The Bell Wishers (8) GABE Over here, there's a small cave. Rain pelts both of them unmercifully as they duck inside. As their eyes adjust to the dim lighting Gabe sees a slight indentation, hewn in the rock wall, along one corner of a passageway. EFX as a cylindrical object, resembling a perfect orb begins glowing at his approach. SAGEUS Don't touch anything. I've got enough to deal with as it is. GABE Don't worry. The lightning from outside makes this thing shine. CAMERA FOLLOWS as Sageus flies to a better vantage point higher up where she can scrutinize the object. SAGEUS Not very impressive. Probably has some internal power supply. In here, light can't be the source for its energy. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as low rumblings fill the cavern. EFX as a snake-like bolt of lightning shoots blindingly around her. Stunned, losing her grip, she falls, landing hard against the back wall. She shakes her head forcefully, trying to clear her thoughts and vision. SAGEUS (weakly) Gabe! Help me! DIFF ANGLE as she looks around. Gabe is nowhere to be seen. SAGEUS I know he didn't abandon me. We need to stay together to rescue Jewel. EFX as a sudden slight flicker from the orb draws her attention. The glow has all but subsided, resuming its former shape of burnished gold. EFX as another crack of lightning sends dark billowing smoke across the cave's mouth. A moment of silence echoes eerily in the gloom. Then, a steady rumbling overhead grows to thunderous proportions. Sageus is rolled backward as stones supporting the cave entrance crumble away. They fall one on the other until the dark fury of the storm is obliterated, sealing shut any semblance of an opening, or escape. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as she regains her feet, blinking back tears of despair and flapping her wings to send the cloud of earth surrounding her swirling in all directions. She hops to where the cave entrance had been only moments before. Regret floods over her as she realizes she will never see Jewel or Gabe again. A voice from behind sends a startling chill through her. KINDGARDEN Come now, it's not that bad! CUT TO: CAMERA FOLLOWS as Sageus spins around, seeing a faint form in the darkness. A small man, no more than five foot two feet high, with thin-rimmed glasses and a totally unruly head of white hair, faces her. SAGEUS Who are you? KINDGARDEN People call me a lot of things. But my real name is Bernard C. Kindgarden. SAGEUS (heaving a sigh of relief) Nice to know I'm not alone here. I'm Sageus. KINDGARDEN I'm a professor. Though my credentials don't mean much here. SAGEUS What do you teach? I hope it includes geology. KINDGARDEN Afraid not. But I do know another way out of here. Follow me. SAGEUS (grins) Thought you'd never ask. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as he leads her past the orb to a hidden cut-out portion of the stone wall. Kindgarden taps twice in a secret spot, which opens a wide hole. Together, they descend a long and winding stairwell that ends in a cavern at least ten times the size of the previous one. Brightly-lit strange balloon-sized fixtures cast a daylight glow throughout the cave. ANOTHER ANGLE as Sageus sees rows of wooden workbenches stretching as far as the eye could see. They are piled high with experiments in various testing stages. Everything was totally foreign to anything Sageus had ever seen. SAGEUS What is all this? KINDGARDEN I've been here quite a long time. Not hiding, mind you. Just like keeping to myself. SAGEUS That would be difficult here. Especially on such a small island. KINDGARDEN I am a professor of astrophysics. With a very strong interest in anthropology, psychology and many other studies too numerous to mention. But I never expected to wind up here. Apart from my world�my family�my friends. SAGEUS (pressing him for an answer) How did you get here? You didn't just wake up one day and find yourself here. In the middle of a field on the far side of life. KINDGARDEN Heaven's no! (laughs gently) I was exploring fairly deep water one afternoon. A huge tidal wave hit my boat broadside. Sent me tumbling end over end. Snapped on my experimental displacer replacer by mistake and wound up here. I've been up all night many times trying to figure out exact coordinates for the island. Until I do, the displacer replacer must never be turned on. I created little gold orbs with the same principle. They get me around the island quicker. But so far no luck on the big one. SAGEUS (her beak drops open) Where did you put the displacer replacer? KINDGARDEN The Cyclops moved it to a safe place for me. By the shore. Under a waterfall. SAGEUS What happens if it gets activated accidentally? KINDGARDEN (shakes his head sadly) It would simply disappear with no set coordinates. And I'd be marooned on this island forever. WIPE TO: EXT. SPIDER BATTLEGROUND. Pipercall is seen unconscious on the ground. Jason turns his concentration to Teathergund. EFX as the hammer flies to his hand. Frygund is totally unprepared for the attack as Jason swings at the creature. The hammer's gold head sinks deep into the beast's side. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as a shriek of anger bursts from Frygund's lips. It leaps for Jason. In response, Jason hurls himself into the air with Teathergund. Whirling like a helicopter blade, Jason flies to a higher attack position. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE and EFX as Farina twirls swiftly in circles, spinning earth and branches into a fierce controlled tornado. Centering herself inside the wall of fury, she slings it directly at the fanged monster. JASON (yells from above) Don't do it! EFX as Frygund leaps into the center of the wind, snaring Farina in its paws. Continuing onward through the opposite side of the windstorm, the beast regains its footing and roars a victory call back at Jason. JASON (shouts) Let her go! CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Jason returns to the ground and the whirlwind dissipates in front of him. CUT TO: WIDER SHOT and EFX as a sudden crackling noise draws everyone's attention. Sparkling folds of light begin forming behind Frygund. The curtain of displacement opens swiftly, hurling Gabe to the ground. Still holding Farina tightly, the beast flees into the changing colors of light and the curtain closes, fading away into transparent form, then vanishing completely. JASON (yells at Gabe) How could you give that creature a chance to escape? Gabe is dazed, showing no signs of recognition of Jason or his surroundings. Everything is as strange as the cave he'd left only moments before. GABE Hey, I didn't plan this! I was in a cave. There was an orb. I moved it to get a closer look. Then a flash of lightning hit. Next thing I knew� A low moan from Pipercall draws Jason's attention back from the edge of his anger. Rushing to Pipercall's side, he gently lifts the flutist's head. Bruised and greatly battered from Frygund's attack, the musician motions weakly for Windwood. PIPERCALL I need Windwood. Gabe kneels to hold Pipercall while Jason rises to search the underbrush. GABE What's going on here? Why were you two fighting that creature all alone here in the forest? Jason makes no answer, merely continues searching for Windwood. GABE I'd like an answer. I'm trying to be civil, but I'm just as lost out here as the both of you. I'd like to get my bearings straight. JASON (glaring back at him) I'm trying to find Windwood for him. Your answers can wait. GABE Oh, you think so? CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Gabe releases Pipercall's head. Carefully, lying him back against a soft carpet of leaves. GABE I've had enough of your attitude. JASON Try it, and you'll wish you hadn't. PIPERCALL (weakly) Fight together�not against each other. GABE (pondering the wisdom) He's right. Separately we don't stand a chance of finding Frygund. Gabe locates the wooden flute peeking out from a leaf cover. GABE (handing Windwood to Jason) Here, is this what you're looking for? (extends his hand to shake) My name's Gabe. JASON (accepts the flute) Thanks. Friends then � I'm Jason. Let's focus on getting my friend back to health. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as Windwood returns to its master's hands. Pipercall cautiously fingers a series of well-worn notes. He struggles to summon enough breath to play, but it proves too much effort. He sinks back against the leaves again. JASON (pleads) Rest, Pipercall. Save your strength. You can play later. PIPERCALL (weakly) You don't understand. If I don't play now, I won't survive. GABE (disbelieving) You're Pipercall? PIPERCALL Yes. GABE My people followed someone by that name when they traveled west across the island. But that was over a hundred years ago. You can't be the same person. PIPERCALL I assure you, we're one and the same. I know your tribe well. They bear strong features with good hearts. A very caring and giving people. GABE And you're held in the same high regard now as then. I never thought I'd actually meet a legend. JASON Whoa, hold on. How can anyone live to be over a hundred years old? That's impossible. PIPERCALL Actually, it's closer to four. JASON Wait a minute. Who are you really? PIPERCALL (sighs) I will tell you all about myself later. But first, I must play. The Guardian is the only one who can save me now. JASON Who's the Guardian? GABE (places a hand on Jason's shoulder) Wait. He will die without the Guardian's help. Let him call. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Pipercall begins to play. A strange, other-worldly melody fills the air, sad yet hopeful, with sustained high notes at the very end of the song. It had a pleading sound, as if struggling to be heard over everyday sounds of life, begging aid in the deepest need to survive. CUT TO: OVERHEAD SHOT and EFX as an ice blue glow shimmers suddenly around the flutist. He smiles, comfort filling every fiber of his being. The pain is gone. There is no discomfort. The blue sheen turns a vibrant pink, then a soft translucent white. Finally a bright golden circle horizontally encompasses the musician. It spins faster and faster. Pipercall's lips move noiselessly, as if talking to some unseen person within the circle of light. DIFF ANGLE as Jason tries to step closer, but Gabe holds him back. Jason accepts the guidance and holds his stance. SOUND EFX as the sound of wind chimes fill the air and the Guardian moves from Pipercall toward the boys. Standing completely still, they wait for the chance to meet the Guardian on whatever terms were available for contact. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as the globe of light moves to within hearing distance. The Guardian's voice tones aren't completely audible at first, sounding masculine and feminine at the same time. Distinction of gender wasn't important to them as the power of conversation from the form was impressive enough to the boys. GUARDIAN You must achieve your mission. Your help will determine the island's future. JASON (blurts out impulsively) We can't even protect ourselves, much less the whole island! Frygund kidnapped Farina. We almost lost Pipercall. What kind of Guardian allows that? Silence greets the accusation for a moment. Gabe bites his lower lip, wondering if Jason has gone too far. This was a being capable of curing the dying musician. Power to heal could be no stranger to the Guardian. GUARDIAN Many events happen on the island. True, I am responsible for putting everything in place. But how various life forms react to each other is up to them. That's the freedom given to each individual. JASON (smiles) Seems a good plan. GUARDIAN Think of it in terms of planting a garden. A gardener can select a spot. Gather the right soil. Put beautiful plants together. Yet, there will always be weeds to control. Sometimes hard weather and climate. Even the best gardener is hard-pressed to control these things. Still, the final beauty of the garden is worth all the effort. In both creation and nurture. Don't you agree? JASON (quietly) Yes. GUARDIAN You are my workers in the garden. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as the shimmering globe begins rising, breaking the connection with them. GUARDIAN Work with the plants you've been given. They will show true beauty when grown and viewed together. CUT TO: WIDER SHOT as Gabe places hands under Pipercall's shoulders, helping him to his feet. Joining Jason, they watch the brightly spinning globe as it shoots into the air against the path of the mid-day sun. In a moment, it vanishes against the double star track of clouds and sky. PIPERCALL Now we find Farina. Every second Frygund runs loose lessens our chance of getting her back. JASON And how exactly do we do that? Pipercall looks around, then points to an orb hidden in the hollow of a nearby tree. He retrieves the travel disk, moving it expertly in hand to activate the golden globe. PIPERCALL Here's a good start. It can take us to Farina in an instant. GABE (steps between them) No! We could wind up on the far side of the island. Days from here. We don't have time to go in two directions. PIPERCALL What's more important than saving Farina? GABE Stonelight, a terrible force, is already counting down to destroy the island. We have till sunrise. Or we won't save your friend, Farina. Or my own, Jewel. JASON (his voice barely a whisper) Who? GABE The bravest girl I've ever known. She saved our village from Devonika. JASON (to himself) I bet she did. (feels warm faith spreading through himself) She's alive! FADE TO: EXT. SEASHORE. Water spray splashes against Jewel's cheeks as she finishes a light lunch of small herbs and sea leaves. She is seated on a large boulder overlooking Stonelight. Her blonde hair, drenched by the waterfall, then dried by the sun, frames her face in ringlets. But she still avoids all contact with reflections from the pool of water. Her hope of recovering any of her former beauty from the mysterious object had long vanished. JEWEL What is it? CAPHUS Can't be certain. A timer is running, though. Could be very dangerous. JEWEL We'd better leave. CAPHUS A meeting should be called. All Cyclops should agree on what to do. Stonelight did find this place for us. Jewel shivers. Unsure of what the final outcome would be from a convened council of giants. Caphus steps forward onto the beach. His footstep sends gentle waves swirling against the large boulder. Foam eddies leave small water patterns as they recede. CAPHUS You have no worries. My tribe is nonviolent, unless provoked beyond measure. I will protect you from them. You have my word on that. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Jewel tugs the shell around her neck. JEWEL Tell me again please. As Caphus begins speaking in earnest tones, Jewel blows gently into the shell. Every word he speaks echoes back truthfully. CAPHUS (smiles) I will protect you. You have my word on that. Jewel lowers the shell, allowing its power to subside. JEWEL I will trust you, Caphus. Call the meeting. But do it quickly. The timer leaves us only till dawn and it's now mid-afternoon. CAPHUS Stay here, then. You will be safe until I return. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as he heads off in the direction of enormous caves along the cliff wall. They are home to the Cyclops. Glancing upward, Jewel sees a small speck outlined against enormous puffy clouds of mixed colors, all interwoven with various threads of the rainbow. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE as the airborne object begins dropping. It descends rapidly as Caphus disappears into one of the larger caverns. In earshot range, Jewel's heart skips a beat, recognizing Sageus. JEWEL Sageus! You're alright! SAGEUS And you as well, my dear! You don't know how I've worried about you. Or if I'd ever see you again. Sageus lands gingerly beside Jewel. JEWEL (hugs her) Oh, Sageus, I'm so glad you're here. I've been hoping you'd return. So many things have happened since you left. SAGEUS I know. But don't worry. I've found a solution. Stonelight's creator is on the way to help! JEWEL How soon can he get here. There isn't much time. SAGEUS His name is Professor Kindgarden. He can stop the timer. There's an elaborate web of travel disks planted throughout the island. And he invented them to get from one place to another quickly. He's just on the other side of the cliffs. Should be here shortly. JEWEL Above the caves? I hope he doesn't run into the Cyclops. They're calling a meeting about Stonelight right now. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as the boulder tremors beneath them. JEWEL What was that? SAGEUS Something moved under the rock. Run for the caves! CUT TO: WIDER ANGLE as Stonelight rocks a second, stronger tremor. They jump from the surface as an incoming wave shoves the device up against the shoreline. Then just as quickly, the device is sucked back in the opposite direction, farther out into deeper water. JEWEL (yells) Sageus, do something! If we lose Stonelight, it could blow up. Destroy the island in a tidal wave. CUT TO: CAMERA FOLLOWS as Sageus flies swiftly to Stonelight. It continues drifting father away from the shore with each passing second. Landing on the surface, she notices a top panel has been knocked loose, exposing intricate circuitry crisscrossing inside. Frantically, but calmly, Sageus studies the maze of wires, oblivious to the darkening waters around her. CUT TO: EXT. SHORELINE. Professor Kindgarden manages to clear the last hill just as the Cyclops council emerges from the canverns. Their thunderous footsteps shake loose several large trees, knocking him over the side of the cliff into Caphus' outstretched hand. His jolted landing keeps Kindgarden's sudden appearance hidden from the other Cyclops. One of the tribal leaders, Crenum, scans the horizon. CRENUM We have no way to reach it that far out. CAPHUS If we form a chain, we might. The land doesn't drop off for some ways below the surface. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE and EFX as an immense roaring begins. The sea floor opens wide in a giant chasm. Waves crash down either side of steep cliff walls. Cracks splintering off, circle in front of Jewel, dropping the seabed completely around her. She can no longer reach the caves across a hundred-foot abyss. At her back stand two towering waterfalls. Sageus and Stonelight have vanished in the midst of the uproar. Jewel takes a step toward the separated canyon of water and notices a set of sand stairs, leading downward. Grimly determined to locate Sageus, she descends. CAMERA FOLLOWS as she follows a simple wide footpath on the first level. Moving cautiously, she tries to block out the cascading water phenomena on both sides. Whatever controls the ocean's force could definitely send all the water back together again, crushing everything in its path. Curiosity leads her onward. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as Jewel reaches the second level. She looks back to find the sand steps behind her have vanished. Smoothing into a hill, gently sloping to the surface she'd just left. JEWEL No point in going back anyway. The canyon's still there and I'd never reach Caphus over that. CAMERA CONTINUES FOLLOWING as Jewel descends another six levels before a huge cube, carved from sand, erupts into view. It is a massive structure, tall as a mountain. Tired from her descent, Jewel pauses a moment to view the marvel. It is covered on all four sides by tremendous rows of seaweed and dark, tentacled vines, stretching from top to bottom. This prevents it from being observed from anyplace other than the current level of sea floor. EFX as a sudden rumbling sends her running down the remaining two levels. She covers several hundred feet in a matter of seconds. She looks upward to view the spectacle above her. CUT TO: POV as crests of green sea foam begin trickling over the tops of the waterfall pillars, rushing rapidly across a loam-soaked sea floor toward her. As she reaches the outer edge of the cube, a crack separates the sand structure across its top half. The front half cracks again along its mid-secton. Then, both sides swing outward, leaving a lightless entrance beckoning safety. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as she takes advantage of the opportunity. Jewel runs for the invited haven, groping carefully forward in the darkness inside, she hears only the sound of her own breathing, exhaling in quick short bursts. She is frightened, but determines to find any escape from the pursuing water. Hearing a massive crunching sound, she turns in time to see the separated sections closing behind her. She screams but the sound is muffled, vanishing in the thick blanket of sea air as the sand partitions slam shut. CUT TO: ANOTHER ANGLE and EFX as a pale white light glints directly opposite the previous entrance. Heading for the beacon, she notices its source lies hidden through a small hole in the sand wall. JEWEL How can I get through that? There's no other way out of here. CUT TO: CLOSE UP of a single sparkle of light glinting against a moisture drop sliding down the wall. JEWEL (exclaims loudly) That's it! She draws forth the worn grey headband and places it on her head. Standing in line with the light reflecting against the sandy wall, she recalls the plea from memory. JEWEL Power of form, stranger to me, Lend thy shape, in time of need. EFX as her body disappears into shimmering sparkles of light. Every movement now becomes a source of illumination in the dark, lighting every nook and cranny. As Jewel moves, her form thins itself into a single stream of glittering iridescence. Then, it slides nimbly through the small opening to the room beyond. CUT TO: DIFF ANGLE as she reassumes her human form and removes the headband. Jewel tucks it carefully back in her pocket and begins examining her surroundings. A wondrous, almost blinding light gleams from the sides of an enormous castle made entirely from sand. Four round turrets flank the major structure. A thick drawbridge lies poised across a wide moat of gently lapping sea green water. Drawing nearer, her face breaks into a smile at the reflection staring back at her from the water. CUT TO: CLOSE UP of the water's surface as she sees her beauty has been restored in changing to light and back again. A startled gasp escapes her. CUT TO: WIDER SHOT and EFX as a deep voice resounds inside the castle. VOICE Enter, Princess. Do not delay! Jewel steps haltingly onto the drawbridge. Amazed at the tension of the bonded sand in its almost wooden appearance. The sparkling walls outside the castle give way to a more somber display inside. Dark hallways stretch in every direction. Quizzically, she studies her options. Then, the haunting voice booms again, cajoling and wheedling her. VOICE (sharply) Come forth! My patience wearies. JEWEL (calls loudly) I don't know which hall to enter. Tell me and I'll be on my way. A strange, eerie laugh echoes, growing in intensity. It unnerves her and unsettles her strongest resolve to remain calm. It is the sound of a hunter stalking prey. JEWEL Such beauty outside, and such evil inside! She turns and ventures down the nearest corridor to her right. JEWEL No matter. I'll find you, no matter where or what you are. EFX as the faint tinkle of crystal sounds in the distance. JEWEL (brightening) It's the bell! We can leave the island! WIPE TO: EXT. FOREST. Gabe's fingers clench the sides of the golden orb tightly, then relax, over and over again. Jason stands adamantly weighing the odds of their choice in destination. JASON So, Jewel survived the underwater attack. That's amazing� (lets loose a small laugh) Then again, she holds her own against me over a chessboard. But Farina � there's no way she could escape Frygund. Not that monster with a wolf's head, eagle's wings and the speed of a cheetah! That thing can attack by air or foot in seconds. GABE (reminding him) We must agree on where we're going before I activate the orb. PIPERCALL Might I suggest something? Take a good hard look at what we're up against. GABE What do you mean? PIPERCALL Farina was kidnapped against her will. GABE So was Jewel! PIPERCALL We know both Farina and Jewel are intelligent and resourceful. But did you see the Cyclops mistreat Jewel in any way? GABE Well, no. He was interested in getting her back to their camp in one piece. Can't say what happened after that. Sageus never returned with any updates. PIPERCALL All right, then. We know Frygund snatched Farina and then vanished into the curtain as you entered. She can't defend herself against a creature that vicious. GABE True enough. PIPERCALL Farina is a friend to Jason and myself. You don't know her. But her powers could be of great benefit in rescuing Jewel. GABE What you say is true. But there's an even greater danger. A countdown is running on a device to destroy the whole island. We have less than a day to stop it. JASON
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