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HOLLOW'S GRAVE - Episode One: We are at War
HOLLOW FALLS:
The Castle Fields:
Darkness. It’s the dead of night. The only sound being the slight rustling of leaves, the calling of birds in the skies and the flames from the pyre that crackle and burn up into the clouds. The screams died minutes ago.
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STONEBRDIGE:
Castle - Edward and Sara Morton’s Bedroom -
Edward and Sara Morton, the King and Queen of Stonebridge sit within their quarters, Sara on the bed, Edward in his chair by the fireplace. In his hand he crumples up a piece of paper as he stares, longingly out of the window. There’s a deathly silence; Then-
Edward: I knew I should have sent my men.
Sara: You wouldn’t have got there in time-
Edward: It would have been worth a try. Maybe it would have scared them; maybe we could have made a peace treaty. Something! Anything-!
Sara: It’s too late. Did it say how?
Edward: You don’t want to know, it’s too graphic-
Sara: Our daughter is dead and you think I give a shit how graphic it is? I want… I need, to know. Hiding anything won’t help.
He looks back at the letter, then at his wife.
Edward: She’s been burnt. Alive at the stake. They’ve put it down for witchcraft, the fucking Bastards! Eight years old! Eight!
Sara: And Nicolas?
Edward: There’s no mention of him.
Sara: Nothing?
Edward: Nothing.
Sara: Isn’t that strange? They wouldn’t do that, they wouldn’t ‘not’ mention him.
Edward: I don’t know Sara. I can’t think.
Sara: They’ve always spoke about both children, in all three letters - now just the one. That’s not right. Something’s happened to him; maybe he’s escaped!
Edward: Or they’ve killed him too-
Sara: They would have said. They’ve only mentioned Jasmine; there’s a reason for that!
Edward: I don’t know. Our little girl, our poor little girl.
Sara: What are we going to do?
Edward: Isn’t it obvious? I’m going to do what I should have done from the very beginning. I’m going to get an army together of our best men and horses. I’m going to lead them right up to John and Elizabeth Walters and the whole of fucking Hollow Falls and I’m going to murder every last little shit who had a hand in our daughters killing. And if anyone tries to stop me or gets in my way they too will be slaughtered in the process.
Sara: And Nicolas?
Edward: And if by some miracle Nicolas is alive I will find him and I will bring him home if it’s the last thing I do. We’re at war my love. This is now war.
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HOLLOW FALLS:
John Walters, the King of Hollow Falls stands on his balcony, watching over his city sleeping below. The world around him is rough; full of grey brick and stone. He can hear horses in the distance and the air smells of ash; and he loves it.
From behind his wife, Elizabeth Walters enters outside to join him; dressed in a long, red velvet gown; ready for bed.
Elizabeth: Are you coming to bed?
John: Later. I was just enjoying the quiet.
Elizabeth: Good, make the most of it. After what you've done tonight, it will be the last bit of peace we have for a long time-
He doesn't turn around to look at her as he talks but instead continues to admire the view of his city.
John: When I was growing up my father, god rest his soul, used to tell me stories of men at war. Of their bravery, of their courage. Their dignity. But also occasionally, their defeats and mistakes. Never one to talk ill of the dead, these conversations came up sparingly but oddly they were always my favourite.
Elizabeth: If this is another one of your stories on how you're a better man than others I don't want to hear it. Frankly I'm bored of them. Fairy tales don't interest me-
John: Just listen. Now the reason these tales of defeats interested me so much was because I could learn from them. Understand why they were defeated and to make sure that I would never follow in the same foot steps. And do you know what each defeat had in common? Why each man died?
Elizabeth: Because they were too busy scratching their balls?
John: No. Because they didn't have any. They followed the rules, they tried to keep the peace and they lost their heads because of it. Sometimes you have to make big moves, big displays to show people that you mean business. The four realms were once one, split over differences but now I believe they should be one again. That they should be ours. So fuck the peace. Let Edward and his army march towards us - let him want 'revenge' for his family and then lets burn them to the ground and take back Stonebridge for ourselves in the process.
Elizabeth: And what about the boy? Nicolas? You lost him-
John: Fuck the boy! He doesn't matter. He'll be somewhere in those woods probably being mauled on by a pack of dogs.
He pauses; finally turning around to face Elizabeth. They look at each other. Cold. Any love that was once their has faded a long time ago.
John: You need to stop treating Oliver like a little boy. He's almost sixteen, he's not a child anymore.
Elizabeth: I will raise my son anyway I wa-
John: Our son. And no son of mine is going to sit around and let his mother cut up his food and bathe him at the age of sixteen! It's obscene. People are beginning to laugh behind your back; not very subtly I must add. He's in line for my thrown-
Elizabeth: You've never paid any attention to the boy, why all of a sudden are you starting to care.
John: Because what you are doing is going to make a mockery out of our name. My name. Let him grow up Elizabeth - or I'll force him too.
Elizabeth: Stay away from him.
He looks dead at her, she at him. A moment. Then he walks past, back into their bedroom and off to sleep.
STONEBRIDGE:
The next day-
Men are gathering horses from the stables as well as collecting their best weapons as Edward prepares to march an army. Women say good bye to their husbands and sons and watch as they ride away from their little shacks and homes.
MATTHEW GREEN (a young, twenty year old soldier) is at home with his wife DAISY GREEN (who is obviously heavily pregnant) as he packs up his last belongings
Daisy: Don't go. Please don't go!
Matthew: I have too, it's my job, you know this.
Daisy: King Morton will understand, of course he will. Please, stay with me; help me with the baby once he comes!
Matthew: I can't. I promised to fight for my kingdom until the day I die - no exceptions. I have to go now; they'll be waiting for me. Now listen;
(He rests his hand on her belly)
When I get back I'll be a father and you a Mother, and we will look after our little boy or girl together. But until then you're going to have to be brave.
(He speaks to the belly)
Be good for mummy, be good.
(Back to Daisy)
I promise, I'll come back.
Daisy: Don't make promises you don't know that you can keep.
Matthew: I promise I'll come back to you. I promise.
STONEBRIDGE - At The City Gates -
Edward and Sara are sharing their goodbyes before he marches forward.
Sara: Be safe. Please, I can't lose you too.
Edward: I promise I'll be okay. And I promise I'll find Nicolas along the way - I swear on it.
Sara: I love you.
Edward: I love you too.
A moment, then he turns around to face the 1000 men who are waiting to journey with him.
Edward (shouting to the crowd): I wish I could say this is going to be easy. I wish I could say that you're all going to come home to your families and live restful lives. I wish I could say you're all going to be okay. But I can't. All I can say is, The four realm split has last for hundreds of years without conflict - The Walters destroyed that - killing our daughter as if to prove a point. But our daughter was not some pawn to sacrifice. Jasmine was a living, breathing, beautiful young girl who deserved to live. So as we journey to Hollow Falls - keep in mind that that could have been your little boy or girl. That could have been anyone you know. And remember - this isn't for glory or fame. This isn't for control or for power; we march for a little eight year old girl. We march for our children. We march for Jasmine.
And with that, they horse begin to ride out, under the stonebridge, away from the city and start their long journey towards Hollow Falls - towards war.
End of Episode 1:
QUESTIONS:
1. What did you think (really wanna know your opinions)
2. Favourite Character so far and why?
3. Predictions?
4. Do you think Nicolas is alive?
(Please comment any thoughts or opinions; Would mean the world:)
King John rocks
The Kings wife gets burnt alive for being a witch and his son mans up and becomes the next #Thor
Nicholas is alive and he should join King John and rebel against his parents whol obviously care more about their daughter than him and heve neglected him for years.
christossss
trolllol
aria_grande
me2013