Reclaiming the Stone

RECLAIMING THE STONE Cassidy Haynes Pilot

cassidyhaynescripts@gmail.com 912-657-4209

INT. IRONGLEN PALACE HALLWAY - DAY

CA

A grand, marble corridor, supported by a series of pillars on either side. *Classical music plays but with a unique twist: a distant, haunting fantasy theme.

Large portraits, tapestries, and flags adorn the walls as far as the corridor extends. They’re faded and covered by dust.

A woman, RAQUEL, speaks, her voice hushed but clear.

SS

RAQUEL (V.O.) A long time ago, there was fearless warrior and his band of soldiers.

They found a wild land and tamed it. And it was called Ironglen.

Y ID

A white stallion rears in the foreground of a portrait, a broad shouldered, blond man wields a battle axe atop him.

A horse whinnies, and the sounds of legions of men yelling are heard.

Legions of foot soldiers in the background of the painting.

Beneath, a plaque: GARRET THE GREAT - IRONGLEN’S FOUNDER

YN HA

RAQUEL (V.O.) The warrior became a great king and he and all his people worked the land. They were happy and safe.

An oil painting of rolling moors. They are dotted with farm houses and fields of crops.

Another painting, jovial men at the mouth of a mine. They lean on carts that overflow with shining gold mineral.

RAQUEL (V.O.) Soon enough, our neighbors became jealous. The bounties of their own land were not enough.

ES

A framed projection plays on a loop:

A wide river separates a lush forest from the plains. Shadowy armored figures emerge from the tree line. Waves of men on horses rush to meet them on the other side.

The clang of metal weapons against armor.

2.

CA

RAQUEL (V.O.) The Hadarans rode on metallic monsters, and had guns that shot lightning. They came to take everything that we had worked for.

In quick succession, closeups of paintings: plasma blasters fire with sharp loud, bursts. Dark metallic armor, faceless Hadaran helmets, huge sleek tanks.

SS

RAQUEL (V.O.) The war lasted for hundreds of years. Our people fought long and hard. Eventually, we pushed the enemy back.

The bearded, pale, grimacing faces of soldiers in paintings and frescoes are shown, one after the other.

Y ID

Their uniforms transition from mismatched to grey to camouflage.

RAQUEL (V.O.) But not before they took our greatest treasure.

A fresco viewed from below. A large blue orb nestled within thick clouds.

YN HA

Blonde cherubic figures on both sides pull the clouds back like curtains to reveal it.

RAQUEL (V.O.) The Stone held our world in balance. It provided and protected.

Until we can reclaim it from our enemies...

A moving image of the border. Now, a bright blue forcefield stands between the forest and the plains. The sky above is dark with storm clouds.

Lightning strikes.

RAQUEL We wait to be restored.

ES

INT. EDENSTON HOUSEHOLD, BEDROOM - NIGHT

RAQUEL (early 30’s, wavy dark hair, bronze skin) holds her daughter, ELIANA (7, halo of dark curls, fiery) in her lap.

3.

Eliana flinches at the lightning. She wriggles from Raquel’s grasp.

CA

ELIANA I bet I could find it!

You could?

RAQUEL

Eliana stands on the bed. She marches around confidently.

SS

ELIANA When I get big. I’ll sneak in there, grab that stone, and. And shoot it back here, on a catapult!

She flings both arms forward to demonstrate, grunting with effort.

Y ID

RAQUEL You’re forgetting something.

Eliana stops marching.

RAQUEL (CONT'D) Those Hadarans are just waiting to snatch you up! And when they do...

YN HA

Raquel snatches her daughter back to her lap. Eliana squeals.

Raquel tickles her. Eliana fights to get away.

SASCHA (30’s dark skinned and bearded, warm brown eyes) stands in the doorway. He chuckles and goes to the bedside.

SASCHA Riling her before bed, Raquel?

ELIANA I’m not even tired! I’ve gotta fight the dirty ‘Darans!

Raquel rises from the bed, amused. She kisses Sascha’s cheek.

Sascha lifts Eliana. He tucks her in.

SASCHA Save the fighting for another day.

It’s time to sleep.

ES

RAQUEL She’s your daughter through and through.

He kisses her forehead. Eliana settles in bed, reluctant.

4.

Goodnight.

ELIANA

CA

Sascha and Raquel turn out the light. Eliana looks out her window.

A light rain falls on the rolling plains.

EXT. IRONGLEN BIRDS EYE VIEW: over sprawling factories, squat buildings, groupings of homes that grow smaller and smaller.

SS

Dirt roads wind over swaths of barren plain. On the horizon, the forcefield looms.

The sounds of artillery and shouts.

SMASH CUT TO:

Y ID

EXT. WOODED AREA - DAY SUPER: 15 YEARS LATER

Three camouflaged figures dart in between trees. The forest is sparse. Golden emblems on their backs.

YN HA

They’re bulky beneath green armor, only their eyes visible from their helmets.

Two men, one woman. All clutch guns to their chests.

Yells, the sound of magazines emptying in the distance.

A wet POP. The largest man drops with a cry.

Damn it!

Carter!

FALLEN TROOP MAN TROOP

ES

LADY TROOP Leave him. We have to keep going!

She pulls ahead. Her comrade follows, head ducked low.

They take cover in shrubbery.

UP AHEAD:

Two ENEMY TROOPS stand guard under a BRIGHT RED POST.

5.

The Man Troop pokes his head from behind the shrub to check.

His sleepy blue eyes scan for assailants.

CA

MAN TROOP Just two. You think we can--?

The woman shoots an Enemy Troop square in the chest. He stumbles back with a grunt.

The other Enemy Troop opens fire in their direction, just as the woman ducks back down.

SS Shit!

MAN TROOP (CONT'D)

The woman laughs above the sound of artillery. She rolls to the side and into a crouch, behind the trunk of a larger tree.

Y ID

LADY TROOP Distract him.

She fires at the last enemy standing. He dives behind the Post for cover.

She leaps up, sprints to the next tree.

MAN TROOP Edenston, wait!

YN HA

The Lady troop dashes out from behind the tree, zig zagging toward the enemy. He raises his gun.

Click.

Fuck.

ENEMY

He rises slowly, hands up in surrender. His green eyes are narrowed.

Lady Troop stands over him, triumphant.

POP! She lurches forward, eyes wide.

On her back, a bright green paint stain.

ES

LADY TROOP It’s over. (ALT: good try)

THREE MORE Enemy Troops fan out behind her, gleeful beneath their masks.

6.

A chime sounds, and all of them remove their helmets.

CA

The Lady Troop is ELIANA (20’s, bold and almost always right.) Her wild hair is tied back, her features full and bright with mirth.

She barks out a laugh at her own mistake.

CAPTAIN RAY (60’s, stout, silver haired trainer, limp) emerges from the tree line.

SS

RAY EDENSTON. That was the stupidest shit I’ve seen in a long time.

The other trainees snicker behind their hands. RAY limps over to Eliana, silver cane in hand.

Y ID

ELIANA Come on, Cap, I would’ve-RAY Gotten your whole team captured and killed, had it be real.

The trainees quiet. Ray fixes Eliana with a hard look. Lowers his voice.

* *

YN HA

RAY (CONT'D) I’ve said it before. This is not. about. you.

Eliana looks away, holds back a retort. Her wrist buzzes.

A golden band with the same emblem as the armor. Light pulses with each buzz. She’s late.

ELIANA I’ve gotta--

Ray’s already turned away. He addresses the trainees.

ES

ISAIAH Aiden, Jasper, good coverage. We’ll swap teams and drill again next week.

The trainees murmur in affirmation. Eliana glances back at them as she walks away.