Prelude

Orion runs through the forest. Uriel chases him. As Orion enters a clearing he stops short in front of a woman. For a moment they stare at one another. Suddenly Orion falls unconscious to the ground.

Riders close in.

Uriel bursts into the clearing. Marie sits knitting.

MARIE – Hello.

Uriel looks around.

URIEL – what are you doing out here?

MARIE – Knitting. It is very peaceful and quiet and I often come here to Knit.

Uriel glares at her.

URIEL – Did you see an outcast pass this way.

MARIE – I have seen no one except yourself.

Uriel dismounts and approaches Marie.

URIEL – Are you sure, human?

MARIE – Of course.

URIEL – You are very pretty for a human.

MARIE – Thank you.

URIEL – Perhaps you would come with me to my castle and be my mistress.

MARIE – No thank you.

URIEL – Don’t you know who I am?

MARIE – I’m afraid not.

URIEL – I am Uriel, son of the High Elf LeeRoth. You will address me as lord.

Marie looks up and the knitting stops.

MARIE – Perhaps I will not.

URIEL – How dare you.

Uriel swings his hand at her face. Her knitting needle pierces his hand. M stands now. Uriel pulls the needle from his hand.

URIEL – you will die for this, Human.

MARIE – Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Uriel is surrounded by outcasts with bows drawn.

1992

Nikki six years old lies in her bed holding a bear. Her grandma sits on the edge

Grandma-…and then the arrogant elf lord was taken away. The wounded elf turned to Marie….

NIKKI-That’s your name grandma.

Grandma – that’s right.

Grandma smiles at the child ling in bed.

Grandma-well then the elf kissed Marie on the cheek and said, “I will never forget the human who saved my life…

NIKKI -My friend Nina said there were no such things as bad elves.

Grandma-well then maybe you should ask her to come tell you bedtime stories. Now if you want to keep interrupting…

NIKKI -but I know what happens. The elf man gives Marie a knife and then she touches the tree and gets transported back home. I think she should have stayed and married the elf man. The story doesn’t even have a happy ending and there’s no point to it.

Grandma-well perhaps you are getting too old for stories.

Nikki sits up in bed

NIKKI -No Grandma!  I’m sorry! I’ll be quiet.

Grandma tucks the girl back in bed.

Grandma-O.K. then but since you finished the story already you have to go to sleep now.

NIKKI -will we still go to the tree tomorrow?

Grandma-yes Nikki of course we will. Now good night.

NIKKI -good night grandma.

2003

Nikki sits beside her grandma in the hospital. Grandma’s eyes open.

G-Nikki? Is that you?

NIKKI -yes grandma. I’m here.

Grandma -you have to go back. They need you.

NIKKI -who grand ma?

Grandma -the outcasts.

NIKKI -I don’t understand.

Grandma -you must take the knife. And the tree…the tree.

NIKKI -You mean the tree we used to visit before Daddy died.

Grandma -Nikki. You must help them they will lose the war without you.

NIKKI -grandma, there is no war. You don’t know what you’re saying.

Grandma -Good bye Orion.

NIKKI -grandma! grandma!

The monitor sounds the alarm.

A nurse rushes into the room.

Nurse-I’m sorry. She’s gone.

NIKKI -Grandma.

A Group sits around a fire all bundled up warmly. The tallest figure looks up quickly

ORION-Marie

A tear falls as he bows his head.

Nikki sits in a waiting room. A secretary sits at a desk at one side and a family of four in a corner.

A man stands in front of Nikki.

Man-I’ll see you now Miss Winter.   

Nikki follows the lawyer into a small office.

Man-You have seen the will?

NIKKI -Yes.

Man-All of Marie Winter’s possessions go to the Mother Faith Foundation and all her money left after paying off your fathers medical bills goes to the Church of Hope. She left one item to you, her only living relation.

NIKKI -Right, a knife

Man-That’s right. Here it is.

The Man hands Nikki a Small knife with beautiful designs in it.

Nikki stands in front of a tree with her name and her grandmothers carved into the trunk. She kneels and begins to cry.

NIKKI -oh grandma. I miss you so much.

Nikki uses the knife to carve into the tree ‘rest in peace’ above the name Marie.Then she lies down with the knife in her hand and closes her eyes.