EPISODE 1: The Call Home (part 3 of 3)
**TEARS**
EXT Woodland, Night.
The kids are still traipsing through woodland. BOBBY now walks with UNI in the lead, his arm around her neck. Next come ERIC, then DIANA, then HANK then SHEILA. PRESTO is still trailing. They are quite spread out and everybody is caught up in their own world.
On DIANA. HANK speeds up a little to meet her.
HANK:
(whispers)
Hi.
DIANA ignores him.
HANK:
(whispers)
Getting awfully friendly with
the millionaire, aren't we?
DIANA snaps her head round, furiously.
DIANA:
(hisses)
It may have escaped your
attention, Hank, but Eric lost
his father yesterday. He could
do with a little TLC and I
could do without the
insinuations, thankyou.
HANK:
(quietly)
Well at least you're talking to
me now.
DIANA:
(quietly)
Huh. Think again.
HANK:
(whispers)
Isn't that gonna be a little
difficult with us stuck back in
this stupid world? Don't you
think the others'll notice?
DIANA:
(quietly)
I can be civil when the others
are about.
DIANA fixes HANK with a steely glare.
DIANA:
(quietly, continued)
But when it's you and me, Hank,
you can just fuck off.
DIANA speeds up away from HANK, towards ERIC.
HANK:
(quietly, after her)
It doesn't have to be like...
DIANA reaches ERIC and puts her hand on his left shoulder.
DIANA:
(over loud)
You OK, sweetie?
On HANK, falling back to SHEILA.
ERIC:
(O/S)
Yes. Geez, no need to shout.
SHEILA stumbles a little. PRESTO, behind her, looks up but HANK catches her arm.
HANK:
Hey, Red. Are you all right?
SHEILA:
Mmm. I'm so tired! We've been
walking so long.
HANK:
Well as soon as we find Uni's
hideaway we can rest. We'll
wait till morning to find
Dungeon Master.
SHEILA:
It practically is morning
already!
In front, UNI begins to run.
BOBBY:
Hey guys! I think we're there!
CUT TO
EXT Cave mouth hidden in woodland, Night.
UNI trots up to the cave mouth and stops. BOBBY runs up behind her, the others in hot pursuit.
BOBBY:
This it, Uni?
UNI snorts and enters the cave. BOBBY goes to the cave entrance.
CUT TO
INT Cave, Night.
BOBBY stands framed in moonlight at the mouth of the dark cave. He enters, followed by the others. As they enter, a glow lights up in the middle of the cave. In a bed of hay and moss six shapes begin to thrum with magic at the return of their long lost masters.
SHEILA:
Our weapons!
PRESTO goes to the nest and picks up his hat.
PRESTO:
Hey. I think they missed us.
PRESTO gives his hat an experimental finger twiddle. He pulls out a large apple. He passes it to BOBBY who feeds it to UNI. UNI munches happily.
PRESTO:
Works better than ever.
The other kids fit themselves with their weapons and try them out briefly, bar HANK, who merely picks up his bow and looks at it with distaste.
On SHEILA, reappearing.
SHEILA:
All right, Uni!
On HANK, gazing at his bow.
HANK:
Hmph. Well, if we all feel a
little safer, maybe we should
get some sleep. Today was one
hell of a Wednesday.
On BOBBY, stroking UNI's nose.
BOBBY:
Hey, Uni. D'you mind if me and
my friends crash at yours
tonight?
On ERIC, already sitting in the nest.
ERIC:
You mean we get to sleep on
damp moss? In a freezing cave?
Yippee!
ERIC jumps as behind him a great roar goes up, followed by the hissing screeches of many Lizardmen.
ERIC:
Spoke too soon, huh?
UNI snarls and paws the ground. The kids form a huddle near the mouth of the cave. Their weapons hum.
On SHEILA, becoming hysterical, close to HANK.
SHEILA:
No... God, no... I can't do it
again. I'm so tired, Hank. So
very tired.
The Lizardmen's cries get louder. The kids tentatively shuffle in a pack into the cave's mouth.
CUT TO
EXT Woodland incorporating the cave, Night
The kids and UNI, standing in the cave's entrance, see a band of Lizardmen. They are scattering, panicked, and don't seem to have clocked the kids.
PRESTO:
They're probably looking for
us.
BOBBY:
I don't know if I have the
strength to fight again tonight
guys.
DIANA:
Me neither.
SHEILA:
I never wanna fight again!
PRESTO looks at his fingers. They spark.
PRESTO:
But we've got Uni. And we've
got our weapons now... I mean,
this is what we've been
training for for the last seven
years, right Hank?
They all look at HANK.
HANK:
Uh... right. Right. Guess I
should take as many as I can
out before they spot us...
HANK steps forward a little from the group and draws back his energy bow. He aims, shakily, at a gaggle of directionless Lizardmen.
HANK:
(to himself)
It was easy when you were
fifteen... it's easy now. It's
an easy shot.
HANK fires.
Long shot as the energy bolt completely misses the Lizardmen and slams into the upper branches of a nearby tree. The Lizardmen look up, then follow the trail of the bolt and see the kids.
On HANK, flanked by SHEILA and BOBBY.
HANK:
Crappit.
On the Lizardmen, as the roar goes up again. They glance in the direction of the roar, then run in the kids' direction. More and more Lizardmen start streaming out of the woods towards them.
On HANK again.
HANK:
Crappit to Fuckity.
The kids form a wall, their magic weapons glowing. They all look very weary and afraid. UNI, at an end, begins to paw the ground in a slow rhythmic beat. BOBBY joins her, hitting the end of his club against his open palm. Each time he does, it makes a magical throbbing noise.
On the Lizardmen, closing in, screeching.
On the kids. DIANA, her staff extended, beats her weapon against the floor on the offbeat, doubling the speed.
On PRESTO. His hands crackle involuntarily on the new offbeat, doubling the speed of of the rhythm again. HANK joins him, beating the end of his bow against the ground.
On ERIC, standing a little behind everyone else. For a moment he stands, unsure, then sets his face grimly, unsheathes his sword and begins to beat it against his shield in the constantly accelerating rhythm.
SHEILA falls back, shaking, her hand resting over her knife. She looks at ERIC.
SHEILA:
I'm scared. Of what I might do.
ERIC looks at her sadly.
ERIC:
So am I.
The rhythm reaches a crescendo and becomes chaos.
On the Lizardmen, practically on them.
On the kids, still in their line up. BOBBY raises his club, screams and charges. The others follow.
UNI powers ahead, horn down.
ERIC pushes in front, sword raised, shield out. A thin, protective glow spreads over the line.
SHEILA leaps through the barrier of protection, draws her knife, cloaks herself and is gone.
DIANA runs behind the barrier, spinning her javelin.
HANK also runs behind the barrier. He raises his bow, draws back a bolt, aims up and closes his eyes.
PRESTO lags a little, but in his raised hands massive balls of magical energy are growing.
The kids and the Lizardmen run into one another. The Lizardmen, however, just keep running.
The kids run out of steam quickly as it becomes obvious that the Lizardmen are fleeing, not charging. They stop screaming, slow to a ragged halt and stand, bemused, weapons lowered, as the Lizardmen stream past them.
On SHEILA, reappearing, her clean knife still in hand.
SHEILA:
Huh?
On BOBBY, holding the still spooked UNI's muzzle.
BOBBY:
What's going on?
on PRESTO and HANK. HANK shrugs. PRESTO looks very worried.
PRESTO:
They were running away. From
something else. Something
worse.
There is another roar, much closer.
On DIANA, watching, staff raised.
DIANA:
It's out there, isn't it?
On the forest. A few straggling Lizardmen are still fleeing. A massive tower of flame goes up behind the trees.
On PRESTO.
PRESTO:
It's coming.
The kids all raise their weapons again. PRESTO stands stock still.
Long shot, high angle of the kids waiting at the edge of some denser trees. Suddenly a massive dragon made entirely of fire crashes through the trees, burning the trees to a cinder. The kids jump back.
On the kids, petrified.
VARIOUS KIDS:
(terrified scream)
On the Fire Dragon as it roars at them. It is hit by a magical bolt from the side. It whips its head around to see who attacked it.
On PRESTO and BOBBY, following the beast's eyeline.
On DUNGEON MASTER, beside the Fire Dragon, his hands still raised from blasting the creature. He looks grim, angry and terribly tired.
On PRESTO and BOBBY. BOBBY breaks into a grin. PRESTO looks worried.
BOBBY:
Dungeon Master! He found us!
Hey guys, DM's here!
PRESTO:
Uh, Bobby? He doesn't look too
great to me.
On DUNGEON MASTER, who blasts the Fire Dragon with another magic burst. However, his bolt of magic is met with another burst of dark magic breathed out by the Fire Dragon. The Dragon's magic pushes very close to DM before he is able to disperse it. DM is pushed backwards a little by the force of it.
PRESTO:
(O/S, Continued)
I think he's in trouble.
DUNGEON MASTER shoots the kids a pleading look.
DUNGEON MASTER:
Help me.
On the kids.
HANK:
He wants us to help him?
SHEILA turns to him.
SHEILA:
Create a diversion.
HANK just looks from her to the Dragon.
BOBBY:
I'll do it. Eric, get ready to
cover me.
BOBBY runs out of the group, towards the Fire Dragon. ERIC sidles as close to BOBBY as possible without leaving himself prone. SHEILA cloaks herself and becomes invisible.
On BOBBY.
BOBBY:
Hey flame boy!
BOBBY smashes his club on the ground in front of the Fire Dragon, causing the ground to shake. The Fire Dragon switches its attention from DM to BOBBY ad breathes a magic burst at him. BOBBY dodges back and ERIC darts in front of him with his shield just in time. The magical energy knocks them both back into HANK, PRESTO and DIANA.
On DM who slumps, exhausted. SHEILA reappears, catches him and runs back with him to the group, which is still being shielded by ERIC.
SHEILA sets DM down. HANK glowers at him.
DUNGEON MASTER:
My children. I am so sorry. It
should not have come to this.
HANK:
Say, DM, if you need help so
much, where's Venger? Isn't he
supposed to be a good guy now?
DUNGEON MASTER:
Many of these Fire Dragons were
released at the same time. We
have both been fighting them
for a long while. Perhaps he is
dead by now. I myself am very
weak.
DUNGEON MASTER rises with DIANA's help.
DUNGEON MASTER:
Although much of my strength
was taken in retrieving you, my
children. You gave me quite a
chase. Do you really despise
the realm so badly?
DIANA:
It's not that, DM, it's just...
we have our own lives now. We
want the freedom to live them.
DUNGEON MASTER:
(sighs)
I know. And I would not have
brought you back had that very
freedom not been at risk.
The Fire Dragon breathes more magic. It breaks on ERIC's shield.
ERIC:
What, from this Bozo? It's just
another dragon!
DUNGEON MASTER:
Perhaps, Cavalier, but this is
only the servant of the servant
of the one I fear. One of very
many.
SHEILA:
The one you fear? You mean...
No Name?
DUNGEON MASTER:
I am not sure. He has yet to
show himself. But I believe he
is behind this uprising. Those
who serve evil have begun to
hunt for portals to the other
worlds, to spread their
domination...
ERIC fends off another magic bolt from the Fire Dragon. The power of his shield is starting to weaken.
ERIC:
That's OK, DM. If there's one
thing we got really good at
here it was destroying portals.
Now how do we stop this
monster?
DUNGEON MASTER steps forward grimly.
DUNGEON MASTER:
You cannot. And I'm afraid that
your weapon would be destroyed
before I regained my strength.
I shall do the best I can.
DUNGEON MASTER closes his eyes and disappears.
On DUNGEON MASTER, reappearing close to the Fire Dragon, away from the kids. With immense effort, he launches a burst of magical energy. The Fire Dragon flinches slightly from it, then breathes a bolt of magic at DM. DM fends it off momentarily, then his magic fails. The Fire Dragon's dark magic hits DUNGEON MASTER, knocking him off his feet.
On SHEILA and PRESTO, horrified.
SHEILA:
Dungeon Master!
On DM, as he gets back up on his feet, only to be knocked down by two more bursts of dark magic. The Fire Dragon approaches him.
SHEILA:
(O/S)
No!
The Fire Dragon picks the prone DUNGEON MASTER up in its fiery jaws and shakes him like a beast with its prey.
On the kids, watching, horrified. SHEILA, DIANA and BOBBY have tears in their eyes. BOBBY tries to run to DM.
BOBBY:
Dungeon Master!
ERIC stops him, with difficulty.
ERIC:
We can't help him, Bob.
BOBBY:
We can't just watch him die!
On PRESTO, watching with a grim expression on his face. He steps out of the group before anyone can stop him.
DIANA:
Presto, don't...
DIANA's voice trails off. Suddenly the kids (and we) can see that surrounding PRESTO's hands are large balls of crackling magical energy.
DIANA:
What the...
PRESTO stands between the group and the Fire Dragon, still mauling DM, and raises his arms so they are outstretched at either side. The spheres of magic grow. Suddenly he flings his left arm out towards the Dragon. The ball of magic on his left hand shoots off and hits the beast in the face. The Fire Dragon drops DM and shrinks back, snakelike. DUNGEON MASTER falls limp and lifeless to the floor. The Fire Dragon snarls at it retreats and breathes out more dark magic. PRESTO meets this with the ball of magic from his right hand, which pushes the dragon's magic back. The Fire Dragon roars, still retreating.
On PRESTO, wielding a new sphere of magic in his left hand.
PRESTO:
Begone!
PRESTO hurls the magical bolt.
On the Fire Dragon. It winces as the magic hits it, then turns tail and flies off.
On the kids, watching PRESTO, amazed.
On PRESTO. The ball of magic he had ready in his right hand fades. He slumps, exhausted, to his knees.
SHEILA:
(O/S)
Presto!
SHEILA runs to PRESTO. PRESTO looks up at SHEILA.
PRESTO:
I'm OK.
Beat.
PRESTO:
Dungeon Master...
SHEILA's eyes widen.
SHEILA:
Dungeon Master!
SHEILA looks up. BOBBY and DIANA are already sprinting over to the stricken DM, who is lying, face down, very still.
Low angle on DIANA and BOBBY as they approach DM. DIANA reaches down and turns DM over.
On DUNGEON MASTER. He is very badly burnt. His eyes are closed. He does not move.
On DIANA and BOBBY, both beginning to cry.
DIANA:
(whispers)
No...
The others join them, one by one, looking down at DM miserably. UNI reaches her head down and nuzzles his hand. All the kids are weeping silently bar ERIC, who stands, shell-shocked, at the back of the group.
HANK:
DM. Oh shit. Oh shit. What can
we do? What can we do?
HANK reaches his hand down and brushes DM's cheek.
On DUNGEON MASTER. He opens his eyes slightly.
ERIC:
Dungeon Master? You're...
you're OK, right?
DUNGEON MASTER smiles sadly.
DUNGEON MASTER:
No, Eric. I'm so very sorry.
BOBBY:
But you've gotta be. You're the
Dungeon Master.
DUNGEON MASTER:
I am... was... a Dungeon
Master. We are long lived
beings, but not immortal. You
know that, Barbarian... Bobby.
HANK:
So... what happens now?
DUNGEON MASTER:
A new Dungeon Master will
inherit my place when I die.
SHEILA, DIANA & BOBBY:
(half whispered, incredulous)
"Die"?
HANK:
Do you know who it'll be?
DUNGEON MASTER:
Yes. I have chosen an heir. A
good one I believe. But it will
be down to the new Dungeon
Master how they wish to help
you.
PRESTO:
How can you be like this, DM?
Talking about being replaced?
SHEILA takes DM's hand.
SHEILA:
You can't be replaced, DM.
You can't die.
On DUNGEON MASTER, looking up at all of them.
DUNGEON MASTER:
My dear sweet Sheila. Hank.
Bobby. Presto. Diana. Eric.
Beat. DM's eyes begin to fade.
DUNGEON MASTER:
I did love you all so very
much...
DUNGEON MASTER's head rolls to the side. The hand which SHEILA holds falls limp.
There is a moment of silence as the kids clock on to what's happened. The silence is slowly intruded on by BOBBY's breath becoming increasingly hysterical.
SHEILA kisses DM's lifeless hand and is the first to sob loudly.
DIANA covers her mouth as she sobs and chokes, not able to keep her eyes away from DM's dead body.
BOBBY suddenly explodes.
BOBBY:
(weeping, screaming with grief)
No! No! Oh God!
BOBBY bundles into SHEILA, who holds him tight.
UNI backs up, sadly, and nudges BOBBY's head with hers.
PRESTO drops to the floor by DM's feet, tears streaming down his open eyes.
HANK, wiping tears from his eyes, closes DM's eyes with his open palm, then stays by his head, stroking his brow.
ERIC, still standing, still dry eyed, backs away.
ERIC:
(calmly)
No. No.
ERIC shakes his head, matter of factly.
ERIC:
(calmly)
Not another one.
He walks away and watches them from a distance.
On HANK, crying quietly.
SHEILA:
(O/S)
What now, Hank?
He looks up at the others. He stands, holding his bow.
HANK:
Stand back.
HANK backs up a little, draws an energy bolt from his bow and aims down at the ground a yard or so from DUNGEON MASTER's body.
On BOBBY, looking up.
BOBBY:
Wha...
On HANK. He shoots his bow at the ground. Soil shoots up. A crater, about four feet in diameter, appears in the ground, surrounded by loose soil. HANK stands by it, forlornly, his bow by his side.
On BOBBY. He blinks in a silent understanding, then scoops up DM in his great arms, walks solemnly to the crater and gently deposits DM's body in it. He joins HANK's side.
PRESTO also joins them. He holds out his hands, palms up. They thrum with a gentle magic. slowly, he turns them over so that his thumbs touch. With the movement of his hands, the loose soil around the crater moves in a wave to fill the hole, covering DM's body. PRESTO presses his palms together, and the loose soil compresses itself.
On DIANA. She stands beside the grave, her staff extended, and with it scratches the letters D M in the soil. She stands back.
SHEILA takes over, filling the letters DIANA has scratched with wild flowers. She also stands back. The five kids and UNI stand and look at the grave they have made.
Beat.
HANK:
Somebody should say something.
HANK looks at ERIC, still standing off.
HANK:
Eric? You're good with words.
On ERIC, leaning against a tree.
ERIC:
What's the point? You know he
isn't dead.
On the kids.
DIANA:
Eric...
On ERIC, he comes a little way towards them.
ERIC:
Aw, c'mon. You know the little
guy, he's immune to everything!
He's been in worse situations
than this. Like a dumb dragon
could kill him.
On BOBBY, growing angry.
BOBBY:
Shut up, Eric!
On ERIC. He laughs a little.
ERIC:
You know that any minute now
he's gonna appear from behind a
bush, irritating as ever and be
all "Your journey leads ahead,
and yet behind you..."
On BOBBY. He takes a step towards ERIC.
BOBBY:
(Furiously)
For fuck's sake, Eric, he's
dead! He is dead! You saw him
die, just face it!
On ERIC, He blinks, confused.
On SHEILA & BOBBY. BOBBY heaving with grief and anger.
BOBBY:
Face it, Eric. You of all
people should know what a
cadaver looks like by now.
SHEILA:
(horrified)
Bobby!!!
On ERIC. He stands for a moment, showing no emotion.
ERIC:
(quietly, calmly.)
Excuse me.
ERIC turns and walks at speed into the depths of the forest.
On the kids. BOBBY hangs his head unhappily. The others watch ERIC go in stunned silence. Then they all look at BOBBY.
BOBBY:
I'm sorry.
PRESTO:
That was a really shitty thing
to say, Bob.
BOBBY looks at PRESTO, angrily.
BOBBY:
I said I'm sorry!
BOBBY storms off into Uni's cave, crying. UNI follows him.
On DIANA, still peering off into the trees.
DIANA:
Somebody should go after him.
DIANA starts to follow ERIC's trail.
On PRESTO. He sighs and looks at DM's grave.
On HANK and SHEILA. SHEILA is by now sitting by the grave. HANK drops down next to her. He runs his fingers through her hair and kisses the nape of her neck. She turns to him and kisses him on the lips, sadly, desperately.
On PRESTO, watching this. He looks up towards DIANA.
PRESTO:
Hey Diana! Wait up!
PRESTO scrambles after DIANA.
CUT TO
EXT Dense woodland, Night.
ERIC is half running, half falling through the forest, blindly, lost.
Close on ERIC as he runs. His eyes are still dry but there is the same wild terror that we saw in them when he was freaking out in the hospital.
QUICK CUT TO
A brief flash of Eric's father, dead on the morgue slab, his face still frozen in the pain of the heart attack.
On ERIC, less than 48 hours ago, looking down at his father's body. He is flanked by two doctors.
ERIC:
(dreamily)
That's him.
CUT TO
ERIC, still running through the forest. He slams into a tree.
ERIC:
Stop it.
QUICK CUT TO
Flashback of DUNGEON MASTER, dead on the forest floor.
CUT TO
ERIC, in the forest, pushes his forehead against the tree.
ERIC:
Stop it.
QUICK CUT TO
Flashback of ERIC and HANK in the greenhouse.
ERIC:
Everybody dies.
QUICK CUT TO
Flashback of ORC 5's head rolling off his shoulders.
CUT TO
ERIC, in the forest. He hits his head against the tree.
ERIC:
Stop it.
He hits his head again, hard.
QUICK CUT TO
A brief montage of images which flash from one to another.
DUNGEON MASTER, dead.
Blood dripping from a sword.
DIANA, dead.
ERIC, drunk, the night before, sitting in the front lobby of his house, facing the portrait of his father, with his hands over his eyes.
PRESTO, dead.
SFX:
Distant ambulance sirens.
ERIC:
(O/S, distant, screaming)
Augh, God! I'm burning!
Close on ERIC, drunk in his front lobby, hands over his eyes. The sirens are getting louder. His fingers fan out suddenly and he looks through them.
The portrait of ERIC's father. Flames lick around it. Briefly we see the silhouette of a winged figure.
ERIC:
(O/S, closer)
I'm burning!
CUT TO
EXT dense woodland, Night.
ERIC slams his head against the tree again.
ERIC:
Stop it!
He hits his head again.
ERIC:
STOP IT!
Still facing the tree, he hugs himself and begins to rock slightly.
ERIC:
Go away... go away...
DIANA:
(O/S)
Eric?
ERIC suddenly snaps out of it. He straightens, still facing the tree, then readies a smile. He turns to face DIANA and PRESTO.
ERIC:
I'm fine.
On DIANA and PRESTO. They share a worried glance.
PRESTO:
You're not.
DIANA:
We're worried about you, Eric.
ERIC folds his arms nonchalantly.
ERIC:
Guys. I'm fine.
PRESTO:
I'm not. Diana's not. And we've
gone through a lot less in the
last two days than you have.
On ERIC, listening, feigning amusement.
PRESTO:
Eric, I saw what you did to
yourself when you tried to
swallow your grief for your
Dad...
ERIC:
Oh, that. Well I don't see any
liquor stores around here, so
you really don't need to...
PRESTO goes up to ERIC, faces him off.
PRESTO:
Don't you think I know you,
Eric? We've been best friends
for how long, and you think you
can invent a drinking problem
to write this off?
ERIC:
I...
PRESTO:
You just wanted to beat
yourself up! You always did,
you still do!
ERIC:
I just don't... emote well,
that's all.
PRESTO:
You emote just fine when you
want to...
DIANA takes ERIC's hand.
DIANA:
We're all grieving now, Eric.
We're together. There's no
shame in it.
DIANA begins to choke up.
DIANA:
Why won't you grieve with us?
PRESTO:
Please don't swallow this as
well, Eric. It's too much for
anybody to bear. It's gonna
fester and bubble over and turn
into something really nasty.
You're gonna make yourself...
ill.
DIANA collapses into fresh tears. ERIC hugs her.
ERIC:
Hey. Hey. It's OK...
PRESTO:
(fuming)
No! No! You don't get out of it
that easy. Diana, don't let
him...
PRESTO tries to prize DIANA and ERIC apart. ERIC pushes him away.
ERIC:
Leave her alone, Presto, she's
upset.
ERIC shoots PRESTO a desperate look.
PRESTO sighs and turns from them. He walks away, leaving ERIC to comfort DIANA.
Beat. ERIC removes a gauntlet and strokes DIANA's hair with his naked hand. Her crying calms down. They relax into a looser embrace. ERIC brushes DIANA's hair from her face and tucks it behind her ear.
ERIC:
You lost your orchid.
DIANA:
Must've come off on the ride.
ERIC:
That's too bad. I'm not
replacing it now. I swore off
picking flowers in this stupid
place.
DIANA wipes her eyes and laughs.
ERIC:
I've missed that laugh.
DIANA:
I've missed laughing at you.
ERIC playfully punches DIANA's stomach. She flicks his nose in return.
ERIC:
OK. You asked for it.
Like a shot, ERIC reaches out and begins tickling DIANA's sides. She wriggles and giggles helplessly, still snorting back tears.
DIANA:
(laughing)
No! You'll pay for this...
Suddenly ERIC pushes DIANA back, gasping in fear and pain. He backs up himself, eyes closed against something.
DIANA:
What? What is it?
ERIC falls to his knees, clawing at his right shoulder.
ERIC:
(agonised scream)
DIANA runs to him, trying to help but doesn't know where to start.
DIANA:
Shit! Eric, what do I do?
ERIC looks up at her, petrified.
ERIC:
Run!!!
The sky above them turns flame yellow.
CUT TO
EXT woodland near Uni's cave, Night.
BOBBY can still be heard crying softly in the cave. HANK and SHEILA are still kissing. HANK is now half on top of SHEILA. SHEILA tries to look around her, but HANK catches her face and kisses her again. PRESTO can be seen slipping out of the trees and watching them, embarrassed, in the background. HANK begins to slide his hand up SHEILA's leg, and beneath her skirt. SHEILA guides the errant hand away. HANK tries again.
SHEILA:
Hank. No.
HANK:
Aw, c'mon. You never wanted to
do it in our realm costumes?
Because that little dress and
those big boots... Well, I'm
wearing tights, so I don't
think I need to tell you what
they do to me...
SHEILA stops kissing HANK abruptly.
HANK:
Sheila...
SHEILA:
Consider the night I've had.
What the Hell would make you
think I might be in the mood
for a quickie?
SHEILA sits up and scowls.
HANK:
I'm... I'm sorry, Sheila.
Beat.
HANK:
How's about just a blow job?
SHEILA gets up. PRESTO hides.
SHEILA:
Jesus Christ!
SHEILA storms off.
HANK:
Well how long has it been,
Sheila? A guy gets frustrated,
you know...
But SHEILA is gone, into the cave.
SHEILA:
(O/S, distant)
Hey, Bobby...
PRESTO comes out of hiding and begins to approach HANK, unnoticed.
HANK:
Shit.
HANK gets up and kicks a fallen log. He spots PRESTO.
HANK:
Hey. Is Eric OK?
PRESTO:
As OK as he ever was.
HANK:
That bad, huh?
PRESTO smiles a little.
PRESTO:
Do you know, I almost agreed
with him? That DM wasn't really
dead? It's hard to believe he's
gone.
Beat.
HANK:
I don't know what to do,
Presto.
PRESTO and HANK look at each other.
HANK:
I can't lead you guys again.
I'm not your Hank any more and
you all know it.
PRESTO:
You're still Hank, Hank.
HANK:
Not in your eyes I'm not. Diana
hates me. Bobby and Sheila both
used to look up at me with this
trust, this... love. It was
terrifying. Now it's just
disappointment. And Eric! Poor,
sad, fucked up Eric all alone
in his big empty castle and
when he looked at me it was
with pity!
PRESTO:
Dungeon Master knew what he was
doing...
HANK:
Dungeon Master knew squat. And
now he's dead. And I can't lead
you.
HANK scowls at PRESTO, who frowns back.
PRESTO:
"Can't", or "won't"?
HANK opens his mouth to speak, but is cut off by the distant screams of ERIC and DIANA. PRESTO and HANK spin around to face the direction of the screams. BOBBY, SHEILA and UNI shoot out of the cave and join them.
HANK:
What the...
A tower of fire roars up in the forest.
PRESTO:
Fuck!
The kids sprint into the forest, readying their weapons.
CUT TO
EXT dense woodland, Night.
ERIC and DIANA are still crying out in fear O/S.
BOBBY, UNI and HANK push out of the trees. Orange/yellow light hits their faces. PRESTO follows them, spheres of magic crackling in his hands.
On the Fire Dragon, rearing up and roaring. ERIC and DIANA are crouching before it, DIANA petrified and bewildered, holding ERIC, who twitches in pain.
ERIC:
Augh! God!
SHEILA appears beside them and tries to shepherd DIANA and ERIC away from the danger. ERIC only screams louder.
ERIC:
I'm burning!
On PRESTO, furious. He hurls a ball of magic at the Fire Dragon, who recoils slightly.
PRESTO:
What did you do to him?
DIANA turns to him, still clutching ERIC's hand.
DIANA:
It hasn't touched him.
SHEILA looks at DIANA.
SHEILA:
He's burning up!
DIANA:
The scar.
On BOBBY, his face set in black fury.
BOBBY:
He's coming.
The kids look up at the Fire Dragon. At that very moment, the beast is hit with a huge burst of magic from the woods behind SHEILA, DIANA and ERIC.
The dragon recoils, roaring.
PRESTO, HANK, BOBBY and UNI shuffle warily away from the direction the magic had come from.
On ERIC, flanked by SHEILA and DIANA.
ERIC:
He's behind me, isn't he?
Another burst of magic flies at the dragon from behind them.
SHEILA:
Yes.
DIANA:
We can get you out of here if
you want.
ERIC looks at DIANA, then painfully turns around to face the direction the magic has been flying in from. The girls turn with him. They all look up.
A ball of light fires up in the depths of the forest in front of them. It slowly approaches, gradually lighting up a tall figure appearing from within the woodland, holding the ball of magic aloft. The horn and fangs are gone and the features are little softer and sadder, but the deathly pale giant is still recognisable as VENGER.
On HANK, PRESTO, BOBBY and UNI. BOBBY, caught by a spasm of anger, tries to charge VENGER, his club glowing. HANK and PRESTO struggle to hold him back.
On SHEILA, ERIC and DIANA, huddled between VENGER and the Fire Dragon. ERIC winces but remains silent.
On the Fire Dragon, hissing, drawing back.
On VENGER.
VENGER:
It was you, wasn't it?
The Fire Dragon snarls and jumps at VENGER, spewing magic.
VENGER hurls the ball of magic at the Fire Dragon. It hits the dragon's magic just above where SHEILA, ERIC and DIANA are. Without taking his eyes off VENGER, ERIC raises his shield above his head, shielding himself and the girls from the magical fallout. VENGER's magic overpowers the dragon's. The Fire Dragon stumbles back, beaten. It is about to fly off again when it is hit from behind with another burst of magic. The beast falls like an injured bird, feathers of flame scattering. Without acknowledging the kids, VENGER walks to the Fire Dragon, a new, huge ball of magic in his hand. He looks down at the stricken creature. The dragon looks up at him, snarling but helpless. VENGER raises the magical sphere, then slams it down on the beast's head.
On HANK, PRESTO and BOBBY. They wince.
The dragon's head is destroyed by the bolt of magic. A wave of disintegration flows down its spine and along its body. It becomes formless flame, and then is gone.
VENGER hangs his head and sags, exhausted.
VENGER:
That was the last of them. For
now.
VENGER looks up at HANK, BOBBY & PRESTO.
BOBBY struggles in HANK and PRESTO's grip.
HANK:
What do you want, Venger?
VENGER:
To help.
On BOBBY. A terrible realisation hits him.
BOBBY:
No. No! Oh God...
HANK:
Bobby?
BOBBY breaks free of HANK and PRESTO.
BOBBY:
DM. He said the new Dungeon
Master would inherit...
HANK's face whitens.
HANK:
Oh shit.
On DIANA, ERIC and SHEILA, watching, appalled.
DIANA:
No... Not you.
On BOBBY, squaring up to VENGER.
BOBBY:
We won't do it for you, Venger.
We don't care how much you've
changed. You'll never be our
Dungeon Master! We'd rather
die!
VENGER:
(quietly)
I am not the Dungeon Master.
BOBBY:
Damn straight you're not! No
Dungeon Master would ever...
PRESTO:
Bob. He's not the new DM.
BOBBY stops railing and looks up at VENGER.
VENGER:
The Magician is right. Dungeon
Master chose his heir wisely.
Seven years is far too short a
time to atone for the
atrocities I committed. I fell
in league with evil. I was far
too... unreliable... to inherit
my birthright.
BOBBY:
Then what the fuck are you
doing here?
On SHEILA. She looks nervous.
On VENGER.
VENGER:
I came to slay the last of the
Fire Dragons.
BOBBY:
Mission accomplished. Now piss
off.
VENGER sighs.
VENGER:
I have also been sent as a
messenger.
On HANK
HANK:
Messenger?
On VENGER
VENGER:
From the new Dungeon Master.
On SHEILA. She rises.
SHEILA:
You... you know who the new DM
is?
On VENGER.
VENGER:
I do.
BOBBY:
Well, who is he? And why isn't
he here? And why the Hell does
he think we want to talk to
you?
VENGER:
The new Dungeon Master knows
that you would rather not talk
with me. But the realm has
grown dark and perilous. Useful
friends will be harder to come
by than they were. I am one of
these, Barbarian. The most
useful and powerful you are
likely to find...
On UNI, glowering and growling, flanked by HANK and PRESTO.
VENGER:
(O/S)
You must learn to trust me. All
of you.
HANK:
Well, we wanna hear that from
the Dungeon Master.
On VENGER.
VENGER:
I am afraid that the new
Dungeon Master has chosen to
keep themself a secret for the
time being. Even from you.
HANK, SHEILA, DIANA:
(O/S)
What?
BOBBY:
What?!?
VENGER:
The old Dungeon Master was
destroyed. His heir cannot risk
that happening to them while
they are so unprepared.
On SHEILA
SHEILA:
So why can't we know?
On VENGER.
VENGER:
For your own protection. If the
forces of evil believed you
knew the identity of the
Dungeon Master... they have
methods...
On DIANA, still with ERIC, helping him up.
DIANA:
We know.
Longer shot on VENGER, surrounded by the fearful and aggressive kids.
Beat.
VENGER hangs his head sadly.
VENGER:
I... I also came because...
Closer on VENGER. He looks up, pleading.
VENGER:
I would like to know where you
have buried my father.
On SHEILA, silent, stony faced.
On HANK, similarly unhelpful, arms crossed.
On BOBBY, staring angrily at VENGER.
ERIC:
(O/S)
There's a clearing with a cave
not far from here.
BOBBY looks around behind him. VENGER looks up.
VENGER:
The Unicorn's cave. Where your
weapons were kept.
ERIC:
(O/S)
It's there.
Longer shot as the kids and VENGER look at ERIC.
On ERIC, DIANA watching him incredulously.
ERIC:
(sadly)
I'da wanted to know.
On VENGER. He nods in understanding and approaches ERIC slowly. ERIC, caught up in his own sadness, does not flinch.
VENGER:
Of course. You have lost your
father as well.
VENGER faces ERIC. DIANA, at his left side, is unsure as to what to do. ERIC turns his face up sadly to meet VENGER's.
VENGER:
I understand your pain.
As a caring gesture, VENGER reaches out to touch ERIC's right shoulder.
ERIC snaps into defence mode. With a gasp he leaps back, draws his sword and points it at VENGER, his face a furious snarl. DIANA, at his left, extends her staff defensively. BOBBY appears at his right, his club raised.
ERIC:
Don't you fucking touch me!
On VENGER, shocked at the reaction. He holds his withdrawn hand up by his shoulder, almost as a surrender sign. A memory returns to him.
VENGER:
The Cavalier. You are the one
who I... wounded.
On ERIC, trembling with rage, bar his right arm.
ERIC:
Wounded? Wounded? You took half
my back off! I was a child. I
was running away and you
mutilated me, you son of a...
ERIC runs out of breath.
VENGER extends his hand again, but doesn't touch ERIC.
VENGER:
May I see?
BOBBY:
Tell me you're kidding.
VENGER:
It unheals itself, correct?
Beat. ERIC looks at him.
VENGER:
Although you did not feel its
burn until you got to your own
world, it reacts to magic.
ERIC:
It reacts to you.
VENGER nods.
VENGER:
It is not a burn, but a spell.
The last spell I ever cast
as... my darker form. It will
react to its creator.
ERIC:
It's not that bad.
VENGER:
I can remove it.
ERIC:
No way.
On PRESTO.
PRESTO:
Eric, if he wants to help...
On ERIC and VENGER.
ERIC:
You don't realise, Venger. You
did me a favour. That scar is a
reminder to me of two important
things.
ERIC holds up one index finger.
ERIC:
One. To always fight. Fight
hard, fight dirty, but never
run, never hide, never show
your back to the enemy.
ERIC raises a second finger.
ERIC:
And two. To never, ever, ever
trust you.
There is a long pause. VENGER looks from ERIC, guarded by BOBBY and DIANA, to SHEILA and HANK, to a poker faced PRESTO, then back at ERIC.
VENGER:
I apologise. To all of you.
On HANK.
HANK:
Save your breath. Go to your
father's grave. Leave us be.
On VENGER. He looks at HANK.
VENGER:
I must liase with you, Ranger.
It is my master's orders.
DIANA steps up to VENGER.
DIANA:
Fine. Tell us what to the
Dungeon Master says and then go
away.
VENGER:
Very well. There are many new
enemies abroad. The Fire
Dragons are the creation of a
demon called Furnus. Be
particularly wary of this one,
of all to do with fire. Furnus
is very powerful now. As
powerful as... as I once was.
On BOBBY
BOBBY:
Well we whupped your ass. And
now we're all grown up. So if
this Furnus guy was responsible
for DM's death he'd better
watch himself, because I for
one am seriously pissed off.
On VENGER:
VENGER:
Be wary, Barbarian. You are The
Seven who freed the realm from
the tyranny of Venger. News of
you spread far and wide. They
will expect much of you, your
allies and your enemies.
Beat.
VENGER:
Begin with Swinville.
SHEILA:
Who's Swinville?
VENGER:
Swinville is a nearby town,
three hours north. They were
plagued by many monsters
including that Fire Dragon
before my father drove it into
the woods. They shall be
pleased to see you, now the
beast is destroyed. You will
find friends there.
On HANK. He ponders this.
HANK:
OK. We'll go north.
On VENGER and ERIC. ERIC still has his sword pointed at VENGER.
VENGER:
Do not mention my name there.
It will be better for you.
On SHEILA, starting to move off.
SHEILA:
Don't worry.
On VENGER and ERIC. ERIC shoots HANK a sideways glance.
ERIC:
You don't mean to tell me we're
actually going to believe a
word this bastard says? Why
should we trust him?
On HANK and PRESTO.
HANK:
What else should we do, Eric?
Where else should we go?
PRESTO:
DM believed Venger could be
good. He never saw us wrong
before.
BOBBY and UNI join them.
BOBBY:
Let's go.
Longer shot as BOBBY, UNI and PRESTO begin to pick through the forest, northbound. HANK waits for SHEILA, takes her arm and follows them. VENGER is left with DIANA and ERIC, ERIC still pointing his sword at VENGER. DIANA tugs ERIC's arm.
DIANA:
C'mon.
DIANA begins to follow the others.
ERIC, still with eyes and sword fixed on VENGER, moves so that his back is facing the disappearing kids.
ERIC:
If you double cross us, if any
of them get hurt... I'll take
your head. Understand?
VENGER:
Do not be so sure that I am
lying, that you believe lies
told against me as truth,
Cavalier.
ERIC steps back, enraged and confused.
ERIC:
Shut the fuck up.
ERIC backs away from VENGER warily. VENGER sighs, then turns and begins walking away. ERIC sheaths his sword and begins to run after the others.
CUT TO
EXT Woodland near cave mouth - DM's grave. Night.
The light of pre-dawn is beginning to show through the trees. A few birds sing softly. VENGER falls sadly at Dungeon Master's small grave. He begins to trace a finger over the letters the girls made.
VENGER:
Yes. They used to call you
"DM". Such disrespect would
never have been tolerated in
anyone else. How you loved
them. Was it worth spending all
your power to bring them back?
They are stronger, yes. But...
confused. Darkness has fallen
on many of them. I fear I may
have set it upon them myself.
Beat.
VENGER:
Show me, Dungeon Master. I need
to see what I did. To him. To
all of them.
Beat.
VENGER:
(suddenly enraged)
Spare me your pity! Show me!
A small ball of black and white light appears, hovering in front of VENGER. It expands swiftly, taking up the whole shot.
CUT TO
EXT: The Funfair 7 years ago. Day. Black and White.
What we see and hear is a mish-mash of various peoples memories. Sounds often don't match up with what is being seen and the camera swings wildly from different POV's - all is very confused and all is in Black and White.
We see a strange man's face, close, straight on.
BOBBY (KID):
(O/S panicked breathing)
MAN:
You OK, kid?
SFX:
(ambulance sirens)
BOBBY (KID):
(O/S)
My friend...
SHEILA:
(O/S)
Oh my God!
CUT TO
EXT The Funfair, 7 years ago. Day.
SFX:
(ambulance sirens cntd)
All six kids back as they looked originally, gleefully running away from the deserted ride. ERIC's expression suddenly becomes one of agony. He screams, but it can't be heard by us. HANK, in front, turns. ERIC falls.
HANK:
Eric?
CUT TO
Close on SHEILA. She looks up, horrified.
SFX:
(ambulance sirens cntd)
SHEILA:
Bobby, get help!
CUT TO
Close on PRESTO and DIANA, looking down. ERIC's POV. PRESTO is clutching ERIC's shaking hand.
SFX:
(ambulance sirens cntd)
PRESTO:
They're on their way.
DIANA:
(over PRESTO)
Oh God. Oh God. Be brave...
CUT TO
The Ambulance pulling up. The sirens stop.
ERIC:
(O/S, screams)
Augh! Oh God!
HANK:
(O/S, as before)
Eric?
ERIC:
(O/S, screaming)
I'm burning! Help me! I'm
burning!
CUT TO
ERIC, still screaming, being taken by stretcher into the ambulance. SHEILA's POV. She looks from HANK, who stands ashen faced, to BOBBY, who looks up at her, his eyes bright with tears.
PARAMEDIC:
(O/S)
Jesus. What's his name?
Beat
PARAMEDIC:
(O/S)
OK, Eric. I'm just gonna give
you a little injection of
Morphine for the pain.
Close on the syringe being filled.
SHEILA:
(O/S)
Bobby! Don't!
BOBBY (KID):
(O/S)
I need to see! I need to see
what he did!
Close on ERIC's naked back. BOBBY's POV. The burn is the only thing in colour - violently red.
BOBBY (KID):
(O/S, hysterical)
Oh my God! Oh my God!
PARAMEDIC:
Hey. Get out of here, kid.
BOBBY's POV as he is abruptly pulled away from ERIC by the PARAMEDIC. As he is swung around, BOBBY sees the other four kids. SHEILA is crying quietly, DIANA, PRESTO and HANK look back at BOBBY in shock and dismay.
BOBBY (KID):
Oh God! Oh God, Sheila!
On HANK and DIANA. HANK looks down.
HANK:
This is my fault...
DIANA:
No. Venger did this. Out of
malice. One last evil act that
nobody would know about 'til it
was too late. This was how he
paid us for setting him free.
On BOBBY, hugging SHEILA, crying.
BOBBY (KID):
That bastard! That bastard! How
could he?
On the five remaining kids, slow pull out to leave them huddled together, scared and angry in the one place they believed they would be safe and happy.
PARAMEDIC:
(O/S)
You hear that? What that little
kid said? Sounds like somebody
hurt this guy on purpose.
Beat.
The shot of the kids is briefly interrupted by one barely noticeable flash of a winged silhouette, almost subliminal.
PARAMEDIC:
(O/S)
God, he can't be 16 years old
and scarred for life. What
sorta sick Motherfucker would
do that to a kid?
The image fades away.
FADE TO
EXT: Woodland near cave mouth - DM's grave. Pre dawn.
Close on VENGER, his head bowed. Tears well in his eyes.
VENGER:
No wonder they hate me.
Beat.
VENGER:
What shall I do, Dungeon
Master? What shall I do?
CUT TO
EXT Thinning woodland, Dawn.
Close on PRESTO, halfway up a steep verge.
PRESTO:
Just take it one step at a
time...
Pull out to reveal that PRESTO is encouraging UNI, who is struggling to make it up the steep verge with the other kids. BOBBY and DIANA are trying to push her. HANK is ahead with SHEILA. ERIC is trailing.
PRESTO:
One step at a time...
With BOBBY and DIANA's help, UNI manages to scrabble up the verge.
PRESTO:
There.
Once up the verge, finally out of the trees, the kids can see the edge of the forest and the town of Swinville far away. They can also see how light the sky has turned.
HANK points at the distant town.
HANK:
That must be Swinville.
BOBBY:
God. It's miles away.
SHEILA shivers. HANK puts an arm around her.
SHEILA:
Look at the sky. It's nearly
dawn. I'm exhausted, Hank.
PRESTO:
We shouldn't go to a strange
town before we've rested. Once
we've climbed down the other
side we should find a sheltered
spot and get some sleep.
HANK:
Well OK then. What are we
waiting for?
DIANA:
Uh, it's about 5 foot 9, black
hair, slow moving and really
noisy.
ERIC:
(O/S)
Very funny.
ERIC finally struggles into view over the verge.
ERIC:
I'd like to see you try to
climb that in full armour.
HANK starts leading the group down the other side of the verge, back into the woods.
HANK:
C'mon.
ERIC still lags. DIANA and PRESTO hang back with him. DIANA looks up at the sky. She smiles faintly.
DIANA:
Hey. Look at that. The suns are
rising.
On HANK, SHEILA & BOBBY. They also look up.
SHEILA:
Yeah. Wow.
On the three suns, rising gloriously.
BOBBY:
(O/S)
I'd forgotten how pretty that
always is.
On DIANA, ERIC and PRESTO, looking up.
ERIC:
Mmm.
Beat.
ERIC:
You guys do know that to have a
world with three suns like that
would be physically impossible,
right?
ALL THE KIDS:
Yeah.
ERIC:
Right.
Slow pan out to a long shot of the kids making their way down the verge.
ERIC:
Just as long as none of you are
under the impression that we're
trapped somewhere which makes
the slightest bit of sense,
that's all...
Continue to pan out and out and out until our heroes are a little line of specks upon an empty, unfamiliar landscape strangely lit by the three rising suns.
CUT TO BLACK.