The Opening Act (A Splatoon Script)

Part 3 - Ugly Truths

Agents: You let them take Juliuz?! (Some of the agents gather around. Marina's surprised, Pearl's confused, Brooke is mad, Marie is humored, and Callie is silent.)

Echo: Ugh, yeah. I don't know why I didn't fight! I could've! There was literally an octoling standing still right in front of me. (Echo is sitting at a table, head in her hands.)

Echo: I'm sorry about this, but I just couldn't fight them! The octolings, they're- they're- (She looks up, but her face is a little flushed and she's still really embarrassed and guilty.)

Echo: Hnnnnngh... (She flops onto the table.)

Marie: You know, usually I would be mad about something like this, but I'll let this one go. Juliuz was-

Marina: Hang on, Mar. (Marie grins and Marina walks behind Marie.)

Marina: Look, Echo, I understand why you didn't fight, and it's fine. You didn't want to hurt anyone that's innocent. (She goes behind Echo and puts a hand on her shoulder. Echo's still moping, though.)

Callie: She's right, you know. None of us could've expected any more from you. I'm impressed with what you've done already!

Echo: But I let them get away. Juliuz is in their hands now. (Echo raises her head a bit.)

Echo: What are they going to do to him? (She starts freaking out.)

Echo: They- they could have *gasp* him mind-controlled! Or they could kill *gasp* him! Or wipe his *gasp* memory or something along those lines, or, or, or- *gasp* I don't know! But whatever *gasp* it is, it's my fault!

Callie: Whoa, Echo, calm down. Deep breaths, girl. Deep breaths. (The agents are so confused about why Echo's the one who's panicking the most.)

Brooke: [whispered] Wait, Echo cares about that guy?

Captain: We're going to get Juliuz back, Echo. He's probably with Coral and the agents. And maybe they'll control the squiddo's mind, maybe they'll wipe his memory. We can easily help him if that's the case. It's not like we haven't solved those problems before. But they're not going to kill him. (He approaches, Brooke whispers to Marie behind all the agents.)

Marina: We'll get him back, Echo. Don't worry!

Callie: Yeah! He'll be fine, you'll see!

Echo: Thanks, guys. (Marie is confused.)

Captain: Right then, we'll go to get Juliuz, Coral, and the agents as soon as the sun sets. That'll be the best time for all of you to head over. (He speaks, some of the agents nod. Marie looks away from the group.)

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Later...

(The sun is setting. Callie, Marie, Marina, and Echo are all sitting together, most of them laughing as they're having a conversation. Marie isn't.)

Marina: Okay, okay, okay, let me get this straight, Echo. You've been living in Inkopolis for three years now, yet you never realized that octolings had started coming to the city?

Echo: Yeah! That's about right!

Marina: Didn't you ever watch the news? I would think if you saw me on TV, you would've come out and enjoyed everything Inkopolis has to offer! (They laugh.)

Echo: Yeah, I would've. Except I never watched the news. I just never bothered to until my little sister started watching TV, and I never read any online news articles. I was completely clueless. (She shrugs.)

Callie: Oh, I feel so bad for you! All cooped up for three years, not realizing you could freely walk out into the public! That had to have been awful.

Echo: Oh, it wasn't that bad. (They talk.)