I have finally come to the end.  To 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.The passage narrows, twists and turns. The stones become rougher. Older. One last turn--

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.They move slowly forward. Mira and Ilka notice something else - each skeleton is held to its bier by old, rusty CHAINS.

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.She jerks back, but the skeleton’s grip holds. Ilka yells, brings her torch down on its arm. The bone breaks. The chains rattle, and then the skeleton lies still again.They continue on, being careful to stay in the center of the aisle. Another skeleton rolls its head to watch them pass.

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.They keep running, until they come to another fork.Mira chooses the left passage. Ilka follows.Through the twists and turns, until they hit a DEAD END. Whether the tunnelers just stopped or the tunnel collapsed is impossible to tell.
They turn back, panting as they run. Back to the fork. But once there, there are FOUR options to choose from.Beat, as she looks, then Ilka takes Mira’s hand and leads her through one of the passages.They hurry, the tunnel angling downward. Around a turn, and there’s another dead end. This time, SPEARS jut out toward them, embedded in the wall ahead. Nasty, sharp tips.

Mira starts to turn back, but Ilka pulls her forward.They walk THROUGH the spears. Deeper into the mountain. A sound up ahead - fabric rustling.They run. The scuffling of footsteps ahead of them, closer. Then Ilka’s torch GOES OUT. Absolute blackness.The sound of their breathing seems louder in the dark.The sound of their shoes on the stone, their dresses moving. Then Ilka GASPS.The sounds of their movement resume. After a few beats, a dim GLOW becomes apparent up ahead.But they do not stop. Up the passage - the glow becoming brighter. The passage levels out. Enough light to see Mira and Ilka’s faces peering forward.

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 runs forward. Ilka turns, slowly. For it isn’t Erzsebet who holds her hand, but JANOS. His skin is blackened and burnt, flaking off. But he seems as strong as ever.She tries to pull away, but his grip is solid. Janos grins.

Mira reaches Erzsebet, tugs at the chains. She can’t find the lock. Erzsebet struggles, to no avail.The fires grow brighter. Mira must turn her face from the heat. She tries to pull Erzsebet off the bier, chains and all. But the chains are too heavy.Janos’ voice is low and persuasive. Ilka’s face is a study in pain. Tears slide down her cheeks.The bottom of Erzsebet’s dress, the one Mira brought her in the tower, begins to BURN. Mira slaps at the flames. She turns to see Janos and Ilka, down the passage.Janos strokes Ilka’s face.She nods, wracked with sobs.Ilka slides down the wall, sits. Buries her face in her hands.

Mira manages to work one coil of chain over Erzsebet’s head, giving her more slack to work with.Janos grabs Mira, pulls her up and shoves her against the wall. One hand on her throat.Mira pulls the AMULET out of her bodice. Janos stumbles back, averts her eyes.With a ROAR, Janos grabs the amulet, rips it away. His hand smokes and burns - he cries out. But he still reclaims his grip on Mira. His face right in front of hers.Beat. There might be compassion on Mira’s face.Janos tightens his grip, furious.Mira struggles, bats at Janos’ arm, but her strength begins to fail. No air. Her eyelids start to fall--

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.They help Erzsebet slither out of the last of the chains. Her dress is scorched, but she is otherwise unharmed. The three of them run for the exit.

Erzsebet and Mira duck under the grate. Ilka trips, falls.Mira turns to see Janos grab Ilka by the ankles and start to drag her back into the catacombs.

Mira and Erzsebet grab Ilka’s arms, pull her forward. Ilka screams.The sword still sticks out of his side, and another gout of black blood spills from his mouth. He doesn’t let go of Ilka, is pulled forward as well.Mira stands, grabs the iron grate, and PULLS it down with all of her might. It CUTS OFF JANOS’ HEAD.

Mira sits hard. Ilka crawls to her. They hold each other.INT. CASTLE - ENTRY - DAY
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.Mira heads for the doors.Mira stops her, hands on Ilka’s arms.EXT. CASTLE - MOMENTS LATER

Mira and Ilka exit. They pass Erzsebet, sitting on the steps, watching the sunrise.The women stop, turn.Mira sits next to the girl. Erzsebet puts her arms around Mira’s neck, whispers into her ear.Mira nods, accepts is.Mira jerks back. Erzsebet smiles at her, then gets up, goes back into the castle. The doors close on their own behind her.They go to Ilka’s horse. A canvas-wrapped bundle - Samuel’s body - is tied over the horse’s back. Ilka gathers the horse’s reins, and they begin walking down to the village.EXT. MIRA’S COTTAGE - NIGHT

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.