Like Fine Wine, Revised Screenplay, Scene 44 (Never Shot)
EXT. SNOWY FOREST -- DAY
KILN and STAND TALL lie side by side on a picnic blanket. It is the middle of winter, but the snow has all melted in a circle around Kiln. Despite not having a jacket or other protection, Stand Tall appears warm. She is sweaty, and lies tucked into his side.
KILN
Happy Hearthswarming.Stand Tall laughs amiably, and snuggles closer into his side.
STAND TALL
This is way better than spending the holiday with my sister.Kiln runs a claw down Stand Tall’s belly, a quietly sensual gesture.
KILN
Was it good for you?Stand Tall smiles, and gives a little half laugh. She seems amused by the question.
STAND TALL
My everything hurts. I haven’t had a workout like that in a decade. I feel like my hips are going to fall off.Kiln flinches, this was obviously not the answer he was hoping for. Stand Tall notices his discomfort, and kisses his chest.
STAND TALL
You’re the biggest stallion I’ve ever been with. How’s that?SIDE SHOT LOW TO THE GROUND
Camera is placed so that Kiln’s face is not clearly visible. Stand Tall is the focus of the shot, and Kiln is visible only by the bulk of his chest rising behind her. The two are silent for a time.STAND TALL
What’s the appeal?The camera remains on Stand Tall as Kiln answers.
KILN
Of.. you?STAND TALL
Of fucking a creature so much smaller than you, you could have literally killed me if you weren’t careful. I don’t think I could stay aroused if I was worried about murdering my partner. And even if you were careful… that was the wildest sex I’ve ever had. But for you, that must have been very gentle. You must have been careful.Kiln’s breathing is audible in the background as Stand Tall waits for an answer. Her eyes flick left and right, but she does not turn to look at him.
KILN
I’m afraid.INTERCUT SIDE SHOTS OF KILN AND STAND TALL
The camera flips back and forth so that whichever one isn’t talking is in the shot. The audience sees only their reactions to what is being said.Stand Tall speaks softly.
STAND TALL
That you aren’t good enough for a dragoness? Am I ‘easy mode’?Kiln’s face twists, and he looks off.
Camera cuts back to Stand Tall for Kiln to speak. His tone is hurt.
KILN
That’s not fair. I care about you.Stand Tall laughs and smiles, nuzzling into his side.
STAND TALL
I know. I know you care about me. I care about you too. But… I’m going to say something now. And maybe it’s bitchy. And if it is I’m sorry, but I need to say it.I think you want me because I’m the mare… the female, that can’t arm wrestle you, and will always think your fire breath is cool, and is certainly going to be impressed with your dick. I’m the creature you can pin down, and feel how big and powerful you are.
I think I make you feel kind, because you’re magnanimous to me with your strength.
I think you want to be a leader of dragons, a great warrior like in the old stories. But deep in your heart you know you aren’t. You’re not strong enough, your flames aren’t hot enough, and when it comes down to it, you aren’t vicious enough.
You’ve been nothing but kind to me. I don’t think you’d ever hurt me.
But I think on some level, you wish you were the sort of creature who could hurt me. That you had it in your heart to pin me down and use your strength to control me.
Kiln lies with a flat expression for most of Stand Tall’s monologue. It is only clear at the end how much it has hurt him. He looks like he might cry, but avoids making any sound. He turns away from her so only the camera can see.
He does not speak, and so she speaks again.
STAND TALL
I don’t think that’s anything to be ashamed of. I don’t judge you for it. And I’m not better.I used you. To get back at my husband. He dumps me, so I show up with a stallion -- dragon, whatever -- with muscles like rocks and a body built to twice my size. Oh, you want to leave me for a mare half my age? I’m leaving you for a stallion who fucks me so hard the ground shakes.
And that wasn’t fair to you.
The camera cuts back to Stand Tall, as Kiln shifts behind her.
KILN
I knew. I know. I didn’t judge you for it either.She frowns, a quiet sadness visible in her eyes.
KILN
Do you… want…?The camera cuts back to Kiln, as Stand Tall drapes a hoof over him. She crawls up onto his belly, so both of them are visible in the shot. She stares down into his eyes.
STAND TALL
If you can… want me, for me. If you can want me because of who I am. Then yes, I would like to keep going out with you.But if all we are to you is how dating a pony makes you feel, if any other small, frail mare would get your gemstones off equally well and that’s… all we are.
Then no.
We both deserve better than that.
The camera switches sides to keep the shot pattern, but they both remain clearly visible in frame.
KILN
I don’t know how I can answer that question.I don’t know who you are when you’re not mad. Since we’ve met, all you’ve talked about is your husband, and your store, and your foals, and everything he took from you.
You were pretty obvious about using me, you know. Master of deception you ain’t.
Stand Tall laughs, like what was just said was absurd.
STAND TALL
Yeah, I guess I was.She looks down at his chest and brushes it with a hoof.
STAND TALL
I fly kites. I used to fly kites every week, until my husband told me it was childish. You like kites?KILN
Dragons don’t really do kites.Stand Tall slides off Kiln’s belly and rises to her hooves. She looks him in the eye with a determined expression.
STAND TALL
Well I’m going to go fly one. And if you want join me, some company would be nice.But if you don’t, that’s fine too.
Rarity’s Recounting of What Happened Between Her and Spike the Dragon at Pie Pans Bar and Grill, in Downtown Ponywood, 1019, as Dramatized by Channel 7: Cultural Programming
Spike did not flip through the script. He read it, one page a time, until he got to the end. Then he laid it on the bartop, and picked up his fireball whiskey. “It needs edits. A bunch of the scenes are too fast paced. Dialogue feels unrealistic at points. It’s a bit overdramatic.”
He took a slow drink from his whiskey. There was a reason few bars served dragons. What for Spike was a glass of whiskey would for a pony have been called a pint of whiskey, and it came in a special glass to accommodate his muzzle. As mature dragons lacked proper lips, Spike had to carefully hold the glass to his teeth and pour the liquid down his throat.
Rarity watched the whole thing -- his claws, his fangs. She watched the muscles in his throat sway as the liquid ran down his long neck.
Until the glass went back to the bartop. “But it’s a romance. It’s a real romance. It’s got soul. And you wrote a dragon who I think dragon viewers will actually like. Or, who I want to play. Kiln is… sympathetic. I get that anxiety too. That every dragon is supposed to be a beast and a warrior. I told you I’m interested in mares, and damn if I haven’t wondered in my head if I’m exactly like him. If I’m only into ponies because I feel like I can push you around.”
“Do you think you are?” Rarity asked, blinking once.
“No,” Spike smiled. “Sorry. I’m just a pervert. My head is wired wrong and I like mammals. Nothing more to it than that.”
“Methinks the drake doth protest too much,” Rarity giggled, lifting her own cocktail. “But I’m glad you like it. I really am. Thank you for giving me another chance.”
“Yeah, well…” Spike’s tone took a downturn. “I hate to be the buzzkill, but I need to ask, what happens now? Are you going to submit your script to a studio? Because to be honest I don’t see this going over well.”
“A story about a fifty-year old mare having a loveless, emotionally unhealthy fling with a dragon, where she abandons her family to go fuck him on Hearth’s Warming day, only for them to realize they were using eachother and break up?” Rarity tilted her head to the side. “You don’t see that being a blockbuster hit?”
“I’m saying I think you’ll have trouble getting a director to take this.”
“Yeah,” Rarity agreed. “I think I would too. A lot of trouble.”
Silence hung between them for a long time. Rarity picked up her drink and chugged it.
“But luckily,” she said. “I’ve been in this game a bit longer than you. I have an Oscar. And royalties from a number of actual blockbuster hits.”
“So you think they’ll take it based on your name?”
“No,” Rarity said, looking Spike in the eye. “I think I’m stupid rich, and I’m just going to do it myself. I have the kind of money where I can bankroll my own movie. Hire a director, rent a studio. All that. And I’m doing it. I already told my agent. I’m making a movie.”
“And…” Spike shut the script, and stared back at her. “What? You need me to be the male lead? You need me to play Kiln?”
“Oh, Spike!” Rarity tittered. “I don’t need you. Dragon’s like you are a bit a dozen in this city. I can always find some big, overmuscled, strong-chinned young drake to play Kiln.” Her laugh faded, and she looked at him more seriously. “But it would mean a lot to me if you did play him. You were… very kind to me, at a moment I needed kindness.”
“I barely did anything. I got drinks with you and told you your script sucked.”
“You reminded me of something important,” Rarity said. She rose from their table, pulled out a cigarette, and with a hoof flicked back her elegantly coiffured mane. “I’m fabulous. Now come on. Let’s go.”