act 6
Fade In:
Int.
Giles and Becca’s House – Living Room – The Next Day
Kadin walked into the living room. Becca was seated on the sofa with the kids playing at her feet.
“Did they start yet?” Kadin asked as she took a seat.
“No, not yet,” Becca replied. “I don’t think I’ve thanked you yet for staying.” Kadin just gave her a bashful shrug. “I’m sure we’ll all be safe, but I’m glad someone is with us. This Voice of Hell seems set on harming the Council any way it can. I know you’d rather be where the action is.”
“I don’t mind,” Kadin replied. “Well, actually, that’s a lie – I wanted to be with Ken. But being here now is important to Ken, and with no slayers around now, I know why she asked. Still, it’s not easy…having to wait, I mean, not the company.”
Becca smiled. “It’s not any easier for me, either, but I know I don’t have super strength I could use, unlike you.”
“Depends on how you measure strength,” Kadin said.
“What do you mean?” Becca asked.
“I think you’ve gotta be one of the strongest women I’ve ever met, because you’re willing to share Giles with the world. I wish I was that secure with myself, because I’m not sure I could do that all the time when it comes to Ken.”
Becca grinned. “You know what helps?” she asked. Kadin shook her head. “Strawberry pie,” she replied. Kadin smiled, and upon hearing about the dessert, Liz and Marty immediately voiced their desire for some. “I made three of them because I figured the house would be full this week,” Becca continued, and then waved around to the emptiness of the room.
“I’d be interested in testing that theory of yours,” Kadin told Becca. She then looked down to Liz. “You wanna give me a hand in the kitchen, Sprout?”
Kadin had barely said the word “kitchen” before Liz was already racing to the room. Kadin chuckled as Becca picked up Marty, and all of them made their way after Liz.
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hallway – Same Time
Faith, Robin and Jim were all waiting in the hallway outside the hearing room. Alex Neel stood nearby, talking on a cell phone.
“You’re going to be fine,” Robin said, as if sensing Faith’s nervousness.
She didn’t get to reply since, much to their surprise, O’Mara and her staff approached, looking quite friendly.
“This can’t be good,” Faith muttered.
“Hello, Miss Lehane,” O’Mara greeted. “I just wanted to stop by and express my admiration of many individual slayers and watchers.”
“Oh really?” Faith said in disbelief. “You’ve got a funny way of showing it.”
“I assure you that my dispute is with the Council as an organization. People such as yourself can, and should, be the backbone of a better organized, less reckless agency to properly face the demon threat.” She took a step closer to Faith, coming within inches of her. Faith’s body seemed to lean back from her of its own accord. “Actually, after the hearing I was hoping we could meet privately, alone.” She began to play with the necklace around her neck.
Faith appeared to almost stutter a noncommittal answer, and O’Mara stepped back.
“Seriously, let’s get together soon,” O’Mara said, and then began to walk away.
Robin and Jim both looked confused.
“Okay what was that was all about?” Robin asked.
Faith continued to keep her eyes on O’Mara. “That was weird,” she said.
“No kidding,” Jim replied.
“No,” Faith said, turning to him. “It…it almost felt like I was talking to my dad.”
“I’m not sure I understand,” Robin replied.
Faith turned back to look at O’Mara retreating form again. “I’m not sure I do either, Ace.”
Cut To:
Int.
Dr. Miller’s Home – Garage – Same Time
Two card tables stood next to one another, piled high with books. Grace, Andrew, Giles, Jeff and Felix sat in a variety of lawn chairs, bar stools, and one very old, very weathered comforter around the tables. They pored over the books. Each had a printout of the recording, which showed Autumn O’Mara’s other face, the Voice of Hell. Although grainy, her face and the distinctive tattoo were clearly visible. Felix had a Bluetooth in his ear.
“Remind me again,” said Grace, “why am I looking over dangerous demon species when Allister is sure this one is benign?”
“Because she could be wrong,” Jeff answered. “She has been before.”
“Good point.”
“Besides,” said Giles, “if we can actually identify the species, that fact will be of considerable help. Perhaps even vital.”
“Could be,” Andrew muttered. “We’re kinda grasping at straws here, without much time left.”
“All the more reason to hurry,” said Felix, his eyes never leaving the pages before him.
The door swung open, and Lorinda strode into the garage. “Look,” she said, “I think I’ve proven I’m willing to do my part. But I am not going to serve this Reteesk guy his food anymore!”
“He’s very weak…” Jeff began.
Lorinda interrupted. “And I’m sure he’s a helluva sweet guy, but I am so not going anywhere near a plate containing turkey wattles or cockroach wings ever again. In fact, I think I might be off spaghetti for the rest of my life. Please tell me we used different pots and pans to cook his stuff! Please, just do it! Even if you have to lie!”
“Everything for Reteesk was cooked with an old pot Mrs. Miller hadn’t used for years,” Felix replied, eyes still on the pages of his books.
“Really?” Lorinda sounded hopeful.
“You’re not the only one who might feel that way. I spoke to Mrs. Miller when Reteesk arrived.”
“Really?” Giles looked impressed and startled. Felix lifted his eyes and gave Giles a look. “Oh yes, indeed! I remember now your doing so.” Giles looked at Lorinda with a deliberate smile. “There, nothing to worry about.”
Jeff shook his head.
Lorinda looked as if she were about to throw up and was contemplating at which person she should aim. Then she did a take. “So, what has a Th’ndi demon got to do with all this?” As one, every person in the room turned to Lorinda. “What’s wrong?” she asked nervously.
“What did you just say?” said Giles.
“Th’ndi! Of course!” Jeff almost shouted.
“Congratulations, Miss Sheparton,” said Felix, activating his Bluetooth. “We have it. The Voice of Hell’s species. And we can thank Lorinda for remembering what some of us, including myself, forgot.”
“Somebody gonna clue me in?” Grace asked.
“Captain Fitz-Wolf, the demon pirate who was the lover of Lorinda’s namesake – he was a Th’ndi,” Jeff explained.
“He was almost pretty,” added Lorinda.
Felix continued speaking into his Bluetooth, “Apart from shape-shifting, the only real power Th’ndi demons possess is a kind of persuasion, possibly as a result of pheromones. Among other things, they are excellent seducers and salesmen.”
“And politicians?” Andrew suggested.
“Is there a difference?” asked Lorinda.
“Okay,” Grace said. “This is good, but how do we unmask her?”
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hallway – Same Time
Dawn nodded, her eyes a little unfocused as she listened to her own Bluetooth.
“Okay” she said. “Got it.”
Robin and Faith watched her, waiting and keeping an eye on all around them. Alex, beside them, quietly watched Dawn. Several dozen people, nearly all of them in business suits, wove their way through the hallway. Their feet echoed from the floor to the high ceilings, creating a steady din. Dawn put a finger in one ear as she listened.
“What about weaknesses? Allergies? Any weird reactions to stuff, preferably of the obviously non-human variety?” A pause. “I’ll wait, but I can’t do it for long – we’re about to go in.”
A bell sounded. Nearly a third of the people within earshot began heading for a set of double doors. Dawn, Alex, Robin and Faith all looked at the same doors.
“We have to go,” said Alex.
“Guys?” said Dawn in her headset, “There really isn’t much time to lose here.”
“You okay?” Alex asked Faith.
“Yeah,” Faith replied. “Except for the overwhelming urge to toss my cookies, sure.”
Robin rubbed his hand over her back in support.
Alex grinned. “You’ll do fine. Just be sure to do as I say, and we’ll be good.”
Jim moved swiftly through the remaining human traffic and stopped in front of the group. He handed over a manila folder.
“Hot off the press,” he said, sounding winded. “R and R came through.” Everyone looked confused. “Rowena and Rosenberg.”
Faith opened the file, reading it as Robin and Alex looked over her shoulder.
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hearing Room – Minutes Later
The bang of a gavel echoed in the room. Around two elevated tables, fifteen men and women already had their seats. Dozens of reporters, witnesses, and assorted interested parties filled the gallery. Uniformed police officers stood at every entrance.
As the gavel struck again, the older man wielding it cleared his throat.
“The House Committee on Homeland Security will come to order,” he said. In front of him was a marker that read, “Congressman Holt.” He was overweight, yet still handsome. His suit was impeccable, his face lined,but his skin ruddy. His hair was too dark to be real, but so well-made it didn’t jar. He struck the gavel again. The room went much quieter, almost silent.
“We are gathered here,” he said, his voice a robust rumble, “to hear witnesses pursuant to the reauthorization of the Suspension of Unauthorized Defense Against Supernatural Threats Act currently being considered. Now, as most of you know, the initial passage of the original Act was done in something of a rush, due to then-pressing events. It is the sacred duty of Congress to re-examine its own actions, to never assume we have all the answers. We must act, but we need to make sure our actions are the best to meet the challenges of our time. For the record, I did indeed vote for passage of the initial Act. That is part of the public record. No less a part of the record is that my vote – and that of many of my colleagues, both here and in the Senate – came with the specific provision that the Act must be revisited, re-examined as and re-authorized after a more thorough examination of the issues involved.”
He paused, barely glancing at the cameras aimed at him. Some were pointed at the audience. More focused on the people at the witness table. Those looking at the Chairman tried with some success to include an angle that caught not only his own form, but that of Congresswoman Autumn O’Mara several chairs to his left. She listened passively.
The Chairman continued. “Our first witness is known, I think, to everyone here. Miss Faith Lehane, would you kindly take the oath?” He smiled in an almost rakish way as he spoke to her.
Faith stood and placed her hand on the Holy Bible placed before her.
“I swear,” she said, “the testimony I am about to give today is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” She crossed herself and sat down.
“Miss Lehane,” said Chairman Holt, “thank you for joining us. If I may, what are the pins you are wearing?”
With one finger, Faith pointed at the pins on her suit. “I come here, Congressman, as an American…” She pointed to the tiny flag pin. “…as a proud member of the Watchers Council…” She indicated the pin showing the Council coat of arms with the three ravens, the sleeping lion and the bell. “…and as a Christian who is here only because of the direct actions of an Archangel.” As she said this last, she pointed to the tiny cross around her neck. The room murmured at her words, but she didn’t blink and kept her gaze fixed on the Chairman.
“Now, I’m sure you understand the reason that you’re here today, Miss Lehane,” Holt began.
“Truthfully, I don’t,” Faith replied. “I mean, I know that you have concerns regarding the Council, but I believe these charges brought against us are bogus.”
“If I may, Chairman,” Thad Fraiser said with a motion of his hand. Holt nodded his agreement. “You yourself are a convicted felon, are you not?”
“Convicted and pardoned, yes,” Faith replied.
“And is it true that Willow Rosenberg, who escaped from a maximum security penitentiary, hid your true identity?”
“Sir, I’d like to note that Willow Rosenberg hasn’t been convicted of any crime,” Faith replied. “In fact, she’s been jailed, or at least was jailed, for over three months, with her initial hearing being needlessly delayed, week after week. I believe she was purposely detained by people sitting on this very committee.” As Faith finished, she locked eyes with O’Mara, and chatter began to circulate in the room.
Holt banged his gavel. “Quiet everyone,” he ordered. “Need I remind you, Miss Lehane that you are here to answer questions, not to make wild speculations about Congress members?”
“Understood,” Faith replied.
“Now, in 2006 and 2007, is it true you had a rogue slayer who was responsible for the death of Council members and civilians, here and abroad?” He looked down at his paper. “A Heli Hamalainen.”
“That is correct,” Faith answered.
“Don’t you feel that if the Watchers Council was more stable,” Holt continued, “such incidents wouldn’t occur? There doesn’t seem to be a system in place where employees can address their…stress?”
Alex was writing something down at lightning speed. She showed the notepad to Faith, who nodded.
“The Council does have a team of competent mental health professionals,” Faith answered, “They offer services to all Council members at no charge. But again, the actions of one individual aren’t a reflection of an organization as a whole. For example, if you look at other tragic events that have taken place…” Faith looked down at the note before continuing. “…such as the one in Wisconsin in 2007 when an off-duty officer opened fire on a pizza party, killing six young people. The solution in that case wasn’t to shut down the entire police department.”
The room began to chatter again and, once more, Fraiser raised a hand.
“I have a question, Chairman…” he began. Holt nodded. “One of my concerns, aside from the public at large, is the actual members of the Council. There have been extremely large numbers of deaths within your organization – even your own sister lost her life. To the outside observer, it looks as if the Council doesn’t make safety, that of the public or its own people. a top priority.”
For a long moment, Faith said nothing. Finally she asked, “I’m not being flippant when I ask this, but was there a question in there someplace? If so, you’ll have to repeat it please.”
“What I’m asking is…what procedures does the Council have when it comes to the safety of the public and its members?” Fraiser asked.
O’Mara grinned as Alex pulled Faith to the side and put her hand over the mic. “Do not answer this question,” Alex instructed. “Take the fifth.”
Faith turned back to the microphone. “Our attorney has advised me to invoke the Fifth Amendment and not answer that question…I’m waiving that right because you want the truth as we know it. The truth is, I can’t answer that.”
Cut To:
Int.
Hotel Lobby – Niagara Falls – Same Time
On their way to check out, Willow and Rowena stopped and looked at the large screen on the lobby wall in front of them; a few other people came over to watch the report, too. Both women stood slack jawed.
“What the hell is she doing? She’s gonna kill us,” Willow said.
“This is not good,” Rowena muttered.
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hearing Room – Same Time
Alex slumped back in her chair in obvious frustration.
“Mr. Holt?” O’Mara asked, finally speaking up. “May I ask a question?” He nodded, and she turned to Faith. “So you have no idea what your operating procedures are? I’m somehow not shocked to learn that the even the very head of the Slayer Division hasn’t a clue.” She dismissively waved her hand.
“That’s not what I said,” Faith added. “I was asked what procedures do the Council have when it comes to the safety of the public and its members. The answer is, I can’t tell you, because it varies given the situation. And –”
O’Mara interrupted her. “How about I give you a short list of some events, and you tell me what the procedure was for those, okay? One, Robert Devlin arrives at the Council to discuss video evidence of slayers in action prior to the Council’s outing. Two, a group known as the Black Ops slayers enter the Forty-second Floor of the Terminal Tower and open fire on the staffers of Winslow and Hart Marketing Agency. Three, a slayer, Marly MacRae, is discovered strapped with explosives and dies. Four, later that same night, slayer Violet Joston is killed in her apartment after being abducted by slayer Heli Hamalainen. Five, Jason Felix – a man responsible for perhaps hundreds, if not thousands of deaths, after trying to erase magic – is given a job with the Watchers Council. Sixth, another council member, Jocelyn O’Hara, goes on a rampage in Cleveland where several patrons of an Applebee’s restaurant are killed, not to mention the destruction of buildings and property at Tower City…”
Cut To:
Int.
Hotel Lobby – Niagara Falls – Same Time
“Oh, jeez,” Willow said. “After hearing this list, even I might vote against us.”
“This is not good,” Rowena muttered again.
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hearing Room – Same Time
“Sorry, but I lost track of your list,” Faith said. “What was number one? I’ll take them in order.”
Cut To:
Int.
Giles and Becca’s House – Living Room – Same Time
Kadin shook her head as she sat on the sofa next to Becca and Liz.
“Faith’s not doing well…damn it,” she grumbled.
“It’s not her fault. All they’re doing is talking about bad stuff,” Becca argued. “They’re not letting her get a word in edgewise. It’s not a quest for the truth, it’s a–”
“Witch hunt?” Kadin asked.
Becca only nodded as she continued to watch.
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hearing Room – Moments Later
“Yes, Violet Joston’s death was tragic,” Faith said. “But at the time we had no idea of Heli’s identity as our kidnapper.”
Another congresswoman with the nameplate Katie Julles in front of her raised her hand. “Mr. Holt, if I may?” He nodded. “Ms. Lehane, doesn’t the Council have a plan for such handling such situations?”
“We have measures in place now – a policy that would allow for an entire sweep of the building – that we didn’t have at the time,” Faith answered. “I’m not about to tell you we’ve done everything perfect since day one, because we haven’t.”
“So you admit errors have been made and perhaps continue to be made?” Julles asked.
Faith paused. “Yes to the first part, no to the second. But that said, I think–”
“You’ve answered the question, Miss Lehane,” Julles interrupted.
Faith glanced at Alex with a look of frustration and desperation.
“Next time I tell you to be quiet, be quiet,” Alex told her and then moved the mic over toward herself. “Miss Julles,” Alex said, leaning forward, “I believe you all came here for the truth, did you not? I would advise that this committee allow Miss Lehane to finish her statement or suffer the consequence of appearing as though the truth isn’t important to any of you.”
“Mr. Holt?” Fraiser began. “Might I say I’d like the record to show that I agree with Ms. Neel’s assessment and ask if there is anything else Miss Lehane would like to add in response to Miss Julles’s question?”
“Would it matter, Mr. Fraiser?” Faith asked as she looked at all the members in front of her. “It seems obvious to me you’ve already made up your minds and you don’t want to hear anything else to the contrary. This meeting feels like a formality, rather than you trying to really understand our operations.”
“Mr. Holt?” O’Mara asked. “Can I reply?”
“You may,” he answered.
“Far from it, Miss Lehane,” O’Mara said. “But I would like to return to point five…Jason Felix.”
Faith rubbed the back of her neck to relieve the tension. “If I may ask, Congresswoman, how many points do you have here?” Faith asked.
“Six,” O’Mara told her. “From my first list, that is…We’ll get to my second list shortly.” She then grinned like the cat that ate the canary. “Such as why Buffy Summers and several of your associates were arrested for stealing a nuclear submarine.”
“Now the sub, I can explain,” Faith said. “B, uh, Miss Summers didn’t steal it. She was there to stop it from being taken over by demons acting on your orders, Miss O’Mara.”
The room erupted into noise again, and once more Holt tried to bring things to order.
At the same time, Faith leaned over to Dawn. “Devlin aired that demon footage, right?” she asked.
Dawn nodded.
“Miss Lehane,” O’Mara began. “As Chairman Holt pointed out, this is not the place for you to–”
“Footage was aired today on CNN, which we uncovered, that showed Miss O’Mara transforming into a demon,” Faith told the assembly.
“I object, Mister Chairman,” O’Mara said. Her manner was cool. She might have been ordering a salad. “This is an obvious fakery given to the press in a transparent attempt to influence these hearings.”
“Well,” Holt said, “I’m not ignoring it. And since I’m the one who draws up the agenda in this committee, we’re all going to have to live with that.”
“Respectfully,” she continued, “the timing alone would seem to have been intended for precisely this reason – to turn the spotlight away from the Council and onto those blowing the whistle against it.”
“Not everyone, just you,” Faith remarked.
The room filled with a bit more commotion, and Holt banged his gavel.
“Miss Lehane,” he told her. “I’ll remind you that you are to respond only to questions directly asked of you.”
“Sorry, Sir,” Faith replied respectfully.
Chairman Holt paused and looked at Faith with Alex and Dawn on either side of her. His face would have been a superb one for poker.
“The Council is in a hole,” Holt added to O’Mara. “I’m inclined to throw them a rope. Let’s see if they use it to climb out of the hole or tie a noose around their necks.” He nodded at Faith. “Now this footage…”
“Yes?”
“You said you were the ones who provided it to CNN?”
“We did.”
“Where’d you get it?”
“From a friendly demon.” Frasier’s eyebrows lifted. “There are some,” Faith explained. “Quite a lot, actually. The dangerous ones get all the press, and the Watchers Council–”
“Former Watchers Council,” interrupted O’Mara.
“Miss O’Mara,” Holt warned in a stern voice.
“Sorry,” she replied. “Go on.”
“Anyway,” Faith continued after a brief pause. “There are plenty of demon species that are harmless, even benign. The one who gave us this footage is a Vl’hurg, who are admittedly very weird to look at, but in general are perfectly nice people.”
“Nice…demons?” Frasier’s eyebrows remained up. “Sorry,” he quickly said to the committee for his surprised outburst.
“The Watchers Council has extensive records about different species. The Committee is welcome to take a look at them. In fact – and this is the real issue – you already should have. Or at least, Congresswoman O’Mara’s subcommittee should’ve.”
“What are you saying?” Holt asked.
“Miss O’Mara was supposed to find out if we were doing our job right,” Faith continued, “Only a handful of us were ever called to testify to her subcommittee. You can check for yourself – see how many requests or subpoenas came from her office to the Council. Then look at how many we refused. Not a single one. She and her staff hardly visited any of the Council chapters or interviewed our staff. No questions, no feedback, not even more than a visit or two in over a year. Just wham, bam, then get outta Dodge.”
She paused for a breath, and in that pause a titter of laughter spread through the room. Faith almost did a take. But she looked back at the Chairman, whose face remained neutral. Ditto for the rest of the Committee. Faith took a breath and continued.
“To be honest,” she said, “at first I thought this was nothing but a politician needing a way to look good. Find a scapegoat and grab the spotlight. Same old, same old.”
“Right,” the Chairman managed to give that word five syllables and express doubt with every single one.
“But,” continued Faith, “then we got this footage, and everything started to make sense. Like the way O’Mara started to go after the Council just as the Voice of Hell started a series of attacks. The picture that began to appear was one of more than coincidence.”
“You know,” the Chairman said, “recordings, especially digital ones, they can be doctored. How many DVDs can any of us here rent to see dragons or dinosaurs real as life? That doesn’t mean either one of those are real.”
Alex and Dawn shared a look.
“Anything yet?” Alex asked.
Dawn just shrugged.
Cut To:
Int.
Dr. Miller’s Home – Living Room – Same Time
In Lorinda’s lap, Marsha the dragon purred. Lorinda stroked the little dragon’s scales. On the television set before them, there was a close-up of Congressman Frasier. The CNN logo was in the corner of the screen.
“We could tell him some stories,” said Lorinda, “couldn’t we, pretty girl?”
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hearing Room – Same Time
Faith opened her mouth as if to say something, then shut it again. Then she continued. “Experts are double-checking every pixel of that recording. But frankly, after seeing that, we did some checking around.” She turned to Robin, who handed her Jim’s file. “This is something the Committee needs to see that shows the Watchers Council is truly needed.”
Alex leaned in to the microphone in front of Faith. “We offer this evidence to the Committee for its consideration.”
Flash To:
Int.
Niagara Falls Hotel – Willow & Rowena’s Room – Night
The Night Before
Willow and Rowena each sat up in bed. Rowena was reading, while Willow typed away at her laptop.
“Did you see this?” Willow said.
“What?”
“An elderly female demon was found in Lake Erie. Murdered. In some very nice clothes.”
“Does it say when?”
“Here’s the date,” Willow turned the screen to Rowena.
“This is the Cleveland Coroner’s office!” Rowena objected in alarm. “If they trace this back…”
“No, no. We saved the Coroner’s kids from that Pied Piper thingee, remember? He gave me access then.”
“Okay.” Rowena visibly relaxed.
“But look at the follow-up…”
Rowena looked at the information and then asked, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Probably,” Willow replied.
Cut To:
Int.
Capitol Hill – Hearing Room – Same Time
Holt made a gesture to a page, who took the file from Faith and brought it to him. “How about giving us a brief summary?”
“It’s an autopsy report.”
“Oh, I can see that.” Holt was glancing through the pages. “An elderly female demon pulled out of Lake Erie. Says here ‘species unknown.’ Don’t suppose you can fill in that blank?”
“As a matter of fact,” Faith said, nodding.
“What has any of this got to do with reauthorizing the Act?” O’Mara said suddenly. “With all due respect, Mr. Holt, this is looking less and less like a real Congressional hearing and more like an episode of Nancy Drew.” Her eyes bored into Holt.
He gave the mildest of shrugs. “Please come to the point, Miss Lehane. The sooner, the better.”
“The mark on the dead woman’s forehead shows she is – or was – a Th’ndi demon. Not especially powerful or dangerous. But they have two forms. One is with yellow eyes and that weird mark, and the other completely human. They can easily masquerade in plain sight. More to the point are her shoes.”
Frasier almost blinked and raised his hand. Holt nodded in his direction. “Her shoes?” Frasier asked.
“They’re pretty unique. Our watchers did some checking. They’re a designer line called Desert Roses. Each pair is custom-made, and so the Cleveland PD was able to trace who those shoes were made for.”
“And they simply shared this information with you?” Frasier asked. “Out of the goodness of their hearts?”
Faith met his gaze. “You have no idea how much the Watchers Council has helped the people of Cleveland and those all over the world. The officials there know it; they know what it means to have us shut down, and how many more people are in danger because of it. So yeah, certain members shared this information with us.” After a beat, she continued. “Those shoes were purchased by Louise Compton O’Mara, the mother of Congresswoman O’Mara. The same Louise O’Mara that the Congresswoman didn’t know was gone, although neighbors reported her as missing weeks before this body turned up. And who, up until her disappearance, had a close relationship with her daughter and even appeared together with her at the Council Games held last October.”
The room began to buzz.
“You are out of order!” O’Mara firmly told Faith, as Holt banged his gavel.
Faith, however, pushed on. “And you are a Th’ndi demon and the Voice of Hell!”
The room exploded in noise and flashes of cameras.
Fade Out
End of Act 6