Conflicts of the last progenitors

Sven enters the high hall; manifold holes in the wall and floor admit steam into the room. Opposite the entrance, Sven descries two sets of ascending ramps, one to the left, the other to the right; luminous green water runs down the elaborate spirals engraved into the inclining floors.

SVEN

(calling out)

Which way? Where do I go...?

The young man exhales, shakes his head and- with an irritated SNORT- traverses the room.

Two EERIE NOTES sound; Sven looks at the stairway on his right and begins to walk up it; the orange soles of his blue boots SPLISH in the gently-flowing water.

INT. UPPER CHAMBER / HOUSE OF TOWERS - SAME

The large room has seven irregular windows and is covered-over by an ornate dome.

104.

Luminous water TRICKLES from five holes in the ceiling, down into five perforated urns from which myriad luminous spokes of water arc...liquid chandeliers.

Sven enters; he squints while his dilated eyes slowly adjust to the increased light.

Eleven towering SCULPTORS stand on the far side of the room; a flower-shaped tub wrought in stone sprouts from the floor immediately before them. The humanoids squat heads (perched atop their right shoulders) all face Sven; unlike the sentries, their gray skin is erratically flecked with white spots.

Sven remains completely still.

One of the sculptors reaches into the flower-shaped tub, withdraws a live six-legged serpent and places its head into the third (outermost) vertical ‘bowl’ on its left shoulder.

The writhing white snake is SUCKED inside the aperture. A wet CRUNCH followed by a loud POP echoes in the space.

Two other Sculptors pluck serpents from the tub and SUCK them down, CRUNCHING and POPPING them with their internal mouths.

The largest sculptor walks toward Sven. The TALL ONE is covered with white blemishes, particularly around its eye sockets, elbows and knees. The sculptor sounds two EERIE

PITCHES; Sven looks at the outward-facing, fiber-covered first bowl on its left shoulder.

SVEN

Uh...hello...?

The Tall One turns from Sven and walks (on CLACKING, taloned toes) toward an ellipsoidal opening on the right side of the room. Sven follows, giving one last glance back at the other sculptors: one rips a living sixclaw in half with its bare hands, CRAWCK-CHK-K-K.

INT. STATUE ROOM - SAME

Sven warily follows his host inside. He examines the room: the walls support numerous shelves, each covered with small statues: sculptors, sixclaws, squidfish, trees, spiky fruit and less identifiable subjects. In the center of the floor is a miniature city, wrought from stone.

The Tall One roughly grabs the Swede’s right hand, CRACK, CRACK; Sven SHRIEKS.

105.

The Tall One releases Sven. The young Swede, grimacing in pain, glances up at his assailant: the sculptor looks down at him with inscrutable black eye sockets.

SVEN

It’s...it’s okay...

The Tall One turns away from Sven, goes over to the wall and from it- with a tattoo of CLICKING talons- withdraws two statues: one is of a human, the other is of a sculptor.

Perspiration beads upon Sven’s pale face; he grips his hurt digits but refuses to visually assess the damage.

The Tall One strides beside the miniature city, stops and faces its guest; Sven is still on the far side of the room.

From the innermost, outward-facing bowl emerge two EERIE

NOTES. Sven shudders at the sound.

SVEN (CONT'D)

Okay, okay.

Trembling, nauseated and very frightened, Sven walks forward.

The Tall One places the small sculptor statue atop a seventeen-towered building within the miniature city.

SVEN (CONT'D)

(nodding)

That’s you-

(he gestures broadly)

-and this place.

The Tall One moves the miniature around the perimeter of the sculptors’ metropolis.

SVEN (CONT'D)

Your territory.

The Tall One rests the sculptor-statue down, atop the miniature replica of the house of towers.

SVEN (CONT'D)

I underst-

A flurry of blue sparks cuts Sven short; the Tall One’s fingers hastily carve into the stone, (KVV-KVV-KVV), the sharp, crystalline talons divining a lump from the unscathed ground.

The sculptor blows air out of its first bowl- SHOOSH-clearing grit off of the new sculpture: the miniature is of a lopsided house.

106.

The Tall One raises the human-shaped sculpture. Sven touches the statue of himself and then his own chest, nodding.

SVEN (CONT'D)

Me.

The sculptor hits Sven’s shoulder with the statue, THWAP; Sven bites his lower lip.

SVEN (CONT'D)

(restraining his anger)

Yes. Yes...I understand.

The Tall One takes the human statue and places is to the left of the sculptors’ metropolis...atop the new house in the empty area.

SVEN (CONT'D)

I understa-

The Tall One walks out of the room.

For the first time since he cried out, Sven looks at his right hand: the pinky and ring finger are broken, sideways.

He averts his eyes the moment he realizes what he is looking at.

From outside come two EERIE NOTES.

SVEN (CONT'D)

(muttered)

Impatient bastards.

CUT TO:

INT. THE GROUNDS OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF TOWERS - MOMENTS LATER