CRIMSON CROWN: A STORMERE TALE
Episode 4: "Both Sides of the Problem"
FADE IN
EXT. VALENRITH – ROOFTOPS – DAWN
Red banners ripple across the capital. The city wakes slowly. Bells. Market carts. Smoke.
Scarlett stands on a high balcony, arms folded against the chill. She looks tired.
INT. PALACE – COUNCIL CHAMBER – MORNING
The usual noise.
LADY VELARA: We are hemorrhaging coin in the east. I have never seen something like this happen before...
LORD MAERON: Then, we should start considering cutting off the east region completely.
KING ALDRIC: Are you insane? These are people. They’re not livestock.
LORD THESIN: There's really nothing else we can do...
Murmurs.
LORD MAERON: If we continue sending these relief shipments, at this rate...
KING ALDRIC (interrupting): I don't care. I'm not cutting off anyone!
LADY VELARA: I'd think again, your highness. Not doing this will start affecting other regions...
Scarlett watches them all. Says nothing. She’s shocked. She can't believe what she hears..
INT. PALACE – HALLWAY – LATER
Scarlett walks quickly. Aleric keeps pace.
SCARLETT: I can't believe that those vultures want to sentence to death an entire region just so they don't lose some extra money...
ALERIC: Your father won't let that happen... I'm sure of it.
She exhales.
SCARLETT: I don't think he'll have a choice. The council will end up forcing his hand.
ALERIC (disappointed): I know. (beat) But, I'm sure he's going to do his best to avoid this happening. At least, for a while.
SCARLETT: What's happening to this court...
ALERIC: Don't say it. (beat) I know.
INT. ABANDONED SOLARIUM – NIGHT
The Stranger stands near the broken glass ceiling. Rain taps faintly above.
He doesn’t turn when she enters.
THE STRANGER: You’re late.
SCARLETT: You forget who I am? I don't have time for these rendezvous...
THE STRANGER: Moving on...
She rolls her eyes.
SCARLETT: Say what you dragged me here for.
He studies her for a moment.
THE STRANGER: Your council votes tomorrow. They're calling it the "Eastern Relief Act".
SCARLETT: It won’t pass. They want to cut off the region.
THE STRANGER: You're right, It won't pass... (beat) Not without help.
She folds her arms.
SCARLETT: What kind of help?
THE STRANGER: Let's just say...I pulled some strings.
She narrows her eyes.
SCARLETT: That’s vague. I don’t like vague.
THE STRANGER: Lady Velara has been siphoning funds for years. Quietly. Efficiently. To pay off her son's gambling debts in Karsin.
She stares at him.
SCARLETT: If you’re lying...
THE STRANGER: I’m not. (beat) What would I gain by lying?
A pause.
SCARLETT: So... you want me to reveal this to everyone? They won't believe me without proof.
THE STRANGER: What if I tell you... the proof is already out there.
She studies him carefully now.
SCARLETT: You’ve already set this in motion.
He doesn’t answer. Which is answer enough.
EXT. LADY VELARA'S ESTATE – NIGHT
Rain falls steady and cold.
Scarlett stands beneath a hood, distant from the gates.
SCARLETT: If this doesn't work...
THE STRANGER: It will.
As if on cue, a SERVANT exits with a leather case. A shadow intercepts him quietly in an alley.
No struggle. No shouting. The case changes hands. The servant walks away, confused but unharmed.
Scarlett exhales.
SCARLETT: You planned this very neatly.
THE STRANGER: Let's just say... when I get my shot, I don't miss.
INT. PALACE – NEXT DAY
Whispers ripple through the corridors.
Council members cluster in tight circles.
LADY VELARA stands red-faced in the chamber.
LADY VELARA: This is absurd. Fabricated.
LORD MAERON: Is it?
Papers are read aloud. Numbers. Transfers. Signatures.
LADY VELARA: I have served this crown for thirty years...
KING ALDRIC: And apparently yourself.
Guards step forward. Lady Velara looks around for allies.
Finds none. She is escorted out.
Scarlett watches.
This should feel victorious. It doesn’t.
INT. KING’S STUDY – DAY
King Aldric rubs at his temples. He feels older than he did yesterday.
KING ALDRIC: Someone's behind this. This wouldn't come out like this out of the blue...(beat) And I don’t like not knowing who.
Scarlett stands still.
SCARLETT: Shouldn't you be happy? You found out someone from your court was stealing from the realm.
He looks at her. He faintly nods.
INT. PALACE – CORRIDOR – DAY
Aleric catches up.
ALERIC: Tell me you didn’t know about that. Were you the one...
Scarlett keeps walking.
SCARLETT: Everyone knew something was wrong. It's not that big of a surprise.
ALERIC: That’s not what I asked.
She stops.
SCARLETT: What do you want me to say?
ALERIC: I want to know you’re not getting pulled into something. This isn't you.
SCARLETT: This has always been me. Maybe you've just never really knew me.
He searches her face. He doesn’t like what he sees.
INT. ABANDONED SOLARIUM – NIGHT
Scarlett storms in.
SCARLETT: That was fast.
THE STRANGER: You wanted it done. It's done.
SCARLETT: I wanted proof. Not a public execution of her reputation.
THE STRANGER: She stole from starving provinces.
SCARLETT: You humiliated her. We could have done this in a more private way.
THE STRANGER: I exposed her.
She shakes her head.
SCARLETT: At least, the money is coming back into the kingdom.
THE STRANGER: See? There's always a silver lining. (beat) No blood. Just justice.
SCARLETT: Justice, but timed for maximum damage.
A small silence.
THE STRANGER: Yes. And there's more... about the others.
She looks away.
SCARLETT: What if you’re wrong about the rest of them?
THE STRANGER: Then we’ll know soon enough. (beat, softer) But if I’m right… you just saved thousands of lives and cleared your way to the throne.
That stops her. She hates that it he's right.
INT. EASTERN PROVINCE – VILLAGE – DAYS LATER
Relief wagons roll in. Food sacks. Medicine crates.
People cry openly. Hope returned to the eastern regions.
Scarlett watches from horseback, hood drawn.
A child clutches a loaf of bread like it's the first one they ever saw.
This time... she feels joy. She did this.
EXT. HILL OVERLOOKING THE VILLAGE – SUNSET
The sky burns orange.
Scarlett stands apart. The Stranger approaches but doesn’t crowd her.
SCARLETT: It worked.
THE STRANGER: Yes. The relief package was approved a couple days ago. I guess having extra money helped.
She doesn’t look at him.
SCARLETT: I'm starting to see your point.
THE STRANGER: You don't need to believe me. (beat) Didn't it work? Look at this.
She watches villagers unloading crates.
SCARLETT: Yes.
THE STRANGER: This is what we could do. This will be your legacy.
She smiles.
INT. PALACE – SCARLETT’S CHAMBERS – NIGHT
Scarlett studies her reflection again.
This time... There’s something harder behind her eyes.
Less doubt. More calculation. It unsettles her.
EXT. PALACE – BALCONY – NIGHT
Aleric steps beside her. He doesn’t look at her at first.
ALERIC: Whatever you’re involved in… (beat) It’s changing you.
She almost tells him everything. Almost. But she doesn't.
SCARLETT: Maybe I needed to change for the kingdom.
ALERIC: Maybe. But you didn't have to change for me. You were always perfect.
Those words almost destroy her.
INT. BALCONY ON ABANDONED SOLARIUM – NIGHT
The Stranger watches the city below. Lights flicker in windows.
Storm clouds gather again.
He smiles.
FADE OUT.
END OF EPISODE 4