INT. GOAT MAN'S HOUSE–DAY (FLASHBACK)

JORDANIA (looks at a note): Nothing else showed up since that journal page, huh?

MIN: Not that anyone is aware of. (Pause) I need to make a separate section for a general timeline.

JORDANIA: Of course you would do that.

A paper drops from the wall and Min goes to pick it up. Jordania watches them and notices a small pocketbook in their back pocket. She stares at it for a bit and Min stands upright.

MIN CONT'D: What?

JORDANIA: I was wondering if Peter should be in the codex.

MIN: Absolutely not.

Min stabs the pin into the note.

CUT TO:

INT. "THE DEFIANT WHISPER" PUB–NIGHT

MIN sits at a poker table with a crowd of adult men with a row of cards in hand. Their small figure is a sharp contrast to the towering figures. There are drunken heckles and the occasional shattering of glass in the background. JORDANIA enters the scene with a large glass of beer and takes a seat next to Min.

JORDANIA CONT'D: I know you're the one who fabricated the journal. I know alchemy when I see it.

MIN: Aren't you too young to be at a bar? Especially drinking alcohol?

JORDANIA: Randi may call me a damn child but in reality I'm older than the poor dunce. Besides, the bar has high security so that people under the age of nineteen can't enter. (Sarcasm) Surely you must have known that?

MIN: I only come here for poker.

JORDANIA: I was really caught off guard when I saw you here. I honestly thought you were way younger.

MIN: Likewise. (Lays down cards) Full house, boys. Pay up.

The men grumble and push the piles of poker chips to Min. Min grins in self-satisfaction and Jordania taps the side of her glass impatiently.

JORDANIA CONT'D: Now, let's stop avoiding the subject at hand, Min. You're causing mischief like I do.

MIN: Yeah, so?

JORDANIA: Little Min here is supposed to perfect and law abiding. I didn't think you had it in you.

MIN: There are lots of things you didn't know about me.

JORDANIA: Yeah, of course not. I come to this joint every Saturday. I never saw you around here once.

MIN: Well, we're here now. What a great new discovery, now scram.

JORDANIA: I'm not done with you yet. Did you plan the display case too?

MIN: No. (Pause) Inspired by it? Maybe.

JORDANIA: Well, aren't you a smart cookie. We didn't know it existed till the journal page popped up right after too.

MIN: The rest of you are just slow and unobservant.

JORDANIA: Doesn't change the fact that the journal is a fake.

MIN: You know I made the book. So what? I don't care if you tell.

JORDANIA: Well, I want in on it.

MIN: And what is "it"?

JORDANIA (chugs some beer): The journal of doubt of course.

MIN: It's not called that.

JORDANIA: Well I'm calling it that. You keep writing passages on doubting the world we reside in. It definitely does that, you can't deny it.

MIN: I don't trust you enough to be my partner.

JORDANIA: I'm going to keep bothering you then until you do.

MIN: Fantastic. (shuffles deck) Who's up for another round?

Min and Jordania sit in silence for a bit. Jordania sips on her beer for the meanwhile and Min is in deep concentration. A card slips out from one of the men's sleeves and he discreetly puts it in his deck. Jordania notices and leans over to Min.

JORDANIA CONT'D (whispers): I know these guys aren't too smart since you beat them not too long ago but one of them has something literally up his sleeve there.

MIN (gives her a side-eye): Really?

JORDANIA (winks): Why would I lie to you?

MIN: Why would you help me?

JORDANIA: Well, I never not helped you before.

Min hesitates before directing their attention to MAN 1.

MIN (raises voice): You there! Yeah! The one with ugly face, I saw you slip a card. You were cheating weren't you?

MAN 1: I's gots nothin' kid. Yer eyes er off.

MIN: Mind showing me your jacket then?

MAN 1: Sod off.

MIN: Fine. Let's make a bet then. If I'm wrong then you get to take all the money I won.

MAN 1: Ha. Sure.

MIN: I bet you have cards in your jacket.

MAN 1: I's don't.

MIN: Prove me wrong then.

MAN 1 (pauses): Can't.

MIN: And why is that?

MAN 1: Don't wanna.

Min walks over to the man and places both hands on the table, leaning towards him. The man slowly leans away from them while clutching his jacket.

MIN CONT'D: Weren't you here to win big? Get lucky? Hit the jackpot? This seems like easy money.

Min quickly snatches the man's arm and cards spill from his sleeve before scattering onto the ground.

MIN CONT'D: Or are you refusing because you know you wouldn't win the bet?

Man 1 freezes and he quickly snatches his arm back. He quickly snatches his earnings before bolting out of the establishment. The pub goes silent for a second as everyone looks towards the direction the man ran in. After a pause Jordania laughs and Min threw their cards onto the table.

MIN CONT'D: Guess we're restarting. Let's go boys, cards in the middle. Chop-chop. (Glances to Jordania)

JORDANIA: That poor guy was trying too hard to get a win. You really humiliated him there.

MIN: He knew the risks of getting caught. He should have thought things through.

JORDANIA: I thought he was going to fist fight you for a sec too. You got lucky.

MIN: I guess. (Pause) You got a good eye there.

JORDANIA: If I didn't, I wouldn't have found out it was you who made the book.

MIN: You mean the journal of doubt.

JORDANIA (teases): Oh, are you just going to steal the name I created?

MIN: I thought I made it clear...partner.

JORDANIA (finishes her drink): Well, partner, I got a few ideas...

CUT TO BLACK: