Battle Before Dawn/Script

Chapter Narration
''Two assassins in the employ of the Black Fang move in. They've been set loose in the palace to murder the crown prince, Zephiel. Eliwood hurries to prevent them from fulfilling their contract.''

Opening Scene
(Scene opens with Nino and Jaffar outside Zephiel's room) (Nino and Jaffar stop just outside the door) (Scene transition to Zephiel inside the room) (Scene transition to Jaffar appearing behind Zephiel inside the room) (Zephiel collapses) (Nino and Jaffar leave the room) (Nino and Jaffar move farther away) (Ursula and enemies approach) (The enemies scatter and Jaffar and Nino run to the other side of the map) (Jaffar leaves)
 * Nino: The prince's room... Is that the door?
 * Jaffar: ......
 * Nino: General Murdock, the prince's bodyguard, should be away. The king concocted some errand to call him from Zephiel's side... There are no guards around. This is an...easy job, isn't it? I... I can do this! This is my first mission, you know? I guess I'm a little nervous, but... I mustn't fail. Mustn't let Mother down.
 * Jaffar: ......
 * Nino: Are you ready, Jaffar?
 * Jaffar: I've...no desire to be a part of your blundering... If you fail, I will, without hesitation, finish the target and then you.
 * Nino: What!?
 * Jaffar: Do not be so naive as to expect help from "friends." ...Remember that.
 * Nino: I...I knew that. Don't have to tell me... I'm a member of the Black Fang, after all. Ha ha...
 * Jaffar: ......
 * Nino: ...I won't fail. I will become worthy... I will. Mother will be proud of me. She will see the daughter I've become, and she will love me.
 * Nino: ...There are no guards. It's just like we were told, but...something's strange.
 * Jaffar: ......
 * Nino: Listen! A voice! Someone's talking in the room!
 * Jaffar: No... Someone's praying.
 * Nino: You're right... It's the prince, isn't it? I wonder what he's praying for.
 * Zephiel: I offer this prayer unto thee: My coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow. As the prince of Bern, I've tried... I've tried my best not to be an embarrassment to my father. I know I've not met with his expectations. But I will try harder. I will please him. I vow to do better. For him.
 * Nino: ......
 * Zephiel: ......Hear me: Tomorrow, I will be a man... So this is my last wish as a foolish child. It's the same one I've asked of you every night for all these years, but... Please, bring Father and Mother together again. Please, let the day come when Guinivere and I and her mother... When all of us can live together happily in the castle.
 * Nino: ......
 * Jaffar: It's time...
 * Nino: Oh! Jaffar...
 * Jaffar: ...
 * Zephiel: What!? Villain... ...
 * Jaffar: That will leave him unconscious for some time. Now, the time has come for you to do your part...
 * Nino: ......
 * Jaffar: ...Do it.
 * Nino: ...O-OK.
 * Jaffar: ......
 * Nino: I...cannot.
 * Jaffar: What!? What did you say?
 * Nino: Listen to him... All he wants is his parents' love... To be accepted... That's all...... He's just like me. No matter how I try, Mother always looks at me as if I were nothing. Her eyes are so filled with disappointment. She's never held me... not even once.......
 * Jaffar: Stop this foolishness! I told you! I will not permit you to ruin my opportunity!
 * Nino: I know... Do as you must, Jaffar. I won't resist. You can do it easily. But...please don't hurt the prince. ...For pity's sake...
 * Jaffar: !!
 * Nino: ...I'm ready to die.
 * Jaffar: ...... ...Come.
 * Nino: What?
 * Jaffar: We're leaving. Hurry.
 * Nino: Jaffar?
 * Jaffar: ...This is it. Come here.
 * Nino: Bu-But if you do this... Jaffar, you'll...
 * Jaffar: Don't worry about me. Hurry up. ...No!
 * Ursula: Hello, Jaffar. Finished already? Such magnificent skill. Is this why they call you the Angel of Death? Sonia told me that you were behaving oddly, but... It appears her fears were groundless.
 * Nino: I'm sorry! It's not Jaffar's fault! It was me! The prince... I couldn't...
 * Jaffar: Nino!
 * Ursula: What's all this? Why is the girl still alive?
 * Nino: What?
 * Jaffar: ......
 * Ursula: You received Lady Sonia's orders, did you not? You were to dispose of the worthless little--
 * Nino: No!!
 * Jaffar: Hold your tongue. You will not speak another word.
 * Ursula: ......So that's how it is? Jaffar, do you plan on betraying Lord Nergal?
 * Jaffar: I will not let Nino die. Get in my way, and I'll kill you.
 * Nino: Jaffar!
 * Ursula: Ha ha... So you have some human emotion in you after all. You always seemed just like those creepy morphs. I bet you didn't kill the prince, either. ......Maxime!
 * Maxime: Yes! I'm here!
 * Ursula: Take your men and put out all of the lights. Block all the entrances. Your targets are Prince Zephiel and two traitors. Finish this before we draw attention to ourselves. Go!!!
 * Jaffar: Go now... I will buy you time.
 * Nino: N-No! You must come, too, Jaffar!
 * Jaffar: Nino... You must live. You are worthy of living.
 * Nino: No! Wait! Don't go! Jaffar!!

(Scene transition to the lords approaching on the map)
 * Eliwood: This is the royal manse.
 * Lyn: The lights have been doused. That's the sound of fighting. What's going on?
 * Hector: I don't know, but if they're still fighting, we might not be too late!
 * Hector: Let's hurry, Eliwood!
 * Eliwood: We have to get inside! We have to protect the prince!!