176. First Step - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON


• SAM sits at his desk, a mug of tea in his hand as he blinks hard, trying to stay awake.


• He tries to focus on his computer screen.


• The monitor is covered with blue stick-it notes; books and magazines are piled around the speakers on either side of the monitor.


• His neck buckles, his head coming to rest on the monitor, the battle against sleep lost.


• The mug slips from his fingers and begins to fall to the floor.


• INT. GRAND LIBRARY ATRIUM - DAY


• Sam stands in the center of a large circular courtyard under a massive domed skylight.


• He stands on beautiful clay tile-work.


• He blinks, drinking in the scene around him.


• Strange trees with leathery bark arch around him, their pinkish-orange blossoms floating in the air around him as they make a slow descent to the tile.


• Beautiful stone benches line the edge of the atrium.


• He hears a soft shuffling and turns.


• AYANA towers above him and he takes a step backwards.


• She is a strange being, two large shimmering wings folded behind her back.


• She is dressed in a simple white gown that trails behind her.


• He looks up and sees that she has no eyes.


• Her face, complete except for the missing eyes, is covered in soft, almost invisible down.


• She smiles down at him and unfurls her wings.


• Sam almost gags in reaction, then catches his breath.


• Ayana's wings are covered with eyes, blinking and watching him; it is a sight that is at once wonderful and deeply disturbing.


• AYANA
• Child, you have very little time; you have a journey of a thousand miles to begin. She is waiting for you, but she is in danger, you have so little time.


• SAM
• Who? What? I don't mean to sound stupid, but where am I going?


• AYANA
• All will be explained. But you cannot stay here. It is not wise for the Keeper to find you in her Library. She tends to...detain those who linger too long.


• SAM
• Who am I supposed to find?


• AYANA
• You've chased her through every dream you've had. And now she waits. Quickly, the Keeper may come soon, and then I cannot protect you.


• Her wings flutter, the eyes scanning the atrium and the hallways that connect to it.


• She kneels, drawing a glowing blue line across the tile.


• It pulses, sending flutters of energy up to the glass ceiling high above.


• AYANA
• Make your choice; return to an empty world, or begin your journey.


• Sam looks around, then pinches himself and feels nothing.


• SAM
• Well, I've never said no to a dream.


• He steps across the threshold.


• INT. STUDY - AFTERNOON


• The mug slams into the ground splashing hot tea as it breaks.


• Sam's eyes jerk open.


• He pulls himself away from the monitor and stares at the tea on the floor, trying to process.


• Licking his lips and swallowing, he tries to get rid of the sour taste of sleep.


• He squints, trying to remember the dream, but can't.


• Turning back to the monitor, he tilts his head, seeing a flutter of blue dance across the screen.


• A flutter of blue dances across the screen. He watches for a moment, trying to grasp the memory, then shrugs and begins slowly typing again.


• FADE TO BLACK.