Stonemaiden (3) DIRECTOR ...Now I've got a bunch of angry parents coming around all the time demanding we pull the plug on them. JASON What can you do anyway most of those party lines are 090 numbers, and as long as they advertise the charges it is perfectly legal. DIRECTOR I know, but how do you explain that to a widow who's teenage sons have run up a 200.000 drach phone bill? JASON (laughs) Aren't you glad there was no such thing as phone sex when we were kids, I think it was much more fun chasing the real thing. DIRECTOR You're telling me! If those little buggers could actually SEE the women they are talking to it might just put them off the species entirely. But what can you do, it's just a sexy voice and a picture in a magazine, and they can say what ever they like with out getting slapped. JASON (rubs his cheek with a sentimental sigh) Ah yes but no pain no gain... Ah by the way I wanted to ask if you could check something for me? DIRECTOR Not much else to do around here. JASON hands him the Sojourner number written on a plain piece of paper... JASON I need a background on this number, it was recently disconnected... (leans forward with a confidential tone) This can't leave the room, it's connected to the murder we're investigating. The DIRECTOR'S eyes light up, at last a bit of intrigue to liven up the drudgery of public service. DIRECTOR Don't worry, I'm your man. Georgia! Bring me the list of this months disconnections. A pert, dark little WOMAN trots into the office carrying a ragged dossier and dutifully places it in front of her boss. HE doesn't say anything just grunts with a nod indicating for HER to leave. HE peruses the list until he comes to the number in question... DIRECTOR Here we are... Georgia! Bring me the application file Z-7345. The little WOMAN reappears in record time with the file in question. JASON looks at her appraisingly as one might look at a trained hunting dog. SHE leaves once again without a word. The DIRECTOR reads over the file, raising first one eyebrow, then the other. DIRECTOR Remember that old house just off the peripheral road? (JASON nods) A realty company had the phone hooked up, seems they were trying to sell the place but the escrow got bogged down because of some inheritance disputes over the deed. JASON Who made the application? DIRECTOR Bakakos, Georgios, broker... JASON Can I take a look? DIRECTOR Of course... The DIRECTOR hands over the document with the air of a man doing his civic duty. JASON looks over the application, the information it contains is typical, but the hand writing and signature strike him as oddly familiar... JASON You didn't happen to see the man? DIRECTOR Bah, these matters are run of the mill, as long as they have the cash deposit I only see the papers at the end of the day. (concerned) Is it important? I could ask the girls. Geor... JASON No don't bother, but I would like to have a photo copy of this if possible. DIRECTOR Right away... Georgia! SHE appears in the doorway expectantly. DIRECTOR Run make a copy of this for the Captain. SHE grabs the paper and disappears. DIRECTOR Do you think it might be a clue? JASON It is very possible. The DIRECTOR sits back rubbing his hands together excitedly and refills their glasses. 38a. INT./DAY, POLICE STATION JASON sits at his desk looking at the photostat. What is so damn familiar about it... MARIO taps on the door jam... MARIO Captain, I finished the report on that camcorder theft, you want it? JASON Yeah, thanks... He takes it absently and lays it on his desk. MARIO pauses a moment... MARIO Captain, if you don't need me for anything I have a couple errands to run... JASON Sure, go on, you have your mobile right? (HE nods) If anything comes up I'll call. MARIO Thanks... HE exits, JASON glances briefly at the report then returns to the photostat, but suddenly he notices something. Placing the photostat next to the report he looks at the signatures, the names are different, but several characters unmistakably identical. He gazes from one to the other in disbelief... 38b* FLASHBACK, AT THE MURDER SCENE Both MEN turn in suprise as SHE approaches. MELINA stops suddenly as SHE recognizes JASON'S companion... MEL You... HE stands awkwardly a moment, JASON looks from one to the other. JASON Do you two know each other? MELINA blushes slightly, better not mention that she was following him earlier. MEL He helped me with my bag at the airport, but slipped away before I could say thank you. 38c. RETURN TO JASON HE opens the drawer of his desk and starts to put the photostat inside, then thinks better of it folding it into his breast pocket he gets up and walks out. 39. INT./AFTERNOON, MELINA'S ROOM MELINA is curled into an almost fetal position in a chair gazing out the window when the knock comes. She gets up and moves suspiciously to the door. MEL Who is it? JASON VO Come on open up. SHE unlocks the door and he bursts in, closes it behind him and approaches her menacingly. SHE is frightened by his manner. JASON No more games! What else haven't you told me? MEL I don't know what you are talking about. HE stares at her, grabbing her by the shoulders and squeezing them gradually. JASON When did you really meet Mario? MEL Who?... You are hurting me. SHE starts to whimper as HIS grip tightens, HE pushes HER down on the bed. JASON My lieutenant. MEL I told you he helped me with my bag, I never saw him before that. JASON (threateningly) Or after? SHE stares up at him terrified and starts to cry blubbering through her sobs. MEL O.K. so I followed him yesterday, I was curious that's all I swear! When I ran into the Professor he disappeared again... JASON glares down at her, for some reason he believes her, a fact that annoys him greatly. HE paces back and forth thinking, he doesn't want to tell her about the connection, she might tip him off accidentally. HE grabs some tissue from the bathroom and takes it to HER, SHE is curled up on the bed sobbing. JASON O.K. here, I'm sorry, this things just got me worked up. An unsolved murder is very bad for business, it puts a lot of pressure on me. SHE looks at him warily as she wipes her eyes and blows her nose. JASON cont. Did you talk to the Professor? MEL I've been trying to call him all morning but there is no answer in his room, and the receptionist told me he hasn't dropped off his key. I'm worried, he told me he would stay in today to go over his research. JASON You said that when you ran into the Professor Marios disappeared again. MEL That's right. JASON Get dressed. We are going to his hotel. CUT TO: 40. EXT./LATE AFTERNOON, KIARA PENSION JASON and MELINA pause near the entrance. JASON Room 9? MEL Yes. JASON You go in and wait by the door of his room, I'll get the master key from the reception. 41. INT./LATE AFTERNOON, KIARA PENSION We follow MELINA as she enters and moves quietly down the hallway. SHE taps tentatively on the professors door but there is no response. When JASON arrives SHE clutches his arm. MEL I have a really bad feeling. JASON Somehow I knew you would. HE knocks again, still no response. HE unlocks the door and pushes it open, from the hallway they can see that his papers have been torn up and scattered throughout the room. JASON Maybe you had better wait here. HE moves inside cautiously, as she looks after him SHE notices a piece of paper near the door, as SHE bends down and picks it up we hear JASON. JASON VO Holy mother... MELINA rushes in, what she sees hits her like a fierce blow to the gut. MELINA'S POV, the PROFESSOR'S body is rigid on the bathroom floor, his eyes are open, his mouth contorted, his body covered with hundreds of snake bites. JASON grabs hold of MELINA who is gasping in shock, the piece of paper still clutched in her hand. HE sets her down gently on the bed. SHE slowly remembers the paper, gazing at it blankly, but then the image registers and SHE screams. JASON pulls it out of her hands shaking her. JASON Come on Melina... SHE gestures to the paper sobbing. HE looks at it. CU, it is the rubbing of the Medusa head with Melina's visage. HE tears it up and throws the pieces down in outrage. JASON I've had enough of this mojo bullshit! MELINA (still sobbing, desperate) Don't you see? It's me Jason, I'm the one, I'm a killer, I was the last one to see him alive! HE kneels down in front of her and pulls her to him forcefully. JASON Stop it! You are not a killer... Someone is fucking with your head and if we are going to find out who you have to pull yourself together, do you hear me? SHE nods and puts her arms around his shoulders, HE embraces her tightly. JASON Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you alone until we get to the bottom of this. 42. INT./EVE., POLICE STATION JASON sits at his desk, his head in his hands, spread out before him are the reports on the two murders. Lined up in front of his desk are his MEN including MARIO. JASON looks up at them with a wan expression. JASON I hope I don't have to remind you all what it is going to mean if this gets to the press. (HE looks at them directly, one by one) The last thing I need are a bunch of talk show hosts prowling around setting the whole island off! (MARIO avoids JASON'S gaze) Now there was no sign of forced entry, so whoever did it not only put the snakes in his room sometime while he was out, they managed to come back and collect them before anyone even realized he was dead. Now I would think someone might have noticed a person coming and going twice in the same day, Mario I want you to question all of the employees at the pension, DISCREETLY! We managed to get his body out of there with out raising suspicions, I don't want a word mentioned about the cause of death, he was old just let them think it was a heart attack. Tell them we are investigating a possible robbery, that the old man walked in on an intruder and died of fright, they'll keep that quiet, they sure don't want their other guests to think there is a robber on the staff, make sure you underline that fact. Any questions? MARIO No sir. JASON Alright then get to it, the rest of you keep your eyes and ears open, unfortunately for the moment to do anything else will raise more questions and I have enough people breathing down my neck right now. Report in every hour regardless of whether you have any new information or not, I might. That is all. 43. INT./NIGHT, RESORT LOBBY A uniformed POLICE MAN stands chatting up the GIRL at the reception desk. Over HIS shoulder SHE spots JASON approaching, the POLICE MAN dashes off down the corridor. CUT TO: 44. INT./NIGHT, MELINA'S ROOM SHE sits on the floor carefully trying to piece together the Professor's research and making notes. HER expression is grimly determined. On her note pad we see the list of victims so far including VanGo even though they still haven't found his body... MEL They all must have some kind of personal contact with me... SHE rifles through the manuscript until she reaches the translation of the legend. MEL ...Medusa's sisters never forgave her... for being punished for her promiscuity. When the time comes they will try to trick her and divide her power between them... 45. INT./NIGHT, CORRIDOR OUTSIDE MELINA'S ROOM The POLICE MAN whistles absently as JASON comes toward him... JASON Anything to report? POLICE MAN No sir. JASON O.K. why don't you take a break, I'll take over from here. POLICE MAN Yes sir! HE smiles to himself as he turns and heads down the hallway. 46. INT./NIGHT, MELINA'S ROOM There is a knock at the door, MELINA gets up thoughtfully and goes to the door. MEL Jason? JASON VO Yeah. SHE opens and quickly pulls him in, letting the door slam she leads him over to where she has been working. MEL Listen to this... Seven sacrifice's must be made for her power to be released from the underworld: a worshipper, a servant, a sage, one who covets, an innocent... one beloved... JASON That's only six. MEL (uncomfortable) Well from number six on things get a bit complicated. You see if my sisters are planning what I suspect... I don't want to get ahead of myself. First of all for these powers to be released the legend must be carried out exactly. That means the sixth victim, one beloved, must die by my own hand. JASON O.K. wait a minute though, how do the others fit in. MEL The first victim was one of these "New Age" pilgrims, he said he was drawn by my aura... VanGo had sort of adopted me as his personal mistress so to speak... JASON Still no body. MEL Have you looked? (HE shakes his head) There must be hunting dogs on the island, I'm telling you he's out there somewhere. The sage, Professor Kostikyan.. Now number four must die tonight to keep the legend on track... I've been thinking it over all day, and the only other person I have had any sort of personal contact with is Mario, the question is what could he possibly covet? JASON Melina, I discovered something... The only reason I didn't say anything to you about it is because I was afraid you might accidentally tip him off... MEL He's their hound isn't he. JASON I've sent the evidence to Athens to be checked, but I am pretty certain. MEL (smiles sadly) That's why he was there at the airport, that's why he... he led me right into the Professor... (urgently) We have to warn him Jason, don't you see! If we can stop them from killing him tonight we can break the cycle of the legend. JASON (troubled) We may already be too late. (she looks at him questioningly) He asked for the rest of the day off, said he had "errands" to run... I'll try his mobile... HE goes to the phone, MELINA paces around the room anxiously. SHE looks at him hopefully, HE shakes his head. JASON He has it turned off... DAMN! MEL Then I have no other choice... I have to confront them, make them believe I am cooperating, maybe then I just might be able to stop the next murder. JASON You still haven't told me about the seventh sacrifice. MEL It's either them, or me... JASON But there are two of them, wouldn't that be out of sync with this damn legend? MEL It is difficult to explain, but they are like one person. You see if they succeed they must kill me, then they will be healed and have the power to destroy all who have ever mistreated them. To stop their hatred, I must kill them. JASON (stunned) Well let's just hope we can stop it before we get that far. I may know where they are, I can take you there tomorrow. MEL No Jason, I must go alone. JASON I can't let you do that, we are talking about possible murderers here. MEL Yes but they don't dare harm me until the full moon, otherwise they will be condemned to remain as they are forever. They must leave me free to execute the sixth sacrifice... JASON One beloved... There is an awkward pause, MELINA walks to the balcony and gazes up at the waxing moon for a moment then turns suddenly, her manner is strangely casual. MEL Hey, can we go down to the dining room and have some dinner? (he looks at her suprised) Now that I know exactly what I am up against I am going to need my strength. Besides if I stay closed in here any longer I'll start seeing things again, in a public place with plenty of distractions it's much harder for them to get into my head. JASON If it's going to make things easier on you, O.K. 47. INT./NIGHT, DINING ROOM MELINA and JASON sit back to sip their wine as the WAITER clears the table... WAITER Can I bring you a plate of fruit? JASON looks at MELINA, she nods with a warm smile. JASON Yes please. (HE stands) I want to make a quick call into the station, are you going to be alright alone for a minute? MEL I'm a big girl, I think I can handle myself for one whole minute. As HE walks away from the table the WAITER brings a platter of fruit and places it on the table. MEL Thank you. SHE pokes at the slices of peach and kiwi momentarily lost in thought until a tiny hand nudges her elbow. PULL BACK, a little GYPSY GIRL, not more than 4 or 5 years old holds up a gardenia with a beguiling smile. CU, MELINA'S face changes as SHE looks down at the little girl, SHE smiles but her eyes are cold as steel. MELINA'S POV, SLOW MOTION, as SHE reaches out for the child, first stroking her head, then pulling her towards her as if for an embrace. PULL BACK SHARP, suddenly MELINA realizes what is happening, SHE pushes the little GIRL away screaming. MEL No! The terrified child drops her flower basket and runs for the door. MELINA collects herself, now the child is in danger. SHE gets up and runs after her. MEL No, wait, don't run away... Please! All are staring at HER as JASON intercepts. JASON What happened? MEL (hysterical) We have to find that little girl... They'll kill her I know they will! JASON For Christ's sake calm down. It's my fault, I shouldn't have left you alone... The WAITER approaches tentatively with Melina's hand bag. JASON Leave the bill at the reception desk, I'll pay it in the morning. The WAITER nods emphatically, JASON puts an arm around MELINA and leads her out.: 48. INT./NIGHT, THE NEO CLASSICAL HOUSE MARIO stands before the two WOMEN, we see THEM from behind, they are nude. WOMAN Did she caress the child? MARIO Yes. VOICE You have served us well. WOMAN As we promised now you will be rewarded.
Copyright © 2000 Victoria King |