EXT. OLD KASUTO TOWN – MIDDAY.

 

A small town, clinging to the edge of an extremely hardscrabble wasteland. The entire town is decrepit ruins; almost every building is in disrepair and there is no person to be seen. The sky is bleak and heavily overcast, such that the time of day cannot be obviously deduced.

 

A GIANT, PURPLE, TADPOLE-LIKE CREATURE with a massive white eyeball at its front peeks out from a TRASH PILE behind one of the houses; this is a MOA. It LOOKS AROUND, suspicious, and then it DIVES BACK into the refuse as quickly as it appears.

 

LINK and MARIN walk down a makeshift path that bisects the town. A SMALL SIGN rests on a fencepost near the outskirts with text in ‘Ancient Hylian’ (Scots-Gaelic). It reads:

 

“Welcome to Kasuto Town”.

 

(NOTE: This text is NOT subtitled for the audience)

 

Link RUNS HIS HAND along the sign, STARING at the town before him with SUSPICION. He UNSHEATHES his arming sword.

 

Marin stands behind him, EMOTIONLESS.

 

LINK
“Kasuto. Strange... it is deserted...”

 

The pair MOVES through the town, walking SLOWLY.

 

Eventually Link notices ONE RUINED HOUSE that, unlike all the others, has a SICKLY TRAIN OF SMOKE billowing out the back of it.

 

LINK
“Maybe less than deserted...”

 

He and Marin CIRCLE the house, both noticing that the source of the smoke is a BASEMENT WINDOW SLAT, far too small to crawl through and impossible to see through; Link GESTURES with Marin to again circle to the front of the house, and they both do so.

 

Link gently tries the front door; it does not open easily.

 

(NOTE: Beside the front door, in EXTREMELY faded lettering, there is a calligraphy-engraved plate that is particularly difficult to make-out. The letters read “GRADEMIR”, written in all-caps. Again, this is VERY DIFFICULT to see.)

 

Link LOOKS UP at the house’s ruined chimney (which is not being used) and gently CLIMBS the structure. He EXAMINES the chimney and then slowly (and quietly) crawls back down the house; he LOOKS at Marin.

 

LINK
(whispering)
“Looks like I can get in through the chimney. Wait here...”

 

Link again ASCENDS the house and stealthily CLAMBERS up the chimney; he DESCENDS into the small space and gingerly SHIMMIES down the inside.

 

INT. GRADEMIR HOUSEHOLD – (CONTINUOUS)

 

The inside of this small house is a dilapidated ruin.

 

Link slowly walks from one empty room to another, ONE HAND ON HIS SWORD’S HILT as he walks. Eventually, having explored every facet of the tiny house Link notices the entrance to the BASEMENT; FLICKERING LIGHT struggles beneath the doorway here.

 

Link SLOWLY (and almost SILENTLY) UNSHEATHES his sword. He OPENS the basement door slowly and DESCENDS down a stone stairway.

 

Link ROUNDS A CORER, finding a dank and dingy stone basement room; a small FIRE crackles in a makeshift pit near the room’s center.

 

An OLD MAN, unkempt and bearing a scraggily beard, sits against one wall of the basement; he wears a ratty brown cloak with a semi-pointed hood, wrapped tight over his head for warmth.

 

Link NOTES the man with suspicion, but eventually LOWERS HIS GUARD; Link slowly APPROACHES the man, eventually SITTING DOWN on the opposite side of the fire pit.

 

LINK
“Might a poor traveler bask in your warmth, here?”

 

The Old Man SAYS NOTHING. He does not look at Link.

 

Link COUGHS politely.

 

LINK
“My name is Link, of North Castle, Mister...?”

 

The old man finally SPEAKS after a pause.

 

OLD MAN
“The town is dead; look east... in woods...”

 

Link LOOKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE, uncomfortable.

 

LINK
“What? The swamp, old man?”

 

OLD MAN
“We... had to flee Kasuto...”

 

LINK
“And the others went east?”

 

The OLD MAN finally LOOKS UP at Link’s face.

 

OLD MAN
“The air here... is heavy. So heavy...”

 

Link has been BREATHING HARD during this time; Link STOPS BREATHING, reflecting on the LOUD SOUND of each of his breaths.

 

LINK
“Why is that? Is it something to do with the mountains? Something coming off the Dawnland Stairs? Does it have anything to do with the Palace?”

 

At these words the Old Man’s face CONTORTS with DISPLEASURE and PAIN; he DRAWS A LONG BREATH, staring back at the fire.

 

OLD MAN
“The Palace: no one is there...”

 

He again LOOKS UP at Link.

 

OLD MAN

(whispering frantically)
“...but a funeral bell will ring!”

 

LINK
“Can you tell me anything about the way through Her Divine Footsteps?”

 

The Old Man SPEAKS SLOWLY, as if deeply CONFUSED.

 

OLD MAN
“Farore? To see Farore, set one foot in the grave...”

 

LINK

(smiling with condescension)
“I’d prefer to be more... corporeal when I meet her, though...”

 

OLD MAN
“...the northwest: the cemetery, Dhise Cairn...”

 

Link’s BROW ARCHES in surprise.

 

LINK
“Did— did you just say ‘Dhise’?”

 

OLD MAN
“The lonely graves...”

 

The Old Man LOOKS AT LINK with a SINISTER grimace.

 

OLD MAN
“...not so very lonely in Her shadow!”

 

Link LOOKS AT the man with discomfort; there is a LONG PAUSE.

 

LINK
“Tell me, why is it you remain here? Why didn’t you flee with the others?”

 

OLD MAN
“Where they’ve gone... I cannot follow. Oh: no, no! What changes in the world, entire, but for just one thing that would not; this is my home. This is my one thing, everlasting. And what lasts, in a world such as this?”

 

The Old Man SINKS DOWN against the wall, resting on a TATTERED BLANKET beside him.

 

OLD MAN
“Oh: and how has my dark-skinned beauty left me, now, ere these fifty years. Gone to Utter West, have you, desert blossom? Gone... with... with... him...”

 

The Old Man LOOKS AT LINK once again, as if seeing him for the first time. He SMILES with extremely pleasant WARMTH.

 

OLD MAN
“...my boy!”

 

The Old Man LEANS FORWARD, conspiratorially, and WHISPERS across the fire.

 

OLD MAN
“I can give you... most powerful magic!”

 

Link stares at the man QUIZZICALLY.

 

OLD MAN
“I can give you... a parent’s love...”

 

Link again COUGHS, uncomfortable, and LOOKS TO ONE SIDE with embarrassment.

 

OLD MAN
(tearfully)
“Let’s... live here, together...”

 

The Old Man eventually STARES DOWN at the fire between himself and Link.

 

OLD MAN
“Oooh... oh: the light: it is fading, fast...”

 

Link SIGHS quietly and STARES INTO HIS LAP. He LOOKS UP at the man with PITY.

 

LINK

(whispering respectfully)
“No. No, it’s already gone out...”

 

EXT. OLD KASUTO TOWN – AFTERNOON.

 

Link CHOPS several diseased-looking pieces of wood on a small chopping block some distance from the Grademir house, wielding a very old, RUSTY AXE.

 

MARIN sits against the ruined wall of a collapsed cabin, emotionless, but with her ARMS CROSSED.

 

MARIN
“This is unnecessary, is it not?”

 

LINK
(breathing hard as he chops)

“Suitably heroic, though, right?”

 

Link gathers together a LARGE BUNDLE of wood chunks he has cut.

 

LINK
“We’ll be on our way immediately. And anyway, an old man deserves a warm fire to sleep beside, doesn’t he?”

 

As Link WALKS BACK towards the house Marin CALLS AFTER him.

 

MARIN
“And just what, exactly, does ‘deserve’ have to do with anything, Squire?”

 

Link STOPS WALKING; he TURNS HIS HEAD to look at Marin, briefly, before again WALKING OFF.

 

INT. GRADEMIR HOUSEHOLD – (CONTINUOUS)

 

The Old Man appears to be SLEEPING on his tattered blanket beneath the tiny basement window; Link gently deposits a great armload of firewood beside the fire pit and sets a few logs onto the fire; they SIZZLE AND POP as Link turns to leave the basement.

 

The Old Man MUTTERES incoherently in his sleep.

 

OLD MAN
“Whole... of Palace... is endless trap! Call... for help at the Three Eye Rocks...”

 

Link appears EMBARASSED by the man’s ranting; he SHAKES HIS HEAD as he leaves.

 

LINK

(whispering)
“No need for that, old man: I walk alone...”

 

Link EXITS the basement of the house.

 

EXT. DHISE CAIRN CEMETARY – AFTERNOON.

 

A very large, unkempt cemetery on an earthy mesa outside of Old Kasuto Town; the town itself is barely visible in the far distance. Many STONE MARKERS and PETRIFIED WOOD CROSSES dot the landscape, although many of these are long since RUINED by time and the elements. The sky is still very overcast, making accurate prediction of the time of day difficult.

 

Link and Marin walk through the cemetery, Link in the lead. Link MOTIONS AHEAD with his head.

 

LINK
“The mountain pass opens up just beyond this cemetery; the Palace can’t be more than a dozen miles inside the range. Back in its heyday it must have extended nearly out to here. This place— this ‘Dhise Cairn’— it place must be the oldest cemetery in all of Hyrule...”

 

The pair CONTINUES ONWARD in silence.

 

A PURPLE MOA PEEKS AROUND the corner of one of the larger stone monuments in the cemetery; it WATCHES as Link and Marin cross the land. We see that part of the CREATURE’S TAIL suddenly becomes translucent, and then nearly invisible. The creature makes a very faint ‘COOING’ NOISE (despite not possessing a mouth).

 

In the FAR DISTANCE behind this moa we see ANOTHER MOA peek its head out from behind a petrified wooden cross.

 

Link and Marin continue walking, with Marin about ten-feet behind Link. Suddenly, without warning, a TRANSLUCENT BLUR whips past Link, GRAZING his left arm.

 

Link CRIES OUT in pain and falters to one knee. As the ‘blur’ passes him we can briefly see the unmistakable outline of the MOA; this soon DISAPPEARS, though.

 

Link quickly GETS TO HIS FEET and DRAWS HIS SWORD from its sheath. He TURNS AROUND, looking in all direction.

 

Link FACES Marin, who stares back at Link with little emotion; Link BREATHES HARD, still WINCING with pain.

 

Suddenly ANOTHER BLUR comes at Link from the side, GRAZING Link’s leg; Link SCREAMS and falls to his other knee. As he continues SCREAMING IN PAIN he LOOKS UP with an expression of RAGE.

 

Link SLASHES HIS SWORD through the air, suddenly revealing one of the purple moas; Link’s blade SEVERS part of the creature’s tail and the now-visible creature FLIES AWAY with incredible speed, letting loose a very unpleasant ‘SCREAM’.

 

Link notices over a half-a-dozen more ‘blurs’ moving through the cemetery all around him; he LOOKS towards the other end of the cemetery, and then back at Marin. He CRADLES HIS WOUNDS and SNARLS.

 

LINK
“We don’t stop!”

 

MARIN

(shaking her head)
“It wouldn’t do one to go back; not now. It is far too late for that, Squire...”

 

Link begins SPRINTING through the cemetery; Marin follows close behind him.

 

SLOW CAMERA PAN OUT, rising into the air; we see a TREACHEROUS, SMOKY, LAVA-FLOW-FILLED pathway through the Dawnland Stairs. This area is HER DIVINE FOOTSTEPS.

EXT. OVERHANG ENTRANCE TO THE GREAT PALACE – LATE AFTERNOON.

The sound of DISTANT LAVA FLOWS, accompanied by the rising sound of HEAVY BOOTS scuffling unsteadily over rough terrain. These footsteps grow LOUDER over time.

Link stumbles into this overhang area. He moves through the clutter, appearing EXHAUSTED. Marin follows behind Link, stepping CASUALLY through the clutter of the palace; unlike Link she does not appear to be fatigued at all.

Link’s clothing is SCORCHED and TORN in several places and he bears several DRIED, BLOODY WOUNDS along his body. He BLEEDS from several fresh, superficial cuts to his body and his face and he LIMPS due to a deep wound on his right leg.

Link stumbles past a mess of broken columns, most of them bearing fierce BIRD-LIKE carvings on their tops. BROKEN STATUES line the corridor he moves through; many are FACELESS and bear gigantic BIRD’S WINGS. LINK’S BOOTS brush against a busted MUSIC BOX lying in pieces on the floor; this causes the device to sputter and then it erratically plays a short mess of disjointed notes (these are the FIRST 10 NOTES OF THE ‘GREAT PALACE THEME’).

Link STARES DOWN at the box, emotionless, as it sputters out and goes quiet. When it finishes Link LOOKS FORWARD, drawing a breath, and he WALKS FORWARD. Marin watches him do this, her face EMOTIONLESS.

LInk slowly DRAWS HIS ARMING SWORD from its scabbard and descends a debris-filled staircase.

INT. CEREMONIAL CHAMBER IN THE GREAT PALACE (CONTINUOUS).

Link reaches the bottom of a staircase on the far side of the room; Marin follows close behind.

 

Link crosses around the black water at the room’s center, looking down the various pitch-black corridors as he moves. Several STRANGE, UNINTERPRETABLE NOISES sound from throughout the structure. Link NOTES these with unease.

 

Link reaches the MASSIVE STONE TABLE and circles it slowly.

 

SLOW ZOOM on Link’s face as he stares at the table; his BREATH soon becomes visible in the air. Link JAMS HIS SWORD into a pile of debris, leaving the hilt protruding from the rubble. Marin WATCHES as Link approaches the table and CLIMBS UP ON TOP OF IT. He LOOKS AROUND the dank chamber again, uneasily, before slowly RECLINING and resting his head against the table, lying fully supine.

 

CLOSE-UP on Link’s head; Link BREATHES uneasily, although his breathing soon becomes more relaxed. Link CLOSES HIS EYES and breathes more quietly.

 

SLOW ZOOM, from above, on Link’s head. As the camera closes on Link’s face the STRANGE, UNINTERPRETABLE NOISES from afar become slightly more pronounced. Link (eyes still closed) suddenly ‘catches’ a breath as the camera reaches his face.

 

Cue a TWO-SECOND-LONG ‘GLITCH’.

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on LINK’S EYES: they OPEN with a start and Link stares ahead, WIDE-EYED. The sound of LEAVES RUSTING in a gentle breeze and BIRDS TWEETING replaces the lonely sounds of the palace.

 

Link is standing in a field of PINK FLOWERS; many brilliant white trees sway in the distance. Across from Link (about fifty feet ahead) Princess Zelda stands with her hands folded neatly in front of her— SMILING demurely.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on LINK’S EYES: Link’s eyes WIDEN. In the reflection of his eyes we see the hint of a DIFFERENT FIGURE standing before Link: someone wearing BRIGHT WHITE instead of purple.

 

Link’s breathing QUICKENS; the man appears extremely ILL AT EASE. Suddenly, without warning, Link DOUBLES OVER in pain; all around him the PINK FLOWERS begins CHANGING COLOR, turning to a more ASHEN HUE as they quickly begin dying.

 

CUE A SEVEN-SECOND LONG ‘GLITCH’; during this glitch we can hear, in order, Link’s previous lines “...suitable heroics...”, “...do anything for that smile...”, and then the phrase “I can...” repeated over and over again, on top of itself as the lines jumble into a mess of sound. The VISUALS included in this glitch all feature random scenes of MARIN from throughout the film (ie: her ‘highlight reel’ from the preceding events in the film).

 

Link (still kneeling in the field of flowers) GRIPS HIS BODY, SCREAMING in pain while STARING DOWN; we see a FIGURE DRESSED IN WHITE walk forward and stand before him, although we cannot see this person’s face. We hear MARIN’S VOICE.

 

MARIN
“Hope to heaven I hit your heart, ‘Squire’. Ease your passing, huh? I suppose— otherwise— you’d suffer...”

 

LINK

“N— no... this isn’t right... this isn’t... it can’t be... I... I...”

 

Link CRADLES HIMSELF even tighter, SCREAMING IN AGONY.

 

CUE A TWENTY-SECOND LONG ‘GLITCH’; this glitch is filled with scenes from AFTER the events in Fo-Láraich Cavern, however they are ALTERED from their original form. In ONE SCENE Link WALKS THROUGH the grassland outside Urooban Village, but he walks ALONE, without Marin behind him; when he DEFLECTS the toy crossbow bolt we see (in a JUMP CUT) Link VIOLENTLY DRAGGING the boy KENNETH from the grass and SNARLING at him (as opposed to his more ‘playful’ manner of dealing with the children as previously shown). ANOTHER SCENE shows Link SITTING ON THE CABIN STEPS, watching the festivities in the distance at the Urooban Gazebo, however Marin is NOT sitting behind his as she was in the scene as previously shown. ANOTHER SCENE shows Link SITTING BEFORE HIS FIRE on the Aged Veil trail, however Marin is NOT sitting across from him as she was in the scene as previously shown. ANOTHER SCENE shows Link entering the overhang entrance to the Great Palace as he did in the very beginning of the film (ie: by HIMSELF and NOT with Marin following him). Throughout this glitch we hear an INDISTICT, DISTORTED VOICE continually repeating the same unintelligible phrase; this phrase becomes louder and slightly more understandable as the glitch progresses until finally, at the very end of the glitch, the phrase is revealed to be Link’s previously spoken line “I can kill...”

 

This glitch CUTS-OUT to reveal Link, still kneeling in the dying flowers around him. He slowly LOOKS UP. CLOSE-UP on Link’s face: it is filled with a look of HORROR.

 

Link EXHALES very slow and loud.

 

INT. FO-Làraich CAVERNS (Eastern MAW) – EARLY MORNING.

 

Link and Marin RACE through the uneven terrain of the cavern HAND IN HAND, dodging rocks and debris as they make their way between sheer drop-offs and craters.

 

Suddenly the ground beneath them CRUMBLES and falls partly away; Link and Marin go TUMBLING across the ground with Link coming to rest against the cavern wall and Marin continuing to TUMBLE closer to a crater edge; the girl nearly falls off before CLUTCHING a piece of limestone rock protruding from the soil.

 

MARIN’S HANDS begin to SLIP off the rock; we see her suddenly LOSE HER GRIP, however LINK’S LEFT HAND suddenly catches MARIN’S RIGHT WRIST, holding her up.

 

Link GRUNTS as he stares down at the girl; MARIN’S LEGS SCRAMBLE on the edge of the crater, struggling to maintain footholds. Just as Link uses his right hand to PUSH BACK off the rock and pull Marin up the soil beneath the girl’s legs CRUMBLES, causing Marin’s full weight to be put upon Link; LINK’S RIGHT HAND slips on the rock he is using as a brace and then the man FALLS FORWARD; his right arm is TANGLED-UP against another protruding rock in such a way that it is under enormous pressure and put at the point of breaking (ie: he is unable to use it, and just about to ‘lose’ it).

 

ROCKS continue careening down around the pair and especially near the CAVERN’S MAW, which is now barely visible from Link and Marin’s vantage point; it is clear that this cavern exit is in imminent danger of being SEALED entirely.

 

Link SCREAMS in PAIN as he struggles to hold Marin up; he puts in ENORMOUS EFFORT trying to pull the girl up, but in his current position he is unable to. Link and Marin STARE AT EACH OTHER with identically URGENT looks.

 

Eventually Link LOOKS OVER at the collapsing cavern entrance with PANICKED DESPAIR; when he looks back down at Marin his face is far more ‘COLD’.

 

Marin suddenly notices this look; her face becomes STONY, with a VERY ‘INJURED’ expression to it. The girl CLOSES HER MOUTH and then LICKS HER LIPS.

 

MARIN
“Go then, ‘Squire’; go for your girl. Gotta be a decent knight, do you not? I won’t live on another’s charity, you know...”

 

Marin rolls off this line SLOWLY, with DEATHLY CALM, imparting a SARCASTIC EDGE to many of the words.

 

Link again LOOKS at the cavern maw, DESPERATE, and then BACK DOWN at Marin; the man suddenly ROARS WITH EFFORT, PULLING BACK with all his might. He manages to pull up enough to DIG HIS FEET into the ground.

 

(NOTE: at this point the same ‘GLITCH’ that was performed earlier during this scene starts-up again, however after a very brief moment the glitch is ‘FIXED’ (ie: it CUTS-OUT very quickly with a DISTINCT TONE and allows the rest of the scene to continue, uninterrupted)

 

(FURTHER NOTE: There are NO MORE ‘GLITCHES’ for the duration of the film)

 

Link’s feet suddenly SLIDE OUT from under him; Link LANDS HARD on his face with Marin still DANGLING over the edge of the precipice.

 

Link again STARES at the collapsing cavern before him, looking down at Marin one last time.

 

Marin LOOKS UP at Link without significant emotion on her face.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on LINK’S EYES.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on LINK’S HAND HOLDING MARIN’S WRIST; Link suddenly RELEASES HIS GRIP.

 

Marin FALLS through the darkness of the cavern crater.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on Link’s LEFT EYE.

 

Marin TUMBLES through the darkness of the pit, first STRIKING HER FOREHEAD against an outcropping of stone, which propels her body into the opposite wall of the pit, where her CHEST is torn by a sharp stone outcropping.

 

Marin’s body LANDS HARD on the watery stone floor of the pit; her RIGHT SHIN is revealed to be horribly fractured, poking clean through her skin.

 

The woman STARES UP from the bottom of the pit, apparently LIFELESS.

 

Link STARES DOWN at Marin in HORROR; he suddenly LOOKS UP, remembering the collapsing cavern.

 

Link SPRINTS for the cavern exit, disappearing into the light outside before the exit is sealed.

 

INT. CEREMONIAL CHAMBER IN THE GREAT PALACE (INDETERMINATE)

 

Link, still kneeling in the field of dying flowers, slowly REMOVES his hands from his body; he STARES UP at the figure before him.

 

MARIN stands before Link, looking down at the man with SCORN; there is an ‘UNDERCURRENT’ to her voice, a ‘second voice’ beneath it which, though strangely beautiful, ‘clashes’ with Marin’s tone, producing an ODD EFFECT.

 

THUNDERBIRD

“Just what kind of knight is this, then?”

 

Link SNARLS.

 

LINK
“Y— you’re not Marin! Marin is dead; I couldn’t help her...”

 

THUNDERBIRD
“You couldn’t... be... held... up!”

 

Link WINCES in pain; we see all the wounds Marin suffered in her fall (the forehead bruising, slashed chest and fractured shin) all slowly begin to APPEAR on Link’s body.

 

LINK
“N— no...”

 

TUNDERBIRD
“Couldn’t... go... back...”

 

The figure of Marin KNEELS before Link, seductively RUNNING A HAND beneath Link’s chin.

 

THUNDERBIRD
“And now? It’s far too late for that, Squire!”

 

Link BOWS HIS HEAD, TEARFUL, as he STRUGGLES with pain.

 

THUNDERBIRD
“Killer...”

 

LINK
“Yes...”

 

Link CONVULSES on his knees; we see that the figure before Link is no longer Marin, but PRINCESS ZELDA. This time, however, she does not appear healthily, but rather GREATLY ILL and EMACIATED. The figure SMILES DEMONICALLY. When it speaks we hear Zelda’s voice, but with the same strange ‘UNDERCURRENT’ that the Marin-figure bore.

 

THUNDERBIRD

“Murderer...”

 

LINK
“Y— yes...”

 

Link LOOKS UP at the figure; the BRUISE on his forehead is growing more and more SEVERE. He suddenly appears SHOCKED to see Zelda in place of Marin.

 

There is a SHORT PAUSE.

 

THUNDERBIRD

“You cannot face death when it’s in the eyes of a loved one, but you can deliver it upon an innocent without remorse...”

 

Link GRITS HIS TEETH.

 

THUNDERBIRD
“...out of selfish desire! Just to save your beloved. This is a weight you cannot outrun!”

 

Link LOOKS DOWN again; when he RETURNS HIS HEAD TO LEVEL we see him SNARLING with a DEFIANT LOOK.

 

LINK
“This... is my weight...”

 

THUNDERBIRD
“Too late, you learn that...”

 

LINK

(whispering)
“I... have to face that weight...”

 

MARIN is again revealed to be standing before Link, not Zelda; the figure begins BOWING CLOSER to Link’s body.

 

LINK
“I have to carry that weight!”

 

Link ROARS with anger and PUSHES the Marin figure away from him; he STRUGGLES TO HIS FEET, UNSHEATHING HIS SWORD.

 

LINK
“This is my own responsibility! You can’t punish me for that. Goddesses condemn me: If I’m damned, then I’m damned— and I accept that— but whatever you are, you have no right to punish me! I might just get it from Them, but you cannot give me hell for this!”

 

The Marin figure’s eyes ‘DISSOLVE’ into strange, bird-like orbs and it suddenly OPENS ITS MOUTH and ‘ROARS’ with a LOUD, ‘BIRDLIKE’ SCREAM.

 

Link SCREAMS as well, EXTENDING HIS SWORD defiantly.

 

Link suddenly AWAKENS on the stone table in the ceremonial chamber; MARIN is lying beside him, STROKING his body seductively.

 

Instantly Marin’s figure DISAPPEARS into a mess of fog and mist; THUNDERBIRD’S SILHOUETTE is clearly visible in this thick soup.

 

Link OPENS HIS EYES, DRAWING A BREATH; he begins ROLLING OFF THE TABLE quickly. All the damage to his FOREHEAD, CHEST, SHIN and BACK (ie: the ‘Thunderbird-inflicted injuries’) rapidly FADE AWAY, leaving Link in the same shape he was in when he first entered the Palace.

 

The ‘BIRDLIKE’ ROAR sounds loud enough to SHAKE the entire chamber.

 

Link SCRAMBLES over to the SEALED DOOR beside the ceremonial table; he quickly PULLS HIS ARMING SWORD out of the debris it is stuck in and TURNS, SQUARING HIMSELF defensively.

 

The ghostly visage of THUNDERBIRD circles through the room, producing its birdlike SCREAM as it moves; Link PREPARES for combat, although eventually his face becomes CALMER.

 

LINK

(whispering)
“I... do know who you are. How... how can I know that? Is it... a two-way street?”

 

Link WATCHES as Thunderbird moves through the chamber in LIVID ARCS.

 

LINK
“Is a watcher also watched? Or did I just hit a nerve in you: something that’s a little too close to home? Have I... have I so pierced you... Aguichees?”

 

At this last word (Thunderbird’s proper name) the Thunderbird produces a PIERCING SCREAM of RAGE.

 

Link LOWERS HIS SWORD.

 

LINK
“A lover is a coward, you know, when it comes to losing what they have... or having to give it up. Ever known a ‘spell’ that was so difficult to break, huh? Ever known someone you damn-well needed to be with but couldn’t, not in the long run, anyway? What would you do? What could you do? And just what did you do, Aguichees?”

 

The ghostly specter of Thunderbird FLIES STRAIGHT through the air on a collision course with Link.

 

Link STANDS IN PLACE as the creature prepares to strike him.

 

LINK
(whispering)
“It’s not so easy a thing, is it?”

 

Link does nothing as Thunderbird COLLIDES with Link head on; the creature PASSES through Link’s body, SCREAMING as it moves, and after doing so it DISAPPEARS down a dark side corridor in the chamber.

 

Link DROPS HIS SWORD and SLUMPS TO HIS KNEES with his HEAD BOWED. He remains like this for about five seconds.

 

Eventually Link LOOKS UP, staring forward at the ceremonial table. His eyes are PUFFY and RED. A SINGLE TEAR trains down his left cheek.

 

LINK
(whispering)

“Marin... I— I’m so sorry...”

 

Several ‘BLOCKY’, CLICKING NOISES explode from the MASSIVE CLOSED DOOR behind Link; Link GETS TO HIS FEET quickly, facing the door. He watches as the entire door DROPS about an inch downward. After a short pause the entire massive door lazily FALLS FORWARD, landing in front of Link with a deafening CRASH and kicking up copious amounts of DUST.

 

Link STARES down the darkened corridor beyond as the dust clears; the man RETRIEVES HIS SWORD from the ground, takes his SHIRT from the rubble beside the ceremonial table and STEPS FORWARD into the darkness.

 

INT. HALL OF GLASS (CONTINUOUS)

 

A massive corridor with multi-leveled balconies and walkways perched above it on either side; the many levels above disappear into darkness. All through the corridor many MIRRORS, SILVER PLATES and other reflective objects rest in decorative arrangements; almost all of them are so tarnished or covered in dust that they reflect nothing. Only a very few number of mirrors remain that can reflect anything of consequence.

 

Link WALKS through this great corridor, SWORD DRAWN and again WEARING HIS SHIRT, his eyes SKEWED suspiciously. Eventually we hear a faint sound: a SMALL CHILD’S HUMMING. This sound grows LOUDER as Link moves through the corridor.

 

Eventually Link rounds a bend: a small girl (appx. 10-years-old) kneels on the stone floor in front of Link; she wears a GREEN TOP and SKIRT. This clothing is KOKIRI DRESS, and the girl is a KOKIRI FOREST CHILD.

 

The girl is squatting over a very large FIRE ANT MOUND. Hundreds of fire ants mill around the mound and the floor around it; they crawl all over the girl’s legs, nearly up to her knees.

 

The girl LOOKS UP at Link with a BRIGHT SMILE.

 

FOREST CHILD

“Hey, Mister. You been traveling much?”

 

Link SQUINTS at the girl in disbelief.

 

LINK
“Of all the things I expected to find on the other side of the door this might be the most unlikely. And that’s saying a lot...”

 

The girl STANDS UP, TITTERING playfully.

 

LINK
“Oh, the Goddesses’ sakes, sweetheart: your legs!”

 

The girl LOOKS down at her legs, which show several WELTS from fire ant bites. She looks back up at Link.

 

FOREST CHILD
“Serves me right for playing with them: it’s just desserts, don’t you think?”

 

LINK
“I think you should get away from that mound.”

 

FOREST CHILD
“But I helped them build it!”

 

LINK
“They’re tearing you up, little one: pretty soon they’ll eat you whole.”

 

The Forest Child CONSIDERS the mound.

 

FOREST CHILD
“I know that’s true. But I love playing with these little guys so much, though! But... now the mound has been built, you know...”

 

The girl LOOKS UP at Link with a SERIOUS face.

 

FOREST CHILD

“...maybe me sticking around is just gonna mess things up for them, do you think? It’s been built, so the coolest thing to do is just watch what they do with it, huh?”

 

The girl STARES AROUND the fire ant mound; she appears to be unable to walk out of the mound without damaging parts of it.

 

Link walks over to the girl, standing just outside the mound, and BENDS DOWN, PICKING HER UP and moving her a few feet away.

LINK

(whispering)
“Goddesses’ Sakes: you’d let those damn things eat you alive just because you’re afraid of kicking up a little dust?”

 

Link DEPOSITS the Forest Child well-away from the gigantic mound. He then KNEELS DOWN and prepares to brush the ants off her legs; the girl PULLS AWAY from him.

 

FOREST CHILD
“No: it’s okay. I can take the stings; they can’t take the swatting...”

 

Link CONSIDERS the girl QUIZZICALLY. He LOOKS DOWN the corridor, noting all the branching paths that stretch endlessly around the corridor.

 

The Forest Child LOOKS UP at Link.

 

FOREST CHILD
“You’re not late you know; not yet. You’re right on time...”

 

Link LOOKS DOWN at the girl SUSPICIOUSLY.

 

The girl EXTENDS ONE HAND up to Link.

 

FOREST CHILD
“I really wish we could play together some more, but you’ve got an appointment, now...”

 

Link slowly TAKES THE GIRL’S HAND; the Forest Child SMILES good-naturedly and begins walking off down the corridor, hand-in-hand with Link.

 

As the pair moves through the corridor we can briefly see small REFLECTIONS of this scene in the few mirrors that are not completely covered in dust and debris. In these brief reflections we see that Link is not holding hands with a small child but, instead, is holding hands with a LITHE-BODIED BLUE HUMANOID— female in appearance and adult in size— who vaguely resembles a human-sized fairy without wings, but with additional embellishments to her body.

 

This is the GOLDEN GODDESS NAYRU.

 

(NOTE: This reflection is NOT entirely obvious to see.)

 

The Kokiri Forest Child LEADS Link down a certain series of connecting hallways in the Palace; SKIPPING and HUMMING to herself as she leads him by the hand.

 

INT. THE THRONE OF FARORE’S WISDOM (CONTINUOUS)

 

Eventually the pair STOPS at the entrance to a DARK CORRIDOR; it is a two-tiered hall and ‘COMPLICATED-LOOKING’ STAIRS lead down to the ground floor; an inaccessible SECOND-FLOOR WALKWAY spans this area to either side. The massive room is very EMPTY-LOOKING, although a very small, UNIMPRESSIVE DIAS sits near the end of the ground floor bearing a COBWEBBED PEDESTAL. A set of DUSTY, ORNATE DOORS rest against the wall behind this.

Link LOOKS into this gloom; the FOREST CHILD TUGS at Link’s hand and LOOKS UP at him, her face SERIOUS. She LEANS UP towards Link’s face, WHISPERING loudly while SHAKING HER HEAD.

 

FOREST CHILD
“Don’t be afraid of why you are, okay?”

 

Link STARES DOWN at the child QUIZZICALLY.

 

The Forest Child RELEASES her grip from Link’s hand. She TURNS down a different corridor and begins SKIPPING off, HUMMING to herself once again.

 

Link GESTURES for her to stay, but he stops short of calling after the girl; eventually Link gives up on attracting the child’s attention and focuses his attention on the room before him.

 

Link slowly begins DESCENDING the stairs.

 

As Link walks we can barely hear the PIERCING SCREAM of Thunderbird coming from behind Link, training down some infinitely distant part of the Palace; Link STARTS in surprise at this, but then realizes the sound’s extreme distance from him. He CONTINUES down the stairs.

 

A MAN’S VOICE sounds from one side of the room, coming from one of the inaccessible SECOND-FLOOR WALKWAYS.

 

MAN
“Boobrie. Poor, poor boobrie...”

 

Link again STARTS at this new sound; he LOOKS around the gloom of the massive room, but cannot find the speaker.

 

MAN
“The Thunderbird is such a persistent thing. Misery loves company, they say, and Thunderbird is a most miserable creature. Strange that you passed through its talons unharmed. Whatever great sin lurking within you must be a most trivial thing. Either that or you’re a cold-hearted bastard, indeed...”

 

Suddenly, without warning, several rows of LARGE BRAZIERS spring to life with a roaring BLAZE; braziers on each side of the room appear to light themselves, synchronized and in pairs, from one side of the room to the other.

 

Link instantly DRAWS HIS SWORD.

 

MAN
“The brain is not a muscle, you know...”

 

Link quickly LOOKS OVER at the balconied walkway and spots the speaker: a brown-robed man of about 50, BALD, with a very short, very well-manicured gray beard.

 

MAN
“...so would you please not use it like it is?”

 

LINK

(scowling)
“Who are you?”

 

The Man SMILES knowingly.

 

MAN
“Who are you?”

 

LINK
“I asked first!”

MAN
“Mmm. Yes: and out of the two of us, here, I’m the only one who actually knows the answer to that question, I think...”

 

Link’s scowl DEEPENS.

 

MAN
“...unless you think... differently?”

 

LINK
“My name is Link, of North Castle.”

 

The Man’s smile WIDENS.

 

MAN
“My name is Sagart...”

 

Sagart HOLDS UP one finger, TAUNTING.

 

SAGART
“...and one of us has just told a very naughty lie!”

 

LINK
“Why are you here, old man?”

 

SAGART
“Why are you, little whelp?”

 

Link STARES DOWN at the ground beneath the stairs, ROILING with anger.

 

LINK
“I’m kinda sensing a pattern, here: if you were down here with me, old man—”

 

Sagart SPREADS HIS HANDS, SMILING, and he NODS.

 

SAGART
“One of several reasons that I’m not. But tell me: why are you down there in the first place, hmm?”

 

LINK
“This Palace contains the wisdom of the Golden Goddess Farore.”

 

SAGART

(scoffing)
“So it’s ‘wisdom’ you’ve come to seek?”

 

LINK
“That’s right. Am I gonna have some kind of problem with you?”

 

SAGART
“On the contrary! If it’s ‘wisdom’ you want...”

 

Sagart GESTURES to the ground-floor of the chamber and the UNIMPRESSIVE DIAS near the far wall.

 

SAGART
“...you’ll find me most accommodating!”

 

Link FOLLOWS the man’s gesture with his eyes. He LOOKS BACK UP at Sagart.

 

LINK
“What is that, down there?”

 

SAGART
(leaning forward over the balcony and GRINNING eerily)
“That? That is your destiny, down there. You can still turn around, little whelp: go back ‘home’ to North Castle and be miserable, rather than go down there and be laid low. You won’t be happy with the ‘wisdom’ that awaits you, here...”

 

Link CONSIDERS the man with DEFIACE.

 

SAGART
“...but since we both know exactly what you’re going to do...”

 

Sagart PULLS HIMSELF back from the balcony and begins SLOWLY WALKING down the walkway.

 

Link FOLLOWS HIM, descending the stairs and WATCHING the man with his eyes. Eventually he stops at the foot of the stairs (on the ground floor) as Sagart continues walking the length of the room from above. He CALLS BACK to Link.

 

SAGART
“I’ll unlock that door down there for you when you’re ready...”

 

LINK
“When is that, exactly?”

 

Sagart CHUCKLES as he disappears from view, continuing along the walkway above.

 

SAGAR
“When you’ve damn-well wised up, little whelp!”

 

After a SHORT PAUSE Link SHEATHES HIS SWORD, still looking up at the balcony with ANGER; eventually Link turns his attention to the UNIMPRESSIVE DIAS on the other side of the room.

 

Link SLOWLY APPROACHES the COBWEBBED PEDESTAL at its center.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on the PEDESTAL TOP, with Link greatly out of focus in the background, still slowly approaching it: we see an INTRICATE-LOOKING MOUTHPIECE belonging to some type of woodwind instrument. It is clear that this mouthpiece has been REASSEMBLED from many disparate pieces after having been SHATTERED at some point in the past.

 

This is the MOUTHPIECE TO THE OCARINA OF TIME.

 

Link STARES DOWN at this mouthpiece quizzically; he slowly REACHES OUT to touch the object, HESITANTLY FINGERING it, as one might test a hot stove top. Finding it ‘touchable’ Link then TAKES IT IN HIS HAND and HOLDS IT UP to his face; he EXAMINES the thing closely, ROTATING it in his hand, still bearing a greatly quizzical look.

 

After several seconds of examining it Link begins to consider the object with more FAMILIARITY; he slowly BRINGS THE MOUTHPIECE up to his own lips, resting it against his mouth. After a short pause Link CLOSES HIS EYES and then ‘TOOTS’ the faintest of notes from the mouthpiece.

 

(NOTE: as the mouthpiece is NOT attached to its designated instrument, this sound is not at all polished or ‘tonal’ in any respect).

 

Suddenly part of this mouthpiece GLOWS very faintly; Link DOUBLES OVER and RETCHES, as if he is choking. The delicate mouthpiece FALLS BETWEEN HIS FEET, where it once again SHATTERS into many pieces.

 

Link FALLS TO HIS KNEES, BUG-EYED, and GASPS frantically.

 

At this point, for at least 30 seconds, we can hear SEVERAL ‘ECHOING’, OVERLAPPING LINES FROM THE PREVIOUS FILM (“THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: OCARINA OF TIME”). The specific lines used are unimportant, except that they present a ‘representative’ view of that film, given the few lines that can be used in the time-frame allotted.

 

DURING this cacophony of lines Link COVERS HIS HEAD, as if in pain, and by the end of it he has CURLED UP in a sort of squatting FETAL POSITION. He MAKES A ‘STRANGLED’ NOISE after these lines are done echoing, finally LOOKING UP with a SHOCKED, PAINED LOOK on his face. A small TRAIN OF BLOOD curls down on of HIS NOSTRILS.

 

Link makes a loud STARTLED GRUNT.

 

Link PUTS HIS HANDS OVER HIS FACE, as if in SEVERE PAIN; he MOANS, gripping his face, and when he finally removes his hands from his face we see a BRIGHT TRAIN OF RED FLUID running down Link’s LEFT CHEEK; his left eye, although PUFFY AND IRRITATED, is no longer red, but BLUE, perfectly matching his right eye.

 

Link RESTS HIS HEAD against the cobwebbed podium, appearing very TIRED; when he finally LOOKS UP he appears to be in a DAZE.

 

The sound of a KEY CLICKING IN A LARGE LOCK comes from the door in front of the podium; the door SQUEAKS OPEN very, very slightly.

 

Link CATCHES HIS BREATH, WIPING the RED SLIME off his face. He GETS TO HIS FEET and DRAWS HIS SWORD.

 

Link APPROACHES the door, HESITANT, and PULLS IT OPEN. He steps into the next room.

 

INT. BANQUET HALL IN THE GREAT PALACE (CONTINUOUS)

 

A massive banquet hall, complete with many PILLARS lining each side of the room; TATTERED PURPLE CURTAINS run between these pillars, faded and bleached out from their original royal purple hue.

 

DUSTY BRAZIERS sit at regular intervals, flanking a MASSIVE TABLE that spans a good portion of the room; these braziers are LIT and cast EERIE SHADOWS all around the room.

 

SAGART sits at the head of the table on the other side of the room. He is EATING from a small plate of MEAT; at Link’s arrival he SIPS from a goblet of WINE, WIPING HIS CHIN genteelly with a disheveled napkin.

 

Sagart SMILES at Link devilishly.

 

SAGART
“Well met, ‘Pale Rider’...”

 

Link PARTS HIS LIPS, as if to speak, but then STOPS; he finally responds after a pause.

 

LINK
“My name is Link... of— of the Kokiri...”

 

SAGART
“Fills in at least few blanks for you, doesn’t it? Turns out your life didn’t start when you were 8-years-old; it just restarted...”

 

LINK
“Zelda... and I... we saved Hyrule 15 years ago: we defeated Ganondorf—”

 

SAGART
“No: you set him up to be ‘dealt with’ by much stronger hands.”

 

LINK
(whispering)
“Divine judgment...”

 

Sagart NODS begrudgingly.

 

LINK
“Ganondorf took the New Kingdom, but that wasn’t enough for him. It was never enough: he was always after the power of the Golden Goddesses—”

 

Sagart’s BROW ARCHES; he SMILES amusedly. He rolls off his next line VERY SLOWLY, placing an UNDUE AMOUNT OF EMPHASIS on the LAST SYLLABLE.

 

SAGART
“Goddess—es?”

 

Sagart LEANS BACK in his chair, PRESSING HIS FINGERS together.

 

LINK
“He didn’t get what he wanted—”

 

Sagart HOLDS THREE FINGERS UP.

 

SAGART
“There were three bodies in which divine favor rested, were there not? And, in fact, there are still three bodies in which divine favor still rests, are there not?”

 

Link GRITS HIS TEETH.

 

LINK
“No...”

 

Sagart SMIRKS.

 

SAGART
“Strip off that shirt, why don’t you?”

 

Sagart TAPS HIS OWN STERNUM.

 

SAGART

“A branding iron only erases that which can be seen, you know...”

 

Link SNARLS, LOOKING OFF to one side.

 

SAGART

(shaking his head slowly)
“What’s inside you, though? What’s inside all three of you? Indelible, no matter how hard you might try...”

 

LINK
“What? What the hell is it?”

 

SAGART
“Something Ganondorf meant to monopolize; something he needed to possess, in full. He meant to be the last one standing when the smoke cleared fifteen years ago— when the ‘judgment’ of the Sages was handed down— but he wasn’t...”

 

Sagart again HOLDS THREE FINGERS UP, WAGGING them suggestively.

 

SAGART
“There were three surviving vessels at the time of the Sages’ judgment; three conflicting... ‘interpretations’ of that divine thing Ganondorf so coveted. Wisdom, courage, and power: they are not mutually exclusive, but they are... ‘volatile’ in the presence of each other...”

 

Link STARES DOWN, CONFUSED.

 

SAGART
“One power divided three ways: one great force of divine nature split into three separate pieces, like a wishbone torn asunder. Not quite what the prince of thieves planned for, was it?”

 

LINK
“Ganondorf’s irrelevant: he’s locked in the Sacred Realm.”

 

SAGART

(shaking his head again)
“No: not anymore, at least.”

 

Sagart LEANS FORWARD over the table.

 

SAGART
“Do you not remember the unease on the Old Shore? ‘Shadows moving through the Western Woods and a foul breath on the wind’? Even if you can’t feel him, the rest of the land certainly can...”

 

Link’s EYES BULGE.

 

LINK
“Ganondorf... is on the move?”

 

SAGART

“At this point it would be more accurate to just call him Ganon...”

 

LINK
“How do you know all of this? And just who the hell are you?”

 

SAGART
“I told you: my name is Sagart—”

 

LINK
“But who are you? I’ve had enough of your fucking riddles—”

 

SAGART

(irate)
“Watch your mouth: little whelp!”

 

The man RECOVERS from his outburst, CALMLY saying his next line.

 

SAGART
“Most people are in the habit of cleaning up their tongues when they talk to a priest. So I’m told, at least.”

 

LINK
“You’re a priest?”

 

SAGART
“A chief priest, in fact; I’m a follower of the Golden Goddess—”

 

Sagart PAUSES; he SMILES meekly and SHAKES HIS HEAD.

 

SAGART

“Well, that’s irrelevant, really.”

 

Sagart SLOWLY RISES out of his seat, gently PUSHING the disheveled dining chair back into place.

 

SAGART

(looking to one side, preoccupied)
“In point of fact I suppose that I’m a heretic, now. A priest is a vessel of peace, after all, but I suppose I’ve betrayed all that.”

 

Sagart looks DIRECTLY AT LINK; his demeanor is icily calm.

 

SAGART
“Releasing that monster Ganon from his captivity may be the very first violent act I’ve ever performed in my entire life...”

 

Link’s EYES BULGE.

 

Sagart MOVES TOWARDS Link, walking very slowly around the dining table.

 

SAGART
“...and striking Zelda, the Princess of Hyrule, with her current illness might just be the second...”

 

Link’s gaze goes ICY; he GLOWERS at the man.

 

SAGART

(looking Link up and down, emotionlessly)

“...so, then, I suppose killing you will be the third.”

 

Link LEVELS HIS SWORD at the man, SNEERING.

 

SAGART

(whispering, with dry lips)

“Could I see it, please? The flower, I mean...”

 

Link appears SHOCKED. He PAUSES in confusion.

 

SAGART
“Or you could simply strike me down, losing any and all hope of ever reviving your beloved princess. I told you, whelp: the brain is not a muscle. Do not use it as if it were...”

 

Link STARES at the man in CONFUSION.

 

Sagart slowly PRODUCES TWO VIALS from his cloak: one contains glowing liquid that is DEEP RED in hue, and the other liquid that is DEEP ORANGE in hue.

 

SAGART
“You shouldn’t refuse such a simple request, especially when the man making it has a certain power over life...”

 

Sagart BOBBLES the RED VIAL in one hand.

 

SAGART
“...and death...”

 

Sagart BOBBLES the ORANGE VIAL in his other hand.

 

The man then LOOKS DOWN at the vials in his hand, BLINKING in ‘MOCK CONFUSION’.

 

SAGART
(smiling devilishly)

“...or... or was it the other way around? It’s so hard to remember! It’s just a little drop into the nose, either way, but they’re two very different ways to go, aren’t they?”

 

Link SNEERS.

 

SAGART

(replacing the vials in his cloak)
“The flower? Please?”

 

Link slowly pulls the SMALL RED FLOWER from his cloak.

 

Sagart SMILES upon seeing the flower; he WALKS FORWARD and slowly TAKES IT from Link’s hand; Sagart SITS at a chair on Link’s side of the table, TWIRLING the flower in between his fingers. He LOOKS UP at Link.

 

SAGART
“This thing was stark and radiant white once: fifteen years ago— a lifetime ago— when I dropped it on the chest of a snoring little boy in his makeshift camp outside of Castletown. You were on your way to the Old Shores, you know, and you were well on your way to turning this thing as red as blood...”

 

Sagart continues TURNING THE FLOWER over in his hand; we see that the petals of the flower no longer bear any whiteness on their outer edge: it is COMPLETELY RED.

 

SAGART

(whispering)
“...and now it is...”

 

Link STEPS IN FRONT of the seated man, still BRANDISHING his sword before him.

 

Sagart suddenly LOOKS UP AT LINK, annoyed by the sword in his face.

 

SAGART
“Foolish brute! You continue posturing, so? Do you know how easy it would have been, fifteen years ago, just to pluck you up off the road? Do you have any idea how tempting it was, standing over you, to think I could just drag your little 8-year-old body out of bed and fillet that sacred power right out of your tiny, bleeding loins?”

 

Link COCKS HIS HEAD; he very slowly SITS opposite Sagart at their section of the table.

 

LINK
“So why didn’t you?”

 

SAGART

(looking away, EVASIVE)

“You... were an innocent, then. Or at least you were dyed as such. A cheap coat of varnish for your memories, ‘Pale Rider’, and a child’s heart set inside you. You were still a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but it was good clothing. I had no stomach for such butchery...”

 

LINK
“But now?”

 

Sagart TOSSES THE RED FLOWER on the table between them; the petals WILT quickly, and after several seconds the flower turns to ASH.

 

SAGART
“You’re no innocent, now.”

 

Sagart LEANS BACK in his chair, apparently more AT EASE.

 

SAGART

“Besides, if I’d taken you then I’d have only gotten one part of the Sacred Power for my trouble. No: no, I devised a much more... ‘complete’ method for handling the situation. It took years of study, and all my discipline, but my plan came into being when I finally loosed Ganondorf from his captivity, setting him upon Hyrule, and my plan will end when I run him down like the wild pig that he is; any diluted ‘powers’ he now possesses are no match for my own.”

 

Sagart GRINS demonically.

 

SAGART
“And in the end letting you go was no great loss: not only did I always know where you were, but I always knew just how to get you to come to me, obedient little boy that you are!”

 

Link’s FACE FALLS.

 

LINK

(whispering)
“Zelda?”

 

SAGART
“Who else but her ‘champion’ would come to her rescue? True, though: you were so very thick at first— I came to wonder if you would ever set out across the water!— but a little ‘prodding’ from a helping hand managed to set you in the right direction!”

 

LINK
(whispering)
“The Throne... Nimh?”

 

Sagart LEANS FORWARD, his face SERIOUS.

 

SAGART
“You... you should know that when I come to her— when I stand beside her helpless body and butcher her open— rend that Sacred Power from her soul— it will be the most difficult moment of my life.”

 

Link stares at Sagart with EQUAL SERIOUSNESS. He, also, LEANS FORWARD.

 

LINK

(whispering gravely)
“You should know, Sagart, that I’ll be providing you with the most ‘difficult’ moment in your life!”

 

Link SETS HIS SWORD-BEARING HAND on the table top; his sword’s blade SCRAPES over the table surface.

 

Sagart regards the blade with BEMUSEMENT.

 

LINK
“So just what are you looking to do with this ‘Sacred Power’, huh? Sounds very special, if it exists, that is. A man could become a god himself, couldn’t he? What is your plan? You want to kill off the Golden Goddesses, or do you just want to be an equal with them? Wanna know what it’s like to get one of them ‘between the sheets’?”

 

Sagart suddenly RASPS HIS FISTS against the table, LIVID.

 

SAGART
“Blasphemy!”

 

Link SMILES DEMONICALLY.

 

LINK
“Yeah: that’s true. What does that matter to a heretic, though?”

 

Sagart’s FACE FALLS.

 

LINK
“You’re disobeying the will of whatever Goddess you worship, aren’t you?”

 

SAGART
“I... I am, yes.”

 

LINK
“Hope whatever you’re getting in return is worth it—”

 

SAGART
(shaking his head)
“There is nothing in the bargain for me. Once I’ve reaped the Sacred Power from your bodies my plan will be at an end, as will my usefulness to my... to my cause: I will leave Hyrule—”

 

LINK

(scoffing)

“How?”

 

SAGART
“How does any creature that draws breath leave this world?”

 

LINK

(laughing)
“What: you’ll die? Do you mean you’ll kill yourself? Can’t hope for a very good afterlife, can you, Sagart? Heretics don’t go to heaven—”

 

Sagart NODS solemnly.

 

SAGART
“Yes, I know that.”

 

LINK
“—in fact, I was always taught that heretics went to hell: you’ll be damned for what you’ve done—”

 

Sagart NODS; we see a SMALL TEAR curling down one side of his face, although it remains STONY.

 

SAGART

(still NODDING, with a very matter-of-fact tone)
“I’m prepared for that.”

 

Link speaks after an AWKWARD PAUSE.

 

LINK
“Why?”

 

Sagart appears to RECOVER HIS COMPOSURE; he STANDS, slowly, SMILING WISTFULLY. He PACES slowly across the other side of the table, all the while being watched very carefully by Link, who also RISES out of his chair.

 

SAGART
“This... ‘Sacred Power’: it is an absolute, the grand essence of wisdom, the pure savagery of courage and the strange mystery of power. But it was never meant to be divided, never meant to be separated, bastardized into some... ‘triple force’ like it is, now. That is not its nature.”

 

LINK

(muttering)
“Seems natural enough to me: three Goddesses, three Powers...”

 

Sagart IGNORES Link’s words.

 

SAGART

 “Its nature is to unite, to join together...”

 

Sagart STOPS WALKING, GLARING at Link.

 

SAGART
“And so your natures are to unite, all three of you. Your destiny is to come into conflict with each other: wisdom, courage and power—”

 

LINK
“Speaking as someone who’s taken Ganondorf down once, I could say ‘bring it on’. I’m courageous enough, aren’t I?”

 

SAGART
(appearing SHOCKED)

“What? Courage? You mean, you actually think that you...”

 

The man ROLLS HIS EYES, CHORTLING.

 

SAGART

(whispering, as if to himself)
“Pitiable children: cradling toys they can’t possibly begin to understand!”

 

LINK
“Hey! If the Goddesses want their damned ‘Powers’ back then they can have them: Zelda and I don’t damn-well want them!”

 

SAGART
“But the prophecy is clear: you’ll all use them!”

 

LINK
“Don’t you give me any magical nonsense about ‘prophecy’!”

 

SAGART
“Think back, boy: what was it she told you, hmm? What weapon was there that could stay ‘any disaster, for he who would wield it as a master’?”

 

LINK
(staring down, CONFUSED)

“Zelda’s... legend? Dhise Slaighre? It’s just a blade, Sagart! I’ve used the damned thing to kill all manner of creatures, great and small: it is not a magical sword! It’s just another instrument of death! Other than a few... ‘idiosyncrasies’ it’s brutally ordinary and it works just like any other sword, blunt end to pointy end!”

 

SAGART
(shaking his head)
“No, no, no: as thick as you are, there’s always the possibility that you, or someone else— who knows?— will somehow learn the way to properly use the Master Sword—”

 

LINK
“Just as well, then!”

 

SAGART

(SCREAMING the first three words)

“That can’t happen! This... this is the point where I... ‘differ’ in opinion from my Goddess: she would see Dhise Slaighre used to stay the cataclysm. She would see balance return to the Sacred Power through that sword’s... activation.”

 

LINK
“You’re arrogant to think you know her will to begin with!”

 

SAGART
“I know her nature; it’s enough to deduce her will.”

 

There is a LONG PAUSE.

 

LINK
“Damn it: what is it? What is the Master Sword?”

 

SAGART

(rolling his words slowly)
“Why, it’s ‘just another instrument of death’. That’s all.”

 

Sagart suddenly becomes VERY BUSINESSLIKE and ‘PROFESSIONAL’; the man produces a VERY SMALL DAGGER from a pocket in his cloak.

 

Link SQUARES HIMSELF defensively.

 

Sagart produces a small VIAL OF GLOWING FLUID and sets a few drops onto the dagger’s blade.

 

SAGART
“You’re very well acquainted with ‘death’, are you not, ‘Link of the Kokiri’? You certainly dispense it well-enough, do you not? And you ride in its very wake, well-enough, but it’s such a traumatizing thing, isn’t it?

 

Sagart BURIES THE TIP OF THE BLADE into his LEFT THUMB.

 

 

SAGART

 “You may think that the consequences of your actions have been damaging enough for you— hang anyone who might have a cross word to hurl in your direction!— but there’s a certain hypocrisy: Thuderbird confronted you with your worst sin— the worst sin you can remember, anyway— and I have no doubt that it was a doozie. And yet you bested the poor Boobrie’s best efforts: it couldn’t drag you down into death, could it? No, because you have inside you what it takes to be immune to its ‘charms’: you’ve got a bastard’s heart beating beating in your chest! You have a ‘justification’ for anything, don’t you?”

 

Link SNARLS.

 

SAGART

(shrugging casually, ‘jovially’)

 “You could argue with me, but you’d lose: I happen to know this as a fact, because it’s precisely the reason why I’m immune to the creature’s assaults. Otherwise the real estate here would be far less... ‘desirable’ a thing. Where your great personal ‘justification’ for you actions rests on unparalleled love for another creature, and your desire to see her live, my ‘justification’ rests on...”

 

Sagart suddenly SMILES after a pause, as if appreciating an IRONIC point.

 

Sagart REMOVES THE BLADE from his thumb; A COPIOUS LINE OF BLOOD gushes from the wound, but moving in an IMPOSSIBLY NARROW and PERFECT STRAIGHT LINE towards the floor.

 

 

SAGART

“Well, let’s just say we’re really not so different, you and I. But let’s put these childish games to rest, if we can: I’d like to reacquaint you with someone who might just want to have a little chat about your past ‘actions’. You might have quite a time justifying yourself to him...”

The TRAIN OF BLOOD gushing from Sagart’s thumb soon begins ‘PARTING’ around some invisible outline of a figure; the figure grows from two-dimensionality to 3-D as the blood makes a nebulous outline of it: the figure appears to be vaguely humanoid, about the size of an average 8-year-old child.

 

Suddenly, as all this blood gushes around it, the figure TAKES SHAPE; all the blood cascading around its body is ‘absorbed’ into the figure.

 

CUT AWAY to Link’s SHOCKED FACE.

 

CLOSE-UP on the naked upper body (ie: above the navel...) of a young, blue-eyed, towheaded boy; his head is BOWED slightly and his eyes are CLOSED. He wears a SMALL RED EARRING in one ear.

 

This is YOUNG LINK.

 

Adult Link GASPS in surprise.

 

LINK
“L— little guy?”

 

SAME CLOSE-UP on Young Link’s bare upper torso and face; suddenly the boy’s EYES OPEN and he LOOKS UP, facing forward.

 

A GREEN SHIRT suddenly ‘appears’ on Young Link’s chest, quickly ‘oozing’ from his skin and solidifying into true fabric (consequently the rest of the boy’s body is now clothed, as well).

 

Young Link considers Adult Link with a COCKED HEAD; his neutral demeanor quickly changes into a DEEP SCOWL.

 

The boy HOLDS UP A SMALL WOODEN INSTRUMENT (this is the FAIRY OCARINA); he SMASHES the instrument on the floor, then he YANKS OUT the small RED EARRING from his ear, TOSSING it aside, as well; it CLANGS noisily on the floor as it bounces away.

 

Adult Link considers the boy with ALARM.

 

Sagart LOWERS HIS HAND, which until now has been hovering over the child; the man’s thumb NO LONGER BLEEDS; Sagart TOUSLES the boy’s blond locks, RUNNING HIS HAND back through the child’s hair as he walks behind him.

 

SAGART
“Such a devious thing: bringing a lamb to slaughter...”

 

Young Link suddenly RIPS AN ORNAMENTAL OYSTER KNIFE from a leather sash on his shirt, BARING HIS TEETH.

 

SAGART
“...how rare is it that the lamb gets an opportunity to return the favor?”

 

Young Link ‘FLIPS’ his knife in a stylistic display; as he does so his body suddenly ‘EXPLODES’ with greasy BLACK TENDRILS. When these tendrils clear the boy is replaced with a TOTALLY BLACK (‘FEATURELESS’), ADULT-SIZED CARBON-COPY OF ADULT LINK’S BODY, also bearing a pitch-black ARMING SWORD in place of the oyster knife.

 

This is LINK’S SHADOW (or simply THE SHADOW).

 

Sagart STEPS BACK from the figure, FOLDING HIS HANDS genteelly.

 

SAGART

(to Adult Link)
“What are you: speechless? Well, actions do speak louder than words, and you two have so very much to discuss, don’t you. I think you’ll find our little friend here to be most... ‘talkative’...”

 

The Shadow suddenly CHARGES Link, brandishing its black arming sword.

 

Link quickly KICKS UP the dining chair beside him so that it FLIES UP in the air in front of him; he VIOLENTLY SHOVES the chair with his hands, sending the thing CAREENING INTO the Shadow.

 

The Shadow ‘GUARDS’ with its sword; the chair HITS THE CREATURE dead center and SHATTERS into pieces, but only manages to slow the creature down for a moment; the Shadow soon RESUMES its sprint towards Link.

 

Link SQUARES HIMSELF defensively.

 

The pair engage in a PROTRACTED SWORDFIGHT with Link mostly on the defensive; Link LOSES GROUND throughout the engagement, being pursued around the dining table by the seemingly unstoppable Shadow. During this fight Link uses certain defensive tricks (throwing out the long tablecloth at his opponent, wielding a chair as an impromptu shield, using the flatware and plates on the table as projectiles) however he is clearly outmatched.

 

Eventually Link takes refuge BETWEEN TWO COLUMNS, DUCKING DOWN against a narrower part of the hall and BLINDLY SLASHING his sword forward at the Shadow’s legs; the Shadow’s only path of attack is directly to the front. Eventually the Shadow appears to RELENT; it CEASES its attack, CONSIDERING Link with a TILTED HEAD.

 

Link, PANTING HARD and BLEEDING from some superficial combat wounds, also STOPS SLASHING the air and LOOKS BACK at the Shadow, wary.

 

The shadow TURNS AROUND suddenly, FACING AWAY from Link; it EXPLODES INTO BLACK MIST and DISAPPEARS.

 

Link PEEKS OUT from between the safety of his two columns, LOOKING AROUND hesitantly for the figure. As Link TURNS HIS HEAD back and forth we very suddenly see the SHADOW’S HEAD: it is standing directly behind Link.

 

The Shadow SLOWLY RAISES its sword.

 

Link’s face SCRUCHES and the man SHIVERS involuntarily; suddenly, and at the very last possible minute, Link WHIPS AROUND and BLOCKS the Shadow’s attack, knocking the Shadow’s sword-bearing hand against one of the columns.

 

Link immediately COUNTER-ATTACKS with a series of blows; he forces the Shadow’s guard down and then quickly RUNS THE CREATURE THROUGH its stomach, pushing the hilt of his sword hard enough to DRIVE the thing backwards and against a far wall of the banquet hall.

 

During this time the Shadow DROPS its BLACK SWORD.

 

The Shadow (with Link’s sword penetrating its stomach) comes to rest against this wall; Link PANTS HARD, still holding the creature up against the wall.

 

The Shadow LOOKS UP at Link with its featureless face; it then SLUMPS and its head FALLS BACK against the wall.

 

Link CLOSES HIS EYES, SIGHING hard.

 

Suddenly, without any warning, the Shadow violently HEAD-BUTTS Link, sending the dazed man SPRAWLING back past the columns and against the banquet table.

 

The Shadow casually DRAWS Link’s sword from its midsection with its right hand and then artistically ‘FLIPS’ the sword through the air; it deftly lands in its left hand. The Shadow then PURSUES Link back over to the banquet table, apparently not at all injured from its wound.

 

Link, still REELING from the head-butt, stumbles backwards, FALLING on the ground; he CRAWLS away quickly, but slows, he FLIPS AROUND on the ground and then, upon seeing the Shadow standing over him, begins ‘CRAB-WALKING’ backwards, desperate.

 

Sagart CHORTLES softly; he stands behind the Shadow and casually FOLLOWS the creature as it walks forward in pursuit of Link.

 

SAGART
“Poor Thunderbird just didn’t have had the strength to make you feel the weight of your sins, boy; damnable bastards like you and me need something stronger to bring us down. It isn’t enough for the dead to be given a voice, is it? No: in order to reach vile creatures like us the dead must be given a hand!”

 

Sagart’s face becomes more IMPASSIONED; he speaks as if making a PLEA:

 

SAGART

“This is what’s owed to you, child: accept it! Just accept it... just go to sleep!”

 

Link ROLLS AWAY from the Shadow; he retrieves the Shadow’s BLACK SWORD from the ground beside the banquet table. He SNARLS at the Shadow and SWIPES at the creature, managing to inflict a SUPERFICIAL WOUND to the creature’s RIGHT ARM.

 

The Shadow makes an ‘ODD BARKING’ sound and its black body FLASHES WITH LIGHT along the wounded arm; it BACKS UP, standing ten feet away from Link, who READIES HIMSELF in a defensive posture.

 

BLACK SILT can be seen TRAINING from the Shadow’s wounded RIGHT ARM, much like blood pouring from an open wound.

 

After a BRIEF PAUSE the Shadow LUNGES at Link; the pair LOCK SWORDS and then awkwardly ‘TUSSLE’, each unable to effectively swing their sword.

 

The pair end up FALLING on top of the banquet table, ROLLING over each other several times; the Shadow comes up on top of Link, BRANDISHING Link’s sword and holding it snug against LINK’S THROAT.

 

Link SCOFFS, smiling.

 

LINK
“Shadows aren’t supposed to come out on top, are they?”

 

Link is revealed to be holding the Shadow’s BLACK SWORD up against the Shadow’s STERNUM, just as the Shadow holds Link’s sword against his throat.

 

LINK
“Well: there it is. You can kill me... I can kill you...”

 

The Shadow COCKS ITS HEAD.

 

SAGART, standing about 20 feet away, near the columns, CHORTLES.

 

SAGART
“As if the dead have a fear of death!”

 

LINK
(to the Shadow, whispering)

“But, then, I never wanted to kill you...”

 

Link VERY SLOWLY pulls the BLACK SWORD away from the Shadow’s sternum and RESTS the blade on the table beside him. He RELEASES his grip on the black sword.

 

LINK
“...and I still don’t want to, now. I used you— that’s true— and it was wrong of me to do what I did. You ended up dead because of me, and I can’t undo that. I would, if I could, but I can’t—”

 

The Shadow PRESSES THE BLADE down closer against Link’s throat, drawing a thin line of BLOOD.

 

Link WINCES, but does not react.

 

LINK
“Maybe this would take the sting out. If it gives you even a fraction of an ounce of peace, then you’re owed it...”

 

Link STARES the Shadow in the face, INTENT.

 

LINK
(whispering)

“But consider why I did what I did: why we did what we did. You know what we were trying to do, and who we were trying to do it for. If you really think that it wasn’t worth it... that she wasn’t worth it... and that what I’m trying to do now still isn’t worth it... then you can do what you need to do. You can take the sting out...”

 

Link RESTS HIS HEAD on the table, RESIGNED. He still LOOKS at the Shadow INTENTLY.

 

LINK
“After all: you are owed.”

 

There is a LONG PAUSE.

 

Finally the Shadow ‘SHORES-UP’ its hold on Link’s body, ADUSTING itself. It presses LINK’S SWORD even deeper against Link’s throat; Link CLOSES HIS EYES and TURNS HIS HEAD calmly.

 

The Shadow slowly RETRIEVES its BLACK SWORD, using its free hand, and holds BOTH BLADES against Link’s head.

 

There is a BRIEF PAUSE.

 

Suddenly the Shadow PUSHES ITSELF off Link’s body and TOSSES Link’s Sword away; it holds its own BLACK SWORD in its left hand and BRANDISHES it over Link, menacingly.

 

Then, with no hesitation, the Shadow swiftly IMPALES ITSELF on its own black sword, stabbing itself in the CHEST.

 

SAGART instantly SCREAMS with pain; his body SPASMS as if he is also feeling the effects of this wound.

 

The Shadow slowly FALLS TO ITS KNEES, STARING FORWARD; BLACK ‘TENDRILS’ again EXPLODE OUT from the creature’s body, and when they part we see YOUNG LINK kneeling in the Shadow’s place, naked (NOTE: use ‘strategic’ camera angles, here...) with the OYSTER KNIFE’S HILT protruding from his CHEST.

 

Adult Link slowly RISES off the banquet table and LOOKS DOWN at the kneeling boy.

 

The boy LOOKS UP at Link wordlessly; Link looks back down at the child with a SORROWFUL LOOK.

 

Young Link slowly FALLS BACKWARD, landing hard on the stone floor. As soon as he lands a MASSIVE COLUMN OF VERTICAL, WHITE LIGHT erupts from the spot, EXPLODING UPWARD very quickly.

 

The SHOCKWAVE from this blast is enough to blow most of the FLATWEAR and PLATES off the banquet table and send Link TUMBLING off the table.

 

EXT. FAR, FAR DISTANT VIEW OF THE GREAT PALACE (CONTINUOUS)

 

We see the remaining superstructure of the Great Palace itself, surrounded by smoldering lava flows and desolate, ‘moon-like’ terrain; much of the palace appears to be carved directly into the rock of the Dawnland Stairs. The sun is SETTING far off in the distance.

At one distant section of the structure we see a NARROW COLUMN OF WHITE LIGHT erupt from the ceiling, training out very far into the sky (NOTE: the NOISE accompanying this blast is not deafening and ‘incredible’, but rather faint and echoing, as a massive explosion would sound in reality if viewed from very, very far away).

 

INT. BANQUET HALL IN THE GREAT PALACE (CONTINUOUS)

 

The white column of light begins FADING quickly; eventually Link STUMBLES OVER to the place where Young Link fell. He reaches the spot immediately after the column of light DISAPPEARS, finding only the CHARRED REMAINS OF THE OYSTER KNIFE sitting on the ground; he PICKS THIS UP, considering the blade, and the blade quickly TURNS TO ASHES in his hands.

 

A STRANGLED GRUNTING SOUND brings Link out of his daze; he LOOKS UP and notices SAGART, who is STUMBLING against the columns along the far wall of the hall. The man HOLDS HIS CHEST and GROANS painfully, DOUBLING OVER with a sputtering SCREAM.

 

Link CONSIDERS THE MAN with little emotion.

 

The massive column of white light has made a GIGANTIC HOLE in the ceiling of the banquet hall exposing MANY FLOORS ABOVE the hall itself. Very soon the BIRDLIKE SHRIEK OF THUNDERBIRD can be heard echoing throughout the upper floors of the palace.

 

Link LOOKS UPWARD upon hearing this noise, but he doesn’t react with any strong emotion.

 

Eventually the GHOSTLY TRAIN OF THUNDERBIRD’S BODY dives into the banquet hall from the floors above. It CIRCLES throughout the room several times, ‘buzzing’ Link’s body a few times as it flies, but it refrains from touching the man.

 

After a moment of flying around in circles the Thunderbird heads STRAIGHT FOR Sagart; the man still WRITHES IN PAIN, standing against the columns, and he can barely manage to LOOK UP before the creature IMPACTS him. Sagart is THROWN beyond the columns, SCREAMING HORRIBLY, and he lands several feet away, his body ROLLING along the floor and coming to rest against the wall.

 

Link RUNS OVER to Sagart as Thunderbird DEPARTS the room; a SMALL QUAKE develops in the ground and PIECES of the floors above begin RAINING DOWN through the hole in the ceiling.

 

Link gently ROLLS SAGART over so the man is on his back; we see the man’s face is becoming EXTREMELY GAUNT very quickly and his HAIR is starting to fall out in clumps (NOTE: These rapidly-developing symptoms are meant to mimic the symptoms of Zelda’s illness).

 

As Link rolls the man over we see the RED and GREEN vials of liquid lying intact beside the man’s body.

 

Sagart MOANS hoarsely.

 

Link CONSIDERS the crumbling palace around him; the ENTRANCE to the banquet hall is quickly becoming surrounded by debris and it is clear that it will soon be SEALED.

 

Link GRABS the neckline of Sagart’s cloak, LEANING FORWARD to speak with the man.

 

LINK
“Sagart... Sagart!”

 

The old man GIBBERS, CHOKING on spittle in his mouth.

 

Link’s grip on the man’s cloak SLIPS; he accidentally BARES much of Sagart’s now-diseased chest. We can clearly see a TATTOO on his sternum: it is a stylish rendering of a LITHE-BODIED NUDE WOMAN STANDING WITH HER WRISTS CROSSED OVER HER BREASTS. Her wrists appear to be BOUND.

 

This is a depiction of the GOLDEN GODDESS NAYRU.

 

Link NOTES this tattoo with SHOCK; his eyes NARROW in anger and he SNARLS.

 

LINK
“N— Nayru?”

 

Link again GRABS Sagart’s cloak and DRAWS THE MAN CLOSER to his face; Link SCREAMS at him.

 

LINK
“Nayru?”

 

SAGART
(hoarse whisper)

“You fools: you’ll kill her. You’ll all... kill her...”

 

Link again LOOKS at the tattoo with DEEP CONFUSION; the tumbling rocks all around him bring him out of his daze.

 

LINK
“You’re not long for this world, Sagart. You’re about to die, damn it, and Ganondorf is somewhere out there. You’ll never be able to harvest our powers— not now— so there’s no point anymore: there’s no reason to make her suffer!”

 

Sagart CONSIDERS Link’s words with an INEFFABLE EXPRESSION.

 

Link MOTIONS to the two vials of liquid with his head.

 

LINK
“Come on, Sagart: which one is it? Which one do I use to save her?”

 

Sagart LOOKS at the vials without moving; he suddenly begins COUGHING BLOOD and GREEN BILE.

 

LINK
“Damn it, Sagart: you say that you’re not a man of violence, but that your hand’s been forced? That’s all over, now. Make the very last act of your life something you’re not ashamed of! Die the way you claim you lived: with compassion!”

 

Sagart LOOKS UP at Link very slowly.

 

LINK
“Sagart!”

 

The man slowly TURNS HIS HEAD, considering the vials. Eventually, and very slowly, Sagart GRIPS the RED VIAL in his hand. He barely manages to HAND IT to Link before his wrist falls, limp, on the floor.

 

SAGART
“That... in there... is what is needed...”

 

LINK
“This will save Zelda? This will cure her?”

 

SAGART
“That... in there... is what... is... needed...”

 

Sagart COUGHS again, CHOKING, and then he DIES.

 

LINK
“Sagart? Sagart!”

 

Link LAYS the man’s body down; he then bundles BOTH GLOWING VIALS in his cloak and MAKES HIS WAY to the banquet hall’s exit.

 

As he moves, however, LARGE STONE BLOCKS fall, effectively SEALING the banquet hall entrance.

 

Link LOOKS AROUND THE ROOM, frantic, but can find no other exit.

 

A set of FADED PURPLE CURTAINS against one far wall of the crumbling hall RUFFLE unnaturally, CATCHING Link’s eye. Link races over to investigate this, finding a SMALL PASSAGEWAY behind the curtains; Link quickly SETS OFF down this passage.

 

INT. ‘BACKROADS PASSAGES’ OF THE GREAT PALACE (CONTINUOUS)

 

These narrow, branching passages, much like alleyways in a congested city, are designed for easy access to many other sections of the palace and as ‘shortcuts’ to otherwise distant places in the palace network, however (again, much like alleyways) they are not particularly navigable to someone who is unfamiliar with them. NARROW SHAFTS OF LIGHT illuminate the corridor at very irregular intervals, streaming like light from closed doorways.

 

The Great Palace continues CRUMBLING as Link RACES through the narrow passages.

 

Link pursues a SMALL, SHADOWY FIGURE through the network; we can barely see this figure at all, however after several twists and turns throughout the corridors (and many CLOSE-UP DUTCH CAMERA ANGLES later) it is clear that the figure is wearing KOKIRI BOOTS and a KOKIRI SKIRT (ie: Link is pursuing the KOKIRI FORST CHILD).

 

The light of the SETTING SUN soon meets Link’s eyes and he RACES for the palace exit. As Link runs the corridor OPENS UP into a somewhat uncultivated natural cavern environment (ie: an area that was not carved into a proper stone chamber by the palace residents). CAMERA FOCUS on Link, in profile, as he runs: we can see the KOKIRI FOREST CHILD sitting on top of a small rock formation in the background off to Link’s side at one point (NOTE: this is not entirely obvious and takes some attention on the part of the viewer to see).

 

Link does NOT notice the girl; he is focused on escaping the crumbling tunnel.

 

EXT. DAWNLAND STAIRS CLIFFSIDE PEAK (CONTINUOUS)

 

An unremarkable mountain cliff face about halfway up one of the mid-sized peaks in the Dawnland Stairs.

 

Link EMERGES from a small, barely-noticeable HOLE in the mountainside; he STUMBLES OUT into the open, SHIELDING HIS EYES from the bright red light of the setting sun.

 

There is a DEEP RUMBLE from inside the cavern; an ‘explosion’ of air and tiny debris ‘burps’ out of the cavern (indicating that it has been TOTALLY SEALED at some point along its length). This explosion of air KNOCKS LINK DOWN; the man GRUNTS in pain, gently ROLLING onto his back and lying SUPINE in the evening light.

 

After several seconds the BIRDLIKE SCREAM OF THUNDERBIRD can just barely be heard echoing through the rocks (this sound is almost inaudible).

 

Link PANTS HARD, catching his breath.

 

LINK

(panting whisper)
“Goodnight... Aguichees...”

 

Link PRODUCES both the RED and ORANGE vials from his cloak, holding them in the sunlight. Eventually he REPLACES them in his cloak.

 

LINK
“I think I need... a little nap...”

 

Link SLOWLY LAYS HIS HEAD BACK, gently resting it on the ROCK GROUND below; as soon as the back of his head TOUCHES the rock, however, he STARTS, LEAPING UP with an EXCLAMATION.

 

He CALMS DOWN quickly, SHAKING HIS HEAD.

 

LINK
“On second thought... maybe I’ve slept enough for now. I could probably stand to stay awake for a little while...”

 

Link ORIENTS himself and finds a PATH to begin making his DESCENT down the Dawnland Stairs.

 

LINK

(muttering)
“...maybe for the next fifty years, or so...”

 

INT. GREAT HALL OF NORTH CASTLE – EARLY MORNING.

 

An indeterminate number of days since Link’s escape from the Great Palace; ZELDA still lies in state on her pedestal, apparently not dead, however not breathing either, in the same condition as before.

 

A LONE KNIGHT patrols around the pedestal.

 

The sound of HEAVY OAK DOORS bursting open STARTLES the guard; he stands expectant as HEAVY BOOTS tromp into the massive great hall.

 

LINK walks through the hall, but his features are nearly black, silhouetted by RISING SUNLIGHT from the garish morning outside (he is almost similar in appearance to LINK’S SHADOW from before). The KNIGHT SHIELDS HIS EYES, DAZED by the brightness.

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3

“Halt: who goes there!”

 

Link CONTINUES WALKING, not responding.

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3
“Stand and declare yourself, by order of the King!”

 

Link finally reaches the Knight, who by this time has UNSHEATHED HIS SWORD. The Knight STARTS when he recognizes Link.

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3

“S— Squire? Is that you? Is that Squire Link?”

 

LINK

(very seriously)
“Most of him, at least.”

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3

(smiling warmly)

“I— well, by the Goddesses, Squire! Being in the bloody Threadbares for the better part of a month! We didn’t think we’d ever see anything of you again! Did you really journey so long?”

 

LINK

(shaking his head slowly)
“No. The path itself was very short: seven days through, and seven days back, that’s all.”

 

The Knight SQUINTS, quizzical.

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3

“But... then why...”

 

LINK
“‘Cause some roads can’t be measured in furlongs, and on some roads it takes all the running you can do just to stay in one place...”

 

Link LOOKS BEHIND the Knight, at the unconscious Zelda, and STEPS AROUND the man.

 

The Knight quickly MOVES TO BLOCK LINK’S PATH. He RESTS ONE HAND on Link’s shoulder.

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3

“Sorry, Squire: the King’s ordered no one approach Her Highness at present, on advice from the old wizard, ‘lest a person’s touch interfere with her treatment’, so he says.”

 

Link calmly LOOKS DOWN at the hand on his shoulder, and then back up at the knight.

 

INT. GREAT HALL OF NORTH CASTLE (CONTINUOUS).

 

HYLIAN KNIGHT #3 lies UNCONSCIOUS on the floor of the great hall, his sword and scabbard strew about messily.

 

Link sets the RED and ORANGE vials down on a small oak table beside Zelda’s body. He retrieves an ORNATE GLASS ‘DROPPER’ from a tray beneath this table and holds it in one hand.

 

Link STARES DOWN at each of the vials, red and orange, looking at them INTENTLY.

 

After a significant PAUSE Link chooses one of the vials.

 

(NOTE: due to the camera angles used in this scene the audience is UNABLE TO SEE which of the two vials Link has chosen).

 

Link BRINGS THE GLASS DROPPER up to Zelda’s NOSE, setting the slender tube directly upon one of her nostrils, and EXPELS a few drops of the fluid (NOTE: it is impossible to tell what the COLOR of the expelled fluid is).

 

Link REMOVES the dropper, WATCHING the woman intently.

 

After a prolonged period of time nothing appears to happen; Link LEANS OVER her, slowly, facing the woman NOSE-TO-NOSE. He FEELS EITHER SIDE OF HER THROAT, slowly, and after a moment SMILES DEEPLY and WARMLY.

 

Link RAISES HIS HEAD and KISSES ZELDA’S FOREHEAD, very slowly, before STANDING UP and stepping back from the pedestal.

 

Link SURVEYS Zelda’s body again, one last time, before TURNING and setting off for the great hall’s exit.

 

TIGHT CAMERA FOCUS on Zelda’s body as Link is seen walking away in the background (very out of focus): slowly, and with rising intensity, we see that Zelda is beginning to BREATHE once again.

 

INT. BAGU’S OFFICE CHAMBERS – MORNING.

 

As Bagu ENTERS HIS OFFICE we see a great BUSTLE of people moving around outside his door, ANIMATED and CHATTERING excitedly. When Bagu CLOSES his door all outside noise is diminished, replaced by calm.

 

Bagu SETS A SCRAP OF PAPER on his desk and moves to a bookshelf, SCANNING it dutifully. After a moment he appears UNEASY; upon turning around he notices a FIGURE sitting in one of his chairs, facing away from him, staring out into the COURTYARD OF DHISE SLAIGHRE.

 

Bagu COCKS HIS HEAD, curious, but then SMILES BEGRUDGINGLY.

 

BAGU
“Not very like you, hiding in plain sight, is it?”

 

Link, sitting in the chair, TURNS HIS HEAD to look at Bagu.

 

LINK
“Don’t have much of a choice, these days...”

 

Bagu SQUINTS at the man, noticing his now perfectly-matching BLUE EYES. Bagu APPROACHES Link, KNEELING DOWN beside the man; he gently RUNS ONE HAND over the left side of Link’s face.

 

BAGU

(whispering)
“Goddesses, boy!”

 

LINK
“Not exactly...”

 

Link FACES FORWARD, again STARING out into the courtyard.

 

BAGU
“We got word just hours ago. She... was very hungry, if you can believe that...”

 

Link DOES NOT RESPOND.

 

BAGU
“The old wizard has it coming to him, I hear: an acre of gold, among other things. Whatever nostrum he concocted for Her Highness did its job. Or so the King believes, anyway...”

 

LINK
“What do you believe, Bagu?”

 

Bagu also STARES DOWN at the courtyard.

 

BAGU
“I ‘believe’ that old bag of bones had another ‘magic potion’ at the ready for her every two days, at least: each one more expensive than the last. Each one as ineffective as the last. What was different about this time?”

 

Bagu LOOKS DOWN at Link.

 

BAGU
“As for me? I believe...”

 

LINK
“I need to see Nimh. I need to speak with him.”

 

Bagu SCOFFS, WALKING to his desk. He RETRIEVES the SCRAP OF PAPER and HANDS IT to Link.

 

BAGU
“That... will be difficult...”

 

Bagu produces the DISTINCTIVE CRYSTAL DECANTER (from pg. ________); it is now COMPLETELY EMPTY of the shining fluid it once held.

 

BAGU
“We found him in the barracks this morning, with this still pressed to his lips...”

 

Link LOOKS UP from the note, EYEING the crystal decanter.

 

BAGU
“It seems that a few drops, administered over time, can suspend life, but an entire bottle, consumed all at once, can take it, as well.”

 

LINK
“Did... did he say anything, or leave any other words?”

 

BAGU
(shaking his head)
“Just that, and his burial request: he wants a grave beneath a leafless oak tree, filled-in with rocks instead of dirt and marked by a broken pillar of limestone.”

 

LINK
(whispering)
“A heretic’s burial...”

 

Bagu NODS slowly. He speaks after a PAUSE.

 

BAGU
“Well, was he?”

 

Link SNAPS OUT of his light daze.

 

LINK
“What?”

BAGU
“Was Nihm a heretic as well as a traitor?”

 

Link LOOKS DOWN, uncertain.

 

LINK
“I... don’t know. He says he was, so...”

 

Link DISCARDS the scrap of paper, RESTING HIS HEAD IN HIS HANDS; he SIGHS softly.

 

Bagu KNEELS beside Link’s chair, staring at the man.

 

BAGU
“I believe you, my boy...”

 

Link LOOKS OVER at Bagu, quizzical.

 

LINK
“I never said anything about—”

 

BAGU

“Your lips didn’t. But your face...”

 

Link slowly LOOKS AWAY from Bagu.

 

BAGU
“They say that the greatest journey a hero can take is one where he learns not so much the secrets of the world, as it is, or even the secrets of others, but the secrets inside himself. The longest travels expose the greatest inner truths: that’s the real adventure. So they say, at least...”

 

Link BOWS HIS HEAD.

 

BAGU
“You’re tired, Link, and I think you’re humbled, as well. Tell me: what did you find out there in the Threadbare Lands? What... ‘truths’ did our young hero learn for himself?”

 

Link RETURNS BAGU’S GAZE, but with apparent difficulty; he LOOKS AWAY once again.

 

LINK

(whispering clearly)

“I learned that I’m not a hero... I’m just a knight...”

 

Bagu NODS appreciatively. The man STANDS and WALKS to the far side of his office; he retrieves a YELLOW CAPE from a shelf and returns to Link, DEPOSITING it in the man’s lap.

 

Link STARES DOWN at the yellow cape without emotion.

 

LINK
“Zelda deserves someone like me to protect her— to keep her safe. But...”

 

Link FINGERS the cape’s fabric.

 

LINK
“...she deserves someone better than me to make her happy— someone who can’t, or won’t, do the things that I’m willing to do. These things: they need to be done, but they don’t need to be a part of her life...”

 

Link continues STARING down at the yellow cape; eventually Bagu TURNS to leave the room, but Link CALLS AFTER HIM.

 

LINK
“Do you remember... when I was younger?”

 

BAGU
(smiling wistfully)

“I think you were several years younger when you set out from here just a few weeks ago...”

 

LINK
“During the night, before I’d come of age to be in the barracks, when they’d douse the perimeter fires all around North Castle. Do you remember that?”

 

Bagu’s face becomes more SERIOUS.

 

BAGU
“Yes, I do.”

 

LINK
“Even then, there wasn’t a whole lot of things that could reduce me to a crying mess of a thing—”

 

BAGU
“You were afraid of the dark; that’s all...”

 

Bagu LEANS AGAINST one of the arms on Link’s chair.

 

BAGU
“...and you chased that fear out of you well-enough, didn’t you? All that damn spelunking you do: you’re of the type that confronts their fears— that turns their weaknesses into their strengths— and I’ve always known that about you. That’s one thing that makes you special, and one of the things that gets you into so much trouble...”

 

Link LOWERS HIS HEAD even more.

 

BAGU
“You know that you’re of the type that lives through, Link.”

 

LINK
“Do you remember what you’d do for me, when it got dark?”

 

BAGU
(smiling)

“What: all those bedtime stories? Didn’t think you still remembered any of that. Silly stuff, yeah, but if it took your mind off the darkness for a while, well, it was time well spent...”

 

Link LOOKS UP at Bagu; his eyes are PUFFY AND RED.

 

LINK
“There’s a darkness, now, Bagu... it’s getting very dark outside...”

 

Bagu slowly KNEELS beside Link’s chair.

 

BAGU
“So, what story will it be, my boy?”

 

Link STARES at Bagu SERIOUSLY.

 

TIGHT CAMERA FOCUS on BOTH MEN’S FACES, in profile, STARING at each other; the COURTYARD OF DHISE SLAIGHRE is in the far background beyond the window, framed at perfect center, very much OUT OF FOCUS.

 

LINK
“Tell me everything you know about the Master Sword. Everything. Tell me the legend of Dhise Slaighre...”

 

Bagu appears SURPRISED; slowly his eyes turn away from Link and focus on the COURTYARD beyond the window.

 

CHANGE CAMERA FOCUS to the COURTYARD OF DHISE SLAIGHRE.

 

EXT. COURTYARD OF DHISE SLAIGHRE – LATE AFTERNOON.

 

The sky is reddish with the first touch of twilight.

 

Link stands apart from the resting place of Dhise Slaighre; several green-cloaked SQUIRES of the New Hylian Guard PRACTICE SPARRING each other far off to the side of the courtyard (ie: NOT on the actual circular stone slab).

 

Link wears his YELLOW CAPE; he watches the squires practicing, idle, and eventually turns his attention to the WILLOW TREES behind the courtyard; a flock of GRAY PIGEONS move amongst branches in the trees, settling fairly close to Link.

 

ONE OF THESE BIRDS, milling innocently with the others, is revealed to be a SEAGULL, not a pigeon. The bird PREENS itself, nonchalant.

 

LINK STARES at the seagull INTENTLY.

 

The seagull eventually LOOKS UP at Link, bearing the simple countenance of a bird; it soon TAKES FLIGHT with the rest of the flock, DISAPPEARING through the highest branches of the willow trees.

 

Link WATCHES the seagull vanish from sight.

 

The sound of SWORDS DROPPING to the ground snaps Link from his daze. He LOOKS BACK across the courtyard at the squires: every man is ON HIS KNEE WITH HIS HEAD AGAINST ONE KNEE.

 

PRINCESS ZELDA stands on the opposite side of the courtyard, flanked by her purple-robed attendants.

 

Zelda STARES AT LINK with intent eyes; the woman walks forward, slowly at first, but a FAINT SMILE creeps up her face. By the time she has passed Dhise Slaighre her eyes are WATERY and her grin is WIDE. She QUICKENS her pace.

 

Link stands still as the woman runs over to him. At the last second it looks as if Link is about to take STEPS to meet the woman halfway, but then, just as Zelda reaches him, Link FALLS TO ONE KNEE, WITH HIS HEAD AGAINST ONE KNEE.

 

Zelda stands AWKWARDLY before Link, STARING DOWN at the man. Her smile turns into BEWILDERMENT; she gently TOUCHES the blond locks of Link’s hair, but the man does not move from his curled-up kneeling position.

 

Zelda’s bewilderment slowly turns to SORROW.

 

The woman begins BENDING DOWN, placing a hand on LINK’S SHOULDER, but the man ‘TIGHTENS’ himself in his kneeling position. Zelda is REPULSED by this action. She CONSIDERS Link with a FRESH TEAR in one eye and then, after a pause, slowly turns away and rejoins her attendants on the other side of the courtyard.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on LINK’S BENT BACK; we hear the man BREATHING HARD. His body is TREMBLING SLIGHTLY.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP ON THE BLADE OF DHISE SLAIGHRE, with the blade itself horribly out of focus: we see Zelda in the FAR DISTANCE leaving the courtyard with her attendants.

 

CHANGE CAMERA FOCUS TO THE BLADE OF DHISE SLAIGHRE: Link is seen in the REFLECTION of the blade, still KNEELING. One of Link’s shoulders is barely reflected by the blade’s edge; a feminine, BLUE-HUED HAND is seen resting on Link’s shoulder in this reflection. This hand belongs to NAYRU, but due to the curvature of the blade it is NOT easy to see.

 

INT. BARRACKS OF THE NEW HYLIAN GUARD – MORNING.

 

A highly ordered barracks composed of both large common rooms for squires and semi-private quarters for the Knights of the Guard.

 

LINK is in one of the latter of these, sitting alone on a well-made bed. Morning light streams in from a simple ARCHED WINDOW on the other side of the small room. Link appears to be finishing DRESSING, buckling his sword’s SCABBARD to his belt and linking the COLLAR of his yellow cloak around his neck.

 

Link CHAFES uncomfortably at the ornate dress, appearing to be BOTHERED by the union of clothing around his neck; Link FIDDLES with all this, eventually pulling out MARIN’S CELTIC CROSS from his arrangement of ‘dog tags’ and other trinkets of militaria around his neck.

 

Link BOBBLES the heavy cross in his hand, CONSIDERING it with a SERIOUS FACE.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on LINK’S EYES; the man LOOKS UP at the door of his small quarters.

 

The echoing sound of METAL HITTING WOOD can be heard.

 

Link slowly RISES off the bed.

 

EXTREME CLOSE-UP on the WOOD FLOOR of Link’s quarters: we can see both the DOOR to Link’s quarters on one side of the room and the ARCHED WINDOW on the opposite side. MARIN’S CELTIC CROSS lies on its side between these two points, discarded on the floor, in the CAMERA FOREFRONT.

 

A SEAGULL is perched upon the ARCHED WINDOW of the room, PREENING idly. Link, having NOT noticed the bird, can be seen CROSSING THE ROOM and exiting through a small doorway on the opposite end of the room.

 

After a BRIEF PAUSE the song “Under the Milky Way” by “The Church” begins playing with a SOFT FADE IN.

 

The seagull DEPARTS from the arched window as soon as this song begins; a few seconds into the song (ie: during the guitar interlude) a FLOCK OF SWIFT-MOVING SEAGULLS races past the window.

 

IMMEDIATELY CUT TO BLACK as these seagulls pass the window.

 

A NOTE ON THE CLOSING CREDITS:

 

The screen should REMAIN BLACK and empty for several more seconds before the SONG’S LYRICS come in (“Sometimes when this place gets kind of empty...”); at this point the CAST is acknowledged with scrolling credits, beginning with (in order) Link, Marin and Zelda, and ultimately ending with the two actresses playing the part of Nayru (i.e. in both her “Forest Child” and “Golden Goddess” forms). This scrolling cast list should be timed so that, once all the actors names have left the screen, there is a BRIEF MOMENT of blackness onscreen before the song’s first refrain of “Wish I knew what you were looking for...”; immediately when these words are spoken the film’s title (“Link’s Adventure”) is shown in the center of the screen, CUTTING OUT after a few seconds.

 

After this all the remaining cast and crew are acknowledged as usual.

 

During the song’s BAGPIPE SOLO we FADE IN to a massive, all-encompassing OCEAN scene. The MORNING SUN is rising in the distance, and a SEAGULL is flying gracefully and playfully through the air, chasing the sun. This scene FADES OUT as the bagpipe solo ends, with the camera finally becoming STATIONARY, watching the seagull fly even farther out across the water in pursuit of the sun.

 

The rest of “Under the Milky Way” plays.

 

For the remaining credits a SYMPHONIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GREAT PALACE THEME from “Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link” should be used.

 

This music should FADE OUT as the credits end.

 

As the music finally CEASES we see the TITLE, ON BLACK, very close to center-screen but just SLIGHTLY DOWN AND TO THE LEFT (ie: CLOSER to center-screen than in the beginning of the film):

 

“The Legend of Zelda”

 

SLOW FADE IN.

 

INT. PRIVATE CHAMBERS OF THE KING OF HYRULE – MIDDAY.

 

A luxurious apartment, befitting supreme royalty. This place is the King’s sitting room, where much business is performed and much leisure enjoyed.

 

A STYLISH-LOOKING MULTI-LEVEL ‘STRATEGY BOARD’ is set up in one corner of this room: upon its gilded gridlines are the ‘positions’ of every Knight of the Guard in relationship to their duties (indicated by the ‘centerpieces’ on each level, representing the main ‘charge’ of the knights on each level).

 

A CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD gently REMOVES one of the pieces from its place on a certain level, where it had been amongst other pieces surrounding a TINY REPLICA OF PRINCESS ZELDA’S CROWN; the captain places this piece on a DIFFERENT LEVEL of the board; we see the word “Link” carved into the side of this piece.

 

A RASPY, SICKLY VOICE sounds from the opposite side of the room.

 

HAGGARD MAN
“Oh, no, no, no: one could never take offense from foolish young hearts, Your Majesty. And all: our youths should have the right to be foolish, on occasion.”

 

The speaker is revealed to be a HAGGARD-LOOKING OLD MAN, his face mostly wrapped in CLOTH and only ONE EYE entirely visible.

 

The KING OF HYRULE can be heard speaking to this man, although he is NOT SHOWN.

 

KING
“Nonsense: what, with some foolhardy boy trying to wrest all the rightful glory from a learned scholar such as yourself! It matters not that he is somewhat acquainted with my daughter. Tsk! She’s still positively convinced the boy had something to do with your magic, as well. Honestly!”

 

HAGGARD MAN

(smiling good-naturedly)
“Oh: young hearts are only fit to play at games, Majesty, if you don’t mind me saying. Still, of course, I’d like to think that the boy is not playing at some very... ‘dangerous’ game with the princess... however...”

 

We can tell from a CREAK and RUSTLE in the unseen chair in front of the Haggard Man that the King is LEANING FORWARD.

 

KING
“Please: but speak your counsel, valued wizard, and I would hear it! I am in complete debt to your wisdom—”

 

HAGGARD MAN

(laughing politely)
“Oh, ho! ‘Valued Wizard’? You give me far too much praise, mighty King. Please, may I only be a humble servant before you, Your Majesty. Do not dress these old bones up in such an undeserved title.”

 

KING
“You deserve a thousand times grander a title, my friend. But then, the point is made: what am I to call you?”

 

The Haggard Man’s GRIN DEEPENS into an UNSETTLING SNEER.

 

HAGGARD MAN

“Agahnim.”

 

ON BLACK, CENTER:

 

“Link’s Adventure”