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CELTIC ECHOES PILOT: MEMORIES FIRST DRAFT WRITTEN BY ALAN GEARY EXT. IRELAND - BATTLEFIELD - 1368 - DAY Fade In. CAPTION: IRELAND - 1642 Thunder cracks in a dark and stormy sky. Rain beats heavy over the dead and wounded bodies of soldiers from a battle that took place earlier. A banner waves in a strong breeze, the rain-washing the blood and dirt away from the image of a black beast on a golden background. JERYD, a young and helpless soldier stands alone, cold, wet and wearing a torn light green soldiers' uniform. He looks down at his left side and sees a darkened blood stain on his tunic. He feels the blood and remembers getting the wound as we hear the slash of steel into flesh in the background. JERYD (v.o) We all have a destiny. Some of us never find it or do but don't live to fulfil it. There comes a time when we must focus on what is sacred to us. This is when the quest begins. He looks around and sees the dead lying around him, some calved in several pieces. He hears the soft moans and cries of the wounded and then looks up at the rain as it beats down, soaking his skin even more. EXT. NEW YORK - STREET - PRESENT DAY - DAY CAPTION: NEW YORK - PRESENT DAY JERYD now looks down from looking up at the sky and sees the busy traffic flowing on his left side. People rush around wanting to get out of the crowds and to their chosen destinations. The rain beats down heavy and we notice that JERYD is one of the few that don't carry umbrellas with them. GARETH (from behind) You finished? JERYD quickly turns round and we see two other people, his brothers standing, waiting. GARETH stands on the right and THOMAS on the left. They smile at him and GARETH moves forward to place a hand on JERYD'S right shoulder. GARETH Come on, lets get out of this rain. JERYD nods and they all walk away and into the crowd. INT. NEW YORK - CAFÉ - DAY JERYD sits at a wooden table with his back turned. He wraps his hands round a small mug of thick looking coffee and stares deep into it. GARETH and THOMAS both stare at him from opposite worryingly. THOMAS takes a sip from his mug and then places it back down on the table as GARETH tips sugar into his from a small glass shaker. THOMAS Something wrong Jeryd? JERYD No why? THOMAS You seem a little off lately. JERYD I'm fine. GARETH Thomas, leave the poor boy alone. If he says nothings wrong then nothings wrong. JERYD Thank you Gareth. GARETH He can't help it if he's a miserable sod. JERYD gives GARETH a scornful look and goes back to staring at his coffee. THOMAS tries to stop himself from laughing and ends up snorting as he drinks his coffee. GARETH (quietly) I mean you'd think after living several hundred Lifetimes he'd cheer up a little. A man from behind them, sitting by the counter lifts his head as he overhears their conversation. His name is SETH, also an immortal like GARETH, THOMAS and JERYD. He turns to face them and we see a long scar going down his right cheek and over his eye, leaving only a white eyeball inside the socket. JERYD Not too loud Gareth, someone might find out. THOMAS They wouldn't believe us if they did. JERYD And what if they are one of Jeremiah's men? GARETH Then we'll give them a good old-fashioned beating. THOMAS smiles and SETH turns back round to the counter to finish his breakfast. EXT. NEW YORK - STREET - DAY The three brothers walk side-by-side down a small side street. We hear each of them laugh as if one of them has just told a funny joke. They are each dressed in black trousers or jeans and long black coats, buttoned up to try and keep the rain from wetting their clothes. A slightly long way behind them we see SETH turn the corner. He now wears a long black coat, also buttoned up. He walks slightly faster than the other three and we notice that he is trying to catch up with them. He gets a little closer and moves in to try and grab their attention. SETH Excuse me? As if knowing SETH was behind them they draw a broad sword from within their coats, spin round and point it at SETH'S throat. Each brother grins at him as if welcoming him to his death and pushes him into the ally wall where they pin him. JERYD Told you to keep your voice down. SETH I'm not here looking for trouble Jeryd. JERYD How do you know my name spy? SETH I'm no spy. THOMAS All of Jeremiah's men say that. SETH I don't even know who this Jeremiah is. JERYD Who are you? SETH My name is Seth. I've been sent here to watch over you, sort of guardian if you will. GARETH (to JERYD) You know him? JERYD Never seen him before. GARETH Who sent you? SETH A woman from Ireland. She didn't give me her name just said she was a princess. JERYD puts his sword down and slides it back into its scabbard inside his coat. He then buttons his coat back up and places his hand over the other two swords, pushing them down and away from SETH'S throat. The other two brothers put their swords away and look at JERYD as if awaiting an answer to a question not asked. JERYD (to SETH) You'd better come with me. INT. IRELAND - COTTAGE - NIGHT We move slowly down a dark and damp corridor. Just by a small door further down the corridor we see part of the roof has caved in to let the rain in, forming small puddles along the floor around the area. We turn into a largish darkened room. Candles placed around the sides by the walls light it dimly. In the centre of the room we see an old fashioned wooden chair turned towards the fireplace where the flames flicker high in the background. A man walks up to the chair from behind and kneels in front to kiss a hand. He stands again and bows. His name is TERYK, a French man. JEREMIAH sits in the chair and stares at the flames as they lick at the wood inside the fire, producing smoke that rises high into the chimney. JEREMIAH Look at me, reduced to live in hiding and for what? TERYK It is for your own protection master. JEREMIAH Protection from what? I can't be harmed anyway and no one dare challenge my strength. TERYK Still we cannot be too careful. JEREMIAH What of your search Teryk? TERYK We still haven't located the Princess Caitlyn but sources suggest we are close. JEREMIAH Good. I want her found soon she is the only link to the sacred and their whereabouts. TERYK bows again and leaves through the only entrance to the room, leaving JEREMIAH alone to watch the flames once more. INT. NEW YORK - APARTMENT - DAY Thunder now crackles in the stormy sky and JERYD looks out of a large window. He turns from it and walks further into the open apartment, hands in pockets. SETH sits at a dining table further at the back of the room. GARETH sits opposite but there is no sign of THOMAS. JERYD You said you were sent to protect me. SETH reaches into his coat pocket and GARETH gets up to stop him just in case it was a trap. SETH Its ok. He gingerly produces a small envelope from his pocket and hands it to GARETH who opens it and unfolds a letter from inside. He reads a few lines and then hands it to JERYD who walks up and collects it from him. JERYD (reads) Dear Jeryd, as you know the signs have become known clearly to you and as you also may know it is time for you to carry out your destiny. I have sent Seth to help you on your quest. Be careful my love, your journey will be perilous. Yours eternally, Caitlyn. He folds the letter back up and stares into space as if day dreaming. GARETH What signs? SETH Have you noticed him to act weird lately? GARETH A little, thought it was nothing so I took no notice of it. SETH Jeryd is going through a few changes that only he can sense. He's remembering things that were long forgotten, seeing the future and the death of many, just as it is written. JERYD leans against the arm of a small armchair and closes his eyes tight as if remembering something that causes him pain. A tear forms from his right eye and slides down his cheek slowly, it is closely followed by another. EXT. IRELAND - 1642 - NIGHT CAPTION: IRELAND - 1642 Cheery musicians huddled together in a small area at the back of the scene play music. Various people dance happily to the music and we see JERYD and THOMAS standing at the side, watching closely. They are both dressed smartly in bright green tunics and grey trousers. In JERYD'S left hand we see a jug of mead, THOMAS stuffs a remaining amount of pie into his mouth and chews quickly. JERYD smiles as he stares past the dancers and over at a girl sitting on a fairly large rock. She claps her hands to the beat and laughs when one of the dancers, drunk, falls over onto his back and laughs. THOMAS What you lookin' all starry eyed for? JERYD Look Tom, isn't she beautiful? THOMAS looks over at the girl and smiles, realising what JERYD was on about. THOMAS That be the Princess Caitlyn. Fairest of the fair she be. Watch out though brother. JERYD Why? THOMAS She's niece to the one man you truly hate. JERYD And why would that stop me? THOMAS Tread carefully Jeryd, just remember he was the man that killed our father. JERYD I don't think she had anything to do with that Tom. THOMAS appears to be drunk as he turns and picks up a jug of mead from a wooden table them. THOMAS She might of, you never know. JERYD You're just drunk. GARETH Not drunk enough. As he says this he walks up to them from behind our view. He turns round to look at the crowds of dancing people and leans back against the wooden table next to JERYD. THOMAS Go and talk to her. JERYD A minute ago you said be careful she's dangerous, now your sayin' go talk? Make your mind up man. GARETH Ignore him, he's drunk again. JERYD'S gaze returns to CAITLYN. As if sensing that he was looking at her she turns to his direction, stares deep into his eyes and smiles sweetly. THOMAS leans onto JERYD'S shoulder, gaining his attention. THOMAS (breathes) Go to her. After breathing this into JERYD'S face, THOMAS then falls onto the floor and begins to giggle at the two brothers' feet. JERYD looks to GARETH for help but GARETH just shrugs as if to say 'don't ask me, make your own decisions.' Finally, GARETH opens his mouth to speak. GARETH Don't be such a coward and go. JERYD looks back at the rock and sees that CAITLYN has left. He stands up and looks around but he can't see CAITLYN anywhere, he realises he's too late. EXT. IRELAND - 1642 - NIGHT JERYD waits by a tree, deep within a small forest. We hear singing coming from within the bushes and realise that JERYD is waiting for GARETH. JERYD begins to whistle a cheery Irish tune and walks around in a small area as he waits. From behind we see CAITLYN creeping up. A small twig snaps under her feet and JERYD sharply turns around, ready to draw his sword and strike. He stops himself immediately when he sees who it is. CAITLYN I'm sorry I didn't mean to intrude. She turns to go and JERYD quickly grabs hold of her right hand to stop her from leaving. JERYD Please don't leave Princess. CAITLYN turns back to him and they look directly into each other's eyes for a short moment before finally smiling at each other. CAITLYN How did you know I was a Princess? JERYD I was informed earlier me lady. CAITLYN Please call me Caitlyn. JERYD reaches down and kisses her hand softly. As he looks up at her he smiles and says... JERYD Jeryd McClaghlan at your service. EXT. IRELAND - 1642 - FOREST - NIGHT We now join JERYD and CAITLYN as they walk hand in hand, slowly down a forest path towards a small village of huts and small cottages. CAITLYN (sadly) I suppose you also know that my uncle is the Lord of these lands? JERYD (nods) Aye, but I don't see that bothering me. CAITLYN stops and turns to face him, looking up into his eyes curiously. CAITLYN Oh? And what if you're wrong? JERYD places his left hand around her waist and pulls her into him. JERYD Let me worry about that. They move into each other and kiss slowly and softly. Fade Out. INT. IRELAND - 1642 - CASTLE - DAY It is now the next day and we see CAITLYN walk happily down a flight of stone steps. She walks into a large banqueting hall and stops dead on the spot as soon as she sees JEREMIAH sitting alone at the end of a large table. He places his knife and fork down onto the table by the sides of a large metal plate and looks up at his niece. He smiles and then gestures to the seat next to him for her to sit. JEREMIAH Good morning. CAITLYN walks over to the chair and sits uncomfortably next to her uncle as he goes back to his breakfast. CAITLYN Morning uncle. JEREMIAH Enjoy yourself last night? CAITLYN looks at him suspecting the worse and watches as her uncle just simply carries on with his breakfast of bacon and eggs. JEREMIAH What did you talk about with that McClaghlan boy? CAITLYN (angry) You had spies follow me again? JEREMIAH I am simply looking out for you my dear. Wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you now would I? CAITLYN Why would you care so much if it did? JEREMIAH (ignoring the question) I have a little job for you my dear. EXT. IRELAND - 1642 - COTTAGE - DAY JERYD stands at the top of a ladder tying and repairing the thatch on the roof of a cottage. THOMAS stands at the bottom holding the ladder still for his brother. JERYD Had a dream about her last night. THOMAS I still think you should be careful with her. JERYD She's not like that tyrant of an uncle. She's different. She's kind, gentle and I'm absolutely crazy about her. THOMAS Just be careful ok. JERYD I can take care of myself Tom. JERYD hears a twig snap outside and a dog bark. He draws his sword and holds it ready to fight just in case he has to. THOMAS looks at him puzzled. THOMAS What is it? JERYD Stay here. JERYD edges towards the window and suddenly ducks down for cover as a rock crashes through, breaking through the thin wooden beam in its centre. JERYD gets up from the floor and runs through the front door. Outside, waiting for him is a man dressed entirely in black. He wears long black trousers, a black tunic and a black hood that covers his face. He draws a long sword and moves into a short fighting stance. THOMAS moves to the doorway and watches his brother protectively as he moves opposite the 'black fighter' and also moves into a stance, ready to do battle. The 'black fighter' charges at him sword held high. JERYD steps backwards and blocks the oncoming blow made from the fighter. The 'black fighter' spins round and thrusts his sword down to block a parrying swing made by JERYD. The 'black fighter' quickly spins all the way round to face his opponent and as he does so he swings the sword round with him, knocking JERYD off balance. JERYD turns, opening his side for attack. The fighter takes the opportunity and slices a cut across the top of his right arm. JERYD winces in pain and stumbles back slightly, out of range from any other attacks. From the doorway THOMAS grabs his own sword and moves back to the opening in the cottage as the fighter charges at JERYD once more THOMAS Jeryd! Catch! JERYD looks to THOMAS quickly and THOMAS throws the sword over to him. JERYD catches it by the hilt just as the fighter makes the swing. He blocks it and parries with the other sword but the fighter is too quick and he blocks the oncoming swing. The fighter quickly thrusts his sword, aiming at JERYD'S chest. JERYD jumps back and knocks the sword away to the left with his right sword. He lands and twists to block another swing, and then quickly parries with the right and then the left but both are blocked. The fighter swings to the right and misses then thrusts forward as JERYD backs away again. He knocks the fighter's sword aside with the right and stabs him in the right arm with his left. The fighter winces softly and then backs away. JERYD moves forward to attack more but the fighter moves back to get further away. The fighter then goes weak down one side as blood drips through the wound and down his arm, showing red on his hand. He turns and flees quickly leaving JERYD and THOMAS alone. A crowd gathers behind, gasping at what they saw and wondering what it was all about. THOMAS looks directly at JERYD who looks back confused by what was going on. INT. IRELAND - 1642 - CASTLE - DAY We see the back of the 'black fighter' now with hood by his side. Long brown hair, tied up behind his head can be seen. He stands in front of JEREMIAH who sits at a table, looking angry with the fighter. JEREMIAH You failed to kill the sacred one. You failed me. If this happens again I will be forced to kill you. Make sure you don't fail again, now go. The fighter bows and places the hood back over his head. He then turns and leaves the room leaving JEREMIAH to himself. He looks at a wooden jug that sits on the table alone. In a sudden fit of rage he picks it up, screams with anger and throws it at the door where the fighter has just exited. INT. IRELAND - 1642 - COTTAGE - NIGHT JERYD, GARETH and THOMAS sit around a small wooden dining table in the kitchen of the cottage. JERYD sits opposite GARETH and THOMAS sits next to each of them at the table's end. JERYD I don't understand it. Why would Jeremiah send men to kill me? GARETH Maybe you forgot to pay your taxes? THOMAS I paid that last week. Maybe it has something to do with father. JERYD I was never close to him. Gareth was the one he favoured. I just don't understand why he's after me all of a sudden. GARETH Maybe he's bored. THOMAS Or maybe this has something to do with spending time with Caitlyn. I told you to be careful. GARETH I doubt it has anything to do with her. THOMAS Well that's the only thing I can think of. Someone knocks on the door and JERYD gets up to open it. The door swings open and standing outside is IOAN, a close friend of the family. JERYD steps aside to let him enter and IOAN steps inside. JERYD closes the door slowly behind him and goes back to his seat at the table. IOAN I just heard. Is everything all right? JERYD Yes I'm fine Ioan, thanks for asking. IOAN Well you know I have to check seein' as I did promise your father I'd take care of you all. JERYD We're tryin' to figure out why Jeremiah would come after me like that. We can't figure it out. IOAN Jeremiah's had an ancient grudge on this family for generations. Now you're the eldest of the family he has moved the blame on to you. THOMAS What ancient grudge? IOAN moves forward and sits at the other end of the table. JERYD gets up and pours the man a jug of mead. IOAN holds it up and gestures a thank you then gulps some of it down before carrying on. IOAN (thinks) I think it was your father's father's father, yea that's the one. He stole some land that really belonged to him anyway from the Gallowen family and ever since then the families wanted it back. GARETH So this land was originally ours, but then taken Away by the Gallowens and then taken back by our Great grandfather and that's why their family hates Us? IOAN The very same. JERYD (to THOMAS) Told you Caitlyn had nothin' to do with it. EXT. IRELAND - 1642 - CASTLE GARDENS - DAY Stones lay on the ground, cutting between the gardens of the castle to form a path where JEREMIAH and CAITLYN both walk down side-by-side. CAITLYN admires the plants and various flowers and wildlife around the path and JEREMIAH looks on uninterested. CAITLYN Why does the sacred one have to be destroyed? JEREMIAH Because if he's not then my plans will be ruined and all I've worked for pointless and wasted. CAITLYN What will happen when he is gone? JEREMIAH I will be able to rule for eternity. INT. IRELAND - 1642 - CASTLE - DAY The doors to the banqueting hall fly open and JERYD storms in. At the far end of a large table, sitting in the centre of the room, JEREMIAH eats alone. He jumps up, startled slightly by the intrusion and stares up at JERYD wonderingly. Two guards run after JERYD from behind and grab him from either side to stop him from going any further. He struggles to get free but their grip on him is too strong and he is forced to stay. JEREMIAH (to guards) Let him in. The guards let go as JERYD barges through and up to the table. JEREMIAH gestures to a chair by the left side of him and pours some mead into a jug for him as JERYD moves round and sits at the table. JEREMIAH What brings you here young McClaghlan? JERYD You sent a masked assassin to kill me this morning, I wanna' know why. JEREMIAH I sent no assassin Jeryd. JERYD Then why was I attacked by one of your men? JEREMIAH My most humble apologies, I had no idea. If you give me his name I'll make sure he's punished for his actions. JEREMIAH sees a figure in the shadows behind him in the corner of his right eye. He picks up his jug of mead and downs the contents. As he does so he gestures secretively with his fingers as his right hand grips the jug tightly. JERYD You know very well I don't have his name Gallowen. JEREMIAH How dare you use my family name in such a manner? I am your Lord and this is how you treat me. From the shadows the 'black fighter' charges at JERYD. JERYD senses this and quickly jumps up onto the table to dodge the swing made at his head. JEREMIAH moves away from the table as the fighter jumps up, ready to fight again. JEREMIAH, as if cowardly moves away from the table entirely and out of the room, leaving the two to fight as JERYD draws his sword from its scabbard. JERYD Gallowen you coward! JEREMIAH ignores the comment and instead it is answered by a thrust from the fighter's sword. JERYD counters the thrust with a swing down but misses as the fighter steps back to dodge. JERYD advances and jumps down from the table. He quickly turns and blocks another swing to the left made from the fighter who is still up on the tabletop. He counter attacks with a thrust and then jumps down from the table to move round his opponent, swords touching at the tip. JERYD knocks the tip of the fighter's sword and the fighter clashes his against it to try and knock JERYD off balance. JERYD swings left to right and then back, each attack blocked and then thrusts the sword forward. The fighter moves to let the blade slide under his arm and holds it there. He then uses the hilt of his sword to hit JERYD in the nose, then quickly lets go of JERYD'S sword so that JERYD can move backwards, blood dripping from his nose. The fighter then uses this time to attack and charges quickly forward. He swings down to strike at JERYD'S shoulder and quickly JERYD blocks the attack, still moving backwards in retreat. The fighter then thrusts forward, using all of his body to move into JERYD. JERYD pushes him back and then quickly swings his sword to attack but it is blocked. INT. IRELAND - 1642 - CASTLE CORRIDORS - NIGHT JERYD moves back into the corridors of the castle. The 'black fighter' jumps down from the banqueting hall and clashes his blade against the stone wall. The fighter moves from the wall and swings down at JERYD'S head. JERYD blocks it and the fighter swaps hands and swings the sword down again. JERYD quickly blocks, knocks the blade up and thrusts into the open space only to find air as the fighter quickly jumps back. JERYD lurches forward and thrusts again but the fighter moves backwards quickly, knocking the tip of JERYD'S sword away. JERYD then swings round to the left and the fighter's sword blocks the parrying attack. JERYD thrusts once more and the fighter jumps backwards again, hitting the stone wall behind him. JERYD then quickly moves forward and pins him to the wall by placing the blade across his throat. The fighter freezes in his spot and JERYD rips the hood off him to find to his surprise and shock that it isn't a man at all but CAITLYN. She turns away, ashamed of what she has done and we see a tear form in her right eye. CAPTION: TO BE CONTINUED END OF EPISODE
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