Damsel Page #4

---

18.

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - CAVILL’S CHAMBER - THAT NIGHT

Cavill sleeps. A warming fire burns in its place across the

room.

Blue moonlight dances over the pine forest and moves across

the rolling hills of green just outside Cavill’s window.

Rapunzel’s familiar melody grows from the south. Faint.

He’s woken.

Her siren song draws him to the overlook. He peers into the

great distance.

The land is eerie in the twilight hour.

ocean of earth, calling the sailor.

A vast, unexplored

CUT TO:

EXT. PINE FOREST - DAY

Beams of light bolt through the breaks in the needled forest

trees.

Stillness.

Her blue eyes glow in the sunlight. Strands of her golden

hair dance across her freckled nose.

ELISE. 20.

Her fingers blush against the harsh bowstring as she draws.

The thunderous rumble of a sprinting stallion’s gallop breaks

the peaceful scene, sending a flock of birds scattering.

Her target, a six point buck, spooks, taking flight.

She exhales. Retracts her bow and sheaths her arrow.

Over her shoulder, she sees a man, dressed in fitted royal

regalia, atop his monstrous horse.

A sudden realization comes over her.

ELISE:

Stop!

His horse gallops onward. Elise gives chase, waving her arms

in the air.

19.

In the path, ahead of the speeding traveler, is a thin line

of twine. The mechanism for a net trap, which he’ll soon

trip.

She races forward, trying to edge out his horse’s route.

ELISE (CONT’D)

Watch out! There’s a trap!

He continues, unaware.

ELISE (CONT’D)

There’s a trap! Stop!

Finally, moments before the horse makes it to the line, Elise

draws an arrow and lets it fly.

A true shot.

The arrow cuts through the twine and the mechanism trips. A

heavy boulder plummets to the forest floor. Leafy camouflage

scatters as the hidden net is yanked into the air.

The man pulls back. His horse dances as it spins to a halt.

She slings her bow over her shoulder, annoyed.

The beast trots toward Elise. On his mount, Prince Cavill.

He dismounts and approaches her, removing his riding gloves.

Cavill is aloof. Separated from reality. A shell of the

life-of-the-party prince from two nights prior.

PRINCE CAVILL:

I am sorry. I did not see you.

ELISE:

Lucky I saw you. These are hunting

woods, you should be careful about

riding like that through here.

PRINCE CAVILL:

I will be sure to. Thank you for

your help.

Elise catches up with herself, cooling off.

She finally takes note of his royal wardrobe.

Cavill begins to come out of his daze. He extends his hand.

20.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

I apologize, I should have

introduced myself. I am Prince

Cavill of Thessia.

Elise eyes him curiously. Doesn’t take his hand.

ELISE:

What brings you to South Shire?

He recoils his palm.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Passing through.

Cavill is nearly himself again, realizing that he’s hungry.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

But, it has been a two day journey

thus far and I am embarrassed to

say that I have come, somewhat, ill-

prepared.

He notices the rabbit carcasses piled in a cart just behind

Elise.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

If you wouldn’t mind cooking some

of that meat, I’d be grateful.

She minds.

ELISE:

The king’s tax already starves all

of South Shire. I cannot imagine

anything I would like less, than to

give you the food off our table as

well.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Miss.

ELISE:

Miss?

PRINCE CAVILL:

I still do not know your name.

ELISE:

Elise. My name is Elise.

She mocks a curtsey.

21.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Pleased to meet you, Elise. Though

I may dress in royal clothes, ride

atop a royal horse and bear

striking similarities to my father,

I assure you, I am not him. I am,

however, very hungry and I would

like very much, to eat. I hope you

might show a stranger kindness?

He reaches into a pouch, removing 5 gold pieces.

He smiles. All charm.

ELISE:

Alright, but only as a kindness.

She takes the offering.

CUT TO:

EXT. PINE FOREST - AN HOUR LATER

The sun is beginning to set. Dusk rolls across the land.

One of her rabbits has been skinned and strung across a spit.

The flames flitter across its browning skin.

Cavill’s horse drinks from a nearby stream.

Elise and Cavill are seated near a makeshift fire pit, mid-

conversation.

CAVILL:

-and I, being 16 years old, was the

only person he would let on his

mount. So, he chose me more than I

him. The big beast.

Cavill looks over his shoulder at his beast.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Is that not right, Luke?

She smiles.

ELISE:

Luke. It fits him.

PRINCE CAVILL:

I think so.

22.

Elise pulls the rabbit from the fire and tears pieces of its

meat for Cavill, taking some for herself.

ELISE:

It is getting late. Where will you

set camp for the night?

PRINCE CAVILL:

Here, I guess. I had not put much

thought to it.

He eats.

ELISE:

You are not going to tell me where

you are going?

He points south, toward the mountain.

She chuckles and mocks his gesture, pointing in the same

direction.

ELISE (CONT’D)

That way?

PRINCE CAVILL:

You would not believe me if I told

you.

ELISE:

I would like to try.

PRINCE CAVILL:

The mountains in the South. I

dream of an ivory tower. A

fortress of white. She calls me

from it.

His eyes wonder into the distance as he recalls the angelic

sound he follows.

He’s lost there for a moment.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

It is haunting. A damsel, she

cries out for me. I am compelled

to rescue her.

She laughs. Examining him curiously.

ELISE:

Rescue her?

He quickly changes the subject.

23.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Would you find it forward if I were

to ask you to camp with me tonight?

I am not one to be without company

and I quite like you.

It’s posed as nothing more than a friendly request.

ELISE:

I have a day’s journey back home

ahead of me anyway, I’d have to set

up somewhere. Besides, I think you

are in need of some protecting-

The two share a smile.

PRINCE CAVILL:

Then it is settled.

ELISE:

For a price.

PRINCE CAVILL:

5 more pieces?

ELISE:

It was a joke!

PRINCE CAVILL:

It is a shame that royal women

don’t come with your demeanor.

He grins.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

Your beauty, for that matter.

She blushes. They connect.

PRINCE CAVILL (CONT’D)

You would make a wonderful queen.

Her eyes shift nervously. A smirk as she chomps on a chunk

of the rabbit’s meat.

CUT TO:

EXT. PINE FOREST - THAT NIGHT

Sounds of the forest night’s orchestra play. Crickets and

frogs of the stream, chirp. Owls chime in.

Elise and Cavill are wrapped under separate blankets.

Rate this script:1.0 / 1 vote