341. A Song for Alys - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. THE HALL OF MORNING - DAY


• ALYS's eyes open, gently at first and then grow wider and wider as she feels the sensation of falling.


• She hits the richly marbled floor of the Hall facing the massive skylights above.


• The rich blue sky through the glass above is thick with stars despite triple suns burning brightly in the day sky.


• She scrambles to her feet.


• She is dressed in a loose skirt and sandals, a bike helmet loosely attached to her head.


• She pulls off the helmet, dark hair spilling out.


• The Hall is lined with deep grottoes and it stretches so far it seems to disappear into its own artificial horizon.


• Alys spins around, trying to get her bearings.


• A low, beautiful hum travels slowly through the halls.


• PERSEPHONE slips out of one grottoes - an androgynous being whose face is shaded by a thick hood.


• PERSEPHONE
• Hello, Alys.


• Alys spins around again.


• ALYS
• Whoa, big creepy dude...dude? I swear, I'm not here on purpose, I think I slipped or something, I uh, really, not here to steal something. I would never come here to do that. Speaking of here, where is here?


• Persephone steps closer, completely dwarfing Alys.


• PERSEPHONE
• Welcome to the Hall of Morning.


• ALYS
• I mean, it's a bit gloomy, but no reason to cry...is there?


• PERSEPHONE
• The earliest period of day, not the act of sorrow.


• ALYS
• Oh, morning. But where exactly is it? I mean, this is ancient and massive, I should know about this right? I mean, I'm not the brightest cookie cutter in the box, but I do love my history.


• PERSEPHONE
• The where is a bit inconsequential.


• ALYS
• Not really. I kind of think it's important to me. Did you kidnap me? I mean, the whole hood certainly plays into the creepy kidnapper vibe. What's your name? If you have some kidnapper name, I swear, if you have a catchy three letter initial, I'm going to scream.


• PERSEPHONE
• I am Persephone.


• ALYS
• The Greek demi-goddess? Really?


• PERSEPHONE
• The Greeks got close at times, but what they didn't know could have filled galaxies. Universes in fact.


• ALYS
• Obviously this line of questioning isn't working.


• PERSEPHONE
• Walk with me.


• Persephone glides down the hallway and Alys rushes to catch up.


• ALYS
• So why is this called the Hall of Morning?


• PERSEPHONE
• This is where the Morning Stars wait.


• ALYS
• Where exactly?


• PERSEPHONE
• Look.


• Persephone points into one of the grottoes.


• Alys walks forward and looks in.


• She gasps.


• Inside is a massive being with with transparent wings wrapped around its chest.


• The wings pulse with light and energy.


• Its eyes are closed.


• ALYS
• What are they waiting for?


• PERSEPHONE
• For someone to finish The Song.


• ALYS
• The song?


• PERSEPHONE
• When The Weaver strung together the universes, they sang a new song. They sang on the first morning when your Father and Mother first breathed. But they have been silenced. Their song hangs, unfinished.


• ALYS
• The humming?


• PERSEPHONE
• The last note they sang.


• ALYS
• How long ago was that? I mean, it's still humming through the halls. Are the young earth people right? Please tell me they aren't - you're breaking too many paradigms as it is right now.


• PERSEPHONE
• Oh child, you humans have nothing to measure how ancient that single note is.


• They walk further, through patches of sunlight, Alys peeking into the grottoes and shaking her head in wonder.


• ALYS
• Wait, you said the song would be finished. Who is going to finish it?


• PERSEPHONE
• You are.


• ALYS
• Excuse me?


• PERSEPHONE
• The children of the dark planet. One day you will all join the Weaver in these halls. One day the shield from your galaxy will be removed and you will join the universes once again. You will know the end of the song. Only you.


• ALYS
• Wow, and here I thought we were just puny little humans.


• PERSEPHONE
• You were given the Gift and only you understand enough to finish the song.


• ALYS
• To finish what the morning began. Wow.


• PERSEPHONE
• It is a great honor.


• ALYS
• Seems like a bit of an understatement there.


• PERSEPHONE
• Perhaps my dear, perhaps.


• ALYS
• I'm not going home, am I?


• PERSEPHONE
• One day darling, but first, you will have to sleep, just a little while.


• They stop in front of a grotto.


• ALYS
• Do I?


• PERSEPHONE
• Just for a little while.


• Alys steps into the grotto, and webs of light appear for a brief instant, encasing her.


• Her eyes widen for a moment and then they close.


• Persephone watches for a moment, then glides away down the hall.


• EXT. CITY STREET - DAY


• Traffic is stopped as people gather around Alys' still body.


• Her bike lies a few feet away; her helmet is crushed.


• THOMAS, a strong-looking man, stands over her weeping.


• THOMAS
• I just didn't see her, I should have seen her, but I didn't, I just didn't. Oh, God.


• A WOMAN stands up, taking her hand off Alys neck and shakes her head.


• Sirens shriek in the distance as they close in.


• Thomas buries his head in hands.


• FADE TO BLACK.