The Bell Wishers (11)
CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as a giant hand reaches in to test the damaged maze of circuitry. FARINA Professor Kindgarden? KINDGARDEN Yes, it's me. There's been a bit of mess since you got knocked out. Glad you're okay, though. Farina flies to the edge of the opening, peering out at the bizarre battle scene, no more than twenty yards away. FARINA I don't believe it! The Levidium exists. It was only a myth. A legend! KINDGARDEN Well, something brought it to life. And we don't have the firepower to combat it, yet! Farina points to a circling bird of prey overhead. The bird edges downward carefully between the three snaking heads of the monster. FARINA That's Sageus! KINDGARDEN Yes, she flew to Devonika's defense. If you must, join her. But I could use your help here with Stonelight. FARINA (disagrees) It's safe. The counter's stopped. KINDGARDEN (grimacing) I know. And we must start it again. FARINA Why? KINDGARDEN No time to explain. You're the only one who can fit inside Stonelight. My hands aren't steady enough to make the connections work. FARINA All right. Tell me what to do. CUT TO: EXT. TIGHTER SHOT of all the warriors converging on the Levidium. One of the front fish-faced heads leers downward at them. The Levidium's mouth opens, emitting a hideous, ear-numbing tone. The cube's floor shakes abruptly, spilling each member across the sand. Ferguson takes the lead, calling an ancient flyscout battle cry. EFX as circles of bright light focus in on each flyscout as the strength of their ancestors pours into the cohesive force lying within each airborne warrior. Banded together, they fly upward to the unblinking face, attacking each eye with sand. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as the creature responds, sucking in enough air to fill several large hot air balloons, then blowing all of the sand into a freakish whirlwind. All the flyscouts are knocked into each other, battling to stay aloft. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE AS Jason flies to the neck of the second head. He pounds Teathergund against the base of the neck. The fish face's mouth opens wide, snapping in all directions to escape the attack. Tentacles writhe until one securely finds Jason's mid-section. It slithers into place up and around his head. Jason tries raising Teathergund in defense, but it's too late. He is swiftly forced into the head's gaping mouth, sliding down its throat. Jewel screams as she sees Jason disappear, then yells in anger. Grabbing her headband tightly, she draws out her camping lighter. Chanting to transform, EFX as she changes instantly into a beacon of flame. She flies on air currents to the creature's head. Fish scales begin dropping from the second face. Totally engulfed, it begins laboring for breath. PIPERCALL (shouts from below) Die, monster! CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as the Levidium's first head turns its sandstorm onto the second head, extinguishing Jewel's flame, and knocking the headband off to the ground below. She is now clinging in sheer terror on the back of the beast. Writhing tentacles begin aiming for her position. As a slithering sea limb snakes around her stomach, she screams. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Pipercall ignores the danger of tentacles around him and races to reach the headband. Before he's able to accomplish the task, Sageus dives for it and picks it up. SAGEUS Stay your ground, Pipercall. We need your freedom on this side of battle. Sageus flies to join Jewel, dodging tentacle attacks from left and right. JEWEL Sageus, be careful! It already got Jason. SAGEUS I know. And you're going to save him. But not without this! The headband drops into Jewel's hand as Sageus flies by. CUT TO: WIDER SHOT as the first and second heads turn to address the fleeing owl. A howl of rage echoes from the Levidium as it swings its entire body around, exposing the third head to Sageus. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Jewel shrieks and is thrown into the second head's gaping mouth. Jewel looks back to see Sageus turning to sand and dissolving to the wind. Then Jewel slides into a puddle of dark intestinal juices lapping at her feet as she hits bottom. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Jewel's eyes grow accustomed to the darkness. JASON Jewel, I'm over here. JEWEL You survived! JASON For the moment. But we have to get out of here. And Teathergund's outside. Jewel moves slowly toward the sound of Jason's voice in the twilight. She trips and falls once, then picks herself up and keeps moving. JEWEL Where are you? JASON Here! She turns to see Jason securely lashed inside a pocket of skin attached to the side of the intestine. He appears to be straight-jacketed with no hope of breaking free. JEWEL I'll have you out of there in a jiffy. She feels in her pocket for her lighter. JASON Careful. They're all around us. JEWEL What's here? JASON I don't know. But they attacked and I woke up like this. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Jewel flicks the lighter on for only a second. Hundreds of glistening sac-like creatures are seen hurrying away into the dark. JASON They're like ants. JEWEL Well, this ain't no picnic. Let's get ready for a barbecue. CUT TO: EXT. CUBE FLOOR. Gabe is tugging furiously on Teathergund, but he is unable to budge the hammer more than a few inches. GABE A one owner weapon, for sure. But somebody's got to use it. FERGUSON It won't be us. First head's still acting up. Glancing up, they see one of the dreaded fish faces dodging skillfully between its airborne adversaries. It snaps at first one then another flyscout target, but the sheer weight of its long neck keeps it from doing so. GABE Anyone seen Devonika? SECOND FLYSCOUT Second head took her. Gabe looks around and finally latches onto a battle plan in his head. He races for Teathergund and yells at the second head. Just as he reaches the hammer, a tentacle grabs him and the hammer, hoisting them both into the air. GABE Hey, you stupid monster! Over here� Ferguson looks back in anger, realizing Gabe's sacrifice was done to protect the rest of the battle group. FERGUSON (whispers) A noble warrior. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Pipercall dashes to draw forth Windwood. He starts belting a strange harmony into the air. It begins as no more than three or four notes thrown together, but then, a dark dangerous string of emphasis rears from the depths of its musical expression. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as a sudden spark of contact sends Farina flying from Stonelight's insides to its surface. She rejoins Kindgarden as the counter begins to blink once again. FARINA Professor, did you feel that? Her feet jar loose from the surface and she sits down hard. FARINA (ignoring the pain) It's moving! KINDGARDEN Yes. Almost time to do its work! Farina flies from the surface as Stonelight begin sliding past Kindgarden. Then she realizes the professor no longer controls the machine's direction. FARINA Pipercall's got it. KINDGARDEN Yes. And godspeed to the musician's aim. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Stonelight obeys the musical summons for battle. The device floats past Pipercall to assume position for its next command. CUT TO: OVERHEAD SHOT as Gabe finds himself face to face with the Levidium's third head. Its blazing eyes bear down on the helpless Landmover. Gabe is completely powerless to move within the grasp of the giant tentacle. But a small smile at the edge of Gabe's mouth goads the monster into strike position. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT of Gabe staring directly at the creature. He manages to keep Teathergund's silver-forged head directly in front of his own. GABE If this doesn't work, we've lost it all. CUT TO: INT. LEVIDIUM STOMACH. Jewel is seen frantically snapping the remaining supply of fluid in her lighter. Nothing ignites. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT of Jewel's foot as a viscous mass slithers over the top. She manages to stifle a scream. JEWEL Jason, what can we do? JASON First, get me off this wall restraint. Then we can plan a way out. Shivering, she steps toward his last remembered position in the gloom. She kicks a small stone away at her feet. JASON There's a Swiss army knife in my front pocket. You can reach it through this stuff. Then cut the rest of it away. Jewel plunges her hand into the fleshy restraint. It feels warm and slick to her touch. A slight shudder runs along the entire intestinal tract. Dark, gooey liquid begins dropping puddles all around, sliding down the sides of the stomach lining. JEWEL Ugh! JASON Hurry. It's sending more acid to attack us. JEWEL Jason, I can't get through this. It's too dense. JASON Find something else to cut with. We're almost out of time. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as she withdraws her hand from the fleshy obstruction. Bending down, she feels for the small stone that she just kicked away. It lies within arm's reach. She grasps it, turns and plunges her hand back into the solid restraint. Buried almost to her elbow, she slices a small opening in front of Jason's pocket. Immediately, a warm liquid starts pouring through her fingers. Withdrawing slightly, she refocuses her attention on reaching the knife. JASON It's just blood. JEWEL (coldly) Just blood. JASON Hurry, or we'll be caught when it clots. Redoubling her efforts, she draws the blade free, then cuts decisively down the length of flesh holding Jason captive. He is free in a moment as the floor begins an ominous rumbling motion. JASON (yells over the thunder) We have to get out of here now! She is staring transfixed at the increasing number of sac-like creatures scurrying toward them in pitch blackness. JEWEL There's no way. JASON No! There's always a way. We just have to find it. CUT TO: CLOSE SHOT as Jewel puts the small stone back in her pocket. The headband glows inside her pocket, and she draws it forth to place it on her head. Swiftly, she recites the transformation chant to herself. JASON What are you doing? The only response he hears is a slight clicking noise in the darkness. Then, he hears the sound of a tiny amount of gas being released form her lighter. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE and EFX as a cushion of heavy gas forms under Jason's feet. He feels himself lifted from the floor, then moving with the speed of a cheetah, the gas cushion heads back up the throat of the Levidium's second head. CUT TO: EXT. SHOT as the Levidium's mouth opens wide and Jason sails out. Farina and Kindgarden break into vocal cheers at Jason's return. Pipercall notes the escape, but concentrates solely on sliding Stonelight into its final holding pattern for release. CUT TO: OVERHEAD SHOT and EFX as Teathergund's burnished head catches the Levidium's third head in its own reflection. The head turns immediately to sand. Shrieking in pain, the remaining two heads spread to attack. Ferguson's battalion splits accordingly to renew their attack, blocking any verbal communication between the remaining heads. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT of Pipercall as he nods to the flyscouts, trying to disperse them before sending Stonelight's fury against the Levidium. Unable to get their attention, he stops playing for a moment to warn them. PIPERCALL Ferguson, get them out of the way! CUT TO: WIDER SHOT as a snaking tentacle knocks Pipercall spinning one way, and Windwood in the opposite direction. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Jason sinks through the thinning gas cloud and regains his footing. He sees a silver headband being drawn from Jewel's head. EFX as the change draws his attention and she resumes human form in front of him. JASON Powerful stuff. And thanks for the ride. JEWEL No problem. Now save the island. Everyone's counting on you. She hugs him briefly. Jason brings his full attention on Teathergund. EFX as the hammer flies from the tentacle overhead to his grasp. Jason swings Teathergund and rises to send a resounding blow to the tentacle, freeing Gabe and Jason flies him back to solid ground. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT of Jewel as she nervously fidgets with the stone she picked up to free Jason in the Levidium's stomach. The rock glinted in the early morning rays from the island's double suns. Peering closer, Jewel sees it is the most perfect diamond she'd ever laid eyes upon. Refracting the dawn's early light, Jewel watches in awestruck wonder as EFX and a swirling rainbow of colors moves through the diamond's surface and transforms into Sageus' familiar form. Then, in the next instant, they are joined by Devonika's change from diamond to human form. JEWEL (hugs Sageus) I'm so glad you're back. (turns to hug Devonika) And you, as well, Devonika. DEVONIKA (slowly warming to the embrace) It's good to be back. I drew the sand of Sageus into myself to form a diamond. And it worked, saving both of us. JEWEL (shivers at the memory) Not to mention providing a way out of that creature's stomach. Sageus reaches to grip Jason's forearm. He is wielding Teathergund, preparing to send Stonelight directly through the middle of the Levidium's two remaining heads. SAGEUS Did Kindgarden agree to this? It's his decision, you know. JASON He gave me his approval. It's the only way. Our last resort. Sageus nods, then joins Devonika who has sent a final warning to Ferguson. Swiftly, the flyscouts disperse, releasing both heads' wrath. Vigorously snapping tentacles seek the assembled army, but as Teathergund's arc grows greater over Jason's head, everyone knows the monster can never withstand the force. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Jason releases Teathergund. It solidly connects with Stonelight's rear propulsion system, already beginning to hum as the counter winds down to its last few seconds. JEWEL Everyone back into the castle. DEVONIKA What's left of it won't protect us. Devonika raises her arms in a tremendous sweeping motion. EFX as a wall of sand is sent hurtling at the beast, momentarily blinding the Levidium. She nods for Sageus to join her. Without hesitation, Sageus steps to her side. DEVONIKA We need a shield. Something to cover all of us. SAGEUS There's nothing that big around here. FARINA Yes, there is! The bell is in Stonelight. Use it to call the cloak. JEWEL The cloak will expand. Protecting us all. KINDGARDEN Call off the search then. It's right here in my pocket. Kindgarden draws forth the cloth. Jewel realizes it's the familiar cloak with the bell's image in the center circle. She turns to Jason. JEWEL Jason! Time to go! CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Jason fights for every step backward. He is almost mired in the same quicksand that first ensnared them when they encountered Ali. The Levidium's two heads angle for one final strike against him. The two skulls crashing together will destroy the boy who is trying desperately to escape their final fury. Stonelight remains in its original position. Teathergund hasn't budged it an inch. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT of Stonelight's counter. There are no numbers showing. The countdown is over. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Kindgarden is seen shouting behind Jason. KINDGARDEN It's gone, Jason. Sound moves faster than light here. We can see the movement. You're too close to the source. Get back to the cloak now! Jason turns and aims Teathergund for the group gathered behind him. The hammer's burnished silver head flies swift and true, sending him straight to the edge of the traveling cloak. JEWEL (pleads) Everybody help get him on board! All of the flyscouts, Sageus, Devonika, Pipercall, Gabe and even Kindgarden quickly loan their efforts to the task. The cloak expands once more to allow Jason inside its safe confines. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as they look back to the ground below. Stonelight's final passage splits the Levidium in two, forever destoying it at the bottom of its water-filled tomb. In the wake of the time displacement toward the island, Stonelight splits the entire ground structure in half, north to south. Slowly enough, though, for every creature's safe retreat from the new seashore dividing the island. CUT TO: SEVERAL QUICK SHOTS of various tribes and animals moving back from the beaches. CUT TO: CLOSE SHOT of everyone in the cloak. MAIN THEME MUSIC up. SAGEUS We'll have to build a bridge between it. DEVONIKA Since my castle was right in the middle, I'll cast the first chant for solidarity. PIPERCALL Peace will reign again. JEWEL Jason, we're going home! EFX as a sudden jolt inside the enfolded cloak sends it spinning rapidly, throwing them all against each other. Jason clings tightly to Jewel, determined not to be separated again. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT as Jason and Jewel close their eyes. CUT TO: EFX as the cloak stops spinning, pausing to hover gently before landing. Jewel cautiously opens one eye and sees Jason's smiling face above her. JASON We're home. CUT TO: WIDE SHOT as they glance around, seeing the familiar forest they'd left at the beginning of their adventures. Jason rises to his feet, drawing Jewel to him. JEWEL (whispers gratefully) We're back. We're really here! KINDGARDEN Yes, we made it home. Thanks to the wonderful traveling cloak. And a wish to get back. He holds the worn cloth in his hands. It is now back to the size of a small handkerchief. JASON Where are the others? KINDGARDEN Oh, they're here. He holds up the blue bell with its strange insignia. KINDGARDEN Look closely at the sides. CUT TO: TIGHT SHOT of the bell. All of their friends are imminently displayed around the bell's perimeter. A ring of flyscouts overlap a flutist, a queen, an owl, a strong Landmover warrior, a Cyclops, a lion, a headband, a shell necklace, a sand castle and a magnificently engraved hammer. JEWEL But the bell was in Stonelight. Farina said so. KINDGARDEN Yes, but she didn't build Stonelight. Or transfer its principles of motion into this! Kindgarden holds up a glinting time displacement disk. Jason immediately recognizes the travel device, grinning at the professor's ingenuity for retaining it. KINDGARDEN I merely took the initiative of reaching Stonelight and retrieving the bell before the counter hit zero. JEWEL So you can go back to the island anytime? KINDGARDEN Precisely. And that time is right now. I've got to get back to my experiments. JEWEL How will you get there? KINDGARDEN Forgotten about the cloak so soon? (hands the bell to Jason) Here, you might need this if you decide to visit again. JASON (hugs Kindgarden) Thanks. I will. JEWEL (insists) Not without me. We'll miss you, Professor. KINDGARDEN And all the others? JASON Definitely. EFX as Farina's face hovers in front of him for a second, then dissipates. KINDGARDEN Don't worry. It's only been a few minutes since you left here. That's the nature of the bell. Kindgarden wipes a smudge from Jewel's cheek, brushing off a few grains of sand from her hair. KINDGARDEN Your parents will only notice a few nicks and scrapes from your journey. No more than you would normally get wandering through the woods. (spreads out the cloak) But keep the memories in your hearts and you'll always find your way back to the Land of Remote. JEWEL (tearfully) We will. JASON See you soon, Professor! CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Kindgarden climbs aboard the traveling cloak. Its edges expand then hide him from view as it lifts back into the air. The cloak and its passenger disappear in the twinkle of an eye. CUT TO: CLOSE SHOT of the bell as it sounds once. The tone meets their parents' voices calling in the distance. CUT TO: WIDER SHOT as Jason grasps Jewel's hand. JASON Not a word! JEWEL (looks back at him) Not a word. CUT TO: PULL BACK as they head back down the path toward the campsite. MUSIC UP as Epilogue scrolls: EPILOGUE Jason and Jewel did meet Professor Kindgarden again on several trips back to the Land of Remote. They had many close calls in those adventures, but never forgot the first time they found the mysterious bell and its companion, the wonderful traveling cloak. Today, both children are grown and have grandchildren of their own to pass down the morals and traditions of the island. For it's no secret that explorers have traveled to many parts of the globe we live on. Traveling into deepest ocean of farthest space for answers to the unending question of truth and its effect on our lives. Without goals to achieve and friends to bond with, life holds little promise for dreams. In our lives, many people come and go, some having a more profound effect than others. Yet, in the tapestry of life, we're all sewn in the same fabric. Such is the gift of the wonderful traveling cloak, protecting all who use it for peace and unity. The lessons of the island are not so remote as its location. They're in the hearts and minds of every child. Listen to the call of working together. In unity, there is peace that surpasses all understanding. Until the next adventure, my friends, farewell from the Land of Remote and safe journeys in all your days ahead! CLOSING CREDITS ROLL TO BLACK MUSIC FADES THE END
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Copyright © 2001 Emmett O Saunders Iii |