A Story

Narrator: There are many stories out in the world. Some are of fortune, some are of luck. 
   Some of romance, and some of tragedy. Many are unique in their own ways, 
   just as this story is. The story of a teenage girl who grew up like most others, 
   wanting to fit in, be liked, be popular, be pretty, but it has a twist. She is from a 
   people. An immortal people. But one day, she finds she's not quite what she 
   thought she was...

SAVARNA WAKES UP FROM A NICE SLEEP AND GETS READY FOR SCHOOL. SHE WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN.
Savarna: Morning, mom. Does this make me look fat?
Mother: (laugh) No, Savarna, it's fine.
Savarna: You sure? (trying to see butt)
Mother: Trust me.
Savarna: (sit down at table) (start eating apple)
Mother: Hurry, you'll be late for school.
Savarna: I'll be fine. I always make it on time. The teacher doesn't care.
Tobi: (run in door) Hey guys! Come on, Sav, let's go!
Savarna: Why?
Tobi: You don't want to be late again. Remember what the teacher said yesterday?
Mother: (turn to Savarna)
Savarna: (try to look innocent)
Mother: Get out of here and go to school, now, Savarna!
Savarna and Tobi: (run out of house)
CUT
THE GIRLS ARE AT SCHOOL TRYING TO TALK TO EACH OTHER ACROSS THE ROOM WHILE THE TEACHER'S TALKING. A CUTE GUY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROW LOOKS AT THEM.
Both: (stop and smile sweetly) (he turns away) (smile at each other)
Teacher: (clear throat)
Both: (turn to her with big goofy grins on faces) (slowly put on straight faces)
Teacher: Is there something you'd like to say to the class, girls?
Both: No Ma'am.
Teacher: That's what I thought. Don't do it again or it's detention.
Both: Yes, Ma'am. (look down)
CUT
SCHOOL'S OUT. THE GIRLS ARE WALKING TO THE RIVER TO HANG OUT. THEY PASS THE SOVEREIGN OF THE TRIBE.
Tobi: (wave) Good afternoon, sir.
Sovereign: (nod)
Savarna: Hi.
Sovereign: (look at her suspiciously)
Savarna: (confused) Was it something I said?
Sovereign: (leave)
Savarna: I don't get it.
Sovereign: (sit on tree branch)
Savarna: I said "Hi". What's wrong with that?
Tobi: Maybe you should respect him.
Savarna: I do! "Hi" is respect.
Tobi: Apparently not to the Sovereign.
Savarna: Well, I didn't try to do anything. I think everyone should be equal.
Tobi: I don't think you should do that here.
Savarna: Why not?
Tobi: You saw the Sovereign. He expects that. It won't work in this tribe. 
Savarna: (get on different branch) Well, where am I supposed to go? You know we can't 
   leave the tribe. It's not possible with our... genes.  And the Sovereign won't let us 
   anyway. I mean, how am I supposed to change something if I can't even go there? 
Tobi: You have potential for a lot of stuff. My mom says you could really change this tribe. 
          After all, we have eternity.
Savarna: Yeah, but the Sovereign will be ruling for all eternity though. That's the only 
   problem.
Tobi: Then overthrow him.
Savarna: With what? Violence? Killing and pain doesn't work, you know, Tobi.
Tobi: But there's got to be another way... You'd make such a better leader.
Savarna: I'm just a child, Tob.
Tobi: You're an immortal, Savarna. No one's really a child here.
Savarna: (look away) Well, I feel like it.
Tobi: I guess our minds do mature as we age a little.
Savarna: It doesn't seem right.
Tobi: (look over)
Savarna: It doesn't seem right that we can live on forever, and not die, not hurt, not bleed. 
  We can look as young or as old as we want. It's not right.
Tobi: Not right to who? We've grown up in this society. It is right here.
Savarna: (look out in the distance) But not out there.
Tobi: That's why we're here. Away from the rest. They don't know we're here, and they 
          don't know about our kind. It keeps both of us away from conflict.
Savarna: But I want to see them.
Tobi: It's not like they're any different than us. They're human.
Savarna: We're not.
Tobi: (fall silent)
Savarna: (look behind you) (the Sovereign is watching with a frown) (eyes go wide) (turn 
   away)
Sovereign: (growl)
Savarna: (quietly) Shoot.
Tobi: What?
Savarna: Sovereign. Behind. Me.
Tobi: (eyes go wide) Uh-oh.
Leader: (walk in front of them)
Both: (cringe)
Sovereign: Tobi. My dear, dear friend. Please tell me I'm hearing things, or is it true you 
Sovereign: were discussing "other" people? And the possibility of- (chuckle) leaving?
Tobi: No, sir, it wasn't like that, I swear.
Sovereign: We do not swear in any way, shape or form around here.
Tobi: I'm sorry, I didn't mean- We weren't-
Sovereign: We, huh?
Tobi: No, I-
Sovereign: (turn to Savarna)
Savarna: (hold his gaze)
Sovereign: We... You want to leave, expose this place, expose our kind? Well, I just can't 
      let you do that... You see, being an immortal has it's own place in the circle of    
      life. It's a place of great power and wealth, but with that comes isolationism.  
      We cannot let outsiders know about us. Or live with us. Or communicate with 
      us. We are here. As immortals. And I am watching you.
Savarna: Well I'm watching you too.
Sovereign: (glare)
Savarna: Don't be afraid to get a few pointers from a normal villager, "O Mighty One". 
   The old ways are gone. These are the New Days. Adapt to them. You'll have to 
    to stay in power of our tribe. But I'm always up to be vice president. Keep that in 
    mind the next time you decide to get on some teenager's case.
Sovereign: (really glare) Your parents will here about this. (leave)
Savarna: (hiss)
Tobi: (quiet)
Savarna: What?
Tobi: You are so in trouble.
Savarna: What? I told him what he needed to know. Times are changing. He's been 
   around a long time, and he'll be around even longer. But times change a lot more 
   then him. He has to meet our needs. That's just the way it goes. Or else we'll be 
   unhappy, and its disaster for him. That's the way that one goes, Tobi. (get out of 
   tree) I hope you agree with me.
Tobi: (shake head) You are just too hard to figure out. (smile) But that's why I love you. 
          (jump out of tree) (give her a friendship hug)
Savarna: Aw, that's sweet. Anyways, I'm gonna go see if I can get home before he does.
Tobi: Good luck.
Savarna: (start running) Thanks!
CUT
SAVARNA IS JUST GETTING TO HER HOUSE. SHE STOPS TO SEE THAT THE SOVEREIGN IS ALREADY THERE.
Savarna: (sigh annoyed) (slow way down) (take time getting there) (pass the Sovereign) "O 
   Mighty One".
Sovereign: "Savarna."
Savarna: (snort) (get up to steps) (Mom is standing there) (look down)
Mom: Savarna, I need to talk to you now.
Savarna: (sigh)
Mom: (lead her in)
THEY ARE IN THE KITCHEN
Savarna: (sit down)
Mom: (pacing) Please tell me you really didn't say that. Well, you must have. Why would 
           the Sovereign lie? But for you to say that- (turn to her) What did you say to him? 
           What did you call him?
Savarna: I didn't call him anything! I don't know what he told you, but it's not true. I did 
   not do anything wrong.
Mom: The Sovereign wouldn't lie, Savarna.
Savarna: (shocked) Oh, and you think I would?! I can't believe you just said that!
Mom: I didn't say that!
Savarna: You implied it, and you implied it heavily. You don't trust your own daughter, 
   huh? How could you do that? I don't lie, I don't manipulate, I don't cheat. Did 
   you ever realize that that Sovereign may do that? He wants to stay in power, so 
   why not? Why do you go and blame it all on me? (tears welling up) I don't lie. 
  (pause) I thought I could trust you and think you were the best thing for me. But if 
   you don't or can't even believe me, then- (take deep breath) (tears drop) (look 
   down) (crying a little)
THERE'S A LONG PAUSE.
Savarna: (look up finally) I'm sorry. I didn't do anything. I'll be leaving now. It doesn't look 
   like I fit into this lifestyle. I guess I'm just not good at accepting what could be 
   changed. (stand up) Maybe I don't belong here at all. (start walking away)
Mom: Savarna.
Savarna: (slowly stop)
Mom: I believe you. I don't know what really happened, but that doesn't matter anymore. 
           What matters is you.
Savarna: (turn around) I'm different, aren't I? (crying)
Mom: (look down) I don't know how to say this-
Savarna: I am. (sad) (take deep breath) I should have known. I don't act like all the other 
  immortals here. I have opinions. I believe in a better world. (pause) Immortal. 
  But... what if I'm not an immortal?
Mom: (look down)
Savarna: (look at her shocked) I'm not, am I?
Mom: I won't answer that.
Savarna: (turn away) My Gosh. (shake head) I- I've been living a lie. I can not believe that. 
   And no one told me? (speechless) (shake head harder) (run out of room)
Mom: I never said you weren't, Savarna!
CUT
SAVARNA IS SITTING A LITTLE IN THE WOODS OUT OF TOWN.
Sovereign: (walk up) Thinking of leaving, I see?
Savarna: Go away.
Sovereign: (smile annoying smile) 
Savarna: Back off, ok?
Sovereign: Is that the best you've got? What happened to all those rude comments?
Savarna: Look, I've had a bad day, ok? It's been long, and it's been hell.
Sovereign: Is it from me?
Savarna: (glare at him) Not really.
Sovereign: You know, I've tried everything with you; being friendly, being your worst 
      enemy. I can't figure you out.
Savarna: What would you prefer to be? It doesn't matter to me.
Sovereign: You see, I've had this feeling for quite a while now that there's an imposter 
      around here. Someone who isn't immortal.
Savarna: (swallow) That's nice.
Sovereign: Do you have any idea what I'm feeling?
Savarna: How should I know? You're the leader. The big strong one. You're supposed to 
   take care of the village. Why should I matter?
Sovereign: (step closer) Because I could actually use you.
Savarna: (look up confused)
Sovereign: I haven't been in power that long, actually. And I guess I could use assistance.
Savarna: (look away) I'm not hearing this.
Sovereign: Why is this such a big deal, Savarna? What's wrong?
Savarna: We fight all the time! We don't get along at all! You've talked about me, and 
   we've spread rumors about each other, and we just plain don't get along! And 
   now suddenly you want my help? That's not right!
Sovereign: (look away) 
Savarna: It's just not.
Sovereign: I thought you wanted power.
Savarna: I want what's best for my people. Being in power is the only way to get there.
Sovereign: (shake head) I thought you were completely different then this, Savarna.
Savarna: Why? What was your impression of me?
Sovereign: My impression was of a younger version of me when I was just maturing myself. I 	     wanted to be high and mighty so I could have people who'd fear me. I wanted to 
     make people think I was better and smarter then them. That I had all the 
     answers. Most of all, I didn't want any outsiders to ever find us. The people did.
Savarna: (look)
Sovereign: I guess I was really wrong about you. I thought you were power hungry just like 
 me.
Savarna: (look down) I don't know what I am anymore. I'm just Savarna: Troublemaker. 
   Even though I'm really not. I don't really know why people think I am. I'll tell 
   you right now, and you'll probably kill me, but- I don't think I'm all that I'm 
   cracked up to be.
Sovereign: (look suspicious)
Savarna: I've studied our village, and found that almost all the people are very passive, and 
  would care less about seeing the outside world and talking with humans and others 
  that- it really makes me think I'm not supposed to be here. Like I'm not an  
  immortal.
Sovereign: (eyes glare)
Savarna: (look scared) What?
Sovereign: You're the one, aren't you?
Savarna: The one what?
Sovereign: The imposter. You're not immortal.
Savarna: I-I don't know!
Sovereign: You should.
Savarna: Well, I never bothered to check! I was raised as an immortal, so of course I 
   assumed I was an immortal! I mean, I must be if I'm here!
Sovereign: (think) Not necessarily.
Savarna: (look up at him) What are you talking about?
Sovereign: There was one time where the leader before me was experimenting on...ahem, 
                  normal beings. You know, mortals.
Savarna: What?
Sovereign: He wanted to make mortal/immortal hybrids. Demigods.
Savarna: Does this have anything to do with me?
Sovereign: (turn to her evilly) You're an imposter.
Savarna: (shocked) What?!
Sovereign: I know you are! It has to be you!
Savarna: No, I didn't do anything!
Sovereign: You didn't try, but you don't belong here! Get out!
Savarna: (shocked) (fall out of tree)
Sovereign: (stand over her) I want you out now. I don't trust you. You are not immortal. I 
      can feel it. I can smell it. I can sense it. (growl) I want you out! You could     
      jeopardize our entire lives!
Savarna: And how is that?! You're immortal! You can't die! You can't hurt, and you can't 
  feel! (stand up)
Sovereign: (roar) Get out! That proves your not immortal! Isn't it obvious? You feel, you 
      hurt! Don't you get it, Savarna? All the signs point to you! You're playing devil's 
      advocate with yourself, Savarna! Everything you just said only pertains to you!   
      You are the mortal, the traitor, and I want you out of my village.
Savarna: No, I won't go.
Sovereign: (completely stunned)
Savarna: This is my home, Leader. I'm not gonna leave it because I'm different.
Sovereign: Well this came out of nowhere.
Savarna: (glare) It's true! Listen to me, people here like me, people here don't know I'm 
   mortal, people here just think I'm on a power trip. At least I'm accepted around 
   here. Out there I would be nothing.
Sovereign: Well, I guess you'll have to become something, won't you? You're not staying! 
      And that's true, no one knows about you now, but by the end of the day, (grin 
      evilly) they will.
Savarna: (glare) You wouldn't.
Sovereign: (evilly) Oh, I would. You said so yourself. I spread rumors, I talk about you.           
      Well, I guess its true then, isn't it? And if it wasn't before, it certainly is now.                 
      (laugh evilly) (whip around) (cape flutters) (walk away)
Savarna: (completely P.O.ed) Damn you! Damn you to Hades!
Sovereign: Been there, done that, found it boring!
Savarna: (growl) (scream)