Snippets and Pieces of (As yet) Unpublished Material written by Jenn Dolari.
Please - be gentle.
This extended dream sequence was cut from "The Final Nightmare" due to the story running long, and the fact that I decided to change a bit of the ending to begin foreshadowing the Abaddon character that would show up in "The Celestial Agency." Also there was a lot of personal (to me) imagery I wanted to do, but didnt' really apply to AWFW, but wanted to include, just to include. Always a bad thing to add things for the sake of adding them. It would have taken place roughly after Episode #19:
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"If you want to go home, you'll join me. I cannot help you otherwise." Morningstar waited for a response. "Andrea?" Seconds passed, and he knew he answer. "Well...that's truly unfortunate...."
Andrea scrambled up against the tree she had leaned on as Morningstars old wizened king shape turned into a more oily slick visage of evil. "You brought this on yourself child," he said as he made a stab at her.
She flinched and ran, ran as fast as her legs could carry her to the top of the hill, where a small house sat, it's front door wide open. She ran inside, only to find Hanna sitting in an oversized highbacked leather chair. "Andrea, listen to me. Morningstar will kill you if you don't wake up right now."
"I can't wake up! I've tried!"
"He's coming, hide under the chair. Make sure he can't see you. I will deal with him."
Andrea hid under the chair as Hanna draped a blanket over the seat. The sheet was light enough that Andrea could see Morningstar'sfigure melt into room. Hanna stood up and got between him and the chair.
"You were not to interfere, angel. We have an agreement."
"I interfere on every test, Morningstar. Why should this time be any different?"
"Because this one is the only who hasn't joined me." Morningstar looked around the room. "Out of my way, angel, she's mine." Hanna refused to budge, and a spear materialized in her hand. "If you don't get out of my way, I'll make you as dead as that girl is!"
He lunged at Hanna, as Andrea screamed. With a sick smile on his face, he attempted to get past Hanna, who roughly pushed him back with her spear. "I see you, child."
Hanna turned slightly, "Get out of here, Andrea!" It was all the distraction Morningstar needed as he stabbed her in theside with his arm, releasing toxic poisoned magic into her. "Run!"
Andrea ran into the interrior of the house and found a spiral staircase going down several stories. She flew down as fast as she could to the next floor. The house was built into the side of a steep mountain as the from wall was all glass, with a huge panoramic view of the hills and the sunset beyond. The house rumbled with the sound of an earthquake and the resonating voice of evil: "ANDREA!"
The stairs continued down, and here the room was more of a bunker, the walls totally stainless steel, reflections only a blur, with just a small window to look out of onto the hills. Looking up the stairs with a frightful glance, she continued down the staircase.
The third floor down was all rock, she must have been underground at this point. All that remained in this room was one small picture mirror. Andrea looked in it, and the face reflected was that of an older woman with blonde hair in angel's robes. She continued down the stairs...
...and found herself outside the house, on a ledge looking over the hills around here, all on fire. The blue f the house contrasted with the orange of the fires and smoke, and in the corner was an open cellar door. She stared at it for just a few seconds too long when red eyes flashed away and flew at her.
And in her fear, she exploded with a light so bright, it cursed away the darkness.
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The comic picks up here at episode #23
1 INT. CACT BEDROOM - CACT - MORNING
This room is in browns. The window is covered by deep brown curtains,
the carpet is deep brown, and the walls are two toned in eggshell and
brown. There is a small table in the corner, with two chairs, a
crayon and paper. PAN TO BED, also in browns. SUSAN wakes up, and
finds herself in a plain nightgown.
2 FRAME SUSAN
She pulls herself to a sitting position, and begins to look around in
wonderment. She grimaces, and puts her hands to her head, and her
pectoral muscle. There is a small bandaid where the dart hit her.
We hear A DELICATE CHIME, and Susan's looks towards the door.
3 FRAME DOOR
The door has a door handle, on the left, and a small black panel on
the right side of the door frame. The panel lights up with the words
"unlocking" in red, three small blue blocks (with LOW VOLUME TONES)
to "unlocked" in green (another DELICATE CHIME).
4 CLOSE UP OF SUSAN
She reacts to the door, not fully awake, with concern.
5 THE DOOR HANDLE
The door opens as we
FADE INTO:
6 OPENING CREDITS
CREDITS END
Over CREDITS END superimpose: BREAKOUT
FADE OUT.
END TEASER
ACT ONE
7 FADE IN:
INT. ZAND'S BEDROOM - ZAND'S HOUSE
It is obviously early morning, and morning blue light shines in from
the window. Leaning up against the wall is CHRISTINE, arms crossed,
very serious. ZAND sits at his meager desk, the right side of his
face is no longer as covered, but several patches of gauze are still
providing protection and antibacterial solution. They are both
looking at MARK. MARK is the boyfriend in Susan's picture from
episode one. He's a tall built man with close cropped brown hair.
And he's angry.
MARK
(exasperated)
And you didn't call the police?
ZAND
We can't.
CHRISTINE
Not without getting bigger
forces into the mix. And we
don't want that.
ZAND
If it wasn't for Susan, we
wouldn't even be talking right
now.
MARK
(annoyed)
Susan, Susan. Always Susan.
(angry)
Susan is MY concern!
CHRISTINE
(bluntly)
Then where is she?
We HEAR A PLAIN CHIRP. Zand turns to his computer. Mark takes an
angry step toward Zand, and Christine gently holds him back. The two
obviously don't like each other.
8 CLOSE ON ZAND
Zand looks into a monitor which says "SEARCH COMPLETE" and "ONE MATCH
FOUND." We HEAR THE CLACKING OF A KEYBOARD in which the screen
repaints itself, the text too small for us to see. Zand reads it for
us.
ZAND
The plate belongs to The La
Parita Center for Advanced
Cloning Technology. 50 miles
south of San Antonio. A good two
hours from here.
9 TWO SHOT OF CHRISTINE AND MARK
Both have become interested more in the screen than with each other.
MARK
Advanced Cloning Research? I
thought that stuff was banned.
CHRISTINE
Human cloning, yes, but not
animal cloning. They probably
do genetic manipulation, too.
MARK
Bigger pigs, bigger cows. What
does all this have to do with
Susan?
ZAND
I don't know.
10 MARK'S POV
He's looking down at Zand, still facing away from him. Zand's chair
swivels, and Zand looks right at him.
ZAND
Let's just get her out of there.
11 INT. CACT BEDROOM - CACT - MORNING
FRAME DOOR
The door opens and CARRIE, now wearing an all grey uniform walks
through the door, pulling a small tray covered by a silver dinner
cover.
12 TWO SHOT OF SUSAN AND CARRIE
Susan is still groggy, but a bit more alert. Carrie is doing her best
to be comforting, but we see that she is like a deer hearing prey, on
her guard as well.
CARRIE
(wary, but cheerful)
Good morning.
Susan simply stares at her.
CARRIE
After last night's escapades you
must be hungry, it's been over
twelve hours since you last ate.
Susan glowers.
13 THE DINNER TRAY
Carrie removes the dinner cover revealing a glass of milk in a small
goblet, a with two scambled eggs and an apple, cut into quarters.
Everything looks normal. A small roll holding her fork and napkin
lies to one side.
14 SUSAN'S POV
Carrie takes the food off the tray. PAN WITH HER As she places the
plates and milk on the table in the corner.
CARRIE
As our guest, please let me know
if there's anything I can get
you.
15 CLOSE UP ON SUSAN
Her poker face is breaking, she's showing her anger.
SUSAN
Guest?
16 SUSAN'S POV
Carrie makes her way back to the door, AS WE PAN WITH HER, always
facing Susan.
CARRIE
Yes...Guest. I'll be back with
your lunch, later today.
And with that, Carrie exits. We hear the door make THREE LOW TONES
then a DELICATE CHIME.
17 INT. COORIDOR - CACT
CLOSE ON CARRIE
Carrie is a bit annoyed.
CARRIE
(bitter)
From head of security to
consierge. I better be getting
a raise out of this.
18 CACT BEDROOM
Susan goes to the door and pulls on the knob a few times. The door
doesn't budge. She looks at the black panel on the side, and pokes it
a few times. She looks over to her breakfast.
19 INSERT SHOT
The food beckons to her.
20 CLOSE ON SUSAN AND HER WINDOW
Looking back from her food, she gos to a window, and pulls back the
curtains. She's on the first floor. She looks around for something
and finds it.
21 INSERT SHOT
Same as shot 19, but this time, we see a hand undo the little utensil
roll and take the napkin
22 CLOSE ON SUSAN AND HER WINDOW
Her hand is now wrapped in the napkin as she punches the window. It
vibrates, but doesn't break. She tried again, and again, it vibrates
but doesn't break. She shoulder rams it. Again a vibration, but
not a crack. She looks over at the food.
23 INSERT SHOT
The food beckons to her, yet again.
24 CLOSE ON SUSAN AND FOOD
Susan seats herself, back against the wall, facing the door, and takes
a sip of milk.
25
The Long Road Home
Title names:
Segment 0 - Transition from now to prehistory:
A Story Before Bed
The Storyteller
Segment 1 - Settling with the Adhgye
Settling in the Reeds
The First Diplomats
The Outsiders
A Rest among the Reeds
EHREM NEEDS WOMEN!
Segment 2 - Retelling A Wish for Wings Segment
The Lesson of Patience
Segment 3 - Tribal fighting, push into the mountains
Wartime
The Power of Drums
The Two Lost Tribes
One Last Shout
Segment 4 - In the Mountains
The Decade with No Summer
The Great Dying
The Peace of Summer The Horrors of Winter
A Time in Hell
Segment 5 - At the Plains
The Scattering
Planting Seeds of New Worlds
Home is Where You Make It
Achene
Seed on the Wind
Segment 5a - Nen'a's return
The Long Road Home
Segment 6 - At the end of the world
At the End of the World
The Mountains at the End of the World
Home
Journey's End
Waiting for the Future
Segment 7 - Transition back to now
Descendants of Forgotten People
Passing into the Future
The Fact of Fiction
Five Million Dawns
Markel stared out the windows, looking in awe of the thunderstorm
light show flashing and crashing over the steel skyscrapers of his
hometown. He imagined each crash as gigantic gods fighting over good
and evil, each blast of thunder a body thrown, each light flash, the
spark of metal sword on shield.
"You should be in bed, son," said
the boy's father from the door frame. Markel jumped from his window,
his footed pajama covered feet nearly slipping on the linoleum floor in
a mad rush to get tucked in by his father. Ororitz tussled the hair of
his little boy as Markel snuggled into his bed sheets for a good
night's sleep.
"Daddy...would you tell me a story before bed?"
"It's getting pretty late for a story." Ororitz said just as lightning flashed white hot, thunder boomed
explosively, and the power cut out. Hearing Markel yelp at the
storm's fury, he decided a story would be a good way to calm his son enough to get him back asleep.
"What kind of story would you like to hear?"
"Tell me about how the world started, Dad."
Ororitz cleared
his voice, putting on the best narrator voice he could muster. Had to
make this interesting, you know. "Well, about 4 billion years ago, the
Earth formed from a disk of dust, the dust packing together into--"
"No, dad." Marken crossed his arms in overly melodramatic pouting. "That's not a story, that's science class. Tell me the STORY about how the world started."
Ororitz
smiled, and picked a story he had heard from his own great-grandfather,
supposedly passed down for generations. Maybe it was time he passed
the story on.
"Alright then...the story about how the world began...."
In the beginning was the egg. And in the egg was a dove, waiting for its shell to crack and be
free to spread its wings.When it hatched, the egg exploded with such force that the sun was
born along with the dove. With the dove was born six men who would tend
to the egg the dove would leave behind, Tehr. And when Tehr was created the six men left to
tend to it, ploughing its fields, nuturing its soil.The dove laid another egg, Mes, but with no men to tend to it, Mes
became lifeless and dead and is still seen in the sky overhead to this day. The dove flew into the darkness, joining its
four sisters, never to be visited by man again.Eventually, as the men of the dove nurtured Tehr, the egg began to
crack. As the dove of Terr moved in it's shell, rivers flowed from the cracks
with all the fishes of the sea following. The breath of the dove
created the sky, with the plants springing up to savor the air. The
dove's talons formed mountains on the shell, from where all the
creatures of the earth overran the land.The men of the dove counted all the fish of the sea, the plants of the
land, and the animals of the mountains. And of all the fish, plants and
animals, the men found the most clever and cunning to help tend the
egg: Man.The men of the dove took clouds from the sky, adding them to Man to
give them thought and reason. They took the light of the sun, which
made him pleasing and intelligent. And the men of the dove gave man a
piece of themselves, which made his soul. And the soul gave them a
name. The Arios.The men of the dove taught the Arios of the fish in the sea, the
plants in the air, and the animals from the mountains. As the Arios
thrived, the men of the dove settled in the mountains of the Northwest.
Man tended the egg on their own in the delta of the southeast. The Tehr
fed man, and Man fed the Tehr.As the time went on, the Arios forgot about the men of the dove. Among
the Arios, a city formed made up of five clans of the Arios: the
Ehrem, the Suunon, the Avah, the Tua and the Pera, with the original Arios in the center. The clans created
towns of their own, tribes of their own, and clans of their own.In time, a man came to the Arios, Livis, a man of
the dove, King of all Men. But he was just one of the six from the
dove, and his teachings spread only to the Arios, who were convinced he was a
god. Unable to reach the other tribes quickly, Livis created an army of
just the Arios to destroy the men of the dove in the mountains.And yet the Arios trembled at the thought that they, as men, would go
against gods. But when Livis flew into the air, and showed them his
powers, he convinced them that as he was as one of the six of the
dove, they were but six against thousands of the Arios.On the night of the march to the northwest, the skies over the
mountains trembled in fury, and the smell of rain tinged the air. Livis
flew into the air, proclaiming that the men of the dove were preparing
for war against them. As then a blue strike of lightning encompassed
him, he fell dead breaking his legs.The lights over the mountain continued for days, and the normally
gentle weather became violent. The Arios were first fearful of the
lights and rising waters, but as the hours passed, they mustered up
their courage and sent runners to the five tribes, once clans of the
Arios, to tell the tale and request more troops.And yet the lightning continued, and the waters rose and became
violent. The Arios gave up their plans for war, and began plans for
survival, but the waters overwhelmed them and destroyed the town of the
Arios utterly, sweeping them into sea.The men of the dove came down from the mountain, and surveyed the
damage. each remaining tribe recieved a man of the dove, who grieved
the deaths of the Arios, allowed through the distraction of the Men of
the Dove while judging Livis.As one of them had directly provoked Man attempting to usurp their future
for himself, they would no longer allow themselves to control man's
future, and sealed this promise with the rainbow after a storm.The five tribes of the Arios became alone, and with only sparse contact
among them, the tribes attempted to rebuild the city of Arios. And while
the city began to thrive yet again with the former clans of the Arios,
the Pera could not be found. Soon afterwards, three sets of envoys to
the Arios City from the Ehrem never returned.And we, the Tribe of Ehrem, became lost
Neotia ended his story and saw his son, Ayrtos, was fast asleep. He
readjusted the hide blanket over his sleeping forn to keep him warm. While the old
yurt loaned to him by the leader of the Adhgye was adequate
for his family and a few others in his envoy, it was drafty,
especially with the cool winds coming in off the lake. he smiled proudly at his son as he tussled Ayrtos' hair. "Goodnight, son."
The sun had only just set in the West, but there was still much work ahead of him.
He would need all his diplomatic skills to gain permission to have the
Ehrem settle at the lake among the Adhgye. Winter was coming.
Nen'a's old hunting and tracking instinct were rusty, but the last three weeks had helped to sharpen them back up. What hadn't sharpened up was her age. She was the oldest member of the tribe, taken care of over the years, given aid above others when they originally trekked through the mountains. Walking through the same mountains, on her own, at her age, had been painful. She could not keep up with game and her traps went empty for days.
Caves weren't hard to find in this part of the mountains, and it was getting dark. This high up, and at this time of the year, the night air would become dangerously cold. Nen'a laid down another bundle of firewood, and removed her pack. Pulling out her fire kit, she began to start her fire, but stopped before it lit. She looked out of the mouth of the cave as snow began to drift down, thinking about how Emm'a had always loved the snow. With aching bones, she pushed the firewood a bit deeper in the caves, and sat where the firewood had been, crosslegged, to watch the snow.
She closed her eyes and began to pray.
A prayer to the Makers, from one of the Tribe. Auros, I pray to the morning light. Your first light banishes stars, but darkness flees before you. Hear my plea, and in your wisdom, give me the guidance I need.
I lost my love and my child, too young in my life...in their life. All those years, the cruelty of the other women, the punishment of these mountains, the loss of the souls I couldn't save. Deep down inside, I felt each loss. Something I had done, something I had said, something I had earned. I've tried to be good, given what I could when I could, been there for others, given of myself when I felt in my own most desperate need. Auros, I have tried. Tried so hard to repay whatever punishment put
me in this shell, made me the brunt of unwarranted cruelty, took the
lives of all those people from my hands.I am old, Auros. I may not make my journey. I ask, Auros, that when your light touches the sky, when I awake for another's day journey, that you give me the strength to make it to my wife and child again. I have done my best to pay for whatever I have done to be in this life. Their bones are so far away. I ask, at the cost of all the good will I have paid to redeem myself, to see them one more time before my age ends me.
Auros, hear my prayers, from your lost child.
After a long while, Nen'a opened her eyes, and wiping away her tears, started the fire. She pulled her bedding out from her pack, and climbed in for a sleep. Another day of hiking lay ahead of her in the morning.
When the first rays of morning broke the night sky, Nen'a awoke to the loving embrace of a long lost family.