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libra_traveller
Screen’s Black
The sound of galloping horses becomes louder and faster until there’s a gun shot and then silence.
Ext. Dalakis Estate – Fall
Through the gate and up a walkway, a large mansion comes into view. The top window has opened curtains. In that room, Mariana throws a vase against the wall.
Int. Mariana’s Bedroom
The shards of the vase sparkle on the wooden floor and the water puddles out. Mr. Dalakis stares at the mess.
Mr. Dalakis
Control yourself! I will not have a daughter
behave so irrationally.
Mariana
Irrational? You, who will marry me off to
someone solely for business cannot understand
what rational is.
Mr. Dalakis
You would rather live in poverty then? Perhaps
marry someone like our gardener, or a shop
keeper.
Mariana
Yes, if it were for love. Is not an unhappy man
just as poor? No, more poor than a happy servant.
I cannot love Charles Beckings. I’ve detested
every moment you’ve forced me to be with him.
Please, father. He treats me as if I were a carriage
he intended to purchase. He cares not about what
I think or believe. Will you truly condemn your
only child to a life of being seen but not heard?
Mr. Dalakis
This is ridiculous. Mr. Beckings is a good man
and you will be content with him. No more of
this. The wedding will be this spring and I expect
you in the meantime to present yourself with grace
and sensibility.
Mariana
Father!
Mr. Dalakis
Enough.
Mr. Dalakis shuts the door. Mariana falls to her knees and slams her fist repeatedly into the floor while fighting back tears.
Int. Stable
Damian Grey, dressed in dirty overalls, grooms the horses. Mariana walks into the stable, head held high. Damian glances up then continues brushing a mare. Mariana proceeds to make sure that no one is in the stables besides the two of them. She then moans and throws herself into Damian’s arms.
Damian
Shush baby. Please don’t cry. What happened?
Mariana
Father’s making me marry Charles. I can’t!
Damian
Mari, Mari, calm down, you’ll be heard.
Damian kisses Mariana’s hair, wiping away her tears.
Mariana
(whispers)
I won’t. I won’t marry him. I love you! Damian,
please? We have to find a way to be together.
I don’t know what to do.
Damian
Baby. There isn’t anything. He’d never let us
wed. I couldn’t afford to support you on my own.
Mariana
You do love me though, don’t you?
Damian
Of course I do. I love you with everything within
me. But there isn’t a way, not unless you expect us
to ride far from here.
Mariana
Yes. Come on, we could. We’d just take my father’s
horses and ride a few towns over. I have a friend
who would take us in. She’d give us a temporary
place to live and help find us jobs. It could work and
we’d be able to live together.
Damian
Your dreams are always so beautiful, but it’s too
dangerous baby. And I couldn’t change your
life style, you’d come to resent me.
Mariana
No, I wouldn’t. I don’t need pretty dresses and
fancy meals, nor those stupid annual balls. I just
want you. Tell me you will take me away, tell me!
Damian
Anything you want.
Int. Mr. Dalakis’ Office
Mr. Dalakis sits behind a desk and Charles Beckings stands over the desk signing a piece of paper.
Charles
This will give you twenty percent of my earnings
provided that she gives me children.
Mr. Dalakis
Of course. You will be a beloved member of the
family.
They shake hands.
Charles
Yes, Mr. Dalakis. I think we will both benefit greatly
from this.
Ext. Outside the Stables – Day
Mariana and Damian ride through the gate, carrying picnic baskets. They smile at each other. They continue on down the path and then onto a road.
Ext. A Town – Night
Horses are being tended to near an
Ext.
Mariana and Damian continue to ride, laughing at each other.
Int. A Room at an
Damian lies on the bed, Mariana in his arms. She reads a book by the candlelight.
Int. Drawing Room in Dalakis Estate
Mr. Dalakis is pacing. A man comes into the room with a letter. Mr. Dalakis reads it, then runs out of the room.
Ext. A Town – Late Afternoon
Mariana and Damian ride into the town, giddy. The Sheriff walks up to them with a shot-gun in his hands.
Sheriff
Get down carefully, no funny movements.
Damian
What’s going on?
Sheriff
You’re under arrest for stealing those horses
and kidnapping Mariana Dalakis.
Damian
What? No, I didn’t, she came with…
Damian looks to Mariana. A deputy takes hold of both horses and they both get off them. The Sheriff handcuffs Damian and pulls him through the crowd. Mariana stares until the Deputy with the horses guides her towards the station.
Int. Police Station – Morning
Damian is in the jail cell. Mariana is in a chair. The Sheriff’s behind the desk. Mr. Dalakis and Charles Beckings walk into the station.
Sheriff
Made it in two days time. Your horses are
being tended to, Mr. Dalakis. And yes, your
daughter here has been cared for.
Mr. Dalakis
All is well then. What has been decided in
regards to Damian Grey? He stole my horses
and my daughter. I expect a grave punishment.
Sheriff
It’s the judge’s decision of course, but such
actions befit a hanging I’d say.
Mariana
(standing up)
No! You can’t kill him.
Mr. Dalakis strides over to her and slaps her.
Mr. Dalakis
You have caused enough embarrassment to me.
Stay silent.
(whispers)
I know this was your idea, and his death will
be your own doing.
Mariana whimpers. Then she looks to Charles.
Mariana
Mr. Beckings? You have sway with the court.
Could you not convince them to spare Damian’s
life?
Charles
I suppose I could, but why would I?
Mariana
For me? We are to be married. I would be
a good wife to you, bear your children with
never an angry word, if only you would do this
one thing for me.
Damian
No, Mariana, no. Not for me.
The Sheriff hits Damian through the bars with a baton. Mariana never glances at Damian.
Mariana
Anything you want of me.
Charles
Alright. I think this man can be forgiven for
wishing to have you in his life as I can well
understand that. I’ll do what I can. Now come.
We have wedding plans to make, I believe.
Charles walks out of the room with Mariana on his arm. She starts to glance back at Damian, but the squeeze on her arm from Charles prevents her.