Meat My Uncle Page #2

Admiral.

ICENTONGUE:

Startled from his reverie, Ramen notices Icentongue.

Captain.

RAMEN:

ICENTONGUE:

What’s your concern?

RAMEN:

What makes you think I’m concerned? She looks at him and shakes her head.

ICENTONGUE:

I’d say the expression on your

face. It’s either concern or gas.

Ramen chuckles.

RAMEN:

Yeah, well it’s not gas.

And?

ICENTONGUE RAMEN

You know me too well.

ICENTONGUE:

It comes with the job.

Ramen paces in front of the viewport.

10.

RAMEN:

I don’t know if it’s wise...this

visit.

Icentongue smiles indulgently. He stops in front of her.

ICENTONGUE:

We’re just getting supplies and a

few apprentices.

RAMEN:

When is it ever that simple?

He shrugs.

RAMEN (CONT’D)

I mean we always seem to pick up

more than intended.

ICENTONGUE:

Your love life is no concern of

mine. Ramani women are easy to

attract but nearly impossible to

leave.

Ramen looks at his feet.

RAMEN:

Don’t I know it.

They stand in silence.

ICENTONGUE:

I can hear you thinking. There’s

this strange whirring sound.

She laughs.

RAMEN:

That sounds pretty damn close to

insubordination.

ICENTONGUE:

Well...you know it’s just my elvish

sense of humor.

RAMEN:

Whoever thought it was a good idea

for you to be my mentor should be

taken out and shot.

ICENTONGUE:

You were such an impressionable

child when you were at the Academy. (MORE)

11.

ICENTONGUE (CONT’D)

We never thought you’d amount to

much.

She turns toward the bank of monitors.

ICENTONGUE (CONT’D)

Of course sleeping with the

Commandant’s daughter wasn’t your

best idea.

RAMEN:

At least he never found out or I’d

never have graduated.

Icentongue looks at him with a sly grin.

ICENTONGUE:

You think he didn’t know?

RAMEN:

What the...

Ramen is interrupted by the door sliding open. GRIG (spiky hair, lanky frame) comes in.

GRIG:

Sorry to interrupt Admiral.

Grig looks at Icentongue.

Ma’am.

GRIG (CONT’D) RAMEN

Yes, Chief Officer? What do you have for me?

GRIG:

Sir, we’ve been hailed by a Lorvan commercial ship. They say they’ve been attacked by a small group of Viper class Rambiz fighters. They’re okay, but their propulsion system was damaged.

RAMEN:

What’s the extent of the damage?

GRIG:

Non-operational. They’re requesting assistance.

RAMEN:

Think it’s legit?

12.

Icentongue looks skeptical.

ICENTONGUE:

It’s pretty deep in Allied

territory for the Rambiz to be

traveling without an escort.

RAMEN:

My thought as well.

ICENTONGUE:

We could contact...

RAMEN:

Marle? No. Neither she nor her

father are going to cut me any

slack.

GRIG:

Sir, I need to get back to the

comm. How should I respond?

Ramen considers.

RAMEN:

Assess their situation. Find out

their supply levels - oxygen, food,

everything - and keep me apprised

Grig gives a sloppy salute and leaves the bridge. Ramen turns to Icentongue.

RAMEN (CONT’D)

Admiral Amez is the one denying me

my chance. The one thing I want.

ICENTONGUE:

He’s a forgiving man.

RAMEN:

He wouldn’t even let me see my son.

ICENTONGUE:

Emotions aside. If this is a trap -

and we don’t know one way or the

other - we need backup.

RAMEN:

Can we get someone else?

ICENTONGUE:

Captain Marle patrols this sector.

I think your son would be doubly

safe with both parents.

13.

RAMEN:

I am not discussing that. Not here,

not now. If I contact Marle can we

just drop it?

Icentongue makes a lip zipping motion and smiles at Ramen.

Ramen shakes his head and goes to the control center. He reaches for the communication switch and...

14 INT. SUV - CONTINUOUS 14 Mother interrupts James’s thoughts.

MOTHER:

JJ. I have to stop for gas.

James sighs and closes his notepad.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

Do you want anything from the Quik Stop?

JAMES:

Can I have a water?

Mother looks at him in the mirror and raises an eyebrow.

Please?

JAMES (CONT’D)

Mother nods and steers the SUV into the gas station.

15 INT. SUV - LATER 15

James uncaps the water bottle and drinks. He looks out and watches the trees slip by as the SUV moves smoothly along the highway.

JAMES:

How much longer?

MOTHER:

I’d say a half hour.

JAMES:

Perfect. I want to write the Rising

Phoenix one.

MOTHER:

Is that the one with the Force?

14.

JAMES:

The Touch. It’s different.

James shakes his head, opens his notepad, and starts writing.

16 INT. RISING PHOENIX - DAY 16

MAJES (12, the mirror image of James) sits at the command center playing with a fidget spinner. He looks around his compact, but well designed craft with pride. He tosses the spinner aside and presses a comm button.

MAJES:

Is everything okay?

AI, a hologram, appears on top of the console.

AI:

In what sense of the word?

Majes smiles.

MAJES:

I dunno. I guess I just wanted to

hear a voice.

Which one?

AI:

MAJES:

I dunno. Tell me a joke in an

Australian accent.

The hologram appears to think.

AI:

(Australian accent)

Why didn’t the manager hire the

marsupial?

MAJES:

I don’t know.

AI:

He wasn’t koala-fied.

Majes laughs.

MAJES:

Got another?

AI:

What’s a kangaroo’s favorite music?

15.

Majes shakes his head.

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