Transcript:The Worthiest Knight, Pt. 4

ACT FOUR:
 Wooded Path Near Castle Guernatal - Night   
 NARRATOR
 The Redmoor and Mooncrest post-dinner horse ride was a
 tense affair. The soon-to-be-married couple rode some
 distance ahead, out of ear-shot but within sight of the
 others. Ardel Redmoor watched the couple suspiciously,
 trying to decipher Antonin’s motivation for this ride.
 With him rode his cousin Rickard Redmoor, who was
 accompanied by his favorite hunting dog.
 Arlene Redmoor shared a beautiful white mare with
 Antonin, the man she had just met who was to be her
 husband. She could imagine she felt the eyes of her
 brother and cousin boring into her back.
 ANTONIN
 I hope you do not think me too mannerless, my lady.
 ARLENE
 I only found you exceptionally gracious. So long as my
 behavior did not offend you.
 ANTONIN
 Not in the least. Understand, it’s not that I don’t
 value etiquette. But, if you’ll excuse my frankness,
 I’ve come to believe that some rules are more important
 than others.
 ARLENE
 (CAUTIOUS)
 I’ve...never considered that point of view, my lord.
 ANTONIN
 Have you ever been on the banks of the Abergwyre, my
 lady?
 ARLENE
 I haven’t. I look forward to it, though, when...when we
 are wed.
 ANTONIN
 For a mile or so on either side of the river is a
 verdant oasis. But as you travel further north the
 reeds get terribly dry. If lightning strikes, or feral
 men make camp and are not careful, the resulting fire
 could quickly grow out of control and envelop the oases
 as well. That would ruin my family and doom our people
 to starvation, as I’m sure you understand.
 ARLENE
 Perish the thought!
 ANTONIN
 Indeed. Do you know what we do to prevent such
 calamity?
 ARLENE
 I don’t, my lord.
 ANTONIN
 Twice a year, we send men out with torches and water to
 burn off the driest patches but stop the fire from
 spreading any further.
 ARLENE
 Fascinating.
 ANTONIN
 So sometimes you must destroy a little on the periphery
 to save what truly matters most. Do you see what I
 mean?
 ARLENE
 I...think so, my lord.
 ANTONIN
 When it comes to laws and customs, of course we do
 honor to Galadon by obeying them. But when we must
 choose between breaking a rule here or there, or
 allowing widespread chaos to run amok, surely Galadon
 would favor the former.
 ARDEL
 There’s wisdom in that, my lord.
 ANTONIN
 Good. So I pray you’ll forgive me for this next part.
 NARRATOR
 Had you been close enough to observe, you would have
 seen Antonin Mooncrest lift a small wooden whistle to
 his lips. The sound it made was inaudible to the human
 ear, but it was rather painful to the hound.
 Ardel, of course, was not close enough to observe, and
 could not hear the sound. From his vantage, the dog’s
 sudden fit of barking and running was quite without
 provocation.
 The barking startled the white mare, who reared upon
 her hind legs like a statue before bolting ahead.
 Antonin sat the terrified horse as calmly as if she
 (MORE)
 NARRATOR (cont’d)
 were walking in a park. Arlene clung to her betrothed
 for dear life.
 Ext. Elsewhere In The Woods - A Few Minutes Later 
 NARRATOR
 By the time Ardel and Rickard had caught up, Arlene was
 on the ground next to a large oak tree. Antonin lept
 off his horse to offer a hand to Arlene, but she rolled
 away from him and tried to run.
 ANTONIN
 My lady!
 ARDEL
 What in Galadon’s name is happening?!
 NARRATOR
 Antonin Mooncrest knelt in contrition before Ardel.
 ANTONIN
 Lords Redmoor, you have my most abject apology. I
 thought I knew my horse well, but you knew the Lady
 better. I beg your forgiveness, my lord. If the lady is
 injured in any way, my house will repay yours tenfold.
 ARDEL
 Go help the poor thing, Cousin.
 NARRATOR
 Rickard dismounted, and made the briefest eye contact
 with Mooncrest.
 ARDEL
 All I will say, Lord Mooncrest, is that your Lord Uncle
 would never have been so foolhardy.
 ANTONIN
 I deserve much harsher words.
 NARRATOR
 Cousin Rickard offered a hand to Arlene. Rather than
 accepting it, she skittered on her hands and knees away
 from her cousin’s touch.
 ANTONIN
 And, this should go without saying, but on behalf of my
 house, I forfeit the right to request blood proof of
 Maid Redmoor’s maidenhood.
 SOUND: SILENCE
     
 NARRATOR
 The silence was deafening. The entire forest stilled at
 the shock of these words. Arlene scarce dared to
 breathe.
 ARDEL What.
 NARRATOR
 Ardel’s face grew more and more red, impossibly red. A
 vein in his neck bulged. Antonin Mooncrest continued to
 kneel, and continued to speak calmly, as if he were
 discussing the weather.
 ANTONIN
 It’s entirely plausible that the maidenknot was broken
 in this dreadful accident. It happens to many ladies
 who take an early interest in equitation.
 ARDEL
 Are you sure you understand what you are saying, my
 lord?
 ANTONIN
 You saw how the beast took off.
 (TO RICKARD)
 Didn’t you, my lord Rickard?
 NARRATOR
 At this, Rickard Redmoor finally managed to make eye
 contact with Arlene. He made a slight bow, merely a dip
 of his head towards his cousin, as he said quietly--
 RICKARD
 --Indeed.
 ANTONIN
 There you have it.
 NARRATOR
 The vein in Ardel’s neck looked fit to burst.
 ARDEL
 You are most gracious, my lord.
 DREAM SEQUENCE: College Classroom - Time Unclear 
 NARRATOR
 Nia dreamed of the great lecture hall atop the tower of
 Armstrungard. The hall was crowded, and the great Ba’a
 Lo’Kyr was delivering a lecture. In the manner of
 dreams, the subject of the talk slipped beyond the
 mind.
 A handsome student across the hall smiled at Nia. She
 flushed and smiled, disproportionate to the small
 gesture. Her joy was interrupted, however. Suddenly
 Ba’a Lo’Kyr screeched, a haunting, un-earthly sound.
 Ba’a’s skin split and peeled, and from within the Elf’s
 body burst the most terrifying beast Nia could possibly
 imagine. The demon screeched again. Nia stood to flee,
 but none of the other students in the room appeared to
 notice Ba’a’s transformation. As Nia gazed around in
 horror, she noticed that the girl in the seat next to
 her was too young to be an Armstrungard student. She
 also had a gaping wound in the center of her chest.
 YOUNG GIRL
 There are seven things you must know to save me. The
 fifth thing is: the blind man has seen the face of god.
 NARRATOR
 The dream demon sprung towards Nia, leaping the many
 intervening rows of the lecture hall in a single bound.
 YOUNG GIRL
 Jen may be ready to talk.
 INT. Monastery - Late, Late Night
 NARRATOR
 Nia awoke in the monastery dormitory with a start. She
 looked towards the empty cot, which should have
 contained Jen, in confusion. Yllowyyn, still awake and
 on guard, noticed her confusion.
 YLLOWYYN
 Bell tower.
 NIA
 And you let her go in her current state?
 INT./EXT. Bell Tower - Continuous
 NARRATOR
 Nia indeed found Jen in the bell tower, surveying the
 storm.
 NIA
 Jen? I owe you an apology.
 NARRATOR
 The anger had fled from Jen’s eyes. Still, she did not
 turn or speak.
 NIA
 Since undertaking this quest which I was, admittedly,
 not fully prepared for, I have...well suffice it to say
 my faith has become somewhat more complex. I unfairly
 expected you and the boys to restore some of the
 simplicity of youth. And then lashed out when you were
 human.
 JEN
 You know what I’ve been feeling since this morning?
 NIA
 I can’t imagine.
 JEN
 Powerful. I felt powerful. Like I had control over
 something. For once.
 NARRATOR
 Jen turned, and looked Nia directly in the eyes.
 JEN
 I swung my arm, and made the bad man go away. And now
 he can’t hurt anyone else. And I wanted to hold onto
 that feeling. That I could make all the bad men go
 away. And then no one else would have to go through
 that. I didn’t want to think about it because I knew
 once I thought about it...
 (CRIES)
 Oh my God. I killed somebody.
 NARRATOR
 Jen fell sobbing into Nia’s shoulder as the priest
 wrapped the girl in a comforting embrace.
 Their moment, however, was interrupted by a splintering
 crash from below.
 INT. Monastery Chapel - Continuous  
 NARRATOR
 Frieshelm and his squires had broken through the
 monastery’s barred door. Yllowyyn’s arrows felled three
 squires in the blink of an eye, but the other three
 used their fallen companions as a shield to get close
 enough to tackle the Elf. At that range, his bow was
 useless, and without enough time to draw a knife, he
 was quickly restrained by the three large men.
 Billy and Nelson, to their credit and the credit of
 Brennen’s training, were awake and armored in moments.
 They stood bravely shoulder-to-shoulder, brandishing
 NARRATOR (cont’d)
 their swords at Frieshelm in a posture they only prayed
 was correct. The knight only laughed, and with a quick
 flick of his own blade, disarmed both of the boys.
 Their swords skittered down the hallway and out of
 reach.
 A single ursine swing of Frieshelm’s gauntleted hand
 knocked both of the boys on their backs. The man
 casually lifted his own blade to strike Billy down.
 JEN No!
 NARRATOR
 Jen and Nia emerged from the stairwell just in time to
 see Frieshelm’s sword poised over Billy’s throat.
 Heedless of her own safety, Jen ran at the man,
 swinging her own sword wildly. Her strikes bounced off
 of Frieshelm’s armor harmlessly.
 NIA Jen!
 NARRATOR
 With his left hand, Frieshelm grabbed the girl by the
 throat and lifted her clear off the ground. Nia pointed
 her staff at him in preparation for a spell, but a
 flippant stroke from the sword in his right hand
 shattered the wood effortlessly.
 Jen’s eyes bulged as the large man throttled her. He
 shook, and her eyes rolled wildly as she kicked and
 struggled. Suddenly, she stopped kicking, her eyelids
 fell closed. Sir Frieshelm laughed cruelly. As he
 laughed, a sort of "hum" filled the room. Almost
 imperceptible at first, the sensation was more felt
 than heard, and it slowly grew stronger. The hairs on
 Jen’s head stood on end.
 For just a heartbeat, the room went still. And then the
 figure of Frieshelm exploded in sparks. His armor shone
 from the light of it, and girl and man were thrown
 apart, each heavily hitting the walls at opposite ends
 of the room.
 Yllowyyn took advantage of the momentary shock to throw
 the three squires off of him. The terrified men fled to
 the door of the room, only to run headlong into Regan
 and Brennen, who had just arrived. The queen’s twin
 swords flashed and her general’s axe gleamed, and
 then the squires were dead.
 (MORE)
 NARRATOR (cont’d)
 Sir Frieshelm himself lay stunned against a back wall.
 Wordlessly, Brennen kicked off his helm, and
 decapitated him with a great swing of his axe.
 Billy was the first to recover from the shock of the
 battle. He rushed to Jen’s side.
 BILLY Jen!
 BRENNEN
 Is she all right?!
 JEN (CROAKS) That sucked.
 NARRATOR
 The print of a hand was clearly burned into her flesh,
 red ghosts of fingers grasping her neck. She slumped
 against Billy’s chest, unable to move further.
 BILLY
 You’re okay, babe. We got ’em.
 NIA
 I’ll make you some ice.
 NARRATOR
 The priest reached for her staff before remembering it
 lay in ruins on the floor. Instead she gingerly placed
 her own hands upon the girl’s neck and began muttering
 some words.
 BILLY
 Nice of you guys to join us, by the way.
 REGAN
 Way to kill a cop while you’re supposed to be laying
 low. Which one of you fucking wizards thought that was
 a good idea?
 NARRATOR
 Jen raised a weak hand before letting it drop.
 REGAN
 Glad you’ve kept you’re sense of humor, but really, I’m
 curious.
 NARRATOR
 Nia only nodded. When Regan looked towards the Elf for
 confirmation, he nodded too.
 REGAN
 No shit? Well fuck me, I had you wrong, girly. I owe
 you a drink. And you just magicked the shit out of
 falcon boy there.
 BILLY
 Yeah, what did you do, honey?
 NELSON
 That was fucking awesome.
 NIA
 She attempted an enchantment way beyond her ability,
 and injured herself in the process. Which is exactly
 what I warned her about.
 (WHISPERS)
 Thank you for not listening.
 REGAN
 I just wish I coulda seen the look on McShane’s
 sonofabitch face. Your timing leaves something to be
 desired though.
 YLLOWYYN
 Indeed. General, while out in the taverns I heard some
 troubling whispers about the Kingdom.
 BRENNEN
 Some are true, I’m afraid. His Majesty is slain and
 Ardel Redmoor has usurped the High Throne.
 NIA
 What?! Yllowyyn, you heard talk of this and didn’t tell
 us?
 YLLOWYYN
 You know how common men gossip. There was no sense
 worrying you all until we knew for sure.
 REGAN
 Well now you know. Oh and also that means I’m Queen,
 apparently.
 NIA
 Your Grace!
 NARRATOR
 Nearly dropping Jen, Nia knelt low to the ground. At a
 slight gesture towards the boys, they eventually
 followed suit.
 YLLOWYYN
 The Knights of the Wood will not abide such wanton
 chaos.
 NARRATOR
 Regan lifted an eyebrow at the Elf. With a sigh, he
 lowered his head, the minimum required by ettiquette.
 YLLOWYYN
 Your Grace.
 BRENNEN
 Would you say this merits petitioning the High Council
 directly, Kalth’yr?
 YLLOWYYN
 I never thought I’d see such a thing in my life, but
 I’m afraid it does,
 BRENNEN
 If you would be so gracious as to broker our passage
 into the White Forest...
 YLLOWYYN
 Of course. Though I would caution you all not to
 mention the less lawful moments of the last few days in
 the presence of Elves.
 REGAN
 We can’t go anywhere until this storm dies down.
 BRENNEN
 Luckily, neither can anyone get up here. Let’s take the
 chance to get some rest.
 NARRATOR
 Yllowyyn looked around, as if noticing for the first
 time that the room was full of corpses.
 YLLOWYYN
 We should deal with these before the rats come.
 BRENNEN
 I’ll deal with Sir Frieshelm. Kalth’yr, gather up the
 rest.
 REGAN
 I’ll help you, Brennen.
 EXT. Gates of the Monastery - Nearly Continuous 
 NARRATOR
 Brennen and Regan struggled to carry the large corpse
 through the gale winds and driving rain. As they tossed
 the body over a cliff, Brennen spoke.
 BRENNEN
 It was in a tourney. He was Redmoor’s champion, and I
 was your grandfather’s. The victor got to hold the
 vanquished "hostage" for the champion’s purse. When I
 lost, the Lord Treasurer didn’t think a peasant was
 worth the money. Gunther humiliated himself to get me
 released. Don’t think I’ve ever forgiven myself. Next
 time I rode into a real battle was an Orc raid near
 Blackhold. I led 500 horse into four times as many
 pike.
 REGAN
 Even I heard about that. Didn’t know it was you though.
 BRENNEN
 Our foes broke rank. Everyone said my "boldness" won
 the day. I rode in thinking we would surely die. That
 was the point.
 REGAN
 Guilt’s a privilege of the living. Frieshelm’s dead.
 BRENNEN
 Aye, but he lived and died a knight.
 A BEAT.
 Let’s get inside.
 INT. Monastery - Continuous 
 NARRATOR
 As the two returned from outside, Yllowyyn was
 searching the squire’s bodies for anything useful,
 while Billy, Nelson, and Nia tended to Jen.
 REGAN
 I’m gonna need somebody to walk me through this.
 YLLOWYYN
 Through what?
 REGAN
 I’m knighting Brennen.
 BRENNEN
 (ECSTATIC) Your Grace?
 REGAN
 A Queen can do that right?
 BRENNEN
 If Her Majesty wills it.
 REGAN
 Kneel, General Brennen of Greyfield.
 NARRATOR
 Brennen could not keep the grin from widening across
 his face as he knelt in front of his queen. He waited,
 expectantly. And waited. And waited.
 REGAN
 Okay, that’s all I got.
 NARRATOR
 Yllowyyn rolled his eyes, but took the Kalth’yr post
 behind Queen Regan’s right shoulder.
 YLLOWYYN
 Say "I," then state your full name and titles.
 REGAN
 I, Aerona Margaret Regan, uh, thief queen of
 Armstrungard...
 YLLOWYYN
 Your real titles.
 REGAN
 What are my real titles?
 NIA
 Champion of the civilized peoples and High Queen of the
 Human Realms of Iorden.
 REGAN
 Shit, look at me. I, Aerona Margaret Regan, Champion of
 the civilized peoples and High Queen of the Human
 Realms of Iorden...
 BRENNEN
 Do call upon me...
 REGAN
 I call upon me?
 BRENNEN
 No, you call upon me.
 REGAN
 Do call upon you, General Brennen of Greyfield.
 YLLOWYYN
 "To serve me as a knight."
 REGAN
 To serve as a knight.
 YLLOWYYN
 Now ask "would you be knighted?"
 REGAN
 Would you be knighted?
 BRENNEN
 I would, Your Grace.
 REGAN
 Can I just appoint the preacher lady to say the rest of
 the words for me?
 NIA You may.
 REGAN
 Is that gonna make this count any less for you,
 General?
 BRENNEN
 No, Your Grace.
 NARRATOR
 Brennen’s smile still split his face. Regan gestured to
 Nia, who could not surppress her own smile. She
 proceeded with all the dignity and warmth she could
 muster.
 NIA
 Would you bring honor to your liege in all you do, and
 obey her every order, may Galadon help you?
 BRENNEN
 I would.
 NIA
 And would Your Grace never give your knight a command
 which would bring disorder or disgrace?
 REGAN
 How are we defining "disorder" and "disgrace"?
 YLLOWYYN
 Ahem.
 REGAN
 Fine. I would not.
 (UNDER HER BREATH)
 I’ll do all the fun stuff myself.
 NIA
 Now you dub him.
 REGAN
 Is that the sword part?
 YLLOWYYN
 Yes.
 NARRATOR
 Regan drew her blade and touched the flat steel gently
 to Brennen’s left shoulder.
 NIA
 Do you have a family name, General?
 BRENNEN
 My father was called Willem.
 REGAN
 I dub you Sir Brennen Willemson.
 NARRATOR
 The steel touched his right shoulder.
 REGAN
 Arise, Sir Brennen.
 NELSON This is like Man of La Mancha except Brennen’s not a total fuckup.
 REGAN
 Sir Brennen is not a total fuckup.
 BILLY
 Man of the what?
 JEN
 It’s a musical, Billy. They did it at school last year.
 I was gonna be in it, but...
 NIA
 Jen, rest your voice. Billy, Nelson, would you please
 help her into bed? I’ll see to her in a few minutes.
 NARRATOR
 Billy lifted the girl and carried her towards the beds.
 Nelson followed. Once Nia was sure the children were
 out of earshot, she turned to Brennen and Regan.
 NIA
 Jen’s throat will swell. I can ice it but I can only do
 so much without my staff. She needs a real physician.
 REGAN
 And Brennen needs his arm taken care of.
 BRENNEN
 I told you it’s fine.
 REGAN
 You’re a knight now. That’s my arm and I’m gonna need
 it.
 YLLOWYYN
 There is Elven medicine that can help when we get to
 the White Forest.
 NIA
 If we don’t get there soon it may be too late for Jen.
 REGAN
 But we’re dead for sure if we try to get down in the
 storm.
 BRENNEN
 We must be ready to depart as soon as the storm clears.
 Kalth’yr, take the first watch.
 NARRATOR
 As they dispersed to prepare for the evening, Regan
 held her knight back for a moment.
 REGAN
 Sir Brennen.
 BRENNEN
 Your Grace?
 REGAN
 Are ’Maggie’ and ’Catie’ good sword names?
 END OF EPISODE.
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