SEASON OF THE WITCH SCRIPT
In 13th century Villach ( is the seventh-largest city in Austria and the second-largest in
the federal state of Carinthia.), three women are accused by a priest of witchcraft
("witchcraft" means the use of magic or supernatural powers to inflict harm or
misfortune on others, and this remains the most common and widespread meaning.),
and are first hanged before being drowned. The priest performs a ritual on the three
women using a book inscribed from the Key of Solomon so they can never return to life,
but one of the women takes on a demonic appearance, sets the book on fire, and hangs
the priest.
In the 14th century, German Teutonic Knights ( Its members have commonly been
known as the Teutonic Knights, having historically served as a crusading military order
for supporting Catholic rule in the Holy Land and the Northern Crusades during the
Middle Ages, as well as supplying military protection for Catholics in Eastern Europe.)
Sir Behmen von Bleibruck and Sir Felson join the Smyrniote crusades. After witnessing
a civilian massacre during the capture of Smyrna, the two abandon their order and
return to Austria.
Traveling through Styria, Behmen and Felson encounter people infected with the Black
Death (The Black Death was a bubonic plague pandemic that occurred in Europe from
1346 to 1353. It was one of the most fatal pandemics in human history; as many as 50
[2] [3]
million people perished, perhaps 50% of Europe's 14th century population. The
disease is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis and spread by fleas and through the
[4][5]
air. One of the most significant events in European history, the Black Death had
far-reaching population, economic, and cultural impacts. It was the beginning of the
[6]
second plague pandemic. The plague created religious, social and economic
upheavals, with profound effects on the course of European history.). Trying to conceal
their identities as deserters, Behmen's sword crest exposes their identities and they are
arrested. They're taken to Cardinal D'Ambroise (Cardinals are created by the pope and
typically hold the title for life.), who is near death from the plague. The Cardinal asks the
knights to escort an alleged witch who is suspected of causing the pestilence to a
remote monastery where monks can perform a sacred ritual to cancel her powers and
stop the plague. Behmen refuses, so D'Ambroise imprisons him and Felson, where they
meet the alleged witch, Anna.
Both knights agree under the condition that she be given a fair trial and the charges of
desertion against them be dropped. The Cardinal agrees, and they are accompanied by
the priest Debelzaq, the altar boy Kay von Wollenbart, Johann, the captain of the
Cardinal's Guard, and Hagamar, a well-traveled swindler (A charlatan (also called a
swindler or mountebank) is a person practicing quackery or a similar confidence trick
in order to obtain money, power, fame, or other advantages through pretense or
deception.) who will serve as their guide in return for his pardon. Anna shows hatred
towards Debelzaq while forming a connection with Behmen.
The group camps for the night, and when Johann decides to give up the mission and to
convince the others to do the same, Anna attacks him, grabs his key to her cage, and
escapes. The search for her leads the group to a mass grave, where Johann begins
having visions of his dead daughter calling to him until he accidentally impales himself
on Kay's drawn sword. When Anna is recaptured, she explains that she only ran away
for fear of Debelzaq. They cross an old, crumbling suspension bridge, where Anna
saves Kay from falling, grabbing him with unnatural strength. The group enters the dark
forest, where Hagamar attempts to kill Anna, only to be stopped by the others. Anna
appears to summon packs of wolves, which chase the group and kill Hagamar. An
enraged Behmen tries to kill her, but is stopped by Debelzaq and Felson, who point to
their destination on a nearby summit.
At the monastery, the men discover that all the monks have succumbed to the plague.
They locate the ancient Book of Solomon filled with the holy rituals used to defeat evil.
Debelzaq begins speaking the ritual used on witches, just as Anna, in a demonic voice,
begins recounting Behmen's horror at Crusader cruelties. Realizing that she is not a
witch, but has been possessed by a demon, he frantically performs an exorcism. The
demon possessing Anna melts the cage's metal and escapes while fighting off the
knights. When Debelzaq throws a container of holy water on it, the demon flies away.
As the men search for it, they realize it is not trying to escape, but to destroy the book
so that nothing can kill it. They find a room where the monks were making copies for
others to use. The demon destroys the copies and possesses the dead monks to use as
weapons. The three men fight the monks' possessed corpses, as Debelzaq continues
the exorcism ritual. The demon snaps Debelzaq's neck and incinerates Felson. As Kay
continues the ritual, weakening it, Behmen fights the demon and is mortally wounded.
Kay finishes the exorcism ritual and the demon is consumed by holy fire. Behmen asks
Kay to keep Anna safe just before he dies. After their fallen friends are buried, Anna
asks Kay to tell her about the men who saved her. They both leave the monastery, with
the Book of Solomon safely in Kay's possession.
