ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay Read online

  KYLAN (CONT'D): All right, lets do this.

  CUT TO.

  INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE - LATE NIGHT

  A biscuit lies on the floor, the back door left ajar.

  Kylan stands on a chair and sets the net on the ceiling.

  He takes a lantern off the table and backs out of the room, line in hand.

  INT. HALLWAY - GROUND FLOOR

  He sits down by the side of the door and turns off the lantern, peeking around the corner.

  KYLAN: Come and get it.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  ... Kylan sits asleep.

  A low "creak" wakes him.

  He comes about and looks around the corner.

  A small shape approaches the biscuit.

  Kylan leans forward... then pulls on the line.

  The shape turns just as the net drops on top of it.

  Kylan jumps to his feet and pulls on the line again.

  The shape trips back, landing on its side.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Gotcha you little runt!

  He grabs Rence's knife and moves in but then trips on the line and falls forward, the knife sliding across the floor.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): No no no...

  Feet race down the stairs.

  ELLIOTT (O.S): What's going on??

  KYLAN: It's in here!

  Kylan gets to his feet just as his parents enter.

  ALANA: Kylan get back!

  The trapped shape fights the net.

  Kylan grabs the line again and drags it away from the door.

  KYLAN: It's gonna get away!

  Elliott hurries around the table and shuts the door.

  The shape finally gets out of the net and scrambles under the table.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): (pointing) Over there!

  Alana grabs another lantern off the wall and turns it on.

  ELLIOTT: (to Kylan) Just stay back.

  Alana kneels down and lowers the lantern.

  We glimpse scruffy pale hair.

  Alana stops.

  ALANA: (beat) I don't believe it.

  Naiyoo's eyes dart left and right, her dress tattered and filthy.

  Alana hands Kylan the lantern and slowly moves in.

  ALANA (CONT'D): It's all right little one,

  don't be afraid.

  Naiyoo's eyes continue to zip around.

  ELLIOTT (O.S): I got her.

  Naiyoo springs out. Alana grabs her from behind, holding her down.

  ALANA: Shhh shhh...

  Naiyoo kicks to free herself, making no sound.

  ALANA (CONT'D): We're not going to hurt

  you sweetheart...

  Kylan quickly approaches with the lantern, Elliott behind him.

  Alana rocks her gently, trying to ease her down.

  ALANA (CONT'D): There there, you're all

  right, you're all right.

  Naiyoo begins to settle, her body going limp.

  KYLAN: Why is she so quiet?

  Elliot leans forward as Alana strokes back her hair.

  Naiyoo's eyes staring blankly into thin air.

  Kylan stops.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Great Spirit.

  He sees the tattoos on the left side of her face

  CUT TO.

  INT. KYLAN'S BEDROOM - LATE NIGHT

  Alana sets down a plate of bread and a glass of water.

  Naiyoo lies on her side facing away, sound asleep.

  INT. HALLWAY - UPPER FLOOR

  Kylan tries to peek in through the doorway, Elliott pulls him back.

  Alana gently closes the door behind her.

  ELLIOTT: You think she'll try and run?

  ALANA: I don't think so, she seems exhausted.

  KYLAN: Why are we keeping her here? Just

  let her go.

  ELLIOTT: Kylan, go to bed. You can take

  our room.

  Kylan looks to his mother.

  She touches his shoulder and nods.

  Kylan shakes his head and leaves.

  Alana rests back against the wall.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): What do you think?

  ALANA: Did you see the way her eyes

  moved?

  Elliott nods.

  ALANA (CONT'D): I don't think she can

  hear. Probably mute as well.

  ELLIOTT: What about her face?

  ALANA: I don't know, I mean her hair, her

  eyes, she's not from around here.

  ELLIOTT: She could be a Nomad.

  ALANA: (beat) Those markings. There's

  something familiar about them. When I was

  in the Capitol there were books in the library,

  they showed the language of the Southern

  Realm.

  ELLIOTT: "The Southern Realm"? Alana no

  one's been seen or heard from the Southern

  Realm in years.

  ALANA: Perhaps she's from one of the

  older tribes that left before the war.

  ELLIOTT: It's possible.

  He squeezes her shoulder.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): It's late, you can share

  the bed with Kai, I'll take the floor.

  Alana nods, touching his hand.

  CUT TO.

  INT. KYLAN'S BEDROOM - MORNING

  Sunlight rises from the window. The plate of bread and glass of water empty.

  The door slowly opens. Kylan leans forward and slowly creeps in, moving to the closet

  Naiyoo still lies on the bed, now on her other side.

  Kylan looks across at her face. Her long hair covering the left side of her face.

  He pauses a moment then slowly approaches, stopping by the side of the bed.

  He reaches down, curious, and nudges back her hair.

  Naiyoo's eyes snap open.

  Kylan screams, jumping back. Naiyoo also jumps, instantly backing away into the far corner of the room.

  Elliott bursts in, followed by Alana.

  ELLIOTT: What happened?

  KYLAN: Nothing I just came in to get my

  clothes.

  Naiyoo's eyes again zip between the three of them, petrified.

  Alana raises her hands.

  ALANA: It's all right, we won't hurt you.

  ELLIOTT: I thought she can't hear us.

  ALANA: Maybe she can read lips.

  Naiyoo slides across the wall, backing into the next corner.

  Kylan sees a urine spread around her feet.

  KYLAN: I don't believe this!

  ALANA: Kylan get some towels.

  KYLAN: She just pissed on my floor!

  ELLIOTT: Kylan, move.

  Kylan leaves. Alana smiles, assuring.

  ALANA: I promise we won't hurt you. We'll

  get you back to your family, OK.

  ELLIOTT: (low) You know any Nomad

  phrases?

  Alana tries to think.

  ALANA: There's an old greeting I remember.

  She slowly touches the sides of her forehead and places her hands on her heart.

  Naiyoo stops and looks at her.

  ALANA (CONT'D): I think she understands.

  Naiyoo slowly copies the gesture but raises her hands to the air.

  Alana smiles.

  CUT TO.

  INT. WASH ROOM - FARM HOUSE - DAY

  Dirt and grime is cleaned off Naiyoo's face.

  Alana working gently with the sponge.

  ALANA (O.S): (beat) Don't think you've had

  a good wash in a long time.

  Naiyoo sits in a bath tub, pale and thin.

  Alana picks up a comb and brushes down her wet hair, more grime coming loose.

  ALANA (CONT'D): I've never seen hair this

  fair before. It's really pretty on you.

  Naiyoo doesn't respond.

  Alana looks at her.

  ALANA (CONT'D): Can you read my lips?

  Do you understand what I say?

  Naiyoo looks back at her but doesn't respond.

  Alana shakes her head and smiles to hersel
f.

  ALANA (CONT'D): I guess this is going to

  be a little difficult for both of us.

  She continues combing her hair.

  CUT TO.

  INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE - EVENING

  Table, Kylan looks across at his parents.

  ALANA (O.S): You checked, didn't you?

  Elliott nods, reluctant.

  ELLIOTT: I did.

  ALANA: No Nomad tribe has come through

  Ellora in years, which means there's no telling

  where her people are.

  KYLAN: Just set her loose, she'll find her

  way back to them.

  ELLIOTT: He has a point. She appears to

  have survived long enough on her own.

  ALANA: She's just a child, we can't throw her

  out like some animal.

  KYLAN: She IS an animal. Did you see what

  she did in my room?

  Elliott raises his hand, silencing him.

  He looks back to Alana and pauses.

  ELLIOTT: You're not suggesting we try and

  track down this family of hers?

  ALANA: No. I'm not suggesting that.

  Elliott sits back, sensing where this is going.

  ELLIOTT: So what are you suggesting?

  ALANA: (beat) I'm suggesting she stays.

  KYLAN: What??

  Elliott raises his hand again.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): You can't be serious,

  we'll be a laughing stock of town!

  ELLIOTT: Kylan.

  ALANA: They can laugh all they want.

  Elliott, we have to do the right thing, it's our

  duty.

  ELLIOTT: Alana just consider how

  ridiculous this is. Even if she could hear us

  she wouldn't understand a word we say.

  ALANA: Then I'll teach her.

  ELLIOTT: You'll "teach her"?

  ALANA: Yes, was I not a teacher?

  Elliott looks away and sighs.

  Kylan looks between them in disbelief.

  KYLAN: I don't believe this is happening.

  He gets up and leaves.

  Alana reaches out to him.

  ALANA: Sweetheart.

  Elliott turns to her.

  ELLIOTT: (beat) I know what this about.

  ALANA: Elliott please, that is NOT what this

  is about.

  She touches his hand.

  ALANA (CONT'D): This is about one thing

  and one thing only. Being a true to the Great

  Spirit.

  Elliott looks away and shakes his head.

  ELLIOTT: If they return...

  Alana smiles and nods.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): I mean it, if anyone

  remotely similar to her pass through.

  Alana kisses his hand.

  ALANA: I promise.

  Elliott shakes his head again.

  ELLIOTT: I'm going to regret this.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. TOWN SQUARE - ELLORAN TOWN CENTRE - NIGHT

  A band plays, men and women dance and clap, children playing.

  Kylan walks with Rence, both smartly dressed for the festival.

  RENCE: If it wasn't a dog what was it?

  KYLAN: It doesn't matter, just forget about it.

  He looks aside and sees Sophie dancing with her friends.

  RENCE (O.S): Wow. I have to say she does

  look good. When you gonna make your

  move?

  Kylan watches Sophie twirl and laugh, her smile radiant.

  KYLAN: (beat) I'm going to wait.

  RENCE: What? Why?

  Sophie sees them and breaks away from her friends.

  SOPHIE: Kai!

  RENCE: Here's your chance.

  SOPHIE: I was wondering when you'd get

  here.

  Kylan smiles, more awkward than usual.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): Where's your mother?

  KYLAN: It's just me and pa tonight. Ma's...

  not feeling well.

  SOPHIE: That's a shame, mother was looking

  for her.

  She touches his arm and smiles.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): I believe you have

  something for me?

  KYLAN: I'm sorry, I didn't get to finish it.

  SOPHIE: You didn't?

  SOPHIE'S FRIEND (O.S): Sophie!

  Sophie backs away, disappointed.

  SOPHIE: I gotta go, maybe I'll see you later.

  KYLAN: Yeah, maybe we can...

  She's already gone.

  RENCE: You didn't catch the dog or finish the

  Ariadne poem?

  KYLAN: It's not Ariadne.

  CUT TO.

  INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

  Naiyoo lifts her bowl of soup and sips, wearing Kylan's clothes.

  ALANA: Try this.

  Alana places a spoon in her hand.

  ALANA (CONT'D): Eat like this.

  She shows her what to do.

  Naiyoo looks down at her bowl then slowly copies her.

  Alana smiles, encouraging.

  ALANA (CONT'D): That's it.

  Naiyoo glances at her and pauses.

  She slowly raises her hand and points to her.

  ALANA (CONT'D): (beat) "Me"? Do you

  want to know my name?

  Naiyoo doesn't respond, unsure what she said.

  ALANA (CONT'D): My name is Alana.

  (mouthing slowly) A-La-Na.

  Naiyoo half nods, following.

  Alana points to her.

  ALANA (CONT'D): Your name. Arianna.

  Naiyoo watches her lips move.

  ALANA (CONT'D): A-Ree-Anna

  Naiyoo slowly nods, catching on.

  ALANA (CONT'D): (smiles) It's the name I

  always wanted to give my, well, it's a name

  I've always liked.

  She returns to her soup.

  Naiyoo touches her hand and smiles.

  Alana smiles back.

  ALANA (CONT'D): Glad you like it.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. TOWN SQUARE - ELLORAN TOWN CENTRE - LATE NIGHT

  Tuck races through the crowds.

  TUCK: Kai! Kai is it true??

  Kylan turns.

  RENCE: Is what true?

  Tuck laughs, out of breath.

  TUCK: One of the hands says they have a

  deaf mute Nomad living with them!

  RENCE: What??

  TUCK: Half her face is melted off or

  something.

  Kylan sees several of the local kids glancing at him, all laughing.

  LOCAL KID (O.S): Hey Kai where's the

  wedding? Up in the hills?

  Tuck and Rence also laugh.

  KYLAN: She's not "living" with us all right,

  she's just staying until her family come back.

  TUCK: I'm sorry Kai, it's just pretty funny. I

  mean what are you guys thinking?

  ELLIOTT (O.S): Something amusing you

  boys?

  Tuck and Rence see Elliott looking over them and instantly stop.

  RENCE: Nothing Sir.

  TUCK: Nothing at all.

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