TC 249 Script

249

del wakes up

Flashbacks to Lars’s smile and immediately flinches back in the bed, clawing at the sheets. 

Rhaast: Chill, Kid. It’s alright, you’re good, you’re safe.

D: L-Lars -

R: arrested, crazy fucker. Took some pill beforehand and they haven’t managed to get a word out of him since. Say he’s locked up and just laughing the whole time. 

Del shudders, looking around at the room. realises where he is.

D: this is -

R: The Wastelands. The City wasn’t doin’ you any good, so I brought you to the last place you seemed…alright.

Del exhales, looking out the window at the town. 

R: (clears his throat) you’ve, uh, got someone who’s been waitin’ on ya to wake up -

opens door and Lulu rushes in, eyes wide

L: is he awa - 

stops and stares at Del.

D:...Lulu? You’re…alright? You’ve been here, this whole time?

Lulu walks forwards and straddles him on the bed, head down

D: what -

L: (starts hitting his chest, angry) you - left - me - here - and - I - didn’t - know - where - you - were - or - if - you - were - ok - or - (tears falling) I didn’t know - I didn’t know -

Del softly grabs her hand, stopping her. 

D: you…were waiting for me? 

L: you flew off, then I heard about your squad being shot down and I - then I heard you showed up at the Eagle wedding, completely fine - and i told myself that at least you were alive. you’ll come back, you wouldn’t leave these people here. then you didnt come back.

D: i…didnt realise…I…

L: no. i imagine there’s quite a few things you didn’t realise.

lulu stands and walks towards the door, rhaast looking impressed.

L: get up. You're expected at headquarters.

D: what? with who -

L: if you’re going to stay here, you’re going to work. and the Resistance needs all the help it can get.

Del walking with Nol, Seaka and Rhaast in the Resistance canyon.

D: and you’re…fine with them being here?

S: We have been trading supplies with their ship, it seemed a natural step to continue such exchanges inland as well, once they decided to make contact.

D: you mean this had just been here, under your nose?

N: hundreds of miles from our town is hardly “under our nose”. And up until now we haven’t travelled this far due to Vulture attacks.

R: Those are a non-issue now, i imagine? since most of us have immigrated to The City. 

N: There are a few who remained, but are hardly an issue anymore, thankfully. Especially as supplies aren’t as scarce with the operation here helping. 

D: just like that? you were offered a few more bags of flour and agreed to join a whole Resistance?

S: what do us Wastelands even live out here for, if not because we oppose the entire system that governs us? If there is a cause working to dismantle that and work with our interests in mind, we will not turn them away.

D: I thought you just wanted peace, to be left alone above all else?

S: we did, until you arrived and showed us what true fighting for ourselves might look like.

D: (thinks back to Major’s words in cave) I…am not sure I did all of that for purely unselfish reasons, if I’m honest.

S: your motivations dont matter now, this is bigger than any of us. You just planted the seed, intentionally or not.

walk into a cave with cepni, cyras, tiraa, brek and co.

cepni: Del Brakindale. When I was told of your entanglement here, I’ll admit I didn’t believe it. 

D: professor…Cepni? (looks at tiraa and brek) you two? (sees cyras and blanches) you -

cyras: (raises eyebrow)

cepni: let’s put all past matters to the side, shall we? We’ve got more important issues to discuss -

cepni looks pointedly at rhaast who starts ushering del to leave but del turns back.

D: whatever you’re doing…I want to help.

rhaast: Kid, you -

D: No. I’ve seen the inner-workings of what goes on in that City. I’ve seen all the blackmailing, the underhandedness of it all. I thought I wanted to be a part of it, but none of it fulfilled me more than the work I did here, the work that actually helped people.

cyras: helped people? You got dozens of them shot out of the sky from what i heard.

Nol: im not making excuses for him, I’ll only say that his influence is what gave us the desire to fight back, and that should say something to his use for you. 

D: i don’t need to lead, I’m aware that I don’t have the experience or respect. Just…tell me what to do. Tell me how I can help, in any capacity.

cepni considers

cyras: (snarls) be serious -

cepni: you’ll be put onto the chore rota. Cleaning, meal prep, taking stock. Report to the department head at oh - 500 tomorrow.

Del: (bows head) thank you, professor. 

cepni: (small smile) just call me Cepni, Del. You’re dismissed. 

del sitting, looking into fire. a bowl of food is shoved in his face and he looks up, startled.

lulu: eat. You look like you need it.

del considers the food, taking the spoon. without another thought he starts eating.