Willow Page #3

MIMS:

Dada, can we get treacle candy?

Can we, can we? Please?

WILLOW:

(preoccupied)

Meegosh, can you watch the chil-

dren? I gotta talk to the High

Aldwin.

MEEGOSH:

(truly amazed)

The High Aldwin?? Why?

But Willow has already wandered into the crowd, leaving

Meegosh with a dozen sugar-charged children and a pig.

Willow desperately pushes past people and finally

reaches the High Aldwin.

WILLOW:

Sir! I have to talk to you.

HIGH ALDWIN:

Not today, Willow.

WILLOW:

It's a matter of great importance

to me!

Burglekutt stares angrily from his platform. Slightly

annoyed, the High Aldwin stops and places his hand on

Willow's shoulder.

HIGH ALDWIN:

Intuition, Willow -- remember? I

know you're eager to be my appren-

tice, Willow. But today is the

spring festival.

Suddenly a walking stick is pointed at Willow's nose.

BURGLEKUTT:

Apprentice? To the High Aldwin!!

Willow Ufgood???

His belly shakes as he howls with laughter, encouraging

his councilmen to join in. Willow shrinks away, em-

barassed.

Then a terrified SHRIEK shatters the festivity. Music

stops and people grab their children and run for their

lives. A DEATH DOG rips a trail of destruction through

the village.

Meegosh holds onto Ranon and Mims. But when Mims sees

Willow she runs right out into the open. Willow

charges twoard her, tackling her and rolling away from

the beast's claws.

DEATH DOG:

Bordak! Bordak!

A loud war cry distracts the dog. VOHNKAR, the

toughest warrior in the village, leads a charging army

of miners and farmers wielding shovels and picks. Wil-

low and Meegosh grab sticks. The Nelwyns battle the

Death Dog. At last, Vohnkar drives a spear through its

chest and it dies hideously.

MEEGOSH:

What was it looking for?

A VILLAGER:

It said "bordak"! What does it

mean?

COUNCILMAN:

(scholarly)

Baby! It means baby! It was look-

ing for somebody's baby!

Mothers grab their children, people look around the

wrecked village in terror. There's a haunting silence.

MIMS:

Mommy?

Suddenly alarmed, Willow races towrd his distant farm,

his children hurrying behind.

WILLOW:

Kiaya! Kiaya!

INT. UFGOOD HOUSE - DAY

Willow bursts in and finds Kiaya calmly feeding the

baby. Relieved, he throws his arms around her.

WILLOW:

We can't keep this baby, Kiaya. We

must take her to the Council.

The children run in and they all huddle together, cher-

ishing their precious lives.

INT. COUNCIL BUILDING - DAY

Arguing villagers pack the church-shaped room to the

open door at the back and into the balconies above.

The councilmen sit on a platform at the front, with the

High Aldwin seated in a special chair above them. Tak-

ing charge, Burglekutt stands and pounds the floor with

his walking stick.

BURGLEKUTT:

An evil beast from the outer world

has invaded our peaceful village,

looking for a baby!

This only adds to the frenzy.

A VILLAGER:

It's a sign! An omen!

ANOTHER VILLAGER

Our crops will die!

BURGLEKUTT:

Silence! One beast we can kill.

But there may be more! And they

won't give up their search till

they've found what they're looking

for!

MEEGOSH:

Whose baby is it!

OTHER VILLAGERS:

Who's to blame for this!

Amid the chaos the High Aldwin slowly stands up. As if

he senses something, he looks over the crowd toward the

back.

At the back door, holding the baby, Willow tries to

push his way through the jostling crowd. The High

Aldwin raises his hand. It flashes magically. He

points as he speaks:

HIGH ALDWIN:

Willow Ufgood! Come before me!

The crowd stands apart as Willow walks the length of

the room. Kiaya and the children follow part way and

then stand aside next to Meegosh. Burglekutt simmers

as Willow approaches the platform.

HIGH ALDWIN:

Earlier today you tried to tell me

something, Willow.

WILLOW:

(bows his head)

My family found this baby in the

river, High Aldwin.

The crowd stirs but the High Aldwin silences them with

a simple gesture. He gazes down at the baby mysteri-

ously.

HIGH ALDWIN:

A daikini child...

(his eyes close)

...of some importance, I feel...

BURGLEKUTT:

That's what the beasts want! Give

it back!

The crowd rumbles, many agree.

WILLOW:

They'll kill her! We can't let

this baby die!

BURGLEKUTT:

What do we care!

Burglekutt whips up the shouting crowd. The High

Aldwin raises his hands, feeling the air above him.

Almost in a trance:

HIGH ALDWIN:

...importance...yes...this child

is special...

COUNCILMAN:

What should we do?

Instantly, the High Aldwin drops his arms and opens his

eyes.

HIGH ALDWIN:

This child must be taken beyond the

boundaries of our village. All the

way to the daikini crossroads.

The room goes silent.

A VILLAGER:

Who will do that?

SEVERAL VILLAGERS

Vohnkar! Vohnkar!

Vohnkar the warrior elbows his way to the front and

pounds his chest once with his fist.

HIGH ALDWIN:

The outer world is dangerous and

corrupt, Vohnkar. And this baby is

hunted by blood-hungry beasts. Are

you willing to sacrifice your life?

Brave Vohnkar swallows and shifts his weight doubtful-

ly.

VOHNKAR:

If I go, who'll defend you if other

beasts attack?

The crowd rumbles and shouts, and Vohnkar mops his brow

and scuttles away from the platform.

BURGLEKUTT:

He's right! It seems only fair

that the man to take this baby to

the crossroads...

(walking stick up)

...be the very man who plucked

it...

(walking stick down)

...out of the river!

All eyes turn to Willow. Kiaya gasps and Meegosh holds

her back.

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