ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay Read online

  Sophie looks at him, fuming. She marches to the mouth of the alley and stops. Both hurt and angry.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): I did feel something for

  you once, but we're not children any more.

  She shakes her head, anger turning to pity.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): Grow up Kylan.

  Kylan watches her go.

  Heart broken.

  EXT. MAIN SQUARE

  Rivalen steps aside as Sophie approaches.

  SOPHIE: I think I'll go home.

  CANTOR: Already?

  SOPHIE: I'm quite tired.

  CANTOR: Where's Kai, he can walk you back.

  SOPHIE: Kai's busy, I'll be fine.

  She kisses his cheek.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): I'll see you in the morning.

  She glances at Rivalen and leaves.

  Rivalen finishes his drink and smiles.

  RIVALEN: (to Cantor) I think another drink

  is in order.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. EMPTY SIDE STREET

  Rivalen pins Sophie against the wall. The two passionately kissing.

  Sophie smiles as he moves to her neck.

  SOPHIE: Do you love me?

  Rivalen begins pulling down his trousers.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): Wait, someone will...

  RIVALEN: No one will see, take it off.

  Sophie unfastens her top and lets him pull it down.

  Rivalen bites at her breasts, Sophie closing her eyes and smiling with pleasure.

  SOPHIE: Are we still leaving next week?

  Rivalen pauses.

  Sophie looks down at him.

  SOPHIE (CONT'D): You still want me to go

  with you?

  Rivalen smiles.

  RIVALEN: Of course. Perhaps even sooner.

  SOPHIE: What do you mean?

  RIVALEN: We can leave tonight.

  SOPHIE: (laughs) "Tonight"?

  Rivalen presses his face against hers.

  RIVALEN: What is it my love? Having

  second thoughts?

  SOPHIE: No but you need your pay.

  Rivalen smiles.

  RIVALEN: Don't worry.

  He kisses her.

  RIVALEN (CONT'D): You're all the pay I

  need.

  Sophie smiles, swept away by another long kiss.

  Rivalen spreads her legs and takes her.

  Sophie grimaces in pain.

  SOPHIE: Gently, the baby...

  Rivalen ignores her and continues to take her.

  Sophie's arms wraps around him, grimacing again.

  DISSOLVE TO.

  EXT. HILL - WHEAT FIELD - LATE NIGHT

  Footpath, fenced on one side, Kylan and Arianna walk home, Arianna carrying a large gift basket under her arm.

  Kylan looks up at the moons.

  Arianna glances at him and sees tears in his eyes.

  He kicks a small rock and slows down, Arianna forced to do the same.

  He drops down against a post and raises his knees. Lost in his pain.

  KYLAN: This isn't right. This isn't the way it

  was supposed to be... I know it... I feel it.

  Arianna looks at him, unsure what to do.

  Kylan looks up at the moons again, more tears in his eyes.

  Arianna slowly sets down the basket and sits beside him.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): The Great Spirit is

  broken.

  He lowers his head against his knees.

  Arianna looks at him, hesitating. She raises her arm to comfort him but then decides against it.

  She draws back and raises her own knees, allowing him to grieve.

  FADE TO BLACK.

  FADE IN.

  EXT. CORN FIELD - DAY

  White clouds, blue sky. The farm house in the distance.

  EXT. BARN

  A chicken pecks for food.

  EXT. FARM HOUSE

  The swing lightly sways in the breeze.

  An apple is picked from the tree. Arianna, standing on a ladder, throws it down to the basket.

  She reaches for another when she sees something past the branches.

  She slowly leans aside and stops.

  EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF ELLORA

  Children chase each other, playing tag. One of the boys stops and looks to the horizon.

  The other children slowly do the same.

  Horses are heard in the distance... Lots of them.

  INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE

  The floorboards "creak" as Arianna approaches the window.

  She stops by the edge of the frame, keeping herself hidden, and slowly peeks out.

  Something is in the sky.

  She leans further and looks up.

  The object is small, a good distance away.

  Rotating on itself.

  Arianna quickly backs away from the window and holds against the wall.

  A forgotten fear in her eyes.

  CUT TO.

  INT. STABLE

  Kylan repairs the gate to Kanthaka's stable.

  The stable doors open.

  Kylan turns his head and sees his father.

  ELLIOTT: (beat) I've just been speaking

  Cantor Temwoth.

  Kylan returns to the broken gate.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Sophie's not been seen

  since the Festival.

  Kylan continues to work on the gate.

  KYLAN: I'm sure she's all right.

  Elliott slowly approaches.

  ELLIOTT: Isotta's quite upset.

  Kylan nods, quiet.

  Elliott stops beside him.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): One of Cantor's hands

  has also disappeared. Left behind his pay.

  Kylan feels his father staring down at him.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Did you speak with

  her?

  Kylan climbs to his feet and checks the hinges.

  KYLAN: No.

  Elliott watches him clean his hands.

  ELLIOTT: (beat) It's a good day for a ride.

  KYLAN: I have a lot still to do.

  Elliott hands him a saddle.

  ELLIOTT: Take it. He needs to stretch his

  legs.

  Kylan looks at his father and nods, moving to Kanthaka.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Kylan.

  He takes out Alana's ring.

  ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Don't leave this lying

  around your room.

  Kylan looks at the ring, then slowly takes it.

  Elliott watches him fasten on the saddle.

  He draws back - wanting to say more - but then turns away.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. MEADOW - DAY

  Kanthaka gallops. Kylan riding.

  He looks ahead and sees a figure walking towards the woods.

  He pulls on the reins and turns in its direction.

  The figure, cloaked and hooded, carries a sack over the shoulder.

  Kylan slows Kanthaka down and climbs down.

  KYLAN: Hello there!

  The figure sees a shadow on the ground and stops. Face hidden under the hood.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Are you lost?

  A kitchen knife is slowly drawn.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Are you all right?

  The figure spins around, lashing out with the knife.

  Kylan jumps back, falling to the ground.

  Arianna stops.

  Kylan looks up.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Rianna??

  Arianna looks down at him, the knife trembling in her hand.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): What in the blue moons

  are you doing??

  She looks up at the sky, still shaking.

  Kylan gets to his feet and sees the sack on the floor, food and clothing inside.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): What's going on?

  Arianna lowers the knife.

  Kylan sees the cold fear in her eyes.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Where are you going?

  He forces eye contact.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): What's wrong with
you?

  Arianna grabs the sack off of the floor and backs away, eyes still searching the sky.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Why are you running?

  She stops and looks at him.

  She quickly points to him, the direction of the farm, then waves away from the land.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): “Leave”? Why should

  we leave?

  She turns him around and points to the horizon.

  Kylan steps forward and pauses, shielding his eyes from the sun.

  A tiny object is glimpsed Slowly moving through he clouds in a clean steady line.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): What the...

  Arianna pulls at his arm.

  Kylan looks back at her.

  She again points to him, the farm, then waves away.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Hold on hold on, just

  hold on.

  He glances back at the object, confused.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Wait here, just wait here

  and don't go anywhere.

  Arianna shakes her head, retreating to the woods.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): All right all right fine,

  go into the forest, just wait by the stream.

  We'll come get you in a short while OK?

  Arianna's eyes are back on the sky.

  Kylan forces eye contact again.

  KYLAN (CONT'D): Do you understand?

  Arianna looks at him and slowly nods, pulling herself together.

  Kylan climbs back onto his horse as she scrambles into the woods.

  He turns Kanthaka around and looks out at the object again.

  He glances left, back towards the farm, but then pushes on in the direction of the object.

  Arianna stops and looks back at him.

  Her fear returning.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. HILL - DAY

  Kanthaka stops, Kylan lightly pulling on the reins.

  Screams are heard in the distance.

  Kylan looks ahead and sees the town below, three of the "Eyes" circling high above.

  Kanthaka backs away.

  Kylan hesitates then pushes on.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. MARKET - ELLORAN TOWN CENTRE

  The townspeople run, knocking over stalls.

  A large black horse blocks a family. The black hooded rider, XYLOCK, raises his hand, directing other hooded figures as they spread throughout the town.

  Across the square arrows are fired. A sword beheading an old man.

  INT. ELLORAN HOME

  The door is kicked open. A father leaps forward, his stomach swiftly slashed before a black boot kicks him away.

  EXT. ALLEY

  A young woman runs, terrified. Black gloved hands grab her from behind and spin her around.

  HOODED WOMAN: No no!

  Another pair of gloved hands pull back her hood and check the left side of her face.

  EXT. SIDE STREET

  Elloran men charge forward with axes, brooms, and anything else they can find.

  Four hooded figures march toward them.

  All wearing familiar grey steel masks and bladed armor.

  The masked soldiers raise their curved swords and effortlessly block every blow from the Ellorans, cutting the men down within seconds.

  INT. BEDROOM - ELLORAN HOME

  Another door bursts open, a mother and her teenage daughter cower in the corner.

  A masked soldier draws his sword and approaches, swiftly disposing of the mother before grabbing the girl.

  EXT. SIDE STREET

  A barrel is pulled aside, Sebille hiding. The masked soldier grabs her by the hair and pulls her to her feet.

  SEBILLE: No no!

  TUCK (O.S): Let her go you bastard!

  Tuck leaps onto the soldier's back, freeing Sebille.

  TUCK (CONT'D): (to Sebille) Run! Get out

  of here!

  Tuck pins soldier the ground, holding him down.

  Sebille turns to run but is grabbed by another soldier.

  Tuck is quickly overpowered, the soldier rolls on top of him and slits his throat with his bladed forearm.

  EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF ELLORA

  Kylan nears the town, the cries and screams now louder.

  KYLAN: Great Spirit.

  Several men run in his direction, two with arrows in them.

  EXT. MAIN SQUARE

  XYLOCK, also masked, turns to another rider as he approaches, both speaking Southern.

  SECOND RIDER: (subtitled) A small number

  are escaping.

  XYLOCK: Widen the perimeter.

  Sebille is thrown into a group of girls rounded up in the centre of the main square, masked soldiers surrounding them.

  EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF ELLORA

  Kylan turns his head.

  KYLAN: Ren!

  He jumps down off his horse and runs forward.

  Rence struggles, an arrow in his leg and shoulder.

  Kylan catches him just as he falls.

  RENCE: Kai!

  Kanthaka neighs and backs away, panicking. The massacre still raging in the distance.

  Kylan tries to remove the arrow from Rence's shoulder.

  Rence cries out, shaking his head.

  Kylan looks up, unable to see what's happening in the town.

  RENCE (CONT'D): They're killing everyone

  Kai! They're killing EVERYONE!

  KYLAN: Put your arm around me.

  He helps him up and pulls him over to Kanthaka.

  He looks aside and sees black horses approaching from around the sides of the town.

  He quickly tries to get Rence onto the horse just as the masked riders begin firing arrows.

  Two of the fleeing men are instantly cut down.

  Rence falls back, unable to get onto the horse.

  RENCE: Go! Get out of here!

  Kylan tries to help him again.

  Rence shoves him back.

  RENCE (CONT'D): Ride you fool!

  Kylan sees the masked riders getting closer, many spreading out to encircle the wider area.

  Kylan looks down at Rence as he crawls away, pulling the arrow from his leg.

  RENCE (CONT'D): GO!

  Kylan backs away and gets back onto the Kanthaka, racing into the nearby fields.

  A masked rider sees him and slows down.

  He raises a small arrow gun and aims at Kylan.

  He fires just as his horse buckles. Rence stabbing his arrow into the horse's foot.

  The rider falls and hits the ground, rolling aside.

  Rence grabs a rock and pounds at his steel mask, blood spilling out from the sides.

  He stops when a sword enters his back.

  The soldier standing over him removes his sword and turns away, leaving them both.

  CUT TO.

  EXT. MAIN SQUARE

  Xylock climbs down from his horse and approaches the girls gathered in the main square.

  All are in the late teens or early twenties, all on their knees.

  He slowly studies their frightened faces and sees to another hooded girl. He lifts her head and checks the left side of her face.

  MASKED SOLDIER (O.S): She is not