The man made no effort to help me: I doubt he even noticed. And each time the creatures nipped at me, I felt a greater urgency to escape this surreal place. If I did not, a part of me knew these shadowy beasts would haunt me forever.

She descends farther with difficulty.

Reaching the bottom, she runs from the building.

They follow her, but their pace is slow. Whatever they are.

WHITE FOX (V.O.) (CONT’D)

I never looked back long enough to make out what kind of creatures they were. I just knew they were dangerous if mishandled.

When White Fox emerges from the grounds, she runs toward the main road and sees the guardhouse covered in even more dead vines—almost entirely engulfed.

WHITE FOX (V.O.) (CONT’D)

As for the man, he forgot me as soon as I left his orbit. Or so I believed.

INT. GRAND OLD HOME — NIGHT

White Fox and Client 2 sit quietly together, an empty cup of coffee between them.

WHITE FOX

Many years had passed. My formative years had passed me by.

Client 2 watches her, wet-eyed, clutching the sides of his chair.

CLIENT 2

In your pain, you have rewritten our history.

White Fox watches him coldly.

WHITE FOX

This is the way I see things.

CLIENT 2 / MAN ON THE MOON

I came after you, my dear. I promise I did.

WHITE FOX

Only now. Too much time has passed.

CLIENT 2 / MAN ON THE MOON

No time has passed at all from where I stand.

WHITE FOX

I can see the genius in learning to change the flow of time by climbing far enough into the heavens. But my love is grounded firmly on the earth.

White Fox gazes at her bare, folded hands.

WHITE FOX (CONT’D)

It would have never worked.

CLIENT 2 / MAN ON THE MOON

(frustrated)

Say what you want about me. But what of the girls? Your girls? Have you forgotten them?

White Fox turns away, shivers. This has struck a chord.

WHITE FOX

I haven’t finished my story.

CLIENT 2 / MAN ON THE MOON

I can’t listen to your nightmarish fairy tales anymore. Can we speak plainly?

WHITE FOX

Says the man who lived among the stars.

CLIENT 2 / MAN ON THE MOON

This is our life you’re talking about. We must be serious now in order to fix our problems.

WHITE FOX

(chuckling)

Be serious. What makes you think my stories aren’t deadly serious?

CLIENT 2 / MAN ON THE MOON

(ignoring her retort)

Why are you still ill if you are back here with me again? Why should things be any different now from how they were?

WHITE FOX

(coldly)

For a scientist, you can be awfully foolish.

Client 2 / Man on the Moon snaps to look at her.

WHITE FOX (CONT’D)