Scene 6.04 -Trippin’ The Light Phantastic
ANIMATION STYLE 1
EST: INT. Star-Shuttle Demetridon, The Zeta Colonies
(AZALEA and RONNIE are moving toward the doors of what appears to be a large clubhouse. Everyone from the party, sans WELLS, VERNE ACTOR ALPHA and RAMONA are snacking and drinking and laughing and having a ball. The windows give the illusion of a fourth-story view of Los Angeles from the Hollywood Hilltop, yet the crew of The Eliza know better. SIMAK, HEINLEIN and ASIMOV are close to the door and pounce for AZALEA’S attention the second she finishes her general announcement.)
AZALEA
Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m terribly sorry for the abrupt relocation of the party, but I’m afraid hotel security says we created a fire hazard on the twelfth floor, so we’ll have to make do in this meager little clubhouse where this number of guests can more easily be accommodated. Thank you for your cooperation, and please continue to enjoy the festivities.
SIMAK
Aye Lassie, we come from the same pipe-dream, doncha-know; aye; doncha think it’s time you told us what this is all about now?
HEINLEIN
Lie to them; don’t lie to us. This ain’t what it appears to be. I know a time-cop when I see one. Those men that escorted us to the elevator -- they’re not hotel security. They all got the same face and the features on 'em. They’re clones from the future. Our future.
AZALEA
Okay, you win. You’re right. When I arrived on Earth, I contacted the time-police and requested a rescue. They understood, and have a plan. We’re under new orders. Satisfied?
HEINLEIN
New Orders? Let me see them orders.
AZALEA
In time, I promise. For now, tho- Perhaps you men could help keep this party going while Ronica and I venture to the... upstairs?
ASIMOV
Theece eece all ze hilligrim. Ziss iz nit ze clib-bouse! Vere in spiss! Yiss! Eye kin fill eet!
RONNIE
You’re quite observant, Mr. Asimov. Think you can keep that fact a secret from our party guests?
HEINLEIN
Nah, it’s way too obvious: Look at the shimmering at the base of the windowsills -- and the odd temperature of the lights.
AZALEA
Features and hallmarks only obvious to the trained eye. Now don’t panic, gentlemen, but as you have guessed, we’re really on a time-shuttle; heading back to the year 9969, making our way to Zeta.
CREWMEN
Zeta!?!
AZALEA
Yes, Zeta.
RONNIE
We’ve got a deal worked out. We’ll be in Fifth Orbit within the hour.
SIMAK
Well, blow me down and kiss my kilt! A deal now: Why doncha let us in on this little deal you got, Lassie? Aye, we can help.
ACTRESS ALPHA
(Gorging herself on caviar, oysters and champagne; from across:) Ms. Zale! A word, please! Ms. Zale!
AZALEA
You can help by keeping that nosy judge out of the cockpit! I need her soon, but not right now! Let’s go, Ronica.
RONNIE
(At door:) Way ahead of you.
(They exit, using an interdimensional key to open the door. HEINLEIN catches the door before it fully closes. He holds it open a crack and tests the latch, noting it will lock everyone inside once it is closed.)
HEINLEIN
I’m not so sure I’m comfortable with this.
SIMAK
Aye. I only wish the Captain were here. Where do you think he went off to, Mr. Heinlein?
HEINLEIN
With the Captain, there’s no telling. No sign of Actor Alpha either -- Any ideas what happened to the doctor?
SIMAK
Aye, that Dr. Wells is a horse of a different color now.
ACTRESS ALPHA
Hello boys! I’m just so relieved there wasn’t a bomb after all. (Hic!) I want to thank Ms. Zale for such a wonderful-
SIMAK
(Smooth, charismatic:) Your honor, Ms. Zale is... currently-indisposed, as it were.
ACTRESS ALPHA
Oh. Feeling sick? (Half-hic, surpressed.) She okay?
HEINLEIN
She’s just taking a powder.
ACTRESS ALPHA
Ooh. She’s in the loo?
SIMAK
Her... private water-closet, young child. Come, Little Miss, why don’t we just wait for her over here, by the champagne fountain? P’haps I can belch-out an ol’ sea ditty, and you can tell me where ye got them dazzling, dark-pearl eyes...
(She takes his arm, lightly slaps his chest and reproaches him for his insincerity as they cross to a remote, empty sofa.)
ACTRESS ALPHA
Oh, Mr. Simak! Behave, you libertine, or I may have you locked-up for indecency! Dark-Pearl Eyes! P’shaw! Is it truly you doing all this courting and flirting and saying I’m young, or is it your big flask and your little ego feeding me those lines?
SIMAK
(Unlike a gentleman, he does not help ACTRESS ALPHA to a seat on the sofa. Instead, grandiously and hinting a touch of overly touchy-feely, he allows her to help his aching, tired bones to a comfy cushion; being the old man and all.) Oh, Miss Alpha, an old sailor like me knows a lady as smart as you could see through all the lures and chud of all them landlubbers now. Why, you might be a young and brash upstart, barely shed of them pantaloons and still-a-spanking-shy of what’s proper; but ye must know you’re not a lil’ girl anymore, Lass. You’re in the full-grace of your natural beauty, now. Any ol’ man roughened by the sea with-a half o’ lick of luck in his eye can take one look at ye and know yare a lass inner prime o’ youth. An ol’ ruddy sea-dog knows you’re the fairest kind o’ maiden; aye; you’re half a kettle o’ craftiness and a ladleful of caution. Takes experience to net a smart young lassie, like ye; Takes a heap o’ patience to net a heart made o’ pearl.
(She kisses him. He doesn’t object. Music up.)
ACTRESS ALPHA
(Dizzy:) Why? (Hic!) You playing with me?
SIMAK
Playtime’s over, Lass. It’s time you knew how a man is supposed to love a woman.
(More kissing.)
CUT TO: Back by the door.
HEINLEIN
It seems Smokey’s doing well with the judge.
ASIMOV
Your day vill come, Rio.
HEINLEIN
Thanks, Zack. It’s encouraging, coming from a ladies’ man like you.
ASIMOV
Ahhhh! Von heart, so minny vimmen to shear it with.
HEINLEIN
I think I’m going to slip-away and spy on our captors. I’m the captain’s head-of-security for a reason.
ASIMOV
Do vaht chew sink eece beast.
HEINLEIN
Any sign of the captain, I’ll be above-deck, near the cockpit. When I get back, let me know if anything went down in here.
ASIMOV
Eye vill lit chew know.
HEINLEIN
We’ve got to come out on top. We’ve made it this far.
ASIMOV
Vaht of ze dicked-her?
HEINLEIN
Not sure. I can’t imagine that Dr. Wells would abandon us willfully, Actor Alpha, maybe so, he doesn't know us that well and he's resolute in his own brand of folly like the captain is and maybe more than anyone wants to admit it, the captain always chooses his own path and so might have Alpha -- but Doc Wells? No way... We're his only family. He must be missing. Don’t let anyone follow me.
ASIMOV
Off kiss knit. Vaht eef ze dicked-her shizzup ifter all?
HEINLEIN
The Captain, Lieutenant Commander Clarke, Smokey, you and that’s it. Until we find the doctor --and that’s more an "unless" than an "until" --nobody in here gets to know anything, understand? The doctor is officially out of the loop of conversation. (Inspects his blaster and his one-hitter -- it all checks-out.) A non-topic.
ASIMOV
It-if-ze-lip. A ninntippick. Da. You shid be in command, Rio. You’re ze only von who micks piffict since.
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