ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay (7 page)

EXT. MARKET - TOWN CENTRE

Kylan looks back over his shoulder.

KYLAN: What were you thinking wandering

around by yourself?

Naiyoo looks at him, silent.

Kylan shakes his head.

KYLAN (CONT'D): Why am I even

bothering?

He sees the cart up ahead, along with another crowd.

One of the traders sees him and raises his arm, quickly waving him over.

TRADER: Kai! Kai get over here!

Kylan releases Naiyoo's hand and races over.

The men and women step aside for him.

Alana lies on the floor in another trader's arms.

KYLAN: Ma!

He drops beside his mother and holds up her face.

KYLAN (CONT'D): Ma! Ma what

happened??

Alana stirs, drowsy.

TRADER (O.S): We have to help her up.

Naiyoo looks through the crowd.

She sees blood running down Alana's legs

CUT TO.

INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE - DAY

Alana lies in bed, her head turned to one side.

She slowly opens her eyes, weak.

Elliott sits beside her, concerned.

ELLIOTT: (beat) How long have you been

carrying?

Alana closes her eyes.

Elliott takes her hand.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Why didn't you tell

me?

ALANA: (beat) I wanted to wait. Until I was

sure.

She fights her tears.

ALANA (CONT'D): I knew something was

wrong but I...

Elliott touches her face.

ELLIOTT: We'll get through this.

Alana looks at him, trembling.

ALANA: (beat) It's still hurting.

CUT TO.

INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

Alana cries out.

Elliott waves Kylan over, dropping blood-soaked towels into a bucket.

ELLIOTT: Get some more.

Kylan looks across at his mother as he backs out. He runs past Naiyoo, standing by the door.

Elliott raises the bed sheet and sets some more towels between her legs.

CUT TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - MORNING

Naiyoo sits on the swing, staring up at the bedroom window.

MEDICINE MAN (O.S): Her bleeding has

not ceased.

CUT TO.

INT. HALLWAY - UPPER FLOOR

Elliott stares off into thin air, an old medicine man in front of him.

MEDICINE MAN: I'm afraid her fate is now

with the Great Spirit.

Elliott nods, distant.

The old man turns and leaves, squeezing Kylan's shoulder.

EXT. FARM HOUSE

The medicine man steps down from the porch and walks to his horse and carriage.

He sees Naiyoo on the swing and glances at her twice.

CUT TO.

INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE - DAY

Elliott sits by the side of the bed, struggling to stay awake.

ALANA (O.S): (beat) You need to rest.

Elliott sits up, finishing a glass of water.

ELLIOTT: I'll sleep when you are back on

your feet and making me breakfast.

Alana tries to smile.

She squeezes his hand. Thumb over his silver wedding ring.

ALANA: Denying my father and choosing

you was the best decision I ever made.

ELLIOTT: You gave up too much for this

simple life.

ALANA: No. This life was the life I was

destined for. It was written that I would be

with you.

Elliott kisses her hand.

Alana looks at him, serious.

ALANA (CONT'D): I need a promise broken

and a promise kept.

ELLIOTT: Anything.

ALANA: (beat) She belongs here. She

belongs with us. Don't let anyone take her away.

Elliott nods.

ELLIOTT: If it pleases you then it will be so.

Alana draws him close and kisses him.

She sees Naiyoo by the door. Watching them.

ALANA: (to Elliott) Can you get some more

water?

Elliott nods and leaves.

Alana looks across at Naiyoo, holding by the edge of the door.

ALANA (CONT'D): Come.

Naiyoo slowly approaches.

Alana rests her hand on her hip and smiles.

ALANA (CONT'D): You've learnt so much

in so short a time.

Naiyoo touches her heart then places her hand over Alana's.

Alana smiles.

ALANA (CONT'D): I love you too.

She takes her hand.

ALANA (CONT'D): (beat) For the longest of

times I thought I was cursed, that I would

never have a child. Now I have two.

Tears run down her cheeks.

ALANA (CONT'D): You are my daughter.

The daughter I waited for.

Naiyoo reaches down and wipes her cheek.

Alana kisses her hand.

ALANA (CONT'D): The years ahead will be

difficult for you. You will grow, you will

change. You will have to face these

challenges alone. But remember, as long as

you are here, you will be safe, I promise you.

This is your family now.

Naiyoo nods, trembling.

Alana pulls her close presses her forehead against hers.

ALANA (CONT'D): You are special. So

special... My darling Arianna...

Naiyoo closes her eyes, smelling her in.

DISSOLVE TO.

INT. ROOF - FARM HOUSE - TWILIGHT

Kylan sits by the chimney, hugging his knees.

Elliott emerges from the hatch behind him.

ELLIOTT: (beat) Your mother is calling for

you.

Kylan looks back and nods.

CUT TO.

INT. BEDROOM - FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

The door slowly opens. Alana remains on the bed, pale and weak.

Kylan approaches and sits beside her, head low.

ALANA: (beat) Were you writing?

Kylan shakes his head.

ALANA (CONT'D): Don't stop. It is your gift

to the world.

Kylan looks up and nods to himself.

KYLAN: You will be well by morning, once

you have rested you will be well.

ALANA: Kylan, do not mourn.

Kylan looks away

KYLAN: I am not mourning anything, you're

going to be fine. Tomorrow everything will be

fine.

ALANA: Please. Look at me.

Kylan forces himself to look at her, fighting his emotions.

ALANA (CONT'D): Remember what I told

you of the Great Spirit?

KYLAN: (beat) That we're all part of one

whole.

ALANA: That is true, but what you and I

share is a much stronger bond. You came

from my body and from my soul. The blood

that runs through you is the same blood that

runs through me.

She touches his eyebrows.

ALANA (CONT'D): These eyes that you see

the world through are my eyes.

She touches his hands.

ALANA (CONT'D): Your touch, my touch.

She touches his lips.

ALANA (CONT'D): Every kiss, my kiss.

Kylan lowers his head.

ALANA (CONT'D): I will live on, I will live

through you.

Kylan fights his tears.

KYLAN: But I won't see you again.

Alana shakes her head.

ALANA: You're wrong. You will see me.

You will see me everywhere you go. Every

reflection in the water, every glance in the

mirror, I will be there. I am a part of you as

much as you are a part of me.

She removes her wedding ring.

ALANA (CONT'D): Here.

KYLAN: No ma.

ALANA: Take it. This is yours now.

She places the ring on his palm and closes his hand.

ALANA (CONT'D): When the time comes

you will know what to do with it.

Kylan breaks down and hugs her tight.

Alana squeezes him back, kissing his cheek.

ALANA (CONT'D): I love you Kylan Orin.

To the end of time I will always love you.

She gently rocks her son, resting her cheek on his head.

DISSOLVE TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - NIGHT

Naiyoo stands by the swing, staring forward.

Elliott carries a torch to the funeral pyre and lights it.

Alana's body wrapped in white sheets.

Kylan's face trembles, tears running.

As the light of the fire spreads we see friends from Ellora gathered in a circle. Tuck

and Rence amongst them.

Elliott watches as the flames consume the body of his wife.

Sophie reaches aside and takes Kylan's hand.

Naiyoo lowers her head, standing alone.

Sophie rests her head on Kylan's shoulder.

Kylan stares at the flames. Silent.

CUT TO BLACK

END OF PART 1

FADE IN.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - SUMMER DAY

Red berries on a branch.

A young woman picks one out and slips it into her mouth.

ARIANNA, 18, glances aside as she chews.

Her long pale hair consciously set to cover the left side of her face.

She adjusts the basket under her arm and returns to her picking.

Elliott, older, hair greying, passes by with a field hand, both carrying tools.

ELLIOTT: When you're done here start in the

kitchen, the men are will be hungry soon.

Arianna reads his lips and nods.

EXT. ROOF - FARM HOUSE

Chimney. Kylan works under the sun, using a hammer instead of a pen.

ORIN FARM

8 YEARS LATER

Arianna carries the basket to the house.

YOUNG MAN (O.S): Hello beautiful!

Kylan, 20, looks down.

KYLAN: Ren, what are you doing here?

RENCE, 21, stops in front of the house, Arianna passing by unnoticed.

RENCE: I should be asking you the same

thing.

KYLAN: What are you talking about?

RENCE: We should have been in town hours

ago.

KYLAN: I can't, I'm busy.

RENCE: The Festival is two days away, they

haven't even started putting anything up.

KYLAN: If you wanna go talk to my father

then please be my guest.

RENCE: All right all right, I'll leave you to it.

But just so you know, Sophie was asking for

you.

Kylan stops.

KYLAN: She was?

RENCE: Says she wanted to talk to you about

something "important", wouldn't say any

more.

He turns to leave.

RENCE (CONT'D): I'll see you later.

KYLAN: Ren! (beat) If you see her tell her

again... I've been thinking about her.

RENCE: (smiles) Sure. Were you using your

left hand or your right hand?

Kylan throws a pebble at him.

KYLAN: Don't be an ass!

Rence laughs, walking away.

RENCE: Maybe she'll be the one to finally

make the next move.

Kylan draws back and pauses.

CUT TO.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE

Arianna sets the basket on the dinner table and massages her shoulder, tired.

She adjusts her sleeve and top, both tight, and lifts a jar off the counter.

She takes out a biscuit, breaking off a small piece, and quietly eats, her eyes checking the doors.

She looks down at the table and pauses.

The chairs she and Alana once shared empty.

She lowers her head and turns away, returning to work.

CUT TO.

EXT. FARM HOUSE - EVENING

Lantern light flickers from the windows.

KYLAN (O.S): I really should help out.

INT. KITCHEN - FARM HOUSE

Kylan finishes his dinner.

ELLIOTT: You can help out once you've

finished cleaning those stables.

KYLAN: I'm not doing this for me it's for the

Festival, for everyone.

ELLIOTT: It'll only take you a few hours,

you'll be finished by noon

KYLAN: They'll be finished by noon.

ELLIOTT: Then it doesn't seem like your

presence is essential.

Kylan looks aside and tries to think.

KYLAN: What if I ask Rianna?

ELLIOTT: She's not your personal slave

Kylan. She has her own chores to tend to.

KYLAN: But what if I ask her?

Elliott sighs, too tired to argue.

ELLIOTT: If she's not doing anything and

doesn't mind then fine, you can go.

Kylan smiles and gets up.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Not so fast.

He nods to table. Kylan rolls his eyes and clears up.

INT. ARIANNA'S ROOM - DIMLY LIT

Arianna removes a rag from between her legs and places it in a bucket of water. The rag lightly stained with blood.

She moves aside, pulling at her sleeves and top, and stands in front of a small mirror.

She looks at her reflection and pauses.

Her tattoos visible.

She raises her hand and adjusts her hair to cover them.

The door opens.

KYLAN: Pa wants you to clean the stables

tomorrow morning.

Arianna reads his lips and nods.

KYLAN (CONT'D): And don't forget to

replace Kanthaka's feed.

She nods again, Kylan already closing the door behind him.

CUT TO.

INT. ELLIOTT'S BEDROOM - MORNING

Window, the sun rises.

A closet is open, Alana's old clothes inside.

Arianna reaches in and takes out a cream dress.

She holds it up against her then looks aside and stops.

Elliott stands by the door.

She quickly returns the dress to the closet.

Elliott raises his hand.

ELLIOTT: It's all right. Take what you need.

Arianna looks at him and nods a "thank you".

He slowly approaches.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): You really should to go

into town and find something of your own. I'll

give you the money.

Arianna nods again, head low, folding the dress over her arm.

Elliott stands against the wall, keeping a polite distance.

ELLIOTT (CONT'D): (beat) I've been

meaning to speak with you.

Arianna looks to him.