The Magician

FADE IN:

INT. THE MAGICIAN’S TOWER

A young knight, LEO, stands in the center of a small room. The walls and doors are covered with long, thick, writhing green vines.

Leo is short and strong, with light blonde hair and bright eyes.

Leo swings a sword at one of the vines in front of the small door. The vine falls to the floor. Leo waits a moment, then hangs his head as the vine grows back, along with seven other vines.

Leo gets to work cutting the vines again.

Finally, Leo cuts the correct sequence of eight vines, causing all of the vines to wither and crumble, revealing a door that Leo opens.

INT. THE MAGICIAN’S TOWER STAIRCASE - DAY

Leo starts walking up the very tall set of stairs.

LEO: Opal?

OPAL (O.S.): Leo! How’d you like the vines riddle?

LEO: Two out of ten. It was too meticulous to be fun and one of the vines kept tickling me.

OPAL (O.S.): Aw, that’s a shame! I thought you’d like this one. You got to use your sword and everything.

LEO: I mean, I did at first. It just got old fast. It’s still not the worst riddle I’ve faced, though.

Opal laughs.

Leo gets to the top of the stairs, where there is another door, which Leo opens.

INT. OPAL’S ROOM - DAY

Lounging on the bed is Opal, a tall, broad woman with long, dark hair and big, brown eyes.

When she sees Leo, Opal walks over to him.

LEO: Ready?

OPAL: Yes.

Leo scoops a giggling Opal up into his arms and begins to bound down the stairs with her.

They burst out of the tower and Leo sets Opal down with a bow and a flourish.

EXT. THE MAGICIAN'S TOWER - DAY

The MAGICIAN (AUSTE), a young man with a mop of wild curls and a constellation of freckles, pokes his head out of one of the windows.

AUSTE: Ah, you have bested me yet again, you brave and clever knight! Why, the realm and the lovely princess are fortunate to have someone as brilliant and daring and handsome as you to keep them safe from miscreants like me!

Leo blushes and quickly turns away and starts preparing the horses. Opal smirks at Leo, then looks up at the magician and smiles. Auste sighs and rests his head in his hand.

Leo finishes quickly and offers a hand to Opal, who waves cheerily at the magician once she is settled on her horse.

OPAL: Bye, darling! See you soon, yeah?

AUSTE: Bye, Opal! Bye, Leo! Until next time!

Leo quickly mounts his horse and the two ride off into the forest. The Magician watches them leave until they are out of sight, then retreats back into his tower with a sigh.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

Leo and Opal ride through a bright forest. Opal studies Leo while they ride. Leo sneaks peeks at Opal a couple of times before giving in to her silent inquisition with a loud sigh.

LEO: What is it, Opal?

OPAL: Why do you never answer him?

LEO: What do you mean?

OPAL: I mean, he always tries to talk to you and you never respond to him. It’s kind of rude, which isn’t like you.

LEO: What am I supposed to say? I don’t know how to respond to him telling me I solved the riddle “quicker than he ever thought possible, but then again what else should I expect from someone as brilliant and beautiful as you?”

Leo blushes.

LEO (CONT'D): I don’t mean to be rude, I just... I don’t...

Leo trails off, frustrated. He stops his horse. Opal stops hers as well and reaches out to put a hand on Leo’s shoulder.

OPAL: I know. I get it. I didn’t mean to upset you.

LEO: You didn’t.

Leo sighs and is quiet for a moment.

LEO (CONT’D): I’ll try. To say something. Next time.

Opal gives Leo a small smile and nudges her horse closer to his. She leans her head on his shoulder. For a moment, they sit quietly and look around them at the beautiful forest.

LEO: Race you back?

OPAL: You’re on!

Leo and Opal take off racing through the forest, laughing.

EXT. CASTLE - DAY

The moon and sun chase each other over the Castle as people mill about, a rapid time lapse of life in the kingdom. The moon goes from crescent to full and back again.

INT. LEO’S ROOM - NIGHT

A SHADOWY FIGURE creeps into the room and stands over Leo.

OPAL: Leo. Leo!

LEO’S POV

Opal stands above Leo, her long hair tickling his face. She is fully dressed for travelling, though it is the middle of the night. Beside her is a small bag.

BACK TO SCENE

Leo sits up in bed, hand to his heart and panting.

OPAL (CONT’D): Good, you’re up. Come with me.

LEO: Opal! What are you-

Opal walks out of the room without a glance back.

Leo grumbles as he gets out of bed, slipping on a shirt and shoving his feet into some slippers before reluctantly following Opal into the hallway.

Opal is waiting in the hallway, leaning against the wall. When she sees Leo, she starts walking to another wing of the castle, closed off and forgotten by time. Leo jogs to catch up to Opal. They stop at the end of the hall.

OPAL: I think something happened to Auste.

LEO: Who?

OPAL: Auste.

Leo looks at her in confusion.

OPAL (CONT’D): The magician! Really, Leo, all this time and you don’t even know his name?

LEO: Well it’s not like we were ever properly introduced!

OPAL: You’ve been to his home over a dozen times now!

LEO: To bring you back from him kidnapping you!

OPAL: About that.

LEO: What?

OPAL: Well...

Opal looks guilty. Leo looks suspicious.

LEO: Opal?

OPAL: Do you remember the first time I was taken?

LEO: Vividly.

OPAL: Well... I wasn’t exactly... taken.

LEO: Explain.

OPAL: Auste is my friend. We met a while ago when I snuck off to go to that market out East. We started talking and we had some wine and I mentioned how sick I was of my father and the Council talking about trying to set me up with someone.

LEO: Opal...

OPAL: And then we had some more wine. And he mentioned his tower and I said like in the stories where the evil magician kidnaps the princess and he said yes and we laughed and had more wine and-

LEO: Opal.

OPAL: (rushed) And one thing led to another and we made plans for him to “kidnap” me so I could have a few days away from it all and it worked! I got to hang out with my new friend and when I got back everyone was so happy that no one mentioned the suitor thing for a while and then when they brought it up again I just kind of... wrote to Auste and made plans to do it again.

Opal smiles brightly and guiltily at Leo, whose mouth has fallen open in shock.

For a moment, no one speaks.

LEO: Opal!

OPAL: Look we can talk about this more later but for now, I need your help.

Opal looks pleadingly at her best friend. Leo recovers from shock, shakes his head, rubs his temples, looks up to the heavens, and then looks at Opal.

LEO: Why do you think something happened?

OPAL: I left him a letter planning our next meeting and he hasn’t responded yet.

LEO: That’s all?

OPAL: He’s never not responded to me, Leo.

LEO: He might be busy with something.

OPAL: I don’t think so. He hasn’t mentioned anything to me. And we’ve never gone this long between meetings before.

LEO: That’s true.

Leo looks skeptical.

OPAL: Please, Leo, just come with me to check it out. I know something’s wrong, I can feel it. I’ll go alone if I have to, but I don’t want to. Please?

Leo looks at Opal. He studies her face before sighing and nodding.

LEO: Okay, let’s go check it out.

INT. THE MAGICIAN’S TOWER - NIGHT

Opal and Leo walk into the entry room in Auste’s tower.

OPAL: Auste?

There is no answer.

Opal leaves through the door. Leo continues looking around.

OPAL (CONT’D): Leo! I was right! He’s not here and it looks like he hasn’t been here in a while. Can you go check the other rooms while I see if there’s anything here that might say where he went?

Leo nods and heads upstairs. Opal looks through papers and journals. She finds something that catches her eye.

OPAL (CONT’D): Leo! Come here! I found something!

Leo comes running back in the room.

LEO: What is it?

OPAL: Look.

She shoves the journal at Leo, who reads it before getting a wide-eyed look of shock.

LEO: Opal, do you know what this means?

OPAL: I do. We have to go save him.

LEO: We have to be prepared. We can’t rush into this.

OPAL: I know. But we need to be quick.

LEO: We will be.

Opal can’t hide the distraught look on her face. Leo pulls her into a tight hug. A sob shudders through Opal’s body.

LEO (CONT’D): He’ll be okay, Opal. We’ll get him back.

Opal sniffles and nods into Leo’s shoulder. She takes a step back and wipes her face with her sleeve. She nods again, determined.

OPAL: Okay. Let’s go.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

Early the next morning, Opal and Leo travel through the forest by horse, a large bag behind each of them. They ride through the day until they get to the eastern border of the kingdom, marked by the edge of the Forest of Taylor.

When dusk falls, they stop at the edge of the forest to rest.

EXT. CLEARING - NIGHT

Leo collects wood and starts a fire while Opal gets dinner ready.

OPAL: So. I’ve been thinking.

LEO: Well that’s never good.

OPAL: Oh hush. I’ve been thinking about you and Auste.

LEO: What do you mean?

OPAL: About how you get when you’re around him.

Leo looks at her in confusion.

OPAL (CONT’D): You know, how you get all blushy and quiet.

LEO: I do not get blushy!

Leo blushes.

OPAL: Oh, you absolutely do. You are right now.

Leo huffs and turns his face so Opal can’t see him as well. Opal laughs.

OPAL (CONT’D): I’m just saying, a cute guy who like riddles as much as you do, who puts a lot of time and effort into making them for you. Someone who’s clearly also into you. Do you think maybe you get the way you do because you like him?

LEO: What? No. No. That’s ridiculous.

Opal side-eyes Leo.

LEO (CONT’D): Don’t look at me like that.

OPAL: I’m just saying. It’s possible.

LEO: No. And I don’t want to talk about this anymore.

OPAL: Okay. Just think about it then.

LEO: That’s not- Ugh! Just... let’s just get some rest.

Leo lays down and faces away from Opal, who smirks.

Leo looks off into the distance of the forest, obviously still thinking about what Opal has said. Eventually, the two fall asleep.

EXT. CLEARING - DAY

The next morning, Opal and Leo pack up and head out to find Auste. They ride quietly and eventually, they come across a tower where they believe Auste is being held.

EXT. TOWER - day

LEO: You ready?

OPAL: As I can be.

Opal and Leo tie their horses behind a cluster of trees. Opal pulls a couple vials out of her bag and gives one to Leo. Leo takes his sword out of his bag and tucks it into his scabbard.

They creep quietly up to the tower. No one seems to be around.

They get to the door of the tower. It’s locked. Leo looks around, sees no one, then breaks down the door with his shoulder.

INT. TOWER STAIRS - DAY

A guard comes down the stairs. Opal flicks some of the dust from her vials in his face. The guard falls down, snoring. Opal and Leo step over him and continue up the stairs.

Two more guards come from a room off the side of the stairs. Opal blows more dust and they also fall asleep. They make it to the top without seeing any more guards. Leo breaks down the door again, rubbing his shoulder after he does. They burst into the room.

INT. TOWER CELL - DAY

Auste is lying against the wall, chained at the wrists and ankles. He looks sick, pale, and exhausted.

Opal gasps. Leo freezes at the sight. He takes a deep shaky breath. Opal runs to Auste.

OPAL: Auste. Auste!

AUSTE: (weakly) Opal?

OPAL: Yeah. I’m here. We’re here to save you.

AUSTE: (weakly) The chains... Iron.

OPAL: Leo, we need to get these off him!

LEO: Where’s the key?

AUSTE: The... guard... tall one... black hair...

OPAL: Leo, can you?

Leo nods and heads back down the stairs. Opal strokes Auste’s hair comfortingly.

OPAL (CONT’D): It’s okay, Auste. We’ll get you out of here.

Auste’s eyes flutter. He tries to focus on Opal, but is too weak.

OPAL (CONT’D): Leo?

LEO (O.S): Got it!

Leo comes running back into the room. He runs over to Auste and quickly but gently unlocks the chains. Opal and Leo try to help Auste stand, but he can’t. Leo picks him up and carries him down the stairs. Opal leads the way, vials at the ready.

INT. TOWER STAIRS - DAY

There are two guards waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. Opal blows the dust at them, from a different vial this time, but it doesn’t work.

The two guard draw their swords. Opal takes Leo’s from his scabbard.

Leo stands back with Auste while Opal fights the two guards. One of them slashes her on the arm, but Opal manages to drive them back.

OPAL: Leo! Little help, please!

Leo sets Auste down on the stairs and pulls a sword from one of the fallen guards. He joins Opal in fighting the guards. Together, they take care of the guards, knocking them out.

EXT. TOWER - DAY

Leo picks up Auste again and moves quickly toward the horses with Opal. Opal mounts her horse and holds her arms out. Leo helps settle Auste in front of her.

They take off riding quickly back into the forest, looking back to make sure they haven’t been followed.

EXT. FOREST - DAY

Opal and Leo ride through the forest, Auste still asleep in front of Opal. They come to a clearing.

LEO: We should stop here to rest.

OPAL: Good idea.

Leo dismounts first, then takes Auste from Opal so she can get down. Opal makes a bed for Auste and Leo gently sets him down. Leo binds the wound on Opal’s arm with things from his bag.

Opal tends to Auste while Leo sets up the camp. Leo and Opal eat and watch over Auste, checking his temperature and watching to see if he wakes up.

Dusk falls.

Leo yawns. Opal chuckles.

OPAL: You should probably get some sleep. I'll take first watch.

LEO: Thanks, Opal. Wake me if anything happens.

Opal nods. Leo turns in for the night. Opal stokes the fire.

EXT. CLEARING CAMP - NIGHT

Leo is awake, watching over Auste and the camp.

Auste shivers in his sleep. Leo takes his blanket and carefully tucks it over Auste. Leo’s hand hovers above Auste’s head, itching to stroke through his curls. Leo drops his hand and sighs deeply.

LEO: I know you can’t hear me right now, but I just wanted to say sorry. For never replying to you. Opal told me I was being rude, and she’s right.

Leo tucks his feet under him.

LEO (CONT’D): I never meant to be rude. I just didn’t know what to say. I’m not used to people complimenting me so much. Not like you do, at least. I guess it made me...

Leo looks up, searching for the right word.

LEO (CONT’D): Nervous? Because I... I liked it.

Leo looks at the ground and blushes.

LEO (CONT’D): I think I like you.

Leo chuckles.

LEO (CONT’D): Opal said on the way to get you that I had a crush on you. I thought it was ridiculous. I mean, I hardly know you! And I don’t really do crushes. But then I saw you in that tower...

Leo looks at Auste.

LEO (CONT’D): (softly) and maybe it’s not so ridiculous after all.

AUSTE: I hope not.

Leo startles.

LEO: Auste! You’re awake! I didn’t- I mean- I... I’m sorry.

Auste sits up and faces Leo.

AUSTE: No, I’m sorry. I should have said something when you started talking. I just... Well I wanted to hear what you had to say.

Leo blushes. Auste scoots a little closer.

AUSTE (CONT’D): I guess it’s only fair that I say something vulnerable now.

Auste huffs a small laugh.

AUSTE (CONT’D): I like you, Leo. Honestly, I have for a while now. I’ve seen you around town and I’ve heard stories from Opal and I just... I wanted you to notice me. That’s why I make up all those riddles for when you come by. Opal told me you like them, and I wanted to give you something like I gave her.

Leo looks quizzically at Auste.

AUSTE (CONT’D): A chance to get away from the grind of the castle for a while, to do something you liked.

Leo and Auste scoot a little closer together.

LEO: I’m sorry it took us this long to talk.

AUSTE: Better late than never.

Auste and Leo smile at each other. Auste yawns deeply.

LEO: You should get some rest. We can talk more later.

AUSTE: Promise?

LEO: Promise.

Leo smiles softly.

LEO: Good night, Auste.

AUSTE: Good night, Leo.

FADE OUT: