The Chronicles of Sir William
Ch 8
Bardic Inspiration
OPEN ON:
INT. BATS HIDEOUT - NIGHT
Luz sits on the bottom bunk in a makeshift barracks, draped
in a blanket and clutching a warm mug of hot chocolate. Eda
pauses in a discussion with Lilith and the BATT members to
approach her.
EDA
Hey. You doing alright?
LUZ
(downcast)
Yeah...
EDA
I don't want to push you or
anything, but you really look
rattled. What did Belos say to you?
Luz looks away, her memory flashing back.
BELOS
Luz, I am about to remake the Human
World in the image of this one.
(pitying)
Without me, there won't be any world
in which you could be considered
something remarkable.
Luz then shakes away the unpleasant memory, looking back at
Eda with a smile.
LUZ
(upbeat)
Oh, you know. "Join me and we can
rule the galaxy!" Typical bad-guy
stuff.
They both chuckle, but Eda doesn't look fully convinced.
EDA
Well, don't let it worry you. Belos
will end up like your typical bad-
guy soon enough.
As she finishes the thought, a knock resounds on the
hideout's rear entrance. The BATs all tense up and converge
on the door, readying spell circles for a potential
confrontation.
The knock continues, this time with a rhythmic cadence. One
of the bards looks out through a slit in the door.
DERWIN
It's them. They're back!
The bards open the door, admitting King, Sir William, and a
troop of barghest warriors.
KING
Luz!
LUZ
King!
King leaps into her arms. She likewise squeezes him tight.
KING
I was so worried. If Belos so much
as laid a hand on you, I'll-!
LUZ
(chuckling)
I'm fine, King.
(excited)
But who are these guys? You met your
family?!
KING
I already had a family. This is my
clan. Luz, meet the Barghest
Tribe.
The warriors all thump their chests in salute.
ELDER TARAK
We are prepared to do our part.
Belos will fall.
WILLIAM
Demon after my own heart.
William steps forward into the light where Luz can see his
face, bruised and scarred from his battle with Chief Lykon.
LUZ
*gasp* William! What happened?
She hurries over to him, gently stroking his bruised cheek.
WILLIAM
I'm alright. You should see the
other guy.
He gives her a dashing smile of reassurance. She smiles
back, slightly blushing.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
I'd have charged just as fiercely to
your rescue given the chance. To
whom do I owe the debt of your
safety?
EDA
Sir Will, meet Raine Whispers.
They're my inside source.
Sir William extends a firm handshake to the bashful Raine.
WILLIAM
Then I am at your service. You
and...?
DERWIN
(sassy)
We're the Bards Against the Throne!
KATYA
(proudly)
The BATTs!
They all strike a dramatic pose, emphasizing their
fierceness with adorable little hisses and clawing motions.
Raine averts his eyes in embarrassment.
WILLIAM
(deadpan)
I have got to be more careful who I
say that to...
TITLE
SEQUENCE:
LATER:
The barghest warriors all stretch, yawn, and begin
unfurling fur bedrolls on the floor. By the end, there's
little room left for the BATT members to sleep or even walk.
Raine sputters in frustration.
Meanwhile, Luz curls up in her own bunk, King snuggling up
beside her. Hooty, inserted in his portable birdhouse,
protectively snakes around them.
HOOTY
I'm so happy you're alright, Luz!
(tearing up)
I can deal with losing my body, but
I couldn't stand the thought of
losing you! *sobs violently*
LUZ
Aww. Hooty!
She pats Hooty's head while Eda appears from behind the
bunk.
EDA
Hey, easy on the waterworks there.
You're gonna warp the palistrom
wood.
LUZ
The what?
HOOTY
Oh, that's right! Me and Lulu
squirreled away some goodies before
we bugged out.
Hooty starts gagging and regurgitates a pile of their
belongings.
KING
*gasp* Francois!
King sees his plush toy in the heap of mementos and scoops
it up in a hug.
EDA
Look what else we got!
Eda fishes out a wooden box labeled, EDA'S LONGEST TOENAILS
(DON'T OPEN!). Luz gags a bit before opening it, surprised
to discover the log of palistrom wood Eda stole for her.
EDA (cont'd)
What say tomorrow we start carving
your palisman, huh? You've more than
earned your witch's staff by now.
Luz's face lights up at the thought but grows downcast the
more she ponders the notion.
LUZ
I couldn't. The Day of Unity is in
two days. I have to focus on
stopping Belos and-
EDA
You goob! This isn't all on you!
KING
Yeah, we have my whole clan at our
backs now!
LUZ
What if the palisman doesn't like
me...?
EDA
"Doesn't like you"? Luz, you're the
canniest, spunkiest witch I know.
Eda clutches her own staff, letting Owlbert hop onto Luz's
shoulder. Luz smiles at the wooden owl's cute little face,
but can't help noticing the notch in his forehead; a
reminder of her past recklessness.
Regardless, Owlbert nuzzles her cheek.
EDA (cont'd)
What's not to like?
Luz forces a smile as Eda kisses her on the forehead.
EDA (cont'd)
Start thinking of what shape you
want your palisman to be. Goodnight.
LUZ
Goodnight...
Luz lies against her pillow, trying to fall asleep amid her
anxieties.
CUT TO:
INT. BATS HIDEOUT - MORNING
A tranquil morning awaits our warriors. Raine takes a
kettle from a stove and pours a cup of boiling water, using
his special whistle to transmute it to coffee. Sipping the
beverage, he paces across the room, accidentally stepping
on a sleeping barghest's tail.
DEMON WARRIOR
OUCH! Watch it!
RAINE
Ooh! Sorry!
As Raine flinches away, some coffee spills from the mug,
singeing another warrior's fur.
DEMON WARRIOR 2
YEEEOOOW!
RAINE
Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry! Here, let
me dab that out.
More hijinks await as we see Sir William snug in his bed. A
gentle reprise of Morning Mood plays over his head, at
first making him smile with pleasure. But as the tune
carries on it grows off-key and distorted. It finally
crescendos into a shrill squeak, making William jerk awake
and bang his forehead on the bunk-bed frame.
WILLIAM
Aagh!
Rubbing his head, he turns to see the BATs tuning and
practicing their instruments right next to his bunk, Amber
being the offending flute player.
AMBER
Whoops! Sorry!
WILLIAM
What are you doing?!
AMBER
We gotta practice for go-time!
WILLIAM
Now?! Here?!
AMBER
(shrug)
No room anywhere else.
With a casual shrug, she resumes playing off-key. William
growls with irritation. He rises from his bed and attempts
to storm off, but runs into the clothesline of drying
laundry hanging over his bunk, nearly strangling himself.
DERWIN
Hey! Watch the delicates!
Meanwhile, Eda prepares a carving table, carefully laying
out a set of chisels and awls alongside the log of
palistrom wood. Luz examines the tools warily, studying the
log with trepidation.
EDA
Don't be intimidated. My dad showed
me the ropes of palisman carving, so
you'll do fine.
Now that you've had a chance to
sleep on it, what's it gonna be?
Luz stares at the blank piece of wood with a conflicted
expression.
LUZ
I...I don't know...
EDA
What's the hold-up? I could think of
a dozen things. A bat, an otter, a
kitty-cat, a tarantula-
(winking)
-something cute like you!
KING
(playful)
You could carve me!
LUZ
Well, that's just it. A palisman is
an extension of its wielder, a
reflection of her inner self...
(sullen)
...and I still don't know who that
really is yet...
EDA
Pfft! A palisman isn't like your
zodiac sign, Luz. I mean, you didn't
believe me when I said I was wise
like an owl, did you? *snort*
She keeps staring at the palistrom wood, lost in thought.
EDA (cont'd)
(supportive)
We won't start until you decide.
Just keep thinking. It'll come to
you.
Sir William then appears at Eda's side, with bags under his
eyes and another bruise donning his forehead.
WILLIAM
Eda, I wasn't going to make a fuss
but-
Mid-sentence, he discovers a pair of underwear caught in a
chink in his armor and throws it to the floor in disgust.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
-but bards?! They're the one's
concocting our strategy?!
(sardonic)
Why not circus clowns?!
EDA
The clowns were a no-show. And those
are my friends you're dissing!
WILLIAM
With friends like these, who needs
Belos? Hedonists and dregs, all of
them!
The BAT's aren't exactly out of earshot in the confined
space, but they just shrug off or halfheartedly nod at his
assessment.
LUZ
(disappointed)
Oh, Will! I thought you'd changed.
First demons, and now this?
WILLIAM
Bards are agents of chaos by choice.
EDA
Sure, they're a bit...laid-back...
But what did bards ever do to you?
WILLIAM
What didn't they do...?
START
FLASHBACK:
The scene transitions to a series of pencil-sketched stills
that illustrate William's story. In one still, we see a
garishly dressed lute player strumming for a tavern crowd.
WILLIAM (V.O.)
We called them "troubadours" in my
day. "Trouble-makers" more like.
They'd do nothing but sew
anarchy!
Several stills follow.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
Disturbing the peace...!
The bard serenades his mistress on a balcony at night, much
to the chagrin of her neighbors attempting to sleep.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
Drinking the town dry...!
He drunkenly dances on a bar table littered with empty
tankards, nearly toppling over into the crowd.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
Embarrassing the community...!
He struts down a busy street with a pair of salaciously
dressed women on his arms.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
And rousing rabble...!
He stands over a mob of delinquent youths, whipping them
into a riotous frenzy. They throw bricks at windows, light
roof-thatch on fire, and brawl with the constabulary.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
But when we took issue, suddenly we
were the oppressors and they the
downtrodden!
The bard finds himself clapped in the stocks, still playing
his lute with his hands through the cuffs. Sobbing, he
moves the crowd to tears while the harried constables roll
their eyes.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
All that I could begrudgingly
forgive...But when Belos came to our
kingdom, preaching of "magic for the
masses" and "freedom for all", they
lapped it up like thirsty dogs!
The bard hearkens to Belos as he preaches in the square,
enraptured by his words.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
They became Belos' most ardent
supporters and shepherded more to
his flock.
He plays an inspiring tune on a street corner, extolling
Belos with glowing words. The onlookers look similarly
entranced.
WILLIAM (V.O.) (cont'd)
When ruin befell our kingdom, it was
they who lit the torches...they who
stoked the flames...
The bard leads a mob of peasants to the castle gates, using
his magic to burst through the doors and empower the crowds
with supernatural vigor.
The last frame shows the bard laughing and dancing with his
fellows, celebrating at the sight of the castle burning in
the distance.
END FLASHBACK:
The flashback fades away, showing William's head hung in
sorrowful remembrance. He then turns with a scathing glare
to the BATTs.
WILLIAM
So, how now, bards? You fight Belos
out of buyer's remorse?
RAINE
(contrite)
Whatever bards may have done in the
past...
(determined)
...we're committed to stopping
Belos' tyranny now.
WILLIAM
About fifty years too late...
EDA
Now that isn't fair! The BATTs have
been the heart and soul of this
resistance long before you showed
up!
They helped us save Luz and gave us
their base to plan the attack!
WILLIAM
Well, now that you mention that...
William turns to examine their shabby surroundings with
dissatisfaction.
Without warning, William draws his blade and makes a quick
slash in the direction of the BATs. They instinctively
flinch, but the swipe is aimed at the far wall, tearing
open a bluish vortex.
The vortex stabilizes into a portal, leading to what
looks like a dark cave.
LUZ
Oh, yeah. I forgot he could do that!
WILLIAM
I invite the Barghest Tribe to
stay with me in the caverns beneath
Dirk Falls-if nothing else for more
headroom.
Elder Tarak takes note of the cramped quarters, seeing his
warriors jostling uncomfortably.
ELDER TARAK
Hmm. Agreed. We will need more space
to train.
Tarak steps into the portal, followed by his warriors.
William turns to Raine before entering the portal.
WILLIAM
As part of my debt to you, allow me
and Tarak to take things from here.
We have these matters well in hand.
William lingers a moment, looking expectantly at Luz and
King.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
You coming, King? Luz?
They both hesitate, not wanting to leave Eda's side or each
other's. Disappointed, William turns to leave through the
portal.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
(crestfallen)
I'll see you before the battle,
then...
The portal shrinks and disappears behind him.
EDA
Fine! Be that way! Who needs you?!
*sputters* Can you believe that
guy?!
LILITH
*sigh* So much for our united
front...
The BATs set to sweeping their hideout of all the shed fur
lining the floor.
AMBER
At least there'll be less hair to
clean up around here!
EDA
Come on, Luz. Let's get back to
carving.
Luz still looks anxious at the prospect and seeks an excuse
to avoid it.
LUZ
Uh-I still need some time to
think...In the meantime, I'll try to
patch things up...
Can I borrow Owlbert?
CUT TO:
EXT. SKIES OVER DIRK FALLS - DAY
Luz rides Eda's staff over Dirk Falls with King and Hooty
accompanying.
HOOTY
So, he'll have a sleepover with
demons, but not with Bards? I don't
know if I should call this progress
or-?
LUZ
Let's try not to be didactic this
time. He's got a lot of feelings
wrapped up in his past.
She lands next to a cliff face with a fissure in its side
and crawls through.
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE
Luz emerges in the cavern where she discovered Sir William.
It is filled with barghest warriors, all training for
battle. At the far end of the chamber, William pours over
battle plans with Elder Tarak.
WILLIAM
Luz! King! I knew you'd come around!
Come, we could use your counsel.
Luz and King approach the table and examine the diagrams,
all architectural plans of the castle.
ELDER TARAK
When you were inside Belos' castle
did you remember seeing anything
resembling a large reservoir?
Something to store the Titan's-blood
he'd need to power his portal?
LUZ
Well, he did show me the alchemy lab
where he was brewing his Titan-blood
potion. It was somewhere down...
(pondering)
...here.
She taps a section of the blue-prints near the castle
dungeons.
ELDER TARAK
Excellent! Then the reservoir can't
be far away. It must be destroyed!
WILLIAM
But we'll be sure to siphon off some
for you to use in your portal door.
(winking)
Not to worry.
Luz returns an appreciative smile.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
The only problem will be getting
that far into the castle. Did you
spot any means of ingress as you
escaped?
LUZ
No. Not that I remember...
(scheming)
But I know someone who might...?
WILLIAM
(chiding)
Luz...
LUZ
Oh, come on Will! Don't you see?
You're still holding on to the past!
WILLIAM
Would you so casually leave the
human world behind...?
Luz hesitates a moment.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
And for once I'm trying to think of
the future. Suppose we win the day and Belos is undone? Then the bards will be rebels without a cause. What trouble will they stir up just to have a purpose again?
LUZ
I don't know about the future, but try living in the present.
Raine has been in the Emperor's inner-circle
for months. If anyone knows a way
into the castle, it's them.
William pauses and ponders for a few moments.
WILLIAM
(pinching his brow)
*sigh*...Fine. What do the bards
have in mind...?
SMASH CUT:
INT. BAT HIDEOUT - DAY
RAINE
We thought along similar lines.
Infiltrate the castle and take out
Belos' power source. There is a way
in...
Luz dutifully records Raine on her phone as the bard
spreads out some diagrams over a table, collecting some
pieces to represent their forces.
RAINE (cont'd)
A secret sally port was built into the
castle's foundation. With Tarak's
warriors mounting a frontal assault
as a distraction, the BATs and I can
sneak through and sabotage the
reservoir.
SMASH CUT:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE - AFTERNOON
William finishes watching the recording of Raine on Luz's
phone.
WILLIAM
Hmm. Not a bad plan...with a few
alterations.
William takes some figurines of his own and arranges them
to his liking.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
To protect such a vital resource,
Belos will surely guard it with his
elite. We will need our strongest
warriors on the interior assault.
Luz and I can sneak through the
sally-port with her invisibility
glyph. Once inside the dungeon, I
can use my sword to tear open a
portal back to our base and let the
barghest warriors pour through.
SMASH CUT:
INT. BAT HIDEOUT - DAY
EDA
I don't like you going back into
that place! Not after we just bust
you out!
LUZ
I'll only stay long enough to get
some Titan's blood and swooce on out
of there! I promise.
Luz holds up the gas station big-slurp cup in which she
plans on storing the magical fluid.
KATYA
So...what do we do?
SMASH CUT:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE - AFTERNOON
WILLIAM
The bards are better suited to be
the diversion.
(wry)
Being obnoxious and distracting is
their specialty, is it not?
SMASH CUT:
INT. BAT HIDEOUT - AFTERNOON
KATYA
But we'll be stuck fighting most of
Belos' garrison!
AMBER
(quivering)
*gulp* -on our own...
SMASH CUT:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE - AFTERNOON
WILLIAM
(solemn)
Some of you may die...
(wry)
...but that is a sacrifice I am
willing to make!
SMASH CUT:
INT. BAT HIDEOUT - LATE AFTERNOON
RAINE
I didn't shadow the Emperor's every
move for six months to be cannon
fodder!
SMASH CUT:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE - LATE AFTERNOON
WILLIAM
Then don't be. Stay at home like I
advised and leave the fighting to
the real warriors!
SMASH CUT:
INT. BAT HIDEOUT - DUSK
RAINE
We're not standing on the sidelines
either!
SMASH CUT:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE - DUSK
WILLIAM
(wry)
Why not? You could be our marching
band!
Luz rubs her temples, her eyes shadowed with fatigue.
LUZ
(irritable)
Guys...I don't plan on making my
palisman a messenger pigeon...SO
FIGURE SOMETHING OUT ALREADY!
Elder Tarak casts a glance at a skylight in the ceiling of
the cave.
ELDER TARAK
We are losing daylight. It's now or
never.
WILLIAM
Right.
The barghests begin mobilizing. Luz looks around,
confused.
LUZ
Wait, we still haven't agreed on a-
WILLIAM
The bards can do whatever they like.
We're making our move, with or
without them.
Can I count on you?
Luz nods. Still a bit unsure.
CUT TO:
EXT. BELOS' CASTLE - NIGHT
Luz, King, and William gather at the edges of the forest
outside Belos' castle. All looks quiet aside from a zeppelin
docking in the castle courtyard to load cargo. They all
then mount Owlbert.
LUZ
Ready?
KING
I am proud to fight beside my
brothers...! And sister...
Luz takes out her invisibility glyph and takes a deep
breath before attaching it to herself. Now invisible, they
fly over the castle moat.
The castle sentries all continue their rounds, heedless as
Luz releases her breath below. They hover near an innocuous-
looking section of masonry near the foundations. Luz then
takes out a slip of paper written with runes and begins
tracing them over the stone.
Her scratchings begin to glow with blue light and reveal
the outline of a door which admits them into a dark tunnel.
INT. ALCHEMY LAB
Vitimir's alchemy lab bustles with coven-scouts and
abomatons, all carting trolleys of Titan-blood potion
flasks into a freight elevator bound for the courtyard
above.
VITIMIR
Careful with those!
The trio lingers in the shadows of the tunnel. Nodding to
Luz and King, William steps forward and slices a portal
into the air. On queue, Tarak and his warriors charge into
the dungeon.
ELDER TARAK
Attack!
The barghest warriors swarm the coven scouts and turn
over the trolleys, sewing chaos. Amid the bedlam, William
shepherds Luz and King into an adjacent chamber.
Inside is a large nexus of pumps and pipes, all connecting
to a large cistern filled with glowing blue liquid. The
Titan's blood pumps through the contraption at the pace of
a heartbeat, the thrum of the vast Titan's heart audible
through the floors above.
They quickly take out the coven scouts guarding the pump
and approach the main reservoir.
LUZ
(awed)
There it is. Probably the last
Titan's-blood in the Boiling Isles...
WILLIAM
So don't let a drop go to waste.
Luz nods and withdraws the big-slurp cup from her backpack.
William then unsheathes a dirk from his belt and punctures
one of the arterial pipes. Pressurized Titan's-blood gushes
from the hole, Luz quickly plugging it with the straw of
the cup. A slow but steady stream of the liquid begins
filling the bottom.
Just then, a klaxon sounds in the chamber and several metal
bay-doors retract to release a pair of abomaton sentries.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
Get as much as you can! We'll hold
them off!
Luz watches as they fight, anxiously fidgeting and praying
the Titan's-blood would drain faster.
LUZ
Come on-Come on!
CUT TO:
EXT. BELOS' CASTLE - NIGHT
Outside, the defenders on the castle walls don't seem
alerted to the attack below their feet, more preoccupied
with loading the zeppelin with the trolleys of potion.
Raine, Eda, Lilith, and the BATs all emerge from the forest
on the other side of the castle.
EDA
You don't have to do this, Raine.
RAINE
Yes, I do. Whatever role we're going
to play in this, we've got to play
it-like it or not.
EDA
*snort* Sometimes you can be more
stubborn than me. Alright...We'll
hit 'em high.
Eda and Lilith both transform into their harpy forms and
take to the air.
RAINE
And we'll hit 'em low. Come on BATTs!
They don their masks and charge for the castle walls. With
a sweep of the violin, Raine propels the bards over the
moat with a bridge of energy in the shape of a musical
staff.
Seeing their advance, The sentries atop the parapets rush
to sound the alarm, but are carried off the wall by Eda and
Lilith and dropped into the chasm below.
The BATs then drop into the courtyard below and begin
attacking the coven scouts loading the zeppelin.
INT. TITAN BLOOD RESERVOIR
William blasts one of the abomaton sentries with a jet of
water, slowly winnowing it down. As the other towers over
King, the young demon puffs up his chest and inhales
deeply.
KING
WEGH!
The shockwave blasts a hole clean through the hapless
abomaton, reducing it to a slushy pile. Meanwhile, Luz is
nearly finished filling her cup with Titan's blood.
LUZ
Come on...Come on...Got it!
She seals the lid of the Slurpee cup and retreats from the
pump.
LUZ (cont'd)
We're good to go! Trash it!
Having dissolved his abomaton into a slurry, William turns
and sends a wave of thunder at the pump assembly. Bursting
at the seams and groaning with the stress, the whole nexus
buckles and collapses in a shower of bolts and spilled
Titan's-blood.
SMASH CUT:
INT. BELOS' CHAMBERS - NIGHT
Belos tosses and turns in his bed, wincing with pain. The
thrombosis of the Titan's heart quickens into a frantic
timpani until suddenly stopping. At that moment, he bolts
awake, clutching his heart in agony and screaming.
Amid his episode, a frantic knock resounds at
his chamber door.
GUARD CAPTAIN (O.S.)
(muffled)
My Lord! We're under attack!
The guard captain opens the door and rushes into the room.
GUARD CAPTAIN
Please forgive my intrusion, but-
The captain is horrified to see Belos dissolving into his
monstrous, tar-covered form. Turning into a geyser of
sludge, Belos arcs onto the stone floor, seeping into the
cracks in the mortar until he is gone.
INT. ALCHEMY LAB
Tarak and the barghest warriors continue fighting Vitimir
and his coven scouts. Luz, King, and William come running
out of the antechamber.
ELDER TARAK
Quickly! The Portal is closing!
He points to William's portal which is indeed shrinking.
WILLIAM
Go. Both of you.
(smiling)
I expect a celebration when I get
back!
Luz and King rush for the portal, but before they reach it
a massive spike of sludge shoots down from the ceiling,
nearly impaling them. Luz is instead tripped up, dropping
the cup of Titan's-blood to burst apart on the floor.
LUZ
NO!
She desperately tries to scoop the remaining fluid into her
hands, but it quickly dissipates, soaking into the mortar.
LUZ (cont'd)
(tears streaming)
We were SO CLOSE!
Behind her, the spike turns to sludge and oozes from the
mortar lines in the ceiling, splatting on the floor. It
then coalesces back into the form of Belos. He glares at
her, hunched over and still clutching his chest, not fully
able to maintain his human form.
BELOS
(shaking)
You have truly wounded me,
Luz...*panting* I thought we
understood each other. I thought you
wanted to be something grand...
something special...like me.
The battle around them ceases, the barghests surrounding
Belos and leveling their spears. Wiping away her tears, Luz
rises to her feet to confront him.
LUZ
You think I want to be someone who
threw away her humanity to live out
some fantasy?
(defiant)
I may not know what I want to be,
But I know I don't want to be
someone like you...
BELOS
(bored)
Boldly said.
LUZ
Give it up. Neither of us can return
to the human world now...
Still panting, Belos takes a moment to gather his aplomb.
At first bare-chested from being in bed, he morphs his skin
into robes and withdraws his staff from the resultant
sludge.
BELOS
(calming)
Oh, no. I'll still be paying Earth a
visit soon.
LUZ
But, the Titan's-blood? You don't
have any-
BELOS
I can still power my portal with the
magic the Isles' people will tithe
to me on the Day of Unity.
(grumbling)
I may have to forgo sating the curse
this year...
(smiling)
But it'll all be worthwhile in the
end...
LUZ
(shocked)
No...
As Luz grapples with her shock, Belos turns to Vitimir and
the coven scouts.
BELOS
We are being flanked. Get to the
courtyard and secure the shipment!
VITIMIR
At once, my Lord!
Vitimir and his soldiers retreat into the freight elevator,
ascending to the surface. Belos then aims a blast at the
lever to summon the elevator back, preventing the barghests from following.
One of the warriors tries to apprehend him, but Belos flash-
steps out of the way and vaporizes him with an energy beam.
The other warriors start engaging, but they too are deftly
slain; vaporized, turned to stone, or phased into the wall.
Horrified at his brothers being cut down, King leaps
forward and unleashes another mighty howl.
KING
WEEGH!
Not suspecting any danger from such a tiny demon, Belos is
caught unawares. The shockwave slams him into the far wall,
turning him into a sludgy stain. While Belos is stunned,
William rallies the warriors.
WILLIAM
Tarak! Get Luz and your men back to
base!
LUZ
Wait! What about the BATs?! They're
probably getting pounded out there!
WILLIAM
Yes, it seems the bards have a spine
between them after all...
LUZ
Can't you open a portal for them?
WILLIAM
I can only make portals between
places I've been. I'll have to stay
and see to it they get out.
King, I'll need your help.
King hops onto his shoulders as Tarak gathers his forces
for a retreat.
ELDER TARAK
Into the portal! Now!
Luz hesitates, unwilling to leave William and King behind.
ELDER TARAK (cont'd)
Come along, young warrior. You will
have your day of glory.
LUZ
Promise me you'll come back...Both
of you!
KING
(emotional)
On our honor as warriors...
Not quite reassured, Luz reluctantly follows Tarak into the
portal before it disappears.
Now alone with a vulnerable Belos, William looks tempted to
finish the fight...but knows he hasn't the time.
WILLIAM
One day soon, you slimy bastard!
He spits into Belos' face before striding past and climbing
the elevator shaft with King on his back.
CUT TO:
EXT. COURTYARD - NIGHT
The BATs continue their assault. Both Eda and Lilith harry
the crew of the Zeppelin, preventing its take-off. As
Lilith prepares for another strafe, a glob of acid flies
through the air and catches her wing.
LILITH
AGGH!
EDA
LILY!
Eda dives, hoping to catch Lilith and slow her fall. Before
she can intercept, a ball of abomination goo hits her
wings, sending them both tumbling to the ground.
Vitimir and his soldiers, armed with sludge launchers,
arrive on the scene. The castle defenders redouble their
efforts.
Raine and the BATs form a defensive circle around Eda and
Lilith, but they are surrounded. The castle-guards all
close in...things look dire...but they are caught by
surprise as Sir William attacks their formation from
behind.
Both he and King carve a path to their allies. Now
regrouped, they fight back-to-back.
WILLIAM
I didn't think you'd show up.
RAINE
Ditto. So, can you get us out?
WILLIAM
I need some time before I can cast
the portal spell again.
RAINE
How much time?
WILLIAM
(motivational)
Enough to show me what passes for
fury among you wretches! YAAAGH!
The bards all fight with renewed ferocity. Raine's violin
creates tornadoes of glowing musical notes that sweep away
the coven scouts. Katya's tambourine creates earthshaking
tremors with each strike. Derwin's bassoon lashes the
soldiers with arcs of energy. Amber makes a sharp,
screeching sound wave with her flute that deafens their
pursuers.
Eda, supporting a half-conscious harpy Lilith on her
shoulder, limps along at the center of their formation.
They fight their way to the edge of the courtyard, hemmed
in by the curtain wall.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
King. See that curtain wall? We need
Haligor's Howl. A BIG one!
KING
Coming right up!
With a deep breath, King unleashes a mighty howl that
demolishes the outer wall. He pants from the effort but is
otherwise awed by his own destructive power.
DERWIN
Great! So what now?
WILLIAM
We jump.
BATS
(in unison)
JUMP?!
WILLIAM
Just trust me!
KATYA
Trust you?!
AMBER
You didn't care if we lived or died!
William casts an earnest glance at Raine.
WILLIAM
I still owe you a debt, don't I? I
plan to repay...
Raine looks back at the courtyard, still swarming with
coven scouts.
RAINE
We're out of options. Just do it!
Raine marches to the edge and dives off. With great
reluctance, the BATTs follow, then accompanied by Eda and
Lilith. William and King bring up the rear.
As they all fall screaming to their doom, William opens a
portal in the yawning chasm beneath them. One by one, they
each vanish into the blue vortex.
CUT TO:
INT. UNDERGROUND CAVE - NIGHT
Elder Tarak tends to his wounded warriors while Luz paces
the length of the cave with worry. Suddenly, a blue portal
opens in the center of the cave and discharges the BATs
like bats out of hell.
They go flying across the cave floor, colliding with the
wall or each other.
LUZ
You made it!
Luz squeezes Eda and King in a big hug.
EDA
Heh. Don't we always?
The barghest warriors gather around to give the bards a
hearty welcome back. William struggles to his feet, resting
his weight on his sword. He sees Raine extend a hand to
help, and isn't too proud to accept it.
EDA (cont'd)
So, did it work? Did you get any
Titan's-blood?
Luz hangs her head in defeat.
LUZ
No...Belos got to us before I could
get any out...
The warriors fall silent in shock.
LUZ (cont'd)
What's worse is he doesn't even need
Titan's blood for his portal...He
can just use the magic he harvests
on the Day of Unity!
(dismayed)
He still has his portal. He still
has his potions...This was all for
nothing!
(panicking)
Eda, what are we going to do?!
After a few moments of stunned silence, Raine steps
forward.
RAINE
(uncertain)
Well, we had a backup plan...But
it's a long shot...
Eda looks around at their forces, all tired, beaten, and
dispirited.
EDA
...What have we got to lose...?
TO BE
CONCLUDED
