JULIAN
PILOT
FADE IN:
EXT. FOREST - EVENING
Nicomedia 337 A.D.
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Snow tinted blue in the evening light lies wet on the ground.
We hear the OS sound of whistling. A haunting melody. Great dollops of snow drip, drip, drip between the trees.
A man (MARCUS - 40s) is standing in the snow, though we see only his expensive roman shoes and the bright red blood that drip, drip, drips onto the snow next to them.
JULIAN, AGE 6 (V.O.)​
Dear God, er, Lord, heavenly father in ... heaven.
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INT. CHURCH OF NICOMEDIA - RECTORY - EVENING
In a simple room by the dim light of an oil lamp, a young boy, JULIAN (6), with dark hair and striking blue eyes, is kneeling, praying, at the sickbed of his brother Gallus (8), who lies asleep, his blond hair sleek with sweat.
JULIAN​
Please help us. All of us. My brother and my father too. We’re in trouble. Gallus is sick, so sick he can't be moved. But we have to move.
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EXT. FOREST - EVENING
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Blood drips onto the snow. The man falls suddenly to his knees. There is a sack over his head, his fine garments, silks and furs, are tattered and torn, his hands are bound and bleeding. ​
JULIAN (V.O.)​
The Bishop says misfortune is caused by sin. But we've been good, both Gallus and I. We haven't been fighting or swearing or anything bad.
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The sack is ripped from the man's head. The man (40s) gazes up at his assailants, his dark hair tangled and dirty, his lip swollen, his eye bruised shut.
FIVE MEN all cloaked in black, gaze coldly down at the man. One of them, PAUL (35), an ugly man with a face scarred from many battles, is whistling.
MARCUS
So, this is how I am to die? In the woods like an animal? I am a member of the imperial family.
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Paul strikes Marcus across the face. Whispering:
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PAUL
Traitor.
Marcus faces Paul. There is defiance yet in the broken man.​
MARCUS
I am no traitor! I was loyal to Constantine and I am loyal to his sons. We were all loyal. All those you've slaughtered for nothing!
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Paul starts whistling again, unsheathes his SWORD with a long SHLIIIIING.
Two of the other soldiers force Marcus forward, into "beheading" position. Desperate:
MARCUS
Please... What will happen to my boys?
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PAUL
They are no longer your concern.
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Paul raises his SWORD.
JULIAN (V.O.)​
So protect us, Lord God, and I promise I will be good, better than ever, and I will pray to you every day, and --
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Paul raises his SWORD.
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SMASH CUT TO:
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INT. CHURCH OF NICOMEDIA - EVENING
Julian gasps. Someone enters the room unexpectedly. It is MARDONIUS (40s), a Gothic slave who has been with Julian's family for years. Smiling with relief:
JULIAN​
Mardonius!
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Julian hops to his feet, but then, remembering himself, drops back to his knees, CLAPS his hands together. To God:
JULIAN
Thank you, I mean, Amen.
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Julian jumps back to his feet, rushes over and embraces Mardonius, who is trying hard to put up a brave front.
The news he brings is disastrous. Stalling:
MARDONIUS
How is your brother?
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Glancing anxiously over at Gallus:
JULIAN​
No change.
MARDONIUS
It's good of you to watch over him. He needs you. He might be your older brother, but he doesn't have your strength.
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Glancing anxiously over at Gallus:
MARDONIUS
Julian ...
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JULIAN
Is my father back?
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Mardonius sits on the edge of Gallus' bed, and then, gently:
MARDONIUS
Things right now for you and Gallus are ... delicate. Do you understand? We must be smart, and that means staying hidden, quiet and small like mice.
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JULIAN​
But --​
MARDONIUS
What have I taught you about powerful men?​
JULIAN
That I should always avoid their attention.
MARDONIUS
What else?
JULIAN​
That I should cast my eyes to the ground. I should be obedient and meek and mild when they are near.
MARDONIUS
That's right. Give them no excuse to harm you. Promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what you discover, you will always remember what I've taught you. Some forces are too powerful to fight.
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Realizing something is wrong:
JULIAN​
Where is my father?
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We hear SHOUTING voices, the CLOPPING of horses and the SLAPPING of leather on metal.
MARDONIUS
Wake your brother.
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EXT. NICOMEDIA - ALLEYWAY - LATER
SNOW is falling from above in serene swirls.
In contrast, Mardonius, holding a barely awake Gallus in his arms, rushes down the alley with Julian at his side. At the end of the alley, he pauses, puts Gallus gently down.
The sick boy sways and leans against the wall for support. Mardonius takes Julian by the shoulders, and whispers:
MARDONIUS
Stay here with Gallus while I prepare the horses. Remember, quiet and small, like mice.
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Julian nods and Mardonius heads quickly out of the alleyway, disappearing around the corner.
Frightened, Julian steps back against the wall next to Gallus. He closes his eyes, clutches his hands together in prayer.
The sound of distant LAUGHTER causes Julian's eyes to snap open. He glances around in a panic.
Gallus is gone. NO! Julian rushes into the:
STREET
Gallus is there, standing right in the middle of the road. Delirious with fever, the sick boy laughs at the falling snow, sparkling in the light of the giant oil lamps that line the street.
Julian rushes to Gallus' side. He tries to take Gallus' hand but Gallus SHOVES him away. Julian FALLS to the snow. He is about to stand, but freezes as the sound of WHISTLING rises in the air.
Julian stands and then walks slowly towards the source of the whistling, frightened but drawn irresistibly forward.
Julian’s POV: We walk step-by-step through the falling snow towards several huge oil lamps at the entrance to an alley. Suddenly:
BLOOD SPRAYS across the snow from behind the lamps.
Julian gasps. We see now his pale face splattered with blood.
A body drops to the snow before Julian -- THUD! It’s Mardonius! Julian looks up to find ...
Paul “The Chain” emerging from behind the oil lamps, whistling ominously, while blood DRIP - DRIP - DRIPS from his sword.
Julian's POV: SNOW SPARKLES all around Paul as if he is some terrible angel. He smiles at us, raises his sword and SWIPES down towards us with its hilt --
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CUT TO BLACK