himself.
Liam: Noble, but kind of stupid. If it gets you an advantage, why not use it?
Alice (snorts): It does not surprise me that you apparently have no morals in a fight.
Liam: Will your morals save you from losing the fight? I guess not. Sometimes you have to ignore all your morals and ethics and do what is needed to survive. I thought everyone in our new world order knew that.
Alice: You can survive and stick to your beliefs at the same time.
Liam: That really depends on your beliefs.
(Alice rolls her eyes annoyed at him talking back all the time and is glad, when they reach the end of the corridor. She grabs Liam's shoulders before he can fully pass the doorway and unties his hands.)
Alice: You have some time to ponder your beliefs now.
(She gives him a push and closes the door behind him, sliding the heavy bar through the holdings.)
SCENE 25
(In the woods outside the city, Kestrel's body has been lain on a big board which Dove, Sparrow and two other girls hoist it on their shoulders and carry it through the woods to a spot where someone had dug a grave. They then wrap the body in a white cloth and and just as they lower it into the whole in the ground, Vulture and Crow arrive to stand at the back of the group and watch the funeral. When the dirt is cast on the grave, Dove steps up to say a few words about Kestrel.)
Dove (cont.): Kestrel has not only been a leader and friend to us, but also a sister and she gave us a home. She won't be forgotten, as she lives on through all of us and through the nature, that she always adored and preferred to the trouble of the city. At times she may have been very strict and not always easy to get along with, but she always had our best interest in mind as she looked out for us. Kestrel, you will be greatly missed.
(Camera then cuts to the whole Harpies tribe sitting around their camp fire with glum faces. Dove says something inaudible after which Crow and Vulture stand up to stand to her left and right. The Harpies then raise their hands and vote for their new leader. Dove counts the hands, then grabs Crow's hand and raises it as if she just won a boxing match. Vulture gives Crow a small smile and pats her shoulder. When Vulture leaves, Crow is seen so stare into the woods where Kestrel's grave is barely seen through the trees and rubbing her shoulder as if Vulture just hit her.)