Otter Island Episode 5 For want of a Stone Cast: Please note that understudy parts are marked with a US. These are backups for parts I am expecting to get late or not at all. No offense is meant to the primary actors. I just don't want to take chances. Not everyone will be in this episode, but since this story is a two parter, if you don't get a part this month, you will next month. Please make every effort to get your lines in as early as semi-humanly possible, in case we need to make corrections, or in case something happens to keep you from doing them later. I have given the pronunciation of names of new characters for the sake of continuity. Oren: Oren Amanda Narrator Grant Sadie US Eala: Emperor Bill Olivia Ashen: Aide Kaninus: Gabriel Malcrum wanderer: Pan (Elderly explorer) Flaire Robert: Picado (tough but impulsive bodyguard. Riverwolf.) Zombie mouse Max: Oliver (Eager young fellow) Bingler (Scruffy but smooth-talking dwarf) Benny: Benny Ann: Cafe (The living restaurant) Prince Farron (vile schemer nageel) Timelord: Braze Witch Phil: Nereid Mary: Sadie (just like in the comics, only she doesn't like Oren) Lady Scene 1 Narrator 001: Today's story begins at the pinacle of the Star Otter Aerie. Three friends sit perched upon the topmost of the platforms which form the city of the flying creatures. As we approach them, we can see that one is Gabriel, the gull-winged mutant who serves in the patrol. The second, from his deep orange glow, we recognize as Nereid, the Aerie's defender. The third one, a rather plain-looking otter, stares at the sky, oddly unafraid despite his precarious altitude. Bill 001: I never get tired of the view from up here. Gabriel: It is truly spectacular. It makes me so grateful for my wings. Nereid 001: I never thought about how it must look to someone used to being on the ground. I guess it must be pretty special. Gabriel 001: So what about the sky, Bill? Bill 002: Yes. The sky. It is rather heavily overcast for this time of year. Been very cold, too. Nereid 002: But can you fix it? Bill 003: Well, of course I can fix it! I'm the weather mage! (pause) Gabriel 002: So..... Bill 004: What? Gabriel 003: So fix it! Bill 005: Right! Okay, give me some room. This sort of magic takes just the right sort of paw gestures. Wiggle the wrong claw and you can make it rain jellyfish. Nasty sort of mistake, that. Nereid 003: You're not serious, are you? Bill 006: That's why I can't ever go back to Seattle. Gabriel 004: Perhaps we should... Bill 007: Relax! Look, see? Sunshine. (Musical cord to indicate sunshine, which drops like a record player losing power) Bill 008: Hey, now. Nereid 004: Perhaps we should forget about it. Bill 009: No, no... I can do this. (Musical cord plays again and drops again) Gabriel 005: You sure you can do this? Bill 010: I'm sure -I- can. Something is fighting me. Narrator 002: Meanwhile, down below in the River Village... Pan 001: What's going on with the clouds? Grant 001: Bill is up there playing around with his magic. Pan 002: That fool. Magic isn't something to be played with. You need to respect it! It's a powerful tool, not a plaything! Grant 002: Well, unfortunately, the nageel agree with you. That's why I've called you here, Pan. Pan 003: Well, get on with it, then. Tell me what's stuck in your craw. Grant 003: This. sfx: rocks tumbling on wood Pan 004: Magic stones? Grant 004: Or what's left of them. Pan 005: What happened? Grant 005: Nageel happened to them. They stole the stones right from the gateway and used them to build bombs. Pan 006: Bombs? Grant 006: These stones can do more than just control the gate. A red and a green, for example, create a magnetic field. Blue and white create cold. Blue and yellow... Pan 007: Explode. Yes I know. I just never figured those slithery fish-faces were smart enough to build a bomb. Grant 007: They are part human, you know. Pan 008: Oh, pish-tosh. Human blood is worthless. Grant 008: (annoyed) -I'M- part human. Pan 009: Oh, pssh! So are more than half of the people on this island, me included. Look at Bill, up there. He had a human grandmother and what did it get him? (musical cord strikes up and dies again) Grant 009: Point taken. Pan 010: Pedigrees don't impress me. Results are what impress me! Grant 010: Well the enemy got results. They blew the patrol's meeting hall to bits. Pan 011: But they didn't get you, did they? Grant 011: No, but... Pan 012: Naw... You survived, and you won the battle! Grant 012: well the fact remains that we are now short on yellow and blue stones. This means that certain dimensions can no longer be accessed through the gate. Among them are Rat City, Zamjala and Myurin, all of whom are valuable allies and trading partners. Pan 013: So you need new stones. Grant 013: Exactly. Normally, we get them from zamjala. But we can't because of the shortage of stones. Pan 014: I heard their gate was under a sea of acid this time of year anyway. Grant 014: That's right. Pan 015: So what do you want me to do? Grant 015: You're the top veteran explorer on the Island. I was hoping you would know of someplace else we can gather stones. Pan 016: Hmm... Robot world? No, they're in the middle of a civil war. There's Yoyomon, but they're having problems with their gate, too. Hmmm... I'm not going back to Fort Crawlins. Not after what happened in that house. There's... no, pirates took those. There's the Hundredth Vale... No, not enough blue stones to get there. Wunno? no... The realm of Chaos wouldn't have any... Grant 016: Perhaps if you went over your journals? Pan 017: What? You don't think my memory is good enough? Grant 017: I didn't say that. Pan 018: I'll have you know my mind is as sharp as... sharp as... well, anyway, I'm going to go look through my journals. I'll find those stones for you! You'll see, you uppity whippersnapper. Grant 018: I have every confidence in you, Pan. Scene 2 Nageel palace Aide 001: ...And then there is the reception for Lord Vlidik (VLIH-dik) at 8:00 on the following day. Emperor 001: (tired) Why are we having a reception for Lord Vlidik? Aide 002: (surprised) He... He's been away, your excellence. scouting new hunting grounds. He's only just returned yesterday. Emperor 002: So he needs our thanks for just doing his job? What is becoming of our aristocracy? Aide 003: I... I uh... Emperor 003: I am so weary of these... sfx: door Farron 001: Father, have you a moment? Emperor 004: (even wearier) Farron. What do you want, my son? Farron 002: Can't I even stop by my father's chambers to say hello? Emperor 005: Of course you can. But you never do. You're here because you want something. What is it? Farron 003: Now that you mention it, there is something you can do for me. Emperor 006: (darkly) Of course. Farron 004: It seems that the supplies for the army have been severely cut. Emperor 007: That's because the army has been severely cut. Farron 005: Your sense of humor is as sharp as ever, Father. Emperor 008: Get to the point. Farron 006: The cuts are too severe. There are younger nageels joining the ranks. Yet the supply master will not obey my orders to increase supplies for them. Emperor 009: Fine. Tell them I said to do as you command. Farron 007: very good, Father. sfx: door Emperor 010: Where were we? Aide 004: We finished with your schedule, my Lord. we were just about to address the matter of the war widows. Emperor 011: What about them? Aide 005: They will require employment now that they have no support from... Emperor 012: Have them work in the kelp fields. There's always work to be done with the kelp. Aide 006: Actually, Sire, your son has made plans to employ them himself. Emperor 013: In... Aide 007: In his harem. Emperor 014: WHY am I not surprised? That whelp of mine thinks of nothing besides pleasuring himself with food and women. Why was I cursed with a son like that? Aide 008: (subserviently) I am sure I know not, Sire. Emperor 015: Leave me. Aide 009: As you wish. Emperor 016: And summon the witch. Aide 010: (fearfully) Y... yes, your excellency. scene 3 The gate Bingler 001: So this is the famous Otter Island, eh? Interesting. I always thought it would be... I don't know... brighter. Well, let's get on with it. Hmm... huh? Oh, don't tell me! This part isn't even attached to the rest of the island! How am I supposed to get over there? swim?! I can't swim, I'm a dwarf! I'd sink like a stone! Bingler 002: You can't be serious. You want to make me into one of those things? You know, in my world, we hunt those things. All right, all right! Just... Bingler 003: Hey! My shoes! I paid a lot of money for those shoes! And look at my toes! That's just so... sfx: ripping cloth Bingler 004: ACH! My pants! You couldn't warn me before you did the tail? I paid thirty gold duckets for those! Oh, my beautiful clothes! At least let me keep the vest! You're going to need the vest. Bingler 005: What? In the water? If i must, I suppose I must, but I'll have you know I'm doing this under protest. (10 min) Scene 4 Pan's hut Pan 019: Here's spring... and fall... where's the journal for summer? Oliver, have you seen... Oliver 001: I have it here. I'm still going through it. Pan 020: Oh. Carry on, then. What about you, Picado? You could be helping us go through these journals. Picado 001: You know I can't read. Pan 021: A beast your age can't read? Picado 002: I only arrived here two months ago. I lived in the wild before that. You expect me to be able to read? Pan 022: Well why are you here, then? Picado 003: Because as your bodyguard, I need to know where you're going once you decide on a place. Otherwise, I can't prepare. Oliver 002: Pan, I think I've found something! Pan 023: What is it, Oliver? Oliver 003: It's one you didn't visit yourself. It seems a travelling pangolin told you about it. There's a human mining colony there. Among the minerals they mine are several varieties of magic stone, including yellow and blue! Pan 024: Pay dirt! All right then. We leave first thing in the morning. Scene 5 Nageel palace Aide 011: Your seer is here, your excellence. Emperor 017: Send her in. Witch 001: By your command, my emperor. Emperor 018: Is there some reason you're in full eel form? Witch 002: At my age, arms and legs are merely dwelling places for aches and pains. Emperor 019: Explain to me why my forces were defeated and the invasion failed. You told me that we would be victorious. Witch 003: I said no such thing. I only told you what the omens told me, and that was that the emperor would make it possible for nageel to walk upon the island. Emperor 020: What other possible interperetation can there be? Witch 004: I do not interperet. I only report. But if you wish, I can read the omens again. Emperor 021: Yes. Go get your things and read them again. Witch 005: That will not be necessary. I have them here. Emperor 022: How? You came in with nothing. Witch 006: I placed them here earlier. I knew you would wish to hear the omens again. I AM your seer, after all! Emperor 023: Get on with it, then. sfx: creaking bones Witch 007: Excuse my slowness. It is difficult to transform at my age. Now then... the bones, the cards... a crab whose entrails I shall read... The leaves... Would you hold this crystal for me, my emperor? It works better that way. Emperor 024: (put out) Of... course. Witch 008: Yes... here it is... Nageel shall walk upon the island by the efforts of an emperor and a traitor. The nageel and the otter shall conspire to make it so. Emperor 025: Which we did. Witch 009: There shall be seven others. One with a mighty sword, one with powerful electricity, the magical one, the woman whose hand is her weapon... Emperor 026: (impatient) Yes, yes. I know this. My elite commandos were those seven. They met each of the requirements. Witch 010: There is something new here. Something which was not here last time. Emperor 027: what is it? Witch 011: The emperor will be the grandson of one who consorts with spirits. Emperor 028: It is well known that my grandfather summoned devils. Witch 012: The son will slay the father, and be slain by the emperor, and the emperor shall be turned to stone. Emperor 029: what in the sea is THAT supposed to mean? Witch 013: I do not know. But this little piece of information is far less vague. Prince Farron has is going to be a father. Emperor 030: That's hardly news. Witch 014: ...by his wife. a legitimate son. Farron has sired an heir to the throne. Scene 6 Gate, morning Pan 025: Where is that Picado? He knows we're supposed to be here at dawn! I'm not about to start without him, and I'm anxious to get started. Oliver 004: Yes, Pan. sfx: swimming Picado 004: I'm here. Pan 026: Hmph. You're late. Picado 005: How long have you nbeen waiting? Oliver 005: we just got h... Pan 027: Oh, never mind about that. Are you ready? Picado 006: ready and willing. Pan 028: Oliver, the address, please. Oliver 006: yes, um... sfx: scroll rustling, stones being placed on stone Oliver 007: Blue. Orange. Green. White. Orange. Yellow. Green. Red. Black. sfx: whoosh Picado 007: It never ceases to amaze me each time that gate opens. Pan 029: Remember, say nothing until I direct you. We don't know what languages we may encounter. Oliver 008: Yes, Sir. Pan 030: (Growling) Oliver 009: Sorry. Pan 031: According to the scouts at Insectivore City, the mines aren’t far from here. About a hour’s walk straight ahead. We need twelve blue stones and ten yellow stones to replace what the nageel stole. Ow! My ears! sfx: walking through grass and leaves Picado 008: The air pressure is higher in this world. Just stretch your jaw for a few minutes. It'll get better. Pan 032: I know all about air pressure, Picado. I was hopping dimensions while you were still a twitch of your father's whiskers. Scene 7 Oren's house Oren 001: After she's turned into a snake, wait seven days and then apply the second charm. Your pup will turn back into an otter. She'll look different, but she'll have a full compliment of limbs. Lady 001: Oh, thank you! I can't tell you what this means to me! sfx: door Oren 002: Who's next, Amanda? Amanda: Benny Brownpaws... and his teddy otter. sfx: door Benny: Hello. Hi. I have a little problem. Oren 003: So, I see. Benny: I'm not sure what these spots are, but since they have scales, I figured you would be the otter to talk to. Oren 004: Hmm. I do believe this is parasaur skin. Reptilian for certain. Yes... I'm pretty sure it's some kind of dinosaur skin. Benny: And my stuffed buddy, here? Oren 005: (sniffs) His spots are kiwi juice. What were you doing when these spots appeared? Benny: Nothing. Just... Eating some wild kiwis I found growing by the channel. Oren 006: You probably got bitten by transmites. Good thing you didn't swallow one. They get into the food you know. One poor woman swallowed one in an apple. She's been a dog ever since. Benny: I like dogs. Oren 007: You've obviously never been hunted by one. Hold on.. sfx: rustling through assorted small objects Oren 008: Here it is. Just rub this cream on any part that's turned reptilian and you should be back to normal in a few days. Benny: Thank you, Oren. But what about my little friend? Oren 009: Fortunately, transmite bites aren't as hazardous to plush toys. His condition should clear up with some soap and warm water. Benny: Thank you, Oren! Oren 010: Oh, and I would go see Tak or Snij to get some hedgeballs. That ought to keep the transmites away. sfx: door Oren 011: Who's next? Amanda: I think that was your last client for today, Daddy. sfx: door Sadie 001: (angrily) OREN! Oren 012: (surprised) Sadie? Sadie 002: You'd better fix this right away! Oren 013: Fix what? sadie 003: Like you don't know! Someone cursed Blackie and me with a magic coin! Now Blackie is a cat and I have a rabbit's tail! Oren 014: A magic coin, you say? Sadie 004: And I wonder where such a thing might have come from, hmm? Mister trafficker in magical items? Oren 015: I haven't had any magical coins in here in... well, ever. It didn't come from me. Sadie 005: Where did it come from, then? Oren 016: You do know that this island used to be home to a colony of wizards, don't you? There's stuff like that all over the place. Let me get a look at your tail, there. Sadie 006: Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? Oren 017: (frustrated) You want me to fix it, don't you? I need to examine your tail to see what kind of magic did this. sadie 007: (huffs) fine. sfx: clicking, beeping Oren 018: Hmm. The magic meter is reading almost 500 Megajambres. This is almost certainly genie magic. Sadie 008: GENIE magic? Oren 019: Yes, and I'd like to know who on this island has a genie. sfx: rustling through things Oren 020: Here we go. These are unwish candles. It will allow you to cancel the effect of any one wish. They only work once, and you have to blow them out in one breath, so use them carefully. sfx: door Bingler 006: Hello? I'm looking for Oren? Oh, I'm sorry. I can come back later. Sadie 009: That's all right. I was just leaving. sfx: door Oren 021: What can I do for you, mister dwarf? Bingler 007: Dwarf? Oh, no. i'm just an otter, like yourself. Oren 022: Hardly. You walk like someone who's been bipedial all of his life. A humanoid, to be precise. A human or elf would have ducked instinctively when coming through the door. You did so like you're not used to it, meaning you're probably a dwarf or leprichaun. Bingler 008: I have an odd sort of walk, to be sure... Oren 023: Your eyes are also those of a humanoid. Rough, with the crow's-feet so common in dwarves. And you have a dwarven accent. Plus, you're wearing a dwarven vest. Bingler 009: I get around. I bought this vest in a dwarven world. Oren 024: Plus, the magic meter spiked when you walked in. There's no wear on your claws. Your fingers have scars on them but your webbing doesn't. Add to that the fact that there is no loose fur on your vest and I can surmise that you were transformed less than 24 hours ago. Bingler 010: I am impressed. I can see that your reputation was not mistaken. Oren 025: What can I do for you, Mr... Bingler 011: Bingler. Bingler Crustbrow, at your service. I wonder if I might confer with you in private. Oren 026: Amanda, run along and play outside. scene 8 abandoned town Picado 009: I see buildings ahead. Pan 033: what is that? Oliver 010: A cafe. A human cafe. Picado 010: How do you know that? Oliver 011 I used to be a pet. I came to the island when my master died. I've seen places almost exactly like this back in the city. Picado 011: Should we investigate? Pan 034: My head says no, and yet... I can't help but indulge my curiosity. This town... it was obviously abandoned many years ago, but the cafe is so clean. sfx: door, jingling bell Picado 012: It's like someone just stepped out a moment ago. Oliver 012: Or they've been waiting for us. Look... three mint candies on the counter. Picado 013: Allow me. Pan 035: Don't! It might be poisoned! Picado 014: If it is, it's my job to find that out. I'm sure it isn't, though. If someone wanted to kill us, they wouldn't have gone to such elaborate measures. Pan 036: All right then. (crunching) Oliver 013: Hey... where did HE come from? Cafe 001: Please concentrate on your desires and place a sample of your hair in the basket on the counter. Pan 037: That's an odd request. Cafe 002: It will insure you the most efficient service possible. Picado 015: I can't see any harm in it. Here you are. Pan 038: Only because I'm so very curious. Oliver 014: Here's one of mine. Picado 016: The hairs... they just disappeared. Oliver 015: Barbecued crab! I smell barbecued crab! Pan 039: And peppered salmon! Picado 017: But the hairs... Pan 040: It's my favorite dish. Right down to the peppermint tea! Oliver 016: And mine. Half-shelled, just the way I like it. Picado 018: Mine, too. Kalamari and oysters. This is very strange. Pan 041: You're the bodyguard. Do you think it's safe? Picado 019: If the candies weren't poisoned, there's no reason these would be. (pause) Picado 020: I didn't see you there! Pan 042: Picado? Who are you talking to? Picado 021: The waiter. at least I assume he's the waiter. Pan 043: Picado, there's nobody there. Cafe 003: You're not halluscinating. He'll see me as soon as he eats. Picado 022: He says you'll see him when you eat. Oliver 017: (mouth full) There he is! He looks like a human in a suit, but with the head of a sea otter! Pan 044: (chewing) What a strange looking creature. Cafe 004: I'm so glad you've come! It’s been so long since anyone has come to visit. Pan 045: I can pass my paw right through you. What are you? Cafe 005: I’m called by many names. You can call me whatever you like. Pan 046: But WHAT are you? Cafe 006: I'm everything you see around you. Pan 047: I don't understand. Cafe 007: I am the restaurant. Picado 023: Wait a minute. Everything around us? Even the food? Cafe 008: That's right. Even the food. Pan 048: (choking) Cafe 009: Please don't be alarmed. It doesn't hurt when you eat bits of me. That's how I communicate. Pan 049: How you communicate? I don't understand. Cafe 010: It’s fairly simple. I think about what I want to tell you, and then when you eat some of my substance, those thoughts are transferred to you. You hear what I want to say by asking questions of this representation of me. I hear your thoughts the same way. Picado 024: Our hairs. You ate them. Cafe 011: Right. Pan 050: But how in the world did a being like you come to be? Cafe 012: If you want to change topics, you need to concentrate on your question and give me more of your substance. You can put some of your hairs in the ashtray. Pan 051: All right then. Let's converse. Scene 9 Oren 027: I'm not sure I understand this. Bingler 012: It's all perfectly legit. I know you want a family, and there is a family who needs someone like you. I want to bring you together. Oren 028: What's in it for you? Bingler 013: A small commission. I won't deny I'm in this for money, but I want to see you happy as well. Oren 029: Tell me about this family. Bingler 014: Wonderful people. salt of the earth. I guarantee, you'll think you'd known each other forever. Oren 030: All right. What do I have to do? Bingler 015: I can introduce you with a teleportation spell. Just help me out a bit. Oren 031: All right. Bingler 016: Do we have your permission to hook you up with your new family our way? Oren 032: Yes, you do. Wait... "we"? Zombie mouse 001: That's right. We. scene 10 River Village Malcrum 001: ...then I'd like to take the trainees on an exercize diving into the chasm. Grant 019: When do you want to do that? (silence) Malcrum 002: Something is wrong Braze 001: More bombs? Malcrum 003: No... But something evil. Olivia 001: hey, Mister trainer, don't freak out on us, now. Flaire 001: I wouldn't dismiss this, Olivia. Ever since Malcrum mastered his rage, his intuition has been extremely sensitive. Besides, I feel it too. Grant 020: Let's check it out. sfx: feet padding toward the door, door opening, wings flapping, star otter flying. Grant 021: Flaire? Your village is this way. Flaire 002: I know, but I feel compelled to travel toward the farm village. Something is definitely amiss there. Scene 11 cafe Pan 052: So you've been sitting here in front of the gate for two hundred years and the magic leakage from the gate brought you to life? Cafe 013: that is essantially correct. Pan 053: Our Island has a similar origin. Cafe 014: Would you tell me of the world outside? What’s it like out there now? My only awareness comes from what people tell me, so I’ve been in the dark for years. Pan 054: Well, there's been a... Oh, right. You can't actually hear me. Here... take a bit of this dead skin from my finger. Cafe 015: Yes... Yes, I see it! Oh, what a beautiful place you come from! How I would love to meet this island of yours! But I see you have enemies, too. Yes, yes. The people who lived here had enemies as well. Horrible creatures, they were. Skin and bone. They stole magic stones just like yours did. I see you’ve met the insectivores. They were the last creatures I met. That must have been a hundred years ago. Pan 055: Are there still stones in the mines? Cafe 016: I believe so. For some reason, the skinny creatures couldn't take the stones from the mines. I never understood why. Picado 025: I think I might know why. Pan 056: Why? Picado 026: Cafe... Can you view the thoughts of the dead as well as the living? Cafe 017: I... I suppose I could see the last things they thought, but I never tried such a thing. Picado 027: I recently encountered such a creature as you described. I've been wearing one of its pawbones on my wrist as a trophe. Take this and tell me what you can see. Cafe 018: Oh my. I see a beautiful world. Full of plants and animals. Over it all is a benevolent dryad, the spirit of a mighty oak tree. Years are passing. The tree is getting larger. The spirit is getting stronger. The roots... they are going so deep into the planet! They are absorbing the world's very life force! The spirit has become greedy. He wants more. The plants and animals... their life forces are being absorbed into the tree. The tree spirit controls their bodies. He has turned them into living zombies. He is using the zombies to invade other dimensions. But for all his power, he is still fae. He cannot go where he is not invited. he must hire greedy servants to go before him and invite his zombies into the new world. Pan 057: And its name is... Cafe 019: Nexicul. He wants to grow to encompass the entire multiverse. And he has a special interest in your island. No... not the island itself, but the world beyond. Your world is so magically sterile just a few miles from the gate. He wants it to use as a sort of lab to perfect new magics. He needs to secure the island first, but there is one who stands in his way. That someone is in terrible danger. Scene 12 Oren's house Bingler 017: That's right, Oren. I'd like you to meet my friend. Of course, this zombie mouse is only a sort of remote terminal. His real self is much more impressive. Oren, meet Nexicul. Oren 033: whatever you're planning, I won't let you get away with it. mouse 002: Oh, but you already have! You wished for a family, and that's exactly what you'll get. Oren 034: My body... My hands... what are you doing? mouse 003: You're being sent to live with a human family. And when you arrive, you'll all remember having a nice, long life together. You won't remember a thing about this island, or ever being an otter. Oren 035: My friends... They'll rescuse me! mouse 004: What friends? In a few seconds, they won't know you ever existed. say goodbye to your life, Oren. (outside) Flaire 003: Oren's house! The magician's in trouble! Grant 022: Oren! We're coming! Flaire 004: Oh, I hope we're not too late! Grant 023: Too late for what? Flaire 005: For... For... I... I don't know! It was something urgent. Grant 024: You said something about the magician. Flaire 006: Who, Sam? So why were we headed to Amanda's house? Narrator 003: What has become of Oren? Will his friends ever find him? Will Pan and his team make it back home with those magic stones? Tune in next month for the conclusion of "For want of a Stone".