EPISODE TWELVE – TOYS IN THE ATTIC

EXT. REICHSTAG TYPE BUILDING

Hagen walks up to the building, nervously glancing around him and enters. Beaufort steps in behind him.

INT. REICHSTAG TYPE BUILDING

Well, we’ll just call the building the Reichstag. Anyway, on the very top floor of the building, just outside an Oval Office type room (except it is trapezium shaped), Beaufort waits.

Secretary: The President will see you now.

Beaufort enters the room.

INT. TRAPEZOID ROOM

Behind the desk sits an imposing character wearing a high collared jacket over his suit, with slicked back blue hair and a presidential air. Beaufort bows before him.

Beaufort: Good morning, Mr Shadowhite.

Shadowhite: Make it quick, I have places to go.

Beaufort: I have a young man here to see you. I think you’ll be very interested in what he has to say.

Shadowhite: Bring him in.

Beaufort steps out and re-enters with Hagen, who bows nervously.

Shadowhite: Well, come on then, spit it out. I don’t bite. Well, maybe just a little.

Hagen: You’re hunting for the terrorist group White Tigers, right?

Shadowhite: Indeed, one of the bedrock policies of my defence strategy is to wipe them out. This country will never be safe as long as they run around freely doing as they please.

Hagen: What punishments will they get if they’re caught?

Shadowhite looks over to Beaufort.

Beaufort: As far as the leaders are concerned, treason on their scale would no doubt carry a sentence ranging between life imprisonment and death.

Hagen: I know one of the leaders.

Shadowhite: Oh, really?

Hagen: Marco Valentine is his name. He runs a contract firm in Kunishige. It’s really a front, providing funding for the White Tigers.

Shadowhite: That seems rather farfetched. Valentine is like a national hero.

Hagen: Do you know someone called Prince?

Shaodwhite: I know of him, but not who, what or where.

Hagen: Valentine is Prince. (Pause) Honest.

Shaodwhite: Jonathan. Please investigate.

TITLE CARD: TOYS IN THE ATTIC

EXT. HOSPITAL

Armside’s Buick rolls up outside.

INT. HOSPITAL

Valentine sits in the foyer, arm back in a sling. Armside enters.

Armside: What happened?

Valentine: Nothing, just came to get fixed up.

Valentine was signing an autograph for someone. He finishes up and hands it back with a smile.

Valentine: Thanks for coming, I need a lift home.

Armside: How’d you get here?

Valentine: I crawled here in first. My arm hurts too much to change gear. I can’t do that all the way home, I’d go nuts.

Armside: Why don’t you just set auto?

Valentine: People drive cars, not computers.

Armside: What about-

Valentine: We’ll come back and collect my car later, come on already.

Armside: Ok, ok, let’s go.

Valentine and Armside walk out.

INT. MAD OFFICES

Beaufort walks in. This is a bigger, flashier and busier but fundamentally the same kind of office as Red Star. Jane Neville sits at one desk and Beaufort stops to have a word with her. We don’t hear what they say due to ringing phones, etc. Then he walks to the back. A range of goons in authoritative uniform form a pseudo honour guard. Beaufort takes a seat behind an opulent desk, Courtenay leads them.

Beaufort: We have new information and orders from the President himself. Today, we will finally formally declare war on the renegade White Tigers!

Agents: Yeah!

EXT. VALENTINE’S HOUSE

Armside’s Buick pulls up outside.

Armside: Well, here we are. And there she is.

Valentine: Thank you, my friend.

INT. VALENTINE’S HOUSE

Valentine finds Elli in the kitchen. She is cooking a tempura rice dish and is frying some peppers in a pan.

Elli: Hi!

Valentine: Hello.

Valentine sits at the table.

Valentine: Matthew says that you were about to leave yesterday, before he stopped you. (Elli gives no response or indication that she even heard him) Where were you going to go? (Still no response)

Valentine slaps the table.

Valentine: Come on woman, talk to me!

Elli leans over the worktop to compose herself, then shovels the grub on a plate with bread and hot sauce and sets it down on the table. She takes a seat opposite Valentine.

Elli: Ok.

Valentine: You were gonna leave?

Elli: I didn’t. I’m here now. That’s what’s important, isn’t it?

Valentine: How do I know you won’t try it again?

Elli: As long as you love and cherish me the way I do you, I will always be here.

Valentine sighs. He takes Elli’s hands in his own.

Valentine: Ok.

He makes a little sandwich with the bread and peppers and takes a bite.

Valentine: So… tell me about Alcoholics Anonymous.

Elli looks a little spooked but quickly recovers. She holds her hand up like she’s taking a pledge in court.

Elli: My name is Elli Diana Darklight and I am an alcoholic. (She puts down her hand) Was. I’m recovering now.

Valentine: When was all this going on?

Elli: About two and a half years ago, that’s when it started.

Valentine: I can’t believe I never noticed any of this.

Elli: Yes, you never were particularly attentive to my needs.

Valentine: You tease me at a time like this? (Pause) Two and a half years ago, huh? That’s not long after we started up. Tell me why.

Elli: For a period, I was very depressed and emotional. The only way I could find solace was by drinking myself into a stupor.

Valentine: I just can’t imagine that.

Elli: Well, it’s true… Even after I worked out my issues, I couldn’t stop. It had just become something I did. I’d see a bottle of wine and it would say “Elli, drink me!”

Valentine: You’re off it now though…

Elli: It almost cost me my life though…

Valentine: ???

Elli: Remember when I wrote off the Lexus?

Valentine’s hand shoots to his forehead.

Valentine: Sheesh. Of course.

Elli: Nicholas knew what was going on because he had been through it himself. He sponsored me and I beat it. You know… that accident nearly ended my life… but all I could really think about then was that I couldn’t leave you; I wouldn’t let you be alone.

Valentine: Hell, but you were perfectly ready to leave me alone yesterday! (Valentine thumps table)

Elli: Come on now, there’s no need for that kind of attitude.

Valentine: There was no need for you to be so selfish!

Elli: Selfish! (Elli jumps to her feet) What about you with all your hang ups? Loving me, then completely ignoring me, always brooding, unable to move on!

Valentine (growls): Back off.

Elli: Why can’t you move on? Matthew and Nicholas both lost their wives, and they’ve moved on just fine, why can’t you!? What are-

Valentine picks up the plate of peppers and smashes it down on the table.

Valentine: They’re shells! Zombies! They haven’t moved on, they’ve been derailed! (Stands up and starts stalking around) Their wives… both of them were murdered. They had no… choice in the matter, eh? But mine? You know what she did? She walked out. Just like you almost did. In the morning, when I left for work, she was home… but when I came back, she was gone. Eight and a half months pregnant she was. And I’ve never heard from her again. (Turns back to Elli) Do you know how it feels… how I feel, knowing that somewhere out there, she’s going about her everyday life with my child. My daughter, it was a girl. And maybe she’s found a better man, and he’s raising my girl as her own. And despite all my best efforts… Nothing. I’ve never managed to find her.

Valentine slumps in his chair. Elli, tearful now, sits next to him and clutches his hands.

Elli: When… you know why I started? Started losing myself in drink?

Valentine shakes his head.

Elli: Severe depression after a miscarriage.

Valentine motions her to go on speaking.

Elli: Our child… I lost it… I know… I know what it feels like. A feeling like you can’t go on and…

She breaks down.

Valentine: No. (He hugs her close to him) You don’t really know how I feel. I hope you never do. I hope you never have to.

BREAK

INT. RED STAR OFFICE

Armside is studying files and his computer. Remington is filing an insurance claim.

Armside: Hey, Nick. (Remington ignores him) Hey, listen to me asshole.

Remington: What?

Armside: I think I have a lead on a fucking $500 million catch.

Remington: Oh yeah? What’s the story?

Armside: A pair of lovebirds, ex White Tigers, biological terrorists, wanted alive by an anonymous source. James Brown and Bebe Blonde. I have a spy who thinks he saw them round Boyle Heights.

Remington: Oh, he thinks he saw them? That’s a real strong lead you got there.

Armside: I’m gonna go check it out. You want in?

Remington: For $500 mil? (Exhales) Sure, alright, give me a ring if you actually get something.

Armside exits.

INT. O’ REILLY DINER

Lydia is playing an Aerosmith Aero Force One arcade machine. She loses (horribly). She digs around in her pockets, searching for a quarter.

Seth: Kids should be in school, don’t you think?

The hairs on the back of Lydia’s neck stands up as she turns to face Seth Black of the White Tigers.

Lydia: That’s what convention states at least.

Seth: But kids like you have jobs to do, don’t they?

Lydia: What do you want?

Seth: You were sent here for a reason, don’t you remember?

Lydia: They’re independent. They don’t work for anyone but themselves.

Seth: Come on, this is MARCO VALENTINE. Up in dirt over his head every single day he served. Bagman, killer, Shadowhite’s puppet. No way has he gone straight.

Lydia: What the hell do you know, you weren’t even old enough to be jacking off by the time he quit the KGB!

Seth’s face flushes red.

Seth: If that’s all you have, then maybe it’s time you returned home. Your REAL home.

Exit Seth.

INT. RED STAR OFFICE

Lydia is mopping the floor. Remington is on the phone. Enter Valentine.

Remington: Ok, I’m on my way. (Hangs up) (To Valentine) Hey! How’re things?

Valentine gives a thumbs up. He ambles in and takes a seat.

Valentine: Any work?

Remington: In fact, yes. Armside just called in a hot lead. $500 million reward.

Valentine: You’re joking! What’s the catch?

Remington: Someone is pretty desperate to nab these guys. Probably MAD, but maybe it’s a Tiger retrieval job-

Valentine: Tiger?

Remington: Two of them, both ex White Tiger members.

Valentine: No.

Remington: What?

Valentine: No! Don’t take it.

Remington: For $500 million, I don’t care if I have to clip the Cassavaterne.

Valentine: Don’t you even joke about that, Nick. I don’t want to get involved with those crazy asshole Tigers again! None of you!

Remington stands up.

Remington: Sorry man, but I don’t get royalties like you. With this made, none of us will have to worry about that again.

He exits. Lydia runs after him.

EXT. BOYLE HEIGHTS

Remington rolls up in his Ferrari with Lydia in the passenger seat. They find Armside in the motel lobby. He makes a series of undecipherable hand signals.

Remington: What are you talking about, you fool?

Armside: Room 101, they’re checked in as Sven and Faria Buell.

Remington: So what, frontal assault?

Armside shakes his head, “no”.

Armside: You go and check round the back, watch the window and make sure they don’t escape that way. I set up some drugged tea from room service.

Remington: An old classic.

Remington exits.

Armside (to Lydia): Wait here.

He goes up to Room 101, cocks his pistol and kicks down the door. He finds the couple sprawled out cold. He cuffs them, smiles and flips out his phone.

INT. WHITE TIGER OFFICE

A blonde woman, dressed all in pink, enters and hands prince a dispatch. He is meeting with Seth. He reads and his face betrays fear and excitement.

Seth: What is it?

Prince: Brown and Blonde have been recovered.

Seth: So...

Prince: Let’s go.

INT. BOYLE HEIGHTS MOTEL

Armside comes down the stairs looking pleased.

Armside: $500 million in the bank! That was almost too easy! (Pats Lydia on the head) What’s up kid, why you looking so serious?

Lydia: I was just thinking of home. My real home, where I belong. Wondering where it truly lies.

Armside: I thought you were a derelict orphan with no home, eh?

Lydia: I have something to show you.

She pulls a small photograph from her back pocket, the kind you’d keep in a wallet (and was probably in hers)

Lydia: It’s a picture of me, when I was much younger.

Armside takes it, and gawks for it is a picture of him about 10 years earlier with his wife and a young girl.

Armside: This is… my wife and my daughter… Is this… Is this really you?

Lydia nods. Armside puts his arm around her shoulder and weeps.

Continued…

END – LEAVING THE THINGS THAT ARE REAL BEHIND

Episode Thirteen Preview

Valentine: While we were in the attic, reclaiming our youth, little did we know that the dark side of our past had taken root, ready to pull us down, deep, into the dark places where we dare not to think about, even though we all knew it was coming… Next episode, meet the Rats in the Cellar. That’s all for now.