(Cristo Pictures presents)
(A Cristo Productions Film)
CITY OF DRAGONS
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Part One(Fade to a beautiful forest)
(The camera sweeps over the trees as we get our first look at the mythical land of Marikian)
(We see a magnificent castle in the distance surrounded by a village)
(The camera zooms inside the stained glass window of the castle)
(We see the throne room filled with many different pillars)
(The king of Marikian, KING MARIO, sits on his throne)
(He looks conflicted and stressed)
(A short man MAURICE enters the throne room and blows his trumpet)
(An irritating screeching sound comes out of the trumpet)
(King Mario shakes his head)
(Maurice clears his throat)
Maurice: Uh-um. Presenting to his royal Highness of His Royal House, Prince Merion the First of His Royal House, and Prince Licen the First of His Royal House.
King Mario: Maurice, come here.
Maurice: Oh yes, Majesty.
(Maurice walks up to the throne and bows his head)
King Mario: Yes, I was wondering if you could get a different trumpet. That one is quite loud, and it’s not good for my ears.
(Maurice suddenly looks shocked)
Maurice: But…but…your Majesty, this trumpet has been in my family for years!
King Mario: I know but…
Maurice: It is an heirloom of our family! An antique! A different trumpet?!?
(Maurice puts his head in his hands)
(King Mario smiles)
King Mario: If you like it so much, it doesn’t matter to me. I’m sure my ears can handle it.
Maurice: Oh thank you, Majesty. Thank you.
(Maurice holds the trumpet to his chest and leaves the throne room)
(King Mario chuckles as he watches Maurice leave)
(Cut to a little boy MERION watching his brother sleep)
(Merion looks over at his younger brother and smiles)
(Merion walks over and starts jumping on his brother’s bed)
Merion: Wake up, you sleepyhead! Wake up!
(His little brother LICEN opens his eyes in shock)
(The force of the jumping catapults Licen off the bed)
Licen: Ow.
Merion: You should have been awake.
(Licen gets up)
Licen: You shouldn’t jump on people’s beds.
(Merion resumes jumping on Licen’s bed)
Merion: You can’t make me stop!
(Licen reaches for Merion’s legs)
(Merion pushes him back towards the wall)
(Licen goes over and jumps on Merion’s bed)
Merion: You can’t jump on my bed!
(Merion pushes Licen off his bed and keeps jumping)
(Licen goes over and grabs Merion’s legs)
(He flips Merion backwards)
(Merion’s head hits the bedpost)
Merion: You little…
(Licen runs out into the grand hall)
(Merion chases after him)
(They both run into the waiting hands of nurses and maids)
(Merion thumps Licen on the head with his knuckles as they get dressed)
(Licen looks for Merion through the hustle and bustle)
(Merion leaps out and thumps him again)
(Licen turns around to see Merion)
(Merion thumps him on the head again)
(The nurses drop them in front of the throne room doors)
(We hear the trumpets and Maurice talking)
(Merion thumps Licen on the head again)
(Cut to Maurice leaving the throne room)
(Merion sticks out his foot to trip him)
(Licen thumps Merion on the head as Maurice passes unharmed)
King Mario: Licen! Do not hit your brother!
(Merion and Licen enter the throne room)
Licen: But he hit me first!
Merion: No, I didn’t. You’re always trying to pass the blame.
King Mario: Silence! Whoever hit whom let us forget about it. Come. We must eat.
(King Mario sits at a table and beckons his sons over)
(The cooks enter and put many delicacies on the table)
(Merion takes a whole bunch of food and puts it on his plate)
(Licen takes two pieces of meat and some juice)
(King Mario looks at Licen’s plate)
King Mario: Licen, would you like some kofta? It has beef and onions in it. Very tasty.
(Licen shakes his head no)
King Mario: Oh. Okay. Would you like the okra stew?
(Licen shakes his head again)
(Licen dips his hands into the finger bowl)
(King Mario dips his hands as well)
(Merion just starts eating without doing so)
Merion: No, Licen’s a picky eater.
(Merion picks up a piece of meat)
Merion: I’d like to be the one who killed this dragon!
King Mario: No, you wouldn’t. Dragons are very deadly and evil creatures, and I hope both of you never have to encounter one.
(Merion rolls his eyes)
Merion: Well, I could take one on.
King Mario: You are young, and there are many things that you have yet to learn. But it is my job, as your father, to teach you reality as can be perceived.
Merion: See, it’s only a perception!
King Mario: No, what I tell you about dragons is experience.
(King Mario turns to Licen)
King Mario: How do you feel on the subject?
Licen: Well, I don’t think I could go up against a dragon. I don’t know.
(King Mario laughs)
King Mario: Well, don’t test it out.
(Merion laughs)
Merion: Ha! Licen couldn’t go up against a wet cat, much less a dragon.
Licen: Oh shut up!
Merion: Make me!
King Mario: What are you boys studying in school?
Licen: Arithmetic.
King Mario: Okay, what’s two plus two?
Licen: Fou…
Merion: Licen couldn’t do math if you asked him what one plus one is! He’s so stupid. Two plus two is four!
(King Mario shakes his head)
King Mario: You shouldn’t be competitive.
Merion: I’m not trying to be competitive!
King Mario: Well, don’t call your brother stupid.
(Merion whispers under his breath)
Merion: I call them like I see them.
(Licen reaches across the table and hits Merion)
(Merion tackles Licen)
King Mario: Boys, boys!
(King Mario pulls them apart)
(Cut to Merion and Licen sulking in one of the palace chambers)
(Merion is sitting while Licen is standing up)
Merion: You stupid idiot. You’re the one who got us in trouble.
Licen: No, I didn’t. It was your fault. You insulted me.
Merion: Well, I’m the older brother and you’re supposed to show me respect.
Licen: I’ll only show you respect if you give it.
Merion: That’s not how it works.
(Merion stands up)
Merion: But all that doesn’t matter. Because of you, we both got in trouble.
(Licen sighs)
Merion: Stupid.
(Licen looks up at Merion)
Licen: Part of the reason you got in trouble is because you called me stupid. Stop calling me stupid.
Merion: WE got in trouble, and you got in trouble because you can’t keep your hands to yourself.
Licen: You were hitting me first.
Merion: So?
Licen: So, I just retaliated. It’s your fault you got hit.
Merion: If you keep it up…
(Licen sighs and sits down)
(Merion walks over and sits next to him)
Merion: I could imagine you next to a dragon. You’d be screaming “Help me! Help me!” And you’d probably be running around so much that your sword may accidentally slip and kill the dragon.
(Licen and Merion laugh)
Licen: Well, you would be running away so fast that you’d disorient the dragon and he’d fall flat on his face!
(They laugh even harder)
(Maurice enters the room as the brothers laugh)
Maurice: Uh-um! You are required outside for your lessons in warfare.
(Merion jumps up)
(Licen sits back and sighs again)
(Cut to Licen and Merion outside)
(There are two targets)
(Merion fits the arrow to his bow and pulls back)
(He lets it fly)
(The arrow hits the center of the target)
Merion: Bulls-eye!
(Licen lets his arrow fly)
(The arrow lands on the grass next to other arrows)
Merion: Ha! You couldn’t get a bull’s-eye if you tried. You can’t even hit the target!
(Licen pulls back)
(He concentrates and lets the arrow fly)
(Licen closes his eyes)
(He opens them)
(Cut to the arrow sticking out of a bulls-eye)
Merion: Hey, that’s my target! Use your own!
(Cut to Merion holding a spear)
(He throws it high into the air past the requirements)
(It hits the ground with a thud)
(Licen throws a spear into the air)
(It barely meets the requirements)
(Licen tries again and again while Merion laughs)
(Cut to Merion sharpening a wooden sword)
(Merion walks out towards Licen and raises his sword to hit him)
(Licen blocks the blow with his dull wooden sword)
(Merion swings and scratches Licen’s stomach)
(Licen lunges at Merion)
(Merion stabs Licen in the shoulder)
(Licen winces in pain)
(Merion raises the sword over Licen’s head and slams it down)
(Licen blocks the blow with his sword)
(Licen has a rage in his eyes and swings at Merion’s head rapidly)
(Merion backs up)
(Licen swings as hard as he can)
(Merion hits Licen in the stomach with the flat of the sword)
(Merion hits Licen in the face with the hilt)
(Licen goes down)
(Merion smiles and looks down at Licen)
(Licen scoffs)
(Merion lowers the wooden sword to Licen’s throat)
Merion: Yield.
(Cut to a doctor running down the hall)
WORDS ONSCREEN: Nine Years Later
(A wrinkled King Mario is lying on his bed)
(The doctor enters and puts his hand on the king’s chest)
King Mario: How much time do I have left?
Doctor: Not long.
(King Mario sighs)
King Mario: Bring me my sons.
(Cut to the doctor entering a room)
Doctor: The King wants to see you.
(We see a grown Merion and Licen)
Licen: Is he any better?
(The doctor shakes his head)
Merion: Well, isn’t there anything you can do?
Doctor: No.
(Merion grabs the doctor by the shirt)
(He slams him against the wall)
Doctor: Th-there’s nothing I-I can do! The infection is too great.
Merion: When I become king, I don’t want to see you ever again.
(Merion releases the doctor and leaves the room)
(Licen glances at the doctor before leaving the room)
(Cut to King Mario lying in his bed)
(He turns his head as Merion and Licen enter the room)
(King Mario fingers the royal insignia)
(Merion notices the insignia and bows)
(Licen doesn’t see the insignia but he also bows)
King Mario: My sons. My sons. As you…do know, I’ve been very…ill lately. I do not think that I shall be on this earth much longer. My name shall be written in the halls of my fathers. A sign of a king that once was. The same history that I used to study will…include me, now. My days on this world are over. I feel it in my bones. In my heart. I am so glad that I have two loving sons that I can be proud of in my old age. I think of grandchildren that I will never see that shall also study the history of the kings of old. I shall die on my deathbed, a reminder of the cruel fate that shall befall us all until the world is made over and peace reign. My final words to you, my sons, is that you never let anything get between you. Let there be no animosity between the two of you. For under peace, joy and love is waiting. Do not feud over silly things; do not be overly competitive. For we shall all become as mere dust in the wind, and rotting remains in our extravagant coffins. Our lives will be utterly wasted if we continue to fight and fret until the last enemy take us all. With these words said, I shall now choose my heir. The one king to rule all of fair Marikian.
(Merion smiles)
King Mario: In doing this, I aim for peace but there is still a chance of war. So, Merion would be best to deal with the army and war.
(Merion’s smile widens)
King Mario: But now I have chosen Licen as future king, and I hope that under his rule, there shall be no war.
(King Mario hands the insignia to Licen)
(Merion stares at Licen in shock)
(King Mario coughs once more and expires)
(Merion keeps glaring at Licen)
(Licen looks down at his father)
(Merion bows to Licen)
(Licen turns to Merion)
Licen: You don’t have to bow to me, brother.
(Merion keeps his head bowed)
(There is a look of total hatred on his face)
(Merion raises his head)
Merion: Licen. King Licen. It has a nice ring to it.
(Merion is now smiling)
Licen: If you say so.
(Cut to a huge funeral procession)
(Cut to the tomb of King Mario)
(There is a sword protruding from the grave)
(Cut to Licen sitting down being prepared for his coronation by many servants)
Licen: Excuse me.
(Licen gets up and walks away from the servants)
(He walks over to a window)
(He looks at the beautiful landscape of Marikian outside)
(There are children playing and bakers selling)
(Licen starts to feel like someone is watching him with ill intent)
(Licen spins around)
(Merion stands facing him)
(Licen breathes a sigh of relief)
Licen: Whew. I thought you were someone else.
(Merion laughs)
Merion: Who did you think I was?
Licen: I don’t know; I had an eerie feeling.
(Merion chuckles)
Merion: Merely the nervousness that comes from such a position as king.
(Merion walks over to the window)
Licen: Yes, I am quite nervous.
(Merion peers out the window)
Merion: Such a beautiful city. I am sure that you will rule it in the right way. Don’t worry about a thing.
(Licen smiles)
Licen: Thank you, my brother, for the encouraging words.
Merion: Anytime.
Licen: But…I will need your help while being king.
Merion: Exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. Come. Let us walk.
(Merion and Licen start walking through the palace)
Merion: War is brewing. Apparently, over the mountain that overlooks our city, ruinous things are happening. Through evil arts, the enemy has developed a poison that could easily eradicate all life on Marikian. We can stop this foul being if we attack first.
Licen: Who is this that is threatening our city?
(Merion pauses)
Merion: It is the foul Crookback Merrinnack.
Licen: Crookback Merrinnack?
Merion: Yes, he’s one of the wickedest beings to walk the earth.
Licen: Hmm.
Merion: Which leads me to my point. With such evil forces against us, you will need help. Our father spoke of my expertise in war. Maybe, we could become joint rulers?
Licen: If things are indeed as bad as you claim, then I would definitely need your assistance regardless. I have no problem with the two of us being joint rulers.
Merion: Good. Good. I’ll see you at the coronation. I have to go arrange military plans.
(Merion walks off)
(Cut to Licen entering the dressing room)
(There is no one there)
(Licen lays on the couch and smiles)
(He reaches over and eats some grapes)
(He lays back on the couch and closes his eyes)
(Cut to Licen slowly opening his eyes)
(Servants fill the room)
(Licen grabs his crown and hurries out the door)
(Licen walks down the hallway to the doors to the balcony where he would announce his rulership)
(Two guards block the doors)
(Licen suddenly remembers that he left his insignia in the room)
(He runs back to the dressing room)
(Licen searches through the room unsuccessfully)
(Maurice’s trumpet blares from the balcony)
(Licen sighs and heads back out towards the balcony)
(The scowling guards stand at the door)
(Licen straightens out his robe and adjusts his crown)
(The guards become even more uptight)
(Licen looks at them strangely)
(Maurice’s voice is heard from behind the doors)
Maurice: Introducing to the fair people of our beloved city Marikian, our new king. All hail the First King Merion of his Royal House!
(Licen stares at the doorway)
(He pushes past the guards and goes out onto the balcony)
(Cut to Maurice holding the trumpet)
(We see Merion waving the insignia in the sky for all the people to see)
Licen: Merion, brother, what are you doing?
(Maurice leaves the balcony)
(Merion turns around)
Merion: What do you think? I am at my coronation addressing my people.
(Merion chuckles)
Licen: Your people?
Merion: Yes, my people. My people, my city, my insignia.
(Merion yanks the crown off Licen’s head)
Merion: My crown.
(Licen stares at Merion)
Licen: No.
Merion: Yes.
(Merion turns to the crowd and smiles)
(He speaks low so that the people don’t hear him)
Merion: And all these peasant's as witnesses of my right to the throne.
Licen: Are you betraying me?
Merion: Call it what you will. I call it taking back what is mine.
(Merion leans over and whispers in Licen’s ear)
Merion: It was pretty easy to steal the insignia. The hardest part was convincing the servants and guards to go along with it. But, the promise of more riches once I am established as king destroyed any obstructions I had as to taking the throne. It helped that you were so gullible. Who would ever believe in such a thing as Crookback Merrinnack?
(Merion stands upright and faces the people)
Merion: Now, it’s time for my coronation speech. Can’t keep the people waiting.
Licen: NO! Do you have any respect for our dead father?
Merion: He is dead now. He is rotting away, while I shall improve on Marikian. I feel no need to have any respect for the dead. Only what the dead leave behind. He left an empty throne. I plan to occupy it. You thought you would be king? You believe in fairy tales if you thought that I would ever let a stupid boy like you rule my kingdom!!!
(Merion turns back to the crowd)
Merion: People of Marikian. I come to you today as a…
Licen: No! You will not disrespect our father.
(Merion turns to Licen)
Merion: You will not disrespect me!!! Guards, take him off near the forests by our city. Execute him there.
(The guards come forward and grab Licen)
Licen: No, no, no, no!!!
(The guards drag Licen away from the balcony)
(Merion turns back to the crowd)
Merion: Fair people of Marikian...
(The guards drag Licen down the castle steps)
Merion: I come to you today as a common person like yourselves.
(Licen breaks free from the guards)
Merion: I come to you not as a king, but as a person who will appeal…
(Licen runs back up the steps)
Merion: …to every individual need that any of you have…
(Licen runs towards the balcony)
Merion: …and I will do everything in my power…
(Licen opens the doors to the balcony)
(Merion turns around)
(Their eyes meet)
(Merion smiles evilly)
Merion: Sorry.
(The guards grab Licen again)
(Merion turns back to the crowd)
Merion: I will do everything in my power…
(The guards drag Licen down the hallway)
Merion: …to make Marikian a haven of truth…
(The guards drag Licen back down the steps)
Merion: …and justice.
(The guards drag Licen out of the back of the castle)
Merion: For as long as I live…
(The guards drag Licen towards the forest)
Merion: …there will be no cry in the alleyways for justice…
(The guards pull Licen up to an execution stump)
Merion: …no plea in the deserted streets for truth…
(Licen tries to struggle but Guard #2 holds a sword to his neck)
Merion: …for as long as I am king.
(Licen is bent over the execution stump)
(Cut to the crowd of people erupting in applause)
(King Merion leaves the balcony)
(Cut to Guard pulling out an axe)
(Cut to King Merion sitting down on his comfortable throne)
(Guard raises his axe over Licen’s neck and swings it down)
(Cut to a dull servant BUMBLE)
Bumble: My lord?
(King Merion looks up)
King Merion: Yes?
Bumble: Is there anything you wish for?
King Merion: Yes, bring me Maurice.
Bumble: Yes, lord.
(Cut to Bumble and Maurice entering the throne room)
(Maurice is holding his beloved trumpet and smiling)
King Merion: Maurice?
Maurice: Yes, sire.
King Merion: Get rid of that trumpet.
Maurice: B…b…but that t…t…trumpet’s been in my f…f…family for y…y…years.
King Merion: The trumpet or your head.
(Maurice holds back tears)
Maurice: Y…y…yes s…s…sire.
(Maurice departs from the throne room in tears)
(King Merion laughs)
Bumble: Anything else?
(King Merion slouches down)
King Merion: Not that I can think of.
(Bumble turns to leave)
King Merion: Wait a minute.
Bumble: Yes?
(King Merion stands up and walks over to the window)
King Merion: We are very high up, aren’t we?
Bumble: Yes, we are.
(King Merion stares out the window for a moment)
King Merion: Bring me the doctor.
(Cut to the axe hurtling towards Licen’s neck)
(Licen grabs the blade of the sword pointed at him)
(Licen steps backward and the axe hits the sword)
(
Guard: falls onto his back)
(Licen jumps over the stump and kicks Guard #2 in the stomach)
(Licen runs past the incapacitated guards and heads into the forest)
(Cut to Licen running through the forest)
(We hear the footsteps and voices of the guards chasing after him)
Guard #2:: Where is he?
Guard:: He went that way.
Guard #2:: Yeah, that’s the way.
(Licen starts running faster)
(Cut to the guards running after him)
Guard #2:: It’s getting darker.
Guard:: Shh.
(Cut to Licen nearly out of breath)
(He trips right over a vine sticking out of the ground)
(The vine comes to life and wraps around Licen’s foot)
(Other surrounding vines shoot out of the trees and entrap Licen)
(The vines hoist Licen several feet above the two guards)
Guard #2:: I’m getting tired.
Guard:: Shh.
Guard #2:: But I’m really tired.
Guard:: Ugh! Now we lost his trail, thanks to you.
(
Guard: turns around)
(
Guard #2: is nowhere to be seen)
(
Guard: runs back in the direction of the castle)
(Cut to Licen trapped in the vines)
(Licen starts wiggling to loosen himself)
(The vines get tighter)
(Licen wiggles harder)
(The vines grow even tighter and start to bruise him)
(Licen wiggles slightly)
(The vines around his neck start strangling him)
(Licen gasps for breath)
(The scene blurs as we see things through Licen’s eyes)
(We see a blurry face)
(Cut to the vine around Licen’s neck snapping)
(Cut to a man carrying Licen down the side of the tree)
(Licen closes his eyes and falls asleep)
(The man lays Licen in the grass and sheaths his sword)
(The man leans against a tree and falls asleep)
(Cut to the sun shining bright the next morning)
(Licen wakes up to find the man cooking something over a fire)
Man:: You’re up already? You had a pretty nasty run-in with those vines.
(The man is in his forties with slightly graying hair)
Licen: What is your name?
Man:: My name is Cristo.
Licen: Cristo?
Cristo: Yep. What’s yours?
Licen: Licen.
(CRISTO turns his head in thought)
Cristo: Licen…Licen…nope, never heard of a name like that before. Where are you from?
Licen: I was a prince at the Royal House of Marikian.
Cristo: Marikian, Marikian. Oh! I was there a long time ago. Nice city, very nice. If you were a prince there, what are you doing here?
(Licen sighs and begins to tell him the whole story)
(Cut to some time later and Cristo looking sympathetic)
Cristo: I’m sorry for you, kid. You know what? How would you like to go walking with me? I live in some tents. It will take us a few months to get to them, but we’ll have plenty of food and time to rest.
(Licen thinks about it for a minute)
Licen: Yeah, that’s fine.
Cristo: Good. Now the food is done.
(Cristo pulls out some reddish meat and lays it on strips of bark)
(He gives some to Licen)
Licen: Does this have blood in it?
Cristo: Why do you ask?
Licen: I don’t eat blood.
(Cristo laughs)
Cristo: No, no. That red stuff is not blood.
Licen: What is it?
(Cristo pulls out a packet of powder from his shirt)
Cristo: If you mix this in while food’s cooking, it gives it a delicious flavor but also a bright red color.
(Licen takes a bite out of the meat)
Cristo: Tastes good, doesn’t it?
(Cut to Cristo and Licen finishing up their meal)
Cristo: Well, we might as well start our trek. I think you’re probably a fugitive if those guards tell the king so we shouldn’t linger. It’s a ten mile walk through these woods until we reach the desert.
(Cut to Cristo and Licen walking through the forest)
(Licen plops down on a log)
Licen: I’m tired.
Cristo: Oh, come on now. We haven’t even walked two miles.
Licen: Well, I want to take a break.
Cristo: You’re going to have to stop being used to prim and proper treatment. This is treacherous territory. We best get a move on.
Licen: I can’t.
Cristo: Okay, fine.
(Cristo walks off)
(Licen stays sitting for a few seconds)
(Licen finally gets up and goes in the direction Cristo was heading)
(Cut to Licen walking through the forest aimlessly)
(The tree in front of him disappears)
(A pathway appears where the tree used to be)
(Licen rubs his eyes but the path is still there)
(Licen goes down the path)
(He turns a corner and the tree reappears blocking the path)
(We hear shallow breathing in the distance)
(The sound is very faint yet unnerving)
(Licen turns around to see a wall of trees blocking his path)
(Licen starts walking towards the breathing)
(The breathing grows louder)
(We hear a cackling laugh)
(Licen freezes and looks around)
(The laugh and the breathing grow louder)
(Licen slowly walks forward)
(He turns a corner)
(Cut to two people with their backs to Licen)
(A man turns around and stares at Licen)
(The man is breathing hard)
(He walks toward Licen as if in a daze)
(The man grabs Licen’s shirt and slowly pulls him toward the other person)
Licen: Let go of me!!
(The other person is a woman who turns around and cackles loudly)
(She is a beautiful woman with a rusty dagger in her hand)
(She holds the dagger over Licen)
(The woman’s face slowly contorts into a monstrous haggard appearance)
(Licen tries to scream but no sound comes out)
(The cackling woman plunges the dagger down)
(Licen closes his eyes)
(We hear a clash of steel)
(Cut to the woman backing away with the dagger in her hand)
(Licen opens his eyes and turns around)
(Cristo is standing there with his sword pointed at the woman)
Cristo: Come no further.
(The hag snarls at Cristo)
(The dazed man reaches to grab Cristo from behind)
Licen: Behind you!
(Cristo swings his sword around)
(The sword is inches away from the
Man:’s neck when the branches of a nearby tree swoop the man up into the hollow)
(Cut to the woman charging at Cristo with the dagger)
(She swings at Cristo)
(Cristo ducks and thrusts his sword upwards)
(The woman is just about to be hit when the wind increases and the leaves surround her)
(We see the leaves carry the hag away into the air)
(Licen stares in amazement)
(Cristo sheaths his sword)
Cristo: Come on. This is the way out.
(Licen follows Cristo through the forest)
Licen: What was that? Who were they?
Cristo: The first victims of this forest.
Licen: They weren’t victims back there.
(Cristo sits down on a nearby rock)
Cristo: Hundreds of years ago, a couple on their honeymoon wandered into this accursed forest, not knowing of the danger. The very aura of this forest is vile, and those who are not on guard will be attacked not by men or by man made things, but by nature itself. Those poor souls had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The forest, mighty though it is now, was even more powerful back then. Needless to say, they were traumatized. The man never spoke again and the woman went insane. But the forest treasured them for they were its first prize. Therefore it has been sustaining them ever since, using deception to lure things into its trap. Things like deer, rabbits…humans. But the forest shall always protect them from death. Now that you know the wickedness of this forest, you see why time is of the essence.
(Cristo gets up and walks off)
(Licen follows him)
Licen: Thank you.
Cristo: For what?
Licen: For saving my life.
Cristo: You’re welcome. Why didn’t you thank me when I saved your life the first time?
(Cristo chuckles)
Licen: How long before we leave this forest?
Cristo: I don’t know. After following you to make sure you didn’t kill yourself, I lost the trail. Though I do believe that if we head north, we should be able to pick it up again.
(Cut to a shot of the beautiful green forest as Cristo and Licen walk through it)
(The sky grows darker)
(Cristo starts to walk faster)
Licen: Wait up!
(Cristo slows down a little bit)
Cristo: Hurry up!
(They approach the edge of a large hill)
Cristo: Whatever you do, don’t fall down the hill.
(Cut to Licen rolling down the hill)
(Cristo jumps off the hill and grabs a crevice)
(Cristo leaps down and barely grabs another cleft in the hill)
(Licen hits the bottom)
(Cristo looks at Licen from halfway up the hill)
Cristo: Come on! Climb up!
(Licen looks up and his mouth opens wide)
(Licen finally puts his hand in one of the crevices)
(He climbs up and puts his foot in another)
Cristo: No!
(We see a bird’s-eye view of an arrow flying towards Licen from the trees at the bottom of the hill)
(Licen turns around)
(The arrow hits him in the face)
(Licen falls off the hill)
(Licen feels his cheek)
(It has a deep bloody gash running through it)
(We see another arrow fly towards Licen and clip his hair)
Cristo: Hurry! Climb up!
(Licen starts climbing up the hill)
(We see arrows speeding at Cristo)
(One of the arrows barely misses Cristo’s head)
(The arrows suddenly stop as Licen continues up the hill)
(Cut to some crouching camouflaged figures moving quietly to the base of the hill)
(The mysterious figures look up to see Licen almost at the top)
(One of the figures rustles a bit in the grass)
(All of the figures begin to quickly climb up the hill)
(Cut to Cristo holding out his hand)
(We see another arrow suddenly fly out of the trees)
(Cristo unsheathes his sword and swings it up)
(The blade chops the arrow in half)
(Cut to a gloved hand grabbing Licen’s ankle)
(We see Licen surrounded by the climbing camouflaged creatures)
(They pull out slender swords)
Cristo: Licen, leap to the free ledge!
(Licen sees an empty ledge but is afraid to jump)
(The creatures raise their swords)
(Cristo jumps down next to Licen and blocks the swords)
Cristo: Jump!
(Licen jumps to the free ledge)
(Cristo stabs one of the creatures)
(It falls to the bottom without a sound)
(Cristo slices at the rest of the creatures)
(One of them slices back and cuts part of Cristo’s ear off)
Cristo: Ahh!
(Cristo brings his sword up into the hill)
(A creature is revealed hiding and falls to the bottom)
(One of the creatures jumps to the ledge Licen is standing on)
(The creature raises its sword)
(Licen ducks and jumps to another ledge)
(The creature leaps after him as Licen continues to jump)
(Licen jumps up and makes it to the top of the cliff)
(Licen runs into a dead end)
(The creature corners him)
(It raises its long sword)
(The creature suddenly falls to its knees)
(Cristo stands behind it with his sword)
(He grabs the body and yanks it up)
Cristo: Let’s see who these fiends are.
(The wind becomes stronger and pushes the body out of Cristo’s hand)
(It falls to the bottom of the cliff)
(Cut to the next morning)
(Cristo and Licen finish bandaging their wounds)
(They get up and resume walking)
Cristo: Keep following me, don’t fall off any hills, weird sounds shouldn’t be followed, avoid yellow spots on the ground, don’t eat any mushrooms and please do not lag behind.[/center]
