Something feels unfinished. He steps away from the noise, moving towards the stone steps.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAqbCFLU7aWS
At the top, the air shifts— Still, unclaimed. His chamber waits ahead, the door worn, but intact. He reaches for the handle—
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Veronica: (eyes begin searching his)
"Do you mind if we talk?"
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Her voice.
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He turns. Veronica is a few steps back. Metro turns his neck slightly.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAZd1ZrY7YzG
Veronica's voice cuts through the silence behind him— steady, but tight around the edges.
13Please respect copyright.PENANA33QqeDDc0G
"How long were you planning on avoiding me?"
13Please respect copyright.PENANAG36F58odag
Her chin lifts, eyes sharp, trying to look untouched. But her fingers curl slightly at her sides. Her pride, desperately trying to hold. Metro turns towards her— tired of her spell.
13Please respect copyright.PENANADtflAN8HwK
Metro: (steady, not defensive)
"I'm not trying to avoid you V. As you can see, there's a lot on my plate. And since I arrived, you've been throwing your weight around— especially towards me, I'm not sure what I did to you, or what your upset about, but I've been nothing but kind... and real with you."
13Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ox0LcSsx6
The words land.
Not loud.
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Not sharp.
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But they hit harder than a shout ever could.
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Veronica's jaw tightens, her pride struck. Her eyes shift, then they snap back to him, sharper, more exposed.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAm5BgBHrOqo
Veronica:
"You've been kind? You talk to everyone else, you look at everyone else… but not me."
13Please respect copyright.PENANAJBpZcpYMHY
Metro's jaw sets, flustered. He looks down, eyes darkening.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAeoRfV6MKjj
She scoffs, shaking her head.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAEl4c7aVkur
"You don't want this?"
13Please respect copyright.PENANAW0LpXAjxci
A white light flashes before Metro's eyes.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAIqjAQK1iXt
Metro: (no hesitation, snaps)
"What are you talking about?!"
13Please respect copyright.PENANA1XXPGrZlSQ
(A beat)
Her pride spikes.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAUyKfd1gt8L
Veronica:
"It's just like I said,"
13Please respect copyright.PENANA9Ozx2k2SRZ
(moves closer, voice sharper)
"You're not ready to lead this op. You pretend tough—but you're not sure what you want, or what you're feeling..."
13Please respect copyright.PENANA8Ec5fwpYfM
(she lets it marinate)
Her eyes burn.
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"People die out here, Metro. Is that what you want for your friends?"
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(beat)
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"Even at this very moment, you're not man enough to look me in the eyes."
13Please respect copyright.PENANAcAiD7SDdkP
Metro snaps up, trying to escape, but can't. Then locks eyes, a black shadow flickering in his gaze.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAriMrexlK1o
Metro: (voice raised, angrier)
"Yo, who do you think you are to me!!?"
13Please respect copyright.PENANA9oM1ZIsnoV
Veronica looks deep within herself suddenly, almost fallen aback, confused.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAbuQRuHbwQT
Veronica: (voice soft, sure)
"I would think, I'm a shining light in your..."
13Please respect copyright.PENANAUSM66XsSHT
Metro: (cuts her off, voice unhinged!)
"YOUR A PAIN IN MY ASS!"
13Please respect copyright.PENANAfPG7sNpBCJ
Veronica paces backwards, shocked, speechless. She notices the blackness deep in Metro's sockets, due to the dim hallway lighting.
13Please respect copyright.PENANA3Fh1B1ePIi
Veronica looks down in disbelief, then back up, somehow enjoying the moment, for what it's worth.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAV7ElmTXV7d
Veronica:
"Do you want to know what I think…"
(she steps closer, aura ghostly)
13Please respect copyright.PENANAYCDqXPN3Vq
'I think you're just like every other man I've ever met...'
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Your pathetic…
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"your vile…'
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(whispers)
… and you disgust me"
13Please respect copyright.PENANAcXvUQYRXyM
Metro explodes his back off the wall, flared up in rage.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAp1KP9GDzcK
Metro: (shouting intensely)
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!!
YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU I LOVE YOU! I DO! OK!? I LOVE YOU!!!"
13Please respect copyright.PENANA5fwN1L7Nt3
(continues to rage uncontrollably)
"IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM ME!!?"
13Please respect copyright.PENANAHOhnVoKRSp
Veronica looks down, a single tear drops. She steps closer, ignoring the danger.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAtmC1g1i4eC
Veronica: (shaky, piercing, direct)
"Why won't you LOOK AT ME!"
13Please respect copyright.PENANADJnqk3CekU
Metro: (no hesitation, snaps back, yelling)
"BECAUSE EVERY TIME I LOOK AT YOU— YOUR CUTTING ME DOWN!!"
13Please respect copyright.PENANASsnsfLnwOZ
Metro tears up, emotion overflowing now.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAxcF29DZXqX
"I'M SICK OF THIS!" "I WON'T ALLOW IT ANYMORE! FOR YOU TO TREAT ME LIKE THIS!!!"
13Please respect copyright.PENANA1ugYJRYvEr
Metro holds in a weeping sound. His eyes glowing with grief, anger, and everything he's never said.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAd2iwmD5Q2h
(A beat) (eyes connecting again)
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"I know who I am, and I know that we aren't meant to be together."
13Please respect copyright.PENANA4V89wdF1kq
Metro tries to tone down the volume, realizing he's been shouting through the hallways.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAua3kPJc3cL
Veronica looks deeply into Metro's eyes with longing desperation.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAd4cE9SHc3l
Veronica: (nearly whispers)
"I'm afraid for you here. I can change it, so you can leave freely. You'll be safer, in the village with me, away from this place."
13Please respect copyright.PENANAzOHmc0Mp0M
She puts her hands on Metro's face longing for eye contact. Metro turns his head, gesturing for her to ease up. Then turns to her.
13Please respect copyright.PENANArhQna5YAfF
Metro:
"V, you lied to me."
13Please respect copyright.PENANABwQT0h5ThZ
(A beat)
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"You stole from me."
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(Another beat— heavier)
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"And you're hurting me more than you're helping me."
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He wipes his face with the back of his hand, breath still uneven.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAHPSqJQHcWy
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
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His voice steadies, even as his eyes drip wet.
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"I'm here, with Ana and the boys…"
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"I'm here… with my team."
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Then-- another blow— soft, but absolute;
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"Go home, Veronica."
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Veronica's voice shakes, but she forces it.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAuxeEIWCp6G
Veronica:
"It's because of her isn't it?"
13Please respect copyright.PENANASSkhYMKgxS
A fear she's been swallowing since the moment she saw Rose look at him.
13Please respect copyright.PENANACvlfbuzyBQ
Metro doesn't flinch. He doesn't look away.
13Please respect copyright.PENANA1MJqOAM77C
Metro:
"No. This isn't about her."
13Please respect copyright.PENANAgikrG6A2Nq
(a moment)
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"This is about you, lying, stealing, and trying to control me."
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His voice softens, but the truth doesn't.
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"Rose didn't push me away from you…
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(charged beat)
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…you did."
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(:::charging heavy beat:::)
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"Do me a favor." (stares with rage)
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Metro's eyes are pitch black for just a moment.
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Metro:(barks demonically)
"and STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
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(He bucks at her)
Veronica explodes.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAVdjE0TQal9
Veronica: (slams her fist into Metro's chest)
"DAMN YOU!"
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(once, twice, again)
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"DAMN YOU!!"
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Her punches climb— his shoulder, his neck, his jaw. Metro stumbles back into the wall, turning his head, taking it. Not fighting back. Not flinching. Just staring at her— an intense, hollow stare— as she unravels.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAkPo7WZpLt7
"I HATE YOU!
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She shoves him.
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Hard.
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Again.
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Again.
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Veronica:
"I SAID I HATE YOU!"
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Her palms hit his chest, driving him into the wall with each shove.
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— Her voice breaks —
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"WHY DON'T YOU LOVE ME!!"
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The scream tears out of her— echoing— She collapses into a sob. Her strength drains all at once. She grabs him, clinging, shaking.
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"Why don't you love me…"
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Barely a whisper now.
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A plea.
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A wound.
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Her knees give out.
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She drops, hands slipping from his clothes as she falls to the floor and finally lets everything spill out— the rage, the jealousy, the fear, the love she never knew how to hold.
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Metro looks down at her—, broken, defeated, sobbing at his feet.
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He lifts his eyes.
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A shadow stands in the staircase doorway.
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Rose.
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Watching.
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Silent.
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Witnessing two people destroy each other in real-time.
13Please respect copyright.PENANAw9TunqEsa9
— Scene fades —13Please respect copyright.PENANAvJfYqsTNE7


