Conversation · Klaasje (Miss Oranje Disco Dancer)

"You didn't." There's a short pause.

Until the lieutenant loses patience: "What does our limited cooperation with the MI have to do with this?"

"Is that why you're looking over your shoulder? You're afraid of the Moralintern?"

She nods. "You share a database with them. You send people to their courts." She lights the cigarette.

What lies beyond it?

The pale. The Mundi isola. The Occident. And then -- Oranje. The Old Old World.

The conference centres... the people who are angry at her. Her past.

Where the cold oceanic expanse lies -- and behind it, another world.

A grand expanse of water reaches over the bay and to the horizon. Golden grey in the noon light...

A grand expanse of water reaches over the bay and to the horizon. Wine dark in the evening light...

The grand expanse of water is barely visible in the darkness of the night. The horizon is there, somewhere...

What the fuck WAS that!?! You don't fucking answer to FUCKING ANYONE.

"Hold on there. The Hardie boys are not the law -- I am."

"I know that. But the people around here -- they don't see it that way. And if I am to stay here I need to get along with them."

"Cool. I'm satisfied with this explanation."

"I am not. There is more here, miss."

"I sense you're being sarcastic. Okay. The thing is -- you're on the payroll of the Moralist International..." She stops to fish a new cigarette out of the pack.

"Why did you waste our time then?"

"Why did you waste my time then? If you knew I would find out."

"Why did you waste my time then?"

Is it? Something is off here...

"You don't look surprised. You were expecting this."

"I knew there was a chance you'd get them to tell you. It's what you do. You're the police."

She winces. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for wasting your time."

"Chill. I'm the cool cop, remember?"

She cracks a weary smile. "I'm sorry for wasting your time. I should have known you'd... that you'd find out."

"You sent us on a run-around."

"I know." She looks down for a moment, hiding her eyes behind her bangs. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry. For all of this, for wasting your time."

Who... what... Dear god, you've been lied to! She could have killed her lover and lied to everyone! She's not candid at all, she's smoke and mirrors and will-o-wisps!

She probably didn't give you her real name either -- why would she? Arrest her immediately, before she further entangles you in her web of lies!

Take it easy. Don't overcompensate with this course correction. Ask questions first...

Yes. Start at the top, choose at the bottom, it's how we've always done it. No rush...

See?!

"Devil woman..."

"What?" Her nails tap on the steel railing, nervously. The sound of cold metal ringing under the wind.

Her hand trembles. She's only pretending she didn't hear you say devil woman.

(Turn to the lieutenant.) "Kim, why have we not arrested her yet?"

"There may be grounds here... At least for an extended detention."

This bastion of willpower here -- his watchmen have been sleeping too, you can be absolutely certain now. But he's coming around.

A little whimper. The young woman hears you. She's looking around.

"Let's talk about you and Ruby again."

She nods, then nervously pulls on her cigarette.

"Okay. That's it for Ruby." (Wrap it up.)

"Okay." She looks relieved.

Okay? And WHAT?!?

Arrest the liar! Now.

Why? She told us some pretty interesting things there.

Don't arrest her. Push her a bit more but then let her off. That Ruby theory was solid. (And she's beautiful.)

She's stuck here. She's already in prison -- look around! She's only trying to help you...

"Okay, I'll keep you here, miss. For now." (Back off completely.)

"Thank you." She cradles herself for warmth. "Thank you. You won't regret it."

Something tells you: you will.

"That's all good, but I think we should still take you in -- just in case." (Step a little bit closer.)

"Still..." she says, her voice breaking. "After all this. Sir, please... it's a shitty world and I know I'm shitty too, I know..." Her hand turns into a fist, slowly, crushing the cigarette she's still holding.

"But I don't deserve to be sent to the Moralintern and ground into paste just because I disturbed the sanctity of accounting. At some multinational..."

She's gearing up for a last stand. This is it.

"I've made my choice." (Decide what to do with her.)

She looks at you in silence, her face filled with fear, lips parted...

Wait! If you arrest her, Kim will have to transport her. You'd be without your partner for the rest of the day...

SHUT UP! He's making a decision and it's his to make.