Here’s a script I’m gonna be working on for the next couple of months. The goal is to get it first into the major short film fests like clermont-ferrand, venice etc. Second is to have it preview a feature film in cinema’s. Its a first draft so if there’s anyone out there who thinks they can bulk it up or have suggestions please comment - constructive critism much obliged
enjoy
‘The Boy Setanta’
An Aniamtion
title card:
‘You may put aside your weapons for I can asure you of your safety here. My hound is the most vicious guard dog in all the land. A gang of men could not get passed him without being savaged’.
The smith Chulain
EXT. FIELD, ANCIENT IRELAND — AUTUMN, DAY
A bare oak looms againt the grey sky as the grass dances and sways.
A sliotar lands in the grass. The noise of footsteps – running, slowing.
A boy enters frame cautiosly - hurling stick in his hand. In the grass a skeleton merges with the grass and ground. A sapling growing from where the gut used to be. There are dints in the decayed scull – bite marks.]
The boy picks up the sliotar with his stick and hits the ball a tremendous whack – he continues running.
Voice over
The druid Cathbad saw the death of Setanta in a vision. He knew his life would be brief but he also knew he would be infamous for he would soon be named Cuchulainn – the greatest hero Ireland had ever known.
Setanta is jogging, picking up the sliotar, hitting and following.
Voice over
Even at this tender age Setanta had shown great promise. The King, Conor had even invited him the the fort of the Smith Chulain to show his fighting skills in a display.
]EXT. CULAIN’S FORT – EVENING
An small iron gate is slowly being pulled up by guards on top of the fort. In the blackness inside the gate a low rumbling growl can be heard. Two red eyes get closer as the growling becomes more menacing.
Voice over
Forgetting about the boy amidst roasted pig and ham and enjoying the fine meade’s from the cellar, Culain unleased his guard dog for the night. Some say the dog was unnatural – a were beast.
We get a glimpse of the huge head as it exits the fort. Saliva dripping from huge fangs.
Voice over
Whatever its origins – whoever came across it never lived to tell the tale!
EXT. FIELD — EVENING
A stag is grazing. POV in the grass. Setanta is salking the stag
Setanta bursts out from his hiding place with a scream. The stag feints and runs at gallop. Setanta chases after it. Considering the speed of the stag, Setanta seems to be catching up with it. He sprints, the wind tearing through his hair.
A spark forms in his hair as he runs. Static particals begin reacting. There is a determination in the boys face, his breathing controlled. He’s gaining on the stag.
He jumps out of the high gras and crashes on the stags back. They topple to the ground and are hidden in the grass.
A beat as the grass sways from the light wind.
The Stag scrambles up and runs away. Setanta rises from the grass and screams with delight after running down the stag. A spark in his hair.
He stops. There is a woodland to his side – dark and eirely quiet. He scans a thicket.
POV thicket. Something is watching the boy.
setanta again gets out his stick and sliotar. He hits the ball and once again begins following.
EXT. CHULAIN’S FORT — EVENING
In the distance we can see the fort. A great glow dances above the perimeter as the fires of the fort blaze.
A crow is feeding on carrion. The ball bounces into frame scaring the crow that flys off to the side.
Voice over
The Morrigan - Goddess of battle, strife, and fertility has a habit of appearing to great hero’s when their life is in danger.
Setanta scoops the ball with the stick.
Setanta
You again!
the crow caws. Setanta feints to attack. The crow doesn’t move.
Setanta looks to the fort. He then looks to the sky – checking his timing. He nods, happy with his progress. He looks to the crow.
Setanta[
So who’s blood is gonna be spilled tonight??
A thunderous roar is heard as the hound attacks Setanta from a blind side. Instinctiely Setanta rolls avoiding the brunt of the initial attack. His arm bleeds though. He smirks, then gauges his foe
The hound is huge. Blood red eyes focused, fangs dripping saliva from huge lock jaws. Its maine is thick with fur and its claws dig deep into the ground.
It attacks again – Setanta manages to jam a log into its mouth just as it clamps down toward his head. Its claws dig into his torso. He screams as the animal tries to get rid of the log. A shock wave seperates them.
He manages to roll free. He stands, his back to the hound. Sparks begin to pulse through his hair and down his body.
The hound circles. Setanta turns. There seems to be bumps on his head, as if his face has become distorted. We can see his arms grow bigger as one of his eyes expands while the other gets smaller. His muscles bend and stretch all over his body – he’s changing as the particals zap around his body and his hair stands on end.
Voice over
The warp spasm.
Setanta has changed, an abomination of the boy. Saliva drools from his mouth as his buckled teeth protrude from his warped mouth. The two now slowly circle each other – then clash as the morrigan looks on.
There is a massive brawl – biting, punching, lacerating, biting, loafing, biting. The hound seems to be getting the better of the boy as he again rolls away
He lands at his hurling stick. He scoops up the ball and prepares. The hound attacks again. This time Setanta fires the ball with such force a trail of smoke follows as it bears toward the oncoming hound. Opening its mouth in its assault the ball jets inside its gob and blasts through the back of the animals skull, killing it immediately. It goes down with a howl – slumping at Setanta’s feet.
Setanta stands unmoved.
]The crow lands on top of the hound, cawing.
The warp spasm begins to reside, the boy taking his original shape again as he falls to his knees. His body is lacerated and bleeding.
A din from the fort as people come running. We boom up above the boy.
Voice Over
[Setanta made a pledge to Chulain that night to protect his lands as a dept of honour. He returned to Emhain Macha a hero.
EXT. RIVER — DAY
A river runs red with blood. On a pillear in the river is a dead man. He’s strapped to the pillar. A crow lands on his shoulder.
Voice over
He died standing soley defending the province of Ulster from the army of Connaught. The boy setanta – Irelands greatest hero – Cuchulainn – The hound of Culain.
END
Let us know how it comes out!
