FADE IN:

EXT. SUBURB STREET - DUSK

The streets are steamy after a short rain, turning a hot day into an evening akin to a sauna. The sun is long gone, and yet it seems almost hotter than the middle of the day. Street lamps make the steam look almost like fog, turning the quiet streets into moody shadows. The first movements we see are booted legs walking the suburban footpath. Pale white legs are under a long layered cut boho skirt of rich colours, but that's almost all we see. The camera never strays from the legs. There is hardly another soul in sight, and although the legs seem casual - not hurrying - there is some kind of stress or taunt alertness in her stride also.

INT. HOLLY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT.

The legs enter a flat. As the door closes, the legs change into a mottled gray. There is a sigh, as if from relief. A jacket is thrown on a stool, and then a bag goes next to it. Then another sigh, as the relief is taken from her and changed into annoyance - as if something is wrong.

HOLLY (late 20s) is now home, but she now wishes she wasn't. There is someone else in her house, but we can't see him yet. When we can, he's roughly 30, and quite animal-like.

HOLLY

Rustell, get out of my house!

RUSTELL

Now now, it's hardly a house, is it? And-

HOLLY

- What's mine is yours and yours mine. I get it. You wouldn't like Zoe, waiting for you though now would you?

We're still only seeing them from their knees down. HOLLY kicks off her boots and we see not-quite human feet. Clawed toes, with a talon on her heal. Her feet are closer to that of an eagle than human. RUSTELL's own come into view and they're more of a blue colour than HOLLY's, but even more worn and animal-like.

RUSTELL

(as a threat)

Zoe knows her place-

HOLLY

I only wish that you did too.

RUSTELL

I came with news, if you must know. If you're going to be so nasty about it.

HOLLY

You know I don't like - visitors.

She wanted to say something like 'our kind', but doesn't want to start a fight. RUSTELL knows what she meant to say though, and is Not Happy.

RUSTELL

It's your own fault, you know. Trying to live like this.

HOLLY

Just say what you came to say.

RUSTELL

You haven't been coming to the meetings. There's talk that you may be backsliding. So Iltell is coming to see you.

HOLLY

Are you warning me?

RUSTELL

Just thought you should know.

HOLLY

You are! You're warning me about your own father coming to 'visit' me!

It's clear when they say 'visit', they're meaning so much more.

RUSTELL

And if you tell him you knew because of me ...

HOLLY

Of course I wouldn't! who do you think I am?

RUSTELL

I don't know anymore. I used to, but ...

HOLLY

Oh please, I don't see why there's such fuss. How is it any different from taking over a -

RUSTELL

It just is and you know it. You... it's strange to see you like that. Act like that. BE one of them.

HOLLY

You say that as it it's something new - that has never been done before. Your own mother, Russ.

RUSTELL

And look what happened there.

HOLLY

Only because of our own ridiculous mentality. If we had only -

RUSTELL

No. If only NOTHING. You're warned, okay? It's not going to be pretty. That's all I can dare say. Not that you'll listen anyway.

There is a thunk. The window is opened, we see his feet disappear and HOLLY is alone. HOLLY sighs and walks into the kitchen. We see the fridge open and the view changes to her arm - mottled gray as well - she has a large glass bottle of ginger ale and she drinks from it, but we still only see her arm.

HOLLY

(is unsure)

What in all of the knowledge of the blessed saint am I going to do now?

FADE OUT.