Act 2, Scene 4: Sifting the Wheat From the Chaff

RATS

TECH PREROLL

LX-2400 GO

LX-2401 STANDBY for GO

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Unmute Desk

Mstisha: OFF
Pan: OFF
Reesa: OFF
Haku: OFF
Runoratsu: OFF

DIALOG

STANDBY Stage left [1, 1st, off]: Lilja, Jeffrey; Isaac, Dead_Body_2 and Dead_Body_1 in the wheelbarrow.

STANDBY Stage left [1, 2nd, off]:

STANDBY Stage right [7, 1st, off]: Cassandra, Franklin, Helena.

STANDBY Stage right [7, 2nd, off]:

STANDBY Stage:

AMB-2401 - Outside Tropical Island

LX-2401 GO

Curtain - open

showing the scenery, but nobody's there yet.

Cassandra and two of her crew mates have made the trip to the Hissing Isles again - and they've snuck onto the island, equipped with the information that Thomas gave them.

Cassandra, Franklin and Helena are camping out in a hiding spot on a hill, looking at the scene.

Cassandra is looking through a small telescope.

Franklin is chewing noisily on a cold chicken leg.

Helena is leaning against a tree, snoring.

Cassandra: "Guys ... can you please stop making weird noises while I'm trying to concentrate?"

Franklin (mouth full): "If I had known the Hissing Isles are this boring, I wouldn't have voted to go home the first time."

Cassandra: "I'm still glad we did. Imagine what would have happened if we had run into the Order unprepared. I mean, look at it. That's a decent sized city over there, all nicely hidden on the southern side of the mountain."

Franklin: "So how much longer are you going to stare at those holes in the ground?"

Cassandra: "Until someone shows up. I want to know what they're building there."

Franklin: "*sigh* I hope they won't find our ship while we're here."

Cassandra: "I didn't spot any lookouts except the one at the pier. I told Baldwin to wait a few miles off the eastern shore, I'm pretty sure the Barnacle will be safe there for a while. Oh ... oh wait, someone's coming along the path ... Helena. HELENA! Look!"

Cassandra pokes Helena.

Helena (wakes up): "Erm ... whu? *HMPF*"

Franklin puts a paw over Helena's mouth.

Cassandra (whispering): "Quiet!"

Everyone looks intensely into the same direction, squinting their eyes, Cassandra with her small telescope.

Lilja comes in from [1] pushing a wheelbarrow in front of her, carrying a big shovel on her back.

Mistisha: ON

SND-2401 - Wheelbarrow Moves
SND-2402 - Wheelbarrow Stop

There are three dead bodies inside the wheelbarrow, the one on top is Isaac, the other two are Dead_Body_2 and Dead_Body_1.

Helena (whispering): "What the hell is she hauling there?"

Franklin (whispering): "Looks like a pile of dirty rags."

Cassandra (whispering): "No ... those aren't rags ... those are bodies!"

Franklin (in shock): "WHAT? Are you sure?"

Cassandra (whispering): "Yes! Holy Shit!"

Lilja sets down the wheelbarrow near hole 3 at [4]</ap>, rams the shovel into the ground and stretches her back.

Lilja: "*groan* Why do I always have to do the dirty work for everyone else. Sorry for not being some genius science whiz-kid, I guess."

Lilja tilts the wheelbarrow, letting Isaac, Dead_Body_2 and Dead_Body_1 fall into hole 3.

Lilja pulls back the wheelbarrow a bit, putting it at [2.5].

Lilja: "Bye bye, it was great not knowing you."

Lilja moves over to [5], turns around to face hole 3 and begins shoveling earth into it with her shovel.

RATS - Shoveling Noises

Franklin: "This is no construction site ... it's a freaking mass grave!"

Helena: "You really still think your father is involved in all this?"

Cassandra: "I can't imagine how. But everything is pointing to it."

Helena: "I used to think the Order was just a bunch of religious nuts helping of the poor and the sick. But so far I haven't seen anything that doesn't reek of pure evil."

Cassandra: "This can't be right. Come on, let's get her!"

Cassandra rushes off.

Franklin: "Wait, what? Okay!"

Cassandra: "I must know what happened to those people. Come on."

Franklin and Helena follow her.

Pan: ON
Haku: ON
Reesa: ON

Cassandra runs in from [7] carrying a grey sack.

Cassandra pounces Lilja and pulls the grey sack over her head.

Lilja: "Yarghl!"

Franklin and Helena run in from [7] and grab Lilja, tying her up into a bundle using rope. Don't tie the sack!

Lilja: "*MMMPMFPMPMPMPMMMMMMPPF*"

Franklin puts Lilja into the wheelbarrow at [2.5], Cassandra and Helena remain at [6].

Franklin: "Sshhhhhh! Stop struggling! We're not gonna hurt ya!"

Helena: "Unless you do something stupid!"

Lilja stops struggling.

Cassandra walks over to the grave at hole 3 and looks into it. Helena stays behind her near [6].

Cassandra: "WHAT THE FUCK!"

Cassandra reels back in shock, and fights against the urge to throw up.

Cassandra rushes over to Franklin at [3.5] for support. Franklin remains stationary.

Cassandra: "*hack* *cough* Oh my god ... oh my god ... oh my god ..."

Cassandra leans on Franklin as her legs feel like rubber.

Cassandra (gasping): "The guy right on top ... I've seen him before ... oh my god ... but his face ..."

Franklin hugs Cassandra.

Franklin: "What's up with him?"

Cassandra: "He ... his name's Isaac. Homeless guy from Port Hogas. Used to hang around the warehouse at the pier. How did he end up here ...?"

Helena walks towards the grave at the [5] side of it.

Cassandra: "NO, HELENA! DON'T LOOK!"

Helena looks.

Helena (gags): "GOOD GRIEF! What did these monsters DO to them?"

Franklin: "Now I want to look, too."

Helena, Cassandra: "DON'T!"

Franklin: "Alright, alright, what did I miss?"

Cassandra: "Their bodies ... they've got burns all over ... and then that guy's head, it looks like it exploded! From the inside! And ..."

Franklin: "THANK YOU, THAT'S ENOUGH. So what would you say, crime or accident?"

Cassandra: "I don't know. But I know who does."

Franklin steps aside to let Cassandra reach Lilja. He slowly goes all the the way around the the other end of the wheelbarrow (the side with the handle).

Cassandra pulls the grey sack off Lilja's head.

Lilja: "GASP!"

Cassandra: "Hey, you little bitch, what happened to those people?"

Lilja: "I have no idea! I didn't kill them, I'm just burying them!"

Cassandra: "LIKE WHAT?"

Lilja: "Yeah, believe it or not, I'm just doing my job, like everyone else here! What is this anyway, one of Jeffrey's stupid tests of faith?"

Cassandra: "How can you be filling a mass grave and not care what the fuck lead to this point?"

Lilja: "I used to care, but I'm barely Level 12, so they don't care if I care or not, they're not gonna tell me. I'm sure they got their reasons. Yeah, sometimes it's pretty bad, but it's not like they're humans or anything."

Cassandra: "But you are?"

Lilja: "Check my trust if you want to!"

Cassandra: "Your what?"

Lilja: "On my wrist, idiot!"

Cassandra wrangles Lilja's hand and holds it up and looks at the color coded wristband level 12.

Cassandra: "Lilja Orgulev, Operations, Level 12."

Lilja: "See? SEE? Now let me go, for heaven's sake! I didn't do anything wrong."

Cassandra (angry): "I should probably throw you down that hole with everyone else, but unlike you, I have dignity!"

Cassandra puts the grey sack back on Lilja's head.

Cassandra: "Take her to the ship."

Franklin: "You sure that's a good idea?"

Cassandra: "Well, can't leave her here, can we?"

Franklin: "Hmm ... good point. What are you going to do?"

Cassandra: "Go right into the eagle's nest. And find Thomas. He needs to know what's really going on here! If you don't get a sign of life from me for three days, I want you to return to Costa Moringa, and contact the Royal Marine. Tell them what you know about the Order and the island. They can alert the King and make them aware of what's brewing here."

Helena: "What if we don't want to leave?"

Cassandra: "That's an order, Sailor."

Helena: "*sighs* Aye aye, captain. And good luck."

Franklin: "If you don't come back alive, I'm going to be mad at you. Very mad."

Franklin grabs the wheelbarrow with Lilja and hauls her out towards [7].

Helena follows Franklin off stage at [7].

Mistisha: OFF
Haku: OFF
Reesa: OFF

Runoratsu: ON

Cassandra waits till they're gone, and takes a very deep breath.

Cassandra: "I really can't leave you like that, can I?"

Cassandra grabs the shovel and begins to fill the grave with earth. hole 3 cover starts to appear.

Cassandra: "Sunset and evening star"
Cassandra: "And one clear call for me!"
Cassandra: "And may there be no moaning of the bar"
Cassandra: "When I put out to sea."

Cassandra stomps on the grave at hole 3 a few times, compacting the earth.

Cassandra: "There. May you rest in peace. I'll never be able to understand how anybody can commit an atrocity like this. I'm so sorry for you Isaac, and all you other nameless victims. Nobody deserves to end up like this."

Jeffrey enters from [1].

Jeffrey: "Yes, it might seem cruel on the surface, but it's a sacrifice that pales in the light of the greater good."

Cassandra swirls around and gasps, and just stares at Jeffrey with her mouth wide open.

Jeffrey: "Sorry for sneaking up on you like that. I can tell you were expecting anyone but me! I saw your performance review, and that you were due for a level up, so I thought, why not bring you the good news myself? Lilja? Lilja Orgulev? That's you, right!"

Cassandra (whispering in shock): "Father ...?"

Jeffrey: "What was that?"

Cassandra (in shock): "It's me! CASSANDRA! Don't you remember me?"

Jeffrey: "Oh? OH. Yeah, I can see the resemblence. I expected to meet you one day, but this encounter definitely comes as a surprise."

Cassandra: "What's wrong with you? What are you talking about?"

Jeffrey: "I'm not your father, Cassandra. Although I do inhabit his body. If I may introduce myself, my name is Jeffrey Arkenstone. Pleased to meet you!"

Jeffrey holds out his hand. Cassandra does not take it

Cassandra: "Wait ... no way ... what are the chances ... holy crap ..."

Jeffrey: "Oh yes. And if you would please come with me, I have questions. And you've seen a liiiitle bit too much, I'm afraid."

Cassandra: "Shit!"

Cassandra turns around and runs

Jeffrey: "Hey! HEY! SECURITY! STOP THE INTRUDER!"

Pan: OFF
Runoratsu: OFF

Haku: ON
Reesa: ON

Jeffrey runs after her

Security_1 and Security_2 appear and run after Jeffrey

Helena runs in from [1], but stops mid-stage turning around

Helena: "What are you waiting for, we gotta help Cassandra!"

Franklin walks in from [1] and stays there

Franklin: "Are you crazy? Even if we manage to catch up with them, what are you gonna do?"

Helena: "See where they're taking her!"

Franklin: "No! We have our orders!"

Helena: "Screw orders. She's a friend! We gotta help her!"

Helena starts running

Franklin tackles her ...

Helena: "HEY! AARRGH!"

Franklin: "Shhhhh! You know that I love you, but you're about to run into your own demise! If her ex-dad is only halfway smart enough to put one and one together, he'll understand that Cassandra didn't paddle here on her own. We gonna make sure the crew is safe first. Come on."

Helena: "*sigh* Okay, you're right. But I'm not going to sail home just like that. I swear."

All Mics: OFF
AMB and MUS: Fade out
Mute all except AV-Playout

LX-2498 GO

Curtain - close

LX-2499 GO

Microphone handover from ROLE to OTHER ROLE