Legend of the Falls

The words "Tag-along Gabrielle" keep rolling around in Janis' head as she listens, so she finally interupts.

JANIS

That's all very interesting Melinda,

but cut to the chase... What did you find?

END OF ACT 1

[cut to commercial]

EPISODE GUIDE

TEASER ACT 1 ACT 2 ACT 3 ACT 4

[fade in]

SCROLL ROOM - EVENING

To Melinda's shock, she discovers another parchment, discreetly hidden behind the original story.

MELINDA

I can't believe it... I just can't believe it.

SHAZZAM!

She scoops up the discovery and after repairing the original parchment, she anxiously begins to translate the newly found story, until exhaustion takes over and she falls asleep.

[fade out]

[fade in]

SCROLL ROOM - DAWN

Melinda lies draped over the scroll, asleep. Through a crack in the blind, a stream of light breaks in and hits her eyes, causing her to wake up.

MELINDA

(talking to herself)

I need to contact Janis right away.

She gets up, exits the building and hurries back to her apartment. Melinda showers and changes, then heads down to the Western Union office.

[cut to]

WESTERN UNION OFFICE - LATE MORNING

Melinda enters the establishnment and goes to the front desk.

CLERK

May I help you Miss?

MELINDA

Yes Sir, I need to send a telegram.

The clerk hands Melinda a piece of paper.

CLERK

Here, fill this out with your message.

It's 10 cents per word.

Melinda takes the paper, sits down on a bench and begins to write.

After she completes her telegram she takes it back to the desk.

MELINDA

Here ya' go Sir.

CLERK

Have a seat back on the bench.

This will take about 15 minutes.

Melinda goes and sits down again. While she waits, she examines the face of the clerk, who reminders her of a portrait of Ceasar she once saw in a book.

[cut to }

WESTERN UNION OFFICE - 15 MINUTES LATER

The clerk signals for Melinda to come to the front desk.

CLERK

Okay, your telegram has been sent.

That will be $2.00.

Melinda pays the clerk and he hands her a conformation. She reads the form to make sure everything is correct.

WESTERN UNION

To: Dr. Janis Covington - Auckland New Zealand

From: Melinda Pappas - Boston, Mass. USA

Made outstanding discovery in scrolls - stop -

Come quick - stop -

Mel

Melinda returns home and gets some much welcome rest before going back to the university.

In the days ahead she, completes the translation of her discovery. Melinda starts to become concerned that she has not heard from Janis yet.

[fade out]

[fade in]

MELINDA'S APARTMENT - EVENING - LATE JANUARY

Melinda lies curled up on the couch reading a trashy romance novel. A fire crackles away in the fireplace and the glow causes an orange flicker to dance about the room.

Suddenly, her concentration is interrupted by a knock on the door. Melinda gets up, goes to the door, and fumbles with the sticky knob. After a few attempts, she finally gets it open. She looks out into the hallway and sees a figure in the shadows, brushing snow off of themselves. The aroma of a cigar permeates the air.

MELINDA

(cautiously)

May I help you?

The figure spins around and comes into the light.

JANIS

Yeah, you can do something

about this weather.

MELINDA

(startled)

JANIS! You're finally here.

It's been so long, I was beginning to worry.

JANIS

(rough)

Listen Missy...

New Zealand isn't exactly the center of

civilization. The locals are nice enough

but a little slow on the uptake when it

comes to delivering messages. You would

have had better luck with two cans and a string.

(beat)

Anyway, how long are you going to keep

me standing out here in this drafty hallway?

MELINDA

Oh, I'm so sorry...

Come in...Come in.

Janis enters the apartment and sits down on the couch.

JANIS

Nice place you got here.

MELINDA

Thank you. Why don't you get that

wet jacket off and I'll make some tea.

Melinda goes into the kitchen.

Janis takes off her jacket, sets it on a chair and sits back down on the couch. She flicks the lasts puffs of her cigar into the fireplace.

Melinda comes back from the kitchen with a cup of hot tea. She hands it to Janis and she takes a sip.

JANIS

You know what would make this tea better?

MELINDA

Some milk and sugar?

JANIS

No, a shot of wiskey.

MELINDA

Um, I think there is some in the kitchen.

Melinda takes the cup back into the kitchen and pours some wiskey into it from a bottle she finds way in the back of the cupboard. She then brings it back in to Janis.

Janis blows across the top of the liquid and then takes a big gulp.

JANIS

Ahhh! Now that's what

the Doctor ordered.

(beat)

So, tell me, what did you

find in the scrolls?

Melinda's eyes light up as she sits down on the couch.

MELINDA

Well, it happen like this...

While I was translating the scroll

"One Against an Army".... By the way,