EXT. FOREST OF ANDALUCIA - DAY
Elliot awakes once more on the floor of the Andalucian forest. He feels the ground and tests his limbs and feels his nose and his mouth.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: What is it this time? Am I deaf?
MALACHY: No you are not deaf. You have lost your self esteem.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Oh no. I can’t go on. What is self esteem?
MALACHY: You will realise it soon enough.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: My worst nightmares have all come through. Why are you here?
MALACHY: I’ve come to see if you are the same man I last met?
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I’ve given up on the Princess if that’s what you mean. We have nothing in common. She doesn’t even want to hear my poetry and wants to marry a Prince who can see and who can walk and you probably know that already. Word of my folly has probably spread from village to village.
MALACHY: It is only in adversity that we appreciate what we have.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Now that you have proven me to be foolhardy, what next? Can you cure my blindness?
MALACHY: Only you can cure your blindness. It is a curse. I’m afraid that you are of little use to me as you are.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Until now I felt like I had the heart of a lion. If I have four limbs or none, I would be a fighter. Now I feel like; why bother? Love is far more complicated than I first thought. You have to have things in common and stuff.
MALACHY: Well at least that haircut of yours is sure to scare away pesky little children.
INT. MALACHY'S HOME - MORNING
Malachy and Elliot are in Malachy’s home
MALACHY: Don’t you want to meet your parents? You haven’t seen them in a while. They could be worried about you.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: If I return like this, they would be ashamed.
MALACHY: If they cared about you Elliot, they wouldn’t be ashamed
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Maybe I’m afraid that they wouldn’t care about me as much as I want them to care about me.
MALACHY: You never know unless you give them a chance
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: The same chance I gave the Princess. Say, what does your crystal ball say today?
MALACHY: What crystal ball?
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: The same crystal ball that you look at every morning to find out what’s going on in the world
MALACHY: You wouldn’t want to know. Doom and gloom. Stuff you wouldn’t like to hear about. You’re safe here as it is.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Try me
MALACHY: Well, the Princess is getting married.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Don’t worry Malachy. I am so over her. I couldn’t bear to meet her again. I would feel nothing but shame. The people at the castle would only laugh at me.
MALACHY: And Megreth is going to ruin her wedding.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Megreth eh? I know that you think I’m crazy and I know that Ophelia doesn’t love me but I feel like the old Elliot would save her?
MALACHY: You against Megreth? Even I’m afraid of her. She is more powerful than me. Maybe with four limbs, visibility, your old swagger and a better haircut you might stand a chance but not now.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Can’t you cure me?
MALACHY: Like I said, it’s a curse that only you can overcome. I can’t help you.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I don’t think I can do it but part of me feels like I should try. Can’t you at least give me Sylus.
MALACHY: You know I couldn’t trust my horse with anyone but me. You could take Rodrigo.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: The donkey? Will he get me there on time.
MALACHY: Well he should get you there. Whether he gets you there on time depends on his mood and how well fed he is.
CUT TO:
EXT. OUTSIDE MALACHY'S DWELLING - MORNING
Elliot sits on top of a donkey
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Is there any other help you can give me? Any words of wisdom?
MALACHY: Don’t go.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Most of me wants to hear those words and stay behind, but... Come on Rodrigo.
Slowly the donkey starts to move.
EXT. FOREST OF ANDALUCIA - MORNING
Elliot, sits by a tree trunk and drinks from water while Rodrigo is nearby, eating grass.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Lorimer, is that you?
LORIMER: Elliot, this is a suicide mission.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I know, I’ve told myself a thousand times that I don’t stand a chance. The old Elliot wouldn’t think twice.
LORIMER: Well maybe you should give it more thought.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I have been cursed many times, but it is this loss of self esteem that Malachy calls it that is the worst. I am less than half the man I was.
LORIMER: It’s not too late to change your mind.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: As long as I have one good leg and two good arms, I’ve got to... push through this force that holds me back.
LORIMER: It’s called stupidity
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Who’s calling who stupid? You’re always running away from the slightest hint of danger.
LORIMER: Yeah, well, it’s better to survive than to be killed.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: If everyone runs away, the Megreth’s of this world will reign over us. Running away is what a coward does. I now doubt myself a thousand times a day but I know what is right. And this is the right thing to do.
LORIMER: I’ve had enough of this. You’re a fool and fools get killed. Goodbye Elliot. I will pray for some miracle of miracles.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Lorimer? We’ll see who is stupid. I did get thirty per cent on my last abacus test or was it twenty five? Who needs friends anyway?
INT. KING WENCESLAS CASTLE OPHELIAS BEDROOM - MORNING
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Oh Francesca, as surely as the world is flat, today I am to be married to the handsomest Prince in the entire land.
FRANCESCA DA SILVA: Ophelia, looks don’t last forever. Over time you may feel like you have nothing in common.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: But he loves music and...
FRANCESCA DA SILVA: Some men will do or say anything to woo..
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Eduardo isn’t like other men. He is handsome, kind, considerate and wise.
FRANCESCA DA SILVA: I only want that you are happy Princess. Your marriage does seem a little rushed.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Oh, Francesca, how little you know of the world. When two people are in love, they want to spend every waking hour with each other for as long as they have left. Now is my dress ready?
EXT. KING WENCESLAS CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY
The guests are standing in the courtyard, waiting for the Princess to appear. Prince Eduardo stands beside the priest and his younger brother
PRINCE EDUARDO: I hope this tardiness isn’t an omen of things to come
PRIEST: Good things come to those who wait
PRINCE EDUARDO: Even I might collapse waiting for this prima donna.
INT. SMALL ROOM INSIDE KING WENCESLAS CASTLE - DAY
King Wenceslas greets his daughter who is in her wedding dress.
KING WENCESLAS: Ophelia, this is the proudest day of my life
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Thank you Father
KING WENCESLAS: Of course my marriage to your mother was previously my proudest day but look how that turned out.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Oh Father, you always give the best advice. I will marry Eduardo and will live happily ever after. I just know it.
KING WENCESLAS: Let us not wait any longer. Prince Eduardo has been standing there for three hours, but I’m sure the wait will be worth it.
EXT. KING WENCESLAS CASTLE COURTYARD - DAY
The King and the princess descend the steps to the courtyard and the Princess walks to the top of the aisle. She smiles at Eduardo and he smiles back at her
PRIEST: Thank god for that. I thought my limbs could not support me any longer.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Please hurry Father. I can’t wait to kiss my beloved.
A flying dragon descends upon the courtyard
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: Beloved eh? We’ll see about that.
The dragon breathes fire and the guests start to scatter. Even Eduardo runs away as fast as he can.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Eduardo?
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: Now my dear. Who will save you now, if not your valiant Prince?
Some soldiers descend into the courtyard to confront the dragon. Archers fire arrows at the dragon but they fail to pierce it’s hide. The dragon spouts fire at the soldiers and soon they flee. Only Princess Ophelia remains in the courtyard.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: Well dearie it looks like it’s just me and you. What will it be? Now, shall I fry you or should I just eat you whole? I’m feeling a little peckish after all.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Prince Eduardo will save me. You will see.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: Prince Eduardo? Where is Prince Eduardo? Why, he is hiding over there.
Prince Eduardo is hiding behind a pilar. Megreth spouts fire at him and he trembles in fear.
The gateway to the courtyard is now open. A donkey carrying Elliot enters.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Where are we now Rodrigo? Are we at the castle.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: There is nobody to save you. Nobody likes you. By the time I’m finished with you, nobody will find you attractive or passable.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Why you horrible, horrible dragon. If I were a man..
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: You are not a man. You are just a vain, conceited, spoiled brat who happened to be born to a King and Queen.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Princess. Is that you. I’ve come to save you.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: Oh what do we have here? A blind man with one good leg and a horrible haircut, thinks he can save you when the bravest of King Wenceslas soldiers cannot.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: If only I could see where this dragon was, I would show you a thing or two, especially when it comes to bullying a vulnerable Princess.
Elliot dismounts but falls to the ground.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: What now you imbecile?
Megreth blows fire at Elliot and his donkey. Rodrigo flees but Elliot is unscathed. Princess Ophelia runs to his side.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: Elliot, I would like to know what it feels like to kiss a man who is brave and courageous and who loves me. I don’t care if you have the most horrendous haircut I have ever seen.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: You had me at Elliot.
Elliot kisses the Princess but nothing happens.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON:You fool. It is not the Princess I came for. It is you. You possess the unococha plant and now it is uncursed.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: But I still can’t see.
MEGRETH: What does it matter anyway.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I could do with some armour. A bow and a arrow. A sword.
Lorimer appears ten feet away from Elliot and throws him a soldiers shield, sword and bow and arrow. Elliot reaches down to pick them up
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Why thank you. I could do with some food too.
Peasants throw food at him.
MEGRETH AS A DRAGON: Let’s get this over with.
LORIMER: Elliot, this is definitely the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Lorimer. Don’t get a swelled head but I’ve done dumber things than this.
Elliot points a bow and arrow but doesn’t know where he should be aiming it. Some soldiers duck out of the way.
LORIMER: A little more to the left.
Eventually Elliot fires it against a pillar
The dragon breathes fire once more
LORIMER: Shield
Elliot uses the shield to protect himself. His vision goes from dark to blurred. Elliot then leaps onto the dragons tail and starts to stab it. The dragon tries to hurl Elliot away. Elliot keeps hurting it. The dragon turns into a rhinocerous.
LORIMER: Uh oh
The Rhinocerous charges at Elliot.
LORIMER: Big jump coming up. Now.
Elliot leaps in the air and lands on top of the Rhinocerous. He uses his sword to pierce its hide. Megreth reverts to her natural form. She is in pain.
MEGRETH: Now you will know what pain really is.
She uses electricity from her hands to shock Elliot. She keeps Elliot under a constant shock. His strength weakens. Princess Ophelia grabs a sword and slashes Megreth’s head off.
Elliot is in great pain. Princess Ophelia hurries to his side.
Slowly the guests start to reappear.
KING WENCESLAS: Is everyone ok? We must proceed with the wedding.
PRINCESS OPHELIA: I am not marrying Eduardo. Elliot saved us. If I am to marry anyone it should be him.
KING WENCESLAS: Did you not see his witchcraft? No blind man can defeat Megreth without witchcraft. Even without blindness it cannot be done. I will not allow you to marry a heretic and a peasant. You must marry royalty
PRINCESS OPHELIA: But I no longer love Eduardo and he doesn’t love me. He pissed in his pants when he saw the dragon coming.
PRINCE EDUARDO: I did not. Without me and my contribution everybody would be dead. I was merely distracting it.
KING WENCESLAS: Don’t worry Eduardo. She will see sense. Go fetch the priest
Elliot climbs to his feet
KING WENCESLAS: And arrest this man.
Elliot finds his vision slowly returning. The power in his lame leg is also returning slowly. He runs up the steps as he is chased by soldiers. He fends off those in front of him and throws them to the side. Eventually they close in on him. He peers over the side and jumps over. He lands on a straw carriage, falls off it and then lands in muck surrounded by pigs. He climbs to his feet and starts running. He sees Rodrigo. He mounts him and they escape.
CUT TO:
EXT. FOREST NEAR KING WENCESLAS CASTLE - DAY
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Come on boy can’t you go any faster? The soldiers horses are gaining on us fast
Once they reach the forest the donkey goes off trail and hides in the bushes. The soldiers pass by.
EXT. CLEARING IN THE FOREST - NIGHT
Elliot sits near a small fire
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: At least my sight has improved. I hit fewer branches on my way back than I hit on my way there. What do you care Rodrigo?
LORIMER: Elliot, I’m sorry for calling you dumb. I’ve met dumber people.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: You weren’t wrong. No peasant like me is ever going to marry a princess.
LORIMER: Well, you gave it your best shot and that’s important. Without you, she would be dead. Now she can marry the prince of her dreams.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Dreams eh. That’s all they were.
LORIMER: Without dreamers Elliot, we wouldn’t have invented the wheel or the bow and arrow or the catapult.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I guess this is a new age. Women should do as they want and not as a man wants them to. She wants to marry a handsome Prince not a pauper.
LORIMER: What you need Elliot is a rounded woman. Someone who will bear you children and cook for you, not a spoiled princess.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I made a vow of celibacy. I prayed to my Uncle Gerwyn’s god that I would devote my life to him or her, should my sight be restored.
Elliot pauses for a moment
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: You were very brave back there. I couldn’t have done it without you.
LORIMER: Even chicken’s have their day.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Do you have a girl of your own Lorimer?
LORIMER: My natural calling is that of a bird. They call me “Man who flies with feathers.” I have my own true love but she sometimes loses interest and flirts with a bird who is bigger and braver. She is called Robin of the Seven Trees. One day I hope we can be together.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG:If she sees what I see, my friend, she won’t want anyone else.
EXT. CLEARING IN THE FOREST - MORNING
When Elliot awakes, he finds that his sight and leg have been fully restored
EXT. MEDIEVAL VILLAGE - MORNING
Harrison Furstenburg is working on a piece of metal when Elliot approaches with his donkey by his side.
HARRISON FURSTENBURG: 45, male, tall, strong, brown hair, beard
HARRISON FURSTENBURG: I see you have returned. Don’t expect a party.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I’m sorry father. You were right. My head was full of foolish notions of falling in love with a beautiful girl...
HARRISON FURSTENBURG: Well, as long as you have seen sense. There will always be work for a blacksmith until the end of days but not for a dreamer.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I never enjoyed your work but I guess I can try. I can do it for you father. If I try hard enough at something I know I can get better at it.
HARRISON FURSTENBURG: Your mother is fit to ring your neck, but your sister has talked about you every day since the day you left. She is almost as bad as you.
CUT TO:
INT. FURSTENBURG FAMILY HOME - DAY
Edwina Furstenburg has her hands around Elliot’s neck. Elliot is struggling to breathe but appeals to her.
EDWINA FURSTENBURG: 44, female, overweight, average height, long dark hair.
CHARLOTTE FURSTENBURG: 17, female, dark hair, slim, attractive.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Mother!
Edwina releases her grip
EDWINA FURSTENBURG: All the sacrifices we made raising you and you go off gallivanting after a princess. You could have been killed. God so help me if they didn’t kill you I would.
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: Sorry mother
CHARLOTTE FURSTENBURG: Isn’t it great he’s back. Tell me, Elliot what was the fashion like in the castle? What is the princess wearing these days?
ELLIOT FURSTENBURG: I wouldn’t know, I was only looking at her eyes
HARRISON FURSTENBURG: Edwina we really need to bring these two crashing back down to earth. Fashion? Love?
Where did they get such notions.
EDWINA FURSTENBURG: Put them to work. That’s what I say. I worked my entire childhood as long as I learned how to stand on two feet. Scrubbing floors, washing, cleaning, feeding pigs, delivering calves, breaking horses.. That’s the trouble with the youth nowadays, they have no work ethic. Too much free time.
HARRISON FURSTENBURG: Edwina, from now on we’ll work them so hard they’ll be so tired, they won’t care about the rats nibbling on their ear at night or the insects crawling all over them.