Villager By Jared Jay

An Original Screenplay

INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY An OLD MAN sits on a plush leather chair in a lavish waiting room. His clothes are basically rags. His leg is bouncing nervously. A dozen or so others are waiting nervously in similar chairs. The floor, walls, and ceiling are all marble. waiting room is in some sort of palace. This

The old man picks at dirty nails with his teeth anxiously as heavy footsteps get louder and louder. The man looks up in horror as the owner of the footsteps approaches. MALE VOICE (O.S.) Clinton Hexley. The Empowered One wishes to see you now. OLD MAN/CLINTON You dont understand, I didnt know! I didnt know! A large hand reaches down and pulls Clinton up forcefully. The owner of the hand is an abnormally LARGE MAN in a red and brown camouflage uniform. He drags the old man down a hallway, despite his protests. CLINTON It was a relic from the old days! I didnt even realize I had it! They reach impossibly tall marble doors at the end of the hallway. The large man opens the door, throws the old man in, and closes the door. INT. THE EMPOWERED OFFICE - DAY Clinton falls into a massive room. the size of a football field. The office approaches

One wall is lined entirely in bookcases. The floor is marble, with expensive throw rugs every few feet. The ceilings are high with elaborate chandeliers. The center of the room has a large skeleton of an elephant. The wall opposing the door seems a hundred feet away. entire opposing wall is floor-to-ceiling windows. The

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2.

The sun is shining through, but the silhouette of a 7-foot-tall man can be seen standing by the window. Two large men stand on either side of him. The large men wear the same red and brown uniform as the Large Man. TALL MAN You may approach, Old Man. The Tall Mans voice is distant, but carries through the large room. He speaks with a calm and ease reserved only for those who know they possess the power of the room. As the Old Man approaches, he notices the entire wall to his left is lined with taxidermied animals and plaques. A taxidermied lion with the plaque: PANTHERA LEO, Extinct 2067. A taxidermied eagle with the plaque: HALIAETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS, Extinct circ. 2040. This goes on for yards upon yards. The centerpiece of the room, a large elephant skeleton: LOXODONTA AFRICANA. The old man reaches a large, marble desk that measures up to his chest. The tall man is facing away from him. Outside of the window is barren wasteland. roads, dreary sky, barbed wire fences. TALL MAN Can you identify the object that sits upon my desk? The old man is trembling. The tall man turns around. His face is skinny and hollow. His eyes are entirely black. His lips are thin. He dressed as extravagantly as an Emperor. This is the EMPOWERED ONE, approaching 70 years old. THE EMPOWERED ONE I say again: can you identify the object that sits upon my desk. The Empowered Ones desk is completely clear except for one ordinary drinking glass. CLINTON Its a--its a cup, Your Empoweredness. Red sand, gravel

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3.

THE EMPOWERED ONE A cup. A cup? I have a country to govern. I have 14 other villagers awaiting their fates outside, and you think Im wasting my time over a fucking cup? I say a third time--and I loath repeating myself. Can you identify the object that sits upon my desk? CLINTON It is, sir. Its a cup, a drinking glass. An ordinary-THE EMPOWERED ONE (Enraged) A DRINKING GLASS! Glass! A glass is not a cup. Glass is a weapon. And there is no excuse to be illegally harboring a weapon. CLINTON Due respect, Your Empoweredness. It is but a relic of the PreTime. THE EMPOWERED ONE It does not concern me how or why you have forbidden material. What concerns me is that you have it. Remove your shirt. CLINTON I would never use it as weapon! Honestly, its an ordinary-THE EMPOWERED ONE I will not argue with you. I refuse to enter a battle of the wits with an unarmed man. Remove your shirt. CLINTON Your Empoweredness, I beg of you-THE EMPOWERED ONE Oh, how I loathe repeating myself. The Empowered flicks his hand, causing Clintons shirt to fly off of his body in shreds. Clintons face transforms to true horror.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: THE EMPOWERED ONE (To his guards) Trent, Orin, please.

4.

The two guards walk down to Clinton and each hold an arm. The Empowered walks down after them and stands behind Clinton. He holds out his hand and the glass on his desk telekineticly flies into his grasp. The Empowered hands the glass to the guard on his right, who closes his fist on it tight enough for it to shatter. The Empowered holds out a hand and allows a large piece of the glass to float up to his palm. He holds the glass shard up to Clintons bare shoulders. Clinton is sobbing. CLINTON Please, sir. Please. THE EMPOWERED ONE Either quiet yourself voluntarily or I will do it for you. Clinton silences, trying to hold in gasps and tears. The Empowered begins carving Clintons back with purpose. He carves deep into the meat of his shoulders. Clinton yelps in horror and pain. When he is through, Clintons back reads "NO GLASS" in deep flesh wound. THE EMPOWERED ONE This should remind you that glass is on the forbidden list. CLINTON Yes, sir! THE EMPOWERED ONE Do you still believe glass in not a weapon? CLINTON No, sir! The Empowered nods for one of his guards to take Clinton away. He begins dragging a bleeding Clinton towards the door. THE EMPOWERED ONE These people. They clamored for a hero and when they finally received one, theyre anything but grateful. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: He grunts to himself in disgust. THE EMPOWERED ONE (CONTD) Please, find someone to clean the blood. Then send in the next. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT

5.

A brightly lit marble palace can be seen in the distance, the centerpiece of a small, thriving down. Outside of the towns limits is darkness. No electricity. Red, barren wastelind lies beyond the city limits. Miles and miles away, small villages can be seen, illuminated only by points of flame. EXT. A VILLAGE - NIGHT A village. Dirt roads. Crudely built houses, lit only by torch lights. Its a village of poverty. It begins to drizzle. Small, regimented groups of soldiers pace up and down the unpaved roads. INT. A HUT - NIGHT The hut is barely furnished. Only crudely built essentials populate the insides. A small family sits around a small wooden table having a meal. A mother, MARY, in her late thirties, sits at the head of the table. She does not have a plate. Her daughter, HARLEY, 6 sits next to her, finishing up a plate of something nearly inedible. Next to her sits ALEX, in his late teens. mature sense to him. Hes got a calm,

HARLEY Mommy, Im still hungry. Is there any more? The mother looks at her, sadly and uncomfortable. She has only an empty table and a wood cup in front of her. MARY I...well, sweetie-ALEX Here, Harley. You can have mine. He scrapes whats on his plate onto Harleys plate. (CONTINUED)

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6.

ALEX (CONTD) Im not hungry. HARLEY Thanks. The mother and Alex share a knowing look. MARY Youre a good boy, Alex. Alex smiles a little, but shakes his head. A KNOCK at the door startles them. MARY (CONTD) Shit! Alex, get in the-ALEX I know. Alex climbs a support beam, moves aside some wood in the ceiling, and hides in the ceiling, out of view. HARLEY Mom, you said the ess word! MARY Shh, Harley. Do you have a brother? HARLEY Alex! MARY No, Harley. Like we talked about, do you have a brother? HARLEY Oh. No. Im a only child. MARY Thats a good girl. The MOTHER opens the front door. A very large man, SCOUT, stands in the frame. He closes in on seven feet, and has wider shoulders than the frame allows. Hes wearing a red and brown camouflage uniform. Marys a little relieved.

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7.

MARY (CONTD) Scout. Yeah. Hi. Is everything okay? SCOUT I dont have to knock, Mary. MARY I know, I just-SCOUT And dont underestimate how much sound travels through these walls. If anybody heard-MARY I know, I know. SCOUT Listen, I know you and...can I come in? Mary takes a sharp breath. MARY Yeah, come in. Scout ducks under the door frame and enters. He closes the door behind him, and speaks quietly, as though under observation. SCOUT Hi, Harley. HARLEY Hi, Scout! SCOUT Are you being a good girl for your mommy? HARLEY Yes, I am. Yes. Mmm-hmm. SCOUT Good. Scout smiles, but somethings bothering him. MARY Whats going on, Scout? Is something--

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8.

SCOUT Youre okay. For now. But, Mary, Trent isnt going to be stopping by anymore. Hes been taken off this quadrant. MARY What? Why? Scout looks at Harley. Its not for her ears. MARY (CONTD) Ah, sure. (To her daughter) Harley, why dont you go play in the other room? HARLEY Mom, Im not done eating. MARY Now, please. Harley, a little begrudgingly, obliges. SCOUT I think The Empowered One is suspicious of you two. Someone spotted him coming here after his rounds were over. You know the Boots arent allowed to fraternize with villagers. MARY Yeah. I know. SCOUT Trent is my best friend. I promised him I wouldnt betray him, or you. But, Mary. Im not going to be the only one doing rounds in this quadrant. Do you understand? Mary casts her eyes down. Scout looks at the part of the ceiling in which Alex is hiding. He gestures vaguely to it. SCOUT (CONTD) Do you know what the penalty is for harboring an Unregistered is? Mary shakes her head yes.

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9.

SCOUT (CONTD) Do you? MARY Death. SCOUT Death. But its not quick, Mary. Youd be lucky if the only penalty was death. Its everything leading up to it thats the real punishment. MARY I dont have an Unregistered. SCOUT Dont mistake me for a fool. I know you love him like a son. I know you and Trent have your little bargain worked out, but dont forget whose he is. If anyone were to ever find out he was alive, thatd be-MARY Stop it. SCOUT Im trying to help you. MARY I know. I just...I dont want to think about it. SCOUT You need to be more careful. MARY Im plenty-SCOUT There are three drinking cups at your table. Why would a mother and daughter need three cups in one meal. Marys a little embarrassed. SCOUT (CONTD) Just be careful, Mary. I need to finish my rounds.

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10.

MARY Yeah. Scout exits, and Mary sits, worried. down from his hiding spot. Alex. Alex begins to climb

MARY (CONTD) Im so sorry that I cant-I love you.

ALEX Its okay, Mom.

MARY I love you, buddy. ALEX Im going to go check on Harley. Alex walks out of the room. Mary sips from her cup. EXT. THE EMPOWERED TOWN - DAY Its daytime. The town is awake. Independent groups of Boots are walking in uniform towards and away from the fenced in city limits. EXT. THE EMPOWERED PALACE - DAY The marble palace in all its glory, lit up majestically by the sunlight. Behind the palace, a large steel cage containing around a hundred people, can be seen. It is fenced in by four stone walls, manned with a Boot guard on each corner, as well as four Boots walking the perimeter on the ground, within the walls. All Boots are unarmed. EXT. THE PRISON CAGE - DAY Around a hundred people are in a large, steel cage. Theyre sweating. Most of the men are shirtless. The floor is just the dry earth. RYLAN, 17, sits in a corner, attempting to keep to herself. Shes got a sense of contentedness about her, as though she knows shes in a bad situation, but has become adept in dealing with it. She faces outward. (CONTINUED)

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11.

Rylan is approached by HENNER, 19. Hes the picture of teenage masculinity, if not a little pudgy. He goes to put a hand on Rylans shoulder, but she quickly intercepts it, grabbing Henner by his fingers. HENNER Wow, those are some reflexes. RYLAN (On edge) Its not a reflex. Who are you? HENNER Im Henner. Who are you? RYLAN You come up to me, you try to put a hand on my shoulder, and you have the nerve to ask me who I am? HENNER Okay, am I imagining the hostility or are you kind of a bitch? RYLAN Fuck off. HENNER Chill the hell out, man. RYLAN Dont call me man, chick. HENNER You know what? Never fucking mind. Henner starts to walk off, but its obvious hes fishing for Rylan to stop him. She doesnt. He stops himself. HENNER (CONTD) You know, Im just trying to make a goddamned friend. Youre the only person in here who seems even close to my age. I just wanted to introduce myself. RYLAN Yeah, well, spend a year in the cage and tell me if a hand sneaking up on you doesnt put you on edge.

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12.

HENNER Yeah, I guess. What are you in for? RYLAN I dont want to discuss that with you. HENNER Why not? RYLAN Because its not something you need to know. HENNER Okay. Little Miss Grumpy, over here. RYLAN I would appreciate it if you didnt belittle me with words like "Little" and "Miss," okay? If you want to address me, you can use my name. HENNER Which is? RYLAN Rylan. HENNER (A little excited) And the walls begin to crack. name is the first step to friendship, isnt it?

RYLAN Youre a little chipper for a prisoner of the Boots, arent you? HENNER Im just trying to make the best of a bad situation, okay? RYLAN A bad situation? Do you understand where you are? Youve got two choices. You die in the practice fields, or you die in the cage.

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13.

HENNER No, Im only here for a month. RYLAN You die in the practice fields, or you die in the cage. There is no third option. Henners confused, but ultimately chalks it up to Rylans jadedness. He tries to change the conversation. HENNER Why do you sit like that? You cant see anything past the wall. RYLAN Id rather stare at a wall than animals. HENNER Theyre not animals, were human beings. RYLAN We cage animals. We dont cage people. Put a person in a cage for long enough, and they begin to act the part. HENNER Thats pretty fucking pretentious of you. Rylans gaze gets serious. RYLAN I didnt say I was an exception. INT. THE EMPOWEREDS DINING HALL The Empowered One table. There are chattering away. steak, asparagus, sits at the head of a very lengthy easily over fifty people at the table, all They are all eating identical meals: a baked potato, and a dinner roll.

They drink wine from tin cups. The Empowered One seems quite cheerful, enjoying his steak. To his immediate left sits Trent, with Scout next to him. To The Empowereds right sits Orin. Everyone at the table is in uniform. (CONTINUED)

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14.

The Empowered One speaks, even when speaking lightly, with all the menace and charm of the anti-Christ. THE EMPOWERED ONE I enjoy this, Trent. I enjoy eating with the members of my ranks. Going amongst them. They are good men, loyal men. TRENT They are, Your Empoweredness. THE EMPOWERED ONE Im not excluding you from that Trent, nor Orin, Scout. You are my people. TRENT, ORIN, SCOUT Thank you, Your Empoweredness. THE EMPOWERED ONE I do hate discussing business at the dining table, but I must ask. How do you like your new quadrant, Trent? TRENT Its great, sir. Good. THE EMPOWERED ONE The people seem orderly?

TRENT All clear yesterday, sir. THE EMPOWERED ONE I like to hear that. And, Scout, I appreciate you taking command of our quadrant, here. SCOUT Absolutely, Your Empoweredness. THE EMPOWERED ONE I trust all went well on your rounds yesterday? You are accustomed to the route from your foot soldier days, yes? SCOUT Yes.

(CONTINUED)

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15.

TRENT How was she? SCOUT Trent. THE EMPOWERED ONE Trent, are you absolutely certain theres nothing you want to tell me concerning your...friendship with that villager. TRENT I walked Promixmal quadrant twice a week for almost twenty years, Your Empoweredness. I was your diligent servant, I commanded their respect, and I enforced order. But I saw the same four, five hundred people twice a week for almost twenty years. I watched children grow into men and women. I watched the middle aged grow old. I met babies on the day of their births. You cant help but become invested in some of their lives. THE EMPOWERED ONE I sense tension in your voice, Trent. TRENT Im just going to miss some of them. THE EMPOWERED ONE I feel as though you are undermining my authority with your own desires, Trent. TRENT I apologize, Your Empoweredness. Such was not my intention. THE EMPOWERED ONE I am not to be lied to. Orin, remind me of the law concerning the Hands of the Empowerment fraternizing with the villagers. Orin, a little simpler than most:

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16.

ORIN You wrote em, didn you, boss? THE EMPOWERED ONE Yes, Orin, I did. What Im doing here is an exercise in rhetoric. If you will humor me... ORIN Yeah, I, um--okay, lets see. He tries to remember. Ah! A spark. ORIN (CONTD) Okay! Membrs of the Hands of the Empowerment cant soshelize with the villagers. Just gotta make sure they idnt breakin no law, and they idnt hidin no contryband. THE EMPOWERED ONE Thats right, my boy. Trent, youll understand my laws are simple. My laws have purpose. To disregard them in favor of your own emotion is to show no respect for my authority, for my system, or for my power. TRENT I apologize, sir, I just-THE EMPOWERED ONE It does not pull on my heartstrings to hear you watched these villagers get old. Your equals reside in this town. Your equals sit down this table. To attach yourself to a villager...Scout? SCOUT Yes, sir. THE EMPOWERED ONE Tomorrow, I want you to take Orin along with you on your Quadrant. Nims can head off Orins Quadrant for the day. If anything at all seems even slightly peculiar to you, you bring that to my attention.

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17.

SCOUT Yes, Your Empoweredness. THE EMPOWERED ONE As for you, Trent. You better hope they find nothing but hungry little villagers, leading hungry little villager lives. Do you understand me? Trent looks up at The Empowered. behind the eyes. There is a sense of hatred

TRENT I see no reason why they wouldnt, Your Empoweredness. INT. PALACE HALLWAY - NIGHT Scout catches up to Trent in the hallway and grabs him, a little forcefully. SCOUT What the fuck was that? TRENT I dont know, Scout. SCOUT Asking about your little girlfriend in front of The Empowered? TRENT It just came out. I miss her.

SCOUT You were already causing enough suspicion. TRENT I know that! I know. Im sorry. It just came out. SCOUT Thats not something that should just slip out. You just got us both killed. TRENT Im sure they wont find anything.

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18.

SCOUT How am I supposed to warn Mary with the fucking Ogre at my side, huh? TRENT Orins not that hard to fool. SCOUT Theyre hiding a child. A teenager. Who happens to be the (catching himself, quieter)--who happens to be the only living son of the most powerful man on the planet. How long did you think you could cover this up? TRENT What are you suggesting? SCOUT That we may be in a corner, here. And that if I have no other choice-TRENT What youre going to turn me in? Youve seen what he does to people who-SCOUT I know! And thats why-TRENT What, youd rather he just did it to me? SCOUT Its that, or both of us-TRENT Just stall Orin outside, and-SCOUT Why should I have to keep fucking covering for you? Im not the one who dropped his fucking child with a villager! TRENT What, you would have killed him?

(CONTINUED)

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19.

SCOUT Yes. Yes, Trent. I would have killed him. Because when The Empowered One asks you to do something, you do it. TRENT Scout, man. I love you. Youve been my best friend since we were in fucking bassinets. Youre going to be the one to seal my fate? SCOUT I dont know. I dont know. INT. ALEXS HUT - NIGHT Mary is looking inside a coal-burning oven. playing with raggedy dolls beside her. Alex enters, excitedly. ALEX Mom, whats that smell? incredible. Its Harley is

MARY I knew it was going to be hard to surprise you with this. ALEX With what? MARY Well, hold on just a moment. not ready yet. HARLEY Are you grown up today, Alex? ALEX Why, do I look stronger to you? HARLEY No! ALEX Really? I feel stronger. HARLEY Because its your birthday! Its

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ALEX Hmm. No, I think its because Im stronger. Look how strong I am! Alex picks up Harley in one arm, and swings her around. Harley squeals with delight. MARY Careful, Alex. ALEX Im always careful. Alex puts his sister down. MARY Its ready! Mary pulls a small loaf of bread out of the oven. MARY (CONTD) Happy eighteenth birthday, Alex. ALEX Mom, is that fresh bread? MARY Yes. ALEX (Delighted, but shocked) How did you afford this? MARY Wait a second.

20.

Mary goes to a cabinet and pulls out a small container. Its plastic, with a lid. She opens it and puts it in front of Alex. MARY This is called had it since I but if its as remember...you bread. (CONTD) butter. I havent was a little girl, good as I spread it on your

Alex tears off a piece, and uses the handle of a wooden spoon to spread butter on it. He passes it to his mother. MARY No, baby, this is your birthday present.

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21.

ALEX I want to share it with you. MARY I got it for you. be for you. I wanted it to

ALEX I wont enjoy it nearly as much without my mother and baby sister enjoying it with me. Mary smiles ear-to-ear. MARY You are a good boy, Alex. Alex tears off another piece for Harley, butter and all. tears and butters a piece for himself. ALEX On the count of three? Mary nods. ALEX (CONTD) Harley, do you want to count? HARLEY Yeah! Suddenly, sharp whistling can be heard from outside. It catches Marys attention. HARLEY (CONTD) One! MARY Hold on, sweetheart. The whistling gets closer and louder. HARLEY Two! MARY Harley, be quiet! Alex. Hide, now. Alex is taken aback a second, but complies. He gets into the hiding spot in the room. He

(CONTINUED)

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22.

HARLEY Whats going on, Mommy? MARY The Boots are coming, sweetie. Just remember everything Mommy told you. HARLEY Okay. The door swings open suddenly. Scout stands on the other side. Orin stands slightly behind him, but his neck and head extend above the door frame. Scout enters, followed by Orin. ORIN Wow, it smells good inere. MARY Hello, gentleman. Scout takes a deep, stressed breath. ORIN Yeah, take in that smell. breadn butter? MARY Yes. SCOUT A little expensive for your class, isnt it, Mary? MARY I...I guess. Ive been saving a little for the ingredients. ORIN Whyd you do that? Special occasion? Scout is worried. ORIN (CONTD) Huh? Whys no one ansrin me? Scout, whys no one ansrin me? SCOUT (Reluctantly) Is it a special occasion, Mary? (CONTINUED) Wassat,

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23.

Mary swallows. HARLEY Its birthday bread! Agony in Scout and Marys faces. ORIN I love birthday bread. birthday is it? Harley realizes shes messed up. Whose Whose birthday, indeed?

ORIN (CONTD) Huh? Whys no one talkin to me? Can you guys hear me, or what? How do I know how to say happy birthday to, if you dont tell me, eh? Painful silence. ORIN (CONTD) (genuinely apologetic) We scarin you? Sgotta be unsettlin havin big ol tall folk like us just bargin in yer house without warnin, eh? I know, but ya see, we gotta do it that way. Some people like to hide stuff. Cant catch someone hidin somethin if ya warn em before enterin, can ya? No response. ORIN (CONTD) Man, you two are a quiet pair, aintcha? SCOUT Why dont we get out of here, Orin? Theyre obviously not doing anything wrong. Weve disturbed their meal. ORIN Scout, I know a birthday song. My Pa used to sing er to me, when I was littlun, I want to sing my birthday song to the birthday girl before I go.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: SCOUT (Beat) Yeah, okay. ORIN Just gotta know which girl is the birthday girl! Ah, you know what. Ive got the Quadrant registry in my coat pocket. If the girls wont tell me which ones celebratin, Ill just look. Orin pulls out a book of bound parchment and begins searching through. ORIN (CONTD) Hown the devil you spell your last name? Wakerson, right? W-a-y...I see Wayne. No Wakerson. W-e-i...No. HARLEY Its, uh, its my birthday. ORIN Well, there we go! Happy birthday, little one! Now lets see, W-a-k-u-r... HARLEY I just told you its my birthday. ORIN I know, I just want to see if I can spell it. Oh! Here it is. W-A-K-E-R-S-O-N. (He takes a moment to read). Scout shares a moment of dread with Mary. ORIN (CONTD) Now, hold on a moment. This says your birthday is in April. Its July. Your birthday was... He tries counting the months on his fingers. ORIN (CONTD) April, May, uh..April, May...thats one, two...and then...April, May--Well, its not your birthday. Harley stammers a second.

24.

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25.

MARY I couldnt afford the bread on her birthday. Its a little belated. But I wanted her to have it. Scout watches Orin process this. Everyone is tense a moment. ORIN Alright. (He sings) Oh, its your birthday. Youre a year older than last...year. (Stopping himself) Is that how it goes? (Tries again) Oh, its your birthday. Been a year since last time it was your birthday. (Again, pauses) No, thats not it. SCOUT Orin, we need to continue on our rounds. Happy Birthday, Harley. ORIN Happy Birthday! HARLEY Thanks. The men exit. Mary breathes a sigh of relief.

MARY You did a good job, sweet-The door swings open again. Orin enters.

ORIN Whyre there three pieces of bread buttered? MARY What? ORIN The girls gotta piece, but theres two pieces on the table. MARY Ones my piece, ones the leftovers. ORIN Then whys it buttered?

(CONTINUED)

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26.

SCOUT Orin... ORIN Its not your birthday, but you got birthday bread. Three buttered pieces. He puts it together. ORIN (CONTD) You got an Unregistered! MARY What? No! ORIN Yes, you do! Oh, yes you do. And Im gonna find im. SCOUT Orin, do we really have time for this? We still have a third of the Quadrant to check tonight. ORIN No, no, this is the house Boss was talkin about. We find somethin here, hes gonna be so proud of us. SCOUT If we find something here, imagine whatll happen to Trent. ORIN What? Whatre you sayin? That we dont even look, even with suspicions? SCOUT Im just saying, that-ORIN That doesnt sound like somethin The Empowered would want, Scout. MARY Listen to me, Im telling you, we have nobody-Orin silences her by grabbing her throat. He lifts her off the ground. Harley begins crying.

(CONTINUED)

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27.

ORIN Youre hidin someone here. And Im gonna find him. Orin doesnt let go. ORIN (CONTD) Tell me where they are. MARY (Gasping out) No one is-ORIN Tell me! MARY I dont know what youre-Orin grips tighter, cutting off her sentence again. He walks over to the oven with Mary in his hand. He taps the oven quickly. ORIN Still hot. Orin opens the oven door. SCOUT Orin, do we really have to use force like this? Orin puts Marys face near the glowing coals. ORIN Where. Are. They? MARY Im telling you, I dont-Orin slams her faces into the coals. Her cheek begins sizzling, she screams and Harley cries louder. Alex jumps down from the rafters. ALEX Stop it! Im here. Orin throws Mary aside, and eyes him up. room is shocked. Everyone in the

(CONTINUED)

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28.

ORIN Youre a tall feller for a villager. ALEX Let them go, you can take me in. ORIN Im afraid it dont work like that, buddy. This ladys been hiding an Unregistered. Thats you. We got to take her in. The girl, too. She lied to an Empowered Hand. ALEX Please, Im begging you to let them go. Im the problem, take me. ORIN Oh, youre the problem, alright. And so are they. Youre all coming in. ALEX No! ORIN Ill take the boy, Scout, you grab the ladies. Scout walks over to Mary, who is still writhing in pain. grabs her arms behind her back. MARY Scout, please. SCOUT (Whispering) Im sorry. Suddenly, Scout snaps Marys neck. She falls limp to the floor ALEX No! Mom! Mom! Alex tries to run over to her body, but Orin intercepts, and holds him back. HARLEY Mom?! Is she dead?! He

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ORIN Now, whyd you go and do a thing like that for? You know the Boss is gonnave wanted them. SCOUT The boy obviously does not respect our authority. Asking us not to take them in? He doesnt understand that we are not his daddy to bargain with. We are the power. We are the law. I was making an example. Orin thinks it over. ORIN But aint the boss gonna want all three ofem? SCOUT The boys right. Its him hell really want. I was reminding him who is in charge. Making an example. ORIN An example. Yeah, good thinkin.

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Orin steps towards Harley, and with minimal effort crushes her head in, killing her. She falls down, her screaming silenced. ALEX NO! You son of a bitch! You...you! Alex grows angry. His eyes begin to dilate. He tries to fight his way out of Orins arms, but it doesnt work. His eyes dilate even further, now so much so that they obscure all color. Orins arms snap. The bones rip through the flesh. Alex screams in anger. Scout is terrified, and stunned. The flesh begins to melt off Orins bones, who screams in pain. ORIN Whats happenin?! Whats happenin to me?! Skull begins to peek through the skin that falls off Orins face. Alex screams again. Orins neck snaps, and he falls to the floor with a thunderous thud. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

30.

Alex collapses, completely exhausted. Hes unconscious. Scout looks around. Hes confused, mortified, and shocked. He approaches Orins corpse. He tries to pick him up, but cannot. He manages to sit him up. SCOUT Orin. Orins face is barely recognizable as human. What little flesh hasnt melted off, is still badly charred. Orins head falls forward under its own weight, and detaches from his body. Scout looks away a moment in sadness and disgust. He slings Alex over one shoulder, and picks up Orins head with his other hand. He exits the hut. EXT. COUNTRYSIDE - NIGHT Scout walks out of the village, towards the Empowered Town with Alexs body slung over his shoulder, and Orins skull in one hand. INT. WAITING ROOM - NIGHT Scout reaches the outside of The Empowered Ones office. knocks on the impossibly tall doors. The doors open by themselves. INT. THE EMPOWERED OFFICE - NIGHT The Empowered One sits at the opposite end of the office, at his desk. They begin conversing as Scout treks the room. THE EMPOWERED ONE What do you have there? SCOUT A boy. We found him at Mary Wakersons house. THE EMPOWERED ONE Is that the woman who... SCOUT Yes. He

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

31.

THE EMPOWERED ONE An Unregistered. SCOUT I believe so. THE EMPOWERED ONE Wheres the woman? SCOUT Orin and I used lethal force against her when she tried to stop us from getting to the boy. THE EMPOWERED ONE Good work, and the daughter? SCOUT We put her down as well. A pause. THE EMPOWERED ONE Very well, less I have to deal with anyway. Wheres Orin? Ill need his report. Silence. THE EMPOWERED ONE (CONTD) Scout, you know I loathe repeat-SCOUT Dead. THE EMPOWERED ONE Dead? SCOUT Murdered. Scout gestures to the boy on his shoulder. THE EMPOWERED ONE Orin is eight feet tall. How in the hell did that boy put him down? SCOUT Sir, I shudder to tell you this for fear of what you may think.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

32.

THE EMPOWERED ONE Tell me. SCOUT Im inclined to believe youll think Im lying to you, but-THE EMPOWERED ONE The next sentence out of your mouth will be an explanation, or it will be the last sentence you speak. A pause. SCOUT He used Powers. The Empowered Ones expression becomes that of sheer horror. THE EMPOWERED ONE Did he collapse by himself, or did you strike him? SCOUT No, he just...passed out. Another moment of terror. THE EMPOWERED ONE Thats...this is...leave him here. I will deal with him. You will fetch Trent. SCOUT Yes, Your Empoweredness. INT. THE EMPOWERED OFFICE - DAY Alex awakens tied to an elegant, marble chair. The top of the chair is made of diamond, and forms a point. Directly in front of him is The Empowered One, sitting at his desk. Orins head sits on The Empowereds desk. Scout stands at the door. ALEX Where am I? THE EMPOWERED ONE You are in the city of Enlightenment.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

33.

ALEX Are you The Empowered One? THE EMPOWERED ONE Ah. You live in a world surrounded by people who worship you, you forget there are those who havent seen your face. Yes, I am, Alex. ALEX How do you know my name? THE EMPOWERED ONE Youll find that I will always be one step ahead of you, Alex. For all intents and purposes, I am omnipotent, omniscient, and immortal. ALEX I dont feel well. THE EMPOWERED ONE You wont for quite sometime. Youre dehydrated. In a moment, I will offer you water. Do you know why youre here, Alex? ALEX Im not registered your government. THE EMPOWERED ONE If you were simply an Unregistered, Id have you in the cage or have executed you already. No, youre here because of your display last night. Alex remembers. ALEX I didnt even know-THE EMPOWERED ONE Didnt know you could do that. Didnt mean to, even? ALEX You have to believe me, I didnt intend to--

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

34.

THE EMPOWERED ONE Oh, I believe you, Alex. I believe you. Who can blame you, really? You dont know you have these powers, youre in an admittedly high-stress situation. They come out. You do things you dont understand, or dont mean to. You took from me my most loyal Hand of the Empowered, or Boot as you undoubtedly know them as. But who can blame you? (He looks at Orins skull) Its impressive, really. Quite impressive. ALEX (Sarcastically) Well, thank you. THE EMPOWERED ONE Do you know who you are, Alex? ALEX Youve said my name a dozen times. Alex. THE EMPOWERED ONE You speak to me so frankly. If you were anybody else, I would slice your abdomen and pull your scrotum out through your stomach. But, alas. You are my son. Alex is taken aback for a second, but ultimately, it makes sense. ALEX (Sarcastically) You know, I had a feeling I was adopted. THE EMPOWERED ONE I was about your age, too, when I figured out my own potential. My family was killed, too, Alex. During the Transition. My world was taken from me. I had all this grief, and anger, and loneliness. See, Alex, I come from a time before Time. I come from a time before what you know as recorded history.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

35.

ALEX The PreTime. THE EMPOWERED ONE Yes, precisely. I was shaped in the PreTime. And between you and me, I was completely ordinary. After the Transition, though... Alex, these powers gave me power. People were lost. There was no order. There was no city. There was no electricity, or food, and no one was attempting to put humanity back on its feet! Once people started to realize what exactly I was capable of, I had the manpower. People thought my powers were a sign of divinity. People were ecstatic to know God hadnt abandoned them in the Transition. He had given them me. And I gave them everything. Everything you know, everything that is your world, and everything that will ever be, I provided. But the question arises-ALEX What happens when you die? THE EMPOWERED ONE Yes, Alex. What, indeed? I dont honestly know if I am immortal. What happens to society when their beloved leader has fallen? People need a shepherd, Alex. And until today, I was the only human being who had the ability to unite our species. But now, whatever it was that gave the world me, has given it you. Above you, youll notice a man by the name of Trent. Alex looks straight up. Trent is dangling from his angles by thick rope, attached to hooks on a very high ceiling. THE EMPOWERED ONE (CONTD) Eighteen years ago, I fathered a child. Obviously, I was pre-occupied as a ruler, and I trusted the man you see above you (MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

36.

THE EMPOWERED ONE (CONTD) (contd) to kill the boy. Instead, I suppose it tugged on his pathetic heartstrings, and he gave it to the villager he was fucking. Flash forward eighteen years, and vila, here you are. It is a bad situation only for Trent, who will be executed for his treason. You and I on the other hand are famously rewarded with one another. You will serve under me, and when I pass, you will replace me as The Empowered. ALEX (Without hesitation) No. THE EMPOWERED ONE No? ALEX Youve taken everything from me. Why would I join you? THE EMPOWERED ONE Because the penalty for not doing so is death. ALEX You rule with fear, not respect. will not join a tyrant. I

THE EMPOWERED ONE A tyrant? Alex, the time from which I come practically fetishized the idea of me. They wrote stories of a Superman, a Batman, a Spider-man...you name it. The world has craved a human being with extra-human capabilities for centuries. And now, it has one. Two. I have saved it. We will rule it. ALEX You dont deserve to rule just because you have powers. Neither do I.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

37.

THE EMPOWERED ONE You dont know what youre saying. ALEX You may have the Quadrants under your spell. They may think you saved them from some apocalypse or wasteland. But Ive spent 18 years in hiding because doing otherwise meant death. I just watched my heart and soul get murdered before my eyes. I will take your execution before I join you. THE EMPOWERED ONE It disappoints me greatly to hear you say that. But, yesterday I had no son, tomorrow I wont again. To the cage with you. ALEX If you want any chance of continuing your rule, you will kill me now. Otherwise, I will come back, and I will rip your heart out of your chest. THE EMPOWERED ONE You will be executed tomorrow via the training fields. I remember the first stages of my powers. You will have no strength for at least a week. Even if you were somehow able to conjure up your power at will, as I can, you would not be able to after the exertion of last night. Alex is a little worried. ALEX What about him? He nods upwards. THE EMPOWERED ONE He was supposed to be yours to execute. But-The Empowered One flicks his wrist. The rope is cut, and Trent hurtles down towards the chair. He impales head-first on the diamond point of the chair. Blood splatters.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

38.

THE EMPOWERED ONE (CONTD) Scout, escort my son to the cage. Bootsteps approach. EXT. THE PRISON CAGE - DAY Henner sits on the ground, next to Clinton. HENNER You really remember the PreTime? CLINTON Oh, yes. Yourself. HENNER Not your parents?

CLINTON No, I remember it. HENNER What was it like? Clinton thinks it over a moment. CLINTON It was musical. HENNER Musical. Henner grins. Hes satisfied with this answer. HENNER (CONTD) What are you in for, Old Man? A sigh. Clinton holds a finger up asking: wait a second. Revealing the

Clinton removes his shirt, and turns around. "No Glass" carved into his back. HENNER Wow. You got it rough. Clinton shrugs. CLINTON What about you?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: HENNER Im doing a month for contraband. CLINTON Whatd you have? Suddenly, the front gate slides open. in the cage. Henners curious. HENNER Whos that? Clinton shrugs. Henner walks over to him. Hey, man. Yeah. Hey. Alex looks up and around, curious and anxious. HENNER Whats your name? HENNER (CONTD) Henner Brux. ALEX

39.

Scout deposits Alex

Alex notices that almost every person in the cage seems to be completely normal. They could be someones mother, or father, or grandfather. These arent criminals. HENNER (CONTD) Hey, bud, whats your name? Sorry. ALEX Alex.

HENNER Good to meet you Alex. Henner eagerly shakes his hand. attention. Alex is still half-paying

HENNER (CONTD) Im doing a month. What are you doing? ALEX A day. HENNER A day? No one does a fucking day, you kidding?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

40.

ALEX Im being executed tomorrow by the training fields. A few people within earshot murmer. HENNER By the training fields? Whats that? ALEX The way it was explained to me is that they take people theyre looking to execute and any volunteers from the cage, and give them to the new Boots for training. They basically kill us for practice. HENNER What if you best them? You know, you hold your own in combat, or whatever? ALEX Youre allowed to join the ranks, or its back to the cage. RYLAN (OS) Thatll never happen. They turn to see Rylan standing beside them. HENNER Well, look whos a social butterfly all of a sudden. RYLAN Itll never happen. HENNER What wont? RYLAN Well, first of all, your own against 30 training. But even theyd just execute HENNER Who says? you wont hold Boots, even in if you did, you.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: RYLAN Ive been here along time, Henner. Ive seen hundreds of people go to the training fields, of all shapes and sizes. Ive never seen one return. And I sure as hell havent seen a Boot that looked liked anyone youd find in here. You ever seen a boot under seven feet tall? Or thats a woman, for that matter? ALEX No. RYLAN Exactly. Theyre not using the Cage crop for new Boots. Its all the seven footers from the Distal Quandrant. HENNER Well, fuck it. Im gonna try. RYLAN Its not worth it. HENNER I can take a couple of boots. ALEX Youre only here a month. Its not worth it for you to risk your life. RYLAN He thinks hes here a month. one leaves this place. No

41.

HENNER Yeah, yeah. You either die in the fields, or die in the cage. RYLAN Dont mock me. Its true. ALEX Im not going to. Im going to get out of here, and Im going to rip The Empowered Ones heart out through his chest. Everyone in the cage is taken aback. that. You dont fucking say

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

42.

HENNER I like this guy. RYLAN Be careful saying stuff like that. HENNER No one can touch him, unfortunately. I mean, not only does he keep himself pretty well guarded and hidden away, hes a god. ALEX I can do it, and I will do it. HENNER Well, then. RYLAN Im Rylan. ALEX Alex. EXT. THE TRAINING FIELDS - DAY Four middle-aged men, Henner, Rylan, and Alex are chained together by their feet. They stand in a line on turf. In the background, there are numerous obstacle course items: rope walls, barbed wire crawl-throughs, mud trenches, etc. The obstacle course is the size of a couple football fields. A large Boot, NIMS, is in front of the line. Behind him are fifty or so large men in red and gray sweatsuits. NIMS Five of you have been sentenced to execution by The Empowered One for various trespasses against the Quadrants. Two of you (he gestures to Rylan and Henner) have volunteered to be here. You seven will be armed with wooden sticks and placed throughout the training course. Your job will be to strike our trainees. The trainees are encouraged to use lethal force in their attempts to stop you. Should you succeed in striking them, they must exit the course. They have (MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: NIMS (contd) failed their training. Should all of our trainees fail the course, or should the trainees not be able to kill you, you will be invited to train with us and your execution sentence will be forgiven. Otherwise, you will die on these training fields. Are there any questions? HENNER What happens if we kill a guard? NIMS Kill a Boot with a wooden stick? Yeah, okay. Lets get started. EXT. THE TRAINING COURSE - DAY

43.

The training course is manned with the seven prisoners, hiding behind walls, manning the wire-crawl-throughs, etc. The trainees stand in a single file line, waiting to enter the arena. NIMS ENTER! The Boots begin shuffling into the arena. One by one they ascend a wall by a rope. The first Boot jumps down the other side, and is met by one of the prisoners who attempts to strike him. The trainee intercepts the stick, throws it, and tosses the prisoner aside, continuing on his way. They continue through the course. Tires. Hurdles.

Henner is waiting on his stomach near the barbed-wire crawl. Alex is standing on top of a metal tube that the Boots must move through. Rylan is waist deep in a mud pit. dunks herself under. She holds her breath and

A Boot runs and jumps into the pit, and begins trudging through. He passes where Rylan is hiding. She emerges with her stick, and uses it to strangle the Boot. The Boot pulls the rod and flips Rylan over his head. pushes her under the mud. He

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

44.

Henner watches, disconcerted. He looks down the wire crawl through. The Boots are still a little ways off. He has a few minutes before they can get to him. Rylan is still being held under. A few Boots pass by.

SUDDENLY Henner comes up behind the Boot thats drowning Rylan and strangles him with a piece of barbed wire. He pulls the wire as hard as he can. Blood trickles down the Boots neck, some trickles down Henners hand. The wire-crawl-through has a line of wire missing from it. Some blood is evident around one of the wires. The Boot Henner is strangling loses consciousness. Henner lets him fall under the mud. Nims takes notice. Hes not happy.

RYLAN Not bad, Henner. HENNER Im a good improviser. RYLAN Thanks. HENNER Dont mention it. Elsewhere in the course, a Boot is holding down a bloody prisoner. The Boot punches the prisoner repeatedly, until his skull is unrecognizable chunks. Henner is back at the wire crawl-through, where a Boot is trying to crawl through. Henner continually attempts to jab at the Boot through the wire, to no avail; the Boot keeps rolling in avoidance. Alex is standing near the metal tube, but seems to be avoiding confrontation. Henner confronts a Boot at the end of the wire crawl. The Boot continually dodges strike attempts, eventually he evades Henner and keeps moving. Rylan, mud covered, stands now at the edge of the mud pit, still a little shaken. A Boot attemps to punch her, but she blocks with her stick. It snaps in two jagged pieces. Rylan assumes an offense stand with both halves, revealing she has some knowledge of martial arts. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

45.

Two Boots near Alex realize hes standing away from the action. One nods over to him, the other nods in agreement. They both head over to him. A flash of a Boot jabbing a rod into a prisoners throat repeatedly. Three Boots are ganging up on Hener, who is managing to deflect their blows and evade them, but his offense yields no results. Rylan swings around her two rods menacingly. She blocks a few strong offensives blows from the Boot, manages to best him, and jabs a rod into each of his eyes. The boot falls down, dead. Nims, again, isnt pleased. Another Boot comes through the mud. Rylan doesnt have time to retrieve her rods, and begins running. The Boot takes chase. Alex is getting badly beaten by the two Boots. He manages to avoid a few blows, but is still getting his ass handed to him. Henner takes notice of Alex through the Boots he is fighting. Rylan is still being chased. She jumps straight up. She thrusts her legs backwards with enough force to knock the Boot stumbling backwards. She lands, and kicks the Boot again, who falls over. She also notices Alex, and runs towards him. She manages to make eye contact with Henner, and gestures towards Alex. Henner, briefly distracted, gets punched and falls to the ground. The three Boots take off down the course. Henner gets up, and makes his way over to Alex. They each attempt to distract a Boot. Its one-on-one between Henner and a Boot and Rylan and a Boot. Alex tries to get up, but is obviously injured. A few Boots take notice of the three prisoners in one area. Three more head over to them. Nims is pleased.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

46.

With ease, one Boot grabs both Henner and Rylan and pulls them to the ground. Another Boot hold Rylan down, while the first holds down Henner. Alex pushes out his arms, attempting to force something out of himself. Nothing happens. A Boot kicks Alexs outstretched hand. It snaps his wrist. The Boot puts his foot on Alexs chest, holding him in place. The Boots laugh. BOOT ONE You wanna... An unoccupied. Boots holds up a finger. BOOT TWO I got an idea. He runs off for a moment. Alex tries again to force something to happen. does. The Boot holding him down speaks. BOOT THREE The fuck are you doing, kid? Alex grunts. Hes in great pain. He screams. Nothing

Boot Two returns with the two splintered, bloodied rod halves that Rylan had used. He hands one to each the Boot holding down Rylan, and one to the Boot holding down Henner. The struggle to get loose. Nims smiles, watching. Alexs pupils begin to dilate. The Boots hold the rods above their heads for momentum. The Boot holding Alex down reaches down towards him, but something invisibly blocks his hand. Alexs eyes are completed dilated. A shock wave radiates out of Alex. Every Boots on the field goes flying. Rylan, Henner, and the other Prisoner are unharmed. A wider reveal: the guards around the Cage also are thrown. The Boots atop the walls are thrown off their wall. The prisoners in the Cage are unharmed. Clinton watches, curious and astonished. (CONTINUED) Alex screams again.

CONTINUED:

47.

All Boots collapse, lifelessly. Alex looses consciousness on the training fields. Everything goes black. EXT. WOODS - DAY In darkness, footsteps are heard. HENNER (OS) I need to stop soon, Rylan. RYLAN (OS) We dont have time. HENNER (OS) You know what? When youre carrying the seven foot freak, you can make the travel schedule. The footsteps stop. Alex begins opening his eyes. into focus. Everything starts to come

Henner is carrying Alex over his shoulder with great strain. Theyre in the middle of the woods. Visibility is high, none of the trees are over 50 or so years old. Alex tries to speak, but coughs first. HENNER Alright, you win. Its not a coma.

ALEX Whats going on? What happened? RYLAN I think were the ones who should be asking that.