Scribblers: Missing

Scribblers
"Missing"
by Steffan Alun

1 EXT. ARDEN INDUSTRIES – Day 2. 1200. 1

Big, intimidating tower, ARDEN INDUSTRIES written in a flashy, corporate logo, with the subtitle CREATING A BETTER WORLD. In a business area, all skyscrapers, suits and expensive cars.

CUT TO:

2 INT. ARDEN SECURITY – Day 2. 1200. 2

An airport-style security room, with a conveyor belt and metal detector. Three SECURITY GUARDS – including head of security, ROKER - are checking AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH, who are in costume, Amity carrying a rucksack. Lyric has already been checked in, and is using his communicator.

LYRIC
We've just arrived.

INTERCUT WITH:

3 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1200. 3

Room full of computers and filing cabinets and large, open windows. CHRONAL and SHIFT are working at the computers, with FINESSE surveying.

FINESSE
Great. Should be easy enough. Mr Arden's a good guy, but he's a real businessman.

LYRIC
We've got Amity. She should be able to help us out.

FINESSE
He's got government backing, Lyric. He knows all about Amity.

LYRIC
Hey, it's diplomacy. This is her gig.

Wraith has been checked through, but one of the guards is holding a black SCI-FI DEVICE, like a barcode scanner.

ROKER
I'll need to take your powers away while you're in the building.

WRAITH
What? No.

ROKER
We have no means of ensuring that you're not smuggling anything in.

Wraith looks livid. He nods, however, and Roker holds up the device. It flashes red. Wraith holds his hand in front of his face for a moment.

WRAITH
This really sucks.

Amity has now been led in.

ROKER
You too, I'm afraid.

AMITY
You can't! I really need my power. It's like ... eyesight.

ROKER
Believe me, if your eyesight could influence our director's emotions, we'd blindfold you.

Amity looks from Lyric – embarassed, unsure where to look - to Wraith – still trying to makes his hand invisible. She lowers her head.

AMITY
Alright.

The device flashes again, and she gasps.

ROKER
Now. Follow me.

He leads them into the building. Amity's shivering, and Lyric places an arm around her as they walk.

CUT TO:

4 INT. MR ARDEN'S OFFICE – Day 2. 1215. 4

A large boardroom with an oval table. MR ARDEN – 60s, black, expensive suit and red shirt – is sat with a briefcase. AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH are led inside by ROKER. Mr Arden stands.

MR ARDEN
Scribblers! What a surprise. My secretary tells me nothing.

He shakes hands with the three of them in turn. Roker stands back, manning the door, as the others sit.

LYRIC
Did you get a chance to check over our request?

MR ARDEN
Request?
(realisation)
Penny. She really is appalling. I must have her replaced.

AMITY
(shakily)
Our offer's very generous. I've got a copy to hand ...

She opens her rucksack and retrieves a document. Her hands are shaking. She hands it over.

MR ARDEN
Are you alright, Amity?

AMITY
(snappily)
I'm fine. Considering.

WRAITH
What's the point of this anti-powers rule, then?

MR ARDEN
We develop technologies for superheroes. Needless to say, we're a very visible target for criminals.

He flicks through the proposals. A lot of pages.

MR ARDEN
I'll need time to read over these. Shall I pencil you in for next week?

LYRIC
Mate, we sent you these two weeks ago.

AMITY
Look, Mr Arden, we've been using the Trans-Jet a lot lately, and we really need more tech support. We love what you're doing here, and I know eco-friendly cars for civilians are just as important as superhero kits, but we've made time to be here today.

MR ARDEN
Trust me, I truly understand the importance of your work –

A siren! The lights turn red.

MR ARDEN
What the devil?

All four stand up. ROKER jumps into action.

ROKER
Down into the cellar. Follow me.

He marches out again. Mr Arden follows, with his briefcase, along with Wraith. Lyric waits for Amity, but she motions him ahead.

AMITY
I'm fine.

LYRIC
You've lost your powers. I can help you.

AMITY
You can help yourself.

He nods, and marches on. Amity takes a deep breath, and follows confidently.

CUT TO:

5 INT. ARDEN SECURITY – Day 2. 1225. 5

Siren and red light here too. MR ARDEN and ROKER pass through, with AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH behind them.

MR ARDEN
What's going on exactly?

ROKER
No idea. We're trying to locate where the alarm was set off.

WRAITH
Could be a false alarm or something.

AMITY
That'd be nice.

CUT TO:

6 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1230. 6

A large room, like an underground ballroom, full of EXECS and BUSINESSMEN, and the two other SECURITY GUARDS from Scene 1, all pacing, jabbering. Panic. ROKER leads MR ARDEN inside, and AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH follow.

MR ARDEN
If we could follow standard procedure ...

The sound dies down as they line up by department.

MR ARDEN
Alright, Penny – have you got the staff roster?

He looks at the crowd. All nicely lined up.

MR ARDEN
Penny?

AMITY
She must still be inside.

MR ARDEN
We'll have to wait now. We need to wait for the all-clear.

AMITY
She might be in trouble. I'll go and find her.

LYRIC
No! I mean no offense or anything, but without your powers, you're just a civilian. And it's worse for you, because you're not used to it. I'm the only one here with powers.

WRAITH
Think we're the only ones on the team?

He turns on his communicator.

WRAITH
Finesse? Can you hear me?

INTERCUT WITH:

7 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1231. 7

FINESSE receives the call, with SHIFT and CHRONAL still working in the background.

FINESSE
Wraith? What is it?

WRAITH
Siren's just gone off in the building. Can you find out what's wrong?

FINESSE
Leave it to us.

She turns off the communicator, and turns to face the others.

FINESSE
Chronal. Can you check on Arden Industries?

Chronal starts typing.

CHRONAL
What am I looking for?

FINESSE
I'm not sure. Wraith just said a siren went off ...

CHRONAL
That's strange. Some of the cameras are down ...
(frown)
All of them. Every CCTV in the area. There's no feed.

SHIFT
Have you tried checking a satellite feed?

CHRONAL
Doing it.

CUT TO:

8 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1232. 8

LYRIC is pacing, MR ARDEN keeping up with him. AMITY's looking concerned, WRAITH has sat in a corner.

LYRIC
We need Amity and Wraith repowered. Have we got any of those devices down here?

MR ARDEN
Gentlemen?

He looks at the SECURITY GUARDS, who shake their heads.

LYRIC
What about designs? Patents?

Mr Arden opens his briefcase, searching through papers.

MR ARDEN
I think so. Here.

Lyric takes them, and reads them carefully.

MR ARDEN
But what good are they?

AMITY
Lyric can only influence what he understands. If he knows how the devices work, he might be able to undo what they did.

LYRIC
They're complicated.

MR ARDEN
State of the art.

AMITY
I'm going back up.

They turn to look at her.

AMITY
If the secretary's still up there – if anyone's still up there. I can't be here.

WRAITH
We're no good, Amity. We're useless.

AMITY
Why? Because we haven't got powers? We've got to help them. I'm going.

She turns, and walks off. Wraith follows.

WRAITH
Hang on. At least wait until we hear back from Finesse.

CUT TO:

9 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1234. 9

FINESSE and SHIFT are looking at a map of the city on a large monitor.

SHIFT
We wait and see what Chronal finds. Then we go, if we need to.

FINESSE
But it could be anything. Fire alarm, burglar alarm ...

SHIFT
We'll be fine. We've got the upper hand. Half the team's already on the site.

FINESSE
Thanks.
(beat)
Just ... My first mission as leader didn't go so well.

SHIFT
Don't be stupid. That's no reflection on you.

Finesse smiles.

CHRONAL
Finesse. You need to see this.

Finesse crosses over to CHRONAL at the computer. On the monitor, an aerial image of the business area in Scene 1, the south of the city. Zooming, sharpening.

CHRONAL
I know it's still blurry. But it looks like ...

FINESSE
It can't be.

CUT TO:

10 INT. ARDEN STAIRCASE – Day 2. 1235. 10

AMITY marching up the stairs, WRAITH following.

WRAITH
I swear, Amity, if you get us killed, I'll be properly annoyed.

AMITY
And how will you feel if half the building's staff die while three superheroes hide in the cellar?

WRAITH
I'm not a superhero without powers!

AMITY
So, powers are all that make you a hero?

WRAITH
Yes!

We stay with Wraith as Amity walks up the stairs, out of the cellar, and out of shot.

AMITY OOV
Good God.

WRAITH
What is it?

He chases up after her.

CUT TO:

11 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1236. 11

FINESSE and SHIFT watching CHRONAL's monitor.

SHIFT
What am I looking at?

CHRONAL
There. That's where they've gone.

He points at an empty block of soil.

SHIFT
But – where's the building?

CUT TO:

12 EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT – Day 2. 1236. 12

WRAITH joins AMITY, walking out of the stairwell and into a large, empty rectangle of soil.

AMITY
It's gone. The whole building. Just gone.

Wide shot – the empty space among the skyscrapers.

CUT TO:

13 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1240. 13

FINESSE is talking on her communicator, CHRONAL still by the computer.

FINESSE
You're sure it's not just invisible?
(beat)
I'll be in touch. Bye.

She turns around to see SHIFT enter; she's wearing an armoured version of her costume.

FINESSE
What are you doing?

SHIFT
I'm going to the site.

FINESSE
We'll all go once Chronal's finished scanning the area.

SHIFT
We can't. We've just lost the Arden Building. You know what that means – if the Trans-Jet is damaged, no replacement parts.

FINESSE
Damn. Of course. Alright. You get there as fast as you can. We'll do what we can from here.

SHIFT
Make sure you check personnel records. The siren went off several minutes before the building disappeared.

FINESSE
Someone knew it was going to happen. Good point. We'll check. Good luck.

Shift runs for an open window and dives out. Seconds later, a PEREGRINE FALCON shoots into the distance.

CUT TO:

14 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1245. 14

LYRIC sitting on the floor, PAGES of designs laid around him. Absorbing every detail.

WRAITH approaches, and sits near him.

LYRIC
I thought you'd gone to look for the secretary.

WRAITH
I can't do anything.

LYRIC
I know the feeling.

WRAITH
You can take anything.

LYRIC
An entire building's disappeared. I don't know what's done this, but I doubt very much I can take it.

He picks up one of the pages.

LYRIC
Best thing I can do now is concentrate on getting you and Amity back in action.

CUT TO:

15 EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT – Day 2. 1246. 15

AMITY walking around the buildings surrounding the empty space. Feeling the walls; constantly touching things.

Spots somethng up above –

- an empty metal frame, a CCTV camera missing from it.

A PEREGRINE FALCON swoops down, transforming into SHIFT.

AMITY
Shift!

SHIFT
How's it going?

AMITY
I'm still trying to make sense of it. It's so weird. It's not like they blew it up or something. It's like they just took it.

SHIFT
Did you feel anyone preparing themselves for it? We think it might be an inside job.

Amity avoids eye contact. Concentrates on the walls.

AMITY
I didn't notice anything.

SHIFT
Right.
(beat)
Because you'd have noticed someone preparing to steal a building.

AMITY
Yes.

SHIFT
And thinking about it, you were surprised to see me. Like you didn't already know I was coming.

Amity turns slowly. Caught.

AMITY
They de-powered me when I arrived.

SHIFT
Then you can't be out here!

AMITY
Yes I can. If I had no powers, I'd be helping anyway.

SHIFT
You're not expendable, Amity. If something happens to you, we lose our only ...

She frowns. Transforms into a BLOODHOUND. Sniffs.

AMITY
What is it?

The bloodhound dashes onwards, sniffing as she goes. Amity follows.

CUT TO:

16 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1250. 16

CHRONAL is typing at the computer.

CHRONAL
Finesse?

FINESSE marches over.

CHRONAL
Shift was right. We've got an insider.

FINESSE
Who is it?

CHRONAL
Penny Parker. She's the secretary. She has all the appropriate clearance, even an advanced CRB check, and you know how thorough Mr Arden is.

FINESSE
But she's a fake?

CHRONAL
Penny Parker doesn't exist. These details aren't real.

FINESSE
Mr Arden didn't notice.

CHRONAL
I know. She can't be an amateur. She's got resources.

FINESSE
(on her comm)
Shift? You were right. The secretary's the insider.

CUT TO:

17 INT. OFFICE CORRIDOR – Day 2. 1251. 17

SHIFT, human, and AMITY are walking through a brightly-lit grey corridor. Shift whispers thoughout.

SHIFT
I think I've found where she's hiding.

FINESSE V.O.
She had a hiding place prepared?

SHIFT
Oh, yes.

INTERCUT WITH:

18 EXT. CAR PARK – Day 2. 1251. 18

An abandoned car park, covered in graffiti. In the middle, a BUILDING, the size of a Center Parcs cabin. It's one of the upper floors of the Arden Building, part of the logo on it, as though cut out and placed carefully in the car park. Inside, we see that there are offices leading from doors in the corridor.

FINESSE V.O.
Good work finding her.

SHIFT
Easy enough. I followed her scent.

Shift and Amity reach the end of the corridor – a door.

FINESSE V.O.
(dawning horror)
Hang on. How do you know her scent?

Shift opens the door ...

CUT TO:

19 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1251. 19

... to a large office area - cubicles, computers, water coolers. A RED-HEADED WOMAN is working by a computer, her back to the door.

The woman turns to face SHIFT and AMITY. Her eyes are blank.

SHIFT
Eraser.

ERASER
Scribblers!

She stands, wearing her designer-cool black costume.

Shift dives towards her –

- becoming a WILDCAT in mid-air –

- landing on Eraser's face, claws extended.

ERASER
(an echo effect on her voice)
Tail.

With a CRUNCH, the wildcat's tail vanishes –

- she lands on the floor, on her side –

- Amity runs towards her.

AMITY
Transform back. Focus on my voice. Don't lose yourself.

ERASER
That won't be a problem.

Eraser is holding a DEPOWERER, as seen in Scene 3 –

- shoots the wildcat –

- who transforms back into Shift, blood soaking her lower back.

ERASER
I'm impressed you still had your powers at all. Considering Arden's security.

AMITY
Wait. That's how you got in. You used the device on yourself.

ERASER
That's what I love about these things. Absolutely reversible.

AMITY
Which is how you made the building vanish ... Because that's what you do. You make things vanish. Permanently.

ERASER
This floor is all that remains of Arden Industries. Billions of pounds of technology, and I took it all away.

She smiles. Loving it.

ERASER
That's what I do now. I take things away. Because I can.

Her smile fades as she sees something in Shift's ear.

ERASER
No!
(echo)
Communicators.

Shift's communicator fades from her ear –

- as does Amity's.

CUT TO:

20 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1253. 20

FINESSE marches towards CHRONAL, who's still by the computer.

FINESSE
She's gone. Eraser must have realised Shift was still broadcasting.

CHRONAL
That's fine. I've got their co-ordinates.

FINESSE
Proud of you.
(on her comm)
Lyric? We've found them.

INTERCUT WITH:

21 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1253. 21

LYRIC is on his feet, pages in hand, ready to leave. WRAITH and MR ARDEN lurking in the background.

LYRIC
Great. Send me the co-ordinates. Are they safe?

FINESSE
No. Lyric, it's Eraser. She took away the building.

For a moment, no response. Lyric closes his eyes, puts a hand to his forehead.

LYRIC
Okay. Fine. Is she with her whole team?

FINESSE
Not unless they've met up since. Penny Parker was the only false employee we could find.

LYRIC
I'll do my best. Keep in touch.

He hangs up. Takes a moment. Then, time for action.

LYRIC
I'm off.

MR ARDEN
You've found Penny?

LYRIC
There is no Penny. You had a mole, Mr Arden.

MR ARDEN
No. No. I can't - I've been so careful.

LYRIC
Oh, yes. Good work, Mr Arden. Don't bother keeping your appointments with superheroes. Don't worry about saving the world. As long as you're protected.

He thrusts the pages towards him.

LYRIC
How much did these depowerers cost? Bernalium costs a pretty penny. Not to mention that nations are at war over it.

Mr Arden takes his designs. Ashamed.

LYRIC
"Creating a Better World". Great slogan. And after all your precautions, the enemy got in anyway.

MR ARDEN
I believe that. Making the world better. That's all I've ever wanted to do. My company ... My building. Where is it?

LYRIC
It's gone. Literally.

MR ARDEN
Where?

LYRIC
You're not listening. It's literally gone. It doesn't exist any more. Anything that was in that building has been permanently erased.
(to Wraith)
You coming?

WRAITH
I keep telling you. What's the point?

LYRIC
Finesse and Chronal will be on their way soon, but without the Trans-Jet.

WRAITH
I'll guide them. Give me the co-ordinates.

CUT TO:

22 EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT – Day 2. 1300. 22

LYRIC stands in the middle of the rectangle of soil. Muttering rapidly.

In front of him, pieces of metal appear in mid-air, combining, threading –

- screws attaching the pieces –

- rubber tubes appear, inflating –

- connecting with the metal –

- sleek, black metal covering the lot –

- until it becomes a MOTORBIKE.

LYRIC
... galea flip visio protego ex glare.

As he finishes, a motorcycle helmet matching his costume's design materialises around his head.

CUT TO:

23 EXT. ROAD – Day 2. 1302. 23

LYRIC on the motorbike, his face determined.

CUT TO:

24 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1305. 24

AMITY and SHIFT have been tied to office swivel chairs. ERASER is typing at her computer again.

ERASER
I'll have to sort you out properly after my great escape.

AMITY
You mean you'll kill us.

ERASER
Why would I do that? You're powerless. You're a gift for my friends.

Eraser closes the computer and approaches her two prisoners. Shift flinching in pain. Amity still defiant. Angry.

ERASER
But you were already powerless. No powers, and you thought you could beat me?

AMITY
I'll stop you.

ERASER
I can wipe out the city with a single word. What can you do?

LYRIC OOV
Volatilis telum!

Eraser turns to see LYRIC standing standing at the opposite end of the offices, his mask on instead of the motorbike helmet -

- many small DARTS appearing in mid-air in front of him –

- which fly towards her.

ERASER
(echo)
Darts!

The darts fade before reaching her.

ERASER
All I need is a single word now. None of this muttering for half an hour –

LYRIC
Sword!

An elaborate sword materialises in his hand.

ERASER
(echo)
Sword.

The sword fades. Pause. Then, they start speaking rapidly, creating and erasing everything they name, with an echo on everything Eraser says.

LYRIC
Ropes.

ERASER
Ropes.

LYRIC
Bullets.

ERASER
Bullets.

LYRIC
Dagger.

ERASER
Dagger.

LYRIC
Gag.

ERASER
Mask.

A gag materialises around Eraser's mouth as Lyric's mask disappears.

Lyric turns away, hiding his face –

- and Eraser calmly removes the gag.

ERASER
Superheroes. So arrogant. Ooh, mustn't let them see my face.
(echo)
Big toe.

Lyric HOLLERS, falling to the ground, clutching his foot.

ERASER
See, you're all born with powers, you lot. You don't appreciate them. You think you deserve them.

She lifts the depowerer from her desk.

ERASER
You don't prepare. Let me guess. You've never tried to create a big toe for yourself.

She calmly walks towards him.

ERASER
That's the difference between us. You're reactive. Prepared to a point, until someone takes your eyes.

Lyric curled up in pain.

ERASER
I win.

CUT TO:

25 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1310. 25

WRAITH talking on his communicator.

WRAITH
Where are you now?

INTERCUT WITH:

26 INT. CAR – Day 2. 1310. 26

FINESSE and CHRONAL in a Ford Focus. Finesse driving, Chronal tracking co-ordinates on a handheld screen.

FINESSE
Five minutes away. Have you heard from Lyric?

WRAITH
No. I didn't want to contact him in case it gives away his position.

FINESSE
I'm sure he'll be in touch if there's a problem.

CUT TO:

27 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1311. 27

ERASER standing over LYRIC, blood soaking his shoe. SHIFT and AMITY in the background.

ERASER
Don't be so boring. You haven't even TRIED to make yourself a new toe. Go on.

LYRIC
Ice ...

A small amount of frost appears on his toe.

ERASER
Useless.

AMITY
Leave him alone.

ERASER
No. He's mine.

She leans over, turns Lyric's head to face her, and kisses his forehead.

ERASER
My nemesis. I was chosen for him.

She turns to face the other two.

ERASER
You two mean nothing to me.

AMITY
But you knew we were coming. You were the secretary.

ERASER
Lyric can't use his powers for espionage. He has to speak to use them. Security could take care of him. Which leaves my Lyric complete, with his friends impotent.

AMITY
This was a trap.

ERASER
No. That's silly. I'm glad you're here and all, but my life doesn't revolve around you.

She walks back to her computer. Typing again.

ERASER
Does that surprise you? I have other goals. These powers are a means to an end. You know nothing about me. I'm a complete mystery to you. But I know all about you.

CU of the monitor – a radar of the area, a blob coming nearer.

ERASER
Your friens are coming.

CUT TO:

28 INT. CAR – Day 2. 1313. 28

FINESSE and CHRONAL driving along.

CHRONAL
You alright?

FINESSE
I'll be honest. I'm worrying a bit.

CHRONAL
We took care of her before.

FINESSE
When her powers were new. She can take away an entire building in less than a minute. That's terrifying.

CHRONAL
If it makes you feel better ... I've got a plan.

She turns to look at him. Big smile on his face.

CUT TO:

29 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1315. 29

ERASER by the computer, SHIFT and AMITY tied up and LYRIC on the floor.

FINESSE and CHRONAL enter.

FINESSE
Nice to see you again.

ERASER
You've arrived.

She tries to speak, but can't force out the words.

FINESSE
No, no. Don't speak. I have nothing I wish to give you.

Eraser grabs the depowerer –

- shoots at Finesse –

- and the world slows down.

Chronal walks towards Eraser and takes the depowerer.

CHRONAL
Mine.

The world speeds up again.

CHRONAL
(to Finesse)
Did she get you?

FINESSE
Yes. This is weird.

AMITY
It's reversible.

Chronal checks the controls.

ERASER
(echo)
Depowerer. Hands.

The depowerer fades, as do Chronal's hands.

CHRONAL
My hands!

ERASER
Go on. Freeze time. You can enjoy every single second of the pain. Ow. No. Ow. Your hands. I'm so sorry. I can't ... I didn't mean it to hurt so much. And ... Lyric, your toe. Why? You were perfect. I broke you.

She sinks to her knees. Behind her, Amity stands. Not tied up any more.

AMITY
I've just received some very good news.

Eraser is crying.

AMITY
Turns out the depowering isn't permanent.

Floods of tears. Eraser falls to the floor, unable to control herself.

AMITY
And now I can do whatever I like.

Finesse grabs Eraser, and places HANDCUFFS and a GAG on her.

CHRONAL
Good work.

AMITY
Empathy's a lovely emotion. Unless you discover it too late.

She crosses over to Lyric. Places her arm on his.

AMITY
You're okay. I'm increasing your adrenaline. I did the same thing to Chronal.

LYRIC
(recovering)
And how did you untie yourself?

WRAITH OOV
That was me.

Wraith fades into view.

WRAITH
I got my powers back when I was in Arden's cellar, so I knew Amity would be recovering too.

FINESSE
Right. Back to the Pit, via the police station. We have limbs to reattach.

CUT TO:

30 INT. PIT MEDICAL ROOM – Day 2. 1700. 30

CHRONAL is sitting on a medical bed, checking his hands. AMITY and LYRIC have been working on him.

AMITY
How do they feel?

CHRONAL
Odd. They're fine, but ... Are they really my hands? Or brand new ones?

LYRIC
A bit of both. Completely new skin, bones, blood, but bodies renew themselves naturally anyway.

CHRONAL
They feel like they're mine. Thanks.

He smiles, and leaves, flexing his fingers.

AMITY
How's your toe?

LYRIC
Completely fine. You did a great job.

AMITY
You did the hard bit. You created the toe.

LYRIC
I suppose.
(beat)
She was right, wasn't she? I just react. I can make weapons, rope and stuff, but against her, I can only ever replace the stuff she takes away.

AMITY
There's something else you could do. You read the designs for the depowering guns. You could make us a set of them.

LYRIC
I considered that. But they're too powerful. If anyone turns them against us, we're dead. But I should be more proactive. Not just doors and swords. I can make anything. I could build us the perfect weapon.

AMITY
A weapon that can't be used against us?

LYRIC
I've got some ideas.
(beat)
We're going to have to be careful with the Trans-Jet now. Arden Industries have collapsed now. No more repairs.

AMITY
Last of the Trans-Jets. Wow.

Lyric smiles.

LYRIC
Shall we put the kettle on?

Amity grins. He puts an arm around her shoulder as they leave.