CHAPTER 10: "REGROUPING"
FADE IN:
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT The surroundings are filled with a DUST CLOUD. Horse carts and soldiers slowly advance.
METE KAĞAN lies in one of the carts. BİLGE KAĞAN rides on horseback beside him.
Mete Kağan opens his eyes.
Bilge Kağan notices his brother waking up.
BİLGE KAĞAN (soft voice) Wounded soldier… are you awake?
Mete Kağan smiles faintly.
METE KAĞAN (weakly) Awake… Commander.
He pauses for a moment.
METE KAĞAN (cont'd) So… what wind brought you here? Did you find the island, Bali?
BİLGE KAĞAN (looking ahead) We're looking. We'll find it eventually. Everything… is for the headquarters and the island.
METE KAĞAN (with faint sarcasm) Everything for the island, huh… tch.
His eyes close again.
EXT. ROAD - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS) The night has fully darkened. Moonlight illuminates the path. Soldiers' torches dance in the darkness.
The group approaches the headquarters.
When they arrive— Some soldiers are SHOCKED to see Bilge Kağan. Others are especially OVERJOYED. Some look SADDENED.
Keise has remained unconscious the whole journey.
INT. TENT - NIGHT
CAMERA ZOOMS IN on Keise's face.
He seems to be in another world.
SCENE CHANGES.
EXT. OLD WORLD - DAY (FLASHBACK) Keise has RETURNED TO HIS WORLD. But he sees himself from the outside.
His car is being towed. His SISTERS are crying. An ambulance has arrived.
KEISE (inner voice, stunned) What happened? Weeks passed in another world… here only hours have passed.
He pauses.
KEISE (inner voice, cont'd) Did time pass faster there? But why… did I suddenly come back here? And where was Setsuko? Were they dead?
His mind is confused.
SCENE CUTS.
INT. TENT - NIGHT (BACK TO PRESENT) Keise opens his eyes.
SETSUKO is shaking him.
SETSUKO (worried) Keise! Wake up! Come on!
Keise looks at his body.
His wounds are BANDAGED. They are inside the tent.
And… his ABS are showing.
KEISE (stunned, to himself) I… what?
SETSUKO (smiling) You were unconscious for three days. Mete Kağan's healers took care of you.
KEISE (touching his abs) Three days? And this… how did this happen?
SETSUKO (shyly) Bilge Kağan said… the more you use your echo, the stronger your body becomes. The more you fight, the more your body renews itself.
Keise is silent for a moment. Then he smiles faintly.
KEISE (to himself) So… this is the reward for working in this world.
SETSUKO (curious) What did you say?
KEISE (laughing) Nothing. I'm hungry. Is there food?
The tent flap OPENS.
ERETT enters. He carries a LARGE TRAY in his hands. He has recovered much faster.
KEISE (excited) Erett! You're healed!
ERETT (smiling) Of course.
He pauses, grins.
ERETT (cont'd) And… look above your heads.
Keise and Setsuko look up.
Above their heads, SV4 is written.
KEISE (shocked) Whoa! We leveled up? What happened?
ERETT (laughing) Yes. Thanks to the creatures and the dungeon, your SVs must have increased significantly. Mine even went up by one.
He places the tray on the table.
ERETT (cont'd) Rest and recover. And here… I brought you food.
Keise's eyes light up. He immediately attacks the tray.
SETSUKO (laughing) Starving again, huh?
KEISE (mouth full) What did you expect? This is the reward for working in this world. Complete with abs.
Erett laughs. Setsuko too.
The three eat together. The tent is warm and peaceful.
ERETT (serious) Finish your food. The Kağan is calling you.
Keise frowns.
ERETT (cont'd) And remember… Mete Kağan is currently at the Han level. Bilge Kağan is at Kağan level. So we're under Bilge Kağan now.
KEISE (surprised) Who's who? Bilge Kağan? Why didn't I see him before?
SETSUKO (shyly) The man at the exit… the one who called me "my girl"?
ERETT (nodding) Exactly.
Keise narrows his eyes.
KEISE (suspicious) Why did he call Setsuko "my girl"?
Erett is surprised. He pauses.
Then he BURSTS INTO LAUGHTER.
KEISE (angry) What the hell are you laughing at?
ERETT (laughing) You… you're jealous of Setsuko?
Keise FREEZES.
KEISE (stammering) N-no… why would I be jealous? It's not like that. I was just curious. I mean…
SETSUKO turns bright red.
ERETT (stops laughing) Anyway. Finish eating. The Kağan is waiting for you in his tent.
He leaves.
INT. TENT - NIGHT
Keise and Setsuko are ALONE.
SETSUKO (shyly) Keise… were you really jealous?
KEISE (defensive) No… why would I be?
KEISE (inner voice) I think I was jealous… Why did I feel that?
SETSUKO (teasing) Your eyes are saying something else.
KEISE (panicked) No way…
SETSUKO (insisting) Come on… come on!
KEISE (angry) Setsuko! ENOUGH ALREADY!
He throws the spoon.
Setsuko RUNS. Stops at the tent entrance.
SETSUKO (laughing) Come on! We're waiting for you at the Kağan's tent!
She leaves.
Keise takes a deep breath. Talks to himself.
KEISE (inner voice) Was I really jealous?
He pauses. Then stands up, gets dressed, and leaves the tent.
INT. KAĞAN'S TENT - NIGHT
Keise approaches the Kağan's tent. As he enters—
The tent is PACKED.
When Keise steps in, EVERYONE GOES SILENT.
WHISPERS begin:
SOLDIER (whispering) Is this the kid who saved the inn?
ANOTHER SOLDIER (whispering) Yeah. All by himself.
Keise walks forward.
At the large table: METE KAĞAN on the left, BİLGE KAĞAN at the head, SETSUKO and ERETT on the right.
METE KAĞAN (smiling) Yes, brother. This is the kid who saved my life.
BİLGE KAĞAN stands up with a cup of kumis in hand.
BİLGE KAĞAN (voice echoing through the tent) Come, Keise. You saved my brother's life.
He pauses.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cont'd) MUSIC!
GUBUZ (ancient Turkish reed instrument) begins to play.
The tent fills with music, laughter, the sound of kumis.
Everyone is TIPSY. Laughter, chuckles, kumis cups flying in the air.
BİLGE KAĞAN raises his hand.
EVERYTHING STOPS.
Laughter quiets. Instruments stop. Everyone falls silent.
BİLGE KAĞAN (booming voice) Bring it.
The tent flap opens.
A RED PILLOW is brought in. On it: a BOW, ARROWS, and a SWORD.
Bilge Kağan stands up. Takes the sword. Extends it to Keise.
Keise is surprised.
KEISE (respectfully) Thank you, my Kağan.
He bows and takes the sword.
Bilge Kağan takes the bow and arrows.
BİLGE KAĞAN (soft voice) The bow and arrows… here you go, Setsuko my girl.
Erett hears "my girl" and glances at Keise with a GRIN.
Setsuko takes the bow and arrows.
SETSUKO (shyly) Thank you.
Bilge Kağan nods, becomes serious.
BİLGE KAĞAN The reward ceremony is over. Now… Mete Kağan. What were you doing in that dungeon?
METE KAĞAN (serious) It was threatening our safety. And it was for the training of the new members.
BİLGE KAĞAN (nodding) Makes sense. But next time, make better preparations before entering.
Mete Kağan bows his head.
BİLGE KAĞAN (turning to Keise and Setsuko) During the dungeon, your echoes awakened. Keise, your sword… Setsuko's arrows burned. This is a good sign.
He pauses.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cont'd) Tomorrow I will teach you how to manipulate this better.
At that moment—
A SCOUT enters the tent.
SCOUT (panicked) My lord! Smonir's soldiers… green flags have been spotted nearby!
Bilge Kağan's eyes NARROW.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) Extinguish all torches.
EXT. HEADQUARTERS OUTSIDE - NIGHT From the distance, a FAMILIAR VOICE echoes.
SMONİR (grinning) Kağans… where are you?
ERETT narrows his eyes.
ERETT (angry) This… is SMONİR.
KEISE (gripping his sword) He's looking for us? We're not powerless anymore. We should give him what he deserves.
ERETT (firm) No. You stay here.
METE KAĞAN (turning to Erett) Erett… you stay here too.
Erett's face tenses. But he can't argue.
EXT. HEADQUARTERS OUTSIDE - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)
METE KAĞAN and BİLGE KAĞAN step out of the tent.
SMONİR waits at the entrance, bent forward with his familiar grin.
SMONİR (mockingly respectful) My Kağans… what an honor to see you.
He raises his head.
SMONİR (cont'd) Soldiers… bring them.
Soldiers carry two CORPSES impaled on spears.
They are ERETT'S SOLDIERS.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) What do you want, Smonir?
SMONİR (grinning) What do I want?
He pauses, narrows his eyes.
SMONİR (cont'd) Of course… ERETT.
INT. TENT - NIGHT
KEISE has drawn his sword. It's IGNITED.
KEISE (shouting) YOU FILTHY BASTARD!
He charges toward Smonir.
ERETT and SETSUKO shout at the same time:
ERETT & SETSUKO (together) KEİSE!
EXT. HEADQUARTERS OUTSIDE - NIGHT
METE KAĞAN and BİLGE KAĞAN freeze in surprise.
SMONİR (grinning) Yes… my prey is here.
He draws his chain.
CLANG!
He yanks Keise's sword from his hand.
SMONİR (swinging the chain) Flaming sword, huh? Very nice.
He swings the chain toward Keise's head.
Just as it's about to hit—
METE KAĞAN catches the chain mid-air and pulls it toward himself.
Smonir charges toward the tent and—
BAM!
METE KAĞAN punches him in the face.
Smonir is THROWN BACK. He falls to the ground.
SMONİR (bloody, laughing) Very nice… very nice!
His face is SHATTERED.
SMONİR (shouting) Soldiers! ATTACK!
EXT. HEADQUARTERS OUTSIDE - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)
Soldiers charge.
BİLGE KAĞAN (booming voice) Archers!
Arrows start raining down on the soldiers.
The area suddenly IGNITES in flames.
Bilge Kağan looks at Keise.
BİLGE KAĞAN (cold) Arrest him.
Soldiers grab Keise and FORCE HIM TO THE GROUND.
KEISE (shouting) Stop! Stop!
But the soldiers don't listen.
FADE TO BLACK.
[CHAPTER 10 END]