PLANET XERONIS

2ND DRAFT

BENJAMIN NKOMO

OCTOBER 2015

00263 774 885 215

00263 713 303 460

00263 775 224 491

00263 733 375 260

bennkom2234@gmail.com

“Copyright ©2015

This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the

author”

EXT/INT. OUTER SPACE

SOLAR SYSTEM, 2050

A small space ship is in trouble. A young man, BEN (26), is struggling

to stabilise it. Alarm is blaring. Suddenly a hole rips open in

space-time... a sucking worm hole that pulls the ship into it and

vanishes.

EXT. GORGE - DAY

PLANET XERONIS

Ben lies before the open worm hole. His ship has crashed into the

gorge wall not far off. He is weak and only catches sight of the

vanishing worm hole. The hole disappears into a large two pillar

supported mirror with some controls on it.

EXT. GORGE - DAY

Ben is sitting idly before his dust covered ship. Suddenly a huge

body blocks the sun’s light as it flies by. Ben looks up. It flies

by again. His knees go weak at the sight. He stands still facing up.

A giant winged reptilian creature hovers in the air and lands on the

plateau looking down into the gorge. It roars down at him and shows

its sharp teeth.

This is a dragon... a real dragon! Ben backs off, slowly at first

and then he sprints off.

The dragon dashes after him.

EXT. GORGE - DAY

Ben looks up and sees the dragon pursuing and leaping off plateau

to plateau across the gorge. There are large rocks which he can crawl

under and take cover around this part and he is glad because now it

will be easy to lose the monster. The dragon lands and starts looking

for him but he is hiding behind a rock. He sneaks off to the other

rock.

He can keep going but he steps into a snare.

As he places his right leg upon a pile of dead leaves, a very long

rope secures itself tightly around his ankle. The rope jerks upwards

violently making Ben fall on his back and knocking the wind out of

him as a large rock counter-weight falls a stone throw away. The rope

pulls him up and hoists him in the air.

He is swung from a tree and as he turns around, he knocks his head

violently against the juxtaposed rock.

He watches the dragon approach him through upside down blurry vision.

The world then dims for him as he goes unconscious.

EXT. GORGE - DAY

After moments in the dark, Ben opens his eyes to see a beautiful girl

kneeling down before him, NANCY (19). She is dressed in a gold

glittering outfit.

NANCY

Where did you come from?

Ben is not calm when he sees the dragon, WONDERBEE (2), inspecting

his ship behind Nancy.

NANCY

She brought you back here. That's your ship?

Ben can't concentrate on her but on the dragon. She notices.

NANCY

Don't worry... she is vegetarian.

BEN

Honestly?

WONDERBEE

Yuk! You thought I was going to eat you?

Nancy chuckles. She moves to the great mirror to type in some code.

NANCY

Her name is Wonderbee. She is my best friend.

Wonderbee approaches Ben who looks like he can run anytime. She sniffs

him up and down like a dog.

But the dragon is not large as he had first thought it to be. It is

two metres tall, has dark purple scales, large bat like wings, two

horns that point backwards from the head and a set of three small

horns projecting backwards again from either jaw, and has wide

luminous eyes.

WONDERBEE

Take off like that again and I will not save you.

Ben is quick to discern that it is a girl dragon.

BEN

Uh... okay.

NANCY

Damn it! This gate is drained.

She looks at Ben's ship.

NANCY

No wonder.

BEN

Who are you?

She turns for Ben after clearing her throat.

NANCY

I am Princess Nancy... and I am just leaving.

She curtsies and starts to leave.

NANCY

Come Wonderbee.

Ben can hardly believe it. He rises.

BEN

You can't just leave me here. I need help.

NANCY

I can... I don't even know who you are or where you came

from.

BEN

My name is Ben. I’m from Earth.

The two suddenly come to a screetching halt.

WONDERBEE

(excitedly)

An earthling...!

Then she looks playfully at Nancy.

NANCY

And you just had to say that. You will slow us down Ben.

Ben follows.

BEN

I will not.

NANCY

I can't take you to the palace with me, obviously. They

don't even know about

these excursions.

She comes before a parked FLYING BIKE.

BEN

Leaving me here would be very un-princessly.

Wonderbee eyes Nancy with her bulging eyes and manipulating smile.

WONDERBEE

The bounty hunters will make sport of him if we leave.

BEN

I don't like the sound of that.

Nancy quickly considers.

NANCY

Okay, we will take you to some friends. Nothing fancy...

just a

secret hide-out

She moves to mount her bike.

BEN

Well, it's better than here.

EXT. GORGE, FLYING BIKE – DAY (CONT’D)

Wonderbee is following the flying bike after them. Ben is looking

down as they ride on the wind, seeing the landscape below. He looks

ahead as they are going straight and the breeze knocks in his face

the way it would if at the back of an open truck.

Here it is rocky landscape with deep gorges and barren highlands.

EXT. GORGE RANGE, FLYING BIKE – DAY

NANCY

(calls)

Having fun?

BEN

It’s awesome.

Then she hits into a finger imprint and a glass-shield pops out from

the board in front of the controls. With that, she increases speed

as she falls into a gorge-way that spreads for miles and branches

into many pathways.

BEN

Where are we?

NANCY

Abandoned mines. We are just passing through.

Ben then looks way ahead and sees the portion ahead covered in fog.

The bike flies out of the gorge way as it ended and steep drops, rocky

hills and fog meets them.

EXT. FOG AREA – DAY (CONT’D)

Way down in the depths runs rivers of molten rock and burning

brimstone. The fog makes seeing very difficult. The raised rocky

walls are now more imposing to Ben. He does not like this part of

the tour.

Even Wonderbee is attentive now as she leads them here.

NANCY

What is it girl?

WONDERBEE

We are not alone.

Her ears wiggle back and forth.

WONDERBEE

I will go check it out. Don't wait for me.

Wonderbee quickly takes off in the opposite direction before Nancy

can stop her.

NANCY

WAIT!!! Urgh... I hate it when she does that.

BEN

You two seem very close.

NANCY

I know... we are an odd looking pair.

BEN

(chuckles)

Not what I meant but yeah... very odd.

As he looks about for Wonderbee who seemed to have disappeared, their

bike is suddenly intercepted!

A huge dragon just rises from the depths below and knocks their bike

hard and tries to flip it over. This is a huge surprise and they are

almost thrown over but Nancy is quick to reclaim the controls.

BEN

What was that!?

But she has not seen it. As they continue looking around and going

steadily a large dragon emerges to block their path... she emerges

with the clouds of mist and she flaps her wings to steady herself.

Nancy brakes to hover before the beast of a dragon. The dragon is

very large... larger than Wonderbee, and darker looking. She has a

crown of horns and a set of very large teeth and she does not look

friendly. She roars terribly at them.

BEN

Please tell me that is your other friend.

NANCY

I wish.

The dragon breathes fire against them and the bike shields them. Even

Nancy is in shock. The dragon breathes again but Nancy suddenly

accelerates forward to make a curve to the right. Ben looks back and

sees flames hit into the rock wall behind him, flames that were

supposed to hit him. After the flames go out, the dragon emerges from

the curve in pursuit.

This is not Wonderbee. This dragon is larger, darker, and

different... of another breed.

BEN

Nancy, step on it!

She gets the hint. There is a mist below them like a cloud layer,

and then rock pillars emerge from below to form an intricate system

like stone henges. Some are rocky mountain tops. Some rocks make

tunneling patterns that Nancy can swerve around. But the dragon is

bulldozing into these weak rocks sending dust and fire after them.

Nancy is using the environment to their advantage as best as she can.

But it's not enough. They are like fighter jets dancing on the wind.

The dragon pushes and pushes on the air just to reach them.

BEN

It’s closing in!

Nancy has an idea. The dragon dashes in again, its powerful wings

bringing it closer to the bike with each flap.

NANCY

Hold on!

Then Nancy suddenly pulls the bike back following a half circle and

avoiding the obstacle ahead and putting the dragon in direct

collision with it, slowing it down. She then quickly dives into

another path, losing the dragon so easily before it can make a turn.

Nancy rolls the bike on air sideways and safely plants them in a gorge

way that leads eastward.

Ben sighs as he can not see the dragon anywhere behind them.

BEN

That was good.

NANCY

Years of practise.

The rings underneath the bike propel the vehicle by releasing a blue

stream of gas, a gas that disappear immediately after coming in

contact with the air.

The engine is as silent as the breeze. This fog makes them almost

invisible... almost.

A powerful shock comes from underneath the bike and throws it

awkwardly forward with the front facing down and the bike in a dizzy

spin. Before she can master her bike, the dragon comes knocking the

bike again and this time the engine shuts down. Gravity takes over

and the bike falls into the mist below, and only their cries ascend.

Then everything goes quiet, including the roars of the dragon.

EXT. PLANET XERONIS, LEDGE ON GORGE - DAY

After a few minutes, Ben picks himself up to look around. They have

crash-landed on a smooth and wide ledge of the gorge. He hurries to

Nancy who lies on her belly; she is unconscious.

BEN

Nancy...?

He searches for a pulse in her neck and he dares not move her. He

gets on his feet and looks at the flying bike which lies on its side.

He moves to it and touching it sends an electric current coursing

through his veins. He jerks backwards from it and shakes his hand

from the pain.

He looks at the gorge wall and sees a rising path which disappears

into the mist above.

Then Ben has an idea. He runs to the walls and begins to make the

ascent. Before long the mist turns red as the dragon descends to

inspect his kill.

EXT. GORGE, ASCENT – DAY (CONT’D)

Ben does not stop running up.

EXT. GORGE, LEDGE – DAY (CONT’D)

The dragon nears, its towering shape silhouettes against the red sky.

EXT. GORGE, ASCENT – DAY (CONT’D)

Ben stops and picks a rock, and he looks down below. He then hurls

the rock which goes spinning down till it hits the dragon on the head,

drawing its attention upward.

BEN

Hey, pick on someone your own size!

The dragon roars ferociously at him and then it comes back up and

flaps its wings to hover before Ben. Ben moves back to the walls -

the dragon is really large.

The dragon throws its head back but Ben is not going to wait to be

roasted alive. Then the dragon blows out a spray of flames from its

mouth, a spray that moves upwards with its embers leaping at Ben as

he runs up, and raised rocks that come between them shields his

hide... but not for long.

The dragon hits immediately in front of him with its ten horns that

stick on his head like a crown. Chunks of rocks fall as the passage

upward is destroyed.

Ben means to turn back but the dragon’s tail destroys the path again,

leaving him standing on a raised platform and unable to escape.

EXT. GORGE, LEDGE - DAY

Nancy opens her eyes and she sits up straight. She then looks around

and upwards and then her heart races. She gets to her feet and runs

to her bike. She pushes it over and mounts it.

EXT. GORGE, ASCENT, RAISED PLATFORM - DAY

Ben presses hard against the wall as he looks the dragon in the eyes.

The dragon growls and grins as it comes closer to the platform.

DRAGON

Where is she, human?

The voice of the dragon is a bass that rumbles from deep within its

belly.

BEN

Where’s who?

DRAGON

The princess!

The dragon thrusts his hand and holds him firm against the wall with

his claws. The force dazes Ben a little.

DRAGON

You reek of her.

BEN

I don’t know what you are talking about.

DRAGON

You lie.

Then the dragon looses his flames on the rock not far from Ben’s right

so that he writhes away from the heat.

DRAGON

(demands)

Where is the girl?

BEN

I don’t know...

Then another breath scorches the rock and begins to turn it red. Ben

begins to groan and then moan in pain as his skin begins to hurt.

DRAGON

Where is she?

Ben looks at the dragon defiantly. It makes to breathe again but he

holds out his hand and speaks.

BEN

Wait... wait... I’ll show you to her.

DRAGON

Where?

The dragon hisses. Ben hesitates a little.

BEN

Inside the mines.

DRAGON

Why do you lie for her? You don't even know her.

Then the dragon takes Ben into his right hand to bring him closer

to his face. The dragon now clutches on the walls like a bat.

DRAGON

Would you die for a person you have just met?

BEN

How do you know I have just met her?

DRAGON

I know everything! She is a naive little girl who doesn't

need someone as great as

me to put her out of the picture. Very soon her escapades

would have brought her to

her own ruin.

BEN

Why do you want to kill someone as high ranking as her?

Did someone send you?

As the dragon speaks Ben is struggling now and again to loose himself

from the iron grip but he is failing.

DRAGON

Her fathers reigned terror upon this planet and they took

over what was not theirs.

But now their time has expired. We hid for so long,

forgotten, but now we rise again.

BEN

There are more of you?

DRAGON

Enough! Let's finish this.

The dragon leaps off the wall and flaps as he looks around.

DRAGON

Oh princess! Come out from wherever you are.

But Nancy has been close all along. She is hiding behind a large rock

boulder and peeping over to Ben and the dragon. Ben cannot free

himself.

DRAGON

Come out right now or he is putty in my hands.

BEN

Don't listen to him. Flee to your people. You are more

valuable alive.

DRAGON

See how noble he is. Not even thinking about his own life.

Would you let him die?

Then the dragon begins to crush Ben in his hand such that he groans

in pain, unable to breathe or speak.

BEN

Don't you dare... come.. out!

Nancy thinks for a little while under pressure then makes her choice.

NANCY

Wait! Don't hurt him.

She hovers on her flying bike out to the open. The dragon sees her.

DRAGON

Oh there you are! Now you die.

The dragon takes a deep breath and Ben can see flames gather through

the translucent skin on the beast’s throat.

BEN

No!

Nancy raises her hand to cover and brace herself. Wonderbee shoots

out of the mist in the nick of time just to save her. She comes ramming

into the bigger dragon with her horns and the impact drives them in

a trajectory and sends flames flying everywhere. The black dragon

releases Ben in free fall and Nancy reacts quickly and dives after

him.

The black dragon recovers quickly and it grabs Wonderbee and swings

her into the gorge wall. Wonderbee responds by belching out flames

and loosing them upon him. He recoils in an attack with his tail.

Ben looks helplessly as he falls and he sees Nancy dashing in faster

and faster towards him. She holds out her hand and he reaches out,

grabs it and she pulls him up to her back on her bike so she can pull

up again before they can splash into the molten rock below.

Wonderbee dashes and sinks her teeth in the throat of the black dragon

who roars in pain. He grabs her and falls with her into deeper parts

of the gorge, a gorge that descends without end.

The two soon meet a ledge which finally resist their shock but shakes

the whole gorge. Wonderbee lets go and flames scorch her.

Nancy has reclaimed control of the flying bike.

NANCY

Wonderbee!

Wonderbee rises to fly after her but the bigger dragon grabs her by

the tail and tugs her back.

WONDERBEE

Nancy go! I'm right behind you.

So Nancy then drives away.

EXT. GORGE RANGE, FOG AREA – DAY (CONT’D)

Then they are leaving this misty barren land. An odd and sad silence

hangs over the air on which they ride. Nancy is shaking terribly.

She slows down because she cannot stop looking back for her friend.

But Wonderbee is not following. So she stops.

BEN

He is going to kill her we need to turn back now. We cannot

just run away.

NANCY

But I don’t know what to do. I’m scared.

BEN

Be strong. Doesn’t this thing engage? Is it armed with a

defence mechanism of some sort?

NANCY

I haven’t had need to use it.

BEN

Now you have.

Ben places his hand on her shoulder.

EXT. GORGE, LEDGE - DAY

Wonderbee is sent crashing and cracking the ledge floor. The black

dragon roars triumphantly as she fails to rise.

NANCY

Hey!

The black dragon has to turn to look at who would address him with

such authority.

NANCY

Eat this!

Nancy places her palm on the imprint that is on the dashboard of her

bike and there is a powerful electrical discharge from two metal

prongs in front of the vehicle which then connects with the dragon

and begins to electrocute him continuously.

The dragon rises into the air and knocks himself into the walls with

hopes of losing the current but Nancy keeps them connected.

NANCY

(commands)

More!

The voltage increases and illuminates the air. Then she releases the

dragon with a final thunder, like that of lightning, and then the

beast falls into the depths like a lizard struck by lightning... he

falls into the mist and disappears, never to emerge again.

Nancy set the bike down and they all hurry to Wonderbee. Ben stands

back a little as Nancy kneels before her. Wonderbee turns to look

at them and she smiles.

NANCY

You are a very brave girl. Are you okay?

Wonderbee looks at Ben.

WONDERBEE

I’m okay now. Let’s get out of here.

She staggers to her feet.

EXT. COUNTRYSIDE, GORGE RANGE – DAY

Then they are flying out of the misty country side.

EXT. GROVE – DAY

They veer into new territory... into a grove. They fly past some river

and moments later, have come before an old derelict mansion.

EXT. GROVE, OLD MANSION – DAY

The mansion stands an imposing three floors in the midst of tall

trees.

BEN

Who lives here?

Ben asks as they dismount. He looks at the mansion in wonder.

NANCY

Friends.

Nancy moves past him to go push and open the big doors.

BEN

This house must be pretty old.

WONDERBEE

Its two hundred years old.

Wonderbee moves past him too and walks inside.

NANCY

Stay here. I’ll go check for them inside.

Then the two friends disappear inside. The mansion fascinates Ben.

BEN

Unbelievable.

He wonders at the similarity this mansion has with gothic earth

mansions.

Then there is a cracking sound in the thicket behind him. He turns

and sees a large black dog growling and slowly advancing towards him.

Three more follow at the sides of this great dane. There are hounds.

BEN

Oh – oh.

Ben realises the trouble he is in. Then he starts to slowly back away

for the mansion but they quickly have thrust him into their circle.

Their rising growls make him feel like prey.

Then they attack!

Ben shrinks from the biting he anticipates.

NANCY

Hold it!

Nancy emerges from the mansion before they can touch him. Ben turns

to look at her gladly since the dogs listened to her.

NANCY

He’s a friend.

The great dane, MATHAYAS, then speaks with a deep voice full of

authority as he and the rest of the dogs bow.

MATHAYAS

Forgive us princess.

Nancy nods her head then the dogs slowly retreat back into the woods

leaving Mathayas with her.

Nancy comes to Ben as he sighs.

BEN

That was close.

NANCY

I want you to meet their leader. His name is Mathayas.

Mathayas meet Ben.

Mathayas bows his head slightly.

NANCY

He’ll be your companion... at least for a time till I open

the portal and send you

back to your home.

BEN

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mathayas.

MATHAYAS

But the pleasure is all mine. Consider yourself a guest.

I’ll show you in.

Mathayas starts to head inside.

NANCY

I’m afraid we won’t be joining you. We need to be heading

back.

Nancy then looks at Wonderbee with concern.

NANCY

You are coming with me big girl. You are seriously hurt.

Wonderbee drops her head.

NANCY

I never said thanks.

Nancy looks at Ben

NANCY

You were really a big help.

BEN

No thanks necessary. It is me who is getting the bigger

help.

Then he pats Wonderbee on the head.

NANCY

Mathayas will show you to the garden at the back. There

are a lot of fruits there.

None is poisonous.

BEN

Haha, I thought you wanted to get rid of me quickly.

Ben chuckles.

NANCY

No, not yet.

Nancy smiles.

NANCY

I will bring a real meal tomorrow.

BEN

That’ll be great.

MATHAYAS

Don’t worry princess... he’s in good hands.

Mathayas comes to the door.

NANCY

That’s what I’m afraid of.

She chuckles then,

NANCY

Ben...

She moves to him and hugs him. Ben is taken by surprise.

BEN

Um... tomorrow it is.

She releases him. Then she moves to her bike and mounts it before

putting it into the air and Wonderbee ascends too. After looking at

him briefly they then shoot away.

Ben turns to get inside when they disappear from view.

INT. OLD MANSION – DAY (CONT’D)

The mansion is big and beautiful with classical design of hallways

and living rooms.

MATHAYAS

You’ll have to keep out of sight of bounty hunters.

They are ascending the stairs.

BEN

You catch on pretty fast. I haven’t encountered them yet.

MATHAYAS

Never did and never shall.

They get to the second floor and head towards a room.

INT. OLD MANSION, ROOM – DAY (CONT’D)

Ben opens the door into a dusty room. He steps inside to look around.

MATHAYAS

Say hello to your room. Needs to be cleaned though...

seeing you are a human and all.

Ben pulls a sheet off the bed and shakes the dust off it which rises

like a cloud to fill the room.

BEN

You’re right.

He smiles and coughs lightly.

BEN (CONT’D)

But the room is great. I’ll take it.

EXT. PLANET XERONIS, THE ONIS CITY, CAPITAL – DAY

Nancy drives the flying bike out of the woods and she comes to join

other flying vehicles that slow down as they come to pass through

the wide gates that lead into the city. She has drawn the hood over

her head so no one would recognize her. The city is protected by a

very high wall made from brick that has been made from a metallic

element that is tar black. More walls reinforce this main outer wall

and they are several feet thick and about fifty meters in height.

The city is a combination of a civilization that has made large leaps

technologically but still prefers the medieval look of stone and

bronze architecture. Though this is a xeronian city, it is very

similar to a human civilization, but not all xeronians are human

beings. Xeronis is composed of a mix of various intelligent life

forms.

EXT. ONIS CAPITAL, THE PALACE – DAY

Nancy approaches the palace, the grandest design, which stands a big

mansion with a lot of chandeliers inside. She parks her bike near

the royal garden and she hurries to the walls of the palace and only

stopping to walk normally when people were looking. She pushes a few

select bricks and a two-square meter block on the wall turns

horizontally 180degrees on its axis opening a path for her before

shutting again. This was her secret entrance into the palace.

Wonderbee just flies up.

INT. PALACE, GREAT STAIRS – DAY (CONT’D)

She ascends the great stairs and is ignoring the nobles who are

looking at her with shocked faces. She is hurrying to her room when

she bumps into her aunt, AUNT JOSEPHINE (45).

AUNT JOSEPHINE

What in God’s name happened to you?

Her aunt looks at her from head to toe.

NANCY

Uh... hi aunt. It's a long story.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

A princess has never looked like the street folk.

Then she touches Nancy’s chin and studies the sides of her face.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

It’s almost dinner time and I can’t have you looking like

a warrior before guests.

I’ll help you clean up and get dressed as a princess should.

Come.

Then she leads Nancy by the hand and Nancy does not dare protest.

EXT. GROVE, OLD MANSION, GARDEN - SUNSET

Ben is now in the garden amongst the trees. He plucks a red pear which

he washes in a concrete-plastered fountain before taking a bite. The

sweet juice flooding his mouth makes him smile. He then takes in the

sweet fragrance of the fruit before looking at the setting sun.

Xeronis is not very different from earth, except for the talking

animals.

The dark descends and covers the valleys like a blanket.

INT. OLD MANSION, ROOM - NIGHT

A howl in the night causes Ben to open his eyes from sleep with a

start. He gets out of bed and puts on his shoes before taking the

lantern that glows giving off a blue light, and he leaves the room.

INT. OLD MANSION, STAIRS – NIGHT (CONT’D)

The two bright moons outside cast their light in through the windows

and curtains.

BEN

Mathayas.

Ben calls as he descends the stairs. No one answers back so he calls

again.

BEN

Mathayas.

The mansion is empty. He then moves to the doors which he pushes

slightly open and squeezes outside.

EXT. OLD MANSION – NIGHT (CONT’D)

He meets with the cold air but no sign of the dogs.

BEN

Mathayas...!

He looks out into the woods. He steps out to the open keeping his

gaze into the dark woods where he has seen a shadow move.

BEN

Is that you Mathayas?

He sees the shadow advance. He then begins to hear a rising growl.

The shadow is of a dog so he holds his ground until he sees the shadow

rise to stand erect like a man.

The figure steps from under the trees to bathe in the moonlight and

Ben can feel his knees go weak.

He is looking at a creature that is like a dark and heavy furred wolf;

a wolf that balances perfectly on two legs. It stands seven foot tall

and it has round shoulders that testify of its strength. This is an

unusually large wolf.

The erect wolf, WOLF 1, does not advance any further as they both

eye one another. He sniffs in the air as if he is reading Ben and

Ben gets to observe shining scars on his body, scars that even the

fur can not conceal.

The beast takes another sniff and then suddenly he looks up at the

nearest moon and releases a loud and long terrifying howl.

Ben is a bit unnerved.

When other two or more howls call back, Ben whirls round and charges

for the door.

The wolf was expecting this so he leaps after Ben and gets down to

chase after him on all fours.

Ben darts inside, swings round, shuts the big doors, and presses hard

against them to keep the beast outside as the doors have no locks.

INT. OLD MANSION – NIGHT (NIGHT)

But the doors are knocked hard with the strength of a charging bull.

The impact forces open both doors and throws Ben paces back. He

crashes on his belly dazed and before he can rise, the beast stands

above him. It lowers its muzzle and saliva drips from the grinning

teeth to wet the floor before Ben’s eyes.

Ben lies still, paralysed with fear. With his ear to the floor, he

can pick up vibrations that tell him that numerous feet are charging

towards them. He is done for.

The beast raises his head and instead of seeing his friends, five

dogs pounce on him.

Their force drive the beast back and Ben sees the opportunity to crawl

away from the canines that were trying to tear each other apart. The

dogs sink their teeth into the beast’s sides and back, and the beast

fights to shake them off.

Ben gets to the base of the stairs and looks back to see the wolf

grab one dog and continue to swing him against the door. Then he is

reaching for the dog on his back.

MATHAYAS

Go upstairs!

Mathayas is suddenly standing before Ben.

BEN

What do they want?

MATHAYAS

Go upstairs they follow a scent!

Mathayas is firm so Ben runs up the stairs. He hears glass shatter

as another wolf, WOLF 2, forces his way inside through the windows.

He rolls and then stands before Mathayas who growls and attacks him.

The first wolf, Wolf 1, throws the dogs back and his eyes fly to rest

on Ben who stands halfway up the stairs, watching the show while

horrified at the same time.

This wolf charges him again and Ben flies up again and runs in the

passage way of the first floor.

INT. OLD MANSION, FIRST FLOOR, PASSAGE – NIGHT (CONT’D)

Wolf 1 throws himself up with all his might and sends himself digging

his claws on the ledge of the first floor directly in front of Ben

who skids to a stop and turns round to run the other way. The beast

climbs over and follows Ben into the next chamber.

INT. OLD MANSION, GROUND FLOOR – NIGHT (CONT’D)

The other dogs then come to the assistance of Mathayas and the second

wolf, Wolf 2, is quick to see his disadvantage. He throws Mathayas

paces back, slams one dog who is still in the air aiming for his

throat, and then he races outside through the open doors.

MATHAYAS

After him!

The other dogs pursue Wolf 2.

EXT. OLD MANSION – NIGHT (CONT’D)

Wolf 2 turns around the mansion and then he leaps onto the walls,

digging his claws into the brick. He then begins to climb up. But

the dogs can not follow and they can only bark up at him.

INT. OLD MANSION, PASSAGE-WAY AND TOWER - NIGHT

Ben drops a grating in the narrow passage way and Wolf 1 knocks

uselessly against the chain. As he then continues in the passage,

the windows immediately behind him shatter as the wolf climbing the

wall outside, Wolf 2, knocks his way in.

Ben does not stop for introductions. He races up the stairs that rise

up inside the tower. Another wolf, WOLF 3, burst in, the third, and

he sprawls and rolls and stands on fours as he looks at the ascending

human.

The two wolves look at each other. Wolf 2 then races after Ben,

following the stairs that curve upwards against the walls.

INT. OLD MANSION, STAIRWAYS – NIGHT (CONT’D)

This pattern of the rising stairs allows for the remaining wolf, Wolf

3, to leap very high and to hurl himself towards Ben in an attempt

to intercept him. But Ben ducks low and dodges Wolf 3 who flies past

him hitting into the windows that shatter at the encounter, and then

he falls outside.

EXT. OLD MANSION –NIGHT (CONT’D)

Wolf 3 falls like a rock but meeting the trees on his way down allows

him to use his claws against a tree trunk and to break his fall.

INT. OLD MANSION, THIRD FLOOR – NIGHT (CONT’D)

As Ben gets to the third floor, he feels Wolf 2 gain up on him and

this makes him to turn around and to receive the beast in his arms.

Wolf 2 is too heavy for him so he falls on his back and he has to

hold the beast’s throat to prevent him from taking a chunk out of

his face.

Sharp teeth knock into each other not more than three inches from

his face as the wolf presses down upon him.

Ben looks up paces away from his head and he sees a thick broken leg

from a wooden chair. His other hand hurries to reach for it and brings

it back hitting the wolf in the face continually.

The beast retreats back and Ben gets up. The wolf recovers and swings

his hand against Ben who dodges and his claws dig into the weak walls.

Ben picks a large potter vessel on a stand and breaks it on the beast’s

back.

The wolf swings his hand again and his claws slash Ben’s back who

has turned to flee. Ben screams as he feels his back burn as if he

has been cut with razors and he crashes to the floor which is wooden

and weak.

Wolf 2 grabs him and sends him knocking into the walls. He is turned

around and the beast’s large hand wraps around his throat.

But the beast does not finish him off. Instead, he begins to shrink

in size a little as his fur begins to disappear. Wolf 2 changes and

becomes a man who is wearing nothing except for a stretching kilt.

He has long black dreadlocked hair.

Ben is amazed.

WOLF 2

(surprise)

You...?

The man releases Ben. He sniffs in the air like a dog.

WOLF 2

Been in the company of someone lately,

someone important?

Ben does not say anything. He is just looking at him with amazement,

as if he is seeing a ghost.

WOLF 2

Tell me and I promise not to hurt you.

Ben nods.

WOLF 2

Where is she?

Ben remains quiet. This irritates the man.

WOLF 2

(threateningly)

Tell me...!

He makes to move towards Ben when suddenly the floor beneath him gives

way and falls in on itself. He is too heavy and it can not support

him any longer.

Ben hurries to look through the hole and he sees the man fall, break

through the wooden floor of the second floor and change into the wolf

mid air, break through the wooden floor of the first floor again,

and then land onto the concrete of the ground floor on his back.

INT. OLD MANSION, GROUND FLOOR – NIGHT

Wolf 2 rises and limps. He then hits into the windows to fall outside,

but the dogs swarm upon him. Then Wolf 2 lets out a dying wail.

EXT. OLD MANSION – NIGHT

Wolf 1 leaps out of the mansion to land in the woods where he meets

with Wolf 3. The two are too late to save Wolf 2 from the dogs’ jaws.

Wolf 1 turns from the shaggy animal into a man with locks again and

a little beard.

WOLF 1

(grief)

Brother...!

He cries out holding out his hand. Wolf 3 on his side gets down on

fours and lets out a long howl into the air. He then turns and

disappears into the woods.

WOLF 1

We’ll come back for you!

The man cries out looking at Ben on the balcony who then feels a

shudder up his spine.

The man transforms back into the beast, howls, and then darts back

into the woods leaving behind a horrid silence.

INT. OLD MANSION, GROUND FLOOR - NIGHT

Then Ben is running downstairs to come meet the dogs in the hall.

He stops to look at Mathayas.

BEN

You saved my life.

MATHAYAS

It’s not safe for you to stay here anymore.

Then the dogs head outside. Mathayas stops to look at him awhile,

and then he too heads outside to guard the mansion for the rest of

the night.

Ben reaches for his back to feel the scratch marks of the wolf’s claws.

There is no blood, only bruises that hurt and a torn shirt. Then he

sits on the stairs. With all that has just happened, he is not going

back to sleep.

EXT. ONIS CITY, PALACE – DAY

The sun rises to grace the walled city with yet another day. The palace

is lively with a lot of carriages and flying vehicles coming and

leaving the parking area of the palace vicinity.

INT. PALACE, WIDE CHAMBER, ONE OF NANCY’S ROOMS - DAY

AUNT JOSEPHINE

Come, come. Here will do.

Aunt Josephine bursts into a wide chamber that belongs to Nancy, with

Nancy following behind with a team of maids fixing her dress. They

come and stand at the centre of this wide room and Nancy is dressed

as a normal princess would, a princess who would not spend her time

running in the jungle like a common girl. She wears a rose woollen

gown styled in medieval fashion with trailing sleeves, an embroidered

neck, and an exquisite leather belt decked with jewels. The dress

closes at the back with snaps. Aunt Josephine wears a similar but

violet coloured dress.

NANCY

Why do they surprise us like this?

AUNT JOSEPHINE

If you knew how to be formal we wouldn’t have

to go to all the trouble. Thank you girls that

will do.

Aunt Josephine dismisses the maids. A train of guards comes in and

stands sentinel. The king, KING GORDON (50), then approaches with

a tall lady, EMERALDA (36), who holds a fan in her hand. She has long

black hair which is heaped and held with a pin. She wears a gown in

vibrant green with draping sleeves, gold trim, and a shimmering under

layer of gold brocade accent.

NANCY

Is she the one?

Nancy whispers to her aunt who only shushes her.

EMERALDA

Josephine.

The lady smiles and Aunt Josephine smiles too as the two hug.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

Emeralda.

EMERALDA

It’s been a long time Josephine.

They release each other.

EMERALDA

What, fourteen years?

AUNT JOSEPHINE

It has been dull without you Emeralda.

The king laughs delightedly.

KING GORDON

Well she’s been on the road a full day at my request.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

It takes a request to get you to come see us? You disappoint

me Emeralda.

EMERALDA

You’ll have to forgive me I’d hate to disturb you. It must

be busy here at the capital.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

Oh nonsense, even Gordon needs some help.

KING GORDON

And help she will.

The king moves to Nancy who has been silent all along,

KING GORDON

You remember her don’t you? The last you saw her she was

still a toddler but now she stands a fair lady.

NANCY

Madam Emeralda.

Nancy curtsies.

EMERALDA

Hello dear. I hear you’re causing such a stir. Your father

sent for me to come and

remedy that.

Emeralda is walking around and observing Nancy, including how she

stands.

NANCY

Father...?

Nancy needs an explanation.

KING GORDON

Oh yes. My guests have been more critical than I imagined.

We are holding a ball this season and I want her lessons up

and running.

NANCY

Lessons...?

KING GORDON

Teach her how to behave in the company of lords and nobles

and importantly, how to

address the Council.

NANCY

You brought her all the way here for that?

EMERALDA

We’ll start with discipline. You must never question your

father in public.

Emeralda stops beside the king.

NANCY

I’m not even supposed to dispute anything am I?

KING GORDON

You are to respect Emeralda as you respect a queen. She’ll

be in charge over you until

I see some improvement. And that’s a king’s order.

NANCY

(exaggeratedly)

Yes, Your Highness.

EMERALDA

Well, fair enough. We begin tomorrow. Right now I must

rest. Josephine...

Emeralda says with a smile and a slight bow.

KING GORDON

This way.

Then the king leads her out of the room along with the king’s train.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

That went well.

Aunt Josephine goes to sit on the chairs.

NANCY

She’s the last thing I need.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

She’s here to help you, you know?

NANCY

Court manners? I need to be out there and not spend time

in council chambers.

Nancy opens her large closet, gets in and closes the door.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

You’re a princess. You can’t give that up. Would you rather

you were a pauper?

NANCY (O.S)

I’d rather not be a prisoner.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

NANCY (O.S)

What ever happened to chasing dreams?

AUNT JOSEPHINE

Be careful what you wish for.

NANCY (O.S)

I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?

AUNT JOSEPHINE

Sorry big girl – you are under the spotlight here.

NANCY (O.S)

I can’t believe you are taking their side.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

You for once are not being reasonable like they are. You

go out there, abduct a

human from my home planet, and almost get yourself eaten

by a wild dragon... I say

taking their side is more reasonable and the wisest

decision I’ll ever make.

Nancy peeps out through the closet door.

NANCY

You know about that? How?

AUNT JOSEPHINE

You forget that Wonderbee was my present to you?

NANCY

She reports to you?

AUNT JOSEPHINE

What were you thinking?

NANCY

I didn't exactly abduct him. I was just tinkering around

with this old abandoned

star gate in the Study and didn't know it was going to pull

someone here.

Then Nancy opens the closet doors and walks out. She now has a peach

cotton blouse with trailing sleeves, matching pants and gladiator

sandals.

NANCY

How do I look?

She whirls. She has also tied her hair at the back to leave a ponytail.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

You dress up for him too?

NANCY

He is my responsibility. If I brought him here then I will

make sure he is safe.

Aunt Josephine comes with her to the windows and they both see

Wonderbee hovering in the air with a lunchbox in her hands.

AUNT JOSEPHINE

Just be more careful okay?

NANCY

I will.

She drags a chair, stands on it and hops outside onto Wonderbee’s

back.

NANCY

I’ll see you later.

Then Aunt Josephine waves at her as the dragon takes off.

EXT. THE ONIS CAPITAL, CITY - DAY

Wonderbee soars above the walls and she turns for the distant woods.

EXT. GROVE, OLD MANSION - DAY

After some time the mansion comes into view and they have to land.

Nancy gets down and is surprised to find no one waiting for her

outside, and it is unusually quiet. Her eye sweeps around and she

does not like seeing the broken windows. She looks at the floor and

the sight of blood upsets her.

INT. OLD MANSION, GROUND FLOOR - DAY

She bursts inside and is relieved to see Ben sitting on the foot of

the stairs... then she begins to move towards him. More blood stains

are on the floor and there is broken furniture from last night’s

struggle.

WONDERBEE

This does not look good.

At Ben’s feet lies ten poles two metres in length and he is sharpening

their ends with a small sharp knife in his hand.

NANCY

Is that blood?

BEN

Three wolves attacked me yesterday. One, the dogs killed

but the other two escaped.

They can turn themselves into men as well.

Then he places the pole down on the pile of potent spears. Nancy falls

silent in shock. She then looks at him helplessly.

NANCY

Ben, I don’t know what to say.

BEN

Get me out of here.

She comes to sit on the foot of the stairs with him, and she holds

her head in thought.

NANCY

And go where?

Ben then looks down and sighs.

BEN

I... don’t want to die on this planet.

NANCY

You are not in this alone. Do not doubt Mathayas and his

pack. I’ve brought you here

because he can protect you when I am not here.

Mathayas and two dogs then enter the mansion. Nancy and Ben just look

at them.

INT. PALACE, NANCY’S LIVING CHAMBERS - SUNSET

Nancy has a worried look as she looks out to the setting sun. She

is not really paying attention to her maid, SONI (22), who is reading

her letters to her.

SONI

And this one is from the equestrians you met last season.

Nancy quickly looks from the window.

NANCY

That’s enough for today Soni.

SONI

Is something on your mind, princess?

NANCY

I’ll be alright. You may go now.

Then Soni rises from the chair, curtsies and leaves the chambers.

Wonderbee comes to the window.

NANCY

Oh there you are. I need you to do something for

me.

WONDERBEE

Anything.

NANCY

Were-wolves are most active after midnight. Will you get

up and go assist Ben?

WONDERBEE

I thought you’d never ask.

NANCY

I thought you’d never agree to it.

WONDERBEE

With what he did for you back at the mines, I was going

to go even if you hadn’t asked.

NANCY

Thanks big girl, and be careful.

Wonderbee nods.

EXT. GROVE - NIGHT

It is night time again and the two satellites of Xeronis are up and

high in the sky, the other now a crescent and the other still a full

moon. Two wolves run in the cover of the trees.

INT. OLD MANSION, BEN'S ROOM - NIGHT

Ben opens his eyes from sleep after a long and loud howl tears the

silent atmosphere. He immediately clutches the silver headed spear

beside his pillow and he gets out of bed.

It is awfully quiet inside the mansion and he tip-toes to the passage

way and continues to crouch on the stairs to wait, spear in hand and

ready.

All is set.

INT. OLD MANSION, GROUND FLOOR - NIGHT

Ben looks below and on the entrance lies a net as if it is some carpet.

The doors creak open and then the first thing he spies with the help

of the moonlight is the muzzle of the sniffing beast. Wolf 1 sniffs

his way in and he stops before the strange carpet... but he seems

to smell the trap, and then he turns back and disappears outside.

He is coming in through the windows. Ben changes his position.

He bends low as he silently rushes to the walls and then he presses

his back hard against them to listen to the sounds outside.

INT. OLD MANSION, FIRST FLOOR - NIGHT

Ben now can hear the claws of the beast dig into the walls as he climbs.

Then Wolf 1 leaps in from outside through a window shattered from

yester night, and he rolls onto the floor and does not see Ben spring

alert from his cover. Ben thrusts his spear and gores the beast from

the back and leaves the spear sticking out from the belly.

Wolf 1 wails in pain but still finds the strength to whirl round and

smack Ben with the back of his hand, throwing the human paces back.

Ben rises to see a man start to reach in an attempt to pull the spear

out.

Wolf 3 then bursts into the chamber and Ben swings round and speeds

for his life. The wolf comes charging after him.

Ben turns and stops as he gets to the door of the next chamber, and

he holds this door as he watches the wolf advance, almost rising to

run like a man.

The wolf pounces and Ben violently slams the door in his face, and

then he has to quickly dive down as the wolf shatters the door to

pieces with his strength just like Ben knew he would. The wolf blindly

passes over him as Ben sleeps on the floor.

Ben wastes no time in rising and in sprinting forward towards the

destroyed floor with the weaker wooden flooring. He leaps over the

edge in a rising spring towards a dangling rope which he manages to

grab and continue to swing out of reach of Wolf 3 who has also leapt

after him.

As Wolf 3 fails to grab Ben with his claws, gravity does not fail

to pull him down. Then he is falling down some twenty feet before

he comes to land upon sharp, long poles that Ben had spent the whole

day preparing for this task.

Wolf 3 does not survive the impaling.

Ben swings off the rope and gets onto the safer floor, still conscious

of the other wolf man.

He runs into the other chamber and sees the dreadlocked man on his

knees holding the spear he has just pulled out of his body.

WOLF 1

Brother...?

It dawns on Wolf 1 what has happened to his mate. He suddenly looks

at Ben with eyes that burn with rage... a rage that equals madness.

Suddenly, dark fur grows astonishingly fast on the man’s skin as he

turns himself back into the animal. Muscle stretches as his size grows

considerably large.

Ben shoots out of the chamber with the wolf on his heels.

INT. OLD MANSION, GROUND FLOOR - NIGHT

Ben is making the descent on the flight of stairs when the wolf

pounces, hurling himself so that he is going to land on the human.

As he makes the descent, and the human is not more than a claw away

below him, something intervenes and interrupts this transition by

pushing him towards the walls.

It is Wonderbee.

She has come and as the wolf pounces on Ben, the dragon comes knocking

him into the walls and Ben stops to look back.

Wonderbee bites the wolf and then swings him from the first floor

and throws him way down to the ground floor.

She opens her wings and leaps to go land on the concrete floor.

Ben remains on the stairs.

Wolf 1 rises and then attacks Wonderbee by leaping onto her throat.

Wonderbee’s scales protect her as she swings him off. She warns him

by belching flames before his feet. The wolf backs away to the door

and he steps onto the net unconsciously.

Ben then sees his mistake.

Ben runs and leaps off the stairs in one bound, grabs a dangling rope

that lowers him down to the concrete floor while the net rises like

a curtain to blanket and bag Wolf 1.

Ben pulls and hoists Wolf 1 off the ground but Wonderbee snatches

the net into her claws and continues to fly out with Wolf 1. Ben is

surprised by her move and he rushes outside to see where she is going.

EXT. OLD MANSION - NIGHT

As Ben comes outside the dogs emerge from the woods and they howl

after Wonderbee who takes off and disappears into the night sky. Ben

can only watch her go.

Then he sees a flame light up in the sky and then something burning

as it falls towards the ground.

EXT. OLD MANSION - DAY

Ben sits down on the stub outside the old mansion as he begins to

eat what Nancy has brought for him. Wonderbee is back and she sits

close to Nancy. Nancy sits beside him. She has brought him some

clothes and toiletries from the city and they lie in an open box that

she has set on his feet.

NANCY

There’s a river not far from here, you can take your bath

there.

BEN

Thank God! I was starting to live like an animal. No offense

to your friends.

Ben chuckles.

NANCY

You have a remarkable survival talent.

BEN

It’s all thanks to Mathayas and his pack and to Wonderbee

too. They’re all heroes.

WONDERBEE

He is too modest.

Nancy sighs then she looks down.

BEN

What's on your mind?

NANCY

It’s my cousin. She’s been up on my tail criticizing

everything in my life. I don’t

know what to do to keep her from finding out where I go

when I leave the palace.

WONDERBEE

I’ve been picking up a bad vibe from her. I don’t know what

it is yet. I don’t trust her.

Nancy makes to protest against what Wonderbee is saying,

WONDERBEE

I am telling you the truth Nancy. You must use your amulet.

NANCY

I would not. After all, she is my cousin. Why would I

suspect anything bad of her?

WONDERBEE

Exactly!

NANCY

You really believe that don’t you?

Wonderbee nods.

NANCY

Then I must find out – tonight.

BEN

How exactly will you do that?

NANCY

With this.

Nancy shows him the amulet in her neck. It is a small almond shaped

green gem.

NANCY

It was a gift from the Enchantress when I was 2years old.

When I rub it, it opens my

mind to telepathic channels. I can tap into anyone’s mind

and read their secrets. I

could say it makes me a half psychic.

BEN

You can do that just by rubbing an amulet?

NANCY

Yes.

BEN

Prove it to me.

NANCY

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Nancy takes a deep breath and relaxes. She takes the amulet between

her fingers, rubs it softly and closes her eyes. After a little while

she opens her eyes again to look at him. Her expression is empathetic.

NANCY

You loved someone once...

He looks at her.

NANCY (CONT'D)

...four years ago; that’s all I could pick up. Your head

is like a maze it’s difficult

to pin-point what is imagined and what is memory. You do

that a lot don’t you? Fantasize.

This girl, you were willing to give the world for but was

taken away, dominates your

thoughts and only adds to the wound of a broken heart. Ben,

I don’t know what to say.

Ben swallows hard as he momentarily retreats into thought.

BEN

I’m convinced. Go and read your cousin. She won't be able

to hide anything from you,

that is, if she really has anything to hide.

Ben and Nancy look at Wonderbee but she does not comment. Nancy clears

her throat loudly.

NANCY

It’s so sad but I have got to leave you now guys. But there’s

always tomorrow.

BEN

Perhaps it’d help if you came earlier. You give me food,

a place to stay, and yet I feel like I don’t know you that

well.

NANCY

I’ll try.

Nancy smiles.

NANCY

Well, like Ben always says, tomorrow it is.

ALL

Tomorrow it is.

They then all chuckle.

EXT. PLANET XERONIS

The sun descends and paves way for the night, paves way for the Xeronis

moons and starry sky

EXT. OLD MANSION, THIRD FLOOR BALCONY - NIGHT

Ben comes to join Mathayas on the third floor who sits on the destroyed

balcony, looking out to the forest expanse. Ben is wearing one of

the things Nancy has bought for him: a black leather waist coat with

a white t-shirt inside, black trousers, and laced shoes.

BEN

I couldn’t help but notice something very odd.

Ben breaks the silence. Mathayas looks at him so he continues,

BEN

It’s the princess and how she roams freely without any

guards or soldiers.

MATHAYAS

And...?

BEN

If you ask me I’d say there is something wrong with this

picture.

He makes a gesture as if he is holding an invisible frame.

BEN

The princess thinks it’s trivial to have such security

because she has never met any

real threats towards her life.

MATHAYAS

That’s quite an observation.

BEN

An observation anyone is likely to make... even an enemy

of the kingdom.

MATHAYAS

What are you implying exactly?

BEN

You tell me. There have been two attacks already. There

was a dragon at the

abandoned mines, and I don’t think the wolves were after

me, initially. I just

carried her scent and got in the way. If you ask me I’d

say someone is trying to

assassinate the princess!

He lets it sink before shifting his full attention to Mathayas.

BEN

Mathayas, you must tell me all you know about the wolves.

Mathayas wants to protest but Ben adds,

BEN

Nancy’s life depends on it.

MATHAYAS

You are very intuitive.

BEN

You have no idea.

Mathayas looks into the woods ahead and then he begins,

MATHAYAS

What you guessed is correct; there has been an increased

wolf activity in the surrounding parts of the kingdom. My

pack and I then decided to investigate.

FLASHBACK START

EXT. GROVE, VALLEY - DAY

Mathays and his dogs come to stand on a plateau as they spy upon a

secret meeting in the valley. Two parties are gathered in the valley.

One party wears dark robes and hoods and their faces are not seen.

The other party has shirtless soldiers to watch their well dressed

leaders.

MATHAYAS (V.O)

Werewolves have allied with bloodrubis, and they are both

hostile towards this kingdom.

Bloodrubis are the natives of these lands.

One leader of the other party removes his hood to shake hands with

the leader of the other party. Mathayas now sees his features. He

has porcelain white skin and a bald head and long fingers.

MATHAYAS (V.O)

Their empire collapsed a long time ago in a war that reduced

them into tributary states.

But their numbers have been expanding and soon they will

leave the caves and the

forests and attack the cities to reclaim the land that was

once theirs.

Mathayas and his pack then leave.

FLASHBACK END

EXT. OLD MANSION, THIRD FLOOR BALCONY - NIGHT (CONT'D)

BEN

But where do the werewolves come in? Why this alliance?

MATHAYAS

Werewolves are not full time beasts. They are very

intelligent and they have their own societies. They want

to settle in the cities and not have to hide away their animal side.

BEN

They have to be warned. I have to tell Nancy.

Ben gets up.

MATHAYAS

You think they don’t know?

WONDERBEE

Tell her what, Ben?

Wonderbee moves from the shadows and comes towards them.

BEN

That someone is trying to kill her.

MATHAYAS

You’ll only trouble her for no reason. We checked again

and again and it seems

there were only three wolves. Their scent mostly lingered

in places where the

princess usually dilly-dallies.

WONDERBEE

If something is threatening our princess, then we ought

to do something about it.

Let’s say protecting her ourselves (without telling her

of course, she tends to hate

that kind of attention).

BEN

You are right. We ought to protect the princess. Are you

with us, Mathayas?

Mathayas sighs.

MATHAYAS

I am.

EXT. ONIS CITY, CAPITAL, PALACE - NIGHT

The woods are very quiet this time of the night except for the sound

of the crickets in the background, their cricketing chorusing in the

dark and accentuating the occasional shriek or rustle in some

thicket. In stark contrast is the capital. At the palace it is always

as If there is a party.

INT. PALACE, DINING HALL - NIGHT

Nancy sits quietly on her place at the large dining table whereas

everyone is jolly and alive with conversation. Her aunt senses her

displeasure but just decides to let it go.

INT. PALACE, PASSAGEWAY TO EMERALDA'S ROOM - NIGHT

After dinner everyone is retiring to their bed chambers. Nancy hides

around a corner. A stone-throw away is Emeralda’s bedroom chambers.

Emeralda comes from the other passage reading a letter. She never

suspects that she is being watched so she goes straight to unlock

her doors, gets in and shuts them again.

Nancy wastes no time.

She comes out from the blind corner and comes to stop before the shut

door. She rubs her amulet and closes it in her right palm as it begins

to glow. She then closes her eyes in order to start learning

Emeralda’s secrets.

After a few moments she opens her eyes to rub her amulet anew.

She tries to pry into Emeralda’s mind again but she seems to fail

as if a shield is in place.

INT. EMERALDA'S ROOM - NIGHT (CONT'D)

Emeralda unlocks a drawer and takes out a small wooden box

contraption. She places it on the floor and turns a key which seems

to release a hologram – a three dimensional live picture being

transmitted from another location in real time.

She looks at the giant figure before her, the hologram of a caped

being with a hood casting his face in shadow.

CAPED BLOODRUBI

Report.

The caped being has a deep voice.

EMERALDA

You can imagine my surprise. I thought I was coming to a

funeral, but there is no

such thing.

EXT. EMERALDA'S ROOM - NIGHT

Nancy, on the door, can certainly hear voices inside Emeralda’s room.

She then presses her ear on the door and struggles to make out

sentences of what is being said, she can only catch single words.

INT. EMERALDA'S ROOM - NIGHT

CAPED BLOODRUBI

This points to one thing; the assassins have failed.

EMERALDA

How did she manage it? We were terrible in underestimating

her.

CAPED BLOODRUBI

We still don’t need her in the picture.We move to the

contingency plan.

EMERALDA

With me here it should be easy.

Emeralda smiles.

CAPED BLOODRUBI

I hope so. Expect him soon. He still needs to...

EMERALDA

Wait.

Emeralda hisses. She senses something. She then begins to sniff in

the air like a dog trying to catch some scent.

She nods to the cloaked being and the hologram disappears as the

transmission stops. Emeralda takes the contraption back into its

drawer and locks it inside.

INT. PALACE, PASSAGE BEFORE EMERALDA'S ROOM - NIGHT

Nancy is still on Emeralda's door. She opens her eyes and is aware

that her open window has passed. So she hurries away and disappears

around the corner.

Emeralda opens her door but she does not see anyone. But she is

suspicious. She lingers for a few more seconds before going back

inside and closing the door after her.

INT. OLD MANSION, BEN'S ROOM - DAY

She opens the curtains and hurt his eyes with the light that rushes

in.

NANCY

Wake up sleepy heads.

Ben turns over to look at her. She wears a gold radiating outfit that

is a mini-skirt, the top, and boots.

BEN

Good morning.

NANCY

Any trouble with anything of the night?

Ben raises his head to look towards his feet where Wonderbee lies.

BEN

Nope.

He then sits.

BEN

What’s the occasion?

NANCY

You asked to spend some time with me. Now, I had to cancel

my busy schedule, and lie to

my cousin so that I would show up early to this occasion.

BEN

You listened to me.

Now she is smiling and starting to walk towards the door and looking

back at him.

NANCY

Hurry up and get dressed. I’ll be downstairs.

Ben then looks at Wonderbee who sleeps snoring on the carpeted floor.

BEN

Seems we are going to need another hour.

EXT. GROVE NEAR OLD MANSION - DAY

After a little while the small group is taking a walk in the woods

with Mathayas and his pack on the look out.

BEN

Did you read your cousin last night?

NANCY

Yes.

BEN

What did you find out?

NANCY

That’s the problem... nothing! She went to a lot of trouble

to protect her mind from unwarranted intrusions.

BEN

Could it be the reason why Wonderbee drew her conclusions?

WONDERBEE

Dragons are barely wrong.

NANCY

That’s not all. I overheard her conversation with someone

in her room whom I couldn’t

detect with my amulet.

BEN

And why was that?

NANCY

It could have been a transmission. I couldn’t make sense

of what they were saying of course, but it seems she is

expecting a visitor.

Ben clears his throat and passes a nod to Mathayas way in front.

NANCY

But I’m sure it was nothing.

Nancy says as she watches Wonderbee take off into the sky, circle

around and then come back down to walk beside them. She looks at the

odd behaviour of the dogs; they act as if they are scouting for

something. She recognises what they are doing, she sees the guards

do it everyday. Ben passes another nod to Mathayas who has looked

back at him.

BEN

Then it was a false alarm.

Ben looks at Wonderbee.

WONDERBEE

My instincts are right. There is something fishy about

Emeralda and I’ll prove it to you.

Nancy can not hold back anymore.

NANCY

(demands)

Is there something you’re not telling me?

WONDERBEE

What makes you say that?

NANCY

I know when secrets abound.

Then her left hand flies to rest on her amulet,

NANCY

It’s either I do this or you tell me everything... your

choice.

Everyone purses their lips. They are found out.

WONDERBEE

Since you were attacked by a fire breather, we figured the

wolves were not an accidental threat but that there is a

conspiracy against your life... bloodrubis are involved too.

NANCY

Bloodrubis?

WONDERBEE

Mathayas found it out. We have all vowed to protect you

against these assassins.

Mathayas, who overhears everything, comes to them.

NANCY

Is she telling the truth?

MATHAYAS

I am afraid so.

Nancy sighs, then,

NANCY

If I need bodyguards there are plenty qualified under my

father’s payroll. I need

friends not bodyguards, that is why I sneak away from the

palace.

MATHAYAS

We should have told you but...

Mathayas wants to explain but Nancy cuts him short.

NANCY

Bloodrubis? Don’t you think this is all too far fetched?

And feeding Ben with such

stories? I never should have left him in your care

Mathayas. You out of all should

know better.

Ben observes Mathayas who now looks down and does not dare look in

her eyes. She is now speaking as his princess whom he is supposed

to submit to. As if she had given him specific instructions on how

to handle Ben when she entrusted him to his care, she now scolds him.

Ben decides to help Mathayas out.

BEN

It is not his fault.

Ben steps between the two so her attention shifts to him.

BEN

I pushed him into telling me your kingdom’s history and

I just put the pieces together myself. It was I who

unseated their nerves when I told them that I suspected you were

in danger and came up with our vow to watch over you. If

you are mad, be mad at me. Not them.

Then they fall silent; surprisingly, Wonderbee too.

NANCY

Well...

She avoids Ben’s eyes;

NANCY

Since I run away from bodyguards at the palace, I’m going

to run away from bodyguards

in the woods... till you renounce your escapade.

Then she is walking away.

NANCY

Don’t bother following me.

She calls back at them.

MATHAYAS

Thank you.

BEN

Looks like we ruined a perfect afternoon.

WONDERBEE

What are you hinting at? Did you have any plans?

Wonderbee closely inspects Ben.

BEN

What do you think? Surprisingly royalty has this strange

effect on me.

Wonderbee chuckles.

WONDERBEE

If I didn’t know better I’d say you feel something for her.

MATHAYAS

If you feel something for her, then your concern for her

is genuine. She won’t

forget this.

Mathayas then calls to his team to head back to the mansion.

WONDERBEE

(soflty)

Do you really feel something for her?

Ben smiles as if amused.

BEN

I don’t know.

Then he is following Mathayas.

WONDERBEE

Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.

BEN

No secret is safe around her.

Ben calls back to her.

EXT. OLD MANSION - DAY

It is not a lively afternoon for Ben so he just sits in an armchair

on the balcony of the second floor. Wonderbee is lying in the shade

below the trees with Mathayas and the rest of the dogs scattered on

the veranda of the mansion.

BEN

We make a wonderful lot.

Ben says aloud after observing them,

BEN

We lazy around the whole day as if there’s no world to tour

– just for the taking.

MATHAYAS

What world?

BEN

That’s the spirit my friend... just what I mean.

Then they are silent again.

WONDERBEE

Don’t you miss earth?

BEN

Don't rub it in.

WONDERBEE

Sorry. The people you left behind, they must miss your

humour. Who’d tire of that?

BEN

I like you Wonderbee. You overlook my flaws.

As they are talking, something is descending from the sky. Nancy

slowly puts the flying bike to the ground and then shuts it down.

BEN

You came back?

Ben has got to his feet and is looking over the balcony.

NANCY

Come down.

He does not hesitate. He runs down the flight of stairs and rushes

out of the mansion.

He stops before her. He then realises there is something odd in the

atmosphere and he has to clear it with her.

BEN

Look, maybe I ought to apologise about...

NANCY

Have you ever flown one of these?

She abruptly cuts him,

NANCY

Because they are quite thrilling.

She turns for the bike and strokes it.

NANCY

It’s quite easy to fly once you learn the basics. Maybe

I’ll teach you, now.

Then she takes out a small crystal rod from the controls while saying,

NANCY

Would you like to try it out?

BEN

Sure.

NANCY

Come.

Then he moves to her side.

NANCY

Let me first reconfigure the pass code so it won't zap you

or anything.

Then she is tapping some type of code into the rings beside the palm

imprint.

NANCY

Here.

She hands him the crystal.

NANCY

Just stick it in between the controls.

He follows her instructions. Then the palm imprint on the dashboard

is glowing.

NANCY

Place your palm on the imprint.

But Ben hesitates.

NANCY

Go on.

She encourages him and he does so. The bike levitates a foot off the

ground and hovers.

NANCY

Mount it.

BEN

For real?

He can not believe it but she nods and smiles at him. Then he is on

top of the flying machine. She mounts and sinks in the seat behind

him. Ben instinctively grabs the controls.

NANCY

Now, this thing is remote controlled with your mind through

a mental link you have

just established.

BEN

What?

NANCY

You fly it with your mind. Now, rise with it into the air.

WONDERBEE

I’m going to love this.

NANCY

No, you are not invited on this one girl. Ben and I need

to hang out alone for awhile... away from your whimsical

tales.

Wonderbee then drops her head disappointedly.

NANCY

Will us away Ben.

BEN

Okay.

He concentrates. Just then the flying bike begins to ascend higher

and higher.

Ben laughs.

NANCY

What, I never said it was going to be hard.

Nancy embraces him from behind.

BEN

Better hold on tight.

Then the bike shoots away.

EXT. ABOVE GROVE - DAY

It is Nancy’s turn to scream and laugh with excitement as Ben speeds

them with the flying bike. Ben looks around at the terrain below as

if they are looking down from a helicopter. He sees a gorge covered

with vegetation ahead and he sinks lower to glide between its walls

and to observe this wonder. He spies a waterfall and in a moment he

is flying vertical until he beat the fall’s height.

NANCY

Take us to those tall trees.

Nancy points left. Ben smiles and heads towards the unusually tall

trees to come and fly in their midst. The trunks are huge which makes

it more fun navigating around them. He then soars higher again after

a while and lets the bike glide on air as they just look around.

EXT. ABOVE GROVE - DAY

Nancy rests her head on his back with a smile on her face, evidently

enjoying the ride.

Ben feels her arms tighten around him and he feels her warm body press

against his back.

BEN

You were right. I have never ridden anything this thrilling

before, and that

is so light to drive.

NANCY

Well, now you have. When I open the wormhole I want you

to take it back with you, to your home. It’s my gift to you

so you won’t forget me.

BEN

I won’t need a gift to remember you.

NANCY

You won’t? You will remember me?

BEN

Of course. The princess who is surrounded by danger but

who chooses to see the goodness

of the universe and is willing to give it a chance when

most of us see darkness everywhere...? It is

people like you who give hope to societies. When you become a queen

one day, this is what will make you a great.

Nancy smiles.

NANCY

What else?

BEN

What?

NANCY

I mean, tell me more. What have you observed about my world

and me in it?

Ben smiles and looks at the setting sun before turning to look in

her green eyes. With her arms around him, she is so close to him and

he sees that she is so beautiful and he is falling in love. But he

is afraid that the moment he will go back to Earth and leave her here,

a huge hole in his heart will accompany him. He clears his throat

after pulling his stare from off her.

BEN

I think we should head back.

NANCY

I have something to say. I want to remember you too. I want

to know you more. Is this

all there is, or there is something more to you? Is there

a side you haven’t revealed

to anyone? I feel in my heart that you are a warm person.

Ben chuckles.

BEN

You flatter me. What side have you not revealed to anyone?

NANCY

I don’t know. I never experimented with sides before. It

was just me and Wonderbee and ... you are different.

BEN

Is it that I don’t have scales or fur?

NANCY

No...

She giggles.

NANCY

You are human like me... and very handsome.

Then Ben’s words caught in his throat and he can only look at her

and she senses his discomfort.

NANCY

Did I say something I shouldn't?

BEN

Oh no; actually I was not expecting it... to come from

someone so beautiful.

He observes colour come into her cheeks. She smiles.

NANCY

You think I am beautiful?

Ben nods but then looks ahead, avoiding her.

BEN

Let's head back now.

Then she frowns as if she does not want to. She suddenly embraces

him tighter from behind causing him to freeze.

NANCY

I know what you are afraid of. But that does not mean you

should push me away.

Ben turns to look at her but something hits the bike from underneath

and sends an electro-magnetic pulse coarsing through the machine.

BEN

Hold on!

Ben cries as the bike spins out of control and continues to sink and

spiral towards the ground.

EXT. GROVE - DAY

They crash land but escape without cuts and bruises. Ben rises from

where he is thrown and hurries to Nancy who stands before the bike.

She removes what appears to be an iron rod with two prongs that has

stuck in the sides of the bike.

NANCY

I know this.

She shows Ben.

NANCY

It’s fired from small cannon and has the ability to shut

down any machine.

BEN

You are saying we were shot down?

But he does not have to wait for her answer as they hear shrubs being

broken as something is charging towards them.

BEN

Come.

Ben takes her hand and they begin to flee in the opposite direction

of whatever is coming.

EXT. GROVE - DAY

She does not need his help. She has learnt to sprint from a tender

age when she discovered the woods outside the city. Then Ben lets

her run in front of him.

Whoever has shot them down has given chase and Ben begins to fear

for her. The woods here have grown thick and it is getting dark. But

they have to run even if they are getting tired. The chasers have

remained determined that Ben does not trust that they are going to

out run them. Something has to give.

Suddenly Nancy comes to a halt and her hands fly to stop Ben too as

if something frightful lies ahead.

NANCY

Stop, the traps!

She is breathless.

NANCY

This whole ground ahead of us.

She says as her hand sweeps in front of her. Ben is surprised as to

how she can tell when he cannot.

Then shrubs and branches are snapping vigorously behind.

BEN

Hide.

Ben says and she runs to her left and hides behind a huge tree while

Ben runs to the right. Then he uses a tree for cover. He peeps around

to see their pursuers.

From this position he can see Nancy and he suspects this has

everything to do with her.

Five erect figures materialise from the bushes. They look very much

like men but they are seven foot tall, having porcelain coloured skin,

ears that lie flat to their bald skull, wide glistening eyes, and

they have two holes were there is supposed to be a nose.

They wear black furred animal leather and they have spears in hand

like hunters. They all stop as they look for tracks on the ground.

BLOODRUBI 1

Varipi?

(SUBTITLE: Where are they)

Ben can clearly see them now.

BEN

(to himself)

This is not good.

BLOODRUBI 2

Tsoka idzi.

(SUBTITLE: Footprints)

They start to follow Nancy’s trail. Ben sees two beckon to the other

three to circle the tree where Nancy hides. Nancy has seen the trouble

she is in and she crashes down on her heels almost surrendering.

Ben is really uneasy now.

Just then, Ben sees her unsheathe two small daggers from the sides

of her boots. She is going to fight them off.

Ben can only shake his head. Then he steps out from his hiding place.

BEN

(shouts)

Hey!

The five beings suddenly look at him. Ben then raises his hands and

takes three steps towards them.

BEN

I’m unarmed. It’s me you’re looking for. I’m alone.

He gets down on his knees, hands still raised.

The five beings turn around surprised at this sudden outburst, and

then they begin to move towards him. Nancy looks over and catches

Ben’s eyes. Ben slowly shakes his head to her.

The unexpected happens. One of the beings suddenly shouts to the one

in front who then falls on his back and is hoisted up leg first by

a strong rope.

BLOODRUBI 2

Mira!

(SUBTITLE: Wait!)

He has stepped into his own trap. He is now swinging like a pendulum

from a tree and others have to cut him down. The other in the group

uses his knife to cut the rope and release his fellow. Then when the

excitement grows down after some few curses they turn around for Ben

but they do not see him anywhere.

EXT. GROVE - SUNSET

Ben has gained ground and he is sprinting as fast as he can – leaping

fallen branches and pushing leaves that dangle in his way. An electric

bolt flies past him and hits into a tree exploding like a firework

and causing the tree to fall.

The electric bolt came from one of the spears of the beings that still

pursue him. Another bolt misses him and he tries evasive manoeuvres

– ducking around trees and sort.

But the chasers are not going to give up.

As Ben runs, he feels something secure around his left leg and to

pull so hard against it that he falls on his face. Then a rope is

pulling him back as he searches on the ground for somewhere to hold

on to.

BEN

No!

A cry leaves his lips as he is hoisted up to dangle and swing from

a tree.

It is the traps!

The swing is going to knock him against a tree but he uses his hands

to stop himself and to hold onto the trunk.

BEN

You have got to be kidding me.

Then the beings catch up to him. He then looks at them from an upside

down view and says nothing.

He is now their prisoner so they bind his feet and hands to a pole

which only two hoist upon their shoulders. Then they are carrying

him away.

EXT. GROVE, CAVE - SUNSET

They have not detected Nancy and she follows them to a cave where

a large number of the bloodrubis guard the entrance. Then Ben

disappears with the five into the mouth of the cave. Nancy sees all

this from the bushes where she is hiding. There is nothing she can

do for him now except to go back and avoid capture herself.

EXT. OLD MANSION - EVENING

She is almost breathless when she makes it to the old mansion.

WONDERBEE

What took you so long?

Wonderbee says standing before her. Mathayas comes to meet her too.

WONDERBEE

Where is Ben?

Nancy can only look at them.

MATHAYAS

Is everything alright, princess?

Mathayas senses trouble.

NANCY

(gravely)

Ben has been captured by bloodrubis!

WONDERBEE

What, how?

Wonderbee can not believe it.

NANCY

We were shot down and they chased us but he...he allowed

himself to be captured over

me. They were after me. He was right. You were all right.

Nancy looks at them regretfully.

NANCY

I should have listened to you and because I didn’t Ben gets

to pay for it. How could I

be so stupid?

WONDERBEE

(softly)

Nancy, it’s not your fault.

NANCY

Yes it is and...

Then an idea hits her.

NANCY

We must save him.

MATHAYAS

From the bloodrubis? That’s impossible.

NANCY

I have a plan. But first I must go to the palace.

Then she hurries to Wonderbee.

NANCY

You’ll take me.