*Camera tilts around getting different views of paintings of dragons*

V.O.
They say that when a dragon dies, its blood runs into the earth.

*Shot of Palidran running through woods (Tracking shot)*

*Continuous shots of dragon paintings*

V.O.
I know that to be false.

*Close up of Palidran running through woods (Tracking shot)*

*Camera pans and stops on the image of a dragon’s dead body with a warrior holding its head high*

V.O.
It flows into the man who killed it.

*Tracking shot of Palidran running through the woods*

*Palidran stops to look at disturbances on the trail, (Camera follows his hand, and then lingers on the blade of his sword in belt ring, which is covered in blood*

*Palidran looks around him, sees and hears nothing. Suddenly, three Orc Warriors pop out of the ground, they were hidden by loose grass. The Orcs charge Palidran, Palidran avoids first sword, then draws his sword and blocks the second Orc’s attack, and then catching the third Orc’s sword with his and second Orc’s. Palidran pushes off and with same motion of sword cuts Third Orc’s legs. Third Orc falls to the ground with a grunt. Second Orc swings at Palidran, Palidran blocks, goes down on a knee and grabs Third Orc’s sword and stabs Second Orc with Third Orc’s sword. First Orc comes from behind, raises sword to bring down on Palidran’s head, Palidran pulls Third Orc’s sword out of Second Orc and slices First Orc as he’s coming down with sword, First Orc, falls over dead. Palidran stands up, breathing heavy, Orc blood on his face. Palidran goes to First Orc who is still breathing, takes out a length of rope and brings sword down on First Orc in manner to decapitate*


*Far Shot of Raem riding on a horse with three Orc guards jogging beside him*

*Close shot of Raem riding horse, tracking shot*

*Medium shot of Raem riding horse with three Orc guards jogging beside him, stationary camera, Raem looks up with a disgusted look above where camera is and Camera starts to crane up as Raem and Orcs slow down near camera, Camera keeps craning up until it reaches the head of the First Orc hanging by rope to a branch*

*Camera switches to side shot showing entire scene, three Orc bodies are on ground, one is headless. Raem, gets off his horse near them and walks around and looks up at head disgusted and then gives a double take as he sees something*

*Raem walks over to head and pulls a note from Orc’s mouth*

*Raem opens note and reads it mentally, it’s written in blood*

*Close up of note, it reads: Cease your pursuit and no more of your soldiers will suffer.*

*Raem throws down the note disgusted*

*Raem puts his finger in bloody wound of a dead Orc and raises bloody finger to his mouth and tastes the blood*

RAEM
We’re close.

*Raem clutches a chain around his neck with a cruel key attached*

*Raem gets onto his horse and he and his Orc Guards set off in pursuit of Palidran*

*Camera shot from tree cranes down as it watches Raem and the Orc Guards pursue Palidran, it stops as it reaches the head of the Orc hanging in the tree, the camera lingers on the head*


EXT. Day, Waterfall

*Camera focuses on a stone wall, curving around a stream with waterfall*

*Palidran appears and throws himself against the stone wall, breathing heavy*

*Palidran pulls a small, cruel box from a pocket and examines it, camera notices the keyhole*

*Voice is heard as Palidran stares at box, after a few words, the camera switches to the throne room of Remealle, where King Faron is commanding Palidran*

V.O. KING FARON
Find the treasure of the Orcs and bring it to me. It is of great worth, for it can be used to summon the power of dragons. Without this tool, our kingdom will wilt and die under the might of the Roags. And, General Palidran, do not attempt to use it, for the power can only be controlled by a King and its awesome might only respects he who is crowned, that is why the Orcs cannot use it. But for a man so close to the line of the King as you are, the ability to release the power is available to you and so is the great temptation. But be warned, that for you to do so would result in terrible consequences, too shattering for me to discuss.

*Palidran looks at the box and then puts it back into his pocket*

*Palidran hears the noise of a nearby horse and Orcs and runs off camera*

*Raem gets off his horse and goes to the water with his Orc Guards*

*Raem smells the air*

RAEM
He was here.

*Raem and Orc Guards begin to run downstream*

*Palidran is seen leaving the water and running through the woods*


EXT. Night, Forest

*Palidran running through woods, stops at a small flowered tree, Palidran takes one of the flowers in his hand as a V.O. begins then cuts away to Palidran and Laeva in forest near flowered trees like the one Palidran is at*

V.O. LAEVA
We are to scout the Roags… I am afraid they are stronger than we expected. We will return in two nights.

*Laeva looks at Palidran*

LAEVA
I will come back to you.

*Laeva and Palidran kiss*

*Camera goes to Palidran waiting at a field at night*

*Next night, Palidran in different clothes, different people around, waiting*

*Third night, Palidran in different clothes, waiting*

*Fourth night, Palidran in different clothes, waiting*

*Fifth night, Palidran in different clothes, waiting, Palidran starts to cry as he realizes that Laeva is not coming back*

RAEM (Interrupts Flashback, startling)
There!


*Palidran turns and sees Raem and Orc Guards running towards him in distance, Palidran takes off*

*Chase through night forest, tracking shots, cranes, close ups*

V.O. PALIDRAN (begins then cuts to Remealle throne room)
We must send help. It has been five nights.

KING FARON
And risk losing more soldiers?

PALIDRAN
Let me go, let me save them.

KING FARON
I remember a wise general who would console foolishness with wisdom, one who was always ready to serve the kingdom, sacrificing all for the glory of Remealle.

*PAUSE*

PALIDRAN
And what would you have me do?

KING FARON
There is a treasure.

*Raem, Orcs starting to catch up on Palidran*

*Palidran sees them and stops running, draws sword and waits for them, breathing heavy, frenzied*

*Palidran fights and slaughters the Orcs, gets blood all over himself in the fight*

*Palidran keeps walking a few feet and stumbles over a log at the top of a hill overlooking a field covered with tents and soldiers, the Roag Outpost. Palidran looks at outpost frenzied*

V.O. PALIDRAN
And if you’re not back?

V.O. LAEVA
Look for the red flags and you will find me.

*Palidran stares down at the Roag Outpost, Giant Red Flags waving in the wind*

*Palidran is in a frenzy, Palidran breathing very heavy, staring*

*Palidran moves his hand close to his pocket, his hand shaking*

V.O. PALIDRAN (Cuts to Remealle Throne Room)
And after we have this power, will we drive the Roags from the land? Will we save Laeva, will we save them?

KING FARON
Laeva is beyond our reach now.

*Palidran reaches into his pocket and takes out the box, his hand trembling*

*Palidran walks to Raem and rips the chain with key off of his neck and walks back to the edge of the hill and looks down on the Roag Outpost. Palidran stares down at the camp with a blood frenzy, breathing very heavy, and takes the box in one hand and moves the key towards it with his other hand. Palidran inserts the key into the box, he pauses staring down at the Red Flags, Palidran turns the key and the box opens with a flash of light*

*(Camera goes to) King Faron who is in bed, who jumps awake to a flash of light in his room, and a noise like lightning. King Faron sits up, sweating, terrified*

KING FARON *Quiet, deathly afraid, knows what has occured*
Palidran… What have you done?

*(Camera goes back to) Palidran standing on hill top looking down on the Roag Outpost, his eyes are glowing red, his clothes and demeanor seem darker. Palidran stretches out his arms and then pushes his arms forward and balls of fire fly towards the Huran Outpost and explode into furious flames, devouring tents and soldiers, screams are ringing out*

*(Camera goes to) King Faron who is in night clothes and walking through a hall, reaches General Octavo*

KING FARON
Prepare the army.


EXT. Night, Burning Roag Outpost

*Palidran walks amongst the flames, and walks to a tent that is not burnt and enters, killing two guards magically immediately upon entry with a quick movement of his arms, Laeva is in the corner of the room, chained up. Laeva stares in fear of Palidran, his eyes glowing red, evil, his body covered in blood. With a movement of his hands, the chains on Laeva fall off her wrists. Palidran walks to her*

*Palidran caresses Laeva’s face, she is terrified*

PALIDRAN
Be still, my queen.


INT. Night, Remealle Hall

*King Faron puts on armor, sheaths a knife, and raises a sword*


INT. Night, Roag Tent

*Palidran is with Laeva*

LAEVA *Trembling*
What.. What has happened to you?

PALIDRAN
An awesome transformation, I have powers men have only heard of in tales.

LAEVA
What are you saying?

PALIDRAN
We can rule Remealle, Faron is not a King, he is a peasant with gold on his head. The royal line must reclaim the throne *PAUSE* and what better way than with this new power?

LAEVA
Don’t say this.

PALIDRAN
Come with me, be my queen, we will rule the earth.

*Laeva looks at Palidran, pause*

LAEVA *Sad*
Who are you?

PALIDRAN *Firm, grabs Laeva’s arm*
You will come with me.

*Laeva pulls her arm away from his grasp*

*Laeva runs from Palidran and out of tent, Palidran turns to the doorway and smiles grimly*

PALIDRAN
Then you will die with them.

____________________________________________________________


EXT. Night, Roag Camp

*Palidran is walking amongst the smoldering remains of the Roag Camp, stepping over dead Roags*

*Roags come out of tents and look at Palidran, Palidran looks at them*

PALIDRAN
Join me.

*Roags look at Palidran and drop their weapons and walk towards him, Palidran smiles grimly*

EXT. Night, Forest

*Palidran is walking through the dark forest*

EXT. Night, Lake

*Palidran is walking into the water of the lake, slowly going deeper and deeper until he is chest deep in water, he lifts his head up, looking at the sky and closes his eyes and continues into the water until he has disappeared underwater*

*(Wide Shot of the lake, the water is peaceful and still), suddenly the water starts to turn dark red, and Palidran starts to emerge from the water, now without a shirt and a large dragon “tattooed” across his body, and his hair is gone*

*Shot of the red water*

____________________________________________________________

INT. Day, Remealle Throne Room

*Laeva enters the throne room, King Faron, Amdurang, and General Octavo are talking*

*Laeva listens while unseen*

AMDURANG
There is an answer to the power, a very unlikely remedy. The only way to stop him is to bring him back to his previous self for a moment. A way would have to be found for his power to be overruled by his own memories. And in that moment of revival, he must be slain. We must find the one who is closest to him.

*Laeva takes in the information, knowing what must be done, and can already feel the pain of killing him*

*Laeva walks to King Faron*

KING FARON
Laeva?

AMDURANG *Continues*
We will need to create a diversion to allow that individual to sneak in undetected. There they must use all tools available to bring back the Palidran of old, and then kill him before he returns to his new form.


EXT. Day, Forest

*Palidran walks into forest alone, finds a small parchment on the ground and picks it up, examining it, it’s the prophecy*

PALIDRAN *Angry*
The prophecy.

*Palidran grips the prophecy, it bursts into flames*

PALIDRAN
The foretold will fall, writhing, begging at my feet. And I will offer no mercy.


EXT. Day, Lake

*Laeva is standing by the water, holding a flower from earlier in the movie*

*King Faron appears*

KING FARON
We march within the hour. Have you come to a decision?

*PAUSE*

LAEVA
As much as it will haunt me, I know what I must do.

KING FARON
He is not himself, this is what he would have wanted to be done. Know that.

*King Faron exits, and Laeva stands alone, a tear runs down her cheek*


EXT. Evening, Palidran’s Camp

*Roag Soldiers are standing guard*

*Camera goes to Palidran, alone, sharpening a cruel blade*

*Yells are heard from nearby*

ROAG GUARD
They are here! They are here! Ready soldiers!

*Palidran looks up and smiles cruelly*

*Roag runs to him*

ROAG
Men are coming, I believe it is the King.

*Palidran smiles*

PALIDRAN
Kill them all, leave the King for me.

*Roag nods and runs off*


EXT. Evening, Palidran’s Camp

*King Faron, General Octavo, Laeva, and Remealle Soldiers are hiding in trees, waiting to attack*

KING FARON
Move in.

*King Faron, General Octavo, and Remealle Soldiers start to slowly jog forward drawing weapons, King Faron gives a look to Laeva, they lock eyes*

*Laeva starts to sneak in a different way*

*Cam. Follows Laeva as she sneaks into Palidran’s Camp, fighting is seen in the background*


EXT. Night, Palidran’s Camp

*Palidran is putting on his armor, piece by piece, then raises his sword to sheath it as Laeva appears*

*Palidran looks at Laeva*

PALIDRAN
If you have changed your mind, and wish to join me, say so. Or may you meet the King in death.

LAEVA *Reaches for Palidran’s hand*
Palidran.

*Palidran stares at her as she mentions the name*

PALIDRAN
That man is gone, that man was weak, unable to save you.

LAEVA *Pleading*
I am here.

PALIDRAN
No, you are not. You are as far away from me as if you were dead.

*Palidran raises sword*

LAEVA
Stop, listen to me! You can fight it, remember , remember.

PALIDRAN
You fool, you dare oppose me!?

LAEVA
No, I am here for you. Remember me, remember you.

*Laeva hands Palidran a flower, the same as earlier*

*Palidran holds the flower, his eyes starting to return to their normal color, a tear runs down his face, as he embraces Laeva*

PALIDRAN
Laeva! What is happening? I feel-

LAEVA *Crying*
Palidran, Palidran…

PALIDRAN
What is wrong?

LAEVA
Nothing. Everything is right.

*Palidran and Laeva lock eyes*

LAEVA *Sobbing*
I can’t do it, I can’t do it.

PALIDRAN
Can’t do what? What is wrong?

*King Faron kills a Roag and turns and sees Palidran and Laeva in the distance*

LAEVA
Know that I love you, know that…

*Laeva draws a knife*

*King Faron watches her with a sad look*

*Cam. Goes back to Laeva and Palidran*

LAEVA
I love you.

*Laeva pulls Palidran in for a kiss and kisses him*

*Cam. Shows knife moving towards body, cam. Shows reaction as knife cut is heard, Palidran reacts*

*Cam. Medium shot shows Laeva holding the knife in her chest, Palidran pushes her away and pulls out the knife*

PALIDRAN
Laeva! Laeva!

*King Faron watches as Laeva falls to the ground dying, Palidran screaming, kneeling beside her*

*Palidran holds Laeva close*

PALIDRAN
Laeva, Laeva, why?

LAEVA
I am sorry, you, you will understand-

PALIDRAN
Understand? What?

LAEVA
Please, I was already dead if it weren’t for you, please, remember that, you have your life back.

PALIDRAN
My life back? You’ve taken my life.

LAEVA *Almost proud in her delivery, knowing she has saved him*
I know....

*Laeva dies and Palidran holds her, King Faron comes to his side and puts his hand on Palidran’s shoulder*

*Cam. Slowly cranes up from above them*


*EXT. Night, Remealle

*Laeva is covered in white clear fabric lowered in ground*

*Remealle and Locktree mourners are in attendance, Palidran goes to Laeva’s side and kneels beside her, starts to cry*

*Palidran stands up and two buriers cover Laeva in dirt, Mourners start to leave, Palidran places the flowers on the grave and starts to walk away, Palidran turns back and looks and then walks off, slowly, dejected*

*(Ground Level Shot of the Grave)*

V.O. FARON
The dragon’s reign has ended.


FADE OUT

CREDITS

First off, camera/technical directions are never to be included in a script. A lot of people will be offended because they think you are stifling their creativity.
Just describe what the audience should see.

For example instead of

quote:

*Shot of Palidran running through woods (Tracking shot)*

Say:

Palidran, a swift, strong elf aged 20, dashes through the woods. Branches slap him in the face , and his long blond hair follows him like a veil.

Here is a general overview of script formatting rules. Most people won't will really take your script seriously if it doesnt follow certain rules.

Or perhaps download a free formatting program. I suggest Celtx. (you can download it from that website, its freeware)
It really saves me a lot of time.


That said, now I'll read the script...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: braininabox,

I've read the formatting rules. This is a script that I will be shooting so I was including things that I want to remember and think about, and left things out that I already know, such as character descriptions because they're already cast.

I just glanced at the formatting and read the comments at the bottom.

Drew, even if you are directing this yourself it's always a good idea to show other people a properly formatted version. Asking for opinions on a script is asking for an opinion on the story. The camera tracking, panning, or tilting doesn't tell you the story. If you want to ask for an opinion on a camera shot, ask about it specifically or (the better option) shoot the film and then ask for opinions on how well it worked.

Also, you may know exactly what the actors look like who are playing the role. But no one else does unless it's in the script.