Scribblers: Bow Down Before Your Lord

Scribblers
"Bow Down Before Your Lord"
by Steffan Alun

1. EXT. RIVERSIDE - Day 1. 1300

A beautiful summer's day, lush green grass everywhere, a large river, blue and lovely. A MAN and a WOMAN, in plain and simple clothes, are washing their own clothes in the river.

MAN (in Egyptian; with subtitles)
And you won't believe what he said next. He said I have a rubbish house!

WOMAN (in Egyptian; with subtitles)
He can talk. His hasn't got any windows.

MAN
I'm going to get him back, though. I'm going to spread a rumour.

WOMAN
Oh, look, please not this again -

MAN
I'm going to tell everyone he's died, so when they see him, they'll think he's been sent by, um, Osiris or something, and they'll be scared, and he won't have any friends.

WOMAN
I don't think that's very likely to work ...

MAN
And then everyone will chase him with sticks and tell him to get back to the afterlife where he belongs.

WOMAN
Look, I love you dearly, but whenever you come up with these plans, I -
(beat)
Is it getting warmer?
(beat)
Look!

She stands.

The river's water level falls -

And falls -

Until there's no water left. Just a bone-dry river bed.

The man stands.

MAN
What's happening?

Around them, the grass dies -

Becoming yellow -

Becoming dust in the breeze -

Leaving only sand.

WOMAN
This is the work of the gods.

There's an almight CRASH -

The air is heavy with sand -

And as it clears, we see a 12-foot tall FIGURE -

LORD PEGASUS.

LORD PEGASUS (in English)
I am your god now. You will bow before your Lord Pegasus.

WOMAN
Look, my love. One last battle.

MAN
And I'd been so enjoying retirement.

The man transforms into a HUMANOID VULTURE CREATURE and the woman's eyes glow orange.

WOMAN
Alright, creature. Let's see what you've got.

CUT TO:

2. EXT. GAOLHOUSE ROCK - Day 2. 2000

As seen in The Crater et al. Dark, pouring with rain.

Caption: 5,000 YEARS LATER

CUT TO:

3. INT. PRISON CELL - Day 2. 2000

A small cell with symmetrical furniture. An identical set of bed, chair and desk on opposite sides, two televisions mounted on the walls. On the bed on the right side of the room sits FERMIA (19, female, petite, jittery) reading a book.

The door opens. A guard, LITHGOW (40s, male, handsome, threatening) escorts FACELESS (20s, male, a dark grey cloak and a featureless gold mask) into the cell.

LITHGOW
Alright, Fermia. You've got a new roommate.

FERMIA
Oh, erm, okay. I thought I wasn't meant to -

LITHGOW
Things change, alright? Best not moan, now, or I'll deactivate the partition.

As he says this, Lithgow knocks an imaginary wall dividing the room in half -

Reavealing that it's not imaginary - it's a force wall, which flashes blue when touched.

LITHGOW
This is Faceless. Say hello.

FERMIA
He-

LITHGOW
He tried to steal the Mayor's car. Wanted to give me some work to do, didn't you? Mate?

Lithgow pushes Faceless onto the bed on the left side of the room -

Faceless trips and lands awkwardly -

And clutches his leg as though in pain (but without making a sound).

LITHGOW
Let me know if there's any trouble. I'll try and find the time to come down. Night, darlings.

He leaves -

Slamming the door.

Fermia watches Faceless apprehensively.

Goes to speak -

Stops.

But then, seeing that his leg's still in pain, gives him a smile.

FERMIA
Sorry about him. Some of these Gaolhouse guards are worse than the inmates.

Faceless looks over.

FERMIA
Not much of a talker? That's okay. Are you alright?

Faceless nods.

FERMIA
Good. Don't worry, I'll look after you. There's a group of us - there's me, the Jade Pawn, the Cluster Girls, Elderkite. They're nice. We've got Loan Shark on our side, so the big guys leave us alone, mostly. Are you hungry?

Faceless shakes his head.

FERMIA
Good. Best not call a guard until Lithgow's shift is over. That's the guard who was just here, Lithgow. Don't let him know you need anything. He likes the power.

Faceless raises a palm -

Places it on the force wall, which glows blue.

FERMIA
It doesn't switch off. Keeps us safe from each other, that's the idea. Chronal of the Scribblers campaigned for them. Stopped the violence. But now, if you get the wrong guards, they don't care who gets put together. Old enemies. Sweet guys put with awful bullies. And, well - there's no privacy. You can't force people to look away, so a lot of us have to get changed under the covers. Don't worry! I'll look away when you get changed.

Faceless nods.

Raises his hands to his mask -

Pauses.

Removes it -

Revealing that his face is severely deformed, not recognisable as a face.

FERMIA
Oh, I'm so sorry. I mean - sorry, I don't want to patronise you ...

Faceless shakes his head.

FERMIA
It must be hard. But don't worry. I'll stand by you.
(beat)
Thing is, I'm not meant to have a roommate. The medics said that I - Well, we might get separated. But whatever happens, I'll come and find you. You won't be alone.
(beat)
Oh, before you hear it from anyone else, I didn't -

The door slams open.

Faceless turns his head.

Lithgow is back. As he talks, Faceless gets his mask back on.

LITHGOW
It's good news, newbie. Police can't get any information on you. Looks like you're going to be here for a long time. Unless ... Hey! Here's a thought. I don't suppose you want to tell me who you're working for?
(beat)
Come on, son. You got past all those guards? You look like an idiot, but you've got resources.

Lithgow throws a notebook at Faceless (whose mask is on now) -

And a pen.

LITHGOW
Tell me who you're working for. I get a feather in my cap, and you - you'll get to drink tonight. Must be thirsty by now. Tit for tat.

Faceless looks at him -

Takes the notepad and pen -

Writes on it.

Hands it to Lithgow.

LITHGOW
Good man.

Lithgow reads the notebook.

LITHGOW
You little worm.

He throws the book at Faceless's face, hard.

LITHGOW
You kiss your mother with that mouth?

He walks to the bed -

Punches Faceless in the stomach.

FERMIA
No!

Faceless curls up.

Lithgow grabs Faceless's shoulder.

FERMIA
Leave him alone!

LITHGOW
Alright, newbie. Let's get ourselves a bit more privacy.

CUT TO:

4. INT. MAXIMUM SECURITY CORRIDOR - Day 2. 2020

As seen in Escapes!. LITHGOW leads FACELESS to a large, heavy door.

LITHGOW
Five minutes ought to do it. Then we'll see if you need -

Faceless slaps Lithgow.

Lithgow kicks him in the knee -

Faceless buckles.

LITHGOW
That's it, mate. Keep that coming. You've earned yourself ten minutes.

He opens the door -

CUT TO:

5. INT. MAXIMUM SECURITY CELL - Day 2. 2020

FACELESS is thrown into a pitch black room, the only light coming from the door.

It slams shut, and all is darkness -

But ten feet in the air, enormous eyes glow red.

VOICE (OOV)
You have entered the blasphemous prison. You will know pain, and you will return to the world of men with my message.

The room glows golden, revealing LORD PEGASUS, sitting on an enormous throne. His left leg is chained to the throne. He holds his sceptre in his right hand.

Faceless opens his robe -

Revealing his bare chest.

He tears at the skin -

Which comes off like rubber -

Revealing robotic innards, including a large television screen.

He slides open a panel in the tech -

Revealing a very old, expensive-looking bottle of wine.

The screen activates -

Revealing NIOBE.

NIOBE
My Lord Pegasus. I present to you my servant - one of my own children.

LORD PEGASUS
You care for your Niobids. You are foolish to send one into my domain. You will pay for your insolence.

NIOBE
Oh, hang on, hang on. Um, that is, hang on my lord. This bottle of wine - it is one of four remaining bottles of this vintage in the world. Three hundred years old, it is estimated to be worth four million Euros. Of course, I had to pay a lot more than that for it - you know what collectors are like.

Faceless opens the bottle - gripping the cork tightly and pulling it out.

NIOBE
I present this libation to my Lord Pegasus, lightning-bearer to Zeus himself.

Faceless pours the wine directly onto the floor.

Lord Pegasus snorts.

LORD PEGASUS
You have earned my ear.

NIOBE
Right, yes, good-oh. My lord. Thing is, I'm here to ask a favour.

LORD PEGASUS
You push your luck as ever, Niobe of Lydia.

NIOBE
Of Lydia? Who told you that? No, never mind - here's what I ask. I have need of your sceptre.

Lord Pegasus stands -

And walks towards Faceless -

Standing intimidatingly over him.

LORD PEGASUS
You are foolish indeed. You knew I would kill your spawn.

He lifts the sceptre -

Pointing it at Faceless.

NIOBE
No! Do listen, my lord. Just let me finish.

LORD PEGASUS
Your wine buys my attention. Nothing in this world will buy my sceptre.

NIOBE
I will defeat Finity of the Scribblers.

LORD PEGASUS
Your speech grows tedious.

NIOBE
Hang on, not Finity - Finesse.

Lord Pegasus straightens.

Lowers the sceptre.

LORD PEGASUS
Niobe, old friend. Kill her. Present her to me as a sacrifice.

Lord Pegasus aims his sceptre at the ground in front of Faceless -

And a lump of shiny MINERAL appears, the size of a cricket ball.

LORD PEGASUS
Take this. It will go far. It is the metal from which my armour is formed. It will shield you from the woman who dared lay hands on her god.

Faceless lifts the mineral -

Places it inside his mechanism, where the bottle of wine had been.

LORD PEGASUS
Take the sceptre. If you turn on me, you will die.

NIOBE
I am loyal to you, my lord. You have chosen wisely.

Faceless lifts the robe from his left arm -

Tears the skin, revealing a hollow space underneath -

Lifts the sceptre -

Places it inside. It is so long that Faceless's left arm can no longer bend.

NIOBE
Now, do be gentle with him.

LORD PEGASUS
I will leave your kin unharmed.

NIOBE
Ah, no, that's the thing. We need to keep this arrangement secret. The guard will need to believe my darling's a common thief. So ...

LORD PEGASUS I will damage the child.

NIOBE
Thank you, precious.

The screen fades to black.

CUT TO:

6. INT. PRISON CELL - Day 2. 2045

FERMIA sitting on the bed.

The door opens -

FACELESS is thrown onto his bed by LITHGOW. Faceless's outfit is soaked with blood.

FERMIA
What have you done to him?

LITHGOW
I'd keep quiet, if I were you. Unless you want to test what happens when someone with your reputation tells tales.

Lithgow grins.

Closes the door.

FERMIA
Right, don't worry, we'll get you fixed up tomorrow. Uber Cleric owes Elderkite a favour from Christmas, we can -

A six-foot wormhole appears next to Faceless's desk -

And SUPERNOVA walks out -

And the wormhole closes (the same effect as seen in Supernova).

SUPERNOVA
Good job.

FERMIA
You can't do that! You can't teleport in here.

SUPERNOVA
You'd be surprised what I can do. You were kind to my brother. Thank you.

FERMIA
That's alright.

Supernova approaches Faceless -

Opens his robe.

FERMIA
Wait, you'll get us in trouble.

SUPERNOVA
Us? You don't need to worry about us.

She tears the skin from Faceless's chest -

Retrieves the mineral.

SUPERNOVA
I won't be here, for starters.

She tears the skin from Faceless's arm -

Retrieves the sceptre.

She opens a small wormhole -

Drops the mineral and sceptre inside.

Faceless's skin starts to grow back.

SUPERNOVA
And my brother here - well, he'll be just like new. A few bruises from his adventures with Lord Pegasus, but no sign of naughtiness. No, you don't need to worry about us. You need to worry about yourself.

Supernova walks towards Fermia -

Hitting the force wall, which glows blue.

SUPERNOVA
What?

FERMIA
It's the -

Supernova opens two wormholes, on either side of the wall -

Walks through one -

And out of the other.

SUPERNOVA
See, you're the only loose end here. The only one who knows what we've been doing.

FERMIA
I won't tell anyone, I swear. Ask your brother, we're friends, we -

SUPERNOVA
I'm really sorry. I really am.

Supernova reveals a knife.

SUPERNOVA
But it has to look like suicide.

THE END