The Witch and The Squire
Written by Ryan Ostrovsky
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
ANDREW and KALI are in an area that feels so much more away from the city than it is.
ANDREW
I keep waiting. I don’t know what for, for just something to change, or happen. Do you know what I mean?
KALI
Kinda. But that’s no way to live your life. It feels like something’s missing, right?
ANDREW No.
KALI
Oh, well fuck me then.
ANDREW Oh I’m sorry.
KALI
It must be hard…not really knowing your mother.
There is a long pause as they stare at their reflections in the pond. Kali rubs Andrew’s arm.
ANDREW
I don’t know her. All I know is all the incredible things she does in her world. She would like you, though. Because you’re smart.
KALI
I would love to meet her.
WIDE SHOT of the two of them sitting in the park, PAN UP to the night sky. CUT TO BLACK.
ANDREW (V.O.) Yeah, me too.
INT. ANDREW’S BEDROOM
Andrew’s alarm is going off. He shuts off his alarm. Andrew stares at his ceiling.
INT. ANDREW’S LIVING ROOM/KITCHEN - EVENING
Page of 2 32
Andrew clamors down the stairs. His dad ROGER and his step-mom LINDA are in the kitchen, making dinner. His three blonde stepsisters, ANNA (14), LOREN (11), and CECE (9) are all sitting at the table. It is a lively commotion.
LOREN
But why can’t I go to the movies Saturday?
LINDA
Because you’re not a teenager yet, sweetie.
Roger swoops in from behind.
ROGER
And we’re in no rush to let you turn into one.
Roger plants a kiss on Loren’s head. It doesn’t console her.
LOREN
It’s not fair. I want to go out too.
ANNA
You’re still a little baby.
Anna sticks her tongue out.
LINDA
Anna that’s not how we talk to our sister.
Andrew enters the kitchen and takes a seat. He keeps checking his phone.
CECE
I want to go to the movies.
ROGER
You’re just gonna stay right here and watch Paw Patrol little lady.
LINDA
Andrew what do I keep saying? No phones at the table.
ANDREW
Sorry.
ROGER
How’s Kali doing?
ANDREW
I don’t know. She hasn’t responded to me.
LOREN
She probably stopped responding to you because you’re ugly.
LINDA Loren!
Cece laughs.
ANDREW
Do you think, maybe, Mariana could help?
The door flies open and UNCLE JIMMY flies through the house on a broom. All the salt and dishes rearrange themselves.
UNCLE JIMMY
How’s my favorite family?
CECE Uncle Jimmy!
ROGER
Maybe a little warning next time, Jimbo? I just got everything set up.
UNCLE JIMMY
Sorry Roger, you know when you spend so much time away from Earth, you forget the manners. Linda.
LINDA Hi, Jimmy.
Cece runs up and hugs him.
UNCLE JIMMY
Oh, how’s my favorite little ray of sunshine?
LOREN
Uncle Jimmy my parents won’t let me go out to the movies Saturday even though Anna gets to go.
UNCLE JIMMY
Oh, well that doesn’t seem fair at all. Movies. Movies.
JIMMY starts a chant and Loren joins in.
ROGER
Oh for the love of God.
UNCLE JIMMY
Is that a yes?
ROGER Fine!
Uncle Jimmy and Loren celebrate and high-five. He pats Anna on the head.
UNCLE JIMMY
Hi, pumpkin.
He crosses over to Andrew and puts a hand on his shoulder.
UNCLE JIMMY
I hope you don’t mind if I take the boy on a short ride.
LINDA
We just sat down for dinner, Jimmy.
UNCLE
It’ll just be a quick romp around the block.
EXT. NIGHT SKY
Uncle Jimmy and Andrew are on his broom.
UNCLE JIMMY
Andrew, the world is changing. Has your mother told you about the war?
ANDREW
My mom hasn’t told me anything.
UNCLE JIMMY
Tsk. Figures. Not that it has concerned you up until now, but things have changed. Magic is beginning to seep into the Earth Realm. And you, being the son of Mariana has consequences.
ANDREW
Like what?
UNCLE JIMMY
Well, it’s unpredictable now. Your mother will be able to tell you more. You know I’m not in that world.
EXT. ANDREW’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Uncle Jimmy drops Andrew off in front of his house.
UNCLE JIMMY
Just be on the lookout. In case anything strange happens.
Uncle Jimmy hands Andrew a bamboo whisk.
UNCLE JIMMY
Remember, if you need her, you can use her study..
Uncle Jimmy jets off into the night sky. Andrew looks down: Kali is calling his phone.
INT. ANDREW’S ROOM
Andrew closes his door.
ANDREW Hello?
KALI
Andrew? Is that you?
ANDREW
Kali? You called me.
KALI
Oh. I guess I did.
ANDREW Is something wrong?
KALI I — I —
Kali keeps cutting out.
ANDREW I can’t hear you.
KALI
The darkness…It was some kind of a portal. It’s in my mind. It’s in my heart. I’m broken now.
Kali breaks into sobs on the line.
ANDREW
Where are you? Your place? I’ll come over.
The line goes dead. Page of 6 32
KALI No, Andrew. No. I’m nowhere.
INT. LIVING ROOM/KITCHEN - NIGHT
Andrew walks down the stairs. Roger and Linda are cleaning up dinner.
LINDA
Oh, there you are. We put some lasagna in the fridge for you.
ROGER
What did Jimmy talk to you about? Seems to have really put you in a spin.
ANDREW
I don’t know, it was very vague, he said some things might be happening. Roger and Linda put the things away in silence.
LINDA Some things?
ANDREW
I don’t know.
LINDA
Well he never was much of a wordsmith was he?
ROGER
I think we can all agree that it’s best to keep him informed. We all know your mother can’t be bothered to.
There it was. The elephant in the room.
ANDREW
I know it sounds crazy, but I think I need her help.
ROGER
That doesn’t mean you’re gonna get it, kid.
ANDREW
Something’s happening, and whatever it is, it happened to Kali. I think it took her.
LINDA
Andrew, honey, listen to yourself. You’re talking crazy.
ANDREW
I’m the son of an all-powerful wizard, so shit’s pretty crazy.
ROGER AND LINDA Language. Page of 7 32
INT. ANDREW’S HOME - DAY
Roger, Cynthia, Anna, Loren, and Cece are all packing. Cece has three bags.
CYNTHIA
Cece, honey, we’re gonna be gone for two days.
CECE
I might need it!
ROGER
Loren, did you pack your toothbrush?
Loren sprints upstairs. Meanwhile, Andrew is staring at his phone.
ROGER
Are you sure you don’t want to come with us, sport? Some fresh air’ll do you good.
ANDREW
No, thanks. What if Kali calls back and I’m not here?
CYNTHIA
Alright we gotta go, go, go.
Loren runs down the stairs with her toothbrush.
ANNA
I don’t know why we’re going to Dartmouth. College isn’t for another 4 years.
ROGER
It’s never too early to think about your future.
CYNTHIA
Bye, Andrew. Hold down the fort for us.
ROGER
Alright see ya, kiddo. Don’t look at that phone for too long.
The door slams, the commotion abruptly getting cut off. Andrew walks up the stairs, not taking his eyes off his phone. He passes a closed door, still wooden, without a finish like the other doors. He doubles back to study it. He tries it, it’s locked.
INT. MARIANA’S STUDY
Page of 8 32
The door cracks open as Andrew breaks into the room. It is a small study with light streaming in. Mariana’s workbench is cluttered with various tools and papers. There are some curios neatly displayed on the shelves. Andrew picks up a bell and rings it. Nothing. He digs through drawers, mostly more papers. One drawer is locked with a keyhole. Desperate, Andrew jimmy’s it open. One pull. Two pulls. A loud bang from downstairs.
INT. HOUSE
Andrew runs runs to the railing. The front door is wide open, wind is blowing in, and light is silhouetting a figure whose presence dominates the entryway. Andrew’s mother MARIANA is standing in the doorway.
MARIANA
Hello, sonny.
ANDREW Mom?!
With a wave of her hand the door closes behind her and some of her effects: suitcase, glasses, follow her back into place. She snatches her suitcase from midair, and glances around quaintly. Andrew flies down the stairs.
ANDREW
Where have you been?
MARIANA
Working, Andrew. Dreadful stuff, really.
ANDREW
Dad and Cynthia aren’t home.
MARIANA
Ah, a witch always has perfect timing.
ANDREW
To what do I owe this pleasure?
MARIANA
I thought I told you never to use irony with a Wizard. It’s an ugly tonality, really Andrew. Haven’t I taught you anything?
ANDREW
I haven’t seen you in months!
MARIANA
Well, to tell you the truth, I don’t come on pleasant business.
INT. MARIANA’S STUDY
Mariana and Andrew enter the room.
ANDREW
I called you here.
MARIANA
Is that so?
ANDREW
I need your help. Kali, she’s disappeared. She left me a very concerning message.
MARIANA
Oh dear, another girlfriend, Andrew? Isn’t it time you just picked one?
ANDREW
We’ve been dating two years, mom.
MARIANA
Oh, yes, yes. Katy, was it?
ANDREW
Kali. And something’s taken her. A darkness, or a portal, something from your world.
MARIANA
And you’re sure of that?
ANDREW Yes.
MARIANA
Well there’s good and bad news. The bad news is she’s been taken to the shadow realm.
ANDREW
It’s Kali. The shadow realm? Isn’t that where they take like, the dregs of society?
MARIANA Yes, exactly.
ANDREW
Well, what’s the good news?
MARIANA
The good news is you get to play the hero.
Mariana began briskly striding to her study. Andrew follows her.
ANDREW
I don’t understand.
MARIANA
You don’t need to understand, son, you just have to help me.
ANDREW
Are we going to the Shadow Realm now?
MARIANA
Where else, sonny boy? Did you think we were going to Lego Land?
Mariana shifts through her workbench, and holds up a looking glass.
MARIANA Aha!
ANDREW What is that?
MARIANA
Why, it’s a telescope! You look through it, like this!
Mariana looks through the looking glass at a bird sitting on a neighboring porch.
ANDREW
How is this gonna help us find Kali?
MARIANA
Not now son, I’m birdwatching.
ANDREW Mom! This is serious!
Mariana looks at Matthew, a glint of humor in her eye.
MARIANA
Alright. Take this and point it directly at the sun.
ANDREW What?
Andrew takes it and starts scoping around for the bird. He finally gets the bird in his scope. The raven is sitting on a branch. The raven looks directly at him, and with a long, dimension-bending squawk, the air begins to get wobbly, and the study disappears, melting into the Shadow Realm. Page of 11 32
EXT. SHADOW REALM
The soot-covered ground and barren, dead trees stand upon the dark gray matte of the sky. Andrew look around for his mom. The leaves rustle off to the side, and Mariana falls out of a bush.
MARIANA
Well this is just a fine pickle, isn’t it?
Mariana gets up and brushes herself off.
ANDREW
We’re in the Shadow Realm?
MARIANA
Well I wanted it to be a surprise!
ANDREW
A surprise??
MARIANA
Hush now, someone approaches.
There is some silence.
ANDREW
I don’t know how you can hear that—
MARIANA Shh!
Trumpets blare, and a small outfit of knights on horseback led by SIR STRATFORD appear through the fog and trees
SIR STRATFORD
Halt! This is restricted area, state your business.
Andrew looks around him at the knights petrified.
MARIANA
Ah, well met ser. I am Lunas Mariana of The Order of the Cat, Wizard of the Earth Realm. I seek passage to the Blue River.
There is an air of anxiety as the lesser knights exchange nervous glances.
SIR STRATFORD Page of 12 32
You seek the Blue River, witch? Don’t you know that no one’s ever come back from the Blue River?
The knights chuckle to themselves as Mariana eyes them.
SIR STRATFORD
You and your squire will surely die!
MARIANA
Are you going to grant us passage or not?
Sir Stratford smiles, bemused.
ANDREW Mom!
SIR STRATFORD
If my lady so insists.
The pack of horsemen form a coalition around the two and they begin travel. On their way out, Sir Stratford bunks Andrew on the head with the butt end of his spear.
SIR STRATFORD
What kind of a squire are you? She is carrying all her own potions!
MARIANA Lovely idea!
Mariana tosses her (heavy) bag to Andrew.
EXT. BLUE RIVER
The coalition reaches the river. There is a raging waterfall. Mariana hops off her horse with her usual clumsy grace.
MARIANA
Thank you kindly, sir. We’ll be on our way then.
SIR STRATFORD
Hold on! As knights of the shadow realm we will not lead a woman and a young boy to a bloody death.
MARIANA
Not to worry, dearie, it seems you’ve never beheld the power of a true Wizard.
Mariana brandishes a stick and draws a circle around her in the ground and plops down.
MARIANA
Squire, do fetch me my spell-casting bag.
ANDREW
Yes, mother.
SIR STRATFORD
Such strange customs.
With her book of tomes, her wand, and her minerals and elements set before her, my mother sat in silence. Then, she begins faintly murmuring in a strange tongue. A GREAT SPIRIT emerges from Mariana’s body
GREAT SPIRIT I COMMAND THEE OPEN
The mighty blue river parts with ease. The knights’ jaws are on the floor. Andrew felt a sense of pride. The spirit dissipates and Mariana gathers her things.
MARIANA
Right then, let’s not dawdle.
The two step through the grand portal, which closes promptly behind them.
EXT. RUFORD’S STUDY
They appear outside a great tree which has been outfitted with doors and windows, and light coming from within. RUFORD, the great spirit of a cat in reading glasses, is just retiring for the evening.
RUFORD Mariana? Good heavens, dear, it’s you!
MARIANA
Ruford. How long has it been?
RUFORD
Too long, my dear, too long. Let me fix you a tea.
Ruford grabs Mariana by the arm in leads her into his study, which occupies the great tree behind them. Andrew looks around, and follows.
INT. RUFORD’S STUDY
It is a massive thing. Yellow lights stream everywhere on shelves of colorful books.
RUFORD
Now, my dear Mariana, you must tell me everything. Has your legislation gone through to the Council? Those nasty scum, really Mariana.
MARIANA
Councilman Amos is the bulwark.
RUFORD
The Red Dragon doesn’t let up. Not once he’s got his claws in. And how about that tea?
Ruford snaps in Andrew’s general direction. Andrew blinks alert. He looks at Mariana who looks back and nudges her head towards the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN
The kitchen was glossy. A new polished bronze teakettle rested on the black-and-white tiled counter. Everything was quaint.
ANDREW
I can make tea, I can make tea.
Andrew picks up the tea kettle.
ANDREW
Take the tea kettle, fill it with…tap water, right? Okay. Heat that sucker up.
The tea starts. He could catch faint clips of a conversation.
RUFORD
…that a distinguished and skilled wizard as yourself has to go through so much…
MARIANA
…oh, it’s nothing Ruford…
RUFORD
…nothing? Nothing? And I’m the stubborn one…
Andrew realizes the teawhistle has been going for three seconds.
ANDREW
That was fast. Okay. Cups.
Andrew tries the two square cabinets directly above him. He finds a lamp that looks like it’s from Aladdin. He holds it in his hands, weighing it. He looks around. There is no fridge. There is a pot-bellied stove. He raids the tall cabinets behind him, they are filled with various leafy spices, both
known and unknown to earth. There was pestle-and-mortar on the counter. Andrew thinks. He remembers something his mother told him.
INT. MEMORY
MARIANA
There are some realms, not of this world, but other worlds, where you can bring something into being through sheer will.
Andrew blinks open. He tries to concentrate on his will. He envisions a tray, material of dented bronze. He tries to see it. He tries to feel it. And he opens his eyes and it’s there in his hands.
INT. STUDY
Andrew appears in the study with a full tray. He places the tray on the desk. He is heavy with tiredness. They are still in conversation. Ruford takes a sip of his tea. Ruford cautions a wary glance at Andrew, letting the tea sit in his mouth, and puts his cup down.
RUFORD (trying to be polite) New squire?
MARIANA
He’s my son, actually.
Mariana glances back and winks at Andrew. Ruford brightens up a bit.
RUFORD I see.
Mariana sits upright.
MARIANA
We’d be well to be on our way.
RUFORD
Pleasant company ends when duty calls. And so it must be. Take care, Mariana.
INT. KITCHEN
Andrew takes the tray back into the kitchen. He puts the tray on the counter, and puts the kettle on the stove. He begins to walk out, and remembers the tray. He turns around, it is already gone.
INT. STUDY
Andrew enters, Ruford is watching him.
RUFORD
And you. Uh, son of Mariana. Your mother told me of you. It helps to think of envisioning something…maybe, something fruity for the tea. Jasmine. Something woodsy. The squire is a very important and creative role. Often, he or she is a tastemaker. I myself was a Squire for many of Earth’s diplomats.
Andrew bows.
ANDREW Thank you.
EXT. THE SHADOW REALM
Mariana and Andrew are walking in silence.
MARIANA You used you Will.
ANDREW
I did! I feel so tired now, though.
MARIANA
Yes. Using your Will has a price. Magicians train lifetimes to make their Will stronger and stronger. There is no limit to how strong the Will can
become. Without training, any exercise of the Will can be draining. Some people can achieve great feats of Will.
ANDREW Like you?
MARIANA
Yes. But even I am no match for some Beings. Beings that exist in this very realm. Even, as we speak, with whom we are now on course to cross paths.
ANDREW Are these nice Beings?
Mariana chuckles.
MARIANA My bag.
Andrew holds up Mariana’s bag and she takes out a tome. She finds a piece of level land to take a seat on.
MARIANA Sit.
Andrew sits down. Mariana takes a breath.
MARIANA
Let me show you how it works. You see, the breath is like a room in a house. And sometimes wandering feet want to go exploring. So the feet explore the study, explore the guest house, go outside to see the jacuzzi…
Andrew chuckles. Mariana takes a deep breath.
MARIANA
And then, we get lost. We lose sight of the room where we’re supposed to be. That’s the room where everything which should concern us is happening.
Andrew takes a deep breath in turn.
MARIANA
And there you have it. That’s the Will.
ANDREW
That’s the Will.
Andrew focuses on the rise and fall of the breath.
ANDREW So it’s easy.
MARIANA
Yes and no.
ANDREW
Yes and no.
MARIANA
But the Will is a tricky thing. If you are aligned with your true nature—
She takes her staff and presses his sternum.
MARIANA
—which is the true nature of reality, the nature of existence, the way of things, if you accord yourself with that, you will never be defeated.
EXT. SHADOW REALM - DAY
It is the following day. Andrew and Mariana are on the move.
ANDREW
Where are we going now?
MARIANA Page of 20 32
There’s a settlement here in the shadow realm, sonny boy. We’ll be stopping for some necessary equipment.
The settlement comes into view. It is a town sitting in a sea of cracked, black land under a bleak grey and dim red sky. As the duo enters the town, they look dreadfully out of place: a short stout witch in blue robes trailed by a young attendant. There are some non-humans, and some humans with laborer’s uniforms on: leather aprons, fully-armed soldiers, men with goggles and pants that looked cast-iron. They enter a shop with a sign that reads: ‘Duley’s Place for General Needs’.
INT. DULEY’S PLACE
Mariana eyes the tomes kept under glass by the window. She takes just one second to peruse them.
MARIANA
Atrocious, really, atrocious.
The CLERK (tall, bird-like) eyes Mariana with derision.
CLERK
I’m sure you could do much better, ma’am, but in case you haven’t heard there’s a publishing embargo going on.
MARIANA
An embargo? Oh this won’t do at all.
Mariana desperately flies back to survey the tomes again.
CLERK
Ah visiting from a far-off realm, are we?
The Clerk returns to his jewelry-making.
CLERK Shocking.
MARIANA
Haven’t you got anything else? Something in the back, maybe?
The Clerk laughs curtly.
CLERK
We have several very rare, very expensive tomes that are reserved for only the most critical magicians. University heads, governors…
The clerk’s eyes rest on Mariana’s tattered robes.
MARIANA
I am on most critical business as a Wizard on behalf of The Order of the Cat.
CLERK …right.
MARIANA (to Andrew) My bag.
Andrew jolts to life and hands over her brown leather bag. Mariana rummages through it, and produces a scroll. She unsheathes it in The Clerk’s face.
MARIANA
You can see right here. Lady Lunas Mariana of The Order of the Cat, Wizard of the Earth Realm.
The clerk absently glances at the scroll.
CLERK
It’s a fake.
MARIANA
Wha—no it’s not!
THE CLERK
It’s completely shoddy. Besides, it’s entirely out of the question! You have no funds, no sensibility of common decency. I’m sure those tomes will suit you just fine.
MARIANA
Would you speak to me that way if I were a man?
The Clerk laughs incredulously.
CLERK
Don’t be ridiculous.
Mariana storms out, Andrew trailing her. The clerk goes back to making jewelry.
CLERK Cunt.
EXT. TOWNSQUARE
Mariana storms out and Andrew is trailing behind her. She eyes a bar across the street.
MARIANA
Stay here.
Mariana storms into the bar. Andrew waits uneasily, looking around. A DARK SPIRIT in breastplate armor approaches him.
DARK SPIRIT
Hey, kid. Wanna make a few bucks?
ANDREW
Umm, I’m not from around here.
DARK SPIRIT
Relax, kid. I just need someone to climb under a couple houses, and kill a couple rats. I’ll pay you 60 copper..
ANDREW
Umm, no thank you.
DARK SPIRIT
What, you don’t want a job? You rich or something, is that it.
Mariana returns, looser, more determined.
MARIANA
Come on let’s go.
DARK SPIRIT
Let’s keep in touch!
Andrew follows Mariana off to the side.
MARIANA
Okay, here’s the plan sonny boy. Mama’s got an invisibility charm. I’m gonna run in there, sneak in there, and grab the tomes from the back.
ANDREW Okay.
MARIANA
And you are gonna help me.
ANDREW I am?
MARIANA
Yes. You are going to go in there, and buy a saffron opal charm okay?
ANDREW What does it do?
MARIANA
Hush. What do I always say?
Andrew thinks back.
MARIANA
I always say: you don’t need to know things. I’m the only one who needs to know things, okay? Good lad. Now let’s go.
INT. DULEY’S PLACE
Andrew walks into the store, hiding his apprehension. The Clerk looks up from his jewelry and rolls his eyes. Andrew scans the shelves muttering ‘opal’ to himself. The Clerk clears his throat.
CLERK
Can I help you?
ANDREW
Yes! Uhh…
A side table gets knocked into and a vase falls, shattering on the ground.
ANDREW
I’m looking for opal!
CLERK
What was that?
The Clerk goes to the shattered vase.
ANDREW
Oh that was the wind.
The Clerk eyes Andrew suspiciously. He puts two and two together and goes to the back where the tomes are. Andrew follows him.
ANDREW Is the opal back here?
CLERK
Alright, you witch. I know you’re here. If you take one of my tomes I’m going to report you.
There is some silence. Suddenly, the glass casing is tossed to the floor and a tome flies out of the room.
THE CLERK Thief!
EXT. TOWNSQUARE
The Clerk chases the floating tome. Andrew is chasing them both. A rider is thrown off his horse and the tome climbs up on the horse.
CLERK
Stop that horse!
The horse stops in his tracks, turns around, and comes back to where Andrew is. Andrew climbs on. The horse takes off, Andrew is not fully on. Mariana pulls him back up, and releases her invisibility charm.
MARIANA
There’s a good lad.
They ride off.
EXT. MOUNTAINS - NIGHT
Andrew and Mariana make camp outside of the city. Their horse is tied up. Mariana was relentlessly trying and failing to spark a fire. She was more ornery than her usual self.
MARIANA Fuck, fuck.
Mariana puts the flint down in exasperation.
ANDREW Here, I’ll try.
Andrew takes his own flint and begins sparking a fire. He is able to start it. Mariana sits back, dejected. They sit in silence a while.
MARIANA I abused my power.
They sit in silence a little while longer, the sounds of the night around them.
MARIANA
I swore an oath. Using my power against innocent people, destruction of property. It was more than irresponsible. He was right, they might just revoke my title for this. And they well ought to. It was not how a Wizard should behave.
ANDREW
You think they’ll take your title away?
MARIANA Not sure.
ANDREW
And will that mean you’ll lose all your powers?
MARIANA
Not all…but many of them. You’d better get to sleep.
Andrew crawls back in his tent. Mariana stays up, watching the flames.
EXT. MOUNTAINS - DAY
Andrew crawls out of his tent to find his mother sitting upright in meditation.
MARIANA
Ah, you’re awake. Right, then. Let’s be away.
ANDREW No breakfast?
MARIANA
Breakfast? You sleep practically till noon and speak of breakfast? The day is upon us!
Andrew looks crestfallen.
MARIANA
Good heaves, we’ll get food on the way.
They set off, with their camp gear mounted. The sky was dim red. They stop at a creek.
MARIANA
Did you see that?
ANDREW What?
MARIANA Look.
Andrew looks at the creek. Suddenly it switched directions, flowing upstream.
MARIANA
So it’s true. The river is flowing upstream.
ANDREW
It would seem so, mother. What does it mean?
MARIANA
Something bad.
There is a black RAVEN with a yellow frilled collar perched on a branch above the river.
RAVEN
Lunas Mariana. You have been charged with abuse of power and destruction of property. You are hereby formally summoned to appear before The Council immediately.
The Raven launches off the branch and flies away. Andrew, concerned, looks to his mother. Mariana’s gaze was fixed in the ground for several moments.
MARIANA
Well that’s that. They’ve decided to have a hearing. Ha! I wouldn’t worry about it, sonny boy. Your mother has friends in high places.
ANDREW
Does this mean we’re leaving the Shadow Realm?
MARIANA
Yes, and we’d better be quick about it, too. The old farts don’t like to be kept waiting.
Mariana takes out her telescope, seeming to adjust it slightly, and hands it to Andrew. Andrew knowingly points it at the sun. The world around him became wobbly. Page of 28
INT. LOBBY
A lobby appears around them. There is an ATTENDANT at the front desk.
ATTENDANT
Hello, ma’am. It will be about a 15-minute wait. Why don’t you have a seat?
They go to sit down.
MATTHEW
Wow, so bureaucracy exists in the magical world too.
MARIANA
Ha! You haven’t met bureaucracy UNTIL you’ve seen the spiritual world. In fact, the Earth realm based their system off the spiritual realm. For example, application processes? That was ripped straight from our model.
ANDREW
Thanks for that.
MARIANA
What did I tell you about sarcasm?
ANDREW Not to do it?
MARIANA
…that’s right.
The attendant calls their names. Andrew follows Mariana into the gate.
INT. COURTHOUSE WAITING ROOM
They are transported to the waiting room of a courthouse. A young assistant receives them.
Page of 29 32
ASSISTANT
Wait here a moment.
The Assistant leaves the room. They are left to wait for some moments until the large oaken does open, and the Assistant returns.
ASSISTANT
Come in.
INT. COURTHOUSE
A panel of council members sits high above the radial floor of the Prosecution Hall. Mariana signals Andrew to wait by the door as she steps towards the center. There was JAMES ULYSSES, the Head Councilman, MANCE AMOS, Marian’s political rival, VIRGINIA CAROLL, the Vice President of the Council, GEORGE EDGAR, an ally, and others.
Andrew finds his place by the door.
AMOS
Ah, Lunas. And, who is this untrained lad you’ve brought with you?
MARIANA
He’s my squire.
ULYSSES
Lunas, you were called here because you are being charged with abuse of power and excessive force.
MARIANA
Head Councilmen Ulysses. Esteemed council members. The backdrop which I committed this crime is one where a looming threat, of which we may already be unable to stop, continues to grow in strength by each passing day. I ask. Would it have been wiser to concede to the man, denigrating my rank and this entire institution, and submit to the quote-inquote proper channels? Which may take weeks? I have never heard anything so absurd. I am faced with two sets of rules. One that this institution was built on, values of strength and doing what is necessary, and a new one of bureaucracy and burden. And how am I to know which will prevail?
Lunas stops //knowing damn well the council is split into these two camps, confronting the council.
AMOS
It’s clear you want to stoke division, Lunas, but let us remain on topic, shall we?
MARIANA
The accusations leveled against me are true! Yes. But I will add some color. My actions were only towards the end of acquiring the magic which I needed to confront Hellspawn with any degree of security. Now, as the shop clerk was displaying active insubordination to the legitimacy of Our Order. We must not forget the urgency of this task. The threat that grows more untamed each passing day. I used exercised force. It was needed. Dillydallying would be the greater crime, when so many lives are at stake!
AMOS
If I may, this is not the first time Lunas has been excessive. Let us not be diluted. For a Wizard of the Order of the Cat, there are always ways for us to deal with the common folk. Our strength lies in our diplomacy, in our ability to shift reality to our needs. And surely we must all agree, for a member to act in this way, it is outright disgraceful.
CAROLL
I quite agree. To summon Leviticus, Lunas
MARIANA
I used my power for the greater good of my mission.
VIRIGINA CAROLL
Yes, about this mission. I think it is in all the council’s best interests if we rethink it entirely.
JAMES ULYSSES
It is of the highest degree of importance, Virginia.
VIRGINIA CAROLL
Yes, James, but is it a job for only one Wizard?
GEORGE EDGAR
We don’t want too many cooks, as it were.
JAMES ULYSSES
This deed can’t go unpunished.
MARIANA
I fully accept the blame for my actions.
JAMES ULYSSES
Mariana, after careful deliberation, we will have to sentence you to serving twenty years as a prisoner, along with a suspension of your appointed powers.
MARIANA
Let me send my squire home!
JAMES ULYSSES
Your squire will be transferred to the court and assigned to be your attendant as needed.
MARIANA
He’s my son!
JAMES ULYSSES
These are the rules, Mariana.
Ulysses bangs a gavel. Matthew is dragged away.
MARIANA No!
The oaken doors are shut.
END OF PART ONE