shrike / snake – ines / bin

[fox]

Int. COLOSSEUM – Night

a microhabitat of sand and tributes.

people and stone shapes and crowns of pillars make long shadows at the bottom of the colosseum. there’s a table bursting with food like an overflowing cornucopia, orchestral music swelling and echoing. there is a woman who stands out in the landscape in a bright pink dress.

INES – sixteen, district five. on the ground, she traces a finger in the sand, over the ridges of the little dunes made by footprints.

BOY – enter stage left. he is surveying the lackluster party, the strange mixed mood, taking steps backwards until he collides with INES.

INES – she looks up at him, leaning back on her hands. the boy is backlit by the party lights. (lightly) "we're trying to kill each other already?" he comes into focus. "ah, you're Bin. the performer."

𓅪

[calla]

BIN – seventeen, district nine. he adjusts a midnight lapel with one hand while the other holds an empty champagne flute loosely between two fingers. he is evidently pleased at being recognized, but still (correcting) "the star."

BIN raises the flute to his mouth but finds it empty. his eyes narrow.

[ a luo sounds ]

BIN looks INES up and down, appraising. his gaze is cold and flat. unimpressed. he rolls his shoulders.

BIN – (dryly) "always nice to meet a fan." he looks to the bottom of his champagne glass. "if you want an autograph, i need another drink."

𓆙

[fox]

INES stands up and faces BIN. she wears a neutral expression on her face, but she clenches a fist briefly. she looks from the empty flute to his eyes. she takes a step towards him.

INES – (with playful derision) "yes, the star. the star who is here with the rest of us."

she snatches the glass from his hands, and gestures towards a table across the colosseum with assorted wines and spirits.

INES – "we'll get you another drink."

the scene shifts as they move. the table of alcohol is set downstage, laid with a tablecloth of ivory and gold thread. INES picks a jade-coloured bottle.

INES – while pouring, "Bin, the star, you plan to be victor then? show them the performance of a lifetime?"

𓅪

[calla]

The glass drops from BIN's hand to INES's. BIN brushes his palm against his suit jacket, examining his fingers for imaginary dirt.

BIN – (dismissively) "every actor needs a supporting cast."

a man in a lime green blouse begins to approach with a platter. BIN wards him off with a flourish. when INES has poured the flute half-full, BIN reaches across and raises the bottle with his index finger, halting the flow. he shields his mouth and raises the flute, downs the liquor, then sets it back down.

BIN – grinning, he gestures for INES to keep pouring, "no greater stage than this one."

BIN leans against the drink table and observes the colosseum, continuing to speak without looking at INES.

BIN – "then what role will you play?" he cocks his head, waits for her name, "miss - ?"

𓆙

[fox]

INES glances at BIN after he sets down the flute for a second time. she looks back down, now with a slight smile on her face, and resumes pouring.

INES – "Ines."

She pauses for a moment, in consideration, before taking a flute from a crystal pyramid of glasses stacked off the side of the table. She pours himself a drink. INES looks at BIN again, then mimics his posture, leaning against the table.

INES – (in amusement) "well, i don't think we could be friends in this story."

INES raises her glass to BIN.

INES – "so i will be your villain. because there is always a villain."

𓅪

[calla]

BIN watches the crowd move with sharp eyes. The colosseum flags flutter gently.

BIN – "friends."

he scoffs.

BIN – "that wouldn't work."

his brow furrows, head tilting back to look at the sky. one hand lifts to sway with the music, he drifts it back and forth through the air. BIN raises his glass, now full, to clink against INES's.

BIN – "to my villain." the crystal sings. "to the story we will tell."

𓆙

[fox]

INES laughs lightly. she downs the drink after BIN's toast, then sets the crystal back on the table.

INES – "we'll see what happens in the arena."

Ext. COLOSSEUM – Night
the night passes, moon moving across the sky. the sounds from the colosseum echo into the air, lights glowing between the arches.

Int. COLOSSEUM – Night
the scene shifts back to INES and BIN after some time. before INES departs, she writes a message for him in the sand.

bin of 9,

my honeyguides sleep and the warblers die,
quiet toy scythe, searching for a quick bite,
my tiny hungry bird.

𓅪