OC Writing- random scene I just kinda felt like getting out of my system…
SECRET PICKETT TUNNEL CAVERN – NIGHT
Rhea is wandering a small, secret cavern that runs along Pickett Tunnel. She has three others with her: Barzillai, Elektria, and Naahmah. `The area is structured like an office- with lazily inserted wooden walls, dry and almost rigid floors, and tables and shelving filling the room.
Show Elektria, standing on a table closest to the entrance. She’s facing the other three, who all wandered over to investigate the scattered papers and scrawlings around the room’s floor and walls.
ELEKTRIA
Do you three really think we’re going to find things about Comiskey in… here..?
Cut to show the other three from Elektria’s perspective, enunciating the raggedy state of the room, and the lack of anything Comiskey related. Barzillai turns around to look at her with an annoyed look on his face.
BARZILLAI
Hey- aren’t you supposed to be a scientist or whatever? Shouldn’t you be all for “investigation” and “mystery” and all that junk..? Or something?
Naahmah glances over at Barzillai with a look of both concern and disappointment.
Show Elektria again, she stumbles over her words.
ELEKTRIA
Well- sure- but I also have a modicum of common sense-!
The two continue to argue. Show Rhea from the front of her face; she’s digging through a drawer under a bookshelf and investigating the papers she finds in there. After looking at a particular paper, her eyes widen slightly and she turns around to look at the other three.
Show the room from behind Rhea, seeing her back and the other three in the foreground.
RHEA
Guys- this might be something important.
Everyone looks at her, surprised for a moment. Rhea narrows her eyes nervously as she holds the sheet of paper she has in front of her.
RHEA
Uh. I guess I don’t know but-
Cut to a side view of Rhea, with her on the right of the screen facing to the left side. Elektria jumps up from the left side of the screen, an excited look on her face.
ELEKTRIA
What does it say?!
Rhea pulls the paper above her head, leaning back and away from Elektria slightly.
RHEA
Calm down… It says something about robotics. I thought it could be important… Since that’s the kinda stuff we’re looking for, right?
Cut to show the rest of the group from Rhea’s general view; Barzillai is directly in front of her, and Naahmah is to the left of the screen comparatively to him. Naahmah has a skeptical look on her face, while Barzillai seems hopeful.
BARZILLAI
See? What did I say?
He starts to approach Rhea and Elektria.
Cut to another side shot of the two (R&E) as Barzillai walks into view from the left and takes the paper straight from Rhea’s hand in a probably more flamboyant than necessary manner. Rhea and Elektria both look mildly offended at this, while Barzillai looks mildly down at the paper now in his hands.
Cut to a more close view of him, from the shoulders up.
BARZILLAI
Important stuff like this is always stuck in the dirty places. It’s kind of… assumed that people are too stupid to think of it.
The entire group is shown from a more zoomed out view, Rhea and Elektria look even more offended than before, and Naahmah looks away awkwardly. Barzillai scoffs.
BARZILLAI
What? I’ve been there for conversations about just that! I am just saying-
Naahmah walks over to him and puts a hand on his back. He jumps slightly and she removes it.
NAAHMAH
Barzillai…
You see the group closer up on the right side of the room.
Barzillai sighs dramatically.
BARZILLAI
Fine! Fine… I’ll focus.
He looks down at the paper again, more focused. Rhea and Elektria move over to look over his shoulder, Barzillai swatting Elektria away lightly while she squints her eyes at him.
BARZILLAI
It… says something about needing better technicians for their… robotics center.
Elektria squints her eyes.
ELEKTRIA
And..?
BARZILLAI
Xii Jei
- give me a sec..!
Rhea does a hand motion to Elektria to try and get her to relax, and Elektria just rolls her eyes in response. However, she does become quieter.
Show a further zoomed out shot of the four from a corner of the room behind them as there’s silence.
After a few moments of no sound, Barzillai shuffles in place momentarily.
BARZILLAI
Uhh…
The group is seen once again from the front, but now Barzillai is centered- with Naahmah to the left side of the screen and Elektria & Rhea to the right side.
NAAHMAH
“Uhh…” What..?
ELEKTRIA
Hey, I thought we weren’t supposed to needle him-
BARZILLAI
It only really talks about… Financial issues and scheduling. The topic of actual robotics barely comes up.
He pushes the sheet of paper out of his hands and towards Elektria, to his left.
BARZILLAI
There. Are we happy now? God…
Elektria squints at the paper now in her hands as Barzillai crosses his arms, annoyed.
Zoom in on just Elektria and Rhea, the latter leaning a bit closer to the former before speaking.
RHEA
(Quietly)
Is that… really all it says..?
BARZILLAI
(Offscreen)
I heard that!
ELEKTRIA
…Yeah, it seems like it. …Unfortunately.
Show a more zoomed out view of the whole room. Naahmah is furthest to the left of the screen with Barzillai to the right, and Rhea and Elektria are further to the right side of the screen. Everyone seems to be either annoyed or disappointed.
NAAHMAH
(Trying to be uplifting)
Well… Guess we should keep looking around then, right..?
Elektria almost goes to speak, annoyed, but before she can she’s interrupted by the sound of something fragile toppling over and shattering outside the small cavern. Everyone looks up and jumps slightly, Naahmah having the smallest reaction. They all slowly inch closer to the middle of the screen, forming one group of all of them instead of being split up.
ELEKTRIA
(Whispering)
Somebody’s here..?
BARZILLAI
(Whispering)
Of course, genius, what else would that be..?
RHEA
(Whispering)
Instead of bickering, why don’t we be quiet and find someplace to hide?!
Without speaking another word, Rhea takes Elektria and ducks into the first large, empty, somewhat hidden space she can find: an empty, wooden storage cabinet. It’s rickety, but it holds.
Barzillai huffs for a moment, but doesn’t oppose when Naahmah lightly tugs on his sleeve and brings him over to the opposite corner of the room to hide themselves under a table with a conveniently long tablecloth on top.
Show Rhea and Elektria within the cabinet they’re in, claustrophobic and dark. Elektria makes an angry face at Rhea, who seems too distractedly nervous to pay it any mind. There’s another crashing sound, now as well as clicking footsteps- similar to the sound of a horse hoof hitting the floor. There’s also a sound of soft humming,
???
(Distressed, offscreen )
Oh, no… How could this even… What am I going to say…?
The unknown individual groans and almost trills, seemingly in distress, maybe a bit dramatically. Elektria and Rhea remain hidden inside their cabinet, while footsteps and sounds of distress continue outside.
Rhea notices that the cabinet gives slightly, creaking quietly. She shuts her eyes tight, becoming increasingly more nervous as she realizes this thing might not stay quiet for very long.
The footsteps halt momentarily, before you can hear a loud inhale.
???
(Offscreen)
…Could somebody still… hmm.
The footsteps resume once again, closer to the cabinet but not immediately outside. Elektria hides her face.
???
(Offscreen)
I think somebody’s still here… I think you’re hiding. And I just need to-
The unknown individual is cut off by another unexpected creak from the cabinet they’re sitting in. Rhea winces and shuts her eyes somehow even tighter, while Elektria refuses to look up.
???
(Offscreen)
Hm. Well then…
Light shines in on Rhea and Elektria as the door to the cabinet they’re in is practically thrown open. Before any words can be exchanged, Rhea pushes Elektria out of the way of the opposing force- making her the forefront of attention instead.
ELEKTRIA
R- Why would you-?
Rhea is grabbed by the arm, and tugged out of the cabinet- leaving Elektria behind. The shot changes to one of Rhea from the side as she’s pulled from her hiding space, expression one of horror. She looks up to see who’s taken her. You see a shot of the person who’d taken her from Rhea’s perspective, the mysterious figure being looming and imposing; they’re abnormally tall. They maintain the grip on Rhea’s arm.
???
Ah! It’s you. I don’t find myself all that surprised!
Show them from the side again- now both of them are visible. The mysterious person is practically crouching over her. Rhea doesn’t speak, too afraid to even move. The person cocks their head to the side.
???
You won’t talk now, but you sure did love talking all around this place before! Where’s your showmanship, huh?
Rhea doesn’t respond, turning away so she doesn’t have to look in their face.
???
…Disappointing. I thought you might be funny, but of course someone like you is just… dull. Oh well!
Show a side view of the two- but now from the opposite perspective. Rhea is on the left side of the screen, while the other is on the right. The mysterious figure turns their head away from Rhea so the back of their head is facing the screen. After a moment of this, they look back at Rhea. Their expression becomes less jovial.
???
Now. Care to tell me where your other-
They gesture with their head towards the cabinet Elektria still lays in. Briefly show a shot of her still cowering inside before changing the shot to be one of the mysterious figure towering over Rhea at a 3/4 angle from below / Rhea’s general perspective.
???
-Little buddies are? Because if not then well- I’m perfectly content with finding ‘em myself-!
They raise the hand not gripping onto Rhea and essentially show off their claws.
RHEA
…Wh… Who are you..?
The mystery person looks puzzled for a moment, as well as almost shocked. They tilt their head to the side again, confused.
???
M…Me? You don’t know-
Change to a shot of Rhea at a 3/4 angle from above.
???
-Me? Why, I don’t know if I should be offended or relieved!
Rhea looks up with a confused expression.
RHEA
Wh…What..?
Once again show a wide shot of them both from the side, Rhea on the left of the screen. The stranger stands up tall as they speak, letting go of Rhea’s arm and bringing said previously in-use arm up to form a fist against their chest; they feign a dramatic sense of pride. As Rhea goes to back up one step, they instantly use their opposite hand to grab her arm again.
THE CHARY
I… Am the one and only abhorred… Charynova..!
Show a close-up 3/4 view of Rhea’s face again, a look of confusion and then realization dawns on her face.
RHEA
Y…You’re-
Show the lower shot of The Chary from Rhea’s view again, they loom over her more so now that they’re standing taller.
THE CHARY
I know! I know! Hold the applause… please ‘n thank you…
RHEA
N-No..! You’re you’re the bad one- why would I-
The Chary’s expression changes to one of neutrality for a brief moment, her mouth hung open, before they snicker dryly- teeth bared in part- and rest their head in their free hand.
THE CHARY
The bad one! I’m the bad one! Of course! Oh, I like you!
(Muttering)
I’m the bad one…
Show Rhea again as The Chary snickers.
RHEA
You killed all those people- I-
She goes quiet before looking down at the floor, frightened. The Chary sighs, dramatically. You see their shadow recede slightly as they back away. Show his face.
THE CHARY
Yeah, sure, I killed all those guys. Righto. But they won’t even be close to the end of it if you don’t tell me where your little friends are..!
Show them from the side, Rhea left.
RHEA
What… What’ll happen to me..?
THE CHARY
Oh, nothing too crazy, dear- you won’t die! I can say that for sure!
RHEA
And my… Friends..?
The Chary snickers again.
THE CHARY
You don’t seem to have a lot of confidence in that word, hm? And besides- It’s a very simple choice here. It’s them or you!
Show a front view of Rhea, looking down. There’s a bit of empty space to the left side of the screen- the cabinet she and Elektria had been in can be seen in the background. Rhea looks up, eyes wide and unsure. She stumbles over her words for a moment, gripping her shirt tightly with one hand. She sighs.
RHEA
Them or me for… What..?
Show The Chary’s confused expression before going back to the side view.
RHEA
You said it’s them or me. You didn’t say you’d… kill whoever I don’t pick. What’ll happen to them..?
There’s silence for a moment, The Chary not responding and Rhea just standing tensely.
THE CHARY
Hm. You wanna know something?
Rhea is seen at a 3/4 angle again.
THE CHARY
I think you’re boring me.
RHEA
W-What..?
Show a close, tight side view of the two again; it’s meant to be claustrophobic and uncomfortable. The Chary’s mannerisms change suddenly to be more erratic and almost aggressive.
THE CHARY
You’re being difficult and I don’t care anymore. I don’t.
They yank Rhea closer to them, aggressively. Rhea yelps for a quick moment before The Chary uses their other hand to hold her chin and keep her quiet. The sharp ends of their fingers scrape her face slightly.
THE CHARY
(Frantic, intense)
I’d kill you right now. I would- I would do it. I’d make your poor friends watch. But you…
Their expression changes to one of practically manic glee almost immediately. They let go of Rhea’s face.
THE CHARY
There’s something you can do for me.
Rhea gives them a look of confusion, before they then suddenly pull the sleeve of the arm they hold in their hand up, exposing the pale skin of Rhea’s arm. The Chary taps a finger on her arm with their free hand, slowly beginning to run it down her arm instead- leaving a long scratch. It starts to bleed lightly.
THE CHARY
Yes, yes… there’s something you can do…
He leans in closer to Rhea’s face.
THE CHARY
There’s someone I need you to speak to for me, love…
As his finger almost reaches Rhea’s wrist, he lets go. Show a 3/4 view of Rhea with The Chary’s vague silhouette in the foreground. The scratch left behind continues to bleed lightly as Rhea quickly goes to cover it with her other hand.
THE CHARY
I’ve heard about who you wander with… and- funny- I just happen to have a bit of a history with one of your buddies! Neat huh?
Show the two at a side view again.
RHEA
I- I don’t-
THE CHARY
Ah ah ah! You know how it is. Don’t you, little mouse? You tell my old friend that I did this-
They gesture to Rhea’s arm, still bleeding.
THE CHARY
-And you’ll get off scot free! Isn’t that nice and easy? I think I’ll even let your friends go! How wonderful! Everybody’s happy, hm?
RHEA
You- You never said who… Who this person is..? Who am I supposed to be- be talking to for you? A-And why do you want that anyway-?
The Chary puts a finger to Rhea’s mouth in a hushing motion.
THE CHARY
See, see… I think you’re smart enough to figure that one out yourself! And, well- if not, then why not just ask around your little possy?
He spits out that last word with an extra hint of bitterness and malice. They lean in closer to Rhea again.
THE CHARY
You’d best hope none of your friends are liars, hm~?
Show a wider side shot as The Chary stands up at their full height. Rhea opens her mouth as if to speak, but The Chary only snickers and turns away.
THE CHARY
Have fun.
And with that, they walk out of the cavern. Show Rhea from a front view, a baffled, frightened, and confused look on her face. As she stands in silence, Elektria, Barzillai, and Naahmah all rush over towards her. Naahmah looks immediately at her injured arm, Barzillai rambles illegibly at her, and Elektria scolds him.
NAAHMAH
Rhea? Rhea!? Are you alright..?
Rhea’s gaze weakens as she raises her injured arm into view. The shot slowly fades as the group frets over her.
