Forever Holme (Screenplay)

FADE IN ON:-1

INT, NIGHT, 2

Rachel DeCourt is driving home in the middle of a snowstorm. This is Yorkshire,England, present day. She is a young dark haired woman (American).3

The storm is so bad that she can no longer drive through it and the car breaks down. After waiting a little while and realising her mobile phone is not working, Rachel leaves the car to walk the rest of the way.4

RACHEL:5

Damn this weather.. 6

(Checks mobile phone again, still not working)7

RACHEL cont:8

Typical. Damn this island, if it's not raining it's snowing... 9

She walks on, somewhat annoyed and angry that she has to do this. A car drives straight past her and the driver doesn't even offer a lift. She runs after it but to no avail.10

RACHEL cont:11

Hey.. wait.. stop! HEY! HELLO? HELLO? 12

As she continues walking everything seems to get darker, no street lights, the snow slows down a bit and it seems to get colder. She looks around her but there is nothing but blackness. There is a dark forboding forest to the left of her and this makes her feel a little uneasy, but she continues walking. Suddenly out of nowhere she hears a scream, a blood curdling scream that stops her in her tracks, then all is quiet again. She contemplates turning back but shakily continues along the path towards home. A few moments later she hears something else, a mans voice, anguished, calling out in the darkness, not far away. She thinks he may be hurt or something and calls out.13

RACHEL:
Hello? Hello? Is anybody there? Are you okay?14

The sound is coming from the woods, and despite her fear of what could happen, she tentatively starts to walk into the trees, following the sound of the mans voice. He is crying out in the darkness.15

RACHEL:16

Hello? Hello? Are you okay?17

She takes a few more steps and comes out in a clearing, and there kneeling by an old tree stump with his back to her is a man. He is wearing a black, old fashioned suit which is not right for this kind of weather. The man has his fist clenched on the stump and appears to be crying softly. He hears her behind him and turns around, and slowly gets to his feet. He is shivering with cold. As he sees her there his eyes widen as do hers.18

MAN:
(gasps)Rachel? Is it... is it you?19

(prolonged silence, he stares at her and she at him, a little frightened of him)20

RACHEL:
How.. do you know my name?21

MAN:
You.. you are Rachel.. Rachel DeCourt.. am I right?22

(He takes a few steps towards her but she steps back, he stops, still shivering terribly)23

RACHEL:
And what if I am? Who are you and what are you doing here? This is private land you know....24

MAN:
I just can't believe you are alive... Rachel.. you don't remember me?25

(Looks at her and her clothing and looks puzzled)26

MAN continued:
B...but you look... different... what in the world?27

(Looks down at what she is wearing. She takes a hand gun from her pocket for protection.)28

RACHEL:
If you come any closer I'll shoot, and don't think I won't. Who are you? Are you hurt? What? 29

(She moves back a little more, fearful of him. He instinctively puts his hands up)30

MAN:
Don't shoot me! M..my name is Elijah DeCourt... I own the mansion not far from here... 31

RACHEL:
Oh.. you do? Well sir that is a lie for I am the owner of the Forever Holme mansion, so how about we start by you telling me what is going on? Are you hurt? 32

ELIJAH:
My... my name is Elijah DeCourt... I... 33

(He looks very confused and upset, he begins to weep a little uncontrollably)34

ELIJAH:
Can I ask you... what year is this?35

RACHEL:
Are you crazy? It is 2008, Christmas Eve... 36

(She starts to walk away as fast as possible, trying to dial her mobile phone, a bit frightened of this man. He drops to his knees as if in shock)37

ELIJAH
2008? No... it can't be it's impossible... it can't be... 38

(he looks around himself fearfully)39

ELIJAH:
Wait Rachel...stop...40

(The shock takes it's toll on him and he collapses, and falls unconscious. Rachel was about to walk away but she sees he is really in trouble. It is getting colder and she cannot leave him there like that. Against her better judgement she goes back and kneels beside him. She puts her gun away and takes his hand and rubs it gently)41

RACHEL:
Elijah? Elijah are you alright? Wake up... come on.. wake up. 42

(Elijah does not wake up and it is some time before he regains consciousness. Rachel sits nearby trying desperately to get a mobile phone signal. As he awakens she realises the only thing to do is to help him up and get him out of the cold.)43

RACHEL:
Elijah, thank god you are awake, I was beginning to worry...44

ELIJAH:
Rachel? I... is it you? 45

RACHEL:
I have to get you inside. Your suit is not suitable for this weather, you should be wearing a coat at least, and you seem to be hurt. How long have you been out here?46

ELIJAH:
I don't... know how long... 47

(He sits up a little and looks deep into her eyes and she cannot help but look into his)48

ELIJAH:
Dear Rachel... I cannot believe you are alive, I thought you were dead, but you are here right in front of me and that I cannot deny. I don't know how it has happened but... here you are... beautiful as the dawn...49

(He reaches out slowly and touches her cheek with trembling fingers)50

ELIJAH:
And... if the cosmic wills it... we have been given another chance. A chance to save you from... from...51

(Rachel finds herself mesmerised by his eyes and his words seem to her like music, she is for a moment taken in by him completely.)52

RACHEL:
What are you saying? Why do I feel like I know you... what's happening?53

(She shakes her head and snaps out of it, though still very puzzled she tries to help Elijah to his feet)54

RACHEL:
We have to get you indoors or you will freeze out here, can you stand up? 55

(She half drags him to his feet and he puts a lot of effort into standing)56

RACHEL:
I.. live not far from here, its about 20 minutes walk, though it might take a little longer because of the snow and.. you seem to be injured. Do you think you can make it?57

ELIJAH:
Yes.. I... have to. I feel so weak... I could...58

(He almost collapses again but Rachel keeps him standing)59

RACHEL:
I don't know who you are Elijah, but I can't leave you out here to die. 60

(Rachel half drags Elijah through the forest towards Forever Holme Mansion, the snow is very deep and becoming a blizzard. Eventually they come out on to the road and have to cross a field to get to the mansion. The field is covered in deep snow.)61

RACHEL:
Oh my God would you look at that...62

(Turns to him)63

RACHEL (cont):
Elijah we are going to have to get through this field, its the only way, do you think you can make it?64

ELIJAH:
I'll have to. 65

(He gasps for breath and struggles to even move as they tackle the field. After a few steps however he falls unconscious in the snow. Rachel can't hold him up and she herself feels weak in this weather. She kneels by him and takes his hand, on the middle finger of his right hand is an armour ring, and written in gothic letters along the middle is "Archangel" She notices this as she rubs his hand, the ring starts glinting as if there was light on it.)66

RACHEL:
Wake up... please wake up, we are almost there. Please!67

(After some time Rachel begins to panic, she places her face to his mouth and doesn't feel his breath, his chest is not rising or falling and she thinks he is dead)68

RACHEL (Cont):
Oh my God! Wake up please... Elijah don't die.. please don't die... not out here in the cold, in this blizzard, only yards from home... please...69

(Rachel begins to cry with the panic and worry and continues to rub his hand and the ring. Elijahs eyes suddenly open. He whispers under his breath..."70

ELIJAH:
Non omnis Moriar... Magnus opus.. Magnus Magus... 71

(He sits up suddenly, his eyes glow green for a second.)72

RACHEL:
Elijah! Thank God you are alright... (sees the green eyes, is a little scared at first) Oh my God! What was that? What are you?73

(She stands up and begins to run away towards the mansion. He calls out to her, now strangely restored back to complete health.)74

ELIJAH:
Rachel! Stop!75

(She is compelled to stop and turns around fearful of what she might see, however he is alright, his eyes are not glowing green and there is an aura of calm about him. He walks slowly towards her.)76

ELIJAH:
I am not here to hurt you, I would never do that... please...77

(Reaches out and takes her hand. The snowstorm seems to blurb into the background as he touches her.)78

ELIJAH:
We need to get inside. Is this where you live?79

RACHEL (mesmerised):
Yes.. yes.. this is Forever Holme mansion. I.. inherited it.. over a year ago from... a relative I didn't even know I had. It's very old...80

ELIJAH:
You'd be surprised. (Smiles)81

RACHEL:
Oh.. oh.. wait a minute.. need to find my key. There are... people who work here but it's Christmas Eve and I gave them the night off... I was supposed to be at a party, but with this storm... couldn't make it. You were lucky I was on that road at all. 82

(Hunts in her back for a set of keys and opens the door, letting them both inside. He slowly walks in the door and looks around, he seems very emotional about what he sees.)83

ELIJAH:
Still the same... still.. 84

(Rachel watches him as he looks around. She is puzzled but doesn't feel he is a threat.)85

RACHEL:
Are you feeling alright Elijah? You really scared me for a moment back there when you fell... I.. was beginning to think you were dead.86

ELIJAH:
Dead? Me? No.. that will never happen... that will never ever happen...(glances towards the top of the door) Non Omnis Moriar...as they used to say. 87

(Rachel follows his glance and sees written in old letters on a wooden plaque above the door "NON OMNIS MORIAR")88

ELIJAH:
It's a family motto. The meaning is "Live Forever."89

RACHEL:
Non omnis moriar? I haven't seen that before... and yet I have walked through this door a thousand times at least...why didn't I see that?90

ELIJAH:
Perhaps you had no reason to look there.91

(Rachel slowly turns to him, confused and puzzled)92

RACHEL:
Maybe, but what's strange is that you knew it was there.93

ELIJAH:
Of course I do... I saw it every day of my life. Applied the motto to my being...those in the fold know me as that rather than my name. Non Omnis Moriar... they refer to me as that... 94

(He walks to the grand staircase nearby, and places his hand upon the rail, trembling a little... he looks at a particular couple of steps near the bottom and closes his eyes, he is really hearing and seeing something that happened a long time ago, his vision is of a woman in a beautiful long red dress tumbling down those stairs, she is screaming. His memories are interrupted by Rachels hand upon his arm.)95

RACHEL:
Elijah... What is it? Are you alright? I think you need to sit down, did something happen out there tonight? Are you hurt?96

(He turns to her and tries to force the images out of his mind, sniffs a little and quells his emotions. He looks her in the eyes again and she is completely under his power.)97

ELIJAH:
I am not hurt thank you... I would like some tea. (smiles softly)98

RACHEL:
Tea... yes.. you like Earl Grey...no sugar, and only a small amount of milk...99

ELIJAH:
That's right... perfect. 100

CUT TO:
The drawing room of Forever Holme. It is decorated in red and white, there is a mixture of old furniture and new. Elijah looks around at the fixtures and fittings as he waits for Rachel to come in. He sits down as she comes in with a nice warm cup of tea for them both.101

RACHEL:
Here you are. I tried to call an ambulance or something for you but the phone lines are down, and the mobile network is out of action too. This is a terrible storm. Reminds me of the weather in the Oregon. Sometimes it could get this bad, but it is unusual for Britain isn't it?102

ELIJAH:
Are you from the Oregon?103

RACHEL:
Born and bred. (Smiles) I just don't know how we are going to get an ambulance for you, you may need medical attention.104

ELIJAH:
Thank you, but I do not need medical attention, I am fine. Just fine. And you Rachel? Are you alright?105

RACHEL:
Oh.. now that we're inside I am fine too yes... Would you.. like to hear some music?106

(She puts down her tray with the tea on it and goes over to a very old fashioned looking stereo.)107

RACHEL:
I'm a fan of the sixties, so I have a lot of old stuff here, not that I don't like new bands or whatever.. it's just there's something about old music I like. Heck I think I even got some stuff from the forties here... 108

(She searches through her collection and puts on a vinyl record, "To know him is to love him." By Linda Ronstadt.)109

RACHEL:
This is my favourite song. What do you like to listen to Elijah?110

(She turns around as there is no answer. Elijah is sitting there with eyes wide and looks fearful.)111

RACHEL:
Elijah...?112

ELIJAH:
Are.. you ...a ...sorceress? What is that? What? 113

(He gets up and goes over to the record player, he seems to panic a little.)114

ELIJAH:
The.. box that sings... 115

(Kneels down as if in praise)116

ELIJAH (cont):
What is this amazing magic that you do?117

(There is a long silence before Rachel speaks, she watches him closely.)118

RACHEL:
You are so... odd... of course I'm not a sorceress, this is a record player. I'd hate to see you with a television or a CD player... (laughs)119

ELIJAH:
What is a... television or CD player?120

RACHEL:
Stop it you are scaring me now... what century are you living in for heavens sake?121

ELIJAH:
Before I came here it was 1855...(seems to go off in a dream as he talks) I followed my brother into a time portal and I am here... in the future... 2008... 122

(Rachel kneels down beside him concerned for him.)123

RACHEL:
Elijah, maybe you should lie down. Were you in an accident? You seem to have concussion or amnesia or something... let me help you.. come on.124

(She helps him to the sofa but he is not interested. He gets very emotional again and little tears appear in his eyes.)125

ELIJAH:
You've only had this place a year... have you been up to the attic yet?126

RACHEL:
The attic? No... its blocked off, I haven't been able to...127

ELIJAH:
This used to be my house. This morning this was my house, when I woke up. My bedroom is in the attic... I'll show you.128

(He runs out of the drawing room to the grand staircase and up to the attic. He stops at where an entrance would have been to the attic but it is now blocked off as Rachel said. She follows him up the stairs to the attic.)129

RACHEL:
Elijah, wait! What are you doing? Stop! If you touch anything...130

(She stops as she finds him there, face against the wall where the entrance would have been, his body wretching a little, he's clearly trying to quell some very strong emotions.)131

RACHEL:
What.. are you doing? Elijah, talk to me... whats wrong?132

ELIJAH:
When I was a child...(long pause) I was given the smallest room in the house but it was my sanctuary... it was my place. It was right here... who did this?133

RACHEL:
I.. I don't know Elijah, I have only lived here a year...134

ELIJAH:
See... my father, he didn't accept me as his son and I was a servant. (sniffs) For a long time that's all I thought I would ever be... (grabs a nearby chair) But you know.. they haven't blocked this off very well at all have they?135

(He bashes the wall with the old chair and Rachel screams at him to stop but he doesn't stop, he continues till the wall starts to give way)136

RACHEL (screaming hysterically):
What are you doing? Stop, Elijah this is my house! Stop it! Stop it!137

ELIJAH:
I've got to get into my room!138

(This continues for some time, she tries to grab him but it is not use. He continues until the wall collapses to reveal an old wooden door. He bashes agaist the door a few times till it opens... he goes inside and there is silence. After a few moments Rachel tentatively steps forward. The door is half open and there seems to be nothing but darkness on the other side. As she reaches the door a dim light comes on inside of it. She goes through to find Elijah standing by an oil lamp in a very old room. There is a small single bed, and some old furniture and the old wallpaper is peeling off the walls. The window is even boarded up.)139

RACHEL:
This... was... your bedroom?140

ELIJAH:
Yes... and its still here. I knew it would be. 141

(they stand there for some time before either of them move. Elijah goes to an old set of drawers and takes out an old crumbling journal.)142

ELIJAH:
This is my journal... look at it... so old and tattered, only just this morning it was in good condition.143

(He opens it up and Rachel looks at what is in there. There is a very very old photograph of Elijah and another man who looks just like him only with lighter colouring.)144

RACHEL:
Who.. is that?145

ELIJAH:
This was taken before things got bad. That's me... there.. and there... (points to the other man) That is my brother Perceval. We're twins... sort of. See... He was born with the Rosemont looks and colouring and born first... I was born second and share the gypsy colouring with my mother and her family. The Earl hated me from the day I was born.146

RACHEL:
The Earl? Who's that?147

ELIJAH:
My... father. (breathes deeply, pauses.) It is a long story Rachel... but I know why and how I am here now. It's just... a shock that it actually worked...148

RACHEL:
What worked? Look I'm really confused and scared and I don't know who or what you are... This is a shock for me as well.. you have to appreciate that until tonight nothing strange has ever happened to me... Who are you? Tell me...149

ELIJAH: (long pause)
My full name is Lord Elijah Levi DeCourt Rosemont, I am the Earl of Rosemont... and if this was my time... 1855 I would be master of this house. (closes book) 150

(Rachel sits down on the old bed, despite it being a bit grotty.)151

RACHEL:
You...? I did some research on this place, and there was an Earl of that name, I remember, there's some books in the library I read ...
How can you be from 1855? What happened? (shakes her head) No.. this is too wierd, I'm calling the police, you destroyed my house.. you come up with some cock and bull story... (Takes out her mobile phone) I'm not falling for it. 152

(She is about to get out of that room when Elijah interrupts her.)153

ELIJAH:
If you don't believe me, maybe this will convince you...154

(She turns round to see Elijah getting a large covered object from behind the old bed. It is canvas but covered in an old dirty cloth. Elijah removes the cloth and reveals a portrait of a woman in a red dress, she looks exactly like Rachel in every way. Rachel sees it and is amazed and shocked all at the same time. She goes to him and touches the picture.)155

RACHEL:
She looks like me... who.. who is this?156

ELIJAH:
She is you Rachel... I knew you.. her.. as Rachel Rosemont. She was to later become Rachel DeCourt... 157

RACHEL:
This is impossible.. what... whats going on?158

CUT TO:
Back in the drawing room of Forever Holme. Rachel and Elijah are sitting by the fire, as he begins his tale. 159

ELIJAH:
What I have to tell you... may shock you... but it is important that you know everything about me for without knowing the story from the beginning you won't understand the reason I am here, who I am..and why I have to save you. 160

RACHEL:
You have to save me? From what?161

ELIJAH:
Well that is something... I will reveal to you. 162

(sips tea)163

My father the Earl.. his name was Perceval, like my brother. He was very into occult and magick as many of his time were and in a secret society known as Sociatas Rosicruciana in Anglia. The apparent Headquarters were here in Forever Holme. They used to conduct rituals in what is now your library. Well... my mother was part of a travelling show... a gypsy. She and a few others would have been destitute but the Earl took them in to work for them in the year of our lord, 1822...164

CUT TO:
JANUARY 1st 1822165

Housekeeper Allie DeCourt, an old gypsy woman is pleading with the Earl of Rosemont in the drawing room. He is sitting behind a large mahogany desk. Allie is stout and has grey hair. The Earl has long blonde hair tied in a bow and is very handsome, and blue eyed. He is wearing a white shirt and a golden coloured riding jacket.166

ALLIE:
Sir, please they are my family, and they have nowhere to go!
My lord, all I ask is that you give them some employment. They will die otherwise...I didn't know who else to ask..167

PERCEVAL:
I am not a charity Allie, tell your gypsy bretheren to leave immediately. More to the point, if they camp on my land I shall have them shot. Each and every one of them. (looks through papers unconcerned and aloof) Good Lord.. we'll be taking in all and sundry next,Gypsies indeed... pfff...168

ALLIE:
But sir, they will starve and die without help. Is there nothing you can do? (looks desperate, wrings her hands) 169

PERCEVAL:
If I have told you once, Allie I have told you a thousand times. There is no way I would ever....170

(As he is talking he glances out the window at the few gypisies who have come to ask for employment. There is one beautiful young woman amongst them who catches his eye and he stares at her. She stares back for a moment and looks away... he pauses again before he speaks to Allie and puts down his papers.)171

PERCEVAL:
Hmm... (glances at the girl again and she glances back and smiles) However in this instance I will make an exception. Show your family to the servants quarters in the attic. 172

ALLIE:
Sir... do you mean to say?173

PERCEVAL:
I mean to say that I shall take them on as servants for six months only, and if my house is kept in good repair, if I am served as an Earl should be then perhaps I shall consider longer employment. Show them to their rooms. (He and the girl exchange glances again and smile.)174

CUT TO:
An evening of Ritual. The Earl is dressed in his regalia and there are several of the members dressed in red hoods and watching and chanting. The gypsy girl is brought to him naked and screaming and against her will, till the Earl approaches her. Her name is Elisse DeCourt, she is a maid in the household. He touches her neck and she stops screaming.175

PERCEVAL:
Silence woman... you are beautiful and would make a fine wife for me. (Smiles) But first... there are one or two things you need to do... alright?176

(Elijah continues to tell Rachel the story, his voice can be heard as the screen shows the Earl kissing her)177

ELIJAH:
I am told she married the Earl for love, and money, but he treated her very badly and used her. She wanted to help her family too so I heard and they encouraged her. But my father was a very evil man indeed... so evil he would constantly beat her.. but nine months later.. 22nd October.. Elisse DeCourt Rosemont gave birth to two boys...178

CUT TO:-
A bedroom in the attic of the house. Allie and several members of the gypsy clan are rallying around to help Elisse give birth. She screams out but Perceval enters the room and slaps her face hard much to the disgust of the other people there. She gives birth to a fair haired boy. The Earl smiles and holds his son.179

PERCEVAL:
A fine boy of Rosemont birth.. you shall be named after me.. your father... (smiles pleased) And your mother shall be reprieved for she has done her duty unto me...180

ALLIE:
There's a little foot there....181

(It is evident that Elisse is giving birth to twins. But there are complications with the second child, he is breech birth and it causes distress for her.. as she gives one final push, the baby is born but she collapses and stops breathing. She is pronounced dead by one of the people there. Later the Earl is given the second child which he refuses to hold.)182

ALLIE:
My lord, your son...183

PERCEVAL:
That is not my son... that is a monster... give it to me and I will throw it in the fire... kill it...184

(He grabs the child with every intention of throwing it into the fire, but as he prepares to throw the child, the fire burning and crackling in the hearth suddenly goes out. He throws the baby back to Allie.)185

PERCEVAL:
I don't want it.. it is a gypsy boy... he's no son of mine.186

(Despite the baby crying the Earl walks off leaving him in the care of his housekeeper.)187

Cut to:
Christmas Eve 2008, Forever Holme. Rachel is listening intently to his story, and glances at the fire in the drawing room as he tells her what happened and sips his tea.188

RACHEL:
He would have thrown you into the fire? But.. why would he do such a thing...? That's awful.. he sounds evil... 189

ELIJAH:
To explain THAT, I'd have to go back further. My father was an only child and his father before him and so on... right back way back... 190

(pauses eerily and there is a long silence. Only the sound of the fire crackling can be heard. He speaks softly.)191

ELIJAH (cont): Not one female child was ever born to house of Rosemont... not one.. (pause) only one son for each generation. That was the way of it, tis the curse of the Rosemonts Rachel. (looks thoughtful, pauses again and sips his tea.) I should not have been born, I was the second son. A black sheep you might say... Perceval and I grew up side by side, but I never realised... I never knew I was his brother, not for a long.. long time. 192

RACHEL:
Why was that?193

ELIJAH:
Nobody ever told me. (sits gazing at her, looking deep in her eyes again.) Not Allie, not anybody. I myself guessed the truth for we look so similar. Of course Allie had to tell me the truth in the end. 194

RACHEL:
That is such a sad... sad story. But... how did you become the Earl then? Surely your brother would have taken the title and everything right?195

ELIJAH (sips tea): Aye well... that will come Rachel, I'll tell you everything. 196

(Suddenly the lights fail and go out, the house is in darkness but for the light of the fire)197

RACHEL(gasps): Oh no, the power is gone, I'll have to go outside to the fuse box and.. damn I knew I should have had this place rewired...198

(She gets up and goes to put on her jacket, but a light comes back on, just one in the corner where Elijah is sitting. He is just sitting looking at it. She stops and is astounded at what he is doing.)199

RACHEL:
How...are you doing that? (frightened) No.. thats not right.. people can't do that... 200

(He turns to her and stands up)201

ELIJAH:
It was a simple manipulation, please sit down I... I didn't mean to frighten you Rachel.202

RACHEL:
How did you do that?203

ELIJAH: (places hand upon her shoulder)
I sense your fear of me, please Rachel... Rachel, I want you to be at ease. 204

(Their eyes meet and she feels calm again. He is very close and there is chemistry between them that is undeniable. He moves forward slightly and she subconsciously moves her head back a little as if to allow him in to her personal space, at that moment he leans gently forward and kisses her lips softly.)205

RACHEL:
Elijah... I wasn't expecting...206

ELIJAH:
Shh.. it's alright.207

RACHEL:
Yes...yes it is...208

(She kisses him back, and it melts into something deeper.)209

RACHEL:
I don't know what to say... I'm scared... 210

ELIJAH:
Scared of me?211

RACHEL:
Of how I feel. I've only known you a few hours, it's not like I know you well enough to trust you or...212

ELIJAH:
I feel like I have known you a lifetime Rachel. Indeed I have...213

(long silence.)214

CUT TO:
Elijah as a child asleep in his bed, there is screaming to be heard as his father is shouting and hitting his brother,Perceval. Elijah is terrified. He is aged 7 years. There is silence for a few moments before his door is opened and he is dragged screaming from his bed.215

ELIJAH: (Screaming)
No, no master I have done nothing, please don't hurt me! 216

PERCEVAL (SNR):
Shut up, gypsy boy, you shall be made to suffer for what you are, I will tolerate no nonsense from you or that other child is that clear?217

ELIJAH:
Master, what have I done? What have I done?218

(Drags both boys into a room, closes the door, we hear banging and thumping and screaming. Allie stops outside the door, is concerned for the boys but knows if she intervenes she will also be beaten. She bows her head in tears and walks away, closing doors behind her to try to block out the sound of their screaming.)219

CUT TO:
A small room. The Earl has done with his beating and Elijah and Perceval are left alone in the room. It is quite bare and there is only an old mirror in the corner. The curtains are drawn. Perceval is dressed in gold like his father, Elijah wearing dark coloured rags. Perceval sits in a corner, his head in his knees as Elijah looks in the mirror at himself and to Perceval.220

ELIJAH:
I look like you.221

(long silence)222

ELIJAH (cont):
Don't you think I look like you?223

PERCEVAL:
What an insult. You are nothing more than a gypsy boy, you look nothing like me!224

ELIJAH:
No... I do, come see, come look in this mirror.225

PERCEVAL:
No.226

(Perceval rocks back and forth, and wipes his bloodied nose on a handkerchief)227

ELIJAH:
Please, Master Perceval, I meant no disrespect sir.228

PERCEVAL:
My father will have you beaten to a pulp if you insult me so.229

ELIJAH:
Beggin' your pardon sir but your father has beaten us both to a pulp. Come see, look in this mirror. 230

(Curious, the young Perceval makes his way over to the mirror and they look in it together. They are the same height, and have the same eyes and nose and mouth, only thing that is different is their colouring.)231

ELIJAH:
I do look like you. Why is that?232

PERCEVAL:
We could be twins. (looks surprised) But how am I looking like a gypsy boy.233

(long silence)234

ELIJAH:
I think we are brothers Master Perceval.235

PERCEVAL:
I have never had a brother. My father says I will never have a brother nor a sister and I have to carry on a family trasmition...236

ELIJAH:
No, I think you mean "tradition!"237

PERCEVAL:
Don't you tell me what you think I mean. I know what I mean.238

ELIJAH:
I am sorry Master Perceval.239

PERCEVAL:
And so you should be. No gypsy boy should speak to me like that!240

(long silence)241

ELIJAH:
I don't have a brother either. (pause) We could pretend to be brothers.242

PERCEVAL:
(long silence and smiles a little) We could. Father would never know. We don't have to tell him do we?243

ELIJAH:
I would like to pretend to be your brother. Even if I am not, Master Perceval.244

(They both smile at each other in the mirror)245

Perceval)Aye that would be good.246

CUT TO:
(Several scenes showing the boys growing up together at Forever Holme. Playing hide and seek, football, running and playing together and going fishing etc. Close up on Allie who is both happy and worried at the same time about the boys. Fast forward a few years, Elijah and Perceval are now 12 years old. Elijah is in the kitchen with Allie having cleaned out the stables and he is a bit dirty. He is having some hot soup.)247

Allie:
You'll catch your death out there in the cold Eli. There's a terrible winter coming I can feel it.248

ELIJAH:
Aye, there were frost everywhere Allie. I think it might snow tonight. Percival was out riding, he says he won't be going tomorrow.249

ALLIE:
You get on with Perceval really well don't you?250

ELIJAH:
He looks like me. I keep wondering why that is, I'm sure we are brothers. 251

(Long silence)252

ELIJAH:
You usually tell me to shut up and forget about that...253

ALLIE:
Ah.. lad, but you keep askin'.. (looks worried) he IS your brother Eli... 254

(Slowly he puts his spoon back into his bown and sits there staring at the table. He clasps his hands together.)255

ELIJAH (quietly):
Aye well I thought he was.256

(long silence, he speaks again after a few moments)257

ELIJAH:
Are we twins then?258

ALLIE:
Yes... he.. was born first and then you were born. Your poor mother couldn't take it and she... 259

ELIJAH:
Was my fault wasn't it? 260

(His eyes fill up though he tries to keep calm and a single tear runs down his cheek.)261

ELIJAH:
Maybe thats why the Earl hates me so... and resigns me to being a servant when I'm actually his son....262

ALLIE:
Oh no.. no lad it weren't your fault, she was havin' complications and... oh.. stop it lad, nowt good ever came from cryin' over spilt milk.263

ELIJAH: (staring at her, frightens her a little)
The death of my mother his a bit more serious than spilt milk..isn't it Allie?264

(The whole room seems to go very quiet and even the sound of the fire crackling blurbs into the back ground. Elijah seems to look very dark indeed. Allie seems to be hypnotised by him.)265

ELIJAH:
You'd bring me up to believe I am just a gypsy boy, you weren't going to tell me the truth at all were you Allie? Nobody was going to tell me anything...266

ALLIE:
I.. would have told you....267

ELIJAH:
Not if I hadn't guessed...268

ALLIE:
No...lad I... probably wouldnt' have...the Earl you see, he's an evil man.. and sadly the only person keeping us in hot food and shoes... 269

ELIJAH:
Do you know what the Earl does to us... to me and Perceval? Do you know what he does when he takes us into that room? He makes us strip down so we have nothing on... 270

ALLIE: (distressed)
No.. Eli.. no.. please...271

ELIJAH:
I frightened him last week, you should have seen the look on his face... I don't think the Earl is human you know. I think he's a monster.272

ALLIE:
You shouldn't be sayin' those things Eli... you...you're too young.. to talk like that.273

ELIJAH:
He's a demon. Sometimes I see that demon in his eyes staring out at me, I know it's there and then sometimes its him and he's pathetic... 274

(Perceval enters the room having heard what Elijah said and it breaks the strange atmosphere and everything seems to return to normal.)275

PERCEVAL:
I need to speak to you Eli... 276

(Elijah gets up and leaves the room with Perceval. They are talking in the hall out of earshot of anyone else.)277

PERCEVAL:
He's out, drinking with those...people.278

ELIJAH:
Is he? 279

PERCEVAL:
You know what's going to happen to us when he gets back don't you? 280

ELIJAH:
Aye... same as always Perceval...(deep sigh) Allie just told me something... I believe her actually. 281

PERCEVAL:
What?282

ELIJAH:
I'm your brother. I always have been and I always will be. 283

(Perceval stares at him almost in disbelief.)284

PERCEVAL:
If father heard you talking like that he'd...285

ELIJAH:
Have me beaten? Tch.. couldn't get any worse than that could it Perce? Beaten... raped.. used for his pleasure because that's whats happening. He doesn't see us as people.286

PERCEVAL:
We've got to talk to him about it... we've got to say something. Got to get him to treat us with a bit more respect. He'll be home soon.287

CUT TO:
Later that evening. From inside Elijah and Perceval hear horses hooves outside, a clear indication their father is home. He enters the house almost breaking the door down, swaggering and drunken. He has a bottle in one hand. He slams the door hard and staggers towards the library.288

PERCEVAL SNR:
Allie, Allie where's my supper, you old woman! You whore! Where are you? The Lord wants his supper, when I say jump you jump... bloody servants...should be shot.. everyone of them.. fxxing gypsies... maybe I will... maybe I will.. fxxck sake....289

(there is a gun cabinet in the library. He goes to it and starts loading a rifle. Elijah and Perceval enter the library as he is doing this, he's not doing it very well because he's drunk.)290

PERCEVAL:
Father we must speak with you.291

PERCEVAL SNR: (mocking, high voice)
Father we must speak with you... only thing you'll be saying is a long slow low groan of death... fxxing gypsies the lot of them. What was I thinking of when I invited them into my house? (wry smile) Oh yeah I remember.. only thing they are good for anyway. Ah but she was a beauty, bit of a vixen but a beauty nonetheless.292

(He turns round aiming the rifle loosely at Perceval)293

PERCEVAL: (eyes gun)
F..father... um... what are you going to do with that?294

PERCEVAL SNR:
What does it look like boy? I'm going to shoot the gypsy boy, and then the bloody housekeeper for not having my supper on the table for when I get home.. simple as that. About time I shot the lot of them... about bloody time. (takes a drink) 295

ELIJAH:
Master Perceval Sir... you're my father too aren't you?296

PERCEVAL SNR:
Bingo.. you're smart... your a gypsy but yes you are smart. (laughs) I like that, at least you got some Rosemont in you. Hahahaha... Welcome to the fold... SON....fxxk sake... pity your life won't be that long. (aims rife directly at him) I'm going to blow your head off... how about that?)297

PERCEVAL:
FATHER! STOP!298

(Perceval reaches out his hand and with a force the gun flies out of his fathers grasp and he grabs hold of it. Elijah watches wide eyed at this.)299

ELIJAH:
How did you do that?300

(Perceval is equally surprised)301

PERCEVAL:
I... I don't know...302

(The Earl laughs and sits down in his big leather chair)303

PERCEVAL SNR:
He was concieved during magic ritual.. he's a Magic Child...my son.. ha ha ha... aren't you Perceval? It seems your powers are coming to light...304

(Perceval aims the gun at his father)305

PERCEVAL:
What are you saying?306

PERCEVAL SNR:
You are a Magic Child. (drinks) concieved as part of a ritual. Don't worry your mother was very willing... and able. 307

PERCEVAL:
You raped her.. (grows angry) You selfish bastard...308

PERCEVAL SNR:
Perhaps. (laughs) And it is your destiny to carry on what I have. I didn't have a choice and neither do you... (glances at Elijah)309

(At that point Elijah stares back at him, and he hears his fathers voice in his head.)310

VOICE:
You are an abomination, you will never win... child of darkness...311

(Perceval also hears his fathers voice in his head)312

VOICE:
It is now your turn. 313

PERCEVAL:
What are you saying? How are you saying that...314

(for a moment the expression on his fathers face changes, he looks a bit fearful)315

PERCEVAL SNR:
I didn't have a choice, none of us did... forgive me Perceval... I'm so sorry...316

PERCEVAL:
Forgive you? How can I ever forgive you afer everything you have done...?317

(There is a long silence and suddenly there is the sound of a gunshot, and then another one. Perceval Snr is shot in the head twice. And yet through all that he stands up and goes to Perceval and stares right into his eyes... and whispers...)318

PERCEVAL SNR:
Your turn....319

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