Everyone ready for the ball?

Sir Robert: Oui.

Ursula: No. This is so dull.

Julia: I am.

(We open with another wide shot of the French Alps...but that shot moves from the mountains this time to a large town at the base of the mountains, then to a huge castle on the edge of the town. Fancy carriages stop by the castle, letting streams of well-dressed people inside.)

(Cut to the main ballroom. It's an elaborate room with a huge glass chandelier. People dance and mingle as they pass through, on their way down from the enormous stairway. We see the younger Zero and a tall, stately raven-haired man looking on. The man has a pretty blond woman on his arm. She giggles and smacks him with her fan as he whispers in her ear. He finally smacks her on the rear and sends her on her way.)

Zero: (Smirks) Hello, Bela. Your newest conquest?

Belavarg: Of course.

Zero: She's very attractive. She'll provide a wonderful soul. Have you taken her energy yet?

Belavarg: I will later tonight.

Zero: Good, good. We'll pick these aristocrats clean yet. (Makes a face) I wish I knew where my nieces had gotten to. They were supposed to have arrived this afternoon, but they never came. I'm afraid they may have gotten caught somewhere in the mountains.

(That's when the two women arrive. Ursula wears a large white gown with lots of lace. Her pale blond hair is in a simple style that frames her face. She looks extremely uncomfortable.)

(Sir Robert seems a bit wobbly on his feet, but he does look extremely handsome in his dark suit with gold braiding, his long black waves falling softly around his shoulders. His sword is on his hip, and he ignores the entreaties from several matre domos to remove it.)

*Julia wears a full red gown. Her hair is up in a twist. She holds Sir Robert's arm.*

Sir Robert: (Mutters) I am not sure this is good idea.

Julia: Don't worry. It's a fine idea.

Zero: Ladies! (He goes to them, followed by Belavarg) Where have you been? (Kisses each of their cheeks) I was getting worried. (Raises an eyebrow at Sir Robert) And who is this gentleman?

Sir Robert: (Bows) Sir Robert Del Naysmythe, sir.

Zero: Ahh, yes. (Mutters to Julia) Where did you pick this one up?

Julia: We found him in the snow.

Zero: (Makes a face) Some wastrel knight who had too much to drink?

(Sir Robert heard that; he glares at him.)

Zero: He doesn't look like much. He's terribly thin for a knight.

Sir Robert: Sir, I have been ill.

Zero: Are you sure about this one, Julia dear?

Julia: I am.

Sir Robert: (Looks around) Where is ale you promised?

(But the music begins again before Ursula can point out the beverage table.)

Julia: Care to dance?

Sir Robert: No.

Julia: Why ever not?

Sir Robert: I cannot dance.

(Zero takes Ursula out to the dance floor and sweeps her into the music. Belavarg takes his giggling blond.)

Julia: I can't dance, either.

Sir Robert: (Sighs) I will dance if it will not make me look foolish.

Julia: Trust me, you won't look foolish.

Sir Robert: Well, all right. (He takes her hands...and stumbles over his feet as they join the dancers) I feel silly.

Julia: Then we'll be silly together.

Sir Robert: (As he moves her around as best he can) So, what do you and your sister do? Do you live with your uncle?

Julia: Yes, we do. We run a business.

Sir Robert: It's rare to see women running businesses. Not to butt in, but are you married?

Julia: No, I'm not.

Sir Robert: That is odd. It is rare for mademoiselles to have not found someone. You and your sister are tres belle. You have not had some suitor?

Julia: Not yet.

Sir Robert: I...I am not attached, either. (Stops dancing) Mademoiselle, this is tres silly. Can we go someplace else?

Julia: Why don't we take a walk?

Sir Robert: I would like that. It is hot in here. (He takes her arm.)

(The two walk out of the castle and into the garden. The garden is lush with many flowers, plants, and trees. Robert settles down under a pink flowering tree.)

Sir Robert: This is better. Not so stuffy.

Julia: *Leans into him, running a hand along his arm* Much better...

Sir Robert: (Nods) Oui. Just you and me. (Sighs) I haven't been with a femme since... (shakes his head) ...well, in a long time. (He gasps when Julia's hand goes down his arm and into his chest. Mademoiselle, you..ooh...

(Sir Robert closes his eyes as Julia strokes his chest, her hands going into his ruffled shirt.)

Sir Robert: (His eyes still closed) What...what are you doing? (Winces) It burns...

Julia: You've lost your family...wife, son...lost your mother to disease. You're making a meager existence as a bounty hunter since then. Barely.

Sir Robert: (Nods) Yes. When I was discharged from the army, I had nowhere to go but home...but it wasn't home anymore. Mon Avril, mon child, mon mere...all died in a plague. I had nothing left.

(Julia draws him closer, stroking his long, black hair.)

Sir Robert: Stay with me. Do not leave me, the way Avril did...

*Julia pulls him into a kiss.*

(When he pulls out of it, we can see that Sir Robert's eyes are clouded. He swoons into Julia's arms.)

Sir Robert: I am yours.

(Julia smirks and is about to run her hands over him again when Belavarg emerges, tugging something along behind him that we can't see.)

Sir Robert: (Blinks) Is that your uncle's friend?

Julia: Yes, it is.

Sir Robert: And where is your mademoiselle, Monseuir Bela? Did she run away?

Belavarg: No, she's right here.

(Belavarg tugs the woman along...or what might have been her. She now wears a long, familiar brown cape. Her skin is greenish and she's been shaved.)

Sir Robert: (Eyes widen) Oh, oh my...who...but it cannot be...

(The woman stares right at Sir Robert, but says nothing. She doesn't even seem to recognize him.)

Sir Robert: What did you do?

*Belavarg tugs her along. Julia plants a kiss on Robert.*

(Robert melts into the kiss, ending with a sigh. Ursula appears just as he moves his lips from hers. His eyes are clouded again.)

Ursula: (Sighs) I see you have another conquest.

Sir Robert: Uh-huh...

Julia: Maybe.

Ursula: I suppose you read his soul. (Sighs) I wish you wouldn't. You do know how badly it hurts humans when we do it to them.

Julia: So?

Ursula: I wish...he seems so gentle...I really wish we didn't have to hurt him.

Sir Robert: Huh?

Zero: (He joins them...and smirks when he sees Sir Robert) Good, good. I see you've already worked on him.

Ursula: Uncle, must we really hurt him? He's been through so much already. I don't know what lead him to end up in the snow like that, but it had to be dire...

Zero: Have you gotten his soul yet, Julia?

Julia: I'm working on it.

Ursula: Uncle, I really think we should leave this one alone.

Zero: Ursula my dear, if I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times. You're too soft-hearted. He's just some vagabond. His life means nothing.

Sir Robert: I...I'm lost...

Ursula: But he's a living, breathing creature!

Zero: He's just a human.

Ursula: But, uncle...

Zero: (Pats his niece on the shoulder) Why don't you and I return to the ball? (Turns to Julia) My dear, why don't you take our friend upstairs and... (chuckles) make him comfortable?

Julia: Would love to.

Sir Robert: Oui...take me away...

Ursula: Just don't do anything either of us will regret to him.

Zero: I'm sure he'll be fine.

(We fade out as Zero leads the worried Ursula away and Julia strokes Robert's long hair. Cut to upstairs. It's the set from Sheila's room in the Ghost Town, but the color scheme is even wilder, and the canopy bed is huge. Julia and Robert's clothing is scattered around the lounging chair. Robert lays on the bed, his eyes totally blank and his chest bare. Julia, most of her covered by the blanket, holds a white light in her hand.)

Sir Robert: I am yours now. I will always be yours.

(Ursula comes in...and stops dead when she sees the light.)

Ursula: (Frowns sadly) Oh, I wish you hadn't done that.

Julia: *Smirks* You're just jealous.

Ursula: No, I'm not. I feel sorry for that poor man. He doesn't deserve this. (Sighs) I know we're supposed to take souls, but I just can't help but wonder...do they deserve this? (Shakes his head) What did you find in his soul? Is he really a vagabond?

Julia: Yes, he is.

Ursula: We should restore him and let him go. Give him a chance to live again.

Sir Robert: (Nuzzles against Julia) Oui...

Julia: He seems fine where he is.

Ursula: Don't you get tired of just one-night stands? How many slaves do you need, anyway?

(Sir Robert moans and rubs against her again.)

Julia: Not enough.

Ursula: Don't you ever wonder what it would be like to have a family? You know, real mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers?

Julia: No.

Ursula: We may be technically devils, Julia, but we're not getting any younger, no matter how young we look. Didn't you ever want to raise children? See them grow?

Julia: No.

Ursula: Julia, I've been thinking about leaving Uncle.

Julia: Why?

Ursula: I'm tired of doing what we do. I don't want slaves, Julia, and I don't want handmaidens. I want friends, family. Not mindless creatures.

(Sir Robert leans against Julia and kisses her neck lightly.)

Ursula: Look at him! Look what you've done to him! He could be anything, Julia. He could be something special. You saw how he was earlier.

Ursula: Julia...I wish you'd come with me. You're my sister. You're the only real family I have. Can't you give up this life? (Points at Robert) Do you really love him?

Sir Robert: Julia...

Julia: I like what I do just fine.

Ursula: Very well. (She turns away) But someday, sister, you're going finally going to fall in love with a human being...and you'll find that those human emotions and human lives aren't such horrible things to have. (She leaves sadly, shaking her head as we fade out on Julia holding the blank-faced Sir Robert in the bed.)