Screenplay pages 91-END

VRABLE
Ready to get out of here?

WOMAN
Yes.

The woman looks down at his hand and gives him a large smile.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Since when have you been able to touch me?

VRABLE
You fell into my arms back there... and nothing happened. Nothing bad at least. It felt so natural. I’ve always wanted a moment like that... you became more of a real woman to me in that moment.

Vrable gets a far off look, thinking.

WOMAN
(mockingly)
So, am I your ideal woman?

VRABLE
Ha, I don’t know. Maybe. You’re definitely not what I expected.
(hurriedly)
Alright, let’s go.

Vrable begins to walk away. The woman smiles a little at Vrable’s embarrassment.

WOMAN
Wait, where?

Vrable stops and turns back to look at the woman.

VRABLE
I guess let’s move around back. We’ll try and get out as far away from this place and Athaparmona as possible. If I have to, I will put you on an island where you won’t have to worry about killing anyone ever again.

The woman LAUGHS a little.

WOMAN
Heh, yes; that would be great.

Her smile fades suddenly, though, and it is replaced by sadness.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Alone once again. Forever.

Vrable SIGHS with frustration.

VRABLE
We can talk about it more on our way. Let’s just get away from this place.

WOMAN
Agreed.

They begin to run around to the right of the palace. At first, Vrable pulls the woman along like before. However, the woman eventually drops his hand and runs faster in front, as if racing him. She LAUGHS loudly and lifts her face up to the sun, which now marks the time as going on evening.

EXT. OUTSIDE FOGO PALACE - CONTINUOUS
They run freely like this all the way in the flat fields behind the Fogo Palace, until it begins to look about the size of a doll’s house.
The woman looks back at the palace, still running, which causes her to trip. She tumbles ungracefully with a big PLOP, her dress becoming dirty, and then quickly clean again.
She holds her stomach, gains her wind back, and begins having a LAUGHING fit. Her hair is tangled in the weeds around her, and her position in the grass looks almost sexual with her legs curled around themselves.
Vrable catches up to her, and kneels beside her. He sits for a second, just quietly staring at the laughing figure before him. He then quickly reaches behind her head, pulling her up towards him, while he simultaneously moves down towards her.
The woman stops laughing instantly.

WOMAN
No! What are you doing?!

She begins to struggle a bit, but Vrable only smiles. She stops and stares up at him, still scared.

VRABLE
Don’t be scared. I’m doing this because I want to. This is for that woman I know you really are; I think I love her.

Vrable smiles widely again, and then he moves down and kisses her. The woman’s face does not change, but she closes her eyes as he kisses her.
Vrable pulls away and the woman has instantly changed. She is transformed back into the woman from the flashbacks - however, she isn’t just the woman from the flashbacks. She has been returned to the state she was in right before the spirit transformed her. Her hair is dirty and her entire body is bruised and battered. Her thighs are stained with blood and the blue cotton dress she now wears is ripped and barely covers her body.
Vrable falls backward in shock. He sits a little away from her, examining what just happened. His eyes begin to well with tears.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
I’m so sorry. I didn’t know -

The woman tries to sit up, but can’t. Instead, she moves her hand to his lips to shush him.

WOMAN
Neither of us knew that that form was the only thing keeping me alive.

She pauses and her breathing is heavy.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
It’s better this way.

Vrable shakes his head rapidly.

VRABLE
No. How can this be better?

The woman smiles sweetly, which obviously pains her to do.

WOMAN
Just... thank you.

After that, she arches her back in pain, and then takes her last deep breath. She closes her eyes, smiles, and does not release that breath.
Vrable moves back to her side, openly CRYING, and picks up her body. He cradles her body in her arms. He pulls back her hair and wipes her face clean on his shirt.
He sits this way for quite awhile. Eventually, his sobbing ends, and he looks up, staring outward at the fields beyond the Fogo Palace.
He stands up with one swift movement, moving as if the woman were weightless. He totters as if drunk and turns back towards the Fogo Palace.
He walks slowly back into the shadow of the palace.

EXT. FOGO PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Once back outside the Fogo Palace, Vrable closes his eyes and sighs, looking as if he might cry again.
In the distance, there is an audible RUMBLE, and the sky darkens with fast moving black clouds. In the distance, lightening flashes across the sky.
Vrable stares at the clouds for awhile, and then he turns back to the palace as the rain begins to fall around him.
He reaches the back wall moves along it, pulling the woman’s body closer to him as he reaches a pile of wood. Both of them are still fairly dry, and the overhang of the roof continues to keep the rain off of them.
He kisses the woman’s forehead and lays her slowly onto the pile, as if unwilling to let her go.
He forces his face to take on a look of determination, and he backs up to look at her wilted body on her funeral pyre.
He looks up and sees a lighted torch along the back stone wall near a back door they never were able to find. He grabs it swiftly, making the flame almost go out, and he lights the bottom of the wood pile, using the grass around it as tinder.
He stands back up. He steps backwards and watches as the whole place catches fire very quickly. He continues to step backwards as the flames beat angrily against his face.
Vrable squints in order to see the last of the woman. He appears concerned with soaking up the last bit of mental images of the woman.
The flames lick her skin. They seem to caress her rather than burn her. Then, the flames suddenly seem to swallow her whole, and the whole pyre disappears.
Vrable wipes sweat off his brow from the heat of the flames. He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks down at his feet (now placed in a decent amount of mud), a stance he often took when around the woman. He kicks the ground, apparently uncertain of what to do next.
Near the back door is a wooden ladder. Vrable furrows his brow and he walks towards the back door. He grabs the ladder and bursts through the door and back into the palace as if on a mission.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON
A creaky door SQUEAKS open, and the men that were placed in the cell beside the woman’s look upward.
An unseen person lowers the ladder down towards them. The men all look at it skeptically, and none touch it.

MAN #6
Who is there? What do you want with us?

Vrable pokes his head into the cell slightly. His face is pale, and he has tear-streaked cheeks.

VRABLE
I’m just letting you get out of here. Go back to your families.

MAN #7
Do you mean it? We are free to go?

VRABLE
(sorrowful)
Yes. I thought it would only be right to get you all out of here, too.

MAN #9
We are not going anywhere. We are here to fight a war.

VRABLE
There is no war.

Vrable lifts his head out of the doorway and can be heard walking away. The men look at one another and scramble for the ladder.

MAN #9
We can’t simply believe that man.

One man looks back at Man #9. Above, other trap doors can be heard CREAKING open and men hollering with excitement as Vrable releases them.

MAN #10
You have been through so much, and you have survived it all. That was your war. You can go home now.

MAN #9
(stunned)
But... I have no home to return to.

MAN #10
Then... you can come home with me. My wife is an amazing cook... we can try and be your new family.

Man #9 looks downward, nodding, but looking as if he still does no comprehend. Man #10 begins to climb the ladder, and turns back to Man #9.

MAN #10 (CONT’D)
Come on. It’s alright. You are alright.

INT. FOGO PALACE, MAIN ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable steps into the main room from a doorway located beside the fireplace. He stands stunned as he sees his mother CRYING over Lessor’s mutilated body. The dogs have surrounded her. They GROWL and SNARL, but every time they move back in to get at Lessor’s body, she WHACKS at them with the fire-poker.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
How did I let this happen? I should have listened to my son...

Vrable turns back around and opens the door he just came through, ready to leave, but pauses when he hears his mother mention “her son.” His mother perks up at the sound of the door, and whips around to face him. The dogs also look up and begin BARKING with excitement.
Vrable turns around to face his mother. The dogs run to him and pelt him with kisses. He doesn’t seem to notice the dogs; he only stares incredulously at his mother.

VRABLE
Mother? I thought I had lost you. You’re alright?

MOTHER PRACTEAL
Of course I am, sweetheart. I am so sorry... for everything.

Vrable’s eyes brim over with new tears and he rushes to his mother’s side. The dogs rush in around them. His mother drops the poker as she stands and they embrace.

MOTHER PRACTEAL (CONT’D)
We will go home... we will get out of here, and we will find you a nice girl...

VRABLE
No, I still want... I NEED to wait on that.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
But Vrable, you should begin your own family...

VRABLE
No, Mother! I am not ready for that. Let me make this decision for myself!

Vrable pauses and then, still frustrated, continues to yell.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Let’s just go home, please?!

His mother seems a little shocked at his outburst. However, she kisses his forehead and both of his cheeks in a hurried motion.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
(hushed)
Let me take care of you for a change.

His mother’s eyes leak fresh tears, and she silently nods.
Vrable takes her hand and leads her out the front door, the dogs following closely at their heels.

EXT. ATHAPARMONA VILLAGE - EVENING
Vrable and his mother arrive back in the village, moving across the many fields that make up most of the village. Vrable’s mother is smiling and stroking his hair, but Vrable seems distant. He sometimes turns and returns his mother’s smile, but he seems lost in thought.
Women of the town who were working in their fields despite the rain have stopped to stare at these two figures coming towards them who are both ragged and followed by a large group of dogs.
One of the women looks past Vrable and his mother and HOLLERS at the others working, pointing in the distance.
Vrable turns and sees the men he freed running towards their wives and families, having emotional reunions similar to the one between him and his mother.
Vrable meets a few of the men’s eyes and nods when they seem to recognize him at their savior. Vrable then turns back to his mother, takes her hand and continues to walk back towards their home.
Behind Vrable and his mother, the sun can be slightly seen behind the clouds, and it is casting a brilliant purple as it sets along the horizon line.
Vrable, his mother, and the dogs disappear into the distance and the daylight fades with them.

Screenplay pages 81-90

Vrable continues to look angrily at the floor. His arms are crossed and his knees folded up to his chest.

VRABLE
Just get out of here. We don’t need each other; we never did. I’ll find my way out eventually... by myself.

The woman GROANS in frustration and shakes her fists as she tilts her head up to the ceiling.

WOMAN
Fine. Stay there.
But you need to know that you are bigger than this. You are the only man I’ve met in years that was able to look at me with anything other than hunger. You are wasting an extraordinary thing if you just sit here and give up.

The woman pauses to catch her breath after talking so much.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
I don’t know if your mother can be helped; I never even met her. But I know that she never would have wanted to see you like this.
Goodbye, Vrable.

The woman walks down the hall towards where the women disappeared. However, instead of continuing towards them, she takes the first hallway she can find moving away towards the right and takes that. She takes one last sad look at Vrable, who is now shuffling his feet in the dirt on the floor, and disappears around the corner.
Vrable looks up at where she used to be and he SIGHS.

VRABLE
Wait.

The woman pokes her head back around the corner.

WOMAN
I thought you’d say that.

VRABLE
We’re not going that way, though.

Vrable stands and walks towards the corner where the woman is waiting for him.

WOMAN
You’ve figured a way out?

VRABLE
No, but I at least have to see if I can get my mother out of here.

WOMAN
Good. It may not be a lost cause. She still has to be in there somewhere.

VRABLE
I hope so.

They move silently down the hallway. The woman continues to look out the windows like before, but Vrable just stares at his moving feet below him.
When they get to the end of the hallway, they choose their path based on the sounds of CLANGING pots coming from the end of the hall to their right.

INT. FOGO KITCHEN - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable and the woman open two heavy french doors. They bend over under the weight as they push them. Once they have them open and are able to lift their heads they behold the only immaculate room in the entire fortress.
The kitchen is lit by many skylights and lamps. There are many stoves lining one wall, sinks in rows along the middle, and rows of cabinets and counter space on the other wall. The counters are thick wood that double as chopping blocks. A large and elegant pot rack is suspended from the ceiling. Everything, from the sinks to the floors, shine with well kept cleanliness. Another set of double doors stand at the other end of the room.
All of the women are mechanically working and don’t look up at the sound of the opening doors. None of them communicate, but there seems to be a spoken understanding about the final product they are aiming for.
A woman at the farthest end of the sinks eventually snaps her head up as she finishes washing the dish in her hand and points at Vrable and the woman. All of the other women look at them as one, making a singular SNAPPING noise as they all turn their heads at the same time.
The room is silent. Water DRIPS from a faucet and the stoves continue to cook and boil their wares, but no one says anything. Finally Vrable’s mother opens her mouth to yell from her place in the very middle of the row of counters where she was in the midst of de-feathering a goose.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
Seize them! That is Master Lessor’s prisoner. This man has stolen her.

VRABLE
Mother, no it’s me, your son. I’ve come to get you out of here. We’re going to leave this place.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
You are no son of mine. My son would never steal from the master.

VRABLE
I didn’t steal anything!

MOTHER PRACTEAL
I said to seize them!

The women move simultaneously towards them, slowly at first, but then gaining speed.
The woman grabs a pan down from the overhead rack and begins swinging it to ward the women off. This prompts the other women to grab the nearest objects. Most of them grab knives.

VRABLE
No. Mother, stop this. We just want to get out of here. Stay if you like, but let us pass.

His mother sneers and grabs a butcher’s knife for herself.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
(pleading)
I can save you. Please, let us go home.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
I am home. And you will not be leaving this kitchen. I sentence you to death for disobeying our master.

Vrable’s face contorts in fear, but he is unable to move. The woman BASHES an incoming enemy over the head. This woman drops the meat tenderizer she was using as a weapon, but doesn’t seem to notice the blood dripping from her temple. She staggers only a little and then keeps moving in, prepared to use her nails like claws.

WOMAN
Vrable, we have to go. Now.

VRABLE
I won’t leave her here.

WOMAN
You might have to.

VRABLE
No!

Vrable leaves the woman’s side and runs up to his mother, holding her shoulders like before. She twists in protest, but he continues to hold her tightly, unwary of the cleaver she holds.

WOMAN
Vrable - get away! She is dangerous.

The woman swings the pan blindly around and moves over behind him.

VRABLE
She’s my mother!

WOMAN
Not anymore.

Vrable’s mother moves out of his arms and ungracefully steps backward. She moves her hand back, ready to strike with the knife.
Without a word, the woman steps in front of Vrable, still clutching the pan in one hand. Vrable watches in awe as the cleaver comes down, sinking deep into the woman’s chest with a grotesque SUCKING noise.
Anyone else would have died from such a blow. Instead, the woman falls back a little into Vrable’s still open arms, then regains her balance and just stands there looking at her new appendage.
Vrable moves to the side of her, gaining a good look at the knife sticking out of the woman. There is no blood, and all movement has ceased within the kitchen.
Vrable eventually looks at his mother, realizes what just almost happened, and grits his teeth. His mother stares at what should have been a mortal wound as if unaffected by it.
As if time suddenly was allowed to continue, Vrable’s mother moves her hand back towards the handle of the butcher’s knife to take it back out and try again, but Vrable gets there first. He wiggles the knife back and forth until it comes free with one great heave and SQUELCH, both which catch him off guard.
He stumbles backwards a bit, and then regains his footing. His hands are shaking, but he holds the knife in front of him, warning his mother not to step any closer.

VRABLE
(quietly)
Let’s go.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
I will not go anywhere-

VRABLE
(cutting her off)
Not you. You are not my mother. I don’t know what Lessor did with her, but she does not exist anymore.

Vrable’s mother continues to look forward at the woman’s chest where the knife once was and does not react to anything Vrable says.
Vrable turns back to the woman.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
I said it’s time to go.

The woman drops the pan in her hand with a loud CRASH, and silently falls behind Vrable who makes a path for them by warding off the surrounding women with the knife in his still shaking hands.
They reach the far end of the room. All of the women stare at them except for Vrable’s mother.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
I am sorry, my master. I have failed you.

Vrable whips around to yell at his mother.

VRABLE
No! You have failed me!

The room stands silent once again. Vrable stares angrily at his mother. The woman slides behind him and begins to open the doors. She gets them about halfway open, then touches Vrable’s shoulder.

WOMAN
Ready?

Vrable turns, staring at the slightly open doors in front of him.

VRABLE
I’m fine.

The woman gives him a slightly puzzled look and then opens the doors the rest of the way and moves into the next room.

INT. FOGO PALACE, MAIN ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Vrable and the woman step out of the kitchen and find themselves back in the main room, the front entrance just a few yards away.
However, they also find themselves greeted by Lessor. His pack of dogs stand alert behind him. Some of the dogs begin to wag their tail at the sight of Vrable, but they do not move from their place behind Lessor.
Vrable moves slightly in front of the woman, his arm outstretched in front. The woman looks down at his arm and smiles, obviously a little bemused.

LESSOR
So, it was the slimy bastard I allowed into my abode that stole my woman.

WOMAN
I don’t belong to you, you disgusting worm. What did you plan on doing with me, anyhow?

LESSOR
I announced a war, and men came flocking to my aide.

WOMAN
And there is no real war I am assuming.

LESSOR
Of course not. It just proves how imprudent other men are. They came all the way here to fight for a cause, and instead I feed them to you.

VRABLE
What is the point? What does that do?

LESSOR
With the rest of mankind out of the way, I can repopulate the world with my own seed. I will redevelop the Fogo name from the ground up.

WOMAN
You should stay on the ground where you belong.

Lessor LAUGHS openly, bending over as if he heard a very humorous joke. Then he snaps up sharply and stops laughing abruptly.

LESSOR
Both of you are swine. Did you actually think you could get out of here?
(taken aback)
New eyes? How did that happen?

VRABLE
None of your concern. Let us pass, Lessor.

LESSOR
None of my concern? You did manage to get the woman out of the cell though... and without her killing you... how did you manage that?

VRABLE
Perhaps I’m simply a stronger man than you thought.

LESSOR
Ha, well, I’m not dead either, boy. Maybe we are more alike than I thought, too.

VRABLE
Never.

Lessor paces, getting more and more angry. He stops suddenly and holds his head.

LESSOR
Shut up, mother! I will handle it!

Vrable looks quizzically at the woman. The woman simply shrugs.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
I should have killed you, boy, right when you walked through my front door.

VRABLE
Then why didn’t you?

LESSOR
I suppose it was your mother. She adored you so much that I suppose I wanted some of that. Of course, she didn’t really want to claim me as her son at first, but I quickly changed her mind. She really came around after awhile.

Lessor smiles menacingly.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
Actually, she became quite good at stroking my hair and singing me to sleep. You definitely were one lucky boy.
Apparently we were able to steal women equally from one another.

VRABLE
You bastard.

Vrable moves forward, readying his fist to swing. Lessor does not move, but instead CLUCKS his tongue disapprovingly. Vrable stops moving forward, but he keeps his fist clutched.

LESSOR
You forget about my army of dogs. At my command they will tear you to shreds. I actually thought they would have done that by now, which is why I threw you in the kennel with them, but that is of little importance.

Lessor pauses, taking a dramatic pause to let Vrable have a good look at the dogs behind him.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
So, it’s up to you. Would you like to die starving in a cell, or would you like to feed my dogs? Either death sounds fairly slow and painful.

VRABLE
I don’t need to choose. You will let us pass.

LESSOR
Never!
(slyly)
Very well. I will choose for you. I will enjoy seeing you die more than you can imagine.
Dogs, attack!

The dogs move forward, excited at the prospect of tearing something apart. However, when they get closer to Vrable, they automatically stop. They smell him, and then they turn back at look at Lessor. A few begin to WHINE.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
What are you doing, you stupid mutts? Kill him!

The dogs lick Vrable’s hands, and Vrable kneels down to their level and pats their heads. The dogs begin to jump all around him. Vrable directs his LAUGHTER at Lessor.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
Kill!

A few of the dogs, turn towards Lessor, GROWLING. The remaining slowly follow suit until all are standing stiff and GROWLING at their so-called master.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
(frantic)
You listen to me. You kill him.

When his words have no effect on the pack of dogs, he looks up pleadingly at Vrable.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
What is happening?

Vrable looks at Lessor and seems to get a new wave of confidence.

VRABLE
Oh, it’s something you probably wouldn’t understand, Lessor. It’s called loyalty.
(smugly)
Actually, you might know a little something about it. You see, while you were turning my mother against me, I was turning your dogs against you. Though, I’m pretty sure our methods were quite different.

Vrable stands up while saying this, and begins moving towards Lessor. The pack of dogs moves with him.

LESSOR
But, no... they are MY dogs. They are my friends. They are mine.

VRABLE
You know nothing about friendship. And they don’t want to be yours anymore, though. You see, I gave them the kindness I doubt you ever gave them. Once anyone gets the taste of something sweet, they never want to go back.

Lessor squints in determination again.

LESSOR
Dogs, I said attack!

The dogs all move at a dead run towards Lessor, leaping on him from all angles. Lessor SCREAMS, and his screams are quite achingly similar to Vrable’s screams when he was blinded.
Vrable turns back to the woman who has been watching this all from just in front of the kitchen door with awe. He snatches her hand and forces her to run past the savage scene. She twists her head to watch the whole thing until Vrable finally pulls her out the front door.

EXT. FOGO PALACE - CONTINUOUS
Vrable swings the woman in front of him, and then closes the door behind him and rests his back on it. Lessor’s SCREAMS can still be heard, even outside the heavy door.
He doesn’t pause for long, though. He straightens back up and reaches out for her hand once again.

Screenplay pages 71-80

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Never mind. It’s nothing.

WOMAN
No, tell me.

VRABLE
It’s just a song my mother used to sing to me. I didn’t know it was such a common song.

WOMAN
I don’t know that it is. I don’t even know where I know it from.
(pauses)
It just came to me.

Vrable nods, unsure of what else to do. After she stops looking back at him, he goes back to watching her interact with the child.
The woman stands up and begins walking around, holding the now calmed baby’s head in her right hand, and she drapes his body along her right arm. She lifts him up in this way and smiles at him.
Vrable’s face softens and he joins in on her smile. The baby slowly begins to quiet as she moves him from side to side with him out in front of her.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
(cooing)
You were just lonely, weren’t you? There’s nothing to be scared of. I’m here, shhh...

The woman suddenly stops mid-movement, freezing in place. The baby begins to fuss slightly, so she begins to rock him once again, but this time her smile has faded and she has begun crying.
Large tears drop from her eyes onto her dress. Every time one drops, it hits her dress, dampening it for a second. Then the dress becomes pristine again; however, it is soon hit by another teardrop.
Vrable steps quietly into the room.

VRABLE
(whispering)
What’s wrong? What is it?

WOMAN
I think I had children. I had a family.

VRABLE
So you remember?

The woman looks at him and begins to cry harder.

WOMAN
No, I just remember this feeling and how to do this... This means my children became motherless when I... when they... Oh, God.

VRABLE
I’m sure they’re fine...

WOMAN
They are probably dead! I am forced to live forever and they have to live and die without their mother.

VRABLE
You don’t even know...

WOMAN
I do know. You don’t understand. I may not remember them, but they are somewhere in here

She pats her heart

WOMAN (CONT’D)
And I abandoned them.

VRABLE
You did not. You didn’t have a choice.

Vrable moves a little closer, ready to console her, but he stops about five feet away as she begins to SOB even louder. She pulls the baby close to her chest, his head resting on her shoulder, and she continues to move from side to side with a slight bounce in her movement. The baby slowly falls asleep.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
(hesitating)
Um, we need to go.

The woman twirls around and looks deeply at Vrable.

WOMAN
We have to take him with us.

VRABLE
No, he’s asleep; he will be fine.

WOMAN
No, I can’t abandon him, too.

VRABLE
You don’t even know him.

WOMAN
I don’t need to.

VRABLE
What are you going to do with him? Once he gets old enough, he might try to attack you or something - then what?

The woman gives Vrable a shocked look and then looks down at the baby and kisses its forehead.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
(apologetically)
I’m sorry. Look, his mother will probably be back soon - you can’t just take her child.

The woman wipes her eyes with her forearm and moves the baby down into the crook of her arm.

WOMAN
No, you’re right.
(pauses)
Let me at least make him a better bed. Whoever thought a burlap sack was proper cushioning was insane.

She grabs a couple of quilts off of the beds with her one free hand and mechanically bundles them into a tiny square. Vrable watches this with amazement.
She packs the blankets into the basket, opening them slightly as she places him down into them so that she can bundle him into them.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
There, sweet angel.

She gracefully turns around, using her heels to pivot, and smiles as she looks at Vrable. Her face is still tear-stained.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Alright. I’m ready. Let’s go.
Hey, you’re looking at me again.

VRABLE
Yeah. You’re beautiful. With the baby, I mean.

Her smile widens. She touches his hand slightly with hers. Vrable winces and pulls it away.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Probably not a good idea.

WOMAN
Right.
Where to next?

VRABLE
I guess we continue to look for my mother. Seriously though, this place is like a crypt. I haven’t heard any movement, besides the baby of course. Where is everyone?

WOMAN
Maybe Lessor is holding them in a cell, too.

Vrable shakes his head.

VRABLE
Somehow I have a feeling that it is much worse.

INT. LESSOR’S BEDROOM - DAY
Vrable’s mother steps into Lessor’s room. The scene is much the same as before, but one woman has a newly broken nose and blood is running down onto her already grungy clothes. No one seems to notice, not even the woman herself.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
(shamefully)
I have failed you, sir. Your prisoner is gone.

Lessor sits up, first alarmed, and then his face becomes an angry contortion.

LESSOR
Which prisoner?

MOTHER PRACTEAL
The woman.

Lessor stands up and rips some of the pelts off the wall, taking most of the cloth covering the wall with it. He BELLOWS with fury. His voice ECHOES throughout the room and into the hallway. It moves down the hallway towards...

INT. FOGO PALACE, HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Where Vrable and the woman stand. They stop mid-step and look at one another.

VRABLE
Apparently we are not going to go that way.

The woman LAUGHS nervously. They reach the end of the hallway and turn away from the sound of Lessor’s fit.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
The men located in the holding cell beside the woman’s look at each other.

MAN #8
Did you hear that?

MAN #9
I told you there was a war to be fought. That is the sound of someone ready to fight.

Man #9 smiles and nods at all of the men staring at him.

MAN #9 (CONT’D)
Just be patient. Our commander will come get us soon.

INT. LESSOR’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Lessor SMASHES everything in his path. The women have moved away from him and passively line the far wall. Vrable’s mother remains in the doorway. Lessor whips the bed apart and then looks over at Mother Practeal. He PANTS with his exertions and then takes large steps across the room towards her.
He reaches her and stands inches away from her face, breathing heavily down on her. Her hair moves backward with every breath, but she remains unmoved.

LESSOR
What did you do?
(louder)
What did you do?!

MOTHER PRACTEAL
(calmly, no emotion)
My Lord, I do not know what happened-

Lessor does not allow her to finish. Instead, he grabs her hair and turns her around, SLAMMING her face into the side of the door. Her bottom lip bursts from the pressure and blood splatters onto the door frame. She still does not react.
Lessor throws her onto the floor and STOMPS on her wrist. There is an audible CRACK. She stands back up and faces him, an emotionless soldier ‘til the end.

LESSOR
I hate you. I hate you!

Lessor pushes her harshly against the wall and yells just as loud as before.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
Get moving. All of you! Get my dinner ready.
You-

He grabs a very young, blonde woman’s arm as she marches past him, twisting it as he pulls her close to his face.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
You better find that girl. You can forget about helping with my dinner. I put you in charge of that.

He strokes her hair as she stares blindly at him. Vrable’s mother falls in behind the dismissed women as they move out into the hall. Lessor shoves the woman out after them and SLAMS his door behind her.

INT. FOGO PALACE, HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable and the woman are walking. Vrable constantly looks out the window to make sure he has his bearings. The woman looks out the window and smiles up at the sunlight.
Suddenly, Vrable throws his arm in front of her and they stop.

VRABLE
Can you hear that?

The woman tilts her head in confusion and then LAUGHS.

WOMAN
Now it’s my turn to be confused.

VRABLE
I can hear footsteps.

Sure enough, they both look over their shoulder as the hallway begins to ECHO with STOMPING feet. In a large rush, as if from nowhere, a cascade of women move down the hallway at a fast pace. They are in two perfect lines and wear unmovable frowns on their faces.
Vrable looks over at the woman and pushes her into a nearby door.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Stay here for a minute while I look for my mother.

WOMAN
But-

VRABLE
Just... stay.

Vrable closes the door slowly. The woman eyes him sadly as darkness falls around her.
Vrable turns quickly and begins trotting down the hall towards the oncoming rush of women.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Mother?! Are you there?

Vrable reaches the women who do not stop or move aside for him. He is pushed up against the wall and GASPS a little as his breath is thrown out of him.
His head darts back and forth, following the crowd’s movement, frantically looking for his mother. The end of the group passes by him quickly. He sees his mother at the rear and begins to chase after her.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Mother! What happened to you?

Vrable has to jog to keep the pace as he places his hand on his mother’s face where it is caked with blood from the impact with the door.
When she doesn’t answer, Vrable digs in his heels, grabs her by the shoulders and forces her to stop. The few women behind her move around them as if they were rocks in a heavily flowing river.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Tell me what he did to you.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
I don’t know what you are talking about.

VRABLE
Lessor, that horrible man, what did he do to you?

MOTHER PRACTEAL
Lessor is my master. I serve no other.

VRABLE
Mother, what is going on? Why are you like this? Tell me what he did to you!

MOTHER PRACTEAL
I must make my way to the kitchen in order to better serve my master.

VRABLE
No, you don’t need to do anything. Stay here. I will help you. We will find a way out.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
That will not be necessary. I am very happy here.

VRABLE
Mother-

But before Vrable can say anymore, his mother grabs his arms and pulls them off her shoulders and continues her fast pace down the hall. Vrable stands still and watches her go, his mouth agape.
A little ways ahead, a door opens and the woman comes back out into the hallway. She looks at Vrable, then down the hall at the backs of the procession of women, and then back at Vrable. She moves quickly towards him with concern on her face.

WOMAN
So? What is going on?

VRABLE
I don’t know.
That isn’t my mother, though.

WOMAN
What do you mean?

VRABLE
(frustrated)
I mean that Lessor did something to her. She barely seemed to recognize me. She doesn’t want to leave. She talked like... like... nothing.

WOMAN
Like nothing?

VRABLE
Yes, like there was nothing left inside of her.

The woman looks back down the hall. She turns to Vrable and the sun hits her face strongly, making her face full of determination even more sharp.

WOMAN
Then we have to go after her.

VRABLE
Why?

WOMAN
We have to get her out of here.

VRABLE
What is it with you and trying to fix everything?

WOMAN
I’m not, I just-

VRABLE
You talk about everything like it’s so simple. Maybe this can’t be fixed, have you ever thought of that? Maybe I’ve lost my mother to this horrible man, and it’s all my fault for letting her even come here.

WOMAN
Vrable, it’s not your fault. Horrible things happen to great people all the time. That’s like suggesting that I asked for this.

She motions to her body.

VRABLE
Maybe you did. Maybe you were a horrible person before you were transformed. You don’t know you don’t
(mockingly)
Remember.

WOMAN
(scoffs)
That’s not fair.
Just because you are hurt and angry right now doesn’t mean you get to take it out on me.

VRABLE
I can do whatever I want. I have no ties anymore. I have no one that means anything to me anymore. I just wanted to get you out of here and now I don’t even care to do that anymore. I wish Lessor would walk down this hallway right now and drag you back to that dungeon.

WOMAN
Stop acting like a spoiled child. If I have to slap you in order for you to pull yourself together right now, I will.

Vrable moves over to the wall and slumps down to the floor. He is bordered by light from the windows on either side, but he sits in darkness, brooding over the situation.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Alright. You’re upset. But, Vrable, we are so close to getting out of here. You have been so strong up to this point. I couldn’t have made it this far without you. Now, if we have to make our way out separately, then fine, but I refuse to let you just sit here when you have your whole life waiting for you just outside these walls.

Screenplay pages 61-70

VRABLE
I want to fix up the house and have it just like when my father was around.

WOMAN
I would ask to join you, but somehow I don’t think that would work.

Vrable doesn’t answer. He shuffles a little and keeps his eyes closed.

VRABLE
(sleepily)
You will find something when we get out of here. There is a family for everyone...

Vrable’s voice drifts off a bit, and his head begins to nod.

WOMAN
Are you falling asleep?

VRABLE
Mmmhmm.

WOMAN
Ha. Alright. I’ll keep watch, I guess.

Vrable crosses his arms and lowers his head to his chin. His mouth drops open slightly.
The woman begins watching as one of the puppies blindly tumbles through her once again clean skirt folds and then gracelessly heads back towards its mother to feed. She watches as the puppies push each other aside in order to find a nipple. Her eyes narrow as she notices the runt scooting along the outside, unable to find room by its mother.
She glances over at Vrable, who still has his eyes closed. A little bit of drool moves out of the corner of her mouth. She grabs her stomach, wipes away the drool, and then her eyes widen in a slight panic. She moves over towards the pile of puppies.
Vrable’s head begins to bob with sleepiness. His chin hits his chest, which wakes him up with a start. He smacks his lips, rubs his eyes, and then jumps with fright as his eyes clear.

VRABLE
What are you doing?!

The woman sits in profile and blood is dripping out of the corner of her mouth. The limp bottom half of the runt sits in one hand as she CRUNCHES on the remains of the other half with the other. She looks at Vrable apologetically and sets the corpse down.

WOMAN
What would you have me do? I am cursed with this insatiable hunger. Did you want me to eat you? There was no way this puppy would have survived the week.

Vrable puts one hand over his mouth as he suppresses vomit. He turns to the side for a bit, unable to look at her once again. He finally looks at her once again as she wipes her mouth with her skirt.

VRABLE
You are disgusting.

The woman looks as though she might cry then seems to think better of it. Instead, she shoves the rest of the dog’s body in her mouth.
Vrable shudders.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Do you think that will be enough, or should I offer you my arm?

WOMAN
I’ll be fine for awhile. Don’t get smart; I did that for you.

VRABLE
I suppose I should thank you then?

WOMAN
When can we get out of here?

VRABLE
Apparently the sooner, the better. I’m going to rest for awhile,
(smugly)
as long as you promise not to eat me, and then we will try and find our way out. I think the best idea is to try and find my mother - she should be willing to help us. I’m sure by now she has realized what a horrible place this is and is ready to leave.

INT. LESSOR’S BEDROOM
Lessor lays on his bed, popping grape after grape in his mouth. He is being attended to by women, all who are pale and dirty, apparently wearing whatever it is they arrived in. One holds a plate of grapes, while another sits by his feet, filing down his toenails.
His room is decorated with skins from his trappings, barely showing any of the green wall color beneath. There is light from a fireplace in this room as well; a chandelier holding many candles hangs from a tall ceiling as well.
There is a knock at the door. Vrable’s mother enters, pale and unblinking. All of the life seems to be gone from her; she is now only a shell of a woman. She also wears the clothes she came in; they are now tattered and very dirty.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
More men have arrived, my master.

LESSOR
This is great news. Did you show them to their rooms?

MOTHER PRACTEAL
Yes, sir. They believe they are waiting for instructions from their war leader. Shall I tell them anything else?

LESSOR
No, as long as they are here and in their holding cells, there is nothing more that needs to be done. We can start filtering them into her cell tomorrow.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
Very good, master. Do you need me to do anything else for you?

LESSOR
No... well, yes. Why don’t you come here and massage my head. My mother never did anything like that for me; you seem like you would make a perfect mother.
(whimpers mockingly)
My head hurts,

Lessor becomes suddenly quiet and serious.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
and I need you to quiet the voices.

Vrable’s mother moves past the other women and slides into bed next to Lessor. He places his head on her chest, moving his cheek against her breasts. He LAUGHS like a little boy. She places her hands in his hair.

LESSOR (CONT’D)
Now sing to me.

Lessor snuggles down close to her, hugging her waist. Mother Practeal only looks forward, her hands moving mechanically through his hair. Lessor smiles and closes his eyes as he anticipates a song.
She begins to sing, plainly and without any emotion. She at first only hums and then she breaks out into a sweet lullaby.

MOTHER PRACTEAL
(singing)
(And old Irish lullaby: Deirín Dé)
The nightjar is out in the heather
The brown bittern calls in the reeds
Cows will go west at dawn
And my child will go to mind them in the pasture
The moon will rise and the sun will set
Cows will return at the close of day
I shall let my child go picking blackberries
But sleep soundly till daybreak.
Vrable’s mother SINGS this with very little emotion, and repeats the song mechanically when she reaches the end. The scene fades out.

INT. FOGO PALACE, HALLWAY - MORNING
The woman slides out from behind the kennel door.

WOMAN
Alright, let’s go.

Vrable pokes his head out from behind the door. A gust of wind rushes through his hair, while at the same time, raising the woman’s skirt dangerously high on her thighs. Vrable sees this and...

INT. FOGO HALLWAY (FROM BEHIND VRABLE’S EYES) - CONTINUOUS
His vision goes red and the room begins to tilt. He can hear an elderly woman laughing somewhere far off. He turns around and closes the door on his hand.

INT. FOGO HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Vrable’s vision clears as he YAWPS in pain. He pulls out his hand, now red and swollen and continues to stare at the door.

WOMAN
What just happened?

VRABLE
The same thing... only it’s different this time; I don’t travel somewhere far off with you - I stay here and feel like I’m ready to... attack.

Vrable pauses as if thinking.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
I don’t think I should look at you anymore. It’s too dangerous; some force much bigger than us is working here.

WOMAN
Great. Looks like there is no getting around it - my purpose has become very simple; I’m here to destroy mankind.
Ulgh, I’m the perfect weapon for Lessor.

VRABLE
What do you mean?

WOMAN
He’s been feeding me men. It’s part of a plan he has. I’m not sure what it is.

VRABLE
That’s disgusting.
Why didn’t he just throw me in with you then when I arrived?

WOMAN
Maybe you’re valuable. Or maybe he is an idiot.
I like to think it’s a little of both.

Vrable LAUGHS slightly and continues to stare at the door.

VRABLE
I’m not sure, but you might have something with that valuable thing. Not me, but maybe my mother. Maybe he knew if he killed me right away she would run off and perhaps ruin his plans.

WOMAN
Well, he did blind you.

VRABLE
True, but it’s not like that killed me. She wouldn’t abandon me if I was in here still alive. She’s not the type of woman to just go screaming for help - she definitely would have stayed and gotten me out of here herself. Which is why I am surprised that my mother hasn’t come by to see me at all since we got here.

WOMAN
Maybe she can’t find you. Or maybe it’s another dark and twisty part of Lessor’s plan.

VRABLE
I hope not. If he did any harm to her... I just hope not.

WOMAN
Fair enough. At least now we are on our way to try and find her. Maybe you will get some answers.

INT. FOGO HALLWAY, ABOVE DUNGEON - MOMENTS LATER
Back in the empty hallway located above all of the cells, men can be heard YELLING and MOANING.

MAN #6 (O.S.)
Hey! Down here!

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
Inside the cell with the men who were seen escorted when the woman and Vrable were busy getting acquainted, the men all gather below the trap door, YELLING upward into the hallway above. Man #9, however, sits by himself in a corner, fiddling with his pocket-sized knife.

MAN #7
Down here! We are starving!

MAN #8
You can’t ignore us like this! What is going on?!

The men raise an uproar.

MAN #9
Be quiet!

The men within this cell immediately quiet and turn to look at the man who spoke. However, YELLING concerning their hunger continues in adjacent cells and can be heard echoing in the hallway above.

MAN #9 (CONT’D)
We are here to fight a war. Sit down and wait for instructions... in silence.

MAN #8
What war? You still really believe we are here to fight a war?

MAN #9
Yes! I do! I came here to fight, and I will fight.

MAN #8
You must be insane; show me how this seems at all like a war. Show me your war.

Man #9 lunges forward, his hand still clutching his knife. Once he reaches Man #8, he holds his knife up to his neck.

MAN #9
Here is my war. Do you still want to argue?

MAN #8
Calm down... I have a family.

MAN #9
And I don’t! I lost them in a fire. I have nothing left. I came here to fight, and I will fight. If I have to fight you, so be it.

MAN #8
I don’t want to fight you. Please, calm down.

Man #9 pulls his knife away from Man #8’s throat, but continues to stare darkly at him.

MAN #9
There is a war. And we shall wait down here until we are called to fight it.

He walks back to his corner and sits, running his finger down his knife and eyeing it closely. The other men retreat to the opposite corner, huddling together as if cold.

INT. FOGO HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable turns, his head deliberately facing downwards.

VRABLE
We need to move faster. And-

WOMAN
(cuts him off)
Shh! I hear something.

VRABLE
I don’t hear anything

WOMAN
SHHH! It’s this way.

Vrable tilts his head up just enough to figure out which direction she is moving and then begins to follow.
They move down the hallway, Vrable views the decaying walls and floors with his new eyes as the morning sun flows in from the side windows. He appears to be in awe.

VRABLE
(whispering)
You mentioned this before, but I AM amazed I was able to make it to your cell and back. I mean, I was blind there and basically blind on the way back with the poor lighting. Look at this place!
(pauses)
By the way, I still don’t hear anything.

WOMAN
It’s a baby.

VRABLE
What?

Suddenly, Vrable perks up his head, and a baby’s CRY is audible and faintly EXHOES in the hallway.

WOMAN
Come on! I can’t stand to hear it cry.

VRABLE
No, wait! We should keep moving...

However, the woman obviously does not hear Vrable, and he is forced to run after her. The baby’s CRY gets noticeably louder as they near the room where it has been abandoned.

INT. FOGO DORM - CONTINUOUS
They open a door on a large room with many beds, resembling an orphanage setup. In a basket on one bed is the naked male baby, CRYING out and shaking as it clutches its fists. A tiny blanket lays discarded next to it and a burlap bag lines the basket.

WOMAN
How could anyone leave their baby like this?

The woman turns to get Vrable’s reaction, but he only stares at his feet. She turns and rushes into the room and sits on the bed beside the basket.
Vrable SIGHS in frustration and opens the door to yell after her.

VRABLE
No, stop. We have to go. We can’t take it with us. We have to find my mother... let’s go.

The woman doesn’t listen. Instead, she lifts the baby into her arms, drawing the blanket up around him as she does so. She tucks him in tightly and begins to COO in a soothing manner.
Vrable looks up in order to yell again, realizes he is looking at her, and he quickly looks back down. He slowly lifts his head again as he becomes enthralled with the scene before him.
The baby continues to be restless, so the woman begins to sing.

WOMAN
(singing)
The nightjar is out in the heather
The brown bittern calls in the reeds
Cows will go west at dawn
And my child will go to mind them in the pasture
The moon will rise and the sun will set
Cows will return at the close of day
I shall let my child go picking blackberries
But sleep soundly till daybreak.

Vrable’s eyes grow wide as she finishes this lullaby, obviously recognizing it. The woman looks over at him and notices the look on this face.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
What?

VRABLE
That song...

Vrable stares at her for awhile, and then notices the confused look that the woman greets him with. So, he then shakes his head and shrugs off his awed look.

Screenplay pages 51-60

MAN #9
(interrupting)
We are not going anywhere. We are here to fight a war, and that is what we will do.

The man eyes the other men angrily, making them back up in fear.

MAN #9 (CONT’D)
We have been sent here to wait, and that is exactly what we will do.

The man turns around and continues to pick at his fingernails.

MAN #9 (CONT’D)
(to self)
Where did our country’s pride go? These men are despicable.

INT. FOGO PALACE, BARE ROOM - AFTERNOON
In a bare room, Lessor appears to be busy “training” his newly recruited women servants.
They are gathered in a darkened, elongated room. Chairs are set up in rows, 3 wide by 4 long. There are 12 chairs on either side of the room, allowing for an aisle in between.
The 24 women sit very upright in their chairs due to the ropes around their wrists and waists. None are struggling. In fact, all of them sit very passively and quietly.
Lessor stands behind a dirty oil lamp that is covered by a wooden box with a hole in it, making it project onto the far wall that the women are staring at. Two women that have apparently been brainwashed beforehand stand on either side of Lessor. The light flickers due to the flame inside and Lessor uses the silence to speak to the women in a monotone voice.

LESSOR
I am your master. You serve none but me...
Say it!

ALL WOMEN
You are our master. We serve none but you.

LESSOR
Good. Good.

Lessor walks around the room. He pats a few women on the head. As he gets to the front of the room, he stands in front of the projected light.
Vrable’s mother sits near the middle aisle in the very front row. He leans down in front of Vrable’s mother’s face, only inches from her nose. She does not react; she continues to look forward. Lessor begins to LAUGH.
Lessor stands back up and goes to move away, but turns back and leans back down in front of Vrable’s mother. He presses his cheek to hers and then turns and licks her cheek, letting saliva slide down her cheek. He then grabs her face and passionately kisses her.
As he pulls away, he lets his tongue roll over her lips. She does not flinch or move her face in any way. Lessor LAUGHS more outrageously. His laughter ECHOES throughout the room.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable’s face contorts as if in pain. He stares at the dungeon floor as he lifts the woman up towards the trap door. He is sweating, making his hair wet and stick against his forehead.
The woman is balancing on Vrable’s outstretched hands. She begins to move onto her tip-toes.

VRABLE
You need to hurry up and get out of here if you think you can reach it. I can’t stand... touching you.

WOMAN
Just a little further. I’m almost there. Push off the ground with your feet.

VRABLE
No! I would fall and drop you.

WOMAN
No you won’t - I’ll grab on quickly.

Vrable lifts his heels off of the dirt floor. The woman’s fingers latch onto the edge of the opening and she begins to lift herself up off of Vrable’s hands. Vrable collapses on the floor, lifting up a cloud of dirt around him. The woman lobs herself up over the edge, disappearing into the hallway above.
Vrable stays seated and SIGHS, rubbing his backside. The woman pokes her head back over the side of the open trap door, allowing it to frame her head as her long, red flowing hair falling back into the interior of the cell.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Are you coming?

She smiles down at Vrable. Vrable quickly stares downward.

VRABLE
Funny. How am I supposed to get up there?

WOMAN
I found this fallen beam. I’m pretty sure it is meant to keep this building standing, but apparently it’s not that important.

She chuckles, and Vrable narrows his eyes.

VRABLE
I don’t think that’s a good sign, but lower it anyway.

The woman stands up and disappears for awhile. Vrable stands up and begins to dust himself off. He looks up longingly towards to trap door opening, but is sure to turn his face away before the woman comes back into view.
The woman holds the squarish wooden beam over her head and then slowly lowers it to the cell floor. Vrable moves aside to allow it to fall.
The beam is slightly taller than the cell ceiling, so the woman leans across the opening and holds the beam in place. She looks back down at Vrable, her face next to the beam that shoots through the trapdoor opening.

WOMAN
Come on!

VRABLE
I don’t know if I can climb this.

Vrable picks off some splinters from the side of the beam. He covers his eyes but looks up to show the woman his insecurity.

WOMAN
I’m not coming back down there. I was willing to lift you up first.

VRABLE
Alright, alright. Give me a moment.

Vrable rubs his hands together, stretches his arms and legs in order to limber up, and then strongly grabs the beam. He grimaces and lifts himself up, wrapping his legs around the beam. He inches up, randomly CRYING out in pain as his blood darkens the wood. The wood can be heard BREAKING off splinters into his body as he makes his way up.
Vrable reaches the opening, and the woman grabs his arm to help him the rest of the way. When she grabs his arm, she heals the splinters along his arm and hand, and the splinters fall out onto the floor. Once he has collapsed onto the hallway floor with his eyes shut tight, she does the same to his other arm and his legs.
He opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling, blinking at the darkness of the hallway with the sun beginning to set outside.

WOMAN
Are you alright? Can you get up?

VRABLE
Yes. We should get moving.

WOMAN
Where are we going to go? I don’t know my way around this horrid place.

VRABLE
I know my way back to the kennel... basically. I was blind on my way here, but I think I can backtrack. Let’s go that way and then we can figure out a plan from there.

WOMAN
Anything to get us out of this darkness.

Vrable nods, staring at the darkening windows and stiffly rising to his feet. He leans against the wall and then pushes himself upright.
Vrable turns to speak to her, but he keeps his head from looking directly at her.

VRABLE
Ready?

WOMAN
I’m guessing you wouldn’t allow me to hold your arm?

VRABLE
No.

WOMAN
It’s just getting so dark in here.

VRABLE
(amused)
I thought you didn’t scare easy.

WOMAN
I don’t like the nighttime. It just reminds me of... that night.

VRABLE
(pauses uncomfortably)
I’m sorry.

WOMAN
It’s not your fault; don’t apologize. Let’s go.

VRABLE
Well, if you held my arm in this dark, and one of us fell, then both of us would fall...

WOMAN
I said, “Let’s go.”

VRABLE
Right.

INT. FOGO KENNEL - NIGHT
The kennel door creaks open. Vrable peeks his head inside, and then smiles as all of the dogs come running up to him, BARKING madly.

VRABLE
We’re here. Say hello to my new family.

Vrable walks inside the room, moving towards the far end. The room is now only lit by the moon, and he laughs when he has to push the excited dogs off of him. He slowly lights all of the lamps around the kennel so that it glows. The woman has moved into the room, watching Vrable as the dogs follow his every move.
The woman LAUGHS a little at the sight, which prompts the dogs to turn and notice her. They begin to GROWL and move in towards her. Her laughter turns into a small SCREAM of fright. Vrable turns around, making sure to look at the dogs and not the woman.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
No! She is a friend.
Well, mostly.
Stop!

Vrable moves between the dogs and the woman, and the dogs stop growling and look up at Vrable in confusion.
Vrable points at the woman while looking down at the dogs.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
Nice. Now, you be nice.

Vrable pets a few of their heads, and they instantly relax and wag their tails. The few dogs in front move past Vrable to sniff the woman. One jumps up and gives her a quick lick on her left cheek. The woman begins LAUGHING again, and sits down on one of the hay beds as the dogs gather around her.
After the dogs begin to calm down, they form two circles around Vrable and the woman who now sit on opposite sides of the room. The woman stares at Vrable, but Vrable keeps his attention focused on the dogs.

WOMAN
I’m amazed you were able to find your way back here.

VRABLE
It wasn’t too hard; actually, I think being blind on my way there made me more attune to all of the turns I was making.
(pauses)
Isn’t there a name I could call you by? It’s beginning to bother me, not being able to call you anything.

WOMAN
No. I told you I don’t remember. I try, but nothing seems to help.

Vrable begins to say something, but the woman cuts him off instantly.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
(hurriedly)
And I don’t want you to give me one. I only want the person I used to be, and if I can’t have that, then I don’t want anything at all. I guess you’ll just have to deal with not being able to call me anything.

Vrable looks a little hurt, and stops petting the dog beside him, who begins to WHIMPER when he notices Vrable’s sadness.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap like that. It’s just very frustrating to be alive for so long and not even get a glimpse into my life before I was... changed.
Why do you want to get to know me anyway? Don’t you just want me out of your hair?

She smiles a little,adding to her apology.

VRABLE
Well, I do. But, since I am trying to work with you on getting out of here, I figured I should get to know you a little better.

WOMAN
Fair enough.

Vrable looks up, careful to stare at the wall beside her actual head, and smiles. The woman begins openly LAUGHING, and Vrable soon joins her.
They continue to laugh for awhile, and Vrable stops suddenly and SHUSHES the woman as he looks down towards the end of the room. The woman looks at Vrable quizzically as he stands up and moves towards the end of the room.
WHIMPERING and MOANING begin towards the end of the pack of dogs. A dog is writhing in pain, and is a little off from the rest.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
What is going on?

VRABLE
I think she is in labor.

WOMAN
As in, having puppies? I can’t remember the last time I saw puppies! Seriously...

VRABLE
Shh, she’s in pain. We have to help her.

WOMAN
Help her? How?

VRABLE
I’ll hold her down, and you deliver them. Make sure they are coming out the right way.

WOMAN
Head first? Do we have some cloth or anything to hold them with? Do you want me to clean them off, or should we let the mother do it?

VRABLE
Right...
For not having seen puppies in a long time, you seem to know something about delivering them.

WOMAN
Probably a former life thing.

VRABLE
I don’t have a cloth or anything for you...

WOMAN
Oh. Never mind, it’s alright. I’ll just use my dress.

VRABLE
Alright.

Vrable folds his knees down underneath him and sits by the dog’s head. He puts one hand around its neck and the other just below where the its front leg meets its torso. The dog WHIMPERS even louder. Vrable SHUSHES it and continues to stare down at the dog’s sad and frightened eyes.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
What do you see?

WOMAN
I think the first one is turned around.

VRABLE
You’ll have to get it out quickly. She’s suffering.

WOMAN
Alright, I’m working on it.

She touches the dog’s hind leg, closes her eyes and easily pulls out the first puppy. It moves just the slightest bit to show that it has life. The woman cuddles it close to her, holding it in her now stained dress.
Vrable chances a peek at the woman in order to see the newborn puppy. After one glance, he fully turns and looks at the woman and the puppy. He finds himself smiling.

VRABLE
It’s adorable. You seem to be a natural at this. How did that happen so easily?

The woman places the first puppy next to its mother’s face for it to be more thoroughly cleaned.

WOMAN
I calmed her before I got him out of there. It made things a lot easier since she wasn’t hurting so much for the tiniest moment.
(pauses)
Hey, you are looking at me. How did that happen?

VRABLE
I don’t know. Something about this whole thing... I don’t feel the urge to... pounce on you, in so many words; it’s too natural and beautiful of a moment for anything so... animalistic? Maybe you should carry puppies around with you from now on and you could reverse... everything.

WOMAN
Ha. Somehow I don’t think it would be so simple. Maybe it has something to do with you getting to know me. It’s not like any other man has had the... chance to do that.

VRABLE
Perhaps.

They share a smile, and then the woman looks down as the dog begins to WHIMPER again.

WOMAN
I think the rest are coming.

The woman looks up and smiles at Vrable who continues looking at her.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
I see a head this time.

INT. FOGO KENNEL - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable and the woman sit next to each other against the wall closest to the mother and her puppies. Vrable’s head is tilted up, resting against the wall as he closes his eyes.

WOMAN
So, why do you want to get out of here so badly? What do you have waiting for you?

VRABLE
I always liked the life my mother and I had created for ourselves. It’s not much, but it’s enough.

WOMAN
Don’t you ever want more? I mean, you can’t stay at home forever.

VRABLE
Well, I always plan to take care of my mother, but I would like to have a wife to bring home. And children... I’ve always liked children.

The woman nods understandably.

WOMAN
That sounds like something great to come home to.

Screenplay pages 41-50

The young lady looks up in fright at the SPIRIT hanging above her. The spirit appears old and wise, though frightfully wicked at the same time.

WOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
She was a ghostly looking old woman, all white. I couldn’t tell where the folds of her skin ended and her white dress began.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
The woman shudders and stops talking for awhile.

VRABLE
Why have you stopped?

The woman sits up, her legs still folded up beside her. She begins to meddle with the skirt of her dress, pressing out the folds and positioning it into a perfect circle around her.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
What is it?

WOMAN
I despise thinking about this part... and I’ve never had to describe it before.

EXT. ATHAPARMONA WOODS - NIGHT
The scene returns to where it left off, the young lady and her brother alone with the strange spirit.

WOMAN (V.O.)
The boys ran off, except for my brother of course. He got to experience it all. I was almost dead at this point, I was so battered. You wouldn’t think three boys could do so much damage, but I suppose it’s because they drank so much.
(exasperated)
She touched me and I changed into a whole new woman, though I wasn’t a woman any longer. She dressed me like her and then she spoke. She said...

The spirit places a finger on the young lady’s forehead, leaving a glistening mark behind.

WOMAN /SPIRIT
(together)
You will become something for the world to fear. You will punish all of mankind for this horrendous deed. This is my gift to you.

WOMAN (V.O.)
And then she placed her hand on my forehead as if to bless me and I fell asleep.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
WOMAN
The next thing I knew, it was morning, my brother had disappeared, and I was alone in the woods.

VRABLE
She called it a gift. But you seem to hate what happened to you.

WOMAN
I do.
(pauses)
But it was a gift at first. I relished in the pain I caused men. I was so angry.

The woman makes a fist to exaggerate her anger, and then releases it as her face softens.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
But decades passed, and I didn’t want or need vengeance anymore. I just wanted my old life back... the life I couldn’t remember anymore.

VRABLE
You couldn’t remember?

WOMAN
Once I changed, the only memory I was left with was what those boys did to me. I don’t even remember my name or my family, beyond my brother.

VRABLE
It’s amazing what drinking can do to people, isn’t it? Those boys... My father used to drink a lot.

WOMAN
Did he ever hurt you or your mother?

VRABLE
No; I think it was more that he was sad. It affected my mother... terribly.

WOMAN
Is that why you both came here? To escape him?

VRABLE
(flatly)
My father is dead. Coming here was my mother’s idea. She wanted this job so badly...

WOMAN
And you were alright with coming here?

VRABLE
Well, no... but, like I said, she was so intent... I didn’t want to disappoint her...

WOMAN
She sounds selfish - she didn’t even think of your needs, and look where you both are now.

VRABLE
Don’t even think about speaking about my mother that way! She may not always be right about everything, but I would trust her with my life... She is my mother!

WOMAN
Sorry, I’m sorry...

The woman appears apologetic and then her eyes narrow in anger.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
It’s not like I would know what it is like to have a mother...

VRABLE
Oh, don’t try and make me feel guilty... don’t turn this around on me.

Vrable deliberately turns his back on the woman and faces the dirt wall.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
It’s my responsibility to get her out of here. My father left me in charge... it’s my responsibility - SHE is my responsibility.

WOMAN
Then ACT like you are in charge. You can’t be her son and her guardian at the same time - one has to be victorious over the other.

Vrable begins to interject but seems to think better of it and closes his mouth.
They sit in awkward silence for a long while.

EXT. FOGO PALACE, OUTSIDE FRONT DOOR - EVENING
Lessor stands outside, holding one of his dogs by his collar. In his free hand, he has a rolled up piece of parchment tied with a ribbon. He takes the parchment and shoves it under the dog’s collar.
Once the parchment is situated, Lessor takes the ends of the ribbon and ties them to the collar tightly. He tugs on the parchment as if checking to make sure it won’t come lose.
He then grabs his dog by the shoulder blades and forcibly positions him so that they are both facing directly into the slowly lowering sun. He then whacks the dog on the rump, sending him fleeing in the direction they are facing.
Lessor stands up and watches the dog go, a slight smile spreading on his face. He turns in the opposite direction when he hears BARKING, and he sees another one of his dogs running towards him from that direction.
This dog’s collar is empty, but a ribbon is still attached.
Lessor silently opens the front door to the palace, allowing the dog to run inside, and Lessor follows him. He SLAMS the door behind him.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - MOMENTS LATER
Vrable and the woman still sit in awkward silence.
Finally, Vrable turns his head and shifts his body slightly back towards the woman.

VRABLE
So, um, you mentioned decades. How old are you?

WOMAN
As far as I can tell, it’s been around a hundred years since my transformation.

VRABLE
(flabbergasted)
A hundred years?! Then are you...

WOMAN
Immortal? Apparently. I don’t bleed or need water... just food. I wouldn’t die without it, but eventually this other self within me takes over when I get hungry enough and goes... “hunting” is the best word I can find for it.
I survived for most of that time on squirrels and deer from the forest.

VRABLE
Then why did you start to leave the woods? Why did you show yourself to the men of our town when you know what you do to them? Especially when you claim you don’t like to do it.

WOMAN
(apologetically)
I didn’t think I would be seen. I came out so rarely... Wait, shh... I hear something.

Vrable and the woman look up towards the open trap door.

INT. FOGO HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Above the cell where the woman and Vrable are sitting and listening, two women escort five confused looking MEN (including MAN #5, MAN #6, MAN #7, MAN #8, MAN #9, MAN #10, and 3 others) into the cell adjacent to theirs. The men climb down a ladder and space out as much as possible in the small cell.

MAN #5
What is going on? When do we meet our commander?

WOMAN #2
You will wait here. We serve our master and so shall you.

MAN #6
(forcefully)
What is the meaning of this? I want some answers. I have a family; I want to go home to them. I didn’t sign up for this. I came here to help fight... if there is no fighting to be done, then I demand to be released of my duties.

WOMAN #3
You will stay here. These are the orders of our master.

And with that, the women slam the cell door shut and exit the hallway, moving automatically around the open door of the woman’s cell.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
The woman looks down and at Vrable while he continues to stare up at the hallway above, straining to hear more.

WOMAN
What was that about? What can Lessor be planning?

The woman looks intently at Vrable who does not seem to notice that she has said anything.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Am I talking to myself? Are you listening?

Vrable nods, but continues staring upward.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
Hmmm... Well, I guess we can get back to your questions... if you are still interested.

Vrable immediately snaps back to attention, looking at her slightly, and then changing the direction of his eyes.

VRABLE
Yes. I am.

WOMAN
Alright. Well, I left the forest because I needed the sun. That’s why I came out of the woods. After a hundred years of taking shelter in the woods, the same woods where I had been attacked, I needed a change. I couldn’t be constantly reminded of the one memory I have from my previous life. I actually was very proud that I held on that long without coming out beyond the treeline.

VRABLE
How weren’t you discovered before now? People go hunting all the time.

WOMAN
Not in my part of the woods.

Vrable LAUGHS incredulously.

VRABLE
You can’t just stake out a part of the woods. Do you have a sign telling them not to trespass or something?

WOMAN
(seriously)
No, I don’t, and yes I can claim a part for myself. They can’t enter my circle of trees from the outside or from any direction.

VRABLE
But that’s impossible.

WOMAN
I healed the trees after forest fires and when they were chopped down to stumps. In return, they created a protected border around me.

VRABLE
How did that happen?

WOMAN
I don’t know. It’s like when I touched them to heal them, they could read my needs... It’s like they knew what I needed. I don’t know. It just happened.

A large smile spreads across the whole width of Vrable’s face. He seems to think the whole idea is ridiculous. Before he can begin laughing, however, the woman CLAPS her hands loudly once.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
You. Yes, you. Just because you aren’t looking at me doesn’t mean I can’t kill you. Don’t forget that.

VRABLE
(scoffs)
At least my face isn’t constantly covered in blood.

The woman looks surprised and then wipes her face with the bottom of her dress, staining it dark red for an instant, but then the stain disappears. Her dress remains completely white.

WOMAN
Don’t be so bitter. It’s not like I’ve had a chance to engage with another person that often in the past hundred years.

VRABLE
And it’s done wonders for your lady-like manner.

The woman LAUGHS.

WOMAN
I get the feeling that I’ve always been like this. I can only imagine the hell I raised with my mother.
It’s not like I have any hope of finding a husband.

The woman SMACKS her lips as if eating, and then continues LAUGHING.
Vrable at first looks appalled by her humor, but he soon joins in her infectious LAUGHTER. Every time their laughter seems to ebb, it rises back up until they barely remember what they are laughing about.
Finally, the laughter begins to fade, and they sit apart, slowly gaining their breath back.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
What’s your name?

VRABLE
I’m Vrable.

WOMAN
Well, Vrable, it looks like we are stuck in here together.

Both Vrable and the woman look down at their hands, sadness on their faces. Their awkward silence becomes overwhelming. The oil lamps flicker, and Vrable begins to draw lines in the dirt.
Vrable suddenly pauses and looks up, his head in the woman’s direction but his eyes back on the far wall.

VRABLE
Maybe not.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - MOMENTS LATER
The men in the cell adjacent to the woman’s still stand, looking as if they are waiting for something the happen. A few now lean against the walls. One is pacing impatiently.

MAN #5
I thought I heard someone talking.

MAN #7
It probably was nothing.

MAN #5
I swear there was a woman’s voice.

MAN #8
I heard it, too.

MAN #7
I don’t care what you heard. I don’t like this one bit. This whole thing doesn’t sit right with me.

MAN #6
Me either. I thought something was odd when those dogs came to our town.

MAN #7
With the letters attached to their collars? I know. My wife thought they were adorable.

MAN #8
Mine too. Then she became concerned about the war and insist I go fight.

MAN #9
You men are all cowards. You shouldn’t be forced to fight for your country. You should always be willing to fight.

After MAN #9 speaks, all of the men look at him sharply, then they move away to continue their discussion away from him. The man stays in a corner of the cell by himself, using a pocket-sized knife to clean under his fingernails.

MAN #7
I think we should try and get out of here. We haven’t encountered anything normal concerning this supposed war so far.

MAN #7 begins to lift up fingers as he names off things out of the ordinary.

MAN #7 (CONT’D)
Dogs brought the letters, women escorted us down here, and this palace... It isn’t exactly cozy.

MAN #8
I agree. If all of us worked together, I’m sure we could reach that ledge. Once someone is out, they could try and find help.

The men all begin to agree, and the cell bustles with their TALK.

Screenplay pages 31-40

LESSOR (CONT’D)
Apparently we will have to make some adjustments if you are to be a suitable wife - such as sewing those beautiful lips shut.

Lessor dramatically sweeps his cloak around him and stomps off like a spoiled child. He audibly MUMBLES to himself as he walks away.
The woman sighs and sits down quickly as if exhausted in the corner adjacent to the decaying body. She covers her eyes, slowly pulls her hands down her face, then turns and stares at the boy’s body.

INT. FOGO PALACE, HALLWAY - DAY
Vrable silently closes the door to the kennel behind him. He stands in a once elegant hallway; the walls are a dark red and lined with many elegant columns (mostly broken and decaying now, though), and there are mounds of hanging drapery. The hallway is only lit by the sun coming in through the many broken windows that line it, marking the time as day.
Vrable, his eyes caked with blood, begins to feel his way along the wall. He loses his footing on a broken floorboard, grabs aimlessly at some drapery, RIPS it, and goes CRASHING to the floor. He sits up, rubbing his head with his left hand, and then raises his right hand which is holding a piece of drapery. He LAUGHS a little at the convenience.
He takes both ends in his hands, tosses the cloth around itself so that it makes a thin band, and then proceeds to tie it around his head over his empty eye sockets. The drapery is a little bulky and too large, but it works. A couple of bloody marks show up were his eyes should be, but understandably he doesn’t notice.
He stands up and continues to move along the hallway by feeling along the wall, walking cautiously.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - DAY
The woman sits in her cell, alone except for the barely recognizable body of the boy beside her.
The trap door is still open above her. She looks up as a little bit of sunlight drifts in from the hallway located above. She smiles a little.
A shadow of one of Lessor’s women blocks out the sunlight. The woman looks up in horror as she realizes that the woman is escorting another man who begins SCREAMING as the woman pushes him towards the trap door. She shoves him thoughtlessly into the open door and walks away.
The man stands up and looks at the woman. The woman closes her eyes and looks upward, as if praying.

INT. FOGO PALACE, HALLWAY - AFTERNOON
Vrable places his hand along the moist, gray wall. He pulls it away and it is black with dirt. He continues to feel his way down the hallway, often stumbling over a misplaced chair or broken floorboards.
At one point he stubs his toe on an upturned plank, breaking his already well-worn shoes by separating the sole from the leather. His now purple toe pokes out from beneath. His body tumbles forward, lifting a cloud of dust once he lands against the opposite wall.
He quickly sits up and grabs his swollen foot, rocking in place and breathing rapidly in pain. He quiets suddenly when he notices the far off sound of a woman CRYING. The CRYING is interrupted often by the SLOBBERY sound of savage eating.
Vrable stretches his neck in the direction of the sound, which is further down the hallway. His head, still bandaged, does not portray his thoughts concerning the sounds, but he licks his lips, gives his foot one last rub, and slowly rises to his feet. He reaches upward with his left hand, trying to find a niche in the rock to help him steady himself. Instead, he hits an unlit oil lamp off its ledge, SHATTERING it on the floor. He jumps a little from the sound, taking a few steps backward in surprise, then finally grasps a stone in the wall and steadies himself. He moves forward blindly, using the wall for support.
The MOANS get louder, causing the hallways the shake with the ECHOES.

INT. FOGO HALLWAY, ABOVE DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
Vrable rounds a corner. The hallway looks much the same as the last one, but Vrable doesn’t know that, nor does he see the still open trap door in the very middle of the floor about a hundred yards in front of him. He instead continues to labor towards the crying. As he draws very close to the source, he gets down on his hands and knees and begins to shuffle along leaving hand-prints and knee-prints behind him on the dusty floor.
Once only a foot away from the door, he stops crawling and sits up on his heels, obviously confused about where the sound is coming from. He is now dangerously close to the open trap door, but, of course, he doesn’t see it. He slowly pivots on his heels, feeling around on the ground, tapping on the floor with his knuckles. The CRYING stops abruptly.

VRABLE
No... Talk to me. Where are you?

WOMAN (O.S.)
What? Who’s there?

At the sound of the woman’s voice, Vrable perks up and spins rapidly on his heels, moving forward as he does so. He falls head first into the holding cell where the woman is being kept, the bandage around his eyes snagging on the trap door and falling off.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
The woman sits up straighter, startled by Vrable’s entrance. Her face is smeared with blood from the body lying next to her, revealing the fact that she has been eating.
The body itself is intact except for the stomach region which is almost completely missing. This man is dark haired, muscled, and in his late thirties; not the boy anymore. His mouth has been left eternally open as if still screaming. Bones (presumably of the boy from earlier) are pushed off into the corner behind this more recent body.
Vrable picks himself up into a sitting position in the middle of the floor, directly below the opening where he has fallen from. He covers his empty eye sockets with his hands and they begin openly bleeding again. The blood oozes between his fingers. He begins to cry with despair and disgust.
The woman leaves the dead body behind and scoots gracefully across the dirt floor towards Vrable. She grabs one of his hands in order to pull it away from his face so she can see him better.
Vrable CRIES out in surprise and begins swinging his arms wildly about him, trying to ward off whomever touched him. This reveals his entire face, and the woman GASPS is alarm and throws her own hand over her mouth. She stares at Vrable as he slowly begins to relax.

VRABLE
Who’s there? Who are you?

The woman, still staring blankly at Vrable’s bleeding eye sockets, begins silently crying, allowing one tear to drop from her eye down to her chin.
In a single movement, she flicks the tear away and stands up. She turns back towards the body and bends down over its upper half. She passes her right hand upward over the man’s face, reopening his eyes. With her left hand, she quickly grabs first the man’s right and then left eye from his face, holding them in her one hand like tiny balls.
She stands again and retraces her steps back to Vrable’s side. Vrable, hearing her STEPS, propels himself, using his feet, away from her until he hits a wall. The woman follows Vrable to the wall, and then kneels down beside him on his right side, casting her shadow over his face.
The woman tosses one eye from her left hand into her right so that she has one eye in each hand. She moves to her right, her leg movements masked by the long white skirt of her dress, so that she is then directly in front of him, hovering over him, pushed away only by Vrable’s knees bent in towards his chest. She twirls both eyes around between her forefinger and thumb until they are both looking back at her. She squishes them into his currently empty sockets with two horrendous SQUELCHES.
The woman moves away, allowing light to fall back on Vrable’s face, and the eyes remain motionless and cloudy for a few seconds. Then, they clear, and Vrable blinks. Vrable’s once blue eyes have been turned brown.
Vrable SCREAMS in terror when he realizes what has just happened, SCREAMS again when he sees the woman, and SCREAMS a third time when he notices the dead man in the corner behind her.
He leaps to his feet, runs to his left, away from the woman and the body, and begins RETCHING. He eventually falls to his knees, digs his nails into the dirt on the floor, and finishes up his vomiting in that way.
Vrable then sits down along the wall, only barely missing his pile of vomit now located on his left, and then takes a deep breath.
Vrable turns his head and sees the woman once again. He turns to face the wall on his left, but not before...

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
He is back in that reddish room with the woman. She SUCKS on his fingers. Vrable closes his eyes, relishing the moment, and then...

EXT. PRACTEAL FARM - DAY
Vrable’s mother stands in front of the younger version of him, a copy of the flashback he had before. She stands posed to strike him, tears streaming down her face. The young boy closes his eyes to accept the slap, and the scene begins to fade...

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
There is an audible SLAP, carrying over from the flashback, and Vrable’s eyes snap open. He is still facing the wall, and his eyes are now red as if in desperate need of sleep.
He begins to turn towards the woman, then remembers himself and snaps his head back towards the wall. He brings one hand up to his forehead and pushes his hair back, pausing his hand on top of his head.
Vrable then stands back up and moves to stand directly below the trap door, looking upward.

VRABLE
Someone, please! I’m trapped down here. Please help me!

WOMAN
They won’t come and help you.

VRABLE
Please! Help!

WOMAN
Are you listening? They won’t come.

VRABLE
Mother! Please! I’m down here! Get me out! I’m trapped!

WOMAN
Listen to me. They won’t help you. They feed me men like you. Didn’t you see?

Vrable turns to look at the woman, sees the body beside her, and vomits again.

VRABLE
Ulgh. I think seeing that dead body may have actually saved my life. Well, that and my mother.
(laughs slightly)

WOMAN
What do you mean?

VRABLE
It’s disgusting... it distracts me. Thinking about my mother keeps me sane, too.

Vrable moves back to his original corner where he sits back down.

VRABLE (CONT’D)
I was actually looking for her when I fell in here. I refuse to die before I find her. So, you’re not allowed to kill me.

WOMAN
(a little bemused)
Oh...
Well, at least we know your new eyes work.

VRABLE
I could have done without the blood as the first thing I saw, though.

Vrable looks along the wall, obviously uncomfortable. The woman watches him. Several times she opens her mouth as if to say something, and then she closes it quickly. The awkwardness builds.
The woman finally breaks the silence.

WOMAN
Where did you come from?

VRABLE
My mother wanted to come here to work. We don’t need to talk. I just want to get out of here.

WOMAN
But... I’ve been so alone down here...

VRABLE
I really don’t care. It’s really much easier for me to not look at you if you don’t talk.

WOMAN
I don’t mean to make things harder on you... I just... I mean, you’re not the only person with problems.

VRABLE
And you have problems?

WOMAN
Plenty. For one, I’m trapped in here.

VRABLE
And I’m trapped with you. I’m fairly certain I have the worst end of that.

WOMAN
Maybe.
I did give you new eyes, though.

VRABLE
Yeah, how did you do that?

WOMAN
(distractedly)
I can kill and I can heal... that’s all I know.

The woman shuffles uneasily in her place beside the body. She SIGHS with sadness.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
I don’t want to kill them.
But when they come running at me, crazed like they are, something builds up inside me...
It’s horrible I know, but it doesn’t seem to matter how much I don’t want to. It just happens.

Vrable looks over at the woman ready to retort. As his eyes lock with hers...

INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
His body is thrown against hers and his hands get knotted in her hair. She LAUGHS a little and GASPS as he bites her ear, drawing blood that moves down his lip.

INT. FOGO DUNGEON - CONTINUOUS
Vrable shuts his eyes quickly and bites his arm. He lays down on his back for an instant, then twists onto his stomach and utters a muffled scream into the floor. He turns onto his back again and begins slowing down his breathing while also taking deeper and deeper breaths.
Eventually he sits back up, keeps his eyes straight at the wall across from him, and rubs his arm a little where he bit himself.

VRABLE
If I can keep myself from attacking you, you should be able to keep from attacking others.

WOMAN
(frustrated and angry)
It’s not that simple! Besides, it’s not like the men that attack me were able to help themselves - why not blame them?

Vrable’s eyes widen, surprised by her anger. He shifts a little, obviously uncomfortable. Whether he is uncomfortable due to the physical or emotional environment is uncertain.

VRABLE
Calm down.

WOMAN
It’s not like I wanted to be like this. I wasn’t always like this.

VRABLE
How... What do you mean?

The woman lays down on the floor, her face up at the ceiling. Positioned this way next to the dead man next to her, she looks like one who lays awake next to a sleeping lover. She curls her legs up towards her backside and allows her hands to fall at her sides.

WOMAN
I used to be a woman... I think I was from your town. It’s hard to say, everything is so foggy before I became... This.

EXT. ATHAPARMONA WOODS - NIGHT
A YOUNG LADY, vaguely resembling the woman, comes out from behind a tree. She appears to be looking for something, and she is calling out. She has a natural beauty about her, but she is homely dressed in a simple blue cotton dress. Her hair is brown and pulled back in a long braid. She appears to be in her mid-twenties (the same age she is now, but she has been advanced to a beauty far beyond the young lady we see before us), and she is very thin and pale without many voluptuous curves - a far cry from the woman having this flashback.

WOMAN (V.O.)
I went out into the woods after my younger brother. I wasn’t asked to, but he had become friends with some other boys who made a habit of staying out past sundown when they should have been building a family and a life for themselves. I was worried about him.

The young lady moves about the forest, twisting and turning in frustration as she searches for something.

WOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
They were having fun trying to stay hidden from me. They tried to scare me by making howling noises, hoping I would run back home scared. However, I’m not one to scare easily.

As if to demonstrate this, the young lady stops in her tracks, looking annoyed. She slips behind a tree, waits for one of the BOYS to come out looking for her, and trips him. She begins laughing, but suddenly stops when she hears a YOUNG BOY sobbing.

WOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
They had tied up my brother. He had wanted to come home when they had started drinking. Instead of just letting him go, they thought it would be fun to blindfold him and poke at him with sticks. I’m sorry, but the humor of young boys is lost on me.

The young lady steps into a clearing where she finds TWO BOYS dancing around a much younger one attached to the trunk of a tree. The boys then move to dancing around a fire with crazy movements, constantly BREAKING bottles of alcohol underneath their feet and YELLING with excitement.
They are soon joined by a third boy, the one she had tripped earlier. She stands there, appalled, and then bursts into a run towards her SOBBING brother. The tallest of the three grabs her arm and pulls it behind her back, making her back up against his chest.

WOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
They grabbed me and pinned me to the ground. One of them pulled my braid out and ran his fingers through it. My brother was screaming at this point even though he couldn’t see what was going on... He probably could hear me though.

The young lady struggles with the tallest boy on top of her and her dress is already ripped down one side. The boys keep exchanging glances, LAUGHING the entire time. Their faces seem to glow in the firelight.
One boy holds her kicking legs, while the other holds her head and strokes her hair. The boy on top lays his head down beside hers. She tilts her head upward and lets out one huge SCREAM. The two near her head and legs stand and begin kicking her sides.

WOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
They took turns. I put up a fight. By the end I was bruised in so many places, I’m sure I couldn’t have counted them.

The boys stand up and back up, as if to look at their handy-work. The young lady is covered in so much blood that her hair is caked with it. A rib pokes out of her chest. Her cotton dress barely covers her body anymore. Her lips and eyes are puffy. She looks entirely shocked and does not appear able to properly breathe. Blood stains her thighs red.

WOMAN (V.O.) (CONT’D)
Then the fire was blown out and everything went silent.

The woman pauses for a second, becoming very sad.

WOMAN (CONT’D)
The spirit came.