The scene is a desolate, rock-strewn mountainside. In the foreground stands a tall, thin, finger-like rock. Chained to this rock is the PRINCESS. She is dressed in a torn white gown, and sobbing softly. Behind her, in the face of the mountain, we see the mouth of a cave. A red glow is visible in the cave’s darkness, as if a fire is burning there.
The camera pulls back to a wider view. Along a narrow road, a horseman, all in white armor, can be seen approaching. This is ST. GEORGE.
CLOSEUP of ST. GEORGE. His expression reveals that he has seen the princess, and a look of noble determination comes over his face. [Note to casting: Try to find an actor who isn’t using Botox yet. There must be somebody.]
ST. GEORGE rides up to the rock where the PRINCESS is bound. He dismounts and approaches her.
ST. GEORGE: Don’t be afraid, Princess. I am St. George, and I’ve come to set you free. I’ll cut these chains with my sword, and we’ll be away in a moment.
PRINCESS: I fear that can’t be done, good sir. These chains are dragon-tempered steel. No sword can cut them. Nothing can free me but the key the dragon keeps in a casket in his cave.
ST. GEORGE: Then I shall kill the dragon. For I am pure of heart, and I bear a magic shield, forged by elves, proof against all fire.
He sets out toward the cave mouth.
PRINCESS: God bless you, good saint!
As ST. GEORGE nears the entrance, the CGI DRAGON (Voice of Morgan Freeman) appears before him. The DRAGON is huge, and strangely beautiful, with a long, graceful neck and soulful brown eyes.
DRAGON: Halt! Who dares invade the dragon’s domain?
ST. GEORGE: It is I, St. George, here to slay you and free yonder innocent princess!
DRAGON: Innocent! Innocent, you say? Do you not realize how her civilization has destroyed the natural environment, cutting down forests, draining marshes, hunting animal species to oblivion? Have you not seen how the smoke of their fires fouls the atmosphere, warming the earth and causing the polar bears to drown? As a representative of a threatened species, I claim the right to reparations, in the form of a virgin or two now and then. Don’t you agree? Or are you some kind of speciesist?
ST. GEORGE: You have convinced me, good dragon. I shall leave you in peace to live out your personal lifestyle in harmony with the natural order. I only ask one thing of you.
DRAGON: And what is that?
ST. GEORGE: Devour her off camera, please. We don’t want to spoil the inspiring closing shot.
THE END
I won’t be surprised if I see a movie version sometime soon Lars.
– on a related subject. Did you ever read ‘The dragon and the George’ by Gordon Dickson. (I believe he’s a fellow Minnesotan.) I haven’t read it, but I’ve heard of it. (Seen a free version of the short story version available at Baen.com
Nope. Never read it.
[Producer’s note scribbled at bottom of plot treatment]
Jimbo:
Not bad. But it needs a little something. Give the lizard an Uzi. And let’s have more cleavage. Get Megan Fox for that princess part.