BOUDICCA

by

Kyle Christopher Smith-Laird

FADE IN:

EXT. A ROMAN BOAT -- EARLY MORNING

Subtitle reads:  The Island of Mora, December 21, 60 AD. Impatient Roman soldiers stand aboard flimsy flat-bottomed boats that skim across the inky surface. Horses carrying soldiers trudge through the shallow waters next to the boats.

In the b.g. we see a desolate and lugubrious island. At the stern, SUETONIUS (40s, a crude, haughty yet talented general) squints at the isle.

SUETONIUS

Where the hell are they?

Moments later, a light appears on the shore, followed by more.  As the boats approach, we see the shore being covered with Druids, men in skins chanting a fearsome song. Behind them, MEN and WOMEN with spiked hair and blue tattoos scream.

SUETONIUS

(continuing)

I guess that answers my question.

The Romans stare, taken aback by this display.  DRUSUS (20s, ambitious) approaches Suetonius.

DRUSUS

General Suetonius, sir.  The men 

are uneasy.

                          (whispering)

It is as if the avenging Furies

                     themselves are on that island.

SUETONIUS

                     Furies, my ass.  Thank you for

                     your brilliant progress report.

                     Once again, nothing I could not

                     have figured out myself, Captain

                     Drusus.  You noticed that the

                     women are in funeral attire?  They

                     are ready to die.  We'll be the

                     ones to put them in their graves.

                     Anything else?

Drusus frowns and tries again.

DRUSUS

Perhaps a little talk like that

might lift the spirits of the

troops, General.  I heard tell

that Corbulo gave a moving speech

before he faced a daunting enemy

 in Armenia.

                                SUETONIUS

                                (vexed)

You are dismissed, Captain.

                                 DRUSUS

But sir-

                                SUETONIUS

-You may go.  Corbulo is a fine

general and I appreciate the

comparison you make between us.

But I shall fare better than he.

Drusus bows curtly and leaves. Suetonius turns so all his men can see him.

                                SUETONIUS

                                (continuing)

By all the gods, does my legion of

battle-hardened men cower at the

sight of priests and women?  Have

I brought the Senate with me

instead of men?  These…

(gesturing to the island)

...these are criminals, refugees

from Roman law and rebels!  You

will strike them down as you would

a man, or they will strike you and

make you a woman!  This accursed

island reeks with pestilence and

crime.  Pestilence from the blood

of human sacrifice in the sacred

groves of the child murderers who

call themselves Druids!  Crime

from the murderers, thieves and

rapists sheltered by the Ordovices! 

If we allow this putrid corruption 

to stay, it will fester like a 

rotting tooth in the head of Rome.  

It will spread to other parts of 

the empire, even all the way to 

Rome herself.  We are here to stop

it before it enters our homes.  

We are here to save this island.  

We are here for our families!  

We are here for Rome! Rome! Rome!

The Soldiers CHEER.  Battle drums POUND a brutal rhythm.

INSERT

The Druids, Men and Women on the island stop chanting and stand transfixed.

BACK TO

The Roman Soldiers SHOOT flaming arrows, hitting people on the island and setting trees ablaze.

SUETONIUS (O.S.)

More arrows!

More arrows fly through the dark morning air, HISSING into the crowd of Druids, Women and Men.

SUETONIUS (O.S.)

(continuing)

Kill them!  Kill them all!

SOLDIERS jump out as the boats land, calling out to one another to kill as - THE DRUIDS, MEN AND WOMEN fight back but the tide goes against them as - A CRAZED CELTIC WOMAN runs up, screeching like a banshee at - DRUSUS, who brings his sword down on her head, which is on fire as we

                                                        SLAM CUT TO:

EXT. THE ISLAND OF MORA -- AFTERNOON

A subtitle at the bottom of the screen reads:  The Island of Mora, two days later. Fire has devastated the island. Soldiers construct a huge pyre where heaps of bodies lie.

As we move in, we see Suetonius, his armor dirty and bloody, directing his men. Drusus taps his shoulder and whispers to him. Suetonius appears irritated by Drusus at first, then looks at the water.

INSERT

a lone boat, pushed by a Charon-like ferryman, conveys GAIUS (late 20s, anxious).

BACK TO SCENE

Suetonius nods, keeping an eye on Gaius and his boat.

SUETONIUS

Make sure all those damned sacred

groves are destroyed and burned.

Drusus nods and departs.  Suetonius moves to the shore to greet Gaius.

SUETONIUS

(continuing)

Hail Caesar.

Gaius nearly falls out of the boat.

GAIUS

Hail Caesar.

Suetonius helps him to the shore.

SUETONIUS

What news?

Gaius stops dead in his tracks. 

GAIUS

How did you know?

SUETONIUS

You've nearly pissed down both

legs and through your tunic in

anticipation, son. Must be bad.

Come by the fire and tell me.

Suetonius helps him to a small campfire where they sit down.

GAIUS

It's Boudicca, General.

SUETONIUS

Who?

GAIUS

King Prasutagus' wife.

SUETONIUS

Right.  What of her?

GAIUS

She's started a revolt, sir.

SUETONIUS

Bah!  Nonsense. The Iceni have

always been staunch supporters of

Rome.  Prasutagus would never

allow-

GAIUS

Prasutagus is dead.

(beat)

Sir.

SUETONIUS

She's just a damned woman.  What

kind of a piss-poor rebellion

could she have started?

GAIUS

She's completely destroyed

Camulodunum and killed all its

inhabitants, sir.

SUETONIUS

But there were over seventy

thousand veteran troops there...

Start at the beginning.

GAIUS

Yes, General.