EXT. WESTERDEN REALM - DAY
A wide shot of Westerden Realm. Medieval style buildings are lined up in rough grids. Some of them are worn down while others look like they are better maintained.
Close on a fancy decoration shop.
INT. DECORATION SHOP - DAY
MARY is an 18 years old woman, fair skinned with black hair. Her eyes have an out-worldly glow to them. Mary examines a delicate and detailed town miniature setup in the corner of the decoration shop. Her eyes are wide with intrigue. The brightness of their glow increases, reflecting her emotions.
As we zoom out more we see that she's dressed in poor clothing.
The store is packed with people. They are mostly Eitorians, dressed in fancy medieval style clothing, signifying the time period they occupy. There are two Stronglandian store employees mopping the floor and cleaning. Their eyes' glow is dimmer than Mary's. They walk around hunched over.
Mary circles around the display. As she does she bumps into a 5 year old Eitorian BOY, playing with a toy sword. The boy looks up at Mary and points the sword at her.
MARY
(smiles)
Oh, no. Don't hurt me.
BOY
(Aggressively)
Get away from me, slave!
Mary's smile disappears. The boy's mother looks over and pulls her son closer to her.
MOTHER
(hushed tone)
What did I tell you about these
people! Stay away from them.
Mary turns away towards a fancy dress hanging by the store window. A tear rolls down her cheek, which she promptly wipes away.
Mary sees a man exit a store a few blocks away, carrying a box. He turns a corner out of her sight.
SHOT TRANSITIONS THROUGH THE WINDOW, PAST THE MAN, AND LANDS ON JOSEPH.
EXT. WESTERDEN REALM - DAY
We close in on JOSEPH, 20 something year old man, blond hair, glowing green eyes, running through the stone streets. He looks behind him every once in a while as if worried he's being followed.
An older Stronglandian man, PRESTON, steps into Joseph's path. Joseph doesn't notice him in time and he plows into him. A box PRESTON carries goes flying and its contents spill every where.
Preston collects the items back in the box.
PRESTON
(distressed)
What did you do? What did you do?
JOSEPH
I'm sorry. Here, let me...
Joseph notices a mark on Peterson left cheek. It's a circular arrow with a hammer in the middle
As they are busy collecting the items, a carriage approaches preceded with a soldier, DUDLEY, on a horse. The carriage has a symbol of a circular arrow with hammer in the middle engraved on its side.
DUDLEY
Fool. You had one job. One job you old
fool
Dudley lashes his whip at Preston, but Joseph gets in the way, and the whip lands squarely on his back.
JOSEPH
Aah. Didn't your mother teach you to
respect your elders?
Dudley tries to hit Joseph again. He raises his arm for protection. The whip wraps around Joseph's forearm. And he pulls it out of Dudlye's hand. Dudley, angry, takes out his sword.
MARCUS (O.C.)
What's going on out there?
DUDLEY
(points his sword at
Joseph)
You'll regret this, slave. I promise
you.
Dudley gestures to the rider of the caravan behind him and they continue on their way. Joseph turns his attention to Preston and helps him collect the items into his box.
EXT. DECORATION SHOP - CONTINUOUS
The caravan approaches the decoration shop
INT. DECORATION SHOP - CONTINUOUS
The Eitorian STORE OWNER stands beside Mary and adjusts some products on the shelves.
STORE OWNER
That dress would look fantastic on
you!
MARY
Huh?
STORE OWNER
But it's a bit too expensive.
MARY
Doesn't matter anyway. It's not gonna
change who I am.
The store owner looks around and then leans over to Mary.
STORE OWNER
Maybe it's not you who needs to
change.
Mary steals a quick look at the store owner.
The door to the store opens and MARCUS walks in. He's a tall Eitorian, impeccably dressed, almost royalty. He is flanked by two powerful guards. The one on his left is more prominent, DUDLEY.
STORE OWNER (cont'd)
Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear.
The store owner walks over to Marcus.
At Marcus' entrance, everyone looks at him in reverence. They bow slightly. Only Mary pretends she doesn't see him.
The young boy a few feet from Mary is busy playing with the sword, fighting invisible enemies.
The STORE OWNER walks towards Marcus with a nervous smile on his face.
STORE OWNER (cont'd)
Sir Marcus! I wasn't expecting you!
How can I be of service? Anything you
need ...
Marcus holds up his hand to stop the store owner from continuing his banter.
MARCUS
I want a progress report. The
anointment festival for Sir Patrick's
son is today. Is everything ready?
STORE OWNER
Oh dear. Oh dear. Of course sir, we've
already prepared Liberation Square
since yesterday. If you follow me I'll
show you the plan.
The store owner shows Marcus the town mockup. He points at a decorated Liberation Square. The store owner continues talking inaudibly.
A few feet away, the five year old boy tugs on his mother's dress.
BOY
What's an annoying festival?
MOTHER
(smiles)
Anointment festival. It's when the
first born son of the Eitorian ruling
family is ordained the next Count of
Westerden Realm. When he grows up, of
course.
BOY
But you said Sir Patrick's son is a
half breed.
His mother puts her hand over the boy's mouth.
MOTHER
(panicked)
Shuu
But it's too late. Sir Marcus and almost everyone in the store heard him.
Marcus turns around.
MARCUS
How dare you disrespect our Honorable
Patriarch?
Marcus walks towards the woman. He dwarfs her.
Mary bravely steps between Marcus and the mother.
MARY
He's just a kid. I'm sure he didn't
mean it.
The store owner is wide eyed.
STORE OWNER
Oh dear, Oh no.
Marcus looks her over and then turns to the store owner.
MARCUS
What's that doing here?
STORE OWNER
I'm sorry sir. She's harmless. Comes
in here once in a while.
MARCUS
I thought a respectable establishment
such as this, wouldn't let
Stronglandian filth in. Maybe I should
be taking my business elsewhere.
STORE OWNER
NO. No. That won't be necessary.
The store owner hesitates for a moment, but then grabs Mary's arm.
STORE OWNER (cont'd)
Thief.
Mary snaps surprised at his sudden aggression.
MARY
What?
STORE OWNER
What else did you steal? Tell me.
Marcus watches the store owner critically.
EXT. DECORATION SHOP - CONTINUOUS
Joseph helps Preston with the box.
PRESTON
Thanks son.
Joseph smiles, but then his smile melts away as he sees Mary in the decoration shop being dragged away. He runs to her.
INT. DECORATION SHOP - DAY
The store owner drags Mary to the back of the store. Mary struggles, pulling him in the opposite direction.
STORE OWNER
Come along now. Stealing won't go
unpunished on my watch.
MARY
It's me. You know me. I didn't steal
anything.
Joseph comes in full force and shoves the man back, right into Marcus. And in the same swift motion, pulls Mary free from his grasp.
JOSEPH
Leave my sister alone.
The store owner scrambles away from Marcus.
STORE OWNER
Oh dear. I'm so sorry sir. Oh dear.
Here let me adjust your tunic
Marcus shoves the store owner aside.
MARCUS
(to Joseph)
Insolent boy.
Marcus gestures to Dudley to get Joseph.
He takes out an iron stamp and gives it to the second guard.
MARCUS (cont'd)
Heat this.
Dudley smiles as he walks towards Joseph and Mary.
MARY
Joseph.
Mary snatches the wooden sword from the boy's grip.
BOY
Hey!
MARY
Catch.
Mary chucks it to Joseph. With a sharp swing Joseph hits Dudley's hand with the sword as he tries to grab him.
Dudley holds his hand in pain.
Joseph continues to backup towards the door.
JOSEPH
Mary go.
But Mary doesn't leave his side.
Dudley attacks again. Joseph uses his sword to fling a vase at Dudley. Dudley deflects it away with a swing of his arm. It smashes into a shelve with other delicate glass products. It shatters into a million pieces. The crash triggers a chain reaction. Other products on the shelve teeter for a moment, and then crash down to the ground.
STORE OWNER
Oh dear. Oh dear. Please. Please.
Stop.
Joseph swings again. This time Dudley grabs a hold of the sword and yanks it from his hand. But Joseph doesn't let go. He uses his momentum to smash into Dudley. They stammer backwards and topple over the town miniature. It crumbles down under their weight causing more havoc.
The store owner is close to tears.
STORE OWNER (cont'd)
Oh, no. Our town miniature. All my
work... My store is ruined.
Joseph scrambles to his feet and backs away, but Dudley trips him. Joseph falls backwards. Mary tries to help him up.
MARY
Let's go. Let's go.
But it is too late. Dudley is already on his feet. He shoves Mary away roughly and grabs Joseph by the collar lifting him up, immobilizing his movement.
The mother helps Mary up, looking at her sympathetically.
Mary tries to resume her interference, but the mother holds her back gently.
MOTHER
Don't. It'll only make things worse.
Mary looks at her brother, distressed.
The second guard grabs the iron stamp from the flame, now glowing red from the heat. He hands it to Marcus.
MARCUS
Insolent slave. Do you know who I am?
JOSEPH
All you invaders look alike.
Marcus brandishes the glowing red stamp. It's head is the size of a small coin, with intricate markings on it. Joseph looks at it scared. He tries to get free, but Dudley holds him tight. The other guard assists Dudley in immobilizing Joseph completely. They entangle his legs with theirs to prevent him from moving.
MARCUS
Invaders? We've brought order and
civility to this savage land and its
barbarous inhabitants.
The Stronglandian employees look on despondently. They themselves have different marks on their cheeks.
MARCUS (cont'd)
For a country called Strongland, it
didn't put up much of a fight against
the great Eitorian people.
JOSEPH
Great?! You're a bunch of
opportunistic ...
Marcus slaps Joseph hard interrupting him. He holds his face to the right and holds up the stamp close to Joseph's face. Joseph can feel its heat. He looks at it from the corner of his eyes, which are glowing brighter than ever.
MARCUS
I can see fear in your devil eyes.
Good. Let this mark always remind you
how all Stronglandians are made to
serve us.
Mary can't stop herself any longer. She charges Marcus, but the store owner holds her back.
MARY
Let me go.
The store owner covers her mouth with his hand. Mary bites it.
STORE OWNER
(in pain)
Oh dear.
He hides the pain behind a phony smile.
Marcus stamps Joseph with the red hot stamp on his left cheek.
Joseph screams in agony. The guards let Joseph go. He falls to his knees. The store owner releases Mary and she runs to her brother.
MARY
Why? Why? He didn't do anything to
you.
Marcus ignores her and turns to the store owner.
MARCUS
I expect you will ensure this never
happens again.
Marcus walks out accompanied by his guards. On the way out, Dudley kicks Joseph.
All the people in the store stare at Joseph, whose hand hovers over the burn mark on his face, not daring to touch it. Mary helps him leave the store.
The young boy and his mother watch on.
BOY
He got what he deserved.
The mother kneels beside her kid and holds both his shoulders firmly.
MOTHER
I don't want to ever hear you talk
about them like that again, you hear?
The son is surprised, but nods obediently.
FADE TO BLACK:
EXT. EDGE OF FOREST - EVENING
Mary hangs for dear life to the side of the carriage as it speeds away.
INT. MARCUS' CASTLE - NIGHT
Joseph is in the midst of a sword fight with Dudley.
EXT. FOREST - NIGHT
Joseph faces off with Eimar, as Eimar roars at him.