Witch - Episode 1.06 - Burn (Part Two)
Act Three
[Open to: a street, day. The witches run with Elizabeth, sprint down the street. They keep on going, passing a small row of houses around them. They continue on, dodging around perplexed and suspicious looking roaming villagers, round whining animals, market stalls, busy town life, gasping through the air. Panting, hot. Determined just to run. The witches and Elizabeth reach a calmer, less busy area of the town.]
Elizabeth: This way.
[Elizabeth guides the witches to a completely deserted street and stops at the back of an abandoned bakery. Elizabeth and the witches slow and stop at the door.]
Kaspar: In here?
[Elizabeth nods and slowly opens the door. The witches go into a completely empty bakery, the windows are boarded up, very dark except a little light flooding in from a few gaps through the windows. The walls are scarred with scorch marks, the place is very charred and virtually empty apart from a few seats, though overall it’s still in one piece.]
Ezra: Have we lost them?
[Tara looks through the gap, outside to the street.]
Tara: I think so.
Rina: Is this place going to be safe enough?
Elizabeth: We are out of the way, it should suffice for now-
Autumn: [panicking] Pete?! Where’s Pete?!
[Slow, slippery beat.]
Kaspar: [cold] He’s gone.
Ezra: Oh god…
Autumn: [her eyes suddenly wide with panic] Where did he go?
Kaspar: How didn’t we notice?
Tara: Must’ve been the rush to get out in the fire, we just-
Kaspar: [angry] Forgot?!
Elizabeth: He protected me, he helped me to get out. He pushed me forward, after that I didn’t see where he went.
Kaspar: [low] What d’you mean you didn’t see him?
Autumn: [in a whisper] Kas, please don’t…
[Kaspar sighs, slowly biting back the anger, he nods reluctantly.]
Rina: He’s still trapped in there?
Autumn: N-no, n-no. He-he can’t be.
[Rina pulls Autumn into a soft, comforting hug.]
Tara: Maybe he escaped. We should do a spell or something, see if we can find him?
Kaspar: Yeah…
[Kaspar looks down, uncharacteristically calm, but blatant fear etched in his eyes.]
Elizabeth: [excited] A spell?
[Elizabeth’s expression grows sombre when she notices the dark atmosphere around the room. She turns to Tara with a look of sincere apology. Tara nods to Elizabeth, giving her a little encouraging grin.]
Elizabeth: I’ve never performed a spell, without… having to do it in secret.
Tara: [with a smile] It’s a great feeling.
[Fade to: the witches and Elizabeth in the bakery, sitting around a circle of candles.]
Tara: The answers we seek are around us.
Ezra: A longed for memory no longer with us.
Rina: Return to us, in you we trust.
Elizabeth: Through the seas, the fires, the wild, the dust.
Kaspar: Somebody that is far from us, forced to flee.
Autumn: Right the wrong, return him to me…
[The candles around them blow out as a soft wind passes through. A few words slowly form in the smoke - “The Enemy.”]
Tara: Drake.
[Cut to: the village town hall corridor, day. Pete is being pushed along roughly by an angry, hard looking guard.]
Pete: Jeez, what’s with you hunters and kidnapping?
[Pan to: Drake coming up behind Pete.]
Drake: [with a smirk] It’s just so easy.
Pete: [annoyed and unamused] Yeah, I suppose constant failure can’t be too difficult.
Drake: You and your little gang just never know when to stop.
Pete: It’s just worth it, to see you uncomfortable.
[The Guard opens the door to a dirty cell. Drake roughly pushes Pete into it, he groans.]
Drake: Likewise.
Pete: Where are human rights laws when you need them?
Drake: So you think you deserve them?
Pete: Everyone does.
Drake: You really think so?
Pete: I know so. A concept you don’t really appear to grasp.
Drake: Not when it comes to filthy witches. And lawyers.
Pete: Any reason?
Drake: I don’t have to explain myself to you.
Pete: Yeah yeah, I’m sure you were bullied as a child, blah blah, psychological trauma et cetera. Who hasn’t been?
Drake: I never hated you before, but my views on that are currently changing. You’ve only been mislead, misguided.
Pete: Really? I’m touched. So what you going to do to me once the hatred returns?
Drake: [with a smirk] It’s not what I’m going to do to you. It’s what I’m going to do to them once they come running.
[Beat.]
Pete: [quietly] This is a trap, you want them here to…
Drake: [smirks] Smart boy.
[Pete glares at Drake in disgust.]
Drake: I suddenly notice the lack of witty comeback.
Pete: [darkly] Shut your mouth.
Drake: You’re not one of them, I don’t hate you like I hate them. As much as you’d like to be, I know you’re not. You’re not infected, impure, dirty. You have a chance to purify your life but you don’t take it. Why? Why do you ally yourself with evil when they’re the ones being attacked? You could be killed, die for a cause you’re not even a part of. Is that worth it?
Pete: Absolutely.
Drake: And why’s that?
Pete: Because they’re my friends, I care about them. I’m not going to step aside and let you or anyone hurt them.
[Beat.]
Drake: So be it. You’ll die with the rest of them.
[Drake leaves the room, locking, trapping Pete in the dark cell again. He shuts the door, with a brutal bang.]
[Cut to: the village market, day. Villagers are milling around, animals squarking as a hooded figure walks among them holding a basket. Pan around to see it’s Elizabeth under the hood. She walks through the crowd and reaches a narrow back alley, she continues to walk, though bumps into a passerby.]
Elizabeth: Oh I’m-
[Elizabeth turns to see - her Father. The two stare at one another, frozen, still, stunned.]
Elizabeth: [bitterly] What’s the matter Father? It looks like you’ve just seen a ghost.
Father: [spitting] Witchcraft.
Elizabeth: We escaped through the window, actually, no magic was required.
Father: You’re a fool. A fool to thwart the will of God.
Elizabeth: The will of God? It was your will. Don’t pretend you’re Abraham sacrificing your only child to the Lord-
Father: [harsh] I said don’t tell me what to do, girl.
Elizabeth: I don’t see the slightest hint of remorse.
Father: I have none, and I’d do it again because God requires it. These people they’re clouding your mind, putting devilish traits into you, you’re lost to them.
Elizabeth: No, they’ve shown me what magic really is, it’s powerful, it’s magnificent, it’s wonderful.
Father: You still haven’t learned.
Elizabeth: Neither have you.
Father: You have no manners girl!
[Elizabeth sighs, she turns and starts to walk away.]
Father: [shouting] You’ll get what’s coming to you! The Lord will smite you down!
Elizabeth: Then smite away.
[Elizabeth simply walks away past her father, out of the darkness of the alley.]
[Cut to: the village town hall, another corridor, day. Drake walks down it with a satisfied grin on his face. Drake reaches a door, he knocks on it and La Monte from earlier appears behind it.]
Drake: La Monte, how is everything going so far?
La Monte: Very well, we’re catching more witches than ever before. It’s…
Drake: It’s wonderful.
La Monte: Yes, it is. It really is. Before you arrived, the hunt, the struggle, it was hard, rough and difficult. I’ve always known our town was plagued, but I could never find a way to eliminate it well enough.
Drake: But you did. You began, you lead this struggle against the witches. You have a lot to be proud of.
La Monte: How do you do it?
Drake: Years of experience, after a while once you know for sure that you have a witch in your sight, you can simply look into their eyes and see the evil.
La Monte: Through the grace of our Lord.
Drake: I use other tools, spiritual tools to find witches mostly.
La Monte: [horrorstruck] You use magic? It is the tool of the devil.
Drake: No, never witch magic. Never touch witch magic, it will corrupt, destroy and pollute you. Infect you in unimaginable ways. Just other forms of “magic”, from …our Lord…. Without it the hunt… it’s harder.
[La Monte nods, slightly understanding but still not completely convinced.]
La Monte: Your will, your passion for the cause. It’s fuelling us, driving us, inspiration.
Drake: I have a lot to avenge, to right wrongs, heal old open wounds. If I don’t…
La Monte: Life becomes meaningless.
Drake: [softly] Yeah…
La Monte: Does it ever become easy?
Drake: The fight? To be honest no, it’s hard, tough. But who’s going to do it?
La Monte: Who is? Who knows the true pain these witches can cause, what wicked things they can really do? They’re not prepared to deal with them. Not like us.
Drake: [looking down to the floor] To lead them to righteousness.
[Beat.]
La Monte: What happened?
[Drake looks up.]
La Monte: What happened to you, to spark this dedication? To make you dedicate your life to this cause?
[Beat. Drake hesitates for a second. He stares at La Monte. Almost in disbelief, almost in shock, but the look transforms into one of pain, anguish, an inner fire of pain. His expression turns resolute, a fighter. He continues on.]
Drake: [strong] That witch. She… like all of them have hurt me, scarred me in a way nothing ever can or ever will. I’m not going to let that happen to anybody, ever again.
La Monte: So you know how it feels, what it’s like.
Drake: I do. [beat] I’m sorry.
La Monte: Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m simply doing God’s work, God’s will. A mission.
Drake: The mission.
[La Monte suddenly winces and clutches his wound he received earlier.]
Drake: Those are the signs of a brave man.
[Drake grips a wet cloth as La Monte pulls up his shirt to reveal a torso with a large gash across it. Drake smiles warmly to La Monte, mopping his wound slowly with the cloth, helping clean up the wound. Two warriors, scarred by life.]
[Cut to: the abandoned bakery, in one of its empty, dark rooms. Elizabeth is sitting in the room alone, in thought.]
Tara OS: Break from planning?
Elizabeth: [looks up as Tara enters the room] Oh, yes.
Tara: A break involving snacks?
[Tara gestures to Elizabeth’s basket she was holding earlier.]
Elizabeth: Oh, I just went out to get a few things from the market.
Tara: [nods] It’s a good thing you had that plan of the town hall or this plan we’re drawing up won’t be anything.
[Pause.]
Tara: Just a question, how d’you know - I’m - we’re not just spies? Working undercover for the hunters.
[Elizabeth raises her eyebrows.]
Tara: We just sort of conveniently bumped into your life, you’ve been hiding from these hunters, it would be understandable if you were suspicious.
Elizabeth: I’m not.
Tara: Why?
Elizabeth: I trust you.
Tara: But-
Elizabeth: I trust you.
[Tara smiles, she looks down slightly pained in nostalgia but looks up again, returning to the smile. Beat.]
Tara: What happened during the fire? You sort of…
Elizabeth: [weakly] Stopped? Yes, my father… he left me to die.
[Beat. Elizabeth is almost in disbelief, as though what had happened couldn’t be real.]
Elizabeth: He left me…to die…
Tara: I’m sorry…
[Elizabeth looks up to her with an appreciative smile.]
Tara: I know - I know how that feels, what it’s like. My father, I always thought if he had the chance, he would do that to me. When he found out what I was. And when she died…
Elizabeth: I’ve tried to be strong but I’m not, I can’t. I’m scared about what might happen. What if I’m caught? What if…
Tara: It’s ok to be scared.
Elizabeth: [smiles in contemplation] What’s it like in the future? I’d imagine it would be wonderfully fantastic.
Tara: It can be. Sometimes.
Elizabeth: How are witches in the future? Is there still this savage persecution?
Tara: No. Not from many people at least.
Elizabeth: Are we free? Can people like us be free?
Tara: [smiles] We can.
Elizabeth: [eyes wide in wonder] It must be marvellous. There must be so many new spells, new potions…
Tara: I’ve been trying out transportation spells.
Elizabeth: [intrigued] Really?
Tara: I’m not quite powerful enough yet to do it properly myself.
Elizabeth: But you’ll get there.
Tara: I hope so.
Elizabeth: Could it be a possibility that I could go back with you, if we get past all this havoc that is. For a better life. A better future.
Tara: [with a smile] Maybe…
[Cut to: La Monte’s office, he walks into it, his face screwed up in obvious pain while he staggers into the office, clutching at his chest. He breathes deeply for a few seconds and a few seconds more. He sighs as the pain slowly passes, staring ahead in aching exhaustion. He pauses and takes a breath, reaching forward on a table ahead, he takes a feathered pen and parchment. He starts to write.]
[Cut to: Pete’s cell in the village hall, day. Pete walks to the door and opens the wooden flap to the outside.]
Pete: Hey, would it kill ya to get me some food? Starvation’s starting to become an issue - oh thou.
Guard OS: You hear the slave, demanding we do its dirty work for it?
[The Guard outside opens the door to Pete’s cell, another guard is beside him.]
Guard 1: What right do you have to do that?
Pete: Ok, calm down then. Maybe starvation’s not as bad as it’s cracked up to be.
Guard 1: [viciously] Did I say you could talk back, slave?
Pete: No but-
Guard 2: How much do you think we could sell it for? A Leeuwendaalders? Two?
Note: A Leeuwendaalder (Liondollar) is Dutch currency used in 17th century English colonies in the US.
Guard 1: No, it wouldn’t go for more than half.
Guard 2: I ‘eard they’re going to hang those witches tonight.
Guard 1: No, they’re not going hang ‘em like we usually do. But burn ‘em. Like they do back in Europe.
Pete: Ok guys, that’s enough.
Guard 1: Don’t tell us what to do, you’re worst than the rest, the bottom of the pile, you’re inferior, pathetic - and a witch lover, you should be burned with the rest of them, it’s disgusting.
Pete: You’re fools.
[The two guards laugh mockingly.]
Pete: Where I’m from, most people are happy, most people are free, including bastards like you-
Guard 1: [furious] How dare you!!
[Guard 2 holds Guard 1 back, stopping him from acting on his anger.]
Guard 2: [with a smirk] Wait wait. Let him speak.
Pete: But here… I’d be happy to be a slave than a bigoted fool any day.
[Pete is brutally struck across the face by Guard 1. A horrible, gleaming bruise now throbbing on his forehead.]
Guard 1: As long as you’re here, you’re under our control - always. Is that understood?
Pete: [breathing heavily] Just as long as I’m here…
[Cut to: La Monte sitting in his office, he has a piece of parchment in his hands. He stands up and approaches a jacket hanging on a chair, he puts the folded parchment in one of the pockets. He bites his lip and sighs.]
[Cut to: Ezra and Rina walking, striding in tandem into the village town hall, day. Ezra and Rina march, complete in 17th century dress. They both walk into the empty entrance to the village hall.]
Rina: So we’re sure this room is empty?
Ezra: Definitely, Tara and Kas checked it out just before, we’re clear.
Rina: Any excuse to avoid another attempted killing from these maniacs.
[Ezra chuckles lightly.]
Ezra: ‘Kay, showtime.
[Ezra and Rina pass a small guards room in the corner of the large entrance room, one of the peasant dressed guards stand up, armed with a threatening club.]
Guard 1: What are you doing? Women are not allowed to set foot in this building at this time-
Ezra: [rolls her eyes] Yeah yeah.
[Ezra blows a handful of white, sparkling dust into his face, he suddenly collapses, asleep.]
Rina: So now we keep guard, keep watch.
Ezra: Yep, that’s the plan.
[A figure is now at the door to the town hall, Ezra nods to the figure. The figure walks into the new guard-less village hall. The figure casually takes off the hood - Tara. She walks past Ezra to a corridor when another angry looking guard approaches her. Tara simply opens her clenched fist and blows a shower of dust into his face. The guard collapses into sleep. Tara casually continues to walk along at a brisk pace.]
Guard OS: Stop!
[Pan around her to Tara’s point of view where we see another guard there, holding a club, he walks towards Tara threateningly.]
[A sudden jet of energy hits the guard who is sent into the wall, he also falls unconscious. Pan quickly around to see Kaspar standing behind Tara with Autumn and Elizabeth at his side. Tara nods to him and the three of them continue to walk along. Another two guards appear in front of them. They both launch themselves at Kaspar, Autumn and Tara.]
[Kaspar grabs the guard going for Autumn, gripping his wrist. The guard’s club falls from his hand, Kaspar takes the club and smashes the guard over the head. The other guard turns on Kaspar as well. Kaspar gestures to Tara and Autumn to keep going while he deals with the guard.]
[Follow Autumn and Tara as they hurry along the straight, long corridor, reaching the prisoner’s cells. They look briefly into each one until they stop at one where they see Pete in a corner of his cell, his eyes closed in rest.]
[Autumn knocks eagerly on the cell door. Pete hears this and stirs, his eyes slowly opening. They quickly regain their usual zest and colour at the sight of Autumn who smiles warmly to him.]
Tara: [in a whisper] Porta solva.
[The cell door instantly unlocks itself. Autumn hauls open the heavy door, she runs into the cell and hugs Pete.]
Woman OS: Witch!
[Quickly pan round to Muriel, one of the women earlier who was attacking Elizabeth. There is a bell right next to her. Pete, Autumn and Tara’s eyes widen in horror as she rings it, hard. The sounds bellow into their ears, almost deafening. They run.]
[They run out of the jail cell, now in desperation, complete panic. Just trying, hoping to get away. They stop with a sudden abruptness as they turn a corner. Drake and a small group of mob peasants stand there. Pete, Autumn and Tara turn around. Another mob of peasants lead by La Monte stands there.]
[Pete, Autumn and Tara look at each other - trapped. Drake raises the club he’s holding as he grins at Tara, smacking her across the face. Black.]
[Fade to: Tara’s unconscious, lopsided face. Her eyes gradually open. Slowly pan back to see Tara is tied up, pan back to reveal more and more. She’s tied by her arms and legs to a large piece of wood, a stake with small twigs and branches at her feet.]
[Slowly pan back to see Ezra, Autumn, Pete, Kaspar, Rina and Elizabeth are all tied up in the same way. We see all the stakes are touching one another while the witches all slowly start to stir. The mob is standing by them, ready to watch the display in the town square. Drake steps forward from the mob crowd.]
Drake: Well well, here we are. So we have witches, a stake, there’s only one thing missing from the equation.
[Drake brandishes a burning torch almost from nowhere.]
Drake: Fire.
Tara: No…
[Drake places the burning torch to Tara’s stake which quickly starts to burn, and burn. It then starts to set alight Ezra’s, Rina’s and all the witches’, a crescendo of heat and fire. The witches struggle as the fire rages on, and on. And on.]
Drake: Burn.
[Cut to black.]
End of Act Three
Act Four
[Open to: the town square. To fire. The witches are burning, hot, smouldering, vicious flames lick at their feet with menace as they struggle in desperation. The fire spreads and consumes, growing further and further up each stake. Tara struggles with frantic urgency, her breathing heavy, quick and scared.]
Tara: [desperate] Break! Shatter!
[Nothing happens.]
Tara: Fractus eratus. Liberi mei…
[Her breathing gets heavier, her panic and fear deeper, but her magic still fails to work. Tara looks underneath her, eyes wide in fear as the flames continue to eat their way up. She sees a symbol on the rope tying her feet together, this symbol:
Tara: Magic proof ropes…
[Tara bites her lip in fear. Then her expression turns more determined, resolute. She closes her eyes, she focuses.]
[Pan to: Elizabeth struggling desperately as the fire seeps up to her, a flame catches her long skirt, she takes a small, scared breath as her father approaches her. That fear turns into revulsion and loathing when she sees him.]
Father: I told you, you’d have what’s coming to you.
Elizabeth: Father, please. Don’t do this. Not again.
Father: I have to. I have to drive out the evil, reverse and erase this mistake the Devil ever created.
Elizabeth: You don’t really believe that.
Father: I do. You should be killed. You’re not my daughter anymore, you belong to the Devil.
[Cut to: Drake making his way out of the town square, back to the village hall, a satisfied, triumphant grin on his face. He walks into a room and sees La Monte there. Drake nods to him, La Monte nods in return.]
Drake: This is the day to treasure. [beat] What should we do now?
La Monte: Keep fighting.
[Beat.]
Drake: [nods] Keep fighting.
[Cut to: Tara tied to her stake, her eyes shut in focus, thinking as she whispers and incantation under her breath.]
Tara: Transport me to another place, take me away without a trace…
[Her breathing grows heavier, harder as she tries and tries, the flames inching closer and closer to her, faster and faster, hotter and hotter.]
Tara: Transport me to another place, take me away without a trace…
[Shimmers of light appear around Tara, she continues to breathe heavily, now smiling as she vanishes amongst the shimmers. She appears in front of the stake, transporting herself out of danger. The crowd gasp in shock, disgust and horror. They start to scream, shout, protest. Tara winces in pain and rubs her head as she experiences a headache, the results of the powerful spell finally hitting her, blood slowly runs down her nose.]
Tara: [in pain] Agea neus retrus essa… lum eros… nira prear si sum!
[A sudden barrier of thin, transparent blue appears across the mob. They simply yell more, some with horror, others with fear and anger. They try to charge but the barrier stops them.]
[Tara takes this chance to rush to a large bucket of water, conveniently resting nearby. She chucks large splashes of it onto each stake, putting each of them out. The mob continues to shout, scream, protest, hammering against the barrier. Tara rushes up to Ezra as her stake is put out and unties her in quick haste.]
Ezra: [gasping] Thanks.
Tara: No problem.
[Ezra stumbles off her stake and goes to untie Rina while Tara unties Autumn. The mob rage grows stronger, wilder, more ferocious. They batter against the shield more as it slowly starts to weaken with every hit. With all the witches finally released, Tara finally manages to untie Elizabeth.]
Tara: See, there’s always hope.
[Elizabeth grins, gasping. Tears of emotion in her eyes, she hugs Tara who hugs her in return.]
[Shatter. The witches suddenly turn. The shield has been broken by the angry force of the mob. The witches eyes widen, more than horror etched on their faces, absolute terror.]
[Cut to: Muriel, walking hurriedly up to a door, she knocks on it with urgency and it opens. La Monte appears behind it.]
La Monte: Muriel, what a pleasant-
Muriel: I’m sorry to interrupt, sir.
[Drake approaches the door.]
Muriel: It’s about the witches.
Drake: What’s wrong?
[Beat.]
Drake: Tell me what’s wrong.
[Cut to: the town square. The mob charges at the witches who stand there, frozen and stunned. Father strikes at Elizabeth with a stick, though she ducks. Elizabeth repels him with a spark of yellow energy.]
Elizabeth: Do we really need to do this?
Father: I have to.
[Father beats Elizabeth down with a harsh strike.]
[Cut to: Drake marching with La Monte into the town square, holding a piece of parchment as Tara repels a mobster away from her.]
Drake: Oh hi.
[Drake punches Tara into the ground, he holds the piece of parchment in front of her face.]
Drake: Looking for this? Looks like this is your golden ticket, wouldn’t want it to-
[Drake gestures ripping the parchment.]
Drake: Oops. So close.
[Tara sends a small blast of blue energy at Drake, he staggers back. Ezra sees Tara and approaches her to help but she is hit over the head by La Monte.]
La Monte: Oh no you don’t.
Ezra: [groans] Ok…
[Ezra quickly creates a cloud of grey, vision clouding mist. She punches La Monte across the face and winces in pain, shaking her fist.]
Ezra: Ow.
[The mob battle continues, each witch battling at least one mobster.]
[La Monte staggers back, angry. He hurls a punch at Ezra, who becomes mildly disoriented, but she ducks. La Monte kicks Ezra brutally in the face, her face now covered in blood. Ezra gasps, spluttering blood.]
La Monte: I will never be beaten by a witch.
[Ezra spits the blood into La Monte’s face. She raises herself up and sends a small bolt of electricity at La Monte who is sent flying back, he crashes to the ground, the gash across his chest from before opens further, wounded and bloody.]
[Pan to: Drake dodging a blast of blue energy from Tara.]
Drake: Oh come on, this is so Star Wars. How bout we try something different.
Tara: I don’t want to do this.
Drake: Oh please, pacifism is growing out of style.
[Drake punches Tara, but she just manages to dodge.]
Tara: Urus eram cursa mea.
[Drake is suddenly sent to the floor by a telekinetic blast. The parchment falls out of his hand now a few feet to his left. Tara dashes for the parchment and takes hold of it, but Drake grips her leg, tripping her up so she falls to the ground.]
[Drake mounts over her, menacing. He places cold, white fingers onto her, grasping her neck and throat and slowly squeezes on her neck. She struggles under his superior grip, spluttering, weakening.]
Drake: This is the way it should be. Your life in my hands.
Tara: [gasping] Eyes burn, hot and bright…
[Drake squints, his eyes in agony as they burn for a fraction for a second, a white searing heat. He screams and his hands fly off. Tara takes this chance to get herself up, gasping. She looks back at Drake who is still in pain, not in anger or resentment but mercy, pity. She takes a breath and turns, hurrying away from him.]
[Pan to: Elizabeth dodging a blow from her father. She rises up with speed and grips her Father against the wall.]
Elizabeth: Don’t make me do this.
Father: I’m not. You’re making yourself, fooling yourself.
Elizabeth: This can end, this can end now. Put down your weapons, abandon all this madness, mayhem.
[Beat.]
Elizabeth: [soft] Father, I’m sorry. For not being your perfect daughter. For not being everything you wanted me to be. I’m sorry for-
[Elizabeth gasps, her eyes widen. Her mouth gapes open in horror. She looks down, a knife in her stomach, blood gushing out quickly. She gasps and trembles against him. Father grits his teeth and drives the knife further in.]
Elizabeth: I’m sorry…
[Father pulls out the knife violently from Elizabeth’s gut. Blood, dripping, oozing over the knife, over his clothes, hands, everything, everywhere. He’s gasping, breathing heavily and slowly stumbles back, away from the fight.]
[Pan to: Drake, he stumbles through the wreck of the battle, until he sees an injured, wounded La Monte, lying bleeding on the ground. Ezra quickly moves away from him. Drake rushes towards La Monte’s weakening body.]
Drake: La Monte.
[Drake shakes him. Quivering, worried.]
Drake: La Monte.
[La Monte’s eyes slowly ease open, he smiles at the sight of Drake. Drake breathes heavily, smiling with relief. La Monte slowly interlocks his hands with Drake’s.]
La Monte: [weakly] K… K…
Drake: Don’t talk, I can get help.
La Monte: [with a gasp] Keep fighting…
[La Monte’s eyes slowly close. His grip on Drake’s hand slacken and loosen as he fades. He fades. Drake is slowly brought to tears as he sees this, he tries to fight them back, to hold them but he can’t. He’s sobbing, just sobbing.]
Drake: No…. No…
[La Monte’s eyes remain closed as Drake starts to shake him. Shake him in panic, desperation, sorrow. La Monte is still. Cold. Drake slowly lets go of La Monte’s still body. He looks up seeing Ezra battling with a mobster. He takes a silent breath. And scowls.]
[Pan to: Tara making her way through the last remnants of the battle. She approaches the wall and sees Elizabeth slumped against it, bloody, weak and trembling.]
Tara: [worried] Elizabeth?... Elizabeth?
[Tara rushes up to Elizabeth once she notices the blood, she slumps to the ground, the parchment slipping out of her hands in alarm. She’s panicking. She shakes her.]
Tara: Elizabeth wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
[Tara shakes Elizabeth in despair, slowly, slowly just breaking down.]
Tara: Wake up!
[Elizabeth’s eyes slowly open.]
Elizabeth: [weakly] Thank you. Thank you so much…
Tara: Don’t say that. Don’t say that.
Elizabeth: You’ve shown me, I’ve experienced so much. These last few days have been more worthwhile…
Tara: No. Don’t say that. This isn’t the end. There’s hope, there’s always hope.
Elizabeth: I know. There’s hope, always hope, for you.
[Tara searches around for something to stop the bleeding wound with and sees Drake approaching her. She turns back to Elizabeth who grips the parchment and slowly places it in Tara’s trembling hand.]
Elizabeth: Go.
Tara: I-
Elizabeth: Go.
[Tara grips Elizabeth’s hand. She squeezes it softly. Smiling gently to her, warm. She leans down and kisses Elizabeth softly on the forehead. Drake gets nearer and nearer to Tara. She picks up the parchment. In pain, hard, she starts to read.]
[Fade to white.]
[The white slowly fades away. The witches are in their sitting room, breathing heavily, slightly beaten and wounded, breathing heavily in exhaustion, but safe.]
[Fade to: the witch hunters also in their living room. They look around at each other, expressions dark, atmosphere dark. They sigh.]
[Fade to: Drake walking into the empty war room, night. He slumps down onto a seat, he hears a crumple and peers down, taking out a piece of parchment out of his pocket. He peers to it, he sighs and opens it. “Dearest Drake…”]
[Song: “Fog (Again)” by Radiohead.
There’s a little child
Runnin’ ‘round this house
And he never leaves
He will never leave
[Fade to: Pete and Autumn sitting the witches kitchen, night.]
Autumn: Glad you’re ok.
Pete: [with a smile] Yeah me too surprisingly enough. Though at least I know what it’s like to be a hostage now.
Autumn: So fellow ex-hostagee, what was it like?
Pete: Kinda sucks.
[Autumn chuckles, her eyes bright in amusement.]
Autumn: I guess historians would be jealous. You could write an article on this, you could make millions-
Pete: Or make time with Mr. Straight Jacket.
Autumn: Ok, point taken. But I wouldn’t exactly say that’s a bad thing.
[Autumn smirks playfully to Pete. He does the same back.]
Pete: I wouldn’t go back there for any amount of money. The 21st century’s just fine for me.
Autumn: When you were taken, I was so worried.
[Pete smiles. Autumn winces suddenly.]
Pete: Was it something I said?
Autumn: No, just a…blast from the past lets say.
[Autumn gestures to a wound on her neck. She cranes her neck in an attempt to examine it, but obviously there’s no success.]
Pete: Want me to…see it?
Autumn: [turns round, with a smile] Ok…
[Pete slowly pulls back Autumn’s hair, revealing the prominent wound. He touches it lightly. Autumn winces instinctively. Slowly fade out as Pete starts caring to it. Soft, tender.]
La Monte VO: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
I have little time left in this world. I feel the end drawing closer, I feel God’s warm hand slowly guiding me away. I do not have long left, as I am ill, maybe for a sin I have committed or maybe it is just my time, the time God has decided for me. But I cannot stay.
[Fade to: Tara in the witches’ living room, night. She’s sitting at a computer, looking at a website - “A Record of Obituaries in the State of Virginia.” She scrolls down to 1696 - “Elizabeth Lauren. Witch.” Tara sighs and reads on. “Forever with love.” Tara smiles slightly, her sigh fading - a little.]
Ezra OS: What are you doing?
[Tara turns and sees her at the door.]
Tara: Just doing some research. Admiring the illiteracy of the web, the spelling isn’t great.
Ezra: It’s her, isn’t it?
Tara: Am I that transparent?
Ezra: [bluntly] Yep.
[Tara raises her eyebrows.]
Ezra: [more sincere] She was brave.
Tara: She was and I left her.
Ezra: You didn’t leave her. You had to go.
Tara: She didn’t have to go like that.
Ezra: Neither should you when it happened. You left somebody else and came to us. When you died.
[Beat.]
Ezra: It might be selfish of me, but I’m not complaining.
[Tara smiles with thanks.]
Ezra: She’s ok…
[Ezra leaves. Tara turns back to the computer and takes out a large file from a drawer. She takes out an article from it - “Girl shot in bedroom by madman.” She picks it up and starts to read.]
La Monte VO: “Ye are they who have continued with me in my trials.”
Don’t forget me. I trust you will never forget your mission and will only user your painful past to fuel you further.
And the fog comes up
From the sewers and
Glows in the dark
[Fade to: Pete in the witches’ kitchen, night. Tara walks in.]
Tara: Hi.
Pete: [turns] Oh hi.
Tara: So you’re ok after the whole kidnapping ordeal?
Pete: Strangely I’m growing quite used to the idea now.
[Tara chuckles.]
Tara: So how was jail?
Pete: One word. Rats.
Tara: Eurgh!
Pete: It wasn’t good. Kind of ironic how I, the only non-witch of the group, got caught.
Tara: Sucks not having superpowers isn’t it?
Pete: [faux-pouts] Shut up.
Tara: But you did it to save Elizabeth.
Pete: It wasn’t enough to save her.
Tara: That’s not the point.
Pete: I’ve always been around prejudice. Mostly because of you lot. But there… I’ve never seen anyone show so much hatred to well… me.
Tara: Sucks doesn’t it?
Pete: I always thought I was a nice sorta guy.
Tara: People like that don’t care. We just have to learn to stand up to them. People think different things, some good, some bad. It doesn’t make them bad people. Just… misguided.
Pete: Is that what you think about the witch hunters?
Tara: [soft] Sort of.
Pete: But what if it goes beyond that? What if they become more than misguided? They’ve killed before, how d’you know they won’t again? How can we deal with them… without killing them?
Tara: I don’t know…
La Monte VO: Never let anyone tell you what to think or do. What you’re doing is right, noble in the name of the Lord.
Baby alligators in the sewers
Grow up fast
Grow up fast
Anything you want it can be done now
La Monte VO: “And there was also a strife among them…”
Never be divided from the mission…
[Fade to: Kaspar walking down the stairs of the witches’ house. He stops when he sees Ezra walk into the living room, Rina entering with her, she kisses Ezra on the cheek. Ezra grins. Kaspar frowns.]
[Fade to: Drake sitting the witch hunters’ war room. He finishes the letter, a mildly warm glow on his face, but the grief still there. He folds up the letter and places it on the table.]
La Monte VO: You’re an inspiration to us all. You’ve made these last few days worth all these years of toil and struggle. Continue on. For all of us. For the world.
With love
La Monte
“Having said this he breathed his last.”
[Fade to: Kaspar watching Rina leave Ezra’s embrace, leaving the room. His frown remains on his face.]
How did you bad?
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
[Flash to: Kaspar’s car, he’s looking out of the window.]
[Caption: Last Night.]
[The scene is a flashback from earlier in the episode. He sees the person walking up to the witch hunters’ house, growing closer, closer, closer…]
Some things will never wash away
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
[The figure continues to walk forward towards the witch hunter’s house. The figure turns and looks around before knocking, though the face is still hidden. The door opens, Drake is at the door.]
Drake: Well, well, what do we have here?
[Kaspar’s eyes widen, horrified. Rina.]
Rina: Mind if I come in?
[Blackout.]
The End.
[Open to: a street, day. The witches run with Elizabeth, sprint down the street. They keep on going, passing a small row of houses around them. They continue on, dodging around perplexed and suspicious looking roaming villagers, round whining animals, market stalls, busy town life, gasping through the air. Panting, hot. Determined just to run. The witches and Elizabeth reach a calmer, less busy area of the town.]
Elizabeth: This way.
[Elizabeth guides the witches to a completely deserted street and stops at the back of an abandoned bakery. Elizabeth and the witches slow and stop at the door.]
Kaspar: In here?
[Elizabeth nods and slowly opens the door. The witches go into a completely empty bakery, the windows are boarded up, very dark except a little light flooding in from a few gaps through the windows. The walls are scarred with scorch marks, the place is very charred and virtually empty apart from a few seats, though overall it’s still in one piece.]
Ezra: Have we lost them?
[Tara looks through the gap, outside to the street.]
Tara: I think so.
Rina: Is this place going to be safe enough?
Elizabeth: We are out of the way, it should suffice for now-
Autumn: [panicking] Pete?! Where’s Pete?!
[Slow, slippery beat.]
Kaspar: [cold] He’s gone.
Ezra: Oh god…
Autumn: [her eyes suddenly wide with panic] Where did he go?
Kaspar: How didn’t we notice?
Tara: Must’ve been the rush to get out in the fire, we just-
Kaspar: [angry] Forgot?!
Elizabeth: He protected me, he helped me to get out. He pushed me forward, after that I didn’t see where he went.
Kaspar: [low] What d’you mean you didn’t see him?
Autumn: [in a whisper] Kas, please don’t…
[Kaspar sighs, slowly biting back the anger, he nods reluctantly.]
Rina: He’s still trapped in there?
Autumn: N-no, n-no. He-he can’t be.
[Rina pulls Autumn into a soft, comforting hug.]
Tara: Maybe he escaped. We should do a spell or something, see if we can find him?
Kaspar: Yeah…
[Kaspar looks down, uncharacteristically calm, but blatant fear etched in his eyes.]
Elizabeth: [excited] A spell?
[Elizabeth’s expression grows sombre when she notices the dark atmosphere around the room. She turns to Tara with a look of sincere apology. Tara nods to Elizabeth, giving her a little encouraging grin.]
Elizabeth: I’ve never performed a spell, without… having to do it in secret.
Tara: [with a smile] It’s a great feeling.
[Fade to: the witches and Elizabeth in the bakery, sitting around a circle of candles.]
Tara: The answers we seek are around us.
Ezra: A longed for memory no longer with us.
Rina: Return to us, in you we trust.
Elizabeth: Through the seas, the fires, the wild, the dust.
Kaspar: Somebody that is far from us, forced to flee.
Autumn: Right the wrong, return him to me…
[The candles around them blow out as a soft wind passes through. A few words slowly form in the smoke - “The Enemy.”]
Tara: Drake.
[Cut to: the village town hall corridor, day. Pete is being pushed along roughly by an angry, hard looking guard.]
Pete: Jeez, what’s with you hunters and kidnapping?
[Pan to: Drake coming up behind Pete.]
Drake: [with a smirk] It’s just so easy.
Pete: [annoyed and unamused] Yeah, I suppose constant failure can’t be too difficult.
Drake: You and your little gang just never know when to stop.
Pete: It’s just worth it, to see you uncomfortable.
[The Guard opens the door to a dirty cell. Drake roughly pushes Pete into it, he groans.]
Drake: Likewise.
Pete: Where are human rights laws when you need them?
Drake: So you think you deserve them?
Pete: Everyone does.
Drake: You really think so?
Pete: I know so. A concept you don’t really appear to grasp.
Drake: Not when it comes to filthy witches. And lawyers.
Pete: Any reason?
Drake: I don’t have to explain myself to you.
Pete: Yeah yeah, I’m sure you were bullied as a child, blah blah, psychological trauma et cetera. Who hasn’t been?
Drake: I never hated you before, but my views on that are currently changing. You’ve only been mislead, misguided.
Pete: Really? I’m touched. So what you going to do to me once the hatred returns?
Drake: [with a smirk] It’s not what I’m going to do to you. It’s what I’m going to do to them once they come running.
[Beat.]
Pete: [quietly] This is a trap, you want them here to…
Drake: [smirks] Smart boy.
[Pete glares at Drake in disgust.]
Drake: I suddenly notice the lack of witty comeback.
Pete: [darkly] Shut your mouth.
Drake: You’re not one of them, I don’t hate you like I hate them. As much as you’d like to be, I know you’re not. You’re not infected, impure, dirty. You have a chance to purify your life but you don’t take it. Why? Why do you ally yourself with evil when they’re the ones being attacked? You could be killed, die for a cause you’re not even a part of. Is that worth it?
Pete: Absolutely.
Drake: And why’s that?
Pete: Because they’re my friends, I care about them. I’m not going to step aside and let you or anyone hurt them.
[Beat.]
Drake: So be it. You’ll die with the rest of them.
[Drake leaves the room, locking, trapping Pete in the dark cell again. He shuts the door, with a brutal bang.]
[Cut to: the village market, day. Villagers are milling around, animals squarking as a hooded figure walks among them holding a basket. Pan around to see it’s Elizabeth under the hood. She walks through the crowd and reaches a narrow back alley, she continues to walk, though bumps into a passerby.]
Elizabeth: Oh I’m-
[Elizabeth turns to see - her Father. The two stare at one another, frozen, still, stunned.]
Elizabeth: [bitterly] What’s the matter Father? It looks like you’ve just seen a ghost.
Father: [spitting] Witchcraft.
Elizabeth: We escaped through the window, actually, no magic was required.
Father: You’re a fool. A fool to thwart the will of God.
Elizabeth: The will of God? It was your will. Don’t pretend you’re Abraham sacrificing your only child to the Lord-
Father: [harsh] I said don’t tell me what to do, girl.
Elizabeth: I don’t see the slightest hint of remorse.
Father: I have none, and I’d do it again because God requires it. These people they’re clouding your mind, putting devilish traits into you, you’re lost to them.
Elizabeth: No, they’ve shown me what magic really is, it’s powerful, it’s magnificent, it’s wonderful.
Father: You still haven’t learned.
Elizabeth: Neither have you.
Father: You have no manners girl!
[Elizabeth sighs, she turns and starts to walk away.]
Father: [shouting] You’ll get what’s coming to you! The Lord will smite you down!
Elizabeth: Then smite away.
[Elizabeth simply walks away past her father, out of the darkness of the alley.]
[Cut to: the village town hall, another corridor, day. Drake walks down it with a satisfied grin on his face. Drake reaches a door, he knocks on it and La Monte from earlier appears behind it.]
Drake: La Monte, how is everything going so far?
La Monte: Very well, we’re catching more witches than ever before. It’s…
Drake: It’s wonderful.
La Monte: Yes, it is. It really is. Before you arrived, the hunt, the struggle, it was hard, rough and difficult. I’ve always known our town was plagued, but I could never find a way to eliminate it well enough.
Drake: But you did. You began, you lead this struggle against the witches. You have a lot to be proud of.
La Monte: How do you do it?
Drake: Years of experience, after a while once you know for sure that you have a witch in your sight, you can simply look into their eyes and see the evil.
La Monte: Through the grace of our Lord.
Drake: I use other tools, spiritual tools to find witches mostly.
La Monte: [horrorstruck] You use magic? It is the tool of the devil.
Drake: No, never witch magic. Never touch witch magic, it will corrupt, destroy and pollute you. Infect you in unimaginable ways. Just other forms of “magic”, from …our Lord…. Without it the hunt… it’s harder.
[La Monte nods, slightly understanding but still not completely convinced.]
La Monte: Your will, your passion for the cause. It’s fuelling us, driving us, inspiration.
Drake: I have a lot to avenge, to right wrongs, heal old open wounds. If I don’t…
La Monte: Life becomes meaningless.
Drake: [softly] Yeah…
La Monte: Does it ever become easy?
Drake: The fight? To be honest no, it’s hard, tough. But who’s going to do it?
La Monte: Who is? Who knows the true pain these witches can cause, what wicked things they can really do? They’re not prepared to deal with them. Not like us.
Drake: [looking down to the floor] To lead them to righteousness.
[Beat.]
La Monte: What happened?
[Drake looks up.]
La Monte: What happened to you, to spark this dedication? To make you dedicate your life to this cause?
[Beat. Drake hesitates for a second. He stares at La Monte. Almost in disbelief, almost in shock, but the look transforms into one of pain, anguish, an inner fire of pain. His expression turns resolute, a fighter. He continues on.]
Drake: [strong] That witch. She… like all of them have hurt me, scarred me in a way nothing ever can or ever will. I’m not going to let that happen to anybody, ever again.
La Monte: So you know how it feels, what it’s like.
Drake: I do. [beat] I’m sorry.
La Monte: Don’t feel sorry for me. I’m simply doing God’s work, God’s will. A mission.
Drake: The mission.
[La Monte suddenly winces and clutches his wound he received earlier.]
Drake: Those are the signs of a brave man.
[Drake grips a wet cloth as La Monte pulls up his shirt to reveal a torso with a large gash across it. Drake smiles warmly to La Monte, mopping his wound slowly with the cloth, helping clean up the wound. Two warriors, scarred by life.]
[Cut to: the abandoned bakery, in one of its empty, dark rooms. Elizabeth is sitting in the room alone, in thought.]
Tara OS: Break from planning?
Elizabeth: [looks up as Tara enters the room] Oh, yes.
Tara: A break involving snacks?
[Tara gestures to Elizabeth’s basket she was holding earlier.]
Elizabeth: Oh, I just went out to get a few things from the market.
Tara: [nods] It’s a good thing you had that plan of the town hall or this plan we’re drawing up won’t be anything.
[Pause.]
Tara: Just a question, how d’you know - I’m - we’re not just spies? Working undercover for the hunters.
[Elizabeth raises her eyebrows.]
Tara: We just sort of conveniently bumped into your life, you’ve been hiding from these hunters, it would be understandable if you were suspicious.
Elizabeth: I’m not.
Tara: Why?
Elizabeth: I trust you.
Tara: But-
Elizabeth: I trust you.
[Tara smiles, she looks down slightly pained in nostalgia but looks up again, returning to the smile. Beat.]
Tara: What happened during the fire? You sort of…
Elizabeth: [weakly] Stopped? Yes, my father… he left me to die.
[Beat. Elizabeth is almost in disbelief, as though what had happened couldn’t be real.]
Elizabeth: He left me…to die…
Tara: I’m sorry…
[Elizabeth looks up to her with an appreciative smile.]
Tara: I know - I know how that feels, what it’s like. My father, I always thought if he had the chance, he would do that to me. When he found out what I was. And when she died…
Elizabeth: I’ve tried to be strong but I’m not, I can’t. I’m scared about what might happen. What if I’m caught? What if…
Tara: It’s ok to be scared.
Elizabeth: [smiles in contemplation] What’s it like in the future? I’d imagine it would be wonderfully fantastic.
Tara: It can be. Sometimes.
Elizabeth: How are witches in the future? Is there still this savage persecution?
Tara: No. Not from many people at least.
Elizabeth: Are we free? Can people like us be free?
Tara: [smiles] We can.
Elizabeth: [eyes wide in wonder] It must be marvellous. There must be so many new spells, new potions…
Tara: I’ve been trying out transportation spells.
Elizabeth: [intrigued] Really?
Tara: I’m not quite powerful enough yet to do it properly myself.
Elizabeth: But you’ll get there.
Tara: I hope so.
Elizabeth: Could it be a possibility that I could go back with you, if we get past all this havoc that is. For a better life. A better future.
Tara: [with a smile] Maybe…
[Cut to: La Monte’s office, he walks into it, his face screwed up in obvious pain while he staggers into the office, clutching at his chest. He breathes deeply for a few seconds and a few seconds more. He sighs as the pain slowly passes, staring ahead in aching exhaustion. He pauses and takes a breath, reaching forward on a table ahead, he takes a feathered pen and parchment. He starts to write.]
[Cut to: Pete’s cell in the village hall, day. Pete walks to the door and opens the wooden flap to the outside.]
Pete: Hey, would it kill ya to get me some food? Starvation’s starting to become an issue - oh thou.
Guard OS: You hear the slave, demanding we do its dirty work for it?
[The Guard outside opens the door to Pete’s cell, another guard is beside him.]
Guard 1: What right do you have to do that?
Pete: Ok, calm down then. Maybe starvation’s not as bad as it’s cracked up to be.
Guard 1: [viciously] Did I say you could talk back, slave?
Pete: No but-
Guard 2: How much do you think we could sell it for? A Leeuwendaalders? Two?
Note: A Leeuwendaalder (Liondollar) is Dutch currency used in 17th century English colonies in the US.
Guard 1: No, it wouldn’t go for more than half.
Guard 2: I ‘eard they’re going to hang those witches tonight.
Guard 1: No, they’re not going hang ‘em like we usually do. But burn ‘em. Like they do back in Europe.
Pete: Ok guys, that’s enough.
Guard 1: Don’t tell us what to do, you’re worst than the rest, the bottom of the pile, you’re inferior, pathetic - and a witch lover, you should be burned with the rest of them, it’s disgusting.
Pete: You’re fools.
[The two guards laugh mockingly.]
Pete: Where I’m from, most people are happy, most people are free, including bastards like you-
Guard 1: [furious] How dare you!!
[Guard 2 holds Guard 1 back, stopping him from acting on his anger.]
Guard 2: [with a smirk] Wait wait. Let him speak.
Pete: But here… I’d be happy to be a slave than a bigoted fool any day.
[Pete is brutally struck across the face by Guard 1. A horrible, gleaming bruise now throbbing on his forehead.]
Guard 1: As long as you’re here, you’re under our control - always. Is that understood?
Pete: [breathing heavily] Just as long as I’m here…
[Cut to: La Monte sitting in his office, he has a piece of parchment in his hands. He stands up and approaches a jacket hanging on a chair, he puts the folded parchment in one of the pockets. He bites his lip and sighs.]
[Cut to: Ezra and Rina walking, striding in tandem into the village town hall, day. Ezra and Rina march, complete in 17th century dress. They both walk into the empty entrance to the village hall.]
Rina: So we’re sure this room is empty?
Ezra: Definitely, Tara and Kas checked it out just before, we’re clear.
Rina: Any excuse to avoid another attempted killing from these maniacs.
[Ezra chuckles lightly.]
Ezra: ‘Kay, showtime.
[Ezra and Rina pass a small guards room in the corner of the large entrance room, one of the peasant dressed guards stand up, armed with a threatening club.]
Guard 1: What are you doing? Women are not allowed to set foot in this building at this time-
Ezra: [rolls her eyes] Yeah yeah.
[Ezra blows a handful of white, sparkling dust into his face, he suddenly collapses, asleep.]
Rina: So now we keep guard, keep watch.
Ezra: Yep, that’s the plan.
[A figure is now at the door to the town hall, Ezra nods to the figure. The figure walks into the new guard-less village hall. The figure casually takes off the hood - Tara. She walks past Ezra to a corridor when another angry looking guard approaches her. Tara simply opens her clenched fist and blows a shower of dust into his face. The guard collapses into sleep. Tara casually continues to walk along at a brisk pace.]
Guard OS: Stop!
[Pan around her to Tara’s point of view where we see another guard there, holding a club, he walks towards Tara threateningly.]
[A sudden jet of energy hits the guard who is sent into the wall, he also falls unconscious. Pan quickly around to see Kaspar standing behind Tara with Autumn and Elizabeth at his side. Tara nods to him and the three of them continue to walk along. Another two guards appear in front of them. They both launch themselves at Kaspar, Autumn and Tara.]
[Kaspar grabs the guard going for Autumn, gripping his wrist. The guard’s club falls from his hand, Kaspar takes the club and smashes the guard over the head. The other guard turns on Kaspar as well. Kaspar gestures to Tara and Autumn to keep going while he deals with the guard.]
[Follow Autumn and Tara as they hurry along the straight, long corridor, reaching the prisoner’s cells. They look briefly into each one until they stop at one where they see Pete in a corner of his cell, his eyes closed in rest.]
[Autumn knocks eagerly on the cell door. Pete hears this and stirs, his eyes slowly opening. They quickly regain their usual zest and colour at the sight of Autumn who smiles warmly to him.]
Tara: [in a whisper] Porta solva.
[The cell door instantly unlocks itself. Autumn hauls open the heavy door, she runs into the cell and hugs Pete.]
Woman OS: Witch!
[Quickly pan round to Muriel, one of the women earlier who was attacking Elizabeth. There is a bell right next to her. Pete, Autumn and Tara’s eyes widen in horror as she rings it, hard. The sounds bellow into their ears, almost deafening. They run.]
[They run out of the jail cell, now in desperation, complete panic. Just trying, hoping to get away. They stop with a sudden abruptness as they turn a corner. Drake and a small group of mob peasants stand there. Pete, Autumn and Tara turn around. Another mob of peasants lead by La Monte stands there.]
[Pete, Autumn and Tara look at each other - trapped. Drake raises the club he’s holding as he grins at Tara, smacking her across the face. Black.]
[Fade to: Tara’s unconscious, lopsided face. Her eyes gradually open. Slowly pan back to see Tara is tied up, pan back to reveal more and more. She’s tied by her arms and legs to a large piece of wood, a stake with small twigs and branches at her feet.]
[Slowly pan back to see Ezra, Autumn, Pete, Kaspar, Rina and Elizabeth are all tied up in the same way. We see all the stakes are touching one another while the witches all slowly start to stir. The mob is standing by them, ready to watch the display in the town square. Drake steps forward from the mob crowd.]
Drake: Well well, here we are. So we have witches, a stake, there’s only one thing missing from the equation.
[Drake brandishes a burning torch almost from nowhere.]
Drake: Fire.
Tara: No…
[Drake places the burning torch to Tara’s stake which quickly starts to burn, and burn. It then starts to set alight Ezra’s, Rina’s and all the witches’, a crescendo of heat and fire. The witches struggle as the fire rages on, and on. And on.]
Drake: Burn.
[Cut to black.]
End of Act Three
Act Four
[Open to: the town square. To fire. The witches are burning, hot, smouldering, vicious flames lick at their feet with menace as they struggle in desperation. The fire spreads and consumes, growing further and further up each stake. Tara struggles with frantic urgency, her breathing heavy, quick and scared.]
Tara: [desperate] Break! Shatter!
[Nothing happens.]
Tara: Fractus eratus. Liberi mei…
[Her breathing gets heavier, her panic and fear deeper, but her magic still fails to work. Tara looks underneath her, eyes wide in fear as the flames continue to eat their way up. She sees a symbol on the rope tying her feet together, this symbol:
Tara: Magic proof ropes…
[Tara bites her lip in fear. Then her expression turns more determined, resolute. She closes her eyes, she focuses.]
[Pan to: Elizabeth struggling desperately as the fire seeps up to her, a flame catches her long skirt, she takes a small, scared breath as her father approaches her. That fear turns into revulsion and loathing when she sees him.]
Father: I told you, you’d have what’s coming to you.
Elizabeth: Father, please. Don’t do this. Not again.
Father: I have to. I have to drive out the evil, reverse and erase this mistake the Devil ever created.
Elizabeth: You don’t really believe that.
Father: I do. You should be killed. You’re not my daughter anymore, you belong to the Devil.
[Cut to: Drake making his way out of the town square, back to the village hall, a satisfied, triumphant grin on his face. He walks into a room and sees La Monte there. Drake nods to him, La Monte nods in return.]
Drake: This is the day to treasure. [beat] What should we do now?
La Monte: Keep fighting.
[Beat.]
Drake: [nods] Keep fighting.
[Cut to: Tara tied to her stake, her eyes shut in focus, thinking as she whispers and incantation under her breath.]
Tara: Transport me to another place, take me away without a trace…
[Her breathing grows heavier, harder as she tries and tries, the flames inching closer and closer to her, faster and faster, hotter and hotter.]
Tara: Transport me to another place, take me away without a trace…
[Shimmers of light appear around Tara, she continues to breathe heavily, now smiling as she vanishes amongst the shimmers. She appears in front of the stake, transporting herself out of danger. The crowd gasp in shock, disgust and horror. They start to scream, shout, protest. Tara winces in pain and rubs her head as she experiences a headache, the results of the powerful spell finally hitting her, blood slowly runs down her nose.]
Tara: [in pain] Agea neus retrus essa… lum eros… nira prear si sum!
[A sudden barrier of thin, transparent blue appears across the mob. They simply yell more, some with horror, others with fear and anger. They try to charge but the barrier stops them.]
[Tara takes this chance to rush to a large bucket of water, conveniently resting nearby. She chucks large splashes of it onto each stake, putting each of them out. The mob continues to shout, scream, protest, hammering against the barrier. Tara rushes up to Ezra as her stake is put out and unties her in quick haste.]
Ezra: [gasping] Thanks.
Tara: No problem.
[Ezra stumbles off her stake and goes to untie Rina while Tara unties Autumn. The mob rage grows stronger, wilder, more ferocious. They batter against the shield more as it slowly starts to weaken with every hit. With all the witches finally released, Tara finally manages to untie Elizabeth.]
Tara: See, there’s always hope.
[Elizabeth grins, gasping. Tears of emotion in her eyes, she hugs Tara who hugs her in return.]
[Shatter. The witches suddenly turn. The shield has been broken by the angry force of the mob. The witches eyes widen, more than horror etched on their faces, absolute terror.]
[Cut to: Muriel, walking hurriedly up to a door, she knocks on it with urgency and it opens. La Monte appears behind it.]
La Monte: Muriel, what a pleasant-
Muriel: I’m sorry to interrupt, sir.
[Drake approaches the door.]
Muriel: It’s about the witches.
Drake: What’s wrong?
[Beat.]
Drake: Tell me what’s wrong.
[Cut to: the town square. The mob charges at the witches who stand there, frozen and stunned. Father strikes at Elizabeth with a stick, though she ducks. Elizabeth repels him with a spark of yellow energy.]
Elizabeth: Do we really need to do this?
Father: I have to.
[Father beats Elizabeth down with a harsh strike.]
[Cut to: Drake marching with La Monte into the town square, holding a piece of parchment as Tara repels a mobster away from her.]
Drake: Oh hi.
[Drake punches Tara into the ground, he holds the piece of parchment in front of her face.]
Drake: Looking for this? Looks like this is your golden ticket, wouldn’t want it to-
[Drake gestures ripping the parchment.]
Drake: Oops. So close.
[Tara sends a small blast of blue energy at Drake, he staggers back. Ezra sees Tara and approaches her to help but she is hit over the head by La Monte.]
La Monte: Oh no you don’t.
Ezra: [groans] Ok…
[Ezra quickly creates a cloud of grey, vision clouding mist. She punches La Monte across the face and winces in pain, shaking her fist.]
Ezra: Ow.
[The mob battle continues, each witch battling at least one mobster.]
[La Monte staggers back, angry. He hurls a punch at Ezra, who becomes mildly disoriented, but she ducks. La Monte kicks Ezra brutally in the face, her face now covered in blood. Ezra gasps, spluttering blood.]
La Monte: I will never be beaten by a witch.
[Ezra spits the blood into La Monte’s face. She raises herself up and sends a small bolt of electricity at La Monte who is sent flying back, he crashes to the ground, the gash across his chest from before opens further, wounded and bloody.]
[Pan to: Drake dodging a blast of blue energy from Tara.]
Drake: Oh come on, this is so Star Wars. How bout we try something different.
Tara: I don’t want to do this.
Drake: Oh please, pacifism is growing out of style.
[Drake punches Tara, but she just manages to dodge.]
Tara: Urus eram cursa mea.
[Drake is suddenly sent to the floor by a telekinetic blast. The parchment falls out of his hand now a few feet to his left. Tara dashes for the parchment and takes hold of it, but Drake grips her leg, tripping her up so she falls to the ground.]
[Drake mounts over her, menacing. He places cold, white fingers onto her, grasping her neck and throat and slowly squeezes on her neck. She struggles under his superior grip, spluttering, weakening.]
Drake: This is the way it should be. Your life in my hands.
Tara: [gasping] Eyes burn, hot and bright…
[Drake squints, his eyes in agony as they burn for a fraction for a second, a white searing heat. He screams and his hands fly off. Tara takes this chance to get herself up, gasping. She looks back at Drake who is still in pain, not in anger or resentment but mercy, pity. She takes a breath and turns, hurrying away from him.]
[Pan to: Elizabeth dodging a blow from her father. She rises up with speed and grips her Father against the wall.]
Elizabeth: Don’t make me do this.
Father: I’m not. You’re making yourself, fooling yourself.
Elizabeth: This can end, this can end now. Put down your weapons, abandon all this madness, mayhem.
[Beat.]
Elizabeth: [soft] Father, I’m sorry. For not being your perfect daughter. For not being everything you wanted me to be. I’m sorry for-
[Elizabeth gasps, her eyes widen. Her mouth gapes open in horror. She looks down, a knife in her stomach, blood gushing out quickly. She gasps and trembles against him. Father grits his teeth and drives the knife further in.]
Elizabeth: I’m sorry…
[Father pulls out the knife violently from Elizabeth’s gut. Blood, dripping, oozing over the knife, over his clothes, hands, everything, everywhere. He’s gasping, breathing heavily and slowly stumbles back, away from the fight.]
[Pan to: Drake, he stumbles through the wreck of the battle, until he sees an injured, wounded La Monte, lying bleeding on the ground. Ezra quickly moves away from him. Drake rushes towards La Monte’s weakening body.]
Drake: La Monte.
[Drake shakes him. Quivering, worried.]
Drake: La Monte.
[La Monte’s eyes slowly ease open, he smiles at the sight of Drake. Drake breathes heavily, smiling with relief. La Monte slowly interlocks his hands with Drake’s.]
La Monte: [weakly] K… K…
Drake: Don’t talk, I can get help.
La Monte: [with a gasp] Keep fighting…
[La Monte’s eyes slowly close. His grip on Drake’s hand slacken and loosen as he fades. He fades. Drake is slowly brought to tears as he sees this, he tries to fight them back, to hold them but he can’t. He’s sobbing, just sobbing.]
Drake: No…. No…
[La Monte’s eyes remain closed as Drake starts to shake him. Shake him in panic, desperation, sorrow. La Monte is still. Cold. Drake slowly lets go of La Monte’s still body. He looks up seeing Ezra battling with a mobster. He takes a silent breath. And scowls.]
[Pan to: Tara making her way through the last remnants of the battle. She approaches the wall and sees Elizabeth slumped against it, bloody, weak and trembling.]
Tara: [worried] Elizabeth?... Elizabeth?
[Tara rushes up to Elizabeth once she notices the blood, she slumps to the ground, the parchment slipping out of her hands in alarm. She’s panicking. She shakes her.]
Tara: Elizabeth wake up. Wake up. Wake up.
[Tara shakes Elizabeth in despair, slowly, slowly just breaking down.]
Tara: Wake up!
[Elizabeth’s eyes slowly open.]
Elizabeth: [weakly] Thank you. Thank you so much…
Tara: Don’t say that. Don’t say that.
Elizabeth: You’ve shown me, I’ve experienced so much. These last few days have been more worthwhile…
Tara: No. Don’t say that. This isn’t the end. There’s hope, there’s always hope.
Elizabeth: I know. There’s hope, always hope, for you.
[Tara searches around for something to stop the bleeding wound with and sees Drake approaching her. She turns back to Elizabeth who grips the parchment and slowly places it in Tara’s trembling hand.]
Elizabeth: Go.
Tara: I-
Elizabeth: Go.
[Tara grips Elizabeth’s hand. She squeezes it softly. Smiling gently to her, warm. She leans down and kisses Elizabeth softly on the forehead. Drake gets nearer and nearer to Tara. She picks up the parchment. In pain, hard, she starts to read.]
[Fade to white.]
[The white slowly fades away. The witches are in their sitting room, breathing heavily, slightly beaten and wounded, breathing heavily in exhaustion, but safe.]
[Fade to: the witch hunters also in their living room. They look around at each other, expressions dark, atmosphere dark. They sigh.]
[Fade to: Drake walking into the empty war room, night. He slumps down onto a seat, he hears a crumple and peers down, taking out a piece of parchment out of his pocket. He peers to it, he sighs and opens it. “Dearest Drake…”]
[Song: “Fog (Again)” by Radiohead.
There’s a little child
Runnin’ ‘round this house
And he never leaves
He will never leave
[Fade to: Pete and Autumn sitting the witches kitchen, night.]
Autumn: Glad you’re ok.
Pete: [with a smile] Yeah me too surprisingly enough. Though at least I know what it’s like to be a hostage now.
Autumn: So fellow ex-hostagee, what was it like?
Pete: Kinda sucks.
[Autumn chuckles, her eyes bright in amusement.]
Autumn: I guess historians would be jealous. You could write an article on this, you could make millions-
Pete: Or make time with Mr. Straight Jacket.
Autumn: Ok, point taken. But I wouldn’t exactly say that’s a bad thing.
[Autumn smirks playfully to Pete. He does the same back.]
Pete: I wouldn’t go back there for any amount of money. The 21st century’s just fine for me.
Autumn: When you were taken, I was so worried.
[Pete smiles. Autumn winces suddenly.]
Pete: Was it something I said?
Autumn: No, just a…blast from the past lets say.
[Autumn gestures to a wound on her neck. She cranes her neck in an attempt to examine it, but obviously there’s no success.]
Pete: Want me to…see it?
Autumn: [turns round, with a smile] Ok…
[Pete slowly pulls back Autumn’s hair, revealing the prominent wound. He touches it lightly. Autumn winces instinctively. Slowly fade out as Pete starts caring to it. Soft, tender.]
La Monte VO: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
I have little time left in this world. I feel the end drawing closer, I feel God’s warm hand slowly guiding me away. I do not have long left, as I am ill, maybe for a sin I have committed or maybe it is just my time, the time God has decided for me. But I cannot stay.
[Fade to: Tara in the witches’ living room, night. She’s sitting at a computer, looking at a website - “A Record of Obituaries in the State of Virginia.” She scrolls down to 1696 - “Elizabeth Lauren. Witch.” Tara sighs and reads on. “Forever with love.” Tara smiles slightly, her sigh fading - a little.]
Ezra OS: What are you doing?
[Tara turns and sees her at the door.]
Tara: Just doing some research. Admiring the illiteracy of the web, the spelling isn’t great.
Ezra: It’s her, isn’t it?
Tara: Am I that transparent?
Ezra: [bluntly] Yep.
[Tara raises her eyebrows.]
Ezra: [more sincere] She was brave.
Tara: She was and I left her.
Ezra: You didn’t leave her. You had to go.
Tara: She didn’t have to go like that.
Ezra: Neither should you when it happened. You left somebody else and came to us. When you died.
[Beat.]
Ezra: It might be selfish of me, but I’m not complaining.
[Tara smiles with thanks.]
Ezra: She’s ok…
[Ezra leaves. Tara turns back to the computer and takes out a large file from a drawer. She takes out an article from it - “Girl shot in bedroom by madman.” She picks it up and starts to read.]
La Monte VO: “Ye are they who have continued with me in my trials.”
Don’t forget me. I trust you will never forget your mission and will only user your painful past to fuel you further.
And the fog comes up
From the sewers and
Glows in the dark
[Fade to: Pete in the witches’ kitchen, night. Tara walks in.]
Tara: Hi.
Pete: [turns] Oh hi.
Tara: So you’re ok after the whole kidnapping ordeal?
Pete: Strangely I’m growing quite used to the idea now.
[Tara chuckles.]
Tara: So how was jail?
Pete: One word. Rats.
Tara: Eurgh!
Pete: It wasn’t good. Kind of ironic how I, the only non-witch of the group, got caught.
Tara: Sucks not having superpowers isn’t it?
Pete: [faux-pouts] Shut up.
Tara: But you did it to save Elizabeth.
Pete: It wasn’t enough to save her.
Tara: That’s not the point.
Pete: I’ve always been around prejudice. Mostly because of you lot. But there… I’ve never seen anyone show so much hatred to well… me.
Tara: Sucks doesn’t it?
Pete: I always thought I was a nice sorta guy.
Tara: People like that don’t care. We just have to learn to stand up to them. People think different things, some good, some bad. It doesn’t make them bad people. Just… misguided.
Pete: Is that what you think about the witch hunters?
Tara: [soft] Sort of.
Pete: But what if it goes beyond that? What if they become more than misguided? They’ve killed before, how d’you know they won’t again? How can we deal with them… without killing them?
Tara: I don’t know…
La Monte VO: Never let anyone tell you what to think or do. What you’re doing is right, noble in the name of the Lord.
Baby alligators in the sewers
Grow up fast
Grow up fast
Anything you want it can be done now
La Monte VO: “And there was also a strife among them…”
Never be divided from the mission…
[Fade to: Kaspar walking down the stairs of the witches’ house. He stops when he sees Ezra walk into the living room, Rina entering with her, she kisses Ezra on the cheek. Ezra grins. Kaspar frowns.]
[Fade to: Drake sitting the witch hunters’ war room. He finishes the letter, a mildly warm glow on his face, but the grief still there. He folds up the letter and places it on the table.]
La Monte VO: You’re an inspiration to us all. You’ve made these last few days worth all these years of toil and struggle. Continue on. For all of us. For the world.
With love
La Monte
“Having said this he breathed his last.”
[Fade to: Kaspar watching Rina leave Ezra’s embrace, leaving the room. His frown remains on his face.]
How did you bad?
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
[Flash to: Kaspar’s car, he’s looking out of the window.]
[Caption: Last Night.]
[The scene is a flashback from earlier in the episode. He sees the person walking up to the witch hunters’ house, growing closer, closer, closer…]
Some things will never wash away
Did you go bad?
Did you go bad?
[The figure continues to walk forward towards the witch hunter’s house. The figure turns and looks around before knocking, though the face is still hidden. The door opens, Drake is at the door.]
Drake: Well, well, what do we have here?
[Kaspar’s eyes widen, horrified. Rina.]
Rina: Mind if I come in?
[Blackout.]
The End.