Daylight - First Draft

Act I - Scene 11: Meet and Greet

SC11 - Meet and Greet

INT. MERCENARIES GUILD. MORNING.

Eleanor opens her eyes. She is lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The morning sunlight filters through the window onto her face. She sits up.

ELEANOR: It was just a dream...

She shakes her head and gets up. Hearing voices from the kitchen, she heads downstairs. The smell of breakfast cooking drifts up the stairs as she decends. Eleanor walks into the kitchen, immediately noticing a large man with his back to her doing the cooking. Zavier spots her from the table where he, Taryn and Gatling are seated.

ZAVIER: Ah Eleanor, there you are.

ELEANOR: Good morning.

Eleanor smiles at her hosts and Taryn beckons her to sit with them.

TARYN: Join us for some breakfast, dear.

Eleanor takes a seat then looks over her shoulder at the large man, who is flipping pancakes over the stove. He catches her eye and grins widely.

MAN: (Jovial) Good mornin'! We haven't been introduced, I'm Roland Thane and breakfast is ready.

The man saunters over and drops a stack of pancakes on Eleanor's plate.

ELEANOR: You must be the 'bossman'.

ROLAND: (Laughs) That's what they call me. And I take it you're our guest.

ELEANOR: Eleanor Mayne, It's nice to finally meet you Mr. Thane.

ROLAND: Whoa now, none of this 'mister' business. Just call me Roland.

Roland takes another two huge plates of pancakes in his enormous hands and delivers them to the table. He then takes a chair, which is comically much larger than the rest as well. The others start to tuck in to their breakfast.

ROLAND: Eat up, lass!

Eleanor takes a bite out of a forkful of pancake. The pancake is poorly cooked but she manages to get it down. She smiles politely at Roland, who is clearly quite pleased. They eat in silence for a while, then the bossman clears his throat.

ROLAND: Now then Elle, I hear Mr. Balfor wants to see you about something. Let me tell you right now, that man is a deceptive one. Whatever he wants will be of benefit to him, not you. Now I don't want to see you get into any trouble, so I'm gonna have Sergeant Greye from security to keep an eye on you.

ELEANOR: Is Zavier not coming?

ZAVIER: Only so far as the senate building. I don't have clearance so I'm to hand you over at the gates. Don't worry, you can trust Kayla. Once you're done, she'll bring you back here and then we can get you home.

ELEANOR: Ok. You didn't... you know, say anything about my...

Roland raises his hand before she can finish.

ROLAND: Zavier wouldn't say a word about why you're here. He's a stubborn boy, that one. Usually I'd know everything that's going on around here, but I'll make an exception in this case. (Addressing Zavier) But from here on out, you fill me in on everything.

ZAVIER: Got it, boss.

They finish the pancakes then Taryn and Gatling take the dishes to wash them up. Roland gets to his feet and sighs.

ROLAND: Well lass, I have paperwork to do so I'll see you when you get back. Take care of that one.

He nods towards Zavier with a big grin. Zavier rolls his eyes. Eleanor laughs along with the bossman, who then leaves the kitchen.

ZAVIER: We'd best get going. You can leave your stuff here if you want, we'll be back to pick it up before we leave.

They leave via the kitchen door, waving goodbye to Taryn as they go. The streets are bustling, unlike the night before, and the market is in full swing. Eleanor marvels at the sights and sounds of the city, her eyes wide like a child at their first time visiting a playground. But Zavier soon leads them out of the marketplace, instead making their way up a long stairway to the upper city. When they reach the top, Zavier is stopped by a soldier.

SOLDIER: Clearance?

ZAVIER: I'm just handing over a visitor at the senate building. Sergeant Greye knows we're coming.

SOLDIER: If you don't have clearance, I can't let you past. Please turn back.

ZAVIER: That's ridiculous! You can't stop us getting in to the upper city.

SOLDIER: Grand Admiral's orders, sir. No citizen crosses this line without clearance.

Zavier is about to retort when a voice calls out from behind the soldier.

KAYLA: Stand down, private! I'll handle this.

Kayla walks up to him and pats him on the back. The soldier begrudgingly walks away.

ZAVIER: (Smiles) Kay.

KAYLA: (Nods) Zavier.

There is a moments awkward silence. Kayla looks about the same age as Zavier. She is wearing a security uniform and light body armor and she has pistols holstered at both of her sides. Eleanor looks questioningly at Zavier who clears his throat before speaking.

ZAVIER: Look... I should have said something. The job was urgent though. Grand Admirals orders.

KAYLA: No, I understand.

ZAVIER: I'll make it up to you. Oh right, Kayla, this is Eleanor. Eleanor this is Kayla.

Kayla offers her hand and Eleanor shakes it.

KAYLA: Pleasure. I assume you won't be causing us any trouble.

ELEANOR: Not that I'm planning on.

KAYLA: Right, well let's get this over with. I'll see you back at the guild, Zave. Don't go running off on a job while we're gone.

ZAVIER: I'm not going anywhere this time, Kay. You girls have a good day now.

Zavier gives them a two-fingered salute and heads back to the lower city. Kayla eyes Eleanor suspiciously.

ELEANOR: Something wrong?

KAYLA: Not at all.

They begin to walk. The upper city is full of soldiers, with only the occasional citizen dotted about.

ELEANOR: So how long have you and Zavier known each other?

KAYLA: Five, six years. Why?

ELEANOR: You guys seemed a little tense back there is all...

KAYLA: Hmm.

ELEANOR: You know Taryn said you guys were a pickle.

KAYLA: Did she now? I wouldn't look into it kid, she likes to put her own spin on things.

Kayla increases her pace. Eleanor thinks for a moment then smiles as she is struck by a sudden realization.

ELEANOR: Ohhhhhh I get it now. You and Zavier.

KAYLA: I don't know what you're talking about.

ELEANOR: You two have a thing?

Kayla blushes and stops in the middle of the street, whipping round to face Eleanor.

KAYLA: I don't want to talk about it, ok? Can't we just walk?

ELEANOR: Alright, but I'm rooting for you guys. That's all! We can carry on now.

Eleanor continues walking. Kayla shakes her head and notices two soldiers staring at her, smirking.

KAYLA: What are you looking at? Get back to work!

The soldiers quickly try to look busy as Kayla dashes off after Eleanor.