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Price of Pride by J. C. Sayer Current Revisions by J. C. Sayer, Sept. 20 2005 (Draft 2) [Some Formating errors when converted for html. This was written for some young men in Europe, Who happens to be adding and changing it to What, I don't know. So I figured I'd just Drop this on the site, since I like this version and wish to share it with friends.] FADE IN: Ext. Construction Site - Night ZEVEN
Frohurst, mid-30's male dressed in dark brown or black Jedi robes holding a
blue saber is fighting a female Jedi.
KAYTEE Serth, early 30’s female dressed in fairly form fitting light
colored Jedi outfit. She wields two sabers,
both green. He fights with every ounce
of skill, anger shown on his face. Her
face lacks emotion. Their
surrounds are a dim construction site.
The sun went down hours ago.
Hovering and walking construction droids go back and forth building the
colossal structure. Blue welding sparks are visible all around the two fighting
Jedi. KAYTEE (yelling/frustrated) You could
have chosen another path! ZEVEN (detached) I
couldn't… I'm only human. CUT TO: Ext. Space/an unknown planet - establishing A yellow
sun floats in the middle of space. No
stars are seen because that is the nature of seeing a star/sun up close. A small red planet with pink clouds is
orbiting it. Int. grand Hallway - Day There are
pillars evenly spaced apart. There is an
old man in his 50's walking, MASTER; dressed in black monk like robes, with
blood red tinges strips. ZEVEN walks by
side him, talking quietly. Through
the windows, the planet is red in all shades.
Buildings, trees and sky all different colors of red. There splashes of black shadows defining the
world things and adding some contrast. MASTER How did it
go? ZEVEN The
council has sent a group of scouts to Korriban. MASTER Good. You did well.
Now all we have to do is wait. ZEVEN I don't
understand… how does this further us towards our goals? MASTER (condescending) The scouts
will find themselves outnumber and request help. And… ZEVEN I'm the
closest and best hope, they have. MASTER That is
right. You will go save them. They will see you, the hero, yet again. Eventually… they will concede what you've
already earned. ZEVEN (concern) What about
the others? Must they die? MASTER What do
you care? You have never met them. (sighs with regret) In war,
there are sacrifices that must be made to ensure victory. ZEVEN I'm unsure
about… MASTER (patient\sad\hurt) Do you
doubt me? Child, doubt and fear are
powerful enemies and allies. So is anger
and hatred… ZEVEN And love,
compassion and… MASTER Revenge. ZEVEN (looking away\quiet) Yes. I haven't forgotten. MASTER Good. Very good. A beeping
on Zeven's holo-communicator interrupts them.
Zeven nods his understand to the Master and walks away, turning on the
communicator. JEDI
COUNCIL MEMBER (V.O.) Zeven,
Zeven do you copy? This is Jedi Reazher. There is a situation in the Korriban
system. We are in immediate need of your skills over there. A Sith temple has
been tracked down. The scouts we dispatched are requesting emergency help. They
will meet you at the docking platform. We've transmitted all the information to
your spacecraft. May the force walk with
you on this dangerous path. Zeven runs
through the palace and onto his ship. FADE TO BLACK: FADE FROM BlACK: Int. Sith Temple – Night The Temple
is dark. There are three unnamed Jedi
and one that we recognize as Kaytee, surrounded by ten or so black wearing
humans holding red lightsabers. The Jedi
give each other a quick glance and nod.
They attack as one force. One by
one, both Sith and Jedi fall until there is only three Sith and one Jedi left
standing. They are panting thanks to the
effort it took to stay alive. We see
that Kaytee is still standing, calming assessing the Sith. This time the Sith quickly nod to each and
attack as one, just as the Jedi did moments earlier. CUT TO: Ext. Outer
space/korriban system/planet – establishing A ship
exits hyperspace, and the camera pans with it as it flies by the camera. This reveals a small planet. The camera stays with the ship, as enters the
atmosphere and flies over the landscape. EXT. sith
temple - NIGHT Zeven's
ship lands just outside the temple on a landing platform. He waits a few moments and then goes into
the temple to look for the other Jedi. CuT TO: Int. Sith temple – still night Inside the
temple, Zeven encounters two dim-witted guards. GUARD #1 Hey you
there! You aren't allowed in here. GUARD #2 Yeah!
Apprentices enter in the main gates. Zeven
ignores them and when in easy reach of the guards he turns on his
lightsaber. A blue blade appears, and
before the startled guards can yell a warning, Zeven's cuts both into two with
one simple stroke. He turns off the
lightsaber and continues further into the school. CUT TO: Int.
Strange dark hall – Night This hall
is different from the others. There are
round support beams scattered around the hall.
Every footstep echoes and the glow of the sabers is the only
illumination in the room. Kaytee
runs into the hall, looking curiously at the beams and listening to the sounds
she makes as she moves. She hears the
group of Sith just outside the room and turns off her saber. She
quietly walks up to one of the beams, as she walks she unties the cloth belt
from around her waist. She wraps it
around the beam and quickly shimmies up the beam. OR She
quietly walks up to one of the beams, and takes out a gun like object. Points upwards, fires a grappling hook and
cable up into the ceiling. She slowly is
pulled up into the air, and uses the beam to steady herself. The Sith
that were chasing her finally enter the room.
Their sabers revealing their position; they look around in the darkness,
hoping to catch sight of Kaytee. SITH
apprentice #1 They are
in here somewhere. Turn off your light sabers. We'll play hide and seek. They do as
they are told and move away from each other, spreading out. Kaytee
smirks from her position high above them.
She is rather comfortable and waits them out. Zeven
enters the hall, his footsteps echoing loudly.
The Sith jump out and surprise him, thinking he was the Jedi they were
tracking down. They
attack and Zeven defends himself. It is a ten to one fight. He holds his own against them, but just
barely. He looks like he is holding
back, perhaps because he does not really want to kill them, or perhaps because
he suspects Kaytee is watching. She
watches, quite intrigued by Zeven's forms.
She sees him grab a fallen Sith's saber with the force and fight with
both his blue saber and the Sith red saber.
She is impressed and disturbed by it, which is easily seen playing
across her face. Zeven
allows himself to be disarmed of the red saber when he realizes he lost control
by taking it in the first place. He
starts to lose severely, as one of the four Sith left cuts in his leg lightly. That is when
Kaytee decides to jump down and kills three of them within seconds of each
other. The last Sith still alive has the
bad luck of standing between both Jedi. He attacks
the closer Jedi, Kaytee and she easily kills him. ZEVEN I came to
rescue you. KAYTEE Ah,
yes. You were doing a fine job from what
I could see. ZEVEN I could
have taken the last four easily by myself. KAYTEE Surrrreeee
you could. You would have lost limb or
something else just as important. Zeven
smiled at her. ZEVEN It has
been a long time. Since we were just
padawan at the temple. It is good to see you, Kaytee. KAYTEE And you,
Zeven. I am sorry to hear about your Jedi master. I know it has been a long time since he died
but if I could, I would have been there for you. ZEVEN Thank
you. I know. KAYTEE Your two
saber wielding was impressive. ZEVEN I've been
practicing. They start
walking further into the school. KAYTEE I saw
that, but nevertheless you still will not match me in a saber contest. Our
Intel was incorrect. We were sorely out
numbered. ZEVEN I've
noticed. Where is the rest of your
squad? Let's gather them up and clean up
this mess. KAYtEE They did
not make it. ZEVEN Oh… Well, let's get to work then, we've got a
mission to complete. They go
from room to room, killing whatever stood in their way. FADE TO: EXT. sith
temple - SUNRISE The temple
is ablaze in flames. The sun (or suns,
whatever the case may be) is rising slowly over the horizon. Kaytee and Zeven watch as the flames consume
the vile temple in silence. Both
mourning those that have fallen. KAYTEE (horrified) What have
we done? ZEVEN (unemotional) What was
asked of us... Our duty. KAYTEE I never
thought I would be ashamed of being a Jedi. ZEVEN It had to
be done. WIPE FADE TO: Ext. Jedi Temple – Day It is in
the heart of the city-planet. Standing
ancient like against the surrounding modern world, as if it was there before
even the rest of the city was built. A
tower is at the center of the temple grounds. CUT TO: Int. Jedi Council – Day The round
room is natural lit by the sun filtering in from the windows. There are roughly a dozen seats in a
circle. Some are in use but there are
obviously several that are empty and have been that way for a while. There is
several Jedi resting. Most appear in
their advance years, with grey in their hair.
However, there is a couple in the 30's, young for council members but
not unheard of in despaired times. COUNCIL
MEMBER #1 I cannot
express my sorrow for the lost of some of our best scouts. COUNCIL
MEMBER #2 Jedi
Kaytee, we are looking into this grave error.
You have my insurances that I will find out how this happen and make
sure it doesn't happen again. Kaytee
nods her understanding and does not object. COUNCIL
MEMBER #3 You both
did extremely well. What you have done
is short of extraordinary. COUNCIL
MEMBER #1 Repeatedly,
you've proven how skilled you are. We
cannot allow such skills to be wasted in the field. We offer each of you a seat on the
council. You've more then earned. ZEVEN I'd be
honored. COUNCIL
MEMBER #2 And you
Jedi Kaytee? KAYTEE It is an
honor to be even asked, but I must without regret, decline the seat. The
council members whispered to each about her decision. COUNCIL
MEMBER #1 As you
wish. Then I think this council meeting
is adjourned, seeing there are no other pressing matters at hand. COUNCIL
MEMBER #2 Welcome
Zeven. You're duties on the council will
start next week. Enjoy your vacation. All the
council members left rather quickly, muttering about senate session that would
be starting soon. This left both Zeven
and Kaytee alone in the council chamber. ZEVEN Why didn't
you take the seat?! KAYTEE It will be
there… ZEVEN I
see. I wish you had taken the seat. I would have enjoyed spending more time with
you, as we did as padawan. KAYTEE (awkward) Congratulations
on the seat, Zeven. I will see you
before I leave planet-side, but I have an appointment to get to… Kaytee
left walking fast, leaving Zeven looking after her longingly. Zeven
slowly walks from the room. Just outside
the door, a stranger in cloak with glowing eyes stops him. They seem to know
each other. Marek/messenger (in foreign language, with subtitles) Our Master
will meet with you. The
messenger hands him a note with the details of meeting and then waddles off. Zeven
looks curiously after the little alien and then walks away in the other
direction. FADE TO: Ext. A
DARK ALLEYWAY - NIGHT The
alleyway is filthy. Garbage litters the
ground and small critters scurries back and forth from each side of the alley. Zeven
walks boldly down the center of the alleyway.
A shadow detaches from a fissure in the wall and forms a shape of hooded
man, MASTER. MASTER Good
work. The plan is coming together
nicely. You have out done yourself! ZEVEN (pleased by the praise) Yes. MASTER I am
afraid I have another problem that requires your efficient hand. ZEVEN You know
I'd do anything for you my master. MASTER The
council has selected a Jedi to look into some of the outer rim affairs. Zeven
looked uncomfortable but waited for the exact orders his Master would issue
before making any protest. MASTER
(CONT'D) I need
this Jedi eliminated immediately. ZEVEN That is risky. MASTER If they
are eliminated, it will take the council months before finding another suitable
scout with enough skills to go out there.
And by that time, all my affairs will be in order, so there will be no
danger. One life now, to save hundreds later. ZEVEN I will do
it. What is the name of this Jedi? MASTER The
scout's name is Kaytee Serth. Zeven
looked as if he had been punched. ZEVEN Kaytee? I
can't kill her, she's… MASTER Zeven, do
not let your personal feelings get in the way and ruin our plans. Master
picks up a glass and takes a sip. MASTER
(CONT'D) The way
your master was betrayed by the Jedi... I thought you wanted to revenge him? ZEVEN I will not
kill her. MASTER If you
will not then I am afraid I will be forced to kill both of you. Think about
what she would do if she knew you are a Sith. ZEVEN She would
understand my situation… Master did
not even wait to hear what Zeven had to say.
He just blended back into the shadows leaving Zeven to stare out into
space, shocked. Far above
them, on a roof top Kaytee with a helmet contraption on her head, watched
shocked. Through the helmet, she could
see Zeven and the Sith Master as if they were standing in front of her, and could
listen to them as if she was next to them.
She heard everything. She
removed the helmet slowly. There was a
few tears down her cheek at the betrayal of someone she consider her
friend. She tossed the helmet against
the ground and walked off to think. FADE to: Ext. Construction – night/establishing It is the
same setting as the first scene. Droids
wander around and blue sparks are still seen.
It is at the heart of the political sector. The building will one day be the new Senate
building (yes, the one we see in new trilogy) but right now, it is just wirework
and beam structure. ZEVEN They still
haven't completed this? KAYTEE It was
destroyed during senate elections when it was nearly completed a few years ago.
So they started over again. Making it
bigger and better. The chancellor was
forced to agree to the budget. I quote, "This had better last centuries at
this price." Zeven
laughed at Kaytee's impersonation. KAYTEE
(CONT'D) How did
you find me? ZEVEN This is
always the first place I look when I go to find you. You always come here to
think. For some reason you enjoy watching droids work. KAYTEE Am I that
predictable? Zeven did
not answer, instead he stood beside her watching the droids work. ZEVEN I've got a
secret I must tell you. Kaytee
turns to him with dark eyes. KAYTEE Me first. Zeven nods
and waits. KAYTEE
(CONT'D) I've felt
such guilt for not being there for you when your master was killed. I know how much you cared for him. So I've been hunting the killer for the last
few years... Zeven
looks shocked. ZEVEN You didn't
have to... KAYTEE I know you
are a Sith. ZEVEN You do!? KAYTEE You should
go to the council, explain them the situation. ZEVEN I don't
think that is wise… KAYTEE I found
out who killed your Jedi master. She hands
him a holo-crystal. KAYTEE That Sith
master of yours killed the good Jedi master we loved. ZEVEN No. You are wrong. The Jedi betrayed him! My Master is helping me. He wouldn't kill someone unless it is to help
the greater good. KAYTEE The
greater good for his own selfish reasons.
You are not a Jedi! You are a
dark Jedi, a Sith! You are blind to even
the truth. That holo-crystal is all the
proof you need! There is still a chance
to turn away from the dark side. Zeven
looks shocked and shakes his head no. ZEVEN No. No, you don't understand. He wouldn't betray me like that. The council wouldn't understand either. He puts
the crystal into his pocket. For a few
moments they are both silent. ZEVEN I love
you. Kaytee
backs away from Zeven. KAYTEE What? No. ZEVEN I've
always been in love with you. For nearly
as long as I can remember… Zeven
raises his hand to touches Kaytee's cheek but she whips her head away as if
burnt. KAYTEE A Jedi
shall not know anger. Nor hatred. Nor love. Zeven
grabs Kaytee and starts to violently shake her. ZEVEN We aren't
droids! Every living being has
feelings! How can you be so uncaring! Zeven
slaps her and she falls back, landing hard on the ground. Zeven stops his uncontrollable ranting and looks
shocked he did what he did. ZEVEN
(CONT'D) I'm
sorry. I didn't mean too… He was right,
you don't understand me. Kaytee
turns on her saber and slowly gets off the ground. KAYTEE (in pain) It did not
have to be this way. ZEVEN You are
the one with the saber in hand. KAYTEE (yelling/frustrated) You could
have chosen another path! ZEVEN (detached) I
couldn't… I'm only human. Zeven
slowly brings his own saber out and turns it on. There is a
moment of intense eye contact as they both calm themselves. The droids continue to work, uncaring of the
Jedi standing there. Zeven
attacks first; he feints but Kaytee is ready for it. They have been sparring like this since they
were younglings. The fight
takes them from the ground floor, up on to a large plate that is being moved to
the higher levels of the building. Eventually,
their fight has them up on the highest level of the structure. It overlooks the surrounding city-scrape. The
wind whips hair and cloth about, but they still fight. CUT TO: Int. Jedi Council – night Two of the
older Jedi admire the view from the council room, which incidentally falls on
the construction of the senate building. JEDI #1 I think
we've made a good choice with Jedi Zeven.
He should be easily to model into an excellent leader. JEDI #2 No
doubt. It would have been more
convenient to have Jedi Kaytee on the council as well. They would have easily shared their thoughts
on all things. JEDI #1 Thoughts
and votes. Yes. I don't disagree. It's a shame she didn't accept the seat. We'll have to try again next year, and year
after that, until she finally does take the seat. JEDI #2 In the
mean time, we need to find another young Jedi masters that can fill some of
these seats. JEDI #1 We do need
to look strong in the eyes of the senate and planets we serve. But it is hard to find the right-minded Jedi
for council work. Jedi
number 2 nods in agreement. They
continue to look out at the view. Jedi
number 1 frowns. Jedi #1
(CONT'D) I sense
something... something dark. Jedi #2 Are you
sure? I don't sense anything. Jedi
number 1 closes his eyes and concentrates. Jedi #1 Yes! I am certain.
It is close but I am unsure where. Jedi #2 There is
nothing we can do about it then. We will
have to meditate on it. Jedi
number 1 nods and looks sad out on the city. CUT TO: Ext. Construction – night Zeven and
Kaytee are still fighting on the upper levels of the building. They both are sweaty and dirty. Kaytee stops short of killing him and pulls
back. Zeven is shocked that she did not
kill him. ZEVEN We can
stop this madness. We can leave this world
and go into the unknown region. Leave
all this… Kaytee
force pushes him away. KAYTEE You may
turn your back on the Jedi order, traitor.
BUT I will not. I am Jedi. I give you one more chance, come back to the
light. ZEVEN I
cannot. I love you. KAYTEE What do
you want from me?! Zeven To say you
love me, care for me. To say you'd stop
this silly fight. KAYTEE I could
never love the monster you've become. I
could never love a SITH! Zeven runs
at her. Their blades lock. He looks into her eyes with angered pain. ZEVEN So be it! The force
of their lock is broken, like a small explosion happen between their
sabers. The explosion sends Kaytee over
the edge of the building. She dangles
holding with one hand on the edge. Her
saber tumbles to the ground far below. ZEVEN
(CONT'D) Gotcha. Zeven
grabs her wrist as she was just about to slip and continue to fall. He strains to hold her. KAYTEE Why?! I hate you! She looks
up at him, very sad and angry. They lock
eyes; hers pleading with him and his confused. ZEVEN You don't
mean that. Kaytee
looks down and looks back up. KAYTEE You're
pathetic. You can't even be a worthy
Sith, let alone a honorable Jedi. You
killed your Master with your weakness. ZEVEN No. There is a
tense moment as Zeven's face contorts with pure anger and hatred. It makes him ugly to look at even though he
generally is a very handsome human. He opens
his grip and silently lets Kaytee fall.
There are tears down his cheeks.
She makes no sound as she falls. He makes
his way down to the bottom. Kaytee's
body is a bloody mess. He gets angry. ZEVEN
(CONT'D) I will not
forgive you this, Kaytee. Why? WHY?! Why didn't you kill me!? Why did it
have to come to this!? A little
ways away from the body, the holo-crystal Kaytee gave him lies. It turns on by itself and a scene comes into
focus. CUT TO: Int. senators apartment - night It is a
typical apartment. Master stands wearing
his usually black and red. A older Jedi
walks into view. Elder Jedi
master Senator. I just got the urgent message about my former
padawan. I know he and you became good
friends. Nothing has happen to him,
right? MASTER Nothing. Zeven is quite fine. He just passed from Knight to Master. Incredible young man. ELDER JEDI
MASTER I'm sorry
but you said it was important that I see you about Zeven? MASTER Yes. I afraid you must die. ELDER JEDI
MASTER EXCUSE
ME?! A hooded
alien steps into view holding a strange gun towards the Jedi blocking his way
out of the room. He is the same
messenger that gives Zeven his summon. MASTER Marek'us. You do not need to kill this old fool. I can do it. The elder
Jedi pulled out his lightsaber and flicked it on. Master force grabbed the saber out of his
hands easily. The old Jedi seemed
startled by the strength of the Sith. Master
(CONT'D) Did you
really think you could have killed me? He starts
to laugh in an insane way. ELDER JEDI
MASTER What do
you want with Zeven!? MASTER You know
exactly what I want with him. He is to
be my new apprentice. So easy to
manipulate, even you know that. So easy
to turn to my way of thinking. Weak in
so many ways, yet so strong with the force. Master
walks slowly closer to the elder Jedi. MASTER
(CONT'D) You know,
the sad thing is that you made him so fiercely loyal. He'll never turn on me. Ever. Master
starts to laugh again insanely. MASTER
(CONT'D) The
perfect apprentice. ELDER JEDI
MASTER You do not
want to kill me. MASTER Die with
some dignity and don't bother with those silly Jedi mind tricks. Elder Jedi
master straightens himself. The Sith
slices him across the chest, and his body slowly falls to the floor. Master
(CONT'D) Marek,
take this piece of garbage and dump it onto the Jedi temples door. Make sure
you place that saber I gave you on his body.... No. Wait.
In his hand. Marek'us
nods and starts to collected up the body. FADE TO: EXT.
CONSTRUCTION AREA – night Zeven is
shocked at what he just saw and is just kneeing there on the ground not far
from Kaytee. Int.
Skyscraper building - night A
nondescript building. No one is around
except Zeven and the messenger that he met before at the Jedi temple. ZEVEN WHERE is
he?! He roughly
shakes the alien, which he holds by its clothes, dangling it high from the
floor. Marek/messenger (Foreign speak with subtitles) Building
24, senator floor 1. He's the only one
there. Zeven
smiles tightly and nods. With great
force, he tosses the messenger at the window.
The messenger breaks through the glass easily and continues to fall to
their death. Int. Senator Apartment Antechamber – night It is very
dark and sterile. Red seems to dominate
the décor. Master is sitting in a huge
throne-like chair that has demons in metalwork staring menacingly from the top
of it. MASTER Ah, so
you've found me. That pleases me. Zeven
slowly walks toward him. Master twists
his head in an odd way, observing the boy and smiles wickedly. MASTER
(CONT'D) Good. I
presume you have completed your task already. I'm very pleased. Zeven
nods. ZEVEN Yes. Kaytee is dead. Master
looks away from Zeven and picks up a glass. Zeven sneaks closer to until his
master interrupts him. MASTER You are
angry with me? ZEVEN Yes. Extremely. MASTER Then your
journey to the dark side is complete.
BUT my young friend, do not fool yourself into thinking you are my
superior. Zeven
smirks at him and slowly turns his face into an ugly mask of rage. He raises his hand and allows blue lightening
flow from them. ZEVEN I fool no
one, OLD MAN. How long do you think you
could have kept me from not finding out!? Zeven
stops and breaths heavily. Not from
letting the lightening free, that was the easy part but turning off the
lightening. MASTER (frighten) Finding
out what? ZEVEN That you
kill him. The master
sith blink at Zeven in surprise from his kneeing spot. MASTER Mercy! I
beg mercy! Zeven
severs his head with one swift blow. He kneels down in deep desperation. ZEVEN No mercy
for the wicked. He looks
around. ZEVEN
(CONT'D) It did not
have to end this way. What have I done?!? FADE TO BLACK: End. |
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Copyright © 2005 JC Sayer. All rights reserved. |
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