ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay (3 page)

WHITE BEARD : Return home if you wish

little one, but his Eyes will find you.

Naiyoo stares at him, terrified.

WHITE BEARD (CONT'D): But if you wish

to keep your life.

He slowly points aside.

WHITE BEARD (CONT'D): Run. And do

not look back.

Naiyoo looks in the direction he points then looks back at him.

He's gone.

She shivers from the cold.

Alone in the woods.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN.

EXT. CORN FIELD - DAY

The sun shines bright.

Field hands, young and old, work the land.

ELLIOTT, late 30s, handsome, splashes some water over his face and shares his flask with the men.

ELLIOTT: Finish up here and you boys can

take the rest of the day off.

Behind him we see a barn, stable and farmhouse.

ELLORA, NORTHERN REALM

THREE MONTHS LATER

EXT. FARM HOUSE

A swing hangs from a tree.

ALANA, mid 30s, beautiful, finishes loading a cart with baskets of vegetables.

She looks down the road and smiles.

ALANA: Hello Sophie.

INT. BARN

KYLAN, a slender dark haired boy of 11, snaps up, his arms and hands filthy.

KYLAN: Sophie?

EXT. FARM HOUSE

SOPHIE, 11, smiles as she approaches.

SOPHIE: Good day.

INT. BARN

Kylan dunks in hands in water, quickly trying to clean himself.

EXT. FARM HOUSE

Alana finishes with the cart.

ALANA: How's your mother?

SOPHIE: She's well. Busy preparing for the festival.

ALANA: (smiles) I think we all are.

INT. BARN

Kylan dries his wet hands on his top but only manages to make things worse.

KYLAN: Damn it.

EXT. FARM HOUSE

Alana sees a scroll in Sophie's hand.

ALANA: I'm glad to see you're still reading.

SOPHIE: You should thank Kai, he's lucky

to have a mother that taught him so well.

ALANA: I only taught him to write, the

"well" part is his own doing.

SOPHIE: He is a truly gifted poet, worthy of

the Royal Court. If you ever return to the

Capitol you must take his work.

ALANA: That's very kind of you but I left

the Capitol a long time ago. And I don't

ever recall being in the company of Royalty.

The barn doors burst open, Kylan almost tripping on himself.

KYLAN: I'm here!

He races over, still wiping his hands on himself.

KYLAN (CONT'D): I was just, clearing up.

Alana smiles, stepping aside for the two.

ALANA: (to Sophie) Send my love to your

mother.

SOPHIE: I shall.

Kylan turns to Sophie, shy and awkward.

KYLAN: (beat) You look... well today.

SOPHIE: (teasing) As do you.

Kylan hides his hands behind his back.

KYLAN: Sorry.

She hands him the scroll.

SOPHIE: I just came to return Ellora's

greatest wordsmith his latest masterpiece.

KYLAN: (surprised) You read it already?

SOPHIE: I did and I adored it, as did mother.

KYLAN: I'm working on a new piece, it'll

be ready by the Festival.

Sophie smiles, drawing back.

SOPHIE: I can't wait.

Kylan watches her leave.

KYLAN: Sophie.

Sophie stops and looks back.

Kylan slowly approaches.

KYLAN (CONT'D): I thought, perhaps, we

could go for a ride. By the river.

Sophie smiles, again teasing.

SOPHIE: Just the two of us? Would that be

"proper"?

KYLAN: Tuck and Ren can join us, I mean

if you don't think we should be...

Sophie kisses his cheek.

SOPHIE: That was for the poem.

She kisses her finger and touches his lips.

SOPHIE (CONT'D): One day that will be

from me.

She smiles again and leaves.

Kylan watches her go, unable to hide his own smile.

CUT TO.

EXT. ELLORAN RIVER - SUNSET

TUCK and RENCE, 11 and 12, stand fishing.

RENCE: What's the problem? The Festival's

still days away.

Kylan is sat on a nearby rock, lost in his thoughts.

KYLAN: I spent a month on that last poem.

It's not that easy.

TUCK: Just change the words give it to her

again. Sophie's not that smart, I mean she

likes you.

KYLAN: Funny.

Kylan draws back, focused.

KYLAN (CONT'D): This has to be special,

something REALLY special. The best thing

I've ever written.

RENCE: Just write about her. Talk about how

beautiful you think she is.

KYLAN: I can't do that.

RENCE: Then write about another girl.

KYLAN: Why would I write about another

girl?

RENCE: If she thinks you may have feelings

for someone else she might stop playing you

for a fool.

KYLAN: She's playing me for a fool. She's

just being... proper.

RENCE: (laughs) Look, we all want the same

thing. We all what can't have, or think we

can't have. If she thinks your heart is about to

belong to someone else she's all yours. I

guarantee it.

He pulls on his stick.

RENCE (CONT'D): Oh got a bite!

Kylan pauses, considering.

CUT TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

Lantern light flickers in the windows.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE

Elliott enters, exhausted. Alana kisses his cheek and wipes some dirt from his brow.

ALANA: Everyone gone?

Elliott nods, taking a seat by the table

ELLIOTT: Where's Kylan?

Alana serves him dinner.

ALANA: Where do you think?

ELLIOTT: Again? What's he writing now?

Alana smiles, pouring him a glass of water.

ALANA: I'm not sure. But he asked me for a

name. A girl's name.

ELLIOTT: Is that so. What did you suggest?

Alana smiles to herself.

ALANA: Just a little something I've always

liked.

EXT. ROOF - FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

Kylan sits against the chimney, a small lantern beside him.

He chews on his pencil, notepad in front of him.

He smiles and begins writing.

CUT TO.

INT. GROUND FLOOR - FARM HOUSE - LATE NIGHT

The stairs creak.

Kylan yawns, climbing down with the lantern.

He's about to turn into the kitchen when he hears a "scuttle" and stops.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE

He holds up the lantern and slowly looks in.

No one is there.

He creeps forward, slowly looking around.

Nothing appears to be out of place.

He holds a moment then turns and leaves.

Across the kitchen the back door sways open.

An empty jar and biscuit crumbs lying on the floor.

CUT TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - MORNING

Chimney, the sun rises.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE

Kylan enters, scratching his morning hair.

Elliott sits by the table, Alana pouring his tea.

KYLAN: Morning.

He sits down and reaches for the biscuit jar.

Elliott sits back and crosses his arms.

ELLIOTT: (beat) Anything to say for

yourself?

Kylan looks across at him, not following.

Alana touches his shoulder.

ALANA: Let it be.

KYLAN: Let what be?

Kylan opens the jar and sees that it's empty.

ALANA: If you were hungry last night you

should have told me.

Kylan looks across at them.

KYLAN: Wait a minute, I didn't take these.

ELLIOTT: Then who did?

KYLAN: I don't know but it wasn't me.

Elliott sighs and sips his tea.

KYLAN (CONT'D): I DIDN'T take them.

Alana touches his shoulder, assuring.