Scene 5.02 - The Prophecy
EST: INT. Imperial Palace, The Kron Empire
FADE IN
CG: December 29, 69 A.D., Himalaya Mountains, Northeast Nepal, Somewhat Near Mt. Everest
(SING approaches a woman who sits on a large, very-ancient and elaborate throne. She kneels and bows her head as she speaks.)
SING
Empress, DEA (dee’-uh) warriors are crossing The Snowy Falls. Shall we go to the catacombs?
KIM
No. Dawn will be here soon, and they will retreat, as they always do. But tomorrow they will return. We pray the Goddess will assist Us.
(Fireworks are heard in the distance. The explosions and fireworks are meant to scare away ghosts, rather than actually be used as a means for combat. Let's face it, it's 69 A.D. It's the Year Of The Four Emperors in Rome and Vespasian has assumed control of the world's largest empire. Rome rules most of the Western side of the continent, while clans and barbarians lord over most of the European lands and nomadic tribes pepper the Northern parts of Asia. East Asia is dominated by thousand-year-old traditions and ruled only by members of a select dynasty. Human rights are non-existent, slavery exists in all parts of the world and ritual sacrifice is practiced in the Western Hemisphere, which is only now being first graced with the presence of white men -- sea-faring Vikings and Norsemen. The impact of human encroachment on the environment is beginning to take a noticable effect. Democracy doesn't exist outside of a description of it in ancient writings, and Africa is being paved with slaves from conquered nations. The Hawaiian Islands are undiscovered; inhabited only by birds and vegetation. In Nepal, there's no boats, no lights, no motor cars -- not a single luxury. Such is the way of the sword in the wastelands of Asia in 69 Anno Domini.)
DIM
Mistress Jane returns from the Mystic Meadows, your highness.
KIM
General Jane, what’s your report?
(An embattled, dirty, and blood-stained MARY enters, sheathing her sword. She wears a dragon’s-tooth necklace and other assorted trophies of combat. She takes off her ancient helmet and drops to a knee and bows head. It should be noted that none of the blood on her clothing is her own. Her hair is in shiny, tiny ringlets, secured with wire, and she wears studded-leather battle armor. Her petite, womanly figure can be clearly seen through the form-fitting leather. MARY seemingly always smokes, pops unknown substances into her mouth, chews gum, drinks or simply acts cool whenever any opportunity arises. She is a one-hundred-percent, total fox -- even if she’s a dirtied, bloodied and sweaty vixen.)
MARY
Sorrowful news, Empress. Although we have repelled this latest onslaught of the DEA, victory comes at the cost of five of our sisters.
(Gasps.)
KIM
Arise, General, We will have word. Give us your counsel.
MARY
Suki Su, Ching Chang, Cao Saki, Su Zuki and Mia Moto all have been captured. I fear they will not return. (Reactions in the court.) I narrowly escaped myself. Mistress, we need to harvest what crops we are able to carry and flee this countryside! Past negotiations have failed. Five of our spies have already been captured and it is only a matter of time before they get the information they are looking for and we are invaded. We cannot win the fight against the DEA. (Explosion in distance.) My liege, we must flee while we can.
KIM
And go where? This is our home; it has been our home forever and it is the will of the Goddess that We will stay. We must fight, not flee. Dear Mary, the most virtuous of my generals, We ask you, what further sacrilege will be necessary for all of us to stand up for what is rightful? What other indignity will it take for our empire to turn from cowardice and face our dilemma once and for all?
MARY
Sister, I haven’t forgotten the bravery of our people, nor have I forgotten our long legacy to promote life's abundance. But holding on to a value, on premise alone, is not prosperous. Sacrificing life or livelihood for lifestyle is not rational. It is not cowardice; for, as my wise friend, Carmella, has once said, she who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.
KIM
Your friend says much more than that, dear Mary. Truth does not require faith or premise. Rational or not, our faith relies on our truth. Misplace one part, shadow one glimmer of truth’s radiance, and it becomes more hideous than the most creative lie. You, of all, should agree, High Priestess.
MARY
I am not questioning our faith, milady, only our tactics. Fighting without a chance of victory is not bravery, it is a blind folly that ends as quickly as an arrow to the heart. If you think I protest this battle out of cowardice, know that I would gladly lay down my life in service to the Empire.
KIM
General Jane, you are Our finest warrior, and a role model for all women, you have sacrificed yourself countless times in service of the Goddess. We have never seen your match in combat and We would never want to ever be your enemy. No, dear Mary, We will not flee. Our faith in you is equal to Our faith in the Goddess, and should your confidence in yourself ever surpass Our confidence in you, you would be an invincible force, indeed. Your unyielding faith and noble sense of loyalty is why the Goddess has spoken through your dearest friend, Carmella, and Carmella tells Us that the Goddess has chosen you for a very special task.
MARY
Carmella; she came here?
KIM
Yes, your friend reported one of her visions to Us, as is her duty to do so on such occasions. My scribes tell me it is a curious portent indeed, for it tells of you being sent on a task of great importance to the Empire.
MARY
(Takes a knee, bows head.) For the Goddess and my Empress, all that you will to be done shall be done.
KIM
Despite the bleak outlook of our cause, Carmella has forseen Our final victory under a new moon. My scribes agree, and say the planets are in alignment for such an event. (Crouches and touches MARY'S chin, lifts her head, leans inward. KIM is so exquisitely graceful, she appears to float on air.) This mission could turn the tables of tyranny, and the Goddess has chosen you for the mission. You must travel to the Dragon’s Eye Peak. (Relief on the general's face; The eye, not the heart... the Dragon's Heart Peak is the highest peak known, and MARY hasn't scaled that one in at least four hundred years; when she went to the Temple Of The Goddess to kiss the Blue Stone as directed... Hands MARY a scroll that came from somewhere OFF.) Go to the Dragon's Eye, to the Temple Of The Virgin there. Once there, you will light the sacred herbs and recite all the incantations. Then you shall fill the holy basin with the pure, scented water of the temple’s sacred spring. Then you must bathe and cleanse your mind and body. While submerged in the basin, meditate and pray for guidance from the Goddess. Carmella has forseen all this, and says that once there, you will meet a warrior. The Mirror Of The Goddess has forseen you bringing this warrior to Us, to save Us and all of humanity from the dark side of our blessing and restore Our grace in the Goddess’ eyes. Oh! The termagant race Our women have spawned! But perhaps there is hope. As far as We remember, your friend from the library has never been wrong concerning these matters. Is this correct?
MARY
You're right, your highness. Carmella's visions have always come true. Who is this warrior? How will I know her?
KIM
The Mirror of the Goddess tells Us that she only sees these visions as if in a dream and cannot choose what is revealed to her. Apparently, all that she has seen of this warrior is that you bring her to the Holy Temple, and well, this warrior’s appearance is -
MARY
Empress, I shall search for her, no matter how strange she may seem.
KIM
The oracle says you will know her when you see a dragon who bleeds red blood riding upon her back.
MARY
A dragon riding a woman? Zounds! How is that possible? And dragon’s blood is as black-as-shale. What mystery is this?
KIM
With the Goddess, all things are possible. All mysteries are clear. Go, fulfill your destiny and return to Us with the one who can save us from oblivion. We wish you well, Mary Jane.
MARY
(To KIM:) As you command, my Empress. (Private thoughts, walks away down hall. The camera leads her; voice over:) How can one woman save our world from the DEA? What woman could possibly save us? How amazing she must be! Why didn't Carmella tell me of this in person? We've been life-long friends; why did she go to the Empress with her vision? Where is Carmella? I haven't seen her in days. I truly am intrigued, for the thought of meeting this dragon warrior... excites me.
DISSOLVE TO: