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INT. HONEYBEE HIVE - AN ELEVATOR - NIGHT
(CLARISSA, SAMANTHA, MATT)
IN THE ELEVATOR, GOING DOWN, CLARISSA TAKES MATT'S HAND.
MATT SMILES.
HER CELL RINGS. SHE ROLLS HER EYES.
CLARISSA
Oh god! Probably Brian.
SAMANTHA
Already?
CLARISSA CHECKS HER PHONE. WE SEE THE WORD "BRIAN" ON THE SCREEN.
CLARISSA
You bet. Honeybee in a Q4 state [10.] [11.] [12.]. He's agitated, scared. I gotta go comfort him. And tell him not to get high so much. Guess I'm goin' back up.
CLARISSA PRESSES THE BUTTON MARKED "G".
CLARISSA
Sammi, you can give Matt the tour?
SAMANTHA
For sure.
THE ELEVATOR JERKS THEN RISES. CLARISSA PATS MATT WITH A SINGLE WING, THEN STEPS TOWARD THE DOOR.
CLARISSA
Later; we'll meet again. Properly.
MATT
Your wings are so smooth.
CLARISSA
Soon you too will grow some. You'll feel a tingle running down your spine; the most amazing feeling ever. Our arms become something more, something far finer, far more detailed, far more intricate than anything we have ever known. We evolve while in the hive, then de-evolve each time we leave. It's a cycle we enjoy very much; human to human-honeybee-hybrid and again back to human. When you form connections with others here, intimate connections with other species [1.] of honeybees from all around the world, your wings grow.
MATT TAKES A DEEP BREATH.
SAMANTHA NODS.
SAMANTHA
And then you can learn to fly.
THE ELEVATOR STOPS AND CLARISSA NODS. SHE RAISES A WING AS SHE STEPS BACK ONTO THE GROUND FLOOR.
CLARISSA
I'll see you later. Take care.
MATT'S SPEECHLESS.
SAMANTHA PRESSES A BUTTON LABELLED "1", BUT THE ELEVATOR - NO DOUBT - MOVES DOWN.
NOW MATT TURNS TO FACE SAMANTHA AND WE SEE THAT SHE TOO HAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, FINE, FEMININE WINGS KNOWN TO MAN. SHE SPREADS THEM OUT WIDE. MATT STROLLS TOWARD HER.
MATT REACHES OUT. HE TOUCHES SAMANTHA'S SILKY SKIN; THIS WING OF FILM, CERTAINLY MORE COMPELLING, MORE ENCHANTING, MORE WONDERFUL AND MYSTERIOUS THAN ANYTHING PLAYING AT THE CINEMAS RIGHT NOW.
SAMANTHA
It's sensitive there.
SAMANTHA LAUGHS.
MATT PULLS HIS HAND AWAY.
MATT
Sorry.
SAMANTHA
I didn't say stop. Stroke it, please.
MATT TOUCHES THE FINE FILM. HE DRAWS CIRCLES ON THE WING SKIN WITH HIS FOREFINGER. SAMANTHA EXHALES. SHE AND MATT FALL TO THE FLOOR.
SAMANTHA
When the doors open, they'll see us. People you have never met. Is this ok with you?
MATT
Yeah. You know I love you.
SAMANTHA TOUCHES MATT'S LIPS, AND THEN PULLS HIM CLOSER.
SAMANTHA
How do I smell?
MATT
Just fine.
SAMANTHA
It takes time but soon you will able to smell exactly how I am feeling [6.] [7.]. We have the ability, and . . .
SAMANTHA WAVES A WING THROUGH THE AIR; SHE PULLS MATT'S SCENT TOWARD HER, AND THEN TOUCHES HER LIPS TO HIS.
THEN LETS GO.
SAMANTHA
It grows along with our wings. I can smell your feelings; your nervousness, your lust, your happiness, your awe. I can smell you so clearly.
MATT EXHALES.
MATT
You're right. So right.
SAMANTHA
This new world is intoxicating for you. I'll introduce you slowly. You will see new faces, every day. Each one unique, each one special. We learn to read faces so well, here, to read each line, each freckle, the symmetry, the scars, and even the contrast between features of a face [8.]. Eventually we can smell every single feature; we can construct a perfect mental image the face of a person we encounter even with our eyes closed, and, naturally, interpret his or her emotion [9.]. And this is how we mingle, how we meet one another. When we touch one another with our wings; these feathers, these smooth, delicate fingers. How does this feel?
SAMANTHA RUNS THE TIP OF HER WING DOWN MATT'S CHEEK.
MATT
Perfect.
THEY KISS.
SAMANTHA
And you will soon find other's wings feel different but just as nice. Clarissa's for one. Trust me on that.
SAMANTHA LIES MATT DOWN.
HE TOUCHES HER FACE.
SAMANTHA
What's my best feature?
MATT
Uh . . . wow . . . um . . . you're so friendly I guess. And you're beautiful of course.
SAMANTHA
Thank you. But you must be aware that eventually you'll find my friendliness makes me overly passive [13.] [14.], and my attractiveness makes me hard to pin down. Especially in the hive, I fly away often, to find other mates. Take deep breaths when this happens, and then spread your wings and soar. Don't let thoughts of me keep you pinned to the ground; don't get caught up.
MATT AGAIN EXHALES.
MATT
I know.
SAMANTHA LICKS MATT'S FACE. SHE STARES INTO HIS EYES.
SAMANTHA
Think of Clarissa, Matt.
MATT NODS.
SAMANTHA
A few things you need to know about her. You must try not to mention Australia, and especially Sydney. Over a month has passed since the death of her sister, and she's is still upset. As we all are. But we have decided that it's best we don't mention the land down under for a while; we keep this country from her mind along with thoughts about her sister. Soon she will be ok [2.] [3.]. Should you accidentally bring it up then take her into your embrace like this [4.] [5.].
SAMANTHA WRAPS HER WINGS AROUND MATT. SHE CARESSES HIS BODY, THEN RUBS HER BELLY ON HIS.
MATT SIGHS.
THE DOORS OPEN.
SAMANTHA PATS HIS FACE.
SAMANTHA
I have so much to show you.
SHE JUMPS UP, BUT FOR A SECOND SHE APPEARS TO FLOAT.
MATT TURNS TO VIEW THIS FLOOR THE DOORS HAVE OPENED TO.
BUT WE JUST STARE AT SAMANTHA; HER BODY BLACK AND YELLOW, AND VERY SMOOTH, HER WINGS FULLY FORMED.
WE