Chapter Text
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. DESERT OUTPOST - DAWN
The horizon shimmers with heat as the suns rise over the desert. The sound of CHANTING reverberates across the dunes.
Reveal the OPENING TITLE.
TITLE
The Dark Crystal: Visions of Thra
"Branching Paths"
An OLD GELFLING appears in the distance. She leads a caravan towards a lonely STONE WELL. They pull a LARGE, COVERED CART.
The gelfling ride atop bug-like creatures with scaled backs—DAEYDOIM. Their leader, MOSI, looks down into the well.
She draws a BUCKET OF WATER up and dips her finger in. She withdraws it, coated in PURPLE ALGAE. She wipes her hand clean on her skirt.
A daeydoim noses up and sniffs at the water. It lowers its beak to drink but Mosi gently pushes its snout away.
MOSI
Can't drink here. Not safe.
She dumps the bucket in the sand and drops it there before continuing out into the desert.
One of the gelfling following her comes forward, communicating in SIGN LANGUAGE. They argue back and forth until the rider, AMEV, breaks the quiet.
AMEV
Maudra, are you sure that—
MOSI
No choice now. We bargain with the Spriton. They come this way soon.
He opens his mouth to argue but Mosi hops on her daeydoim and rides on.
FADE OUT.
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. CRYSTAL CHAMBER - MORNING
TREASURER
S-so you'll s-s-simply accept this disgusting a-abdication of—
The skeksis are gathered in a clump at the doorway to the chamber. The Treasurer blocks the door with his arms held out. He's got a BLACK EYE.
COLLECTOR
(sniffling and wiping her beak)
Give it a rest! You'll make us miss the ceremony!
The Collector leans over the Treasurer and snorts onto his face. The Treasurer gags and wipes the SNOT away.
She cackles and shoves past him, followed by the rest of the group. They push the Treasurer into the DOORFRAME as they crowd into the room and chatter amongst themselves.
The skeksis—the Collector, the Ornamentalist, and the Chamberlain—take their places in a circle around the flaming chasm at the chamber's center.
At the back of the throng is the Hunter. He stalks in and looks down his beak at the Treasurer.
The Hunter grunts, taking his place in the circle beside him.
They are quieted by a sharp CLANG against the tile. The Emperor arrives, thumping his SCEPTER on the floor as he walks. Trailing behind him are the Ritual Master and then skekGra.
TREASURER
Your Eminence, p-please! I only t-t-t-tell the truth! The Conqueror—
EMPEROR
–Abandoned his post. Attacked you. Put both the Satirist and the General in the infirmary.
With every clang of the Emperor's scepter, the Treasurer flinches.
EMPEROR
Acted shamefully, and did so in front of the gelfling? Is that what you were trying to say, Treasurer?
SkekGra, with his head bowed, silently takes his spot in the circle.
TREASURER
Yes, Emperor.
When the Emperor completes the circle, the Ritual Master clears his throat, ready to begin the ceremony.
RITUAL MASTER
(beat)
We gather as a new dawn breaks…again to—
EMPEROR
(holds up his finger)
Not only that, but skekGra has taken the opportunity I so benevolently presented to him and squandered it.
SkekGra looks down at his feet, not meeting the Emperor's accusing stare.
EMPEROR
His penance will be done by conducting a census of the Spriton nomads…until the new trine arrives.
The skeksis wince and laugh.
EMPEROR
However, he did bring back the tithes that you had failed to gather, Treasurer. Not a complete loss…but one the Conqueror will still pay dearly for.
HUNTER
(nodding)
Not a terrible loss, no…
The Hunter conspicuously sniffs the air.
SKEKGRA
Yes, Emperor, I will repent. By my honor, I'll—
HUNTER
…And it's good that he scared off that nosy mystic as well.
Everyone pauses.
EMPEROR
That…what?
TRANSITION TO:
EXT. VALLEY OF THE MYSTICS - MORNING
UrGoh draws a nervous breath. The rest of the gathered mystics stare at him in disbelief.
The Archer holds out the handle of urGoh's broken WALKING STICK, offering it back to him.
ARCHER
I hoped it could be repaired…after your dark half…attacked you.
Master urSu stands beside the Archer with a grim expression. Hesitantly, urGoh takes the walking stick from urVa, who guilty, won't look at him.
URGOH
Thank you…Archer.
RITUAL GUARDIAN
Your skeksis saw you?! Did it talk to you?
UrGoh takes the REPAIRED RUNE out from his satchel and re-attaches it to the top of the walking stick.
The mystics—the Chanter, the WEAVER, the MONK, and the NUMEROLOGIST—break from their formation in a flurry of discussion.
CHANTER
Are you sure it was yours? Did it smell?
WEAVER
Did it try to bite you?!
The Numerologist gingerly touches his BLACK EYE.
NUMEROLOGIST
Why would it bite urGoh? That would only hurt itself.
WEAVER
The skeksis don't feel pain as intensely as we do.
They are quieted by the THUMP of Master urSu's STAFF on the ground.
MASTER
(softly)
That's enough…please.
He gestures for everyone to return to their places.
MASTER
This squabbling is not…our way.
CHANTER
Of course, Master urSu…
MASTER
Have patience…Give the Wanderer…time to speak.
UrGoh gulps nervously.
INTERCUT:
SKEKGRA
(shouting)
–Yes, I could tell it was mine—no, it didn't smell! And no, they don't crawl around "like bugs!"
CHAMBERLAIN
It is said mystics cannot move at all! That they are rooted to ground like tree! Like boulders. Unmoving! Unthinking—unfeeling!
ORNAMENTALIST
Preposterous! Everyone knows that they can think! They spend their days doing nothing but plotting against us!
TREASURER
See!? I t-told you all he was h-hiding h-his t-t-t—
CHAMBERLAIN AND TREASURER
(in unison)
—Treachery!
SkekGra looks around desperately as the skeksis begin to circle him. He turns towards the Emperor and the Ritual Master, carelessly exposing his back to the Chamberlain.
RITUAL MASTER
Explain yourself, skekGra!
INTERCUT:
URGOH
…I only wanted…to observe…It was truly, not planned. Master urSu…
UrSu gently soothes urGoh's forehead.
MASTER
Wanderer…it's terrible…to see you suffer. This is not something for one…to carry alone.
The Chanter comes up behind urGoh and rests her hand on his shoulder, comforting. The other mystics huddle around them with concerned hums.
URGOH
Master…I—Aa-arh!
INTERCUT:
SKEKGRA
—Argh!
SkekGra pushes the Chamberlain off of him with a yelp.
The Chamberlain laughs, holding up the long QUILL that he has just ripped from skekGra's back.
CHAMBERLAIN
(waving it triumphantly)
Conqueror shall pay for these lies!
TREASURER
He took a quill! I want one too!
COLLECTOR
Me first!
The rest of the skeksis crowd around skekGra, grabbing for his quills. He spins wildly, thrashing and trying to defend his back.
SkekGra is a cunning fighter, but he is utterly outnumbered. The Hunter pins him to the ground and rips through skekGra's robe, taking a moment to select the best quill.
HUNTER
This will make for a worthy trophy.
SKEKGRA
You'll pay for this, all of you!
With skekGra pinned, the rest of the skeksis descend on him and tear his robes until he's left nearly naked.
SKEKGRA
I'll make you pay—I swear it!
Overtaken by rage and humiliation, skekGra lunges to his feet and rips a stollen quill from the Chamberlain's hand.
He slashes the Chamberlain's face with it and stabs it into his shoulder for good measure.
VISION:
For a moment, skekGra sees a mystic—the Chanter—tumble to the ground in the Chamberlain's place.
SkekGra blinks. The Chamberlain whimpers pathetically on the floor.
BACK IN THE CASTLE:
EMPEROR
(shouting)
This stops now.
Coming out of his fury and the Vision, skekGra tries in vain to cover himself and maintain a sliver of dignity.
Without the bulky armor, skekGra is, like all skeksis, both feeble and bloated. His body is a mishmash of mismatched parts—claws, feathers, sagging skin, protruding ribs, teeth, breasts, tail, beak…and none of it very good to look at.
EMPEROR
You are barred from partaking in the Ceremony of the Suns until you remember your place.
The skeksis collectively turn their backs to skekGra, turning to face the center of the room.
EMPEROR
Nearly killing the General and allowing a…a piece of refuse to meddle in our affairs…Disgraceful.
SkekGra tries to pull his quill from the Chamberlain's shoulder, but the Chamberlain bats him away and hisses.
EMPEROR
Do your penance with the Spriton until I summon you again. Now, out of my sight.
With a stricken expression, skekGra makes to exit the chamber.
EMPEROR
And to think I would name you Consul-Admiral. You shame yourself.
In the TRIANGULAR WINDOW above, the suns begin to shine and cast their light into the room. Synchronously with the breaking light, the Dark Crystal rises up from the chasm in the floor.
SkekGra watches from afar as it rotates, exposing the dark fissures on its surface that stem from its festering wound…the missing Shard.
RITUAL MASTER
Again…a new drawn breaks! Another day…for us to take power…and draw new life. By the Crystal's light, we are restored!
The Ritual Master raises his arms just as the suns' light hits the Crystal.
ALL
Our rein is eternal!
The poisoned light refracts from the Crystal and hits the waiting skeksis.
The light begins to heal their wounds.
Seeing the terrible sight for what it truly is, skekGra leaves the chamber in shame. Shame for his body, his actions, and for what they've done to the Crystal—to Thra.
FADE OUT.