Stonemaiden (6)
TOURIST BOY (as they pull away) We'll be as good as our hormones allow us! SHE waves good-bye to them before entering the tree line. We follow her as she strolls along a shady path. SHE comes to a small clearing from which the sea is just visible through the trees, taking a look around, this is the place. SHE sits down, taking a swig of her water, then proceeds to camouflage her knapsack near some shrubs, covering it with fallen branches. Satisfied SHE picks up her purse and her water and starts retracing her path toward the road. Every two paces SHE stops and gathers a couple of stones into a little pile, the third time SHE giggles to herself. MEL Girl Guides... 80. INT./DAY, POLICE STATION JASON is at his desk, the calm after the morning's storm has him on edge. Despite his best intentions thoughts of what Melina might have in store for him that evening preoccupy his mind. When an OFFICER enters his office and coughs JASON snaps at him, but when HE sees the OFFICER'S expression HE tones down warily. JASON What now!... What is it. OFFICER I think you had better come out sir... JASON stands slowly, all too certain that he is not going to be happy about whatever it is... 81a. OUTER OFFICE JASON freezes in the doorway as he sees the cause. JASON'S POV, the GYPSY WOMAN sits on the floor caressing the wet, lifeless body of the LITTLE GIRL, her HUSBAND stands behind them glaring at JASON. JASON Oh Christ... OFFICER They want us to arrest some tourist women. JASON Think they'll agree to an autopsy... The OFFICER gives him a doubtful look, when the phone rings HE grabs the opportunity to avoid the situation with a dutiful shrug. JASON kneels down next to the GYPSY WOMAN who murmurs to her dead child, flashing him wild looks. JASON I want to get these women, very badly, but to do that I need your help. SHE looks at the GYPSY MAN who steps forward, JASON gets to his feet. GYPSY MAN That's your job. JASON Yes I know, but to prove that those women are responsible for the child's death, a doctor has to examine her body. The GYPSY MAN says something to the GYPSY WOMAN who glares suspiciously at JASON a moment them starts shrieking, picks up her child's body and runs out. The MAN spits in Jason's direction before following his wife. Their other children, who had been waiting out side, peek in before following their parents, all but the oldest BOY, 15, who approaches JASON with a menacing air. BOY What did you say to my mother? JASON If I am going to be able to punish the women that did this I will need physical proof, the only way to get it is for a doctor to examine your little sister's body. Talk to your father, the more time that passes the harder it is to get the proof we need. Try to talk them into taking her to the hospital, O.K. BOY (looks at him skeptically) O.K., maybe... HE leaves, JASON kicks the door frame cursing under his breath. JASON Shit... OFFICER You could arrest them and take the child's body. Obstructing the investigation of a capital crime. JASON (glares at him) You volunteering to go into their camp and execute that procedure? OFFICER (slinks back to his desk) Just an idea... JASON Yeah, right. 82. EXT./AFTERNOON, BEACH MELINA is stretched out luxuriently under the Mediterranean sun, her lips are curled into a satisfied smile of pleasant anticipation. 83. INT./LATE AFTERNOON, MELINA'S ROOM MELINA returns from her first day at the beach since her arrival. SHE goes into the bathroom and removes her swimsuit, looking pleased that she finally took some color. SHE pokes her bum to see just how burned she is, not too bad. SHE goes to the phone and orders an elaborate meal from room service, sprawling like a cat on the bed, admiring her tan lines every now and again . MEL Yes please, room 108, I would like to order dinner for two, to be delivered at 7:30 p.m. sharp, I want us to be having desert by twilight... We'll start with a platter of chilled shellfish and papaya, and wild green salad with chicory and lemon grass... (chuckles) I hope he eats this stuff, oh nothing. Now for the main course we will both have the filet and lobster tail, one medium rare, one medium well, with asparagus if available... Brilliant. What was that nice Santorini Chablis you serve? Yes, oh better make that two bottles, both on ice, let's see anything else... No, no coffee, but desert is a must, run them by me... ice cream is out of the question, let's have a walnut torte and a creme brulee, he won't know it is supposed to be served hot... Lovely, 7:30 sharp, that's right, thank you... Pleased with herself SHE hangs up and goes to have her bath. 84. 7:30, MELINA'S ROOM MELINA looks radiant, her hair, still damp, hangs in wet ringlets around her freshly tanned cheeks, SHE is wearing a loose linen frock, almost diaphanous, which casts an ethereal contrast to her rosy complexion. SHE is almost singing when ROOM SERVICE arrives. There are two of them, the YOUNG MAN from a few days before, and an OLDER FELLOW who nearly runs his cart into the bed as he admires the way the light from the balcony silhouettes MELINA'S body through the thin fabric of her dress. The YOUNG MAN is a bit wary, after what happened to VanGo he is glad not to be alone with her. MELINA Set it up on the balcony please... THEY go about their business and SHE straightens up her things then takes two 5,000 drach bills out of her purse, handing them to first the OLDER MAN, who accepts his with a wicked grin, the YOUNG MAN who gingerly pulls his from her fingers. MEL Thank you gentlemen! OLDER MAN (catching one last eyeful) Thank you miss... HE winks at the YOUNG MAN and they leave. 85. CORRIDOR OUT SIDE MELINA'S ROOM As the ROOM SERVICE GUYS move away from her door, gossiping in Greek, JASON, unshaven and obviously worse for wear from his taxing day, meets them. THEY stop talking immediately and pass him with a silent nod, the OLDER MAN stifling a smile. JASON pauses in front of the door, looking after them and shaking his head before knocking. 86. INT./MELINA'S ROOM SHE practically floats to the door. MEL Is that you? JASON VO Expecting someone else? JASON'S POV as SHE opens, back-lit by the soft warm light she looks like a teenager, JASON is stunned. JASON Wow... (beyond her he sees the table set up on the balcony and whistles) So I did die today at the station, this must be the welcoming celebration to paradise... SHE pulls him in playfully and closes the door. MEL Was it really that bad? JASON Worse, I don't know where to begin... MEL Then don't, just relax and enjoy your last meal among the living. SHE kisses him and HE revives somewhat, SHE leads him to the balcony. MEL Wine? JASON As much as possible. SHE sits him down, pours him a glass then pulls up her dress to show off her tan line. MEL What do you think? JASON (starts to reach out to touch her thigh then thinks better of it, looking at her skeptically) Do you think it is healthy for you to be enjoying this so much? SHE shuts him up with a fork full of salad. MEL I think you should hush up and eat your dinner like a good boy! CUT TO: 87. EXT./NIGHT, RESORT ENTRANCE MELINA and JASON emerge arm in arm. It is clear HE is a bit light headed. JASON What did you slip me? MEL Don't worry nothing lethal, just a muscle relaxer, I'll drive. Where is your car? JASON You sure? I thought you people were used to driving on the wrong side of the road. MEL Well so are most of the peasants on your bloody islands. THEY get into the car and MELINA pulls away, just beyond in the shadows the VOICE and the WOMAN sit on a rented scooter, THEY take off after the car. 88. INT./NIGHT, POLICE STATION A JUNIOR OFFICER bursts into the station, the other OFFICER looks up from his sports page in alarm. JUNIOR OFFICER Where is the Captain! OFFICER Out, what's happening? JUNIOR OFFICER Those gypsies brought the little girl's body to the hospital for medical examination, the first results say she was poisoned... The other OFFICER stands up. OFFICER O.K., you stay here and man the phones, I'll go tell the Captain... 89. EXT./NIGHT, THE BEND IN THE ROAD MELINA stops the car on the shoulder, SHE and JASON get out and arm in arm they disappear into the trees. A few moments later the scooter pulls up, the TWO WOMEN hide it behind some bushes and stealthily follow after the others. 90. EXT./NIGHT, RESORT ENTRANCE We see the OFFICER frantically questioning the RECEPTION CLERK, who gestures in the direction the car left in. 91. EXT./NIGHT, ON THE ROAD The OFFICER sees Jason's car and pulls up behind it. He uses his radio to call in for a back up before drawing his weapon and entering the wood. 92. EXT./NIGHT, THE CLEARING JASON'S hands are bound above his head by a rope slung over a tree branch. MELINA busily digs in her bag of tricks then approaches him, whispering urgently. MEL This has got to look good baby... HE murmurs something inaudible, SHE removes a plastic bag of pig's blood from her bag, holding it against his chest and with the other hand she brandishes a large knife, SHE holds it above her head a moment, in the shadows her face tenses, then SHE brings it down with surgical accuracy, just grazing his skin but tearing the bag of blood. SHE hears a twig snap and whirls around just as the OFFICER reaches the clearing. SHE dives out of the way as he fires, the shot missing her but hitting JASON in the abdomen. HE groans, MELINA disappears into the trees. The panicked OFFICER runs up to JASON who the pain of the gun shot wound has revived. As the OFFICER unties his hands JASON, hisses. JASON You fucking idiot. The TWO WOMEN withdraw swiftly and silently through the trees, but as they near the road they see the back up police cars approaching. THEY have no choice but to go after Melina. MELINA scrambles toward the sea, at the point she emerges from the trees there is a sheer rock drop off about 30 meters above the water. The trail doesn't wind down to the sea for about another 500 meters. In the bright moonlight the clear water sparkles, it looks deep enough... As SHE ponders what to do SHE can hear people approaching, necessity make up her mind for her. Just as her SISTERS reach the tree line MELINA dives into the sea. THEY rush up after her, looking down just as SHE surfaces, her white dress gleaming in the moonlight as SHE starts to swim toward the point. The POLICE MEN carry JASON back to the road, HE is in a lot of pain, but luckily the bullet went all the way through. JASON Where's Melina? OFFICER I don't know... JASON Well find her! She's in terrible danger now... 93. EXT./NIGHT, IN THE WOOD The TWO WOMEN scramble back through the trees toward the road, no one knows they are there so better just to hide and wait till the police leave. THEIR POV, the OFFICERS carry JASON'S now unconscious body out of the trees and deposit it into one of the cars which pulls away immediately. The MEN talk to each other in hushed urgent tones. ONE of them goes to piss in front of the bushes where the scooter is hidden, the two WOMEN hold there breath, but HE finishes his business and rejoins the others. WOMAN I wish I could understand what they are saying... The MEN split up, TWO of them taking one of the remaining cars, the other TWO grabbing their flashlights and heading back into the tree line. As soon as the car has disappeared down the road the SISTERS run out to their scooter, they coast down the road a bit before starting the motor... 94. EXT./NIGHT, IN THE WATER MELINA swims hard but the adrenaline is wearing off, the cold water and fatigue make her limbs feel leaden. Each time the swells lift her she can just make out the lights of her hotel's private beach, but they must at least 500 meters away, to her left only shear cliffs, to her right open water. SHE tries to float and catch her breath but the swells threaten to smash her against the rock face, it takes all the strength she can muster just to keep herself off the rocks, treading water furiously. The strong current she has been swimming against starts to carry her away from her destination, between that and the swells pitching her ever closer to the rocks panic begins to grip her. SHE begins to swim again frantically in the direction of the hotel but before she has made it 10 meters SHE cramps up. SHE screams and slaps the surface of the water with clenched fists, then breaks down into sobs, gasping as the swells slap her in the face. Something brushes against her in the water, SHE turns in terror but it has passed to quickly for her to see what it was. MEL (sputtering) It's not bad enough I'm going to drown, but I'm going to be eaten by sharks too I suppose! (shouting) At least let me drown first... Ah! HER eyes go wide, something just bumped her again, from behind this time, pushing her forward in the water before slipping away again. SHE looks around frantically and her eyes catch a dorsal fin breaking the water about 15 meters away. MEL (angry) Very funny! Come on then get on with it! It's bad manners to play with your food! Suddenly a dolphin breaks water and jumps right over her, SHE gasps, pain and cold forgotten, as SHE realizes she begins to laugh, spluttering as a swell hits her in the face, but she doesn't care any more. The dolphin pops up in front of her, laughing too, SHE stretches out her hand and it comes closer nudging her hand playfully. MEL I've never been so happy to see someone in all my life, I hope that means something to you... SHE strokes it's sleek skin and the dolphin rolls on it's side so she can reach it's soft ventral area. SHE starts to cry, wiping her face with her hand then laughing as she realizes how pointless that is. MEL What's a little more salt water eh... The dolphin rolls back over, moving forward until HER hand rests on it's dorsal fin, then starts swimming. MELINA, unprepared, looses her grip after being jerked forward, the dolphin circles around to give her another chance. MEL Sorry I'm new to this... This time she grabs hold with both hands, squealing in delight as he dolphin pulls away. 95. EXT./NIGHT, THE PRIVATE BEACH The TWO WOMEN stand at the water's edge, we see them from behind as they look out towards the point. Squeals of laughter can be heard carried across the water. In the water MELINA and the Dolphin are nearing the shallows. MELINA releases the dorsal fin and the Dolphin circles around her again, nudging her playfully. SHE kisses it and pats it affectionately. MEL I don't know how to thank you, I'd like to hang around and play with you some more but I've already been in the water a lot longer than my metabolism can take. SHE strokes the creature again and starts swimming into shore. It swims a couple of circles around her the starts jumping. When MELINA gets to where she can stand, it takes her a moment to remind her legs that they are supposed to support her, SHE turns and waves. MEL Go on now, play with someone of your own species! SHE turns toward the beach and stops a moment as SHE sees her SISTERS waiting for her. MEL Christ I wish they'd go away... SHE puts on a confidant smile as SHE nears THEM, THEY are back lit by the resort's lights. MEL So good of you to come and meet me, I don't suppose it was you two who led the fucking cops up my arse... WOMAN You can't believe we would be that careless, the cops had no idea we were even there. MEL Well I certainly hope not. VOICE At least the task was fulfilled. WOMAN Yes, you may not have had a chance to finish him off, but I'm sure the cop's bullet did the rest... MEL What! HER face contorts briefly, it is all she can do maintain her composure. WOMAN Well the idiot was aiming at you from behind, when you dove out of the way he fired and the bullet when right through the Captain. MELINA'S jaw drops open, then she forces herself to laugh. MEL You must be joking, imagine, shot by your own man. VOICE We should go now, come we will take you some place safe. MEL I don't think so my darlings, see you two made another little fuck up yesterday, sloppy business going in broad daylight, that gypsy kids parents filed a report today, the whole bloody island is looking for two tourist ladies... (SHE pauses to let it sink in) I will meet you tomorrow night at the temple, funny it's the only place the silly coppers haven't got staked out, in the mean time I suggest you two find a cozy little corner to hide in till tomorrow. MELINA starts to head up the beach, the two WOMEN grabs hands anxiously. WOMAN Where are you going! MEL To my room of course, after that bit of exercise I could use a rest. VOICE You must be mad, they'll be waiting for you. MEL (laughs) See any coppers here on the beach love? No. And why is that? Because they are sitting in the hotel lobby probably watching some football match and the poor sod who drew the short straw is probably pacing up and down the hall outside my room. They will have searched the room, found nothing, and never thought to latch the window to the balcony... Sweet dreams my lovelies, sweet dreams... SHE walks off and THEY stare after her still holding hands. VOICE I have a very bad feeling. WOMAN Shut up 96. EXT./NIGHT, MELINA'S BALCONY The room is dark as MELINA climbs up and over the low railing. As SHE stealthily enters the room a raspy voice scares her witless. JASON About time you showed up... SHE gasps, then quickly closes and bolts the window, pulling the drapes tight. Then SHE turns on the light by the bed. JASON is stretched out, his abdomen bandaged, HE is pale, but very much alive, an IV is attached to his arm. MELINA looks at him, the IV, then kneels next to the bed. JASON (wan smile) Just something to tide me over. MEL Oh God, when they told me you'd been shot I was so afraid... SHE starts to cry, HE strokes her wet hair. JASON Guess you Brits knew something we didn't when you decided patrolmen shouldn't carry guns... You are ice cold. MEL (smiles) It's been a difficult evening. But you, you should be in hospital... JASON I'm supposed to be dead, couldn't very well go admit myself... But you need a hot shower, and sleep... And don't go getting fresh tonight or you just might finish me off after all. MEL But how, how did you get past the reception? HE nods to a chair upon which a very loud shirt and a straw hat rest. JASON The boys told them they picked me up drunk in some bar, the night clerk was too busy with his crossword to pay any attention to the room number. Go on... SHE kisses him softly then goes to have her bath, turning at the door. MEL You know I think I actually do love you. JASON Well if you still think that tomorrow I may just start to believe it. 97. INT./AM, MELINA'S ROOM MELINA is curled into an almost fetal position next to JASON, SHE sleeps deeply, but his moans gradually wake her. As soon as the fog clears and recollection returns SHE kneels over him concerned. HE is burning with fever, SHE grabs her robe and goes to the door. The OFFICER on watch is stretched out in a chair snoring loudly, SHE nudges him and HE grabs for his gun, SHE jumps back until HE wakes up. MEL (urgent) He's not doing well, we have to take him to the hospital. The OFFICER jumps to his feet and runs down the hall. 98. INT./DAY, HOSPITAL MELINA paces up and down the corridor, the OFFICER reads the sports page. When the DOCTOR emerges from surgery SHE nearly bowls him over. MEL Will he be alright? The OFFICER sets down the paper and stands dutifully behind MELINA. DOCTOR He should have been brought in last night, there was quite a bit of tissue damage, but the surgery went well. The danger with any abdominal wound is infection, we have to see how he will respond to the antibiotics. MEL Can I see him? DOCTOR He is still unconscious, it will be several hors before the effects of the anesthetic wear off. MEL Can I see him? DOCTOR I suppose so, but wash your hands, and get a mask from the nurse. MEL Thank you Doctor. 99. INT./ICU MELINA approaches him slowly, SHE pulls up a stool and sit next to the bed resting her hand on his. MEL You said if I still felt that way today you might start to believe it... I don't know what is going to happen tonight, but I had to tell you... I really do think I love you... Tears begin to roll down her cheeks. SHE looks around to make sure no one can see her, then lifts the mask and kisses him lightly on the forehead... 100. INT./CORRIDOR MELINA bursts out of the ICU, grabs the sports page out of the OFFICER'S hands and pulls off her mask. MEL I need to talk to you. 101. INT./DAY, CAFETERIA MELINA sits across from the OFFICER. MEL I am going to be meeting them tonight at 10:00 p.m., at the temple of Athena where the first murder took place. They are sick, and dangerous, you have enough evidence now to get them put away, I will testify but everything must be done exactly as I tell you. They are very clever and the slightest cock up might blow the whole procedure. Can I count on the cooperation of you and the other men? OFFICER (stares at her dumfounded) If it means closing all these murder cases, I'll give you my personal guarantee. MELINA starts to comment but thinks better of it. MEL O.K. then, get together your three best men and bring them to my hotel at 3:00 p.m., and not a word to anyone else. We have one chance, we had better not blow it.
Copyright © 2000 Victoria King |