The Chronicles of Sir William

Ch 15

Just a Phase

OPEN ON:

EXT. STREETS OF BONESBOROUGH - NIGHT

A pair of demons emerge from a sewer outlet and stealthily

creep down the alleyways. They both carry sacks of what

look to be human novelties.

DEMON 1

Man, these cost a fortune nowadays.

(delighted)

But they're worth it!

The demon takes out a Walkman and plays some music from it,

grinning to himself.

DEMON 2

Hey, put that away! Someone will

hear us! *gasp*

A group of teen hoodlums emerges from the shadows and

surrounds the two demons. They all carry what are clearly

nothing more than water-guns and foam dart-launchers, but

the demons look at them with fear.

HOODLUM 1

Yeah, that's right! These are human

weapons! Unless you'd like a

demonstration, I'd fork over the

goods.

DEMON 1

Alright! Don't hurt us!

The demons drop their sacks and run away. The hoodlums all

laugh to themselves.

HOODLUM 2

Heh. Stoopid witches.

Their leader steps forward. He is dressed like the others,

but wears the chipped mask and repaired staff of the Golden

Guard.

HUNTER

Let's inspect the loot, shall we?

He digs through the sacks, mostly discarding worthless

items.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Meh...trash...trash...Ooh! Score!

He takes out a gaming device and tosses it to his cohorts,

laughing as they fight over it.

HOODLUM

Hey, that's mine!

HOODLUM 2

You got one of those already!

HUNTER

Alright, you scrubs! I'm bored with

lifting this junk. Let's up the

stakes...

INTRO

SEQUENCE:

OPEN ON:

INT. BONESBOROUGH, HUMAN EMBASSY - MORNING

Luz busies herself with setting up her new office. It's

mostly a professional set-up with a few quirky flourishes

and decorations.

Gus appears at her door with Lord William behind him.

GUS

Hey, Luz. You've got a visitor.

LUZ

(cordial)

Lord Regent. Is this a social visit?

WILLIAM

I wish it were. I must call upon

your services as our ambassador.

CUT TO:

EXT. STREETS OF BONESBOROUGH - DAY

William guides Luz and Gus down the street, talking as they

walk.

WILLIAM

When we defeated Belos in your

world, we offered his human converts

a choice. Remove their bile-sacs and

remain, or come to the Demon Realms

and peacefully integrate into our

society. It seems some malcontents

are having trouble with that last

clause...

They see storefronts and vendor stalls vandalized with

crass spray-paint messages like "WITCHES GET STITCHES",

"HUMANS OWN THESE STREETS", or "THE GOLDEN GUARD LIVES".

As the shopkeepers repair the damage, they shrink away from

Luz.

LUZ

(dismayed)

I don't believe this. Bonesborough

must hate humans by now.

GUS

Don't worry, Luz. First impressions

are the important thing. And you

gave us a good one.

WILLIAM

So, let's ensure these hooligans

don't give your kind a bad name.

SERGEANT

Lord Regent. We have a lead on the

perpetrators.

They follow the Sergeant and his guards down the street,

arriving at a stone culvert beneath a bridge. It leads into

a chamber strewn with cots and beds, and decorated to the

taste of edgy teens.

Posters of nu-metal bands and figurines of spiky-haired

anti-heroes. Empty cans of body spray and hair gel. Dust-covered

covered racks of dumbbells and weights.

WILLIAM

The usual trappings of human

adolescents, I presume?

LUZ

(wincing)

Yeesh! I should hope not. Somebody's

going through a phase...

Gus drags his finger through the mold growing on a

discarded pizza.

GUS

Yick. Well, it doesn't look like

anyone's been here for a while. The

trail's gone cold.

Just then, Luz spots some bottles of white grease paint and

eye-liner on one of the end tables and begins pondering.

LUZ

Hmm...Maybe not. I have an idea.

CUT TO:

INT. ILLUSION COVEN DRESSING ROOM - NIGHT

Gus emerges from a changing booth, disguised like a

delinquent punk-rocker. He is joined by Luz, dressed like a

goth in white face-paint and black lipstick.

GUS

(grinning)

I didn't realize human teens dressed

so...moodily.

LUZ

(embarrassed)

They don't. It's just a subculture.

WILLIAM

(smitten)

I think I can see the appeal...Are

you ready?

LUZ

As we'll ever be.

Some guards hand Luz and Gus a pair of telepathic necklaces

matching one worn by William. He conjures a portal opening

up into an alleyway and they jump through.

They look around a corner to see a shop built into a crack

in a retaining wall. Luz clutches her necklace.

LUZ (V.O.)

Is this the place?

WILLIAM (V.O.)

We've suspected this to be a front

for smuggled human artifacts for a

while now.

GUS (V.O.)

I've been meaning to ask. Why did

you ban human stuff, anyway?

WILLIAM (V.O.)

It was at Mr. Wayde's request. He

didn't want something dangerous

slipping through and being mistaken

for a toy.

GUS (V.O.)

(conflicted)

Hmm. Probably for the best.

LUZ (V.O.)

Alright, we're in position. When we

find the trouble-makers we'll con

them into bringing us home to roost.

Then we'll call you in.

WILLIAM (V.O.)

Understood. Good luck.

Luz and Gus enter the storefront and are welcomed in by

Tibbles.

TIBBLES

Welcome! Come in! Let me guess, a

few homesick former humans looking

for some creature comforts?

GUS

(exuberant)

Yeah! You got any-

Luz elbows Gus.

GUS (cont'd)

Uh, I mean...

(aloof)

Yeah, bruh. We hear this place is

pretty lit.

TIBBLES

I don't know what that means, but

you probably heard right!

Tibbles pauses for a moment and glares at Luz.

TIBBLES (cont'd)

Don't I know you from somewhere?

Luz briefly panics, but resumes her bored, dour persona.

LUZ

*scoff*. You wish you knew me...

TIBBLES

Hmm...Well, I'm sure we'll become

good friends!

Tibbles' door bell rings again, with a masked Hunter and

his two toadies walking in.

TIBBLES (cont'd)

Ah, Hunter, my lad! Back so soon?

HUNTER

Got a fresh haul, Tibbs.

Hunter throws a sack on the counter, filled with goods

plundered from the Bonesborough stores.

TIBBLES

Hmm. I think I recognize these

wares.

(feigning

uprightness)

I'm sorry, sir. But I cannot accept

these for trade. I'm no fence!

After a brief beat, they both burst into laughter. As

Tibbles shells out some snails on the counter, Hunter takes

notice of Luz.

HUNTER

(flirty)

Hey. I don't think I've ever seen

you around here before, cutie.

Luz blushes a bit, but maintains her cover better.

LUZ

Eh. Bite me.

HUNTER

Heh. I like you.

WILLIAM (V.O.)

(growling)

I can't wait to throttle that little

punk and string him up by his-

LUZ (V.O.)

You're still on!

WILLIAM (V.O.)

I know.

GUS

We just rolled in. "The Man" wanted

to take our bile-sacks.

HUNTER

I hear ya.

(cocky)

The normies just can't handle us,

can they? They'd all die of envy.

Tibbles finishes counting out his snails and hands Hunter a

plump coin purse.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Here's some free advice, newbies.

Bonesborough's got all the best

loot, but it's a total gum-drop

parade. Latissa's the place to kick

back.

(flirty)

Why don't you come back with us to

our hideout? We'll throw you a

welcome party.

LUZ

Huh...I guess that wouldn't totally

reek...

HUNTER

I'm glad you see it my way.

The hoodlums exit the shop and mount their artificial

staves. Gus rides with one of the hoodlums, but Hunter

insists that Luz ride with him.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Hang on tight.

Luz grasps the salvaged staff of the Golden Guard,

recognizing it's power. She gets a mischievous idea.

LUZ

Good advice...you should follow it.

Luz takes command of the staff and brings them both

rocketing into the night sky.

HUNTER

WHOOAAA!

Hunter's toadies laugh and follow Luz on her joyride. She

takes them spiraling over rooftops and weaving between

smokestacks. Hunter struggles to hang on and keep from

being sick.

Eventually, they reach the wilderness and draw close to the

outskirts of Latissa.

LUZ

So, where's your pad?

HUNTER

*hurk*...Uh, over there.

He points to a sewer outlet jutting out from the city

walls. They land at its mouth and enter.

HUNTER (cont'd)

(awed)

Man, that was some sick flying. You

must have served in Belos' guard,

right?

LUZ

Something like that...

She smugly twirls the staff before handing it back to

Hunter. His cronies chortle behind his back.

HUNTER

(whispering)

But, uh...in the future. Don't show

me up like that again.

He then leads them into the sewers, arriving at an atrium

where other teen hooligans are busy lounging around.

HUNTER (cont'd)

What's ours is yours...

He removes his mask, plops into a ruined wingback chair and

starts playing video games on an old tv monitor. He motions

for his guests to sit in a torn leather sofa.

WILLIAM (V.O.)

Luz? Are you in yet? I have units at

the ready.

LUZ (V.O.)

Just give me a minute.

Luz looks around the bedraggled surroundings, trying to

start a conversation.

LUZ

...So, that mask. Are you, like...

the Golden Guard or something?

HUNTER

(smug)

Sure am. Belos took me in off the

streets and taught me everything I

know about magic. Said I was like a

son to him.

HOODLUM 2

(whispering)

Heh. Teacher's pet.

HUNTER

What was that?

Hunter sits up in his wingback and glares at his cronies.

HOODLUM 2

Uhh-nothin'!

HUNTER

That's what I thought...

Brooding, he sinks back into his chair.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Some of us don't act like it...

(admiring)

...but Belos changed our lives. Gave

us real power. A reason to live.

Least that's what I thought. How

about you?

Luz ponders a moment, her answer laden with a small amount

of sincerity.

LUZ

Kinda...yeah.

HUNTER

(smoldering)

But then that try-hard girl and her

loser friends had to swoop in and

ruin everything.

GUS

(playing along)

Yeah, don't remind us!

Luz looks disheartened by Hunter's vitriol.

HUNTER

And what I wouldn't give for a

chance to knock that white knight

"Lord Regent" off his high-horse!

WILLIAM (V.O.)

Be careful what you wish for. Ready

or not, Luz, we're coming in.

A portal appears in the middle of the hideout. Guards come

rushing out, sending the human delinquents scattering like

roaches.

HUNTER

WHAT?!

HOODLUM

We've been made! Everyone for

himself!

HUNTER

No, you dolts! We stand and fight!

Hunter takes his staff and duels with the guards trying to

arrest him. The other hoodlums have less success, getting

captured in bubble shields.

Gus and Luz huddle behind the sofa, trying to keep out of

the crossfire.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Don't just stand around! Aren't you

going to...?!

Hunter sees Luz's expression and pieces things together.

HUNTER (cont'd)

It was you! You sold us out!

Hunter and his cronies try to flee deeper into the sewers.

Gus and Luz take out their staves and pursue.

HOODLUM

Nice going, Hunter! You got us

busted thinking with your-

HUNTER

Shut it! How was I supposed to

know?! I just need to think of

something-

Another portal appears in front of their path. William

leaps out of it, dragging Hunter off his staff.

His cronies don't look back, continuing to speed away.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Come back here, you ingrates!

WILLIAM

Speaking of, why don't you come

along quietly? You might just make

it out of this with community

service.

HUNTER

Alright. Allow me to SERVE!

Hunter wriggles out of his cloak and attacks William. They

duel in the tunnel, trading fireballs and lightning-bolts.

Hunter manages to hold his own, but is still out of his

league against William.

A few moments later, Gus and Luz arrive to surround Hunter.

GUS

Give it up! You're surrounded, and

all your base be ours!

LUZ

Listen! We're trying to help you.

HUNTER

I don't need any more of your

"help"! How could you?! How could

you side with them?! They're trying

to take our magic away!

LUZ

*sigh*...Look familiar?

Luz removes her wig and wipes off some of her makeup.

Hunter's eyes widen in shock.

WILLIAM

Now yield! I won't ask again!

William tries to grab his arm, but Hunter reels away.

HUNTER

(frantic)

No! I'm not going back! I'm never

going back!

He swings his salvaged artificial staff as William's head.

He blocks it just in time, the force of the blow rupturing

Hunter's staff.

Arcs of red electricity leak from the crack, showing signs

of instability.

GUS

Put it down, man! It's busted!

Heedless, hunter levels his staff at William and charges up

a spell.

HUNTER

Don't you tell me how to USE MY

MAGIC!

Hunter's staff explodes sending a shockwave of energy

through the tunnel. The tunnel walls collapse, causing a

tenement building on the streets above to come caving in.

When the dust clears, Hunter's body can be seen poking from

the rubble.

LUZ

Hunter!

Luz frantically tries to dig him out as his vision fades to

black.

FADE TO:

INT. LATISSA PRECINCT, INTERROGATION ROOM - NIGHT

Hunter slowly blinks awake to see himself in a dark room,

sitting in front of a table. A bright lamp swings overhead.

WILLIAM

Twenty-eight injuries. Three in

traction...But, miraculously, no

fatalities...barely.

Hunter squints his eyes to see William sitting across from

him.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

Yet all of those people are now out

on the streets, without a home...

thanks to you...

Hunter tries to hide his guilt under bravado.

HUNTER

*scoff*. Nothing I haven't been

through...

William slams his hands down on the table, restraining his

rage.

WILLIAM

(grave)

I can arrange for you to say that to

their faces.

LUZ

Will, let me handle this.

Seated beside him is Luz, back in her normal clothes.

LUZ (cont'd)

It's not too late to turn back,

Hunter. I know what you're going

through.

HUNTER

(brooding)

No you don't...You don't know me.

LUZ

I know what it's like to want magic

in your life so badly...

(contrite)

...that you risk hurting people to

get it. But having magic doesn't

mean you can just do whatever you

want. Even Belos believed in using

it to help people.

HUNTER

Which he might still be doing if you

hadn't come along! You thought it would be all

glitter and rainbows with him gone, but you

don't know anything! you're just a sad,

naive little girl!

Luz tries to hide her indignation.

WILLIAM

(bored)

And you're just a deluded little boy who's

conflated his unearned jadedness with maturity.

Disappointed, Luz rises to her feet.

LUZ

(Professional)

I'm sorry you feel that way. We'll

be back when you're ready to talk

about your future.

She leaves the room alongside William. Hunter glares after

them, but sinks into his seat when he's alone, ridden with

guilt.

INT. LATISSA PRECINCT, BULLPEN

Luz pours some coffee for herself and William as they

deliberate in the break room. Gus joins them, his arm

wrapped in a cast.

LUZ (cont'd)

I'm sorry, I just had to get out of

there.

GUS

Hey, no judgment here. No use

fanning those flames.

LUZ

I'm not laying it on too thick, am

I?

I think I'm starting to sound like

my guidance counselors from school.

WILLIAM

You handled yourself splendidly. By

now I'd be beating him with a crab-

tree stick!

They chuckle to themselves.

LUZ

Well, you could do to be a bit more

sympathetic. You're saying you don't

relate to him at all, being a

stranger in a strange land?

WILLIAM

*sigh*...I suppose I do a bit...

William wistfully gazes into his coffee, seeing flashbacks

in its reflection. In one, he remembers himself as a boy,

pouting as he's being measured for a frilly tunic.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

What's more, when I was his age I

was a pampered young prince,

thirsting to prove his manhood by

learning magic.

In the next, he sees himself as a young page being

ruthlessly drilled in a boot camp.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

It was my mentor, Sir Bowen, who

showed me the amount of

dedication it took to truly master

magic.

In another, he kneels proudly before Sir Bowen, being

dubbed a knight.

WILLIAM (cont'd)

It was thanks to him I became a

knight and not what this young lad

is now.

GUS

Well, maybe Hunter just needs some

of what you had.

LUZ

I never thought I'd prescribe reform

camp, but I can think of worse

remedies...

WILLIAM

Maybe so. It won't be easy though...

(smiling)

...and it will still involve

beatings with crab-tree sticks.

They laugh again, but grow more composed as Mr. Wayde

marches into the break room to join them.

MR. WAYDE

Whatever your plans, I hope they

bear fruit. If this young man

doesn't shape up, the Bureau will be

forced to take drastic actions...

The tension mounts as they listen to Mr. Wayde's grim

warning.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM

Hunter broodingly stares into the one-way mirror at the

back of the room when something in the reflection catches

his eye. A cloaked figure appears to be standing behind

him.

THE OBSERVER

Penny for your thoughts?

Hunter whips around, but sees no one. When he turns back,

he sees the Observer sitting across the table from him.

HUNTER

AAH! Who are you?! What do you

want?!

THE OBSERVER

A friend. And I only want to help

you.

HUNTER

I've been hearing that a lot

lately...

THE OBSERVER

My offer is genuine. These other

poltroons fear you-fear your power.

They only want to pacify you so you

pose no more threat to them.

HUNTER

(smiling)

Just what I wanted to hear right

about now...

(skeptical)

So, why should I believe it?

THE OBSERVER

If you won't take my word, take

theirs...

The Observer waves her arm over the one-way mirror,

conjuring images in the reflection. Hunter sees snippets of

conversation from earlier.

LUZ

"Yeesh! I should hope not.

Somebody's going through a phase..."

GUS

(laughing)

"Man, I had no idea human teens

dressed so...moodily."

LUZ

(disdainful)

"They don't. It's a subculture."

WILLIAM

"I can't wait to throttle that

little punk and string him up by

his-...By now I'd be beating him

with a crab-tree stick!

(threatening)

Let's ensure these hooligans don't

give your kind a bad name."

The Observer alters the images to give the speakers a more

derisive and mean-spirited tone. Hunter watches them with a

growing look of hurt.

HUNTER

(downcast)

I...guess for a second there I

actually thought-

THE OBSERVER

-That they were your friends? When

even now they conspire against you!

The images change to show the interior of the break room.

MR. WAYDE

We will request his extradition back

to Gravesfield where he will be

forced to undergo the procedure to

remove his bile-sack.

WILLIAM

If you believe that is what's best...

The image fades away, leaving Hunter in a wide-eyed panic.

HUNTER

N-no! They can't do this to me!

THE OBSERVER

Shh. I won't let them.

She clasps his hands, consoling him.

HUNTER

(trembling)

Wh-why would you help me?

THE OBSERVER

Call it sentimentality. You know, I once helped a young lad

like you become the Emperor a while ago.

HUNTER

You were Belos' master?

THE OBSERVER

Indeed. And I know you aspire to his

legacy...

The Observer takes something out of her cloak-the mask of

the Golden Guard. No longer chipped or cracked, it's

polished and gleaming as though it were new.

THE OBSERVER (cont'd)

...but why settle for being a Golden

Guard...

She waves her arm over the mask, turning it from a barn-owl

shape into one more resembling Belos' bird/weevil mask.

THE OBSERVER (cont'd)

...when you could be so much

greater!

The sight of the mask calms his nerves, inspiring his awe.

He then looks at the observer with a determined scowl and

smiles.

INT. BULLPEN

Lord William and Mr. Wayde finish their conversation.

WILLIAM

If you believe that is what's best...

But as for now, he is a citizen of

the Boiling Isles. I will not

expatriate him unless I'm left with

no other choice.

MR. WAYDE

Fair enough.

LUZ

(hopeful)

Come on. Let's go back. I'm sure

Hunter will see reason this time.

They all hear a commotion from the other end of the room.

The guards all scatter as The Observer comes flying through

the far wall like a ghost. She carries Hunter with her,

floating across the room and phasing out of the building.

WILLIAM

It's the Observer!

LUZ

And Hunter's with her!

GUS

Somehow, I don't think he's seeing

reason.

CUT TO:

EXT. LATISSA PRECINCT, ROOFTOP - NIGHT

Luz, Gus, and William storm out onto the rooftop to see The

Observer fleeing across the skyline. They mount their

staves and give chase.

Luz manages to gain on them, reaching out for Hunter's

hand.

LUZ

Take my hand!

HUNTER

Get lost! I'm not going back with

you!

Luz misses his hand, but reaches for his foot instead. They

both fall and tumble onto the rooftops below. Hunter groans

as he gets back to his feet.

HUNTER (cont'd)

You just don't quit, do you?!

LUZ

That's right. I'm not giving up on

you, Hunter!

HUNTER

I don't need saving. But maybe you

were right about one thing. Maybe I

was just "going through a phase".

Luz lights up in surprise.

HUNTER (cont'd)

Yeah. I heard you...

LUZ

(contrite)

I-I'm sorry. I should be one to

make fun of other people's

interests...

HUNTER

Don't be. You were right!

(determined)

But now I know I can become

something more than a lowlife street

punk.

LUZ

Yes, you can! But not by following

the Observer! You can't trust her!

THE OBSERVER

She's right, Hunter. You really

can't.

The Observer descends from the sky, hovering over the roof

edge.

THE OBSERVER (cont'd)

Not until I give you a show of faith

first.

She conjures a staff from thin air. It resembles Belos'

staff, but even more resplendent. She hands it to Hunter,

along with the mask she pulled out earlier.

THE OBSERVER (cont'd)

Now, show me your potential...my

apprentice.

Hunter eagerly accepts his gifts and turns back to face his

pursuers.

LUZ

(pleading)

Please, don't-

He fires a massive beam of red energy at them. William

blocks it with his bubble-shield, but it cracks under the

strain.

They fire back with their own attacks, but Hunter deftly

avoids them, flash-stepping back and forth. He teleports

behind Gus, seizing him in a sludge claw and tossing him

off the roof.

LUZ (cont'd)

GUS!

Luz disengages and rushes to save him. Hunter then turns

another beam on William, who blocks it with a torrent of

blue flames from his staff.

They continue jousting in this meeting of the beams, but

Hunter's power gradually overcomes William's and he must

leap aside to avoid destruction.

THE OBSERVER

(chortling)

Good! Good! I knew you were the one!

Hunter lifts his mask, grinning. The Observer then turns to

see squadrons of city guards arriving over the horizon.

THE OBSERVER (cont'd)

Let us be off. We will finish them

later.

Hunter rides his staff into the air as The Observer

transforms into a vortex that teleports them both away.

Luz helps Gus clamber back on the rooftop, looking up at

the sky with regret.

William confers with his guards.

WILLIAM

Double your patrols.

(troubled)

The Observer has a new protégé.

CROSSFADE TO:

INT. STELLAR OBSERVATORY, ASTEROID - NIGHT

The Observer finishes conducting Hunter on a tour of her

planetarium.

THE OBSERVER

...and this is the grand orrery. It

traces the paths of worlds in three

different dimensions.

HUNTER

(awed)

This place is incredible!

THE OBSERVER

You've only begun to see its

wonders. But the rest can wait till

the 'morrow.

INT. GUEST QUARTERS

The Observer shows Hunter to his room, already decorated

with his moody tastes in mind.

THE OBSERVER (cont'd)

Rest well.

The Observer departs, leaving Hunter to soak in his new

surroundings with relish. He reclines in his bed with a

smug grin until he's interrupted by a presence at his

window.

He turns to see it's not the Observer, but someone

resembling Belos.

HUNTER

Huh?!

BELOS

Get out...

The figure's voice echoes and he looks surrounded by an

ethereal aura.

HUNTER

What?! But I just got-

BELOS

GET OUT! NOW...!

Hunter shrinks away as Belos' ghost glows brightly and

morphs into his monstrous form.

BELOS (cont'd)

...While you still can! She's using

you! Don't be a fool!

The spirit slowly dissolves into thin air. Hunter pants

with fear, but gradually calms. He leans over his bed,

beginning to wonder if he made the right choice...

THE END

REVISION LOG

1. I've altered the events of episode 3 and 4. Before, Luz

and William had simply happened upon finding a second

volume of Philip's diary in Vulgrim's shop. I found this

scenario kind of forced after some thought.

Instead, Luz finds out that the last few pages of her own

copy of the diary were torn out by Vulgrim after he checked

it out of the library several decades before. This, among

other changes.

2. I've changed the name of King's Tribe in episode 7 from

the "Hell-Hounds" to the "Barghests". I just thought that

if these scripts were adapted into a show, they wouldn't

let me get away with saying "Hell" so many times. And I

found Barghest to be a better fit for King's species of

demon anyway.

3. I've overhauled the plot of episode 14 to be centered

more on Raine overcoming his stage-fright.

4. I've given thought to making this series a fully voiced

animatic/storyboard/comic on Youtube. Let me know your

interest in seeing or participating in this project in the

reviews section.