Episode 28
SAWA
This course of action is ill-advised.
HATOV
(beat, unsure)
I have the code now. It’s no more dangerous than opening the front door, right?
SAWA
That is an incorrect assumption. The front door does not have traps.
HATOV
Sure, sure, but why don’t we just see if it works? The only way to find out what anything is out here is to try it ourselves.
Beeping sounds, positive sound, door opens
Oh, I (beat) I actually didn’t expect that to work
(sniffs, intensely)
Wait. That smell.
SAWA
This course of action is ill-advised.
HATOV
Be quiet. It’s (beat) it’s a bedroom? Sawa you made this sound like a spare room, that’s (beat) this isn’t a spare. It feels
(sniffing)
Sound of searching through drawers
Fabric being thrown in the air.
That’s not it, not here, not here, not this, not this. Where is it?
SAWA
This course of action is ill-advised.
HATOV
Be quiet.
Searching, bed fabric hits the floor.
Pillow hitting the floor. Opening closet, sound of hangers moving back and forth
No, no, no, no, no.
Pacing, more searching.
A book falls on the floor.
Sound of pages flipping
What’s this? I (beat) I can read it? Sawa, I can read it!
SAWA
Do you have trouble reading other texts?
HATOV
It’s Oosfathi. (Beat) It’s not in any of the translators. Why does she know this? Is that why Nova wants to go to Eolara?
SAWA
Eolara is not a real location.
HATOV
Nova said Alula was on a different route. Will Jeanne know where she is?
SAWA
Work related information requires a C-level permission.
HATOV
Hand running over papers
(whispering)
This is impossible, this should be impossible.
Page flips
It’s a diary
Many pages flip
She would know how to get home? Right? Why did she leave? How did she leave? We haven’t cleared anyone for going off planet.
Footsteps
Something falls to the floor
NOVA
Get out.
SAWA
(background)
Nova would you like me to walk you through some breathing exercises?
NOVA
Sawa, shut the fuck up.
HATOV
(Excitedly)
She’s Eolaran!
NOVA
You, get out.
HATOV
But
NOVA
Leave everything and get out.
HATOV
But there’s a bed, and I’m sure Alula won’t mind. The room is going to waste.
NOVA
You have until the count of five
HATOV
Or what?
NOVA
I’ll kill you.
HATOV
You’re bring ridicu
NOVA
I will kill you.
HATOV
She can take me home, she’ll know the way
NOVA
One
HATOV
But
NOVA
Two
HATOV
Alright, I
NOVA
How did you get in here?
HATOV
(pause)
I guessed the passcode. I just wanted a bed. But it smelled like
Footsteps walk past
Door shuts
(beat)
Home. It smells like Eolara. (beat) Sawa, I don’t understand. Things are easier now, right?
Metal banging on metal
SAWA
Nova? Are you okay?
HATOV
She’s fine, she’s probably angry about the mess I made.’
SAWA
She is not angry.
Knocking
Nova, are you okay?
Tentative step back
Another step, leaving.
HATOV
Nothing off planet makes sense.
Radio sounds
Jeanne?
JEANNE
Back so soon? I thought I’d have to at least wait an hour.
HATOV
Shh, I just need one answer.
JEANNE
The deal is an answer for an answer. What are you to Nova?
HATOV
I (beat) I don’t know. She found me, and I think she wants to help me get home.
JEANNE
Help you? What does she even get out of that?
HATOV
E-(beat) uhm, no, it’s a secret for a secret, right?
JEANNE
(Sarcastically)
Oh no, we’ve got a live one.
HATOV
I want to know about Alula.
(v. Long pause)
Hello?
JEANNE
Okay, what about her?
HATOV
I want to know where she is.
JEANNE
Uh-huh, why? Did you know her?
HATOV
You haven’t answered my question yet.
JEANNE
That’s because there isn’t much of an answer. Alula isn’t anywhere. She’s dead.
HATOV
(beat, distressed)
Nova said she was on another route.
JEANNE
Yeah, that’s InCo for ‘dead’
HATOV
No but, she can’t
JEANNE
Doesn’t it make a lot more sense this way? Nova’s not exactly a accomplished liar.
HATOV
(Long pause)
What happened to her? Do you know where she was from?
JEANNE
All these questions and no new information. You’re really bad at this, you know?
HATOV
What do you want?
JEANNE
Hmm, why has she kept you? You don’t seem (beat) useful
HATOV
She’s interested in my home planet.
JEANNE
Which is?
HATOV
Probably the same place Alula was from. How did she die?
JEANNE
Well, uhm (beat), this is awkward. (Curiously) Are you sure you don’t want to ask Nova?
HATOV
I can’t. She’s not…It’s, it’s like she has shut down, she’s not listening, and this is important. I can’t wait for her to decide I’m worth speaking to.
JEANNE
(beat) hmm, I’ll give you this for free because you’re about to find yourself in a bad way. Incos make money based on the information they gather and sell, Alula had a very lucrative route.
HATOV
Okay?
JEANNE
Dear god, you’re not following me. What do you think happens when two Incos are fighting for territory? (leading) They can negotiate, but that never really happens, they tend to take a more (beat) violent approach. It’s why Incos never last.
HATOV
What?
JEANNE
Come on kid, you can’t be that innocent.
HATOV
(confidently)
She wouldn’t have
JEANNE
Kid, people get funny about money, particularly people with no citizenship cards. No planetary assignment means no job, no job, no money, no money makes life very hard. Do you understand that at least? Incos need money and I need workers who can fucking disappear. Nova and Alula were perfect in that way.
HATOV
But she doesn’t care for money, her accounts are
JEANNE
She doesn’t care for a lot of money, but she does need to repair her ship, and pay her clients, along with the bribes, which is all very expensive. If she’s not spending more, it’s guilt. Nova will always do what’s in the best interest for herself. You know that don’t you kid?
HATOV
I (beat) she can’t have (beat)
JEANNE
It must be weird, entering a world from whatever rock you’ve lived under. You’re not used to the doubt yet, huh?
HATOV
I don’t have doubts (beat) just
JEANNE
You don’t have to believe me. Why don’t you ask her yourself?
