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Fanfiction-reimagining of the pilot of the original animated series. |
FADE IN: EXT. OCEAN -- BAY OF JANDA-TOWN -- DAY -- ESTABLISHING Janda-Town is a medieval town of some size, but it is crowded in a half-crescent around a circular bay, and hemmed in landward by sudden, steep hills and crags. The bay, which is nearly a perfect circle, is segregated from the sea by two arms that curl out from opposite sides, almost meeting opposite the town. The gap between the arms are guarded by two tall, beautiful towers. The landward side of the city, where it isn't built up against the crags, is guarded by tall walls. These walls extend along the lengths of the arms to meet the towers. In this way, Janda-Town is fortified on all sides. The city, being large but hemmed in, has grown skyward. Save for the warehouses by the docks, almost all the houses are three or four stories tall. Some of the larger buildings are six or seven stories tall, and sprinkled through the city are half a dozen stone towers that rise loftily over their neighbors. The streets are narrow and crooked. Flags fly from many rooftops, and the bay is busy with traffic. For style, look to the Mediterranean: Greece, Italy, Spain, Tunisia. The drapic carrying our heroes slides into the bay from the ocean. EXT. OCEAN -- BAY OF JANDA-TOWN -- THE DRAPIC -- DAY Ren's eyes rove over the city, picking out sailing ships of various sizes and designs, from small drapics like theirs to an immense galleon with a poop like a castle. Ren's expression is neutral but watchful. Behind him, in the stern, Niddler stands goggling all about him. Rathka sits at the tiller. REN Well, we'd have our pick of vessels, if we had the money. RATHKA We'll make do. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- DOCK -- DAY The drapic eases to a stop by a dock, and Ren quickly makes the boat fast with a rope. He, Rathka, and Niddler hop onto the dock. RATHKA We'll get through faster if we split up. I'll see to a ship. You two see to provisions. He gives Niddler a meaningful glance. RATHKA It seems to me that's what the monkey-bird is best at. Niddler sniffs and looks away. REN How will I pay for it? I've only got five silver pennies! Rathka extracts a folded parchment from the front of his trousers and hands it to Ren. RATHKA Take this to the Eel and Oyster. They'll give you enough for all we could need. Ren opens the parchment and reads it. His eyes pop. REN Rathka! This is a voucher for twenty--! Rathka wheels and claps a hand over Ren's mouth. RATHKA (growling) Quiet! You want to tell the whole town how much gold that's worth? REN (more quietly) But Rathka, this is a smugglers' voucher! This was supposed to go to the Wardens! RATHKA Well, sometimes I keep them back, redeem them myself. It's how I keep us equipped. REN I thought the Wardens sent us our-- RATHKA Just go redeem it and get us our provisions. He exits. Ren's expression turns skeptical. REN (undertone) I wonder how many other vouchers he's been "keeping back." Well, come on, Niddler. He and Niddler exit. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- DAY Every street in Janda-Town has stalls and carts of produce and other goods. Ren pays no attention to these, but Niddler gawks at everything they pass. He pauses to salivate over one barrel heaped with small fruits. NIDDLER Jaca fruit! And I've never seen so many in one place! Find one bush, and you have to fly miles to find another! REN The grow them on an island, I think. It's hundreds of yonda away, though. NIDDLER And they bring it all here? REN A lot of it. You can find almost anything you'd want in Janda-Town. He gasps as two smiling girls suddenly pin him in from opposite sides, and giggle at him. They are young -- sixteen probably -- pretty, with long plumes of hair and big eyes. They are dressed in filmy silk garments. One is a red-head (KANYA) the other a brunette (LURA). Ren glances between them. Then his expression of shock shifts into a knowing smirk. He doesn't touch them with his hands, but he pulls each one to his side with his side. REN Speaking of anything you could want. Sundri! Kanya! Kanya giggles, but Lura's face falls. LURA I'm not Sundri! REN (insouciant) Oh, right. I must've been thinking of your sister! Kanya giggles again, but Lura gets angrier. LURA I don't have a sister! REN (still insouciant) If you're not Sundri and you don't have a sister, then I guess I don't know you! He puts his nose to her cheek with a smile. REN But I'd love to get to! Lura looks a little askance, but smiles tightly. Kanya frowns jealously. Niddler is watching this. REN Niddler, this is Kanya and Lura. We learned how to dive for candy clams together when were little. LURA Have you been seeing other girls, Ren? We haven't seen you in Janda- Town in forever! Kanya, who is standing nearest Niddler, looks at him askance. KANYA And what are you doing with a monkey- bird? REN (to Lura) Well, I like to keep in circulation. (to Kanya) He's with me. Lura picks at the buttons on his tunic. LURA You know, we haven't dived for candy clams with you in years-- KANYA Jitat! Is he your slave? LURA --so we should go diving for some while you're here. REN (to Kanya) I, uh, picked him up in my travels. (to Lura) Sounds great! I'm hot in these clothes! Niddler crosses his arms. NIDDLER And what am I supposed to do while you're entertaining each other outside your pelts? Ren, his nose still in Lura's ear, mutters to her. REN Lura, get my money bag from off my belt-- Lura smiles slyly and slides her hand down. REN -- and give it to Niddler so he can buy all the jaca fruit he-- He jerks in surprise; his eyes pop and his smile goes sideways. REN (purring) That's not where I keep my money bag! Niddler watches these antics: with curiosity at first, cocking his head one way and then the other, blinking, mouth slightly agape. Then he rears back in a frown and glares with one eye while putting his hands on his hips. None of it dampens the TITTERINGS, GIGGLINGS, PURRINGS, and PLAYFUL GROWLINGS from the others. Niddler finally turns away with a sigh. NIDDLER Well, I don't know what kind of monkey-man dingamortery is going on here, but I'm going to keep looking around. Ren answers with a muffled "Mmphr-mmphgm!" as Niddler exits. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- PIRATE GUILD -- DAY Rathka briefly peers around the corner of a house at a very large and ornately decorated building. It is the Pirates' Guild, a kind of bank, and should suggest that kind of grandeur and solidity. Its tall doors are flanked by two guards armed with swords and maces. Rathka withdraws, then steps around the corner with a long cloak and hood wrapped about and over him, and strides toward the Guild across the open square that fronts it. At the corner of another building, two mean also lean around to spy the square as Rathka is crossing it. One -- IOZ -- is tall and muscular, with long mustaches and hair, the bangs of which are pulled into a top-knot. He is dressed in baggy pants, boots, and a sleeveless white shirt that is open to the waist, showing off his torso. He wear rings, armbands, and hoop earrings -- a classic pirate. His companion -- DRUK -- is short and squat, with short hair. He is also dressed in pirate fashion. Ioz and Druk watch the hooded Rathka intently. Without glancing back at Druk, Ioz nudges him, then raises his hand to flash some complex gestures in front of his face. When he is done, he holds his hand there until Druk raises his own hands to briefly clasp it. Then Ioz drops his hand and strides off to intercept Rathka. Rathka mounts the stairs leading up to the doors of the Guild, stops before the guard. He pulls a ring from one of his fingers, and dropping it into the palm of one of the guards. The guard briefly examines it, then takes it inside. As Rathka waits, Ioz steps up to him with a dazzling smile and friendly patter. IOZ Friend of the sea orphans, I pray your ear for but a--! Rathka toward, who freezes in mid-sentence and gasps. IOZ Noy chongo! Rathka? What are you--? Rathka seizes him and hustles him off. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- ALLEY -- DAY Rathka, shoving Ioz before him, throws him up against the wall of an alley and claps a hand over the mouth of the astonished Ioz. RATHKA Ay jitata, Ioz, you know better than to grab me in front of the Guild! Rathka lowers his hand from Ioz's mouth. IOZ I didn't know it was you! Ioz grasps Rathka's shoulders with an expression of great pleasure. IOZ But how are you? It's been a leviathan's age since I've seen you! (slyly) How's trade on the Tanapango coast? Rathka is less enthusiastic than Ioz, but his smiles are friendly, even relieved. RATHKA Slower, since the kid started helping. At least we can hit bigger ships now. We raided a chaparri yesterday. But the packs have noticed and have started steering away. Ioz is impressed. IOZ A chaparri? The kid must be good, if he's helped you graduate to something that big! He snaps his fingers. IOZ Is that why you were at the Guild? Depositing some vouchers? Rathka pulls from his vest a parcel wrapped in silk and tied with string. RATHKA Redeeming. I got one for eight thousand off the chaparri, and some older ones worth a lot less. I-- Druk barrels through, between the two, knocking them apart and almost knocking them over. Rathka is the first to recover. RATHKA That scudball grabbed my vouchers! IOZ "Scudball"? That's my partner! He dashes off after Druk, with Rathka close behind. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- DAY The pursuit of Druk by Rathka and Ioz: running through crowds, up and down staircases, parkouring across roofs, etc. In labored breaths, Ioz and Rathka continue to talk when they are close enough. RATHKA (outraged) You and your partner were trying to rob me?! IOZ We didn't know it was you! I just saw a brigand's cloak heading for the Guild! RATHKA Why were you even stooping to a push- and-grab, Ioz?! You're a pirate! IOZ Not since I lost my ship! I need the money, Rathka! EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- DAY Ren, careless and content, saunters along with his arms still loosely draped around the shoulders of Kanya and Lura. REN --before I had to go up for breath. But I really do have to conduct some business at the Eel and Oyster, girls. Then we can all go diving! KANYA (giggling) For candy clams? But Ren is reacting to turmoil O.S., and he turns to watch in astonishment as Druk runs past. He then turns and sees Ioz (ahead) and Rathka (behind) barreling toward him. REN That's Rathka! And he's chasing someone! Ren's expression lowers into a glower, and he takes his arms from around the girls. They watch, perturbed, as he crouches. Ren launches himself at Ioz as Ioz runs past, catches him about the waist, and together they fly out of control into a tangle of barrels and baskets. A rope is hanging nearby, and Rathka, ignoring the other two, quickly shimmies up it. Ioz leaps from the wreckage for the rope and shimmies up after Rathka. Ren leaps to his feet, crouches, and flings a small boomerang after Ioz. It cuts the rope above Ioz's head, and it and he fall back into the wrecked barrels and crates. Ren leans away as the boomerang embeds itself deeply into a basket. He pulls it free, twirls it on his finger, and slides it back into his belt while glaring down at Ioz. Ioz, splayed on his back, stares at Ren in a daze before his expression hardens into a murderous glare. IOZ Jitatin boy! Ren crouches with a murderous glare of his own, jerks the knife from his belt, and holds it at his side. REN (quiet, but enraged) Say that again, naja-chongada! Ioz, tangled in wreckage, catapults himself panther-like to his own feet and falls into a matching crouch. IOZ I'll make you eat that knife, boy! REN Draw your sword, scutaskya, so I can slide it up your--! Rathka drops into frame, between them. Neither rises from his crouch even after he starts talking, and continue glaring at the other. RATHKA Enough, you two! Ioz, where's your partner heading? IOZ To my rooms, probably! I'll take you there after I've carved my name in this kreld-pup's gizzard! RATHKA (calmly) This kreld-pup is my brother, so you'll have plenty of time for name- carving later. Ren, this is Ioz, an old friend. He was helping me chase a street rat. Ren and Ioz, still crouched, look between Rathka and each other, astonished. Ioz straightens up. IOZ This is the kid?! Last time I saw him he was-- He holds out his hand at waist level. But Ren's snarl deepens. REN Your friend or not, I can still--! RATHKA (thundering) Put it away, Ren! The blast shocks Ren. He freezes, a startled look on his face. Then he straightens, puts the knife away, and turns with arms crossed to glare sulkily sidelong at Ioz. Kanya and Lura run in, to make a "Ren sandwich" between them as they caress and comfort him. Ren, arms crossed, alternates between glaring at Ioz and turning away with his eyes closed and his chin lifted haughtily. Overlapping dialogue: KANYA (yapping) Oh Ren, I was so scared, that brigand's so big and ugly and I don't want anything to happen to you! LURA (yapping) Ren, that was amazing, you were so brave and I bet you could have beat him if that jintada hadn't got in the way! REN (under his breath) Jitatin kreldor, pango-smilge, galdeb-chongada, naja-chipongada! RATHKA Ren!! All stop and look over fearfully at the bark from Rathka, who looks darkly at Ren. RATHKA Leave the silks. We've no time for clam play. He exits, followed by Ioz. Ren rolls his eyes, sighs. REN Sorry, girls. Maybe we can go diving for clams and sea pickles next time. With shoulders hunched, he trudges after Rathka. The girls watch him go, disconsolate, weakly clutching after him. KANYA Ren! Lura wheels angrily on her. LURA It's your fault! You wanted to come this way! If we'd gone up Arin Street--! KANYA My fault? You're just jealous because I'm the one he wanted to give a sea pickle to! The girls begin shoving and pulling at each other's hair. CROSSFADE EXT. JANGA-TOWN -- THE EEL AND OYSTER -- DAY -- establishing A tavern. The sign out front shows an eel entwined around an oyster. CROSSFADE INT. JANGA-TOWN -- THE EEL AND OYSTER -- DAY A tavern of fair but not fine repute, meaning that though there is lots of drinking going on, no one is trying to kill anyone else. There are dozens of tables scattered around with men of various shades of ugliness -- from very ugly to very, very ugly -- scattered about with bottles and glasses. Rathka and Ioz are sitting at one table, across from each other. Ren stands behind Rathka, leaning against the wall with his arms folded, scowling. But the other two are relaxed and laughing. IOZ But then I was scuttled by thirteen waves! I had just enough flotsam to rent a room here above the bar. RATHKA I'd rather meet a leviathan than the dice when you're rolling, Ioz! Ioz lifts his mug, but pauses as his eyes fall on Ren. IOZ Is the kid going to hold the wall up all night? Rathka glances back at Ren. RATHKA Ren, sit down. Ren gives him a sidelong glower, and slumps into a chair between the two without unbending himself, to sit on his shoulder blades with his feet stretched out, his chin on his breastbone, and his arms folded tightly across his chest. REN I just think we shouldn't be associating with pirates. IOZ You think being a sub-warden makes you better than me? REN (sidelong; sulfurous) That's not why I think it. Ioz sets his mug down with a BANG. IOZ Tell me, kid, when was the last time you saw one of your prince's warships pass your lighthouse? Ren blinks, and shifts his glance onto Rathka, who only ducks his head to stare into his mug. Ren stares at Rathka, then turns back to Ioz. REN (lofty; insolent) They don't need to. Rathka and I can keep the coast free of floating smilge like you all by our-- RATHKA (quickly) The prince's cutters still patrol the coast. He lifts his eyes to stare hard at Ioz. RATHKA I've seen them. Ioz stares back. Then he relaxes. IOZ Then your eyes are keener than most. Me, I've not seen so much as a ploos out of Octagon in fifteen years. But then, I stay out of your waters, Rathka, for friendship's sake. He raises his mug in a toast, then turns to Ren. IOZ You hear that, boy? I'm not a pirate in your waters, and I'm not a pirate in Janda-Town either! That means where and when we ever meet, I'm as good as you! REN The way I heard your story, you haven't been a pirate since you lost your ship rolling waves in a game of dice. Rathka leaps in before Ioz can retort, shouting at someone O.S. RATHKA Tula! How's my favorite barmaid at the Mast and Yard? Ren glances briefly in the direction Rathka is calling, then does a massive double take to stare slack-jawed at her as TULA comes to the table. Tula is small--shorter even than Ren--but though petite she has curves in the hips, legs, belly and breasts. Her hair is dark as oil and tumbles over her shoulders in two great braids (bound with gold rings) down her front, and a mane of black hair down her back. Her arms are bare, and she sports bracelets and armbands of gold, and two immense golden earrings. Her blouse is pink, but she wears harem pants and small, pointed boots. She is very pretty, with large, almond-shaped eyes. Her voice is strong but with plenty of lemon in it when she wants to add it. She sails into the frame from O.S., breasts out like prows, and fetches up next to Ren (between him and Ioz) but talks past them at Rathka. Ren remains rigidly prone in his seat. TULA I wouldn't know, Rathka, since I haven't seen Aola since she got married last year. Tula bends almost double to lean across the table. This puts her cleavage, which is well exposed over the top of her blouse, at eye level with Ren. As she talks, holding this pose, Ren with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide, stares at her breasts, then up at her face, at her breasts, and at her throat, at her breasts some more, then at her throat. When she does straighten up, his mouth closes into a small "o", but his eyes alertly go up to her breasts, her face, her breasts, her belly, and back to her breasts. His eyes shift, his mouth makes one alteration (into that "o"), but otherwise his face remains frozen with wonder and no little timidity. TULA I thought you might have seen her since. RATHKA I haven't been in Janga-Town since the last Vadsami. TULA I thought it had been quiet. She stands up and looks around; Ren's mouth turns into an "o." TULA But what are you doing in the Eel and Oyster? I heard the service has fallen lower than smilge since Looz hired a bankrupt brigand as his new barman. Ioz spit-takes at that. Tula doesn't notice. RATHKA We have a voucher to redeem. Ren, where's the voucher? But Ren is still preoccupied with Tula. RATHKA Ren. Ren! Ren never responds, even when Tula looks down at him. His mouth freezes in that "o", and his eyes, from under his raised brows, remained locked on hers even as silence falls. And they remained locked on hers and he remains paralyzed as Rathka reaches across and into his tunic to pull out the voucher. RATHKA Are you still at the Yard and Mast, Tula? TULA Every night until a handsome subwarden sweeps me away. Ren's eyes do widen at that, and his jaw falls open. He otherwise remains immobile with his eyes on her face. RATHKA Then I'll see you tonight. I have a voucher for the Mast and Yard too. TULA I'll keep you in longo beer and sea grapes until closing, so you won't trip trying to get through the trapdoor into my room. She turns to go, pauses, then reaches back and pushes Ren's chin up to close his mouth. Then she turns and walks off. All three men, Ren with the most intensity off all, watch her go. IOZ The Mast and Yard, eh? I've never been there. RATHKA Because you're too careful to steer into a monsoon. Beat. Rathka turns to Ioz. RATHKA Your first mate should be home by now. Let's go find him. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- DAY Niddler waddles down the street, craning his neck this way and that to look over the wares. NIDDLER (to himself) I've flown over port-towns before, but I never saw or guessed they could be so rich in-- He stops to inhale the aroma from a tray of fruits. A little saliva shows at his beak. NIDDLER Ah! Then he starts as two large men step in front of him. These are SLAVE TRADERS. TRADER #1 Where's your master, monkey-bird? NIDDLER (insulted) I have no master! As of this morning, I am a free bird! Trader #2 grabs Niddler by the neck. Niddler SQUAWKS. TRADER #1 No such thing as a free monkey-bird in Janda-Town. So if we can't ransom you to your master, we'll sell you in the market! Niddler bites the trader's hand, and jumps free. TRADER #2 Ow! Hey! He lunges for Niddler, but Niddler flies back, up and away, his head craning this way and that. NIDDLER Chitiri-chitacka! Where's Ren got to? EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- MID-AIR -- DAY Niddler flies up and curves into the sky in one direction as, from another, three dagrons flap toward the city. Bomba/Malamba rides the lead dagron. His eyes narrow, and he raises his trident to point ahead. BOMBA/MALAMBA If that is not our runaway monkey- bird, he'll make a fine replacement. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- DAY A white-washed stone house, two stories, with an outside staircase leading up to a door on the second floor. Ioz, Rathka, and Ren mount the stairs in that order. IOZ --but we took a second room for work purposes. Not a good idea for the marks to know where you really sleep. He pauses outside the door and gazes intently down at the bottom of the door, which is busted out at the bottom and slightly open. Ioz raises his eyes and face. Slowly he puts a hand to the door, pushing it open. INT. JANDA-TOWN -- PIRATES' ROOM -- DAY Ioz pushes the door open. Inside, the room's contents have been thrown about -- mattress, sheets, books, charts, chairs. On the floor, extending from around a corner, are a pair of legs, prone. Ioz, enters the room, and looks down and around the corner at the rest of the body. IOZ (softly) Noy jitat! Rathka enters after, looks over his shoulder at the same sight. RATHKA So much for fooling the marks. Ioz bends to pick up a metal box. Its lid is crushed, the lock broken. Ioz opens it. It is empty, and Ioz drops it. IOZ You won't find your vouchers, Rathka. The place was picked clean. Rathka bends to pick a long ribbon up off the floor. It is the one that he wrapped the silk package in. RATHKA No, I guess I won't. Any ideas who it could have been? IOZ Anybody. From the streets, the docks, the taverns. They've probably been watching us for weeks, waiting for-- Chonga! Ren has come into the room, joined the others, glanced at the body as the others were speaking. REN So what do we do now, Rathka? RATHKA We don't buy a boat. IOZ This is my fault, I'll make it up to you, Rathka. REN Mak-toy, Ioz, we don't want a pirate's charity! Ioz swings around, seizes Ren by the throat, and shoves him against the wall. He puts his face close to Ren, who grapples uselessly with both hands at Ioz's wrist, but Ioz's arm might as well be made of iron. Ren chokes and gasps and grimaces and writhes. IOZ You need all the help you can get, boy, if you don't want to wind up a pirate like me! RATHKA Ioz is right, Ren. We need a boat, any way we can get it. He exits out the door with no further word. Ioz and Ren watch him go, then turn to look at each other. Ren's expression now shows something like fear -- and even a little respect. Ioz releases Ren, and follows Rathka out. Ren catches his breath and rubs his throat before turning to exit as well. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- HOUSE -- DAY Rathka and Ioz stand outside the door, looking around the street, as Ren joins them from inside. IOZ What kind of a boat do you need? RATHKA One that can cross deep ocean. Deepest. So a ryecorr, at least. IOZ (pleased) Oh, well, lucky for you I know a good, fast ryecorr that just tied up in town! He glances upward. IOZ Did you say you had a monkey-bird with you? Rathka and Ren both react, and look up as well. They spot Niddler flapping randomly about in the sky above -- and the dagrons closing fast on him. RATHKA Dagrons! Your friend Bloth is still looking for us, Ren. Smoothly, Rathka leaps onto the small wall that fronts the balcony, then leaps from there onto the roof. Ioz turns to Ren. IOZ (sharply) Bloth? But Ren ignores him to make a similar wall-to-roof leap (maybe quicker and more agile than Rathka's). EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- HOUSE -- roof -- DAY Rathka and Ren stand there waving and SHOUTING at Niddler. Ioz joins them. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- MID-AIR -- DAY Niddler catches sight of those below as they point and shout (dimly) "Dagrons!" NIDDLER (puzzled) "Daygons"? What under the bluest of skies is a "daygon"? He turns at the sound of an approaching SWOOSH, and in a panic ducks and dives just as the claws of a dagron swoop at him. NIDDLER Oh, "dagron!" Well, that makes more sense! He dives again as another dagron plummets at him. EXT. HOUSE ROOF -- DAY Rathka and Ren, tense, watch the battle above. Ioz is less stressed. IOZ Looks like you're going to have to get yourself new pet monkey-bird. Ren glances around frantically, locks onto a small cluster of rain barrels near the edge of the roof. He runs to the barrels, tips one over to pour all the water out. Ioz, watching this: IOZ Hey! That's someone's bathtub! Ren picks the barrel up and runs back to where Rathka still watches the sky intently. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- MID-AIR -- DAY Niddler flaps back and forth, facing and dodging two dagrons who circle and and swoop at him. The third dagron swoops around to dive at Niddler from behind. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- HOUSE ROOF/mid-air -- DAY Ren glares, lifts the barrel over his head, judging distance and direction of the dagron diving at Niddler. He rears the barrel back and hurls it. Niddler flaps obliviously as the dagron sweeps down behind. But just as the dagron is upon Niddler, the barrel flies up and hits the rider, knocking him off. Niddler dodges the gyrating dagron just in time, and turns to look down at the ground. Ren grins. Niddler dives for the roof. The two remaining dagron riders pull up short, hovering. The lead rider is Bomba/Malamba. He smiles. BOMBA/MALAMBA Ah, my tender little morsel! EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- HOUSE ROOF -- DAY Ren, Rathka, and Ioz crouch in readiness as Niddler sweeps in and hovers before them. NIDDLER There you are! I've been having such troubles--! RATHKA You've still got troubles, monkey- bird! IOZ We've all got troubles now! Niddler glances at Ioz. Niddler jerks a thumb at him. NIDDLER (to Ren) And who is he? Ren glances past Niddler's shoulder, and his eyes widen as he shoves the hovering Niddler aside. REN I'll introduce you later. If there is a later! He dashes away as a bemused Niddler turns to watch. Ren joins Ioz and Rathka near the edge of the the roof (standing between them). They have their swords out. He pulls out a knife as the dagrons float down toward them. EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- MID-AIR -- DAY Bomba/Malamba turns his burning eyes on Ren, even as he addresses his companion sidelong. BOMBA/MALAMBA You keep the others busy. The one in the middle is mine! EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- HOUSE ROOF -- DAY Ren, Rathka, and Ioz crouch in wait as the dagrons sweep at them. The first dives for Rathka, and he has to roll away as it swoops with claws outstretched. He swings his sword as it passes but misses. The dagron cuts a quick corner to swoop on him again. Rathka swings his sword at the dagron, which hovers and darts at him, its wings beating viciously. On his own mount, Bomba/Malamba watches, smiling, then spurs his own dagron forward. Bomba/Malamba's dagron drops straight down on Ren, pulling up almost at the last second to snatch at him with its hind claw. Ren jumps away. The dagron snatches again, and Ren dodges again. Snatch and dodge. Snatch and dodge. Ren swings his knife, and it connects with the claw. Ren falls to the ground and snatches his hand to his shoulder with a grimace of agony. His knife clatters away across the rooftop. Though nursing his hand against his shoulder, Ren glares up at the smiling Bomba/Malamba. BOMBA/MALAMBA I'm trying not to hurt you, morsel. He turns at a SCREECH, then YELLS as Niddler flies at him, beating at his face. As they fight, the dagron drops lower and lower toward Ren, who is sprawling on his side. Ioz is watching this intently, and his crouch deepens. His lip curls back, and he charges. Bomba/Malamba swings his fist and catches Niddler on the side of the head. Niddler tumbles back. The dagron flaps and flails over Ren. Ioz leaps in, swinging his sword. The body of the dagron rears back and falls in one direction, but the head flies in the opposite. Ren flinches as the dagron head hits the roof beside him, splatting black blood. The body of the dagron falls onto the roof and rolls onto its back. The wings and legs twitch and spasm, then is still. Ren looks up as a shadow falls over him. REN (sulky) You waited long enough. IOZ puts out a hand and pulls Ren up to his feet. IOZ It had to get low enough. Those things can hit you while staying out of reach. As you've just learned. He and Ren both turn at a sound. The dagron's body is rocking back and forth and turns onto its side, and a battered Bomba/Malamba rises from beneath it. He holds a sword, and advances. BOMBA/MALAMBA Ioz. How good to see you again. IOZ (puzzled) Bomba? BOMBA/MALAMBA Don't you remember me, Ioz? Our last talk, the night before you went over the side of the Maelstrom? When I told you about all the fun we'd have together? Ioz spots and reacts with widening eyes to the tattoo on Bomba/Malamba's forehead. IOZ (in cold fear) Noy jitat! Malamba! (hardening) How many have you eaten since I escaped? Bomba/Malamba spits. BOMBA/MALAMBA Bloth only gives me gristle and short rations since that night, the smilge we pull from shipwrecks. How I regret losing you, Ioz, for O! how I would have kept you plump! IOZ You want a second bite at me? Bomba/Malamba's eyes are hard and cruel as they shift from Ioz to Ren, and back. BOMBA/MALAMBA You'll be the appetizer. The boy will be my meal. Ioz's eyes widen with horror. He speaks over his shoulder to Ren. IOZ Run, Ren! REN (shocked, insulted) I'm not running away! Bomba/Malamba leaps at Ioz, and they lock swords. Ioz glances to one side while struggling against the weight of Bomba/Malamba. IOZ Then go help your brother! Ren glances over, at where the other dagron, hovering, is snatching at Rathka, who is lying the roof beating it back with this sword. Ren scowls, then dashes for his brother. But then he pulls up short with a look of anger and anxiety. He holds up his wounded hand to examine it. His palm is scored with a deep, reddening gash. His fingers twitch weakly. Ren grimaces, looks around, spots his knife on the other side of the roof. He drops to one knee and with his good hand pulls the broken sword from his boot. As the dagron clutches at Rathka, whose swings are becoming weaker and sloppier, Ren lifts the sword like a throwing blade next to his ear, and hefts it there. The dagron knocks Rathka's sword away with a claw. Ren hurls the knife. The dagron extends its neck and claws at Rathka. The rider jerks, straightens, then falls to the side. The dagron shakes itself, then flies into the sky, the rider hanging from its side with one foot caught in a stirrup. The broken sword hits the roof with a CLANG. Ren runs over to kneels beside Rathka, who is grimacing. REN Rathka! Where are you wounded? RATHKA I'm not! I just twisted my ankle! He glances over at the fight between Ioz and Bomba/Malamba. RATHKA Take my sword, go help Ioz! Ren looks between his brother and Ioz. He snatches up Rathka's sword with his good hand and runs back to the fight. Ioz and Bomba/Malamba talk as they circle between isolated sword blows. BOMBA/MALAMBA Bloth loved you, Ioz. It broke his heart the first time you left the Maelstrom. IOZ If he loved me, he wouldn't have promised me to you! BOMBA/MALAMBA He gave you to me so you wouldn't try leaving him again. IOZ The fact that he gives people to you is one of the reasons I left! They resume fighting in earnest. Blows are traded until Ioz, backing up, trips over the unconscious Niddler and falls. He raises his sword to ward off the blow that will come. Bomba/Malama grins, and raises his sword high over his head. Ren appears, leaping onto his back from behind. With one thrust, he pushes his sword through the sword-wielding forearm of Bomba/Malamaba. Bomba/Malamba SHRIEKS. Ren pulls the sword free, then drops from his shoulders. Bomba/Malamba's sword clatters as it hits the roof. He backs away from Ioz and Ren, clutching his wounded arm. He comes to the edge of the roof, and glances behind him over the edge. He grins at Ioz and Ren. BOMBA/MALAMBA Watch for me, Ioz, for we aren't through yet. And as for you, morsel! Keep yourself tender for me! He steps back over the edge, and disappears. Ren runs to the edge of the roof and pokes his head over the edge of the roof, looking down. Bomba/Malamba is splayed on the street below, limbs twisted and akimbo. His face and head are flat and deflated, the eye sockets empty. The rest of his body is deflating. Elsewhere, on the roof, Ioz seizes the claw of the decapitated dagron and chops a foot off with a knife. He shoves the claw into his belt as he shouts: IOZ Ren! Get your monkey-bird friend! I'll help Rathka! As he continues, the frame takes in the rooftop. A dead dagron, an unconscious monkey-bird, two men (one hobbling toward the other), and Ren, looking over the rooftop edge. IOZ We have to get out of here before the Port Constables come! CROSS FADE EXT. OCEAN -- THE WRAITH -- NIGHT The "Wraith" is a trim beauty of a ship, with an upswept prow like a beak, and a high poop split above and below with a fan as proud as a peacock's tail. She has a single mast with an oddly shaped sail: It is like a pair of wings set parallel to the deck, and sweeping out to either side. She has only a single deck on top, with a spacious hold beneath. Two doors in the face of the poop lead to cabins inside; hatches with stairways beneath lead into the hold. Atop the poop and fronted by an ornate carved railing, is the bridge, with a wheel in the middle. All the foregoing will be apparent in time. For now, it is enough to say that she is slipping silently over the calm seas. Lanterns hang at various spots about her deck; lights shine through the windows in the poop. EXT. THE WRAITH -- deck -- NIGHT A pail of water, with steam is rising from it. A pair of tongs dip into it, come come out gripping a dagron foot. The tongs sweep away, then the pail is picked up and carried off by an unseen figure. INT. THE WRAITH -- CABIN -- NIGHT A bunk is built into the wall under a window. Between it and the bunk on the other side of the cabin is a narrow floor. Ren, hunched and cross-legged, sits on one of the bunks. Tula enters, carrying the pail. She sets it in his lap, then sits on the opposite bunk. TULA Well, go ahead. Ren gives her a dirty look from under his brows. TULA Well, if you don't ever want to use that hand again. Ren sulks, but gingerly submerges his wounded hand in the pail. His eyes and mouth widen ... then twist into a silent shriek. Tula LAUGHS. TULA Your brother was right. He said you'd do it if I told you to. Ren's face is still twisted with pain, even as he looks surprised. REN If you told me to? TULA Sure. I don't know anything dagron claws, it's his friend Ioz who's the expert. Ren yanks his hand from the pail. REN (hotly) Well then I'm not--! Rathka has entered unnoticed. RATHKA Put it back in, Ren. Ren and Tula whip their heads around at him. RATHKA Ioz has worked with dagrons before. If he says to soak that wound in an infusion of water and dagron claw-- Ren sulkily returns his hand to the pail, wincing as he pushes it in. TULA (to Rathka) How did you meet your friend, anyway? RATHKA Ioz? In a tavern. We got caught up in a fight, covered each other's backs, went on a three-day drinking tear before waking up chained to some galley oars. Escaped at the next port, and worked our way home. (beat) You know, the usual. TULA But isn't he a pirate? RATHKA I stay out of his waters, he stays out of mine. Janda-Town is neutral territory. Tula looks around. TULA He must be good at it. This is a trim little ryecorr he's got. RATHKA He's good at piracy. It's dice he's lousy at. He exits. Tula watches him go, then gets up to follow. REN (hastily) How did you meet Rathka? She looks at him, and from her POV we see him: a strong, handsome youth, hunched but looking at her with wary, pleading eyes. She smiles. TULA The usual. He got in a fight at the tavern where I work, and I patched him up. (Beat.) I suppose that's the reason he sent his friend to get me. He won't let just anyone kiss and bandage his scratches. She exits. Ren looks at where she exited, then looks down into the pail. He pulls his hand out and examines it. The wound is gone from the palm, and he can flex easily and make a strong fist. He looks at his hand wonderingly. Then he sets the pail onto the floor and flops back onto the bed, knees up and hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. A moment later, an O.S. SCREAM bolts him upright. EXT. THE WRAITH -- DECK -- NIGHT Ren bursts from the cabin. Tula is screaming at Rathka as Ioz, at the wheel on the bridge, silently watches. TULA Ay, chongo-chipongo, Rathka! Malgar chongada! RATHKA It's not my fault! TULA Yes, I suppose it was the jitatin boat that decided to leave port with me on it! RATHKA I didn't know either until we were already out to sea. (to Ioz) Isn't that right, Ioz? Ioz A dozen scudballs were running down the dock toward us. I had to make a fast decision. TULA Whatever this is about, Rathka, it's not my business! I'm a barmaid! IOZ And you'll be a barmaid again! Once we've rounded a few capes, put a few whirlpools between us and pursuit. Until then, pretend you're one of these jitatin merchant-wives on a pleasure cruise. Sun yourself on deck and wait for a bare-chested boy to bring you grog. Ren's eyes widen, then dart about in his poker-straight face. Tula stares at him, then whirls and marches into the other cabin, slamming the door. A moment later the door opens again, and Niddler comes wheeling out, to fall and sprawl on the deck. Niddler sits up, blinking befuddledly. His head is bandaged. NIDDLER What a strange dream! I was sleeping in my nest when a shegra whirled into my tree, called me a "feather duster," and threw me out! REN Come on, Niddler, you can sleep in my cabin. Niddler looks at Ren, then gets up to follow. NIDDLER Of course, I wasn't surprised that the creature could talk. You expect that in a dream. But the language! They are about to enter the cabin when-- IOZ Ren! Ren pauses. IOZ How's the hand? Ren flexes it again. REN Good as new! (beat) Thanks! IOZ You're welcome. Ren is again about to enter the cabin when-- IOZ Ren! REN What? IOZ You get to say "You're welcome" too. REN For what? Beat. IOZ (grumbling) "For what?" the kid says. CROSS FADE EXT. JANDA-TOWN -- STREET -- NIGHT A brightly lit tavern. Drinkers visible through the windows, an open street in front. The lights from the tavern cast a glow against the blank wall opposite. The shadow of a walking figure passes across the wall. It has almost reached the darkness on the other side when another shadow--a tentacle--shoots out to wrap about the throat of the walking figure. It jerks it to a stop and pulls it backward, stumbling into the darkness from which it emerged. It falls backward into this darkness. Beat. A shadow steps into the glow. It is a human figure but broken-backed and broken-limbed. It shudders and twists and freezes, shudders, twists and freezes, shudders and freezes ... Then with a seeming "snap" falls upright into the familiar frame of a human being. It stands there a moment with its head lolling forward. Then it raises its head, and resumes its walk across the glowing patch, to disappear into the darkness into which it had previously been heading. FADE OUT FADE IN: EXT. OCEAN -- THE WRAITH -- DAY The Wraith bucks lightly in the rolling seas. IOZ (O.S.) Chongo-longo! Noy jitat! INT. THE WRAITH -- REN'S CABIN -- DAY The room is sunny and well-lit. The bed under the window is lumpy and rumpled. IOZ (O.S.) Aiii! Chongadiyae! The bed erupts, with Ren abruptly sitting up. He is bare-chested, and his hair hangs loose about his shoulders. He grimaces. EXT. THE WRAITH -- THE POOP -- DAY Ren, in trousers but bare-chested, barefooted, and his hair still down, bursts out a cabin door. He frowns at Ioz, who is kneeling on the main deck, face upraised to the sky, shaking his fists. At the wheel is Rathka. Ren glances back, does a double-take up at him before speaking. REN What's got Ioz so upset? RATHKA Someone's been messing with the ship's runes. IOZ (raving) Not "someone"! Those chongadiyae--! He continues RANTING incomprehensibly beneath the subsequent dialogue. Ren grips the top of the poop and gracefully pulls and swings himself up over the railing to join Rathka at the wheel. He talks as he does this. REN Who? How'd they get aboard? (protesting) I didn't do it! RATHKA The people who own the ship, Ren. As Rathka talks, we are treated to illustrative shots of the tops of the railings, the sails, the wheel Rathka is gripping. On all of these elaborate, graceful symbols are drawn. They shimmer and glint. RATHKA This is Ioz's old ryecorr. Apparently the new owners changed the runes after they took possession, and he just realized. REN (shocked) You mean Ioz can't control the ship? (more shocked) You mean he stole her? RATHKA Stole her back. You knew he lost her in a dice game, Ren. REN I thought that this was--! He folds his arms and looks away, grimacing. REN Just another one of Ioz's lies. RATHKA You just weren't paying attention. If Ioz had a ryecorr, Ren, why was he stealing pocket change on the streets of Janda-Town? Ren shrugs. REN Pirate at sea, pirate on land. You're going to make him give it back, of course. RATHKA No, I'm not. They were a gang of pirates he stole her from, Ren. Also, the runes have changed, so we can't fully control her. And last, you and I still need a ship. Ren's expression turns very thoughtful at that. Tula comes out of her cabin. TULA What's all the screaming out here? Ren leans over the railing to address her. REN Ioz stole a ship with runes he can't control. TULA Ay, jitata! IOZ Oh, I can control her, if I can get a enough crew to handle her. RATHKA How many, you think? Ioz strokes his chin as he studies his shipmates: Tula, Rathka, Ren, and Niddler, who has come out of a cabin, rubbing his eyes. IOZ Oh, four or five might do it. CROSSFADE EXT. OCEAN -- THE WRAITH -- DAY -- ESTABLISHING TULA (O.S.) (screaming) Cabana boy! EXT. OCEAN -- THE WRAITH -- MAIN DECK -- DAY Ren (still shirtless) kneels on deck, pressing his hands into two circular runes painted there. These glow very brightly. He looks up with a grimace. TULA (O.S.) Fill me up again! Ren recoils, barely dodging the wooden bucket that falls from above, bouncing hard off the deck. Then a wet handcloth lands SMACK on his face. Ren straightens up, and as his hands leave the runes, the glow fades. The boat makes a sudden lurch. RATHKA (O.S.) Ren! Stop smilging about, get back to work! Ren rips the hand cloth from his face. REN Tula needs me to refill her slop bucket! RATHKA (O.S.) And I need you to stop her bucking! EXT. OCEAN -- THE WRAITH -- DAY Rathka is at the wheel, with Ioz beside him. The runes on the wheel are glowing brightly. He cups a hand to his mouth and shouts. RATHKA Niddler! Refill Tula's bucket, take it back up to her! Niddler is perched atop the mast like a weather vane, leaning forward with his wings spread. The sail is full and straining below him. Niddler leaps lightly off the mast, swoops around, and descends in a tight circle. The moment he's off the mast, the sail loses all wind and collapses with a RUSTLE. Niddler passes Tula, who is sitting on a yardarm. He lands beside Ren, who is crouched over the deck again, hands pressed to it. As Niddler grasps the bucket he pauses to extend and cock his head to take in what Ren is doing. Ren's eyes are closed, and his brow and mouth are furrowed in concentration. Niddler picks up the bucket and waddles away. Rathka grips the wheel. There is a kind of small desktop, on which charts can be spread, beside him, and Ioz is leaning over it now, with a chart. But his eyes are on Ren. IOZ (quietly, to Rathka) The kid's strong. Usually it'd take two men to keep her quiet in a sea like this. RATHKA He's strong, but he's got the touch, too. We caught a royarsa last year, and Ren sailed her into the cove all by himself. Ren shifts, raising one arm to stretch it and his back while keeping one fingertip touching the deck. RATHKA Look at that. One finger only, and she's still as docile as a doolie bird. Ships love him. IOZ Mm. What did you do with the royarsa? RATHKA Oh, I sold her back to the smugglers. I told Ren the Wardens collected her. Ioz snorts. IOZ What he's going to say when he finds out--? RATHKA (firmly) He won't find out. Not until he's ready. So not a word or a hint, Ioz. Ioz takes the rebuff seriously, but then laughs as he looks up toward Tula. IOZ Well, then, what about the barmaid? Is she under your wing too? RATHKA Tula can take care of herself. He grins to himself. RATHKA She couldn't have lasted at the Mast and Yard if she couldn't. Ioz's eyes widen, and he grins. IOZ Oh, is that what she's like? He turns to look up at her again. Tula sits on the yardarm, washing the glowing runes on the mast with a hand cloth, the bucket on the other side of her. Ioz regards her appreciatively, but his expression falls into a scowl when his eyes return to Ren, who stretches his other arm, showing off a strong (but not overdeveloped) torso. IOZ Then tell the kid to put on a shirt. "Scuttle the competition," that's my philosophy. CROSSFADE EXT. OCEAN -- THE MAELSTROM -- DAY -- ESTABLISHING Frantic CRIES and YELLS erupt (O.S.) from her. EXT. OCEAN -- THE MAELSTROM -- TOP DECK -- DAY Pirates peer over the gunwales, then jump and hang back as one, two, then three pirates, SQUEALING, scramble up from below the gunwales to scramble and sprawl across the deck. As Bloth joins them, one last PIRATE scrambles aboard. He points behind him and down. PIRATE M-m-m-Malamba! He runs O.S. A figure, apparently climbing a ladder, appears where the pirates had scrambled up. Head, shoulder, torso, hips, legs. It steps on deck. It appears to be a short, squat old woman in a billowing dress and bonnet. An expression of fury is upon her face. Bloth grins at her. BLOTH Torment my eyes! Experimenting with a new kind of look, Malamba? The old woman (MRS. MALAMBA let's call her) stalks, fuming, across the deck toward Bloth. Across her forehead spreads the inky "four-legged octopus" tattoo. Her voice is the same as it's been. MRS. MALAMBA (furious) I lost two men, we had three dagrons shot from under us, and I had to row fifteen yonda through open water in this jitatin old carcass to get back! He glares at Bloth without looking at the pirates lined up behind him. MRS. MALAMBA I'll tell you the details, but first I'm going make a change! He points at the row of figures behind. MRS. MALAMBA (screaming) That one! Two of pirates WHIMPER and faint dead away. Bloth looks amused. BLOTH Three went out and one came back -- without the boy? -- and you expect a reward? MRS. MALAMBA That jitatin boy has friends! BLOTH (growls) You had Bomba, yet still you failed! Mrs. Malamba indicates herself. MRS. MALAMBA You expect me to bring him back with this? BLOTH If you don't, then I'll bottle you up in the bilge! CROSSFADE EXT. OCEAN -- THE WRAITH -- DAY -- ESTABLISHING It floats calmly, sails hanging, on the sea. IOZ (O.S.) Well, we've learned it's hard, but we can manage her. Well enough that we won't simply drift. INT. THE WRAITH -- CHART ROOM -- DAY A larger room than the cabins, with a round table and chairs in addition to a bunk; a small bookcase; a chest; and maps hanging on the walls. A large chart is spread over the table. Around the table, splayed in various attitudes of exhaustion are Ioz, Rathka, Tula, Ren, and Niddler. The latter perches on the back of a chair, but his neck and his wings droop badly. IOZ But the winds and currents are too strong to fight, if we have to buck the ship as well. An angle on the map shows many islands in the sea, along with decorative bits like dagrons, leviathans, ships, and storms. Ioz's hand traces a circle around the perimeter of a large body of water in the center. IOZ (O.S.) If we give the Wraith her head, she'll probably follow the prevailing currents, taking us back eventually to where we started. Ioz gives Tula a grim, sidelong look. IOZ It's the long way, but it's the only real way back to Janda-Town for us. TULA Ay jitata. Ren speaks as he studies the map. REN And the closest we get to the Citadel-- He points to a cape that extends into the map from off its side. REN --is where we started. Tanapango Lighthouse. TULA There's other ports along the way. Why can't we stop in the nearest port, sell this old scow, and buy another one, one you can handle? IOZ (growling) This "old scow"-- RATHKA No one would buy her, Tula, not without the master scrolls. Without them, you can't alter the rune work. TULA Chongo-longo! So how long is this voyage going to last? IOZ A season, maybe less if we put our backs into it. But we won't starve. We can make ports along the way, and Joat and his pack of dartha eels left enough silver aboard to keep us in provisions. Ioz glances sidelong at Rathka. IOZ (softly) And if we cross straits with any pirates or smugglers, we've got a couple of subwardens aboard who can ... Rathka doesn't react. Instead he leans forward to touch the map. RATHKA Regardless, we'll need timber. We should make our first landfall here. Ioz rears back, looking fearful. IOZ Noy jitat! Rathka's finger is pointing to a small island, clearly labelled "Galdebar." Ren's eyes widen as he looks at the chart. FADE OUT. |
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