Dark Waters - "Pilot"

7/28/2019 Dark Waters - "Pilot"

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Dark Waters

“Pilot”

By

Elliott Davidson



ACT I

FADE IN:

EXT. SEA – DAY

The sun has yet to rise, but a hint of early morning light

lingers above the horizon, illuminating the gentle waters.

Islands dot the sea, green tips from below the waves.

EXT. ISLAND BAY - DAY

The shore of a large island is lined with houses set back

from the water. Long docks reach out into the sea.

EXT. ISLAND SHORE – DAY

A sleek, catamaran-like boat rocks lazily in the pre-dawn

light, sails down, tied to one of the wooden docks.

Thin trees and brush stand a dozen feet from the shore.

JADIN, fifteen years old, walks out from a path that cuts

through the brush and leads towards the dock.

He’s strong, vibrant, with dark hair, dark eyes, and bronze

skin. Clothes of worn leather and coarse cloth, beads andbraids, bone jewellery, tribal designs on his arms.

Jadin stares out at the sea. A grin creeps across his face.

JADIN

You two coming?

ALIA, a beautiful young thirteen year-old girl, and CONNOR,

a smaller eleven year old boy – both dressed similarly to

Jadin - appear from the path and join their older brother.

EXT. SEA – DAY

The sun rises, bringing its golden light to the world.

EXT. ISLAND SHORE – DAY

Jadin’s smile grows, and he walks towards the dock.

1



CONNOR

Jadin ... should we be doing this?

ALIA

No, we shouldn’t.

Jadin begins to untie the catamaran.

JADIN

You don’t have to come if you

don’t want to, Alia.

Alia walks over to Jadin, helps her brother with the ropes.

ALIA

Oh I’m coming. I just want you toknow we shouldn’t be doing this.

Jadin cocks an eyebrow, smiles at his sister.

JADIN

What about you, Connor?

Connor pauses, eyes his siblings, then moves to the boat.

CONNOR

Let’s go.

EXT. SEA - DAY

The catamaran skims above the light blue water, its sails

full as it flies by lush, emerald islands, the sun a little

higher in the sky.

EXT. CATAMARAN – DAY

Connor and Alia stand at the bow, bracing themselves

against the wind, hair blowing backwards, hooting withexcitement.

Jadin stands at the back of the boat, steering the

catamaran, natural, at ease.

JADIN

Hold on.

2



EXT. SEA – DAY

The catamaran begins to weave back and forth, wide banking

turns, spraying white foam as it cuts into the water.


Connor and Alia hold on tighter, nervous, but exhilarated.

EXT. SEA – DAY

Dolphin-like fish begin to follow the catamaran, keeping

pace, bursting out from the water and arcing through the

air before plunging back down.


Connor watches the fish, laughing.

Jadin, meanwhile, surveys the seas.

JADIN

I want to show you guys something.

Alia looks up at the sun, then at her brother.

JADINDon’t worry, Lia. We’ve got time.

EXT. SMALL ISLAND – DAY

The catamaran nears a small island overgrown with

vegetation.


Jadin guides the boat towards a clear section of the

island’s pebbly shore, lowering the sails.

EXT. PEBBLY SHORE – DAY

The catamaran coasts onto the shore. Jadin hops off the

boat and into the gently rolling surf.

3



JADIN

It’s easier to walk in from here.

Alia and Connor follow.

EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

The three kids march through the jungle.

CONNOR

Jadin, can I ask you something?

JADIN

Sure.

CONNOR

Is it weird that Mom and Dad hadthe baby?

JADIN

What do you mean?

CONNOR

Well, they had us, us three. And

that was it, for a while. That was

the family. Then, they had her.

Jadin stops.

JADIN

Do you think it’s strange?

CONNOR

I don’t know.

Jadin looks away from his brother, catches Alia’s eye.

JADIN

We’re almost there.

EXT. HIDDEN COVE – DAY

The three children walk out of the trees and onto the

shoreline of a secluded, shallow cove.

4



JADIN

Here.

Ahead, two rows of old stone pillars stand in the water,

both leading towards the shore. Where they meet land, a

broken stone path heads into the jungle.

Old, crumbling stone statues accompany the path.

The children move closer, inspecting the stone.

Broken rubble lies all around, on the ground along the

stone path, and near the base of the pillars, underwater.

Trees cut off the path’s destination.

CONNORWhat is all of this?

Jadin shrugs. He walks along the path towards the water.

JADIN

They have cut stone like this in

the Center Waters. Houses made out

of it. Cities. Dad’s seen them.

ALIA

So what’s it doing out here?

Jadin looks at the pillars, shakes his head.

Then he frowns, squints his eyes. He scans the water,

confused, agitated.

JADIN

Get away from the water.

ALIA

What?

JADIN

Get over to the trees.

Jadin’s head snaps towards the entrance of the cove.

5



And a ship appears at the narrow mouth of the cove, its

profile dominated by tall masts and high crimson sails.

CONNOR

Red Sails.

Jadin pushes Alia and Connor towards the tree line.

JADIN

Go! Hurry!

The three children run along the path towards the trees,

avoiding the broken stone blocks that lie in their way.

EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

The kids make their way to the trees, hiding behind them,before looking back towards the water.

EXT. SEA – DAY

A long, thin boat sails towards the small island and the

obscured entrance to the cove.

EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

The children, alert, watch the boat.

EXT. SEA – DAY

A small rowboat is lowered from the larger ship.

EXT. JUNGLE - DAY

The three siblings hold their breath as the rowboat draws

near, travelling between the two lines of pillars before

reaching the shore.

EXT. HIDDEN COVE - DAY

The rowboat touches land, and a handful of soldiers in red

uniforms - clothes that are toga-like, almost Spartan -

step onto the stone path.

6



EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

Jadin leans in closer, watching the soldiers as they

regroup on the path.

EXT. HIDDEN COVE – DAY

The soldiers begin to walk towards the trees.

EXT. JUNGLE – DAY

The children watch the soldiers advance towards them.

Jadin directs Alia and Connor off to the side.

JADIN

(whispering)Move! Move!

The kids sneak to the side, just as the soldiers reach the

trees. Jadin motions for Alia and Connor to stay still.

The soldiers begin to bushwhack through the jungle,

following the bare traces of the stone path.

The kids remain off to the side, hidden, motionless, as the

soldiers pass by.

ALIA

(whispering)

It’s time to go.

Jadin is entranced as the soldiers cut through the jungle.

Alia grabs Jadin, forces him to look at her.

ALIA

Jadin. It’s time to go.

Jadin bites his lip, his mind elsewhere, then nods.

JADIN

Okay. Okay.

Jadin manages one last eager glance at the departing

soldiers, and then the kids begin to move.

7



EXT. PEBBLY SHORE – DAY

The catamaran remains on the shore, moving slightly with

each new wave that comes in.

The children appear, creeping out of the nearby jungle.

ALIA

Let’s go home.

The three kids head for the catamaran, pushing it back into

the water before pulling themselves aboard.

Jadin looks down the shore as he raises the sails.

EXT. SEAS – DAY

The catamaran speeds along the water.


The three children are sombre.

CONNOR

Jadin ... what are Red Sails doing

this far out?

JADIN

Don’t know.

Jadin stares at the water ahead, and says no more.

EXT. SEAS – DAY

The catamaran passes by a small, rocky island.

EXT. CATAMARAN - DAY

Connor’s eyes stay on the small island as they sail past.

A line of jagged rocks leads out from the small island and

into the water. It’s the Arm, a loose, craggy peninsula

that bends half way out from the island, guarding one half

of the island’s shore.

8



Grotesquely carved statues decorate the rocks of the Arm.

CONNOR

Those things give me the creeps.

ALIAI think that’s the point.

They leave the small island behind.

EXT. ISLAND BAY – DAY

The catamaran sails towards the children’s island.

A handful of other small ships move about the bay.

Off in the distance, a tight group of ships approaches.


Jadin guides the ship towards their dock, lowers the sails.

EXT. DOCK – DAY

The catamaran nears the dock. The children jump off and tie

the boat down.

JADINWell, let’s see if they know we’re

gone.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

A large wooden home with open windows and a thatched roof -

perfect for the warm, breezy climate – stands at the top of

a gentle slope, overlooking the bay.

The children appear from the winding path through the brush

that leads from the dock to their home.

TRISTAN, the children’s father, strides out of the house.

He ties a long cutlass sheathed in an old leather scabbard

to his waist.

Tristan spots his young children.

9



TRISTAN

Where have you three been?

The children are reluctant to speak.

JADINOn the water.

TRISTAN

On the water. Alone.

(shakes his head)

Then you were lucky.

ALIA

Why?

Tristan turns away from the kids and scans the bay.

The children follow their father’s gaze.

Tristan grimaces. Dotting the bay are a dozen specs of red.

Red Sails.

TRISTAN

Because today, the seas are red.

FADE OUT.

10



ACT II

FADE IN:

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Tristan and his children watch as the Red Sails move

through the bay, coming closer and closer.

MORA, the children’s mother, exits the house. She rocks

young baby SERAH in her arms, back and forth.

MORA

Tristan, are the ships–

Mora sees her kids.

MORA

Where have you three been?

TRISTAN

Tempting fate.

The children lower their heads, embarrassed.

Serah wriggles about in her mother’s arms.

JADINIs Serah okay?

MORA

She’s upset.

Tristan looks over at the infant child, sharing a long,

unspoken moment with his wife, before returning his

attention to the approaching ships in the bay below.

EXT. ISLAND BAY - DAY

The long wood hulls of the Red Sails cut through the water

like knives.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Tristan, stoic, rests his hand on the hilt of the cutlass.

11




Scores of rowboats are lowered from the small fleet of

ships, heading in all directions.

EXT. ISLAND SHORE - DAY

One of the rowboats makes its way towards the family’s

dock, and a half dozen soldiers step out.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

The soldiers march up the brush path, moving steadily

towards Tristan and the family, swords at their sides.

TRISTAN

Children, go to your mother.

The kids join their mother.

The soldiers draw near. One of them steps forward.

SOLDIER

High sun to you, sir.

TRISTAN

(coldly)

And you.

The other soldiers walk towards the family.

Tristan tenses, grips the hilt of the cutlass tightly.

SOLDIER

You can keep that blade where it

is.

The soldiers walk past the family and enter the home. One

of the soldiers moves to a simple shed nearby.

SOLDIER

We sail on the General’s orders,

making sure that certain unlawful

groups out here in the Far Waters

aren’t being aided by you and your

kinsmen. Or protected.

12



Tristan eyes the soldier that enters the shed.

INT. HOUSE - DAY

The soldiers begin to search the house roughly, turning itupside down.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

The lead soldier offers Tristan a not entirely warm smile.

SOLDIER

And, to make sure the General’s

Guard has your support.

Something crashes inside the house. Serah begins to cry.

Tristan takes a slow step towards the soldier, his hand

remaining on the hilt of his sword.

TRISTAN

I think you’ll find that very few

of us ‘out here’ support your

General. Or you Red Sails.

The soldier stares back at Tristan with his false smile.

SOLDIER

We bring peace to these seas. Do

you not want that?

TRISTAN

I know your peace.

The two men stare at one another, unblinking.

Serah continues to cry. The rest of the family, tense,

watches the stand-off between Tristan and the soldier.

The lead soldier studies the tearful child.

SOLDIER

Precious.

13



Then the other soldiers reappear. One of them offers a

subtle head shake to the lead solder.

SOLDIER

You see? Nothing to worry about.

Thank you for your help.

The soldiers walk to the path. The lead soldier looks back

and offers one last shark’s smile.

SOLDIER

And you’ll be seeing more of my

kinsmen in time. To keep these

waters safe.

With that, the soldier steps into the brush, and is gone.

Tristan stares at the path, jaws clenched, muscles tight.

ALIA

Jadin, Connor ... come help me

clean up.

The children slink off quietly into the house.

Mora walks over to her husband. She rests her head on

Tristan’s shoulder, and he wraps his arm around her waist.

They look down at the rowboats that swarm the water like

wasps, moving out from their red hives, spreading out along

the coast of the bay and to the smaller islands nearby.

MORA

Never far enough, are we?

EXT. WOODEN DOCK – DAY

The sun has travelled past its midday peak. A few dark

clouds creep across the otherwise blue ceiling above.

The children sit on the dock, feet in the water. They watch

the lingering Red Sails, now far down the coast.

CONNOR

At least Mom and Dad weren’t too

mad at us for going out today.

14



Connor laughs weakly. He doesn’t receive much response.

Tristan appears from the path and walks over to the dock.

TRISTANJadin, come with me. I want to speak

with you. Alone.

JADIN

Aye.

With that, Tristan departs.

Jadin eyes his siblings, then follows his father.

EXT. STORE SHED – DAY

Tristan and Jadin make their way towards the store shed.

Tristan grasps the handle of the shed’s door, pauses. He

glances at Jadin briefly before stepping into the shed.

INT. STORE SHED – DAY

The shed is home to a variety of food stores, sailing

equipment, old furniture, and other odds and ends, all

strewn about from the recent search.

Tristan walks over to a large barrel in the corner.

TRISTAN

I’d hoped that I’d never have to

show you this.

Tristan shoves the heavy barrel aside and feels around the

wooden slats of the shed’s floor. He finds the plank he’s

looking for, pries it off the ground, and sets it aside.

TRISTAN

Come here, Jadin.

Jadin walks over to his father and looks down at the gap in

the floor, at a hidden space underneath the shed.

15



Tristan reaches down into the hole in the floor, and pulls

out a long, intricately carved wooden box.

Tristan lays the box on the floor, wipes the dust and the

dirt off of it reverently. He flips open the latches on the

front of the case and lifts up its lid.

An old layer of silk covers the object that sits in the

box. Tristan moves the silk aside, revealing an aged sword.

The sword, a strange mix of katana and claymore, is

tarnished and dull, yet still shines in the low light.

JADIN

What is it?

Tristan crosses his arms, examining the sword.

TRISTAN

This ... is one of the last

remaining Old Swords.

JADIN

They’re real?

TRISTAN

Very much so.

Jadin looks upon the sword, amazed.

JADIN

Is this what the Red Sails were

looking for?

TRISTAN

If they’d been looking for this,

they would’ve sent a hundred men.

JADINCan I hold it?

TRISTAN

Yes. But be careful.

JADIN

Why, is it fragile?

16



TRISTAN

(chuckling)

You will never damage this sword,

Jadin. But be careful.

Puzzled, Jadin reaches for the sword, wrapping his fingers

around its hilt. He stands, lifts the sword up before him.

Jadin gasps as he sees:

INT./EXT. FLASHES OF BATTLES – DAY/NIGHT

In different times, different places, men and women come

together in combat, swords clashing, one battle after

another, one moment after another.

The Old Sword is the only constant.


Jadin drops the sword on the wood floor. He breathes

rapidly, eyes wide, looking at the blade.

The sword’s form shifts ever so slightly, but it returns to

the way it looked while resting in its box.

JADINWhat was that? What was that?

Tristan smiles knowingly. He lifts up the sword with his

fingertips, holding it before the two of them.

TRISTAN

That ... was every moment this

sword has ever known. Every person

that’s fought with it, every hand

that’s held it, every battle it’s

ever seen.

Jadin stares at the sword, stunned.

TRISTAN

All of it, flooding your mind. The

gift of the Old Swords. The curse.

17



JADIN

Have you ever fought with it?

Tristan places the sword back in the box, and folds the

silk over it before closing the lid.

TRISTAN

Yes. Once.

Tristan rubs at his head wearily.

TRISTAN

I’ve kept this sword hidden for a

long, long time. Maybe – hopefully

– it will stay that way.

Tristan looks to his son.

TRISTAN

But if anything happens, Jadin -

anything at all - I want you to

come here, and take this sword.

Promise me you will, Jadin.

JADIN

What?

TRISTANPromise me.

JADIN

I ... I promise.

TRISTAN

Good. Good.

Tristan takes the box and lowers it into the hole in the

floorboards.

JADIN

What is it, Dad? What do you see?

Is it the Red Sails?

Tristan replaces the wood plank and gets to his feet.

18



TRISTAN

Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know.

He locks eyes with his son.

TRISTANBut dark waters are coming, Jadin.

And I want you to be prepared.

Tristan pushes the barrel back over the hiding spot in the

floor, and leads his son to the door.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Jadin and Tristan walk to the house, then stop dead in

their tracks.

Storm clouds churn angrily on the horizon: bruised, purple,

spreading across the water.

JADIN

Dad, have you ever seen anything

like that before?

Like a living creature, the clouds continue to advance,

crawling quickly through the sky towards the bay.

TRISTANNo.

JADIN

Wait, do you hear that?

From inside the house, the father and son can hear the baby

crying. More than crying – wailing, screaming.

TRISTAN

Serah.

INT. HOUSE – DAY

The door slams open, and Jadin and Tristan hurry inside.

Mora cradles baby Serah in her arms, rocking the screaming

child, trying to comfort her. She dabs a wet cloth against

the bawling child’s head.

19



Alia and Connor sit beside their mother, meek, worried.

TRISTAN

Mora, what’s wrong?

MORA

Serah’s sick. Maybe fever.

TRISTAN

Maybe?

Tristan looks over his child. Serah’s as pale as a ghost.

Tristan reaches down, touches the child’s jerking arm.

TRISTANShe’s cold as stone.

MORA

But her forehead ...

Mora removes the wet cloth. Indeed, though the child is

sheet white, a rosy mark lays in the centre of her

forehead.

Tristan holds his hand against Serah’s forehead, and pulls

it back a second later, shocked.

TRISTAN

It’s on fire!

MORA

Aye. We need to get her to the

medicine man.

TRISTAN

We can’t. Storm’s coming. Quick.

Angry. We can’t take her out onthat water.

MORA

Tristan, we can’t just sit here.

Tristan looks out the window at the looming storm. He grits

his teeth, frustrated, panicked.

20



JADIN

I’ll go.

The family stares at Jadin.

JADIN

Stay with Serah. I’ll go to the

medicine man, bring him here.

MORA

Jadin, he’s on the other side of

the Arm. If there’s a storm ...

JADIN

I can sail those waters. Dad?

Tristan is motionless. Then the slightest of nods.

TRISTAN

Go. If you think you can sail,

then go.

Jadin swallows hard and heads for the door. He reaches for

the handle and –

TRISTAN

Jadin.

Jadin turns. Tristan concentrates, head bowed, eyes closed.

TRISTAN

Take Alia and Connor with you.

JADIN

What?

Tristan opens his eyes, piercing Jadin with his gaze.

TRISTAN

Take them.

Alia and Connor look at their father, stunned, then go to

their brother.

21



JADIN

We’ll return to you.

Tristan’s brow is bunched, his mouth tight.

TRISTANAye. Now go.

FADE OUT.

22



ACT III

FADE IN:

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Storm clouds move in ever closer towards the bay. The sun

tries desperately to break through.

The children step out into the hostile afternoon and run to

the path down to the dock.

EXT. BRUSH PATH - DAY

Jadin rushes down the path, followed by Alia and Connor.

EXT. DOCK – DAY

Jadin reaches the dock, has the catamaran untied before

Alia and Connor have even emerged from the path.

Jadin pushes the catamaran away from the dock.

JADIN

Get on!

Alia and Connor jump onto the boat. Jadin gives the

catamaran one last push before leaping aboard.


The catamaran rolls with the angry waves.

JADIN

Here we go. Hold on!

Jadin pulls at the rigging, and the sails snap upwards.

Alia and Connor brace themselves against the boat’s mast,while Jadin stands low, gripping the rigging tightly.

The catamaran heaves forward, shooting across the water as

it’s carried by the powerful winds.

23




The catamaran rocks back and forth, bouncing off the

surging waves, practically airborne as it hurtles forward.

EXT. SEA - DAY

The children head for the small rocky island, its shore

guarded by the threatening Arm.


The jagged rocks of the Arm draw closer.

Jadin pulls at the rigging, leaning to the left.

ALIAJadin, the Arm! You’re too close!

JADIN

I’ve got it, I’ve got it!

CONNOR

Ahhhhhhh!

EXT. ROCKY ISLAND – DAY

The catamaran cuts sharply to the left, just barely avoidshitting the rocks head on.


The catamaran runs parallel to the bent half of the Arm.

Jadin minds the rocks that lie just off to the right as he

pushes the catamaran forward.


The catamaran, skimming above the waves, nears the end ofthe rocky line of the Arm.


Jadin leans far to the right, pulling the rigging down with

him.

24




The catamaran turns hard to the right, moving around the

end point of the Arm. The left pontoon of the boat lifts

out of the water.


The catamaran makes its way around the Arm, and Jadin

brings the ship down level on the water.

Alia and Connor laugh madly, relieved.

Jadin stares out at the water, defiant.

Ahead waits the clear sandy shore of the small island.

EXT. SANDY SHORE – DAY

Jadin lowers the sails as the catamaran makes it to the

shore, running aground.

Two ornate tribal torches stand at the edge of the beach,

marking a path that leads away from the water. Their flames

dance wildly in the wind.

The children jump into the foamy waves, push through the

water towards the beach.

EXT. MEDICINE MAN’S HUT – DAY

The children reach the medicine man’s home, a small hut

covered with tribal markings, animal skulls and bones,

carved statues, and thick wax candles. Smoke rises from a

hole in the roof.

INT. MEDICINE MAN’S HUT – DAY

IKAIA the medicine man – old, ancient even, and adornedmuch like his home – warms his hands on a fire in the

centre of the hut.

Jadin, Alia, and Connor rush into the hut, startling the

old man.

25



IKAIA

My ... what brings you three here?

JADIN

Our sister’s sick. We came to get

you, bring you back with us.

IKAIA

Go with you? In that weather? Are

you mad?

ALIA

We sailed in that weather just to

make it here!

IKAIA

And you were fools to do it.

JADIN

Please. Please, you have to.

The medicine man gets to his feet, grimacing as he pushes

on an old walking stick, and shuffles over to the children.

IKAIA

I know you. Tristan’s boy, ain’t

cha?

(to Alia and Connor)You two are his as well. So it’s

the wee baby then. The girl.

What’s wrong with her?

JADIN

Fever, maybe.

IKAIA

Maybe? Is she feverish or not?

JADINHer arms, her whole body, it’s

cold, like ice. But her head ...

her brow’s boiling hot.

CONNOR

And there’s a mark too.

26



IKAIA

Mark?

JADIN

On her forehead, under the skin.

Red, bright red. It’s the onlycolour on her.

IKAIA

And that’s where the fever burns?

That spot alone?

Jadin nods.

Ikaia walks over to a small window, looks out at the

violent storm clouds above.

IKAIA

Young child for your parents to

have. ‘Specially after you three

are so well grown. Strange, that.

JADIN

What?

IKAIA

Wonder what your pa makes of it.

No fool, that one. Got the Sight,he does. D’you know that?

JADIN

(hesitant)

Yes.

IKAIA

Your dad sees far. Farther than

most. Farther than with his eyes

alone.

(turns to Jadin)What about you?

JADIN

What does this have to do with-

27



IKAIA

You’re yer father’s son, ain’t

cha, boy? Wouldn’t think you a

fool either. Hmph.

Ikaia walks away, nodding to himself. He moves over to anold table, littered with withered plants and herbs,

bottles, bowls, and books.

IKAIA

I ain’t never heard such a fever.

D’you trust my word, boy? Reckon I

know what I’m talking about?

Jadin nods.

IKAIAAs you should. Now, I ain’t

sailing on those waters with you.

Last sky I ever see won’t be the

one out there.

The medicine man reaches into a bowl of green herbs, and

pours a handful of the grindings into a small leather

pouch.

IKAIA

But you braved those waters for mycounsel, and I’ll give the only

thing I can think to.

The medicine man takes Jadin’s hand, puts the pouch in the

teenager’s palm, and closes his fist.

IKAIA

Take this with you, give it to the

baby. It’ll help. I hope.

JADINThank you.

IKAIA

But that storm ... it’s evil.

Unnatural. I beg ya, don’t go.

Stay here. Wait it out.

28



JADIN

We can’t. We have to go.

IKAIA

Then I pray ya make it back to

your shore. Breathing.

JADIN

So do I.

EXT. SANDY SHORE – DAY

The children burst out from the trees, racing to the

catamaran. The waves surge even higher than before, but the

kids pay them little notice.


The catamaran shoots out past the rocky tip of the Arm,

mere feet from crashing against it.


The tendons on Jadin’s arm bulge outward, all his strength

going into maintaining the catamaran’s course.

EXT. SEAS – DAY

The catamaran carries the children towards their home.


Jadin’s mouth, pursed tightly, goes slack. His jaw drops.

The three kids stare ahead, dumbstruck.

ALIA

Jadin? What ... ?

The shoreline of their bay is hidden from view.

Black thunderheads hang just above the water, the storm

itself reaching down from the sky, a dark tendril that

envelops the children’s home.

29



Jadin crouches lower still, holding onto the rigging as

tight as he can.


The catamaran slams through the water, each wave nearlycapsizing the ship.


Alia and Connor hang on for dear life.

Jadin stares straight ahead.


The catamaran sails for the impossible thundercloud thatsurrounds the children’s home.


Jadin steers the catamaran towards the dark cloud.

JADIN

We’re almost there!

Then the cloud begins to move. The black mass withdraws,

pulling back from the land, the house, the dock, retreatinginto the sky.

Jadin’s eyes follow it, wide with disbelief.

He watches as the smoky limb returns to the clouds above.

Then the clouds explode with light. Lightning snakes down

towards the island, striking the children’s home. Crack!

JADIN

No!!

Another lightning bolt streaks down from the sky, hitting

the home, and then a third. Crack-crack!

The children watch from the water as their home is set

ablaze.

30



Jadin stands near the entrance, scanning the room with

desperate eyes.

Then he spots something on a nearby table. Parchment,

smoking around the edges, held down with a small rock.

Jadin picks up the coarse piece of paper, tossing the rock

aside. It’s a note, the words scrawled across the page by a

hurried hand.

INSERT – NOTE:

“They’re coming for Serah. In the

storm. Get to Tomas. Falcon Rock.

What is this??”

INT. HOUSE – DAY

Jadin, panting, lips pulled back, stares at the note. He

takes one last look around, and then runs for the door.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Jadin stumbles out of the burning house. Alia and Connor

stand at the top of the path, watching in horror.

Jadin lurches over to them, embracing them fiercely.

JADIN

They’re gone.

ALIA

What?

JADIN

Gone. Taken.

Alia and Connor stare at Jadin, terrified.

32



Then the sky rumbles above them, and in an instant, it’s

pouring, rain hammering down upon the children.

They look to the heavens, the children broken, devastated.

Jadin steps away from his brother and sister, his legs

weak. He drops the parchment on the ground.

Alia picks it up, scans what’s written on it. Connor stands

beside her, reading as well.

Jadin looks off to the side, walks away from his siblings.

ALIA

Jadin, where are you going?!

He doesn’t respond.


Jadin shoves the door open. He spots the old barrel in the

corner of the shed, leans against it. He pushes the barrel

over, toppling it onto its side.

Jadin claws at the floorboards.

EXT. HOUSE – DAY

Alia and Connor watch their brother return, holding the old

wooden box with the intricate carvings.

He drops to his knees, shins slapping against the mud.

Jadin places the box on the ground and opens its lid.

Alia and Connor move in closer.

Rain soaks the three of them, their clothes drenched, their

lank hair hanging over their eyes.

The home continues to burn beside them.

CONNOR

Jadin? What do we do now?

33



Jadin folds the silk aside, revealing the Old Sword

beneath. The light of the fire gleams along its ancient

blade.

JADIN

We find them.

FADE OUT.

34

Dark Waters - "Pilot"

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Transcript of Dark Waters - "Pilot"