Dragonslayer (1981)

FADE IN:

CASTLE - NIGHT

Now comes the moon riding over the horizon. Upon a hill at 
the edge of the wood squats a castle, its crude stonework 
bathed in cold silvery light. Queer carvings and runes 
decorate the ponderous gate. Heavy vines are climbing up the 
walls. The castle is old, its unfamiliar form testament to 
an ancient mind and an ancient craft. Flickering candle light 
dances on a leaded windowpane.

Inside, the corridors are dark and silent. Under low arched 
ceilings the uneven floors are paved with stone blocks. 
Perched over lintels and crouched in niches are icons with 
strange animal heads.

HODGE

A sleep on a straw palette in a room strewn with vegetables 
and crockery is Hodge, a wrinkled old retainer. A flickering 
candle and empty jug are beside the bed. He is snoring gently.

CONJURING ROOM

This circular chamber at the heart of the castle is stuffed 
with parchments, scrolls, dusty books, bronze braziers, glass 
retorts, chemical salts, birds both stuffed and caged. An 
iron candelabra stands on a work table, tapers burning. In 
the soft glow it seems that the room is unoccupied, but no, 
moving in the background is a shadowy figure, preparing for 
a magical deed. Feet are positioned carefully within a 
pentagram chiseled into the floor. A scroll is consulted; up 
comes an arm and a voice blurts out:

			VOICE
	Omnia in duos: Duo in Unum: Unus in 
	Nihil: Haec nec Quattuor nec Omnia 
	nec Duo nec Unus nec Nihil Sunt.

Nothing happens.

			VOICE
	Come on, candles, out!

But the little flames stand at attention without so much as 
a tremble.

			VOICE
	In Volunta Divina et Verbum Magi: 
	Lux! Exstinguat!

It's no use. There is a sigh and the figure moves forward 
into the light. Revealed in the glow is the discouraged face 
of Galen Bradwardyn, sorcerer's apprentice.

TOWER

Carrying the candelabra, the youth trudges up a circular 
staircase.

TURRET

The highest point of the castle is a turret, open to the 
stars and the night air. Here, more magic is afoot. An old 
enchanter, Ulrich, Magister Ipsissimus, pours water from a 
silver ewer into a stone bowl. As the surface ripples 
disappear he leans forward and gazes into the pool. All at 
once his face hardens as the distant sounds of screams and 
thunder reach his ears. Lights and shadows, reflected from 
within the basin, play across his face. His frown deepens as 
the sound of his own voice comes to him from the vision in 
the water -- Draco draconis -- suddenly squelched by the 
roar of flame and an ugly snarl.

At that moment Galen reaches the top of the steps and holds 
up the candelabra.

			GALEN
	Vide, Magister. There's something 
	wrong.

Ulrich, startled from his trance, slaps the water out of the 
basin and turns to confront his student. Galen is taken aback 
by the old man's grim countenance.

			GALEN
	What's the matter? What's happened?

			ULRICH
	I've just seen something. Something 
	of consequence to you.

			GALEN
	To me?

			ULRICH
		(calm)
	Yes. My own death.

With a distracted gesture he causes the flames to extinguish 
themselves.

			ULRICH
	Perhaps we had better hasten your 
	training.

							CUT TO:

BARNYARD - DAY

Outside the castle wall Hodge is feeding the chickens and 
ducks. He straightens up and squints through the early morning 
mists. On a distant hillock two figures are moving toward 
the woods.

ULRICH AND GALEN

Hobbling slowly with the aid of a pair of canes, Ulrich guides 
his pupil across a wooden bridge and along a stream into the 
forest.

			ULRICH
		(stern and troubled)
	This wood, these leaves, the birds, 
	the very dome of heaven, once they 
	all rang with one great chord: and 
	philosophers like me kept it all in 
	tune. Now, new voices are singing 
	new songs.
		(sharply)
	Have you mastered the threefold 
	transmutation?

			GALEN
	Of course.

			ULRICH
		(skeptical)
	You have?

			GALEN
	Well, almost.

			ULRICH
	It's very difficult. Have you 
	committed to memory undying the Codex 
	de Profundis?

			GALEN
		(a shrug)
	The first two chapters.

			ULRICH
	It's long. And what about the Ritual 
	of Banishment as prescribed by my 
	late master Balisarius?

			GALEN
	To tell the truth, I haven't dared 
	try it. What's the point, anyway?

			ULRICH
	The point? The point is you don't 
	know it, and you're no magician 
	without it. It was my hope to school 
	you, to mold your faculties and 
	wits... I still believe you have 
	some talent. Somewhere.

			GALEN
	I hate books. I hate drill. I want a 
	real task.

			ULRICH
	There's no time now. When I'm gone, 
	half the powers in the universe will 
	vanish with me. And what's the use 
	of a few lingering skills if they're 
	left in the hands of a child?
		(pause)
	Listen!

			GALEN
	I don't hear anything.

Ulrich gauges the young man standing before him and makes a 
decision. Reaching under his cloak he lifts off a fine silver 
chain with an amulet dangling from it. He drapes it around 
Galen's neck.

			ULRICH
	Here, wear this.

Galen instinctively wraps his hand around the jewel. He cocks 
an ear.

			GALEN
	Voices, singing on the road.

He hastens forward to a promontory, eager to have a look. 
Ulrich does not follow. Instead, doffing his cloak, he whirls 
it before him, where it magically floats a few feet off the 
ground. Awkwardly, the old man clambers aboard.

			GALEN
	I don't see anything.

He turns back, but the wizard is gone. A shadow falls over 
him. He looks up. There, two hundred feet above the tree 
tops his master is soaring on the wind.

AIRBORNE

The old conjurer squints into the distance. Miles away and 
far below a company of drab walkers winds along the margins 
of the forest. They are singing a mournful round.

GALEN

He gawks skyward. Suddenly, the old man leans down and 
addresses him.

			ULRICH
		(a shout)
	We have visitors!

							CUT TO:

ROTUNDA - NIGHT

Clustering together in the center of a wide reception hall 
is a contingent of weary peasants, awkward amidst the dusty 
rugs, drapes and heavy furniture. Their leader is a fineboned 
youth, not yet twenty. Like the others, he is uneasy; his 
name is Valerian. Hodge enters and sets a tray of mead before 
them. He leaves without a word. The visitors stare glumly at 
the refreshment, but are too timorous to go near it.

CONJURING ROOM

Galen helps Ulrich prepare for the audience. The sorcerer 
peers at himself in a full-length mirror, adjusting the hem 
of a black robe.

			ULRICH
	Looks forbidding enough, don't you 
	think?

			GALEN
	Here are your sticks.

			ULRICH
	No -- they'll think me infirm. You 
	know, Balisarius wore this whenever 
	he changed lead into gold. He could 
	really do that, you know. I never 
	could. Too bad -- you'd stand to 
	inherit some real wealth.

			GALEN
	You're in a morbid frame of mind. 
	What's all this about dying? You 
	don't even look sick.

			ULRICH
		(tying on a sash)
	You still wearing that amulet?
		(Galen nods)
	Good. Don't lose it. It still belongs 
	to me.

He backs away from the mirror and fits a silver coronet onto 
his head.

			ULRICH
	Now, adeptus minor, get yourself a 
	handful of that sulphurous ash over 
	there...

The sorcerer starts down a circular stone staircase.

THE ROTUNDA

The visitors watch warily as a door swings open and Galen 
makes his entrance, his face expressionless and hands pressed 
together. He looks rather young to be the famous Ulrich.

Galen allows a moment to go by, then throws his arms wide. 
Ka-whump! and Ulrich appears in the doorway in a smoky 
fireball. Alarmed, the visitors retreat.

			ULRICH
	Nunc habeus lux!

Pffst! around the room candles flare in their niches.

			ULRICH
	Et calor!

In the fireplace, the birch logs are suddenly ablaze. Ulrich 
totters to the hearth and extends long bony fingers toward 
the warmth.

			ULRICH
	Welcome to Cragganmore. I am Ulrich. 
	Which one of you calls himself 
	Valerian?

The travelers are suitably dazzled by the magician's 
performance. The young leader of the party screws up his 
courage and speaks.

			VALERIAN
	That would be me. We are here on 
	behalf...

			ULRICH
	I know why you're here. You're a 
	delegation from Urland, from beyond 
	Dalvatia. Let's see the artifacts.

The travelers exchange nervous glances. Valerian motions to 
one of his companions. The man steps forward and hands over 
a leather pouch. One by one, Valerian places the contents on 
the table for Ulrich's inspection.

			VALERIAN
	A bone. Scorched. A rock, fire-
	blackened.
		(pause)
	Scales.

At this, Ulrich advances and closely examines three shimmering 
irridescent disks as big as saucers.

			ULRICH
	All right. How did you come by these?

			VALERIAN
		(proudly)
	I found them. At the mouth of the 
	lair.

			ULRICH
		(grim)
	What else?

Valerian reaches under his jerkin and withdraws what appears 
to be a curved sword. He jabs it into the table.

			VALERIAN
	A claw.

			ULRICH
	That's no claw. It's a tooth. By the 
	gods!

He runs a finger along a serrated edge and gazes bleakly at 
his visitors.

			ULRICH
	And you want me to do battle with 
	that?

Valerian has lost all trace of timidity.

			VALERIAN
	Who else can we turn to? We all know 
	what we're dealing with here. This 
	is a basilicok.
		(he takes a step 
			forward)
	A cockatrice.
		(another step, bolder)
	A dragon.
		(he leans close to 
			Ulrich)
	This is no stag, no bear, no natural 
	creature. This is one of your kind. 
	And only a necromancer such as 
	yourself can rid us of it.

			ULRICH
	Did you try the Meredydd sisters? 
	What about Rinbod? I've heard it 
	said he killed a dragon once.

			VALERIAN
	They're all dead. You're the only 
	one left.

With a sigh, Ulrich lowers himself into a chair. He rubs his 
withered legs and shakes his head.

			ULRICH
	It's a long way to Urland.

			VALERIAN
	Every quarter, upon the solstices 
	and the equinoxes there's a new 
	victim.

Greil, a grizzled peasant, speaks up.

			GREIL
	My daughter, for one.

			OTHER TRAVELERS
	My sister... cousins...

			ULRICH
	All women?

			VALERIAN
	Girls. Virgins, to be exact, chosen 
	by lot.

Galen edges over to the table and inspects the scales and 
tooth.

			GALEN
	Master, don't you think --

			ULRICH
	Silence!

He broods for a long time.

			VALERIAN
	Are you afraid of dragons?

			ULRICH
	No. Sorcerers and dragons go back a 
	long long time together. If it weren't 
	for sorcerers, there wouldn't be any 
	dragons.
		(pause)
	All right. I'll go.

							CUT TO:

COURTYARD - DAY

The travelers are making ready for departure in the grey 
light of dawn. As Hodge stuffs provisions into a wicker box, 
Ulrich wraps padding on a newly fashioned pair of crutches.

			ULRICH
	I know of this dragon. Vermithrax 
	Pejorative: she's four hundred years 
	old. As far as I can tell she's the 
	last of her kind. Very appropriate 
	that I'm the one to finish her off, 
	don't you think?
		(he tries out the 
			crutches)
	There. Flatten the highest mountain. 
	What say you, Galen?
		(no answer)
	Speak up.
		(still no answer)
	You, Hodge.

Hodge mutters something inaudible and grimly keeps packing.

			ULRICH
		(to Galen)
	While I'm gone see you keep your 
	nose in your books and your hands 
	out of my reagents. Leave my 
	instruments alone too.

Galen crouches against the castle wall; he regards his master 
sullenly.

			GALEN
	Look at yourself. How far will you 
	get like that? A league, two leagues?

			ULRICH
	I'm not worried about the road.

			GALEN
		(sarcastic)
	Why don't you wave your hands around 
	and summon up a coach-and-four?

			ULRICH
	Don't mock me.

Galen gets up and calls out to the Urlanders.

			GALEN
	You pilgrims: You're used to 
	lotteries. Why not draw straws to 
	see who'll be first to carry 
	ironshanks here.

This is too much for Hodge.

			HODGE
	Hold your tongue. If the master's 
	got a mind to go, he'll go.

Galen approaches the old sorcerer.

			GALEN
	Send me. You're always saying I need 
	seasoning. I need a test. Let me go.

			ULRICH
	You're not ready.

			GALEN
	I'm ready for anything.

			ULRICH
		(wan smile)
	Don't be so hasty. Your time will 
	come.

The walkers are ready to set forth. Hodge picks up his pack, 
steps forward and pulls open the great gate.

HORSEMEN

Three mounted men are outside the gate, helmets on their 
heads, swords on the belts and longbows across their 
shoulders. They look formidable. The Urlanders take a step 
backward.

			VALERIAN
	Tyrian!?

Tyrian is a lean, heavily bearded nobleman. There is a coat 
of arms on the shield strapped to the pommel of his saddle.

			TYRIAN
		(amiable)
	Good morning, all.

			VALERIAN
	We're not afraid of you. Give us the 
	road.

			TYRIAN
	Why, the road is yours. All the way 
	to Urland. It's a long journey, isn't 
	it? But when you're in search of a 
	sorcerer, I suppose no distance is 
	too great.

Sensing trouble, Galen moves forward. Ulrich touches his 
arm.

			ULRICH
		(under his breath)
	Say nothing.

Galen hears the urgency in the old man's voice and obeys. 
Hodge takes it upon himself to deal with the strangers.

			HODGE
	What do you want with us?

			TYRIAN
	Well, like my good friends here, 
	I've come for a bit of black magic. 
	No doubt you've heard of our troubles 
	at home. This is Cragganmore, is it 
	not?

			HODGE
	Aye, this be the place of Ulrich.

Tyrian dismounts and saunters up to the old magician.

			TYRIAN
	And here we have the mystical presence 
	himself, no?

			HODGE
	You'd best keep your distance -- and 
	your manners.

			TYRIAN
	If he's ready to lay a dragon in its 
	grave, he's got nothing to fear from 
	me.
		(turns to the Urlanders)
	I've no more love for that creature 
	than you lot. Nor has the King. But, 
	before you stir things up, don't you 
	think it a good idea to see you've 
	got the right man for the job?

			HODGE
	Aha -- it's a test you're looking 
	for. We don't do tests.

			TYRIAN
	I'm sure you don't. They never do 
	tests -- and not many real deeds 
	either. Oh, conversation with your 
	grandmother's shade in a darkened 
	room, the odd love potion or two... 
	but comes a doubter, well then, it's 
	the wrong day, the planets are not 
	aligned, the entrails aren't 
	favorable, we don't do tests.

			VALERIAN
	We've got no doubts. We require no 
	test.

			HODGE
	And you're not going to get one.

When Ulrich finally speaks, his voice is low and 
authoritative.

			ULRICH
		(to Galen)
	Go to the conjuring room. The iron 
	box. Fetch me the dagger within.

Galen's eyes widen with alarm.

			ULRICH
	The dagger. Be quick.

Galen dashes into the castle. Ulrich gazes almost shyly at 
Tyrian.

			ULRICH
	You shall have your test.

CONJURING ROOM

Galen comes puffing up the steps, locates the iron box, and 
flings it open. Amidst the tawdry paraphernalia of a 
professional magician is an ivory-handled dagger covered 
with runic inscriptions. Galen eagerly examines it to see 
how the blade might twist aside or collapse into the handle, 
but it is all too genuine. A murder weapon.

			ULRICH'S VOICE
		(impatient)
	Where are you, boy? I'm waiting.

Galen throws open a window and looks down into the courtyard. 
He displays the dagger.

			GALEN
	Not this one, was it?

			ULRICH
	The very one. Let it fall.

Galen hesitates, then tosses it. Tumbling end over end, it 
arcs downward. The old conjurer calmly stretches out a hand 
and plucks it neatly out of the air. Galen watches as Ulrich 
passes the weapon to Tyrian and strips back his robe exposing 
a bony chest. Galen knows what's coming. He rushes for the 
door. He's only a step away when it bangs shut of its own 
accord. He sprints for a second exit. Whack! This door slams 
shut too. Locked in. Quick, back to the window and climb 
down the vine... Smack! the heavy shutters seal him in.

ULRICH AND TYRIAN

Ulrich takes Tyrian's arm and guides the point of the dagger 
to his breastbone.

			ULRICH
	Vita regula, vita hieratica!

Everyone is filled with dread. Hodge is shaking. From the 
castle come the rattling of shutters and Galen's muffled 
cries. A sick sarcastic smile has crept over Tyrian's lips. 
He tenses himself to thrust.

			ULRICH
	Go on. Don't worry, you can't hurt 
	me.

CONJURING ROOM

Galen stops hammering and presses his face to a crack in the 
shutter. Below he can see the participants in this grisly 
drama. He holds his breath. Tyrian makes a sudden movement 
and buries the blade in Ulrich's chest. But the sorcerer 
stands unbent, seemingly unhurt. Then, after a long moment, 
he slowly sags forward over the dagger and the hand that 
holds it. Tyrian shrinks back and allows the body to fall in 
a heap. Very quickly he remounts. In another moment he and 
his companions are gone. The others are riveted in horror. 
Hodge sinks to his knees and wails his grief.

Galen turns away from the window and gazes blankly into the 
gloomy conjuring room. Click! The doors unlatch themselves 
and swing open.

							CUT TO:

FUNERAL PYRE - DAY

Ulrich, principal magician and sorcerer of the western world, 
reposes on a hardwood pyre. His hands are folded on his chest. 
His face is peaceful. While the visitors wordlessly look on, 
Galen touches a burning brand to the kindling. At first the 
fire catches normally enough, but when the flames start to 
envelop the body they suddenly turn pale green, producing an 
unearthly roar. The onlookers back away from the intense 
heat.

GALEN

The erstwhile apprentice stands his ground, blinking back 
tears, his face weirdly illuminated by the fire.

							CUT TO:

CONJURING ROOM - DAY

Galen sits alone amidst the museum-like collection of magical 
apparatus. He stares at the amulet, considering its 
significance. His reverie is interrupted by the murmur of 
voices below. At the window he looks down to see Hodge bidding 
farewell to the delegation from Urland. Valerian is the last 
to leave. He pauses at the gate and glances up at Galen. 
Then he moves on. The young student of magic sets his jaw, 
suddenly filled with resolve.

Moving through the room, he busies himself with the old man's 
effects. He scoops up the loose books and parchments and 
locks them into trunks. He drapes muslin cloths over the 
alchemical devices. He sows a handful of salt over the 
pentagram inscribed in the floor. Finally, he opens the cages 
and releases the crow, the falcon, and the great horned owl.

COURTYARD

Hodge is up on the burned out funeral pyre, anxiously scraping 
ashes and small bones into a leather pouch -- the remains of 
Ulrich. Up behind him comes Galen, now clad in a traveler's 
cloak, with a pack on his back and a staff in his hand.

			GALEN
	Hodge -- what are you doing?

Hodge quickly conceals the pouch.

			HODGE
	Just making my farewell, thank you 
	very much.

He quickly climbs down, picks up his pack and follows Galen 
out through the gate. As the door is pushed shut a huge oaken 
timber falls into place, barring the castle against the 
uninvited.

							CUT TO:

HILLTOP - DAY

Galen and Hodge labor to the crest of a grassy hill and turn 
to look back across a wide valley. There on another hilltop 
on the far side sits Cragganmore, lit by the red rays of the 
setting sun. Galen removes the amulet from his neck and 
clutches it in his fist. Hodge is bug-eyed to see it.

			HODGE
	Be careful with that! You don't know 
	what you're doing.

			GALEN
	Stand back!

He raises his hands toward the castle and calls out:

			GALEN
	Cragganmore! Domus non i am! Silva 
	celet!

CRAGGANMORE

The vines on the castle walls begin to twitch and stretch, 
magically brought to animate life. They flow upward over the 
masonry, branching out and covering every surface, then up 
onto the roof. Finally only the tops of the chimneys and the 
highest turrets stand above the green carpet. A century's 
growth in a matter of seconds.

GALEN & HODGE

On their hilltop the old retainer gives the youth a fearful 
look. Galen is too flushed with excitement over what he has 
done to notice.

							DISSOLVE:

FOREST PATH - DAY

Galen and Hodge trudge along an overgrown cart-track under 
an arch of trees.

			HODGE
	Oh, it's a vale of tears in which we 
	dwell. It doesn't matter who you 
	are, a king in his robes, a peasant 
	in his rags, when your time comes, 
	no magic can save you...

			GALEN
	I guess...

The apprentice's mind is elsewhere: he's got a coin hovering 
in mid-air above his palm, bobbing gently as he walks.

			HODGE
	...the kindest lord a man could ask 
	for... now he's gone. Ye gods he was 
	fussy about his bath. And you'd think 
	he could boil his own eggs with the 
	snap of a finger, but no, he had old 
	Hodge do it, of course.
		(snurfling)
	Up before five I was, mucking out 
	the cages, slopping the pigs, and 
	never once got so much as a thankyou 
	or a pat on the back...
		(through tears)
	I'm going to miss him.

			GALEN
	Me too...

He plucks a low-hanging leaf, waves a hand over it, and 
watches it turn into a spray of daffodils.

			HODGE
	No you don't. All you care about is 
	the tricks and knavery. Well, you 
	don't pull any wool over these old 
	eyes. It'll be a mighty long walk 
	before you fill his shoes, you mark 
	my word.

			GALEN
	What's the matter, Hodge, pack too 
	heavy? Here.

He gives the pack a slap. It flies out of its harness and 
floats alongside them. Hodge snatches it back and clutches 
it tightly.

			HODGE
	Careful with that!

			GALEN
	Too cold, is it?

A great coat drapes itself over Hodge's shoulders.

			HODGE
	Stop it!

			GALEN
	Too warm?

The greatcoat disappears, as do the rest of his garments, 
leaving him in his smalls.

			HODGE
		(spluttering)
	Stop it, I say! Out of respect for 
	the master!

Suppressing a grin, Galen mercifully waves his hand and 
restores Hodge to his usual costume.

			GALEN
	I've got as much respect for the 
	master as anyone, old man. But -- 
	then again, I'm master now.

							CUT TO:

TRAVELERS' CAMP - NIGHT

The Urlanders are gathered around a fire, sharing a meager 
supper. The man named Greil pokes at the stew-pot.

			GREIL
	I left my farm with seeds unplanted, 
	calves unborn, nothing but a wife to 
	chase down the strays, and for what? 
	A funeral, that's what.

He walks up and down behind Valerian.

			GREIL
	Because some people said, find a 
	magician. Not just a local fellow, 
	an import, a good forty leagues from 
	home. An all-powerful necromancer. 
	Ha -- some necromancer!

Malkin, an older man, speaks up.

			MALKIN
	Hold your tongue, Greil. Sit. Eat.

			GREIL
	I'll not sit. I'll not eat. See you 
	the Great Bear. His tail points east. 
	It's the equinox. Have you forgotten? 
	Or rather not think about it?

			VALERIAN
		(miserable)
	He's right. I brought us here for 
	nothing. May the gods help whoever's 
	daughter it is tonight.

There is a noise from the darkness beyond the campfire. Two 
of the men get to their feet and listen. At first silence, 
then more rustling. Without a word the two men dart into the 
bushes and haul two interlopers before the company: Galen 
and Hodge.

			HODGE
	Good morrow, good morrow. Peace be 
	with you.

			GALEN
	Easy now. We mean no harm. We've 
	been looking for you.

			GREIL
		(growl)
	Well, you've found us.

			GALEN
		(brushing himself off)
	More the other way around, I'd say.

			VALERIAN
	What do you want?

			GALEN
	A few words, that's all. You were 
	looking for a conjurer.

			VALERIAN
	He's dead.

			GALEN
	Right. Requiscat in pace.
		(he takes a deep breath)
	Ecce: magister novus!

			GREIL
	How say you?

Galen surveys the puzzled faces. He draws himself up and 
plunges in:

			GALEN
	My lord Ulrich is no longer. All 
	that you asked of him, you may now 
	expect of me. The dangers he would 
	face, I will now conquer. The task 
	he would undertake I will now fulfill. 
	I am Galen Bradwardyn, inheritor of 
	Ulrich's craft and knowledge, and I 
	am the Sorcerer you seek.

There is a moment of depressed silence. Hodge rolls his eyes. 
Greil starts to chuckle, then to laugh. Soon the others are 
laughing too.

			GREIL
	Well, that's a handsome thought, O 
	wizard of wizards. But if there's 
	one thing our friend Tyrian has shown 
	us, it's to beware the pig in the 
	poke. Who's got a dagger?

			HODGE
	No tests!!

			GREIL
	Call it proof, then.

Someone brings out a dagger and hands it to Greil. Valerian 
pushes it away.

			VALERIAN
	We've seen enough tests.

But Greil persists, waving the knife at the group.

			GREIL
	Well I haven't. All I've seen is 
	death. Death in our families, death 
	on the road, and tonight, death at 
	home.

He lashes out with the knife. Galen jumps back, but Valerian 
steps in, delivering a quick kick to Greil's gut, followed 
by a right to the jaw that sends the bigger man sprawling. 
He takes the knife.

			VALERIAN
	What's come over you, anyway? Have 
	you lost your wits?

He propels Galen out of harm's way and sits him down on the 
other side of the fire. Greil nurses his jaw.

			GREIL
	I don't like it. Young snot-nose 
	comes in here for sport at our 
	expense. We're on a fool's errand, 
	but we don't have to listen to this. 
	I don't want to hear any more about 
	sorcery. I don't want to hear any 
	more about spells.

Valerian hands Galen a plate of food.

			VALERIAN
	You must be hungry.

			GALEN
		(nods)
	What's the matter with him?

			VALERIAN
	It's not just him. It's all of us. 
	It's the equinox.

They both look up at the moon.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - NIGHT

The moon shines down on the far reaches of the Kingdom of 
Urland, coldly lighting a barren landscape filled with the 
skeletons of dead trees, blackened rock and bare ground. 
Advancing across this mournful terrain is a troop of armed 
men leading a blindfolded horse and tumbril. The horse is 
skittish. Finally, in spite of shouts and lashings, it refuses 
to go further. The leader, Horsrik, barks out an order:

			HORSRIK
	Close enough! Bring her out!

A young woman, no more than seventeen, is brought forth from 
the cart. Long black hair falls down over a white tunic. Her 
dark eyes dart fearfully around in her pale face. She is 
half-carried, half dragged to the edge of a steaming crack 
in the ground where she is manacled to a wooden post. By 
lantern-light, Horsrik reads from a parchment scroll.

			HORSRIK
	Now be it known throughout the 
	kingdom, that this maiden, having 
	lawfully been chosen by a deed of 
	fortune and destiny, shall hereby 
	give up her life for the greater 
	good of Urland.

There is a low rumble; the earth shakes. Horsrik glances 
nervously around. He carries on by rote.

			HORSRIK
	By this act shall be satisfied the 
	powers that dwell underground and 
	the spirits that attend thereto. In 
	gratitude for this sacrifice His 
	Majesty has declared the family -- 
	what's the name? --

He prods the girl, but she is too terrified to speak. Beneath 
them, the earth seems to groan. Smoke issues from the mouth 
of the pit. One of the nervous witnesses leans forward.

			RETAINER
	Plowman! The family Plowman!

			HORSRIK
		(rushing it)
	-- the family Plowman to be free of 
	obligations, taxations, levys and 
	imposts for a period not to exceed 
	five years...

The horse suddenly rears, and blindfold notwithstanding, 
gallops off, dragging the tumbril over the rocks. The men 
behind Horsrik break ranks and scatter.

			HORSRIK
	-- ordained and signed this day, 
	etc., Casiodorus, in his glory the 
	reigning king of this our realm... 
	his seal, his mark, duly read by 
	Chancellor Horsrik in his holy name.

Now Horsrik joins the flight, chasing his men back over the 
murky horizon.

THE GIRL

She strains against her manacles, cocking her head to listen 
as the rumblings below subside. Presently the steam and smoke 
blow away and she can see the horse pawing and stamping a 
hundred yards distant, the wheel of the cart jammed between 
rocks. Summoning up a wild will to live, she squeezes her 
hands against the cold iron rings. No use. She spits on her 
wrists and twists desperately. Blood starts. One hand slips 
free. She looks at the horse. The animal tosses off its 
blindfold and looks back at her. Now she strains again and 
pulls her other hand free. She wipes the blood on her frock 
and sprints toward the horse. But she doesn't get there. The 
earth abruptly shifts from under her feet, tumbling her among 
cracked and steaming rocks. When she raises her head a huge 
shadow has fallen over the horse. There is a piteous whinny, 
then a roar. The girl's face is suddenly lit by flames. She 
scrambles to her feet and rushes back the other way.

THE CHASE

The girl hasn't taken a dozen steps when something huge 
hurtles forward and blocks her way. Something scaly and 
glittering. She whirls and stumbles off in a new direction. 
This time she's cut off by a monstrous claw tipped with rapier-
like talons. She screams and crawls away. Another claw 
prevents her escape.

THE CREATURE

Membranous wings fold down against the night sky. Up comes 
the silhouette of a reptilian head swaying on a serpentine 
neck. There's an angry hiss. A sheet of flame envelops 
everything.

							FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

FOREST - DAY

Tyrian kneels beside a mountain waterfall, having a drink 
while his men hover in the background. One of them points 
down the slope.

			MAN
	There. I see them.

Tyrian wipes his mouth unhurriedly and strolls over to look. 
Far below, half hidden by trees, the little company of 
Urlanders winds its way through the forest.

A frown creeps over Tyrian's face.

			TYRIAN
	Who's that old man?

			MAN
	Where? Which one?

			TYRIAN
	That one. That's the man from 
	Cragganmore. Now what's he doing 
	here?

			MAN
	Filling in for the chief, I reckon.

			TYRIAN
		(weary)
	What a pity.

							CUT TO:

HODGE

Hodge marches along with the rest. When he's sure no one 
else is looking he burrows into his garments and brings out 
the leather pouch containing Ulrich's ashes. Reassured that 
it's still with him, he tucks it away again. Galen falls 
into step.

			GALEN
	What have you got there?

			HODGE
	None of your business.

			GALEN
	A little gold, eh? What do you say I 
	change it into lead?

			HODGE
	Save your jokes for someone else. 
	Me, I don't care for braggarts.

They pass Valerian, who has dropped out of line.

			HODGE
	And I don't care for frauds.

			GALEN
	I'm no fraud.

			HODGE
	Call it fool then. Upstart. Whatever 
	pleases you.

			GALEN
	Hodge, nobody forced you to come 
	along.

			HODGE
	Oh, I'm here of my own free will, 
	all right. We each do the master's 
	bidding in our own way.

			GALEN
	Well, if he told you I needed 
	wetnursing, why don't you just turn 
	yourself around and go back home.

Hodge snorts and fusses with his pack.

			HODGE
	Home, is it? You've seen to that, 
	haven't you? Gone to seed, I'd say...

He glances over and discovers Galen missing.

GALEN

He walks back along the trail, looking for Valerian. Pretty 
soon the rest of the travelers are out of sight. He hears 
the sound of a splash. He turns off the trail and pushes 
through some shrubbery.

FOREST POOL

Under the oaks and hickory, a forest stream has widened into 
a quiet pool. A pile of clothes lies on a rock at the edge. 
Out in the middle, Valerian is treading water.

			GALEN
	You're too far behind us. Come on 
	out.

			VALERIAN
	You go ahead, I'll catch up.

			GALEN
	Not a good idea to get separated. 
	Let's go.

			VALERIAN
	Right. I'll be along.

Galen leans over and splashes some water on his face. Feels 
good. He shucks his pack and starts to throw off his clothes. 
Valerian doesn't like it.

			VALERIAN
	That's all right. Don't come in.

But Galen is now naked and walking into the water. He swims 
out toward Valerian.

			VALERIAN
		(edgy)
	You better get back to the group, 
	they're probably worried.

Galen keeps swimming.

			VALERIAN
	I prefer to swim alone, if you don't 
	mind.

But Galen has slipped beneath the surface; he doesn't hear.

UNDERWATER

Galen works his way through the murky green underwater world. 
Suddenly, he stops short and stares. He's only a few feet 
from Valerian's dangling legs. He gasps in surprise. Valerian 
is no boy.

ON THE SURFACE

Galen comes shooting to the surface, coughing and sputtering.

			GALEN
	By the gods!

Valerian is pale and frightened.

			VALERIAN
	Stay away.

She propels herself backward, then turns and swims for shore.

ON THE SHORE

Galen and Valerian have taken refuge behind separate bushes. 
Briskly they pull on their clothes.

			VALERIAN
	I suppose you'll tell everyone. Go 
	ahead, I don't care. It's a relief.

			GALEN
	I'm not going to say anything.

			VALERIAN
	I don't blame you. I was stupid. 
	Careless. A silly woman!

			GALEN
		(feeble bluff)
	Take it easy. I knew the moment I 
	saw you. I've known the whole time.

			VALERIAN
	You never knew a thing. No one knew. 
	Not since I was born. Go on, run off 
	and tell them. It'll make a great 
	story.

			GALEN
	Don't worry. No one's going to find 
	out. Just tell me: why?

			VALERIAN
	Ask my father.

They finish dressing in silence. Finally:

			GALEN
	The lottery! Daughters are chosen, 
	but sons are not!

			VALERIAN
	That's right. Unless you have plenty 
	of gold or property.

			GALEN
	What do you mean?

			VALERIAN
	If you're rich enough, your name 
	never goes in.
		(bitter)
	My father is poor. So are a lot of 
	fathers.

He studies her. She jams a hat down over her head and, once 
more the young man, stalks off.

THE VISION

Galen walks down to the edge of the pool to retrieve his 
pack. As he leans over he catches sight of what appears to 
be a reflection in the water: Tyrian on horseback. He whips 
around, but no one is behind him. Riveted by the vision, he 
hurries along the bank to follow it. After a few paces the 
blurry figure dismounts, unslings a longbow, nocks an arrow 
and draws the string taut.

			GALEN
		(horrified)
	No!

FOREST

Galen sprints through the trees. Up ahead is Valerian, walking 
resolutely.

			GALEN
	No!

She glances back at him and grimly keeps on walking. Galen 
shoots past her and on into the forest.

			GALEN
	Hodge!

TRAVELERS

Galen races up the trail rounds a bend and sees the Urlanders 
coming toward him. Hodge precedes the group with an unsteady 
gait. He sees Galen, raises up his arms and flops face down 
on the trail. A long arrow protrudes from his back. Galen 
kneels beside him. The uneasy company keeps its distance. 
Hodge struggles to speak.

			HODGE
	Galen? Can you hear me?

			GALEN
	I hear you.

			HODGE
	You know, somebody shot me, but I 
	can still talk. There's something 
	that has to be done.

			GALEN
	I know.

			HODGE
	Not that cockatrice. Ulrich's ashes. 
	Here.

Hodge's hand comes out from under his coat gripping the 
leather pouch. Galen tugs at it, but Hodge can't let go.

			HODGE
	Take it. Sorry, you'll have to peel 
	it loose.

Galen pries the sack out of Hodge's clenched fingers. Suddenly 
the hand comes up, grabs Galen by the hair, and pulls him 
near.

			HODGE
		(a croak)
	...burning water... find the lake, 
	throw it in...

			GALEN
		(holding up the pouch)
	What are you doing with this, Hodge?

			HODGE
	...burning water...

He dies. Galen frees himself from his grasp.

			GALEN
	Hodge, don't die. Listen to me. You're 
	not going to die.

Galen is frantic. He pulls out the amulet and wraps his hand 
around it.

			GALEN
	Excede, mortem! Revoca, vitam!
		(he shakes the body)
	Excede, mortem! Revoca, vitam!

But Hodge has passed on, and Galen's magic has no way to 
reach him. Suddenly the youth cries out in pain. He drops 
the amulet and looks at his palm. The device has burned his 
flesh. Now he becomes aware of troubled Urlanders looking 
over his shoulder, witness to his failure.

							CUT TO:

LAKE - DAY

Wind whips the leaden wave tops on a vast rainy lake. The 
travelers are rowing across in an open longboat, aided by a 
tattered lateen sail. Valerian mans the steering oar at the 
stern while Galen broods in the bow. He feels like an imposter 
in their eyes.

FJORD

The boat pulls into a long narrow waterway with granite cliffs 
on either side. Moving through swirls of fog, they beach the 
boat and step out onto a craggy shore. Greil leans over and 
kisses a rock.

			GREIL
	Urland!

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

The travelers descend a mountain pass and emerge through a 
wrack of cloud into a gray and cheerless region. Fire-
blackened trees dot the barren landscape. As they reach the 
flatlands, the Urlanders instinctively pick up the pace. 
Galen slows to inspect the weird surroundings. Valerian trots 
past him.

			VALERIAN
	Come on. Don't dawdle here.

Galen falls into step with her.

			GALEN
	The whole kingdom like this?

			VALERIAN
	No. We're near the lair. Keep moving.

Galen looks around with new interest.

			GALEN
	Where?

			VALERIAN
	Over there. Doesn't matter. We're in 
	no danger if we just pass through 
	quickly.

Galen stops. High on the slope beside them is a gaping 
fissure.

			GALEN
	I see it. Let's have a look.

			VALERIAN
	No!

But Galen is already toiling up the incline.

			VALERIAN
	Greil! Malkin! Help!

The travelers turn to see what's the matter.

THE LAIR

Galen approaches the lair, pausing beside a wooden post with 
iron manacles dangling from it. He fingers them thoughtfully. 
Malkin, Greil and Valerian rush up behind him, their faces 
drawn with worry.

			GREIL
	Look, you don't have to do this. We 
	know you're a fine young magician. 
	None better. There's no need to prove 
	it to us.

			GALEN
	Are there other entrances?

			VALERIAN
	No. One's enough.

			GREIL
	Come on. The road's this way. We'll 
	tell everybody how close you got.

			GALEN
		(coolly)
	No smoke. How do you know it's in 
	there?

			GREIL
	Don't be a fool. Come away now and 
	live to tell about it.

Instead, Galen starts into the crack. Greil and Malkin hasten 
away, but Valerian lingers, watching in mounting frustration 
as Galen probes further and further into the lair. She picks 
up a fistful of stones and throws them at him.

			VALERIAN
	Go ahead! You're going to die! What 
	a fine trick that will be!

But Galen is lost in the gloom. She flees.

UNDERGROUND

Galen puts his hand on the rugged wall: the rocks are hot to 
the touch. Something glinting on the floor catches Galen's 
eye: an irridescent disk, a dragon scale. It flashes the 
colors of the rainbow as Galen examines it. All at once the 
ground shudders; chunks of rock fall from the ceiling. A 
pall of smoke billows up from the depths.

OUTSIDE

Galen staggers out of the fissure coughing and gagging in a 
swirl of smoke. There is no sign of the Urlanders. He throws 
down his pack, climbs onto a huge boulder and surveys the 
massive cliffs rising behind the lair. He grasps the amulet 
and closes his eyes.

			GALEN
	Now, great mountain, hear my command: 
	Terrae lapsus consignet latibulum 
	draconis! Evanescat latibulum 
	draconis!

LANDSLIDE

With a thunderous splitting sound, the entire top of the 
cliff pitches forward and topples onto the lower half of the 
mountain, sweeping tons of debris into the air. Boulders the 
size of houses bound down the mountain toward the magician. 
Eyes wide with awe, he turns and runs for his life. Even as 
he careens down the slope, chunks of rock rumble past. One 
catches him at the knee and sends him flying.

He covers his head and joins the landslide. Finally the dust 
lifts and he finds himself in a gully face to face with the 
cowering Urlanders. They look with real fear at the man who 
just conjured up the Apocalypse. Tattered and torn, covered 
with dirt, Galen climbs up out of the shelter for a look at 
his handiwork.

LANDSCAPE

The territory has been drastically transformed: the dragon's 
lair is now buried beneath hundreds of tons of broken granite. 
The Urlanders look upon the new landscape with stupefaction. 
Galen grins a triumphant split-lip grin that fails to win 
them over. Presently they back away and run off down the 
trail, Valerian in their midst. Galen's grin fades.

							CUT TO:

VILLAGE - DAY

The Village of Swanscombe is little more than a rough and 
ready collection of thatched huts and mud-daubed outbuildings 
surrounded by cultivated fields. Dogs sleep in open door-
ways; chickens peck around the communal well -- but there 
are no people in evidence as Valerian and her company troop 
into town.

VALERIAN

She trots across the square and enters a deserted blacksmith 
shop.

			VALERIAN
	Father? Hello?

She goes over to the forge. Hot coals are burning. She becomes 
aware of a sound -- voices -- chanting.

SQUARE

She walks across the square toward the voices. She is joined 
by Greil, Malkin and the other travelers, all of them puzzled 
by the desolation. As they approach the grange hall the voices 
grow louder. They seem to be singing. The main doors open 
briefly and three villagers scamper out, dripping wet and 
wrapped in white muslin. Valerian and her companions look at 
each other in astonishment.

IN THE GRANGE HALL

In a wooden cistern in the middle of the hall a woman is 
being held under water. After a few moments she is pulled to 
the surface by a tall red-haired man with long bony fingers: 
Brother Jacopus Januensis, a Carthusian monk. There's a wooden 
cross on his chest and a mad look in his eye. Gathered around 
him are the missing villagers, every man woman and child, 
here to be baptised and sing a few newly-learned hymns in 
praise of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	Now are you cleansed of your sins! 
	Now are you born again, purified in 
	spirit, into the fellowship of Jesus 
	Christ!

The travelers enter and mingle with the congregation. Valerian 
scans the crowd until she locates her father, Simon, a balding 
sturdy journeyman. He's overjoyed at her return and gives 
her a hearty embrace.

			SIMON
	Welcome back, my son.

			VALERIAN
	Father, what are you doing? Have you 
	all lost your minds?

			SIMON
	Some have.

He points to the monk, who is dunking a screaming infant and 
carrying on about the Bishop of Rome.

			SIMON
	It's this monk. He can read and write, 
	and talk too, I'm afraid.

			VALERIAN
	And they listen?

			SIMON
	Shh! They think this a holy place, a 
	tabernacle.

			VALERIAN
	This is the granary. What kind of 
	welcome is this? I've got news of 
	the sorcerer and news of the dragon.

			SIMON
	You were brave to go, you and your 
	friends. But nobody cares. Listen -- 
	he knows what they want to hear.

MONK

Brother Jacopus strides back and forth before the assembly 
in an inspired state.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	The man who walks with Christ is not 
	a man to fear a dragon: Yea, though 
	I walk through the valley of the 
	shadow of death I will fear no evil! 
	You say you are preyed upon by a 
	foul beast. Yes, but what is the 
	nature of this beast? It comes to 
	you on bat's wings and clawed feet, 
	does it not? It breathes fire, does 
	it not? And it lives under ground. 
	This is no dragon. This is Lucifer!

			VOICE
	Whoever it is, he's dead.

This is Galen, who has just stepped into the hall, tattered, 
bedraggled and triumphant.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	Nay, brother! It is not as easy as 
	that. Allegiance to Christ, to be 
	sure, but also prayer and confession. 
	These are the arms by which Satan 
	may be put down.

			GALEN
	You're talking about superstition, 
	friend. None of that has anything to 
	do with what I, Galen, have already 
	achieved.

He marches to the center of the gathering.

			SIMON
		(to Valerian)
	You brought this stranger?

			VALERIAN
	Ulrich's apprentice. He's a braggart, 
	but it doesn't matter.

			GALEN
	People of Urland! Send a messenger 
	to the king. Vermithrax is dead. 
	Crushed by the power of the moon and 
	the stars! Laid low by ancient wisdom. 
	Dropped into the Abyss by mystical 
	practice.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	Spoken like a pagan. Every word as 
	reprobate as it is false!
		(holding up his cross)
	Solum in hoc signo vinces!

			GALEN
	Nihil plus mysterium!

He gestures boldly and a fireball crackles at the monk's 
feet. The holy man scurries back. A hush falls upon the 
congregation.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

A procession of curious villagers winds its way into the 
badlands. They gather on a promontory overlooking the dragon's 
lair. They stand there for a long time, a chill wind whipping 
their garments, trying to understand what's happened. The 
monk is mightily displeased.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	Praise God! Blessed is he that is 
	humble before the Lord!

			VALERIAN
	Your god had nothing to do with it.

Indeed, Galen's act is already the stuff of legend:

			MALKIN
	We saw it with our own eyes. He flew 
	to the mountain top. He was a bird. 
	He brought forth lightning. I saw 
	it.

Some of the younger villagers scamper forward to the spot 
where the cave had its opening. With yells and whoops they 
beat the ground with clubs. In the crowd Simon begins to 
smile, then to laugh. Soon he leads the villagers in a 
tumultuous cheer. Brother Jacopus and some of his converts 
drop to their knees and pray.

							CUT TO:

CELEBRATION

The inhabitants of Swanscombe have decked out the town square 
and are making a night of it. By torchlight they dance merrily 
to jigs and reels provided by the local fiddlers. Ale flows 
freely from oak casks.

VALERIAN'S HOUSE

Valerian is kneeling before a trunk full of women's clothing. 
She pulls out a long simple frock, goes to a crude mirror, 
and holds it up against her body to gauge the effect. Her 
father comes up behind her. He is angry and frightened.

			SIMON
	Put that away. What if you were seen?

			VALERIAN
	I'm going to be seen. I want to be 
	seen. Tonight the world finds out 
	that you never had a son.

			SIMON
	No, you mustn't do that. It's too 
	soon. We've got to think about this, 
	we've got to make a plan.

			VALERIAN
	Father: the danger is over.

He sits on the bed and puts his head in his hands.

			SIMON
	I know. What am I going to say to my 
	friends who still mourn for their 
	lost girls.

			VALERIAN
	You'll say you did what you had to. 
	This is a time for celebration -- 
	and forgiveness.

He looks up at her, trying to imagine what it's going to be 
like having a daughter.

CELEBRATION

Galen is surrounded by a crowd of wide-eyed kids and not a 
few adults, entertaining them by pulling duck's eggs out of 
their ears and causing coins to disappear. Presently he feels 
the attention of his audience shift away to someone standing 
behind him. He turns to find a shy but determined Valerian 
sweetly decked out in her blue frock. A buzz goes through 
the crowd. Valerian blushes and wavers: she seems ready to 
bolt for home. But Galen takes her by the hand, and with 
conspicuous politesse leads her to the dance.

DANCE

It's forward, back and around sixth-century style: the young 
sorcerer can't take his eyes off his partner. But she's too 
shy to return his gaze.

			GALEN
	Looks like you've been up to a little 
	sorcery yourself.

Valerian doesn't know what to say.

			GALEN
	Or is it witchcraft?

She still doesn't reply. It's all she can do to keep on 
dancing.

			GALEN
	What's the matter? A real woman never 
	stops talking.

			VALERIAN
	I think it was much easier being a 
	boy.

SIMON & GREIL

They stand on the sidelines, watching the young couple step 
to the music.

			SIMON
	The damnedest thing is, she was twice 
	the man of anyone else in the village. 
	Now she's twice the woman.

			GREIL
		(grim)
	Would that I had been as clever as 
	her father.

			SIMON
	Come now, Greil. Don't begrudge a 
	life spared.

			GREIL
	I begrudge nothing. But I wonder at 
	what we have seen and how it was 
	done.

			SIMON
	You were there.

			GREIL
	I saw what I saw. But this jack-anapes 
	was barely ready to carry his master's 
	chamberpot. Isn't it strange that at 
	the very moment the beast is put 
	down we should have a holy man here 
	in the village?

			SIMON
	You don't believe that superstitious 
	Christian rot, do you?

			GREIL
		(defensive)
	It is said God works his wonders in 
	mysterious ways.

CELEBRATION

While the proud Simon dances in the background with his 
daughter, a group of tipsy villagers clusters around Galen, 
belching forth a drinking song. The young magician raises 
his own mug and joins in on the chorus. Abruptly the music 
stops. The singing dies away. The ensuing silence is broken 
by the sound of galloping hooves. Presently three horsemen 
appear at the end of town: Tyrian and his henchmen. They 
guide their horses forward into the midst of the merry-makers. 
Tyrian dismounts and looks around in his usual friendly way.

			TYRIAN
	A celebration! Don't stop on my 
	account. You -- musicians, more music!

The musicians leave their instruments in their laps. Tyrian 
draws himself a measure of ale and raises it above his head.

			TYRIAN
	A toast! To the deed of the day! You 
	see, good news travels fast. The 
	King himself has already heard it. 
	And like yourselves, tonight he's 
	overcome with joy.

			MALKIN
	What would you have of us then?

			TYRIAN
	Not a thing. It's this one.
		(he gestures toward 
			Galen)
	The King would meet our new benefactor 
	and offer his gratitude to the man 
	who succeeded where so many have 
	failed.

			GALEN
		(sobering up)
	What sort of gratitude? A knife in 
	the belly? An arrow in the back?

Tyrian's smile freezes on his face. He steps in front of 
Galen, towering over him.

			TYRIAN
	My young friend, I'd as soon dispatch 
	you as I did the others, and for the 
	same reason. But his Majesty would 
	like a cozy chat, and commands 
	otherwise.

			VALERIAN
	Don't go, Galen. Cast a spell and 
	turn them into toads. It should be 
	easy; that's what they are.

Tyrian regards her coolly, taking in her change of costume 
and its meaning.

			TYRIAN
	Well, well: still plenty of cheek 
	under those skirts, it seems.

Having buried the dragon under a mountain, Galen decides 
he's not worried about an appearance at court. He smiles at 
Valerian.

			GALEN
	Don't worry. I'll be back.

							CUT TO:

RIDERS

Three horses gallop through the moors and fens of central 
Urland. Galen is tucked up behind Tyrian. On the distant 
horizon, the battlements of the King's castle glow in the 
slanting light of a new day.

							CUT TO:

THRONE ROOM - DAY

Within the castle is a great hall with shafts of daylight 
poking in through narrow windows set high in the walls. In 
the middle of the room stands a carved oak throne. There is 
Casiodorus Rex, King of Urland, a bearded man in his fifties, 
as spare and somber as the room in which he sits. He is 
flanked by a few servants, assorted courtiers and Tyrian. 
Standing before them all is Galen, looking unhappy. He pours 
a pitcher full of water into a small glazed goblet.

			GALEN
	One of the best things about the 
	water here in Urland is that there's 
	so much of it -- look at that!

Water continues to pour into the goblet without overflowing. 
Galen takes a sip.

			GALEN
	Mmm. Good. But not cold enough. 
	Perhaps I could borrow a scarf from 
	his Majesty.

The King makes no sign. Galen approaches stiffly, takes a 
scarf and retreats.

			GALEN
	I cover the goblet, so... remove, 
	so... and behold: winter in a mug!

And he's done it: he turns the goblet over and a small chunk 
of ice hits the floor. The royal reaction is equally frosty. 
Galen is bombing, and he knows it.

			GALEN
	All right. How many of you have ever 
	seen a table fly?

He mutters an incantation. In the audience, Tyrian notes 
that Galen has his hand wrapped around the amulet. There is 
a loud clatter as the heavy oak table before the throne begins 
to jitter and buck. As the wine spills and plates go flying, 
the King wearily raises a hand.

			KING
	Enough! That's fine.

			GALEN
	Wait, it'll rise now.

			KING
	Don't bother. Not necessary.

The table cracks in half and dumps a mess of fruit and 
crockery at the onlookers' feet.

			KING
	Tell me: the landslide -- it was 
	accomplished this same way?

			GALEN
	Yes.

			KING
	I see. And having rendered such unique 
	service to our kingdom, what would 
	you claim as a reward?

			GALEN
	Please -- no payment. I have always 
	found magical practice to be its own 
	reward. I seek only some yet greater 
	challenge.

This handsome sentiment doesn't go over any better than his 
tricks.

			KING
	Did you ever hear of King Gaiseric? 
	Of course not, you weren't even born. 
	He was my brother, a great King and 
	a valiant man-at-arms. When he 
	ascended to the throne, the dragon 
	was unbridled. No one knew where it 
	might strike next. So he brought 
	forth his broadsword and his spear, 
	assembled a company of his best 
	fighters and went out to do battle.
		(pause)
	He was never seen again. But his 
	attack provoked the most terrible 
	reprisals: whole villages incinerated, 
	entire crops burned. Death, famine, 
	horrible.

The King grimaces as the memories come flooding back.

			KING
		(quietly)
	How did you arrogate to yourself the 
	role of savior?

			GALEN
	I was invited.

			KING
	Not by me. Did you ever consider the 
	consequences of failure?

			GALEN
	What failure? What's the matter with 
	you people? You want the dragon back?

			KING
	Then the beast is dead?

			GALEN
	Yes, of course. Dead.

			KING
	We shall see.

							CUT TO:

DUNGEON

Two guards thrust Galen into a narrow cell and slam the barred 
door shut. The young sorcerer waits until they're safely out 
of sight, then takes out his amulet. He ponders it for a 
doubtful moment. Suddenly a gloved hand darts in and whips 
it off his neck and out through the bars.

			TYRIAN
	Thank you.

He makes an ironic salute and leaves. Galen sits down heavily 
and stares at the stone walls.

CORRIDOR

Unseen by Galen, a figure clad in silk and lace skitters 
down a murky dungeon hallway and peers around a corner. 
Stealing a look at Galen is the Princess Elspeth, a fey beauty 
in her early twenties. After a moment, spooked by some 
imagined noise, she flits away.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

Dark clouds slide across a pale sun, throwing the ruined 
land below into shadow. Soon fat droplets of rain are 
splattering on the rocks above the dragon's lair. With each 
tiny splash there is a sizzle and a puff of steam. These 
rocks are hot!

							CUT TO:

DUNGEON

Outside the barred window, a steady rain is falling. Inside, 
Galen uses a chunk of limestone to inscribe a pentagram on 
the floor of his cell. He marks runic signs on the window 
sill and lintel. Then, positioning himself in the center of 
the mystic symbol, he raises his hands and spreads his 
fingers.

			GALEN
		(authoritative)
	Cubiculum gravis aperat!

There's a long moment when nothing happens. A very long 
moment. Finally, a thoroughly frustrated Galen leaps to the 
window and rattles the bars.

			GALEN
	Open up, dammit! Fenestra gravis 
	aperat! Asser gravis aperat! 
	Divinitus!

			VOICE
	Salve, magistrum iuvenilum.

Startled, Galen whirls around to find Elspeth standing outside 
his cell. She hands some food and blankets through the bars.

			ELSPETH
	I've studied Latin. Greek, too. Me 
	appelo Elspeth, filia regis.

Galen looks her over. He's never seen anyone so angelic.

			GALEN
	How do you do.

			ELSPETH
	Please don't think ill of us. My 
	father is a wonderful man, a wise 
	man. The lottery was his idea.

			GALEN
	I see.

			ELSPETH
	You don't understand. From the moment 
	it began, the dragon was tame. The 
	kingdom prospered.

			GALEN
	And only a few had to be sacrificed.

			ELSPETH
	Yes, that's true. Isn't it better 
	that a few should die that many might 
	live?

			GALEN
	Depends on who does the dying.

			ELSPETH
	Oh, but we all take our chances. My 
	father is a just man. My name is 
	entered on the lists, along with 
	every other young --

			GALEN
	Virgin?

			ELSPETH
	Maiden.

			GALEN
	If you say so.

			ELSPETH
	What do you mean?

			GALEN
		(sighs)
	Nothing.

			ELSPETH
	I've participated in every drawing 
	since I came of age.

			GALEN
	Maybe.

			ELSPETH
	It's true. You don't believe me. You 
	think I'm lying. Well I'm not.

			GALEN
	I'm sorry. I heard a rumor. Families 
	with money, that sort of thing.

			ELSPETH
	Don't listen to rumors. They're lies. 
	I have to go now.

			GALEN
	Wait -- how long do I have to stay 
	in here?

			ELSPETH
	Until we know. Not long. Goodbye. 
	Vale. Dormi bene.

She slips away down the corridor.

LIBRARY

King Casiodorus and Tyrian are huddled over a table piled 
high with manuscripts and papers. Tyrian clears a spot and 
sets out a stack of lead bars.

			KING
	That's enough. Let's not be greedy 
	here.

The King picks up Galen's amulet, and holds it over the bars 
in his clenched fist.

			KING
	Now then: I, Casiodorus Rex do hereby 
	command thou base metal to change 
	thy essence and become gold.

There is a rustle of skirts and Elspeth appears behind him.

			ELSPETH
	Father?

			KING
	Not now. Tyrian, remove all but one 
	bar. We'll try it one at a time.

			ELSPETH
	Father: did you know that some 
	families have paid bribes to stay 
	out of the lottery?

The King and Tyrian glance up at her.

			KING
	Nonsense. By the power of this amulet, 
	justly wielded by my hand in 
	accordance with the laws of Urland, 
	now lead be thou gold.

The lead remains unchanged, but the King gives out a cry and 
drops the amulet.

			KING
	I'm burned! What devilish thing is 
	this?

			ELSPETH
	Have you ever kept my name off the 
	lottery list?

			KING
	That'll be all, Tyrian. You may 
	withdraw.

Tyrian bows and exits. The King uses his sceptre to pick up 
the amulet and chain. He conceals it in a hollowed-out book 
and places the volume on a shelf among many others.

			KING
	Now, my dear, what's troubling you?

			ELSPETH
	Answer my question: am I not exposed 
	to the same risk as every other man's 
	daughter?

The King paces over to the window and stares out. The rain 
has stopped.

			ELSPETH
	Well?

			KING
		(finally)
	Your father loves you very much.

Elspeth sways in dismay.

			ELSPETH
		(a wail)
	It's true! What have you done to 
	me!?

			KING
	Who fills your head with such ideas?

At that moment a tremor passes through the room. King and 
daughter look at each other in alarm.

DUNGEON

The same tremor shakes the bars in Galen's cell. Puzzled, he 
rolls off his straw palette and gets to his feet. The tremor 
dies away. Suddenly a violent shaking hits the cell, bouncing 
Galen off the walls.

							CUT TO:

VILLAGE SQUARE

Swanscombe is gripped by the same earthquake. Dodging panicky 
barnyard animals, Valerian and her father join other 
frightened villagers in the center of town.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY

Above the dragon's lair, boulders are shifting and grinding 
together. Massive chunks of stone break loose and tumble 
down the incline.

							CUT TO:

GALEN

The shaking has stopped. Rock dust filters down from the 
ceiling. Galen picks himself up and stares: the door to his 
cell is off its hinges and is sagging open. He darts out.

CORRIDOR

Galen dashes along the hallway, rounds a corner and stops. 
At the other end of the passage is Tyrian.

			TYRIAN
	You little meddler! It's alive!

He draws his sword and advances. Galen warily retreats. Tyrian 
breaks into a run. Galen turns and sprints away.

COURTYARD

Unruly horses, terrified by the quake, rush blindly around 
the courtyard. Hostlers try vainly to catch them. Tyrian 
leans down from an upstairs window.

			TYRIAN
	Close the main gate! Quick!

The men below scramble for the gates. Galen bursts out of 
hiding, sees the untended horses, and swings aboard as one 
goes past. A cry goes up from the guards.

			TYRIAN
	There! Stop him!

Galen rides like mad for the exit, but he's a half-second 
late: the doors boom shut in his face. He wheels the horse 
around. The King's men are coming toward him with pikes. 
Digging his heels into the horse's sides, he urges the animal 
back across the courtyard, up the steps and right into the 
building!

THRONE ROOM

Galen gallops into the empty chamber, knocking over the throne 
and vaulting a table. Hot on his heels are armed soldiers. 
He kicks the horse again and shoots under an archway.

KITCHEN

The kitchen is already in chaos from the earthquake when 
Galen charges in on his wild steed. Food, utensils and cooks 
go flying. He reins in, ducks his head, and squeezes the 
horse out into a narrow hallway.

HALLWAY

He clatters down the passageway. But here comes a contingent 
of footmen from the opposite direction. Galen rides them 
into the walls!

STAIRS

The horse scrabbles up the stairs, Galen tucked low against 
its neck. On the upper landing he comes face to face with 
Tyrian and more soldiers.

			TYRIAN
	Get him! Stab the horse!

Galen jerks the animal around and plunges back down the 
stairs.

LIBRARY

Whinnying and blowing the horse bursts in, a wild-eyed Galen 
still in the saddle. He finds himself confronting the King 
and his daughter.

Casiodorus grabs Elspeth and retreats into a corner.

			KING
	Tyrian! Tyrian!

Tyrian sweeps in with his men. The doors slam shut.

			KING
	So much for your magic! So much for 
	your sorcery!

Galen is trapped. Just as Tyrian reaches for the horse's 
reins, the animal rears up, rolling its eyes. At that moment 
the floor heaves and cracks in a new series of shocks. The 
men at arms go down like ten pins. Tyrian reels back, dodging 
stone blocks loosened from the ceiling. As the shaking 
continues, a weakened section of wall gives way. Galen sees 
daylight! Without even waiting for the quake to cease, he 
prods the horse across the room and through the wall to 
freedom.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

The unnerved citizens of Swanscombe gather on the promontory 
overlooking Galen's landslide. Every few seconds there is a 
new shudder and more rocks pour down the long slope. Valerian 
stands trembling with her father. Presently Brother Jacopus 
elbows his way forward.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	Listen to me, my brethren. The moment 
	of our fear is the moment of our 
	triumph. This is a sign from God. 
	Follow me, and our faith will send 
	this creature straight to hell.

Holding a cross before him, he starts up the slope. No one 
follows. They haven't been Christians all that long. One or 
two near Valerian get down on their knees and pray silently. 
Greil looks things over.

			GREIL
	You call yourselves Christians?

He strides after the monk. But he's the only one.

NEAR THE LAIR

The determined monk has arrived at the epicenter. His sandals 
are smoking on the hot gravel. Sweat shines on his face and 
neck.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not 
	want. Thou makest me to lie down in 
	green pastures. Thy rod and staff 
	they comfort me...

Greil toils up the slope a hundred yards back. He's crossing 
himself, but he's carrying a sickle.

VERMITHRAX

There is a thunderous noise. Part of the mountain is tossed 
into the air. Up from the depths comes a huge shining wing. 
Then a neck uncoils and a head appears. It tips down toward 
the tiny human.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
		(firm)
	...for Thine is the kingdom and the 
	power and the glory forever -- amen.

At the base of the slope the villagers scatter. Greil wavers.

			BROTHER JACOPUS
	Unclean beast, get thee down! Be 
	thou consumed by the fires that made 
	you!

The dragon's head sways back and forth, then belches out a 
waterfall of flame. It engulfs Jacopus and sends him to a 
better world, if there is one.

							CUT TO:

HILL ROAD - NIGHT

Horse and rider race across a night landscape under brooding 
clouds. Up ahead, the sky glows with an angry red light. At 
the crest of a hill Galen reins in and looks down across a 
long valley. There, miles away, is the village of Swanscombe. 
Many buildings are ablaze. As he watches in horror, fires 
spring up in the fields and trees. Intermittently he can see 
the silhouette of the dragon as it spreads destruction. 
Finally the creature swoops up and away. Galen stares skyward, 
losing sight of it in the clouds. For a moment, silence. 
Then, with a thunderous rush of air that almost blows him 
from the saddle, the dragon reappears and hurtles a few feet 
over his head! It is gone in an instant.

							CUT TO:

VILLAGE - NIGHT

Half the buildings in the town are on fire. Desperate 
villagers dash here and there, herding children and animals 
to safety, trying to save their household goods. Galen walks 
woodenly into the confusion, leading his horse, taking in 
the scope of the disaster. He comes upon a line of men who 
have formed a bucket brigade. He attempts to join up. As 
soon as he is recognized, he is shouldered roughly aside.

			MAN
	Get away, you little bastard. We've 
	had enough help from you.

Galen staggers back, reaching for his horse. The animal shies 
and trots off. A middle-aged woman appears in front of him, 
her face contorted with rage. She swings a flaming broom and 
catches him on the back of the head. Galen reels away.

			WOMAN
	This is your doing!

Galen looks up and sees a couple of burlies moving his way 
with boards in their hands.

			BURLIES
	Get him! He's back!

Before they can get too close, Galen runs down an alley and 
bumps smack into a glassy-eyed, haunted man. It is Greil.

			GALEN
	Greil -- help!

			GREIL
	May the Lord forgive you for what 
	you have done.

He pushes past. Galen ducks behind a smoldering building.

VALERIAN'S HOUSE

The roof has burned off, but at least the walls are standing. 
Valerian is wrestling charred timbers out of the center of 
the room. She is covered with soot. There is a hammering on 
the door and Galen barges in. He slams the door behind him 
and puts his back against it.

			GALEN
	It's me. Are you hurt?

			VALERIAN
	Where have you been? Doesn't matter -- 
	listen: Quick! Make it rain. That'll 
	put the fire out.

			GALEN
	I can't.

			VALERIAN
	Then get the animals back. They're 
	all running loose. There's people 
	been hurt. Stop their pain. You can 
	cure them. And we'll need food...

			GALEN
	I can't do it.

			VALERIAN
		(this stops her)
	What? Why not?

Galen's hand moves up to where the amulet used to hang.

			GALEN
	I just can't.

			VALERIAN
	But you're a sorcerer.

			GALEN
	I'm no sorcerer. Whatever power I 
	might have had, it's gone.

			VALERIAN
	It can't be!

			GALEN
	I know: I'm an imposter. A fraud. A 
	fake. I'm sorry...

For a moment, Valerian is too stunned to speak. Then her 
face colors.

			VALERIAN
	You're sorry?! Listen to that! The 
	damn thing is loose, we're all on 
	fire and you're sorry!

Galen sinks to the floor and sits in the ashes.

			VALERIAN
	You didn't have the faintest idea 
	what you were doing, did you? You're 
	a fool -- and I'm a bigger one for 
	bringing you here.

She snatches up a pitchfork and glowers at him.

			VALERIAN
	I don't want you in this house. Get 
	out.

But Galen still sits there like a puppet with its strings 
cut, every dream of glory utterly crushed. This piteous sight 
touches Valerian's heart. Her gaze softens. She slowly lowers 
the pitchfork.

							FADE OUT:

FADE IN:

TOWN SQUARE - DAY

A knot of villagers lead Tyrian and his henchmen across the 
square directly to the blacksmith's shop. The King's men 
dismount and pound on the door. It swings open. Valerian is 
standing there.

			TYRIAN
	Where is he?

			VALERIAN
	Not here. I can't help you.

A cry goes up from the villagers. They know damn well he's 
in there.

VALERIAN'S HOUSE

Tyrian pushes Valerian aside and steps into the room. Aided 
by some townfolk, his men proceed to ransack the premises, 
overturning barrels, sticking their swords through flour 
sacks, poking through the tumbledown thatch. Valerian's eye 
falls on Malkin, who has involved himself in the search.

			VALERIAN
	You too?

			MALKIN
		(returning her look)
	Damn right.

Finding nothing, the group pushes into the metal shop, where 
Simon is hammering an iron wheel rim back into shape on an 
enormous anvil. He lays down his tools and grimly watches 
the men go through, overturning benches and tables. Tyrian 
props a leg up on the anvil and addresses himself to Simon.

			TYRIAN
	As the proud new father of an eligible 
	daughter who was some-how overlooked 
	all these years, it may interest you 
	to know that the King has called for 
	a new lottery.

			SIMON
	But it's months til the solstice.

			TYRIAN
	In view of what's happened, we all 
	know what's required.

			SIMON
	I've never taken part in your cursed 
	lottery, and I'll have nothing to do 
	with it now.

			TYRIAN
	You were very clever. But she'll 
	take part, like all the rest. No 
	exceptions.

The search party has exhausted the room's hiding places.

			HENCHMAN
	Nothing. If he was here, he's gone 
	now.

Tyrian nods and leads the way out. Simon catches up and pulls 
Tyrian aside at the door.

			SIMON
	All right. I know what you want. How 
	much?

			TYRIAN
	Are you offering me a bribe?

			SIMON
	Yes.

			TYRIAN
	Don't waste your time.
		(pause)
	You could never afford it.

He spins on his heel and joins his men as they ride out of 
town. Valerian and Simon watch them go. When the riders are 
out of sight, they return to the shop. With a couple of stout 
poles, they strain to lift the anvil off its base. Finally 
it topples over. Valerian slides the base aside, revealing a 
trap door. She raises it and a cramped Galen unfolds himself 
from the space below. On his face is a curious look of 
determination.

			GALEN
	Smith -- have you ever forged a 
	weapon?

WEAPONS

Simon is going through a cabinet, tossing out hoes, rakes, 
sickles, scythes, plow blades, and a knife or two. Galen 
examines them doubtfully. Now Simon produces an armload of 
swords. Galen is impressed; he looks them over carefully, 
testing and rejecting them in turn.

			GALEN
	These are your sharpest?

Simon plucks up one of the swords, carries it to the center 
of the room. He lays a horseshoe on the anvil. He brings the 
sword down -- whack! -- and cuts the horseshoe in half.

			SIMON
	Even Tyrian carries one of these.

Galen hefts it dubiously.

			GALEN
	It's sharp -- but it's not sharp 
	enough.

Valerian has been watching all this with growing concern.

			VALERIAN
	Not sharp enough for what?

			GALEN
	For what I'm going to do with it.

			VALERIAN
	Nothing's that sharp.

Simon gnaws his lip. Reluctantly, he brings a long box from 
the bottom of the cabinet. He opens it. Lying on a bed of 
silk is an exquisite two-handed broadsword. The flat blade 
gleams like a mirror. Galen reaches in and lifts it out.

			SIMON
	The best I ever made.

Valerian is as awed as Galen.

			VALERIAN
	It's beautiful.

Galen brings up a finger to test the edge. Simon grabs his 
hand away.

			SIMON
	Don't do that!
		(he looks at Valerian)
	Girl-child, when you were born I 
	knew I had to do something, so I set 
	about the task of fashioning an 
	extraordinary weapon: I had the skill 
	to make it --
		(bleak pause)
	-- but not the nerve to use it.

She looks at him with affection. Leaning forward, she plants 
a kiss on his bald pate.

			VALERIAN
	I'm thankful for that.
		(to Galen)
	No man should choose a senseless 
	death.

							CUT TO:

STREAM - DAY

Galen, Valerian and Simon tramp through a glade to a mossy 
bank. There a wide stream flows lazily under a canopy of 
trees.

			VALERIAN
	If it's me you're worried about, 
	don't. So my name has been entered, 
	what of it? There are hundreds of 
	girls. My name just won't be drawn. 
	I know it won't.

Galen walks out into the shallows and pushes the sword-tip 
into the sandy bottom, angled so that the edge splits the 
current.

			GALEN
	Valerian, this isn't just for your 
	sake.

He walks back to shore. All three watch the sword to see 
what will happen.

SWORD

Big flat oak leaves are gliding along the current. Very 
slowly, they go by the sword, some of them very close. 
Finally, one of them floats against the leading edge of the 
blade and without a ripple is cleft in two. Simon gives Galen 
a significant look.

			VALERIAN
	I don't care. It doesn't matter. 
	What you want to kill isn't flesh 
	and blood.

			SIMON
	Oh, it'll bleed, all right.

			VALERIAN
	How do you know? No one's so much as 
	even scratched it.

They look to Galen. The apprentice's face is full of doubt.

			GALEN
	I'll need the amulet.

							CUT TO:

KING'S CASTLE - NIGHT

Carrying torches to light their way, families -- some with 
maiden daughters -- gather from all over the country in the 
courtyard of the King's castle. Simon is there with Valerian, 
and so is Galen, disguised in rough farm clothes and a wide-
brimmed hat. Like many others, he carries a stick topped 
with a bleached skull -- to all appearances, just another 
participant in this weird pagan ritual. A barrel decorated 
with flames and dragon's wings sits on a raised dais in front 
of the main entrance. Horsrik, the King's herald, supervises 
preparations for the lottery. Armed guards appear carrying a 
sealed chest. Horsrik breaks the seal and the guards pour 
the contents -- hundreds of wooden tiles, each bearing the 
name of a potential sacrifice -- into the barrel. Trumpets 
blare and drums roll and the royal party strolls onstage: 
the King, his daughter, courtiers and Tyrian. Valerian nudges 
Galen.

			VALERIAN
		(pointing)
	Look at her. The Princess.

			GALEN
	I know. We've met.

Valerian gives Galen a sharp look. Horsrik unrolls a 
parchment.

			HORSRIK
		(reading)
	People of Urland: whereas the peace 
	of the kingdom has been disrupted by 
	the mischief of an interloper; and 
	whereas this interloper being fled; 
	now therefore, his majesty the King 
	hereby proclaims the sum of thirty 
	ducats to be paid to anyone producing 
	the miscreant Galen Bradwardyn, fraud 
	enchanter, to our satisfaction.

Galen pulls his hat low over his eyes. As the moment for the 
drawing approaches, Valerian becomes more and more uneasy. 
She pushes forward through the crowd until she's just below 
the barrel. She eyes the people around her. Some of them 
seem equally worried, others -- the better dressed and better 
fed -- are smug and complacent. The King and his retinue are 
serene. A chant goes up from the crowd:

			CROWD
	Stir the tiles! Stir the tiles!

Horsrik picks up a wooden staff surmounted by a carved 
dragon's head and stirs up the names. This done, a new chant 
goes up:

			CROWD
	Bare the arm! Bare the arm!

At a signal, a guard comes forward and cuts the sleeve from 
Horsrik's right arm. He holds it high. The crowd surges 
forward. The atmosphere is full of dread and excitement. 
Valerian looking pale and determined, is jostled and pushed 
to the edge of the platform.

			CROWD
	Draw the name! Draw the name!

The moment has come. Down goes Horsrik's arm and up it comes, 
holding one little wooden square, one young woman's fate. An 
expectant hush falls over the mob. The virgins of Urland 
tremble and wait.

			HORSRIK
	Now, my countrymen, hear me: behold, 
	for I am chosen. I shall die that 
	many may live. I shall lay down my 
	life for family and fellows. I shall 
	go to my grave for the love of our 
	King and his wise policy. And my 
	name is --

He looks down at the tile to read the name, but no sound 
comes to his lips. He looks back at the crowd, a cold sweat 
breaking over his face. He swallows, but still can't bring 
himself to speak. At his feet, Valerian is holding her breath. 
A new chant goes up.

			CROWD
	The name! The name!

By now Horsrik is trembling. He stares down at the tile, his 
mouth set in a grim line. The King is getting annoyed. He 
gestures and the crowd falls silent.

			KING
	Read the name.

			HORSRIK
		(mastering himself)
	The name is: Princess Elspeth Ulfilas, 
	filia regis.

There is a moment of profound shock. Then a low murmur of 
wonder moves through the crowd. Galen looks at Valerian; she 
sags with relief. The King turns to his daughter. She shows 
nothing. He rises from his chair, comes forward and snatches 
the tile from Horsrik.

			KING
	That's not the name. It's been 
	misread.

Valerian will not stand for such hypocrisy.

			VALERIAN
	There's no mistake! The name's been 
	chosen -- let it stand!

			KING
	No, the good Horsrik has misspoke 
	himself.
		(he looks at the tile)
	In fairness to this individual, whose 
	name I can't make out, we'll destroy 
	this tile.

He quickly tosses the wood chip into a brazier at his elbow. 
Led by Valerian, the crowd cries out in protest.

			VALERIAN
	No! What better name than your own 
	kin? At last we see justice done!

			KING
	Silence! We will have a new choosing. 
	I will draw the name myself.

He reaches into the barrel and extracts another tile. He 
looks at it and his eyes widen. Betrayed, he swivels to face 
his daughter. The din of the crowd reaches a crescendo.

			CROWD
	Let it stand! Let it stand!

Elspeth takes the tile from her father's nerveless fingers, 
looks at it with satisfaction and holds it aloft.

			ELSPETH
	The name is as you heard it and as 
	Horsrik read it: Elspeth.

The King moils through the tiles, finding his daughter's 
name again and again.

			KING
	The lottery is invalid. Another and 
	another. What treachery is this?

Valerian, chanting with the rest, falls silent. She looks at 
Elspeth with sudden interest and respect, then awe.

			ELSPETH
	Hear me, good people! It is true, 
	that my name appears on many of the 
	lots. This does not falsify the 
	drawing, it certifies it! I have 
	learned that my name has been kept 
	from jeopardy in all the drawings in 
	the past. So I have put my name among 
	the rest many times -- once for each 
	risk that, over the years, you took 
	and I did not.

The crowd is dumbfounded. Gradually voices erupt in a 
cacophony of shouts, whistles and excited conversation. Galen 
sees his chance: there's an unguarded door near the stable. 
He drifts toward it and slips inside.

THRONE ROOM

Galen pokes his head in: the room is empty. He scurries over 
to a chest, flings it open and starts rummaging. Finding 
nothing he moves on to a cabinet. He breaks the lock and 
pries it open. Again, nothing.

CASTLE CORRIDOR

Galen can hear the voices in the courtyard as he rushes down 
a hall. Suddenly he stops short. There in front of him is a 
guard leaning out a window to watch the proceedings. Galen 
hovers on the verge of panic as the guard abruptly moves. 
But the man is only headed for another window and a better 
view. Galen manages to fall into step an arm's length behind 
him and slip by without a sound.

LIBRARY

Galen enters the library, his enormous shadow dancing crazily 
on the torchlit walls. Hurrying through, his attention is 
drawn to some open books on a table. Closer inspection reveals 
magical writings and symbols. Galen paws over everything, 
suddenly aware that he must be close to the amulet. But where 
is it?

COURTYARD

As the crowd disperses Valerian watches Elspeth walk back in 
the castle, lofty and composed. She looks for Galen and 
discovers he has gone.

LIBRARY

By now, the room is in total disarray. Galen has opened all 
the chests and trunks and knocked half the books from the 
shelves. No amulet. He's feverishly working on a locked drawer 
when a voice interrupts him.

			KING
	Don't go to all that trouble.

Galen whirls around to find the King standing in the doorway. 
The monarch looks shattered. Galen edges toward the split in 
the wall and finds that it has been shored up with timbers. 
At that moment Tyrian comes through the door, sizes up the 
situation and draws his sword.

			GALEN
	I'm unarmed. If you want a fight, at 
	least give me a weapon.

			TYRIAN
		(pushing by the King)
	I think not!

			KING
	Stop! Don't harm him.
		(to Galen)
	And you -- don't run away... please...

The King's voice is cracking. Galen and Tyrian are equally 
taken aback. The King searches through the books remaining 
on the library shelves.

			KING
		(shaky)
	I've always had the greatest 
	admiration for the black arts. You 
	chaps with your mysterious spells... 
	I didn't think it would be necessary, 
	you see. Vermithrax is an old dragon. 
	And that, I thought, was the beauty 
	of my plan -- buying time. We'd wait 
	her out. I'd live to see the end of 
	her.
		(firm)
	That's still going to happen.

The King finds the book and takes the amulet out. With 
trembling hands, he passes it to Galen.

			TYRIAN
	Sire!

			KING
	He shall have it.
		(pleading)
	It's my daughter. Save her, I beg 
	you.

							CUT TO:

VILLAGE - DAY

The people of Swanscombe are clearing up the rubble and 
beginning repairs on their dwellings. Standing in their midst, 
lecturing every passerby, is Greil. He holds up the charred 
remains of Brother Jacopus' wooden cross.

			GREIL
	Holy of holies -- he did not die in 
	vain. Can you hear me, brothers?

Some workmen go by lugging new thatch. Malkin is with them.

			MALKIN
		(gently)
	We hear you, Greil.

			GREIL
	Well and good, but I'm Greil no 
	longer. Call me Gregorius, after the 
	Bishop of Rome.

Malkin and the others stop to listen.

			GREIL
	I saw him die. Like Our Lord Jesus 
	on the cross he was, scourged by 
	evil. But he showed no fear. Such is 
	the power of the Holy Ghost.

BLACKSMITH SHOP

Galen lurks in the shadows of Simon's metal shop looking out 
on the square where Greil is holding forth.

			GREIL
	Of what avail is magic? The old gods 
	died with our daughters. From whence 
	comest my help? My help comest from 
	the Lord!

Galen quietly shuts and bars the door. He moves deeper into 
the gloomy workroom where Simon is pumping a bellows to heat 
up the forge. Galen looks at the coals.

			SIMON
	Good and hot.

			GALEN
	Don't bother. That's not the kind of 
	fire we need.

Valerian is staring at the sword, sitting on the anvil in 
its silk wrapping. Galen uncovers it, holds it high, and 
puts his hand on the amulet.

			GALEN
	Nunc, per Potestatem Hermeticum -- 
	ex flammis, ferrum sangrinarium!

The sword starts to hum and to heat up. From the hilt outward 
the blade glows brighter and brighter: red, orange, white. 
It lights up the room, throwing long shadows into the corners. 
Galen lays the white hot steel on the anvil. Simon takes up 
his hammer and begins the reforging. Valerian sees their 
resolve. After watching for several moments she slips out 
the side door, looking sad.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

Clouds scud low over the lifeless region. The dragon's lair 
now has a newer, bigger entrance. Vapors drift upward from 
it. Down the slope a lonely figure works its way from rock 
to rock: it's Valerian with a wicker basket on her arm, 
searching for dragon scales. The basket is already more than 
half full when she finds herself ominously near the mouth of 
the cavern. She's about to turn back when she spies a 
particularly large and beautiful scale just a few yards 
further on. As she reaches for it, there is a sudden hiss! 
She jerks her hand back and freezes. There in the shadows is 
a baby dragon, a basilisk, all coppery bronze with stubby 
winglets. As she backs away, she sees two more come up to 
join the first. They watch her retreat through wicked little 
green eyes.

							CUT TO:

STREAM - DAY

On the mossy bank Galen and Simon unwrap the reforged sword. 
Now the blade carries a faint blue halation. Galen walks to 
the middle of the current and once again stabs the tip down 
into the sand. Then he rejoins Simon onshore to await results. 
This time, as the oak leaves approach the sharp edge, they 
gently but definitely veer sideways to avoid contact. Such 
is the power of the sword that even after many leaves, not a 
single one has come close enough to be sliced. Simon is agog 
and even Galen seems satisfied. They clasp hands.

			SIMON
	An edge like no other on this earth.

			GALEN
	Well done, Simon. Thank you.

Simon hands him a bundle of fighting equipment.

			SIMON
		(grave)
	I'll say goodbye to Valerian for 
	you. I'm sorry she's not here, but 
	you know how she is.

			GALEN
	I understand.

They look at each other for what could be the last time.

			SIMON
	Fare thee well.

The old man departs. Galen unfolds the bundle and brings out 
its contents: mail hauberk with coif, studded leather gloves, 
padded jerkin, a scabbard and a small wooden shield. He lays 
them out on the stream bank, then strips off his tunic and 
kneels down to splash some water in his face. As the cups 
the water between his hands, an image comes alive and shimmers 
on the surface: Valerian, stripping off her own clothes, 
shyly turning toward him, solemn and romantic.

			VALERIAN
	Galen.

It's as if the vision is speaking to him, but it's not. He 
spins around and sees her standing there, fully clothed, and 
possessed of a brisk and businesslike air.

			VALERIAN
	Here.

She throws down a shield. It's remarkable in its construction -- 
overlapping layers of iridescent dragon scales have been 
ingeniously fastened to a leather-clad frame.

			VALERIAN
	It's a shield. I made it. Might keep 
	the fire off you. Might not. You 
	know, you're an idiot. You're going 
	to die tonight. You'll be ripped 
	limb from limb. This is the last 
	time I'll ever speak to you.

Galen turns the shield over and over, marveling at it. He 
fixes her with a piercing look.

			GALEN
	Thank you.

			VALERIAN
		(rushing)
	Another thing. That thing isn't alone 
	up there. There's little ones. Young, 
	I think. I don't know how many.

She shudders. Galen's eyes are still fastened on her. She's 
fighting to retain her hard manner, but the agitation and 
dread are plain.

			GALEN
	Hatchlings. They'll have to be killed 
	too. Anything else?

Valerian wants to be bold, but on this final point, can't 
muster the courage.

			VALERIAN
		(tiny voice)
	You're in love, aren't you?

			GALEN
		(slowly nodding)
	Yes.

			VALERIAN
	That's all right. I understand. She's 
	very beautiful, very brave.

			GALEN
	Who is? What do you mean?

			VALERIAN
	Your Princess. But I don't care. It 
	doesn't change the way I feel.
		(firm)
	Listen to me, Galen Bradwardyn, 
	sorcerer's apprentice; you're going 
	to be dead, the dragon will be worse 
	than ever, there will be more 
	lotteries, and I'm not a boy any 
	more.

			GALEN
	And you'll be eligible because --

			VALERIAN
	Because I'm still a virgin, and I 
	want you to do something about it.

Galen takes her in his arms; she is trembling. He tilts her 
face up toward his and kisses her.

			GALEN
	I am in love. But not with the 
	Princess.

Their image is reflected in the waters. Through the ripples 
she is visible pulling briefly away to remove her clothes.

From afar, they are two tiny figures under the overarching 
oaks and willows. They embrace and sink down into the deep 
grass beside the water. The leaves continue their unhurried 
course downstream.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - NIGHT

A cold wind whistles through the rocks near the dragon's 
lair. By the light of a flickering torch two workmen finish 
driving a heavy post into the ground. As they affix a pair 
of iron manacles they see the torches of a procession coming 
up the slope. They hurry down to meet it. Horsrik is in the 
lead, followed by soldiers and royal attendants. Elspeth 
rides in the tumbril behind a blindfolded horse. Bringing up 
the rear is Tyrian. At last the cart can go no further. 
Elspeth alights and leads the rest of the troop to the post. 
As the soldiers put the irons around her wrists, Horsrik 
unrolls a parchment, turns his back on the wind and begins 
to read:

			HORSRIK
	Now be it known throughout the 
	kingdom, that the Princess, having 
	been chosen by a deed of fortune and 
	destiny --

Horsrik blinks. There's a black stain growing in the middle 
of the parchment; all at once it bursts into flames. He cries 
out and flings the document away. There follows a flash of 
light and a puff of smoke and Galen is standing there, as if 
he had materialized out of thin air. Horsrik and his startled 
men backpedal down the slope.

			HORSRIK
	No fire, I beg you.

Galen raises his hands in a menacing gesture.

			GALEN
	Be gone!

That's enough for Horsrik and company: he and the soldiers 
depart.

			HORSRIK
		(over his shoulder)
	I declare these proceedings duly 
	ordained...

Only one man remains behind the challenge the young sorcerer: 
Tyrian. He draws his sword.

			TYRIAN
	I knew I'd find you here. Well, I'm 
	not as sentimental as some. The 
	kingdom, every one of us, need this 
	sacrifice. If you intend to interfere, 
	you'll have to kill me.

			GALEN
	I've got plenty of reasons to kill 
	you that have nothing to do with 
	this sacrifice.

Galen draws his own sword. As it emerges into the night air 
it seems imbued with a blue phosphorescence.

			TYRIAN
	Most impressive. Can you use it?

Elspeth twists around in her chains.

			ELSPETH
	Let it be! Please! Tyrian is right -- 
	it's our only hope!

Galen starts to reply, but as soon as his attention wavers, 
Tyrian is lunging toward him, sword point directed at his 
neck. Galen barely manages to parry the thrust before Tyrian 
is at him again, blade swinging toward his knees. Galen drops 
the tip of his sword to catch the blow. When the two steel 
edges connect, sparks fly. In a series of thrusts and counter-
thrusts, each accompanied by a shower of sparks, Tyrian backs 
Galen up the mountain.

			ELSPETH
	Tyrian -- both of you -- run! Flee! 
	It's coming!

Sure enough, at that moment the earth gives out a low moan 
and undulates in a sickening movement. Vapors begin rising 
from the lair.

			TYRIAN
	In a trice! This is no swords-man.

He might be right, for Galen turns and bolts across the slope. 
When he reaches the post with Tyrian two steps behind, he 
whirls and brings his blade down on Princess Elspeth's chains. 
The chains part in an explosion of sparks.

			GALEN
	Run! Get out of here!

The Princess darts from the piling as Tyrian swoops down to 
continue the attack. Galen dodges and the stake catches 
Tyrian's blow. The earth shakes again. Galen glances at the 
Princess.

			GALEN
	No! Stop! What are you doing?

Elspeth is not running away down the mountain. Instead she 
is walking, slowly and deliberately, right into the smoking 
cave. Swoosh! Tyrian's sword comes down again. The dismayed 
sorcerer ducks back and Tyrian's blade again bites deep into 
the wood.

			TYRIAN
	You've failed, my friend, and I thank 
	the gods for it. Come out from behind 
	that post.

It's now or never. Elspeth is no longer in sight. Galen grits 
his teeth, grasps the sword with two hands and swings it as 
hard as he can in a wide arc. The blade never even slows 
down as it sails right through the post, lopping it clean 
off. The glowing sword flashes above Galen's head and eagerly 
buries itself in Tyrian's chest. The King's man is as startled 
by the amputated piling as he is by his own death. His eyes 
roll up in his head, his knees buckle and he topples backward -- 
the blade sliding free.

DRAGON'S LAIR

Smoke swirls at the mouth of the cave as Galen enters, holding 
his sword before him, lighting his way with its faint blue 
glow.

			GALEN
	Elspeth!

The floor of the cave as it winds down into the mountain is 
paved first with rock, then with dragon scales, then with 
bones. With each footfall, clusters of mysterious insects 
scuttle away. Galen pauses to mop his brow; it's getting 
hot. A sound echoes up from the depths, a grinding sound 
like the gnashing of teeth, followed by hissing and squealing. 
Galen grips his sword tighter and pushes on. Suddenly he 
stoops and picks up an embroidered slipper: Elspeth's. The 
grinding sounds are louder. He hurries forward and rounds a 
corner. He stops and gags.

BASILISKS

Two disgusting little reptiles -- like scaly raccoons -- are 
perched on the corpse of Princess Elspeth Ulfilas, feeding 
contentiously on choice bits of the royal flesh. Galen groans: 
he lashes out and his sword beheads one of the tiny monsters.

The other one buzzes its half-formed winglets and hisses a 
hot stream of air. Galen brings down the sword and slices it 
in half. Eyes riveted on Elspeth's remains, he edges around 
the carnage and backs away. Hissss! -- there's a third one, 
lurking in the shadows, munching on something; it might be a 
hand. Galen shrieks and jumps away. The little creature comes 
at him and clamps its jaws on his leg. Galen stabs at it 
repeatedly. Finally it lets go, and flails and flops across 
the bloody floor, ululating its death agony. As the creature's 
last mewlings echo down through the cavern, the ground 
quivers. Bits of stone fall from the ceiling.

LAKE OF FIRE

Galen works his way down a narrow passage whose walls are 
alive with insects and beads of sulphurous water. As before, 
he holds the sword in front of him; he marvels at its 
increasing brightness. The heat is increasing too; sweat 
mats his hair and runs down his face. A few yards further on 
the sword starts pulsating. Now the walls take on a flickering 
rosy sheen and the passage widens into an underground vista 
of staggering immensity: an underground lake, its surface 
bubbling and torn with sheets of flame. Arching over it is a 
vault of stone, penetrated here and there by natural chimneys. 
The dimensions of this internal world are unknown -- the 
fiery lake disappears into half a dozen side chambers. The 
one clear path is accessible only by a series of flat stones 
leading across the hot liquid. Galen grips his sword and 
resolutely hops from rock to rock.

VERMITHRAX

He's halfway across when the earth rumbles and the stepping 
stones teeter beneath his feet. A fiery wave washes over his 
legs, leaving his boots smoking. Another tremor knocks Galen 
to his knees. As he scrabbles to pick up his sword and shield, 
the great head of Vermithrax rises up out of the depths on 
its long neck. It gazes at him through huge pale eyes under 
armored lids. A tongue flicks out and runs around its lipless 
mouth. The head sways from side to side. The mouth hinges 
open, the nostril-like igniters come on and touch off the 
jet of gas squeezed up out of its innards. A roaring tube of 
flame engulfs Galen. He crouches behind his dragon scale 
shield which deflects the fire just enough to save his life. 
The dragon pauses to take a breath. Galen springs to his 
feet, and bounds back the way he came, his skin and clothing 
singed. Flames lick at his back as the dragon lets fly with 
a second burst.

TUNNEL

Coughing and weeping, Galen staggers up through the tunnel, 
nearly tripping over the body of one of the baby dragons. A 
few seconds later, Vermithrax follows, squirming and clawing 
its way upward. When it reaches its dead offspring it surveys 
the scene with expressionless eyes. Bringing its head low, 
it sniffs and nudges at the lifeless little ones.

AMBUSH

At that moment Galen leaps out from behind a niche in the 
tunnel wall and lunges forward. Striking sparks, the point 
of his sword slides across the dragon's plated cheek and 
stabs deep between the scales of its heavy neck. There is an 
unearthly shriek and the creature flicks its head back and 
upward. Galen goes sprawling and finds himself holding half 
a sword. The rest is buried in the beast's neck, and 
Vermithrax doesn't like it. It flings its head this way and 
that, knocking rocks loose from the ceiling. Its movements 
cause the ground to quake. As boulders tumble around him, 
Galen drops to the floor under his shield. Dragon flame 
reaches through the cascading debris and washes over him.

							CUT TO:

DAWN

Valerian roams the rock-strewn slope not far from the dragon's 
lair. Presently she comes upon a once-familiar object -- the 
fire shield. Half the scales are gone, the rest are charred 
and curling. Grimly, she moves on. A few paces away she picks 
up the blunted sword. She scans the rocks and finally sees 
what she's looking for.

GALEN

He's lying face down behind a boulder, his clothes charred, 
patches of skin scorched. He looks dead. Valerian rolls him 
onto his back. She gasps: the eyes are open, regarding her.

			GALEN
	Still alive.

							CUT TO:

BLACKSMITH SHOP - DAY

Simon is standing by the anvil with the broken sword in his 
hand, lost in thought.

HOUSE

In the adjoining house Valerian tends Galen's wounds. He's 
propped up on a palette enduring the application of poultices.

			VALERIAN
	You know what we have to do.
		(he looks at her with 
			dull eyes)
	We have to leave Urland.

He winces in pain.

			VALERIAN
	Not because of what happened. I 
	brought you here -- it didn't work -- 
	now I'm taking you away. Do you 
	understand?
		(Galen does not react)
	You said you loved me. Is it true? 
	If it is, it's the only good we've 
	done. Let's not lose that too.
		(pause)
	Galen?

He seems miles away. She turns aside, on the verge of tears. 
Simon is standing there, still holding the sword hilt.

			SIMON
	She's right. What kind of a life 
	could you have here? It's too late 
	for me, but you're young enough.
		(he shows them the 
			sword)
	You know what I think? Magic is dying 
	out, fading from the world. But that 
	makes me happy. That means the dragon 
	will be dying too.

Galen looks at him; he has heard everything. He sits up and 
fondly regards Valerian.

PACKING

Valerian packs her belongings into a rucksack. The last item 
in is her blue frock, carefully rolled. Beside her, Galen 
dons clean traveling clothes. He stiffly crosses the room 
and drags his pack out of the corner. He sorts through the 
effects, and amidst the clothing and supplies discovers the 
leather pouch containing Ulrich's remains. He contemplates 
it.

			VALERIAN
	What's that?

			GALEN
	Nothing. I was just thinking -- poor 
	Hodge.

He tucks the pouch away, throws some clothes on top and ties 
the satchel shut.

							CUT TO:

STREAM - DAY

Beside the quiet stream Simon bids farewell to the young 
couple, embracing each in turn. They slosh across the shallow 
water and follow a path into the woods.

							CUT TO:

VILLAGE SQUARE - DAY

Greil is standing outside the half-burned grange hall, 
summoning the Christian faithful. He proclaims the call to 
worship by hammering on a small bell. One by one the townsfolk 
arrive. Among them is Simon, looking bereft.

							CUT TO:

FOREST PATH - DAY

Valerian and Galen trudge along side by side.

			VALERIAN
	How's your leg?

			GALEN
	Hurts. That thing was small, but its 
	teeth were sharp.

			VALERIAN
	At least you killed it. You got all 
	the young.

This is small consolation, and Galen sighs.

			GALEN
	But the big one's alive. Somewhere 
	down in that burning lake.

			VALERIAN
	Don't think about it. You had your 
	fight, and you're still here. That's 
	more than anyone else can say. Let's 
	think about what lies ahead.

She reaches out to take his hand. But Galen is no longer at 
her side. She stops and looks back.

GALEN

Galen has come to a halt in the middle of the path. He's 
staring into the middle distance with a sudden inspiration 
bubbling in his brain. He flings off his sack, drops to his 
knees and tears through the contents. Valerian comes back, 
baffled. Galen's gear is strewn all over the trail.

			VALERIAN
	What are you doing?

Galen comes up with what he's looking for -- the leather 
sack. When he replies, it is not to her, but to Ulrich:

			GALEN
	You old trickster! The burning water! 
	The lake of fire!

			VALERIAN
	Galen, what are you saying?

He regards her with astonishment.

			GALEN
	He had it planned. He knew this was 
	going to happen.

			VALERIAN
	Who did? What happened?

			GALEN
	We've got to go back, I want to talk 
	to him!

He heads back down the trail, leaving his belongings on the 
road.

			VALERIAN
	Where are you going?

She hurries after him.

							CUT TO:

GRANGE HALL - DAY

Greil, a.k.a. Gregorious, stands in the center of the burned-
out granary, delivering a sermon. Behind him, men are filling 
the baptismal cistern.

			GREIL
	The Church is mother to us all. Not 
	just one lonely orphan who has lost 
	his way, not just a few, but all of 
	us that believeth in Him. When enough 
	voices come together in prayer, He 
	shall hear, we shall live and the 
	beast shall die.

In the gathering Simon ponders the hilt of his once fabulous 
sword. With its blade shortened, it looks a lot like a 
crucifix.

							CUT TO:

DRAGON COUNTRY - DAY

Galen bounds up the rocky slope as fast as he can manage, 
trailed by a desperate Valerian.

			VALERIAN
	Galen, stop! Please, I beg you!

But Galen pays no attention. In a burst of speed and fury, 
Valerian comes up behind and tackles him.

			VALERIAN
	Stop! I won't let you kill yourself.

Galen waves the leather pouch in Valerian's face.

			GALEN
	He couldn't walk -- he knew he 
	couldn't make the journey. So he had 
	us make the journey for him! Don't 
	you see?

He jumps up and runs to the mouth of the lair.

			VALERIAN
		(pursuing)
	No!

She tackles him again.

			VALERIAN
	All right, all right. You're going 
	in there, I'm going too.

			GALEN
		(brought up short)
	What? Why? No you're not, this is my 
	job. Absolutely not.

But Valerian springs to her feet and starts into the lair.

			VALERIAN
	I'm not afraid. And you're not going 
	to stop me. After all -- I've been a 
	man longer than you have.

Galen pauses long enough to snatch up a discarded torch near 
the remains of the wooden stake, then charges after her.

UNDERGROUND

Running footsteps resound in the steamy passageway and Galen 
comes around the corner holding his torch high to light the 
way. Valerian stumbles after him. He grabs her hand.

			GALEN
	Stay close.

Down and down they go. Soon they reach Elspeth's body.

			VALERIAN
	What's that?

			GALEN
	Never mind. Come on.

But she pulls the torch from his hand and goes over to see.

			GALEN
	All right. Wait here.

He darts off. In the flickering torchlight Valerian can see 
the Princess' remains all too clearly. She suppresses a 
scream.

			VALERIAN
	Galen? Galen? Where are you?

No answer. The torch reveals several passages. She doesn't 
know which one to take.

LAKE OF FIRE

The passage widens out and once again Galen is standing on 
the shores of the lake of fire. He looks around. The water 
is rolling with bubbles of gas, and flames run hither and 
yon across the surface, but there is no sign of the dragon. 
Gathering his courage, he hops across the stepping stones to 
the middle of the lake. There he hurriedly opens the pouch.

			GALEN
	Ex favilla, vita nova!

Gripping the amulet with his free hand, he scatters Ulrich's 
ashes in a wide arc over the burning water. Instantly, there 
is an ominous rumble and the earth gives a shrug. But no 
wizard appears. No dragon, either. There follows another and 
stronger quake. Galen crouches to keep his balance. Still no 
wizard.

OUTSIDE

Thoroughly bewildered, Valerian stumbles out into daylight. 
She wanders a few yards down the slope and collapses against 
the stake. Something is strange: it's getting dark. Squinting 
up at the sun, she frowns in puzzlement, then gapes at what 
is happening.

ECLIPSE

Slowly and ponderously the black disk of the moon slides 
over the face of the sun, plunging the world into crepuscular 
half-light.

							CUT TO:

GRANGE HALL - DAY

The congregation is confused and frightened by the sudden 
darkness.

			GREIL
	Be calm. He watcheth over us! And 
	this is His sign! Let us pray! Our 
	Father who art in heaven...

The faithful bow their heads and join in. Simon as well.

							CUT TO:

LAKE OF FIRE

The earthquakes have subsided; the water is calm. Galen stares 
bleakly into the flames. As he watches, they gather themselves 
into a lazy spiral. Gradually the spiral speeds up and becomes 
a vortex. Now the flames become tinged with green, and as 
the cavern moans with the sound of rushing air, a form takes 
shape at the crest of a jet of flame. It is Ulrich, supine 
as upon his pyre, reforming before Galen's eyes.

			GALEN
	Ulrich! Magister! Over here! I can 
	see you! Over here!

			ULRICH
		(looks at him)
	Not so loud. I'm not deaf, you know.

He slowly raises himself into an upright posture and strides 
through the flames.

			ULRICH
	Sic redit magus ex terra mortis.

The apprentice throws himself at his master's feet.

			GALEN
	Wonder of wonders -- you're back! I 
	thank the powers that made me!

			ULRICH
	Glad to see you, too. You didn't 
	bring along anything to eat, by any 
	chance?

			GALEN
	Food?

			ULRICH
	No? Oh well, no time anyway.

OUTSIDE

Valerian is standing in the unearthly twilight, anxiously 
peering into the mouth of the lair. Suddenly she is hit from 
behind by a gust of wind. She does not turn to see the 
enormous Vermithrax alighting silently behind her.

GALEN & ULRICH

Ulrich raises Galen to his feet.

			ULRICH
	Come along. There's much to be done.

			GALEN
	Wait, I have something to tell you.

			ULRICH
	It can wait.

			GALEN
	No it can't. Listen: I thought I was 
	a sorcerer -- but I wasn't. I thought 
	I had power -- but I didn't. I thought 
	I was you -- but I'm not.

He hangs his head. Ulrich regards him steadily.

			ULRICH
	Well said. Now hurry.

He leads the way across the rocks to the shore and into the 
tunnel.

VALERIAN

Time seems to have come to a stop. Overhead, the moon is 
locked in front of the sun. At the lair, Valerian stands 
frozen as the dragon leans over her. The great head sways 
from side to side. The jaws hinge open. Suddenly, Valerian 
recovers herself and makes a run for it, leaping and 
scrabbling over the rocks. A plume of flame licks at her 
heels. She sees a protective crevice and heads for it, but a 
winged claw drops to block her way. She changes direction 
and is cut off again. Cat and mouse.

VERMITHRAX

The pale yellow eyes stare implacably down at the hopeless 
victim. The igniter jets come on, then off, as the beast 
suddenly stiffens. The head rotates, almost as if catching a 
new scent. Finally the eyes focus on the entrance to the 
cavern.

ULRICH

There is the sorcerer, leaning on Galen, coolly regarding 
the creature. The old man's expression hardens.

			ULRICH
	Draco draconis...

The dragon lifts its wings as if to menace them, then flaps 
twice and is airborne. The thing shoots overhead and, with a 
rush of wind, flies off into the gloom.

IN THE ROCKS

Valerian struggles out of her hiding place.

			VALERIAN
	Galen!

Galen runs to her. They embrace. When they look up, Ulrich 
is at their side.

			ULRICH
	Where's my amulet? Give it to me, 
	please.

Galen's hand locates the jewel under his shirt. He finds 
himself reluctant to part with it.

With a hurricane howl, a column of flame touches down nearby 
and rushes toward them. They stagger back as the dragon sweeps 
past.

			ULRICH
	Be quick!

Galen hands his treasure over. Ulrich closes his hand around 
it.

			ULRICH
	Come close to me.

Galen and Valerian approach. The old man's hand is suffused 
with an internal glow. Behind them, the dragon is turning 
for another pass.

VORTEX

All at once the glow brightens, and in another instant the 
world spins off into a blur, setting all three afloat in a 
timeless netherworld. Valerian and Galen cling to each other 
in terror.

			ULRICH
	Don't be afraid. You have served me 
	with great courage. Now you must 
	show me you have even more.

			GALEN
	Anything!

The voices seem to be coming from a huge distance. Starlike 
gleams whiz by, and fleeting glimpses of half-recognizable 
faces and forms. The wizard's eyes are like glittering 
crystals. Tiny motes and planetoids dance in the hairs of 
his beard. He seems wreathed in luminescence.

			ULRICH
	You must destroy the amulet, and me 
	along with it.

			GALEN
	No!

			ULRICH
	You brought me from the flames, you 
	must send me back.

			GALEN
	I can't.

			ULRICH
	When the time comes, you'll 
	understand. Here.

He dangles the amulet in front of Galen. Even more reluctantly 
than he let it go, he takes it back.

MOUNTAIN TOP

Abruptly, the vortex is gone and they find themselves atop a 
rocky crag overlooking the eclipse-darkened fields and farms 
of Urland. Galen glances at his surroundings and stares at 
the amulet, full of awe.

			ULRICH
	I know what you're thinking. You 
	have learned much and done well. 
	Don't worry, you won't need it any 
	more.

							CUT TO:

GRANGE HALL - DAY

Greil is urging Simon, the last of the converts, into the 
cistern.

			GREIL
	Make haste, brother.

He dips Simon's head under water.

			GREIL
	Now be thou baptized in the name of 
	the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. May 
	the Lord our God light our way.

In the background, half the congregation is staring through 
the burned-out walls, fervently praying and crossing 
themselves, wondering if they'll ever see the sun again. A 
cry goes up: a shape crosses the solar corona, wheels over 
the village and streaks away toward the mountains -- the 
dragon.

							CUT TO:

MOUNTAIN TOP

Galen and Valerian peer out from behind a boulder and watch 
Ulrich hobble perilously close to the edge of the cliff. The 
old man spreads wide his arms and tilts his head back.

			ULRICH
	Nimbus! Tempestas! Fulmen!

From over the horizon roiling inky-black clouds churn down 
upon them. Thunder booms and echoes. A bitter wind whips 
their clothing. As the storm gathers fury, the dragon 
reappears, circling in the distance. Finally it homes in on 
the mountain crag and dives at Ulrich. The conjurer makes a 
gesture and strokes of lightning explode against the beast's 
scaly flanks. It emits a high thin scream and rockets past.

GALEN & VALERIAN

Valerian crawls away and comes back with a hefty chunk of 
granite.

			VALERIAN
	Here. Do as he said. Smash it.

			GALEN
	Not if it means killing him.

ULRICH

He resolutely waits as the dragon banks against the clouds 
and starts another pass. Again, the sorcerer summons lightning 
bolts. But the dragon keeps coming; this time a talon splits 
the old man's cape.

GALEN & VALERIAN

Valerian wrestles the amulet away from Galen. It falls to 
the ground.

			VALERIAN
	You heard what he said.

She lifts the chunk of stone. Galen grabs for it.

			GALEN
	No! You can't!

THE LAST ATTACK

Vermithrax spirals up into the storm, then drops earthward. 
Ulrich watches as the beast comes straight at him. He folds 
his arms and bows his head. Leathery wings humming, the 
creature levels out, swoops up past the crag and lifts the 
master magician away in its huge hind claw.

			ULRICH
	Galen!

Galen and Valerian are horrified to see the dragon circling 
upward with the sorcerer writhing in agony in its grip. As 
the monstrous thing flies high over them, they can hear 
Ulrich's faint screams.

DEATH

Now Galen understands. He seizes the granite block from 
Valerian and raises it with both hands over his head. He 
takes a final look at the amulet, glowing at his feet, then 
brings the rock down with all his might. There is a blinding 
flash as it shatters into a million fragments.

Far above there is another blinding flash as Ulrich's earthly 
body explodes against the belly of the beast. The darkened 
sky lights up as huge gouts of flame spew forth from the 
dragon's gut. Wings fluttering uselessly, this reptilian 
torch plummets to the ground.

LAKE

Below, a stock pond nestled in the foothill pastures. Trailing 
a wake of flame, Vermithrax plunges like a comet into the 
water. There is a stupendous splash and eruption of steam.

GALEN & VALERIAN

They stare down from their lofty perch, watching as further 
explosions boil the water from the pond.

ECLIPSE

Behind a tattered wrack of cloud, the moon slowly uncovers a 
pale sun.

							DISSOLVE:

THE CARCASS - DAY

Grey misty light reveals the beast's mangled remains. Galen 
and Valerian emerge from the fog, walk under a blackened 
wing and make their way through the mud and loose scales to 
the huge charred head. The death agony has twisted it upside 
down. The mouth is frozen in a grotesque look of surprise. 
The eyes are glazed. Now the sound of voices floats toward 
them, chanting an ancient hymn. A moment later a mob of 
Christians, led by Greil, crests a hill and moves toward the 
hulk. The song ends.

			GREIL
	Let us pray.

The members of the congregation fall to their knees.

			GREIL
	We thank thee, Lord, for this divine 
	deliverance. Verily is thy presence 
	amongst us, fully manifest in this, 
	thy great work.

Galen and Valerian look at each other. She takes his hand.

			GREIL
	Arise, children of the Lord and 
	forsake evermore the pagan mysteries. 
	Rejoice in the true power of the 
	Christian God!

Galen turns and leads Valerian away. They disappear into the 
mist.

							DISSOLVE:

FLENSING - DAY

In the clear light of a new day, ladders have been tipped up 
against the creature's back. Teams of men swarm over the 
crusted flesh, slicing off long strips for piecemeal burial. 
Below, yoked oxen drag the heavy carrion away on sledges. In 
the background other workmen dump the remains into an open 
pit.

THE KING

With the crack of a whip and the clatter of hooves, the royal 
coach pulls up to the shore of the lake. A door creaks open 
and King Casiodorus totters out. His face is puffy, his eyes 
are red. He slogs through the mud to the head of the dragon 
and commences hacking at it with a ceremonial sword. Horsrik 
steps out of the coach and draws himself up.

			HORSRIK
		(loud)
	All hail Casiodorus Rex -- Dragon 
	slayer!

The workers pause long enough to listen to this pronouncement 
and cast a glance at the sorry spectacle. Wordlessly they 
resume their labors.

			HORSRIK
		(nodding)
	Hail and praise be!

							DISSOLVE:

ON THE ROAD - DAY

The trail leads through copses and open meadows. Side by 
side, Galen and Valerian march up a long slope under a hot 
sun. He limps a bit; she finds a staff and hands it to him.

			VALERIAN
	You want to rest?

			GALEN
	No. I'm fine.

			VALERIAN
	You miss Ulricn.

			GALEN
	Yes.

			VALERIAN
	And the amulet.

			GALEN
	That too.

			VALERIAN
	Not me. I'm glad it's gone. I'm glad 
	you did what you did.
		(he doesn't reply)
	You may not be a sorcerer, Galen, 
	but I love you anyway. I don't regret 
	anything that happened. I just wish --

			GALEN
	Yes?

			VALERIAN
		(sighs)
	-- that we had a horse.

Galen falls a step behind. He briefly closes his eyes and 
mutters something. They walk on a few paces. Then there is a 
whinny from the nearby woods and a white stallion canters 
forth. It crosses a meadow, comes right up to Valerian and 
nuzzles her.

			VALERIAN
	What is this?

			GALEN
	A horse.

			VALERIAN
	Did you...!?

			GALEN
	No. It must have been wandering loose. 
	Or wild.

Galen climbs aboard. He reaches out to help her up.

			VALERIAN
	Wait a minute. I just wished for a 
	horse and here it is.

			GALEN
	You don't want to wish it gone, do 
	you?

She thinks for a moment, then lets him help her up. Galen 
touches the horse's flanks with his heels and they ride off.

							FADE OUT:

					THE END