Matters of the heart
Season 3 Ep 2
A question of faith
{OPENING CREDITS}
{Open to early morning and everyone sleeping in their respective tents or by the fire; fade to Eugene sleeping in his tent with Rapunzel on his chest; A whinny from a horse sounds out and Eugene opens his eyes and sits up}
Rapunzel: What’s wrong?
Eugene: shhh…
{He grabs his sword and steps out of his tent; he keeps his eye on the treeline; a few people wake up around the fire and stay still; Varian peeks out of his tent with Zapada}
Zapada: What happens here?
Varian: I don’t know…
{Isaiah walks out of the tent with his sword and a smirk before Varian and Zapada yank him back by the collar of his shirt}
Varian: Boy I swear-!
{Eugene hides behind one of the trees and waits as a person walks out of the treeline with a sword in hand}
Stoica: o, mulțumesc lui dumnezeu! Te-am găsit!
{Eugene Jumps out at him and swings his sword; Stoica blocks the blow with his own sword}
Eugene: urrghh…
{Zapada runs out of the tent towards them}
Varian: Zapada, NO!
{She runs in between them and pushes Eugene off}
Zapada: Your majesty! Please stop!
Stoica: Zăpadă!
Zapada: Stoica!
{ She jumps on him and hugs him}
Zapada: what are you doing here!?
Stoica: I heard of terrible things in Corona! I had to return and see that you were okay!
Zapada: oh, fratele meu … i’m more than okay.
{Pan over to Varian and Rapunzel walking up to Eugene}
Eugene: um..Var? Am I missing something?
Varian: Everyone can rest easy he's not an intruder he's a friend!
{Everyone in the camp relaxes and some go back to sleep}
Varian: Eugene, Rapunzel, this is my brother-in-law. Stoica.
Rapunzel: great to meet you!
Stoica: likewise your majesty.
Eugene: yeah sorry about the whole almost cutting your head off thing.
Zapada: Where is the rest of us?
Stoica: they're coming along as well. I went along ahead. I was so filled with worry after I saw the city.
Rapunzel: you saw it!?
Stoica: your majesty I tried to enter. there were some new guards in Black armor. they looked hostile.
Varian: any citizens?
{Stoica shakes his head somberly}
Stoica: I apologize but... the city was covered in these strange stones and they... they were wheeling out a cart of dead.
{Rapunzel gasps and runs of in horror; Eugene follows her}
Eugene: Sunshine wait!
{Pan to Isaiah listening from his tent and sadly closing the flap; Cut to Isaiah sitting by a tree as the other kids play; Lily notices and walks and sits next to him}
Lily: You okay?
Isaiah: people died...
Lily: yeah people do that.
Isaiah: Lily!
Lily: sorry I'm just trying to lighten the mood. I get it. it sucks.
Isaiah: it more than sucks! the cult took our home! they're killing the people of Corona!
Lily: I get that! They’re my subjects! How do you think I feel!? how do you say my family feels!? but there's nothing we can do about it right now...
{they both sigh in frustration; Lily lays her back across his lap}
Isaiah: You know my dream is to always be a guard.
Lily: huh?
Isaiah: protect the citizens of Corona and serve my country. go off on glorious Adventures. now when my country is actually in danger of being wiped off the map I'm just sitting here.
Juniper: and for good reason little guy.
Both: AHH!
Juniper: sorry I didn't mean to scare you. hehe, I guess I can be pretty scary at times.
Isaiah: no kidding!
Lily: I think my heart just went into my throat and I just had to swallow it down again.
Juniper: look.. Isaiah right? bottom of the line you're still just a little kid.
{Isaiah stands up knocking Lily off his lap in the process}
Isaiah: I'm 13 and I'm about to be 14 in a few months!
Juniper: sit down little man! you're a baby.
Isaiah: A BABY!?
Juniper: yes a baby. there's a reason you're not doing anything. first of all we barely have any food or supplies that's the first thing we have to worry about. the Caravan coming into Camp will help with some of the supplies problems but in the end those are just more mouths to feed as well. on top of everything, we have all those sick victims from your village.
Isaiah: Bu-
Juniper: secondly we don't know anything. we don't know their numbers or strengths or weaknesses. the only thing we know is everything your dad knows about them. the next item on our list would be to find out more about them. the only way to do that would be to infiltrate the city without being spotted which ended up itself is an incredibly Dangerous Mission not something for a young teenager.
{Isaiah stares at her with rage and looks away}
Juniper: look kid I'm not trying to offend you or anything I'm just giving you the hard facts. to put it bluntly kid we just don't have the resources.
{Juniper walks away; Lily looks over at a beet red Isaiah}
Lily: ok... Isaiah breathe in and breathe out
Isaiah: RRAAHHH!!!
Lily: that is not breathing…
Isaiah: what does she know!? I've seen tons of battles I know how they work!
{Akina and Benny walk up}
Benny: what is stinky screaming about this time?
Lily: someone told him he couldn't do something.
Benny : oh so the usual…
Akina: I'm sure she didn't mean anything personal Isaiah…
Isaiah: she called me a little kid!
Akina: but... we are kids…
{Isaiah stuffs his head into a nearby hollow tree and screams before going limp}
Lily: it's okay guys I've seen this many times before we just have to let him rage himself out.
{Cut to Varian chopping wood; Ruddiger climbs on his shoulder}
Varian: oh hi bud!
{Stoica walks up}
Stoica: Varian...may we speak?
Varian: huh? Oh, yeah sure! What’s on your mind?
Stoica: I’ve been talking to others and trying to fill in the blanks of what I’m missed since last here...You thought your son had perished?
{Varian flinches}
Varian: Y-yeah...he was...pushed off of a cliff. we thought he was dead.
Stoica: and you became violent.
Varian: what!?
Stoica: some of your villagers admit that you became a bit hostile after the supposed death of your son. I want to be sure that you didn't do anything to my sister.
Varian: Stoica, whatever you've heard I'm sure is highly exaggerated. yes, I'm not proud of some of my actions but I never would lay a hand on Zapada!
Stoica: and that's why I'm coming to you. I want to hear your side of it.
Varian:... you have to understand something first. I had a wife before Zapada. she's been gone for a long time. all I had left of her was our son. When I thought Isaiah was dead I felt like my entire world fell apart. so yes I lashed out at a lot of people. but I want to make something clear... I would never hurt her.
Stoica: life comes in waves Varian. sometimes it's happy and sometimes it's laced with tragedy. whenever the tragedy comes around I need to know that you are able to keep yourself in check. I need to know that you're not a violent man.
Varian: a violent man?
Stoica: do you lash out every time something bad happens?
Varian: No! of course not I've been through many horrible things in my life but I didn't lash out at those who cared for me every single time!
Stoica: I want you to understand I'm not trying to be a bad guy here. I'm just trying to protect my own. I know you can be a good man. I just hope that you can remember to be one.
{He walks away leaving Varian looking fearful; cut to Isaiah sneaking over to the supply station; he hides as a person walks away from it; he smirks as he notices the supply chart}
Lily: What are you doing?
Isaiah: Gyah! What is wrong with volume people and scaring me do you want me to have a heart attack!?
Lily: answer my question…
Isaiah: I can't just sit by and do nothing. especially with wild man’s daughter telling me that I'm only a little kid and can't do much to help
Lily: that's...not what she said. well I mean it's partially what she said but it's not all of what she said!
Isaiah: I'm going to get the list of supplies that we need... it's still early afternoon. if I can find out what we need and use the tunnels I might be able to sneak into the main city unnoticed.
Lily: How are you supposed to get all of the supplies we need back here without a cart. secondly, how would you put a cart in the tunnels to begin with.
Isaiah: uhhh…
Lily: exactly thank goodness you have me…
{She walks up and grabs the supply list}
Isaiah: Lily!
Lily: come on let's go.
Isaiah: no I can't risk taking you!
Lily: why not? We’ve gone on adventures that were just as dangerous if not more.
Isaiah: I can't risk losing you!
{Isaiah blushes at what he said and Lily blushes as well; he realizes he grabbed her hand and he lets go sheepishly}
Lily: umm..right.. but I know Wayne to the city that nobody else knows about! We’d be able to fit a cart there!
Isaiah: where is it?
Lily: there's a hole in the wall that the guard were supposed to fix up the day that everything happened.
Isaiah: are you telling me you guys were just overlooking a giant gaping hole in Corona's main wall?
Lily: NO!... the bricks were old and weak and it totally wasn't because me and my siblings were messing around and caused part of the wall to collapse…
Isaiah: ... I would question him but we really don't have the time... you think we can get in without being noticed?
{Lily strikes a confident pose}
Lily: Totally! the collapse happened behind some houses in the main village so it's totally hidden! we'd be able to hide in the alleyways and sneak into the backsides of businesses and get the supplies we need.
Isaiah: You’re a genius! C’mon! Lets get my horse and set him up on a cart!
{He takes her hand and pulls her out of frame; cut to Varian as he walks over to his and Zapada’s tent; He stands for a moment in the entranceway and watches Zapada tuck in Sterling; he smiles softly}
Zapada: Iubirea mea? every thing al-!?
{He abruptly pulls her into a hug}
Zapada: Varian? what is this?
Varian: I...Seeing you with your brother again..and how happy you were...You gave up a lot to be with me. To be with us. I haven’t been the best of husbands. I just wanted to let you know I love you and...And I’m sorry...
Zapada: oh, Iubirea mea...what happened?
Varian:I just..got to thinking...After we thought Isaiah.. ya know... I wasn't exactly the best person to be around. and I keep recalling things that I could have done better. things I could have said better.
Zapada: Varian-
Varian: no you can't just say you've already forgiven me or it's okay because in truth it's really not. I shouldn't have been taking things out on you and the ones that I cared about.
{He turns away from her and looks out at the camp}
Varian: I've noticed that whenever I experienced some sort of loss or something particularly bad... tend to take it out on people that are only trying to make it better for me. maybe I am a violent man.
{Zapada hugs him from behind}
Zapada: Iubirea mea..you were frightened and you had just lost your son... our son. you were under intense pressure. I have come to understand this and have already forgiven you. so please try to forgive yourself. you're not a violent man. You’re a good man.
{Varian turns around and kisses her before hearing Sterling squeal}
Varian: There’s my little man!
{He picks Sterling up and holds him}
Varian: Getting bigger every day!
Sterling: eiii!
{Sterling gurgles and pulls on his hair}
Varian: ha! What is it with every child I have and pulling my hair?
Zapada: Easy to grab, no?
{She leans up and kisses him; Eugene runs up to the tent}
Eugene: Varian Th-... am I interrupting something?
Varian: uh..ahem..no of course not. what's going on?
Eugene: Lily and Isaiah are missing!
Varian: son of a- seriously I leave that kid alone for 5 minutes.
{He hands Sterling back over to Zapada}
Varian: Don’t worry we’ll find them.
{He runs out of frame with Eugene; Cut to Isaiah and Lily with cloaks and hoods pulled up as they pull up to the side of Corona’s side wall}
Isaiah: it’s so quiet...where is this hole?
Lily: A little further down…
{Once they come upon it Isaiah pulls the wagon to a stop and gazes at the hole}
Isaiah: How did you even accomplish this?
Lily: all the business district was having some competitive problems and mama trying to solve them so me and my siblings went behind the business and start chucking rocks at the wall... we were bored okay?
Isaiah: and the result was a giant gaping hole probably big enough to fit a small elephant?
Lily: I hit a weak spot on the wall apparently and it just came tumbling down…
Isaiah:....oh my god…
{ he gets off the driver's seat it makes his way through the hole}
Isaiah: and you're sure nobody will notice us?
{Lily climbs through}
Lily: nobody comes to the side of the wall... the only reason they would have known that the hole was here was that Mom heard it collapse and we had to tell her… as long as we're quiet and don't draw attention to ourselves we should be okay. What’s first on the list?
Isaiah: we need food. Like you said before as long as we use the alleyways and the back entrances we should be able to grab whatever we need without being noticed.
Lily: well for the food I'm sure the bread inside the bakery is still good.
Isaiah: I probably steer clear of the butcher shop...blech…
Lily: that poor man is going to come back to such a stench when this is all over.
{They start moving through the back alley towards the bakery; cut back to camp with everyone on the look out for Isaiah and Lily}
Rapunzel: Lily!?
Cyrus: Lily answer us!
Eugene: Lilianna Fitzherbert you answer us now!
Eddard and Rosie: Liiiilllyyy~!
Varian: Isaiah? Where are you, buddy?
{Hector walks up to him with his son and daughter}
Varian: find anything?
Bjørn: We found some tracks that we think might belong to them where the horses are kept. one of the horses is missing and so is a wagon we also found wagon tracks leading out of camp.
Hector: we checked and everybody in Camp has accounted for other than those two so they must have taken the horse and wagon and went somewhere. but the question is where and why.
Juniper: oh for the sake of all things good…
Hector: Little bird? something to say?
Juniper: I know where they are…
Varian: You do!?
Hector: Where!?
Juniper: They...those kids went “shopping”...
{She facepalms and everyone looks at her with either a shocked or confused face}
Hector: ...eh?
{Cut back to Corona where Isaiah and Lily are about to turn the corner and enter the bakery; Just as their about to enter the shop Isaiah grabs Lily and ducks behind some barrels; cult members walk past the alleyway and look down it}
Cult member 1: come on we have to get this car unloaded... they're going to start stinking soon..
Cult member 2: I know but doesn't this seem a bit undignified?
{Isaiah looks at Lily and sneaks to the entrance of the alleyway and peeks out to listen; however, when he peeks out he sees four bodies loaded in a cart and immediately ducks back behind the wall in horror}
Cult member 2: think about it don't you think they deserve a proper burial I mean they're still people.
{Isaiah takes a breath and peeks back out at the cart of deceased people with purplish spots on their skin}
Cult member 1: look I get your concerns but at the same time it's not our problem these people opposed larkspur's Rule and you know the punishment for that.
Cult member 2: wouldn't it have been more humane to just...I don't know use a sword?
Cult member: ... probably.
{Isaiah goes back into the alleyway taking deep breaths trying to calm himself}
Lily: what did you see? what's going on?
Isaiah: it was another cart of dead bodies…
Lily: *gasp*
Isaiah: it looks like there was some sort of resistance within the city. they didn't last very long. also it turns out whatever biological component was in that gas is fatal.
Lily: what!?
Isaiah: all of the victims in the cart had the same skin markings. I'm guessing they used the gas on the resistance.
Lily: I think I'm going to be sick…
Isaiah: This is all the more reason to just get what we need and get out. We need food medicine and weapons. we can find all of that in the nearby stores. we just have to stick to our original plan and not get caught.
Lily: o-okay…
{he moves her face to look at him}
Isaiah: It's going to be okay... I'm not going to let anything happen to you okay?
{ she smiles and nods}
Lily: mmhmm
{Start montage of the two entering businesses, taking what they need, maneuvering around Alleyways, and evading cult members; They throw some weapons from the blacksmith shop into a bag and tie off the bag}
Isaiah: is that everything?
Lily: yeah I think this was our last stop.
Isaiah: all right just like before out the back..
{ they sneak back out into the alleyway and start making their way back towards where the hole in the wall was; Lily turns around and notices a cloaked figure following them}
Lily: Isaiah!
Isaiah: Crap! we've been spotted get moving!
{ they start running down the Alleyways trying to avoid the figure following them.}
Lily: he's gaining on us!
Isaiah: just keep running when we get to the horse we'll easily be able to outrun him!
{Lily trips on a loose stone and hurts herself}
Lily: Ah! My leg!
{Isaiah stops and turns around; The cloaked figure stops by Lily and bends down}
Lily: AHH!
Isaiah: NO!
{Isaiah grabs his sword from his belt and charges the cloaked figure preparing to swing his sword down on its head; just to see swings downward the cloaked figure grabs his wrist and pulls back it’s hood to reveal a very angry Varian}
Isaiah: oh..hi dad...
Lily: is it bad that I prefer it just being a cult member…
Varian: you are in a sea of trouble buddy…
{He picks Lily up}
Isaiah: B-but dad-!
Varian: Move it!
Isaiah:...yes sir.
{Cut to Varian with Hector in their own wagon as Isaiah drives his cart with Lily in back with a bandaged leg; they drive up to camp and Rapunzel and Eugen run up}
Rapunzel: Lily!
Eugene: Lily! You’re hurt!
{They hug her and look her over}
Rapunzel: where on Earth were you!?
{Varian hops off the wagon}
Varian: they were in Corona.
Eugene: What!? what were you doing there!? Lily do you know how dangerous it is it right now!? you could have been killed!
Rapunzel: what were you thinking!?
Isaiah: it's my fault your Majesties.
Rapunzel: Isaiah?
Isaiah: I just... it's my fault. Princess Lily had nothing to do with this. please don't be mad at her.
Varian: come on young man we need to have a talk.
{He pulls Isaiah off to the side and crosses his arms}
Varian: …. well? are you going to tell me why you did this?
Isaiah: I..umm…
Varian: yeah I'm waiting…
Isaiah: someone had to do something! we needed supplies! we needed information!
Varian: we were already working on a plan to get both! do you realize how much danger you just put yourself in!? what if you had been caught!?
Isaiah: I had my sword!
Varian: Isaiah Cadáin Stein, you are a 13 year old boy with minimal fighting experience you would have been slaughtered!
Isaiah: I'm not a child to stop talking and treating me like I'm one!
{Varian’s eyes dilate in anger}
Varian: Isaiah regardless of what you believe you are a child! I lost you once already because of these people and I am not going to lose you again! you were to stay within the camp's perimeter at all times if you wish to go somewhere you will be escorted from here on out am I understood!?
Isaiah: What!? dad that’s not fair!
Varian: I don't care what is fair! am I understood?
{They stare angrily at each other before Isaiah turns away}
Isaiah:...fine.
{ cut to later at night; a cauldron of stew sits on top the fire; Eugene walks over with a bowl and hands it to Rapunzel}
Rapunzel: Thanks… so umm...How did the talk with Lily go?
Eugene: I did what we agreed on she's grounded for 2 weeks.
Rapunzel: good... I really hate to admit it but they really did help our supply.
Eugene: and we did get some valuable information about the disease that our sick have. but we still agree what they did was incredibly stupid right?
Rapunzel: oh yes 100%! don't even worry about it!... how's her injury?
Eugene: deep cut down her shin.. required some stitches but other than that she should be good.
{rapunzel sighs}
Eugene: sunshine? you okay?
Rapunzel: I just can't believe we almost lost her today... and I never thought that my rule is Queen would be like this.
{Eugene wraps and arm around her}
Eugene:... life sucks.
{he takes a sip from his soup as Rapunzel chuckles}
Rapunzel: that it does sometimes…
Eugene: and to be honest sunshine... I think you're doing a pretty good job. I mean yeah things could be better but let's look at the positives. we're together, we have five amazing children, for the most part, everyone's here and doing okay, and even those things could be better we're not throwing a pity party. we're sticking together as a real Kingdom should
{Camera pans around the camp as Eugene speaks; Hector leans against a tree with his son; Adira and lance watch as Akina plays with her brother; Stoica being flirted with by various women in camp; Varian sits on a log by the fire and rests his head on Zapada’s shoulder smiling as she feeds Sterling; Cut back to Eugene}
Rapunzel: You really think we're doing a good job?
Eugene: yeah... Yeah, I do.
{Cut to Isaiah sitting under a tree watching the fire; Juniper walks up with two bowls}
Juniper: hey kid…hungry?
Isaiah:... *venomously* hey…
Juniper: Euggh, still mad at me huh?
Isaiah: What do you think!?
Juniper: to be fair I didn't really do anything I just told you the facts. I wasn't telling you to go into town and put yourself in danger.
Isaiah: if this is an apology you're pretty crap at it.
Juniper: fine I'm sorry if I made you feel inadequate. you have to understand where I'm coming from though. I grew up in a house with a brother and a dad who's whole world is battle and survival. I know a thing or two of what I'm talking about. you may not like me but I'm not trying to look for friends.
{Isaiah keeps looking away from her; she hands him his bowl; Isaiah takes it with a grumble}
Juniper: I know you're mad at me because you got in trouble but at the same time you should be glad that you have a dad that cares so much about you that he's willing to get that angry.
{Isaiah glances at her}
Isaiah: does your dad get mad a lot?
Juniper: oh you don't even know the half of it.
{She takes a sip of her stew and sits down}
Juniper: never me and my brother would do something stupid when we were younger dad would get furious. the dark kingdom is in nice place now back when we were young...I mean really young, it was still pretty dangerous. even just wondering off for a few minutes would get us yelled at.
Isaiah: geez. sounds kind of harsh.
Juniper: yeah I guess... to someone else it would sound harsh. but then when I started growing older I started realizing the reason he would yell at us so much. It’s because he loves us. he wants to keep us safe.
Isaiah: ... I'm starting to feel a lesson coming out of this or something…
Juniper: what I'm trying to say is don't be too hard on your dad. the fact that he freaked out so bad means that he loves you a lot. He just doesn't want to see you get hurt. all I'm asking is for you to see it from his perspective, okay kid?
{Isaiah looks over at his dad and Zapada; he groans and get up, walking over to them; Varian looks over at him and they star at each other for a moment before Isaiah sits down and leans his head on Varian; Varian smiles and wraps an arm around him}
Isaiah: I’m...uh..s-sorry…
Varian: I know bud...I know.
{END CREDITS}
