Transcript:The Worthiest Knight, Pt. 1

ACT ONE:
 EXT. Small Creek - Morning 
 NARRATOR
 King Gunther’s body floated to the center of a still,
 nameless lake. Brennen stood and watched as his King,
 his friend began his final journey to a watery rest, to
 reside for eternity in Selbirin. The morning was
 silent, save for the crackling flames of the King’s
 pyre barge. A man of Gunther Guernatal’s status
 deserved an elaborate barge, painted and carved. He
 deserved to be sent off directly into the Sea of the
 Ancestors, attended by dignitaries from all corners of
 the world. Instead, he was attended only by Brennen and
 Regan, on what might generously be called a raft. The
 silence stretched on.
 BRENNEN
 I was hoping some fitting words would come to me.
 Gunther was so good with words.
 REGAN
 Sometimes there aren’t any good words. That’s why they
 invented steel.
 A BEAT.
 Um...Brennen...not to be heartless but...
 BRENNEN
 You’re right, we should move.
 NARRATOR
 With a final look towards the King, Brennen rose and
 turned. The two strode away in silence for a few
 moments.
 BRENNEN
 That reminds me, what have you named them?
 REGAN
 Depends on whether I’m with a man or a woman, ’cause--
 BRENNEN
 --Your swords, Your Grace.
 REGAN
 There a problem with ’sword?’
 BRENNEN
 They’ve been blooded in service of the throne. They
 deserve names.
 REGAN
 Never really thought about it. Guess people take that
 shit seriously once you’re queen, huh?
 BRENNEN
 Very much so, Your Grace.
 REGAN
 Yeah, that still weirds me out. Call me something else,
 will ya?
 BRENNEN
 Whatever Your Grace wills.
 EXT. Madame Bailey’s - Morning 
 NARRATOR
 Back in Armstrungard, you’ll recall, Jen the
 cheerleader had just stabbed an officer of the law. A
 corrupt officer who used his status to molest children,
 but an officer nonetheless.
 NIA
 (O.S., DISTANT) Jen?
 
 SOUND: SHORT, RAPID FOOTSTEPS STOPPING AT THE NEXT LINE
 NIA
 Galadon help us.
 YLLOWYYN
 What have you done?
 BILLY
 Oh, shit!
 NIA
 We need to leave.
 YLLOWYYN
 And flee the scene of a crime? That would be unlawful
 and dishonorable.
 BILLY
 You wanna just wait here for the fucking cops to show
 up? C’mon Jen, we gotta bail.
 YLLOWYYN
 Now wait just a minute.
 NIA
 You’ve never lived in this city. No good can come of
 involving the city guard.
 YLLOWYYN
 Honor is bigger than what’s good for her. Or you, or
 me.
 NARRATOR
 Nia turned to Yllowyyn, rage fighting with fear behind
 her wide eyes. Nia stared the elf square in the eye,
 and addressed him in perfect Elvish.
 NIA
 Urrk lo Tyymo, Hyylyet--
 NARRATOR
 --Oh, pardon me, I’ll translate. Ahem.
 About honor, sibling woodsman, lecture me dare you not! My life to seeing honor done and order maintained have I pledged. To give her up to the city guard, naive, or else cruel, you must be. And for naiveness, or cruelness, to be cloaked behind honor, I can not abide!
 NARRATOR
 Billy, unable to understand Elvish, had little patience
 for their incomprehensible argument.
 BILLY
 Fuck this, man.
 NARRATOR
 And with that, he was running down the street, all but
 dragging Jen by the wrist. Nelson was close behind.
 YLLOWYYN
 (TO NIA)
 If priest you hope to be, faithful you must stay, even
 when convenient is it not.
 NARRATOR
 This next was back in the common tongue of men.
 NIA
 Honor your gods-damned post and protect those children.
 NARRATOR
 Nia turned and ran after the children, not waiting for
 a response. Yllowyyn hesitated a moment, but just a
 moment, before following.
 SOUND: RUNNING, THROUGH TO THE END OF SCENE
 NELSON
 (PANTING)
 We should jump in that hay pile! Like Assassin’s Creed!
 NIA
 (ALSO PANTING)
 And then? Just wait for them to stop investigating?!
 NELSON
 Well when you say it like that...
 Morning
 INT. Arlene Redmoor’s Bedchambers 
 NARRATOR
 At Guernatal Castle, Arlene and Gwendolyn lay close on
 the lady’s bed. You’ll recall that Gwen recently had
 something of a confrontation with Aerona Regan. Her
 first, which is of course one too many for genteel
 folk.
 ARLENE
 You must have been so frightened.
 GWEN
 I only did as I had to, m’lady.
 ARLENE
 Would that I were as brave as you.
 GWEN
 Come now, m’lady. You’re the brave one.
 ARLENE
 What did you say to her?
 GWEN PAUSES A BEAT.
 GWEN
 She asked why I cared. Why I was willing to risk my
 life. And I said...well, I said--
 SOUND: DOOR FLIES OPEN
 NARRATOR
 As Ardel entered the room, the two women dove apart
 from each other.
 ARDEL
 You. Wench. Come.
 NARRATOR
 If he noticed their improprietous closeness, he made no
 mention of it. In fact, Ardel Redmoor was smirking, a
 cruel twist at the corner of his mouth. Arlene had seen
 that smirk before.
 ARLENE
 Where are you taking her?
 ARDEL
 The Captain of the Guard wants to debrief her about
 last night’s horrid turn of events.
 ARLENE
 Brother, she was only searching the pantry when the
 bandit came through.
 NARRATOR
 Though Ardel’s next words were grave, his
 self-satisfied smirk continued.
 ARDEL
 I’m not sure you understand the enormity of what has
 transpired. The High King, on the eve of trial for
 treason, was slain by a highly skilled assassin in the
 employ of a lauded General. And with him perished the
 Guernatal line. This is a momentous atrocity. We must
 leave no stone unturned in our investigation.
 ARLENE
 Well then I must insist on coming with her. She’s not
 accustomed to talking to Officers.
 ARDEL
 Oh I’m afraid you can’t. It could take some time, and
 you need to prepare for tonight’s feast. I’ll send my
 man to help you.
 ARLENE
 What feast?
 NARRATOR
 Ardel’s smirk broke into a wide grin, as his sister’s
 face went ashen.
 ARDEL
 House Mooncrest is coming to celebrate our joint
 victory over Felghir. Don’t you want to look beautiful
 for your betrothed?
 INT. Interrogation Room In Castle Guernatal - A little later
 NARRATOR
 And so Gwen found herself in a dark room, deep in the
 heart of the castle. One might wonder, why would a
 simple discussion with a servant warrant a dark room
 with a sickly stench and a rotting table? The reason,
 as you might imagine, was simply Ardel Redmoor’s whim.
 ARDEL
 What did the assassin say to you?
 GWEN
 She said to get out of her way or she would kill me,
 m’lord.
 ARDEL
 And how did you respond?
 GWEN
 I said I couldn’t allow her to leave, m’lord.
 ARDEL
 Yes I’m sure you summoned such bravery in the face of a
 mortal threat. Commoners are known for that.
 GWEN
 She didn’t leave straight away, did she?
 ARDEL WAITS A BEAT.
 ARDEL
 If you address one more sentence to me that doesn’t end
 in ’my lord,’ I’ll have your tongue out, do you
 understand?
 GWEN
 Yes...m’lord.
 ARDEL
 Now what’s this nonsense about her not leaving straight
 away?
 GWEN
 Well, m’lord, they announced His Majesty’s death just
 before 10 bells. And I was in the pantry just after 7
 bells, m’lord. I’ve brought enough food to the barracks    
 GWEN (cont’d)
 to know the guard would have changed, m’lord. If the
 assassin had slain His Majesty before I met her, they
 would have found his body sooner, m’lord.
 NARRATOR
 Gwen actually smiled at this, despite her current
 surroundings, pleased with her own cunning.
 ARDEL
 So, you are claiming that an assassin, who had been
 hired to murder the High King, was about to leave the
 keep without having completed her mission. She spoke to
 you, and only then decided to return and kill His Late
 Majesty. Am I correct, is that your claim?
 GWEN
 All I claim, m’lord, was that His Majesty was still
 alive when I saw that woman in the kitchen.
 GWEN (cont’d)
 And have you mentioned this opinion to anyone else?
 GWEN (cont’d)
 Can’t recall, m’lord. M’lady’s been so troubled of
 late. Very distracting, innit? Fogs the memory, m’lord.
 ARDEL
 If you were right, that would make things look quite
 bad for you, wouldn’t it?
 GWEN
 Looks worse for you if your regency is built on a lie.
 NARRATOR
 The look on Ardel Redmoors face brought to mind biting
 into a sour apple and finding a worm inside... and then
 learning the apple was covered in feces.
 ARDEL
 Let me make this abundantly clear, you peasant slut.
 You are admittedly more clever than I expected, so I’ll
 spare you talk of "unfortunate accidents." There is
 nothing I would hesitate to do you. I will have you
 beaten, raped, dismembered, anything.
 NARRATOR
 Her brief moment of pride quickly wiped away, Gwen did
 her best to remain composed. She managed fairly well.
 ARDEL
 Ah, yes, I forgot how "brave" you were. Your
 self-sacrifice isn’t brave. You don’t value your life.
 ARDEL (cont’d)
 As well you shouldn’t. It’s only bravery if something
 is at stake that you do value. And I’m sure, by now,
 you know what I’m willing and able to do to my whore of
 a sister.
 NARRATOR
 At this, Gwen finally flinched. Ardel Redmoor did not
 fail to notice this. His sneer widened a fraction.
 ARDEL
 So, as far as you’re concerned, Gunther’s death, and
 Brennen’s, and the assassin’s, happened exactly as was
 said in my Lord Regent’s record. And if I hear any
 rumors otherwise, regardless of who started them, it
 will come out of my sister’s foetid flesh. Now throw
 her in the dungeon for a day or three to make sure she
 understands.
 EXT. Blackhold - Late Morning 
 NARRATOR
 The fortress known as Blackhold iS a stark, severe
 castle, just to the east of the Black Mountains. No
 town or village surrounds the keep; its black bricks
 rise sharply from the desolate, snow-covered plains.
 This morning, same as centuries prior, a single
 standard flew from Blackhold’s tower, a field of sable,
 no adornment.
 INT. Blackhold Command Chambers -   
 NARRATOR
 Within the keep, officers of the realm’s civic guard
 studied a map of Iorden. At the head of the table sat
 the senior officer, a grizzled General by the name of
 Dillon Kerr. He manipulated tiny figurines of armsmen
 wearily.
 KERR
 I have no doubt Traft is coming here. Dawn at the
 latest.
 UNDERLING 1
 Is he as savage as they say?
 UNDERLING 2
 Of course he is, he’s half Orc!
 NARRATOR
 General Kerr pondered a long moment, giving the
 flippant question a good deal of thought before
 answering.
 KERR
 I have come to believe that General Traft is the
 incarnation of all the sins visited on his people by
 the Elves. And by us. And one day we shall have to pay
 for those sins. But, we are sworn to hold this castle.
 So, for the good of your honor, fight with the bravery
 of men condemned to die. But, for the good of your
 souls, know that it’s a fair sentence.
 Late Afternoon
 EXT. Outskirts of Armstrungard
 NARRATOR
 Brennen and Regan -- Queen Regan, that is -- finally
 arrived at Armstrungard after a long night’s march. The
 queen promptly led them to the whorehouse, as is mete
 and proper. They rounded a final corner, only to find
 Madame Bailey’s establishment swarmed by a veritable
 flock of heavily armed city guardsmen.
 REGAN
 Fuck! No good.
 BRENNEN
 Are the children all right?!
 NARRATOR
 Brennen, as we’ve established, had a habit of dealing
 with the authorities head-on. A habit of which Queen
 Regan disapproved, philosophically. Thus she had to
 grab the old general’s cloak to prevent him from
 introducing himself to the nearest Guard officer.
 REGAN
 Wait. I dunno where the kids are. Looks like the place
 got raided. Somebody musta pissed off McShane.
 BRENNEN
 So where are they?
 REGAN
 Either they got out before the raid and they’re holed
 up somewhere else, or they’re at guard headquarters.
 BRENNEN
 The day we met, the city guard--
 REGAN
 --they haven’t set the place on fire so don’t worry
 about that. And if they nabbed them, I don’t think
 they’ll try anything funny, on account of Yllowyyn.
 City guard always shit themselves when a fucking splint
 shows up.
 NARRATOR
 Brennen tactfully ignored his queen’s vulgarity.
 BRENNEN
 What do we do though, if they’ve been arrested?
 REGAN
 Know what we used to call breaking somebody out of
 guard headquarters when I was a kid?
 BRENNEN
 What’s that?
 REGAN
 A good Saturday morning.
 NARRATOR
 Their deliberation was interrupted by the clang of an
 alarm bell. The pair looked towards the source of the
 noise, to see a thick black column of smoke rising
 above the city skyline and into the morning air. Some
 mutual instinct had them both running towards the
 source in an instant.
 EXT. Elsewhere in the City - A Few Minutes Later
 
 NARRATOR
 Some fifteen minutes later, the Queen and the General
 found themselves in front of the charred remains of
 what was once a tavern. A line of locals hastily doused
 the smoldering timbers, to prevent the fire’s spread.
 The scene, in fact, was rather reminiscent of the
 erstwhile Skeevy Rat Tavern & Grill, on the morning
 after Brennen and Regan had first met.
 REGAN
 That’s the city guard I know and love.
 END OF ACT ONE.
Category:Episode Transcripts