At Bournemouth House:

Abberline *in the bedroom, hears Raven, saying something about Kat; gets up from the bed immediately*  What did you say?  Where is she?

Raven:  Manouche was just here.  She says Constable Crane has arrested Mother an' is taking her to the Security office.  Manouche told Mother she would come tell you, so you could go to her.  D-do you want me to come with you, Father?

Abberline:  If I have to go to the Office, I have to go alone.  It is a dangerous place for you.  Wait for me at home.  *pulls on his jacket, takes his gun and leaves for the Office. 

Near the docks:

Abberline *on the way through the port, sees Kat with Constable Crane in an alley, Kat with a gun in her hand, and she doesn't seem to be in any kind of danger.  He stays out of their vision, close enough to hear, and watches in astonishment how Crane takes off his coat, then begins to unbutton his shirt*

Ichy *begins slowly to take his coat off*  Kat, what do you intend to do?

Kat:  I 'ave no desire te 'arm ye luv. Kidd would ne'er forgive me that.  So no worries … off with 'em now, and don't get any ideas Kidd be not 'ere.  Savvy? 

Ichy:  But ... someone's going to see ... I promise I won't disturb you again.  Kat, can't we settle this in … some other way?

Kat:  I can't trust ye.  Ye've proven that, but it will be a bit difficult for ye te be chasin' me down in yer birthday suit now, won't it?

Ichy *swallows again, but begins to open his trousers*  I promise I won't try to chase you ...

Abberline *deciding it's enough, steps up to them and shouts at Kat*  What the hell do you think you are doing?  *stares at both of them*

Kat *Startled, nearly drops the gun.*  Abby?  *Glances at the half-dressed Ichy.  Looks back at Abby, horrified.*  Abby, I swear it be not what it looks like.  I only wanted to make it impossible for 'im te be chasin' after me.  It be true, I promise.

Abberline *coldly, stares at Kat*  I see.  I am sorry I intruded upon your undressing session.  I can see he were chasing after you, and I can see that you really are in a hurry to get away from him.  I am not blind.  Bloody hell, do you have to play these small passion games of yours in the open for everybody to see?  *turns around and leaves them, fuming*

Kat *Sorrowfully watches him go.  Looks back at Ichy*  Get dressed.  *Drops the gun*  We 'ave an appointment te keep with Portsmith.  It makes lil difference now, I be already dead.

Ichy *glancing fearfully at Kat, quickly puts on the shirt and coat, coughs embarrassed, watches Abberline go*  Give me the gun.  Er … you could have explained to him.  *Looks at her*  Will you now follow me to the Office without any tricks?  *sets off, looks at her suspiciously now and then, and when they finally reach the Office, sighs with relief when knocking at Portsmith's door*

At the Security office:

Kat:  The real pity is, Kidd still loves ye, Ichy, and ye 'ave damned us both.

Ichy *stops*  I don't understand what you mean.  This is only an ordinary investigation.  *hesitates*  Do we still have a chance then?  *takes her to an empty office room*  It was out of desperation that I came to the Apparition.  I have now nothing left, and I don't believe you when you say that you have still feelings for me.  I don't think you ever did.

Charlie:  Yea, get in *opens the door, sees no one, shrugs, closes it again*

Kat *Sighs*  Ye don't understand, I always 'ad a tenderness towards ye but it were Kidd that loved ye and still does.  *Touches his face gently*  It's Abby I love and 'ave for a long time.  Lil good it does me.  Perhaps I should just give o'er te Kidd and let go, at least she could 'ave with ye what I can't seem te 'old onto with Abby.

Ichy *Takes her hand, strokes it*  I know, I will never understand you.  But you said yourself that marriage is just a piece of paper.  I don't know what to believe anymore.  I believed once that you loved me and now you tell me it never was so.  It was not to Kidd I gave that pendant, and it was not her that I shared those rare moments with when we went walking.

Kat:  If I'd ne'er met Abby, it might of been different. Yer kind and gentle but I  couldna give ye what 'e already owned. I wanted te. I tried. E'en now I'd give anythin' if it could be so. But it can't. In a way it would be less painful  te go into the darkness and nothingness and let Kidd live this life. But it be also a terrifyin'  thought the idea of ceasing te exist almost like dyin'.

Ichy:  But it was not always Kidd that was with me, Kat.  Your words are scaring me.  You could have a more peaceful life with me and with time you would get over him.  With him, you will be more and more hurt, it seems that the only thing he can give is just pain.  You need only time.

Kat:  I no longer want te get o'er 'im, e'en if it were possible.  I love 'im and there be not 'nuff time in the world to change it.  I would rather brave the darkness and feel nothing.

Ichy *nods sadly*  I see.  *puts his hands beside his back and frowns*  I am not a bad man, Kat.  I just got overwhelmed.  I apologize for my bad behaviour.  It won't happen again.  I will take you back to him.

Kat:  Won't do no good.  Ye saw 'ow 'e looked at me.  It be no use.

Ichy:  What do you want me to do then?

At Chez Roux:

Abberline *stops at Chez Roux and after a short hesitation goes in to the bar and orders the first brandy, followed immediately by the second, third, fourth and fifth*

At the Wonkas’ factory:

*Willy finally decides to walk out of the master bedroom after all the drama that went on just a few hours ago.  It is now nightfall and he's heard no noise since Madame and Wilbur let him be again.  He slowly opens the door and notices his father sitting on the couch reading the paper.  On the coffee table, there is a first aid kit, some wrappers laying around.  Everything else is quiet*

Willy *walks out*  Where is everyone?

Wilbur *not even turning his head to face him*  Kim and Alifi took the children out for an evening stroll.  *checks his watch*  Thirty minutes ago.

Willy *arches brow, but trusts Alifi enough to know that their taking their time, looks at the kit*  What's that out for?

Wilbur *looks up from the paper at the kit, then back down again*  Kim's wrists.  She sprained both of them and some cuts were there as well.

Willy *quickly acknowledges how Wilbur changed the "you" to "she".  Ignores it.  Sits next to him on the couch*  I screwed up big time.

Wilbur  *turns the page*  I don't even think you know  *a long pause, then he sighs, closes the paper, putting it on the coffee table, turns to him, adjusts his glasses*  You've infused fear in her that should've NEVER been there Willy.

Willy *nods*  I know.  *pauses, looks at him*  What do I do now?

Wilbur  *sighs, looks at the paper*  Well I say first, you apologize.  She's still going to be scared, so don't do anything... *looks at Willy* ...stupid. *Willy arches brow, Wilbur does back, then Willy nods*  Then...oh I dunno...try something romantic.   You were always good at winning hearts.  I'm sure its not as difficult to win your wife's heart back.

Willy   Yea but you don't know her dad. 

Wilbur   Ah, yes.  Okay.  I only took enough time with her so I could give her away on your wedding day. *looks up at him* Instead of her actual father.

Willy  ...who’s a deadbeat.

Wilbur ... it means nothing.  I DO know her, and I know if you do enough, she does trust you.  Just like Manouche did when she broke her glasses.  Remember?

Willy  *thinks way back when Madame and Manouche were more like enemies.  Manouche traveled far to get Madame a pair of suitable glasses.  He smiles when he remembers some of the joke glasses she bought back also.*

Wilbur  *pats Willy's knee*  I'm here for the night.  She doesn't want me leaving.  But I still know you'll do the right thing.  *smiles at him*  I'm proud of you, son.

Willy  *smiles*  Thanks, dad.

Wilbur *nods once, gets up and leaves the master suite to go to bed*

Madame *walks into the master suite, heading to the baby room, grabs a few things, stuff them in a baby bag.  Is about to walk out when she walks right into Willy, jumps back, a little suprised*  Hey....

Willy  Hey....

Madame   Excuse me *makes her way past Willy into the master bedroom.  Goes through her drawers and finds pajamas, grabs them, turns and sees him again*

Willy   Where are you going?

Madame   Alifi offered for me and the babies to stay with her for the night *looks down at floor*  I agreed.  *itches her hand, her coat comes up a bit, revealing her bandaged wrist, looks up at him, tears in her eyes*  So, I'll be on my way.  I'm quite exhausted.

Willy *looks down at floor, puts up no fight when she walks past him, turns, tears in his eyes as well*  Kim....

Madame *about to walk out, turns, her hand on the doorknob*

Willy   ....I...I'm sorry....

Madame  *a tear rolls down*  I know... *turns, opens door, walks out*

Willy  *runs his fingers through his hair, tears fall down his face, he makes his way to prepare for a restless night*

At From Hell Court:

Manouche *having received her money for the night from Ivan, now looks around the opium den for a few minutes, then decides she’d rather just go home.  She still has a little of the stuff at home, if she feels the need.  She also still has absinthe and laudanum, and plenty of the old standby, rum.  She passes through the dingy, smoky room and climbs the stairs, walks through the bar, out the door, heads toward home*

Ivan *has been watching her, decides this time he’ll follow her.  He gives her a little head start, then slowly sets out after her, keeping a distance between them.  What he doesn’t realize is that another patron in the bar happened to notice what he’s up to.*

Malachi *sitting at a table in the back, having watched the little parade, lowers his hat over his eyes, stands up, leaves some money on the table, picks up his cigarettes, quickly follows after them.*

Ivan *carefully following, watches as Manouche goes through town, then heads into the woods, to cut through to get to her house.  He starts in after her, glad to see they’re getting away from the well-lit streets, to a more secluded area … *

Malachi *follows, his face grim, his anger growing.  He’s known Ivan for quite some time, and he’s never liked him.  The man is a classic bullying, loud-mouthed idiot, full of himself, bad-tempered, and violent, especially toward women.  He’s never managed to keep a woman in his life for long.  The ones with any sense at all leave him after the first black eye.  Others with less self-esteem last a little longer, but eventually fall away, as well.  One poor young woman completely disappeared, they never did find out what happened to her.  She was of low standing and had no family, so there were few to question her disappearance.  Anyone in the Court who happened to express curiosity on the issue was quickly silenced, either by a glowering stare from Ivan himself, or from others who quickly gave warnings about Ivan’s short fuse on the subject.  These thoughts fill Malachi’s head as he watches Ivan following Manouche, and he’s filled with rage.  He tries to keep calm as he continues after them, keeping enough distance between them so Ivan doesn’t catch on.*

Ivan *looks around, smiles an unpleasant smile as he sees that he and Manouche are deep enough into the woods now that no one will hear anything.  He eagerly quickens his pace, comes around a large tree … and suddenly he’s lost sight of her.  He stops, puzzled, then cries out when a sharp pain fills his world as two heavy pirate boots swing back and kick him savagely in the head, knocking him to the ground.  Manouche, hanging from a large branch just above him, drops to the ground, draws her sword, places one foot on his throat, points the sword at his heart*

Manouche *voice low*  Ye were desirin’ an audience with me, mate?

Ivan *makes gargling sound, tries to speak*  I … I … I was jus’ ….

Manouche *eyes narrowed*  Oh, aye, ye were JUS’.  I can bloody well imagine.  I weren’t born yesterday, y’know.  Ye ‘ave quite th’ reputation.  Yer infamous even by th’ Court standards, did ye know that?  *moves her foot, reaches down, grabs him by the shoulder, pulls him to his feet, still keeping her sword on him*  I don’t reckon there’d be one tear shed fer ye if ye were t’ go missin’.  *looks him over*  I’m thinkin’ th’ least I could do is relieve ye of a few fingers … but then, how would ye count me money out fer me at th’ end o’ an evenin’?  Ye ain’t cheated me yet, I’ll give ye that.  Oh, don’t look so surprised, mate … never mind how I know, I jus’ know.  *holds free hand out, motioning to herself*  Gypsy.  Savvy? 

Malachi *having watched everything with great relief, admiration for Manouche, and some amusement, now approaches them, smothering a grin.  He looks at Manouche, imitates the cowboy movies*  This here feller botherin’ you, ma’am?

Manouche:  I s’pose he’d be a bother if I gave ‘im half a moment’s thought.  As it is, he’s merely a slight annoyance … like an insect …  *pauses, her eyes and sword still fixed on Ivan as she continues to speak to Malachi*  I can’t fer th’ life o’ me think of a good reason not to do a bit o’ cuttin’.  Can ye help me with that’un, Malachi, mate?

Malachi *sighs regretfully*  Hate to say it, but I guess I can think of one reason.  I happen to know that Portsmith is pretty pleased with the money he brings in.  She put him in charge of that den, so if you were to remove him from office, so to speak … you’d have to answer to her.

Manouche *holds her stance, considers Malachi’s words, nods slightly*  I reckon I don’t need that right now.  *slowly lowers her sword, sheaths it.*  Malachi … would ye do us a favor, an’ at least remove this bastard from me sight?

Malachi:  With great pleasure.  *steps forward, grabs Ivan.  He turns, starts to lead him away*

Manouche:  ‘Ang on, wait up.  *they turn to look at her; she approaches Ivan*  I’ll be back tomorrow, an’ it’ll be business as usual.  However, I’ve decided I need a raise to steady me jangled nerves over this evenin’, savvy?  I’ll be ‘avin’ sixty percent o’ th’ profits from now on, an’ if I hear a breath o’ protest outta ye, I’m takin’ down me shingle, as it were.  Game over.  *she grabs his collar, pulls him a little closer*  An’ don’t ever lay a hand on me again … or ye’ll ‘ave one less hand to be dippin’ into pockets.  Savvy?  *lets him go, stands back, gazing at him*

Ivan *nods, without a word, staring at her.  Before, he was curious; now he feels afraid.  Despite her angry tone, throughout this entire ordeal, her face has registered little to no emotion*

Malachi *looks at Manouche quickly*  Lay a hand on you ….. what did he do?

Manouche *waves her hand*  It were nothin’, luv.  Not worth botherin’ about … but enough t’ insist he don’t do it again.  That’s all.  *suddenly feels very weary*  Now, if ye don’t mind, I’m so tired I’m ‘bout t’ drop in me tracks.  *brings a hand up to her eyes*  Malachi, luv, please … get ‘im outta ‘ere.  I … I jus’ wanna go home …

Malachi *looks at her tenderly, speaks softly*  Sure, sweetheart.  Go on ahead.  *smirks as he gives Ivan a rough shake*  I’ll be happy to take out the trash. 

Manouche *nods gratefully*  Cheers, mate.  *she turns, slowly makes her way to her house*

Ivan *after she’s gone, breathes a sigh of relief.*  Man, did you see that?  What a kick she gave me … she’s really crazy, isn’t she?  Lucky I didn’t get a concussion …

Malachi:  Yeah, this is your lucky day, all right.  But then, you’re just a lucky guy, aren’t you?  *smiles at Ivan, a little overly friendly*  C’mon, let’s see just how lucky you are.  *pulls his gun, sticks the barrel up against Ivan’s ribs*  I just happen to know of an abandoned hangout not too far from here, very secluded.  No one will disturb us while we have a nice little chat about, ohhh, luck, games of chance, anything you want to talk about.  I’m sure you’re in no hurry to get home.  Hell, you followed Manouche all the way out here, you’re obviously not ready to call it a day.  Let’s see what the night still holds in store for a lucky guy like you, whadda ya say, Ivan ol’ boy?  *pulls him roughly away from the direction of Manouche’s house, his grip tight*

Manouche *reaches the house, lets herself in, locks door behind her.  She looks around the living room for a few minutes, then lights a few candles.  She makes her way slowly and quietly to the bathroom to run a bath, sees with satisfaction that the small table with the absinthe and laudanum is still close to the tub.  She sits down on the edge of the tub, lights a cigarette, watches the tub fill with water.  Her mind wanders … and she’s suddenly very glad she still has some opium in the house.*

At Chez Roux:

Barkeep *shoving the next glass to Abberline*  Watch out mate, you'll drop soon by that rate.

Abberline:  If you won't sell me more, I can always find a better place.

Barkeep:  It is a lady?  It is always a lady when guys start to drink like that.

Abberline:  Mind your own business and give me another one.  *by this time he has a very vague recollection of what happened, all he remembers is Kat and a half-dressed Constable Crane, with whom Kat has a history.  Was it a plot by Manouche and Kat, give her a chance to meet Crane?  First Manouche told him that she wanted to see Kat at Sparrow Lane, and later she warned about Commander Portsmith, but all this time it was Constable Crane.  How could Kat do this to him?  He had almost believed that she really loved him and that she wanted to settle down with him.  Apparently, marriage was to her just a piece of paper.  Worthless paper.  And how could Manouche do this to him, and why?

Raven *enters Chez Roux, looks around, walks over to the entrance to the bar, stands at doorway*  Father?  Father, I ... I knew you were here ... wh-what happened?

Barkeep:  That your kid, mate?  This is the last for you tonight.  The saddest thing in this work is not the broken hearts at the bar, but the kids in the doorways looking for their parents.  You'd better be going.

Abberline *turns around and sees Raven*  Maybe you should try to find your mother.  *finds some crumpled bills in his pocket and leaves them at bar, to the barkeep*  A bottle of brandy then.  Maybe you should ask her what happened.  *rises, unsteady*  Or Manouche.  Can't trust a pirate ...  *tries to light a cigarette, but fails, frowns and crushes it back into the cigarette case*

Barkeep *takes the notes, counts them*  Not enough for a bottle.  Get yourself home.  *to Raven*  Sorry, kid.

Abberline *mutters to himself as Raven takes his hand*  It's better to have no feelings than to love.  Home, then.

Raven *stops him when they step outside*  Father, before we go home … I want to try something with you.  I don’t know if it’ll work, but … there’s something I want you to see.  *he leads Abberline over to a bench, they sit down, he faces him and takes his hands, as he always did with Manouche; hoping his father has enough of the dreamer to be able to share his visions the way Manouche can*  I … I saw this earlier, Father … I hope you can see it …  *he squeezes Abberline’s hands tight, and concentrates … brings back the vision of Kat, Manouche and Ichy, standing on the deck of The Apparition, Ichy threatening Kat, Manouche stepping in … finally Ichy, unmoved, leading Kat away, with Manouche promising to fetch Abberline to help her*

Abberline *seeing hazy visions, thinks he recognizes Kat and Manouche, and Constable Crane,and someone has a gun ... *  I'm too drunk to get it clearly, Raven.  But she was earlier with him.  Maybe she's not over him yet.  I want to get home now, I don't want to be tempted to a den tonight.  Raven, please, find her.  I don't want to lose what I have.  I am nothing without her and you.

Raven *watches Abberline rise, walk unsteadily away in the direction of Bournemouth House, decides to try to find his mother.  He starts out for the Security office; that's where Manouche said Constable Crane was taking her*