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MASTER -STROKE

OPENING SCENE

DARKNESS

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SUPERIMPOSITION: Benighted travellers now lose their way, whom the will-of-the-wisp bewitches. About and about he leads them astray through bogs, through hedges and ditches. - William Davenant

 

FADE IN: EXT. FOREST - EVENING

 

A LIGHT as if from a lantern held by an invisible hand sways  in the dreamy evening light. A boy, RICHARD DEERING (age 6), dressed in clothing typical of middle class children in the early 19th century, follows the light. There is a ghostly feeling to the scene as if it isn't quite real.

 

The swaying light illuminates the fairy tale forest with an eery glow. The light rises and a beautiful woman (MARGOT DEERING - 26) materializes behind it. She is like a fairy princess from a painting. She beckons for the boy to follow.

 

MARGOT DEERING

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(distant, ethereal:)

This way, Richard.​

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The boy is mesmerized. He STUMBLES and the scene becomes more real. The forest no longer appears out of a fairy tale but instead is creepy and threatening. The woman no longer looks like a fairy princess, but a crazed mess.

 

SUPERIMPOSITION: ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE, 1824

 

The boy looks around nervously as though he has snapped out of a trance. He runs to catch up to the woman, who holds a lantern in one hand and a satchel in the other.

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

Mother, we shouldn't be out here. What if Father wakes and realizes we're gone?​

 

MARGOT DEERING

Oh, he won't wake, not tonight. I made sure of that.

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

But what if he does? He'll be angry with us, he'll --

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She whirls on him, bends down to his level. There is a wild look to her, as though she's in the middle of a psychotic break.

 

MARGOT DEERING

Quiet now, my Richard. They're expecting us. You don't want to upset them, do you?

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

Upset who? Where are we going?

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She smiles, eyes too big, and lifts her lantern. Up ahead, we see:

 

EXT. CREEPY CABIN IN THE WOODS

 

Margot leads Richard to the front door, which creaks ominously on its hinges. There are strange WHITE MARKS on the door, like smears of paint. She takes his hand and leads him:

 

INSIDE THE CABIN

 

The single room is sparse and haunted-looking but also strangely beautiful. Cobwebs hang like curtains and seem to shimmer in the lantern light. 

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

I'm frightened.

 

MARGOT DEERING

And what do we do when we are afraid?

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Margot lifts Richard up and puts him on a rickety table in the middle of the room. 

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

Hide?

 

MARGOT DEERING

Oh, you mustn't do that. Hideaways become prisons if you stay in them too long.

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She opens her satchel and pulls out various strange objects: a JAR OF HONEY, A BOTTLE OF CREAM, TWIGS and DRIED FLOWERS. She arranges the items around Richard, as if preparing an offering on an altar, while:

 

MARGOT DEERING

Besides, there's no need to be frightened. We haven't done anything to offend them. Only those who offend them need fear them. 

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She sprinkles dried foliage over his head. He starts to cry.

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

Who?​

 

MARGOT DEERING

Why, the fairies, of course.

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Richard looks around, nervous. She pours the cream over his head. The milky liquid runs down his face and drizzles onto the table, while:

 

MARGOT DEERING

And do you know what happens to those who offend them? Awful, awful things, terrible torments, enough to drive a man out of his wits. It's said the fairies even steal away the worst offenders and force them into their service as puppets or playthings. And no one ever knows it, for they replace those they steal with lookalike changelings.

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

(crying:)

I don't want the fairies to steal me away.

 

MARGOT DEERING

I told you, only those who offend them need fear them.

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She stiffens, steps back, drops the bottle. It SHATTERS on the floor.

 

MARGOT DEERING

They're here...

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Whirling around and talking to thin air:

 

MARGOT DEERING

Thank you for coming. This is my boy, my Richard. I - I ask that you bless him with your gifts, that you protect him. 

​

 

MARGOT DEERING

Disembodied whispering rises out of the silence. Margot nods as though some invisible person is talking to her. 

Yes, of course... Richard, they want you to swear you will use the gifts they give you for the good, that you will be courageous, heroic and stand up to the monsters.

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Richard shakes his head. He's frightened and has no idea what's happening. She grabs him and shakes him. Growing increasingly more hysterical:

 

MARGOT DEERING

Swear, Richard. Tell them you swear. It's the only way. Say it! Please!

 

RICHARD (AGE 6)

(through tears:)

I swear! I swear!

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The lantern falls over and goes out.

 

CUT TO BLACK.

 

In darkness -- There's a CRASH. We hear a match being struck.

 

FADE IN as the lantern light flickers back to life. Margot lifts it.

 

Richard has fallen off the table onto the broken glass. He's bleeding. There are three long cuts on the back of his hand similar to the marks on the door of the cabin. Seeing the cuts, a crazed smile spreads across Margot's face. She hugs the boy.

 

MARGOT DEERING

They've marked you as theirs. They've accepted our bargain. Oh, Richard, they've accepted!

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Tears stream down the boy's face and he hugs his mother. He squeezes the back of her dress with his injured HAND.

 

The disembodied WHISPERS continue...

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FADE OUT.

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