Damsel Page #6

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Rapunzel’s fortress remains as she’d created it years before.

The glistening white-stone walls, reaching high, have been

overcome by wilderness.

The castle’s new skeleton of wood and vine reinforces the

magnificent creation of man.

A throne of bone, woven by ivy, rests at the center of the

room.

8 rotting bodies. Skeletons of men in their regalia, are

seated in thrones of bramble and leaf. Backed to the walls

of the circular space.

PRINCE CAVILL:

What is this place?

RAPUNZEL:

A kingdom of those before.

PRINCE CAVILL:

These men?

He’s under her spell. Black ivy begins to grow toward his

feet.

RAPUNZEL:

Others I’ve called, in search of

you, my prince.

PRINCE CAVILL:

I have ridden through many a

treacherous terrain to answer your

call.

31.

Rapunzel approaches Cavill. Her eyes longingly gazing into

his.

She grows closer, moving him backward, a familiar dance.

RAPUNZEL:

You risked your life to find me.

The ivy creeps up his leg.

RAPUNZEL (CONT’D)

How I’ve waited to be rescued.

Rapunzel has grown so close to Cavill that their lips may

touch.

RAPUNZEL (CONT’D)

Show me where your kingdom lies.

Her smile turns sour as her eyes narrow.

RAPUNZEL (CONT’D)

Show me the way to your father.

She presses her lips to his. His eyes fall closed.

This prince does not become bone. Instead, he sleeps.

The ivy takes him against the wall, holding him, arms

stretched out at his sides.

The ivy moves under his neck, frames his face, tethers around

his shoulders.

He is wrapped in a crucifix of black ivy.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - KING’S CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS

Edward’s chamber is lavish. Rich woods and rare fabrics.

Ornate rugs and furniture.

A wall of books. A massive 4 post bed.

Thick, red-velvet curtains that reach to the ceiling.

Two massive black ravens sit atop their perch at the corner

of the room.

King Edward is dwarfed by the window at which he stands,

observing.

32.

A fire roars in the massive stone fireplace behind him.

Candles flicker from silver sconces. They quit. Smoke

rolls.

Edward raises his nose, a change in the air.

The fireplace is extinguished. Darkness comes over the

place.

Edward cautiously runs his fingers down the hilt of the sword

at his side.

Rapunzel steps out of the shadows, into the moonlight behind

him.

RAPUNZEL:

I had nearly forgotten your hair of

fire.

He turns.

KING EDWARD:

What are you doing? How did you

get in here?

She approaches the king, slowly.

RAPUNZEL:

Lion of Thessia. How I dreamed of

that hair. Your broad stance.

It’s been 30 years, but her face hasn’t changed. He recalls.

Her hips sway side to side as she moves to him.

His hand falls away from his sword as her hand comes to his.

She runs her fingers up his arm. Around the back of his

neck.

KING EDWARD:

Rapunzel. After all the years.

She pulls her hips to his. Slides her cheek against his.

He longs for her touch. She speaks with a child-like want.

Seducing him.

RAPUNZEL:

You were the first boy, I had ever

seen.

33.

KING EDWARD:

I remember it well.

She wraps her hands around his collar.

She brings her lips so close to his that they graze as she

speaks.

RAPUNZEL:

How I held to your vow year after

year. I had faith that you would

come.

KING EDWARD:

I came for you. I returned and you

had been taken.

RAPUNZEL:

And that is where it ended for you.

He hopes that she may kiss him, still.

KING EDWARD:

No. I had no way of finding you.

RAPUNZEL:

I sang out for you. If only you

had listened. But, you had moved

on.

She throws him backward. Her seductive ploy gives birth to

her true motive.

RAPUNZEL (CONT’D)

And you left me for dead!

He’s still enthralled.

KING EDWARD:

It has haunted me.

RAPUNZEL:

That is of no consequence now. The

power of your apology has long

since withered in my captivity.

He’s catching on.

KING EDWARD:

What do you want?

A twinkle in her eye, years in the making.

34.

RAPUNZEL:

My revenge.

Queen Marie enters from the hallway, through the massive

wooden door.

KING EDWARD:

Stay back!

Marie, startled, stands in her place.

QUEEN MARIE:

What is going on?

He stays on Rapunzel, sword now drawn.

KING EDWARD:

You forget, my wrath comes with an

army, Rapunzel. I am king.

Her laugh, insane with power. Her eyes water.

RAPUNZEL:

Bring them. Arm them well. King.

Dead serious. Her impenetrable glare of hatred cuts him

down.

RAPUNZEL (CONT’D)

Perhaps this time, you will come

and find me. Now that your son is

of age. He has answered my call.

She lets it sink in.

RAPUNZEL (CONT’D)

At last. I have taken your son.

With that, she’s gone.

Marie rushes down the hall.

QUEEN MARIE:

Guards!

Edward stabs his sword through a massive sitting chair,

crying out in anger.

Two guards appear at the entryway.

King Edward shouts his demand. The highest of stakes.

35.

KING EDWARD:

Find Cavill!

CUT TO:

EXT. SOUTH SHIRE - DAY

Elise and Braun throw axes at stacks of hay.

She tosses, then Braun and they retrieve them. Steady, and

again.

A small group of mounted royal guards gallop along the dirt

road of South Shire.

A short, stone wall separates the siblings from the regal

entourage.

BRAUN:

They’re a long way from home.

Elise watches. Knowing.

BRAUN (CONT’D)

Think it has something to do with

the prince?

The guards halt near the entrance of the South Shire.

One of the men steps down from his mount and fastens a notice

to a high post.

ELISE:

It must be.

As quickly as they came, the men are gone.

Elise hooks her axe into a bail of hay and heads toward the

post.

Braun is quickly behind her.

He’s illiterate.

ELISE (CONT’D)

It is about Cavill. He is missing.

They are offering a reward.

Elise’s eyes grow wide.

ELISE (CONT’D)

They are a long way behind him.

36.

BRAUN:

Assuming he is not dead.

ELISE:

He is not.

ELISE (CONT’D)

The reward is ten thousand pieces.

Elise, full with anticipation, turns to her brother.

ELISE (CONT’D)

Braun.

BRAUN:

No. Elise. You just got back.

ELISE:

I may be the only one who knows

where he was going! Surely I am

the last person who saw him!

BRAUN:

So, tell somebody.

ELISE:

Braun, that reward-

BRAUN:

It is not worth it Elise. You said

it yourself, he was helpless. He

is probably dead! You will likely

end up that way too.

Her excitement for the journey, swells. It’s coming to her

as she goes.

ELISE:

I know the woods well beyond the

hunting grounds. I have travelled

three times the distance of anyone

in South Shire. With this money,

we could afford anything we need!

Food, better shelter, blankets

through winter! I could do this,

for us!

BRAUN:

It is not just that. You are

enamoured by him.

ELISE:

Do not use my confession against

me.

(MORE)

37.

ELISE (CONT'D)

This has nothing to do with an

infatuation. If he is in danger,

who would I be if I did not help?

And Braun, this reward would change

everything.

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