Sometimes in production you have to make cuts.
Sometimes no matter how you like something, and think it could be pretty cool and enjoyable, you have to put your priorities right and focus on the real important things. It’s called killing your darlings in literature, and here’s one particular Run Freak Run darling that we killed in order to not get sidetracked!
We cut it because, while it could’ve been a fun adventure adventure for Two; with magic, and conspiracies and some bonding and character-building – it wasn’t taking the story in the direction we want to take it.
But no work is ever wasted! And so, in the spirit of sharing and salvaging we still wanted to release the almost-finished script here in the blog!
Usually Kaija would take a script like this and just play with. First thumbnailing all the pages and then drawing and inking them one page at a time. After that, I do the final text edit and lettering and we’d be good to go to release it online!
So, even if it doesn’t have any pictures at all – we hope you can enjoy this little side story of Two, and her sister Nine.
SCENE 1 : Two brothers walking in a forest
———————————————-
3-pages
Setting: Lush forest setting in day.
Characters:
Ares (slim and crooked), Vetus (big and slouchy), Mushroom-men and the Guardian of the forest.
1.
Two men are walking on a forest road. They are both shady looking bandits. Faces covered in pores and acne. They are ugly and disgusting and borderline troll-looking. One big, one slim. The slim is leading them forward in the forest road. Let’s call them Vetus and Ares, for the sake of readability of the script.
Vetus:
Brotha, I dun’t think we should be here…
Ares:
What’s the matter brah? Forgot your guts home now didja? It’s just a forest,
nothing more, just like father told. And when we reach the center of it, we’ll find the treasure.
Vetus:
But the witch…
Ares:
Just a little mushroom witch, father said we’ll be fine. Stupid mushrooms, ain’t got nothing on us. Ain’t that right, brotha?
Vetus:
Right…
Ares:
I made a song for this trip, it’s called Money.
Money money money.
Money-eeeee.
Vetus:
…Umm.
Brotha?
Ares:
Money money moneeyy. Means a lot of honey. If ya know what I mean. Rah rah
rah rah!
Vetus:
…Brotha!
Ares:
What! I’m busy!
The slim brother’s ready to beat on his brother.
Vetus:
M-m-m-Mushrooms…!
A tiny spirit mushroom is standing on the side of the forest.
———-
PAGE 2 : The brothers first poke the mushrooms who then exponentially start to overrun them, and something bigger, the guardian is getting closer.
Ares:
What is that…?
He pokes it with a stick. It MEEPS.
Ares:
Rah, what a cute little monster. We’ll be home rich before noon.
He starts singing again.
Money, money, money,
buy’s lot of..?
A mist rises.
Vetus:
There’s more of them.
More small mushrooms arrive, like a horde of cockroaches, they are attracted to the visitors like dogs are to food.
Ares:
Hey! Cut it out! Leave us be!
Vetus:
Brotha! What do we do?
Ares:
Just push them away, father said we can just…push…them…away. Damnit, get off me!
They are practically covered in them now. Trying to struggle free of the peaceful little happy mushrooms.
Vetus:
Brotha! What do I do?!
Ares:
Just kill them if you can, they’re just… mushrooms…ugh! Slice with everything you got!
They have their daggers in their hands and are ready to start slicing them. once they realize there’s another, larger silhouette arriving walking out of the sea of mushrooms.
Ares:
What… the… damned…?
Vetus:
The witch!
———–
PAGE 3 : Just the Guardian
It is in the shape of a large caterpillar, that has tree branches growing out of it. It’s head is a body of a young naked girl, with it’s head hanging upside-down with bone-like wings, like eagles spreading from the temples as it’s crown.
it opens it’s mouth, not to speak but to show its master what is happening. The mouth opens larger and wider than should be possible, another tiny face, just eyes inside the dark appear to take a peak, then disappear again.
The guardian:
“Welcome friends, to the carnival.”
The guardian, inside the guardians mouth, smiles.
Welcome to
Run Freak Run chapter 7
The One With The Good Girl.
————————————————————————-
SCENE 2 : The Queen gives Two an assignment and a mentee
————————————————————————-
2-pages.
Setting: The Queen’s Throne Room.
Characters: The Queen, Two, Alonso, Nine, Captain of the guard, royal guardsmen and Queen’s handmaiden.
PAGE 4 : Two and Alonso have set in the room and are getting new orders from the Queen.
Two and Alonso enter the Queens Throne room. This time, Two looks more pissed than before. She slouched over, hands in her invisible pockets and she’s grimacing.
In front of them in the end of the hall is Queen sitting on her throne. Next to the Queen is her two loyal handmaidens, and also number Nine, who is now fourteen years old, an over excited teenager in her first day of school. Next to her are heavy bags, she’s carrying a heavy book and she’s ready to prove herself..
Around Queen are her guards, generic looking, but well dressed soldiers with halberdiers, in a similar fashion of the Swiss guard for the Pope. The Captain of Guards is standing closest to the queen as her most personal bodyguard. He’s dressed in ornate armor, but is scruffy and looks like he knows what he’s doing.
Queen:
My favorite power-couple. Thank you for arriving with such short notice. Do forgive the company, but there’s rumors of a wild cat loose.
And I so hate cats.
Alonso:
My Queen, is there anything we can do?
Queen:
No. You’ve done enough helping, just ask Cardinal Ambrosia.
No. Inquisitor Two, my dear will do something totally different instead.
She will do some teaching.
——
PAGE 5: Same setting but focusing on Queen, Alonso, Two and Nine.
Alonso:
My Queen, I must protest.
Queen:
Fine. I allow it.
Alonso:
Nine is far too young and valuable to be mentored by Inquisitor Nine. She’s not developed her innate talents yet to survive this kind of a job, we ought to have learned something from the deaths of Inquisitors Five and Four.
And needless to say, Inquisitor Two isn’t exactly.
Well…
Teacher material.
Queen:
Too bad.
Are you done, Inquisitor de Frias?
Good, you are.
You heard me, Inquisitor Two will mentor Nine in her patrols for the unholy invaders. I
expect utmost performance from the both of you.
Do you understand, Inquisitor De Frias?
Alonso, with an awkward shift
Alonso:
Yes, my queen.
While Alonso looks sympathetically at Two, Nine is squeezing her Malleus Maleficarum so hard it could pop and she’s beaming with excitement and naivety:
Nine:
Inquisitor Two, ma’am?
I’d like you to know not to worry about me slowing you down. I wish to take this opportunity to inform you that I have studied all the Holy See approved books on demonology, witches and heretical dangers.
I have studied exclusively the theory of locating, uncovering and exorcising succubi and I posses the basic theory of a successful forceful confession.
Two:
You’ve kept busy.
Nine:
I’m a great student, ma’am.
Two:
…Don’t call me that.
Queen:
How lovely, my favorite girls in the world, sisters of faith, bonding. I might just burst from
joy.
————————————————————————-
SCENE 3 : Two and Nine ride, Nine’s nostalgia and they come across a forest.
————————————————————————-
3-pages.
Setting: Countryside, next to fields, close to a forest.
Characters: Two and Nine
3.
PAGE 6: Nine is disappointed that they’re not killing witches, and Two shuts her up about it.
Three weeks later:
Two and Nine are riding again, next to fields in the countryside. They are getting nearer a forest.
Nine:
Inquisitor Two, I don’t get it.
Two rides in front of her, keeping a slight distance between them.
Two:
Don’t call me that. We already went through it.
Nine:
Sorry, Two.
Umm, excuse me Two if I’m ignorant, but this isn’t really what I signed up for.
Aren’t we suppose to find and punish witches?
Two:
Yes.
Nine:
To me it looks like we’re just letting them go and after another. According to my books, we are enabling the dark lord Lucifer to take over souls of the innocent and spread his influence against the Church.
Two:
They weren’t witches, Nine. Not even close. You can rest easy, Lucifer is not taking over
the world anytime soon.
Nine:
But they were according to my books, and the teachings of the Holy See, and I happen
to know that the Queen approves of their teachings!
Two:
Nine, They weren’t witches according to me. End of discussion.
——
PAGE 7: Same setting but when Nine remembers things, she’s them with a naive-style mini-comic within the comic.
Nine, disappointed tries to awake her natural happiness and curiosity by changing the subject matter.
Nine:
Ma’m, umm sorry again – Nine.
Two:
Yes?
Nine:
We met once, before I mean, in the Monastery when I was little.
Two:
You’re still little.
Nine:
Umh, littler. I got in to trouble with a nun and she was punishing me. Remember? She told me I was bad, a bad thing and a bad girl and bad everything. Then you came, out of nowhere and stopped her hand…
And then you slapped her!
I still laugh when I think about it; I’d never seen anyone flip in their air from a punch. Still haven’t.
——
PAGE 8: Same setting but focusing on Queen, Alonso, Two and Nine.
Two:
Then what?
Two:
Don’t you remember?
Two:
I was very sleepy those days.
Nine, disappointed again.
Nine:
Oh… Nothing, that was it really. That was it.
Two:
Good story kid. You should write it down.
Nine:
Yeah…
But that wasn’t the end of the story and Nine continues to remember in her head how Two gives her a flower, a pat on the head and tells her she’s a good girl before disappearing again.
Two snaps her out of it.
Two:
Nine, we have company.
The two inquisitors get closer to the forest entrance. A man, old man, all scruffy and hunched sits in the center of the road blocking the entrance to the forest.
————————————————————————-
SCENE 4 : Two and Nine talk with old man and agree to enter the forest
————————————————————————-
2-pages.
Setting: Forest edge
Characters: Two, Nine and an Old man(self-claimed ranger, father of the Ares and Vetus)
3.
PAGE 9: Two and Nine talk with the old man who warns them of the witch in the forest.
Two and Nine stop with their horses in front of him. There’s an awkward silence as the old man looks asleep.
Two:
…
Nine:
Umm…Sir?
The Old Man:
Stop!
Two:
Okay.
Nine, asking Two:
Stop what?
The Old Man:
Do not enter! A dangerous witch, more ancient than the land itself lives in this forest. Who ever enters, never returns!
Nine:
A witch! A real witch this time. Malleus Maleficarum warns about satan and incubus being old. I wonder which one is it.
Nine asks the old man very seriously.
Nine:
Does this demon-woman have breasts?
The Old Man:
I… do not know. I suppose they all do, aye?
Nine:
Hmm. Difficult to say then, but it does narrow our choices. Still, it could be any manner of things…
Two:
Who are you old man?
The Old Man:
I am the forest ranger!
Two:
Then why are you outside the forest?
The Old Man, ashamed:
It is dangerous inside.
Two:
You’re not much of a forest ranger then.
The Old Man:
Listen to my story, and you will understand.
——
PAGE 10: A quest to go find the old man’s sons.
The Old Man:
My family has guarded this forest for generations and it used to be a peaceful aslong as the witch slept. But since it awoke and with her it’s minions, it has stolen two of my sons. I am about to step in the forest to rescue them myself, for I cannot bear to live without them.
Nine:
You should not! It is dangerous there! You must not – I insist!
The Old Man:
Well… Maybe you could help an old man reunite with his sons, Inquisitors?
Nine looks at Two. Enthusiastically.
Nine:
A quest!
Two sighs:
When did they disappear?
The Old Man:
A few days ago.
Two:
They are probably dead then.
Nine:
There’s still hope, Two! Please, let us attempt to rescue them! Please let me try at least! It would be great experience!
Nine pleads at Two with her puppy eyes.
Two:
Fine. Let’s take a look. Old man, stay here. What ever you do, do not follow us.
Nine with her eyes wide, hugs her book like crazy.
They enter the forest.
The old man waves at the ominously and mumbles:
The Old Man: Good luck Inquisitors.
————————————————————————-
SCENE 5 : Two and Nine in the forest
————————————————————————-
2. 2-pages.
Setting: Forest edge
Characters: Two, Nine and an Old man(self-claimed ranger, father of the Ares and Vetus)
3.
PAGE 11 : Two and Nine have entered the forest and see the mushroom-men
5.
Two and Nine riding inside the forest. The mist is up already, no signs of mushroom men.
Nine:
What is this?
Two:
A stream of Magic, a spell that protects the forest.
Nine:
Is it dangerous?
Two:
No more than playing with fire, we’ll be fine.
Nine:
Look!
Those are…
She shuffles through her book of monsters.
Nine:
It’s here somewhere…
Two:
Mushroom-men.
Nine:
I knew that.
She didn’t.
——
PAGE 12 : XXX
They are riding against a river of mushrooms, but get through them without a problem.
Nine:
They don’t seem to notice us.
Two:
We bear no ill intentions to the forest, they have no reason to take interest.
Nine:
Hmm.
Two:
Stop.
Nine:
…What is that?
The guardian walks out of the mist.
Guardian:
WELCOME… TO THE CARNIVAL…
——
PAGE 13 : XXX
Nine:
I can’t find him from my book…
Nine is skimming through her monster-reference manual
Two ignores Nine and speaks to the guardian instead.
Two:
Guardian, we seek audience with the witch of this woods.
The guardians mouth opens, the eyes appear to take a peek again, and disappear again.
Guardian:
UPSTREAM… THE LADY OF THE FOREST AWAITS..
Two:
Thank you.
Nine:
That was it? Are we not supposed to get rid of demons? That was clearly a demon.
Two:
No it wasn’t. Come on.
The guardian, and most of the mushrooms pass them.
——
PAGE 14 : XXX
Two and Nine can move freely upstream while a new wave of creatures appear. Flower-children, small humans with large bushes of flowers in their head. They wobble forward clumsily.
Nine:
Look. I understand that we’re living during curious times and there is a certain amount of unfair, uneducated witch-burnings. But in this specific case you can’t possibly argue that your actions were not against the will of our Queen and her holy orders.
The passing flower children stop and reach out to give Two two flowers they pluck from their heads. Two reaches down to take it.
Two:
I can.
Nine:
But that must’ve been a wicked demon! By protocol, we should turn around and kill it.
Two gives one of the flowers to Nine.
Two:
We’re all wicked in one way or another.
Nine:
This is different. This is against the rules.
Two:
Today, I am the rules.
Nine takes the flower from Two.
Nine:
…By protocol, I will have to report you.
——
PAGE 15 : XXX
Nine is suddenly startled by a giant leg stomping next to her.
Two:
Don’t look up.
Nine:
Why? What’s there?
Nine looks up.
Two:
Giants don’t wear underwear.
Nine blushes. Face painted red.
Two:
We are closer to the Lady of the Woods.
Nine:
Why do you even bother? You obviously won’t touch her, no matter what your job is.
Two:
It is our job to investigate first, judge second.
Nine, few steps behind Two narrows her eyes at her. Her disapproval should be super obvious.
——
PAGE 16 : XXX
Two and Nine have to squeeze through the narrowing Carnival. The creatures, ranging from walking mushrooms to flying bunny heads, giant legs, giant butterfly caterpillars, acorn-boys, fauns and centaurs – are like a tight obstacle course that Two and Nine have to crawl and guide their horses through.
It should be a magical moment where we can see the smallest funniest creatures of the forest to the weirdest ones, but at the same time have the same feeling of not knowing of what to expect as the first chapters cave section had. It is a carnival, so the creatures are in a sort of a trance, totally ignoring Two and Nine who stumble past them.
During the walk through the narrow carnival, Two and Nine discuss:
Nine:
I bet you think you’re cool like that. Like you never have to care for orders, as if no one’s authority can waver you. Yeah, you’re too good for rulebooks for sure, after all – you’re the only female echo that hasn’t died in service.
And because you’re the only one, you think you don’t anyone’s help anymore. Well, you know what Two, I’m alive and I’m catching up, but unlike you – I have friends to help me. I have books of knowledge, I have scholars and professors and most importantly, I have the Queen.
——
PAGE 17 : XXX
Nine:
I don’t think you’re cool at all, I just think you’re arrogant.
Two just looks at Nine. There’s a silence and a wind that blows tree-leaves from the ground. As the wind passes, Two turns around, deciding to ignore Nine.
Two:
Come. We’re out of the carnival.
Nine has no words to reply with.
Once they finally pass through the tightest spot to the eye of the storm, they have room to breathe again.
——
PAGE 18 : XXX
6.
We see a clearing, the carnival splits around it as if it’s holy ground.
The Witch of the Woods is a beautiful flower in a clearing, empty of other creatures.
A fresh soil with broken tree branches surround it, as if they pushed down to make room for the flower.
And in the soil there are two faces – the faces of the two brothers from the beginning. They are asleep, under the witches spell, slowly being eaten.
Nine:
What is that?
Two:
It is the witch of the woods, the spirit of this forest. The lady.
Nine:
No, it’s a flower.
Two:
Flowers can be witches too.
Nine:
It doesn’t say so in this book. Hey, where are you going? Wait up?
Nine:
Are these the sons of the forest keeper? We should dig them out.
Two thinks for a while in quiet and with a hint of self-doubt unlike her usual manner, she says:
Two:
No, they were bad people. Let’s go.
Nine:
What do you mean no? Who’s now quick to judge? We just came here and it’s our
sacred duty to help them.!
Two:
They must have wronged the forest. They are fully responsible of their own deaths.
Come, let’s leave. We’re not involved here.
——
PAGE 19: XXX
Nine:
No! We have to help them! No matter how bad, humans are always more important than flowers.
Nine starts digging them out with her hands, she’s slow.
Two:
Nine, you will follow my orders and leave them alone. We don’t want to anger this flower.
Nine:
I know how to break rules too, Inquisitor Two. I can take this flower any day.
Two sighs. She walks away leaving Nine to dig.
Nine:
As a loyal servant to our Queen, Isabella the Fair, I will rescue you, brave souls.
Don’t you worry a thing. She will hear of your bravery and reward you with honors. Soon, you will be white knights in the holy army, pushing away the falling darkness.
Two walks near a branch, she finds a log, heavy and tall. She drags it with her behind Nine who is still digging.
Nine:
Came back, didn’t you? I knew you… I knew you were still decent. No matter what they say, I knew I can save you. Help me dig, sister. :´)
Two lifts the log, and hits Nine in to the back of her head. She falls unconscious on the soil.
Two looks at the flower.
Two:
She will be alright.
She’s tougher than she looks.
Thank you for forgiving her.
——
PAGE 20: XXX
Two hears sounds behind her:
The Old Man:
“You little Inquisitor bitch!”
Two wonders who the hell that was. She looks behind her and sees the Forest Keeper, the old man, father to the men in the soil. He has his sword drawn out.
The old man:
Ya’ didn’t even lift yer finger to help them,I will kill you a thousand times!
Two:
You don’t want to do that, ranger.
Accept your loss, and just walk away. The forest is in a forgiving mood. You might even make it.
The old man:
Raaaaah!
The old man rushes toward Two who doesn’t even move, he’s ready to strike his sword at Two, until – suddenly, a root appears from the soil like tentacle, grabs hold of him and pulls him deep into the ground. Only his twitching hand is left over ground.
Two looks at the flower.
Two:
Try not to make a habit of this, okay?
We see Two leaving with Nine on her shoulder like a sack, walking back to their horses. There are two faces sleeping in the soil, the sons and now their father’s hand as well.
——
PAGE 21: XXX
A whole page illustration, where we see that the flower is only a small part of the actual witch, who lies beneath the ground like a giant monster. It’s roots like hair extend to the surface and one of them is the flower.
——
PAGE 22: XXX
7.
Two and Nine are riding again. They’re riding on the same horse and pulling the other one with them. Nine is riding in Two’s arms. She wakes up.
Nine:
What happened…? My head hurts. I can’t remember.
Two:
You fell.
Nine:
Falling shouldn’t hurt this much?
Two:
It was a long fall.
Nine:
Two, what was number Fourteen like?
Two:
Why bring that up?
Nine:
He was my brother too.
——
PAGE 23: XXX
Two:
He was a baby, not much to it.
Nine:
Then why all the fuss? Even I heard about it.
Two:
There hasn’t been a single male echo since One. That must mean something, to someone.
Nine:
You don’t know more?
Two:
No, I know nothing.
Nine, accepting defeat:
Well… Where are we heading next? More witches this time? I hope there’s real witches this time.
Two:
No, Nine. We’re done, we’re going back to Madrid.
Nine:
Madrid? Why? Did I do badly? I can do better, I promise. Just give me a chance!
Two:
It means you survived and you will work alone on your own now from now on. Congratulations Nine.
Nine:
…Thanks.
——
PAGE 24: XXX
8.
Nine is back in the Queen chamber.
Queen: Welcome back dear, dear Inquisitor Nine, you cannot fathom how I waited for your return. I believe you had no trouble over this mission.
Nine:
Thank you, my Queen. There was no trouble.
Queen:
So…?
Nine:
My Queen?
Queen:
Don’t play daft, dear girl and spill it out!
Nine:
My Queen…
Queen:
Just answer me.
Nine:
…The rumors were true, my Queen.
Queen, with a smile of success:
Go on.
Nine:
…Two proved… Inquisitor Two proved to be rebellious, illogical and a supporter of heretical thinking. She did not approve the teachings of Malleus Maleficarum or your orders.
Queen:
I see. Well done, Inquisitor Nine
I believe you understand what this will mean?
——
PAGE 25: XXX
Nine:
Yes, my Queen. I… I understand.
Queen:
Good. You will wait for further instruction, do not act on it alone. Do you understand?
Nine:
Yes, my Queen. I understand.
Queen:
Good. Good.
Nine looks miserably sad, as if she’d betrayed Two somehow.
Queen:
Oh, come over here my dear child, this must’ve been extremely burdening on you, I cannot imagine anything harder than spying on your elder sister. Oh Come here.
Nine goes to the Queen. Head bowed. The Queen grabs her into her arms, into a hug.
Queen:
It’s alright, it’s alright Nine.
Nine, teary eyed, starts crying full blown.
Queen:
Who’s a good girl? Who’s my little good girl? My perfect god-gifted wonderfully good girl?
Nine crying and broken down, her eyes waterfalls, snot out of her nose crying, not mumbling but cry-shouting:
Nine:
I’m a good girl.
end of chapter 7
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Love,
Silver
