After returning Princess Valonia to her father, Daker of Syperragg, the brothers were each offered her hand in marriage. When they both refused, and Syndri made a scene, they were both sentenced to severe punishment. Now, Magnar and Syndri sit in a dungeon cell late at night, drearily awaiting their execution scheduled for noon the following day...

MAGNAR

(annoyed) Why’d you have to go on and on with all that blatant babbling? Look at what you’ve gotten us into.

SYNDRI

(yanks his wrists in an exaggerated upward motion

as he speaks, shackles pulling against the ball and

chain that anchors him, grunts) If it wasn’t for your

little …proposition… I would have kept my mouth shut.

MAGNAR

(huffs) Brother, I honestly fail to comprehend why

YOU couldn’t simply take Princess Valonia’s hand, I

mean, evidently, you’ve got her smitten.

SYNDRI

Why didn’t YOU take her? You aren’t actually betrothed. You saw a woman, most likely a sprite, in the forest once or twice.

MAGNAR

(matter-of-factly) It was THRICE.

SYNDRI

(rolls eyes, exhales) Well, thrice, but you never can tell if and when she’ll appear again.

MAGNAR

(braggadocio) Brother, you know nothing about girls. This is love. True love. And True love is undeniable.

SYNDRI

(scoffs) TRUE LOVE, eh? (clicks tongue, HA!) Hardly! You two only exchanged a few words, and you haven’t even learned each other’s names. I may not be an expert, but, for all we know, she could possibly not even have feelings for you in that manner.

MAGNAR

(exhales, looks down, solemnly murmurs) I suppose you’re right. . . . . (brief silence, breathing, looks over at Syndri in shame) I- I’m sorry brother.

SYNDRI

(sighs, looks over) I apologize as well. (laughs bashfully) I always seem to get carried away at the wrong moment, don’t I?

MAGNAR

(chuckles) Indeed. That is why, though you claim to be much weaker than me, YOU are attached to a ball and chain, and I am not. (holds up shackled wrists, gesturing at the fact no ball and chain is attached.)

Syndri breathes out a laugh, smirks,

looks to barred window near the top of the chamber.

Brief awkward silence.

Quiet breathing.

SYNDRI

(breathes, sighs). . . . .so, brother,

I conclude these must be our final moments.

MAGNAR

I suppose so.

SYNDRI

How do you imagine they’ll end us? Guillotine? Scythe? Axe? (shudders, groans)

MAGNAR

(gallantly) Well, however it shall be done, insist they execute me first.

SYNDRI

Nonsense, brother! As you have said before, if it weren’t for my smart mouth, we wouldn’t b efacing this grave predicament at all.

MAGNAR

No, no. Even so, I shall die first. After all, I am the one who swore upon my own life to protect you.

SYNDRI

(confused) Hmm? I’m afraid I don’t follow.

MAGNAR

(politely, explanatory) You see, if I am dead, it is impossible for me to protect you any longer.

SYNDRI

(scrunches nose, raises eyebrow) What bizarre reasoning. . .

MAGNAR

I simply could not stand helplessly gazing on as you die. After breaking my vow, I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

SYNDRI

(smirks cynically) Of course you wouldn’t. (shakes head) Because you would die next.

MAGNAR

(shrugs, murmurs)…true…

Suddenly, the sound of clinking chains and sliding bars resound through the prison.

A dark, cloaked figure holding a lantern in one hand and a large scythe in the other glides into the room.

As the brothers watch on silently, curiously,

the cloaked figure unlocks their cell’s gate.

Eerily, it beckons on to them, not uttering a word.

MAGNAR

(gulps, worried) I’m sorry, sir… (stutters) y-you must be terribly mistaken, sir. We are to be killed tomorrow just before noon.

The cloaked figure steps into the cell,

Magnar steps back.

Syndri budges not.

CLOAKED FIGURE

(deep, manly, scruffy, exaggerated, bellowing)

Come with me, Syndri. (eerie, intimidating) We will do something… different… for you…

MAGNAR

(quickly steps forward, panics) No! Not him! Please, I beg of thee! Take me instead! Is it a midnight execution? I shall endure it!

The cloaked figure shakes its head, points scythe at Syndri.

Syndri’s wide eyes fall solemnly as he nods, steps forward.

MAGNAR

(gasps, advances) Brother, no! They shall not take you this night!

SYNDRI

(holds out hand to stop Magnar, takes deep breath, sadly) I’ve done enough resisting today. Opposing this shan’t make things any better, that’s evident. (follows cloaked figure)

The cloaked figure nods,

locks Magnar back into the cell.

MAGNAR

(grasps bars, crestfallen, cries) But, Syndri!

Brother, please! I swore upon my own life! (clenches bars of cage, tears well, sniffs)

SYNDRI

(solemnly, quietly) Worry not, brother, for this is not goodbye. In a matter of hours, Magnar, we shall

surely meet once again upon the golden streets of The

Other Side, in the presence of The Shining Lord.

The cloaked figure has had enough of the sappy talk.

It yanks Syndri away, pushing him down the hall.

Syndri sulks, guided by the cloaked figure,

dragging the ball and chain along on the ground behind him.

--SCENE SKIPS TO OUTSIDE THE PRISON--

Once outside, Syndri and the cloaked figure climb into a horse-drawn carriage.

The horses canter the two away.

Syndri looks back at the prison entrance,

notices that every one of the guards on and around the building are asleep.

SYNDRI

(glances back at cloaked figure, skeptical,

accusingly) Who are you? (slightly edgy) The devil himself taking me directly to hell? If so, that’s

definitely not where I believe I belong--

CLOAKED FIGURE

(whispers, slightly less deep, slightly less manly, abruptly) Shut! ….SHUT UP! (clears throat, growls in anger, mumbles) egads! it’s wearing off…

The horses gallop farther into the wood.

After some time, Syndri tries again for an answer…

SYNDRI

(louder, suspicious) I said, WHO ARE---?

Syndri is interrupted as the cloaked figure covers his mouth with its hands.

Just then, the carriage stops.

They have arrived at a little cottage in the middle of the wood.

Syndri can see the person’s eyes in the moonlight.

It is a woman. It is Princess Valonia!

SYNDRI

(whispers) Princess Valonia?

PRINCESS VALONIA

(slowly removes hood, voice cracks) Yes. (coughs,

voice normalizes) Yes, Syndri. It is I.

SYNDRI

(breathes, smiles, still confused) But, Your

Highness… How?? And why?

PRINCESS VALONIA

During the night, I snuck out of my father’s castle.

I’d prepared special drinks for the guards…

--FLASHBACK BEGINS--

PRINCESS VALONIA

(approaches the prison in carriage, calls out sweetly) Yoohoo! Merry men! Father has sent me to reward you brave and kindly fellows with a well deserved …elixir…

The knights arise and cheer with glee.

Leaving their posts, they gather around Valonia’s carriage

and consume of the beverages she provided unto them.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(narrates, slickly) Only, father hadn’t sent me, really. I took it upon myself to make the drinks… To POISON the drinks… with Slumaberry sap. As they began to drink and become merry, they soon also grew drowsy. (knights yawn, doze) I waited, watching (giggles) and smiling all the while. (gasps) And, then, when the guards were all fast asleep? I pulled on my cloak and glided into the prison.

--FLASHBACK ENDS, RETURN TO PRESENT--

Valonia jumps out of the carriage,

leads Syndri into the cottage where she fully removes her black cloak.

The cloak drops to the ground,

revealing a busty dress with a slimming figure.

SYNDRI

(epiphany) Oh! Now I understand! We saved you,

you save us! I appreciate you returning the favor,

milady. (smiles, bows)

PRINCESS VALONIA

(smirks, slyly) Oh, I am returning no favor.

I am only getting what I want. And then, I’ll return you back to the cell so my father can get what he wants.

Syndri’s eyes widen.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(inches up to Syndri, low, sultry, seductively)

Don’t you desire that final evening with a… (sigh,

emphasize) beautiful maiden… before you are put to

death? (fingers Syndri’s hair, runs hand down his

chest)

SYNDRI

(stutters) Well… …your highness… to be honest, I

do not. (clears throat, inhales, straightens spine,

confidently) I’d much rather spend my final night in

that dungeon cell with my brother.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(gasp in shock, disgusted) Absurd! (disbelief)

You’d give up one final encounter of love to be in

a dusty dungeon with a musty brute?

SYNDRI

But, my brother is no brute. And he actually cares for me. I cannot be sure that you do. After all, you’ve only known me for less than a fortnight. My brother has known me all my life.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(appalled) What?! That isn’t at all what I

mean. I can love you like the girls you’ve

courted--

SYNDRI

(shakes head) Your highness, I’m afraid fatherly love and brotherly love is all I’ve ever known…

PRINCESS VALONIA

(gasps in disbelief) Are you implying that you’ve never been loved by a woman?

SYNDRI

(sentimentally) To tell the truth, I often

experience fond but distant memories of motherly love.

(gazes off, sighs) She was only around when I was but

a child, even still I can sense her very presence

around me as I--

Princess Valonia interrupts.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(annoyed) Not FAMILY LOVE! (calms, moans) What I

am talking about… it’s SOMETHING ELSE entirely.

(breathes) Don’t worry. I’ll show you…

Princess Valonia pokes her hand underneath

the fabric of Syndri’s shirt, tickles his chest.

Syndri flinches in severe discomfort.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(murmurs softly) You mustn’t have ever… done anything like this before… (eyes, breathes) Don’t be shy… It’s alright...

SYNDRI

(severely uncomfortable) I--

I am not shy. (breathes) I-I simply don’t--

PRINCESS VALONIA

(growls, angrily) Just kiss me, fool! (slaps Syndri’s face, immediately kisses his cheeks and neck)

SYNDRI

(uncomfortably turns head, pulls away, strains)

Princes, please! I don’t care to--

PRINCESS VALONIA

(angrily) Hold me! (shakes Syndri’s shoulders)

SYNDRI

(super uncomfortably, tinge of anger) I--well--I can’t!

PRINCESS VALONIA

(demands) Yes you can! Just do it!

SYNDRI

(insistant) I’m afraid I simply can’t--

PRINCESS VALONIA

(angry, annoyed, huffs quickly) Just because

you’ve never done something before doesn’t mean

you can’t do it now!!!

SYNDRI

(fussing, loudly, quickly) I mean I can’t because I

am shackled!

PRINCESS VALONIA

(gasps, realizes) OHHHHHHH! (epiphany) You aren’t shy… you’re shackled! That’s what you were trying to say. (smiles, kindly) I’m sorry. I understand. Hold on a moment. (digs into her bosom, pulls out key, unlocks Syndri’s chains)

As the chains fall to the floor,

Princess Valonia pulls Syndri by the shirt

rising up on her tiptoes to his face.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(dramatic, longingly) Oh, just take me. Take me now!

(breathes, kisses)

Syndri has had quite enough,

pushes Princess Valonia to the ground.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(grunts, cries out) ugh! (gasps, glances up at Syndri, surprised countenance)

Syndri quickly kneels down beside her on the floor.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(breathes, desire) Oh, yes, Syndri… you’re ever so

strong… (gazes lustfully into Syndri’s eyes)

SYNDRI

(grasps Princess Valonia’s wrists, pulls them over her

head, leans in towards her ear, whispers,) Your Highness… I’m sorry…

Syndri suddenly leaps up and dashes away.

PRINCESS VALONIA

(shocked, yells) Wait! NO! You were doing so well! Where are you going! (tries to start after him, is yanked back by chains.

SYNDRI HAS SLICKLY SHACKLED THE PRINCESS WITHOUT HER NOTICING!

PRINCESS VALONIA

(yanks, strains, growls) YOU nettlesome little milquetoast! (shouts, screams,) SYNDRI! I ORDER YOU BACK HERE AT ONCE! (squeals) I AM A PRINCESS! (scowls) YOU SHALL OBEY MY WORD! (growls) MY FATHER WILL KILL YOU!!!!!!! (shrieks)

Syndri ignores her babbling,

finds the horse and carriage outside,

rides off back in the direction of the prison to fetch his brother.

“just...hold...still...i...am...almost...finished” Madiline, a elderly lady started through gritted teeth as she pulled the string on the princesses dress a little tighter with each word.

Princess: “Its too tight. I can barely breath’ (said in a whining tone)

Madeline: “Beauty hearts, dear. And first impressions last.”

Princess: “I don’t want it to last” (still whining)

Madeline: “It’s simple. Go in, smile and it’s done” (Madeline said matter-of-factly)

Princess: “That will be the opposite of what my father is to expect of me. After all I did not sign up to be married to a man of my fathers choice.”

Madeline: “I know. And I also know you won’t make it easy on your suitor”

(madeline said tucking a grey strand behind her ear as she looked at the princess over her shoulder as she retrieved the baby blue gown from the silky bed sheets belonging to the princes)

Princess: “Such a nice dress, for such a waste of an ocasion”

(the princess said lifting her hands so that her maid - who had been like a mother to her - could get the dress over her head and her arms onto her body.)

Madeline: “Oh come on, Alaiya. It can’t be that bad. I mean you will probably run him off in the first few seconds.”

Alaiya: “That is not of any question.” (A smug smile danced on her lips)

a knock on the door sounded, making both woman look at each other for a second before they turned to the door)

Madeline: "You may enter"

(the double, oak-red, wooden door screeched open. Revealing Adam, the princesses handsome but agrovating bodygaurd standing tall as always)

Adam: "Your father expects you down in three minutes...princesssa"

Alaiya: "Oh! you can tell my father-"

Madeline: "Princess Alaiya!" (madeline warned before turning back to Adam) "-she will be ready. If you could just wait outside)

(with a firm knod of understanding, Adam took a bow and retreated to he's post at the outside of the princesses door.)

********

Alaiya: "Shall we?" (the princesses voice interupted adam from hes thoughts. He looked at her with amazement."

Adam: " Ofcause, your father said to tell you that he expects your best behaviour."

Alaiya: "Mmmmm, And you should know by now that is the exact opposit of what my father will get."

(she said as they walked down to where her father and a posible suitor awaited her, arm looped in her bodygaurds. It was no secrete she gave him a hard ttime but so did he her. He was different.)

Adam: "I wouldn't expect less.-" (he smiles handsomely) "-may I say, you look beautiful"

Alaiya: "Thank you" (her cheeks turning a blush pink)

Adam: " It is a pleasure"

***************

King Eddy: "Ah here is my precious daghter"

(The king says as he looks over at he's daghter as he motions in her dirrection to he's guests.)

King Ash: "Ah what a beauty. My son should be the luckiest man alive to have your daughter as a suitor.-" (The foreign king said as he walked over to Alaiya to kiss her hand. Alaiya retrieving her hand in disgust as adam takes he's place along side the rest of the palace gaurds.) "-This is my son..prince edward the third" ( King ash said as he welcomed he's son to join in."

Alaiya: "Princess Alaiya" (she said tight mouthed, throwing daggers at her father,"

Edward: "the pleasure is all mine" (the smug look on he's odd looking face made Alaiya want to laugh.)

Alaiya: "Alright, than" (Alaiya tried to sniffle a laugh as she retreated back to her body gaurd.)

Adam: "Such a odd face" (in whispers)

Alaiya: "Mouse-like."

Adam: "such a large head."

Alaiya: " Such a skinnhy body"

(Both burst out in chuckles as Edward staring at them obliviously)

King Eddy: "Alaiya! That is enough!"

(Standing silently, Alaiya looked at her father challengingly.)

Alaiya: "No it is not! I am being treated like the highest price at an auction. Im not just something to be handed over to someone with the most money. I am not some kind of an Object.!"

(Alaiya shouted before the floor moved beneath her feet increasilgly. Leading her into a maze she use to run to as a child when her parents upset her. Finding a comfortable spot on a stack of hay, she rested kicking of her shoes)

Adam: "You are quite the runner" ( said through breaths as he hovered over hes knees, gasping for air. Alaiya jumped at the fimiliar voice, not having noticed someone had followed her)

Alaiya: "Adam!-" (clutching her chest) "-What are you doing here?"

Adam: " My job" (he said getting to he's feet again walking over to her.)

Alaiya: " Ah, should have known. You can go and get your praise from my father"

Adam: " I do not know my way back, and I do not think leaving you alone is the best choice. Not now that its getting dark." (pointing up at the setting sun)

Alaiya: " My whole life has been planned out for me, who I will marry, where I will live.-" (Adam sitting down beside her on the hay "- sometime I wonder if that is the reason why the young prince from our neighnouring country ran away"

(Adam shifted uncomfortably at her words)

Adam: "I guess so. I mean he might have had he's own dreams, much like you"

Alaiya: "You know the tale? My mother use to tell it to me every time I was upset. She called it the The prince that escaped he's prison and chased he's destiny"

Adam: "that sounds overly romantisized" (nervously chucking)

Alaiya: " I likr to think its a fairytale" (alaiya said smiling at adam, whose eyes looked straight through her. A sudden sadness washed over him, making alaiya furrow her brows.

Adam: " We should get going. Its starting to get dark"

THE PENTHOUSE, LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Emery's dead body is sprawled across the living room floor.Vail is laying on the couch evidently distressed eyes closed. Sage picks up a wine glass and sits on the floor leaning on the couch, thier breathing deliberately slow and steady. Rumi is jittery leaning into the crook of the wall visibly distressed by the situation at hand.

VAIL

(Vail opens her eyes and stares at the roof)

 We have a dead body on our living room floor.

SAGE

(Sage looks back at Vail)

No shit.

VAIL

(Vail turns to look at sage, her voice cracks slightly)

W-we have a dead body on our couch.

RUMI

(Pinches the bridge of her nose)

Stop fucking reapeating yourself!

VAIL

My boyfriends dead body is sprawled across our living room floor, his eyes are-are--

(Sage interrupts Vail)

SAGE

Lets get him out before he starts to--(grimace) smell

(Sage glances in the direction of Emerys body)

VAIL

(Sits up and looks at sage with disbelief)

How?? Butcher his body?(waves hand franticly) Have him for dinner? Or maybe just dump him in the garbage?..

RUMI

(Rumi walks over to Vail and grabs her shoulders and shakes it)

If you don't stop freaking out Vail i swear i'll be gutting you and throwing your body into the river!

VAIL

(Vail frowns, lowers her voice and stares at Rumi)

Don’t joke like that.

RUMI

(Rumi Lessens her grip and sighs)

Don't look at me like that, I'm sorry Vail--for you're loss (she grimaces), but I'm serious, i'm not going to jail, especially not for killing your idiot boyfriend.

SAGE

(Sage stands up and drops the wine glass on table)

Can both of you stop arguing (groans), Vail we do need to find a way to get rid of the body.

VAIL

(Vail's head whips to look at Sage, she is slightly angry.)

 I was being sarcastic(looks disgusted). We just killed someone, it might be another Tuesday for the desert children but I am NOT one of them.

RUMI

(Walks over and stands beside Sage picks up Sage's drink and takes a sip)

Then what? We keep the dead body with us?

VAIL

I-i-

(Emery's body shifts and emery lets out a groan, Vail dives towards emery almost falling on him.)

VAIL

Emery, oh my god, oh my god! How? HOW?

EMERY

(Emery takes Vail's hovering hand and sits up)

V-vail? What the fucks going on?

VAIL

Don't swear boy, (sighs) don't swear!

RUMI

(Rumi falls on the couch and sighs and groans)

Well that complicates things.

SAGE

(Glares at Rumi, then looks at Emery and smiles almost politely.)

Glad to have you back.

EMERY

(Glares at Sage.)

Let's talk about why I left in the first place, and why you wanted to bury me alive.

(Vail gasps and looks over at Sage and Rumi.)

VAIL

You knew he was alive! Why would you!

(Vail gets up in a fit of rage and walks over to Sage.)

VAIL Cont.

You call him your brother.

SAGE

(grimaces) I promise, i can explain Vail.

RUMI

(Rumi lets out a laugh on the couch and folds her legs up)

Well this is going to be fun

--TO BE CONTINUED--