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