BEGINNING

Dialogue: Round Box

Thoughts: Bubbly Box
Tilda's (V.O.): Square Box
Int.: Interior
Ext.: Exterior
V.O.: Voice Over
O.S.: Off Screen

INT. BAXARTE ESTATE HALLWAY - NIGHT

TILDA (20) brunette maid, walks down the hallway carrying a
box.

TILDA (V.O.)
It's been three years and it's only
gotten worse.
LORD BAXARTE (O.S.)
You miserable worm!
WHAM!
Tilda peaks through the crack in the door.

INT. COSSARIA’S CLOSET ROOM - CONT.

Lord BAXARTE middle-aged, medium build frivolous noble, has a
raised fist.

INT. BAXARTE ESTATE HALLWAY

CU Tilda's face. She covers her mouth with her hand.

GIRL IN ROOM (O.S.)

AHHHH!
BAM, BAM, BAM.
Tilda hides around the corner. She's leaning against the
wall, hand over mouth, tears in her eyes.
Lord Baxarte exits the room, stomping in the other direction.
LORD BAXARTE
Ungrateful swine.
Tilda stands in front of the door, hand on the doorknob ready
to go into the room. She's still holding the box.
 2.

INT. COSSARIA’S CLOSET ROOM

Bathed in moonlight sits COSSARIA (16), hauntingly beautiful,
golden hair, covered in bruises and a slight trickle of blood
down one arm. Her eyes have a dull overlay.
Tilda sits beside her with an open can of ointment. She rubs
the ointment on Cossaria's arm.
TILDA
This should help soothe the pain.
COSSARIA
Thank you.
Tears start flowing down Cossaria’s eyes. Tilda hugs her.
Cossaria's fingers cling to Tilda, digging into her. Cossaria
sobs.
TILDA
I promise, I'll take care of you.

INT. SERVANT’S COMMONS - EVENING

Maids sitting around gossiping. Tilda is among them.
TILDA
So she’s an illegitimate child?
MAID MADDY (30) plain looking.
MAID MADDY
Yes. The count had an affair with a
priestess. The priestess died but
not before sending the count a note
about the girl. That’s when she was
first taken in, I heard.
MAID JULIET (19), hair in ringlets.
MAID JULIET
Shhhhh! Quiet down.
MAID MADDY
(whispering)
I’ve been working here for six
years. And I didn’t find out the
whole story until just a few months
ago.
TILDA
Has the abuse been going on for
that long?
 3.

MAID MADDY
As far as I know. Poor creature.
TILDA
I don’t think I’ve seen people so
cruel.
MAID JULIET
Don’t let the family hear you say
that. They’ll have us all fired.
Tilda has a clenched fist.
TILDA
There has to be something we can
do. We can’t let ourselves stoop to
their level of cruelty.
The two maids look at each other.

INT. SERVANT’S COMMONS - DAY

Morning meeting of the servants where they each get assigned
their daily jobs. Baxarte Head Maid points and gives orders,
SFX. "weeding the garden, changing the sheets, dishwashing
duty, etc."
TILDA (V.O.)
Most of the other servants had
tried to turn a blind eye. Some
embraced it. The head maid herself
refers to the lady as ‘the pest’.
Baxarte Head Maid points to Maid Maddy.
BAXARTE HEAD MAID
Give the pest dirty water.
MAID MADDY
Right away.
Maid Maddy and Tilda lock eyes. Tilda comes and stands next
to Maid Maddy.
TILDA
(Whispering)
Let her know I’ll come by later to
give her clean water.
Maid Maddy nods. Tilda watches Maid Maddy leave.
 4.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Tilda sneaks into Cossaria’s room with clean water.
The water sits on the table. Tilda holds a book.
TILDA
I brought you a book too.

INT. SERVANT’S COMMONS - DAY

Morning meeting with the servants. Looks similar to the other
morning meeting.
BAXARTE HEAD MAID
The moldy food, today it’s going to
the pest. Who wants to take it to
her?
TILDA
I will.

INT. COSSARIA’S CLOSET ROOM - DAY

Tilda gives Cossaria food. She has one hand behind her back.
TILDA
This is for you. Sorry, there’s not
a lot today.
COSSARIA
Thank you.
Cossaria eats. Tilda hides the moldy food in a bag behind
her.
TILDA (V.O.)
There were days I gave her my
meals. Days I stole things like
soap and medicine. Days I stayed up
late just to make sure she was
okay.

INT. BAXARTE KITCHEN - DAY

TILDA (V.O.)
But I couldn’t protect her from
everything.
Maids gossiping again. Servant Susan, Maid Juliet, and Tilda.
 5.

SERVANT SUSAN
I ripped apart her new dress, right
in front of her eyes and she didn’t
even flinch.
Tilda and Maid Juliet look horrified.
MAID JULIET
Oh geez. You did?
SERVANT SUSAN
Lady Melodia told me I could. I
just love how I can treat a noble's
daughter the same as how the nobles
treat us. They finally get what’s
coming to them, always looking down
on us for being commoners.
TILDA
But she hasn’t treated us that way.
SERVANT SUSAN
She’s one of them so she’s just as
guilty as all of them.

INT. COSSARIA’S CLOSET ROOM - EARLY MORNING

Tilda is sewing Cossaria’s dress. Cossaria watches.
COSSARIA
Thank you.
Tilda stops sewing and stares at Cossaria.
TILDA (V.O.)
She always said thank you.

INT. BAXARTE DINING ROOM - AFTERNOON

Tilda is stationed waiting along the wall with the other
maids.
Lord and Lady Baxarte, MELODIA (17) and BRUTIS (19) are
seated at the table.
TILDA (V.O.)
Her siblings were just as bad as
her parents.
MELODIA
Mother, why do we keep that thing
around? She’s like a weed.
 6.

Brutis has gelled back hair and reeks of expensive tastes.

BRUTIS
She’s going to ruin our family
name.

LADY BAXARTE
She does amazing things for your
father’s temper and I’m sure we’ll
find some use for her in the
future. We need a puppet don’t we?
They all laugh.
TILDA (V.O.)
Two years later, that use finally
came.

INT. SERVANT’S COMMONS - DAY

Servant's morning meeting.
BAXARTE HEAD MAID
The pest is getting sold off as a
bride to the tyrant Warenquith.
It’s some royal decree by the king.
Some form of control. Political
power moves and the sort. You all
know the drama. We need a girl to
accompany her as a personal maid to
the tyrant’s estate. We’re supposed
to present a good front for the
marriage. Any volunteers? Or I will
assign someone.
TILDA
I’ll go.
BAXARTE HEAD MAID
You sure?
TILDA
(shrugs)
Sure.
BAXARTE HEAD MAID
You can eat first then. A last meal
and all that since I doubt you’ll
leave the tyrant’s estate alive
knowing his reputation. But good
luck to you. And don’t think you
can get out of it.
 7.

TILDA
…Right…

EXT. BAXARTE ESTATE - DAY

Tilda and the Baxarte family stand by the carriage.
Cossaria is dressed in a nice gown, adorned in jewelry.
TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
She’s grown into such a beautiful
young woman.
Melodia has her arms folded. Lady Baxarte is rolling her
eyes.
MELODIA
Does she have to take those
earrings?
LADY BAXARTE
We can’t just send her off to the
duke’s estate in rags now can we?
Lord Baxarte sticks his finger at Cossaria.
LORD BAXARTE
Listen you filth. I’d rather your
dead body comes back to this estate
than to find out you couldn’t marry
the duke.
Tilda stands next to Cossaria.
TILDA
(thought bubble)
Miserable to the end. Can we please
just get this over with already?
The family stands back a ways. The coachman WHIPS the reins.
Tilda sits next to the coachman, Cossaria sits inside,
curtains drawn.
The carriage rides down the road and passes by the servants
area.
Tilda sees Maid Maddy and Maid Juliet waving.
FADE TO FLACKBACK:
 8.

INT. SERVANT’S DINING AREA - DAY

The maids are bear hugging Tilda.
MAID JULIET
We’ll miss you.
Maid Juliet lets go but holds onto Tilda's hand. Maid Maddy
hugs her extra tight.
MAID MADDY
Goodbye.
TILDA
I won’t die.
Tilda looks the other direction.
TILDA (CONT'D)
Probably.
Maid Maddy releases the hug but holds Tilda's shoulders. She
is staring at Tilda in the eyes.
MAID MADDY
Goodbye.
END OF FLASHBACK.

EXT. BAXARTE ESTATE - DAY

Tilda waves, a slightly sarcastic expression on her face.
TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
They sure do have a way to lift
spirits.

 
 9.

SPIT

EXT. RED FOREST PASS - DAY

The carriage plows along.
COACHMAN
Let’s stop here for lunch. And stay
close to the path, there are
monsters in these woods.

EXT. WOOD CLEARING - DAY

Tilda hands Cossaria a sandwich.
TILDA
Here you are Lady Cossaria.
COSSARIA
Thank you.
Cossaria starts crying.
TILDA
Oh dear, what’s wrong?
COSSARIA
You were always so nice to me. But
now you have to go with me to live
under a tyrant. I just can’t do
anything right.
TILDA
Milady, that’s not true. You are
sweet and beautiful. And I choose
to be here.
COSSARIA
You did?
TILDA
Yes, I wanted to go with you. I’ll
do my best to continue to protect
you. Even against a tyrant.
Cossaria cries harder.
COSSARIA
But what if you get killed because
of me!
 10.

TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
Everyone has such high faith in my
ability to stay alive.
TILDA
Then don’t blame yourself. My death
will be my own fault and that will
be that.
TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
Unless it’s the tyrant’s fault.
COSSARIA
But… but…
Tilda wipes Cossaria’s face.
TILDA
Now you’ve reddened your beautiful
face. If only you weren’t so cute,
then maybe the duke would reject
you and you could run away and be
happy.
COSSARIA
If I wasn’t so cute?
TILDA
Yup.
Cossaria becomes serious.
COSSARIA
How do I not be cute?
TILDA
What?
COSSARIA
I'll make the duke not like me.
TILDA
I don’t think that's going to have
the effect you want.
COSSARIA
Please?
 11.

TILDA
Tell you what. You can’t control
how the duke will feel about you,
but I can teach you a trick so that
will make you unattractive.
COSSARIA
You can?
Shining eyes. Epitome of cuteness.
TILDA
Yup. Works for me everytime. You
hawk a loogie.
COSSARIA
Hawk a loogie?
TILDA
Watch.
Tilda breathes in gathering all the gunk in her nose. Then
she spits a nasty loogie on the ground.
TILDA (CONT'D)
Like that.
Cossaria’s face is horrified.
COSSARIA
Okay.
She breathes in, gathering her gunk. She starts coughing.
Tilda pats her back.
TILDA
Don’t hurt yourself. See, it’s just
not for you.
COSSARIA
But…
COACHMAN
Time to get going.
TILDA
Right away sir.
Tilda stands up and offers her hand to Cossaria.
 12.

MEETING DELRIK

EXT. WARENQUITH ESTATE - DAY

Delrik stands at attention, a swarm of guards behind him.
Felux on his right side. The carriage pulls up.
TILDA (V.O.)
Delrik Alabaster Warenquith, the
duke of Warenquith. A tyrant known
for murdering in cold blood. A
temper as hot as a furnace, a
disposition as cold as ice. Some
say he’s a spy for the king. Others
say he’s planning to overthrow him.
The carriage stops.
Tilda looks at him and his entourage.
TILDA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
(thinks)
Weird that he’s greeting us in
person. It’s too polite for someone
like a tyrant.
The soldiers stand at attention. Tilda opens the door to the
carriage and holds out her hand. Cossaria comes out of the
carriage. Cossaria looks like an angel. Delrik catches his
breath. Felux notices.
Cossaria approaches Delrik. She stops before him. She gathers
in the gunk in her nose.
TILDA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
(thinks)
Please tell me she is not!!!
Cossaria spits and a tiny trickle comes out of her mouth. It
glitters in the light and lands softly on the ground.
EVERYONE (V.O.)
(thinks)
Did she just spit???
Cossaria curtsies.
COSSARIA
Lord Warenquith.
Delrik takes her hand and kisses it.
 13.

DELRIK
Lady Baxarte.
TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
So what? We’re just going to ignore
the fact that she just spat in
front of the Duke???
DELRIK
My knight Sir Felux will escort you
to your room.
Delrik walks away.
Felux bows.
FELUX
I am Felux Lothar. It is a pleasure
to meet you.
TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
He cute. I wonder if he's single.

INT. COSSARIA’S ROOM - DAY

FELUX
This shall be your personal
quarters.
COSSARIA
It’s so big.
FELUX
Lord Delrik wanted you to have the
best.
COSSARIA
Oh.
FELUX
(to Tilda)
Shall I escort you to the servant’s
quarters?
TILDA
In just a moment. I need to speak
with the Lady for a moment. Can you
wait outside for just a moment?
Felux nods.
 14.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Felux is waiting.
TILDA (O.S.)
My Lady, what were you thinking?!
You spat in front of the duke!
Felux covers a laugh.
COSSARIA (O.S.)
I thought it would make me less
attractive. It seemed to work when
you did it.

INT. COSSARIA’S ROOM - DAY

TILDA
Don’t. Don’t ever do that again.
He’s not the type to mess with. You
have to be careful around people
like him.
COSSARIA
Is he dangerous?
TILDA
Extremely.
COSSARIA
Oh, why do I have to marry someone
like that?
TILDA
Whining isn’t going to help my
Lady.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Felux waits, looking at the door.
TILDA (O.S.)
We’ll figure something out. You’ll
be okay.
Felux looks down.
COSSARIA (O.S.)
How do you know that? You can’t
guarantee it.
 15.

INT. COSSARIA’S ROOM - DAY

TILDA
You’re right. I can’t guarantee
that, but I will do everything I
can to make it true.
Tilda kisses Cossaria’s forehead.

INT. HALLWAY - DAY

Tilda leaves the room. Felux stares at her with admiration.
TILDA
What?
FELUX
(asking rhetorically)
Who are you?
TILDA
I’m Tilda Attaway. I’m Lady
Cossaria’s personal maid. You were
escorting me to the servant’s
quarters?

INT. DELRIK’S ROOM - DAY

Delrik stares out the window.
DELRIK
Is there some custom or something
that I am unaware of?
FELUX
I would know less than you would on
things like that.
DELRIK
Did she really spit, or was that my
imagination?
FELUX
Aye, she really did spit.
DELRIK
What was the purpose do you think?
FELUX
From what I can gather, it seems
that the Lady doesn’t want to marry
you.
 16.

Delrik fists his hands and leans against the window looking
out.
DELRIK
I see. Very well.

INT. LADY COSSARIA’S ROOM - DAY

TILDA
Maybe you should give him a chance.
COSSARIA
You think so?
TILDA
Sure, maybe he’s not as bad as
everyone says. This marriage might
actually be the perfect way for you
to escape your terrible family.
COSSARIA
But if he’s dangerous, shouldn’t I
avoid him?
TILDA
Not all dangerous things are bad.
Sometimes the best things are
extremely dangerous.
TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
Like a storm that brings rain, or
fire that brings light.
COSSARIA
Like panthers!
TILDA
Um… I was thinking something
different, but sure, yah, panthers
can be good.
COSSARIA
Then I’ll get him to like me and
I’ll be happy.
TILDA
Uh, that might not work how you
think it will
COSSARIA
Thank you Tilda!
 17.

Cossaria hugs Tilda. Tilda rolls her eyes.

TILDA (V.O.)
(thinks)
Poor baby. She’s had such a hard
life.