The Greatest Show Possible

SIMON
Are you Alliance?

EARLY
Am I a lion?

SIMON
What?

EARLY
I don’t think of myself as a lion. 
(tickled)
You might as well, though. I have 
a mighty roar.

SIMON
I said Alliance.

EARLY
Oh. I thought…

SIMON
No, I was…

EARLY
That’s weird.
(beat)
Where’s your sister?

SIMON
I don’t know. Who do you work for?

EARLY
This is her room.

SIMON
Yes.

EARLY
It’s empty.

SIMON
I know.

EARLY
So is it still her room when it’s empty?
Does the room, the thing, have purpose?
Or do we — what’s the word?

SIMON
(baffled)
I really can’t help you.

EARLY
The plan is to take your sister. Get 
the reward, which is substantial.
(beat)
“Imbue.” That’s the word.

SIMON
So you’re a bounty hunter.

EARLY
No. That ain’t it at all.

SIMON
Then what are you?

EARLY
I’m a bounty hunter. I’m named Early.
I’m known to some. Been tracking you 
since the Feds were tipped off on Ariel.
(beat)
She sleep with anybody?

SIMON
River?

EARLY
Yeah. She grapple with any of the 
crew? Might be in their quarters?

SIMON
(vehement)
No.

EARLY
Maybe she does and you don’t know about it.

SIMON
This is insane. I’m not going to help
you find her, in any case.

Simon rests his arms on his knees and looks determined. Early sighs and approaches, squatting down and brandishing his gun.

EARLY
I think this is very pretty. I 
like the weight of it.

SIMON
I thought the intention was not 
to kill me.

EARLY
No. You’re missing the point. The 
design of the thing is functional. 
The plan is not to shoot you. The 
plan is to get the girl. If there’s 
no girl, then the plan, well, is like 
the room. You are gonna help me
look for her.

SIMON
I don’t think my last act in this 
‘verse is gonna be betraying my sister.

EARLY
You’re gonna help me. ‘Cause every 
second you’re with me is the chance 
to turn the tables. Get the better of
me. Maybe you’ll find your moment.
Maybe I’ll slip. Or, you refuse to 
help me, I shoot your brain out, then 
I go upstairs and spend some time 
violatin’ the little mechanic I got 
trussed-up in the engine room. I take 
no pleasure in the thought, but she 
will die weeping if you cross me.

SIMON
You’re out of your mind.

EARLY
That’s between me and my mind. 
Let’s start with these rooms.

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