Something
Wicked This Way Comes
Written
by: Caina Q. Fuller©
Episode
#15
Fade In-Amphipolis-Morning
Eve and Gabrielle crest a hill and look down on the peaceful
village of Amphipolis below. Villagers
move about with a strange sense of urgency, as if preparing for something big.
Behind them, Benjamin and Hope ride up in a wagon. Hope’s belly is huge, showing she is close to birth. It’s only a matter of days for her now.
Eve
Look at my mother’s village. She’s thriving.
Gabrielle
Yeah, but there’s something wrong. I can feel it.
Everyone seems so…anxious.
Hope
Well I hope we can find out what’s going on
soon so I can get back to the Amazon camp
and start my training…
Everyone looks at Hope and
she realizes how selfish she sounds. She quickly backpedals and tries to make
up for it.
Hope
But of course I want to solve
whatever is
happening here first because this
is very important.
much more important than my
training.
Benjamin claps her on the
shoulder.
Benjamin
Great rebound
Hope.
Hope’s
eyes are drawn to one particular, very familiar woman moving up the center of
the main street.
Hope
Look.
Isn’t that Najara?
Gabrielle
I think it is. What’s she doing here?
Eve
Let’s go find out.
Ext. Street
The group arrives in town to find Najara speaking with an old man
who serves as the village healer. When
Gabrielle rides up, Najara turns to them with a grim look on her face instead
of the expected happiness.
Najara
Gabrielle. Eve. I’m surprised to see you here.
Gabrielle
Same here. Everybody looks
nervous. Is there
something wrong?
Najara
There’s something very wrong.
Amphipolis is
about to go to war.
Close up
on Gabrielle.
Fade Out.
End of Teaser.
Act One
Fade In-Forest-Day
Najara, Gabrielle and Eve move with stealth through the thick
foliage of a forest. They are heading
toward the border between Amphipolis and Eion to try and spy out the enemy.
Najara
They’ve set up camp just ahead.
Gabrielle
Why are they attacking Amphipolis? Eion has
always had a strong tradition of peace and friend-
ship with Amphipolis.
Najara
We’re not exactly sure, but a few villagers went
to market in Eion two weeks ago.
They returned
saying Eion did away with their elected magistrate
and placed a warrior dictator in power. I was
called in after they discovered from some of the
villagers that their new leader had planned
a campaign to take over Amphipolis.
Eve reacts in disbelief at what she has heard.
Eve
They’ve given up their free government to place
a dictator in power?
Najara
can understand their surprise.
EXT.
FOREST-DAY
The women
finally arrive at the border and take shelter behind a fallen tree. What they see alarms them. Soldiers dressed in black uniforms with a
distinctive blood red insignia on their chests patrol the border gates. Gabrielle and Eve immediately recognize the insignia.
Eve
Look at
their insignias.
Gabrielle
I see.
Najara
You know the leader?
Gabrielle
I know him well. He’s my grandson.
EXT. CAMP-DAY
Cain has found a private spot in the camp, close to the border of
Amphipolis. He stands with his shirt off, practicing sword moves and
kicks. As he centers himself, he begins
to pick up on something near.
EXT. FOREST-GABRIELLE
We close in on Gabrielle’s eyes as she begins to sense contact
with Cain.
INT. INN-AMPHIPOLIS-HOPE’S ROOM
Hope is
unpacking her clothes in her room when she suddenly looks up from her
work. An image of Cain flashes before
her eyes.
Hope
Cain.
We switch
back and forth now, between Cain, Gabrielle and Hope as they sense one
another. Faster and faster until the
screen EXPLODES. Once the glare dies
down we go tight on Gabrielle’s eyes. There’s
no sound but the sound of Gabrielle’s breathing as she is momentarily locked in
contact with her grandson. Finally Gabrielle snaps out of it when Eve shakes
her shoulder.
Eve
Gabrielle? What’s
wrong?
Gabrielle
It’s Cain. We have to get out of here. He can
sense me.
Najara
But what about their-
Gabrielle
Now!
Some of
Cain’s soldier’s look up when they hear Gabrielle’s voice, drawing their
swords. An evil grin comes to Cain’s
face.
Cain
Grandmother.
Perfect.
He rests
the tip of his sword against his sweaty forehead, and fades away, reappearing
on the road directly on the border between Eion and Amphipolis. He can see Eve, Najara and Gabrielle riding
away. Gabrielle stops for a moment,
looking back. Their eyes meet for a
brief, electrifying moment.
Cain
Grandmother.
Gabrielle
turns and follows after Eve and Najara while Cain’s men rush up to follow
them. Cain holds up a hand, halting
them.
Cain
Don’t
bother following her. I’ll deal with
her
when the
time comes.
EXT. AMPHIPOLIS-A FEW MOMENTS LATER
Gabrielle, Eve and Najara come back into town to find Benjamin
waiting for them in front of the Inn. From the look on his face we know
something is wrong.
Gabrielle
What’s the matter?
Benjamin
It’s
Hope. She collapsed while you were
gone.
Gabrielle
I’m going up there.
Benjamin
What did
you find while you were out?
Gabrielle
Do you
remember what I told you about Cain?
Benjamin
Yeah, you had to kill him.
Gabrielle
I thought I’d killed him. He’s alive.
Gabrielle rushes past a stunned Benjamin while Eve and Najara
remain downstairs.
INT. HOPE’S ROOM
Gabrielle
enters Hopes room to find the healer tending to her. Hope’s eyes are closed,
her skin is pale and she caresses her swollen midsection almost as if she’s in
pain. Over and over she repeats “My son”, like a mantra.
Gabrielle
What’s wrong with her?
Healer
She
seems to be concerned about the safety of
her
unborn child, though I can find nothing wrong
with
either of them.
Gabrielle
Are you sure
she didn’t hurt the baby when she
fell?
Healer
They’re both fine.
Gabrielle
takes a seat next to her daughter while the healer packs up his equipment.
Healer
I will
return to check on her tonight. If she wakes,
try to
get her to eat something.
The
healer leaves and Gabrielle takes her daughter’s hand in her own.
Gabrielle
Hope. It’s Mama sweetheart. Can you hear me?
Hopes
eyes open. They’re blood shot and watery.
Hope
Cain…He’s
going to hurt the baby.
Gabrielle
He’s not
going to hurt your baby. I promise I
won’t
let anything happen. I’ll protect both
of you.
Hope
I know things about him. I know how to
destroy the destroyer. The blood of the innocent,
the brave…He’ll kill us all…
Hope
slips into a deep sleep, leaving Gabrielle to wonder about what she’d said. The
blood of the innocent and the brave?
Off
Gabrielle’s face cut to:
OVERVIEW
OF THE VILLAGE
The sun is setting and night has almost settled completely over
the village of Amphipolis.
EXT. BACKYARD OF THE INN-EVENING
The other homes of Amphipolis glow with warm golden light in
preparation for the long night ahead.
Eve is pouring water into a bucket from a well in the rear of the Inn
when she notices someone moving through the trees to her right.
She sets
the half full bucket on the ground and grabs her sword, easing toward the
movement. She soon hears voices in the distance and eases up to them. She finds
Najara meeting with Cain in a small clearing.
Najara
(laughing diabolically)
They don’t suspect a thing Cain.
Cain
Good.
Keep it that way. Go back to the village
Before
someone misses you. I’ll be in touch.
They
share a devious look before heading their separate ways. Close up on Eve.
EXT. YARD
Eve comes crashing out of the foliage to the backyard. The bucket is gone and Eve takes note of
this, but dismisses it. She has much more important news to deliver to
Gabrielle.
INT. MAIN ROOM
Eve
enters the main room of the Inn to find Gabrielle, Benjamin and Najara sipping
cups of hot tea.
Najara
Eve.
You’re just in time to join us for a cup of
tea. The
gods know we could use a moment
of peace
and quiet around-
Najara
cuts off when Eve draws her sword and points the business end at her.
Benjamin
Eve! What are you doing?
Eve
Get away
from her, both of you. She’s working
with
Cain.
Everyone,
especially Najara, reacts with shock.
Najara
Why would you say such a thing?
Eve
I just saw her in the forest with Cain. She said
we don’t suspect a thing. I saw them with my
own eyes.
They
stare at her in total disbelief.
Eve
Why are
you all looking at me like that? I know
what I
saw.
Gabrielle
Najara
has been here at the Inn with us the entire
evening. She hasn’t been out of my sight Eve.
Eve
shakes her head as if to clear the fog.
Eve
But I saw her…
Najara
Gabrielle
is telling you the truth. I’ve been
here
with her
all evening. I would never betray
innocent
people. Especially Gabrielle.
Najara
casts Gabrielle a puppy love look, which Benjamin sees. He takes a protective step closer to
Gabrielle, not liking the look in Najara’s eyes.
Benjamin
Why were
you in the forest? I thought you were
getting
water for Hope’s bath.
Eve
I was
getting the water when I saw Najara go
into the
forest to meet with Cain.
Everyone
looks to the bucket next to the rear wall.
When Eve follows their eyes she finds it is empty and completely dry
with cobwebs hanging from the rusty handle.
Plenty of evidence that no water has been in the bucket in quite
awhile. Eve stares in surprise, unable
to believe what she’s seeing.
Eve
I had the bucket half full!
Benjamin
That
bucket is as dry as dust. You couldn’t have
used it
today.
Gabrielle
Listen,
we’ve all had a long, stressful day. Why
don’t
you go upstairs and get some rest?
Eve
decides not to argue the point. It
wouldn’t do her any good. She sheathes her sword and allows Gabrielle to lead
her toward the stairs.
INT-EVE’S ROOM
Gabrielle
pulls the covers up to Eve’s chin and kisses her as she would her own child.
Gabrielle
Get some
sleep sweetheart. You’ll feel so much
better
in the morning.
Eve
You think I’m lying about Najara.
Gabrielle
I think
your eyes deceived you.
Eve
Right. It was a mistake.
Gabrielle
Good
night. I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and
early.
Gabrielle
extinguishes the lamp on the nightstand, and then shuts the door behind her.
Eve
(whispering)
You think I’m lying.
She turns over onto her side, leaving her back to the window. As she sleeps, a pair of green eyes begin to
glow in the darkness outside of the window. Eyes like those at the end of “The
Imposters”.
Fade Out.
End of Act One.
Act Two
FADE IN-AMPHIPOLIS
The sun rises over Amphipolis, promising hope for a better day.
INT. EVE’S ROOM
Eve is sleeping in her bed when she is awakened by the sound of a
woman’s scream. She rushes to her
window and finds a woman kneeling over the body of a man with a wound to his
chest. She rushes past her bed where
her sword is resting, but decides against taking it with her.
Woman
My husband! You murdered my husband!
Eve is shocked by this outrageous and completely unfounded
accusation.
Eve
I didn’t. I just got out of bed.
Woman
Liar!
Eve backs
away from the venom in the woman’s voice.
Another villager come up to see what’s going on.
Woman
You! You were a bane to this village when you
were a
child and you still are! Why don’t you
just
leave? Why don’t you leave and take your curse
with you
so Amphipolis can finally know peace!
The woman
is still weeping hysterically when Gabrielle and the magistrate come up to
them.
Gabrielle
By the gods, what’s happened here?
Eve
This woman thinks I murdered her husband.
Magistrate
Did you?
Eve
Of
course not! I was in bed when I heard her
crying.
I came down and found her-
Woman
Liar!
She’s a liar! I saw her run him through with
her
sword.
Gabrielle
is now looking at Eve as though she believes Eve has done this horrible
thing.
Eve
Gabrielle. I know you believe I’m innocent.
Gabrielle
I want
to Eve, but I’ve seen you in action. I know
how
violent you can be when you get angry.
Eve
I don’t believe this!
Gabrielle
Go into the Inn. I’ll be in soon.
Numb with
disbelief at Gabrielle’s words, Eve heads into the Inn, shutting the door
behind her.
INT-INN-MOMENTS
LATER
Gabrielle
paces back and forth while Najara sits beside Eve, rubbing one of her shoulders
in support.
Gabrielle
I don’t
understand what’s happening to you Eve.
First
you accuse Najara of plotting with Cain
behind
our backs. Now some woman claims she
witnessed
you murder her husband.
Eve
I didn’t kill that man Gabrielle. I would remember
doing something like that.
Gabrielle
Just
like you remember filling the bucket last
night?
That
stings Eve and her blood begins to boil in her veins.
Eve
I may
have been mistaken about Najara but I
know I didn’t kill anyone.
Like I said before. I
would
remember doing something like that,
and I
certainly wouldn’t lie about it.
Najara
Maybe
you wouldn’t remember. When I was
lost in
my madness I wasn’t aware of many of
the
murders I committed.
Eve
(frustrated)
Oh, God…
Gabrielle
The
magistrate wanted to arrest you. I barely
talked
him out of it. He’s got an eyewitness to
the
crime. What am I supposed to do with
that
Eve?
Before
Eve can answer a man comes rushing into the room, breathless and afraid.
MAN
Gabrielle!
Najara. Some men from Cain’s army
are
riding this way right now!
Eve
I’ll go get my sword.
INT.
EVE’S ROOM
Eve grabs
her sword off the bed and straps on her scabbard before returning downstairs.
INT.
DININ ROOM
Eve
rushes down the steps and finds her sword lying on the table. When she looks to her back she finds that
her scabbard is empty. She rubs her
forehead as her mind becomes even more confused and a wave of dizziness hits
her so hard she nearly faints. It seems
her perception of reality is becoming more and more skewed. Gabrielle pops her
head into the door, and Eve can see Najara behind her, on her horse.
Gabrielle
Arm
yourself and come on. Some men from
Cain’s
army are already at the gate.
Eve
Ok.
Gabrielle
can see something is wrong with Eve.
Gabrielle
You ok? You look a
little pale.
Eve
I’m fine. Gabrielle?
Gabrielle
Yeah?
Eve
My sword is on the table, right?
Gabrielle
frowns at her in confusion.
Gabrielle
Yes Eve. Are you sure you’re ok?
Eve takes
up her sword, saying nothing, and brushes past Gabrielle to mount her horse.
EXT.
STREET
Eve,
Gabrielle and Najara sit in the center of the street, blocking the path of the
ten men riding into the village.
INT.
HOPE’S ROOM
Hope
stands before a mirror, studying her belly with interest. Sweat drips from her
forehead and her skin is an unhealthy red from a fever that’s gripping
her.
Hope
Who are
you little one? What is your destiny?
How will
I keep you safe from harm?
EXT
STREET
The
leader of the ten man group signals his men to come to a stop while he rides
forward and greets Gabrielle. His name
is MINOS.
Minos
I am
Minos. Second in command of Cain’s new
army.
Gabrielle
Gabrielle of Potidaea. Why are you here Minos?
Minos
Cain
wishes to give Amphipolis one last chance to
surrender before he destroys her. You w