Arc 2 Episode 10
NOVA
Alright, this is it.
HATOV
(doubtfully)
This?
NOVA
Yup, flashing lights and a sign would kind of ruin the whole (beat) vibe.
HATOV
Nova, it’s a hole in the ground.
NOVA
Perfect with the overhang, slips right under the drone’s radar, move it. If we stay out too long, there’ll be hell to pay.
HATOV
Nova, what is this?
NOVA
Fuck, everyone’ll know you’re (beat). Uhm (beat) could you try not to look so (beat)
HATOV
So, what?
NOVA
Punchable? Well, whatever, it’s done. If we stay near the center, you (beat) well, your odds are a lot better.
HATOV
Nova, is this safe?
NOVA
There are different types of danger pretty boy. Getting the shit beat out of you will be better than what the G.U. does on this planet.
HATOV
(whispers)
What do they do?
NOVA
You want the long or short version?
HATOV
Ehm, short.
NOVA
Well, if you don’t fit with the ideal they’ll make you fit. Break you down, remold you into the perfect Unia citizen. There’s a 70% survival rate.
HATOV
Oh.
NOVA
Ah, shit, what was it again?
Knocking in a rhythmic pattern
Metal slot slides open
CITIZEN 1
That’s the old knock, it’s been (beat) oh, Nova?
NOVA
Hi.
Door unlocks and opens, quick footsteps and a hug
Oh, we’re (beat) we’re doing this, huh? Alright.
CITIZEN 1
(happily, but with knowledge)
Can you put the knife away?
NOVA
Mmm. Reflex. You should know better.
CITIZEN 1
I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.
NOVA
(sighs)
Yeah, because I’m stupid. What’s this about the knock?
CITIZEN 1
We changed it two months ago, we had some union soldiers snooping around, thought it was as good a time as any, but it’s slow to catch.
NOVA
I bet it is. What is it now?
Different pattern
The G.U. anthem? Really?
CITIZEN 1
(shrugging)
Everyone knows it, and it’s the last thing people would suspect. Who’s he?
NOVA
A friend of mine.
CITIZEN 1
(Pause, obviously measuring Hatov up)
He’s going to be eaten alive.
NOVA
We’re staying near the center.
CITIZEN 1
(beat)
I’m not sure that’s going to help.
NOVA
(thoughtfully)
I was afraid you’d say that, uh, (sound of her taking off her cloak) fuck, I feel exposed. Come on Pretty Boy, put this on.
HATOV
You’re wearing more (beat) weapons than I expected.
NOVA
I said I don’t like it here. (To CITIZEN 1) You think he’s at least (beat) less punchable?
CITIZEN 1
If he keeps the hood down, maybe? He doesn’t have anything valuable on him, does he?
NOVA
Fuck no.
CITIZEN 1
Good. Welcome to the Underground.
Door opens and they walk through
Large cavernous place, lots of echoes, lots of talking
HATOV
(quietly)
It (beat) it doesn’t seem that bad?
NOVA
I didn’t say it was bad, I said it was dangerous. These aren’t bad people, they’re desperate.
HATOV
Shouldn’t the union help them?
NOVA
(snickers)
Not for the price they’re asking for.
HATOV
But
NOVA
Pretty boy, if someone dipped their fingers into your head and scooped out every notion of your goddess, your planet, your princeness and left behind only love and Unia, would you be you anymore?
HATOV
But (beat) but they can’t do that.
NOVA
(quietly)
No, they can’t. But they can damage enough of your brain that it hardly makes a difference.
HATOV
I thought you said the Galactic Union wasn’t evil. That feels (trails off)
NOVA
That’s not G.U. sanctioned, it’s all Unia. Some of the native population wasn’t all gung ho for being taken over in the beginning. The G.U. just hasn’t stopped it, that’s all.
HATOV
But
NOVA
Galaxy Eyes, this is how things are, here. Okay? Unia is supposed to be a Utopia. Well, this is how they went about doing it.
HATOV
(quietly)
And all those people above?
NOVA
Living perfectly happy lives, worshipping the union, sleeping in comfortable beds, never questioning a thing.
HATOV
And they’re happy?
NOVA
Weren’t you?
HATOV
(long pause)
Ah
NOVA
Come on, we’re here.
HATOV
A (beat) a tea shop?
NOVA
They also sell lunch.
HATOV
But (beat) why?
NOVA
Because it’s better than the shit they sell topside and I don’t have to pretend to be braindead for four hours.
HATOV
Oh, ehm, what was (beat)
NOVA
He says hi, and you look(beat) you know what, you don’t need to know.
HATOV
What?
NOVA
(beat)
Uh, he says, You look like someone you’d take into a back alley and rob, is that what I’m planning, and can he have a cut?
HATOV
Nova
NOVA
I said no, and that you’re a client. I also asked for a table for two and promised him a really nice tip if he doesn’t tell people that there’s a target sitting by the back window
(beat)
You’re welcome.
HATOV
Uhm (beat) thank you?
NOVA
Really, he’s a sweetheart.
HATOV
It doesn’t seem like it.
NOVA
(shrugging)
Well, the medical fees have to be paid somehow, right? The menu isn’t in Galactic Common. They have well, soup, flatbread, and not much else. Interested?
HATOV
(Uncomfortably)
Uh (beat) the flatbread?
NOVA
Ohh, bad choice.
HATOV
Wait, no
NOVA
Too late.
Footsteps fade
HATOV
(beat, quietly)
Nova, why here?
NOVA
Well, part of the allure is that he’s fully deaf. He can read lips, but only if you’re speaking Galactic Common, or Ockeno. I’m speaking neither and Alula spoke Aodese.
HATOV
Alula came here?
NOVA
Yup. Do you want to know why?
HATOV
Ehm
NOVA
(slightly excitedly)
This.
Pulls back curtain unmuffle sound of waterfall
This is all that’s left of the underground forest and that water fall over there? That’s their god.
HATOV
The water?
NOVA
Nope, the whole waterfall. It feeds the entire forest, and for the longest time that was their source of life, it used to send off rivers and tributaries around half the planet.
HATOV
And now?
NOVA
It feeds half of what’s left. And it’s the reason why the soup here is absolutely fucking phenomenal.
