CONTENT: Steel House in the Prairie, comic script, full chapter
April undergoes her first real confrontation!
SLACKER!
EXT. TRAIN STATION - NIGHT
The light is low so everything's almost seen in silhouettes. April, Pillia, and the mysterious robot all sit down at the bench.
PILLIA: Farqua!?
FARQUA: Hey.
April takes a look at Farqua. She analyses the red paint, the apple-shaped head, the baskets, and about everything else she remembers that was said about his appearance.
PILLIA: It’s about time you showed up! What’s been up with you?
APRIL: (In her thoughts) That’s Farqua? Well, so much for searching for him!
FARQUA: What d’ya mean?
PILLIA: Everyone up here’s been looking for you!
FARQUA: Oh! Well, just tell ‘em I meant for no one to feel worried 'round here. I’ve just been doin’ my own thing lately. Y’know, change in plans n’ all that.
PILLIA: Yeah, like riding the train and going somewhere probably weird.
FARQUA: Have ya seen the time? It’s my time off.
PILLIA: *Sigh* Fine.
The three of them continue waiting for the next train. Eventually, the train arrives.
INT. TRAIN - SAME CONTINUOUS
Farqua enters the train first.
MATRO: ‘Ey, Farqua! Good evening,
FARQUA: Right back at ya, Sivsty!
MATRO: …You alright, man? I heard things weren’t going well in the gardens. The grass getting duller?
FARQUA: Well uh… It’s a lil complicated, but it’s okay.
Farqua walks across the train while Pillia and April take their seats near the front. Farqua notices April when he walks past her.
FARQUA: Huh. New face.
APRIL: …
The train starts to move.
FARQUA: Where ya from? ‘Cause ya sure don’t look like you’re from round here.
APRIL: …Niatheia.
FARQUA: City kid, ain'tcha. That's pretty nice... But at the same time, you're far from home. Ya plan gettin' there any time soon?
APRIL: Yeah...
FARQUA: Ah, I'm sorry to make ya feel a lil homesick. Welp, all the best, Kiddo.
Farqua walks all the way to the back and takes a seat there. Meanwhile, April looks out the window while Pillia sketches. April then walks over to Matro and exhales in preparation to talk to him...
APRIL: Um… (Whispering, about Farqua) You know, that guy was missing, right?
MATRO: (Quietly) Don’t worry, I’ve this all covered. ... ... (From across the train) By the way, Farqua? Where d’you plan to be headed to at this time?
FARQUA: (From across the train) I’m just stayin’ here with ya ‘till everybody else’s off. I kinda wanna talk to ya. In private.
MATRO: (From across the train) In private…? Am I in trouble?
FARQUA: (From across the train) Nah.
MATRO: (Okay you get it) Okay. Ehrm, about that... I’m actually escorting Lia back to her place, so I might be a while.
FARQUA: Sure…! Another time, then. ... …Actually, maybe I can deal with her instead, since I gotta be somewhere else, as well.
MATRO: Really? Where you headed, then?
FARQUA: Y’know…? The library! I thought ya knew me!
MATRO: Oh, sorry about that.
FARQUA: Just get me to them elevators, ‘kay?
MATRO: Right...
APRIL: ... ... (Whispering) So, what are we gonna do, now?
MATRO: (Quietly) For now, just wait. But I have a little job for you when it’s time for the next step.
Meanwhile, Pillia moves to a seat next to Farqua.
PILLIA: So, you got a secret?
FARQUA: Hey look, I’m sure someone your age should know that a secret’s a secret.
PILLIA: Alright, I’m sorry. But for real, you can’t tell me what’s been up with you’s not weird.
FARQUA: Y’already said that. Plus, it’s an android thing; ya won’t get it.
PILLIA: Then I’ll ask Matro once you’re done talking!
FARQUA: Then I’ll make sure ya won’t.
PILLIA: It’s not really that bad, isn’t it?
FARQUA: I dunno. Maybe?
PILLIA: Now you’re scaring me!
FARQUA: Hey now, I was kiddin’! Ya don’t gotta worry ‘bout it.
The train stops.
MATRO: (Offscreen) Farqua, we’re here.
FARQUA: What? Already?
Farqua walks to the front of the train.
MATRO: Suppose that’s what happens when you put your system to sleep on every ride. You’ve no idea how the railways work.
FARQUA: Yeah, yeah… But not this time, heheh... Hey, Pillia! Sivsty said I’ma help ya back to your place. Ya comin’ or what?
MATRO: Actually, I have something very important to tell her to bring onto her parents. Y’can wait for her when you reach the elevators.
FARQUA: ‘Kay.
PILLIA: ...?
MATRO: Just continue left and then you’re there. By the way! April’s coming with you. She needs to get to the ground floor’s exit so she can get to the city. You’ll help her, right?
April walks to Farqua.
FARQUA: Yeah…! Okay!
INT. GREENHOUSE - SAME NIGHT
April opens the door with her right hand and stumbles a bit.
APRIL: Whoa… The door’s lighter than I thought…
April and Farqua continue walking.
FARQUA: Nah, it ain’t really. Maybe ya were usin’ the wrong arm, haha!
APRIL: I guess...
FARQUA: ...So, you’re a city kid, huh? Ain’t the closest one from here Niatheia? Ya from there?
APRIL: Yeah.
FARQUA: I never been to Niatheia.
APRIL: Cool.
FARQUA: … Man, y’ain’t that great a talker ain’t ya. ... …Aw schtutt, I was a bit rude, was I?
APRIL: ...
April looks at a pot of gardening tools. She has her eyes on the rake.
FARQUA: (Awkwardly) O-kay, …I’ll stop talkin’ now.
April and Farqua walk some more.
INT. CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
April and Farqua enter into this room. For a second, April looks behind her and stops walking.
FARQUA: …What’s up? ...You’re missin’ somethin’, ain’t ya.
APRIL: …Yeah, I forgot my knapsack. You can wait here if you want, or you can keep going if I take too long.
April runs back in the direction of the train.
FARQUA: Huh… How’d ya forget somethin’ like that? ... …Psht. Kid’s still got a human brain. What am I thinkin’?
Farqua walks around for a bit. A flush is heard, and a door opens. Chavel sees Farqua as he exits the toilet.
CHAVEL: *Gasp* F-farqua?! What are ya- Where’ve ya been?
FARQUA: Hey, Chavel! It ain’t nothin’ to worry about! But, if I’ll have to say anythin’ then there’s been a lil change in plans for me.
CHAVEL: That’s new! Should I go let everyone else know?
FARQUA: Uh, I’ll… I’ll get to that later. Say, where’s the elevator down? There’s somewhere I gotta be.
CHAVEL: Sorry to break it to ya but, you’ve a long way to go. A walk’s gonna take you over 30 limuns… minimum
FARQUA: WHAT?! No-no, are ya sure you know your way ‘round here?
CHAVEL: It’s true! Go ask someone else, if ya think I’m wrong!
FARQUA: …
INT. TRAIN - SAME DAY
Matro and Pillia sit inside the train.
PILLIA: Something tells me this is not gonna end well.
MATRO: Yeah, now I think of it, that was a pretty dumb idea. But at least he's close to the lodgings. Someone's got to spot him sooner or later. ...You don’t think he's coming back, don’t you?
PILLIA: Well, he better not! He’s gonna get so mad.
MATRO: It’s alright, his bark’s always worse than his bite.
Matro sees April jogging to the train. And she's holding a rake?!
MATRO: Brilliant - she’s by herself! ...And with a rake? (To April) Quickly, April! Get in!
EXT. TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS
April runs faster and eventually switches to sprinting. But gradually, there's the sound of footsteps. And then... BAM! The door behind her's forced open!
FARQUA: There you are!
PILLIA: (From inside the train, to Matro) We're screwed.
FARQUA: Right Sivsty, ya got some explainin' to do!
April leaps inside the train's entrance. From inside the train, she immediately looks outside the window. Matro does too, from his seat.
MATRO: Hm? What's this?
FARQUA: Ya dropped me off at the wrong place, you ass!!!
MATRO: Oop, my bad! Suppose my nav-system malfunctioned a bit back then, didn’t it?
FARQUA: I’m gonna make sure every bit of you malfunctions after this, ya liar! I ain’t dumb enough to fall for somethin’ like that!
MATRO: A bit rich coming from you, 'ey? You’re clearly up to something.
FARQUA: No I'm not!
The train's entrance closes.
MATRO: Great! You can get back to fix up your mess, now. Adiós!
INT. TRAIN - CONTINUOUS
Matro returns to his seat.
MATRO: Whew. That was a close one. You kids alright?
PILLIA: I'm good. Also April, what's up with the rake?
APRIL: Eyn's got my pipe stick thing. I was scared Doc and Wyra would come back for me again. And Farqua's probably got something to do with...
April concernedly looks out of the train for Farqua. Farqua is nowhere to be seen.
APRIL: Uh... Where's...
Farqua hangs onto one of the train's windows!
FARQUA: Well Sivsty, guess ya couldn't run from me after all!
UNCALLED FOR!
INT. TRAIN - NIGHT
Farqua sits on one of the train's windows.
PILLIA: AAAH! Push him off!
MATRO: I'm not going to do that!
Farqua jumps into the train. Matro immediately presses the brakes.
FARQUA: Looks like you've at least an ounce o' common sense in ya. Heh heh, I'm feelin' hopeful.
Matro opens his exits the train to get off his driver's seat and enters the main entrance. He sits down on a passenger seat.
MATRO: (Slightly grumpily) Alright, Farqua. Words. Now.
FARQUA: Sheesh, wait a minute! They're comin'...!
April steps forwards with her rake but Matro gestures her to stop.
MATRO: Don’t worry about this one, April! Best you leave this with the adults.
FARQUA: Sivsty’s right.
Farqua transforms his arm into a shovel.
FARQUA: I bet we’ll handle this, fine.
MATRO: Look at that. He’s brought out his little shovel. C’mon man, what’s the deal?
FARQUA: Alright, I’ll tell ya. Ya better bring me to them elevators right the hell now...
Farqua inches his shovel closer to Matro’s head.
FARQUA: (Intensely) And if ya don’t, I’ma make sure ya taste the metal.
MATRO: (Retorting) Straight out of TV... (To Farqua) Look Farqua, I know you're used to all that "fun friendly banter," but c'mon, it's best not to do it in front of the guest, here. You might scare her, y'know--
FARQUA: WHAT’RE YA? STUPID?! I'm DEAD serious about it. You're bringin' me to them elevators!
MATRO: Oh dear. You said you were headed to the library, 'ey? Didn't know going there was so important. Something special going on today?
FARQUA: ...
MATRO: Are the little indoor plants there in desperate need of tending or something? What's the consequence if you're, say, a couple hours late? Hm? Or is it that bad that you've got to get there right now?
FARQUA: OH, SHUT UP.
MATRO: Or... Are you really headed to the library, after all?
FARQUA: UGHH, JUST DRIVE ALREADY!! I DON’T WANNA HAVE TO HURT YA!
MATRO: (Smugly) Hurt me? Don’t be so ridiculous! We all know we’re not programmed to act violently, right, so you can cut the tough talk and leave us alone.
FARQUA: YOU’RE USELESS!
SFX: CLANG!!!
Something comes flying across the train... It's Matro's head! Farqua's just batted it off his body!
APRIL: ?!
PILLIA: WHAT THE HELL?!
Pillia checks on Matro and knocks on his head.
MATRO: *Static noises*
PILLIA: Farqua, are you frickin' INSANE?!
MATRO: (Automated message) 'Ey there, Matro here. System's rebooting, right now.
Farqua: Ah, forget it. He’ll wake up.
MATRO: (Automated message, cont'd) I'll be up in a jiffy. Or not. Anywho, I- I'm rambling, aren't I? Oh, screw this dumb recording, I give u--
Farqua stands by the controls and looks at them. He thinks for a bit, leans over the driver's seat and puts his hand over the lever and pulls it. The train doesn’t move and he looks mildly annoyed. He then notices the pedals on the floor.
FARQUA: Ah... It's them pedals, ain't it...
SFX: Clang!
Farqua immediately turns behind him and sees April's just hit him with her rake!
APRIL: I… uh… I’m sorry…!
FARQUA: ...
Farqua steps forwards, towards April. April takes one step back. Farqua grins.
FARQUA: Well, no problem! Y’see... Pain ain’t really a thing for robots.
APRIL: ...
Farqua swings his shovel in April’s direction!
FARQUA: BUT WHY ‘N THE HELL YA DO THAT?!
April ducks down and dodges it! Farqua swings again!
FARQUA: Y’AIN’T EVEN SPENT A DAY HERE!
April dodges it. Farqua swings again!
FARQUA: WHAT THE HELL D’YA EVEN KNOW?! WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?!
April dodges! ...Farqua lowers his shovel.
FARQUA: … Now, you don’t bother me from now on.
Farqua walks to the controls, but Pillia pulls on his arm.
PILLIA: Don’t!
Farqua picks up Pillia!
FARQUA: God, you’re so annoyin’!
And straight up throws her out the window!
PILLIA: (From outside the train) Ack!
APRIL: *Gasp*
Farqua leans out the window.
FAQUA: (To Pillia) NOW, PILLIA! YA BETTER’ BE GLAD THE TRAIN AIN’T MOVI-
April strikes Farqua hard to the side and he tumbles in the direction of the back of the train! She grins at her own strength and covers her mouth guiltily. Farqua quickly gets up and April sees that there's an open exit near to him...
EXT. TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS
Pillia lies on the ground. She grabs her shank and looks over the side of the train.
SFX: CLANG!
She sees Farqua falls backwards out the train! Something's also just fallen out his basket and he puts it back as April jumps out the train with her rake.
PILLIA: (In astonishment) Wow...
Back to April, she quickly grabs onto Farqua's arm and drags him away from the train as much as possible! Farqua struggles to get back up. April's already close enough to the door into the greenhouse, but suddenly, Farqua then transforms his shovel arm into an automatic hedge trimmer and activates it! April, shocked, lets go of him immediately.
APRIL: AAAH! WHAT THE HECK?!
Farqua picks himself up and runs towards the train.
FARQUA: HAHA! Lucky y'aint one of me or else I'da used the chainsaw!
April chases him and strikes him on the back! Farqua stumbles, but balances himself. He runs away again, but this time, when April swings at him, he ducks down and dodges it! April stumbles as a result. Taking this opportunity, Farqua strikes his trimmer in April's direction, but luckily, April blocks it off with her rake!
April looks terrified. The rake's shaft is stuck between a gap in the trimmer, keeping the trimmer’s two metal pieces from moving. Farqua’s other hand transforms into a shovel again and swings it in April’s direction. As April moves away to dodge it, Farqua kicks her from behind right on the back!
SFX: Clang!
April immediately gets back up.
FARQUA: HOLD UP. That bit’s machine, too?
Farqua’s shovel transforms back into a hand.
FARQUA: Hell, I shouldn’ta gone so easy!!!
Farqua swings his trimmer in April’s direction. April jumps backwards to dodge it. She then grabs the end of the trimmer with her robotic arm, and swings it in the direction towards the station’s exit door (of course, with the support of her other arm). She lets go of the trimmer and then Farqua slides right next to the double doors to the greenhouse! While he gets up, April runs and kicks him through the door!
INT. GREENHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
Farqua lies far away, but gets up. April locks the double doors shut with her rake. Next to her is a set of gardening tools. She grabs a pair of nearby hedge shears (one of those huge ones) and runs towards Farqua. April did have her eyes on the saw, though...
To April's surprise, Farqua swings his arm, now transformed to a scythe, where April’s head is! Luckily, she blocks it with the sheers and closes them.
APRIL: Are you TRYING to murder me?!
FARQUA: Oops! Accident! Ha!
Farqua uses this opportunity to lift April up and throw her across a table full of flowerpots. Farqua gets out his hose and shoots water straight at her.
FARQUA: Haha! Take this ya lil sh-
SFX: CRASH!
Farqua gets hit in the face with a flower pot! Back to April, she throws a couple more at him and, of course, seems to be enjoying herself. Farqua blasts more water in April’s direction. April falls into the mud, completely drenched. She's struggling to get up! Farqua swings his hose at April and she catches it.
FARQUA: WHA- My hose’s still here?!
APRIL: *Snicker*
FARQUA: Aw, shut up!
Farqua pulls on his hose, and throws April through one of the greenhouse’s doors, breaking it!
SFX: Shatter!
The hose extends its length the further April flies.
EXT. BALCONY - CONTINUOUS
April hangs off the balcony, clinging on to the hose! Farqua leans over the railing.
APRIL: AAAH!! What the crap?!?!
Farqua transforms his other hand into a pair of pruning shears, laughing a little. April gasps and quickly looks around. She see's a nearby platform and lands on it, and climbs a pipe, still holding onto the hose. April makes it back up the balcony and back under the roof.
INT. GREENHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
April runs past Farqua, who ends up chasing her afterwards. She climbs up a nearby ladder. Once she gets up onto a platform, she kicks the ladder down, causing Farqua, who was also climbing the ladder, to fall. Now besides her are plant pots, a collection of gardening tools, and a weather system control desk. April straightaway to the railing of the platform she's on and sees Farqua's on the gardening patch below her. She then runs to the weather system and switches on the rain (luckily, this was easy to figure out!), and then grabs a bunch of small pots and throws them at him. Farqua easily dodges every one of them!
FARQUA: HA! Ya really thought I couldn't run on mud, didn't ya!
April's out of pots! She gets the next pile, but when she looks over the railings again, Farqua's nowhere to be seen... Instead, he's latched onto the platform!
APRIL: Go away!
April straight up kicks Farqua on the head. But he doesn't fall off?!
FARQUA: (Mockingly) Ya call that a kick?! Looks like someone's a bit of a softie, eh?
APRIL: Shut up!
Farqua climbs on the railing some more. He's almost getting on the platform! April kicks Farqua again! He's still on there...!
FARQUA: C'mon, just give it up!
APRIL: ...
FAQUA: Don't worry, I'll take ya somewhere safe. And your new friends are comin' along, too! Y'know... 'Cause y'all know already...
APRIL: Yeah whatever! Dream on, plant freak!
April throws the pile of plant pots over the railing, right onto Farqua's head! He falls right on his back in the mud. All four of his limbs have sunk right in, too. Farqua tries to move, but he can't. April jumps down from the platform, holding a shovel.
APRIL: I thought you said you could easily move around in mud.
FARQUA: I wasn't built to swim in it!
APRIL: Oh. Okay then... ... ... Sorry…
FARQUA: WHAT THE HELL D’YA MEAN, “SOR-
April strikes Farqua in the head. Fade to black.
TRUTH!
INT. TRAIN - NIGHT
Matro's head lies motionless on the floor. His eyes’ lights are off, but suddenly turn on. He lies still for a moment.
MATRO: ... ... ... Gozzuck! What's happened?!
His head turns to see his body on the other side of the train, crawling to him. He reattaches his head to is body then hurriedly sits up.
EXT. TRAIN STATION - CONTINUOUS
A view of the train from outside. From inside the train, Matro sticks his head through the window and looks around.
MATRO: Lia! Thank God you're alright!
Over to Pillia, who peeps through the door going to the greenhouse. She closes the door and looks at Matro, who's jogging to where she is. The door opens and April timidly enters into the station.
PILLIA: April...! God, you’re totally drenched!
APRIL: I know…
PILLIA: Are you okay?
April doesn't say anything and she opens the door. Pillia and Matro both look through the door, too. Farqua lies still in the mud. His lights are off. He's rebooting.
MATRO: April, did you do that?
APRIL: … Yeah…
MATRO: ... ... ... My God, I’m surprised…!
APRIL: Yeah… I can’t believe I just did that, too…
Matro takes off his jacket and puts it over April.
MATRO: Here. Go dry yourself up. Don’t want yourself sick now, ‘ey?
APRIL: (About Farqua) So... what are we going to do about him?
PILLIA: Hm… I dunno. I’m not sure if we wanna leave him here, though.
INT. GREENHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
April, Pillia and Matro walk over to Farqua’s body.
APRIL: He was this close to killing us though. He even batted Matro’s head off.
MATRO: Well, ehrm… Y’see, about that, I didn’t know he’d actually do it! We’re close friends! He’s usually bold like that as a joke! I-
PILLIA: And he was dead serious! He even said himself!
APRIL: Pillia…? Didn’t he try to hurt you too, though?
PILLIA: Well yeah, but we’ve gotta make sure he’s okay to get back up and running. We don’t wanna waste this opportunity to find out why he’s been acting weird, right?
APRIL: Oh yeah...
MATRO: Oh, I see. Don’t suppose we should make sure he doesn’t go anywhere first, too.
APRIL: Hm... Maybe we can do something that stops his arms from moving or something...? All his tools are in there. And his legs so he doesn’t run off back to what he was doing. Maybe tie them up?
PILLIA: Yes! That'd be perfect! But I'm not sure where to find rope... And I'm not good with knots, and Matro's hands are huge too...
APRIL: Wait no... He'd put on his weedwhacker or something... Ah, I got it. He's an android, right? Matro, how easy is it to detach his arms and stuff?
MATRO: Easy enough, but his arms are heavy, I'll warn you. Wait, so you're saying...
APRIL: I mean... It's a good thing he's not a human or an uvra or something.
MATRO: Well, I suppose that IS an option…
PILLIA: Well, we've gotta do that quickly! He's gotta wake up any time, now!
INT. TRAIN - SAME NIGHT
Farqua's "glove" parts (his arms from his elbow and forwards) are gone. So are his "boot" parts (knees and below). April, still wearing Matro’s jacket as a towel, adjusts Farqua's still rebooting body on a passenger seat. Farqua's body is wobbly. April continues trying to adjust it.
SUBTITLE: Later…
Behind April, Matro holds Farqua's gloves and Pillia holds Farqua's boots. April eventually stands up and walks backwards until she is next to Pillia and Matro.
PILIA: It should be any time, now.
MATRO: Oh! Lia, we’ve got to switch off his parts, now!
PILLIA: What? You can do that?
MATRO: If I can function my whole body headless, then he can probably activate some chainsaw while we’re off guard or something. Even though, I do know he’d never go that far, but what if something’s happened? What if his AI’s gone wrong?
Matro flips switches on Farqua’s glove parts.
SFX: Click! Click!
MATRO: Hehey! See? I knew robots would have these eventually!
PILLIA: ...Uh, his legs don’t have switches.
MATRO: Ah, never mind, just keep them away, then.
April stares at Farqua. Behind her, Matro takes out his guitar case, takes out his guitar, and places Farqua’s parts inside. After some time, Farqua’s lights light up! He shakes his head.
FARQUA: Huh…? ... ... AAAGH!!! What the hell?! My hands! My legs! I can't feel my limbs?!
Farqua begins to fall off and April runs to pick him up. April sits on the floor, after she finishes adjusting Farqua upright.
FARQUA: H-Hold up, you’re that kid! YOU TRIED TO KILL ME!
MATRO: Well, well, well, Farqua Pells-Pellsy-Wellsy, it was you who tried to hurt us first, if you weren’t aware!
FARQUA: And from what I remember, you were literally askin’ for it.
MATRO: I didn’t know you’d actually do it.
FARQUA: Just gimme back my damn parts, will ya! Where’d ya put ‘em?
Matro grabs out his guitar case.
MATRO: In here. Don't be too upset! We kept your baskets on!
PILLIA: So! You want your fancy tools back? Well, you’ve got a couple questions to answer, first.
FARQUA: C’mon, let’s face it, Pillia. Even if I did answer, I wouldn’t get them back until who knows when! So, no can do.
MATRO: The jacket’s off, Farqua. That means I’m all serious business.
FARQUA: HAHA, WHAT?! Look, I don’t even got the pain chip on me, so what’s the point?
MATRO: ? ...Didn't think of that, but thanks for the idea,
Matro takes out a small hard drive from his pocket.
FARQUA: WAIT- WHAT?!
PILLIA: Haha! ...So, you wanted to head off somewhere, even after literally abandoning your place for days. Where were you actually going and why?
FARQUA: God, I can't believe a kid's askin' me this... Well, there... (Malfunctioning, almost like stuttering) Well, t-there was a ch-hange in plan...
MATRO: Here we go with the pre-programmed responses. Come on, override your system.
FARQUA: It ain’t that that easy.
Matro teasingly takes out his small hard drive and waves it.
FARQUA: HEY, DON’T GO AT ME LIKE THAT!!!
MATRO: Now, you’ve gotten a taste of your own medicine!
FARQUA: Your jokes are trash. So, ya weren’t serious.
MATRO: No, of course not. None of us good individuals would have the heart.
FARQUA: Hey, I ain’t bad.
MATRO: And just ‘cause we’ve decided to treat you kindly now doesn’t mean we’ll let you off giving us answers, either. Where were you going and why?
FARQUA: Okay! ... ... I was… I-I was…
Farqua tensely stares at the ceiling. April sits down on a nearby seat and boredly looks out the window. She rests her cheek on her hand.
APRIL: ... (In her thoughts) "What the hell d'ya even know? Why should you care?" (Out loud) *Sigh*
Behind her, Farqua, Matro, and Pillia continue to talk.
FARQUA: Okay! I was… I was goin’ nowhere, in particular. Just around the place. And then once I’m done with that, I’ll keep going down floors.
PILLIA: Why were you going to do that?
FARQUA: It was an order! I was ordered to!
PILLIA: No, like, tell us what you gonna do?
APRIL: (Without looking behind her) Oh yeah, and ask him what he was gonna do to us, too. He said something about that at the greenhouse.
PILLIA: Wh- He talked to you while fighting?
FARQUA: Well, at least it's--
MATRO: (Condescendingly) Answer the more important questions, Farqua,
FARQUA: SHEEEESH!!! Well, my job was to, I dunno, recruit more androids who were near my place to, I dunno, work with me! And also, take everyone who was really suspicious about me to the guys orderin' me what to do.
PILLIA: (Referring to Matro) Hold up, you can straight up just tell him to work with you right now?
MATRO: So, that’s why you wanted to talk in private! …Of course, you’d be dumb enough to accept such a job.
FARQUA: It ain’t like that! I had to use these lil gizmos, computer things, devices, I dunno.
April immediately looks behind her, at Faruqa.
FARQUA: There was two of ‘em! Or was there three…? Well, either way, you could carry ‘em round pretty easily.
APRIL: !!!
INT. PIPE ROOM - SAME NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Eyn looks around for her dropped devices.
EYN: There they are...
FARQUA: (Voiceover) Basically, it’s all this weird computing stuff I don’t think y’all care about.
Eyn picks two gadgets up from the ground.
EYN: Shieet… They’re beat up pretty bad right now.
APRIL: Whoa… What are they?
EYN: They’re… Uh… How do I explain…?
FARQUA: (Voiceover) I know the bigger one gets plugged into one of the ports on the robot’s back or somethin’.
Eyn squats next to April.
EYN: Well, I work with computers with these things. They transfer files and whatnot.
FARQUA: (Voiceover) …And the littler one just plugs into the bigger one.
ARPIL: Oh, okay… And I’m guessing the other one helps it?
EYN: Yeah.
INT. TRAIN - SAME NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT)
April’s eyes are totally widened!
APRIL: (Whispering) Ohhhh crap…
FARQUA: …And then I plug in the third, tiniest one and take the other ones off. Weird technical stuff, but that’s how I get other guys to work with me.
MATRO: Now tell us, Farqua… Where were you getting these orders from?
FARQUA: *Sigh* C’mon, do I have to answer this one? Gettin’ my ass kicked is the last thing I want from ‘em! And trust me, you don’t wanna know who they are, either…
MATRO: Well, I wouldn’t mind the consequence, just as long as I get to see you getting your “ass kicked.” Now, that’s some prime entertainment I wouldn’t mind seeing!
PILLIA: I second that!
MATRO: Wh- Lia?!
FARQUA: HAHAHA! Looks like Sivsty ain't that great an influence, eh?
MATRO: Well, aren't you one to talk?!
April hops off the chair and walks to Farqua.
APRIL: Farqua, were you taking orders from someone named Eyn?
FARQUA: What’n the?! How’d ya— *sigh* Alright, ya figured me out..
MATRO: Hold on a sec… Eyn? But she's only a teenager! That should mean... Her dad's…
FARQUA: Yeah. Eyn and Mr Skatra. Those guys were tellin’ me what to do.
PILLIA: Well, her and her dad's latest return here was about a week before everything started to change... April, how’d you know, anyway?
APRIL: Well, uh… I met Eyn, earlier today. And I saw she had these gadgets that could be the same as the ones Farqua was talking about. Farqua, where are they? I wanna check.
FARQIA: *Sigh* They’re in my baskets.
Farqua opens one of his baskets. Pillia takes some gadgets out of them.
PILLIA: These it?
APRIL: Oh… They're the ones. ...Well, I helped Eyn pick them up when she dropped them down somewhere… I’m sorry about that…
PILLIA: Don’t worry about it. All of us thought we could trust her and her dad, too. Say, Farqua, what is it that they want so badly, anyway?
FARQUA: Huh? Y'ain't finished? Oh, uh… They just want the big replication machine thing, that’s all.
MATRO: Excuse me, what?!
PILLIA: Now, that explains everything!
MATRO: Well then! Now, that concludes part one of the questions!
FARQUA: There’s a part two?! Wh-
Matro lifts up Farqua jogs to the front of the train, seats Farqua at the front, gets out the passengers' exit, and enters into his driver's area.
MATRO: Now, I reckon it’s a good time to start heading to Skatra. I’m going to have to talk to the old man, myself!
FARQUA: What? So, you’re just gonna do that?
MATRO: Eyup! After all, it is very important that machine doesn’t go anywhere away from here.
FARQUA: Important? Goddamn, what're ya even sayin'?
MATRO: … Anyway! You’ll be helping us get to them. You do have all the information we need, right?
FARQUA: Yeah whatever. Just good luck tryna what – talk ‘em outta this?
MATRO: Oh? Well, if we ever get to the point where that’s not possible, then—
FARQUA: YOU WERE ACTUALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THINKIN' YA COULD JUST… TALK TO ‘EM AND TELL ‘EM TO STOP?! HAHAHA!
MATRO: Well… Um… Then, I suppose April here wouldn’t have much trouble driving them away. And in a way similar to how she dealt with you, of course.
APRIL: ...
FARQUA: Well, it ain’t gonna be easy. Don’t come cryin’ when things don’t end up the way ya expect it.
MATRO: Are they really that bad?
PILLIA: Well, if they’ve managed to be why there’ve been weird stuff going on here, then yeah. Farqua’s got a point.
APRIL: Shoot…
INT. PLATFORM ATTACHED TO THE PIPED WALL - SAME NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Eyn fights off some sennajays while April watches in a corner.
INT. TRAIN - SAME NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT)
April anxiously rubs her chin.
APRIL: I think I get what you mean… *sigh*
FARQUA: Wait what? You fought her once?
APRIL: Uh… No. Alongside her. But I saw she looked like she knew what she was doing…? Aw man… Now I really gotta up my game…
END
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