EPISODE 9: No Rest for the Wicked
PART TWO
INT: Strange, dark, warped interior of a mansion.
Close on PRESTO, lying on the carpet, his eyes shut. The environment around him is technically the inside of a richly furnished mansion house, but it is neither the stuff of Earth nor the Realm. It is dark and twisted. Angles make no sense mathematically, and everything fluctuates like the ebb and flow of the sea. PRESTO sits up with a start, opening his eyes, looking around himself. He is the only person in the huge room.
PRESTO:
Oh, crap. Both gone.
CUT TO
INT Strange, dark version of Eric's bedroom.
ERIC is sitting bolt upright in his bed, his breath hard and loud with fear. There is the creak of a footfall from behind his bedroom door. ERIC holds his breath, but the sound of his panicked breathing continues unabated.
ERIC'S DAD:
(O/S, very distant)
Son? Son, is that you?
ERIC gulps nervously, and gets out of bed. Close on ERIC's feet as they step on the floor. They are now naked. Next to them is the wheeled base of a drip stand.
ERIC:
Come on, then.
Pull out and up to reveal that ERIC is now wearing hospital pyjamas, and has a drip connected to his arm. The drip stand has been decorated with tinsel, oversized plastic sunglasses and a large badge reading "Hi! I'm Marvin!" ERIC walks tentatively towards the door, dragging his drip stand, which squeaks as it moves.
CUT TO
INT Strange, dark balcony in mansion.
On ERIC as he opens the door from his bedroom. There is nobody else on the balcony.
ERIC:
Hello?
ERIC'S DAD:
(O/S, still distant)
Eric?
ERIC hesitates for a moment, then continues along the balcony, dragging his squeaking drip stand with him. ERIC comes to the top of a staircase and pauses.
ERIC'S DAD:
(O/S, closer)
Down here.
Instead of walking down the stairs, ERIC floats down them, although his drip still squeaks as though it were being wheeled. At the bottom of the stairs, his feet still don't properly touch the ground. He floats off to a door to the left of the staircase, which he opens, emotionlessly noting something at the back of the room beyond, still obscured to us.
ERIC'S DAD:
(O/S, closer)
Son. You came back for me.
ERIC:
Yes.
ERIC'S DAD:
(O/S)
Please. Take a seat.
CUT TO
EXT: Ruined high street, early evening.
The other bodies are now buried, and the pit has been filled in. SHEILA, BOBBY and PISTOL sit by the unconscious ERIC, VENGER and PRESTO, worriedly. DIANA sits hunched up against the wall of a building, with a miserable expression. HANK and NYM kick at the dust listlessly in the background.
SHEILA:
Should we give them water?
HANK:
I don't know.
BOBBY:
Should we keep them warm?
HANK:
I said, I don't know.
DIANA:
His face. Did you see his face?
PISTOL:
Yeah...
DIANA:
That wasn't him. Oh God, he
really meant to kill Venger,
didn't he?
SHEILA shoots DIANA a supportive little smile.
SHEILA:
It's not your fault, Diana.
He's just... had too much to
deal with, I guess. It must
have been too much for him,
even with you at his side.
DIANA buries her face in her knees.
DIANA:
I broke up with him.
SHEILA, BOBBY and PISTOL react, flabbergasted.
PISTOL:
No! When?
DIANA:
Just before we went in there.
BOBBY:
What?!?
HANK:
Oh, nice going, Diana. Really
classy.
DIANA looks up at HANK angrily.
DIANA:
Shut up, Hank. I thought you'd
be pleased. I thought us being
together did nothing but
royally piss you off.
HANK takes a step towards DIANA.
HANK:
Diana, the reason I got pissed
off is that I could see
something exactly like this
happening. I'm not sure who was
stupider - the lonely loser
with the abandonment issues for
falling so helplessly in love
with the commitment-phobe or
you, for thinking you could
string him along without
breaking him.
DIANA:
I...
HANK:
Come on, Diana! Eric's been
losing a couple more marbles
every day ever since we came
back here. We've all been able
to see it. And you give him
that little ray of hope, only
to whip it away, moments before
we break into a mortuary?
Bravo, Diana, I mean, 10 out of
10 for genius timing.
DIANA:
(becoming teary)
I...
SHEILA:
(interrupts)
Leave her alone, Hank! Diana's
love life is nothing to do with
you...
HANK throws his hands into the air.
HANK:
I give up!
He turns, and begins to storm off down a side street.
NYM:
Where are you going?
HANK:
Gonna see if there's anything
left to burn in this place.
BOBBY:
Presto doesn't like us lighting
fires unless we need to...
HANK turns back to them.
HANK:
Well Presto's gone Bye-Byes.
And I say that we all need to
stay warm. OK?
Pause. Nobody replies. HANK nods to himself, then turns back into the side street. NYM strides over to join him.
NYM:
I'll help.
SHEILA frowns, and is about to say something when UNI, extremely agitated, turns the corner of the side street, almost bumping into HANK and NYM.
HANK:
Well look who came wandering
back now that all the hard
work's been done.
UNI barely notes HANK, but pushes past him to PRESTO, sniffing at him and whinnying worriedly.
HANK:
See if you can do something
with her, Bob. You never know,
she might be trying to tell us
that there's a little kid stuck
down a well or somethin'...
BOBBY catches UNI's mane and strokes it tenderly, calming UNI a little. He watches HANK and NYM turn the corner out of view, then gazes into UNI's eye.
BOBBY:
Something's up.
On SHEILA, standing next to DIANA, still watching the side street that HANK and NYM have disappeared down with a suspicious frown.
SHEILA:
I know there is.
CUT TO
EXT: Abandoned stables, dusk.
There is a small, dead tree outside the stables. HANK has half climbed it and is wrenching branches from it. NYM appears in the doorway of the stables with an armful of straw.
NYM:
This was all that was left.
HANK:
That's OK. There's enough wood
here for a little fire. As soon
as the others come to I want to
get out of this dive anyway.
NYM loiters beneath the tree, dropping the straw.
NYM:
Why doesn't anybody listen to
you, Hank? I thought you said
you were the leader.
HANK clambers down from the tree.
HANK:
I was. Once upon a time.
NYM:
Your so-called friends just
keep taking things away from
you, don't they?
HANK:
Such as?
NYM:
Control. Respect. Affection.
HANK picks up the branches he's broken off.
HANK:
Hey... if you're talking about
Sheila...
NYM:
Not just Sheila. All of them.
HANK shrugs.
NYM:
Me and Pistol... we have our
fights like any siblings, but
we always know where we stand
with each other. We can wander
the Realm with nothing to our
name but a few weapons and the
clothes on our backs, but we'll
always have that stability.
HANK:
Right. You do but I don't. Poor
Hank. Boo Hoo.
NYM:
Only you know that for certain.
Pause. HANK blinks, then continues to pick up branches.
HANK:
Why are we bothering with this,
Nym? It's none of your concern.
NYM:
I'm just being polite. If
you're interested in a chap
you're supposed to ask him
questions about himself.
HANK laughs a little.
HANK:
So we're on a date now?
NYM picks up the straw again.
NYM:
We're alone together, we're
doing something fun... why, is
my seduction technique a little
rusty?
HANK:
I'll say. I didn't even know I
was being seduced.
NYM wipes her nose on the back of her sleeve.
NYM:
Too subtle?
HANK grins.
HANK:
Uh-huh. But then, I've been out
of the game for a while myself.
Who's to say what...
NYM:
(interrupts)
Do you want to have sex with
me?
HANK:
(thinks for a brief moment)
Yes.
NYM grins.
NYM:
See? That was easy!
NYM kisses HANK enthusiastically, wrapping her arms and legs around him. HANK reciprocates, picking her up and pushing her against the wall of the stables.
SFX:
(O/S)
A poor imitation of a cockerel.
NYM pulls out of the kiss, distracted and worried.
HANK:
I don't think that was me.
SFX:
(O/S)
The cockerel crow again.
NYM:
That's Pistol.
NYM wriggles free of the embrace.
NYM:
That's his distress signal. He
needs help.
NYM starts to sprint back to the others.
HANK:
Can't it wait?
NYM turns to HANK, seriously.
NYM:
Nothing waits for my brother.
NYM runs off. HANK follows her grudgingly.
HANK:
I can't believe it. I found
another lunatic sister...
HANK disappears after NYM.
Pause.
SHEILA uncloaks from her spot next to the tree, too shocked to cry. A dizzy spell seems to take her and she leans against the tree for support.
SHEILA:
(whispers to herself)
Seven years... seven years and
he just says "yes"...
NYM:
(O/S scream)
SHEILA frowns to herself and cloaks again.
CUT TO
INT Strange, dark mansion - a study.
ERIC is now sitting down in a large armchair. The drip is still attached to his arm. The once finely furnished study that he is in is in a terrible state - not only is it full of dust and cobwebs, it has also been trashed by somebody - books and papers are scattered on the floor, along with broken liquor bottles. There are congealed stains on the walls. In another chair, against some French windows and directly facing ERIC, sits a man in a dark suit. It is ERIC'S DAD, although his face has been covered with the drapes to the French windows.
Long pause. ERIC watches his father's concealed figure impassively. The only sound is the loud ticking of a clock. ERIC briefly looks across at the carriage clock on its side on his father's desk. The clock has no hands.
ERIC'S DAD:
Place looks like shit, Eric.
ERIC:
You're not looking too hot
yourself, Dad.
ERIC'S DAD:
All your mother's flowers are
dead, too.
ERIC:
You never cared for them.
ERIC'S DAD:
Why did you leave?
ERIC:
I was gonna ask you the same
thing.
ERIC'S DAD:
I didn't leave. I was taken.
ERIC:
Join the club.
ERIC'S DAD:
But you came back.
ERIC:
I always did.
ERIC notices a small puddle of water on the carpet near a wall. He follows the trickle of water up the wall to a portrait of himself aged 12 with his father. The painting is hanging crooked, and is covered in dust. The four thin streams of liquid running down the picture are coming from the eyes of their painted faces.
ERIC:
What is this place, Dad? Is it
Hell?
ERIC'S DAD:
It's where he keeps me.
ERIC:
Were you murdered?
ERIC'S DAD leans forward in his chair.
ERIC'S DAD:
You have to help me, son. Help
me by helping yourself.
ERIC looks confused. Slowly, the room begins to stretch, pulling his chair away from his DAD.
ERIC:
What do you mean?
ERIC'S DAD:
I know you've got it in you.
ERIC:
What?
ERIC'S DAD gesticulates excitedly.
ERIC'S DAD:
Killer instinct! The power to
set me free! You hurt that
bastard Venger, now you need to
show him. Show them all!
ERIC:
How do you know Venger..?
ERIC'S DAD:
They think you're still just a
stupid kid, weak and
frightened and lost. A scared,
lonely little boy who just
wants his Daddy back. Is that
what you are?
The study snaps back to its original size, sending ERIC shooting forward in his chair, stopping suddenly right in front of his DAD.
ERIC'S DAD:
Is it, Eric?
ERIC opens his mouth, distressed and confused, but before he can speak there is a great rumbling in the study, causing the ground and walls to shake. Books tumble from their shelves and the portrait falls from its mount, smashing on the floor.
CUT TO
EXT Abandoned High Street, Dusk.
VENGER, PRESTO and ERIC are still all passed out, but ERIC's shoulder is being nudged by the foot of a large, heavily armed, rough looking BANDIT. There are about twenty of these BANDITS, all locked in a stand-off with UNI, PISTOL, NYM, BOBBY, DIANA and HANK. Everyone has their weapons raised and aimed at one another, but the reason that nobody has attacked yet is that a particularly flamboyant, masked bandit called LEFROUX has his rapier pointed at PRESTO's throat.
DIANA:
(to 1st BANDIT)
You mustn't touch him!
1st BANDIT:
Listen, Love, you don't put
that stick down, I'll do worse
than touch him.
DIANA stalls, frustrated, watching LEFROUX's sword.
LEFROUX:
For the last time, drop your
weapons, or I'll run the
sleeping ones through!
The kids lower their weapons, reluctantly.
BOBBY:
They're not sleeping.
LEFROUX gingerly moves his sword away from PRESTO's throat.
LEFROUX:
Well, you wouldn't protect them
if they were dead. Now I'm not
going to ask you again. What
have you done with the goods?
PISTOL:
We don't have any goods.
LEFROUX:
Ah La La. We heard from a
very reliable source that a
battalion of Orcs had
abandoned one of their most
secure prison towns, Pouf! Just
like that. They brought Kings
and Knights here. There'd be
riches left over.
NYM:
We only found bodies.
LEFROUX:
Nicely bedecked no doubt. I
suppose you thought your luck
was in that you'd got to them
first. Well, I am afraid that
when you meet with Captain
LeFroux and his swarthy band,
your luck is at an end...
NYM:
Others were here before us.
The corpses had already been
stripped of any finery.
She indicates to the burial mound.
NYM:
They're buried over there.
Check if you like. There's
nothing here of any worth.
LEFROUX steps in toward NYM a little.
LEFROUX:
I wouldn't say that,
Mademoiselle. After all, we had
the good fortune of catching
your little group of
scavengers, did we not?
HANK sidles up next to NYM.
HANK:
We don't have anything.
LEFROUX shoots HANK a wide, predatory smile.
LEFROUX:
Hardly, Mon Cher. You have such
pretty weapons...
LEFROUX strokes the tip of HANK's bow a little. HANK flinches as though he himself were being touched, but doesn't back down.
LEFROUX:
...and a unicorn, too, very
rare. The sleeping demon I'd
imagine will have enemies that
will pay gold to see him again.
And, of course, you yourselves
would fetch several pennies at
the right markets... Pretty
girls...
LEFROUX's grin runs from DIANA to a furious BOBBY.
LEFROUX:
...and boys. A good wash, a
dash of flea powder and a wake-
up call for our sleeping
beauties and perhaps our trip
out here may not have been
completely wasted.
BOBBY:
I'd like to see you try,
Froufrou.
The other BANDITS gasp in outrage at this mild insult. LEFROUX scowls furiously, brandishing his sword at BOBBY.
LEFROUX:
It's LeFroux! The dreaded
Captain LeFroux! Nobody makes
fun of Nigel LeFroux!
1st BANDIT takes LEFROUX's shoulder gently.
1st BANDIT:
Captain, he's just a child.
LEFROUX:
The perfect age for him to be
taught a lesson in manners!
It is at this moment that an invisible force twists the sword out of LEFROUX's hand. Before he can react he is suddenly winded, and hunches over, helplessly. 1st BANDIT reaches for his sword but that too flies from his hand as though kicked away. The sword flies up into the air, then arcs down to the ground. Several BANDITS have to scatter in panic to prevent themselves being hit by it as it descends to lodge firmly in the road. As the BANDITS turn their attention back to LEFROUX, his head is yanked up by the hair, his expression full of fear.
2nd BANDIT:
'Tis the Phantom! The Phantom
of Old Bloodyfingers, 'e said
'e'd be back...
SHEILA uncloaks, her knife at LEFROUX's throat.
1st BANDIT:
That's not Bloodyfingers. He
was much taller than that.
SHEILA:
Nevertheless, I think now it's
your turn to drop your weapons
and start talking.
The BANDITS lower their weapons, irritably.
LEFROUX:
What do you want to know, girl?
SHEILA:
What are you doing here?
LEFROUX:
Robbing. Pillaging. Attacking
weird little bands of vagrants.
Perfectly acceptable behaviour
for Bandits such as we.
SHEILA:
What about the others?
LEFROUX blinks at the kids.
LEFROUX:
I assumed you were with them.
SHEILA frowns.
SHEILA:
No. The others out there.
LEFROUX:
What others out there? This is
all of my band.
BOBBY:
Sheila? What is it?
SHEILA lowers her knife a little.
SHEILA:
Outside the gates, not a couple
of miles away. Hundreds of 'em.
If they're not with you... I
think we might all be in big
trouble, Froufrou.
CUT TO
INT: Strange, dark study.
The room has stopped shaking. ERIC and his DAD are still sitting, facing one another.
ERIC'S DAD:
You have to do it, Eric. For
yourself and for me. There's so
much he has to pay for. And you
can do it here.
ERIC just stares at his DAD.
ERIC'S DAD:
Make the rules. Take the power.
Suddenly the pair are sitting, not in the study, but in the Dragon's Graveyard. VENGER is trapped against a rock, as before. ERIC sees him and stands, amazed.
ERIC:
Did I do that?
ERIC'S DAD also rises. The curtain stretches to remain draped over him as he does. He passes ERIC his sword, already bloody.
ERIC'S DAD:
You know what to do.
VENGER shakes his head, worried.
VENGER:
Think, Cavalier! You've been
here before.
ERIC:
We let you live.
ERIC'S DAD pushes the drip stand next to ERIC slightly.
ERIC'S DAD:
And what did it get you? This.
ERIC steadies the drip stand.
ERIC:
My friends made me that.
ERIC'S DAD:
You don't have any friends,
Eric. Anyone who ever cared for
you is dead, because of him.
Don't you see, Eric? Every time
you let one of these worms get
away with what they've done,
something terrible happens to
somebody good. Someone you
love. You thought you were
doing the right thing by
letting him and that bitch of a
wife of yours go free, didn't
you? But it was the easy way
out, wasn't it? Wasn't it,
Eric?
ERIC stares at VENGER. He pulls the drip out of his arm and pushes over the stand so that it clatters to the floor. Two wings begin to glow orange on his shoulders.
ERIC'S DAD:
Have the guts to do the real
Right Thing, Eric. For me.
ERIC takes a step towards VENGER, raising his sword.
PRESTO:
(O/S)
No!
PRESTO grabs ERIC's shoulder from out of shot and spins his around to face him, clutching him in spite of the flames running over him.
PRESTO:
Eric, you mustn't. If you start
to kill the defenceless out of
hatred, I... don't think I'd be
able to help you. Look at
yourself. You're changing.
You're becoming like Venger.
You don't want that to happen,
do you?
ERIC:
(dreamily)
How did you get here, Presto?
ERIC'S DAD:
Don't trust him, Eric. I never
liked that weird kid, always
loitering around you. He's
hiding something from you.
ERIC stares at PRESTO, searching his eyes.
ERIC'S DAD:
You know he is! Don't trust
him.
PRESTO doesn't break from ERIC's gaze.
PRESTO:
That thing's not your father.
ERIC'S DAD:
Eric...
Suddenly, the bonds on VENGER's wrists fizzle out. He takes the opportunity to launch himself at ERIC'S DAD, grabbing and shaking him.
ERIC'S DAD:
Eric!
ERIC turns from PRESTO, watching the scene in horror. PRESTO desperately holds him back from running to his DAD.
ERIC:
No!
VENGER:
Who are you? Show yourself!
Frantic now, ERIC twists around in PRESTO's grasp, lashing out with a swift punch to the side of his head. PRESTO lets go of ERIC in shock, stumbling backwards. Now free, ERIC approaches VENGER, sword readied.
ERIC:
Stop it!
PRESTO:
Eric, it's not...
VENGER:
Show your true form!
ERIC'S DAD:
Eric, he's hurting me! Eric,
please! Please!
The world around them rumbles and shakes slightly. ERIC, his sword already raised against VENGER, blinks at his DAD, then slumps, sighing, defeated, close to tears.
ERIC:
You're not my Dad.
ERIC'S DAD wriggles out of VENGER's grip, but falls to the floor, weakly, reaching out to ERIC.
ERIC'S DAD:
Please, Son. Help me.
ERIC:
(whispers, broken)
My Dad would never beg.
The world around them rumbles again, violently. ERIC'S DAD angrily rises, hissing, lurching at ERIC. VENGER manages to catch him and hold him back, but ERIC doesn't react. He miserably begins to curl into a foetal ball.
ERIC:
Leave me alone. All of you.
The ground that ERIC is on gives way and begins swiftly to subside, taking ERIC with it.
PRESTO:
No! Come back!
PRESTO jumps into the rapidly growing pit with ERIC. VENGER, finding that ERIC'S DAD has vanished from his clutches, follows PRESTO into the chasm.
CUT TO
EXT Abandoned town, broken down gates, Dusk.
SHEILA, LEFROUX and HANK are standing at the ruined gates, cautiously looking out into the desert.
SHEILA points out, beyond the gates.
SHEILA:
There.
On the dark desert beyond the gates. A semi-organised mass of little orange lights are gradually approaching, from a few miles away.
LEFROUX:
(O/S)
We can all see it, Thief.
On the small group by the gates again.
HANK:
Orcs.
LEFROUX:
They are returning already. But
why? The prisons are empty.
SHEILA:
A trap. For us, or you, or
both. We'd have been so busy
squabbling that we'd have never
noticed them 'til too late.
HANK snorts a laugh.
HANK:
Hell, we didn't need you for
that, LeFroux.
HANK gives SHEILA a small smile. SHEILA just scowls back at him. HANK blinks at this, confused.
SHEILA:
It might be too late, anyway.
We have to get out of here
fast, and we've got three guys
out of action.
LEFROUX waves a finger at them.
LEFROUX:
LeFroux has just the solution.
LEFROUX turns from the gates and breaks into a jog down the high street where the others are waiting. The remaining KIDS, PISTOL & NYM and the BANDITS are now more evenly dispersed. BOBBY and PISTOL are carrying PRESTO & ERIC respectively, and two large BANDITS are supporting VENGER between them. SHEILA and HANK begin to run after LEFROUX, and others join them to follow him as he passes.
HANK:
We can't pay you.
LEFROUX:
There will be time to discuss
payments later. Those filthy
Orcs will never outsmart Nigel
LeFroux!
SHEILA:
And we're not gonna be your
hostages, either.
LEFROUX:
Pah.
LEFROUX and the others reach a smaller gate in the town wall at the other end of the high street. He kicks it open. There is no resistance - it has been unlocked earlier. They run out into the empty desert.
BOBBY:
Now what?
There is a screech, off right.
KIDS POV - five Orcs on the backs of giant boars round the corner of the town's walls and begin to advance on them.
On LEFROUX. He squints, scanning the horizon.
LEFROUX:
Merde. Where is that boy?
In answer to this, a great mechanical roar goes up from off left. Everybody looks round in the direction of the noise. The KIDS' eyes widen at the familiar, yet unexpected sight.
SHEILA:
What the...
A cloud of sand flies up, heralding the entrance of the noisy machine - a huge, open top truck, apparently steam powered, judging by its huge engine, pistons and smoke stack. In a small cockpit sits the machine's driver, a man of about 20, weedier in appearance to the other Bandits, dressed in protective leathers, including a W.W.I aviator style helmet and goggles.
LEFROUX:
There you are, Grey.
GREY wipes the muck from his goggles, giving LeFroux a brief, courteous nod.
GREY:
Sorry, lads. I was having a
scout around. Did you know
there's a battalion of heavily
armed Orcs heading our way?
LEFROUX:
Funnily enough...
LEFROUX indicated to the approaching Orcs.
GREY:
Ah-ha.
NYM remains transfixed by the huge machine.
NYM:
What is that?
On DIANA, also surprised.
DIANA:
It's a truck...
(to LEFROUX)
You have trucks?
LEFROUX grins, proud, as the BANDITS start to pile in to the vehicle, hauling VENGER's lifeless body aboard with them.
LEFROUX:
Grey is a brilliant inventor.
We kidnapped him two years ago.
GREY tuts in irritation as the BANDITS pull the KIDS, and with greater difficulty, UNI, up into the truck and LEFROUX jumps onto the running board. NYM ignores the helping hands being offered to her and hops onto the running board with him.
GREY:
I wanted to come! My town was
boring. Besides, I get paid
with you guys.
LEFROUX:
(hisses)
Zip it, Grey, you're still
technically our prisoner.
On the back of the truck, DIANA winces when PRESTO and ERIC are hauled roughly aboard.
DIANA:
Are they gonna be OK? Presto
said...
HANK:
Hey, we don't have any choice.
GREY releases the brakes and the great machine roars into shuddering movement just at the moment that the Orcs reach them. The Orcs give chase, but HANK, NYM and several BANDITS with crossbows make quick work of them.
On the largest ORC, once central in the formation, now the only one still riding. Even with 4 crossbow bolts sticking out of him, he still fanatically whips on his mount to run faster towards the back of the escaping truck. Another crossbow bolt whizzes into his shoulder, but he still doesn't stop. He leans forward and is able to grab the back bar of the truck. He leaps from his boar, unsheathing a knife with his free hand as he does so. At that very moment a crossbow bolt flies into the front of his face, impaling his skull entirely and continuing to jut through the back of his helmet bloodily. His hands slacken and he tumbles lifelessly from the back of the truck.
PAN to HANK, only slightly shocked, Big Sally still aimed at where the ORC had been. NYM pats him on the shoulder.
HANK:
Wow. Guess I can chalk one up
for me, then.
CUT TO
EXT Collapsing Nightmare Landscape.
ERIC is still curled in a ball at the bottom of a deep pit which continues to sink at a breathtaking pace. The walls of the pit are crumbling around him, and shower him with rubble. PRESTO is kneeling by ERIC, and VENGER stands close by, alarmed by the destruction around him.
PRESTO:
Eric? Eric, stop it.
ERIC:
Go away.
PRESTO:
Have you seen what you're doing
to yourself, Eric?
ERIC:
It's not me. It's that Ghost.
PRESTO grabs ERIC's face and looks him in the eye.
PRESTO:
Trust me. It's you.
ERIC doesn't answer.
PRESTO:
Remember the night DM died?
Remember what I told you about
getting ill? You've got sick.
That's all. There is no Black
Knight. Not unless you make him
happen.
ERIC:
I can feel him, Presto. He's in
my hand every time I pick up a
sword. He's already a part of
me. He makes me so angry, I
can't control it...
PRESTO:
Of course you're angry! You've
lost so much, despite trying
like Hell to keep it. You
worked so hard, with Diana,
with DM, with your Dad, and
they all got taken away from
you, just like that, before you
could find a peace with any of
them. You're fucking furious,
it's natural!
ERIC:
It is my fault I lost them. I'm
cursed. I know I'm cursed.
VENGER:
(quietly)
It isn't like that...
ERIC tries to curl up again, but PRESTO holds him upright.
PRESTO:
Yes. You carry a wicked curse.
It strengthens all that rage
and sadness and fear that you
have in you. It feeds them, and
gives them power. It hasn't
killed anybody, Eric. You are
not responsible for that. But
you have to put a stop to this
before it takes you over.
ERIC:
(despairing)
I can't! I can't control it!
PRESTO:
You don't need to control it.
You just need to let it out.
ERIC shakes his head, bewildered.
ERIC:
...out?
PRESTO indicates to the crumbling surroundings.
PRESTO:
All of this is grief. Horror
and loss and anger. You've kept
it inside, and the scar's made
it solid. It's time to let it
go.
ERIC:
How?
PRESTO sighs, and leans his forehead against ERIC's.
PRESTO:
Let Venger remove the spell.
ERIC pulls away from him.
ERIC:
No!
PRESTO:
It's the only way to start
getting better. You've come to
rely on the pain it brings you.
ERIC:
It's my reminder!
PRESTO:
You don't need it any more.
ERIC:
Yes I do. I... I...
PRESTO:
No, you didn't deserve it,
Eric. You don't deserve any of
this.
ERIC:
(with growing anger)
I did. I did. I do. That's why
this shit keeps happening to
me, Presto. Bad things happen
to bad people. Cowards get
smacked as they run away. Vain
people get their looks ruined.
Bad sons lose their parents.
Bad boyfriends lose their
girls. Stupid kids that say
'yes' when they don't mean it
get ra... get ra... get...
ERIC gasps for breath, unable to say any more.
VENGER:
(quietly, sadly)
I've lived in this world for
longer than you can imagine,
Cavalier. And I know how unfair
it is. I have seen the wicked
have their way and the good be
made to suffer. Many at my own
hands. Please. Let me put
something right.
ERIC just stares at PRESTO.
PRESTO:
It's the only way you'll heal.
Trust me. Even if you don't
trust Venger, please trust me.
Pause.
ERIC:
I trust you. More than anyone
else I've ever known. But I
need you to be honest with me.
Just... answer me one thing
truthfully, would you?
PRESTO:
Sure.
ERIC searches PRESTO's eyes.
ERIC:
Are you our Dungeon Master?
Long pause. PRESTO licks his lips nervously, but never breaks from ERIC's gaze.
PRESTO:
Yes.
ERIC nods, matter-of-factly.
ERIC:
I thought so.
(he sighs)
Will I lose the whole scar?
VENGER steps forward a little.
VENGER:
Just the inside of it for now.
I do not know whether your skin
will completely heal. The wound
is very old.
ERIC nods. He rises, and turns his back to VENGER.
ERIC:
Do it.
VENGER steps towards ERIC, nervously, his hands outstretched towards the young man's shoulder. There is another great rumble and the pit begins to shake, raining down rubble on all three of them, although they barely notice. PRESTO takes ERIC's hands, supportively.
PRESTO:
Listen, I know this is hardly
the time, but how did you
guess?
ERIC grins at him through his fear.
ERIC:
One part 'Takes One To Know
One', six parts 'I Can Read You
Like A Book, Arthur Greene'.
VENGER places his hands on ERIC's shoulder. ERIC arches backwards in agony as orange fire shoots from his wounded shoulder all over his body and up VENGER and PRESTO's arms. Neither let go of him.
ERIC:
Augh, God, help me!
PRESTO:
It isn't real fire.
ERIC:
I'm burning!
PRESTO:
No you're not.
VENGER sinks his fingers deep through ERIC's armour as though it were made of soft clay, and buries them into his flesh. The force of it pushes ERIC, screaming in pain, to his knees again. The walls of the pit rumble more violently still.
VENGER:
Here it is.
VENGER catches and begins to tug something bright orange from Eric's shoulder. The retrieved spell is long and thrashing, like a grounded eel, but aflame. ERIC arches back again as the spell is pulled from him. As VENGER continues to pull at it, its end, having been out of Eric's body for a few seconds, begins to dim and turn a blueish black. Its twitching becomes more sluggish.
PRESTO:
It's OK, Eric. It's dying.
VENGER, still pulling at the spell, hits resistance. He tugs again, but the rest of the spell is stuck fast within ERIC.
VENGER:
It's lodged.
ERIC:
Stop it. Presto, make him stop.
PRESTO squeezes ERIC's hand.
PRESTO:
We can't now.
VENGER tugs hard at the spell again, pushing his boot against ERIC's shoulder for extra leverage. ERIC screams again, his entire body becoming consumed by angry flames. The pit shakes violently again. This time much bigger clumps of its walls come away to fall on them.
PRESTO:
Eric, stop doing that.
The falling masonry turns into pieces of furniture from the study as they fall.
ERIC'S DAD:
(disembodied)
They're removing me, Son. Don't
let them do it. Crush them.
PRESTO tries to magically deflect a falling paperweight, but it doesn't work. It catches his hand, making him cry out it pain.
PRESTO:
It's not real, Eric. Not unless
you make it.
ERIC'S DAD:
(disembodied)
Do it! I know you can! Free me!
PRESTO:
This isn't what you are. You're
a good person. Don't do this to
yourself...
ERIC looks up.
ERIC:
Stop.
The rumbling stops, as does the descent of the pit. All of the tumbling masonry and furniture stop and hang in mid air. Slowly, ERIC falls sideways to the ground. Even though VENGER isn't pulling at it, the rest of the spell, now completely black and lifeless, slides easily out of ERIC's shoulder.
ERIC'S DAD:
(Disembodied)
No!
ERIC:
(quietly)
My dad died of a heart attack.
He wasn't murdered. I don't
know who you are, but you're
not him. And you're not me, so
leave me, and the memory of my
father, alone.
BLACK KNIGHT:
(disembodied, voice obscured)
I'll see you suffer for this!
Scowling, ERIC begins to pick himself up from the ground.
ERIC:
I said...
CUT TO
EXT: Truck driving through desert, Night.
In the back of the truck, PRESTO, ERIC and VENGER sit bolt upright, awake, as one.
ERIC:
...go!!!
They blink, bemused at the equally surpised others, sitting watching the outburst. They look about themselves
PRESTO:
What..? Where are we?
BOBBY:
Halfway across the desert.
How'd it go?
PRESTO:
(still confused)
Pretty good... I think we
managed to Excorsise some
demons...
VENGER:
You were ordered not to move
us.
HANK:
We had no choice. Furnus sent
her Orc army back to collect.
PRESTO:
Oh.
ERIC:
(irritably)
Are we on a truck? Since when
did we have trucks?
He points to the BANDITS.
ERIC:
And who the Hell are these
guys?
BOBBY grins, delighted.
BOBBY:
Hey! You got Eric back to
normal!
CUT TO
INT Bandits' hideaway cave, Pre-dawn.
The BANDITS, PISTOL & NYM, UNI and KIDS, except for SHEILA & DIANA, are scattered about the large cave, made a little more homely with the occasional blanket and mattress. They are all just finishing a supper, and some of the BANDITS are passing around peaches for dessert.
On GREY, flanked by PISTOL and LEFROUX.
GREY:
Meat AND fruit in one supper?
You're spoiling us, LeFroux.
LEFROUX:
Ah, it is a special occasion,
Grey. We either have new
hostages or new friends. Either
is cause to celebrate.
PISTOL and LEFROUX grin at each other.
On PRESTO and BOBBY, eating, watching ERIC, who sits alone.
BOBBY:
So Venger took the burn away?
PRESTO:
Not completely. He'll still
have a scar, but at least it'll
start healing now. But it's the
healing inside that matters.
The curse was wrapped around
his heart. It was like... like
a lump of grease, clogging up a
plug. We pulled it out, but
he's still got a hell of a lot
of stale dishwater to drain out
before he starts recovering.
BOBBY pulls a face, holding his peach away in distaste.
BOBBY:
Eww... nice analogy.
He looks at his peach again.
BOBBY:
Nope. I don't think there's
anything in the world that'll
make me lose my appetite.
BOBBY merrily tucks in again. PRESTO continues to stare in concern at ERIC, still sitting quietly and emotionlessly, not eating.
PRESTO:
(quietly)
C'mon, Eric. Time to let go.
On HANK, eating alone in a corner. NYM sits next to him.
NYM:
You know, that Froufrou isn't
all that bad once you get to
know him...
HANK:
(sarcastically)
Grey's nice, too.
NYM:
He is. And a genius mind.
HANK:
Is that why you've been hanging
off his every word since you
met him?
NYM raises an eyebrow at HANK, who frowns.
NYM:
We're going to join them.
Pistol and me.
HANK:
I thought you might.
NYM:
Well, this Hero caper's all
good fun, but it hardly brings
in the gold. Once we've had our
kip we'll be heading West with
the others. I understand you
guys'll be carrying on East.
HANK nods. Pause.
NYM:
Kind of puts the Kybosh on our
fledgling love affair, I know.
HANK:
Yep.
NYM:
I could give you an I.O.U. I'm
sure our paths'll cross some
other time. Or...
A bright idea hits NYM.
NYM:
Or you could come with us!
HANK:
No.
NYM:
Come on. It'll be fun. All
stealing, pillaging and outdoor
shagging. All that Do Gooding
must get on your tits no end.
HANK:
I'm just gonna have to take the
Rain Check. Thanks, though.
He gives NYM a little smile.
NYM:
You're welcome.
On ERIC, watching this scene with a small frown. He rises, and makes to leave the cave through a narrow entrance, but bumps into DIANA, coming in. They both start, then look down at their feet, awkwardly.
ERIC:
Hey, stranger.
DIANA:
Hey, Sylves... um...
They meet eyes very briefly, then look away again.
DIANA:
Sheila's collecting the peach
pits.
ERIC:
Hmm?
DIANA indicates to the half eaten fruit in ERIC's hand.
DIANA:
She's planting a little shrine.
To the ones... who didn't...
ERIC:
Sure.
Long, awkward pause.
ERIC:
Listen, I'll see you later.
DIANA stands aside for him to pass.
DIANA:
Yeah.
ERIC leaves the cave.
CUT TO
EXT Wasteland outside cave, Pre-dawn.
SHEILA is on her knees on the ground, surrounded by tiny holes and equally small mounds of earth. She is crying, quietly. She gently places a peach stone into one of the holes, then covers it with earth, her lips moving in silent prayer. ERIC stands in the doorway briefly, watching this.
ERIC:
That's a lot of peach trees.
SHEILA looks up at him.
SHEILA:
There were a lot of bodies.
ERIC nods.
ERIC:
You done one for Lorne yet?
SHEILA sits back.
SHEILA:
No.
ERIC squats next to one of the holes, finishing off his peach joylessly. He drops the stone into the hole and covers it with earth. He raises his head to address the world in general.
ERIC:
Here lies the peach pit that
represents the body of Lorne...
um, I honestly have no idea
what his surname was. He had
the worst luck in the world. He
was a troublemaker and a
showoff and annoyed the Hell
out of everybody he ever met.
And I thought he was great.
ERIC pats the mound of earth fondly.
ERIC:
Rest in peace, Dickhead.
SHEILA smiles through her tears.
SHEILA:
Nice eulogy. It's not unlike
the one I'd use if you go
before me.
ERIC sits down next to SHEILA, putting an arm around her.
ERIC:
You'd really say 'Dickhead' at
my funeral?
SHEILA:
If I thought you'd want it, I'd
call you a C Word.
ERIC:
(touched)
Babes...
SHEILA starts sobbing again. ERIC catches the tears with his thumb.
ERIC:
Come on. None of that.
SHEILA indicates to the mounds in front of her.
SHEILA:
But look at them all...
ERIC:
That's not it though, is it? I
know those tears. They're not
Grieving Fallen Comrades tears.
Only one person's got the power
to make you cry like that.
SHEILA doesn't answer.
ERIC:
We've all seen him falling over
that Nym girl, Sheila. I don't
know what he thinks he's
playing at, but he's not worth
getting upset about.
SHEILA:
I feel so stupid and selfish!
All these people are dead
because of us and I'm getting
upset over my love life!
ERIC puts his head on SHEILA's shoulder.
ERIC:
If it makes you feel any
better, you're in good company.
SHEILA:
I'm still in love with him.
ERIC:
I don't think I'll ever not
be in love with her. God knows
I've tried.
SHEILA's tears begin to calm down.
SHEILA:
Why don't they love us back?
Are we not loveable?
ERIC:
I know I am. And you're just as
cute as a button. You know
what?
SHEILA:
They're both idiots.
ERIC:
Bingo.
SHEILA sniffs, and stops crying.
SHEILA:
Well, I still love you.
ERIC:
I love you too.
They smile at one another and kiss, very briefly, utterly platonicly, on the lips. They sit together, their arms around one another, his head on her shoulder, both watching the wasted terrain.
ERIC:
I miss my scar.
SHEILA:
Really?
ERIC:
I used to be able to
concentrate on it, when I felt
all confused like this, like
everything's thrashing around
inside of me. It used to make
all that turmoil become still
again.
SHEILA:
Turmoil..?
ERIC pats beneath his ribcage.
ERIC:
It used to all be here. I could
feel it sometimes, but at least
it had no words.
He pats his head.
ERIC:
Now it's come up here. I can
hear what it's saying.
SHEILA:
Like what?
ERIC:
That I'm lost. I'm just a lost
little boy who misses his
Daddy.
Pause.
ERIC:
I do miss my Daddy. I miss them
all. Diana, Lorne, DM popping
up when he's not wanted and
muttering gibberish and saving
my sorry ass from my bitch of a
wife... but most of all I miss
my Daddy. He might have been a
hard bastard, but he was always
there when I really needed him.
If it was him catching Zinn in
the swamps that time, her feet
wouldn't have touched the
ground...
ERIC looks up at SHEILA's understanding expression.
ERIC:
I suppose Diana will have
already told you about our
little tryst. That while you
were politely turning down my
brother-in-law's proposal, I
was fighting off a vicious
female monster intent on raping
me... wow. I said the R word...
ERIC trails off when he sees the shock in SHEILA's eyes.
SHEILA:
Eric... I had no idea.
ERIC:
Shit.
He burrows his head into SHEILA's shoulder. SHEILA strokes his head tenderly.
SHEILA:
Oh Eric... Oh, Eric, why does
it always happen to you?
ERIC looks up at her for a moment, tears finally beginning to well up in his eyes.
ERIC:
I don't know.
SHEILA:
You poor thing. It's all too
much. Isn't it?
ERIC:
Too much... Too much...
SHEILA pulls him closer to him as he begins to really sob. PULL OUT.
CUT TO
EXT Strange, dark, nightmarish world.
The shape of ERIC's DAD, still draped in the curtain, stands amongst the remains of the Nightmare Study as it crumbles about him.
ERIC'S DAD:
(laughs, voice twisted)
The last part of the Study to collapse is the French Door. As it topples to the ground, it pulls the curtain from ERIC's DAD, revealing him as the BLACK KNIGHT, still complete with armour and vizored helmet.
BLACK KNIGHT:
(voice obscured)
Well, I think that all went as
well as it could have done.
The BLACK KNIGHT kicks at a fallen chair.
BLACK KNIGHT:
It was fun playing around with
that little shit's brain, but
it was getting kinda boring. He
was never gonna do as I said. I
think he even knew, deep down
that that stupid little sword
was never going to do Venger
any real harm.
He laughs, fiddling with a bit of masonry.
BLACK KNIGHT:
And yet this great Wizard
that's supposed to be his
bestest, snuggliest friend in
the whole wide world can't see
that. He honestly thinks that
I'm gone now. He truly thought
that I was all in Eric's head,
didn't he?
The BLACK KNIGHT turns, addressing the camera.
BLACK KNIGHT:
But we know better, don't we,
you and I? We know how very off
the scent our little Wizard has
been thrown. Because we know
something that he doesn't.
The BLACK KNIGHT draws an ellipse in the air with his finger. As he draws, an ornate mirror frame appears in front of his vizored face, although there is no glass in the frame.
BLACK KNIGHT:
Mirror, mirror on the wall,
The purer the come, the further
they fall...
The BLACK KNIGHT dips his head slightly, allowing light to fall onto his eyes. We can see now that his eyes are a bright, piercing blue.
CUT TO
INT Bandits' darkened cave, morning.
Close on HANK, opening his eyes, the same bright blue eyes, from the nightmare.
CUT TO BLACK.