Short screenplay for the fun Done Deal "raindrop" challenge, August '06.
"The Forbidden Isle"
FADE IN:
EXT. TEMPLE - NIGHT
SUPER: Ancient Greece, 555 B.C.
Armored FEMALE GUARDS at the column entrance look up as
leathery wings FLAP overhead.
FEMALE GUARD
Harpies!
INT. TEMPLE CHAMBER - NIGHT
An OLD PRIESTESS kneels before a beautiful goddess statue.
She looks up, frightened by the sound of those WINGS.
INT. SLEEPING CHAMBER - NIGHT
BRIALA, a virginal beauty, sits up in bed, panicked. Her
friend TIOLA on the next cot pushes herself up onto one
elbow.
TIOLA
Another nightmare?
BRIALA
This time it seemed almost real.
The curtain covering the doorway stirs.
BRIALA
Who's there? Nerela, is that you?
A claw tears the curtain down and a HARPY enters, she has
the face and breasts of a woman, the leather flesh and
wings of a demon. Beautiful but terrifying. Briala shrinks
back, afraid. Tiola draws a dagger from under her pillow
and leaps up.
TIOLA
You will not have her!
Tiola thrusts her dagger into the Harpy's shoulder. The
Harpy grabs Tiola by the neck and lifts her up -- SNAP!
The Harpy throws Tiola's lifeless body aside.
Briala pulls her blanket up to her nose and cowers as the
Harpy advances on her.
INT. TEMPLE HALLWAY - NIGHT
DORIUS, a warrior, leaps into the hallway. Dead FEMALE
GUARDS sprawl on the floor, throats torn open. Dorius
prowls along the hallway, sword ready.
The Old Priestess staggers out of a room, clutching her
bloody side. Dorius catches her and sits her down. She
looks up at him in wonder.
OLD PRIESTESS
Prince Dorius. I knew your fates
were intertwined. I knew it. You
must save her.
DORIUS
Of what do you speak? Save who?
The Old Priestess points along the hallway.
OLD PRIESTESS
Beware, Dorius son of Damaros.
The night has claws!
INT. SLEEPING CHAMBER - NIGHT
Dorius skids to a stop at the door. He sees Tiola, and
two empty cots. He runs on.
EXT. TEMPLE ROOFTOP - NIGHT
Two HARPIES with bloody claws stand over more dead GUARDS.
The wounded Harpy climbs upstairs carrying unconscious
Briala. She tries to flap her wings but one wing isn't
working, Tiola's dagger caused damage.
The Harpies exchange looks. The wounded Harpy passes Briala
to the second Harpy, then lifts her chin, exposing her
throat. The third Harpy rips the wounded Harpy's throat
open, killing her.
The two Harpies flap off into the night, taking Briala
with them. Briala wakes up, realizes what's happening,
and SCREAMS in terror.
Dorius leaps upstairs, too late. The wounded Harpy turns
into a smoking oily puddle before Dorius's astonished eyes.
INT. TEMPLE HALLWAY - NIGHT
Dorius marches past a doorway.
WOMAN'S WHISPER (O.S.)
Dorius...
Dorius stops, returns to the doorway. Curious, he steps
inside.
INT. TEMPLE CHAMBER - NIGHT
Dorius stares up at the goddess statue in awe. He looks
down, sees a gold disc attached to a chain. He picks it
up. Engraved on one side, the goddess's face, on the
reverse, a snake. He bows to the statue and exits.
INT. PALACE CHAMBER - NIGHT
KING DAMAROS rises from his throne as Dorius marches in.
OFFICERS and bearded PRIESTS gather to listen.
KING DAMAROS
It's true? The water goddess's
temple is attacked?
DORIUS
The guards didn't stand a chance.
They took a girl--
HIGH PRIEST
(quickly)
Merely an acolyte, lord king! Her
fate is sealed. We shall pray for
her and those who perished.
DORIUS
Father, you know who sent the
Harpies. Only one sorcerer commands
such power.
KING DAMAROS
Aye. But no fleet can approach
the island of Goronius without
being destroyed by the Kraken.
HIGH PRIEST
We shall send a sacrifice to the
gods. They will protect us from
further attacks.
DORIUS
Another acolyte? Hasn't enough
blood been shed?
KING DAMAROS
Do not question the will of the
gods, my son.
Dorius bows his head. The High Priest strokes his beard
and smiles smugly.
INT. PALACE HALLWAY - NIGHT
Dorius marches along, angry. He stops, pulls out the gold
disc, stares at it thoughtfully.
EXT. CITY HARBOR - GALLEY - NIGHT
A tough-looking bunch of WARRIORS wait for Dorius beside a
high-bowed Greek war galley.
DORIUS
I sail for the island of Goronius
the sorceror. Let any man who
does not wish to accompany me leave
now, with no disgrace.
EXT. GALLEY AT SEA - DAY
All the Warriors are with Dorius. They look ahead, to an
island of black rock that juts out of the sea.
MASTHEAD LOOKOUT
The Kraken! The Kraken is coming!
Something slithers through the sea, heading for the galley.
Gleaming rainbow scales and arrays of swordlike fangs. A
monstrous sea serpent.
DORIUS
Goddess, aide us.
Dorius hurls the gold disc into the sea. The Kraken dives
after the disc -- and doesn't come up again. The relieved
Warriors cheer.
EXT. BEACH - DAY
The galley is beached, Dorius jumps down onto black sand.
WARRIOR #1
The air... so dry.
WARRIOR #2
They say that's what preserves the
sorceror. He's a thousand years
old.
DORIUS
Save your breath. We must find
the girl.
EXT. RUINED FORTRESS - DAY
The Warriors stealthily approach the broken structure.
INT. FORTRESS COURTYARD - DAY
The Warriors are attacked by MUMMIFIED CORPSES. Dorius
cuts several down, dry sand leaks from their wounds. Dorius
looks up. GORONIUS, a wrinkled ancient, watches from a
balcony. Dorius runs up a connecting stairway. Goronius
disappears inside.
INT. SHADOWED CHAMBER - DAY
Dorius cautiously enters. A Harpy attacks him, Dorius
parries her claws and cuts her down.
GORONIUS (O.S.)
So difficult to create. Undone in
a heartbeat. What do you seek,
Prince Dorius?
DORIUS
The temple acolyte your creatures
took.
GORONIUS (O.S.)
Very well. Take your treasure and
go.
Briala stumbles out of the shadows. She presses herself
against Dorius, sobbing. Dorius leads Briala to the
doorway. She smiles cunningly. As sunlight hits "Briala"
she turns into a Harpy, but Dorius avoids her slashing
claws and kills her.
Dorius runs into the chamber and grabs the astonished
sorcerer as he tries to flee through a secret door.
GORONIUS
Wait! Wait! This is all Kelios's
doing.
DORIUS
What does the high priest have to
do with this?
INSERT: The High Priest strokes his beard and smiles
smugly.
GORONIUS
Kelios is jealous of the acolyte's
ability to make water from the
air. He ordered her taken so he
might control her power.
DORIUS
A weather priestess! We have been
without one for so long.
GORONIUS
Let me live and I will take you to
her.
INT. PRISON CELL - DAY
Dorius pushes Goronius inside. Briala runs into Dorius's
arms.
BRIALA
I dreamt of this moment. But I
did not believe it, until now.
DORIUS
Moments ago I held a Harpy who
looked just like you. Prove you
are the water goddess's chosen
acolyte.
Briala bites her lip, uncertain. Behind Dorius, Goronius
draws a hidden dagger. Briala concentrates and a water
droplet plops onto Goronius's brow. Goronius SCREAMS and
shrivels and vanishes, only his robes remain.
DORIUS
He could not abide moisture. And
you are who you claim to be.
Dorius takes Briala in his manly arms, she shudders with
pleasure.
EXT. CITY HARBOR - GALLEY - DAY
King Damaros greets Dorius as he disembarks. The Old
Priestess hugs Briala. Dorius glares at the High Priest
who slinks away. Dorius sees Briala receive upsetting
news from the Old Priestess. He excuses himself and joins
them. Briala wipes away tears and puts on a brave smile.
OLD PRIESTESS
I always suspected Briala had the
gift, and protected her as best I
could. She will become our high
priestess. It is her destiny. I
am sorry.
DORIUS
I don't understand...
OLD PRIESTESS
If she shares your cot, prince,
her gift will leave her. She
belongs to the water goddess now,
and to the city. Farewell, Prince
Dorius. And thank you.
He watches them go. Briala looks back once. The crowd
swallows them.
FADE OUT
§