OPENING SCENE
[ PALACE BALCONY – SUNSET]
Aryan stands overlooking the city as temple bells ring. The flame atop the Temple of the Fallen Star glows bright in the distance. Behind him, voices murmur.
NARRATOR
The gods had accepted him. The people began to believe. But not all hearts welcomed a new prince.
SCENE 2: COURTLY WHISPERS
[MINISTERS' CHAMBER – NIGHT]
A shadowy room. Three ministers argue behind closed doors.
MINISTER 1
The boy is too bold.
MINISTER 2
He's meddling in grain routes, temple rites, military planning…
MINISTER 3 (whispers)
Raja Varundev would pay well for chaos.
They nod in silence.
SCENE 3: ARYAN'S GROWING CURIOSITY
[LIBRARY – LATE NIGHT]
Aryan pores over scrolls about Kaligarh's history. He finds a scroll with burn marks—a treaty with Raja Varundev, recently annulled.
RANI DEVIKA (appearing behind)
Not all wars are fought with blades.
(pause)
Some are fought with ink… and betrayal.
ARYAN
Who tore this treaty?
RANI DEVIKA
Ask the ministers who benefit from war.
SCENE 4: BHAIRAV'S WARNING
[PALACE ARMORY – DAY]
Bhairav shows Aryan a dagger with a curved blade—coated in a faint green.
BHAIRAV
Poison. Found in the kitchen.
ARYAN (alarmed)
Someone's trying to kill the king?
BHAIRAV
Someone inside these walls.
He locks eyes with Aryan.
BHAIRAV
You're not safe either, Rajkumar.
SCENE 5: THE ASSASSIN'S MOVE
[ PALACE HALLWAY – MIDNIGHT]
Aryan wakes to the sound of shuffling. Grabs a lantern and tiptoes out.
Suddenly—a masked figure lunges from the shadows with a blade.
ARYAN (shouts)
Guards!
Aryan ducks. Bhairav appears like thunder, sword flashing. The assassin flees into the night.
SCENE 6: THE PURSUIT
[EXT. CITY ROOFTOPS – NIGHT]
A high-speed chase across tiled roofs and narrow alleys. Aryan follows with Bhairav. The assassin leaps through a curtain of laundry—vanishes into the festival crowd.
BHAIRAV (growls)
They're from the inside. A traitor… or more.
FINAL MOMENT – THE HOOK
[DARK CHAMBER – UNKNOWN LOCATION]
The assassin kneels before a shadowed figure. We see only golden rings, a silk sleeve… and a whisper:
MYSTERIOUS VOICE
The boy is cleverer than expected. Next time… don't miss.
THE LAST PRINCE OF KALIGARH
Episode 5: "Whispers in the Court"
[TEASER – VOICEOVER FOR NEXT EPISODE]
"Next time: An underground city, a secret society… and the prince's first real choice."