Necropolis

Tales of The Argo

"Necropolis"

Featured Selection*

FADE IN:

INT TAVERN - DAY

MEGAERA (30), a fiery warrior with an intentionally mysterious past, flashes a smile at her group of friends sitting nearby. Megaera converses with a shadowy informant at a table in the corner.

PERICLES (apparent 30's), eldest son of Poseidon, and a noble warrior, leads the small group. ANTEUS (19), a brash and opinionated student of war, heartily eats, ignoring Megaera. ATALANTA (18), the Virgin Huntress, blessed by Athena, watches Megaera closely.

Megaera gets up from her seat and heads back to her friends.

PERICLES

You mind telling us what that was all about?

MEGAERA

He says that the men have been gone for three days now. Honestly, Pericles, I don't know why you always get us into these missions of mercy.

ATALANTA

Did he say where they were going?

Megaera takes a morsel of meat from Anteus' plate. Anteus gives her a stern look.

MEGAERA

He said he couldn't tell me, but there's a hermit up in the hills that would know.

ANTEUS

Maybe you can go ask him, and leave my food alone.

PERICLES

I've been watching these people. Some of them are scared.

ATALANTA

Scared? Of what?

CUT TO:

EXT NECROPOLIS - DAY

Two reckless explorers, ENDER (30's) is a bold student of the dark mysteries of the past. JEPSON (20's) is Ender's nervous assistant.

They approach the Necropolis, the city of the dead. Whispers of dark secrets, terrible before the age of man, seem to permeate the very buildings of this ancient city. The city is deserted, but the buildings are strangely in good repair.

JEPSON

I don't like this, Ender. Can we please go back?

ENDER

I've been searching for this city for the last ten years. I won't turn back now.

JEPSON

I feel someone watching us.

ENDER

It's your imagination.

Ender studies a scroll, describing in vague detail the city of the dead.

ENDER

It says here that this city holds mysteries terrible even before man yet walked the earth.

JEPSON

All the more reason for us to leave.

ENDER

Do you know how many men have died looking for this city?

JEPSON

We're going to die, too.

ENDER

No, we won't. Not as long as I have this.

Ender pulls out an ancient talisman.

JEPSON

That's not going to save us.

ENDER

The old man on the hill said it would. This, Jepson, holds one drop of the blood of Cronus. Nothing will be able to harm us.

Jepson hears rustling in the trees behind them.

JEPSON

There! Did you hear that?

ENDER

It's just some animal. Come on.

Ender trudges down a hill toward the city. Jepson peers fearfully into the trees, then follows Ender.

EXT FOREST - CONTINUING

Behind the cover of trees, SOTERIOS, a cruel, self-proclaimed "savior", falls against a tree. He touches a hand to his belly, and pulls it away, dripping with ichor.

Nearby, a statuesque woman, AMPHITRITE, Queen of the Sea, looks around.

AMPHITRITE

Soterios, where are you?

SOTERIOS

Here.

Amphitrite rushes to Soterios.

AMPHITRITE

Now look what's happened to you. I told you not to move.

SOTERIOS

I'm dying, Mother.

AMPHITRITE

I know. There is power in that city to heal you.

SOTERIOS

I don't know if I can make it.

AMPHITRITE

You must find the strength to go on. If you don't, Pericles will win. He will return to Poseidon and reveal our secret.

SOTERIOS

Help me.

Amphitrite helps Soterios to his feet. They stagger towards the Necropolis.

CUT TO:

EXT TAVERN - DAY

Pericles, Megaera, Anteus, and Atalanta emerge from the Tavern.

PERICLES

We need to find Kelgus. He may know something about these men.

MEGAERA

Kelgus is probably in the market, looking for some new scrolls.

ATALANTA

Do you think we'll need our weapons?

PERICLES

I don't know. Anteus, you come with me. Megaera, you and Atalanta go look for Kelgus.

MEGAERA

Where are you going?

PERICLES

We've got something to do.

MEGAERA

Whatever.

Megaera and Atalanta head toward the marketplace.

ANTEUS

What do you need, Uncle?

PERICLES

I need you to trust me on this, Anteus.

ANTEUS

Sure, no problem. What is it?

PERICLES

Soterios should be almost dead by now. If we can find him, we should be able to finish him off.

ANTEUS

So why are you keeping this quiet? Don't we need their help?

Anteus gestures to Megaera and Atalanta.

PERICLES

This is my fight. You are family, so you can join me, if you want to.

ANTEUS

Yeah, sure I'll help. When do we go?

PERICLES

Right now.

Pericles and Anteus head in the opposite direction from Megaera and Atalanta.

Megaera peeks out from behind a building. She sees Pericles and Anteus heading out of the city gate.

MEGAERA

I knew it.

ATALANTA

They're probably just going to get something from the ship.

MEGAERA

No. He's going to kill Soterios.

ATALANTA

But why would he want to kill Soterios? Soterios is his son.

MEGAERA

What?

On Megaera's shocked expression,

FADE OUT:

End Teaser

* Author's Note - This is the teaser for the television episode "Necropolis"