EPISODE 4: That Same Old Magic (part 2)
CUT TO
INT The small, cozy room, Day.
Morning light is barely discernible through the heavy curtains in the room. PRESTO dozes in the armchair. VARLA also sits with him, a blanket wrapped around the both of them. VARLA is awake, and gently plays with his hair. PRESTO blinks awake, a troubled frown on his face.
VARLA:
What is it?
PRESTO:
I don't know. Something feels
bad. Someone's afraid.
VARLA looks hard at PRESTO.
VARLA:
You never used to be able to
read feelings. How did you
become so talented?
PRESTO:
It's a lot of things. When I
got back home I thought my old
card tricks could keep me
happy, but it was just... well,
trickery. All of us fell behind
on school work, but I was the
worst. Even Eric could
concentrate better than me, and
he spent three months pumped
full of Morphine. One day I was
sitting there, just staring at
a piece of homework, getting
more and more frustrated, and I
noticed that my pen was
standing upright, like it was
magnetised or something. But I
was doing it. I just knew I
was. It felt great, like a bit
of magic had followed me back.
So I started finding out about
Witchcraft. It all just
happened so naturally. Before I
knew it, I was able to do stuff
on Earth, without the hat,
without anything, that I'd
never dream I could do here.
And then I came back. There's
so much magic here. So much.
And I'm not used to it. It's
like... having seven years
without coffee and then being
given a triple espresso ten
times every day.
VARLA:
What's espresso?
PRESTO:
You probably wouldn't like it.
I see you as more of a hazelnut
latte girl. I have a knack for
coffee.
Beat. PRESTO sits up.
PRESTO:
And this feeling still won't go
away. Maybe I should check on
the others.
VARLA:
Presto. They're safe. This is
probably the safest place in
the Realm. Trust me. Stay here.
PRESTO runs his hand over VARLA's arm.
PRESTO:
I would love that so much. But
there's things I have to do.
VARLA:
I... I didn't mean in this
chair. I meant stay here in my
palace with me. Marry me. We
can achieve so much together.
PRESTO looks into VARLA's eyes.
PRESTO:
I know that's what you meant.
VARLA:
And your answer's still no?
PRESTO:
We have a duty. When it's done,
perhaps...
VARLA:
It's the others, isn't it?
PRESTO:
No, Varla. It's me.
CUT TO
INT Dorm in the palace, Day.
PRESTO, back in his green robes, enters the room. It appears to be empty, save the weapons (barring Sheila's cloak).
PRESTO:
Guys?
PRESTO looks around.
PRESTO:
Guys?!?
HANK's head pops up from behind his bed. Spotting PRESTO, he grins. He sits up, retrieving a boot from beneath the bed.
HANK:
Hey! There you are!
PRESTO sighs, both relieved and a little embarrassed.
PRESTO:
Hey Hank.
HANK pulls his boot on.
HANK:
Good night?
PRESTO:
Yeah...
HANK:
I'll bet. Boy, do I ever feel
better for sleeping in a real
bed for once. If we ever get
back again, remind me to give
you a cigar.
ERIC appears in the doorway, cut throat razor and towel in hand. He arches an eyebrow at PRESTO. HANK indicates to ERIC.
HANK:
I don't think your wife's very
impressed, though.
ERIC rolls his eyes in irritation.
HANK:
Gonna wash up.
HANK grins again, slaps PRESTO on the back and wanders out past ERIC. PRESTO and ERIC are left in an uncomfortable silence.
ERIC:
So.
PRESTO:
So?
ERIC saunters into the Dorm and sits on a bed.
ERIC:
So do I owe you twenty dollars
then or not?
PRESTO:
Do you really need to be that
vulgar?
ERIC softens and smirks a little.
ERIC:
In other words, the bets are
still off.
PRESTO:
(whispers desperately)
It was not a bet. Besides, I
want to call that deal off...
ERIC:
Joke, Presto. Geez.
Beat.
ERIC:
But you didn't, right?
PRESTO:
I'm not discussing it with you.
ERIC:
So who stopped it, you or her?
PRESTO mimes zipping his lips shut.
ERIC:
Her, huh?
PRESTO:
(blurts out)
You wish! I'll have you know
she proposed this morning!
ERIC:
Oh-ho!
PRESTO:
...dammit...
ERIC starts putting his own boots on.
ERIC:
Well take a little advice from
a specialist in that field. Run
Away! Preferably screaming.
PRESTO:
She's not Zinn.
ERIC:
You're fucking lucky she's not.
PRESTO:
Seriously, dude. What happened?
HANK:
(O/S)
Oh shit!
ERIC and PRESTO turn to the doorway. HANK, BOBBY and DIANA run in. DIANA is holding SHEILA's dress. ERIC stands.
ERIC:
What's up?
BOBBY:
Sheila's gone missing.
PRESTO:
What? How?
DIANA:
She went to take a bath and now
she's just gone.
HANK:
She took her cloak. She could
be anywhere!
DIANA turns on HANK.
DIANA:
What, you think she's just
playing Hide and Seek?
A realisation dawns on PRESTO.
PRESTO:
It's her. Someone's been
calling out to me in fear. It's
Sheila.
BOBBY:
Oh God...
DIANA:
What do we do?
ERIC:
(quietly, to PRESTO)
Listen, last night I heard
something pretty weird in this
one room near the bathrooms.
Maybe we should...
BOBBY snatches the dress off DIANA and grabs his club.
BOBBY:
I'm gonna fetch Uni from the
stables. Maybe she can sniff
her out or somethin'.
ERIC:
Oh, so she's a bloodhound now?
BOBBY:
She's one of us! We can't
afford to keep splitting up
like this!
ERIC:
OK. OK.
Beat.
ERIC:
Let's split up...
BOBBY:
For fuck's sake!
ERIC:
I want Presto to check out the
red door room. If there's
something funny about it, he'll
be able to tell. We'll meet you
in the stables.
HANK picks up his bow.
HANK:
Come on, Bob. Let's find your
sister.
ERIC grabs his weapons and Diana's staff. They all hurry out into the corridor.
CUT TO
INT Corridor in the palace, Day.
HANK and BOBBY turn to go one way, ERIC, DIANA and PRESTO the other. ERIC turns to DIANA.
ERIC:
Here.
He tosses her staff to her and carries on walking. She catches it and continues to follow him.
DIANA:
Thanks.
ERIC stops and turns again.
ERIC:
What are you doing?
DIANA:
Going with you.
ERIC:
No you're not.
(calls out)
Bob! Hank! Wait for Diana!
HANK and BOBBY stop and turn.
HANK:
Hurry up!
ERIC:
Go on.
DIANA:
(quietly, deliberately)
But I always go with you guys.
ERIC:
(equally quietly)
Look, it's not fair on Bob if I
take all the useful people, OK?
DIANA narrows her eyes.
DIANA:
(quietly)
I hate you.
DIANA turns and jogs after HANK and BOBBY.
ERIC:
(calls after her)
Be careful! I hear they keep a
maniac Mythical Creature down
there!
DIANA, already at HANK and BOBBY, calls over her shoulder.
DIANA:
You're the boss!
HANK blinks at this, but follows BOBBY off.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day.
VARLA sits in her throne, unhappily. The head PRIEST leans into her.
PRIEST:
My Queen? You are almost
discovered!
VARLA doesn't answer.
PRIEST:
You cannot disguise the portal
while the Thief still fights.
We should take them now. All of
them.
VARLA:
No. She said I could keep
Presto.
PRIEST:
He refused you! And when he
sees what you have done, do you
think he will ever trust you
again? Majesty, do not tempt
the wrath of Furnus. Do not
risk their escape. You swore
you would deliver them.
VARLA bites her shaking lip.
CUT TO
INT Corridor outside Red Door, Day.
ERIC and PRESTO approach the red door. Firelight is visible under it.
ERIC:
This is it.
PRESTO:
Yeah. I can tell.
ERIC tries the door. It is locked.
ERIC:
Shit.
ERIC takes a step back and attempts shoulder barging the door with his shield to no avail.
PRESTO:
I can open it. Get back to the
others.
ERIC:
No.
PRESTO places his hands on the door.
PRESTO:
You don't need to protect me.
ERIC:
Same to you.
A quick burst of bright green magic flashes from PRESTO's hands and dissolves the door in an instant. With the door gone, firelight roars in their faces. PRESTO's eyes widen at the sight. ERIC reacts with utter terror, backing up against the wall, weapons raised defensively.
PRESTO:
Sure?
On the scene within the red door room. The firelight comes from a large portal. The world within it is completely aflame. Crawling from it and filling the room are many charred corpses. Most are still active, although some lie lifeless with cut throats or stab wounds. Several of them are clustered around one spot in the room, clawing and grasping at something.
ERIC:
(O/S, terrified whisper)
Jesus... somebody help me...
On PRESTO, pushing ERIC away from the door.
PRESTO:
This is where the Black Knight
took you, isn't it?
ERIC can't answer.
PRESTO:
Listen to me. That is not Hell.
ERIC:
...they're gonna take me...
Two zombies spot PRESTO and ERIC and approach them.
PRESTO:
(O/S)
They're not taking you
anywhere.
One of the zombies in the cluster is sent flying. A brief moment later, another zombie closer to those approaching ERIC and PRESTO falls, clutching its leg in agony.
The two zombies make a dash at ERIC and PRESTO.
ERIC reacts automatically, impaling the zombie which tries to grab him.
PRESTO spins around, raised hands crackling magic against the zombie which makes a swipe at him, but before he can do anything the zombie screams horribly. A large gash appears across its throat and its head is pulled backwards. It falls at PRESTO's feet with a terrible death rattle. PRESTO lowers his hands, stunned.
SHEILA:
(invisible, sobs softly)
PRESTO:
Sheila. Where are you?
ERIC scrapes the corpse off his sword with his boot, shell-shocked. He is pushed a little off balance by something bundling into him. He reaches up to his shoulder and uncloaks a bloody SHEILA who holds him tight, crying miserably.
PRESTO:
Shit.
SHEILA:
Varla's Priest locked me in.
They were trying to take me
in... there. He said something
about Furnus. Something about
getting me out of the way.
PRESTO squeezes his eyes beneath his glasses. When he speaks, the devastation in his voice can't be hidden.
PRESTO:
Eric. Take Sheila to find the
others. Get 'em out of here.
I'll see to the rest.
ERIC looks up past PRESTO.
ERIC:
But there's so many...
PRESTO turns. Scores of charred zombies are crawling through the portal, moaning and gurgling. By now many of them are approaching him, ERIC and SHEILA. PRESTO, a look of utter rage set on his face, steps out to meet the zombies, his hands raised. A burst of energy flies past PRESTO's nose and explodes on the approaching creatures, sending many of them toppling. PRESTO looks back along the energy's flight path. HANK approaches them in the corridor at a sprint, drawing back another bolt. DIANA, BOBBY and UNI flank him.
ERIC:
(O/S)
What are you guys doing here?
DIANA:
I thought you might need help.
Or is Presto the only one
allowed to get bad vibes about
things?
More zombies dash at ERIC and SHEILA. HANK fires another bolt at them. The zombies fall back, screaming and ablaze but still moving.
BOBBY:
Christ they're ugly!
BOBBY charges the zombies with his club, batting them away as though they were light as a feather. DIANA and UNI follow him. HANK reaches SHEILA and puts a hand on her shoulder. The move is more aggressive than caring.
HANK:
Let me guess. You fainted and
Eric just happened to catch
you.
SHEILA and ERIC both react, incredulous.
ERIC:
...Jesus...
SHEILA:
(over ERIC, sarcastic)
I'm fine, thankyou, Hank.
On BOBBY. He bashes one zombie so hard against the wall that its skull disintegrates messily.
BOBBY:
Oh my God...
On DIANA. She attempts to push back one zombie with the tip of her staff but the zombie's charred flesh is so weak that she completely impales it. It remains very much "alive", and starts pulling itself along the staff towards her.
DIANA:
Augh!
She kicks the zombie off her staff. It leaps up and comes straight back at her. She spins her staff up over her head and brings the tip down into the zombie's skull. She flinches as the zombie is impaled through the eye socket and out the other side, spattering brain on the floor.
DIANA:
Oh... Oh Man...
On ERIC as another zombie tries to wrench his raised shield away from him. In one fast movement, ERIC slices all of the zombie appearing above the shield away, cutting its head in half horizontally. It falls lifelessly, but three more grope at him.
ERIC:
There's too many.
PRESTO steps into the centre of the melee.
PRESTO:
Get out of here, you guys. I
can close the portal.
BOBBY:
Hey, we're not leaving you.
PRESTO raises his hands above his head.
PRESTO:
I SAID GO!
On "go", he brings his hands down. Green light explodes from his fingertips and fills the room. All the zombies in the room fall, but more are visible approaching the portal from the other side. The others stand and watch him in shock.
SHEILA:
Presto?
PRESTO turns and strides straight towards the portal.
PRESTO:
We've got some evil magic here.
Just let me deal with it, OK?
BOBBY:
At least we could get Varla to
help...
PRESTO stares at BOBBY. BOBBY reads his expression and looks down, embarrassed.
BOBBY:
Oh.
PRESTO:
I'll see you all later.
The others turn and leave. ERIC ushers DIANA, the last to leave, out of the room, then spots something on the floor and stops. He stoops and picks up PRESTO's dropped hat. He looks from the retreating KIDS to PRESTO, alone at the portal. He enters the room and approaches PRESTO.
PRESTO, his back to ERIC, puts his fingers on the sides of the portal and brings his hands together. As he does, the portal closes up easily, like a sliding door.
ERIC stops and watches this, frowning.
ERIC:
Um...
PRESTO doesn't turn.
PRESTO:
I told you to go.
ERIC:
Don't you need this?
ERIC puts PRESTO's hat in his hand.
ERIC:
Presto? When's the last time
you actually used your hat?
His back still turned to ERIC, PRESTO gazes wide eyed at the wall, mortified.
ERIC:
Do you wanna tell me something?
PRESTO opens his mouth, then thinks better of it.
ERIC:
A problem shared...
PRESTO:
Just go away.
ERIC:
Whatever you say.
ERIC squeezes PRESTO's hand briefly, then turns and leaves. PRESTO is left in the room. He hugs himself and attempts to sigh, but the breath comes out in broken lumps. He grinds his forehead against the wall where the portal had been.
PRESTO:
Varla.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day.
VARLA still sits on her throne, her PRIEST at her side. The PRIEST slaps the armrest of the throne with anger and leans into her desperately. VARLA doesn't flinch.
PRIEST:
Majesty! The Wizard has closed
the portal! He knows. They all
do. They will escape unless you
do something.
VARLA remains motionless and forlorn.
PRIEST:
You know what the consequences
are for disappointing Furnus.
For all of us.
Beat.
PRIEST:
If you do not deliver them to
Furnus, so help me, I shall
ensure that the mobs will.
VARLA continues to stare ahead.
VARLA:
Very well.
VARLA extends a hand. The six KIDS and UNI fade into view before her throne. They stand very still and gaze blankly up at her.
VARLA:
Don't hurt them.
VARLA stands and begins to climb down the steps to her throne.
PRIEST:
Where are you going?
VARLA:
To say goodbye.
CUT TO
INT Room within the Red Door, Day.
PRESTO still stands with his forehead against the wall. A sudden rage flashes across him. He smashes his fist against the wall, sending a wave of green magic charging over it. PRESTO composes himself again.
VARLA:
(O/S)
You are angry.
PRESTO spins around to see VARLA standing in the dissolved doorway. He remains Poker faced.
PRESTO:
Is that why you're hiding?
VARLA:
Presto?
PRESTO picks up a zombie's skull and hurls it at VARLA. it passes straight through her and hits the wall behind. VARLA looks down, embarrassed.
PRESTO:
Another illusion. That's all
I'm worth to you.
VARLA:
It's not... I love...
PRESTO:
(interrupting furiously)
Oh, you love me, huh? Then why
did you sell us out? Why try to
drag my friend into that...
that Hell?
VARLA:
The Thief was a... a
complication to my plan.
PRESTO:
Your plan? Varla, that...
PRESTO indicates where the portal had stood.
PRESTO:
(contd)
...was Furnus' world. When you
work with her, you dance to her
tune. You stick to her plan.
VARLA:
My plan was to save your life!
PRESTO:
Your plan was to buy me with
the others' lives. That's why
you got us caught in the traps,
that's why you lured Sheila to
the portal...
PRESTO blinks, concentrating.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day.
The KIDS and UNI skid through a small side door behind the throne and begin the long sprint along the hall to the main door at the other end. "PRESTO" steps out from behind a pillar to intercept them. He is dead-eyed and slow. DIANA, ahead, holds out a hand as a signal to the others. They all slow down their pace to meet him.
HANK:
Presto!
BOBBY:
Are you OK?
CUT TO
INT Room within the Red Door, Day.
PRESTO looks up at the projection of VARLA.
PRESTO:
You're still gonna go through
with it. I can't believe it!
VARLA:
You don't understand.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day.
The KIDS and UNI continue to approach "PRESTO", who stands stock still ahead of them. HANK goes up close to "PRESTO".
HANK:
Hey, Man. You've had a tough
day, all right? Let's just get
out of here for now.
ERIC also steps in close to "PRESTO", watching him hard. "PRESTO" doesn't stir.
HANK:
(extending a hand)
Presto?
Like a flash, "PRESTO" reaches up and grabs HANK's wrist. HANK gasps in the pain of the vice like grip. SHEILA, BOBBY and DIANA react, startled. They do not see the copies of themselves, HANK, UNI and ERIC creeping up behind them. In one fast stroke, ERIC emotionlessly draws his sword and stabs it, once, into "PRESTO"s side.
SHEILA:
(screams)
Eric, no!
"PRESTO"s only reaction is one of slight surprise. His image fizzes, then quickly fades away. HANK falls back, clutching his released wrist.
HANK:
Ow!... An illusion?
ERIC sheathes his sword, not noting "DIANA" behind him, also blank faced and motionless.
ERIC:
Couldn't have been Presto. He's
got the handshake of a Girl
Scout.
"DIANA" suddenly slings her staff over ERIC's head. Holding it at both ends, she uses it to tug him back by the throat. ERIC chokes, grasping ineffectually at the staff. Another staff, that of the real DIANA, is thrown around the fake "DIANA"s throat. DIANA jolts her doppelganger back hard into her. "DIANA" gurgles.
DIANA:
Stupid bitch!
"DIANA", gasping for air, loosens her grip on ERIC, who is able to wriggle free. "DIANA"s knees buckle and she slides down to a slumped kneel, the staff still against her windpipe.
DIANA:
That's not how you do it...
DIANA puts her foot against her copy's head and pushes.
DIANA:
This...
The others wince at the audible snap.
DIANA:
...is how you do it.
DIANA brings her staff up from the throat of the fake, who, fizzing, begins to fall lifelessly to the floor. Before she hits the ground, however, she disappears.
DIANA:
That felt pretty weird.
ERIC, still clasping his throat, puts his hand on DIANA's shoulder.
ERIC:
Diana. That was... really
Gross.
DIANA:
Well, it's a blunt weapon. Of
course it's gonna be...
DIANA trails off, gazing over ERIC's shoulder. Two more "DIANA"s stand behind him. She whips her head around. The others also look behind themselves.
Longer shot as the KIDS and UNI look about the hall to see the two dozen copies of themselves encircling them.
CUT TO
INT Room within the Red Door, Day.
PRESTO and VARLA are still facing off.
VARLA:
You left. You don't know what
this world is like nowadays.
You have to become hardened to
survive.
PRESTO:
But doing deals with Furnus...
VARLA:
I know that you made deals with
Venger! Before he cast off No
Name! Venger, who caused so
much suffering to this world...
to my people... to me. And then
you chose to save his soul!
PRESTO:
We did what we had to.
VARLA:
And that's all I did. When you
are the child Queen of a poor,
barren land and the most
powerful being in the Realm
comes to you offering peace and
prosperity to your Kingdom in
return for the occasional use
of your talents, you do not
turn her down!
PRESTO:
But Dungeon Master was the...
VARLA:
The only time we ever saw the
Dungeon Master was during your
brief visit. I wish I could say
the same of Venger. What
allegiance did I owe them?
PRESTO:
And what about us?
VARLA:
She was going to let us stay
together! Here, in happiness!
PRESTO smiles, joylessly.
PRESTO:
"Us" doesn't mean you and me.
It means me and the others.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day.
The KIDS and UNI are still central to a tight circle of copies. Fighting has already broken out.
On HANK. He fires a bolt at a copy of himself, who fizzes and fades, then at a copy of PRESTO, who does the same. BOBBY comes charging at him, his club raised. HANK fires a shot. BOBBY bats it away. HANK tries again, with the same result.
HANK:
Shit!
BOBBY freezes, his club over his head. HANK draws again.
BOBBY:
Hank! Woah there! It's me!
HANK lowers his bow.
HANK:
Um, this is getting kinda
confusing.
On ERIC, back against the wall, trying to push a furious UNI away with his feet.
ERIC:
Not to mention dangerous. Uni,
I know that's you. You're the
only one covered in Zombie
brains.
UNI backs off with a snort.
ERIC:
And your breath stinks.
On DIANA, parrying with "SHEILA".
DIANA:
How's about everyone who's
real, raise their hand.
Longer shot. Everybody in the hall raises a hand.
Closer on DIANA and "SHEILA". DIANA rolls her eyes, briefly unguarded. "SHEILA" takes this opportunity to lash out at DIANA, but stops short, surprised.
FAKE SHEILA:
...eep...
SHEILA appears from under her cloak, dagger in hand, just as the fake fizzles out.
SHEILA:
Better idea. We all know each
other inside out. Varla
doesn't. Prove you're real by
saying something she couldn't
make up, like how horseradish
makes me sneeze.
DIANA:
Good idea.
BOBBY, HANK and ERIC join them, guarded.
BOBBY:
I used to play drums in a band
called Visibly Aroused.
HANK:
I broke my left ankle when I
was twenty, re-enacting how I
broke it the first time aged
six.
They look at ERIC.
"ERIC":
Um...
"ERIC"s throat is suddenly cut from behind. He fizzles out to reveal the real ERIC.
ERIC:
Kiss chase. Ten years old.
Slipped Julie Klien the tongue.
She beat the shit out of me.
The real KIDS form a tight circle, facing out towards the impostors, weapons ready.
DIANA:
I remember that! Didn't I hold
your legs open for her?
HANK fires two shots into the fakes. Briefly on UNI, impaling a fake version of herself. Back on the KIDS.
ERIC:
That was you? Thought that was
a boy...
SHEILA leaps towards the fakes, cloaking. BOBBY makes a run into the fakes, club raised.
DIANA:
I had my hair cut short that
year because somebody got gum
in it.
HANK turns his head to them briefly.
HANK:
Guys? D'you wanna stop fighting
and, um, start fighting?
DIANA:
Yeah, yeah.
DIANA launches herself into the air, bringing her staff down hard on one fake kid and swiftly kicking another. ERIC spins around to block a fake SHEILA's knife, becoming embroiled in a parry with both her and a fake DIANA. On HANK. Drawing back a bolt, he aims at two versions of BOBBY, fighting one another.
HANK:
Little help, Bob?
Both BOBBYs turn to look at him. Only one speaks.
BOBBY:
I cried at "Armageddon".
HANK:
Thank you.
HANK shoots the "BOBBY" who didn't speak.
CUT TO
INT Room inside the Red Door, Day.
VARLA and PRESTO watch each other, cautiously.
VARLA:
They're good.
PRESTO:
I know. But Furnus'll be here
soon, right? Then it's game
over.
VARLA:
She'll probably only take one
or two to toy with for now. She
doesn't think much of The
Seven. I can still see you
spared.
PRESTO:
No. We're all getting out of
here in one piece. Right now.
VARLA:
I can hold them off as long as
I like.
PRESTO sighs and holds one hand out towards the projection of VARLA, palm up. He clenches his fist. VARLA barely has time to react in shock before her projection is sucked into his clenched hand.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day.
On DIANA, about to bring her staff down on a copy of PRESTO when he disappears. She stops in her tracks and frowns, confused.
DIANA:
Hey...
Longer shot as the many fake kids all fizzle out of existence.
BOBBY:
Where are they all going?
The KIDS and UNI, now alone in the hall again, cluster together. The room is slowly brightening.
HANK:
Never mind that. Let's go.
ERIC looks up at the candles around the pillars and sees that the flames on them are growing.
SHEILA:
(o/s)
But what about Presto?
ERIC:
We have to go.
ERIC pushes through the group, trying to usher them towards the door. UNI runs ahead, BOBBY pursuing. HANK takes SHEILA's hand and begins to lead her away. DIANA stalls.
DIANA:
But...
ERIC turns on her, desperately.
ERIC:
Now!
CUT TO
INT Small, cozy room (from night before), Day.
The true VARLA has been in this room all the while, standing by the armchair. The fire in front of her is slowly growing out of control. Her face is full of sadness and panic. She is beginning to cry.
VARLA:
No... No... my powers...
PRESTO:
(o/s)
You'll get them back when my
friends are safe.
VARLA turns to see a projection of PRESTO standing emotionlessly near the door.
PRESTO:
God knows you'll need them.
VARLA indicates the growing fire.
VARLA:
Nothing will protect me from
her wrath.
PRESTO:
Maybe...
PRESTO looks up at her, a glimmer of hope in his eye.
PRESTO:
Maybe not... Varla, if... if
you can turn your back on
Furnus, if you can come with
us, become one of us... I could
protect you. And we could have
a chance...
VARLA hangs her head, sadly.
VARLA:
Presto.
PRESTO:
...but you won't, huh. You
won't leave your people.
VARLA:
No more than you'd leave yours.
Because as much as I love
you...
PRESTO:
...You love them more.
VARLA:
Goodbye, Presto.
PRESTO:
If she hurts you...
VARLA:
Goodbye.
PRESTO closes his eyes tight, and disappears in a flash of green light.
CUT TO
EXT Hilltop, Day. Raining.
There are a couple of large oak trees nearby, but PRESTO has chosen not to seek shelter from the rain under either of them. He sits on a tree stump sorrowfully gazing into the middle distance, letting the rain soak him.
DIANA:
(o/s)
There he is!
PRESTO just sighs.
BOBBY:
(o/s)
Are you OK, Presto?
SHEILA:
(o/s, hushed)
Of course he's not.
ERIC walks around PRESTO and crouches down in front of him, searching his face, waiting for him to speak. PRESTO meets his gaze but says nothing.
HANK:
(o/s)
Man, we're all soaked!
(calls out)
Guys, we're gonna dry up under
that big tree. Why don'tcha
join us?
ERIC stands up and walks away from PRESTO.
ERIC:
Coming.
BOBBY:
(o/s, hushed)
Aren't you gonna talk to him?
PRESTO looks skywards, irritated.
ERIC:
(o/s hushed)
What would I say? "I told you
so"? Start up a "Honk If Your
Ex Is Evil" club? He's a Guy,
Bob. If he doesn't wanna talk,
he doesn't...
Without looking back, PRESTO reaches a hand above his head. He clicks his fingers, once. All movement except PRESTO's stops. The rain hangs motionless in the air. PRESTO looks at the others behind him. The others are also completely still. HANK, SHEILA and UNI are under an oak tree, DIANA is halfway towards it. ERIC and BOBBY had been walking towards the tree, but trailing. ERIC, mouth frozen open halfway through his sentence, is looking over his shoulder at PRESTO with concern. PRESTO turns back around and stares at the ground ahead of him. He finally allows the tears to come.
PRESTO:
It's not fair. None of this is.
PRESTO looks up. A large shadow falls over his face.
PRESTO:
You have no idea how lonely I
am.
The shadow shifts. VENGER sits down next to PRESTO.
Beat.
VENGER:
I do.
PRESTO doesn't look at him.
PRESTO:
You chose to abandon the people
you loved. In return for power.
VENGER:
You think I made no friends in
the darkness? I was there for a
long time. When I turned back
to my father, there were others
I had to leave behind.
PRESTO glowers at VENGER.
PRESTO:
There was no love in you then.
VENGER sighs.
VENGER:
You are terribly young.
Beat. VENGER turns to look at the others.
VENGER:
And you are not alone. Your
friends care for you.
PRESTO follows VENGER's gaze.
PRESTO:
They don't understand either.
Thank God...
Beat.
PRESTO:
If you'd known what it's like
to be Dungeon Master, would you
be able to... to spot it in
someone else?
VENGER:
Having never been Dungeon
Master, I wouldn't...
VENGER blinks.
VENGER:
The Cavalier.
PRESTO doesn't reply.
VENGER:
You suspect he knows.
PRESTO:
I know he suspects.
VENGER:
You could tell him.
PRESTO looks at VENGER.
VENGER:
He is a good friend to you. And
as you say, he alone
understands your position...
PRESTO:
What would you do to him?
VENGER:
I'm sorry?
PRESTO:
The old you. If you were
searching for the new DM and
you found out Eric knew. What
would you do to him to make him
tell you?
VENGER stalls, his eyes flashing horror at the atrocities of his past life. Eventually he speaks, miserably.
VENGER:
Unspeakable things.
PRESTO:
He's barely holding it together
as it is. He carries your mark.
He dreams of burning and begs
for mercy in his sleep. I don't
know what stands to tip him
over the edge, but it could be
torture. And I've seen what'll
happen to him if he goes.
VENGER:
The Black Knight...
PRESTO:
Talks like him. Fights like
him. Even carries his sword.
And if I warn him, he'll know
I'm DM for sure. So you see
what I mean about being alone?
I'm amongst my best friends and
I can't talk to them about the
most important things!
VENGER:
And the Barbarian? You still
won't tell him about his child?
PRESTO:
It'll put the baby in too much
danger.
VENGER shakes his head.
VENGER:
Dungeon Master...
PRESTO:
Stop calling me that!
VENGER:
Very well, Wizard...
PRESTO:
I have a name, God dammit!
VENGER:
(tentatively)
...Arthur?
PRESTO gives VENGER a filthy look.
PRESTO:
"Presto"ll do just fine.
VENGER:
Presto. My father never felt
the need to keep you children
from the truth. Perhaps...
PRESTO:
And you know what the worst
thing about this whole
situation is? Out of everybody
in the Realm, the one person I
get to share this stuff with is
you. I find myself wishing
nearly every day that you'd
stayed bad, instead of having
to work with you and talk with
you. Seeing the hatred on their
faces, seeing my best friend
doubled over in agony every
time you show up...
VENGER rises and starts to walk off.
VENGER:
If he'd let me remove the
spell...
PRESTO:
He won't.
VENGER:
...and if you told them...
PRESTO:
I won't.
Beat. VENGER stops and looks over his shoulder at PRESTO.
VENGER:
Berkle. That's worse than
Arthur.
PRESTO:
'Scuse me?
VENGER:
Berkle Whitewood. Never suited
me, even as a human. Named
after my father, as it happens.
VENGER breaks into a couple of running steps, then unfolds his wings and soars away. PRESTO watches him go, stunned. As he does, the rain slowly begins to fall on his face again.
CUT TO
INT Great Hall, Day, dark with rain.
The Hall is lit with the familiar orange light of FURNUS, who stands before VARLA. VARLA sits on her throne, stony faced, with her PRIEST at her side.
FURNUS:
They destroyed a portal.
VARLA:
You underestimated them.
FURNUS:
You let them go.
VARLA:
Like I said...
FURNUS:
Did you do it out of love? Is
that why you disobeyed me?
VARLA:
No, Great Furnus. I was...
PRIEST:
It was me, Furnus.
VARLA and FURNUS look at the PRIEST sharply.
VARLA:
What?
FURNUS:
You?
PRIEST:
Queen Varla was going to hand
them over to you, but... I was
put under a spell. I sent them
to safety.
FURNUS narrows her eyes. A tendril of her skirt of flame creeps over towards the PRIEST.
FURNUS:
Your Queen and Country should
be thankful for your... honesty
at least. You have spared them
my revenge. And taken it for
yourself.
The tendril wraps tight around the PRIEST's body.
PRIEST:
(screams of agony)
The PRIEST, screaming, bursts into flame. His skin and flesh burn away swiftly. FURNUS releases the tendril and the PRIESTS charred skeleton falls, lifeless.
VARLA remains still throughout, staring ahead, showing no emotion.
The tendril returns to FURNUS, who smiles brightly.
VARLA:
Will that be all, Mistress?
FURNUS:
Fortunately for you, yes. You
clearly cannot deal with The
Seven alone. Although I may
call upon your... talents at
another time. Do not disappoint
me again.
VARLA:
I am not to be punished?
FURNUS:
I know the pain of making an
enemy of a lover. The
loneliness of an unattended
throne. You will suffer, Varla.
Mark my words.
FURNUS turns and glides away from VARLA. Pan out to a Long Shot of VARLA, utterly alone on her throne, watching FURNUS leave. Her hands clutching the arms of the throne tremble, but she does not cry.
CUT TO BLACK