EPISODE 8: The Swan
PART 2
INT The Tower room, Evening.
Another small, sparse room, although this one has manacles hanging from the wall and a large, barred window showing the great distance down. THUG and another ORC drag ERIC into the room. ZINN follows, wielding the keys as well as her wand. Sniggering, the ORCs manacle his hands, already tied behind him, so that he is facing the wall. The manacles are too high and pull his arms into an awkward position. ZINN saunters up behind him and runs a hand down his chest.
ZINN:
Unfortunately, this is where
our law states I must leave you
for tonight. Don't worry. I'll
send for you in the morning and
we pick up where we were so
rudely interrupted before...
ERIC:
"Cementing the marriage". Yeah,
I remember.
ZINN:
Don't make it sound so formal,
my sweet. You have no idea how
exciting it was for me that
day, your little skinny body
squirming under me, your little
cries for help...
She pushes her hand down his crotch.
ZINN:
And now you've become a man.
There is a ripping noise. Despite his attempt not to show emotion, ERIC winces, biting his lip. ZINN retrieves a clenched fist full of black hair from the front of his trousers. She steps away, wiping the hair down his back.
ZINN:
We're going to have fun
tomorrow.
ERIC:
My friends are gonna kick your
ass.
ZINN:
Really? They'd break a
country's laws for once? Then
shouldn't they be here by now?
ERIC just gazes at the wall in silence. ZINN begins to leave, then turns to THUG, approaching ERIC.
ZINN:
See that he's untouched
tonight.
THUG:
But you said...
ZINN:
Not until it's nice and
binding. Besides, I think I
deserve to get him first.
ZINN leaves. THUG approaches ERIC anyway.
OTHER ORC:
You heard! Wait til tomorrow!
THUG presses himself against ERIC, who still remains Poker Faced.
THUG:
They say there was a fight.
They say that one of the humans
cut the head off my cousin. I
asked what the human was like
and they said he had black hair
and talked too much.
(whispers in his ear)
It's a very messy death. I've
seen it done before. You has
your fun and then you goes in
with a sword. And they squeal.
They always squeal.
OTHER ORC:
'Til tomorrow, Thug.
THUG presses his face close to ERIC's for a moment, trying to meet his eyes. When this doesn't work, THUG quickly licks the side of ERIC's face. ERIC remains calm.
THUG:
'Til tomorrow.
ERIC continues to watch the wall impassively as the two ORCs leave the room and close the door. Once the click of the lock is heard, he throws himself into a violent, furious fit, thrashing against his chains.
ERIC:
You stupid boy! You stupid,
brainless, vain, spoiled,
sticky-out-eared fucking child!
Why the fuck did you ever go
through that stupid ceremony?
Huh? Shiny Things, that's why!
Shiny crowns, shiny jewels,
shiny tits... What was I, a
fucking magpie...?
He becomes more still, and quieter.
ERIC:
You're not coming, are you,
Dee? Not this time. Nah, I've
fucked this one up pretty good.
Nobody's gonna come and stop
her this time.
Long pause.
ERIC:
Don't come. Don't love me back.
I'm bad news. Don't come.
CUT TO
EXT Swampy jungle. Night.
On PRESTO, still passed out in the mire. He opens his eyes slowly, then remembers what's happened and sits bolt upright.
Open up the shot. The others are all gone, bar TIAMAT.
PRESTO:
What...
TIAMAT:
You still have time. Rest.
PRESTO:
The others...
TIAMAT:
Grieving. Alone.
PRESTO rubs his forehead.
PRESTO:
They're not all dead. They
can't all be dead!
TIAMAT:
Perhaps not. Perhaps some of
them were able to strike a
bargain with Furnus...
PRESTO:
That's as good as death.
TIAMAT:
You also understand that you
are likely to fail at Zinn. The
Cavalier at the very least will
join your allies in their tomb.
PRESTO shakes his head, covering his eyes.
PRESTO:
How could this happen?
TIAMAT:
Whitewood was an old man.
PRESTO uncovers his eyes, his face set.
PRESTO:
Yeah, well I'm not. You know
what? I'm through with the good
guys being the victims. Furnus
took DM and she took Varla and
she took... God Knows who else.
But she's not getting any more.
She doesn't get to mess with
The Seven. I'm putting my foot
down. I'm going to war.
He looks at TIAMAT.
PRESTO:
Whose side are you on, Dragon?
TIAMAT:
I do not take sides. I do not
join armies. But I mean to take
revenge on Furnus and her
servants.
PRESTO nods.
PRESTO:
That's good enough for me.
He struggles to his feet.
TIAMAT:
I will go with you to Zinn.
And... I have an artefact.
PRESTO:
Another weapon?
TIAMAT:
I believe it would advantage
the Acrobat. It will give her
the best chance of rescuing her
mate. However... it is very
powerful. It will change her
forever. I ask your permission
to let her take it, Dungeon
Master.
PRESTO thinks for a moment.
PRESTO:
Have you asked her?
TIAMAT:
She says she will see it at
least.
PRESTO:
Then it's her decision.
CUT TO
EXT Swampy jungle (the hole TIAMAT burst from), Night.
TIAMAT is now leading DIANA down the muddy chasm. DIANA slips and slides down it at speed after the dragon.
TIAMAT:
Down here.
DIANA:
...things I do for that damn
boy...
They have now come to a muddy tunnel at the bottom of the hole. As they enter it, hundreds of tiny twinkling lights spark up along it.
DIANA:
Pretty.
TIAMAT:
What is?
DIANA:
Little lights. Like stars.
TIAMAT:
Ah. It must approve of your
coming. That is a good sign.
TIAMAT leads through the tunnel.
DIANA:
Listen... there was something
you said... that he wouldn't
have a say about Zinn. What did
you mean?
TIAMAT:
I doubt you will have heard of
Leda's Revenge.
DIANA:
Can't say I have.
TIAMAT:
It is a technique only known by
certain witches, occasionally
taught to female monarchs. A
way of removing the male
suitor's power of refusal.
DIANA:
A spell?
TIAMAT:
Simpler than that. The victim
is asphyxiated, or throttled.
The practitioner merely takes
advantage of the automatic
reaction.
DIANA:
Oh... oh God. Pistol mentioned
something about a beast in
this swamp that attacked boys.
TIAMAT:
They say Zinn came here after
her spell backfired. And her
aggression was infamous.
DIANA:
Wow. Eric was lucky she let him
escape the first time, huh?
The lights become clustered closer together. TIAMAT stops.
TIAMAT:
She didn't. Here we are.
DIANA walks around to the front of the dragon.
DIANA:
What?
TIAMAT:
The weapon is here.
DIANA:
What did you say about Eric?
TIAMAT:
The Dungeon Master caught her
just in time. She was drowning
him in mud.
DIANA:
But... he was just a kid.
TIAMAT:
She has a taste for youth. You
are standing on your weapon.
DIANA:
I'm gonna kill her... huh?
TIAMAT:
The Goddess Beads. You are
standing on them.
DIANA leaps to one side and looks at the spot where she was previously standing.
DIANA:
Oh! Oh...
She stoops and picks up a small string of muddy beads.
DIANA:
Is that it?
TIAMAT:
I do not know where they came
from, but I know that they are
for you. A gift from somebody,
perhaps. Somebody not of this
world, or yours.
DIANA wipes the mud off the beads and looks at them, sparkling against the little lights.
TIAMAT:
They are very, very powerful.
More so than your staff. They
will make your whole body a
weapon. Faster. Stronger. You
will soar. You will touch the
stars themselves.
A realisation hits DIANA. She sighs, and clutches the beads to her chest.
DIANA:
Thank you.
TIAMAT turns to go.
TIAMAT:
We leave in ten minutes.
DIANA looks up at the little lights.
DIANA:
Thank you.
CUT TO
INT The Tower, pre-dawn.
ERIC is still manacled uncomfortably to the wall, half-heartedly singing Happy Songs to himself.
ERIC:
(sings softly)
...goodbye grey sky, hello
blue, there's nothin' to hold
me when I hold you, feels so
right, can't be wrong, rockin'
and rollin' all...
He stops and listens. A bird can be heard singing, off. He turns his head, stiffly, and sees the sky has turned to navy blue from black.
ERIC:
(sighs)
Morning, already?
CUT TO
EXT Cabbage field, Dawn.
TIAMAT, UNI, PISTOL, NYM and the KIDS are swiftly making their way across the field. The palace of Zinn can be seen in the distance. DIANA is now wearing the beads, and walks ahead with PRESTO. SHEILA, BOBBY, UNI and PISTOL are walking together. HANK and NYM take up the rear.
HANK:
Morning, already?
NYM:
Nearly there now. Although I
can't say I'm particularly
looking forward to storming the
castle of my own country. I
suppose you lot are a dab hand
at it.
HANK:
Not really. Most of the castles
we blew up were already empty.
We helped defend a couple of
places. For all the good it did
'em in the long run.
NYM:
Your ex... Sheila. She's the
one Lawrence wanted as Queen,
isn't she?
HANK nods.
NYM:
Did you ever propose marriage?
HANK:
None of your business.
NYM:
I don't think you did.
HANK:
Why?
NYM:
She would have said 'yes'.
HANK:
You don't know...
NYM:
I know she seems like the
sensible type. Too sensible to
turn you down.
HANK laughs a little, joylessly.
HANK:
Ya don't know me, either.
NYM:
You're very attractive. That's
all I want to know for now.
HANK looks down at her. She gives him a confident little smile. He laughs again, more warmly this time. A large shadow passes over them all. TIAMAT and UNI both growl and the KIDS fall into a furious silence. They all keep walking and ignore VENGER as he lands beside them. On PISTOL, SHEILA, BOBBY and UNI.
PISTOL:
Is that... who I fink it is?
The others just keep walking, angrily.
VENGER:
Surely you are not storming a
castle without my help..?
BOBBY:
We don't want your help. Fuck
off.
VENGER notes TIAMAT.
VENGER:
I see. Tiamat has told you...
PRESTO:
...about your wife? And your
little pact with her? It's been
quite a day for finding out
about secret marriages, hasn't
it? Now what part of Fuck Off
didn't you understand?
VENGER steps in front of PRESTO and DIANA, blocking their path. The others all stop with them.
VENGER:
You know what I used to be. If
I could change it, I would, but
I cannot. My own father and
sister are amongst the dead...
HANK:
(sighs)
Karena too...
SHEILA:
(bursting into fresh tears)
Oh God...
VENGER:
...but I can make the future
better. I can help you stop the
carnage. The Acrobat has the
Goddess Beads. I suggest that I
take her to rescue the Cavalier
while the rest of you bring
down the castle walls...
DIANA puts a protective hand up to the beads round her neck.
DIANA:
I don't need you...
VENGER reaches out and takes her shoulder.
VENGER:
You do not know how to use
them.
PRESTO grabs VENGER's wrist furiously. His hands spark.
PRESTO:
Don't you touch her. She said
she doesn't want your help.
VENGER:
The sun is almost up, Wizard,
and your friend is being
prepared for Zinn as I speak. I
know what tortures she and her
servants are capable of. If he
is lucky he will be dead by
tonight. If he survives it...
who can say what would become
of him. This is not the time to
dwell on the past. Let me help
you save him.
PRESTO scowls at VENGER for a beat, then releases VENGER's wrist.
DIANA:
(softly)
She's a monster, Presto. I'll
do whatever it takes to get him
out of there.
(To VENGER)
How do I use them?
VENGER takes her shoulders and brings her around in front of him, turning towards the castle.
VENGER:
You must come with me.
(to the others)
Waste no more time. To the
castle.
HANK:
Well duh...
VENGER doesn't stop to listen, but lifts DIANA by the waist and begins to run.
DIANA:
Wha...
Stay on VENGER and DIANA as VENGER unfolds his wings and takes off.
DIANA:
Augh!
DIANA stares down in horror as the ground disappears from beneath her, then decides to close her eyes.
VENGER:
I thought you were fearless.
DIANA:
That's easy to say when you can
fly.
VENGER:
You can fly.
DIANA:
Huh?
VENGER:
The beads. They give you the
power of flight. Amongst
others.
DIANA:
OK... so, what, think Happy
Thoughts?
VENGER:
Think flying thoughts. Feel the
speed and the altitude.
DIANA attempts opening one eye.
DIANA:
Oh I feel it, all right.
VENGER:
Spread your wings.
DIANA spreads her arms.
DIANA:
'Arms'.
VENGER:
Certain?
DIANA screws up her face in concentration, but something still bugs her.
DIANA:
Say, what happened to your
horse, anyway?
Close on VENGER. He drifts higher.
VENGER:
Sshh. Concentrate.
DIANA:
Don't drop me...
VENGER lifts his hands into shot. He no longer holds DIANA.
VENGER:
I'm not going to drop you.
CUT TO
INT Zinn's chamber, Early morning.
A very richly decorated bedroom. From the large windows you can tell that the room is high up. On ZINN, entering the chamber, brushing her hair. She stops, looks down and smiles.
ZINN:
Good morning, dear.
Open up the shot. ERIC is now tied to Zinn's bed.
ERIC:
Surprise!
ZINN walks over to him, sitting down on the bed and running a hand through his hair.
ZINN:
They even washed you for me.
ERIC:
And they say romance is dead.
ZINN:
Thug... didn't touch you?
ERIC:
No. He seemed to enjoy
watching, though.
ZINN:
Hmm. Well, you'll be pleased to
hear, you've paid your
penance.
She leans in close to him.
ZINN:
You may now kiss your Queen.
ERIC:
I'd sooner kiss an Orc.
ZINN:
That can be arranged.
ERIC:
You'd really do it, wouldn't
you? You'd really grease me up
and throw me to the perverts.
ZINN:
Now that all depends on how
nicely you kiss me Good
Morning.
ERIC glares at ZINN briefly, then leans up and kisses her fully on the mouth. She pushes back, enjoying it, biting at his lips and tongue. As she pulls out, blissfully, she leaves behind a trail of spit running from her mouth to his. It snaps off into his disgusted face.
ZINN:
Mmm... Yes. The belt, I think.
She removes her belt.
ZINN:
I want to see your face.
She slides the belt under his head, and loops it around his neck.
ERIC:
...no...
ZINN:
That's it. Beg again.
She tightens the loop. ERIC chokes.
ERIC:
Zinn. Please. I don't want to.
I'm in love...
ZINN:
With the other girl?
ERIC:
There is no other girl. She's
the only one I've been with. I
want to keep it like that.
ZINN tightens the belt again.
ZINN:
Still so innocent. Maybe this
will be as much fun as taking
your chastity.
A large black shape flies past the window.
ZINN:
Say it again. Say 'Please'. Say
'Please, I'm a virgin'.
ERIC:
No...
She tightens the belt.
ZINN:
Say it!
Dark, female fingers suddenly come up from behind ZINN and grab her hair, roughly pulling her backwards off ERIC. ZINN falls back onto the floor and DIANA holds her down with her boot on her chest.
DIANA:
He said 'no', bitch. Now get
your own man.
ERIC struggles to look up at DIANA.
ERIC:
Dee?
DIANA:
Save your breath for the
apologies later, asshole.
ERIC:
But how the Hell did you get
here?
ZINN grabs hold of DIANA's ankle and slams her to the floor.
DIANA:
Ow!
ZINN:
So this is the girl I was
cuckolded for?
She jumps on DIANA and pins her down.
ZINN:
Oh yes. I remember you. I can't
say I'm surprised. You're a
pretty thing, aren't you?
DIANA struggles against her.
DIANA:
Get off me!
ZINN:
Do you please my husband? Maybe
you might like to show me how
before you die.
DIANA spits at ZINN. ZINN sits on DIANA's chest, pinning her arms with her feet and beginning to strangle her.
ZINN:
Maybe not...
ERIC:
Leave her alone!
DIANA, struggling under ZINN, is suddenly surrounded by a twinkling light, and changes shape. She morphs swiftly into a jet black swan - the only clothing remaining on her being the beads around her neck. ZINN gasps, taken aback. The swan DIANA takes advantage of the situation, thrusting her long neck up toward ZINN's face and pecking her above the eye. ZINN screams, clutching her bloody eye and the swan DIANA pushes her feet off her wings. Once free, she morphs back into a woman and gets to her feet.
ERIC:
What the...
ZINN runs, screaming, at DIANA, launching a fist at her. DIANA dodges it and punches ZINN herself. ZINN spins around, pulling a dagger out of her boot and pointing it at DIANA. DIANA leaps back, becoming a swan as she does, lashing out with her beak again. ZINN backs away from DIANA, and points the knife at the still prone ERIC. DIANA becomes human again, horrified.
DIANA:
Eric?
ERIC:
Get outta here, Dee.
ZINN:
No. You're going to stay. And
you're going to watch this, and
you're not going to interfere
unless you want me to start
carving him up alive...
DIANA:
Wait a minute, Zinn.
ZINN looks at her.
DIANA:
Aren't ya gonna answer that?
ZINN:
Answer what?
There is a distant, yet very forceful, bang. The whole tower shakes. ZINN loses her balance slightly, but manages to stay on her feet. She looks angrily at DIANA.
DIANA:
That. I think there's somebody
at the door.
ZINN scowls, the point of her dagger still against ERIC's face. There is another, louder, bang. Panicked voices can now be heard rising from lower floors.
FEMALE VOICE:
(O/S, distressed)
My Queen? My Queen!
ZINN:
Damn it!
She tucks the dagger back in her boot, and leans over to ERIC. A couple of drops of blood from her injured eye fall on his face.
ZINN:
Don't worry, my love. I'll
come back for you. Whether
you're still here or not.
She smiles, drawing a 'Z' on his cheek in the blood, then turns and swiftly leaves the chamber, locking the door behind her. There is another bang. DIANA runs over to ERIC and starts untying his bonds.
ERIC:
What the Hell's going on?
DIANA:
They're storming the castle.
ERIC:
And you're a swan now
because..?
DIANA:
New weapon. Long story. Tiamat
gave it to me.
DIANA finally succeeds in freeing ERIC, who gets off the bed, rubbing his wrists.
ERIC:
Tiamat?!?
DIANA:
Yeah. Told you it was a long
story.
She tugs him towards the large window.
DIANA:
Now come on, time to go.
ERIC:
Oh no. I had enough flying in
that stupid prison.
DIANA stops and turns to him.
DIANA:
Fine. I'll just tie you to the
bed and leave you, then.
ERIC sighs, nervously stepping up onto the windowsill.
ERIC:
It's just kinda embarrassing
having your girl rescue you all
the time... not that I'm
complaining, just...
DIANA gets on the windowsill with him, manoeuvring herself in front of him and pulling his arms around her neck. Still, ERIC looks down at the drop with trepidation.
ERIC:
Aw, shit. Talk about Deja-Vu.
DIANA looks out into the distance, sadly, remembering something else. She spreads her arms.
DIANA:
Tell me about it.
She jumps off the window ledge, and they both plummet.
CUT TO
EXT Outside the castle, Day.
The others are storming the gate to the castle. The bangs can be attributed to TIAMAT body barging against the gate. As she takes each step back, BOBBY and PISTOL smash against the gate, BOBBY with his club, PISTOL with a handy axe he has 'found'. HANK and NYM are firing crossbow bolts at any Orcs that try to attack them from the parapets, and the small stream of Orcs that are coming from around the side of the castle are finding themselves under attack from a furious UNI as well as a
powerful, invisible force, before they can get to the gang. On VENGER and PRESTO, at the back, firing magical bolts up into the parapets, and occasionally, when it is safe to do so, at the gate. In a momentary lull, PRESTO notices an odd, soft sound. He looks up at VENGER, perplexed. His expression turns to one of anger as he sees the strange, wistful smile on VENGER's face.
PRESTO:
Are you humming?
VENGER assumes a serious expression, caught out.
VENGER:
(unconvincingly)
No...
PRESTO:
Stop enjoying yourself!
On BOBBY and PISTOL. The gate is starting to split.
BOBBY:
We're nearly there.
ERIC:
(O/S)
Hey. Wha'd I miss?
BOBBY blinks in surprise off in ERIC's direction.
BOBBY:
Holy... where'd you come from?
On ERIC and DIANA, approaching the others from the side of the castle. They are on foot, although DIANA is still shaking one black wing back into a human arm.
ERIC:
Long story. Hey, Tiamat, long
time no see...
TIAMAT snarls blindly at him.
ERIC:
OK... bad choice of words.
SHEILA:
(Invisible)
Eric!
SHEILA uncloaks next to ERIC and takes his shoulder, concerned.
SHEILA:
What happened to you?
ERIC laughs, grimly.
ERIC:
Trouble with the Missis.
Suddenly the gate to the castle is forced open from the inside. Behind it is a large gang of ORCs and some human soldiers. Leading them all is ZINN, in armour, wielding her wand.
DIANA:
(O/S)
Speak of the Devil...
ZINN:
What is the meaning of this?
PRESTO steps forward.
PRESTO:
It's over, Zinn. We're gonna
put an end to Furnus' empire.
And it's starting with you.
ZINN just laughs, but many of the human soldiers behind her look confused.
ZINN:
And you think you can bring
down my kingdom with nothing
but a couple of impotent old
has-beens on your side?
MAN:
(behind ZINN, to a comrade)
"Furnus"?
PRESTO:
Yes! Furnus the Fire Demon. She
was behind the coup that
deposed Lawrence and brought
back this fraud.
A disgruntled mutter goes up amongst the humans.
SECOND MAN:
That would explain the Orcs...
Many of the ORCs react indignantly. THUG, standing by the SECOND MAN, grabs his collar threateningly.
THUG:
Shut it, worm.
THIRD MAN:
Why should he? This is our
country!
NYM:
(O/S)
No it's not!
On NYM as the mob turn to look at her.
NYM:
It's not our country any more.
She points her crossbow at ZINN.
NYM:
She's sold it off. She's raped
it. Like she's raped our boys.
On ZINN. The crowd behind her react in shock.
ZINN:
What are you talking about,
girl?
On NYM. Her eyes still on the crowd, she side-steps toward ERIC.
NYM:
Anyone here grow up in the
swamps like I did?
Several young men in the mob raise a hand. NYM takes ERIC's face and turns it so that the cheek with a 'Z' still painted on it can be seen.
NYM:
Recognise this?
A louder, angrier murmur goes through the mob. On several different young men in the mob, growing angry. All have small 'Z' scars on their cheeks. ZINN begins to approach the KIDS, furiously. She is flanked by a few ORCs, including THUG.
MAN:
That was what the Z stood for?
NYM:
Her mark.
The remaining ORCs separate from the increasingly enraged humans, and cut them off from ZINN. The humans of Zinn begin to wave their weapons threateningly at the Queen.
YOUNG MAN:
I was only a boy!
WOMAN:
She took my son! Scarred his
face!
Somebody in the crowd sets a flag alight.
HUMANS:
Down with the Queen!
The ORCs charge the HUMAN MOB first, although the HUMANS hugely outnumber the ORCs. A fight begins between the two races at the gates. Our Heroes begin to run to the aid of the HUMANs, but they are intercepted by ZINN and her ORCs. A skirmish begins. VENGER and TIAMAT manage to break free of the smaller fight to help the humans in the larger battle. DIANA tackles ZINN to the ground. ZINN lashes out with her wand, but DIANA is able to duck it. On ERIC, still weaponless, trying to fistfight his way towards DIANA. His hair is suddenly caught from behind him by THUG's large hand, and he is dragged backwards to face the large Orc, who begins to pull him away from the fight.
THUG:
I'm starting to get really
bored of this. Ain't you?
ERIC still struggles. THUG grabs his throat.
THUG:
Why don't we find a nice quiet
spot together? Just you and me,
eh? We got a date to keep...
A large axe whistles in out of nowhere, spinning inbetween ERIC and THUG, amputating the hand around ERIC's neck. They both scream. ERIC falls to the ground and THUG clutches at his stump in agony. PISTOL marches up behind THUG, furiously, a large Orc mace in his hands, and smacks THUG around the back of the head with it.
PISTOL:
Oh no you don't!
The crunch of THUG's thick skull is audible. Bloody and concussed but still alive, he spins around with the mace to face PISTOL. ERIC winces as PISTOL continues to hit THUG on the front of the head until he falls.
PISTOL:
(with every wallop)
He's! Too! Pretty! For! The
likes! Of! You!
THUG's skull finally pops under the last blow. ERIC recoils in distaste, looking away from the mess, but creeps gingerly on his knees towards the corpse, feeling around his belt for the Orc's sword. Still averting his eyes from THUG's body, he looks up at PISTOL, who is watching him, emotionlessly.
ERIC:
Uh... thanks, I guess...
PISTOL just nods modestly at ERIC, who stands, grasping Thug's sword, looking around at the melee, unable to spot ZINN & DIANA.
ERIC:
Where'd they go?
CUT TO
EXT: Outside the Castle, Day.
DIANA and ZINN are still fighting furiously. DIANA has the better of ZINN, snatching her wand off her, but is suddenly grabbed by two ORCs and dragged away from ZINN. The ORCs have difficulty holding DIANA, who wriggles in their grasp, turning into a swan quickly and wrenching her wings free. It is clear that they won't be a problem for her for very long. ZINN seizes the opportunity to scramble to her feet and run away, back towards the castle wall. As she runs, she looks about herself, wildly.
ZINN:
Thug? Thug, where are y...
She stops short, skidding to a halt, as she finds the point of Thug's sword at her throat. Pull out to reveal ERIC at the other end of it.
ERIC:
Thug's dead, baby.
ZINN turns and tries to run from him, but ERIC grabs her hair furiously and throws her against the castle wall. He continues to hold the tip of the sword at her throat as she stands trapped, pressed against the wall.
ZINN:
No... please...
ERIC tuts sarcastically.
ERIC:
What's the matter, dear? It's
not very nice on the other
side of the 'begging for mercy'
deal, is it?
Panicking, ZINN pulls a large ring from her finger, twists the jewel from it and throws the two pieces at ERIC.
ZINN:
Here. Take that to the Bishop,
tell him we've agreed to
dissolve the marriage.
(laughs nervously)
He'll write you up divorce
papers in a matter of minutes!
ERIC just looks down at the jewels briefly.
ERIC:
Surely, there's less dishonour
in being a Widower...
ZINN is despairing. She blinks back bitter tears.
ZINN:
Please. Please! I'll give you
anything you want!
ERIC:
I just want you to go away.
Forever.
ERIC sets his face, pressing the sword against ZINN's throat so hard that it draws blood. ZINN winces back, openly crying now.
ZINN:
(whispers, terrified)
Please, no. Please.
ERIC:
(furious)
I've done this before, you
know! You... you'll only hurt
more people if I let you go...
ZINN just sobs. ERIC closes his eyes, swinging the sword back.
ZINN:
(terrified scream)
ERIC pauses, the sword still back, tensed and ready to strike. He then sighs, letting the sword fall down by his side.
ERIC:
Consider yourself under arrest,
Zinn. I can't imagine you'll
escape beheading, but at least
you'll get a trial first.
ZINN nods gratefully, wiping away tears.
On PRESTO, fighting. Nearly all of the Orcs have either fallen or abandoned the battle, fleeing in small bands. PRESTO looks from a growing fire near the castle gates to ERIC and ZINN at the walls nearby.
PRESTO:
Eric?
PRESTO begins to run towards the pair.
PRESTO:
Don't let her get away!
On ERIC and ZINN. He turns in PRESTO's direction.
ERIC:
Wha...?
ZINN takes advantage of the distraction, pushing past ERIC and sprinting off before he has chance to chase her.
PRESTO, horrified, changes tack and tries to intercept ZINN as she runs towards the fire.
PRESTO:
Somebody stop her! Put the fire
out! Put the fire out!
The other KIDS and UNI start to chase. VENGER almost grabs ZINN, but she throws herself into the fire, which swells briefly around her, then disappears, taking her with it. The KIDS, UNI and VENGER come to a stop, gazing miserably at the space where ZINN has just vanished.
TIAMAT:
(sniffing the air)
Gone. Back to her Mistress.
VENGER:
Who knows what information she
can give Furnus. Who knows how
strong...
BOBBY:
(snarls)
Don't you dare give us that.
PRESTO puts a hand on a dejected ERIC's shoulder.
PRESTO:
You did the right thing.
ERIC:
(sighs)
Really?
SHEILA shoots VENGER an evil Look.
SHEILA:
Sure. We don't go after people
out of revenge. We're Decent.
A cheer goes up O/S. PISTOL and NYM join the others.
PISTOL:
'Ere! We've only bloody won!
NYM:
So what do we do now?
CUT TO
EXT: Castle Cloisters, Day.
PRESTO and HANK are walking through the cloisters. PRESTO is carrying the ring parts with him. Both are scouring the small chambers within the cloister walls.
PRESTO:
Now, if you were a Bishop in a
castle under siege from a
pissed-off dragon, where would
you hide?
HANK stops, holding up a finger as a sign for PRESTO to do the same. They both listen.
SFX:
(faint, frightened breathing)
HANK spins around, swiftly kicking in a small door. The BISHOP is hiding within it, panicking.
BISHOP:
(shrieks)
PRESTO:
Hey. It's OK.
PRESTO steps into the tiny room, masking the terrified BISHOP.
PRESTO:
We only want a divorce.
HANK is about to go in after PRESTO, when he hears another strange sound.
SFX:
(clank of metal on metal)
He turns, bemused, and follows the sound across the cloisters to a room in a different wall. He stops in the doorway, barring the way.
SFX:
(pearls scattering on floor.)
NYM:
(O/S)
Blast it all!
HANK clears his throat, amused.
On NYM, in the small chapel. She is on her knees on the floor, picking up the pearls that she has dropped. There is a large bag full of gold and jewels next to her. She looks up, only slightly guiltily, at HANK.
HANK:
Nym?
NYM:
Ranger.
HANK:
You're looting.
NYM gets up, dropping the pearls into the sack.
NYM:
Yes. Well, you did promise us
treasure, and so far you
haven't delivered.
HANK:
You're looting your own
country.
NYM shrugs.
NYM:
That's anarchy for you.
Besides, we're off.
HANK:
'Off'?
NYM:
You think this is going to be a
safe place to live for the next
couple of decades?
(laughs)
We'll go with you to the
nearest big city that never
heard of us, then we'll get
back to work.
HANK:
Bounty Hunting again?
NYM starts prizing a gold ornament off its mount.
NYM:
Nah. That's a mug's game. I've
always wanted to go into
Piracy. It'll be a bit of a
challenge. Pistol can't swim.
She drops the ornament into the sack with a clatter, and meets HANK with a minxy grin.
HANK shakes his head and laughs, fondly.
HANK:
You're bad.
NYM:
You love it.
CUT TO
EXT Outside Castle gates, Day.
ERIC is washing in a small trough outside the castle gates. He very deliberately cleans the 'Z' from his cheek. He winces as VENGER appears from behind him. VENGER passes ERIC a scroll of paper, but remains distracted by the sight of the burn.
VENGER:
It is done.
ERIC doesn't look at VENGER, reading the scroll.
ERIC:
I just knew I'd be the first of
the gang to get divorced.
He rolls up the scroll, giving VENGER an evil Look.
ERIC:
So when's yours coming through?
VENGER can't draw his eyes from the scar, horrified. ERIC notices this.
VENGER:
They told you, then.
ERIC:
Yep... Admiring your art, huh?
VENGER shakes his head, appalled.
VENGER:
I... did that...
ERIC turns from him again.
ERIC:
And the rest.
VENGER:
You need to let me heal it.
ERIC:
How's Lorne doing, Venger?
How's Rhamoud? Is he well?
VENGER opens his mouth, searching for an answer that doesn't come. DIANA buts in, carrying ERIC's clothes and shield.
DIANA:
You still here?
VENGER still doesn't answer, but backs away, still horrified.
DIANA:
(sotto voce)
Bastard...
(louder, to ERIC)
Hey, Sylvester. We found your
stuff. Pistol lost your sword,
though.
She sits by him, depositing his things on the floor in front of him. He smiles sadly at her.
ERIC:
S'OK. Found a new one.
Awkward pause.
ERIC:
Sorry about getting married.
DIANA shrugs. ERIC strokes her arm softly.
ERIC:
Thanks for coming to save me.
DIANA leans in closer to him, playing with his hair.
DIANA:
That's OK. I kinda enjoyed
kicking that bitch's butt.
They look at each other, and gently kiss.
DIANA:
(sighs)
Why didn't you tell me, Eric?
ERIC:
I keep telling you, Dee. I
honestly didn't know I was
married.
DIANA:
That's not what I mean.
She takes his hands, looking into his eyes.
DIANA:
I know what happened in the
swamp. 'Once bitten, and all
that'...
ERIC looks down, embarrassed.
ERIC:
Oh.
DIANA:
Why didn't you tell me?
ERIC:
Because it's humiliating.
DIANA takes his head and rests it on her shoulder, stroking his hair.
DIANA:
Eric. That doesn't matter.
Please stop putting up these
walls. You don't have to keep
the pretence with me. I want to
know when something's wrong. I
want you to feel you can tell
me anything. Anything at all.
Because we've got something
special here, haven't we?
Haven't we..?
Long pause. They remain in the semi-embrace, with DIANA gently stroking ERIC's head. ERIC opens his mouth to say something, then thinks better of it. He thinks for a moment, then comes to a decision.
ERIC:
I'm in love with you.
At that moment, they both regret those words being said. They do not look at each other. DIANA stops stroking ERIC's hair, suddenly, and he pulls out of the embrace. They both look off at nothing, miserably.
CUT TO
INT: Furnus' Castle.
The fire around ZINN disappears suddenly, and she looks about herself wildly, her breathing hard with panic.
FURNUS:
(O/S)
Another failure.
ZINN still can't see FURNUS, but grovels at the empty walls.
ZINN:
Great Furnus, I...
FURNUS suddenly flares up from nowhere, right in front of ZINN, who jumps.
FURNUS:
The land that I gave to you is
fallen. My Orcs are depleted
and the Goddess Beads have been
found. I will tolerate no more
factions, Zinn!
ZINN:
...but...
FURNUS:
They have started a war! I will
allow no more private claims on
The Seven. They are for me.
ZINN:
I had nothing to do with the
Goddess Beads, great one...
FURNUS turns her back on ZINN, and begins to pace.
FURNUS:
Really? I understood that your
master was interested in the
Acrobat. I believe that a
Bounty was put out on her as
well as your ex husband, to
have them delivered safely,
without going through me.
ZINN begins to follow FURNUS, desperately.
ZINN:
Not so! If my master had
designs on her, why would he
allow me to attack her?
FURNUS:
Because he knew she'd beat you.
Especially if she had the
beads. I will not have my
allies strengthening my enemy
like this, Zinn.
FURNUS turns to ZINN.
FURNUS:
Go and tell your master...
YOUNG MAN:
(O/S)
Go and tell her master what?
A bright, white light flares up O/S. FURNUS smiles slightly and turns in the direction of the light.
FURNUS:
No more games, Kosar. We are
going to war.
CUT TO BLACK