Sitting in Judgement: Serenity.

Scene opens with Dominique sitting at a desk, for a change. She has gone with her usual cloak... except that the cloak looks more coat-like (albeit a hooded one), and it is emphatically brown. Justinian's is much more obviously a coat; he is currently sleeping, carefully curled around a plastic dinosaur. Dominique raises one finger to her lips.

Dominique (quietly): "Good evening, and be welcome to Sitting in Judgement, Heaven's very own movie review show. I'm your host, Dominique, Archangel of Judgement, and I am the soft option.

"My regular co-host was up a little late last night - we felt called to look back on old friends, you understand - so I'd take it as a kindness if you don't break into his sleeping. Which will be a trouble to avoid and no question, as I understand that Hell is about to freeze over."

The Archangel of War - likewise wearing a brown coat - walks in and sits down at the guest's chair, after picking up the book already there and carefully placing it somewhere safe.

The silence is profound.

Dominique: "Welcome to the show, Michael."

Michael (looking straight ahead): "I'm here under protest, Hy..."

Dominique (raising finger): "Kitten."

Michael (Gritting teeth): "...here under protest, Archangel Dominique."

Dominique (quietly): "I regret hearing that."

Michael squints at Dominique. Dominique spreads hands.

Dominique: "Far be it from me to give you undue troubles, Firstborn. Say your say on the movie and we'll be done with it."

Pause.

Michael (slowly): "It did not Lie. It did not truckle. It told Truthful about its characters, showed the good and the bad and let you make up your own mind about whether to love them or not. It was a film unafraid to call evil by its true name, and it did not try to shrink from consequences. And it was a pleasure to hear all of them speak. No blather in this film; they practiced economy in their words, and got good measure."

Michael suddenly smiles, just a touch.

Michael: "And it's always a joy to see someone be sensible about traps and schemes. Or a whole ship of someones. It needs to be encouraged. Great fun all aro..."

Michael has by now turned and has come within a fraction of an inch of possibly actually looking at the Archangel of Judgement in order to talk to her. But he fades back in time.

Michael (coolly): "Worth watching, in other words. Although some would probably argue the point."

Dominique: "Not I. 'As sure as I know anything, I know this: I aim to misbehave'. I've rarely heard the moral philosophy of the Wind stated so clearly." Michael stiffens a little at that, Dominique pauses for a moment, then goes on. "But we are busy, and this in the end is no doubt a frivolity, so I will give it a thumbs-up and assume that you will do the same. Acceptable?"

Michael: "Acceptable."

Dominique: "Then, until next time, thanks for watching Sitting In Judgement!"

(Closing credits run. Michael stands up, walks to the entrance... stops, turns back and without a word isolates himself and Dominique from the rest of the Universe.)

Michael (furiously): "I'll say this once, Hyena. I don't know or care what your scheme is. But when you're in the Marches, and you see that ship, or anybody from it, you just keep going on your way. Just keep going."

Michael leaves. Dominique looks after him, then shifts back to a male form as he carefully scratches Justinian's ears.

Dominic: "Well, that didn't work."

Justinian (sleepily): "Mwr."

Dominic: "Why did I try to reach out, then? Didn't you hear... no, you were asleep, weren't you? Well, it's simple. When it comes to going after the pain that Michael declines to heal, or even call by its True name..." [Dominic looks again in the direction where the Archangel of War has gone.]

Dominic: "...it's long past time that I aimed to misbehave."

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