Reflection 12: Polly's Endgame

REFLECTION12: POLLY’S  ENDGAME

1. INT. HOSPITAL - DAY 68

MUSIC CUE

INTERIOR HOSPITAL ROOM AMBIENCE

WOMAN

A mirror has no eyes to see, ears to listen, and no heart with which to endear. It plays no favorites and shows no prejudice. It has no cause or agenda. A mirror’s only purpose is to echo back what it sees. The mirror makes no judgement, it won’t click on your “like” button, it won’t send an emoji. Mirrors simply reflect whatever they are shown. Their only edit is a horizontal flip, a mere transposition and nothing more.

Mirrors may have memories but they don’t hold grudges like humans do.

MUSIC THEME

ANNOUNCER

Welcome to 13 Reflections. Reflection 12: Polly’s Endgame

1. INT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY 69

MUSIC CUE DARK MAGIC

POLLY

Mom! Mom! Come back.

DISTANT SIRENS FOOTSTEPS MOVE AWAY

NARRATOR

As Polly looks into the dragon mirror the reflection swirls and a woman’s face appears but it is not her mother’s. It is Waipoh with her finger to her lips.

THEY TALK IN CLOSE WHISPERS

POLLY

You’re not my mom. Who are you?

WAIPOH

A friend. Go with him. Watch him closely and wait for my signal. Go now.

POLLY

Okay.

AGENT LEE

Your mother has left me with only one last wraith.

SIRENS APPROACH FIRE TRUCK HONKS

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

Blast. Sheriff cars and fire trucks. We can’t be found here. I’ll come back for the cabinet later. I’ve got to rebuild my army. Come with me.

FOOTSTEPS MOVE AWAY

CUT TO:

1. INT. SHERIFF STATION - DAY 70

MUSIC CUE SHERIFF STATION

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

Has anyone seen the Sheriff?

FOOTSTEPS

BATHROOM DOOR OPENS

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN (CONT'D)

Sheriff? You in here?

BANG ON STALL DOOR

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN (CONT'D)

I see your feet. Hey Sheriff, you okay?

STALL DOOR CREAKS OPEN DEPUTY GASPS

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN (CONT'D)

Georgie? Oh my god.

Somebody help! Call an ambulance!

CUT TO:

1. INT. ASHLEY'S HOUSE - DAY 71

MUSIC CUE DARK MAGIC DOOR OPENS

FOOTSTEPS ON CARPET ENTER DEMON WINGS FLAP

DEMON CHITTER

POLLY

Stay away from me.

AGENT LEE

Leave her be. You’ll be fed soon enough.

DEMON CHITTER

POLLY

What are we doing here?

AGENT LEE

I thought you might be more comfortable coming back to your own house.

POLLY

Why don’t you just go?

AGENT LEE

I will but not alone.

FOOTSTEPS UP STAIRS DOOR OPENS FOOTSTEPS ON CARPET

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

I was right there you know? I almost had enough for the ransom but you’re mother bankrupted my account. Two more and Freya would be free.

POLLY

Two more. You mean Mom and me?

AGENT LEE

I would have had to deliver you like the other five souls.

POLLY

The other five?

AGENT LEE

First there was Faith six months ago, then Mina, Billy, Lucy, then the Sheriff.

POLLY

And Ray? What about Ray?

AGENT LEE

Ray was not on my list. I cannot claim him. I believe you were set free in exchange for Ray.

POLLY

Oh no Ray. No. What about my mom?

AGENT LEE

Your mom touched the 13th reflection twice on her own trying to find you. The demon would have taken you if she had not gone in on her own.

Oh. Mom.

POLLY

AGENT LEE

You stay here Polly. Maybe pick out your favorite things. I have a couple of strings that need tying up... and my friend here is growing hungry.

DEMON CHITTER LEATHERY WING FLAP DOOR CLOSES

SOMETHING IS JAMMED AGAINST THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE FOOTSTEPS ON CARPET

POLLY TRIES THE DOOR BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN

1. INT. ASHLEY'S HOUSE - DAY 72

EERIE WHOOSH FROM THE BATHROOM FOOTSTEPS FROM CARPET TO TILE BATHROOM AMBIENCE

NARRATOR

Polly steps into the bathroom. The mirror over the sink swirls.

Waipoh’s face appears in the reflection.

POLLY

Hello?

WAIPOH

Polly. Are you alone?

POLLY

Yeah. He’s gone and he took the demon wraith with him.

WAIPOH

Good.

POLLY

Can you help me escape?

WAIPOH

I will but not how you expect. You have to stay with him for a little while longer.

POLLY

But he’s going to kill more people and I think one of them will be me.

WAIPOH

We will stop him. I have a plan but I will need your help. When he comes for the cabinet be ready.

POLLY

What do I do?

WAIPOH

A shaman’s mirror is like the moon with both a shiny reflective side and a dark absorbing side.

POLLY

A dark side?

WAIPOH

Yes, that is what you will use to foil him.

POLLY

Don’t forget his demon wraith.

WAIPOH

Indeed. I will have to dispose of that dog before I can deal with him. But I have a plan.

POLLY

Can’t you do this without me?

WAIPOH

If you want to get your mother back you will have to do this. It must be you. Do you understand?

POLLY

Yes. I’ll do it. I’ll do anything. How will I know when?

WAIPOH

Oh Polly, you’ll know. You will know.

CUT TO:

1. INT. CORONER’S OFFICE - DAY 73

CORNER’S OFFICE AMBIENCE ELEVATOR POP MUSIC

NARRATOR

Deputy Green and Barney the Coroner stand over Sheriff Gordon’s body.

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

Ya know when we were kids everyone was into Batman, Superman or the Mutant Ninja Turtles. We all had our fantasy hero, but when the bullies came around in the real world, the only one that stuck up for me was Georgie.

BARNEY

I’m not sure if I can do this autopsy.

DOOR OPENS

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

I know I can’t, but I need to know how Georgie died.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

AGENT LEE

I might be able to assist you towards that end.

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

You! Stay right there.

DEPUTY PULLS OUT HIS PISTOL

AGENT LEE

Careful where you aim that gun Deputy. I am unarmed. I’m not a danger to you.

LEATHERY WINGS FLAP

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

Who are you?

BARNEY

He’s the FBI agent.

AGENT LEE

Don’t you remember? Agent Kelly Lee Hostage Recovery.

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

That’s what you say but I checked your credentials. I located an agent Kelly Lee in the hostage recovery section. But she’s been dead for more than a year. Her son and husband have gone missing since. So I’ll ask you again, who are you?

AGENT LEE

I am impressed. You have risen above the lackadaisical, sleepy eyed, ineffective small town amateur tag I had assigned to you. But I’m afraid the added weight of you being the ranking law official is beyond your breaking point.

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

I’m doing fine. Now put your hands up.

AGENT LEE

Barney? It is Barney?

BARNEY

Yeah?

AGENT LEE

You might want to get behind me. As you can see he’s not himself.

BARNEY

Let’s all just talk about this.

DEPUTY DAVEY GREEN

We can talk when he’s in handcuffs. Now you, who ever you are, put your hands over your head.

AGENT LEE

As you wish but as I have tried to tell you, I am not a danger to you. But that is.

NARRATOR

Reflected in the stainless steel tables and counters the wraith launches from the overhead light. It leaps onto the deputy’s arm and bites down on his wrist. Blood sprays. The gun drops. Barney stares in shock.

DEPUTY SCREAMS BARNEY SQUEALS

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

Deputy Green falls to the floor as the wraith bites into his neck.

Barney backs away.

AGENT LEE

Sorry you had to see all of this Barney. It appears you are now a witness.

THE DEMON WRAITH GROWLS

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

And we don’t want any witnesses.

FLAPPING WINGS

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

Take them both. Free your friends.

BARNEY SCREAMS

DEMON WRAITH CHITTERS BITING

FLESH RIPS BLOOD SPLATTERS SCREAMING

CUT TO:

1. INT. ASHLEY'S HOUSE - DAY 74

MUSIC CUE DARK MAGIC FOOTSTEPS APPROACH DOOR JAM REMOVED DOOR OPENS FOOTSTEPS

AGENT LEE

Polly, gather your things. We are leaving.

POLLY

Leaving? Where are we going?

AGENT LEE

To start over.

LEATHERY WINGS FLAP DEMON CHITTER CLAWS ON WOOD

POLLY

There are three wraiths now?

AGENT LEE

Deputy Green discovered I was impersonating my dead wife and although the coroner had no knowledge of the mirrors he still had seen too much...poor Barney.

POLLY

So no one will be looking for you but what about me?

AGENT LEE

What about you? Ray is gone. Your mother is gone. No one is left with even the remotest interest in your whereabouts.

POLLY

I’ll get mom out.

AGENT LEE

Only with my help.

POLLY

You’ll help me?

AGENT LEE

After we free Freya. But first we have to deliver four more souls to the demon in the mirror. And to do that we have to find another antique dealer who can decipher the Chinese riddle inside the cabinet.

COMPUTER BAG ZIPPER KEYBOARD CLICKS

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

This will do just fine. Royal Oak antiques in New Orleans specializing in treasures from Asia. That’s where we will go but we’ve one last stop on the way.

CUT TO:

1. EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - DAY 75

MUSIC CUE DARK MAGIC

FOOTSTEPS TRANSITION FROM GRAVEL TO BROKEN GLASS

NARRATOR

Agent Lee and Polly duck under the yellow caution tape and enter the Einhorn office building.

ELEVATOR DING DOORS SLIDE OPEN DOLLY WHEELS

FLAPPING OF LEATHERY WINGS

AGENT LEE

Where is it? Where is the cabinet? It was right here when the firefighters came.

POLLY

Someone must have taken it.

AGENT LEE

But who would do that?

LEATHERY WINGS DEMON GROWLS CLAWS ON WOOD DEMON CHITTER

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

They can sense it. They can find it. Find the cabinet. Go now my pretties. Now Fly! Fly!

NARRATOR

Reflected in the broken window fragments that lie on the floor, Polly watches the three demon wraiths launch into the air. They circle where the cabinet had once stood three times as if to catch the scent. They hover for a brief moment then they fly out through the broken windows.

CUT TO:

1. INT. HI LOY ANTIQUES - DAY 76

MUSIC CUE WAIPOH

NARRATOR

Agent Lee and Polly enter Hi Loy Antiques. The warehouse appears completely empty.

Leathery Wings Flap Demon chitter

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

Polly watches the three demon wraiths circle over Agent Lee’s head.

AGENT LEE

Where is it? Where’s the cabinet?

Demon chitter Demon Sqwaking Leathery wings flap

AGENT LEE (CONT'D)

It’s here somewhere.

NARRATOR

Movement at the mouth of the warehouse. Reflected in a mirror Waipoh peeks around the corner.

AGENT LEE

You? You took the cabinet?

WAIPOH

My movers delivered it there, so it was easy to have them bring it back. Now be gone demon servant and take your wraiths with you.

AGENT LEE

I had forgotten about you.

WAIPOH

The first of your many mistakes. You misjuded me.

AGENT LEE

Well that’s not quite right you are so insignificant I actually had no reason to assign any value to you at all. Now where is the dragon mirror?

WAIPOH

Come and find it.

NARRATOR

Waipoh dashes down the corridor. Agent Lee points at her and the three demon wraiths peel off and fly after her. Agent Lee and Polly follow. Waipoh leads them deeper into the warehouse through the maze of old Chinese furniture. The demon wraiths gain on Waipoh but she is prepared and leaps into a large mirror.

AGENT LEE

She’s opened a portal. The demon wraiths won’t follow her in there.

NARRATOR

Polly can barely keep track of Waipoh in the mirrors and reflections off glass china dressers. She darts left then right the right again. Waipoh drops out of a mirror then rushes into a different one. The walls of furniture grow narrower with each turn. Finally Waipoh drops out of a mirror and makes a turn. Polly can see the red Chinese cabinet at the end of the long passage. The doors are wide open exposing the dragon mirror. The demon wraiths are right on Waipoh when she suddenly vanishes and leaps into a mirror.

The three demon wraiths shriek and circle. At every turn they come face to face with their own reflection.

AGENT LEE

Stop. It’s a trap. She’s made a box of mirrors.

NARRATOR

Waipoh has made a dead end of mirrors. Mirrors line the walls and floor on all sides. At that instant Waipoh pulls on a rope and mirrors fall from the walls and crash into the mirrors that cover the floor.

(MORE)

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

The wraiths burst into clouds of black smoke. Waipoh steps in front of the dragon mirror.

AGENT LEE

You will pay for that!

WAIPOH

Put it on my tab.

AGENT LEE

The wraiths might be gone but you can’t get rid of me that easily.

WAIPOH

I won’t have to.

AGENT LEE

I will begin again. I will take my seven pounds of flesh, my seven hearts, seven souls and free Freya.

WAIPOH

You have been beaten, you just don’t know it yet.

AGENT LEE

Beaten? By the likes of you?

WAIPOH

By Polly’s mother and by me.

AGENT LEE

Rubbish.

WAIPOH

Never underestimate mothers. We * have instincts beyond vision, we

have withstood pain beyond the bearable, and we have power beyond magic.

AGENT LEE

A minor mistake I will not make again. But first I will take your life.

WAIPOH

My life is already forfeit and I am fine with that, I have nothing left to live for. Well, except one thing and that is to destroy you.

AGENT LEE

And how do you intend to do that?

WAIPOH

This is not just a mirror in a cabinet. This dragon mirror belonged to a Mongol Shaman. The Shaman that has been trapped on the other side for thousands of years. He is the one you serve.

NARRATOR

Polly leaps forward and grabs the dragon mirror from the cabinet. She turns it around facing the back side of the Dragon mirror towards Agent Lee.

No. Stop!

AGENT LEE SCREAMS

AGENT LEE

NARRATOR

Agent Lee struggles to walk forward and stop Polly. Veins of black and purple spread up his body like spider webs. His body turns to gray stone, then bit by bit his skin and flesh flake off and are sucked into the back side of the dragon mirror, until he is no more. The dragon mirror is suddenly heavy. Polly lowers it to the floor. The shiny reflective surface jiggles like jell-o. A hand pushes up and out, and Ashley slowly pulls herself out of the dragon mirror.

POLLY

Mom!

ASHLEY

Hello Polly girl.

HUGGING KISSING

ASHLEY (CONT'D)

Thank you for helping us.

WAIPOH

You are welcome and yet I am not doing you any favors.

ASHLEY

What are you saying?

WAIPOH

You both must become the guardians of the dragon mirror. Take good care of it, I fear you will need it in the future.

ASHLEY

Us? Can’t you take care of it?

WAIPOH

I’ve used the mirrors far too many times. I must go now and pay my toll.

NARRATOR

And without hesitation, Waipoh steps into the dragon mirror. Almost instantly a wraith pushes its way free of the jell-o like mirror surface.

LEATHERY WINGS FLAP

DEMON CHITTER (SOMEHOW FRIENDLY CHITTER) MAIN THEME

ANNOUNCER

This has been 13 Reflections.