INT. CHURCH ATTIC - DAY
Deep in the attic it's completely dark. Veronica has turned a corner and she can no longer see the entrance. The flashlight is the only source of illumination.
VERONICA(V.O)
My name is Veronica, and this is my
story. I'm not sure you'll believe it.
I'm not sure I believe it myself.
(beat)
Have you ever felt like a stranger?
That you didn't belong in this world?
Well that's how it was with me. And
when my friends dared me to go into
the attic with the voices, I hoped
that I would find answers there. Of
course I didn't think there was any
voices. It was just a normal damp
attic. Wasn't it?
Suddenly she hears a whispering voice echo all around her.
VOICE
Veronica.
She shudders, terrified and trips on a broken chair as she backs up. The flashlight rolls away from her, falls down some stairs and disappears.
VOICE (cont'd)
Veronica.
Veronica scrambles to her feet, breathing rapidly. She takes out her phone. The screen creates a faint glow that's barely enough for her to see two feet ahead. That's when she notices a stream of light. It creates a distinct shadow on the opposite wall. Was this there before? She didn't think so. The light is coming from behind a big crate.
The whispering has stopped now.
A moment's hesitation.
Veronica walks towards the light curiously. What she heard must've been old building noises! Or was it?
As she gets closer, the light grows brighter. Such pure light. It's strange, but the light relaxes her. No more fear, just a desire to know more.
VOICE (cont'd)
Veronica
This time she's not afraid. With some effort she moves the large crate to the side. There, the light at the end of a long, dark tunnel
INT. TUNNEL - DAY
Veronica walks through the tunnel. The ground and walls gradually become rugged and moist like a cave, sparkling with droplets of water, bright as diamonds. Everything is more real than anything she has experienced in her world She exits the cave into a bright, beautiful vista of green hills and valleys. The sun is brighter than she has ever seen it before, and the grass is greener than what she knows in her world. It's absolutely amazing.
VERONICA(V.O)
As I walked through that magic cave,
things changed. I knew I wasn't in my
world anymore. This was a different
world. More real, than anything I've
ever experienced in mine. When I stood
in this amazing vista, I felt like I
was the dream and this was the
reality. I was but a shadow.
Veronica smells a flower that's more real than even herself. All these new experiences give her a sensory overload.
VERONICA
Beautiful.
VOICE
Veronica
The voice is much clearer now. It's coming from behind her. She turns and is greeted by an incredible sight. A pillar of fire, that looks like a tornado, rise from the ground and merges into a dark cloud in the sky. A distinct stream of wind mingled with fire proceeds from the pillar of fire and goes through Veronica's heart surrounding her and lifts her off her feet. It's like a mini-tornado of fire around Veronica, but it doesn't hurt her.
Veronica is mesmerized, amazed, stunned. The wind hand places her gently on the ground in front of the huge pillar of fire. It then departs from her and goes back to spinning around the pillar of fire at an incredible speed. She should be scared, terrified actually, but she's not. She squints at the base of the pillar of fire and sees something that increases her amazement. It's a white lion.
LION
Veronica. Take the book.
It's the lion speaking to her. At first, Veronica doesn't see any book, but then the fire wind hand, spinning around the main pillar of fire, shoots outwards and makes a dazzling light show in front of Veronica. When it goes back back, a golden, ancient book artifact, floats in front of her. A lock keeps it closed. A soft lullaby melody plays from the book.
LION (cont'd)
Take the book.
The voice repeats. Veronica extends her hand and takes the book. Then BAAM.
FLASH TO:
INT. VERONICA'S ROOM - DAY
Veronica wakes up in a sudden sort of way, disoriented. She's in her room. It takes a moment to get her bearings.
Veronica jumps off the bed and opens her laptop on her desk. She searches for "lion" and sees pictures of lions, but they are nothing compared to what she's seen in her dream, if it was a dream. Everything in that world was more real than anything in this world.
VERONICA(V.O)
I had to find out if anyone has ever
scene a lion like the one I saw in my
dream, if it was a dream. But the lion
pictures I found looked like a child's
drawing compared to the Lion I saw.
Suddenly, at that moment, I so wished
I would see that Lion again. And
that's when I heard it.
The music lullaby plays from her dresser drawer. She turns to it, and sees a golden glow seeping out round the edges of the drawer. Veronica freezes, not knowing what to do. The music grows louder and louder, calling her. She opens the drawer.
The artifact has a statue of the lion in the middle and strange markings all around the statue. A golden lock keeps the artifact closed. Veronica tries to unlock it, but it's sealed.
VERONICA(V.O) (cont'd)
I had to find out what's inside it.
INT. VERONICA'S KITCHEN - DAY
Veronica uses a knife to try and pry the lock open but it's in vain.
INT. VERONICA'S GARAGE - DAY
Veronica uses a screw driver, then a hammer, finally an electrical saw, but nothing works.
VERONICA(V.O)
But nothing I did worked. The lock
wouldn't budge.
INT. VERONICA'S ROOM - DAY
Back in her room Veronica sits on the edge of the bed looking at the book.
VERONICA
What's your secret? How can I open
you?
Suddenly, the markings around the lion's statue change in a magical way until they form a poem. Veronica reads it.
VERONICA (cont'd)
Beware of what you hold. Its worth is
measured in gold. It is given to all
for free, but only the great lion has
the key.
VERONICA(V.O)
Was it talking about the Lion. The one
I saw in that other world?
Suddenly, Veronica senses motion behind her. She snaps around and sees the white Lion. Terror grabs hold of her, and she scrambles back until she's cornered by the wall. The Lion blocks her way. She closes her eyes tight and holds her hand up at the Lion.
VERONICA
Please, don't hurt me.
LION
Fear not, little one. Veronica opens
her eyes slowly.
LION (cont'd)
I've come to show you the Truth.
VERONICA
What truth?
LION
For a long time you wondered if there
was something more real than this
world. I'm here to tell you that there
is.
(beat)
I am the answer you're looking for.
VERONICA
I don't understand.
The Lion walks to the book and touches it with his nose it springs open.
LION
To know me, you need to take a Journey
through this book.
Veronica walks to the book and reaches for it. But the Lion continues before she touches it.
LION (cont'd)
It's not going to be an easy Journey,
Veronica, but it is the only only one
worth taking. Veronica opens the book
and reads the first poem she sees.
VERONICA
Every page holds a story, from the
beginning meant for you, accounts of
legends who fought for glory, and
others who sold their right for stew.
But the most terrible tale of all
ages, is the great lion's epic war.
Its a story-line that runs through all
the pages. And it's meant so you would
never fear his mighty roar.
Veronica turns to the Lion.
LION
You better cover your ear, little one.
The Lion lets out a might roar and
jumps at Veronica. She holds the book
up and the Lion disappears into it.
VERONICA
Whoa.