Mercs: Two

Mercenaries

Episode 2: Venture

Scene 1. INT: cargo hold, the crew is playing corn hole Ferah is half-sitting on some boxes watching. Jek is in the doorway.

Hawkins: No, you can't hold it like that. What are you even trying to do, throw a frisbee?

Madine: What in the Origin is a frisbee?

Hawkins (stares): Did you grow up on a space ship?

Madine (offended): What if I did?

Hawkins: Look, just do it underhand, like this, okay?

(Hawkins demonstrates. Serin approaches Jek.)

Serin: There's room for one more, if you'd like.

Jek: Oh, thanks, but I'm not sure –

Hawkins: (loudly, interrupting) Hey, Captain, come show this guy how it's done!

Ferah (chuckles, nonchalantly): I don't play.

(Lod misses another toss.)

Lod: Apparently neither do I. Who's idea was this backwater game, anyway?

Serin (turning back toward the rest): Yours! (to Jek) You sure?

Jek (nods): Thanks anyway.

(Serin jogs back over and scoops up the sand bags.)

Serin: Alright, fellas, watch how it's done.

(Serin sinks three in a row, barely misses the fourth)

Hawkins: Oh!! So close!

(Ferah looks up at the countdown clock on the wall: 00:15:12. The others continue playing for twelve seconds; when the clock hits 15, a pleasant alarm alerts them.)

Madine: Aww, I was just starting to get the hang of this!

Hawkins: You sure were, buddy. You were almost ready to challenge Serin to a duel.

Madine (repulsed): I'm not going to duel my own teammate.

Serin: Even if I put money on it?

Madine: That's different. Hey, you think there's gambling on this planet we're headed to? I haven't been this far out of civilization before.

(Lod laughs.)

(Ferah looks at the game, alone in the cargo hold for the moment. Then she follows them out.)

(EXT: Venture is on a landing platform made of rock; the environment is rural, but not undeveloped. A large town with plenty of amenities but not populated enough to be a city. The crew leaves the ship via a much smaller door than the cargo ramp, and Ferah seals it behind them.)

Ferah: You have forty-eight hours; enjoy it, and make sure you're back on time.

(She walks away, Lod a half-step behind her, while everyone else looks around, getting their bearings and figuring out what they want to do.)

Hawkins: Wait, what happens if we're late?

Madine: Might get left.

Serin: You didn't even read your contract, did you?

Hawkins: Hey, it was three pages long!

Serin: Yours was only three?

(Madine and Serin split off, going their own ways as well.)

Hawkins: What did she mean, only three?

Jek: Chill, Hawkins. Captain won't leave you of all people without figuring out why first.

Hawkins: Why? You think she likes me?

(beat)

Hawkins: Oh, because I'm the pilot. Right.

(They head through the town.)

Hawkins: Can't she fly the ship herself?

Jek: I'd be surprised if she couldn't, but that doesn't mean she wants to. Don't think she fancies tinkering around with the engine much either.

(Hawkins laughs, then spots a restaurant with a large outdoor, meat smoker.)

Hawkins: Well, I'll be skewered. They've got the real homegrown deal. Come on, Jek. I'm buying.

(Jek goes along.)

(INT, pub; Madine has found a table of poker players.)

Madine: You fellas got an open chair?

Poker Player 1: Pull one up there, friend. Always got room for someone else's money.

(Madine chuckles and pulls up a chair. They deal him in.)

(INT. Ferah is checking into a hotel.)

Ferah: Please make a note for no maid service.

Clerk: Of course, ma'am. Your privacy is important to us.

Ferah: Thank you.

(She opens the door to her room, starts a bath, and looks out the window; she is only about fifteen stories up, but it's the tallest building in town, and the day is clear enough she can see to the countryside beyond. She sighs with contentment and starts removing her three holsters.)

(INT. Lod is in a spa house, wearing a fluffy robe in a massage chair, looking very pampered and relaxed.)

(INT. Serin is playing pool, winning money at it, and getting hit on. She's definitely enjoying the time on-world. The sun is setting through the windows.)

(EXT. Jek and Hawkins are on the street again, moving rather slowly. Twilight is falling and street lamps have come on; not quite dark. Hawkins is telling a story, laughing too hard to get the words out right.)

Hawkins: You'll never guess what he did.

Jek: He hit it.

Hawkins: He hit it!! (cackles loudly, then sees a street vendor's stall) Oh, I've always wanted to collect those!

(Hawkins goes over and picks up a world-globe [a snowglobe of the world they are on]. He keeps walking.)

Vendor: Hey, you've got to pay for that!

Jek: Oh, sorry, my friend is a bit drunk. (mutters) Or something.

(Jek reaches into his pocket and comes up empty.)

Jek: Uh oh. Hawkins!

(Jek runs over, plucks the globe out of Hawkins' hands, and gives it back to the vendor who is scowling fiercely.)

Hawkins: Hey!

Jek: (to Hawkins, then the vendor) Sorry. Sorry.

(Jek pulls Hawkins away from the vendor.)

Jek: Hawkins, I need to get back to the ship.

Hawkins: Why?

Jek: I left my money on board. I can't pay for a room; I can't buy food; I got nothing, man!

Hawkins: Well. That was stupid.

(Jek gives him a longsuffering face.)

Hawkins: It's locked, Jek. Only Ferah can open it. You think she's pretty, Jek?

Jek: What? Hawkins, come on. I've got to find her.

Hawkins: You want to find her? I don't know if she's going to like that.... Maybe we should just break in.

Jek: What? You just said—

Hawkins: Venture is a good ship, solid boat, but the security is a little light. I notice these things. I'm a pilot. Hope to have my own ship someday, you know. I was really confused why Ferah only has it equipped with a Stellar 350. Why that? It's badly outdated. Does she want someone to come steal the ship? She doesn't seem like the type to overlook, but then she's a pretty lady, and pretty ladies are kind of known to overlook.

Jek: Hawkins, do you know how to get aboard the ship without bothering the captain?

(Hawkins looks at him for a long moment; Jek isn't sure if he's thinking or drifting.)

Hawkins: Maybe.

Jek: Good enough.

(Jek grabs Hawkins by the arm and tows him along. They reach the ship; Hawkins shakes his head as they near the door and the panel to the side of it, muttering about the Stellar 350. Abruptly, he pauses and looks at Jek.)

Hawkins: Keep watch.

Jek: Right.

(Jek looks very nervous; Hawkins is visibly swaying, but seems to be making progress. The keypad panel pops off, and Hawkins fiddles with some wires. The lock disengages, and Hawkins opens the door and gestures inside.)

Jek: You're amazing, Hawkins.

Hawkins: Yes. Yes, I am.

(Jek enters, and Hawkins swallows, then stumbles away from the entry point, and we hear vomiting. Hawkins sits down on the ground, leans against a crate and closes his eyes.)

Hawkins: I don't feel amazing.

(The ship powers up and lifts off.)

Hawkins: Oh, fudge sticks and unpopped kernels.

Scene 2: INT, Ferah's hotel; she is sleeping soundly in a large and lavish bed. A wrist device starts beeping; she wakes up and grabs it, looking. Suddenly, she's upright; she scoops her things up and disappears into the bathroom, the door banging against the wall in her hurry. It half closes behind her, so we cannot see inside. Water runs, and she comes out a moment later, face freshly splashed with water, fully clothed, adjusting her holsters.

(EXT: Hawkins is walking down the street, squinting up at various hotel signs, grimacing. Ferah exits her hotel, and spots him.)

Ferah: Hawkins!

(Hawkins jumps.)

Hawkins: AHH! I mean, hi. Uh, Captain. I was looking for you.

(Ferah tilts her head at him.)

Ferah: Walk while you talk.

Hawkins: Yes, sir. (they start moving) Jek and I were headed back to the ship because he forgot to bring his money with him, and now the ship is gone.

Ferah: Where is Jek?

Hawkins: I think.... I think he's on the ship.

Ferah: Are you telling me that Jek stole my ship?

Hawkins: Uhhhh.... Maybe.

Ferah: And how did Jek get on my ship?

Hawkins: Uh... well. Serin!

(Ferah turns and sees Serin and further in the distance Madine also approaches at a jog. They converge about the same time.)

Madine: Just got your message.

Serin: What is it, Captain?

Ferah: Venture has been stolen. We're getting another ship and chasing her down.

Serin: Where's Lod?

(Ferah shakes her head.)

Ferah: No time. We're going now.

(She grabs a self-service taxi moped with a small wagon behind it, and they pile on. They are moving much faster now.)

Hawkins: Captain, there's no way they haven't gotten away by now.

Ferah: (darkly) Away, yes. Out of reach, no.

Hawkins: Really? Oh good. See, I knew you couldn't have been foolish enough to only have that awful Stellar for security. Those things are way too easy to break into. I mean, I did it almost black-out drunk.

Madine: You did what?

Hawkins: I helped Jek get into the ship to get his money.

Serin: You … broke into Venture.

Hawkins: Well... (looks at the back of Ferah's head and sighs) I'm dead, aren't I?

(Ferah is steely.)

Scene 3: INT, Venture, Jek is hiding, sneaking through the ship in quick, furtive movements. He gets to a computer panel, is intently typing into it, and then the hum of a laser sidearm makes him raise his hands.

INTRUDER 1: Well, now, who are you?

(Jek turns slowly. The intruder is a young guy, holds himself in a cocky way.)

Jek: Mechanic.

Intruder 1: Oh, a handyman. Head to the galley, mechanic.

(Jek nods.)

Intruder 1 (to coms): I got a stowaway back here. I'm taking him to the galley.

(All the Venture's lights go out, then emergency lighting comes back on. Jek is gone.)

Intruder 1: Oh, come on! You've got to be kidding me!

(Int 1. looks around, then heads to the cockpit. Two others intruders are there.)

Int. 1: What happened?

Int. 2: Maybe your stowaway did something. (glances behind him) You lost him?

Int. 1: Yeah, I lost him. The lights went out right after I radioed, and he bolted!

Int. Pilot: Well, not to bear more bad news, but we're currently dead in the water. It looks like there's some kind of dead man's switch. I can get around it, but it's going to take at least an hour to reroute power.

Int. 2: You need anything?

Int. Pilot: Just time.

(Int. Pilot lies back under the pilot's console and starts pulling paneling off)

Int. 1: There's a good chance someone's on their way.

Int. 2: (draws gun, pointed at the ceiling) Then we'd better find that stowaway. Always useful to have a hostage.

Int. 1: Hey, lock us out first. We can't risk the cockpit getting compromised while we hunt.

Int. Pilot: (huffs, then gets up) I knew we should have brought a fourth. (closes the door on them and bolts it manually)

(INT. Jek is in the crawlspace of the ship, looking very cramped. His broad shoulders barely fit, but he keeps pulling himself along. Finally, he opens a hatch and drops down into the corridor right outside the engine room. He goes into the engine room, and then Int. 2 steps into sight, gun drawn and trained on him.)

Int. 2: Ah, ah, ah. Hands up.

(Jek sighs, raises his hands, then dives to the other side, behind the engine. Int. 2 scowls and hurries to get him in sight again. Jek is waiting right there with a very large wrench. He hits Int. 2 with it in the face, and the intruder goes down hard, out cold.)

Scene 4: EXT, Venture is still powered down; another ship, a small shuttle craft approaches from the rear and sidles up to her. The hatches align and the shuttle clamps on. INT: Ferah, Madine, and Serin are standing at the hatch; they are loaded with weaponry.

Ferah: Try to keep the destruction to a minimum; we do have to live here after this is over.

Madine: If we're not dead.

(Ferah gives him a look that says he's stupid for qualifying. Madine is oblivious.)

Serin: What do we do if see Jek?

(beat)

Ferah: Be careful. (to coms) Hawkins, open the hatch, then release and head back. We'll come back for you when we secure the ship.

Hawkins (off-screen): Aye, sir.

(The hatch opens on the floor of the shuttle and also on the floor of the Venture. One by one, they get on their bellies and pull themselves up into Venture.)

Serin: (muttering) I hate that feeling.

Ferah: Serin, cockpit; Madine, engine.

(They nod and start moving. Ferah heads to the galley. For the most part, the ship looks normal, if a little eerie. Everything blinks again, the power comes back. From the cockpit, a muffled shout is heard.)

Int. Pilot: (off screen): YES!

(Ferah finds a foreign leaflet on the table, picks it up, and pockets it.)

(Madine is nearing the engine room; he moves like ex-military, very precise, very stealthily. He pauses just outside the engine room, then moves inside all in one motion. Jek swings the wrench, but Madine dodges and disarms him easily. Jek cries out in pain, then finally sees who it is.)

Jek: (brightens, but hushed) Madine! Oh, man, am I glad to see you! (groans again) Even if that did hurt like ten thousand bee stings. Did you have to hit me that hard?

Madine: Yeah. Wasn't sure who's side you were on.

Jek: What?

Madine: Coincidences are suspicious.

Jek: But I took one of them out! (he points to the bound intruder in the corner) See?

(Madine grunts.)

Madine: Got pretty lucky they're amateurs then.

Jek: I was going to save the ship single-handedly, I'll have you know. Where are you going?

Madine: Heading to the cockpit. Any idea how many there are?

Jek: No.

Madine: If you're coming with, stay close and be quiet.

(Jek looks at him, then at the intruder, and picks his wrench back up.)

Jek: Maybe we can get some information from him.

Madine: Just don't let him get away.

(Jek scowls at the back of Madine's head, then turns back toward the intruder with a dark expression.)

(Serin has made it to the cockpit, but the door is securely shut. Int. 1 appears behind her. Her eyes flick back, but she doesn't move for a moment. She spins, but Int. 1 moves forward, knocking her gun wide. She lets it go, left hand pulling a large knife from her belt, and stabbing Int. 1's right arm. He also drops his gun, arm dripping blood. Switching her knife from left to right hand, she attacks again, slicing across his ribs. Before she can get out of reach, he tries to pull her forward by the neck into his knee. Serin drops her head forward, his hand slides off the back of her head, and she stumbles backward. He picks up one of the dropped weapons, moving a little more leisurely.)

Serin (putting her hands out): Wait!

(He pauses for just a second, and she triggers a sleeve holster, catches a small gun, and shoots him in the face. He crumples, dead. Maybe ten paces beyond him, Ferah is standing in the corridor, hand on her holster, but gun not drawn.)

(Serin is breathing a little hard.)

Serin: Like the show?

Ferah: Went a little long for my taste, but the conclusion made up for it.

(Serin scoffs quietly to herself. Ferah reaches the cockpit door and raps lightly on it.)

Ferah: Your friends are out of commission. If you open the door, you might have a better ending.

Int. Pilot: You won't kill me?

Ferah: You know who I am?

Int. Pilot: Yeah.

Ferah: Do I kill a lot of people I don't have to?

Int. Pilot: … Okay.

(The door opens and Int. Pilot is standing there with his hands up.)

Ferah: Good choice. (hits the intercom) We have the ship; everyone to the galley. Bring the prisoners. (end intercom; to Serin) I'll meet you there once I get our heading set.

(Serin nods.)

(INT: Galley, both prisoners are seated at the table. Madine, Serin, and Jek are standing watch over them; Jek still looks hyped up/anxious.)

(Ferah arrives, walks over to the two men and puts the leaflet on the table. It's Venture with a hefty price tag.)

Ferah: Where did this come from?

(Int Pilot leans forward to look at it, then shakes his head.)

Int. Pilot: I've never seen it before.

(Ferah looks at Int 2 who is looking away.)

Ferah: You know who I am?

(Beat, then Int 2 looks at her.)

Int 2: Don't know where it came from. It showed up about two weeks ago on the bulletin. No origin, no names, no contact info. It was a ghost contract, open season, three mil. Three-man team, we each get a mil.

Ferah: What was the drop point?

(Int 2 shakes his head.)

Int 2: There wasn't anything about a drop point.

(beat)

Ferah: Looks like you earned one point five then.

(Int. 2 frowns.)

Int. Pilot: What do you mean?

Ferah: Someone hired you to steal the ship, but didn't give you a drop point. Either they expected me to kill you taking it back, or they were using you as a distraction. But congratulations, you fulfilled the contract and stole Venture. (She straightens) I wouldn't go looking for the money if I was you.

Int. Pilot: Why? You just said we earned it.

Ferah: Someone who wants to tangle with me isn't going to have patience for a couple of barnacles.

(Ferah shrugs.)

Ferah: We'll be planet-side soon.

(She leaves and Jek follows her into the corridor, nervously.)

Jek: Uh, captain?

(Ferah turns, looking a little tired.)

Ferah: Jek. You hurt?

Jek: No, sir.

(He's much taller than she is; but he's obviously concerned she's going to blame him.)

Ferah: Good. Seems like you handled yourself pretty well.

(She pats his arm, and turns away again.)

Ferah: Don't do it again.

Jek: Yes, sir.

(EXT. street of the town, Lod is exiting the luxury spa thoroughly refreshed; the rest of the crew come walking up, except Hawkins.)

Lod: Well, did everyone else have a good time on shore leave?

(They all look at each other with various levels of disbelief.)

Lod: Where's Hawkins?

(Madine and Jek start laughing. Serin shakes her head.)

Ferah: Where he belongs. Let's get going.

(Hawkins is in the cockpit, doing his pre-flight check, and narrating a letter to his mother; the computer is typing it out while he talks.)

Hawkins: “Dear Mom, it's been a rough few days. On the bright side, you'll be happy to know that I have sworn off all intoxicants. At least for the next three years. Captain's orders.”

Fade out. END