Dominion, episode 1.05 - "Happily...Ever After"

[Allan]

Episode notes

Thanks for reading the fifth episode of Dominion, Happily...Ever After.

This episode introduces the Jack of Spades, and is what I like to describe as a "fairy tale gone wrong". The episode as originally conceived was a lot lighter, and was going to focus on Shell trapped in a fairy tale dimension. However, when it got to writing the teaser, I decided to focus on Jack's origin, which dictated the tone of the episode... the darkest one yet. And I think it turned out better for it (if not, be sure to correct me in the feedback thread! )

Also, I would like to welcome Dominion's new art director, Nico! Nico's first banner set is not yet complete, but I've seen what she's working on, and... wow!

This episode features three songs:
- Wonderboy, by Tenacious D
- End of the World as We Know It, by REM
- No Aphrodisiac, by the Whitlams

Classification: M 15+ for violence, sexual references, some minor language, and adult themes (using the Australian classification system)

Pages: 44

Word count: 9,335

So... enjoy! As always, I'm looking for any comments and people telling me not to quit my day job in the feedback thread. Thanks!

[Allan]

Illyria:
Previously on Dominion:

EXT. PHILADELPHIA STREET – NIGHT

The camera continues to follow Bob and the man. As they turn a corner we see that the man is Hext. Music starts to play in the background. Bob and Hext continue down the street. Their body language makes it apparent they are in the middle of a heated conversation.

BOB (annoyed):
Yeah, but I didn’t ask for this, Hext.

HEXT:
You mean you’d deny a young, innocent, up-and-coming witch some protection from the forces of evil? Whose side are you on?

BOB:
I think that’s something I should be asking you.

HEXT:
You can’t back out now. You know this is your job.

Bob stops, his arms crossing his chest in an aggressive, yet somehow non-threatening, stance.

INT. DARK ROOM

It’s mid-morning, but you wouldn’t know it due to the lack of windows in the black room. Shell is huddled in a corner, her feet and hands bound with rope. She is visibly scared, tears forming in her eyes.

SHELL (scared, barely audible whisper):
I can’t believe this is happening again.
(beat)
Why is it I’m always attracted to dark rooms?

She sighs, knowing that no one else knows she is gone. In fact, she herself doesn’t know where she is or who has taken her. She can’t hear or see anything except the dark emptiness of the room.

SHELL:
I’ll get out of here. I’ll get out of here. I’ll get out of here.

Her whispers echo in the room, each one growing softer, until she falls asleep.

INT. TENGU TEMPLE – BASEMENT

Bob finds himself in another dark hallway and stands completely motionless, allowing his eyes to adjust.

BOB (whispering):
Shell?
(beat)
Shell, is that you?

FEMALE VOICE:
Bob! Yes, it’s me.

BOB (whispering):
Okay, hold on.

SHELL:
Let’s go!

INT. COSMOS CASINO, LORNE’S DRESSING ROOM

Lorne begins to look uncomfortable.

Lorne lifts his hand in a “stop” motion.

LORNE:
Fred’s soul… It was supposedly destroyed.
(beat)
But there’s still a trace of it inside you. It’s getting stronger.

[Allan]

Teaser[/u]

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF SPADES – DAY

As the sun shines down from the blue sky above, we gaze down upon the Kingdom of Spades – a large, majestic kingdom. A dragon swoops down from the clouds and above the kingdom gracefully.

CAPTION:
The Grimmfaerie Dimension.

INT. GRIMMFARIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF SPADES THRONE ROOM

The throne room is an amazing sight. With marble floors and ornate walls with scrolls hanging from them, it is nothing short of stunning. Two thrones sit toward the back of the room. On the throne on the right sits the KING OF SPADES, a regal man in his fifties; while the second is empty – its queen is absent. To the King’s right stands a beautiful princess, the ACE OF SPADES; and her brother, the JACK OF SPADES.

Outside the walls of the throne room the sound of battle can be heard. Swords are clashing against each other and people are dying in agony.

Jack turns toward his father.

JACK:
We need to stop this.

KING:
No. We need to survive.

Jack stares at his father; the pained disagreement on his face is apparent.

The doors to the throne room burst open and eight ELVEN WARRIORS storm through the doorway, each of them carrying a bow and arrows. The elven warriors are followed by a beautiful – yet fearful – woman in her late twenties. She is the QUEEN OF HEARTS.

Jack draws his sword and turns toward the Queen. She returns a smile.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Cute.

She turns to address the King.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Your empire has fallen. You shall accept me as your one, true, ruler.
(beat)
Or you shall fall with it.

The King rises from his throne.

KING:
How dare you?

The Queen of Hearts’ eyes glow red.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Please.
(beat)
If you posed any form of challenge whatsoever, you would have struck against me years ago. Instead you watch as the Diamonds and Clubs fall to me, and now your very own Spades.

The Queen turns toward her elven warriors. They respond, aiming their arrows at Jack and Ace.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You consider yourself a just ruler. A fair one. And most amusingly, you’re a family man.
(beat)
But if you had to choose between your daughter and your son…

The King is visibly ill at what the Queen is suggesting.

KING:
You cannot be serious.

The Queen of Hearts glances toward Ace and then Jack. She turns back toward the King.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Choose quickly. Ace or Jack? Who do you love more?

The King fights to hold back the tears.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Choose who lives…or they both die. It’s quite simple, really. You can choose to save one of your children’s lives, or you can sit back and watch them both die.
(beat)
And for the record, I’m perfectly happy with whichever way you’d like to do this.

The King continues fighting to hold back his tears as he looks at his son, and then his daughter.

KING:
Ace… She has her late mother’s eyes.
(beat)
I am sorry, my son.

The Queen of Hearts smiles and turns to the elven warriors. She nods.

In a swift synchronised movement the elven warriors turn to Ace and fire at her. All eight arrows find their mark, striking her in the chest. Ace falls to the ground, dead. A pool of blood forms around her body.

The King glares at the Queen of Hearts in horror. Tears stream down his face.

KING:
You bitch! How the hell could you do that?

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Because it’s amusing.
(beat)
You lose your favourite child, and poor Jack over there lives with the knowledge that his father condemned him to death.
(beat)
Surely you can see the humour in that.

Jack runs at the Queen of Hearts, ready to strike with his sword. She swats him away effortlessly.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Still willing to defend your father, Jack?

JACK (bitterly):
Always.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
That’s a shame. I was really hoping you’d kill him for me.

Jack pulls himself from the ground and spits at the Queen.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
But I can see when I’m wasting my time.

The Queen snaps her fingers and a dragon suddenly bursts through the roof, lands, and breathes fire directly at the King, incinerating him.

JACK:
Father!

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
I love a good roast. Don’t you, Jack?

Jack stares at the Queen. He is consumed by hate.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You amuse me, Jack. And let’s be honest, you’re not hard on the eyes either.
(beat)
I’ll allow you to live for another day.

JACK:
And you’ll live to regret it.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Let’s see if you still think that way when I have you chained up and oh so shirtless as my little slave.

The Queen waves goodbye and climbs atop the dragon’s back. She gestures to the elven warriors and they follow suit. The dragon looks up before soaring into the air, leaving Jack alone as the building burns around him.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER.


OPENING CREDITS ROLL:

Theme: “Crash” by Static-X & Mephisto Odyssey

Starring:
Rachael Leigh Cook as Shell Moore
James C Leary as Clem
Laura Harris as Kalinka
With Amy Acker as Illyria
And Ron Pearlman as Bob

Guest-Starring:
Callum Blue as the Jack of Spades
Mia Kirshner as the Queen of Hearts
Jamie King as Mary
Ron Rifkin as Hext
And Andy Hallett as Lorne

END CREDITS.

[Allan]

Act One[/u]

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, MOUNTAINS – NIGHT

Jack sits atop a mountain in the pale moonlight, staring at a tower in the distance.

Music cue – “Wonderboy” by Tenacious D:
High above the mucky-muck, castle made of clouds
There sits Wonderboy, sitting oh so proudly
Not much to say when you're high above the mucky-muck

CAPTION:
Three years later.

Music (continued):
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power?
Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck man?

Jack climbs higher to get a better look at the tower.

The tower is phenomenal. It stands at hundreds of feet high and is surrounded by a huge moat.

JACK (V.O.):
Once upon a time, there was a prince. That would be me, by the way. He was the Jack of Spades, and his family ruled over the Kingdom of Spades, one of the four Kingdoms of the land.
(beat)
One day, the Queen of Hearts destroyed her family and usurped their power. This power was hardly enough to contain her hunger, so she went about destroying the other kingdoms. First, the Clubs fell. And then the Diamonds.
(beat)
And finally, she destroyed the Kingdom of Spades, along with the prince’s family. For some reason unknown to the prince, she let him live. That was the biggest mistake of her life.
(beat)
Apparently, she has a maiden held captive in that tower. It has been foretold that if a wayward prince can rescue the fair maiden, their combined power can overcome the dark queen’s power, destroying her and liberating the land from her grasp.
(beat)
I also hear the maiden’s a bit of a hottie, so that doesn’t hurt matters either.

Jack whistles into the air. A white Pegasus flies through the night sky and lands before Jack. Jack reaches toward the Pegasus and pats his head.

JACK (V.O.):
Tonight, the dark queen shall realise the price of her mistake.

EXT. NEW YORK CITY, DOMINION BAR ACCESS POINT – NIGHT
The door to the Dominion Bar opens and BOB steps outside.

BOB:
You can always come inside, you know.

HEXT steps out from the shadows.

HEXT:
You know that she mustn’t know about me yet, Bob.

BOB:
What, with your creepy little demon routine and all?

HEXT:
Something like that, yeah.
(beat)
How is the girl, by the way?

BOB:
Still a little shaken up after her ordeal last night.

HEXT:
Can she fight?

BOB:
I don’t think it’s a good—

HEXT:
That doesn’t concern me. Can. She. Fight?

BOB:
Your bedside manner is admirable, Hext.
(beat)
But yes. I believe she can.

Hext smiles.

HEXT:
Wonderful. Take her to the Grimmfaerie Dimension. A young man is poised to destroy their ruler.

BOB:
The Queen of Hearts, right?
(beat)
From my understanding, she deserves everything she gets.

HEXT:
That’s…open to interpretation. But if this boy succeeds, the dimension will fold in upon itself.

BOB:
You’d be surprised how often that happens.
(beat)
Why is it my concern?

Hext smiles before stepping closer to Bob.

HEXT:
Because you’re one of the good guys, Bob.
(beat)
As much as it irks you.
(beat)
Besides, I believe you also have a history with the young man. I’d hate for your inaction to result in him destroying his very own dimension.

Hext pats Bob on the shoulder before turning around, and returning into the darkness.

Bob shakes his head, and turns back toward the door.

BOB (under breath):
Typical.

INT. DOMINION BAR

The bar is reasonably quiet. A few demons are sitting on a couch playing drinking games and two vampires are playing pool.

CLEM, KALINKA and SHELL sit behind the bar. Shell is in a slump and looks as though she’d rather be anywhere but the demon bar.

CLEM:
Can I grab you a shot of tequila, Shell?

SHELL:
I’m good.

CLEM:
A bottle, then?

SHELL:
No thanks.

Kalinka turns to her husband.

KALINKA:
Is that your answer to everything, Clem?

CLEM:
No!

KALINKA:
Well, I don’t picture Shell being a huge fan of kittens.

The front door swings open, and Bob enters. The three behind the bar look up as he approaches.

KALINKA:
Is the world out there a little more exciting?

BOB:
Why don’t you go out there and see?

KALINKA:
To Earth? You cannot be serious.

BOB:
Then keep your snide remarks to yourself, or I’ll take you out there myself.

CLEM:
Wait a minute, Bob…

Bob ignores Clem, and walks toward Shell.

BOB:
How’re you doing?

SHELL:
Couldn’t be better.

Bob’s demeanour becomes softer. He smiles at Shell.

BOB:
Uh huh.
(beat)
But that’s going to have to be good enough. We have work to do.

CLEM:
Look, I don’t think that’s wise.

BOB:
Are you the one training her?

CLEM:
No.
(beat)
But I still don’t think it’s a good idea. Besides, who appointed you the All-Singing-All-Dancing Boss of Shell, anyway?

Bob turns to Shell.

BOB:
Shell?

KALINKA:
Bob, please.

BOB:
Shell?

SHELL:
I’ll get my stuff.

Shell turns around, and heads toward the back room. Bob scans the area.

BOB:
Where’s Illyria?

CLEM:
Dunno. She’s been going out walking a bit, lately. Some nights, she goes for hours on end.

KALINKA:
I think she may have a special someone.

BOB (sarcastically):
Lucky man.

Shell returns, holding two swords. She tosses one across the bar, over Kalinka’s head, toward Bob.

Startled, Kalinka ducks as Bob catches the sword.

KALINKA:
Watch it!

SHELL (smiling):
Heh… Sorry.

CLEM:
First time she’s smiled all day.

BOB:
We good to go, kiddo?

SHELL:
Sure.

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, CAVE ENTRANCE – NIGHT

Shell and Bob step outside a cave and survey the area around them. It’s a vast land encompassing distant villages. It doesn’t look like anything out of the ordinary, though the tower can be in the distance past the villages.

SHELL:
So, this is the place?

BOB:
This is the dimension.

Bob points to the tower way off in the distance.

BOB:
I think that’s the place.

SHELL:
It’s always about the walking, isn’t it?

BOB:
Afraid so.

SHELL:
Why can’t we just have wings?

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, SKY – NIGHT

Jack straddles the Pegasus as it soars through the air. As he approaches the tower, he throws a grappling hook towards a window on the highest level. The grappling hook connects and Jack gives it a quick tug to check for sturdiness. Jack swings down from the Pegasus before landing against the tower’s wall. Jack scales the tower before climbing through the window.

INT. TOWER

The interior of the tower is a dilapidated mess. Cobwebs line the walls and ceiling and the floor creaks with each step he takes. It looks as though it has been abandoned, with no maiden – or guards – in sight.

JACK (under breath):
Hmm. Security’s a bit lacklustre.

Jack searches through the top level of the tower, confirming that the maiden is nowhere to be found.

JACK (under breath):
Damn typical. With my luck, they have her right down in the very bottom.

Jack proceeds to walk toward the stairs and begins to descend down them. As he makes his way down the stairwell, he hears two deep voices from down below.

VOICE #1:
…and then I told the Queen that if she really expects me to kill the peasants, then she’s a cold hearted ice queen.

VOICE #2:
No you didn’t.

VOICE #1:
Okay, you got me.
(beat)
But I thought about it.

VOICE #2 (laughing):
I’m sure you did.

Jack makes extra effort to sneak downstairs quietly and unseen. As he approaches the floor, he sees that the voices belong to two ugly as hell, dirty TROLLS sitting at a table. They each have a battleaxe sitting beside their seats.

Troll #1 sniffs the air.

TROLL #1:
Smells like human. Putrid.

TROLL #2:
Ugh, typical. Some days I just wish I was back in the swamp.

The trolls stand up and grasp their weapons. They move toward the stairs surprisingly quickly, given their girth. They arrive at the stairs to find Jack looking at them sheepishly.

JACK:
Hey, guys. Don’t mind me, I’m just checking out the place.

EXT. GRIMMFARIE DIMENSION – VILLAGE OUTSKIRTS, NIGHT

Bob and Shell walk toward the village, which is now firmly in their sights. A few lights are on in various houses, though it looks pretty dead.

The sound of hooves thumping the ground can be heard from behind, and Bob and Shell swivel around. There’s nothing there.

SHELL:
What the-?

The sound of the hooves gradually gets louder.

BOB:
Listen.

Shell draws her sword.

SHELL:
They’re getting louder. I really hope I don’t have to fight invisible horses.

Bob draws his sword.

BOB:
Stay sharp.

The sound of the hooves gets louder still, and the wheels of a carriage can now also be heard. The sound approaches a little further, before they can be heard stopping. Then silence.

BOB:
Who’s there?

An ambient light glows, slowly revealing the carriage, and then eight unicorns, each one carrying an elven warrior. One of the elves steps from his unicorn, and shoots Bob a dirty stare. The elf walks toward the carriage and opens the door.

The elf takes a step back and bows toward the Queen of Hearts as she steps from the carriage.

ELF:
My Queen.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Why have we stopped?

The elf points toward Bob and Shell.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Bob… My, this is a pleasure? Who’s the girl?

Shell turns to Bob.

SHELL (whispering):
You know her?

BOB (whispering):
Unfortunately.
(to Queen of Hearts)
That’s not really any of your business.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
A new girlfriend, perhaps?

SHELL:
Eww… No.

BOB:
Ew? Just because I’m not soft like a human…

The Queen of Hearts glares at the two, with a look that screams “silence”.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You are aware that you’re no longer welcome in my land, are you not?

BOB (sarcastically):
Oh, pardon my intrusion, your majesty. How could I be so inconsiderate?

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Cut the crap. What brings you here?

BOB:
Oddly, we’re here to save your life.

QUEEN OF HEARTS (laughing):
Oh, that is rich!
(beat)
The chivalrous demon and his little girlfriend coming to save the poor defenceless queen, who only has the power of the entire land at her disposal!
(beat)
Why are you really here? You sided with the Spades, you helped them try and destroy me. You heard that they’re dead now, didn’t you?

BOB:
No crap, whatsoever.
(beat)
And I suspect that they’re not all dead.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Well, I did let young Jack live. He amuses me.

BOB (to Shell):
He’s our man, then. We have to stop him.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Wow. I think you must be serious. To what do I owe the pleasure?

BOB:
I wish I knew.

Shell points to the tower in the distance.

SHELL:
We believe he’s in the tower.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Oh, so he’s heard about the maiden, then?
(beat)
He saves her, and thereby gains the power to destroy me? He’s an ambitious little whelp, I’ll give him that.

SHELL:
Take us there.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Listen, little girl. I am the Queen here. You have absolutely no place telling me what to do.

SHELL:
No, you listen to me, and you listen good. Bob and I have been sent here to save you. Right now, it looks like we do that through the tower.
(beat)
Now, you can help us get there in time, or we can’t be held accountable for Jack getting the power to kill you. And to be honest, I really can’t find myself caring.

QUEEN OF HEARTS (to Bob):
Is she like this all the time?

BOB:
Only when she takes a vehement disliking to someone.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Take a unicorn each. I’m not going anywhere near there.

INT. TOWER – STAIRWELL

Jack stands on the stairwell, talking to the trolls. He looks far more confident than he did upon first meeting them.

JACK:
Wow, it sounds like this Queen is a nasty piece of work.

TROLL #2:
You don’t know the half of it. She has this maiden, turned to stone. It will take the power of a true prince of the land to release her from her binding.

JACK:
Wow! That’s really interesting. And you’re not going to believe this, but I am a true prince!

The trolls look at each other and burst out laughing.

TROLL #1:
Just like I’m a fairy!

Jack laughs along, before rolling up a sleeve. He shows the trolls the back of his left wrist, which has a marking – the Spade symbol.

JACK:
True prince, see.

The trolls grip their weapons strongly, ready for a fight.

JACK:
Now, now, guys. You’ve just told me how much you dislike the Queen. And to be honest, I dislike her too.
(beat)
Take me to the maiden and I can destroy the Queen. And you gentlemen can live happily ever after in the swamp.

Troll #2 looks to Troll #1.

TROLL #2:
It sounds fair to me.
(beat)
Follow us.

INT. TOWER – DUNGEON

The dungeon is nothing short of darkness personified. Malnourished inmates are chained to the walls alongside the remains of previous inmates. The dungeon is littered with bugs crawling all over the ground and walls.

Toward the centre of the dungeon is a stone statue – the statue of the maiden.

The door to the dungeon opens and the trolls enter, followed by Jack. The inmates cower in fear.

JACK:
Wow, this place is a bit of a fixer-upper.

TROLL #1 (pointing):
She’s over there.

Jack walks toward the statue.

JACK:
Okay, looks like I’d better get you out of here.

Jack attempts to pick the statue up, to no avail.

JACK:
Or maybe not.
(beat)
I could try smashing the stone, but I’m a little worried about accidentally taking your head off.

The Spade mark on the back of Jack’s wrist begins to glow. Jack smiles, as he now knows what to do. He leans in toward the statue, and kisses it. Slowly, the stone fades away, revealing a beautiful blonde MAIDEN.

The maiden pulls away from Jack, startled.

JACK:
Hi, I’m Jack. I’ll be your rescuer for today.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE.

[Allan]

Act Two[/u]

INT. COSMOS CASINO, LORNE’S DRESSING ROOM

LORNE sits on his chair, while the Cosmos Casino’s SLEAZY MANAGER is talking at him. Lorne is visibly bored by the conversation, to which the sleazy manager is completely ignorant.

SLEAZY MANAGER:
Man, they loved you tonight, L-Baby. Absolutely loved you.
(beat)
You should cut a CD; I guarantee you’ll make a million. Or millions, if you let me represent you. Think of the cross-promotion with the casino, do some extra shows outside of here – charging double our price, naturally – and you, my friend, can be huge! I can set all this up and we split the takings 50/50…

A knock can be heard at the door.

LORNE:
Would you be a doll and get that for me?

SLEAZY MANAGER:
For my number one star? Anything!

There is an awkward silence as the sleazy manager stands where he is, before a second knock at the door.

LORNE:
Well?

The sleazy manager pauses, before remembering and rushing to the door. He opens it to find ILLYRIA – in her Winifred Burkle guise – standing at the door.

ILLYRIA / FRED:
Hi, I was hoping I could speak to Lorne.

SLEAZY MANAGER:
You must be kidding, right? The man’s a star. Wait for him out the back and hope for a signature, like all his other groupies.

LORNE (O.S.):
It’s fine; she’s with me.

The sleazy manager opens the door wider and allows “Fred” to enter.

SLEAZY MANAGER:
So, you’re popping that, L-Baby? I’m impressed! Anyway, I’d best leave you kids to have a little fun.
(beat)
And think about my offer. I’ll get you ten women, just as cute, and maybe a little more…developed.

The sleazy manager turns around and leaves. The second the door closes, Illyria drops the Fred guise, morphing into her natural form.

ILLYRIA:
I can kill him for you.

LORNE:
Thanks, sweetie, but in Vegas, he’s actually one of the gentlemen.
(beat)
Trouble in paradise?

ILLYRIA:
I’m…changing. I need you to read me.

LORNE:
Let me guess: You’re starting to feel emotions. Like you find yourself caring about others?

ILLYRIA:
Yes. It frightens me.

LORNE:
I’m sorry, honey, but I don’t know how I can really help. Fred’s still inside of you, and from where I’m sitting, that looks to be a good thing.

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, TOWER – NIGHT

The drawbridge from outside the tower slowly descends over the moat, landing with a loud crashing noise.

Jack and the maiden step onto the drawbridge and Jack waves goodbye to the trolls.

JACK:
Thanks for your help, gentlemen. Once this is over, I owe you boys a drink from the tavern!
(turns to the maiden)
So, do you have a name?

MAIDEN:
It’s Mary.

JACK (smiling):
“Mary”…I quite like that.
(beat)
Take my hand, and let’s go.

Mary places her hand on Jack’s and he begins to glow. Ambient white energy surrounds him, before suddenly vanishing.

JACK:
So…that would be the legend?
(beat)
Not really what I was expecting.

MARY:
My energy is now yours, Jack. Three hundred years ago, the House of Hearts imprisoned me in the tower, knowing that as long as I survived, they could never rule this land – that no House could.

JACK:
I’m sorry if this sounds a little callous, but what makes you so special?

MARY:
I am the life force of the land. Or I was. My imprisonment shifted the paradigm, and the balance of power here.
(beat)
Once I was imprisoned in stone the life force was spread between the Spades, the Clubs, the Diamonds and the Hearts, leaving a trace amount of residual energy within me.

JACK:
But now you’re back, the energy returns to you, right?

MARY:
Once it’s gone, it’s gone. The residual energy has just been transferred into a new host. You.

JACK:
Wow. I’m…sorry.

MARY:
Don’t be. My time is over, and I can now live a mortal existence. The Houses shall continue to stand.

Jack lowers his head in grief.

JACK:
Actually, Mary, the Houses have fallen.
(beat)
I’m the last of the Spades. Only the Queen of Hearts remains, and she’s taken control of everything.

MARY:
As long as she doesn’t have control of you, this land still has hope.

JACK (grinning):
Jack of Spades, Champion of Hope. That has a brilliant ring to it, don’t you think?

MARY:
Absolutely. But we’d best keep moving.

Mary holds Jack closely as the two are startled by the sound of two unicorns galloping toward them.

BOB (O.S.):
Jack!

Jack grins in delight.

JACK:
Bob! I haven’t seen you since I was a boy!

Jack runs toward the unicorns.

JACK:
Fate must really be smiling upon me today. I take it you’re here to aid me in destroying the Queen of Hearts?

Bob pauses hesitantly.

BOB:
Uh, yeah, about that…

INT. DOMINION BAR

Clem and Kalinka stand behind the counter, bored. The Dominion Bar still isn’t busy. In fact, most of the patrons they had have already left for the evening, save one vampire sitting alone and sipping on a glass of blood.

KALINKA:
Ugh, what a quiet night! Sometimes I feel like we just waste our time here.

CLEM:
Hey, we still have a paying customer.

Across the bar, the vampire finishes his drink and stands up.

VAMPIRE:
Night, guys.

CLEM:
Or maybe not.

Clem and Kalinka watch as the vampire walks out the door.

KALINKA:
So, that’s it, then. No customers, Bob and Shell are out, and who knows what Illyria’s up to…

Clem places his hand on Kalinka’s, and holds it tenderly.

CLEM:
Well, we could always close the bar for the night and take proceedings out the back…

KALINKA:
That works too, honey.

Clem points toward the front door.

CLEM:
Aw, typical.

The front door swings open, and a swarm of MINIATURE CREATURES fly in. Hundreds of them swarm around the bar.

KALINKA:
What the-?

CLEM:
Fairies?

The fairies are approximately three inches tall, dressed in medieval garb, and have wings sprouting from behind. This is where the similarities to fairies of myth end, however, as they are demonic in appearance, with bloodshot eyes and gnashing teeth.

KALINKA:
Well, customers are customers.
(to fairies)
Hey, guys! I must warn you that we’re not fully equipped for customers of your…stature. We can’t sell you drinks in anything smaller than shot glasses, but before I do, I have to warn you about the risks of drinking and flying.

Clem lines shot glasses up on the counter as the fairies stare at them in glee.

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, TOWER – NIGHT

Bob grips his sword tightly as he looks at Jack.

SHELL (to Bob):
Uh, Bob…He’s your friend.

BOB (to Shell):
Yeah, but I have a feeling he’s not going to like what I have to say.

Mary leans in to Jack closely.

JACK:
Is there a problem, friend?

BOB:
I’m afraid so.
(beat)
We can’t let you kill the Queen of Hearts.

Jack shakes his head in disbelief. He can’t believe what he’s hearing.

JACK:
And who’s “we”? You and that girl?

SHELL:
Believe me when I say you do not want to screw with “that girl”.

BOB (to Shell):
Please, Shell. Let me handle this.
(to Jack)
You mustn’t do this.

Mary turns to Jack.

MARY:
Don’t listen to them. You know what you have to do.

BOB:
The Queen of Hearts contains this dimension’s power within her. If you destroy her, you destroy the entire dimension.

MARY:
That’s ridiculous! The Queen has gotten to him.

BOB:
How long have you known me, Jack?
(beat)
You’ve known me since you were a child.

JACK:
So? You disappeared for years, Bob. Do you know what that bitch took from me?
(beat)
She took my family. She made me watch as they were murdered.

Bob and Shell pause, completely lost for words. Jack fights to hold back the tears as Mary places her hand gently on his shoulder.

SHELL:
My God…

Bob drops his sword to the ground and steps toward Jack.

BOB:
I’m sorry I wasn’t here to stop that.
(beat)
But that doesn’t change the fact that you can’t kill her.

Jack looks into the air and whistles.

JACK:
And I’m sorry, my friend. Because you’ll have to stop me.

Jack’s Pegasus swoops down from the sky, landing in front of him. Jack lifts Mary onto the Pegasus’ back and jumps on behind her.

Bob and Shell simply watch as the Pegasus soars into the air, taking Jack and Mary with it.

SHELL:
Damn. I thought we were supposed to be stopping the bad guys, here.

BOB:
It’s not always that simple. Sometimes the good guys are the dangerous ones.
(beat)
Not that I trust Jack’s girlfriend, mind you.

INT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, JACK’S SHACK

The front door to Jack’s shack opens and Mary enters, followed by Jack. The shack features a tiny living area, with barely enough room for two people to move. To the centre is an old wooden table, and in the back corner is a bed which barely stands. To the side is a heavily locked door.

JACK:
Welcome to my humble abode.

MARY:
“Humble” is quite the understatement.

Partially picking up on the insult Jack glances at Mary, but he is too preoccupied with his designs for revenge and his conversation with Bob to give it any thought. He slumps himself down on his bed in a heap.

MARY:
Don’t listen to him. He’s obviously doing the Queen’s bidding.

JACK:
But what if he’s right?

MARY:
He’s not. The best case scenario is that the Queen is controlling him somehow. The worst case scenario is that he’s willingly working with her.
(beat)
But look on the bright side. If the Queen is using him to get at you, she’s obviously scared. You have her on the run.

JACK:
She knows I can defeat her.

MARY:
Exactly.

JACK:
But…Bob of all people? He and my father were allies. They fought side by side.

Mary sits on Jack’s bed beside him.

MARY:
Jack, think about this. It’s been three years since your family was killed, and you finally have the chance to avenge them.
(beat)
And to be happy.

Mary leans toward Jack and kisses him tenderly on the lips.

INT. DOMINION BAR

Clem and Kalinka watch in amazement at the fairies that are dispersed across a few tables, and the amount they are drinking.

KALINKA:
You know, I think this is the first time I have ever seen fairies at the Dominion.

CLEM:
You’re right. They never venture outside of Grimmfaerie.

KALINKA:
Oh, that’s right. I hope Shell and Bob are alright.

At his table, the FAIRY KING lifts his shot glass with both hands and flies into the air.

FAIRY KING:
Can I have your attention, please?

The fairies go silent as they stare up at their king.

FAIRY KING:
I know that you have all felt it. A change is coming. I ask you all to be brave, and demand that you all enjoy yourselves.
(beat)
Drink up, and enjoy this night. For it shall be your last as there will be no tomorrow!

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO.

[Allan]

Act Three[/u]

INT. GRIMMFARIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS THRONE ROOM

The throne room is vast and extravagant, but cold. The room is decorated with portraits and statues of the Queen of Hearts and a huge mirror stands on the wall.

The Queen of Hearts sits on her throne as five elves attend to her every whim; however, she remains distant, deep in thought.

ELF #1:
Is everything all right, your majesty?

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Speak to me out of line again. I dare you.

ELF #1:
I’m sorry, I—

The elf’s words are cut short as the Queen of Hearts’ eyes glow red. She rises from her throne and steps toward him. The Queen of Hearts reaches down to grab the elf’s neck and she lifts him from the ground with ease. The elf begins to glow bright red like a burning ember before bursting into flames and soon ash.

The Queen of Hearts continues to walk across her Throne Room until she reaches the mirror. She stares into the mirror, looking past her own reflection. The faint image of a face can be seen through the reflection.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Mirror. Please tell me that the Jack of Spades is dead.

MIRROR:
I am sorry I cannot show your hearts desire
Anything else would make me a liar
For the Jack of Spades is alive and well
Sitting with Mary, for whom he has fell.

The Queen of Hearts’ reflection morphs into a view of Jack and Mary sitting on Jack’s bed, holding each other.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
They failed.
(beat)
Show me Bob and Shell.

MIRROR:
The girl named Shell and the demon named Bob
Failed to stop Jack, but continue the job
While Jack’s escape is considered a setback
They ponder how to get back on track.

As the mirror’s reflection morphs into Bob and Shell riding the unicorns through a forest, the Queen of Hearts reaches for the mirror and grasps it with both hands.

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, FOREST – NIGHT

The forest is dark, enveloped in shadow by the large trees swaying in the wind that are blocking out the moonlight. Bob and Shell straddle their unicorns as they make their way through the dense forest.

SHELL:
Where are we going exactly, Bob?

BOB:
Honestly? I have no idea. I’m just hoping we manage to get a lead on Jack.

VOICE #1:
She’s watching, you know.

SHELL:
What? Who said that?

VOICE #2:
He did.

Shell looks around, horrified. She and Bob are alone.

SHELL:
And “he” would be…?

BOB:
The trees, Shell. The trees are talking.

SHELL:
Oh, of course they are. How could I have been so stupid to not realise that?
(beat)
Who’s watching?

The two talking trees begin to move, no longer synchronised with the others swaying in the wind.

TREE #1:
The Queen of Hearts, naturally.

TREE #2:
And she wishes to see you.

BOB:
Where can we find her?

TREE #1 & TREE #2 (together):
Nobody finds the Queen. The Queen finds them.

The wind starts blowing heavily. Bob and Shell firmly grip their unicorns, desperate to stay on.

The forest around them fades away into nothing. Bob and Shell are surrounded in pitch black, however they appear to be illuminated.

SHELL:
Wonderful.

Bob and Shell look to the sky above, as a gigantic image of the Queen of Hearts appears.

BOB:
Nice trick.

SHELL:
Yeah, you really could teach David Copperfield a thing or two.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Silence. You failed me.

BOB:
You don’t say.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Tell me now why, exactly, I should allow you to live.

BOB:
Because you’re still alive. Which means that Jack hasn’t killed you yet, and we can still stop him.

SHELL:
That, and I suspect you need our help.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You are insolent fools.

BOB:
I’m not going to argue with that.
(beat)
But I suspect that if you were able to stop Jack, he’d be dead by now.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Fine.

The Queen of Hearts fades away into nothing and the pitch black surrounding Bob and Shell fades away into bright white. The white slowly fades away, and Bob and Shell find themselves in the centre of the Queen of Hearts’ throne room. The Queen stands beside her mirror.

INT. COSMOS CASINO, LORNE’S DRESSING ROOM

Lorne sits in his chair and Illyria stands in front of him, looking very uncomfortable.

ILLYRIA (singing):
Sometimes I wake up crying at night
And sometimes I scream out your name
What right does she have to take you away
When for so long you were mine.

LORNE:
And another Dixie Chicks tune gets slaughtered by the Old One.

ILLYRIA:
Well?

LORNE:
Well, I think you know the answer, Pumpkin. Fred’s a part of you, whether you like it or not.
(beat)
And she’s slowly getting stronger.

ILLYRIA:
How do I stop it?

Lorne shakes his head. He cannot believe what Illyria just said.

LORNE:
You don’t. Winifred Burkle was a close friend of mine, and you destroyed her. If she gets a second chance at life, good for her. She deserves it.
(beat)
And if that second chance comes at the cost of yours, Illyria, then I’m sorry. I truly am. But I don’t see that there is a single thing that you can do.

ILLYRIA:
Unacceptable.

Illyria reaches at Lorne and grabs him by the collar. She throws him across the room and into his decanter, smashing the bottles of alcohol sitting on top of it.

ILLYRIA:
How dare you tell me that there’s nothing to be done?

LORNE:
Is that…emotion?

Illyria walks to Lorne.

ILLYRIA:
I may die. I may become nothing.

LORNE:
You may.

Illyria kicks the decanter, collapsing it, sending Lorne crashing to the ground. Illyria stares down at him before placing her head into her hands.

Illyria slowly morphs back into Fred, as tears run down her cheeks.

LORNE:
Fred?

ILLYRIA / FRED:
I’m sorry, Lorne.

Illyria/Fred opens the door and rushes away, crying.

Lorne slowly picks himself up from the ground and dusts the broken glass from his suit. The door to his dressing room flings open and the sleazy manager walks in. He surveys the damage and grins.

SLEAZY MANAGER:
Wow, you kids like it rough!

INT. JACK’S SHACK

Jack pulls himself away from Mary and lifts himself up from his bed. Mary looks at him, concerned.

MARY:
Is everything okay?

JACK:
Relatively speaking, yeah.
(beat)
But it’s time to go to work.

Mary lifts herself from the bed and follows Jack as he walks toward the heavily locked door on the other the side of the room.

Jack places his hand on the door and closes his eyes. The sound of cogs moving and locks unlocking can be heard within the door. Jack grabs the handle and pulls the heavy door open.

JACK:
Just the latest in home security.

Jack and Mary step through the door into a fully equipped armoury. It is filled to the brim with swords, axes, maces, arrows, and assorted weapons, along with suits of armour.

MARY:
Wow, I’m impressed.

JACK:
We’ll have time for you to tell me how impressed you are after we kill the Queen of Hearts.
(beat)
But in the meantime, grab some weapons and armour. This all ends tonight.

INT. GRIMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS THRONE ROOM

Bob and Shell, obviously disoriented from the teleportation, stand in the Kingdom of Hearts throne room with the Queen.

BOB:
So, I’m guessing these cheap tricks are supposed to either impress or intimidate us.

SHELL:
Maybe both.

BOB:
Maybe both.

The Queen smiles at the duo.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You really don’t like me, do you?

BOB:
Not that it matters, but I’d rather be tortured to death than be stuck helping you.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Right now, Jack is conspiring against me. He’s planning on attacking my Kingdom.
(beat)
So I need you two to be ready to kill him when he strikes.

SHELL:
What?

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Please. Do you really expect me to believe that you’ve never killed before?

SHELL:
Not a human.

BOB:
Killing Jack was never part of the plan.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Really? Because it’s part of my plan.

BOB:
Your plan means jack. Shell and I are here to stop him from killing you. Nothing more.

The Queen turns her back to Bob and Shell, ignoring Bob completely. She walks to the mirror.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
What’s my boy Jack up to right now?

MIRROR:
The prince of Spades known as Jack
Prepares to launch an attack
He’s stockpiling weapons in his possession
To destroy you and your kingdom at his discretion.

The reflection in the mirror fades away, revealing Jack and Mary donning suits of armour in preparation for the final battle.

SHELL (under breath, to Bob):
Nice toy. I want one.

INT. DOMINION BAR

The Dominion Bar is now packed with customers. The jukebox is on, with music blaring out of it.

Music – “End of the World as We Know It” by REM:
That's great it starts with an earthquake
Birds and snakes and aeroplanes
And Lenny Bruce is not afraid

The fairies are still drinking from their shot glasses, getting rowdier as they become more intoxicated, and many mythic creatures from the Grimmfaerie Dimension are now residing in the bar. Centaurs are drinking beer with minotaurs; nymphs circle the bar in ethereal form; ogres are drinking cocktails; harpies play darts; and three gryphons stumble around in an attempt to dance on all four legs to the music. A lone faun is yelling loudly over the music at the occupants.

FAUN:
The end is nigh, I tell you! Our world is coming to an end!

OGRE:
Get over it, faun! Have another drink.

Music (continued):
Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn
World serves it's own needs, dummy serve your own needs
Feed it off an aux speak grunt no

Behind the bar, Clem and Kalinka finally manage to catch a break from the rush of customers.

KALINKA:
This can’t be good. It’s good for business, but it can’t be good.

CLEM:
I’m sure Bob and Shell know what they’re doing, Kallie.

Music (continued):
Ladder with a clatter fight, fear flight down height
Wire in a fire representing seven games and a government for hire in a combat site
Left of west and coming in a hurry with the furies breathing down your neck

The faun perks his ears, listening to the conversation.

KALINKA:
I’m sure you’re right. But with all these creatures running from Grimmfaerie, I’m worried about them.

FAUN (to Clem and Kalinka):
If your friends are in Grimmfaerie, they’re already dead!

Music (continued):
Team by team reporters baffled, trumped, tethered, cropped
Look at that low playing, fine, then
Uh-oh overflow, population common food, but it'll do
Save yourself, serve yourself, world serves it's own needs

The harpies overhear the faun’s comments.

HARPY #1:
Why, that faun’s so negative.

HARPY #2:
He has a point, though. We can all feel it.

HARPY #1:
But there’s no need to dwell on it, though.

HARPY #2:
Well excuse me if I’m a little preoccupied with the end of the world.

HARPY #3:
I’ve drunken too much. I think I’m going to be sick…

Music (continued):
Listen to your heart bleed dummy with the rapture and the revered and the right, right
Vitreolic, patriotic stand, fight, bright, light
Feeling pretty psyched

Behind the bar, Clem and Kalinka look at each other.

CLEM:
They’ll be fine, Kallie. Just you see.

Kalinka smiles at her husband softly. Clem returns the smile before holding Kalinka’s hand gently.

CLEM:
Trust me.

Music (continued):
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
It's the end of the world as we know it
And I feel fine…

EXT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS – NIGHT

Thunderclouds have formed over the night sky, concealing the moon. The wind blows heavily as rain pelts down and lightning strikes. Elven warriors stand guard around the palace and three dragons hover above. In the distance, a figure can be seen flying through the air. As it approaches we see that this is the Pegasus, carrying Jack and Mary.

JACK:
Oh crap…So, you’re sure this thing about us having the power to stop the Queen of Hearts will work?

MARY:
It had better.

JACK:
You’re an inspiration, you know that?

Jack and Mary approach the palace and are welcomed by a flurry of arrows being fired from the elves in their direction. The Pegasus dodges and weaves its way through the arrows.

The dragons spy Jack and Mary and fly toward them at a tremendous speed.

JACK:
Wonderful.

The Pegasus spins itself around and retreats from the palace. The dragons chase with haste. The Pegasus’ speed is nowhere near as fast as the dragons’, and they quickly gain on it. In near synchronicity, the three dragons breathe flames toward the Pegasus, narrowly missing it and its riders.

MARY:
Well, this could be a short-lived attack.

JACK:
I have an idea.

Jack turns the Pegasus around again, and flies directly toward the dragons. They breathe flames again and the Pegasus swoops down below their line of fire, and below them, toward the palace.

MARY:
So, we just frustrate them to death?

The dragons turn around in pursuit of the Pegasus. The Pegasus flies toward the elves, who fire a flurry of arrows. The dragons pursue the Pegasus and its passengers, gaining very closely. They breathe more flames at it, and it soars into the air and out of the way. The flames hit the palace roof, setting it alight, and burning the elves. Jack and Mary look down at their handiwork. Mary gives a satisfied smile; however, Jack grimaces, not happy about the mass destruction and death of the elves.

Jack turns his head back to Mary.

JACK:
Take my hand.
(beat)
We’re jumping.

MARY:
Into the fire?

JACK:
Into the fire. Hopefully we can get through the flames and into the Kingdom. And with any luck, the dragons won’t want to follow.

Mary holds Jack’s hand and together they jump from the Pegasus toward the flames below.

INT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS THRONE ROOM

Shell looks up above her and sniffs the air.

SHELL:
Is that smoke?

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
So, Jack and his girlfriend have arrived.
(beat)
You two should get to work.

BOB:
Let’s do this.

SHELL:
I’m sorry, Bob. I know Jack’s your friend.

BOB:
Yeah, he is. It doesn’t mean he’s not being a fool, though.

Shell and Bob run out of the throne room and toward a spiralling stairwell.

BOB:
The fire’s coming from above. My guess is that’s where we find Jack.

Shell and Bob continue running up the stairwell. As they approach the top, pieces of flaming debris come crashing down toward them.

SHELL:
Hey, on the upside, at least the Queen of Tarts will have some renovating to do.

Shell and Bob proceed cautiously, dodging the debris. As they climb the stairs they come face to face with Jack and Mary. The flames begin to make their way inside the palace behind them.

BOB:
Jack, don’t do this.

JACK:
Bob, you’ve been a good friend, but the Queen must pay.
(beat)
Get out of my way. Now.

BOB:
You know I can’t do that, Jack.

JACK:
Because I might take down this hellhole of a dimension with her?

BOB:
No. Because you will.

MARY:
The Queen has to die.

Jack and Mary draw their swords. Shell responds by drawing hers, and Bob extends the spikes from the back of his wrists.

BOB:
Don’t make me do this, Jack.

Jack lunges at Bob with his sword. Bob blocks the attack with the spike from his left wrist and stabs toward Jack with his right. Mary jumps at Shell and strikes repeatedly with her sword. Shell barely manages to block each blow.

Jack catches Bob’s spike and grabs it. With a firm grasp of the spike, Jack propels himself upward and kicks Bob in the face, sending him reeling back. Bob stumbles into Shell, sending her crashing into Mary. The force sends both Shell and Mary crashing through the railing of the stairwell – already weakened from the fire – and plummeting toward the ground.

Bob and Jack both watch in horror.

BOB (calling down):
Shell!

JACK (calling down):
Mary!

Mary lands on the ground with her feet. Shell is not so lucky. She lands with her full weight crashing into the floor. Mary looks down at Shell and laughs before turning around and running toward the throne room.

Shell slowly picks herself up from the ground and wipes away a trickle of blood from her mouth. Bob watches with concern.

BOB (calling down):
Are you okay, Shell?

SHELL (calling up):
I’ll live.

Not waiting for a response from Bob, Shell turns and runs after Mary in pursuit.

Jack slices his sword at Bob, narrowly missing him. Bob stabs at Jack and fails to make contact.

BOB:
Jack, it’s not too late to cut this crap.

JACK:
You don’t understand, do you?
(beat)
She murdered my family.

INT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS THRONE ROOM

Mary bursts into the throne room and storms toward the Queen of Hearts.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Mary, isn’t it?
(beat)
I must confess to being disappointed in the quality of security, but this little face-to-face should prove amusing.

Mary stares at the Queen in silence.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You’re not much of a talker, are you? You do realise that it was my ancestors who turned you to stone all those years ago, don’t you? That they took control of Grimmfaerie’s power?

MARY:
But you have it now. And that’s what matters to me.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
So you want it back?

MARY:
No, it’s too late for that now.

Shell makes her way into the throne room and runs toward the Queen of Hearts and Mary. The Queen reaches out her arm toward Shell, unleashing an invisible force that sends Shell hurtling into a wall.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Shell, if you’re too useless to stop Mary making it in here, you’re of no use to me.
(to Mary)
Now, where were we? Ah, about it being too late to take your power back.

MARY:
Since you took control of Grimmfaerie, you’ve perverted it. You’ve corrupted it. It’s barely a shadow of what it once was.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Thank you. I take pride in my work.

MARY:
It has to end. This dimension must be destroyed.

SHELL:
What? You knew what killing the Queen would do?

Shell runs toward Mary, but the Queen unleashes another invisible force that sends Shell hurtling back into the wall.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Come then, Mary. Let’s see you destroy me.

INT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS STAIRWELL

Bob lunges at Jack with the spike from his right arm. Jack moves to block the blow with his sword, but the force of the attack knocks it from his hands.

BOB:
Now we can talk.

JACK:
It’s far too late for that.

Jack pushes past Bob and runs down the stairwell. Bob runs after Jack in pursuit.

INT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS THRONE ROOM

Jack rushes into the throne room and stops in his tracks. His expression turns first to shock, then to horror, as he watches.

The Queen of Hearts is holding Mary by the neck. Her hand squeezes Mary’s throat, crushing her windpipe. As Mary gasps her last breath of air, her neck can be heard snapping under the pressure. The Queen releases her grip and Mary falls to the floor, lifeless.

Jack’s expression changes again, this time to anger. In a furious rage, he draws a sword and rushes toward the Queen of Hearts. The Queen raises her arm to try and stop him mystically, to no avail – Jack has the power to destroy the Queen, and he intends to use it.

Bob enters the throne room and watches as Jack slashes his sword at the Queen of Hearts. He slices her through the chest, cutting her deeply.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Well, well. It looks like you might finally destroy me after all.

Bob looks at Shell.

SHELL:
It’s too late. He’s going to do it.

BOB:
Jack! I promise you that by killing the Queen, you will destroy this entire dimension!

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
It’s true, honey. Even your girlfriend told me as much.

JACK:
What?

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Ask Shell.

SHELL:
It’s true, Jack. I heard her tell the Queen that Grimmfaerie needs to be destroyed.

JACK:
You’re lying!

SHELL:
No, I’m not. I know you loved her, but she was using you.

Jack pauses and lowers his sword.

BOB:
If you do this, untold numbers will be destroyed.

Jack looks at Bob and Shell. A tear runs from his eye. Jack begins to tremble, before raising his sword.

JACK:
Fine.
(beat)
This woman took everything I hold dear away from me. I’ll just have to return the favour.

Jack plunges his sword into the Queen of Hearts’ stomach. She staggers back as blood flows from the wound. She begins to laugh maniacally.

SHELL:
Jack!

Jack’s expression turns to visible illness.

JACK:
Oh my God. I’ve condemned everyone.
(beat)
My father fought to protect Grimmfaerie, and I’m destroying it.

Jack pulls the sword from the Queen’s stomach. The Queen grins.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
You’re just as weak as your father was, Jack.

The Queen places her hand on her stomach, healing the wound. Flames begin to engulf the throne room.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
But you showed some courage. And in doing so, you have ended my patience. From now on, I will dedicate every second of my time to finding a means to destroy you slowly and painfully. If you thought you knew pain before, you’re sadly mistaken. You’ll have nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. Nowhere in Grimmfaerie will be safe.

BOB:
Nowhere in Grimmfaerie.

JACK:
What?

SHELL:
Come with us to our home.

JACK:
No. I must continue my fathers work.

BOB:
Don’t be stupid. You’ll die.
(beat)
Come with us, and I promise you we’ll find a way to stop the Queen without destroying Grimmfaerie.

Jack drops his sword and turns to the Queen of Hearts.

JACK:
I promise you that I’ll be back. And your reign of terror will end.

QUEEN OF HEARTS:
Oh, my boy, I do look forward to it.

MONTAGE:

INT. DOMINION BAR – JACK’S ROOM

Music cue – “No Aphrodisiac” by The Whitlams
A letter to you on a cassette
'Cause we don't write anymore
Gotta make it up quickly
There's people asleep on the second floor
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Truth, beauty and a picture of you

Jack sits alone in his new room. The lights are dim and he sits on his bed with his head down.

INT. DOMINION BAR – BAR AREA

Music (continued):
You'll be walking your dog in a few hours
I'll be asleep in my brother's house
You're a thousand miles away
With food between your teeth
Come up for summer I've got a place near the beach
There's room for your dog

The final patrons have left the Dominion Bar, save Shell and Bob who sit silently, sipping on drinks. Clem and Kalinka clean up around them in the background.

EXT. COSMOS CASINO – NIGHT

Music (continued):
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Truth, beauty and a picture of you
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Truth, beauty and a picture of you
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Youth, truth, beauty, fame, boredom and a bottle of pills

Illyria leaves the Cosmos Casino, visibly shaken by the night’s events. She walks past the crowds who are oblivious to her demonic appearance.

INT. DOMINION BAR – JACK’S ROOM

Music (continued):
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
You shouldn't leave me alone
There's no aphrodisiac like loneliness
Bare feet like a tom-boy and a crooked smile
Truth youth beauty fame boredom red hair no hair innocence
Saturday and a picture of you
A letter to you on a cassette
You shouldn't leave me alone

Jack continues to sit alone, depressed.

JACK (V.O.):
Once upon a time, there was a prince. And yes, that is me.
(beat)
After his family was murdered in front of him, he was consumed with hate. All he wanted was for the Queen of Hearts, who was responsible for the deaths, to pay for it with her life.
(beat)
The prince thought he was chasing justice. He really did. But he was chasing vengeance. After three years of hatred, the prince was finally able to destroy the queen. But in doing so, he would have ended billions of innocent lives.
(beat)
And he almost did it, too. But with the help of a good friend, the prince finally saw reason. And now he sits alone with a new beginning. He finally has a chance to live happily ever after.

Bob and Shell enter Jack’s room. Bob places his hand gently on Jack’s shoulder.

BOB:
Hey.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE.

CLOSING CREDITS ROLL.

Written by:
Allan Whatford

Story Editor:
Marie Menninga

Art Director:
Nicola Crawford

Dominion © 2007 Allan Whatford[/i]

[Allan]

Next on Dominion:[/u]

Shortly after Winifred Burkle's untimely death, two of her closest friends - Wesley Windham-Price; and Charles Gunn - died in the heat of battle.

Years later, Illyria begins to mourn them.