THE MOON CROWN

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EPISODE 07 TRANSCRIPT

A SHEEP IN SHARK'S CLOTHING

INT. -  A ROOM OF AN INN

LOU

over static

Not that I'm really ready to talk to any of them. After everything with the knife and... Pierrette Lamb. You know, we've been trying to find passage all this time, to somewhere far from everything that's happened, maybe even to the kingdom, Anapogee. Well, AN-Apogee, and we wouldn't need to be doing all of this if I just.

I wanted to know.

SFX:                CLICK

LAMB

Hello again. I-

SFX:                STATIC

LAMB

For fuck's sake! How many times do we have to do this? Bakunawa? Moon eater. “World destroyer.” All right. Where am I now? Oh. The cave.

Perfect.

EXT. OUTSIDE OF A CAVE

THE PRIESTESS

What are you doing?

LAMB

Enjoying the view while I can. Let's get on with it into the cave. Watch out for the crystals. They're sharp.

I really was sorry I had to do that. I still am, but you can't say you weren't warned. At least you still have that glow, but your eyes, those pupils may have shrunk down to normal. But the milkiness in them doesn't look great on you.

THE PRIESTESS

Are you talking to the Matriarch's head?

LAMB

Don't interrupt me.

THE PRIESTESS

You wretched blasphemer.

You kill our queen and-

LAMB

There are things you do living in a world with monsters. There are things that shouldn't be done, and any good citizen has a right to step in. I kept the world from falling into the mouth of a dragon.

THE PRIESTESS

A God.

LAMB

That is yet to be seen. He can shake the world, but that doesn't make that monster god.

THE PRIESTESS

God, give me the power to bind this creature, this demon to you. To struggle and fail against you, to watch the world descend into your darkness, for eternity.

LAMB

You're just as annoying the second time around. Curses don't work like that.

THE PRIESTESS

Curses? Magic? My God is beyond that. He's born and reborn. And reborn.

LAMB

That did not seem like any God I had ever read about. Not that I'm well versed.

THE PRIESTESS

So you did look.

LAMB

No, I heard it.

THE PRIESTESS

Then, you missed the best part.

LAMB

I saw enough! Saw your queen dig my brother's heart out from his chest. Saw her frothing at the mouth. What a foul creature she was in the end. Sure, it's a difficult task. Sawing a head off in the midst of a crowd. But the task is far easier. When the world is entranced by an eclipse.

I could have cut your head off and you'd have no idea what was happening.

That's what it did to you.

THE PRIESTESS

You, you disgust me.

LAMB

I SAVED you.

THE PRIESTESS

You stole from me! You stole eternity from all of us.

[gasping] It's... her-

MAGUAYAN

Ah, more visitors. You need to leave.

LAMB

We're... but the moons-

MAGUAYAN

You mean my legacy? The ones you're kind are always looking to offer to that BEAST?!

LAMB

Look, I stopped whatever the Hell-

MAGUAYAN

Hell? I see. You're from one of the lost worlds. I'm sorry...

If you're here, you must have suffered, which means you haven't stopped anything, have you?

LAMB

I guess not.

MAGUAYAN

Come. Don't bring that in here. You'll scare the children.

LAMB

I don't see any children.

MAGUAYAN

But you can hear them, the spirits of the six.

LAMB

Is that the ritual pillar?

THE PRIESTESS

You stand before a Demon Goddess and all you care about is your ritual?

MAGUAYAN

What did you just say?

LAMB

No, last time I climbed up there and stuck the queen's head on top. Blood of the Summoner, blessing from an officiant, that's what she told me would end this madness.

MAGUAYAN

And what good did that do you in the end? I've told you you cannot undo what has already been done.

THE PRIESTESS

What do you mean...?

LAMB

Then can I stop this? Moving through the fold?!

MAGUAYAN

I wish I could give you an answer. The truth is, I don't know. If one of you did succeed, I wouldn't see them again, would I?

LAMB

Who are you?

MAGUAYAN

One that has always been and one that will be there for each of you in the end. Can you protect the last moon when the time comes?

LAMB

There are four moons.

MAGUAYAN

No wanderer. There is only one. You're here to stop the end of your world, aren't you? The world you could not save the first time, the one that you cannot bring back or change. Will you save what's left of Libulan?

Will you try again?

LAMB

Of COURSE I will!

SFX:                STATIC

INT. INSIDE THE INN

LAMB

Not any easier... Who the hell was that?

CHESS

Welcome back.

LAMB

What are you doing in my room?

CHESS

How long? How long have you been possessing her?

LAMB

When did you first notice? Was it the knife? Listen, I'm sorry. We had to meet like that the other day.

CHESS

The other day? No, I think I've known you for a long time, Months at least. Lou hasn't really been herself for a while. Why are you here? Why are you doing this?

LAMB

That's none of your business. Do not get in my way.

CHESS

Why are you here?

LAMB

Don't test me.

SFX:                CRACKING WOOD

LAMB

What's wrong? Little puppeteer? I thought you'd have more FIGHT in you. Now, now. Don't be embarrassed. Though, I'm not sure you'd be able to do much, being such a novice.

CHESS

Hen-

LAMB

NO. Don't misunderstand me. That event with the knife? That was a mistake. I don't actually feel like killing any of you. Not anymore, at least. Now that I know Lou’s brother wasn’t actually a vampire.

Listen, Chess? I don't like to be silenced either. When I let go, you will behave.

Understand?

CHESS

Sure.

LAMB

Good.

CHESS

I've never met a spirit, and your aura... It's not really malevolent, but it's not exactly something I'd trust either.

LAMB

Well, my puppeteer... How about a trust-building exercise!

As I've never really introduced myself, and we're such good friends - Pierrette Lamb! Or as you might have heard, the victor over Goliath.

These newer religions believe the artifacts, these scrolls and books from your so-called liminal storms...

Are all related.

Their little scriptures were all twisted and turned with time. What do they call me these days? Lady Goliath? What's that one... About The Maze?

CHESS

You... You're the Labyrinthian?

LAMB

So you do know me. A regular historian! Did the professor teach you that? I'd say I'm flattered, but everyone in that tedious town of yours seemed familiar with the legend. Well, we're building trust. Aren't we? Tell me a little about yourself. How about a proper introduction?

CHESS

Don't act like you don't know everything Lou does.

LAMB

I'm not always around. I... Travel. Sometimes.

CHESS

Look, I'm not exactly impressed. I don't believe in legends.

LAMB

They say all legends have a little root in reality.

CHESS

Nobody says that. Anyway, the Labyrinthian only chases deities and, maybe you haven't noticed, but we're not exactly Gods. I don't even think they'd let me practice in a temple.

LAMB

Maybe not. Why don’t we go for a walk?

CHESS

No thanks.

LAMB

Aren't you wondering how to separate me from your partner? Or rather, ex-partner. Sorry!

THERE'S the Chess I know.

Walk.

SFX:                "AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE" PLAYS OVER A RADIO

LAMB

Hello! My, friend, here and I? We’re arguing over where we should eat for supper. Any suggestions? Why don't we return with something for everyone! What is Professor Benny eating these days?

Would you mind turning that fucking thing off?

SFX:                RADIO BUTTON CLICK, MUSIC STOPS

LAMB

Thanks. So, a cafe? Excellent. All right, Chess! Let's get to it.

CHESS

Please. I don't want to do this.

LAMB

You must know there are other ways for me to keep Lou in line. Oh, don't give me that look. I am not going to kill any of you, but I could make things very interesting for us all.

CHESS

Shit. How much of this has been you? I don't know where this all started. Wait, was it you? That tea?

LAMB

Give Lou the credit she deserves. The anger? Perhaps. But that little trick? Well, it certainly helps to know some of the things that she knows. I may have had something to do with the execution, and all that determination.

CHESS

You've really screwed us over. All of us - my studies! Do you know how close Hen- how close Benny was to finding a position at the academy?

LAMB

No. I don't. Besides, the choice was yours. Nobody said you had to help Lou.

CHESS

I wasn't just going to let her wander into a nest of entities!

LAMB

As I've said, you made your choice. The professor had well over a century to figure his... Life? Out. Oh!

How's Immortality been treating your friends, by the way? I myself am pretty damn tired of it.

CHESS

So get. An exorcist.

LAMB

Do you truly believe I haven't tried? That just sends me back to that Hell hole.

CHESS

Hell hole...

You want to find a necromancer.

LAMB

I knew you'd understand! Wonderfully done!

Of course, I'd rather not work with a puppet master. Actually, you kind of bother me. All of that chanting. Playing around with dark magic.

Good Lord, you're practically occult! And I despise occultism.

CHESS

It isn't like that. Gods, you're really not like Lou at all. You don't get it. I'm trying to do some good in the world.

LAMB

What? Keeping those little mutants from flickering out completely, in the process of transforming? Yes. Lou's work has taught me so very much about just how much your lives, your world, differ from my own.

My... Did your mentor need a necromancer? For his transformation, I mean? Was he all alone, or was it a lab?

CHESS

Fuck you.

LAMB

Oh, it was! How about you? How's work? Do you sit side by side with alchemists?

Is it as painful as they say?

CHESS

Fuck you!

LAMB

Here we are! Sit.

CHESS

I can't - I can't handle seeing her like this.

LAMB

Don't be rude. Hello! I'll have this and, uh, he'll have this one. Cheers.

CHESS

I'm serious. I can't do this. Thanks for the drink, but I don't want it.

LAMB

Sit down and listen. You're the one who wanted answers.

CHESS

Alright...

LAMB

So, how many entities have you... Saved? Do you suppose you could raise someone fully dead from the grave?

CHESS

Could we just talk about why you're here?

LAMB

You're rather forward, Chess! Alright.

No matter how many times I make it back to corporeality, I've trouble finding where my body wound up. God damned centuries, at least, and I still can't track the old meat bag down.

Depending on humans is so... Tedious. They're quite fragile.

SFX:                "AU CLAIR DE LA LUNE" CAN BE HEARD OVER THE SOUND OF WAVES, PEOPLE TALKING, GENERAL BUSTLING SOUNDS

LAMB

Not again. Chess, I need you to keep quiet about this.

CHESS

Like you need a necromancer? I don't think you have much say in anything I do.

LAMB

distorted

C'est la mort. Well, once you get to safety, you will find me one of your necromancer friends.

Could you keep your mouth shut until then? The last thing I need is a cult trying to gain extra favor for offering me up to that ungodly thing. So you're going to assist me, aren't you [STATIC]?

Or are you going to leave Henrik Pribjorn behind?

Leave Lou-[STATIC]. We both know her name.

Tala... You see, I don't know her quite yet, but I'll figure it out.

CHESS

So you have our names. I'm not leaving any of them. And, honestly, it's like you said. Puppet master. Spirits don't frighten me.

LAMB

I am far more than that. I do wish it would stop signaling with this song. Have you any idea how annoying it is to hear this for eternity?

CHESS

I don't care what you are. When you're in Lou's body, you're still human.

LAMB

distorted

I think not.

SFX:                ALL SOUNDS DROP OFF - DIALOG IS DISTORTED FROM THIS POINT ON

CHESS

They're... Why aren't they moving?

LAMB

Really. The people? What about the boats? The birds, the wind. How about the water?

CHESS

What is this, magic? No, I don't sense...

This, isn't magic...

LAMB

heavily distorted

Welcome, Chess, to the threshold of perception!

Where things are not quite right, and never quite now.

TALA

Chess? Goliath?

LAMB

Oh, thank God... s. I thought this was a... Folie au deux? Chess can't even feel a thing.

TALA

Yes, yes. It's curious and happening to Henrik too. But why only us?

We need to leave this city. If we're the only ones experiencing this-

LAMB

We should travel farther along the coast. There must be a vacant boat to the kingdom someplace.

TALA

No, that won't be enough. The Ferryman. Henrik won't like it, but he'll have to accept it unless he wants to meet an unsavory end.

LAMB

Travel through liminal space? Tala, this is not safe for entities. Walking through a city between time is one thing. Going against the current of reality is an entirely different beast.

TALA

I'm surprised, Goliath. And you said you knew nothing about the peninsula. Some sort of shadow has followed us here, and I'd rather not find out what it is.

Oh, calm yourself. I'll survive and Henrik can take care of himself. And Chess is Chess.

CHESS

Thanks. I guess?

TALA

How are you unaffected by this? Oh, you have been hiding things. I knew you were an unusual creature. What sort of magic have you been practicing in secret?

Are you teaching her? That's irresponsible.

CHESS

What's wrong, Lou? Why are you so worried? I thought you wanted to go to the peninsula.

LAMB

We have no choice.

INT. INSIDE THE INN

SFX:                DIALOG IS NO LONGER DISTORTED

TALA

Chess, where are you off to?

LAMB

Let him be. He has much to mull over.

TALA

muffled

There's something peculiar about how this is all interacting with Goliath.

TALA

Have you noticed anything strange with her recently? You've known her longer.

HENRIK

Isn't she always strange?

LAMB

What about Goliath?

TALA

Tell me, how much do you know about the Peninsula?

HENRIK

Not this again!

LAMB

How much do we know about you?

TALA

What?

LAMB

Have either of you heard anything that shouldn't be there? Maybe... Something Chess hasn't noticed.

Where are you going?

HENRIK

Didn't you see the look on his face? Lou, I would think you, of all people - Well, someone should check on him.

TALA

Preben. I know you don't want to hear this, but we will not evade whatever is looming over us by just running from one city to the next.

We need to make our way to the fold!

SFX:                DOOR SLAMS

TALA

I think that answers my question.

LAMB

What? About the peninsula?

TALA

No. That you are acting strange. Let's get back to the threshold. I'd love to know-

SFX:                DIALOG IS DISTORTED FROM THIS POINT ON

LAMB

Here's something I'd love to know, Tala. Have you ever seen the end of things?

TALA

I'm not sure what you mean.

LAMB

I'm certain you do.

TALA

I've met your kind.

LAMB

You are my kind.

TALA

You wouldn't be so careless with your questions if we had anything in common!

What is it about you GHOSTS that pulls reality inward on itself?! Like these walking vacuums in space, sucking ALL of us into the vortex with you!

LAMB

Oh, they truly did a number on you.

TALA

You ALTERED me! ALTERED HIM! I never had the chance to be human here, unlike you, but now your stock are paying for it, aren't you? That shadow, whatever it may be, won't stop with JUST US!

TALA

with a laugh

Your people's experiments and rituals will have a consequence, after all. Icarus, flying too close to the sun. Well. Good.

LAMB

You haven't considered that I may not be from this world. Did your own reality have natural entities... Or were they created?

TALA

We... We had folklore. Mythology. But I've never witnessed any creatures like these before coming here. I suppose Llewelyn's people are to blame, then.

LAMB

I wouldn't hasten to assume anything. You understand, Lou came here, to this realm of perception you are presently accustomed to...

But where she came from? Whatever things they might have awakened in her?

TALA

She was born on the peninsula?

LAMB

Exactly. Now, I am not sure how, or why, the moon eater is listening to her.

But I am interested to hear more, about the things you might have to say.

If you have time.

TALA

All right. Let's talk about realities.

SFX                THUMB BY MONOPHONA PLAYS WITH CREDITS POST-ROLL,