T
H
E
C
H
O
I
C
E
|
PREVIOUSLY ON FARSCAPE
Teaser opens with standard voiceover by Lani Tupu: "Previously on Farscape."
Recapping Aeryn's ill fated familial relationships.
Insert clips from "Thanks For Sharing":
Aeryn: "What attacked Talyn... was a retrieval squad."
Xhalax: "Aeryn... my name is Xhalax Sun."
Xhalax: "You were conceived in love."
Crais: "The... squad, is under the command... of Senior Officer Xhalax Sun."
Aeryn: "My mother."
Insert clips from "Relativity":
Xhalax: "My superior officers knew I visited you that night. They gave me a chance to redeem myself... by killing your father."
Aeryn: "We let her live... she comes and she hunts us down again."
John: "Aeryn! You should not be the one to do this."
Crais: "We must not let Xhalax live."
John: "You want her dead? You do it!"
Crais: "As you wish. Go... go now, you must not witness this."
Aeryn: "No."
Insert clips from "Infinite Possibilities, Part 2: Icarus Abides":
Aeryn: "What... is the matter?"
John: "Radiation... massive radiation... I couldn't stop it."
John: "Don't worry about me... I never felt better."
The 'death bed' scene. [ Not revisiting here. But it just keeps gettin' more awful every time! ]
Teaser closes with standard voiceover by Lani Tupu:
"And now... on Farscape."
COLD OPEN
Planet Surface
Among a crowd of shambling, robed and hooded creatures, stands a tall man, dressed in blue. As the shot pans in overhead of the crowd, we see John Crichton in blue jeans and blue shirt, standing silently in the crowd. Pan to close on John as another hooded figure, this one not stooped nor shambling, approaches from behind. Cut to close up on Aeryn's pale and drawn features. Under a dark purple hood she turns her head to shoot a somber glance at John's silent figure, before passing him by. Shot pans right to close on John, soaking wet, hair and face dripping with moisture. He silently watches her move across the open square.
Cut to close on Aeryn's hooded figure, angle down, as she works her way through the crowd. Several of the hooded figures beseech her interest.
SEER: ( muttering ) I talk to the dead. I-- I can help find the dead one you seek.
The shambling figure follows her a few steps across the square, blood seeming to seep from red eyes down furrowed cheeks, his hand reaching out to her desperately.
SEER: Pay me, pay me and I can help--
Reaching out, he places a delaying hand on her arm as she climbs the stairs at the entrance of a building. Aeryn turns about, holding a wicked looking knife on the man, frightened he draws away. She turns and climbs slowly to the top of the stairs.
JOHN'S VOICE: ( softly ) Aeryn.
Hearing the familiar voice, she turns back at the top of the stairs, surveying the crowd, but there is no sign of he who she seeks. Turning about she enters the building.
CUT TO - EXT. Space - stock CGI, Talyn cruises in space.
CRAIS: [ O.V. ] ( shouting ) It's your fault Aeryn's down on Valldon!
CUT TO - INT. Talyn, the Bridge - Crais and Stark circle each other, arguing vehemently.
STARK: It's not my fault! I'm trying to help!
CRAIS: Trying to help? She's in mourning for Crichton! How are you helping her by filling her head with crazy tales about... spirit channelers?!
STARK: It's not crazy! She wanted to get away from you-- she sees you following her!
CRAIS: I'm following her? You're the one that's following her!
STARK: Me! Aeryn wants me around. She wants me to watch over her. She-- she wants me to protect her from people like you!
RYGEL: You stupid, selfish nak-noks! Aeryn has made it clear she wants nothing to do with any of us. She wants no part of your plan to find Moya--
STARK: Can't leave her on Valldon, it's dangerous. It's filled with mystics and criminals.
RYGEL: Then it's just like here. You're a mystic, and we're criminals. But Aeryn doesn't want to be here.
STARK: You don't understand.
RYGEL: I--
CRAIS: ( cutting in ) What... is it we don't understand, slave?
STARK: She... ( beat ) she's going to talk to Crichton.
FADE TO - Planet Surface - A striking, yet somber figure, Aeryn sits in the frame of an open window. Red and green neon lights flash just outside the window. Her back propped against the window's edge, and her foot resting on the edge, she finishes off a bottle, and tosses it aside-- flinging it into the open air just past the wide ledge outside the window.
The building she's taken residence in is littered by graffiti, both inside and out, some aspects of the graffiti are quite 'cartoon-like' in appearance, esp. the large pair of scarey eyes, which look a bit like the eyes in a cave scene of a Yosemite Sam cartoon.
Toying with the small double bladed black knife, she glances across the room to the rumpled pile of her pulse pistol and holster. Sighing, her eyes shift to another point in the room.
JUMP CUT - standing in the semi-darkness of the graffiti coated room, Aeryn engages the controls on a large oval panel. An electronic whine is followed by the sound of a man's voice.
MAN: ( over computer ) Is it you?
AERYN: Yes, it's Aeryn Sun. I've changed my mind... I want you to raise that man.
MAN: ( over computer ) Which one do you seek?
AERYN: Talyn Lyczak, my father.
Cut to close-up on Aeryn's shadowed, haunted features.
END COLD OPEN
ROLL OPENING CREDITS
"My name is John Crichton... I'm lost... an astronaut... shot through a wormhole.... In some distant part of the universe.... I'm trying to stay alive... Aboard this ship-- this living ship... of escaped prisoners-- my friends. If you can hear me... beware... if I make it back... will they follow? If I open the door... are you ready? Earth is unprepared, helpless... for the nightmares I've seen. Or should I stay, protect my home, not show them you exist. But then you'll never know the wonders I've seen."
ACT I
Valldon - Int. 'hotel' room - stretched out on her side on the bed, fully clothed, in the semi-darkness of the room. Something in the circular mirror on the wall attracts her attention and she sits up, propped on her elbow. Reflected in the mirror, an old man sits behind her in a chair by the windows.
JOHN: ( softly ) You remember.
Cut to close on Aeryn, turning away from the reflection in the mirror to the man behind her. Cut to medium shot on John, holding that small wicked looking black bladed knife. They've made some perceptable improvements in the old age makeup, he's virtually unrecognizable.
INSERT SHOT - Ext. day - Clip from S2, "The Locket"; an older couple sit in a sparsely wooded forest.
Cut to close on Aeryn, a hollow laugh, and a sigh as she lays her head down again.
AERYN: Who the frell are you?
JOHN: I remember it all now.
AERYN: What are you talking about?
Aeryn jumps slightly as the old man sits on the bed beside her, resting his hand on her hip.
JOHN: Touch me.
Eyes closed, she shakes her head.
JOHN: Don't be afraid, girl. I- I ain't gonna bite. Touch me.
Opening her eyes slowly, she turns her head to look at the old man beside her.
JOHN: I remember it all.
Cut to close on Aeryn, her features twist in a slight grimace of anger, and her right hand lashes out, as if to strike this apparition away.
INSERT SHOT - Ext. day - Clip from S2, "The Locket"; an older couple sit in a sparsely wooded forest.
John: I was a pilot, Aeryn-- an astronaut. I was what I wanted to be.
Cut to int. hotel room, camera pans right to Aeryn, sitting on the edge of the bed, close on profile as she turns slowly to look at the man in the chair.
JOHN: It's all there.
INSERT SHOT - Ext. day - Clip from S2, "The Locket"; an older couple sit in a sparsely wooded forest. The woman has leaned forward, clutching her chest, uttering slight moans of pain.
John: You're all right?
Aeryn: Yes, I'm fine, I'm fine, I'm fine. It's just the same old pain-- same pain.
Cut to Int. hotel room, close on Aeryn's hand, fingers spread wide, palm pressed tightly over her chest.
INSERT SHOT - Ext. day - Clip from S2, "The Locket"; The woman has leaned forward, clutching her chest.
Aeryn: It's just the same old pain--
Cut to Int. hotel room, close on Aeryn's hand, fingers spread wide, palm pressed tightly over her chest, bent slightly forward, she utters a small sound of pain.
Aeryn: [ O.V. ] --same pain.
Cut to long on Aeryn's profile, pushing herself slowly to her feet. Cut to long shot through the window. The old man remains in the chair as Aeryn slowly stands. Bending over, she retrieves the small black bladed knife from the floor.
INSERT SHOT - Ext. day - Clip from S2, "The Locket"; camera close on the old man's hands as he retrieves something from the forest floor. Camera pulls back slowly widening to a two shot on the older couple standing side by side.
John: ...oh, I got it... I got'cher locket. Whose, ah... image you got in here, anyway?
Aeryn: You know who's in there.
Cut to long shot on Aeryn, standing in the hotel room, silently facing the old man sitting across from her in the chair. Her hair, unbound, falls across her shoulders. An exterior rotating spotlight illuminates the soft brown leather dress she's wearing. A knock on the door interrupts the silence. Cut to long shot through the window again and with a last brief look at the man and she crosses the room to the door.
Cut to hallway, close on the door over the shoulder of a hooded figure. A small privacy door slides aside, and Aeryn looks out through the rectangular grate.
MAN: Are you Aeryn Sun?
Without replying, Aeryn opens the door and walks away, the man entering behind her, closes the door.
Cut to Int. Hotel Room, long shot on the room through the window. The chair the old man was in is empty. Aeryn sits in that chair's twin, a small square table between them. The hooded figure walks past her to the center of the room.
MAN: I heard you talking to somebody... I thought you were alone.
AERYN: I am.
Sitting, she props booted feet on the table and toys with the small black bladed knife.
AERYN: Now, you knew I came here searching for someone else, but... let's do it.
MAN: Do what?
AERYN: You found me, you told me... that you could contact my dead father. So... show me.
MAN: You don't believe I can reach him?
AERYN: Look, you're here... I'm willing to pay, and that is all that should concern you.
Close on the hooded man's profile as Aeryn watches him.
AERYN: Will you show me your face?
The man turns toward her, pulling the hood off with both hands, revealing a very interesting 'mutation'. The man's face is half Sebacean looking on the right, and half insectoid on the left with large red eyes and small claws extending out from his jawline.
MAN: If I may ask... what business have you with Talyn Lyczak?
AERYN: I was his daughter.
The man looks slightly unnerved, and turns away [ I thought we covered this... why's he 'unnerved'? ]
AERYN: So... can you contact him.
MAN: I can do more than that... I am... Talyn Lyczak.
The man turns again, facing Aeryn. It's her turn to look slightly surprised, but she only looks doubtful.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Lobby - many hooded shambling denizens lurch about. Cut to close on the frosted glass of the entrance doors as Stark charges through them, joining Rygel who lambasts the supplicant crowd, but among the myriad voices, Stark hears a muted, yet familiar one.
RYGEL: ( gruffly ) Get away-- get back!
ZHAAN VOICE: ( softly ) Stark...
STARK: Rygel, Rygel-- There...
RYGEL: What? Do you see Aeryn?
STARK: No... for a moment I thought I heard Zhaan's voice.
RYGEL: Oh, frelling brasma! Tell me you're joking, right?!
STARK: No... no.
Stark wanders off into the crowd, Rygel hails Crais on Talyn's bridge, to update the sitch. Shot cuts back and forth between them as the conversation continues.
RYGEL: Crais... Crais!
CRAIS: Yes, Rygel. Have you located Aeryn's signal yet?
RYGEL: No, she's masked it. We've been all over this stinking city! Now we're in some nakky hotel. Stark's meeting every cousin and furbot he ever knew. It's a planet of Stark's down here!
CRAIS: You're exaggerating.
STARK: There... there is it again! Zhaan's voice!
RYGEL: Crais... get down here! I can't stand it alone with him.
CRAIS: No, no, no. Stay with him until you find Aeryn.
Stark continues searching through the crowd, a soft voice leading him onward.
ZHAAN VOICE: ( whispering ) Stark.
CRAIS: Comm me when you do.
RYGEL: Crais? ( beat ) Crais!
Rygel jumps and gasps as another of the hooded figures places a hand on him. Turning he sees the same 'blood seeping from eyes' individual that Aeryn encountered earlier.
SEER: I talk to the dead. I-- I see.
RYGEL: Oh, stop. Just stop. That blood's so fake it's laughable ( mocking laugh ).
Rygel turns his sled and moves away, but freezes at the sound of a name.
SEER: ( whispering ) Kellor... Kellor... she misses you.
Rygel turns about again slowly.
RYGEL: ( softly ) Kellor?
SEER: She forgives you. She knows that you couldn't go against your parents.
RYGEL: How do you know her name?
SEER: She knows that a Dominar cannot just...
Fearfully. Rygel spins about and hovers away through the crowd, the seer following behind, but briefly.
RYGEL: No! Get away from me!
SEER: Wait... but, I know more... secrets... secrets she didn't want me to tell you. Pay me and I can tell you.
At the bar, Rygel catches up to Stark and instantly accuses him.
RYGEL: Did you tell them about me?!
STARK: Rygel, did you get touched?
RYGEL: I'll touch you if you keep telling these fekiks about me!
STARK: But I didn't. I warned you that this planet had dark powers.
RYGEL: You're full of yotz! This whole place is full of yotz.
STARK: Rygel, you must guard your spirit. Now... come with me. I was told that the owner of this hotel may know where Aeryn is.
Cut to long shot and panning left as Rygel and Stark move through the crowd. Shot intersects to a close of Xhalax Sun's hooded and brooding face, as she lurks in the background.
CUT TO - INT. Aeryn's hotel room - Cut to close on Aeryn's profile, her loose hair blowing slightly, listening to 'Talyn', explain himself.
MAN: [ O.V. ] I had my face altered... so I could hide.
Shot cuts to long; she's sitting in the window frame, 'Talyn' is sitting in the chair lately occupied by the older gentleman. 'Talyn' holds up a device, showing it to Aeryn.
MAN: Do you know what this is?
AERYN: Early Peacekeeper standard-- blood spectrometer.
MAN: Fairly primitive, yes... but accurate...
He slides his thumb into a small sleeve on the side of the device, an electronic whine indicates its operating.
MAN: ... to near 100 percent certainty.
Closeup on the butt of the spectrometer as the man pulls a small tab of plastic out of the device, then hands the device over to Aeryn. She accepts it, and runs an analysis on her own blood, shooting her companion a sidelong and very skeptical glance. 'Talyn' hands her the small tab of plastic after she pulls her own from the device.
MAN: Compare the spectrographs.
Aeryn overlays the two pieces of plastic, the tiny black marks on each matching with uncanny precision.
MAN: Take a hundred of mine... and they will all match.
The man stands and crosses the space between them, sitting on the window frame behind her.
MAN: Aeryn...
He places a hand, softly, on her shoulder, but she pulls away slightly.
MAN: I understand... this is not what you want.
He stands, moving as if to walk away.
MAN: Goodbye... Aeryn.
AERYN: Wait.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Lobby - at one end of the Front Desk, camera pans right across the crowded room. Stark stands in front of the desk, Rygel hovering behind him. A hooded figure slouches at the end of the bar and in the bg is a wide flight of steps to an upper level, a lovely chandelier hanging above them.
STARK: Hello? Is anyone here?
Stark hops up, leaning over the top of the desk, trying to peer over the other side.
CONCIERGE: ( warningly ) I wouldn't do that! Back away slowly, very... slowly!
An odd man, reminiscent of Rocky Horror Picture Show, peers up from behind the desk, pale bluish features and a bald head fringed with long unkept red locks.
CONCIERGE: Lucky I saw you through the peep hole and was quick enough to deactivate it.
RYGEL: Deactivate what? There's nothing I can--
Close on the hand of the Concierge, pressing a control behind the desk. Abruptly a 'fence' of sharpened metal spikes shoot out of the green surface of the desk with a resounding clunk. The concierge, mouth full of pale bluish gums and the rare tooth, peers out from behind the 'fence'.
CONCIERGE: Protection and mutilation combined-- much more effective than an attack animal. Are you here to buy dead bodies? You gotta outbid... him-- ( pointing )
Insert quick cut, close on a creature across the room, obviously the same species as Diagnosian Tocot, complete with all the accoutrements, inspecting a possible purchase.
CONCIERGE: He buys all his from me-- buys 'em fresh.
RYGEL: We are not here for bodies. We are here to find a Sebacean.
STARK: Named Aeryn Sun. She's... very beautiful-- hair as dark as a Fellip berry.
RYGEL: ( harsh whisper ) Shut up, Stark!
STARK: She usually wears it tight, pulled back, but recently she's taken to wearing it out, down to her shoulders. We're close, very close.
RYGEL: They're not close at all! He's some kind of weird probakto, and she can't stand the smell of--
Rygel's words are cut off by a groan of pain as Stark clamps his fingers in his hand.
STARK: ( calmly, while squishing Rygel's fingers ) That's not true.
RYGEL: ( groaning ) It's more than true! But, we are trying to find her so we can get out of this nak house!
CONCIERGE: Hm, no... Sebaceans here anymore. You might try the Stallic Hotel on the far side of the city, I... hear they stay there.
RYGEL: "Far side of the city"?
Stark wanders away, disappointed, while Rygel complains.
RYGEL: I'm not travelling tonight! How much for your finest room?
ZHAAN VOICE: ( whispering ) Stark...
CONCIERGE: "Finest room"?!
CONCIERGE: Where do you think you are?
Close on Stark's intent reaction... looking about... he's certain he hears a familiar voice.
ZHAAN VOICE: ( whispering ) Stark...
CONCIERGE: This... is a refugee city, and you've got to fight for tent space!
One of the huddled and slightly insane masses, rattles something at the Concierge.
CONCIERGE: ( shouting ) Get away! Look at my foyer-- infested with cretada!
Rygel turns and hovers to Stark's side, while another nutso denizen 'barks' at the Concierge.
CONCIERGE: ( shouting ) Frell off!
Stark turns, placing a hand on Rygel's shoulder and is instantly frozen in abject surprise.
STARK: ( whispering ) By the goddess, Rygel...
RYGEL: What is it? ( beat ) It better not be Zhaan again.
STARK: ( whispering ) Don't let her see us, don't let her see us, oh, don't let her see us.
Stark pulls Rygel to shelter behind a pillar in the foyer.
RYGEL: Hm? Let go of me!
STARK: Shut up!
Stark peers around the pillar in alarm.
STARK: ( whispering ) It can't be her.
Cut to long shot of Xhalax, standing across the foyer, talking to one of the 'seers'.
STARK: ( whispering ) It can't be...
RYGEL: Who, Aeryn?
Rygel moves away from the pillar a bit, trying to see also. Stark pulls him back into hiding.
STARK: No, no, no, no, no.
RYGEL: ( gasping ) Is that... ( whispering ) Aeryn's mother?
Cut to long shot past Stark and Rygel cowering behind the pillar, to Xhalax and the 'bleeding eye' seer, in intent discussion.
XHALAX: I told you to leave them alone. You were talking to that slug...
Xhalax pulls out and brandishes a frelling huge, jagged edged knife.
XHALAX: ( angrily ) ...were you telling him about me?
SEER: No, no, no.
XHALAX: I paid you a lot of money, I paid all of you a lot of money!
SEER: ( fearfully ) I would never betray you, Xhalax! I never would.
XHALAX: Not any more.
She guts him with one stroke of the blade and he drops with a small groan, to the floor. [ He should'a seen that one comin' ]
Xhalax cleans off her blade and resheaths it at her waist.
XHALAX: Get rid of the body.
Tossing the soiled cloth on the ground, she stalks away, the clean up team arriving with a large cart. Cut to close on Stark.
STARK: ( softly, wide-eyed ) By the goddess...
END ACT I
ACT II
INT. Talyn; The Bridge - - camera is long on the bridge; Crais is pinned to the floor, his hands cuffed before him... Stark looming over him with a pulse pistol pressed to his face; Rygel hovers in the bg.
STARK: Crichton was right! You never killed Xhalax!
CRAIS: Get him off me! Let me up!
RYGEL: The only time we're letting you up, is when we flush you out the airlock.
STARK: What happened to Xhalax? Tell us!
CRAIS: Let me up!
Stark yanks Crais up, propping his back against one of Talyn's red 'ribs'. Standing back a bit he extends his arms, the threat from the pulse pistol seeming very real.
STARK: Tell us... you tell us!
CRAIS: When you left me to kill Xhalax... I saw instantly, the end.
RYGEL: For you!
CRAIS: For all of us! I knew that if I killed her, High Command would send another Retrieval Squad after us. And, if they failed... another, and another!
RYGEL: ( scoffing ) You made a deal to save us all.
CRAIS: I offered Xhalax her life.
RYGEL: And what did you get in return?
CRAIS: She would inform High Command that we were all dead.
STARK: Do I look like an idiot, huh? ( points to Rygel ) Does he look like an idiot? ( points at his own chest, leaning over Crais ) Do I look like an idiot?
Cut to close on Crais, sweating and silently scowling.
STARK: Yeah-- well, I'm not! And we're not fooled by you.
Stark steps in close again, looming over Crais, jamming the pulse pistol into his chest.
STARK: If you've got a deity, you'd better make your peace with it now. Because I'm going to lead you to the other side real quick!
RYGEL: No.
STARK: No? What? "No."?
CRAIS: Rygel understands our predicament. Talyn has part of my psyche. Can you fly him?
STARK: No, but Aeryn can.
RYGEL: And she's not here.
Crais ventures a small laugh.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Lobby - 'Talyn' and Aeryn descend the flight of steps to the lobby proper. The graffiti artist is very dedicated here, as there is graffiti painted even on the windows in the wall of the landing at the top of the stairs.
'TALYN': Why did you come to this planet? You said at first it was not to contact me. Who were you seeking?
AERYN: I lost someone. ( beat ) He died.
'TALYN': Were you in love with him?
Aeryn pauses at the bottom of the stairs, 'Talyn' peering at her closely. Without answering, she continues across the lobby, 'Talyn' following her. Cut to long shot across the lobby, close on Xhalax in the L-FG watching 'Talyn' and Aeryn cross the lobby to the front desk.
'TALYN': Aeryn. On this planet, I have seen things I never dreamed possible.
Cut to close on Aeryn, her eyes red-rimmed and cold, black eyebrows arched, watching him silently.
'TALYN': At the fall of the moon, I will come back with a being who might be able to help contact the one you loved. Wait for me please. I want to try to do this for you.
Nodding her silent agreement, 'Talyn' moves off and Aeryn leans over the desk, calling the concierge.
AERYN: Here.
The Concierge joins her, standing on the opposite side of the desk.
AERYN: Have you seen him before?
She directs the concierge's attention to 'Talyn' with her eyes. The Concierge glances toward 'Talyn', then back to Aeryn, a smug look on his face, lips pursed, he glances expectantly at the desk top. Scowling slightly, Aeryn places a brandar tile on the desk. The concierge snatches it up quickly.
CONCIERGE: Yes. I've seen him.
AERYN: Well, do you know who he is?
CONCIERGE: No one.
Smiling smugly, he looks down, at the desk-- absent of brandar tiles... Aeryn places another on the desk, and his pale sickly fingers snag it as well.
CONCIERGE: Just... I hear he's been studying with the Nelliks... who channel the dead.
AERYN: Do you know where he's from?
CONCIERGE: No.
Tiring of his games, Aeryn snags him by his shirt front and hauls him closer, he yelps at this handling.
CONCIERGE: I just heard he's been hiding on Valldon for a couple of cycles, but everyone's hiding, so...
AERYN: Was he a Peacekeeper?
CONCIERGE: I don't know.
Displeased with the answer, she yanks on his shirt front again, her scowl deepening.
CONCIERGE: Oh!
Inappropriately unafraid, the Concierge tries a patronizing tone.
CONCIERGE: Someone could use some fellip nectar. ( leering ) You know where to get it.
Aeryn glares at him coldly.
AERYN: What a good idea.
Releasing his shirt, she shoves him back roughly. He laughs as she stalks away. Weaving between several patrons, she snags four narrow, long necked, bottles of blue liquid from a table and walks through the crowd, back up the flight of stairs. Xhalax and the Concierge watch her progress from opposite sides of the room, with varying intensity of scowls on their faces. New arrivals pique the Concierge's interest.
Cut to across the lobby, Rygel and Stark, propelling a handcuffed Crais ahead of him, enter the lobby through the frosted glass doors. Shot is long across the lobby, in R-FG is a very old female laying on top of the clean up crew's body cart.
STARK: How can no one have seen Aeryn?
CRAIS: They have. They're just not talking.
STARK: Wait. I've got an idea.
Stark crosses the lobby to the old woman on top of the cart, her hands crossed over her waist, she could be sleeping or dead, or perhaps just mostly dead.
RYGEL: Stark, what are you doing? Leave her alone and let her die in peace.
Stark disregards Rygel's grumbling and gently places his hand on the woman's forehead.
RYGEL: Huh... yotz. Here we go again.
Rygel hovers off, Crais following. His hand on the woman's forehead, Stark lifts the edge of his mask with his right hand, a narrow sliver of golden light escaping and bathing the old womans face.
Cut to med. shot on Crais and Rygel in the crowded lobby, standing behind Stark.
CRAIS: Get these off me!
Rygel gives Crais a "I'm not that gullible" laugh.
CRAIS: You're not a child like he is. How can I help you if I'm cuffed?
RYGEL: Oh, you'll help. If someone starts shooting, you'll make a very good shield ( chuckles ).
Cut to close on the old woman's face, the glowing light subsides. Cut back to med shot on Crais and Rygel, Stark joins them.
STARK: She thinks Aeryn may be here on one of the upper levels.
RYGEL: Right, I'll go.
Rygel starts to hover away, but Stark detains him, pulling him back.
STARK: I'll stay calm. I'll take this fekik with me.
Grabbing Crais by the cuffs he hauls his arms over Rygel's head.
STARK: He can tell Aeryn what he did. You keep an eye out for Xhalax.
Stark drags Crais toward the stairs, Rygel grumbles. As they move off, a couple of mystics begin pressing their 'wares' on Rygel.
RYGEL: Uh! Not now! Get away!
CUT TO - INT. Hotel; Hallway - carrying the bottles of fellip nectar, Aeryn walks down a drab hallway, walls pock-marked with graffiti. Turning a corner in the hallway she pauses on encountering a pair of 'lovers'. Passing them slowly, she keeps shooting them sidelong glances as they continue to kiss.
INSERT SHOT - Scene from "Season of Death" - John is pressed close to her, his eyes closed, his fingers lacing through her unbound hair.
Nearing the end of the hallway, Aeryn turns back again, watching the pair intertwine limbs and tongues.
INSERT SHOT - Scene from "Season of Death" - his hand cradling the back of her neck, their lips meet in a long awaited kiss.
Standing in front of her door, Aeryn watches the two kiss... there is nothing 'loving' in this embrace. Kicking the door open, she enters the room.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Room - crossing the darkened room, a single lantern, high on the wall, providing weak illumination, Aeryn places the bottles on the long narrow table against the wall. Sensing something, she freezes, and then turns about.
Camera pulls back to long across the room. John sits in the window frame in blue jeans and white tank top, silently gazing out across the ruined city. Camera pulls to ext. long, shot through the window into the room. John, hands on wide spread knees, turns his head to look at Aeryn... she turns away instantly, denying this vision.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Corridor - in the littered and dank corridor, Stark approches a door, pulse pistol out and towing the cuffed Crais behind him.
STARK: Right here.
CRAIS: This had better not be the wrong room.
STARK: It won't be.
Cut to close-up on Stark's face, viewed through the privacy grill in the door.
STARK: ( softly ) Aeryn? Are you in there?
Cut to close on Aeryn's eyes, looking out through the small rectangular privacy grill.
STARK: Aeryn. Are you all right? You look terrible. What have you been doing? Have you be-- have you been--
Crais appears behind his shoulder, peering through the grill, he interrupts Stark's rambling query.
CRAIS: This is serious. We need to talk. Can I come in?
AERYN: ( shaking her head ) No.
STARK: ( angrily shouting ) All right. That does it!
Stark grabs Crais by the shoulder, pulling him away from the door and then pushing him into the center of the corridor.
STARK: Get down, on you knees! face the wall!
CRAIS: I am not getting on my knees!
STARK: Get Down!
CRAIS: You told Rygel you'd be calm.
Aeryn watches, a bemused expression furrowing her brow. Stark trains the weapon on Crais, his arms extended.
STARK: I am calm! You, get down now!
Crais kneels as ordered, rather than be shot. Stark turns his head, watching as Aeryn exits her room and passing behind him, sits on the edge of a pile of discarded boxes in the corridor. Stark hovers at her shoulder, hand extended, but not touching her.
STARK: Aeryn... you must return... to Talyn. We saw Xhalax, here on Valldon.
Aeryn gives him a sympathetic glance.
AERYN: It's this place. You should see who I've seen.
STARK: No, no. Your mother is really, really here.
Aeryn smiles and laughs, no touch of true joy in it.
AERYN: No. Guess who I've seen? ( beat ) Crichton. And guess who else? ( beat ) My father. Any microt now Stark, you're going to see Zhaan.
STARK: You stop. You listen to me. He... ( looking toward Crais ) he never killed Xhalax. He was preparing to betray us.
CRAIS: That is not true. I made a deal for all of us.
Enraged, Stark levels the pulse pistol on Crais again.
STARK: Liar! Liar!
Stark turns his attention back to Aeryn.
STARK: Now... you must come back with us. I will look after you. I want to look after you.
AERYN: ( gently ) That would be really nice.
STARK: ( softly ) Oh. Please.
Tenatively, he gently touches her shoulder-- she flinches away from his touch.
AERYN: Don't touch me.
Her tone is still gentle, but just beneath the gentleness, a slightly dangerous coldness... Stark pulls his hand back.
CRAIS: Aeryn. Xhalax is alive.
AERYN: ( laughing ) Come on.
Aeryn slides off the boxes, crawling on her hands and knees, between Stark and Crais...
AERYN: Come on. Come on Crais, you can tell the truth.
Standing on her knees in front of him, sliding her face just past his, she tosses her hair back with a slight shake of her head, her fingers toying with the collar of his jacket, pulling him slightly toward her... uncomfortably, he looks away, glancing down.
AERYN: Hm?
Stark scurries over, taking her by the arm, trying to lift her back to her feet.
STARK: You get up! Get away from him!
AERYN: ( softly ) No, that's all right. He wants me.
Tossing her hair back again, she places one foot on the ground by Crais's knee. Pressing her lips together, she pulls him close against her, pulling on his jacket.
AERYN: Isn't that right? You always wanted to take me from Crichton and now here's your chance.
Crais looks at her carefully, temptation and hope warring with confusion. Aeryn pulls herself closer, a soft hand cradling the back of his neck, his eyes close tightly as she whispers in his ear.
AERYN: And you know what, Bialar?
Cut to close on Aeryn, her eyes clenched tightly shut, her fingers gripping the back of his head, her lips brushing his ear as she speaks in a pain-soaked whisper.
AERYN: If I squeeze my eyes closed... tightly enough... you could be someone else.
This is not the way Crais wants her, and he grunts angrily, trying to pull away, but she grapples with him, pulling him back against her, wrapping arms, and one leg around him, mimicking the embrace of the lovers she spied moments ago.
AERYN: No! Come on, right here! Right now! Give it to me. Give me what you've got!
Stark grabs her, trying to pull her to her feet.
STARK: You're coming with me. I'm taking you now!
Aeryn lurches to her feet, fury in every line of her body, she shoves him down the hallway, slamming his back against the corridor wall.
AERYN: Don't... you... touch...me!
Cut to long shot on corridor, still kneeling, Crais is half-turned, watching. Cut to close on Aeryn, her face full of cold fury. Pulling the wicked black bladed knife from somewhere, she holds it aloft, poised to thrust downward into Stark's eye.
AERYN: I swear that I will spear the last eye you have left.
Watching her fearfully, his eye cuts to the blade. Her anger, still present, but her voice becomes soft, but not soft enough that Crais cannot hear her.
AERYN: Do you know what makes you so much worse... is the fact that you think you're so much better than him. Always pressing... against me.
Cut to close on Crais, his eyes close... in shame-- perhaps sorrow, perhaps a bit of both. Cut to close on Aeryn, the anger draining from her pale features.
AERYN: Stealing looks.... Get out of here.
Lowering the knife, she walks away. Cut to long shot on corridor, Crais attempting to rise to his feet. She assists him, hauling him roughly to his feet and shoving him backward down the hallway.
AERYN: Both of you... ( enraged ) get out!
She slams the door behind her, leaving a shocked Stark in the corridor. Standing behind him, Crais looks less shocked, his gaze lowering to the floor of the hallway.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Lobby - close on a haggard looking Xhalax, her hair, no longer a picture of Peacekeeper squared away, is disheveled and close cropped, probably with a knife. She turns her gaze to the crowd in the lobby, shot fades to long on Rygel, hovering through the lobby, stopping in front of a stooped and hooded female.
RYGEL: Uh, excuse me, uh... have you seen a... a cripple who was bleeding from the eyes? ( chuckles ) He... knew about a certain female I...
The woman gibbers incoherently, Rygel starts and draws back slightly.
RYGEL: Well, don't get excited. I just, uh....
WOMAN: Ah!
RYGEL: ( with disdain ) Peasant.
Rygel hovers away, bumping into 'Talyn', who's carrying a large object in his arms.
'TALYN': Watch out.
RYGEL: ( grumbling ) Hm, watch yourself.
'TALYN': Move.
RYGEL: ( scolding ) Pushy, pushy!
'Talyn' continues across the lobby, Rygel glaring at him as he passes. Continuing across the lobby, 'Talyn' is intercepted by a man with a big gun who persuades him to sit down beside Xhalax in her place of concealment in the shadows of the lobby.
XHALAX: Do you know who that was? That slug was with Aeryn. He was trying to save her. How did it go?
'TALYN': Oh, I think Aeryn's buying it all. When she sees this bastard-- ( lifts the object in his arms, showing it to Xhalax ) she'll suffer the way you want her to.
As he speaks, he has dropped the more refined 'Peacekeeper' tones, his speech coarser, less refined. Abruptly, a muffled grunting noise issues from the large object in 'Talyn's' arms, and it shakes violently. 'Talyn' grips the object securely in both arms.
'TALYN': Oh-- someone's getting restless. I better get up there.
XHALAX: You're all set?
'TALYN': Under here... ( tapping his fingers on his chest ) solid krank. ( Raising a chastising finger ) Don't miss.
XHALAX: I won't
CUT TO - EXT. Hotel - camera pans over the the wall outside Aeryn's room, from the red and green neon lights to the bank of windows just above the wide ledge. A spotlight sweeps across the window, illuminating Aeryn standing inside.
AERYN: First, Talyn.
Stepping down from some low surface, she walks across the room to the slightly open window.
AERYN: Then, Xhalax. What next?
The pair of windows swing wide under her hands, and she steps over the low sill, onto the wide ledge. Camera angle is slightly up, there is even graffiti on the ceiling of this desolate place. Stepping to the edge, Aeryn peers downward. Shot cuts to angle down, Aeryn looking down on the city of tall brown buildings, crowded together as far as the eye can see. Many vehicles rush about through the smoggy air. Cut to close on Aeryn, looking down still, a wry smile on her lips. Glancing upward, her dark, red-rimmed eyes sweep the horizon. Taking in a deep breath, she calls out...
AERYN: Crichton!
In the silence, save for the windswept sound of passing vehicles, she pauses, listening, that slight smile still in place. Calling out again, the name long and drawn out--
AERYN: Crichton!
There is no answer, but the smile remains. Drawing in another breath, she howls out his name-- a long drawn out wail.
AERYN: Crich-ton!
A dense cloud of smog blows between the camera and Aeryn as the shot pulls to long, putting her from our sight as her blistering outcry continues.
END ACT II
ACT III
EXT. Hotel Room close-up on Aeryn's gaze on the city scape horizon.
INSERT SHOT - Scene from "A Human Reaction" - close on Aeryn, sitting on the edge of the bed in the hotel room. Silent, she gazes up at John who stands in front of the window, looking out over the city scape, a look of profound sorrow marring his features.
John: That's it... Earth... minus the sunshine.
Cut to EXT. Hotel Room, Aeryn's back to the camera looking out over the desolate which is cloaked in tints of brown, red and gold. Just behind and to her right, John sits on the edge of the window frame, his feet on the ledge. Numerous atmospheric vehicles dash to and fro beneath their feet.
AERYN: This is my world now.
Cut to medium shot on Aeryn, John sitting just behind her right shoulder, unresponsive, awaiting her memory to make him act. She toys with one of the long necked bottles, casting a wry glance back at her silent company.
AERYN: I think I liked yours better.
Pausing on the ledge a moment longer, she steps backward slowly, sitting down beside John, their arms and shoulders brushing together. He sits silently beside her, and a moment later she turns toward him, a slight smile on her lips, leaning slowly toward him, her lips and nose gently grazing the air above his skin, gently inhaling-- scenting him.
INSERT SHOT Scene from "A Human Reaction", close up on John, gently 'scenting' the pale skin of Aeryn's shoulder, slowly leaning toward her, his face hovering a slight distance from her neck, her head tilts away, unconciously giving him greater access to the softness there.
Cut to close on Aeryn, mimicking those movements of so long again, leaning in closer to him, her face hovering just a hairs breadth away from the well defined curve of his neck, softly brushing the lobe of his ear with her nose, breathing in a remembered scent. John slowly turns toward her.
INSERT SHOT Scene from "A Human Reaction", Aeryn's head is turned to meet his... he waits, posed, for her lips to seek his.
Cut to close on Aeryn and John on the window ledge, caressing gently without hands, eyes closed, his lips slowly seeking hers as they descend to taste his mouth.
INSERT SHOT Scene from "A Human Reaction", close up on the beginnings of an incredibly gentle kiss, lips barely touching.
Cut to closeup on the beginnings of a gentle kiss, lips touch...
INSERT SHOT Scene from "A Human Reaction", close up as two pairs of lips meet, a sweet and tender embrace.
Cut to medium shot on Aeryn, sitting alone on the window frame, leaning in toward he who only she can see, touch, taste-- her left hand uplifted to stroke a remembered warm face. Slowly she leans away, her eyes, stricken and shadowed-- turning away abruptly from the vacant space. Slightly shaken, she lifts the bottle to her lips, taking a deep swallow.
Cut to long shot on Aeryn, sitting alone on the window frame. Standing, she drains the bottle. As the last of the blue liquid disappears, shot cuts to angle down behind Aeryn. Rygel hovers upward from below her, the electronic whine of the chair and sounds of Rygel whimpering at the staggering hieght, interrupting her solitude.
AERYN: Let me guess. You're my long lost sister.
RYGEL: Look, Aeryn, I know you're upset. I too had someone important in my life. Kellor was her name ( chuckles softly ). I missed her for a long time. But I knew, as I'm sure you do, that self-sacrifice is not the answer. Look, I'm not like Crais or Stark. I'm not trying to save you, or recreate with you. You can do whatever you like, but... Crichton loved you, Aeryn. He wouldn't want his death to lead you here.
A strong gust of wind blows Rygel's thronesled upward, spinning it slowly, slightly out of control.
RYGEL: ( moaning fearfully ) Please. Could we go inside? This height...
AERYN: You're not going in there.
RYGEL: Huh?
Cut to EXT. Hallway. 'Talyn' approaches a door and knocks.
Cut to Aeryn and Rygel, she turns at the sound of a knock at the door.
AERYN: You have to go now.
Climbing over the windowsill, back into her room, she turns briefly back to Rygel.
RYGEL: I... should also tell you... Crais and Stark weren't lying. Xhalax is on this planet.
AERYN: And I wasn't lying either, my father's here too. Crazy place, Ryge. Now go.
RYGEL: But, uh...
AERYN: Go.
Rygel gives up with grace and hovers back down wence he came.
Cut to EXT. Corridor, Aeryn opens the door, admitting 'Talyn', his arms encumbered with the large object.
'TALYN': I've brought the seer.
Aeryn blandly regards the object in 'Talyn's arms. She's even paler than before.
Cut to INT. Hotel Room -- close on the large object as three panels open, a concave upper panel, and two forward panels, revealing the grotesquely dwarfed body of a 'critter'. Cut to wide on the room, the 'critter' container is perched on the small table between the two chairs, Talyn sits on the far chair, and Aeryn's seated on the end of the low bed. Aeryn performs 'mock applause' on seeing the 'critter'-- it is a side-show after all.
'TALYN': Seer Cresus. The one we seek is not long dead. His name... is John Crichton. And he's from a race called-- Human.
Close up on the 'critter' as it's eyes ( all four ) open.
CRESUS: Come here. Closer. I won't bite... much. ( creepy giggling )
'TALYN': Trust him. Don't be afraid.
CRESUS: Touch me. I must feel you, to reach him.
Reluctantly, Aeryn stands, crosses the short distance between them, and with a small impatient sigh, places her fingertips on the pink spongey flesh of Cresus's head. He gasps and whimpers in response, and she snatches her fingers back.
CRESUS: Soft. Touch me... soft.
Again she places her fingers on his skull, stroking the skin slightly.
CRESUS: Tell me about this... Crichton.
Startled, she looks about the room, her gaze finally settling back on Cresus. She's struggling to put her feelings into words-- eyebrows arched, she ekes a few stumbling syllables out.
AERYN: Uh. He...
CRESUS: Did he... love you?
Aeryn looks away, swallowing painfully, throat hard.
CRESUS: Hold you? Touch you... soft?
She looks away, glancing upward briefly, brow furrowed, struggling for control.
AERYN: Yes, he loved me. He was very.... ( breathes deeply ) He made me better.
In the silence, Cresus begins to gasp and struggle, throwing his head back. Aeryn withdraws her hand quickly with a slight gasp. Cresus continues to groan, and Aeryn steps back, sitting on the edge of the bed, watching, a grim look on her face.
In the curved panel of the container over Cresus's groaning head, a holo projection in red light resolves into John's features, his head only, expression fearful, his lips moving to the words that Cresus's speaks in a really fair imitation of John's warm voice.
CRESUS/JOHN: Aeryn... help me... bring me back.
The image of John's face fades and Cresus gasps once more, his head falling forward.
'TALYN': Cresus? Are you all right?
CRESUS: ( speaking alien language urgently, and at length )
'TALYN': Cresus says... he has rarely had... a vision so powerful, and he wants me to find the Sintar. He is a creature who can... sometimes turn... spirits corporeal.
Close on Aeryn's, unshed tears glistening in her painfully shadowed eyes.
AERYN: That's not possible.
'TALYN': Oh, Aeryn! On this planet, I have seen things I have not thought possible. Wait here. I will find the Sintar. If the connection is strong enough... if he thinks this can happen...
AERYN: He can bring Crichton back?
CRESUS: Perhaps. Don't lose hope... ye-yet...
'TALYN': Wait here. I will not be long.
Close-up on Aeryn as a solitary tear creeps over the edge of her lashes.
'TALYN': Just believe.
She looks up at him, and the tear escapes, tracking down her pale cheek. Fearful hope on her face as 'Talyn' departs wans to a slightly skeptical half smile. She arches her brows, and with a slight cock of her head and a small "ah well" sound, she wobbles to her feet, speaking mostly to herself as Cresus seems to have nodded off.
AERYN: I returned from the dead. Why can't he?
Turning about she falls face down on the bed, and rolls onto her side. Her eyes are fixed on some distant point. The silence is filled by the hollow sound of wind. A hand reaches out from the darkness behind her, gently caressing her left shoulder. She melts into the touch, her head rolling slightly back, eyes closing in exquisite relief.
JOHN: [ O.V. ] ( softly ) This is where it hurts.
AERYN: ( sighing ) Yeah.
JOHN: [ O.V. ] Right here.
The hollow, lulling sound of a heavy breeze continues as John lifts himself onto the bed behind her, softly rubbing the tenseness from her shoulder. His chin tucked into the curve of her neck.
JOHN: ( gently ) You can't bring me back, you know.
Her eyes remain closed, reveling in his touch, but not forgetting to disagree with him.
AERYN: Mm. They said that... on this planet there's a... I've forgotten his name.
JOHN: ( softly ) No.
Her eyes open, the fear encroaching, her expression doubtful.
AERYN: No?
JOHN: ( softly ) No.
Laying slightly beneath him, his chin tucked warmly against the side of her neck, her expression turns thoughtful, she sighs softly, her voice a husky whisper.
AERYN: Was it easy to be a hero?
His eyes closed, lying in a comfort embrace, warmth radiating from them, his lips quirk in a slight smile at her words.
AERYN: Leave me behind?
Pain tracks through him briefly, his eyes open, head lifting slightly to press his lips close to her ear.
JOHN: ( quietly ) You never think... you're gonna die. I didn't know.
He lowers his chin, caressing her with the warmth of his nearness.
AERYN: You...
Rolling over slightly to face him, she removes the pain of the accusation with a teasing tone and a wide smile, her cheek marred by a wide track of tears.
AERYN: You did.
John smiles, shaking his head in denial, engaging in mutual tender teasing.
JOHN: No.
Aeryn, lying fully beneath him, their noses touching, continues to tease him, stroking his lip with an outstretched finger.
AERYN: Yes... you did.
JOHN: ( laughing quietly ) No.
Lips too close, and not to be denied, they kiss.
INSERT SHOT Scene from "The Flax", UV suited, Aeryn tumbles to the floor, John beneath her, as they engage in the "too much pure oxygen" kiss.
Cut to close up on Aeryn, kissing her phantom lover.
INSERT SHOT Scene from "The Flax", they attempt to scramble out of their suits, Aeryn straddling John's hips.
Cut to closeup on Aeryn, John's arm curved around behind her neck, his fingers, gently curving across her throat, soft kissing becoming more heated.
INSERT SHOT Scene from "Relativity", John's arm, wrapped around Aeryn's neck, his fingers gently curving across her throat. He rolls her head toward him, his lips locking on hers, fingers still tangled in her long back hair.
Cut to closeup on Aeryn, lips sealed with John's for a moment longer, but with the hollow sound of gusting wind, his presence is quickly withdrawn.
Cut to long shot on Aeryn, lying alone on the low bed, the room about her, a complete wreck. Abruptly, Aeryn sits up, propped on her elbows, looking about the empty room. Silently, she drops onto her side, sighing heavily.
Cut to closeup on Aeryn, eyes open and fixed on some distant point, solemn features and slightly furrowed brow conveying a world of helpless and empty pain.
Cut to long on the door as it is violently kicked open. The door slams loudly against the wall and Xhalax stalks in, weapon at the ready.
XHALAX: Hello soldier!
Shot remains on Xhalax, as a flurry passes between her and the camera; Aeryn's on the move.
XHALAX: What's the matter? Surprised to see your old mum?
Cut to Aeryn standing warily by the window, facing her armed and dangerous mother.
XHALAX: This isn't quite the... family reunion you'd imagined. Sit down.
Aeryn slowly sits in the chair by the window.
XHALAX: Soldier without her weapon. That's against regulations.
Aeryn glances downward [ no clue why, she looks a bit like an adolescent who's been caught with her hand in the cookie jar ]. It's not clear she believes this is a 'real' encounter.
XHALAX: My leg, huh? After you left me on that planet... it got infected... and I had to amputate it myself. Now that... that hurt. You thought you could get it all. Get away... be safe.
Dad skulks in, sounding 'surprised'.
'TALYN': Xhalax!
XHALAX: Hello dear.
Xhalax crosses the room, to meet 'Talyn' just in front of the bed... she whacks him across the jaw with the butt of the huge pistol in her hand. Aeryn leaps up to defend, 'dad'.
AERYN: No! Don't!
XHALAX: You've only just met, and already you're trying to protect your father!
Holding Aeryn by the arm, she shoves her back into the chair, threatening her with the pulse pistol. 'Talyn', sitting on the edge of the bed 'pleads' with Xhalax.
'TALYN': Xhalax, stop! Twenty cycles ago we made a pact to survive for-- for our daughter. You couldn't hurt her then. You couldn't hurt me.
XHALAX: I can hurt you now, old man. So get ready to die!
'TALYN': Remember when Aeryn was born? I snuck into the med-chamber. You had just woken...
XHALAX: Lie down!
AERYN: Listen, he's not the one that you--
XHALAX: Shut up!
AERYN: Just leave him alone!
TALYN & XHALAX: ( simultaneously ) Shut up!
'TALYN': Oh, go on. Shoot me. I'm not scared of you. Shoot me, and leave Aeryn alone!
XHALAX: You know, I think I've changed my mind. You're too ugly to kill-- looking at that face. Now lie down. Lie down and roll over.
'TALYN': Xhalax, wh-what?
XHALAX: Turn around-- now!
AERYN: Xhalax, don't!
XHALAX: Shut up!
She brandishes the weapon in 'Talyn's' face, ordering him onto his stomach on the bed.
XHALAX: Lie down!
'TALYN': Xhalax?
XHALAX: Roll over!
'TALYN': No, no, no!
Xhalax, frantic and frightening with the weapon, compels 'Talyn', to roll over onto his stomach on the bed, he pleads with her, all sign of the 'overactor' fled.
AERYN: Xhalax! Stop!
'TALYN': Xhalax, don't--
XHALAX: Roll over!
'Talyn's' pleas are cut off by Xhalax firing several shots into his back. He moans quietly and lies still. Xhalax steps back, weapon trained on Aeryn, calmly sitting in the chair.
XHALAX: So... so there's just you...and me.
END ACT III
ACT IV
INT. Hotel Room medium shot on the body of 'Talyn', face down on the bed. Camera pans L to Xhalax sitting in the window frame, holding her pistol at ready. Aeryn sits in the chair, leaning forward slightly, elbows on knees, watching the body of her 'father' while Xhalax exhults.
XHALAX: You know, things couldn't have worked out better. I'm glad you two got to meet.
AERYN: Why?
XHALAX: For this. For you to suffer. For everything you did. For everything that went wrong.
AERYN: I... we did nothing to you.
Aeryn stands, walks across the room to fetch the bottles of Fellip Nectar, and then sits again. Xhalax drones on, anger and bitterness rampant in her tone.
XHALAX: You did everything. After your birth, High Command said I could redeem myself if... but, they lied. The damage was done. And no matter what I did, I was never... truly... reinstated.
AERYN: And now you want my pity.
XHALAX: Oh no. I want your pain. To know how close I was... to love. So close... and then to lose it all in an instant. I've heard... loved ones leave you in pieces... that little by little you start to forget things about them, but that's not true. You lose them... everything, instantly, and suddenly nothing can replace them. Nothing.
Xhalax lowers her weapon, pressing the muzzle against the side of Aeryn's head, apparently not noting the pain her words alone are inflicting on her daughter.
XHALAX: And now you... have nothing.
Aeryn's eyes open and she turns to look at her mother, the muzzle inches away from her forehead, tears tracking down her face.
XHALAX: How does it feel?
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Lobby - long shot, angle down, on the crowd in the lobby. Cut to med shot from behind Stark, shaking the Concierge by his 'lapels'.
STARK: You lied to us. Said Aeryn wasn't here!
CONCIERGE: No, no! I-I didn't lie!
CRAIS: Did Xhalax pay you to keep us away?
CONCIERGE: Who? I've never heard of them.
RYGEL: Now, tell me again. How do you activate this security grill?
Cut to close on Rygel's fingers, straying a bit too close to the controls of the security grate.
RYGEL: Do I press this?
CONCIERGE: No! No! Don't touch that!
RYGEL: Why? Will those speary things shoot up?
CONCIERGE: Look! Look! I had to lie to you. If I'd helped you before, that maniac upstairs would have killed me!
RYGEL: Go on.
CONCIERGE: There...
The Concierge kicks the back wall and a hidden panel pops open, revealing a small recessed space behind it.
CONCIERGE: ...is a service lift. Xhalax doesn't know about it. One of you... could go up in that. Surprise her.
Rygel peers out from behind Stark's shoulder, eying a suspicious massing of people in the lobby, one of whom raises a weapon toward the four at the main desk.
RYGEL: Uh... Stark?
STARK: What?
RYGEL: Who are they?
Abrupt weapons fire clashes against a pillar far to the left of the desk. [ They are extraordinarily poor shots. Worse than Peacekeepers. ] A few more shots strike too close.
CRAIS: Down!
The Concierge and Rygel duck behind the desk. Acting quickly, Stark draws a weapon from his hip and returns fire, scattering his attackers, and ducks behind the desk. Crais attempts to duck behind the desk also, but as he's cuffed to a decorative screen on the desk top, he finds that rather difficult to drop below the line of fire.
CRAIS: Uncuff me! Uncuff me!
RYGEL: ( reasonably ) Under the circumstances... ( shouting ) uncuff him!
CUT TO - INT. Aeryn's Hotel Room - long shot through the window to Aeryn facing her mother inside the room, a passing searchlight washing detail from the scene briefly until it passes. Aeryn takes a step closer.
AERYN: Wasn't killing Talyn once enough? But did you have to kill him in front of me? Is that what was missing?
Xhalax scowls at her, not deigning to answer.
AERYN: When I first met him, I knew he wasn't my father, but he knew all these details about you and me.
XHALAX: You're lying. You didn't know.
With a wry, slightly intoxicated smile, Aeryn takes a seat in the window frame. Her voice shaken by weak laughter, mixed with tears.
AERYN: Of course, I hoped... that he might be Talyn. Just as I'd hoped that I might see Crichton again... ( weak laughter )... but in my heart... I knew that that ( pointing at the body on the bed ) was not my father. And then you walked in. You know, we Peacekeepers think that we are so remarkable. Soldiers without... equal. Precise tacticians. Pure bloods. But, I've realized, we're not remarkable. We do nothing for love. Not one thing.
XHALAX: You're wrong. Cycles ago, after your birth, I was given an order. They called it a choice. ( beat ) "One of you must die", they said. I killed your father so you could live.
Xhalax leans over her daughter, her hate filled face inches from Aeryn's.
XHALAX: I did that... for love.
CUT TO - INT. Hotel Lobby - Stark steps out from behind the end of the front desk, no sign of Crais who had been cuffed to the ornate screen there.
ZHAAN'S VOICE: ( softly ) Stark.
STARK: It's here again.
One arm extended, another tucked behind his back, under his coat, Stark fires a few times at the cowering, but not retreating, crowd.
STARK: Zhaan's voice. Can you hear it?
Cut to close on Rygel and the Concierge, cowering behind the desk.
RYGEL: Not now, Stark.
From behind the desk, Crais urges Stark to get under cover.
CRAIS: Stark! Get down!
Stark pulls another pistol from the back of his waistband, handing it to Crais over the desk top.
STARK: Save Aeryn! I'll hold them off here.
Stark continues firing into the crowd.
STARK: Go! Go!
Crais ducks into the small lift behind the desk, pulling the door shut behind him. Stark takes out a few more of the crowd with well placed pulse blasts.
CUT TO - INT. Aeryn's Hotel Room - Xhalax has her pistol trained on Aeryn's back, Aeryn stands out on the ledge, the night illuminated by the green and red neon sign and passing sweeps of the search light.
AERYN: So. This is it? Kill me now. Destroy the last piece of your life... and leave nothing.
XHALAX: I wasn't an assassin until I killed your father. I was a pilot... I was bred to be a pilot. But they made me kill again, and again. And finally I stopped caring. But I knew your suffering would ease my pain. And it has. It has.
AERYN: The battle's over, Xhalax. You don't want to kill me.
XHALAX: No?
She fires twice, over Aeryn's shoulders, barely missing her each time. Aeryn reacts not at all, save to turn her head slightly, looking back into the room.
Cut to EXT. Corridor, cautiously, Crais takes out a pale hooded figure with the butt of his pistol.
Jump cut to EXT. Corridor, Crais creeps along the corridor, keeping the wall close on his flank. Jump cut to corridor junction, long shot as Crais enters the corridor. A single ambusher in the corridor by Aeryn's door, fires as his head appears. Crais pulls quickly back under cover.
CUT TO - INT. Aeryn's Hotel Room - Standing on the ledge, her back to her mother, waiting...
AERYN: Why don't you come out here, a bit closer? It might make it easier for you.
Taking the invitation, Xhalax climbs out on the ledge, Aeryn turning to face her, the muzzle of mum's pistol just below her chin. Her words are soft, compassionate, and tinged with affection.
AERYN: Here. You can't miss from here... Unless you want to.
CUT TO - EXT. Corridor - just outside Aeryn's door, Crais is fired on from behind. [ He really should have killed that first guy, I guess ]. Spinning about, he fires, taking that same pale hooded figure out.
Cut to close on Xhalax, lips drawn into a tight line, but not firing.
Cut to close on Crais, determination on his face as he turns toward the door again.
Cut to close on Aeryn, the muzzle of Xhalax's pistol still hovering just below her chin.
AERYN: Drop the gun, Xhalax.
Cut to close on Crais, his back against the door, glancing left and right, ensuring no further attacks will come from those quarters.
Cut to close on Aeryn, the pistol wavering, pan left to Xhalax, her face uncertain and afraid.
Cut to Ext. Corridor as Crias holds his weapon at the ready, preparing to slam his shoulder against the door.
Cut to close on Xhalax, her eyes closed, unable to fire, the weapon slowly lowering as she opens her eyes. Cut to long shot on mother and daughter facing each other on the ledge, the weapon slowly lowering.
Cut to Crais in the corridor [ all right already! go! ]
Cut to Int. hotel room, Aeryn smiling gently at her mother, the silence interrupted by the sound of the door slamming against the wall.
Cut to med shot on Crais between Aeryn and Xhalax, her levels his weapon at Xhalax, calling out a warning.
CRAIS: Aeryn!
AERYN: No!
Xhalax brings her weapon around. Crais snaps off a hurried shot, striking Xhalax mid-chest. Xhalax cries out in pain, falling backward, her pistol flying over her head and into the abyss below the ledge. Aeryn catches her as she falls backward, pulling her close, she turns to Crais, briefly, then back to her mother, holding her from a long fall.
AERYN: ( shouting at Crais ) No!
Watching the scene over the sites of his pulse pistol, Crais looks a horrifying combination of stunned and alarmed.
XHALAX: Let me fall, Aeryn.
Aeryn takes a firmer hold.
AERYN: No.
XHALAX: Do it. Let me go.
Xhalax moans in pain as Aeryn gathers her closer.
XHALAX: I died a long time ago.
Their foreheads press together as Aeryn holds her close. Pulling away slightly, they look into each other's eyes. Xhalax nods weakly, Aeryn's eyes are tear filled but her expression is calmly accepting.
XHALAX: You live for me.
Aeryn nods slightly in agreement and releases her hold. Xhalax falls backward out of her arms and off the ledge. Leaning out over the ledge, Aeryn watches her mother fall into the artificial canyon of the city scape.
Cut to med shot on Crais, his head lowered, his eyes close briefly, sharing Aeryn's pain on some level. Cut to close on Aeryn, loose hair blowing in the updraft, eyes still filled with tears, although none fall. Cut to long shot, angle up, Aeryn stands, one foot half off the ledge, looking downward, then cut close again as she turns away.
END ACT IV
TAG
INT. Talyn - The Bridge - close on a holo projection of Stark's face, cut to long across the Bridge; Crais and Rygel watch the 'full-body' holo projection as Stark explains his absence.
STARK: ( on holo ) Zhaan's voice keeps getting stronger. I know she's trying to reach me and I must discover what she needs to communicate. Please do not waste time trying to look for me. It is vital you take what I have left you to the Crichton on Moya.
Close on Rygel holding Stark's mask.
STARK: He, and only he, will know what to do with it. Good-bye my friends. Take care of Aeryn. I will find you again.
The image of Stark reaches up, unbuckling the strap around his neck and lifts the mask from his face, white light pours from the right side of his face as the image winks out. Crais turns, walking away.
RYGEL: Crais? Why would Stark leave this? What d'you think the other Crichton wants with it?
CRAIS: I have no idea. Talyn believes he's located Moya. His long-range scans have detected Leviathan transmissions from the... Manin Nebula.
RYGEL: Well, let's try to find them. It'll be good to get back to Moya.
CRAIS: Perhaps. ( beat ) As soon as our ships are reunited, and... Talyn can find someone other than me to pilot him, I shall leave.
RYGEL: I, ah... hope Moya's done better than we have. Is Aeryn on her way up?
CRAIS: She'll be leaving Valldon within the arn.
CUT TO - INT. Aeryn's Hotel Room - wide shot with Aeryn standing facing the mirror, tricked out in full PK gear, strapping on her holster. Across the room, John faces outward, facing at the closed windows, the bright yellow and orange of a rising sun erasing details of the city scape.
AERYN: Maybe... I could have become something different.
Cut to close on the mirror, Aeryn's stern face reflected, watching John's back, her hair done up in a tight braid.
AERYN: If you'd lived, I could have truly changed. But you are gone.
She looks away from the mirror to the pulse pistol on the table, reaching out she takes it in her hand.
AERYN: And I am...
She slides the pistol home in the holster at her side.
AERYN: ...what I was bred to be.
Reflected in the mirror, John turns toward her.
JOHN: ( softly ) Aeryn....
She turns away from the mirror, her gaze sliding toward him over her shoulder. He gives her one of his best remembered boyish smiles, a come hither tilt of his head.
JOHN: ...come here.
AERYN: No. You have to go now.
Reflected in the mirror, John turns away, facing outward again. Cut to wide shot of the room again, Aeryn still half turned, looking toward the windows over her shoulder; John is gone. She turns back toward the mirror, regarding herself briefly, takes in a deep breath and turns toward the door. She stops abruptly as the Seer's container hisses open, and he hails her with his breathless whisper.
CRESUS: Wait!
Cut to close on Aeryn's frozen expression.
CRESUS: Most of the time, Aeryn, what we do is a distortion-- a hoax. But, with you, Aeryn Sun, it may... have been... real. Shall we try? One... more... time?
Close on Aeryn, unmoving, her expression generally unreadable. After a brief moment she stirs and moves on, the bright light of the passing searchlight seeming to sweep her from our sight.
FADE TO BLACK
ROLL ENDING CREDITS
|
T
H
E
C
H
O
I
C
E |