Opening Cinematic

Cinematic Opening (Screenplay)

EXT. RURAL ROAD - DAY
ANNE (13), a pretty orphan girl in tattered clothes with a small makeshift pack, walks slowly alongside the road, arms wrapped around herself, shivering and crying.
A convoy of Nazi soldiers in WW2 military vehicles rumbles slowly by. A couple of the soldiers leer at Anne.
A freshly-polished car displaying Nazi flags stops next to Anne and NAZI COMMANDANT (30s), a harsh man wearing a crisp uniform and drinking brandy, stares at Anne.

NAZI COMMANDANT

(to driver)

That one. Bring her.

The driver and another soldier get out of the car and approach Anne.
Anne backs up into a barbed-wire fence and cowers.
AMOS and MARTHA (50s), a farmer couple, are driving a cart laden with farming goods in the mud next to the convoy.
Amos sees the soldiers approaching Anne and furrows his brow.

MARTHA

Do something, Amos.

Amos nudges the horse into a collision course with the soldiers.

AMOS

Whoa there, Nessie!

(to soldiers)

Look out, now! She's a bit skittish around them automobiles.

The soldiers curse and dodge back toward their car, temporarily putting the cart between them and Anne.
Martha turns her body to hide her face and hands from the Nazis. She motions at Anne urgently.

MARTHA

(Mouths silently)

Run!

Anne stays frozen as the cart rolls by, then squeezes through the fence and bolts across the adjoining field.
Nazi Commandant pulls out a Luger and aims it at Amos.

NAZI COMMANDANT

Move!

Face white, Amos ducks his head and guides the horse cart on past.
The two soldiers hurdle the fence and chase Anne.
Martha turns to watch, trembles, and shakes her head.

MARTHA

Ach. So young, that one.

Martha places her hand on Amos’ shoulder and bows her head.

MARTHA

Grant her your protection, Lord.

The prayer floats upward, and we float up with it, still looking down, widening our perspective to see streams of the German war machine flowing into and occupying a village.
INTERCUT IN FLASHES
Same viewpoint, but the scene is dark and devastated, with glowing tendrils of red rising from the Nazis and pale blue from the farmer. Dark shapes flit through the sky around the men chasing Anne.
INT. TRANSLUCENT ROOM - DAY
Looking down through the floor, high above the village.
Pan up to MELPHUS (30s), a handsome and well-built guardian angel in white robes, kneeling on one knee with head bowed and hands folded in prayer.

GOD (O.S.)

I have a mission for you.

Melphus looks up, lips moving silently in a single word as his hands part. A flaming sword grows from one hand, and a shimmering shield of light materializes on his other arm.

MELPHUS

Thy will?