Prologue- The Storm(for now)

Page 1: no dialog
    1. far away picture of a small village
big house on cliff
hidden
    2.  zooms in on house
big but not fancy
run-down
doesn’t want to draw attention
    3. camera goes inside to the third floor- a grand room
fancy inside but bare
like they were never there enough
like someone just moved in
    4. zooms in on a tall women(mother) lying on a futon
with girl kneeling beside her
women looks very sick-withering away

Page 2: start dialog
Girl: Mama it’s ok don’t listen to them.
Mama: Shhh, don’t worry. Listen—there’s something you need to know.
Girl: Save your breath, you’re gonna need all your strength—
Mama: —Niah stop it. It’s too late for me
[Niah opens her mouth to object] No don’t. I might not be able to start up again.
Niah: [whispers] Mama
Mama: I’m sorry I have to put this to you so plainly. I don’t have much
time. Remember that story I used to tell you? The one about the girl and the key?
[She takes out an old looking box and gives to Niah] Well that child has been born. That child is you.
Niah: ... … …
Mama: I know this doesn’t seem real but you are just going to have to face it.
Now open the box.
Niah: [opens the box, and takes out a key on a long chain.] [She glows for a few
seconds with the key in her hand] [Puts key around neck]
Mama: you are the child who holds the key and you shall save us all. But you
must promise me one thing…Never take it off.
Niah: …I…I promise
Mama: Good, good…I’ll tell him you love him. And one more thing…in about
three years set off towards the King, and tell him…tell that you will help him.
Niah: …yes mama…
Mama: Good…I love you, be good. Always be good. And never take it
off…[hand grows limp and dies]
Niah: [Crying she whispers] Mama
Zooms out to show a storm building over the village below.

Niah: MAMA!!

/End Prologue

Chapter 0ne– Extra Protection (?)
• setting: in marketplace

Screen start fuzzy then gets clearer as if ones eyesight is re-focusing
Shows a bustling marketplace
Niah stands in front of a stall with an old man (the owner) behind it trying to get her attention
Old Man: Miss, Miss!
Niah blinks, looks startled at the old man
Miss?
Niah: Oh, sorry I dazed off…what were you saying?
Old Man: Here’s you fruit.
He hands her a bag with fruit in it
Niah: Thank you…
Looks through coin purse
Here I think this should do, keep the change.
Hands the man some coins
Old Man: Thank you very much, have a nice day miss
Niah starts walking away, thinking to herself
Niah: why can’t I get that out of my head? I was having such a good time here too. I can’t change what happened. It’s not like it’s my fault I got emotional after my mother had just died. It is to be expected right? But I just shouldn’t have ki…no, no don’t think about that. They’re dead, they are all dead, and no matter what I do or say I can’t got back in time and change that. It’s the past and it is totally useless to ponder about it…
Man: Niah! Niah! Wait up!
Someone lost in the crowd of people calls to Niah
Niah: Huh? Who said that?
Man: who said that? Who said that?!? Who else would know your name in the middle of a market place!
Niah: *giggles*
They start walking
*exaggeratedly* Maybe some handsome young stranger from my mysterious past
Man: [eyeing her suspiciously] you haven’t been talking to anyone have you?
Niah: *pretending to be all nervous and girly* Oh, well I, I did meet this one guy and, oh Raynor, I think I’m in love! Aaah *pretends to faint into Raynor who catches her*
Raynor: [looking down on her] Oh Ha, Ha. Very funny.
Niah: [smiles] Well I’m glad you thought so too.
Raynor: Yeah, yeah. So what did you get? [reaches for bag]
Niah: Hey, hey! [whips it away] no grabbing. First we are going to find a place to sit down and have a drink. I’m thirsty, tired, and my legs are killing me. Now, where is that place you were talking about?
Raynor: You’re the one with the map. *mutters to himself* and you forgot grumpy, bossy –
Niah: *AHEM*
*he stops muttering*
Now where did I put that map? [starts searching through her bag]
Raynor: [notices the grocery bag sitting on the ground at Niah’s feet, and makes a grab for it]
Niah: [pushes the bag away with her foot] Oh no you don’t. you’d eat everything in it! *mutters to herself* sometimes you act like such a child.
Raynor *hearing her* At least I’m not the annoying bossy 14 year old who has to look after me!
Niah: [still searching for the map] Well I’m glad I don’t have to. [find map] Ahah! I found it. [opens map] Now where is that tavern…[starts walking away] and I’m 15 now…don’t you remember? My birthday was only 3 weeks ago.
Raynor: oh…oops?
Niah: *sigh* it’s ok. I found the tavern by the way. You’re gonna feel real stupid, (mutters) *which is no surprise*…when I show you where it is.
Raynor: Where? (looks at the map)
Niah: There (Points straight ahead where you see a medium size tavern named “Mecklan’s Tavern”. She starts walking) You’re blind you know that.
Raynor: …Yeah, I know.
They walk inside (before this, Niah had her hood up the whole time, Raynor’s had it down)
When the door opens, Niah takes off hood, her hair and entire face shown. *while walking, Niah glances at the menu over the counter.* While her head it turned, Raynor noticed some men talking in a dark corner, freezes momentarily, and then quickly looks away before Niah sees him.
(When they enter, Niah and Raynor become more guarded.)
People turn to look who the newcomers are. Eyes linger on Niah as they walk to an open table. Raynor puts his hand on his sword.
Niah: Calm down, they’re just wondering who the newcomers are.
Someone catcalls in the background.
Raynor I’m not sure that’s the whole reason they’re looking.
Niah: *Sigh* You’re impossible.
They sit down. The innkeeper (female who looks a little older than Niah) walks over to them.
Keeper: G’day folks. You new ‘round here? Never seen you before.
Raynor: You could say that. Are you Mecklan?
Keeper: No, sir. My great grandpa started this shop and named it, too. It’s been passed down through generations, farther to son. But me ma only produced one child, me, so my father decided it was time for the gals to take charge (smiles widely).
Raynor: Oh, really? You mean you run this place all by yourself? That’s really/ inter-
Niah: (interrupting) *cough cough*
Raynor: Ah, eh. Sorry, but we’re on a tight schedule, so could we order now?
Keeper: A’right then. Wha’d you like? We have all assort –
Niah: I saw what you have, thank you. I’ll have buttermilk tea and he’ll have a simple beer (glancing at Raynor, he nods slightly).
Keeper: Okay, then. But surely a fine soldier like you has appetite for more than a ‘simple beer’, eh? (eyeing sword, she bends down puts her hand on Raynor’s knee)
Box 1 shows Raynor’s eyes narrow
Box 2 show hand and Keeper’s words
Box 3 shows Raynors hand over Keeper’s hand, grasping it
Raynor: I will have what the girl said I was having…
Box 4 shows his dangerous eyes
Raynor: …and that’s all.
Keeper: (looking scared, confused, rubbing hand) Ah, yes sir, right away sir. Right away.
Raynor: Thank you.
(Niah hears muffled laughter in the background, turns head to look, sees the two men Raynor had noticed previously sitting in shadow). Camera moves over to men. When they speak, we see Niah and Raynor in background, Niah can’t hear what the men are saying)
Man 1: (Laughing, quietly) Trying to prove something, Raynor, old friend?
Man 2: (Nervously) Make contact with them in any way, the deals off!
(Camera moves in to show Man 1 smile)
Man 1: You couldn’t even touch them.
Meanwhile…
Camera moved back to N+R who are getting their drinks.
Keeper: (Nervously) here’s you tea, miss.
Niah: Thank you.
Keeper: (Turning to Raynor, even more nervously) Ah, eh, s..sir, your b..beer, sir.
Raynor: Thank you.
Keeper walks away quickly
Niah: You shouldn’t have done that. All you had to say was that you weren’t interested.
Raynor: How’s your tea?
Niah: You didn’t answer me.
Raynor: Because I want to know if you like you tea.
Niah: (glares at him) It’s wonderful.
Raynor: Good.
Niah: Now will you answer me?!
Raynor: No.
Niah: Rayn!
Raynor: (innocently) yes?
Niah: (makes frustrated noise, eyes narrow)
Raynor: Something wrong?
Niah: (head snaps forward, glares at him) No, everything’s just peachy! (Exaggeratedly)
Raynor: Glad you’re staying positive. Now, can you take out the map, I want to make sure we get to the next stop before tomorrow.
Niah takes out maps, unrolls it flat onto the table.
Camera zooms in on map showing a detailed map of Danzielle with every town and city
And forest in it. A doted line is drawn from the village labeled “Query” (bottom left corner) to the town “Burcbrenia”. Raynor’s finger is pointing at a dot next to Burcbrenia. It’s name is hidden by his finger)
Raynor: We should reach Tomair a full hour before nightfall, and with enough time to find a place to sleep. It looks like there’s an inn in that area so we should be fine. I don’t want to stay there long. We’ve gotten our provisions here, and that will last us a few weeks. So we’ll –
Niah; - be leaving early in the morning (smiling, she finshes what he says), and before dawn, right? We may be able to go without food but the horses do need to eat, you know.
Raynor: Fine. We leave no later than brunch time. I’m going to the bathroom – DON’T MOVE until I come back.
Niah: Not an inch.
(camera shows her shipping tea)
(feet walking)
(Niah’s back, someone’s hand on her chair back, and his body bending over to speak to her)
Man: Now that your stubborn guardian’s gone, how about I help you let loose a little.
(camera shows Niah lower the tea cup from her face, revealing a serious expression)
Niah: The back of your cloak’s on fire.
Man: (startled) What?
(He looks at cloak, which is indeed on fire, yelps, rips it off and stamps it out, then snaps back to Niah, looking furious. He raises his hand to slap her)
Man: You fucking witch!
(Camera shoes a black screen with *gasp* and a sound of impact (crunch, etc))
(Niah’s tight lips
(Man’s shocked eyes)
(Raynor grasping man’s slapping hand in midair and holding other arm, twisting behind man’s back)
(Niah giving Raynor look, meaning you’re going too far/calm down/I can handle this)
(camera shows Raynor letting go of Man)
(Man runs off)
Raynor: I think we should leave now.
Niah: But I haven’t finished my t-
Raynor: We’re leaving.
Niah: *sigh* Yes sir.
(They walk towards the door. Niah passes the “flirt”)
Niah: Next time, find a girl with all her guards gone. Oh, and make sure they are really going to the bathroom.
END CHAPTER ONE