The Dark Pearl Chronicles 1.1: Battle of the Half-Brothers Read Free Page A

letter says, "Don't tell anyone of this event. It is for specifically chosen individuals." But now we just told each other! What if spies come to take us?
JOSH: Don't worry Jaguar. That won't happen. Just don't tell anyone else, okay? We don't want to rub it in that we were chosen.
JAGUAR: Alright.

SCENE: Three days later. Pete's mansion.
(Zack walks up to the door and rings the doorbell, holding his letter.)
PETE (opening door): Ah, come in, my young fellow!
ZACK: Are you Mister Walsh, the scout from the University of Miami? I received this letter about an athletic scholarship...
PETE: Yes, young man. I am he.
ZACK: You don't look like a college scout.
PETE: Young man, I'm as much of a scout as you are an athlete. Now please come in.
(Zack comes in. He leads Zack to a waiting room where Zack sits on a couch.)
PETE: My condolences, Mister Parker, if you will excuse me, I am expecting a few more guests. I'd like to wait until they arrive before I lead you to the other room so that we can discuss your future.
(Zack sits quietly and begins to look around the room while Pete goes back down the hallway.)

(Austin walks up to the door and rings the doorbell. Pete answers.)
AUSTIN: You Pete?
PETE: Excuse me?
AUSTIN: I said are you Pete? I heard a "Pete Walsh" was looking to record me. So are you Pete or not?
PETE: I am.
AUSTIN: I'll invite myself in then. (Brushes through the doorway past Pete)
PETE: Wait! You mustn't go that way!

(Austin continues down the hall, where he finds Zack looking at the trophies in Pete's case. Pete walks in after, but is too late.)
AUSTIN: No offense, but why are you here, Zack? Did he invite you to hear me record?
ZACK: I was told this was a college scout's house.
AUSTIN (turning to talk to Pete): Care to explain?
PETE: Listen. I will explain as soon as the others arrive. I promise.
AUSTIN: Others? Forget it. I'm out of here.
ZACK: I'm right behind you.
PETE: No! Stop! I know a secret of yours and if you leave I'll tell!
AUSTIN: What secret?
PETE: I mustn't tell until the others arrive.
AUSTIN: You're bluffing.
PETE: Come here, then and I'll whisper your secret in your ear.
(Austin slowly saunters over to Pete.)
ZACK: You know he's bluffing, Austin. (To Pete) Austin and I have never kept a secret from each other.
(Pete ignores the comment from Zack and bids Austin to come closer.)
PETE (whispering in Austin's ear): I know about- (the doorbell rings)

(Pete goes to the door and opens it to find all four of the others standing there, arguing.)
PETE: Come in! Come in! All of you!
JOSH: What is he doing here? 
JAGUAR: I thought only Josh and me were going to be here?
COLE: I know this isn't a Harvard convention!
KARA: These guys aren't X-game material! I would eat them for breakfast!
PETE: Please. Allow me to explain. All of you come in.

(They all go into the house, where Pete leads them to the room that Austin and Zack are in.)
PETE (to Zack and Austin): Follow me.
(Austin spots Josh in the crowd.)
AUSTIN: What is that loser doing here? Tell me what's going on now!
PETE: Follow me and you will all soon find out.
AUSTIN (following Pete): Is this about the secret?

(Pete leads the six into his room full of machinery.)
PETE: This is my lab. Feel free to look around, but please don't break anything.
(Everyone looks at Jaguar.)
JAGUAR: Okay, so maybe I'm a little clumsy. (Leans on a shelf, and a vial falls off. Pete quickly catches the vial and shoots Jaguar a dirty look)
AUSTIN: Look. I'm not here to look at some nerdy professor's inventions. I don't even know why I'm here, but if I don't find out in the next two minutes I'm leaving, and I dare you to try to stop me.
PETE: Okay, you're right, Mister Jones... I've been avoiding the topic of today's discussion, but it's time for me to come out and say this.
JAGUAR: Oh no! Don't tell me you're coming out of the closet! I don't even know you!
PETE: No, that's not it.
JAGUAR: Phew.
PETE: Anyways, you all have something in common-a secret: a secret that I know