TC Ep 270 Script

trio+farrah back sitting in the car, all bored.

r: why can’t i be up there following you lot like Cereea?? seriously, my ass is going numb from sitting all day.

(scra with chin on hand looking out window. ky noticed silver bracelet)

K: what’s that? 

s:Hm? oh, my dad gave it to me. It used to be my mom’s. 

K: you’ve never really worn jewellery before.

S: i’ve never owned any before. plus, if I’m meant to be a king, that’s, like, something that’s expected of them, right?

R: oh, so you’re into the whole thing now are you? Is that why mr. sergeant soldier over there seems to have finally taken a chill pill - you’ve accepted him as your meat shield so he no longer has to fight you about it?

S: be serious, of course i won’t be a king. it’s just…hard to not feel like a fraud in front of all these people. every town we pass through they’re waiting for me, and when they see me, it’s hard to see their disappointment. I didn’t even ask for any of this, and I still can’t stand letting them down, how stupid is that. 

K: (takes his hand) you’re not letting them down, you haven’t even promised them anything, you’re being swept away in all this just as much as them. Don’t worry about what they think.

(ree and farrah staring at their held hands)

R: ah, so THAT’s what’s happened here. Thank Icarus, honestly you two were driving us insane with your crazy will they-won’t they. I mean, we all knew you would, but your stupidity kept getting in the way and it was taking too long fr. 

S: we’ve…come to an understanding.

r: (“come” huh lmao)

(Ky tries to melt into the seat)

F: ok enough, they can’t handle it yet Ree. 

erias in the front seat: we’re arriving for the night. I’d keep news of any…developments to yourselves, Gera won’t want any outliers in her plans.

S: no. I’m not hiding anything. If they don’t like it, that’s their problem.

E: (dubious) whatever you say, your highness. 

(enter village that’s noticeably poorer, the villagers shabbier. no ones cheering.)

R: not that i expect fanfare at our arrival, but open hostility is a bit much.

K: let’s just get inside. 

(exiting the cars)

G: We have secured lodgings for the night. Keep your sword on you, Redguard. There will be a guard rotation outside your doors also and other will be no objections to it. Inside, now.

(two kids approach Scra, Gera gestures for guards to stop them but Scra steps forwards.

kid1: they say you’re the king.

Scra: I’m not really -

kid1 to kid2: see? I told you he can’t help us

(both walk off, Scra looking after them in shock. scra dad watching)

(bed. Ky hands scra a sword)

K: here. I convinced your dad it was in your best interest for you to have one too. 

S: good. I want to be able to protect you, also. 

(scra pulls him down to the bed so they’re lying facing each other)

S: I love you. We can get through anything together, I’m pretty sure.

K: I -

(scra kisses him.)

S: sleep. I’ll take first watch.

Ky asleep. Scra hears a noise outside. takes sword and goes to door to find two raven guards, quietly shuts door behind him.

Guard1: It is unsafe to venture out at night, King Scra.

S: (that sounds so ridiculous) what’s going on out there? I heard voices.

G2: Nothing to concern yourself with, your majesty. 

S: (your majesty???) Nevertheless, I’d like to see.

G1: We have been stationed here to guard your person, and have been instructed to let none come or go.

S: …I am King, am I not? Surely my word outranks anyone else’s.

(Guards look at e/other)

(Scra dad appears): Do as the King wishes.

G1+G2: (stand to attention) We live to serve.

S: (to dad) I didn’t need you to rescue me

DS: Of course you didn’t, but a reminder of your station never goes amiss. 

S: I heard voices, I want to know what’s going on.

SD: and so you shall. Come. But keep to the shadows. Getting in trouble due to curiosity is always too easily done. 

S: you don’t have to tell me about that. 

(scra and dad fly to tree house closer to commotion to hide and spy. below the villagers are being harassed by Redguard.)

S: why are they harassing the villagers in the middle of the night? 

SD: I’ve been watching for a while, it seems as though they haven’t paid this season’s taxes in time

S: Taxes? To who?

SD: The Council, naturally. They took control of the last King’s lands when he was murdered, and have reaped the benefits since.

S: Land on which they’ve built their own houses, farmed their own food, and by the look of it barely survived with no help from the Council they pay their meager earnings to.

SD: It is the order of things.

S: What use is a governing body if they don’t actually help their people?

SD: Indeed. Although it seems they do have the means to deploy their Redguard to encourage them. Something your paramour is familiar with, I assume. 

S: Ky denounced all that years ago

SD: sure, but what did he do before that, i wonder

S: It doesn’t matter who he used to be. It matters who he is now, every day, and I love the person he’s become.

SD: A pretty little epitaph

S: maybe. But I’ll happily die by those beliefs. 

SD: let’s hope it does not come to that then, Son. 

(In car. outside trees are more tropical. bunting starts appearing along the road)

S: is there…a festival going on?

K: the people are celebrating.

S: celebrating what?

R: you, dummy. The monarchists will be out in full force, welcoming their saviour home. 

F: and the anti-monarchists will be plotting, as usual.

R: you don’t have to see your parents, Farrah.

F: oh, I’m sure they won’t give me a choice about it.

K: where are they taking us? This isn’t the road to the capitol building.

Erias: a detour, in an attempt to keep your arrival as contained as possible. 

R: you say that like you’re not planning on parading us through the streets.

E: oh, you’ll be paraded. But I imagine the Council will like their questions answered first. A Crow noble has agreed to host us in the meantime. I hear you are acquainted already.

(car pulls up in front of Lord Eldwode’s townhouse, with him waiting outside, the councillors behind him. their looks are scathing. the four cower)

R: …i feel like we’ve been here before.

(scra looks at ky who’s obviously having flashbacks, takes his hand)

S: at least we know what to expect this time. we’ve just got to hope we’ve finally got the upper hand.

Edit: I've added a scene in the middle - enjoy!