Scene 10.05 - Q & A & T & A
ANIMATON STYLE 6 [LIVE ACTION WITH CGI FX]
INT. Dreamworx Headquarters, Isis Station.
(Large, round portholes make this room exceptional. Here's a good place to note that all the concubines and many cameos comprise the crew and guests of Isis station, variably. VYLENCIA regards the people within, as if seeing familiar faces and trying to place them.)
RAMONA
(Crossing the large lobby with STEPHEN [CLARKE].) Ms. Pensacola, thank you for showing up on time.
VYLENCIA
We're early.
STEPHEN
Are these the subjects?
SALVATORE
She's the "subject." We're just gonna watch.
STEPHEN
I can look you two over as well-
HEINLEIN
No thanks.
RAMONA
Gentlemen, this is Dr. Stephen Michaels from Federal Communications. We've brought him up here especially to investigate this problem.
(Suddenly, RAMONA'S earring begins to beep. She taps her hoop earring and begins having a one-sided conversation with an unseen person, staring out through a porthole.)
RAMONA
(Over following dialogue:) Yes. No, I am not. Yes, I see. I understand. What are they doing about it? What should my people do? I see. Very well. Thank you for the heads-up, I appreciate it. I will let them know. Call you in a half hour. Thanks, Veronica..."
STEPHEN
This is certainly a pleasure.
VYLENCIA
I got a couple of questions for you, Doctor.
SALVATORE
Me too. Just what kind of doctor are ya?
STEPHEN
I'm licensed as a general practitioner, but I specialize in neurological processes; particularly a person's dreams, both waking and somnambulistic.
SALVATORE
Fascinating...
VYLENCIA
(Triple double-takes between them and interjects.) Am I dreaming now or something?
(Confused, eventually points to STEPHEN.)
VYLENCIA (Cont'd)
You're a neurosurgeon?
STEPHEN
More than that. I am a scientist. I research the human mind. I'm an innovator.
VYLENCIA
Well, he's a shrink; I'm sure you two might have plently to talk about over cheap wine, but... have I met you before, Doctor? Maybe seen you on the news or something?
STEPHEN
No. I don't believe we've ever met, Ms. Pensacola. (Pause.) I've taken the liberty of reveiwing your service history, and I have discovered something you may find interesting.
VYLENCIA
Really? Do tell.
STEPHEN
I'll be happy to show you; once we've run a full scan of your brainwaves.
RAMONA
Uh, I'm afraid that has to be postponed, Dr. Michaels -- I just received a call from admin telling me that they're closing off the Inbound Wing to conduct security training exercises.
STEPHEN
What?!? Again? They've been doing that since I've arrived. This isn't at all what you promised, Mona. I've had access to your labs for less than five hours for the past three-
RAMONA
I know, I know... Please, please be patient, Doctor. It's not my doing. There's the Eclipse celebration and the holiday shopping rush and the big data packet swap all coming up and security just wants to make sure there aren't gonna be any problems. They do this a couple times every year, and with the timing of all these things at once this time-
STEPHEN
I didn't cancel my book-signing tour just to be under lockdown through my holidays-
RAMONA
It- it, may seem like a lockdown, but it, it really isn't. I've been told that the malls are still accessible, and they're close to the labs, so I'm sure once they've rolled through our facility, our labs will be accessible. Take the time to do some holiday shopping and I'll let you know the second we're able to get back to work. I'll see you again in due course.
(Exits.)
SALVATORE
Well that sounded final.
LEONIDAS
So we waste an hour; N-B-D, let's grab some ribs...
SALVATORE
I wouldn't consider coming here a complete waste -- We've met a new friend... Ribs sound good, but I think someone was saying something about getting a box of cheap wine...
VYLENCIA
Well I didn't say I was gonna buy, but-
CLOCK WIPE TO:
INT. Red-Eye Rib Sports-Bar, Isis Central Mall
(LEONIDAS is in the background playing skeetball. The other men are sitting around a table, drunk from beer and stoned from grass and playing some silly drinking game. It's a go-go bar, and there are dancers on the tables in the background, but mostly they are out of focus and we never get to really see anything.)
STEPHEN
I'm not saying that you're crazy, I'm just saying your dreams might be...
SALVATORE
So what, everyone's dreams are crazy?!?
VYLENCIA
Your turn.
STEPHEN
Yes, I am!
(The two both begin to laugh strangely.)
VYLENCIA
It's your turn Sal.
SALVATORE
(Knocking the quarter from the table.) I- I lost the quarter.
VYLENCIA
Damn, it was my only one...
SALVATORE
I think it rolled over there under that mooncop's leg.
STEPHEN
It's okay, the waitress already told us to stop playing... I don't wanna get kicked out...
VYLENCIA
Yeah, I think this place has played itself out, I'm starting to feel this thing spinning in space... I'm pretty drunk and stoned -- aren't you?
STEPHEN
Best time I've had since I got here. Ain't smoked stuff this good since I did the lecture circuit... You rich or something?
VYLENCIA
Loaded! I could probably barter my way into owning this ship if I wanted to.
STEPHEN
Really?
VYLENCIA
No, not really. I'm just pulling your leg, Steve. I wouldn't want this rust-bucket anyway. It's way too old... for a ship... Not that I don't buy old things in space, you understand...
(Now VYLENCIA is laughing strangely.)
STEPHEN
You must own a big company or something, right?
(SALVATORE lightly falls into the table, brandishing a shiny quarter.)
SALVATORE
Got it! But I think that big guy over there wants to talk to you.
VYLENCIA
Me? Why?
SALVATORE
He had some exhaustive words to say to me but I told him just to say them to you.
VYLENCIA
Are you kidding me? Which guy? That pissed-off moon cop giving me the stink-eye?
SALVATORE
No, the other cop, the guy shaking his fist over there. The pot-bellied cop walking this way.
VYLENCIA
He doesn't look pot-bellied to me; that's all muscle. (Passes joint to STEPHEN.) I'll be right back.
SALVATORE
She drinking this? (CLARKE shrugs and SALVATORE downs VYLENCIA'S drink.) Mmmmm.
(STEPHEN and SALVATORE toke and drink, uneasy.)
SALVATORE
Well, they're talking.
STEPHEN
Tell me, who is Vylencia Pensacola, really? What's Bom-Aifam, Inc.?
SALVATORE
Oh! Her company? It's mafia-mob spelled backwards. She has some odd fascination with early Twentieth Century thugs. Weird, huh? She tell you anything new? 'Bout her legal work?
STEPHEN
What do you mean?
SALVATORE
She gets off on finding legal loopholes from early anti-trust laws... she brags about it to Leo all the time... I'm her shrink; she doesn't get too chatty with me; I know little about her other than she's crazier than an outhouse bat. I think she might be a spy. She sure travels alot.
STEPHEN
Leo is her... assistant?
SALVATORE
That, or her driver or her bodyguard; I dunno. She keeps giving him different titles.
STEPHEN
Perhaps she's with the government. They do that. They seem to be doing okay over there.
SALVATORE
My money says she's a spook. She looks like one. Homespace Security.
STEPHEN
Nah. Spooks don't look like spooks, I think she's on the other side of the law. There is something shady about her, I can't put my finger on it. Like a used shuttle salesman.
SALVATORE
Looks like she offered to get the cops a drink or something. They're getting pint glasses.
(VYLENCIA returns with PETE [CAMEO 10] and GEORGIE [CAMEO 11], all are rational, smiling a bit.)
VYLENCIA
Come on over guys; have a beer or two, or three. Help y'self to the pitcher.
SALVATORE
Vy?
VYLENCIA
Guys, this is Officer George Shirley and Officer Pete LaVerne. Associates of mine, in a sense. Have a seat, guys. Leo's over there playing skeet; he'll be glad to see ya. He should be broke and back here asking for more money soon. Looks like he's losing bad...
SALVATORE
Say what?
VYLENCIA
He's got the worst handicap I've ever seen. I couldn't play skeetball that bad on purpose.
SALVATORE
No, I mean these guys. You say they work for you or something?
VYLENCIA
Yeah, well... unofficially... as consultants. Hell, they're all on my payroll... by proxy.
STEPHEN
You're guards at the Osiris complex?
GUARDS
(Ad libs:) Yep. Mmmm-mmm.
VYLENCIA
Two of the best. Georgie probably earns me more than the warden. He's got hard ones.
STEPHEN
You have the staff of the Osiris Incarceration Complex on your payroll?
VYLENCIA
Nah, not really; I just send them lots of goodies now and then... and... I can be honest with you, right? I ain't the perfect Christian, but that's between me and... You ain't a reservist cop or nuthin' on Earth, are you?
STEPHEN
Are you, in a... syndicate or something?
VYLENCIA
Well, of course not... that would be... illegal.
CAMEO 10
You two old-timers are hanging with her and you don't know who she is? She's the chick!
STEPHEN
The chick?
CAMEO 11
You know... Queen Luna!
SALVATORE
Queen Luna? The Pop Star I see on all those cursed' Millennial beat-box videos?
CAMEO 10
Yes! (Points out a porthole toward the sphere approaching eclipse of the sun.) No! She runs it all!
CAMEO 11
(Beat.) Public Frienemy Number One: The Moon Queen!
(A long, expansive awareness washes over SALVATORE. Everything makes sense, like the end of a long, mystery novel where the secret of whodunnit is revealed by the simplest tougued betrayal, from the most innocuous source. Patient "Jade Fireside" -- favorite patient of his entire twenty-year career -- Vylencia Pensacola - The Moon Queen. An intangible apprehension chills SALVATORE from the inside, outward.)
VYLENCIA
...Among other things. (Sparks a master blunt.) In addition to bringing some of the best black-market dank from Osiris, these chaps have informed me that the maniac who killed Candy Caine last year has escaped the Osiris complex and is suspected to be aboard this very craft as we speak!
SALVATORE
You're the Moon Queen. The Moon Queen -- explains a lot. No wonder your dreams are so messed up!
STEPHEN
Apparently, we've been lied to. Security training, my ass. I knew something was up.
VYLENCIA
Apparently. These blokes have been sidelined out of action with some B-S jurisdictional issues. The Nazi that runs this place has restricted their access to hotels, bars and restaurants...
PETE
What can we do? We're booted off this wheel if we go elsewhere, and I doubt our fugitive is taking in the local sites, he's dangerous, laying low; I suspect somebody's hiding him.
VYLENCIA
Most likely. I suggest we go where these guys can't and find this killer convict for them, so we can all kick back at the penthouse suite and enjoy the Eclipse. Anyone else in?
SALVATORE
Do we have that kind of access?
VYLENCIA
I can go wherever the hell I want to on this tin box; and I can bring my entourage, too -- but if folks catch wind I'm bringing cops along, I'm gonna see a lotta doors get slammed in my face. (Tokes, passes.) Ay, Specs: You know anything about computers?
STEPHEN
(Tokes. Adjusts his bifocal-looking, pedantic frames:) I know all about them.
VYLENCIA
Good! We need someone who's really good at hacking stuff. I'll get Leo to scope out places this girl-killer could be hiding out. Evidently he got in through some hatch -- which reminds me... Like I told you Doc, I knew saw an explosion when we were at the spaceport -- now who's seeing things, huh? Pete, Georgie, yaggotitgud; no one ever listens to me.
GEORGIE
I know the feeling, Vy, I know the feeling.
VYLENCIA
Georgie; you and Leo go to the hub security station thing if they'll let ya... where's Leo at?
(Suddenly LEONIDAS howls as he hits a jackpot or something on the skeetball machine. Bells and whistles erupt and the machine spits out a roll of tickets. LEONIDAS does a celebratory dance that looks well-choreographed and practiced.)
VYLENCIA (Cont'd)
Nice backflip. You win something or something?
(The men walk over to the kiddie carny in the corner of the wine-dive, bringing their drinks and smoke along. Chinese pinball, antique skill games and other rip-off electronic games abound.)
LEONIDAS
I broke the bank! My Auntie Thelma said if you wanna get the real goods on Isis, to stay away from the money slots and get good at the skill games. And I just won the jackpot!
VYLENCIA
Not to muffle your thunder, but I don't get it.
LEONIDAS
(Holding up a long string of tickets, still erupting from the machine.) Tax-free! Coupons!!!
SALVATORE
Correct me if I'm wrong; but ain't that like kiddie-crack money? You can only get plastic coasters and key rings with those... I mean, what, you wanna get your Aunt a 10-foot teddy bear or something?
LEONIDAS
Nah, nah, nah... Ama-kina-ana... The locals can use these like cash... anywhere... we trade these out -- somewhere outside of here... You see, I lowered my handicap until it had negative exponents past thirteen places and then I went ahead and shot a perfect game... Jackpot!!!
(The machine keeps producing a hundred tickets a minute. It doesn't seem to be slowing.)
VYLENCIA
I don't get what the fuss is about... If you've been needing a raise, Leo, I'm down... (Reaches into her bra and produces a thick wad of cash and counts out ten bills for LEONIDAS.) What'ya need, a grand? You gotta eat while you're here...
LEONIDAS
(Takes it.) I'll take the cash while you're heaving it at me, Boss, but what I mean is that these tickets can get us all something that your cash around here can't...
VYLENCIA
Wh- (Pause. Gets it.) You don't mean...
LEONIDAS
Yeah, I do... I told ya...
STEPHEN
I think I might be too square to understand this conversation...
VYLENCIA
(Almost hugs STEPHEN, pulling him in.) Nah, nah, stick around, Stevie, I'm sure I know what he's sayin'...
SALVATORE
Well I don't know what he's sayin', and I'm on your payroll, too, so you gonna give me some of that wad? I ain't got that much spending cash either, Moon Queen...
LEONIDAS
Where's the Achronadium (Ack'-run-ay"-dee-um) from here?
VYLENCIA
(Absently hands over to SALVATORE the rest of the cash wad rather than put it back in her bra.) Why?
LEONIDAS
It's got games with even better pay-offs than these. And local dealers -- real local.
VYLENCIA
It's in The Hub. That's some pretty innocent travel...
SALVATORE
It IS within the largest mall in space and Ms. Amaero DID recommend we go shopping...
VYLENCIA
She didn't exactly say for WHAT....
SALVATORE
Or for WHO...
LEONIDAS
Man, we all can't pass up this chance -- what happens on Isis, stays on Isis...
SALVATORE
I'm down.
VYLENCIA
Stevie, Mona said I shouldn't sleep before my brain scan... She didn't say nothing about drinking alcohol or smoking pot, tho. Am I correct to believe that taking other drugs won't affect this reading I'm spost to get tonight?
STEPHEN
Well psychlopham should be accounted for, because it could skewer the laspe synaptic-
VYLENCIA
Nah, nah... (Sotto:) I'm talkin' 'bout using STREET drugs.
STEPHEN
If you were to take Lucidity, certain things would be more apparent and others obscured...
VYLENCIA
No, no, not that... I'm talkin' 'bout... (sotto:) Ava.
STEPHEN
(Totally uncool the way it always goes no matter how cool the person usually is:) AVA?!?
(The men suddenly grow paranoid. Even the two cops are looking around for cameras.)
STEPHEN (Cont'd)
(Sotto:) Sorry, I've just never-
VYLENCIA
It's cool. You in, Steve?
STEPHEN
Oh, yeah.
LEONIDAS
Tellin' y'all, I've had it pure. That's how we can get it here. It's worth it. It lasts...
SALVATORE
I've heard that the pure high never quite goes away...
VYLENCIA
There's no withdrawl when it's pure; if that's what you mean.
LEONIDAS
You gotta do it a few times to get that lasting feeling going on...
VYLENCIA
(Lights a blunt.) Well let's stop talking about it and score some. I, for one, think that tripping-balls during the Eclipse is a pretty cool notion, eh? But we gotta hustle. It's only in a few short hours and we need to really bust some ass if we wanna find the right dealer.
STEPHEN
Plus there's the brain-scan that we have scheduled.
VYLENCIA
How long will that really take?
STEPHEN
A half-hour maybe...
PETE
You guys have fun -- we have another guy to find first.
VYLENCIA
Yeahyeahyeah, I bet you'd rather be looking for that dude while trippin' -- wouldn't you? Don't get all straight-edge on me now, guys, you ain't gonna get caught here with it, and it ain't a problem havin' it on the moon so stop acting all paranoid. I won't let you get caught. (Beat.) Listen, if anyone's gonna know about a guy on the lam, it's going to be fellow paranoid freaks with arcane conspiracy theories of the Isis-Osiris reality, and they'll talk plenty to me if I'm on Ava and in reception-mode, so it can kinda-like, open doors for us, but we all gotta score some first and that ain't easy when you look new in town and got a couple of uniforms hanging out with ya. (Tokes. Passes.) Dudes. Here's my motel key. You guys go get yourselves changed out of those dorky monkey suits and get in something more like... Leo. (VYLENCIA refers to LEONIDAS' vintage mobster suit.) And just charge it all to the penthouse, but don't get all crazy, just a nice shirt, slacks, jacket and hat... and get some decent shoes. And don't lose that key-card. Meet me back at the needle in an hour. Hopefully we'll have scored some Gelatin-A by then and you can sink a boat with us. Act like y'all are going undercover, k?
GEORGIE
Sure, but...
PETE
Sounds good, but... We should report in to Osiris first, Ms. Pensacola.
VYLENCIA
Vy, Vy. Do what you need to do, guys, call your chief from my pad but don't charge nothin' to my room 'cept clothes and whatever you do, don't lose my key. They made me pay a nifty little deposit for that. And mention to your patrol sergeant you got me involved -- I'm tight with the warden; we're... cool. Whether you all get your guy or not, tell your guys that if we score I'll send you all back with some A -- enough to go around. That'll chill them out.
CAMEO 10
You got it, Vy.
SALVATORE
The Moon Queen... How many years have I known you? Why didn't you tell me you owned your own planet?
VYLENCIA
You never asked. And it's not a planet, it's a satellite. I don't need you thinking I'm crazy.
SALVATORE
I already do.
VYLENCIA
And yet you still keep cashing my checks... and pocketing my wad... what makes you think I'm crazy?
(HE hands the wad of cash back to HER and SHE hands HIM one bill off the top of the wad and puts the reast of the wad back, atop her left breast under her lacy, revealing bra cup.)
SALVATORE
Lady Luna. YOU were the one who traded Armstrong's Footprint for some crappy cell phone! That's so lame!
VYLENCIA
That phone once belonged to Paris Hilton... It belonged in a museum.
LEONIDAS
Heh! If you think that's lame -- ask her what being Moon Queen's worth nowadays; what she paid for it.
SALVATORE
You mean how much she bought the moon for? (Pause. Turns to VYLENCIA.) Well?
VYLENCIA
(Smiling. Milks it. Pause. Sucks deep on her blunt and lets the smoke trail out her mouth.) A dollar.
FTB