EPISODE TWENTY-FIVE – SEASONS OF WITHER

INT. ROY’S PALACE OFFICE

Valentine: I just need you to take care of them for a few days.

Deim: I still don’t understand.

Move away to reveal the gigantic hole in the window, glass on the floor, blood stains on the carpet in Valentine’s office.

Deim: Eden was a good man. Crazy, but honest and good at his job.

Valentine: If I’m able to pull it off, we won’t ever have to worry about this sort of thing again.

Deim: I hoped you’d be able to keep away from this trouble.

Valentine: So did I. But somehow, it always catches up to me.

Deim: But tomorrow it stops?

Valentine: You’re in then?

Deim: Tomorrow, I will collect your women after the memorial service.

Valentine: Tomorrow will be Independence for real.

TITLE CARD – SEASONS OF WITHER

INT. VALENTINE’S GARAGE

Valentine is sitting in his Jag, having opened up the dash, and is fiddling around with something in it.

Remington: So let me get this straight… I’m to do nothing?

Valentine: Nicholas… look at yourself.

Remington is in a wheelchair, covered in bandages and other assorted strapping.

Remington: Just a couple of scratches.

Valentine: You and Lydia watch our backs. Make sure no one who would hinder us follows. Watch over Shadowhite and his goons, ever watchful they’re not cottoning on to our scheme.

Remington: You’re sure you can trust-

Valentine: For the hundredth time, yes, I believe I can trust Jane.

Remington rolls to the side, nearer Valentine.

Remington: I don’t trust her.

Valentine: Well, I’ll be sure to consider that.

Remington: I hope you know what you’re doing, you old fool.

Valentine: Seth devised most of it. So when we fail and find ourselves in hell, you should go throwing rocks at him, not me.

Seth rolls out from under the Jag where he had been working on something.

Seth: It’s pretty much what the Tigers were already planning, so you should all pick on Chris, thanks very much.

Valentine closes up the dash.

Valentine: All fixed up?

Seth: She’s ready to roll.

INT. VALENTINE’S KITCHEN

Valentine and Neville are in Valentine’s very large and flash kitchen, making tea.

Neville: Not that I’m particularly domesticated or anything, but this kitchen is really swell.

Valentine: You know, I have never, ever heard you use that word before.

Neville: Hey, I’m just saying. Did Elli cook you any memorable meals in here?

Valentine’s eyes flicker.

Valentine: She had already left me by the time Percy snatched her.

Neville: Well that’s not what I asked.

Valentine: One or two. But I was better. Wherever you go in the world, men are better cooks than women. On Mars, the best cooks are gonna be men.

Jane pours milk in the cups.

Valentine: I’m going to get her back. But that’s about doing what’s right. That doesn’t necessarily mean we’re gonna fall back into each others arms. At the same time, that doesn’t necessarily mean that… you know what I mean.

Valentine scoops excess sugar into the cups.

Valentine: Is it ok for you to be here?

Neville: Shadowhite has Neal, so he’s placated for now.

Valentine’s expression turns dark.

INT. VALENTINE’S CAR

Valentine and Mei are in the car. The radio plays softly. He is driving along the motorway.

Valentine: You know what you’re doing today?

Mei nods.

Valentine: You know why it’s so important to me?

Mei nods.

Valentine: And you understand that there’ll be no favourites?

Mei snorts.

Mei: Come on, dad. I can play nice when I’m given respect. I wasn’t that badly brought up.

Valentine smirks.

Mei: I’m just disappointed I’ll be missing out on all the action.

Valentine: You understand why?

Mei nods. Valentine sees Seth waving him over to an empty space.

Valentine: If something goes wrong and I don’t make it-

Mei: Don’t even say it. I believe in you.

One shot flash of Su.

Su: I believe in you.

There’s a silent pause. Then, Valentine turns up the radio, it’s “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing”. He hums along. Mei looks distant, almost vacant.

Valentine: What’s up?

She doesn’t answer back. Valentine pulls into a parking lot.

Valentine: Hey. What’re you thinking?

Mei: Hmm… You’ll be okay… I can sense it.

Valentine parks, they get out. He tosses Seth his keys and they nod to one another.

ON TELEVISION

Funky title music with flashing graphics plays to introduce “The Today Show: Memorial Show with Timothy Clostio”.

Clostio: Hello, and welcome to the show. As always, Independence Day kicks off with the memorial service at D’Antona Cathedral. But today is a very special memorial. Every ten years, the Cassavaterne and the President lead the prayers together and celebrities from all over the country and indeed, the world are guests of the occasion. The Cassavaterne, on his first public appearance since the last Prima Momentoria ten years ago has already arrived, so let’s try and get some interviews with other people before proceedings. Hello there!

Jeff: Hi!

Clostio: You have a pass for the service?

Jeff: Oh yes, my father got me one. I’m very excited!

Clostio: What is it about the Prima Momentoria that makes it so special, do you think?

Jeff: Well, it’s so rare and the occasion-

Clostio: Sorry, I’m going to have to cut you off there and go over to (jogs over) Marco Valentine. How are you today?

They walk and talk.

Valentine: Hey Tim, I’m great, how are you?

Clostio: Are you here alone today?

Valentine: Pretty much, yeah.

Clostio: Am I correct in thinking that this is the first Prima Momentoria you’ve attended.

Valentine: That’s true.

Clostio: Ten years ago you didn’t attend because the political situation was so precarious. Have you now put those old grievances behind you?

Valentine: Well, I’m a great believer in letting bygones be bygones, Tim. In fact, I’m pretty much unconcerned with the Cassavaterne’s presence, it’s all about Independence.

Clostio: Yes, today, on this beautiful spring day, it’s the season of new life; it feels perfect to be celebrating Independence Day.

Valentine: You know Tim; spring is my least favourite season.

Clostio: Why’s that, Marco?

Valentine: It’s the season of false hope. You go out and expect sunshine, a fresh breeze. Instead, you get rain. With other seasons, what you see is what you get. Also? I get terrible hay fever.

INT. D’ANTONA CATHEDRAL

It’s very, very crowded. Valentine is seated. Yukio comes and sits next to him.

Valentine: Oh, the fun.

Yukio: I never figured you as a church going type. You always used to slip out of Sunday school and sneak off for a fumble with one of your girlfriends.

Valentine: Until you ratted me out to Mom and Dad.

Yukio: Not that it did me any good or you any harm.

Valentine: Well, that’s long past now.

Yukio: Have I ever told you that I love you?

Valentine: I’d be more comfortable if you rephrased that.

Yukio: Well, I do, brother. So forgive me.

Valentine: Forgive you what?

Yukio: We’re gonna go and bust out Prince.

Valentine: I’m closing up my ears now, so feel free to keep talking, just know that I ain’t listening.

Yukio: It’s starting now anyway.

Shadowhite comes to the platform dressed in a Maester uniform.

Shadowhite: Hello. Thank you all for attending. Today marks the fiftieth anniversary of our great nation’s independence, and we welcome our very special guest today, this nation’s sovereign, Cassavaterne Joseph Sha’arad.

Applause as a very frail middle-aged man in a wheelchair is pushed onto the stage by a tall mean looking dude with long hair. There’s some frosty glaring going on between Shadowhite and Sha’arad. Sha’arad looks over the assembled masses and smiles an empty, vacant smile.

Sha’arad (softly): Thank you.

Valentine grinds his teeth.

BREAK

INT. D’ANTONA CATHEDRAL

Shadowhite is leading a very long prayer listing names of fallen heroes. Valentine watches Sha’arad have an inaudible conversation with his minder. Valentine starts sneezing, and can’t seem to stop.

Yukio: What’s wrong with you?

Valentine: Hay fever.

He gets up and starts making his way towards the bathroom. He touches Neville’s shoulder as he passes her. Valentine keeps sneezing, walking, and sees the minder pushing Sha’arad to the side. Valentine slips towards the back exit and sneaks out. Remington, on the other side of the hall, watches him carefully, not bowing his head like the others. He then turns his gaze back to Sha’arad, and his small entourage who are also taking the opportunity to slip away. Shadowhite looks up also, shrugs it off, fixes his lapel ad keeps speaking.

EXT. PARKING LOT

Valentine runs. Seth is already driving the Jag, and meets him. Valentine jumps in.

Seth: Their car is next to the cherry grove.

Valentine: Let’s go.

They race off, passing a slow moving black Audi with tinted windows. Seth finds the cherry grove quickly and at the lights they spy a Rolls Royce starting up.

Valentine: Fetch.

The lights turn green and the chase is on.

INT. D’ANTONA CATHEDRAL

The service has finished and people are mingling and heading for the exits. Remington watches Shadowhite and rolls around, looking a little confused. Up behind him comes…

Yukio: Hello there.

Remington turns back to look and scowls.

Remington: No time for you.

Yukio: You know James Mowbray, right?

Remington: Yes. One of Shadowhite’s boys. Pretty much the last one left.

Yukio: And your secret informant.

Remington turns.

Remington: Now where did you hear that?

Yukio: The remaining members of the White Tigers have been putting together a plan to free Prince from jail. During our search for inside contacts, we came across him and struck a very interesting deal. He will help us get prince out. But Marco has to make the contact.

Remington: What? Why him? I thought you came to me to ask for me! I know him, I can make the contact!

Yukio: Well I don’t think-

Remington: I’ll do it! Just tell me what I need to do. So he’d really go against Shadowhite?

Yukio: Well, there’s a fee involved. We will pay that.

Remington: Something’s vibrating?

Yukio: ??

Remington: Oh yeah, my phone.

He answers it.

INT. VALENTINE’S CAR

Valentine is on the other end.

Valentine: Correct me if I’m wrong, Nicholas, but were you not supposed to be keeping an eye on Shadowhite and MAD for me? (Pause) Well, I think the car following us at a fairly rapid speed would like to disagree with you!!

He looks back, confirming the black Audi is still there. The Rolls Royce has noticed something about the fact there are two cars following it intently and starts taking evasive manoeuvres.

Valentine: Eat lead.

He disconnects.

Valentine: I hope you passed your driver’s Ed, Seth.

Seth turns the wheel sharply, viciously.

EXT. D’ANTONA CATHEDRAL

Yukio pushes Remington towards a purple Mustang which Bridget Violet drives.

Yukio: Bridget will take you to the rendezvous. The money is in the back.

Remington gets up and limps into the passenger seat while Yukio folds the wheelchair and stows it in the car.

Yukio: Yevon’s blessings.

Remington lights a cigarette as the car drives away.

CUT TO:

Nearby, Neville has exited the building and is looking a little lost. Mei finds her.

Mei: Hey! Over here!

Neville walks over to where she is.

Mei: The car should be around the side.

They walk towards a blue Merc. Mei opens the back door and the dead and bloodied body of Deim falls out. She squeals, jumps back and before you can say “Mother of God and all her wacky nephews”, she and Jane are surrounded by agents.

Agent: Come quietly now. President Shadowhite would like a moment of your time.

EXT. STREETS

The cars chase each other, sharply turning, skidding, and sliding. Valentine watches the back of the Rolls silently.

Valentine: Sharp! Now!

He reaches over, grabs the wheel and helps Seth turn 180 like the Rolls. The Audi shoots straight ahead in the opposite direction. The cars race down, twisting, drifting. Finally, they hit a straight. Valentine reaches forward, flicks the switch on the dash that he was sorting earlier. A light torpedo is launched from the underside of the Jag. It impacts against the back of the Rolls, blowing out the rear tyres and crunching up the chassis. Both cars grind to a halt. Valentine and Seth climb out of the Jag. From the Rolls emerge Sha’arad’s minder and also their driver, Hervé de Langlois.

Valentine: Mizuno Kitechi.

Kitechi: Mr Deathwish calling.

Valentine: Where is she?

Kitechi: I’m right here.

Valentine: Very funny. Where is she?

Kitechi: She’s with us, in the car. But she’s not why you came.

Valentine opens the back door of the Jag and grabs his sword on the back seat, and unsheathes it from its Aerosmith logo patterned scabbard. Kitechi clutches his scabbard, hanging from his hip.

Kitechi: I knew you would you come. You will never be able to resist.

Valentine points his sword at Kitechi.

Valentine: My name is Marco Valentine. You killed my father: Prepare to die.

Kitechi draws his sword. De Langlois draws his gun. Seth thrusts his arms and multiple machine guns appear from his sleeves. Valentine and Kitechi circle one another. They rush at each other and exchange lightning quick strikes with their blades, deflecting each one skilfully and dodging the more aggressive strokes. Valentine holds his sword with both hands and strikes. Kitechi dodges and his sword flashes at Valentine, cutting through his jacket sleeve and drawing blood. Valentine shrugs it off, deflects the hard follow up and kicks Kitechi off his feet. Kitechi dodges Valentine’s repeated blows and they circle one another again.

Kitechi: Is this your best? Legends tell of your unrivalled ferocity in combat. They all say that when Marco Valentine is angry, he is like an unstoppable force of nature. This is the legend?

Valentine: You’ve never seen me when I’m angry.

Kitechi attacks suddenly and viciously, knocking Valentine to the floor. Kitechi steps on Valentine’s sword and kicks Valentine in the face, knocking him back and disarming him. Valentine backs away and finds wall. Kitechi slowly and deliberately advances on him, now holding both swords.

Kitechi: So here we are. You kept coming at me, but you never won. I have the power, the chair of justice; you’re just some stray dog. No weapon… no wife… no hope… Take all that away… and what’s left?

Seth tightens his trigger fingers as Kitechi stabs at Valentine’s face. Valentine stops the blade in his hands.

Valentine: Me.

Valentine thrusts the sword back and the hilt hits Kitechi on the nose. Valentine takes the sword back and goes on the offensive, slashing and hacking.

Valentine: You wanted to see me angry? Well here it is!!

He slashes harder and harder and Kitechi finds it more and more difficult to block.

Valentine: Always thought you were a hot shot, eh? No such thing! All you are good for is sneaking around and stabbing people in the back!

Valentine punches Kitechi on the jaw, flooring him.

Valentine: You’re nothing but a crazy, jealous bitch!

He knocks the sword out of Kitechi’s hands and levels his sword at Kitechi’s terrified face.

Valentine: Offer me money.

Kitechi: Y-Yes.

Valentine: Offer me power.

Kitechi: Anything you want.

Valentine: I want my life back!!!

He starts hacking and stabbing.

Valentine: For my father!! (stab) My mother!! (hack) My sister!! (hack) My wife!! (stab) For James and Rob!! (hack) For Cami! (stab) For everyone you and your bastard in-bred king stole from me!!

He continues to hack and slash the mutilated corpse. Seth can’t watch. At length, he stops, looks around, goes to the car and pulls Sha’arad out. De Langlois raises his gun and Seth shoots it from his hand.

Seth: Shame on you, Orange. We trusted you.

INT. CITY JAIL

Remington and Violet are led by Mowbray through the back office.

Mowbray: Yeah, I am getting a lot of money for this. But there’s more to it. For one, I know all about Claverty’s connections. If it really does happen and Shadowhite’s party loses the election, I’d like to be able to double back and have alternative options.

Remington: That’s thoughtful of you.

Mowbray: I just don’t like losing. In here.

They walk through a door and Mowbray takes a card and slides it in a door and starts tapping keys.

Mowbray: Hold this.

He hands Remington the card. Using both hands, he slowly opens the door. Behind it, seated on the bed, is Prince. He slowly rises and advances towards the door.

Mowbray: You’re so self righteous Nick. You see things so straight, in such extremes. Your blinkers stop you from seeing the limits of loyalty. I mean just because we helped each other out a few times, it doesn’t necessarily mean…

Remington: What?

Mowbray grabs Prince, pulls him out of the cell, and then jumps in himself, shutting it behind him. Violet leaps in and tries to open it, but it has locked in. Remington spins, dropping the card to see the rows of armed guards appearing in the doorways.

Remington: I’m such a fool.

EXT. STREETS

Valentine throws Sha’arad to the floor and glares. Sha’arad struggles to his knees and wheezes.

Sha’arad: You’ve come to kill me again?

Valentine: To finish the job.

Sha’arad: I am the ruler of this country. You kill me, you will open a Pandora’s Box of trouble.

Valentine: The box was opened twenty years ago when your coup deposed the rightful ruler. You know who I am? That little butterfly called hope.

Valentine swishes his sword like a golf club and lops of Sha’arad’s head. He then thrusts the sword into Sha’arad’s body. He circles it, then heads for the Rolls-Royce, goes in and comes out, carrying Elli. He goes to the Jag and rests her in the back. He then turns back and advances on de Langlois, who backs away.

De Langlois: Hey, hey, don’t kill me!

Valentine: Don’t be afraid.

De Langlois: What do you want? Info? I’ll tell you anything you want!

Valentine: Like what?

De Langlois: Like who killed your wife! You’d like to hear that, right?

Valentine’s head cocks.

Valentine: She died in childbirth.

De Langlois: She was hit by a car.

Valentine: What?

De Langlois: I know this! I was there; I was along for the ride! She was going to the park, she was meeting you, I think, so you could leave together. I was with him, the guy! We were in a car, we were hot-tailing it, then we came round the corner, and there she was! Then my guy, he got out and delivered the baby, then he took it and he left her there! He made me clean up after him! I buried her; I found your daughter and told her where to find the grave!

Valentine: Who?

He dreads the answer because he already knows it.

De Langlois: It was Yu-

BLAM! The back of his head is blown open and he collapses. Standing behind him, holding the smoking gun is Yukio.

END – LIVE ON BORROWED TIME

Episode 26 Preview:

Valentine: All things end and Pandora’s Box must close. I can’t say for sure I can right all that’s wrong; I can’t say I’ll defeat all the evil. But one way or another, I’ll be Home Tonight…