INT. THE HUNTER’S KITCHEN- DAY
MIDEL (32) stands unkempt but beautiful at the workspace next to the sink in the kitchen. She hums as she chops some vegetables. AZRAEL (8 and starry-eyed) sits at the kitchen table behind her, reading a book called ‘PLANETS’.
AZRAEL talks to his mum while reading.
AZRAEL
How come father is never at home?
MIDEL stops chopping. She looks regretfully at AZRAEL through his reflection in her knife. She remembers something and smiles.
MIDEL
I think your father has a surprise for you today.
AZRAEL looks up from his book and turns round, beaming. MIDEL turns to face him.
AZRAEL
A surprise?
AURON (35 and dashing) walks into the kitchen with his shirt sleeves rolled up, and tie slightly loosened. He slings his jacket over his shoulder and picks AZRAEL up with his other hand.
AURON
Morning!
AZRAEL
Father, you have a surprise for me?
AURON
Maybe.
MIDEL smiles as AURON walks over and kisses her on the lips. AZRAEL starts shaking him.
AZRAEL
Tell me tell me tell me tell me!
AURON
Son, i...can’t seem to remember what it was.
AZRAEL
Father!!
AURON
(laughs)
Ow! Okay okay. I’m taking you to work with me today.
AZRAEL can’t contain his excitement and starts dancing in his father’s grip.
AZRAEL
AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!
AURON happily sets AZRAEL down and AZRAEL bolts to his room jumping as high as he can on the way.
MIDEL smiles and turns back to her chopping. AURON comes up behind her and hugs her.
AURON
Don’t worry, he’ll be alright. I would not take him if i was not sure.
MIDEL closes her eyes as AURON kisses her neck.
MIDEL
There is no one I would rather have watching over him in that place.
AZRAEL streaks back into the kitchen wearing a cap, long sleeved shirt and shorts.
AZRAEL
I’M READY FATHER!
AURON releases his embrace and walks over to take AZRAEL’S hand. They start to walk to the door when AZRAEL stops and looks back.
AZRAEL (CONT’D)
Isn’t mother coming?
MIDEL
No darling, it’s just going to be you and your father today.
AZRAEL looks uncertain and looks up at his father.
AURON
Say goodbye to your mother, Azrael.
AZRAEL
Bye.
AURON and AZRAEL walk out the swinging kitchen door and MIDEL follows. She watches as they walk up the path and out of the compound and into the forest. She shouts after them.
MIDEL
Be good!
EXT. BARDUN FOREST- DAY
A RAVEN watches as AURON and AZRAEL walk through a beautiful forest, which merges into an industrial area, then back into a forest, then a residential area, then forest, then...
AZREAL
AZGAOL!
AZRAEL and AURON stand in front of an immense stone building that resembles a black fortress. This is the demon prison, AZGAOL.
INT. AZGAOL PRISON- DAY
OREN leads Azrael towards a stone wall covered in red moss and vines. There is a stone statue standing on either side of the wall geared up in Ceremonial Samurai attire.
As they near it, the statues suddenly un-sheath their swords and hold them high over their heads, ready to strike. AZRAEL scrambles behind his father, grabbing his clothes.
OREN
Don’t worry Azrael, they’re the guards. You’re to stay here with them.
AZRAEL steps out from behind his dad and faces the statues, then looks up at OREN.
AZRAEL
Where will you be?
OREN crouches down and holds AZRAEL by the shoulders.
OREN
Your dad just caught four really bad demons.
AZRAEL
Four?
OREN
Yes. I’m going in to talk to them. Wait with the guards.
OREN stands up and walks towards the stone wall. AZRAEL watches him intensely.
OREN (CONT’D)
(Whispers)
Demenziofasina
The stone wall in front of OREN grinds open. AZRAEL can see only darkness inside. OREN enters--
AZRAEL
(frantically)
FATHER!
The door grinds shut. OREN walks forward into the darkness and a soft light illuminates the four renegade demons of KUDUN.
WRATH
Have you ever been to earth Oren? Live out your victory while it lasts...but remember this- you will not taste its sweetness long enough for you to savour it. I will come for you.
OREN
Your thoughts about earth do you harm my old friend for they betray you. Even thoughts cannot escape this cell. I did not know captured demons were afforded the luxury of dreams.
PSYCHS
Dreams! We spirits are afforded luxuries like dreams only when we’re in good spirits.
PSYCHS starts to cackle loudly but MAXI interrupts.
MAXI
SHUT UP PSYCHS! Oren, you’re dead. Funny thing is, you can’t even see it.
WRATH
Come now Maxi, there is no need for morbid talk. Seeing is believing is it not Oren? What he sees is us behind these walls and that is what he believes. You cannot tell the demon he is dead for he feels very much alive. But Oren i would be careful about believing.
OREN
And why is that old friend?
WRATH
Because once you believe, there is no turning back.
OREN
You are saying I should not believe what i see. That you are going to come for me?
WRATH
(viciously)
I’m saying you’re DEAD Oren, you just can’t see it yet.
OREN
The Orb of Omen- where is it?
WRATH
Grown weary of our chat already?
OREN
I grow weary of your game Wrath. You seem to think withholding this information gives you some sort of power over the governing council.
WRATH
Doesn’t it? The say knowledge equals power my dear elder and it seems to me by my calculations that this is the exact equation i find myself and my compatriots logically enclosed in. But of course once you release us, the balance of this equation will be redressed in your favour.
OREN
You of all demons should know that the governing council will never bow to the demands of your kind.
WRATH
(spits)
Then the governing council and its supporters shall never again set eyes on the orb of omen! I imagine this is not what you want or you wouldn’t be standing here talking to our kind.
OREN
(laughs)
You are right. I am not here because i want to be here but because the council insists i be. I would rather be out on the hunt. You believe yourselves to be of great importance but to me you are nothing but a conquest.
WRATH
Look to the state of your own being before you begin to judge Oren. I am no more of a conquest than you are. Release us! And you shall be free of the coming burden.
OREN
You waste the power of your forked tongue on a hunter.
WRATH
The politics of life and death concerns all; especially hunters.
OREN
I am not here to barter with you; I am here to get information, and since i have gotten no information, you leave me with nothing to report to the other elders.
WRATH
Remember what i said about believing Oren.
MAXI
You’re a dead man
PSYCHS
(cackles)
DEAD MAN! DEAD MAN! DEAD MAN! DEAD MAN!
OREN
I will give the council your regards.
WRATH turns around and walks back into the darkness. The other demons follow one by one. Oren turns and walks back towards the stone door. It grinds open once again and he walks out.
AZRAEL jumps into his father’s arms and looks over his shoulder into the cell. There is a little girl his age standing in it, crying quietly. She stretches her hand out towards AZRAEL.
GIRL
Help me...
AZRAEL looks at his father confused. OREN sees AZRAEL’S look and turns around and sees the stone door shut. AZRAEL, still on his father’s shoulder, stretches his hand towards the cell as his father walks away.
AURON picks up AZRAEL and puts him over his right shoulder. Camera view moves from behind (L-R) until it turns and passes face and moves over his left shoulder. A Little GIRL appears in view and music starts (evil melody). CUT TO: AZRAEL sees a little girl, about his age and she holds his gaze and her arms begin to stretch out. She calls out to him
GIRL
Help me…
Only AZRAEL hears this.
AURON: This is the last time I will bring you here.
INT. OREN’S OFFICE- DAY
AZRAEL sits while AURON walks into an internal room in his office
AURON
And this is my meditation room. I come in here every morning to prepare myself. As an elder you need a clear mind at all times.
AZRAEL
Can I try?
AURON
No son you are much too young. I need you to stay here now.
OREN walks into the meditation room.
‘HELP ME!’ AZRAEL hears the voice of the girl as loud as ever and is spurned into action.
We see OREN close the door of what we now know is the meditation room.
INT. AURON’S OFFICE- DAY
We see the meditation room door slide open with a loud SLAM and AURON steps out and takes a quick look round. Then, looking out the window, a long way down onto a glass bridge, he sees the footsteps of his SON on the sandy path. He then notices that they are leading in the direction of the cell. CUT TO:
Darkness. Gentle music plays. We hear a blood curdling scream. Zoom out of darkness to reveal the door of the cell. The scream becomes an echo.
CRASH! OREN’S reaction is so fast we almost don’t see it. One second he’s standing in the office, the next second, we see him landing on the bridge. A replica of his image still remains in the office and only after he lands do we see the glass shatter and the image disappear. He reaches the cell door and shouts it open. He sees AZRAEL standing in the cell looking around. He runs in, grabs him but AZRAEL struggles to break free.
AZRAEL
Noo! I have to save her! She’s still in there!
He lifts AZRAEL and exits.
