EXT. PLAIN OF DREAMS - ESTABLISHING
A surreal, fog-shrouded plain, stark and brooding. In b.g., dimly glimpsed through the mists, are monoliths of basalt that suggest huge Stonehenge-like dolmens and menhirs. We cannot tell if it is day or night -- the gray fog itself seems luminous. SFX: FARAWAY WINDS.
DUNGEON MASTER: (O.S.) Venger?
ANOTHER ANGLE
DUNGEON MASTER stands in the midst of the desolation, looking about him. He is not afraid; on the other hand, he doesn't look overjoyed
at being here.
VENGER: (O.S.) I am here, old man.
Dungeon Master turns in time to see a magic bolt split a monolith. It crashes to either side, revealing VENGER amidst the swirling fog. He looks down at Dungeon Master.
VENGER: (CONT'D) Dungeon Master, you are a fool.
FAVORING DUNGEON MASTER
He raises a polite eyebrow, but does not reply.
VENGER: (CONT'D) Your pupils are doomed to failure. They are brave only because they know you stand behind them.
DUNGEON MASTER: Not so. They can triumph over anything in the Realm -- as you well know. They will not fail.
CLOSE ON VENGER
He scowls, then smiles craftily, as if an idea has just occurred to him.
VENGER: Well, then -- perhaps you would not be adverse to a test of their courage?
ON DUNGEON MASTER
He looks wary.
VENGER: (O.S. CONT'D) We shall see how brave they are when you turn away from them. If they succeed, they will find the Key.
DUNGEON MASTER: And if they fail -- what do they lose?
ON VENGER
He raises a fist CRACKLING with Kirbyesque power.
VENGER: Everything. Their weapons -- and their lives.
CLOSE ON DUNGEON MASTER
He bows his head and folds his hands together.
DUNGEON MASTER: So be it.
SHOCK CUT TO:
EXT. MOORS - DAY
As the seven heads of an enormous HYDRA lash straight at us! SFX: HISSING. PULL BACK to include BOBBY, HANK, ERIC, DIANA, SHEILA, UNI and PRESTO, all running for their lives across a moody expanse of swampy moors with the hydra in hot pursuit.
KIDS (ad lib): Look out! Run! Here it comes! (Etc.)
HYDRA: (roars)
REVERSE ANGLE - OTS HYDRA
Lumbering forward, big enough to CRUSH small trees under its feet, its heads SNAPPING and HISSING at our guys.
HYDRA: (hisses)
ERIC: Do something, Hank! You're the leader!
ON HANK - RUNNING
He stops and fires an energy arrow up O.S.
ON HYDRA
The energy arrow streaks INTO SHOT and wraps about the hydra's necks, pinning them together for an instant. But the hydra BREAKS the glowing bonds and keeps coming.
HANK: (O.S.) It's too strong!
ON ERIC - RUNNING
One of the heads swoops down, grabs Eric by the cape and lifts him up O.S.
ERIC: Haaaallp!
ON BOBBY
He swings his club at a dead tree, KNOCKING it loose from its roots. The tree begins to topple.
BOBBY: Timberrr!
ON HYDRA
Still holding Eric with one of its beaks. The tree falls INTO SHOT and the head dodges, releasing Eric as it does so. Eric falls O.S.
HYDRA: (hisses)
ON GROUND
Eric sprawls in the mud.
ERIC: (impact grunt)
He rolls over and scrambles out of the way of another striking head, just in time.
ERIC: This thing's got more heads than Tiamat!
ON DIANA - RUNNING
She dodges one head and leaps over another.
DIANA: There's no place to hide! It's gonna get us, sooner or later!
ON PRESTO, SHEILA AND UNI
Cornered against a small spur of rock by two SNAPPING, HISSING heads, Presto has no room to use his hat.
HYDRA: (hisses)
PRESTO: It's got us cornered!
UNI: (frightened whinny)
ON BOBBY
He raises his club over his head.
BOBBY: Hang on, Sis! I'm coming!
A head swoops down INTO SHOT and seizes Bobby's club, lifting him from the ground. He dangles helplessly.
BOBBY: Whooah!
ON ERIC
Scrabbling across the marshy ground on his hands and knees. There's nothing funny about this -- he's crawling for his life. Then he looks up O.S., and grins in sudden relief.
ERIC: All right! Everything's gonna be okay now!
He points O.S.
ON HANK AND DIANA
Backing up warily before another SNAPPING head, Diana holding it off with her staff. Hank has an arrow nocked. They risk a look up O.S., and then grin in relief.
HANK: Dungeon Master!
THEIR POV - DUNGEON MASTER
Standing on an overhang of rock, looking down on the kids, who are arrayed in a loose semicircle with the hydra in the middle, its heads weaving on long, snaky necks.
KIDS (ad lib): Dungeon Master, help! Get us out of this! Take care of this thing, willya? (Etc.)
ON DUNGEON MASTER
He is looking down O.S. at them with a grim expression on his face.
DUNGEON MASTER: You got into this by yourselves, my young friends --
CLOSE ON HIM
His expression is more than grim now -- it's stern, unforgiving.
DUNGEON MASTER: (CONT'D) -- Now get out of it by yourselves!
He turns his back and steps down off the rock, disappearing from view.
CLOSE ON ERIC
He stares up O.S. in disbelief.
ERIC: (despairing disbelief) Huh?!
He reacts in fear to an O.S. ROAR.
HIS POV - HYDRA HEAD
Lunging straight for us!
HYDRA: (roars)
FAVOR ERIC
Hank dives THROUGH SHOT, knocking Eric out of the way as the beak SNAPS on empty air.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Hank pulls Eric to his feet. Eric has a look of sick betrayal on his face.
ERIC: I don't believe it! He deserted us!
ON HANK
Another O.S. ROAR snaps him around.
HYDRA: (O.S.) (roars)
HANK: We'll worry about that later -- if there is a later!
He FIRES three energy arrows O.S. in quick succession.
ON PRESTO, SHEILA AND UNI
Still trapped by the hydra's heads. An arrow ENTERS SHOT and STRIKES the rock wall to one side of them, SPLITTING a fissure down the middle of it. They scramble through it.
UNI: (squeal of fear)
ON BOBBY
Still dangling from one of the hydra's beaks. The second arrow STRIKES the club, knocking it free of the beak's grasp. Bobby lands and runs O.S.
BOBBY: (lands, runs)
ON DIANA
Still fending off another head with her staff.
HYDRA: (roars, hisses)
DIANA: (effort)
The third arrow steaks INTO SHOT and EXPLODES like a flare before the hydra's eyes, causing it to jerk back.
HYDRA: (surprised hiss)
Diana leaps over a low spur of rock and runs O.S.
ON RIDS - DOWNSHOT
They regroup, weapons at the ready, as the hydra lurches menacingly toward them again. Uni shrinks back against Bobby.
HYDRA: (menacing hiss)
SHEILA: It just keeps coming! What're we gonna do?
ON HANK
He looks about desperately, then spots something O.S.
HANK: This way! Move it!
He runs O.S.
WIDE ANGLE - MARSH
The kids run THROUGH SHOT, tripping on roots and patches of mud, SPLASHING through noxious pools, getting their clothes caught on bushes. Their faces are full of fear. Uni gallops alongside them. The hydra is right on their heels as they run for their lives.
HYDRA: (roars, hisses)
ON HANK - RUNNING
His eyes fixed on something ahead O.S. From behind one of the heads GAINS INTO SHOT, almost within reach of him.
HANK: (runs)
PAN AHEAD TO INCLUDE a nasty looking bog -- a pool of green, slimy water that looks like it could kill a bubonic plague bacillus.
HANK'S POV - BOG
PUSH IN on it, HANDHELD TRUCK, as if we were running toward it.
HANK: (O.S.) (effort) Get ready --
OVERHEAD SHOT - WIDE
The kids and Uni reach the edge of the bog.
HANK: (CONT'D) Now! Scatter!
They break off to either side, running along the edge of the bog as the hydra's momentum carries it ahead into the morass.
HYDRA: (hissing)
ON HYDRA
It blunders in the middle of the bog with a tremendous SPLASH! Mud and slime fly everywhere. The hydra sinks in the morass, floundering helplessly, its heads STRIKING and SNAPPING futilely as it ROARS and HISSES angrily.
HYDRA: (angry roars, hisses)
ANGLE INCLUDES KIDS
They regroup on the edge of the bog, out of the hydra's reach. They're exhausted, mud spattered, breathing heavily. Presto slumps to his knees. Bobby huddles in Sheila's cloak. Diana leans wearily on her staff. Uni sprawls in the mud. Hank braces himself, hands on knees.
HANK: (breathing hard) We did it. We're still alive.
ON ERIC
He looks grim.
ERIC: Yeah -- no thanks to Dungeon Master.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SALT FLATS - CROSSROADS - EVENING
The two suns are low in the sky, shading the salt flats red. The kids, still looking much the worse for wear, are at the junction of two roads through the wasteland, neither of which look particularly appealing, though the east fork appears the better traveled.
CLOSER
A signpost of weathered gray wood is mounted at the crossroads. One of the signs has fallen; the other hangs from a single rusty nail, pointing at the sky. Presto looks at it.
PRESTO: According to this, the Flame Mountains are -- that way.
He points straight up, mimicking the sign.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Bobby picks up the other sign, rubs some rime from it.
BOBBY: (reads) "This way to the Sea of Sorrow."
WIDE ANGLE
Sheila looks at the two roads.
SHEILA: Great. Which road leads where?
ON ERIC
He looks very down.
ERIC: Who cares? It doesn't matter. (beat) I can't believe he would just abandon us like that.
He starts to trudge down the eastern fork.
FAVORING HANK
He realizes it's up to him to make a decision. He looks from one road to the other, then points to the western fork.
HANK: We go west, Eric.
Eric just looks at him. He makes no move to return.
ERIC: Why?
HANK: It's downhill. We're more likely to find water.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Eric returns to the crossroads, looking at Hank. He's frowning slightly. The other kids watch uneasily; they sense tension.
ERIC: The other way's a better road -- might lead to a town.
Hank is somewhat nettled, but trying to keep his cool.
HANK: I'm the leader, Eric. You said so before -- remember?
TWO SHOT - HANK AND ERIC
Eric steps up to Hank, locking gazes with him.
ERIC: I was under a lot of pressure then. Maybe I see things clearer now. (beat) Maybe it's time we had a little election. Whattaya say, Presto?
REFIELD to include the others as Eric turns to Presto for support. Presto looks at the others nervously.
PRESTO: Uh -- well, the eastern road does look better...
WIDE ANGLE
Bobby steps over to Hank, as does Uni. Diana is already by Hank's side.
BOBBY: Yeah? Well, I think the west road looks better.
Uni looks at Eric disdainfully.
UNI: (horselips)
ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVOR SHEILA
Sheila looks uncertain; as always, she tries to mediate.
SHEILA: Now wait a minute, Bobby --
BOBBY: (interrupting) Keep out of this, Sis!
Sheila, stung, takes a step backwards, which puts her closer to Eric. A full-blown ARGUMENT erupts, the kids SHOUTING and pointing fingers at each other accusingly. Hank is the only one who doesn't take part in it; he looks from one side to the other in shocked disbelief.
KIDS (ad lib): You don't know what you're talking about! Aw, dry up! You're always throwing your weight around! (Etc.)
FAVORING HANK
He steps between the two factions and raises both hands.
HANK: (shouts) Hold it, hold it!
The others stop and look at him.
HANK: (CONT'D) C'mon, we all know what this is really about. We're not mad at each other -- we're mad at Dungeon Master.
The others know he's right; they look embarrassed, avoiding each other's gaze.
CLOSE ON HANK
He makes a helpless gesture.
HANK: (CONT'D) I don't know what to tell you -- except that it's getting dark, and we'd better find a place to camp. (beat; to Eric) You want the point, Eric? You got it. Lead the way.
FAVOR ERIC
He looks somewhat resentfully at Hank, then turns and takes the eastern road O.S. The others follow him. Hank watches them go. Bobby and Uni are the last; Bobby turns and looks back at Hank. Hank follows, stone-faced.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SEA OF SORROWS - NIGHT - CLOSE ON DRIFTWOOD
A pile of weathered wood on the sand. An energy arrow from O.S. STRIKES it, turning it into the flames of a campfire. PULL BACK to show the kids and Uni sitting on stones and logs around the fire. Hank slings his bow and sits down with them. In b.g. we can see the moons' reflections shimmering on the surface of the sea. SFX: BREAKERS.
DIANA: Maybe it wasn't really Dungeon Master...
FAVOR ERIC
He pokes at the flames with a stick. SPARKS scatter.
ERIC: It was him. D'you think I wouldn't know him? (beat; bitterly) This whole Realm is a dungeon, y'know that? And we're all prisoners. We thought Dungeon Master was our friend, but it turns out he's just another guard.
FAVOR SHEILA
She huddles closer to the fire, shivering more from fear than cold.
SHEILA: What're we gonna do now? If Dungeon Master's abandoned us, who's gonna help us?
VENGER: (O.S.) I will help you.
WIDE ANGLE - ALL
They know that voice. In an instant all are on their feet, weapons ready, staring into the darkness that surrounds the fire.
DRAMATIC ANGLE - VENGER
He steps out of the darkness into the flickering light of the fire. PULL BACK to include the others. Uni hides behind Bobby. Venger holds out his hands in a gesture of peace.
VENGER: Be at ease, my young enemies. I shall not harm you.
ON HANK
Watching suspiciously from behind a nocked energy arrow.
HANK: Move very slowly, Venger.
ON VENGER
One corner of his mouth lifts slightly at Hank's warning. He looks at the kids.
VENGER: So Dungeon Master has finally shown his true colors. Have you never wondered why his advice always led you into battle, and never back to your world?
ANGLE INCLUDES KIDS
Eric, Sheila, and Presto look somewhat uncertain. Bobby, Diana and Hank still hold their weapons at the ready. The BREAKERS counterpoint the uneasy silence.
VENGER: (CONT'D) It has been convenient for you to see Dungeon Master as good, and me as evil. But things are not that simple.
ON VENGER AND CAMPFIRE
Venger stares broodingly into its flames.
VENGER: (CONT'D) I have granted you your lives before. Aid me now, and I shall grant you your dearest wish -- I will send you back to your own world.
CLOSER
He makes a gesture at the flames. They BLAZE UP, forming a miniature portal in which can be seen the amusement park.
ON ERIC, SHEILA, PRESTO
They stare longingly at the flickering image.
VENGER: (O.S. CONT'D) Far to the south lies Realm's Edge. There you will find a cenotaph -- an empty tomb. Within it is a key, which you must cast into the Abyss.
WIDE ANGLE - ALL
Venger makes another gesture and the image vanishes in sync with a particularly loud CRASH OF SURF.
VENGER: (CONT'D) Do this, and you will go home. You have my word.
The flames BLAZE UP again, higher than ever. When they die down, Venger has vanished.
ON KIDS
They look at each other, speechless. Suddenly Hank fires the nocked arrow O.S. skyward in a gesture of defiance. It EXPLODES above them like a flare, providing eerie light.
HANK: Forget it, Venger! No way we're working for you!
CLOSER
Eric steps forward.
ERIC: Wait a minute, Hank. What choice do we have? Dungeon Master's abandoned us -- Venger may be our only ticket home.
Presto steps INTO SHOT alongside Eric.
PRESTO: I think Eric's got a point, Hank. Venger's ruthless, but he's got a code. I believe him.
Sheila joins them.
SHEILA: So do I. All I want is to go home -- and I don't care who's responsible for sending us there.
ANGLE FAVORS HANK, BOBBY, UNI, DIANA
They look at the others incredulously.
DIANA: You guys can't be serious. You know Venger's bad news.
Hank steps toward Eric, extends a hand toward him.
HANK: Eric, we gotta stick together --
ANOTHER ANGLE
Eric brushes his hand aside.
ERIC: (angry) Why, Hank? We always stick together -- and it hasn't gotten us home. (beat) You guys can do what you want -- but we're going after that key.
He turns and EXITS SHOT. Presto hesitates, then follows. Sheila turns, then looks back at Bobby.
SHEILA: Bobby -- won't you change your mind?
ON BOBBY
He looks very young and uncertain, but he shakes his head and moves closer to Hank.
BOBBY: I think you're making a mistake, Sheila.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Sheila turns and runs into the darkness after the others. Hank, Bobby, Diana and Uni watch her go. SFX: BREAKERS.
WIPE TO:
EXT. SEASHORE - NIGHT
The breakers, foamy with salt in solution, CRASH on the rime- crusted shore. An ancient galleon is wrecked there, sails hanging in tatters, salt stains glittering in the moonlight. Eric, Presto and Sheila ENTER SHOT and climb onto the canted deck.
ERIC: Think you can make this thing fly, Presto?
ON PRESTO
He takes off his hat and makes magic passes over it, frowning in concentration.
PRESTO: Magic in the hat be free; let us use the sky as the sea.
WIDE ANGLE
A shimmering arc of magic light ERUPTS from the hat, engulfing the galleon and lifting it, with much CREAKING and SNAPPING of aged wood, free of the sand.
CLOSER ON THEM
The ship rises, the remnants of sails FLAPPING uselessly. Eric faces the bow, looking grimly ahead. Sheila stands behind him.
SHEILA: Are we doing the right thing, Eric?
Eric doesn't look at her.
ERIC: I don't know. But we're not turning back.
CUT TO:
EXT. CAMPFIRE - ON HANK, DIANA, BOBBY, UNI
Standing by the dying embers of the fire, watching the silhouette of the galleon sail across the three moons.
HANK: We've got to get to Realm's Edge first, somehow --
An O.S. ROAR interrupts him; they all look O.S. and react.
BRONZE DRAGON: (O.S.) (roars)
THEIR POV - SEASHORE
A huge BRONZE DRAGON lands at the water's edge, its wings spraying foam and sand.
ON KIDS
Bobby steps back warily, raising his club.
BOBBY: Just what we need -- more problems!
UNI: (horselips)
Diana steps forward.
DIANA: Wait, Bobby. That's a bronze dragon -- it might help us.
ON BRONZE DRAGON
It watches Diana as she steps forward, her staff raised. She TAPS it gently on its horns with her staff, like a mahout gentling an elephant. With a SNORT, the dragon lowers its head.
BRONZE DRAGON: (snorts)
Diana looks at the others triumphantly.
DIANA: All aboard!
ANOTHER ANGLE
Bobby, Uni and Hank join Diana on the bronze dragon's broad back. There is room enough for Uni to huddle between two of the dragon's huge dorsal plates. Diana sits behind the beast's horns.
HANK: I hope you know what you're doing, Diana.
DIANA: So do I.
WIDE ANGLE
She TAPS the dragon's horns again. With a THUNDERCLAP of wings the great creature lifts into the night sky.
AERIAL LONG SHOT - BRONZE DRAGON AND FLYING GALLEON
The bronze dragon flies after the shrinking form of the galleon, as we --
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. REALM - AERIAL SHOT - DAWN
Much the same shot as before, with the bronze dragon still pursuing the flying ship. They are flying south over a rocky, barren land which rises to mountains in the distance. To the west the two suns are rising.
ON BRONZE DRAGON'S BACK - PANNING
Diana, Bobby and Uni are asleep, curled up in the hollows between the plates, well ahead of the STROKING wings. Hank stands in another hollow, looking grimly ahead, the WIND ruffling his hair. PUSH IN on him as he stares O.S. after the galleon. Suddenly Diana's hand ENTERS SHOT and touches his shoulder. He turns to see her behind him, rubbing her eyes sleepily.
DIANA: (sleepily) You should get some sleep.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Hank looks off into the distance, frowning.
HANK: Why do you think we're here, Diana?
DIANA: In the Realm? (beat) I always thought it was to defeat Venger.
Hank looks ahead again.
HANK: So did I -- but I'm beginning to wonder. Maybe Venger's right about one thing -- maybe things aren't that simple.
BOBBY: (O.S.) Hey, look!
ANGLE INCLUDES BOBBY
He and Uni are now awake. He stands atop one of the plates, pointing ahead excitedly.
THEIR POV - FLAME MOUNTAINS
They are approaching the range of mountains now, and we can see they consist of active volcanoes. Curtains of smoke and ash hang over bubbling cauldrons of lava. Incandescent fountains shoot up. None of the peaks are in the throes of a major eruption, but all together they present a dangerous gauntlet to run. SFX: RUMBLING, BUBBLING LAVA.
ON GALLEON - PANNING
It weaves its way through the deadly peaks. Eric looks over the side and GULPS as they pass very close to a lake of fire.
ERIC: (gulps) Hey, we're slowing down, Presto!
ON PRESTO
He takes off his hat and shakes it as though trying to dump more magic out of it. Nothing happens.
PRESTO: I think my spell's running out of gas!
WIDE ANGLE - ALL
Sheila looks back O.S.
SHEILA: They're gaining on us!
THEIR POV - BRONZE DRAGON
Flying through the clouds of ash. We can see Hank leaning around one of the plates, looking down.
HANK: Stop, you guys! Please!
REVERSE ANGLE
Eric looks up defiantly.
ERIC: No way! This is our last chance to go home!
ON HANK - PANNING
He looks angry. He pulls back an arrow.
HANK: Have it your way --!
Diana grabs his arm.
DIANA: Hank! What're you doing?
HANK: I'm gonna force them down!
He pulls free of Diana's arm and FIRES the arrow down O.S.
ON ERIC
He raises his shield; the arrow RICOCHETS from it O.S.
DOWNSHOT - VOLCANIC CRATER
The arrow plunges straight down into the seething molten rock, setting off a tremendous ERUPTION that hurtles straight up at us!
ON GALLEON - MOVING
A rain of fiery fragments SHOWERS down on its deck, setting the bits of sailcoth afire. Glowing clouds surround the ship. Sheila and Presto crowd under Eric's shield as chunks of brimstone bounce off it. Smoke obscures the scene.
ERIC, SHEILA, PRESTO: (fearful walla)
ON BRONZE DRAGON - MOVING
Hank, Bobby, Uni and Diana stare in horror O.S.
BOBBY: Hank! What've you done?!
ON VOLCANO
Red-hot boulders are hurled from its crater into other nearby ones. The entire side of a neighboring peak BLOWS OUT, sending a searing STONE WIND -- a deadly cloud of incandescent gas and powdered stone -- O.S.
ANGLE INCLUDES HANK, BOBBY, DIANA, UNI
Reacting in fear as the STONE WIND BOILS toward them.
HANK, DIANA, BOBBY, UNI: (fearful walla)
ON BRONZE DRAGON - MOVING
It turns in an attempt to escape the wall of superheated stone mist swiftly overtaking it as we