Echo Morning: Out Of The Blue

By

Matthew B. Morrell

WGAW Registration Number:

1642004

Draft 9

Morrell.10907@gmail.com

949.584.1029

INT./EXT. WESTERN OCEAN - CRUISE SHIP COLUMBIA (NIGHT)

Within the immaculate dinning hall of the ocean liner,

everything is left abandoned, and appears to be done so in

quite a hurry. The room itself is also slowly TILTING.

MRS. MORNING (V.O.)

You have to learn to let go...

OUTSIDE - Violent waves crest and fall raging within an

unbelievably turbulent storm. THUNDER RUMBLES and lightening

touches down on the water off in the distance. As towering

waves part, the Cruise Ship Columbia becomes visible long

enough to watch its lights flicker off as it drowns,

consumed by the sea.

ON THE WATER’S SURFACE - Among the debris tossing in the

waves, a YOUNG GIRL (ECHO MORNING, 17) surfaces, gasping for

breath. Desperately, she fights against the current,

flailing, choking on water.

Swimming with all her might, Echo is pulled under by the

current and up to the top of a wave, only to be slammed down

again beneath the surface.

Tossing through the grinding surf, the young girl’s life

begins to flash before her eyes: particularly the hard

parts...

FLASH BACK:

EXT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - (EVENING)

Rain pours down atop the mud covered football field where a

MARCHING BAND attempts to practice.

Upon a box stand at the head of the band, dressed in a

uniform drenched and dirtied, Echo continues to conduct her

soldiers through the chaos.

Several sections of the band miss their cues, halt or desert

their post altogether. The few remaining Musicians smirk,

scoff, and jeer while the wind howls, and the rain stings.

Still, Echo endures the chaos to conduct: joy dripping from

her face harder than the rain when...

FADE INTO:

2.

INT./EXT. WESTERN OCEAN - CRUISE SHIP COLUMBIA (NIGHT)

Resurfacing again, Echo claws her way towards a large chunk

of floating debris. Pulling herself up onto the raft, her

frightened eyes come face to face with an equally frightened

HORSE (DAVE, 30).

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. DEATH WIND CANYON (AFTERNOON)

Below the crescent moons and setting sun, among the vast

desert wasteland flanked by towering obstinate orange mesas,

Echo stands quietly by her Horse looking over a mangled

CORPSE.

The rushing wind blows streams of sand across Echo’s bare

feet.

Kneeling down beside the remains of the body, Echo struggles

to keep her disheveled dishwater blond hair out of her face.

Wearing only torn remains of clothes, faded from years at

sea, she shivers from the wind, and the situation.

Her sun soaked face slowly registers what has just

transpired.

DAVE (O.S.)

Did you see that?

ECHO

No.

Echo looks down at her rough, tanned hands.

DAVE (O.S)

Yeah, so sorry ’bout that. I’m sure

at the speed I was going he didn’t

feel a thing.

ECHO

He’s lucky.

Standing back from the corpse, Echo wipes the blood from her

hands over her tattered blue jeans.

Dave NEIGHS, then turns to the young girl.

DAVE

Seriously though, I turned that guy

into paste. I mean I literally

vaporized his face. Gross.

3.

It finally dawns on the beautifully cream colored steed that

all is not well with his young companion.

DAVE

I mean, it wasn’t our fault. He

just came out of nowhere and WOOSH!

I don’t think I’ve ever ran that

fast before.

ECHO

We should go.

DAVE

Right. We’ll need to bury the bod-

We should probably just cover the

remains or something?

ECHO

No, we need to go now. This guy

looks like he has low friends in

high places.

DAVE

Well he’s going to have to meet

some new friends in low places...

because... you know?

Dave NICKERS and adds an EXPLOSION sound effect at the end

for emphasis. Echo is not amused. In fact, she looks scared

shitless if only visible in her wide sapphire eyes.

DAVE

Alright, you’re right, let’s just

go. Hop on.

Echo nods and quickly mounts her horse.

DAVE

You sure you don’t want me to go

over him again just to make sure-

ECHO

Just go.

Dave rears up and flies off at full gallop into the desert.

As horse and rider disappear into the ominous crimson

sunset, the dust settles on the remains of the Corpse.

Pushing in closer on the breast pocket of the uniform of

what’s left of an upper torso, an emblem of THREE BLACK

HOLLOW DIAMONDS ABOVE A HUMAN SKULL.

- ROLL OPENING CREDITS -

4.

TILTING - Up from the corpse, gradually moving towards the

settling dust left by Dave, we increase speed, traveling

faster and faster across the desert. Soon, we’ve taken off

into the air, rising over the Eastern Ocean, above the

clouds, into orbit. Circling the planet, the rising sun

illuminates the thin belt of ice that orbits the planet like

a diamond necklace. Light twists and bends like a prism

through the ice forming words...

ON SCREEN - ECHO MORNING: OUT OF THE BLUE

PULL OUT - Abruptly, the planet is lost, replaced by a

vision of hundreds of brilliant galaxies. To the LEFT, text

appears over a spiral galaxy- "MILKY WAY."

The text fades, replaced by new text on the RIGHT over a

larger galaxy cloud- "PINWHEEL GALAXY."

PUSH IN - Gradually moving towards the Pinwheel Galaxy, the

old text fades out replaced by- "THE PLANET SPECTRA."

Picking up speed, stars stream by, encompassing still photos

of Spectra’s history flipping forward through cave drawings,

renaissance art, newspaper pages blowing in the wind.

Present day dates materialize at the heading of the

photos...

1768 - "BRIGHTON DECLARES INDEPENDENCE FROM PRISM"

1776 - "PRSIM WITHDRAWS, BRIGHTON VICTORIOUS"

1852 - "PRISM CIVIL WAR, BRIGHTON NEUTRAL"

1937 - "FORWARD TO DIPLOMACY, BRIGHTON TO SEND COLUMBIA"

1938 - "INVASION!"

FADE INTO:

ON SCREEN - PRISM 1940 C.E.

Pushing in from a satellite view of the Continent of PRISM

and moving up from the lower half (DEATH WIND CANYON) where

Echo just was, up to the North West where grassy planes turn

to frozen tundra, all the way to the North Western tip; a

frozen waste: WHITE LAND.

FADE INTO:

5.

EXT./INT. WHITE LAND - DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (EVENING)

Over the frosted plain riddled with glaciers, a trio of

black RADIO TOWERS jet up into the sky. Beyond the towers,

settled on the highest peak of the largest mountain, sits a

massive, DARK TOWER; architecture of distinct Alien origin.

SCREAMING echos through the empty chambers of the tower.

In the middle of what looks like a nearly deserted court

room, a YOUNG WOMAN (THE DARK PRINCESS, 16) sits at the

prosecutor’s desk, her gaze fixated on a tablet computer,

disaffected.

Her mind buried in her work as SCREAMING continues just off

screen. Reluctantly, the Princess maneuvers her slender,

onyx fingers quickly across the screen. A pair of glasses

rest atop a deadly beautiful ashen face. Sharp violet eyes

finally glancing upwards, clearly inconvenienced.

Hanging upside down in the pearl white room, her VICTIM

(AGENT ORANGE, 23) dangles above the witness stand.

AGENT ORANGE

Somebody, HELP ME!

(Weak)

Please.

Tapping her fingers impatiently on her screen, the Princess

carefully sets down her Tablet, which turns to liquid and

melds into the surface of the desk.

DARK PRINCESS

Agent Orange, or the human formally

known as Kent Baranger; do you know

why you’re here today?

Adjusting the collar of her fur coat, The Empress rises,

sauntering her way towards the witness stand.

DARK PRINCESS

It seems you’ve taken it upon

yourself to disrupt the peace so

that you and your little friends

could... do what exactly? Start

another war? Fight amongst your

selves for fire, for food, for

females?

AGENT ORANGE

You... you have no right to-

6.

DARK PRINCESS

Let’s be clear; this is about you,

Kent. If you want to talk about

rights, Okay. Let’s talk.

The Princess calmly walks from the witness stand, rounding

the Judge’s Podium.

DARK PRINCESS

My father gifted your world to me.

He said, if I wished to prove

myself, I should start small.

Step by step, she climbs the stairs up to the podium.

DARK PRINCESS

In my years stuck in this...

(Wretches)

...Hole, I could not imagine a

smaller, more insignificant species

as yours to govern.

Finally, The Princess and Agent Orange are face to face.

AGENT ORANGE

You haven’t earned the right.

Grabbing him by the collar, the Princess spits out on the

edge of loosing her calm...

DARK PRINCESS

For a millennium my species has

conquered worlds, while you have

barely evolved to the point where

you still believe the stars to be

gods, and forces of nature their

temperament. At this moment, human,

I am your god, and appeasing my

wrath is your primary concern.

Stroking the side of his face, The Princess calms herself

momentarily.

DARK PRINCESS

Where are your friends? Who else

feels I’m unfit to rule? Who else

tires of the peace I’ve gifted your

species with?

AGENT ORANGE

There will always be those that

will fight... who will fight for

freedom.

7.

Her hand stops. The Princess searches her victim’s face.

DARK PRINCESS

That is unfortunate. If you would

have told me, I might have spared

your family so that they may watch

you die. Now, I’m afraid its going

to be the other way around.

Gripping the sides of his head with both hands, The Dark

Princess digs the tips of her fingers into her victims skin;

black veins appearing on his face.

SCREAMING in horror, Agent Orange retreats inside his

mind...

HALLUCINATION:

Kent falls into the center of a dark and empty space.

Lifting his head from the floor, his FAMILY stands over him,

their faces fading into view.

AGENT ORANGE

No. No! Cover your faces! You have

to run, you have to hide!

MR. BARANGER

Why did you let us down son?

AGENT ORANGE

Father, I’m...

MRS. BARANGER

(Panicked)

She knows! She’ll find us. It’s

your fault! All your fault!

MR. BARANGER

You’ve failed us son.

Suddenly, behind each family member, clones of The Dark

Princess appear, snapping the necks of the Baranger family

one by one.

BACK TO REALITY:

Sobbing profusely, Agent Orange continues to dangle from his

chains.

DARK PRINCESS

I really only ask one thing of you

people...

8.

Making her way back down from the judge’s podium, both the

witness stand and the surrounding furniture SINK INTO THE

FLOOR.

DARK PRINCESS

Accept the freedom I’ve given you.

Such a simple task. However, I

suppose it is your species

predisposition toward failure that

led you to this situation in the

first place.

Now standing in the center of the room, with only Agent

Orange decorating the wall, the Princess turns to her prey.

DARK PRINCESS

Rest assured: I will drink every

last one of your tears, kill each

and every one of your species’

offspring before I relinquish my

rule on this planet.

AGENT ORANGE

We’ll never stop... never stop...

never...

Thoroughly pissed, the sadistic young woman raises a fist

towards the base of Agent Orange’s chain and releases a web

of electricity, blowing the restraint apart.

Agent Orange falls, snapping his neck on the white tile

floor.

Storming away from her latest victim across the court room,

through the archway entrance, till the Dark Princess is out

upon the BALCONY.

Gripping the rails, she bellows out...

DARK PRINCESS

Listen up you primitive meat sacks;

if so much as a spec of backbone

rear itself among those sheep, you

are to mow down every last one of

them. Am I understood?

In the COURTYARD below the balcony, THOUSANDS OF SOLDIERS

stand at the ready. They give a mighty WAR CRY, about face,

and march out the Main Gates.

As the soldiers disperse, The Dark Princess hops up atop the

railing and sits down with a heavy sigh.

ON SCREEN - World Map

9.

Out from the Dark Castle of White Land, troop movement is

shown spreading out to the East into MUTE CITY. To the

South, below Fire Field Canyon, the path of Echo and her

horse continues further East into Death Wind Desert.

FADE INTO:

EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT (NIGHT)

Echo still grips tightly onto Dave’s mane as the horse

powers on in full sprint.

Despite the dim glow of the moons, and the millions of stars

shinning bright above, there is no discernible path through

the expansive wasteland.

DAVE

Um, I don’t mean to alarm you, but

in the event that you thought I

knew where I was going... that’s

not the case.

Echo eases up on Dave’s mane, her horse gradually slowing to

a trot.

DAVE

So friend, I trust you’ve taken the

last few hours in silence to come

up with some kind of plan, eh?

Carefully sliding off the back of her horse, Echo continues

to walk alongside her steed.

DAVE

Alright, I admit, I’m a little

chatty, but the silence thing is

starting to get under my skin more

than all this freakin’ sand. We’ve

been stranded in the ocean for two

bloody years, desert for like half

a day... Between the two I despise

the bloody desert a bit more.

Echo continues to wander forward before Dave trots ahead of

her and stops; starring her down.

DAVE

Look, clearly this situation isn’t

better than what we were just in. I

mean, we did just murder a guy.

10.

ECHO

I can’t care about... I can’t think

about that right now, okay?

DAVE

Well, if you’re willing to let that

go then...

ECHO

I mean, I can’t care. I’m

officially at capacity for caring.

I don’t care that you trampled over

that man-

DAVE

Um, WE trampled-- you were in

charge of steering remember?

ECHO

I can’t care about everyone

anymore! I just want to stop

hearing them... I shouldn’t even be

alive.

(Beat)

Dave, I think we’re dead. We’re

dead and this is our hell. It’s a

hell where you can’t forget about

death, and we just... wander.

DAVE

(Beat)

Wow. Okay. It’s that, OR maybe we

could just find a nice big rock to

set up camp next to, and sleep off

those manic depressive thoughts,

eh?

A sharp wind blows between the two travelers. Dave

immediately rears up, moving in front of Echo to defend her.

DAVE

This desert and my hatred; two

strongly opposing forces right now.

Everything in the desert suddenly drops. An unearthly

stillness washes over the vast emptiness.

Echo senses a pair of eyes glaring, burning a hole through

the back of her head.

11.

Turning just in time to dodge an incoming fist, a very tall,

very muscular FIGURE (ORION, 26) charges at the young girl.

Echo still gets knocked over, but before the Ivan

Drago-looking kid manages to beat her senseless, Dave rears

up and kicks him back with his forelegs.

DAVE

Wrong movie you roidin’ git!

The boxer looking kid steps back, dismissing the initial

shock of talking animal, and looks ready to strike again.

DAVE

Oh, you wanna go? My murdering

count is already one nothing today.

What do you got pony boy?

Before Dave can trample Orion, a large net is thrown over

the wild steed from behind.

DAVE

Ah, rope, they have rope. It’s...

surprisingly... very effective.

Echo scrambles to rescue her horse, but Orion puts her in a

Full Nealson hold.

DAVE

Get your filthy hands off her you

damn dirty apes!

Echo looks up to see a girl in a VIOLET HAKAMA (MASIUMI, 23)

and a girl in a DARK INDIGO HIJAB (RAYNE, 27) tying down

Dave.

Before any word of protest escapes Echo’s mouth, a cloth

sack is thrown over her head and cinched shut.

FLASH BACK:

EXT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - MARCHING FIELD (EVENING)

The band has cleared the field. All that remains is Echo,

soaked to the bone atop her podium.

DRUMMER #1 (O.S.)

Hey, nice practice chick.

DRUMMER #2 (O.S.)

What’s your rush legs? You need to

get warm don ya?

12.

Just outside the field, two of Echo’s DRUM MAJORS corner a

shy PICCOLO PLAYER with ill intent.

PICCOLO

Please, just let me go.

DRUMMER #1

Come on Darlin’, we’ll warm you up.

ECHO (O.S.)

Beat it, freak show. How about you

do us all a favor, go home, and

practice your solo.

The drummers turn on Echo. Piccolo girl turns on her heals

and bolts.

DRUMMER #2

Well look at this mate, turns out

our fearless leader’s a bit of an

attitude about her.

DRUMMER #1

Shame she doesn’t have any talent

though.

DRUMMER #2

True, an awful shame at that. Tell

us, can you even hear us up there?

How much do you need to fail before

you step down?

DRUMMER #1

Better if you just step down.

DRUMMER #2

Better still if we buried her.

DRUMMER #1

We got the proper tools for that.

Echo’s had enough. Gripping her baton tight, she swings hard

at the Second Drummer’s knee caps until a loud CRACK is

heard.

Reeling in agony, the First Drummer doesn’t have time to

react as Echo lays in a right hook to his face and keeps

pounding away until...

SMASH CUT TO:

RETURN TO PRESENT

13.

INT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)

Water is poured over the bag covering Echo’s face just

before it’s pulled off. Her vision adjusts to the dim light.

She’s bound: arms and legs tied to a chair.

She appears to be in large grungy factory, recently

reclaimed by her captors. To her right, a beaten Dave lays

tangled in the net. Before her, the Girl in Purple sits,

rhythmically tapping a VERY LARGE SWORD on the ground.

From behind her somewhere growling in a decidedly Ukrainian

accent, a deep voice demands...

ORION (O.S.)

What were your orders?

ECHO

I don’t take orders. Let us go.

ORION (O.S.)

You have come to our safe place.

You invade our home. For this, we

will send you back to The Princess

in many bloody pieces.

The Ukrainian boy now paces around in front of Echo,

tightening the red bandages around his knuckles.

ORION

What were your orders? How many

more of you are there?

DAVE

They think we’re with the soldier

guy we ran over.

ORION

Rayne, silence the beast.

The Indigo Girl whips a riding crop across Dave’s bruised

flank. The horse lets out a GRUNT of protest, while Echo’s

cold eyes glare forward into Orion’s brain.

Orion leans in, gripping both sides of Echo’s chair.

ORION

You will give information to us, or

Masiumi fillets horse, Ponyal?

ECHO

I’m not with anyone else. Everyone

else is dead: they all drowned. Now

let us go!

14.

Orion looks back to Masiumi and nods. Slowly the girl rises

from her seat and drags the blade of her broad sword across

the concrete toward Dave.

ECHO

You wanna kill something, why not

try your luck with me?

BRAM (O.S.)

Enough!

Masiumi slumps her shoulders, turns towards the open barn

door of the warehouse.

Walking towards Echo and the others, a TALL BLACK MAN (BRAM,

39) waist length dread locks, and dark green Judo slacks

held up by a well deserved Black Belt.

BRAM

Look into her eyes Orion. She is

not of the Grays. I would wager by

her accent the girl is not even of

our country.

RAYNE

Sensed all that from outside could

you?

BRAM

Could you not sense her sorrow when

you threatened her horse?

(Beat)

While you were playing bad cop

worse cop, I was investigating a

distress signal: something about a

soldier that got himself hit by a

freight train.

Dave CHUCKLES lightly under his breath, then coughs in pain.

ORION

Look at her face Bram. No true

emotion registers. She is Gray.

BRAM

Or perhaps your rage blinds you

from seeing her obvious care

towards her animal?

DAVE (O.S)

Um, the animal has a name.

Bram lays a hand on Orion’s shoulder. The Man in Red

clenches his fists, but relents, stepping off to the side.

15.

BRAM

What is your name?

ECHO

Echo.

BRAM

How did you come across our

compound young Echo?

ECHO

Your unhinged little friends

dragged us here.

(Beat)

I didn’t mean to... we didn’t see

him till it was to late.

BRAM

The soldier you hit?

ORION

You waste your time Bram.

BRAM

Had you taken the time to

investigate, you would find her

story to be-

A sharp ZIP is heard through the air as Masiumi’s Shuriken

shatters the light above her head. All eyes towards her as

she speaks from the darkness...

MASIUMI

We must test her; make sure she’s

not a spy. Then we’ll know.

All that can be seen in the dark surrounding Masiumi is the

reflection of her blade, and a wide devious smile.

RAYNE

Or perhaps there is no way of

knowing? Perhaps there is no one

left in this world to trust.

Suddenly appearing behind Echo, Masiumi draws the flat end

of a smaller blade across the young girl’s cheek.

MASIUMI

Send her to the Dark One.

ORION

Nyet! We let her go back Dark One,

or Gray’s, we just add one more to

(MORE)

16.

ORION (cont’d)their numbers. We kill her and

beast now.

DAWN (O.S.)

What are we talking about?

Skipping into the warehouse, a girl with an impossibly

bright blond bob cut, and yellow Coveralls with black tank

top strolls into the room. This is DAWN (17).

BRAM

We were just having a vote on what

to do with our guests.

DAWN

Guests? Amazing! Okay, I vote that

we should eat first then play a

game. NO, we should play something

first, then eat, because if we do

it the other way we’d probably get

sick or-

ORION

Why are you not at your post?

DAWN

Um, you were supposed to relieve me

at 0200 and its thirty minutes

after so... Oh, a horse!

DAVE

A horse in a great deal of pain.

DAWN

Oh. My. Holy Vox. You guys got a

talking horse? A real talking

horse?

DAVE

Yes. Yes they did. Hey if you come

over here and untie me I’ll give

you a free ride.

DAWN

Sweet! Free rides!

Dawn has already sprinted across the room and is nearly at

the ropes when Rayne catches her by the shoulder. Dawn looks

at Rayne perplexed.

17.

RAYNE

They’re working with the Grays

Dawn. Even the horse.

DAWN

Oh. Well, are we going to shoot

them now, or did we still wanna do

the eat and play games thing?

ORION

We shoot them of course.

BRAM

We shall abstain from unnecessary

violence this evening thank you.

Drawing a Makarov Pistol and pulling back the hammer, Orion

bellows out...

ORION

I do not remember putting you in

charge comrade.

Bram steadily shifts his body between Orion and Echo.

BRAM

The last time you drew that gun on

me, you ended up with the barrel in

your mouth, comrade.

Orion keeps his Cold War stare fixed on Bram. Reluctantly,

he un-cocks the pistol, but refuses to holster the weapon.

BRAM

The girl will have two choices:

prove her innocence via dispatching

the Dark One, or Orion can shoot

her.

ORION

I shoot horse first, then girl.

BRAM

All in favour of giving into

Orion’s temper tantrum?

Orion immediately raises her hand, and with a look to

Masiumi, gains another vote.

ORION

All for sending her on suicide

mission?

Rayne and Bram both raise their hands.

18.

BRAM

Dawn, do you want to weight in on

this?

DAWN

What? Sorry I got distracted by the

horse. What are my options?

DAVE

Hey, Echo; I know that you’re not

in a great spot, not feeling or

caring about anything an’ all, but

do you think you could stretch that

imagination of yours and at least

pretend to care about ME not dying?

Echo looks over to a bruised Dave before Rayne flogs him

again with the riding crop.

ECHO

Alright! Alright, I’ll go.

DAWN

Great. Where are we going?

Orion aims, cocks his gun, and fires...

...Shooting the chain binding Echo to the chair.

INT. WHITE LAND - DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (LATER)

Within the same court room where the Princess’ torture last

took place, a long black table has now been put into place.

Sitting in the three out of four chairs around the table are

projections of three GRAY PHANTOMS OF MEN.

PHANTOM #1

Your progress is moving slothfully

Princess.

PHANTOM #2

This planet was supposed to be

mined out much sooner.

DARK PRINCESS (O.S.)

Everything is under control.

PHANTOM #3

Your father is beginning to wonder

if you require... assistance?

At the end of the table, the seething Princess slams her

fist down on the black oak.

19.

The phantoms turn their ghostly heads towards the end of the

table to the young Empress.

DARK PRINCESS

The populace is under control, and

soon the materials I need will be

harvested.

PHANTOM #2

The materials you need?

DARK PRINCESS

The materials that WE need will be

ours, and WE can then destroy this

world before moving on to the next.

The Phantoms exchange unsatisfied glances.

PHANTOM #1

Our patience grows thin.

Just as easily as changing a channel on a 1950’s television

set, the phantoms flicker and fade out of the room.

Furthermore, the table itself liquefies and sinks back into

the floor.

The Princess is left alone in her chair.

Shaken from her silence, a tone not unlike a cell phone

message alert CHIMES in the master chamber.

DARK PRINCESS

I wish not to be disturbed.

INTERCOM (O.S.)

It’s about the scouts you sent

through Death Wind Desert, Empress.

MOMENTS LATER - In the Master Court Chamber.

A YOUNG OFFICER kneels before the Dark Princess after

recounting his tale.

DARK PRINCESS

You didn’t see anyone afterward?

YOUNG OFFICER

The sand storm was too thick. We

got separated. I must have wandered

for hours before I found his body.

20.

DARK PRINCESS

And the others?

YOUNG OFFICER

Missing. Dead. I’m not sure.

DARK PRINCESS

So you just thought it best to come

back here, with nothing?

YOUNG OFFICER

I thought-

DARK PRINCESS

Thinking is apparently beyond your

ability. Nor was it in your best

judgment to return to me empty

handed.

YOUNG OFFICER

My apologizes your Empr-

Black chain lightning erupts from the young girl’s hand; the

soldier catching fire before slumping over.

Stepping over the chard remains of the officer-

DARK PRINCESS

Apologizes accepted, captain.

(Shouting to the entrance)

Guard!

Immediately, two officers in higher ranking uniforms enter

the chamber.

DARK PRINCESS

Send a regiment into Death Wind,

arm them with a Cavalry division

and sweep every particle of that

forsaken wasteland till you find

the rebels.

GUARD #1

Are we to convert them, Empress?

Before the guard even has time to react, a bolt of

electricity burrows through his face. He falls.

DARK PRINCESS

Kill them. Kill every last one of

them.

21.

GUARD #2

Your will be done Empress.

EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT (LATER)

West of the worn down warehouse, Orion leads Echo towards

seventy story tall vertical cliffs that line the back of

their compound a quarter mile away. Bram and Masiumi follow

close behind.

ORION

On plateau of cliff, there is man

called Dark One: evil sorcerer.

BRAM

A few days ago, we noticed a light

coming from the top of the cliff.

Rayne’s gift of discernment is

reliably accurate in detecting

malice, but we have yet to gather

enough intelligence to confirm if

he is in league with the Grays,

only his identity.

ECHO

So you’re not sending me to

arbitrarily murder random people

then?

ORION

You kill wizard. Prove you are not

with Gray Army. Then we let you and

horse free.

ECHO

What if it’s not him? What if its

just some guy?

ORION

Black and white choice, live or

die. Do not bring gray into your

mission little one.

BRAM

That cliff face on the right is

unstable, I suggest the left side,

and take your time.

ECHO

Once I climb the cliff, unarmed, am

I to just ask him to kindly die?

22.

Masiumi withdraws a short Tanto Blade and offers it hilt

first to Echo.

MASIUMI

To be used in both success, and in

failure.

With that less than helpful advice, and a less than

affectionate shove from Orion, Echo begins her journey up to

the cliff.

LATER - CLIFF FACE

Echo digs her fingers into the crevasses of the sheer cliff.

Above her, dark clouds begin to expand and obscure the sky.

Precipitation falls. Only another twenty feet to go.

Struggling to reach hand over hand, Echo continues her

ascent. Rock, mud, and rain continue to beat down upon her

as she climbs.

Her right hand digs into a crack, pulling herself up to the

next crag when...

The boulder comes loose, and a flood of mud comes pouring

out from the cliff.

Echo struggles to find a hold.

Her left hand loosing grip.

Desperately, Echo finds a hold to little to late. Her

footholds give way. Her left hand finally falters.

As she falls down the cliff, her hands stretched out to hold

onto whatever is available. Rock scrapes against her hands,

her face, her arms and legs as gravity pulls her downward.

A sharp jolt shoots through Echo’s body as her hand finally

catches onto a rock jetting out from the cliff face.

FLASH BACK:

INT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - DEAN’S OFFICE (EVENING)

Echo sits just outside the office, still in her Band

Uniform, face bruised and eye black. Through the door

cracked open, her MOTHER (MRS. MORNING, 36) can be heard

barking at the DEAN.

23.

MRS. MORNING (O.S.)

You should be ashamed of

yourself...

DEAN (O.S.)

Mrs. Morning, its our policy

against violence that makes us-

MRS. MORNING (O.S.)

That makes you look like an Ass. My

daughter does not, and will not

back down from bullies who prey on

YOUR students. My daughter will

fight, because she knows better

than to cower from the wicked.

RETURN TO PRESENT:

Panting, bloody, and now three steps back, Echo inhales and

digs her fingers into the cliff to start again.

MRS. MORNING (V.O.)

My daughter is no lamb.

LATER - CLIFF PLATEAU

Echo’s hand shoots out over the top of the muddy cliff,

digging into the earth to pull herself up.

Gasping for breath, the rain, blood and mud soaked girl

strains to get to her feet. Limping forward, Echo makes her

way to a larger version of the Ottoman Clock Tower in Cairo,

and the door is ajar.

INT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE (CONTINUOUS)

Clutching to the rail of the spiral staircase, a recording

of a cello quartet floats down through the building.

Suddenly, the music stops. Echo cautiously continues.

THE DARK ONE (O.S.)

I would have gladly pointed out the

staircase, if your struggle up the

cliff had not been so entertaining.

Nearing the top of the staircase, Echo peers into the main

chamber, and draws her blade.

The main room is candle lit, well furnished with Victorian

era furniture. Her eyes light up scanning shelves of vinyl

records that line the walls.

24.

Directly across from her, sitting behind a cherry oak desk,

a PLUMP MAN in a white linen suit delicately sips his tea.

THE DARK ONE

Do come in.

Carefully, Echo approaches the desk, pushing aside the

STANDING CEDAR MIRROR. She holds tight to her blade.

THE DARK ONE

Would you care for a cup of tea?

Echo shakes her head.

THE DARK ONE

I see. Well, I can tell you’re not

to chatty, and it appears you have

some questions for me. Is that

right?

ECHO

Are you the Dark One?

THE DARK ONE

Indeed I am. Named after my

incomprehensible sense of humor no

doubt. Suppose they’d then have to

call me The Dry One, or the

Vermouth One? You may call me

Norton if you wish.

ECHO

I’m holding the knife, I’ll call

you whatever I feel like.

The Dark One chuckles as he takes another sip of tea.

THE DARK ONE

But of course. Tell me, do you

notice any obvious dissimilarities

between us my dear?

ECHO

Look, if I kill you I get to save

my only friend, so let’s not draw

this out.

The Old Man sets down his tea cup, cracks his fingers.

THE DARK ONE

I’ll go ahead and answer for you: I

am quite old, and you are very

young. Do you know how I achieved

my old age?

25.

Echo stays silent, rolling her knife back and forth between

reverse grip edge out and edge in.

THE DARK ONE

In my years, I’ve grasped quite a

Thorough understanding on the fine

art of-

With a desperate BATTLE CRY, Echo leaps over the desk,

slashing widely towards The Old Man.

Her Blade stops, stuck against a GREEN TRANSLUCENT BUBBLE

that suddenly appeared around the old man.

THE DARK ONE

(Sighs)

-The fine art of survival.

The glowing force field drops to the floor like a water

balloon bursting in slow motion. Echo is in mild shock.

THE DARK ONE

Perhaps I should extend you the

courtesy of a brief lesson.

Raising his hand, palm face up, a bright RED BEAM shoots

forth, and knocks Echo off the table, into the mirror, and

onto her back.

THE DARK ONE

Now if you’re quite finished, you

may follow me if you wish to be

enlightened. And do leave your

knife.

The Dark One strolls over to another doorway besides his

desk, motioning for Echo to follow. Picking herself up from

the floor, the young girl exits the room, followed closely

by the old man.

EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT - WAREHOUSE (SAME)

The sound of rain bombarding the tin roof echos through out

the dilapidated building. Orion continues sparring against

an iron barrel set up as a punching bag, each strike more

furious than the last.

ORION

I grow hungry Bram.

Orion glances over to Dave briefly in between punches.

26.

At the other end of the warehouse, Bram slowly and

deliberately extends himself into Warrior Three Pose on his

ragged yoga mat.

BRAM

Patience.

Orion lands a final strike, punching a hole through the

barrel.

ORION

Patience growing thin.

Under the catwalk, where Dave is still tied down, Dawn

strokes his mane with an old brush.

DAVE

So, you look like you’re having

fun. You didn’t use to have a pet

rabbit did you?

DAWN

I say, you should always look for

the joy in life, no matter the

situation.

DAVE

You know I might be able to find

the joy better outside.

DAWN

Nice try.

(Beat)

Please, don’t think we’re like,

psychos or anything...

DAVE

I don’t know if my horse sized

imagination can think otherwise.

DAWN

Okay, well maybe Masiumi has a few

screws loose.

Up in the rafters still clutching her broad sword, Masiumi

stares forward unblinking, but lightly snoring.

DAVE

I mean its fine if that’s how you

people get your kicks, kidnapping

and torturing. All I’m saying is

where we come from its more or less

frowned upon.

27.

DAWN

This isn’t really a regular

activity for us. The reason we’re

all the way out here in the first

place is, where we come from...

ORION (O.S.)

Where we come from, we trust no

one.

(To Dawn)

Sleep. I will take next watch.

DAVE

Um, actually Blondy here is doing a

real good job playing prison

warden.

DAWN

Do you trust your friend?

DAVE

Yeah I trust my friend. I don’t

trust that guy.

Dawn stands, stretching, as she walks away she calls back...

DAWN

If you trust your friend, you must

have good reason to do so, which

means you shouldn’t have to worry.

ORION

Dawn always finds silver lining.

(Stroking gun barrel)

I burst balloon.

DAVE

I’m shaking in my horseshoes pal.

Dawn jogs up the rusted steps and over the metal catwalk to

her bunk. Falling backwards into old sheets and a wool

blanket, Dawn turns to Rayne lying in the bunk next to her.

DAWN

Those two are lucky.

RAYNE

Those two? The one we’ve captured

and the other one we sent to die?

DAWN

The horse; he trusts the girl.

28.

RAYNE

Trust? All that means is that poor

beast has sentenced his heart to be

broken.

DAWN

But what if she makes it?

RAYNE

Do you ever get tired of looking at

the glass half full?

DAWN

A true optimist doesn’t see a glass

half full: they’re simply happy to

see a glass of water.

FLASH BACK:

EXT. WHITE LAND (MORNING)

As the sun shines over the arctic tundra as seen before,

there is a distinct lack of dark towers.

Breaking the silence, several thousand SOLDIERS in 1940’s

Soviet Style Infantry Uniforms scramble over the side of a

snow covered hill.

On the opposite end of the embankment are several regiments

of soldiers wearing Violet Second World War era Japanese

uniforms. The rifle men on the front lines immediately drop

into position and open fire.

THE DARK ONE (V.O.)

Oh, I remember how things were just

a few short years ago; much the

same as it always has been.

In the heat of the battle, with many casualties already

strewn across red soaked snow planes, a YOUNG CAPTAIN in

Soviet garb looks up to the sky.

Terrified, the Young Captain rushes over and flags down his

Executive Officer (Orion, 24).

THE DARK ONE (V.O.)

In the midst of another civil war

over some benign policy or some

such trite, something finally

changed.

On both sides of the field, soldiers begin to scatter for

cover as massive shadows begin to block the sun above.

29.

THE DARK ONE (V.O.)

She arrived.

In the sky, Three Diamond Shaped AIR CRAFTS, twice the size

of an aircraft carrier, descend towards the battle field.

Hovering a few hundred meters or so above the earth, the

spacecrafts open fire on both sides.

RETURN TO PRESENT:

EXT./INT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE

Out on the balcony, The Dark One looks over the desert,

watching the storm clouds roll out towards the West.

THE DARK ONE

She coerced the two warring states

into peace at gunpoint, electing

herself to govern as Empress.

Leaning in the archway from the stairwell to the balcony,

Echo glares at her opponent.

ECHO

Even with all your power, you

thought it safer to run and hide?

THE DARK ONE

Survival is much simpler with fewer

variables.

ECHO

Simpler when an all powerful Space

Princess isn’t breathing down your

neck?

The Dark One chuckles and paces across the balcony. Below

him, there is a clear line of sight from the tower to The

Warehouse on the desert floor.

THE DARK ONE

All powerful, hardly. It’s quite

controlled power actually. Where

she and I differ is in the amount

of fuel we require. She, is much

more... greedy.

ECHO

Fuel?

30.

THE DARK ONE

We feed off human energy; auras.

Particularly, the exaggerated

emotional energies of those like

the hapless exiles bellow... and

yourself.

The Old Man turns to Echo with a hungry look in his eyes.

ECHO

So you happen to have so much

empathy, you use it to steal life

force, and project your own aura

into tangible constructs.

The Wizard smiles, impressed.

THE DARK ONE

Quite right. Although the tools in

this case are the ones that deserve

the real credit for the, eh hem,

’constructs.’

Tapping his BLACK ONYX BELT WITH A MASSIVE DIAMOND PRISM

buckle, Echo snickers.

THE DARK ONE

Do I amuse you dear?

ECHO

Not so much you as your whole life

philosophy.

THE DARK ONE

I’m afraid I don’t follow.

ECHO

Didn’t think you would, but in

layman’s terms; you’re a coward.

THE DARK ONE

Mind your tongue young one, I’m

only entertaining you because of

the power you too posses. Power

that could-

ECHO

Yeah, whatever. Even if I had your

amazing power of running and

hiding, I’d rather be powerless

than a coward old hermit.

The Dark One stalks across the balcony towards Echo.

31.

THE DARK ONE

You test my patience girl.

ECHO

Oh no, what are you gonna do,

disappear?

Now only a few feet away from Echo, the old Wizard with the

furrowed brow clenches his fist, glowing red hot.

THE DARK ONE

Knowing when to retreat is always a

much wiser decision than running

head first into trouble.

ECHO

There’s always holding your ground.

That said, Echo scrapes up a hand full of dirt from the

floor and throws it in the old man’s face.

Immediately, the wizard releases a BURST of concussive force

from his hands, but misses his mark. The blast however is

still enough to knock Echo back down a flight stairs.

Wiping the dirt from his eyes, The Dark One’s vision

refocuses too little too late as Echo dives out of the way

of another energy BLAST.

INT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE (CONTINUOUS)

Echo scrambles to get back up, bounding down the stairs to

the main chamber.

STAIRCASE - The Dark One continues to cautiously make his

way down the steps. His hands glowing red, ready to strike.

THE DARK ONE

Looks to me like you’re hiding now,

little girl.

ECHO (O.S.)

I’m not hiding, I’m waiting.

The Dark One blasts another hole in the side of the wall.

THE DARK ONE

You do hide. You hide your

pain. Such fear, anger, sorrow...

The Wizard raises his hands, FIRES. Debris from the wall fly

down the staircase.

32.

THE DARK ONE

All of those emotions buried in a

shallow grave under your skin,

clawing to get out.

Echo pokes her head out from the door frame. The wizard

BLASTS again, sending the girl back into the room.

THE DARK ONE

Such an unbalanced child.

Still lying on her back, Echo watches the Dark One stalk up

to her. Suddenly, the wizard’s hands change from a RED to

VIOLET glow.

THE DARK ONE

Where does one put all that pain?

Echo feels a sudden panic wash over her, along with a WAVE

OF VIOLET LIGHT.

THE DARK ONE

Where could it possibly hide in

such a small, frail shell?

As the Old Man fades into the background, waves of Violet

Light toss and turn. Echo flails on the floor, trying to

swim from the illusion of DROWNED BODIES of VIOLET MEN AND

WOMEN floating about the room.

THE DARK ONE

I could feast off your guilt for

ages. However, so rarely do I get

to feed on my immediate desires.

As quickly as it came, Violet Light quickly flushes out from

the room.

Drawing a satisfied breath, the Dark One fires another RED

BLAST, Echo rolls over grabbing a shard of mirror as a

shield. The Old Man has no time to react as the blast

RETURNS TO HIM, knocking him out cold into the wall.

Seething, and sweating bullets, the girl desperately

searches for the knife that had been knocked from her hand.

Returning to the Old Man, Echo knells down on his chest,

grabbing his scalp with one hand, Masiumi’s blade in the

other.

Before she makes the first incision, Echo looks down at the

Dark One’s belt, the Diamond Prism radiating light.

33.

INT. DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (MORNING)

Alone in the center of the court, the Princess’ sits at a

large desk. Several thin, transparent screens are suspended

in mid air before her.

With a pair of glasses on her face, the Princess types up

reports on her TABLET corresponding to the various screens;

TROOP MOVEMENT, CURRENT PRODUCTION OVERVIEW, POPULATION

THETA SUPRESSION.

DARK PRINCESS

There must be a human smart enough

to endure this level of monotony.

The Intercom CHIMES within the Princess’ chamber.

DARK PRINCESS

What?

INTERCOM (O.S.)

General Designation 1-97A, with the

report on the Death Wind campaign.

Turning back to the monitors, The Princess sighs...

DARK PRINCESS

I’m aware of the troop movement.

You may dismiss the general.

INTERCOM (O.S.)

(Beat)

The General insists...

With a wave of her hand, the monitors and desk reform to

their black liquid state and sink into the floor. With

another wave of her hand, The Empress uses her chain

lightning to BLOW OPEN the main doors.

EXT. DARK PRINCESS’ COURT - BALCONY (SAME)

On the other side of the door, The General is blown back

into the balcony railing.

Before he can get to his feet, the Empress puts her foot

down across the general’s neck.

DARK PRINCESS

You ’insist’ do you?

34.

GENERAL

(Choking)

On your orders...intelligence from

advanced scouts...

DARK PRINCESS

I seriously question your

intelligence General... what have

the Scouts found?

GENERAL

(Still Choking out)

Warehouse... Death Wind Val...

possible rebels...

The Dark Princess slowly removes her foot, kneeling down

beside the general. She gently pushes her hand over the

man’s head like pacifying a child.

DARK PRINCESS

Is there a particular reason you

did not broadcast this information

over the Communications Device I

gifted you with?

GENERAL

I didn’t want to risk the

information being intercepted-

DARK PRINCESS

No. No, what you really wanted was

the credit for discovering...

GENERAL

No your Emp-

A light coil of electricity shoots across the Princess hand

holding the General’s head. He flinches.

DARK PRINCESS

Don’t interrupt. Did your primitive

mind assume any technology your

species possesses could possibly

hack- I’m sorry do I bore you,

general?

GENERAL

NO Empress.

The girl stands up and heads back into her court, calling

over her shoulder...

35.

DARK PRINCESS

Send in your troops. Destroy

whoever was foolish enough to try

and hide from me.

GENERAL (O.S.)

Yes Empress.

DARK PRINCESS

(To Intercom control)

Com Sat, acknowledge.

INTERCOM (FILTERED)

Receiving.

DARK PRINCESS

Ready my craft, and a squadron of

cavalry; I need to motivate the

masses.

INTERCOM (FILTERED)

Acknowledged: prepping Arbiter for

flight.

INT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)

Still sore, and tied to the ground, Dave slowly wakes up as

daylight pours in under the front doors.

ORION

You’re compatriot has left you to

die, horse. But, you need not feel

sorrow for long.

DAVE

Eat me Ivan.

ORION

(Considers, nods)

I plan to...

Under the lone potted palm tree, stretching out on his Yoga

mat, Bram releases a deep breath out as he switches

positions.

Beside Bram, on a small metal table, a CHIME begins to ring

from a TABLET COMPUTER, not unlike the one the Princess used

previously.

Ending his routine with a bow, Bram picks up the machine and

listens to the ALIEN CHATTER emitting from the speaker. He

continues to walk with the tablet over to a wall, COVERED IN

MARKINGS.

36.

With an ear pressed to the Tablet, Bram begins to scan the

markings on the wall.

ORION (O.S.)

Playing with your toy again?

Across from Bram’s wall of code, Orion continues to lift

weights on his makeshift bench press.

ORION

You do not need radio to know all

is not well-

BRAM

Silence. In this age, information

is the greatest tactical weapon

we... By the Vox. Masiumi!

Dropping down from the catwalk directly above Bram, Masiumi

lands on the floor without a sound.

MASIUMI

You bellowed?

BRAM

Get Rayne off the tower. We must

prepare for attack.

MASIUMI

They’re finally coming for us.

BRAM

Go now.

Masiumi bows, and sprints off past Orion.

ORION

I have waited long enough for death

to claim me. Let them come.

In the far corner of the room, Dawn removes her welding

mask, and cuts off her torch.

DAWN

Does this mean we finally get to

use some of this stuff?

Dawn pats the side of a large create labeled "explosives."

37.

EXT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)

Masiumi continues to sprint towards the rusted OIL RIG a few

yards in front of the warehouse. Attached to the top of the

rig is a make shift CROWS NEST, which Rayne lies in, RIFLE

in hand.

MASIUMI

(Sharp Whistle)

Time to go.

RAYNE

Hold on. Something’s coming.

Cocking her rifle, Rayne adjusts the sights on her scope.

P.O.V. SCOPE - About two miles away, Rayne lines up Echo in

her cross hairs. The Dark One’s belt glistening around

Echo’s waist as she limps along.

RAYNE

It’s the girl.

Masiumi crinkles her face, but insists...

MASIUMI

Something worse is coming. No time

to think about pulling the trigger;

do or don’t.

Rayne has her finger on the trigger, eye locked on target.

At the last moment however, Rayne releases her focus,

jumping to her feet and holstering her rifle.

Helping her dismount the ladder, Masiumi leads Rayne back

inside the warehouse.

EXT. MUTE CITY BORDER (AFTERNOON)

As the sun hangs over the western horizon, the lights to the

sprawling metropolis come to life. The city, about the same

size and design of 1930’s Pittsburgh, shows the signs of a

slow recovery from an aerial bombardment.

Approaching the city limits, a SQUADRON of the Empress’

Soldiers ride across the border mounted on JET BLACK

MECHANICAL HORSES.

The riders continue down the abandoned highway into the

city, escorted by an AIRCRAFT slowly floating a hundred

yards above them.

38.

The Craft itself looks similar to rose petals made of black

glass surrounding a glowing blue pearl. Within the

translucent pearl, The Dark Princess stands at the control

panel, piloting the craft towards the city.

FADE INTO:

EXT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)

Echo, in all her bloodied and muddy glory, arrives at the

front door. Immediately after knocking on the iron slab, a

SHOOT GUN BLAST blows open a hole next to Echo.

ECHO

I’m not leaving until I get my

horse back!

After a few moments, the door opens revealing Dawn with a

shot gun slung around her shoulder.

DAWN

Sorry, sorry about that. I thought

you were somebody else.

ECHO

Who else could it possibly be?

INT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)

Following Dawn into the Warehouse, Echo tosses a SACK into

the center of the room. It lands with a SQUISH at Bram’s

feet, along with the knife pinning down the sack.

ECHO

Untie my friend.

Dave looks up from the floor.

DAVE

Hell yeah, that’s my human! In your

psychopathic little faces!

Orion looks up from assembling his Rifle, and stalks over to

Echo like a rhino ready to charge. Drawing his pistol, the

raging Ukrainian barks...

ORION

You’ve lead them right to us!

Echo stares down the gun barrel pointed at her head.

39.

ECHO

Learn a new tune Mishka.

Bram peers inside the sack enough to see a very surprised

look on the face of the DARK ONE’S SEVERED HEAD.

BRAM

I am impressed with your ability to

survive, Young Echo.

ECHO

I out smarted a senile old man with

a magic belt, it wasn’t brain

surgery. Now untie my friend.

ORION

You are as blind as you are

slothful Bram, and now the enemy is

among us.

The busyness of the warehouse continues; Rayne packing

provisions, Dawn loading, and packing munitions.

Masiumi calls down to Orion, wiring the roof with explosive

charges.

MASIUMI

I thought you were looking forward

to death. Now you fear the end?

ORION

(To Masiumi, affectionately)

The end, chiviha, is not what I

fear most.

(To the Crowd)

If we let this one live however-

Bram, in a swift movement slides over to Orion, disarms him,

and grapples the Ukrainian into a sleeper hold. Orion

struggles, but ultimately slumps over quietly.

Dusting himself off, Bram stands tall taking in a deep,

relaxed breath.

BRAM

The Dark Princess has found our

location. We have hours at best.

What was the Dark One plotting? Was

he in league with the Empress?

ECHO

The Dark One was working for

himself, feeding off your auras to

survive.

40.

Bram and the others stare bewildered.

ECHO

(Like duh)

The energy field you radiate when

you express particular emotions?

Echo’S P.O.V. - Like rising steam, the five exiles standing

before the girl each radiate the particular color that

individual represents, along with a fiery halo above their

heads: even the unconscious Orion.

ECHO

(Shrugs it off)

Look, I kept up my end of the

bargain. I won’t ask again: Untie.

My friend.

Masiumi drops down from the rafters, blade in hand.

The horse shuts his eyes as the Violet Assassin lifts her

Sword, but is relieved when only the ropes tear loose.

BRAM

Is that all then?

Dave limps up to Echo. The young girl leads her horse back

towards the door.

BRAM (O.S.)

There is an army headed this way.

Where do you plan on running to?

ECHO

(Beat)

I don’t run.

EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)

The POPULATION of the city has been gathered by force,

crammed into the city square by the Black Diamond SOLDIERS.

The soldiers hold their posts at the barricades, corralling

the civilians in.

Sheepish murmuring rises as the Princess’ aircraft

approaches.

The flying Black Flower halts over the top of the abandoned

City Court House. With an electric WHIRLING, the glass like

pedals of the craft BLOOM, floating, circling around the

Princess standing on the control platform.

41.

INT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)

Orion comes to, watching Echo load a revolver. The others

are loading their final munitions.

ECHO

There’s always something coming for

us out there.

EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)

The Princess’ voice carries over the captive crowd.

DARK PRINCESS

There is no one coming for you-- No

one is coming to your rescue.

INT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)

Rayne is wiring a landmine beside Dawn, who is herself busy

winding up a spool of Bridge Wire.

ECHO (O.S.)

When you’re alone, you don’t have

the same freedoms you use to.

EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)

The hollow eyed masses continue to stare up towards the

black flower hanging above them.

DARK PRINCESS (O.S.)

You are alone, and you have the

freedom to choose between two

simple options; survive, or perish.

EXT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)

Rayne, with rifle slung around her back, climbs the oil rig

while Bram, Orion, and Dawn haul their crates of ammo

outside to the front lines.

ECHO (O.S.)

Survival is the only option for me

right now. If you want to survive,

you fight, and you never stop

fighting.

Masiumi, with satchel across her shoulder, rides past the

four at blinding speed atop Dave.

42.

EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)

Five MEN IN WHITE PRISON JUMPSUITS are escorted at gunpoint

by SOLDIERS to the central stage directly bellow the

Empress’ craft.

DARK PRINCESS

I am here to aid in your survival.

Unfortunately, there are those of

you that don’t accept what I’ve

given you. So let me be clear...

With a simple slide of her finger across her Control Panel

we see...

EXT. WHITE LAND (SAME)

The THREE DARK RADIO TOWERS as seen before cease emitting

energy, their low steady HUM dying down to silence.

DARK PRINCESS (V.O.)

I want you to feel this.

EXT. MUTE CITY - CITY HALL PLAZA (SAME)

The crowd begins to stir, they feel the drain. Life slowly

returns to their formally glazed over eyes.

DARK PRINCESS

This is what comes with the freedom

you think you need.

As the Princess looks down over the masses, rifle SHOTS RING

out through the city under siege.

The crowd goes into hysterics, weeping, screaming.

Women mourning over the recently slain.

Men cursing, confronting the Soldiers.

Full scale rioting is about to erupt when...

DARK PRINCESS

...but you’ve forgotten the

horrors, the pain that came with

your version of freedom.

The Dark Princess slides her finger across the control once

more.

43.

The masses quickly freeze in place, like a wave of amnesia

suddenly falling over them. Their eyes glaze over once more.

All turn back towards the Princess with vacant looks of

complacency.

DARK PRINCESS

Let’s not forget, I have given you

true freedom. No more pain. No more

war. No more questions.

EXT. DEATH WIND CANYON (NIGHT)

Troops march forward, massed in three sections; two brigades

of infantry, one of mechanized horses. They are uniformed,

precise in their movements. Their eyes are also devoid of

any emotion, or so it seems...

Although the soldiers are all human, they appear to be

infected with the same black veins as Agent Orange when

tortured earlier.

One YOUNG INFANTRYMAN in particular, scans the cliff wall as

he marches in his division.

HIGH CLIFF WALL - Masiumi’s hands carefully push in a large

metal disc into a crevasse, unraveling wires from either

side.

DESERT FLOOR - the Infantryman calls out to his superior.

YOUNG INFANTRYMAN

Captain, cliff wall, three O’clock.

The Captain, riding atop a Metal Steed blows his whistle;

long drag, short burst. All ranks halt.

BRAM (V.O.)

After the Dark Princess arrived,

Masiumi quickly developed a

reputation as the Bane of Port

Town.

Riding around to the right flank, the captain removes a

brass telescope from his belt.

HIGH CLIFF PLATEAU - Masiumi rolls up from the side of the

cliff onto the plateau, holding her breath.

BRAM (V.O.)

For two months straight, she had

killed, maimed, and harassed the

Empress’ occupying forces...

44.

CAPTAIN (O.S.)

All clear. Move Out!

The marching of the troops continue forward.

LOWER CLIFF TRAIL - Riding atop Dave flying at full gallop,

Masiumi comes barreling down the bend onto the Desert Floor.

BRAM (V.O.)

On the third month, The Princess

had the whole city leveled, just to

smoke Masiumi out.

With the troops a quarter mile behind her, Masiumi, glances

over her shoulder, and pushes the button on her DETONATOR.

Small plums of smoke jet out from the cliffs, before the

ENTIRE CLIFF FACE falls. A greater cloud of smoke and the

screams of panicked soldiers fill the canyon.

EXT. WAREHOUSE (SAME)

Two hundred yards past the Oil Rig, Dawn and Orion are busy

laying a line of explosive mines towards the canyon. A few

yards to the left of them, Echo and Bram do the same.

ECHO

She was a soldier?

ORION

(Laughing)

She was a wraith!

BRAM

Echo, you said you could see our

energy fields?

ECHO

Yeah, then you looked at me like I

was crazy.

BRAM

Rayne can sense particular

emotions; what we call an Empath.

That you can see, what she only

feels... you posses a power of

great value.

ECHO

According to the Old Man, it’s all

in the belt.

45.

BRAM

Is that what you believe?

DAWN (O.S.)

That’s the last of them.

ORION (O.S.)

Set up mortar cannons on eastern

flank. Each canon twenty meters

apart.

LATER - Riding like the wind, Masiumi approaches the

Warehouse atop Dave.

Masiumi pulls up alongside the Oil Rig and lets out a sharp

WHISTLE. Dawn and Rayne poke their heads out over the

railing.

DAWN

They’re in the trench, South East

pocket.

MASIUMI

Troops are less than a kilometer

behind me.

RAYNE

I see them...

(Cocking rifle)

...and the fate that awaits them.

Masiumi gently tugs on Dave’s mane as they turn and gallop

towards the trenches.

MOMENTS LATER - Warehouse "Front Yard"

The Desert trembles at the feet of the Five Hundred or so

remaining soldiers and cavalry. About two hundred yards

north of the Warehouse, the Captain blows a sharp WHISTLE.

The soldiers halt.

Only a hundred yards East of the massed army, Orion,

Masiumi, Bram, Echo and Dave lie in a hastily dug trench.

The humans clutch their rifles, waiting.

DAVE

I’m starting to think the running

away plan was a better idea.

ORION

You cannot out run death. The bold

however, choose when they meet her.

46.

DAVE

Great pep talk Coach.

Echo is trying to control her breathing while she aims her

pistol. Next to her, a very calm Masiumi sharpens her sword.

MASIUMI

You can see their energy?

Looking over the troops reforming their ranks, Echo sees...

ECHO P.O.V. - All the troops in Echo’s eyes have a light

Violet mist rising from them like heat waves.

ECHO

They’re afraid.

MASIUMI

When you are one against many, the

trick is to feed their fear.

You become what they imagine is

hiding in the dark.

Echo continues to stare intently at the troops.

The Diamond Prism on her belt begins to glow purple, glowing

brighter, and brighter...

MASIUMI (O.S.)

Feed the fire of their fears, until

they burn themselves out.

With her eyes still locked on the troops now marching

towards the Warehouse, a pair of MASSIVE, VIOLET TRANSLUCENT

HANDS burst out of the ground fifty yards in front of the

trench.

The Soldiers turn, rifles trained on the beastly arms

clawing their way towards them.

OIL RIG - Dawn and Rayne watch from the crows nest as the

See-Through-Purple-Creature emerges from the sand.

Terrified soldiers tremble as the four story tall Beast

unhinges its gargantuan jaw and stalks toward them. Snakes,

and spiders made of light crawl from its mouth...

CAPTAIN (O.S.)

Fire! Fire at will!

The deafening ROAR OF GUNFIRE fills the desert as Soldiers

desperately try and slay the Towering Creature before them.

47.

Several soldiers desperately try and brush the snakes and

spiders off themeselves, shooting themselves in he process

as the imaginary creatures burrow into their skin.

CAPTAIN (O.S.)

Hold your ground!

Despite the Captain’s desperate pleas, many of the young

troops begin to break rank, fleeing into the desert.

Echo continues to watch the soldiers, mesmerized, but begins

to show signs of strain.

ECHO’S P.O.V. - What was once a light mist rising from the

soldiers, now looks like a forest fire among the troops

before the Violet Beast.

Bram and the others look from creature back to Echo, a mix

of awe and horror as the girl is VISIBLY GLOWING. Suddenly,

Bram looks over to see Echo, shaking and sweating bullets.

BRAM

Hold your focus, hold your calm

Echo.

Between the GUNFIRE...

The SCREAMS of soldiers...

The sound of a ROARING FIRE of Fear, causes Echo to break

her concentration, gasping for breath as if she had been

held underwater for hours.

As Echo comes out of her daze, the Violet Monster

disappears. The soldiers cease fire.

From the Oil Rig, Dawn puts on her hard hat and pulls out

her detonator.

With a bright BURST OF LIGHT, the mines underneath the

soldiers EXPLODE. Mass confusion. Lines break completely.

From the trench, Orion calls out...

ORION

Open fire!

The Group in the trenches starts picking off troops. Echo is

still shivering.

DAVE

Echo! Snap out of it!

48.

ECHO

I’m... I’m fine. Fine.

Everything’s... I’m fine.

BRAM

Breath slowly, stay calm.

DAVE

Calm? She’s having a seizure man!

Echo tries to shake off her fatigue.

THE DARK ONE (V.O.)

Such an unbalanced child.

Lifting her revolver she pulls off a few blind rounds into

the panicked crowd; she’s clearly a novice with guns.

Dawn opens up a switch panel while Rayne continues to pick

off troops with her rifle. Flipping the switches

in succession...

...The mortars on the West flank of the troops fire off.

Decimated, disoriented, and disorganized,

the remaining soldiers call for a desperate retreat.

Orion and the others continue firing as the soldier’s flee,

but something snaps in Echo.

THE DARK ONE (V.O.)

You can’t control it can you?

Trying to hide your fear with

anger.

Rage builds in the girl as she watches the soldiers retreat.

Picking her self up off the sand, Echo mounts Dave, steering

her horse in pursuit of the soldiers.

DAVE

Hey, I don’t think we’re with these

guys. Maybe we should turn-

Ignoring the horse, Echo takes aim at one of the fleeing

soldiers, fires. The soldier goes down as Echo lines up

another shot.

THE DARK ONE (V.O.)

Trying to drown your failure with

rage? Pathetic.

49.

DAVE

They’re retreating Echo!

The young girl continues gunning down soldiers witnessed by

an increasingly disturbed Dave.

Finally, rearing up on his hind legs, the horse throws Echo

from his back and turns to face her.

DAVE

What the hell is the matter with

you?

Hyperventilating, the young girl lets loose a stream of

tears. Through her red eyes, swelling with rage, Echo throws

her gun aside, her hands glowing red hot.

With a primal SCREAM, Red Light blasts from her hands and

into the sky.

Dave WHINNIES, backing up as the red light shoots past him.

Still sobbing and screaming into her hands, Echo collapses

onto the ground. Dave lays down beside the broken girl,

resting his head on her shoulder.

INT. WHITE LAND - DARK TOWER - HANGER BAY (LATER)

Inside an open hanger a bowing jumbo jet could comfortably

fit in, the Dark Princess maneuvers her Black Flying Rose to

the center of the room.

Like its stationary position before the crowd, the pedals

bloom outward. The smaller black panels drift down from the

craft to create a spiral staircase.

As the Princess descends, a gray puddle from the other side

of the hanger swiftly moves towards the craft.

Before the Princess can exit the hanger, the puddle rises,

forming an imposing outline of something that almost

resembles a HUMAN FIGURE (ZERO ONE). The "liquid projection"

more accurately looks like an average man inside the shell

of a man twice as large.

The Dark Princess’ face turns white: quietly dropping to one

knee, bowing her head. The Dark Figure looms over her, a

heavy shadow for the Princess to bare.

ZERO ONE

Your failure has become quite

disconcerting to me, my disciple.

50.

DARK PRINCESS

Father...

ZERO ONE

You have not warranted a name

yourself, nor have you earned the

right to call me by that title. Why

have you not contained the natives?

DARK PRINCESS

(Shaking)

The masses are primarily under

control, our resources are nearly-

ZERO ONE

Your mission was to learn how to

rule: resource consumption is

secondary. Why do these creatures

still resist your reign?

DARK PRINCESS

Perhaps if I had more of our

technology... the planet is to

primitive to-

ZERO ONE

You believe you are entitled to our

technology because you find your

task too difficult?

DARK PRINCESS

No Fa... no, my lord.

ZERO ONE

You must learn the value of

control. Not partial: complete.

This species’ spirit should be

an extension of your own will.

DARK PRINCESS

But we’ve nearly mined everything

we need from-

ZERO ONE

I’ve already taken everything I

require from this planet. In the

moments I’ve allowed you to live,

you will manifest the understanding

required to rule, or remain here to

experience oblivion.

The Shadow before the Princess evaporates in a cloud of

steam. Desperately gathering her royal demeanor, the Dark

Princess quickly storms off back to her court.

51.

ZERO ONE (O.S.)

Get your subjects under control.

INT. WAREHOUSE (MORNING)

Echo slowly opens her eyes. Streams of sunlight shine over

her. Checking her surroundings, she realizes she had fallen

asleep on Dave’s flank; the horse still snores lightly.

Dawn sits opposite Echo: her legs crossed and wearing a warm

smile spread wide.

ECHO

(Shielding her eyes)

I can’t, I can’t really handle your

perkiness right now...

ECHO’S P.O.V. - Dawn’s aura is a dazzling gold.

DAWN

Oh.

(Beat)

Well, we survived.

ECHO

That’s great. Fine. Tired now...

Echo turns over, pulling the wool blanket over her.

DAWN

I thought maybe you’d need to talk

about what happened.

With a heavy sigh, the young girl gets up from her horse and

heads for the door.

EXT. WAREHOUSE (CONTINUOUS)

The Desert sun hits Echo like a punch in the face. She shuts

her eyes, keeps walking, deep breaths, small steps.

RAYNE (O.S.)

You don’t want to talk...

Behind Echo, the young woman in the Indigo Shall

stands purposefully distant.

RAYNE

You want the world to end.

Echo stops, takes this in.

52.

ECHO

(Holding back tears)

I don’t... I don’t know what I’m

supposed to do right now.

RAYNE

Grieve.

ECHO

Grieve? No. There’s too much...

RAYNE

Mourning is the necessary step to

empty our souls of the burden we

feel.

Turning, marching up to and getting in Rayne’s face...

ECHO

Except I feel everything--everyone!

Every single soul that drowned,

that died that night, and last

night... I’m burnt out. It’s like

trying to count to the end of Pi,

it just keeps going.

RAYNE

Then stop counting.

Echo feels the rage building.

Her Diamond shinning.

Her hands glowing.

Rayne steps forward cautiously, gently placing one hand on

Echo’s waist, the other on her cheek.

RAYNE

You must let go.

(Beat)

Violence consumed me when the

Empress’ forces arrested my wife,

when they beat me, when they took

my child from me...

ECHO

Violence is all that’s left.

RAYNE

No. No, through our grieving, we

are able to bring healing into the

vacancy created by those who leave

(MORE)

53.

RAYNE (cont’d)us. If we let our rage burn in the

holes in our souls, the memory of

those lost to us will burn as well.

Echo will not cry. She will fight that impulse with

every muscle left in her body.

ECHO

(Choking up)

I don’t think I can let it all...

What’s left if I let go?

RAYNE

Room to grow.

Echo relents, falling into Rayne’s embrace.

Her Diamond Belt Buckle begins to shine, but a BLUE AURA now

radiates from the girl. The cuts, scrapes, and bruises on

her war torn body slowly begin to HEAL.

As the two girls release from their embrace, Rayne makes her

way back towards the Warehouse.

ECHO

So, does this mean you and your

friends aren’t going to kill me?

RAYNE

It means I am going to choose to

trust you.

Echo watches Rayne tighten her shall as the wind picks up.

BRAM (V.O.)

They’re known as the Binary.

TRAINING MONTAGE -

INT. WAREHOUSE (LATER)

Echo is moving through Tai Chi Forms next to Bram.

BRAM

They’ve conquered worlds based on

the cold, calculating mentality

that all is black and white, total

control or chaos.

54.

ECHO

What does that mean for us?

BRAM

For us, it means we of many

emotional shades were forced into

exile. Now we have an edge...

OUTSIDE - Echo, barefoot, spars with Orion. He keeps her on

her toes, circling, bobbing weaving, striking when she

shifts her guard.

BRAM (V.O.)

We have your light. But your light

is unfocused; it can be defused.

Orion takes another cheap shot. Echo’s belt shines as

she releases a MASSIVE ENERGY BEAM nowhere near Orion.

ECHO (V.O.)

It’s not my light.

The Ukrainian arrogantly jabs her in the side.

BRAM (V.O.)

That didn’t keep you from stealing

it. You have to own it now.

OUTSIDE - Next to a pile of scraps, Dawn is welding

together the salvaged pieces of the Mechanized Horses.

BRAM (V.O.)

Just as identifying your fear,

decreases its power over you...

INSIDE - Masiumi stands over Echo, who sits cross legged on

the ground, eyes closed, and breathing deep.

Echo’s belt begins to shine; violet waves of light rise,

cresting up from the floor. Mrs. Morning materializes out of

the waves reaching out for Echo.

Masiumi takes a step back.

OUTSIDE - From the Crow’s Nest, Rayne watches Echo continue

to spar with Orion. Echo’s aim improving.

BRAM (V.O.)

Just as recognizing your pain,

lessens its hold on you...

INSIDE - Still working through the motions of Bram’s Tai Chi

Routine when suddenly...

55.

...A large oil drum comes swinging down from the rafters,

knocking Echo over.

BRAM (V.O.)

Through focus, your light hardens,

strengthens...

WITH MASIUMI - Echo’s eyes shoot open, glowing violet.

Try...

WITH MASIUMI - The Violet Assassin watches the waves fall,

replaced by a projection of Orion rising up from the floor

walking towards her.

After try...

WITH MASIUMI - Reaching out to Orion, just as a volley of

bullets gun him down. Masiumi SCREAMS. Darkness falls.

...After try, Echo finally conjures up an EMERALD WALL

blocking the oil drum with a resounding CLANG. As she

exhales, sliding into the next position, the wall

disappears.

BRAM

You will draw upon greater

power when you are bathed in

tranquility; when you actively seek

peace.

Echo SCOFFS and breaks her pose, walking off towards the

barn doors. Bram stands silent.

ECHO

If you knew what I’ve been through,

you’d know that peace and

tranquility want nothing to do with

me.

END MONTAGE

INT. WHITE LAND - DARK PRINCESS’ COURT (LATER)

Three Terrified SOLDIERS tremble, kneeling before a furious

Empress, pacing before them.

DARK PRINCESS

Four story tall, purple, creature?

Why exactly was that a problem for

a thousand armed soldiers to-

56.

CAPTAIN (O.S.)

Five hundred Empress.

The Dark Princess snaps back toward the humbled Captain,

kneeling down inches away from his face.

DARK PRINCESS

Are you implying that I’ve lost the

ability to count you

unbelievable failure of evolution?

CAPTAIN

The canyon was rigged

with explosives... by the time we

reached our target, there were only

a few hund-

Millions of Joules worth of electricity hit the soldier with

such force, he’s lifted into the air, pinning him to

the ceiling.

The Princess turns to the remaining officers, shouting over

the CRACKLE of lighting shooting from her hands, and the

SCREAMS of the Captain above them.

DARK PRINCESS

(Calm)

At 1400 standard hours, our

remaining army will march back to

Death Wind, and I will personally

assist any and all who humans who

refuse to fight. Do I make myself

perfectly clear?

OFFICERS (BOTH)

Yes Empress.

A loud POP is heard above. The Captains dare not look up as

a few chard REMAINS and ASH float down upon them. The

Empress finally relents her electric power.

DARK PRINCESS

Dismissed.

The Officers bolt from the court room, and out the main

archway. In the Court, the INTERCOM CHIMES.

DARK PRINCESS

What now calls?

INTERCOM (O.S.)

Foreman 4827 of the Mute City

mining facility Empress.

57.

DARK PRINCESS

(Considers)

On screen.

A black PUDDLE pools up from the floor, rises to eye level,

and spreads out to form a flat view screen.

On Screen, the FOREMAN in suit and tie, eyes glazed over,

clears his throat.

FOREMAN

Empress.

DARK PRINCESS

You had better report progress.

FOREMAN

General productivity is up twenty

percent, output of carbon and gold

increased by seven percent. The

vein we’re working on is about four

hours from completion, the other

three by the end of the day.

DARK PRINCESS

At the very least, your species is

adequate at digging holes in the

earth. Continue your work.

FOREMAN

By your will Empress.

The screen falls back to the floor and evaporates.

CUT TO:

INT. WAREHOUSE (AFTERNOON)

Dave stands next to Masiumi watching Orion and Echo spar

against one another. The hard packing sounds of fist against

flesh explode throughout the tin room.

DAVE

I got ten dollars on the Blond.

MASIUMI

Ten against...

(Catches herself)

Where does a horse keep-

58.

DAVE

Pockets.

MASIUMI

Pockets? What pockets?

Orion keeps just out of reach from a sweating, panting Echo.

Every swing she makes barely grazes the ’Ukrainian.’

ORION

Your rage amuses me little one.

ECHO

Happy to entertain you.

Echo dodges a hay maker from Orion, strafing around him. She

lands three hits to the ribs, but Orion shrugs them off,

pushing Echo back to her corner.

ORION

Your anger, it is blind rage,

useless.

ECHO

I can see just fine.

Echo weaves under another of Orion’s punches. Her belt glows

green, as emerald steps appear circling around her opponent.

Echo climbs the stairs, jumping to cross kick Orion in the

face. Orion counters, grappling the girl’s leg, grounding

her.

ORION

You see nothing. Never forget

little one, I am rage: I am made of

rage.

Masiumi looks over to Dave.

DAVE

I’ll write you a check.

Before Masiumi can give a retort, Bram walks over to the

group, grim face and Tablet in hand.

LATER - The group has gathered around a metal table with a

crude map of Prism Sketched out in chalk.

BRAM

We were lucky last time, but we

don’t have enough ammunition to

take on the Empress’ entire army.

59.

DAVE

Seems a bit extreme to send the

whole army down doesn’t it?

ORION

Her strategy is brute force over

tactics and guile. Less creative,

but effective.

RAYNE

If we take to the cliffs, use the

Dark One’s recently vacated tower,

it’d take them longer to reach

us...

MASIUMI

Or rig the cliff with the last of

our C-4; draw them in, crush them.

DAVE

You can’t solve all your problems

by dropping mountains on them...

MASIUMI

I can solve most of my problems by

dropping mountains on them.

BRAM

Dave’s right; even if we could

survive this next attack, the

Empress would send wave after

wave...

ECHO (O.S.)

What about our own army?

The others turn to Echo awaiting an explanation to her

overtly stupid suggestion.

ECHO

(Pointing to map)

What about these people? Are they

just sitting around while their

country is occupied?

Echo circles Mute City, Port Town, and Silence City with a

scrap of chalk.

BRAM

Echo, those soldiers, the ones

we’ve been fighting...

60.

ORION

The Empress has forced our hand

into killing our own comrades.

Taking this in, Echo backs up. Rayne places a hand on Echo’s

shoulder.

MASIUMI

It’s the nature of war; we must do

what is necessary to survive.

ECHO

Those weren’t her troops?

RAYNE

She has no army. No loyal subjects

of her own. The Empress infects,

twists and converts others to her

will.

DAVE

Is there a way to untwist them?

DAWN

(Small)

We could take out the

Satellite Towers.

FADE INTO:

ON SCREEN - WORLD MAP

From Death Wind Desert, across the central mountains, up to

White Land, the Dark Towers seen before that defiled the

frozen tundra stand tall.

ECHO (V.O.)

Do you know for certain these

towers are what controls her army?

CLOSE - SATELLITE TOWER

Shinning black metallic, the structures resemble a much more

polished version of the Ostankino Radio Tower in Moscow,

emitting a rhythmic pulse of BLACK LIGHT.

DAWN (V.O.)

I was captured.

Moving past the Tower, up to the Dark Princess’ HQ...

FADE INTO:

FLASH BACK:

61.

INT. WHITE LAND - PRISON COMPLEX

In an expansive circular room in what almost resembles a

petri dish the size of a football stadium. On the floor of

the windowless stadium, MANY PRISONERS lie in a pool of

black liquid three inches deep. Each MAN, WOMAN, and CHILD

is bolted down by their arms and legs, separated from their

fellow prisoners by a maze of walls that twist and curve

throughout the complex.

DAWN (V.O.)

They tested us...

The ceiling above the prisoners is comprised of ONE WAY

GLASS where many LAB TECHNICIANS scatter about busily.

DAWN

...Looking for weaknesses.

Amongst the other prisoners, Dawn lies still, calm, serenity

engraved on her face in defiance of the horrific conditions.

ABOVE - The Dark Princess saunters over to a MONITOR where

Dawn is displayed. Adjusting a control panel...

DAWN (V.O.)

Despite their efforts...

Black liquid forms pillars under Dawn’s restraints, lifting

her up above the other prisoners. Nearly fifty feet in the

air, an ARM OF BLACK LIQUID moves down from the ceiling to

meet Dawn face to face.

DAWN (V.O.)

...I wouldn’t break.

The fingers of the black arm grow longer, forming into

blades, reaching for Dawn, pushing into her forehead.

SMASH CUT:

BACK TO PRESENT:

EXT. WAREHOUSE (AFTERNOON)

Echo, now wearing a navy blue SOLDIER’S UNIFORM re-sewn to

her size, tightens a proper saddle onto Dave. Beside her,

Dawn, who tightens the bolts of her Mechanical Horse.

DAWN

When they were crawling through my

mind, I could see her thoughts,

(MORE)

62.

DAWN (cont’d)feel them. Those machines, they’re

designed to numb the pain, make you

complacent: make you give up.

ECHO

Sounds exactly what I’m looking

for.

Rayne stops mid stroke, dropping her brush.

RAYNE

Echo, you can’t think...

ECHO

I don’t think there’s anything I

wouldn’t trade to forget about what

happened to me.

Masiumi comes up beside Echo.

MASIUMI

You’d trade your freedom, you’d

forfeit your soul because of your

pain? You are weaker than you look.

Echo grabs Masiumi by the scruff of her caller, pinning her

up against another robot horse.

ECHO

You think you know pain chick?

MASIUMI

I watched my city burn to the

ground. What pain do you know of,

little girl?

DAWN

The machine doesn’t take away the

pain, it just masks it; bottles it

up.

RAYNE

All the pain just multiplies under

the surface, with no release.

Masiumi inches the Tonto Blade in her hand closer to Echo’s

stomach. Reluctantly, Echo shoves Masiumi aside walking back

to Dave.

DAVE

You all right?

63.

ECHO

Fine.

DAVE

I totally believe you.

Exiting the Warehouse, Bram and Orion walk towards the

group. Orion unravels a spool of Bridge Wire as he walks

backwards.

ORION

Dawn, you are needed.

Dawn jogs over to the Ukrainian, who hands the Impossibly

Blonde girl the wire, while she hooks up the detonator.

BRAM

Having found this place, you may

have the honor Ms. Dawn.

ORION

I believe Echo deserves honor, if

not for her, we would not need-

DAWN

That’s okay Orion, I’ll do it.

ORION

Please, let us give credit where

credit is do.

BRAM

That’s enough Orion.

Orion sneers at Bram, but relents.

Dawn and the others take one last look at their refuge

before the CLICK of the detonator.

In a controlled implosion, their tin shack collapses in on

itself.

Without further ceremony, the group mounts their horses; an

electronic Neighing sounds out as they come to life.

DAWN

Orion, you didn’t paint your horse?

ORION

When my machine is covered in the

blood of my enemy...

(Pats horse)

...then it shall be painted.

64.

The band of Seven Misfits ride north, towards the twisted

charcoal rocks of FIRE FIELD; the blood red sun setting

behind them.

EXT. DEATH WIND DESERT (LATER)

The WHOLE ARMY 5,000 strong, marches their way out from the

Death Wind Canyon. The Dark Princess’ craft floating above

her brainwashed forces.

The CAPTAINS of their respected REGIMENTS shout orders,

troops fanning out in to position. Soon, the army surrounds

the smoldering rubble of the Warehouse.

From her aircraft, the Empress surveys the remains of the

Warehouse: unimpressed.

Landing in front of the OFFICERS massed before their troops,

the Empress descends the spiral staircase to the ground.

DARK PRINCESS

Someone had better explain what

ever it is I’m Not looking at.

Sheepishly one of the OFFICERS rides forward from the ranks

atop a mechanical horse.

CAPTAIN #2

Empress, this is the location where

our troops were attacked, as you

can see by the craters there...

DARK PRINCESS

Where are their troops?

CAPTAIN #2

Their Troops, your highness?

DARK PRINCESS

Captain, are you going to risk your

life standing by the story that a

solitary four-story, purple

creature, wiped out hundreds of

your men?

CAPTAIN #2

No empress it’s only that-

DARK PRINCESS

Then where is the enemy force?

The Captain STAMMERS, shutting his eyes for his inevitable

death.

65.

The rage in the Princess is about to boil over. She however

shows some restraint, PUNCHING the Captain off his horse

instead.

DARK PRINCESS

Two regiments are to scale, search,

and destroy whatever you find in

those cliffs. The rest are to

secure the perimeter. I’ll also

need a squad of riders to escort me

to the wreckage.

The other Officers are not eager to step forward.

Sending electric arcs up across her finger tips...

DARK PRINCESS

Shall I elect a volunteer?

LATER - A SQUADRON of soldiers search through the rubble of

The Warehouse. In the distance, SOLDIERS also scale the

cliffs.

One particular SOLDIER lifts up a WALL, examines it...

SOLDIER

Empress, we’ve found something.

Riding over to the Soldier, The Empress sits atop her

machine waiting to be impressed. Examining the sheet of

scrap metal, the Princess’ eyes go wide.

Upon the wall, although badly burned, several SYMBOLS of the

Princess’ code can be seen.

BRAM (V.O.)

Before Prism’s civil war, I was a

Linguistics professor. During, I

was a code breaker.

EXT. FIRE FIELD CANYON (LATER)

The Six Riders and Dave head through what is most commonly

associated with the physical appearance of Hell. Black ashen

cliffs flank them, gnarled obsidian rock spires riddle their

path, and gaping chasms with molten lava run below them.

Riding close to Bram, Echo calls out...

ECHO

Whose side were you on?

66.

BRAM

I wasn’t on a side.

ECHO

How does that work?

ORION

When you are coward, you cannot

fight for any side.

BRAM

In point of fact, by feeding

information to both sides, I was

attempting to show how futile it is

to fight amongst ourselves.

ECHO

Guessing that didn’t pan out.

BRAM

In hindsight, it seems I may have

been naive to think our species was

evolved enough too not want

annihilate ourselves...

ORION

(At Echo)

Speaking of War, where was Brighton

in all of this? What is your

country’s excuse for refusing to

fight?

ECHO

I’m no soldier, but I’m guessing

it’s because my people have a

strong aversion to mindless

killing.

ORION

Didn’t look like you had an

aversion last night.

ECHO

Does the pot want to call the

kettle black, or do you not keep

track of all your ’friends’ you

killed-

ORION

An orphan knows nothing of

friendship...

67.

ECHO

And the raging psychopath is the

authority on that topic? Really?

ORION

My comrades would have trusted me

to end their suffering. Why has no

one come for you? Perhaps, you

deserve to suffer.

DAWN

Orion...

RAYNE

Leave her be, Orion.

MASIUMI

(Beyond sarcastic)

Yeah, maybe we just don’t

understand pain like hers.

Echo draws back from the group, Dave slowing to a trot.

FLASH BACK:

EXT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - FOOTBALL FIELD (LATE AFTERNOON)

Watching the sunset, Echo stands in her Band Uniform,

conducting an empty field. She stops, picks up sheet music

and begins to take notes...

MRS. MORNING (O.S.)

Echo?

ECHO

Busy.

Mrs. Morning places a hand on her daughter’s shoulder, only

to have it shaken off. She keeps scribbling.

MRS. MORNING

Echo, are you...

ECHO

You were wrong about me.

MRS. MORNING

Was I now?

ECHO

I didn’t beat those ass holes for

harassing one of my troops.

68.

Mrs. Morning stays silent, watching her daughter, waiting

for Echo to continue. Dropping her work to the ground.

ECHO

They were right; I don’t deserve to

be here. I’m not... I’ll always

only be "Professor Morning’s

Daughter."

MRS. MORNING

(Beat)

You’re right.

Echo is taken aback, infuriated.

MRS. MORNING

You don’t deserve to be here, you

fought to be here. You studied,

trained, and shed blood to be here.

You need to be here.

Mrs. Morning lets her words sink in before she turns away,

walking back towards the bleachers.

MRS. MORNING

Furthermore, you are not merely a

reflection of me, but a reflection

of what is in your own soul.

RETURN TO PRESENT:

Pacing beside Echo, Bram watches the girl’s bright BLUE AURA

radiate around her.

BRAM

That aura won’t be effective for

very long, Young One.

DAVE

Is that what she’s doing? I got to

be honest, it kinda freaks me out a

bit. Makes me feel all tingly.

ECHO

(sniffling)

Helps with the pain.

Still glowing blue, Echo wipes a hand across her eyes.

ECHO

I guess I don’t really know how to

shoulder all the death I’ve

orchestrated. I just have to...

69.

BRAM

Sort it out? Separate it?

ECHO

Whatever works.

DAVE

Have you tried maybe happy

thoughts, like oats? Oats are my

happy place.

ECHO

(affectionately)

Cram it horse.

DAVE

I will throw you to the ground

little girl, I swear to Vox.

BRAM

Sorting your pain into neat little

boxes isn’t practical for someone

of your... condition.

Her aura fades away, returning to a standard hue.

ECHO

You were a Psych Professor too?

BRAM

Eventually, you must learn to

accept that everything is

connected. All emotion, all

memories; millions of lights,

focused into one point.

ECHO

That sounds horrifically

complicated.

DAVE

Yeah, I like the box idea better.

You could even have an oat box.

Mmmmm, Oats.

ECHO

I just need to separate my emotions

from our impossible task at hand.

You know, so I can at least pretend

to function like a normal person.

70.

Tugging on Dave’s reins, Echo pulls ahead of Bram. Dave

breaks into a full gallop, catching up to the others. As

they move up to Orion, Echo gives a glare that could have

momentarily frozen their hellish terrain. Orion returns the

sentiment adding a cocky nod.

Leaping over a thin pit of lava, Dave breaks away, weaving

in and out of charcoal pillars. Orion and the others speed

up in pursuit of Echo.

EXT. TOWER OF THE DARK ONE (NIGHT)

The cliff plateau is illuminated by the Empress’ aircraft.

INSIDE THE TOWER - the Dark Princess stalks up the flight of

stairs, passing by LIFELESS SOLDIERS, sprawled out of the

floor. Suddenly, a VINYL RECORD comes to life; a cello suite

floating through out the tower.

KICKING the BODY OF A SOLDIER out of her way, the Empress

surveys the room. Everything seems to be in Place since Echo

was here, with the exception of the DARK ONE sitting in his

chair, a RESTORED SKULL resting face down on the desk.

The Empress meanders over by the record player, picking up

the needle.

THE DARK ONE (O.S.)

(straining)

You FEEL uneasy Princessssss....

Turning with her hands aimed and ready, The Young Girl looks

upon The Dark One.

Lifting his skull off the table, veins and muscles continue

to snake their way around the skull.

THE DARK ONE

I would be worried, iffffff I were

you.

DARK PRINCESS

Speak peasant, or you’ll have to

trouble yourself with growing

another head.

Like putty being squeezed from a tube, skin moves its way

around the once headless Old Man.

THE DARK ONE

I have information regarding the

one who troubles you.

71.

Removing the handkerchief from his breast pocket, The Dark

One dabs at the blood around his collar.

The Princess remains unimpressed.

DARK PRINCESS

You test my patience Old Man, what

are you to do when there is nothing

left of you to reconstitute

yourself with?

THE DARK ONE

The one you want is an orphaned

human girl named Echo.

DARK PRINCESS

You expect me to believe that a

single girl-

THE DARK ONE

There were five others that

attacked your men, but they are of

no consequence. They lack the power

the girl posses. But there is a

price for my information-

Grabbing a hold of the Old Man’s head with both hands,

electricity pulses through her fingers, as the Princess

spits out...

DARK PRINCESS

You do not make demands of me,

creature.

THE DARK ONE

Then the information dies with me,

and your kingdom will crumble at

Her hands.

The Princess considers. Releasing a sharp BURST OF ENERGY,

the Young Girl pushes the Wizard onto his back.

THE DARK ONE

All I ask is that you let me finish

my days in peace before your

Father- I’m sorry, Your Master

destroys our world.

DARK PRINCESS

(Considers)

Your terms are... reasonable.

The Dark One picks himself up and dusts off his white

slacks.

72.

THE DARK ONE

The girl posseses a belt, a belt

that is rightfully mine...

DARK PRINCESS

And I suppose you want this back?

THE DARK ONE

(Waving her off)

Merely a trinket to me, but in the

hands of an average mortal,

properly trained of course, it

could prove to be quiet bothersome

to you.

DARK PRINCESS

Where would I find this girl?

THE DARK ONE

If I were a headstrong girl with

newfound power... Well I suppose

I’d go find a kingdom to overthrow.

The Dark Princess turns a stone cold look upon the Old

Wizard. Ignoring her threatening gaze, he turns his record

player back on...

THE DARK ONE

In any case, I’d recommend against

using a cannon to kill a mosquito.

Imagine how much happier daddy will

be when he learns you personally

destroyed your foe.

The Princess smiles deviously, and turns to leave.

DARK PRINCESS

You’ve been most helpful. Enjoy

your peace while it lasts.

OUTSIDE THE TOWER - The Princess exits the keep as a

SERGEANT approaches. He comes to attention and salutes.

SERGEANT

Your orders Empress?

DARK PRINCESS

Level the tower Sergeant.

The Sergeant salutes again, and WHISTLES for an ARTILARY

SOLDIER. The soldier kneels, slinging a ROCKET PROPELLED

GRANADE onto his soldier. The Sergeant checks the Soldier’s

sights, turns, and taps the tooper’s helmet. A STREAK of

smoke flies from the ordinance, and the Tower EXPLODES.

73.

INSIDE THE AIRCRAFT - The Princess sets her coordinates on

the control panel. Pulling up an extra monitor before her,

CAPTAIN #2 comes into view.

CAPTAIN #2

Yes Empress?

DARK PRINCESS

Recall the army to the following

coordinates, stand by for further

orders.

CAPTAIN #2

Yes Empre-

Shutting off the Captain’s monitor, the Princess opens a

HOLOGRAPHIC MAP. Inputting commands into her control panel,

scanning through code, a moving BLIP appears in the area of

Fire Field.

EXT. FIRE FIELD CANYON (DAWN)

The group continues to ride through the merciless terrain.

Billows of smoke jet up from the fissures in the ground,

flame jetting up from the rocky pillars.

Orion catches up to Echo riding beside her.

ORION

You ride as if you know where to

go.

ECHO

Narrow canyon, one path, not that

hard.

ORION

(Scoffs)

Do not listen to Bram. In life,

somethings very simple.

ECHO

You seem like the simple type to

me.

ORION

You said it yourself: survival is

number one.

Dawn pipes up from behind.

74.

DAWN (O.S.)

What about after you survive?

Echo stares straight ahead: must not make eye contact.

DAWN

What’s the point in surviving if

you don’t have something better to

look forward to?

Orion looks over to Masiumi, turning away before she looks

back to him.

ORION

Some of us do not have that luxury

Dawnichka. The most we have to look

forward to is knowing others may

live after the actions we have

made.

DAWN

Well, that’s something. What about

you Echo, what are you looking

forward to?

ECHO

Silence. I’m looking forward to

silence.

Dawn smiles, not at all discouraged.

DAWN

Home!

Ridding to the edge of the black sands of Fire Field, the

Exiles look across the golden plains before them. In the

distance stand the remaining towers of Mute City.

BRAM

We have to resupply and refuel

before we head out into White Land.

ORION

We make camp in hillside, wait

until dark to take supplies, then

move out.

The others follow Orion on their mechanical horses. Dave

bobs his head motioning to Echo.

DAVE

So we got larceny, murder, throwing

a coup... Maybe it’d be easier if

(MORE)

75.

DAVE (cont’d)we were bad guys. Echo, can we be

the bad guys now?

ECHO

No. Maybe when you’re older.

EXT./ INT. FIRE FIELD DEATH WIND BORDER (LATER)

Sitting at the control panel of her Air Craft, the Empress

watches gray liquid pool up into the air to form three

screens: Black Diamond Officers in each window.

DARK PRINCESS

Report.

OFFICER #2

City perimeter secure.

CAPTAIN #2

City interior secure.

CAPTAIN #3

Scout team still searching Fire

Field, so far nothing to report

Empress.

DARK PRINCESS

Keep searching. The rest of you,

hold your positions.

The liquid screens shift, reforming into the menacing figure

of Zero One. The Empress immediately drops from her chair

and kneels.

ZERO ONE

My reports indicate unusual troop

movement: explain yourself.

DARK PRINCESS

I’ve identified my enemy and have

set a trap for their remaining

forces.

The shadow of Zero One remains silent.

DARK PRINCESS

Have my enemy come to me rather

than chase them.

76.

ZERO ONE

(Considers)

Your ability to adopt new tactics

is promising. However, if you fail,

know that you are but one of many,

and I will replace you if

necessary.

DARK PRINCESS

Yes my lord.

ZERO ONE

I would prefer perfection the first

time around, my child.

Still kneeling, the Young Empress stares through the

translucent floor watching the flowing lava push its way

through the exposed crevasses of the earth bellow. She dare

not look up.

DARK PRINCESS

Yes, my lord.

EXT. MUTE CITY OUTSKIRTS (NIGHT)

The modest glow from Mute City is barely enough to reach the

far spread grassy hills where the Exiles have made camp.

Orion lies beside his Mech Horse, tossing, turning. A SHADOW

looms over him as he continues to fight against his

nightmares. Slowly, a VIOLET PROJECTION OF MASIUMI silently

screaming for help materializes above the Ukrainian. As soon

as the apparition appears, it fades as if an invisible force

pulls it away.

Orion springs forward in a cold sweat, looking first to

Echo, then over to Masiumi packing up her gear.

ECHO

Well, that’s good to know I

suppose.

ORION

Shtow Etta?

ECHO

You’re not a complete ass.

Orion gets to his feet, pushing past Echo. Shrugging him

off, Echo walks over to Rayne laying in the grass, looking

through the scope of her rifle.

77.

RAYNE

Security is tight. Patrols haven’t

ceased since we arrived.

ECHO

Can’t by pass our trip to the city

altogether, can we?

RAYNE

Need to refuel the horses, but I

doubt you’d be comfortable in zero

degree weather in what you’re

wearing.

Rayne smiles as she scans Echo up and down. Echo blushes,

offering a modest grin.

BRAM

I’ve been listening to the Empress

radio device; there’s been no

mention of massing troops by Mute

City.

RAYNE

You haven’t been feeding them

information, have you Bram?

BRAM

I beg your pardon?

Turning over onto her back, Rifle still in hand.

RAYNE

No, you will not be pardoned. Ever

since you got that device, you’ve

been the only one to examine it,

decipher it, and now...

BRAM

Did you have a degree in cryptology

that we’ve been unaware of all this

time Rayne? If you’ve been holding

out on us, I’m curious to know why

you didn’t speak up before?

RAYNE

I’m curious as to why you waited

until now to inform us that you

were neutral during the war, but

still decided to sell secrets to

both sides.

78.

BRAM

Information was not sold, it was

freely given.

Dave comes trotting over to Echo to offer a hushed...

DAVE

I know it’s not typical for the

talking horse to offer reasonable

suggestions, but could you two shut

it while the army of darkness tries

to hunt and kill us?

ECHO

What about Dawn?

BRAM

What?

ECHO

How did Dawn escape from the Dark

Princess? She just walk out the

front door?

Masiumi and Orion wander over towards the discussion,

leaving Dawn alone by the supplies.

ORION

Are you so greedy for our trust

you’d have us turn on our own?

RAYNE

Echo does have a point. Why don’t

you tell us again Dawn, why did the

Princess just let you go?

As the other gear up for an argument, Echo starts to wander

off. Dave trots after her...

DAVE

(Aggressive whisper)

What are you doing?

ECHO

Dave, let’s face it: this is a

joke. Just look at them. Maybe the

Empress had the right idea?

DAVE

Now? Now you think is a good time

to...? Get over here...

79.

Dave bites down on Echos collar and tugs her away from the

group. Echo struggles to her feet after a few yards and

bucks up to Dave.

ECHO

What is the matter with you?

DAVE

What’s the matter with me? I’m

thinking a lot harder than any

horse has had to think before and

it’s drivin’ me up a wall is what’s

the friggin’ matter. Do you wanna

get honest with me?

ECHO

I’m just trying to-

DAVE

Survive? Yeah. Why?

ECHO

Why? What do mean ’why?’

The argument amongst the group intensifies, as Dave tries to

talk some sense into his Girl.

DAVE

You’ve been floating at sea for a

long time, trying to swim above all

that horrible stuff...

ECHO

Dave-

DAVE

Echo... um, middle name, Morning,

Do not interrupt me.

ECHO

It’s Abigail.

DAVE

No more floating. You are more

capable than just going with the

flow. Survival is not difficult.

ECHO

Our time at sea was cake walk for

you then?

80.

DAVE

You’ve got your chance to be angry,

sad, and gamble your life away, but

bickering among the only people who

are willing to fight with you is

not an option right now.

Behind her, Echo watches as the ARGUING rises, fingers

pointing, fists clenching.

Echo’S P.O.V. - The color aura’s, like tongues of wild fire

flicker and grow; a riot of unbalanced emotion.

DAVE

After everything that mom taught

you... You have more options at

your disposal beyond wander in

hell, or die.

ECHO

I’m not... I’m not as strong as her

Dave.

DAVE

Only if you choose not to use what

she taught you.

Within the group, Bram has bowed his head and raised his

hands in meditation while Orion shouts in his face. Masiumi

sharpens her blade. Rayne’s finger itches at the trigger.

Dawn pleads with all to relax.

Echo closes her eyes.

FLASH BACK:

EXT. CRUZ LINER (NIGHT)

Echo looks up through the POURING RAIN, hugging a wooden

plank watching the SHIP go down.

ECHO (V.O.)

Enough.

SMASH CUT TO:

81.

EXT. CRUZ LINER (NIGHT)

A ROGUE WAVE CRASHES over the deck. Chaos amongst panicking

PASSENGERS.

Echo suddenly sliding backwards away from her MOTHER and

FATHER, as they reach for their daughter with outstretched

arms.

ECHO (V.O.)

Enough.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - THEATER (DAY)

Warm sunlight streams in through large bay windows,

illuminating an ornate and vacant auditorium.

On the empty stage, Echo has her eyes closed, conducting an

invisible orchestra. The MUSIC IN ECHO’S HEAD is almost

audible, gently fading in until-

MRS. MORNING (O.S.)

You can see them?

A startled Echo opens her eyes, spinning around to see her

MOTHER, who possesses the grace of Mary Pickford and the

voice of Kat Edmonson.

MRS. MORNING

You can see how beautiful they are

when they all perform together,

can’t you Echo?

The Little Girl looks up into her mother’s eyes, gazing

deep, as the SOUND OF THE EXILES ARGUING grows and grows...

SMASH CUT TO:

BACK TO PRESENT -

The Young Girl’s eyes fly open.

ECHO

Just. STOP!

Silence.

ECHO

We are... we are seriously messed

up.

82.

ORION

I see you’ve come to...

ECHO

Orion, your insult will not be

clever enough to justify the use of

carbon and oxygen it was carried on

to reach our ears, so shut your

mouth for just. One. Minute.

Orion crosses his arms, more amused than irritated.

ECHO

We came here with a job to do, but

a thin reason as to why we should.

MASIUMI

Survival-

ECHO

Is no longer the acceptable default

motivation. It’s rudimentary.

ORION

You tell us what is more vital than

food, water, air-

ECHO

We have to genuinely believe that

unplugging everyone from the

Princess’ control is for the

greater good.

RAYNE

That all depends on what good you

think will come from our actions.

ECHO

I’m choosing to believe When

everyone’s unplugged, people will

be able to accept their fears,

their rage, their pain...

DAWN

And work past it.

All eyes from Dawn back to Echo.

ECHO

It can’t be just about us anymore.

We’re a mess, but we have to

believe that we can drop our

baggage and move forward.

83.

The others take this in, watching Echo’s aura GLOW, lightly

radiating a mist of the FULL SPECTRUM OF COLOR.

Walking over towards Echo, Tablet in hand, Bram opens his

mouth when...

SHOTS FIRED, Bram collapses.

The Tablet shatters, the pieces TURNING TO LIQUID, and

sinking into the ground.

Rayne rolls back over on her stomach, lines her sights...

RIFLE P.O.V. - A SQUADRON OF CAVALRY, quickly approaching,

the LEAD OFFICER in Rayne’s cross hairs...

FIRES!

The Officer flies back off his horse, and into the dirt.

Dawn, Masiumi, Orion, and Rayne scramble to their Mechanical

Horses. Echo kneeling down to Bram, his leg is in tatters,

bleeding heavily on the grass.

BRAM

Tracking... they were...

tracking... tracking tablet...

ECHO

Shut up and try not to bleed out on

me.

Tearing Bram’s shirt, the girl makes a sloppy bandage, and

helps Bram to his feet.

THREE MORE SQUADS ride up from the planes, from the North,

the West, and East. The sound of gunfire erupts.

ORION

Back into Fire Field, break them

up...

ECHO

No. We head to Mute City.

RAYNE

Suicide.

MASIUMI

(Licking her lips)

Oblivion.

84.

Pulling hard on Dave’s reigns, the Horse rears up. Where

others would give a rousing speech or battle cry, Echo

simply goes headlong on into the fray.

Charging head strong toward the TRIO of soldiers ahead,

drawing her pistol, she fires until she empties the chamber.

Orion and the other Exiles charge after her, Masiumi and

Orion on the Right flank, Dawn and Rayne on the Left, Bram

in the pocket.

Of the three remaining riders, two go down, the last one

taking aim at Echo when...

...A bullet rips the RIDER from his horse, flailing to the

ground at high velocity.

The Six Exiles press on, their Western and Eastern pursuers

gaining on them.

Rayne side saddles her horse, holding onto the reins with

one hand, lifting the rifle with the other. Aims. Fires

behind her and...

A RIDER from the West flank goes down hard.

The chase continues, heavy fire exchanged from both sides as

they near the gates of Mute City.

Guards posted at the perimeter of "PITT FORT BRIDGE" ready

MACHINE GUNS quickly spinning to life.

Still heading right into enemy fire, Echo’s Gun CLICKS

empty. She spies the Machine Gun turrets aimed and ready.

Squinting, focusing, straining to focus her rage, Echo lifts

her hands...

The SOLDIERS dive out of the way as a WAVE OF RED LIGHT

PUNCHES right through the Machine Gun Nest. The six Exiles

gallop onward onto the Bridge.

Bram, desperately holding onto the reins, fumbles with one

hand for his PISTOL. Removing it from the holster, it falls

from his trembling hands. Still dodging INCOMING FIRE, Bram

reaches into his side satchel withdrawing a BRICK of C-4.

BRAM

Rayne, pigeon in the air on three.

Rayne shifts in her saddle again and raises her rifle up.

85.

RAYNE

Pull.

Bram tosses the explosive...

Rayne aims...

The SEVEN HORSEMEN remaining watch in horror as the brick of

C-4 erupts in a great WHITE FLASH.

Behind the Exiles, the BRIDGE BURSTS APART, continuing to

crumble as the Exiles stay ahead of the COLLAPSING MASS OF

STEEL and concrete.

RAYNE

We’re trapped!

As they near the end of the bridge, a battalion of soldiers

are lined up at the end of the bridge.

FORTY CALIBER TURRETS are turned and trained on the

approaching Exiles.

DAWN

If we hurry we’ll make the off

ramp.

RAYNE

If we hurry we’ll only run into the

bullets faster.

ECHO

Don’t stop!

With the heavy artillery and the soldiers moving into

position to barricade the bridge, Echo closes her eyes.

The SOLDIERS in the Point State Park keep fighting despite a

very large GREEN WAVE materializing out of thin air.

DAVE

Is that going to hold?

ECHO

(Eyes shut, straining)

You’re going to have to be in

charge of steering for a moment.

DAVE

Dawn, find us somewhere with less

shooting!

Dawn moves up, Dave and the others falling in line as the

Heavy Artillery begins to blast holes in Echo’s shield.

86.

Masiumi and Orion flank Dawn, taking out the soldiers at the

off ramp. Hurtling over the concrete barriers, they sprint

up LINCOLN PARKWAY, going as far as STANWIX STREET. A SOVIET

BT-7 TANK rolls out from Wood Street escorted by a squad of

soldiers.

TANK SHELLS carpet the street, the Exiles retreat back up

Stanwix.

ORION

They’re trying to get the surround.

ECHO

Then go where the soldiers ain’t.

Echo gallops past Dawn, FIRING TWO QUICK BLASTS OF RED

LIGHT, through the entrance of a building. The others

following Echo inside.

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING (SAME)

Looking out the window on the scene bellow, a CONSTRUCTION

WORKER watches the SIX crash through a building on Market

followed by dozens of soldiers.

BACK ON THE STREET - Echo and the others SMASH out of a

building on MARKET and make their way through a PARK up to

4TH STREET.

Galloping up to Echo, Dawn shouts over the gunfire.

DAWN

If we can get to Fifth and

Smithfield, there should still be a

shopping mall on Market.

ECHO

(Calling Back)

Fifth and Smithfield.

Turning up on to WOOD STREET, a TANK two blocks down turns

its turret towards the Exiles.

Masiumi blindly tosses a grenade behind her. The EXPLOSION

and cloud of debris obscures the tank’s vision, but doesn’t

stop it from FIRING.

Through the cloud of smoke, the tank shell HITS AND EXPLODES

the building in front of the group. The THIRD STORY OFFICE

blown out and onto the street.

87.

ECHO

Exit down Forbes.

Quickly turning into Market Square, the group scrambles out

of the way of a SQUAD of SOLDIERS. Orion makes quick work of

them with his Rifle and Pistol. Masiumi slicing through the

rest using her broad sword like a lawn mower.

FROM THE ROOF TOPS - SNIPERS start laying down fire as the

Exiles smash into and through another building.

INSIDE THE OFFICE BUILDING - The Riders charge through the

lobby towards the back of the building.

DAVE

We got a wall coming up.

ECHO

I see it.

DAVE

Wall. Wall. Wall. Still a wall in

front of us!

OUTSIDE ON SIXTH STREET - SOLDIERS duck for cover as a WAVE

OF RED ENERGY BURSTS through the side of the building. The

Exiles gallop down sixth street.

EXT./INT. MUTE CITY OUTSKIRTS - DARK PRINCESS’ CRAFT (SAME)

Approaching the city limits, the Princess stands at her

control panel monitoring the RADIO CHATTER from the troops,

and the security feed.

RADIO#1 (FILTERED)

They just came out onto sixth...

RADIO#2 (FILTERED)

They’ve entered Sport’s World

Building-

RADIO#1 (FILTERED)

Squad 32 to Ten David, we have East

Side locked down.

RADIO#2 (FILTERED)

Copy Ten David, Squad 32 West

entrance covered. They’re not going

anywhere.

88.

EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)

As the TANKS roll into position, TROOPS mass along the

street, creating a VERY TIGHT PERIMETER.

ON THE ROOF TOPS - Snipers train their rifles on the main

doors to the building.

INSIDE - Galloping through the ransacked and abandoned mega

store, Echo dismounts Dave.

DAVE

Whoa, um, I don’t think there’s a

horse size exit around here do you?

ECHO

Orion, Masiumi, grab what we need

and be ready to get out in sixty

seconds.

Orion and Rayne charge their electric steeds towards the

HUNTING DEPARTMENT.

ECHO

Rayne, give me a hand with Bram.

Dawn you have a minute to figure

out how to get us out of here.

Dawn rides through the clothing racks to the opposite end of

the mart.

Rayne and Echo help Bram off his horse. The man is half

dead, pale, and breathing short. Laying him on the ground,

Echo takes off the blood soaked bandage.

RAYNE

Can you help him?

ECHO

I... I don’t know. You help him.

You can help him, right?

RAYNE

How would you feel if you lost him?

ECHO

What?

RAYNE

How would you feel if Bram left us?

Echo looks down, panicked at the ailing Bram.

HALLUCINATION -

89.

Looking back up from Bram, Echo sees the other Exiles

standing over her; their auras a dull indigo. In her arms, a

lifeless Bram.

RETURN TO REALITY -

With eyes shut, and aura blue...

ECHO

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.

Taking Echo’s hand in her’s, Rayne lays their hands on

Bram’s wound. BLUE LIGHT shines around the girl, making its

way into Bram.

EXT. SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)

Orders are SHOUTED and SWAT TEAMS line up outside the

buildings; rifles ready, and helmet visors lowered.

INSIDE - Dave looks over Rayne, Echo, and Bram, whose leg

regrows the bone and tissue around the bullet wound.

Orion raids the shelves of AMMUNITION.

Masiumi loads cylindrical batteries into her mechanical

horse.

Dawn uses her horse to kick in the doors to a room labeled

MANAGERS OFFICE, quickly dismounting and raiding the

drawers.

ECHO

Are you feeling-

BRAM

Better. We’ll need water and...

The room SHAKES, GRENADES EXPLODE at the front end of the

department store.

TWO SWAT TEAMS of EIGHT MEN EACH make their way into the

warehouse, guns drawn, flashlights scanning, suppressive

fire bursting in short spurts into the darkness.

The SWAT LEADER signals for the FIRST EIGHT to hold

position.

AT THE BACK OF THE STORE - Bram, Echo, and Rayne crawl their

way over to Orion and Masiumi.

Echo looks up to Masiumi and nods.

90.

MASIUMI

(Whispering)

Feed their fears.

As the soldiers stalk through the rows of shelves, a SWAT

SOLDIER passes by a motionless Dave. The horse can’t stay

still forever, as he lets loose a SNORT.

The SWAT TEAM turns on the Dave.

SWAT LEADER

We’ve found ’em. Copy, the rebels-

Behind the team, Dawn’s Mechanical Horse charges straight

for the team. They panic, bullets ripping the metal horse to

shreds. As the SWAT Soldiers look back, Dave is GONE.

The team groups up, back to back, watching, waiting.

SWAT LEADER

Squad ’B’ advance-- wait a minute.

I see one.

At the head of another row of shelves, Masiumi approaches,

scraping her large knife along the floor: a VIOLET AURA

SURROUNDS her.

SWAT LEADER

Open fire, open fire!

In an instance, a GREEN WAVE CRESTS UP FROM THE FLOOR, while

the Violet Glow around Masiumi GROWS, creating a NINE FOOT

version of the Violet Assassin, stalking towards the SWAT

Team.

SWAT LEADER

We need back up, send in-

Cutting him off, a THICK BEAM of RED LIGHT side swipes the

Squad Leader, sending him flying across the store.

SWAT Team B comes rushing in, locked and loaded to an EMPTY

ROOM, still smoldering from Echo’s last blast. They only

have a moment to settle before BRAM comes out of nowhere,

taking down FOUR Swat Members simultaneously in the blink of

an eye with rapid fire JUDO.

Before a single shot goes off, Masiumi’s blade moves through

the THREE MEN like butter.

One remaining SWAT SOLDIER desperately aims his rifle at

Masiumi’s back when-

91.

Orion twists the Soldier’s neck faster than opening a bottle

of Vodka.

Bram furiosity grows as he beats Two Men near death when

Echo steps in. Grabbing Bram’s hand, Echo is nearly hit

herself when his fist stops short.

Bram eases up; takes a breath.

BRAM

You don’t have long to recover.

Echo nods her head, violet, crimson, and emerald light

surrounding her, and dissipates.

BRAM

Deep breaths, lets go.

The Girl stands straight, forcing her breathing under

control.

ECHO

Dawn?

Clutching BLUE PRINTS, Dawn gives a panicked nod.

ECHO

Alright, lets mount- Where’s Rayne?

Sprinting, Rayne rides her Mech Horse up to the others.

RAYNE

I’ve rigged the back doors with the

last of my grenades, if they try

to-

An EXPLOSION rings out with the screams of SOLDIERS.

ECHO

Dave? Dave!

DAVE (O.S.)

Um, I’m cool just hiding here for a

while, thanks.

EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)

Outside on the street, another SWAT TEAM is being prepped to

enter the building. The war zone suddenly becomes still as

the Princess’ Aircraft makes its decent in the midst of the

troops.

92.

Climbing down the black pedals and stepping onto the street,

the Princess marches over to a Mobile Command Tent.

DARK PRINCESS

Who’s the Ex-O here?

COMMANDER

We have the perimeter locked down,

three SWAT teams are being prepped

to enter and-

DARK PRINCESS

Commander, what are those, those

large metal objects over there?

COMMANDER

BT-7 Tank’s Empress, they’re

standing by in case we-

DARK PRINCESS

Standing by?

COMMANDER

Yes Empress?

DARK PRINCESS

Commander, have you verified that

the Rebels are in that building?

COMMANDER

Yes Empress, but-

DARK PRINCESS

And the tanks are standing by?

COMMANDER

Yes Empress.

The Dark Princess grabs the Commander’s face with her right

hand, and his radio with her left.

DARK PRINCESS

All tanks are to open fire on

target building immediately.

Releasing her grip on his skull, the Empress lets the

Commander go as CANNON FIRE from the tanks erupts along the

streets.

DARK PRINCESS

(Shouting over tanks)

These Rebels are not criminals to

be apprehended, they’re a virus:

wipe them out.

93.

FROM THE ROOF TOPS - SNIPERS watch as the tanks bellow

completely decimate the building, eventually causing a

visible TILT to the structure.

FROM A NEAR BY APARTMENT - The same CONSTRUCTION WORKER

watches smoke rise up in the distance; feels the ground

shake beneath him.

CIVILIANS that had gathered around the scene, scatter as the

sounds of steel giving way POPS, SNAPS, and GROANS under the

Tank Fire.

From the Command Tent, the Empress watches the building

topple over onto Liberty Avenue into another tower like a

massive domino.

DARK PRINCESS

I want the remains of their bodies

brought before me.

INT. MUTE CITY SUBWAY SYSTEM (SAME)

Walking their horses along the abandoned tracks, Echo

strokes Dave’s head affectionately as the others follow

behind.

DAVE

If you think petting me is going to

distract me from the fact we just

barely escaped a city full of

soldiers...

ECHO

Technically we haven’t escaped yet.

DAVE

Could the resident optimist report

to the front of the line please?

Dawn jogs to the front of the line.

DAWN

You called?

ECHO

(Sighs)

How much further?

DAVE

(To Dawn)

Could you please reach into your

mind of sunshine and say something,

I don’t know, peppy?

94.

ECHO

That’s not... how much further till

we get to Steel Plaza Station?

DAWN

It’s just up ahead... are you not

feeling alright?

ECHO

I’m fine.

DAVE

Fine she says.

ECHO

Quiet horse.

DAWN

You know, I bet if you had positive

energy behind, you know, that stuff

you do... you’d be a lot less

exhausted.

ECHO

How in the world could you

possibly...

(Breath)

Sure. Okay. Thanks for the

suggestion.

DAWN

I’m serious.

(Beat)

That’s why she let me go.

ECHO

What?

DAWN

The Empress; I guess she got tired

of her torturing me and...

(Breath)

She did... it still hurts...

Dawn stops.

Echo keeps going. Stops. Dave turns to his Girl and

Whispers...

DAVE

Echo, Did you break the optimist?

Turning back to Dawn, Echo doesn’t really know how to react.

The other four Exiles keep their distance, no help.

95.

ECHO

Dawn, I’m sorry...

Dawn shakes her head...

DAWN

"Oh Joy that seek me through the

pain / I cannot close my heart to

Thee / I trace the rainbow through

the rain / its promise not in vain"

The only sounds in the tunnels are the light humming of the

Engines of the Mechanical Horses, the distant trickle of

sewage water, and the bellowing of recycled air blowing

through the tunnel vents.

DAWN

It’s not that I’m always the happy

one, happy fades. Without joy...

(Breath)

Joy is what brings me- it’s what

brings US back from the brink.

ECHO

Dawn, I’m sorry. That’s just not

me. I don’t have whatever it is you

got. Can we just leave it at that?

DAWN

That’s not you? It’s not magic

Echo. You have joy because you grow

up and realize that everything

doesn’t always default to suck.

(Chokes up)

The fact you’re alive, at all, is

so fucking unbelievable that you

can’t imagine how incalculably

lucky you are that out of all the

random particles in the universe,

some of them collided together and

made you. That’s joy.

Echo is trying to hold back tears herself.

ECHO

Look, that’s great, but we’re in a

sewer, in an occupied country, run

by a sadistic little girl with

crazy god powers. That’s reality,

no roses, no sunshine.

Dawn smirks, wipes her eyes, and keeps walking.

96.

DAWN

In fifty yards, we’ll be out of the

sewer, and the seven of us...

DAVE

Ha, she thinks I’m people.

DAWN

The seven of us are going to take

back this country, and we happen to

have our own girl with crazy

powers.

Dawn looks back to Echo, smiles, and then marches towards

the next EXIT HATCH.

DAWN

By the way, the sunshine is you.

The others begin to fill the gap between themselves and

Echo. Orion adds an arrogant, and unnecessary...

ORION

(To Echo)

For me, sunshine is when we are

leaving sewer.

EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (LATER)

SOLDIERS are digging through the rubble. In the distance

extra CONSTRUCTION WORKERS are coming up from SIXTH STREET.

Above a cleared out area, TWO OFFICERS stand idle, arguing

amongst themselves.

OFFICER #3

I’m not going to tell her.

OFFICER #4

You outrank me; you have to tell

her.

With the two continuing to goad one another on, they fail to

feel the Empress presence behind them.

DARK PRINCESS (O.S.)

Both of you have nine seconds to

tell me something, or you have

another nine seconds left to live.

97.

OFFICER #3

Empress, my platoon has evidence

that suggests the Rebels have

broken into the subway system...

DARK PRINCESS

This city has a subway system?

OFFICER #3

Yes Empress. I’ve already

dispatched squads of men to cover

all possible exits in the event

that they resurface.

OFFICER #4

It seems that when you ordered the

building to be razed, you also

inadvertently covered their escape.

The Dark Princess takes this in. Surveys the landscape,

looks back up at the officers.

Officer #3 looks away as his colleague BURSTS into flames,

engulfed by electric bolts.

DARK PRINCESS

Let this be a lesson to you-

OFFICER #3

Yes Princess: find them and destroy

them.

DARK PRINCESS

Get to work, Major.

OFFICER #3

Blue Team tunnel bound, let’s move,

move, move!

A BRIGADE OF SOLDIERS files in and swarm into the tunnels

beneath the debris.

EXT. MUTE CITY - STEEL PLAZA STATION (LATER)

Outside the sewer gate, a SQUAD OF SOLDIERS waits

impatiently, shifting, checking their weapons.

SOLDIER #2

We leveled a building on ’em, why

we waiting ’round here?

98.

SOLDIER #3

Keep your mouth shut, and eyes open

private.

INSIDE THE SEWER GATE - Lurking in the shadows, the Exiles

watch and wait, mostly looking to Echo than the soldiers.

Echo’s hands glow a dim crimson, but the spectacular energy

blast fails to fly forward.

ECHO

(Panting)

I’m sorry, I’m still... I just

learned how to do this like two

days ago, so...

Orion steps forward, drawing his pistol. Dave shifts

uneasily in front of Echo but Orion keep walking past them.

ECHO

You going to just shoot the steel

bars off with your little gun

there?

ORION

Nyet, with rage.

OUTSIDE - The Soldiers turn towards the sound of approaching

footsteps.

SOLDIER #2

Do you hear-

STROBE LIGHTING from the flash of the gun barrel illuminates

the sewer tunnel.

Orion continues to fan the hammer back.

OUTSIDE - the four soldiers lie stone cold on the concrete,

as a great TEARING OF METAL is heard. The sewer gate itself

is then HURLED onto the pile of corpses.

ORION

(Turning to Echo)

I am made of rage.

INSIDE - A quarter mile down the tunnel, SCORES OF TROOPS

run through the sewer adjunct towards the exit when...

THE TUNNEL EXPLODES and COLLAPSES.

OUTSIDE - Masiumi flips her DETONATOR closed. Smiles.

99.

EXT. MUTE CITY - SPORT’S WORLD MALL (SAME)

Managing the Officers under the Mobile Command tent, the

Empress turns along with the rest of the Officers as an

EXPLOSION erupts in the distance and smoke rises.

Silence among the Troops.

The Empress observes the lack of action that surrounds her.

DARK PRINCESS

Do you await an invitation?

Down from her craft, the black pedals fall: the Dark

Princess runs up to her control panel. With a great ELECTRIC

WHIRLING of invisible gears, the aircraft rises into the

air.

Steering her craft up and over the buildings, it disappears

over the city scape.

EXT. MUTE CITY - HIGHWAY (SAME)

The Six Exiles ride like bats out of hell across the

abandoned highway. Echo out in front, Orion, Masiumi, Rayne,

and Dawn riding with Bram.

At the end of the highway, A SQUAD OF TROOPS turn to see

Echo and the others galloping toward them at full speed. One

of the RADIO OPERATORS fumbles his walkie-talky...

RADIO OPERATOR

Repeat, rebels spotted on Highway-

The Soldier is cut short, falling backwards off the bridge.

Rayne sits back up in her seat, slinging the rifle from her

shoulder to her back. Masiumi and Orion unload their rifles

into the remaining soldiers.

Nearing the edge of the bridge, Dawn looks back to the

billowing of smoke rising up from her home town.

DAWN

Stop.

BRAM

What?

DAWN

Please stop.

100.

Bram pulls back on the reigns; the horse trotting off to the

side.

RAYNE

Echo, hold up.

ECHO

What now?

The riders come to a short halt, circling back to watch Dawn

dismount and throw a black duffel bag onto her back.

ECHO

Dawn, I loved your last lecture,

but right now we have to-

DAWN

I’m going back.

ECHO

Dawn...

BRAM

Let her go.

ORION

Three towers to demolish. One less

soldier is not acceptable.

DAWN

It’s still manageable, and when

you’re done, an entire population

is going to be violently woken from

one nightmare, only to find they’re

still living in another. Someone

has to be there for them.

ECHO

Dawn-- Army, bat shit crazy chick

coming for us- can we please focus?

DAWN

I know!

(Beat)

I know. I just have to do this. Can

you handle that?

Echo scans the others for back up. No help whatsoever.

ECHO

I... I can choose to trust you.

101.

DAWN

When you get to White Land, split

up, follow the markers on the map.

Ride fast, and work quick. You’ll

make it.

Dawn looks back to see the approaching ARMY coming across

the bridge. She starts off, but not before Echo calls out...

ECHO

Thanks.

Dawn looks back over her shoulder.

ECHO

Thanks for the, you know, the

sunshine thing.

DAWN

(Beat)

I was talking to your horse.

DAVE

You’re a weird chick Dawn.

Dawn blows Dave a kiss before she heads down the embankment,

towards the river under the bridge.

ECHO

Well, let’s not get all

sentimental.

ORION

Waiting on you little one.

DAVE

Ha, they think you’re in charge.

Orion gives her a shrug and gestures for her to proceed.

Snapping Dave’s reins, the group heads off into the grass

plains to the West towards White Land.

EXT. MUTE CITY - STEEL PLAZA STATION (SAME)

From twenty stories above the skyline, The Dark Princess

waits in her aircraft. Her countenance is not improved by

the report from the Major.

OFFICER #3

We’re on their trail. They’ve taken

the west highway out of the city.

They won’t get far.

102.

The Empress shuts off the screen, pacing atop the thin blue

disk of her ship. With a wave of her hand, she pulls up

another SCREEN with a map of Prism.

Moveing her fingers to zoom into White Land.

DARK PRINCESS

They couldn’t possibly be that

bold.

Another wave of her hand, and the first screen disappears,

replaced by another.

DARK PRINCESS

SatCom, respond.

The screen ripples, reforms, expanding into Zero One.

Falling to her knees and pushing back up against the floor,

the Young Girl trembles at the hulking presence in such a

confined space.

ZERO ONE

I have reached my decision.

DARK PRINCESS

(Small)

I’m almost there... I just need

more time.

ZERO ONE

You would have had eternity.

Unfortunately you have wasted your

opportunity.

DARK PRINCESS

I can find-

ZERO ONE

You’ve failed to control the

entirety of the populace. You’ve

failed in your tactics. You’ve

failed to earn the right to rule.

You, are a failure.

The Dark Princess is both shaken and seething, her back up

against the blue translucent wall of the craft.

ZERO ONE

This planet has served its purpose

in providing you with an adequate

test of your ability. Perhaps such

disappointment will not radiate in

your replacement.

103.

DARK PRINCESS

Please...

ZERO ONE

If our race were to be tainted with

imperfection, we would not have

risen to the highest of the

evolutionary ladder.

DARK PRINCESS

(Desperate)

I don’t need mercy, or your

forgiveness, just let me atone for

my failure.

Zero one looms over the girl, unmoved.

ZERO ONE

When I reach this world, you will

not be spared. You may use the time

you have left as you please.

With that, the daunting figure returns to steam.

Pulling her self to her feet, BLACK INK crawls through her

veins, showing through her skin, through her face, a living

testament to the furry hell hath no.

DARK PRINCESS

(Trembling)

Every remaining soldier to White

Land.

EXT. WHITE LAND (EARLY MORNING)

The remaining Five Exiles split into teams of two; Echo and

Bram, Orion, Masiumi, and Rayne. They ride hard across the

snow covered planes.

ECHO

Orion.

The ’Ukrainian’ turns, stone face.

ECHO

Good l... don’t screw up.

ORION

Ever more useful than rage:

Righteous anger.

Echo and Orion exchange nods before he and Masiumi hightail

it into the Northern Plains.

104.

RAYNE (O.S.)

Did you mean what you said before?

ECHO

I say a lot of things.

RAYNE

(Beat)

Did you learn to let go?

Echo looks back to Rayne, considering whether to tell the

truth. Rayne trots up closer to Echo.

RAYNE

Be sure to come back to us.

LATER - Bram and Echo race up to the FIRST RADIO TOWER.

Sickly tan brick and black steal stretch far up into the

neon pink morning sky.

Riding up to the base of the tower, Bram and Echo dismount

and approach their target.

ECHO

This is going to work right?

BRAM

Factually speaking, the three

towers send an infra sound signal

over the airwaves, effectively

subduing 99.9 percent of the

population. Knocking these towers

out would release the hold the

Empress has over our people.

ECHO

(Beat)

Sounds like there’s another way of

speaking you’d like to address?

BRAM

Frankly speaking, this plan is

ridiculous.

Echo is about to take aim at the wall, stops, and turns to

Bram, incredulous.

ECHO

Ridiculous? Bram... if this plan

wasn’t going to work why did we

bother coming in the first place?!

Bram notices Echo’s belt Glowing Red.

105.

BRAM

Do you know what Dawn did before

the war?

Exasperated, Echo turns away, summoning a BOLT OF RED LIGHT

from her hands, PUNCHING A MINI VAN SIZE HOLE through the

brick tower.

INTER CUT BETWEEN-

EXT. MUTE CITY - DOWNTOWN (SAME)

SOLDIERS march down the streets past an alleyway. Dawn

slowly sneaks up from behind a dumpster.

BRAM (V.O.)

During the day, she took a barely

minimum wage, window washing

skyscrapers.

As the soldiers clear the road, Dawn grabs a nearby trash

can and HURLS it through a SHOP WINDOW.

INT. WHITE LAND - RADIO TOWER (SAME)

Bram and Echo are rigging the plastique explosives around

the base of the dark, dust filled tower.

BRAM

At night, Dawn was considered a

wide spread plague of a graffiti

artist.

EXT. MUTE CITY - SKYSCRAPER (SAME)

Throwing a rope over the edge of the building, Dawn leaps

from the top of the sky scrapper and repels backward down

the glass windows.

BRAM (V.O.)

In the morning though, she’d wipe

away everything she tagged the

night before.

Dawn shakes her PAINT CAN, makes her first mark against her

glass canvas.

106.

EXT. WHITE LAND (SAME)

Riding fast from the Radio Tower, Bram and Echo continue to

their next objective.

BRAM

Some of her greatest master pieces,

hours of work, washed away by her

own hand in the morning.

ECHO

(Beat)

Bram. That, is the most ridiculous

thing I’ve ever heard.

Clicking the trigger to the Detonator, Echo and Bram feel

the rubble of the collapsing Radio Tower behind them.

BRAM

Some times ridiculous is necessary.

ECHO

What was necessary about Dawn-

An EXPLOSION just five meters to the right of Bram and Echo

sends mounds of snow up into the air. It’s enough to throw

the two from their horses.

As Dave struggles to get to his feet, he quickly drops back

down to the ground...

DAVE

Um, I don’t know about you guys,

but I’m going to make like a foal

and head out.

Two kilometers north, a battalion of SOLDIERS and TANKS

advance towards their location.

BRAM

If we can get to the others...

Another great UPHEAVAL of snow is thrown into the air as

tank shells continue to bombard them.

Quickly mounting their horses, Bram and Echo weave in and

out of the rain of fire.

Out from the front lines of the TROOPS, a Squad of Cavalry

charges in pursuit of the Exiles.

107.

EXT. WHITE LAND - SECOND RADIO TOWER (SAME)

Orion, Masiumi, and Rayne are under Heavy Suppressive Fire

by a similarly sized Army before them. Orion’s left shoulder

is shot to shit, but he keeps firing from behind a snow bank

just outside the tower entrance.

ORION

You must get to third tower.

RAYNE

We’re not abandoning you.

ORION

You will not sacrifice my... You

will not sacrifice our people that

I may live slightly longer.

Masiumi gives Orion a knowing look.

ORION

Take her and go.

Pulling her up, Masiumi helps Rayne mount her Mechanical

Horse. As soon as Rayne takes the rains however...

... Bullets rip through the horse’s engine, several tearing

through Masiumi.

Rayne dives from the horse which sparks, catches fire, and

falls to the ground.

Scrambling over to Masiumi, Rayne and Orion try to revive

their friend. She’s too far gone.

ORION

Finish the job.

Rayne is frozen, looking over her blood-soaked friend.

ORION

(Cursing in Russian)

Go Now!

Rayne crawls to Masiumi’s horse, mounts it, and gallops into

the distance.

Before Orion can make it back to The Line, Masiumi’s hand

brushes over his arm. He turns to the girl, leans into her

ear, holding her head close.

108.

MASIUMI

(Smiling)

I will... I will haunt you.

Orion’s maximum capacity for rage has just been reached.

Nearly upon Orion, a Squad of Horsemen open fire.

Turning, pistol in his bad arm, clutching his rifle in the

good one, the Man of Rage lays waste to three of the four

riders.

The last Horseman sinks a bullet into Orion’s bad shoulder.

Dropping his weapons, Orion ignores the pain, starring down

the Horse and Rider that are about to run him down.

Just before the Mechanical Beast tramples Orion, The

Ukrainian jukes right, and PUNCHES THE HORSE.

Horse and Rider dive into the snow.

The Horseman looks up from the ground, trembling as Orion

staggers up to him. The Rider’s pistol clicks empty. There’s

no escape as the hulking Ukrainian kneels down atop the

rider and starts pummeling him.

ORION

(Grieving in Russian)

You’ve taken her, you’ve taken her

from me!

Shells continue to rain down near Orion.

Suddenly, the Man of Rage stops, looking at his bloodied

hands, then to the young Soldier’s face he’d been beating.

The Young Rider has been beaten to death, but is still

infected with the black veins coursing through his face.

ORION

You are... diseased. I shall

release you from your virus,

comrade.

Pulling the detonator from his pocket...

FOUR KILOMETERS NORTH - Rayne looks back as the Second Tower

topples over.

TWO KILOMETERS SOUTHWEST - Bram and Echo continue forward

towards the EXPLOSION. Horsemen still on their tail, Bram

keeps up with the return fire, taking out another Rider.

109.

Looking up to the Eastern Sky, Echo spies what looks like a

BLACK ROSE slowly floating towards them in the distance.

ECHO

Bram, three O’clock, up in the sky.

DAVE

Is it a bird...?

BRAM

No. It’s... It’s her.

WITHIN THE DARK PRINCESS’ CRAFT - The Empress zooms in on a

liquid display to watch Bram and Echo galloping onward.

DARK PRINCESS

ComSat, link me to the Commanding

officer on the ground.

INTERCOM (FILTERED)

Acknowledged, Brigadier General

designation 45-16 receiving.

GENERAL 45-16 (FILTERED)

Your orders Empress?

DARK PRINCESS

Tighten your perimeter around the

rebels, cease heavy artillery. I

will engage them on the ground

myself.

ON THE GROUND - Nearing the remains of the Second Radio

Tower, Bram dives from his horse as a Mortar round spirals

through the air and EXPLODES.

Echo pulls around to Bram, pushing himself up from the snow.

BRAM

(Back to soldiers)

You’re aim must improve to kill me

off!

ECHO

Come on, we have to... They’ve

stopped. They’re stopped firing.

Strange silence weighs heavily as the tank fire ceases.

Looking around, Echo watches the troops continue to advance,

their perimeter tightening.

110.

ECHO

I don’t know if I can hold a

shield... conjure their fears...

Blast...

BRAM

Echo?

Echo stares up at the aircraft approaching.

DAVE

Um, I can’t see you up there, but

it feels like you’re about to do

something Not smart.

Bram takes cover behind a large chunk of concrete from the

fallen tower. Training his rifle on the approaching army, he

looks back to see Echo steer Dave toward the aircraft.

ECHO

Nope. I’m going to do something

ridiculous.

DAVE

Is it really necessary? I recall an

emphasis on ridiculousness needing

to be necessary.

ECHO

Hey Dave, you see that army

circling in around us?

DAVE

Army, yeah.

ECHO

Okay, I want you to run really fast

in the opposite direction.

DAVE

Oh, running, running is a great

plan. That’s the best plan I’ve

heard all day.

Rearing up on his hind legs, Dave NEIGHS and bursts into a

full gallop at blinding speed.

Bram smiles and prepares for the fight ahead of him.

INSIDE THE PRINCESS’ AIRCRAFT - An eye brow is raised in

compliment of the Empress’ confusion. All her monitors show

Echo riding full speed straight at her.

111.

DAVE

Hey Echo, there’s that black thing

in front of us. We want to avoid

the black thing right?

ECHO

Just keep running.

DAVE

Echo, did you leave important

details out of our ’run away really

fast’ plan?

ECHO

I never run away.

Galloping at an incredible rate, wisps of snow flakes fly

past horse and rider. Closing her eyes, an aura of violet

light spreads and dances over Echo’s body. The violet

changes to crimson, from crimson to indigo, indigo to

emerald...

The green light bursts into GOLD. Echo shines so bright and

brilliant, it’s as if a second sun were racing across the

snow covered plain.

As Dave continues to gallop, his hooves begin to shoot up

SPARKS OF COLORED LIGHT each time they strike the ground.

DAVE

Echo?

ECHO

Faster, just keep going faster.

From out of the ground, building underneath the Horse and

His Girl as they sprint forward, a bridge of RAINBOW LIGHT

sends Echo and Dave upwards, into the sky.

DAVE

Echo, horses are not supposed to be

in the sky!

ECHO

Don’t stop!

INSIDE DARK PRINCESS’ AIRCRAFT - Genuine astonishment

quickly turns into rage as the Empress watches Echo and her

horse ride towards her: in mid air. On a rainbow.

With the aircraft only a hundred yards away, Echo leans in

close to Dave’s ear.

112.

ECHO

When I get off, just circle around

till I’m done, okay?

DAVE

WHEN YOU GET OFF?!?!

At the thirty, the twenty, the ten, Echo slides her leg over

side straddle. Directly above the aircraft, Echo takes a

deep breath and slides off her horse, falling atop the

sapphire canopy of The Dark Princess’ aircraft.

Dave continues forward, in mid air, cursing to himself as

the Rainbow Bridge before him curves downward.

Echo watches, making sure her horse continues safely on her

bridge of light. Looking down into the translucent bubble,

Echo locks eyes with the Empress.

The Dark Princess doesn’t waste time; aiming and releasing a

thick bolt of lightning, bursting up through the top of the

ship.

Rolling away just in time, Echo dodges the blast and shards

of glass, but begins sliding off the canopy. Her hands grasp

onto one of the rotating pedals in the nick of time before

going over the edge.

Breathing heavily, Echo takes aim and fires her own RED

LASER into the ship.

The Dark Princess steps aside as red energy and glass fly

towards her. Turning back to the new hole in her ship, she

and Echo square off.

DARK PRINCESS

You must be Echo the human girl.

ECHO

Are we already on a first name

basis? What do I call you?

DARK PRINCESS

Empress, will suffice.

ECHO

Queen Bitch close enough?

In loo of an answer, The Dark Princess fires a two handed

BLAST of lightning at Echo. The force BLOWS OUT the

remainder of the glass canopy of the ship.

When the smoke and debris clears, Echo and her green shield

of light remain.

113.

DARK PRINCESS

Your species fate has already been

damned to oblivion, but I will

personally humble you to the state

of a quivering child.

ECHO

I don’t think I was ever humble,

even as a child.

Echo fires a BURST OF RED LIGHT, easily deflected by the

Princess hand. She tries again, and again: no such luck.

DARK PRINCESS

It seems that Old Man in the desert

didn’t give you sufficient

instructions for your toy.

ECHO

Yeah, he wasn’t much for words when

I left him.

The Empress’ menacing presence inches closer towards Echo.

Young Echo puts her fists up at the ready, a green force

field rising with them.

DARK PRINCESS

Oh don’t you know, the dead can

speak volumes.

Smashing her electrified fists upon Echo’s force field, the

green light scatters. Echo steps back, inches from the

ship’s edge.

DARK PRINCESS

Shall we listen to what message

they send you?

Lunging forward, Echo lands a powerful right cross on the

Empress cheek, but the bones in Echo’s hand shout with an

AUDIBLE POP.

Echo writhes in pain from the Princess who is seemingly made

of steel.

Her cheek unbruised, the Empress turns back to Echo.

DARK PRINCESS

You fight so hard for so weak a

species. Now, see your failures

fully realized.

114.

Grabbing Echo by the throat, BLACK LIQUID is injected

through the Empress’ fingers into her opponent. Tilting her

head back, limbs growing stiff, Echo lets loose a terrified

SCREAM.

PUSHING INTO ECHO’S EYES - Wave’s crash, the sounds of the

Ship Columbia SNAPPING and CREAKING...

HALLUCINATION:

EXT. CRUZ LINER COLUMBIA (NIGHT)

Clutching onto a side rail, Echo watches her PARENTS slide

backwards on the deck into the churning waters below.

Hurricane force winds and rain slap against the girl’s face,

as more helpless BODIES fall from the ship to ocean depths.

DARK PRINCESS (V.O.)

This is who you are...

SUDDENLY - Falling from the ship into the turbulent ocean,

Echo struggles to reach the surface. Kicking and clawing her

way up, drowned lifeless BODIES float around her, circling,

crowding her like jellyfish.

DARK PRINCESS (V.O.)

Any power you may have possessed

could not change the fact that you

failed to save all those souls.

EXT./INT. DARK PRINCESS’ AIRCRAFT (SAME)

A river of BLACK TEARS stream out from Echo’s eyes, the Dark

Princess tightens her grip.

DARK PRINCESS

You are merely the afterbirth of

random chance.

EXT. CRUZ LINER COLUMBIA (SAME)

Echo is nearly out of air, swatting at the mass of DROWNED

BODIES keeping her from the surface.

MRS. MORNING (V.O.)(FILTERED)

Echo?

From the surface through the water, light penetrates,

refracts, bending towards Echo.

115.

MRS. MORNING (V.O.)

You have to learn to let go...

INT. BRIGHTON UNIVERSITY - THEATER (DAY)

Soaking wet, gasping for air, Echo looks up from the

hardwood floor of the theater stage.

Her eyes adjust and focus in on MRS. MORNING kneeling down

to her.

ECHO

Mom...

MRS. MORNING

Echo, nothing is ever really gone

for good, but you can’t hold on to

your pain forever. You have to

trust that what was lost, you’ll

meet again.

ECHO

(Labored)

Mom, it’s to heavy.

MRS. MORNING

So let it go.

RETURN TO REALITY:

EXT. WHITE LAND - THIRD RADIO TOWER (SAME)

Crawling from the chard remains of her mechanical horse, a

blood soaked Rayne drags herself and the bag of explosives

up to the tower.

SECOND RADIO TOWER - Bram’s rifle CLICKS empty. He searches

his satchel, only two shells left. Looking up from his

cover, an army remains.

IN THE SKY - Above the battlefield atop of what remains of

the Dark Princess’ aircraft, Echo bleeds out black liquid

before finally slumping over onto the glass deck.

Standing over her prey, The Young Empress spits out...

DARK PRINCESS

To think of something so small

opposing a force as great as my

kind... the scale of fate does not

tip in your favor human.

116.

The Empress prepares for the killing stroke.

ECHO

(Straining)

Maybe... you’re just as unbalanced

as I am...

A Violet Aura rises off Echo like steam from a scolding hot

iron. The Princess, staggers backwards.

Echo coughs out blood, looking up to the Empress and her

terrified countenance.

The Dark Princess stares forward in horror as a massive

VIOLET PROJECTION of Zero One grows and looms over the Dark

Princess.

DARK PRINCESS

(Small)

Please, Father...

Wiping the blood from her mouth, Echo stands.

ECHO

See, we’re not so different--We’re

both orphans.

The projection fades. The Dark Princess seething, watches a

Blue Aura radiate and heal Echo’s wounds.

Stalking up to her prey, the Dark Princess takes Echo by the

throat, lifting her off her feet. While Echo struggles, the

Empress rips the Diamond Belt from her waist and tosses it

aside.

The belt nearly flies off the edge, but is caught on a shard

of glass.

ECHO

(Choking)

The difference, between, you and

me... I’ll be missed.

The Empress turns towards the sound of an EXPLOSION off in

the distance...

THIRD RADIO TOWER - Rayne hides behind a snow covered

embankment clutching the detonator while the Tower behind

her crumbles to the ground.

BACK IN THE AIR - Taking advantage of the distraction, Echo

kicks both her feet into the Princess diaphragm. Releasing

her grip, the Empress doubles over as...

117.

...Echo falls hard onto her back, cracking the glass.

The Princess and Echo’s eyes meet. Before the Dark Empress

can act, Echo rolls herself off the disc: her hand grabs the

Belt at the last instant before she falls.

Freefalling, and struggling to put the belt back on...

ECHO

Out of all the things to go wrong--

I HATE THIS CLASP!

As the buckle CLICKS shut, Echo’s hands glow red. She spins.

She aims...

The Princess shields herself as red energy bursts through

the craft’s deck, blowing the ship to pieces.

As the two opponents free fall, the Dark Princess drifts

towards Echo. The young girl attempts to dodge the Empress,

but they collide, circling into a violent tail spin.

Yanking on the back of Echo’s scalp, the Empress barks out

as they fall...

DARK PRINCESS

In the entirety of the galaxy, you

are an insignificant drop of light

in a vast, ocean of darkness. Why

waste light on those who live in

misery, and give life to bitter

souls?

ECHO

I don’t intend to waste my light,

and I haven’t.

Both girls turn towards the CLACKING OF HOOVES as Dave comes

galloping towards them on a Rainbow Bridge.

Echo raises up a WAVE OF GREEN LIGHT, knocking the Princess

back.

Drifting back, The Empress watches as Echo lands at just the

right angle atop Dave, descending downward on the Rainbow

Bridge, and galloping away. Closing her eyes, the Princess

accepts her defeat as she plummets into the ice.

Riding atop Dave, Echo watches snow rise as the Dark

Princess’ body drives downward into a snow covered grave.

The young girl straightens her self up to a proper riding

position.

118.

ECHO

(Exhausted)

Good timing.

DAVE

(Like duh)

Um, yeah, I’m only the fastest

horse in the galaxy. You okay?

ECHO

No... but I’ll live. I will choose

to live.

DAVE

That a girl.

(Beat)

Can we go down to the ground now?

Leaning over the side, watching the beautiful snow covered

hills bellow their Rainbow Highway, Echo lets her first

genuine smile spread across her face.

ECHO

You wanna get down now?

DAVE

Ground please.

Stroking the horses mane, Echo steers the horse down the

bridge spiraling down towards the ground.

RUINS OF THE SECOND RADIO TOWER - Bram stands by, watching

Echo and Dave approach. The legions of soldiers silently

pass by, heads low, weapons abandoned.

Horse and rider trot towards Bram, wading through the sea of

soldiers.

BRAM

I am ever impressed with your

ability to survive Young Echo.

ECHO

Did it work, are they free?

One of the SENIOR RIFLEMEN passing by hears this and stops,

looking up to Echo.

SENIOR RIFLEMAN

(Russian accent)

Free? We’ve been slaughtering our

own countrymen, their screams will

not cease to echo in our head.

119.

Some of the other passing soldiers stop to listen to the

Rifleman’s lament.

SENIOR RIFLEMAN

We will never be free from the

memory of the fallen.

ECHO

You’re right: those memories will

haunt you... as long as you let

them.

In the distance, Rayne limps towards the crowd.

Echo spies the Indigo Girl, her head held low.

ECHO

The Dark Princess changed you,

controlled you, and you can’t

change back to who you were.

More soldiers pause to listen.

ECHO

But, you’re still soldiers.

BASE OF SECOND RADIO TOWER RUINS - Rayne, Bram, Echo and

Dave stand over the graves of Masiumi and Orion. Headstones

set upright from pieces of the blasted stone.

ECHO (V.O.)

Soldiers who get to return home to

your families, to your friends who

need you.

Rayne kneels down beside Masiumi’s grave praying.

EXT. MUTE CITY - HIGHWAY (SAME)

Scores of soldiers march across the "VETERANS MEMORIAL

BRIDGE" into the ruined city.

ECHO (V.O.)

You are soldiers who get to return

to a city that still needs your

protection, needs to be rebuilt.

At the head of the wave of soldiers, some of the veterans

look up to see, painted across the sides of skyscrapers, A

PRISM ENCASED IN A RAINBOW TWISTED INTO THE INFINITY SYMBOL.

CITY HALL PLAZA - Soldiers and civilians stand side by side

as they look to Echo, Bram, Rayne, and a paint covered Dawn.

120.

ECHO

You were soldiers changed into

something you never wished to

become, but you are now, and always

will be soldiers with the freedom

to change into what you need to

become: to continue to serve your

families, friends, and country,

united to build a better future

along side you.

As the midday sun shines down upon those in the square,

there is no cheering, or shouting, but a silent

acknowledgment among the crowd of the possibility that life

can change for the better.

The giant Prism / Infinity symbol glistens against the

skyscrapers as the crowd slowly disbands.

EXT. MUTE CITY - POINT STATE PARK (LATER)

As the afternoon sun descends on the city, Echo walks

alongside Dave, Rayne, Bram and Dawn. They round the half

filled fountain at the tip of the park looking out over the

river.

DAWN

Looks like you’re finally painting

with a full pallet.

ECHO

It was a picture they needed to

see.

DAWN

You see it too though, right? The

light at the end of the tunnel?

ECHO

Not yet.

RAYNE

It doesn’t help the troops if the

one preaching hope doesn’t believe

it herself.

ECHO

Honestly? I’m not a hundred percent

certain, but I’m willing to believe

there is hope.

121.

BRAM

What breaks your calm?

ECHO

Before I left the Dark One, he

mentioned that when the Empress

first came, there where flying

ships that attacked everyone.

RAYNE

The Three Black Diamonds, what

about them?

ECHO

Who’s going to stop them from

coming back?

DAVE

We will.

ECHO

(Off look)

Look at you, growing a back bone

all of a sudden.

DAVE

I meant you will. I’ll supervise,

from a distance; a safe comfortable

distance.

DAWN

We know they’re out there. We’ll be

ready, all of us.

RAYNE

Not all of us.

BRAM

No. Not all of us. Though some of

us have fallen, there are still

many shades of light waiting, ready

to repel the darkness. And they’ll

come when they’re called...

Dawn, Bram, and Rayne remain while Echo mounts Dave, rearing

up before galloping away through the park

122.

EXT. WESTERN OCEAN - PORT TOWN COASTLINE (SAME)

Out from the ruins of the abandoned city, across crystal

blue seas stretching out towards the horizon, Echo and Dave

ride fast across a Rainbow Bridge a few meters above the

water and into the sunrise.

BRAM

They will come when she calls.

FADE TO BLACK:

THE END