Part 23

EXT. OUTSIDE CITY HALL – DAY

BELINDA is fuming as she sits on the steps of city hall. NANCY sees her and hesitates before approaching her.

NANCY: Hey, Belinda. Is everything alright?

BELINDA (angry): No.

NANCY: How come?

BELINDA: I keep missing the action! I wanted to help find the notes!

NANCY: It was really late at night. Not everyone can be there for every event...

BELINDA: I don't want to miss anything!

NANCY: You had to sleep. I can't imagine your parents would be happy if they saw you running around so late.

BELINDA: They aren't my parents. Anyways, I've been taking lots of midnight walks.

NANCY: Why?

BELINDA: To find clues. They aren't going to find themselves.

NANCY: That's not healthy you really shouldn't—

BELINDA: I want to be the one to find the buildings!

VANESSA V.O.: What's happening here?

Vanessa walks into the scene and MIN follows. Min is carrying their satchel.

NANCY: Belinda hasn't been sleeping much because of the mystery.

BELINDA: I've been taking naps! I'm fine!

VANESSA: How much sleep have you been getting?

BELINDA (hesitant): One hour...

MIN: Are you asking for health problems?

BELINDA: Are you asking to be punched in the face?

NANCY: Whoa there.

VANESSA: Belinda. I can ban you from the codex if you keep neglecting yourself.

BELINDA: Well, you can't stop me from trying to find the places! I want to see what's in the catacombs!

MIN: Maybe we've already found the catacombs, workshop, and church but we've missed it because half the signs in this town are broken.

VANESSA: That's possible. But right now, everyone is working as a team and if one person can't work, then they rely on their other teammates to help out.

BELINDA: I don't need a team then! Screw all of you!

NANCY: Belinda, we only care for your health—

BELINDA: I don't care!

Belinda storms off and Nancy gives a frustrated sigh. Min watches the youth storm off.

NANCY CONT'D: What brings you guys here anyways?

VANESSA: Min convinced to check out the election speeches happening here.

MIN: It's good to know the rules of an area, especially with changes. What if they set an earlier curfew? We need to be prepared.

VANESSA: If we can't freely run around searching for clues then we got a huge issue ahead of us.

NANCY: No wonder there's a huge crowd behind us.

A large crowd of people surround a podium and there are many people with large cameras on stands. DAMON ROSENBURG walks towards the podium which cues the cameras to start flashing.

NANCY CONT'D: Who's that fancy guy?

MIN: It's the current mayor, Damon Rosenburg. His family has been running Elgin for a long time.

VANESSA: So he's a hot shot thinking he'll be able to win the elections a second time?

MIN: He's a what now?

NANCY: He's very prestigious?

MIN: Yes, his family is. But many people are unhappy with him and the other candidate might win.

VANESSA: Which would be bad.

MIN: Yes.

Damon clears his throat before giving a polite wave to match his smile. There is a combination of jeers and cheers at his appearance and Damon lowers his hand slowly.

DAMON: My citizens! We've done so much in these past few years. Come so far. Built a new bridge across the river! Re-affirmed our beliefs at the church!

NANCY: Does he mean the abandoned church?

MIN: No, there's another church for Rividism.

VANESSA: What the hell is Rividism?

MIN: The religion most people worship here.

VANESSA: I never heard of it.

MIN: It's pointless to know what it's about anyways.

NANCY: Are you part of that religion?

MIN: I'm not a religious person.

DAMON: I understand that times are a bit tough lately. There are certainly some of us who feel down on our luck some days. The darkness of our own thoughts can be tempting.

A couple of boos come from the crowd but Damon doesn't pay any mind.

VANESSA CONT'D: People seem to really be upset with him.

NANCY: Seems like normal politics.

DAMON: But we must find the light within us. That's why I'm calling for a reinvestment in infrastructure. New lamp posts along the streets. Increased funding for our existing police force. Reopening Geraldyne Park.

VANESSA: There's a park?

MIN: It's been in construction forever.

DAMON: I know there are bleak moments in life. Together we will overcome!

The crowd weakly claps for Damon and he walks away from the podium.

VANESSA CONT'D: Yikes, that did not well.

NANCY: Do you think we'll hear from other candidates?

MIN: I'm not too sure—

THERON LE MORT walks to the podium and the crowd is silent. His stern expression comes off as cold and calculating as he scans the crowd.

MIN CONT'D: Looks like a yes.

THERON: If you do not know, my name is Theron Le Mort. I wish to lead Elgin to a better future. Our mayor, here, talks big game about achievements our city had in the past few years. I see no such things. A pat on the back for building a bridge, while the old one crumbles. Church events when we still haven't knocked down that eyesore? (Stares at the group) Miscreants in the streets. (Looks away) An uptick in crime. Stores being shut down. This place is no utopia, it is no working man's dream.

VANESSA: Miscreants?

NANCY: He looked at us. Why did he look at us?

MIN: His speech... it sounds like he'll be an issue for us.

THERON: But it could be! We need to properly support our police, give them the resources they need to bring on new hires so we can clean up this town. Tear down the abandoned church and make space for new developments. Imagine a train station that ran on time!

VANESSA: Something feels off.

NANCY: Fog not foggy enough?

MIN: I think we should just leave. It doesn't feel safe to be here.

THERON: Don't settle for increments and hard work. Choose to really buckle down and turn this into the Elgin we deserve!

The crowd erupts into a loud cheer and Theron has a smug smile. Nancy and Min leave the scene and Vanessa takes a final glance at the candidate to find him looking back.