---

INT. -- NEW SAN NARCISO ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER -- ACCESS TUNNEL

 

Splinter, now alone, comes to an archaic hatch covered in grime and cobwebs.  At his feet is a modern-looking duffel bag, from which he takes a pair of old sandals and a battered and dusty garment which looks like a sack with armholes.  He quickly strips off his gear and clothing into the duffel, then stashes it in a recess above the hatch.  He straps on the sandals, pulls on the tattered garment, and briefly looks ruefully down at himself.  Then he turns to the hatch, braces himself, feet pressed firmly to the floor, and slowly begins to turn the wheel.

 

 

INT. -- ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER DUCT

 

Camera looks out from moldy, slimy duct at Splinter crawling in, head first.  Camera pans down to follow Splinter inching down the vertical pipe, legs spread wide as he lowers himself down a metal cable.  He pauses, takes an enormous breath, then drops into the rushing water below.

 

 

INT. -- ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER MAIN DISCHARGE PIPE

 

Splinter tumbles through the churning water which completely fills the large pipe as it carries him through sharp bends, bouncing him against the walls as he attempts to keep hold of the cable, until suddenly he comes to its end and accelerates alarmingly.

 

 

EXT. DAY -- HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH GRAYWATER IRRIGATION OUTLET

 

Splinter shoots out of an outlet in the huge outer wall of New San Narciso, splashing into a small jury-rigged artificial pond, from which many smaller tubes duct water down and away.  Splinter lifts his head slightly above the surface of the water to scan the area around the pond, and looks almost relieved until he turns to see someone leaning against the wall, staring down into the pond at him with an unfriendly glare.

 

SCROUNGE

 

You look like a bit of someone's dinner that went up the wrong pipe, as it were.

 

SPLINTER

 

Can't blame a fellow for trying, can you?

 

Splinter splashes out of the pond on the far side, making a slight furtive gesture as he does so.

 

SCROUNGE

 

No, but, I wonders, what if you weren't going in, in the first place?

 

SPLINTER

 

You think anyone in there would be fool enough to come out here?  You're daft.

 

SCROUNGE

 

All the same, better to have you looked over, like.

 

Scrounge, dressed in sackcloth, but with an oddly modern weapon slung over his shoulder, waves Splinter away from the wall.  Camera follows the motion to reveal a vast tent city spread out under the broiling sun.

 

 

EXT. DAY -- TENT CITY OUTSKIRTS

 

A tawdry rabble of shifty-looking men filter out from between various tents to meet Scrounge and his captive.  The most aggressive and unpleasant of the lot steps forward.

 

VISH

 

Found us a bit of lunch, Scrounge?

 

SCROUNGE

(leering)

 

Naught I'd want to sink my teeth into on a good day.  A bit old and hopeless, methinks.

 

VISH

 

On the other hand, on the other hand, looks a bit well-fed to me.  Too well-fed to be leaving the camps, says I.  Tell me, boy, were you sneaking in, or sneaking out?

 

Splinter remains standing quietly.

 

SCROUNGE

(shoving him with the end of the weapon, which crackles as it makes contact)

Answer the man, if you know your good end from your bad.

 

SPLINTER

(Inscrutably)

In.

 

VISH

And what camp did you make from?

 

SPLINTER

The Lost Camp.

 

VISH

And none there who'd say they'd ever seen you before, either, I expect, even if it were true.  Well, you're a shrewd one at least.  But a little bird tells me you're not telling me all you might.  Bring the machine!

 

One of Vish's men brings out a long wand, loops of various sizes protruding from it at odd angles, and begins to run it over Splinter.

 

VISH

Not even a little chip here or there, my lost fish?

 

Vish leans into Splinter's face, exhaling as he speaks, and although Splinter's nostrils flare, his face remains impassive.  The wand remains dark and silent, and Vish turns away in annoyance, then spins back again sharply.

 

VISH

You've wasted my time, new-face.  Tell me why I shouldn't bury you to your neck and leave you to the sun.

 

A small boy has materialized from the tents, wearing his own tiny sack and a pale turban.

 

BOY

(wheedling, but with an odd note of authority)

Let him alone, Vish, I need him for something.

 

VISH

(petulantly)

Ours first.

 

BOY

(detached, calmly)

Don't want anything bad to happen to you, Vish.

 

VISH

Well, Scrounge, see if anything better comes along.  You, stranger, had better lose yourself back to the lost camp before my men find their appetite.

 

The Boy takes Splinter by the hand and leads him into the maze of tents.

 

 

EXT DAY -- TENT CITY CENTRAL ZONE

 

BOY

Lost something, did you?

 

SPLINTER

Not for long, I hope.

 

BOY

(handing him a cylindrical silver necklace)

Sooner than you thought?

 

SPLINTER

(smiling)

Not by much.  But it's a present for you.  There.  See if you can keep it someplace safe.

Can we see the wise man?

 

BOY

Almost there now.

 

 

INT. --   SHAMAN'S TENT

 

The Boy lifts the tent-flap and leads Splinter inside, where he and the occupant, wearing a shaggy salt-and-pepper beard, dressed in what appears to be re-woven sacking, nod at each other.

 

SHAMAN

(dryly)

This is a rare honor, indeed.  Hardly see you these days, not even for Yule.

 

SPLINTER

Hello...  Just had a little something for your boy.  And a question for you.

 

SHAMAN

(Inclining his head to listen)

Sounds serious, even for you.  What's on your mind?

 

SPLINTER

(carefully)

Is it worth risking life, to improve life?

 

SHAMAN

You didn't take that toxic tube-ride to ask me riddles, did you?  (to the boy) I confess I wonder what your present was.

 

Splinter looks steadily at him.

 

SHAMAN

You are serious.  Well, it's a question everyone in this tent has already answered, I should think.  Can any of us answer it for another?

 

SPLINTER

That's the question.

 

SHAMAN

Assuming you can't ask those affected.

 

SPLINTER

Yes.

 

SHAMAN

(leaning in conspiratorily)

I say, go for it, my boy.  A life in these tents is not much of a life, nor in those walls from what I hear.  You're more careful than any of us have a right to ask for, I should say.  Whatever you intend to do, I trust it wants doing.

 

SPLINTER

(nods his thanks, smiles slightly)

You've always been a good friend to me.   I'm glad to see you still are.  Be well.

 

They clasp arms, then lean in to grab the other's shoulder.

 

The Boy holds the tent-flap open and Splinter steps through, into…

 

INT. -- NEW SAN NARCISO ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIER -- ACCESS TUNNEL

 

A drenched Splinter crawls back out through the hatch, gasping raggedly as he pulls himself to the top of the steel cable.