FINAL FANTASY CRY OF THE PLANET
Character Listing for Part 8
CLOUD STRIFE BARRET WALLACE TIFA LOCKHEART AERIS GAINSBOROUGH RED XIII YUFFIE KISARGI CAIT SITH RUFUS REEVE HEIDEGGER PALMER
REPAIRMAN OPERATOR HOTEL RECEPTIONIST DIO’S ASSISTANT SECURITY OFFICER SECURITY GUARD EMPLOYEE WOUNDED CIVILIAN SOLDIER PRISONER ARMY CAPTAIN THUG #1 THUG #2 THUG #3 THUG #4
DIO DYNE GATTA
ELEANOR
Interiors
SHINRA TOWER - CONFERENCE ROOM SHINRA TOWER - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE ROPEWAY TRAM GOLD SAUCER - RAILWAY STATION GOLD SAUCER - STATION SQUARE GOLD SAUCER - GHOST SQUARE GOLD SAUCER - WONDER SQUARE GOLD SAUCER - CHOCOBO SQUARE GOLD SAUCER - BATTLE SQUARE GOLD SAUCER - BOILER ROOM GOLD SAUCER - DIO’S OFFICE GOLD SAUCER - ELEVATOR GOLD SAUCER - PRISON CELLS GHOST HOTEL - LOBBY GHOST HOTEL - HALLWAY GHOST HOTEL - ROOM 4A GHOST HOTEL - GUEST ROOM BATTLE SQUARE - BATTLE ARENA DESERT PRISON - HUT PIPE
Exteriors
COREL - RAIL TRAM PORT DESERT PRISON - STREETS DESERT PRISON - FREEDOM SQUARE DESERT PRISON - CLIFF EDGE DESERT PRISON - JUNK YARD
Part 8: My Lucky Color is Blue
FADE IN
INT. SHINRA TOWER - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
REEVE sits in one of the chairs beaten. His face isn’t too bruised but his nose has begun to bleed. The two SHINRA SOLDIERS continue to prevent Reeve from going anywhere.
SHINRA SOLDIER #22 (into his radio) Yes, sir.
(to the other soldier)
He’s here.
REEVE Who is? Rufus?
A few beats; then the door opens and RUFUS along with HEIDEGGER enters. Rufus jokingly smiles at the sight of Reeve.
RUFUS Reeve, my “loyal” executive, greetings.
REEVE (standing up) Rufus, I demand to know what is going on here. You have my two military escorts bring me here and tell them to violently abuse me.
RUFUS You’re quite right. Be thankful that you’re still alive.
REEVE What are you saying?
Rufus smiles and he and Heidegger sit down at the conference table.
HEIDEGGER Please do sit, Reeve.
Reeve cautiously sits down at the table.
RUFUS We’re beginning to question where your loyalty lies.
REEVE I’ve always been loyal to Shinra.
RUFUS Then why? Why neglect the President?
REEVE What do you mean?
HEIDEGGER You weren’t in Junon for the ceremony. What does that say to the world?
REEVE (angered) This is bullshit! Hojo or Palmer weren’t there either!
RUFUS Hojo had a legitimate excuse. He is on the trail of Sephiroth…along with the Turks. And Palmer isn’t officially an executive. We’ve disbanded out space program for quite some time now.
REEVE I was in the slums surveying the damage we caused.
RUFUS Who gave that order?
Reeve is speechless.
HEIDEGGER Speak!
REEVE (defeated) I did.
RUFUS That’s right and what did I tell you about the Sector 7 Slums?
REEVE You said that it was a waste because we weren’t rebuilding.
RUFUS Then why survey the damage, Reeve?
REEVE (defensive) Because I disagree with your decision. I think we should rebuild. Shinra can’t put all it money into a plan to reach the Promised Land which we don’t even know exists.
HEIDEGGER You are speaking the President of Shinra, Reeve. Show some respect!
Rufus calms Heidegger down with a hand gesture.
RUFUS Tell me Reeve, were you loyal to my father?
REEVE I’m loyal to all of Shinra.
RUFUS Prove it then. If you prove to me that you aren’t some money-grumbling moron, I won’t kill you.
REEVE Kill me?
RUFUS Yes that’s right. The law does say that to rebel against the president of Shinra will spell your death via execution.
REEVE No it doesn’t!
RUFUS Now it does.
Rufus smiles.
RUFUS (CONT.) Are we understood? Show me you’re executive material and keep your damn mind focused.
REEVE (determined) Yes sir.
(BEAT)
I love my position here and I’ll prove to Shinra that I am valuable.
RUFUS (smiles) Good. You do that.
(BEAT)
And now…you’re free to go.
Reeve gets up, buttons his jacket, and leaves the conference room.
HEIDEGGER I still think we should keep our eyes on him.
RUFUS I agree. Get in touch with the Turks. I want a status report.
HEIDEGGER Yes, sir.
EXT. COREL - RAIL TRAM PORT - DUSK
CLOUD, BARRET, AERIS, TIFA, YUFFIE, and RED XIII all wait in the Corel port for the tram to get ready to take them to Gold Saucer. A REPAIRMAN is there fixing a gear counsel.
TIFA We’ve been here all day!
(to repairman)
Are you done yet?
The repairman flips a switch and the gears in the box begin to spin.
REPAIRMAN Now I am.
He wipes the grease off his hands and gets up.
CLOUD What was wrong with it?
REPAIRMAN Looked like sabotage to me. Stuff like that just doesn’t happen by itself.
AERIS Who could have sabotaged the tram?
Aeris looks at Cloud and immediately gets an idea of who it was. The repairman walks to the group.
BARRET How much is it?
REPAIRMAN Job like that…I’d say about 250.
Barret looks at Cloud. Cloud nods and Barret gives the repairman a pouch of cash.
REPAIRMAN (stashing the cash) Thanks.
(BEAT)
Say, aint you the guy everyone in this town talk about?
BARRET What guy?
REPAIRMAN Yeah I think you are that guy. A lot of people hate you here.
BARRET (irritated) Thanks, I know.
REPAIRMAN Hey man, I don’t care what you did or didn’t do. I moved here from Midgar. It’s good business being the only repair guy in town.
CLOUD Thanks for the help.
REPAIRMAN You bet.
The repairman leaves. A few beats; then the group heads toward the tram.
YUFFIE So who did sabotage our passage? Those Turk guys?
RED XIII Perhaps it was him?
YUFFIE Who?
TIFA You’ve got a lot of catchin’ up to do, Yuffie.
The team boards the tram.
OPERATOR (OS) Tram departing!
The OPERATOR flips a lever and the tram’s propellers begin to spin.
INT. ROPEWAY TRAM - NIGHT
The party, except Cloud, all sits on the cushioned bench that lines the interior of the tram. Barret is still extremely depressed as he watches the tram start to move up the ropeway.
TIFA (comforting) Barret, you gotta’ cheer up.
BARRET Just leave me alone.
Cloud walks to the window and looks out.
CLOUD Sephiroth must know that we’re after him. Who else could have sabotaged those controls?
AERIS The Turks?
RED XIII I doubt that, Aeris. (MORE)
RED XIII (CONT.) Don’t you think we would have heard something back in Corel?
CLOUD He’s right. It could only be Sephiroth.
YUFFIE Again, who’s Sephiroth!?
Cloud sighs.
TIFA Long story. But in short, he’s the guy we’re after.
YUFFIE (sarcastically) What’d he do to deserve people like us?
AERIS Is ‘wiping out the world’ a good enough answer?
A beat.
YUFFIE I see.
BOOM! A huge thundering burst nearly rocks the tram. Startled everyone looks out the window and sees that fireworks are exploding all over the place. In the midst of all the color is Gold Saucer, a huge gold-colored amusement complex that resembles a stem with five mushroom-like branches.
TIFA (surprised) That’s Gold Saucer!?
CLOUD Yeah.
AERIS Isn’t it beautiful?
RED XIII Will they welcome my species there? I’d very much like to see this place.
CLOUD I’m sure they will. Gold Saucer is the place to find the most bizarre creatures on the planet.
AERIS Is this place run by Shinra?
CLOUD (smiling) Nope. It’s Shinra-free.
Aeris grins widely. Barret still sits there depressed.
AERIS (gazing out the window) The place is enormous! Can we even find Sephiroth?
CLOUD We’re going to have to try.
(BEAT)
Now come on, we’re about to dock.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - RAILWAY STATION - NIGHT
The tram docks through a tunnel resembling a giant pink moogle. The station is brightly lit up. The doors of the tram open and the part gets out. They look at the place in amazement.
TIFA This place is incredible!
Cloud walks up to the front counter next to the complex’s main entrance. There waiting is the EMPLOYEE.
EMPLOYEE Can I help you folks?
CLOUD Yeah, we’re looking to get in to Gold Saucer.
EMPLOYEE Well you’re here. How many of you are there?
CLOUD Six.
EMPLOYEE Six-hundred gil then.
TIFA (shocked) Six-hundred! Isn’t that a bit steep?
EMPLOYEE I don’t make the rules, lady. That’s all up to Dio.
Cloud pulls out his envelope of money and pulls the rest of the cash out. He hands it to the man.
EMPLOYEE (counting the money) Alright then.
(BEAT)
Welcome to Gold Saucer!
CLOUD Thank you.
EMPLOYEE Enjoy your stay. The railway will be waiting.
Cloud nods and the party proceeds into--
INT. GOLD SAUCER - STATION SQUARE - NIGHT
The Gold Saucer Station Square is a small round yellow room that has access to all of the complex’s activity squares. The doors to the other squares are circles connected to a tube transport system. There are six circular passageways. Each of them has the name of the square they lead to above it. The squares are, Chocobo Square, Wonder Square, Ghost Square, Event Square, Speed Square, Battle Square, and Station Square.
RED XIII This is it?
AERIS (looking at the circular doors) I guess we go through those.
TIFA So where do you want to go?
AERIS We should do something fun while we’re here. Barret needs some cheering up.
BARRET I aint in no cheery mood. So ‘jes leave me alone.
CLOUD Can we just drop this?
AERIS Sure, but we’re going to go play.
BARRET So fucking play already! Don’t forget we’re after Sephiroth!
Barret runs and jumps into the Ghost Square passage.
YUFFIE Where’s he going?
TIFA Probably to look for a drink.
CLOUD Alright enough of this! It’s obvious that Barret has a lot on his mind. We all do, but we shouldn’t lose our focus. Sephiroth is somewhere inside and I’m going to find him.
AERIS How? This place is enormous!
RED XIII She’s right. It could days to find one man in a black cloak.
Cloud sighs.
CLOUD We should all split up then. Unfortunately, Barret has the other PHS.
RED XIII We’ll get it.
YUFFIE It’s not like you’ll be able to use it.
RED XIII (sarcastically) Very funny.
CLOUD Fine! Red, you and Yuffie go find Barret.
YUFFIE Roger!
TIFA Then the rest of us look for Sephiroth?
CLOUD Right. Aeris will go with me. I can’t risk her being alone here especially of Sephiroth is lurking around.
AERIS I can handle myself.
CLOUD Not against Sephiroth.
Aeris sighs with a hint of anger.
TIFA It’s settled then?
Cloud nods.
REX XIII Then come on Yuffie.
Yuffie smiles and her and Red XIII jump in the passage leading to the Ghost Square.
CLOUD (to Tifa) We’ll meet in the Ghost Square.
TIFA Why there?
CLOUD I’m told that there’s a hotel there for traveling customers.
TIFA Alright then, fine with me. What should I do if I find Sephiroth?
CLOUD Keep an eye on him and follow him wherever he goes. Don’t start a confrontation.
TIFA Go it.
Tifa goes and jumps in the Chocobo Square passage.
CLOUD (to Aeris) Let’s go.
AERIS (sarcastically) Yes, master.
They walk and jump into the Wonder Square passage.
INT. SHINRA TOWER - PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - NIGHT
RUFUS Do you have it?
Rufus sits at his desk. PALMER is there and stands in front of him with a folder.
PALMER (holding out the folder to Rufus) Yes. This has everything. From birth to the present everything this guy did is there.
Rufus opens the folder and looks at it.
CLOSE UP on the black and white photograph on the front page. It shows a pilot with dirty blond hair and a rugged beard.
RUFUS This is him?
PALMER Yes. Cid Highwind. He was one of our best fighter pilots during the war with Wutai.
RUFUS Is he not the man you and my father screwed out of being the first man in space?
Palmer is silent. A few beats; then Rufus turns the page to a picture of a huge airship.
RUFUS I take it he is the one working on the airship for us.
PALMER Correct Mr. President. He has borrowed money from Shinra to build it. When he has completed the ship, he will have no way of paying us back.
RUFUS So we’ll take the ship as payment.
PALMER Correct. Then I suggest we eliminate him to avoid and actions of vengeance.
RUFUS How close are we to obtaining the airship?
PALMER Close. Highwind knows he’s starting to have financial troubles.
Rufus stands up.
RUFUS Do not eliminate him yet.
PALMER Why not? This man has connections that could bring heavy damage to Shinra if he seeks vengeance.
RUFUS Yes, that’s true and no doubt will most definitely want Shinra dead after we screw him over again. That airship is our passage to the Promised Land.
PALMER So what should we do?
RUFUS We’ll take the airship but not as payment to his debt. We take it and store it at Junon. Highwind will only get it back when he pays us back.
PALMER Why not just kill him now then and take the ship for ourselves?
RUFUS Because there is something else I want from this…Cid Highwind.
Rufus takes the photograph of Cid out of the folder and slides it to Palmer on the desk. He points to an airplane in the background.
RUFUS It’s the Tiny Bronco. Highwind’s first perfect plane he ever built.
PALMER Does it still work?
RUFUS Of course it does.
PALMER What do we need it for? You said yourself the airship was our key to find Promised Land.
RUFUS In time you’ll find out. Just get me the Tiny Bronco.
(BEAT)
When Shinra takes his ship, he’ll be forced to give us the Tiny Bronco in exchange for his airship back.
PALMER Why not just take them both and kill him?
RUFUS Because Cid’s current residence is in Rocket Town. The town is very connected to its history. To them there are only two symbols of their existence, the Tiny Bronco and Rocket Number 26. To avoid an uprising Cid will have to give the Tiny Bronco, thus we can’t be held responsible.
PALMER Then we kill him?
RUFUS We kill him and take the airship for ourselves. We’ll have both of Highwind’s genius works.
PALMER (smiling) You should call the Turks and tell them to head for Rocket Town.
RUFUS The Turks are busy, Palmer. If anyone kills Cid, it’ll be you.
PALMER Why me?
RUFUS You must understand Palmer. You killed this man’s dream to be the first man in space.
(BEAT)
You killed the dream, now you must kill the man.
PALMER What will stop Rocket Town from becoming an enemy of Shinra?
RUFUS They won’t dare rebel against us after we kill Cid, for after we do kill him, I’ll re-launch the Shinra Space Program with you back at its head.
Palmer smiles.
PALMER Thank you, sir.
A beat; then
RUFUS I’ll expect the Tiny Bronco to be ours in the coming weeks. Understood?
PALMER Yes I understand.
(BEAT)
If I may ask, what is going on with Reeve? He’s been a close friend of mine and is now all the sudden distant.
RUFUS (sitting back down) Reeve is engaged in a mission to prove himself to Shinra. His life depends on it.
A few beats; then
PALMER I see. Thank you, sir.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - GHOST SQUARE - NIGHT
Red XIII and Yuffie walk in a phony man-made graveyard in the Gold Saucer Ghost Square. Mechanical monsters and ghost pop up from under the graves as they walk. Neither Yuffie nor Red XIII are fazed.
YUFFIE You actually think Barret is here?
RED XIII He came this way. We all saw it.
They look ahead and see a large haunted house.
YUFFIE What’s that?
RED XIII It looks like a haunted house. Probably just a funhouse to scare the tourists.
YUFFIE Barret could be inside.
RED XIII Doing what!? Pummeling those mechanical monsters?
YUFFIE Well it’s not like he’d be doing anything out here.
RED XIII Fine, let’s go.
Yuffie and Red XIII walk up to the house.
INT. GHOST HOTEL - LOBBY - DAY
Inside the supposed haunted house in nothing more than the front lobby of a hotel with a haunted house theme. Yuffie and Red XIII walk inside. They scan the place and see that it’s a hotel.
YUFFIE It’s a hotel!
RED XIII (sarcastically) You’re so observant.
YUFFIE Shut up.
They look around and see the HOTEL RECEPTIONIST at a desk off to the right side. The two walk up to him.
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST Welcome to Gold Saucer’s Haunted Hotel. Can I help you?
YUFFIE We’re looking for our friend. We think we may have checked in here earlier.
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST (pulling out his clipboard) His name?
YUFFIE Barret.
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST His last name?
Yuffie stops and thinks. She then leans down toward Red XIII.
YUFFIE (whispering) What’s his last name?
RED XIII It’s Wallace I believe.
YUFFIE (to receptionist) Wallace. His name is Barret Wallace.
The receptionist checks through the names on the clipboard and sees Barret.
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST Ah. Your friend is here and it looks like he’s expecting more of you.
YUFFIE How many more?
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST He reserved two rooms. He said he had a party of six.
YUFFIE Thank you. What room number?
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST 4A. However I can’t let you through?
YUFFIE What? Why not?
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST He’s asked not to be disturbed until a certain time.
YUFFIE (under her breath) Bastard.
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST You are welcome to stay here in the lobby until it is time.
YUFFIE Thank you.
Yuffie slides her hand forward and “accidently” knocks the man’s clipboard off the desk.
YUFFIE Oops. I’m sorry.
The receptionist bends down to pick up the clipboard. As he does Yuffie swiftly swipes the master key from his belt without him knowing. She holds the key down and Red XIII grabs it. He conceals it in his mouth.
YUFFIE Everything in order?
HOTEL RECEPTIONIST Yes.
YUFFIE Okay, again I’m sorry.
Yuffie and Red XIII walk away from the desk. They watch as the receptionist sits in his chair and is about to fall asleep. They quietly walk up the stairs to the second floor.
INT. GHOST HOTEL - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Quietly the two walk the hallway on the second floor looking for rooms 4A and 4B.
YUFFIE Got the key?
Red XIII spits the key out on the floor. Yuffie picks it up and wipes it off.
RED XIII Why would Barret want to avoid us?
YUFFIE You’re asking me? I just met the guy and from what I’ve seen so far, he’s an asshole. How long have you known him?
RED XIII Only about a month. He and the others saved that maniac Hojo back at Shinra Tower.
YUFFIE So he saved your life the first moments he knew you, eh? In my case, he tied me and treated me like some lowlife scumbag, which I’m not!
RED XIII That’s debatable.
Yuffie groans. They continue to walk down the hallway and see room 4A.
YUFFIE This is it.
Yuffie presses her ear against the door and listens. A few beat; then she removes her ear.
YUFFIE Nothing. He must be asleep.
She inserts the key in the hole.
RED XIII Be careful.
CRASH! A fake ghost falls from the ceiling. Yuffie and Red XIII yelp. After they realize it was fake they both sigh.
RED XIII Damn thing.
YUFFIE Can we just get inside, please?
She turns the key and slowly opens the door. Both she and Red XIII walk into --
INT. GHOST HOTEL - ROOM 4A - NIGHT
They see Barret sitting at a circular table loading heavy amounts of ammunition in his gun-arm. He glances up and sees them.
BARRET What are you doing here!?
YUFFIE What the hell are you doing?
BARRET Get out!
YUFFIE Hey, you reserved the room for all of us.
BARRET Get out!
RED XIII Take it easy. Let’s all calm down and figure out what’s happening.
(BEAT)
Not Barret, what are you doing?
He goes back to loading ammo in his gun-arm.
BARRET My own people think I’m a killer. If that’s what they want, then that’s what I’ll be. I’m going to kill everyone here.
YUFFIE Whoa! What are you saying!
RED XIII You can’t be serious!
BARRET You better believe it, you four-legged freak.
RED XIII Barret this isn’t what your people want! You think murdering more innocent people will make you a hero to Corel? If anything, they will hate you more!
BARRET What do you know about it?! Have you ever lost everyone you loved!?
RED XIII Have I not told you anything since we’ve been together? My whole species was wiped out. I’m one of the only few of my species left. Also try having to know that your own father was a coward and he disgraced your name. You’re not the only one who has it bad.
Barret stops and drops his head. Tears develop in his eyes.
YUFFIE Barret, it wasn’t your fault what happened. You were just trying to help your town.
BARRET Fuck it! Who cares whose fault it was? It doesn’t matter. I’m the one who’s taking the heat!
RED XIII You can’t be serious about shooting up the place?
BARRET I’m going to do whatever I need to.
Barret gets up and storm out of the room. He SLAMS the door shut. A few beats; then
YUFFIE He should never have trusted Shinra, in my opinion.
RED XIII It’s too late for that now. We have to stop him.
YUFFIE You honestly think he’ll shoot this place up? He’ll be killed before even getting the chance.
RED XIII Exactly. We must save him.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - CHOCOBO SQUARE - NIGHT
Tifa walks around the brightly lit gambling center of Gold Saucer. As she walks, she carefully looks at all the people. Many television monitors are on showing sporting events. However most are occupied by the chocobo races. She stops walking and walks up to the bar.
BARTENDER #3 Looking for something?
TIFA Yeah. You see a big guy walking around dressed in a black cloak?
BARTENDER #3 Can’t say that I have. I also can’t say that I haven’t. Lots of people come through here. I don’t got time to remember all of ‘em.
Tifa sighs.
TIFA Alright thanks.
She walks away. Meanwhile near the entrance of square is DIO, a well-built man and the owner of Gold Saucer. He is sweaty and is wearing a silk red suit. Accompanying him is his ASSISTANT [DIO’S]. Dio pulls out a cigar and lights it. He blows some smoke in the air and gazes at all the people.
DIO This really is the most profitable square in Gold Saucer. However I can’t help but feel guilty letting all these people piss away their money.
DIO’S ASSISTANT Don’t feel guilty. Gambling is a good business. Besides, people never play against the house. They play against each other. The only profit coming our way is the bookie’s cut and gambling fee.
DIO True, but when I envisioned Gold Saucer, I envisioned it a place for children.
DIO’S ASSISTANT This still is a place for children. They are still are highest population of customers.
The two start walking.
DIO (blowing smoke in the air) Tell me about the problems below.
DIO’S ASSISTANT (sighs) Not good, sir. Pressure is coming from all sides.
DIO That threat we received this morning, do you think it was legit?
DIO’S ASSISTANT Honestly sir…yeah I do. We’ve been hearing all the rumors for the past four years.
DIO I care about my customers. I won’t have them harassed by criminals!
(BEAT)
What’ll it take for these scumbags to keep quiet and go on with their lives?
DIO’S ASSISTANT They want their freedom. The unknown boss of the prison says he’ll take great action against us if we refuse.
Dio sighs heavily.
DIO Just hold tight. We’ll figure a way to get through this.
BUMP! Tifa, who is still scanning the faces of the crowd, backs into Dio. He staggers a few steps. Tifa turns to face him.
TIFA Oh, I’m so sorry!
DIO (dusting himself off) Relax, it’s alright. Are you alright?
TIFA Fine.
DIO Glad to hear it.
Dio takes in a puff of smoke and blows it out.
DIO (CONT.) Having a good time, ma’am?
TIFA I can’t say. I’m not here for entertainment.
DIO Oh? And what then are you here in Gold Saucer for?
TIFA I’m looking for someone. Why does it matter to you?
DIO Whoa. Take it easy. It’s my business because I own this place.
TIFA You’re the owner?
DIO (smiling) In the flesh. The name’s Dio.
Tifa shakes hands with Dio.
TIFA I’m Tifa.
A few beats; then
DIO’S ASSISTANT You said you were looking for someone.
DIO Yes. Who was it?
TIFA A man dressed in a black cloak. Have you seen him?
Dio looks at his assistant. A beat; then
DIO As a matter of fact, I have. You’re in luck. Is he friend of yours?
TIFA (frantic) Where is he!?
DIO I don’t know. He could very well be gone. I only saw him this morning. He wanted to speak with me.
TIFA What’d he want?
DIO’S ASSISTANT That is classified information.
DIO Relax, it’s okay.
(BEAT)
He asked me about ‘the Black Materia’. He said he wanted it.
TIFA Black materia?
DIO Yes. It’s the only one of its kind.
TIFA (excited) Do you have it? Did you give it to him?
DIO Yes I have it, and no, I did not give it to him. I told him that it wasn’t in my possession anymore. The guy looked awfully suspicious.
TIFA What’d he look like, aside from the black cloak? Did you see his face?
DIO (pondering) Yeah I did. He had long silvery hair and the number ‘one’ tattooed on his hand.
TIFA A tattoo?
DIO Yeah.
Dio pauses and smokes his cigar. His assistant points to his watch. Dio nods.
DIO Pardon me, but I have some business to attend to.
Dio walks away.
DIO’S ASSISTANT Enjoy your stay, ma’am.
The assistant walks to join his boss.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - WONDER SQUARE - NIGHT
AERIS He’s not anywhere, Cloud.
CLOUD He’s here. I know it!
Aeris sighs and sits down on a bench.
AERIS Maybe we should call Barret?
CLOUD What for?
AERIS Just to check up on him. He was pretty depressed.
CLOUD It’s a depressing world.
AERIS Just do it.
Cloud sighs and pulls out his PHS. He dials the number and presses the device against his ear. It begins to RING. As Cloud waits for an answer Aeris sees a moogle flying toward her. A moogle is a cute, small, white stuffed animal looking creature. It has two small bat wings on its back and red puff ball dangling upward from its head. Aeris looks at it with astonishment.
AERIS (whispering) What is it?
Cloud hangs up the PHS and pockets it.
CLOUD No answer. I guess he doesn’t want to talk.
Aeris watches as the moogle flies past her.
AERIS What was that thing?
CLOUD It’s a moogle. You’ve never seen one before?
AERIS No.
CLOUD Well I guess there’s a first time for everything then.
(BEAT)
Come on, let’s go.
Cloud begins walking as Aeris trails behind.
AERIS Tell me, are there a lot of these moogles on the planet?
CLOUD There’s a decent amount. The high majority live here in Gold Saucer. I guess it helps lighten the mood.
AERIS How big do they get?
CLOUD Not much bigger than the one you saw. They’re awfully tiny.
AERIS You sure?
CLOUD What? Of course, I am.
AERIS Then why is there one life-size standing right there?
CLOUD (turning around) What are you talking about?
Cloud sees Aeris, who has halted in front of a giant moogle (Mog) that is as tall as them.
AERIS It’s not moving.
Cloud, cautiously, moves forward. Out of curiousness he pokes the Mog. Nothing happens and Cloud smiles.
CLOUD It’s stuffed. It’s not real.
SWOOSH! The giant moogle lifts his hand in the air. Startled, Aeris SCREAMS. She and Cloud back up and watch is astonishment as the Mog walks out from the corner.
AERIS It’s alive!
VOICE (OS) No, not really. I brought it to life.
CLOUD (looking around) Who’s there? Who said that?
VOICE (OS) I did.
Cloud and Aeris look around and see a black and white cat wearing a crown jump up onto the Mog’s head.
CAT Me.
CLOUD You’re a cat.
CAT Observant this one is. You can call my stuffed counterpart and me, Cait Sith.
FREEZE FRAME:
“Cait Sith” “Gold Saucer fortune teller”
REAL TIME
AERIS (dumbfounded) You’re a talking cat.
CAIT SITH Simply put, yes. But there’s so much more.
CLOUD Oh yeah?
CAIT SITH Indeed. I read fortunes. Would you like yours?
CLOUD We’ll pass.
CAIT SITH Come on! First one’s free. I can find missing people, missing things, anything!
CLOUD No thanks.
AERIS Come on, Cloud. It’s only a fortune.
Cloud sighs.
CLOUD Fine alright. Just hurry up.
CAIT SITH You got it.
The Mog starts to shake. It extends its long arm to Cloud. A small paper shoots out from its hand. Cloud grabs it.
CAIT SITH Your fortune is…
Cloud sighs as the sight of his fortune.
AERIS Read it.
CLOUD (reading his fortune) Ordinary luck. It will be an active fortune. Give into the good will of others, and something big’ll happen over summer.
AERIS That’s it?
CLOUD Yep.
Cloud crumples the paper and throws it on the ground.
CLOUD Let’s go, Aeris.
CAIT SITH Wait one more!
CLOUD I don’t have time.
Ignoring Cloud, the Mog shakes again. It expenses another paper from its hand. Cloud sighs and grabs it.
CAIT SITH And your fortune is…
CLOUD (reading) My lucky color is blue.
(to Cait Sith)
Forget it.
Cloud drops and the paper and he and Aeris start walking. CAIT SITH follows.
CAIT SITH Wait! Give me one more chance! Third time’s a charm!
CLOUD We’ve had enough of your games Cait Snitch, or whatever your name is.
CAIT SITH One more! Please! I’ll leave you alone.
AERIS Cloud, come on. One more. At least he’ll leave us alone after that.
CLOUD (annoyed) Fine!
CAIT SITH Alrighty then. Here we go.
Cait Sith shakes and for a third time and expenses a fortune from his hand. Cloud grabs it and reads. A beat; then Cloud scowls are the fortune.
AERIS What’s it say?
CLOUD (reading) What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear.
CAIT SITH Wow. I’ve never gotten it to actually work before. This is a first.
Cloud lets the fortune drop to the ground. Without speech, he and Aeris start to walk off. Cait Sith follows.
AERIS (looking back at Cait Sith) What are you doing?
CAIT SITH What’s it look like?
CLOUD You can get away now. We’ve had enough of your half-bit fortunes.
CAIT SITH Oh, but I must see if the fortune was right.
CLOUD Just leave us alone.
CAIT SITH No can do, my friend.
AERIS (to Cloud) What do we do?
CLOUD Ignore him. He’ll go away.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - DIO’S OFFICE - NIGHT
Dio walks into his office. He is accompanied by his assistant.
DIO’S ASSISTANT Something needs to be done, sir.
DIO (sitting at his desk) I know, I know.
DIO’S ASSISTANT What shall we do then?
DIO I won’t free them. That junk town down there has a purpose. (MORE)
DIO (CONT.) It keeps all the murders, rapists and thieves from tormenting the innocent. I won’t just free them all.
DIO’S ASSISTANT Why not just send a firing squad down there?
DIO Criminals or not, those people are human beings and I am no savage.
DIO’S ASSISTANT You must do something sir.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - WONDER SQUARE - NIGHT
Cait Sith continues to follow Aeris and Cloud.
AERIS He’s still there.
CLOUD So much for ignoring him.
Cloud and Aeris look back at Cait Sith. He smiles at them. A beat; then simultaneously Cloud and Aeris start to run.
CAIT SITH Hey!
Cait Sith starts hopping after them.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - GHOST SQUARE - NIGHT
Yuffie and Red XIII see Barret standing in the middle of the phony graveyard near the passages to the other squares.
YUFFIE Barret!
BARRET Leave me alone!
RED XIII Come to your senses! We won’t let you murder innocent people.
BARRET But I’m a killer.
RED XIII Wrong. You’re a soldier.
Barret looks at Red XIII in the eyes. A few beats; then Barret goes and jumps in the Battle Square passage.
YUFFIE Barret!
RED XIII We must stop him.
YUFFIE No shit.
(BEAT)
Do you have the PHS?
RED XIII Where would I keep it?
Yuffie groans.
YUFFIE (sarcastically) Great. Now we can’t get in touch with Cloud.
RED XIII It’s up to us, little lady.
Yuffie and Red XIII jump in the Battle Square passage after Barret.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - WONDER SQUARE - NIGHT
Cloud and Aeris running has turned into somewhat of a joyous masquerade as they try to out run. They run into a crowd of people.
CLOUD Is he still there?
Aeris looks around. She sees Cait Sith a few meters away.
AERIS There.
Cloud giggles and he and Aeris run again. Cait Sith sees them and runs after.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - WONDER SQUARE - (LATER) NIGHT
Cloud and Aeris holding in their laughs hide behind a fake tree. They watch as a dumbfounded Cait Sith walks by. A few beats; then they walk out from the hiding place.
AERIS (laughing and out of breath) We lost him.
CLOUD Finally.
AERIS I never knew I could have so much fun, running.
CLOUD Life’s full of surprises.
CAIT SITH (OS) Found ya’!
They look and see Cait Sith hopping back toward them. Aeris starts to run away but WHAM! She runs into Cloud knocking herself on top of him. The two look into each other’s eyes briefly then get up.
AERIS You alright?
CLOUD Fine.
A beat; then
AERIS He’s coming.
CLOUD Right.
Cloud and Aeris start running again. They laugh their whole run.
AERIS (to Cait Sith) You’ll never catch us!
Cloud grabs Aeris hand and pulls her up to him. Cait Sith continues to follow. A few beats; then they reach the area with the passages to the other squares. They stop out of breath.
AERIS We’re trapped, Cloud.
CLOUD (smiling) Not, yet.
He pulls Aeris and the two jump in the Battle Square passage.
CAIT SITH Stupid humans!
INT. GOLD SQUARE - BATTLE SQUARE - NIGHT
Cloud and Aeris arrive in the Battle Square, laughing.
CLOUD You think that did it?
AERIS It better have.
They look to the stairs leading into the battle arena. The fun feeling is killed when both of them spot a dead body on the stairs. They walk over to investigate.
AERIS What happened here?
Cloud investigates the body. He sees a bullet hole.
CLOUD He’s been shot.
AERIS You don’t think…
Cloud and Aeris look at each other exchanging thoughts. Cloud unsheathes his sword and starts to walk up the stairs with Aeris.
INT. BATTLE SQUARE - BATTLE ARENA - NIGHT
As they walk in the arena they see nearly 15 dead bodies sprawled all over the place.
CLOUD Whoa!
AERIS Was it Sephiroth?
CLOUD No, they’re all shot. Sephiroth would never use a gun.
Aeris looks to the corner and sees Barret, Yuffie, and Red XIII towering over a body. Barret is slumped on the floor.
YUFFIE What…the hell did you do?
BARRET (whispering) Nothing.
YUFFIE Sure as hell doesn’t look like nothing!
Barret looks up at Yuffie.
BARRET I didn’t do anything!
Cloud and Aeris walk over to the three.
RED XIII Cloud! Glad you’re here.
CLOUD What happened here?
YUFFIE Barret shot the place up.
AERIS What!?
CLOUD Barret, did you?
A few beats; then Barret looks up at Cloud.
BARRET I came here ready. I wanted to murder all these people, but I couldn’t.
YUFFIE Then what the hell happened!?
BARRET They were dead when I came here.
YUFFIE You expect us to believe that?
BARRET Listen! The only the stopped me from killing everyone myself was guilt.
(BEAT)
If I killed these people, I’d only feel worse. The deaths caused by me in my hometown are something I’ll have to live with.
CLOUD (sarcastically) It’s great that you have an epiphany now.
Meanwhile, near the entrance of the square, Cait Sith sneaks in. He gasps.
INT. GOLD SAUCER - DIO’S OFFICE - NIGHT
A SECURITY OFFICER burst into Dio’s office.
SECURITY OFFICER (frantic) Sir, there’s a problem!
DIO What is it?
SECURITY OFFICER We’ve been alerted by one of fortune tellers of a slaughter in the Battle Square.
DIO A slaughter?
(to his assistant)
Bring up the security feed.
DIO’S ASSISTANT Yes, sir.
Dio stands up and his assistant presses a button. A huge monitor behind his desk turns on. It shows black and white footage of the Battle Square.
DIO’S ASSISTANT What the hell…?
Everyone stares at the sight of the slaughter.
DIO Show me the footage from when this massacre occurred.
His assistant reaches for a button. He presses it and the screen skips the frames of slaughter. It now shows what the Battle Square was before the attack.
DIO Where is it?
DIO’S ASSISTANT It appears we don’t have it.
DIO How is that possible!?
SECURITY OFFICER They must have disabled the cameras, sir.
Dio slams his fist on his desk. He then realizes the party on the screen.
DIO Who are those people? Civilians?
DIO’S ASSISTANT I don’t know.
DIO Can we tell how long ago this attack took place?
DIO’S ASSISTANT Yeah. I’ll rewind the footage.
He rewinds to the footage of the Battle Square before the attack. He read the time at the bottom.
DIO’S ASSISTANT The attack took place sometime in the last ten minutes.
SECURITY OFFICER Those people must be the murders.
DIO Get security down there right away! I want those people arrested!
SECURITY OFFICER Yes, sir.
INT. BATTLE SQUARE - BATTLE ARENA - NIGHT
AERIS What do we do?
Barret gets up and starts to walk away.
BARRET We leave immediately.
AERIS But what about these people?
BARRET They’re dead.
Suddenly a WOUNDED CIVILIAN raises his hand.
WOUNDED CIVILIAN (struggling) Help…me.
Cloud and Aeris go to the wounded man. Aeris lifts his head as he attempts to breathe.
AERIS Are you okay?
CLOUD What happened here?
A few beats; then
WOUNDED CIVILIAN (dying) A man…with a gun on his arm.
Cloud angrily looks up at Barret, who continues to walk away. The wounded man notices who Cloud is looking at.
WOUNDED CIVILIAN (dying) No…not him.
CLOUD Who? Who did this then?
CAIT SITH (OS) They’re right there!
The party looks to the entrance and sees Cait Sith leading a pack of Gold Saucer security.
CAIT SITH Arrest them.
CLOUD (getting up) Why you little…!
He starts to charge Cait Sith but the security officers raise their weapons.
CLOUD Take it easy. We didn’t do this.
CAIT SITH Then who?
RED XIII We don’t know. We arrived here with to look for our friend and everyone was dead.
CLOUD (to the wounded man) Tell them!
The man lays motionless. Aeris feels for a pulse.
AERIS He’s dead.
CLOUD Shit!
Aeris closes the man’s eyelids.
AERIS (to the dead man) I will pray for you.
She stands up and joins Cloud.
BARRET Listen…whatever you are. We didn’t do this!
CAIT SITH Got any proof?
YUFFIE Like we said before, we came down here to stop our friend from shooting the place up.
RED XIII Yuffie!
CAIT SITH Looks like you were too late. Arrest them!
The officers move forward.
CLOUD This is all a misunderstanding.
BARRET I didn’t do anything!
The officers start to arrest the party. They grab Cloud’s sword. One officer goes for Red XIII, but WHAM! Red XIII charges the officer knocking him over.
CLOUD Red! Get out of here!
Red XIII starts sprinting toward the door. He knocks several officers over as he runs.
CLOUD (CONT.) Get in contact with Tifa!
Red makes it out.
CAIT SITH We’ll get him. Don’t worry.
The officers start to escort the party out.
FADE OUT
INT. GOLD SAUCER - PRISON CELLS - NIGHT
FADE IN
Cloud, Aeris, Yuffie, and Barret are all in a prison cell. The cell door opens and Dio, with two GUARDS walk in.
DIO You must be the bunch.
CLOUD And you are?
DIO Dio. I own Gold Saucer.
A beat;
DIO (CONT.) You all seem to have caused quite a mess.
BARRET We didn’t do anything.
DIO That’s not what I hear.
Dio pulls out a cigar and lights it.
DIO (CONT.) Seems one of your lady friends here confessed for you.
BARRET She’s right about one thing.
DIO Oh?
BARRET I thought of killing those people, but I didn’t. They were dead when I got there.
DIO Perhaps. But who’s the real killer then?
BARRET I don’t know.
DIO Then I’m sorry. You’ll have to suffer for it. All of you.
AERIS What are you going to do to us?
DIO You’ve never heard of my desert prison?
AERIS No.
DIO It’s a place at the base of Gold Saucer…a desert town. It’s inhabited by the most vile human beings on the planet. I condemn criminals there.
AERIS You’re going to throw us down there?
DIO I haven’t decided. You see, there’s trouble brewing below. It appears that the criminals have started a resistance. They want their freedom. And if I were to throw you down there with them, I fear you’ll become part of that resistance. Judging from what you did in the Battle Square, they’ll accept you like one of their own.
AERIS We aren’t criminals!
DIO Maybe. But evil is always in the eye of the beholder. The only entity that matters is the majority, and they say you’re criminals. I’m sorry.
Dio starts to leave. Cloud gets up.
CLOUD Wait!
Dio stops and turns around.
DIO What is it? A last request?
CLOUD Yeah. Throw us in your desert prison.
YUFFIE Whoa! Are you insane!
DIO Yes, are you?
CLOUD I’ll have a better chance of being free down there than up here.
DIO Already planning on joining the resistance? If not, the desert is three weeks in every direction.
CLOUD We will win our freedom.
DIO How?
CLOUD We’ll put an end to this resistance garbage for you. And when we do you will free us.
Dio thinks. A few beats; then
DIO You’re asking me to trade a ton of criminals’ lives for a few.
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