Daylight - First Draft

Act I - Scene 13: To the Rescue

SC13 - To the Rescue

INT. DETENTION WING. EVENING.

Two guards stand at attention outside Eleanor's room in the detention wing. The room is better kept than a normal cell, almost passing for a bedroom if it weren't for the bars on the windows. Eleanor is sitting on the bed and staring out of the window, a tear running down her cheek. She wipes it off with her sleeve.

ELEANOR: I should've listened to you, Father. You warned me... but I...I never meant for this. I just want to go home.

She sits in silence for a few moments, watching the stars as they begin to appear in the sky. Suddenly there is a thump outside the door, followed by the sound of someone falling over. Eleanor hears the sound of a scuffle and there is one last thump before the hallway falls silent again. Then there is a click as the door opens and Kayla strides into the room. Zavier follows, dragging an unconcious guard with him. Eleanor stares at them, stunned. Kayla walks over to the window and checks for more guards. Zavier catches Eleanors eye as he drops the guard next to the bed.

ZAVIER: Hey Elle. Nice cell!

ELEANOR: Wha... what are you doing here?

ZAVIER: Well we were rescuing you but now I'm thinking of moving in. Is this place on the market?

Eleanor smiles and wipes the tears from her eyes.

ELEANOR: You guys...

ZAVIER: Don't worry about it. Kay, how's it looking?

KAYLA: Coast is clear. We should get moving.

ELEANOR: But aren't you head of security? Couldn't you just tell the guards to let me out?

KAYLA: Balfor has taken control of the detention wing for the week. Emperor ordered my men to get out. So we're doing things the old fashioned way.

Kayla helps Eleanor up and nods to Zavier who returns the gesture and moves out of the room with his pistol raised.

KAYLA: (Addressing Eleanor) Follow me.

They leave the room and run quietly down the hallway until they reach a corner where Zavier is waiting. He lowers his voice as he speaks with Kayla.

ZAVIER: Yeah, taking the elevator's out of the question.

Kayla takes a glance round the corner. There are five guards standing in the room along with an officer. She retracts her head.

KAYLA: Dammit! (She thinks for a moment) Alright, new plan.

They follow her back down the hall to a vent at the top of the far wall. Kayla leaps up and grabs the grill, suspending herself by leaning back with her feet on the wall. She pulls out a knife and uses it to wedge off the grill. As it snaps off the wall, she gracefully leaps back to the ground with barely a sound and places the grill down gently.

ELEANOR: Ok, that was cool.

ZAVIER: She's good at making things look easy, isn't she?

KAYLA: I'll go in first, you give Eleanor a boost.

She leaps back up the wall and pulls herself into the vent. Zavier helps Eleanor up before climbing up himself. They crawl for few minutes, finally reaching an exit where the vent opens up on the other side of the city wall. Kayla kicks the grill off and drops out of the vent. A passing guard raises his weapon but is swiftly knocked out by a blow to the head. Zavier helps Eleanor out of the vent as Kayla checks that the coast is clear.

KAYLA: We're going in via the north gate. Just try to act normal and I'll wave us through.

Zavier and Eleanor nod and they make their way down the hill to the northern gate. As they try to enter, a guard steps forward and holds up his hand for them to stop.

GUARD: Identification?

Kayla steps forward.

GUARD: Oh! Sorry Sarge, I didn' see you there.

KAYLA: Don't worry about it Gregory, just let us through.

Gregory opens the gate for them. As Kayla passes, he raises an eyebrow at her.

GREGORY: It's funny, I though you were on watch in the market tonight Sarge.

KAYLA: About that... best keep this between us, alright Greg?

GREGORY: Don't you worry 'bout a thing Sarge. You can trust ol' Greg.

Kayla nods and the three continue into the city. Once out of sight of the gate, they speed up the pace and return to the Mercenaries Guild. Kayla stops before they reach the front door.

KAYLA: I need to check in at the station so as not to arouse suspicion. I'll catch up with you guys later.

ZAVIER: Be careful.

Kayla hurries off down the street. Zavier tries the door but it's locked, and he hammers on it with his fist.

ZAVIER: Taryn, open up! It's Zavier.

There is a pause before Taryn opens the door. She glares at the two of them.

TARYN: Where the hell have you been? Get inside before anyone sees you.

They hurry inside and Taryn closes the door behind them. Gatling is sitting at the table, sipping a drink and looking at them with questioning eyes.

TARYN: What happened?

ZAVIER: We took a little detour is all. Don't worry, we didn't leave any trace.

ELEANOR: But... what about Balfor? He hired you to bring me here, so wouldn't this be one of the first places he'd look?

There is an long pause as Taryn and Zavier try to figure out what to do next. Zavier speaks first.

ZAVIER: We need to go, lie low for a while. If we leave before morning we can slip out of the city and be gone before the alarm's even raised.

ELEANOR: Where will we go?

ZAVIER: Well I promised to take you home, so that's what we're gonna do. (He covers his face with his hand) I should never have brought you here in the first place. I'm sorry.

ELEANOR: You came back for me. I should be thanking you.

Zavier gives her a worried smile and then snaps back into action.

ZAVIER: We should go now. Get your pack. There's something I need to find.

Zavier jogs out of the room and Eleanor heads upstairs, grabbing her satchel from her room and checking everything is still there. She throws the strap over her shoulder and hurries back to the kitchen. Zavier arrives shortly after with his bag and he beckons her to the door. As he opens it, Kayla barges in and they collide head on.

KAYLA: Ahhh! What the hell?

ZAVIER: Damn, Kay. (He nurses his forehead) Knock next time, won'tcha?

KAYLA: Where were you going anyway? Wait...

She spots his pack and glares at Zavier furiously.

KAYLA: You were gonna leave without saying anything again, weren't you?

Zavier falls silent. Taryn leans closer to listen in but Gatling grabs her by the shoulder and steers her out of the room before she can hear any more of the arguement.

ZAVIER: I... Kay, we have to. Balfor will find us if we stay in the city!

KAYLA: Goddammit Zavier! You had me worried sick last time. Don't you dare do that again.

ZAVIER: Look, I'm sorry. But we've got to go now. There's no time to discuss this.

Kayla stares at Zavier with a determined expression.

KAYLA: I'm coming with you.

ZAVIER: Kay...

She holds up her hand to stop him.

KAYLA: Ah ah, no time remember? Now shall we?

She exits the building and Zavier just stands in the doorway, looking conflicted. Eleanor shrugs at him before dashing after Kayla.

ZAVIER: Ahh great... Wait up!

He closes the door and runs after them.