THE LEGEND OF ZELDA --- ------ -- ----- or (The Adventures of Link) by Daniel Alfaro First Draft June 11, 2000 Disclaimer: "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, Hyrule and other related characters and settings belong to Nintendo. No infringement intended." FADE IN: 1. EXT. BARREN WASTELAND - DAY 1. WIDE SHOT Of a barren wasteland. Another day passes on this barren wasteland. Its terrain resembles closely to that of our moon. Rocky, gray, lifeless. The days here pass much like the nights dark and lonely. Nothing to marvel at its beauty or to count its days. There is no sun to cast shadows, no man in the moon to marvel at. In the distance, we see dark clouds approaching. But how can there be clouds when there is no water to create them? The clouds stop and loom over a tall mountain. They begin to swirl around the mountain creating a sort of halo around its peak. A female voice is heard over these images. ZELDA (V.O.) In the days before time was time, the Land of Hyrule was a barren wasteland. A world with no life, no hope, nothing. From the center of the clouds three bursts of light, one red, one yellow and the other green, descend upon the land. These are the three goddesses DIN, NAYRU and FARORE. ZELDA (V.O.) Upon seeing the condition of the Land, three Goddesses descended from the Heavens to make the world we now know as Hyrule. The goddess Din flies over the land sprinkling it with the rain of red light. The light seeps into the ground changing everything it touches. Soon the land has changed from a barren wasteland into a beautiful but still harsh looking desert. ZELDA (V.O.) Din, the Goddess of Power, cultivated the land and created the red earth. The next goddess, Nayru, begins her descent onto the desert feeding the land with her light. The large holes that covered the rocky grounds of the desert are suddenly filled. And for the first time a sun fills the first blue sky this land has ever seen. ZELDA (V.O.) Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, salted the earth creating the oceans and the sun and bestowing upon the land the Spirit of the Law. The final goddess, Farore, begins her descent onto the land laying her seeds of light. From Farore, the once red desert is now cultivated by green pastures and trees as well as small animals living in the waters. ZELDA (V.O.) But with Farore, the Goddess of Courage, would come life. The three goddesses hover above admiring their work. They exchange looks and smiles of acceptance. And with that they fly up into the sky. ZELDA (V.O.) Their work done, they ascended to the heavens but not without leaving one last mark of their existence. In the sky we can see the goddesses flying into the air getting closer and closer as they go higher. Then suddenly a loud BOOM fills the land as the three collide into one another. The debris clears and all that is left are three golden pyramids two with their bases right next to each other. The third with it’s base on top of the other two. ZELDA (V.O.) The Triforce. The symbol of our religion, of our devotion to the three goddesses who descended onto this once barren wasteland and created our land Hyrule. The Triforce. The power left by the goddesses, an element of unspeakable power. The power to grant the wish of any who attains it, good or evil. We move closer and closer to the Triforce until we WHITE OUT: 2. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - NIGHT 2. The sky is dark with clouds and heavy with rain. Thousands of years have passed on the barren wasteland, now known as Hyrule, and we see that it has gone through a few changes. Spread out across the land are various farms the people have set up to make a living. In the b.g. the faint outline of Hyrule Castle can be seen. We see just below the outline for the castle a SMALL BOY running through the field as fast as he can. He is being pursued by a DARK MAN on horseback. The small boy runs as fast as he can but he is no match for the dark man whose horse is almost on top of the boy by now. He maneuvers his horse so that it blocks the boy’s path. The boy hits the brakes losing his balance. He falls into the mud below him. He looks up at the dark man who is smiling evilly down on him. There is no mistaking the fear in the boy's eyes. The dark man raises his hand and lets out an electric bolt headed straight for the boy. The boy braces himself for the hit and right before it does we CUT TO: 3. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - TREE HOUSE - DAY 3. The small boy wakes up from his dream with a slight "yelp." He wipes the sweat from his brow getting himself together. This is LINK, about 13 years old. He’s a cute kid that a lot of the girls seem to like a lot. Outside a female voice calls to him. It is his sister, SARIA, 19. SARIA (O.S.) Link? Link are you ready? Upon hearing her voice he begins to move at super speed trying to get into his regular clothes. CUT TO: 4. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 4. The forest is a place inhabited by a small group of people called the Kokiri Forest People. They live in houses that are basically the hollowing out of dead trees. So, in a sense, they literally live in "Tree Houses." All the forest people have gathered in center of the forest where there is a large tree they call the DEKU TREE. It is a huge, magnificent tree that seems to cover half the forest with its leaves and branches. Saria waits nervously outside of her House for Link while the rest of the people stand near the Deku Tree waiting patiently. She looks behind at all the people and puts on her best smile. SARIA He was really tired last night. She turns away from them resuming her nervous look. While the rest of the people wait patiently, MIDO, a boy about Link’s age, is slowly getting frustrated. He turns over to NYDIA, who is the Orator to the great Deku Tree (in other words if the Deku Tree were God then she’d be the pope). MIDO How long do we have to wait for him today? She turns to look at him with a look of pure calm on his face. NYDIA As long as we have too. Soon after Link can be seen coming out of the tree house fumbling with his hat. Saria breathes a sigh of relief as she gives Link a look frustration. He smiles trying to get on her good side but to no avail. They join the rest of the group. NYDIA We may begin. MIDO (More to himself) Finally... Nydia looks over at Mido more concerned then angry. He lowers his head in respect. Nydia begins the morning ritual of the Deku Tree. She stands in front of the Deku Tree holding a hollow nut the size of a large coconut filled with a very distinctly blue water. She mutters a few words and the rest of the crowd repeats her. She then pours the liquid from inside the nut onto the ground before the Deku Tree. She then holds out the nut and one of the Kokiri takes it from her no questions asked. Nydia kneels to the ground as best she can and kisses the spot where she dropped the liquid then gets to her feet. The ritual is over and the crowd disperses. As soon as people begin to walk away Link too begins to sneak away from Saria but she rests her hand on his shoulder and he knows he’s caught. SARIA What are we gonna do with you, Link? LINK You could let me live. SARIA Well, as far as I’m concerned I could never hurt my own brother. But I’m not sure I can protect you from the rest of the village. Link, you’re going to have to wake up earlier for the morning ritual. You know we can't start without you. LINK I know and I’m really sorry this time. Really, I am. But... I had one of my dreams again. SARIA Oh. Which one was it this time? Was it bad? LINK It was the dark man on the horse. SARIA You mean the one who came to the village last week? LINK Yeah, him. I don’t know what it is but he feels wrong to me. SARIA It’s best not to think about it too much. The dreams’ll pass. Just give it time. A group of KOKIRI GIRLS about Link’s age walk by. They eye Link with obvious interest. GIRLS (Together) Hi, Link. LINK (Modestly) Hello. They giggle as they continue on. Saria looks at Link, a big smile on his face. LINK What? SARIA Why don’t you go talk to them? LINK I don’t know. SARIA What? Are you afraid of girls? LINK (Quickly) No! I’m not afraid of anything. SARIA So why don’t you do something about it? LINK I don’t know. SARIA Fine. Be a lonely bachelor the rest of your life. LINK What’s a bachelor? SARIA (Smiling) Oh. Get out of here you nut. He runs over to a group of Kokiri boys. Saria watches him with love and then goes inside her Tree House. Mido joins the group with his friend VIRGIL. MIDO Hey, Mr. Sleepy Head. Have any good dreams? LINK Not really. VIRGIL Yeah, did you wet your pants like the last time? LINK (Embarrassed) No. MIDO I bet you did. I bet it was worse than the last time. Link is silent as Mido begins to chant. MIDO (Chanting) Sleepyhead wet his pants! Sleepyhead wet his pants! Soon all the boys are chanting and dancing around Link. LINK Stop it! Leave me alone! MIDO Do you want us to stop? LINK Yes. MIDO Fine. But you’ll have to catch us first. And with that the group runs off to hide in the woods. Link doesn’t even bother to chase after them. CUT TO: 5. INT. HYRULE CASTLE - COURTYARD - NIGHT 5. The castle courtyard is like a circular sculpture garden with stone bricks piled as high as the eye can see. It is filled with small and delicate flowers as well as tall, glorious statues. Directly across from the entrance is a small throne made of granite with a window directly behind that. Peering through the window is PRINCESS ZELDA, about 13 years old. She’s a perky little kid who is much smarter than a 13 year-old is usually given credit for. The window she is peering through leads right into the King’s Throne Room. POV of Zelda We see her father THE KING surrounded by a roomful of ROYAL GUARDS. The throne room’s door opens and in walks GANONDORF DRAGMIRE, a Gerudo Clansman (also known as the Gerudo Thieves). We recognize him immediately as being the man from Link’s dream. Ganondorf comes in with his two GERUDO GUARDS and kneels before the King. GANONDORF I am your humble servant. Sensing something turns his head to the window from which Zelda is spying. Zelda hides quickly as so not to get caught. Suddenly a female voice can be heard from the entrance to the courtyard. It is Zelda’s faithful servant, IMPA. Despite her strong appearance and masculine femininity she is quite sensitive. IMPA Princess? Princess Zelda? Are you here? Zelda hides behind her throne as Impa gives the courtyard a once over. She turns her back and Zelda quickly takes her seat on the throne. ZELDA Oh! Hello, Impa. I didn’t see you there. To what do I owe to this unexpected visitation? Impa turns around and gives Zelda a look. She sees right through Zelda’s little game. IMPA Were you spying on your father again? ZELDA No? IMPA Is that a question? ZELDA (Hangs her head) No. IMPA Princess. We’ve had this discussion before. You father does not app - ZELDA (Finishing her sentence) - Does not approve of me looking in on his meetings I know. IMPA So who was it this time? Was it that guard you were telling me about? ZELDA (Giggling) No. Daddy transferred him. IMPA Well, then who could possibly be on the other side of this window... She peeks through the window and sees Ganondorf talking with the King. She turns to Zelda and gives her a strange look. IMPA You’re not telling me... ZELDA (Quickly, almost disgusted) No. Ewww! IMPA Well then, what could possibly be interesting about Ganondorf? ZELDA Nothing... IMPA (Firmly) Zelda. If you don’t tell me I won’t carry you to bed. Zelda opens her mouth to protest but Impa stops her. IMPA Nope. There’s no use complaining about it. It just won’t happen. ZELDA Fine. Impa kneels down in front of Zelda and Zelda begins climbing her back. Impa stands up and begins to walk with Zelda on her back through the Hyrule Grounds. CUT TO: 6. EXT. HYRULE GROUNDS - NIGHT 6. The Hyrule Grounds consists mostly of garden pathways with delicately trimmed bushes and fountains. There are many Royal Guards walking back and forth making sure no one gets in. IMPA My, goodness, Princess. If you keep growing like this I’m not going to be able to do this very much longer. ZELDA What are you talking about? Of course you will. IMPA Ok, so spill it. Why are you so interested in Ganondorf? ZELDA I don’t know what it is but ever since he got here I’ve felt... strange. Like he’s hiding something. IMPA Uh-huh. Like what? ZELDA I don’t know. Something. Did I tell you I saw him Castle library? IMPA No, you didn’t. ZELDA He was just sitting there with all these books around him staying up till all hours of the night. Weird. IMPA And what were you doing up so late? Knowing she’s just been caught she tries to think of the best excuse. ZELDA Uh... I was... hot. IMPA (Unbelieving) Yeah right. Go on. ZELDA Well, after he was done I took a look at one of the books he was reading. It was open to the section about the medallion. Impa’s ears perk up at this. She chews on this for a little while. ZELDA Could he be after what I think he’s after? IMPA Probably, probably not. It’s too soon to say. He could just be interested in ancient literature. ZELDA Oh please. You don’t expect anyone to believe that, do you? IMPA No I guess not. ZELDA We have to find a way to get Ganondorf out of the Castle. IMPA That’s not going to be easy seeing how much your father trusts him. Impa walks them into Zelda’s room. CUT TO: 7. INT. ZELDA’S ROOM - NIGHT 7. Zelda’s room is huge and elaborate filled with small statues and covered in large drapes. Impa walks up to the side of the bed and faces away from it. She then kneels allowing Zelda to crawl onto the covers. IMPA Ok. Rides over. I am definitely getting too old too keep carrying you like that. She looks at Zelda who is letting her hair down and sees that she has a look of concern on her face. IMPA What’s wrong? Is this whole Ganondorf thing still bothering you? She nods. IMPA Ok. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll talk to the King and try to convince him to do something about it. Okay? ZELDA Really? IMPA You know how stubborn I can get. I won’t leave his room until I get what I want. ZELDA Thank you, Impa. You’re wonderful. Zelda reaches out and hugs Impa who, in turn, hugs her back. CUT TO: 8. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - SARIA’S TREE HOUSE - NIGHT 8. That same night, over in the Kokiri Forest, Link is lying in bed complaining to Saria as she finishes the last of her chores. LINK But it’s early. SARIA I know it’s early that’s why I’m putting you to bed. Tomorrow I want you to be the first one out by the Deku Tree waiting for everyone else to get there lazy butts out of bed. Not the other way around. LINK But it’s still early. I can’t go to sleep so early I need something to put me to sleep. SARIA What do you want me to do? Tell you a story? Link’s eyes light up. SARIA But I don’t know any stories. LINK It doesn’t have to be long. I’m already half asleep anyways. SARIA Ok. What do you want the story to be about? Link thinks long and hard for something to tell his sister. Then his face changes to deep concern. LINK Could you tell me about mom? Saria stops what she’s been doing knowing he would ask this question sooner or later. She walks up to him and sits at the foot of the bed. SARIA What do you want to know about? LINK What ever you remember. SARIA Well, there’s not much I do remember. I was only four when she died. There was one thing I remember. How beautiful she was. Especially her hair. She had this beautiful, long, golden hair. When I was little I dreamed of having hair just like her’s but... (She picks up a strand of her hair) ...as you can see... Your stuck with the hair you’re born with. Link laughs as does he. Then a moment of awkward silence. She opens her mouth wanting to say more but doesn’t. SARIA You’ve stalled me long enough. Now it’s time for you to really go to bed. Sweet dreams She strokes his hair as she blows out the candle next to his bed. Link pulls the covers over his shoulder and falls asleep. CUT TO: 9. INT. HYRULE CASTLE - KING’S THRONE ROOM - NIGHT 9. Inside the Throne Room, Impa is seen talking to the King. He is a round-ish man in his late fifties. IMPA It’s about Ganondorf your Highness. KING Is it serious? IMPA It could be, sire. We’re not sure. KING We? IMPA (Hesitant) The Princess, your highness. KING Ah, yes, the princess. What theory has she come up with this time? IMPA Well, it is her belief, your highness, that Ganondorf plans to steal the Medallion of Time. KING These are serious charges, Impa. What proof does the Princess offer? IMPA She has seen him, sire... KING Trying to steal the medallion? IMPA Uh, no, sire. She has seen him in the Castle libraries reading books dealing with the medallion. KING (Laughs) Impa. I cannot arrest a man simply because he reads books. That’s not a crime. IMPA I know, sire, but - KING I understand yours and Princesses need for concern what with our past relations with Gerudo Clan. But those years are over. The treaty has been signed. IMPA Yes, sire, but - KING Do you know what you’re asking me to do? You’re asking me to doubt one of my most trusted advisors. Give me one good reason why I should do that? IMPA Because he is one of your most trusted advisors. KING So are you. Does that mean I should shackle you in chains and throw in the dungeon? She has no retaliation for that. KING I appreciate the concern you and Princess Zelda are showing on this situation. But without sufficient proof I cannot do a thing about it. IMPA Then perhaps there’s something we can do about the medallion. Maybe if we were to hide it. Just as a precaution from it falling into the wrong hands. KING All right. If it would make you and Princess Zelda feel better. I hereby entrust the Medallion of Time onto you and the princess. IMPA Thank you, sire. CUT TO: 10. INT. SACRED REALM - TIMELESS 10. The Scared Realm is a place completely white. No doors, no walls, no floors or ceilings. The only way we can distinguish it from just a plain white screen is the Triforce floating proudly in the middle. ZELDA (V.O.) Before the three creators departed from Hyrule, they placed the sacred Pyramids in a place only those worthy enough to find it could ever reach: The Sacred Realm. And there it stayed for thousands of years as the civilizations on Hyrule flourished. But soon, after hundreds of years of peace on Hyrule, people started to crave for the power of the Triforce. CUT TO: 11. EXT. HYRULE - 1,000 YEARS BEFORE 11. WIDE SHOT Of Hyrule in flames. A massive war is going on between the Gerudos and the Hylians. ZELDA (V.O.) The craving for the golden pyramids led to fighting, bloodshed, and evil in the hearts of many men. MORE SHOTS Of people fighting and dying. Slaughtering and being slaughtered. CUT TO: 12. INT. TEMPLE OF TIME - MASTER SWORD ROOM - DAY 12. A beautiful circular room with stonewalls and tall windows all around the ceiling. In the center is a round platform with three circles on the outside. In the middle is a small altar with an engraving of the Triforce on it. Stuck halfway down is the Master Sword. ZELDA (V.O.) The King at the time, fearing the possibility of someone taking the Triforce and using it for their selfish needs, created the Master Sword. A sword so powerful it could resist all magic even that of the Triforce. The Master Sword acted as the key to opening the door to the Sacred Realm but only one pure of heart and strong in mind could pull it from it’s resting place. CUT TO: 13. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 13. It is day and people are again waiting for Link to get out of bed so they can start the morning ritual. Saria turns to look to her fellow villagers but instead of smiling to reassure them, she just lowers her eyes in embarrassment. Nydia let’s out a long sigh. Mido has had enough. He steps right into the middle of the group. MIDO Why are we waiting for him? NYDIA (The perfect voice of calm) We can’t start till all the villagers are present. MIDO That’s stupid! MIDO’S MOTHER snaps at him. MIDO’S MOTHER Mido! Come here! MIDO No! This is stupid. I don’t understand why we have to wait for him anyway. He’s not even a real Kokiri. The crowd reacts in stunned silence. Mido not realizing what he’s said looks up at Nydia. She in turns looks to Saria and then at the figure standing behind her. Saria follows her eyes to find Link standing behind her. She’s about to ask if he’s heard what Mido said but the look in his eyes says it all. He looks at her expecting to see that what Mido said he said in in anger. When he doesn’t get the answer he wants his eyes fill with tears and he runs off into the woods. Saria glares at Mido a pitiful look on his face then quickly runs after Link. CUT TO: 14. EXT. LOST WOODS - DAY 14. One look at this place and it is easy to see why it is called the Lost Woods. It is filled with thick trees and fog so dense you could barely see but a few feet in front of you. As soon as Saria arrives she stops running and begins slowly walking through the woods inspecting every tree, examining every rock. SARIA (Yelling desperately) Link! Link! Please answer me, Link! She walks up to one of the trees and looks up to see if he's hiding in the branches. SARIA Link? LINK (O.S.) Go away! She turns and begins searching the woods following his voice the best she can. SARIA Link! Please, you have to give me a chance. LINK (O.S.) Leave me alone! SARIA Please let me explain myself. LINK (O.S.) I don't want to talk to you! You're a liar! SARIA You have to understand - LINK (O.S.) No! You lied to me! Everything you say is a lie. Everything about you, about me, about mom! Why did you lie! SARIA Oh Link. I've wanted to tell you for so long. I just never knew how. LINK (O.S.) You never knew my mother, did you? Why did you tell me you knew her if you never did? SARIA I did, Link. I did. And everything I said about her last night was true. She gave you to me and I did the best I could in making sure you grew up the way she wanted you too. Safe and out of harms way. Link, I love you. You're my brother - LINK (O.S.) I'm not your brother! SARIA Yes you are! You will always be my brother. And I will always think of you that way because I love you too much not to. Silence. She falls to the ground crying uncontrollably. After a few minutes Link steps out from one of the nearby trees. She looks up and sees him. She wipes the tears away from her face and moves towards him wanting to hug him but he takes a step back. LINK How many people knew? Besides you and Mido. SARIA Just a few of the elders. I don't know how Mido found out. I am so sorry, Link. I never meant for you to find out this way. Damn Mido! Damn him! I could just kill him. Really kill him! LINK It's not his fault. It's not your fault either. He walks up to her and hugs her. SARIA It changes nothing. I still love you. LINK Me too. They hug one more time and then Saria gets to her feet. She wipes the last of her tears away from her face and helps Link to his feet. Then she takes a look at there surroundings. SARIA Out of all the places you had to run away to you pick the Lost Woods? LINK Sorry. She smiles. CUT TO: 15. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 15. Saria and Link walk out of the Lost Woods hand in hand to be greeted by the entire village of Kokiri who have been waiting patiently outside. Mido's Mother and FATHER push Mido to the front of the group where he and Link meet face to face. MIDO (Hesitant) Umm... I just wanted to... apologize for what I said earlier. I guess I was jealous of you. I'm sorry. Link shares a look with Saria then looks back at Mido. LINK It's okay. I have no hard feelings. Friends? He holds out his hand and Mido takes it uncertainly. They shake. The whole town lets out a soft sigh. CUT TO: 16. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - TREE HOUSE - NIGHT 16. Link and Saria are busy cleaning the house when Link stops and looks at Saria. At first, she doesn't notice anything then she looks over at Link. She knows what's on his mind. He sits on the edge of the bed waiting. She takes her place next to him. SARIA I can't help you, Link. Like I said I was only four when she died. LINK Someone must know her. SARIA Everyone that knew her is dead. Wait a minute. There's always Nydia. I almost forgot about her. She was the Orator then she might have been there when you were born. LINK Do you think she'd tell us? SARIA I'm sure of it. We'll talk to her after the Morning Ritual tomorrow. CUT TO: 17. EXT. HYRULE FIELD - NIGHT 17. Two horsemen gallop in the night silhouetted by the moonlight as they ride into the desert. We move in closer and recognize on of the horsemen as Ganondorf. The other is NABOORU, his second in command, who rides quietly beside him. But it is obvious from the look on his face that he's not happy about something. GANONDORF Nabooru. You've been quiet lately. What's on your mind? NABOORU I'm beginning to wonder if you're actually going to keep the promises you've made to our people. GANONDORF You must be patient, Nabooru. If we are too hasty in our planning we are bound to lose everything. NABOORU Hasty? Our men have been training for months. We know the castle grounds better than the Royal Guards. When are we going to attack? GANONDORF When I get what I'm looking for. NABOORU The medallion is useless. Even if you did get it you'd still not be able to pull the sword. He stops his horse. GANONDORF Are you doubting my capabilities? NABOORU I'm doubting your judgement. The Triforce is unattainable. It's a dream. Let's siege the castle now while we have the chance. Take Hyrule with as little confrontation as possible. GANONDORF (Laughs) Trust me. I have the King eating out of my hand. He has no idea what's about to hit him let alone when. He shimmies his horse and continues on down Hyrule fields. Nabooru quickly follows. CUT TO: 18. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - NIGHT 18. It is pitch black out on the fields. A person on horseback is seen riding to the entrance of the Kokiri forest. Standing right on the edge of the forest is another shadowy figure. It is Nydia. We soon recognize the horsemen as being Impa. She has strapped to horses side a small satchel. IMPA We put are trust onto you. NYDIA I will hide it well. Nydia takes the satchel and Impa is soon off heading back towards the castle. CUT TO: 19. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 19. The morning ritual has just ended and Nydia is strolling over to her hut when a voice is heard behind her. SARIA (O.S.) Nydia? She turns to find Saria and Link standing behind her. She looks at Saria then at Link and smiles. CUT TO: 20. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - NYDIA'S HUT - DAY 20. Nydia is moving from one part of her house to another taking different herbs off the shelves and mixing them together. NYDIA For thousands and thousands of years we have lived here. The Deku Tree gives us life and it can take it away. It provides protection for us from the outside world. Do you know what would happen to a Kokiri if they left the forest for too long a time? He shakes his head. NYDIA They would turn into monsters and die. All who have tried to leave have failed. LINK How do you know? NYDIA Because if they had survived they would have come back. Yes, all who are Kokiri have failed. But as Mido put it yesterday, you are not a Kokiri. LINK That's what I wanted to talk about. I was wondering where it is I am from? NYDIA That is the question so many of us would like to have answered. Unfortunately, not all of us are as lucky as you are, Link, to receive the answer. However, upon hearing what I have to tell you, you must be willing to accept the responsibility that has been placed upon you. LINK Well, I think I have a right to know who she was. NYDIA (Chuckles) No, Link. It is much bigger than that. She takes her place in the chair across from him. When she speaks she looks him straight in the eye. NYDIA Fourteen Years ago, Hyrule was in the last years of a great Civil War. It was fought between two of the Hyrule people, the Hylians who lived in the fields and led lives of farming and the Gerudo Thieves who lived in the desert. CUT TO: 21. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - FARMHOUSE - NIGHT 21. It is the last years of the Imprisoning war and we look upon a Hylian farmhouse completely engulfed in flames. A group of GERUDO THIEVES are pulling the FARMER and his two DAUGHTERS out of the house. NYDIA (V.O.) The Gerudo Thieves attacked all the farmhouses on Hyrule Field. They would ransack the house, pull out the family and murder them. Exiting through the back window is a PREGNANT WOMAN, the farmer's wife. She begins to run in the opposite direction of the farmhouse, towards the forest. CUT TO: 22. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 22. People are cheerfully working around the forest, building a home planting trees, growing crops. The Pregnant Woman then appears at the entrance of the forest. The first person to notice her is Nydia fourteen years younger. NYDIA (V.O.) One day, a Hylian woman stumbled into the forest. I was the first to notice her. Nydia runs up to the woman and then call to the others for help. NYDIA (V.O.) I called for help and we immediately got her inside one of the huts. She was badly injured and also seemed to be with child. CUT TO: 23. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - TREE HOUSE - DAY 23. The pregnant woman is lying in bed having her injuries cleaned and dressed while she tells of what happened to her. NYDIA (V.O.) She told us how the Gerudo killed her husband and two daughters and how she herself just barely made it out alive. Bringing in a pitcher of water is Saria, only four years old. NYDIA (V.O.) The village met and we agreed it would be safe for both her and her unborn child to stay in the forest until after the war ended. CUT TO: 24. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - TREE HOUSE - DAY 24. The pregnant woman is surrounded by women as she gives birth. Nydia stands between the woman's legs until finally she holds up a baby boy, Link, in his infancy. A KOKIRI WOMAN holds up a towel to put the baby in and then brings him over to his mother. She smiles weakly as the baby cries. LINK'S MOTHER (Out of breath) I think... Link... would be... an appropriate... name. It was... his father's name. She closes her eyes and rests the baby on her shoulder. She then reaches her hand out to Saria. Saria walks up to her and greets her. NYDIA (V.O.) Knowing her end was near, she entrusted her child to the young Kokiri girl who had cleaned and bandaged her wounds. Link's mother hands the baby to Saria. CUT TO: 25. EXT. LOST WOODS - DAY 25. The whole village has gathered together to view the burial of Link's mother. Nydia performs the burial ritual. She places the pedals of flowers on each of her eyelids and sprinkles the rest all over her body. She rubs some mud on her thumbs and then rubs a long line from the top Link's Mother's forehead all the way down to the tip of her nose. And then she rubs two more streaks of mud down the sides of her cheeks. NYDIA (V.O.) She would die two days later from complications. We gave her a Kokiri burial and laid her to rest in the Lost Woods where she would sleep in eternal peace. Some KOKIRI MEN lower the body into a hole they have dug. Saria watches as she holds the baby in her hands. CUT TO: 26. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 26. Nydia is holding baby Link as she walks up to the Deku Tree. She places the baby on the ground before the Deku Tree then reaches her hand out to Saria who hands her a bowl. NYDIA (V.O.) I had sensed something very important about the child and went over to the Deku Tree immediately. Nydia goes up to the Deku Tree and breaks off a small branch that spills out some sap. She gathers the sap in the bowl, picks up some dirt from the ground and begins mixing it with a stick. After a few seconds she throws the stick away and the goes up to the baby. With a small knife she cuts the baby's finger open a bit and mixes the blood drops in with the sap and dirt. Soon the sap begins to turn a bright green. NYDIA (V.O.) I knew then, that the child was important. CUT TO: 27. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - NYDIA'S HUT - DAY 27. We are now back in the room with Nydia talking to Link and Saria sitting quietly in the background. Link doesn't know where Nydia's going with this but he still listens intensely. NYDIA There is an ancient book called the Book of Mudora. It prophesized the birth of a child during a time of strife in a village not of his own. This child would grow into the one man would could save Hyrule from the misuse of power. I believe you are the one sent to deliver us from Tyranny. Link just looks at her in complete astonishment. He is speechless. Saria has a look of pure disgust for the whole situation. NYDIA I know that after yesterday's shock that this must come at an even worse time for you, Link. Like it or not there are some things about our future that cannot be changed - SARIA Let's go, Link. Saria's heard enough. She takes Link by the hand and leads him out of the hut. CUT TO: 28. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 28. SARIA It's a bunch of nonsense! I can't believe it. I can't believe she would say something like that. How dare her! Link. She stops him in the middle of the forest. SARIA I don't want you to take anything that she said seriously. Okay? You are the only one that has control of your life and nobody else. Don't believe a word she said. He looks up saddened and right then she knows that Nydia's words have gotten to him. She kneels down and hugs him. In the distance, the sounds of horses galloping can be heard coming closer and closer. Suddenly three black stallions come bursting into the forest. On them are Ganondorf, Nabooru and a GERUDO THIEF. They stop their horses in the middle of the forest grabbing everybody's attention. They dismount and everyone begins moving out of their way as Ganondorf and Nabooru walk towards Nydia's Hut. POV of Link We can barely make out the Ganondorf figure behind all of the people. We see the Gerudo Thief standing by the three horses to make sure nothing happens to them. The people wait outside curiously wondering what's going on. Finally, after a few minutes Ganondorf bursts out of the hut, a not so happy look on his face. Immediately, Link recognizes him as the man from his dream. He clutches tightly to Saria. LINK (Whispering) That's him. That's the man from my dream. The Gerudo mount their horses but before they leave Ganondorf looks down at the people. GANONDORF You're precious Orator has just signed all of your death warrants. I curse you all and the land that you call home. He kicks his steed and then he is off followed by his two men. All the Kokiri look back at Nydia with one question on their minds, "What did he mean by that?" A KOKIRI WOMAN runs up to Nydia and whispers something in her ear. Nydia is suddenly concerned and begins heading toward the Deku Tree. She stands right next to it and begins inspecting it. Then, with a sad expression on her face, turns to the villagers. CUT TO: CLOSE-UPS Of different villagers. They all want to ask what's wrong but deep inside they already know the answer. Nydia looks over to Link who in turn looks up to Saria. She has no answers for him. All she can do is look up at the Deku Tree. CUT TO: 29. INT. KOKIRI FOREST - TREE HOUSE - NIGHT 29. Link sits in huddled in the corner by his bed. Saria leans on the doorframe looking down on him. SARIA You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. LINK I know. SARIA This is wrong. It's wrong to ask a child to do something like this. I don't care who she thinks you are she's till wrong. Silence. Then: LINK But this village is bigger than you and me. And if I am the one Nydia talked about then I should accept the responsibility. Right? She smiles and then sits down next to him. SARIA You're a pretty smart kid. Did you know that? CUT TO: SARIA Asleep in her bed. Link's small figure can be seen quietly approaching the bed. He lifts the covers and sneaks underneath. Saria wakes up slightly to see Link cuddling up next to her. She wraps her arm around him and kisses the top of his forehead. Then goes back to sleep. CUT TO: 30. EXT KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 30. Link is seen with a FIGHTING INSTRUCTOR learning how to wield a sword. The Instructor shows him the proper way to lunge, attack and defend with the sword. Link catches on quickly. CUT TO: Mido sitting on the porch of his house while watching Link train. He is impressed. CUT TO: Link is seen how to use a shield properly. His instructor takes the sword and begins attacking Link with it. Slowly at first then faster and faster. CUT TO: Saria watching through the window of her house. Her eyes are filled with pride as she watches Link hone his skills. CUT TO: Link now equipped with both the sword and shield. He seems to have gained a lot of experience since we first saw him. The Instructor attacks Link who blocks it with ease. They continue to fight until Link gets the upper hand. The villagers clap for Link's achievement. CUT TO: 31. EXT. KOKIRI FOREST - DAY 31. The villagers are gathered on the pathway that leads out of the forest and into the Fields of Hyrule. Link is in the center saying his last good-byes to Nydia. She hands him a letter. NYDIA I suggest you go to Hyrule Castle first and talk to the Princess. She will know what to do. Good luck, young Link. She then blends back in with the crowd as Mido walks up to Link with his father standing close-by. He hands Link a sword. MIDO My dad made this for you. He says it's stronger then the one you've been practicing with. LINK Thanks. Link unsheathes his old sword and hands it to Mido while taking the new sword and swinging it around a few times. The people closest to Link back off a bit so as not to get hit. MIDO Just don't screw up. MIDO'S FATHER Mido! He grabs the boy's collar and drags him back in with the crowd. Saria is the last to say goodbye. SARIA I knew you'd leave the forest someday. I just never wanted to believe it. She pulls out of her pocket a beautiful green emerald with a thin gold plating wrapped around it. SARIA So you won't forget to come back and visit. LINK I won't. He kisses her forehead and then he sets off down the path waving goodbye to his fellow villagers. They in turn wave goodbye. CUT TO: 32. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - DAY 32. Link pushes his way through the thick forest trees and finally gets his first look of Hyrule Field. A vast meadow with glorious hills and blooming trees. Link walks out of the forest and takes in the field's beauty. Link pulls out a small, makeshift map and a compass. INSERT On the map the words "Hyrule Castle" are written near the top. Near the bottom right hand side are the words "Kokiri Forest." BACK TO SCENE Link does a compass check and then begins heading off in the direction of Hyrule Castle. DISSOLVE TO: HYRULE FIELDS - NIGHT The hours have passed quickly and now it is dark. Link, feeling his tiredness get to him, walks up to a tree and puts his stuff underneath it. He yawns and stretches a bit before setting up his resting place. He lays out a blanket and a small pillow on the ground. He rests his shield and sword next to the tree and is about to get under the covers when he hears a howl in the distance that can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up. He pulls his sword out and walks away from the tree to investigate. Behind him a monster, known as a SKULLKID, pops out from the ground and begins wobbling around the tree. It can only be explained as being sort of like a walking skeleton. Link is unaware of its presence. The Skullkid wonders around the tree a bit and then begins moving toward Link. Finding nothing from his investigation, Link turns around to find the Skullkid no more than two feet away from him. He lets out a loud "yelp" then swings his sword in fear cutting off the Skullkid's head. Not wanting to stick around Link runs to the tree, grabs his stuff and makes off like a bandit in the night. The Skullkid continues to wonder around like a wind-up doll with its head cut off. DISSOLVE TO: HYRULE FILEDS - DAY WIDE SHOT Of Hyrule Fields. We PAN around the fields and see that Link is nowhere to be found. We look up in a nearby tree and see him lying among the branches. He turns a bit in his sleep when suddenly he loses his balance and falls off. He lands hard on the ground below wide awake now but in too much pain to get up. CUT TO: CLOSE UP Of Link. He lies on the ground eyes closed when the mouth and nose of an animal enters the frame. It sticks its tongue out and begins licking Link's face. He moves his head away from the tongue but it follows him. He opens his eyes to see an infant horse, EPONA. He gets a bit startled but seeing that the horse poses no threat he begins to pet her. A young girl, MALON, about Link's age prances up to him and the horse. MALON I think she likes you. LINK She's very pretty. MALON Her name's Epona. I'm Malon. How do you do? LINK I'm Link. Very well, thank you. MALON I saw you fall out of the tree. Are you okay? LINK Yeah, I'll be ok. MALON Not used to sleeping in trees, are you? LINK Not in their branches. I usually sleep inside the tree itself. MALON You're a forest child! I thought you looked different. But why are you away from the forest? Won't you die? LINK I'm not a forest child. I just lived there for a while. MALON Oh. My dad owns a ranch called Lon Lon Ranch. (Pointing) It's that way. Do you wanna see it? LINK I'm sorry but I have to go to the castle. MALON Well, if you're going to the castle it'll take about two more days to get there. And my ranch is on the way. You could sleep there and my dad can take you to the castle the next day. Link is still skeptical. MALON C'mon. At least it'll be better than sleeping in a tree. LINK Ok. Sure. Her eyes light up. MALON Great! (To Epona) C'mon, girl. Let's go. Link wipes the dirt from his clothes then goes and grabs his things. Epona gallops over to Malon and soon they are off down the meadow. CUT TO: WIDE SHOT Of the Hyrule Fields. Link and Malon are seen as dwarfs as they walk across the fields. Day is slowly turning into night. CUT TO: 33. INT. LON LON RANCH - NIGHT 33. We see Lon Lon Ranch, a moderately large Ranch with small groups of animals such as chickens, horses and cows. Malon followed by Epona and Link enter Lon Lon ranch. She lightly smacks the behind of Epona and she goes off running. MALON Daddy? Where are you daddy? They go out to the horse stables and see a figure sitting next to one of the horses. They begin to move toward it. MALON (To Link) My dad falls asleep sometimes when he's working. It's not because he's lazy or anything. He just works really hard. Once I found him asleep while in the middle of milking a cow. She laughs and then puts her finger to her mouth indicating the universal "shush" sign. She slowly creeps up behind the figure. She is about to jump on the figure when suddenly it awakes and screams scaring her half to death. The figure, Malon's dad TALON, begins to laugh hysterically. MALON That wasn't funny. TALON Oh, but it would have been funny for you to scare me? MALON (Pause) Yes. Talon notices Link for the first time. TALON Who's this? MALON Oh! Daddy this is Link. I met him on the fields. TALON Hello, Link. I'm Talon. CUT TO: 34. INT. LON LON RANCH - HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT 34. Link and Malon are sitting at the dinner table after finishing their meal. Malon is sitting across from Link staring at him with dreamy eyes. He politely smiles at her and then wanders his eyes around the room. Talon comes in with a big jug of milk labeled "Lon Lon Milk". He places it on the table right in front of Link. TALON Now, Link. This is my own special type of milk made right here on my ranch from my own cows. I would consider it a great insult if you didn't try at least one sip. He grabs a mug and tilts the jug pouring his milk. He then hands Link the mug. Link takes it wryly and then takes a sip. TALON So? What do you think? Link takes the mug a way to reveal a huge milk mustache on his top lip. LINK It's very... thick. TALON That it is, my boy. That it is. Talon takes a mug and begins pouring a glass for himself. MALON Dad? Are you going to the Castle tomorrow? TALON Yes I am. MALON Do you think you could take Link with you? TALON I would be delighted. She jumps out of her seat and grabs Link's hand. MALON Great! C'mon, Link. I wanna show you something. She drags Link out of the dining room. CUT TO: 35. INT. LON LON RANCH - HOUSE - MALON'S ROOM - NIGHT 35. Malon is on her knees opening a chest while Link hovers in the background. She pulls out a beautiful red dress and shows it to Link. MALON Isn't it beautiful? It belonged to my mother. She died when I was a little girl. My daddy doesn't talk about her very much. I wish I was older so I could be big enough to wear it. You wanna see? She holds the dress out to him. He walks over and touches the fabric. She stares at him. MALON I love the fabric. It's so soft. LINK (Still looking at the dress) It's very pretty. He begins to fold the dress up and put it back in the chest. Malon leans closer and then kisses his cheek. This catches Link by surprise. They stare at each other a bit, Malon with a smile on her face. Then the smile on her face slowly disappears. Her eyes drop down to the floor. MALON I'm sorry. I - I... Goodnight. Link closes the chest and walks out of the room closing the door behind him. Malon wipes a tear away from her eye. DISSOLVE TO: 36. EXT. LON LON RANCH - DAY 36. Talon is busy packing up the last of his things in his wagon. Link comes out of the ranch and meets Malon who is standing with a melancholy look on her face. Link stops right next to her. LINK Are you going to be okay? MALON Yeah. He extends his hand. LINK Friends? She smiles. And reaches out her hand to shake his. MALON Friends. You'll come back to visit us right? LINK I will. He walks up to Talon and the wagon. TALON Malon's a good girl. She's just like her mother, ambitious. You set? (Link nods) Ok then let's go. Link gets in the back of the wagon with all the cans of milk. Talon wipes the reigns and the horse begins pulling the wagon. Malon waves from the ranch and Link waves back to her. CUT TO: 37. EXT. HYRULE CASTLE - SAME 37. WIDE SHOT Of Hyrule Castle. It is bigger and taller than anything you have ever seen. With slabs of stone piled so high you could lose it in the sky. That is what Link sees when he finally reaches the drawbridge to Hyrule Castle. Talon rides the wagon onto the drawbridge and through the gate. Link stares up at the huge stone archway the wagon rides under. CUT TO: 38. INT. HYRULE CASTLE - HYRULE MARKET - DAY 38. The first thing Link notices, as do we, is the vast difference of just how many people there are in the market as opposed to how many there are in Kokiri. As he walks through the market we see people everywhere. People gathered around traveling shops and moving from one to the other. People in the center of the Town Square talking, laughing, living it up. A couple dances around a small fountain and a FAT WOMAN is chasing her chicken around the square. Talon stops his wagon near the resting stop of all the other wagons and gets off. Link gets out from the back wagon and looks around in awe. LINK This place is huge! TALON (Laughing) You're a cute kid! C'mon. I'll show you around. He walks Link over to the East Side of the village and points to a Shop House. TALON If you ever need anything like supplies and stuff you can always go there. That's Bazaar's Shop. He's a really big guy but he's really nice too. You can just tell him you know me and he'll give you anything you want at good price. (Pointing to another house) That's the Inn. In case you get tired you could always sleep there. Unless you like sleeping in trees. (He laughs then points to another shop) And that is the food court. I don't think I have to explain that one. Are you hungry? LINK No thanks. TALON Well, I've got a lot of deliveries to make. It was nice meeting you Link. You're always welcome at Lon Lon Ranch. I'm sure Malon would be glad to see you. LINK Do you know where I can find the Princess? TALON The Princess? Oh. Well, I don't know if I could help you their Link. It's not like I have connections to the Royal Family. He spots a GUARD standing by the gate leading up to the castle. TALON You see that guard? Why don't you go ask him? I'm sure he can help you out. LINK Thanks. Oh and thanks for the ride. TALON Anytime Link. He walks off back to his wagon as Link walks up to the Guard. LINK Hello. I need to speak with the Princess. Can I do that? The guard rolls his eyes and lets out a long sigh. He's heard this song before. GUARD (Monotonously) Nobody sees the Princess or anybody else of or related to the Royal Family unless commissioned by them personally. Link takes out the letter Nydia gave him. LINK I have a letter - GUARD Is it from the Royal Family? LINK No - GUARD I'm sorry. Only letters from the Royal Family will get you into the Palace Gate. Sorry kid. Link, putting the letter away, begins to walk away. GUARD Hey, Kid. Link stops and looks back at the Guard. GUARD First of all, you shouldn't give up so quickly. And second, I don't know if you're interested or not but the Princess does make a trip down to the Market Area once every week. LINK When does that happen? The Guards smiles a bit. GUARD You're in luck. She should be down any minute. The sound of trumpets from above the Market Entrance. GUARD Here she comes right now. Through the gate we see four ROYAL GUARDS, two in front and two behind, walking down the path from the Castle. In the middle are Princess Zelda and Impa. The gate Guard begins opening the gate to let them pass. Link sees her and is immediately transfixed. He has never seen anyone so beautiful. She goes up to each of the individual shop owners. They bow and kiss her hand. She asks questions like "How are things going in your shop. I trust all is well?" and "Are you enjoying your stay here in the market?" She circles the courtyard and then finally gets over to Link's area when she stops. She looks over at Link who in turn looks over to the guard. He motions for him to get on his knee. He does so. ZELDA You are new here, aren't you? LINK Yes I am. ZELDA Where are you from? LINK I come from the Kokiri forest. ZELDA Do I... Have we met before? LINK No I don't think so. ZELDA What brings you all the way here, Link? LINK I needed to speak to you. One of Zelda's ROYAL GUARD's is annoyed by this and pops out with: ROYAL GUARD The Princess does not have time to listen to yours anyone else's problems - ZELDA (Almost disgusted but not quite) Thank you, but I don't need you to tell me what I think is and is not important. The Royal Guard shuts up quickly and Zelda looks back down at Link who is still kneeling. ZELDA Come on, Link. We'll talk about what you need inside the castle. She then walks towards the gate followed by Impa and the Royal Guards. Link follows close behind. GUARD (Whispers to Link) Not bad kid. Link smiles and then walks through the gates. Before the guard closes the gate Zelda turns around and addresses the crowd one last time. ZELDA Good day ladies and gentleman. I hope that your stay here in Hyrule is a pleasant one. The Market people clap then the Guard closes the gate as Zelda and the others walk back toward the castle. CUT TO: 39. INT. HYRULE CASTLE - COURTYARD - DAY 39. Zelda stomps into the courtyard and then takes off her uncomfortable shoes. Two of the Royal Guards leave while the other two take there posts next the entrance of the courtyard. ZELDA Okay, Impa. You know I enjoy meeting the people and all but if I'm going to keep doing that can't I at least get some more comfortable shoes? IMPA I'll talk to the king about it. Zelda takes her place in the throne and looks down at Link. Impa stands next to her. Link begins to kneel. ZELDA (Giggling) You don't have to kneel. That's only when I'm in public. When we're alone you can be as normal or weird as you want to be. Link gets back to his feet. ZELDA Where did you say you're from again? LINK The Kokiri Forest. ZELDA Oh! So you must know Nydia? LINK Yes, she's the one that sent me to you. She gave me a letter to give to you. He takes out Nydia's letter and hands it to Zelda. She opens it and begins reading. As she reads her expression changes. She looks up at Impa and hands her the letter. Impa's face also changes. Link stares at them both unsure of what's going on. LINK Is there something wrong? ZELDA Did you read this letter? He shakes his head no. ZELDA Link. What I'm going to tell you has to stay between us. Ok? He nods yes. ZELDA Do you know a man by the name of Ganondorf? Again he shakes his head no. ZELDA He is a close advisor to my father the King. He is also the leader of the Gerudo Clan. Although he has served loyally under my father for only a few short years he has gained strong support from many people. However, I have become aware of his growing interest of the ancient books in our libraries. One of the books talks about the two keys needed to gain access to the Triforce. One of them is a medallion called the Medallion of Time. It is used to open the Door of Time and gain the second key the Master Sword. Luckily Ganondorf has been unable to get the medallion. When we learned of Ganondorf's plans we entrusted the Medallion to a friend of the Royal Family, Nydia. The letter she wrote to us spoke of a man who went to your village trying to get the medallion. Nydia stood her ground and soon the man left. That man was Ganondorf. LINK Why don't you just kick him out of Hyrule or something? ZELDA I've tried. I have done everything in my power to get rid of him but my father will not see to it. She looks at Link and sees he's a little bewildered at the whole situation. ZELDA I had a dream a few nights ago of a boy who came from the forest to save Hyrule. It's nice to know now that it wasn't just a dream. She gets up and walks right up to him and looks him straight in the eye. ZELDA The only way to stop Ganondorf is to get the Triforce before he does. Will you help us? He looks deep in her eyes, filled with so much hope. How do you say no to that? LINK Where did Nydia hide the Medallion? She smiles and kisses Link on the cheek. She then looks back at Impa. ZELDA I want you to meet Impa. She will lead you to the hiding place of the medallion. IMPA How do you do? ZELDA (Looking back at Link) Thank you. You don't know how much you have helped us just by doing this. She hugs him closely and he hugs back. The hug lingers for a moment before both of them realize it. They break the embrace and Zelda walks back to her throne. Impa leads Link out of the courtyard to the castle grounds. CUT TO: 40. INT. HYRULE CASTLE - HYRULE GROUNDS - DAY 40. Link can be seen slowly lagging behind Impa who is leading him to the horse stables. She walks up to a beautiful white horse and prepares it for riding. IMPA The Princess is right. We are very lucky to have someone like you. I admire your courage. Especially for being so young. You must be very excited. LINK (Unenthusiastic) Yeah I guess so. She looks down at Link and sees him nervously rubbing his hands together trying to work up the nerve to go through with the whole thing. She realizes then that he is more scared then he is excited. IMPA Are you okay? LINK Uh-huh. IMPA Are you sure you'll be able to do this? LINK I have to. IMPA Why? LINK That man, the Princess talked about. When he came to our village I think he did something. I'm their only hope. IMPA But why send you? You're just a kid. LINK The same reason you guys are sending me to get your medallion. Because you think I'm special. IMPA Do you think you're special Link? He is quiet for a while as he thinks. LINK I just don't want my sister to die. She pulls the last straps on the horse's saddle. IMPA You know what you need? A little excitement. CUT TO: 41. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - DAY 41. The fields are quiet and peaceful with a few birds in the distance. Suddenly the sound of galloping hooves can be heard tearing up the grass. A horse is seen with two people riding it. It is Impa and Link, who is desperately trying to hold on for dear life as he yells in a mixture of excitement and terror. The horse with its passengers on it approaches a fenced in farmhouse. Impa heads straight for it and then jumps the fence while at the same time scaring some of the chickens it was keeping inside. LINK (At the top of his lungs) Yahoo! An ANGRY FARMER runs out of his house and begins yelling at Impa. ANGRY FARMER Hey! What do you think you're doing jumping around all the place? Are you crazy! As they ride on Link looks back at the Angry Farmer who is getting smaller and smaller. LINK I think we made him happy. She laughs as she continues downward toward a distant town. CUT TO: 42. INT. KAKARIKO VILLAGE - DAY 42. A small village roughly a third of the size of Hyrule Market. But instead of traveling shops and small stores we see instead houses. There are a few people in the town, some construction workers are busy building another house. In the background a tall mountain looms over the village. A small gathering of clouds in the shape of a halo circles the peak of the mountain. Death Mountain. IMPA Welcome to Kakariko, Link. LINK It's nice. IMPA Yes. It's fairly small right now but soon, maybe in a few years even, it'll be as big Hyrule Market. They continue on through the village. Impa says hi to her fellow villagers as they pass her. She then points to Death Mountain in the background. IMPA Do you see that mountain, Link? That's Death Mountain. See that ring of clouds surrounding it? That ring of clouds tells us the condition of the land. If Hyrule is in peace then the clouds are normal. LINK Are we going all the way up there? IMPA Not all the way. She leads the horse up to a closed gate blocking the way to a dirt path. A BORED GUARD quietly stands by his post lightly hunched over. When he sees Impa he immediately straightens himself. Impa pulls out a letter and hands it the Guard. The Guard looks up at Impa with a confused face and then at Link. He rolls his eyes then begins opening the gate. Impa leads the horse up the trail. CUT TO: 43. EXT. DEATH MOUNTAIN TRAIL - DODONGO'S CAVERN - DAY 43. Impa leads the horse up the trail about half way up the mountain until they reach the outside of Dodongo's Cavern which is really more like a cave in the side of the mountain. She helps Link down onto the floor then turns the horse around. IMPA Well, here it is. Dodongo's cavern. I wouldn't worry about running into any Dodongo's though. They went extinct along time ago. She looks at Link and sees he's again trying to build up the nerve to go inside. IMPA Relax. There are no hero's or cowards in this world, Link. Only people who think they are. You'll do fine. I trust you know the way back. And if you don't you can always ask one of the Guards. I must go back to the Castle and protect the Princess. Remember, Princess Zelda is counting on you. She then begins walking back down the mountain trail. Link stares after her for a while then looks in at the cavern that lies ahead. He unsheathes his sword and pulls his shield in front of him. Link walks into the cavern. CUT TO: 44. EXT. GERUDO FORTRESS - NIGHT 44. Ganondorf and two GERUDO CLANSMAN ride through the desert until they reach the Gerudo Fortress. It rests on the edge of the desert and is a village made completely of stone. Ganondorf and his two Guards ride into the fortress and up to the horse stables. Ganondorf gets off his horse and hands the reigns over to one of the clansman who leads the horse away. Nabooru comes out of one of the stone huts and sees Ganondorf who nods to him. Nabooru waves to a CLANSMAN high up in a bell tower. The TOWER CLANSMAN begins ringing the bell and soon all of the Gerudo are out of their Huts and gathered in the center of the fortress around Ganondorf. GANONDORF Fellow clansman. In the past months while the king has foolishly entrusted me into his circle you have waited patiently for my call to rise up against the Hylians. Now, I say. Now is the time. We will make our attack on Hyrule Castle and then we will take all of Hyrule! The Gerudo, who have been waiting forever to attack the Castle, are cheering loudly for their leader Ganondorf. CUT TO: 45. INT. DODONGO'S CAVERN - HALLWAY - DAY 45. Link wonders through a carved out hallway with cautious steps. He sees a doorway leading into another room and goes in it. CUT TO: CIRCULAR ROOM Link now stands in a large circular room with high ceilings. He checks the place out making sure there is nothing there. He walks through another door into ANOTHER CIRCULAR ROOM Link is more careful in inspecting this room. And again there is nothing. He walks through the opposite door to find YET ANOTHER CIRCULAR ROOM When Link enter he gives the room a once over and finds nothing in his immediate gaze. LINK (A little disappointed) Geez. If this medallion thing was so important why don't they protect it better? Almost as if on cue a KEESE, a blue bat-like creature, swoops down from the ceiling doing a dive-bomb technique straight for Link. Link turns around just in time to see the Keese and swings blindly at it. He holds up his shield to cover himself and when he doesn't feel the hit moves it slowly away from his face. He looks up at the ceiling but sees nothing. He looks down and there next to his feet lying in two pieces is the dead Keese. He looks in disgust at the gore of the Keese. LINK Ewww. Two more Keese fly down from the ceiling screaming like wild banshees. Link ducks their oncoming attack as they fly just past him and back up to the ceiling. They circle high above him no way for him to reach them unless they swooped down again. Link looks to the floor for something to throw and finds a few rocks lying close by. He gathers them up and begins throwing them up at the two Keese. The two Keese dodge his attacks before finally Link scores a shot hitting one of the Keese. It falls to the floor like a wounded bird and then dies. Link throws the last of his rocks before he begins to look for more. The last Keese sees his chance to attack Link and takes it. Link unable to pull his sword in time moves his shield in front of him right before the Keese hits. He looks down at the Keese flapping around on the floor completely delirious like a fish out of water. Link disgusted with Keese steps on it squishing it to death. He looks down at the Keese corpse feeling a bit of sympathy. Then he walks out. CUT TO: DOME ROOM Link enters a large dome-like room. Hanging above Link, a though he is unaware of it, are four pouch-like cocoons. He searches the room curiously and sees nothing out of the ordinary. The four pouches on the ceiling begin to shake and convulse until they pop and send down four TEKITES. They are sort of like a cross between a three-foot tall spider and a crab with four legs. They drop to the floor surrounding Link. Link readies his sword and shield by now a little used to that fact that things will be popping out of the sky. One of the Tekites makes a huge leap towards Link. He marvels at its jump and then quickly rolls underneath it. The Tekite lands just barely missing him. One Tekite attacks and Link runs so that he's right underneath him. Then he slashes the underbelly of the creature. It falls in pain behind him and then soon dies. Two of the three remaining Tekites use Link's vulnerability to there advantage and jump straight for him. Link quickly sidesteps allowing them to hit each other instead. They fall to floor dazed. The third Tekite has snuck up behind Link. Link, aware of the impending attack, turns and holds up his shield right before the Tekite pounces him. They fall to the ground with the Tekite on top. The only thing protecting Link from the jaws of the Tekite biting his flesh off is the shield holding them just a few inches apart. Link desperately trying to hold onto the shield curls his legs underneath it and then places the bottom of his feet flat up against the back of the shield. Then with one mighty effort he thrusts his legs outward sending the shield and the Tekite flying back a few feet. The other two Tekites recover from their dizziness and hop toward Link. He sees them, knowing he's shieldless, gets ready for the attack. The third Tekite has also recovered and is making his way towards Link as well. Link hunches over almost in a kneeling position his sword extended so that the blade is sticking out away and behind him. The three Tekites jump until they are only a few feet away and then about to make their final jump onto Link when he lets out his attack. A spinning attack to be more precise. He swings with great strength and energy into a full 360 turn hitting each of the Tekites with a powerful blow. They're all thrown back a bit and then die. Link breathing heavily walks over to his shield and places it back on his back. Then walks out of the room. CUT TO: SQUARE ROOM The minute Link enters the room he looks up at the ceiling to make sure that nothing is hanging from it. Sure enough there isn't. At the other end of the room Link sees for the first time an actual door with hinges and a knob for turning. He runs up to it excitedly and tries to turn the knob but finds it locked. LINK Figures. He looks to the adjacent wall and sees a few metal bars guarding a small hole in the wall. He looks closer and we see a set of keys hanging on a hook. Link tries to squeeze himself through the bars and grab the keys but he is too big. He sees if he can try and reach his arm through and grab the keys through the bars but it is too far out of reach. He gives up on trying to get the keys that way and tries to get out but finds himself stuck between the bars. He sighs in disbelief and then half-heartedly tries to free himself from the bars. From the opposite room the dirt ground begins to shake. Link's attention is drawn to that part of the room where a second later a STALFOS pops out from the ground. It is a tall six-foot walking skeleton complete with sword, shield and armor. Link's eyes fill with terror. His struggle with the gate becomes more desperate as the Stalfos moves closer. The Stalfos is about two feet away now. It stops its motion towards Link and raises his sword high in the air. Link almost free from the bars doesn't even notice that the Stalfos is about to deliver its final blow. Then the Stalfos swings. And right before it hits him Link is free from the bars and tumbling onto the ground. Instead of hitting Link the sword strikes the bars causing sparks to fly everywhere. Link gives himself a little distance between him and the Stalfos while at the same time struggles with his shield and sword. He turns around and sees the Stalfos is almost right on top of him. He quickly puts up his shield to block the Stalfos's oncoming attack. The Stalfos again swings hitting Link's shield dead on. The blow is so powerful it actually knocks Link back a few feet. He skids backwards on his butt as the Stalfos prepares again to hit him. Link gets back to his feet. The Stalfos takes a few steps back then jumps into the air with its sword shining deadly above it. Link quickly dodges to the left as the Stalfos lands and swings its sword downward hitting the ground that was below Link's feet. Seeing an opportunity Link lunges his sword at the side of the Stalfos's bonny structure. But the Stalfos is fast and right before Link's sword hits the Stalfos knocks it away causing Link to lose his balance. Again Link regains his defense position, as does the Stalfos. They do a bit of dancing. Link fakes an attack but the Stalfos doesn't go for it. He just continues to circle around Link moving closer and closer. Before he realizes it the Stalfos has blocked Link into a corner of the room. The Stalfos again raises the sword to deliver his blow. Link sees an opening between the monsters legs and rolls between them. The Stalfos, who was half way through its swing, stops and looks around for Link. Link gets up, turns around and swings his sword right at the Stalfos's back. It hits dead on and the Stalfos screams in pain. It turns, makes a few defensive swings to keep Link away and then is back into attack position. Again they are ready to attack each other, but now the Stalfos is more cautious in its attack. This time the Stalfos does a horizontal swing for Links head. Link ducks just barely. Link then swings his sword at the Stalfos's swinging arm wounding it again this time more seriously. The Stalfos screams in pain leaving him vulnerable. Link takes the opportunity to kill it. He lunges his sword into the ribs of the Stalfos then jerks his arm away causing a huge chunk of the Stalfos to go flying off its body. Again the monster screams as it drops its shield and grabs at the missing part of its body. Link does a horizontal swing with his sword cutting the Stalfos in half at the waist. The Stalfos falls to the ground in two pieces with the top half lying next to its bottom half. Link pants heavily as he walks up to the Stalfos barely alive. It's one arm twitching slightly towards the nearby sword. Link kicks the sword away. Then does a vertical swing chopping its head off. The Stalfos is silent. Link falls to the floor tired and exhausted. Sweaty and worn out. Suddenly we hear a sound behind him. A sort of creaking metal sound. Too worn out to do anything Link turns his head towards the sound. Behind him the gate that once locked the keys has begun moving down. It finally stops and there is an uncomfortable silence. Link looks curiously at the remains of the Stalfos. He then gets up and walks wearily over to the keys and takes them from the hook. CUT TO: MEDALLION ROOM - SAME The Medallion room is unlike any other room we've seen in the cavern. Where as the others seemed to be carved out of the Mountain itself this room seems to be more man-made. There are two well-formed pillars on either side of it. The walls are carved with intricate designs. At the far end of the room is an altar with the symbol of the Triforce etched onto the front of it. Floating just above the altar is the Medallion of Time. A beautifully glowing medallion with the symbol of the Triforce engraved on one side. Link walks up to it mystified and finally stops right in front of it. When he reaches out for the Medallion it begins to glow a luminous yellow. CUT TO: 46. INT. HYRULE CASTLE - GUARD TOWER - NIGHT 46. Ganondorf and his two Guards can be seen on the Hyrule Fields riding towards the castle. The TOWER GUARD yells down to the DRAWBRIDGE GUARDS. TOWER GUARD Lower the drawbridge! The Kings advisor arrives! CUT TO: DRAWBRIDGE ENTRANCE - SAME The two Guards lower the drawbridge. Ganondorf and his two men ride into the castle. Ganondorf and the two horsemen stop right in front of the two guards. GUARD Should we notify the King of your arrival, Lord Ganondorf? GANONDORF Don't bother. Ganondorf pulls out his sword and cuts off the Guards head. One of the other Gerudo Horsemen also pulls out his sword and cuts the other Guards head off. CUT TO: GUARD TOWER - SAME The Tower Guard looks off in the distance where the plains touch the horizon. The Guard takes a closer look and sees hundreds upon hundreds of Gerudo Clansman on horses riding toward the castle. Again he yells below. TOWER GUARD The Gerudo are attacking the castle! Raise the drawbridge. He looks down just in time to see Ganondorf's two men looking up at him with crossbows in hand. They fire and two arrows hit the Guard right in the chest. He falls back into the tower dead. CUT TO: HYRULE FIELDS - SAME The Gerudo forces race wildly towards the castle. CUT TO: HYRULE MARKET - SAME Ganondorf and his clansmen come riding into market where fifteen or so Royal Guards wait greatly outnumbered. The Gerudo on their horses show no fear as they charge the terrified Guards. Then, the sound of swords clashing. CUT TO: 47. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - NIGHT 47. It is pouring rain on the fields and Link is caught in the middle of it. He holds his shield above his head to keep from getting wet as best as possible. As he nears the castle he is aware of smoke coming out from the center of the market area. His pace slows to that of a walk as he gets closer to the drawbridge. He finally stops right in front of the drawbridge looking up at ruins. POV of Link We see coming from the market area a white horse with a rider on it. As it gets closer we recognize the rider as Impa. Sitting in front of her is Princess Zelda. Link moves out of the way of the racing horse as it moves past him. Zelda looks back from atop the steed to see Link, a scared look of confusion on her face. The horse continues past him riding farther and farther on until it is gone from view. Link just stands there wondering what it is exactly that he missed out on. He hears the snort of a horse from behind him and turns. Sitting there on his tall black stallion is Ganondorf. Link looks up in total fright but he is able to control himself better now. Ganondorf just sits there on his horse looking out towards the plains. Then looks down at Link. GANONDORF You. Boy. Did you see a white horse pass by here? Link stands there frozen unable to answer. GANONDORF Speak up! Instead of jumping at his order Link grows defiant. He takes a step back as he turns his face into stone. Ganondorf smiles, a dark evil smile. GANONDORF I like you kid. You've got guts. Link pulls his sword out and readies his shield. The smile on Ganondorf's face vanishes. He raises his hand and lets out a purple wave of energy. Link holds up his shield to block the wave but it is too powerful. It throws him back at least five feet. He lands hard in the mud. Ganondorf snickers at Link's insolence kicks his horse with his spur and then is off toward the Gerudo desert. Link lets out a long sigh and gets to his feet. He wipes the mud from his clothes the best he can. And looks off in the direction to where Ganondorf rode off with his horse. CUT TO: 48. INT. HYRULE MARKET - NIGHT 48. Link walks around the devastation that once was Hyrule Market. Small fires have burnt down a few of the shops that were setup there. The rest of the shops have been emptied. Link curiously walks around the destroyed market place realizing that he was too late. A voice from behind calls to him. ZELDA (O.S.) Link? He quickly turns to find standing behind him nothing. The voice calls to him again. He looks to his left and sees a telepathic image of Zelda standing next to him. She looks at him sorrowfully. LINK Princess? I'm sorry... ZELDA There's no time, Link. Do you have the Medallion? He nods. ZELDA Good. You must go to the Temple of Time. LINK Where is that? She looks behind her to a small grouping of trees. They light up and move out of the way to reveal a hidden pathway. ZELDA This path will lead you to the Temple. Hurry Link. You must stop Ganondorf before he conquers Hyrule. Her image disappears but the pathway remains light and the trees remain separated. He walks down the path and through the trees. CUT TO: 49. EXT. TEMPLE OF TIME - NIGHT 49. Link pushes the trees out of his face to reveal a beautiful Temple that looks more like a Church then anything else. But instead of the old familiar cross we would normally see there is, instead, carved into the wall above the door the symbol of the Triforce. Link marvels at its beauty. He stares up at the Triforce as he walks into the Temple's entrance. CUT TO: 50. INT. TEMPLE OF TIME - ALTAR ROOM - NIGHT 50. The altar room is set up almost exactly the way the medallion room in Dodongo's cavern is only this time it is all marble. Three windows hang high on either side of the walls. An altar much like the one Link pulled the medallion from stands at the opposite room. Behind it is a wall with the symbol of the Triforce carved above it. Link walks majestically up to the altar and stands on the small red carpet laid out in front. He stands for a few seconds not knowing what it is exactly he's supposed to do. Then the satchel that Link put the Medallion in begins to glow. He opens it and takes out the Medallion of Time to see it glowing once again. He holds the medallion out in front of him and lets it go. Instead of dropping to the floor the medallion floats in midair. It hovers for a few seconds then moves over to the altar and stops. It takes its place as it rotates above the altar. It begins glowing even brighter blinding Link a bit. Then the Triforce symbol above the wall also begins to glow. Link forgets about the blinding light and stares at the magnificent spectacle occurring in front of him. We hear a loud rumbling coming from the wall. It begins to move toward the left revealing a passageway. Link walks around the altar and through the passageway into CUT TO: MASTER SWORD ROOM - SAME A circular room made of marble with ceilings so high they disappear into the dark. In the center of the room are steps that lead up to a circular platform. On the platform are three smaller circles located in the outer part. In the middle, with its blade sticking into a small stone altar engraved with the Triforce symbol is the Master Sword. It is a beautiful sword with a strong blue handle. Link slowly makes his way up the platform and next to the Master Sword. He rests his hands on the blades handle letting himself get used to the idea that all this actually happening. He takes one deep breath and gets ready to pull the sword. Then in one strong thrust he pulls on the handle and releases the Master Sword from its resting place. From below the ground a blue circle of light begins to fill the entire room. It then swirls around Link and the platform he's on. FADE TO WHITE: 51. INT. SACRED REALM - TIMELESS 51. We are know in an entirely white room where it is very difficult to see where the walls end and where the floor begins. It's almost completely empty except for the three golden pyramids that shine in this infinite space. We move closer and closer to the Triforce until we finally rotate around it to see Ganondorf staring at it with power lust in his eyes. He moves slowly toward it slightly taken aback that the Triforce is within his grasp. He extends his hand out to the relic and touches it. The Triforce begins to glow a dark red, as does Ganondorf's hand. WIDE SHOT Of Ganondorf touching the Triforce as his evil laughter fills the Sacred Realm. CUT TO: 52. INT. CHAMBER OF SAGES - TIMELESS 52. POV of Link As we see nothing but darkness. The voice of a Young Man, Sheik, can be heard off-screen. SHEIK (O.S.) Link? Wake up Link. The screen begins to flicker to life as if Link were opening his eyelids. CUT TO: CLOSE UP Of Sheik. He wears a white hood and a facemask that covers the lower part of his face. He is about 19. SHEIK Wake up Link. Wake up and look at yourself. CUT TO: EXTREME CLOSE UP Of Link's eyes. We get a sense as we look at them that they are much older, much more mature. We PULL BACK to reveal that Link has aged seven years. The little boy whose shield was once too big and sword to heavy has now grown into full adulthood. We also get our first look of the Sacred Realm. Link is seen standing on the same platform he was standing on in the Master Sword room only this time it hovers in midair over a bottomless pit. Raindrops of blue light fall all around the Chamber. Link looks at Sheik and sees he's standing on one of the platform circles. LINK What happened? SHEIK Calm down Link. LINK Where am I? SHEIK You are in the Chamber of Sages, a place built to protect the Sacred Realm. LINK (Angry and confused) What happened to me? Tell me? SHEIK You must remain calm - LINK Remain calm? First thing I know I'm pulling this freaky sword out of some stone next thing I know I'm like this. And you're telling me to be calm? SHEIK Everything will be explained but first you must remain calm. Ok? LINK All right. What is this place again? SHEIK The Chamber of Sages a place built to protect the Triforce and the Sacred Realm that houses it. LINK Did I get the Triforce? SHEIK No. The sword you pulled opens the door to the Sacred Realm. However, it cannot be pulled by just anyone. Only one worthy of the title Hero of Time can pull it, only at the time that pulled it you were to young to take on the responsibility of the Hero of Time. Thus it sealed your soul away in the Sacred Realm until you were. LINK Is that what happened to me? How long... SHEIK Seven years. Link's face drops and his eyes fall to the floor. Then a question enters his mind. LINK The Triforce? SHEIK When you opened the door to the Sacred Realm it allowed any and all to enter. When you did not retrieve the Triforce, Ganondorf took the opportunity and got it. When he did it turned the Sacred Realm into a place of evil. This Chamber is the only thing left that has not been touched by the evil. I am its protector. LINK Who are you? SHEIK I am Sheik the awakening voice from the Sacred Realm sent to call upon those destined to be Sages. Those sages along with the Hero of Time will bind the evil known as Ganondorf and return the light of peace to Hyrule. The first sage lies in Kakariko Village. Her name is Impa. Call upon her and she will tell you who the second sage is. LINK Wait a minute. What about the Princess? Is she all right? Sheik takes in a deep sigh then lets it out. SHEIK The Princess is fine. But your task is to look for the three sages. Not for the Princess. Go. LINK But - It is useless for Link to protest. His body begins to change into a green swirl of light. The swirl then heads up and away from Sheik as his eyes follow it out of the room. CUT TO: 53. INT. TEMPLE OF TIME - MASTER SWORD ROOM - NIGHT 53. Link as the green swirl of light enters the sword room and takes its place by the altar where Young Link first pulled the sword. The swirl then begins to change back into Link as an adult. The metamorphosis concludes and we see a very bewildered Link. Link gets a grip of the situation and walks out of the Master Sword Room. CUT TO: ALTAR ROOM - SAME Link finds himself back in the altar room where the Medallion of Time is, even after seven years, still rotating above its altar. CUT TO: 54. EXT. TEMPLE OF TIME - NIGHT 54. Link walks out the Temple and back down the path Zelda had shown him seven years earlier. He rustles with some of the trees and then finally comes out the other side into the CUT TO: HYRULE MARKET - SAME Link finds himself in the middle of what used to be the Hyrule Market. Now it is a literal dump. Barely any buildings are even left standing anymore. Spread out across the once beautiful courtyard area are five soft looking mounds of dirt. Link walks up to one of the mounds and inspects it. The mound begins to move and Link jumps away in fright and runs back into the trees from whence he came. The mound of dirt that Link was inspecting isn't a mound of dirt at all. It is in fact a zombie, or RE-DEAD, of one of the people that used to inhabit the Market. The re-dead gets to its feet and begins slowly walking around the market. Link takes in a deep breath and pulls out his sword. He runs out into the Market and up to the re-dead that he awoke. And with one swoop he chops the re-dead in two. The pieces fall to the floor. The other four re-deads around the market begin to stand up straight. They then slowly begin to shuffle up towards Link. Link runs up to each one of them disposing of them quickly until he has run out of re-deads to kill. He searches the area to make sure that no one is around. Then he looks in the direction of the castle. What once was a beautiful marble structure has done a complete 180. It seems that Ganondorf has made a few decorative changes over the years now that he has conquered Hyrule. Link stares up at the horrific sight. He backs away slowly and then runs out of the market. CUT TO: 55. EXT. HYRULE FIELDS - LON LON RANCH - NIGHT 55. Link walks up to Lon Lon Ranch. Although not as bad as Hyrule Market the ranch itself seems to have also gone under heavy battle conditions. Link walks curiously around the ranch trying to see in. LINK Hello? Malon? Anybody? Is there anybody here? He walks into the ruins of the ranch. CUT TO: 56. INT. LON LON RANCH - SAME 56. The old ranch although a little run down is still more or less standing. The roof to Talon and Malon's house has a la