EXT. NOWAK’S MANSION - LATE AFTERNOON
When the light is set, the NURENCANS and THE NOWAK’S dance into the scene.
#1 The Chosen One - THE NURENCANS and THE NOWAK’S
NURENCAN #1
So here we are, in a place called Nurenca, a place where it suns all the time and the birds sing during all four seasons. Not far from town, there’s a tall blue house sitting right down the hill, in which lives the NOWAK’s, or as you can call them, the Gatekeepers.
NURENCAN #1
ONCE UPON A TIME, LIKE ALL OTHER STORIES,
THERE’S A TALE ABOUT THE GATEKEEPERS.
LIKE CERBERUS, THEY GUARD THE DOOR BETWEEN TWO WORLDS:
NURENCA AND COSA GRAVELL.
NURENCAN #2
THEIR JOB IS SIMPLE.
MAKE SURE NO ONE CAN CROSS THE GATE INTO THE OTHER WORLD.
ALL NURENCANS
GATEKEEPERS, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE CALLED THEM.
THE CHOSEN ONE.
THE CHOSEN ONE.
NURENCAN #3
THEY’RE PEOPLE OF CRIME, LIKE ALL OTHER TALES,
THERE’S A FAMILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
THE NOWAK’S
IT’S US, THE NOWAK’S. WE’VE GUARDED THE GATE FOR DECADES.
NO HUMAN GETS INTO THE BORDER OF GRAVELL.
NURENCAN #5, #6
THOUGH BEING A POWERFUL SYMBOL,
JAVIER WAS THE LAST KEEPER BETWEEN HERE AND THE UNDERWORLD.
ALL NURENCANS
GATEKEEPERS, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE CALLED THEM.
THE CHOSEN ONE.
THE CHOSEN ONE.
NO ONE KNOWS
THE STATUS IS FAKE
THE RESPECT IS AT STAKE
NURENCAN #1, #2
THE SUPPLY MAKES YOU MAD
NURENCAN #3, #4
THE TRUTH MAKES YOU SAD
NURENCAN #5, #6
THE OSSIDO SWORD TAKES YOUR SOUL
ONE KING’S ORDER BURNS YOU WHOLE
ALL NURENCANS, THE NOWAK’S
NO ONE KNOWS
NO ONE KNOWS
NURENCAN #5
WHEN THE LIGHT GOES DIME, THE HEROS FAILED
VIOLET WAS THE LAST ONE ALIVE,
THE BLUE HOUSE IS STILL THERE, BUT IT’S BEEN EMPTY EVER SINCE,
AND THAT’S WHEN THE GATEKEEPER’S TALE COMES TO THE END
NURENCAN #6
NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM
NURENCAN #4
NO ONE KNOWS WHERE SHE WENT
NURENCAN #1,2,3
NO ONE REMEMBERS THE NOWAKS EVER AGAIN
ALL NURENCANS
GATEKEEPERS, THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE USED TO CALL THEM.
THE CHOSEN ONE.
EXT. NOWAK’S MANSION - LATER
ENZO comes out from the house and is ready to start his day.
He wears a dark-green cloak with the “Ossido sword” in his hands.
He heads into the garden, which is right next to the house.
Deep in the garden, there’s a middle-sized pond. ENZO stops there and says the spell.
ENZO
“AMICUS MEUS, VENIMUS IN PACE.
VOLUNT MIHI FORTUNA BONA IN MUNDO MORTIS!”
("My friend. I come in peace. Wish me luck in the world of dead" )
The pond splits in half, and the portal appears:
A tall gate between Nurenca and Cossa Gravel.
There are soldiers standing at the other side of the gate -
The Frenzo army.
CAPTAIN of the Frenzo Army
Anything to report, Gatekeeper?
ENZO
None.
CAPTAIN
Good.
He gestures to other soldiers, and they hand him the ‘supply’.
He opens the small window on the side of the gate and gives it to ENZO.
Hail king VICTOR.
ENZO
(looks at CAPTAIN)
Hail King VICTOR.
CAPTAIN
How’s JAVIER’s training going?
ENZO
(shrugs) Like usual.
CAPTAIN
You know his progress is important to the king.
ENZO
(unwillingly nods) Positive.
(beat)
But I’m still the rightful Gatekeeper.
CAPTAIN
(scoffs) For now.
Now go back to work. Royal visit next week.
ENZO bows and says the chant again,
the pond changes back to its normal status.
JAVIER comes and stands behind ENZO.
He is wearing a Medieval style black cloak and black mask with the wood crutch.
JAVIER
(bows) Good day, sir.
He hands ENZO the letter from the palace.
ENZO opens the ‘supply’ and takes the pill. He takes another pill and splits it into half, gives JAVIER the half, and eats the other half himself.
JAVIER looks at him, doesn’t say anything.
ENZO
Let’s begin today’s training. There’s a royal visit next week. I don’t want the king seeing your clumsy act.
JAVIER
Yes, sir.
JAVIER starts wielding the wood crutch around and practicing magic while ENZO watches him.
EXT. NOWAK’S GARDEN, BESIDES THE POND - EARLY EVENING
JEVIER has been practicing magic for hours.
JAVIER
(wields the crutch) “Spell Occido”!
("Kiling spell")
Nothing happens.
He tries it again, and still nothing.
ENZO looks at him, shakes his head.
ENZO
(annoyed) You’ve been practicing this spell for months. How can you not get it?
JAVIER
(frustrated) I apologize, sir.
ENZO
(scoffs) After all this time, you’ve proved to me that you’re nothing but a failure.
JAVIER
(lower his head) I’m sorry that I failed you, sir.
ENZO
Enough! Stop apologizing! Don’t you have shame?
(points finger at JAVIER) You better be able to cast the spell by next week, or I’ll let you know what it’s like to be sorry.
JAVIER
(sad and painfully) ...Yes, sir.
ENZO
Now leave my sight!
(beat) And tell MAJA to deliver the dinner.
JAVIER holds his tears and runs back to the house.
INT. INSIDE NOWAK MANSION - EVENING
MAJA finished preparing the dinner.
She is standing by the back door and is ready to go out and give it to ENZO.
JAVIER is sitting at the kitchen table, eating, without saying any words.
MAJA looks at JAVIER, worried.
MAJA
Are you alright, hon?
JAVIER doesn’t answer.
MAJA
I know the training is hard, but don’t push yourself too hard. I’m sure that you will get it someday.
JAVIER still doesn’t reply.
MAJA
(looks at JAVIER’s back, sighs) I’ll be right back.
She opens the door, and before she leaves, JAVIER opens his mouth.
JAVIER
(quietly) Thanks, mom.
MAJA stops, gives JAVIER a warm smile, and leaves.
EXT. BY THE POND - LATER
MAJA finds ENZO sitting on the big stone by the pond. She hands him the dinner.
MAJA
You know he’s just a kid, ENZO.
(beat) Maybe you can try encouraging instead of scolding him…
ENZO
(interrupts MAJA) I don’t want to talk about that loser.
(scoffs) Losing my appetite.
MAJA
But ENZO….
ENZO
Shut up, woman! Mind your business.
(gestures to the house) Now you may leave. I have work duties.
MAJA sighs and walks back to the house.
Just then, ENZO’s Ossido sword grows red and shakes rapidly.
ENZO puts down his meal box, grabs the knife and sings the chant.
ENZO
(lifts the knife, facing the pond) “OSTENDE TE, PRODITOR”!
("Show yourself, traitor!")
Above the pond, the image shows the gate, and an old man, in his shabby prisoner clothes, already passed the gate and is running towards ENZO.
ENZO knows if he passed the portal, he would be free, which he will NEVER allow it to happen.
It’s the time for the Frenzo army to exchange their shift, so there are not many soldiers standing guard.
ENZO stands in front of the gate, draws his sword.
With the Frenzo army chasing behind him, the old man sees ENZO and asks for help.
REFUGEE
(pants) Please…..please help me!
MAJA hears the sound and runs back from the house.
She sees the old man and looks surprised.
MAJA
(yells) ENZO, STOP!
Hearing MAJA’s calling and seeing the terrifying look on the refugee, ENZO hesitated.
But he still wields the sword toward the moment the old man passes the portal and kills him.
MAJA gasps and covers her mouth.
The old man screams and has the blue flame all over him.
His whole body burns to ashes and disappears.
MAJA can’t believe what just happened and is still in shock.
ENZO pants and withdraws the sword. He doesn’t even look at MAJA.
The CAPTAIN gestures to ENZO from the other side of the open gate.
CAPTAIN
Good job, Gatekeeper. You prove your worth to your king again.
ENZO
(still panting) Just fulfill my duty.
CAPTAIN
(scoffs) Well said.
(beat)
Hail king VICTOR.
ENZO
Hail king VICTOR.
The portal closes.
MAJA looks at ENZO shockingly.
MAJA
ENZO…..what have you done?
ENZO looks at MAJA.
Different from last time, he doesn’t say anything
and walks back to his meal box.
MAJA looks at him for a while, frustrated, and walks back to the house.
