PP#23:

The Witches Keep Witching

The story continues to unfold while I also learn to screenwrite. Enjoy.

Start from the beginning.

What follows is a fictional account.

Witch Town, Part 11

“
(ANIMATED MOVIE)

INT. WITCH TOWN GREAT HALL, MORNING

(CONT’D FROM LAST WEEK)

WARREN
The Enclave has been attacked!

All in the room emit an audible gasp.

VORIM HLAHD
I believe the action to leave may just now be called for.

There is frantic conversation amidst all in the room, muddled and incoherent as everyone voices their fears and worries.

GRISELDA
Quiet, quiet!

The room continues to buzz with activity.

Head Witch Griselda emits another spark of magic, brighter and louder than the first time.

GRISELDA
Please, try to remain calm!

The room takes notice and quiets down once more.

GRISELDA
Warren, where are the Warlocks now?

WARREN
I don’t know. They were not there…

Esmerelda, the headmistress of the Old Hen Cackler’s School of Magic, stands up amidst the crowd.

ESMERELDA
Dead?

WARREN
I did not say that. I trust they must have fled. I simply do not know where.

ESMERELDA
Are they not your people? Do they not inform you of these things?

WARREN
(uncomfortably)
Ahem… my relationship to the Enclave is… shaky…

ESMERELDA
(spent)
Hmph.

Esmerelda sits back down next to her colleagues who all twitter quietly to each other, making sour faces.

GRISELDA
Warren, I think it would be helpful if you tell us what you know.

WARREN
I understand. Clearly, you have many questions. But I wonder if such a public forum is the way to do it… I will say only what I may…

GRISELDA
Fair enough.

WARREN
I first learned of the attacks while traveling past Witch Town yesterday. I returned to speak to the Enclave, but they were not concerned or interested and asked me to investigate. I had also seen the trolls fleeing their homelands in a mass exodus, so my first inclination was to check with them. I found them at their ancestral grounds where Jawtooth told me that more of the monsters lands had been attacked as well.

ESMERELDA
(interrupting)
Yes, yes, we know all of this already. You must have missed the briefing the Head Witch just gave.

WARREN
(sternly)
Indeed I did. In any case, Jawtooth was certain these strange warriors were heading for the Enclave, so I hastened back. I was too late, however, and the Enclave was empty and everything within was overturned. I saw no sign of the warriors nor any of the warlocks. Not even a clue as to where they might have gone…

GRISELDA
This is concerning…

The Head Witch muses over the story for a moment, tugging at her pointy, green chin.

GRISELDA
Well, there is little more to be said, then. Most of the monster lands have been hit already, and it is almost certain that we are next. Our most desperate moment may be upon us. Perhaps it is time to leave. Unless anyone has any suggestions?

The room is quiet, no one offering anything. The witches and trolls and skeletons look at each other, each wondering if someone might have some bright idea to save the day.

A small child, Esda, walks forward from the back, slowly drawing attention from the rest.

ESDA
(meekly)
Um…

Everyone eyes the young witch expectantly.

ESDA (CONT’D)
I just thought, well… um… what if we asked the humans for help?

The Old Hen Cacklers all stand up as if enraged.

ESMERELDA
(thundering)
The humans? Are you out of your mind, child? The humans hunted us in the past. Why would they help us now? Did it not occur to you that perhaps these attacks ARE from the humans?

ESDA
Um… I don’t know…

ESMERELDA
Hmph. I rest my case. She doesn’t even know…

GRISELDA
Esmeralda, that’s enough. We understand your position.

Turning to Esda, the Head Witch offers a kind smile, easing the girl’s nerves a bit.

GRISELDA (CONT’D)
Now, Esda… What makes you think that the humans would help us?

ESDA
(with more confidence)
Well, I don’t know. Maybe if we made friends with them… Maybe they could get rid of the light warriors… Or maybe we could just go live in the human world…

ESMERELDA
I cannot take any more of this. This is ludicrous. What makes this girl think that the humans will ever accept us into their world? Clearly she has not learned enough in her history class.

ESDA
(defensively)
I do know my history! I know what they did… But that was so long ago. Maybe they’ve changed…

GRISELDA
What makes you think that, Esda? Did something happen?

Esda stands still, looking sheepish and unsure.

ESDA
Um…

ESMERELDA
She doesn’t have a clue…

GRISELDA
Esda, if there’s something else you’d like to say, I think this is the time to do so…

Esda remains quiet, looking around the room at many disapproving fears. Finally she shakes her head ‘no.’

ESMERELDA
Good grief…

GRISELDA
Then the plan is clear. We must flee Witch Town at once. Please refer to your pamphlets for a safe and orderly escape. And do try to remain calm. There are no warriors attacking us yet, so there is no need to run around in a panic.

Somehow her words fall flat on one of the trolls, or else he misunderstands, for he runs out of the room with his arms high overhead, yelling a child-like roar of fear. It is more humorous than upsetting, and the rest of the monsters carry on and ignore him.

So the room begins to empty out, with most acting calmly and only some being slightly pushy to get to the door, especially the Old Hen Cacklers.

Warlock Warren approaches Griselda as the crowd passes out of the Great Hall.

WARREN
I must speak to you privately.

GRISELDA
By all means. But first…

Griselda trails off as she walks towards Esda, still standing in the middle of the room as if frozen.

GRISELDA
Esda, is there something that you are not telling me?

ESDA
I’m not sure if you’ll like it… I’m not even sure it will help…

GRISELDA
What is it, my dear?

ESDA
Well…

The Head Witch puts one arm around Esda’s shoulder and begins to walk her out of the Great Hall, with Warlock Warren following loosely behind.

FADE OUT

“

I hope you’re enjoying my ongoing kid movie script. Continue to follow me as I write!

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Many blessings,

Matthew