pisode 24
SCENE 1
(Camera cuts to Ruby who walks down the corridor with a fast pace, her face is stern. She stops at Ebony's room and barges in without knocking. Ebony turns surprised. Her hands are bandaged as she has been training on her boxing sack.)
Ebony (coldly): What do you want now?
Ruby: I want you to back off!
Ebony: What? I haven't come near you.
Ruby: From Slade! He doesn't deserve you playing him.
Ebony (snorts): Oh honey, this is ridiculous. Just because your little plan didn't play out the way you wanted it to, you're making me responsible for it now? You can't tell me anything.
Ruby: I don't want Slade.
Ebony: So where is the problem?
Ruby: He's my friend and I don't want him to get hurt. I mean it, Ebony, you go on and play your games with Jay and leave Slade alone.
Ebony (sarcastically): Whatever you say. Are you going to leave now?
(Ruby glares at her, but then turns on her heels and storms out of the room. Ebony rolls her eyes and turns back to her boxing sack. Camera zooms in on her amused grin before fading out.)
SCENE 2
(Camera fades in to the café, where Bray is just getting up from a table. He leans down and kisses Amber and his son.)
Bray: I'll be back later.
Amber: Can you please not go alone?
Bray: I'll be fine, Amber.
Amber: I know, but I don't think anyone should go alone. That includes you.
Bray: Fine.
(He looks around the café which is almost empty. His eyes land on KC.)
Bray: KC! Can you come with me to the warehouses? I need to talk to Noel.
KC: Sure. Everything to get out of here.
(The younger boy is quick to get up and follow Bray outside. The sky is grey and rains falls.)
KC (mutters): Great.
Bray: I thought you were eager to get out.
KC: I am.
Bray: Any particular reason?
KC (shrugs): I don't want to see Kayla's stupid face.
Bray: You had a fight?
KC: I don't want to talk about it.
Bray: Fine by me.
(They walk in silence and disappear in between the buildings of the city.)
SCENE 3
(Camera cuts back to the café, where Amber gets up with her son and walks to Trudy's room. She knocks before she enters. Trudy is sorting out her and Brady's laundry. She is standing with her back to the door and camera and quickly wipes her eyes with her hands before she turns around.)
Trudy: Hi Amber, can I do something for you?
Amber (smiles): I was going to ask the same thing.
(She shifts Bray Jr to her other hip and walks over to her friend.)
Amber: I know it's hard for you. You don't have to hide it in front of me.
Trudy: I'm just... Mouse and Sammy, they are out there somewhere. It makes me think about Brady. I don't want to go my whole life worrying about her.
(Amber pulls her into a hug.)
Amber: That's what mothers do, isn't it? And we live in this unstable world.
Trudy: Sammy and Mouse are only a little younger than we were when the virus hit. They can't survive on their own. They shouldn't have to.
Amber: I know. We'll just have to build a better world for them.
Trudy: When? When are we starting on that? I feel like every time we take one step towards this bright future we get pushed ten steps back.
Amber: We just have to keep on fighting, Trudy. We can do this.
Trudy: You're a great friend, you know that.
Amber: I'm here for you just like you are for me.
(Trudy smiles and strokes the hair of Bray Jr. Camera zooms out on the two women.)
SCENE 4
(Camera pans around Sammy's and Mouse's room to show Lottie sitting on Sammy's bed. She holds the blue cuffs, she stole from Sammy once.)
Lottie: You're not dead. I know you're not.
(She jumps off the bed and walks to Ruby's room. The older girl is sitting at her desk next to the door.)
Ruby: Lottie?
Lottie: I need to go into the city. I need to look for Sammy and Mouse!
Ruby: I don't know if-
Lottie: Please! Come with me and we look together.
Ruby: It's really dangerous, Lottie.
Lottie: What would you do if Ram were missing and nobody would let you go outside? They're my friends, Ruby! If you don't come with me, I'm going alone.
Ruby: Okay, fine. But we take Slade with us as well.
(Lottie nods eagerly and pulls Ruby out of the room to find Slade. As they step out on the corridor, Darryl rushes past them.)
Darryl: Lex is organizing new search groups in the café. Everyone has to be there.
(They follow him and camera fades out.)
SCENE 5
(Camera fades back in to the café with all the Mallrats except for Bray and KC sitting around the tables and waiting for Lex to speak. Lex takes another sip of his coffee before standing up.)
Lex: We're going out again to look for Sammy and Mouse today. Ryan, Ebony and Jay, you go west around the bar and the road towards the woods. Alice, Ellie and Salene, you go to the school and the market place. Jack, Ram and Kayla, you go east to the warehouses. Gel, Darryl and Amber, you go north-west to the old hotel. Slade and Ruby you're with me-...
Ruby (interrupts): I'm going to take Lottie.
Lex: No way!
Ruby: I am!
Lex: Fine, then you three can go to the cinema and the shopping district. Patch and Dee you are with me and show me that parking deck.
(The Mallrats start clearing out of the café and camera fades to black.)
SCENE 6
(Camera fades in on Alice, Ellie and Salene walking towards the school. As Salene starts to talk to the city kids, Ellie pulls Alice aside.)
Alice: We have a job to do, sis.
Ellie: I know, but what about the baby?
Alice (frowns): What about it?
Ellie: You still haven't told anyone.
Alice: Right now is really not the time, is it? We need to find Mouse and Sammy.
Ellie: Don't tell me, you would've said anything, if they hadn't gone missing.
Alice: Ellie, it's my decision.
Ellie: Well, you can't hide it forever, can you? It's going to show soon.
Alice: Stop it! It's not like I'm keeping it from the father or anything. They don't need to know immediately.
Ellie: You're worried, what they're going to say.
Alice: Of course I am. I already disappointed them and now I'm going to be a reliability as well.
(Ellie opens her mouth to answer, but is interrupted by Salene coming back to them. Instead she just squeezes Alice's hand and the camera fades out.)
SCENE 7
(Bray and KC are walking along a narrow alley, but are stopped by two bulky guys. They look them up and down before letting them through.)
Guard1: Sorry, Bray, new procedure.
Bray: That's okay. Only wise to stock up on security around here. Are the cameras still working?
Guard1: Yes.
(Bray and KC walk past them and head straight for the nearest warehouse. They find Noel sitting together with a few members of his tribe. He looks up, when he hears the door and excuses himself to walk over to them.)
Noel: Bray. I was wondering, when you'd show up.
Bray: We are kind of busy. Have you heard about our missing tribe members?
Noel: Yours and about ten others. It happens a lot these days.
KC: It's the Anarchists?
Noel (shrugs): We don't know that. Only few people survive the encounters with them.
Bray: Have you heard anything new?
Noel: Not really. Apparently they hate weak people and people in tribes.
KC: Do you know who leads them?
Noel (rolls his eyes): No one does, that's the point. If they had a leader, I'd know what to do.
Bray: Well someone must have started the whole thing, right?
Noel: I guess, but if so, I don't know who has and the damage is done now. I take it, you don't have any ideas either?
Bray: Like I said, we're busy trying to find Sammy and Mouse.
Noel: Look, I know you don't want to hear it, but people who encounter the Anarchists don't turn up again.
Bray (angrily): We haven't found their bodies either.
Noel: They clean up after themselves.
KC: What do you mean?
Noel: They set fires for no apparent reason. What do you think they're burning?
(Camera zooms in on Bray's and KC's horrified faces.)
SCENE 8
(Camera pans around the market place, where Lex put up the article about Tai-San in the previous episode. Camera zooms in on one of these as a hand grabs it and lights it on fire. The paper crumbles on the floor and camera swoops along the floor to show more of the burnt articles.)
SCENE 9
(Jack, Ram and Kayla are walking through deserted small alleys. They look behind barrels and other trash and every now and then they call out for Mouse and Sammy. Kayla is rather quiet and looks glum.)
Ram: I hate to say this, but I think it's pointless.
Jack: Hate to say it?
Ram: Yes, Jack, I hate to say it. I might not like those kids much, but I don't wish them any harm.
Kayla (mumbles): That didn't bother you, when you tortured us.
Ram: What did you say?
Kayla: Nothing.
Ram: No, I'm very interested to hear what you have to say.
Jack: Ram, just let it go.
(The two men look each other in the eyes for a while until Ram backs down and Jack stops Kayla to get some space between them and Ram.)
Jack: What's wrong with you?
Kayla: Nothing.
Jack: Right... I don't really care if you want to talk to me about it, but I want you to stop picking fights.
Kayla: I'm not picking fights.
Jack: I heard what you said and I mean, you're right; Ram did awful things, but right now is not the time to discuss that.
(Kayla looks at her feet.)
Kayla (mumbles): I'm sorry. It's just a bad day.
(She steps forward and hugs him. Jack awkwardly pats her back.)
Kayla: I had a fight with KC and Sammy and Mouse are missing. It's all weighing me down.
Jack: I understand.
Kayla: I'm sorry. You probably have a lot on your mind, too.
(She lets go of him and gives him a warm smile before trying to catch up with Ram. Jack looks a little confused, but then follows the others.)
SCENE 10
(Some of the groups have already returned without success. Lex, Ryan and Dee are sitting in the café each with a cup of coffee in their hands. Dee and Ryan look worried and sad, while Lex is all business.)
Lex: Ryan, remember when we tried teaching Dal and Jack how to fight? I think we should do that again.
Ryan: I think everyone here knows how to fight?
Lex: Really? KC knows how to fight after he was a prisoner for years? He might be strong, but he doesn't know how to fight.
Dee: I think it's a great idea. You're not just going to train the boys though, are you?
Lex: Uh...
Ryan: I think, Dee's got a point. Look at Ebony and Alice, the girls can fight, too.
Lex: I suppose next you want me to teach the kids as well?
Dee (shrugs): Why not? Maybe it Sammy and Mouse knew how to protect themselves, they'd be here now.
Lex: Let's be real here. No training in the world would have done them any good if their attacker was older and bigger than them.
Dee: Well, Dylan and Chester are terrified, maybe they'll feel a little better if they learn how to fight.
Ryan: How about we just ask everyone who wants to learn how to fight?
Lex: So you are going to help me?
Ryan: Well... I don't know if I can do much.
(He motions to his shoulder, which is still lightly bandaged.)
Dee: Do you want Patch to look at it?
Ryan: No, I think, it just needs some rest. It'll be fine.
(Camera cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 11
(Camera cuts to another part of the café, where Trudy sits with Chester, Dylan and Brady. Brady is on her lap and draws some letters on a piece of paper in front of her, while Trudy tries to teach Chester and Dylan how to read.)
Chester: I know how to read. I went to school.
Trudy: That's great. Why don't you show your brother how it's done then?
(Chester nods and pulls the book towards himself. It's a colourful children's book with big letters, but Chester seems to have trouble with the first word already.)
Chester: The...b-black...ca-cat sat on a...h-high tree
(Trudy watches him with a sad smile as he continues to stutter through the very easy text. She grabs a piece of paper and a pencil and writes the letter A on it, then passes it to Dylan.)
Trudy: That's an A. An A like in apple or anaconda.
(She gives him the pencil too.)
Trudy: Try sounding it out and writing it. See, Brady is getting good at her As.
Brady: They're pretty.
Trudy: Yes, they are.
Dylan: There's an A in my name, right?
Trudy: Yes, can you write it?
(Dylan nods and starts to write with great concentration. He then proudly presents her with his name.)
Trudy (smiles): Good job.
Chester: I can write my name, too. I can write everyone's names.
Trudy: That's good. So you could do the rota for Amber, huh?
Chester: I don't think she'll let me.
Brady: mummy, how do you write Sammy?
(Trudy just looks down at her daughter for a second, before picking up the pen and writing the name for her.)
Trudy: Why do you ask?
Brady: When he comes back, I show him. You think, he will like it?
Trudy: Yes, I think, he will.
Chester: If he comes back.
Dylan: Chess! Don't say that.
Chester: What, it's true.
Dylan: I don't want to hear it.
Chester: It's called growing up.
Trudy: No, Chester, you're being cruel right now.
Brady: Why doesn't Sammy come back?
Trudy: He will.
(Chester and Dylan get up and leave and Trudy has trouble explaining to Brady, what just happened without actually telling her.)
SCENE 12
(Camera pans around the market place, where Cal is trading a bottle of alcohol for some food. He puts it all into his bag and joins Paul and Cara, who wait for him leaning against the wall of the school building.)
Cal: Do you know the way to the beach?
Cara: Of course.
Cal: Then let's get going.
(The three of them head south with Cara leading the way.)
Cara: Can we make a bonfire?
Paul: Sure and we're catching fish and we'll surf and we'll frolic in the sun.
Cal (laughs): Shut up! You know, your sarcasm gets lost when you sign.
Paul: You don't have a problem getting it.
Cal: That's because I know you longer than Cara does and I also sign a lot longer than her.
Cara: I don't care what you say, I want a bonfire.
Paul: Then you're the one who gathers all the firewood.
Cara: Maybe I will!
(Camera pans around to show a girl being chased down the street towards them by three Anarchists. Cal immediately grabs Cara and pushes them behind them.)
Cara: It's those Power and Chaos creeps!
Paul: She needs help!
(He starts running towards them.)
Cal: Every single time. Cara, take this and stay ou-
Cara: Out of the way. I know how it works, Cal.
(Cal pushes his bag into her arms and runs after Paul. They reach the girl and Paul pushes her towards Cara. The three Anarchists seem to be very happy about someone who actually wants to fight them. Cal grabs the pole with which one of them tries to hit him and wrenches it out of his hands. Paul kicks another one in the groin, who immediately falls to the floor. The third Anarchist wraps an arm around Paul's neck and starts choking him, but Cal comes to his aid and hits him over the head with the pole. They make sure the three Anarchists are no threat to them, before heading back to the girls.)
Girl: Thank you so much. I don't know what happened.
Paul: They're crazies, that's all.
Girl (confused): Everything okay with you?
Cal: He's deaf. He said, they're crazies.
Girl: Oh, yea they are.
Cara: I don't like this place. We should get out as fast as possible.
Girl: Sounds like a good idea. Thanks again. I...
Cal: No problem.
(The girl starts walking away and the three friends continue walking towards the beach.)
Cara: I mean it, boys, I really don't like it here.
Paul: That's because you don't like it anywhere.
Cara: Because everywhere is shit.
Cal: Well, this time you might be right.
(Camera pans around to show them walk away from it. A gust of wind blows a piece of paper around and it sticks to the camera. It's the article of Tai-San. Camera fades out.)
SCENE 13
(Camera fades in on Ruby lying on the floor of her room with some of her medical books as someone knocks on the door.)
Ruby: Who is it?
(Patch pokes his head in with a shy smile which Ruby returns.)
Ruby: Hi, come on in.
(Patch sits down across from her and inspects the books she's reading.)
Patch: H-how is it going with... the …
Ruby: Okay, I think. I didn't know there was so much to it.
Patch (laughs): They used to study for... six years, I think. The d-doctors.
Ruby (groans): And they were all extremely smart. I didn't even finish school.
Patch: None of us did.
Ruby: Can you help me with this?
Patch (leans over): Pharmacology? What about it?
Ruby: Point out what kind of medicine we should stock up on. I might go into the hospital and look for some.
(Patch moves to sit next to her so they both can look at the book and camera fades out.)
SCENE 14
(Camera fades in on Ellie sitting in her and Jack's room. Her back is towards the door and as the camera moves closer, we can hear she's sobbing quietly.)
FLASHBACK
(Ellie stands on the roof of the mall ready to jump with tears streaming down her face. She turns around to find Charlie and Mouse standing behind her. Ellie gets desperate and shouts at them to leave. Charlie holds out a loaf of bread.)
Charlie: Eat.
FLASHBACK ENDS
(The door opens and Jack comes in. He sees the state Ellie is in and hurries to comfort her.)
Jack: Hey, what's going on?
Ellie: It's M-Mouse. I should have been there for her. Like she and Charlie were for me.
Jack: What do you mean?
Ellie: When you were taken by the Technos, I was bad.
Jack: I know.
Ellie: And they always had an eye on me. I was the first person they spoke to.
(She starts sobbing harder and Jack pulls her in for a hug.)
Ellie: I just want them to be okay.
Jack: We'll find them, Ellie.
Ellie: Don't just say that.
Jack: I believe, we're going to find them. We'll go out again tomorrow.
(Camera fades out.)
SCENE 15
(Amber and Bray are lying in bed with their son nestled in between them as Bray reads a bedtime story for him.)
Bray: … and they lived happily ever after.
(Bray Jr gurgles and pats the book in his father's hand.)
Amber: No more, now it's sleep time.
Bray: I'll get him, you stay here.
(He picks up his son and moves over to the crib. Bray Jr presses his lips to Bray's cheek.)
Bray Jr: Da... Daddy.
(Camera zooms in on Bray's surprised face, which then turns into a huge smile as he turns around to Amber.)
Bray: Did you hear that? He just said Daddy.
Amber (smiles): He just said his first real word.
(Bray hugs his son close and kisses his forehead.)
Bray: I love you so much. Daddy loves you a lot.
Bray Jr: Daddy!
Amber: Next is mummy. It better be.
(She gets out of bed and hugs Bray and her son. After a while they pull away.)
Amber: Time for bed.
(Bray puts Bray Jr in his crib and the camera cuts to the next scene.)
SCENE 16
(Camera moves along the corridor at a low level and we see a pair of bare feet. The person walks quietly and slips into a door on the left side. Camera pans around to show it's Slade's room with the young man lying in bed sleeping. When the door closes, he stirs and sits up.)
Slade: Ebony?
(Camera pans around to show it is in fact Ebony, who has snuck into his room. She comes closer and sits down on the far edge of his bed.)
Slade: What do you want? It's the middle of the night.
Ebony: I... I'm sorry.
Slade: Okay.
Ebony (frowns): That's all you're going to say?
Slade: Yea, what else is there? I think an apology was long overdue.
Ebony: Oh that's what you think, huh?
Slade: Look, I don't want to fight with you now. You've said what you came her to say, haven't you?
Ebony (shakes her head): No not at all. Maybe if you'd quit being a jerk, I'd tell you more.
Slade: I'm not a jerk. I just don't have to be nice to you anymore.
Ebony: Isn't that what you do, when you love someone?
(Slade just looks at her and then lies back down, turning his back on her.)
Slade: Good night, Ebony.
Ebony: I want to talk about that.
Slade: There's nothing to talk about.
(Ebony sighs and gets up. In the middle of the room she turns back to him.)
Ebony: I was going to say, I'm sorry for breaking up with you.
(She leaves and camera zooms in on Slade's surprised face.)
SCENE 17
(Chester and Dylan are sitting in the entrance hall with their faces pressed against the glass doors. It's still dark outside and their breath fogs up the glass.)
Dylan: It looks alright now.
Chester: Even bad guys have to sleep. They are probably hiding inside the city not out here in the open.
Dylan: I want to go. I don't like it here anymore. It's no fun without Sammy and Mouse and Lottie is sad all the time.
Chester: I want to go, too. I don't think Sammy and Mouse are going to come back.
(Dylan starts to cry and his older brother pulls him closer.)
Chester: Sorry.
Dylan: I don't want to think about that. Maybe they went to find Mouse's old tribe.
Chester: Maybe.
Dylan: It could be nice if we could say goodbye to them before we leave.
Chester: If we can get Patch and Dee to go. I think they like it here.
Dylan: Patch will go where we go, won't he?
(Chester doesn't answer just holds Dylan as he watches the city outside with a fearful expression.)
SCENE 18
(Camera fades in on Ebony turning in her bed as she can't fall asleep after her nightly visit to Slade.)
Slade VO: Good night, Ebony.
Ebony VO: I want to talk about that.
Slade VO: There's nothing to talk about.
Ebony VO: I was going to say, I'm sorry for breaking up with you.
(Ebony groans and pulls the covers over her face.)
Ebony (mutter): So stupid! It's too late now anyway. I wish, I hadn't said anything at all.
(When she lowers the cover again, she is startled as Slade has entered her room without making a noise.)
Slade: What else were you going to say?
Ebony: Uh... I... I shouldn't have broken up with you. We were fighting so much and I didn't want you to leave me.
Slade: So you left me before I could hurt you?
Ebony (nods): Didn't work. I'm sorry.
(Slade comes closer and kneels in front of her bed so they are on eye level.)
Slade: I still love you. I'd probably be better off if I didn't. Trust me, I've been told that a million times now, but I still do.
Ebony: Even after everything I've done. I pushed Ruby in front of that truck.
Slade (sighs): I know you're no saint, Ebony. That's why I said, I'm probably better off, if I didn't love you.
Ebony (smiles): And here I thought you were a smart man.
Slade: Will you shut up and kiss me already.
(Ebony puts her arms around his neck and pulls him closer. Her eyes flutter shut as their lips meet and she pulls Slade onto her bed. One of his arms is around her waist holding her close and his other hand is tangled into her braids.)
Ebony: I've missed you.
(They kiss again, this time it's Slade pulling away.)
Slade: No more fooling around with Jay!
Ebony: That's going to break his little heart.
Slade: He'll get over it. Are we understood here?
Ebony: No more fooling around with Jay.
(Ebony throws the covers over Slade and presses against him again and the camera fades out.)
SCENE 19
(Some of the Mallrats are sitting in the café having breakfast together. Sammy and Mouse and the Anarchists are still topic number one.)
Lex: You know what this crap reminds me of? The Chosen. People were disappearing then, too.
Trudy: Well, it's not the Chosen. They're finished.
Alice: The Guardian is still out there. Maybe he found himself a new posse.
Bray: Alice, don't say that.
Alice. Well, it could be true.
Bray: I don't think the Guardian would change that much. And I haven't heard anyone mentioning Zoot around here.
Trudy: Just like no one seems to have seen Mouse and Sammy.
Lex: Maybe they just left. Mouse left us before.
Salene: They wouldn't leave us without saying goodbye. They didn't even pack anything.
Bray: So we're going out again today. Someone has got to have seen them.
(Camera pans around the café to show that most of the Mallrats have lost their hope in finding them.)
SCENE 20
(Ruby, Ram and Lottie are walking through the city. Lottie is desperately turning every stone and shouting Mouse's and Sammy's names while Ruby and Ram walk behind her.)
Ruby: It's going to break her. If they don't turn up.
Ram: You mean when.
Ruby: Ram! Don't say that.
Ram: Come on, Ruby. We've been looking for days, the city isn't that big. They would have turned up by now.
(Ruby looks at her feet as she fight back the tears. She watches Lottie with pity.)
Ruby: I just don't want to tell her, her best friend is dead.
Ram: She'll probably figure that out for herself.
Ruby: Right now I wish she were Brady's age and I could just tell her that Sammy and Mouse went on an adventure.
(As they walk their hands brush against each other, which immediately gets Ruby's attention. She smiles at Ram and is about to take his hand, when he walks up to a group of kids and asks for Sammy and Mouse. When he comes back to her, he shakes his head.)
Ram: Nothing.
(Ruby sighs, but puts on an hopeful expression as Lottie comes bounding back to them.)
SCENE 21
(In another part of the city Slade and Ebony are walking together in search of the missing Mallrats. Ebony kicks an old can in frustration.)
Ebony: This is pointless! We're not going to find them.
Slade: Don't you want to find them?
Ebony: I do, but we're not going to.
Slade: Then we have to at least find out what happened to them.
(Camera pans around as four Anarchists round the corner. They spot Slade and Ebony and run towards them. Ebony grins at Slade.)
Ebony: Guess we ask them.
Slade: Guess we do.
(He grabs plank from the floor and throws it to Ebony, who grabs it just in time for the first attack. She swings it and hits a girl with short blonde hair over the head, grabs her and throws her head first against the wall. The girl falls to the ground and doesn't move. The next Anarchist is a better match and puts more of a fight. Meanwhile Slade has his hands full with the other two. He kicks the legs out from under one of them, but then takes a heavy blow to the face and staggers back. Luckily Ebony has just gotten some space between herself and her attacker, so she can ward of Slade's attacker. Eventually the Anarchists realize, they're going to lose and try to run. Two of them escape, but the blonde girl is still lying unconscious on the ground and Slade manages to grab one of the guys before he can escape. He pushes him against the wall with a firm grip around his throat.)
Slade (out of breath): Now... let's talk!
Anarchist: Just finish it, okay. You lose, you die. I know the rules.
Ebony: What rules?
Anarchist: If you lose a fight, you're too weak and you die.
Slade: Shut it! We're looking for some friends of ours. A small girl and a boy with red hair. Have you seen them?
(Ebony holds the back of her hand up to his face with the pentagram of the Mallrats on it.)
Ebony: They are Mallrats.
Anarchist: Tribe children... We get a lot of those.
Slade: What do you do with them?
Anarchist: Waste them.
Ebony: Mallrats! Remember them?
(Slade pulls a picture out of his pocket and shows it to the Anarchist.)
Anarchist: I think so. They were with Dana and Kierce a few days ago.
Slade: Where are they now?
Anarchist: I told you.
Ebony: Then where are the bodies?
Anarchist: Burnt.
Slade: How do we know, you're telling the truth?
Anarchist: I'm a dead man walking anyway. I told you, you lose, you die. Those are the rules.
(Slade throws him to the ground in disgust and he and Ebony start walking towards the hospital.)
SCENE 22
(Lex is walking across the market place, where he hung up the article about Tai-San. He glances at the wall and keeps walking until he stops in his tracks. He rushes to the wall, but all the posters have gone.)
Lex: What the hell?
(He scans the road, but the ashes have been spread by wind and rain.)
Lex: Why?
(He punches the wall and keeps walking.)
SCENE 23
(The Mallrats have gathered in the café after yet another day of fruitless searching for Sammy and Mouse. The mood is bad and no one really talks as realisation starts to sink in what this means. Slade and Ebony are the last ones to enter.)
Ebony (whispers): You go tell them.
Slade (whisper): Why me? You do it.
Ebony (whispers): They always get bad news from me.
(She pushes Slade forward and clears her throat. All the heads turn towards Slade and he looks around uneasily. He shoves his hands deep in his pockets.)
Slade: I... uh... we...
Lex: Just spill it, man!
Slade: We ran into Anarchists today.
Jay: And?
Slade: We got some information out of one of them. Apparently Mouse and Sammy were seen with some of them a few days ago.
Salene: What does that mean? Where are they now?
Slade: The guy was very clear on what happened with people who run into Anarchists and can't defend themselves.
(Ebony steps forward and places a hand on Slade's shoulder.)
Ebony: They die. They burn the bodies. I'm sorry.
Lottie (screams): NO!
(Lottie storms out of the room, closely followed by Ruby. Salene breaks down in tears and Amber holds her. Ellie starts sobbing into Jack's shoulder, Patch and Dee usher Chester and Dylan out of the room, Trudy fights back tears as she picks up Brady and hurries out.)
Bray: Can we believe him?
Slade: He had no reason to lie and it fits, doesn't it?
Lex: We have to do something about those assholes! They are going to pay!
(Camera cuts out.)
SCENE 24
(Camera pans around Sammy's and Mouse's old room. It looks as if someone just left a second ago with the beds unmade and clothes and toys lying around on the floor and the beds. Outside the rain is whipping against the window. This is the Sound That a Heart Makes When It's Breaking by Harper Lee starts playing in the background.)
where is the hope i lost the trail
my only life half wasted now
the suffocating emptiness
the ugly shuffling loneliness
(Lottie comes storming in, throwing herself on Sammy's bed inhaling his scent on the pillow as sobs shake her body. Her cries are inaudible to the audience.)
this is the sound that a heart makes when it's breaking
am i just the only one
who struggles to stay warm alone
like frosted glass my eyes just blur
reaching out there's no one there
(She curls into a ball, leaving stains on the pillow. Ruby comes into the room and sits down next to her trying to comfort her. She's also crying, but Lottie shrugs her hand away.)
where is the hope i lost the trail
my only life half wasted now
the nights are getting darker now
they're drawing in, they're crowding in
this is the sound that a heart makes when it's breaking
(Lottie lifts her head, screams at Ruby and tries shoving her off the bed. Her face is red and the tribal markings have smudged because of her tears. Ruby succeeds in pulling the younger girl to her chest and holding her. Lottie struggles for a while before she goes limp. Camera fades out.)
SCENE 25
(Camera cuts to the old parking deck and moves inside. A group of Anarchists have gathered around a pile of bodies. A girl with long black hair steps forward.)
Dana: Can't we just burn them here?
Kierce: No, we can't. This is were we live. You don't eat and shit at the same place, do you, Dana?
Dana: Then I hope, you intend to help with getting them out of the city.
Kierce: Of course. I told you before, I'm not ordering anyone around.
(Dana steps closer to him, so only he can hear what she's saying.)
Dana: You easily could though.
Kierce: I don't want a tribe. Tribes are for the weak. I don't need anyone's help to survive. Do you, Dana?
(Dana turns away from him, grabs one of the bodies and slings it over her back. The camera zooms in to show the face of a boy with half his face painted in white.)
Dana: Then let's go. I don't want this to take longer than it should.
(The Anarchist all follow suit and they move out of the parking deck. They walk for a while until they reach the north edge of the city. Two other Anarchists are already waiting for them around a big bonfire. They put the bodies on the fire and watch them burn. Dana smiles as the sparks fly in the night sky.)
Dana: It's kind of beautiful.
(Camera fades to black.)