Chapter Text
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. THE CAVERN TUNNELS — MORNING
Trembling in the aftermath of the Vision, skekGra lies on the ground.
UrGoh, shaken, heads back through the passageway towards the Great Tree.
SKEKGRA
Don't leave!
He covers his face with his hands rather than watching urGoh abandon him.
The BROKEN RUNE from urGoh's walking stick is forgotten as he hurries away.
EXT. THE GREAT SMERTH - AFTERNOON
By the time urGoh reaches the mouth of the cave, the suns are already high in the sky. The Great Tree is still smoking from the last of the fires.
The ground is littered with BROKEN BRANCHES. The tree still lives, but nearly all of its leaves have been burned away.
Wiping a mix of dirt and tears from his face, urGoh stumbles absently through the smoke.
He's so distracted, he doesn't see urVa until he's already almost walked past him.
UrGoh stops and turns towards his friend, at a loss for words.
The Archer clears ASH from the tree's few remaining leaves, giving urGoh a tired look.
ARCHER
Although I know that it wasn't to be…I still wish you had heeded my warning, Wanderer.
Around the tree, urGoh now sees, are hastily dug GRAVES.
ARCHER
Our link to the skeksis…is a curse. I hope you understand now…that trying to stop them…is useless.
URGOH
I've made…such a mistake. I don't…
ARCHER
Go back to the valley, urGoh. You can still…distance yourself…from the evil your shadow has wrought.
Belatedly, urGoh realizes that in his haste to leave the caves, he had grabbed skekGra's SPEAR instead of his own walking stick.
He drops it, as if it had burned him.
FADE OUT.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. SKEKGRA'S QUARTERS - DAY
SkekGra paces back and forth across his ornately-decorated room. His signature war paint is smudged all over his face. Passing by his own reflection in the VANITY MIRROR, he lets out a high and frustrated whimper.
TITLE
The Dark Crystal: Visions of Thra
"Where the Road Ends"
He stops his pacing only to clench his fist around an object pulled from his pockets. Releasing the tension in his hand, he holds it in his palm—the CRYSTALLINE RUNE that had been decorating the head of urGoh's staff.
The door creaks as someone enters. He stuffs the rune back into his robes.
SKEKGRA
If I wanted my lunch brought to me, you'd know about it already! How are you useless podlings so incapable of—
ORNAMENTALIST
Ooh-hoo! You have lost it then! How could you possibly mistake me…me for a common…wretched podling?!
Fluffing the feathery BOA around her neck, THE ORNAMENTALIST flounces up to skekGra. Seeing his disheveled state, she gasps theatrically and pulls at his tattered sleeves.
ORNAMENTALIST
What have you done to my chiffon?! And the cloak—You've stained it! Ugh, and you smell like smoke too!
He shoves her back until she collapses onto the TUFTED VANITY STOOL. Seeing his DENTED HELMET on the counter, she squawks.
ORNAMENTALIST
You've ruined your helmet?! You can't see the Emperor looking like this! You'll make my designs look cheap!
SKEKGRA
I'm not going anywhere, skekEkt. Now get out before I rip your sp—
ORNAMENTALIST
But the Emperor insists! You have to get changed befo—
SKEKGRA
I'll wear what I please!
INT. THE CRYSTAL CHAMBER - DAY
Pushing past the wailing Ornamentalist, skekGra storms into the chamber. She clutches his dented helmet to her chest.
ORNAMENTALIST
No! You'll make me look bad!
The skeksis surround the Dark Crystal where it levitates in the room's center. Seeing it, skekGra's face pales.
At his entrance, the other skeksis fall silent, giving him a critical once over. After a beat, the Satirist lets out a barking laugh. Before anyone says anything, the Emperor holds up a taloned finger.
EMPEROR
The General tells me that there was quite a commotion at the Drenchen's patron tree.
GENERAL
The Conqueror deserted us in the middle of battle! While I saved the burning tree, he let the gruenak escape!
EMPEROR
Lying to the gelfling is one thing, General. Did you really think I would believe such a flimsy story?
The General goes pale. The other skeksis edge closer.
GENERAL
But it's true! Yes, I set the tree on fire, but he really did—
EMPEROR
And how many gruenak would you say that you saw escape, skekVar?
GENERAL
Well—I didn't see—there was so much smoke, so it was hard to—
With a flick of the wrist, the Emperor sets the skeksis against the General. They claw at him, pulling him down into the center of the fray. The Ornamentalist drops the ruined helmet and rushes to join in.
EMPEROR
Show skekVar to the catacombs. I'll deal with him later.
The chamber fills with echoing laughter and pained wails as the General is dragged out. When the cackling throng passes by, skekGra grabs the Scientist roughly by the arm.
SKEKGRA
Scientist. You stay.
The Scientist's eyes dart to the Emperor, who nods.
SCIENTIST
(bowing)
As you wish, your Eminence.
EMPEROR
You care to add to this, Conqueror?
SKEKGRA
The tree is the least of our worries. While the General and the Hunter dealt with that, I pursued the rebels into a cave system.
EMPEROR
And did any escape?
SkekGra approaches the Crystal and stares into its facets. His troubled face is reflected back at him.
SKEKGRA
(lying)
No, my Lord.
EMPEROR
Very good.
SKEKGRA
But while I fought, there was—I saw—Thra gave me…I had a vision.
The Emperor quirks his brow skeptically as skekGra turns from the Crystal to face him.
SKEKGRA
The Darkening is spreading. And it's getting stronger—I've seen it—and I know you have too!
The Scientist steps back, not wanting to be caught in this particular brewing conflict.
EMPEROR
There is no Darkening. And you couldn't know its "strength" even if you saw something in Thra's bowels.
SKEKGRA
Yes, but the Scientist's experiments could provide us with more information!
SCIENTIST
(hesitantly)
It's true that my observations on the expanding range of the…affected animals could indicate…a certain spread of the infectious capabilities of any so-called malignant—
EMPEROR
Yes, yes. Your research progress is well appreciated, Scientist. The affected creatures are well taken care of.
SCIENTIST
Thank you, Emperor.
SKEKGRA
Treating the infections won't be enough! What will we do if it spreads to a whole herd of nebrie? Or gets in the water supply? We have to stop it at its source!
SkekGra gestures to the fractures in the Crystal's surface and up towards the point from which the cracks emanate—a MISSING PIECE.
EMPEROR
You're speaking nonsense. Clearly, my loyal Conqueror, I have worked you too hard. Now that you've completed your expedition, you can spend some time in the baths and fill your belly until you feel more like yourself.
The Emperor points to skekGra's dented helmet that the Ornamentalist had left on the floor.
EMPEROR
SkekTek, take this back to the Ornamentalist and have her design something more fitting for a skeksis of our Conqueror's standing.
Seizing the opportunity to leave, the Scientist takes the helmet and makes a hasty exit, bowing effusively as he goes.
Once he's gone, skekGra drops to his knees and pleads.
SKEKGRA
I saw the future, Emperor, our future! The Darkening will consume everything—consume us! And Thra will be barren!
SkekSo places his hand on the back of skekGra's neck, running his claws through the feathers there. SkekGra flinches but dutifully holds still.
EMPEROR
Now, you know there is a reason why I am Emperor. This is all planned for. Thra is safe under skeksis rule…You know I will assure that.
SkekGra stares over the Emperor's shoulder at the Dark Crystal where it floats behind him.
SKEKGRA
It's because the Crystal is fractured, isn't it? If we don't act now, the whole world will…We will be turned to dust.
The Emperor's grip tightens, claws digging in.
EMPEROR
That will never happen. Do you understand? The Darkening is just more of Thra's power for us to harness.
Unseen by either of them, the Chamberlain peers out from behind a CURTAIN. His eyes widen and he tilts his head.
The Emperor presses his beak into skekGra's neck and begins undoing skekGra's cloak.
EMPEROR
Our reign is eternal.
From his hiding spot, the Chamberlain crinkles his face in disgust. Having seen more than enough, he slips away.
FADE OUT.