The Magic of Hope Virtue (rough draft)

Chenalos presents

A 14 rivers play for the screen

Based upon Puella Magi Madoka Magica

The Magic of Hope

Episode 1: Virtue

Hope, a teenage girl with ribbons in her Reddish hair. She runs through the streets, against building winds under the dreary and foreboding gray cloudy sky of an impending storm. She runs inside the open door of a deserted building and hurries up the steps to throw open the door of the Roof.
The city in the storm is in surreal chaos, a giant, leafless tree has sprung up from the ground and tangles the sky with jagged branches. Sky scrapers have been lifted from the earth floating weightlessly and the surroundings have become a twisted, desaturated and harsh world of monochromatic shapes reminiscent of 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari'
Amani, A teenage girl with long, plaited hair clothed in a magical girls outfit, with a magical gem on the back of her left hand and armed only with an enchanted buckler is flying through the air. She rushes towards Walpurgisnacht, a humanoid monster in the shape of an enormous inverted woman scarecrow in a blue medieval dress with two streamered hennins atop its painted-smile head a stack of turning gears churn at the base of the monster's dress.

HOPE: No! Wait! You can't fight that thing!

Amani cannot hear her and she deflects blasts of energy from the giant monster away with her shield. One gets through and she is struck to the branches of the tree. Meanwhile, As if out of nowhere a small, almost toy like angel, Arvess, appears above Hope, and she watches him as he descends to rest on the rail of a fire escape. Arvess always speaks in a bright, cheery voice almost as if he is constantly advertising. His face is a permanent minimalist, cute, yet eerie smile and candy red eyes.

ARVESS: It's no use for her now. She's gone through all her offensive options. It's just a matter of time.

HOPE: You can't leave her like this.

ARVESS: This is not something I can get involved in. There's nothing I can do.

Amani Shakes the dizziness out of her head, looks down from the tree to see Hope talking to Arvess. She starts calling to Hope but it is clear that Hope cannot hear her.

HOPE: But she won't survive if we don't help her.

ARVESS: If you want to save her there is one thing that only you can do.

Hope looks at Amani, beaten bloody and bruised, pleading with her over a great distance. Walpurgisnacht strikes again and Amani is forced to take flight.

HOPE: I don't understand. How?

ARVESS: You just don't know about the power inside of you. You have the ability to make anything happen. Believe in yourself.

HOPE: You mean I can save her from all this?

ARVESS: The only way for her to win is for you to help her. I can show you how if you just trust me.

A crash and Hope looks back to see Amani falling out of the sky calling for her desperately.

HOPE: Tell me what I have to do.

ARVESS: OK then. Close your eyes and think of the thing you want most in the whole world.

Hope closes her eyes. The noise and storm goes silent, as there is a zoom to an extreme closeup on her closed eyes.

ARVESS (V.O):
OK. Are you ready?

Hope opens her eyes to see that she is in her bedroom, and has just awoken to a beautiful sunny morning. She leans up in her bed and looks side to side before breathing a sigh of relief.

Kitchen. Mister Jake DelSoro, Author, Gardener, Homemaker and Hope's father is making breakfast. The TV is on and running local news.

TV With over 100 firearms reported missing along with at least fifteen hundred rounds of ammunition. The Weapons taken from the freedom hawks Militia-

Hope comes into the kitchen from upstairs, and takes a cup of coffee while giving her father a peck on the cheek

JAKE: Good morning, Hope. Sleep well?

HOPE: (Shaking her head)
Weird dreams. I'm fine though.

JAKE: I certainly wish you a good day today.

HOPE: Thanks, Dad.
JAKE How was that quiz you were supposed to take?

HOPE: 88.

JAKE: Good job. Give me 12 more points next time.

HOPE: I know, dad, geeze. Do you have book tour this month?

JAKE: Nope. I don't tour until June.

HOPE: How were sales?

JAKE: Less than last edition. Starting out a new series is rough. You need fans.

HOPE: Well, people liked the last series a lot so I hope this one gets bigger.

JAKE: Hey, your mom's the real bread winner around here. Don't worry about me.
I just write because I want to.

HOPE: Did you see this thing on the news about all those guns?

JAKE: Yeah. It's scary stuff. Hopefully they Don't end up in the wrong hands.

Hope throws up some finger guns.

HOPE: Where's mom?

JAKE: Still in bed. Teddy's trying to wake her up. Want to help?

Master bedroom with the curtains drawn. Rachel Les Paul, Jake's Wife is burying herself under bed sheets to stave off her three year old son, Teddy.

TEDDY: Momma! Momma! Wake up! Morning!
MORNING!

RACHEL: No! I'm calling in sick. Away with You!

Hope enters the bedroom with a stern expression and opens up the curtains pouring sunlight into the bedroom. Rachel, groggy rolls away and slightly hisses as her children and the sunlight.

HOPE: (pulling away the sheets)
If I have to go to school you have to go to work!

RACHEL: OK. OK. You win. I'm moving.

Rachel gets to her feet, being hugged by Teddy while scruffing up her daughter's hair.

Exterior establishing shot of the house.

Bathroom. Both mother and daughter are getting ready for their days primping in front of side by side mirrors. Hope has two ribbons in front of her, one yellow one light red.

HOPE: Amity got asked out day before yesterday.

RACHEL: Oh, did she?

HOPE: Logan was the guy.

RACHEL: How'd it go?

HOPE: She shot him down.

RACHEL: I'm not surprised. Amity is too goodie-goodie.

HOPE: Mom.

RACHEL: What? She is. It's all that conservative upbringing she gets. She's too sheltered.
Her folks don't watch out she'll end up in a convent. She has to learn the ins and outs as it were.

HOPE: Oh, God. Shut up.

RACHEL: What? My house isn't it?

HOPE: Anyway, I think Prudence was the one who talked her out of it. She's always saying things to mess with people. But Logan's cute. If he ever asked me out, I'd say yes.

RACHEL: (Thinks a moment):
Is this the same Logan who broke his arm ramping his bike off a bridge two years ago?

HOPE: Yeah. That was him.

RACHEL: You want to date him?

HOPE (smirking for a moment):
Oh, totally.

RACHEL: Fine. Date idiots. I don't care.
Give me his grandkids.

HOPE: Yeah. Fine. I will.

RACHEL Good. I hope you're very happy with Your idiot boyfriend.

HOPE: Yeah. Good. (pause)
Logan? Me? Dating? How could you let me say that? What kind of a Mother are you? I could report you To social services for endangerment Of a minor.

RACHEL: You always smirk when you lie. It's an easy tell. You better fix that before your first poker night.

HOPE: Speaking of night, you were out late.

RACHEL: This damn negotiation's going to kill me. I had to stay out to ten drinking with the buyer. He sings like a seal when he's drunk. If I don't get a bigger bonus by years end I'll go back to the mag industry.

HOPE: Where you met dad?

RACHEL: Yeah. A new beginning. Meet another man. Leave you all behind. Start another family.

Hope holds up the two ribbons.

HOPE: You're so evil.

RACHEL: (Points to the red ribbon)
You're so Good.

Breakfast table. The family is set and ready.

RACHEL: Are you Gardening today, sweetie?

JAKE: No. Cleaning.

HOPE: Dad, please don't clean my room.

TEDDY: I wanna go watch cartoons.

JAKE: Go on, son.

TEDDY: Thanks, dad.

HOPE: Dad, did you hear me? Please don't Go in my room.

JAKE: Are you trying to hide anything, Hope?

HOPE: No. It's my space. You're crossing into my zone. You know?

RACHEL: There are things about her you don't need to know, Jake.

JAKE: I'll leave the vacuum outside your room.
You clean it this afternoon, OK? Want another Coffee, Honey?

RACHEL: Not enough time. I have to get going.

HOPE: Yeah. Me too.

Rachel kisses her husband and son good bye. She and her daughter get their shoes on and walk out the door. They exchange a High-five before parting, Rachel to her car and Hope to the street where she walks to school.

Musical flourishes and establishing shots of Rhapsody Bay, a small city with modern suburbs, nice housing, flowing creeks, wind turbines and a backdrop of high-rises and tall commercial buildings. The focus shifts to students on their way to school.

Hope walks along and hears a voice from behind from her bob-cut friend Prudence and long haired, conservative Amity alongside her.

PRUDENCE: Hope! Wait up.

HOPE: Hi, Amity, Prudence.

PRUDENCE (Runs by):
Come, on, I don't want to be late.
Race you to the stop sign.

HOPE: You Jerk, that's a head start!

The girls run and laugh happily on their way under a warm cerulean sky.

TITLE

VIRTUE

ROLL INTRO.

Act 1 resume on girls going to school.

PRUDENCE: Hope, did you get the math homework done? Can I borrow it for study hall?

HOPE: Yeah. But you're usually good at math.
What do you need that for?

PRUDENCE: I couldn't get home until late last night and I just didn't get to it.
I have to do Biology and math in one study hall so it's a pain.

AMITY: What were you doing last night?

PRUDENCE: Oh, it was Will. Just helping the neighbors kid. He's almost better from the accident and I'm just trying to keep him company.

AMITY: Yeah. I had him in my French class Last year. He was so nice. Terrible what happened, just awful, you know?
Why are you helping him?

PRUDENCE: Well, I'm thinking about going into physical therapy, so it's a good idea to see what it's all about firsthand,
right?

HOPE: So how is Will?

PRUDENCE: Well...He's learning to walk again.
Has to do it with aided assistance,
but, you know. It's really one step at a time. Literally. But he's doing it.

HOPE: Well good to hear.

PRUDENCE: But his left hand, though. I don't know. He might have to give up on his dreams. It's...

HOPE (passes her spiral notebook):
Hey! Don't worry about it. Sure you can take my homework.

PRUDENCE (Musically):
Thanks, Hope. You're the best. I'll treat you to something after school. What do you think?

HOPE: Sure!

Amity smiles as the two chatter and laugh, then seems distant, as though lost in her own thoughts.
Establishing shot of the school. Classroom. Ms. Perry the bespectacled mid-30's English teacher stands before a homeroom class that includes Hope, Prudence, and Amity.

MS PERRY: Who can tell me the proper way to fry an egg?

She looks out over blank stares

MS PERRY(Cont):
Vincent! I want you to tell me how to properly fry an egg! Sunny side up, or over easy?

VINCENT: Well, I guess either is OK.

MS PERRY: Egg-zactly! It shouldn't matter whether an egg is fried one way or another, does it?

VINCENT: Ms. Perry, this is supposed to be homeroom and you're an English teacher. What does this have to do with English?

MS PERRY: Because you're speaking it right now and I can understand you and we are clearly communicating that it doesn't make any big difference whether an egg is fried over easy or sunny side up!

PRUDENCE: (to Hope)
I guess it didn't work out, huh?
(Hope grins nervously)

MS PERRY: Girls, don't worry about how you make eggs. Any way is really fine, and boys don't be the kind of person that gets all worked up over how eggs are fried.

PRUDENCE: I feel bad.

HOPE: Mom says she's gone through five dating sites like this.

PRUDENCE: She better find about twelve more.

MS PERRY: It's small misunderstandings about trivial nonsense that keep the world from harmony. I'll expect you all to be open minded and not too finicky or highly strung!

(She snaps the pencil she is holding in half. The pieces fall to the floor amidst a deafening silence)

MS PERRY(CTD):
It's almost not even worth getting worked up over. A silly thing like eggs.

(Breathes in a deep sigh)

MS PERRY(CTD):
Well, with that out of the way, we have a new classmate joining us today. Please Welcome Miss Amani Milele Stanton.

The same girl shown in the introduction enters the classroom and Hope reacts with shock at seeing her in the flesh. Amani moves with control and undeliberate grace. She generally speaks directly but without any emotional edge one way or another.

MS PERRY: Amani is coming to us from a hospital I won't go into details but she's recovering from a successful treatment.
She may need a breather once in a while.
OK? I hope you'll all be good friends with her.

AMANI: You can all call me Amani, I don't mind.

The teacher writes "Ahmane" on the board, and Amani turns, quickly erases it, sets the chalk on its side and quickly writes "Amani Stanton" in Lucidia Calligraphy. The class responds, largely impressed. Amani turns, tossing her long plaited hair and shoots a cold gaze at Hope who looks away, intimidated.

PRUDENCE (V.O):
You met her?

HOPE (V.O):
No. But I had this dream and I could swear she was in it.

INT STUDY HALL

The two girls are talking to one another during a study hall where Prudence is copying Hope's homework. Amani sits at a table some distance away.

PRUDENCE: So maybe you should go talk to her.

HOPE: I don't know what to say and she glares at me sometimes. I don't think she likes me.

PRUDENCE: Well don't let her intimidate you.
You've got more friends than she does.

HOPE: I don't know what she could be mad about.

PRUDENCE: What kind of a name is Amani, anyway?
I can understand if adults want to be cultural or ethnic or something but at least let your kid have a normal name. Am I right?

HOPE: You're named after a Beatles song.

PRUDENCE: Yeah. A good one! See, my mom was smart.

Amani glances over at Hope and Prudence. She is being crowded by a four girl fashionista squad.

FASHIONISTA 1: I like your hair. Did it take long to do that?

AMANI: I've been growing it for years.

FASHIONISTA 2: I like the colors of your clothes Where do you shop?

AMANI: I apologize, but I'm starting to feel a little light headed. I'm going to the nurse's office.

AMANI gets up and walks over to Hope, Prudence glares at her, sizing her up.

HOPE: Hello, Amani. I'm-

AMANI (with cold formality):
Hope DelSoro, you're the health officer of our homeroom, aren't you?

HOPE: I'm...How did...

AMANI: I'll have to ask you to show me to the nurse's office. I'm feeling slightly ill and may need to go there in an emergency.

HOPE: So, now?

AMANI: Please. It could be important.

Hope looks over at Prudence and they exchange a glance. Hope shrugs and gets up, walking Amani to the hallway. Oddly, Amani leads the way.

HOPE: The Nurses office is-

AMANI: On the left, right?

HOPE: Right. Left. You know, you seem to know what you're doing already.

AMANI: I assure you, I have no idea where to go or what I have to do. I'm Just going through the motions.
So you'll have to lead me.

HOPE: Amani.

AMANI: Yes?

HOPE: No. I was just saying. Amani.
It's a nice name. Prudence and I Were talking about it.

AMANI: She's the Bob-cut one with the hurt friend, right?

HOPE: She's-How did you know that, about Her friend?

AMANI: It's a small hospital, you learn about everyone stuck inside.
Amani Milele. My name is Swahili.
It means Peace everlsting.

HOPE: Well I kind of like it. It's not a normal sounding name but it really doesn't sound that strange. Not like being named Hope anyway. I hear all kinds of Hope jokes. 'You think so?
Well, I HOPE you're right.' 'Oh, you're Always so Hopeful!' 'The p is silent.'
Stuff like that.

Still leading the way, Amani suddenly turns on her heels to face Hope, and her posture is almost aggressive, and her voice is more present.

AMANI: Hope DelSoro, tell me, is there anything you want?

HOPE: What do you mean?

AMANI: I mean if you could change anything right now, would you wish things to be another way or would you rather keep things just as they are?

HOPE: I mean...You mean...Like...Anything?

AMANI: Tell me what you want and why you want it.

HOPE: You mean like, if I had a million dollars-

AMANI: Do you want a million dollars?

HOPE: No, I mean if I had enough money to do anything.

AMANI: Forget money. Forget possessions,
life goals, relationships, friends and family. Look deep down and say I'd give it all up, everything for this. What is it and why would you do it?

HOPE: I...I don't get it Amani, I-

AMANI: You'll lose it all, Hope.
Your whole life, and all you know and love becomes like a balloon that slips away from you and drifts into the sky, vanishing forever just for this one thing. What is it?

HOPE: I...I don't think I'd really have anything like that, you know? I have a good family and friends and I'm doing OK in school. I wouldn't know what to really change even if I could.

AMANI: Right. So you remember that. Why risk losing everything when you have this easy life?

HOPE: I don't know what you mean.

Amani begins to pace toward Hope, visibly antagonized to the point of spite.

AMANI: Now you can stay just the way you are.
Happy and pretty and perfect.

Hope cringes, expecting she is about to be struck.

HOPE: Please don't...

Amani walks by her without even an acknowledgment.

AMANI: You don't have to show me the nurse's office, Hope DelSoro. I'm feeling better already.

The School bell rings, stranding HOPE in the hallway.

Gym class. Amity and Hope jog side by side.

AMITY: How many classes do you have with her?

HOPE: This is my third. This, Homeroom's English and study hall.

AMITY: Is she hurting you?

HOPE: No. She's just always trying to scare me, I don't know why. Any ideas?

AMITY: Hold on, here she comes again.

The two quiet themselves as Amani laps them.

HOPE: Just like that, see? She didn't have to cross so close to me but she did!

AMITY: I think you're being paranoid.

HOPE: I know I'm being paranoid. She's not leaving me alone.

AMITY: I had her for French class. She walked in and just started talking French.

HOPE: Yeah? So?

AMITY: The whole time! She didn't say one thing in English the entire class.
Mr. Newberg was trying to stump her.
She started speaking all the French From Henry the fifth until he Made her sit down.

HOPE: Then there was that dream. I told Prudence about it.

AMITY: The mind is a funny thing. Maybe you saw her before on the street or something and her face ended up in your dream. It's happened to me.

HOPE: I heard that in math class she gave the teacher some attitude then started solving AP Calculus problems on the front board just to prove she could.

AMITY: She's like some kind of super villain and she's decided to stalk you.

HOPE: Madre del Dios.

AMITY: OK, she's coming up again, watch out.

HOPE: This sucks. I wanna go home.

The frame follows the girls for a moment, then in the shadows Arvess is shown looking on. The image pans up to blue sky. From a blue sky frame there is a pan down to a right-wing compound where a car pulls up the driveway. Out steps Detective Mercy Hastor, a female cop assigned to investigate the gun robbery. Hastor approaches some Militia men.

HASTOR: Good afternoon, gentlemen my name is detective Hastor, I'm here to investigate the robbery.

MILITIA 1: Startin' off, you should know we don't want your kind on our sovereign land.
Freedom Hawks are here to preserve liberty more than you feds will ever know.

HASTOR: I'm not federal. Honestly, I'd like to wrap this up before the ATF gets wind and takes over my investigation. If you want to get this done without dealing with them or the FBI then your cooperation would be key. Right now this is just a stolen property case.

MILITIA 2: Feds in feds out. You wanna come here flashin' a badge-

MILITIA 1: Take it easy, Jebediah. Let me handle this.

MILITIA 2: OK, Junior, Go on. Talk.

MILITIA 1: We'll take you to the barracks.

The men lead Hastor to a Barracks which has gun racks trunks and lockers, all of which are busted open and empty. Hastor takes in the scene.

HASTOR: How many robbers were there?

MILITIA 1: We don't know.

HASTOR: This was yesterday?

MILITIA 2: Before 10 PM.

HASTOR: Have you tallied the missing guns?

MILITIA 1 (reading notebook):
35 assault rifles, 15 semi-SMG, 20 long rifles, 12 carbines, 18 shotguns,
9 historical weapons, 2 50 cals bolt and semi, 40 Handguns, all the ammunition and magazines, probably 85 hundred rounds.

HASTOR: I see. You're talking about 750 pounds of metal. What did they take it away in? They'd need a truck, right?

MILITIA 1: Don't know.

HASTOR: Tire tracks, anything?

MILITIA 2: The bastards hacked our security cameras We don't know.

HASTOR: There's footage?

MILITIA 1: You might think so.

Cut to security camera footage of the Barracks, with informational indicators at the top. Everything is secure.

MILITIA 1(V.O):
And right here at 9:49:27 The lockers are now all open and empty.

MILITIA 1: That's it.

MILITIA 2: The son of a bitch figured out how to loop our security cameras to cover his tracks.

HASTOR: Very, very impressive. How about external?

MILITIA 1: Same deal.

He runs the security feed from the outside of the building. Nothing ever gets close to the entrance but at the same time as the previous camera there is a small shadow that appears on the edge of the frame and disappears. The door has now been left ajar.

MILITIA 2: How'd that goddamn coward do it?

HASTOR: Go back.

The film runs again.

HASTOR: There's a shadow in this corner of the frame. It vanishes as the same time the lockers open on the interior camera.

MILITIA 1: Yep. That's what happens when you loop film. Probably a deer or something wandered into the frame, then the film loops, click, cuts it out.

HASTOR: Think that could be the shadow of one of the robbers?

MILITIA 1: Well, maybe but I doubt it. If they were smart enough to hack our security they wouldn't be dumb enough to walk on camera.

HASTOR: Yeah. Time stamp doesn't change on the The cut. Huh. That's a good hack.
Unless it's not looping. It's something else.

The men and Hastor exit the building. Hastor walks to where she saw the shadow.

MILITIA 1: We have checkpoints go from here to three miles out. We weren't on patrol but when the word got out-

Militia 1 stops when he sees HASTOR walking away. Hastor uses a nearby building for reference. She finds the light which threw the shadow, traces a line in the air from where the shadow started to where he assumed the shadow was thrown and curiously holds her hand up flat at about 5 feet four inches off the ground. She looks on the ground and sees the faint footprint of a sneaker. She then walks back to the Militia men.

HASTOR: Thank you for your time gentleman,
this is an ongoing investigation and I'll be returning later tonight for a follow up. Please e-mail me that footage.

Hastor heads to her car and picks up his cell phone and calls.

HASTOR: Yeah, Lemon, Hastor. I'm calling from Freedom Hawks Militia robbery.
Yeah. Well, wait I don't have anything solid just yet, but do me a favor. You get any reports on anything involving female five foot four or thereabouts,
not domestics, of course. You let me know. Yeah. Footprint. Wasn't deep so I'm guessing light weight. I'm guessing female. The chief? I know he wants me to call the ATF, tell the big man to calm down. I'll have this in a week.(She hangs up)Yeah, right.

Hastor starts her car and drives away.

High School. The bell rings and school is shown letting out. Amani approaches Ziggy, an emo geek and gun nut.

AMANI: You're Ziggy, right?

ZIGGY: Who are you?

AMANI: I'm the new kid. I wanted to ask you a question.

ZIGGY (after a pause):
OK. What?

AMANI (sits and faces him):
Suppose I wanted to blow up something the size of a city block. What would I use?

ZIGGY: What?

AMANI: If I wanted to blow up something the size of a city block how would I do it?

ZIGGY: What?

AMANI: How can I blow up a city block?

ZIGGY: I mean...What?

AMANI: Say what again.

ZIGGY: What.

AMANI: Again.

ZIGGY: What.

AMANI: One more time. Say it.

ZIGGY: What?

AMANI: OK. Good. Are you done asking stupid questions? What weapon do you know of that blows up an entire city block?

ZIGGY: GBU-43. It's a big bomb. You drop it out of a cargo plane. It's called a MOAB.

AMANI: Right. MOAB. Tell me more.

ZIGGY: Massive Ordinance Air Blast. If you could think of a school bus it's like that, but it's packed with TNT. 11 tons of it.

AMANI: Thank you, Ziggy. Where can I find a MOAB?

ZIGGY: What?

AMANI (Gets closer):
You were done.

ZIGGY: I don't know where they are. Air force bases, I guess. But to find out where exactly one is I'd have to-

AMANI: What do you want?

ZIGGY: Me?

AMANI: Yeah. I'll give you something. Name it. Just think hard and make a wish.

Ziggy recoils as though he's about to call a bluff.

ZIGGY: OK...I want a sports car.

AMANI: Make, model and color. You tell me where I can find a MOAB, it's yours.

ZIGGY: You want me to hack into a government mainframe and locate an 11-ton bomb?

AMANI: Think you can do it? You could win a free car.

School bell rings. Establishing shot: Mall Amity, Prudence and Hope sit in the food court. Hope slouches uneasily with a sigh.

HOPE: Way too stressful.

PRUDENCE: What's with the Ribbon, by the way,
trying to score guys like Amity does?

AMITY: Hey, I'm not that kind of girl.

PRUDENCE: You liar! Ha. To hide behind innocence is the true nature of a cold blooded heart-breaker!

HOPE: Just looking for a little change. I forgot I had it on.

PRUDENCE: Well, don't worry about it. I promised you lunch, Hope.

HOPE: This is just the first day. I don't know what Amani might do to me tomorrow.

PRUDENCE: You're still worried about her?

HOPE: Freaking yes! Look at this. I feel like I've been avoiding her eyes all day and if I weren't in school she would have kicked the crap out of me in the hallway!

AMITY: It sounds to me like she's just envious.

HOPE: Of what? Why try to scare me? I don't do anything special there's no need to-

PRUDENCE: Downer. Downer. Downer. If you give in to fear then the terrorists have already won. Relax. No matter what Amani does, I've got your back, right?

HOPE: Yeah. I guess.

PRUDENCE: So forget about Amani. Let's go to the music shop. I need to pick up a CD.

HOPE: You're not going to just download it?

PRUDENCE: No. It's a gift. I need a physical copy. Getting to the mall will clear your head, won't it?

Amity glances nervously at Prudence while Hope cheers up.

HOPE: Yeah. You're right, Prudence. She's smart so she can't be unreasonable.
I'm sure the next time I see her, we'll work out all this hostility.

The girls exit.

In a darkly lit hallway in an under construction part of the mall, Arvess is flying away in terror. A blast of energy strikes his wing and he falls to the ground, then moves just in time before a follow up shot blasts the floor he was on. He runs away desperately. The silhouette of Amani steps out of the shadows and pursues him.
At the music shop Prudence browses classical music while Hope listens to pop on headphones with a smile. Abruptly a voice enters into Hope's mind.

ARVESS (V.o):
Help me!

HOPE: Huh?

ARVESS(V.O):
Please help me. She's going to-

HOPE: Where are you?

ARVESS(V.O.):
Come quick!

Hope leaves the record store and walks to the under construction section of the mall.

ARVESS (V.o):
She's going to find me!

HOPE: Who is?

Hope looks up to see a panel of the ceiling shudder and break open. A bloody and bruised, exhausted Arvess falls to the floor. Hope rushes up and takes him into her harms.

HOPE: How awful. Are you badly hurt?
Who would do this?

A Rattle of chains, and HOPE looks to one side to see Amani standing on an arc of the chain.

HOPE: Amani?

Amani steps off and walks towards the two ambivalently.

AMANI Put that thing down and walk away.

HOPE: Amani! How could you? What are you trying to do?

AMANI: It's better if you don't get involved. That's all there is to it.

HOPE: I won't stand by and let you hurt him.

AMANI: Oh, if you only knew.
But that's the point, isn't it?

The two stare each other down, Hope still cradling the wounded tiny angel and Amani holding her stance. Suddenly the moment is broken with a flash of a magical gunshot. The arc of chain is shot out behind Amani and falls to the floor. Three more shots draw a line between Amani and Hope. Amani backs away, startled, then composes herself to look in the direction of the shots.

AMANI (CTD):
Hello, Joy.

Joy, a buxom blond with curled hair steps out in a T-shirt and jeans from the shadows with a small arsenal of platinum muskets. Which float about her, and she holds another one directly at Amani.

JOY: Would you like to tell me what you're doing?

Amani is unfazed, unresponsive.

JOY (CTD):
We're both puella, aren't we?
Why in the world would we ever turn on him? Isn't he the one guiding us along?

AMANI: Yes he is.

JOY: So why?

AMANI: I'm not going to waste my time. You going to waste a shot?

JOY: Alright, listen. Theoretically we're both on the same side here,
so how about you just back away and we don't have any more trouble?

Amani breathes a sigh of frustration.

AMANI: Hope. Remember what we talked About at school. Your life depends on it, I assure you.

Joy bears the rifle on Amani's head.

AMANI (CTD):
That's a warning, not a threat.

Amani exits. Joy approaches Hope.

JOY: Are you alright?

HOPE: Please. Can you help him? He's badly hurt.

JOY: Hang on. Watch this.

Joy lowers her hand and the silver ring with a golden crystal morphs into her hand, becoming a soul gem, an egg-shaped amber Gem set into a golden etched mounting.

HOPE: It's beautiful. What is it?

JOY: This is my soul gem. With it I can heal Arvess.

HOPE: Arvess? That's this little angel's name?

JOY: I'm glad I caught you in time. That other puella could have done anything.

HOPE: Puella? What's a puella?

JOY: Puella magi is a girl who's been granted magical powers to protect those in need.
We are the defenders of hopes and dreams for everyone.

Arvess, now healed opens his eyes and turns to HOPE.

ARVESS: That's what I came to tell you about, Hope. Not just you but your friend as well.

HOPE: My friend?

A door bursts open, and Prudence comes rushing in carrying a bag of CDs.

PRUDENCE: Hope! There you are! I heard gunshots!
Are you alright?

HOPE: You missed it. Amani was just here and-

JOY: Don't worry everything is fine.

Prudence sees Arvess, now floating up from Hopes hands.

PRUDENCE: Who are you, blondie, and what is that thing?

ARVESS: Prudence, Hope, Make a contract with me and become Puella Magi.

Arvess glows and envelops them all with brilliant light.

ACT 2

Morning. Hope's home. Hope awakens. Arvess awakes next to her on a dresser, and flies up for a pat on the head from Hope before flying out the open window.
Shot of Arvess flying happily in the air in the morning sun of the suburbs.
Hope exist the house to the street and the angel perches on her shoulder to get a smile from Hope before lifting off to float along as she walks to school.
Prudence and Amity walk side by side, laughing with one another.

HOPE (V.O)
(Concealing her voice in a sinister whisper):
You there. With the name of the song.
You have been seen and your secrets are known.

PRUDENCE: What?

AMITY: Is something the matter, Prudence?

HOPE (V.O):
Your desires and fears.
Your thoughts and dreams. All are seen.
Even as you think now, we hear you.
Open your mind as your mouth and speak.

PRUDENCE (V.O):
What are you?

HOPE (V.O):
Come and see.

PRUDENCE (V.O):
Where?

HOPE (V.O):
The great rock by the side of the path. Go behind it.

Prudence ventures behind the rock, weary.

HOPE (V.O CTD):
Behind the rock you will find us.

Prudence walks towards the old oak slowly and we see Hope's hands sneaking up from behind her. She prepares her hands to grab and tickle Prudence's sides.

HOPE: Good morning, Prudence!

Just as she grabs her the shot cuts back to Amity as Prudence lets out a chilling scream.

PRUDENCE: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Hope, I'm going to kill you!

Hope runs out laughing with Arvess flying alongside of her. Prudence runs in pursuit. She lays her hands on Hope and holds her back even as she laughs.

PRUDENCE (V.O):
How did you trick me like that?

HOPE (V.O):
It's because Arvess is here. We don't need to talk to each other. He can send our thoughts back and forth.

Prudence looks Hope in the eyes.

PRUDENCE (V.O):
So you can hear me right now?

ARVESS (V.O Floating down):
Yep. This is so easy to move your thoughts around.

PRUDENCE (V.O looking at Amity):
What about Amity? She'll see him!

HOPE (V.O):
Don't worry. He's only shown himself to you me and Joy.

PRUDENCE (V.O):
Is this the magic power he has?

ARVESS (V.O):
Like I said, this is nothing.
If you make a contract, I can give you much more powerful magic, especially you Hope.

HOPE (V.O):
Me?

PRUDENCE (V.O looking at Hope again):
Just thinking and we can talk. This is pretty rad.

HOPE (V.O):
This is just the start, Prudence. Last Night when I was cleaning my room Arvess told me all about the magic of Puella.
There's a great mission out there for us.
A mission to help everyone.

AMITY: Hey! Why are you looking at each other like that? What were you just doing behind that rock?

HOPE: Huh?

AMITY: You aren't getting too close to each other are you?

PRUDENCE: What the hell are you on about Amity?

Prudence hugs Hope with an affectionate nuzzle.

AMITY (Stunned, drops her backpack):
No! No! Forbidden! You're both Girls.
Oh, dear lord. (runs off, distraught)
Girls can't love girls! Girls can't love Girls! Girls can't love girls!

PRUDENCE (Picks up Amity's back pack):
Hey wait, you forgot your bag!

School Room. Prudence and Hope sharing morning gossip. Prudence needles Amity. Amani enters. She shoots a gaze at Hope and Prudence threateningly and both straighten in their seats. Amani walks over to Ziggy's desk, and stands there coldly. Ziggy looks up, then, feigning disinterest takes out a piece of paper and jots something down. He folds the paper and slides it to the corner of the desk. Amani takes the paper and leaves a car key in its place.

AMANI: Third level of the parking garage at the mall. Blue section. Spot B3-57.

Ziggy takes the key and slides it in his pocket.

ZIGGY: B3-57.

Amani turns to sit at her desk, and opens the slip of paper which reads "Winchell Airbase." Amani rips up the paper.

Later everyone is reading quietly.

AMANI (V.O):
Can you hear me Hope DelSoro?

Hope is startled and looks over at Amani who has not moved. Hope recoils slightly, and tries to look like she is reading again.

HOPE (V.O):
Yes, Amani, I can.

AMANI (V.O):
I was afraid of that. But now it can't be helped. I'm going to leave School after this period. I'll be gone all day.

JOY (V.O):
Perhaps you'd like to stay that way.

Amani looks up. The image cranes up through the ceiling into the room above, down the hall to another classroom where Joy is doing math work.

JOY (V.O Ctd):
I don't want you muscling around The potentials. Leave them alone.

Back in the first classroom Prudence cocks a confident smile

PRUDENCE (V.O):
Feeling outnumbered, huh?
Solidarity, bitch. What now?
Amani glares at Prudence.

AMANI (V.O):
Adults are talking.
Mind your business.

JOY (V.O off screen):
I don't know what your issue is,
but don't make me come down there and maybe we'll work it out when you get back.

AMANI (V.O):
Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone, Hope DelSoro.

Hope fidgets and tries to get back to reading.

Police Station. Day. Hastor reviews the video of the robbery. Lemon enters.

LEMON: Cheif was asking about the gun heist.

HASTOR: Don't disturb me, Lemon.

LEMON: He wants to know if you've called the ATF.

HASTOR: Of course he does, but we don't want the ATF here, now do we? We're going to do this in town. We're going to do this quickly and quietly and when we're done the AFT can mop up. I got a suspect.

LEMON: A suspect? Five four female, that's all you've got? Even that's a hunch.
There are a lot of missing guns out there.

HASTOR: That she couldn't have possibly moved by herself. No car, no truck, no deep prints or sets of accomplices no nothing. Not even tracks from a hand cart.

LEMON: What does that mean?

HASTOR: Tell chief I called the ATF.
I left a message on the machine.
No rush, by the way. I'm leaving for more field work.

HASTOR leaves before LEMON can corner him with more requests.

Joy's apartment, day. Hope and Prudence sip tea and eating desert cakes.
Arvess relaxes on a couch.

HOPE: These are really, really good. What are they?

JOY: Hazelnut. Kind of a Mont Blanc cookie.

HOPE: They're fantastic! Where can I get them?

JOY: They're my own recipe. So the secret dies with me.

PRUDENCE: I'm just glad I didn't make Rice Crispies squares. I didn't know I'd be this outgunned.

Joy smiles and giggles, happy to share her time.

HOPE: So why'd you ask us over? What's the occasion?

JOY: As potentials I have to show you what being Puella Magi is all about.
This stuff is secret, and no one will believe you even if you do tell them so.

Joy places her Soul Gem on the table and it lights up. The image dives into the Gem where glowing silhouettes of girls fan out in golden light.

JOY (ctd):
We are Pulla Magi.

Each girl shines a different color correspoinding to their soul Gem

JOY (ctd):
Each of us had a wish that Arvess has granted us. In exchange for this wish we have been tasked with defending all mankind.

Shadows appear out of the crowds of girls and beings to spread among them.

JOY (ctd):
Defend them from the encroaching threat of witches.

The image dives into the darkness which spreads around the girls. Surreal, foreboding, threatening, trippy things take shape. Tangled dark vines and cursed familiars. Scary eyes open in the dark.

JOY (Ctd):
The witches come to mislead innocent people. They bring them into despair and cause harm in many ways. They can cause accidents, put people into a trance, or worst of all lead them into their inmost dens, witches labyrinth:
Cruel mindscapes where witches live And are most Powerful.

Puella's silhouettes appear and dive into the darkness, slicing away at it with their various weapons.

JOY (Ctd):
It is here where Puella magi must go,
to fight the curses of the witches, defeat them and protect the world from being consumed by grief, evil, madness and sorrow.

The Puella fight away the witches curses, returning the golden glow of Joy's soul gem. The image pulls out of the other side of the soul gem and we see Hope and Prudence staring as the glow fades. They look at Joy.

JOY (CTD):
If you have a wish, Arvess will grant it.
You will gain magic powers and with them you will defend the city.

HOPE: So you made a wish, Joy?

JOY: Yes I did.

HOPE: What was it for?

JOY: My wish?

Joy gets visibly on edge.

HOPE: Yeah. I want to know.

JOY: My wish was personal. It wouldn't really...I'll tell you later.
Promise.

ARVESS (Floating around):
Be sure you think really hard about this. You only get one wish.
But the emotional energy you emanate can make it real. When you think about it your own power is what makes your wishes come true.
We just open the door for you.

PRUDENCE: So now we just make a wish?

ARVESS: If you want. There's no set time or place for any of these things. I can grant a wish anywhere, any when.
Once you make your wish the contract with me is formed. It's easy!

PRUDENCE: Well, OK, then. I uuuuuh. Hm.
I wish for-

JOY: No! Hang on. Wait! Wait.

ARVESS: Is there a problem, Joy?

JOY: Uh. Well, it's just that these girls don't know the rules of fighting. I'd rather show them how to fight and what they are in for.

ARVESS: There's really no need for that.

Once the contract is formed they can handle the rest by themselves.

JOY: All the same, I'd feel better if they knew what being Puella means.

ARVESS: That's fine. But you don't have to listen to her. If you have a wish right now, I can grant it.

PRUDENCE: Ah, well, I can't think of anything right away. You Hope?

HOPE: I wish for...

Joy smiles nervously.

HOPE (CTD):
No. I'm blank too.

PRUDENCE: I'm sure I'll think of something.

JOY: Well in the meantime, how about you join me on a good old fashioned witch hunt?

HOPE: What, really?

JOY: I can keep you protected with my magic so don't be afraid at all.
I'll handle any witches we may find.

PRUDENCE: Yeah. Sounds like a plan. What do We do?

JOY: Well, I like to hunt witches at night so what do you say that at seven we start it up?

HOPE: Yeah. Well that gives us just under two hours to kill.

PRUDENCE: Oh, Crap! I forgot!

HOPE: What is it?

PRUDENCE: I still have that CD from yesterday I have to give to Will. Can we take a trip to the hospital real quick?

HOPE: Yeah. Joy. Before the big hunt let's just stop by there.

JOY (Smiling):
There's no rush at all. We can absolutely spare the time. You two go get ready. I'll be right there.

Hope and Prudence exit

ARVESS: Joy, don't you want them to become puella magi?

JOY: I want them to make the right choice.
I want them to have the time I didn't have. Time to think it over.

ARVESS: You said you wouldn't be here if-

JOY: Yeah. You did save me.

ARVESS: So what's the issue?

JOY: Arvess, I'm grateful, but I want them to know everything I know. That's not too much to ask even from you.
Please don't come on this hunt.
I need to be with them alone, but I Promise to bring them back to you.
You're Our Vested salvation.

She places her hand on the angels head.

Hospital approaching sunset.

Prudence walks through the hallways. She enters Will's Room as he is in his bed his left hand does not move in any of his actions.

PRUDENCE: Hi. Will. Is it alright to talk?

WILL: Yeah, sure. Come on in.

PRUDENCE: Sorry I don't have much time, I only barely made the end of visiting hours.

WILL: Well, I'm glad you came. It gets lonely here sometimes.

PRUDENCE: Lots of guys from school are asking about you. They want to know when you're coming back.

WILL: Well, tell them before the end of the year.

PRUDENCE: You think?

WILL: Yeah. I mean, I won't be at 100% but I should be back before then. What about you, your friends?

PRUDENCE: Huh?

WILL: Uhm. I don't know. How's Hope?

PRUDENCE: Oh, she's fine we're thinking about joining a club with this other girl,
Joy, who's a year ahead of us.

WILL: What are you going to do?

PRUDENCE: Help people, fight for justice,
save the world. Girl stuff.

WILL: What about Amity?

PRUDENCE: What about her?

WILL: Nothing. I just remember-

PRUDENCE: You know Amity?

WILL: Yeah, from French class, but she's you're friend.

PRUDENCE: She just dumped Logan.

WILL: Oh, Damn.

PRUDENCE: Well, dumped is harsh she preemptively disengaged him.

WILL: What?

PRUDENCE: She turned him down.

WILL: Preemptively disengaged is a stupid way To say it.

PRUDENCE: Fight me.

WILL: You're silly.

PRUDENCE: What did you do today?

WILL: More physical therapy. They're starting me walking again, and I can only use one of the banisters, so it's rough.

PRUDENCE: It's great to hear you can walk now.

WILL: It was more like stumbling, but there's promise for my legs at least.

PRUDENCE: Does it hurt?

WILL: Yeah. It hurts. I don't really want to talk about it.

PRUDENCE: OK, well, I got you something. Get well gift.

WILL (with forced smile):
Who is it this time, Vivaldi? Mozart?
Dvorak?

PRUDENCE: No one classical today.

WILL: OK, show me.

PRUDENCE: Also, it's not violin music. You play guitar too sometimes, right?

WILL: Well, yeah. You know. Slash.
Hendrix. Kottke. It's fun.

She holds up a CD of Django Reinhardt.

WILL (CTD):
Oh, a little Django.

PRUDENCE: You know him?

WILL: Just the name.

PRUDENCE: Yeah. Here. Bring over your player.

Will hands her a CD walkman

WILL: I can't believe you even found one of these things.

PRUDENCE: Well, they're cheap.

They put in earphones, leaning in together and listen as (A1) "Limehouse blues" begins to play.

WILL: This is a violin piece

PRUDENCE: Yeah, but pay attention to the guitar.
Hear how fast he is?

WILL: He's not bad.

PRUDENCE: I found out about him yesterday.
He lived in a little wagon and his wife made cellulose flowers. One night the flowers caught fire and it burned him badly. The doctors told him he would never play again.
But he healed. When it was done he could only play lead with two fingers.

WILL: He's doing all this with two fingers?

PRUDENCE: That's right. I want you to know that you can get by this, and just maybe you'll be like Django. You can play again. A little from you is more than almost anyone else.

Will closes his eyes and listens more intently he struggles, trying to command his left hand to move. It lays there inert and immobile.

Will winces as he tries to move it more forcefully.

PRUDENCE: Are you alright?

WILL: Yeah, it's nothing.

Prudence tries to look optimistic as they both go back to listening.

Police station.

Lemon runs to Hastor's Door.

LEMON: Hastor, you know the weapon robbery?

HASTOR: You've got something for my case?

LEMON: I might. But not here. Head down to the AV room.

The two make their way downstairs.

HASTOR: What do you have, Lemon?

LEMON: Detective, I was given security clearance for my last assignment.
What I'm about to do may be a breach of that clearance so I'd ask that you keep this between us.

HASTOR: I didn't think you cared.

LEMON: Now that the military is involved damn right I care.

HASTOR: The Military?

The two enter the AV room, and Lemon gets behind a projector

LEMON: You told me to inform you of anything involving a five foot four female. I wasn't expecting anything like this.
The projector clicks on and there is a sketch of Amani.

LEMON (CTD):
Fam-ten that's her designation. You're looking at the first person to ever single handedly infiltrate an air force base against a full offensive.

HASTOR: What?

LEMON: Happened today at roughly two pm. Just Like your suspect, her objective was arms. Among other things she took assault weapons and grenades.

HASTOR: What? I'm only hearing about this now?
There would be an APB out on her from here to the border.

LEMON: Yeah. If that was all she took, this situation a top secret incident. Homeland security is going ape shit on this.

HASTOR: How does one little girl push through a heavily defended airbase?

LEMON: Reports coming in are, frankly, beyond belief. No one knows how but she had an offensive system no one has seen before.
To get to the point, she stole this.

The projector flips over a schematic for a MOAB bomb

HASTOR: Oh my God.

Ext. Industrial district. Dusk.

Joy, Hope and Prudence are looking around as Joy is leading them with her glowing soul gem.

HOPE: So what are we looking for?

JOY: Hang on.

PRUDENCE: What is it?

JOY: I think someone might be in trouble.

HOPE: Trouble how, I mean-

Joy looks up and suddenly takes off running.

PRUDENCE Geez, what's so-

HOPE: Oh, no.

At the top of a water tower a woman is about to jump. The two remaining girls run after Joy as the woman leans and drops. With superhuman speed Joy rushes forward as a torrent of yellow ribbons spring from her. She leaps into the Air spider-manning her way up the side of the building while lassoing the woman and swinging her out of harms way as the woman's body skirts just above the surface of the broken concrete below. Joy catches the woman before repelling down to the sidewalk. Hope and Prudence arrive on the scene. The woman is unconscious.

HOPE: That was incredible!

PRUDENCE You did it without even thinking!

You saved her life.

JOY: You learn how to react pretty quick.
It also helps to have a good sense of your surroundings. But what you need to see is this.

She pulls back the woman's hair to reveal a runic mark with a crest imprinted on her neck.

HOPE: What is that?

JOY: It's a witches' kiss. They send out familiars into the city which mark innocent people draw them to their grief seed, and instruct them to do horrible acts.

HOPE: Grief seed?

JOY: I'm moving a little fast here.
But don't worry. You're going to see for yourself. It's probably inside this building.

The trio enter into the abandoned factory and wander down corridors being led by the light of Joy's Soul Gem. They come across a dead rat.

HOPE: Ew, gross.

JOY: Get ready. This won't be pretty.

Joy walks forward and the girls find themselves a ring of more than a hundred dead rats all keeled over.

PRUDENCE: Oh my God. What happened here?

JOY: The witch was warming up. It started with rats, then tried to feed on humans.

HOPE: The witch was here?

JOY: Not was. Is.

PRUDENCE: What?

HOPE: Oh no. Where is it?

The girls scan around the darkness looking for signs of a monster.

JOY: Don't worry, you guys. It's right here.

At the center of the ring of dead rats is a concrete pedestal formed from a crumbled pillar. Joy brings her Soul Gem to it and in the center of this pillar is a smokey shadow that is translucent and etherial.

PRUDENCE: Is that a ghost?

JOY: No. That's the grief seed. It's like an egg that never hatches. The monster that lives inside of it calls out for others to come and rip its shell open. Set it free. But nothing can.

So it hurts everything it touches.

HOPE: That's terrible.

JOY: But as Puella we can do something others can't. We can go into the closed space of the Grief seed. Inside the egg.
Kill the witch there and the seed becomes an empty husk. It will materialize in this world and won't hurt anyone ever again.

PRUDENCE: OK, so we're going inside that thing?

JOY: That's right but don't worry.

Joy picks up a lead pipe at her feet, and it transforms into a glistening, ornate mace which she hands off to Prudence.

JOY(ctd):
You won't go empty handed.

HOPE: I'm ready.

JOY: Hope?

HOPE I believe in you, Joy. If you're with us I'm sure we'll be fine.

JOY: Each one of these is different. I don't know what's in there any more than you do. But just stay back and I'll be sure to protect you.

HOPE: Right.

JOY: OK. Let's get around the grief seed.

The girls do. Joy places her Soul Gem next to the grief seed.

JOY(CTD):
Hold hands. We're going in.
The Girls hold hands and Joy's magic erupts in a maelstrom, which blows away the dead rats and draws the three into the shadow of the Grief Seed. Just then Amani appears on a balcony. She is clearly distraught that she didn't make it in time.

AMANI: Damn it!

Inside the Witches barrier. The landscape is composed of towering geometric buildings and enormous byways and bridges. Things that look like planes and blimps soar between the multicolored buildings. It looks as though the girls have been transported into an acid psychedelic verson of Friz Lang's Metropolis. Crooked people made of sharp geometric shapes make their way through the streets and buildings, their movement broken and unnatural.

PRUDENCE: What are those things?

JOY: Familiars. They leak out of the Grief seed to wreak havoc on the outside the only way to stop them is to kill the witch.

HOPE: What are they going to do?

JOY: Don't overreact. They'll treat us just like one of them unless the witch is alerted.

HOPE: OK. OK. Where is the witch?
What now?

JOY: This barrier is a circular. They usually are. If we get to the center we'll probably find it.

The girls run, Joy out pacing the other two. Around a corner Hope bumps into a familiar and is knocked down. The familiar stares at her, the reflective, translucent geometric shapes reflecting and refracting her visage. She looks scared for a moment, but Joy brings her to her feet, reassures her that the situation is under control with a confident nod and the girls begin running again. They come to an enormous sky scraper at the center of the barrier.

PRUDENCE: So this is it?

JOY: Hang on.

Spotlights center onto JOY from the building.

JOY(CTD):
Yeah. That's what I thought.

Alarm sirens like the terrified songs of girls break the air. Familiars jump down onto the oncoming bridge of the building, they hold up jagged fingers in defense, and close in on the three.

PRUDENCE: Well, they know now.

HOPE: They're getting closer, Joy.
What do we do?

JOY: When your host plays the music,
you dance.

With a confident smile Joy leaps into the air as (A2) Meat Puppets "Open wide" begins to play. In traditional Japanese anime magical girl fashion Joy transforms magically into a full puella magi. Dressed in sleek boots, stockings a skirt, a corseted top with a white shirt and a yellow ribbon tie. Her soul gem becomes a floral pin in her hair along side a beret cap.
She summons a flurry of muskets that she fires in quick succession towards the building. The girls break through the perimeter of the skyscraper. Along the way Joy firefights her way through an atrium, and an entrance to the center of the building which is much like a cathedral and into the inner sanctum which is a giant garden with a dome ceiling. Prudence bats away some familiars who come for her and Hope.
Joy fires and bashes her way through a line of familiars as the witch rears her head, a misshapen Rose bush which rises out of the Garden shedding red petals almost as though it weeps. Runes which, when translated into english read "Gertrude" are written in the witches Dome Ceiling.
JOY Look closely, girls. That is the enemy This is her home.

She fires rifle shots into the pillars above the witches head, almost as warning shots.

JOY(CTD):
And this is how you bring down the house.

JOY dashes in one direction firing shots at the enormous rose-beast she deals a shot of serious damage that sends the witch tumbling.

PRUDENCE: She did it!

HOPE: Way to go Joy!

Joy scans the bulk of the beast.

JOY: Come on. Come on.

A vine, with frightful speed shoots out of the center of the monster, and tangles Joy by the legs, hoisting her up into the air upside down. The witch lumbers upwards to closely examine the Puella.

PRUDENCE: Oh no!

HOPE: Joy! Get out of there!

JOY: Don't worry. I wasn't going to embarrass myself in front of potentials. Watch close.

Joy un-does her ribbon and whips it up towards the ceiling, where it wraps around seemingly thin air. From out of this form two ribbons that are intersecting. The ribbons all connect to the bullet holes Joy fired before she started fighting the witch, making a pentagram of ribbons between each of the five bullet holes. The Rose witch appears to hesitate as Joy pulls on the ribbon in her hand that rips down the pillars. The dome comes crashing in on the Witch as Joy escapes to create a ribbon shield around the girls. After the crash has ended, Joy steps out of the protection. The battered witch lurches out from under the rubble in tatters. Joy makes a pistol with her finger which flashes over magically and is clad in platinum, which quickly flashes and glows into an enormous canon. Joy aims it directly at the crippled witch.

JOY: TIRO FINALE!

Joy fires and an enormous blast erupts from the cannon which blasts into the main bush of the witch. The Witch dies, burns and disintegrates, as the giant canon on Joy's hand recoils and becomes a classy teacup. She turns to the girls and takes a sip before smiling at them happily.

HOPE: You did it!

PRUDENCE: You killed the witch! That was Genius!

The world around them begins to warp.

HOPE: What? What's going on?

JOY: We're fine. It's over.
The world dematerializes the two ordinary girls cry out as they fade away.

Back in the real world, Amani waits anxiously by the shadow of the grief seed. The seed flashes into physical being from its shadow form and the girls appear around it just as they were, the soul gem and grief seed now rest side by side. Joy turns.

JOY: I was wondering if I'd see you here.

HOPE: Amani!

Prudence holds up her mace that has now reverted to its pipe form.

PRUDENCE: Hey, Stay back.

JOY: Don't worry, girls.

Even if she's been sneaky, she's still a Puella.

AMANI: So there were no wishes made.

JOY: Not yet.

AMANI: Good. There's no need for that.

HOPE: You fight witches too, right, Amani?

AMANI: I have to.

HOPE: Then you should join up with Joy.
The two of you can fight together.

JOY: I agree. Why not we move past the problems and focus on protection?

AMANI pauses for a moment before turning.

AMANI: I've tried that way before.
I'm not a team player.

She is about to walk away.

JOY: The offer is always open.

HOPE: Hey Amani.

AMANI: Yes?

HOPE: What did you wish for?

Amani pauses to calculate her response.

AMANI: I wished for the one thing that I wanted the most and I don't regret it.

Amani walks out. Hope appears to get lost in thought.

PRUDENCE: Hey! Wait! Where are you going?

JOY: Let her go. She has her own battles to fight.

PRUDENCE: That thing you did with the ceiling was phenomenal! Did you plan that?

JOY: It was kind of a backup plan. Worth a shot. When I saw the Witch wasn't going to be too tough I thought I'd show off a bit.

PRUDENCE: So if I become Puella magi I can take down an entire building?
That's unbelievable!

JOY: Prudence, you have to be responsible with the magic you use.

PRUDENCE: Yeah, well I assume that but I'm just saying. With a little style,
you know some sprezzatura you can really kick some ass and come out like a damn rock star. It's just,
you know, pretty rad.

JOY: Hope?

HOPE: Yeah?

JOY: What's the matter?

HOPE: I was just wondering, you know?

JOY: Wondering what?

HOPE: What do I want the most?

Prudence barely lets the moment sink in.

PRUDENCE: You know what this needs? An after party. Let's go back to Joy's place and get some Pizza.

JOY: Pizza?

PRUDENCE: Yeah, what's wrong with Pizza?

JOY: Nothing, until you learn to cook and you discover the tomato-fontina torte.

HOPE: Oh, well aren't you classy?

JOY: Trust me, one bite and every time you eat pizza all you'll think is, why can't this be Joy's torte?

PRUDENCE: I'll take you up on that challenge

JOY: Then you're doing the dishes when we're done.

PRUDENCE: Hey!

HOPE: You don't want her to do the dishes.
Not if you don't want them broken.

PRUDENCE: Hope! You little traitor.

The two girls laugh and celebrate away as the image shifts to the Grief Seed and Soul Gem the two artifacts begin to hum in ominous resonance with each other before blackout.

Roll Credits