Damsel Page #9

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The corners of Marie’s mouth twist with animosity.

QUEEN MARIE:

If my son dies because you do not

listen to what I have said tonight,

I will kill you myself.

Edward lets her threat sink in, waiting to hear Marie’s

regret. It does not come.

49.

She leaves him there.

CUT TO:

EXT. SOUTHERN PINE FOREST - EVENING

Elise has made good time.

She’s reached the foothills descending toward the base of the

southern mountains.

The scenery has changed. The pines have become more sparse.

The terrain is uneven. New grasses and ferns fill the spaces

between the trees.

The sun begins to set.

Her pace and breath are steady, but she grows weary after the

days journey.

A blood-red cardinal lands on a low branch ahead. It

observes Elise, intrigued. She notices.

A tribal bravado from a distance to her left. Elise is

startled at first but anticipation consumes her.

The rattle-clank of a tambourine joins yet another loud cry.

Music.

Elise changes direction and follows the sound, east. Her

pace quickens as she grows near.

EXT. GYPSY CAMP - CONTINUOUS

A circle of 15 strange wagons and carts of various colors.

Each one more ornate than the last.

It’s a magical site to behold.

The small pop-up town features an array of curiosities.

Spotted Shetland ponies trot among their full-sized friends.

Thick manes and full faces. Horses from another land.

Pygmy goats.

Colorful fabrics hang across ropes which stretch in every

direction between the carts.

50.

A drum joins their song. A lute. A violin. A Setar. A

masculine voice sings in a foreign tongue. It’s a

mysterious, ancient music.

Elise approaches the wagons.

GILBERT, a broad shouldered boy in his early 20’s, chops

wood. Black, curly hair, blue eyes, freckles, a gap in his

front teeth. The “gypsy-boy” Braun referred to.

Elise sees him and breaks into an excited run.

He spots her out of the corner of his eye and drops his axe.

She leaps into his arms and he spins.

GILBERT:

Elise!

They laugh.

GILBERT (CONT’D)

I’ve missed you!

They finish their embrace.

ELISE:

I hoped I might see you this way.

GILBERT:

Will you stay?

It’s what he’s always wanted. An awkward moment passes.

ELISE:

For the night.

Disappointment hovers.

He smiles, making light of his wanting.

She meets his smile, bears the awkward moment.

GILBERT:

For the night then. Let’s get you

something to eat?

ELISE:

I am starved.

GILBERT:

Of course.

51.

He takes her by the hand and they wedge between two of the

carts, into the wagon circle.

INT. GYPSY CAMP - CONTINUOUS

They orbit the musical gathering at the center of camp.

An array of detailed rugs in every color, blanket the forest

floor.

30 members in the wondrous tribe. People of different shapes

and color. Each one dressed in different rags and articles

of their own liking.

CUT TO:

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - HALLWAY - NIGHT

The castle is silent.

Marie dawns her cloak once more. She looks over her shoulder

as she makes her way down a long hallway of stone.

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - THRONE ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Colorful light is cast onto the floor of the massive throne

room. Stretched projections of stained glass by the midnight

moon.

The air is crisp and thin. The quiet is eerie in the grand

space. Especially compared to Cavill’s party, days earlier.

The sound of a burning torch can be heard from a distance.

Marie comes to a large wood and iron door, cautiously

removing its key from a pocket in her cloak.

She twists the key in its socket and the door creeks open,

sending shrill echoes throughout the throne room.

Marie peers over her shoulder before taking the torch from

its sconce and descending a long and dark staircase.

INT. CASTLE THESSIA - PRISON - CONTINUOUS

At the base of the stairs, a landing area. A guard’s space.

To the right and left, rows of prison cells.

Torches protrude from the wall, lighting the bowels of the

castle by fire.

52.

Marie makes her way down the corridor of cells to the left.

Most of the prisoners sleep. A few babble incoherently.

None recognize the queen or bother to notice that anyone is

passing by.

She lands in front of a particularly large prisoner’s cell.

VEL is a dangerous looking man. 35 years old.

He stands ready behind his iron bars.

VEL:

Timely.

QUEEN MARIE:

Vel.

He nods.

QUEEN MARIE (CONT’D)

You are called the Wolf of the

South? You know the white tower in

the mountains?

VEL:

I know it.

QUEEN MARIE:

A reward has been set. Many

untrained men search for my son but

none know the way. I require a

warrior of your skill and

composition. Be my champion and

return him to me.

VEL:

In exchange?

QUEEN MARIE:

Your freedom.

VEL:

Your husband won’t be getting in

the way?

QUEEN MARIE:

He will not know.

His eyes narrow.

VEL:

Who’s to say I’ll return with the

prince?

53.

QUEEN MARIE:

I will double the reward. 20,000

pieces when you return, with my

son. I can offer you any weaponry

or armor you might need. Horses.

VEL:

Armor is heavy. Horses need

caring. I travel light.

QUEEN MARIE:

Whatever you want.

VEL:

I’ll need my men.

The men stand behind the bars of a larger adjacent cell. Vel

signals their way.

VEL (CONT’D)

Won’t want to be splitting that

reward either.

She unlocks his prison door.

QUEEN MARIE:

20,000 each when you return with my

son. More, if that is not enough.

Vel stands free. An ominous snarl grows across his face.

VEL:

You know of my crimes? Why I am

here?

QUEEN MARIE:

Bring me my son.

He extends his hand, sealing the deal with Marie in a shake.

CUT TO:

INT. IVORY FORTRESS - GRAND THRONE ROOM - NIGHT

Rapunzel, seated in her throne of bone, senses something.

Her head lowers, her gaze moves elsewhere.

CUT TO:

EXT. GYPSY CAMP - HOURS LATER

The music has subsided. The camp fire dwindles to embers.

54.

Groups of the traveling clan begin to turn in for the

evening, making their resting places together around the

campfire.

The clearing gives way to the vast night sky.

Freed from the burden of her supplies, Elise sits on a

boulder, just outside the circle of wagons.

Gilbert, by her side.

Elise is lost in wonderment. The stars glitter across a

blanket of black.

ELISE:

I dream of this freedom.

GILBERT:

I will never forget the look on

your face when you first came upon

our camp, those years ago.

Elise flashes a nervous smile.

ELISE:

What look was that?

GILBERT:

You were so taken by the idea of

what we are. You asked a million

questions a minute. I thought you

might have stayed forever.

She laughs.

ELISE:

The thought has crossed my mind.

Her eyes lower. She knows where this conversation is heading

and she’d rather it not.

ELISE (CONT’D)

Braun is not ready to be alone.

A moment passes. Gilbert thinks on her reasoning.

GILBERT:

My brother was protective of me.

Like you, with yours.

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