The Unnamed Saga: The Four Thrones Script, Chapter Seven: "In Pursuit of Prey"

Chapter Seven: In Pursuit of Prey 

Open on the forest at midday.  The sky is grey and white, and snow has dusted the ground.  A few leaves cling to the spindly winter trees.  A shadow moves among the trees.

Show the old camp site.  A blackened ring of stones mark where a fire once rested.  Grass is flattened in a ring around it where bedrolls were kept.  Footprints lead away from the camp.

Show the forest again, from the view of the camp, and Kratos entering the clearing.  He wears a heavy cloak with fur across its shoulders.  He has a quiver about his shoulders and frost in his beard.  Puffs of steam mark his breath before him. 

Show Kratos walk the camp from above.

Kratos kneels beside a long dead fire pit.

Kratos examines the flattened grass.

Kratos follows the footprints away from the camp.

Show a narrow passage through the woods where a twig is broken and the shrubs are damaged.

Kratos looks up.

Show a faint pink hue on the horizon, above the barren canopy of trees.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Emeraldine from above.  At the outskirts there are fractured remains of buildings.  Further in is an expanse of sand.  At the far left side of the map, moving among the littered labyrinthine ruins is the party.

Show the party, Glenn at the fore, helping Zelos along, Mary at the rear.  Elsea and Zara walk close together at the center, keeping close to Zelos.  Mary appears somber and withdrawn, walking with her arms about her waist.  Zelos holds his left eye, golden light shining through his fingers.

They pass a few broken buildings built in tiers.

They stop, Glenn setting Zelos to rest against a broken wall.  Zara stops at Elsea’s side, frowning.  Zelos pants.

 

Zara: “Again?”

 

Glenn: “He’s tired.”

 

Zelos: “I’m fine.”

 

Glenn: “No arguing.  You need rest.”

 

Zara sighs.

Zara: “At this rate we’ll never make it home.”

 

Elsea: “Princess, please try to be patient with him.”

 

Zara: “Yes, yes, we must consider his illness and all.  Tell me, Zelos, what exactly is wrong with you, anyway?”

 

Zelos: “Nothing.  I don’t know.  My head just hurts.”

Zelos looks tiredly up at her, wincing, as golden flames peek between his eyelids.

Zelos: “Trust me, I want to get out of here just as much as you do.”

 

Zara: “Mary, do you have any suggestions, then?  You’re remaining suspiciously quiet.”

 

Mary and Glenn exchange glances with the party between them.

Mary forces a smile.

Mary: “Were I to hazard a guess…Pumpkin, if you would be so kind as to allow me to gaze upon that eye of yours.”

Mary kneels at Zelos’ side and tilts back his head.

Zelos moves his hand and lets Mary stare into his eye.

Show Zelos’ eye from above, the iris gold in color.  There are small red scars etched into his pupil.  They have spread into his iris and fade into the gold.

Mary: “Quite curious.”

 

Glenn: “What?”

 

Mary stands while Zelos returns to holding his eye.

Mary: “He is absorbing magic from the atmosphere around us.”

Mary stares down at Zelos, who looks back up at her.

Mary: “Whatever in the world did you find on your adventures?”

 

Zelos: “What do you mean?”

 

Mary: “I mean that you have something inside of you, something that ought not be there, and surely I am not the only one who might see it.  Good Lady, would you be so kind as to give your opinion on the situation?”

 

Elsea: “Well, I had noticed something strange about it.”

 

Zara: “And you didn’t think to say so?”

 

Elsea: “It didn’t seem prudent when considering our circumstances.”

 

Glenn crosses his arms.

Glenn: “At the ruins, when you passed out.”

 

Zelos: “Yeah, probably.”

 

Mary: “Oh, ruins, you say? Sounds quite the lovely story.  Do tell.”

 

Glenn and Zelos trade glances.

Glenn: “Well, on the night of the gala, Zelos decided to go exploring in the ruins of old Red Wall.  We got separated, and I heard him scream.  When I found him, he was unconscious.  I carried him back just in time to hear about the king, and you know the rest.”

 

Mary: “I see.  So, while you were about exploring ancient ruins where ancient magics lie, you stumbled upon an old magic—older perhaps even than me—and took it with you.  Or, mayhap, it took you with it.”

 

Zelos: “What is it?”

 

Mary: “Difficult to say, though I carry some suspicions.  All we can say for certainty is that it is old and powerful and quite hungry, and from what I can tell it feeds on magic.  Sir Knight, the prince will remain ill until we take leave from this dreadful place.”

 

Glenn: “Understood.”

Glenn helps Zelos to stand.

Glenn: “We move.”

 

Elsea: “See, princess, we will return in shorter time than you thought.”

 

Zara stands and dusts her cloak in a huff.

Zara: “And just when I was coming to appreciate our rest.”

 

Cut to black.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Open on Zelos lying in darkness, his eyes closed.

Zelos opens his eyes and both are normal.

Zelos stands.  Everything around him is darkness, save for a small point of golden light before him.

Zelos approaches the light, wincing as he gets closer.

Zelos touches the light.

Golden light swallows the screen.

The light fades to reveal Zelos standing in the ruins of Red Wall.  The ruins are elaborately lit and richly colored.  Piles of gold shimmer.  Water shifts and gleams around Zelos.  The room is painted in warm shades of red, orange, and yellow.  High above the sun shines brightly, casting magical light that adds life to everything.  Across the hall is an enormous hearth crackling with flame.

Mary steps out of the flame.  She wears an elaborate gown of yellow, orange, and red.  Her dark hair is piled on her head, held in place by golden pins.  Her lips are painted in gold as well, and she smiles at Zelos.

 

Zelos: “Mary?”

 

Mary: “No.”

 

Zelos: “These ruins…Wait, I was in Emeraldine.”

 

Mary: “A ruin itself.”

 

Zelos: “…I’m dreaming, aren’t I?”

 

Mary: “Not quite.”

 

Zelos: “You’re not Mary, are you? You’re…”

 

Mary: “Yes.”

 

Zelos: “What are you?”

 

Mary: "Beyond the scope of your tiny, mortal mind.  Suffice to say: I am infinite while you are finite."

 

Zelos: "So, you're what, immortal?"

 

Mary: "Perpetual, self-sustaining, the flame that always burns, the light that never fades.  When the warmth leaves your frail, human flesh I will continue."

 

Zelos: "So, yeah, immortal...So, what am I doing here?"

 

Mary: "Resisting."

 

Zelos: "Resisting what?  Resisting you?"

 

Mary: "Yes and no.  You are resisting your fate, and I grow wary of it."

 

Zelos: "My fate?  What are you talking about?"

 

Mary: "Despite your brevity you are integral—a key point in a plan spanning the entirety of time.  Without you I am as nothing, stars burning brightly as they can but appearing only as tiny points in the blanket of the night, but with you..."

Mary steps forward.  Flames erupt from her hands and her mouth and her eyes.

Mary: "Submit!"

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party walking the roads.  Glenn takes point with Zelos at his back.  Mary walks the middle, keeping close to Zelos and watching him.  Elsea is next, with Zara dragging her feet at the rear.

Pull back to show the ruins of Emeraldine.  The buildings are larger here, suffering less damage from the attack.  They rise from the landscape vertically and are build into the rounded hillside.

Show the city before the group.  In a distant tower there is a gleam.

Glenn stops and peers into the wastes, shielding her eyes with his hands.

Glenn goes wide-eyed.

Glenn drops, pulling Zelos with him.  An arrow zips by where he once stood.

The arrow hits a nearby wall with enough force to wedge itself into the stone.

 

Glenn: "Everyone, down!"

 

Mary steps forward and writes runes into the sky.

Mary conjures a magical shield just in time to catch another arrow.

 

Mary: "Good eye, Sir Knight."

 

Glenn kneels beside Zelos.

 

Glenn: "Zelos, are you okay?"

 

Zelos: "I think you busted my shoulder.  Better than a busted skull, though..."

 

Glenn looks back.

Glenn: "Elsea! Zara!"

Elsea and Zara rush over.

Glenn stands.

Glenn hands off a dagger to Zara.

Glenn: "Protect him."

 

Zara looks at the dagger.

Zara: "Protect what?  Where will you be?"

 

Glenn draws his sword.

Glenn: "Protecting you."

 

Zara: "Oh.  Right.  Good then."

 

Mary holds her shield before her.  Another arrow hits, shaving off a section of the first arrow and imbedding itself into the shield.

There is a pause.

Glenn peers out past the shield, his sword drawn.  Birds can be heard singing.

 

Mary: "Do you hear that?"

 

Glenn: "There are no birds here.  It's a signal."

 

Mary: "Exactly."

 

Glenn paces behind the shield.

Show Zelos on the ground, Zara and Elsea around him.

Show a knife come spiraling out from a nearby window.

Glenn deflects the knife with his blade.

Burgess leaps from the second story of the building.

Burgess rolls to a halt.

 

Burgess: "The former guard captain, yes?"

 

Glenn: "You’re well-informed.  Walk away.”

 

Burgess wags his right index finger at Glenn.

 

Burgess: "Tsk. Tsk.  Not an option, friend.  We've a reputation, my wife and me."

 

Glenn: "Zelos would offer you one more chance, so I will, too.  Turn around.  Don’t look back.”

 

Burgess: "Thanks kindly, mighty fine of you, but I must refuse.  Don't worry, though, I'll tell the prince how considerate you were after I've killed you."

 

Burgess produces two knives from his jacket and spins them in his hands.

Burgess throws a knife.

Glenn dodges and charges.

Glenn swings horizontally at Burgess, who ducks under the attack.

Burgess lunges upward, his blade meant for Glenn’s throat.

Glenn gets a shallow gash across his chest.

Burgess stays close and swipes.  Glenn deflects.

Burgess produces another knife and strikes, sinking the blade into Glenn’s left arm.

Glenn sets his feet and shoulders Burgess.

Burgess staggers back into a wall.

 

Cut to Mary, a fourth arrow forced into her shield and cracking it.

Mary scowls.

Mary: “Oh, enough of this already!”

Mary flicks her wrists, the runes on her arm flashing red.

A distant building explodes in a burst of red light.  Rubble rains down on the surrounding.

Mary drops her shield and waves her hand.

A flash of red light throws Burgess into the tiered ruins below.

Mary sashays over to Glenn while he pulls the dagger from his arm.

 

Mary: "Sorry to have interrupted your game, but we've an ailing prince to attend to."

 

Glenn holds his arm.

 

Glenn: "Right.  Keep watch while I recover.  The short one won't be back soon, but I doubt the sharpshooter is finished.

 

Mary: "A single explosion wasn't enough, you think?  Mayhap I should finish what was started to make you sleep better."

 

Glenn glares.

Glenn: "Just keep an eye out."

 

Mary walks away.

Mary: "I'll keep two for your sake."

 

Glenn: "Elsea, could you—"

 

Elsea: "Of course!  Princess, I'll be right back."

 

Zara is still holding the knife and is shaking.

 

Zara: "Y-Yes, leave Zelos unattended and in my care.  Certainly, I am the one most suited to protect him."

 

Mary: "You're doing fine.  Just mind which end you stab with."

 

Elsea goes to Glenn and writes blue runes upon his arm.

The skin weaves together.

Glenn winces and sighs.

Glenn: "Thanks."

 

Elsea blushes and looks away.

Elsea: "It is nothing."

 

Glenn: "No, seriously, thank you.”

 

Elsea: "Yes, w-well, it's all better, so we should be off, shouldn't we?"

 

Mary: "That we should.  Even were the sharpshooter shooter alive, we have greater things to consider."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the smoking ruins of a tower, flames lingering in the broken crown.

Go to the base of the tower where Crane kneels, her bow undamaged with her arrows scattered around her.  Her left leg is bleeding, and she has light burns across her shoulders and back.

Crane jams an arrow into her quiver.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the party, Glenn and Mary leading, Elsea in the rear.  Both Mary and Elsea have shields conjured, Mary’s shield being a deep red, Elsea’s being sky blue.  Glenn walks with his sword ready.  Zara walks with Zelos hanging from her shoulder, dragging him alongside her.

 

Zara: "Don't you get too comfortable."

 

Zelos: "Comfortable with what?  I've seen walls with more shape to them."

 

Zara: "Someone remind me why I shouldn't just drop him already.”

 

Show Glenn and Mary from the front, Glenn just behind Mary.  Show Zara and Zelos behind them, bickering.

 

Mary: "Bounties on our heads.  Metis has always been thorough.  Still, only two hunters thus far?  I consider us quite lucky."

 

Glenn: "We're not lucky until we make it to Silverthrone."

 

Mary: "Ever the optimist, aren't we?"

 

Glenn: "I'm whatever keeps us alive."

Glenn looks around.

Glenn: "Stop!"

 

The party halts and falls silent.  Birds can be heard in the background.

 

Glenn: "Same old tricks."

 

Mary: "Do you think we're in for a repeat performance?"

 

Glenn looks around.

Glenn: "No, they'll find a weak spot and exploit it.  Stay tight and keep moving."

 

The party closes rank around Zelos.  Their shield tightens, a fine line being made between Mary and Elsea’s domed shields.

 

Zara: "All of this trouble because of you."

 

Zelos: "The bounty hunters are after you, actually."

 

Zara: "They are? That's not what I am talking about, anyway.  I meant that we could properly run if it weren't for you."

 

Glenn: "Both of you.  Quiet!"

 

Zara: "How dare..."

 

Elsea: "With all due respect, princess, silence would be best for the time being.”

 

Zara huffs while Zelos snickers.

Zara whispers

Zara: "Laugh now, but when you can walk again, I am going to kick you as hard as I can."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Crane running the city streets.

Crane leaps from a fractured wall and into broken building.

Crane winces as she comes to a stop by an open window frame.

Crane nocks an arrow.

Show the view down the arrow’s shaft.  The party is moving in the distance.

The arrow moves toward Elsea at the right.

Crane: "There."

The arrow moves toward Mary at the left.

Crane: "There."

The arrow settles at the center, where the two domes meet.

Crane: "There."

They arrow launches.

Follow the arrow through the air.

The arrow passes harmlessly between the seam that joins the two shells.

The arrow sinks into Elsea’s right thigh.

Elsea collapses, holding her leg and screaming.

 

Zara: "Elsea!"

 

Glenn: "Stay!”

 

Zara stops with Zelos at her side while Glenn rushes by.

Mary blocks another arrow with a flat wall of magic.

Mary: "This again?"

Mary flicks her wrist.

Show a flash of red within the ruins accompanied by smoke.

Mary waits.

Another arrow shatters ineffectually against her shield.

Mary: "Sir Knight, I tire of this."

 

Glenn drags Elsea to Mary’s side.

Glenn kneels beside Elsea.

Glenn: "You okay?"

 

Elsea: "I can’t get the arrow out.”

 

Glenn: "I know."

Glenn grabs the arrow.

Glenn: "Deep breath and try not to pass out.  You're the only healing we've got."

 

Elsea nods and braces herself

Glenn draws the arrow from the leg.  Blood gushes from the wound.

Elsea seizes her leg, her hands glowing sky blue when she does.

 

Glenn: "Will you be okay?"

 

Mary: "Hello?  As much as I would like to, I cannot watch us from all sides."

 

Glenn: "Hold on!  Elsea?”

 

Elsea: "I will be fine, just give me a moment."

 

Glenn: "Right."

Glenn stands and readies his sword.

Glenn: "At your back!"

 

Mary: "Finally.  This archer has become most persistent."

 

Glenn: "But she's alone, and there's only so many places for her to hide."

 

Mary smiles vicious.

Mary: "My thought exactly!"

Using magic, Mary draws a series of glowing red runes in the air.

Multiple explosions rattle the ruins.

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Zara and Zelos, Zelos leaning into Zara for support, Zara nearly in tears.

Zelos nods toward Elsea.

Zara nods urgently.

Together, they shuffle to Elsea’s side.

They kneel beside Elsea and Zara falls into her, hugging her.

 

Zara: "Elsea!"

 

Elsea: "I am fine, m'lady."

 

Zara: "I was so worried, I had thought..."

 

Elsea: "I know, I know, and I appreciate it, but m'lady..."

 

Zara sits up, still holding Elsea by the shoulders, tears in her eyes.

 

Zara: "Yes?"

 

Elsea: "I need to heal this wound before I pass out.

 

Zara looks down at Elsea's open wound.

 

Zara: "Yes, you do. I suppose I'll go...and look after Zelos."

 

Elsea: "Good idea."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to Glenn and Mary standing at each other’s backs.  Mary’s shield remains.  Glenn has his sword drawn.

 

Glenn: "Anything?"

 

Mary: "Not yet."

An arrow hits her shield.

Mary: "Really now!"

 

Glenn peers over his shoulder as a hand reaches toward him from the side of the screen.

Burgess pulls Glenn into the ruins of a nearby building.

Glenn staggers onto a set of rotting floorboards that creek under his weight.

Glenn and Burgess make eye contact, Burgess with his back pinned to the side of the wall, blood running from his forehead, right ear, and nose.

 

Burgess: "Problem with turtling is it keeps you all together, makes you one big target."

Burgess produces a knife from his sleeve while Glenn lunges at him.

Burgess leaps from the wall, kicking Glenn with both feet in the chest.

Glenn lands on his back, the boards folding under his weight.

Burgess leaps from the boards as they collapse beneath them.

Burgess holds the doorframe for support, one foot hanging over the opening left by the collapsed floorboards.

Burgess looks down and smiles.

Burgess: "One down."

 

Show Mary from behind, her left arm gleaming with magic and sustaining a shield, her right arm gleaming with runes as an explosion destroys another fractured building.

Mary waits with her shield up.

Another arrow shatters across her shield.

Mary: "This pest won't die.  Sir Knight, have you any suggestions?"

Mary: "Sir Knight?"

Mary: "Glenn?"

 

Burgess: Old boy is a bit busy, miss."

Show Mary from the front as Burgess appears behind her, sinking a dagger into her side.

Mary sinks to her knees, dropping her shield, her runes going inert.

Burgess brandishes another dagger as he leaves.

Show Burgess from behind as he stalks toward the prince, princess, and Elsea.

Burgess cups his free hand to his lips and makes another bird call.

Burgess: "How sweet, finally found the nest.  Thing is, you two birds are nothing to us.  We'll let you leave so long as you leave us the prince and princess."

 

Elsea staggers to her feet.

 

Burgess: "My wife is the sharpshooter who got you earlier, and she is watching.  She's a long bow and a keen eye on you folk.  Whatever you do to me will be met with lethal retribution."

 

Elsea: "I'd die for my princess."

 

Burgess: "I don't doubt that, but after you die, how do you plan to go about saving her?"

 

Elsea hesitates, a single hand up, her hand glowing faintly with sky blue magic, her thigh still bleeding.

Elsea concedes, slouching, the magic fading from her fingers.

 

Burgess: "Good lass.  Now keep yourself all subdued like and we'll have no problems."

 

-The Four Thrones-

 

Cut to the building’s interior, Glenn’s hand finding the door.  Through the doorway, show Burgess approaching Zara and Zelos, Elsea standing just before them.

Show the doorway from the other side, with Burgess and the remaining party in the fore and Glenn climbing into the doorway in the distance.

Elsea and Glenn make eye contact.

 

Elsea: "Mary!"

 

Burgess: "Dammit!"

 

Burgess turns with his knife up while Glenn kicks him from the side.

Burgess rolls to a stop with sky blue magic surrounding his form.

Burgess flies into a nearby wall while Elsea uses her hand to guide the spell.

An arrow shatters on a hazy red disc of magic.

Mary curses, an arm extended, body gleaming with magic.  The surrounding cityscape is consumed by crimson flames.

Glenn staggers to Zara and Zelos’ sides.

 

Glenn: "How are you two?"

 

Zelos: "Alive."

 

Glenn looks at Zara.

 

Zara: "More or less what he said."

 

Glenn pats Zara on the head.

Glenn: "You did well."

 

Zara: "Thanks, I suppose."

 

Glenn goes to Mary.  Elsea is already there healing her.

 

Glenn: "What, you can't heal yourself?"

 

Mary: "Not nearly as well as the lovely maiden can.  Her hands seem to know me all too well."

 

Elsea blushes.

 

Glenn: "Well, try to hurry if you can.  We need to be up and moving before they are."

 

Mary: "You hardly need to tell us, Sir Knight.  I feel we can all agree on one thing: the sooner we leave this place, the better."

 

Glenn looks back at the ruins of the city.

 

Glenn: "Agreed."

Chapter End.