252. Under Double Moons - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. THE OLD WINDMILL - DAY


• RIANNE sits at the top of the old windmill, perched precariously on the edge, her feet dangling out over the dead city, a rifle strapped to her back.


• Her face is creased with age and years of hard work, her silver hair tumbling in a long braid around her neck.


• The double moons hang large in the sky, ghostly in the sunlight.


• The large, square metal blades stretch high above her, whistling slightly as the wind pushes their massive frames.


• She pulls a small metal cylinder from her pocket and unscrews the top.


• She pulls at the top, revealing a long bubble wand.


• She dips it inside the cylinder, coating it with solution, then pulls the wand out and gently blows.


• Bubbles burst from the wand, splitting and splitting again, like soapy mitosis, until the air is filled with iridescent spheres.


• Rianne grins with delight and watches as her creations float through the air.


• She blows more bubbles and they drift on the wind, some self-destructing on the windmill blades, some floating in clumps towards the city below.


• MIRIA
• There you are!


• Rianne smiles and blows more bubbles, not bothering to turn around.


• RIANNE
• I'm sure you're here to shoo me back underground.


• MIRIA
• You know the Feds will be sweeping the area in a few minutes, look, you can see the drones headed this way now. You shouldn't even be out here.


• Miria steps up beside Rianne and points out to three small shapes coming in fast from the south.


• RIANNE
• Look at the city, isn't it beautiful in its own strange way? Here, blow some bubbles, it'll make you feel better.


• Miria sighs patiently.


• MIRIA
• The drones are a minute out. They can't find us here. We lose this base, we lose the entire resistance.


• RIANNE
• Just a few.


• She hands the wand to Miria, who frowns, then blows a few bubbles out into the air.


• MIRIA
• Happy now?


• RIANNE
• Delighted.


• She stands, carefully screwing the top onto the cylinder.


• The drones are closing fast, the roar of their engines becoming insistently louder.


• Rianne and Miria head quickly for the stairs.


• MIRIA
• What would the troops think if they saw their commander up here blowing bubbles?


• RIANNE
• Maybe they would join me.


• Miria shakes her head and rushes Rianne to the door.


• She pulls it open, revealing a steep stairway that twists through the depths of the structure.


• RIANNE
• And that's why you're my XO, always here to remind me of my position in society.


• MIRIA
• Yes, Ma'am.


• RIANNE
• Well, come on, we have a revolution to run.


• They slip into the stairwell, the door closing behind them as the drones roar overhead, scanning the deserted city.


• FADE TO BLACK.