[The scene - a well furnished apartment, with two couches in an L formation
in front of a large cabinet that includes a wide-screen TV and video
recorder. The apartment has a few doors to who-knows-where, and a small
kitchenette. A coffee table sits in front of the two couches, and an
empty computer desk. There are packing crates stacked everywhere, labeled
in felt-tip marker: MALLIES, COMPUTER PARTS, BATTLE NUN ARABELLA, etc.
[The door opens, and three people come in. The first two--a short elven woman
(SANDARA) wearing a green gown and holding a staff, and a taller human woman
in jeans and an old Army surplus jacket, lugging a backpack (TIFFA)--come
into the apartment and walk around. The third, a human man wearing jeans
and a blue T-shirt under an ankle-length black leather duster (WANDERER [WAND]),
stands by the door.]
SANDARA: ...I just wanted to see it for myself. You know.
TIFF: Sure.
SANDARA: It's hard to believe that they're leaving. They've done so much here.
TIFF: And most of it was even legal.
SANDARA: Yes. Most.
WAND: I hate to be a bother, but the sushi place's happy hour is over in
thirty minutes.
TIFF: Calm down. We'll be out of here before then.
SANDARA: I'm sure we will. [sighs]
TIFF: Have you heard what they'll do next?
SANDARA: Rebecca's got some kind of TV contract.
WAND: Oh, yeah, her. Doesn't she do that infomercial?
SANDARA: Infomercial?
WAND <to TIFF>: You know, the one for the disposable vending-machine handguns?
TIFF: Oh, yeah, that. I think it's her.
SANDARA: It sounds like her. But Tsuneo's going back to Japan, Rick's
concentrating on his comic career, and I think Dan's crawling under a rock
somewhere.
TIFF: We can only hope.
SANDARA: Ah, well. I'm sure I'll see them again. I guess I just needed
some kind of--
[There's a heavy crash from outside the apartment door.]
SANDARA: --closure?
TIFF: The hell?
[Three heads poke into the room, one after another:]
GAVOK: I always wanted to do that!
MMK: It is a classic. But careful now. Game faces on. It's time to do
some business.
TBS: You know, I actually went back at the--
MMK: Gavok?
[GAVOK cracks TBS with a kendo stick.]
TBS: Ow!
MMK: Excellent. I take it that you're the real estate agent?
SANDARA: No.
MMK: Oh. Is there a real estate agent in the house?
TIFF: No.
MMK: This... will complicate things.
TIFF: What are you *doing* here?
MMK: Looking for a real estate agent.
TIFF: Before that.
MMK: Juggling hammers.
GAVOK: Unsuccessfully.
TIFF: What is your business in this apartment?
SANDARA: Who are these people?
TIFF: You know those crazy people that Rebecca was always talking about
calling in for the B-Team?
SANDARA: Tango?
TIFF: The other crazy people.
SANDARA: The evil alternate-universe Celena?
TIFF: No.
WAND: Maybe you should be more specific, Tiff.
[The LOONS swivel to face WAND.]
WAND: Boo.
TBS: Yipe!
[TBS jumps into GAVOK's arms.]
GAVOK: This is socially inconvenient.
MMK: Anyway, the Disembodied Voice's lease ran out, and Rebecca was
always trying to get me to come over here, so I thought I'd come by
and check out the property. Sydney's not a bad town to run a production
company out of.
TIFF: They've been looking to find and kill you for two years.
MMK: Show business is tricky.
TIFF: You blew up half the city!
MMK: Comedy is hard!
WAND: ...did one of you turn on the TV?
[The old television has turned on, showing the Eyrie Network (motto:
"It's Not a Rerun If the Title's Different"). A sonorous, deep bass
voice informs us that "Neon Exodus Evangelion 1:9" is coming up next,
on ETV, followed by another episode of "Worcester By Night."]
SANDARA: ...wow.
TIFF: I'll bet that brings back memories.
SANDARA: Yes, some of which I've paid dearly to suppress.
WAND: I know how that can go. Isn't this--
MMK: --Hutchins.
GAVOK: We meet again... for the first time.
SANDARA: Tiff, would you mind...?
TIFF: What, you want to watch this?
SANDARA: Well, I saw most of the rest of it here, and this is the
final episode of the first season. I know you and your friend wanted
to go to the sushi place...
TIFF: Oh, he's not my friend. He just owes me lunch.
WAND <muttering>: Lousy damn bar bets, why I oughtta--
TIFF: Sure, Sandara, if you want. I wasn't too hungry anyway.
WAND: I'll order in, I guess.
TBS: Ooh. Big robot.
[The LOONS have crowded onto one of the couches, and are intently watching
the famous NXE title sequence.]
TIFF: You realize that they'll talk during it.
SANDARA: I wouldn't have it any other way.