The CAMERA follows them into the STADIUM.
CUT TO.
16. INT. PROJECT BIFROST SUPPORT CRAFT. DAY.
The INTERIOR of the PROJECT BIFROST SUPPORT CRAFT is a SMALL ROOM with A LOW ROOF. It has the SAME INDUSTRIAL UTILITARIAN DESIGN as the MOBILE COMMAND CENTRE.
A SCREEN is ON ONE WALL. STEPS in the BACK of the ROOM go up to the COCKPIT.
DAVE and FLETCHER are SAT AT a WORKBENCH with COMPUTERS in FRONT of THEM. FLETCHER is TYPING at A KEYBOARD. DAVE is TALKING INTO A RADIO.
DAVE
Everything looks good here.
Proceed into the Racegrounds. There are a lot of guards present. But then again we knew there would be.
Just act naturally.
FLETCHER suddenly throws the KEYBOARD DOWN.
FLETCHER
Oh! I give up.
DAVE
Cal, hold tight for a second.
HE CLICKS the RADIO OFF.
DAVE
What’s wrong.
FLETCHER
How can you stand working with this equipment?
DAVE
I know, its different from what we were used to. But I’m pretty certain that taking it out on the keyboard isn’t going to help.
FLETCHER
Don’t you get annoyed with how primitive all of this is?
How nothing seems to work the way it should.
DAVE
Well, they might be primitive. But all our technology hasn’t stopped us from getting in the mess that we’re in.
And its not the technology you’re mad with anyway.
Lets face it. Its not the technology that’s not working the way it should. Its our world that’s dysfunctional. All the things that we took for granted when we were growing up.
They’ve all been turned upside down.
Its funny, all the propaganda that you say the Regency Council’s been spewing out about me. You say it all says that I wanted to leave Arcadia, betray my home, to come back at the head of a conquering army and annex Arcadia for Earth.
All I wanted was my home back.
Now I do like these people and I have loved serving with them. They are people of courage and honour and I have never seen them shrink from a fight.
But do I want to be here, away from all the things that I have ever loved. Away from my sister, away from the shining spires of the Capitol?
No I don’t. Every exile longs for home, as I have always done.
And for a while I took it out everyone. Especially Murray.
FLETCHER
Really?
DAVE
He discovered the incursion and was the scientific leader of the expeditionary force sent through it.
I felt that if it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have been trapped on the other side. So I blamed him.
FLETCHER
Its true, though.
DAVE
I’m sorry?
FLETCHER
If it hadn’t been for him, you wouldn’t be trapped on the other side.
DAVE
You’re right, that’s true.
He GETS UP and WALKS TO A COFFEE MACHINE.
DAVE
You want some?
FLETCHER
How’s it taste?
DAVE
Awful. Its an acquired taste. You wouldn’t believe how much of this is sold on Earth.
The British drink tea, which is also an acquired taste. I’ve got used to this one. I quite like it.
I’m still not sure about tea.
He POURS TWO CUPS of COFFEE.
FLETCHER takes one, DRINKS and PULLS A FACE.
FLETCHER
That is truly horrendous.
DAVE
You get used to it.
So, yes its true that I got trapped on Earth because of Murray and the whole of Project Bifrost.
But if I hadn’t what would I have been doing? The Liberation Chambers would still be online and I’d be a fugitive, a resistance fighter, with no resources and very little hope.
This way. I’ve got support taking our world back.
So I take the rough with the smooth and try not to take my annoyance out on inanimate pieces of technology.
A CRACKLE comes from the RADIO.
MURRAY
(distorted over radio)
Heimdall to Base.
Berserker come in.
DAVE
Two seconds, Cal.
DAVE TURNS BACK to FLETCHER.
DAVE
Are you going to be okay?
FLETCHER
I’ll manage.
DAVE
Good.
Cal, go ahead.
QUICK CUT TOO.
17. EXT. THE RACEGROUNDS. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY
The TEAM are NOW within the RACEGROUNDS STADIUM. This is a LARGE STADIUM. PARTS of IT APPEAR to be ANCIENT. BUT OTHER PARTS of IT seem to be IMMENSELY FUTURISTIC.
MURRAY and TINKERBELL are CROUCHING NEXT TO A PILLAR and AGAINST A WALL. IT APPEARS to be IN AN ISOLATED CORRIDOR of the RACEGROUNDS.
HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY are at the END of the CORRIDOR. NIGHTINGALE and CASPAR are talking HALFWAY down the CORRIDOR. CASPAR is FIDDLING with A PIECE of TECHNOLOGY.
THE CAMERA TRAVELS DOWN the CORRIDOR. PAST HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY, PAST NIGHTINGALE and CASPAR and STOPS at MURRAY and TINKERBELL.
MURRAY
We’re inside.
DAVE
(distorted over radio)
Any problems?
MURRAY
None whatsoever. It seems none of the regular guardsmen or auxiliaries have been alerted to our presence.
So we were right, our technology was seen as too primitive for them to even care about it.
TINKERBELL
The same goes for our weapons.
MURRAY
You were right about security though. Every exit is covered. Body searches at all entrances. Luckily it wasn’t strip searches. I have no desire to see Caspar that way.
Depending on how this goes though, we might need you to extract us.
TINKERBELL
If this situation turns tactical, with the amount of personnel they’ve got on the ground, the only way out is straight through the stadium bowl itself.
DAVE
(distorted)
We’d be revealing ourselves.
MURRAY
If it turns tactical it means that we already have.
DAVE
(distorted)
That’s a good point.
MURRAY
Just be ready. We’re going in.
Radio silence from on unless it looks like we’ve been compromised.
DAVE
(distorted)
Okay, we’ll be watching.
They STAND UP.
They WALK BACK DOWN the CORRIDOR. They STOP at CASPAR and NIGHTINGALE.
MURRAY
Are we ready?
NIGHTINGALE
If Caspar ever gets this thing working.
CASPAR
Genius takes time.
Honestly, you’re spending too much time with Cal.
MURRAY
Really?
Okay, Mr Oliver, if you don’t mind.
We have a mission to complete.
Are you ready?
CASPAR
Yes.
MURRAY
What is that thing anyway.
CASPAR
I read one of your reports from the original incursion incident. You reckoned that because Arcadian units use a particular kind of energy generation that is different from any energy generation used on Earth, if you were able to identify the energy frequency, then you would be able to track Arcadian vehicles and technology.
MURRAY
I remember. Dave and I were suspended from duty before I was ever able to get around to developing the idea.
CASPAR
But you did leave the information on file, including your guesses about the energy generation frequency. It wasn’t difficult for Jackson and I to reverse engineer a device from your research and some of the Arcadian Communications tech that Fletch had on him when we originally had him in custody.
MURRAY
Really? Have you tested it?
CASPAR
That’s the problem. No. Because we haven’t had any run-ins with the Arcadians since we got here we’ve never been able to test it.
So I’d thought I’d bring it along.
MURRAY
Good thinking.
CASPAR
There we go.
I’m ready.
They WALK BACK DOWN the CORRIDOR TOWARDS HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY.
As they PASS, HOTSHOT and PLAYBOY FALL into LINE BEHIND THEM.
THEY WALK OUT into the MAIN STADIUM AREA. It looks LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A DOG TRACK and AN ANCIENT ARENA. It is HUGE.
AROUND THE EDGES of the TRACK ARE MEN TAKING BETS and CHALKING UP the BETS on BOARDS. There APPEARS to be SOME KIND OF MARKET or BAZAAR going on AS WELL.
The TEAM START WALKING DOWN the VARIOUS LEVELS of the STADIUM, TRYING to AVOID GUARDSMEN along their WAY.
THEY REACH THE LEVEL of THE BOOKMAKERS.
MURRAY
Okay, its nearly three.
Okay, Nightingale and I will make the bet.
Hotshot and Tinkerbell, you will take positions at the north end of the Stadium. Playboy, you get the pleasure of Caspar’s company at the south end.
We’ll make the bet and you watch our backs.
Oh and Caspar, Playboy? Try not to kill each other while you’re at it.
PLAYBOY and CASPAR walk off in ONE DIRECTION MUTTERING at EACH OTHER.
HOTSHOT and TINKERBELL HEAD in the OTHER DIRECTION.
MURRAY
Are you ready, darling?
NIGHTINGALE
After you, my love.
They MAKE THEIR WAY through the CROWDS TOWARDS THE BOOKMAKERS HOLDING HANDS and ACTING LIKE LOVESTRUCK NEWLYWEDS.
They REACH A BOOKMAKER.
NIGHTINGALE
Can I make a wager, please darling, please peaches?
MURRAY
Of course, you can my elderflower blossom.
BOOKMAKER
May I be of service, sir?
MURRAY
Indeed you can, my good man. It seems that my fair damsel, my summer rose, my angelic lady desires to make a wager.
And when my lady asks for something, be still my heart! I find myself under an obligation to grant her her wish.
I can refuse her nothing.
BOOKMAKER
Well the next race is at None.
Would you like to make a wager for that race or another.
MURRAY
Well I don’t want to shout about it, but I have a friend who knows somebody who gave me a tip on a certain competitive porcine.
BOOKMAKER
I’m sorry, sir?
MURRAY
Somebody gave me a tip on a pig, my good man.
BOOKMAKER
Yes, sir. Sorry, sir.
And the name of the animal, sir.
MURRAY
I believe it was called Luther’s Remedy, sir.
The BOOKMAKER looks off at a FIGURE in the CROWD QUICKLY.
BOOKMAKER
I’m sorry, sir. I don’t recall any animal racing here with that name.
However if you want to check the Paddock, you might be able to find the animal in question.
MURRAY
Thankyou.
Let’s go, my love.
THEY WALK AWAY. AS THEY DO, THE BOOKMAKER NODS to A MAN in the CROWD.
NIGHTINGALE
What are we going to do now?
If we can’t make the bet?
MURRAY
Go to the paddock. He may have said that the animal doesn’t exist but his reaction showed me that he knew what I was talking about.
Did you notice the emblem on the hem of his cloak?
THE CAMERA CUTS QUICKLY back to the BOOKMAKER. IT FOCUSES ON HIS CLOAK.
NIGHTINGALE
No.
The CAMERA TRACKS down the CLOAK until we see the EMBLEM of A WHITE ROSE.
CUT TO.
18. EXT. THE RACEGROUNDS. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY.
The CAMERA CUTS into A FLASHBACK SCENE.
The CAMERA is USING A CINEFILM STYLE SHOT.
A SERIES OF IMAGES with SOUND THAT ISN’T SYNCHED UP.
A SERIES of MEMORIES REPRESENTED BY FILM and SOUND.
The FILM IMAGES are of THE RACEGROUNDS. A WOMAN can be SEEN in a LOT of THEM. She is DRESSED AS A NOBLE ARCADIAN she WEARS a BLUE CLOAK and HAS LONG DARK HAIR. A BOY in HIS EARLY TEENS CAN ALSO be SEEN. He is A GUARDSMEN UNIFORM but WITHOUT A COLOURED CLOAK. This is THE UNIFORM of A GUARDSMAN APPRENTICE. The FLASHBACKS TAKE PLACE on A SUNNY DAY. They are FROM the POINT of VIEW of A SMALL CHILD.
A FANFARE can be HEARD DISTORTED.
WOMAN’S VOICE.
Stay with your brother now,
Don’t run off. Your first day at the races.
TEENAGE BOY’S VOICE.
Come on, don’t be left behind.
LITTLE GIRL’S VOICE.
Can we see the pigs, I want to see the pigs.
TEENAGE BOY’S VOICE
Yes, if you want, just don’t cramp my style.
LITTLE GIRL’S VOICE
Are you meeting someone? Are you meeting a girl.
TEENAGE BOY’S VOICE
I might be.
LITTLE GIRL’S VOICE
Awwww, you’ve got a girlfriend.
TEENAGE’S BOY VOICE
Just stay out of the way.
CUT TO.
19. INT. OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT. DAY.
The INTERIOR of A OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT. LADY ERIS is SAT on A COMMAND CHAIR in the CENTRE of the BRIDGE of the OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT. The FLASHBACK APPEARS to be HERS.
The BRIDGE is DIMLY LIT. SPOTLIGHTS PICK out LADY ERIS and SEVERAL OTHER WOMEN DRESSED in BLACK UNIFORMS with BLACK HELMETS. They are SAT AT DIFFERENT STATIONS OPERATING THE CRAFT’S SYSTEMS.
DE MORTE ENTERS the BRIDGE.
He KNEELS BEFORE LADY ERIS.
He INTERRUPTS HER REVERIE.
DE MORTE
My lady, we’re nearly at the Racegrounds.
LADY ERIS
Excellent. Bring us in quietly.
DE MORTE
Yes, my lady.
LADY ERIS STANDS UP and STARTS TO WALK OFF the BRIDGE.
She PAUSES at THE DOORWAY out of the BRIDGE and GESTURES IMPATIENTLY for DE MORTE to FOLLOW.
DE MORTE looks SHEEPISH, DESPITE his NATURALLY AGGRESSIVE DEMEANOUR.
DE MORTE
Sorry, my lady.
He RUNS OUT after LADY ERIS.
They WALK DOWN the CORRIDOR.
DE MORTE
My lady, may I ask? Why are we here?
LADY ERIS
Because we were invited.
DE MORTE
We were invited last year but we didn’t attend.
LADY ERIS
Are you questioning my orders.
Because we both know what happened to the last person who did that, don’t we?
DE MORTE
I would never question your orders. I’m only seeking to understand. If the invaders from Earth have not left the site of the Veil, why are we here and not there?
LADY ERIS
We know that the troops from Earth are trying to make contact with members of a resistance group in an attempt to turn back the events of the last two years. As we must not allow this to happen, we must find the Resistance as well.
As we were unable to procure the location of the Resistance contact from the village council who defied us, this is the most sensible place to look for said Resistance members.
DE MORTE
But The Races will be crawling with our forces, surely this is the last place for them to gather.
LADY ERIS
Because you are a fool. You only ever see things from a tactical point of view.
Remember, members of such a resistance group rely on infiltration and stealth. They hide in plain sight. Do I have to spell it out for you?
Who would notice a group of people in a clandestine fashion in a place where everybody is meeting in a clandestine fashion.
So any resistance group just looks like a group of people discussing making a wager or the form of a certain animal, not armed insurrection against the rightful government of Arcadia.
DE MORTE
So we’re here to hunt resistance members?
LADY ERIS
If there’s no Resistance to help them, Bloodhelm and his men are not going to get very far now are they?
They will be isolated and then we can crush them.
SHE CONTINUES to WALK DOWN the CORRIDOR. DE MORTE REMAINS where he is.
AN OBSIDIAN GUARDSMEN WALKS up to DE MORTE.
GUARDSMAN
What’s she talking about?
DE MORTE
Blood and Vengeance. What else?
CUT TO.
20. EXT. THE RACEGROUNDS. FRODINGHAM TOWNSHIP. DAY.
EFFECTS SHOT.
The OBSIDIAN GUARD CRAFT FLIES TOWARDS the RACEGROUNDS. It LANDS on TOP of A BUILDING ATTACHED to the RACEGROUNDS which OBVIOUSLY SERVES the PURPOSE of A SORT of HELIPAD for ARCADIAN FLYING CRAFT.
CUT TO.
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