ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay by Mehul Desai Page B

cheek.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): Such a kind daughter I
    have.
     
    She carries her back to their simple wooden shack.
     
    EASTERN PROVINCE, SOUTHERN REALM.
    1 YEAR LATER
     
    CUT TO.
     
    INT. SHACK - NIGHT
     
    A small fire burns. Nimue tucks Naiyoo into their small bed.
     
    NIMUE: A man came through Shihana this
    morning. From the west. He spoke of great
    miracles.
     
    Naiyoo reads her mother's lips.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): (smiles) It is no longer
    the young that are being spared. The
    sickness is leaving us all.
     
    Nimue stops and looks up at the ceiling, tears forming.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): He heard our prayers.
     
    Naiyoo touches the sides of her forehead and raises her hands.
     
    Nimue smiles, kissing her forehead.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): Yes my love. Praise our
    Great Father.
     
    She tickles the white flower under her nose and gets up.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): Get some sleep.
     
    Naiyoo rolls onto her side, holding the flower to her lips.
     
    CUT TO.
     
    EXT. SHACK - NIGHT
     
    Nimue takes in the air, resting back against the shack.
     
    She looks up at the night sky and pauses.
     
    Glimpsing a tiny object.
     
    She steps forward, trying to get a better view, but its already lost behind the clouds.
     
    She pauses again, curious, but then lets it go.
     
    CUT TO.
     
    EXT. ROAD - NIGHT
     
    Horses charge past. The riders cloaked and hooded.
     
    CUT TO.
     
    INT. SHACK - LATE NIGHT
     
    The fire dies down, Naiyoo asleep in her mother's arms.
     
    Nimue's eyes slowly open.
     
    The horses can be heard.
     
    She slowly stands and looks to the window.
     
    Naiyoo feels her movement and also wakes, rubbing her eyes.
     
    She turns her head and sees her mother putting out the fire.
     
    Naiyoo squints her eyes, leaning forward to read her lips.
     
    NIMUE: (low) Go back to sleep.
     
    Naiyoo turns to the window.
     
    Nimue kneels beside her and turns her face away.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): Wait here.
     
    EXT. SHACK
     
    Nimue steps out, hugging herself from the cold.
     
    The riders dismount.
     
    Nimue holds back by the door and politely bows.
     
    NIMUE: Good evening my brothers.
     
    The riders slowly approach, coming into the moonlight.
     
    Nimue stops.
     
    They all wear steel masks with thin eye slits.
     
    INT. SHACK
     
    Naiyoo slowly looks out the window, her mother's back to her.
     
    NIMUE (O.S): Shihana is a short distance
    south.
     
    EXT. SHACK
     
    She points down the road.
     
    NIMUE: Just return the way you have come,
    there is a crossing.
     
    The riders remain silent.
     
    Nimue steps back, nervous.
     
    INT. SHACK
     
    Naiyoo leans forward, unable to read her mother's lips.
     
    NIMUE (O.S): You must not stay. The
    sickness is here.
     
    EXT. SHACK
     
    She bows again and backs away.
     
    NIMUE: Kalaar be with you.
     
    INT. SHACK
     
    Naiyoo climbs down from the window as her mother returns.
     
    NIMUE: Go back to sleep.
     
    Nimue turns around and stops.
     
    Two of the riders have followed her in.
     
    Naiyoo looks up at her mother, more confused than afraid.
     
    Nimue looks away, making sure Naiyoo can't read her lips.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): (beat) Do as you wish.
    Just let my child go.
     
    A third masked rider enters.
     
    Nimue watches him walk past her and approach the fire.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): What is it you want?
     
    He fans the flames and waits until the small room is lit up.
     
    He then turns to Naiyoo.
     
    The other two riders move in on the little girl
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): No no...
     
    Nimue pushes the riders back and grabs Naiyoo. They're almost out the door when the other two riders block their way.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): NO!
     
    Naiyoo is ripped from her arms.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): What are you doing??
     
    She dragged to the far side of the shack while two of the riders lie Naiyoo on the bed, face down.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): Please no!
     
    One of the riders holds her steady while the other turns her face towards the light of the fire.
     
    NIMUE (CONT'D): In the name of Kalaar I
    beg