Krull Page #12

The leopard leaps at the hole, but is frozen in mid-leap,

suspended in the air.

VOICE OF THE BEAST

I rule all here.

The leopard is suddenly flung backward, hurled with

tremendous force against the stone. Lyssa turns to see it

embedded in the solid rock, mouth open and eyes glazed.

VOICE OF THE BEAST

Nature is my slave here.

A stone claw rises from the floor.

VOICE OF THE BEAST

Its laws are mine to break.

The claw bursts into flame and strikes at Lyssa with such

force that the rock around her is shattered, yet she is

unharmed. The flaming claw lifts her up and sets her down,

then shrinks to a ball of flame and drops into her hand; she

looks down to see that she is holding a rose.

VOICE OF THE BEAST

Such is my power. It can be yours.

When she looks up, the red eyes are gone. She is alone.

EXT. STONEHENGE - EARLY MORNING

Before the camp wakes, the puppy crawls out of Titch's arms

and trots behind the stone. It scans the spellbook lying

open on the ground, then disappears in a gyrating white

cloud and becomes Ergo again. As he sneaks back to his own

blanket, he sees the Cyclops watching him with a smile.

ERGO:

(grumbling)

I still say it was a foolish wish.

EXT. ROAD NEAR SWAMP OF BETRAYAL - DAY

The band makes its way past the Swamp, heading for the

Widow's Mountain, visible in the distance.

ERGO:

(glance toward Swamp)

What is that awful looking place?

CYCLOPS:

The Swamp of Betrayal. Be glad we

don't have to cross it.

ERGO:

I'm glad.

(glance toward Swamp)

I'm very glad.

EXT. FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD - INTERCUT - DAY

Concealed at the side of the road are ten Slayers and Sweyn,

the robber who refused to go along with the band. He points

down the road at the approaching band. The Chief Slayer

nods, and hands him a leather purse full of gold coins,

which Sweyn tucks in his jacket. They mount their horses and

start down the road.

COLWYN:

Slayers!

CYCLOPS:

We must enter the swamp.

YNYR:

Few have survived it.

TORQUIL:

(indicating Slayers)

Fewer will survive them.

COLWYN:

Yes, it's our only chance. They

can't use their horses there.

Quickly.

EXT. SWAMP OF BETRAYAL - DAY

A mangrove swamp, with a lattice-work of gnarled roots

hovering above dark waters. The band enters the swamp.

CYCLOPS:

Do not let the waters touch you.

COLWYN:

What will happen?

YNYR:

You will be devoured by your own

mind.

Colwyn and Torquil help the old man, Ynyr, while the Cyclops

takes care of the two little ones, Ergo and Titch, sometimes

lifting one in each hand to deposit them on the next root.

The Slayers reach the edge of the Swamp and dismount. Sweyn

and the Chief Slayer lead them in.

The band is halfway across the Swamp when Colwyn suddenly

slips and plunges into the water.

TORQUIL:

(extends a hand)

Take hold!

But the waters of betrayal have begun their work:

COLWYN'S POV

He sees Torquil stand and embrace Lyssa, who comes from

behind a tree.

TORQUIL:

Let him drown.

LYSSA:

Yes. Then we'll marry and you will

be my king.

They kiss.

BACK TO SHOT:

Colwyn draws his sword and swings at Torquil.

COLWYN:

Traitor! She'll marry you in hell!

YNYR:

(to Torquil)

He thinks you betray him with Lyssa.

(to Colwyn)

Colwyn! The waters deceive you!

COLWYN'S POV

He sees Ynyr stand and talk to someone behind the tree.

YNYR:

I have delivered him into your

hands. Now pay me the price we

agreed on.

A black claw appears, pouring gold coins into Ynyr's hand.

BACK TO SHOT:

Colwyn lunges at Ynyr.

COLWYN:

I will melt that gold and pour it

down your throat, old man!

YNYR:

He sees betrayal everywhere. He will

attack us so long as he is

conscious.

They glance anxiously at the Slayers, closing quickly. Titch

reaches into Ergo's voluminous coat and pulls out a soup

ladle, which he throws at Colwyn. The ladle catches Colwyn

in the forehead, knocking him unconscious - but also

knocking him backward in the water, out of reach.

ERGO:

(to Torquil)

Your axe! Lay it out!

Torquil tucks the heel of the axe handle under a root and

grips it with both hands. Ergo tightropes out the handle and

kneels on the axe head, directly above Colwyn.

TORQUIL:

I can't hold the weight of both of

you!

ERGO:

Hush!

He squinches his eyes shut and mumbles something to himself.

The gyrating white cloud appears with a pop and, when it

pops off, Ergo has been transformed into a snake, with its

tail wrapped around the axe handle. The snakes plunges into

the water and wraps itself around Colwyn's chest. Torquil

grits his teeth and pulls up on the axe, lifting the snake

and Colwyn out of the water and depositing them on a nexus

of roots.

The white cloud reappears and returns Ergo to human form,

barely conscious, coughing and spitting water.

Meanwhile, the Slayers are almost upon them. The Cyclops has

moved to the rear with Kegan, Oswin, and Rhu. As the Chief

Slayer comes within range, the Cyclops lunges with his

trident, slicing the root on which the Slayer stands and

spilling him into the dark waters. Sweyn kneels to help him

out.

CHIEF SLAYER:

Traitor!

He stabs Sweyn in the chest, slicing through the purse of

gold coins. Sweyn tumbles into the water, blood and gold

pouring out of the gash in his jacket. The Chief Slayer

attacks the others, wounding some, knocking several into the

water - and they, in turn, attack their fellows.

The band stares in awed silence as the Slayers massacre each

other. The din of battle fades; the Slayers, dead to a man,

float in the water.

As Colwyn regains consciousness, the others gather round.

COLWYN:

Forgive me, my friends. I saw

terrible things.

TORQUIL:

They do not exist, except in the

waters of the Swamp, where they will

remain.

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