ARIANNA: An Original Screenplay by Mehul Desai Read Free Book Online

this
    evening?
     
    KYLAN: I'm not that hungry.
     
    Elliott takes his plate and empties what's left into his.
     
    ELLIOTT: I won't be joining you tomorrow
    evening. There's too much to do in the
    morning.
     
    Kylan looks across at his father, his mind elsewhere.
     
    ELLIOTT (CONT'D): Tell Arianna that she's
    to attend. She can help where she can.
     
    KYLAN: I intend to marry Sophie Temwoth.
     
    Elliott stops and looks at him, not surprised.
     
    ELLIOTT: Have you spoken to Cantor?
     
    KYLAN: No but I will, I'd like to speak to her
    first.
     
    Elliott slowly nods, returning to his food.
     
    ELLIOTT: Sophie is a fine match.
     
    KYLAN: (beat) Are you pleased?
     
    ELLIOTT: I will be, once you have done
    what is proper and spoken with Cantor.
     
    Kylan nods, disappointed by the response.
     
    ELLIOTT (CONT'D): (beat) I will also be
    proud.
     
    Kylan looks up and smiles.
     
    CUT TO.
     
    INT. HALLWAY - UPPER FLOOR
     
    Kylan hurries up the stairs and races to his father's bedroom.
     
    INT. ELLIOTT'S BEDROOM
     
    He opens the closet and kneels down, drawing back the small wooden box.
     
    He opens it up and takes out his mother's silver ring.
     
    A smile on his face.
     
    He about to close the box when he notices that his poems are missing.
     
    INT. HALLWAY - UPPER FLOOR
     
    He steps out and looks down the hallway.
     
    The door to the last room is closed. Candlelight flickering from within.
     
    INT. ARIANNA'S ROOM
     
    Arianna sits on a mattress on the floor, another smile on her face as she rereads Kylan's poems.
     
    The door opens.
     
    She looks up and quickly tries to hide the papers.
     
    Kylan stops.
     
    KYLAN: (beat) What are you doing?
     
    Arianna realizes she's been caught and slowly stands, backing up against the wall.
     
    Kylan approaches and grabs the papers off the mattress.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): These are NOT yours.
     
    Arianna touches her chest and bows, "I'm sorry".
     
    Kylan looks down at the old poems.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): Can you even read this?
     
    Arianna raises her fingers and makes a "small" gesture.
     
    Kylan looks at her, surprised.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): (low) I didn't think you
    remembered.
     
    Arianna keeps her head low, nervously glancing at him.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): (beat) Do you write, I
    mean can you write?
     
    Arianna shakes her head.
     
    Kylan steps back, noticing his mother's clothes over her chair.
     
    Arianna sees his anger return.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): (beat) Not everything in
    this house belongs to you.
     
    Arianna nods, again apologetic.
     
    Kylan moves to the door.
     
    Arianna touches his arm.
     
    He looks back as she hands him another paper.
     
    Kylan notices the title and looks at her, embarrassed.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): You read this?
     
    Arianna pauses then nods.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): It's not about you, I
    mean the name's the same but it's not about
    you.
     
    Arianna points to herself and shakes her head, "It's not about me, I understand".
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): That's right. Ma chose it,
    before we took you in.
     
    Arianna nods, assuring.
     
    Kylan exhales, dropping the matter.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): Pa wants you to help out
    at the Festival tomorrow.
     
    He opens the door.
     
    KYLAN (CONT'D): Be sure to wear
    something appropriate.
     
    He closes the door behind him.
     
    Arianna looks up. Now really nervous.
     
    CUT TO.
     
    EXT. TOWN SQUARE - ELLORA - NIGHT
     
    A drum beats fast, the band playing loud and full as young people dance on the main floor.
     
    Across the square bread is broken, wine poured, tables lined with fruit, meat and other treats.
     
    Rence knocks back a large glass of ale, racing a friend.
     
    Tuck stumbles by, trying to get several girls to dance with him.
     
    TUCK: Come on! You're just standing there!
     
    He crosses a tall girl and tries to take her hand.
     
    TUCK (CONT'D): Sebille!
     
    SEBILLE, 21, pushes him back.
     
    SEBILLE: Get lost Tuck.
     
    Arianna stands alone by one of the tables, a large bowl of punch in front