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REKO: Now, what have I told you about doing that, Vince?
VINCE: Couldn't help it. You just looked a little
too calm today.
REKO: Just tired. But I think you woke me up.
Thanks.
VINCE: My pleasure. Why are you so tired, Reko?
(NUDGES HER) Stayed out late last night?
REKO: Don't even. You know I don't do stuff like
that. I'd rather stay home and study for my exams, which, by the
way, start today. The reason I'm so tired is because of a huge bang
last night that kept me up.
VINCE: Bang?
REKO: More like "boom". It sounded like a big explosion.
Almost like an entire city just went up in smoke.
VINCE: Heh. I didn't hear anything. Hey, how
'bout we race across the parking lot. You're school's pretty close
from here.
REKO: Quit rubbing it in, Mr. I'm-taking-a-year-off-before-I-go-to-college.
VINCE: I'm not. I'm just challenging you to a race!
REKO: You'll never win! On the count of three, to
the front door of the school.
VINCE: Okay. One...
REKO: Two...
VINCE and REKO: Three!
(THEY SPEED AHEAD. AFTER A LONG STRETCH, VINCE BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AND FALL BEHIND REKO. HE HAS A WORRIED LOOK ON HIS FACE.)
VINCE (V.O.): A big explosion... Could it be...
No. They're not running again... are they? Maybe it's
about time that I told her...
REKO: Hey, Vince! What's keeping you?
VINCE: Just these darned wheels! They need oiling.
REKO: Don't give me that. You're too slow!
(VINCE STARTS TO SPEED UP. THEY FINALLY ARRIVE AT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE SCHOOL AT THE SAME TIME.)
VINCE: Now what did I tell you? If it weren't for
these wheels, I'd have beaten you--
REKO: No excuses. We tied. (SHE YAWNS.)
I think that made me even more tired than before...
VINCE: Sorry. Thought it'd wake you up.
REKO: Nope.
VINCE: Ah well. You'd better get to class.
(HE HUGS HER) See you after school?
REKO: Sure.
VINCE: Good luck on the exams!
REKO: Thanks. Good luck finding a job.
VINCE: Hey! That's not funny. I have my own
shelter...
REKO: I've never seen it. And how do you pay for
it if you do?
VINCE: I manage.
REKO: Somehow that's unsettling to hear from you...
VINCE: Don't worry about it. I'll explain later.
The bell's about to ring for homeroom, anyway.
REKO: (LOOKING AT HER WATCH) Oh, you're right!
See you later, Vinny! (SHE OPENS THE DOORS TO THE HALLWAY.)
VINCE: You're lucky you're my girlfriend, or else you'd
never get away with that "Vinny" stuff! (HE LOOKS AT THE DOORS FOR
A MOMENT, WATCHING REKO RUN DOWN THE HALL.) Should I?
REKO: Hey, Kenese.
KENESE: Yo. 'Sup?
REKO: Just getting ready for the next exam. How
was your first one?
KENESE: As usual.
REKO: Murder?
KENESE: Yep. I thought you were exempting everything.
REKO: Not today. Both of mine are today, since my
history and math teachers don't enforce exemption.
KENESE: Bummer. I've never gotten a chance to exempt
anything. I'm glad to get a C!
REKO: So I've heard.
KENESE: Little miss valedictorian of the school.
Hm.
REKO: At least I'm not popular. It's really one
of my worst fears.
KENESE: Why? I've got lots of friends.
REKO: Well...
KENESE: Wait. I just realized what I said.
REKO: Yeah. I noticed.
(DJAI WALKS INTO THE CONVERSATION, ARMS CROSSED, ALMOST UNNOTICED UNTIL KENESE SAYS:)
KENESE: Hey, Djai! (HE RESPONDS WITH MERELY A CLOSED
PEACE SIGN) Very talkative today, I see.
REKO: So, how have the exams treated you today?
(DJAI SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS) Thought so. How come you're
always so quiet? I've been meaning to ask you that. (HE LOOKS
DOWN AT THE GROUND, A BLANK LOOK ON HIS FACE.) Okay... Another
question. Did you happen to hear some sort of explosion last night?
Either one of you? (KENESE LOOKS UP WITH ANOTHER PIECE OF
SANDWICH HANGING OUT OF HIS MOUTH, AND DJAI JUST LOOKS INTO THE
DISTANCE.) Hm? (SHE LOOKS IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND SEES A
CITY. SUDDENLY, IT FLICKERS.) What?
KENESE: What's wrong?
REKO: The city... it just... blinked!
KENESE: You've been studying too hard, Reko.
REKO: You saw it, didn't you, Djai? (DJAI
JUST LOOKS THE OTHER WAY, HIDING HIS FACE.) That's what I thought.
(THE BELL RINGS.)
KENESE: Ah, the sound of death.
REKO: Good luck, you two! (SHE RUNS THROUGH THE
DOUBLE DOORS INSIDE THE BUILDING, WAVING TO HER FRIENDS. DJAI
WAVES HIS TRADEMARK CLOSED PEACE SIGN, AND KENESE LOOKS OVER AT THE CITY.)
I wonder if I really am losing it. A blinking city...
Nah. Never happen.
REKO: Hey, guys. How were the exams?
KENESE: Murder, as we said before.
REKO: Really? Mine weren't that bad.
KENESE: Lucky you.
REKO: How were yours, Djai? (DJAI ONLY SHRUGS
HIS SHOULDERS AGAIN.) Not bad, huh? Um, have either one of
you seen Vince around lately?
KENESE: Nope. You waiting for your boyfriend?
REKO: For your information, yes. I'm very happy
to be with him.
KENESE: I've heard you've had a little tension between
yourselves lately.
REKO: And just where did you hear that?!
KENESE: I have my sources.
REKO: Where did you hear? Please, tell me.
KENESE: I'm kidding, okay? It's just a joke, since
you both get along so well.
REKO: (BLUSHING) Well, I'm glad to hear that.
(SHE LOOKS DOWN THE ROAD.) Look! There he is! (VINCE RUNS
TO THEM, HIS SCOOTER NOT TO BE FOUND. HE IS VERY MUCH OUT OF BREATH.) Hey,
are you okay? What took you so long?
VINCE: I was at home when I realized what time it was,
and then I couldn't find my scooter...
REKO: Good excuse. What were you doing? Watching
television?
VINCE: No, I was working out. That's why I'm so
tired.
REKO: I need to hurry. I have an appointment in...
(SHE LOOKS AT HER WATCH.) One hour?! Vince, if you're coming
with me, then you'd better hurry up!
VINCE: Actually, I need to hang back and talk with these
guys--
REKO: Okay, gotta go!
(REKO SPEEDS THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, BARLEY HAVING TIME TO WAVE GOOD-BYE.)
VINCE: (SERIOUS) She heard the explosion.
KENESE: I know. (DJAI NODS.) What're
we going to do?
VINCE: No, what am I going to do. You both know
that I'm no good at giving people this kind of news...
KENESE: What else can you do? I really think
you'd be the best to tell her.
VINCE: Djai, you're good at phrasing serious subjects.
How'd you like to tell her? (DJAI GLARES AT HIM.) Guess
not.
KENESE: You'd put this on his shoulders?
VINCE: Well...
KENESE: We agreed a long time ago you'd do this.
Don't try to get out of it.
VINCE: Fine. I'll see you guys la--
KENESE: Wait. Why were you late? Really.
VINCE: I met up with Yarlias and his goons.
KENESE: Oboy...
VINCE: Well, I didn't exactly meet up with them...
But I did see them just in time to duck behind a corner. Usually
they catch me. Maybe they don't feel like taking prisoners today.
KENESE: So you ran away?
VINCE: So sue me! I knew I couldn't take all four
of them alone.
KENESE: Four? I thought he was always with just
two others...
VINCE: No. I counted four this time. Maybe
someone new has joined.
KENESE: Not the last time I checked.
VINCE: Have you seen anyone else, Djai? (DJAI
SHAKES
HIS HEAD "NO". VINCE SIGHS.) I wonder who she could
be...
KENESE: She? At least their group's even now.
VINCE: If you could call the other two by a gender...
KENESE: Now, we don't know that for sure.
VINCE: Yes we do! Didn't you see one of their arms
going crazy last week?
KENESE: That doesn't mean anything. He could have
just had a bad twitch or an allergic reaction.
VINCE: Allerg... (HIS VOICE TRAILS OFF) No!
They can't... (HE STOPS HIMSELF BEFORE STARTING AN ARGUMENT.)
Okay. Listen, I need to catch up with Reko. Wish me luck, you
guys.
KENESE: Yeah. Just don't make it too frank, all
right?
VINCE: You know me. I can't really help that.
KENESE: We've noticed.
(DJAI NODS.)
VINCE: Thanks for the confidence boost, guys. Look,
I'll see you later. If she doesn't kill me over this... (HE
RUNS DOWN THE ROAD) Bye!
KENESE: Good luck! (TO DJAI) Think
he'll be able to pull it off?
(DJAI SHAKES HIS HEAD SOLEMNLY.)
REKO: Nice to see you. What could you possibly talk
about for that long?
VINCE: Sorry. We got stuck on a subject...
REKO: I noticed. (SHE CHUCKLES) Mika and I
had another argument. Our parents got mad at us.
VINCE: You like doing that to your little sister, don't
you?
REKO: Not really. It's just that we're so different.
Almost like I was adopted or something!
VINCE: (BEGINNING TO SWEAT BULLETS) Heh heh...
That's funny...
REKO: Why?
VINCE: Well... I, uh... It's like this...
REKO: What? Let me guess... You're about to
joke around and say that one of us was adopted.
VINCE: No and yes.
REKO: Hm?
VINCE: I'm not joking when I say that you were adopted.
REKO: (HER FACE TURNS VERY STERN) Vince, that isn't
funny.
VINCE: I'm not trying to be.
REKO: Who are you to tell me that I'm adopted?!
You aren't in my family! Not yet anyway...
VINCE: I'm your friend, and hopefully one for life.
REKO: That gives you no room to tell me something I know
isn't true.
VINCE: Yes, it is true!
REKO: Don't hand me that! I know good and well that
I wasn't adop--
VINCE: I know for a fact that you were!
REKO: Go away! If you know what's good for you,
you won't come near me for the rest of the day, and maybe not tomorrow,
either. If you do, you won't come near me ever again.
VINCE: Fine!
REKO: Fine!
VINCE: Fine then!
REKO: Good bye!
VINCE: Good riddens!
REKO: You always have to have the last word, don't you?
VINCE: Oh, don't start in with that!
REKO: See?! There you go again! (SHE HOPS
ONTO HER SCOOTER AND WHEELS DOWN THE SIDEWALK TOWARD HER HOUSE.)
I don't care if we never meet again, Vince.
VINCE: Same here! (HIS EYES FOLLOW HER GO AROUND
A CORNER. HE COVERS HIS EYES.) What have I done...?
REKO: Could he have been right? No! There's no possible way he could be right. Why would he be? I know good and well I wasn't... (TEARS START TO WELL UP IN HER EYES.) Adopted... Mom and dad are... My real... pa...rents... (SHE PUTS HER HANDS IN HER ARMS.) He can't be... right...
(A HAND TOUCHES HER SHOULDER. A FAMILIAR VOICE SPEAKS TO HER.)
VOICE: Did you ever think that, just by some chance, Vince
is right? (REKO LOOKS UP TO SEE THAT DJAI IS BEHIND
HER.) Did you ever think of that, Reko?
REKO: (WITH TEARS STILL IN HER EYES, BUT SHE STOPS SOBBING)
Djai?
You've never...
DJAI: Not unless it's necessary. I knew that Vince
wouldn't be able to break the news very well. Please, take my advice
and ask your parents.
REKO: But how?
DJAI: That you will have to figure out on your own. I
will say this, though: Just try to break it a little easier than
what Vince would do, okay?
(DJAI GIVES HIS TWO-FINGER WAVE AND WALKS AWAY FROM REKO.)
REKO: Djai? (HE STOPS AND TURNS HIS HEAD SLIGHTLY
TOWARD HER. SHE LOOKS DOWN AT HER FEET, THEN UP AT HIM.) Thank
you. (DJAI SMILES EVER SO SLIGHTLY, THEN TURNS AROUND AND
WALKS DOWN THE ROAD.) I've never heard him talk to anyone except
for teachers... Maybe I really should ask them. (SHE GETS ON
HER SCOOTER AGAIN AND GOES TO HER FRONT PORCH. SHE LEAVES THE SCOOTER
OUTSIDE AND WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM, THEN THE KITCHEN, WHERE MRS.
TENSHIN IS STIRRING SOMETHING IN A BOWL OVER THE SINK.) Hey,
Mom.
MRS. TENSHIN: Oh, hello dear. Are you almost ready
for your doctor's appointment?
REKO: Yeah. That reminds me, mom... The school
is having all of us take a mandatory test. I'll need my birth certificate
or my social security card. Either one will do.
MRS. TENSHIN: Are you sure? I haven't heard anything
about it. I think you need to check with the school again--
REKO: I want to see those documents.
MRS. TENSHIN: Reko, what has gotten into you?
REKO: Let me see my birth certificate.
(A LONG SILENCE. MRS. TENSHIN FINALLY PUTS THE BOWL DOWN, WALKS SOLEMNLY OVER TO HER DAUGHTER, AND HOLDS HER HAND.)
MRS. TENSHIN: How did you figure it out?
REKO: So it's true...
MRS. TENSHIN: Who told you?
REKO: Vince at first, but I didn't believe him.
Then Djai told me that I shouldn't get mad before I check with you to see
if it was true.
MRS. TENSHIN: I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but
it would have interfered with Dr. Hawethorne's plans.
REKO: Who...? Never mind. When Dad and Mika
get here, tell them I'm up in my room and they shouldn't come in.
Don't let anyone in. (SHE GETS UP AND TURNS AWAY FROM HER MOTHER)
MRS. TENSHIN: You should know... Before you go to
your room, you should know that Mika has no idea that you aren't her real
sister.
REKO: (STILL TURNED AWAY) Why didn't you tell her?
MRS. TENSHIN: Well, she can't really keep secrets very
well, and I think it would really be horrible for someone her age to find
out that her sister isn't really her sister.
REKO: You should have told both of us earlier. I'll
be in my room. Don't let anyone--
(MR. TENSHIN AND MIKA WALK THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.)
MR. TENSHIN: What's wrong, Reko?
REKO: I know.
MIKA: Know what? That you should be sorry for arguing
with me earlier?
REKO: Shut up! (SHE STOPS HERSELF FROM GETTING ANGRY.)
I didn't mean that. I'll be up in my room.
(REKO LEAVES AND RUNS TO HER ROOM.)
MR. TENSHIN: You told her about Sangwine?
MIKA: What's Sangwine, Daddy?
MR. TENSHIN: Never you mind about that. Why don't
you run on to your room and we'll call you when dinner is ready?
MIKA: Why do I have to go to my room?
MRS. TENSHIN: Just do as your father says, Mika.
Please.
MIKA: Okay, Mommy.
(MIKA PLAYFULLY RUNS OFF TO HER ROOM.)
MR. TENSHIN: Sangwine.... It's been a while since
I've even thought about it.
MRS. TENSHIN: Yes. So, how did you tell her?
MR. TENSHIN: Mika? I didn't.
MRS. TENSHIN: I thought you said that you would tell her
today!
MR. TENSHIN: I couldn't bring myself to. You know
how she can spread secrets so well. How did Reko find out?
MRS. TENSHIN: From her boyfriend.
MR. TENSHIN: I should have known. He's one of the...
creations as well?
MRS. TENSHIN: Yes. As is Kenny. Djai verified
everything for her. She didn't believe Vince at first.
MR. TENSHIN: How does Djai know?
MRS. TENSHIN: I have no idea. I've heard he doesn't
talk too much, so I suppose the Sangwine Organization thought he could
keep everything a secret.
MR. TENSHIN: That's a good point. (HE LOOKS TOWARD
REKO'S
ROOM.) I hope she's doing okay in there.
(THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR.)
REKO: Never in my life would I have ever thought this could
be true. (SHE PUTS THE PICTURE FACE DOWN ON A TABLETOP.) Adopted.
All my life, I've been a Tenshin. Now I'm "adopted." (THERE
IS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR.) I thought I said that nobody is allowed
in here right now.
VOICE (VINCE): Reko, it's Vince.
REKO: Especially not you!
VINCE: Please, it's not my fault that you're adopted.
REKO: (ANGERED AT THE LAST COMMENT) Oh, that's it!
Just leave me alone!!!
VINCE: No, please! I didn't mean it like that...
REKO: Then how did you mean it?!
VINCE: I meant that you really shouldn't kill the messenger
over this kind of thing. Kill your creator.
REKO: (AFTER A LONG PAUSE) Creator?
VINCE: Yes. You were... To put it lightly...
REKO: Manufactured?
VINCE: No, that sounds like you're a robot. You
are really and truly a human being, DNA, RNA, and all the other stuff that
humans are made of. It's just that you were never truly born.
REKO: Kind of like an Adam and Eve sort of thing?
VINCE: I suppose you can say that, except you weren't
a direct creation of the highest holy being exactly...
REKO: Would this guy's name happen to be Dr. Hawethorne?
VINCE: How did you know?
REKO: My mot... Mrs. Tenshin mentioned him a few
minutes ago.
VINCE: Reko? Can I ask you something?
REKO: What?
VINCE: Can I come in now?
REKO: Yes. The door's unlocked.
VINCE: (AFTER OPENING THE DOOR) Now, why didn't
I think of that earlier?
REKO: Maybe you have some tiny glimmer of gentlemanly
kindness left in you.
VINCE: Reko, I want you to listen to me. You really
are human, just created in a... different way. Don't put too
much pressure on yourself trying to figure it all out. The only person
alive that knows how to do all this is Dr. Hawethorne himself. You'll
be meeting him quite soon.
REKO: Really soon?
VINCE: Afraid so. Now, I want you to know that,
besides a major change in... "family" life, nothing will really change.
You'll be moving into the Sangwine Organization Headquarters in a little
while...
REKO: How long is "a little while?"
VINCE: In less than an hour, probably.
REKO: Less than...! Does my fam... Do the
Tenshins know about this?
VINCE: Yes. They've known ever since they adop--
REKO: I don't feel like hearing that word again today.
(SHE STANDS UP.) I'm going to say my good-byes. I'll be back
in a few minutes.
VINCE: You sure you don't want me to come with you?
REKO: No, you stay here. This is something I need
to do on my own. Kind of a passing over deal.
(REKO ALMOST WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR WHEN VINCE'S WATCH BEEPS. VINCE'S FACE LOOKS GRAVE AS HE LOOKS AT THE WATCH.)
VINCE: Reko, I'm sorry, but there's no time for good-byes
now.
REKO: I'll be right--
VINCE: No! I mean it! We've got to leave NOW!!!
REKO: There's no way I'm leaving without saying--
VINCE: Then yell it out now or there really will be no
chance for a good-bye! (HE GRABS HER RIGHT WRIST) I suggest
you hold on tight!
REKO: Yes, I'll hold on tight right here! (SHE GRABS
THE SIDE OF THE DOOR WITH HER LEFT HAND.) I'm not leaving yet!
VINCE: Sorry, Reko, but... (HE GRABS HER LEFT WRIST
AND YANKS HER HAND OFF OF THE DOOR. REKO YELLS OUT IN PAIN,
BOTH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL, AS VINCE JUMPS THROUGH AN OPEN WINDOW
AND RUNS AWAY FROM THE HOUSE AND ONTO SOME HIGHER GROUND.) Now, if
you want to see why--
REKO: You idiot! Look at my hand! (HER LEFT
HAND IS VERY BRUISED, AND SHE CAN'T MOVE HER FINGERS.)
VINCE: I'm sorry, but I had to. Look at your house.
(A CAR STOPS AT THE FRONT DOOR, AND FOUR PEOPLE GET OUT, DRESSED IN BLACK WITH AN ELABORATE "PF" ON THEIR BACKS. THEY ARE CARRYING GUNS.)
REKO: No! Don't go-- (VINCE CLASPS HIS
HAND OVER HER MOUTH. THE PEOPLE RUN INTO THE HOUSE, AND VOICES ARE
HEARD: Where is she? If you don't tell us where she is right
now...! AFTER A FEW MOMENTS OF THIS, THREE GUNSHOTS ARE HEARD. REKO
TRIES
TO SCREAM FROM UNDERNEATH VINCE'S HAND, BUT IT IS VERY MUFFLED.
THE PEOPLE RUN OUT OF THE HOUSE, INTO THE CAR, THEN THEY ALL DRIVE OFF.)
Vmph! Vt m go!
VINCE: (UNCLASPING HIS HAND) What?
REKO: Thank you! I said let me go! (SHE DARTS
AWAY FROM HIM AND TOWARD THE HOUSE. VINCE ROLLS HIS EYES AND
FOLLOWS HER. WHEN HE GETS TO THE HOUSE, HE SEES REKO ALL BUT
PASSED OUT AT THE FRONT DOORWAY.) Vince, I can't move.
(SHE PASSES OUT.)
VOICE: Impressive, eh Kenese?
KENESE: Dr. Hawethorne! You startled me.
VOICE (DR. HAWETHORNE): Sorry. But she is really
impressive, isn't she?
KENESE: I never knew that yo could do that to someone.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Yes, once I figured out the human genome,
it was very clear to me how I could alter it and make different personalities
and body types.
KENESE: The human genome? Isn't that some sort of
weird fairy tale cross-over?
DR. HAWETHORNE: Never mind, Kenese. I swear, I regret
the day I made you so dense.
KENESE: Sorry, sir.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Oh, I said that out loud, didn't I?
I'm really sorry. It's not your fault at all. I meant to do
that, just to see if knowledge was genetics-based or environment-based.
KENESE: The results?
DR. HAWETHORNE: It's genetic, most definitely.
KENESE: Darn.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Getting back to Reko, I heard that she
and Vince really got into a big argument yesterday.
KENESE: Yeah. Poor guy. I've seen Reko upset,
and he said that this was ten times worse.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Another genetic tweaking on my part.
Apparently, attitude is not based on environment, either, by what you all
have said about her.
KENESE: Yeah. Guess so.
VOICE: Excuse me.
(REKO IS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY, HOLDING HER HAND TO HER FOREHEAD.)
DR. HAWETHORNE: Ah, so my fabulous creation awakes.
REKO: Creation... Please, not now. I've got
the worst headache...
DR. HAWETHORNE: Where's Vince?
REKO: He was in my room asleep on the couch. I woke
up before he did. That's so like him.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Well, he's been in there a day and a half
waiting for you to wake up.
REKO: Really?
KENESE: Yes. He didn't eat the whole time you were
in there, either. (DR. HAWETHORNE ELBOWS HIM IN THE SIDE.)
Okay, maybe he ate.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Does exaggeration come easily with dull
minds?
KENESE: That's not funny.
REKO: Doctor?
DR. HAWETHORNE: Yes?
REKO: I just wanted to make sure you were who I thought
you were. Dr. Hawethorne, correct?
DR. HAWETHORNE: That would be me. Now, would you
like to know what I mean by creation?
REKO: I... Well, this headache won't get any worse,
I guess.
(HERE COMES A FLASHBACK... I MIGHT HAVE AN ACTUAL FLASHBACK SCENE, BUT ONLY IF I AND THE REST OF THE CAST AND CREW HAVE THE TIME AND PATIENCE.)
DR. HAWETHORNE: Very well. About thirty years ago,
I was part of the scientific study and decoding of the human genome.
Within a few years after it was started, more technology was being discovered,
and soon the genome was no longer of interest to anyone. However,
the hope that it would someday be completely decoded lived on within me,
and I was able to raise funds in order to continue the project on my own.
Years passed. Finally, someone else came to me and wanted to aid
in my research. I was reluctant to allow someone else into the project,
but I accepted. A few months after that, he left with the information
we both had gathered that whole time. Little did he know that I had
some backup copies stashed away, thank goodness. I'd like to find
out who that was, but unfortunately he was using an alias that was unregistered
anywhere in the world. Six years later, I was able to create my first
subject, Vince. Then came Kenese. Then, it was you, Reko.
While creating you, I was able to make another almost exactly like you.
Since all of this was possible, I thought of an ingenious study I could
perform on all of you. Vince and Kenese would stay here while Reko
and the other creation would be put up for adoption. I cut off any
form of communication with the families after I explained the situation
and let them take care of you and the other scientifically generated human,
or SGHs, as I call them.
KENESE: Don't worry, Reko. Everything will be just
the same as it used to be. Just some new people, that's all.
And think about it... (HE PUTS HIS ARM AROUND HER) No more
school, either! (SHE SHOVES HIS ARM OFF.) Geez.
REKO: So, Djai is the fourth SGH?
DR. HAWETHORNE: No. He joined Sangwine a while back.
REKO: Then who is?!
DR. HAWETHORNE: As I said before, I cut off all relations
with the adopted family. I don't even know if he's still alive or
not.
REKO: Family... Alive.... (SHE HOLDS HER HEAD.)
Oh no....
KENESE: Are you okay, Reko?
REKO: My family... Where are they?
KENESE: Reko, don't worry about it...
REKO: WHERE ARE THEY?!
(VINCE ENTERS, YAWNING.)
VINCE: Reko? What's wrong?
REKO: Vince, where are the Tenshins?
VINCE: I don't think you want to know...
REKO: Tell me!
DR. HAWETHORNE: I think you'd better tell her...
VINCE: I'm no good at these things!!!
DR. HAWETHORNE: Fine. Reko, I'm sorr--
REKO: No, I'd like to hear it from Vince. If he
won't say it, then I'll go out on my own to see what's happened to them.
VINCE: They... I... I'm sorry. I can't.
REKO: I'll be back in a little while, then. (SHE
RUNS OUT THE DOOR.) If I find my family, don't count on me being
back for a long time, though!
(SHE EXITS.)
VINCE: I'm sorry. You know I can't ever find the
words to tell bad news.
DR. HAWETHORNE: Kenese, could you follow her?
KENESE: You both know that I can't find my way around
the city.
DR. HAWETHORNE: After living here all this time...
Why did I ever decide to make that experiment...??? Ah well.
I'll go find Djai. I'm sure he'll be able to follow her, with how
quiet he is.
(HE EXITS.)
KENESE: Nice going, Vinny.
VINCE: You know I hate it when people call me that.
KENESE: Hmph. If I was her, I'd give you a swift
kick in--
VINCE: Drop it, Kenese.
KENESE: Ooh.... Tough guy! Bet they're all
words.
VINCE: Shut up.
REKO: It's the only place I haven't looked... (SHE WALKS THROUGH THE GATES.) Please, let them be somewhere out of the town. I beg of you, let them be out of town somewhere... Anywhere, as long as they're alive!
(AS SHE CONTINUES HER SEARCH, DJAI WALKS UP BEHIND HER AND PUTS HIS HAND ON HER SHOULDER, JUST AS BEFORE.)
DJAI: Over here. I have something to show you.
REKO: What?
DJAI: Come here. (HE LEADS HER TO TWO HEADSTONES,
THOSE OF HER PARENTS.) I'm sorry to be the one to be the bearer of
bad news...
REKO: At least now I know the truth. I was prepared
for this. But what about Mika?
DJAI: You don't want to see that, I know.
REKO: See what? What is it, Djai?!
DJAI: Please, I don't want to show you this...
REKO: Djai, show me!
DJAI: Okay. I warned you, though. (HE POINTS
TO ANOTHER GRAVESTONE WITH FRESH FLOWERS ON IT WHICH READS, "MIKA TENSHIN,
DIED OF PNEUMONIA IN SEARCH OF HER DEAR LOST SISTER, REKO.) I'm so
sorry, Reko.
REKO: She never knew... (SHE STARES AT THE GRAVESTONE
IN DISBELIEF FOR A FEW MOMENTS, THEN SUDDENLY TURNS TO DJAI AND BURIES
HERSELF IN HIS ARMS.) Djai, she never knew!
YARLIAS: We now know where the fourth SGH is. Fantastic,
no?
LYRA: Whatever you say.
LYKO: Yes, sir.
YARLIAS: What's with the long faces?
LYRA: Yarlias, before we even begin celebrating, we should
get her to our side.
YARLIAS: I know that, but it's good to plan a party before
it takes place.
LYKO: He has a point, Lyra.
LYRA: I still think it's a little early for us to be counting
our chickens before we round them up in the hen house.
LYKO: Did the professor give you orders to order us around?
LYRA: No.
LYKO: Then stay within your parameters and don't make
anything more dull than it already is.
VOICE: I agree with Lyko. Would you just shut your
speech trap for a second, Lyra?
YARLIAS: Vantie, how are you?
VOICE (VANTIE): Hey, Yarlias. How are you?
YARLIAS: Great, now that you're here.
VANTIE: Don't even.
YARLIAS: What, you still don't like me?
VANTIE: Not any more than I did ten minutes ago, when
you pulled the same stunt--
YARLIAS: Fine. Guess I'll have to get some more
material to try out on you.
VANTIE: Won't work. I've got my mind on someone
much more... much better than you.
YARLIAS: Heh. You couldn't find a better guy than
me anywhere.
VOICE: I don't know about that, Yarlias.
VANTIE: Yeah, old Professor Turufo here could show you
someone better than you in two seconds, couldn't you, Dad?
PROF. TURUFO: Before we go in too deep into this subject,
I think we should focus on getting the fourth creation.
VANTIE: Yeah. I guess so.
YARLIAS: You're sure that SGH is in Sangwine at this moment?
PROF. TURUFO: Definitely. If I know the Doctor,
and I do, he'd get that one back as soon as possible. Those plans
of his I took have been quite useful. Now, I think it's best that
we attack with a plan, don't you agree?
YARLIAS: It's what I've been saying all along.
LYRA: Let's get to it. I'd like to see the looks
on their faces when we show up...
DJAI: Please, don't look so down, Reko. (SHE PAYS
NO ATTENTION TO HIM.) Reko? (STILL NO ANSWER.) Come on.
Ugh... This is just how I started-- (SHE LOOKS UP.) You
got me. Would you like to hear the reason I never really talk to
anyone? (SHE NODS.) Okay. About two years ago, I had
a really horrible argument with my parents. We never had a good relationship
to start out with. But that day at school, I overheard Kenese and
Vince talking about something called the Sangwine Organization. I
asked them what it was, and they decided that since I knew I could come
over to see it. Dr. Hawethorne wasn't very pleased with the fact
that they were talking about it so loudly that anyone could hear them,
but he welcomed me in nonetheless. I had told them about the argument
earlier, and they offered to let me spend the night. I agreed and
stayed. For seven days. Yeah, I know it sounds a little cruel,
but I was so naive that I thought it would teach my parents a lesson.
After those seven days, I went back to try my luck with my family.
But when I got there, my entire town was demolished. A few guards
were at the gates, and they told me that everyone in the town had been
killed. I asked if there was a victim list, and sure enough, my family
was up there. You see, this was the Paraxa Faction in the beginning.
Of course, they have advanced a great deal since then. They have
something called hyperkinetic hypnowavelength technology that would make
anyone believe that there was still a city there when it has actually been
blown apart. You know that bang that you heard? (SHE NODS.)
That was the Paraxa Faction bombing Rubei City. You say that you
took your exams and spent all day at school that day? No. They
fooled you into thinking you did. Don't believe everything you see
any more, Reko.
REKO: Djai... Is that true?
DJAI: Yeah, the Paraxa is really high up in the technological
world--
REKO: No. I mean... your family.
DJAI: Afraid so. Now, I don't talk as much as I
used to. Please, don't end up like I did.
REKO: It's a deal, Djai. But I'm so sorry about
your family.
DJAI: It's not your fault!
REKO: But I'll bet they were--
VOICE (YARLIAS): Looking for you. (REKO AND
DJAI
LOOK BEHIND THEMSELVES AND SEE YARLIAS, VANTIE,
LYRA,
AND LYKO WATCHING THEM.) Ah, sister. I've looked for
you for so long.
REKO: Sister?
YARLIAS: We were born from the same hands.
REKO: Who are you?
(DJAI JUMPS IN BETWEEN YARLIAS AND REKO, GUARDING HER.)
YARLIAS: Your brother. Who else? No
need to hide her now, Djai.
REKO: I said, "Who are you?!"
YARLIAS: Your brother.
REKO: (TO DJAI) I'll run and tell the others that
they're here. (SHE GRABS HIS HAND, TRYING TO TAKE HIM WITH HER, BUT
HE SHOVES HER HAND AWAY.) No, you need to escape! (HE SHOVES
HER AWAY AGAIN. REKO FINALLY GETS THE PICTURE AND RUNS INSIDE.)
YARLIAS: Well, you're a rude fellow, aren't you?
LYRA: I'd expect some manners out of someone as quiet
and revered as you. (DJAI'S FACE BECOMES SEVERE.) Come
come now! Such an atrocity!
LYKO: I wouldn't mess with him. Let's just go straight
to what we're looking for. (DJAI HOLDS HIS ARMS OUT, HIS WAY
OF SAYING NOT TO GO PAST HIM OR THE DOORS BEHIND HIM.) Look at that!
YARLIAS: Don't make a fool out of yourself, Djai.
Let us through.
VANTIE: After all... (SHE WALKS UP TO HIM AND STROKES
HIS NECK WITH HER FINGERS) We wouldn't want you to have your calm
and quiet reputation ruined, now would we? Come on, Djai. Let
us through. (HE JERKS AWAY FROM HER HANDS.) We have a wild
one here, guys.
LYKO: Ah, he wouldn't want anyone like you anyway.
I can tell he isn't your type.
VANTIE: I could get any guy I wanted. (SHE STARTS
TICKLING DJAI'S NECK AGAIN, AND HE JERKS AWAY.) I wouldn't
go for a Sangwine boy, anyway.
KENESE: Reko! You're back!
REKO: And not a moment too soon. You need to get
outside and help us.
VINCE: What for?
REKO: The Paraxa Faction has attacked.
VINCE: Are you sure?
REKO: Of course I'm sure! I saw them with my own
eyes! Djai told me it was them!
KENESE: Djai told you?
REKO: Yes-- No time to explain. We need to
get out there and help him!
DR. HAWETHORNE: You mean to tell me that Djai is out there
alone with those beasts?
REKO: I didn't want to leave him there--
DR. HAWETHORNE: Get the guns!
(A FURY SWEEPS THROUGH THE ROOM AS KENESE AND VINCE RACE TO FETCH THE GUNS OFF A NEARBY TABLE. KENESE GIVES ONE TO DR. HAWETHORNE AND VINCE GIVES ONE TO REKO.)
REKO: What am I supposed to do with this?
VINCE: What do you think?! Shoot the bad guys!
REKO: But I--
VINCE: Just aim and pull the flippin' trigger! That's
all there is to know!
REKO: But Vince--
VINCE: What?!
REKO: N... Nothing.
VINCE: Good. Let's go.
(ALL START TO RUN OUTSIDE.)
VANTIE: (RUNNING HER HAND ACROSS DJAI'S FACE) Will you tell us? Or will your face be scarred even more? (HE GIVES NO ANSWER, AND VANTIE SWEEPS HER NAILS DOWN ACROSS HIS EYEBROW AND DOWN TO THE MIDDLE OF HIS CHEEK, LEAVING A DEEP WOUND.) Tell us where the last one is hiding!
(THE SANGWINE TEAM RUNS OUT OF THE BUILDING. REKO STILL SEEMS UNSURE OF THE GUN SHE HOLDS WHILE THE OTHERS ARE STEADFAST. KENESE THROWS A GUN TO DJAI.)
DR. HAWETHORNE: Good to see that you're still standing,
Djai. (HE NODS BACK.) Yarlias, isn't it?
YARLIAS: (PUSHING PAST A SCOWLING VANTIE) Yeah.
(HE CATCHES EYE OF REKO STANDING IN THE BACK OF THE CROWD.)
Ah, sister! (REKO LOOKS UP IN A SHOCKED DAZE.) My sister, how
have you been?
REKO: I'm not your sister--!
DR. HAWETHORNE: Sister? Impossible. She was
created by me-- One moment! It's him!
REKO: Him who?!
DR. HAWETHORNE: My final creation... I made him
the same time as you!
YARLIAS: See?
REKO: He's the last...
DR. HAWETHORNE: Ah, what a fabulous outcome this has turned
out to be! My creation is my enemy! What a contrast in upbringing...
It's perfect for my reports!
YARLIAS: Reports don't interest me, father. It's
life, death, and blood I'm after. (HE PULLS OUT A GUN AND SHOOTS
DR. HAWETHORNE, SENDING HIM TO THE GROUND.) I bet you never
knew your own brother was a sharpshooter, eh Reko?
REKO: Dr. Hawethorne! Yarlias, what have you done?!
YARLIAS: I told you. I'm after life, death, and
blood. I've found the death. With you as the blood and us as
life, my soul will finally be complete.
REKO: You have no soul.
YARLIAS: What?
REKO: You have no soul, and neither do I. I can
safely say that for Kenese and Vince as well.
KENESE: Huh? What do you mean?
REKO: I once thought I was created by a much higher being.
I thought I was given a soul by one higher than all others. But I,
all of us, we were put together by the hands of that man. We were
given no souls. Just a personality matrix that could be switched
around just by pressing a few keys. Yes, my friends. We have
no life-force. Just a few extra genes here and there.
VINCE: Now Reko, that's not true. We're just as
human as Dr. Hawethorne is.
REKO: I agree on that. After all, he's dead.
We have no life-force, and his has escaped into eternity.
LYRA: And just what is your point on all of this?
REKO: We have no control over ourselves. Now nobody
does.
VINCE: Of course we have control over ourselves!
We wouldn't breathe if we didn't!
REKO: But what else could go wrong? Maybe something
will finally click inside of one of us. Some little switch pulls,
or a button is pushed too deep, what then?
LYRA: I've had enough philosophy to last me a lifetime
in just one day. (HE WALKS TOWARD REKO.) It's time you
went home, Reko.
(KENESE, DJAI, AND VINCE TRY THEIR BEST TO STOP LYRA FROM GETTING TO REKO, BUT TO NO AVAIL. AS EACH LATCHES ONTO HIS ARM, HE JUST FLAILS THEM TO THE SIDE, AND THEY LAND AS RAG DOLLS.)
KENESE: (FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PILE) Stay away from
her!
REKO: What do you want with me?
YARLIAS: You belong to the Paraxa Faction.
REKO: No I don't!
YARLIAS: Don't hold it back. You want to be on the
stronger team, don't you?
REKO: I'm just as strong here as I would be anywhere else.
YARLIAS: Then why aren't you using your gun?
REKO: I... I'm just as strong without it.
VINCE: Don't fool yourself, Reko! I don't think
he's what he looks like!
KENESE: What did I tell you before?
VINCE: But I know for a fact--
KENESE: No you don't! You assume things a little
too quickly sometimes, Vinny.
VINCE: Don't call me Vinny!
REKO: I refuse to use this!
LYRA: (ONLY THREE FEET AWAY FROM REKO) This is your
last chance. Go ahead. Point and shoot. Let some revenge
reek havoc for your father.
REKO: I won't!
LYRA: Oh, I wouldn't mind. One can always use a
little more iron in their systems.
REKO: I won't!
VINCE: Shoot the stupid gun, Reko! Besides, it won't
hurt him in the least!
KENESE: Quit saying things like that ! You know they're
not true!
VINCE: Yes, I--
LYRA: That was your last chance. (HE GRABS REKO'S
ARM.) Come on, sweetie...
(REKO PANICS. BY INSTINCT, SHE TAKES THE GUN AND SHOOTS BLINDLY, HITTING LYRA'S ARM, JUST BARELY. IT SCATHES HIS UPPER ARM, LEAVING AN OPEN GASH. NO BLOOD APPEARS, BUT WIRES AND SPARKS FLY FROM INSIDE.)
VINCE: It was true! (HE STANDS, FLINGING DJAI
OFF HIS BACK) I told you! Oh, Djai, buddy, you okay?
(DJAI GLARES AT HIM.) Ah well! You'll heal. The
important thing is that I was right!
KENESE: Please, get off of me. (VINCE LOOKS
DOWN, NOTICING THAT HE IS STANDING ON TOP OF KENESE. HE STEPS
DOWN.) Thanks. Okay, fine. They're robots.
LYRA: Just in case you're wondering, robots have a program
chip for revenge as well. (HE PULLS OUT A GUN AND SHOOTS TWICE, HITTING
REKO
IN THE WRIST AND STOMACH. VINCE STANDS STILL IN AWE AND FRIGHT AS
DJAI
RUNS AFTER HER.)
KENESE: Djai! What are you doing?!
(LYKO GETS OUT HER GUN AND SHOOTS AT DJAI'S LEG, SCATHING IT. DJAI NOTICES IT, BUT KEEPS RUNNING, NONETHELESS.)
VINCE: You fool! You'll be killed!
(LYKO SHOOTS AGAIN, BUT MISSES.)
YARLIAS: Idiot robot. Let me do it.
VANTIE: You'll miss just as badly, if not worse.
YARLIAS: Shut up! (HE GETS OUT HIS GUN AND SHOOTS
AT DJAI THREE TIMES, BUT IT BARELY MISSES HIM.) I mean it,
Vantie. Just shut up.
VANTIE: I told you.
YARLIAS: (GETTING ANNOYED) Might I remind you that
I have a gun in my hand?
(DJAI FINALLY REACHES REKO AND HE SHOVES LYRA OUT OF THE WAY. HE SEEMS NOT TO MIND IT AND GOES BACK TO THE PARAXA GROUP. YARLIAS IS ABOUT TO YELL AT LYRA, BUT...)
VINCE: Stay right where you are! All of you!
(HE RUNS IN FRONT OF THE PARAXA GROUP, WITH KENESE, BOTH OF THEM
HOLDING GUNS AT THE GROUP.)
KENESE: Don't you dare move! (HE CONTINUES LOOKING
STRAIGHT FORWARD AT THE MEMBERS OF THE PARAXA FACTION.) Djai, you
and Reko go find a safe place and a first aid kit. We'll find you
later.
(DJAI NODS AND LIFTS REKO OVER HIS SHOULDER. SHE IS UNCONSCIOUS. ALL OF THE PARAXA FACTION MEMBERS JUMP OUT FROM BOTH SIDES, CATCHING VINCE AND KENESE OFF GUARD, AND TRY THEIR BEST TO SHOOT AT THE TWO ESCAPEES, BUT ALL OF THEIR GUNS ARE OUT OF BULLETS.)
YARLIAS: Lyra! I thought I told you to fill up our
guns--!
LYRA: I thought you just said mine...
YARLIAS: LYRA!!!
DJAI: Reko? Are you okay?
REKO: (HER EYES STILL CLOSED) I won't shoot
him... Vince... I can't....
DJAI: Reko! (HE SHAKES HER.) Wake up!
REKO: I won't shoot... (HER EYES OPEN.) Djai...
DJAI: Hold on. I'll get something for your arm.
REKO: What's wrong with my arm? (SHE RAISES HER
RIGHT HAND.) I don't see anything the matter with it. (SHE
TRIES TO RAISE HER LEFT HAND, BUT ALL SHE CAN MOVE IS HER SHOULDER.
SHE GASPS IN FRIGHT AS DJAI TAKES THAT HAND AND BANDAGES THE ENTIRE
ARM, COVERED IN BLOOD.) What happened?!
DJAI: Lyra shot you in the side and in your left arm.
Someone else got me in the leg, but it isn't too deep at all. Just
a little scar on the side. Your wounds, on the other hand, look much
more serious I'm afraid to say.
REKO: Djai, I can't move my left arm.
DJAI: I know. But I may be able to fix it by installing
an artificial joint.
REKO: You can do that?
DJAI: I've been around Dr. Hawethorne, rest his soul,
long enough to get the gist of what sort of operations can be done on people.
I've read through a few of his books as well, and it doesn't seem all too
complicated.
REKO: You're sure? (DJAI NODS.) All
right. Heh. Seems a little ironic, doesn't it? I mean,
at first I think I'm so... handmade. Artificial. Now
this. I'm getting a fake arm.
DJAI: You'll never know it's there...
REKO: I will, but nobody else will unless I tell them.
I hate lying to people.
DJAI: Don't worry.
REKO: But thanks anyway. I'll go ahead with the
operation. I have to help out you guys now that the doctor's gone.
Is your leg okay? (HE NODS.) It's strange. I don't really
feel any pain. How about you?
DJAI: A little. (HE CRINGES, THEN SMILES MEEKLY.)
REKO: You can drop the tough act. Can you walk?
(HE STANDS AND HELPS HER TO HER FEET.) Guess so. Come on.
We've got to help the others. They're okay, aren't they?
VOICE: Yes, they are.
(DJAI AND REKO LOOK UP TO SEE A MAN LURKING IN THE SHADOWS.)
REKO: Who's there?
VOICE (PROFESSOR TURUFO): I forget that you've never seen
me. My name is Professor Turufo, leader of the Paraxa Faction.
REKO: You're responsible for it all... My family...
Djai's family.... Dr. Hawethorne.... And so many others!
(SHE TRIES TO HOLD BACK HER IMMENSE RAGE.)
TURUFO: Don't be so harsh on yourself.
REKO: Get out of here!
TURUFO: Not unless you come with me.
REKO: What do you want with me?
TURUFO: I want to know how you were created. I want
to know how you were raised. I want to continue what Hawethorne no
longer can.
REKO: And just how much do you already know? I'm
sure that Yarlias guy has given you plenty of information already.
You don't need me.
TURUFO: On the contrary, he hasn't. Neither did
Hawethorne. Taking his plans did me no good. He wrote in a
dead language that neither I nor Yarlias can understand.
REKO: It was you....
TURUFO: Yes.
REKO: How could you get Yarlias when Hawethorne knew you
had stolen his plans?
TURUFO: I used a different name and face. You'd
be amazed at how a simple disguise can defer the most clever minds.
REKO: You did this... You raised Yarlias to be a
demon!
TURUFO: I thought you didn't care about your brother.
REKO: He isn't my brother. Thousands of other people
were born the same time we were. It doesn't make us related.
We're nothing alike.
TURUFO: I can tell. You have no respect for those
older than you, do you?
REKO: Not for the likes of you.
TURUFO: Come now, Reko. You'll have so much more
of a family at Paraxa than you do here. You'll be with someone your
exact age. You'll be trained in the highest of the martial arts and
firearms. (REKO STARTS TO LOOK FRUSTRATED AND DISTURBED AT
WHAT HE IS TELLING HER.) Here, you have no father figure. Hawethorne
is gone. You'll have a sister and a brother, with Vantie and Yarlias
at your side. Lyra and Lyko would really like it if you stayed with
us. They are nothing but some wires that can be controlled as I wish.
They'll change their minds as I wish them to.
REKO: You're sick.
TURUFO: No, I'm being scientific in my work.
REKO: Get out. (DJAI STARTS TO WALK OVER
TO TURUFO, BUT REKO STOPS HIM.) No, Djai. Let
him leave on his own. I want to keep this as calm as possible.
We don't need another incident.
TURUFO: How touching. Makes me wish I had a camera.
(HE STARTS TO WALK TOWARDS HER.) Come with me, Reko.
(KENESE SWOOPS INTO THE SCENE, KNOCKING TURUFO OUT OF THE WAY. VINCE TAKES REKO OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROOM, GUARDING HER.)
REKO: Vince, get off of me! (HE BACKS AWAY WITH A
STRANGE LOOK ON HIS FACE, AS IF HE DOESN'T KNOW THE PERSON HE'S LOOKING
AT.) Where are the other Paraxas?
VINCE: Them? They ran away from us. You see,
we had bullets, but they didn't.
TURUFO: That's what I like to see. Kenese, you're
a superb fighter.
KENESE: No, I'm not joining you.
TURUFO: I could make you so much better than you are now.
KENESE: I said back off, old man.
TURUFO: Fine. Stay the way you are. Next time
we come around, you won't be as prepared as you need to be. You won't
have a leader. Hawethorne is gone, which means you are no longer
being lead by anyone. If you all come to the Paraxa Faction--
REKO: Get out!
TURUFO: I suppose I should. Being so outnumbered
could put me at a little disadvantage. You really should plan things
out before you carry them out. (HE WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM, PASSING
INCHES AWAY FROM REKO AND VINCE.) Thank you for your time.
REKO: G'morning, sleepy.
DJAI: Hey, Reko. How's your arm feeling?
REKO: (SHE MOVES HER LEFT ARM AROUND.) Amazing!
How did you do that?
DJAI: A little complicated. I'll tell you later.
Does it feel all right?
REKO: Yeah! It's like it was never...
DJAI: Don't remind yourself. That's all over.
(THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.)
VINCE'S VOICE: It's me.
REKO: Djai, could you--? (HE NODS BEFORE SHE CAN
FINISH.) Thanks. Come on in, Vince.
(VINCE OPENS THE DOOR AND DJAI EXITS. VINCE WALKS TO REKO'S BEDSIDE.)
VINCE: How's your arm?
REKO: Pretty good. Not much different than how it
was before Lyra shot me.
VINCE: And your side?
REKO: To be perfectly honest, I haven't felt a thing.
VINCE: Really?
REKO: And speaking of honesty, there's something I want
to talk to you about. (SHE STANDS.) You've lied to me for a
long time now.
VINCE: How?
REKO: When I first came here, you said nothing would change,
besides where I was living. But so much already has.
VINCE: Everything has to change sometime. And what,
just for my knowledge, has changed?
REKO: That goes along with something else I've been meaning
to tell you. Do you honestly think I didn't know how to fire a gun?
VINCE: Well, in frightening situations, anyone can forget
something.
REKO: So you really don't know me.
VINCE: What?
REKO: You haven't realized it even now?
VINCE: Realized what?
REKO: I am a pacifist! (A LONG PAUSE.) You've
known me for three years now, and we've been a couple for almost half of
that time. You never knew?
VINCE: No... Not at all.
REKO: So much has changed, Vince. I think our relationship
should as well.
VINCE: Reko, what are you saying?
REKO: I'll give you a hint. (SHE TURNS AWAY FROM
HIM.) I would be a very happy person if I did not see you for the
rest of today, all of tomorrow, and maybe the next day as well.
VINCE: Reko, are you sure--
REKO: Everything has to change sometime. You said
so yourself. (HE OPENS THE DOOR AND BEGINS TO WALK OUT.) Vince?
(HE STOPS, BUT DOESN'T LOOK AT HER.) Could you tell Djai to come
back in here? (HE WALKS OUT AS DJAI WALKS BACK IN.) Hey, Djai.
DJAI: What happened?
VINCE: I can't believe she'd do something like that!
KENESE: Ah, it would have happened sooner or later.
VINCE: But we were getting into a serious relationship.
KENESE: Well, sometimes the most serious people will tell
jokes.
VINCE: What am I going to do?
KENESE: Go out for a walk?
VINCE: No, knowing how angry I am right now I'd punch
the first person I see.
KENESE: No. You'll be too depressed to do much of
anything except think.
VINCE: (OFFENDED) Shut up! I'm going for a
walk.
(KENESE SEEMS PROUD AT THIS TURN OF EMOTION FOR HIM, SINCE IT WAS HIS IDEA FOR THE WALK.)
REKO: And that's all there is to it. I just don't
like him anymore. He's not the person I knew just a few weeks back.
(VINCE
WALKS DOWN THE HALLWAY AND HEARS REKO TALKING.) I mean, you
even knew it, Djai, and I haven't even known you all that well until the
past month or so. I don't know why I thought I'd stay with him.
It's ridiculous! He doesn't know me at all. (VINCE
STARTS
TO WALK FASTER, THEN OUT THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR.)
DJAI: I can't believe he couldn't figure that out...
REKO: I can. Heh! I'll bet Kenese knew it
before he did.
DJAI: I wouldn't go quite that far.
REKO: No, I think he might have. You know how into
fighting he is, and he never talks to me about it.
DJAI: Yeah. Guess so. Your arm feeling all
right?
REKO: It hurts a little.
DJAI: Here. Turn around. (SHE FACES HER BACK
TOWARD HIM, AND HE MASSAGES HER LEFT SHOULDER.) How's that feel.
REKO: Thanks, it feels great.
DJAI: Do you regret breaking up with him?
REKO: Me? Nah. I've had my eyes on someo--
(SHE STOPS HERSELF.) No, I'm all right.
DJAI: What was that?
REKO: Nothing!
DJAI: Come on. I replaced your arm, and this is
the thanks I get?
REKO: Well, only if you guess who it is.
DJAI: Ah ha! I knew it! Let's see....
Maybe it's someone in the Paraxa Faction?
REKO: Now you know that isn't true.
DJAI: Sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Is it someone
in the Sangwine Organization?
REKO: Yeah.
DJAI: Hmm... Turufo?
REKO: That's sick, Djai. And anyway, he's not in
the Organization.
DJAI: He used to be.
REKO: And it's because of him that we're all in this mess.
Don't bring him up any more.
DJAI: Okay, so it's one of the living members of our little
group... I doubt it's Vince.
REKO: (SHE LAUGHS LOUDLY, THEN IMMEDIATELY AFTER:) No.
DJAI: That only leaves two of us, then. Hard to
think of who it could be...
REKO: Don't hurt yourself thinking too hard.
DJAI: Hush.
REKO: Couldn't help that.
DJAI: Looks like I'll have to think over this for a while.
(HE LEANS IN MORE TOWARD HER.) How's your shoulder doing now?
REKO: Much better. Thank you.
DJAI: I'll see you later, okay? And I'll see if
I can figure this little situation out.
REKO: (DROPPING A BIG HINT) I think YOU will
be able to figure it out.
DJAI: Me too.
(HE STANDS AND LEAVES THE ROOM, SMILING. KENESE WALKS IN.)
KENESE: What's he so cheery about?
REKO: Nothing. Just something I told him.
KENESE: Tell me!
REKO: It's nothing. I forgot what it was now.
KENESE: Very well. Listen, I wanted to talk to you
about what happened earlier...
REKO: If it's about Vince, then no.
KENESE: No. I know you're a little ticked off at
him right now, so all I'll say about that is that he's gone out for a walk.
But I'm talking about what you said earlier, about not having a soul.
REKO: Yeah. It just occurred to me right there.
I wasn't a creation of God's hands, and--
KENESE: That's where you're wrong! (HE TAKES OUT
A BIBLE.) Flip to any page in here. Focus on the first phrase
that you see on that page, and read it out loud to me.
(REKO DOES SO AND READS.)
REKO: "Have we not all one father? have not one God
created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother,
by profaning the convenant of our fathers?"
KENESE: Ah, Malachi 2:10. I was hoping you'd turn
to that one.
REKO: How did you know--
KENESE: I've read through the Bible about twenty times
now since I was a little kid.
REKO: You have?
KENESE: Yeah! You know, I haven't told too many
people this, but I'm actually very religious. I've spent most of
my spare time reading and writing about the Bible. It's the main
reason I didn't do very well in school, I'm afraid.
REKO: I never knew... But how can you be so religious
when you know that you were created by science?
KENESE: Read the first two sentences again.
REKO: "Have we not all one father? have not one
God created us?"
KENESE: Exactly. Without His hands, where would
Dr. Hawethorne be? He would have never been born, and neither would
we. God created every one of us, some just a little more indirectly
than others. Either way, all living creatures have souls, as do we.
And the way I see it, a soul is something that is built up by what is around
us. Reko, I don't know if you know this, but Dr. Hawethorne made
you the strongest of us all. If you put your mind to it, you could
beat me up really easily. But you were raised as a pacifist.
He created you, but He (POINTING UP) created you (POINTING AT REKO).
REKO: How can you be so sure?
KENESE: Faith. (HE STANDS TO LEAVE THE ROOM.)
It's all you need in life. Faith builds one's soul, and yours will
grow stronger as well through time.
REKO: Thanks.
KENESE: And one more thing. If you didn't see that
I was so religious before, isn't it a little strange that you should be
angry at Vince?
REKO: It's very different, I think. I've told him
plenty of times that I don't like fighting. I've never heard you
say anything about strength in Christianity.
KENESE: I see. Well, I'm sure he'll be back from
his walk very soon.
REKO: Kenese, you almost left this.
(SHE HOLDS UP HIS BIBLE.)
KENESE: You keep it.
(HE LEAVES THE ROOM. REKO LOOKS AT THE BOOK AND OPENS IT TO THE FIRST PAGE.)
REKO: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth...
VINCE: She hates me. And Djai... He knew it before I did. I should have known it would have turned out this way. I wonder if Kenese knew...?
(HE LOOKS FURTHER DOWN THE STREET AND SEES YARLIAS, VANTIE, LYKO, AND LYRA. THEY NOTICE HIM AS WELL.)
YARLIAS: Hey, it's him!
VANTIE: Why would he be out here alone?
(VINCE DOES NOT MOVE.)
LYKO: Why doesn't he run away?
LYRA: He's scared stiff!
VINCE (V.O.): (IN THOUGHT) Why can't I move?
YARLIAS: Get him!
VINCE (V.O.): (IN THOUGHT) I can't move...
LYRA: He's free prey!
VINCE (V.O.) (IN THOUGHT) They're coming after me...
VANTIE: Got him! (SHE GRABS HIS ARMS AND BRINGS
THEM AROUND TO HIS BACK.) Why aren't you fighting back? Are
you scared of us?
VINCE (V.O.) (IN THOUGHT) I can't fight back...
LYKO: Geez, what's his problem?
VINCE (V.O.) (IN THOUGHT) It's just like what Kenese
said...
YARLIAS: Fight back! (HE PUNCHES VINCE ACROSS
THE FACE.) Come on!
VINCE: Reko!
(YARLIAS PUNCHES HIM AGAIN, AND VINCE LURCHES OVER, KNOCKED OUT.)
TURUFO: Welcome back, Vince.
VINCE: Who are you?
TURUFO: Ah, you don't remember?
VINCE: Remember what?
TURUFO: I'm your boss.
VINCE: Then why am I all tied up?
TURUFO: We didn't know what you'd do when you'd wake up.
We had to take the necessary precautions.
VINCE: I can't remember anything that's happened to me...
TURUFO: It's just as well. The Sangwine Organization
members ganged up on you. It was a horrible sight. Sorry we
weren't there to help you out, Vince.
VINCE: What's your name?
TURUFO: You don't even remember that? I'll have
to tell you everything all over again, it looks like. I'm Professor
Turufo, and this is your home: The Paraxa Faction Headquarters...
KENESE: It's me, Reko.
REKO: Come in. (HE DOES SO.) What are you
doing up so early?
KENESE: (LOOKING DOWN AT THE BIBLE, WHICH HAS A RIBBON
BOOKMARKED ABOUT FIFTY PAGES INTO IT) I see you've been reading.
REKO: Yeah. I thought I could gather a few answers
from it.
KENESE: Good thinking. Listen, have you heard from
Vince since yesterday?
REKO: Nope. Just as well.
KENESE: You really shouldn't say that. Do you have
any idea where he'd go?
REKO: Don't know, don't care.
KENESE: Ugh, why won't you cooperate?
REKO: Don't wanna, so there.
KENESE: Very funny. Really, I'd like to know.
I'm getting a little worried.
REKO: He can take care of himself. He'll probably
be back in a few hours anyway.
VANTIE: So, dad, how'd Vince take the switch?
TURUFO: It took him a while to absorb it all. It's
hard to explain some things that are mixed in with the truth. Took
a while for me to convince him that he never knew Kenese or Reko personally.
And that I was his creator, not Hawethorne.
VANTIE: That was a little cruel. Why couldn't you
just say he was adopted, like Yarlias?
TURUFO: He would have never believed it. You know,
getting someone into a mood where they can be so easily brainwashed takes
a lot out of a person. I'm taking a nap. Would you watch over
the door, just to make sure he doesn't leave the room, Vantie?
VANTIE: Of course, dad. I'll see you in a few hours
then?
TURUFO: Yes. Wake me up in exactly ten hours from
now, if I'm not awake by then. I'll call a meeting ten minutes after
that point.
VANTIE: No problem. I won't let him out of my sights.
(TURUFO NODS AND WALKS DOWN THE HALLWAY. VANTIE TURNS TOWARD THE
DOOR AND GOES THROUGH. VINCE IS ASLEEP IN THE CHAIR, NO LONGER TIED
DOWN.) Vince? (HE LOOKS UP, DROWSY.) Hey, big guy.
How are you feeling?
VINCE: Vantie...?
VANTIE: Yes, it's me. Missed me? (HE STROKES
HIS HAIR BACK.) Now, please tell me how you're feeling.
VINCE: Who are you?
VANTIE: Oh, poor thing! You must have been so tortured
by those horrible Sangwines, especially that Reko girl. Remember?
VINCE: Vaguely...
VANTIE: And you don't remember a thing about us?
VINCE: Not that much at all...
VANTIE: Oh, looks like I'll have to continue where Dad
left off...
REKO: Still not back?
KENESE: No. I'm really starting to worry about him
Reko.
REKO: I don't see how you could.
KENESE: Well, then again I haven't been through what you
have with him. Still, I think you should at least try to have some
sort of compassion for Vince.
REKO: Compassion?
KENESE: You may have read already that the Bible teaches
forgiveness.
REKO: Then why were Adam and Eve cast out of the Garden?
KENESE: They lived, didn't they?
REKO: I suppose you're right. I'm just not ready
to forgive just yet, though.
KENESE: Whatever you say. Listen, I'll be back in
a--
(THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.)
REKO: I'll get it.
KENESE: What if it's--
REKO: What do I care if it's Vince or not? Probably
just some salesperson anyway. We need to find a way of getting them
to stay off our property. (SHE OPENS THE DOOR, AND VINCE IS
STANDING ON THE OTHER SIDE. THEY STARE AT EACH OTHER FOR A FEW SECONDS,
VINCE
HAVING NO EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE AND REKO LOOKING AGHAST, WHEN SUDDENLY
SHE THROWS HER ARMS AROUND HIM.) Vince! You're back!
(HE MOVES HIS ARM, AND REKO'S EYES FOLLOW HIS HAND AS IT GRIPS A
GUN. SHE JUMPS AWAY FROM HIM, AND HE POINTS THE GUN AT HER HEAD.)
Vince?! Come on! You don't have that much of a grudge
against me, do you?!
VINCE: Why shouldn't I?
REKO: It was just a stupid breakup!
KENESE: I thought she was going a little overboard, but
this is just a little ridiculous!
VINCE: Breakup? As in, "no longer a couple"?
REKO: Stop playing around, Vince! (SHE LOOKS AT
HIS SHIRT, WHICH HAS THE PARAXA FACTION LOGO ON IT.) Vince, what's
that?
VINCE: You know good and well what it is. And I
don't know what you're talking about with this "breakup" thing. We
were never together in the first place.
REKO: What do you mean?! We've known each other
for three years, and we were going out for the last half of that time.
VOICE (VANTIE): The question is, what do you mean?
(LEANS AGAINST VINCE) We've been together for two years. And
I know for a fact that my guy doesn't cheat, especially with Sangwine girls.
VINCE: Yeah. I don't get what she's trying to do,
either.
REKO: Get away from him!
(DJAI WALKS NEXT TO KENESE, OUT OF VIEW OF THE PARAXA MEMBERS.)
KENESE: Do you have any idea what's going on here, Djai?
(HE SHRUGS.) It's like he's never been with us at all...
VINCE: You're right! I never have. I don't
know what you people are trying to do with me, but I suggest you stop it
before someone gets hurt.
REKO: You mean, you don't remember anything about us?
VINCE: There was never any "us". Just Paraxa and
Sangwine.
REKO: You... You traitor!
(REKO RUNS INTO THE BUILDING.)
VOICE (YARLIAS): I'll go after her!
VINCE: No, let her go. We'll make some sport out
of her.
KENESE: She's none of your concern!
VANTIE: Let me tell you something, she's much more than
that.
KENESE: Like what?
VANTIE: The key.
VINCE: We'll give her five minutes.
(DJAI RUNS IN THE SAME DIRECTION REKO DID, BUT ONLY KENESE
NOTICES.)
DJAI: (HALF WHISPERING): Reko?
(REKO LOOKS AT HIM FROM AROUND A CORNER OF THE LOFT.)
REKO: Djai?
DJAI: Where are you?
REKO: I'm up here. (DJAI LOOKS UP.)
What can I say? I'm a real coward.
DJAI: Come on. There's nobody else in here, and
you need to hurry up and move somewhere else.
REKO: (CLIMBING DOWN AS HE TALKS) What do you mean?
DJAI: You have five... (LOOKS AT HIS WATCH)
Four minutes until the Paraxa come after you.
REKO: Where's Kenese?
DJAI: Guarding the entrance. (REKO GETS A SHOCKED
LOOK ON HER FACE AND RUNS THROUGH THE DOOR.) Hey, you're going in
the wrong direction!
REKO: I know! I've got to help him!
DJAI: No! You can't! You'll be--
REKO: This is my fight! (SHE CONTINUES TO RUN. DJAI
STARTS
TO RUN AFTER HER, BUT HE FEELS SOMETHING POKING AT HIS BACK, A GUN, AND
STOPS.)
YARLIAS: Don't even think about it.
VINCE: We'll keep this up until the end of the five minutes.
Just a little longer, you two.
KENESE: What's wrong with you, Vince? You've changed
so much...
VINCE: Changed? Nothing has changed, my friend!
KENESE: That's just it! Me and you, we used to be
great friends! Now look at us! You've ordered two goons to
tackle me as you just stand there and smile! What's happened to you,
Vince?
VINCE: Nothing happened except that you keep on trying
to oppose the Paraxa Faction! Press down harder, Lyko.
(LYKO PRESSES DOWN ON KENESE'S THROAT AS HE CHOKES, TRYING TO BREAK FREE.)
VOICE (REKO): Let him go, you monsters! (LYRA AND
LYKO LOOK UP TO SEE REKO, ENRAGED. SHE TAKES OUT A GUN AND SHOOTS
TWICE, LYRA IN THE SIDE AND LYKO IN HER LEFT ARM. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS,
SHE TOSSES THE GUN ASIDE WITH AN ASHAMED LOOK HER FACE.) They weren't
human, Reko. They were hurting your friend... Kenese, you okay?
KENESE: I didn't think you had it in you...
REKO: I didn't want to. But then again, I'm only
against human violence.
KENESE: Stick to what you believe in, Reko.
REKO: I shouldn't have--
KENESE: It's done.
REKO: Kenese, this is between Vince and me now.
Please leave.
KENESE: Are you sure?
REKO: I can do this.
(KENESE RUNS AWAY PAST VINCE AND DOWN THE ROAD. AS HE RUNS, HE FEELS HIS BIBLE SLIPPING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH HIS JACKET. HE CATCHES IT BEFORE IT FALLS AND CLUTCHES IT AGAINST HIS HEART.)
VINCE: Now why'd you do that? He'd make for some
good target practice. Oh well. There's always you. (HE
TAKES OUT A GUN, BUT REKO JUST STANDS STILL.) Where's yours?
REKO: I only carried two bullets in that one.
VINCE: How were you so sure you'd hit the right spots?
REKO: In the last fight, Lyra shot me at those places.
Of course, you wouldn't remember. But I knew that if he aimed there,
he must feel that those areas present some sort of mortality.
VINCE: Good observation. Wish I knew what fight
you were talking about.
REKO: Please, you used to fight along with us, not against
us!
VINCE: Why would I be with a Sangwine group? Back
to our old subject, where's your gun?
REKO: I don't shoot humans.
VINCE: A pacifist, huh? Never would have guessed
it, coming from you.
REKO: I know.
VINCE: Huh? Never mind. You're just trying
to confuse me again. (HE GETS OUT ANOTHER GUN.) Here.
Each of these guns only has one bullet in it.
REKO: No, I won't--
VINCE: Take the gun! (SHE DOES SO, OUT OF FEAR.)
Now, I'll make a deal with you. If you're so sure that I was once
a part of the Sangwine Organization and am a true traitor, then go ahead
and shoot me.
REKO: (IN SHOCK) But--
VINCE: If not, then I'll be convinced that you were trying
to deceive me, and I'll shoot you instead.
REKO: Vince, I--
VINCE: Ah, little Miss Pacifist won't stand up and fight?
What a joke!
REKO: I don't want to hurt you!
VINCE: I'm your enemy, aren't I?
REKO: As far as I'm concerned, no...
VINCE: Then why point a gun at me?
REKO: You're making me do this!
VINCE: If you'd stand up for yourself a little better,
this may not happen so often.
REKO: Oh, shut up!
VINCE: Heh, I'm confusing you.
REKO: We're all confused! That's why we're doing
what we're doing now. Please, reconsider all of this, Vince!
VINCE: (AIMING HIS GUN) Who'll shoot first?
You or me?
YARLIAS: You look so pathetic, all caught up in a corner
like that. Get out from there. (HE STANDS ASIDE AS DJAI
SLOWLY INCHES PAST HIM.) There. Now it's a little more fair,
what with you being unarmed and all. (DJAI SMIRKS.)
You... You are armed!!! (DJAI PULLS OUT A GUN AND SHOOTS AT
YARLIAS, HITTING HIM DIRECTLY THROUGH THE HEART. HE RUNS TOWARD A
BACK DOOR IN THE ROOM.) Get back here... (HE HAS LANDED RIGHT
BY HIS OWN GUN, AND JUST BEFORE TAKING HIS LAST BREATH OF AIR, HE REACHES
IT AND SHOOTS HIM IN THE LEG, WHERE HE WAS HIT BEFORE. DJAI RUNS
THROUGH THE DOOR, LIMPING, AND SHUTS IT BEHIND HIM AS YARLIAS'S
HAND FALLS TO THE GROUND, AS DOES HIS GUN.)
DJAI: Gah! Right in the same spot... But I've
got to get to Reko before... anything happens to her... Hold on,
Reko!
KENESE: Please, guide Reko to do the right thing.
Place her in Your light and lead her down the right path...
VINCE: Come on, Reko. Or weren't you telling the
truth about me?
REKO: I was! That's why I don't want to shoot you.
VINCE: Then why did you shoot them? (HE MOTIONS
HIS GUN TOWARD LYRA AND LYKO.) Tell me.
REKO: They were hurting my friend. And anyway, they
weren't--
VINCE: Well, how about I hurt your friend over there?
(REKO TURNS AROUND AND SEES DJAI APPROACHING, LIMPING.)
REKO: Djai! Go back! This isn't your fight!
I told you that already!
VINCE: Heh. I could get rid of him very easily.
(HE POINTS HIS GUN AT DJAI.)
REKO: No! Don't do it! (VINCE SMILES,
POINTING THE GUN BACK AT REKO.) Leave him out of this.
VINCE: Fine. Come on. Go ahead and make your
decision.
REKO: I can't...
VINCE: Then there's only one thing to do.
(THE CAMERA FOCUSES ON DJAI'S FRIGHTENED FACE. A GUNSHOT SOUNDS OUT.)
DJAI: Reko! NO!!! (REKO'S GUN FALLS
FROM HER HANDS, AS DOES VINCE'S FROM HIS. THEY BOTH FALL AT
THE SAME TIME AS WELL, REKO TO HER KNEES AND VINCE ALL THE
WAY TO THE GROUND. DJAI RUNS TO HER SIDE.) Oh, great.
I just knew that arm was going to short-circuit someday. You were
under too much stress, and it--
REKO: I'm not left-handed.
DJAI: What?
REKO: You fixed my left hand. I shot with my right.
(VANTIE EMERGES FROM BEHIND A TREE. SHE WATCHED THE WHOLE ORDEAL.)
VANTIE: Nice job, Reko. The police'll be here really
soon. Wait 'til they hear who killed my boyfriend just because she
was so jealous...
REKO: You can't do that!
VANTIE: Watch me.
VOICE (TURUFO): Vantie!
VANTIE: Yeah, Dad?
TURUFO: Reko, don't worry about a thing. I killed
Vince long before you saw him the way he was.
REKO: What?
TURUFO: Go hide. They'll be here soon.
VANTIE: Dad?!
TURUFO: Go. Vantie, I'll see you around.
VANTIE: Dad?! What are you doing?!
TURUFO: I deserve this much more than Reko could ever.
VANTIE: But--
TURUFO: You almost destroyed what I did with him anyway.
You should be glad I don't turn you in as well.
VANTIE: Dad!
TURUFO: Vantie! GO!
(SHE IS ABOUT TO TALK AGAIN, BUT RUNS AWAY INSTEAD.)
REKO: I... I don't know what to say...
TURUFO: Don't say a thing. (HE HANDS A NOTE TO HER.)
Take this and hide. (SIRENS IN THE DISTANCE.) Please, for your
own good, the both of you.
(DJAI AND REKO TAKE THE NOTE AND RUN.)
DJAI: Well, that was nice of him.
REKO: I can't believe it... (SHE LOOKS AT THE NOTE.)
DJAI: Open it.
(THEY DO, AND REKO READS IT ALOUD.)
REKO: Reko and whomever else it may concern, I hope I get
this note to you in time. It is true that Vince has indeed taken
a turn for the worse. And it is my fault entirely. I had no
idea he would take it this far. And I am totally apalled about what
my daughter brainwashed him to believe. Just to show that there are
no hard feelings, I am turning myself in. And one more thing, I found
the note attached to this one on the floor. I can only assume that
he wrote it before we captured him. Signed, Professor Turufo.
(SHE STOPS READING.) A note...?
DJAI: Go on. Read it.
REKO: (FLIPS TO THE NEXT PAGE.) Dearest Reko, I
am sorry for whatever I have done over the past year and a half to offend
you. It is still shocking me that you've left me. But then
again, I have been a jerk for a while now, haven't I? Ah well.
All I can ask of you is your forgiveness. Maybe someday we'll be
together again, when there isn't so much stress in our lives. I'm
so sorry Reko. That's all I can say. I love you, and I'm sorry.
Please, forgive me. Whenever you feel ready to, come talk to me.
I beg of you. Much love, even though you may not know it, Vince.
(SHE STOPS READING.) Djai...
DJAI: It's okay, Reko. (SHE LEANS OVER TOWARD HIM,
AND HE TAKES HER IN HIS ARMS.) It's okay. At least you know
he meant well.
REKO: What does that matter? I killed him!
DJAI: No, Turufo did.
REKO: No, I killed him before he ever even started.
I'm such a monster...
DJAI: You're not.
REKO: I shot him, Djai! I killed him!
DJAI: Shh! Don't think about it. It's over
now.
REKO: I know...
