A Teaser and a Fire Snake

Collinsport. As ancient evils have begun to gather once again in Collinsport, Nicole Collins, Esther Friedman, and Rhayaad d’Annar have been distracted by a sniper attack that had left both Esther and Samantha Brook injured. The ammunition used was of a special type used by the EUMO specifically to kill vampires. Rhyaad, hoping to gain more information regarding the apparent theft of these anti-vampire rounds had journeyed to Prague. Upon his return, Nikki and Esther are eager to learn what he has discovered. But tonight Nikki will discover something about Sam Evans that will change their relationship forever.

David Collins had felt the growing oppressive sense of anticipation, a foreshadowing of events that once put into action would lead to their inevitable consequences – for good or for ill – only, knowing that his last name was Collins, he knew there would be nothing particularly good for his family, for some time now. It was the same irresistible sense of impending doom that he had once felt as a boy – as he was being possessed by the ghost of another boy, Tad Collins – a possession that had lead to his death and to the eventually destruction Collinwood in 1995 and the desolation of the Collins family. He, being the last of the line, and the horror of Gerard Stiles and his curse scattering the remaining bits of the family, insane and terrified, to the far corners of the world. A 1995 that had never come to pass, but somehow inexplicably remained within him. Memories of events that had transpired and then were undone by Barnabas Collins—who had gone back into the past to save the family name – to save Collinwood – to save him.

A brave and desperate act by a man he had long feared – a man he had suspected of harboring deep and very deadly secrets. A man he felt he had never adequately repaid for his courage in transcending time and battling forces few sane men would have even imagined existed. A payment he felt he owed now to his daughter, Nicole. Just how many secrets did he now know? The head of the family – the keeper of the darkest shadows.

As the headlights of his Lexus illuminates the cars line in the parking lot, he arrives at The Nightingale ten minutes early. He shuts off the engine and sits looking at the team room. He knew a few secrets about this place too.

The meeting should have taken place at Collinwood – but owing to the events that had transpired the last time they had met he understood the desire to change venue. Yet one more lingering consequence of the Interfaith – who had so mysteriously packed up in the middle of the night, leaving behind their complex, gone without a single word as to where or why they were moving. Just a lot of empty buildings left behind – and a pyramid. Life was like that for him – people always suddenly leaving, moving on. His three wives. His son Nicholas in Arkham – whom he rarely hears anything from. Bramwell: their relationship threatening to become more like his own with his father. His father who he had been to see earlier in the day, tubes running everywhere, the prognosis not good, the cancer continuing to eat him away – and there was no Barnabas this time to go back into time and correct these events – to save his father this time.

David could not help thinking of Barnabas, had all day in fact, every since he had received the message for meeting.

He gets out of the car, the sound of the electronic lock loud as he stuffs his gloved hands deep into the pockets of his dark Brooks Brothers overcoat. He cross the parking lot, huddled against the winter wind as his eyes glance over to the grey and silver F-150 parked to his left. He gives no indication that he recognizes Arliss Mills sitting behind the steering wheel – a member of the Ghost Society he had called out tonight to cover his back. Not that the meeting should devolve into anything for which Arliss and his .45 should be needed – but David’s growing anxiety and his awareness of old adversaries possibly gathering in Collinsport needs a certain comfort level and Arliss and his .45 is very comforting.

David opens the door and welcomes the warmth of the Tea Room as he enters.

At the hostess desk, David stands a moment until the hostess arrives.

“Yes, and how many are in your party?” She’s young, perhaps a high school senior.

“Two — I am meeting someone. Do you have a quiet table?”

“Oh, yes sir, I think we can find you one.”

She leads David into the main room of the Nightingale, as he finds himself watching her walk with admiration.

“Here you are sir.”

In a long shot we see the last street lamp of Collinsport giving way to the darkness of Temperance Vale Road as Esther Friedman walks along the highway, her hands in her thick overcoat pockets, her warm hat pull snug atop her ears as she sees ahead the light of Rhyaad de’Annar’s tea room. She had closed up Collins Investigations early as Nik had not stopped by — not that Niik came to the office every night – well at least not very night lately. Nikki’s apparently felt the need to be alone – and Esther strongly suspects that she may have very well returned to her nightly walks, which would no doubt eventually lead her to Eagle Hill cemetery and the crypt she had once used to sit and meditate in – the one she had been in the night they had first met.

“Oh yes this is nice, by the fire.” David tells the hostess as he removes his gloves and overcoat.

Cut to Esther as she listens to the sound of nature from the woods to her right – when suddenly she distracted by movement, something moving her in peripheral vision – two dark shapes . . . She looks to see two large bats flying off into the woods.

Cut back to the interior of the Nightingale where the young hostess stands, a strike a pose smile on her face as she awaits there at the chairs before the fireplace for a moment, before taking David’s overcoat as he sits down to warm himself before the fire. He unbuttons his suit jacket pocket to relax and suddenly notes his cousin Nicole Collins sitting on the settee beneath the Telsa portrait.

Nikki rises and saunters slowly over toward him – observing as he does the striking young woman’s stride, being well aware of what she is, he sees it as far more predatory than perhaps the others, who unaware she is undead, see it as sensual.

“Good evening, David. It is so nice to see you – I have been meaning to stop by Collinwood for a visit, but—”

“The detective agency is going well?”

“Yes actually,” Nikki smiles, and he detects the sharpness of the canine teeth. “Do you come here often?”

She notices he looks back at the door when it opened just now, “I am sorry, I don’t mean to intrude.”

“Oh, it’s no intrusion at all Nikki – but, I am meeting someone . . . and I don’t at all mean for this to sound rude, but when he arrives, we would, like to discuss some business, privately, if you don’t mind.”

“Not at all, I am looking for Rhyadd myself.”

“Not that seeing you isn’t wonderful. So, how are you?”

“Well David, well.” She can tell that he is distracted, “I will leave you to your meeting.”

“Yes,” he nods and then as an afterthought, “And please do come by Collinwood. I would love to sit and chat.”

Nikki nods and gives him a slight backhand wave as she returns to her seat beneath Tesla.

Cut now to see a sleek, black convertible turning off the Temperance Vale Road and into the Nightingale’s parking lot. The mix of bright light from the large neon sign seems to shimmer wetly across the highly waxed, black surface of the vintage automobile as it passes underneath. Oddly for the time of the year, the top is down, Arliss Mills notes as he watches the car curl into parking lot and rolls over and into a reserved spot. Through the crack barely established by the lowered window, Alriss pushes the butt of his filterless Camel out of the pick-up to fall in a crash of red embers. He sits now watching as Rhyaad de’Annar just seems to be sitting there in the black car. At first Arliss fears he had been spotted, but it becomes apparently de’Annar is just sitting there, alone, doing what? He wonders, settling forward to squint though the windshield to see that he isn’t doing anything more sinister than just looking over some papers, before he sets them aside and puts the top up and exits the car. Arliss idly watches the owner of the team room enter the Nightingale

A cut now to see David Collins as he checks his watch. 10:30 was the time scheduled for this meeting.

In a POV shot we watch as Esther turns her head to look after a Collinsport taxi drives driving past. She sees the flash of its directional light as it slows and pulls into the drive of the Nightingale. Rhy’s busy tonight, she thinks.

The Collinsport taxi pulls up now in front of the double doors of the Nightingale as the rear door opens and a man in a white suit – odd for this season of the year – gets out and reaches into his trouser pocket to remove some folded money he takes a bill from and passes over to the driver. The obviously oriental gentleman turns and walks briskly to the double doors as the taxi drives away, He waits to allow a couple to exit, smiles, and then enters.

The Hostess looks up.

“Yes, how many are in your party sir?”

“Yes, please, I am expected. I am to meet a Mr. David Collins.”

“Oh, yes, this way please” She leads him into the tearoom and over to David.

Now of course Collinwood and it’s massive, secluded estate would have been a far more sequestered location, but Peter Cairo remembers the last time he dealt with Collins and that firebrand priest of the Interfaith Ministries; and so, he had decided to forgo the estate so as to prohibit any unpleasantness. He had wanted something a bit more public. And as he was aware of not only who, but what, the owner of the Nightingale was – he thought it better to have some unwitting security than none at all. Usually he didn’t have to take many precautions being as he was merely an intermediator, an agent of acquisition, for witches – white as well was those with dirty hands – alchemists, warlocks, necromancers, sorcerers, and wizards, and – and the Wizard’s daughter is here amongst them also. And, really she is quite beautiful, he observers – but he can’t help the thinking that in his chosen profession far too many beautiful things eventually turned out to be the most dangerous and deadly. Like her mother. So very beautiful and yet so very, very dangerous.

He merely glances at Nicole Collins, almost as if he is totally unaware of her, and wonders how much like her mother she may truly be – or become. “Mr. Collins, I am sure you must understand my reticence in meeting at Collinwood, and I do hope of course you will forgive the impertinence of such a public establishment.”

“I understand perfectly well, Cairo,” David said, “But, just so you are aware in the future, the Interfaith no longer maintains a complex in here Collinsport.”

“Oh, so . . . gone but not forgotten, Mr. Collins.”

David looks at him, “You suspect something otherwise.”

“Like so many organizations, one can never truly know their intent.”

“Have a seat, Peter.” David indicates the chair next to him.

Behind them the door of the Nightingale opens and a tall man enters. Though he is dressed in a fitted, well-tailored suit, there is something striking about the much too thick sunglasses he wears. They block any view of his eyes. Wrap-around. He may be looking around, searching the room, but behind the lenses it is impossible to be sure.

Rhyaad comes into the main room from his office and is pleasantly surprised to see David Collins sitting there near the fire with an oriental gentleman dressed in a white linen suit. He also notices Nikki sitting on the settee under the portrait of Telsa.

There is a strange sense in the air makes him suspect someone else may be near, and he glances about furtively.

“A most enjoyable establishment, I do not remember it being here the last time I was in Collinsport, is it new?”

“Yes, it is. A Mr. de’Annar, who is new to the community, opened it a few months ago.”

“Ah, yes, Rhyaad de’Annar.”

“You know him?”

“I have –heard of him, yes.”

Cut to watch as the tall new arrival does not wait for the young hostess to return to her station, or to be seated by her, he instead marches into the man room and looks about for a seat, which he finds – a table that has yet to be properly bussed – and then seats himself. He is dark and tanned – looking as if he has just arrived from some more tropical clime.

“Perhaps we shall get a most wonderful cup of tea, David and then we can get down to the business at hand.”

“It is, Sir” Rhyaad says as he approaches the gentleman in the white linen suit, having overheard the question regarding the newness of the Nightingale and he bows in a somewhat Continental fashion to the gentleman.

“Ah, are you this Mr. de’Annar of which David speaks?

Cut now to Esther as she continues her walk along Temperance Vale Road – continues to see a few bats whenever she stops to look around. She walks under the large neon sign, which to her has always looked like a sign that should have gone in front of a motel rather than a tea room.

Cut to Rhyaad as he bows slightly once again. “Yes Sir, I am. Rhyaad de’Annar. But you sir have me at a disadvantage, you seem to know my name, but alas I don’t know yours.”

Off to the side, to the left, the tall man in the too thick sunglasses now helps himself to the remains of the tea pot that had been left on the table and slowly pulls out a book. He sits as if lightly reading.

The gentleman in the white suit removes a card, “My card sir.”
Peter Cairo
Antiquity Acquisition Consultant
Shanghai

Rhyaad takes the card and examines it. “Cairo, like the city? And you deal in rare artifacts?”

“Oh yes – the rarer the better.” He smiles as if aware of some inside joke. “I would so enjoy a cup of your most marvelous tea.”

Cut now to the face hidden behind the book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the tall man’s eyebrow perks as he hears the Asian fellow speak – hears the words rare artifacts.

“Mr. Collins, Mr. Cairo, allow me to get something for you? I suggest the chai with soy milk, but of course you can have anything on the menu.” Rhyaad says. He glances to Nikki, suspecting that this meeting is no simple coincidence and that this Mr. Cairo is a man of some importance to have been met by David Collins’ especially here.

“Oh, my I have a simple green tea, sir?” Peter Cairo says softly.

Rhyaad nods, “Certainly. Simple green and Oolongs, can’t go wrong with those.” He looks at David. “Mr. Collins?”

“Ah, I’ll have the chai, Rhyaad.” David says.

Rhyaad nods, and goes to the kitchen himself to fetch trays and orders. It would give him a chance to just happen to pass near the other gentleman so conspicuously hiding his face behind a book.

The man smirks a bit as he watches Rhyaad pass by, but says nothing, his grin hidden behind the book.

“I am surprised to hear from you Peter, I mean, I haven’t consulted you in some time.” David remarks.

“Yes, well, actually I am here representing two clients.”

“Two” David says, “Two clients in Collinsport seeking – your services?”

Cut to see Esther as she enters the door, one last time glancing back out into the night. The winged rats are nowhere to be seen, “Hmh…” she mutters to herself as she closes the door and takes of her coat. Odd. Almost as if they were following her.

To her left she notices the hostess ringing up a bill to be placed on the small plastic tray to eventually be taken back to one of the tables: $15.86 visible in the total amount text box of the screen.

Cut to the gentleman in the white linen suit sitting with David Collins, “Ah yes, it is most fortunate, do you not think? Most of my clients in New England are in Providence.”

“Yes – Providence.” David replies and straightens the crease in his trousers, “Peter it is not that I am unhappy to see you – but I am not certain why you arranged this meeting. I am not one of your clients.”

“Ah, but you see my old friend, my instructions are for you to take possession of the items to be delivered.”

Esther walks into the main room and takes a quick look around, holding up a hand to the young hostess, indicating she did not need assistance, “Ah! Nik!” She says seeing Nikki.
“Esther! So good to see you, now, please come and sit beside me.” Nikki says patting the open seat on the settee. “We can both wait for Rhyaad to quit being so busy.”

Yet again the door of the Nightingale opens and a red-haired woman slips in quietly, and the hostess looks at her for a moment, as she is strangely familiar, “Yes, how many—“

But the tall, red-haired woman walks past her and into the main room, running a hand through her hair nervously. The way she moves her head, reaches up with her hair, one would suspect that her hair had recently been much longer.

David frowns, “I am to take possession?” He looks at Cairo, “Who is this client?”

“Mr. Grant Douglas.”

“What?”

A cut to hear Esther say, “Rhyaad’s back?” as she slips her coat off and tosses it on the back of a chair, “Ah there he is.” She says seeing him now moving across the room as she sits next to Nikki, “So—any news from Czechoslovakia?”

Cut to see the man in the thick sunglasses sitting forward, mumbling the name he has overheard to himself, Grant Douglas, before writing it down in the back pages of the book quickly and then flipping the book back to some random chapter.

Cut back to David Collins, “He is back?”

“But he never left. That was Mister Barnabas, as you well know.”

David sighed, “So—what is it that Quentin—Grant asked you to deliver.”

Cairo sips his tea, “Oh, nothing very ominous, just a few travel trunks – as well as their contents . . . along with some minor instructions.”

“Instructions?”

A long shot to see the main room, Samantha Brook moves over to where Nikki is sitting and smirks, “May I sit here?” Indicating the space between Esther and Nichole Collins.

On passing, Rhyaad could not help but continue to think there was something odd about the man hiding his face behind the book. But he was more intent on catching what the meeting between David Collins and Peter Cairo was all about. After being in the kitchen a few minutes, Rhyaad emerges with a large tray and cups and saucers, and proceeds to serve tea to Cairo and Collins. He observes that the dynamics of the room have changed while he was away: Sam has arrived, and she is not at all looking like her usual self, and Esther was also there, looking a bit anxious, for some reason.

“Oh, Samantha, you do look so – wonderful.” Nikki smiles, “You’ve cut your hair?”

Samantha reaches up and touches the ends, ‘Yes—do you like it?”

“Love it,” Nikki says and Samantha blushes. ‘Now have a seat with us, we are waiting to speak to the very busy Rhyaad.”

Esther waves Rhyaad over.

Samantha settles onto the sofa as Esther moves over to a more comfortable chair.

Cut to the man in the white linen suit, “Yes – they concern Miss Evans.”

“No.” David says loudly. “No, Peter.”

“I only delivery the instructions.”

‘Well you can consider them not delivered.” David frowns.

Cut to see Rhyaad as he serves a customer near the table so he is able to overhear, especially the loud No. He sees Esther waving and excuses himself. “It seems Miss Friedman wants me.”

Shifting focus cut to watch as the man in the thick sunglasses writes down the second name, although it is only a last name, and then once more flips to a random chapter. His legs crossing over one another in a very relaxed pose as he gets himself comfortable.

Cut back to David Collins, “No, if it is what I think, then no, I am not doing that, if he wants to do that, then he can come here and do it himself.”

Cut to Esther, “Rhyaad.” She says as he steps over to them, “Now tell us, what happened in Czechoslovakia? You were gone a whole week.”

Cut back to Peter Cairo who seems undisturbed by David Collins’ statement as he takes a sip of the tea, “Oh, this is wonderful . . . but so in that he can not he asks you to so inform.” He reaches into the white linen jacket and removes an envelope that he places on the arm of David’s chair – as David Collins refuses to take the envelope.

Cut back to Rhyaad approaching the settee under the portrait of Telsa, “What’s up, Esther, Nikki. Nikki! I have yet to tell you about my trip.” He says as he sat near them. “Yes, I made it an extended vacation. Oliver and myself.”

“Yes, Rhy – we are all eager to hear of your trip.”

He nods, “But right now,” he leans forward, conspiratorially and whispers, “Would we not rather listen in on those two?” And he looks at Nikki questioningly.

Cut to focus on the envelope sitting on the arm of the chair, before panning up to see David Collins. “Mr. Cairo, I-I.” David Collins sits looking at the envelope sitting ominously on the arm of his chair, “This—this something he should damn well do himself. I mean, how is she going to react to the information – after all this time and coming from me—and not him?”

“You are the head of the Collins family are you not?”

Cut to the man with the thick sunglasses and the book he is using as a notebook, as he lets his hand slowly move up behind his long hair, to his ear, as if he were but scratching, but really he turns up the small device he has connected to it.

Cut to Esther as she turns around in her seat to quickly glance at the two and then turns back. “Why?”

Cut back to David Collins, “Telling someone that her father not only abandoned her . . . but that he never even recognized he had a daughter with Maggie Evans is not something I care to do.” David said forcefully, “And, what is in the Trunk?”

Quick cut to the writing down of the third name mentioned as the tall man once more flips back to a random chapter of his book and feels his eyes squint from behind the glasses.

Something about the man with the book has captured Samantha Brook’s eye, “Claude Raines over there with those oh too thick glasses . . . I certainly think Mr. Bookworm warrants of interest also, “ she says in a whisper.

“Oh, well Esther, Mr. Cairo is a dealer in rare antiquities. And David Collins does not come here to talk to just anybody. There is something definitely afoot.”

Cutting back to Mr. Cairo of who Rhyaad had just metioned, “Ah, but gaining another member of your most wondrous family, is this not something the head of the family should be honored to do? A cause for celebration, no?”

Cut back to Rhyaad, “The bookworm?” He glances at Sam. “Yes, he irks me, but . . . I can’t say why.”

Esther sighs, all this time waiting to hear news from Prague and it’s bookworms and funny looking guys in white linen suits – in winter! “Fine. Sure. Okay. Got any beer?”

“What is in the godd***ed trunk? Knowing Quentin it could be anything and most likely extremely dangerous.”

“Yes, it is odd that David is here – he didn’t want to talk much either when I spoke to him. And, actually, I don’t think I have ever seen him at the Nightingale.”

Rhyaad rolls his eyes at Esther. “I put one of your beers in the fridge, Esther. You can get it if you want it.”

Esther nods and gets up, heading into the kitchen.

“Its contents are for Miss Evans.”

Samantha gives a look of mock shock, “Does she like keep frickin’ beer everywhere?”

“And where is he?”

Tracking shot as Esther passes the man in the glasses along her way to the kitchen, and gives him a quick look.

Cut back to Rhyaad, “I suspect this meeting is of some importance. I wonder just what artifact or strange magic is involved this time.” He said softly to Nikki.

Cut to Cairo, “He is still on the trail of Mr. Barnabas Collins.”

“Does he think he knows where he is?”

“Perhaps.”

Esther returns with a cold Heineken passing behind Cairo and David Collins.

“That is for Miss Evans. It explains.” Peter Cairo indicates the envelope.

“I am so tired of cleaning up their messes.”

Peter Cairo takes another sip of his tea, “Ah, the price of being the head of the family, is it not?

Cut to the man with the book and sunglasses who catches a glimpse of the letter and feels his eyes narrow a bit as if trying to read it across the distance.

Cut to Esther who takes a drink and sits down. “He’s a strange one, yur right.”

“Hmm,” Samantha says, “Pardon me a moment,”

She rises and walks over to the bookworm’s table.

He pretends not to notice the woman walking over to him and continues to read.

Cut to David who looks into the fireplace, “When is the trunk to arrive?”

Medium shot reveals Esther sitting now watching Rhyaad and Nikki as they continue to listen to the two men talk. Using that superhero vampire hearing of theirs no doubt.

Cut to Samantha as she pulls back a chair and settles across from him, “Evening, new here?”

Cut back to Cairo, “Tomorrow.” He replies.

Cut to Esther as she notices Rhyaad’s ears as they twitch as he tries to listen in on the two gentlemen’s conversation.

In a medium shot, still paying attention to the conversation, the man with the Thick sunglasses lightly nods from behind the book before lowering it, “Yes.” Tilting his head, he politely smiles, “And you?”

Cut to David as he snaps up the envelope and places in his inside jacket pocket ‘”Why the sudden urgency in telling her?”

Cut back to Samantha, “Oh, I moved here shortly before Christmas,” she says putting an elbow on the table and leaning upon it.

Cut to Esther sighing, “You know, sitting silently in a group while others talk is not the best way to not get noticed as listening in. Anyone up for a game of cards?”

Cut back to the man with the thick sunglasses, “Awh . . . seems like a lovely place.” He gives her another smile and then goes back to the book..

Cut to Rhyaad as he nods at Esther. “Good idea.” He then whispers to Nikki. “Something about Evans and— did I hear right, Is Sam Evans really a Collins? That is strange.”

Cut to Cairo, “More information is to be gained from the trunks.”

David frowns, “And so, you said you had a second client?”

Cut now to Esther as she pulls a deck of battered cards, more used for playing solitaire than anything else, from the inner pocket of her coat. “Cards Nik? Gin Rummy?”

“And a mysterious trunk of course,” he whispers at Nikki; then looks at Esther and suggests “Hearts?”

Cut to Cairo smiling, “Oh now you are aware of my profession. I never divulge a client.”

Cut to Esther as she remarks, “Oh ya need four ta play hearts”

Rhyaad shakes his head distracted, “You can play with three.
”
“Bah. It’s no fun without four. How about casino?”

Cut to Samantha smiling at the man,” Jessica’s my name, what’s yours?”

Long shot as David stands up, buttoning his suit jacket, his chai untouched. He looks at Cairo, “When you see him, you tell him I am not at all happy with having to do this – and that he had best damn get his ass back here soon.”

In the background Esther starts shuffling the cards.

Cut to the man with the incredibly thick sunglasses, “Adlbert. And no I don’t think my parents loved me for giving me such a name.” The man in the thick sunglasses says as he chuckles from behind his book.

Cut to Rhyaad, “Whatever you—“ he starts to comment, then stares at David. It seems as if Cairo had upset him.

Cut to Cairo, “Oh so, Mr. Collins I will relay the information.”

Cut back to Esther who starts to deal out for Casino, “Nik? You in?”

Cut to Samantha as she smiles, “Almost like they couldn’t choose between Adam or Albert,” She chuckles airily, “So what’s that your reading there?”

“My father was Polish and my mother German . . . so you tell me if they could ever decide on something together.”

Cut to Nikki, “Oh, certainly—“ she answers Esther, “I am . . . amazed at this conversation.”

Cut to the man with the book, “Oh, right now I am reading fear and loathing in Las Vegas, by Hunter S. Thompson.”

Cut back to Rhyaad, “Appears that it’s over though,” he whispers to Nikki.

Esther deals out cards, four for each player and four face up: “You go first Nik.”

She holds her own cards up to her face.

Cuts to Samantha looking at the tall, odd man with the incredibly thick sunglasses, who continues stare down into his book, “Hmm, seems a trivial book for one such as yourself.”

The man chuckles, “Hunter. S. Thompson is an amazing writer and overlooked in my opinion.”

Cut to David Collin standing as Peter Cairo also stands; they shake hands, briefly, not a warm handshake, or a business handshake, more a formality. David turns and heads to the hostess in order to retrieve his coat, feeling now has if he as been given some biblical instruction, to depart from this place and tell through out the land, Samantha Evans is Samantha Collins. Yes, what he needs to do, he needs to do quickly.

Quick cut back to the man in the sunglasses – he watches David Collins leave; glances to Peter Cairo who stands, also watching Collin depart; he then looks back to the woman who continues to accost him and smiles, “So what brings you to my table?”

Cut to Rhyaad as he gathers his four cards and pretends to be interested in them, but really is fascinated by what has happened between Cairo and Collins.

“Nik, you go first—“ Esther prompts.

Nikki picks up her cards, and then looks at them and suddenly stops. “Oh, my god?”

Rhyaad stares at her. “Nikki?”

Esther looks behind her, “What?”

“If what I heard is true – I have been sleeping with my cousin?”

{A soap opera pause]

Esther’s look to Nikki says: Yikes

“I was trying to not mention that, Nikki”, Rhyaad says softly, then looks at his cards.

Nikki distractedly arranges her cards.

Esther picks up her beer and takes another long drink.

A quick cut to the odd man with the sunglasses who has suddenly spit up a bit of his tea, his earpiece catching some of what Nicole Collins has just said. “Very . . . hot tea . . .”

He clears his throat and wipes himself off a bit.

Samantha looks at him oddly.

Cut to Rhyaad as he rearranges his cards, “You didn’t know she was your cousin. Hells, she still doesn’t know.”

Nikki looks at her cards, “Can this family be any more f***ed up?”

“Excuse me…sir?” The man with the sunglasses and his Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas says from across the way.

Nikki sits thinking; she can’t help it, as she was just with Samantha Evans this evening – before coming to the Nightingale
.
Esther turns to look behind her.

He looks over his cards at the man. “It seems Mr. Bookworm wants me?”

The man felt his eye twitch as Rhyaad refers to him as bookworm, “This woman seems to be unable to not disturbing my reading.”

Esther sighs, “Will we ever find out what happened in Czechoslovakia?”

Samantha eyes Adlbert, “It’s just your devilish good looks.”

Rhyaad sits back down and retrieves his cards.

“Oh yes, Please Rhy, what happened—“

“Sorry, Esther.” He tells her, distracted, looking at the man and Samantha Brook – there was something, something about the man that bothered him, “Not much really about the EUMO meeting. It was rather uneventful.”

He glances nervously at Nikki – detecting that she is still rather unsettled by the news of Sam Evans, or Collins.”

Esther can tell Nikki is distracted; “And by the way Nik. Still your turn.”

“Oh, sorry,” Nikki plays a card, “Rhyaad, is it at all possible to get a vodka and blood, may be a bit heavy on the vodka.”

Cut to the table with Samantha and Adlbert, who chuckles and forces a bit of blush into his face. “Ms. I assure you my looks are not that good.”
Samantha smirks at him., Well, your looks were good enough to get my attention.”

The man calling himself Adlbert looks at the woman across from him and smiles, “Well I am flattered . . . Ms . . .uhmm . . . sorry I’m terrible with names.

Samantha cocks her head wryly, “Especially those looks you were giving the two in here earlier,” she states flatly, reaching forward and pulling the book down to see his face.

Taken back, he tilts his head confused, “What exactly are you getting at?”

Cut to Rhyaad playing a card, “If we had questioned and interrogated and captured the assassins, we might have had something to tell the EUMO . . . but . . . there is another matter of some importance. But I shall tell you about him later. In brief, the EUMO could not help us. The bullets were stolen from them, but that information helps us little.” And he looks over to Nikki, aware of how she must be feeling at the moment, “Yes, I can get you some vodka with a little blood.

He puts his cards down and rises to head toward the kitchen. As he does so, he notes that Mr. Cairo rises, picks up his saucer and teacup and casually strides over toward Esther and Nikki. Now what is that about? He thinks, noticing now that the man with the odd sunglasses is giving him a wave that indicates he truly needs something—no doubt he needs Samantha removed from his table.

Esther sets her cards face down as the man in the while linen suit steps up to them and takes Rhyaad’s seat.

“A thousand pardons, but may I but interrupt your game for a moment?” He asks.

With a heavy sigh Esther nods, “Go ahead. “ Her voice gone cold, “It’s not like we’ve gotten far . . . on anything.”

Nikki looks at him. “I saw you were meeting with my cousin David earlier.”

A cut back to Samantha, her fingers idly reaching for her hair that once was longer than it is now, “Oh, you’re good but obvious. A good suit I’ll give you, but a rather low quality book . . . “

Rhyaad steps over to join Sam and the stranger. “I would not call that book low-quality. And how may I help you, sir?”

The man folds his arms slowly, “This woman here seems to think me some sort of . . . spy or other. And I was wondering what do you have for a stronger tea?”

“Are you? A spy or something?” Samantha asks, “And the name is Jessica, not This Woman, so why don’t you write it down in the back of your book.”

Cut back to Peter Cairo setting his saucer and teacup down, “Oh yes, Mr. Collins and I have done business many years now.” Cairo says in a very calm and soft voice, “I am so sorry to disturb your game of cards, but I can not help in that I overheard your name. You are Miss Collins, Miss Nichole Collins?”

Esther mutters to herself, “There is always a lot of overhearing in this place. Isn’t there . . . “

“Yes, I am Nicole Collins.”

“Oh so, allow me to introduce myself I am Peter Cairo, I am Antiquity Acquisition Consultant.” He reaches into his white linen jacket and removes a business card, “My card.”

“An antiquity dealer?” Nikki asks looking at the card he has handed her.

He smiles, “Ah, I am more in the acquisition of such artifacts.”

“So more Indiana Jones and less carpet slippers and funny hats.” Esther asks.

He nods, “Yes, you could say that.” He looks over to Nikki slowly, “And so, to the business at hand. I have been commissioned to acquire a certain artifact for you Miss Collins, which I have been successful in obtaining.”

Cut back to the table with the name calling himself Aldbert as he shakes his head slowly, “Do you see what I mean? I really don’t mean to be a bother but she is being a bother to me.”

“Jessica?” He looks at Samantha oddly, then back at the man. “A spy?” he then looks back at the man with Dear and Loathing, “Why, this is hardly a military base full of secrets. Why would she think that? Why would you think that? But if she’s bothering you…” He looks at the woman again. “Are you bothering him, Miss?”

Samantha smiles, “Not at all, just havin’ a lovely chat with the man.”

“Well, Jessica“, he put an odd inflection on the name. “He seems to be bothered by you. But you two can work out your own affairs I’m sure.” Looking back at the man, he now asks “What stronger drink could I get you? We have a few wines by request. And oddly, a little vodka.”

“Well I meant maybe a black coffee. Though Vodka is tempting, I have to drive. So coffee if you would be so kind.”

“Certainly” He nods to the man, then gave the woman an odd little grin. “And you, ‘Jessica’? What may I get you?”

“I hear gin is good. Give me a gin and tonic.”

Cut back to Nikki idly shuffling her cards. “Fascinating. Now who would commission you in my behalf?
”
“Nik, did you order any statues for the office?” Esther asked, looking at the man in the white suit and thinking of small birds for some reason.

He looks at Esther for a moment, and then smiles not seeing the humor, “Your mother.”

“Elizabeth?”

“Yes,” He takes a sip of his tea, “It was to have been a Christmas gift, but shall we say, the acquisition took a bit longer than I had expected.”

Cutting back to Rhyaad as he looks at Jessica “Oh, sorry,” he frowned. “I have so little alcoholic drinks. Wouldn’t have had any, if not for certain people wanting them. I’ll have to add gin, in deference to yourself and of course to a certain Doctor I know. Vodka, perhaps?”

Samantha sighs, “Vodka is fine.”
Rhyaad nods, glances oddly at the gentleman, then Samantha, and turns away to continue on his journey to the kitchen. Too many places to be at once, as he wants to know what Cairo is saying to Nikki and Esther.

Cutting back to Peter Cairo, “As I have come to understand, you share your mother’s – shall we say affliction. One of the symptoms of which I fear is that you have no true reflection. Is this not the case?”

Esther looks at the man now with a renewed since of paranoia, “Get to the point Gaza.”

“I am not certain I care to discuss, what you wish to refer to as my symptoms, in so pubic a place, sir.”

“Oh, so,” Cairo says and smiles slyly, “Pardon me, I assure you I meant no disrespect. The item in question, there are certain shipping requirements – certain formalities that need to be . . . overlooked, and so, it will arrive shortly. I fear perhaps a week.”

“And what are we expecting in a week, “ Esther asks.

“A very, very special mirror. The mirror of the Lady Shalott to be precise,” He looks over to Nikki with a smile, “A mirror in which you shall be able to see many things. One of which will be yourself.”

“I — I will be able to see myself?”

“Shalott—“ Esther says.

“In this mirror, yes.” He raises an eyebrow, “Among other things.”

Cut to the odd man with Samantha as he looks as Jessica and sighs, “Why is it that you seem to think me some sort of . . . agent undercover?”

“Lets just say I know the type.”

Rhyaad returns now, “Black coffee for you, Sir”, he said as he places the cup and saucer. “And vodka for the lady.” He bows slightly. “Now if you’ll excuse me”, and he turned away to made his way back to the others.

‘Well I leave you to your opinion, but I ask politely that you leave me to my coffee.” The man sighs and picks up his book once more, intending to ignore her and return to reading.

Cut to Peter Cairo rising, “Well, I do not wish to bother you further. I shall contact you to make arrangements for delivery, when the item arrives.” He places his cup down and puts a folded twenty dollar bill beneath it.

“Good evening,” he bows to Nikki and then to Esther, turns and walks out of the tearoom passing Rhyaad with a knowing smile.

“Shalott . . . where have I heard that before?” Esther says watching the man leave.

Cut to Samantha, who having decided to make a move, grabs the book and then runs toward the lobby.

Rhyaad who had just about reached the others again is startled to see Samantha dashing away like mad. He spun to stare at her. “What!?”

Esther turns, rises and stares as Sam runs off with the book.

Even while running, she begins flipping through the pages – what the h**l is he up to?

The odd gentlemen in the outlandishly thick sunglasses and the even more outlandish name, Aldbert, instantly pulls out a gun and fires a shot at her leg, and moving with unnatural human speed, he darts after her – dropping some odd parcel on the way out.

Esther drops her beer, draws her gun and runs after the two.

Nikki rises quickly with the sound of the gunshot and moves in a blur toward the door.

Samantha falls flat and rolls, the shot just missing her. She drops the book.

Rhyaad dashes over to the spot on the floor and retrieves the parcel, before following the others out.

Samantha races out the door.

The odd man snatches up the book and races out the door.

Esther follows them.

In the parking lot, the man cocks his gun again he grins as the parcel Rhyaad has picked up suddenly begins to beep, “F**king bats.”

Nikki overhears him as she hits the double doors and they slam open allowing her to exit the building.

Jumping in the near by car, the man fires off a few more shots and tries to quickly hotwire it, but gives up and dashes into the field

Esther fires twice into the night as he dashes into the field.

Samantha looks at the parcel and yells at Ryhaad, “THROW IT!”

Rhyaad stares at the beeping parcel and threw it beyond the trees.

Nikki’s hearing detects the beeping sounds as she sees Rhyaad throw to the parcel.

Esther fires twice more after him, not hearing the beeping parcel.

The man just seems to cackle with laughter and just ducks a bullet.

Suddenly dropping to the ground in the field, he flips through the book, and then pulls out a lighter setting it on fire.

Esther runs out into the field, reloading.

Nikki races past Esther into the field, and quickly kicks the book out of his hand.

She tries to grab it and put out the flames.

He smirks up at Nikki, “This has nothing to do with you—so you should just back off!”

Esther sees the light from the flames and runs toward them, seeing Nikki trying to use her hand to pat the flames down.

“What has this to do with?” Nikki asks.

Rhyaad dashes out after Esther and Nikki, catching up to them and glaring at the stranger. “What in the nine hells is all this?”

The man pulls off his sunglasses and lets his slit reptilian eyes shine, “Not you.”

“Tell me who and I will back off –what is this all about?”

Esther comes up on the man lying on his back and points her revolver at his head: “You shot at us. NOW it has to do with us.”

“Wait.” Nikki motions to Esther.

The man cackles like some bad imitation of The Joker and lets his forked tongue slip past his lips and taste the air.

“Back off sssssissster!”

Samantha catches up in time to see the tongue revelation and the air tasting, “It’s frickin Rango.”

Rhyaad recoils back and mutters, his eyes beginning to glow.

“Are you of the ancient race?” Nikki asks stepping forward to look down at him.

“It’s Clown, isn’t it?” Rhyaad suddenly remarks.

“Everyone stand back,” Nikki directs.

Esther eyes widen, then narrow, “Nik, I don’t care if he is an endangered F***in species.”

“Oh I am of many, many things . . . and you’re the endangered species—or soon to be if you keep pointing that gun at me..” He rises to look over and flash a smirk at Rhyaad, “Hey buudddddyy.”

“Hey Rango! You’re no daisy and the book being on fire wont destroy these” She says and holds up a wad of torn papers.

“It IS Clown!” Rhyaad suddenly recognizes the reptilian and his eyes blazed with anger. “How dare you come here and disrupt my business and shoot at our employees! What the hells are you doing here?”

The Clown smiles at Samanath, “That girl is smart….But she didn’t take the right book…”

Esther avoids looking at the man’s eyes, “You shot Sam. She shouldn’t ‘v taken yar book. But you shot her!”

“You say this does not concern me –“ Nikki says holding on to the burnt copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas[i], page number 121 visible. “And yet you disrupt my friends tea room, why?”

“Coming from the woman whose race tried to at one point make everyone [i]pure?” The Clown turns and looks at Nikki his reptilian eyes a glow.

“Coming from a woman of the same creed of those that where almost exterminated,” Esther said angrily.

“Now—what’s that supposed to mean, Clown?” Rhyaad asks.

“I’ve been around along time…and seen a lot . . . a lot . . . a lot of things . . . “

“Vampires tried make everyone pure? Purity upon whom?” Nikki asks incredulous.

“Oh, it’s a great ssstory maybe I’ll tell you one time – and, maybe where you batsss really came from.” He tosses the gun out into the field and snarls, beginning to walk away.”

“So have I. And a lot of prejudice.” Rhyaad tells him.

Esther stands, so waiting for the man to leave so she can get her gun.

“Is that going to be it, Clown? All this drama so you can walk away snarling?” Rhyaad asks

“Let him go Rhy.” Esther says.

The Clown hops back into in the car and finally hotwires it, “Why ssshould I bother…” and he looks at them and says softly, “I am one of my kind left.”

“He knows something. More than I do, that’s for sure, about this Cairo person and his dealings.” Rhyaad says to Esther, ‘I would like to know what it is.”

Esther continues to stand there until he drives off, not saying a word.

Nikki glares – ready to leap upon the car, tear open a door and go for his throat in anger, but she clenches her fists and lets him go. What is it about him that has brought this visceral reaction to him?

“Well now you have met the infamous ‘Mister Clown’, Esther.” He told her. “The biggest a**hole of Arkham. I still wish I knew what he was doing here though.”

I don’t care about Arkham, or bombs or snakes or anything right now.” Esther tells him. “All I know, is that I dun nearly crapped myself back there. Now if you will excuse me, I’m going home.”

Cue Music and End of Episode