Episode 5

INSIDE - BENNIE’S SCRAP ROOM

They all stare at each other.

EARL : (nervous) Uhm..hello.

BENNIE : (panicking) P-p-please don’t report us! T-t-this is a hu—o-our kin! This is not a human! (panicky hands) R-right, Fenneco??

FENNECO : ..I apologize for this breach in the rules. This is all because of my actions. (Fenneco stands up and bows her head). I turn myself in.

A moment of silence between everyone.

DAN : ..So..that’s a human?

Fenneco hesitates, but she replies.

FENNECO : ..yes. But it is not—(cut off by Dan)

DAN : And your name is Fenneco? Like..how humans label themselves? Not just 09?

FENNECO : (looks up at him a bit baffled) What do you..

Dan looks at her and grins.

DAN : Well—cuz mine’s Dan! 

Bennie leaps up happily and heads over to Dan quickly. 

BENNIE : Whaaaaatttt?? (grabs Dan's hand and shakes it) Nice to meet you Dan! My name’s Bennie! That’s Fenneco, and that’s Earl! (Motions to Fenneco and Earl)

Dan stares at Bennie for a moment before grinning.

DAN : Ah..I see..well—it’s Bennie nice to meet ya! (Dan grins excitedly and pauses for laughter)

FENNECO : (slowly) I take that this means that you will not report me?

DAN : What? No! I have a human name myself! It was given to me by..a human! (he smiles bittersweetly)

FENNECO : (nods) I see, so, you were out in the room, correct? Were there any of us still out there?

DAN : Nope! Pretty sure I was the last one to get here! 

BENNIE : Oh! And, how did you even get in here? Are you..? 

Bennie points towards his hat, to the little bumps.

DAN : Yeah! But I’m pretty sure that anyone can just walk into a scrap room.

BENNIE : (proudly chuckles) Aaactually...I reprogrammed the room to automatically let in living things with a clock speed of 0! 

DAN : (Did not understand what Bennie said) Uh, cool? 

Bennie smiles and hums, Fenneco stares at Dan a little confused. While she’s distracted, Bennie and Earl lock eyes and quickly try to clean up the Isa cards to put them away. Then Dan chimes in.

DAN : Is that a human thing?

Fenneco looks over to the cards, and she nods slightly.

FENNECO : Ah, affirmative. I was just winning. 

Dan grins.

DAN : Oh yeah? Not on my watch! Teach me!

Quickly Earl grabs the deck of cards and throws it in a hiding spot

EARL : Oh no. It’s gone.

FENNECO : What do you mean? I—(cut off by Bennie)

BENNIE : Dan! Want a taste of human food?? It’s reallllllyyyy good! 

Dan looks a bit confused but goes along with it

DAN : Uh, Okay! 

Suddenly the ship goes to an abrupt stop once again. They widen their footing to not fall.

EARL : (Annoyed) “Seriously, what is that?”

FENNECO : (Thinking) “Hm, well, it is true that this does not usually happen. Our leader only stops at our homeworld.”

EARL : “Your leader?”

FENNECO : “Yes. 06. She directs us.”

Bennie looks to the side, a bit sad at the mention of 06. He looks at his blanket on his hammock.

EARL : (Thoughts) This..might be my chance. (acting natural) “Well, if this isn’t normal, shouldn’t you go check or something?”

DAN : (Hesitant) “I mean that’s not really our job.”

EARL : “But aren’t you guys curious? It’ll be really quick—just in and out. Like we were never there—”

FENNECO : (Cuts in) “No.”

Bennie and Dan look at each other and at Earl.

BENNIE : (is very curious) “Welllllllll—”

FENNECO : (firm) “Bennie.”

BENNIE : (retreating) “I guess..”

DAN : (Cutting in) “Yes. Let’s check it out—I’m up for a DAN-venture!” (He pauses excitedly for some laugher but everyone ignores lol)

BENNIE : (quickly) “I’m with Earl! I’ve got all the human adventure stuff!” 

Fenneco furrows her brow.

FENNECO : (Sighs) “Fine..let’s be quick.”