Scene 4.09 - Where's Verne?
INT. Interrogation Room
(RONNIE has donned the red velvet dress, Azalea the black velvet one. Both are looking divine.)
RONNIE
Do you think we should get back with the others?
AZALEA
Well, that's my cue. We're definitely done. I'm out of smokes, we're dressed completely this time and you've put on your makeup. This ship's about to sail, are you coming or going?
RONNIE
I'm coming.
AZALEA
I'm still not tired of hearing that, baby. Mmmmm!
(She touches her chin and kisses her lightly.)
RONNIE
Will it be like this when I'm with a man?
AZALEA
I don't know. You'll have to ask someone who's been with a man.
RONNIE
You mean-
AZALEA
Anything else personal you need to know?
RONNIE
Sorry, I didn't mean to-
AZALEA
Don't say you're sorry. You were okay.
RONNIE
I thought-
AZALEA
Listen, if you like me, stick with me. You want to go off and mess with a man? Your business. When you come back to me afterward, I won't say I told you so because I listened to a lot of smart women who I used to like as much as you like me now. Shh! Don't say anything. You can keep kissing that finger, hand, arm... Listen, let's not be friends, let's be like, secret sisters or something, okay?
RONNIE
Okay!
AZALEA
Yeah, that also means that when we're around other people, we don't act this way.
RONNIE
You think this is an act?
AZALEA
Of course not, but let's get used to other people being around us first, and we'll act then, like we're just friends or something, okay?
RONNIE
I think I know what it is like to be confused.
AZALEA
Get used to it. Nothing in life has a definite direction, we're on a ship of fools with a madman at the helm.
(AZALEA kisses RONNIE. Unnoticed, they walk out and go to the cell where VERNE was initially held.)
RONNIE
They took him here, that's all I know.
AZALEA
Verne, come on out! Hey, Zero! Don't make me come in there and get you! Verne!
RONNIE
(Using Red-Eye training, red aura:) I sense that the room is uninhabited.
AZALEA
(Making a cool, blue aura:) You're right. He's offshore, heading to the Palladium.
RONNIE
The Palladium?
AZALEA
A brothel; near the docks. The Germans converted an old, haunted theatre into a cathouse after the invasion. The locals around here work it. Apparently, my girlfriends have found a second home.
RONNIE
How do you know about all this?
AZALEA
I know everything about everything, except who I really am, and who you really are and where we are really and what is really happening, or where this is all going -- but I will find out sooner or later. This is all my paradox, all from my mind. Zero just don't know it yet. He's just gotta trust me.
RONNIE
Do you love him?
AZALEA
I don’t want to, but yeah, I suppose I do.
RONNIE
Then I love him, too.
AZALEA
This could get complicated, you know.
RONNIE
(Happy to use some slang she picked up:) We'll play it by ear.
AZALEA
I liked how you lightly sucked on my ear lobe, and teased them with your tongue.
RONNIE
I just did to you the things that you did to me. Well, all the stuff I liked.
AZALEA
What didn't you like?
RONNIE
I liked everything.
AZALEA
No you didn't, or you would have said everything and not just the stuff you liked.
RONNIE
Can we forget about it?
AZALEA
No, I want to know, what did I do wrong? What should I have done differently?
RONNIE
I wasn't sure if you wanted me to do those things to you exactly the way you had, so I improvised on the parts I thought felt best. Did it feel good? Did I do it right?
AZALEA
There's no right or wrong, and you did way better than okay. I've got to keep you close.
RONNIE
So we can do this again sometime?
AZALEA
When I can muster up enough strength to make another time-closet!
RONNIE
Did I tire you out?
AZALEA
There's an understatement. You may have become a real woman, but some things about you are still like a machine!
RONNIE
(Concerned:) Really, what?
AZALEA
(Smiles:) I'm teasing you. You have the stamina of a race-horse. Even left alone to my own devices, I've never stayed in the time-closet that long before.
RONNIE
I think I love you.
AZALEA
I'm glad you do. I don't ever want you to hurt me, Ronica.
RONNIE
I'll never hurt you.
AZALEA
Just know, when this is all over, the part I am now is the real me, not the jaded fury you might meet later.
RONNIE
I love you.
AZALEA
I know you do.
RONNIE
Do you love me?
(They stop. AZALEA kisses her deeply.)
AZALEA
Does that answer your question, Ronica?
RONNIE
I want to hear you say it.
AZALEA
Another time. Deep inside, I know, one day, it's all you'll ever hear me say.
SOFT WIPE TO: