mini-memoria memory: first question

[finalbows]

SETTING:

( EXT. TERRA – an alien world devoid of foliage, with terrain that looks like something out of a graph in a biology textbook. An eerie blue light bathes the scene. A GENOME with short red hair and blue eyes, somewhat recognizable as KUJA, walks stiffly over to stage left, to stand beside a bizarre.. HARP-TREE, thing. A floating EYE bobs along behind him at a distance, gaze locked upon him. KUJA looks up at the EYE, grimaces, and turns his back on it. KUJA covers his mouth with a hand before he speaks, trying to look thoughtful. It’s an attempt to keep his lips from being read.

His voice is much different from normal - higher, and completely void of his constant, playful singsong. )

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“I could kill the sentry as soon as we get to the other side. One spell. Pop. Like a bubble.”

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“I’ll be free…”

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“Master Garland calls me a failure anyway. Would he even try to find me?”

( KUJA looks down at his other hand, turning it to and fro, appraising it like an object rather than his own body. Once done, KUJA clenches the hand into a tight fist. )

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“...No. He has invested too much in. This. Already.”

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“It’s my first time on the surface. There’s nowhere I would know to hide…”

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“I can try later. Bide my time. If he trusts me to come back on my own, then…”

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“I just have to be patient.”

( KUJA turns around to the floating EYE, and gestures for its attention. The EYE comes slightly closer, seeming a little wary of him. )

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“Master, you can pick up on what I say to the sentry, right? I promise. I’ll go on to Gaia soon. But...”

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“That world is dangerous, isn’t it? Something could happen to me. Isn't 4 years of work a lot to lose?"

KUJA, MONOTONE:

“… … …”

( KUJA crosses his arms, face drawn into a vaguely sullen expression. Experiencing the emotion, but unfamiliar with how to show it. )

KUJA:

“…yet you won’t see me off?”

KUJA, TENSE:

“You won’t tell me what it is that’s wrong with me. You won’t trust me to go alone, but you won't send a real guard, either. What am I supposed to do?"

KUJA, DEFEATED:

"..."

KUJA, MONOTONE:

"...Watch closely, Master. I'll do everything you asked for and more. You'll see."

( KUJA spins on his heel, and reaches out to the strings of the HARP-TREE. When he touches them, KUJA vanishes in a flare of sickly light. The EYE follows after. The stage grows dark.

Muddled in the darkness, GARLAND approaches from stage right. He is an imposing, silent figure, waiting patiently for his creation’s return. The curious crimson organ in the exposed cavity of his chest pulses with red. Slowly, the lights come back over the stage, bathing it again in blue light. On stage left, the HARP-TREE flares with energy, and KUJA appears again. He looks ruffled and wide-eyed, but unharmed. )

KUJA, ECSTATIC:

“That was so easy. That’s it? A snap of the fingers… I don’t know why he even needs--”

( KUJA startles as a spotlight highlights GARLAND’s presence.)

KUJA, NERVOUS:

“Master. I hadn’t.. expected you to wait for me here.”

GARLAND:

“Even after you requested my presence?”

KUJA, CHASTISED:

“…”

( GARLAND sweeps toward him, and KUJA takes a reflexive step back. )

GARLAND:

“You have passed your final test. Here on, you will venture regularly to Gaia, to fulfill your purpose and assure Terra's destiny. For your reward... I grant you your wish… and will tell you that which has made you so unworthy.”

GARLAND:

"It is not power that you lack. My work was perfect… until the final step. At first, I suspected nothing."

GARLAND:

"But one day, briefly after I made you... you asked me a question, after you were given an order. Do you remember what that question was?"

KUJA, WARY:

“...No, Master Garland.”

GARLAND:

“The question you asked me… was “Why?”

KUJA:

“…”

GARLAND:

“...You understand now, do you not?”

KUJA, SMALL:

“Yes.”