Dangerous Dragon

EXT. THE VALE - AFTERNOON

Adventurous monster fighter DRAGON SKYWARD STORMHEART is arguing with formal metalworker DRAGON DANTE COPPERCOIL. SKYWARD tries to hug DANTE but he shakes her off.

SKYWARD
Please Dante, don't leave me.

DANTE
I'm sorry Skyward, but I'm looking for somebody a bit more brave. Somebody who faces her fears head on, instead of running away.

SKYWARD
I am such a person!

DANTE frowns.

DANTE
I'm sorry, Skyward. I just don't feel excited by this relationship anymore.

DANTE leaves.

SKYWARD sits down, looking defeated.

Moments later, brave fighter ANGEL SHADME MEW barges in looking flustered.

SKYWARD
Goodness, Shadme! Is everything okay?

SHADME
I'm afraid not.

SKYWARD
What is it? Don't keep me in suspense...

SHADME
It's ... a dragon ... I saw an evil dragon burn a bunch of hatchlings!

SKYWARD
Defenseless hatchlings?

SHADME
Yes, defenseless hatchlings!

SKYWARD
Bloomin' heck, Shadme! We've got to do something.

SHADME
I agree, but I wouldn't know where to start.

SKYWARD
You can start by telling me where this happened.

SHADME
I was...

SHADME fans herself and begins to wheeze.

SKYWARD
Focus Shadme, focus! Where did it happen?

SHADME
Perch of Karios! That's right - Perch of Karios!

SKYWARD springs up and begins to run.

EXT. A ROAD - CONTINUOUS

SKYWARD rushes along the street, followed by SHADME. They take a short cut through some back gardens, jumping fences along the way.

EXT. PERCH OF KARIOS - SHORTLY AFTER

SCORCH ROARY a dangerous dragon terrorises two hatchlings.

SKYWARD, closely followed by SHADME, rushes towards SCORCH, but suddenly stops in her tracks.

SHADME
What is is? What's the matter?

SKYWARD
That's not just any old dragon, that's Scorch Roary!

SHADME
Who's Scorch Roary?

SKYWARD
Who's Scorch Roary? Who's Scorch Roary? Only the most dangerous dragon in the universe!

SHADME
Blinkin' knickers, Skyward! We're going to need some help if we're going to stop the most dangerous dragon in the universe!

SKYWARD
You can say that again.

SHADME
Blinkin' knickers, Skyward! We're going to need some help if we're going to stop the most dangerous dragon in the universe!

SKYWARD
I'm going to need wands, lots of wands.

Scorch turns and sees Skyward and Shadme. He grins an evil grin.

SCORCH
Skyward Stormheart, we meet again.

SHADME
You've met?

SKYWARD
Yes. It was a long, long time ago...

EXT. A PARK - BACK IN TIME

A young SKYWARD is sitting in a park listening to some awesome music, when suddenly a dark shadow casts over her.

She looks up and sees SCORCH. She takes off her headphones.

SCORCH
Would you like some dragon snaps?

SKYWARD's eyes light up, but then he studies SCORCH more closely, and looks uneasy.

SKYWARD
I don't know, you look kind of dangerous.

SCORCH
Me? No. I'm not dangerous. I'm the least dangerous dragon in the world.

SKYWARD
Wait, you're a dragon?

SKYWARD runs away, screaming.

EXT. PERCH OF KARIOS - PRESENT DAY

SCORCH
You were a coward then, and you are a coward now.

SHADME
(To SKYWARD) You ran away?

SKYWARD
(To SHADME) I was a young child. What was I supposed to do?

SKYWARD turns to SCORCH.

SKYWARD
I may have run away from you then, but I won't run away this time!

SKYWARD runs away.

She turns back and shouts.

SKYWARD
I mean, I am running away, but I'll be back - with wands.

SCORCH
I'm not scared of you.

SKYWARD
You should be.

EXT. LIGHTNING HABITAT - LATER THAT DAY

SKYWARD and SHADME walk around searching for something.

SKYWARD
I feel sure I left my wands somewhere around here.

SHADME
Are you sure? It does seem like an odd place to keep deadly wands.

SKYWARD
You know nothing Shadme Mew.

SHADME
We've been searching for ages. I really don't think they're here.

Suddenly, SCORCH appears, holding a pair of wands.

SCORCH
Looking for something?

SHADME
Crikey, Skyward, he's got your wands.

SKYWARD
Tell me something I don't already know!

SHADME
The earth's circumference at the equator is about 40,075 km.

SKYWARD
I know that already!

SHADME
I'm scared of television.

SCORCH
(appalled) Dude!

While SCORCH is looking at SHADME with disgust, SKYWARD lunges forward and grabs her deadly wands. He wields them, triumphantly.

SKYWARD
Prepare to die, you dangerous blushrooms!

SCORCH
No please! All I did was burn a bunch of hatchlings!

DANTE enters, unseen by any of the others.

SKYWARD
I cannot tolerate that kind of behaviour! Those hatchlings were defenceless! Well now they have a defender - and that's me! Skyward Stormheart defender of innocent hatchlings.

SCORCH
Don't hurt me! Please!

SKYWARD
Give me one good reason why I shouldn't use these wands on you right away!

SCORCH
Because Skyward, I am your father.

SKYWARD looks stunned for a few moments, but then collects herself.

SKYWARD
No you're not!

SCORCH
Ah well, it had to be worth a try.

SCORCH tries to grab the wands but SKYWARD dodges out of the way.

SKYWARD
Who's the daddy now? Huh? Huh?

Unexpectedly, SCORCH slumps to the ground.

SHADME
Did he just faint?

SKYWARD
I think so. Well that's disappointing. I was rather hoping for a more dramatic conclusion, involving my deadly wands.

SKYWARD crouches over SCORCH's body.

SHADME
Be careful, Skyward. It could be a trick.

SKYWARD
No, it's not a trick. It appears that... It would seem... Scorch Roary is dead!

SKYWARD
What?

SKYWARD
Yes, it appears that I scared him to death.

SHADME claps her hands.

SHADME
So your wands did save the day, after all.

DANTE steps forward.

DANTE
Is it true? Did you kill the dangerous dragon?

SKYWARD
Dante how long have you been...?

DANTE puts his arm around SKYWARD.

DANTE
Long enough.

SKYWARD
Then you saw it for yourself. I killed Scorch Roary.

DANTE
Then the hatchlings are safe?

SKYWARD
It does seem that way!

A crowd of vulnerable hatchlings enter, looking relived.

DANTE
You are their hero.

The hatchlings bow to SKYWARD.

SKYWARD
There is no need to bow to me. I seek no worship. The knowledge that Scorch Roary will never burn hatchlings ever again, is enough for me.

DANTE
You are humble as well as brave!

One of the hatchlings passes SKYWARD a lightning orb

DANTE
I think they want you to have it, as a symbol of their gratitude.

SKYWARD
I couldn't possibly.

Pause.

SKYWARD
Well, if you insist.

SKYWARD takes the orb.

SKYWARD
Thank you.

The hatchlings bow their heads once more, and leave.

SKYWARD turns to DANTE.

SKYWARD
Does this mean you want me back?

DANTE
Oh, Skyward, of course I want you back!

SKYWARD smiles for a few seconds, but then looks defiant.

SKYWARD
Well you can't have me.

DANTE
WHAT?

SKYWARD
You had no faith in me. You had to see my scare a dragon to death before you would believe in me. I don't want a lover like that.

DANTE
But...

SKYWARD
Please leave. I want to spend time with the one person who stayed with me through thick and thin - my best friend, Shadme.

SHADME grins.

DANTE
But...

SHADME
You heard the lady. Now be off with you. Skidaddle! Shoo!

DANTE
Skyward?

SKYWARD
I'm sorry Dante, but I think you should skidaddle.

DANTE leaves.

SHADME turns to SKYWARD.

SHADME
Did you mean that? You know ... that I'm your best friend?

SKYWARD
Of course you are!

The two walk off arm in arm.

Suddenly SHADME stops.

SHADME
When I said I'm scared of television, you know I was just trying to distract the dragon don't you?

THE END