OPENING CARD
Humankind cannot gain anything without first offering something in exchange. (Fade) To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. (Fade) This is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. (Fade)
INT. HOHENHEIM'S STUDY- STORMY NIGHT
The lights are dim in the study as two small boys scurry about, running back and forth from desk to floor. The room is cluttered with books, glass flasks, and other scientific material. A perfect place for research to be done by a skilled alchemist. In the center of the room, a large metal pan with lumped together materials sits in the middle of a complex chalk-drawn circle, an alchemical transmutation circle. It has an ominous feeling to it, giving off a dangerous aura.
We only see a pair of boys running back and forth, gathering materials to prepare for their great experiment. We do not see their faces until a flask drops, having it clink to the floor but not breaking.
EDWARD
Be careful with that, Alphonse! We're using that, you know.
We catch a view of their faces now: EDWARD ELRIC is at age 11, blonde with golden eyes that have a fire of fierce determination brewing within them. Kneeling down to pick up the fallen material, we see 10-year-old ALPHONSE ELRIC, his hair and eyes not as fair as his brother's, but his expression is softer. EDWARD, despite being older by a year and a half, is slightly smaller than ALPHONSE. On the other hand, EDWARD is built tougher, while his brother is a little lankier.
ALPHONSE
(Handing the flask to EDWARD)
I'm sorry, brother. I'm just nervous.
EDWARD
Nervous is the last thing you should be. "Excited" is more like it.
ALPHONSE
Right...excited...
EDWARD doesn't pay attention to his brother's worried tone, dumping the contents of the flask onto the pile of materials in the pan in the middle of the circle.
EDWARD
(Setting the flask aside)
That should do it. You ready?
ALPHONSE
(hesitating)
Brother...what if it doesn't work? You say the research is sound, but-
EDWARD
Of course the research is sound, Al. You have nothing to worry about. Everything will go as planned.
EDWARD pulls a knife out of his back pocket, wincing as he purposefully nicks his finger. Blood wells up around the incision, and he holds his bleeding finger over the alchemic material. A few drops of his blood fall onto the material, leaving dark splotches.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
Here, gimme your hand.
ALPHONSE draws away at first, but soon willingly holds out his hand to EDWARD. He grabs ALPHONSE'S wrist, cutting him in the same place on his finger. Slowly, ALPHONSE repeats EDWARD'S actions, letting his own blood fall into the mix.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
There. Now we can start.
The two brothers place themselves at different ends of the circle, both focusing intently on the alchemic material. The moment is filled with tension and anticipation, the air around them getting thicker with it by the minute. ALPHONSE looks at his brother, same uneasy expression on his face.
EDWARD (CONT'D)
Well, Al...here we go.
He faces the materials, as if facing something that he is about to fight, something that he is about to conquer. With a confident grin, his and ALPHONSE'S hands touch the lines of chalk on the ground, activating their transmutation.
The screen goes black. The brothers' voices can only be heard through the pitch black.
ALPHONSE (V.O.)
BROTHER!!!
EDWARD (V.O.)
AL!!!
Then...nothing but silence.