Echo Morning: Out Of The Blue
By
Matthew B. Morrell
WGAW Registration Number:
1642004
Draft 9
949.584.1029
INT./EXT. WESTERN OCEAN - CRUISE SHIP COLUMBIA (NIGHT)
Within the immaculate dinning hall of the ocean liner,
everything is left abandoned, and appears to be done so in
quite a hurry. The room itself is also slowly TILTING.
MRS. MORNING (V.O.)
You have to learn to let go...
OUTSIDE - Violent waves crest and fall raging within an
unbelievably turbulent storm. THUNDER RUMBLES and lightening
touches down on the water off in the distance. As towering
waves part, the Cruise Ship Columbia becomes visible long
enough to watch its lights flicker off as it drowns,
consumed by the sea.
ON THE WATER’S SURFACE - Among the debris tossing in the
waves, a YOUNG GIRL (ECHO MORNING, 17) surfaces, gasping for
breath. Desperately, she fights against the current,
flailing, choking on water.
Swimming with all her might, Echo is pulled under by the
current and up to the top of a wave, only to be slammed down
again beneath the surface.
Tossing through the grinding surf, the young girl’s life
begins to flash before her eyes: particularly the hard
parts...
FLASH BACK:
EXT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - (EVENING)
Rain pours down atop the mud covered football field where a
MARCHING BAND attempts to practice.
Upon a box stand at the head of the band, dressed in a
uniform drenched and dirtied, Echo continues to conduct her
soldiers through the chaos.
Several sections of the band miss their cues, halt or desert
their post altogether. The few remaining Musicians smirk,
scoff, and jeer while the wind howls, and the rain stings.
Still, Echo endures the chaos to conduct: joy dripping from
her face harder than the rain when...
FADE INTO:
2.
INT./EXT. WESTERN OCEAN - CRUISE SHIP COLUMBIA (NIGHT)
Resurfacing again, Echo claws her way towards a large chunk
of floating debris. Pulling herself up onto the raft, her
frightened eyes come face to face with an equally frightened
HORSE (DAVE, 30).
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. DEATH WIND CANYON (AFTERNOON)
Below the crescent moons and setting sun, among the vast
desert wasteland flanked by towering obstinate orange mesas,
Echo stands quietly by her Horse looking over a mangled
CORPSE.
The rushing wind blows streams of sand across Echo’s bare
feet.
Kneeling down beside the remains of the body, Echo struggles
to keep her disheveled dishwater blond hair out of her face.
Wearing only torn remains of clothes, faded from years at
sea, she shivers from the wind, and the situation.
Her sun soaked face slowly registers what has just
transpired.
DAVE (O.S.)
Did you see that?
ECHO
No.
Echo looks down at her rough, tanned hands.
DAVE (O.S)
Yeah, so sorry ’bout that. I’m sure
at the speed I was going he didn’t
feel a thing.
ECHO
He’s lucky.
Standing back from the corpse, Echo wipes the blood from her
hands over her tattered blue jeans.
Dave NEIGHS, then turns to the young girl.
DAVE
Seriously though, I turned that guy
into paste. I mean I literally
vaporized his face. Gross.
3.
It finally dawns on the beautifully cream colored steed that
all is not well with his young companion.
DAVE
I mean, it wasn’t our fault. He
just came out of nowhere and WOOSH!
I don’t think I’ve ever ran that
fast before.
ECHO
We should go.
DAVE
Right. We’ll need to bury the bod-
We should probably just cover the
remains or something?
ECHO
No, we need to go now. This guy
looks like he has low friends in
high places.
DAVE
Well he’s going to have to meet
some new friends in low places...
because... you know?
Dave NICKERS and adds an EXPLOSION sound effect at the end
for emphasis. Echo is not amused. In fact, she looks scared
shitless if only visible in her wide sapphire eyes.
DAVE
Alright, you’re right, let’s just
go. Hop on.
Echo nods and quickly mounts her horse.
DAVE
You sure you don’t want me to go
over him again just to make sure-
ECHO
Just go.
Dave rears up and flies off at full gallop into the desert.
As horse and rider disappear into the ominous crimson
sunset, the dust settles on the remains of the Corpse.
Pushing in closer on the breast pocket of the uniform of
what’s left of an upper torso, an emblem of THREE BLACK
HOLLOW DIAMONDS ABOVE A HUMAN SKULL.
- ROLL OPENING CREDITS -
4.
TILTING - Up from the corpse, gradually moving towards the
settling dust left by Dave, we increase speed, traveling
faster and faster across the desert. Soon, we’ve taken off
into the air, rising over the Eastern Ocean, above the
clouds, into orbit. Circling the planet, the rising sun
illuminates the thin belt of ice that orbits the planet like
a diamond necklace. Light twists and bends like a prism
through the ice forming words...
ON SCREEN - ECHO MORNING: OUT OF THE BLUE
PULL OUT - Abruptly, the planet is lost, replaced by a
vision of hundreds of brilliant galaxies. To the LEFT, text
appears over a spiral galaxy- "MILKY WAY."
The text fades, replaced by new text on the RIGHT over a
larger galaxy cloud- "PINWHEEL GALAXY."
PUSH IN - Gradually moving towards the Pinwheel Galaxy, the
old text fades out replaced by- "THE PLANET SPECTRA."
Picking up speed, stars stream by, encompassing still photos
of Spectra’s history flipping forward through cave drawings,
renaissance art, newspaper pages blowing in the wind.
Present day dates materialize at the heading of the
photos...
1768 - "BRIGHTON DECLARES INDEPENDENCE FROM PRISM"
1776 - "PRSIM WITHDRAWS, BRIGHTON VICTORIOUS"
1852 - "PRISM CIVIL WAR, BRIGHTON NEUTRAL"
1937 - "FORWARD TO DIPLOMACY, BRIGHTON TO SEND COLUMBIA"
1938 - "INVASION!"
FADE INTO:
ON SCREEN - PRISM 1940 C.E.
Pushing in from a satellite view of the Continent of PRISM
and moving up from the lower half (DEATH WIND CANYON) where
Echo just was, up to the North West where grassy planes turn
to frozen tundra, all the way to the North Western tip; a
frozen waste: WHITE LAND.
FADE INTO:
5.
EXT./INT. WHITE LAND - DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (EVENING)
Over the frosted plain riddled with glaciers, a trio of
black RADIO TOWERS jet up into the sky. Beyond the towers,
settled on the highest peak of the largest mountain, sits a
massive, DARK TOWER; architecture of distinct Alien origin.
SCREAMING echos through the empty chambers of the tower.
In the middle of what looks like a nearly deserted court
room, a YOUNG WOMAN (THE DARK PRINCESS, 16) sits at the
prosecutor’s desk, her gaze fixated on a tablet computer,
disaffected.
Her mind buried in her work as SCREAMING continues just off
screen. Reluctantly, the Princess maneuvers her slender,
onyx fingers quickly across the screen. A pair of glasses
rest atop a deadly beautiful ashen face. Sharp violet eyes
finally glancing upwards, clearly inconvenienced.
Hanging upside down in the pearl white room, her VICTIM
(AGENT ORANGE, 23) dangles above the witness stand.
AGENT ORANGE
Somebody, HELP ME!
(Weak)
Please.
Tapping her fingers impatiently on her screen, the Princess
carefully sets down her Tablet, which turns to liquid and
melds into the surface of the desk.
DARK PRINCESS
Agent Orange, or the human formally
known as Kent Baranger; do you know
why you’re here today?
Adjusting the collar of her fur coat, The Empress rises,
sauntering her way towards the witness stand.
DARK PRINCESS
It seems you’ve taken it upon
yourself to disrupt the peace so
that you and your little friends
could... do what exactly? Start
another war? Fight amongst your
selves for fire, for food, for
females?
AGENT ORANGE
You... you have no right to-
6.
DARK PRINCESS
Let’s be clear; this is about you,
Kent. If you want to talk about
rights, Okay. Let’s talk.
The Princess calmly walks from the witness stand, rounding
the Judge’s Podium.
DARK PRINCESS
My father gifted your world to me.
He said, if I wished to prove
myself, I should start small.
Step by step, she climbs the stairs up to the podium.
DARK PRINCESS
In my years stuck in this...
(Wretches)
...Hole, I could not imagine a
smaller, more insignificant species
as yours to govern.
Finally, The Princess and Agent Orange are face to face.
AGENT ORANGE
You haven’t earned the right.
Grabbing him by the collar, the Princess spits out on the
edge of loosing her calm...
DARK PRINCESS
For a millennium my species has
conquered worlds, while you have
barely evolved to the point where
you still believe the stars to be
gods, and forces of nature their
temperament. At this moment, human,
I am your god, and appeasing my
wrath is your primary concern.
Stroking the side of his face, The Princess calms herself
momentarily.
DARK PRINCESS
Where are your friends? Who else
feels I’m unfit to rule? Who else
tires of the peace I’ve gifted your
species with?
AGENT ORANGE
There will always be those that
will fight... who will fight for
freedom.
7.
Her hand stops. The Princess searches her victim’s face.
DARK PRINCESS
That is unfortunate. If you would
have told me, I might have spared
your family so that they may watch
you die. Now, I’m afraid its going
to be the other way around.
Gripping the sides of his head with both hands, The Dark
Princess digs the tips of her fingers into her victims skin;
black veins appearing on his face.
SCREAMING in horror, Agent Orange retreats inside his
mind...
HALLUCINATION:
Kent falls into the center of a dark and empty space.
Lifting his head from the floor, his FAMILY stands over him,
their faces fading into view.
AGENT ORANGE
No. No! Cover your faces! You have
to run, you have to hide!
MR. BARANGER
Why did you let us down son?
AGENT ORANGE
Father, I’m...
MRS. BARANGER
(Panicked)
She knows! She’ll find us. It’s
your fault! All your fault!
MR. BARANGER
You’ve failed us son.
Suddenly, behind each family member, clones of The Dark
Princess appear, snapping the necks of the Baranger family
one by one.
BACK TO REALITY:
Sobbing profusely, Agent Orange continues to dangle from his
chains.
DARK PRINCESS
I really only ask one thing of you
people...
8.
Making her way back down from the judge’s podium, both the
witness stand and the surrounding furniture SINK INTO THE
FLOOR.
DARK PRINCESS
Accept the freedom I’ve given you.
Such a simple task. However, I
suppose it is your species
predisposition toward failure that
led you to this situation in the
first place.
Now standing in the center of the room, with only Agent
Orange decorating the wall, the Princess turns to her prey.
DARK PRINCESS
Rest assured: I will drink every
last one of your tears, kill each
and every one of your species’
offspring before I relinquish my
rule on this planet.
AGENT ORANGE
We’ll never stop... never stop...
never...
Thoroughly pissed, the sadistic young woman raises a fist
towards the base of Agent Orange’s chain and releases a web
of electricity, blowing the restraint apart.
Agent Orange falls, snapping his neck on the white tile
floor.
Storming away from her latest victim across the court room,
through the archway entrance, till the Dark Princess is out
upon the BALCONY.
Gripping the rails, she bellows out...
DARK PRINCESS
Listen up you primitive meat sacks;
if so much as a spec of backbone
rear itself among those sheep, you
are to mow down every last one of
them. Am I understood?
In the COURTYARD below the balcony, THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS
stand at the ready. They give a mighty WAR CRY, about face,
and march out the Main Gates.
As the soldiers disperse, The Dark Princess hops up atop the
railing and sits down with a heavy sigh.
ON SCREEN - World Map
9.
Out from the Dark Castle of White Land, troop movement is
shown spreading out to the East into MUTE CITY. To the
South, below Fire Field Canyon, the path of Echo and her
horse continues further East into Death Wind Desert.
FADE INTO:
EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT (NIGHT)
Echo still grips tightly onto Dave’s mane as the horse
powers on in full sprint.
Despite the dim glow of the moons, and the millions of stars
shinning bright above, there is no discernible path through
the expansive wasteland.
DAVE
Um, I don’t mean to alarm you, but
in the event that you thought I
knew where I was going... that’s
not the case.
Echo eases up on Dave’s mane, her horse gradually slowing to
a trot.
DAVE
So friend, I trust you’ve taken the
last few hours in silence to come
up with some kind of plan, eh?
Carefully sliding off the back of her horse, Echo continues
to walk alongside her steed.
DAVE
Alright, I admit, I’m a little
chatty, but the silence thing is
starting to get under my skin more
than all this freakin’ sand. We’ve
been stranded in the ocean for two
bloody years, desert for like half
a day... Between the two I despise
the bloody desert a bit more.
Echo continues to wander forward before Dave trots ahead of
her and stops; starring her down.
DAVE
Look, clearly this situation isn’t
better than what we were just in. I
mean, we did just murder a guy.
10.
ECHO
I can’t care about... I can’t think
about that right now, okay?
DAVE
Well, if you’re willing to let that
go then...
ECHO
I mean, I can’t care. I’m
officially at capacity for caring.
I don’t care that you trampled over
that man-
DAVE
Um, WE trampled-- you were in
charge of steering remember?
ECHO
I can’t care about everyone
anymore! I just want to stop
hearing them... I shouldn’t even be
alive.
(Beat)
Dave, I think we’re dead. We’re
dead and this is our hell. It’s a
hell where you can’t forget about
death, and we just... wander.
DAVE
(Beat)
Wow. Okay. It’s that, OR maybe we
could just find a nice big rock to
set up camp next to, and sleep off
those manic depressive thoughts,
eh?
A sharp wind blows between the two travelers. Dave
immediately rears up, moving in front of Echo to defend her.
DAVE
This desert and my hatred; two
strongly opposing forces right now.
Everything in the desert suddenly drops. An unearthly
stillness washes over the vast emptiness.
Echo senses a pair of eyes glaring, burning a hole through
the back of her head.
11.
Turning just in time to dodge an incoming fist, a very tall,
very muscular FIGURE (ORION, 26) charges at the young girl.
Echo still gets knocked over, but before the Ivan
Drago-looking kid manages to beat her senseless, Dave rears
up and kicks him back with his forelegs.
DAVE
Wrong movie you roidin’ git!
The boxer looking kid steps back, dismissing the initial
shock of talking animal, and looks ready to strike again.
DAVE
Oh, you wanna go? My murdering
count is already one nothing today.
What do you got pony boy?
Before Dave can trample Orion, a large net is thrown over
the wild steed from behind.
DAVE
Ah, rope, they have rope. It’s...
surprisingly... very effective.
Echo scrambles to rescue her horse, but Orion puts her in a
Full Nealson hold.
DAVE
Get your filthy hands off her you
damn dirty apes!
Echo looks up to see a girl in a VIOLET HAKAMA (MASIUMI, 23)
and a girl in a DARK INDIGO HIJAB (RAYNE, 27) tying down
Dave.
Before any word of protest escapes Echo’s mouth, a cloth
sack is thrown over her head and cinched shut.
FLASH BACK:
EXT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - MARCHING FIELD (EVENING)
The band has cleared the field. All that remains is Echo,
soaked to the bone atop her podium.
DRUMMER #1 (O.S.)
Hey, nice practice chick.
DRUMMER #2 (O.S.)
What’s your rush legs? You need to
get warm don ya?
12.
Just outside the field, two of Echo’s DRUM MAJORS corner a
shy PICCOLO PLAYER with ill intent.
PICCOLO
Please, just let me go.
DRUMMER #1
Come on Darlin’, we’ll warm you up.
ECHO (O.S.)
Beat it, freak show. How about you
do us all a favor, go home, and
practice your solo.
The drummers turn on Echo. Piccolo girl turns on her heals
and bolts.
DRUMMER #2
Well look at this mate, turns out
our fearless leader’s a bit of an
attitude about her.
DRUMMER #1
Shame she doesn’t have any talent
though.
DRUMMER #2
True, an awful shame at that. Tell
us, can you even hear us up there?
How much do you need to fail before
you step down?
DRUMMER #1
Better if you just step down.
DRUMMER #2
Better still if we buried her.
DRUMMER #1
We got the proper tools for that.
Echo’s had enough. Gripping her baton tight, she swings hard
at the Second Drummer’s knee caps until a loud CRACK is
heard.
Reeling in agony, the First Drummer doesn’t have time to
react as Echo lays in a right hook to his face and keeps
pounding away until...
SMASH CUT TO:
RETURN TO PRESENT
13.
INT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)
Water is poured over the bag covering Echo’s face just
before it’s pulled off. Her vision adjusts to the dim light.
She’s bound: arms and legs tied to a chair.
She appears to be in large grungy factory, recently
reclaimed by her captors. To her right, a beaten Dave lays
tangled in the net. Before her, the Girl in Purple sits,
rhythmically tapping a VERY LARGE SWORD on the ground.
From behind her somewhere growling in a decidedly Ukrainian
accent, a deep voice demands...
ORION (O.S.)
What were your orders?
ECHO
I don’t take orders. Let us go.
ORION (O.S.)
You have come to our safe place.
You invade our home. For this, we
will send you back to The Princess
in many bloody pieces.
The Ukrainian boy now paces around in front of Echo,
tightening the red bandages around his knuckles.
ORION
What were your orders? How many
more of you are there?
DAVE
They think we’re with the soldier
guy we ran over.
ORION
Rayne, silence the beast.
The Indigo Girl whips a riding crop across Dave’s bruised
flank. The horse lets out a GRUNT of protest, while Echo’s
cold eyes glare forward into Orion’s brain.
Orion leans in, gripping both sides of Echo’s chair.
ORION
You will give information to us, or
Masiumi fillets horse, Ponyal?
ECHO
I’m not with anyone else. Everyone
else is dead: they all drowned. Now
let us go!
14.
Orion looks back to Masiumi and nods. Slowly the girl rises
from her seat and drags the blade of her broad sword across
the concrete toward Dave.
ECHO
You wanna kill something, why not
try your luck with me?
BRAM (O.S.)
Enough!
Masiumi slumps her shoulders, turns towards the open barn
door of the warehouse.
Walking towards Echo and the others, a TALL BLACK MAN (BRAM,
39) waist length dread locks, and dark green Judo slacks
held up by a well deserved Black Belt.
BRAM
Look into her eyes Orion. She is
not of the Grays. I would wager by
her accent the girl is not even of
our country.
RAYNE
Sensed all that from outside could
you?
BRAM
Could you not sense her sorrow when
you threatened her horse?
(Beat)
While you were playing bad cop
worse cop, I was investigating a
distress signal: something about a
soldier that got himself hit by a
freight train.
Dave CHUCKLES lightly under his breath, then coughs in pain.
ORION
Look at her face Bram. No true
emotion registers. She is Gray.
BRAM
Or perhaps your rage blinds you
from seeing her obvious care
towards her animal?
DAVE (O.S)
Um, the animal has a name.
Bram lays a hand on Orion’s shoulder. The Man in Red
clenches his fists, but relents, stepping off to the side.
15.
BRAM
What is your name?
ECHO
Echo.
BRAM
How did you come across our
compound young Echo?
ECHO
Your unhinged little friends
dragged us here.
(Beat)
I didn’t mean to... we didn’t see
him till it was to late.
BRAM
The soldier you hit?
ORION
You waste your time Bram.
BRAM
Had you taken the time to
investigate, you would find her
story to be-
A sharp ZIP is heard through the air as Masiumi’s Shuriken
shatters the light above her head. All eyes towards her as
she speaks from the darkness...
MASIUMI
We must test her; make sure she’s
not a spy. Then we’ll know.
All that can be seen in the dark surrounding Masiumi is the
reflection of her blade, and a wide devious smile.
RAYNE
Or perhaps there is no way of
knowing? Perhaps there is no one
left in this world to trust.
Suddenly appearing behind Echo, Masiumi draws the flat end
of a smaller blade across the young girl’s cheek.
MASIUMI
Send her to the Dark One.
ORION
Nyet! We let her go back Dark One,
or Gray’s, we just add one more to
(MORE)
16.
ORION (cont’d)their numbers. We kill her and
beast now.
DAWN (O.S.)
What are we talking about?
Skipping into the warehouse, a girl with an impossibly
bright blond bob cut, and yellow Coveralls with black tank
top strolls into the room. This is DAWN (17).
BRAM
We were just having a vote on what
to do with our guests.
DAWN
Guests? Amazing! Okay, I vote that
we should eat first then play a
game. NO, we should play something
first, then eat, because if we do
it the other way we’d probably get
sick or-
ORION
Why are you not at your post?
DAWN
Um, you were supposed to relieve me
at 0200 and its thirty minutes
after so... Oh, a horse!
DAVE
A horse in a great deal of pain.
DAWN
Oh. My. Holy Vox. You guys got a
talking horse? A real talking
horse?
DAVE
Yes. Yes they did. Hey if you come
over here and untie me I’ll give
you a free ride.
DAWN
Sweet! Free rides!
Dawn has already sprinted across the room and is nearly at
the ropes when Rayne catches her by the shoulder. Dawn looks
at Rayne perplexed.
17.
RAYNE
They’re working with the Grays
Dawn. Even the horse.
DAWN
Oh. Well, are we going to shoot
them now, or did we still wanna do
the eat and play games thing?
ORION
We shoot them of course.
BRAM
We shall abstain from unnecessary
violence this evening thank you.
Drawing a Makarov Pistol and pulling back the hammer, Orion
bellows out...
ORION
I do not remember putting you in
charge comrade.
Bram steadily shifts his body between Orion and Echo.
BRAM
The last time you drew that gun on
me, you ended up with the barrel in
your mouth, comrade.
Orion keeps his Cold War stare fixed on Bram. Reluctantly,
he un-cocks the pistol, but refuses to holster the weapon.
BRAM
The girl will have two choices:
prove her innocence via dispatching
the Dark One, or Orion can shoot
her.
ORION
I shoot horse first, then girl.
BRAM
All in favour of giving into
Orion’s temper tantrum?
Orion immediately raises her hand, and with a look to
Masiumi, gains another vote.
ORION
All for sending her on suicide
mission?
Rayne and Bram both raise their hands.
18.
BRAM
Dawn, do you want to weight in on
this?
DAWN
What? Sorry I got distracted by the
horse. What are my options?
DAVE
Hey, Echo; I know that you’re not
in a great spot, not feeling or
caring about anything an’ all, but
do you think you could stretch that
imagination of yours and at least
pretend to care about ME not dying?
Echo looks over to a bruised Dave before Rayne flogs him
again with the riding crop.
ECHO
Alright! Alright, I’ll go.
DAWN
Great. Where are we going?
Orion aims, cocks his gun, and fires...
...Shooting the chain binding Echo to the chair.
INT. WHITE LAND - DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (LATER)
Within the same court room where the Princess’ torture last
took place, a long black table has now been put into place.
Sitting in the three out of four chairs around the table are
projections of three GRAY PHANTOMS OF MEN.
PHANTOM #1
Your progress is moving slothfully
Princess.
PHANTOM #2
This planet was supposed to be
mined out much sooner.
DARK PRINCESS (O.S.)
Everything is under control.
PHANTOM #3
Your father is beginning to wonder
if you require... assistance?
At the end of the table, the seething Princess slams her
fist down on the black oak.
19.
The phantoms turn their ghostly heads towards the end of the
table to the young Empress.
DARK PRINCESS
The populace is under control, and
soon the materials I need will be
harvested.
PHANTOM #2
The materials you need?
DARK PRINCESS
The materials that WE need will be
ours, and WE can then destroy this
world before moving on to the next.
The Phantoms exchange unsatisfied glances.
PHANTOM #1
Our patience grows thin.
Just as easily as changing a channel on a 1950’s television
set, the phantoms flicker and fade out of the room.
Furthermore, the table itself liquefies and sinks back into
the floor.
The Princess is left alone in her chair.
Shaken from her silence, a tone not unlike a cell phone
message alert CHIMES in the master chamber.
DARK PRINCESS
I wish not to be disturbed.
INTERCOM (O.S.)
It’s about the scouts you sent
through Death Wind Desert, Empress.
MOMENTS LATER - In the Master Court Chamber.
A YOUNG OFFICER kneels before the Dark Princess after
recounting his tale.
DARK PRINCESS
You didn’t see anyone afterward?
YOUNG OFFICER
The sand storm was too thick. We
got separated. I must have wandered
for hours before I found his body.
20.
DARK PRINCESS
And the others?
YOUNG OFFICER
Missing. Dead. I’m not sure.
DARK PRINCESS
So you just thought it best to come
back here, with nothing?
YOUNG OFFICER
I thought-
DARK PRINCESS
Thinking is apparently beyond your
ability. Nor was it in your best
judgment to return to me empty
handed.
YOUNG OFFICER
My apologizes your Empr-
Black chain lightning erupts from the young girl’s hand; the
soldier catching fire before slumping over.
Stepping over the chard remains of the officer-
DARK PRINCESS
Apologizes accepted, captain.
(Shouting to the entrance)
Guard!
Immediately, two officers in higher ranking uniforms enter
the chamber.
DARK PRINCESS
Send a regiment into Death Wind,
arm them with a Cavalry division
and sweep every particle of that
forsaken wasteland till you find
the rebels.
GUARD #1
Are we to convert them, Empress?
Before the guard even has time to react, a bolt of
electricity burrows through his face. He falls.
DARK PRINCESS
Kill them. Kill every last one of
them.
21.
GUARD #2
Your will be done Empress.
EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT (LATER)
West of the worn down warehouse, Orion leads Echo towards
seventy story tall vertical cliffs that line the back of
their compound a quarter mile away. Bram and Masiumi follow
close behind.
ORION
On plateau of cliff, there is man
called Dark One: evil sorcerer.
BRAM
A few days ago, we noticed a light
coming from the top of the cliff.
Rayne’s gift of discernment is
reliably accurate in detecting
malice, but we have yet to gather
enough intelligence to confirm if
he is in league with the Grays,
only his identity.
ECHO
So you’re not sending me to
arbitrarily murder random people
then?
ORION
You kill wizard. Prove you are not
with Gray Army. Then we let you and
horse free.
ECHO
What if it’s not him? What if its
just some guy?
ORION
Black and white choice, live or
die. Do not bring gray into your
mission little one.
BRAM
That cliff face on the right is
unstable, I suggest the left side,
and take your time.
ECHO
Once I climb the cliff, unarmed, am
I to just ask him to kindly die?
22.
Masiumi withdraws a short Tanto Blade and offers it hilt
first to Echo.
MASIUMI
To be used in both success, and in
failure.
With that less than helpful advice, and a less than
affectionate shove from Orion, Echo begins her journey up to
the cliff.
LATER - CLIFF FACE
Echo digs her fingers into the crevasses of the sheer cliff.
Above her, dark clouds begin to expand and obscure the sky.
Precipitation falls. Only another twenty feet to go.
Struggling to reach hand over hand, Echo continues her
ascent. Rock, mud, and rain continue to beat down upon her
as she climbs.
Her right hand digs into a crack, pulling herself up to the
next crag when...
The boulder comes loose, and a flood of mud comes pouring
out from the cliff.
Echo struggles to find a hold.
Her left hand loosing grip.
Desperately, Echo finds a hold to little to late. Her
footholds give way. Her left hand finally falters.
As she falls down the cliff, her hands stretched out to hold
onto whatever is available. Rock scrapes against her hands,
her face, her arms and legs as gravity pulls her downward.
A sharp jolt shoots through Echo’s body as her hand finally
catches onto a rock jetting out from the cliff face.
FLASH BACK:
INT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - DEAN’S OFFICE (EVENING)
Echo sits just outside the office, still in her Band
Uniform, face bruised and eye black. Through the door
cracked open, her MOTHER (MRS. MORNING, 36) can be heard
barking at the DEAN.
23.
MRS. MORNING (O.S.)
You should be ashamed of
yourself...
DEAN (O.S.)
Mrs. Morning, its our policy
against violence that makes us-
MRS. MORNING (O.S.)
That makes you look like an Ass. My
daughter does not, and will not
back down from bullies who prey on
YOUR students. My daughter will
fight, because she knows better
than to cower from the wicked.
RETURN TO PRESENT:
Panting, bloody, and now three steps back, Echo inhales and
digs her fingers into the cliff to start again.
MRS. MORNING (V.O.)
My daughter is no lamb.
LATER - CLIFF PLATEAU
Echo’s hand shoots out over the top of the muddy cliff,
digging into the earth to pull herself up.
Gasping for breath, the rain, blood and mud soaked girl
strains to get to her feet. Limping forward, Echo makes her
way to a larger version of the Ottoman Clock Tower in Cairo,
and the door is ajar.
INT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE (CONTINUOUS)
Clutching to the rail of the spiral staircase, a recording
of a cello quartet floats down through the building.
Suddenly, the music stops. Echo cautiously continues.
THE DARK ONE (O.S.)
I would have gladly pointed out the
staircase, if your struggle up the
cliff had not been so entertaining.
Nearing the top of the staircase, Echo peers into the main
chamber, and draws her blade.
The main room is candle lit, well furnished with Victorian
era furniture. Her eyes light up scanning shelves of vinyl
records that line the walls.
24.
Directly across from her, sitting behind a cherry oak desk,
a PLUMP MAN in a white linen suit delicately sips his tea.
THE DARK ONE
Do come in.
Carefully, Echo approaches the desk, pushing aside the
STANDING CEDAR MIRROR. She holds tight to her blade.
THE DARK ONE
Would you care for a cup of tea?
Echo shakes her head.
THE DARK ONE
I see. Well, I can tell you’re not
to chatty, and it appears you have
some questions for me. Is that
right?
ECHO
Are you the Dark One?
THE DARK ONE
Indeed I am. Named after my
incomprehensible sense of humor no
doubt. Suppose they’d then have to
call me The Dry One, or the
Vermouth One? You may call me
Norton if you wish.
ECHO
I’m holding the knife, I’ll call
you whatever I feel like.
The Dark One chuckles as he takes another sip of tea.
THE DARK ONE
But of course. Tell me, do you
notice any obvious dissimilarities
between us my dear?
ECHO
Look, if I kill you I get to save
my only friend, so let’s not draw
this out.
The Old Man sets down his tea cup, cracks his fingers.
THE DARK ONE
I’ll go ahead and answer for you: I
am quite old, and you are very
young. Do you know how I achieved
my old age?
25.
Echo stays silent, rolling her knife back and forth between
reverse grip edge out and edge in.
THE DARK ONE
In my years, I’ve grasped quite a
Thorough understanding on the fine
art of-
With a desperate BATTLE CRY, Echo leaps over the desk,
slashing widely towards The Old Man.
Her Blade stops, stuck against a GREEN TRANSLUCENT BUBBLE
that suddenly appeared around the old man.
THE DARK ONE
(Sighs)
-The fine art of survival.
The glowing force field drops to the floor like a water
balloon bursting in slow motion. Echo is in mild shock.
THE DARK ONE
Perhaps I should extend you the
courtesy of a brief lesson.
Raising his hand, palm face up, a bright RED BEAM shoots
forth, and knocks Echo off the table, into the mirror, and
onto her back.
THE DARK ONE
Now if you’re quite finished, you
may follow me if you wish to be
enlightened. And do leave your
knife.
The Dark One strolls over to another doorway besides his
desk, motioning for Echo to follow. Picking herself up from
the floor, the young girl exits the room, followed closely
by the old man.
EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT - WAREHOUSE (SAME)
The sound of rain bombarding the tin roof echos through out
the dilapidated building. Orion continues sparring against
an iron barrel set up as a punching bag, each strike more
furious than the last.
ORION
I grow hungry Bram.
Orion glances over to Dave briefly in between punches.
26.
At the other end of the warehouse, Bram slowly and
deliberately extends himself into Warrior Three Pose on his
ragged yoga mat.
BRAM
Patience.
Orion lands a final strike, punching a hole through the
barrel.
ORION
Patience growing thin.
Under the catwalk, where Dave is still tied down, Dawn
strokes his mane with an old brush.
DAVE
So, you look like you’re having
fun. You didn’t use to have a pet
rabbit did you?
DAWN
I say, you should always look for
the joy in life, no matter the
situation.
DAVE
You know I might be able to find
the joy better outside.
DAWN
Nice try.
(Beat)
Please, don’t think we’re like,
psychos or anything...
DAVE
I don’t know if my horse sized
imagination can think otherwise.
DAWN
Okay, well maybe Masiumi has a few
screws loose.
Up in the rafters still clutching her broad sword, Masiumi
stares forward unblinking, but lightly snoring.
DAVE
I mean its fine if that’s how you
people get your kicks, kidnapping
and torturing. All I’m saying is
where we come from its more or less
frowned upon.
27.
DAWN
This isn’t really a regular
activity for us. The reason we’re
all the way out here in the first
place is, where we come from...
ORION (O.S.)
Where we come from, we trust no
one.
(To Dawn)
Sleep. I will take next watch.
DAVE
Um, actually Blondy here is doing a
real good job playing prison
warden.
DAWN
Do you trust your friend?
DAVE
Yeah I trust my friend. I don’t
trust that guy.
Dawn stands, stretching, as she walks away she calls back...
DAWN
If you trust your friend, you must
have good reason to do so, which
means you shouldn’t have to worry.
ORION
Dawn always finds silver lining.
(Stroking gun barrel)
I burst balloon.
DAVE
I’m shaking in my horseshoes pal.
Dawn jogs up the rusted steps and over the metal catwalk to
her bunk. Falling backwards into old sheets and a wool
blanket, Dawn turns to Rayne lying in the bunk next to her.
DAWN
Those two are lucky.
RAYNE
Those two? The one we’ve captured
and the other one we sent to die?
DAWN
The horse; he trusts the girl.
28.
RAYNE
Trust? All that means is that poor
beast has sentenced his heart to be
broken.
DAWN
But what if she makes it?
RAYNE
Do you ever get tired of looking at
the glass half full?
DAWN
A true optimist doesn’t see a glass
half full: they’re simply happy to
see a glass of water.
FLASH BACK:
EXT. WHITE LAND (MORNING)
As the sun shines over the arctic tundra as seen before,
there is a distinct lack of dark towers.
Breaking the silence, several thousand SOLDIERS in 1940’s
Soviet Style Infantry Uniforms scramble over the side of a
snow covered hill.
On the opposite end of the embankment are several regiments
of soldiers wearing Violet Second World War era Japanese
uniforms. The rifle men on the front lines immediately drop
into position and open fire.
THE DARK ONE (V.O.)
Oh, I remember how things were just
a few short years ago; much the
same as it always has been.
In the heat of the battle, with many casualties already
strewn across red soaked snow planes, a YOUNG CAPTAIN in
Soviet garb looks up to the sky.
Terrified, the Young Captain rushes over and flags down his
Executive Officer (Orion, 24).
THE DARK ONE (V.O.)
In the midst of another civil war
over some benign policy or some
such trite, something finally
changed.
On both sides of the field, soldiers begin to scatter for
cover as massive shadows begin to block the sun above.
29.
THE DARK ONE (V.O.)
She arrived.
In the sky, Three Diamond Shaped AIR CRAFTS, twice the size
of an aircraft carrier, descend towards the battle field.
Hovering a few hundred meters or so above the earth, the
spacecrafts open fire on both sides.
RETURN TO PRESENT:
EXT./INT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE
Out on the balcony, The Dark One looks over the desert,
watching the storm clouds roll out towards the West.
THE DARK ONE
She coerced the two warring states
into peace at gunpoint, electing
herself to govern as Empress.
Leaning in the archway from the stairwell to the balcony,
Echo glares at her opponent.
ECHO
Even with all your power, you
thought it safer to run and hide?
THE DARK ONE
Survival is much simpler with fewer
variables.
ECHO
Simpler when an all powerful Space
Princess isn’t breathing down your
neck?
The Dark One chuckles and paces across the balcony. Below
him, there is a clear line of sight from the tower to The
Warehouse on the desert floor.
THE DARK ONE
All powerful, hardly. It’s quite
controlled power actually. Where
she and I differ is in the amount
of fuel we require. She, is much
more... greedy.
ECHO
Fuel?
30.
THE DARK ONE
We feed off human energy; auras.
Particularly, the exaggerated
emotional energies of those like
the hapless exiles bellow... and
yourself.
The Old Man turns to Echo with a hungry look in his eyes.
ECHO
So you happen to have so much
empathy, you use it to steal life
force, and project your own aura
into tangible constructs.
The Wizard smiles, impressed.
THE DARK ONE
Quite right. Although the tools in
this case are the ones that deserve
the real credit for the, eh hem,
’constructs.’
Tapping his BLACK ONYX BELT WITH A MASSIVE DIAMOND PRISM
buckle, Echo snickers.
THE DARK ONE
Do I amuse you dear?
ECHO
Not so much you as your whole life
philosophy.
THE DARK ONE
I’m afraid I don’t follow.
ECHO
Didn’t think you would, but in
layman’s terms; you’re a coward.
THE DARK ONE
Mind your tongue young one, I’m
only entertaining you because of
the power you too posses. Power
that could-
ECHO
Yeah, whatever. Even if I had your
amazing power of running and
hiding, I’d rather be powerless
than a coward old hermit.
The Dark One stalks across the balcony towards Echo.
31.
THE DARK ONE
You test my patience girl.
ECHO
Oh no, what are you gonna do,
disappear?
Now only a few feet away from Echo, the old Wizard with the
furrowed brow clenches his fist, glowing red hot.
THE DARK ONE
Knowing when to retreat is always a
much wiser decision than running
head first into trouble.
ECHO
There’s always holding your ground.
That said, Echo scrapes up a hand full of dirt from the
floor and throws it in the old man’s face.
Immediately, the wizard releases a BURST of concussive force
from his hands, but misses his mark. The blast however is
still enough to knock Echo back down a flight stairs.
Wiping the dirt from his eyes, The Dark One’s vision
refocuses too little too late as Echo dives out of the way
of another energy BLAST.
INT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE (CONTINUOUS)
Echo scrambles to get back up, bounding down the stairs to
the main chamber.
STAIRCASE - The Dark One continues to cautiously make his
way down the steps. His hands glowing red, ready to strike.
THE DARK ONE
Looks to me like you’re hiding now,
little girl.
ECHO (O.S.)
I’m not hiding, I’m waiting.
The Dark One blasts another hole in the side of the wall.
THE DARK ONE
You do hide. You hide your
pain. Such fear, anger, sorrow...
The Wizard raises his hands, FIRES. Debris from the wall fly
down the staircase.
32.
THE DARK ONE
All of those emotions buried in a
shallow grave under your skin,
clawing to get out.
Echo pokes her head out from the door frame. The wizard
BLASTS again, sending the girl back into the room.
THE DARK ONE
Such an unbalanced child.
Still lying on her back, Echo watches the Dark One stalk up
to her. Suddenly, the wizard’s hands change from a RED to
VIOLET glow.
THE DARK ONE
Where does one put all that pain?
Echo feels a sudden panic wash over her, along with a WAVE
OF VIOLET LIGHT.
THE DARK ONE
Where could it possibly hide in
such a small, frail shell?
As the Old Man fades into the background, waves of Violet
Light toss and turn. Echo flails on the floor, trying to
swim from the illusion of DROWNED BODIES of VIOLET MEN AND
WOMEN floating about the room.
THE DARK ONE
I could feast off your guilt for
ages. However, so rarely do I get
to feed on my immediate desires.
As quickly as it came, Violet Light quickly flushes out from
the room.
Drawing a satisfied breath, the Dark One fires another RED
BLAST, Echo rolls over grabbing a shard of mirror as a
shield. The Old Man has no time to react as the blast
RETURNS TO HIM, knocking him out cold into the wall.
Seething, and sweating bullets, the girl desperately
searches for the knife that had been knocked from her hand.
Returning to the Old Man, Echo knells down on his chest,
grabbing his scalp with one hand, Masiumi’s blade in the
other.
Before she makes the first incision, Echo looks down at the
Dark One’s belt, the Diamond Prism radiating light.
33.
INT. DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (MORNING)
Alone in the center of the court, the Princess’ sits at a
large desk. Several thin, transparent screens are suspended
in mid air before her.
With a pair of glasses on her face, the Princess types up
reports on her TABLET corresponding to the various screens;
TROOP MOVEMENT, CURRENT PRODUCTION OVERVIEW, POPULATION
THETA SUPRESSION.
DARK PRINCESS
There must be a human smart enough
to endure this level of monotony.
The Intercom CHIMES within the Princess’ chamber.
DARK PRINCESS
What?
INTERCOM (O.S.)
General Designation 1-97A, with the
report on the Death Wind campaign.
Turning back to the monitors, The Princess sighs...
DARK PRINCESS
I’m aware of the troop movement.
You may dismiss the general.
INTERCOM (O.S.)
(Beat)
The General insists...
With a wave of her hand, the monitors and desk reform to
their black liquid state and sink into the floor. With
another wave of her hand, The Empress uses her chain
lightning to BLOW OPEN the main doors.
EXT. DARK PRINCESS’ COURT - BALCONY (SAME)
On the other side of the door, The General is blown back
into the balcony railing.
Before he can get to his feet, the Empress puts her foot
down across the general’s neck.
DARK PRINCESS
You ’insist’ do you?
34.
GENERAL
(Choking)
On your orders...intelligence from
advanced scouts...
DARK PRINCESS
I seriously question your
intelligence General... what have
the Scouts found?
GENERAL
(Still Choking out)
Warehouse... Death Wind Val...
possible rebels...
The Dark Princess slowly removes her foot, kneeling down
beside the general. She gently pushes her hand over the
man’s head like pacifying a child.
DARK PRINCESS
Is there a particular reason you
did not broadcast this information
over the Communications Device I
gifted you with?
GENERAL
I didn’t want to risk the
information being intercepted-
DARK PRINCESS
No. No, what you really wanted was
the credit for discovering...
GENERAL
No your Emp-
A light coil of electricity shoots across the Princess hand
holding the General’s head. He flinches.
DARK PRINCESS
Don’t interrupt. Did your primitive
mind assume any technology your
species possesses could possibly
hack- I’m sorry do I bore you,
general?
GENERAL
NO Empress.
The girl stands up and heads back into her court, calling
over her shoulder...
35.
DARK PRINCESS
Send in your troops. Destroy
whoever was foolish enough to try
and hide from me.
GENERAL (O.S.)
Yes Empress.
DARK PRINCESS
(To Intercom control)
Com Sat, acknowledge.
INTERCOM (FILTERED)
Receiving.
DARK PRINCESS
Ready my craft, and a squadron of
cavalry; I need to motivate the
masses.
INTERCOM (FILTERED)
Acknowledged: prepping Arbiter for
flight.
INT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)
Still sore, and tied to the ground, Dave slowly wakes up as
daylight pours in under the front doors.
ORION
You’re compatriot has left you to
die, horse. But, you need not feel
sorrow for long.
DAVE
Eat me Ivan.
ORION
(Considers, nods)
I plan to...
Under the lone potted palm tree, stretching out on his Yoga
mat, Bram releases a deep breath out as he switches
positions.
Beside Bram, on a small metal table, a CHIME begins to ring
from a TABLET COMPUTER, not unlike the one the Princess used
previously.
Ending his routine with a bow, Bram picks up the machine and
listens to the ALIEN CHATTER emitting from the speaker. He
continues to walk with the tablet over to a wall, COVERED IN
MARKINGS.
36.
With an ear pressed to the Tablet, Bram begins to scan the
markings on the wall.
ORION (O.S.)
Playing with your toy again?
Across from Bram’s wall of code, Orion continues to lift
weights on his makeshift bench press.
ORION
You do not need radio to know all
is not well-
BRAM
Silence. In this age, information
is the greatest tactical weapon
we... By the Vox. Masiumi!
Dropping down from the catwalk directly above Bram, Masiumi
lands on the floor without a sound.
MASIUMI
You bellowed?
BRAM
Get Rayne off the tower. We must
prepare for attack.
MASIUMI
They’re finally coming for us.
BRAM
Go now.
Masiumi bows, and sprints off past Orion.
ORION
I have waited long enough for death
to claim me. Let them come.
In the far corner of the room, Dawn removes her welding
mask, and cuts off her torch.
DAWN
Does this mean we finally get to
use some of this stuff?
Dawn pats the side of a large create labeled "explosives."
37.
EXT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)
Masiumi continues to sprint towards the rusted OIL RIG a few
yards in front of the warehouse. Attached to the top of the
rig is a make shift CROWS NEST, which Rayne lies in, RIFLE
in hand.
MASIUMI
(Sharp Whistle)
Time to go.
RAYNE
Hold on. Something’s coming.
Cocking her rifle, Rayne adjusts the sights on her scope.
P.O.V. SCOPE - About two miles away, Rayne lines up Echo in
her cross hairs. The Dark One’s belt glistening around
Echo’s waist as she limps along.
RAYNE
It’s the girl.
Masiumi crinkles her face, but insists...
MASIUMI
Something worse is coming. No time
to think about pulling the trigger;
do or don’t.
Rayne has her finger on the trigger, eye locked on target.
At the last moment however, Rayne releases her focus,
jumping to her feet and holstering her rifle.
Helping her dismount the ladder, Masiumi leads Rayne back
inside the warehouse.
EXT. MUTE CITY BORDER (AFTERNOON)
As the sun hangs over the western horizon, the lights to the
sprawling metropolis come to life. The city, about the same
size and design of 1930’s Pittsburgh, shows the signs of a
slow recovery from an aerial bombardment.
Approaching the city limits, a SQUADRON of the Empress’
Soldiers ride across the border mounted on JET BLACK
MECHANICAL HORSES.
The riders continue down the abandoned highway into the
city, escorted by an AIRCRAFT slowly floating a hundred
yards above them.
38.
The Craft itself looks similar to rose petals made of black
glass surrounding a glowing blue pearl. Within the
translucent pearl, The Dark Princess stands at the control
panel, piloting the craft towards the city.
FADE INTO:
EXT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)
Echo, in all her bloodied and muddy glory, arrives at the
front door. Immediately after knocking on the iron slab, a
SHOOT GUN BLAST blows open a hole next to Echo.
ECHO
I’m not leaving until I get my
horse back!
After a few moments, the door opens revealing Dawn with a
shot gun slung around her shoulder.
DAWN
Sorry, sorry about that. I thought
you were somebody else.
ECHO
Who else could it possibly be?
INT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)
Following Dawn into the Warehouse, Echo tosses a SACK into
the center of the room. It lands with a SQUISH at Bram’s
feet, along with the knife pinning down the sack.
ECHO
Untie my friend.
Dave looks up from the floor.
DAVE
Hell yeah, that’s my human! In your
psychopathic little faces!
Orion looks up from assembling his Rifle, and stalks over to
Echo like a rhino ready to charge. Drawing his pistol, the
raging Ukrainian barks...
ORION
You’ve lead them right to us!
Echo stares down the gun barrel pointed at her head.
39.
ECHO
Learn a new tune Mishka.
Bram peers inside the sack enough to see a very surprised
look on the face of the DARK ONE’S SEVERED HEAD.
BRAM
I am impressed with your ability to
survive, Young Echo.
ECHO
I out smarted a senile old man with
a magic belt, it wasn’t brain
surgery. Now untie my friend.
ORION
You are as blind as you are
slothful Bram, and now the enemy is
among us.
The busyness of the warehouse continues; Rayne packing
provisions, Dawn loading, and packing munitions.
Masiumi calls down to Orion, wiring the roof with explosive
charges.
MASIUMI
I thought you were looking forward
to death. Now you fear the end?
ORION
(To Masiumi, affectionately)
The end, chiviha, is not what I
fear most.
(To the Crowd)
If we let this one live however-
Bram, in a swift movement slides over to Orion, disarms him,
and grapples the Ukrainian into a sleeper hold. Orion
struggles, but ultimately slumps over quietly.
Dusting himself off, Bram stands tall taking in a deep,
relaxed breath.
BRAM
The Dark Princess has found our
location. We have hours at best.
What was the Dark One plotting? Was
he in league with the Empress?
ECHO
The Dark One was working for
himself, feeding off your auras to
survive.
40.
Bram and the others stare bewildered.
ECHO
(Like duh)
The energy field you radiate when
you express particular emotions?
Echo’S P.O.V. - Like rising steam, the five exiles standing
before the girl each radiate the particular color that
individual represents, along with a fiery halo above their
heads: even the unconscious Orion.
ECHO
(Shrugs it off)
Look, I kept up my end of the
bargain. I won’t ask again: Untie.
My friend.
Masiumi drops down from the rafters, blade in hand.
The horse shuts his eyes as the Violet Assassin lifts her
Sword, but is relieved when only the ropes tear loose.
BRAM
Is that all then?
Dave limps up to Echo. The young girl leads her horse back
towards the door.
BRAM (O.S.)
There is an army headed this way.
Where do you plan on running to?
ECHO
(Beat)
I don’t run.
EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)
The POPULATION of the city has been gathered by force,
crammed into the city square by the Black Diamond SOLDIERS.
The soldiers hold their posts at the barricades, corralling
the civilians in.
Sheepish murmuring rises as the Princess’ aircraft
approaches.
The flying Black Flower halts over the top of the abandoned
City Court House. With an electric WHIRLING, the glass like
pedals of the craft BLOOM, floating, circling around the
Princess standing on the control platform.
41.
INT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)
Orion comes to, watching Echo load a revolver. The others
are loading their final munitions.
ECHO
There’s always something coming for
us out there.
EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)
The Princess’ voice carries over the captive crowd.
DARK PRINCESS
There is no one coming for you-- No
one is coming to your rescue.
INT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)
Rayne is wiring a landmine beside Dawn, who is herself busy
winding up a spool of Bridge Wire.
ECHO (O.S.)
When you’re alone, you don’t have
the same freedoms you use to.
EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)
The hollow eyed masses continue to stare up towards the
black flower hanging above them.
DARK PRINCESS (O.S.)
You are alone, and you have the
freedom to choose between two
simple options; survive, or perish.
EXT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)
Rayne, with rifle slung around her back, climbs the oil rig
while Bram, Orion, and Dawn haul their crates of ammo
outside to the front lines.
ECHO (O.S.)
Survival is the only option for me
right now. If you want to survive,
you fight, and you never stop
fighting.
Masiumi, with satchel across her shoulder, rides past the
four at blinding speed atop Dave.
42.
EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)
Five MEN IN WHITE PRISON JUMPSUITS are escorted at gunpoint
by SOLDIERS to the central stage directly bellow the
Empress’ craft.
DARK PRINCESS
I am here to aid in your survival.
Unfortunately, there are those of
you that don’t accept what I’ve
given you. So let me be clear...
With a simple slide of her finger across her Control Panel
we see...
EXT. WHITE LAND (SAME)
The THREE DARK RADIO TOWERS as seen before cease emitting
energy, their low steady HUM dying down to silence.
DARK PRINCESS (V.O.)
I want you to feel this.
EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)
The crowd begins to stir, they feel the drain. Life slowly
returns to their formally glazed over eyes.
DARK PRINCESS
This is what comes with the freedom
you think you need.
As the Princess looks down over the masses, rifle SHOTS RING
out through the city under siege.
The crowd goes into hysterics, weeping, screaming.
Women mourning over the recently slain.
Men cursing, confronting the Soldiers.
Full scale rioting is about to erupt when...
DARK PRINCESS
...but you’ve forgotten the
horrors, the pain that came with
your version of freedom.
The Dark Princess slides her finger across the control once
more.
43.
The masses quickly freeze in place, like a wave of amnesia
suddenly falling over them. Their eyes glaze over once more.
All turn back towards the Princess with vacant looks of
complacency.
DARK PRINCESS
Let’s not forget, I have given you
true freedom. No more pain. No more
war. No more questions.
EXT. DEATH WIND CANYON (NIGHT)
Troops march forward, massed in three sections; two brigades
of infantry, one of mechanized horses. They are uniformed,
precise in their movements. Their eyes are also devoid of
any emotion, or so it seems...
Although the soldiers are all human, they appear to be
infected with the same black veins as Agent Orange when
tortured earlier.
One YOUNG INFANTRYMAN in particular, scans the cliff wall as
he marches in his division.
HIGH CLIFF WALL - Masiumi’s hands carefully push in a large
metal disc into a crevasse, unraveling wires from either
side.
DESERT FLOOR - the Infantryman calls out to his superior.
YOUNG INFANTRYMAN
Captain, cliff wall, three O’clock.
The Captain, riding atop a Metal Steed blows his whistle;
long drag, short burst. All ranks halt.
BRAM (V.O.)
After the Dark Princess arrived,
Masiumi quickly developed a
reputation as the Bane of Port
Town.
Riding around to the right flank, the captain removes a
brass telescope from his belt.
HIGH CLIFF PLATEAU - Masiumi rolls up from the side of the
cliff onto the plateau, holding her breath.
BRAM (V.O.)
For two months straight, she had
killed, maimed, and harassed the
Empress’ occupying forces...
44.
CAPTAIN (O.S.)
All clear. Move Out!
The marching of the troops continue forward.
LOWER CLIFF TRAIL - Riding atop Dave flying at full gallop,
Masiumi comes barreling down the bend onto the Desert Floor.
BRAM (V.O.)
On the third month, The Princess
had the whole city leveled, just to
smoke Masiumi out.
With the troops a quarter mile behind her, Masiumi, glances
over her shoulder, and pushes the button on her DETONATOR.
Small plums of smoke jet out from the cliffs, before the
ENTIRE CLIFF FACE falls. A greater cloud of smoke and the
screams of panicked soldiers fill the canyon.
EXT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)
Two hundred yards past the Oil Rig, Dawn and Orion are busy
laying a line of explosive mines towards the canyon. A few
yards to the left of them, Echo and Bram do the same.
ECHO
She was a soldier?
ORION
(Laughing)
She was a wraith!
BRAM
Echo, you said you could see our
energy fields?
ECHO
Yeah, then you looked at me like I
was crazy.
BRAM
Rayne can sense particular
emotions; what we call an Empath.
That you can see, what she only
feels... you posses a power of
great value.
ECHO
According to the Old Man, it’s all
in the belt.
45.
BRAM
Is that what you believe?
DAWN (O.S.)
That’s the last of them.
ORION (O.S.)
Set up mortar cannons on eastern
flank. Each canon twenty meters
apart.
LATER - Riding like the wind, Masiumi approaches the
Warehouse atop Dave.
Masiumi pulls up alongside the Oil Rig and lets out a sharp
WHISTLE. Dawn and Rayne poke their heads out over the
railing.
DAWN
They’re in the trench, South East
pocket.
MASIUMI
Troops are less than a kilometer
behind me.
RAYNE
I see them...
(Cocking rifle)
...and the fate that awaits them.
Masiumi gently tugs on Dave’s mane as they turn and gallop
towards the trenches.
MOMENTS LATER - Warehouse "Front Yard"
The Desert trembles at the feet of the Five Hundred or so
remaining soldiers and cavalry. About two hundred yards
north of the Warehouse, the Captain blows a sharp WHISTLE.
The soldiers halt.
Only a hundred yards East of the massed army, Orion,
Masiumi, Bram, Echo and Dave lie in a hastily dug trench.
The humans clutch their rifles, waiting.
DAVE
I’m starting to think the running
away plan was a better idea.
ORION
You cannot out run death. The bold
however, choose when they meet her.
46.
DAVE
Great pep talk Coach.
Echo is trying to control her breathing while she aims her
pistol. Next to her, a very calm Masiumi sharpens her sword.
MASIUMI
You can see their energy?
Looking over the troops reforming their ranks, Echo sees...
ECHO P.O.V. - All the troops in Echo’s eyes have a light
Violet mist rising from them like heat waves.
ECHO
They’re afraid.
MASIUMI
When you are one against many, the
trick is to feed their fear.
You become what they imagine is
hiding in the dark.
Echo continues to stare intently at the troops.
The Diamond Prism on her belt begins to glow purple, glowing
brighter, and brighter...
MASIUMI (O.S.)
Feed the fire of their fears, until
they burn themselves out.
With her eyes still locked on the troops now marching
towards the Warehouse, a pair of MASSIVE, VIOLET TRANSLUCENT
HANDS burst out of the ground fifty yards in front of the
trench.
The Soldiers turn, rifles trained on the beastly arms
clawing their way towards them.
OIL RIG - Dawn and Rayne watch from the crows nest as the
See-Through-Purple-Creature emerges from the sand.
Terrified soldiers tremble as the four story tall Beast
unhinges its gargantuan jaw and stalks toward them. Snakes,
and spiders made of light crawl from its mouth...
CAPTAIN (O.S.)
Fire! Fire at will!
The deafening ROAR OF GUNFIRE fills the desert as Soldiers
desperately try and slay the Towering Creature before them.
47.
Several soldiers desperately try and brush the snakes and
spiders off themeselves, shooting themselves in he process
as the imaginary creatures burrow into their skin.
CAPTAIN (O.S.)
Hold your ground!
Despite the Captain’s desperate pleas, many of the young
troops begin to break rank, fleeing into the desert.
Echo continues to watch the soldiers, mesmerized, but begins
to show signs of strain.
ECHO’S P.O.V. - What was once a light mist rising from the
soldiers, now looks like a forest fire among the troops
before the Violet Beast.
Bram and the others look from creature back to Echo, a mix
of awe and horror as the girl is VISIBLY GLOWING. Suddenly,
Bram looks over to see Echo, shaking and sweating bullets.
BRAM
Hold your focus, hold your calm
Echo.
Between the GUNFIRE...
The SCREAMS of soldiers...
The sound of a ROARING FIRE of Fear, causes Echo to break
her concentration, gasping for breath as if she had been
held underwater for hours.
As Echo comes out of her daze, the Violet Monster
disappears. The soldiers cease fire.
From the Oil Rig, Dawn puts on her hard hat and pulls out
her detonator.
With a bright BURST OF LIGHT, the mines underneath the
soldiers EXPLODE. Mass confusion. Lines break completely.
From the trench, Orion calls out...
ORION
Open fire!
The Group in the trenches starts picking off troops. Echo is
still shivering.
DAVE
Echo! Snap out of it!
48.
ECHO
I’m... I’m fine. Fine.
Everything’s... I’m fine.
BRAM
Breath slowly, stay calm.
DAVE
Calm? She’s having a seizure man!
Echo tries to shake off her fatigue.
THE DARK ONE (V.O.)
Such an unbalanced child.
Lifting her revolver she pulls off a few blind rounds into
the panicked crowd; she’s clearly a novice with guns.
Dawn opens up a switch panel while Rayne continues to pick
off troops with her rifle. Flipping the switches
in succession...
...The mortars on the West flank of the troops fire off.
Decimated, disoriented, and disorganized,
the remaining soldiers call for a desperate retreat.
Orion and the others continue firing as the soldier’s flee,
but something snaps in Echo.
THE DARK ONE (V.O.)
You can’t control it can you?
Trying to hide your fear with
anger.
Rage builds in the girl as she watches the soldiers retreat.
Picking her self up off the sand, Echo mounts Dave, steering
her horse in pursuit of the soldiers.
DAVE
Hey, I don’t think we’re with these
guys. Maybe we should turn-
Ignoring the horse, Echo takes aim at one of the fleeing
soldiers, fires. The soldier goes down as Echo lines up
another shot.
THE DARK ONE (V.O.)
Trying to drown your failure with
rage? Pathetic.
49.
DAVE
They’re retreating Echo!
The young girl continues gunning down soldiers witnessed by
an increasingly disturbed Dave.
Finally, rearing up on his hind legs, the horse throws Echo
from his back and turns to face her.
DAVE
What the hell is the matter with
you?
Hyperventilating, the young girl lets loose a stream of
tears. Through her red eyes, swelling with rage, Echo throws
her gun aside, her hands glowing red hot.
With a primal SCREAM, Red Light blasts from her hands and
into the sky.
Dave WHINNIES, backing up as the red light shoots past him.
Still sobbing and screaming into her hands, Echo collapses
onto the ground. Dave lays down beside the broken girl,
resting his head on her shoulder.
INT. WHITE LAND - DARK TOWER - HANGER BAY (LATER)
Inside an open hanger a bowing jumbo jet could comfortably
fit in, the Dark Princess maneuvers her Black Flying Rose to
the center of the room.
Like its stationary position before the crowd, the pedals
bloom outward. The smaller black panels drift down from the
craft to create a spiral staircase.
As the Princess descends, a gray puddle from the other side
of the hanger swiftly moves towards the craft.
Before the Princess can exit the hanger, the puddle rises,
forming an imposing outline of something that almost
resembles a HUMAN FIGURE (ZERO ONE). The "liquid projection"
more accurately looks like an average man inside the shell
of a man twice as large.
The Dark Princess’ face turns white: quietly dropping to one
knee, bowing her head. The Dark Figure looms over her, a
heavy shadow for the Princess to bare.
ZERO ONE
Your failure has become quite
disconcerting to me, my disciple.
50.
DARK PRINCESS
Father...
ZERO ONE
You have not warranted a name
yourself, nor have you earned the
right to call me by that title. Why
have you not contained the natives?
DARK PRINCESS
(Shaking)
The masses are primarily under
control, our resources are nearly-
ZERO ONE
Your mission was to learn how to
rule: resource consumption is
secondary. Why do these creatures
still resist your reign?
DARK PRINCESS
Perhaps if I had more of our
technology... the planet is to
primitive to-
ZERO ONE
You believe you are entitled to our
technology because you find your
task too difficult?
DARK PRINCESS
No Fa... no, my lord.
ZERO ONE
You must learn the value of
control. Not partial: complete.
This species’ spirit should be
an extension of your own will.
DARK PRINCESS
But we’ve nearly mined everything
we need from-
ZERO ONE
I’ve already taken everything I
require from this planet. In the
moments I’ve allowed you to live,
you will manifest the understanding
required to rule, or remain here to
experience oblivion.
The Shadow before the Princess evaporates in a cloud of
steam. Desperately gathering her royal demeanor, the Dark
Princess quickly storms off back to her court.
51.
ZERO ONE (O.S.)
Get your subjects under control.
INT. WAREHOUSE (MORNING)
Echo slowly opens her eyes. Streams of sunlight shine over
her. Checking her surroundings, she realizes she had fallen
asleep on Dave’s flank; the horse still snores lightly.
Dawn sits opposite Echo: her legs crossed and wearing a warm
smile spread wide.
ECHO
(Shielding her eyes)
I can’t, I can’t really handle your
perkiness right now...
ECHO’S P.O.V. - Dawn’s aura is a dazzling gold.
DAWN
Oh.
(Beat)
Well, we survived.
ECHO
That’s great. Fine. Tired now...
Echo turns over, pulling the wool blanket over her.
DAWN
I thought maybe you’d need to talk
about what happened.
With a heavy sigh, the young girl gets up from her horse and
heads for the door.
EXT. WAREHOUSE (CONTINUOUS)
The Desert sun hits Echo like a punch in the face. She shuts
her eyes, keeps walking, deep breaths, small steps.
RAYNE (O.S.)
You don’t want to talk...
Behind Echo, the young woman in the Indigo Shall
stands purposefully distant.
RAYNE
You want the world to end.
Echo stops, takes this in.
52.
ECHO
(Holding back tears)
I don’t... I don’t know what I’m
supposed to do right now.
RAYNE
Grieve.
ECHO
Grieve? No. There’s too much...
RAYNE
Mourning is the necessary step to
empty our souls of the burden we
feel.
Turning, marching up to and getting in Rayne’s face...
ECHO
Except I feel everything--everyone!
Every single soul that drowned,
that died that night, and last
night... I’m burnt out. It’s like
trying to count to the end of Pi,
it just keeps going.
RAYNE
Then stop counting.
Echo feels the rage building.
Her Diamond shinning.
Her hands glowing.
Rayne steps forward cautiously, gently placing one hand on
Echo’s waist, the other on her cheek.
RAYNE
You must let go.
(Beat)
Violence consumed me when the
Empress’ forces arrested my wife,
when they beat me, when they took
my child from me...
ECHO
Violence is all that’s left.
RAYNE
No. No, through our grieving, we
are able to bring healing into the
vacancy created by those who leave
(MORE)
53.
RAYNE (cont’d)us. If we let our rage burn in the
holes in our souls, the memory of
those lost to us will burn as well.
Echo will not cry. She will fight that impulse with
every muscle left in her body.
ECHO
(Choking up)
I don’t think I can let it all...
What’s left if I let go?
RAYNE
Room to grow.
Echo relents, falling into Rayne’s embrace.
Her Diamond Belt Buckle begins to shine, but a BLUE AURA now
radiates from the girl. The cuts, scrapes, and bruises on
her war torn body slowly begin to HEAL.
As the two girls release from their embrace, Rayne makes her
way back towards the Warehouse.
ECHO
So, does this mean you and your
friends aren’t going to kill me?
RAYNE
It means I am going to choose to
trust you.
Echo watches Rayne tighten her shall as the wind picks up.
BRAM (V.O.)
They’re known as the Binary.
TRAINING MONTAGE -
INT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)
Echo is moving through Tai Chi Forms next to Bram.
BRAM
They’ve conquered worlds based on
the cold, calculating mentality
that all is black and white, total
control or chaos.
54.
ECHO
What does that mean for us?
BRAM
For us, it means we of many
emotional shades were forced into
exile. Now we have an edge...
OUTSIDE - Echo, barefoot, spars with Orion. He keeps her on
her toes, circling, bobbing weaving, striking when she
shifts her guard.
BRAM (V.O.)
We have your light. But your light
is unfocused; it can be defused.
Orion takes another cheap shot. Echo’s belt shines as
she releases a MASSIVE ENERGY BEAM nowhere near Orion.
ECHO (V.O.)
It’s not my light.
The Ukrainian arrogantly jabs her in the side.
BRAM (V.O.)
That didn’t keep you from stealing
it. You have to own it now.
OUTSIDE - Next to a pile of scraps, Dawn is welding
together the salvaged pieces of the Mechanized Horses.
BRAM (V.O.)
Just as identifying your fear,
decreases its power over you...
INSIDE - Masiumi stands over Echo, who sits cross legged on
the ground, eyes closed, and breathing deep.
Echo’s belt begins to shine; violet waves of light rise,
cresting up from the floor. Mrs. Morning materializes out of
the waves reaching out for Echo.
Masiumi takes a step back.
OUTSIDE - From the Crow’s Nest, Rayne watches Echo continue
to spar with Orion. Echo’s aim improving.
BRAM (V.O.)
Just as recognizing your pain,
lessens its hold on you...
INSIDE - Still working through the motions of Bram’s Tai Chi
Routine when suddenly...
55.
...A large oil drum comes swinging down from the rafters,
knocking Echo over.
BRAM (V.O.)
Through focus, your light hardens,
strengthens...
WITH MASIUMI - Echo’s eyes shoot open, glowing violet.
Try...
WITH MASIUMI - The Violet Assassin watches the waves fall,
replaced by a projection of Orion rising up from the floor
walking towards her.
After try...
WITH MASIUMI - Reaching out to Orion, just as a volley of
bullets gun him down. Masiumi SCREAMS. Darkness falls.
...After try, Echo finally conjures up an EMERALD WALL
blocking the oil drum with a resounding CLANG. As she
exhales, sliding into the next position, the wall
disappears.
BRAM
You will draw upon greater
power when you are bathed in
tranquility; when you actively seek
peace.
Echo SCOFFS and breaks her pose, walking off towards the
barn doors. Bram stands silent.
ECHO
If you knew what I’ve been through,
you’d know that peace and
tranquility want nothing to do with
me.
END MONTAGE
INT. WHITE LAND - DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (LATER)
Three Terrified SOLDIERS tremble, kneeling before a furious
Empress, pacing before them.
DARK PRINCESS
Four story tall, purple, creature?
Why exactly was that a problem for
a thousand armed soldiers to-
56.
CAPTAIN (O.S.)
Five hundred Empress.
The Dark Princess snaps back toward the humbled Captain,
kneeling down inches away from his face.
DARK PRINCESS
Are you implying that I’ve lost the
ability to count you
unbelievable failure of evolution?
CAPTAIN
The canyon was rigged
with explosives... by the time we
reached our target, there were only
a few hund-
Millions of Joules worth of electricity hit the soldier with
such force, he’s lifted into the air, pinning him to
the ceiling.
The Princess turns to the remaining officers, shouting over
the CRACKLE of lighting shooting from her hands, and the
SCREAMS of the Captain above them.
DARK PRINCESS
(Calm)
At 1400 standard hours, our
remaining army will march back to
Death Wind, and I will personally
assist any and all who humans who
refuse to fight. Do I make myself
perfectly clear?
OFFICERS (BOTH)
Yes Empress.
A loud POP is heard above. The Captains dare not look up as
a few chard REMAINS and ASH float down upon them. The
Empress finally relents her electric power.
DARK PRINCESS
Dismissed.
The Officers bolt from the court room, and out the main
archway. In the Court, the INTERCOM CHIMES.
DARK PRINCESS
What now calls?
INTERCOM (O.S.)
Foreman 4827 of the Mute City
mining facility Empress.
57.
DARK PRINCESS
(Considers)
On screen.
A black PUDDLE pools up from the floor, rises to eye level,
and spreads out to form a flat view screen.
On Screen, the FOREMAN in suit and tie, eyes glazed over,
clears his throat.
FOREMAN
Empress.
DARK PRINCESS
You had better report progress.
FOREMAN
General productivity is up twenty
percent, output of carbon and gold
increased by seven percent. The
vein we’re working on is about four
hours from completion, the other
three by the end of the day.
DARK PRINCESS
At the very least, your species is
adequate at digging holes in the
earth. Continue your work.
FOREMAN
By your will Empress.
The screen falls back to the floor and evaporates.
CUT TO:
INT. WAREHOUSE (AFTERNOON)
Dave stands next to Masiumi watching Orion and Echo spar
against one another. The hard packing sounds of fist against
flesh explode throughout the tin room.
DAVE
I got ten dollars on the Blond.
MASIUMI
Ten against...
(Catches herself)
Where does a horse keep-
58.
DAVE
Pockets.
MASIUMI
Pockets? What pockets?
Orion keeps just out of reach from a sweating, panting Echo.
Every swing she makes barely grazes the ’Ukrainian.’
ORION
Your rage amuses me little one.
ECHO
Happy to entertain you.
Echo dodges a hay maker from Orion, strafing around him. She
lands three hits to the ribs, but Orion shrugs them off,
pushing Echo back to her corner.
ORION
Your anger, it is blind rage,
useless.
ECHO
I can see just fine.
Echo weaves under another of Orion’s punches. Her belt glows
green, as emerald steps appear circling around her opponent.
Echo climbs the stairs, jumping to cross kick Orion in the
face. Orion counters, grappling the girl’s leg, grounding
her.
ORION
You see nothing. Never forget
little one, I am rage: I am made of
rage.
Masiumi looks over to Dave.
DAVE
I’ll write you a check.
Before Masiumi can give a retort, Bram walks over to the
group, grim face and Tablet in hand.
LATER - The group has gathered around a metal table with a
crude map of Prism Sketched out in chalk.
BRAM
We were lucky last time, but we
don’t have enough ammunition to
take on the Empress’ entire army.
59.
DAVE
Seems a bit extreme to send the
whole army down doesn’t it?
ORION
Her strategy is brute force over
tactics and guile. Less creative,
but effective.
RAYNE
If we take to the cliffs, use the
Dark One’s recently vacated tower,
it’d take them longer to reach
us...
MASIUMI
Or rig the cliff with the last of
our C-4; draw them in, crush them.
DAVE
You can’t solve all your problems
by dropping mountains on them...
MASIUMI
I can solve most of my problems by
dropping mountains on them.
BRAM
Dave’s right; even if we could
survive this next attack, the
Empress would send wave after
wave...
ECHO (O.S.)
What about our own army?
The others turn to Echo awaiting an explanation to her
overtly stupid suggestion.
ECHO
(Pointing to map)
What about these people? Are they
just sitting around while their
country is occupied?
Echo circles Mute City, Port Town, and Silence City with a
scrap of chalk.
BRAM
Echo, those soldiers, the ones
we’ve been fighting...
60.
ORION
The Empress has forced our hand
into killing our own comrades.
Taking this in, Echo backs up. Rayne places a hand on Echo’s
shoulder.
MASIUMI
It’s the nature of war; we must do
what is necessary to survive.
ECHO
Those weren’t her troops?
RAYNE
She has no army. No loyal subjects
of her own. The Empress infects,
twists and converts others to her
will.
DAVE
Is there a way to untwist them?
DAWN
(Small)
We could take out the
Satellite Towers.
FADE INTO:
ON SCREEN - WORLD MAP
From Death Wind Desert, across the central mountains, up to
White Land, the Dark Towers seen before that defiled the
frozen tundra stand tall.
ECHO (V.O.)
Do you know for certain these
towers are what controls her army?
CLOSE - SATELLITE TOWER
Shinning black metallic, the structures resemble a much more
polished version of the Ostankino Radio Tower in Moscow,
emitting a rhythmic pulse of BLACK LIGHT.
DAWN (V.O.)
I was captured.
Moving past the Tower, up to the Dark Princess’ HQ...
FADE INTO:
FLASH BACK:
61.
INT. WHITE LAND - PRISON COMPLEX
In an expansive circular room in what almost resembles a
petri dish the size of a football stadium. On the floor of
the windowless stadium, MANY PRISONERS lie in a pool of
black liquid three inches deep. Each MAN, WOMAN, and CHILD
is bolted down by their arms and legs, separated from their
fellow prisoners by a maze of walls that twist and curve
throughout the complex.
DAWN (V.O.)
They tested us...
The ceiling above the prisoners is comprised of ONE WAY
GLASS where many LAB TECHNICIANS scatter about busily.
DAWN
...Looking for weaknesses.
Amongst the other prisoners, Dawn lies still, calm, serenity
engraved on her face in defiance of the horrific conditions.
ABOVE - The Dark Princess saunters over to a MONITOR where
Dawn is displayed. Adjusting a control panel...
DAWN (V.O.)
Despite their efforts...
Black liquid forms pillars under Dawn’s restraints, lifting
her up above the other prisoners. Nearly fifty feet in the
air, an ARM OF BLACK LIQUID moves down from the ceiling to
meet Dawn face to face.
DAWN (V.O.)
...I wouldn’t break.
The fingers of the black arm grow longer, forming into
blades, reaching for Dawn, pushing into her forehead.
SMASH CUT:
BACK TO PRESENT:
EXT. WAREHOUSE (AFTERNOON)
Echo, now wearing a navy blue SOLDIER’S UNIFORM re-sewn to
her size, tightens a proper saddle onto Dave. Beside her,
Dawn, who tightens the bolts of her Mechanical Horse.
DAWN
When they were crawling through my
mind, I could see her thoughts,
(MORE)
62.
DAWN (cont’d)feel them. Those machines, they’re
designed to numb the pain, make you
complacent: make you give up.
ECHO
Sounds exactly what I’m looking
for.
Rayne stops mid stroke, dropping her brush.
RAYNE
Echo, you can’t think...
ECHO
I don’t think there’s anything I
wouldn’t trade to forget about what
happened to me.
Masiumi comes up beside Echo.
MASIUMI
You’d trade your freedom, you’d
forfeit your soul because of your
pain? You are weaker than you look.
Echo grabs Masiumi by the scruff of her caller, pinning her
up against another robot horse.
ECHO
You think you know pain chick?
MASIUMI
I watched my city burn to the
ground. What pain do you know of,
little girl?
DAWN
The machine doesn’t take away the
pain, it just masks it; bottles it
up.
RAYNE
All the pain just multiplies under
the surface, with no release.
Masiumi inches the Tonto Blade in her hand closer to Echo’s
stomach. Reluctantly, Echo shoves Masiumi aside walking back
to Dave.
DAVE
You all right?
63.
ECHO
Fine.
DAVE
I totally believe you.
Exiting the Warehouse, Bram and Orion walk towards the
group. Orion unravels a spool of Bridge Wire as he walks
backwards.
ORION
Dawn, you are needed.
Dawn jogs over to the Ukrainian, who hands the Impossibly
Blonde girl the wire, while she hooks up the detonator.
BRAM
Having found this place, you may
have the honor Ms. Dawn.
ORION
I believe Echo deserves honor, if
not for her, we would not need-
DAWN
That’s okay Orion, I’ll do it.
ORION
Please, let us give credit where
credit is do.
BRAM
That’s enough Orion.
Orion sneers at Bram, but relents.
Dawn and the others take one last look at their refuge
before the CLICK of the detonator.
In a controlled implosion, their tin shack collapses in on
itself.
Without further ceremony, the group mounts their horses; an
electronic Neighing sounds out as they come to life.
DAWN
Orion, you didn’t paint your horse?
ORION
When my machine is covered in the
blood of my enemy...
(Pats horse)
...then it shall be painted.
64.
The band of Seven Misfits ride north, towards the twisted
charcoal rocks of FIRE FIELD; the blood red sun setting
behind them.
EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT (LATER)
The WHOLE ARMY 5,000 strong, marches their way out from the
Death Wind Canyon. The Dark Princess’ craft floating above
her brainwashed forces.
The CAPTAINS of their respected REGIMENTS shout orders,
troops fanning out in to position. Soon, the army surrounds
the smoldering rubble of the Warehouse.
From her aircraft, the Empress surveys the remains of the
Warehouse: unimpressed.
Landing in front of the OFFICERS massed before their troops,
the Empress descends the spiral staircase to the ground.
DARK PRINCESS
Someone had better explain what
ever it is I’m Not looking at.
Sheepishly one of the OFFICERS rides forward from the ranks
atop a mechanical horse.
CAPTAIN #2
Empress, this is the location where
our troops were attacked, as you
can see by the craters there...
DARK PRINCESS
Where are their troops?
CAPTAIN #2
Their Troops, your highness?
DARK PRINCESS
Captain, are you going to risk your
life standing by the story that a
solitary four-story, purple
creature, wiped out hundreds of
your men?
CAPTAIN #2
No empress it’s only that-
DARK PRINCESS
Then where is the enemy force?
The Captain STAMMERS, shutting his eyes for his inevitable
death.
65.
The rage in the Princess is about to boil over. She however
shows some restraint, PUNCHING the Captain off his horse
instead.
DARK PRINCESS
Two regiments are to scale, search,
and destroy whatever you find in
those cliffs. The rest are to
secure the perimeter. I’ll also
need a squad of riders to escort me
to the wreckage.
The other Officers are not eager to step forward.
Sending electric arcs up across her finger tips...
DARK PRINCESS
Shall I elect a volunteer?
LATER - A SQUADRON of soldiers search through the rubble of
The Warehouse. In the distance, SOLDIERS also scale the
cliffs.
One particular SOLDIER lifts up a WALL, examines it...
SOLDIER
Empress, we’ve found something.
Riding over to the Soldier, The Empress sits atop her
machine waiting to be impressed. Examining the sheet of
scrap metal, the Princess’ eyes go wide.
Upon the wall, although badly burned, several SYMBOLS of the
Princess’ code can be seen.
BRAM (V.O.)
Before Prism’s civil war, I was a
Linguistics professor. During, I
was a code breaker.
EXT. FIRE FIELD CANYON (LATER)
The Six Riders and Dave head through what is most commonly
associated with the physical appearance of Hell. Black ashen
cliffs flank them, gnarled obsidian rock spires riddle their
path, and gaping chasms with molten lava run below them.
Riding close to Bram, Echo calls out...
ECHO
Whose side were you on?
66.
BRAM
I wasn’t on a side.
ECHO
How does that work?
ORION
When you are coward, you cannot
fight for any side.
BRAM
In point of fact, by feeding
information to both sides, I was
attempting to show how futile it is
to fight amongst ourselves.
ECHO
Guessing that didn’t pan out.
BRAM
In hindsight, it seems I may have
been naive to think our species was
evolved enough too not want
annihilate ourselves...
ORION
(At Echo)
Speaking of War, where was Brighton
in all of this? What is your
country’s excuse for refusing to
fight?
ECHO
I’m no soldier, but I’m guessing
it’s because my people have a
strong aversion to mindless
killing.
ORION
Didn’t look like you had an
aversion last night.
ECHO
Does the pot want to call the
kettle black, or do you not keep
track of all your ’friends’ you
killed-
ORION
An orphan knows nothing of
friendship...
67.
ECHO
And the raging psychopath is the
authority on that topic? Really?
ORION
My comrades would have trusted me
to end their suffering. Why has no
one come for you? Perhaps, you
deserve to suffer.
DAWN
Orion...
RAYNE
Leave her be, Orion.
MASIUMI
(Beyond sarcastic)
Yeah, maybe we just don’t
understand pain like hers.
Echo draws back from the group, Dave slowing to a trot.
FLASH BACK:
EXT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - FOOTBALL FIELD (LATE AFTERNOON)
Watching the sunset, Echo stands in her Band Uniform,
conducting an empty field. She stops, picks up sheet music
and begins to take notes...
MRS. MORNING (O.S.)
Echo?
ECHO
Busy.
Mrs. Morning places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, only
to have it shaken off. She keeps scribbling.
MRS. MORNING
Echo, are you...
ECHO
You were wrong about me.
MRS. MORNING
Was I now?
ECHO
I didn’t beat those ass holes for
harassing one of my troops.
68.
Mrs. Morning stays silent, watching her daughter, waiting
for Echo to continue. Dropping her work to the ground.
ECHO
They were right; I don’t deserve to
be here. I’m not... I’ll always
only be "Professor Morning’s
Daughter."
MRS. MORNING
(Beat)
You’re right.
Echo is taken aback, infuriated.
MRS. MORNING
You don’t deserve to be here, you
fought to be here. You studied,
trained, and shed blood to be here.
You need to be here.
Mrs. Morning lets her words sink in before she turns away,
walking back towards the bleachers.
MRS. MORNING
Furthermore, you are not merely a
reflection of me, but a reflection
of what is in your own soul.
RETURN TO PRESENT:
Pacing beside Echo, Bram watches the girl’s bright BLUE AURA
radiate around her.
BRAM
That aura won’t be effective for
very long, Young One.
DAVE
Is that what she’s doing? I got to
be honest, it kinda freaks me out a
bit. Makes me feel all tingly.
ECHO
(sniffling)
Helps with the pain.
Still glowing blue, Echo wipes a hand across her eyes.
ECHO
I guess I don’t really know how to
shoulder all the death I’ve
orchestrated. I just have to...
69.
BRAM
Sort it out? Separate it?
ECHO
Whatever works.
DAVE
Have you tried maybe happy
thoughts, like oats? Oats are my
happy place.
ECHO
(affectionately)
Cram it horse.
DAVE
I will throw you to the ground
little girl, I swear to Vox.
BRAM
Sorting your pain into neat little
boxes isn’t practical for someone
of your... condition.
Her aura fades away, returning to a standard hue.
ECHO
You were a Psych Professor too?
BRAM
Eventually, you must learn to
accept that everything is
connected. All emotion, all
memories; millions of lights,
focused into one point.
ECHO
That sounds horrifically
complicated.
DAVE
Yeah, I like the box idea better.
You could even have an oat box.
Mmmmm, Oats.
ECHO
I just need to separate my emotions
from our impossible task at hand.
You know, so I can at least pretend
to function like a normal person.
70.
Tugging on Dave’s reins, Echo pulls ahead of Bram. Dave
breaks into a full gallop, catching up to the others. As
they move up to Orion, Echo gives a glare that could have
momentarily frozen their hellish terrain. Orion returns the
sentiment adding a cocky nod.
Leaping over a thin pit of lava, Dave breaks away, weaving
in and out of charcoal pillars. Orion and the others speed
up in pursuit of Echo.
EXT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE (NIGHT)
The cliff plateau is illuminated by the Empress’ aircraft.
INSIDE THE TOWER - the Dark Princess stalks up the flight of
stairs, passing by LIFELESS SOLDIERS, sprawled out of the
floor. Suddenly, a VINYL RECORD comes to life; a cello suite
floating through out the tower.
KICKING the BODY OF A SOLDIER out of her way, the Empress
surveys the room. Everything seems to be in Place since Echo
was here, with the exception of the DARK ONE sitting in his
chair, a RESTORED SKULL resting face down on the desk.
The Empress meanders over by the record player, picking up
the needle.
THE DARK ONE (O.S.)
(straining)
You FEEL uneasy Princessssss....
Turning with her hands aimed and ready, The Young Girl looks
upon The Dark One.
Lifting his skull off the table, veins and muscles continue
to snake their way around the skull.
THE DARK ONE
I would be worried, iffffff I were
you.
DARK PRINCESS
Speak peasant, or you’ll have to
trouble yourself with growing
another head.
Like putty being squeezed from a tube, skin moves its way
around the once headless Old Man.
THE DARK ONE
I have information regarding the
one who troubles you.
71.
Removing the handkerchief from his breast pocket, The Dark
One dabs at the blood around his collar.
The Princess remains unimpressed.
DARK PRINCESS
You test my patience Old Man, what
are you to do when there is nothing
left of you to reconstitute
yourself with?
THE DARK ONE
The one you want is an orphaned
human girl named Echo.
DARK PRINCESS
You expect me to believe that a
single girl-
THE DARK ONE
There were five others that
attacked your men, but they are of
no consequence. They lack the power
the girl posses. But there is a
price for my information-
Grabbing a hold of the Old Man’s head with both hands,
electricity pulses through her fingers, as the Princess
spits out...
DARK PRINCESS
You do not make demands of me,
creature.
THE DARK ONE
Then the information dies with me,
and your kingdom will crumble at
Her hands.
The Princess considers. Releasing a sharp BURST OF ENERGY,
the Young Girl pushes the Wizard onto his back.
THE DARK ONE
All I ask is that you let me finish
my days in peace before your
Father- I’m sorry, Your Master
destroys our world.
DARK PRINCESS
(Considers)
Your terms are... reasonable.
The Dark One picks himself up and dusts off his white
slacks.
72.
THE DARK ONE
The girl posseses a belt, a belt
that is rightfully mine...
DARK PRINCESS
And I suppose you want this back?
THE DARK ONE
(Waving her off)
Merely a trinket to me, but in the
hands of an average mortal,
properly trained of course, it
could prove to be quiet bothersome
to you.
DARK PRINCESS
Where would I find this girl?
THE DARK ONE
If I were a headstrong girl with
newfound power... Well I suppose
I’d go find a kingdom to overthrow.
The Dark Princess turns a stone cold look upon the Old
Wizard. Ignoring her threatening gaze, he turns his record
player back on...
THE DARK ONE
In any case, I’d recommend against
using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
Imagine how much happier daddy will
be when he learns you personally
destroyed your foe.
The Princess smiles deviously, and turns to leave.
DARK PRINCESS
You’ve been most helpful. Enjoy
your peace while it lasts.
OUTSIDE THE TOWER - The Princess exits the keep as a
SERGEANT approaches. He comes to attention and salutes.
SERGEANT
Your orders Empress?
DARK PRINCESS
Level the tower Sergeant.
The Sergeant salutes again, and WHISTLES for an ARTILARY
SOLDIER. The soldier kneels, slinging a ROCKET PROPELLED
GRANADE onto his soldier. The Sergeant checks the Soldier’s
sights, turns, and taps the tooper’s helmet. A STREAK of
smoke flies from the ordinance, and the Tower EXPLODES.
73.
INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT - The Princess sets her coordinates on
the control panel. Pulling up an extra monitor before her,
CAPTAIN #2 comes into view.
CAPTAIN #2
Yes Empress?
DARK PRINCESS
Recall the army to the following
coordinates, stand by for further
orders.
CAPTAIN #2
Yes Empre-
Shutting off the Captain’s monitor, the Princess opens a
HOLOGRAPHIC MAP. Inputting commands into her control panel,
scanning through code, a moving BLIP appears in the area of
Fire Field.
EXT. FIRE FIELD CANYON (DAWN)
The group continues to ride through the merciless terrain.
Billows of smoke jet up from the fissures in the ground,
flame jetting up from the rocky pillars.
Orion catches up to Echo riding beside her.
ORION
You ride as if you know where to
go.
ECHO
Narrow canyon, one path, not that
hard.
ORION
(Scoffs)
Do not listen to Bram. In life,
somethings very simple.
ECHO
You seem like the simple type to
me.
ORION
You said it yourself: survival is
number one.
Dawn pipes up from behind.
74.
DAWN (O.S.)
What about after you survive?
Echo stares straight ahead: must not make eye contact.
DAWN
What’s the point in surviving if
you don’t have something better to
look forward to?
Orion looks over to Masiumi, turning away before she looks
back to him.
ORION
Some of us do not have that luxury
Dawnichka. The most we have to look
forward to is knowing others may
live after the actions we have
made.
DAWN
Well, that’s something. What about
you Echo, what are you looking
forward to?
ECHO
Silence. I’m looking forward to
silence.
Dawn smiles, not at all discouraged.
DAWN
Home!
Ridding to the edge of the black sands of Fire Field, the
Exiles look across the golden plains before them. In the
distance stand the remaining towers of Mute City.
BRAM
We have to resupply and refuel
before we head out into White Land.
ORION
We make camp in hillside, wait
until dark to take supplies, then
move out.
The others follow Orion on their mechanical horses. Dave
bobs his head motioning to Echo.
DAVE
So we got larceny, murder, throwing
a coup... Maybe it’d be easier if
(MORE)
75.
DAVE (cont’d)we were bad guys. Echo, can we be
the bad guys now?
ECHO
No. Maybe when you’re older.
EXT./ INT. FIRE FIELD DEATH WIND BORDER (LATER)
Sitting at the control panel of her Air Craft, the Empress
watches gray liquid pool up into the air to form three
screens: Black Diamond Officers in each window.
DARK PRINCESS
Report.
OFFICER #2
City perimeter secure.
CAPTAIN #2
City interior secure.
CAPTAIN #3
Scout team still searching Fire
Field, so far nothing to report
Empress.
DARK PRINCESS
Keep searching. The rest of you,
hold your positions.
The liquid screens shift, reforming into the menacing figure
of Zero One. The Empress immediately drops from her chair
and kneels.
ZERO ONE
My reports indicate unusual troop
movement: explain yourself.
DARK PRINCESS
I’ve identified my enemy and have
set a trap for their remaining
forces.
The shadow of Zero One remains silent.
DARK PRINCESS
Have my enemy come to me rather
than chase them.
76.
ZERO ONE
(Considers)
Your ability to adopt new tactics
is promising. However, if you fail,
know that you are but one of many,
and I will replace you if
necessary.
DARK PRINCESS
Yes my lord.
ZERO ONE
I would prefer perfection the first
time around, my child.
Still kneeling, the Young Empress stares through the
translucent floor watching the flowing lava push its way
through the exposed crevasses of the earth bellow. She dare
not look up.
DARK PRINCESS
Yes, my lord.
EXT. MUTE CITY OUTSKIRTS (NIGHT)
The modest glow from Mute City is barely enough to reach the
far spread grassy hills where the Exiles have made camp.
Orion lies beside his Mech Horse, tossing, turning. A SHADOW
looms over him as he continues to fight against his
nightmares. Slowly, a VIOLET PROJECTION OF MASIUMI silently
screaming for help materializes above the Ukrainian. As soon
as the apparition appears, it fades as if an invisible force
pulls it away.
Orion springs forward in a cold sweat, looking first to
Echo, then over to Masiumi packing up her gear.
ECHO
Well, that’s good to know I
suppose.
ORION
Shtow Etta?
ECHO
You’re not a complete ass.
Orion gets to his feet, pushing past Echo. Shrugging him
off, Echo walks over to Rayne laying in the grass, looking
through the scope of her rifle.
77.
RAYNE
Security is tight. Patrols haven’t
ceased since we arrived.
ECHO
Can’t by pass our trip to the city
altogether, can we?
RAYNE
Need to refuel the horses, but I
doubt you’d be comfortable in zero
degree weather in what you’re
wearing.
Rayne smiles as she scans Echo up and down. Echo blushes,
offering a modest grin.
BRAM
I’ve been listening to the Empress
radio device; there’s been no
mention of massing troops by Mute
City.
RAYNE
You haven’t been feeding them
information, have you Bram?
BRAM
I beg your pardon?
Turning over onto her back, Rifle still in hand.
RAYNE
No, you will not be pardoned. Ever
since you got that device, you’ve
been the only one to examine it,
decipher it, and now...
BRAM
Did you have a degree in cryptology
that we’ve been unaware of all this
time Rayne? If you’ve been holding
out on us, I’m curious to know why
you didn’t speak up before?
RAYNE
I’m curious as to why you waited
until now to inform us that you
were neutral during the war, but
still decided to sell secrets to
both sides.
78.
BRAM
Information was not sold, it was
freely given.
Dave comes trotting over to Echo to offer a hushed...
DAVE
I know it’s not typical for the
talking horse to offer reasonable
suggestions, but could you two shut
it while the army of darkness tries
to hunt and kill us?
ECHO
What about Dawn?
BRAM
What?
ECHO
How did Dawn escape from the Dark
Princess? She just walk out the
front door?
Masiumi and Orion wander over towards the discussion,
leaving Dawn alone by the supplies.
ORION
Are you so greedy for our trust
you’d have us turn on our own?
RAYNE
Echo does have a point. Why don’t
you tell us again Dawn, why did the
Princess just let you go?
As the other gear up for an argument, Echo starts to wander
off. Dave trots after her...
DAVE
(Aggressive whisper)
What are you doing?
ECHO
Dave, let’s face it: this is a
joke. Just look at them. Maybe the
Empress had the right idea?
DAVE
Now? Now you think is a good time
to...? Get over here...
79.
Dave bites down on Echos collar and tugs her away from the
group. Echo struggles to her feet after a few yards and
bucks up to Dave.
ECHO
What is the matter with you?
DAVE
What’s the matter with me? I’m
thinking a lot harder than any
horse has had to think before and
it’s drivin’ me up a wall is what’s
the friggin’ matter. Do you wanna
get honest with me?
ECHO
I’m just trying to-
DAVE
Survive? Yeah. Why?
ECHO
Why? What do mean ’why?’
The argument amongst the group intensifies, as Dave tries to
talk some sense into his Girl.
DAVE
You’ve been floating at sea for a
long time, trying to swim above all
that horrible stuff...
ECHO
Dave-
DAVE
Echo... um, middle name, Morning,
Do not interrupt me.
ECHO
It’s Abigail.
DAVE
No more floating. You are more
capable than just going with the
flow. Survival is not difficult.
ECHO
Our time at sea was cake walk for
you then?
80.
DAVE
You’ve got your chance to be angry,
sad, and gamble your life away, but
bickering among the only people who
are willing to fight with you is
not an option right now.
Behind her, Echo watches as the ARGUING rises, fingers
pointing, fists clenching.
Echo’S P.O.V. - The color aura’s, like tongues of wild fire
flicker and grow; a riot of unbalanced emotion.
DAVE
After everything that mom taught
you... You have more options at
your disposal beyond wander in
hell, or die.
ECHO
I’m not... I’m not as strong as her
Dave.
DAVE
Only if you choose not to use what
she taught you.
Within the group, Bram has bowed his head and raised his
hands in meditation while Orion shouts in his face. Masiumi
sharpens her blade. Rayne’s finger itches at the trigger.
Dawn pleads with all to relax.
Echo closes her eyes.
FLASH BACK:
EXT. CRUZ LINER (NIGHT)
Echo looks up through the POURING RAIN, hugging a wooden
plank watching the SHIP go down.
ECHO (V.O.)
Enough.
SMASH CUT TO:
81.
EXT. CRUZ LINER (NIGHT)
A ROGUE WAVE CRASHES over the deck. Chaos amongst panicking
PASSENGERS.
Echo suddenly sliding backwards away from her MOTHER and
FATHER, as they reach for their daughter with outstretched
arms.
ECHO (V.O.)
Enough.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - THEATER (DAY)
Warm sunlight streams in through large bay windows,
illuminating an ornate and vacant auditorium.
On the empty stage, Echo has her eyes closed, conducting an
invisible orchestra. The MUSIC IN ECHO’S HEAD is almost
audible, gently fading in until-
MRS. MORNING (O.S.)
You can see them?
A startled Echo opens her eyes, spinning around to see her
MOTHER, who possesses the grace of Mary Pickford and the
voice of Kat Edmonson.
MRS. MORNING
You can see how beautiful they are
when they all perform together,
can’t you Echo?
The Little Girl looks up into her mother’s eyes, gazing
deep, as the SOUND OF THE EXILES ARGUING grows and grows...
SMASH CUT TO:
BACK TO PRESENT -
The Young Girl’s eyes fly open.
ECHO
Just. STOP!
Silence.
ECHO
We are... we are seriously messed
up.
82.
ORION
I see you’ve come to...
ECHO
Orion, your insult will not be
clever enough to justify the use of
carbon and oxygen it was carried on
to reach our ears, so shut your
mouth for just. One. Minute.
Orion crosses his arms, more amused than irritated.
ECHO
We came here with a job to do, but
a thin reason as to why we should.
MASIUMI
Survival-
ECHO
Is no longer the acceptable default
motivation. It’s rudimentary.
ORION
You tell us what is more vital than
food, water, air-
ECHO
We have to genuinely believe that
unplugging everyone from the
Princess’ control is for the
greater good.
RAYNE
That all depends on what good you
think will come from our actions.
ECHO
I’m choosing to believe When
everyone’s unplugged, people will
be able to accept their fears,
their rage, their pain...
DAWN
And work past it.
All eyes from Dawn back to Echo.
ECHO
It can’t be just about us anymore.
We’re a mess, but we have to
believe that we can drop our
baggage and move forward.
83.
The others take this in, watching Echo’s aura GLOW, lightly
radiating a mist of the FULL SPECTRUM OF COLOR.
Walking over towards Echo, Tablet in hand, Bram opens his
mouth when...
SHOTS FIRED, Bram collapses.
The Tablet shatters, the pieces TURNING TO LIQUID, and
sinking into the ground.
Rayne rolls back over on her stomach, lines her sights...
RIFLE P.O.V. - A SQUADRON OF CAVALRY, quickly approaching,
the LEAD OFFICER in Rayne’s cross hairs...
FIRES!
The Officer flies back off his horse, and into the dirt.
Dawn, Masiumi, Orion, and Rayne scramble to their Mechanical
Horses. Echo kneeling down to Bram, his leg is in tatters,
bleeding heavily on the grass.
BRAM
Tracking... they were...
tracking... tracking tablet...
ECHO
Shut up and try not to bleed out on
me.
Tearing Bram’s shirt, the girl makes a sloppy bandage, and
helps Bram to his feet.
THREE MORE SQUADS ride up from the planes, from the North,
the West, and East. The sound of gunfire erupts.
ORION
Back into Fire Field, break them
up...
ECHO
No. We head to Mute City.
RAYNE
Suicide.
MASIUMI
(Licking her lips)
Oblivion.
84.
Pulling hard on Dave’s reigns, the Horse rears up. Where
others would give a rousing speech or battle cry, Echo
simply goes headlong on into the fray.
Charging head strong toward the TRIO of soldiers ahead,
drawing her pistol, she fires until she empties the chamber.
Orion and the other Exiles charge after her, Masiumi and
Orion on the Right flank, Dawn and Rayne on the Left, Bram
in the pocket.
Of the three remaining riders, two go down, the last one
taking aim at Echo when...
...A bullet rips the RIDER from his horse, flailing to the
ground at high velocity.
The Six Exiles press on, their Western and Eastern pursuers
gaining on them.
Rayne side saddles her horse, holding onto the reins with
one hand, lifting the rifle with the other. Aims. Fires
behind her and...
A RIDER from the West flank goes down hard.
The chase continues, heavy fire exchanged from both sides as
they near the gates of Mute City.
Guards posted at the perimeter of "PITT FORT BRIDGE" ready
MACHINE GUNS quickly spinning to life.
Still heading right into enemy fire, Echo’s Gun CLICKS
empty. She spies the Machine Gun turrets aimed and ready.
Squinting, focusing, straining to focus her rage, Echo lifts
her hands...
The SOLDIERS dive out of the way as a WAVE OF RED LIGHT
PUNCHES right through the Machine Gun Nest. The six Exiles
gallop onward onto the Bridge.
Bram, desperately holding onto the reins, fumbles with one
hand for his PISTOL. Removing it from the holster, it falls
from his trembling hands. Still dodging INCOMING FIRE, Bram
reaches into his side satchel withdrawing a BRICK of C-4.
BRAM
Rayne, pigeon in the air on three.
Rayne shifts in her saddle again and raises her rifle up.
85.
RAYNE
Pull.
Bram tosses the explosive...
Rayne aims...
The SEVEN HORSEMEN remaining watch in horror as the brick of
C-4 erupts in a great WHITE FLASH.
Behind the Exiles, the BRIDGE BURSTS APART, continuing to
crumble as the Exiles stay ahead of the COLLAPSING MASS OF
STEEL and concrete.
RAYNE
We’re trapped!
As they near the end of the bridge, a battalion of soldiers
are lined up at the end of the bridge.
FORTY CALIBER TURRETS are turned and trained on the
approaching Exiles.
DAWN
If we hurry we’ll make the off
ramp.
RAYNE
If we hurry we’ll only run into the
bullets faster.
ECHO
Don’t stop!
With the heavy artillery and the soldiers moving into
position to barricade the bridge, Echo closes her eyes.
The SOLDIERS in the Point State Park keep fighting despite a
very large GREEN WAVE materializing out of thin air.
DAVE
Is that going to hold?
ECHO
(Eyes shut, straining)
You’re going to have to be in
charge of steering for a moment.
DAVE
Dawn, find us somewhere with less
shooting!
Dawn moves up, Dave and the others falling in line as the
Heavy Artillery begins to blast holes in Echo’s shield.
86.
Masiumi and Orion flank Dawn, taking out the soldiers at the
off ramp. Hurtling over the concrete barriers, they sprint
up LINCOLN PARKWAY, going as far as STANWIX STREET. A SOVIET
BT-7 TANK rolls out from Wood Street escorted by a squad of
soldiers.
TANK SHELLS carpet the street, the Exiles retreat back up
Stanwix.
ORION
They’re trying to get the surround.
ECHO
Then go where the soldiers ain’t.
Echo gallops past Dawn, FIRING TWO QUICK BLASTS OF RED
LIGHT, through the entrance of a building. The others
following Echo inside.
INT. APARTMENT BUILDING (SAME)
Looking out the window on the scene bellow, a CONSTRUCTION
WORKER watches the SIX crash through a building on Market
followed by dozens of soldiers.
BACK ON THE STREET - Echo and the others SMASH out of a
building on MARKET and make their way through a PARK up to
4TH STREET.
Galloping up to Echo, Dawn shouts over the gunfire.
DAWN
If we can get to Fifth and
Smithfield, there should still be a
shopping mall on Market.
ECHO
(Calling Back)
Fifth and Smithfield.
Turning up on to WOOD STREET, a TANK two blocks down turns
its turret towards the Exiles.
Masiumi blindly tosses a grenade behind her. The EXPLOSION
and cloud of debris obscures the tank’s vision, but doesn’t
stop it from FIRING.
Through the cloud of smoke, the tank shell HITS AND EXPLODES
the building in front of the group. The THIRD STORY OFFICE
blown out and onto the street.
87.
ECHO
Exit down Forbes.
Quickly turning into Market Square, the group scrambles out
of the way of a SQUAD of SOLDIERS. Orion makes quick work of
them with his Rifle and Pistol. Masiumi slicing through the
rest using her broad sword like a lawn mower.
FROM THE ROOF TOPS - SNIPERS start laying down fire as the
Exiles smash into and through another building.
INSIDE THE OFFICE BUILDING - The Riders charge through the
lobby towards the back of the building.
DAVE
We got a wall coming up.
ECHO
I see it.
DAVE
Wall. Wall. Wall. Still a wall in
front of us!
OUTSIDE ON SIXTH STREET - SOLDIERS duck for cover as a WAVE
OF RED ENERGY BURSTS through the side of the building. The
Exiles gallop down sixth street.
EXT./INT. MUTE CITY OUTSKIRTS - DARK PRINCESS’ CRAFT (SAME)
Approaching the city limits, the Princess stands at her
control panel monitoring the RADIO CHATTER from the troops,
and the security feed.
RADIO#1 (FILTERED)
They just came out onto sixth...
RADIO#2 (FILTERED)
They’ve entered Sport’s World
Building-
RADIO#1 (FILTERED)
Squad 32 to Ten David, we have East
Side locked down.
RADIO#2 (FILTERED)
Copy Ten David, Squad 32 West
entrance covered. They’re not going
anywhere.
88.
EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)
As the TANKS roll into position, TROOPS mass along the
street, creating a VERY TIGHT PERIMETER.
ON THE ROOF TOPS - Snipers train their rifles on the main
doors to the building.
INSIDE - Galloping through the ransacked and abandoned mega
store, Echo dismounts Dave.
DAVE
Whoa, um, I don’t think there’s a
horse size exit around here do you?
ECHO
Orion, Masiumi, grab what we need
and be ready to get out in sixty
seconds.
Orion and Rayne charge their electric steeds towards the
HUNTING DEPARTMENT.
ECHO
Rayne, give me a hand with Bram.
Dawn you have a minute to figure
out how to get us out of here.
Dawn rides through the clothing racks to the opposite end of
the mart.
Rayne and Echo help Bram off his horse. The man is half
dead, pale, and breathing short. Laying him on the ground,
Echo takes off the blood soaked bandage.
RAYNE
Can you help him?
ECHO
I... I don’t know. You help him.
You can help him, right?
RAYNE
How would you feel if you lost him?
ECHO
What?
RAYNE
How would you feel if Bram left us?
Echo looks down, panicked at the ailing Bram.
HALLUCINATION -
89.
Looking back up from Bram, Echo sees the other Exiles
standing over her; their auras a dull indigo. In her arms, a
lifeless Bram.
RETURN TO REALITY -
With eyes shut, and aura blue...
ECHO
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.
Taking Echo’s hand in her’s, Rayne lays their hands on
Bram’s wound. BLUE LIGHT shines around the girl, making its
way into Bram.
EXT. SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)
Orders are SHOUTED and SWAT TEAMS line up outside the
buildings; rifles ready, and helmet visors lowered.
INSIDE - Dave looks over Rayne, Echo, and Bram, whose leg
regrows the bone and tissue around the bullet wound.
Orion raids the shelves of AMMUNITION.
Masiumi loads cylindrical batteries into her mechanical
horse.
Dawn uses her horse to kick in the doors to a room labeled
MANAGERS OFFICE, quickly dismounting and raiding the
drawers.
ECHO
Are you feeling-
BRAM
Better. We’ll need water and...
The room SHAKES, GRENADES EXPLODE at the front end of the
department store.
TWO SWAT TEAMS of EIGHT MEN EACH make their way into the
warehouse, guns drawn, flashlights scanning, suppressive
fire bursting in short spurts into the darkness.
The SWAT LEADER signals for the FIRST EIGHT to hold
position.
AT THE BACK OF THE STORE - Bram, Echo, and Rayne crawl their
way over to Orion and Masiumi.
Echo looks up to Masiumi and nods.
90.
MASIUMI
(Whispering)
Feed their fears.
As the soldiers stalk through the rows of shelves, a SWAT
SOLDIER passes by a motionless Dave. The horse can’t stay
still forever, as he lets loose a SNORT.
The SWAT TEAM turns on the Dave.
SWAT LEADER
We’ve found ’em. Copy, the rebels-
Behind the team, Dawn’s Mechanical Horse charges straight
for the team. They panic, bullets ripping the metal horse to
shreds. As the SWAT Soldiers look back, Dave is GONE.
The team groups up, back to back, watching, waiting.
SWAT LEADER
Squad ’B’ advance-- wait a minute.
I see one.
At the head of another row of shelves, Masiumi approaches,
scraping her large knife along the floor: a VIOLET AURA
SURROUNDS her.
SWAT LEADER
Open fire, open fire!
In an instance, a GREEN WAVE CRESTS UP FROM THE FLOOR, while
the Violet Glow around Masiumi GROWS, creating a NINE FOOT
version of the Violet Assassin, stalking towards the SWAT
Team.
SWAT LEADER
We need back up, send in-
Cutting him off, a THICK BEAM of RED LIGHT side swipes the
Squad Leader, sending him flying across the store.
SWAT Team B comes rushing in, locked and loaded to an EMPTY
ROOM, still smoldering from Echo’s last blast. They only
have a moment to settle before BRAM comes out of nowhere,
taking down FOUR Swat Members simultaneously in the blink of
an eye with rapid fire JUDO.
Before a single shot goes off, Masiumi’s blade moves through
the THREE MEN like butter.
One remaining SWAT SOLDIER desperately aims his rifle at
Masiumi’s back when-
91.
Orion twists the Soldier’s neck faster than opening a bottle
of Vodka.
Bram furiosity grows as he beats Two Men near death when
Echo steps in. Grabbing Bram’s hand, Echo is nearly hit
herself when his fist stops short.
Bram eases up; takes a breath.
BRAM
You don’t have long to recover.
Echo nods her head, violet, crimson, and emerald light
surrounding her, and dissipates.
BRAM
Deep breaths, lets go.
The Girl stands straight, forcing her breathing under
control.
ECHO
Dawn?
Clutching BLUE PRINTS, Dawn gives a panicked nod.
ECHO
Alright, lets mount- Where’s Rayne?
Sprinting, Rayne rides her Mech Horse up to the others.
RAYNE
I’ve rigged the back doors with the
last of my grenades, if they try
to-
An EXPLOSION rings out with the screams of SOLDIERS.
ECHO
Dave? Dave!
DAVE (O.S.)
Um, I’m cool just hiding here for a
while, thanks.
EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)
Outside on the street, another SWAT TEAM is being prepped to
enter the building. The war zone suddenly becomes still as
the Princess’ Aircraft makes its decent in the midst of the
troops.
92.
Climbing down the black pedals and stepping onto the street,
the Princess marches over to a Mobile Command Tent.
DARK PRINCESS
Who’s the Ex-O here?
COMMANDER
We have the perimeter locked down,
three SWAT teams are being prepped
to enter and-
DARK PRINCESS
Commander, what are those, those
large metal objects over there?
COMMANDER
BT-7 Tank’s Empress, they’re
standing by in case we-
DARK PRINCESS
Standing by?
COMMANDER
Yes Empress?
DARK PRINCESS
Commander, have you verified that
the Rebels are in that building?
COMMANDER
Yes Empress, but-
DARK PRINCESS
And the tanks are standing by?
COMMANDER
Yes Empress.
The Dark Princess grabs the Commander’s face with her right
hand, and his radio with her left.
DARK PRINCESS
All tanks are to open fire on
target building immediately.
Releasing her grip on his skull, the Empress lets the
Commander go as CANNON FIRE from the tanks erupts along the
streets.
DARK PRINCESS
(Shouting over tanks)
These Rebels are not criminals to
be apprehended, they’re a virus:
wipe them out.
93.
FROM THE ROOF TOPS - SNIPERS watch as the tanks bellow
completely decimate the building, eventually causing a
visible TILT to the structure.
FROM A NEAR BY APARTMENT - The same CONSTRUCTION WORKER
watches smoke rise up in the distance; feels the ground
shake beneath him.
CIVILIANS that had gathered around the scene, scatter as the
sounds of steel giving way POPS, SNAPS, and GROANS under the
Tank Fire.
From the Command Tent, the Empress watches the building
topple over onto Liberty Avenue into another tower like a
massive domino.
DARK PRINCESS
I want the remains of their bodies
brought before me.
INT. MUTE CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM (SAME)
Walking their horses along the abandoned tracks, Echo
strokes Dave’s head affectionately as the others follow
behind.
DAVE
If you think petting me is going to
distract me from the fact we just
barely escaped a city full of
soldiers...
ECHO
Technically we haven’t escaped yet.
DAVE
Could the resident optimist report
to the front of the line please?
Dawn jogs to the front of the line.
DAWN
You called?
ECHO
(Sighs)
How much further?
DAVE
(To Dawn)
Could you please reach into your
mind of sunshine and say something,
I don’t know, peppy?
94.
ECHO
That’s not... how much further till
we get to Steel Plaza Station?
DAWN
It’s just up ahead... are you not
feeling alright?
ECHO
I’m fine.
DAVE
Fine she says.
ECHO
Quiet horse.
DAWN
You know, I bet if you had positive
energy behind, you know, that stuff
you do... you’d be a lot less
exhausted.
ECHO
How in the world could you
possibly...
(Breath)
Sure. Okay. Thanks for the
suggestion.
DAWN
I’m serious.
(Beat)
That’s why she let me go.
ECHO
What?
DAWN
The Empress; I guess she got tired
of her torturing me and...
(Breath)
She did... it still hurts...
Dawn stops.
Echo keeps going. Stops. Dave turns to his Girl and
Whispers...
DAVE
Echo, Did you break the optimist?
Turning back to Dawn, Echo doesn’t really know how to react.
The other four Exiles keep their distance, no help.
95.
ECHO
Dawn, I’m sorry...
Dawn shakes her head...
DAWN
"Oh Joy that seek me through the
pain / I cannot close my heart to
Thee / I trace the rainbow through
the rain / its promise not in vain"
The only sounds in the tunnels are the light humming of the
Engines of the Mechanical Horses, the distant trickle of
sewage water, and the bellowing of recycled air blowing
through the tunnel vents.
DAWN
It’s not that I’m always the happy
one, happy fades. Without joy...
(Breath)
Joy is what brings me- it’s what
brings US back from the brink.
ECHO
Dawn, I’m sorry. That’s just not
me. I don’t have whatever it is you
got. Can we just leave it at that?
DAWN
That’s not you? It’s not magic
Echo. You have joy because you grow
up and realize that everything
doesn’t always default to suck.
(Chokes up)
The fact you’re alive, at all, is
so fucking unbelievable that you
can’t imagine how incalculably
lucky you are that out of all the
random particles in the universe,
some of them collided together and
made you. That’s joy.
Echo is trying to hold back tears herself.
ECHO
Look, that’s great, but we’re in a
sewer, in an occupied country, run
by a sadistic little girl with
crazy god powers. That’s reality,
no roses, no sunshine.
Dawn smirks, wipes her eyes, and keeps walking.
96.
DAWN
In fifty yards, we’ll be out of the
sewer, and the seven of us...
DAVE
Ha, she thinks I’m people.
DAWN
The seven of us are going to take
back this country, and we happen to
have our own girl with crazy
powers.
Dawn looks back to Echo, smiles, and then marches towards
the next EXIT HATCH.
DAWN
By the way, the sunshine is you.
The others begin to fill the gap between themselves and
Echo. Orion adds an arrogant, and unnecessary...
ORION
(To Echo)
For me, sunshine is when we are
leaving sewer.
EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (LATER)
SOLDIERS are digging through the rubble. In the distance
extra CONSTRUCTION WORKERS are coming up from SIXTH STREET.
Above a cleared out area, TWO OFFICERS stand idle, arguing
amongst themselves.
OFFICER #3
I’m not going to tell her.
OFFICER #4
You outrank me; you have to tell
her.
With the two continuing to goad one another on, they fail to
feel the Empress presence behind them.
DARK PRINCESS (O.S.)
Both of you have nine seconds to
tell me something, or you have
another nine seconds left to live.
97.
OFFICER #3
Empress, my platoon has evidence
that suggests the Rebels have
broken into the subway system...
DARK PRINCESS
This city has a subway system?
OFFICER #3
Yes Empress. I’ve already
dispatched squads of men to cover
all possible exits in the event
that they resurface.
OFFICER #4
It seems that when you ordered the
building to be razed, you also
inadvertently covered their escape.
The Dark Princess takes this in. Surveys the landscape,
looks back up at the officers.
Officer #3 looks away as his colleague BURSTS into flames,
engulfed by electric bolts.
DARK PRINCESS
Let this be a lesson to you-
OFFICER #3
Yes Princess: find them and destroy
them.
DARK PRINCESS
Get to work, Major.
OFFICER #3
Blue Team tunnel bound, let’s move,
move, move!
A BRIGADE OF SOLDIERS files in and swarm into the tunnels
beneath the debris.
EXT. MUTE CITY - STEEL PLAZA STATION (LATER)
Outside the sewer gate, a SQUAD OF SOLDIERS waits
impatiently, shifting, checking their weapons.
SOLDIER #2
We leveled a building on ’em, why
we waiting ’round here?
98.
SOLDIER #3
Keep your mouth shut, and eyes open
private.
INSIDE THE SEWER GATE - Lurking in the shadows, the Exiles
watch and wait, mostly looking to Echo than the soldiers.
Echo’s hands glow a dim crimson, but the spectacular energy
blast fails to fly forward.
ECHO
(Panting)
I’m sorry, I’m still... I just
learned how to do this like two
days ago, so...
Orion steps forward, drawing his pistol. Dave shifts
uneasily in front of Echo but Orion keep walking past them.
ECHO
You going to just shoot the steel
bars off with your little gun
there?
ORION
Nyet, with rage.
OUTSIDE - The Soldiers turn towards the sound of approaching
footsteps.
SOLDIER #2
Do you hear-
STROBE LIGHTING from the flash of the gun barrel illuminates
the sewer tunnel.
Orion continues to fan the hammer back.
OUTSIDE - the four soldiers lie stone cold on the concrete,
as a great TEARING OF METAL is heard. The sewer gate itself
is then HURLED onto the pile of corpses.
ORION
(Turning to Echo)
I am made of rage.
INSIDE - A quarter mile down the tunnel, SCORES OF TROOPS
run through the sewer adjunct towards the exit when...
THE TUNNEL EXPLODES and COLLAPSES.
OUTSIDE - Masiumi flips her DETONATOR closed. Smiles.
99.
EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)
Managing the Officers under the Mobile Command tent, the
Empress turns along with the rest of the Officers as an
EXPLOSION erupts in the distance and smoke rises.
Silence among the Troops.
The Empress observes the lack of action that surrounds her.
DARK PRINCESS
Do you await an invitation?
Down from her craft, the black pedals fall: the Dark
Princess runs up to her control panel. With a great ELECTRIC
WHIRLING of invisible gears, the aircraft rises into the
air.
Steering her craft up and over the buildings, it disappears
over the city scape.
EXT. MUTE CITY - HIGHWAY (SAME)
The Six Exiles ride like bats out of hell across the
abandoned highway. Echo out in front, Orion, Masiumi, Rayne,
and Dawn riding with Bram.
At the end of the highway, A SQUAD OF TROOPS turn to see
Echo and the others galloping toward them at full speed. One
of the RADIO OPERATORS fumbles his walkie-talky...
RADIO OPERATOR
Repeat, rebels spotted on Highway-
The Soldier is cut short, falling backwards off the bridge.
Rayne sits back up in her seat, slinging the rifle from her
shoulder to her back. Masiumi and Orion unload their rifles
into the remaining soldiers.
Nearing the edge of the bridge, Dawn looks back to the
billowing of smoke rising up from her home town.
DAWN
Stop.
BRAM
What?
DAWN
Please stop.
100.
Bram pulls back on the reigns; the horse trotting off to the
side.
RAYNE
Echo, hold up.
ECHO
What now?
The riders come to a short halt, circling back to watch Dawn
dismount and throw a black duffel bag onto her back.
ECHO
Dawn, I loved your last lecture,
but right now we have to-
DAWN
I’m going back.
ECHO
Dawn...
BRAM
Let her go.
ORION
Three towers to demolish. One less
soldier is not acceptable.
DAWN
It’s still manageable, and when
you’re done, an entire population
is going to be violently woken from
one nightmare, only to find they’re
still living in another. Someone
has to be there for them.
ECHO
Dawn-- Army, bat shit crazy chick
coming for us- can we please focus?
DAWN
I know!
(Beat)
I know. I just have to do this. Can
you handle that?
Echo scans the others for back up. No help whatsoever.
ECHO
I... I can choose to trust you.
101.
DAWN
When you get to White Land, split
up, follow the markers on the map.
Ride fast, and work quick. You’ll
make it.
Dawn looks back to see the approaching ARMY coming across
the bridge. She starts off, but not before Echo calls out...
ECHO
Thanks.
Dawn looks back over her shoulder.
ECHO
Thanks for the, you know, the
sunshine thing.
DAWN
(Beat)
I was talking to your horse.
DAVE
You’re a weird chick Dawn.
Dawn blows Dave a kiss before she heads down the embankment,
towards the river under the bridge.
ECHO
Well, let’s not get all
sentimental.
ORION
Waiting on you little one.
DAVE
Ha, they think you’re in charge.
Orion gives her a shrug and gestures for her to proceed.
Snapping Dave’s reins, the group heads off into the grass
plains to the West towards White Land.
EXT. MUTE CITY - STEEL PLAZA STATION (SAME)
From twenty stories above the skyline, The Dark Princess
waits in her aircraft. Her countenance is not improved by
the report from the Major.
OFFICER #3
We’re on their trail. They’ve taken
the west highway out of the city.
They won’t get far.
102.
The Empress shuts off the screen, pacing atop the thin blue
disk of her ship. With a wave of her hand, she pulls up
another SCREEN with a map of Prism.
Moveing her fingers to zoom into White Land.
DARK PRINCESS
They couldn’t possibly be that
bold.
Another wave of her hand, and the first screen disappears,
replaced by another.
DARK PRINCESS
SatCom, respond.
The screen ripples, reforms, expanding into Zero One.
Falling to her knees and pushing back up against the floor,
the Young Girl trembles at the hulking presence in such a
confined space.
ZERO ONE
I have reached my decision.
DARK PRINCESS
(Small)
I’m almost there... I just need
more time.
ZERO ONE
You would have had eternity.
Unfortunately you have wasted your
opportunity.
DARK PRINCESS
I can find-
ZERO ONE
You’ve failed to control the
entirety of the populace. You’ve
failed in your tactics. You’ve
failed to earn the right to rule.
You, are a failure.
The Dark Princess is both shaken and seething, her back up
against the blue translucent wall of the craft.
ZERO ONE
This planet has served its purpose
in providing you with an adequate
test of your ability. Perhaps such
disappointment will not radiate in
your replacement.
103.
DARK PRINCESS
Please...
ZERO ONE
If our race were to be tainted with
imperfection, we would not have
risen to the highest of the
evolutionary ladder.
DARK PRINCESS
(Desperate)
I don’t need mercy, or your
forgiveness, just let me atone for
my failure.
Zero one looms over the girl, unmoved.
ZERO ONE
When I reach this world, you will
not be spared. You may use the time
you have left as you please.
With that, the daunting figure returns to steam.
Pulling her self to her feet, BLACK INK crawls through her
veins, showing through her skin, through her face, a living
testament to the furry hell hath no.
DARK PRINCESS
(Trembling)
Every remaining soldier to White
Land.
EXT. WHITE LAND (EARLY MORNING)
The remaining Five Exiles split into teams of two; Echo and
Bram, Orion, Masiumi, and Rayne. They ride hard across the
snow covered planes.
ECHO
Orion.
The ’Ukrainian’ turns, stone face.
ECHO
Good l... don’t screw up.
ORION
Ever more useful than rage:
Righteous anger.
Echo and Orion exchange nods before he and Masiumi hightail
it into the Northern Plains.
104.
RAYNE (O.S.)
Did you mean what you said before?
ECHO
I say a lot of things.
RAYNE
(Beat)
Did you learn to let go?
Echo looks back to Rayne, considering whether to tell the
truth. Rayne trots up closer to Echo.
RAYNE
Be sure to come back to us.
LATER - Bram and Echo race up to the FIRST RADIO TOWER.
Sickly tan brick and black steal stretch far up into the
neon pink morning sky.
Riding up to the base of the tower, Bram and Echo dismount
and approach their target.
ECHO
This is going to work right?
BRAM
Factually speaking, the three
towers send an infra sound signal
over the airwaves, effectively
subduing 99.9 percent of the
population. Knocking these towers
out would release the hold the
Empress has over our people.
ECHO
(Beat)
Sounds like there’s another way of
speaking you’d like to address?
BRAM
Frankly speaking, this plan is
ridiculous.
Echo is about to take aim at the wall, stops, and turns to
Bram, incredulous.
ECHO
Ridiculous? Bram... if this plan
wasn’t going to work why did we
bother coming in the first place?!
Bram notices Echo’s belt Glowing Red.
105.
BRAM
Do you know what Dawn did before
the war?
Exasperated, Echo turns away, summoning a BOLT OF RED LIGHT
from her hands, PUNCHING A MINI VAN SIZE HOLE through the
brick tower.
INTER CUT BETWEEN-
EXT. MUTE CITY - DOWNTOWN (SAME)
SOLDIERS march down the streets past an alleyway. Dawn
slowly sneaks up from behind a dumpster.
BRAM (V.O.)
During the day, she took a barely
minimum wage, window washing
skyscrapers.
As the soldiers clear the road, Dawn grabs a nearby trash
can and HURLS it through a SHOP WINDOW.
INT. WHITE LAND - RADIO TOWER (SAME)
Bram and Echo are rigging the plastique explosives around
the base of the dark, dust filled tower.
BRAM
At night, Dawn was considered a
wide spread plague of a graffiti
artist.
EXT. MUTE CITY - SKYSCRAPER (SAME)
Throwing a rope over the edge of the building, Dawn leaps
from the top of the sky scrapper and repels backward down
the glass windows.
BRAM (V.O.)
In the morning though, she’d wipe
away everything she tagged the
night before.
Dawn shakes her PAINT CAN, makes her first mark against her
glass canvas.
106.
EXT. WHITE LAND (SAME)
Riding fast from the Radio Tower, Bram and Echo continue to
their next objective.
BRAM
Some of her greatest master pieces,
hours of work, washed away by her
own hand in the morning.
ECHO
(Beat)
Bram. That, is the most ridiculous
thing I’ve ever heard.
Clicking the trigger to the Detonator, Echo and Bram feel
the rubble of the collapsing Radio Tower behind them.
BRAM
Some times ridiculous is necessary.
ECHO
What was necessary about Dawn-
An EXPLOSION just five meters to the right of Bram and Echo
sends mounds of snow up into the air. It’s enough to throw
the two from their horses.
As Dave struggles to get to his feet, he quickly drops back
down to the ground...
DAVE
Um, I don’t know about you guys,
but I’m going to make like a foal
and head out.
Two kilometers north, a battalion of SOLDIERS and TANKS
advance towards their location.
BRAM
If we can get to the others...
Another great UPHEAVAL of snow is thrown into the air as
tank shells continue to bombard them.
Quickly mounting their horses, Bram and Echo weave in and
out of the rain of fire.
Out from the front lines of the TROOPS, a Squad of Cavalry
charges in pursuit of the Exiles.
107.
EXT. WHITE LAND - SECOND RADIO TOWER (SAME)
Orion, Masiumi, and Rayne are under Heavy Suppressive Fire
by a similarly sized Army before them. Orion’s left shoulder
is shot to shit, but he keeps firing from behind a snow bank
just outside the tower entrance.
ORION
You must get to third tower.
RAYNE
We’re not abandoning you.
ORION
You will not sacrifice my... You
will not sacrifice our people that
I may live slightly longer.
Masiumi gives Orion a knowing look.
ORION
Take her and go.
Pulling her up, Masiumi helps Rayne mount her Mechanical
Horse. As soon as Rayne takes the rains however...
... Bullets rip through the horse’s engine, several tearing
through Masiumi.
Rayne dives from the horse which sparks, catches fire, and
falls to the ground.
Scrambling over to Masiumi, Rayne and Orion try to revive
their friend. She’s too far gone.
ORION
Finish the job.
Rayne is frozen, looking over her blood-soaked friend.
ORION
(Cursing in Russian)
Go Now!
Rayne crawls to Masiumi’s horse, mounts it, and gallops into
the distance.
Before Orion can make it back to The Line, Masiumi’s hand
brushes over his arm. He turns to the girl, leans into her
ear, holding her head close.
108.
MASIUMI
(Smiling)
I will... I will haunt you.
Orion’s maximum capacity for rage has just been reached.
Nearly upon Orion, a Squad of Horsemen open fire.
Turning, pistol in his bad arm, clutching his rifle in the
good one, the Man of Rage lays waste to three of the four
riders.
The last Horseman sinks a bullet into Orion’s bad shoulder.
Dropping his weapons, Orion ignores the pain, starring down
the Horse and Rider that are about to run him down.
Just before the Mechanical Beast tramples Orion, The
Ukrainian jukes right, and PUNCHES THE HORSE.
Horse and Rider dive into the snow.
The Horseman looks up from the ground, trembling as Orion
staggers up to him. The Rider’s pistol clicks empty. There’s
no escape as the hulking Ukrainian kneels down atop the
rider and starts pummeling him.
ORION
(Grieving in Russian)
You’ve taken her, you’ve taken her
from me!
Shells continue to rain down near Orion.
Suddenly, the Man of Rage stops, looking at his bloodied
hands, then to the young Soldier’s face he’d been beating.
The Young Rider has been beaten to death, but is still
infected with the black veins coursing through his face.
ORION
You are... diseased. I shall
release you from your virus,
comrade.
Pulling the detonator from his pocket...
FOUR KILOMETERS NORTH - Rayne looks back as the Second Tower
topples over.
TWO KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST - Bram and Echo continue forward
towards the EXPLOSION. Horsemen still on their tail, Bram
keeps up with the return fire, taking out another Rider.
109.
Looking up to the Eastern Sky, Echo spies what looks like a
BLACK ROSE slowly floating towards them in the distance.
ECHO
Bram, three O’clock, up in the sky.
DAVE
Is it a bird...?
BRAM
No. It’s... It’s her.
WITHIN THE DARK PRINCESS’ CRAFT - The Empress zooms in on a
liquid display to watch Bram and Echo galloping onward.
DARK PRINCESS
ComSat, link me to the Commanding
officer on the ground.
INTERCOM (FILTERED)
Acknowledged, Brigadier General
designation 45-16 receiving.
GENERAL 45-16 (FILTERED)
Your orders Empress?
DARK PRINCESS
Tighten your perimeter around the
rebels, cease heavy artillery. I
will engage them on the ground
myself.
ON THE GROUND - Nearing the remains of the Second Radio
Tower, Bram dives from his horse as a Mortar round spirals
through the air and EXPLODES.
Echo pulls around to Bram, pushing himself up from the snow.
BRAM
(Back to soldiers)
You’re aim must improve to kill me
off!
ECHO
Come on, we have to... They’ve
stopped. They’re stopped firing.
Strange silence weighs heavily as the tank fire ceases.
Looking around, Echo watches the troops continue to advance,
their perimeter tightening.
110.
ECHO
I don’t know if I can hold a
shield... conjure their fears...
Blast...
BRAM
Echo?
Echo stares up at the aircraft approaching.
DAVE
Um, I can’t see you up there, but
it feels like you’re about to do
something Not smart.
Bram takes cover behind a large chunk of concrete from the
fallen tower. Training his rifle on the approaching army, he
looks back to see Echo steer Dave toward the aircraft.
ECHO
Nope. I’m going to do something
ridiculous.
DAVE
Is it really necessary? I recall an
emphasis on ridiculousness needing
to be necessary.
ECHO
Hey Dave, you see that army
circling in around us?
DAVE
Army, yeah.
ECHO
Okay, I want you to run really fast
in the opposite direction.
DAVE
Oh, running, running is a great
plan. That’s the best plan I’ve
heard all day.
Rearing up on his hind legs, Dave NEIGHS and bursts into a
full gallop at blinding speed.
Bram smiles and prepares for the fight ahead of him.
INSIDE THE PRINCESS’ AIRCRAFT - An eye brow is raised in
compliment of the Empress’ confusion. All her monitors show
Echo riding full speed straight at her.
111.
DAVE
Hey Echo, there’s that black thing
in front of us. We want to avoid
the black thing right?
ECHO
Just keep running.
DAVE
Echo, did you leave important
details out of our ’run away really
fast’ plan?
ECHO
I never run away.
Galloping at an incredible rate, wisps of snow flakes fly
past horse and rider. Closing her eyes, an aura of violet
light spreads and dances over Echo’s body. The violet
changes to crimson, from crimson to indigo, indigo to
emerald...
The green light bursts into GOLD. Echo shines so bright and
brilliant, it’s as if a second sun were racing across the
snow covered plain.
As Dave continues to gallop, his hooves begin to shoot up
SPARKS OF COLORED LIGHT each time they strike the ground.
DAVE
Echo?
ECHO
Faster, just keep going faster.
From out of the ground, building underneath the Horse and
His Girl as they sprint forward, a bridge of RAINBOW LIGHT
sends Echo and Dave upwards, into the sky.
DAVE
Echo, horses are not supposed to be
in the sky!
ECHO
Don’t stop!
INSIDE DARK PRINCESS’ AIRCRAFT - Genuine astonishment
quickly turns into rage as the Empress watches Echo and her
horse ride towards her: in mid air. On a rainbow.
With the aircraft only a hundred yards away, Echo leans in
close to Dave’s ear.
112.
ECHO
When I get off, just circle around
till I’m done, okay?
DAVE
WHEN YOU GET OFF?!?!
At the thirty, the twenty, the ten, Echo slides her leg over
side straddle. Directly above the aircraft, Echo takes a
deep breath and slides off her horse, falling atop the
sapphire canopy of The Dark Princess’ aircraft.
Dave continues forward, in mid air, cursing to himself as
the Rainbow Bridge before him curves downward.
Echo watches, making sure her horse continues safely on her
bridge of light. Looking down into the translucent bubble,
Echo locks eyes with the Empress.
The Dark Princess doesn’t waste time; aiming and releasing a
thick bolt of lightning, bursting up through the top of the
ship.
Rolling away just in time, Echo dodges the blast and shards
of glass, but begins sliding off the canopy. Her hands grasp
onto one of the rotating pedals in the nick of time before
going over the edge.
Breathing heavily, Echo takes aim and fires her own RED
LASER into the ship.
The Dark Princess steps aside as red energy and glass fly
towards her. Turning back to the new hole in her ship, she
and Echo square off.
DARK PRINCESS
You must be Echo the human girl.
ECHO
Are we already on a first name
basis? What do I call you?
DARK PRINCESS
Empress, will suffice.
ECHO
Queen Bitch close enough?
In loo of an answer, The Dark Princess fires a two handed
BLAST of lightning at Echo. The force BLOWS OUT the
remainder of the glass canopy of the ship.
When the smoke and debris clears, Echo and her green shield
of light remain.
113.
DARK PRINCESS
Your species fate has already been
damned to oblivion, but I will
personally humble you to the state
of a quivering child.
ECHO
I don’t think I was ever humble,
even as a child.
Echo fires a BURST OF RED LIGHT, easily deflected by the
Princess hand. She tries again, and again: no such luck.
DARK PRINCESS
It seems that Old Man in the desert
didn’t give you sufficient
instructions for your toy.
ECHO
Yeah, he wasn’t much for words when
I left him.
The Empress’ menacing presence inches closer towards Echo.
Young Echo puts her fists up at the ready, a green force
field rising with them.
DARK PRINCESS
Oh don’t you know, the dead can
speak volumes.
Smashing her electrified fists upon Echo’s force field, the
green light scatters. Echo steps back, inches from the
ship’s edge.
DARK PRINCESS
Shall we listen to what message
they send you?
Lunging forward, Echo lands a powerful right cross on the
Empress cheek, but the bones in Echo’s hand shout with an
AUDIBLE POP.
Echo writhes in pain from the Princess who is seemingly made
of steel.
Her cheek unbruised, the Empress turns back to Echo.
DARK PRINCESS
You fight so hard for so weak a
species. Now, see your failures
fully realized.
114.
Grabbing Echo by the throat, BLACK LIQUID is injected
through the Empress’ fingers into her opponent. Tilting her
head back, limbs growing stiff, Echo lets loose a terrified
SCREAM.
PUSHING INTO ECHO’S EYES - Wave’s crash, the sounds of the
Ship Columbia SNAPPING and CREAKING...
HALLUCINATION:
EXT. CRUZ LINER COLUMBIA (NIGHT)
Clutching onto a side rail, Echo watches her PARENTS slide
backwards on the deck into the churning waters below.
Hurricane force winds and rain slap against the girl’s face,
as more helpless BODIES fall from the ship to ocean depths.
DARK PRINCESS (V.O.)
This is who you are...
SUDDENLY - Falling from the ship into the turbulent ocean,
Echo struggles to reach the surface. Kicking and clawing her
way up, drowned lifeless BODIES float around her, circling,
crowding her like jellyfish.
DARK PRINCESS (V.O.)
Any power you may have possessed
could not change the fact that you
failed to save all those souls.
EXT./INT. DARK PRINCESS’ AIRCRAFT (SAME)
A river of BLACK TEARS stream out from Echo’s eyes, the Dark
Princess tightens her grip.
DARK PRINCESS
You are merely the afterbirth of
random chance.
EXT. CRUZ LINER COLUMBIA (SAME)
Echo is nearly out of air, swatting at the mass of DROWNED
BODIES keeping her from the surface.
MRS. MORNING (V.O.)(FILTERED)
Echo?
From the surface through the water, light penetrates,
refracts, bending towards Echo.
115.
MRS. MORNING (V.O.)
You have to learn to let go...
INT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - THEATER (DAY)
Soaking wet, gasping for air, Echo looks up from the
hardwood floor of the theater stage.
Her eyes adjust and focus in on MRS. MORNING kneeling down
to her.
ECHO
Mom...
MRS. MORNING
Echo, nothing is ever really gone
for good, but you can’t hold on to
your pain forever. You have to
trust that what was lost, you’ll
meet again.
ECHO
(Labored)
Mom, it’s to heavy.
MRS. MORNING
So let it go.
RETURN TO REALITY:
EXT. WHITE LAND - THIRD RADIO TOWER (SAME)
Crawling from the chard remains of her mechanical horse, a
blood soaked Rayne drags herself and the bag of explosives
up to the tower.
SECOND RADIO TOWER - Bram’s rifle CLICKS empty. He searches
his satchel, only two shells left. Looking up from his
cover, an army remains.
IN THE SKY - Above the battlefield atop of what remains of
the Dark Princess’ aircraft, Echo bleeds out black liquid
before finally slumping over onto the glass deck.
Standing over her prey, The Young Empress spits out...
DARK PRINCESS
To think of something so small
opposing a force as great as my
kind... the scale of fate does not
tip in your favor human.
116.
The Empress prepares for the killing stroke.
ECHO
(Straining)
Maybe... you’re just as unbalanced
as I am...
A Violet Aura rises off Echo like steam from a scolding hot
iron. The Princess, staggers backwards.
Echo coughs out blood, looking up to the Empress and her
terrified countenance.
The Dark Princess stares forward in horror as a massive
VIOLET PROJECTION of Zero One grows and looms over the Dark
Princess.
DARK PRINCESS
(Small)
Please, Father...
Wiping the blood from her mouth, Echo stands.
ECHO
See, we’re not so different--We’re
both orphans.
The projection fades. The Dark Princess seething, watches a
Blue Aura radiate and heal Echo’s wounds.
Stalking up to her prey, the Dark Princess takes Echo by the
throat, lifting her off her feet. While Echo struggles, the
Empress rips the Diamond Belt from her waist and tosses it
aside.
The belt nearly flies off the edge, but is caught on a shard
of glass.
ECHO
(Choking)
The difference, between, you and
me... I’ll be missed.
The Empress turns towards the sound of an EXPLOSION off in
the distance...
THIRD RADIO TOWER - Rayne hides behind a snow covered
embankment clutching the detonator while the Tower behind
her crumbles to the ground.
BACK IN THE AIR - Taking advantage of the distraction, Echo
kicks both her feet into the Princess diaphragm. Releasing
her grip, the Empress doubles over as...
117.
...Echo falls hard onto her back, cracking the glass.
The Princess and Echo’s eyes meet. Before the Dark Empress
can act, Echo rolls herself off the disc: her hand grabs the
Belt at the last instant before she falls.
Freefalling, and struggling to put the belt back on...
ECHO
Out of all the things to go wrong--
I HATE THIS CLASP!
As the buckle CLICKS shut, Echo’s hands glow red. She spins.
She aims...
The Princess shields herself as red energy bursts through
the craft’s deck, blowing the ship to pieces.
As the two opponents free fall, the Dark Princess drifts
towards Echo. The young girl attempts to dodge the Empress,
but they collide, circling into a violent tail spin.
Yanking on the back of Echo’s scalp, the Empress barks out
as they fall...
DARK PRINCESS
In the entirety of the galaxy, you
are an insignificant drop of light
in a vast, ocean of darkness. Why
waste light on those who live in
misery, and give life to bitter
souls?
ECHO
I don’t intend to waste my light,
and I haven’t.
Both girls turn towards the CLACKING OF HOOVES as Dave comes
galloping towards them on a Rainbow Bridge.
Echo raises up a WAVE OF GREEN LIGHT, knocking the Princess
back.
Drifting back, The Empress watches as Echo lands at just the
right angle atop Dave, descending downward on the Rainbow
Bridge, and galloping away. Closing her eyes, the Princess
accepts her defeat as she plummets into the ice.
Riding atop Dave, Echo watches snow rise as the Dark
Princess’ body drives downward into a snow covered grave.
The young girl straightens her self up to a proper riding
position.
118.
ECHO
(Exhausted)
Good timing.
DAVE
(Like duh)
Um, yeah, I’m only the fastest
horse in the galaxy. You okay?
ECHO
No... but I’ll live. I will choose
to live.
DAVE
That a girl.
(Beat)
Can we go down to the ground now?
Leaning over the side, watching the beautiful snow covered
hills bellow their Rainbow Highway, Echo lets her first
genuine smile spread across her face.
ECHO
You wanna get down now?
DAVE
Ground please.
Stroking the horses mane, Echo steers the horse down the
bridge spiraling down towards the ground.
RUINS OF THE SECOND RADIO TOWER - Bram stands by, watching
Echo and Dave approach. The legions of soldiers silently
pass by, heads low, weapons abandoned.
Horse and rider trot towards Bram, wading through the sea of
soldiers.
BRAM
I am ever impressed with your
ability to survive Young Echo.
ECHO
Did it work, are they free?
One of the SENIOR RIFLEMEN passing by hears this and stops,
looking up to Echo.
SENIOR RIFLEMAN
(Russian accent)
Free? We’ve been slaughtering our
own countrymen, their screams will
not cease to echo in our head.
119.
Some of the other passing soldiers stop to listen to the
Rifleman’s lament.
SENIOR RIFLEMAN
We will never be free from the
memory of the fallen.
ECHO
You’re right: those memories will
haunt you... as long as you let
them.
In the distance, Rayne limps towards the crowd.
Echo spies the Indigo Girl, her head held low.
ECHO
The Dark Princess changed you,
controlled you, and you can’t
change back to who you were.
More soldiers pause to listen.
ECHO
But, you’re still soldiers.
BASE OF SECOND RADIO TOWER RUINS - Rayne, Bram, Echo and
Dave stand over the graves of Masiumi and Orion. Headstones
set upright from pieces of the blasted stone.
ECHO (V.O.)
Soldiers who get to return home to
your families, to your friends who
need you.
Rayne kneels down beside Masiumi’s grave praying.
EXT. MUTE CITY - HIGHWAY (SAME)
Scores of soldiers march across the "VETERANS MEMORIAL
BRIDGE" into the ruined city.
ECHO (V.O.)
You are soldiers who get to return
to a city that still needs your
protection, needs to be rebuilt.
At the head of the wave of soldiers, some of the veterans
look up to see, painted across the sides of skyscrapers, A
PRISM ENCASED IN A RAINBOW TWISTED INTO THE INFINITY SYMBOL.
CITY HALL PLAZA - Soldiers and civilians stand side by side
as they look to Echo, Bram, Rayne, and a paint covered Dawn.
120.
ECHO
You were soldiers changed into
something you never wished to
become, but you are now, and always
will be soldiers with the freedom
to change into what you need to
become: to continue to serve your
families, friends, and country,
united to build a better future
along side you.
As the midday sun shines down upon those in the square,
there is no cheering, or shouting, but a silent
acknowledgment among the crowd of the possibility that life
can change for the better.
The giant Prism / Infinity symbol glistens against the
skyscrapers as the crowd slowly disbands.
EXT. MUTE CITY - POINT STATE PARK (LATER)
As the afternoon sun descends on the city, Echo walks
alongside Dave, Rayne, Bram and Dawn. They round the half
filled fountain at the tip of the park looking out over the
river.
DAWN
Looks like you’re finally painting
with a full pallet.
ECHO
It was a picture they needed to
see.
DAWN
You see it too though, right? The
light at the end of the tunnel?
ECHO
Not yet.
RAYNE
It doesn’t help the troops if the
one preaching hope doesn’t believe
it herself.
ECHO
Honestly? I’m not a hundred percent
certain, but I’m willing to believe
there is hope.
121.
BRAM
What breaks your calm?
ECHO
Before I left the Dark One, he
mentioned that when the Empress
first came, there where flying
ships that attacked everyone.
RAYNE
The Three Black Diamonds, what
about them?
ECHO
Who’s going to stop them from
coming back?
DAVE
We will.
ECHO
(Off look)
Look at you, growing a back bone
all of a sudden.
DAVE
I meant you will. I’ll supervise,
from a distance; a safe comfortable
distance.
DAWN
We know they’re out there. We’ll be
ready, all of us.
RAYNE
Not all of us.
BRAM
No. Not all of us. Though some of
us have fallen, there are still
many shades of light waiting, ready
to repel the darkness. And they’ll
come when they’re called...
Dawn, Bram, and Rayne remain while Echo mounts Dave, rearing
up before galloping away through the park
122.
EXT. WESTERN OCEAN - PORT TOWN COASTLINE (SAME)
Out from the ruins of the abandoned city, across crystal
blue seas stretching out towards the horizon, Echo and Dave
ride fast across a Rainbow Bridge a few meters above the
water and into the sunrise.
BRAM
They will come when she calls.
FADE TO BLACK:
THE END