nhpw, hollywobbles, and singer_shaper, as Sheridan said, "thank you" seems poor and inadequate. (Holly is like, huh? And I'm like, watch Babylon 5.) We'll talk more later about how I can repay you three for all you've done.INT. CATACOMBS - DAY
The only light comes from the torch Ilka still carries. Slimy stone walls, low arches.
MIRA
Why would he come down here?
ERZSEBET
It is old, and safe. This was here
before the castle, before the village.
A wider avenue. Alcoves on either side, hewn into the stone. Atop the bier in all but one is a SKELETON. Some have tattered clothes, wisps of hair. Some are nothing but bones with paper coverings of darkened skin.
ILKA
(whispers)
Who are they?
ERZSEBET
My family.
Mira stops to get a closer look. The skeleton MOVES, turning its skull her way with a creak. It reaches a bony hand out and GRABS her skirt.
MIRA
My God!
ERZSEBET
The king gave this land to two brothers
and their sons. Father did not wish to share.
They move from passages built from stone to passages tunneled through the mountain. The ground becomes more uneven, the passage twists more, and then they come to a FORK. Three different tunnels wind this way and that.
Erzsebet does not hesitate, but immediately heads down the right-hand passage. Ilka and Mira follow. But Erzsebet moves too quickly through the labyrinth, and Mira and Ilka fall behind. They lose her.
ILKA
Beta!
MIRA
Hush. We don’t want him to hear.
MIRA (CONT’D)
Left or right?
ILKA
(whispers harshly)
Beta! Beta!
ILKA (CONT’D)
Did you hear something?
MIRA
We don’t want him to double back and escape
the catacombs. We must find him while
he is still injured, and vulnerable.
They turn back, panting as they run. Back to the fork. But once there, there are FOUR options to choose from.
MIRA (CONT’D)
That bastard. We’ll never find him.
ILKA
No, wait. It’s not real. Janos is making us
see it, but I can see what should be there.
ILKA (CONT’D)
This is real.
Mira starts to turn back, but Ilka pulls her forward.
ILKA (CONT’D)
Not real.
MIRA
Hurry!
ILKA
Mira!
MIRA
It’s all right. I’m here.
MIRA (CONT’D)
We should turn around, go back the way we
came. I don’t wish to get lost down here.
MIRA (CONT’D)
What?
ILKA
Nothing. Just Beta - she took my hand.
Can you lead us out, darling?
ILKA (CONT’D)
What is it?
MIRA
Beta, stop. It might be him. Beta!
The alcoves and skeletons. On the last empty bier, Erzsebet lies in CHAINS. The other skeletons are on FIRE. Some jitter and shake. The flames crackle brightly. Sparks shoot closer and closer to Erzsebet.
MIRA (CONT’D)
Beta!
ILKA
No!
Mira reaches Erzsebet, tugs at the chains. She can’t find the lock. Erzsebet struggles, to no avail.
JANOS
I was so glad when you returned.
This is your home, Ilka.
ILKA
This was never my home!
JANOS
But what else is there for you? A widow with dead
children. Erzsebet wants nothing to do with
you, and never will - you’re weak, Ilka. Weak and useless.
ILKA
Mira. She will take me.
JANOS
She will blame you for her husband’s death. Why didn’t
you return sooner? For that matter, why didn’t you kill
Bathory years ago? You had ample opportunity.
There was no excuse - you knew what
he was, for longer than you’d like to admit.
JANOS (CONT’D)
There is nothing for you. Only me.
MIRA
Ilka! He cannot harm you! Come help me!
ILKA
(wan)
You lied to me. You’re just like him.
JANOS
No, Ilka. Didn’t I always take care of you? Wasn’t I
always there, to listen to your worries,
to pray with you? I care about you, Ilka, and I always will.
JANOS (CONT’D)
Sit down, and wait for me.
Mira manages to work one coil of chain over Erzsebet’s head, giving her more slack to work with.
MIRA
Almost there, sweetheart.
ERZSEBET
(screams)
Mira! Mira!
JANOS
You were a useful tool, Mira, but you have forgotten your place.
MIRA
That’s why you pretended to be martyred, to convert
the villagers - so we would forget the old ways!
JANOS
Blasphemer! Idolator!
MIRA
The crucifix, the Lord’s name, they mean nothing to
you. But this can harm you!
JANOS
The Lord’s name means everything to me! I fought
for Him, killed countless infidels, reclaimed the
Holy Land in His name! I thought I would be rewarded,
but His face has always been turned away from
me. I have been cursed since the moment
of my birth. Cursed, and alone.
MIRA
You must be alone. God never meant for you to exist.
JANOS
You think I don’t know that?
MIRA
(grits out)
You’re killing the only family you have left.
JANOS
She’s weak, like her mother. Like you. Like every mortal.
Ilka DRIVES her sword through Janos’ HEART.
Janos stumbles back, trying to grab at the sword hilt sticking out of his side. He falls, black blood pouring from his mouth. Ilka helps Mira up.
MIRA
(gasps)
Beta.
Erzsebet and Mira duck under the grate. Ilka trips, falls.
ILKA
Mira!
Mira and Erzsebet grab Ilka’s arms, pull her forward. Ilka screams.
JANOS
Mine! Mine!
JANOS (CONT’D)
I’ll eat you all! Mine! You’ll never
leave, never! I’ll make you--
Mira sits hard. Ilka crawls to her. They hold each other.
CUT TO:
Most, but not all, of the flames have died out. Ilka enters from the Great Hall, carrying a pillowcase stuffed full. Ropes of JEWELS around her neck.
ILKA
This was all I could find. I was surprised they were real.
MIRA
That is plenty to sell. If anyone from the village wants to come
up and finish pillaging, let them.
ILKA
Is it...finished?
MIRA
Yes. Beta helped me secure him to the horse.
ILKA
Mira? I’m sorry I didn’t come back sooner. No.
I’m sorry I didn’t do something long before you
ever came to the castle. I could have
ended it all and Samuel would still...you wouldn’t have had to...
MIRA
None of it was your fault. You were a prisoner up
here - you were lucky to keep yourself
alive. Come on. I don’t want to spend another minute here.
Mira and Ilka exit. They pass Erzsebet, sitting on the steps, watching the sunrise.
MIRA
Let’s go, Beta.
ERZSEBET
No.
MIRA
You can’t stay here.
ERZSEBET
He’s not dead.
ILKA
What?
ERZSEBET
He’s not alive. He’s in between, but he won’t
stay that way for long. I must destroy his body.
MIRA
We’ll stay until it’s finished.
ERZSEBET
No.
MIRA
Then you’ll join us in the village?
ERZSEBET
No.
MIRA
Beta...
ERZSEBET
This is my home.
ERZSEBET (CONT’D)
Don’t forget. You’re mine, forever.
ILKA
What did she say to you?
MIRA
(stands)
Nothing. Just goodbye.
CUT TO:
Peaceful and quiet. Behind the barn, a rectangle of freshly-turned earth. A wooden cross.
INT. MIRA’S COTTAGE - NIGHT
The bed in front of the fire. Mira lies between Ilka and Dominik. Those two sleep, but Mira is awake. She studies her son’s face, gently strokes his hair.
She cannot see the window behind her, or the white face that hangs there, looking in.
EXT. MIRA’S COTTAGE - CONTINUOUS
Erzsebet watches through the window. Longing on her face. She finally turns away.
She runs, past the barn and grave, through the tall dead grass beyond. In one instant, there is a running girl. In the next, a HAWK, flying.
The hawk flies up to a tall tree, rests on a branch. She surveys the land around the cottage, the road that passes by. No movement aside from a gentle, easy breeze.
Satisfied, the hawk takes flight again. She is beautiful, majestic. Soaring higher and higher, the hawk flies toward the castle on the mountain.
FADE TO BLACK.
