[Scene: The Midori dining room. Outside the rain is coming down in buckets. Inside is cozy and warm. Kunzite, Zoi and Chief Midori have sat down to dinner, have finished passing around the food, and have started eating.]

Chief Midori: [To Zoi] So how was your first day at school?

Zoi: Pretty good. I got to see all my friends again… Did you know that Minako is going to be in the Sailor V movie?

Kunzite: Which one is Minako, again?

Zoi: [incredulous] The stunningly gorgeous blonde who keeps trying to grab your butt?

Kunzite: Oh. Her… it's been a while. [shrugs] …I never thought she was all that.

Zoi: [gape-jawed] You never thought she was all that? I think she's all that, and I'm not even into that sort of thing…[To his dad]…Oh, and Mamoru Chiba is going to go to Johns Hopkins when he graduates.

Chief Midori: [impressed] No kidding?

Zoi: He's got a merit scholarship and everything.

Chief Midori: [smiles] Well good for him! He's certainly earned it.

[Kunzite spears his fork into his food glumly]

Kunzite: I don't want to hear about how Mamoru Chiba got a merit scholarship…I want to hear about how Mamoru Chiba got lost in a fogbank and stepped off a cliff.

[Zoi giggles]

Chief Midori: Hey! That's not funny. That boy has had to overcome a lot of hardships in his life. He's had to work for everything he has, and yet he still makes time every week to help others who are less fortunate. Mamoru Chiba is a fine, upstanding young man.

Kunzite: A fine, upstanding young man who is determined to steal your son away from me.

Zoi: You don't have to worry about that. He's lost interest in me and he's totally into Usagi right now.

Kunzite: [nods] Yes. I'm sure that's what he wants you to think.

Zoi: [smiles at Kunzite] No way. It's the real deal. Those two are clearly meant for one another… He asked how you were, by the way.

Kunzite: Of course he did. How else is he going to find out if we broke up?

Chief Midori: I think you're reading too much into this, Kunzite.

[Kunzite glowers at Chief Midori]

Zoi: Oh! And I forgot to tell you two the biggest news of all! [smiles] I've single-handedly changed the curriculum for Hen Tie High.

Chief Midori: [Uneasy] Oh?

Zoi: [giggles] Oh, don't worry Dad, it was nothing sinister. Remember how I complained to Mrs. Cope that there were no Physics and Calculus classes at Hen Tie High? Well, seems she listened to me because they are offering a class this semester called AP Math and Science.

Chief Midori: [smiles with pride] That's great, son.

Zoi: It turns out the school gets a lot of money from the state for every student that tests out of college-level math classes, so she thought it was a great idea. We all had to take a test to try to get in, but I passed, and so did Umino. Since I'm already done with highschool Math, I have to shuffle my schedule and drop another class tomorrow.

Chief Midori: So you're going to drop PE?

Zoi: No. I love PE now that I'm a shitennou. I'm going to drop Driver's Ed.

[Chief Midori and Kunzite stop eating and stare at him with disapproval]

Zoi: What? I already took three weeks of Driver's Ed in Arizona.

Chief Midori: Zoi. You need to learn how to drive.

Zoi: Why should I bother with the hassle and expense of driving when I can teleport?

Chief Midori: You can't teleport when people are watching.

Zoi: I also can't teleport a car. At least not yet. So I don't want a car. It's easier for me to get around without one.

Chief Midori: Driving is an essential life skill in this part of the country. You need to learn how to drive.

Zoi: No, I don't *need* to learn how to drive. *You* need to learn how to cook.

Kunzite: [smiles at Chief Midori] He's got you there.

Chief Midori: Zoi. Listen. Eventually, you'll need a car of your own. I can't always get off work to pick you up, and some day your friends are going to wonder how you get around so easily without a car.

Zoi: In those instances I can just have Kunzite drive me around.

[He stares down at his plate and blushes]

Chief Midori: And I believe we've hit upon my son's true motives.

Zoi: [smirks] Guilty as charged.

Chief Midori: Kunzite lives too far away from here to be shuttling you around all the time without raising questions .

Kunzite: Your father is right. [narrows his eyes at Zoi] You're dropping PE.

Chief Midori: [looks at Kunzite] Why PE?

Zoi: [rolls his eyes] Kunzite doesn't want the other boys ogling me in the showers.

Chief Midori: You're dropping PE.

[Chief Midori's phone rings. He looks at the number]

Chief Midori: Excuse me. I have to get this. It's dispatch…[answers his phone]…Chief Midori…Yeah. Oh? Where?…But what could be burning out there?…You're sure it's Black Moon Cove?

[Kunzite and Zoisite both sit up straight at the mention of Black Moon Cove and Kunzite instinctively edges his chair closer to Zoi's.]

Chief Midori: Fine, I'll check it out.

[He hangs up and dials another number.]

Chief Midori: Hey, sorry I'm calling so late…I'm fine…He's fine, too…I just got a call from dispatch. Old Mrs. Stanley claims she can see strange lights and oddly colored flames shooting up out on the sea cliffs…

[Kunzite and Zoisite turn to marvel at the sheets of rain pouring outside.]

Chief Midori: I suppose we should go check it out to make sure it doesn't spread… Uh huh? Really?…Well, don't apologize to me. Yeah, yeah. …I'll talk to you later.

[Chief Midori gets up from the table and puts on his bulletproof vest, holster, and raincoat.]

Zoi: Dad? What's wrong.

Chief Midori: It's nothing. Just some bonfires on the cliffs.

Kunzite: Why would anyone try to light a bonfire in this weather?

Chief Midori: I don't know. It's ridiculous. Probably just some kids on the coast being rowdy. I have to go check it out.

Zoi: We can come with you, Dad.

Chief Midori: No. After what happened last spring, I don't want you anywhere near there. Stay inside, where it is dry, and let me do my job.

[Chief Midori looks at Kunzite nervously]

Chief Midori: And Kunzite, I suppose you've got things you need to do as well, so we mustn't keep you. I'll walk you out.

Kunzite: [smirks and places his hand over Zoi's] Nice try. But I'm staying here with your son.

[Chief Midori looks even more nervous.]

Zoi: [giggles] Don't worry, dad. Kunzite and I respect you too much to do anything in this house that you wouldn't approve of.

Kunzite: [nods] That's what my place is for.

[Zoi kicks Kunzite under the table.]

Zoi: Dad, I promise we'll keep things G-Rated the whole time you are gone. As a matter of fact, I have plans. I'm supposed to watch "Romeo & Juliet". I checked the DVD out of the library and other students are waiting for it.

Chief Midori: You have Romeo & Juliet memorized.

Zoi: But not the 1968 version. Mr. Berty said it's the best.

Chief Midori: [still uneasy as he walks to the door] Ok, you kids have fun tonight. But not too much fun!…Oh, and Kunzite, say hello to your sister Beryl for me. She hasn't been by in a while.

Zoi: [cringing] Gross dad! Quit perving on my sister-in-law! You're middle-aged and she's like-

Chief Midori: Several thousand years older than I am?

Zoi: Ah…yeah!

[Chief Midori waves and goes out into the pouring rain]