END OF DAYS

WRITER: Scott Kraft
DIRECTOR: Maria Ripoll
Cornered by Captain Grisham and his men, the Queen of Swords escapes into an abandoned mine, and is followed by Grisham himself. Just when he's got her where he wants her, an earthquake traps them inside. With a dwindling air supply, the two foes vow to keep up the good fight - until the bitter end.
GUEST STARRING
ENRIQUE SARASOLA as Sergeant Perez

By Eliza
elizawpg@home.com

The opening scene is the typical chase. Grisham sends his men in one direction and he goes in the other, trapping the Queen in the old mine from Death to the Queen. The fight continues, an earthquake traps them in the mine and their swords under the rubble.

Grisham is willing to continue to try to kill her and fires his pistol. The Queen, after a lot of dodging and fast talking, convinces him that the limited amount of air they have would be put to better use trying to dig their way out rather than fighting.

Outside, the pistol shot has alerted Grisham's men that someone is still alive and so they start to dig. One solder suggests that it they should get Col. Montoya., but the sergeant doesn't agree. Concluding his argument with the thought that if worse comes to worse... "I will present the body of the Queen of Swords to a very grateful Colonel, who will need a new Captain of the Guard."

There are periodic cuts back to these "loyal" troops as they work at reopening the mine.

Inside, Grisham and the Queen are digging and talking. Now that Grisham is no longer trying to kill her, the "sweet talk" starts. (That boy really needs some help.) He's bugging her about the torches using up the oxygen.

GRISHAM: You don't trust yourself. Is that it?
QUEEN: Be still my beating heart.
GRISHAM: A little messy. A little sweaty. Maybe that's more your style.
QUEEN: You got me there. Dirty, stinky, evil guys... every girl's dream.

They realize that digging is getting them nowhere and so end up seated on opposite sides of the chamber. Grisham starts to turn on the "charm"

FLASHBACK: Their first duel - DESTINY

When she keeps shooting down his attempts at being nice, he gets testy and spits out, "What kind of man would be interested in a woman like you?"

FLASHBACK: DUEL WITH A STRANGER

Memories of Antonio goad her into attacking Grisham. As she holds a knife to his throat, he comments, "We have a lot more in common then you think"

QUEEN: You never have more than one thing on your mind

GRISHAM:(glances down her blouse) Sometimes I have two.

The Queen backs away, disgusted. Eventually Grisham asks why she chose Santa Elena.

FLASHBACK: The dream with her Papa - DESTINY

She turns the tables and asks why he stays under Montoya's thumb.

QUEEN: You can't spit on your own boots unless he [Montoya] says so.
GRISHAM: (looking very uneasy) That's not true. We just have a unique working relationship.

She wants to know what Montoya has on him.

FLASHBACK: Montoya walking in on Grisham and Vera - DESTINY

GRISHAM: You've got it all wrong. Montoya and I, we're like a team. One hand washes the other.
QUEEN: Yet, you do all his dirty work.
GRISHAM: You don't understand. (looks away for a moment) It's a guy thing.

The air is getting thin and Grisham manages to wrestle her to the ground. As he is about to remove her mask, she says, "Don't you want to kiss me first."

(God, he is so stupid) He ends up getting a Glasgow kiss instead. As he is howling over his bleeding nose, he says, "I think you've got issues with men."

FLASHBACK: Helm and the Queen in the canyon - VENGEANCE; The kiss - THE SERPENT.

A few more snide comments and Grisham ends up blaming the Queen for getting them trapped

FLASHBACK: Blowing up the mine - DEATH TO THE QUEEN

They are getting weaker and Grisham is whining about how it isn't his fault, he is only following orders, she should be blaming Montoya

FLASHBACK: Duels with Montoya - VENGEANCE AND HONOR THEY FATHER

Both are collapsed on the floor. Grisham is trying to distract her with a game of Tic-Tac-Toe. She is too weak to move.

GRISHAM: I'll miss you.
QUEEN: You've gone soft.
GRISHAM: Just being honest. Why does he have to be oxygen deprived before he gets so sweet?

When she passes out, he goes to take her mask off but changes his mind and tries to kiss her. He passes out instead.

Out in the sunshine, the troops have set explosives and blow up the cave in.

Grisham and the Queen wake up, almost in each other's arms. She is surprised that he didn't take off her mask. It's obviously taking some time to get oxygen back in Grisham's system cause it is a sweet moment, until:

QUEEN: We're going to live.
GRISHAM:(Spotting their swords) One of us anyway.

And things are back to normal. The Queen eventually gets him at sword point and Grisham does some fast talking. He's trying to convince her that there is no way out of the situation.

FLASHBACK: Fight on the cliff - DEATH TO THE QUEEN; Fight over the medicine-FEVER; Fight in square - RUNNING WILD

He offers her a deal - those are his soldiers outside, he could make sure she escapes if they could just.... She smiles and removes her sash, "Now you. The jacket... and then the pants" (I mentioned that he's stupid, didn't I?)

Cut to the soldiers breaking through to the chamber. Out comes "the captain", and they enter the mine to catch the Queen. They all come pouring back out to see "the captain's" long, dark hair escapes the hat as she rides away. Grisham follows behind, removing the sash she had used as a gag.

(I love the tag scene.) Marta is in the kitchen and Tessa throws open the door dressed in Grisham's uniform. (The whole uniform -- white shirt, his boots. She looks really good!) Marta is stunned.

MARTA: A soldier's uniform? Grisham's uniform? What is he wearing?
QUEEN: You don't want to know.

~~Thanks Eliza!!