Scene 5.21 - Aurora
EST: DEA North Encampment -- A misty morning.
(THE GENERAL of the North Command walks by several troops to a small tent. Next to the tent, there is a small gold-orange-prismatic dragon with hints of chrome-colored blue-and-forest-green in its shadows, much like those cars that change color when you walk by them. The dragon is only about fifteen feet long, and barely old enough for a person to mount. A pony, if you will. Luckily, its rider is experienced at dragon-back riding and is also quite light and frail of frame -- as if made of fine crystal. The beast opens one eye, sees THE GENERAL and closes its eye once more. THE GENERAL pauses, regarding the giant lizard. A small smoke ring puffs-out of one of the dragon's nostrils and the flies festering around the nostrils and face quickly scatter, perhaps a subtle hint to the smelly, unbathed man, as well. White wisps of smoke crawl from both of the monster’s nostrils. The flies swarm about and then a few of the pests land on THE GENERAL. Seeing no further reaction from the dragon, the officer finally enters the tent. Inside, a dark witch dressed in black garb is covered with dark smoke and the result of dry-ice meeting water. Murky glows, scents and erotic-yet-tortured feminine moaning sounds is on the lips of the eerie wind about the pair. This chick's as close to a corpse without being one if that's really possible. SHE'S over fifty thousand years old and has only invoked the Goddess while alone one time, just prior to the oracle’s vision that prompted the entire sequence of events described here. That SHE is in model ill-humor goes without saying, and nothing about HER is warm or friendly to the man before HER. SHE'S frail, yet of perfect posture: Six pounds of cross-legged, peach-fuzz covered flesh wrapped across ninety pounds of lean meat, clad in long, black strips of cloth adorned with dark grey and deep maroon scraps of rag. SHE has soft, blue-grey skin, dark blue gloss over black-and-maroon lips, very, very heavy mascara, slightly-glittered black eye-shadow, and most disorienting of all: Youthful, ice-blue eyes like a baby wolf. Beautiful and darkly made-up to be a goth-cult heroine, SHE'S sexy where it counts -- SHE'S got all her teeth, supple breasts and THE GENERAL would rather mount her than the dragon outside. Be subtle about it. HER dark beauty is latent. When HER eyes are closed, HER face looks like an animated skull. It’s creepy. SHE'S ancient and entrancing; sexy and sentient.)
AURORA
(Surreal:) Why have you summoned me?
THE GENERAL
We have a task for you and your sisters.
AURORA
There are but three tasks that we will do, one is swift and one is true. The third cannot be performed unless the air is completely still. (Opens an eye.) It isn’t, you know...
(HER tattered, revealing shroud slowly relaxes and drops to gravity's call.)
THE GENERAL
I have no need for your brand of Armageddon, Dire Witch! Your mount has changed since I saw you when we battled the Yeti near Dewdrop Falls. That one, she knew how to respect authority. A much-better-tamed one than that chick outside that you call a mount.
AURORA
(Heck yeah, and while we’re on the subject:) Oh yes, my old dragon was much, much older and much, much wiser. My old mount, Aubri'mosis, was accidentally killed while delivering a message to one of your generals from me... let’s see... about a year ago. (Reading him.) At least, that is what I have been told... (Sees his innocence, seemingly-knowing nothing of the incident. Quick:) Surely a man of your importance didn't desire my company solely to discuss my dragon and other people's affairs?
THE GENERAL
The beast outside does not recognize my authority. What is her name, that I may subdue her and teach her to respect my position?
(Starts to walk out, drawing HIS sword.)
AURORA
(Taking her time. SHE'S invincible, but has attachments like everyone, frailties, if you will. SHE'S much like a Superheroine, and through human necessity, keeps mortal friends. A more-feminist Ms. Marvel, if you will. SHE raises her voice:) Surely, we shall discipline her together after you have completely answered my first question. Please don't test the patience of a demon who may collect a soul if she is not told why she has been summoned. You chose to burn the sacred leaves and you chose to speak the ancient verses from the ancient book. My hatchling and I have met you in peace, as we are commanded to do. (Small pause, for emphasis:) Now, I will ask you once again: Why have you summoned me?
THE GENERAL
I have summoned you to examine this map. If it is accurate, we ask that you copy it and distribute it among your sisters, who, in turn, will also copy it and give it to the other six generals of our other six armies, if it is indeed, authentic.
AURORA
Very well, this is a task we can fulfill, for a price. (Cackles. Opens lovely, dark hand.) The map, please.
THE GENERAL
(Produces map, does not hand it over. SHE eventually closes her hand and meets him with an unnerving, nearly-unblinking stare.) I am told it is impossible for you to make an alteration to this map or to create a map that is false.
AURORA
Yes. (Drops hand.) That is true. We cannot create a falsehood. We are mystics of truth. We cannot create a lie. What I see before me is what I recreate. The copy shall always be identical to the original, or more-true if the original possesses inaccuracies. Truly, sir, it's how we keep our immortality. Withered, punished and tortured as we seven sisters are, none of us would ever dare betray the Goddess Of Truth.
THE GENERAL
What is your price to do this?
AURORA
Hmmmm. I fear my sisters will retaliate against me for my decision to walk from this deal.
THE GENERAL
Please! You know where the secret passes are! We have never used force against you to obtain anything. Now we have a map that may be authentic that we have created with our own devices. Name a price.
AURORA
It would be pointless for you to try to force anything. I know you didn't learn this secret from one of us. Surely, your men have learned by now the futility of torture. Yet, you are unyielding in your aggression against my defenseless sisters and you hold five of them captive. Force against them warrants our concern. I fear what other atrocities will occur if you were provided a path to the palace gates! I will not betray my Goddess.
THE GENERAL
We do not wish to kill anyone.
AURORA
Wonderful, you are not as foolish as I thought. You couldn't kill them if you tried.
THE GENERAL
We only want to protect our ancestral palace from the other kingdoms, vagabonds who don't have their best interest in mind.
AURORA
(Laughs.) The Goddess seems to be quite capable of protecting herself, wouldn't you say?
THE GENERAL
Enough! This is not a debate, Old Grandmother. They are part of our sovereign homeland. It is for their own good that we do this.
AURORA
You should have read the verse that summoned me a little closer. I’m the wrong lady to trifle with. Answer this, general: Is it for their own good that you keep five immortal women locked away in a cage of stone in the heart of the Dragonback Mountains? Oh yes, we know of their whereabouts, young general -- our eyes see everything -- but it is not for us to intervene.
THE GENERAL
Is this the reason you do not wish to negotiate? You've been our spy before, what is stopping you now?
AURORA
I cannot work while concern for a sister's well being shadows my heart. This was never part of our initial covenant. We cannot even negotiate price on a new task while these grievances are not addressed.
THE GENERAL
Fair enough. I have providence over those captives and my word shall set them free. I will attach a writ to allow the prisoners to return with you and your sisters unharmed -- if you provide us with a copy of this map, one written in snake's blood in the old hand, one that none can alter.
AURORA
Very well. Before I examine it, a few questions. Why haven't you verified that map yourself with your scouts? Where are your scouts, hmmmm? Who is the author of this document? I wonder, where is this mysterious cartographer?
THE GENERAL
Two scouts returned from our initial survey of a region where a fire was seen at night. According to them, they found a temple and could see the Imperial Palace on the horizon. Supposedly, the twelve other men had disappeared into the temple's pool and never returned to the surface, and yet did not drown -- much like the old prophecy of- (Pauses. Realizes all references to ancient lore to an ancient who, most likely, happened to be present when the prophecy was said is only re-tooling pointless trivia, especially since HE has probably heard it wrong after centuries of translation by bigoted men. Sees that SHE is in better spirits upon realizing his realization, and is almost smiling, patiently listening to HIS banter.) The man who drew this map was unfortunately among them. We do not know what has become of him and the others.
AURORA
Do you believe what your scouts tell you?
THE GENERAL
If they are lying, they will surely be put to death, so of course I believe them. If this map indeed shows a path to the palace, they will be honored beyond their imaginations.
AURORA
Fine. Then our price is seventy-seven years of dreams, divided from seven hundred and seventy seven of your men. One night, one dream. After thirty-three years, we may both re-negotiate this word-bond. You choose the men, and we'll collect their dreams, while they sleep, or rather, try to sleep. No, they will not sleep well in the days ahead.
(Cackles as SHE opens HER hand once again.)
THE GENERAL
In thirty-three years?
AURORA
If this map indeed leads you to the Holy Palace of Kron, thirty-three years of mortal nightmares will be nothing to the eons you shall endure within the soft folds of the Goddess’ Cape Of Immortal Life.
THE GENERAL
Agreed.
(HE hands HER the map and receives a chill. The initial lust HE felt for HER before had been fading slowly, and now is extinguished quickly.)
AURORA
This was drawn in haste, it is vague and full of generalities.
THE GENERAL
Is it authentic?
(Did I mention that throughout this entire scene, SHE is levitating?)
AURORA
Hmmmm. One who would follow this path precisely to its mark, would not fall or falter, but would see the eyes of truth as if they had painted the sunrise with a collage of sunsets.
THE GENERAL
The verse. It's from the old book. It's authentic!
AURORA
Yes. The path you have drawn here is known to my sisters as the Painter's Pass.
THE GENERAL
Copy it for me!
AURORA
(Pause. Long silence. Natural sounds.) Hear that? (Even longer pause.) You can barely hear the subtle whisper of my dragon's breath, yet she is less than a foot away from this tent, sleeping. You see, I appreciate moments like this because my young mount, Mephir'amora, is temperamental. If I want to swiftly get to my sisters, I must respect her temperament, and allow her leeway, even if I'm in a hurry. See, I cannot join you in disciplining my mount, for at this moment, she is content and would gladly take me to my sisters with great haste with the slightest word from me. However, an unkind word or even a subtle gesture that could set her off might make her stubborn, moody or foolhearty. Do you understand what I am saying?
THE GENERAL
A word to the wise is sufficient. In one hour, I will be waiting outside. I pray your reputation for expedience does not exceed your ability.
(THE GENERAL exits.)
AURORA
It doesn't, General. (Cackles.) Yes, yes, an authentic map, indeed.
(Cackles. Quickly burns the original in HER hand with no apparent source of the flame. SHE quickly pulls out another map, and replaces the original with the second map, which is similar, yet more-elaborate -- containing subtle, yet crucial, differences.)
AURORA (Cont'd)
What's this? A better, more-true map? Oh, Aubri'mosis, if you had lived to see this- (Pause, quite deep and powerfully emotional:) but they killed you for sport. I will find your head, my dear... (Cackles.) Here's the map through Painter's Pass, one misstep, and, oh! Alas! Then you're upon a better path, have a kind bird to bring you back, or to the desert labyrinth you shall go, where you’ll sleep in sleet and snow. For though this map shall lead you 'round, a better course cannot be found. For if you stray or have doubt in mind, madness is all you'll ever find.
(Laughs uncontrollably. SHE breaks the vial on HER lap, holds the brush aloft and places the blank parchment next to the map and begins to chant. SHE starts to magically copy the Painter's Pass And Dragon's Intestine Entrance Map perfectly onto the blank piece of paper better than an ink-jet printer ever could.)
POV: THE GENERAL
THE GENERAL
(Suddenly peering-in behind HER, looking through a gap in the tent flaps:) She's really doing it. She's doing it! The invasion will commence. And I will spearhead the attack! I will live out my eternity in glory!
(HE walks away, confident.)
SOFT WIPE TO: