Scene 8.05 - The Dark Side
EST: EXT. Roxanopolis - June 13, 1815 - Early Evening
LS: Pirate ship anchored - Twilight
(The Jolie Rouge is parked off the shores of Roxanopolis. A small escort of men lead the landing party inland.)
MONTY
(Skull mask in place.) Something is wrong.
POKE
(Wearing a partial owl-head mask. Eyes still glowing in the dark.) What could it be? I am overjoyed and overwhelmed.
CHONGI
(Wearing a jaw-less jaguar mask, mouths:) These people are all very afraid of something.
POKE
Did you catch that, Grass-burner?
MONTY
Not really.
POKE
Eeple-pay are-bay airy-vey afraid-bay.
MONTY
Gotcha. Let's play it cool.
(They are lead right up to the ziggarat. TERFER sits on a throne, surrounded by maidens and attended by the three elders and their families. It's an orgy of vice. The crowd laughs, as if hearing the punchline to a joke that TERFER was telling.)
TERFER
Oh! Oh-ho! My old bandit friends! To what do I owe this visit?
MONTY
What in the hell has happened here, Terfer? You used to be a nice guy. I leave you for a couple-a years and you become the little dictator? I liked you in your other throne better -- do I have to kick your ass to pull your head out, or what?
TERFER
Hold! Men, no, let him approach. I'm sure he will want to know about his boyfriend and the one they call Mistress Sadie-
MONTY
Huh? What about them, are they here?
TERFER
They're here, and they're safe. If you stay calm and swear your allegiance, I'll allow all of you to roam freely; under my protection-
MONTY
I was wrong about you.
TERFER
That- hurt - You want a mass execution, we can do that and you might win, but if you play along with my plan you and your friends might see the light and finally go my way-
MONTY
You've embraced the dark side, and you have condemned your people with you -- I will never submit to this debauchery-
TERFER
Very well: Kill the prisoners, starting with his daughter-
MONTY
Wait! ...Daughter?
TERFER
Your Mistress has a cute little cub that wants to call you Daddy. It would be a shame if you never got to meet her.
ECU: Men's faces
MONTY
(Long pause. They stare each other down; MONTY sees TERFER look furtively to the men next to him-) Very well. You truly are a king, and much too clever for me. My liege, I bow to your crown, and I, and my companions, will comply with my oath of fealty-
TRIBAL ELDER OF THE MOUNTAIN
Well spoken, Lord General! A loyal soldier would fall upon his sword to prove his fealty, a traitor would not -- which are you?
BULLY
Yeah!
ANOTHER BULLY
You tell 'em, Dad!
MONTY
(Draws sword.) Does my King request this?
TERFER
Absolutely not, Lord General. The tribal elder speaks out of turn. Rather, I will make sport of you as pleases me, and as it pleases the very elements. I shall use you. Your sweat and blood will bring a fruitful harvest to our land and all of our people!
(The group affirms this proposition. Looks like everybody's ready to get back to the free-wheelin' orgy.)
TERFER (Cont'd)
Know: If you err even once from your promise to behave, I shall begin the slaughter. My people lack for entertainment, and you would do well to give them light fare to sate them. Hch! Begone with you and your minions, I care not to see you again this night. I have a headache and I shall retire early. Make camp outside of town, Cass, I do not want your stench of the sea to offend my nostrils nor the slumber of my beloved people. Back to the beach with you! (They exit.) No offense intended, tribal elder...
TRIBAL ELDER OF THE SEA
None taken, Lord King. (Leans in...) You know, we could send sand-assassins out tonight for them-
TERFER
Bah! They are losing sleep keeping guard nonetheless, why worry our heads on the misery that they themselves create? Why deny the amusements in store? Did you not find the mute one comely? Would you not want to experience her charms?
TRIBAL ELDER OF THE SEA
Yes... yes! A wiser king has never spoken.
TRIBAL ELDER OF THE SKY
Good night, your highness, it is a shame you have another one of your headaches. I hope you rest soundly, my king.
TERFER
As I do every evening, cradled in God's hands, worrying not of the mortal flesh, but rather cleansing my divinely-chosen soul.
(He's out, into the vault, using a secret means to enter -- sans bodyguard. The hatch closes. The elders get the party started.)
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. Beach - Night.
MONTY
I could make a fire.
POKE
I'm not cold; are you cold, Chongi?
CHONGI
(Cuddling, shivering, mouthing:) No.
MONTY
This is ludicrous, let me go back there and reason with-
POKE
Grass-Burner, you heard the man, it's his kingdom and if he's gone to the dark side, he's only going to find out on his own that-
MONTY
I was too early with him -- I pushed him too hard, made him finish too soon- he's just a boy...
POKE
You cannot blame yourself; be as a father, as I am with you. Only take credit when he succeeds, never take blame when he fails.
MONTY
Yes, yes, but it is such a disappointment. He had so much promise! (Looks at his burns.) I mean, he came back for seconds!
TERFER
(Masked in a different dragon mask, far more ghetto. His street mask; which he prefers to wear, but doesn't as king.) Casino!
LS: TERFER
(He waves at the masked trio from a cave near the beach. He is dressed as a beggar and carries a torch. He beckons them.)
MONTY
Why I outta-
POKE
Grass-burner, wait- It is perhaps a trick-
MONTY
Let's all go.
TERFER
(Bows deeply:) Master, please allow me to explain.
MONTY
You got thirty seconds.
TERFER
The tribal elders are slowly poisoning me, I'm taking antidotes but they keep changing the poison. I'm running out of antidotes. They don't fight for my crown as long as I do their bidding -- they run everything -- I have to sleep at night and they've bought everyone around me, I let them believe they lead me -- what can I do but accede or make them think I'm more ruthless than they? They'd have killed you if I welcomed you. I called you Cass; did you notice the artifice in my speech when I banished you?
MONTY
Do I have a daughter or not?
TERFER
Yes! They're not in any danger. I have them under house arrest, watched by the only ones I trust anymore; I will take you to them.
MONTY
We've got to solve this post-haste, this ain't even funny. (Pause. Flexes finger and hand joints.) I could school them all again-
TERFER
No! I know a better way -- divide and conquer -- be patient; come!
MONTY
Does that cave lead to the catacombs? The library passages?
TERFER
Yes, Lord General. You know some, Master Kong knows a few more -- Only I know them all. Come! I have much to show you!
FTB