The Savage Caves

I just learned my wife was awarded a residency at a writer's retreat called the Anderson Center in Redwing, Minnesota, this spring. It's a real kudo for her. It's been good, because we each egg the other on to keep working. As soon as they start offering fellowships for killer rabbit movies, I am so there.

And here's more from my b-movie fantasy epic RING OF THE SORCERESS, which has also been called SWORD OF THE ZOMBIE and DOOMED SWORD RISING. Today, medieval gratuitousness:

DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS -- MORNING
A strong, burly WOODSMAN, stripped to the waist, is chopping logs in a dense forest. The early morning light shows warm rays of light through the trees.
The woodsman stops and wipes sweat from his dripping brow. There is a RUSTLING in the trees that draws the man's attention. He grasps his axe warily.
WOODSMAN
Who goes there?
Feature the woodsman's POV as he searches the light-stippled trees. There is a sudden shift of movement behind him.
WOODSMAN (CONT'D)
I care not for rude surprises this early in the day.
A comely MILKMAIDEN appears over his shoulder.
MILKMAIDEN
Boo!
The woodsman whirls and drops his axe.
WOODSMAN
Unless, of course, I am surprised by a lovely young lass. It is early, fair one.
The maiden swings a bucket.
MILKMAIDEN
The cows don't sleep in.
The woodsman gives her an appraising look.
WOODSMAN
Nor will they tell the master if you are a few moments late.
The milkmaid GIGGLES and skips off into the trees. The woodsman, grinning, sets his axe down to follow.
The woodsman is looking between the trees, listening to the young woman's LAUGHTER. In a moment, she is gone. The woodsman is drawn forward, and finds the mikmaiden's dress hanging over a limb.
The woodsman searches, half smiling, when he comes up short.
The woman stands nude, smiling, the sun dancing in her flowing hair and across her smooth skin.
The woodsman moves forward into her embrace.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS -- LATER
The milkmaiden is stretched, languidly, on a soft bed of grass. The woodsman is standing and dressing.
MILKMAIDEN
Pray thee, bring me my garment.
WOODSMAN
I fancy it where it is...hanging over a tree limb.
The maiden laughs and flings a stick at him. He easily flicks away the half-hearted throw and disappears into the trees.
The woodsman finds the dress and slings it over one broad shoulder.
Suddenly there is an unearthly SCREAM. The smile drops from the woodsman's face and he breaks into a run.
He comes up short as he almost falls over the maiden's bloodied corpse. After a moment of stunned disbelief, he turns and lumbers toward his axe, left jutting from a tree not far from the spot.
He sees the axe looming large in the foreground and tries to close the gap. He reaches a hand for it--and the hand is abruptly severed by a flashing blade.
The woodsman ROARS, lifting his gushing stump in amazement.
A ragged, diseased hang grasps the axe and lifts in from the log. It WHISTLES toward the woodsman's chest and cuts off his roar.
There is the glimpse of a glowing red eye, and a throaty CHUCKLE.
CUT TO:
EXT. WOODS -- MORNING
Shadow sits bolt upright, shouting, bringing his sword from its sheath in a shining arc.
Shadow sees Peryl watching intently, her back against a tree, her arms wrapped around her knees. He tries to find his voice.
SHADOW
A...maiden, and a woodsman...sent to their doom this morn at the edge of steel--
PERYL
(interrupts)
You were there all night. I watched.
SHADOW
You...watched?
PERYL
Did you think I could sleep with you lying at my side, shadow?
(beat)
And...I had to know.
SHADOW
It wasn't me.
PERYL
It wasn't you.
SHADOW
But I saw it...through my eyes.
PERYL
Through someone's eyes.
SHADOW
But how?
PERYL
How did you rise from your cold grave, shadow?
(beat)
Mayhaps the answer lies in the castle ahead. I pray it is, as we have left much behind.


Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.