EXT. KING'S POND (KING'S POND)
Torm and the Old Man reform from blocks in a large round gate that locks like a comb nested in a hidden archway. They find themselves in a hidden place built like an old Roman spa, whose stone work cradles a pond. The Old Man recognizes this place immediately. He moves to the water’s edge and kneels down in tears. He takes some of the water in his hands.
TORM
Where is it?
Torm states in a panic. She looks for her compass but can’t find it.
TORM
I lost my compass! We have to go back and find it.
Torm turns back and tries to move the iron in the gateway but is unsuccessful.
TORM
I need that compass or I can’t continue!
Torm gives up on the gate and has a feeling of hopelessness and confusion come over her.
TORM
Or is this all just a dream; Have I just been dreaming this whole time? What if the compass wasn't real...
She looks at the Old Man.
TORM
What if you're not real.
Torm continues trying her luck with the gate pole.
TORM
My sister could already be dead and I have no idea. Feels like I'm going nowhere. Just a string of long obstacles.
Torm turns to look at the Old Man. She notices he is on his knees at the pond’s edge absentminded to her.
OLD KING
When a King is born, the mother comes here and bathes in the water until it is time for labor. The water is pure and healing. The life in these waters keeps the child safe and clean.
the Old Man says softly.
TORM
How do you know that?
OLD KING
Because I was born here.
Torm looks at him with wonder and curiosity as he continues.
OLD KING
I was born to a life of luxury, I was a King from birth, I was given opportunities, nurtured, developed, but mostly I was loved. I was taught how to love by being loved by my family. Naturally when I married, real love was possible since I knew what it was. But nothing prepared for letting go!
He holds out his vial to Torm.
OLD KING
You feel this vial?
Torm feels the vial.
TORM
It’s cold!
OLD KING
Has my mind made me believe it was warm because I just can't let her go? But yet you are the proof, beyond my own touch, that the vial has been warm. You've given me hope and I don't know if letting go is the best way to hold on, where the strongest grip is an open hand, but I do know that Heaven gave us two compasses to find one place. We are where we are supposed to be or Heaven wouldn't have been so nervously accurate with its directions.
TORM
But I don't have my compass anymore.
OLD KING
You've lost your compass because its purpose has been fulfilled and my compass has brought me to you so I might find this pond and exit the world the same place I entered it.
TORM
Why does everything have to die in this world? I don't believe it has to. Why are the steps to Heaven so often cold and filled with pain. What strategy does death play to Heaven, to thin out the stars of an overpopulated universe to make room in the clouds for unhatched souls? Or is it simply to cause pain to those who love? At the blink of an eye, Heaven could uninvent death and stop the world’s hearts from breaking.
OLD KING
When I was young I kept ants. Journey ants. They have something not common among other creatures. When resources are scarce, they search for a better place. The weaker ants sacrifice themselves to keep the colony alive for the survival of all. The best kings are ants.
OLD KING
Crush half of the leaf and give it to the pond... give me the other half.
TORM
Not if you're going to kill yourself.
OLD KING
I will step into that water and leave this world because I believe the benefit of our tragedy belongs to us and will show us a world better than we imagined!
The Old Man replies with love in his eyes as he holds out a hand for the leaf. Torm takes out the leaf she retrieved from the dream and breaks off his half and reluctantly gives it to him. She then goes to the pond, crushes the leaf, and blows its dust onto the surface.
The water reacts to the glittering gold leaf dust and rumbles at its surface.
the gaoldens dragn flies goes to old orante lantersn and lands onle ...it brings the lamps to light as the drag flies mullpty
The microscopic life feeds on it and Torm sees a dragonfly larva grow and fly to a nearby stone. The Old Man comes next to Torm. The surface settles down. He eats the leaf. Torm knows exactly his plan: He is going to go into the water and offer his body as a meal to the dragonflies.
TORM
There must be another way, you don't have to do this. I don't believe my next step has to be your last!
OLD KING
No matter what world we find ourselves in, a Dreamer will always outrank a King. And you dear girl, outrank me to infinity.
The Old Man says with a sincere heart. He steps into the water.
OLD KING
Oh world, break my heart and bring me better dreams.
he recites to the open air. He walks slowly until his head is no longer visible. The dragonflies show respect to the Old Man by waiting for him to be completely submerged before they begin their meal. He sees a vision of his wife hovering above the water. The dragonfly tadpoles swarm around him and multiply as their mass replaces the image of his body. They tornado around him and then fly off, leaving nothing where he once stood. They race down the underwater channels of the pond and grow in flight, soon breaking the surface of the pond in a swarm of millions. Torm is knocked over by the explosion of water. A large dragonfly stands waiting for her on the pond’s deck. She sees it opens its body indicating it is her vehicle. She gathers her things and makes her way up the pond stairs to the waiting dragonfly. She carefully crawls into its body. The dragonfly closes its shell and they take flight, joining the other dragonflies in great swarm.
tomr rides teh dragon fliw through teh tunnel
Torm and the Old Man reform from blocks in a large round gate that locks like a comb nested in a hidden archway. They find themselves in a hidden place built like an old Roman spa, whose stone work cradles a pond. The Old Man recognizes this place immediately. He moves to the water’s edge and kneels down in tears. He takes some of the water in his hands.
TORM
Where is it?
Torm states in a panic. She looks for her compass but can’t find it.
TORM
I lost my compass! We have to go back and find it.
Torm turns back and tries to move the iron in the gateway but is unsuccessful.
TORM
I need that compass or I can’t continue!
Torm gives up on the gate and has a feeling of hopelessness and confusion come over her.
TORM
Or is this all just a dream; Have I just been dreaming this whole time? What if the compass wasn't real...
She looks at the Old Man.
TORM
What if you're not real.
Torm continues trying her luck with the gate pole.
TORM
My sister could already be dead and I have no idea. Feels like I'm going nowhere. Just a string of long obstacles.
Torm turns to look at the Old Man. She notices he is on his knees at the pond’s edge absentminded to her.
OLD KING
When a King is born, the mother comes here and bathes in the water until it is time for labor. The water is pure and healing. The life in these waters keeps the child safe and clean.
the Old Man says softly.
TORM
How do you know that?
OLD KING
Because I was born here.
Torm looks at him with wonder and curiosity as he continues.
OLD KING
I was born to a life of luxury, I was a King from birth, I was given opportunities, nurtured, developed, but mostly I was loved. I was taught how to love by being loved by my family. Naturally when I married, real love was possible since I knew what it was. But nothing prepared for letting go!
He holds out his vial to Torm.
OLD KING
You feel this vial?
Torm feels the vial.
TORM
It’s cold!
OLD KING
Has my mind made me believe it was warm because I just can't let her go? But yet you are the proof, beyond my own touch, that the vial has been warm. You've given me hope and I don't know if letting go is the best way to hold on, where the strongest grip is an open hand, but I do know that Heaven gave us two compasses to find one place. We are where we are supposed to be or Heaven wouldn't have been so nervously accurate with its directions.
TORM
But I don't have my compass anymore.
OLD KING
You've lost your compass because its purpose has been fulfilled and my compass has brought me to you so I might find this pond and exit the world the same place I entered it.
TORM
Why does everything have to die in this world? I don't believe it has to. Why are the steps to Heaven so often cold and filled with pain. What strategy does death play to Heaven, to thin out the stars of an overpopulated universe to make room in the clouds for unhatched souls? Or is it simply to cause pain to those who love? At the blink of an eye, Heaven could uninvent death and stop the world’s hearts from breaking.
OLD KING
When I was young I kept ants. Journey ants. They have something not common among other creatures. When resources are scarce, they search for a better place. The weaker ants sacrifice themselves to keep the colony alive for the survival of all. The best kings are ants.
OLD KING
Crush half of the leaf and give it to the pond... give me the other half.
TORM
Not if you're going to kill yourself.
OLD KING
I will step into that water and leave this world because I believe the benefit of our tragedy belongs to us and will show us a world better than we imagined!
The Old Man replies with love in his eyes as he holds out a hand for the leaf. Torm takes out the leaf she retrieved from the dream and breaks off his half and reluctantly gives it to him. She then goes to the pond, crushes the leaf, and blows its dust onto the surface.
The water reacts to the glittering gold leaf dust and rumbles at its surface.
the gaoldens dragn flies goes to old orante lantersn and lands onle ...it brings the lamps to light as the drag flies mullpty
The microscopic life feeds on it and Torm sees a dragonfly larva grow and fly to a nearby stone. The Old Man comes next to Torm. The surface settles down. He eats the leaf. Torm knows exactly his plan: He is going to go into the water and offer his body as a meal to the dragonflies.
TORM
There must be another way, you don't have to do this. I don't believe my next step has to be your last!
OLD KING
No matter what world we find ourselves in, a Dreamer will always outrank a King. And you dear girl, outrank me to infinity.
The Old Man says with a sincere heart. He steps into the water.
OLD KING
Oh world, break my heart and bring me better dreams.
he recites to the open air. He walks slowly until his head is no longer visible. The dragonflies show respect to the Old Man by waiting for him to be completely submerged before they begin their meal. He sees a vision of his wife hovering above the water. The dragonfly tadpoles swarm around him and multiply as their mass replaces the image of his body. They tornado around him and then fly off, leaving nothing where he once stood. They race down the underwater channels of the pond and grow in flight, soon breaking the surface of the pond in a swarm of millions. Torm is knocked over by the explosion of water. A large dragonfly stands waiting for her on the pond’s deck. She sees it opens its body indicating it is her vehicle. She gathers her things and makes her way up the pond stairs to the waiting dragonfly. She carefully crawls into its body. The dragonfly closes its shell and they take flight, joining the other dragonflies in great swarm.
tomr rides teh dragon fliw through teh tunnel
SCENE SUMMARY
Torm and the Old Man arrive through a hidden gateway at the sacred King’s Pond, an ancient Roman-like sanctuary where kings were once born. Panicked after losing her compass, Torm begins doubting her entire journey, fearing her sister may already be dead and questioning whether any of it is real. The Old Man reveals he was born at the pond as a king raised with love, and explains that the compasses led them there for a reason. As Torm wrestles with the cruelty of death and suffering, the Old Man shares a lesson about journey ants sacrificing themselves for the survival of others. He asks Torm to use the magical leaf from the dream, believing it will fulfill both their destinies. When the golden dust touches the water, life awakens within the pond, and glowing dragonflies multiply around ancient lanterns. Accepting his fate, the Old Man eats his half of the leaf and enters the water, sacrificing himself so the dragonflies may feed and transform. Before disappearing beneath the surface, he declares, “Oh world, break my heart and bring me better dreams.” The dragonflies consume him in a beautiful, spiritual swarm, and from the explosion of life emerges a giant dragonfly waiting for Torm. Realizing this is her next path forward, she climbs inside the creature and flies into the tunnels with the massive glowing swarm.
10. HEART WALTZ
25. KING'S POND
