CRIMSON CROWN: A STORMERE TALE
Episode 6: "Broken, Forever"
FADE IN
EXT. VALENRITH – OUTER DISTRICTS – DAWN
Smoke rises over the rooftops. Riots.
Barricades built from carts and broken doors. Soldiers form shield lines. People scream about food, taxes, corruption.
A supply wagon burns in the distance. Peace didn’t last long.
INT. PALACE – COUNCIL CHAMBER – MORNING
Chaos.
LORD THESIN: The lower districts are in open revolt!
LORD MAERON: Three convoys burned before sunrise!
GENERAL ROG: We must declare martial law!
KING ALDRIC: Does anyone know where it started?
No one answers directly.
GENERAL ROG: It doesn’t matter where it started. It’s spreading. It's a civil war!
Scarlett stands near the back. Worried.
INT. PALACE – HALLWAY – DAY
Aleric moves quickly down the corridor. Scarlett intercepts him.
ALERIC: This isn’t spontaneous. Someone made this happen.
SCARLETT: I know.
ALERIC: We must find out who did this. I'm gonna talk with Captain Lars.
She looks at him leave. She suspects what happened.
INT. ABANDONED SOLARIUM – DAY
Smoke visible through broken glass.
The Stranger stands at the window. Scarlett storms in.
SCARLETT: Tell me you didn’t do this.
THE STRANGER: It had to happen.
SCARLETT: People are dying. We're killing them, not saving them.
THE STRANGER: They were dying before. We need to burn it all to rise from the ashes.
SCARLETT: You lied to me... You used me to create a civil war.
THE STRANGER: No. I never lied to you.
She’s shaking now.
SCARLETT: This isn’t what I wanted.
THE STRANGER: We knew someone had to pay for the kingdom to rise. (beat) You knew that. So don't try and play the "victim" now.
She doesn’t answer. Because she did know that.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE – DAY
The riot swells. Aleric commands a defensive line.
ALERIC: Shields up! Hold the line!
A rock slams into a soldier’s helmet. Another follows.
A panicked young soldier, REX, draws steel.
ALERIC: No blades! Put it down! We're here to contain, not to attack!
Too late.
Someone in the crowd screams.
Blood. Blood. Blood.
REX (crying): I didn't mean to...
ALERIC: Run. Don't let anyone see you here. I'll fix this.
Rex runs and doesn't look back. Aleric looks at the bloodshed. He knows what's going to happen.
INT. KING’S STUDY – DAY
The council crowds the King.
GENERAL ROG: We need to make an example. We can't have royal guards killing civilians!
LORD THESIN: The public must see control restored. And that we are on their side...
KING ALDRIC: At what cost?
GENERAL ROG: Right now? At any cost.
Scarlett enters mid-argument.
SCARLETT: This isn’t Aleric’s fault. He didn't do this.
The room goes quiet.
GENERAL ROG: He was the one located where the bloodshed happened. He must pay for what he did.
SCARLETT: Father, please. You know Aleric.
KING ALDRIC: I...
He hesitates and doesn't say anything.
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER – LATER
Aleric stands before them.
Bruised. Exhausted. Still steady.
KING ALDRIC: Aleric, you were seen attacking a group of civilians, defying the order to only contain and not attack!
ALERIC: I...
GENERAL ROG: Do you deny it?
ALERIC: I... do not.
King Aldric looks disappointed.
Scarlett can barely look at both of them. Tears running down her face.
INT. COUNCIL CHAMBER – CONTINUOUS
LORD THESIN: This crime needs a sentence. He needs to pay for what he did.
Silence stretches. Eyes shift. Toward Aleric.
SCARLETT: No. I won't allow it.
She steps forward.
SCARLETT: You can’t punish the one person who tried to keep this family safe for countless times. Please, Father...
GENERAL ROG: He's not above the law.
The King avoids her eyes and nods.
KING ALDRIC: Aleric of Valenrith. (beat, it costs him to say the words) You are stripped of rank.
Scarlett looks pale. She can't control the crying.
KING ALDRIC: You are exiled from Valenrith. Effective at midnight. If you ever step foot into this kingdom again, you shall be executed!
The air leaves Scarlett's lungs. She screams, running towards Aleric.
SCARLETT: NO! PLEASE, FATHER. NO.
Aleric doesn’t argue.
The guards hold Scarlett while Aleric leaves.
INT. HOLDING CORRIDOR – NIGHT
Aleric stands behind iron bars. Waiting for the time of exile.
Scarlett rushes to him. The guards hesitate.
SCARLETT (filled with rage): DON'T EVEN TRY!
They step aside.
SCARLETT (to Aleric): I tried...
ALERIC: I know. It's not your fault.
She grips the bars.
SCARLETT: This wasn’t supposed to...
She can’t finish.
ALERIC: Don’t. It's done. (beat) Don't let regret consume you...
She swallows hard.
SCARLETT: Don't you dare forget me. I'll find a way. To revoke this exile. Please. Even if it takes decades...
ALERIC: You know I could never forget you. If I ever see you again... I promise I'll do anything to come back to you.
A quiet kiss through iron. A forever love finally unleashed.
EXT. VALENRITH – GATES – NIGHT
Rain falls steadily.
Aleric walks beyond the gates, escorted.
Scarlett watches from the wall above.
He doesn’t look back. He can't.
She cries. She's looking at her humanity leave forever.
INT. ABANDONED SOLARIUM – NIGHT
Dark.
Scarlett stands motionless. She's angry.
The Stranger steps from shadow.
THE STRANGER: Now you...
She turns slowly.
SCARLETT: HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME AFTER WHAT YOU'VE DONE!?
THE STRANGER: It was a... complication. I'm sorry.
SCARLETT (crying): He’s gone. Because of what you did.
THE STRANGER: I'm sorry. I never wanted this to happen to him.
SCARLETT: I'll never forgive you... and the only reason I don't have you arrested is because I believe in what we're doing. But I'll never forgive you. You're forever in my debt.
THE STRANGER: Agreed. And I thank you for trusting me.
Silence.
INT. SCARLETT’S CHAMBERS – NIGHT
Reform papers scattered across her desk.
She stares at them. Then feeds them to the fire.
One by one.
She's done.
INT. ABANDONED SOLARIUM – NIGHT
The Stranger watches her through his orb.
Every step... happening as predicted.
FADE OUT
END OF EPISODE 6