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INT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - DAY

Kiah begins to wake up, her snake vision taking in her surroundings. She's in a cluttered Outback Shack with two humans standing over her cage, one the hunter, and the other a young, Middle-Eastern woman (HABIBAH). Australian-themed MUSIC is playing on a radio nearby

HABIBAH: A snake? No, no, no, no, no.

HUNTER: You want the job, or not?

HABIBAH: I want the job, but I don't see why I have to work with...

Habibah's face grows sickly.

HUNTER: Because, it's the only way that my plan will work. What is it with women and snakes?

HABIBAH: Women and snakes? It's common knowledge that snakes are creepy disgusting creatures. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to puke.

With that, Habibah rushes out the door of the shack. As the door SLAMS shut behind her, the Hunter looks at Kiah.

HUNTER: That was Habibah. Don't worry, she'll get used to you. Or else she's fired.

Then he heads out the door after Habibah.

Kiah looks around the room nervously.

KIAH: This isn't right, I'm not supposed to be here. (Pause) But then again, I guess there's nowhere I'm supposed to be now.

Kiah lays down her head on herself in depression.

Suddenly Critter climbs over the edge of the table, and rushes to Kiah's cage.

CRITTER: Kiah! You're alive!

Kiah looks up, startled.

KIAH: Critter? You followed me?

CRITTER: I followed the hunter to his Jeep. I thought they killed you and were going to hang your corpse.

KIAH: Why would they do that? Not everyone's as morbid as me.

Critter examines the built in lock to the cage.

CRITTER: Hmm, locked. Where do you think this guy hides his keys.

KIAH: You think you can get me out?

Before Critter can answer the front door opens, and Habibah comes in followed by the Hunter. Critter ducks into the shadows.

HUNTER: C'mon Habibah mate. A snake can get into places a human can't, get past alarms. With your pungi, you can lead him right past the alarms, and where he needs to go.

Habibah spins on him.

HABIBAH: Just because I know how to play the pungi you think I know how to charm a snake?

HUNTER: Here, I have a music sheet.

As he says this, he withdraws a music sheet from his jacket pocket.

HABIBAH: Fine. Here.

Habibah snatches the sheets away from him, and goes to an instrument box laying on the floor, she opens it up and withdraws an old beaten up pungi. Kiah instantly rears up, HISSING in defense.

KIAH: What is that thing? Don't you dare shoot me again.

CRITTER: It's a pungi I think.

KIAH: Well, whatever it is, they better not use it.

Habibah moves the pungi back and forth in front of Kiah, and Kiah defensively sways her head with it.

HABIBAH: See, he doesn't even care about the music, it's the instrument he's interested in.

HUNTER: Just try it. Snakes are very sensitive to vibrations. It might have some effect on him.

HABIBAH: Fine, whatever.

Taking the pungi, she steps up to Kiah's cage, and lays the music sheet on the table before her.

HABIBAH: There's no telling this will even work on... whatever this species of snake is.

HUNTER: Death Adder.

HABIBAH: Death Adders.

With that, Habibah lifts the pungi to her mouth and starts to play the charmer tune from the paper. Kiah flinches, but looking down and seeing no dart, she looks back up at Habibah, confused. The music seems to have the effect of relaxing her. Kiah glances at Critter quizzically.

CRITTER: They're trying to charm you.

Kiah looks at Habibah skeptically, but as the vibrations of the music radiate from the instrument, through Habibah, into the floor, and back up again through the table, and up to Kiah's cage, surrounding her, Kiah softens.

KIAH: Well, the music is kind of nice, I'll give her that.

CRITTER: How? You can't even hear it.

Without responding Kiah slowly starts swaying to the music.

CRITTER: Stop it. You're letting it hypnotize you.

KIAH: Oh, you just don't have a good taste in music.

CRITTER: And you do? You don't even have ears.

KIAH: Well, you don't have a good taste in vibrations.

CRITTER: Whatever.

With that, Critter withdraws back into hiding, and Kiah lets herself get caught up in the music. Images of her family swirl around her and she rises higher with confidence.

Then, the music takes a darker turn, the images of her family become more dramatic. Birrani caught in the tree, everybody refusing to help. The image of the serpent who deceived Adam and Eve receiving his curse, and then the serpent morphing into a demon, LAUGHING as he kicks a snake aside.

Kiah's eyes snap open, and she lunges at the cage door in a strike. Habibah leaps backward with a sudden CRY, the music forgotten.

HABIBAH: No! I'm done! I am not working with that... Creature!

As she says this, she SLAMS her pungi onto the table, and STOMPS out the door, SLAMMING it behind her. Kiah, having recovered from her outburst, watches her go with regret. The hunter looks at Kiah.

HUNTER: She'll get over it. (Pause) At least, she better.

With that, he turns away from the cage, and entertains himself with his own devices. Kiah rests her head again.

INT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - SUNSET

Kiah lays in the cage, head down, and the Hunter is asleep on a chair. Critter scrambles onto the table, struggling with a key-ring behind him.

CRITTER: These look like the right keys. Like I said, my paws aren't really good at this stuff, but I'll do my best.

With that, Critter fumbles with the keys, trying to work them into the lock.

CRITTER: So, what did the... your contact say?

KIAH: Nothing helpful.

CRITTER: I gathered that.

KIAH: Said I had to mend the bond between snake and women, or something like that. No real help at all.

CRITTER: Well, you messed that up.

Kiah raises her head quizzically.

KIAH: Messed up what?

CRITTER: Mending the bond. You scared off that woman pretty well.

KIAH: So you think...?

CRITTER: That maybe you're meant to be here? Maybe.

The... Hunter, or whatever he is, does seem to want you to work with that woman after all, Habibah, I think she is.

KIAH: Well, that's working out great.

Kiah goes silent, watching Critter work on the lock.

KIAH: You know you're not going to squeeze a life debt out of me for this, right?

CRITTER: Yeah.

KIAH: Then why are you here? You could just leave me and you'd be free.

CRITTER: I know. But then you wouldn't be.

As he says this, the lock CLICKS, and the door swings open.

KIAH: Come on. Let's just go.

Kiah slithers out of the cage, off the table, and onto the floor. She heads to the front door, Critter following.

CRITTER: To be honest, while it was always my dream to travel, when I finally got to do it... Traveling by oneself isn't very fun. Kind of aimless. Then I started following you, and I... found a sense of purpose, I suppose.

Kiah slows down, and slowly turns to look at Critter. It's her turn for an honest, heart-filled confession.

KIAH: The truth is, it's not really to insult you that I tease you. I tease you because when I do, your reactions are just so adorable, I'm reminded of why you're such a lovable pet.

Kiah turns back and continues for the door, leaving Critter unable to express how he feels by this. Reaching the door, Kiah stops, Habibah's voice comes from just beyond.

HABIBAH (O.S.): I'm trying um, but I don't know what to do.

CUT TO:

EXT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - CONTINUOUS

Kiah slithers out the door to find Habibah sitting on a porch bench, talking on her flip phone in the setting Sun.

HABIBAH: It's just... This job... I don't think I can do it. (Listening) I know you don't like my methods, but if we don't get this money, what are we going to do? (Listening) I know um, I love you too. Bye.

As she's talking, Kiah's face softens with understanding. Critter comes out to stand by Kiah in the shadows. Finishing the phone call, Habibah hangs up and puts her phone in her pocket looking downcast.

Suddenly, Habibah looks over at Kiah. After a second to process, she gives a SCREAM, and scrambles fully onto the bench. Kiah looks at Habibah for a moment.

CRITTER: Kiah, this is your chance.

Kiah looks back at Critter confused, then back to Habibah, understanding dawning on her face. Slowly, Kiah starts to slither toward the bench.

HABIBAH: No! Get away! Get away!

Kiah ignores her, and reaching the bench, begins to make her way onto it. Habibah, with nowhere to turn, SCREAMS in terror. Kiah reaches Habibah's leg, and looks her in the eyes.

And then Kiah's climbing, SPIRALING, SPIRALING up Habibah's terror-stricken body.

Then Kiah stops, head reared back, inches from Habibah's face, looking her in the eyes.

Holding, holding, Kiah just stays there, looking Habibah in the eyes, Habibah staring back, silent.

Then finally, Kiah's making her way back down, stopping at her feet to look back up. Habibah is trembling, but starts to regain herself. Kiah returns victoriously down to Critter.

KIAH: That's how you gain someone's trust. Let them know that if you wanted them dead, you could just kill them then and there. And then you don't. There, instant trust.

CRITTER: Sounds pretty messed up to me.

HABIBAH: You don't plan to hurt me, do you?

Kiah gives Critter a "told-you-so" look.

HABIBAH: Well, you're still the most disgusting and creepy creature on the planet. (Sigh) But, I suppose if I'm going to do this, I need to learn to work with you. Well then, you'll need a name.(Pause) How about... Creature.

Kiah pulls back in shock. Critter gives a burst of LAUGHTER and Kiah spins her head back to give him a glare. Critter tries to stifle his laughter, while Kiah turns her attention back to Habibah.

HABIBAH: Well, I'm not planning on catching you myself. (Calling to Hunter) Hey, your disgusting snake escaped!

There is the sound of RUSTLING inside the cottage, and a tranquilizer dart bursts out the crack in the door. It hits Kiah, and she gives an irritated SIGH as she passes out.

EXT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - DAY

Habibah stands outside wearing heavy, snake-proof material, while the Hunter stands beside Kiah's cage with a dead mouse gripped in some tongs.

HUNTER: The problem with Death Adders is that they lie in wait for their prey. That means they don't chase their prey down, and normally won't associate their own movement with reward.

The Hunter holds the dead rat in front of the cage, and Kiah looks at it expectantly.

HUNTER: But if I do this...

The Hunter unlatches the cage, and Kiah immediately strikes at the rat. But before she can reach it the Hunter yanks it out of her path. Unbalanced from missing her target, Kiah tumbles over onto the ground.

KIAH: Hey!

Recovering quickly, Kiah strikes again, the Hunter once again whisking her prey away. Kiah begins to give chase, and the Hunter leads her across the yard, chasing her prey. Finally, the Hunter comes to a stop, and releases the rat before her. Kiah grabs the rat in her mouth and begins to eat. Habibah makes her way to the Hunter.

HUNTER: Wah-lah, he now knows how to chase down his food.

Kiah glares up at him.

KIAH: What? You're gonna make me chase my food now? Some death adder.

EXT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - MONTAGE

Hunter puts Kiah in a box-maze that gradually is made more advanced as Kiah advances in training. While the Hunter stands at one end holding Kiah's reward of prey, Habibah stands at the starting end with her pungi. As Kiah proceeds through the maze, Habibah plays a steady rhythm. At corners, as Kiah tastes the air for her prey, Habibah, using a sheet as a guide, blows a high note to signal the prey's left, and a low note for right. Kiah takes the direction, eventually reaching the exit, where the hunter provides her with her food.

An exhausted looking Joey approaches the cottage from the brush. Suddenly, he stops, noticing Habibah and the Hunter training Kiah outside. Joey's eyes fill with vengeance as he lies in wait.

INT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - NIGHT

Kiah sits in her cage, the radio on STATIC. Critter comes up, not a care in the world.

CRITTER: Hey... Creature, how ya' doin'.

Kiah snaps to face him.

KIAH: Don't ever call me that again.

CRITTER: Okay, fine, whatever. Nice night, huh?

Suddenly, voices break through the STATIC on the radio.

RADIO ...The Cross of Salvation is currently on loan at the Australian Museum in Sydney, and will be on display starting this week. This Cross was discovered in the 2011 expedition led by the late archaeologist David Miller and ... sure to bring in a crowd among his followers.

Critter's interest is turned to the radio.

CRITTER: Cool, that sounds neat. That's the same cross where they say Jesus died to bring reconciliation to humanity, isn't it? I saw a documentary once.

Kiah turns away from Critter, fresh hurt on her face.

KIAH: At least humanity had reconciliation.

INT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - DAY

Habibah and the Hunter stand next to Kiah's cage.

HABIBAH: The question is, once Creature's in the vents, how will I be able to know where he is?

Hunter takes out a small camera-necklace.

HUNTER: Here, use this.

The Hunter opens Kiah's door and grabs her. He holds her down and tries attaching the camera around her neck. Kiah struggles, but his grip is just so that she can't bite him.

KIAH: Let me go.

Hunter finally latches the necklace around Kiah's neck and releases her. Kiah looks down at the necklace.

KIAH: Great, what does this amulet do?

INT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - NIGHT

Critter sits next to Kiah's cage.

CRITTER: It looks like a camera. They can watch everything you do now.

KIAH: And how do you know so much about human things. (Pause) You were a pet, weren't you? A human pet.

CRITTER: What? No.

KIAH: Really?

CRITTER: Yes. I mean, the nest in which I hatched was near a place where humans lived, so, sure, I've picked up a thing or two in my life by, you know, sitting on the windowsill, but no, that doesn't make me a pet.

KIAH: Um, excuse me?

CRITTER: Okay. Well I suppose I am now.

EXT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - DAY

While Kiah's swallowing her prey from another trial run in the box maze, the Hunter stands next to Habibah, showing her a tablet. On it is a blueprint of the ventilation system at the Australian Museum opened under an app, "Musical Tables".

HUNTER: It's programmed to rotate the map left and right at the sound of certain musical notes, so it keeps facing the same direction as Creature.

Habibah nods and raises the pungi to her lips. She blows a high note, and the blueprint rotates clockwise. She blows low note, and it turns counter-clockwise.

HABIBAH: Neat.

While Habibah practices with the system, Kiah spots some rustling in the brush. She heads out to investigate.

Upon getting closer, Kiah, in snake-vision catches sight of Joey, hiding in the bushes.

KIAH: Joey?

Joey stands up, holding a heavy rock over his head.

JOEY: You killed my sister, you evil beast, and I'm here to avenge her!

Joey is about to smash the rock down when-

KIAH: Wait! Suppose I did use the amulet to take your sister's life-force and extend my own. How's that any different than hunting? I don't have time for this.

Joey is silent for a moment, and Kiah takes the moment to leave, slithering back toward the cottage. Joey regains his anger.

JOEY: Well maybe hunting's evil too. Ever thought of that. You killed my sister, and I will avenge her!

Critter comes out of the cottage, and seeing Kiah, rushes to join her.

CRITTER: Is something wrong?

KIAH: That Joey followed us. He wants to kill me I think.

Critter looks back at Joey, and Joey stares at them with hate.

Kiah slithers back to her cage without another glance back. The Hunter looks down at her, latches the cage, and carries her back into the cottage, Habibah trailing behind.

As the door shuts, Joey SIGHS. Cautiously, he approaches the cottage. Reaches the porch, Joey looks around. He spots a backpack left unattended on the bench.

Going up to the bag, Joey opens it, and digs through it. Finding nothing of interest, he dumps the contents on the porch, and puts the bag over his shoulders, and on his back.

JOEY: Perhaps I don't need a pouch?

EXT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - MONTAGE

As time advances Kiah becomes more fluent in navigating the box maze with musical directions. Though Habibah never fully outgrows her revulsion to Kiah, she becomes more accustomed to working with her, so that they can handle her task without too much of a problem. Joey, meanwhile, continues to watch from the brush, never finding another chance to get back at Kiah.

EXT. HUNTER'S COTTAGE - AFTERNOON

Finally, Habibah sits on the porch steps beside Kiah's cage.

HABIBAH: You know what? I think we're ready.

Kiah moves toward her in acknowledgment, and Habibah SCREAMS.