script for castle - halsey
- 1. FADE IN: EXT. WOODLAND PATH – DAY Deep in English woodland a princess travels towards a kingdom while plotting to overthrow the monarchy. PRINCESS (MOUTHING) Sick of all these people talking, Sick of all this noise / Tired of all these cameras flashing, Sick of being poised. PRINCESS, a young and benevolent pacifist, weaves through the trees travelling towards a castle. She is mouthing the lyrics to the song. PRINCESS (MOUTHING) Now my neck is open wide, Begging for a fist around it. She reaches up to her neck, grasping a religious pendant which hangs from a choker for strength. PRINCESS (MOUTHING) Already choking on my pride, So there's no use crying about it. Gracefully, she crosses her body in prayer/blessing. Eventually, she arrives at –- CUT TO BLACK
- 2. EXT. WOODLAND CLEARING OPENING / CASTLE DOORS – NIGHT FADE IN: PRINCESS (MOUTHING) I’m heading straight to the castle / They wanna make me their queen. The PRINCESS finds her way to the castle entrance and see’s the PRINCE for the first time. AUDIO And there's an old man sitting on the Th`rone that's saying that – PRINCE (MOUTHING) You probably shouldn’t be so mean. The PRINCE, an arrogant and entitled heir to the kingdom, is sat haphazardly on the throne. AUDIO I’m headed straight for the castle / They’ve got the kingdom locked up. AUDIO And there’s an old man sitting on the throne saying that – The PAIR make eye-contact and seeing the distress on her face, the prince smiles mockingly at the princess. This causes
- 3. something to ‘snap’ inside the princess, causing part of her benevolent exterior to fall away. PRINCE You should probably keep your pretty mouth shut. The prince acts out zipping his lips. AUDIO Straight to the castle. AUDIO Oh, all of these minutes passing, sick of feeling used. The PRINCESS looks to her left and sees a tiara. She reaches out to grab it and brings it to eye level. PRINCESS (MOUTHING) If you wanna break these walls down, you’re gunna get bruised. Realising what she is doing, the PRINCE leaps up and runs towards her. The PRINCESS begins to snap the tiara. AUDIO Now my neck is open wide, begging for a fist around it. The PRINCE’S arm is outstretched, grasping. His eyes look wild and frantic.
- 4. The PRINCESS snaps the tiara cleanly in two. This fills her with adrenaline, shown by a triumphant and satisfied look on her face. She lets the tiara fall to her feet, showing she cares little about what is important to this family and willing to disgrace them. His responses delayed by shock, the PRINCE is still running towards the PRINCESS, his outstretched stance leaves him defenceless. The princess uses the fact he is off balance to her advantage and punches him in the face, her strength heightened by adrenaline. AUDIO Already choking on my pride, so there’s no use crying about it. The prince’s nose begins to bleed. He brings a hand to his face to check and seeing the blood he collapses to the floor, panting. He is disgraced. AUDIO I’m heading straight to the castle / They wanna make me their queen. The princess is now physically above the prince, looking down on him. This is a reversal of roles and social class. AUDIO (FULL SEQUENCE) And there's an old man sitting on the throne that's saying that I probably shouldn't be so mean / I'm headed straight for the castle / They've got the kingdom locked up / And there's an old man sitting on the
- 5. throne that's saying I should probably keep my pretty mouth shut. Smirking in such a malicious way it rivals the prince, the princess begins to further disrespect the family by methodically removing his royal garb and donning it herself. She starts with his cape/cloak, swinging it dramatically around her shoulders. Next, she takes his rings, jewels and cane. Finally, she takes his crown straight off his head and holds it to her side. AUDIO Straight to the castle. The princess strides defiantly across the room to the throne, while the prince lies crushed, defeated and bloodied on the floor. He looks hopeless and close to tears, his chest heaving with heavy, pained breaths. PRINCESS There’s no use crying about it. AUDIO There’s no use crying about it. PRINCESS There’s no use crying about it. AUDIO There’s no use crying about it. The princess sits as haphazardly on the throne as the prince did before and locking eyes with the prince she places the crown on her head excruciatingly slowly and smirks.
- 6. CUT TO BLACK