Chapter 8 of Firebrand, condensed to screenplay format. Any critiques?
*****
Lin is alone, lying on the stone floor.
LIN 12
(whispers)
I'm sorry, Dafydd. Please come back. Don't leave me alone.
The door to the hut opens and closes. Muffled footsteps are heard crossing the room.
MODRED 17
So. Your precious brother has left you to suffer alone. About time the lazy idler returned to his duties. I should have him at the post too, for wasting so much time.
(pause)
How dare you look at me? have you no manners? Do you not know who i am?
He jabs Lin in the side with the toe of his boot.
LIN 12
I know you, prince.
MODRED 17
Why do you not address me properly? Are you not afraid of me?
LIN 12
Should I be?
MODRED 17
I am your master. I can have you beaten for your insolence. I can have you flogged simply because i desire to see you bleed.
LIN 12
Am I so special, that a prince desires to see my blood?
MODRED 17
Silence.
(pause)
You gave quite a show today. Much better than I expected.
He paces around Lin, still half-lying on the floor. He stops when he comes full circle. He stoops and hooks his fingers around Lin'd collar. He lifts her up, holding her a little off the floor briefly. Lin struggles to keep her torn gown on her shoulders.
Modred chuckles.
MODRED 17
You are mine now, did you know? Mother gave you to me as a gift. Just this morning.
Lin glares at him.
MODRED 17
You're still to proud.
Modred strikes Lin across her cheek.
MODRED 17
The overseer did not beat you hard enough today. I should have handled the whip myself. nest time, I think I shall. It's the only thing slaves understand. You're too stupid for anything else.
(pause)
I can do whatever I like with you now. Do you realize that?
Lin doesn't answer.
MODRED 17
Answer me.
(pause)
Answer me, cumal.
LIN 12
(through clenched teeth)
Yes.
Modred hits her face again.
MODRED 17
Yes, what?
LIN 12
Yes, prince.
MODRED 17
Still so very proud. No matter. i shall break you of that soon enough. You shall learn to address me properly.
(pause)
I wanted your dear brother as well, you know.
LIN 12
Leave Dafydd alone.
MODRED 17
I can do as I please with him. And you. Never forget that. The next time you dare command me, i might not be as easily amused.
(pause)
Put your arms down.
She struggles to keep the torn gown up.
He gives her collar a twist.
MODRED 17
Are you deaf as well as stupid? I gave an order, slave.
Lin lowers her arms. Modred, still holding her by the collar, jerks her garment down.
MODRED 17
I can do whatever I please with you. I think I'll use you as my whore. Now.
He shoves her to the stone floor, and kneels over her. Lin struggles beneath him, looking for a weapon. The sheath for the prince's meatknife is empty. She uses the only weapon she has, her hands. She rakes her nails down Modred's cheek.
He recoils, and Lin is able to wriggle free. She creeps backward, but before she can get far, Modred grabs her ankle and pulls her towards him. He locks both of her wrists with one of his and flips her over. He sits on her and uses her gown to tie her hands. He flips her onto her back again and shoves a cloth into her mouth.
MODRED 17
Lest you get the notion to bite.
(pause)
Much better. Shall we start again?
He unties the laces of his trews and thrusts himself between her legs. He finishes. There is blood streaked on her legs and on him.
MODRED 17
You were still virgin. n How absolutely delicious.
(pause)
Well, now you're a whore, just like your mother. I could sell you this very moment.
He tucks his tunic back into his trews and relaces them.
MODRED 17
But I won't. Not yet, anyway, because I want the pleasure of seeing your pride finally broken to be mine. Be assured, I will do it, and Iwill enjoy it. i want your brother to be there when you call me "master". For that, slave, I am. You will not have a moment to forget it.
He jerks the cloth out of her mouth. She gasps for air. He walks from the hut, wiping his hands on his trews.
LIN 12
(whispers hoarsely)
Bastard.
She struggles out of her bonds and cleans herself up as best as she can before falling into exhausted sleep.
fade out:
