Dark Waters Pilot By Elliott Davidson

1 ACT I FADE IN: EXT. SEA DAY The sun has yet to rise, but a hint of early morning light lingers above the horizon, illuminating the gentle waters. Islands dot the sea, green tips from below the waves. EXT. ISLAND BAY - DAY The shore of a large island is lined with houses set back from the water. Long docks reach out into the sea. EXT. ISLAND SHORE DAY A sleek, catamaran-like boat rocks lazily in the pre-dawn light, sails down, tied to one of the wooden docks. Thin trees and brush stand a dozen feet from the shore. JADIN, fifteen years old, walks out from a path that cuts through the brush and leads towards the dock. Hes strong, vibrant, with dark hair, dark eyes, and bronze skin. Clothes of worn leather and coarse cloth, beads and braids, bone jewellery, tribal designs on his arms. Jadin stares out at the sea. A grin creeps across his face. JADIN You two coming? ALIA, a beautiful young thirteen year-old girl, and CONNOR, a smaller eleven year old boy both dressed similarly to Jadin - appear from the path and join their older brother. EXT. SEA DAY The sun rises, bringing its golden light to the world. EXT. ISLAND SHORE DAY Jadins smile grows, and he walks towards the dock.

CONNOR Jadin ... should we be doing this? ALIA No, we shouldnt. Jadin begins to untie the catamaran. JADIN You dont have to come if you dont want to, Alia. Alia walks over to Jadin, helps her brother with the ropes. ALIA Oh Im coming. I just want you to know we shouldnt be doing this. Jadin cocks an eyebrow, smiles at his sister. JADIN What about you, Connor? Connor pauses, eyes his siblings, then moves to the boat. CONNOR Lets go. EXT. SEA - DAY The catamaran skims above the light blue water, its sails full as it flies by lush, emerald islands, the sun a little higher in the sky. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Connor and Alia stand at the bow, bracing themselves against the wind, hair blowing backwards, hooting with excitement. Jadin stands at the back of the boat, steering the catamaran, natural, at ease. JADIN Hold on.

EXT. SEA DAY The catamaran begins to weave back and forth, wide banking turns, spraying white foam as it cuts into the water. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Connor and Alia hold on tighter, nervous, but exhilarated. EXT. SEA DAY Dolphin-like fish begin to follow the catamaran, keeping pace, bursting out from the water and arcing through the air before plunging back down. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Connor watches the fish, laughing. Jadin, meanwhile, surveys the seas. JADIN I want to show you guys something. Alia looks up at the sun, then at her brother. JADIN Dont worry, Lia. Weve got time. EXT. SMALL ISLAND DAY The catamaran nears a small island overgrown with vegetation. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Jadin guides the boat towards a clear section of the islands pebbly shore, lowering the sails. EXT. PEBBLY SHORE DAY The catamaran coasts onto the shore. Jadin hops off the boat and into the gently rolling surf.

4 JADIN Its easier to walk in from here. Alia and Connor follow. EXT. JUNGLE DAY The three kids march through the jungle. CONNOR Jadin, can I ask you something? JADIN Sure. CONNOR Is it weird that Mom and Dad had the baby? JADIN What do you mean? CONNOR Well, they had us, us three. And that was it, for a while. That was the family. Then, they had her. Jadin stops. JADIN Do you think its strange? CONNOR I dont know. Jadin looks away from his brother, catches Alias eye. JADIN Were almost there. EXT. HIDDEN COVE DAY The three children walk out of the trees and onto the shoreline of a secluded, shallow cove.

5 JADIN Here. Ahead, two rows of old stone pillars stand in the water, both leading towards the shore. Where they meet land, a broken stone path heads into the jungle. Old, crumbling stone statues accompany the path. The children move closer, inspecting the stone. Broken rubble lies all around, on the ground along the stone path, and near the base of the pillars, underwater. Trees cut off the paths destination. CONNOR What is all of this? Jadin shrugs. He walks along the path towards the water. JADIN They have cut stone like this in the Center Waters. Houses made out of it. Cities. Dads seen them. ALIA So whats it doing out here? Jadin looks at the pillars, shakes his head. Then he frowns, squints his eyes. He scans the water, confused, agitated. JADIN Get away from the water. ALIA What? JADIN Get over to the trees. Jadins head snaps towards the entrance of the cove.

6 And a ship appears at the narrow mouth of the cove, its profile dominated by tall masts and high crimson sails. CONNOR Red Sails. Jadin pushes Alia and Connor towards the tree line. JADIN Go! Hurry! The three children run along the path towards the trees, avoiding the broken stone blocks that lie in their way. EXT. JUNGLE DAY The kids make their way to the trees, hiding behind them, before looking back towards the water. EXT. SEA DAY A long, thin boat sails towards the small island and the obscured entrance to the cove. EXT. JUNGLE DAY The children, alert, watch the boat. EXT. SEA DAY A small rowboat is lowered from the larger ship. EXT. JUNGLE - DAY The three siblings hold their breath as the rowboat draws near, travelling between the two lines of pillars before reaching the shore. EXT. HIDDEN COVE - DAY The rowboat touches land, and a handful of soldiers in red uniforms - clothes that are toga-like, almost Spartan step onto the stone path.

7 EXT. JUNGLE DAY Jadin leans in closer, watching the soldiers as they regroup on the path. EXT. HIDDEN COVE DAY The soldiers begin to walk towards the trees. EXT. JUNGLE DAY The children watch the soldiers advance towards them. Jadin directs Alia and Connor off to the side. JADIN (whispering) Move! Move! The kids sneak to the side, just as the soldiers reach the trees. Jadin motions for Alia and Connor to stay still. The soldiers begin to bushwhack through the jungle, following the bare traces of the stone path. The kids remain off to the side, hidden, motionless, as the soldiers pass by. ALIA (whispering) Its time to go. Jadin is entranced as the soldiers cut through the jungle. Alia grabs Jadin, forces him to look at her. ALIA Jadin. Its time to go. Jadin bites his lip, his mind elsewhere, then nods. JADIN Okay. Okay. Jadin manages one last eager glance at the departing soldiers, and then the kids begin to move.

EXT. PEBBLY SHORE DAY The catamaran remains on the shore, moving slightly with each new wave that comes in. The children appear, creeping out of the nearby jungle. ALIA Lets go home. The three kids head for the catamaran, pushing it back into the water before pulling themselves aboard. Jadin looks down the shore as he raises the sails. EXT. SEAS DAY The catamaran speeds along the water. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY The three children are sombre. CONNOR Jadin ... what are Red Sails doing this far out? JADIN Dont know. Jadin stares at the water ahead, and says no more. EXT. SEAS DAY The catamaran passes by a small, rocky island. EXT. CATAMARAN - DAY Connors eyes stay on the small island as they sail past. A line of jagged rocks leads out from the small island and into the water. Its the Arm, a loose, craggy peninsula that bends half way out from the island, guarding one half of the islands shore.

9 Grotesquely carved statues decorate the rocks of the Arm. CONNOR Those things give me the creeps. ALIA I think thats the point. They leave the small island behind. EXT. ISLAND BAY DAY The catamaran sails towards the childrens island. A handful of other small ships move about the bay. Off in the distance, a tight group of ships approaches. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Jadin guides the ship towards their dock, lowers the sails. EXT. DOCK DAY The catamaran nears the dock. The children jump off and tie the boat down. JADIN Well, lets see if they know were gone. EXT. HOUSE DAY A large wooden home with open windows and a thatched roof perfect for the warm, breezy climate stands at the top of a gentle slope, overlooking the bay. The children appear from the winding path through the brush that leads from the dock to their home. TRISTAN, the childrens father, strides out of the house. He ties a long cutlass sheathed in an old leather scabbard to his waist. Tristan spots his young children.

10 TRISTAN Where have you three been? The children are reluctant to speak. JADIN On the water. TRISTAN On the water. Alone. (shakes his head) Then you were lucky. ALIA Why? Tristan turns away from the kids and scans the bay. The children follow their fathers gaze. Tristan grimaces. Dotting the bay are a dozen specs of red. Red Sails. TRISTAN Because today, the seas are red. FADE OUT.

11 ACT II FADE IN: EXT. HOUSE DAY Tristan and his children watch as the Red Sails move through the bay, coming closer and closer. MORA, the childrens mother, exits the house. She rocks young baby SERAH in her arms, back and forth. MORA Tristan, are the ships Mora sees her kids. MORA Where have you three been? TRISTAN Tempting fate. The children lower their heads, embarrassed. Serah wriggles about in her mothers arms. JADIN Is Serah okay? MORA Shes upset. Tristan looks over at the infant child, sharing a long, unspoken moment with his wife, before returning his attention to the approaching ships in the bay below. EXT. ISLAND BAY - DAY The long wood hulls of the Red Sails cut through the water like knives. EXT. HOUSE - DAY Tristan, stoic, rests his hand on the hilt of the cutlass.

12 EXT. ISLAND BAY DAY Scores of rowboats are lowered from the small fleet of ships, heading in all directions. EXT. ISLAND SHORE - DAY One of the rowboats makes its way towards the familys dock, and a half dozen soldiers step out. EXT. HOUSE DAY The soldiers march up the brush path, moving steadily towards Tristan and the family, swords at their sides. TRISTAN Children, go to your mother. The kids join their mother. The soldiers draw near. One of them steps forward. SOLDIER High sun to you, sir. TRISTAN (coldly) And you. The other soldiers walk towards the family. Tristan tenses, grips the hilt of the cutlass tightly. SOLDIER You can keep that blade where it is. The soldiers walk past the family and enter the home. One of the soldiers moves to a simple shed nearby. SOLDIER We sail on the Generals orders, making sure that certain unlawful groups out here in the Far Waters arent being aided by you and your kinsmen. Or protected.

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Tristan eyes the soldier that enters the shed. INT. HOUSE - DAY The soldiers begin to search the house roughly, turning it upside down. EXT. HOUSE - DAY The lead soldier offers Tristan a not entirely warm smile. SOLDIER And, to make sure the Generals Guard has your support. Something crashes inside the house. Serah begins to cry. Tristan takes a slow step towards the soldier, his hand remaining on the hilt of his sword. TRISTAN I think youll find that very few of us out here support your General. Or you Red Sails. The soldier stares back at Tristan with his false smile. SOLDIER We bring peace to these seas. Do you not want that? TRISTAN I know your peace. The two men stare at one another, unblinking. Serah continues to cry. The rest of the family, tense, watches the stand-off between Tristan and the soldier. The lead soldier studies the tearful child. SOLDIER Precious.

14 Then the other soldiers reappear. One of them offers a subtle head shake to the lead solder. SOLDIER You see? Nothing to worry about. Thank you for your help. The soldiers walk to the path. The lead soldier looks back and offers one last sharks smile. SOLDIER And youll be seeing more of my kinsmen in time. To keep these waters safe. With that, the soldier steps into the brush, and is gone. Tristan stares at the path, jaws clenched, muscles tight. ALIA Jadin, Connor ... come help me clean up. The children slink off quietly into the house. Mora walks over to her husband. She rests her head on Tristans shoulder, and he wraps his arm around her waist. They look down at the rowboats that swarm the water like wasps, moving out from their red hives, spreading out along the coast of the bay and to the smaller islands nearby. MORA Never far enough, are we? EXT. WOODEN DOCK DAY The sun has travelled past its midday peak. A few dark clouds creep across the otherwise blue ceiling above. The children sit on the dock, feet in the water. They watch the lingering Red Sails, now far down the coast. CONNOR At least Mom and Dad werent too mad at us for going out today.

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Connor laughs weakly. He doesnt receive much response. Tristan appears from the path and walks over to the dock. TRISTAN Jadin, come with me. I want to speak with you. Alone. JADIN Aye. With that, Tristan departs. Jadin eyes his siblings, then follows his father. EXT. STORE SHED DAY Tristan and Jadin make their way towards the store shed. Tristan grasps the handle of the sheds door, pauses. He glances at Jadin briefly before stepping into the shed. INT. STORE SHED DAY The shed is home to a variety of food stores, sailing equipment, old furniture, and other odds and ends, all strewn about from the recent search. Tristan walks over to a large barrel in the corner. TRISTAN Id hoped that Id never have to show you this. Tristan shoves the heavy barrel aside and feels around the wooden slats of the sheds floor. He finds the plank hes looking for, pries it off the ground, and sets it aside. TRISTAN Come here, Jadin. Jadin walks over to his father and looks down at the gap in the floor, at a hidden space underneath the shed.

16 Tristan reaches down into the hole in the floor, and pulls out a long, intricately carved wooden box. Tristan lays the box on the floor, wipes the dust and the dirt off of it reverently. He flips open the latches on the front of the case and lifts up its lid. An old layer of silk covers the object that sits in the box. Tristan moves the silk aside, revealing an aged sword. The sword, a strange mix of katana and claymore, is tarnished and dull, yet still shines in the low light. JADIN What is it? Tristan crosses his arms, examining the sword. TRISTAN This ... is one of the last remaining Old Swords. JADIN Theyre real? TRISTAN Very much so. Jadin looks upon the sword, amazed. JADIN Is this what the Red Sails were looking for? TRISTAN If theyd been looking for this, they wouldve sent a hundred men. JADIN Can I hold it? TRISTAN Yes. But be careful. JADIN Why, is it fragile?

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TRISTAN (chuckling) You will never damage this sword, Jadin. But be careful. Puzzled, Jadin reaches for the sword, wrapping his fingers around its hilt. He stands, lifts the sword up before him. Jadin gasps as he sees: INT./EXT. FLASHES OF BATTLES DAY/NIGHT In different times, different places, men and women come together in combat, swords clashing, one battle after another, one moment after another. The Old Sword is the only constant. INT. STORE SHED DAY Jadin drops the sword on the wood floor. He breathes rapidly, eyes wide, looking at the blade. The swords form shifts ever so slightly, but it returns to the way it looked while resting in its box. JADIN What was that? What was that? Tristan smiles knowingly. He lifts up the sword with his fingertips, holding it before the two of them. TRISTAN That ... was every moment this sword has ever known. Every person thats fought with it, every hand thats held it, every battle its ever seen. Jadin stares at the sword, stunned. TRISTAN All of it, flooding your mind. The gift of the Old Swords. The curse.

18 JADIN Have you ever fought with it? Tristan places the sword back in the box, and folds the silk over it before closing the lid. TRISTAN Yes. Once. Tristan rubs at his head wearily. TRISTAN Ive kept this sword hidden for a long, long time. Maybe hopefully it will stay that way. Tristan looks to his son. TRISTAN But if anything happens, Jadin anything at all - I want you to come here, and take this sword. Promise me you will, Jadin. JADIN What? TRISTAN Promise me. JADIN I ... I promise. TRISTAN Good. Good. Tristan takes the box and lowers it into the hole in the floorboards. JADIN What is it, Dad? What do you see? Is it the Red Sails? Tristan replaces the wood plank and gets to his feet.

19 TRISTAN Maybe. Maybe not. I dont know. He locks eyes with his son. TRISTAN But dark waters are coming, Jadin. And I want you to be prepared. Tristan pushes the barrel back over the hiding spot in the floor, and leads his son to the door. EXT. HOUSE DAY Jadin and Tristan walk to the house, then stop dead in their tracks. Storm clouds churn angrily on the horizon: bruised, purple, spreading across the water. JADIN Dad, have you ever seen anything like that before? Like a living creature, the clouds continue to advance, crawling quickly through the sky towards the bay. TRISTAN No. JADIN Wait, do you hear that? From inside the house, the father and son can hear the baby crying. More than crying wailing, screaming. TRISTAN Serah. INT. HOUSE DAY The door slams open, and Jadin and Tristan hurry inside. Mora cradles baby Serah in her arms, rocking the screaming child, trying to comfort her. She dabs a wet cloth against the bawling childs head.

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Alia and Connor sit beside their mother, meek, worried. TRISTAN Mora, whats wrong? MORA Serahs sick. Maybe fever. TRISTAN Maybe? Tristan looks over his child. Serahs as pale as a ghost. Tristan reaches down, touches the childs jerking arm. TRISTAN Shes cold as stone. MORA But her forehead ... Mora removes the wet cloth. Indeed, though the child is sheet white, a rosy mark lays in the centre of her forehead. Tristan holds his hand against Serahs forehead, and pulls it back a second later, shocked. TRISTAN Its on fire! MORA Aye. We need to get her to the medicine man. TRISTAN We cant. Storms coming. Quick. Angry. We cant take her out on that water. MORA Tristan, we cant just sit here. Tristan looks out the window at the looming storm. He grits his teeth, frustrated, panicked.

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JADIN Ill go. The family stares at Jadin. JADIN Stay with Serah. Ill go to the medicine man, bring him here. MORA Jadin, hes on the other side of the Arm. If theres a storm ... JADIN I can sail those waters. Dad? Tristan is motionless. Then the slightest of nods. TRISTAN Go. If you think you can sail, then go. Jadin swallows hard and heads for the door. He reaches for the handle and TRISTAN Jadin. Jadin turns. Tristan concentrates, head bowed, eyes closed. TRISTAN Take Alia and Connor with you. JADIN What? Tristan opens his eyes, piercing Jadin with his gaze. TRISTAN Take them. Alia and Connor look at their father, stunned, then go to their brother.

22 JADIN Well return to you. Tristans brow is bunched, his mouth tight. TRISTAN Aye. Now go. FADE OUT.

23 ACT III FADE IN: EXT. HOUSE DAY Storm clouds move in ever closer towards the bay. The sun tries desperately to break through. The children step out into the hostile afternoon and run to the path down to the dock. EXT. BRUSH PATH - DAY Jadin rushes down the path, followed by Alia and Connor. EXT. DOCK DAY Jadin reaches the dock, has the catamaran untied before Alia and Connor have even emerged from the path. Jadin pushes the catamaran away from the dock. JADIN Get on! Alia and Connor jump onto the boat. Jadin gives the catamaran one last push before leaping aboard. EXT. CATAMARAN - DAY The catamaran rolls with the angry waves. JADIN Here we go. Hold on! Jadin pulls at the rigging, and the sails snap upwards. Alia and Connor brace themselves against the boats mast, while Jadin stands low, gripping the rigging tightly. The catamaran heaves forward, shooting across the water as its carried by the powerful winds.

24 EXT. ISLAND BAY DAY The catamaran rocks back and forth, bouncing off the surging waves, practically airborne as it hurtles forward. EXT. SEA - DAY The children head for the small rocky island, its shore guarded by the threatening Arm. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY The jagged rocks of the Arm draw closer. Jadin pulls at the rigging, leaning to the left. ALIA Jadin, the Arm! Youre too close! JADIN Ive got it, Ive got it! CONNOR Ahhhhhhh! EXT. ROCKY ISLAND DAY The catamaran cuts sharply to the left, just barely avoids hitting the rocks head on. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY The catamaran runs parallel to the bent half of the Arm. Jadin minds the rocks that lie just off to the right as he pushes the catamaran forward. EXT. ROCKY ISLAND DAY The catamaran, skimming above the waves, nears the end of the rocky line of the Arm. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Jadin leans far to the right, pulling the rigging down with him.

25 EXT. ROCKY ISLAND DAY The catamaran turns hard to the right, moving around the end point of the Arm. The left pontoon of the boat lifts out of the water. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY The catamaran makes its way around the Arm, and Jadin brings the ship down level on the water. Alia and Connor laugh madly, relieved. Jadin stares out at the water, defiant. Ahead waits the clear sandy shore of the small island. EXT. SANDY SHORE DAY Jadin lowers the sails as the catamaran makes it to the shore, running aground. Two ornate tribal torches stand at the edge of the beach, marking a path that leads away from the water. Their flames dance wildly in the wind. The children jump into the foamy waves, push through the water towards the beach. EXT. MEDICINE MANS HUT DAY The children reach the medicine mans home, a small hut covered with tribal markings, animal skulls and bones, carved statues, and thick wax candles. Smoke rises from a hole in the roof. INT. MEDICINE MANS HUT DAY IKAIA the medicine man old, ancient even, and adorned much like his home warms his hands on a fire in the centre of the hut. Jadin, Alia, and Connor rush into the hut, startling the old man.

26 IKAIA My ... what brings you three here? JADIN Our sisters sick. We came to get you, bring you back with us. IKAIA Go with you? In that weather? Are you mad? ALIA We sailed in that weather just to make it here! IKAIA And you were fools to do it. JADIN Please. Please, you have to. The medicine man gets to his feet, grimacing as he pushes on an old walking stick, and shuffles over to the children. IKAIA I know you. Tristans boy, aint cha? (to Alia and Connor) You two are his as well. So its the wee baby then. The girl. Whats wrong with her? JADIN Fever, maybe. IKAIA Maybe? Is she feverish or not? JADIN Her arms, her whole body, its cold, like ice. But her head ... her brows boiling hot. CONNOR And theres a mark too.

27 IKAIA Mark? JADIN On her forehead, under the skin. Red, bright red. Its the only colour on her. IKAIA And thats where the fever burns? That spot alone? Jadin nods. Ikaia walks over to a small window, looks out at the violent storm clouds above. IKAIA Young child for your parents to have. Specially after you three are so well grown. Strange, that. JADIN What? IKAIA Wonder what your pa makes of it. No fool, that one. Got the Sight, he does. Dyou know that? JADIN (hesitant) Yes. IKAIA Your dad sees far. Farther than most. Farther than with his eyes alone. (turns to Jadin) What about you? JADIN What does this have to do with-

28 IKAIA Youre yer fathers son, aint cha, boy? Wouldnt think you a fool either. Hmph. Ikaia walks away, nodding to himself. He moves over to an old table, littered with withered plants and herbs, bottles, bowls, and books. IKAIA I aint never heard such a fever. Dyou trust my word, boy? Reckon I know what Im talking about? Jadin nods. IKAIA As you should. Now, I aint sailing on those waters with you. Last sky I ever see wont be the one out there. The medicine man reaches into a bowl of green herbs, and pours a handful of the grindings into a small leather pouch. IKAIA But you braved those waters for my counsel, and Ill give the only thing I can think to. The medicine man takes Jadins hand, puts the pouch in the teenagers palm, and closes his fist. IKAIA Take this with you, give it to the baby. Itll help. I hope. JADIN Thank you. IKAIA But that storm ... its evil. Unnatural. I beg ya, dont go. Stay here. Wait it out.

29 JADIN We cant. We have to go. IKAIA Then I pray ya make it back to your shore. Breathing. JADIN So do I. EXT. SANDY SHORE DAY The children burst out from the trees, racing to the catamaran. The waves surge even higher than before, but the kids pay them little notice. EXT. ROCKY ISLAND DAY The catamaran shoots out past the rocky tip of the Arm, mere feet from crashing against it. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY The tendons on Jadins arm bulge outward, all his strength going into maintaining the catamarans course. EXT. SEAS DAY The catamaran carries the children towards their home. EXT. CATAMARAN - DAY Jadins mouth, pursed tightly, goes slack. His jaw drops. The three kids stare ahead, dumbstruck. ALIA Jadin? What ... ? The shoreline of their bay is hidden from view. Black thunderheads hang just above the water, the storm itself reaching down from the sky, a dark tendril that envelops the childrens home.

30 Jadin crouches lower still, holding onto the rigging as tight as he can. EXT. ISLAND BAY DAY The catamaran slams through the water, each wave nearly capsizing the ship. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Alia and Connor hang on for dear life. Jadin stares straight ahead. EXT. ISLAND BAY DAY The catamaran sails for the impossible thundercloud that surrounds the childrens home. EXT. CATAMARAN DAY Jadin steers the catamaran towards the dark cloud. JADIN Were almost there! Then the cloud begins to move. The black mass withdraws, pulling back from the land, the house, the dock, retreating into the sky. Jadins eyes follow it, wide with disbelief. He watches as the smoky limb returns to the clouds above. Then the clouds explode with light. Lightning snakes down towards the island, striking the childrens home. Crack! JADIN No!! Another lightning bolt streaks down from the sky, hitting the home, and then a third. Crack-crack! The children watch from the water as their home is set ablaze.

31 EXT. DOCK DAY The catamaran flies towards the dock. Jadins already running to the edge of the ship. JADIN Tie the boat up! The catamaran smacks roughly into the dock, and Jadin jumps off of the ship. ALIA Jadin?! JADIN Tie it up!! He sprints down the dock. EXT. BRUSH PATH DAY Jadin charges up the hill. EXT. HOUSE DAY Jadin reaches the top of the path, comes to a stop, sees the house, its roof and frame on fire. INT. HOUSE DAY The door slams open, kicked in by Jadin as he barges into the smoke-filled house. JADIN Mom?! Dad?! Jadin, frantic, looks around the burning home. He runs from room to room, searching. He waves the smoke away from his face, coughing, shielding himself from the inferno that surges around him. JADIN Mom?! ... Dad?! But theres no one else inside.

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Jadin stands near the entrance, scanning the room with desperate eyes. Then he spots something on a nearby table. Parchment, smoking around the edges, held down with a small rock. Jadin picks up the coarse piece of paper, tossing the rock aside. Its a note, the words scrawled across the page by a hurried hand. INSERT NOTE: Theyre coming for Serah. In the storm. Get to Tomas. Falcon Rock. What is this??

INT. HOUSE DAY Jadin, panting, lips pulled back, stares at the note. He takes one last look around, and then runs for the door. EXT. HOUSE DAY Jadin stumbles out of the burning house. Alia and Connor stand at the top of the path, watching in horror. Jadin lurches over to them, embracing them fiercely. JADIN Theyre gone. ALIA What? JADIN Gone. Taken. Alia and Connor stare at Jadin, terrified.

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Then the sky rumbles above them, and in an instant, its pouring, rain hammering down upon the children. They look to the heavens, the children broken, devastated. Jadin steps away from his brother and sister, his legs weak. He drops the parchment on the ground. Alia picks it up, scans whats written on it. Connor stands beside her, reading as well. Jadin looks off to the side, walks away from his siblings. ALIA Jadin, where are you going?! He doesnt respond. INT. STORE SHED DAY Jadin shoves the door open. He spots the old barrel in the corner of the shed, leans against it. He pushes the barrel over, toppling it onto its side. Jadin claws at the floorboards. EXT. HOUSE DAY Alia and Connor watch their brother return, holding the old wooden box with the intricate carvings. He drops to his knees, shins slapping against the mud. Jadin places the box on the ground and opens its lid. Alia and Connor move in closer. Rain soaks the three of them, their clothes drenched, their lank hair hanging over their eyes. The home continues to burn beside them. CONNOR Jadin? What do we do now?

34 Jadin folds the silk aside, revealing the Old Sword beneath. The light of the fire gleams along its ancient blade. JADIN We find them. FADE OUT.