EPISODE EIGHTEEN – DREAM ON

EXT. KALM PARK

Valentine squats before Su’s headstone, inspecting her Evenstar pendant wistfully. Sad music plays over the top.

INT. BUICK

Valentine drives away.

TITLE SCREEN – DREAM ON

INT. BLUE LAGOON

Seth and Remington are at the bar. Vahe cleans glasses with a flannel cloth.

Seth: What’s the story between those two anyway?

Remington: Marco and Yukio? I don’t know all the details. But I do know that Yukio was never able to live up to the expectations of their father, being more of a thinker, while Marco trained with the old man, won all the junior contests, did military time. I guess Yukio was resentful of the attention that Marco got from his folks, while he was pretty much left to his own devices.

Seth: Interesting… but I get the feeling there’s something more to it.

Remington: How do you mean?

Seth: Just the way they snarled at each other. Like wild animals.

Remington: So he turned out to be Mei’s foster father?

Seth: Yeah. I don’t really know what happened between them though.

Remington: Yukio is a White Tiger?

Seth: Yeah. But I assume he’s of some added importance to Claverty because he has never been assigned a colour.

Remington: Isn’t he supposed to have helped Shadowhite develop the old cull stations?

Seth: No. I don’t think either was involved. But he disappeared after the assassination attempt. Shortly before KGB disbanded. I first saw him hanging around with us when I was ten years old. Whenever I did see him around, he always had the two girls with him, but I didn’t see much of him at all.

Silence as they digest the information.

Vahe: So? What does it matter? He’s now a marked man, no? Nobody’s problem but their own. Everything will work out.

Remington: Only in your dreams.

EXT. ROY’S PALACE RESIDENTIAL AREA

The Buick is parked outside, child-locked With Mei in the back.

INT. HOUSE

Valentine and Elli are inspecting.

Valentine: Well, I like it. What do you think?

Elli: I didn’t even know Roy’s Palace had a residential area. I thought it was all high rise buildings.

Valentine: It’s really been expanding fast the last few years. Most of the proletariat have been cleaned out too, they’re going upmarket. The scum have all gone to live in the Yokohama slums.

Elli: And what’s wrong with living in Yokohama?

Valentine: Easier commute from here. And no paedophiles or drug dealers and stuff. Safer for children. And an excellent sixth form college a couple of streets away.

Elli: And how about jobs?

Valentine: I already have one guaranteed.

Elli: I mean for me.

Valentine: Well, there’ll be lots of things available. If you can’t find anything, you could be my PA, that Eden guy looks kinda shifty. Or you’d make an excellent homemaker. (Evil eye) I’m just kidding.

Elli: I think it would be infinitely better for my self esteem if I weren’t so dependant on you.

Valentine: What’s wrong with being dependant on me?

Elli: You obviously have other priorities.

Valentine: What? What’s that supposed to mean?

Elli: Nothing, nothing. Why don’t we look in the kitchen?

EXT. ROY’S PALACE RESIDENTIAL AREA

Valentine comes out to find a horde of teenage boys poking around, gawking at Mei in the back. She strikes a series of seductive poses.

Valentine: Hey! Clear off!

One spotty white kid steps forward, short and diminutive, wearing his baseball cap backwards.

Winston (faux ghetto accent): Says who? Ooh!

The kids laugh.

Valentine: Who the hell do you think you are?

Winston: I am Winston, and this is my gang, the Godzilla Bike Club. Remember that name, rich man, because we OWN these streets.

Valentine draws his gun.

Valentine: Fuck off or I’ll kill you.

The kids get on their mopeds.

Winston: We’re not retreating. Just preparing. See you later.

They ride off. Valentine pockets his gun, gets in the car and starts yelling something inaudible at Mei as Elli exits the house.

INT. RED STAR OFFICE

Seth is repainting the walls while Remington works at the computer.

Seth: You know…

Remington completely ignores him.

Seth: Hey. Hey!

Remington: What! What! What? I’m listening!

Seth: Then say something.

Remington: I’m not a multi-tasker. What do you want?

Seth: Valentine was talking to me… he said something about a struggle between Shadowhite and the Cassavaterne?

Remington: Yeah, well everyone knows this. Shadowhite and Sha’arad detest one another with a passion.

Seth: He said Claverty was just a pawn. That really has the hairs on the back of my neck standing. Because Claverty was a guy who seemed so in control of everything he was doing. And he’s just nothing, what does that make them? What does that make Valentine who can see that? How does he know so much? And why talk about it when he intends to stop and withdraw from this world?

Remington: Mainly, he’s just being a grudge holding asshole. But he knows them. He can sense trouble. He knows they have nothing but cruel intentions. He hates Shadowhite because it was he who put him up to the assassination attempt on Sha’arad. Valentine’s failure was down to himself… it would be unfair if that were the only reason, but afterwards, Shadowhite refused to protect or support Valentine and the KGB in any way shape or form. It was just pure self preservation on his part. As for Sha’arad, none of us have ever trusted him. The coup may have been two decades ago, but it still leaves a bitter taste. And his cull when he tried to outlaw the presidency killed a lot of people we were close to. Both betrayed him and he’s the sort of person who holds grudges. So you can bet it ain’t really over, no matter what he said.

Seth: Claverty plans to kill Sha’arad and then rig the election so Shadowhite and Beaufort are booted.

Remington: Other people have been trying for years. He has no better chance than any of them.

Seth: Every ten years, there is a memorial in the Yokohama City Centre to commemorate the country’s independence. Custom dictates he must emerge from his castle, or he will be in disgrace. At that point, he’ll be open to attack. And this year the ceremony takes place a few weeks before the election. A bomb would have blown up in his face and it would have been that mysterious syndicate backed terrorist group again. Until the leader was outed.

Remington: So what’s going to happen now?

Seth: I don’t know. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m out of the loop. But if Shadowhite takes the opportunity himself, then as Sha’arad has no heirs, and the most powerful man in the country takes the position for himself, i.e. Shadowhite. Fancy him leading us into a Golden Age?

BREAK

INT. ESPRESSO PUMP

Remington sits at a table sipping an American hot chocolate with lots of sugar, cream and marshmallows. AJ Chambers sits in the corner playing his guitar and singing for an oblivious audience.

AJ: I can't get to sleep, I think about the implications, of diving in too deep, and possibly the complications.

Enter Seth.

Seth: I think we should intervene.

Remington: With what?

Seth: Shadowhite becoming Cassavaterne.

AJ: Especially at night, I worry over situations, I know I'll be alright, perhaps it's just imagination.

Remington: Who says he will?

Seth: It’s inevitable.

Remington: Better him than Sha’arad.

AJ: Day after day it reappears, night after night my heartbeat shows the fear, ghosts appear and fade away.

Seth: Well, what if we get rid of them both?

Remington: You mean like what the White Tigers are going to do?

Seth: Well, no, I mean, our own thing. Maybe use the power of Roy’s Palace.

AJ: I can't get to sleep, I think about the implications, of diving in too deep, and possibly the complications.

Remington: You’re crazy.

Seth: I’m going to go talk to Valentine.

Remington: Yeah whatever, crazy fool.

AJ: Especially at night, I worry over situations, I know I'll be alright, it's just overkill.

Seth exits.

EXT. ROY’S PALACE RESIDENTIAL AREA

The Buick is parked outside a different house. Mei locked in the back. A kid on a moped with an Aerosmith pattern painted on the side drives by, then off screen. He turns round and comes back on screen, stops by the car and looks in.

INT. HOUSE #2

Marco and Elli are looking around. The realtor is babbling something. Marco inspects the windows and glances outside.

Marco: !!!

EXT. ROY’S PALACE RESIDENTIAL AREA

Marco runs out to find the thugs have smashed the window and are tugging Mei out of the window. She struggles.

Mei: Help!

Marco runs down, draws, shoots, kills one, but they get her out, hit her on the head, knocking her out and ride away. Marco gets in the car, drives hard (leaving Elli behind), but the mopeds are more agile and outpace Armside’s clapped out Buick. Marco has his angry face.

INT. ROY’S PALACE DEIM’S OFFICE

Valentine sits aggressively. Deim twiddles with his goatee beard.

Deim: Yes, the Godzilla Bike Club. I know of them.

Valentine: I assume we will stamp them out?

Deim: The problem is that even though they are a nuisance, they keep many of our rural businesses open with their custom. They represent our roots with a more, shall we say, primitive culture. Most of the more recent imports work long hours in the commercial district and have no time for local establishments.

Valentine: That’s the way it should be, surely you understand this, you are even more hard line right than I.

Deim: It’s unfair to axe people who have supported us from the beginning just because our newcomers are richer.

Valentine: Honourable intentions indeed. And coming from you, that’s bullshit waffle.

Deim: Their leader is my kid brother. Don’t kill him, just bring him here.

Valentine: We’ll see.

Deim: you may have been able to buy your way onto the board, but you’re dreaming if you believe you have more allies than me. Remember that.

Valentine stands to leave.

Deim: Don’t do anything stupid.

Valentine nods and leaves.

EXT. ROY’S PALACE SKYSCRAPER

Seth is waiting for Valentine.

Valentine: What are you doing here?

Seth: I found Elli; you left her at that house.

Valentine: Oh. Er, oops.

Seth: What’s going on?

Valentine: A street gang has kidnapped Mei.

Seth (horrified): Whaaaaat!?

Valentine: Let’s head back to that residential district, come on.

Seth: Ok, let’s go!

They jump into the Buick and speed away.

INT. SETH’S PLYMOUTH

Elli sits, wondering where the hell everyone went.

EXT. ROY’S PALACE RESIDENTIAL AREA

The Godzilla Bike Club are hanging out at the park. They gather round a dustbin fire. Winston comes and sits next to a groggy and tied up Mei.

Winston: I’m Big Winston and one day all this (stretches out his arms) will be mine. I’ll be the King of the Hill! Wanna be my queen?

Mei: I thought in order to be king, you had to be a man?

Winston: Ha-Ha. But seriously, I put the fear of God in these people. The power is awesome. They will all bow before me.

Rodin (on the other side of Mei now): Shut up Winston, you sound like your faggy brother.

Winston: Hey, your mom. What do you mean by that?

Rodin: You’re a shoe!

Winston: Your mom’s a shoe!

Rodin: You’re not lording it over us anymore just because your brother runs this place.

Winston: I’m the fastest biker in this gang, so stuff it, you’re demoted! I hereby demote you!

Rodin: I revolt! Come on guys, let’s go!

Everyone stands up.

Mei: Actually, my father runs this place now.

Rodin: The sex toy is saying something?

Mei: Look, there he is now.

Everyone: ??

Valentine: It’s illegal to start a fire in a public park, don’t you know that?

He picks up a moped and smashes it down on someone’s head. Everyone stands a bit too still for a moment, shell shocked by the wanton violence.

Winston: It’s that jerk! Let’s get him!

Rodin: I don’t take orders from you anymore!

Valentine: ?? Hand over your leader and I’ll leave you alone.

Rodin grabs Winston.

Rodin: This guy?

Valentine nods.

Rodin: Take him!

Rodin thrusts Winston at Valentine.

Winston: Oi! Now you-

Valentine knocks Winston over the head, knocking him out.

Valentine: Now the girl.

Rodin: Her? Why should we?

Valentine: Did you not see the thing with the moped?

Rodin: Well, she’s my new wife.

Valentine: What?

Seth (charges forward): Whaaaat?!

Mei: Huh? What?

Rodin: I claim her for the newly founded Pimp Rodin’s Squad!

Everyone: Yar!!

They all get on their mopeds and start racing in circles round Valentine and Seth.

Rodin: Watch us- One day we’ll rule all of Roy’s Palace!

Mei (riding in front of Rodin): With me by your side?

Rodin: That’s right, baby.

Mei: Dream on.

Mei backwards head butts him, eliciting a high pitched squeak as his nose breaks. He loses control of the bike and they both tumble to the ground. Someone is about to run over Mei. Valentine opens his mouth to yell, but Seth’s more flexible body has already pounced.

Seth: Nooooo!

Seth grabs his spear, flicks to extend it and thrusts it, smashing the moped and its rider out of the way. Then he single-handedly takes out the rest of the bike gang.

Valentine (punching air): Right behind you, buddy!

Seth finishes up, sticks his spear in the ground and lifts Mei to her feet, undoing her bonds.

Mei: Thanks.

Mei pecks Seth on the cheek, much to his enjoyment and embarrassment. Mei skips away seemingly having forgotten the certain death she faced moments ago. Valentine hoists Winston over his shoulder. Seth recovers.

Valentine: What was it that kid said? One day he’ll rule the Palace? Ha! Delusions of grandeur riding on no more than idle teenage kicks.

Seth: it’s not so outlandish. They may start small, but one day, they might yet get themselves into the position where they are able to fulfil their dreams…

Valentine: What?

Seth: Well, you see, I came up with this plan where-

Valentine: Where’s Elli?

Seth: …Crap!

Hands shoot to foreheads.

END – ALL THE THINGS YOU DO COME BACK TO YOU

Episode 19 preview

The human psyche, for all its power is prone to so many flaws, conflicts and drastic errors of judgement. Your emotion can drive you insane. Fear, loneliness, all the worst of them can make us do truly terrible things. Who will be left to stop them? Next episode, Sweet Emotion. Everything gets tipped on its side.