DARK TRAILS Screen play by Patrick Kortkamp The SHOOTING script.

INFO FOR THE CAST (NOT part of the SCRIPT.) CHARACTERS JASON: A MODERN DAY Character. learns the story of his family. Mr.JES: The man that tells the tale to JASON. VESCOVIOUS: Basically the main character, a young boy who's family has been killed very recently in the story. He has unknown powers. Very aggressive. Kills anyone who gets in his way. WILLEM: Young man. Looks up to Vescovious. Hopes to become a warrior someday . DESOLT: A vampire. Wants Vescovious to join his rebellion. Second in command to Count Boldmore. A suspect. COUNT BOLDMORE: Leader of the mainland. Mysterious. A suspected murderer. FELANI: An immortal, not a full vampire as of yet. Very fond of Vescovious. Works for Smordeneth the Sorceror. SMORDENETH: A sorceror, not fully revealed until the end of the film. Has a very dark past. NARRATER: 'Nuff said. Opening Titles. "DARK TRAILS". A YOUNG BOY BY THE NAME OF JASON, Walks into a NIGHTCLUB. INT. - NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT(OBVIOUSLY) JASON walks in, and there are many, many dancers in there. STROBE LIGHTS, BL ACK LIGHTS, and many other things are seen. VERY LOUD MUSIC is PLAYING. SOON a DARK DRESSED MAN WEARING A HOOD walks toward him. JASON Hey....are you Mr. Jes?? MR JES Yes, I am. JASON So, what was it that you wanted to talk about? MR JES Come, I'll take you to the back room. HE LEADS JASON to a SMALL, QUIET ROOM. INT. - SMALL ROOM - NIGHT MR JES It is....quite obvious that you are one of a kind. JASON Excuse me? I'm just any ordinary misfit here to find out what the hell you t hink of my winning the socer game the other day...that's what you're here to talk about, right? MR JES (laughs) Hell, no. Far from it. Do you know anything about your family's past? JASON

Well, my family's originally from England, and-MR JES No! Not entirely true. I guess it's time I tell you the truth, then. I knew you were one of a kind... I can see your powers growing. JASON (stuttering) Wh-wh-what?? MR JES Silence...let me tell you your family's past....the more important events, a tleast. Our tale begins.. FADE TO THE PAST. THE MEDIEVEL TIMES. Various shots. The sun. The moon. The stars at night. Nature. Animals. Peaceful things. Stormy weather....clouds. Cut to

SCENE ONE NARRATOR I shall tell a short tale, of a young man who's destiny was to rid the world of evil...it would be a long story, but nobody really knows everything that hap pened in those times, do they? But even if I told you everything, you'd think it was all but a lie, and that it is not! If you'd let me go on...Ah, yes...Many v illages in the old days, in a distant land out on the horizon, which many of you have often dreamed of....have been burnt to crisp, by a ruthless tyrant, a COUNT, who had a mysterious and charismatic past... but something was behind what he was doing. Perhaps he was the wrong man, but there was also one soul who would reveal the dark secrets of this land's rulers.. This boy went by the name VESCOVIOUS... ..as I tell you this story, imagine yourself in Vescovious' place. Imagine the pain, suffering, the confusion...and the dark choices to be made .and the day his family had been killed by an evil soul, whom many believed was an immortal, had passed....well, thi s was the day that would change VESCOVIOUS' life, and perhaps bring it into balance..o r would it end his life? PAUSE. NARRATOR (CONTD) The boy joined a group of travellers, the only survivors from the now burnt village...he had no place else to go...he had lost everything, but soon he had become close friends with these travellers for they were all he had. One of these travellers, a skilled ex-soldier by the name of PRESARE, had trained him his skills with the sword, for he was the only

one he could trust. But soon...he would lose PRESARE; while they were travel ling through the woods at night, they were attacked by a group of raiders, who stole their money. N ow poor, they had no where else to go. Soon they had found a boy, YOUNG WILLEM, who really looked up to VESCOVIOUS...The young boy had always dreamed of becoming a warrior. It was at this time when VESCOVIOUS had begun to discover his power.....the power that he would use for the wrong reasons.... seduction...and to rule. With his travellers, they soon arrived at a small fortress, but this was the one moment which would put them all to their very fates. SCENE TWO EXT. - SMALL FORTRESS - MIDDAY NARRATER Vescovious had lost his fellow travellers in combat....other than his compan ion, Willem. A SINGLE TEAR falls from VESCOVIOUS

NARRATER But Vescovious...always had room for revenge. In rage, VESCOVIOUS CHARGES up the hill, toward the FORTRESS. Cut to BLACK SCREEN. NARRATER Revenge only led to Vescovious being held captive by the Count himself, who had other things to worry about. But soon he escaped with the power he had and s ought revenge toward Count Boldmore.

MEANWHILE, A young female IMMORTAL and a MYSTERIOUS CLOAKED FIGURE are leavi ng the fortress. The IMMORTAL GIRL stops and turns around, and sees VESCOVIOUS. WILLEM is als o present. After the quick glance at VESCOVIOUS, the girl leaves. WILLEM shrugs. VESCOVIOUS CHARGES toward the COUNT S ROOM. SCENE THREE INT. - COUNT BOLDMORE S ROOM - NIGHT The COUNT sees him. VESCOVIOUS THROWS a KNIFE at the COUNT.

eye.

COUNT I saw it happen! Believe me! I know what it is you want!!!!!! You...fool! You do not realize who the true murderer is! Give up this fight. ..give me a chance...I had no need to kill your family! VESCOVIOUS Draws a SMALL SWORD/DAGGER. VESCOVIOUS IMMEDIATELY ATTACKS THE COUNT. COUNT You are very unwise, young man. VESCOVIOUS ignores his comment. COUNT What draws you toward this place? Can t you just ignore those whom you t hink is doing the wrong thing? VESCOVIOUS (after a beat) I ll never ignore the words of my dying father... I ll never let the evil of this world triumph. COUNT Youyoure the one they are looking for. VESCOVIOUS Who? Who is looking for me? COUNT No one, no one at all.after all, why listen to me? VESCOVIOUS ATTACKS FURIOUSLY. VESCOVIOUS cuts the COUNT S arm...The COUNT drops his Sword. VESCOVIOUS picks up his SWORD. VESCOVIOUS You..murderer. COUNT Vescovious, I sware I didn t VESCOVIOUS ATTACKS. COUNT I know about your powers, boy!! You don t know what you re doing! VESCOVIOUS Cuts off the COUNT S HEAD. cut to The COUNT S LIFELESS, HEADLESS BODY falling to the FLOOR. VESCOVIOUS drops his own sword, and picks up The COUNT S SWORD, and keeps it as his own. FADE IN. NARRATER Perhaps killing the Count was a wrong doing. He either knew too much or he didn t tell the boy enough of what he wanted.

FADE OUT.

SCENE FOUR Reveals VESCOVIOUS and WILLEM, who have now taken over the fortress. VESCOVIOUS RUNS INSIDE. INT. - FORTRESS - NIGHT VESCOVIOUS looks around... a sound is heard. He follows it. He sees a shadow. He follows it. Soon, a DARK CLOAKED MAN rises out from the shadows. VESCOVIOUS Who are you, and what do you want? You d best not be here to attempt to take down this fortress, this is my home now. DESOLT Oh, no, no...You may call me deSolt...eventhough I had worked for the Count, after I had found his dead body in his room, I had given up hope with his plans to rule the free world....he had given me the choice, for me to rule beside him....but, no, I chose freedom....Folloing my own path, I am giving up on that fool. VESCOVIOUS Dead fool. DESOLT Oh, but his spirit remains....can you not feel his presence? I can tell by that very look on your face....do you think you killed the wro ng man?

VESCOVIOUS He was a traitor.....he killed his own people. DESOLT Oh, but how do you know all of this? Did you see anything happen? What gives you the power you have? Have you ever thought of that? I knew your family, boy. ... VESCOVIOUS No, impossible....I would have had to meet you before. DESOLT It was just one night. I had tried to convince them to follow me...and make them like myself... My partners are awaiting me just outside, so we will have to make this fast. VESCOVIOUS What do you mean? LONG PAUSE... DESOLT Have you ever wanted to live forever? I can make it possible for you, boy. A YOUNG MESSENGER walks in the room. MESSENGER Not meaning to intrude, but...you have a message from someone. BEFORE THE MESSENGER CAN HAND THE NOTE TO VESCOVIOUS, DESOLT GRABS HIM, AND BITES HIS NECK...AND SUCKS HIS BLOOD. VESCOVIOUS Stop!! DESOLT Come with me...and I can make anything possible for you! Live forever! We can take down the evi l of this world! VESCOVIOUS I do not fear you...and I do not wish to join you....but there is but one st ep to destroy evil forever. VESCOVIOUS GRABS A DAGGER, AND DRIVES IT THROUGH DESOLT S HEART. DESOLT Poor....decision. DESOLT DIES. cut to ...a shot of VESCOVIOUS standing outside, alone, in the darkness. VESCOVIOUS V.O. I could have become a vampire that night, and increased my powers...and made my life easier.

the camera then reveals VESCOVIOUS and WILLEM sitting at a table. WILLEM So why didn t you? VESCOVIOUS I still don t know. But there was a message....a small note a boy had brough t in. It was undoubtedly from the followers of the immortal one, but it said the f ortress would be taken back.

WILLEM Bloody Hell! VESCOVIOUS Yes....bloody Hell, indeed. That s what it all is, isn t it? Is there any po int in this, all of this? No point, is there? WILLEM Well, I ll be damned. (laughs) VESCOVIOUS is NOT amused. VESCOVIOUS Who s damned? The vampire? The human that follows? We all have the same fate . Our lives all end the same way. If you only knew....the way I see it. SCENE FIVE NARRATER The word spread through the villages, that the boy Vescovious, whose family had been killed years earlier, is still alive....and no one wanted him to live any longer, for the followers of the immortal DESOLT, the vampire....did not want him knowing anything of their presence. Thinking he had destroyed evil for good, Vescovious had plans of making his own village, but only for his greed...perhaps the evil of the world was not destroyed yet . Perhaps he has killed the wrong men after all. But he had murdered anyone who would not give him i nformation about the murderers. INT. - FORTRESS - NIGHT VESCOVIOUS is sitting down in a room, alone. He is whispering to himself. WILLEM walks in the room. VESCOVIOUS I prefer being alone for the moment. WILLEM Sorry. VESCOVIOUS Wait....you don t seem entirely happy.

WILLEM

Well.... VESCOVIOUS I want it this way....it s what I ve always dreamed of doing...Ah, the glory . I ve always wanted to rule. All this land will be mine. WILLEM Yours? You mean you want to literally take over the whole place? And kill al l those who get in your way? VESCOVIOUS What? I have killed all those who murdered my family. WILLEM But there is something else behind this...I don t think they really were the ones who did it. (After a moment) WILLEM (CONT D) But there was that girl...she must have had SOMETHING to do with it ...she seemed very reluctant in taking over the fortress. I mean....did you even see the way she looked at you? VESCOVIOUS Oh, please....what are you saying? WILLEM Well.....I think she saw something in you. VESCOVIOUS You are talking about that very same person that I believed was an immortal, I assume? WILLEM Yes...and immortals, vampires, all of that sort...all have a strange sort of sense, such as mind reading, and many can see things before they occur. VESCOVIOUS Are you saying....she could have seen something...a future event, perhaps... about me? WILLEM I am just saying that it s a possibility....nothing more. If so, the feeling that she could have had, bad or good, is something that could unravel your very fate...perhaps you should be mindful of what you do in the future? VESCOVIOUS The girl...she was very beauitiful. Only an immortal could carry those looks ....no mortal human could posess. WILLEM I think you re looking too much into this. VESCOVIOUS (CONT D) ...somewhat....angelic.

WILLEM(laughs) Only a fool...but don t stick around and fall for a young girl at this time. ...you re in enough trouble as it is. Your powers are well, though you must be aware. We ll, if you knew how to-VESCOVIOUS Oh, so you re jealous? Is that it? WILLEM Of course, I want the gift you have. in life that we want but we won t get. works in life. I want a fair young girl for mys think not...No...Unfortunately, I do not carry make a relationship work.

WILLEM Other things, Vescovious.we shouldnt be talking about this, we should have mor e concern over the murderers.that is the main problem, not some immortal girl tha t you like. VESCOVIOUS I really don t know how to take this, but I had thought I ve taken care of a nything...there really is nothing to worry about. Either way, I ended future wars by killing the Count. WILLEM Ahahaha, but why not use your powers? Or ATLEAST try to, unless you are grow ing to weak for it. VESCOVIOUS(angry) Willem!! If I could lose this power I would! I might as well take advantage of it and do what I can with it!! WILLEM This is just wrong...why do you feel you can win things over by vengeance? I t doesn t make things better, trust me. Here s to you being redeemed. VESCOVIOUS And what is this redemption you speak of?

Cut. cut to.. A long, silent shot of VESCOVIOUS. NARRATOR Vescovious had some thinking that night.thoughts of the girl, the killings of the those he hated so much, and often wondered if he was doing the right thing

WILLEM You are only sinking to those poor souls ver see.

level....and redemption you may ne

VESCOVIOUS Well, there s lots of things I suppose that is the way it elf... but will that ever happen? I the charm, strength and wisdom one would have to

. SCENE SIX (A.K.A REEL 6, THE CLIMAX, MOMENT OF TRUTH, ect, etc, etc...) WILLEM AND VESCOVIOUS HEAR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. THEY LOOK OUT OF A WINDOW. THEY SEE: FELANI AND THE DARK CLOAKED SORCEROR STANDING NEAR THE FORTRESS. T HE SORCEROR IS TRYING TO BREAK OPEN THE DOOR. The SORCEROR takes off his HOOD....it is obvious that he is PURE EVIL....sha rp teeth, etc....FELANI has a long DAGGER, but looks slightly reluctant in fight ing. WILLEM It s her! VESCOVIOUS Who is the man beside her? WILLEM That was the Count s second hand man....but he is no ordinary man....very po werful. He looks the sorceror type, doesn t he? VESCOVIOUS The Count warned me about killing the wrong man....and I think I have killed the wrong man, afterall. Maybe the real murderer....well.... WILLEM Could it be.....? THE SORCEROR AND FELANI BARGE INTO THE ROOM. VESCOVIOUS ATTACKS the sorceror. SMORDENETH waves his STAFF, and FORCES VESCOVIOUS backwards, hitting the wal l behind him. SMORDENETH SMACKS VESCOVIOUS in the HEAD with his STAFF. THEY FIGHT. THE SORCEROR KNOCKS WILLEM TO THE GROUND. VESCOVIOUS SWINGS HIS SWORD AT THE SORCEROR. WITH HIS POWERS, THE SWORD GLOWS, AND IT HITS THE SORCEROR S SWORD, BREAKING IT. THE SORCEROR FIGHTS WITH HIS STAFF. HE SWINGS IT AT VESCOVIOUS, WHO DUCKS. THE SORCEROR EXTENDS HIS RIGHT HAND, AND LIFTS VESCOVIOUS UP INTO THE AIR, T HEN FORCES HIM TO THE GROUND. VESCOVIOUS IS BADLY INJURED. TWO OF THE SORCEROR S HENCHMEN ARRIVE, AND ATTACK WILLEM. WILLEM HAS TROUBLE TAKING OUT TWO AT A TIME. HE FALLS TO TTHE GROUND, WOUNDED. HE IS CLEARLY NOT WINNING THE FIGHT. VESCOVIOUS CONCENTRATES, USING HIS POWER, LIFTING THE SORCEROR UP INTO THE A IR, AND HIS HEAD HITS THE WALL. VESCOVIOUS QUICKLY RUNS TO HELP WILLEM, KILLING THE HENCHMEN. THE SORCEROR KNOCKS WILLEM TO THE GROUND, AGAIN. VESCOVIOUS IS RAGING WITH F URY. HE ATTACKS THE SORCEROR , BUT THE SORCEROR HAS TROUBLE FIGHTING HIM WITH JUST A STAFF. THE SORCEROR SOMEHOW KNOCKS VESCOVIOUS SWORD OUT OF HIS HAND, AND THE SORCEROR CATCHES IT, AND THROWS IT ASIDE. WILLEM is knocked unconscious by FELANI. VESCOVIOUS walks toward her. VESCOVIOUS Tell me who you are! NOW!

FELANI Vescovious, do not make the same mistake again....I have heard about you. VESCOVIOUS I had always thought the killer was an immortal. You know about things, abou t me, and I want to know, NOW! FELANI You are right....but I had absolutely nothing to do with the deaths of your family. The sorceror Smordeneth is my mentor, but I have no need to use my powers fo r evil. SMORDENETH Enough of this!! FELANI Vescovious, he did it! He is the one responsible! SMORDENETH SILENCE!!!!!!!! FELANI You MUST trust me!!!! VESCOVIOUS and the SORCEROR SMORDENETH battle ALONE. SMORDENETH Do you realize what you are up against? Or....heh heh....I see....you have discovered your powers from withen. I do not know why you have these powers, but I think it had something to do with your family. I believe your father was studying to become a sorceror...like myself. he had many, many, dark secrets. He was actually about to join with deSolt and the Count....they were going to rebel against my plans...I haven t even begun my final rise...but now is a good time. VESCOVIOUS No... SMORDENETH thinks back on it. The AUDIO grows silent.... flashback.... *********** FLASHBACK COUNT BOLDMORE is having a secret meeting with SMORDENETH, FELANI and DESOLT . DESOLT and FELANI exchange several glances. COUNT The boy is very dangerous...He could well destroy all our lives. SMORDENETH Certain death to him...and all else who follows. Even if this puts your life at risk. COUNT

Yes....I will...see to it that he is killed. SMORDENETH walks past the COUNT, and leaves the room. FELANI and DESOLT are looking at the COUNT, who has an unsure look on his fa ce. FELANI is very worried, as are the others. None of them really know what the y are doing. ********** Cut BACK to a shot of VESCOVIOUS, back at the duel. SMORDENETH Alas....discovered your mind powers as well, I assume? Yes...now you know ev erything. SMORDENETH (contd) Can you not see? Those who you thought had killed your family are all linked..they did not have anything to do with the deaths. But they were stil l abit evil, nonetheless...or were they just misunderstood? Still...All that t hey wanted was for you to turn against someone. VESCOVIOUS Who? SMORDENETH Someone who was indeed linked with the death of your family. None other than myself. VESCOVIOUS MURDERER!!!!!!!! They fight. SMORDENETH Young fool...why don t you just go sit in a corner, wonder why you even exis t, and kill yourself, you pathetic bastard. VESCOVIOUS I d rather see you rot in Hell. SMORDENETH Maybe so, but I have a feeling you shall be the first to see that horrid pla ce. VESCOVIOUS I have a feeling I won t be. The SORCEROR pulls out a HIDDEN DAGGER, and stabs VESCOVIOUS in the STOMACH. SMORDENETH I just wanted to thank you for killing the Count....after all, you put me in the place I am in right now. But please....stop getting in my way...I suppose I won t have to worry about that, now, will I?

The SORCEROR gives an EVIL CACKLE. VESCOVIOUS falls to the floor. WILLEM AWAKENS. He sees VESCOVIOUS. WILLEM CHARGES at the SORCEROR. They fight. The SORCEROR forces FIRE at WILLEM with his staff, but VESCOVIOUS, who is ne ar death, forces the fire back at the sorceror. The sorceror is BURNED ALIVE. WILLEM kneels down by VESCOVIOUS. VESCOVIOUS I m sorry...I m... WILLEM No, no, no! VESCOVIOUS Atleast....there is no chance of me....killing...any more of the innocent..b ut now...evil is no more. SCENE SEVEN FADE IN NARRATER VESCOVIOUS had the chance to use his powers to rule...but instead he had cha nged his decision at the last minute....for he was not evil, as he thought he was turning. FADE OUT WILLEM is standing at VESCOVIOUS GRAVE. FELANI is present as well. WILLEM Farewell...you have redeemed yourself, my friend. WILLEM STABS THE COUNT S SWORD into the ground. AFTER WILLEM leaves, FELANI has a moment. FELANI cries. FELANI What must I do now. What is there left for me...what else to do...but walk through this world...alone...without you. whom I ve always dremt of being wi th. I had hoped things would work for the better. WILLEM comforts her. She hugs WILLEM. FELANI walks OFFSCREEN with WILLEM. SLOWLY ZOOM IN on the SWORD.

CUT BACK TO.... MODERN DAY. JASON is AMAZED at the story. JASON So, that, um....that s it, then? MR JES Yes...not convinced? JASON I don t understand....convinced of what? MR JES You don t see it, do you? JASON IS SILENT. MR JES Vescovious powers pased on to you....you may not use them for the same reas ons, but it is clear that you have his powers. I have been watching you for a long time...very long ti me, indeed. But, you see....hahah... Vescovious never really destroyed evil forever...surely, Smordeneth is dead. ...but I ve always wanted to get revenge against Vescovious and any descendants of his. MR JES TAKES OFF HIS HOOD. MR JES IS REALLY DE SOLT, THE VAMPIRE!! DESOLT ATTACKS JASON. JASON USES HIS POWERS, TRULY, AND LOOKS OUT A WINDOW O UT SIDE, AND WITH HIS POWERS LIFTS UP A STAKE THAT IS OUT SIDE, AND DRIVES IT THROUGH DESOLT S HEART. DESOLT DIES. JASON RUNS HOME. INT. - JASON S HOUSE - NIGHT In JASON S STORAGE ROOM, there is a large box....he opens it. INSIDE THE BOX, is VESCOVIOUS SWORD. JASON SMILES. THE END ROLL CREDITS. WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY PATRICK KORTKAMP EDITED BY PATRICK KORTKAMP AND MICHAEL HENTHORN CASTING BY PATRICK KORTKAMP