TC Ep 251 Script

establishing shot of inside an inactive volcano, buildings lining the walls and a large central building like a viking hall. Night, snow, primitive cars, ravens clambering to get a look through the building windows.

Raven1: can you see them -

R2: outsiders, someone said -

R3: I heard there’s a Crow -

R4: shhh, Gera’s talking -

inside, the main four + Erias stand before a table of ravens, the one in the middle talking

Gera: when we received your transmission, Erias, we did not fully believe you would be so reckless as to escort outsiders into our lands. Explain yourself. Now.

Erias: They had discovered one of our tree caches, Gera, and would only return it if I brought them here. I never guarenteed their safety once they arrived and are at the Congress’ mercy. 

G: still, you have directly opposed our laws and endangered the entire species as a result, why would you think -

E: (points to scra) this one knows [the weeping song] 

mutters break out among the gathered ravens. 

G: (to scra) How, Crow?

Scra: I-I don’t know. I only do it while I sleep, apparently.

Kioki: interesting

G: why is that interesting to you, Kioki?

K: when does the Hunt arrive?

G: not until midday most likely.

K: it is late. or early, even. I say we all return to our beds, allow our…guests to get comfortable, and reconvene then. (walks off)

G: well, I’m not one to shirk an opportunity to rest more. Erias, show them to one of the new-builds, but post guards outside. make sure any weapons are confiscated. dismissed.

(the 5 of them walking up a lantern-lit path up the inside of the volcano.

E: as you can imagine, being banished here and all, we dont have any kind of housing for foreign diplomats. You’re insanely lucky Gera decided to put you in one of the new houses instead of the prison. you four must be the first outsiders we’ve had here in like 20 years or something.

R: sorry, to backtrack a bit, are we inside a flocking volcano??

S: it’s beautiful

E: yeah, it’s been empty and dormant for millennia as far as our geologists can tell. There have always been settlements here, our archeologists have found tons of evidence of early Avians beneath the rock. 

F: geologists? archeologists? I saw a damn truck down there. and you have the communicators. How’re you so much more advanced than the rest of Avarie? I spent most of my training developing tech far more rudimentary, if I’d have had access to this from the start we might even be where Kooup is now -

E: When Corvanous VII banished us we took much of the latest innovations with us. It wasn’t long after our leaving that he rid the rest of the land of it for good, throwing them back by decades. we continued to advance, although maybe not at the rate as Kooup. Speaking of which, you owe me your end of the bargain (holds hand out. farrah hands over tech)

There are three bedrooms and shared living quarters. sort yourselves out. someone will be back around noon to collect you, I’m sure. don’t think of doing anything stupid, there are guards at every exit. follow instructions and they just might let you live.

(4 in house, looking at darkened rooms)

scra to ky, shy: do you…want to…?

K:...ok

(ree happy for them. turns to another room)

r: well, glad we’re not dead, see y’all in the morning. 

(starts undressing. hears door shut behind her. turns to see farrah)

F:...is it…would it be…ok. if i slept in here. with you.

R: I…yeah, I mean…but why -

F(looks up): I can’t…be in the dark anymore. 

R: (eyes soften) come here.

Ky and scra in bed

K: i can feel you shivering

S: it’s COLD, surely they’ve invented central heating by now -

K: come here. 

(tucks scra into him, spooning. scra signs, warm.)
K: i’ve…missed holding you like this. 

S: the last time you did was when we…

K: yeah

S: i hope you dont…regret it. I dont

K: i could never regret it. 

S: i..know you only agreed because we thought we’d be locked away and didnt know if we’d see each other again, but -

K: I agreed to do that with you because it’s all i’ve wanted to do for longer than I can remember, and you told me to let myself be selfish for once so…i did. 

S: and….now that we’re free? I mean, we’re on the run, but -

K: now…i would want to do it again…if you’d let me…

S: i would let you. 

K: what you said…about you not having anyone, always being alone. I hope you know that Ree and I want to be there for you, no matter what.

S: you both have your own families to worry about and -

K: my family are only family by blood. i sometimes think the stronger, more meaningful ones are the ones we build for ourselves.

S: would you…be my family, Ky?

 K: if you’d let me

S: i would let you 

K: even with…everything ive done

S: even with everything you’ve done.

ky has nightmare of prison beatings.

K: s-scra!

S: (already holding him) shhh. im here. you’re safe. im here. 

K: s-sorry, I -

S: let me comfort you after a nightmare for once, you idiot. 

the four of them standing before the ravens again, dressed in snow outfits.

gera: now that we’re all well-rested, we’ll continue where we left off. Disregarding how you managed to get here, why are you all here?

S: I…want to know about myself. The lullaby is the only clue I have to my past.

F: I need to use your technology to communicate with allies on Kooup.

K: i need to communicate with allies on Kooup to try and locate my sister.

R: I’m just here for the ride.

K: Ree -

G: well, this is interesting after all. But surely you must have known, due to our banishment it is punishable by death for us to interact with outsiders, let alone aid them. None of you will be able to leave here alive, I’m afrai -

(doors burst open and a group of ravens in hunting leathers walk in, the first one carrying a stag across his shoulders)

raven: the Hunt has returned, ready the kitchens Gera, we’ll be having a feast tonig -

(stops and stares down at scra. they look almost identical)

Raven:...who’s…this?

:))))))))