SCENE: TENT, BLACK AND WHITE. MAX, IN COLOR, IS LAYING ON THE GROUND, EYES CLOSED. THEY START TO FLUTTER OPEN.
Amarantha: (VO) Well, that wasn't very nice.
Amy: (VO) What else would you have me do?
Amarantha: (VO) I LIKE colors. Bring them back.
Amy: (VO) No.
Amarantha: (VO) But . . .
Amy: (VO) Besides, your own colors show up more this way. Don't you like that?
FOCUS ON A COMPUTER SCREEN, FULL OF TINY, INDISTINCT WRITING.
Amarantha: (VO) (Huffily) Well, at least make the computer screen in color. I want to look at something colorful that's more restful on my eyes than you.
THE SCREEN IS NOW IN COLOR. A FEW WORDS ARE IN RED.
Amarantha: (VO) Thank you.
Amy: You're welcome.
AMY IS SOMEWHAT SHORT AND SLIGHT, WITH PLATINUM BLONDE HAIR WITH TIPS OF POINTED EARS SHOWING THROUGH. HER VERY LARGE (ALMOST INHUMANLY LARGE), VERY DARK EYES SHOW UP IN STARK CONTRAST TO HER PALE SKIN AND PASTEL RIDING CLOTHES.
FOCUS ON MAX, WHO SITS UP AND STARES AROUND.
AMARANTHA LOOKS HUMAN, AVERAGE HEIGHT, BROWN HAIR, BROWN EYES, TAN SKIN, NOT PLUMP AND NOT SLENDER.
Amy: (rolling her eyes in exasperation) Now, what about him? Why?
Amarantha: (shrugs) He was asking for it. Besides, I think having him live forever would hold up our side of the bargain quite nicely.
Amy: I don't.
Amarantha: Well, I do.
Amy: I'm a much better bargainer than you.
Amarantha: Hah. Are not.
Max: What's going on?
AMY AND AMARANTHA LOOK AT HIM BRIEFLY, THEN TURN BACK TO EACH OTHER.
Amy: I wouldn't have left so much room for interpretation.
Amarantha: I like interpretation. It gives flavor. Once we see what we get, we can judge how the bargain was, and if it was worthwhile. Otherwise, we'd know in advance how everything will turn out. As it is, we'll have a good idea if we can make future bargains.
Amy: I can tell you that now. We won't.
MAX STANDS UP AND RUNS BETWEEN THEM.
Max: Hey, aren't you going to answer me?
Amarantha: No.
THERE IS ANOTHER RUSHING SOUND, THOUGH NO BRIGHT LIGHT, AND MAX DISAPPEARS. FROM MAX'S POV, WE SEE A BUNCH OF WOOD AND ROPES TIED TOGETHER, AND SEVERAL PIGEONS TAKE WING RIGHT IN THE CAMERA'S FACE. MAX LOOKS AROUND, THEN LOOKS DOWN AND EXPERIENCES VERTIGO. HE IS AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED FEET ABOVE THE GROUND! THE TWO WOMEN ARE LOOKING UP AT HIM.
Amy: Do you want to see him do some tricks?
Amarantha: No.
Amy: I bet he could be a very good trapeze artist with the proper motivation.
Amarantha: And a harness to make sure he doesn't get hurt.
Amy: That takes away the motivation I had in mind.
Amarantha: Oh. (She leans in and whispers, so Max can't hear but we can.) Is there some way of making a vampire that won't become evil?
AMY SHRUGS.
Amy: (loud enough that Max can hear) Ask your precious computer.
AMARANTHA GOES TO THE COMPUTER, AND AMY STARES AT HER, INCREDULOUS THAT SHE DIDN'T RECOGNIZE THE SARCASM. AMARANTHA TYPES STEADILY. WE FOCUS ON THE SCREEN, AND SEE THE MOUSE MOVING RAPIDLY, CLICKING BUTTONS AND HIGHLIGHTING. THEN WE FOCUS ON THE MOUSE, TUCKED AWAY, UNUSED, BESIDE THE MONITOR. AFTER A MOMENT:
Amarantha: It says that a Svartalf is one of the more foolish types of . . .
Amy: Skip that.
Amarantha: But . . . (she is already typing again)
Amy: (snapping low) Skip it!
Amarantha: Here's a page on trapeze artistry. (She hums to herself while perusing it. The song is Joplin's "The Entertainer," as performed by marimba and voice.) The essence is that it takes a lot of practice before able to do anything good, and the best way to practice is by staying alive.
Amy: (rolls her eyes) All right!
Amarantha: 'All right' what?
Amy: I'll let him have a net.
Amarantha: Later. Right now . . .
MAX SHOUTS AS HE IS SWEPT AWAY IN A RUSH. HE APPEARS WITH BOTH FEET ON THE HARD-PACKED DIRT OF THE GROUND, BUT HIS ARMS WINDMILL, AND HE LANDS ON HIS REAR. HE LOOKS UP WITH CURIOSITY AND FEAR.
Amarantha: I think . . . we should ask a few questions of our new friend. (Smiles)
SCARY MUSIC (BEETHOVEN'S FIFTH ON AEOLIAN HARP AT TRIPLE TIME?) PLAYS. COMMERCIAL BREAK.
(I guess it's a made-for-tv movie.)
~
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