THE WITCHER "Wolf Cub" Written by Paul Cochran Draft 7 July 2020 EXT. GRAVEYARD - MORNING CAWW! A raven shrieks into the morning air and alights from-- A crooked, mossy tombstone. PULLING OUT and UP, the tombstone is just one of countless graves and monuments on a large hill, a jumble of fresh and ancient. At the top of this hill, an OLD CRYPT sits perched, a crown ruling the graveyard. At the base of the hill, a road lined with arching trees skirts its edge. We’ll call this GRAVEYARD ROAD. A slow CLOP- CLOP can be heard. EXT. GRAVEYARD ROAD - CONTINUOUS We PAN DOWN to GERALT, mounted on his horse Roach, who continues clopping along the road. CIRI sits behind Geralt on the saddle, gripping him tightly. CIRI What’s it like? Geralt glances at her over his shoulder. GERALT Hmm? CIRI Kaer Morhen. Geralt smiles. GERALT It’s safe. CIRI It’s where you grew up, right? GERALT Yes. They trained me. CIRI To be a Witcher? GERALT Mm-hmm. Everything I know about tracking monsters, fighting monsters... He grimaces, and turns his attention back to the road. GERALT (CONT’D) The war won’t reach us there. Ciri thinks to herself for a moment. CIRI Am I going to be a Witcher? Geralt hesitates, a frown unseen by Ciri. He starts to reply-- When suddenly he pulls Roach to a stop. Ciri looks about, concerned, while Geralt stares, annoyed, at a tree ahead of them. GERALT (calling out) Come out. I smelled you and the others a hundred paces back. Beat. Then, out of the treeline, a DOZEN NASTY BANDITS emerge. From the tree ahead of Geralt, a beady-eyed BANDIT CHIEF lurches out. He makes a prominent display of a pair of hatchets on his belt as he eyes Geralt carefully. BANDIT CHIEF ‘Ello there, white hair! This here road belongs to us-- A bandit with a CREEPY MOUSTACHE gets too excited. CREEPY MOUSTACHE The Cumbucket Gang! Bandit Chief shoots Creepy Moustache a murderous, silencing look, before turning back to Geralt. BANDIT CHIEF The Chumbucket Gang. You may’ve heard of us. GERALT I... have not. BANDIT CHIEF Well, today’s ye lucky day! Now, judging from ye mug and ye hair, clearly, you’s a Witcher, so all I ask is a bit of coin and ye can be on ye way. Geralt narrows his eyes at the Chumbuckets. He starts to reach up, toward his sword-- But glances over his shoulder at Ciri. 2. Geralt plays off the reach as rubbing his neck as he turns back to the Bandit Chief. GERALT I need some for our journey, but I can give you a spare purse. Bandit Chief nods approval, and Geralt tosses him a pouch. The Chief stands aside, but Creepy Moustache grips Geralt by the elbow. CREEPY MOUSTACHE We’ll take the girl too. Geralt glares at the bandit, but the Chief defuses the situation with a slap to Creepy Moustache’s noggin. BANDIT CHIEF Shut ye trap unless you’d like him to lop it off. He’s a bloody Witcher! Let him be. Creepy Moustache glances from his boss to the Witcher, then finally gives in and steps back. Geralt’s gaze is fixed on the bandit, unrelenting and burning, as he sets Roach off again at a trot. Ciri glances at the disappearing bandits, then gives Geralt a curious squint. The Bandit Chief glares after them... Then glances toward his armpit. He pauses, considers it. Giving in, he takes a sniff-- And makes a face.... Geralt was right about the smell. EXT. NIDKE - DAY Geralt and Ciri look about them as they enter a village. This is Nidke, a town with large homes and fine statues to the gods... All in disrepair. The village sits on a quickly flowing river, and a stone bridge crosses the river at the other end of town. Flanking both sides of the road into town, VILLAGERS watch Geralt with dubious eyes. SHOP OWNERS dart inside and lock their doors with audible THUNKS. One LOCAL spits at Roach as Geralt passes. LOCAL Get outta here, witch-fuck. 3. Geralt sighs, letting the insult run off of him. Trodding onward, he hops off of Roach and approaches the only person in town not giving him the evil eye. An OLD WOMAN, knits in a chair outside an aged two-story house. She squints at Geralt. OLD WOMAN Hello, afraid my eyesight’s not what it was. Are you new in town? GERALT Yes, my daughter and I. We’re just passing through. OLD WOMAN Well, what do you think of our little town of Nidke? Geralt trades a look with Ciri. GERALT Lovely town.... Could you tell me where I can get some food and supplies for the road? OLD WOMAN Of course! Talk to my son Dorkin at the Tavern Two-Feet! GERALT Thank you. He starts to get back on Roach. OLD WOMAN You know, Dorkin used to be a pirate. He’s the only sea-dog to retire with both feet. (beat) That’s why it’s the Tavern Two- Feet. Geralt glances back at the old woman, trying to be polite. GERALT That’s... Fascinating. He turns back again to Roach. OLD WOMAN Greatest pirate to ever sail the sea, I tell you-- Geralt sighs to himself, and faces the old woman again. 4. But an angry YOUNG MAN puts a hand on the old woman’s shoulder. YOUNG MAN Freta, don’t you know that’s a Witcher? The old woman (FRETA) does an instant transformation. FRETA Why didn’t you tell me, you bloody mutant!? Away with you! Shoo! Geralt shares a look with Ciri, and grumbles as he climbs on Roach. EXT. THE TAVERN TWO-FEET - DAY Geralt ties off Roach in front of a large tavern and helps Ciri down from the saddle. Ciri goes in ahead of Geralt, as Geralt pauses to watch-- A gaggle of FOUR TOUGHS loitering on the street and-- BURNING THE FLAG OF CINTRA. Geralt grimaces as he watches the golden lions turn to ash. INT. THE TAVERN TWO-FEET - DAY Geralt and Ciri walk into the tavern. A few PATRONS glower at Geralt, like he’s Clint Eastwood walking into the wrong saloon. A handful get up and leave, making a point to bump into Geralt as they walk out the door. Geralt’s ready to let them go, but Ciri grabs one by the cuff. CIRI Say you’re sorry. Geralt nearly bug-eyes at Ciri. The rude patron looks from her to Geralt and back, an indignant sneer on his face. RUDE PATRON What? CIRI You bumped into him on purpose. 5. The rude patron squats down to Ciri’s level. She looks ready to punch him. RUDE PATRON So? Geralt yanks the patron back up by his collar. GERALT So leave. The patron stands his ground for a moment, then turns with a huff and leaves. When he’s gone, Geralt pulls Ciri by the wrist to-- THE BAR, tended by a man IN AN EYEPATCH. This is DORKIN, late 40s, seasoned, seaworthy, and sensible. The image of the ex- seadog is complemented by the helm hanging on the wall over a door to the back. He’s serving some locals at the other end, but casts his eye to-- Geralt and Ciri, taking seats away from anyone. Geralt glowers, READY TO BARK at Ciri. He stops himself, and sighs. GERALT (CONT’D) You shouldn’t have done that. He waves down Dorkin. CIRI Why not? He was being rude. GERALT Better to keep a low profile. Towns like this give Witchers enough trouble as it is. CIRI How are they trouble? You kill monsters. I bet you could take that man with your bare hands. Geralt regards her, and a smile creeps in. Dorkin appears. DORKIN Ahoy, strangers. GERALT Are you Dorkin? DORKIN The only one missing an eye. Can I get you something? 6. GERALT My daughter and I, we need supplies for the road. He hands Dorkin a sack of coin. GERALT (CONT’D) I’ll take as much food and water as I can get for that. Dorkin hefts the sack in his hand. DORKIN I’ll get that right out. Dorkin starts away, then pauses. He regards Geralt for a moment then disappears into the back of the tavern. Geralt senses something off, but turns back to Ciri, who still looks bothered. He puts a hand on her shoulder. GERALT Ciri-- CIRI It’s fine. GERALT No, look. I could fight them, even kill them. Easily. But if you got hurt in the process-- CIRI I can protect myself. GERALT You mean with your powers? Ciri looks surprised. GERALT (CONT’D) Yurga and his wife told me about the boys in the field. They told me how mangled they were. (beat) You don’t know how to control these powers, do you? CIRI ... No. Geralt grimaces. 7. GERALT Your mother had similar powers. I saw them. And I wasn’t the only one. If you use them, and people realize who you are... (beat) Well, we’d have trouble. I don’t want that for you. Ciri acknowledges him with a polite smile. She tilts her head slightly and her eyes go wide. CIRI Geralt. Geralt groans, and he turns around to face-- The rude patron, backed up by the four toughs from outside. TOUGH ONE My mate Mikel here tells me you had a problem. GERALT Not to my knowledge. Tough One smirks. TOUGH ONE Well, I think we do. I caught you staring at us earlier. You a fan of Calanthe’s? GERALT I don’t care for politics. TOUGH ONE Then join us in a toast to the old, dead bitch. He shoves an ale into Geralt’s hand. TOUGH ONE (CONT’D) Fuck Calanthe! TOUGHS Fuck Calanthe! TOUGH TWO I bet the Nilfgaardians did! They pour back mugs of ale, while Geralt glares without a sip. Ciri bounds down from her stool, her hair beginning to flutter-- 8. But Geralt shoves a hand in front of her. GERALT Low profile. Tough One spies Ciri, and throws his mug at Geralt’s feet. TOUGH ONE Where the fuck did you get the kid, freak? The tavern goes quiet, as all eyes turn to Geralt. GERALT What do you mean? This is my daughter. Tough One shoves a finger in Geralt’s face. TOUGH ONE That’s a fucking lie, Witcher! TOUGH TWO You bloody took her, didn’t ya? GERALT What? TOUGH THREE You took our kids! GERALT I think you’re mistaken-- RUDE PATRON GET HIM! The toughs and the tavern patrons SWARM Geralt. CIRI No! She takes a step forward, when A HAND grips her-- It’s Dorkin. Geralt whacks a few of the rabble back with left hooks and right hooks, then swings his head around. GERALT Ciri? CLUNK! He goes down with A BAR STOOL TO THE HEAD, and gets DOGPILED. 9. EXT. BLEOBHERIS - DAY Underneath a towering, ancient oak tree we find an impromptu stage. It sits on a hill adjoining a small crossroads town. In front of the stage a great crowd is gathered, filled with humans, dwarves, elves, and other non-humans of all sorts. They are listening to the closing notes of A LUTE BALLAD from the stage-- Performed by none other than JASKIER. JASKIER And what became of Geralt the graceless git after the tale of the golden dragon? Does he rot in a brothel, or is he drowning in booze? (beat) We may never know. He bows.... And holds it. No applause. Jaskier looks up, insulted. DWARF Toss a Coin is better! HALFLING Yeah, give us that one! AUDIENCE Toss a Coin to your Witcher! Jaskier grumbles and looks around the crowd. Everyone around the oak tree is clamoring for “Toss a Coin to Your Witcher”. Jaskier shakes his head in disgust, but his expression flips as he spots-- A voluptuous ELF WOMAN. Her head rests on the shoulder of A MAN WITH A POINTED NOSE, but her eyes are fixed straight on Jaskier. An inviting smile spreads on her lips as they make eye contact. Jaskier drums his fingers on the lute with a wry grin. JASKIER My beautiful friends, why settle for such an old relic of a song? (MORE) 10. Instead, I shall perform for you my newest, greatest song... As soon as I have refreshed myself. MAN IN FRONT ROW When?!? JASKIER Let’s call it three hours’ time. He trades a look with the elf woman. JASKIER (CONT’D) Actually four. The crowd murmurs. A SKINNY KNIGHT stands up. SKINNY KNIGHT We shall return in four hours’ time, to hear the bard Jaskier’s greatest tale yet! AUDIENCE Yea! Here here! Jaskier looks relieved. SKINNY KNIGHT Or our money back! JASKIER I’m sorry, what-- The crowd has started to disperse. JASKIER (CONT’D) Bollocks. He hops down from the stage and makes his way out of the crowd. Looking around, Jaskier spots-- The elf woman, walking alone. Jaskier brushes his hair to one side, and steps off that way-- When YURGA, the merchant from “Much More”, gets in his way. YURGA I didn’t like that song about Geralt. JASKIER Well, that’s a tragedy. Now, if you’d excuse me-- JASKIER (CONT'D) 11. YURGA It’s straight up slander, it is. JASKIER Wait, are you calling me a liar? YURGA I am! I’ve seen Geralt perform acts of bravery, tales to blow your rubbish away. Jaskier squints at Yurga. SMASH CUT TO: INT. FANCY TAVERN - DAY Jaskier slaps a pair of mugs down on a table in front of Yurga. JASKIER ... Tell me. EXT. NIDKE - DAY Geralt dangles from a tall wooden beam, his hands tied above him, and his feet flailing a good six feet above ground. WHACK! WHACK! The men of the village lay into Geralt with tool handles and other bats, beating him like a piñata. TOUGH ONE Where are our kids, Witch-freak?! GERALT I have no clue what you’re talking about! TOUGH ONE Liar! WHACK! GERALT What would I even want with your kids?! The villagers stop whacking him for a second. They look at each other, considering his point-- Then start whacking Geralt again. 12. TOUGH TWO Don’t try to confuse us! You probably eat ‘em! GERALT That’s-- GAH-- hags! RUDE PATRON Then maybe you sell them! Witchers’ll do anything for coin! TOUGH ONE I hear, sometimes they steal kids to make more of their ugly Witch- fucks. He prods Geralt in the nuts with a rake handle. TOUGH ONE (CONT’D) Ain’t that true, Witcher? Geralt glares down at him, catching his breath. GERALT Where’s my daughter? TOUGH ONE She ain’t your fuckin’ daughter! I know me Witchers. You can’t have kids! (beat) Ya pricks don’t work right. The villagers snicker. Geralt just looks exasperated. GERALT That’s not how it-- Just tell me where she is. TOUGH ONE Safe. From you. INT. DORKIN’S HOUSE - DAY Freta carries a bowl of soup with a spoon, setting it in front of-- Ciri, who wrestles against bound wrists and feet. FRETA Got some lovely soup for you, dear. 13. CIRI I don’t want soup! Where’s Geralt?! She thrashes, and nearly clocks Freta. FRETA Oh, dear. KNOCK KNOCK. Dorkin enters through a door, and Freta toddles over to him. FRETA (CONT’D) Careful, son. She’s been possessed by the Witcher! CIRI I’m not possessed! FRETA That’s just what someone possessed would say! DORKIN I’ll handle her... mummy. Ciri stifles a snicker, eliciting a one-eyed glare from Dorkin. Freta pets her sweet Dorkin on the cheek, then exits. CIRI You call your mother mummy? Dorkin smirks. DORKIN I called your grandmummy queen. Ciri is taken aback. Dorkin steps forward-- And pulls out a knife. Ciri bolts up. CIRI Stay back! I’ll kill you! Dorkin looks at her puzzled, then glances down at the knife. He grins. DORKIN It’s for the ties, Cirilla.... Though I’d appreciate if you didn’t gouge my last eye out with that spoon. Ciri holds her ground. 14. DORKIN (CONT’D) I need your help. You and Geralt. Ciri hesitates... and drops the soup spoon hidden behind her wrist. EXT. NIDKE - DAY The villagers are still bludgeoning Geralt. As one goes to whack him with a long wooden haft-- Geralt GRABS IT WITH HIS FEET, wrenching it from the man’s grasp. Swinging his weight around, Geralt manages to whirl the haft around at his attackers, decking several of them-- Until Tough One catches it, taking a hit in the process. He snaps the haft in two, and glares at Geralt as a bit of blood trickles from his temple. TOUGH ONE Hang the fuck. VILLAGER But what about our kids? TOUGH ONE Mutant freak ain’t gonna talk. Least this way we save the ones that are left. Geralt locks eyes with Tough One as a man lays a ladder against the post. GERALT I didn’t take them. TOUGH ONE No, you killed ‘em. The man on the ladder sets a noose around Geralt’s neck, then puts a knife to the rope dangling him by his wrists. He looks to Tough One, who nods approval. Geralt heaves a final breath and closes his eyes. DORKIN (O.S.) WAIT! Geralt looks down at Dorkin pushing his way through the throng. Tough One nods his head respectfully to Dorkin. 15. TOUGH ONE Mister Dorkin, glad to have you. Just about to finish the fucker off. DORKIN Not yet, Lukas. Tough One (LUKAS) gives him a confused look. LUKAS But Mister Dorkin, you don’t understand! He took the bloody kids! Dorkin puts his eye right in Lukas’ face. DORKIN I don’t understand? You think I don’t understand? Lukas and the other villagers back off a little. LUKAS Apologies, sir. Dorkin looks around the crowd, with the fiery gaze of a cyclops. DORKIN All of you, away! I want to hear the truth from him myself. You owe me that. He turns to Lukas. DORKIN (CONT’D) Then I’ll hang him. The villagers murmur amongst themselves. Lukas glances from Geralt to Dorkin, then nods and turns to leave. The crowd dissipates, returning to their homes. Dorkin gazes up at the dangling Witcher. Geralt sizes him up. GERALT Where is she? CIRI (O.S.) I’m here, Geralt. Geralt peers over his shoulder at Ciri, perched on the ladder with Dorkin’s knife. She cuts the line on the noose. 16. GERALT Ciri! Now don’t cut the-- Too late. She has sliced through the line holding his wrists-- And Geralt plummets to the mud below. GERALT (CONT’D) AGH. Ciri bites her knuckle. Dorkin tries his best to turn a chuckle into a cough, then helps Geralt as Ciri climbs down. CIRI I am so sorry. Geralt tries to hide his wince, as he wraps a hug around her. GERALT It’s fine. What happened? Are you hurt? CIRI No, I’m okay. Dorkin is helping us. Geralt turns an inquiring eye to Dorkin. DORKIN I know you didn’t take the kids, White Wolf. GERALT You know who I am. You seem to know quite a lot. DORKIN I know enough. At the very least, I know you’re the only man that can help me. GERALT With what? Dorkin grips him by the arm and grins. DORKIN Rescuing the children. Ciri looks up at Geralt, excited. GERALT Witcher work... Dorkin nods. Geralt hesitates. 17. GERALT (CONT’D) You’re a good man, Dorkin... He grips Ciri’s hand and leads her away. GERALT (CONT’D) But I’m sorry. CIRI GERALT! EXT. THE TAVERN TWO-FEET - CONTINUOUS Ciri shakes free from Geralt’s grip before they can get to Roach. Dorkin approaches, following them. CIRI Geralt, we can’t just leave! We owe him. You especially. GERALT I know, but there’s no time for a Witcher job right now. Ciri crosses her arms. CIRI You mean because of me. Geralt starts to answer, then stops. He squints his eyes at her, then turns to Dorkin. GERALT Do you have any idea who or what took the kids? Ciri hides her small smile. DORKIN Aye. Did you run into the bandits on the road into town? Call themselves the-- GERALT The Chumbucket gang. Yeah. One of them seemed interested in Ciri. I thought maybe he was... inclined, to kids. Are you saying they’re slavers? 18. DORKIN I’m certain of it. I can still handle a sword, and with you by my side we can drive them out for good. Do this for me, and those supplies you asked for are free. Geralt casts a look to Ciri, and turns back to Dorkin. GERALT Just help me keep an eye on-- Dorkin points to his one eye. GERALT (CONT’D) ... Right. Well, grab your horse. CIRI Wait, am I going too? GERALT I’m not leaving you here. He helps her onto Roach. GERALT (CONT’D) But you need to do exactly as I say. As Geralt and Ciri ride off on Roach, and Dorkin on his horse, we PAN DOWN to the ashy tatters of the Cintra flag. INT. FANCY TAVERN - DAY Yurga, his ale drained to the last drop, makes a gesture to Jaskier, whose attention is transfixed on the story. YURGA And that was that. My wife and I, we kept Geralt and Cirilla on a few days. Then off they went. JASKIER And the girl, her hair, you said it was blonde? Blonde like silky, shimmering silver? Yurga gives Jaskier a funny look. YURGA Yeah, it was, um, blonde. Jaskier leans back, fingering his lute. His gaze is distant. 19.