CRIMSON CROWN: A STORMERE TALE
Episode 2: "The Stranger"
FADE IN
EXT. VALENRITH – OUTER FARMLANDS – DUSK
The camera pans out to golden fields and quiet roads. A merchant caravan rolls towards the distant red towers of the capital.
One hooded rider travels alone behind them.
We never see his face.
INT. ROADSIDE INN – NIGHT
We walk into an inn covered in warm light. We hear laughter coming from groups of tired travelers.
The STRANGER sits alone in the corner, playing with his cup of wine.
He watches and listens to his surroundings.
A group of MERCHANTS talk too loudly on a booth in the corner.
MERCHANT #1: Taxes went up again. It's the third time this year. They keep cutting the money we make but raising prices everywhere...
MERCHANT #2: Apparently, the Court says it’s to "improve our defenses in the east”.
MERCHANT #1: Defense from what? Farmers? There's nothing beyond the eastern regions...
Soft chuckles.
The Stranger finally speaks. Calm. Polite.
STRANGER: The Crimson Court is not afraid of farmers.
They look at him.
THE STRANGER (CONT’D): But they're afraid of what the entire region will do once they find out the truth...
MERCHANT #2: And what's that, smart pants?
THE STRANGER (smiles under hood): That the end of the Crimson Court is coming...
He stands and leaves a coin.
Too much money for what he had.
He walks out.
EXT. CAPITAL GATES – MORNING
The Stranger arrives with the morning crowd that meets in the town square for the best produces in the market.
The Crimson Capital looms.
Magnificent.
And, to him, already dead.
INT. PALACE – TRAINING YARD – MORNING
Aleric spars with another knight.
He's fast. He's controlled. He's precise.
He disarms his opponent with a clean attack.
LARS, the CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD nods, impressed.
CAPTAIN LARS: You keep this up and you’ll be snatching my job before you’re thirty.
ALERIC: I’m not really looking into taking over your job. Have other plans to my life...
His eyes drift to the balcony above. Scarlett is there, watching.
Captain Lars notices something between them. He doesn't say anything.
INT. PALACE – SCARLETT’S CHAMBERS – LATER
Scarlett is being fitted into dresses by the maids. She’s bored out of her mind.
MAID: His Grace has requested you attend the council dinner tonight. He says it's important you attend this particular meeting.
Scarlett sighs.
SCARLETT: Of course he has. I'm sure he's gonna try and "impose" a new husband. Like he does... every single week.
The maid chuckles.
INT. COUNCIL ANTECHAMBER – DAY
Lords argue quietly in clusters.
LORD MAERON notices someone new among the servants.
A man with a tray of wine.
THE STRANGER.
Their eyes meet for half a second.
INT. LORD MAERON'S STUDY – LATER
LORD MAERON finds a note on his table.
No one saw who left it.
He opens and reads it.
His expression changes. He looks... worried.
INT. PALACE – GREAT HALL – NIGHT
We arrive at formal dinner. We see a long table covered in crimson candles.
SCARLETT sits beside her father. ALERIC stands guard, as always.
THE STRANGER moves through the room as a member of the staff. He's pouring wine. Listening.
He stops behind LADY VELARA.
He pours wine into her glass.
Whispers, just for her:
THE STRANGER (whispering): Your son’s gambling debt in Karsin is about to become very public very soon, unless...
He whispers something even the audience can't hear.
She freezes.
He moves on to the next guest, LORD THESIN.
No one notices but he whispers something to him while he's pouring wine on his glass.
THE STRANGER (low): Your brother didn’t die of a fever. I'll tell you who killed him if you...
Once again, we don't hear what THE STRANGER says.
Thesin’s hand trembles.
INT. BALCONY – LATER
Scarlett escapes to the balcony to catch some air.
Aleric is already there.
SCARLETT: I swear to god that if I hear the words “alliance” or "taxes" one more time, I’m jumping off this balcony.
ALERIC: Why did your father ask you to come to this dinner?
SCARLETT: No clue... He hasn't said a word to me all night.
ALERIC: I'm sure he had a reason...
A beat.
She looks at him.
SCARLETT: Don't you feel that something's wrong tonight?
He thinks.
ALERIC: I haven't noticed anything unusual... Why? Have you seen something?
SCARLETT: I don't think so... I might just be getting paranoid...
As they speak, they don’t see The Stranger watching from inside.
INT. LORD MAERON’S STUDY – NIGHT
Lord Maeron reads the note on his desk again.
A knock on the door.
LORD MAERON: Come in.
The Stranger enters. Hood still up.
LORD MAERON (annoyed): Who are you? And what are you doing on this side of the castle? This is a restricted area. I can have you arrested and executed for this.
THE STRANGER: I thought you'd want to talk after reading my note...
Lord Maeron looks at the note and back to The Stranger.
LORD MAERON: Who are you? And how did you find out about this?
He raises the note.
THE STRANGER: Let's just say... I know a lot about this Court.
A beat.
THE STRANGER (CONT’D): And I'm here to make sure it doesn't get destroyed.
Lord Maeron studies him.
LORD MAERON: And what do you want?
THE STRANGER: Your support... You'll understand what I mean soon.
Silence.
Then Lord Maeron smiles.
INT. KING’S CHAMBERS – SAME NIGHT
King Aldric stands at the window. The High Priest stands behind him.
KING ALDRIC: They’re nervous. Everyone was acting strange tonight...
HIGH PRIEST CAELUM: You know them... They're just uneasy with everything that's happening.
KING ALDRIC: No. This feels different.
He turns to The High Priest.
KING ALDRIC (CONT’D): Something's coming. And I don't know if we are going to be able to stop it...
The High Priest looks worried.
EXT. CITY ROOFTOP – NIGHT
The Stranger stands alone, overlooking the capital.
He removes a glove.
On his palm: strange, faint dark markings.
They pulse.
He closes his hand.
THE STRANGER (to himself): The fall of the Crimson Crown begins today...
A beat.
THE STRANGER (CONT’D): And I'll be finally able to take all their power to achieve my lifelong work. I can feel it already...
He turns, looking at his hand. It pulsates with dark magic.
He disappears into the night.
FADE OUT
END OF EPISODE 2