Part 26

EXT. "CURIO SHOP" RUN DOWN STORE-NIGHT

BELINDA and CONNER sit outside of the steps of the closed shop. Conner is feverishly drawing on the map while stuffing his mouth with bread his other hand. Belinda watches him in disgust.

BELINDA CONT'D: That's disgusting.

CONNER: I'm drawing up the new locations. Plus you dragged me out into the cold just to see if quiet mystic, or Lillith, or whatever her name is, would come again.

BELINDA (irritated): I wanted to find the buildings first.

CONNER: You can still explore the buildings.

BELINDA: Humph, it's not the same.

CONNER: We can go visit the buildings another day. We're not even supposed to be here too.

BELINDA: I don't care. Mysteries don't sleep and I don't need to either.

CONNER: Mysteries don't need to eat cream puffs either. Would you stop eating those if I told you mysteries don't eat them?

BELINDA: No, don't be ridiculous!

CONNER: You should sleep more. You're not finding anything so you might as well sleep.

BELINDA: Sleep is for the weak.

CONNER: And you are weak. You haven't even hit puberty yet.

BELINDA (rolls eyes): Oh shut up.You're just trying to scare me.

CONNER: I'm just looking out for you, just like Lucy.

BELINDA: Lucy doesn't even know about this.

CONNER: She already knows you haven't been sleeping lately and she's worried out of her mind.

BELINDA: I bet she's fine and she's at home cleaning her room or some other boring chore.

CUT TO:

INT. COOPER'S RESIDENCE-NIGHT

LUCY stands at the front door and MR. COOPER stands behind her. ERLE is standing at the entrance with a cake box in his hands. Mr. Cooper is shocked to see the boy standing at his doorstep.

LUCY (angry): Why are you here?

ERLE: I wanted to see if you're alright.

MR. COOPER: Welcome. Please, come in.

LUCY: I don't think-

MR. COOPER: Lucy, dear. I didn't know you were friends with Rosenburg's son.

LUCY (bitter): He's what? Ah, yeah. W-we talk at the bakery sometimes.

Mr. Cooper motions for Erle to enter and he follows. They walk towards the dining area. There is an awkward silence as tension between Lucy and Erle rises by the second.

ERLE CONT'D: You have a lovely home, sir.

MR. COOPER: Why thank you. My husband is planning to redecorate the place soon but he's been so busy with his job lately that we haven't been able to start.

ERLE: Ah, I see.

There is a pause as they enter the dining area.

MR. COOPER CONT'D (to Erle): How are you faring with the elections? I heard your father was having a difficult time regaining voter's trust.

LUCY: Uh, papa, can we not talk about this?

MR. COOPER: Where are my manners? Would you like anything to drink? Eat?

ERLE: I actually prepared a cake for Lucy. I hope you accept it.

MR. COOPER: How thoughtful! What kind of cake did you bring for us?

ERLE: Chocolate cake. I created it myself.

MR. COOPER: Chocolate cake! My, that's a peculiar flavour. I never heard of such a thing. If you weren't Damon's boy I would've thought you would pursue a career in baking.

ERLE: You flatter me. It was actually a mistake the last time I had baked it but I ended up enjoying it. I hope you find this cake enjoyable as well.

Erle hands Mr. Cooper the cake.

MR. COOPER CONT'D: It's quite late for cake but I'll make an exception this time. This is a very special visit after all.

Mr. Cooper leaves Erle and Lucy. Lucy glares at Erle with her arms crossed.

LUCY CONT'D: What the hell do you want?

ERLE: I want to apologize.

LUCY: You think I can be bribed with cake?

ERLE: Well, you wanted chocolate cake and I thought it was the step in the right direction. I know you're really homesick and the things I said were really stupid.

LUCY: Wow that was convincing. Did you learn from your dad, the mayor of freaking Elgin?

ERLE: I didn't think it was a big deal honestly.

LUCY: Did you see how my "dad" reacted? Of course it's a big deal!

ERLE: I'm not from this world too, Lucy. Does it look like I know everything about here?

LUCY: You like it enough to say that stuff in the first place.

ERLE: I'm the son of a politician. The moment I was brought here I went under extensive training to uphold reputation and all that crap. And you know what? I hate it! But if I was stuck here I wouldn't mind it too much. I have a father that treats me like his son even if he isn't my real father. He has done so much for me and I am extremely grateful to him. I'm sorry that I was insensitive earlier but your feelings shouldn't invalidate my own.

Lucy stares at the ground and her lips are pressed into a tight line.

LUCY CONT'D: I'm just sensitive. I'm sorry that I made you feel that way.

ERLE: I can understand where your frustration is coming from. Really, you don't have to apologize. It's just better to see more perspectives on the situation.

Lucy sighs before taking a seat. A shaky hand runs through her hair.

LUCY CONT'D: No, I've been stressing about other things too. Mostly Belinda.

ERLE: Oh. I heard about what she's doing...

LUCY: Yeah, almost everyone has at this point. I'm just... worried she might get destroyed by staying here.

ERLE: I understand. She really needs to focus on her health.

LUCY: But she isn't. I'm scared that something bad might happen to her because she keeps stumbling around this dangerous place half awake.

ERLE: Well, there's nothing we can really do about it. If we try to tell her no, she'll just want to do it more.

Mr. Cooper walks back in with the cake on a cake stand. He places it on the table and smiles at the two.

MR. COOPER CONT'D: Ready for cake?

Lucy glances at Erle and smiles.

LUCY CONT'D: I am. I'm really excited to eat it.

CUT TO:

EXT. APOTHECARY-NIGHT

GINA and DARCY wait outside the entrance of the apothecary. MIN exits the building and locks it up. They have a satchel slung over one shoulder.

GINA CONT'D: I'm excited to see this.

DARCY: I'll keep on the lookout for Roch. I know he's supposed to be patrolling the area around this time.

MIN: Sounds good, you go do that.

GINA: So when do we start.

MIN: Um, Jordania isn't here yet. We kind of need her to be here.

GINA: You have yours right? Do we really need hers?

MIN: Well, it's good to have more just for looks and all. Might make it easier for him to think we're dealing drugs.

JORDANIA runs up to them with her orb in her hand.

JORDANIA CONT'D: I'm here!

MIN: Jordania, are you really running around the city with drugs out in the open?

JORDANIA: It's a goddamn knick knack, Min.

MIN: What if Roch had caught you?

JORDANIA: Well, he didn't and I'm here.

MIN: Don't be reckless, Jordania.

JORDANIA (rolls eyes): Yes, parent. I'll be careful next time.

Min carefully takes out the orb from their bag.

MIN CONT'D: So when Roch comes, Gina will talk about drugs and wanting to purchase these orbs.

GINA: Yep, all according to my idea.

JORDANIA: Wait, why am I needed?

MIN: You're going to argue with me. Say you got better quality or cheaper stuff or anything along those lines.

JORDANIA: Gotcha.

GINA: How about we have personas to have on while we have the discussion.

MIN: Like what?

GINA: Like you act really secretive and suspicious about letting me see the stuff.

MIN: How?

GINA: You try to act like a bad guy in those spy movies.

MIN: Movies? What's a movies?

JORDANIA: Act untrustworthy is what she's saying.

MIN: So act like myself?

JORDANIA: No, Min. I still trust you so you have to act worse than that.

GINA: Um, should I...?

They continue to talk to themselves on what to do and ROCH enters the scene. Darcy runs after him and pauses, not sure on what to do next.

ROCH CONT'D: Why do you have these glass orbs?

GINA (mutters): Bloody hell, Darcy.

DARCY (whispers): Sorry, dudes.

JORDANIA (sing song voice): Hello officer! Do you care for some drugs?

MIN: Jordania, please.

ROCH: Where did they come from? They look familiar...I've seen these somewhere...

GINA: I wonder if we'll get arrested at this rate.

JORDANIA: Let's test things out.

MIN (smug): If you'd like to know sir, you can always just ask.

JORDANIA: Are you curious?

Roch observes the orbs intensely for a few minutes before he comes to the realization.

ROCH: The Curio Shop. I knew it.

Roch storms away and the four of them watch in awe.

DARCY CONT'D: Should we send a message crow?

MIN: I think I have one in the apothecary.