SNOWFLAKES [Original one-hour pilot, dramedy]

​EXT. CASTLE ENTRYWAY - EVENING
​DOZENS OF PEOPLE, all heavily bundled, stand in a precise formation at the entry of an old castle. The electric lit lamp posts look as out of place here as Narnia.
​
Vanguard, Aunsey keeps wriggling and pulling at his coat.

Hettie stands behind.

HETTIE
Stop that.

AUNSEY
What?

HETTIE
The twitching.

AUNSEY
Oh. Sorry.

He makes a fist, checks his watch, drops his fist to his side.

Tala leans from his other side to squeeze his hand.

TALA
You only have to do this once.

Aunsey nods several times. Hettie pats his back. He needs an awful lot of physical reassurances.

AUNSEY
What's the worst that could happen?

HETTIE
The worst that could happen if I screw up is I get fired.

AUNSEY
It was a rhetorical--

HETTIE
The worst that happens if you screw up is you start a war.

Aunsey's eyes go wide; the gates open.

A dozen cars pull in, sleek like Rolls Royce Jonckheere Coupes.

HETTIE (CONT'D)
Breathe.

Aunsey's chest heaves.

HETTIE (CONT'D)
Normally.

The nicest car in the caravan pulls up in the front, and the DRIVER gets out and opens the back door.

A stunning woman, IKOKO, 30s, steps out, surveying the people, the castle.

HETTIE (CONT'D)
Damn, Aunz. If the marriage bed ever becomes a chore...

Aunsey giggles something close to hysteria.

BEX, mid-20s and pissy, steps out next. He scans the crowd with a watchful eye. When he lands on Aunsey, his lip curls.

Bex and the woman move, but not toward Aunsey.

TALA
Maybe they want you to approach?

Before Aunsey can move, an ANNOUNCER from another car approaches and stands straight.

HETTIE
Here we go. Just being formal.

AUNSEY
They'll love you, then.

Hettie snorts.

ANNOUNCER
I am honored to present Our Beloved Jetten Korle Batterly Styne, Prince
of Bakyun.

Aunsey trips over nothing.

Hettie COUGHS.

Tala manages to only blink one time more than necessary.

AUNSEY
P-Prince?

The driver offers his hand to the open car door, and a slim, unmarred one emerges.

Slowly, as if time itself has slowed to see what all the fuss is about, he steps out of the car.

JET, early 20s. Beautiful, pristine, otherworldly. His thin jacket looks wildly out of place in fashion and utility.

They approach, and Aunsey's mouth attempts several iterations of spoken language but none quite come.

HETTIE
When in doubt, bow.

Aunsey bows a little too low.

AUNSEY
Th-thank you for agreeing to, uh... to ally with our, with Ganneon.

When Aunsey looks back up, he sees Bex close behind Jet, eyes narrowed and glaring at him.

TALA
Perhaps we should continue inside?

Tala nods to a butler who leads Jet, Bex, and crew inside.

Ikoko and Hettie lock eyes for a long moment.

Hettie dips her head in a way that manages to be both respectful and seductive. The woman smiles and follows the others inside.

TALA (CONT'D)
That went almost well.

AUNSEY
He's—He’s a... He--

HETTIE
That he is, buddy. That he is.

​Hettie slaps him on the back and launches him to the door.