Location/shots needed:
Home
Dry mountains (City of Work)
Scenes of us or others working at various (unique) tasks
Tower (Land of Friendship)
(Dark) Forest (Spirit of Hate and War) Another similar place to run away? And sleep/camp
Beautiful garden
Characters and who plays them:
MATYAS - Faith
Costume: purple cape
MATYI - Steven
Costume: blue cape
CAVEMAN: Steven
Costume: brown cape
TOWER GUARD - Faith
Costume: Helmet? Hat? Spear?
SPIRIT OF HATE - Faith
Costume: black cloak/spooky Halloween makeup
SPIRIT OF WAR - Steven
Costume: Black cloak/spooky Halloween makeup
KING - Steven
Costume: white suit coat, crown
MAIDEN - Faith
Costume: beautiful (preferably white) dress
NARRATOR? - Faith in post production
(Open on MATYAS lounging about, being attended to by MATYI)
NARRATOR: Prince Matyas was a good-for-nothing. He was so lazy he wouldn't even button up his own coat. He was as cross as a bear too, and would pick fights with all of his neighbors, sending over his soldiers to do all of the dirty work. He didn't have a friend in the world except his servant, Matyi.
(MATYAS wakes suddenly from his slumber)
MATYAS: Matyi! Matyi!
MATYI: What is it, Matyas??
MATYAS: I have just had the most vivid dream of a land where no one dies!
MATYI: Forget such dreams.
NARRATOR: But Matyas could not forget the dream and throughout the week became grouchier than ever before until even Matyi could not tolerate him.
MATYI: With all due respect, and no offense meant Your Highness, if you can't forget the dream, why do we not attempt to travel to find this wonderful land if that is what will make you happy!
MATYAS: Well, Matyi! I never thought of that! We'll start today - right now!
MATYI: Just like that, Prince Matyas? Just you and I??
MATYAS: No back-talk, Matyi! Do as you are told. I'm glad I had such a splendd idea!
(Travel montage - hills, pasture, creeks, arrive at mountains)
MATYAS: What musty mountains! Not a wisp of grass on the rocks! This kind of place is for gnomes or goats - not the spectacular land which I have envisioned!
MATYI: Prince! Look there!
(a CAVEMAN arises from behind a large boulder)
MATYAS: You there! What do you call this land and those who live within it?
CAVEMAN: This, young stranger, is called the Land of Work. A great many people live here and they have all lived here a great many years.
MATYAS: I am seeking a land where no one ever dies.
CAVEMAN: To my knowledge, there is no such land. But let me show you our city and the unique immortality it offers.
(CAVEMAN leads them up the mountain to a village of working people, carving statues, writing books, weaving looms)
CAVEMAN: You see, sir - this is the City of Work. Everybody who ever made anything that did not perish with them when they died comes here. Some live here for thousands of years. As long as anything of our work remains in your world, we do not die. I am the man who carved depictions of our hunts into the cave wall in the Stone Age.
MATYI: Bless me if that isn't a peasant's home from our very own country!
CAVEMAN: That man there built his home which lasted, but his wife sent most of her life cooking and when she perished, there was nothing that outlasted since her meals were gobbled up here. She is not to be found here. (Gesturing to another man) He is a builder of a pyramid, him - sculptor of Greece, her - a painter of Italy. We die only when our work dies, so we really live for very long. Is this the type of immortality that you are looking for?
MATYAS: I reject your invitation as we must travel to find the Land Where People Never Die.
CAVEMAN: Suit yourself.
(MATYAS and MATYI descend back down the mountain unaccompanied)
MATYI: I am sure you made the right decision, master, as you are quite a stranger to hard work.
MATYAS: I've been thinking the same thing just now. It will be different from now on. After we find my dream land, we shall return to our country. Then I will work - my people will never forget me!
(More travel montage. MATYAS and MATYI come to a fortress/castle)
MATYAS: (to guards up top) Hail! I am prince Matyas and I am looking for the Land Where People Never Die!
TOWER GUARD: You came to the right place, prince! This is the Land of Friendship and as long as there is true friendship in your world, we shall not die! If you come in, you must promise to never argue, fight or contradict anyone. We are all good friends here.
MATYI: Sire, a word?
(MATYAS and MATYI step off the side and speak in hushed tones)
MATYAS: It sounds good to me, Matyi! We might stay here awhile!
MATYI: (honestly) Sire, you send out soldiers to battle neighbors if they have forgotten to skim the cream off their milk! You are eager to only have your own way, sire.
MATYAS: (sadly) It's true, and I only have you to call as a friend, Matyi. Why haven't I ever had any friends?
(pause, shift)
MATYAS: I'll change, Matyi! I'll make friends and keep them when we return home. But first, we must find my dream land.
(Travel montage - to the forest!)
MATYI: Your majesty, evil surrounds this place. I would be ill-advised if I allowed us in there at this time of night. Let us look for a more fitting place to sleep.
HAG: (from the shadows) Come to my house, strangers.
MATYAS: Who goes there?
(A shadowy form appears)
MATYI: Watch out, Prince Matyas! I see him in there in the shadows!
HAG: Prince Matyas! I have heard of your quest for the Land Where People Never Die. If you follow me, I have what you seek.
MATYAS: (cautiously) Who are you?
(The SPIRIT OF HATE reveals itself, flashing lights, camera stays on MATYAS & MATYI who look terrified, their eyes glued to the sight) (Don't actually show spirits)
HAG: I am the Spirit of Hate and here is my twin brother - the Spirit of War! We are kept alive through the cruelty of bloodshed! As long as your worlds fight - we live! Come with us and live forever!!
MATYAS: Matyi! Let us get away from here!
(MATYAS and MATYI flee. They stop to pant on a boulder.)
MATYAS: Matyi, if we ever get home, I'll never, never send my people to war again. Hatred! War! So that's what they look like! Never again, Matyi! Never again, I swear it!
MATYI: It seems more good has come out of this trip than I ever could have imagined, even if we never find your dream land.
MATYAS: We shall - we must find it! Now more than ever!
MATYI: But first, we sleep.
(They go to sleep, then MATYI awakes MATYAS)
MATYI: Prince Matyas! Prince Matyas! Open your eyes and look! We are in heaven!
(MATYAS and MATYI are in a beautiful garden and are being approached by a beautiful maiden and a dignified old man)
KING: So you are, Prince Matyas! My fairies travel fast and far and have seen your journey up until now.
MATYI: Are you the king of Fairyland?
KING: I am the King of the Garden of Remembrance. Each of my fairies you will find in this garden are memories of beautiful things in life.
MATYAS: Then this is the land where people cannot die?
KING: We live long - oh, some of us live very long. But forever, Prince Matyas - even memories don't live forever.
MATYAS: Where then, shall I find the land of my dreams??
KING: You are going farther and farther away from it. The lessons along your journey have taught you what you must do to live forever. I can take you to the land of your dreams.
MATYI: Oh, how wonderful!
MATYAS: (clapping hands) Oh, please do!
(KING snaps - they appear back in their home) (Further King can be Voiceover)
KING: Here we are, Matyas. The land of your dreams.
MATYAS: It looks good!
MATYI: It smells good too! And I hear music!
KING: Prince Matyas, this is your own country. This is the land where you will never die. Be a good king to your people, a good friend, a tolerant neighbor. Love your people and work for them as they work for you. Then you will live in their memory, their tales, songs and hearts for time immortal/immaterial.
(King and Maiden disappear)
MATYI: A wise old king.
MATYAS: A wise king indeed. And for that, I understand, he will live forever.
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