Meat My Uncle Page #3

Hip hop.

Majes groans.

AI (CONT’D) MAJES

Enough. How long ‘til we make the jump?

AI:

I see what you did there.

Huh?

MAJES AI:

Hip hop. Jump.

AI laughs mechanically.

MAJES:

Just wow. Are we ready?

The hologram considers.

AI:

We can go in three...two...

MAJES:

Hold on I need more warn...

...one.

AI:

Majes’s viewscreen goes black. He shuts his eyes in anticipation of the unsettling jump through hyperspace.

Majes opens his eyes.

MAJES:

I hate it when you do that.

AI:

We have arrived in the Terrajin

System. Time to Nojunc should be

thirty standard minutes. Shall I

alert your mentor?

MAJES:

No. I’m sure he knows.

16.

AI:

Then I’ll hail the Planetary

Defense Group. Which identifiers

shall I use?

MAJES:

Use one that doesn’t have any

warrants on it. The less trouble we

bring with us the better.

AI nods.

MAJES (CONT’D)

Bring us to a few clicks outside of

Olendger.

AI:

Locals there don’t like outsiders.

MAJES:

I know. I think that’s why he stays

there.

AI:

I’ll seek a landing spot in the

jungle that we can get out of

quickly if need be.

MAJES:

Good. Make sure it’s a defensible

position as well.

AI adjusts their trajectory as Majes leaves the console and heads to his private quarters.

17 INT. SUV - DAY 17 Mother looks in the rearview mirror.

MOTHER:

Hey James. You awake back there?

The walls of the Rising Phoenix disappear, giving way to the dirt streaked windows of the SUV.

Yes.

JAMES MOTHER:

Did I interrupt? I just wanted to let you know we’re almost there.

17.

JAMES:

It’s okay, you didn’t know. I was

pretty happy on the Rising Phoenix,

though.

MOTHER:

On your way to planet No junk

again? I guess that’s fitting since

it’s where Uncle Jones lives.

JAMES:

Ulec Jesnos.

He sits up straighter.

JAMES (CONT’D)

He’s a Master Drakian. That means

he’s one with the Touch.

MOTHER:

George Lucas would love you, kid.

Or sue you. I don’t know which.

Mother laughs.

JAMES:

The Touch is way different. It lets

members of the Drakian Order do

more than a Jedi. There’s a greater

price, but it connects them...

Mother starts reciting with James.

MOTHER AND JAMES

...in a greater way than the Jedi

to the rest of the universe...

James trails off as Mother continues.

MOTHER:

...so they can protect the natural

ways of...

Mother stops.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

I remember James. I like it.

JAMES:

It’s not like Star Wars. At least

not all the way.

18.

MOTHER:

I know. You make it yours every

time you tell it. I’m proud of you

for that.

James smiles broadly.

18 EXT. JUNGLE OF NOJUNC - CONTINUOUS 18

Majes works his way cautiously through the jungle. He checks his multi-function wrist communicator and looks around. Majes clicks a button on the communicator.

MAJES:

(whispers)

Any sign of hostiles?

AI (V.O.)

None. You’re within sixty meters of

your destination. Shall I let him

know now?

MAJES:

(whispers)

No. I’m certain...

A rustling in the brush stops him.

19 EXT. UNCLE JONES’S HOUSE - LATER 19

The SUV pulls into the driveway and stops in front of a neatly kept two story house.

20 EXT. JUNGLE OF NOJUNC - CONTINUOUS 20

ULEC JESNOS (large and intimidating) comes around the tree and stops in front of Majes, towering over him. Majes steps back.

Majes.

ULEC JESNOS MAJES

Ulec Jesnos.

ULEC JESNOS:

Meat. You’ve returned.

MAJES:

Meat my uncle. It’s been a long time.

19.

Formalities out of the way, Ulec wraps Majes in a tight hug as the jungle shimmers and disappears.

21 EXT. UNCLE JONES'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 21

UNCLE JONES releases James from the hug and holds him at arm’s length.

UNCLE JONES:

Meat. You’ve returned.

JAMES:

Meat, my uncle. It’s been a while.

UNCLE JONES:

How’ve you been, meat?

James forces a little smile.

JAMES:

Well enough.

Uncle Jones turns to Mother and embraces her tightly. They speak, but so low James can’t hear them.

Losing interest he looks towards the open door of the house and sees JANE (18, pretty, with dark makeup, facial

piercings) come out.

Mother and Uncle Jones turn towards Jane. Mother scowls.

Hello.

Hello.

She looks at James.

MOTHER:

JANE:

JANE (CONT’D)

Hello Majes.

James smiles broadly.

MOTHER:

Still keeping Uncle Jones safe and

sound?

JANE:

You’re goddamned right I do.

Mother stiffens at the remark. Jane looks at James and rolls her eyes.

20.

JANE (CONT’D)

You insane little Drakian pupil.

Titus is coming by later. You up

for a lesson or two?

Before James can answer Mother looks at Uncle Jones.

MOTHER:

You’re still letting them do that?

Seriously?

Uncle Jones shrugs.

UNCLE JONES:

I don’t see any harm in it. Majes

know how to handle himself. It’s a

good skill to have.

Mother looks disgusted.

MOTHER:

It’s dangerous, Jonesy. And you...

She points at Jane.

MOTHER (CONT’D)

...you’d better...

Jane interrupts.

JANE:

I know what I’m doing.

They glare at each other until Uncle Jones steps in.

UNCLE JONES:

I’m ordering a cease fire. Starting

now and ending...when I say it

ends. C’mon. Let’s go inside. I’ve

got cheese balls.

Mother sighs.

MOTHER:

Cheese balls?

UNCLE JONES:

Among other snacks. And cheese

spray for the kid. Let’s go.

They go towards the house, Uncle Jones’s arm draped over James’s shoulder, Mother and Jane following them.

21.

TITUS (19, Jane’s boyfriend, strongly built) hurries up to the group.

TITUS:

Hey wait up. Did I hear someone say

‘cheese balls’?

He slips his arm over Jane’s shoulders and kisses her on the cheek.

They continue to the house.

22 EXT. JUNGLE OF NOJUNC - LATER 22

The wind sighs through the lush foliage and the jungle is alive with the sounds of various creatures calling each other.

Majes munches on dehydrated bits of mufer lactin liberally doused with a gelatinized version.

AJEN (mirror image of Jane) looks at him chewing.

AJEN:

Finish that bit and let’s go.

Lesson time.

Majes jams another chip in his mouth and jumps to his feet.

MAJES:

Is Tusit coming?

Of course.

AJEN:

Majes hides his disappointment.

MAJES:

Well, that’ll be good. I can show

you both what I’ve learned.

TUSIT (Titus’s mirror image) comes striding up. He puts his arm around Ajen’s shoulders and kisses her on the cheek. Majes looks away.

Tusit looks at Majes.

TUSIT:

So, kid. Gonna show us what you’ve

got today, huh?

22.

MAJES:

Well, I’ve been practicing with the

blades. I’m not allowed live fire

at home.

AJEN:

Makes sense. But you’re gonna need

to know it all some day - and I

won’t always be around.

MAJES:

I’ll still see you - wherever you

are. The Touch.

He grins at her as they walk towards the training ground.

23 EXT. GROVE - CONTINUOUS 23

Titus, carrying the practice katana, leads Jane and James towards the training ground. He points proudly at the targets - wooden stumps painted to look like robed warriors.

TITUS:

I made this...

Jane interrupts.

We.

Titus sighs.

JANE TITUS:

Uh, yeah, we made these.

He looks at James.

TITUS (CONT’D)

You get to go first. Let’s see what kinda damage you can do.

He hands James the katana.

TITUS (CONT’D)

Damage the targets I mean.

He laughs. Jane punches him on the arm.

JANE:

Shut up a**hole.

23.

James swings the katana, getting the feel of it. He approaches the first target and holds the katana out, measuring the distance.

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