EXT. KEEP YARD – LATE NIGHT.

The towering central keep of Hyrule Castle is surrounded by a green lawn and elegant spruce trees lining the square block of the tower at regular intervals. The HANGING GARDENS drape over the otherwise Spartan tower all along its length. TORCHFIRE illuminates several arched windows higher up in the fortification.

Link RUNS along the deserted paved road leading to the keep and STRUGGLES with the large oak doors leading inside. Finding no way to budge them, the boy circles around the outside of the keep until he finds a narrow window. Link wriggles through this and enters the castle keep.

INT. HYRULE CASTLE KEEP – LATE NIGHT.

Link creeps through the lower floors of the keep, finding them deserted. He moves up stairs at various points, walking through different rooms in the keep. At one point he hears an ECHOING BANGING NOISE (like pots and pans being hit together) as well as a MALEVOLENT CACKLING, far off in the distance.

The boy circles one wall and comes face-to-face with a CASTLE KEEP GUARD sitting in a chair directly in front of him; Link GASPS as the man stares at him intently. After a moment Link notices the pallor in the man’s face, as well as his lack of movement: he is dead. A PLATE OF GRAPES lies strewn at his feet.

Link moves past this, coming to a LONG HALL that leads to the main dining room, accessible by a SPIRAL STAIRCASE on the other side of the hall.

Many Castle Keep Guards are in this area, all of the dead in various states of repose— some sitting at small tables along the edges of the corridor and others lying on the floor. PLATES OF GRAPES are set at various places; some have been strewn about the room.

KOTAKE cavorts all around these corpses, CACKLING gleefully and banging the plates of grapes together, taunting the lifeless bodies. She ‘offers’ some grapes to a dead guard sprawled in a chair.

KOTAKE
“Hehehe! More of this, you say: my good sir? Oh, but I think you haven’t taken a shine to ‘em! I wouldn’t have you gobble up another bunch just to please me. Hehehehe!”

The woman goes about the whole room, similarly TAUNTING various guards’ bodies.

Link slowly steps into the corridor and begins walking towards the SPIRAL STAIRCASE at the far end of the room.

CLOSE-UP on Link’s MASKED FACE, from profile, as he walks; Kotake CAVORTS around in the background (very out of focus) laughing and banging pans together. Eventually Link’s head eclipses the woman’s body in the frame; he continues walking. Suddenly all NOISES from Kotake cease; there is absolute silence in the corridor. Link suddenly STOPS walking, drawing a nervous breath; he turns his head to the side: Kotake is standing still, seemingly staring right at the boy.

Kotake moves towards Link as the boy remains still as a statue. The woman passes him, however, by less than a foot, crossing the corridor to another Castle Keep Guard’s body. She strokes the dead man’s chin.

KOTAKE
“You, my dear sir... care to dance? Hahahahaha!”

Link EXHALES softly and continues walking forward; he reaches the beginning of the grand spiral staircase.

LONG-DISTANCE SHOT of Link beginning the staircase climb from further back in the corridor; Kotake’s face is visible in the forefront, still stroking the dead guard’s face. The woman’s grin suddenly CHANGES; although her face is turned close to the camera she knowingly SLANTS her eyes towards the spiral staircase, LEERING at Link’s back.

KOTAKE

(whispering)
“Or would you, perhaps?”

EXT. UPPER PLATEAU OF GANONDORF’S TOWER – LATE NIGHT.

Link trudges over the ruined debris lining the highest tower of the castle. He wearily climbs over a mountain of loose scaffolding and stones, but then suddenly becomes ALERT; there is a FAINT MUNCHING NOISE coming from father up in the debris.

Link unsheathes Dhise Slaighre and worms over the rocks; eventually he comes to a pile of debris sitting against the actual wall of the upper tower; the MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN is sitting with his massive back against the tower wall, idly eating magic beans.

Link lowers his sword and STARES at the man in disbelief.

LINK
“This is easily the most unlikely thing that has ever happened since I returned to Hyrule. And that’s saying a lot...”

The Magic Bean Salesman swallows another mouthful of beans and SQUINTS at Link with barely any interest.

MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN

“Gooooh... zat a customer, izzit?”

NAVI emerges from Link’s clothes and PERCHES on his shoulder; she looks at Link with similar incredulity.

MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN

“Three beans: fifty rupees. Fixed price...”

LINK
“...fair price, huh?”

MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN
“Weather the bleakest of winters, they will...”

A shot of both Link and the Magic Bean Salesman in the same frame, in profile. There is a SHARD OF GLASS sitting in the rubble beside the obese salesman that reflects the scene; in the reflection NAYRU takes the place of the Magic Bean Salesman’s body (this reflection is, again, not entirely obvious). This scene lasts only as long as the previous line (“Weather the bleakest...”) is spoken.

Link SMILES, and then he LAUGHS at the absurdity of the situation. He shakes his head.

LINK
“I haven’t got a rupee to my name. You still deal in woodwinds?”

Link HOLDS OUT the OCARINA OF TIME for the man.

The Magic Bean Salesman takes one look at the thing and SHAKES HIS HEAD.

MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN
“Ooooh... nah-zat, sonny: too many for the collection...”

Link nods and puts the instrument back in a pocket on his vest. He notices the Magic Bean Salesman STARING at his RIGHT EAR.

MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN
“Ooooh...”

Link FINGERS the RED EARRING on his ear and DETACHES it.

LINK
“What: you want this?”

Link TOSSES it to the Magic Bean Salesman, who catches it clumsily. Link SHRUGS.

LINK
“Go ahead and take it: I won’t be needing it anymore, I don’t think...”

Link begins walking past the Magic Bean Salesman, but then the obese man suddenly GRIPS Link’s hand; Link RECOILS, and finds THREE MAGIC BEANS in his fist. He looks down at the salesman.

MAGIC BEAN SALESMAN

“Fixed price... fair price...”

Link considers the man wordlessly, and then he NODS; he leaves the salesman, who quickly goes back to MUNCHING ON BEANS, and moves around the tower exterior, quickly finding a SHATTERED STAINED GLASS WINDOW on the opposite side. Link begins moving through this but then STOPS; he examines the TOP of the window, where the INTERLOCKING-TRIANGLE SYMBOL is clearly visible.

Link NARROWS HIS EYES and DRAWS Dhise Slaighre. He steps through this window and enters the upper tower.

INT. HYRULE CASTLE KEEP – LATE NIGHT.

The back of Young Link’s HEAD is roughly slammed against the stone wall of the circular staircase; the boy GRUNTS in pain.

KOTAKE holds Link by the shoulders, CACKLING. She again slams the boy’s body against the wall.

KOTAKE
“Hahahaha! Foolish little child! What is this? Using the magic of a lesser goddess against us? I am Din’s handmaiden, stupid boy, and I will have your bones on a spit!”

The woman forcibly RIPS the stone mask from Link’s face; beneath it Link is GROWLING and SNEERING defiantly. When he LOOKS UP at Kotake, however, there is a reflection in his EYES: Adult Link moving up a carpeted, winding staircase, SCOWLING and bearing DHISE SLAIGHRE.

Kotake’s FACE suddenly goes LIMP with terror.

KOTAKE
“Oh... uh... uhh... ugh... aaaaugh!”

The woman SCREAMS as she views Adult Link’s reflection in Young Link’s eyes; Kotake suddenly begins to RETCH violently and then she stumbles against the opposite wall of the staircase. She SCREAMS IN PAIN and slumps against the wall, CLUTCHING HER STOMACH.

BLOOD quickly begins pooling down around her ankles, as if it were cascading from up under her clothing.

Kotake begins BABBLING NONSENSE as her eyes become glassy; she loses consciousness.

Young Link stares at the woman’s body without significant emotion; he turns, calmly, and then he starts running up the spiral staircase, taking the steps in twos.

INT. GANONDORF’S CASTLE PEAK – LATE NIGHT.

Adult Link winds his way up a large, red-carpeted set of spiral stairs; far away in the distance the muted sounds of an ORGAN echo, faintly playing GANONDORF’S DIRGE.

Link walks forward resolutely, a SCOWL on his face and Dhise Slaighre in his left hand. As he walks there is a small ‘mish-mesh’ of the scene: Young Link is barely visible walking by the man’s side.

CLOSE-UP on Adult Link’s face; the man stops walking momentarily, and then he SMILES FAINTLY. He looks to his right (although Young Link is no longer visible).

LINK
“It’s about that time. Try to keep a cool head, at least...”

Adult Link continues climbing up the spiral stairs; the ORGAN MUSIC gets louder as he goes. Eventually the stone walls give way to ELEGANT STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. Link appears more IRRITATED and DISORIENTED as he walks.

We see through Link’s MIND’S EYE a great glowing source of light far ahead at the top of the stairs (ie: Link can partially see ‘through’ the walls, much like infrared vision). The concentrated glow appears to be in the shape of a man hunched down over an organ, but as Link continues climbing the stairs this glow becomes unbearable; Link BLINKS and SHIELDS his eyes as he walks. Eventually Link DOUBLES OVER in pain and KNEELS on the staircase; CRADLING his LEFT EYE. When he moves his hand away from his face there is a MASSIVE CRIMSON TEARSTAIN running down his left eye; the eye itself is again blue, but very irritated and marred with RED STREAKS running through the iris.

Link SNARLS and gets to his feet; he continues walking up the staircase, reaching a LARGE ORNATE DOOR. Link reaches out with one hand, but the door slowly OPENS on its own, slowly swinging inward to allow him entry.

The room beyond is spacious— several stories tall— in the shape of an octagon. Against the far wall is a massive PIPE ORGAN, and beyond that the entire wall is covered with WRITHING BLACK VINES, plastered up against the wall in orderly repose.

GANONDORF is sitting at the pipe organ, his back to Link. He stops playing just as Link enters the room. There is a long pause.

GANONDORF
“Wherever doest thou wander...”

The man TURNS in his seat and FLIPS his black cape over one shoulder, GRINNING DEMONICALLY.

GANONDORF
“...o very little thing?”

Ganondorf LAUGHS. He slowly RISES off the organ seat and stands before the wall of vines.

NAVI emerges from Link’s clothing. She HOVERS beside Link’s head, alert.

GANONDORF
“How great a journey— so long and so lonely— just for this: just to meet me, here...”

Ganondorf takes two slow steps forward; he is still some distance from Link, however. Link SQUARES HIMSELF defensively using Dhise Slaighre.

GANONDORF

“So now, little thing: what is your business? What’s the one thing I can give you in recognition of that journey? My head, perhaps? Or my throne? Just what is it, little thing, that you desire most? And just what is it, little thing, that you came back into this kingdom for?”

Link POINTS Dhise Slaighre at Ganondorf.

LINK
“Where is Zelda?”

Ganondorf LAUGHS heartily.

GANONDORF
“Pity, that: such a lack of vision!”

Link takes two steps forward, menacingly bearing Dhise Slaighre.

Ganondorf HOLDS BOTH HANDS out to either side of his body; the WALL OF VINES behind him part in the middle, as if they were a curtain.

ZELDA is ensnared in the thick of the vines, legs restrained together and her arms forced out to either side of her body. Both her eyes are marred with CRIMSON TEARS from the remnants of her Mind’s Eye worms; vines are wrapped around her neck and midsection as well.

She GAGS as the vines surrounding her neck SQUEEZE together.

Link stops in his tracks.

Ganondorf’s GRIN deepens. He LOWERS his arms.

The vines around ZELDA’S NECK let-up some, enough that the woman can breathe.

Ganondorf holds up a hand with THREE FINGERS extended.

GANONDORF
“Three Golden Goddesses— bathed in holy light—

Three Golden Goddesses made the world, outright.

But Three Golden Goddesses were too much for one site,

So Three Golden Goddesses geared up for a fight!”

LINK
“Catchy song...”

GANONDORF
“Nursery rhyme, actually. One I’m more than familiar with.”

LINK
“I’ve heard better lullabies, though...”

GANONDORF
“Ha! It’s no lullaby: it is a call to action. It’s one that I learned from a very young age, but one that I’ve only come to understand quite recently.”

Ganondorf REMOVES ONE BLACK GLOVE from his right hand, slowly; Link watches this movement very carefully.

GANONDORF
“Tell me something: what is your history, little thing? What is your... parentage? What is your name, even?”

LINK
“My name?”

Ganondorf NODS slowly.

LINK
“My name is irrelevant.”

Ganondorf LAUGHS.

GANONDORF
“Fair enough. But your history, little thing, is not. Do you know what you are, by chance? You do, don’t you? You grew up in the Great Forest, but are you a Kokiri?”

LINK
“No, I’m not—”

GANONDORF
“Were you a Kakarian, abandoned to the woods?”

LINK
“No—”

GANONDORF
“Or of the swamp folk, maybe?”

Ganondorf’s GRIN deepens.

GANONDORF
“You know, don’t you?”

Link NODS, slowly.

GANONDORF
“What are you, then?”

LINK
“I’m a Hylian. I carry the blood of the Old Shores inside me.”

GANONDORF
“And who told you this?”

LINK
“Nobody told me. I just... I—”

GANONDORF
“You just... know...”

Ganondorf HOLDS UP HIS BARE FIST and CLENCHES IT; as he does so a shape takes form along his exposed knuckles: a CAFÉ-AU-LAIT BIRTHMARK smeared across several of his fingers, resembling a TRIANGLE when he makes a fist.

GANONDORF
“Blood from the Old Shores is a very mysterious thing. It’s the perfect vessel to hold the wills of the Golden Goddesses...”

Link STARES DOWN at his own semi-exposed chest, noting his own BIRTHMARK. He looks back up at Ganondorf.

GANONDORF
“...for people like myself: for those who would embrace it!”

LINK
“You are a Gerudo!”

GANONDORF
“Maternally, little thing. My worthless birthmother existed only to accept the fruit of pure Hylian blood. What else but a Hylian’s blood could overcome the force of Gerudo breeding? What else could cause a Gerudo woman to bear a son?”

Ganondorf TIGHTENS his fist; his BIRTHMARK begins to GLOW.

GANONDORF
“What else could bring forth the perfect vessel for Din’s triumph?”

A BLINDING FLASH OF LIGHT explodes from Ganondorf’s fist; a ball of lightning sails through the air towards Link.

NAVI hovers in front of Link and BRACES HERSELF; the ball-lightning hits her and then COLLAPSES into her frame in another FLASH. Once this clears Navi is left hovering in the air, SNEERING.

Ganondorf SCOFFS and SNAPS HIS FINGERS; there is a ‘WHOOSHING NOISE’ and a train of BRIGHT PURPLE LIGHT (identical to the one from pg. ________). The purple light reaches Navi, who POSES WITH HER ARMS EXTENDED FORWARD; there is another FLASH of GREEN LIGHT that nullifies the purple. When the flashes clear Navi is left hovering in the air; the fairy SLOWLY MOVES HER ARMS AND LEGS into a ‘KUNG-FU-STYLE’ pose— taunting— and WIGGLES HER BROW.

Ganondorf SNICKERS and NODS.

GANONDORF
“12 years is time enough to learn a few tricks, I see...”

The man slowly turns around and faces Zelda, who is suspended several feet behind him. As he WALKS TOWARD the woman Link BRACES Dhise Slaighre and moves forward.

Ganondorf quickly RAISES A HAND; the vines along ZELDA’S MIDSECTION suddenly constrict, causing Zelda to CRY OUT in pain.

Link STOPS.

GANONDORF
“A bastard desert prince... a noble royal lady...”

Ganondorf STROKES ZELDA’S CHEEK, prompting a look of REVULSION from the woman.

GANONDORF
“...and a fairy-bearing wanderer. The differences are startling, really...”

Ganondorf again FACES Link.

GANONDORF
“...but the common, uniting factor is undeniable! We are all bearers of the elder blood, and we are all pawns for our Goddesses’ wills.”

LINK
“Their wills? They’re not mutually exclusive! I honor them all—”

GANONDORF
“But you belong to one, and only one. The power you have within you is unimaginable, and it is not the thing for child’s play! These toys are too much for you: I command you to return them to me!”

LINK

“You can’t honestly believe the Goddesses are using us to fight some kind of divine proxy war? That’s insane!”

Ganondorf CROSSES HIS ARMS; the man SNORTS through his nose. His BREATH is visible in the musty room.

GANONDORF
“I’d certainly object to the rules, too. If I happened to represent a lesser Goddess, as you do...”

Ganondorf again TOUCHES ZELDA’S CHEEK, GRINNING.

GANONDORF
“Oh, Farore’s quite the wise one, but that wisdom wasn’t enough, it seems, to overcome some very human frailties in her chosen vessel...”

Zelda LOOKS TO ONE SIDE with a resigned and forlorn look.

LINK
“Don’t you touch her!”

Ganondorf again LOOKS at Link.

GANONDORF
“And you! To come here, and now: such irrational actions, befitting an Irrational Goddess!”

A noise like MUFFLED SCREAMING sounds from the rear of the chamber (near the door Link entered through); two LARGE CREATURES slowly lumber out of the shadows of the corners and into the light of the room. Both are extremely large (about the same dimensions as the Iron Knuckle). One of them is a bulky terror of skeletal material and the other is a bloody, fleshy thing. Both wear LARGE HELMETS on their heads identical to the one worn by the Iron Knuckle.

These are, respectively, the BONE KNUCKLE and the FLESH KNUCKLE.

Link doesn’t face these newcomers, but WATCHES as they approach from behind, stopping about ten feet away from him and standing at ATTENTION.

GANONDORF
“By the way: do you think she called out for you? Your little Kokiri friend, I mean? You’ve seen so much death that I’m sure you’re somewhat hardened to it all, but poor little— what was her name? Saira? She was different. You didn’t see her death, because she died all alone. There was no one to comfort her, no one to cradle her broken body, no one to even hold her hand as she slipped into the void. Do you think she called out for you? Do you think she warbled out your name while she lay dying? If she did, do you think it was in a tearful plea, or a bitter curse?”

Link’s LIPS TREMBLE.

Ganondorf’s GRIN WIDENS.

GANONDORF
“Would you like to know? Hahahaha!”

Link LOWERS Dhise Slaighre, ENERVATED.

Ganondorf SNICKERS and tousles Zelda’s hair. 

GANONDORF
“All your precious Sages are dead, and their little plan to ‘purify’ this land of my presence is at an end— that’s old news— but you needn’t worry: the ‘judgment’ you so desperately desired will most certainly take place! Judgment is Din’s specialty, after all! Once we’ve prepared to the Temple of Time I can grant both of you your wishes at once: two ‘Heroes of Time’ are better than one, after all!”

Link and Zelda EXCHANGE GLANCES.

GANONDORF
“With the blood of your bodies watering the Sacred Ground I will unlock the door to the Goddesses’ domain! In the Sacred Realm I shall meet Din Herself, and she shall bathe me in her radiance! With that power in my hands I shall take the other Goddesses’ powers as well, since their chosen vessels will no longer need them! Their divided powers shall become one in my presence, and it shall be... it shall be glorious!”

LINK
“You’re insane!”

The FLESH KNUCKLE and BONE KNUCKLE take several steps toward Link, closing the gap on either side of him.

GANONDORF
“Oh: to think that 12 years ago I had all the pieces of the puzzle right in front of me, but to be so blind! I’ve learned all the simple parlor tricks of ‘magic’ this world has to offer— but what mere run-off that is compared to the great power beyond this plane! I’ve taken control of a kingdom as powerful and as vast as any this world has to offer, but what simple fodder it all is compared to the power of the Goddesses! How long I’ve waited to receive their glory! Time enough that nothing need be rushed...”

Gannodorf again STROKES ZELDA’S CHEEK.

GANONDORF
“...time enough to even let the two of you bask in the embrace of your... ‘friendship’.”

Link GLARES at Ganondorf.

GANONDORF
“Hehehe! Come, now: I’m not ungrateful for your assistance, after all, and the old legends don’t call for virgin sacrifices. There’s even time enough for a brief ‘duet’, if you two should wish it!”

Ganondorf looks at Zelda, SNEERING.

GANONDORF
“We could see how well you fare with a woodwind...”

Ganondorf LAUGHS HEARTILY.

Link SNARLS.

Ganondorf looks back at Link.

GANONDORF
“Or did I misread the motive behind that blind devotion of yours? Hehehe! How very like Nayru you are, little thing! How very pathetic you truly are!”

LINK
“But important enough for your needs, huh? Indispensable enough, huh?”

GANONODORF
“I figured you had some small part to play in all this early on, but as to your actual possession of a Goddess’ will, no. That was a startling revelation to me; quite the coincidence...”

LINK
“Coincidence?”

Ganondorf LOOKS at Zelda, smiling, and again tousles the woman’s hair.

GANONDORF
“All those visions you saw— images of Dhise Slaighre, your ‘all-powerful’ weapon of evil’s bane— they weren’t ever meant for you— or at least they weren’t sent with you in mind— and yet somehow they found a way into your skull after all...”

Both Link and Zelda’s eyes BULGE slightly; Zelda LOOKS at Ganondorf with SURPRISE.

GANONDORF
“It was fortuitous, really: I suppose that if she were the only one to receive those visions then we’d have never gotten that pesky little sword out of the ground, would we have?”

Zelda’s face ROILS with sudden anger, devolving into unspeakable RAGE.

INT. DINING HALL OF THE CASTLE KEEP – LATE NIGHT.

Young Link approaches the top of the circular stairs; there is a HEAVY OAK DOOR at the top, barely open an inch, allowing bright light through a small slit. A WHIMPERING NOISE is audible on the other side and then a WOODEN BANGING SOUND. The WHIMPERING then resumes.

Link puts his EYE up to the crack in the door: we see into the room from this perspective.

A large room with an oversized table sits on the other side of the door. All around this are PLANTS growing in a stone trough, where they approach the many windows on all sides of the room and disappear outside (to ‘hang’ in the air). Several LARGE EARTHENWARE JARS dot the walls as well, containing small plants.

The table is SET with an ornate meal; the far chair (the one furthest from the door) is knocked over and a large section of the WHITE TABLECLOTH is messily strewn down around the chair. Massive BLOOD STAINS grace the cloth and trickle over the floor.

Link MOVES his face a little, allowing a little more of the room near the table to come into focus; suddenly a small body goes crashing against the table from off-screen. Zelda— in elegant eveningwear— lands beside the table with a PAINED WHIMPER.

CLOSE-UP of the girl lying on the floor; she cradles her RIGHT ARM, which appears injured. There is the sound of FOOTFALLS, slow and deliberate, and then two CRUEL-LOOKING BLACK BOOTS come to stand beside the supine girl.

Zelda looks UP with tearful eyes; her lips TREMBLE.

A dark hand reaches down and effortless LIFTS THE GIRL up by the neckline of her dress; Ganondorf draws Zelda up close to his face, suspending her in the air and SMILING DEVILISHLY. We see a smear of what appears to be HUMAN BLOOD all along his lips and mouth.

GANONDORF

“Dinner not to your liking, Highness? Or should I say your Majesty, hmm?”

Zelda’s lips MOVE with an inaudible gibber; the girl appears highly traumatized.

Link’s EYE BULGES as he looks through the crack in the door; the boy’s brow soon FURROWS into a look of ANGER.

GANONDORF
“Not much for polite dinner conversation either, eh? Hehehe! That’s fine, too...”

Ganondorf lifts the girl closer to his head, still SMILING.

GANONDORF
“You know: I prefer my kings served medium rare— truth be told— but when it comes to princesses...”

Suddenly, without warning, Ganondorf forcibly KISSES the girl on the lips; Zelda WRITHES in revulsion, and when Ganondorf moves his face away from hers Zelda’s lips and mouth are ringed with blood stains (transferred from the blood on Ganondorf’s face).

Ganondorf slowly (vulgarly) LICKS HIS LIPS.

GANONDORF
“...those taste just fine raw, I think. Don’t even need seasoning! You’re certainly sweet enough on your own, aren’t you?”

Ganondorf then VIOLENTLY SHAKES the girl, prompting a PAINED SHRIEK from Zelda.

GANONDORF
“And I’m going to need you to keep being sweet, too. Because if you’re not then so help me you’ll be put out for dinner with the wild beasts, and they will eat you raw!”

There is a faint sound behind Ganondorf— before the man can turn around an EARTHENWARE JAR is suddenly smashed against his forehead; Link is standing on the dining table. As Ganondorf CRIES OUT he drops Zelda, who lands hard on the stone floor. Link jumps down onto the floor and firmly grips the shocked girl’s hand, forcibly leading her back out of the dining hall and down the circular stairs.

INT. GANONDORF’S CASTLE PEAK – LATE NIGHT.

GANONDORF
“And now the ignoble story of the fairy-bearing wanderer and his broken-shell-of-a-princess comes to an end...”

Zelda's face is still contorted in anger; Link stares at the ground, but then looks up.

LINK
“12 years ago, all those visions. That was you?”

GANONDORF
“It’s an easy thing, tricking a weak mind!”

LINK
“You manipulated the mind of an innocent little girl for your own selfish gain?”

GANONDORF
“Well, she certainly needed an impetus to start helping me in my plans, didn’t she? I thought that outright asking might not be the best approach!”

Ganondorf LAUGHS as Link and Zelda STARE AT EACH OTHER; Zelda slowly twists her RIGHT HAND in its vine-bonds: she holds a SHINING BLACK MARBLE in her palm.

Link SMILES.

LINK
“By my count, though, you’ve made two serious mistakes, you nipple-ripping pig-faced coward...”

Ganondorf’s grin suddenly turns into a SCOWL.

GANONDORF
“Wh— what did you just say?”

LINK
“You heard me, ‘Ganon’! You may be a fat, greedy pig of a man, and you may have sucked the life out of this kingdom for 12 years straight, but there’re two things I don’t think you counted on.”

Link holds up his right hand, bearing a single digit.

LINK
“One: you actually think you know the will of a deity. You don’t, and you can’t!”

GANONDORF
“Ah, because of course you do, right? Hehehe! Well, then: just what else have I neglected, hmm?”

Link MOVES A SECOND FINGER up to join the first.

LINK
“Second, and most importantly: you don’t— and you can’t— possibly know the will of a princess!”

Link moves his THUMB away from his fist as well; we see the THREE MAGIC BEANS tucked away in the remnants of his fist.

Link looks at Zelda and WINKS.

Zelda SCOWLS and FLICKS HER WRIST; the shining black marble sails through the air and lands directly in front of Ganondorf. It EXPLODES IN A FLASH OF LIGHT, blinding Ganondorf, and Link pitches his three MAGIC BEANS through the air; they impact the vines holding Zelda in various places, causing the vines to ‘ripple’ and wither. At the same time Ganondorf COLLAPSES to his knees and HOWLS in pain.

Zelda falls forward over the ground, where Link catches her (the woman’s limbs appear slightly numb from her lengthy time in the restraints).

The FLESH KNUCKLE and BONE KNUCKLE lumber forward, passing Ganondorf as he still reels on one knee.

NAVI flies into a space between Link and Zelda and the two Knuckles; POSING MENACINGLY. When the Knuckles continue approaching Navi goes ‘spreadeagle’ in the air; a SHIMMERING CURTAIN of green light ‘explodes’ out from her body, hovering like a transparent wall. The Knuckles LUNGE for Link and Zelda, but when their weapons pass into this shimmering curtain they are STUCK, as if encased in drying cement.

Navi GRINS SAVAGELY and SLAMS HER HANDS TOGETHER; the curtain of green light EXPLODES into BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT, engulfing the Knuckles’ blades and most of the creatures’ WEAPON-WIELDING ARMS. When the light fades the Knuckles’ weapons have disintegrated and each of their arms is DISFIGURED.

Navi COLLAPSES onto the ground after this, PANTING; a small sprut of BLOOD trickles from one of her nostrils.

Link leads Zelda out the large door he entered through; as they flee Link hears Ganondorf SCREAMING AFTER HIM.

GANONDORF
“Boy!”

Link TURNS in time to see Ganondorf on his feet with his FIST in front of his face; the TRIANGLE BIRTHMARK on his fingers again glows and again a volley of ball-lightning sails through the air.

Link stands in front of Zelda and BRACES himself; holding Dhise Slaighre in front of his face. He SNARLS as the lightning reaches him and then SWINGS the sword through the air, as if hitting a baseball.

The lightning hits the sword’s blade head-on and then continues through Link’s hands and into his body, sending the man reeling backwards and landing hard on the floor.

Zelda RUSHES to his side.

ZELDA
“Wha— what were you thinking?”

LINK
(dazed)

“It seemed... kinda like a good idea at the time...”

Link COUGHS UP a small plume of smoke as Zelda helps him to his feet.

LINK
“Now, though: I’m thinking run.”

The pair race down the spiral staircase with the Flesh Knuckle and the Bone Knuckle directly on their heels.

NAVI arrives at the doorway between the Knuckles and the fleeing Link and Zelda. She again POSES MENACINGLY and again makes herself ‘spreadeagle’ in the air. The FLESH KNUCKLE proceeds forward and Navi quickly GESTURES in its direction, causing an eruption of WHITE LIGHT that dissuades the Knuckle from proceeding.

This activity causes SIGNIFICANT PANTING from the fairy and leaves her flying ERRATICALLY in the air, no longer in perfect hover. (This part of the scene is without any ambient sound or music except for Navi’s HEAVY, LABORED BREATHING).

SLOW, DELIBERATE FOOTFALLS sound from behind the Knuckles; Ganondorf slowly walks up between the Knuckles, staring at the fair with an UNSETTLING SMILE.

Navi tries to appear MEANACING, but another spurt of BLOOD from her other nostril runs down her cheek and the fairy continues WOBBLING in the air. After a tense few seconds Navi SIGHS HARD and falls from the air, landing softly on the ground on ALL FOURS, COUGHING.

Ganondorf slowly (‘idly’) walks past the Knuckles towards the doorway.

Navi begins CRAWLING towards the spiral staircase (ie: moving at a hopelessly pathetic rate).

Ganondorf stands over the fairy, still looking down at her with a SMILE. He slowly RAISES ONE BOOT in the air, pausing for a considerable time, and then SLAMS IT DOWN HARD; the boot lands on Navi’s LEFT LEG, CRUSHING part of it.

Navi’s HEAD SPASMS UP and the fairy GNASHES HER TEETH TOGETHER.

Ganondorf removes his boot and LAUGHS sadistically.

Navi ROLLS OVER onto her back, lying spread on the ground and still PANTING hard. A SHADOW comes over her entire body.

Ganondorf’s SNEER DEEPENS as he holds his foot over Navi’s body. The pair STARE AT EACH OTHER. After another considerable pause Ganondorf BRINGS HIS FOOT DOWN.

Immediately before the boot crushes her body Navi’s face CONTORTS WITH EFFORT; GREEN LIGHT explodes from the fairy’s body and another SHIMMERING GREEN CURTAIN of light explodes before her. This immediately sends Ganondorf REELING backwards, sailing through the air and into his Knuckles— who all fall down into a heap.

Navi immediately takes to the air and looks down on Ganondorf, who looks back up at the creature with HATEFUL EYES.

Navi SPITS BLOOD at him.

NAVI

“Fucker!”

The fairy immediately DARTS down the spiral staircase, moving EXCEEDINGLY FAST.

INT. HYRULE CASTLE KEEP – LATE NIGHT.

Young Link races down the spiral staircase, leading Zelda by the hand; the girl moves in a SHOCKED DAZE and Link must prod her onward.

Once the pair reach the bottom of the stairs a TORTURED SCREAM erupts from up the staircase. Link sees a SHADOW quickly descending the stairs and pushes Zelda behind him.

Ganondorf rounds the stairs and GLARES at the boy.

Link quickly unsheathes his OYSTER KNIFE and SNEERS at the man, again pushing Zelda behind him.

Ganondorf slowly approaches the pair. He speaks with UNSETTLING CALM.

GANONDORF
“I’m... going to visit... such pain on you. I’m... going to carve you, piece by piece, with a trillion non-fatal wounds. You’ll wish, first, that you had never been born. Then that I’d never been born. Oh, you’ll wish... the Golden Goddesses... never gave your father the idea to stick your mother in the first place!”

Ganondorf LUNGES FOR THE CHILDREN at the end of this speech (on the line ‘...in the first place’). Link suddenly RAMS HIS KNIFE against the side wall by the staircase entrance, SEVERING a rope and causing a HEAVY METAL PORTCULLIS to come down between the man and the children.

Ganondorf SCREAMS and moves one arm through the gate, desperately reaching for Link. Unable to do so the man brings his arm back through the gate and stares at the children intently.

Link turns to Zelda and motions for her to RUN; the girl half-heartedly moves away down the corridor. Link looks back at Ganondorf one last time. Ganondorf POINTS AT LINK and speaks very calmly.

GANONDORF
“I am going to kill you, little thing. Do you hear me? I am going to kill you!”

Link GLOWERS at the man and then turns away, racing after Zelda.

Link searches for Zelda and finally finds the girl down another flight of stairs, TREMBLING in a corner beside a table. The boy tries to get her to her feet, but Zelda merely WHIMPERS IN FEAR each time Link tries to take hold of her; Link recognizes the girl’s distress and awkwardly kneels down beside her; he carefully puts one hand on the girl’s shoulder, holding it as she sobs.

ZELDA
“I— I— Impa... s— she said she’d be there. She’d be there! F— for me! W— w— why would she leave me? Where did she go? Why did she go? W— w— where... where?”

Link MOVES his body around so that he is kneeling in front of the girl; he takes hold of both her shoulders, patiently staring at her.

Eventually Zelda LOOKS UP, still tearful. The girl SNIFFS loudly, and then sounds more composed.

ZELDA
“W— we have to get away from here, don’t we? We have to move.”

Link NODS.

Zelda stands up with Link’s help. Both children hear a LOUD BANGING noise from back in the corridor.

Link LOOKS AROUND quickly, finally noticing a small DEPRESSION in the floor against one of the walls. Zelda comes up and stands beside the boy.

ZELDA
“What’re we going to do? How can we escape?”

Link looks the girl UP AND DOWN, then stares at the depression in the floor; the boy gently takes Zelda’s hand and moves her up against the wall.

Zelda looks at the boy CURIOUSLY.

Another LOUD BANGING NOISE from back in the corridor startles both children; Link quickly STOMPS on a small foot pedal against the wall; this causes the depression Zelda is standing on to give way: it is a small REFUSE DRAINAGE SYSTEM. The girl vanishes down the hole.

Link quickly CLOSES this hidden floor tile and FACES the corridor he entered through, SNEERING as another LOUD NOISE sounds.

EXT. KEEP YARD – LATE NIGHT.

Zelda slides through a small tunnel, emerging in the flower beds outside the keep with a thud.

Zelda stands up, disoriented, and stumbles out of the manicured trees and onto the keep lawn. The SOUND OF SOMEONE APPROACHING, however, forces the girl back into the shrubbery. Zelda hunkers down, trembling, and tries to ‘worm’ through the bush in the other direction from the noise. When the noise stops the girl pauses, lying with her face against the dirt.

Suddenly a stong hand PULLS Zelda out of the dirt with a SCREAM; the girl is deposited on the keep lawn and looks up to see IMPA, standing over the girl and SMILING WARMLY.

INT. HYRULE CASTLE KEEP – LATE NIGHT.

Link quickly races down a side corridor in the keep; the boy retrieves a pan of grapes beside a dead keep guard and BANGS THE PAN against tabletops, chairbacks and other furniture as he races through the keep.

Link runs through many corridors making a racket, however he soon grows SUSPICIOUS by the lack of any obvious pursuit. Link passes a window and notices ZELDA and IMPA crossing the keep yard.

At this point there is a ‘mish-mesh’ of the scene; Adult Link and Zelda are moving over uneven flooring and going down STEPS (these are not present in Young Link’s timeframe). As the pair move Adult Link runs RIGHT THROUGH the body of Young Link, and as he is moving down a staircase their heads are ABSOLUTELY EVEN. The man turns his head, very briefly, exposing the IRRITATED REMNANTS of the mind’s eye worm in his left eye. This perfectly overlaps with Young Link’s own left eye. This scene is very brief, and then the ‘mish-meshing’ effect is gone.

At the moment Young Link’s eye lines-up with Adult Link’s eye the boy GASPS. He is still staring at Impa and Zelda as the pair run off across the lawn.

Link DROPS the pan at his FEET (camera stationary on the pan lying on the carpet). Link goes DASHING OFF down the corridor at top speed.

EXT. GANONDORF’S CASTLE – LATE NIGHT.

Link and Zelda reach the bottom of Ganondorf’s Castle and confront the imposing main PORTCULLIS. Link manipulates the PULLEY controlling it and it rises slowly. When it’s raised enough both he and Zelda dart beneath it, followed by Navi.

EXTREME CLOSE-UP of a pair of crossed legs on the ground; Link and Zelda race over the front terrace of the castle and both stop on sight of the person before them.

NABOORU is staring into her lap, with her hands wrapped over her midsection, as if meditating. Upon Link and Zelda’s approach the woman looks up with a smile.

The woman bears a FROSTBITE WOUND on one shoulder and a severe HEAT BURN on the other. There is a CUT along one of her cheeks.

Link appears STUNNED.

LINK
“Nabooru?”

NABOORU
“Hello.”

The woman gently LEANS to one side, getting a slightly better look at Zelda.

NABOORU
“And her Highness...”

Zelda NODS confusedly.

Nabooru looks back at Link.

NABOORU
“You took your sweet time, didn’t you? And I thought I might never meet up with you, again.”

LINK
“But... that monster—”

Nabooru MOTIONS BEHIND HER WITH HER HEAD. Camera PAN UP reveals the CORPSE OF VOLVAGIA; the creature is spanning the entirety of the partially-destroyed VINE BRIDGE and it is no longer afire (ie: its smoldering body appears to be made of flesh).

Nabooru SMILES.

NABOORU
“I do not mean to bore you; it is a long story...”

LINK
“Bless your thieving heart! We’ve got to go, now!”

Nabooru SHAKES HER HEAD.

NABOORU
“You may go: finish your mission. Mine is not done, yet...”

ZELDA
“Ganondorf and his agents are right behind us: you must come with us!”

NABOORU
“Beg pardon: I must do nothing. I choose, however, to do my duty. I will keep this pass for you, as long as possible.”

Link OPENS HIS MOUTH.

NABOORU
“More words will only earn you less time to work with. I suggest you go, now.”

Link nods slowly, pulling Zelda by the hand. As he passes Nabooru the woman SMILES SEDUCTIVELY.

NABOORU
“After all: I’ll always have the chance to meet up with you again... won’t I?”

As Zelda passes Nabooru she looks down at the Gerudo.

ZELDA
“Th— thank you...”

Nabooru SQUINTS at the woman.

NABOORU
“Have we... no, we certainly have not. What sense would that make?”

Link and Zelda stumble over Volvagia’s corpse, struggling to cross the ruined vine bridge.

CLOSE-UP on NABOORU’S FACE, with Link and Zelda in the background; the woman SMILES BROADLY.

Nabooru removes her hands from her body; there is COPIOUS BLOOD STAINS on the bricks beneath her body and her clothing is marred with BLOOD STAINS all along her abdomen.

NABOORU
“Still: there is something familiar, there. Hehehe! Confound it all: Din take these foolish vagries of the mind!”

The woman SLUMPS OVER, eventually falling to one side, resting her head on the brick floor of the terrace.

NABOORU
“Din take...m— me...”

Zelda and Link make it across the chasm; Link helps the woman descend Volvagia’s snout.

ZELDA
“What do we do? Where are we going, now?”

LINK
“You and Ganondorf have competing ideas about what’s supposed to happen over at the Temple of Time. If he’s right then we’d be damning ourselves by going back there, but if we’re right then it’s the only way to put an end to his rule. Well, I don’t know about you, but given everything else that’s happened so far, I’m willing to go on a little faith...”

INT. TEMPLE OF TIME – VERY EARLY MORNING.

Impa leads Young Zelda through the main entrance to the temple of time. She deposits the young girl in one of the pews of the main chamber, where Zelda PANTS with fatigue.

ZELDA
“Wh— what do we do, now? Why are we here?”

Impa sits in the pew beside the girl, SMILING WISTFULLY.

IMPA

“Now... we obey the will of the Goddesses...”

Impa STROKES Zelda’s hair, but then suddenly GRABS it forcefully.

IMPA
“...and we are here to see that will through!”

Zelda CRIES OUT in pain at the same time that Young Link lets out a LOUD WAR CRY; the boy TACKLES Impa from behind, forcing the woman to double over violently and slam her forhead into the pew in front of her. Link and the woman STRUGGLE on the floor, and when Impa rolls over it is revealed to be KOUME— not Impa.

The old woman GRABS LINK’S THROAT and holds him against the carpet.

ZELDA attempts to get the old woman off the boy, but Koume PUSHES her out of the way. The old woman CACKLES.

SCENE-CUT to ADULT LINK: Link and Zelda move up the Temple of Time’s staircase. They are pursued by the FLESH KNUCKLE and BONE KNUCKLE, however before the creatures can intercept Link and Zelda they encounter a SMALL REDEAD blocking their path.

The Knuckles stop in their tracks, considering the little ReDead. Eventually they begin to move forward.

A STRANGE, GUTTERAL COOING suddenly sounds from all directions; a SWARM of ReDead appear from all directions, awkwardly stumbling up to the Knucles. Both Knuckles begin ATTACKING the creatures, but the sheer number of ReDead ensures that, within moments, both Knuckles are BURIED under a dogpile of zombies.

Following this there is a LOUD RUMBING NOSE, and suddenly GANONDORF bursts forth from the ground about fifty meters away from the temple entrance, his body supported by many black vines. The man LAUGHS darkly and holds his fist in front of his face, firing multiple rounds of BALL-LIGHTNING from his fist. The shots miss their marks and Link and Zelda enter the temple.

The pair race past the rear row of pews before the vines behind them BURST THROUGH the granite rear of the temple; Ganondorf emerges from the granite dust billowing through the air and launches another BALL-LIGHTNING salvo.

SCENE-CUT to YOUNG LINK: NAVI darts down through the air, attacking Koume’s face in an effort to keep her from strangling Link. The woman SLAMS Link’s head against the carpeted floor and deftly CLAPS HER HANDS in front of her face; this effort effectively CRUSHES NAVI between the woman’s hands.

SCENE-CUT to ADULT LINK: One of Ganondorf’s ball-lightning shots nearly hits Zelda, although Link pushes the woman out of the way. At the very last second, however, NAVI flies up directly in front of Link, her face an inch from his, as the ball-lightning impacts directly against her back, effectively INCINERATING her (perhaps slow-motion for this very brief scene... if it must be done...)

Navi’s simultaneous death in both timelines (and in the exact same location) causes an ‘expolsive rupture’ between both timelines (a temporary, ‘LSD-ish window’).

SCENE-CUT to YOUNG LINK: BLACK ASHES fall in copious amounts from Koume’s hands, scattering over Link. The boy plasters his hands over his head and rolls his head backward, SCREAMING IN AGONY (note: the pain presented here appears to have an actual PHYSICAL component to it as much as an emotional one).

SCENE-CUT to ADULT LINK: the man falls forward onto the ground, following the shockwave of the ball-lightning. Thick GRANITE DUST obscures much of the temple scenery. When he ROLLS to one side he can see Koume through the ‘LSD-ish window’ sitting on top of Young Link, CACKLING. Link instinctively STABS Dhise Slaighre into the ‘LSD-ish window’, where the sword hits its mark: Koume is struck in the side, and the woman SCREAMS IN PAIN while falling over to one side. When Link gets to his feet he checks Dhise Slaighre’s blade: fresh red blood graces the blade and it MAGICALLY DRIES as he watches.

As the GRANITE DUST settles Ganondorf emerges from the haze, still suspended on many black vines. Many other vines enter in his wake, tearing HOLES in the temple in certain places as they hover, menacingly, all around the rear of the temple.

Link stands beside Zelda and watches as all these vines enter; he looks around at various parts of the temple CEILING, beginning to show cracks. Link’s EYES move across this scene until they come to a FRACTURED PILLAR sitting right beside Zelda.

Ganondorf LAUGHS.

GANONDORF
“So: who will be first, then?”

SCENE-CUT to YOUNG LINK: Koume is lying against a row of pews, bleeding profusely. The woman holds a hand over her side in disbelief, GIBBERING.

KOUME
“F— fresh... k— kid! This time... we’ll get serious! R— right... Kotake... right?”

Young Zelda watches Koume babble, as the delirious woman is vaguely staring in the girl’s direction.

KOZUNE

“...b— wh— what’s that thing ov— over your head? Huh? I— I do n— not have one, too! I... can’t... I— I’m only fou— I’m only four— I... all for a— a— stupid... kid...”

Koume’s eyes GLASS OVER; the woman dies.

There is a LOUD NOISE from the temple entrance: the big doors leading outside are THROWN OPEN and a SINISTER SHADOW graces the doorstep.

Zelda STARTS, then gets up and runs over to Link.

The boy is ROLLING on the ground, openly CRYING and holding his hands over his face and eyes. A SMALL SPURT OF BLOOD is training out one of his nostrils.

Zelda STRUGGLES to hold the boy still; eventually she gets Link’s attention by holding him down while staring at him with SERIOUS EYES.

ZELDA
“We have to get away from here: we have to move!”

The girl gets Link to his feet and the pair move off down one of the ANCILLARY CHAMBERS in the temple; they dart amongst rows of pillars until Link slows. Unable to go any further the boy COLLAPSES in a dark corner, CURLED INTO A TIGHT BALL and SNIFFLING, WRITHING in physical and emotional pain.

Zelda sits in the corner with Link. She appears as if she is about to SPEAK, but the girl closes her mouth; she crosses her legs and pulls LINK’S HEAD up against her lap. She STROKES the boy’s hair.

ZELDA

(whispering)

“I’m... so sorry! For everything! I am...”

Link TREMBLES in the girl’s lap; he is still SNIFFLING. They remain this way for nearly thirty seconds.

Zelda gently moves the boy’s head out of her lap and slowly stands up.

ZELDA
“Listen: no matter what happens, don’t make a sound, okay? Just stay here, and stay quiet...”

The girl MOVES OFF down the row of pillars.

SCENE-CUT to ADULT LINK: Ganondorf hangs in the air, suspended by vines, LAUGHING heartily.

Link APPROACHES the man, coming to a stop right beside the FRACTURED PILLAR.

LINK
“What were you looking for, again? A ‘Hero of Time’, right? You want one, you have one!”

GANONDORF
“But now the two of you haven’t got the time for your little ‘duet’. That’s hardly heroic, isn’t it? Too bad! Pity your disobedience, little thing!”

LINK
“Disobedience? Actually, I’ve always pitied my impulsivity. It’s a real problem, sometimes...”

GANONDORF
“Indeed...”

LINK

“Zelda, here, probably pities the juvenile little ‘martyr’s complex’ she was living with for all those years. It takes a heart of stone not to have regrets, after all...”

Ganondorf LAUGHS.

GANONDORF
“Should I pity my heartlessness, then?”

LINK
“No: in your case I would pity your lack of architectural knowledge.”

Link suddenly THRUSTS all his weight against the fragle FRACTURED PILLAR, causing the pillar to CRUMBLE; a good portion of the roof also comes undone and begins crashing down in large chunks.

Link immediately DIVES on top of Zelda, forcing the woman onto the ground while he covers as much of her body as possible.

More of the ceiling begins to cave in; several colums of black vines move up to protect Ganondorf’s body, however he soon disappears under the massive granite rubble that rains down all around him.

The deafening CRASH of the falling ceiling is audible; in its aftermath the entire chamber is choked with STONE DUST. DEBRIS is everywhere.

Eventually Link STIRS beneath a pile of rubble; the pews have given him and Zelda some protection. Link MOANS in pain, while Zelda rolls to one side, resting beside him; she is unconscious but breathing regularly.

Link STRUGGLES to get up, and does so again; each time he finds himself stuck. He looks behind him and realizes that he is PINNED beneath stone rubble from the waist down. He STRUGGLES more in vain, and then COLLAPSES, exhausted. He stares back at the large BED OF VINES on the other side of the chamber; most of that area is buried under debris.

There is MOVEMENT among the vines, however.

Link lazily CRACKS his neck; he notices a BULGE in the back of Zelda’s clothes; the tip of a short bow and a small quiver of broadhead arrows. Link slowly removes each and then sets a broadhead in the bow, POINTING it at the movement in the vines.

GANONDORF slowly emerges from the mess, BLEEDING from several cuts and bruises; his LEGS appear broken. He struggles with his arms to emerge from the vines before seeing Link, aiming an arrow at him. He says nothing.

After a brief pause Link FIRES the arrow; it hits Ganondorf’s RIGHT HAND dead-on, pinning it to the broken wooden base of a pew that he was holding for support and provoking a SCREAM from the man.

LINK
“You just wait right there, Ganon. The Goddesses will be with you shortly...”

Link COLLAPSES beside Zelda and SIGHS.

LINK
“It’s true: I wasn’t the Hero of Time... but I know who is. Goddesses help him: I know who it is...”

SCENE-CUT to YOUNG LINK: the boy is still huddled-up in the dark corner of the temple.  He WIPES HIS EYES and sits up, SNIFFLING. He looks down at his hand, noticing all the snot and tear stains, as well as some blood from his nose.

LINK’S HAND slowly CLOSES into a fist; it TREMBLES as the boy’s brow FURROWS. Link SNARLS.

Young Zelda CREEPS through the ancillary chamber in the temple, ALERT as small NOISES sound in the distance; suddenly, however, Ganondorf emerges from behind a pillar and grabs the girl. Zelda STRUGGLES and SCREAMS as the man drags her towards one of the temple’s ancillary exits.

Link suddenly ATTACKS from the rear; SLICING into GANONDORF’S CALF with his oyster knife. This causes Ganondorf to DROP Zelda near the doorway. The man TURNS, screaming with rage, and roughly PUSHES Link headfirst into the stone wall of the temple side; during this time the man also unsheathes the LONG BLACK DAGGER from his belt.

Ganondorf immediately STABS Link once in the back as the boy is pinned against the wall. Link GASPS (he does not scream), after which Ganondorf DRAWS THE KNIFE out of the wound.

Link STUMBLES to the ground as Ganondorf LAUGHS. Dazed, he touches the front of his green tunic, which SPOTS UP WITH BLOOD as he feels it. Then the boy jumps up and LUNGES at Ganondorf with enough force to make him lose his balance; he falls down at the doorway.

Zelda quickly gets to her feet and PULLS A CORD at the doorway; a PORTCULLIS comes down in freefall, CRUSHING Ganondorf’s ANKLE. The man SCREAMS IN RAGE and KICKS Zelda through the portcullis with enough force to send the girl against the far wall of the doorway, where she lands unconscious.

Link FALLS onto his rear, breathing with difficulty. Still dazed, the boy reaches around his back, aimlessly feeling his wound there. BLOODY SPIT soon forms at the corners of his mouth.

The boy looks over at Ganondorf, who is SCREAMING as he TWISTS HIS LEG in the portcullis’ grip. Link CALMLY RISES, holding a pew for support.

GANONDORF
“Little... bastards! Bastards, all! AAAARGH!”

Link TURNS AWAY from this scene and begins TROTTING down the pew rows, towards the ceremonial hall.

INT. TEMPLE OF TIME – DAWN.

The SOUND OF A CHILD’S SHOES ON MARBLE, frantic, DRAWING CLOSER over time, accompanied by A CHILD’S HEAVY, LABORED BREATHING.

Link comes racing into the hall in the distance, running unsteadily. His LABORED BREATHING sound is louder. A CLOSE-UP as he stumbles against a WHITE MARBLE WALL reveals copious BLOOD STAINING; he is leaving a TRAIL OF BLOOD as he runs up to the CIRCULAR ROCK PLATFORM.

A TORTURED SCREAM erupts from far away down the hall.

Link collapses near the PLATFORM, crawls on his knees and then lands FACE DOWN on the floor. A TRAIN OF BLOOD moves over the MARBLE FLOOR from the boy to the base of the PLATFORM. AN EERIE HUM rises.

THE BOY’S EYES reflect the circular stone platform; unnatural WHITE LIGHT rises. Link’s HEAVY, LABORED BREATHING rises also; the breaths come quicker and his eyes fall to unsteady saccades.

SLOW ZOOM ON THE BOY’S EYES.

Link’s BLOOD curls around the uneven ground around Dhise Slaighre. The ground itself is GLOWING with an ethereal light.

All the parts of the ground stained with Link’s blood begin to BOIL, and then FRACTURE; a FISSURE develops in the ground and a MASSIVE HOLE swallows much of the ground, including Dhise Slaighre, which disappears from view. A MASSIVE SHAFT OF WHITE LIGHT erupts from the hole.

EXT. TEMPLE OF TIME – (CONTINUOUS).

The SHAFT OF LIGHT explodes out the top of the temple, rising up into the Hyrule sky.

EXT. SAND TEMPLE AT CLOSSUS OASIS PLAIN – (CONTINUOUS)

A desert oasis, complete with palm trees and rocky caverns in the distance. A MASSIVE HUMANOID FIGURE has been carved out of a sheer cliff face (a very intricate representation of Din); beside this is a pyramidal building with the same ORNATE TOWER seen in the other temples back in Hyrule; this is the SAND TEMPLE.

FAR AWAY in the distance the immense light of the Temple of Time is barely visible.

The SUN is rising from behind the Sand Temple (ie: to the west, and the Temple of Time lies to the temple’s east). All at once a great SHAFT OF LIGHT explodes from the Sand Temple’s ornate tower, rising straight up into the air.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE – (CONTINUOUS)

The canopy of trees in the Sacred Forest Meadow cannot conceal the massive light beam emitted by the Temple of Time.

Suddenly a SHAFT OF LIGHT explodes from the Forest Temple’s ornate tower.

EXT. WATER TEMPLE – (CONTINUOUS)

CAMERA SHOT from BENEATH the water at Zora’s Font; the massive light from the Temple of Time is visible even beneath the water.

Suddenly a SHAFT OF LIGHT explodes from the submerged Water Temple’s ornate tower. A massive plume of BUBBLES also radiate out in all directions in the light’s wake.

EXT. KAKARIKO VILLAGE – (CONTINUOUS)

The old windmill churns lazily in the pre-dawn breeze; light from the Temple of Time is VERY visible from here.

Suddenly a SHAFT OF LIGHT explodes from the windmill’s top; this effectively DESTROYS most of the upper windmill, including all the blades, which scatter wildly. All that remains on the structure’s top is the ornate tower of the Shadow Temple.

A CONCENTRATED BEAM OF ENERGY suddenly bursts from the windmill’s ornate top, traveling over the land on a direct intercept course for the Temple of Time. We see THREE OTHER BEAMS as well, emanating from their respective temples.

EXT. TEMPLE OF TIME – (CONTINUOUS)

FOUR BEAMS OF ENERGY converge on the temple.

INT. TEMPLE OF TIME – (CONTINUOUS)

The MASSIVE VERTICAL SHAFT of white light is TEMPERED by the other energy beams; it explodes into chaos, leaving a MASSIVE, UPRIGHT TRIANGULAR VISUALIZATION in its wake; the image GLOWS YELLOW.

Another SHOCKWAVE FLASH rocks the temple.

SCENE-CUT to a STARK WHITE FIELD; a very old man in ceremonial robes stands facing the camera. This is RAURU. He OPENS HIS EYES.

SCENE-CUT to another STARK WHITE FIELD; PRINCESS RUTO stands facing the camera. She OPENS HER EYES.

SCENE-CUT to another STARK WHITE FIELD; SARIA stands facing the camera. She OPENS HER EYES.

SCENE-CUT to another STARK WHITE FIELD; IMPA stands facing the camera. She OPENS HER EYES.

SCENE-CUT back to the Temple of Time; the upright triangular visualization glows BRIGHTER.

FOUR BRIEF FLASHES of all four temples (the Sand Temple, Forest Temple, Water Temple and Shadow Temple) erupt across the screen.

The HUMMING NOISE inside the Temple of Time grows very DISCORDANT.

SCENE-CUT: EXTREME CLOSE-UP on RAURU’S FACE; the man appears SERENE.

SCENE-CUT: CLOSE-UP on one of the STRANGE FOSSILIZED FOOTPRINTS in the remnants of the sacred ground.

SCENE-CUT: back to RAURU; the man SMILES KNOWINGLY.

SCENE-CUT: to SARIA; the girl appears DEEPLY TROUBLED.

SCENE-CUT: to Link, lying on the stone floor, still PANTING ragged breaths.

SCENE-CUT: to PRINCESS RUTO; the Zora appears ANGRY.

SCENE-CUT: to LINK’S BLOOD, still trailing over the ground.

SCENE-CUT: to SARIA; the girl’s face is SCRUNCHED IN ANGER and a TEAR rolls down her cheek.

SCENE-CUT: to Impa; the woman bears a look IDENTICAL TO RAURU’S.

Impa DRAWS A DEEP BREATH.

EXT. SAND TEMPLE AT CLOSSUS OASIS PLAIN – (CONTINUOUS)

A MASSIVE BLAST of GREEN LIGHT explodes from the temple, again heading for the Temple of Time.

EXT. FOREST TEMPLE – (CONTINUOUS)

A MASSIVE BLAST of RED LIGHT explodes from the temple, again heading for the Temple of Time.

EXT. WATER TEMPLE – (CONTINUOUS)

A MASSIVE BLAST of RED LIGHT explodes from the temple, again heading for the Temple of Time.

EXT. KAKARIKO VILLAGE – (CONTINUOUS)

A MASSIVE BLAST of GREEN LIGHT explodes from the temple, again heading for the Temple of Time.

INT. TEMPLE OF TIME – (CONTINUOUS)

These beams of light all converge on the UPRIGHT TRIANGULAR VISUALIZATION: the two RED BEAMS and two GREEN BEAMS ‘nullify’ each other, culminating in a strong white color.

CLOSE-UP on PRINCESS ZELDA’S unconscious body, trapped behind the portcullis gate.

CLOSE-UP on the UPRIGHT TRIANGULAR VISUALIZATION: the thing ‘resonates’ with a STRANGE PITCH and a FRACTURE develops along one side.

CLOSE-UP on GANONDORF; SCREAMING and STRUGGLING to free his crushed leg from the portcullis.

CLOSE-UP on the UPRIGHT TRIANGULAR VISUALIZATION: ANOTHER STRANGE PITCH sounds, DISCORDANT to the first, and another FRACTURE develops along an opposite side.

CLOSE-UP on Link; the boy is down to bleak AGONAL RESPIRATIONS.

SLOW ZOOM ON THE BOY’S EYES. In Link’s reflected eyes we see a THIRD FRACTURE developing in the upright triangular visualization, along with a THIRD STRANGE PITCH, again, DISCORDANT to the others.

We see the fractured triangle COME APART, reflected in Link’s eyes; the fractures EXPLODE WITH LIGHT, leaving three separate pieces of the whole entity left.

This is the TRIFORCE.

Link’s BREATHING STOPS; the boy’s eyes grow GLASSY.

PAN OUT from the ceremonial hall; a final SHOCKWAVE rises from the glowing Triforce, and this one BLANKETS the entire screen in white.

EXT. SACRED REALM.

The sound of an ADULT’S HEAVY BREATHING.

FADE IN FROM WHITE.

Adult Link stands in a field of absolute whiteness. The man walks forward, feeling a STRANGE FLOOR beneath him; he leans down and feels the ground, realizing that it it PURE WHITE GRASS, swaying in a gently breeze.

Suddenly the sound of BIRDS is audible, low at first, and when several WHITE TREES begin distinguishing themselves from the background that noise gets louder.

A ‘sunrise’ is cresting the horizon far away (one shade of white on another, but it allows for SLIGHTLY more contrast in the scene): there is a great valley in the distance, filled with mountains, forests and rivers, and at its center is a MASSIVE PYRAMID structure.

Link follows the field of white grass away from this scene; eventually he reaches an area covered in shrubbery and low-lying plants surrounding a small stream. ‘FACELESS FIGURES’ move around this area at their leisure (they are humanoid, but their features are distorted. They do NOT resemble the Golden Goddesses)

Adult Link notices YOUNG LINK sitting on a tiny bridge overlooking the pond, facing his adult counterpart. The boy stares down at his body, PATTING his clothes, and looks around in CONFUSION. Sitting right beside him (although never put to close-up) are the fairy ocarina and Adult Link’s red earring.

The boy finally NOTICES his adult counterpart.

Adult Link begins walking towards the child, but a HAND on his shoulder stops him; Link turns to find Adult Zelda behind him.

ZELDA
“Not over there. His path is a different one...”

LINK

“Different?”

ZELDA
“One... that has ended.”

Adult Link again looks at his younger counterpart; Young Link is still sitting on the bridge, legs dangling, LOOKING UP at the faceless figures walking all around him with trepidation.

ZELDA
“I’m sure the Goddesses will look after him. He deserves that much—”

LINK
“He deserves more than that.”

ZELDA
“People don’t always get what they deserve...”

The woman walks across the white grass field, stopping at a white tree overlooking the great valley.

ZELDA
“This reminds me of the orchard. Do you remember when you took me there?”

The woman LOOKS BACK AT LINK, SMILING FONDLY.

Link nods; he produces the OCARINA OF TIME.

LINK
“A real place for ‘devoted hearts’...”

Zelda’s smile quickly FADES as she surveys the ocarina.

Link NOTICES THIS; he looks at the ocarina QUIZZICALLY, not understanding her reaction, and puts it away.

LINK
“So... our ‘paths’ haven’t ended?”

Zelda SHAKES HER HEAD.

ZELDA
“No. Don’t ask me why I know, either. I suppose I shouldn’t know: it’s all just a feeling— but... I trust it. I know other things, too—”

LINK
“Ganon? I mean: Ganondorf? Did we get him? Is he dead?”

ZELDA SHAKES HER HEAD.

ZELDA
“He is not dead, but he is trapped. Imprisoned. And he does not have the power to return.”

LINK

“Imprisoned? Where?”

Zelda SPREADS HER ARMS.

ZELDA
“In this place: where the glory of the Goddesses shines.”

LINK
“But, still: he isn’t dead? His ‘path’ hasn’t ended?”

Zelda LOOKS TO ONE SIDE, pensive.

ZELDA
“That... that was not the will of the Sages...”

LINK
“The Sages? They didn’t deal with him?”

ZELDA
“They did. Just not the way we assumed they would.”

LINK
“They had the power, though—”

ZELDA
“And they operated on the basis of unanimity: it was... it was a split-decision, I think: two for death, two for life...”

Link STARES AT HIS FEET.

LINK
“Saria... she could never hurt someone, I guess. Even if she was hurting the person who killed her. The Zora princess may also have been too compassionate—”

ZELDA
“You don’t understand: I think they both wanted him dead.”

LINK
“What? But—”

ZELDA
“Saria didn’t want revenge against her killer; she wanted revenge against your killer!”

Link SNORTS through his nose. He shakes his head.

LINK
“Impa, and that old guy: Rauru—”

ZELDA
“Rauru and Im— and the Shadow Sage: they both demanded imprisonment—”

LINK
“It makes no sense!”

ZELDA
“Just because it’s senseless to you or me—”

LINK
“doesn’t... make it senseless.”

Zelda CROSSES HER ARMS; she laughs, faintly.

ZELDA
“Irrational, maybe...”

Link suddenly LOOKS UP at Zelda; he NODS slowly.

LINK
“Yeah: ‘irrational’, huh?”

The man suddenly begins to LAUGH HEARTILY.

ZELDA

“What is it?”

LINK
“I... I know that what I want is not always what other people want, and not best for them. And sometimes what I want is not even best for me. It’s not hard to understand a human’s motivation— most of us, anyway— but as for the rest out there, well, that’s a guessing game you’re bound to lose. When it comes to Goddesses, after all—”

ZELDA
“Who could truly know the will of a deity? Right?”

Link NODS. Zelda FACES the great valley, staring at the magnificent PYRAMID in the distance; strange WHITE BIRDS fly past it in formation.

ZELDA
“Ganondorf— Ganon— was wrong about the power in the Sacred Realm. That doesn’t make us right about any of it, though.”

Zelda FACES LINK and lowers her head.

ZELDA
“But: what I feel here, and the information I’m getting from this place, it all feels so very real: so very clear. You’re justified if you don’t trust it—”

Link STEPS FORWARD.

LINK
“I’ve always trusted it, Zelda. I’ve always believed you could feel what you say you could feel.”

ZELDA
“Really? Because I didn’t—”

LINK
“No more of that, now—”

ZELDA

“Not until we were in Ganon’s tower; not until he confronted me with his crimes.”

Link SCRUNCHES HIS FACE.

LINK
“But... he said he gave you false visions—”

ZELDA
“And he did. But there was more: I saw more than he anticipated, and in retrospect a lot more than he ever wanted me to see. I didn’t just see the things he planted in my head. I saw what I needed to see! What I saw was a— a— I—”

Zelda BOWS HER HEAD; when she returns it to level her eyes are slightly TEARY.

ZELDA
“I saw a boy dressed in green: a towhead.”

Link LOOKS TO ONE SIDE, uncomfortable. The man UNSHEATHES Dhise Slaighre and CASTS IT TO THE GROUND; it lands in the white grass.

LINK
“That we certainly didn’t need, did we? The legend about that thing was nothing but hot air.”

ZELDA
“If the legend of the Sages is true, then that is true, also—”

LINK
“It was never of any use to us!”

ZELDA
“Maybe neither of us are particularly ‘masterful’.”

There is a PAUSE; Link stares down at the sword, considering Zelda’s words.

LINK
“Or maybe not yet, huh?”

ZELDA
“That blade... its time will come.”

Link NODS.

LINK
“Hopefully ours has passed. I’m... I’m tired. I feel old— older than I should— and I feel spent.”

Zelda’s eyes TREMBLE.

ZELDA
“What we’ve done here— the mistakes we’ve made along the way and the things we’ve done— they happened, and they can never be rectified, fully. But... but time is a river...”

LINK
“‘There is no countercurrent’...”

ZELDA
“But there are eddies. Be sure that the Goddesses will look after us: we deserve that much.”

LINK
“What are you saying?”

Zelda EXTENDS A HAND.

ZELDA
“Give me my ocarina, please? I’m not a princess giving a command, but—”

Link pulls the OCARINA OF TIME back out of his vest.

LINK
“You never had to give orders to me, you know...”

Zelda takes the ocarina from Link and as she grips it her hand comes into contact with Link’s; their hands remain that way for a moment.

ZELDA
“You can never completely fix your mistakes... but you can go back, sometimes...”

LINK
“Go back? To Hyrule, you mean? We can go home?”

Zelda NODS.

LINK
“That’s fine, then. You can rebuild. We can rebuild. It’ll be hard work, but still—”

ZELDA
“We... won’t need to rebuild...”

Link TILTS HIS HEAD.

LINK
“The current layout leaves much to be desired, Majesty.”

ZELDA
“I’m not a queen: I’m a princess. When we go back I will be, at least.”

Link BLINKS in confusion; eventually his eyes BRIGHTEN.

LINK
“We— we get to go ‘home’-home? We get to go back—”

ZELDA
“12 years: payment for time served. We can finally live our childhoods...”

Link GRINS EAGERLY and LAUGHS.

LINK
“Oh, my! I— that’s incredible. Fantastic! Oh, Zelda: that makes up for ev— well not everything, but some things! Oh: oh man! Can you imagine! I mean: every adult wants to be a kid again, yeah: but for us! For this nightmare to be over! We can get back to having real nightmare, like real people do. And sweet dreams; it’s been awhile since I’ve had any of those! Oh: and I’ll go on whatever adventure you want, too! Chase down a nest of octorock, get you some water lilies from the deep forest. Hell: I’ll even get you the ranchers’ special reserve milk from Lon-Lon Ranch! I could live a lifetime doing those things—”

Link has been WHEELING around, ANIMATED, during this speech; when he faces Zelda he STOPS, however. The woman is staring at him with a FORLORN SMILE; TEARS are streaming down her face.

Link takes the woman’s state into account. When he speaks again he is far more SUBDUED. He spreads his hands to either side.

LINK
“I— uh... we’re not— we’re not going to remember any of this, are we?”

ZELDA
(choking up)

“There are things a child should never remember, and things a child should never have to live with...”

Link APPROACHES Zelda; the woman BOWS HER HEAD sadly before him.

LINK
“I— I would risk that, if I could—”

ZELDA
“You can’t. Y— we... deserve to, but—”

LINK
“People don’t always get what they deserve. Right?”

ZELDA nods; eventually the woman BURIES HER FACE in Link’s chest, SNIFFLING. Link respectfully EMBRACES her.

LINK
“Everything else, though? The things that deserve to be around?”

ZELDA
(muffled in Link’s chest)

“They’ll be around...”

LINK
“And the— and what we’ve lost?”

Zelda pulls her head out of Link’s chest.

ZELDA
“The Sages...”

Link looks at the woman, EXPECTANT.

ZELDA
“...will be with us, always...”

A TEAR falls down Link’s cheek. The man NODS.

ZELDA
“Some things may be different, but almost nothing will be: it would take a force of will stronger than anything the human heart possesses to breech the timelines. A thought... an idea...”

Zelda slowly CARESSES Link’s cheek.

ZELDA
“A memory; they all evaporate faster than rain on a hot road. Only supreme strength of will could even begin to leave the faintest hint of a memory, and only a level of devotion impossible for a human to achieve could break the bonds of time outright.”

Zelda moves her hand away from Link’s face; she holds up the Ocarina of Time.

ZELDA
“When we return to our old timeline— to a place where peace once again exists in Hyrule— everything we’ve known since then will be gone. All that’s left for us is to live.”

Link NODS.

LINK
“In peace...”

Link rests his head against Zelda’s forehead.

LINK
“It... isn’t enough...”

Zelda suddenly raises her head and KISSES Link on the lips; this kiss lasts some time before Zelda terminates it and steps backward.

ZELDA
“It’ll have to be...”

Zelda puts the ocarina to her lips.

The woman launches into a slow, lilting rendition of ZELDA’S LULLABY.

Slowly, over the course of the song, the WHITENESS all around the couple grows, until almost everything is blanketed in a start white; the ocarina notes ECHO, ghostly, and slowly Link and Zelda’s bodies, too, fade into WHITENESS.

EXT. TEMPLE OF TIME – MIDDAY.

FADE IN FROM WHITE.

The camera is DESCENDING, pointing straight down at a cobbled stairway leading right up to the Temple of Time.

LINK is lying on his back on the cobbled street. He is again an 8-year-old, and this Hyrule is the one from 12-years prior.

Link is wearing his Kokiri tunic and flaccid green nightcap.

The boy is UNCONSCIOUS. He slowly STIRS on the path, STRETCHING HIS ARMS and yawning. Eventually the boy OPENS HIS EYES and they BULGE; Link SCREAMS and rolls to one side.

DHISE SLAIGHRE suddenly lands on the cobbled street with a CLANG.

Link approaches the blade, cautions, and EXAMINES IT, noting all the STAIN MARKS on the blade. The boy notes a certain symbol on the hilt (the interlocking triangle symbol) and LOOKS UP at the Temple of Time’s entrance; where a similar symbol rests in the stained glass window.

INT. TEMPLE OF TIME – MIDDAY.

Link walks through the entire temple, lugging the sword, until he reaches the SACRED GROUND beyond the altar. The boy walks around this area until he discovers the SMALL SLIT in the floor; Link clumsily positions Dhise Slaighre upright in an attempt to get the blade into the hole; suddenly the sword SINKS DOWN forcefully into the floor, ‘SNAPPING’ into position with a loud noise.

Link STEPS BACK and considers the sword; the boy SHRUGS and GRUNTS, then turns around.

As Link walks away we see DHISE SLAIGHRE’S BLADE in extreme close-up (and in focus); all the STAIN MARKS on the blade begin to ‘boil’ off the weapon, revealing the absolutely unblemished, shining blade underneath.

As Link walks past the edge of the sacred ground the boy notices a STAIN in the marble floor; it is a FAINT TRAIL OF BLOOD.

The boy considers this stain with an INVOLUNTARY SHUDDER; he quickly leaves the Temple of Time.

EXT. CASTLE TOWN – AFTERNOON.

Link moves through a THRONG of people lining the main street. At once point the boy bumps into a young girl; when they both turn to look at each other we see 10-year-old MALON. She gives Link a QUIRKY SMILE as she passes.

Some townspeople are engaged in idle conversation as they line the street for a big event.

TOWNSPERSON #1

“Well: I hear what I hear, and I trust the source. And what I hear is that, yup: you can’t trust the Gerudo!”

TOWNSPERSON #2

“But for their prince to just up and disappear from court like that? That isn’t so much sinister as strange!”

TOWNSPERSON #1
“Yeah: it is strange, for a strange lot of people! Good riddance, says I! At least the Royals can attend to more important matters at home, rather than spendin’ all that time playing dress-up with dirty desert thieves!”

Townsperson #1 is chewing a PEANUT; he idly TOSSES the shell into the street.

Link is struggling to move through the crowd; at one point the boy tries moving into the empty street to get by, but suddenly a guard blocks his path, just as a TRUMPET sounds.

TOWNSPERSON #3

“Ah: well here they come now!”

A small CARAVAN of ornately-dressed people cross through the street, most in horse-driven carts or on elegant litters.

One such litter, far more elegant than any other and with a sheer satin draping, comes moving down the street born by six bearers. Princess Zelda sits cross-legged inside, idly TURNING the OCARINA OF TIME over in her hands, STARING at the instrument intently.

One of the litter-bearers accidently steps on the PEANUT SHELL in the road, FALTERING; the disturbance is enough to JAR the little and cause Zelda to BOBBLE the ocarina; it goes SAILING out of the litter, bouncing along the cobbled street.

Link immediately forces his way into the street and RETRIEVES the ocarina. Several guards RUSH the boy but he rises and comes face-to-face with Zelda, who has leaned very far out of the litter to retrieve the instrument.

Several guards GRAB Link’s body and hold the boy, however as he already has Zelda’s ocarina they wait for him to give it back to her; there is a PAUSE as Link and Zelda LOOK AT EACH OTHER. Link slowly hands the instrument up to the girl, who slowly receives it.

Instantly the guards carry Link back over to the curb, roughly depositing the boy on the ground. Zelda’s litter quickly MOVES OFF.

Link LOOKS BACK at the litter and opens his FIST; the ORNATE MOUTHPIECE of the ocarina had broken off in the fall and Link now holds it.

Zelda stares down at the broken ocarina in her lap, then briefly looks behind her at the crowd. The girl again faces forward, but her eyes are WATERY; TEARS begin welling up and running down her face.

Zelda puts a hand to her cheek; she appears GREATLY SURPRISED by this weeping and considers it with obvious PUZZLEMENT.

The crowd around Link quickly begins to depart after the Royals’ passing; Link idly DROPS the ocarina mouthpiece to his side.

Several TEARS stream down the boy’s cheek. Link puts a hand to his cheek; like Zelda, he appears GREATLY SURPRISED by this weeping and considers it with obvious PUZZLEMENT.

Eventually Link walks away; as he does so a random passerby inadvertently STEPS on the ocarina mouthpiece on the ground, completely destroying it.

Link comes to the Western Exit of Castle Town; unlike the dramatic main drawbridge this exit is a small, simple gate. The hillside PLUNGES down dramatically immediately to the front, and the sun shines brightly on a series of green hills and valleys as far as the eye can see.

Link considers this terrain with a COCKED HEAD. The boy begins walking forward, only to be NUDGED from behind; Link turns his head and vagely realizes it’s a horse. The boy keeps walking.

However, again, a horse NUDGES the boy. Link SNARLS and moves several feet out of the way, continuing his walk. When he still hears HOOVES behind him the boy SPINS AROUND.

EPONA (fully adult) is standing before Link, NUDGING the boy’s head gently with her snout. Link considers the riderless horse with PUZZLEMENT. He circles around the mare, taking note of the BRUISES on her side.

Link LOOKS AROUND, but seeing no one he SHRUGS and walks off again.

And, again, Epona NUDGES the boy’s neck.

This time Link brings his other hand up around his neck, STROKING Epona’s face; as he performs the gesture he appears DISORIENTED by its spontaneity. Link LOOKS into the horse’s eye, still unsettled by the mare’s patient following of him.

Link again circles the horse and, finding stirrups and a saddle, clumsily tries to get on top.

Epona instantly ‘DIPS’ her body, bouncing Link directly into the saddle; Link WOBBLES unsteadily, but then quickly takes Epona’s reins in exactly the right positions. The boy looks down at his own hands, again PUZZLED.

Link turns Epona to face the path of green hills and valleys winding away from Castle Town; he takes in the view.

Eventually another horse comes up beside the boy: the Happy Mask Salesman, burdened with his heavy rucksack, scans the view as well. He looks at Link with his UNSETTLING SMILE.

HAPPY MASK SALESMAN
“So, my young friend: your business in Castle Town is at an end? Did you see the princess, at least? Did you keep things interesting? Hehehe!”

Slow CAMERA ZOOM on the Happy Mask Salesman.

HAPPY MASK SALESMAN
“I’ve always found the world to be such a very interesting place, for those who make life interesting, at least. Of course, my little friend, there are those who don’t so much set out to make things interesting, but nonetheless very ‘interesting’ things tend to happen to them. It’s a funny thing, about interesting things, too, because they’re never quite isolated events, when you get right down to it. That is to say that trouble always tends to follow trouble, my little friend, and—”

LINK
“Link.”

HAPPY MASK SALESMAN
“Hmmm?”

Slow camera pan until Link is revealed STARING OUT at the terrain ahead. The boy turns and FACES the Happy Mask Salesman, smiling good-naturedly.

LINK
“My name: it’s Link.”

The boy again faces the horizon and, with a gentle kick against Epona’s side and a SHOUT, he goes galloping off down the hillside, moving away from Castle Town and towards the hilly trail ahead.

FADE TO BLACK.

The film’s CLOSING CREDITS roll over the screen against a black background; the music playing is the CLOSING CREDITS THEME from the Legend of Zelda: a Link to the Past. A CHORUS of male singers vocalize the main melody.

After perhaps twenty seconds of credits the screen brightens; the camera slowly pans across the dramatic hillsides in the distance as Link rides Epona near the forefront, moving at a fast gallop (ie: moving about the same speed as the camera) as the credits continue to roll.

A NOTE ON THE CREDITS: The cast of actors in not recognized until near the end of the song, when the CLOSING CREDITS music finally launches into a rendition of the LEGEND OF ZELDA MAIN THEME (its first appearance in this film). At this point the actors’ list is shown and the male singers providing vocalizations sing actual words to the music.

The LYRICS are are follows, however they should be sung in Scots-Gaelic (ie: ‘Ancient Hylian’) using a close-enough translation that the words still rhyme and make sense:

“True, from

The desert to the shore

And over the heights

Above which the eagles nest,

There’s not one alive

Who’d so mercilessly strive

For that power deep inside

His heart

As it beats to the rhythm of the dawning.

But, there,

His secret is revealed:

He’d go for Hyrule,

Its people,

The land,

Its sea, too

And, yet, his secret:

He’d go (for) its princess,

For bright velvet eyes

Afire

In the light of the dawn ever rising.

Soaring

From one land to the next

And into that Realm

Beyond which no eagle flies

His guides far above—

Wisdom, courage, and love—

Set him out far beyond

The touch

 Of the light of the dawn ever rising.”

During this part of the credits (where the main theme is sung) Link and Epona drive even faster and harder; eventually Link ‘STANDS UP’ in the saddle, apparently enjoying the breeze in his face. As the song ends the camera PANS OUT and away, showing the boy and his horse riding off fast for the horizon, soon growing into small specks.

By the time the CLOSING CREDITS THEME has ended the camera is stationary in the sky, looking towards the horizon, and it FADES TO BLACK as the music ends.

For the rest of the credits Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” should play (yes: I’m serious).

The credits should be timed such that, by the time this song is fading out the credits are finished, and just before the music totally fades away we see TEXT on the screen in the LOWER LEFT CORNER, slightly closer to the sceen’s center than the last time it was seen (ie: at the beginning of the film):

ON BLACK the title, in the LOWER LEFT:

“The Legend of Zelda”

FADE IN:

EARLY MORNING.

A wooded copse of trees near a rustic hillside; Epona mills about in the background and a small MAKESHIFT TENT sits in the foreground.

Young Link is lying supine on the grass. The boy slowly sits up, SCRATCHING HIS HEAD and YAWNING.

A FOLDED PIECE OF PAPER falls off his chest and into his lap; the boy looks down at it, curious.

Link OPENS the paper and a SMALL WHITE FLOWER falls out of the folds; as Link examines it we see a very small speck of RED on the flower’s inside (similar to an Eighteen-Day Blusher, although the petals of the flower are not the right color).

Link sets the flower aside and opens up the paper, holding it in front of HIS FACE (it is thin, transparent paper and handwriting can be made-out through the opposite side, albeit not very easily).

The part of the paper the audience can see states: “May they keep you safe.”

Link moves the paper away from his head, leaving his FACE to take up most of the screen; the boy stares DIRECTLY AHEAD and GRUNTS quizzically.

ON BLACK, CENTER:

“Ocarina of Time”