Daylight - First Draft

Act II - Scene 42: The Gate Between the Worlds

SC42 - The Gate Between the Worlds

EXT. THE PHILOSOPHER. MIDNIGHT.

The Philosopher lands gently in the middle of a quiet plain. The hangar door opens, revealing Eleanor and her fellow prisoners, along with their captors. Fredricks gives Eleanor a gentle nudge to get her to start moving. She does so, and then lowers her voice to address him without being overheard.

ELEANOR: Why are you going along with this?

FREDRICKS: Adams told you already, I don't want these people to die like this.

ELEANOR: Why haven't you tried to get the detonator? You can't just sit around and do nothing.

FREDRICKS: If we'd have screwed up, you know she would have hit that button. You saw her, she's crazy.

ELEANOR: So you wanna keep your people alive but you're alright with handing us off to a nutjob? What a hero.

FREDRICKS: It's not like that...

Eleanor ignores him.

ELEANOR: So what happens now?

FREDRICKS: I'm gonna have to hand you over to the nutjob.

ELEANOR: What kind of a government takes an entire airship full of their own people hostage? I knew things were messed up right now, but this is just sick.

FREDRICKS: This is out of the governments hands now.

ELEANOR: What does that mean?

Fredricks says nothing and stares straight ahead at their destination, his face going paler with every step. Eleanor follows his gaze and squints in an attempt to see through the darkness, spotting what appears to be some abandoned ruins up ahead. There is a single dot of light moving amongst them, growing larger and brighter as they move slowly closer until at last she can make out two figures standing side by side, silhouetted by the light behind them. Eleanor looks over her shoulder at Fredricks nervously.

ELEANOR: Who are they?

Fredricks maintains his silence, beads of sweat now dripping from his brow. They stop in front of the two men and Fredricks nudges Eleanor forward. Zavier and Kayla are held by their guards a few steps back, along with the rest of the soldiers. One of the silhouettes steps forward, revealing his face.

MARNEUS: It's her alright my lord.

Delia positively leaps out of the crowd of soldiers towards the other two. She sneers at Marneus.

DELIA: Not so worthless now, am I?

MARNEUS: You've done a good job for once, yes. But you haven't proven anything in my eyes. You're still just a mindless savage.

DELIA: I'll tear you to shreds for that Marneus!

Delia lunges forward wildly but the other man flings out his hand, stopping her in her tracks.

CRIMSON: Enough Delia. You have indeed done us a great service, now step aside.

Delia shrivels back into the darkness, bowing low. Emperor Crimson steps forward so that the crowd of people can see his face. He gestures towards Zavier and Kayla.

CRIMSON: Commander, remain here with those two and your men. Do not let them escape. Marneus, take the girl off his hands.

Marneus grabs Eleanor by the arm far more roughly than Fredricks had and yanks her away, towards the centre of the rubble where the light is emanating. Crimson turns to follow, but stops when Fredricks yells out.

FREDRICKS: What about your end of the deal?

CRIMSON: Once we are done here, I will have Delia hand over the detonator and you may leave peacefully.