Damsel Page #3

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The witch fumbles with the iron keys, scurrying toward the

door.

Rapunzel stands. The witch waives her hand, trying to

control Rapunzel with her magic, but Rapunzel is unaffected.

Rapunzel twists her fingers aggressively inward. The witch

hangs in the air. Her eyes grow wide with fear.

Her toes slide across the stone floor as Rapunzel’s black

hair begins to drift into the air, weightlessly.

Rapunzel moves the witch effortlessly, toward the tower

window.

The Tree of Life’s power drains from the witch’s body. She

ages until she is decrepid. In balance, Rapunzel becomes

young and beautiful once more.

Strong vines grow into the space, overpowering the iron bars

of Rapunzel’s cell. The metal buckles at her will. The iron

door is ripped from its hinges.

Her eyes reveal a black soul of hate. A malevolent grin.

Rapunzel sends the witch flying out of the tower window.

CUT TO:

EXT. REDWOOD FOREST - SOUTH - DAY

A cardinal flies over the sprawling forest of redwoods and

lands in a tree near the Ivory Fortress.

Rapunzel’s familiar serenade begins. Her voice pure, long

and light. Angelic.

INT. IVORY FORTRESS - GRAND THRONE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

A HANDSOME PRINCE, 20 years old with dark hair and blue eyes,

steps through the leaved entryway.

13.

He enters Rapunzel’s grand throne room, drawn by her siren

song. It ends.

Rapunzel appears behind him.

Her hair is woven into a crown of wolves’ teeth.

A smooth corset of bone is molded to her perfect body. Her

long ribs wrap from her back, forward. Her bare stomach,

tight.

She grins seductively, eyeing her prey.

RAPUNZEL:

Welcome, prince.

He stumbles over himself, enthralled by her otherworldly

beauty.

She comes in for his kiss. He hangs on her lips. She

gracefully moves with him, against the wall.

Vines of black ivy grow toward the unsuspecting prince,

writhing and unfurling at her command. They move up his legs

and bind him where he stands.

She holds him in her kiss. His skin deteriorates until he is

bone. He lands seated in a throne of ivy, as it grows

beneath him.

CUT TO BLACK:

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - THRONE ROOM - 10 YEARS LATER

A grey stone, throne room. Banners of red, hang. Thessia’s

golden lion crest.

Castle Thessia’s throne room is particularly elaborate

tonight.

Illustrious decor. A regal gala. A gathering of royal

magnitude. Boisterous chatter echoes between the high

archways and stained glass windows.

Sconces ablaze. A band of musical men play for the party.

The King’s Guard, soldiers and the social elite banter as

they tap endless wine.

In the throne, KING EDWARD, 60 years old now, observes. His

hair, still red. He’s grown stern with age. Dressed in

black, royal clothing.

14.

At his side, QUEEN MARIE, stunning in her early 60’s. Her

chin high. Natural. A comfortable and kind smile.

Their son, PRINCE CAVILL, is among the crowd, laughing with a

few of his male peers. He bears a striking resemblance to

his father Edward.

His jaw is square. His heavy brow is framed by his fire-red,

Irish hair. Golden eyes. 21 years old.

King Edward turns to his queen.

KING EDWARD:

Join me?

The queen nods, standing with him.

They step forward, landing front and center. Edward

addresses the crowd.

KING EDWARD (CONT’D)

Attention! Attention, this way.

A few final jokes ricochet. Their accompanied laughs die

down as well.

KING EDWARD (CONT’D)

Though I, as most of you, need no

reason to enjoy wine, tonight we

gather to celebrate Cavill.

Edward extends his hand toward Cavill, beckoning him to the

front of the room.

Cavill smiles uncomfortably. His friend’s toss his hair and

poke, shoving him forward. Cavill gives in, moving for his

father and mother.

Cheers.

Cavill kisses his glowing mother’s cheek.

The room falls quiet again as the prince lands beside his

father.

KING EDWARD (CONT’D)

Another year closer to the throne.

The comment reeks of strangely placed disdain.

Marie’s smile grows wider through her side-eyed frustration.

Edward puts his hand on Cavill’s shoulder.

15.

KING EDWARD (CONT’D)

My heir. Sure to grow into a

powerful king. One day.

Cavill glances at the king, who gives him the floor.

Cavill has more charisma in his pinky than his father has in

his entire body.

Kind. Grateful. Genuine.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Thank you all, so much, for being

here to celebrate with me. Where

would I be without any of you?

He gestures to his friend, SAMUEL.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

Without you, Samuel, I would have

never learned which end of a sword

to swing.

Cavill rethinks it.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

Not that I learned well, but at

least which end to swing.

Cavill controls the crowd. They hang in his charm. He turns

to another friend, BRADLEY.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

Bradley, you have helped me wade

through my endless bout with love.

All my fickle heart’s desires. My

moral sounding board.

He sets his sites on his friend, GABRIEL.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

Without you, Gabriel, well- I’d

have fallen down that cliff as a

child. I would be dead.

The on-lookers laugh at Cavill’s grand delivery. He glances

to the king.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

My father might have had to work at

a second son!

The laughter grows.

16.

Edward folds his hands behind his back, uncomfortably.

Marie eyes her husband, calming him.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

But, really. My life is something

special because of all of you.

What all of you bring to my days.

It is, of course, a blessing and a

burden to bear the weight of, one

day, becoming king. But you, my

friends, make it seem manageable.

You make it a crown worth wearing.

A kingdom worth saving. I love

you. Now, let us drink!

The crowd explodes with applause.

PARTY PATRON #1

To Cavill!

The entire party joins in the toast.

PARTY PATRONS:

To Cavill!

And they drink. The room fills with the sounds of laughter

once more.

Cavill turns and embraces his mother, who holds him tightly.

King Edward leans in, overwhelmed with frustration.

KING EDWARD:

A kingdom worth saving?

He releases his mother and sarcastically glances at his

father.

PRINCE CAVILL:

I am terrible with speeches.

As Cavill returns to his friends, they accept him with open

arms and shouts of approval.

Samuel pushes a goblet of wine into Cavill’s hand.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - HALLWAY - HOURS LATER

The royal gathering has subsided. The castle is silent.

17.

Marie and Cavill walk a long hallway of stone.

comfort on Marie’s face.

A simple

QUEEN MARIE:

There was a time when your fatherwas not such a stern man.

He jokes, light-hearted.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Before I was born.

She laughs.

QUEEN MARIE:

He loves you Cavill.

PRINCE CAVILL:

In his way.

They continue onward.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

I only hope to grow on what he hasbuilt. What more could a father

want from his son, than to honor

his work and help it forward, intoa new day?

They land at the door to Cavill’s bedroom.

QUEEN MARIE:

I am so proud of you. I am so

thankful for you. Be you a king orpig farmer.

Cavill is her world.

PRINCE CAVILL:

I quite like pigs.

QUEEN MARIE:

I love you.

She embraces him.

PRINCE CAVILL:

And I, you.

CUT TO:

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