THE VERY WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN, PART 4
“When a man thinks of the past, he becomes kinder.” Tarkovsky’s Stalker, 1979
INT. THE THREE CORNERED ROOM, HONG KONG, 1997
SFX of wind through the half finished building. A knocking sound- someone pounding on a door.
GUO LIANG
Hey?! Hey you here?!
Raul was asleep in the unfinished expensive apartment.
RAUL
What? Who’s that?
GUO LIANG
(closer now)
Its me. Guo Liang. My shift is over, you gotta go.
RAUL
I fell asleep.
GUO LIANG
Time to leave. Now.
RAUL
Ok ok. I just, let me grab my stuff.
GUO LIANG
Out out out!! My boss come. Morning time!!
RAUL
Right, ok. I’m good, let’s go.
They leave the apartment into the hallway.
RAUL
Elevator?
GUO LIANG
Yeah. Come.
They get in. The cage door rattles closed and they start to descend.
RAUL
How long was I in there?
GUO LIANG
What?
RAUL
My phone is dead. How long have I been here?
GUO LIANG
One week!
RAUL
Shit.
Theme Music. Titles:
ANNOUNCER
The Very Worst Thing That Could Possibly Happen, Part 4.
The scene continues:
GUO LIANG
One week! Long time. You go home. Eat.
RAUL
Yeah I’m starving.
GUO LIANG
Mr Ming starving too. Said bring him food.
RAUL
Oh, shit... Ok. Ok, sure.
The elevator hits the ground floor and they get out.
GUO LIANG
Seriously. You look thin. Get food, get sleep. Take a break. I don’t want to get in trouble. Building inspectors come this week. Everyone very busy. No come before Saturday. Ok?
RAUL
Ok, ok. I’ll see you Saturday. But, what day is it?
GUO LIANG
Go home. And get some food for Mr Ming. He’s pissed off.
INT. RAUL'S APARTMENT, HONG KONG, 1997 - LATER
Keys in a door, footsteps and the sound of plastic carrier bag being put on the counter.
RAUL
Hey Ming? Ming? I’m home.
SNAKE
You look like shit.
RAUL
You’re no Brad Pitt either, buddy.
SNAKE
You look thin.
Ruffling of the bag, opening of take out boxes.
RAUL
Yeah, so I’m told.
SNAKE
Smells good, what did you get?
RAUL
Duck noodles. Want some?
SNAKE
I’m starving, but that’s not on the menu.
RAUL
You shouldn’t be so picky.
SNAKE
I keep it natural. What did you think?
RAUL
Of...
SNAKE
Of Sara? Did you hear her?
Raul sits down, munching.
RAUL
Yes.
SNAKE
And?
Raul starts crying.
RAUL
What am I supposed to do, Ming?! My whole life I’ve been fucking empty, completely hollow. I knew it, I always knew it. When I was a kid and I’d huff spray paint in a fucking paper bag to get high because this life IS NOT ENOUGH. Its not enough its not enough...
Sniffles and eye wipes.
RAUL
And then I read Sara’s book. That book. That fucking book. Its not even that good! Ha. Maybe it was a shit translation, I don’t know. It didn’t fix anything.
Beat. He addresses Ming more directly:
RAUL
But at least I knew there was someone out there like me, who knew that life is a fucking fake- its just a replica of what we think we want...
SNAKE
That’s a little bleak, Raul. Its not that bad.
RAUL
Isn’t it? The only person I feel any connection to at all is DEAD. She’s dead, snake. She died 30 years ago.
SNAKE
30 years is no big deal. We can totally handle that.
RAUL
What? How?
SNAKE
I’m hungry.
Rauls wipes his eyes, pulls himself together.
RAUL
No, no no. Not going through again.
SNAKE
I have to eat! Just like you! And literally every other living creature. Ever.
RAUL
FUCK! Ok.
SNAKE
There are three things you need to do, ok? One- get me some food. Two- write Sara another letter. Three- we’re going on a trip.
RAUL
We’re going on a-- What?
SNAKE
In that order. Food, letter, trip.
RAUL
I don’t like taking orders.
SNAKE
Its not orders, you idiot!! Its a recipe! If you want to make a dish that tastes GOOD, you FOLLOW THE RECIPE. If you want to eat shit, then do it your way.
RAUL
RECIPE FOR WHAT?! What THE FUCK are we doing?
SNAKE
We’re fixing something that’s broken.
RAUL
What’s broken?
SNAKE
You know.
RAUL
NO. NO I FUCKING DON’T.
SNAKE
Yes, you do. Think. What’s broken?
Beat.
RAUL
Everything. Everything is broken.
SNAKE
Exactly.
INT. SARA’S OFFICE, PARIS 1959 - AFTERNOON
The clatter of typewriters, quiet voices discussing boring but urgent matters.
SARA VO
Dear Raul, ...
A cigarette lighter clicks. Sara exhales.
SARA VO
Well well. What happened to our little world? Just a few days ago it seemed like the same, ordinary place I’ve always lived. My life was so simple cycle: go to work, go to bed, get up and lie down.
Beat.
SARA VO
Its really spring now. I can feel it, even in the mornings, the warmth in the air is more... durable. Those first warm days are just a trick, then the cold rain comes.
Puff of a cigarette.
SARA VO
Is this a trick, too? I feel powerful and free, and sure of myself, for maybe the first time. But will it last? Is it durable?
She stamps out her cigarette. The sound is VERY CLOSE.
EXT. CAT STREET MARKET, HONG KONG, 1997 - LATER
Raul is going back to the vendor to get more mice for Mr Ming, the talking snake. The vendor is hawking at someone who’s vaguely looking at his wares then he spots Raul.
VENDOR
Snakes? Lizards?! Good quality!
(He recognizes Raul)
Oh, hey, its the mouse guy.
RAUL
Yeah, its me. You were right, I should’ve bought more than one.
VENDOR
Live and learn.
RAUL
Guess so.
VENDOR
So you need another mouse?
RAUL
Yup. Snake’s hungry.
VENDOR
The talking snake?
RAUL
Yeah.
VENDOR
Well let’s get him some dinner.
A CUSTOMER comes up and starts speaking in Chinese.
CUSTOMER
(in Chinese)
Do you have the little green lizards that change colors?
VENDOR
(in Chinese)
Geckos? Yeah, lots of Geckos.
(To Raul)
I gotta deal with this. Just, uh, go in the store room over there. Look on the right.
RAUL
(very unsure)
Sure.
The VENDOR explains some basics of the gecko situation as we follow RAUL to the store room.
VENDOR
(in Chinese)
So there are three types of Geckos. I mean there’s a lot more than that but basically you got three types. The fat one, the skinny one, and the sticky one. You got kids? Is this for kids? Because if its for kids you want the fat one. Much sturdier.
A metal door rattles open and closes behind Raul. Tense orchestral music starts building.
RAUL VO
Sara, is this happening to you as well? Does your world keep changing? I could tell things were... slipping again. Liminality, its called. Standing on a threshold. But I just walked right through the fucking door like an idiot... which is when I knocked into the armor chest plate and the sword.
Loud crash of chest plate and sword clattering on the concrete ground. A new version of Raul’s VO comes in, speaking like a hero in Lord of the Rings or something. Raul’s regular VO comes in, confused as fuck.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
At last! Here it is: the steel chest plate of Grüunderbell! And behold!!...
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
The Blade of Six Chastening's!!! Held by Soren the Grim during the final battle for Alewicks, when the rat-faced Orcs of Nurdra stormed the Dwarf Mountain!!!
RAUL (V.O.)
Uh what the fuck? Who is that? Oh, wait. That’s me. Why am I talking like that?
RAUL
(calling back to the vendor)
I, uh, I don’t see any mice!
VENDOR
(from outside)
They’re in the back.
RAUL
Its pretty dark in here!
VENDOR
There’s a torch on the wall.
RAUL
A torch?!
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
A torch!!!
VENDOR
Yeah.
Enter RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT, which is Raul, but acting like a medieval knight from a video game.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
(Narrating, even though he’s standing right there)
You could feel the danger in the stillness, like the cold breath of a ghost-dragon on your neck. I spied a torch on the wall, and lit it with my flint and tinder...
SFX of a bic lighter flicking and a torch sparking up.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
(speaking in verse now)
The dark, a ghost with ragged robes, / conspires to shake my iron will. / Does it speak? It does! In whispers low / It brushed against my boots and spilled / the fear, into my soul it soaks / though my heart is steel, my courage oak.
RAUL
Oh ok, buddy. That’s enough.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
We are travelers on a dangerous road, my friend.
RAUL
If you say so. I’m just looking for a mouse--
A noise in the tunnel. A low loud monster growl.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
What was that?
RAUL
What was that?
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Over there, on the right.
RAUL
It sounds big. Bigger than a mouse.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
It could be a... DIRE-MOUSE!
RAUL
A dire-mouse?!
RAUL VO
Ugh.
(In Spanish)
This guy. Jesus christ.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Aye. They’re the red-eyed bane of the crypts in these parts. They feast on the bodies of the dead and feed on their evil, and their power!
RAUL
That’s the dumbest fucking thing I’ve ever-- HOLY SHIT!!
SFX: The pained and ferocious SCREAM of the DIRE MOUSE.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Die you evil!!--
RAUL
Shut the fuck up! Don’t just go running in there!! That thing is the size of an Escalade. We need a plan!
RAUL VO
Peering around the corner I could its giant red eyes glinting the torch’s light. It was a giant mouse. Like, fucking huge. And not a cute mouse, nope. This was definitely a mouse that been through some shit and had some, like, emotional scars. Regular scars too. It was mangy, and scabby, and had half an ear missing, and long leathery tail that swished back and forth - it was a very menacing swish, like a torturer swing a cat o’ nine tails.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
I have a plan. We attack that damnable demon and send him back to underworld from whence he spawned!!
RAUL
Ok, but he’s pretty fucking LARGE and he looks sturdy, you know. We need an edge.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
I have an edge!
SCHWING!
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
The blade of the SIX CHASTENING’S!!
RAUL
Give me the torch.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Good idea, you hold the torch. I’ll do the fighting.
RAUL
Great but just hold on one sec. I’m pretty sure mice don’t like to be ON FIRE!!!
PHOOOMPH as Raul throws the torch. SINGE BURN SIZZLE as it catches fire to the dire mouse’s oily fur. Delish SHRIEKS of TERROR from the dire mouse as it burns.
RAUL
Ok, he’s on fire. All you buddy.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
You... you burned him?
RAUL
Well, yeah.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Alive?? But that’s so... so horrible!
RAUL
Oh come on!
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Its a coward’s death... Is this who we are? The god’s will damn us! We will be banished to wander, far from our home, unloved and scorned by all living things! Or will we be carried on the shoulders of our neighbors and be thrown kisses by the young women?
RAUL
Dude. Don’t overthink it! Its a giant man-eating rat and its ON FIRE!
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
You’re right. Ok, here we go! Victory or death!!!!
SFX of them attacking and killing the mouse. Then, underneath Raul’s VO, the SFX cutting a piece of him off, and trudging back out of the store room.
RAUL VO
It was all over pretty quickly after that. Raul the Triumphant trotted in there with his fancy sword and killed the mouse. I mean, the mouse was just running in circles, trying to find the source of the fire situation, so didn’t put up much of a fight. We cut a big fat steak off him- for the snake, of course- I mean, that’s why we were here, right? Then we went back the door.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
It was a fierce battle, brother. They will sing of us.
RAUL
Maybe. Probably not.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
I’d go into hell’s ass with you anytime.
RAUL
Yeah, I’m good. But, keep the sword, and the armor. Its more you, I think.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
(excited)
You’re very kind! I do look good, don’t I.
RAUL
Stunning. Very manly. And all that mouse blood really completes the picture.
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Yeah he bled a lot. Wasn’t really expecting that.
RAUL
Look, I’m going outside. You stay here and make sure no giant mice get through, ok?
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
Good idea.
RAUL
(leaving)
Great. You’re the last line of defense! Stay frosty!
RAUL THE TRIUMPHANT
(narrating again)
And the unnamed traveler, who had given me such succor, faded into the horizon, a lonely warrior in search of the next injustice he might correct...
Door closes. We’re back on the street. The Vendor is wrapping up with the gecko guy.
VENDOR
Ok here you go. Tell your nephew happy birthday.
(To Raul)
You’re back. What’s that?
RAUL
Mouse steak.
VENDOR
Oh. You found one of the big ones.
RAUL
Uh yeah.
VENDOR
There’s some paper over there if you want to wrap it up.
There’s wet SLAP as Raul plunks down the steak.
VENDOR
Looks juicy.
EXT. STREET MARKET, PARIS, 1959 - MORNING
Claire and Sara walk through a market in the 7th arrondissement. Sara is a stall behind Claire.
CLAIRE
Peaches?
SARA
What?
CLAIRE
Come here.
Sara catches up to her.
CLAIRE
What about these?
SARA
Nectarines?
CLAIRE
They’re not nectarines, they’re peaches!
SARA
Those are nectarines. And they’re not ripe.
CLAIRE
Huh.
SARA
Nectarines aren’t fuzzy.
CLAIRE
Kiwis are fuzzy.
Suddenly:
SARA
Oh no. That’s him.
CLAIRE
Who?
SARA
My ex. Jean.
CLAIRE
Him? Oh he’s cute.
SARA
I guess. I mean, yes, he’s very handsome. But--
CLAIRE
He looks like he’s on a mission. Why does he have that typewriter case?
SARA
He does look quite serious, doesn’t he?
CLAIRE
Something’s going on. Who’s that?
SARA
Who? I can’t see.
CLAIRE
The man who he’s meeting? At that little cafe over there. The black guy with sunglasses.
SARA
I think... I think its Trotsky.
CLAIRE
Who’s Trotsky?
SARA
That’s not his real name. He’s a waiter at a restaurant my dad goes to all the time. Why would he know Jean? --
CLAIRE
Ok they just left the typewriter and they’re walking away, fast. Why would they do that?
SARA
I have no idea.
CLAIRE
The man you were engaged to is a spy!? You’re not surprised? I don’t believe that for a sec--
THERE’S A HUGE EXPLOSION. People scream and run. Something catches fire. A nearby car explodes. The flames swirl and rise and fade. MUSIC: Wave of Mutilation by The Pixies.
INT. THE THREE CORNERED ROOM, HONG KONG, 1997 - NIGHT
SFX of water in the faucet, filling up the sink. The heartbeat fades. Raul lights a cigarette.
RAUL VO
Sara, I’m so sorry about the bombing- I hope that you’re recovering quickly. From what I’ve read, you only mentioned this incident in passing, so I never gave it much thought. But it must have been terrifying. And I had no idea your ex was involved. What’s his name? Oh right, you wouldn’t say his name after this- you called him the Ghost. Well clearly the ghost is making bombs for the Red Hand. I did some digging, and it seems like he was recruited by De Gaulle’s intelligence agency for a false-flag operation called the Red Hand. It was some off-the-books squad that was supposed to raise public sympathy for squashing the rebellion in Algiers by terrorizing french citizens and blaming the National Liberation Front. I guess your Ken-doll boyfriend was more interesting than you thought, even if he was a total piece of shit. I’m sorry. I’m sorry about that.
Puts out his cigarette.
RAUL VO
I’m in the three cornered room a lot these days. I tried to find Ai, the woman who put me to sleep, but I got nowhere. According to the woman at Madame Tsang’s, she’s in Kazakhstan, but what the hell am I supposed to do with that?
Raul slurps on a straw.
RAUL VO
I’ve lost a lot of weight. I drink milkshakes everyday, but it doesn’t help. When I was a kid, one night me and my parents and our neighbors all went to see a movie. We had to squeeze into the back of the pick up truck. I was so squished, and I didn’t want to go in the first place, so I was super pissed. I always remember that night. Because I never fit. Like space and time were squeezing, pushing in on me, a skinny teenager in the back of an over-crowded pick up.
Slurps from the milkshake.
RAUL VO
I’m going to talk to Kate at the mailroom. She might know what I’m supposed to do. I wish I could be there, with you. I’d bring you flowers for your hospital room, and read you books while you doze off. Yours, Raul.
SNAKE
How’s the milkshake?
RAUL
Pretty good.
SNAKE
It looks fucking delicious.
RAUL
Oh no. You’re not hungry--
SNAKE
HUNGRY. Yes, Raul. I’m starving. We’ve been in this stupid condo for almost a week straight.
RAUL
Every time I try to get you food, its a shit show.
SNAKE
Well, if I die of starvation, that’s not going to be great for you either.
RAUL
Is that a threat?
SNAKE
You’re standing in a tear in the fucking fabric of time, and you have no idea how to fix it. I do. So maybe: be nice, is all.
RAUL
Its not my fault time is broken!
SNAKE
How we got here is not the point, Raul! Life will always get weird, and we can control, what, like point zero zero zero one percent of what happens. But how you handle it- that matters.
RAUL
Ok, well, I’m open to suggestions.
SNAKE
Good, because its time to get moving. Look at this mess!! You’re hiding out in an unfinished skyscraper listening to a fucking drainpipe hoping you hear the tiniest little scrap of Sara’s life. Not your proudest moment.
RAUL
And this is my fault!?
SNAKE
No, but it is your problem. Don’t worry- I’ve got a plan. But can we please go back to your apartment? I hate this place- I’m scared of heights and it really freaks me out.
RAUL
Fine. Let’s go.
He stands up, grabs a backpack off the floor. They start walking.
SNAKE
It was a delivery guy.
RAUL
What?
SNAKE
The accident. The thing that broke time. It was a delivery guy.
RAUL
You don’t say.
SNAKE
Its kind of funny, actually. You know those carts delivery guys use in a warehouse? Well, one guy was wheeling a cart one way, and someone else was going the other way, and they weren’t really paying attention. So yeah, they crashed, and it smashed your life into Sara’s.
Raul stops walking.
RAUL
Ok that’s total bullshit. I don’t believe you.
SNAKE
Fine with me.
RAUL
There’s no way.
SNAKE
Whatever you say, Raul.
RAUL
Complete fabrication.
SNAKE
You know best.
Beat.
RAUL
Are you serious?
SNAKE
(starts laughing)
Suckahhhhhhh.
RAUL
You’re kind of a dick.
SNAKE
Oh lighten up. And will you get me some food.. Please. That sad look on your face is making me even hungrier.
RAUL
Fine. Fine. I’ll drop you off at my place, but then I’m going to talk to Kate. THEN I’ll get you some food.
SNAKE
Ok fine.
RAUL
Fine.
SNAKE
Fine.
EXT. STREET IN HONG KONG, 1997 - DAY
There’s a protest on the street, its total chaos. POLICE VANS with loudspeakers tell the student protestors to leave, a curfew is in effect, blah blah.
He’s getting swept up in the crowd when a voice starts shouting at him.
VINCENT
Raul! What’s up man?!
RAUL
Hey- I was just running some errands, but this is getting out of hand!
VINCENT
Oh shit, they’re coming this way. Come on!
RAUL
Where--
VINCENT
Down! Into the subway! Go!
FLASHBANGS go off, smoke grenades hiss. They run down the alley and dodge into a subway station.
INT. SUBWAY TUNNEL HONG KONG, 1997 - CONTINUOUS
RAUL
Jesus christ Vinny. This is getting out of hand.
VINCENT
I know. Its so stupid, its not going to change anything.
RAUL
Yeah maybe.
VINCENT
I’m just saying, China’s not gonna be all like, oh yeah, keep Hong Kong. That’s cool.
RAUL
Probably not.
VINCENT
Oh shit! What time is it?
RAUL
Uh, 4:00.
VINCENT
Ok, there’s time. I have to go grab Mr Wu. I’ll see you back here at 8:00.
Vincent starts to run back up the stairs.
RAUL
What?
VINCENT
Ming didn’t tell you? The train will be here at 8:00. Don’t be late!
He starts to run.
RAUL
Vinnie, what the fuck?
VINCENT
8:00! Don’t botch it, bro!
A rat squeaks in the tunnel.
RAUL
Is that a rat? Why hello, rat!!
Squeak squeak.
RAUL
Oh yeah, come here little rat friend! I’m not going to hurt you!
He goes through a creaky door, it swings close behind him.
RAUL
Shit. This was probably a bad idea.
EXT. STREET MARKET, PARIS, 1959 - DAY
THERE’S A HUGE EXPLOSION. This is the sound from the bomb in the typewriter case near a market in Paris. People are screaming and running. The SFX build up into a high pitched whine...
SARA VO
Raul, You’re right, I never talked much about the explosion at the market. When the bomb went off, Jean and Trotsky had just left. I saw them leave the typewriter case sitting under the cafe table. Claire and I were ducking behind the side of building, watching them, so we were protected from the blast. I had a couple of scrapes from falling on the ground. Claire was behind me, so she was fine, and she sprang into action trying to help the people in the square. It was, it was worse than I thought. I mean you hear about these things, and sometimes you see pictures, but the sound... The sound of so many people in pain... Its overwhelming. I followed Claire into the smoke and rubble in the little square. All the merchant’s carts were blown over and smashed, some of them on fire. A car parked near the cafe was smoking and then it exploded too.
The car explodes.
SARA VO
I saw a man lying on the ground, little bits of typewriter keys stuck into his chest and face. There were more typewriter keys and levers and gears scattered around, bent and burnt, among the wreckage. We stayed for a while, until the ambulances came, tying loose fabric on to wounded legs and arms, telling total strangers that everything would be ok. Which is ridiculous, because we had no idea if everything would be ok or not. Or, I don’t know, maybe Claire did. I certainly had no clue. After an hour or so, Claire and I just walked away. There was nothing more we could do. We bought a bottle of wine and went back to her flat, exhausted but wound up so tight and still afraid, I think. Afraid that another bomb could go off at any second.
INT. CLAIRE'S APARTMENT, PARIS, 1959
Keys go into a bowl by the front door. Shoes are kicked off and bags put down.
CLAIRE
Do you want to take a bath? I need a bath.
SARA
That sounds great, actually. But I don’t have any clothes...
CLAIRE
You can wear something of mine. We’re almost the same size.
SARA
No we’re not! Look at me, I’ve been getting so fat since I met you. My boobs are huge now.
CLAIRE
I know. Its sexy.
SARA
Stop.
CLAIRE
I have some thing you can wear, I’m sure.
SARA
Ok. Thank you.
CLAIRE
Of course! Open that wine, will you?
Claire walks out of the room. We hear the faucet turn on for the tub.
SARA
Do you mind if I use your phone?
CLAIRE
(from the bathroom)
Go ahead!
Sara picks up the receiver on an old bell-and-hammer type phone, dials the rotary. Her dad answers.
HANS
Hello? Cloutier residence.
SARA
Poppa? Its me.
HANS
Oh hello! How are you, my little flower?
SARA
Poppa, there was a bombing--
HANS
What?
SARA
I’m fine, I’m fine. But I wanted to let you know. At the market on Rue Champillion, you know? By the Sorbonne.
HANS
That’s terrible! You’re hurt?
SARA
No, no I’m ok.
HANS
Other people were hurt?
SARA
Yes. A lot.
HANS
Oh, my sweet... c’est horrible.
SARA
Poppa, I think Jean was involved.
HANS
What? What are you talking about?
SARA
I saw him there. He had a typewriter case, and he was meeting another man--
HANS
Impossible.
SARA
He was meeting another man, and then they both left, but they didn’t take the typewriter.
HANS
Were you following him? Sara--
SARA
No! I was just there, at the market, with a friend! And we saw him!
HANS
Sara, he’s just a...
SARA
Yes?
HANS
He’s just a paper pusher! He’s a bureaucrat. There’s no way he’s involved in anything that... exciting.
SARA
So you didn’t like him?!!
HANS
You liked him. And he’s very even, very stabile. That was enough for me.
SARA
And he’s not a communist.
HANS
Well of course... I would have brought that up! But like you said, he isn’t exciting enough to be a communist, so he’s definitely not a spy or a provocateur.
SARA
I have to go, Poppa. I love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.
HANS
You’re sure you’re ok?
SARA
I’m fine, I promise. Let’s have lunch tomorrow, can you?
HANS
Of course. One o’clock?
SARA
See you then.
HANS
I love you, Sara. I’m glad you’re ok.
SARA
Love you too.
She hangs up the receiver.
SARA
(loudly)
Are you still in the tub?
CLAIRE
Yes! Its helping. Come!
Sara opens a bottle of wine and pours two glasses. She walks into the bathroom.
SARA
Here.
CLAIRE
Oh thank you.
SARA
My dad. That’s who I called, if you were wondering.
CLAIRE
I was, but its not my business.
Sara gives a short laugh.
SARA
What is your business? With me, I mean. What are you doing with me?
CLAIRE
Right now? I’m telling you to get in the tub.
SARA
Oof. Come on.
CLAIRE
Not now Sara, not now. Get in.
SARA
Fine, ok, ok.
Sara takes off her clothes and gets in the tub.
CLAIRE
What do you think Jean was doing?
SARA
Ugh. Don’t use his name.
CLAIRE
What do we call him then?
SARA
He’s just the past, now. He’s a ghost of something.
CLAIRE
The Ghost. What was the Ghost doing blowing up a market on Avenue de Saxe?
SARA
I don’t know! He’s so normal! I cannot believe he had anything to do with that bomb.
CLAIRE
But that’s where the explosion came from! You saw it.
SARA
I don’t know. I don’t know what I saw. We were pretty far away, right?
CLAIRE
He was carrying a heavy portable typewriter, yes?
SARA
Yes.
CLAIRE
And he sat down with that with other guy, the cool black guy in the shades, Trotsky.
SARA
Yeah.
CLAIRE
And then they both got up and left, and neither one of them was carrying a typewriter, right?
SARA
And then the explosion.
CLAIRE
And then the explosion. And there were little bits of typewriter stuck in all the wounds- that man’s arm... that child’s leg- he had the shift key stuck in his leg!
SARA
Its just, c'est même pas concevable.
CLAIRE
But, you didn’t really know him, did you?
SARA
Not at all.
CLAIRE
Hmm.
SARA
Sad, isn’t it.
CLAIRE
I guess.
SARA
And I don’t know you, either.
CLAIRE
Well, that’s a different story.
SARA
Because you shouldn’t even be here, right? You’re a spy.
CLAIRE
Sara, No. Yes. I am on a mission. But I’m not a spy. I’m what they call a Candle.
SARA
A candle?
CLAIRE
Yes. One little light in the dark. And my mission - I have to put you to sleep. Then we have to go on a trip. Do you like to travel?
SARA
(pissed, exhausted)
God these riddles, Claire!! Where? Where are we supposed to go?!
CLAIRE
Its east of here. Do you prefer planes or trains, do you think?
SARA
I prefer to know what you’re doing to me! Put me to sleep? What does that mean?
CLAIRE
It means that your dreams can help solve the problem you’re all tangled up in.
SARA
I don’t believe that!! Shouldn’t we THINK? Shouldn’t you be helping me to think, to be clever, to find some incredibly smart, strategic way out of this mess?
CLAIRE
Can I tell you a story?
SARA
(Annoyed, but calmer)
Sure.
CLAIRE
There was a time I needed to find a woman. It was a small city in northern China. And by ‘small,’ I mean about a million people. I had nothing to go on but a first name, and her age, and some idea of her background- she was in her fifties, married, two kids, didn’t work. It was an impossible assignment.
SARA
This is what you do? Find people?
CLAIRE
Its part of it. Now listen. I had been in the town for four months looking for her, and nothing. It seemed hopeless. I tried all my usual tricks and techniques, but nothing. I was lonely, I was frustrated, I was far from home. So naturally, I wanted to have some fun, right? I’d become friendly with a guy who worked at a noodle shop, and he invited me to see a band. We stayed out all night, with his stupid friends - god they were so annoying - and finally ended up getting hamburgers at some American place at 3 in the morning. And there she was, behind the counter, with a name tag on and everything.
SARA
So what did you do?
CLAIRE
Oh, that doesn’t matter. The point is, trying to find her wasn’t working. But just living, just being, that got me to the target. The needle in the haystack. One in a million.
SARA
Huh.
CLAIRE
I really like hamburgers now. Because of that.
SARA
Planes.
CLAIRE
What?
SARA
I prefer planes to trains. Faster. More modern.
A sip of wine. The sound of the bathtub water sloshing.
CLAIRE
A plane it is, then. I’m turning into a raisin. Should we get out?
SARA
Should I even ask: A plane to where?
Claire gets out of the tub.
CLAIRE
Ok. Oh no, look at my toes! I’m an old woman!
SARA
Please stop being evasive.
CLAIRE
We’re going to meet Raul.
SARA
(astonished)
That’s not possible.
CLAIRE
It is. But it means we have to meet him The Middle.
SARA
In ‘the middle.’
CLAIRE
Yes.
SARA
Which is where, exactly?
CLAIRE
Kazakhstan.
SARA
You enjoy being this opaque, don’t you. You have a cruel streak.
CLAIRE
And wrinkly toes.
SARA
And very wrinkly toes.