CHAPTER 25 — The Party

INT. TWINS' BEDROOM - MORNING

The friends wake up after their party, all in or around the same bed in the twins' home.

RADIO (V.O.)

Good morning, good morning.

PING

Oh, good morning.

ZIN

Good morning.

DIDGE

What the hack is going on?

WINI

Good morning Didge.

DIDGE

Morning Wini, I think last night we—

Interrupted by the RADIO, and WINI putting a finger on his lips.

RADIO (V.O.)

Now it's the time to kiss your twin on the cheek.

ZOO

Hey Zin, I'm here, I'm here.

ZIN

Hey Bijou, can you lend me my brother for a moment?

BIJOU

Sure, if I can have him back later.

RADIO (V.O.)

And you know it.

DIDGE

And you know it.

ALL FRIENDS

And you know it, and you know it!

THE PHRASE THAT CONTROLLED THEM — THAT ENDED EVERY COMMAND, EVERY RULE, EVERY SILENCING — NOW IT'S THEIRS. A JOKE. A BATTLE CRY. THEY OWN IT.

Laughing. ZIN and ZOO kiss.

Friends applaud, using their head gear.

PING

Hey, what an adventure.

BIJOU

Yes, incredible.

WINI

We shall do it all over again.

DIDGE

What, do what again?

ZOO

Save Binary Lights.

ZIN

Fall in love.

PING

With Dolphins.

BIJOU

Dressed as Rebels.

DIDGE

The return of the Twins?

RADIO (V.O.)

And you know it.

INT. THE MIRROR CLUB — EVENING — THE PARTY

THE MIRROR IS PACKED. EVERY REBEL, EVERY FRIEND, EVERY WEIRDO FROM DOWNTOWN IS HERE. THE MUSIC IS LOUD. THE LIGHTS ARE WILD.

BERG IS BEHIND THE BAR. SLEEVES ROLLED UP. MIXING DRINKS. HE IS TERRIBLE AT IT. LIQUIDS SPILL EVERYWHERE. HE DOESN'T CARE. HE IS SMILING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE FILM.

DIDGE

_(calling across the bar)_

Mr. Berg! Two space teas over here!

BERG

Just Berg. No more mister.

HE SAYS IT SIMPLY. LIKE PUTTING DOWN SOMETHING HEAVY. THE TITLE THAT DEFINED HIM — THE RANK, THE ROLE, THE MAN WHO SCOLDED ZIN — GONE. HE DOESN'T NEED IT ANYMORE.

WINI

Berg, that's not how you make a space tea.

BERG

I don't care. It's my first day. And you know why.

EVERYBODY LAUGHS.

BERG SLIDES DRINKS ACROSS THE BAR. THEY FALL OFF THE EDGE. HE MAKES MORE.

SIOUXY AND JESSICA ARE DANCING. VJ IS PLAYING HIS BEST SET. ZIN IS CLOSE TO HIM, THEIR HANDS TOUCHING.

ZOO IS WITH BIJOU AND PING, LAUGHING. GASMO IS TELLING STORIES IN TWO VOICES AT ONCE. DIDGE AND WINI SIT CLOSE TOGETHER, NOT FIGHTING FOR ONCE.

THE CAMERA SLOWLY PULLS BACK. THE MUSIC SOFTENS. THE FRIENDS ARE HAPPY. FOR THE FIRST TIME, NOBODY IS LONELY.

RADIO (V.O.)

And you know it.

THE CAMERA KEEPS PULLING BACK. PAST THE BAR. PAST THE DANCE FLOOR. TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CLUB.

THE LIGHT GETS DIMMER.

THERE IS A CURTAIN AT THE BACK. OLD, HEAVY, DARK.

THE MUSIC FADES.

SILENCE.

A TENTACLE SLIDES OUT FROM BEHIND THE CURTAIN. SLOWLY. GLISTENING. MAGENTA BIOLUMINESCENCE PULSING ALONG ITS LENGTH.

THEN ANOTHER.

THE 27 HZ RUMBLE BEGINS.

THE CURTAIN MOVES.

SMASH CUT TO BLACK.

THE STORY CONTINUES.