Fifteen
I:
The Library
[An old woman, crooked as some might say, not green but having a green hue, un-warted, unbeautiful, with big, round eyes and a nose that serves half the face walks into a dusty library and pulls out a book covered with cobwebs. The book is bound in red and has no words on the cover or inside. She takes a quill pen and a jar of ink and sits at a large table (the table is actually a regular-sized table, but in comparison to this woman it is huge). She opens the book to the third page and sighs. She writes the words as they are spoken.
The word “fifteen” appears (font: Book Antiqua) slowly in white along the bottom of the screen and then as if it was shattered glass, bits and pieces fly across the screen and fade out.]
Morwith
(voice over) An attempted account of the Age before the Darkness that is to come. Part One. Morwith is my name and I am of the third order in this land of those you would call witches. I have taken in a precious jewel which cannot be tainted; else the Kingdom of Gloria is ruined. She has grown fitfully, though I fear tomorrow for it is her fifteenth birthday. I have no justifiable means to do so; however my instinct has not yet disappointed me. All her life she has believed she is mine, contrived from nonliving matter and green foods, however I feel in her heart she knows differently. Something is to happen that will ruin all previously made plans and in this book will be recorded all times, places and events of this new tragedy.
Julia
Mother! Mother I must speak with you at once! I disapprove greatly at your locking up my beautiful things and I would curse you had I any of your genes! Give me my necklace!
[Morwith looks up at the interruption but does not see the child. She is behind a locked door, banging desperately and whining. She closes her eyes and in her hand appears a beautiful silver necklace with a horse charm attached, though the camera does not show the horse yet.]
Morwith
Long have I kept you secret, my friend. It is as I feared three minutes ago. She will know tomorrow.
[Through some inner force or perhaps because Morwith allowed it, a final bang opens the library door. Starting at the feet and slowly rising, the camera shows a child of fourteen clad in green, as beautiful as the sky in autumn. She is developed and fits the standards of beauty held throughout the kingdom. Her eyes are radiant green in comparison to her pale dress, glowing brown hair ever flowing to her waist as was the custom for teenaged girls. Her skin is pure white, but for lack of sunshine or proper nutrition, she would not tell.]
Julia
Why have you not spoken of such a trinket before? What else have you not shared with me, Mother! I should curse you to your dying day if you should not answer me immediately!
Morwith
Calm down, child. You are to be fifteen tomorrow. Wake up and smell the Puffernickers! I will give you your necklace today, but I shall not reveal my secrets. You have proven your identity to me, as I feared, whether you were there or here you would be the same. Do not look at me as if I am talking in riddles; you will find soon enough that you speak too much for your lack of knowledge. Come, I asked kindly two weeks ago for you to find me an Eperlepus plant for your fifteenth celebration and you have not done so. You will not get this beauty until I see my desired ingredient in plenty.
[Julia glares at the old woman, makes three noises of disgust, then tramples out the door and house. She had not yet seen the necklace and was greatly curious about the book. After she leaves, Morwith shakes her head in disappointment, sighs, and looks back to the book. She begins writing again; however we no longer see or hear what is written.]
Outside the House
[The camera follows Julia outside the cottage. The cottage is made of stone and large, strong, sturdy, trusted tree branches (donated by Lotte). There are only two windows, both in the “front” of the house, if it can be called so. It is small and round, looking much like a large shrub, less and less like a house at all as the scene progresses. By the time Julia wonders away from view of the house, it seems to have turned into a hill of clovers. Surrounding the house is a circle of garden and grass for 14 feet diameter, then immediately a thick forest all around. This forest is unnamed as it has been untouched by human hands, save Julia’s. The trees look evil, however they are the kindest one should come across within Kingdom Gloria.
Julia is enraged and her body language tells us so. She stomps about, ripping weeds from the garden and throwing dead sticks into the thick forest. She turns and sees behind the cottage what look like two piercing, golden circles in the woods beyond, almost like watchful eyes. Only a glace so when she turns back to see these more carefully, they are gone. With her hands she brushes her hair back out of her way and walks right into the tall, dangerous-looking forest to look for her plants.]
Julia
(to herself) Drat her. She has been keeping secrets from me all my life. Had I not found a note from Philip I would have never known. Who is this mysterious Philip, anyway? I hope he is a boy. I am fifteen in a day and ought to be sent off to be married. I suppose having been contrived from nonliving matter, a boy would not find me worthy or perhaps no boy would be worthy for me. I am one of a kind, as they say in far off lands. I am like the Silver Flowers which can only be found in Kingdom Mernia, off to the East. Oh, one day I hope to see them. Will I be trapped in this forest with this evil woman I am forced to call Mother forever? Ah! Eperlepus plant! The pretty necklace is mine!
[She is shown picking up an unseen flower. The camera can’t see it nor the audience, because neither were born of royal blood in Kingdom Gloria. Morwith can smell it only, thus she is able to use it when cooking. Julia does not know she is the only person living in the unnamed forest who can see this plant. Her activity of picking up nothing attracts attention that is to be told about later. Julia carries the invisible plants back to her home, skipping and half-dancing on the way. When she arrives, the home is again a small cottage.]
The Kitchen
[She enters through the front door, down the old, brown hallway and straight into the kitchen. There is a table for preparing food in the center on which she places the plants, carefully avoiding the pots and pans hanging from above. She walks to the sink, an old, cracked marble structure with piled dishes. Next to it is the bucket of water Morwith retrieved the day before; Julia uses this water to rid her hands of Earth-dirt. She then dries them on her dress and silently walks back down the hallway, turning to her right before she reaches the front door.]
The Library
Julia
I have done what you have asked, Mother. I demand my necklace.
Morwith
Be careful, my dear. You cannot fathom the power I possess and I do not wish to hurt you. I have lived with you now for fourteen years and 373 days, almost an Age. I did not spoil you yet you speak as if you had been. Tomorrow you will be an Adult, however if you do not show me the courteousness I have shown you, you will not understand why you have suddenly forgotten your entire life and live small in a jar on the mantle. Don’t force me to do something. You will regret it.
Julia
Tomorrow I am an Adult and you cannot restrict me from doing or saying what I will.
Morwith
Precious Julia, there is no spell on me that prevents me from restricting you from anything.
Julia
Why must you keep me trapped here like a stray animal being saved for dinner? I ask nothing but the freedom to do as I desire yet you decide to lock me in my quarters until my dying day. I may be your creation and you may have the ability to destroy me, but when you wanted a daughter, did you not want her to be human? I dare ask for the same respect any other human deserves!
Morwith
Well said, child. But you know not of what you speak. I will give you your fair jewelry without a fight; however it is only for your good that I keep you in this house. Should you stray further than the borders of my land just an inch, worse things may happen to you than what I myself can do. I don’t believe you’ve trusted me in all these years, but it is vital that you trust me now.
Julia
You speak in Nonsense. I have not trusted you except with my unbearable overprotection. However I complain about how I wish to be human, so I will say this: I forgive you, as human girls forgive their mothers. You say you will give me the necklace without argument, yet we are arguing and I do not yet have it in hand. Please, Mother.
[Morwith rises from her seat at the large table, closes the book which has two more pages of writing, and walks to a shelf full of only purple-bound books. Next to the shelf is a square area on the wall complete with blinds and curtains, to give the impression there is a window. Morwith lifts the blinds to reveal a power box and flips the third switch in the sixth row. The purple books move out in unison, as if they were not books at all but a wall shaped like books. Behind them we see many trinkets of old, collected over time and stored for future purposes. Julia gazes in wonder as Morwith pulls out a circular jewelry box containing the so desired necklace and authentication certificate. She hands this to the girl and it is opened with much care as the books close up the shelf once more. Julia gasps.]
Julia
It’s beautiful. I don’t understand. We are not rich; where did this come from?
Morwith
I must prepare the Eperlepus plants for tomorrow’s feast. All your questions will be answered then. Marvel at your pretty thing and sleep well tonight.
[Morwith leaves the room. Julia is too awe-stricken to say any more. She fingers the horse, which the audience sees for the first time. She notices then, while studying the beauty that the necklace is giving off an unmistakable radiant light, as if it was sitting in sunshine at high noon. She wondered why, as she looked. Then she noticed an inscription on the back.]
Julia
(to herself) “For true love,” it says. How wonderful. Perhaps one day I should find true love. I have been selfish. Perhaps if I suppressed my anger and doubt, Mother would let me leave the forest with her when she goes on her travels. She isn’t really all that bad, is she? I wonder for whom this necklace was intended. I should like to meet this Philip one day.
Julia’s Bedroom
[Julia leaves the library and turns to the left down the hallway. Stairs down to the right climb up straight to her bedroom. She sits on her bed and brushes her hair, humming a tune she has never identified but has always had in her mind. The box is set on her nightstand next to her bed as she pulls down her nightshade and lies down to sleep.]
The Kitchen
[Julia is standing next to the food preparing table in the kitchen. Since the kitchen has no window, we cannot see that it is very early in the morning (or very late the night before). She was so excited to learn about the necklace and Philip and her life that she could only sleep a few hours and she didn’t think it proper for her to lie awake in bed tossing and turning. Morwith is asleep.
Caressing her jewelry as if it were a pet, she daydreams about princes and castles, talking sheep and fluffy pillows. Behind her the camera shows a shadow on the wall of a perhaps disfigured man, though not very manlike at all. It is more of a bird without wings who was mixed with a man and a bear. We never see it, but it is hideous beyond anything we have ever thought. Neither does it make any sound, even on Morwith’s specially crafted hardwood floors. Its shadow looks as was just described, but none have lived to tell of what it actually looks like though Trackers believe it is more like a snake with the prints it leaves. Julia does not sense it at all, for it has no smell or taste and a man could walk right through it if he were shallow enough himself.
The creature does not bother Julia but instead reveals to her mysteries untold. He does not control her mind (alas, only one has the ability to do this), but he does implant images and messages which she only realizes after the shadow disappears. The camera shows the shadow’s hand up to its mouth, a slight blow, and then a small gust of wind filled with what you would call glitter lands in Julia’s general area.]
Julia
The book! Morwith is asleep and I shall now look at this mysterious book that she has been hiding from me all these days, or perhaps even years!
The Library
[Julia exits the kitchen and enters the library. She almost floats in, as if she is experiencing a dream. The book is seen prominently on the table, open to the fifteenth page which is blank. A noise is heard far off in the house; startled, Julia grabs the book and rushes back up to her bedroom.]
Julia’s Bedroom
[Julia is seen on her bed with book in hand, staring intently. She begins reading from the beginning, not understanding all that is written. We do not see or hear what is written. For time purposes, she reads rather quickly. When she gets to the fifteenth page, which is blank, she sighs. The book contains the history of Kingdom Gloria; she does not understand why Morwith would be writing such a thing. She gasps, as suddenly words begin to appear on the page in front of her.]
Julia
(voice over) On this moment of the beginning of the Third Age of Kingdom Gloria, the Princess who has been long lost and forgotten is found and remembered. Her father, the King, awakens from a disturbing nightmare, concerned at once for the safety of his child. He darts into her bedroom finding only a crib and three large fluffy pillows. Her mother, the Queen, is already there sitting on a rocking chair, crying. She remembers at last the beautiful baby girl she birthed just fifteen years previous. The Princess has now been revealed by the Curse of Knowledge at Age Fifteen which was bestowed upon her by the Evil Force at birth. She wakes up from her dream of dread and may finally return to what is truly hers. All hail Princess Julia!
(to herself) All hail Princess Julia?
[As this is being read, the camera is not showing Julia but slightly blurred visions of what the book is describing. The King and Queen aren’t young nor are they wrinkled. There is a somewhat blue tint on this part of the scene as if it were a memory, though this is happening as Julia reads the book. Upon reading the second to last sentence, the camera returns to the girl on the bed. She repeats the last line once in a questioning manner. She does not assume at once, however, that she is the princess. She instead is confused about the book’s refusal to continue with its story.]
Is that all? Oh you stupid book! I was almost in a dream when I got up from the kitchen table to use you for answers that should have been told long ago. Now tell me the secrets Moralf has been keeping! I know you are a magical book for I smell the powder Morwith- Morwith? Dearest me, I just called my own mother by her proper name! What has come over me? It is this treacherous book. She must have put a spell on it so I could not read what is inside.
[During this time, the camera has been on Julia’s face. On her last word, the angle switches to behind her so the book is in focus.]
“No,” it writes now. I wonder what it means. What do you mean, fair book? “The words that have been written by this book were not contrived by Moralf (Morwith, as you might call her). Instead an evil Curse was put on you, beautiful Princess Julia, the day you were born. This book is merely carrying out its purpose.” Its purpose? Whatever should that mean? Oh!
[The book now writes, which can be readable by the audience but is not spoken aloud by Julia,
“Hereafter is the account of Princess Julia’s troubles and journeys. She may write in this book whenever she pleases, however if she should choose to cast it aside a disaster beyond her imagination will occur. The book shall start with her fifteenth birthday, though more than an hour has been wasted.”
As the book is writing, the breeze outside quickens its pace as if the Evil Force itself were outside her window. Her curtains blow silently in the wind; no noise is heard anywhere save Julia’s gasping about the book, despite the increasingly terrible weather. Lighting crashes, and finally the sounds can be heard. This startles Julia into the waking world and she quickly closes her blinds. She hides the book under her bed and runs to the corner of her bedroom. Her hair is frazzled yet still glowing. She looks as if she has just been attacked by the Head Dragon himself.]
What is this!? What does this mean? The book claims I am a princess! The Princess of Kingdom Gloria! How can this be?
[She cries and light fades out.]
II:
Julia’s Bedroom
[Julia is sleeping on her floor in the corner of her room. The book is in her arms. She slowly wakes up as the breeze flows outside and the sun rises. Birds are heard chirping and soon after the squawk of an Endeneros (similar to a woodpecker).]
Julia
Hmmm. Oh dear the book! I should return it to Mother’s library immediately!
[She stands up and moves to look out the window. Morwith is seen in the garden sweeping the ground, for the terrible rain the night before brushed her land with Goetins. She is incoherently talking to herself about bad weathers of the past and humming familiar tunes. Julia comes back into her room and sits on her bed to brush her hair, staring at the book which she placed nearby.]
This is indeed a strange event.
[Morwith is heard calling from downstairs.]
Morwith
Julia! Julia, child! I have simply forgotten to get the mosses needed for your favorite dinner! Forgive me, it’s your birthday but I must go out to get some! I’ll be back in a while, feel free to prance around the house in your dress as you did when you were younger!
Julia
Oh, Mother! [Disappointed, as if Morwith brought up a repressed memory.] Don’t be long!
[The front door to the house closes and we can again hear Morwith’s babbling and singing in the distance, gradually fading. Julia ventures to open the book once again. She does and the words from the night before are still there. New words appear after 3 minutes of staring and wondering. She reads them as they appear.]
Julia
[Reading.] “Princess Julia awakens from a horrible nightmare on the floor in the corner of her room. She is cuddling the book and wondering why, having remembered specifically that she placed the book under her bed the night before. When she is fully awake and comprehends her existence, she realizes that the book should go back into the old woman’s library else she might become suspicious of Julia’s motives, had she any. She is sits on her bed to brush her hair and look once again at the strange book. She watches as words appear as she reads them aloud and is deeply concerned for she then suddenly realizes that the book is actually writing what she is doing, saying and thinking. She comes to terms, finally, with the fact that she is this Princess of Kingdom Gloria and decides what she must do: Leave the unnamed forest and find her true self.”
My true self? I am a princess! Oh, Morwith is really going to get it now.
[Julia watches as the words she has just spoken appear on the page.]
Now how odd is that?
The Library
[She slips on ragged old shoes and carries the book with her to the Library. She sets the book down on the table, then remembering what Morwith said earlier, decides to go for a walk and collect berries and ingredients for creampuffs for a special dessert she wants to make. She takes a bag which already contains a mirror, pen, and feather with her. She adds a few tiny cloth packets for her search.]
Outside
[Julia is again in the forest, this time bending in front of a bush covered in juicy red berries. She picks 10 or less and places them inside a packet labeled RED, then puts that in her bag, which is then slung over her right shoulder. She continues for a while, singing the song she has always had stuck in her head and thinking about what she just discovered.
Suddenly she stops, seeing the glowing gold eyes she saw in the forest the day before. They slowly advance, loud panting is audible. In fright, she runs as fast as she can in whatever direction will take her. Far after she starts running, she trips over a root sticking out of the ground and knocks her head on a rock. Fade out.]
The Unnamed Forest
[Fade into the treetops, sunshine coming in, with birds chirping. Julia is sprawled out next to a tree larger than the others, very evil looking, yet the same comforting color as the floors and walls in her home. She rubs her head in confusion and looks about her. She breathes in the clean air and blinks, then springing up, realize what happened.]
Julia
Where am I? This can’t be proper! I am only in my night gown. I wonder where I’ve strayed.
Lotte
You are on the western border of the unnamed forest, dear child. May I ask who you are and to where you intend go?
Julia
Who said that? Where are you? Reveal yourself!
Lotte
No need to get angsty. I am behind you. I however asked your name and purpose first and therefore expect your answer first.
[Julia looks up behind her at the tree, after previously searching the surrounding forest for a creature. She is wide-eyed and astonished, for Morwith told her the trees were nice, but not that they could talk.]
Julia
You’re…You’re a tree!
Lotte
[Laughs.] Yes, Moralf has taught you well. Now that I can see your face, I know who you are! The fairest Julia of Kingdom Gloria! I am called Lotte, though my true name is in Bush so I doubt you would ever be able to pronounce it correctly. Oh don’t look so frightened! I am not wicked, only I look so. Alas, my creator created most of the evil ones; I suppose he made a mistake with me. No bother. Where are you off to at this hour of the day? Perhaps if you are not busy, we could exchange stories! Oh how long it’s been since Moralf, or anyone, has visited. I was beginning to think you all had disappeared! Or…If you are in a hurry, I suppose I wouldn’t mind helping you along the way. Speak, child, and don’t be frightened!
Julia
Well you are a friendly tree indeed! Yes, Morwith told me about you, I think, you donated to us bits and pieces of our house. Oh dear! I called Mother by her proper name once again. I should like to know why I have the urge to do this. Where am I going, you ask? I don’t rightly know! I saw eyes in the forest and I thought they were going to chase me, so I ran. I tripped on your leg, I think, and for that I beg your pardon. I hope I didn’t harm you.
Lotte
Oh dear child, no. It is very hard indeed to harm a Tree of Old. But you are very polite, so if you had harmed me, I don’t think I would find it hard to forgive you. It seems strange to me that a human doesn’t know where she is going! This is new to me, for most humans that come by were always in a hurry.
Julia
Yes well, I am lost. I came to pick berries and retrieve ingredients for a dessert I invented and then the eyes…I suppose if I am to go anywhere, it would be back home, seeing as I have no where else to go! And Ms. Lotte, I’d like to just say if I may that today is my fifteenth celebration day so I am an Adult!
Lotte
Oh good gracious me! It nearly slipped my mind! Congratulations, my dear. Fifteen already! Dear me, fifteen? Has anything unusual happened to you today? Save the eyes, of course, since you have told me about them.
Julia
I don’t know why you should think something odd would happen, but yes. A book spoke to me.
Lotte
A book? Indeed. Are you referring to the book in your pack there?
[Julia takes the pack off her back, examines it then drops it.]
Julia
Oh! The book is in my bag! I was sure I set it on the library table; in fact I know I did! This is turning out to be a strange day!
Lotte
You have the Curse of Knowledge at Age Fifteen. The book is magical, merely a messenger of the knowledge you now have.
Julia
Fancy that. I was of course raised around magical things but I never thought I would possess any magical knowledge. Dear, I’d almost forgotten! The book told me I am a princess! How silly is that?
Lotte
Very silly, if you live inside Kingdom Gloria or do not know the Kingdom’s history. Did Moralf not teach you all there is to know? Well I suppose not. It might have been dangerous. Come, child, or dear me, adult. You are many Ages younger than I am so forgive me if I descend your stature. I mean no harm. I shall tell you the story of your family and kingdom, for I suppose that is my purpose in this tale.
[Julia sits down and leans against the tree. Her bag is at her side and the book is in her arms, for now she realizes she will not rid of it and must keep it safe by her at all times. Lotte begins with her tale.]
What would you like to know first? I could dive right into the story of the kingdom, or perhaps you would like to hear something about your parents?
Julia
Parents! I do believe my fifteenth birthday is my favorite, so far. Yes, I would like to learn about my parents. All that you can tell, or will tell, please!
The Kitchen
Morwith
(to herself) Lalaladeda … Dad um de da…
[Morwith is shown in front of a mixing bowl, throwing in various plants and small shrubs, spices and sugars. She stirs, and then pours the contents into a larger bowl. She moves over to a cutting table and begins chopping the air (really the Eperlepus plants). She throws this invisible plant into the larger bowl, covers it and slides it into a box of ice. The camera is then low on the ground where the glitter was thrown on Julia last night. It shows Morwith’s feet moving about but also has a clear view of the sparkle on the floor. Fade out.]
III.
The High Castle of Kingdom Gloria/The Unnamed Forest
[Lotte is telling Julia stories of her parents. Her tree voice is heard over the scenes that are to follow. The clips of Julia’s parents and kingdom are slightly brighter than the rest of the movie, maybe with a small tint of orange.]
Lotte
(voice over) Your mother, Gwendelyn, is a quite beautiful woman, much like yourself. She was a fair-haired princess from Kingdom Katkja who was brought to Gloria as a token of kindness during a great battle which I will explain later. She immediately fell in love with your father, King Manchester, as soon as she was presented to him. He also fell in love with her right away and the rest, as they say, is history! They are very lovely together; before you were born they both would sit in this forest and chat, and we’d have the loveliest of all conversations! Your father was gifted in lore and was able to not only make up beautiful, long stories, but remember them as well! Oh, how I miss those days.
[A Princess Gwendelyn, young, looking not much different from Julia, is seen climbing out of a horse carriage in front of a large, brightly colored and decorated castle. Along the sides of a path leading to the gate, there are many peasants and common-folk smiling and cheering for the arrival of the future Queen. They all very much approve of her beauty and sense and hope the Prince Manchester will take her without question. A beautiful boy is seen, older than sixteen, standing at the gate with his arms straight to his sides. As the girl walks closer and her beauty comes in full view, his legs falter and he is caught by a nearby knight who laughs with him about the knee trouble. “Weak in the knees,” they call it, and that is certainly the effect Gwendelyn has on Manchester.
The scene blurs to the young couple courting in the forest, laughing and singing together. The boy then begins reciting a poem that goes:
“Much height have these trees from the Days of Old,
Much width the Stories of Old have told;
In a ghastly night the Dark One sees to the cold
While the Trees of the Old move and unfold.”
It seems to make perfect sense to the two of them as they laugh off the moment. They pause in front of a smaller and less built Lotte and begin to laugh and joke with the tree as well.
This blurs back to Julia sitting next to the tree. She is smiling in awe at the tree’s tale, almost a tear creeps down her cheek. To hear of her parents, these people she has never met, was a wonderful thing. The King and Queen of Kingdom Gloria and she was getting rather exclusive stories! Lotte continues to talk though her voice becomes slightly darker and more wishful.]
Those were not the Days of Old, though your father was utterly fascinated by them and made up silly rhymes to woo your mother. The Days of Old were when the kingdom was not in existence and only trees and other creatures roamed this land. It was a beautiful place, and that’s not to say the humans ruined it. However with them they brought a great evil that still none have identified. I fear to say it is the only thing I fear, for it is not living yet it thrives on living things. I hope, my dear that you should never have to encounter it.
However, it is the reason you are here! Oh dear me, I should tell you this story!
(voice over) Your Uncle Julian, whom you were named for betrayed you at your birth. In exchange for immortality he betrothed you to the Evil One. You see, there is a prophecy that the first born grandchild of Queen Josephine, who was of course your dear grandmother who has now passed, would be the only human who could rid of the evil forever. Quite frankly, everyone expected you to be a boy! Your father’s mother she was, and beautiful as the dawn of the day you were born. Some say it is the royal blood that gives people such beauty, and that your Uncle Julian was actually born of another father and that is why he did not possess it. No one knew the truth save Queen Josephine herself and she might have kept it secret for too long. Pause.
[The screen becomes bright white and (brighter like before) shapes start to appear. A worm-like, almost snaky man comes into view and we see that he does not look unlike a weasel or other small rodent. This is Julia’s Uncle Julian, and around his neck he wears a large golden horse medallion. He has four rings on each hand, all gold with purple elements trapped inside them. As Lotte pauses, we hear a distant-sounding, wispy voice as a shadow approaches the man. It speaks, repeating this:
“I immortelle edata! Ea ohnane fallaerta! Akano finite pollaro!”
And then laughs greedily as the man appears to be struggling with his life. Shadow still present and looming over him, the body of the man shrinks to the ground and he twitches on the floor, silent. He then rises with new life and it seems as though he has lost ten years of his life, reformed into a young man. He is handsome and dark-haired and possesses a black tattoo of the golden horse medallion which is now no where to be seen. The shadow disappears as the man grins while admiring himself in a mirror. He leaves the room. Fade out.]
You were born on the day of the King, that is, you have the same birth date as your father. Moralf learned of your Uncle Julian’s wicked dealings earlier in the month and as she does, immediately went to the King about it. He didn’t want to lose you, nor had he any idea of what to do with the situation, so he left the decision to Morwith herself. On the day of your birth, Morwith put a spell on the Kingdom to forget the newly born Princess Julia forever so as not to bring Great Evil as was predicted in the prophecy in the Age of Old. This was done before you met your parents, just seconds, which is why you cannot fathom any memories or tales of them. Morwith claimed you as her own child, and as I’m sure she’s told you, claimed she contrived you from berries. How silly is that?
[As Lotte continues, quickly fade into the man standing next to the King sitting at his throne, Queen present. A midwife enters holding a bundle of cloth, approaching the throne. Suddenly there is a bright flash of light like lightening that blinds all present for a few moments; when the persons present recover, they are forgetful of what they were doing. Morwith enters and curses the midwife for “taking away her child.” The King and Queen congratulate the woman on her new life and ponder who the father may be. Morwith is shown with a sad smile, and then she leaves the royal area not to be seen there again for many years.]
There is great evil in that Morwith, evil which we cannot try to release. She has the power to read minds, the only close to human creature on all this land. They say she comes from over the sea, where the nonwitches live. They come to Kingdom Mernia by the coast and steal peasant babies for craft and pleasure. Or so the stories tell, and really though I love stories, you shouldn’t be basing your opinions of people on what someone else has told you. I’ve met your Moralf many a year ago, and I often think she is misunderstood. Secretive she is, but she does not let her ability overcome her. She does not seek power.
[When Lotte begins talking about Morwith, the picture returns to Julia listening to the tree talk. Her book is in lap and she is amazed as what Lotte is saying appears on the page. As the tree tells her of the evil Morwith has, Julia’s face suddenly becomes very frightened but then relaxes, almost forcefully. This is the point when Julia begins to mistrust her adopted parent.]
I’ve talked now for ages, haven’t I? It must be almost time for darkness, and I must say that you will not be safe in the forest at that time. Hidden things come out in the evening hours and a child such as you has no business disturbing them. Shall I direct you home, dear, or will you take a different path?
[Julia looks at the tree as if she has just been awoken from a dream and realizes the time of day.]
Julia
Oh dear you’re right! If I may be so bold, I would like to leave the forest. Morwith once told me that when I become an Adult I would be permitted to, and after all since I am an Adult she cannot restrict me from doing so. But I am enjoying my time with you! I would some day like to hear more stories of my mother and father. I am lost here but I don’t wish to return home, indeed, I wish to find my true home. These tales have woken something inside me and I much desire to fulfill the urges I am now having. Will you help me, Ms. Lotte?
Lotte
Help is all I can give, dear Julia. Though I am old and wise in the parts of this land, I have never left this spot. Our doom is to be glued to a position during our entire being. Do not be sad, child, as I can give you direction to Kingdom Gloria if I cannot give you specific instructions. To my left you will see a small green flower, very rare in these parts. Cut the plant carefully with your nail and when you feel weary, eat it. I encourage this simply because the plant is from a rare breed of Tynata Seed and you will need the strength it provides to last the night. You must not stop to rest while you are in the forest. Are you sure this is what you wish to do?
Julia
Yes it is. I believe I have experienced some of that evil you speak of, the evil of Morwith. She has been chanting things lately, things that are of an evil tongue or so I have concluded.
Lotte
Believe what you may, Princess, however remember what I said about others’ judgments! You must make your own decisions about the people you meet for you may find something in them true and beautiful that a blind man could not see. Before your father and mother were wed, they would leave the forest in the direction of first light. That is straight ahead of where you are looking now, towards the opening in the leaf. Travel close to nice-looking trees; the evil ones have no other desire than to harm you. They will send nasty animals at your feet, animals which cannot yet be defeated. Be careful most of all, and keep that book safe. It plays a rather important part in this tale that I am not yet sure about. Now, you must go quickly and don’t linger in any area for a long time unless the moonlight touches the ground. Be aware!
[Julia stands up and brushes dust and grass off of her dress. She gathers the book and puts it in her bag, and cuts the Tynata Seed plant as instructed by Lotte. As she rises after placing the plant in a small pack labeled GREEN, a noise is heard in the distance. By now it’s dark for darkness comes quickly in the unnamed forest, so no animal can be seen. Julia turns around slowly and notices a glint in the darkness, small and moving in what looks like a cave surrounded by trees. As the glint comes closer, it becomes clearer until two golden glowing eyes can clearly be seen. Julia hesitates and wonders if Lotte can see the shapes as well. As the eyes move closer, faint panting can be heard, as if a dog or wolf were near by. Lotte makes a low rumbling noise as if her stomach were reacting to its emptiness, if trees had stomachs. The eyes begin to move quickly and a running shadow takes form around the edge of the moonlight.]
Oh dear! Run, child! Fly!
[Without thought Julia runs towards the light of first day as Lotte said she should. The unnamed and unseen creature follows in the darkness, breathing loudly and quickly, ne’er catching up. After a bit of running and dodging arms of plants, Julia steps on a sharp rock, trips, and lands in a puddle water in the moonlight. She makes a sound that might be translated to “no” as she lifts up her head and squints, then all light is lost and she feels nothing.]
IV.
Just Outside the Unnamed Forest
[As the picture fades in, we hear the mumbling/singing of a male teenager’s voice. The camera follows the trees slowly, not appearing to show a character and stops when it reaches a fair golden brown tree. The camera pans down the tree to a shadow of a creature that has stopped singing and Julia lying on the ground next to him, face-up. The creature comes out of the shadow and we see it is merely a frog, certainly not what was singing before. It ribbits, as is expected, and hops on top of Julia. It ribbits again waking her out of a light sleep. She mumbles incoherently and is surprised upon seeing a frog on her belly.]
Julia
Oh! Oh, Frog!
[She picks the frog up and gently places it on the ground, struggles to get up, then looks around her surprised at where she is. The camera pans around and we see the very edge of a forest right next to her. There are no trees on the other side of her; it’s as if the forest just ends. Where the trees aren’t there is nothing but short, bright green grass for as far as Julia can see. The sun is up in the sky and it lights Julia’s face beautifully. We see that she has a cut over her right eye.]
Oh, and I don’t even know where I am! I should have never-Oh!
[Another frog hops out of the shadows and onto Julia’s foot.]
Well hello Frog. I met your brother a few minutes ago. I must be near a swamp.
[Visible to the audience, but not to Julia, at least fourteen more frogs hop out of the forest and look up at her expectantly. Julia is staring up at the sky as she reaches down to remove the frog from her foot.]
Frog 1
Pardon me, miss, it’s hard to see on days like this. Might you be so kind and give me a kiss?
[Julia is startled and looks around, frightened.]
Julia
Who said that? Show yourself!
Frog 2
It was “my brother” as you put it, though I am not related to him at all, I don’t think.
Julia
So you don’t talk in rhymes. I still don’t understand who you are.
Frog 1
Look around, miss. We’re the creatures on the ground.
[Julia looks down at the two frogs next to each other. She then hears a ribbit from behind her and sees all of the other frogs waiting for her. She gasps and stumbles backwards.]
Frog 2
Woah, careful there.
Julia
What? Why so many frogs? What’s going on?
Frog 2
Don’t be alarmed. We are magical creatures, to say the least. Most of us came in search for a helpless girl to save and some of us were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The dark green ones really are frogs, though. We are attracted to you because you are a princess (are you not?) and all magical frogs are attracted to princesses. If you give a kiss, we’ll turn into our true forms, but you can only give one kiss a day which is why we all dressed our nicest.
Julia
A kiss? Dear me, this is straight out of a storybook!
Frog 1
A true book; a kiss is all it took.
