EPISODE FIFTEEN – BACK IN THE SADDLE

INT. ST IWAO FUNERAL HOME

Armside’s corpse lies in an open casket. The room is small and the priest’s service resonates. Seated are Valentine, Remingotn, Elli, Mei, Vahe, a medium build guy wearing a leather jacket with platinum blond hair, a handful of platinum blond girls and an extremely uncomfortable looking Seth. Valentine’s eyes are closed tight, clasped hands covering his mouth. Two one frame flashbacks of Armside and cut to him being cremated outside.

TITLE CARD – BACK IN THE SADDLE

INT. RED STAR OFFICE

The inside is chaos. Tables are overturned, loose cables (all the computers were confiscated by MAD), bullet casings. Acrid smoke… from the cigarettes Valentine and Remington smoke as they survey the wreckage. Seth, looking cowed and held on a leash like a dog by Remington coughs weakly.

Valentine: Look at this mess. Look what your boys did to my beautiful sanctuary.

Seth: Get over it.

Remington slaps Seth hard over the head.

Valentine: Yeah. Whatever.

Seth: Can I go? Why are you keeping me here?

Valentine: What do you want to go for? Where? Back to Claverty? He’s finished. Besides, if he really wants you, he’ll come, won’t he?

Seth: I have friends there.

Valentine: A wise man once told me “Never get involved in something you can’t walk out on in thirty seconds flat when you feel the heat around the corner”. (Beat) Like this place. Red Star is finished too.

Remington: Marco…

Valentine: I mean it. I have nothing left here. And maybe I got MAD off our backs for now. But they’ll be back. We - I continue like this. They won’t let it slide.

Remington: What about me, eh? We built this up from the ground, over ten years! Longer than your Repeaters, longer than the KGB.

Valentine: You can have it if you want, I’ll sign you my share. This time, I just feel tired… I wanna retire for real.

Valentine throws his cigarette to the floor and starts to exit.

Remington: What about Armside’s share?

Valentine: I dunno. Hell, give it to that boy for all I care (flails arms in Seth’s direction) I don’t care.

Valentine exits.

Remington: Damned fool. (Seth looks up) Not you… for once.

EXT. BLUE LAGOON

Mei stands outside, leaning against the back wall. One frame flashes of Su standing there.

Su (V.O.): I’ll be waiting here for you.

Valentine pulls up in Armside’s Buick. Mei straightens up to greet him. Valentine gets out of the car, hops up and opens the door.

Valentine: Come on.

INT. BLUE LAGOON

Vahe slides an Aerosmith record into the player. Valentine and Mei come in. Vahe scuttles over to the corner and boots out a dozing wino, the only other person in the bar.

Valentine: Two colas please, Vahe.

Vahe: Is this…

Valentine waves his hand to motion Vahe away. Valentine sits at the bar while Mei stands, seemingly confused for a few seconds before wandering away to fiddle with the slot machines. Vahe pours the colas.

Vahe: Um… what’s up?

Valentine: Aw, same old, same old.

Vahe: What happened?

Valentine: A miracle.

Vahe: What are you gonna do?

Valentine puts his head in his hands, lost in thought.

Valentine: I guess I’m finished. Like she wanted it. No more danger. No more near misses. No more cheap thrills.

Vahe has returned to cleaning glasses.

Vahe: Like I believe that. What are you gonna do, be a house husband?

Valentine: Am I good man? Do you think I’m a good man?

Vahe: You’re the worst kind of scum. That’s why I like you.

Valentine: I’m going to leave, like we planned all those years ago. I’ll go to Roy’s Palace if they’ll still have me.

Vahe: What about –

Valentine stares at Vahe, forcing him by will to continue.

Vahe: Shadowhite. Beaufort. Sha’ard, Kitechi, Claverty, need I go on? Are you really gonna just let them hang? Get away with all they’ve done to you? Can you just walk away?

Valentine takes his cola and downs it in one long gulp.

Valentine: Do you know what karma is, Vahe? I’ve had more than my fair sure. Sooner or later, they’ll get theirs.

INT. BUICK

Valentine straps himself in.

Mei: Look what I got.

She shows him a bag full of loose change.

Valentine: What’s that?

Mei: From the slot machines.

Valentine does a double-take.

Valentine: You mean you stole that?

Mei: No, I clicked my heels together three times and it appeared magically in my hands.

Valentine (stutters): That’s not right! Where’d you learn that sort of crap? He’s a friend! You have to give that back.

Mei: He’s your friend? I thought he was just some sleaze you pumped for info. (Beat) Is it really so bad? Everyone has always been telling me that you are a murderer. You kill for a living, don’t you? I can give this back. Can you give people their lives back?

Mei looks at him all concerned like. Valentine shuts his eyes, remembers Su looking at him the same. Valentine snaps out of it, starts the car, drives away.

Valentine: Is that why you came here then? Torture me over my past sins? Annoy me to death? Who’s been telling you all this anyway?

Mei: My foster father.

Valentine: And who is your foster father?

Mei: Just some guy. Some guy who could differentiate between right and wrong.

Silence as Valentine drives.

Valentine: Mei. Your reappearance in my life has made me very happy, you know? I don’t know how you feel about me, but I’m your father and I am going to take care of you no matter what… so you have to work with me, okay? Your mother… she was my entire reason for being. For a time at least. And just as for her, I’d never let anything harm or hurt you. But you don’t ever give me lip like that again, or I will break your head open… Understood?

Mei (smiling): Yes.

Valentine turns the corner angrily.

INT. O’REILLY DINER

Remington and Seth eat lunch.

Remington: How old are you?

Seth: Eighteen.

Remington: You’re just a kid and already you’re a warrior like this?

Seth: You were in Baileyceana at seventeen, weren’t you?

Remington: The army is different. It is not street life. Different times. There was a war then, and there were expectations.

Seth: There is a war now. It’s just that not everyone is conscious of it.

Remington: About that… what does Claverty hope to achieve?

Seth: Prince plans to take control of this country and totally reform it. To do away with the Cassavaterne, to remove Shadowhite, Beaufort and MAD, to bring the syndicates to their knees and –

Remington: He had his chance. And he failed! He let himself be destroyed; he left all his loyal servants for dead. Your father too.

Seth: That’s not true! Prince is not responsible for that terror! He had no choice but to step back, and he trusted Shadowhite to follow his doctrine. He was the betrayed, not the betrayer.

Remington: I have five bullets trapped in my body which disagree with you. They’re all in irretrievable positions and lead may kill me one day. I know the people who are responsible for everything and he is one of them.

Seth: He’s – He’s a good man… he wants to heal the fractures – reunite this country.

Remington: By blowing things up?!

Remington stands up, enraged.

Seth (head down): To attack and undermine Shadowhite.

Remington: But he’s finished now. He’ll have all of MAD on his tail.

Seth: You’d be surprised by his resilience.

Remington: …Duck.

Seth: What?

Remington: DUCK!!

They duck, holding their ears as the windows are blown out by a blast.

BREAK

EXT. VALENTINE’S HOUSE

The Buick is parked outside. The bag of change is on the driver seat.

INT. VALENTINE’S HOUSE

Mei is pouring herself some orange juice (or it could be Hooch, we’ll never know for sure). Valentine watches her, holding his chin, deep in thought.

Elli: Back already?

Valentine: Hmm? What?

Elli: You’re back from Vahe’s?

Valentine: Yeah. I have work to do.

Valentine heads for his study.

Elli: When are you reopening Red Star? I’m getting bored sitting around the house all day long.

Valentine: Keep an eye on Mei for me. She’s a handful. Takes after her mother.

He shuts the door behind him after exiting. Mei comes out, glass in hand. Elli turns, ponders, claps her hands together.

Elli: Why don’t I take you out for some lunch?

INT. ELLI’S RX-7

Elli drives conservatively, in silence.

Mei: This is a nice car.

Elli: Thank you.

Mei: How come you drive it?

Elli: Excuse me?

Mei: I just mean, it’s a gas hog, isn’t it? And with a rotary engine too. Uses even more. So more gas, more fumes, right? Which is bad for the environment, right? And the atmosphere too. Right?

Elli: Um… I really don’t know. My ex-boyfriend picked it for me.

Mei: You mean you still see him?

Elli: No, I mean when we were still dating.

Mei: So how come you’re with my father and not your ex-boyfriend any more?

Elli’s incredibly strong desire to give Mei a slap across the mouth is forgotten (postponed) and transformed into horror and confusion as she turns into Stadler Street to find some guy with two bionic gun arms blasting apart the window at O’Reilly Diner.

INT. O’REILLY DINER

Remington and Seth are hiding under the table.

Seth: Oh man… what the hell was that?

Remington: Someone’s shooting at us.

Seth: Oh yeah, wow. I couldn’t tell!!

Remington crawls over to the far side of the diner, Seth follows. Some weedy geeky guy with glasses and a centre parting is staring in furiously from the outside.

Seth: Hey! What’s going on out there?

Master C: You!

Seth: Me?

Master C: No… you!

Remington: Me?

Master C: Yeah, that’s right. I knew it was you. Nicholas Remington… remembers me?

Master C points his gun arms in their general directions.

Remington: Um… er… (Racks his brains) Am I supposed to?

Master C: I am Master C. (No response) a.k.a. Jeff Kozlec. (Remington thinks, but can’t remember) You and your associates destroyed my hands with bullets! I had to have both amputated!

Remington: Really? Gee, sorry… I didn’t mean to do that… um… sorry; I don’t remember you at all.

Master C is not impressed.

Master C: It’s ok though. For I have had them replaced with these guns. All the better with which to destroy you!

Elli and Mei sneak around in the background. Remington secretively cocks his gun.

Master C: You may have seen on the news that Matthew Armside, your partner in crime on that fateful night outside the Queen’s Head was murdered recently… My work.

Remington and Seth look at each other as if to say “Is this guy for real?”

Master C: Now, I will obliterate you…

Remington starts to pull back and raise his gun, ready for his assault. Over years of army, police and vigilante training, his senses have become highly tuned and he will gun down Master C for sure!

Master C: …and then, I will seek out the final piece of the puzzle, and my revenge will be complete…

Remington (to Seth): Get ready, he’s gonna laugh like an idiot.

Master C: … Marco Valentine, I’m coming for you! Nya hah ha ha.

Master C throws his head back to laugh… Time for Remington to strike! He brings up his gun… but wait, what’s happening? Suddenly, someone comes hurling themselves at Master C! His aim is obstructed!

Mei: Noooooo!

Mei crashes into Master C, knocking him to the ground. Master C somehow lands on top of Mei. He gets up and kicks her, she rolls aside.

Seth: Mei! Nooooo!!

Seth jumps out and throttles Master C.

Master C: Gak!!

Remington stares on agape in confusion.

Master C: Get off me!

Master C starts firing his gun arm wildly. He hits the ceiling and a chunk of concrete falls down and hits Seth on the head. He falls down. Master C aims at Mei and Seth groggily gets up to dive over on top of her to shield her.

Elli: Hey! No! Over here! Shoot me!

Master C: ??

Master C turns around and starts firing at Elli. Elli jumps like a girl, not having expected him to actually shoot. She runs and hides in the open kitchen. Master C continues to fire… and hits the metal ovens… the bullets ricochet… into his legs.

Master C: Aiee!

He goes down like a stone, crying. Elli pokes her head up.

Elli: Um… is it over?

Remington stands up, scratching his head.

Remington: Uh… I guess so. What did he say his name was?

Elli: Didn’t catch it.

Seth (lying on top of Mei): Are you okay?

Mei: Yeah.

Seth: Good.

Mei: …Um…

Seth: What?

Mei: Could you get off me, please?

Seth: Oh right (blushes) Sorry.

INT. REMINGTON’S CAR

It’s just Remington and Seth.

Seth: That was manic! Sheesh.

Remington: I saw you copping a feel. (He sniggers)

Seth: Huh?

Remington chuckles.

Remington: Nothing to get embarrassed about. But Marco will cut your balls off.

Seth: Um… oh. I’m not… It’s not… you know… Shut up!

Remington: You’ve spent so many years fighting… When are you going to find time to be young?

Silence

INT. VALENTINE’S HOUSE

Valentine watches Elli and Mei come back.

Valentine: How are my two favourite girls? Did you have fun?

Mei: Yeah, Elli is mad!

Elli makes a V for Victory sign. Mei skips off to the TV room. Valentine and Elli look at each other smiling.

Valentine: Thanks.

Elli: Finished your work?

Valentine: Yeah… I have it all worked out. (Holds Elli’s shoulder) I know what I have to do. I’m back.

Elli leans in for a kiss, but Valentine is gone – followed Mei to the TV room…

END – RIDIN’ HIGH

Episode 16 preview

Whenever I go, I am shadowed by death. You’d think that by now, people would have learnt to stay well away from me, but now it’s more important for me to find that light than ever. To match the promise of the future, while keeping in touch with my roots. Next episode, Mama Kin.