Revised: 13/8/2012
Scene 8
Two chairs are side by side. Holly and Artemis are tied up in them.
SKULDUGGERY: (pacing in front of Holly and Artemis.) Are you two working together?
ARTEMIS: Depends what you're asking about.
VALKYRIE: (fake excitement with underlying annoyance) it talks!
TANITH: It would appear so.
ARTEMIS: Of course I talk! I also speak several other languages fluently.
SKULDUGGERY: What is your name, and what is her name?
ARTEMIS: I am Trouble Kelp, and this is my sister Opal Koboi.
Holly glares at Artemis and he smirks slightly so no one ells notices.
VALKYRIE: Um...
SKULDUGGERY: Yes?
VALKYRIE: (awkwardly) well you guys all said something, so I thought I should to.
SKULDUGGERY: You are so unprofessional.
HOLLY: (smothers a snicker)
TANITH: I agree with Opal here.
ARTEMIS: May we go now?
SKULDUGGERY: Go where?
ARTEMIS: Where do you think we would going Mars?
SKULDUGGERY: No, but it is possible.
ARTEMIS: Well we are not from mars; my mother is a maid at fowl manner. So can we go home now?
SKULDUGGERY: Sorry now is up so no.
ARTEMIS: Why?
SKULDUGGERY: because Opal still hasn't told me why she was trying to break into room Number 24 of the Midnight Hotel.
ARTEMIS: What's the Midnight Hotel?
SKULDUGGERY: Your sister was breaking into it.
ARTEMIS: That doesn't answer my question.
SKULDUGGERY: Yes it does.
ARTEMIS: No it doesn't.
SKULDUGGERY: What was your question again?
ARTEMIS: (sighs) what's the Midnight Hotel?
SKULDUGGERY: A hotel.
ARTEMIS: You aren't going to tell me are you?
SKULDUGGERY: Nope.
ARTEMIS: Okay.
SKULDUGGERY: (pout) you aren't going to argue?
ARTEMIS: No.
SKULDUGGERY: Oh. (looks sad)
FLEATCHER: (Appears)
VALKYRIE: Can you get on with it? I want to be home for dinner!
FLETCHER: Are you ever home for dinner?
VALKYRIE: Not usually. But I'd like to have something other than take-away for once.
SKULDUGGERY: No such luck, Valkyrie.
ARTEMIS: How do you just appear like that? Do you use a camouflage sheet or something? Why don't you just put it away? It's not like you need it right now. (frown)
Everyone stares at him, including Holly.
ARTEMIS: What did I say?
TANITH: Oh my god... oh my GOD! He doesn't know!
ARTEMIS: Know what?!
TANITH: (high pitched girly voice) Oh. Em. Gee.
VALKYRIE: I am in so much trouble.
SKULDUGGERY: Your parents are going to kill you.
VALKYRIE: No they- oh. Yeah.
ARTEMIS: (confused) what's going on?
TANITH: Absolutely nothing, you're free to go.
SKULDUGGERY: WHAT?!
TANITH: I guess you're not free to go.
SKULDUGGERY: You've got that right.
Butler and Mulch appear after pulling of some Cam-foil.
VALKYRIE: Where did they come from? I thought Fletcher was -
SKULDUGGERY: (clamps a hand over Valkyrie's mouth.)
TANITH: Hey, they're freeing the guests!
Valkyrie splays her hand at Mulch; he is pined to the ground. Skulduggery throws fire at Butler and Tanith moves against the wall.
FLETCHER: (appears next to Tanith with popcorn and offers her some.) Great show.
TANITH: Where'd you get the popcorn?
FLETCHER: France. Their popcorn's the best.
TANITH: (laughs)
MULCH: (disappears tunneling underground.)
VALKYRIE: (jumps and levitates) Skulduggery, he can dig like Sanguine!
SKULDUGGERY: Who?
VALKYRIE: The little hairy guy!
SKULDUGGERY: (Levitates)
TANITH: (runs forward to join the fight changing her mind she staryts to go back)
MULCH: (digs out of the ground, grabs Fletcher's leg)
FLEATCHER: (Disappears)
VALKYRIE: Where's the hairy guy?
FLETCHER: (reappears and points up)
MULCH: (falls through the air, dives into the ground like a swimmer into a pool.)
VALKYRIE AND FLEATCHER: (stare)
TANITH: (yells and disappearing underground)
VALKYRIE: Tanith! I am going to kill that guy if he hurts her!
Valkyrie and Fletcher peer down the hole Mulch left in his wake. Butler grabs Holly and Artemis and jumps down another one of Mulch's holes. Skulduggery looks down the hole too. They hear talking. Butler climbs out of the hole behind them, wraps an arm around Valkyrie's neck, and pushes Skulduggery down the hole. Fletcher teleports and Valkyrie passes out.