The Chronicles of Sir William
Ch 17
Mandatory Beach Episode
CHANGE LOG:
I went back and re-added a B-plot for Ch 16, The Titan is
Dead that I had cut for its lengthiness. After some work-
shopping I managed to make it fit. It involves Amity going
to see her mother in prison and Luz interfering as usual.
In Ch 5, Between the Lies, I altered Philip's backstory
somewhat. The observatory that he finds the Observer in IS
the Owl House as it was in the past. Philip encounters
Hooty there as well, who has no memory of the altercation
in the present.
This will be an important detail in the coming chapters as
we approach the end. Thank you for enjoying The Chronicles
of Sir William thus far!
OPEN ON:
INT. BONESBOROUGH COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MORNING
The Head-Witches of the Isle's various covens enter the
council chambers and huddle around the center table,
yawning and sipping coffee. Most of them seem lethargic.
Lord William strides in behind them, much more sprightly.
WILLIAM
Good morning, gentlemen. I'll start
us off with a few proposals to-
KEEPER
-Erhm, Lord Regent. We have a
proposal of our own, if you wouldn't
mind.
WILLIAM
Very well. You have the floor.
KEEPER
Simply put...*yawn*...it's been
almost two years since we've had a
proper day off. Since today is
traditionally marked as a government
holiday, we thought...
WILLIAM
You must be joking! There's still so
much to do! And the Observer is
still at large, plotting who-knows-
what!
HETTIE CUTBURN
Are we to hold our breath while she
bides her time and schemes? In my
professional opinion, we could all
use a sabbatical.
ALADOR
All in favor?
It's unanimous.
WILLIAM
Oh, fine! We'll go to the beach or
something...
TITLE
SEQUENCE:
EXT. PALM STINGS BEACHFRONT
The sandy beaches of Palm Stings are crowded with visitors
from Bonesborough, relishing their day off.
Luz leads her mother to a reserved spot and begins setting
down towels.
CAMILLA
So, how do people enjoy the beach in
"The Boiling Sea"?
LUZ
On this part of the island, the
water's just a gentle simmer. It's
like a hot-tub. You'll see!
CAMILLA
I think I'll take your word for it
and get some sun instead.
EDA
Save some for us.
Eda arrives on the arm of Raine, accompanied by Lilith and
Hooty in his portable birdhouse.
LILITH
(bashful)
The Clawthornes are notorious for
their sallow complexions.
EDA
So, we'll need all the UV we can
get. Hooty?
HOOTY
I've got the sun-tan lotion!
EDA
Then let's get crispy!
The Clawthorne sisters stretch out on some reclining
chairs. As Lilith gets settled, she looks over and recoils
at the sight of Eda's body without her head.
LILITH
Gah!
EDA
What?
Her head is seated next to Raine under the shade of an
umbrella.
EDA (cont'd)
I don't like sun in my eyes all day.
LILITH
Couldn't you do with sunglasses?
EDA
Eh, this is easier. Why don't you
try it? You've had the curse long
enough by now. You should be able to
detach your limbs too.
LILITH
Eugh...I'll pass.
Further down the beach, William approaches a section of the
beach cordoned off for a sandcastle-building competition.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Gather round contestants, for the
annual sand-castle contest! Let's
see who has the architectural
ingenuity to unseat our reigning
champion!
Head Witch Mason smiles confidently while wearing a silly,
castle-shaped crown.
WILLIAM
Hah! Child's play for one who grew
up in castles!
KING
Don't be so sure. I compete in the
contest every year and Head Witch
Mason always wins by a landslide.
But my "citadels of doom" are always
a crowd-pleaser!
WILLIAM
Then may the best artificer win!
He shakes hands with King and they both rush over to enter
their names.
Luz tours the beach when she spots Willow and Gus digging a
massive pit in the sand.
LUZ
Hey guys. Whatcha up to?
GUS
Willow's going to bury me up to my
neck in sand.
WILLOW
(darkly cheery)
Burying people helps me relieve
stress. Wanna join us?
LUZ
I'm going for a swim, but let me
know when you get up to his
shoulders.
Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. Even the ne'er-do-
well beast hunters are lounging in the sun...all except
one.
TOM
(brooding)
I don't like sand...it's rough,
coarse, irritating...and it gets
everywhere...
EYEPATCH
Then why did you come to the beach
with us?
TOM
(still brooding)
...I don't know...
Principal Bump marches the competition grounds with his
clipboard and inspects the contestants' castles. William
puts the finishing touches on a large and faithful
recreation of his father's castle keep.
WILLIAM
I give you, Ossus Keep, 1/3000
scale.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Exquisite detail!
WILLIAM
(proud)
Accurate down to the number of
crenelations.
Bump then goes to judge King's castle, a massive gothic
horror of an evil villain's citadel. William does a double-
take at its impressive size.
KING
I call this one, "King's Landing"!
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Dramatic as always.
Finally, Bump arrives at Mason's castle, a sprawling
military fort with sculpted cannons. William takes a deep
gulp, not liking his odds.
MASON
Fort Mason, Mk 5.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Another impressive entry in the
series.
WILLIAM
(nervous)
*Erherm*...So, who takes the crown?
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Not so fast. The winner is decided
by whose castle can withstand the
siege!
WILLIAM
The what now...?
A crowd of cheering spectators gathers around their castles
and starts pelting them with clods of sand, garbage, and
beach-balls.
William despairs as his castle is the first to fall,
followed shortly by King's. As Mason's castle takes damage,
he casts a spell, bringing the sculpted cannons to life so
they can fire back at the crowd.
The once-cheering crowd runs screaming as they are buried
in mounds of sandy cannon balls. Soon the contest grounds
are deserted, with only Mason's castle left standing.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
And we have champion standing!
KING
Aw, rats! How is that fair?!
William sulks next to his ruined castle.
WILLIAM
How many times must I relive this...
Elsewhere, Eda and Lilith continue their sun tanning. Eda's
head snores away under the umbrella until it's knocked out
into the sun by a stray volleyball.
EDA
Wha-?! HEY!
Her head rolls at the feet of a teen volleyball player who
mistakes it for a ball and serves it.
EDA (cont'd)
AAAAAGHHH!
Her head is passed across the court several times until it
lands in the hands of a smug teen girl with three eyes.
BOSCHA
Ooops! Looks like it's the Owl Lady.
Sorry for the mix-up, but your face
is so pale and wrinkly it may as
well be a volleyball.
Boscha's entourage laughs while she serves Eda's head to
the other side of the court. Eda growls as her body comes
to pick up and reattach her.
EDA
Hey, guys! Did you see that?! What
say we teach that little half-pint
some manners-Clawthorne style!
Eda breaks off her arm and uses it to extend her reach,
slamming the ball back into Boscha's face.
BOSCHA
OOOF!
Meeting the challenge, Lilith, Raine, and Hooty take their
positions next to Eda on the court.
LILITH
With pleasure, sister.
RAINE
Bring it on!
HOOTY
(hardcore)
Let's traumatize those kids!
Further out in the water, Luz emerges from the steaming
waves, flipping her hair.
LUZ
Ah! Good for the pores!
She takes in her surroundings, eventually spotting the
Blight family setting up their umbrella further down the
beach. They all wear luxurious and stylish swimwear. Amity
looks particularly sultry in her glittering black two-
piece.
LUZ (cont'd)
(blushing)
Whoa...! Calm down, Luz. You don't
want to get heat-stroke out here...
Trying to avert her gaze, she comes across the sight of
William partaking in a body-building competition. She
practically drools over his masterful physique.
LUZ (cont'd)
Agh! Too many beach-bods! I need a
cold shower!
Luz dashes ashore and leaps in a shower stall, screaming as
she's doused with cold water.
William continues flexing and posing for the body-building
competition, but the first-place medal ultimately goes to
the buff, face-chested centaur. Aghast, William marches off
in a huff.
WILLIAM
(grumbling)
I thought this was a beauty contest,
not a side show...
Elsewhere, Willow finishes burying Gus up to his neck.
GUS
I am the sand guardian! Guardian of
the sand!
WILLOW
Poseidon quivers before him!
GUS
(shouting at the
surf)
Sod off!
On the volleyball pitch, Eda's team isn't doing well.
Boscha ferociously serves the volleyball, bending Hooty's
neck and disabling him. Another fierce serve catches Raine
in the shin, taking him out.
BOSCHA
Heads up!
The ball rockets towards Eda, knocking her head into the
sand.
EDA
(shaking off)
Dang, that kid does not mess around!
Boscha's eyes blaze with fiery determination. Lilith is the
only player on their team left standing.
LILITH
(panicking)
Uhh, Eda. What do I do?! I'm
outnumbered!
Boscha's entourage laughs and prepare another set.
EDA
Use the corpse, Lily! Use the
corpse!
LILITH
Huh?!
Lilith looks at her clammy arms and begins to understand.
As Boscha's team hurl the ball over the net, Lilith
detaches her left arm and uses it to slam the ball with
extra force.
It goes flying into the net, catching fire and burning a
hole as it passes through. It lands with a crash on the
other side of the court, leaving a smoking crater.
LILITH (cont'd)
(overjoyed)
I did it! I did it! I "used the
corpse"!
BOSCHA
Uh, not to burst your bubble,
Frankenstein, but that's an out.
LILITH
Huh?
BOSCHA
You touched the net. You're out!
LILITH
Oh...
Eda's body fishes her head out of the sand.
EDA
We're going to need backup.
She sees William dejectedly shuffling across the sand.
EDA (cont'd)
Hey, Dune Quixote! We need another
player for our team!
William lights up and comes running over.
WILLIAM
Finally! A challenge worthy of a-
OoOoOooOHHHH!
Boscha sends a volleyball hurtling into his groin.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
(groaning)
The royal jewels...the kingdom has
fallen...!
He collapses in the sand, cradling his crotch.
HOOTY
Foul! We were in time-out!
BOSCHA
(innocent shrug)
Oops...
The Clawthornes gather around William, helping him to his
feet.
WILLIAM
(delirious)
The line has ended...!
EDA
That dirty rotten twerp!
As Boscha's entourage celebrates their victory, a lifeguard
arrives, blowing his whistle and waving a red card.
LIFE-GUARD
I'm gonna have to ask you to leave,
Miss.
BOSCHA
What?!
LIFE-GUARD
Beach ordnance.
He points to a sign outlining the rules.
LIFE-GUARD (cont'd)
No harassment or horseplay.
Accompanied by a graphic of a centaur frolicking.
CENTAUR
Awww.
BOSCHA
But we were just-!
The lifeguard sternly points Boscha and her friends off
the beach. They begrudgingly leave. The chest-faced centaur
slumps his shoulders and leaves with them.
EDA
Justice!
LILITH
(to William)
Come on. Let's get you to the
medical tent.
LATER
Luz dries off in the sun beside her mother when she sees
William packing up his umbrella and heading away.
LUZ
Headed home already?
WILLIAM
Yes, before I sustain any more
embarrassment.
She runs over to him and tugs at his arm.
LUZ
Aw, don't get pouty. Stay.
WILLIAM
I'm sorry, I just don't think I have
the makings of a beach-wastrel.
LUZ
It's "beach-bum". And there's more
to enjoy about the beach than just
looking good. It's about relaxing
and having fun with your friends.
He doesn't look reassured.
LUZ (cont'd)
Come on.
(tantalizing)
I'll let you rub sunscreen on my
back...
He finally looks tempted.
CUT TO:
EXT. SURF - DAY
A few small children are out swimming and splashing around.
We see several POV shots of a creature stalking them from
beneath the waves. A fin emerges and streaks toward a
swimming girl before she is pulled underwater.
GIRL
*screams*
The other boys swimming with her scream as well. A moment
later, she re-emerges several feet away with a laughing
demon boy.
GIRL (cont'd)
Not funny!
They all laugh until another fin emerges from the water.
This one is much larger, accompanied by a shadowy shape
circling them in the water.
CHILDREN
*All scream*
The life-guard comes rushing into the water as the children
scramble for shore, shaking.
CHILDREN (cont'd)
SHARK! SHARK!
LIFE-GUARD
What? There hasn't been a simmer-
shark in these waters for decades.
(skeptical)
Are you kids trying to pull a prank?
Concerned, Principal Bump approaches.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
I'm not so sure. Their screams
sounded genuine. You learn these
things as a principal.
Hearing the disruption, William marches over.
WILLIAM
(resolute)
Not to fear, children. If there is a
beast prowling these waters, your
Lord will find and slay it.
William mounts his staff and sets out above the waters. Luz
comforts the children.
LUZ
See, kids? There's nothing to worry
about.
As William searches the water, another group of beach-going
children play with a beach ball. Another shadowy presence
emerges from the sand, this time taking the form of a
massive hermit crab.
William hears another scream and flies over to investigate.
There he finds more frightened children, one crying over
their deflated beach ball.
SCARED CHILD
C-c-c-Crab! Big crab!
CRYING CHILD
It popped our ball!
William turns and sees the shadowy presence sneaking away
into the brush at the edge of the beach.
LUZ
Another "monster"?
WILLIAM
I saw it this time. Come with me!
They chase it into the brush, coming face-to-face with a
shadowy creature with glowing eyes. Principal Bump and the
lifeguard arrive behind them, just in time to see it take
shape.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
*gasp* Grom!
INTERMISSION:
EXT. BRUSH
The monster bristles at being called by name and escapes
into the thicket.
LUZ
Wait. That Grom? The monster we
fought at the school dance?
PRINCIPAL BUMP
The very same. It must've
reconstituted itself and been drawn
to the crowds here.
LIFE-GUARD
Then it sounds like we have an
emergency on our hands.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Oh, I wouldn't go that far. Grom
feeds on fear, not flesh.
(casual)
If it posed any real threat to
children, I wouldn't have chained it
up in the school dungeon and pitted
our students against it.
LIFE-GUARD
(peering over his
sunglasses)
You did what?!
LUZ
(sarcastic)
Gee, Mister B. You really know how
to set people at ease!
PRINCIPAL BUMP
(bashful)
Erhm...Perhaps I should demonstrate.
Principal Bump delves further into the thicket until he
comes across Grom again. The monster bristles and then
assumes the shape of an office secretary woman, approaching
Bump slowly with menace.
SECRETARY
(ominous)
Sir, you have twenty calls on the
line from angry parents...And the
superintendent wants to arrange a
tour of the school tomorrow...
Bump shivers a bit before calming himself and summoning his
nerve.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
(zen)
*deep breath*...I'll take care of it
later...
A wave of calm seems to sweep over Grom, dispelling its
illusion. The monster bristles with frustration and dives
back into the vegetation.
PRINCIPAL BUMP (cont'd)
You see? Grom only has as much power
as you give it.
LIFE-GUARD
That may be, but we're dealing with
large crowds of flighty tourists. If
they catch wind of this monster
there could be a panic. People could
be trampled.
PRINCIPAL BUMP
Hmm, you have a point there...
WILLIAM
So, the only thing to fear is fear
itself? Only one thing for it, then.
William marches back onto the beach and takes a megaphone
from the lifeguard's lookout post.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
People of the Isles! May I have your
attention please! Your Lord Regent
has a proclamation to make!
I must ask you to remain calm when I
tell you that a creature is stalking
this beach...
The beach-goers erupt into fearful gasps and murmurs. The
lifeguard runs after him, aghast.
LIFE-GUARD
What's he doing?! Wasn't he
listening?!
LUZ
I think I know what he's up to...
Trust us. Transparency is the best
policy.
WILLIAM
It's name is Grom. Some of you may
know it already. Please understand
that it has no power to harm you-
only to frighten you.
(rousing)
Should you be frightened regardless,
know that your Lord is here to
protect you. I have faced many
monsters in my time. Legions of
rogue demons. The mad Emperor Belos.
Why, I've even looked into the maw
of the Titan itself without
flinching!
I defy this beast to conjure a more
frightening visage than what I've
already faced!
The people seem reassured by his bravado and begin
cheering. Grom watches from the brush, bristling with rage.
It strides out onto the beach to face William.
The beach-goers gasp and scream with fear as it shambles
through the crowd.
LUZ
Remain calm! Remember, it can't hurt
you!
Grom ignores them, going straight for William. It stops
several feet in front of him and stares him down, its
shadowy form roiling. It continues shifting and changing
for several moments, trying to decide what form to take.
WILLIAM
Stumped, are we...? Ready to give it
up?
Grom hisses with rage and lunges at him. Before it can slam
into him, Grom's body seems to dissolve and vanish. William
looks around, confused at first, but then cocky.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
You see? Nothing. Because I fear
nothing!
He turns to march away in victory, but something isn't
right. His vision grows blurry and distorted. He staggers a
bit, disoriented.
LUZ
Will? Are you alright?
As William looks around, his surroundings seem to darken
and change. In his eyes, the beach-goers surround him,
pointing and laughing.
WILLIAM
What...? What's so funny? Why are
you all laughing?!
Luz looks around, confused. To her, everyone seems to go
back to their beach activities.
LUZ
Who's laughing?
To him, it appears the crowd is mocking him.
BEACH-GOERS (ILLUSION)
Does he know how ridiculous he
looks?!
He's our leader. He should be
working, not fooling around on the
beach.
What an embarrassment!
WILLIAM
What is this perfidy?! You will show
your Lord Regent the proper respect!
BEACH-GOERS (ILLUSION)
Oh, no! Or you'll do what? Flog us?
Ha, some "Lord Regent"! What is
that, anyway?
I never thought I'd miss Belos!
WILLIAM
SILENCE! I will hear no more of this
slander!
LUZ
Calm down! You aren't making any
sense!
Again, from his perspective, Luz's concern comes as
insults.
LUZ (ILLUSION)
You're making a scene! Quit
embarrassing me!
WILLIAM
Well, my pardon! I shall take my
leave, then.
William mounts his staff and flies away.
LUZ
Hey, waaaait!
LUZ (ILLUSION)
Fine, be that way! We didn't want
you around anyway.
He suppresses a twinge of hurt before bolting for the
horizon.
EXT. FOREST ISLAND
William touches down in the treeline of a pine forest on an
island offshore.
WILLIAM
I knew this was a bad idea. I look
absurd!
He taps his staff, summoning a whirlwind that changes him
out of his swim trunks and back into his scale mail. His
palisman, Sir Eglamore the dragon, comes to life and prods
him with concern.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
(irritable)
Yes, I know Sir Bowen would be
ashamed. You're awfully perceptive
for a hunk of driftwood!
Sir Eglamore shrinks away, seemingly misinterpreted as
well. A moment later, several of the Head Witches are led
to the forest's edge by Luz.
LUZ
I saw him land here.
RAINE
Hopefully he hasn't gone far.
William eavesdrops on them from the bushes.
KEEPER (ILLUSION)
(scheming)
Good, then he's all alone out here.
MASON (ILLUSION)
And after making such a humongous
fool of himself, he might just die
of shame and save us the trouble!
RAINE (ILLUSION)
If only...This has been a long time
coming. If anyone is having
doubts...
HETTIE CUTBURN (ILLUSION)
None here. I'll be sure to make the
whole thing look like an accident.
He retreats behind the tree, gasping for breath.
WILLIAM
(panicked)
I-I can't believe it! They want to
kill me?! Of course...why didn't I
see it before!
As he grows more paranoid, his eyes begin glowing white and
leaking a smoky black miasma.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
I won't go down quietly!
The head witches fan out in search of him. He sneaks up on
the Keeper and drags him into the forest with a bubble
shield.
KEEPER
*screams*
MASON
Wha-? Where did he go?!
As they look around in confusion, Alador is dragged off as
well. Frightened, the remaining head witches regroup and
form a circle, back-to-back.
WILLIAM (O.S.)
So, this was your plan all along.
Lure me out to this idler's paradise
to make a fool of me...so I wouldn't
be missed when you took power!
William's voice echoes from the boughs of the trees.
RAINE
Sir, if this is a joke, it isn't
funny!
WILLIAM
You never wanted me as your leader!
I was just your puppet! And now that
the puppet show's over, you're here
to cut my strings...
HETTIE CUTBURN
What is he saying?! This is madness!
A lightning bolt strikes their midst, sending them
sprawling for cover. William then drops out of the canopy
and levels his staff at them, his glowing eyes blazing.
WILLIAM
Well now I'm free. I've got no
strings...on me...
INTERMISSION:
EXT. FOREST
PRINCIPAL BUMP
It's Grom! It's possessing him and
giving him these paranoid delusions!
William turns and faces Raine.
WILLIAM
Of course, I should've guessed you
plotted all this!
RAINE
What? No! You're-!
RAINE (ILLUSION)
-nothing but a relic! The Isles
have no need for you anymore. Just
lie down and accept your place in
history.
WILLIAM
It will be a grander epic than
yours, you jackal!
William leaps forward and strikes at Raine. As they duel,
Sir Eglamore untwists himself from his staff and bites
William in the leg.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
GAH! Et tu, Sir Eglamore?!
The head witches surround and try to subdue him.
HETTIE CUTBURN (ILLUSION)
Get him now! With no staff and a
wounded bile-sack, he's helpless!
WILLIAM
Guess again!
He hastily begins scrawling a pictoglyph in the dirt. Luz
acts quickly and leaps on Sir William just before he
summons a dome shield around himself.
As he recollects himself, he embraces Luz, seemingly
relieved.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
Oh, Luz! Please, you must help me!
You're the only one I can trust!
LUZ (ILLUSION)
(laughing)
Aww, isn't that sweet! Here. Do you
want to lie your head down on my
lap?
WILLIAM
Luz...?
LUZ (ILLUSION)
Ha! Pathetic! I feel like such a
ditz for choosing you...I only hope
Amity will take me back after this...
WILLIAM
(horrified)
No...No, please. Don't leave me!
LUZ
(dismayed)
I'm not going anywhere, Will! I'm
right here!
Luz clasps his hands, but he kneels to the ground, breaking
down.
WILLIAM
(broken)
No...I can't go on...I can't...
Luz gazes into William's glowing eyes, her rage building.
LUZ
I know you're in there, Grom! You
listening?!
The miasma around his eyes glistens, indicating an
affirmative response.
LUZ (cont'd)
I bet you got a big bellyful of fear
today, but I hope you saved some
room.
The miasma bristles with confusion.
LUZ (cont'd)
It sounds like Will had these fears
for years but never showed it. Now
look at me, a hormonal, irrational
teenage girl with crippling social
anxiety-and everyone knows it! I'm
practically a buffet of fear!
The miasma scintillates.
LUZ (cont'd)
Yeah, you know it. You've tasted my
fear before. So finish your snack...
She opens her arms wide.
LUZ (cont'd)
...and move on to the main course!
Luz stealthily withdraws a glyph card out of her fanny-pack
and keeps it behind her back. Seeing this, the head witches
ready themselves.
Meanwhile, Grom takes the bait. In a billowing plume of
smoke, the monster leaves William's body and materializes
under the dome shield.
Luz presses her back against the shield and activates the
fire glyph. It dissolves the shield, allowing the head
witches to blast Grom back into the trees before it can
possess her.
Luz then helps William to his feet.
LUZ (cont'd)
Hey. Are you alright?
WILLIAM
(rousing)
Mmmm...I soon will be.
He narrows his eyes at Grom and starts marching towards it
menacingly. The monster cowers and retreats for the water,
but William grabs a surfboard from the sand and follows it.
Sir Eglamore flies to his side and transforms back into a
staff, allowing William to summon a vine and twist it
around the dorsal fin of Grom's aquatic form.
Grom takes him on a veering, zigzagging course, but is
unable to shake him. William finally summons a whirlpool in
the ocean, sweeping the monster into a dizzying funnel.
Before getting trapped in it himself, William takes to the
air and fires a massive lightning bolt into the water.
Now tired and electrocuted, Grom begins to dissolve into a
pool of black ichor that floats on the waves.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
(rousing)
If this is not your end monster,
then I wouldn't bother returning
again...!
The beach-goers gather on the shore to witness William's
triumph.
WILLIAM (cont'd)
...Because no one in the Boiling
Isles fears you anymore!
They erupt into jubilant cheers. Defeated, Grom congeals
into a shadowy mass and flees into the open ocean, chased
the last leg of the way by a Selkidomus.
EXT. BEACH - SUNSET
The beachgoers all celebrate the victory with a Lūʻau.
Warden Wrath grills a succulent arrangement of meats on a
barbecue with the help of his fire breath. King and Chief
Tarak put on a torch-juggling display.
William is surrounded by a throng of adoring surfers giving
him praise. One puts an elaborate lei around his neck.
SURFER
Congratulations! You win, dude!
WILLIAM
Win what?
SURFER
Well, we were going to have a
surfing contest. But after that
gnarly display, what's the point?
SURFER 2
Ch'yeah! You were totally righteous,
bromigo!
WILLIAM
I only understand half the words
you're using...but righteous sits
well with me.
Luz strides up and takes William by the arm.
LUZ
Can I get a dance with the big
kahuna?
He smiles and goes to dance with her to a slow tune.
LUZ (cont'd)
Wow, I didn't know you were so
afraid of being ousted.
WILLIAM
Not really. That beast just dredged
some stray thoughts to the surface.
(somber)
What I really fear is...being
unwanted.
LUZ
(chuckling)
What makes you think you'd be
unwanted?
WILLIAM
I don't know. When the monsters are
all slain and the great deeds
already done, will these people need
me anymore?
LUZ
They'll always need you. To show
them what a true hero looks like.
WILLIAM
(smiling)
They already have you for that.
LUZ
(leaning in)
We can do it together, then.
They continue dancing as the sun sets over the horizon.
THE END
