ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay (6 page)

RENCE: Nothing Sir.

TUCK: Nothing at all.

Elliott looks down at them a long moment then rejoins his friends.

Kylan shakes his head, humiliated.

He sees Sophie's friends also laughing. Sophie covering her mouth, stunned.

KYLAN: I'm out of here.

He turns and leaves.

RENCE: Kai where you going?!

CUT TO.

INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE - LATE NIGHT

Alana sits up, hearing Elliott stumble in.

ALANA: I see you enjoyed yourself.

ELLIOTT: Didn't drink half as much I

expected. Must be getting old.

He sets down his lantern and tries to remove his boots.

ALANA: Here. Let me.

She sits him down and kneels in front of him.

ALANA (CONT'D): (beat) Kylan came back

early. Didn't want to talk much.

Elliott reaches aside and dims the lantern.

ELLIOTT: He'll be fine. They'll all forget in

a few days and move on to something else.

Alana nods, removing Elliott's trousers.

ALANA: I just feel bad. I should have

considered his feelings more.

Elliott lifts her face.

ELLIOTT: Don't feel bad. It was the right

choice.

He pulls her up and sits her on his lap.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): You always make the

right choice.

He kisses her neck.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): With one exception of

course.

ALANA: How much has my husband had to

drink tonight?

ELLIOTT: Not enough to stop him from

pleasing his wife.

He slowly kisses her.

Alana smiles and reaches back, unfastening her night gown.

Naiyoo peeks in from the corner of the doorway.

Elliott gently pulls down her top and kisses her breast.

Alana strokes back his hair, still smiling.

Naiyoo watches as the two move onto the bed, Alana exhaling with pleasure as the two make love...

DISSOLVE TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - DAY

The sun shines bright.

Kylan sits on the swing with his notepad.

He looks up and sees his mother loading the cart. Naiyoo helping in a new dress.

Alana ruffles her hair and smiles. Naiyoo smiling back.

CUT TO.

INT. BARN - DAY

Kylan helps his father in the hay loft. A flask of water is offered. Elliott looks back and sees Naiyoo. He nods a thank you and takes the flask.

Kylan looks away.

CUT TO.

EXT. FIELD - FARM HOUSE - DAY

Kylan's horse, Kanthaka, trots to the stable, Kylan riding.

He sees Naiyoo gathering apples by a tree.

She struggles to lift her heavy basket and looks around for help.

Kylan turns away and rides on.

CUT TO.

INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT

A finger moves across words on a page. Naiyoo looks from the words to Alana's lips, focused.

EXT. ROOF - FARM HOUSE

Kylan by the chimney, writing.

He crunches up the paper and throws is aside, starting over.

DISSOLVE TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - EARLY MORNING

The sun rises.

INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE

Alana uses a clip on Naiyoo's hair.

ALANA: Today's the big day.

Naiyoo reaches up and removes the clip, adjusting her hair to cover the left side of her face.

Alana nods, understanding.

ALANA (CONT'D): No problem.

Naiyoo's eyes drift to the side, uncomfortable.

Alana turns her face towards her.

ALANA (CONT'D): It'll be OK. Ellora is

your home. We've waited long enough.

Naiyoo nods, reluctant.

Alana strokes her tattoos.

ALANA (CONT'D): And you're beautiful

regardless.

She kisses her forehead.

EXT. STABLE

Naiyoo follows Alana to the stable.

She notices her hand stroking her belly.

INT. STABLE

Alana opens the stable doors and looks in.

ALANA: Kylan?

She looks around.

No one is there. Kanthaka also gone.

EXT. STABLE

Elliott finishes loading the cart.

ALANA: Has Kylan left already?

ELLIOTT: I think so.

ALANA: (to Naiyoo) I guess it's just the two

of us.

She takes her hand and leads her to the cart.

Naiyoo still nervous.

CUT TO.

EXT. MARKET - ELLORAN TOWN CENTRE - MORNING

Crowds of people come and go. Fruit, veg and meats stalls all around us.

Alana pulls up the cart and helps Naiyoo down.

Naiyoo looks around. Curious eyes already drawn to her.

She moves closer to Alana and takes her hand.

Alana kneels down and holds her shoulders.

ALANA: It's all right. You're just new to

them.

She stands and takes down of the baskets.

ALANA (CONT'D): Wait here.

Naiyoo misses what she said and watches her disappear into the crowd.

She steps back and looks across the street.

An old woman squints her eyes, staring her. She whispers to her friend and points at the pale haired child.

Naiyoo backs away, frightened.

She hesitates then hurries after Alana.

More eyes follow her.

Naiyoo is overwhelmed, constantly bumping into people.

She finally sees a side alley and slips in, backing away from the main square.

INT. WORK SHOP - BLACKSMITH'S

A horse shoe is pounded over hot coals.

Through an opening we see Kylan standing with Kanthaka outside.

EXT. WORK SHOP

Kylan turns his head, hearing children laugh.

EXT. QUIET STREET - TOWN CENTRE

A crowd of children surround Naiyoo.

She tries to pull away but is trapped.

The children tighten in, two of the girls lifting her hair, fascinated.

LOCAL GIRL: It's almost white! It's like

she's sick.

Sophie and her friend, SEBILLE, see the commotion.

SEBILLE: I don't believe it, it's the Nomad

from the Orin farm!

She grabs Sophie's arm, excited.

SEBILLE (CONT'D): Come on, I wanna see!

One the boys leans forward, staring at Naiyoo's tattoos.

LOCAL GIRL #2: What do they mean?

Naiyoo struggles to read their lips, all talking at once. Fingers poking at the left side of her face.

LOCAL BOY: Watch it, she might bite,

Nomads eat people you know.

LOCAL GIRL: No they don't!

SEBILLE: Look at her face!

Sophie glances at Sebille, uncomfortable.

LOCAL BOY #2: (to Naiyoo) Say something.

LOCAL BOY: Yeah, say something.

SEBILLE: She can't talk you little worms.

LOCAL BOY: Sure she can, she's just

pretending.

Naiyoo's eyes plead to be left alone.

Kylan steps out from a side street.

He looks aside and stops.

LOCAL BOY (O.S) (CONT'D): What are

you waiting for?

LOCAL BOY #2 (O.S): Say something!

Sebille shakes her head, still amused.

SEBILLE: You brats are gonna make her cry.

LOCAL GIRL (O.S): She can't cry if she

can't talk.

Sophie draws Sebille back.

SOPHIE: (low) Come on, let's go.

Naiyoo lowers her head, face and hair still poked and pulled.

Kylan steps back, tempted to leave.

KYLAN: Damn it.

He makes his way over.

One of the boys lifts Naiyoo's dress and tries to look under.

LOCAL BOY #3: You think she's got any

more marks on her.

The boy is shoved away.

KYLAN: Knock it off.

SEBILLE: Here comes our knight in shining

armor!

Kylan ignores her and clears an opening.

SOPHIE: (to Kylan) I think she just got lost.

Kylan nods, embarrassed.

SEBILLE (O.S): Let her stay Kai, she's

making some new friends!

KYLAN: You guys are gonna get me into

trouble.

He quickly takes Naiyoo's hand and leads her away.

The children "boo" as they go.

Naiyoo looks aside at him, then down at his hand. Holding hers tight.