Episode 3 – Luck within Betrayal

1. Recap and Resolve (0:00 – 2:30)

[The scene opens where Episode 2 ended. A pub scene where merry patrons are drunkenly gossiping about Darin and him being seen with the Black Cat Porter. It’s nighttime.]

With drink in hand, he starts to hear the chatter of the drunkards around him. “Did you see that solo adventurer with the Black Cat? It’ll be only a matter of time before he falls like the rest of them,” chatting merrily with one another. “Surprised the guild still rents her out… must be hoping he’s the next body,” another quips. And another, “Dead man walking, that one. Everyone near her dies.” Laughter can be heard as more gossip, he ducks his head, but his actions only give him away faster. Loudly you can hear, “Oi… ain’t ‘dat ‘im?”

(Laughter stops. All eyes turn.)
Darin lowers his head. Silence, it unnerving and all those eyes are stabbing him like hundreds of needles. He gets up slowly and doesn’t make eye contact with any of the patrons.

Darin leaves half his brew behind, pays his tab and leaves; as soon as he rounds the corner of the pub you can still hear the laughter erupt. They are still talking about him and the porter. He feels sick to his stomach, clenching his fists, “They don’t know her… they don’t see her for her.” He returns to the room she is seen standing at the foot of the bed. Clasped hands over her crest, she looks worried, “I was afraid, I woke up and you weren’t here. I didn’t know what happened.” Pressures of guilt, he assures her, “I went next door for a drink, it’s okay though. I’m not going out again unless I tell you. Now, get some sleep. We have some work to do tomorrow. We will head to the dungeons outside of town bright and early.” She nods lightly. Curiously she inquires, “Where are you sleeping?” “Honestly, I was planning on taking the floor next to you. I’m used to dozing off in the dungeon so this wouldn’t be much different,” he states softly. “No! Darin needs better sleep than me, you’re doing too much for me…” her tone went decreased as she spoke, almost to a whisper. “If you sleep on the floor I will too,” she insisted. “We can’t have that. Fine you win, I’m kind of curious where this change in attitude came from,” he poked the question, but she didn’t respond. He was thinking maybe it’s because the guild porters all just slept in the shed together behind the building but that was just his speculation. As Darin lays down in the bed she quickly joins him clutching his arm, placing her forehead into his shoulder she quickly falls asleep. He lays there unsure of the new situation, sighs but succumbs to sleep shortly after. 1.5 Opening Theme (2:30 – 3:30)

· Intro ~ L.E.I. [Delete]

2. Back into the Market, Stocking (3:30 – 8:00)

[The scene opens as they are heading through the market/shops.]

· Darin is getting the porter fit with a new backpack. This time she has a big smile on her face as she is showing off her new bag. (Darin’s golden aura flickers: sparking a dice roll. Bottom right corner 16) They are seen leaving different shops stocking up on supplies. They are walking past Paul’s shop, you can see Paul scurrying to the front door.

· He called out, “Darin! Darin! Come back! The boy finished her outfit over night! I told him about the coin you left for him, and he stayed up all night piecing her outfit together! I think you have really inspired the boy!”

· Darin looks at the porter, “Wanna get ‘dressed’ for adventuring?” She smiles excitedly, eager to try on her new outfit. She was dressed in the rags when they first met as to not draw more attention than her reputation already has.

· Paul claps twice, “Come now, Take the young miss in the back and let her try on your work!” The boy nods with a smile and takes her wrist. “Let’s go!” The boy drags her back to get her into her new outfit. An excited look on his face as she was laughing as they darted off. Like watching adults run off like children. Moments later you can hear her expression, “This feels so good! Darin! Look at me!” She jumps through the curtains.

· Paul’s porter went all out with this outfit. Decked with proper protection. He even stitched leather to protect her vitals. The boy asked Paul to use the coin to buy boots to compliment the attire. Yellow fabric now adorns her body with light brown pads.

She was ecstatic and asked Darin and Paul if she could thank the boy. With a affirming nod from both she dashed to the Porter Boy and hugged him around the neck thanking him repeatedly. “I’m just glad you like it,” Tears are welling up as the boy hugs her back.

· Paul interrupted and said proudly, “Your reward for a job well done.” He handed him a gold coin. “Hold onto this and store it somewhere safe. We will close shop early today and head to the market as a means to celebrate,” he spoke with his own glee. The boy didn’t ask for permission he jumped and wrapped his arms around Paul’s neck. Darin can’t help but smile at the transaction.

· Paul and Darin both shake hands firmly and the porter’s both bow respectfully to each other’s party.

· Scenes of them going from different shops as they gather their supplies for the dungeon trip.

· Darin proposes, “Lets get something to eat for the road. I’m kind of starving” She nods smiling, “Me too!” A quick stop at a street vendor and they got a couple of meat barbs for the road.

3. Inside the dungeon (8:00 – 16:00)

[The scene opens with yells and a goblin split in two. A few other defeated monsters lay in the background.]

· Darin flicks off the blood onto the ground from his sword. She stands behind him proudly with a buckler on her left arm, fitted gloves and her new backpack. Still fitted with her yellow hairbow ribbon, she doesn’t even resemble a statless individual but a full-fledged adventurer. She hurries to recover any loot dropped, with a smile this time. Picking up scraps of cloth and even the weapons the monsters were carrying. It feels like the monsters are getting smarter, they are now using the weapons they get from the previous adventurers. Darin’s sees the porter pick up the weapon and he can only fathom that monsters are looting people; what a weird twist of fate. As Darin stands guard while she loots, he can hear her humming, it’s sweet and whimsical he listens intently like he’s heard that song before but cannot place it. Darin knows her dexterity is at 0, but he inquires none the less, “Say, have you used magic before or been taught magic?”

· “Well, to be honest, sometimes when we sat in the shed at night sometimes a person would drop us a book to read. Most were just stories; however, some were actual educational. I’ve read a couple of magic books, but we couldn’t let the guards see us practice otherwise we could be executed. At least that was what was threatened,” as she was severing a bats wing off its carcass. “One porter was caught trying to cast fire and the light gave him away. We don’t know what happened to him, but we never saw him again. I always like helping, so I practice healing. That is why I’m not dead from all my wounds, I was able to heal those. Some took longer than others but the more I practiced the better I got. Some porters that came back with injuries, I had to wait until night to treat them. I was lucky enough not to be caught,” she stated emotionlessly. (Compound that the Bad Luck isn’t only her own)

· She puts the acquired items into the sack and slings the bag back over her shoulders. Attempting to boost her confidence, “You don’t have to worry about that now… did you only read about healing or any offensive spells?” “I’m imagined learning something to protect myself, but helping people was a lot less suspicious than trying to hurt someone,” she stated, “Maybe you could help me?” Darin laughs, “I wouldn’t be able to help you, I’m not proficient in anything magical. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t find a source, albeit the tutor would have to be accepting of the idea of teaching a statless. That might be the real challenge…” They proceed further into the dungeon. She removes a torch from the bag and attempts to light it. He stops her in an almost strained whisper, “Don’t. That will give away our position. There is enough light, if you focus well enough your eye’s will adjust and you will be able to see.”

· The dungeon seems less grungy and deplorable, she is learning new tricks and tactics, everything seems so brand new to her. Her mind begins to wander from her previous years and can only grasp a handful of adventurers that were even remotely kind, but she continues to feel guilty about their fate believing everyone in her bad luck. (Cuts to a scene with the 20-sided Dice, as it fractures a little bit more. Golden light seeping through the cracks as if it were trying to burst from its shell)

· “I think we have enough to cover our rent for a few more days,” he states happy with their haul. “We got way more done together than what I could do myself. You’re simply amazing,” he states with a smile glancing back to her. Her face is beaming with joy. To feel useful and not a burden feels like a new feeling or emotion. As they turn to head back out the dungeon a cold feeling washes over Darin. Her dark aura flickers around her silhouette; a Black-golden cracked 20 sided dice rolls onto the bottom of the left screen… 19…

[Commercial]

· They both reach the surface and it’s raining. “We need to hurry and get out of this weather. Here, jump on my back,” he kneels to her. With a quick nod she gets on his back with no questions, takes the bag off her back and attempts to shield them both from the rain. You can see them scurry along the side of the road as they rush back to town.

4. Return to Town; Ominous feeling (16:00 – 20:00)

[The duo approaches the town. The air feels heavy; the cooler winds exacerbate this feeling of uncertainty. There is a single guard at the station this time. He is different than the other two from before.]

· The porter jumps off his back fumbling through the sack to get their credentials. The guard glancing at the porter then at Darin, staring him in the eyes, almost studying his appearance. He takes the paperwork and sighs, “Thought so…” The guard walks away with the paperwork and heads into his area of quarters, the door slams unabated. Darin looks puzzled yet his golden aura flickers around his body (His blood-stained golden dice rolls at the bottom right of the screen: 15) The guard returns with two dark brown cloaks. He hands the paperwork back to the porter. He whispers, “Keep your heads down… this is a warning.” Offering up the cloaks to the porter and Darin.

· Without any hesitation they dawn their donated cloaks and enter the town. Something felt off as they proceeded through town. Despite the rain the cold air cuts deep. Not many people are on the streets either, a far cry from the normal hustle and bustle, even with the rain.

· They walk back into the market, attempting to sell off the drops they got from the dungeon. A few silver coins here and there. Enough sales to make a few more gold coins. That would last them at least another week including food.

· They want to stop by at Paul’s to thank him and the porter boy for their amazing work. They both walk through the door removing their hood, Darin calls out, “Hello! Paul?” You see Paul emerge from the back, “Oh thank god you’re okay.” ”Yeah, of course we would, the dungeon isn’t that awful,” Darin states confidently. “Oh, you’ve been gone all day! That makes sense,” Paul looks worried. Darin now concerned, “What’s going on?” Paul closes the blinds of his building, “some officials came by looking for someone with the Black Cat. I knew they were talking about you, but I feigned ignorance. They left me alone, and I think they believed me.”

· Darin’s thoughts are muddy and cloudy. Officials looking for him? He didn’t know what to think. Was it the guild? Are they looking for her, me or both of us? His thoughts ran wild. “We wanted to thank you personally, she loves her dress and her outfit held up incredibly well,” he attempted to shake his hand. Paul reaches both arms and grabs his shoulders, “just be safe, make sure she stays safe too. I don’t know what they wanted but I didn’t have a good feeling.”

· As they approach their hotel walking past the pub the ominous feeling finally removed its mask. Both their hearts sunk.

· Darin jaw drops as his inner thoughts raced faster than before:

· Crude drawings that are not very well made. Ugly and not very defining, but enough information that provided Paul’s worry. Posters dawned the outer walls of the pub.

· WANTED: UNKNOWN (A harsh drawing of Darin) – Theft and Extortion : Dead or Alive

· WANTED: “BLACK CAT” – Property: Alive (Also a harsh drawing but of her former appearance as a guild porter)

· They were stunned, gawking at the drawings. He reached up and ripped it off the wall. Was this a prank? Was this a sick joke going too far? Taking precautions, he instructs her to cover her mark as best as possible without drawing too much attention that you’re trying to hide it. She takes her gloves off places them underneath the garment in between her breast to fake conceal her mark. Attempting to cover up the fade from where the yellow ‘gem’ used to be, as well as the connecting lines that also have faded away from the missing yellow ‘gem’.

5. Safety Isn’t Everywhere (20:00 – 23:00)

· They both hastily clean their boots from the mud then proceed through the inn’s doorway. Both are dripping wet but do not falter to get back to their room. They get into the safety of the inn, but they don’t feel safe. They cannot recall how many people saw them enter here yesterday. His outburst in the bath drew many eyes.

· The gossiping from the pub creeping throughout his thoughts. He is worried, panicked even. “The nail… hammered…” He hadn’t felt this in such a long time it is numbing. He sits down laying out the crumbled posters, inspecting them closely. It was most definitely him, no questions needed. The other poster was undeniable of the porter. Stressed, he gawks at the images trying to burn them away, but their existence remained. He closed his eyes and still he could vividly see them.

· She sees his unsettled manic behavior and clutches her chest with guilt in her expression. Watching his nerves tics she couldn’t help herself.

· She removed her gloves and dropped the bag with a loud thud. The thud echoed forever in Darin’s mind, having the noise feedback cross over feedback. His world was collapsing. Louder and louder the sound grew, only to be amplified by his negative thoughts and emotions. 

· Then nothing...

· Silence. Warmth. Compassion. A stillness swept him as he returns from his inner thoughts she is embracing him. Cradling his head. His forehead laying on top of her crest. He, who always did things alone so as not to not partake in the world’s cruel system, was being comforted by someone who was a part of that system, who had experienced and lived by the harsher realities that life had to offer. He is motionless, can barely grasp reality at that very moment. She is humming lightly to him. He recognizes the sound, It was the same song from the dungeon. It was comforting almost like a giant weight was removed from his shoulders when he was with her. “It will be okay, I have faith in you,” she assures him.

· He accepts her embrace and wraps her up into his arms, this is someone to protect. His inner monologue: “You failed someone once before, but luck has presented you with another chance.

[Camera draws away from them: straight back to outside through the window where you can see guards beginning to mobilize and surround the Inn]