Legend Page #15

She steps up onto an oversized footstool by the table. The ebony

casket brims with gemstones. Lili's eyes dazzle. A carved ebony

figure of a skeleton turns slowly out of the centre, holding in its

up lifted arms the most exquisite black diamond necklace the mind

can imagine.

The Princess sucks in her breath. The temptation is too great. She

impulsively takes the necklace and hops down from the stool.

The high collar of her gown makes fastening the clasp difficult and

without thinking, she backs towards the wall, fumbling behind her

neck.

She leans against a sculpted marble frieze of souls in torment,

concentrating on the tricky clasp. All at once, a piece of sculpture

becomes ANIMATE. Powerful arms reach out to fasten the necklace. For

a moment Lili doesn't notice, grateful for the help. Then, she

realises what is happening and SCREAMS.

The musular black arms reach for her as she pulls away in terror.

Lili turns to run, but is stopped short by her reflection in a tall

cheval glass mirror. She looks furtively about, making certain she

is unobserved. Alone, she admires her perfect image.

CLOSE ON MIRROR:
Beneath Lili's pleased expression we see the evil

face of Darkness APPEAR like a man emerging from under water.

Darkness penetrates the surface of the mirror.

Lili backs away, GASPING soundlessly with terror.

Darkness steps forth through the glass into the room, clad in black

finery.

Lili staggers. Darkness reaches to embrace her and the Princess

SHRIEKS at the top of her lungs. The moment he touches her shoulder,

she slumps tothe floor, unconscious.

Darkness stands over the fallen girl, his heartbeat pulsing like

muffled thunder. Something almost like a smile creases his hideous

features as he rolls a lock of Lili's hair between his clawed

fingers.

The Princess blinks and opens her eyes. She is horrified to find

Darkness kneeling over her and frantically tries to get away.

DARKNESS:
Do not be afraid, lady....

Lili GASPS like a stranded fish. She is catatonic with fear.

DARKNESS (cont):
I mean you no harm.

Darkness offers the Princess his hand.

DARKNESS (cont):
How like you my gifts...? Does

the gown not please you? Come....

tell me....

Lili's terror renders her speechless.

DARKNESS (cont):
The colour is most suitable... We

sanctify the death of the old world

and the birth of a new order....

You are the guest of honour.

Lili WEEPS and tugs at the black dress.

LILI:
....of dishonour...! Take this

away.... Please! I beg you!

Darkness advances on Lili. The slow kettldrum THROB of his heart

underscores his words.

DARKNESS:
Your soul in like some dark nectar....

I cannot rest unril I taste its

sweetness.

LILI (frantic):
Never! I hate you! I hate this

dress!

DARKNESS:
Can you speak so of your bridal

gown....?

LILI (screaming): Nooooooooo!

86 INTERIOR CORRIDOR OUTSIDE GREAT HALL DAY

Jack and Gump listen by the closed doors to Lili's peircing scream

(OS). Jack is desparate and half-draws his sword from the scabbard.

JACK:
What has he done to her?

Gump restrains the boy.

GUMP:
You have no power to stop it....

Be thankful she lives.

Jack shoves his sword back in disgust.

JACK (bitterly):
Some champion....

What good is this fancy sword?

GUMP:
It's not the sword that counts, but

the man who swings it....

87 INTERIOR GREAT HALL DAY

Lili slumps to the cold stone floor, WEEPING. Darkness bends

solicitously over her.

DARKNESS:
Why the tears?

LILI (sobbing):
....everything is lost....

poor Jack....

DARKNESS:
Why weep for him? He left you

alone to die!

LILI:
No! He'd never do that! He was

killed....like everything else....

DARKNESS (glancing over his shoulder): Yes.... But

why mourn? You have a new and grander destiny!

LILI:
Consort of some cowardly vile toad

who slinks through the night!

DARKNESS:
Not so! I requite to shadow's

solace and dark of the night.... Sunshine is my

destroyer!

LILI (scornful):
You think you're so powerful....

and hide in the ground like a mole!

DARKNESS (smiling): This too will change.

The last unicorn dies tonight....!

As her blood ebbs, the sun sets forever.

There shall never be another dawn!

LILI (horrified): No....! You can't....

You mustn't....

Darkness throws back his evil head and LAUGHS.

88 INTERIOR CORRIDOR OUTSIDE GREAT HALL DAY

The demonic LAUGHTER of Darkness carries through the massive doors.

JACK:
He means to kill the mare, Gump!

GUMP:
Don't mourn the corpse

'til the coffin's in the ground.

DARKNESS (OS):
My dominion shall encompass

the enternal night!

GUMP:
As long as the sun still shines,

so does hope!

JACK (bitterly:
Sun doesn't shine down here.

Jack fingers Lili's silver medallion hanging around his neck

and from out of the blue, inspiration strikes.

JACK (cont) (grinning): Wait a minute....! I

think I know a way.

89 INTERIOR GREAT HALL DAY

Lili stares at Darkness with terror and loathing.

DARKNESS:
The world shall be at last as

nature intended....a place of chaos and

anarchy!

LILI:
You're mad!

DARKNESS:
Aye, Lady, and proud to be so!

For in madness lies the soul of all

that's noble.... Can you fathom the loneliness

of untold eons lived in darkness? My spirit

was forged in that black fire....

LILI:
You live alone because you are

loathsome! The contagion of your wicked heart demands

isolation.

DARKNESS:
Nay, mistress. I've found

my mate and you know it. We're just

alike, you and I. Beneath the skin

we are already one.

LILI:
Never!

DARKNESS:
'Twas your sin trapped the unicorn.

Even now, the evil seed of what you've

done blooms within you!

LILI (shrieking): You lie! You're

repulsive!

DARKNESS (stung by her words): No more so than you!

Can't you sense it? That is why I desire you.

I need someone to share the dark secrets of my

soul.

LILI:
You....? You disgust me! You're

nothing but a beast!

DARKNESS:
Everyone is a beast....only most are

afraid to see it!

Darkness compels Lili over to the mirror with the force of his will.

90 LILI'S POV :
MIRROR

Lili sees her reflection in the glass. The lovely feminine

features ALTER into those of a cat-like beast.

DARKNESS (os):
This mirror shows how we really are....

Behold your true reflection.

91 INTERIOR GREAT HALL DAY

Lili pulls free from his graps and turns from the glass. Her

face remains lovely and unchanged.

LILI (frantic):
No! You're working magic on me!

I won't believe it!

DARKNESS:
My Lady misjudges me... I am no

common trickster.... look at

you hands!

Lili's fingers transform before her eyes: hooked claws spring from

their tips, coarse black hair pushes the skin.

DARKNESS (cont) (Laughing): My mirror

never lies.

Lili's lovely face undergoes the same tranmutation she

witnessed in the mirror. She feels fur-covered sheeks and

pointed ears. This time, her SCREAM is hysterical.

Darkness places a protective arm around Lili.

DARKNESS (cont):
Glory in your animal nature.

It is your triumph!

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