EXT. ZEPPELIN BRIDGE. NIGHT A silhouette slips into the night. She crosses the wide bridge, her braid and her bag flying behind her. A sudden crackling sound is heard. She turns her head and keeps moving forward. Looking to the other side of the zeppelin, the silhouette stumbles and catches her feet in a trunk stowed on the floor. She falls to her knees, catching up on her hands. A metallic ringing sound echoes when her bag touches the ground. ADELAIDE (murmuring) Damn it! Who puts trunks in the middle of the damn bridge?! A light illuminates her silhouette. A leather jacket is closed up to her neck to protect her from the cold. Quickly, the girl checks the glass of her telescope. At the helm, two people are shaking. As Adelaide tightens the laces of her boots, she stiffens. VOICE 1 (OFF) (shouting) Hey, didn't you hear something on the bridge? VOICE 2 (OFF) (shouting) Nothin'. Must be the ropes. VOICE 1 (OFF) Should we go check it out, do you think? Adelaide's eyes are wide open. VOICE 1 (OFF) (pressing on the words) Absolutely not. We have to take the helm, it's just the two of us. Last time you left me alone, I got beaten up by the captain. The voices get lost in the wind. Adelaide catches her breath. She gets back on her feet, wincing. ADELAIDE (whispering between her teeth) It's too cold for this crap. She resumes her course towards the front of the ship, her boots emitting a thumping noise with each step. When she reaches the bow, she leans on the rail and catches her breath. After a few seconds, she lifts her head towards the stars; vividly, she turns her face all around, looking up at the sky. She leans over the metal bars. Leaning on her arms, on her toes, her body is dangerously inclined towards the void. Suddenly inhaling, she straightens up and moves away from the edge. She opens her bag and takes out a thick rope. The girl wraps it around her waist and passes the other end around the rail. She makes a few expert knots, pulls on the ends to check their strength. ADELAIDE (between her teeth) We'll avoid doing the same mistake as last time... She sits on the floor, crossing her legs. She takes out of her bag a leather-bound notebook and a pen stuck behind her ear. Grabbing her long blond braid, she arranges it into a bun with a ribbon. Adelaide unties the telescope hanging from her belt and unfolds it. Lifting her head up, she glues the brass instrument to her right eye and closes the left one. She watches the sky carefully and slowly adjusts her position. After a few seconds, she lowers the device and places it between her bent legs. Grabbing her pencil, she scribbles a few notes on a page of the notebook. She pauses and quickly turns a few sheets, reads the calculations carefully, before going back to writing measurements. She jams the pencil between the pages before putting the notebook on the ground. Adelaide stretches her hands toward the sky, but quickly folds them back to catch the telescope which is already slipping. She folds it up before hanging it on her belt. With one hand, she grabs a metal bar and slowly slides her legs between the spaces of the rail. She has her feet in the void. ADELAIDE (smiling) Aren't we comfortable here? She looks at the starry vault. ADELAIDE The Lyra, The Dragon... A shape is approaching, casting a shadow behind the young Astromancian. VOICE(OFF) And may I ask what you're doing on the bridge at this hour, Adelaide? Adelaide jumps. She turns to the silhouette, it's the Astromancian, his long blue coat on his shoulders. ASTROMANCIAN You wouldn't have any late math homeworks, would you? She turns back against the iron bars while rolling her eyes. ADELAIDE (wincing) I finished the arithmetic calculations a long time ago. It wasn't very complicated... ASTROMANCIAN (he raises an eyebrow, his tone is harsher) Don't get smart with me. Your scientific skills don't justify everything, let alone your behavior. Adelaide shrugs her shoulders, looking down. ASTROMANCIAN (exasperated) I repeat my question, what are you doing here at this hour? Slowly passing her legs back to the deck, she quickly stuffs her things in her bag and gets up. ADELAIDE (sulking) I just wanted to observe the star cluster... ASTROMANCIAN (he sighs) And you couldn't wait for the next night school, could you? The girl turns her head away with her arms crossed. ADELAIDE Tonight is the best night to observe it. I wanted to see it with my own eyes- ASTROMANCIAN (interrupting her) In defiance of all rules, of course! Don't you know, Adelaide, how dangerous it can be to go out at night without warning anyone? She pushes her hands into the pockets of her khaki pants, avoiding the eyes of the Astromancian. ADELAIDE (lower) I know what I'm doing. ASTROMANCIAN (raising his eyebrows, with a caustic tone) Right ! You let your ideas get to your head, young lady! You don't take into account the risks of your reckless behavior. She opens her eyes wide. ADELAIDE (upset) But I'm careful! I'm tied to the rail, I'm just looking at the stars through my telescope! ASTROMANCIAN (sarcastic) Hooked up? With your feet in the air? Do I need to remind you that you managed to break your arm falling off the forecastle because you don't know how to look ahead of you? Adelaide grinds her teeth, she opens her mouth to retaliate but the Astromancian raises one hand. ASTROMANCIAN No ! Don't answer that ! (sighs) I understand your curiosity, we all want to resolve the secret of the stars. But you shouldn't take so many risks. You must be attentive, vigilant to what surrounds you. (he pauses) You're smart Adelaide. Prove it by respecting at least the safety measures. Still frowning, Adélaïde kicks the air. ADELAIDE I know... I've been working on the forecast calculations all day. (she pouts) I just wanted to see the stars. With a resigned face, she begins to untie the knot around her waist while the Astromancian takes care of the second knot. ASTROMANCIAN (smiling) Work on your knots, you make yours too fast, they're not strong enough. He hands her the rope. Adelaide grabs it and puts back it in her bag. ASTROMANCIAN (explaining) Take your time when you do something so important, it could save your life later. Adelaide nods, avoiding crossing the astromancian's gaze. ASTROMANCIAN (smiling) I know very well that you'll do it again, so at least, be more discreet and more careful. ADELAIDE (grumbling) I'll try. ASTROMANCIAN (sighing) Go on, get out of here ! The girl ran away in the night, holding her bag to her side.