Stephen King's "The Eyes Of The Dragon"

The eyes of the dragon

Tracking master shot: KING ROLAND is speaking to PETER, who is twelve. FLAGG is present, but stands recessively in the shadows. The seven year-old THOMAS is stood patiently awaiting his father, KING ROLAND. Behind his back he holds a model sailboat. The camera tracks away from ROLAND and PETER, who talk closely and happily, to reveal the back of an isolated and forlorn THOMAS. Like THOMAS, we are not able to hear what his father and brother are talking about.

NARRATOR (V.O)

The greatest rivalries are born of time, and as a young boy Thomas could never escape the shadow of his older brother.

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MCU(High Angle): THOMAS' face is slightly bowed. It starts to rise slowly – his eyes look out with stubborn pain.

NARRATOR (V.O)

He could see that his father truly loved his brother. But more than that, he knew that everyone else saw it as well.

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INT. THOMAS' ROOM - DAY

MS (Eye Level): THOMAS carving a sailboat from a piece of wood.

NARRATOR (V.O)

 So no matter how hard he tried to win his father's love…

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EXT. ARCHERY LAWN – DAY

MS (Eye Level): ROLAND watching PETER in competition with LORD TOWSON's SON.

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MCU of PETER firing an arrow.

NARRATOR (V.O)

His brother would always be his most beloved son.

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CU of the arrow firing into the centre of the target. We see another arrow – LORD TOWSON's SON's arrow already embedded in one of the outer rings.

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INT. THOMAS' ROOM – DAY

MS (Eye Level): THOMAS aggressively carving the wood. He makes a sharp movement, which is followed by a small yelp of pain. He releases the knife.

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ECU (P.O.V) of THOMAS' hand. It is bleeding. Slowly. Gently he closes his hand.

NARRATOR (V.O)

And so it seemed to Thomas that he would forever love his father, and hate his brother.

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INT. ROLAND's CHAMBER – DAY

 OTS THOMAS (High Angle): PETER, who has now finished talking to his father, walks past THOMAS to leave the chamber. As they pass one another, they look into each other's eyes (Reverse OTS). THOMAS' eyes say displeasure. PETER's say 'forgive me'.

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THOMAS cautiously approaches his father. He still conceals the boat behind his back. FLAGG appears slightly from the shadows. Reverse OTS (Medium Shots - FLAGG appears in the edge of ROLAND's frame so it becomes a virtual two shot.)

THOMAS

I made you something, Dad.

ROLAND

Did you now, Tommy. That was very kind, wasn't it?

FLAGG

Very kind, Sire.

ROLAND

What is it, lad? Show me!

THOMAS

I remembered how much you liked to have a boat or two out on the moat Sunday afternoons, Dad, and… so I made you a boat… I spent a whole day… cut myself… and… and…

THOMAS presents his father with the sailboat. ROLAND is clinical in his appraisal of the gift.

ROLAND

It's a good boat, Tommy. Sturdy, like yourself, a bit clumsy, like yourself, but good – like yourself. And if you want to give me a really fine present, work hard in your own bowmanship classes so you can take a first-class medal as Pete did today. ROLAND turns and gives the boat to FLAGG, who inspects is carefully. THOMAS, who has become increasingly nauseous, looks towards his father. His father smiles vacantly. THOMAS bows his head slightly and leaves quickly – like someone who has been told to walk out of a room as quickly as possible without trying to give away a desire to leave. ROLAND has already returned to his business – he shows no sense of softness towards THOMAS' departure. FLAGG watches THOMAS all the way to the door.

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GREAT HALL – DAY

LS (Eye Level): THOMAS, now running, has found his way outside. With tears in his eyes he is out of breath and light-headed. NARRATOR (V.O) Thomas never felt more alone than in that moment. It tore him open. And the feeling stayed with him.

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MCU (Eye Level): THOMAS stops to gather himself. Silence. Then a noise. He looks up.

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LS (P.O.V THOMAS) - It is an old crippled dog foraging for food by the kitchens. The dog looks up.

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MS (Slight low angle) – THOMAS looks at the dog. His eyes are still angry and hurt. Suddenly he bends down, picks up a rock and throws it at the dog. We hear the dog whimper. A flicker of compassion shows itself in THOMAS' eyes.

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MS (Tracking in front of THOMAS) – THOMAS walks over to the dog. He looks around to check that he is alone. He gathers a few rocks as he walks. He gets to where the dog lies and stops.

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P.O.V of THOMAS. The dog is bleeding from behind its ear. It is defenceless and in severe discomfort.

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P.O.V of the dog. THOMAS stands over the dog. He looks concerned and is showing elements of regret. Suddenly THOMAS' face turns to fury.

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P.O.V of THOMAS. Instead of seeing the dog bleeding in front of him, THOMAS imagines PETER to be lying before him. PETER looks up with the same look of 'forgive me' that he gave THOMAS in his father's chamber.

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P.O.V of the dog/PETER. THOMAS, his face contorted, throws the first rock down with all his might.

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LS (Eye Level) – THOMAS unleashes all of the rocks he's holding, in quick fire succession, onto the decrepit dog.

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CU - The same LS image of THOMAS – being viewed through FLAGG's Crystal Ball.