Daylight - First Draft

Act III - Scene 45: Where We Stand

SC45 - Where We Stand

INT. MERCENARIES GUILD. MORNING.

In the kitchen of the Mercenaries Guild, Taryn and Zavier are yelling at each other from across the room, Taryn has tears flooding down her cheeks. Eleanor and Gatling are sitting in silence at the table, while Roland is nowhere in sight.

TARYN: We're damn mercenaries Zavier! You can't drag us all into this, it's your mess!

ZAVIER: You don't have to help but look what we're up against, think what might be about to happen!

TARYN: It's too late! Boss is already meeting with some bozos from the government, and if he asks us to help then we gotta help! And I'm sick of cleaning up after you Zavier!

ZAVIER: Look I never asked for any of this... you think I've been having fun out there? You think it's all some kind of game?!

TARYN: Of course I don't! Tell me, what happens if any of us die? What then? I don't want to lose the only family I've got! You can't drag us into a war... it's not our job to fight wars for this stupid country!

ZAVIER: I'm sorry alright! The last thing I want is to see you guys hurt but if it comes down to it, our country - our entire race could use our skills. This is so much bigger than us now.

Taryn and Zavier continue their shouting match in the background while Eleanor stands up and walks over to the stairs. She ascends slowly, shutting her eyes tight and trying to block out the sounds of the arguement below. She reaches the room she had slept in the last time she was here and pushes the door open. The room is exactly the same as she had left it. Eleanor strides over to the bed and sits down, burying her head in her hands. A small noise catches her attention and she looks up. Gatling is standing in the doorway.

ELEANOR: What do you want?

Gatling stares at the floor for a moment, then looks back up at Eleanor.

GATLING: This is not our fight.

Eleanor is momentarily surprised to hear him speak but her surprise quickly turns to anger.

ELEANOR: You don't think I know that!? I never asked anything of you.

GATLING: This is not your fight either.

ELEANOR: Tell me something I don't know...

GATLING: But you would fight it anyway?

ELEANOR: I...

Gatling stares her down. Eleanor bows her head.

ELEANOR: I don't know anymore.

Gatling walks up to the bed and sits down beside her. He does not look straight at her when he speaks but instead he gazes out of the small window at the morning sunlight that is beginning to trickle in.

GATLING: What were you doing when you came here last?

ELEANOR: I was running away from the city.

GATLING: But why did you come here in the first place?

ELEANOR: Because I... I needed answers.

GATLING: And since you came here, do you feel you got your answers?

Eleanor thinks for a moment.

ELEANOR: Not all of them.

GATLING: What would you do to get them?

ELEANOR: Anything and everything. I want to know who my parents were. I want to know how my ancestors got this power. I want to know how I'm supposed to use it... use it for the right reasons.

GATLING: So would you fight if it meant finding those answers?

ELEANOR: Yes I would.

Gatling stands up and walks back over to the door. As he is about to leave, he stops and turns back to Eleanor.

GATLING: This is not our fight, nor is it yours. But if you have the courage to fight it... then perhaps we can find our courage and our own reasons too.

Gatling walks out. Eleanor stares at the empty doorway for a moment, then she notices a light glinting from the corner of her eye. She reaches into her pocket. Out of it, she pulls the small shard of stone. The stone is glowing bright white. Eleanor shields her eyes from the light and grips it tightly but the stone simply fades back to its dark purple again. She looks at it puzzled for a moment and then slips it back into her pocket just as Zavier enters the room.

ZAVIER: Bloody Taryn. I'm not asking anything of her and she treats me like I'm planning on murdering the whole family!

ELEANOR: She won't fight?

Zavier shrugs and takes a seat in the same spot Gatling did.

ELEANOR: Gatling seemed to think they might.

ZAVIER: Spoke to you did he?

Eleanor nods and Zavier gives her a dark smile.

ZAVIER: Gat doesn't usually warm to people that fast. He's my best friend, did you know that?

ELEANOR: No.

ZAVIER: Known him my whole life. I told you before, these people are like my family. If they were gone...

Zavier puts his face in his hands. Eleanor spots tears forming around his eyes. She pats him on the back to comfort him. He blinks the tears away and smiles at her.

ZAVIER: Anyway, I'll arrange for an airship before they cancel the last ones out of the city. They won't need me at the meeting, Kayla knows everything I do.

ELEANOR: An airship? What for?

ZAVIER: To get you to your family of course.

ELEANOR: My family...

ZAVIER: You can leave tonight. I imagine you'll be safer under Solis' protection. He can hide you and your family while we... well...

ELEANOR: I'm not going back.

ZAVIER: What?

ELEANOR: I want to stay and fight.

ZAVIER: Eleanor, come on. This isn't just a matter of running and hiding anymore... This is war.

ELEANOR: But you just said it Zave, what point is there in running and hiding?

ZAVIER: Look this is way out of your...

ELEANOR: Way out of my what?

ZAVIER: Range of experience. Have you ever even fired a weapon? Hell, have you even held a sword?

ELEANOR: No, have you ever fought in a war?

ZAVIER: That's not the point, I have combat experience.

Eleanor leaps to her feet, startling Zavier.

ELEANOR: And I don't?! After everything we've been through... I got Kayla out of the Harbour at Axius. I fought that Delia in the mountains. I broke into the Grand Cathedral at Ethos! And now you say I can't handle myself?

ZAVIER: I'm not saying you haven't been through a lot but this is different... you're not a soldier!

ELEANOR: Neither are you! You're a mercenary. You're supposed to stay out of these battles. Why are you fighting?

ZAVIER: Because... I have people to protect.

ELEANOR: Well so do I.

Zavier stares at his feet for a while. Eleanor does not look away from him until he eventually looks back up at her with a resolute expression.

ZAVIER: Alright you can stay, but...

ELEANOR: Don't you worry about me. You just focus on protecting Kayla and your family.

Eleanor holds out her hand. Zavier grabs it and stands up, then they exchange a nod.

ELEANOR: Now... let's go see what we're in for.