SCENE 1 - CORNELL’S DEAN OF HUMANITIES OFFICE (FLASHBACK)

[Flashback music cue. Door opens and closes, footsteps.]

DEAN MELROSE: Grace, thank you for taking the time to meet with me.

GRACE: Yeah, no worries.

[She sits down.]

DEAN MELROSE: Do you know why I asked to speak with you?

GRACE: Not really.

DEAN MELROSE: (clears throat) Grace, I’ve spoken with a number of your professors in the history department. There's no easy way to say this, but we think, in light of recent events, that it’s best you take a leave of absence.

GRACE: What?

DEAN MELROSE: We’re all concerned for your well-being. It’s- it’s clear you’re working very hard, but there’s a disconnect here. Your grades don’t reflect your efforts, and they haven’t for the last two semesters. Especially after a few weeks ago-

GRACE: Dean Melrose, that has nothing to do with this.

DEAN MELROSE: I don’t see how that’s possible. It’s alright. Mental health is just as important as physical health. There's no need to feel ashamed.

GRACE: I'm not. I just know that taking a leave of absence will make things worse. It’ll disrupt my momentum. I’m getting better, I promise. I just need another semester.

DEAN MELROSE: Don't push yourself. Most people your age think that higher education is the only answer, but that’s just not true. It’s okay if, right now, college isn’t the right choice for you. It’ll always be here when you’re ready.

GRACE: I’m ready now! This is just a slip-up, a setback. I’m getting help. To be honest, no one should have bothered you with this to begin with. I thought that HIPAA-

DEAN MELROSE: Doesn’t apply in cases like this. No one bothered me, in fact, I- I am concerned. You failed two of your core classes this semester. We can only offer you so much support. It's not fair to your peers.

GRACE: I just need a little more time.

DEAN MELROSE: (sigh) Can I be frank with you?

GRACE: Sure.

DEAN MELROSE: University Health Services, after what happened on the 16th, has determined that you are a danger to yourself. That is not a state that anyone can learn in. Cornell is not a mental health facility. You’ve exhausted our resources. Our counselors can only do so much. Everyone is worried about you, including your professors. Think of your friends. Wouldn't they rather you be well than you finish your degree? Believe me, I don’t want this anymore than you do. I think you are a brilliant young woman, but my hands are tied.

[Pause.]

GRACE: You’re not giving me an option, are you?

DEAN MELROSE: Starting next semester, Cornell is rescinding your admission. We all think it would be best for you to go home and prioritize your health.

GRACE: Why didn’t anyone ask me what I think is best for me?

DEAN MELROSE: This decision was above both of our heads. Cornell can’t handle the liability-

GRACE: I’m a liability now?

DEAN MELROSE: Please don’t raise your voice.

GRACE: This is ridiculous. How is this legal?

DEAN MELROSE: While you’re here, Cornell has a legal duty to keep you safe. If we feel we are not up to that task, we cannot allow you to stay here.

GRACE: I can’t believe this!

DEAN MELROSE: I’m sorry. You may not believe that, but I am. We’re out of time. I have another meeting at 12:30.

[INTRO MUSIC]

SCENE 2 - MAYA AND NOEL'S APARTMENT (PRESENT DAY)

[Rapid, urgent knocking. Door bell rings twice. Footsteps.]

NOEL: Coming!

[He opens the door.]

NOEL: Is everything okay?

GRACE: Is Maya home?

NOEL: No, she went to the club ahead of me to set up. Is there anything I can do?

GRACE: Can I come in?

NOEL: Sure.

[Footsteps. Door closes.]

NOEL: Do you need Maya's help with your inch plant?

GRACE: No. I, uh, I thought it might help.

NOEL: With what?

GRACE: (sigh) This is stupid. I'm sorry.

[Footsteps.]

NOEL: No no no. Stay. I'm sure it's not stupid. Please sit down. What's up?

GRACE: I went to the library to research more historical sites. I thought maybe I could find a pattern? Or dig up some new potential safe houses.

NOEL: What did you find?

GRACE: There are a lot of options, actually. Too many to check out on my own, and I didn't even finish.

NOEL: Well, that's good, right? That's progress. Is that what you were coming to tell Maya about?

GRACE: No. A lot of old state records are kept on microfilm. Something, uh, weird happened with the viewer. One card got stuck, and that happens kind of a lot, but this one was like, really stuck, and as I was talking out how to fix it with the librarian, it shot out. Like, across the room.

[Pause.]

GRACE: I think- I was thinking, maybe, I did that.

NOEL: With magic?

GRACE: Maybe. I don't know. Maya said that plants are a great way to learn, so I just thought, y'know, if I can affect my plant, I'd know for sure.

NOEL: Let's try it.

GRACE: Really? Right now?

NOEL: Sure. We have time. Hold part of that stem between your two fingers. Do you know why these are called inch plants?

GRACE: No.

NOEL: It's because they can grow nearly an inch a day. They're great at growing. We're gonna help them grow a little more. Imagine a leaf budding under your thumb. It looks just like these other buds, that one over there, here's another. Now, the plant just has one more, right where your thumb is.

GRACE: You sure?

NOEL: I am. Are you?

GRACE: I, uh, yeah. I am.

[Pause. She removes her hand.]

GRACE: Oh well, no bud. Makes sense. If I could do magic, I would've figured it out by now.

NOEL: Grace, actually try. Once, please?

[Grace lets out a long breath.]

GRACE: Okay. For real.

NOEL: Try closing your eyes. It helps.

[Static, like a sizzle on the air. Music, magical and a little eerie, picks up.]

NOEL: Do you remember what those leaf buds look like?

GRACE: Yeah, they're all curled up, like purple rosebuds.

NOEL: It's like someone rolled the whole leaf up really tight, so it's ready to just spring out. There are a bunch up and down the stems of your plant.

GRACE: Yeah, they're everywhere.

NOEL: They are. There's one more, though, that you haven't noticed yet. It's under your thumb. Can you feel it?

[Pause.]

GRACE: I can, yeah.

NOEL: Do you believe it?

GRACE: I do. I really can see it. It's a tiny purple bud, a little leaf, just about to- Ow!

[Pause.]

GRACE: Ohhh my god.

NOEL: There you go.

GRACE: No no. I don't have time for this.

NOEL: What?

GRACE: I have work, I have school, Evie's still missing. I do not have time to have magic.

[Grace stands quickly and grabs her bag.]

NOEL: Grace, wait, sit down. It's all good.

GRACE: We can deal with this later, can't we? We shouldn't bother Maya with this. She has the show to think about, and Evie's the priority, anyway. It wouldn't be right, honestly. And like, what would Fake Detective Hirsch think if-

NOEL: Grace, what you're feeling is very normal. Please, take a second.

[Footsteps.]

GRACE: I have to go. I need to stop at home before Maya's show. Thanks, Noel! I'll see you later.

[Door opens.]

NOEL: Grace, wait! You forgot your-

[Door closes behind her.]

NOEL: -inch plant.

SCENE 3 - MORGAN'S APARTMENT

[Rock music plays. Alix is fidgeting with a pen, clicking on the computer, and making clicking mouth sounds. Suddenly, an alert goes off.]

ALIX: Hello, what are you up to?

[Typing.]

ALIX: A device in the cabin just connected to the Internet. Is that you, Evie? Did you make it?

[Pause. More typing.]

ALIX: Wait, if I can see that someone in the cabin's online, who else can?

SCENE 4 - CLUB

[Club music and light crowd noises. Everyone speaks over the music.]

MAYA: Grace! Thanks for coming.

GRACE: Please, you couldn’t have kept me away.

MORGAN: Hey! How are you?

GRACE: Oh, fine. Antsy. Wow, feels like ages since I saw you.

MORGAN: I think it's been like, two days.

GRACE: Right, so ages. I’m ready to dance. Morgan, aren’t you ready to dance?

MORGAN: I figured I’d just look cool by the back wall-

MAYA: (laugh) Boring!

GRACE: So boring!

MORGAN: Maya, let me buy your first drink.

MAYA: Are you trying to bribe me so you don't have to dance? It won't work.

MORGAN: I’ll try anyway.

[They both walk off.]

NOEL: Grace, are you good? Like, from earlier?

GRACE: I'm fine. I’m just happy for Maya.

NOEL: Right. Can you help me unload this box of info cards?

GRACE: Sure!

[They start unpacking the box. Music and crowd noises dim as we “zoom in” on them.]

GRACE: Is this what you and Evie would do?

NOEL: Yeah, though I always let her lay them out. She liked to fan them just so.

GRACE: Is this how you get out of dancing?

NOEL: (laugh) No. We swap in and out. Also, I like dancing.

[Pause.]

NOEL: Maya saw Evie changing the lights all different colors from up on stage. I saw her doing the same thing from back here. I like to look out for people, both with all the harm reduction stuff, and… sometimes, somebody's out there, and they do something that they can't quite understand. They don't know what's going on. That's a really scary feeling. Worse if you're alone.

GRACE: Noel, I-

NOEL: When you’re ready. I’m here when you’re ready.

[We cut to Morgan and Maya by the bar.]

MORGAN: Two whiskey sodas, please.

MAYA: Take a night off.

MORGAN: Huh?

MAYA: Calm down. If I can do it, you can do it.

[Morgan lets out a long breath.]

MORGAN: I still don’t like dancing.

MAYA: Yeah, that’s fine, but right now, no matter how you stand by the wall, you aren't gonna look cool.

MORGAN: I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin.

MAYA: Yeah, I get that.

BARTENDER: Two whiskey sodas.

[She sets two glasses down.]

MORGAN: Thanks.

MAYA: Alix is watching Evie. Come on, say it like you mean. I calm you down. You calm me down.

MORGAN: Alix is watching Evie.

MAYA: They’ll call us if they see anything weird.

MORGAN: And until then, it doesn’t really matter if we’re here or sitting next to Alix. It doesn’t change anything.

MAYA: Right?

MORGAN: Right.

MAYA: Good. Besides, I’m nervous enough with Daria showing up.

MORGAN: She may just want to be your friend again. It sounded like coffee went well.

MAYA: She may. I hope. It's just, something in my gut tells me she's not over it.

MORGAN: She might not be, but she may want to be your friend more.

[Pause.]

MORGAN: Evie and I haven’t spoken in three years.

[Pause.]

MORGAN: We had a massive fight. She lied to me, and I broke her trust to prove it. I’ve thought about her every day since she left, wondering where she’s living now, who her friends are, if she’s in love with someone I’ve never even met. If she’s safe. I told myself over and over that I wanted to fix things with her, but that wasn't really true. If I actually wanted to find her, I could've, but I wanted to be angry more. If Grace hadn’t called me and told me she vanished, I might still be at home now, stress baking pastries, with no idea that my sister’s in danger. Now, I just have to hope that we find her in time for me to apologize. I'm happy that Daria cares about you more than she cares about being angry.

[Pause.]

MAYA: Why didn’t you say something before?

MORGAN: I don’t know. I think was worried that if you knew from the beginning, you’d write me off. I still love her. I never stopped loving her, but I know it doesn't look that way.

MAYA: No, it does.

DARIA: (calling) Hey! Maya!

MAYA: Hi! Daria, this is Morgan.

DARIA: Hi.

MORGAN: Nice to meet you.

DARIA: Do you DJ too?

MORGAN: No, I’m an IT guy. I’m just a friend of Maya’s.

DARIA: Oh! That’s great. I wanted to meet some of Maya’s Brooklyn friends.

MAYA: The rest of us are back near the harm reduction table. Let me show you.

SCENE 5 - MORGAN'S APARTMENT

[Rock music and typing resume.]

ALIX: She doesn't know that Hansen can see she's online. Any network admin could see her.

[Alert goes off.]

ALIX: Why did the pin over the cabin just turn red?

[Typing. Mouse clicks.]

ALIX: It just sent an alert to the wider network. Evie, did you send something outside their intranet? Why would you-

[Their phone starts buzzing. They pick it up.]

ALIX: Why is she emailing- What's worse than we thought?

[Buzzing continues as new emails come in.]

ALIX: Oh fuck… Where did she even get these photos? These addresses? All this info, all these photos, it can’t just be Hirsch. They have multiple guys in Brooklyn keeping tabs on us.

[Another alert.]

ALIX: Hansen will send people to follow up on that alert. It probably logs anytime someone sends company material outside their network. (sigh) I have to warn her. I have to call Maya.

[They call Evie.]

EVIE: (on voicemail) Hi, it’s Evie. I’ll call you back when I get this, but really, just text me. Thanks!

ALIX: Dammit.

[They call Maya.]

MAYA: (on voicemail) Hi, it’s Maya. Leave a message or text me and I’ll get back to you when I can.

ALIX: (frustrated groan) Shit shit shit fuck!

SCENE 6 - CLUB/OUTSIDE THE CLUB

DARIA: Maya, are you going on soon?

MAYA: I have like half an hour, why?

DARIA: You want a quick smoke?

MAYA: Yeah, sure. Guys, I’ll be back in a few. If Andy starts looking for me, let him know I'm right outside.

[They exit the club. Music fades. Ambient conversation of other people on the sidewalk. Faint road noise.]

MAYA: C’mon. The alley is a bit less crowded.

[Footsteps. Conversation noises die down a bit. Daria takes a cigarette out of her pocket, then hands one to Maya. With two quick clicks, Daria lights both.]

DARIA: Your friends seem nice.

MAYA: They are. I’m lucky to have them.

DARIA: That's great. Are they all magical like you?

MAYA: (small laugh)

DARIA: Am I not supposed to ask that?

MAYA: Not really. Well, I’m not supposed to tell you.

DARIA: Oh, why? Are they embarrassed?

MAYA: No. It’s not safe for them to be so open about it. Do you think I’m ashamed of my magic?

DARIA: I- I don’t know. Aside from that one time, I’ve never seen you actually do any magic, and I get how that’s my fault. I know it sounds silly to be ashamed of having magic, like how cool is magic, right? But if it were me, if I was constantly on edge about it, it'd get to me.

MAYA: It hasn't gotten to me yet. You're right, though. Some folks are ashamed. Their magic came out publicly in a way that embarrassed them or hurt someone, or their community reacted badly to it. It's one of the reasons I link up with so many magical people. I need other folks, wherever they are, to know that their future could look like me.

[Pause.]

DARIA: I need to tell you something. People have come around my apartment asking about you.

MAYA: What? When? What kind of people?

DARIA: A couple months ago. Guys in suits. I didn’t want to tell you in the coffee shop because it seemed too public. Are you mixed up in something bad? Something… supernatural bad?

MAYA: What did you tell them?

DARIA: Jesus, Maya, nothing. I said that we grew up together, but that we hadn’t spoken in like ten years. No matter how on the rocks we were, I was never going to give you up to the “Men in Black.”

MAYA: Did they ask about Michael?

DARIA: Yeah, and that freaked me out the most. I told them that if they wanted to badger me about my best friend’s death, they could come back with a court order. They left after that, but it was like they knew. I couldn’t sleep over it. I had no idea how they found me, or knew that we were friends, and it started to drive me crazy. I was so worried about you. When I saw your post on Instagram, it was like a sign. I had to call you. I needed to know if you’d been kidnapped or something.

MAYA: (laugh) Not yet.

[They both give a weary laugh.]

DARIA: I don’t understand why you cling to this magic thing. To me, it seems like all it’s done is mess up your life.

MAYA: Some things are worth messing up your life over. I can’t un-know who I am. What I can do. I couldn’t save Michael, but maybe-

[Quick footsteps approach.]

MORGAN: Maya, finally, I’ve been looking everywhere.

MAYA: They found her.

MORGAN: Yeah, and it’s bad. We have to go.

MAYA: Did you tell the others?

MORGAN: Noel already called an Uber. We’re meeting Alix at my place.

DARIA: What about your set?

MAYA: Tell them I’m sorry, but I have a family emergency. Maybe if Andy feels bad enough he'll book me again.

DARIA: Maya-

MAYA: Please.

DARIA: Fine. Yes, fine, I will.

[Footsteps.]

MAYA: Morgan, I need to know: is she okay?

MORGAN: I hope so. I really fucking hope so.

SCENE 7 - THE CABIN

[Sound of the forest at night. Two sets of footsteps approach.]

DARRELL: This is a nightmare.

HIRSCH: It’s awful, but it's not a nightmare. One compromised office is a clerical error.

DARRELL: Seven dead isn't, and I don’t know if you heard, but they died fighting a giant monster.

HIRSCH: Calm down. I’ve been handling magic run amok since you were in high school. We can handle monsters. Don’t freak out until I freak out.

[Footsteps.]

HIRSCH: (sigh) I always hated this part, though. Telling the families. Shipping the bodies home. These people gave their lives to make the world a little safer. It’s noble, but it’s not right. (clears throat) Get the badge numbers of all the dead and reclaim any company property that you see. We were never here. Did the team send any details about the monster?

DARRELL: It was as big as a building and made of stone, I think. Bullets didn’t do much. Shaped kind of like if you left a clay guy out in the sun. It’s blurry, but one grabbed a photo before- you know.

HIRSCH: Definitely a monster. Looks elemental. That's good. It's not the first elemental we’ve dealt with. This’ll be annoying to handle, but it should be over soon. I’m assuming it ran?

DARRELL: (sarcastic) Well, one of our security teams is dead and I don’t see a giant stone monster, so yeah, probably.

HIRSCH: You can be funny in the car ride back. Let’s hurry this up. I want to go back to bed.

[Footsteps.]

HIRSCH: (low, to Evie) Hello. Seems your monster left you all alone. (calling) Hey, Darrell! We got a live one over here.

[Footsteps.]

DARRELL: Who?

HIRSCH: Evelyn Rothman. The runaway from Brooklyn who started this mess. Help me get this siding off of her.

[Hirsch and Darrell strain and lift it off of her.]

DARRELL: Her leg looks broken.

HIRSCH: Yeah, and she’s lost a lot of blood. Help me load her into the backseat of the car. She needs a doctor.

[Hirsch and Darrell lift Evie up and start carrying her to the car.]

SCENE 8 - MORGAN’S APARTMENT

[Mouse clicks.]

ALIX: Evie set off some silent alarms when she connected to the internet, and then emailed a non-company email address. The pin went red for an hour, then disappeared. I think they burned the base.

GRACE: What?

MORGAN: Hopefully they’re speaking metaphorically.

ALIX: I know the GPS coordinates because I was watching it for so long. It’s southwest of Seneca Lake, near the state park. Total middle of nowhere. A town of 5,000 is a city out there.

MORGAN: Did you ping her cell phone?

ALIX: Yeah. It last pinged at the cabin a few hours ago. I haven’t been able to get anything since.

MAYA: You mentioned something about FitBit data from a base up in Rochester. Is that base still active?

ALIX: As far as I know.

MAYA: I think they went there. Rochester is barely two hours away by car. Why take your chances hiding in the woods when you have a secure base up the highway?

GRACE: They could already be there now.

MORGAN: So should we. I’m not going to force anyone to come with me, but I’m not staying here. We have to take her back. I get that this is less of a risk for me than it is for most of you. I don’t have any magic. I won’t take it personally if you decide to stay here.

ALIX: Get over yourself. Of course I’m coming.

NOEL: No you’re not. You still have a concussion, and you’re the only one besides Morgan who knows how to spy on Hansen’s intranet.

ALIX: Noel-

NOEL: We need you to be our eyes and ears, please. You can’t take another hit to the head, but Morgan, I’m definitely coming with you.

MAYA: I already asked James if we could borrow his car.

GRACE: We started this together. We’re going to finish it together.

MAYA: It’s a six hour drive. If we hurry, we could make it there by morning.

MORGAN: I want to stop at that cabin on our way. See if we can figure out what happened there.

ALIX: I’ll text Maya the coordinates.

GRACE: What about her golem? If she really did build one, why didn’t it protect her?

MAYA: I've never even tried solo magic on this scale. I can think of ten different ways for it to go wrong. A few missteps, and she could create something too angry, too violent, or not loyal enough to protect her.

ALIX: Also, Hansen could’ve shot it down.

MAYA: This isn’t the first time magical folks have built constructs as weapons or protection. Hansen usually doesn’t go after them. It's a lot easier to take out the people who built them.

MORGAN: So the golem is still out there, somewhere.

NOEL: I think we should assume that.

GRACE: If Hansen has Evie, there’s no way it’s with her, right? Maya, if we found it, could you fix it?

MAYA: I could try. If I had Evie with me, then probably. She and I could gain control of it as a pair.

MORGAN: We need to track it down first.

MAYA: That’s easier. If I had some piece of the golem, I could use that to locate it.

GRACE: Like the ceramic shards in Evie’s apartment?

MAYA: Yes! Great idea. That could work.

MORGAN: Her apartment is probably crawling with cops and Hansen guys.

GRACE: So we grab the shards quickly. We can sneak in through her fire escape.

MAYA: I’ll go with you.

NOEL: Maya, tell James I can grab the car from him. I’ll park it a few blocks away from Evie’s in case you need a quick escape.

MAYA: Mhm.

ALIX: Morgan, can you hang back a sec?

MORGAN: Go ahead. I’ll catch up.

[Footsteps recede.]

ALIX: I want to come.

MORGAN: But you get why you can’t, right? We need someone with a bird’s eye view of Hansen’s movements.

ALIX: I watched as Hansen dispatched people to the cabin and grabbed Evie. I couldn’t get through in time to warn her. I could barely reach you guys. I don't want to watch all my friends blip out of existence hundreds of miles away.

MORGAN: And we don’t want to watch you get brain damage because some asshole with a nightstick gives you another concussion. Dude, you’re like a superhuman behind a computer screen. You were always better than me.

ALIX: Stop talking like that or I’ll think you’re not coming back.

MORGAN: No, I mean it. There is literally no one else I’d want watching my back. We need you here. I need you here. If you’re here, then I can start believing we'll pull this rescue off.

[Pause.]

ALIX: Fine. If I can’t come with you, then take Norbert, for luck. Catch.

[Alix tosses Morgan Norbert the rubber duck. He catches it.]

MORGAN: Thank you. I’ll see you soon, with Evie.

SCENE 9 - EVIE’S APARTMENT

[Ca-chunk. Maya coaxes the fire escape latter down.]

GRACE: I feel like someone’s gonna jump out of the shadows and grab me.

MAYA: Me too. Let’s make this quick.

[She and Grace start climbing. We time skip ahead to them entering Evie’s apartment. They open the window and climb inside. Two sets of slow, methodical footsteps. The floor is uneven and creaks a bit as the two women walk. Suddenly, Grace's foot catches one of the many objects scattered on the floor. It skitters across the hardwood and lightly hits the wall. Maya and Grace both wince.]

MAYA: Be careful. There’s still stuff all over the floor. If we turn the light on, we might draw more attention.

GRACE: Got it.

[Footsteps.]

GRACE: I’ll watch the door.

MAYA: The moment you see or hear anything, grab me.

[Maya enters the bathroom and starts collecting ceramic shards. Grace hums very quietly to herself, at a volume she can barely hear. A few tense moments pass.]

GRACE: (stage whisper) Maya! Someone’s coming. They look scary-official.

MAYA: (stage whisper) I got a few shards.

GRACE: Great, let’s get out of here.

MAYA: Why would someone from Hansen be- Of course. He thinks like me.

[Maya runs into the bathroom again and starts running the shower.]

GRACE: What are you doing!

MAYA: Getting rid of the clay residue in the tub. Will had the same idea. He sent someone to find a piece of Evie’s golem.

[Maya lifts the bucket of ceramic shards.]

MAYA: Ah, this is heavy. We have to get rid of the rest of these shards.

GRACE: We have to run!

MAYA: Grab a trash bag.

GRACE: Okay, okay!

[Footsteps. Grace grabs trash bag. Maya starts moving, as fast as she can, across the living room. The door opens. Security guard enters.]

HANSEN SECURITY: Stop!

[Grace grabs a big jar of marinara sauce from off the pantry rack and throws it at the Security Guard. It catches him in the knee and shatters on the floor. We hear him stumble and fall.]

HANSEN SECURITY: Ah!

[Maya and Grace sprint across the apartment, items shattering around them.]

GRACE: Almost there… almost there…

[Gunshot!]

[Grace trips on another one of the objects on Evie’s floor. GRACE goes down! She sucks in a pained breath.]

MAYA: Grace!

GRACE: My ankle!

MAYA: Can you walk?

[Gunshot!]

GRACE: Help me up!

[Maya grabs Grace and pulls her and the shards through the window. Road noise fades in. We’re now on the fire escape.]

GRACE: Ward the window!

MAYA: What?

GRACE: So he can’t follow us!

MAYA: I don't have another bracelet. It won't be strong enough on my own.

GRACE: Use me!

[Static, like a sizzle on the air.]

MAYA: Touch the wall with your hand! Feel how it feels! Picture the window as that brick wall!

[Gunshot! From inside the apartment.]

MAYA: Picture it!

GRACE: I’m trying!

MAYA: Grace, focus on me. Believe you’re safe. Feel that you’re safe. Really know it. We’re safe! Say it with me.

GRACE & MAYA: We’re safe. We’re safe. We’re safe. We’re-

[Gunshot! Shatter! A bullet shoots through the window. They both let out a loud noise, pained and terrified.]

MAYA: We have to run! Can you make it down the stairs?

GRACE: I can try-

[Grace winces.]

MAYA: Give me that!

[Maya grabs the trash bag of shards and drops it down the fire escape.]

GRACE: What are you doing?

MAYA: I can’t carry both of you. I'd rather throw the ceramic down the stairs.

[Maya picks Grace up and starts running down the stairs.]

MAYA: Call Noel!

[Phone dial tone.]

GRACE: (on the phone) Noel! We need the car now!

[Gunshot! Both Grace and Maya scream.]

MAYA: Grab the bag! I got you.

[Grace grabs it. The car squeals up beside them. They jump into the car.]

MAYA: Drive!

[Noel slams on the gas. Tires squeal again.]

MORGAN: What the hell happened?

NOEL: Where am I going?

MORGAN: BQE.

MAYA: Turn right, there’s less traffic this way.

[Noel turns hard. Cars honk.]

MORGAN: Well?

GRACE: We got them.

MORGAN: What?

GRACE: We got the shards, and those assholes didn’t.

NOEL: Why can’t Grace walk?

MAYA: She twisted her ankle.

NOEL: How bad?

GRACE: Ask me after the adrenaline wears off.

MAYA: I'm sure one of the traffic cameras caught James's plates. He's gonna kill me.

MORGAN: That’s not great for us either.

MAYA: Hopefully someone from Hansen will loan us a car for the drive home.

[Outro music.]

REMY: The Artisan Who Made Me is written and produced by Remy Davison and directed by Sydney Roslin. This episode featured Ria Meer as Grace, Alexander Michael Reeves as Noel, Alyssa Cassesse as Alix, Bryce Payne as Maya, Yaya Koas as Morgan, Arielle Gonzalez as Daria, and Nick Jordan as Hirsch. Music by Jordan Speranzo, and audio production by Raphael Davison. For more information, transcripts, and to support our show, visit bottledstarproductions.com. “The Artisan Who Made Me” is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, administered by the Brooklyn Arts Council.