EXT. SHUTTLE STOP - NIGHT
The shuttle pulls up to a stop and the last of the people from the line outside of Madam Holu's depart. From outside, the shuttle appears empty. Ed, the shuttle driver, carries Calvin's corpse outside and over to a dumpster. He looks around to see if anyone's looking, then shoves the corpse inside. He whistles his way back to...
INT. SHUTTLE
Ed is just about to drive away when he hears something. He looks over his shoulder and notices there are still two passengers; Rat the Mic and Arielle. He stands and walks over to them.
ED
Hey, you two, this is the last stop.
RAT THE MIC
Can't you take us back to the shuttle station?
ED
I could, but I'm not going to. Now, scram!
EXT. SHUTTLE STOP - NIGHT
Rat the Mic and Arielle hurry off the shuttle. Ed slams the door and drives away practically before their feet hit the pavement.
RAT THE MIC
Jerk!
Arielle looks around, nervous. It's the middle of the night, downtown alien Harlem, and she's the injured daughter of the prime minister of the planet. Streetwalkers hovering by a trash can fire eye her from across the street. You'd be nervous, too.
ARIELLE
I don't want to be here.
RAT THE MIC
That makes two of us.
ARIELLE
So, what's next?
RAT THE MIC
I don't know. We get you home, I guess. Where do you live?
ARIELLE
Outside the net, obviously.
RAT THE MIC
What net?
ARIELLE
Are you- are you kidding? The net that cuts off Utuyaya from the rest of the planet.
RAT THE MIC
Oh, that net. Right.
ARIELLE
I thought you were sent here to rescue me.
RAT THE MIC
Well, I...
He sees the nervousness on her face.
RAT THE MIC
I, um... What I mean to say is, yes, I was, of course, sent to rescue you.
ARIELLE
How did you get in?
RAT THE MIC
Um, on a ship.
ARIELLE
You have a ship!
Ecstatic, Arielle hugs him.
ARIELLE
That's wonderful. So, if we just get to the docks...
RAT THE MIC
It's not that kind of a ship. It's not a boat.
ARIELLE
Oh. You came on a spaceship?
RAT THE MIC
Sure, let's go with that.
ARIELLE
Where did you land?
RAT THE MIC
Well, it's sort of back at Madam Holu's.
She shoots him a look that could kill.
ARIELLE
Are you telling me, are you seriously telling me that we just spent the last hour driving away from the getaway ship?
He hesitates.
RAT THE MIC
If you're going to look at everything in a negative light...
ARIELLE
You idiot! You have got to be the worst hero I have ever met.
RAT THE MIC
How many heroes could you possibly know?
ARIELLE
My boyfriend is in the royal guard.
RAT THE MIC
You have a boyfriend?
He looks disappointed. She seems disgusted.
ARIELLE
Oh, you're just gross.
She storms off. He checks out her butt.
RAT THE MIC
Whatever. No jiggle at all.
He notices some thugs at the street corner and grows uncomfortable. He runs after her.
RAT THE MIC
Hey, wait for me.
He follows her across the street.
INT. OFFICE - MADAM HOLU'S HOUSE OF EROS
Greevo, the Doctor, and some enforcers stand around the table. Brick walks over with a paper map of an island, presumably Utuyaya, and spreads it out across the table. He points to a location on the map.
BRICK
We're here. I've got seven teams sweeping the area in concentric circles, with a perimeter about five miles out.
GREEVO SHANBOR
What if they aren't on foot?
BRICK
I can widen the perimeter.
GREEVO SHANBOR
The net is your perimeter. I don't want them leaving the island.
BRICK
Doctor, can you think of any places they're likely to lay low? Did you scout the area beforehand?
Brick notices the Doctor making an awkward face, like someone who just stepped in gum.
BRICK
What?
DOCTOR
This is a paper map.
BRICK
So?
DOCTOR
No, nothing. I just figured, I don't know, crime boss of your own little mini-country, I kind of figured it'd be at least laminated.
GREEVO SHANBOR
I'm this close to killing you, Doctor.
The Doctor points to a location on the map.
DOCTOR
What's this here?
BRICK
Slaughterhouse.
DOCTOR
And these? What are all of these buildings?
BRICK
Industry row. How do you not know that?
DOCTOR
I'm just trying to get my bearings.
BRICK
Really? Because it's like you've never even seen Utuyaya before.
DOCTOR
Not on paper. My map was digital and had pretty colors. I work better with colors, and sticky notes, and-
GREEVO SHANBOR
Doctor!
DOCTOR
Start with the slaughterhouse. It's in an isolated district with a lot of heat signatures that'll make it difficult to track and differentiate them from the pigs, or cows, or whatever creatures you people mutilate and devour on this rock. That's where I would go if I were him.
Brick looks to Greevo for the go-ahead. Greevo nods.
GREEVO SHANBOR
Take the Doctor with you to the slaughterhouse.
The Doctor looks confused.
GREEVO SHANBOR
If he gives you any trouble, feed him to the pigs.
DOCTOR
You have man-eating pigs? That is so cool.
Brick's enforcers drag the Doctor out.
GREEVO SHANBOR
(to Brick)
Send Holu in.
Brick nods and leaves. Greevo lights another cigar and sits as Holu enters.
GREEVO SHANBOR
Madam.
She smiles and walks behind Greevo's chair to massage his shoulders.
MADAM HOLU
Your thread frays when you weigh it down with so much stress, pompi.
GREEVO SHANBOR
I need more information on the Doctor.
MADAM HOLU
I've told you all I know.
He holds her hands and spins around in his chair to look her in the eyes.
GREEVO SHANBOR
It's strange to me. I've never known you to spend more than thirty minutes with a man and not know everything there is to know about him.
She smiles and sits in his lap.
MADAM HOLU
Is that why you keep me around? For my... intelligence?
GREEVO SHANBOR
I would say our partnership has proven mutually beneficial to this point. However, let us not forget the order of things. Your powers are mine to wield. Tell me that your vision does not grow clouded.
MADAM HOLU
I see as clearly as I ever have.
GREEVO SHANBOR
Then, why don't you know more about him?
He pushes her off his lap and begins to pace the room.
GREEVO SHANBOR
What's his name?
MADAM HOLU
As far as I can tell, he's only ever been called 'the Doctor'.
GREEVO SHANBOR
What species is he?
MADAM HOLU
I don't know. You could have asked him.
GREEVO SHANBOR
I know I could have asked him, I'm asking you!
MADAM HOLU
And I gave you my answer.
GREEVO SHANBOR
How did he come to be here? Who sent him?
MADAM HOLU
I answered these questions.
GREEVO SHANBOR
Not to my satisfaction!
MADAM HOLU
His mind is a complex one. The Euphormia didn't work on him like it works on the others. I am not a mind reader. I can only suggest-
GREEVO SHANBOR
I suggest that you not finish that sentence.
She shuts her mouth.
GREEVO SHANBOR
You know what's at stake? Covunami wants the reunification to be his crowning achievement. He wants to lead the world into a brave new era of peace and prosperity. But in order to enter into a new era, the old one must first be torn down. They cannot coexist. For one to live, the other must die, and the only way the royal government can ever take back control of Utuyaya is if they break down the old regime, my regime. It'll happen slowly at first. They'll open their international coffers and throw a pittance at the penniless among us. Our poor will have no choice but to accept more money than they've seen in as long as they can remember.
Madam Holu listens.
GREEVO SHANBOR
That's how the snake gets in. They give you a little of what you need and promise you what you want. Next, everyone who takes the offer will be relocated, given some menial manual labor job halfway across the world, so government crews can come in to where they were and rebuild. But wherever they rebuild, they will own. They will destroy the national identity we've built by shipping the people out, and then they will establish a stronghold. Their police presence will be powerful, and since our people haven't had to live under the strict laws of an oppressive government for some time, it is our people who will suffer their wrath. It is our people who will be targeted and thrown into their prisons. And whatever those people own will be seized, so the government can grow even more, and put their people in place. That is when they will come after me, after they've weakened me and established their presence.
He glares at her.
GREEVO SHANBOR
The only thing standing between us and them is the girl, the monk, and that damned Doctor, so if you are protecting him in any way, if you are lying to me, do not for one split second think I won't use any excuse you give me to rip your legs off and beat you to death with them.
MADAM HOLU
I've told you everything.
GREEVO SHANBOR
What were you doing with him up there that whole time?
MADAM HOLU
I'm a Madam. What do you think I was doing?
GREEVO SHANBOR
What did he want with you?
MADAM HOLU
I'm a Madam. What do you think he wanted with me?
Greevo rages, throws something.
MADAM HOLU
And it wasn't as if you gave me a lot of time with him. Had I had more time, I could have gotten you more.
GREEVO SHANBOR
Then, more time is what you shall have. Brick is leading a team to the slaughterhouses to look for the Doctor's accomplice. He's taking the Doctor and you're going with them.
She's stunned.
MADAM HOLU
I... I don't go on missions.
GREEVO SHANBOR
You're going on this one. You will use your powers of persuasion to assure the Doctor's cooperation and you will get as much out of him as you can, including how he intends on betraying me.
MADAM HOLU
The Doctor is not that kind of man.
GREEVO SHANBOR
Every man is that kind of man when the price is right. Now, go.
Reluctantly, she skitters out.
INT. LOCKER ROOM - MADAM HOLU'S HOUSE OF EROS
Brick and his men suit up like soldiers heading into battle. They put on armor vests and retrieve high-powered rifles from a gun locker. The Doctor also suits up, but when Brick goes to hand him a rifle, he refuses to take it.
DOCTOR
No thanks.
BRICK
When your friend sees that you've helped us, he may not be so friendly.
The Doctor holds up his hands and gets real "serious".
DOCTOR
You see these, man?
Brick looks at the Doctor's hands.
DOCTOR
These hands have been inside a person when the last breath spilled out of their lungs, man. These hands have been wrapped around a heart when it took its last beat. These eyes...
He points to his eyes and opens them as wide as he can.
DOCTOR
These eyes, man, these eyes have stared deep into a person's soul at the very moment that little light blew out like a candle in the wind. I've seen the other side, man, when a soul takes that step from this plane to the next, and enters into the ethereal realm of pure energy. This body...
He grabs Brick in a great big bear hug and whispers into the man's ear. Brick, meanwhile, fidgets, extremely uncomfortable. The enforcers watch, all quite confused, but not knowing what to do.
DOCTOR
My body, man, you feel that? You ever been in complete contact with someone at the moment of their death, man? I have, man, and it's like, they're breathing, and then they're not. They're moving, then not. They're warm, then cold. And it's all just so real and surreal and unreal, all at the same damn time, man. And you can't even know it, until you've been there and been the conduit, man.
Madam Holu enters the locker room quietly from the back. She sees the Doctor holding Brick and everyone staring at them, not knowing what to do. She watches, curious herself.
The Doctor holds Brick close, takes a deep breath in.
DOCTOR
Yeah. You smell nice. What kind of shampoo do you use?
Brick angrily breaks free from the Doctor's grasp and pushes him back.
BRICK
Get off of me. You are messed up in the head.
DOCTOR
Bro, why ya gotta hate?
BRICK
You are messed up in the head! You just stay away from me.
DOCTOR
Whatever, man, you're the one who wanted me to hold your big rifle in my hands. I mean, that's not sexual at all.
Brick storms away to talk to his men, giving Madam Holu the opportunity she needs to steal a private moment with the Doctor. She pulls him over to a locker.
MADAM HOLU
Pretend you're helping me get undressed.
DOCTOR
Better yet, I'll actually help you get undressed.
She begins to strip. One of the enforcers notices and tries to sneak a look. The Doctor catches him.
DOCTOR
Hey, you. I see you there. Give the lady a little privacy, will you? This ain't no peep show.
The Doctor grabs Holu's butt while the enforcer watches.
DOCTOR
No looky, no touchy.
Madam Holu slaps the Doctor's hand away.
MADAM HOLU
That goes double for you.
DOCTOR
Come on, I'm a Doctor. It doesn't have to be weird.
MADAM HOLU
You're weird.
DOCTOR
Says the spider-lady.
MADAM HOLU
On my planet, everyone's descended from the arachnid.
DOCTOR
That's gotta be so gross. Does it totally freak you out when somebody comes at you with a tissue?
Frustrated, and topless, she turns around to get in his face.
MADAM HOLU
I need you to be serious for five seconds, can you handle that?
He looks down at her exposed chest.
DOCTOR
You want to hear "yes", right?
MADAM HOLU
Grow up.
She turns back around and pulls some body armor from the locker. She continues to dress as she talks.
MADAM HOLU
I've fallen out of favor with Greevo.
DOCTOR
I knew it. He's jealous. See, this is just the kind of thing I wanted to avoid. Everyone's always so threatened by me. Curse my animal magnetism!
MADAM HOLU
Curse your need to stick your nose where it doesn't belong.
DOCTOR
You said you liked that.
MADAM HOLU
I'm serious! If we don't find that girl, I think he'll kill us both. I always knew aligning myself with Greevo was a risk, but it's not as if I had much of a choice. I thought I had him, though. I thought...
DOCTOR
You thought he really loved you?
She hangs her head a moment, but only a moment. She continues suiting up.
MADAM HOLU
I need your help.
DOCTOR
You've already turned on me once, why should I trust you, now?
MADAM HOLU
I didn't turn on you. Brick stormed the room. What was I supposed to do?
DOCTOR
I don't know, but I probably would have started with no pointing swords at my throat.
She turns back around, fully dressed in body armor and ready for battle. She's like a bulkier, spider-ier, version of Black Widow.
MADAM HOLU
I helped you with your little self-realization problem. Now, it's your turn to help me.
DOCTOR
How? They trust me less than they trust you.
MADAM HOLU
Just be ready.
Brick walks over.
BRICK
Hey, you two ready?
The Doctor nods and salutes.
DOCTOR
Ready for action, Jackson.
Brick hands Holu a small pistol.
BRICK
Here. You know how to fire?
Holu walks around Brick, drops the pistol on a table and then grabs the biggest rifle she can find. It's more than half her size, but she wields it like a professional.
MADAM HOLU
Son, getting a gun to fire is the easy part. It's cleaning up the mess, I hate.
Brick, the Doctor, and the enforcers stare at her, impressed.
DOCTOR
Well. Damn.
BRICK
All right, everyone. We're moving out.
Everyone follows Brick out.
-To be Continued...-