Episode 10 - Valentine
VALENTINE
TEASER
OVER BLACK:
TARA (O.S.)
His grandfather told him that many
princes had tried to penetrate the
hedge,..
INT. WILLOW AND TARA'S ROOM - NIGHT (NIGHT ONE)
ANGLE ON : PICTURES OF WILLOW AND TARA ON A DESK
Static shot as we continue to hear Tara's voice.
TARA (O.S.)
but they had gotten stuck in the
thorns and had been pricked to
death. "I'm not afraid of that,"
said the prince. "I shall penetrate
the hedge and free the beautiful
Briar-Rose."
ANGLE ON : A STACK OF MAGIC BOOKS ON A SHELF
Another static shot as Tara continues.
TARA (O.S.)
He went forth, but when he came to
the thorn hedge, it turned into
flowers. They separated, and he
walked through, but after he passed,
they turned back into thorns. He
went into the castle.
ANGLE ON : AMY THE RAT
Static shot of Amy in her cage.
TARA (O.S.)
All the attendants were asleep; and
still further, the king and the
queen, it was so quiet that he could
hear his own breath.
We begin to slowly PAN to the left from Amy to the..
WILLOW (O.S.)
Wait.
The PAN abruptly stops, we quickly PAN back to the
right to Amy. Static shot on Amy.
TARA (O.S.)
What?
WILLOW (O.S.)
You're skipping. You left out some
stuff.
TARA (O.S.)
Oh the stuff about the cook, the
maids and the pigeons? So not
interesting. I'm giving you the
special edited version, you know,
um.. keeping the story flow going?
WILLOW (O.S.)
But it's not the same..
TARA (O.S.)
Do you want me to continue or not?
WILLOW (O.S.)
(quieter, apologetic)
Sorry. Keep going.
We begin to PAN to the left again as Tara continues..
TARA (O.S.)
Finally he came to the old tower
where Briar-Rose was lying asleep.
PAN finally ends at the bed and a shot of Miss Kitty
in someone's lap. Miss Kitty stares intently at Amy as
we see a hand gently stroking the cat.
TARA (O.S.)
The prince was so amazed at her
beauty that he bent over and kissed
her.
We PAN up from Miss Kitty and WIDEN to reveal Tara and
Willow in bed together. Tara is reading from a book
while Willow is leaning sleepily on her shoulder,
reading along as Tara speaks and lazily playing with
Miss Kitty.
TARA
At that moment she awoke, and with
her the king and the queen, and all
the attendants. Then the prince and
Briar-Rose got married, and they
lived happily until they died.
WILLOW
You see? Why couldn't they leave it
at 'happily ever after'? I expect
'happily ever afters' in my
fairytales. Give me the Disney
ending anyday.
TARA
I guess if you love someone to the
end, you know, whatever that is, it
is kinda ever after. It's forever.
At least, I know that's how it'll be
with me and you.
Willow smiles. She then yawns sleepily.
TARA
I'm glad you're so entranced by my
story-telling abilities.
WILLOW
Oh No. I mean, involuntary yawn!.
Don't mind me, I'm just a sleepy-
head. As hard as I've tried, I've
never been able to stay awake till
late. I guess it's my body telling
me to get to sleep cause, you know,
if I don't get my full eight hours,
I'm like Ms Cranky-in-the-morning.
And believe me, that's an unplesant
side of me that I wouldn't wish upon
anyone.
TARA
(smiling)
Honey. I love all your sides.
Willow smiles. She takes the book from Tara and takes
a look at it.
WILLOW
Sleeping Beauty. I don't know. It's
like, she's so passive. I mean, all
she does in the story is sleep.
TARA
Hence the title.
WILLOW
I'm just saying, I'd rather be the
Prince, you know, be the one that
steps through the thorn hedge, slay
the mighty dragon..
TARA
Um.. Disney.
WILLOW
Oh.. right.
Willow hands the book back to Tara.
TARA
(looking at the cover)
I just kinda have a soft spot for
it. It used to be my favourite thing
in the world, you know, when I was
little. I remember when my mom would
read it to me before I went to bed.
Such a cliche, I know.
(slightly wistful)
But it was like the best time, you
know, when I could just close my
eyes and listen to the sound of her
voice.
Tara smiles, perking back up.
TARA
(indicating the book)
Besides, the story's about someone
who's willing to risk everything,
their life even, to be with another
person. I think that's like the
ultimate declaration of love.
WILLOW
(yawning, sleepily)
You're such a romantic. Maybe I
should read it to you sometime.
Willow shooshes Miss Kitty off the bed and Tara puts
the book away. Both getting ready for bed.
TARA
No need. I mean, this thing was my
favourite thing in the world when I
was a child, but you're my favourite
thing in the world now.
They exchange loving smiles. Tara switches off the
light and both slumber down on the bed. Willow resting
her head on Tara's shoulder. We see them in semi-
darkness.
WILLOW
(sleepily)
Better than magic?
TARA
Better than magic.
WILLOW
(more sleepily)
Better than horsies?
TARA
Much.
As we slowly FADE TO BLACK.
WILLOW
(even more sleepily)
Better than chocolate?
TARA
(after a slight pause)
Um.. it's a tie.
From black, we FADE UP to reveal..
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION/SOLOMON'S ROOM - NIGHT
We see Solomon getting up from his bed, slowly walking
and exiting his room into..
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION/HALLWAY - NIGHT
where he sees a mirror on a wall. He sees his own
reflection in the mirror. He touches his face,
inspecting the reflection, as if seeing it for the
first time. He continues to walk to..
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION/THRONE ROOM - NIGHT
Where he sees the General sitting on his throne,
surrounded by Flix, Trix, Tarwin and Sasha. Solomon
stands a few metres apart from the group. All seem to
ignore him except Sasha who slowly turns to him.
SASHA
Where are you going?
Solomon ignores Sasha and heads for the grand
staircase leading up to the second level.
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION/SECOND LEVEL HALLWAY - NIGHT
After reaching the top of the stairs, Solomon
continues to slowly walk down a hallway which
overlooks the throne room. He takes a last look down
at the throne room before walking by it. It is a long
hallway. After walking for a beat, he finds himself
now overlooking the training room, but he is more
interested in the stairs ahead of him which leads
upstairs.
He climbs the stairs which lead to..
INT. CAT LADY' HOUSE - NIGHT
as Solomon continues to slowly walk, heading for the
front door. He reaches for the knob and slowly opens
the door to reveal.. a bright sunny day, sunlight
streaming in.
ANGLE : SOLOMON
as the sunlight gradually covers his face as he opens
the door. He looks up at the sun, smiling. He walks
out..
EXT. OUTSIDE CAT LADY'S HOUSE - DAY
as Solomon walks down the path leading to the street.
Suddenly we DISSOLVE to..
EXT. OUTSIDE A LARGE CHURCH - DAY
as Solomon walks up the steps to the church entrance.
He stops for a moment, looking at the church door. He
slowly reaches out and opens it. He enters.
INT. A LARGE CHURCH - DAY
We see a large, empty church.
ANGLE : FROM BEHIND SOLOMON
as he slowly walks down the middle aisle, surrounded
by empty pews. Off in the distance, at the front of
the church, we see a lone female figure standing in
front of a baptismal font.
Solomon slowly approaches the figure. He stands right
behind her when she turns around to face him.
ANGLE : TARA
slightly smiling to Solomon.
TARA
I choose you.
Tara cups her hands and reaches into the font. She
brings up some water in her hands, holds it to her
mouth and takes a gentle sip. She then holds the water
out towards Solomon. Solomon looks at Tara with
longing.
Solomon cups his hands below Tara's. Tara gently opens
her hands. In SLO-MO we see the water fall down onto
Solomon's cupped hands. It begins to burn him
horribly.
Solomon lets out an anguished cry as his hands begin
to burn and smoke.
INT. GENERAL'S MANSION/SOLOMON'S ROOM - NIGHT
as Solomon wakes up with a start from his bed,
breathing hard. He vamps out, a look of pure rage on
his face.
BLACKOUT
END OF TEASER
CONTINUE TO ACT ONE