ACT II – Scene 10
[In the forest, the trees and wind are at peace. Suddenly, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH! Many arrows fly through the woods about four feet up from the forest floor.]
[THIT, THIT, THIT, THIT! Many arrows hit the trunk of a tree as a few more fly by.]
[THIT, THIT, THIT, THIT! We see a few more arrows hit a thinner tree, right in the middle as more arrows fly by.]
[We see the women and men Volunteers, in a circle facing away from each other, shooting arrows at trees for practice.]
[We see Masako shoot an arrow, which lands on a tree off-center to the left. Masako shakes her head in disappointment.]
[Narato shoots an arrow, which lands on a tree center. Narato smiles in approval.]
[The Girl shoots an arrow, which lands above a row of five arrows already in the tree, all centered on the tree. The Girl smiles in satisfaction.]
[Masako shoots an arrow, which lands closer to center, but off to the right. Masako nods in determination, knowing she's improving.]
[Narato shoots and arrow, which lands off-center to the left. Narato doesn't seem to believe it, doing a double-take.]
[The Girl shoots an arrow, which lands above the row of eight arrows, all centered in line. The Girl nods with content, seeing her consistency.]
[Masako, her hair slightly ragged, shoots an arrow, which lands centered on the tree. Masako smiles, seeing her first victory.]
[Narato, concentrating deeply, shoots an arrow, which lands centered just above his first shot. Narato smiles and nods, sensing consistency.]
[The Girl walks around the trees, examining the arrows and all that hit or didn't.]
[After inspecting, The Girl looks toward the volunteers and nods in confidence.]
[A moment later, we see the Men throw fruit into the air.]
[We see the Women, on the ground in front of the palace, shoot their arrows in the air.]
[We see the arrows land, showing all but two arrows have caught fruit. Only two pieces of fruit fly over the bed of arrows.]
[The Girl, and the Women, smile in satisfaction and go claim their food.]
[A moment later, the Women throw fruit in the air from the top of the palace.]
[The Men, on the ground in front of the Palace, shoot arrows into the air.]
[We see arrows land, showing all but one arrow have caught fruit. Only one piece of fruit flies over the bed of arrows.]
[The Men, satisfied in their practice, smile and run towards their prize.]
[A moment later, the Army sits in an area of the forest. The Men and Women have all mixed with each other within the calm congregation.]
[We see Masako and Narato sitting next to each other, enjoying their fruit.]
[We see another man and woman enjoying their fruit and their company.]
[We see The Girl and Jack sitting next to each other, unable to take their eyes off each other as they consume their fruit. Jack swallows his fruit and talks to The Girl.]
Jack: Again, good job today.
[The Girl swallows her fruit.]
The Girl: Thank you. It's easy when you have motivated soldiers who love their home as much as you do.
[Jack smiles at that remark. He sees something to his right that catches his eye.]
[We see a few of the Women look at Jack and The Girl, some happy, others a little envious. They quickly go back to their eating.]
[Jack goes back to eating, but approaching horse gallops catch Jack's attention.]
[We see a messenger approaching on horseback.]
[The messenger approaches the circle and stops in front of Jack. He seems in haste.]
Messenger: My Prince! You and the Army must return to the Palace immediately!
Jack: What's wrong?
[The Messenger dismounts and approaches the Prince swiftly.]
Messenger: Um, my Prince….
[The Messenger beckons Jack closer, which he obliges. The Messenger whispers into Jack's ear. The news makes Jack's widen in fear.]
Jack: No! TO THE PALACE! NOW!
[Jack runs swiftly into the forest. The Army drops their food and runs to catch up as the Messenger remounts his horse and follows the crowd.]
[Jack blisters a path through the forest. The Army and the Messenger are following him, but not as fast as Jack.]
[The Girl, leading the Army, shouts towards the Messenger.]
The Girl: What's happening?!
Messenger: The Emperor! He's fading!
The Girl: NO!
[The news prompts The Girl to run faster. The Army, also feeling more motivation, steps up their stride in their run as well.]
[In the forest, Jack blazes past the camera, deeply concerned. A few seconds later, we see The Girl, The Messenger and the Army run past the camera, also deeply concerned.]
[We see an overview shot of the Kingdom. We see Jack run in from the right and swiftly goes inside the Palace. The Army approaches.]
[In front of the Palace doors, The Girl stops, turns to the Army, and raises her hand up. The Army approaches and stops in front of her.]
The Girl: Protect the Kingdom! I'll report back when I can.
[The Army scatters about the Kingdom with two manning the front doors of the Palace. The Girl motions to the Messenger to enter the Palace with her.]
[Inside the Palace, we see The Girl and the Messenger walk briskly through a hallway.]
[We see The Girl and the Messenger walk swiftly past The Girl's personal room towards two doors manned by three nurses.]
[We see the three nurses in front of the doors. The nurses hold up their hands, telling The Girl and Messenger to stop.]
Nurse1: The family wants privacy.
[The Messenger and The Girl catch their breath.]
The Girl: Please report to me as soon as anything is told.
Nurse2: We will.
Messenger: Thank you.
[The Messenger and The Girl are about to turn as if to walk away, but the door opens. A nurse enters from the inside and keeps the door open. She talks to The Girl.]
Nurse4: The Prince wants to see you.
[The Girl inhales softly, and enters quietly.]
[Inside the Royal Chambers, The Girl enters the dark, candle-lit room. She gasps softly at the sight that makes her stop.]
[We see the elder-stricken Emperor lying on the bed. The Empress is kneeled next to him, sobbing softly in the sheets. Jack is on the side opposite his mother, kneeling next to his father.]
[The Girl, saddened at the sight, slowly approaches the bed.]
[The Girl approaches Jack and gently kneels next to him.]
[The Emperor, sensing a presence, speaks weakly from his bed.]
Emperor: (weakly) My son…
[Jack looks up to his father, his eyes welling up in tears.]
Jack: Yes, Father?
Emperor: (weakly) Take care of your Mother.
[The Empress looks up, her eyes welling up in tears.]
[Jack nods, tears rolling down.]
Jack: Yes, Father.
[The Girl's eyes are starting to well up with tears.]
Emperor: (weakly) Commander…
The Girl: Yes, Your Excellency?
Emperor: (weakly) Take care of my son.
[Realizing the blessing, The Girl's eyes start tearing up profusely. She bows her head towards the Emperor.]
[Jack smiles with tears in his eyes to The Emperor.]
[The Empress smiles towards The Girl, tears still in her eyes.]
[The Girl is humbled through her tear-filled eyes.]
The Girl: Yes, Your Excellency.
[Jack smiles at The Girl as he embraces her with his right arm. The Girl smiles in humbleness and comfort.]
Emperor: Bring in the Army.
[Hearing the command, The Girl gently goes, drying her eyes.]
The Girl: Yes, Your Excellency.
[A moment later, The Army, weaponless, are all kneeling before The Emperor, The Empress, Jack and The Girl in the Royal Chambers, giving the royal family room.]
Emperor: (weakly) Thank you. Thank you for showing valorous courage and magnificent commitment for our Kingdom. I only wish I can stand on my feet and thank you personally. But hear me when I say, I've never met an armada of soldiers that had souls mightier than the strength of mountains…..until I've seen you. I only have one last wish. Protect the Kingdom, your families, and each other.
[We see The Men, feeling humble, bow in respect.]
[We see The Women, some teary-eyed, bow in humble respect.]
[Jack and The Girl, still kneeling against the Emperor's bed, bow humbly.]
[The Empress gently kisses the forehead of her husband.]
[The camera shows an overhead shot of the Emperor lying in his bed, his family kneeling around him and the Army looking on.]