INT. MUEIN SCHOOL MASTER CHAMBER (LATER)
With the knowledge that their own compound may now be under
remote surveillance, it was imperative to let all other
members of the Muein mystery school become aware of such
danger. But it had to be done as surreptitiously as possible.
In this context, Master Ishraq requested Golda join her in
the Master Guides' chamber.
GOLDA
You wished to see me, Master?
Ishraq nestled close ... then whispered into her ear, cupping
with both hands. Golda nodded ... then laughed. (Ishraq
laughs).
INT. MUEIN GOLDA'S APARTMENT
Moments later, Golda returned to her and Wimarc's chamber.
She made sure not to appear too concerned, or that her steps
were too hasty in getting there ... It was impossible to
know if a detached mind was watching. (DOOR) Once inside,
she sat on her meditation cushion and closed her eyes.
EXT. SMALL VILLAGE DAY
(Horses walking). It took no effort for Wimarc to catch
Golda's news about the temple. It was disturbing.
Nevertheless, he remained steadfast that it wouldn't deter
his small group's objective of rescuing Rachel.
WIMARC
It is a most serious condition indeed,
but one that need not keep us from
reaching Rachel successfully.
SAMANTHA
How do you know that, Father?
WIMARC
Because those whose camp we set afire
did not see or hear us. Nor have
they been able to track us since we
crossed the river.
Samantha reached across the chasm between him and her horse
and took hold of his arm.
SAMANTHA
But what about them and Mother?
Aaron circled, blocking Wimarc from going farther.
AARON
Master Your wisdom and expertise
would be better suited to protecting
our home.
Theia suddenly landed on Aaron's forearm.
AARON
We are only a mountain pass away
from my mother and she looks well
enough to travel. I can get her.
He looked at Samantha, willing to grant her leave if she
wished to join her father back home to the Alps.
SAMANTHA
A fresh look at the Western school
may also tell us much about who they
are and why they are attacking.
It was clear, she was not going to let Aaron continue alone.
He was relieved she would be staying.
WIMARC (TO SAMANTHA)
You do an old man proud. But that
pass through the Pyrenees ... you're
looking at 4 to 6 six days.
AARON
With hills no higher than that of
our home. Three days, at best.
Wimarc knew they were right. They still had their snow gear
packed and were more than capable of traversing the lesser
challenges of the approaching mountain range in comparison
to the heights of the Alps. Wimarc locked arms with his
daughter, then touched his forehead to hers.
SAMANTHA
We will send our thoughts only to
you.
WIMARC
My daughter
He pulled away, then glanced at Aaron.
WIMARC
Tell your mother.
AARON
She knows.
Wimarc suddenly sat upright, regal, addressing them as honored
Muein brethren.
WIMARC
Guardians.
AARON/SAMANTHA
Master.
AARON (TO THEIA)
Theia, you travel with him now. Be
the eyes ahead of him ... to keep
him from being found.
Wimarc spun the horse around and galloped away. Theia took
off, leading the path back.
Samantha and Aaron nestled up to each other, holding hands.
Samantha leaned over and kissed him.
SAMANTHA
Now, let's go get your mother and
see how we can help our people.
(Sprinting away).
EXT. AVIGNON PALACE
In Avignon, the election of the new Pope was ready to begin.
The College of Cardinals had gathered just outside the Palace,
near where the Chamber of the Cardinals was situated, the
large inner sanctuary where the conclave would take place.
Twenty cardinals had collected, Pasquier among them. (Walking
in).
INT. AVIGNON PALACE PASQUIER'S CHAMBER
Cardinal DeBoulogne would normally have been present during
the conclave. However, with Pasquier there, he had other
plans. Claiming a bout of sudden ill health, he was excused
while two other Cardinal-Bishops remained. Amazingly, his
health seemed to return as soon as the chamber's doors were
closed and locked ... to which he then found himself moving
rapidly through the palace corridors to end up finally at
Pasquier's private apartment. He stealthily cracked the
door and took step within. (Pause. Breath. Walk. Drawers).
He looked through drawers. Papers. Then found Renier's
gift box. (Open). He was aghast at what he witnessed inside.
(Door open). DeBoulogne turned at the sound of the door ...
to see Pasquier!
PASQUIER
I shall use those fingers to pluck
out your eyes.
DE BOULOGNE
You are in conclave. I locked you
in personally. You cannot be here.
PASQUIER
I told you, I am everywhere. And I
control everything.
DE BOULOGNE
You cannot be God!
Pasquier glanced at the fingers inside the box, then slowly
closed the lid.
PASQUIER
Oh, yes. He favors me.
In a flash, he advanced on DeBoulogne and grabbed the Cardinal-
Bishop's left ear! Pasquier closed his eyes to concentrate.
(DeBoulogne gasps) DeBoulogne trembled to his knees ...
eyes bulging in terror ... Pasquier slowly went to the floor
with him, keeping a firm grip on the ear.
PASQUIER
And through me, all souls in Europe
shall bow.
(DeBoulogne screams) Pasquier let go, then kicked him.
DeBoulogne cradled his head from the attack.
DE BOULOGNE
I speak of this to no one. I beg
you.
PASQUIER
I know you won't, for His ways and
thus mine are mysterious.
He nabbed DeBoulogne by the collar and hurled him against
the wall. Then opened the box and took out a particularly
nasty finger with a long nail.
PASQUIER
Now about those eyes
DE BOULOGNE
No! No! I I
Pasquier spied a puddle of urine pooling at the Cardinal-
Bishop's feet.
PASQUIER
You piss like a dog!
Furious, he grabbed him by the collar and tossed him to the
floor. (De Boulogne shrieks like a frightened child).
Pasquier grabbed him again ... and hurled him toward the
door.
PASQUIER
You despise me utterly!
DE BOULOGNE
I plead for your mercy! I beg ...
Pasquier opened the door, jockeyed DeBoulogne into position,
then kicked him in the ass ... splaying him onto his belly
in the outer hall.
PASQUIER
Flames will devour your soul, I
promise you!
DeBoulogne clamored to his feet and sprinted away as fast as
he could.
PASQUIER
You can run, but You. Can't. Hi-i-i-
de!
INT. AVIGNON PALACE CONCLAVE ROOM
Meanwhile, the College of Cardinals sat around a gargantuan
table casting their ballots for the next Pope. The door was
locked. Pasquier could not have gotten out ... And he hadn't.
He was sitting there amongst all the others. A sudden gleam
lit up his eyes as a peculiar thought crossed his mind. He
hid a smirk.
EXT. PYRENEES MOUNTAIN PASS - DAY
The air was thin and crisp, biting at the skin as the horse s
hooves crunched over the frost-hardened earth leading into
the Pyrenees mountain pass. A light flurry of snow cascaded
down upon Aaron and Samantha as they rode along the narrow
path, winding through ancient pine trees whose branches were
heavy with frost. For most people, this terrain would have
been inhospitable ... The mountains seemed to close in, their
towering slopes and craggy outcrops casting long shadows
over the trail, as though the peaks were silently watching,
unyielding and timeless. Yet for the Muein Guardians, this
was a familiar environment ... and not the least bit
frightening. They had resolved not to stop, but to wholly
pass through.
EXT. CAMP
Renier strutted through knights and squires, still holding
position at the camp below the Alps. He stopped beside
Philippe who was looking at thick pelts.
PHILIPPE
Just as you had ordered, my Lord.
RENIER
Good. Break camp. I want them to
think we've gone. I'll take the
brigade.
Philippe nodded, then hurried into the heart of the grounds.
PHILIPPE
Break it down! We are done here!
Renier lifted a pelt and took a closer look ... Wondering if
it would be enough to still against the cold of the mountain
ascent. Then he knelt and placed his hand in the dirt.
Within seconds of closing his eyes, he smiled ... Then pulled
the chopped Muein finger from his sleeve and gazed reverently
at it.
RENIER
Who knew so much could be learned
from a single finger?
EXT. NUNNERY DAY
The nunnery was surrounded by high stone walls made of local
limestone. It was not at all imposing; it clearly represented
a combination of austerity and security. The barrier was
punctuated with small, narrow windows. Many were arched.
Some contained fancy lattice work.
When Aaron and Samantha rode in, they could see several small
gardens and an orchard of fruit trees just outside the main
building's back-end.
The convent's entrance was a heavy wooden door, set within a
carved pediment that displayed symbolic vines and a large
cross. When Aaron saw it, he felt all his muscles in his
abdomen tighten ... A chill rushed through him. The echoes
of a tortured life now passed still reverberated throughout
his spirit. He clenched his teeth to steady the turmoil,
then looked on with eyes afire.
SAMANTHA
You all right?
Aaron nodded, yet his body still screamed in defiance as
they drew nearer. A couple of nuns noticed them, but reacted
without concern.
Samantha kept a wary eye on Aaron as they dismounted and
tethered their horses. He acted as if she weren't beside
him ... striding to the small porter's lodge just inside the
great wall.
INT. NUNNERY PORTER'S LODGE (CONTINUOUS)
The lodge's walls were also made of stone, with virtually no
decorations on them. A narrow, glassless window with iron
bars allowed a small amount of natural light, falling upon a
sparsely furnished space. A Portress sat behind an unassuming
table, ready to receive any visitors.
SAMANTHA
Greetings ...
PORTRESS
Peace be with you. How may I assist
you in the service of God and this
holy house?
AARON
We are here to retrieve my mother.
She was brought in a few weeks ago.
SAMANTHA
Long hair, some gray, and ...
PORTRESS
Please ... wait here in peace and
prayer. I will inform the Reverend
Mother.
Samantha took another look at Aaron ... Seeing how tense he
was.
SAMANTHA
What bothers you so?
AARON
I do not care for This religion
tortured and killed me last time.
SAMANTHA
That was Elouan, not you. And it
wasn't this place.
AARON
The whole hand hurts, even when one
finger gets injured.
Only another minute past, then the Abbess strode in, followed
by the Portress.
ABBESS
Heaven be upon you both. You wish
to claim the lady?
AARON
Yes, we are her children and --
ABBESS
She still needs much recovery. I
would not recommend she leave right
now.
SAMANTHA
We are very grateful for your services
to our mother, but we can care for
her much better at our home than
what you could do here.
ABBESS
There is no greater care than the
light of God, my child.
AARON
Indeed. Does not the light of God
shine beyond even these walls?
ABBESS
Do you know how she arrived to us?
She's --
AARON
I'm sorry, but it is inappropriate
to withhold a parent from seeing her
children. Would you deny your Christ
the communion with his?
The Abbess stared coolly, unable to rebut. Then hurried
past him and out the front door. The portress stole a quick
glance at Aaron, then retook her seat at the table and cast
her gaze low.
Samantha nabbed Aaron and spun him around, so as to keep
their words hushed.
SAMANTHA
Your tongue has turned into quite
the sword.
Aaron glared at her.
SAMANTHA
I didn't say it was a bad thing.
They waited a few moments longer, then the Abbess returned,
along with three nuns and Rachel in tow. Rachel hurried
into Aaron and Samantha's arms.
AARON
Mother.
SAMANTHA
Blessed be your light that you're
safe.
All the nuns looked a bit surprised at the nature of
Samantha's comment.
AARON
You are well to travel?
RACHEL (NODDING)
And ready.
Samantha and Rachel turned toward the Abbess and her
entourage.
SAMANTHA
Thank you.
RACHEL
Thank you.
Aaron and Samantha cradled Rachel as they walked her outside.
The nuns watched, somewhat stupefied, waiting for some kind
of payment for their services.
ABBESS
Ungrateful youth.
EXT. NUNNERY (CONTINUOUS)
Aaron and Samantha escorted Rachel toward the horses.
AARON
Still nothing about Matthew?
RACHEL
There hasn't been a blending with
anyone.
She gave them a frustrated look. The inability to make a
link with any brethren that could still be at the Western
school was not normal ...
AARON
We know.
SAMANTHA
We can tell you on the way.
AARON
I am afraid ... we must return to
the school.
He helped Rachel onto the horse, then looked back to see the
Abbess and nuns had stepped out of the porter's lodge,
watching them.
AARON
Are you ready for this?
RACHEL
Yes. I think I can guide you back.
Aaron took to the saddle. Rachel held tightly to him, then --
with Samantha beside -- slowly rotated the horses around.
Aaron looked intently at the convent as he twirled ... Rachel
could feel the sudden tensing of his muscles. She knew his
inner self was reacting to what had happened with Elouan
those many years ago.
RACHEL
It is all right. You are all right.
Aaron pushed the horse to trot out of the complex a bit
faster.
EXT. WESTERN SCHOOL ESTABLISHING
Within a few hours, they were at the rocky outcrops of the
Muein Western School overlooking the Atlantic seaboard.
Rachel led them through a gorge of boulders, small shrub
trees, and then into a secluded cavern.
When they dismounted, Aaron and Samantha were stunned. All
around them laid pools of dried blood ... along with carcasses
of massacred horses.
RACHEL
Everything was slaughtered.
They found torch nubs. Rachel struck a rock near a pool of
thick, dark goo ... its spark ignited the puddle. They then
lit the torches and Rachel led them into a tunnel.
INT. WESTERN SCHOOL TUNNEL
They encountered murdered Muein monks while enroute. Also,
a few of the knights who had attacked them.
RACHEL
They discovered our hidden entrances.
Who knows how long they had been
observing us and able to keep
themselves from our awareness.
SAMANTHA
Wait.
She knelt to see the bloody stump left on the monk's right
hand by the result of the finger being chopped away.
SAMANTHA
Look.
RACHEL
Perhaps they took it as a token of
their butchery.
She hurried past, not wanting to look at it.
INT. WESTERN SCHOOL GRAND GALLERY
The tunnel opened into a grand gallery, deep underground,
with a high vaulted ceiling. Bodies laid everywhere --
clearly a huge part of the battle took place here. Most of
the deceased were Muein brethren. Some ... had been burned.
It was only by the shape of their corpses that the charred
remains could be identified as a body. Rachel, Aaron, and
Samantha covered their noses from the stench. A tear marked
Rachel's cheek, but she remained strong; stoic. Aaron put a
comforting hand on her shoulder.
AARON
Mother.
Rachel nodded appreciatively, then pulled away.
RACHEL
I have to find Matthew.
She hurried into another tunnel.
EXT. MUEIN VARIOUS
Back at the temple in the Alps ... all around the complex,
various monks sat in deep meditation.
INT. MUEIN MASTER SANCTUARY
In the sanctuary of the Master Guardians, Ordonio-indigo
nestled close with Master Ishraq-master.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Our own barrier is now in place. You
may speak freely.
ORDONIO-INDIGO
Reports from the avis scouts say the
bulk of the army is now moving west,
having already left the forest and
marching on open roadway. However,
they still spy a small contingent
hiding behind in the shadows and may
have already begun ascending.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
They want us to think they have left.
ORDONIO-INDIGO
A small band we can easily disarm.
Which makes me believe they are here
for something particular.
INT. WESTERN SCHOOL CLASSROOM
Rachel had led Aaron and Samantha into a small underground
chamber ... What would have been an inner sanctuary classroom.
The walls ... were charred. The bodies of children were
everywhere -- some within the protective arms of the fallen
adults. Rachel wept over one of them. Aaron and Samantha
knelt with her.
RACHEL
Matthew.
Indeed ... the corpse of the Muein master was holding a
deceased child to his chest. Even one of his fingers had
been taken.
RACHEL
Many of the children must have run
here to get away. This was one of
their classrooms.
AARON
Look how he holds the child.
Samantha gently unwrapped Matthew's arms and examined the
youth. Something about this ... seemed unusual and
disturbing. She immediately went about examining the other
children. They all appeared to be within feet of the adults,
not scattered, as if running.
AARON
What do you see?
SAMANTHA
The attackers didn't kill these
children. They did.
It was a stunning revelation. The Muein adults had taken
the lives of all the children. Rachel and Aaron suddenly
examined the youths. Their minds, their spirits, simply
couldn't process the depth of this tragedy ... Why? Why
were the children murdered? Aaron stopped at the body of a
female Guardian, lying sprawled in her own blood ... a dagger
still in her hand.
AARON
This magistrum took her own life
here. She's still holding the blade.
They all looked quizzically at each other. Again: Why? A
sinister thought suddenly occurred to Aaron.
AARON
Can you show us to the library?
Rachel nodded. She hesitated, taking one last look at
Matthew, then escorted them from the room.
INT. WESTERN SCHOOL LIBRARY CORRIDOR
She led them through a tunnel. Along the way, they found
several more burned monks. The walls were also covered with
soot.
RACHEL
This way.
Within minutes, they stood before what would have been the
heavy colossal door of the library ... It had been rendered
into splintered debris from an intruding battering ram. The
devastating device still sat just inside the mangled opening,
with charred Muein bodies all around the greater interior.
INT. WESTERN SCHOOL LIBRARY (CONTINUOUS)
The whole of the library pod was blackened from soot and
smoke. Very little remained of the books and manuscripts
chained to the ruined shelves, consumed by the former blaze.
Samantha examined the battering ram while Aaron and Rachel
gawked at the devastation and massacred bodies. Aaron
fingered the chains of the books consumed by the flames,
then noticed the torches were in the deceased monks' hands.
AARON
(re: the bodies) These remains are
of Guardians who came here to burn
the books.
RACHEL
Yes, I recognize this one. He was
the newly consecrated Guardian of
the Knowledge.
She looked at Aaron, knowing that the corpse would have been
him if he had joined her and Matthew earlier. Meanwhile,
Samantha looked over one of the burned corpses.
SAMANTHA
It's like this one walked right into
the fire himself.
(Rachel and Aaron join her around the charred body).
AARON
He did. They all did. Everyone did
what they had to do to protect the
knowledge.
They suddenly realized, the protection of such knowledge is
what drove them to also ... killing the youth
AARON
These attackers came for what we
know, not for who we are.
SAMANTHA
And they are heading for our home.
EXT. ROADWAY
Wimarc bounded across the hillside on his horse, guided by
Theia.
INT. MUEIN MASTER SANCTUARY
Back at the Master Guide sanctuary, the seven Masters stood
huddled over a small table with a map.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Even though it has been generations
since these tunnels have been used,
they will at least deliver us on the
banks of the eastern slopes, where
we know no band of mercenaries or
armies await to capture us.
The Master Guard approached and whispered into her ear.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Please excuse me.
She allowed the Guard to lead her to the threshold, where
Golda stood waiting.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Spirit magistrum. Laico here says
you have received words.
INT. MUEIN MASTER SANCTUARY (LATER)
Moments later, the Seven Masters had grown more tense. The
information Golda had relayed was a telepathic communication
she had received from Samantha about the revelations from
the Western school ... about how the aggressors were looking
to steal the Muein's arcane knowledge -- to learn their
skills... but to what end? Regardless, it was paramount to
keep such knowledge secret from those who weren't mature ...
who weren't really ready ... Even if it meant ... burning
it.
GUNDLACH-RED ROBE
It would be a tragedy of unimaginable
proportion. The texts must be
preserved.
MALE-YELLOW ROBE
If erased by flame, does that not
put our Northern and Eastern schools
at greater risk? They could be
attacked next.
FEMALE-GREEN ROBE
They might still be, whether our
library be secreted or not.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
There is no doubt knowledge from the
Western school is no longer available
to us now because it has been consumed
by fire. How great a wisdom lost, we
cannot know; nor can we ascertain
how long it would take to relearn
such knowledge, though it exists in
its entirety all around us.
BLUE ROBE-FREYA
A hundred years? A thousand?
ORDONIO-INDIGO ROBE
Worth it, if kept from minds not
properly seeded to receive it.
(A beat).
ISHRAQ-MASTER
Let us take the master copies of our
texts so that they may be preserved
and burn the rest. What is lost,
then, will not be so great. May it
also confuse our attackers into
believing we have destroyed our
knowledge as was done by our brethren
in the West.
The group hesitated, considering the proposal ... Then all
nodded in agreement.
GUNDLACH-RED ROBE
We will post Guardians and protettores
to give cover for the evacuation.
MALE-ORANGE ROBE
More of us than them. We could stay
and disarm them.
ISHRAQ-MASTER
How many others have they told of
our location? Sadly, it is time to
abandon the Alpine temples.
(Grave music)