Episode Knotes

Sound of a cell door closing followed by course laughter.

PIRATE 1

See there, love, your little friend still gets some light. She goes back to the regular cell. But you, oh you, get a treat. You get the box, and the darkness. Remember when they threw Old Tom in the box after his botched rigging messed up the mainsail?

PIRATE 2

Aye, two weeks in the box, the man still whimpers to ‘imself when the sun sets, poor bastard.

PIRATE 1

Who knows how long we’ll keep you here, maybe till you never stop whimpering.

AMANDA

A child fears the darkness.

PIRATE 2 

(laughing) And and adult can be made to fear it in ways they could never imagine. 

VANESSA

(hissing) You did this to us, Amanda.

AMANDA 

We mustn’t despair.

More laughter followed by the sound of a heavy door closing.

Footsteps down the hall. Pirates leave

AMANDA

(to herself, uncertain) I will not be undone.

Footsteps approaching. 

VANESSA

(panicked) No, you’ve done enough. Go away.

KNIGHT

Hush child, I’m not here to harm you.

AMANDA

(Muffled through door) The false knight comes to gloat, have you absolutely no honor?

KNIGHT

It’s hard to hear you through that door, perhaps we should speak face to face.

The sound of Reaver Flying outside the ship, and dropping the keys through the high up porthole. Frantic shuffling.

AMANDA

(gasps) Reaver, how?

KNIGHT

I asked him to retrieve the keys, knowing they’d take you here.

AMANDA

You asked a bird? 

KNIGHT

We all have our talents, Miss Camaron, follow the thought to its conclusion.

AMANDA

I’ve heard some of the older knights talking about the prowess with animals the Gadanin Knights possess.

KNIGHT

It goes deeper than mere prowess, regardless, you seem to have figured out who I represent. Now let me tell you why I’m here, I was given a mission directly from my king to investigate these pirates. Knowing we would be discovered I chose to turn you in so that, I could choose the time to release you. I had Reaver here steal the spare set of keys.

AMANDA

So you can command him?

KNIGHT

More like we have a mutual respect for one another, I’d steal keys for him as well.

AMANDA

(Dry chuckle)

Sounds of cell opening

AMANDA

Come Vanessa.

VANESSA

(stern) No, please.

AMANDA

You heard what he said, it’s logical, it fits. We have to move, we have to be on deck when my mother’s ship arrives to rescue us. 

VANESSA

I can’t.

AMANDA

You must!

VANESSA

This is insane. The ship is crawling with pirates. Sometimes I think that you might be part of their torture. I don’t have anything left, Amanda, they’ve broken me.

AMANDA

Oh, come off of it! I am a prisoner on this ship, not prisoner to it. 

VANESSA

Enough! You act as though you are already the Sylvi, you're not even a Knight!

AMANDA

(Angry) No I am not a knight, but I am not going to lay around for the rest of my life at the bottom of a filthy ship rotting away like the rest of the bodies in your cell.

VANESSA

They will kill you up there!

AMANDA

Then so be it!! 

KNIGHT

Ladies, we do not have time for this. Stick close to me, there are pirates everywhere. Fortunately I know the lesser used paths and concealed spots.

AMANDA

Lead the way. ( turns to vanessa) We could live or die together...

VANESSA

Sigh. Seems like that would be our motto...Alright. 

KNIGHT

(Condescending) Now that that is settled…

AMANDA

I should probably return this to you.

KNIGHT

My dagger?, when? (impressed)

AMANDA

As you were turning us in.

KNIGHT

And what pray tell were you planning on using it for?

AMANDA

(Huskily) Whatever turned out to be necessary.

KNIGHT

Keep it, though hopeful there will be no drastic necessity.

AMANDA

So what of your mission, won’t aiding us compromise it?

KNIGHT

My diminutive Lady...

AMANDA

I’m not small and I’m not that young.

KNIGHT

At least half my years I’d wager. To answer your question, I am a knight first and foremost. This mission is important but not as important as saving your life. Now that your lineage is known you are in incredible danger, part of the crew wants to try to ransom you, the other part wants to throw you to the ocean. The Captain is leaning towards the latter. 

AMANDA

Will you have failed then?

KNIGHT

I’ve learned frustratingly little in my two years aboard, though I have found the best places to overhear important meetings. These pirates are uncannily organized. Several times we have met with strange groups, though only the captain and his mates went ashore. Also, rather than simple pillage, the Captain always seems to have a larger agenda. On one occasion we passed a large merchant ship in order to intercept and sink a tiny messenger craft.

VANESSA

That is strange.

KNIGHT

Stranger still was the time I was listening in on a meeting in the Captain’s quarters. I could hardly make out the details from my place of concealment. Three things stuck out though, the man the Captain was speaking to had a voice that could make flesh crawl, he definitely wasn’t a member of the crew, yet this meeting was occurring while we’d been at sea for a month. I heard the man mention poison, then he dropped to the floor presumably dead. Judging by the voices the Captain was standing nowhere near the man when he collapsed. It all made little sense.

(Sound of doorway opening into the passageway, and two pirates jumping out.)

PIRATE 1

I told you I heard voices back ‘er, and what do I find, my two little loves and the mercenary I never trusted.

PIRATE 2

Just like you said. Creeping through the old tunnels.

KNIGHT

Run!

(Amanda & Vanessa run smack into the clutches of two pirates behind them)

AMANDA

(Grunt). (Anger) Get out of our way!!

VANESSA

(sounds of struggling as if Vanessa has finally found her strength and is trying to get free - aka not whimpering)

AMANDA

(Angry) Put her down!

(Pirate 3 punches Amanda square across the face, dazing her, sound of Amanda making a groggy noise)

PIRATE 3

Best learn to speak when spoken to.

(Sound of Knight’s blade being drawn) 

KNIGHT

Live or die men...make the choice.

(Unseen pirate jumps out from behind and a bone crunching sound the knight is knocked out sword drops)

PIRATE 2

Enough of you, (turns to pirate 1) I claim his sword when this is through.

PIRATE 1

Keep them alive, as the Captain ordered. Let’s go. 

(interlude) 

(Sounds of a door opening and people being shuffled around the room)

PIRATE 1

Captain. We have brought the prisoners. 

CAPTAIN

Here he is, the would-be hero. Look who suddenly wants to do the right thing. I’ve nary met a harder man than you mercenary, the way you dance with that sword, it could bring a man to tears. 

KNIGHT

Most would agree I have a talent with a blade

CAPTAIN

It certainly must have brought tears to the eyes of the widows you’ve made. Did I not pay you enough? Or were you overcome with pity for these helpless wretches or maybe it was a baser emotion?

KNIGHT

Hmmph (Cocky)

CAPTAIN

I had plans for you, fool, we could have been lords. Ah well, at least now I have a chance to practice my dentistry. The girls look eager for a taste, and I think you’d make a fine audience, soldier. A shame my tools have grown a bit rusty, but no matter, they will suffice.

(rule of 3 sounds and music)

Sound of Heartbeat 1

AMANDA: 

Wrap my leg around the chair next to me hurtling it at the captain to cause a commotion

VANESSA

(panicked quick whisper as to not draw attention) 

Amanda, What are you doing? 

Sound of Heartbeat 2 

AMANDA

Let my body go limp to sink to the floor enough to thrust myself upwards slamming the pirate in the face with my head

Sound of Heartbeat 3

AMANDA

As the pirate falls to the floor, grab his sword from his sheath and in the same motion twist and launch my hidden dagger at the pirate holding Vanessa

(A massive commotion ensues, the sounds of combat, Vanessa grunting as objects are flung around.)

AMANDA

Vanessa, to me, we must get out!

PIRATE

(From far away) A ship approaches!

(Sound of steel being drawn)

CAPTAIN

Shame, I’ll guess I’ll have to do you first traitor.

KNIGHT

It makes no difference to me, I welcome death!

(Reaver screeches)

CAPTAIN

Filthy thing, ugh, got you.

KNIGHT

(screams) (A crunch, Reaver and Knight scream simultaneously)

CAPTAIN

Oh ho, not only a traitor but a Knight spy to boot. Fortunately a Knight’s heart is in the same place as any natural man’s.

KNIGHT

Get yourselves out! (to the girls)

(Slide of a blade Knight is killed sounds)

KNIGHT

(Death sounds)

AMANDA

(Despairingly) Up and out Vanessa, it's our only hope.

(Running)

AMANDA

There, look, my mother's ship. I knew she would come.

VANESSA

(in a sad/consoling tone) Amanda…

AMANDA

(excited) This is it, we’re finally free

VANESSA

Amanda....

AMANDA

(Kind of annoyed, but still excited) What??

VANESSA

...Look.  

(Amanda Looks)

AMANDA

(Devastated/heart-broken/) 

...It’s not her ship...She didn’t come.