Ghost Signals, Episode 7: Part 2.3
CUT TO:
EXT. WHAT WAS SILVER LAKE DOG PARK, SILVER LAKE
Dez-Lei standing in the center of the shot; her back to the camera. She's looking out at what was formerly Silver Lake Reservoir, but is now just a dry desert stretching out as far as the eye can see with patches of plastic and long-rotten garbage littered throughout. A few moments later, we see Raiven join the scene from the left of the screen.
We move to a shot of the two of them seconds later looking out at the putrid looking scene. As the good Doctor preps the machine once more, the AC Second Class is left to wonder what the importance of the area is.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (puzzled, to Raiven) You certain these coordinates are
accurate, Doctor?
RAIVEN (V.O., over the sound of the machine setting into place) Absolutely certain, Dez...
CUT TO:
Dr. O'Ozahl standing in front of the console typing away quickly at the keypad as she speaks. You can hear the Jahukagonis revving up as a result of her work.
RAIVEN (Cont., to AC Second Class Dez-Lei) Steggy doesn't skimp when it comes to data. She says that's the place, that's the place.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI That's not what I meant. It's... this hardly looks like a lively or populous area. Even at its peak.
RAIVEN True. But I've found in past expeditions the most fruitful discoveries often come from areas that are...lacking aesthetically.
She finishes typing shortly after the line. The machine reaches full power and, a second later, a beam of energy shoots forward and spreads out in both sides.
RAIVEN (Cont., glancing at the console) 2 monats from the previous pocket...I've only tried this out a few times back in Capitol.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI What happened?
RAIVEN (unfazed) Near calamitous explosion.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (suddenly concerned) And you think now's the right time to try it again?!
RAIVEN I don't think there is a "right time." But I have a hunch this will work out nicely in the end.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI And you know this...how?
RAIVEN The same way you believe so unequivocally in the inherent goodness of the military- faith.
The camera stays on Dr. O'Ozahl as the scene in front of her begins; the sounds of wildlife and various groups of people can be heard off-screen right. It remains this way for a few long moments without any change in the static action.
AC SECOND CLASS DEZ-LEI (breaking the ice) I don't see either of them.
RAIVEN It's plausible there's a lag in time with this pocket. We should know within a few segundos whether they come into view.
A second after the words leave her mouth, we hear the sound of muttering coming from that same off-screen right area.
RAIVEN (Cont.) As if perfectly on cue...!
MINA (V.O.) Thank you so much for agreeing to this...!
CUT TO:
EXT. DOG PARK, SILVER LAKE RESERVOIR- Distant Past/Our Future
Mina walking along the talking with someone on a smart phone toward the edge of the reservoir. She's dressed in a stylish version of a slightly more femme version of Jesse L. Martin's outfit from "Rent."
MINA (Cont.) I know commuting from the Hills is a beast this time of day.
AXE (from the phone, to Mina) For Renee? I'm more than happy to do it, mija.
CUT TO:
Axe, standing on one of the floating platforms somewhere off in the distance out of view of the two of them. She is a butch Latina dressed like a male biker with her hair shaved, holding the phone up to her left ear; the top of her guitar visible in the bottom of the shot.
AXE (Cont.) I'm impressed you were able to keep all this a secret. I know how much of a wiz at puzzles she can be.
BACK TO:
MINA It took a hells of a lot of doing. And a lot of query time paid through the private servers. Fortunately, she was up in Fresno for Hell Week. So I had the time to get it all together.
BACK TO:
AXE (uneasy) She's also not a fan of big surprises, especially during Hell Week. You prepped in case she starts getting grumpy?
BACK TO:
MINA (defensive) Why do you think I chose the day before opening to do this? It's when she's tired and exhausted... and amenable to suggestions about going for a ride before she gets back to the theatre.
BACK TO:
AXE (smirks) Sounds like a...pretty solid plan. Nice to have a little bit of that in our family.