CHAPTER 10
Scene: The Meeting – Cherry’s Disappearance
A softly lit Guardian chamber—minimalist, quiet, humming with subtle frequency. Lisa, Eve, and Artimus walk in together. They look exhausted. The air feels heavy with waiting.
Eve spots Brad and immediately crosses to him, tears already forming. She throws her arms around him.
EVE (voice breaking):
“I don’t understand. She wouldn’t just leave us, Brad.”
(chokes)
“Maybe I was too protective… too mothering. What if I smothered her? What if—this is my fault?”
BRAD (gentle, holding her):
“No. No, Eve. This didn’t happen because of us, okay? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
LING (trying to stay hopeful):
“She must have had a good reason. Hopefully Evelyn knows something.”
Artimus walks over to Buzz and greets him with a nod.
ARTIMUS:
“Good to see you.”
BUZZ (voice tight):
“Hey I had to come. Cherry is… more than family.”
Lisa gently places a hand on Buzz’s back. He leans into her touch, silent. The room stills as Evelyn enters—emotionless, unreadable. She walks with purpose and stops in front of them.
EVELYN:
“Everyone, take a seat.”
(They do. The air sharpens.)
EVELYN (flat, clinical):
“There’s no delicate way to say this, so I’ll be blunt. Cherry and I were reviewing all of the resonance data I gathered—scans, emotional patterns, waveform responses. She was helping me piece it together. We had a kind of a….Saturday night arrangement.”
EVE (low, muttered):
“What the fuck.”
LISA (gently):
“Shush.”
EVELYN:
“We were also monitoring the last emotional spike—the one we called the ‘two frowns’—and how it was affecting Sapphire’s frequency.”
(pause)
“She was intuitive. Smarter than I expected. She noticed something I missed.”
EVELYN (continuing):
“Sapphire wasn’t just lost. She was fragmented—scattered across emotional space. Pieces of her showing up in multiple places at once. That’s why you—Lisa and Eve—picked up on her sadness at different times. You weren’t imagining it. You were feeling real pieces of her.”
(The group listens, riveted.)
EVELYN:
“Cherry refused the dampening vial. She wanted to feel everything. She believed the only way to find Sapphire was to locate a version of her that still existed intact.”
LISA:
“A timeline.”
EVELYN:
“Yes. One where she never fragmented. One where she lives with us. Functions. Thrives. Cherry believed that if she could connect to that version and observe it directly, it might stabilize the pieces here—like two hearts falling into the same rhythm across realities.”
EVE (panicked):
“What does all this really mean? Where is she?”
ARTIMUS:
“She’s in another timeline. Remember? We’ve done that.”
EVE (worried):
“She’s by herself. Why didn’t she ask one of us to go with her? Me?”
BRAD:
“Cherry’s like Lisa. If she knew things, she’d keep it to herself to keep us safe.”
LING:
“And she holds the grid like Lisa. That was confirmed in her scans.”
EVE:
“What do you mean—holds the grid?”
LISA:
“Yeah, I’d like to know too. What exactly am I holding?”
EVELYN (more plainly):
“It means you keep things from falling apart. You stabilize the emotional field when it starts to fracture. You organize the chaos—without even trying.
You’re the reason this team didn’t collapse a long time ago.”
EVE (softly):
“So Cherry’s like that too?”
EVELYN:
“Exactly. That’s why she could do what none of us could. She didn’t just find a version of Sapphire that was whole—she holding it long enough to feel it fully. And now she’s sending that signal back to us.”
ARTIMUS (frowning):
“Okay, but can someone remind me—why is there chaos in the first place again? Why did Sapphire fragment? What tore all of this apart?”
(The room stills.)
EVELYN (quiet, honest):
“Because no one wanted to feel what was actually happening.
Not to her.
Not to you.
Not even to me.”
(pause)
“Everyone tried to fix it. Analyze it. Patch it.
Cherry was the only one who chose to stay in the feeling long enough to follow it all the way down.”
LISA (quietly, to herself):
“Why am I holding chaos in me?”
EVELYN (gently):
“Because someone had to.
Because you’re the one who knows how to carry it without becoming it.
And when the chaos finally meets someone who doesn’t flinch… it starts to calm down.”
Evelyn turns now to Eve.
EVELYN:
“And you, Eve… you’re the one who feels it first.
You sense the fracture before it happens. That’s why Cherry didn’t bring you.
Because you would’ve followed her. Across all timelines.
And you wouldn’t have come back.”
EVE (softly):
“So I’m the siren?”
EVELYN (shakes her head):
“No.
You’re the one who walks into the fire first.
You carry pain without turning it into armor.
You don’t shut down. That’s your strength.”
BRAD:
“She feels it all—and she still shows up.”
LING:
“That’s why people trust you, Eve. Even when you’re scared. You never leave the room.”
Narration (Lisa’s internal monologue):
Evelyn explained that we could step into a holographic field—a living map of the signal Cherry was sending from that other timeline.
It wouldn’t be passive. It would pull us in. Show us who we are in a reality where Sapphire never broke apart…
And ask us to meet that version.
To align—not just with her wholeness, but with our own.
We were all given a chance to go home. To rest. To prepare.
But no one moved.
Because Cherry was gone.
And until we could get her back—
That was the only thing any of us were going to think about and feel.
Scene: The Guardian Chamber – Preparing to Enter the Signal
The group sat quietly, the last of the ambient light dimming as Evelyn activated the containment field. The center of the room pulsed with low, rhythmic energy—like something was breathing, just beneath the surface.
EVELYN:
“When you step into it, you won’t just observe. You’ll become the version of yourself that exists in that timeline.
But you’ll still be you. Still aware of this world, this room, this mission.
It’s a kind of channeling. A deep resonance sync.
The part of you that lives here will just observe the you that is there living your life
She paused, letting that settle in.
EVELYN (softer now):
“You’ll feel what they feel. Move how they move. Some of it might surprise you.
And the longer you’re inside, the stronger the temptation will be to stay.
That’s why you’ll need to come out when the field prompts you.
Cherry built it with a tether. But it only holds if you let it.”
Eve swallowed hard.
EVE (quietly):
“What if we lose ourselves in there?”
EVELYN:
“Then we’ve already lost Cherry.
But I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I think Cherry knew exactly who she was sending this to.
And I think—when you meet the versions of yourselves who lived this life—you’ll understand why.”
She stepped back and touched the panel behind her. The pulse in the center of the room shifted—becoming a shimmer of golden-blue mist, undulating like breath.
EVELYN:
You’ll know when it’s time for you to enter
Let the field call you.
Scene: Alternate Timeline – Buzz Enters the Signal
Buzz meets Artimus across the lush, sun-drenched grounds. Banners for Sapphire’s weekend showcase flutter in the breeze. There’s music somewhere in the distance and the low buzz of creative energy humming through the crowd.
BUZZ
(grinning, does a secret handshake)
“I’m so happy for you, bro. Sapphire is dynamite. You’ve got three women about to rock your world this weekend.”
ARTIMUS
(blinking)
“Wait—three?”
BUZZ
“Yeah, bonerhead. Eve—your wife, remember? That’s strike one. Then Sapphire. And drumroll, Cherry. Dude, Eve’s all good with it since she’s got her entourage pampering her all weekend.”
ARTIMUS
(smiling, half-excited, half-nervous)
“Yeah, I’m just gonna let loose, see what happens, right? Maybe Cherry’s into it. All I can do is ask.”
BUZZ
“Ask? Bro. You’re a world-class man. Own your shit already.”
ARTIMUS
(laughs)
“Yeah, yeah. Hey, did you check out the art displays? That’s part of the weekend too. I say we fully immerse.”
BUZZ
(nodding)
“Alright, let’s go. No work talk though. Seriously.”
ARTIMUS
“Yeah, yeah. No work. Just play.”
They head inside to the art pavilion. The walls are adorned with evocative abstracts, drenched in color and layered meaning. One painting—a cascade of intense red blossoms woven through sapphire blue—catches their eye. They approach just as Lisa is speaking quietly with Cherry.
BUZZ
(to Lisa)
“Uh—hi. I was just admiring your work. I’m a real fan. So, are we selling anything this weekend?”
CHERRY
“Yes. The pieces will be up all weekend. We’re taking bids.”
ARTIMUS
(pointing to the red and blue painting)
“That one’s my favorite. Feels… alive.”
CHERRY
(smiling)
“It’s my favorite too. It makes me feel—like I’m right on the edge of something. Like the potential’s still blooming.”
BUZZ
“Are you going to the dance tonight?”
CHERRY
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
LISA
(Sly smile)
“Did you know Sapphire’s performing live tonight? On instruments.”
ARTIMUS
(surprised)
“Really? No way—I hadn’t heard.”
CHERRY
(raising an eyebrow)
“Lisa! That was supposed to be a surprise.”
LISA
“Sorry! I just want you both to be there. Just… keep it to yourselves, okay?”
ARTIMUS
(grinning)
“I can do that.”
BUZZ
“Maybe you both can save us a dance?”
LISA
(challenging)
“Do either of you dance Bachata?”
ARTIMUS
(laughing)
“No way. But my wife does. She taught me a little. I’ve got other moves though…”
(bows toward Cherry)
CHERRY
(smiling)
“Oh, Artimus.”
(to Lisa)
“We worked together before. I know his wife.”
ARTIMUS
“Cherry was in a different department than me.”
LISA
“Thank God.”
LISA
(eyes twinkling)
“I’ve seen your wife dance. Do you mind if I ask her for a dance tonight?”
BUZZ
(laughs)
“Damn, you’re bold.”
LISA
(grinning)
“I’m an artist. What can I say?”
BUZZ
“It’s working for you. Use it.”
ARTIMUS
“I don’t mind. She dances with a lot of people. So do I.”
(brief glance at Cherry)
A patron approaches Lisa, pointing to a nearby piece.
LISA
(to Cherry)
“We’ll talk later?”
(to Buzz and Artimus)
“Nice to meet you both. See you tonight?”
BUZZ
(chuckling)
“Yeah. See you tonight.”
Scene: Buzz Returns from the Signal
Buzz steps out of the shimmering field, looking slightly dazed, like waking from a vivid dream. Everyone turns to him at once.
ARTIMUS
“You okay? That was quick.”
EVE
“Here—just sit. Just take a second.”
Buzz sits, glancing around at the expectant faces. He takes a breath.
BUZZ
(slowly)
“I didn’t see Sapphire directly… but she’s scheduled to perform. It’s this big weekend event—kind of like a creative retreat. Music, art, dancing. Lisa was there, displaying her work. You were one of the featured artists.”
LISA
(leaning forward)
“Oh? What kind of art?”
BUZZ
“Abstract. Bold. Red and sapphire blue—it really stood out. You were talking with Cherry when we arrived.”
EVE
(quickly)
“You saw Cherry?”
BUZZ
(nods)
“Yeah. We talked.”
EVE
(excited)
“What did she say? How did she seem?”
Buzz hesitates, eyes flicking briefly to her, then away. He adjusts in his seat.
BUZZ
“She seemed… good. Relaxed. Alive. Like herself. She and Lisa were chatting, and then she talked with me and—”
(turns to Artimus)
“You were there too. We were working together. It was like we were on this weekend getaway. Very normal. Comfortable.”
ARTIMUS
(surprised)
“I was there? Working with you?”
BUZZ
“Yeah. You and Eve are married. She’s there too, having a great time—poly thing going on. Everyone just… fits.”
Silence falls. Eve processes that, a flicker of emotion crossing her face.
LISA
(half-smiling)
“And me?”
BUZZ
(smiling back)
“You were eyeing Eve for a dance.”
BUZZ
(grinning, trying to lighten the tension)
“Look, just go with it. I was the guinea pig. It’s not scary. It’s kinda beautiful.
Who’s next?”
Scene: Lisa and Eve Enter the Signal Together
Evelyn gives a silent nod of approval. The field hums—and Lisa and Eve step through together.
They enter an art gallery flooded with soft afternoon light. Abstract works line the walls, but one dominates the space: a massive canvas of red blooms clinging to a single black branch, suspended in a sea of sapphire blue. Eve stands before it, transfixed.
Lisa watches her watching.
Eve turns—and sees her.
EVE
“You’re the artist.”
LISA
“That’s me.”
(Eve glances her up and down, quick but thorough. She’s already calculating.)
EVE
“These red blooms… I don’t know what it is. I can’t stop looking at them.”
Lisa walks to the painting. Eve follows, a step behind, eyes just as much on her as on the art.
LISA
“The sapphire holds them. It contains the red. The blooms are like vertices—each one a feeling or experience taken to its limit. Its edge. The blue… it holds them all together.”
(pause)
“It’s one gigantic… I don’t know. I’m sorry.”
EVE
“A life. One gigantic life, well lived. At least from this perspective.”
(beat)
“But there’s still something about those red blooms.”
LISA
“It’s a song. The kind that makes you smile, laugh, and cry at the same time.”
EVE
“Those are always the best ones.”
LISA
“Picture Sapphire. Bow in hand. She draws it across a red bloom. Soft… then furious.”
EVE
(low, breathy)
“Bliss. That’s bliss.”
Lisa turns to her suddenly, like she’s been caught thinking something she wasn’t ready to say.
LISA
“That’s right. Are you an art critic? An artist yourself?”
EVE
“No. I’m here on vacation. Me and my girls. Pansexual weekend. I’m married to Artimus. You might know him.”
LISA
No not really.
EVE
Not into science.
LISA
“You put your sexuality out there so effortlessly. Sounds like you’re booked for the next millennium.”
EVE
(smirking, stepping closer)
“Oh? Like I couldn’t squeeze anyone else in?”
(sotto, with heat)
“No kudos for just being honest?”
She starts to turn away.
EVE
“It was nice meeting you, Lisa. My name is—”
LISA
(interrupting, certain)
“Eve. I’ve seen you dance.”
(She exhales, then meets her eyes fully.)
LISA
“There’s a dance tonight. It’s going to be the dance of the century. No one’s going to be able to hide.”
(beat)
“You’ll fit right in.”
She brushes Eve’s arm lightly as she walks away.
Eve watches her go.
EVE
(muttering)
“And look at her walk…”
Scene: Back at Control
The chamber glows with the residual shimmer of the signal field. Buzz stands near the console, still shaken. Evelyn monitors the data streams, silent but watchful. The others wait, tense.
ARTIMUS
“They’re not coming back. I’m going in.”
EVELYN
(sighs, arms crossed)
“That was always a possibility I considered.
Lisa and Eve and their… antics. Emotional fusion like that? They could get stuck.
Or worse—they might not want to come back.”
BRAD
(urgent, stepping forward)
“Then we all go in. But we remember the goal—we bring everyone back.
No wandering off. No getting lost in the fantasy.”
EVELYN
(dead serious)
“This window only stays open for 24 hours.
If you’re not back by then…
you’re not coming back at all.”
A silence spreads across the room. They all feel it—this is real now.
ARTIMUS
(steely)
“Then let’s agree.
We’re all going in.
And we’re all coming back.”
Evelyn gives one final nod and steps aside from the console.
EVELYN
“You have until tomorrow afternoon. That’s all the time you get.”
BUZZ
(quietly, but with conviction)
“Let’s do this.”
They gather—hands overlapping in the center. One last breath. A moment of unity.
Then, together, they step forward into the field—into whatever version of themselves awaits on the other side.
Scene: Eve’s Room – Pansexual Retreat Night
Warm lighting. Pillows on the floor. A half-circle of queer women lounged in comfort, wine glasses in hand, some in robes, others in nothing but tank tops and shorts. It’s giving: sleepover meets sacred circle.
MEG
“I’ve had artist types. They’re intense. Like dating a lightning storm inside a velvet coat.”
EVE
(grinning)
“No kidding. I think she’s trying to burrow a hole in my—”
DAWN
(grinning, cutting in)
“Hoo-ha.”
The girls break into laughter.
EVE
(laughing too)
“Exactly.”
(turning)
Speaking of hoo ha’s.
“Jill, did we get the pad for Liz?”
MEG
“Yes , we want you to feel completely okay being a squirter, babe.”
JONI
“That’s right, Liz. It’s a judgment-free splash zone.”
LIZ
(tearing up slightly)
“Thank you so much.”
Three girls immediately wrap her in a soft, group hug.
EVE
“Okay, now roll call—no one has shaved for at least a week, right?”
More laughter. Legs are lifted, underarms flashed like badges of honor.
DAWN
“It just feels good to be ourselves, you know?”
MEG
“Yeah. Unfiltered. Unshaven. Unapologetic.”
EVE
“Which brings us to… the toy chest.”
Eve dramatically reaches into a small velvet bag and pulls out a strange contraption: a dildo with an elegant, upward hook.
The room gasps, then howls.
EVE
(holding it like a sacred object)
“Now remember, ladies—whatever we’re into is okay.”
JONI
(grinning wickedly)
“We know what you’re into, Eve.”
MEG
“And yes… we made sure it’s in the box.”
The girls burst into giggles again, leaning in closer now. Someone opens a fresh bottle of wine. The night is just getting started.
Scene: Eve’s Room – Mid-Retreat Chaos
The vibe is lit. Laughter echoes, toys have been passed around, wine is flowing, and the ladies are in full glorious retreat mode when—
KNOCK KNOCK.
EVE
(grinning, slightly buzzed)
“Ooooh! That’s my husband.”
She rushes to the door and opens it with flair.
EVE (to the room)
“Look, girls—it’s my man! Come in, honey!”
She grabs his arm and pulls him in. Artimus enters cool as hell, calm and glowing in the chaos.
ARTIMUS
(surveying the room)
“Well, hello ladies…”
(grinning)
“Eve, you didn’t tell me this was a coven of gorgeous witches. Should I be jealous? Or…”
(he starts unbuttoning dramatically)
“…should I be useful?”
EVE
(cackling, raising her glass)
“Take it off!”
MEG, DAWN, JONI
(chanting)
“Take it off! Take it off!”
The chant spreads like wildfire. The women are drumming the floor, clapping, hooting. Artimus plays along, tossing his shirt in the air like it’s a Vegas show. He twirls it, does a ridiculous slow spin. Total ham.
The room erupts in laughter.
EVE
(through giggles)
“Excuse me—I have to pee now.”
She stumbles toward the bathroom, laughing. Artimus eyes her and casually follows.
ARTIMUS
(low, teasing)
“Need help aiming?”
The girls howl.
The door closes behind them.
Scene: Eve’s Bathroom – Lovers’ Intermission
The bathroom door clicks shut. Before Eve can even reach for toilet paper, Artimus grabs her. Their lips crash like magnets on fire.
ARTIMUS
(breathing between kisses)
“You forget we have dinner plans, woman?”
EVE
(grinning, drunk on him)
“What you doing after that, bad boy?”
Hands are everywhere. It’s delicious and chaotic. They’re pawing, breathless.
ARTIMUS
“Something bad. Very bad. I’m going to the dance of a lifetime.”
Eve freezes mid-fondle, blinking like she’s just been slapped with glitter.
EVE
“Wait. A dance? I think—I’m going to a dance too… I think.”
She’s still buzzed. A little confused. A lot excited.
ARTIMUS
(grinning)
“Did you hear? Sapphire’s playing. But mum’s the word.”
EVE
“Oh. My. God. We have to go. It’s the apocalypse.”
ARTIMUS
(grabbing her chin gently)
“Dinner. You know where. Meet me in 30.”
He slips out the door cool as ever, calling over his shoulder—
ARTIMUS
“Goodbye, fair ladies! Parting is such sweet sorrow… ‘til we meet again!”
Back in the Room
The bathroom door flings open. Eve reenters like she just time-traveled—hair tousled, cheeks flushed, still buzzed, wide-eyed and electric.
EVE
Ladies. Plot twist! We’re going to dance with the damn stars tonight. It’s a one time shot to see Sapphire up close.
MEG
“What?!”
DAWN
“Sapphire?!”
JILL
“Like… the Sapphire?!”
EVE
“That’s right. She’ll be there. Just for us. Because tonight—we’re special. And according to my very reliable source, it’s going to be the dance of the century.”
(pause)
“Oh god. I haven’t shaved.”
(laughing)
“I need to eat. Somebody help me get dressed!”
TEXT ON SCREEN:
Elsewhere at the venue…
INT. BATHROOM – NIGHT
Brad (to the handheld camera, whispering dramatically):
This is crunch time. One hour until Sapphire goes live. Word of mouth only. Total blackout. Which makes us… elite.
Ling leans into frame, grinning.
Ling:
That makes us special, baby.
(Camera swings to Lisa)
Brad:
And you didn’t even have to flash your moneymaker to get in.
Lisa (smirking):
Yeah, my moneymaker.
Ling:
Let’s get weird.
Lisa:
Time to drop the blooper bomb.
Brad:
And—action.
INT. DINING HALL – NIGHT
They slide into seats at a long table, near Eve, Artimus, and Buzz. Conversations buzz around them.
Lisa (suddenly loud, dramatic):
You sold my painting without asking me?
Ling (innocently):
We needed the money. Somebody has to feed Little Piggy.
Lisa (gasps):
Ling, I love that pig, but you spoil him rotten! That pig eats better than us!
Lisa eyes a paper bag in Ling’s lap.
Lisa (pointing):
What’s in the bag, Ling?
Ling (defensive):
Nothing! Leave Piggy alone!
Lisa (standing):
Give me the damn piggy bag!
Eve stands, concerned.
Eve:
Hey hey hey—she’s an artist! She can’t help herself. Deep feelings, dramatic expressions—it’s in the job description.
Artimus (to Buzz, grinning):
Get the piggy bag.
Buzz (mock-serious):
What’s in the piggy bag?
He drops to the floor, army-crawls, and snatches the bag from Ling.
Ling (yelling):
Nooo! My piggy!
Brad starts filming mid-chaos.
Buzz tosses the bag to Artimus, who opens it and pauses.
Artimus:
It’s empty.
Eve (relieved):
Okay. Okay. Just calm down. Your pig’s getting fed. Tonight’s a feast.
Are you…with this guy?
Eve (gesturing at Artimus):
That guy? He’s mine—but on lease tonight.
Cherry appears from behind, calm but amused—clearly in charge.
CHERRY
Can I see you all in the kitchen, please?
INT. KITCHEN – MOMENTS LATER
All six of them huddle around a prep counter, barely suppressing laughter.
CHERRY (to Brad)
You made a scene. I should confiscate the footage.
ARTIMUS (tossing the bag to Ling)
Here you go, Miss Piggy.
LING (grinning)
Why thank you. I love Miss Piggy.
Eve.
What dimension are you even channeling?
Brad:
Earth, 1980.
Eve:
You Earth-dweller wannabes…
Cherry (pointing playfully at them all):
You’re bad. All of you.
Eve (aside to Artimus, rolling her eyes):
If you get any badder, I’m booking you a room.
She winks at Cherry. Cherry clocked that.
Cherry (laughing, to Lisa):
Are they always like this?
Lisa:
They’ve got a dynamic I’ve never seen before.
Eve (grinning):
Sweetheart, my dynamic is your romantic.
Buzz:
Sit down, Lisa. Think about what she just said.
Everyone chuckles as they return to the dining room.
Scene: The Dance of the Century
Setting:
The open-air pavilion is humming with expectancy. Warm light bathes the floor in gold and sapphire. Lisa’s painting—the red blooms and sapphire branches—hangs tall at the edge of the room, pulsing with energy. It seems to shimmer as if alive.
Then—
Sapphire steps into view.
She carries her violin like a ritual object. Her gown moves like breath. She faces the painting, eyes closed. A deep inhale. A single, resonant bow stroke slices the silence.
The music begins: a haunting, sensual rhythm—something between invocation and invitation. People feel it instantly. Their bodies begin to move without thinking.
All except Eve, who stands frozen near the painting, spellbound.
Lisa appears behind her.
Her presence is soft but unmistakable. She places her hand gently on the small of Eve’s back.
LISA (whispered):
“You made it.”
EVE (barely breathing):
“What are we doing here?
Why do I feel this music… like it’s inside my chest?”
LISA (leaning close):
“Because it is.
Don’t think. Just—go with it.”
She doesn’t pull. She doesn’t push. She simply moves—and Eve follows.
The crowd senses it.
They back away, creating a circle around the two women as they step into the center. All eyes turn, but Sapphire never looks away from them. She’s playing them—playing through them.
And now—
The dance begins.
At first, it’s slow. A tentative step. A lean. A breath.
Then hips roll.
Hands find rhythm.
Eyes lock.
Each note from Sapphire’s bow corresponds to a blooming red pulse on the painting. People around the circle begin seeing things—flashes of memory, emotion, lifetimes—like a reel of feeling strung across the veil. But in the center:
Lisa and Eve are no longer performing.
They are fused.
Moving like a single current.
Eve is transported. Lisa is ignited.
Sapphire’s bow picks up speed. The music grows bolder—almost erotic in its precision. Eve throws her head back; Lisa holds her tighter. Around them, people are dancing too, some weeping, some laughing, some just watching in reverent awe.
And through it all—Sapphire never stops playing.
Her body sways like she’s conducting an unseen orchestra of timelines.
And with one final crescendo—
Eve spins into Lisa’s arms.
Lisa lifts her.
The painting behind them flares red, then dissolves softly back into sapphire.
Silence.
Eve, breathless.
Lisa, steady.
The crowd—still holding their breath.
Sapphire lowers her bow.
SAPPHIRE (quietly, into the mic):
“Every version of me… thanks you.”
Scene: The Private Suite
The music still lingers in their bodies, echoing in pulses across their skin.
Cherry appears at their side—calm, urgent.
CHERRY (softly):
“Come with me. Now.”
She leads them away from the dance floor, down a quiet hall lit only by warm sconces. She stops at a door. Places her hand on it.
CHERRY (gently):
“This is yours.”
She opens the door, then disappears without another word.
Inside: a suite washed in golden tones. A sheer canopy billows above the bed. The windows are cracked open just enough for moonlight to pour in like liquid silk. It’s warm. Safe. Private.
Eve steps in first, still catching her breath.
Lisa follows. She closes the door. Locks it.
They look at each other—and it’s instant.
The pull.
Lisa closes the distance and kisses Eve. Not tentative. Not rushed. Just full.
Their hands are already moving—familiar and new at once.
Eve’s fingers tug open Lisa’s blouse, pushing it off her shoulders.
Lisa slips her hands under Eve’s shirt, down her back, pausing at the waistband. A smile. A slow undoing.
LISA (murmured):
“You’re still vibrating from that dance.”
EVE (smiling against her mouth):
“So are you.”
They stumble toward the bed, kissing deeply—half-laughing, half-starving.
Lisa presses Eve down into the blankets, mouth finding her collarbone, her stomach, the soft skin just above her waistband.
Eve’s hand is in Lisa’s hair, breathing turning quick, turning low.
EVE (whispered):
“I wanted this all night…
Even before the music started.”
Lisa looks up from where she is, her eyes soft and wild all at once.
LISA:
“You think the painting was about Sapphire?”
She slides Eve’s pants off slowly.
LISA (cont’d):
“It was always you.”
Eve pulls her in again—and the rest is touch, breath, and trust.
The red blooms burn behind their eyes.
The blue holds it all.
The Next Morning — The Suite
Eve stirs awake, blinking slowly as sunlight filters through the sheer curtains. She rolls over, smiling as she catches sight of Lisa across the room.
EVE
(groggy)
What time is it?
LISA
Noonish.
Lisa, in just a T-shirt and nothing else, rummages around for a pair of pants. Her bare backside is on full display.
EVE
(grinning)
Ohhh… what a beautiful view in here.
Lisa turns her head, mock-frowning.
LISA
You’re insatiable.
EVE
I could live here…
(sits up suddenly, remembering)
Wait—Cherry picked out clothes for us to wear. She thinks of everything.
Eve gets up and checks a sleek chair near the door, where carefully folded outfits are laid out.
LISA
Someone who knows my taste.
(holding up a pair of shorts)
EVE
Damn, girl. You’re not leaving this room in those.
(pinches her playfully)
I mean it. That ass is staying indoors.
Lisa laughs, then pulls Eve into her arms.
LISA
And how about you? Is all this mine?
EVE
(teasing)
You seriously want to go another round?
Lisa doesn’t answer. She simply moves Eve back toward the bed. The two fall together, tangled in sheets and kisses.
EVE
(softly, between breaths)
What about our lives… Could we just live here?
The door swings open with a sudden whoosh.
CHERRY
Alright, you two—busted.
Sapphire follows behind her, calm and radiant, carrying her violin bow like it’s an extension of her very being.
CHERRY
You’re both in serious trouble. Sapphire is not pleased.
Lisa and Eve scramble to sit up as Sapphire taps the bow softly in her palm—once, twice. The sound is light, but the impact lands in their bodies.
EVE
(laughing, breathless)
Okay, okay—what do you want us to—
But she can’t finish. A sudden wave of joy rolls through her. Eve collapses to her knees in laughter so deep and wild it sounds like music.
Lisa follows a second later—cracking up, gasping for breath as though the bow itself tickled something primal loose.
And just like that—
FLASH
They land in a heap on the Guardian chamber floor, laughing uncontrollably. The real timeline has returned.
Lisa and Eve look up to see everyone surrounding them—Brad, Buzz, Ling, Evelyn—all wide-eyed and relieved.
EVE
(still pointing mid-laugh)
Look—Cherry. The orchestrator.
Evelyn steps forward, all business.
EVELYN
We don’t have time. The craft is ready. We’re going to Antarctica—to meet Sapphire.
Hands pull Eve and Lisa to their feet. The adventure isn’t over. It’s just getting stranger.
INT. AIRCRAFT — EN ROUTE TO ANTARCTICA — DAY
A sleek Guardian craft hums quietly. In the center cabin, the team sits in a loose circle—Eve, Lisa, Artimus, Cherry, Brad, Buzz, Ling, and Evelyn. Toward the back, a crew of serious, tech-savvy soldiers monitors screens and energy readings.
EVE
(groaning, rubbing her temples)
Ugh. My head. I’m finally coming down.
LISA
Tell me about it. Nothing like being dipped back into dense Earth frequency.
ARTIMUS
We’ve done it before. Remember our little crash-pad after Bashar World?
CHERRY
(smiling faintly)
That house? It was sitting on a grid. A charged one. You were basically living on top of a resonance amplifier. In other words, your crash was amplified.
EVE
We knew that. Why didn’t we leave sooner?
ARTIMUS
Because we were dumbed down.
LISA
Too dumb to help ourselves. Classic.
BRAD
(grinning)
Those days are over. This—this is different.
(saluting Cherry)
We’ve got Cherry now.
EVE
(softly, meeting Cherry’s eyes)
I knew you wouldn’t leave us… or betray us.
(glances at Artimus, a knowing smile)
Not even tempted.
BUZZ
Oh come on, not even a little tempted to hook up with Artimus?
(holds fingers an inch apart)
Not even a tiny bit?
CHERRY
(tilting her head, amused)
Nope. But I have to say—
(sincerely)
You were all very much yourselves… at your best. It was beautiful to watch.
EVELYN
She’s like a Lisa—but without the chaos.
LING
(gasping dramatically)
Ohhh, the Vertice of Doom!
BRAD
Wait, hold on!
(pretends to open a game show door)
And behind door number two… TOTAL BLISS!
(beat)
Fooled ya, suckers.
(Everyone laughs.)
Cherry (calmly, explaining):
“Lisa didn’t just survive chaos. She danced with it, painted it, made it something we could follow. That’s why the vortex responds to her. It remembers.”
Evelyn:
The chaos doesn’t break her. It… listens to her.”
Just then, REX enters from the rear, having just spoken to the soldiers. He walks with grace but a deep solemnity.
REX
You’ve done something I thought impossible. You may have found her—my first love.
(he bows slightly, hand to heart)
I truly can never thank you enough.
EVE
(taking his hand, gently)
If we bring her back… it was all worth it.
CHERRY
The benefits of this union are bigger than any of us.
(she exhales, confident)
I feel good about this. I think she’s really there.
LING
(suspicious)
Then why do we need the army?
EVE
Yeah. Their energy is… dense. I can feel it.
LISA
(same)
Like a rock concert in a lead vest.
EVELYN
Because the moment Sapphire re-materializes, rogue Guardians may try to take her.
(pause)
We need protection.
LISA
(rolling her eyes)
Aye yai yai. My hangover has a hangover.
EXT. ANTARCTICA – GLACIAL RIDGE – DAY
The aircraft touches down with a smooth hum. A blinding white expanse stretches across the horizon, the snow shimmering under an almost too-blue sky. The wind is quiet—unnaturally so.
A semi-circle of soldiers stand in formation near the landing site, high-tech scanning equipment strapped to their backs. The main crew—Eve, Lisa, Artimus, Cherry, Brad, Buzz, Ling, Evelyn, and Rex—disembark together, huddled in coats, stepping into the snow-blanketed clearing.
Rex moves ahead of the group, his eyes scanning the center of the landing site like he’s waiting for something sacred.
Cherry closes her eyes.
CHERRY
(softly)
Here she comes.
The frequency shifts—a resonant hum rising in the air like a distant song.
A beam of light flickers into existence about twenty feet ahead—then expands. A silhouette forms inside the light. It stabilizes. Resolves.
It’s SAPPHIRE.
She’s standing there barefoot on the snow, radiant, completely at peace. Her violin is strapped across her back like a talisman. A shimmering cloak flutters around her in the still air.
Rex steps forward.
SAPPHIRE
Rex.
REX
(whispers)
My girl.
They meet halfway, the group silently watching. He stops just short of her—afraid if he touches her, she’ll vanish again.
But she steps forward. Wraps her arms around him.
They embrace fully, a long, grounding hug—like two worlds finding gravity again.
SAPPHIRE
(to his ear)
I’m whole now. Thanks to them.
She pulls back, eyes wet but bright.
Then, one by one, she walks to the crew.
To Eve, she clasps both her hands.
SAPPHIRE
You felt the pieces of me. You refused to look away. Thank you.
To Lisa, she touches her heart.
SAPPHIRE
Your chaos made a path. I followed it home.
To Cherry, she just bows.
SAPPHIRE
You risked everything. And gave me a way to stay.
To Artimus, she squeezes his shoulder.
SAPPHIRE
You held the field steady, even when you didn’t understand it.
To Evelyn:
SAPPHIRE
You see behind the eyes. You didn’t blink.
She gives Buzz, Ling, Brad each a warm hug, lighthearted but genuine.
SAPPHIRE
You kept the joy alive. You carried the ridiculous. I needed that more than you’ll ever know.
Then she turns to Rex.
SAPPHIRE
Are you ready?
He nods.
REX
Wherever you are, that’s home.
A second transport craft lowers from the clouds above—sleek, ethereal, clearly not Earth-made. The ramp drops, glowing slightly.
Sapphire turns to the team.
SAPPHIRE
You did your part. Now it’s our turn.
CHERRY
Be well, sister.
They share a nod—no words needed.
Sapphire and Rex board the craft, which ascends silently, vanishing into the bright sky without a trace.
A beat.
The original crew stands still, processing what just happened.
Then Brad clears his throat.
BRAD
So uh… that was our Tuesday.
Lisa:
(smirks)
Let’s go home Scottie.
Eve:
We can debrief… after I get my hands on a hot drink and a hot shower.
Buzz:
Copy that.
They begin walking toward their aircraft.
Cherry stays behind a moment, looking up where the ship vanished.
EVELYN
(approaching quietly)
You okay?
CHERRY
She’s free. That’s all I care about.
They head back to the craft. The ramp rises.
FADE TO WHITE.
Scene: Bedroom – 2 weeks later
Eve, Lisa, and Artimus lie sprawled on the bed, the quiet hum of evening settling around them.
Artimus
So… we haven’t exactly been together in the biblical sense lately. No one’s initiating anything. That’s strange for you two.
Lisa
Eve’s not in the mood. And honestly? I could care less.
(beat)
Tell me about your tech rollouts.
Artimus
Alright. We’re launching the scan system. It’ll detect anything out of sync in your body and administer exactly what you need. No guesswork. And the lie detector’s up next—scheduled to be implemented in the Americas for all justice-related decisions.
Eve
That’s huge. Like, life-altering. You really got it through?
Artimus
Finally, yeah. I want all of us scanned soon. Especially you, Eve. After everything we’ve been through physically and emotionally… it just makes sense.
Lisa
Say the word. We’ll show up.
(smiling wryly)
Maybe the techs will be professional this time.
Artimus
Doubt it. But boring sounds nice for once.
Eve
I could use boring.
Artimus
What about you, Lisa? What’re you planning?
Lisa
I’m starting an agency—something that investigates missing people, strange events, cases no one else can crack.
Artimus
With who?
Lisa
Brad. Ling. And Cherry.
Eve
You didn’t tell me.
Lisa
(sighs)
I didn’t feel like it. So I honored my feelings.
Eve
(flatly)
Let me up. I’m sleeping in the guest room.
Eve slips out of bed, grabs a hoodie, and walks out. The room goes quiet.
Artimus
(sitting up)
She okay?
Lisa
No. But I don’t suppose we could make love and be loud about it?
Artimus
(small smile)
She’s carrying more than she admits. Imagine being coerced into things sexually for a third of your life…
Lisa
And you’re okay with her stonewalling because you remember?
Artimus
Okay with it? Last time she stonewalled us like this, I went out every weekend. Got laid. Regularly.
Lisa
Bold move. If I did that, it’d be the end of us.
Artimus
Back then she stopped touching either of us for months. This time it’s been what—two and a half weeks? I think the scan’ll help. I’ll try to get her in tomorrow.
Lisa
And if it doesn’t help?
Artimus
Then…?
Lisa
Then I want to use your lie detector.
Artimus
(suspicious)
For what?
Lisa
To ask you if—if Eve still won’t be intimate with us… would you want to make love to just me?
Artimus doesn’t answer with words. He reaches for her, brushing a hand against her cheek. She leans in, kissing him gently. The tenderness builds—familiar, needed, a soft unraveling of tension.
They make love.
Later, breath slowing, Lisa rests her head against his chest.
Lisa
That was good for me. You okay?
Artimus
Yeah.
(pause)
If she stays distant… let’s be there for each other. Not out of desperation. Out of love.
Lisa
Because it is love.
(beat)
I love you.
Artimus
(feeling it land)
Feelings mutual.
INT. BRAD AND LING’S KITCHEN – DAY
Lisa walks in like she owns the place. She opens the fridge, grabs a drink, and takes a long sip.
LISA
So… have we gotten any responses?
BRAD
Oh yeah.
LING
Haven’t you checked your email?
Lisa gives them both a deadpan look. Ling shoots Brad a knowing glance.
LING
(gently ribbing)
Girl troubles?
BRAD
Did you talk to the Oracle yet?
LISA
Yeah.
She told me to just tell Eve what to do.
Almost like… Dom-style.
Brad’s eyes flick to Ling, and they exchange a grin.
LING
(sassy, theatrical)
Ooooh. Like—
“Girl, get your ass outta bed. It’s time to get schooled.”
Ling grabs a piece of licorice and dramatically slaps it across Brad’s face.
BRAD
That’s it.
Brad lunges. The two start wrestling like chaotic siblings—laughing, bumping into furniture. Lisa watches, completely unimpressed.
LISA
Wow.
So this is what it felt like watching me and Eve wrestle?
She grabs a peach from the counter and hurls it at Brad’s chest.
LISA (cont’d)
Knock yourselves out.
I’ll be in the backyard where the adults go to think.
She exits, drink in hand, muttering something about licorice and peaches. Brad and Ling keep laughing.
(Another week goes by and no change)
(Lisa quietly watches Eve retreat to the bedroom again)
Okay. She’s vanishing. Again.
She pauses. Hears that quiet inner nudge. The “birdie.”
She walks to the bedroom doorway and knocks—soft, but firm.
Lisa
May I come in?
Eve’s voice is muffled.
Eve
If you want. I’m just tired.
Lisa enters and looks at her for a long moment.
Lisa
I think I need to see you in the chair.
(pause)
The one by the window. Sit. Back straight. Feet flat. Hands on your knees.
Eve
(suspicious but a little curious)
Lisa…
Lisa
(shaking her head gently)
Don’t talk back. Sit. That’s an order.
Eve
(quietly moves and sits, almost relieved to not have to decide)
Okay.
Lisa
Good girl. Eyes on me.
Lisa moves in front of her. Sits on the bed.
Lisa
This isn’t about sex. Not tonight. I’m not here to seduce you.
I’m here to see you. Because you’re disappearing. And I won’t allow that.
Eve
I’m not disappearing. I just need time.
Lisa
I know you do. So I’m giving you time. Structured time.
Because your nervous system doesn’t trust open-ended freedom yet.
So let’s try something.
Lisa leans in, eyes sharp but loving.
Lisa
You will answer three questions. You don’t have to explain.
You only answer with your body. A nod. A breath. A tremble.
Eve just stares, breath held.
Lisa
First: Do you miss me?
(Eve nods. Her lips tighten.)
Lisa
Second: Do you still want me?
(There’s a flicker. A tear. A small inhale. Another nod. This one shaky.)
Lisa
Third: Are you afraid of what you’ll feel if you let go?
(Eve finally lets a sob out and nods deeply.)
Lisa places her hands gently on Eve’s knees. Doesn’t move them.
Lisa
You’ve done beautifully. That’s enough. No touch unless you say yes.
Eve
(quietly)
Touch my hands. Just that.
Lisa does. Holds her hands like they’re ancient stones. Warm and trembling.
Eve
(whispers)
I don’t want to feel broken.
Lisa
Then don’t. Let me hold the pieces. Just tonight.
Eve allowed her to gently hold her before she drifted to sleep.
INT. EVE’S KITCHEN – DAY
Sunlight spills across the counter. Cherry and Eve sit at the kitchen table, sipping smoothies. There’s a quiet ease between them—until Cherry breaks the silence with a smile.
CHERRY
So we all got some chemistry adjustments. The scan and the plan.
And some of these roots they want me to eat?
I’ve never even heard of them.
EVE
(smiling softly)
I picked that root, Cherry.
I put some in the smoothie.
CHERRY
(surprised, touched)
You really are a good friend, Eve.
I mean that.
(pause, then teasing)
So come on. Tell me—how’s your love life coming?
EVE
(sighs)
It’s hard…
When part of you is terrified of losing yourself.
I was so light in that timeline with you and Sapphire.
Transcendent.
But when I came back down—
it was like another reality slammed into me.
CHERRY
(curious, gentle)
What do you mean?
EVE
I felt what Sapphire went through, Cherry.
Not just like I understood it…
like it landed inside me.
I’ve been carrying it ever since.
It’s like a song still echoing in my bones.
CHERRY
(softly)
I know.
I felt it too.
(pause)
But my life wasn’t built on chronic stress for years…
Thanks to you.
EVE
No one seems to get it.
How I want to love Lisa and Artimus—
but I freeze.
And the worst part is…
I can’t talk when I freeze.
It’s like my mouth doesn’t belong to me anymore.
CHERRY
You’re not broken.
You’re just healing in real time.
And we’re allowed to grieve for Sapphire…
even if she’s still alive.
EVE
(tearing up slightly)
I’m proud of us.
That we’re walking through it instead of around it.
Lisa and I—we’ve met in the middle.
We’re going slow.
I’m taking small steps to feeling myself again.
Feeling who I am.
Feeling my power.
It’s weird and strange… but it’s real recovery.
And I know it.
CHERRY
You’re doing more than healing.
You’re becoming.
That’s harder—but it’s real.
(They raise their smoothies quietly. A shared moment. A breath between worlds.)
That evening Artimus is working late.
Eve
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s like my body doesn’t want to open unless it knows it won’t be used.
Lisa
(gently)
Then let’s teach it again. That this is love, not use. That I’m not taking—I’m waiting.
Lisa slowly lifts Eve’s hand, places a soft kiss on the knuckles. Nothing rushed.
Lisa
Tell me what you want.
Eve
(quiet, like she’s confessing a sin)
I want to feel… wanted. But not cornered.
Lisa
Then I’ll want you out loud, and never corner you.
Lisa stands. Takes off her outer shirt, revealing a soft tank underneath. Calm, relaxed. Not performative.
She kneels in front of Eve, still sitting upright in the chair.
Lisa
I’m going to put my head on your thigh. Just rest. No tricks. No games.
Eve
Okay.
Lisa lays her head gently on Eve’s lap. Breathes.
After a moment, Eve places her hand on Lisa’s hair. Fingers drifting slowly.
Eve
You’re really just here. Not wanting anything more.
Lisa
Just this. Just you.
Eve’s breathing shifts. Her free hand touches her own heart.
Eve
Okay… now I want to lie down. On the bed. But only if you’re close.
They both rise.
Lisa lays beside her, not touching yet. Eve curls into her side. Hands on Lisa’s stomach.
After a beat—
Eve
Touch me under the shirt. Just your palm on my back.
Lisa obliges, moving slowly. Warm. Still. Supportive.
Eve shivers.
Eve
A little lower. Base of my spine. There.
Lisa’s hand finds the small of her back. Eve exhales… and then whispers:
Eve
Now press me into you. I want to feel how held I am.
Lisa shifts slightly, wraps her arm around Eve’s waist, pulling her in. They breathe together, syncing.
Eve
(murmuring against Lisa’s chest)
Now my body says yes.
Lisa
Then we follow the yes. That’s our only map.
Lisa slowly begins kissing Eve’s shoulder. Her collarbone. Eve turns to meet her mouth.
Their kiss is deep—but not rushed. Sensual, not sexual yet.
Eve’s hand trails down Lisa’s side. She shifts closer, pressing her leg between Lisa’s.
The air thickens.
Eve
Take off my shirt. Just that. For now.
Lisa slides it off slowly. Kisses Eve’s belly, whispering something Eve can’t quite hear—but it makes her laugh softly.
Eve rolls Lisa onto her back and straddles her hips.
Eve
I want to remember I’m powerful. Not broken.
Lisa
Then show me.
Eve begins to move—deliberate. In charge. Reclaiming her rhythm.
INT. BRAD AND LING’S LIVING ROOM – DAY
Eve and Lisa walk in like they pay the rent. Eve heads straight to the kitchen and starts making drinks like she owns the blender.
LING
(enters, arms wide, teasing)
Eve! So good to see you.
EVE
(smiles, pours something fizzy)
Hey, Ling.
LING
Welcome to our humble abode.
Eve glances around, raising a brow.
EVE
Wow. Look what you’ve done with the place.
Is this… reflective of your personalities?
LING
(playfully defensive)
What—you don’t like it?
EVE
(still looking around, deadpan)
I’m stunned.
Brad sneaks in and grabs Ling from behind, grinning.
BRAD
We’re still figuring out the décor.
Cherry walks in, a folder tucked under her arm.
CHERRY
Yeah, you guys. I thought we agreed on the centerpiece?
LISA
The phallic one?
It looked like a one-eyed python. Sound familiar?
EVE
That’s a blast from the past.
Everyone laughs. Eve takes a sip of her drink.
EVE
So what’s this agency Lisa keeps talking about?
Where’s it all going?
LISA
Have you even looked at the emails?
LING
We were waiting for you.
She gestures to a box labeled “HOT CASES.”
LING (cont’d)
We printed them all out. Old-school style.
EVE
Gee. Nice box.
Cherry slides next to Eve, casually wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
CHERRY
We thought you could draw one at random.
Like fate picking our next weird-ass adventure.
BRAD
But not like last time.
If I remember right, you were the one who said “Let fate decide how long we’d survive in the wilderness.”
EVE
God. I was such a kid back then.
LISA
It’s only been a year.
EVE
Yeah, well. We’ve all grown up fast.
BRAD
Not us. Never growing up.
CHERRY
(pushing the box toward her)
Come on. Pick already.
Eve pulls a folded printout from the box, opens it, squints, and reads aloud:
EVE
(reading)
“Subject: I Woke Up in the Wrong Timeline and My Husband Is a Lizard.”
(pause)
“Please advise.”
Everyone pauses—then bursts out laughing.
LING
Okay but—real talk—that could be legit.
BRAD
Classic soft launch into batshit territory. I love it.
CHERRY
We should follow up.
Timeline dislocation AND a lizard husband? That’s, like, Thursday for us.
EVE
(smirking)
Alright. Let’s investigate the lizard marriage
INT. BEDROOM – LATE EVENING
Lisa lies on the bed, lazily flipping through a book, wearing just a camisole and underwear. Eve walks in slowly, freshly showered, her energy calm but charged.
EVE
(soft but clear)
Put that down, baby.
Lisa looks up. She sees something in Eve’s eyes—playful, firm, grounded. She obeys, curious.
LISA
What’s this energy?
EVE
It’s me. Coming back to myself.
(then, after a beat)
I want you across my lap.
Lisa’s breath catches just slightly. She smiles but doesn’t joke. She knows this isn’t for laughs.
LISA
Clothes on or off?
EVE
On. For now.
Lisa moves, stretches herself across Eve’s lap with practiced trust. Eve steadies her, both hands warm and commanding on Lisa’s hips.
EVE
You’ve been needing a little structure.
A light swat. Not hard. A little louder than it feels. Lisa shivers.
LISA
Maybe I have.
EVE
I know you. I know exactly what you need.
Another swat. Slower this time. Then she soothes the spot with her palm.
EVE
You like it when I take charge like this?
LISA
God yes.
EVE
Good girl.
Lisa exhales, melting into the mattress. Eve leans down, pressing a kiss between Lisa’s shoulder blades.
EVE
You’re mine, you know that? Not because I demand it.
Because I choose it. Again and again.
Her hand glides lower, smoothing down Lisa’s thigh. Eve’s fingers move with intention—not rushed, not teasing—just present.
Lisa turns her head slightly, lips parted.
LISA
You’re different when you’re like this.
In your body. In your power.
EVE
That’s because you let me come back like this.
One swat at a time.
They laugh gently together.
Eve’s hands keep exploring. Her voice drops to a murmur.
EVE
Tell me what you want now.
I want to give it to you—my way.
INT. ORACLE’S SANCTUARY – TWILIGHT
Eve sits across from the Oracle, legs curled beneath her, sipping something warm from a translucent cup. The air hums faintly with resonance. The Oracle, serene as ever, watches her with a slight smile.
EVE
I think I’m finally feeling like myself again.
What a journey.
ORACLE
You, Lisa, Artimus, Cherry—even Ling and Brad—
each of you contributed something essential to this transition.
You didn’t do it alone.
EVE
And what if they hadn’t?
What if no one showed up? Would I be up a shit creek?
ORACLE
Each person creates their own reality.
And that reality has already been played.
You’re just catching up to your own brilliance.
EVE
(sighs, then laughs)
Wow. That’s some heavy stuff, Oracle.
But honestly… that kind of makes me feel better.
Like, if it’s already been played—how can I mess it up?
ORACLE
Exactly.
EVE
I’ll have to chew on that.
But one more thing—
I don’t think I like lizards.
But if the choice is already made, I wonder what I picked…
ORACLE
You do realize about 80 percent of the emails in your agency’s inbox
are mental health issues—
not lizard husbands.
EVE
(grins, winks)
I knew you were good for something, Oracle.
The Oracle smiles without responding—because, of course, she already knows.