I really wanted to get the last scene of Act I done tonight, but I'm tired and I don't want to write crap I'll have to rewrite. So I'll attack it fresh in the morning and go from there.
So remember, I threw out the two previous pages I posted. This starts after Dominik asks Ilka if they can play a game.
INT. GUEST ROOM - MORNING
Mira sits in the chair, in the dress from the night before. Wide awake, calm, and watching the door.
CLICK. The door creaks OPEN a few inches. Mira tenses, waits. No other sound or movement.
She stands, goes slowly to the door. Cautiously opens it fully, then looks out into--
THE CORRIDOR
Mira steps out of the room, long looks up and down the hallway - nothing, no one.
She starts walking. The rustling of her skirts is very loud in the stillness. She comes to a door. Beat. Mira tries the handle - it is locked.
Down to the end of the corridor, around the corner. This hallway looks EXACTLY THE SAME as the one she just left. The tapestry on the wall opposite the two doors is the same - a BLACK DRAGON on a white field, biting its own tail.
Mira hesitates, then walks down this corridor as well. Tries the doors - locked. Hurrying now, around the corner.
The same hallway.
Mira stops. Deep breaths.
FOOTSTEPS from behind, coming her way.
Mira RUNS. Down the corridor, around the corner - the same hallway. She tries the doors - locked, locked.
The footsteps are louder, their pace quicker.
Around the corner, the same hallway. Mira’s breath comes in GASPS. She doesn’t bother with the doors this time.
Around the corner - STAIRS. Mira almost falls down them - she grabs at the wall.
The footsteps behind her, running.
Mira hurries down the stairs, holding up her heavy skirts. Down to the foot of the stairs--
A NEW CORRIDOR
Empty walls. HEAVY DOUBLE DOORS at the end.
The footsteps running down the stairs.
Mira runs down the corridor, wrenches the doors open. Enters--
THE CHAPEL
She turns to look back down the hallway. Empty. Silent - the footsteps are GONE. Mira pulls the DOORS SHUT, the hinges SQUEALING. Catches her breath.
She turns to look at the chapel. Dim, cold. Six pews in two rows. The white statues in niches, all staring piously into the distance.
MIRA
Father?
Silence. She looks for the font, but there is none. She walks toward the altar.
MIRA (CONT’D)
Father Janos?
She looks to her left - the CONFESSIONAL. Opens one door, then the other. Empty. Still a bit disquieted, Mira goes behind the first pew and KNEELS.
CUT TO:
INT. ILKA’S ROOMS - DAY
Ilka walks around her bed, a SMILE completely transforming her face.
ILKA
And when I find you, I will take you
down to the kitchen and have them cook you into a pie!
GIGGLES from under the bed. Ilka is like a child herself, rustling the bed curtains loudly.
Footsteps coming down the hallway outside.
Ilka drops to her knees, grabs for Dominik.
ILKA (CONT’D)
Come here, hurry.
She pulls and he crawls. A KNOCK on the door.
Ilka opens a CHEST at the foot of her bed, lifts Dominik and sets him down inside. She puts a finger to her lips - he nods. She closes the chest.
Another knock.
Ilka sits on top of the chest, lets her shoulders slump.
ILKA (CONT’D)
Come in.
The door opens - Janos enters.
JANOS
My Lady, you look well.
ILKA
I am tired, Janos.
JANOS
(looks around)
Where is the child?
ILKA
One of the girls took him away.
JANOS
Is that so?
ILKA
He was quite loud, fussy. You know
what trouble I have sleeping.
JANOS
Which girl took the child?
Ilka stands, putting on anger - fear underneath.
Janos looks to the chest, smiles, and leaves.
Beat. Ilka gets up, opens the chest. Dominik peers up at her.
ILKA
Always prating about your mother. Be glad
that I didn’t give you to one of the
servants! You would be sitting in your
own filth right now, alone, ignored.
She huffs around the room. Dominik puts his ARMS OUT, waiting for her to lift him out of the chest. Ilka sees him, stops her pacing. She picks him up - he hugs her neck.
ILKA (CONT’D)
(whispers)
I just want to keep you for a little awhile.
Is that all right?
Dominik nods. They hold each other.
CUT TO:
INT. CHAPEL - DAY
Mira continues to pray.
MIRA
I do not ask for money, or land, or
possessions. I only ask that You return
me to my home. That is all I
want. Please, Lord, just let everything
go back to the way it was.
Beat. She begins to say more, then stops - she HEARS something. Mira doesn’t move, doesn’t even shift her eyes, but she’s alert.
WHISPERS.
Mira closes her eyes, struggles to stay still. The whispers continue, unintelligible.
She whips her head to the side, looks - the whispers STOP. Nothing there but the statue of the Virgin Mary, hands clasped in prayer, eyes turned toward the back of the chapel.
BATHORY (O.S.)
So there you are.
Mira turns - Bathory stands just outside the chapel. The doors stand wide open.
So remember, I threw out the two previous pages I posted. This starts after Dominik asks Ilka if they can play a game.
INT. GUEST ROOM - MORNING
Mira sits in the chair, in the dress from the night before. Wide awake, calm, and watching the door.
CLICK. The door creaks OPEN a few inches. Mira tenses, waits. No other sound or movement.
She stands, goes slowly to the door. Cautiously opens it fully, then looks out into--
THE CORRIDOR
Mira steps out of the room, long looks up and down the hallway - nothing, no one.
She starts walking. The rustling of her skirts is very loud in the stillness. She comes to a door. Beat. Mira tries the handle - it is locked.
Down to the end of the corridor, around the corner. This hallway looks EXACTLY THE SAME as the one she just left. The tapestry on the wall opposite the two doors is the same - a BLACK DRAGON on a white field, biting its own tail.
Mira hesitates, then walks down this corridor as well. Tries the doors - locked. Hurrying now, around the corner.
The same hallway.
Mira stops. Deep breaths.
FOOTSTEPS from behind, coming her way.
Mira RUNS. Down the corridor, around the corner - the same hallway. She tries the doors - locked, locked.
The footsteps are louder, their pace quicker.
Around the corner, the same hallway. Mira’s breath comes in GASPS. She doesn’t bother with the doors this time.
Around the corner - STAIRS. Mira almost falls down them - she grabs at the wall.
The footsteps behind her, running.
Mira hurries down the stairs, holding up her heavy skirts. Down to the foot of the stairs--
A NEW CORRIDOR
Empty walls. HEAVY DOUBLE DOORS at the end.
The footsteps running down the stairs.
Mira runs down the corridor, wrenches the doors open. Enters--
THE CHAPEL
She turns to look back down the hallway. Empty. Silent - the footsteps are GONE. Mira pulls the DOORS SHUT, the hinges SQUEALING. Catches her breath.
She turns to look at the chapel. Dim, cold. Six pews in two rows. The white statues in niches, all staring piously into the distance.
MIRA
Father?
MIRA (CONT’D)
Father Janos?
CUT TO:
Ilka walks around her bed, a SMILE completely transforming her face.
ILKA
And when I find you, I will take you
down to the kitchen and have them cook you into a pie!
Footsteps coming down the hallway outside.
Ilka drops to her knees, grabs for Dominik.
ILKA (CONT’D)
Come here, hurry.
Ilka opens a CHEST at the foot of her bed, lifts Dominik and sets him down inside. She puts a finger to her lips - he nods. She closes the chest.
Another knock.
Ilka sits on top of the chest, lets her shoulders slump.
ILKA (CONT’D)
Come in.
JANOS
My Lady, you look well.
ILKA
I am tired, Janos.
JANOS
(looks around)
Where is the child?
ILKA
One of the girls took him away.
JANOS
Is that so?
ILKA
He was quite loud, fussy. You know
what trouble I have sleeping.
JANOS
Which girl took the child?
ILKA
As if I would care what any of their names are! It
was bad enough the creature was given to me in the first place.
JANOS
Of course. Will you come to the chapel with me?
ILKA
What is the point of prayer, Janos?
JANOS
Ilka...
She climbs onto her bed, lies down. No pretending this time.As if I would care what any of their names are! It
was bad enough the creature was given to me in the first place.
JANOS
Of course. Will you come to the chapel with me?
ILKA
What is the point of prayer, Janos?
JANOS
Ilka...
Janos looks to the chest, smiles, and leaves.
Beat. Ilka gets up, opens the chest. Dominik peers up at her.
ILKA
I thought it would be someone else.
DOMINIK
When is Mama coming?
The tender look on her face vanishes.I thought it would be someone else.
DOMINIK
When is Mama coming?
ILKA
Always prating about your mother. Be glad
that I didn’t give you to one of the
servants! You would be sitting in your
own filth right now, alone, ignored.
ILKA (CONT’D)
(whispers)
I just want to keep you for a little awhile.
Is that all right?
CUT TO:
Mira continues to pray.
MIRA
I do not ask for money, or land, or
possessions. I only ask that You return
me to my home. That is all I
want. Please, Lord, just let everything
go back to the way it was.
WHISPERS.
Mira closes her eyes, struggles to stay still. The whispers continue, unintelligible.
She whips her head to the side, looks - the whispers STOP. Nothing there but the statue of the Virgin Mary, hands clasped in prayer, eyes turned toward the back of the chapel.
BATHORY (O.S.)
So there you are.
BATHORY (CONT’D)
I came to your room, hoping to show you
the castle. You were not there.
Mira stands, stays silent. Bathory makes no move to enter the chapel.I came to your room, hoping to show you
the castle. You were not there.
BATHORY (CONT’D)
Will you join me?
MIRA
I was praying, my Lord.
BATHORY
And for what do you pray?
MIRA
For what does any woman pray? For the
health of my husband and child.
Mira holds his gaze, chin high. Bathory holds out his hand.Will you join me?
MIRA
I was praying, my Lord.
BATHORY
And for what do you pray?
MIRA
For what does any woman pray? For the
health of my husband and child.
BATHORY
Come.
Beat. She cannot say no, so joins him. He takes her by the arm, leads her away.Come.
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