INT. PUB -- NIGHT

Lirielle walks in with the papers. Finnegan spots her and waves her over.

FINNEGAN

Well?

Lirielle spreads the papers out on the table.

LIRIELLE

It was a trap. He knew I was coming.

FINNEGAN

Did he now? And yet, here you are. You weren’t stupid enough to be followed, were you?

LIRIELLE

Hmph. Please.

FINNEGAN

Right then. You can go.

LIRIELLE

All my sins forgiven?

FINNEGAN

Until next time. Watch yourself. Follow the rules.

Lirielle turns to leave. Crabbe blocks her way.

LIRIELLE

Let me by, Crabbe. You heard the man. I’m a free girl.

Crabbe reaches out and plays with a lock of her hair.

CRABBE

For now. I’ve got my eye on you. Another slip up, and Finnegan will let me have you. Don’t matter how good a pickpocket you are.

Lirielle swats his hand away and shoulders him aside. He laughs. Lirielle stomps to the door, thinks a moment. She looks at Finnegan in warning.

LIRIELLE

By the by, Finnegan. There’s something odd about those papers--

FINNEGAN

Why else would I want them? Now get you gone.

EXT. ALLEYWAY -- EVENING

Lirielle hurries from her hiding spot. The older gentleman blocks her way.

She draws a knife from her sleeve.

LIRIELLE

Out of my way.

The man laughs. Stands his ground.

Lirielle steps toward him, threatening him with her blade.

LIRIELLE

I’m deuced late. Good as dead.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Now see, the fact that you aren’t actually dead surprises me.

He gestures. The papers glow brightly. Lirielle gasps and drops them. They float towards the man, who snatches them from the air with a flourish.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

These stopped you long enough for me to find you. Alive, that is. Normally I just find the corpse.

Lirielle’s voice trembles when she speaks.

LIRIELLE

Fascinating, I’m sure.

(gestures with knife)

I’ll just take them back now, if you please.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Nonsense.

She inches closer. The man examines the papers for damage and ignores her approach.

LIRIELLE

My life depends on it.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

How unfortunate for you.

Her knife pricks his gut.

LIRIELLE

Let me put it this way: your life depends on it.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Hmph. You shouldn’t bluff. You’re not very good at it. Stick to picking pockets and leave killing to the professionals.

LIRIELLE

There’s a first time for everything.

(pushes the knife more firmly against him)

Papers. Please.

He stares at her, considering for a long moment.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

You know. I’ve the oddest feeling that they’re meant to go with you. I fear our paths will cross again.

He hands the papers back to Lirielle. She stuffs them into her coat. The man winces at her rough treatment of the papers.

LIRIELLE

I’ll be going now.

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Be seeing you, then.

He steps out of her way. Lirielle scurries into the dark.

EXT. ALLEYWAY--DAY

Lirielle scurries into the dark and settles behind some crates. She stills herself, listening for pursuit. She hears the noise of the crowd.

She takes a few breaths to calm down. She takes the packet of papers from beneath her coat and studies it. They’re tucked into a weathered leather folio, tied with a lace to keep it from spilling.

LIRIELLE

Let’s see why old Finnegan is so keen to get his mitts on you.

Lirielle unlaces the folio and opens it. The crowd noise echoes and fades. The alley becomes unnaturally quiet.

Something in the packet glows. Lirielle blinks.

The world turns from afternoon to evening. Somehow she’s lost hours during that blink.

LIRIELLE

Blimey.

EXT. COVENTRY SQUARE -- DAY

The man from the picture makes his way through the crowd. Meanwhile, behind him...

CUT TO:

Lirielle talking to a scruffy street kid. She drops a handful of coins into the kid’s hands. She points out the older gentleman from the picture to the kid. The kids smiles and nods.

CUT TO:

The man from the picture stops to buy a newspaper. He turns and trips over the scruffy kid. The man stumbles against Lirielle while the kid runs off.

LIRIELLE

(carefully hiding her face from the man)

Watch out!

OLDER GENTLEMAN

Your pardon, miss.

The man picks up his newspaper and continues on his way. A few paces later, a look of alarm crosses his face.

His hands pat his coat pockets. He discovers the papers are missing.

He whirls around looking for Lirielle, but she’s well hidden in the crowd.

He stands there fuming. Then he chuckles to himself and starts walking.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. ALLEY -- AFTERNOON

Buster and Crabbe escort Lirielle to a sidestreet near a large public square bustling with people.

BUSTER

Here you are then. We’ll collect you come evening.

LIRIELLE

Fine.

CRABBE

This is the bloke you’re after.

He hands her a faded photo of a man with a white beard.

CRABBE

He’s got a packet of documents tucked in his vest. That’s what Finnegan wants you to nab.

Lirielle distractedly takes the photo, her gaze scans the crowd.

BUSTER

Don’t think about runnin’. We found you once, we can find you again.

LIRIELLE

I won’t run because you scare me. I won’t run because I gave my word.

Buster glares at her. She stares defiantly back.

BUSTER

Right.

(He fakes a punch at her and she flinches.)

We’ll see you later.

Crabbe laughs. The pair saunter off.

Once the men are out of sight, Lirielle’s knees buckle and she sags against the wall. She sniffles a few times, fighting back tears. She crumples the photo into a wad and throws it away. She lets herself cry for a moment.

She draws a ragged breath, getting control of herself. She wipes her eyes and nose on her sleeve. Then she gets up, retrieves the photo, and studies it closely.

LIRIELLE

Better if you lose a few papers than if I lose my hands. Sorry, old man.

She enters the square.

INT. PUB -- DAY

A dirty, rowdy pub filled with scoundrels. The door opens. Buster and Crabbe manhandle Lirielle through the public room into a courtyard behind the building. They toss her down into a cellar. She tumbles down a rickety flight of stairs. Buster slams shut the trapdoor behind her.

INT. CELLAR -- LATER

Lirielle looks for ways to escape.

The trapdoor opens momentarily, letting Finnegan descend into the pit.

LIRIELLE

Nobody owns the ‘drome, Finnegan. Leastwise you--

SMACK! He slaps her hard across the face.

FINNEGAN

You know the rules. You owe me.

LIRIELLE

(sarcastic)

Perhaps a public apology?

FINNEGAN

Blast, girl, don’t be an idiot. Do you realize what you’ve gone and got yourself into?

LIRIELLE

Me?

FINNEGAN

You disobey and nothin’ happens, other folk start gettin’ ideas. Nothing personal, love, but I gotta make an example of you. You know the life. You know what comes of not payin’ tithe.

Lirielle grows very pale.

LIRIELLE

You wouldn’t! How am I supposed to live without my hands?

FINNEGAN

Waste of talent though. Shame to hobble the best pickpocket in Dunlevy Downs.

LIRIELLE

Give me a chance to pay you back. I just need a little time.

Finnegan snorts in disgust.

FINNEGAN

You still run with Hunter’s gang. Heard you gave ‘em what rightfully belonged to me. Let ‘em take care of you.

LIRIELLE

I’ll pay you back.

FINNEGAN

And how long would that take? You’d need months. I can’t wait that long. The rabble need to see action, and right quick.

LIRIELLE

Give me a week.

FINNEGAN

A day.

LIRIELLE

Impossible! You want me to get caught?

FINNEGAN

All you need’s one flash mark. One big score, and all’ll be forgiven.

(a little too nicely)

I might even tell you where to find just such a gent. What do you say?

LIRIELLE

You’ve some nerve, to pick on a poor girl so.

(she scowls at him)

Fine. I’ll do it.

CUT TO:

Lirielle climbs onto the rail. It rattles and creaks under her weight and she almost loses her balance as the rusty metal shifts beneath her.

Buster pounds toward her as she tries to reach the upper level. She climbs higher--and has to dodge Crabbe who grabs at her from above.

Buster reaches the rail, jumps onto it, and snags Lirielle’s dress. The rail collapses.

The pair drop to edge of the lower platform. Lirielle lands safely but Buster teeters on the brink. He windmills his arms, fighting for balance, but he starts to fall.

Lirielle looks at him, horrified. Buster has the look of a man who knows his time has come.

Lirielle makes a split second decision. She grabs his vest and throws herself backwards. Buster regains his footing as Lirielle crashes to the floor.

She gets up to run again, but Buster has her now, and there’s no getting loose.

LIRIELLE

But... I just saved you!

BUSTER

Shut up.

(beat)

I got my orders.

INT. AERODROME--DAY

Lirielle drops from one walkway to another. Buster and Crabbe lean over the rail, shocked at her jump.

LIRIELLE (V.O.)

Nobody’d be stupid enough to follow me--

CUT TO:

Lirielle drops to the floor of the next level down and gets up to run. Uh, oh. Buster’s feet dangle from above. He’s following after all. Lirielle hurries away and...

CUT TO:

It’s a dead end. Nowhere left to run, and Buster is right on her heels. Lirielle clings to the rail, calculating her next move.

LIRIELLE

Bollocks.