Welcome to Gaia! :: View User's Journal | Gaia Journals

The latest installment of the hit play! Come one, come all!



SCENE 11: The Arrival of an Unexpected Guest
Anna Lucia on the phone in her chamber/bedroom.

Anna Lucia: Hello? [pause] Oh, hi Jack! It’s been a while! How are- [pause] What do you mean? [face loses it’s smile] Th-that’s not possible. Demetrius was banished by the Council! Years ago! [pause] Back? [lost in thought] But…he was…banished…[slightly panicked] Jack, how do you know that? [pause] But then how does the Council know? [pause] Okay, okay. So what do you need me for? Do you think he’s going to try to attack the Council Palace? [pause] Me?!!? Why would he- [pause] Oh, god, Charles…but how does Demetrius even know my powers have grown? [pause] Alright, fine. I need to talk to Charles. I’ll be in contact. [hangs up the phone]
[camera follows Anna Lucia as she goes to the chamber where Charles is sitting with the kids]
Anna Lucia: Charles! I need to talk to you.
Charles: Well, I was just talking to-
Anna Lucia: Charles. [looks at him pointedly] It’s urgent.
Charles: [slightly confused and anxious] A-alright…[follows her to her chamber]
Anna Lucia: I just got a message from Jack.
Charles: Jack?
Anna Lucia: Jack Silverport, the head of the East Council?
Charles: Th-the East Council? But the East Council of Government handles defense strategies and war. They haven’t had a use for themselves for decades! Why would they call you?
Anna Lucia: Charles…I didn’t want you to hear this from some other gossiping source…[sighs] he’s back. Demetrius is back.
Charles: [stare] F-father?
Anna Lucia: Demetrius Butler has returned.
Charles: That’s not possible! Jack must be mistaken! My father was banished by the Council 6 years ago. The borders are protected, he couldn’t’ve gotten back! I thought he’d starved to death in the Terinean Desert or something by now…there’d been no signs of him, no crime organizations bearing his symbol. How could he have gotten back into the country?
Anna Lucia: They don’t know. No one does. All they know is that he is back and he is active somewhere near the Sea of Arachniade.
Charles: That near?! But- but-
Anna Lucia: Jack called me because the Council held a meeting and it was decided that he was probably aiming to come here.
Charles: Why? Why would he come to you, or me?!
Anna Lucia: It’s a perfect situation for him. He wants you because, well, you’re his son, Charles…he probably wants you to work for him. And he wants me for my power.
Charles: Well, how does he plan on getting us to cooperate with his plans? What ARE his plans?
Anna Lucia: The Council believes he is planning to take over the government, using primarily my and his power. He wants it all, Charles. The man has obviously grown very ambitious during his years in the Terinean Desert. According to the West Council of Scholars, Demetrius has been gathering followers ever since his banishment and now has near an army. All he needs at this point is my magical power and, most likely, your talent for war strategy.
Charles: But you never said how he plans on getting us to cooperate with him.
Anna Lucia: Probably intimidation. Threats. That’s just a guess. I don’t know how he has changed since I last encountered him…I don’t know how brutal he could be.
Charles: [puts his head in his hand and thinks] Well…it looks like we have to hold out. I won’t work for him. I won’t ever. I’m not the man he wants me to be, I’m not a criminal and I’m not a killer. Anna Lucia…[takes her hand in a slightly pleading way] Tell me you won’t work for him.
Anna Lucia: Of course I won’t! That good-for-nothing scoundrel cheated me out of cards and won a quarter of my fortune by pure scam!
Charles: Are you STILL annoyed at him because of that one lousy poker game? That was 7 years ago for Christ’s sake!
Anna Lucia: Look, it doesn’t matter the reasons why I refuse to help him. I won’t aid that man if you paid me!
Charles: Alright…[pause] Wait, what are we going to do about the kids?
Anna Lucia: Well, obviously we can’t let him get to them. WE have to get them somewhere safe.
Charles: [sly sideways glance] Hey…you care about them, don’t you…
Anna Lucia: I do not! You’re ridiculous. I just don’t want him getting more trouble than he bargained for by coming here!
Charles: Okay, whatever you say…[small smile]
Anna Lucia: [exasperated sigh] Oh, don’t give me that look. Did you feed the little whelps yet?
Charles: Yes.
Anna Lucia: Good. Go let them take a shower. If we’re moving them around, they’re probably not going to get a chance to for a while.
Charles: Oh, someone cares about her little hostages….[goo goo gaga voice]
Anna Lucia: You look like an absolute idiot, you know that? [stare]
Charles: Ooh, who’s a nice little kidnapper? You’re a nice little kidnapper! Yes you are! Yes you are!
Anna Lucia: Shut UP! I just don’t want little unhygienic beanie boppers prancing around in their Barney outfits while I’m trying to deal with war! Now go give ‘em their damn shower and stop mocking me! [straightens and stomps out of the room]
Charles: So cute. [heads to go to the kids chamber]
END OF SCENE 11