Love Beseeching

By Teresa Quiroz,

Four Femme Filmmakers

trmcgahan@tlu.edu
EXT. CRYSANDELLE BALLROOM ENTRANCE - NIGHT

MALAENIA, a 20-year-old fae woman, quickly rushes out of the

ballroom, a look of anguish on her face. She is wearing a
beautiful gown and a mask around her eyes. Without
hesitation, Malaenia runs straight into the dark woods
surrounding the ballroom.

EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Malaenia stops running and stumbles to catch her breath.

There are sounds of rushing water nearby. Maleania slumps
onto the grass, and puts her head in her hands. She takes a
deep breath, then determinedly lifts her head and pulls out a
necklace. She inspects the necklace and glances around the
woods nervously.

She places the necklace onto a leaf on the ground, and pulls
out a bag of crystals. She places the crystals around where
the necklace lies on the ground. Malaenia's hands shake with
worry, but also anticipation. When she is ready, she glances
up at the sky.

She speaks into the universe.

MALAENIA
This type of spell would likely drain
me for a few days, but... I really
need to speak to you one last time.

Malaenia closes her eyes and concentrates.

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
I invoke the spirit of Iskandra
Blackbeak.

A pause. Malaenia peeks open an eye, then both. Nothing has

happened. She turns desperate, and begins crying.

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
Please, Iska, I just need one more
moment with you.

Malaenia has bowed her head and let's her tears fall with
lost hope. Then, the air shifts. Malaenia hasn't noticed. She
looks at the necklace and goes to grab it when a soft and
playful voice speaks to her, the voice of ISKANDRA.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
I don't remember necromancy being one
of your abilities.

Created using Celtx

 2.

FLASHBACK - EXT. LAWN - DAY

-Iskandra, a 16-year-old human, smiles merrily. She exudes

happiness.

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Malaenia's head sharply looks up, and she begins frantically

scanning the woods looking for Iskandra, but no one's there.

MALAENIA
Iska?

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Your eye is leaking.

Malaenia istantly cry-laughs, while also wiping her tears

away.

MALAENIA
It doesn't usually do that.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Oh, I remember. Even that time you
fell out of that tree in the tea
gardens, you didn't shed a single
tear.

Malaenia laughs again, but her mood quickly turns somber.

MALAENIA
Iska, I'm so sorry. For everything.
For my parents. For that night in the-

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Shhh. It's okay. Let's not let this
precious extra time we have be wasted
on tears and regrets. Tell me, Mal,
why have you summoned me?

FLASHBACK - EXT. LAWN - DAY

-Iskandra grabs Malaenia's hand

-Iskandra and Malaenia laugh

-Iskandra plays with Malaenia's hair

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Iskandra's words and tone seem to have a soothing effect on

Created using Celtx

 3.

Malaenia. Malaenia shakes her head exasperately.

MALAENIA
Oh, Iska. So much has happened these
past few years. But tonight...

Malaenia looks down shamefully.

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
Tonight, Ethron Weston plans to
propose to me.

There is a beat of pregnant silence. Malaenia hurries to fill

it with panicked words.

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
You have to know it was my parents'
doing! They've been planning to marry
me off for a while, but Iska... Iska,
you know I would never... I could
never move on from-

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Why not?

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Malaenia pauses, shocked. Iskrandra speaks her next words

very carefully.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Oh, Malaenia. It's been four years
already. It's okay to move on.

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

A mix of emotions crosses Malaenia's face, ranging from

confusion to anger.

MALAENIA
What? No, that- I couldn't- I could
never- I mean, how could you think
that I would ever-

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Do you love him?

Malaenia pauses again, this time with hesitation.

MALAENIA
I don't know. But he's not... It's not

Created using Celtx

 4.

like how it was between us.

FLASHBACK - EXT. TEA GARDENS - DAY

A reel of events that happen on the "night." A looks of them

both smiling at each other. It happens so fast that the
audience doesn't know what they're seeing yet.

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Iskandra takes a moment before she speaks, this time a little

sullenly.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
But it could be.

FLASHBACK - EXT. LAWN - DAY

-Iskandra and Malaenia run around a field, playing tag.

-Iskandra helps pick Malaenia up from the ground where she

had fallen.

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Malaenia shakes her head, then suddenly stands up, hands

clenched in anger. She begins pacing.

MALAENIA
My parents believe that if I married
the Lord of Ardonista, our bloodline
will forever be sealed within the
monarchy, my blood. As if we don't
have enough money already! Why do my
parents get to decide when and who I
lov

Malaenia kicks at a pile of leaves in fury. She descends into

a frighteningly calm rage.

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
I will never forgive them for what
they did to you. And when you left, I
vowed... I vowed to never love someone
as much as I loved you.

Malaenia looks to an invisible force with such sorrow and

love.

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
If I had known you were sick, I would

Created using Celtx

 5.

have gone to you. I should have found

you. I should have never...

FLASHBACK - EXT. WOODS/ROOM - NIGHT

-The two stare passionately at each other

-Malaenia gently touches Iskandra's face

-Close up of Malaenia's finger swiping over Iskandra's lips

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Malaenia lets her words trail off. The air shifts around her,
and Malaenia closes her eyes at its comfort.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
I don't regret it. Us. How could I,
when it brought me that much closer to
you?

MALAENIA
I'll always love you, Iska. No matter
if there's a ring on my finger and a
man in my bed. I'll never forget you,
Iskandra Blackbeak. My first friend,
my first love.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
I love you too, Malaenia. My life was
short-lived, but being able to spend
it with you felt like a lifetime of
happiness. Now it's your turn to be
happy. Please, Mal. Be happy, for me.

Tears stream down Malaenia's face once again, but with sad
and happy acceptance. She looks at the necklace in thought.
Then, her eyebrows furrow, in realization.

MALAENIA
Then, I won't marry Ethron.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
Malaenia, what-

MALAENIA
I don't love him. And I don't think I
ever will. It wouldn't be fair to him
or me. So I won't marry him.

Malaenia waits for Iskandra to respond. Iskra begins to say

Created using Celtx

 6.

something but the connection is being lost, and she is being

cut off by static.

ISKANDRA (O.S.)
I wish we had more time, Malawnia. Now
go, find your happiness. "You always
did say you wanted to travel." (The
line in quotations is the part that
gets cut up.)

FLASHBACK - EXT. LAWN - DAY

-That same day that Iskandra is leaving, but she turns to

look at Malaenia one last time, and smiles.

BACK TO PRESENT - EXT. CRYSANDELLE WOODS - NIGHT

Iskandra's voice slowly fades away and the air around

Malaenia shifts again. She reaches out to grab at it, but
then the air stills. Iskandra is gone.

Malaenia smiles a sad smile. She takes a breath then reaches

for the necklace on the grass. She holds it gently in her
palm. Malaenia holds the necklace to her chest, and

MALAENIA (CONT'D)
Thank you for everything, Iska. I'm
ready to let go now.

With newfound confidence and clarity, Malaenia turns around

and walks through the woods once again.

FADE TO BLACK

Created using Celtx