01x03 - The Battle of the Slaughtered Lamb

[bunniefuu]

WILLOW: Our true enemy

is still out there

- (GASPS)

- (THE LICH GROWLING)

and the only thing standing

in its path is Elora.

SORSHA: You are the bravest man

I've ever known.

But you're not a great sorcerer.

ELORA: Willow said I was Elora Danan.

The truth is, I'm not special.

I'm rather fond of this girl.

You need to bring her home.

BALLANTINE: If she's out there,

we'll find her.

PRUNELLA: Did you tell him?

Who she really is?

The child has revealed herself.

No rest till we find the girl.

MERRICK: What's gotten into you,

Commander?

(ROARING)

Told me the legend

of the Kymerian Cuirass.

Your father spent five years

searching the world for it.

I know 'cause I was with him.

I've done it, again and again,

and guess what?

Nothing's happening.

If you ever wanna see Airk again,

you have to focus!

She was Elora Danan once.

She isn't anymore.

Tuatha authrock mora hoatha!

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAPTIVATING MUSIC PLAYING)

BOORMAN: It was ten thousand years,

and about three weeks ago,

Thuul, heir to the Kymerian Empire,

had been sick as a child.

When his father d*ed,

his younger brother, Tiberius,

felt he'd make the stronger king.

For forty days,

Tiberius lay siege to the capitol,

starving his own people to force

his brother to abdicate his throne.

So, their mother, Annabel,

a fay of the Grove,

forged for her son, Thuul,

a cuirass of pure Khromium.

Then she assembled the Lux Arcana,

a magical key

that activated the enchanted armor,

so it would only serve he who

was worthy of its awesome power.

So, with no army at his back,

no knights by his side,

Thuul, the Rightful King of Kymeria,

rode out of the city gates

to meet his tyrant brother

and two thousand Death Dealers.

And he

This is really fascinating.

Uh, I can tell they don't call you

"Bore Man" for nothing,

but could you just

tell me about my father?

Well, I'm trying to. But you keep

Okay, well, can you make it short?

You know, your generation has, like,

zero attention span for for

epic tales.

I love tales, okay?

Well, excuse me for trying to add

a little bit drama and context

to the night that we left Tir Asleen

to find the Cuirass

and use it to defend the realm.

- From the Crone?

- (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

Crone,

Gales, the Wyrm,

everybody's got a scary name.

They all mean the same thing.

- It's the darkness that swallows

- JADE: Oi.

Where's Elora?

Seriously?

Throw a leash on that chit already.

Spread out. She couldn't have gone far.

(FOOTSTEPS THUMPING)

GRAYDON: Elora!

(CAPTIVATING MUSIC PLAYING)

Miss Muffin!

Aw, nuts. Really?

- (SIGHS)

- (SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

BALLANTINE: Hey, kid.

What are you doing?

Orders from the Queen.

I'm taking her back.

- Wait. Hold on.

- BALLANTINE: You know who she is?

- Then you know why I can't (GRUNTS)

- What What was that?

- What's wrong with you?

- Nothing.

You're not yourself. You need help.

- Willow can

- Don't

make me k*ll you.

WILLOW: Stop!

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

Commander Ballantine says

he's here on orders from Sorsha,

- to take Elora back to Tir Asleen.

- Hmm, is that so?

It's not up to the Queen

to decide anymore anyway.

It's up to Elora,

and it doesn't look like you asked her.

Ballantine.

Princess.

Hold on.

Someone just concisely recap

everything I missed. (PANTS)

No? Okay, I'll have a go.

Ballantine's lost his mind

and he's trying to

kidnap Elora on that horse.

Stay out of this, Boorman.

I can't.

Back in your scabbards, boys.

- I have to take her.

- Oh, I want you to.

I really do. But maybe we should

discuss this first.

He doesn't serve Tir Asleen anymore.

Do you, Commander?

I don't give a mule's soft wispy bits

who he serves.

She's with us,

and he's outnumbered five to one.

I don't know how much

I can contribute here, Silas.

- Four-and-a-half to one.

- Who said I'm alone?

(MERRICK GRUNTING)

- (GASPS)

- (MEN GRUNTING, YELLING)

- (JADE GRUNTS)

- (BALLANTINE YELLING)

- Free her!

- Me?

- Are you sure I'm qualified?

- Just do it!

Okay.

(GRUNTING)

SILAS: What are you doing?

A diversion. Help them. Shiv someone.

- What are you doing?

- I'm rescuing you.

- Was no one else available?

- Uh

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

(BALLANTINE YELLING)

- (SILAS GRUNTING)

- (BALLANTINE YELLS)

- Elora!

- (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

They got her.

- Can you track them?

- On it.

WILLOW: If we catch them by

sundown, we can get her back.

Ride on ahead.

- What happened to them?

- Infected.

- Poison?

- Possession.

One of the Gales must've touched

one of them with his staff.

- Ballantine. Pinned him down.

- Turned him.

Is the real Ballantine still in there?

Merrick?

- Can they still be saved?

- They're still in there, but

bad magic is corrosive, it eats away

- at you until there's nothing left.

- I'm sorry, Graydon.

When did you become High Aldwin?

Oh, no, that's right. You're not. I am.

All right, let's move out.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

SILAS: Damn it, Bessie,

you're faster than this.

GRAYDON: I blew it.

When there's an opportunity

to be heroic,

or (SCOFFS) even competent,

I I I freeze up.

My father calls me an embarrassment

to the name of Hastur.

And he's, he's right.

Nah. Well, tell him it wasn't

a particularly illustrious name

to start with.

SILAS: Why have they stopped?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

(THE CRONE SPEAKING PNAKOTIC)

GRAYDON: "The stars align,

the door is open.

"The sphere turns, a God is awoken.

"Extinguish the flame,

snuff out the light,

"and exile the child

to the Thirteenth Night."

Ah, so you speak cursed Pnakotic?

They're gonna k*ll her, aren't they?

No. If they k*lled her,

her spirit would endure, be reborn.

But if they banish her,

they can imprison her soul

for all eternity.

It's what Bavmorda was trying to do

when I stopped her.

The Crone knows we're following.

(CLEARS THROAT)

And, what exactly is in there?

WILLOW: A noxious twilight veil.

A swirling vortex of rage and

madness there's no escape from.

Come on, there's not a moment to lose.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

(PANTS, GRUNTS)

(PANTING, SIGHS)

- (SOLDIERS YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

- (PANTING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

- I think it's broken.

- I can mend it.

Then, you guys just lift up the wagon

- and I'll slip it back on.

- (GRAYDON WHIMPERS)

- Seriously?

- Yeah.

You can't just, uh,

levitate it or something?

No No.

Okay. It's really good having a sorcerer

on this quest.

We should ride ahead.

If we let her, the Crone will use

this storm to separate and weaken us.

We have to stay together.

KIT: I'm gonna go get water.

Let's lift up a wagon.

JADE: Whatever it is, just say it.

(SCOFFS) We're not gonna catch

up to them.

And even if we do, what happens then?

They're turning into monsters.

Look, I'm sorry, but if there's a chance

that we have to k*ll them, we

We can't hesitate.

I didn't hesitate.

I was trying to save you.

I don't need saving, Jade.

I can take care of myself, okay?

No, you can't. You can't, Kit.

- Every time we spar, I b*at you.

- I (SIGHS)

What?

You're saying

You let me win? (CHUCKLES SOFTLY)

- Why would you do that?

- Because, Kit, your mother

- (SIGHS)

- She ordered you to be my friend?

No. She just asked me to train with you.

But only in the beginning,

then I did it 'cause I I liked it.

I never thought that you would be

fighting for your life.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Kit, wait.

No, it's okay. I

I'm just glad you told me.

- (GRUNTS)

- (ALL GROANING)

Nice work. Can we go?

Yeah, right after my heart

explodes, I should be good to go.

- Think I pulled my groin.

- Don't say "groin" in mixed company.

What you all lyin' around for?

We need to be moving.

(PANTING)

(BIRDS COOING)

(DISTANT ANIMAL NOISES)

(YELPS)

- (WOMAN LAUGHS)

- You're not wrong there.

(WOMAN LAUGHS)

- (PANTING)

- Oh.

Greetings, weary traveler.

Yes, you. Come.

Feast upon our modest repast.

Though we are but humble

woodswomen, what's ours is yours.

- Help me, please.

- Oh.

Gather from your dishevelment

and woeful aspect,

you've gotten yourself

a bit turned around out here

in the uncultivated territories.

Listen, we don't have much time.

See, they just don't teach young people

situational awareness anymore.

Do you not agree, Anne?

Oh. This is Anne, by the way. I'm

Hubert.

And what may we ask is your appellation?

- My what?

- What's your name, love?

- Elora.

- Ah.

No doubt named in deference

to the True Empress.

(EXHALES SHARPLY)

That is a lot of pressure

to heap on a youngin, if you ask me.

- Though, I have not been so blessed

- I Ugh.

- Thus would not speculate about the pride

- Oh, my

that one must feel when you see

the fruit of your loins

- Hubert, please.

- magic itself into the world.

- Please. Just shut up.

- Yeah. Got it.

- There are men coming for me.

- Oh.

We do not doubt that.

You do have a pleasing aspect

and fine complexion

No, wicked men, and they're on

their way here right now.

And when they get here,

they're gonna take me and

I don't know what they're gonna

do to you,

but it won't be pleasant.

So let's get moving, huh? Please.

Come on.

Right. Do you know what? You see this?

Call him Roargoth,

after my dear departed pa

who watched over all us youngins.

So if any wicked men think they're gonna

come here and disturb our repast,

(CHUCKLING) they're won't be so wicked

when me and Anne are finished with 'em,

if ya get my meanin'.

You don't understand. I know

these men, or I used to.

And they're not themselves. They're

They're changed or something.

(INHALES SHARPLY)

Right. You need to calm yourself.

Start from the beginning.

Come on, give her a mushroom.

No, not that one. That's my one.

Put it back.

(SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

(THUNDERCLAP)

BOORMAN: Yeah, it's definitely left.

- No, no doubt about it.

- Left?

Left will take us through Pitiless Pass.

The wagon won't make it.

It will. That's fine craftsmanship.

And Pitiless Pass, I mean, while I'll

admit is an unfortunate name,

it's actually a perfectly lovely,

nice pass.

Which goes by, might I add,

a cozy little inn called

The Slaughtered Lamb.

Kind of a home away from home

for me and my old partner.

It's got everything you could want,

you know, in an inn.

SILAS: No. What about the other way?

Through Capella Pastures

into Voluptuous Vale.

I mean, that does sound nicer.

- Yeah, it also takes longer.

- No, it doesn't.

- Does too.

- No, it doesn't.

It does too!

- No, it doesn't. I will cut you.

- Hey!

In case you hadn't noticed,

a portal between dimensions is opening.

And when they reach it,

Elora will be lost.

- (SCREAMING)

- (GASPS)

- (GROANS)

- What? What's wrong?

- I'm fine.

- You okay?

- He's fine.

- (EXHALES)

We split up. Cover more ground.

You guys take the safe, long route

and I'll head up to The

Slaughtered Lamb.

See if I can't find

the kind of help we really need.

You and Graydon go with them

through the Capella Pastures,

I'll go with Boorman through the pass.

We'll meet up at that Vale of Boobs

or whatever.

I think I should stay with you.

I think I can take care of myself.

Hey, Boorman, don't let anything happen

to my queen.

Okay, then. I'd rather die

a thousand deaths than fail you.

Good luck.

ELORA: (SIGHS) So, like,

I don't know if I am, or not.

Willow thinks I am,

but the princess definitely doesn't.

It's like she hates me.

I don't know why,

but no matter what I do or say,

she just always takes

the opposite position.

Do you know how exhausting that gets?

- May we see it?

- What?

The mark.

(ENCHANTING MUSIC PLAYING)

(HUBERT GASPS)

- It's really you, innit?

- Do you think?

(BREATHES HEAVILY)

I think we've tarried too long.

We must depart this spooky

forest at once.

Oh. Thank you.

Uh, find a fortress, stronghold.

Somewhere to keep you safe.

Oh, no. I'm going to the

Immemorial City,

to rescue Airk from the Crone.

Right, while we are unfamiliar

with that place or individual,

- we answer the call.

- The call?

When the True Empress,

that being you, returns,

she is to gather a great host

at her back

and lead them against

the forces of darkness.

Anne and I would like to enlist.

We will fight at your side

and faithfully serve you

from now until our last.

- (SIGHS)

- (EXHALES)

Well, I'm not entirely sure

that that's necessary.

Oh, whoa.

You are more than raw celestial power

and gorgeous skin.

You are a symbol of hope,

that no matter your creed,

nor size, nor disposition,

we all share the same world,

breathe the same air,

drink the same water.

And we are obligated to protect it

and, if need be, die for it.

- Couldn't have said it better myself.

- (ELORA GASPS)

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

Trust me, ma'am, you do not

wanna go down that road.

Oh, you are right there, sir.

v*olence is never our preferred path.

Though I suspect your intentions

toward the young lady

are less than honorable,

maybe even downright dastardly.

We all want the same thing.

I doubt that very much.

You are not a well man.

I've never felt better in my life.

I'm about to be rewarded.

The only thing you're about to be

is chopped to bits.

(BALLANTINE GRUNTS)

(BALLANTINE GROANING)

- (HUBERT GRUNTS)

- No!

- (BALLANTINE BREATHING HEAVILY)

- (HUBERT GROANS)

Come on, quick. We gotta go. Come on.

Come on.

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(ELORA GRUNTS)

ELORA: Come on. We have to keep moving.

Come on. Look, we're almost out.

(GRUNTS)

(ANNE WHIMPERING)

Please, just let her go.

Please, I'll come with you,

just don't hurt her.

(PANTING, GASPS)

- (HORSE WHINNIES)

- (THUNDER RUMBLING)

You're responsible.

Your arrogance and defiance

got them k*lled.

Countless more will die.

But you can still save them.

All you have to do is submit.

BOORMAN: Come on.

- (HORSE WHINNIES)

- You are embarrassing me.

- Keep going.

- Oh, yeah, I'm trying. I just think

- maybe his enthusiasm has waned.

- The Cuirass.

BOORMAN: Ah. Well. After Thuul impaled

his little brother on a spike

- The part about my father.

- (BOORMAN GRUNTS)

I was the young, handsome, heroic one.

He was my, uh,

- slightly shorter comedic foil.

- And where'd you go?

Why did you come back and he didn't?

There's no such thing as fate.

Okay, you get lucky or you get dead.

- I got lucky.

- So, you actually saw him?

No. But I know what I know.

How?

'Cause if he were alive,

if he'd come back,

things would be different.

You know, the Cuirass isn't a w*apon.

It's a shield.

Against what?

Darkness.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

- (GRAYDON AND JADE GRUNTING)

- JADE: This wagon sucks.

Oh, I hate it. (GRUNTING)

You'd think that Willow would

contribute a bit more,

being the world's

last great sorcerer and all.

(GRAYDON GRUNTS, SIGHS)

What?

Maybe there's a reason

he moved the Nelwyn underground.

Maybe he can't protect them anymore.

(SIGHS) Is that even possible?

Can a sorcerer lose his mojo?

- SILAS: Come on.

- (BOTH GRUNTING)

Stop! Stop! The harness, it's

gonna break.

- Seriously?

- It's old.

So are we.

Remember working on McKraken's farm?

Plowing the fields

from sun up to sun down?

Still had enough energy

to dance with Kiaya till dawn.

- SILAS: Uh-huh, yeah.

- (SIGHS)

I just wish I'd known then

what I know now.

How precious it all is. (GRUNTS)

Maybe if I had I'd

SILAS: Boo-hoo.

You're breaking my heart over here.

(SILAS SIGHS)

You know what you've got to do.

What are you waiting for?

When I was young, resilient,

I could take the punishment.

But now I have to be careful,

- preserve my strength for

- For what?

For when it gets worse.

How could it possibly get any worse?

It can and it will. Trust me.

And I can't let my emotions

impel me to waste my magic.

If I do, I won't have enough

left to fight when we get to

(EERIE WHISPERING)

(THUNDERCLAP)

- Hey, I know where they're going.

- (DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING)

KIT: It's a graveyard.

Hey, what can I say?

I'm as disappointed as you are.

What happened to The Slaughtered Lamb?

Must have gone out of business?

(SCOFFS) Has anything you

said been true?

How dare you?

At least one-third of everything

I've said has been true.

I'm such an idiot.

No, you're not.

You're just You're very young.

- I'm going back.

- No, no, no. Wait, wait.

Maybe I can catch up with Jade

Okay, the guy who owned this place

was a close friend of your father's.

Okay, we trusted him.

And he's the only person we told

the secret of the Cuirass to

because we knew

he'd take that secret to his grave.

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

KIT: It's down there?

There's only one way

to find out, Princess.

(SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING)

- (KIT SIGHS)

- (HISSING)

Over here.

Yeah. I'm not going down there.

Of course not. (SCOFFS)

I need you to stay here and pull me up.

Look out for the wererats.

- What?

- BOORMAN: See ya.

Uh, what are wererats?

BOORMAN: Um, exactly what

they sound like.

(OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

(HORSE WHINNIES)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

MERRICK: A trap?

Why would they leave

their horses out in the open?

MERRICK: I don't know, why?

- They wouldn't be.

- KEENE: Huh?

It doesn't matter.

Up that path, across the plateau,

and through the gates.

We are awaited, my brothers.

- We are going home.

- ELORA: (SCOFFS) You're not "going home."

You're gonna die.

Look at yourselves, you're a mess.

(SCOFFS) You're not meant to

survive this,

and somewhere deep inside

that rotting shell, you know it.

(ELORA GRUNTS)

- What?

- (BREATHES DEEPLY) I changed my mind.

I decline.

- You are going up that path.

- Make me.

(KEENE GROWLS) (SCREAMING IN PAIN)

- How did you?

- (CHUCKLES)

I'm magic, you stupid cankers!

I'm the greatest sorceress there

ever was!

You are no match

for the will of the Crone.

Oh, yes, I am. I am Elora Danan,

and I will do a spell that will,

that will summon the forces

of good to my aid!

Kick all your asses!

Okay. Show us.

Tuatha athrock mora hoatha

Tuatha athrock mora hoatha!

(CHUCKLES)

(BALLANTINE, MERRICK AND KEENE LAUGHING)

- (THUDS)

- (GRUNTS)

Stay away from her, silly ninnies.

Solid insult.

That ought to put them in their place.

(SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING)

Please, let me help you.

I've seen the future, Jade.

Looked into the void.

The Eternal One will cleanse this world

of all disease and pain.

We shall be free.

(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

(GROWLS)

(GROWLING)

KIT: Ugh!

- Did you find it yet?

- BOORMAN: No, not yet.

KIT: (MUFFLED)

Then it's probably not down there.

Boorman!

Hello? (ECHOES)

You gotta come back to reality, Boorman.

- This is indestructible magic armor.

- (BLOWS)

I can't believe I let you sucker me

into something so ridiculous.

BOORMAN: As what, Elora Danan?

No, no, no, I'm with you.

You know,

if she could actually do anything,

then I'd say maybe

you were being too tough on her,

- maybe even punishing her

- (CHITTERING)

for your dad leaving.

But she couldn't even

do the simplest spell.

And you're supposed to, what?

Just have faith in her. Uh

- that she's gonna save Airk?

- Boorman?

(CHITTERING)

You know what?

I don't think it's down here.

Just, uh, pull me up, yeah? (SIGHS)

KIT: I would, but I think

there is this

(CHITTERING)

thing that is looking at me

in a not-friendly way.

- BOORMAN: Is it a wererat?

- I'm gonna say yes.

- Okay, in that case, don't pull me up.

- (WERERATS CHITTERING)

(SCREECHING)

- (WERERAT SNARLING)

- (KIT GRUNTS)

(SQUEALING)

(GRUNTS)

(CHUCKLES, PANTING)

(CHITTERING)

- Boorman.

- BOORMAN: Yeah?

KIT: I'm gonna need you to come up now.

(JADE GRUNTS)

- (BALLANTINE ROARS)

- (JADE GRUNTS)

(SILAS GRUNTING)

- Come on then! Come on!

- (WERERATS SCREECHING)

We have to find another way out.

It's a little bit disorientating because

- some of these tunnels go on for a ways.

- So no Cuirass?

Uh, let's try to break through

one of the burial mounds.

If I get bit,

yours is the first flesh I'm tasting!

(KEENE GRUNTING)

- (ELORA YELLS)

- GRAYDON: Get off!

- Come on.

- I'm staying. I'm fighting.

No! I'm the reason you got taken

in the first place.

I won't let that happen again.

No! I won't let anyone else die

because of me.

(BOTH GRUNTING)

(BALLANTINE ROARING)

(JADE YELPS)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

- Oi, he was mine!

- Come on.

(KIT GRUNTING)

(BOORMAN GRUNTING)

This isn't a fight we can win.

Then do something! Do magic!

We need to get everyone in the wagon.

I packed a jar of sermillian wax.

You what! You know how

dangerous that is?

It's fine. Relax. I know what I'm doing.

There should be enough to repel them.

If we can just get everyone to stop

- fighting and get back in the wagon

- (expl*si*n)

On second thought, keep fighting!

(INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTING)

(BONE CRACKING)

(KEENE GRUNTING)

(GRAYDON YELLING)

- (GROANING)

- (SILAS YELLING)

(KEENE GROWLING)

(SILAS GRUNTS)

GRAYDON: No!

- Silas!

- (SOLEMN MUSIC PLAYING)

(GRUNTING)

Avagdu!

(KEENE, MERRICK AND BALLANTINE YELLING)

(GRUNTS)

(BREATHING HEAVILY)

- (YELLING)

- (SHUDDERS)

(GROANS)

(PANTING)

(WILLOW COUGHS)

WILLOW: Silas?

Silas.

- I can fix you.

- (BREATHING HEAVILY)

WILLOW: I can heal you.

Don't waste your magic.

- There is something you could do.

- (SILAS SHUDDERS, GRUNTS)

Give this to Libby.

Tell her that I wasn't scared

because I've had a great life

and that I d*ed doin'

what I was supposed to,

protecting my best friend.

- (SILAS EXHALES DEEPLY)

- I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

(BALLANTINE BREATHING HEAVILY)

You did good, kid.

(JADE SOBS)

(GRUNTS SOFTLY)

Listen to me.

Every road you've ever walked

has led you here, to this moment.

You have to protect them.

If you don't, Tir Asleen, Galladoorn,

the world will fall

to the will of the Crone.

But she fears Elora Danan.

- (SOBS)

- Elora must reach

the Immemorial City, Jade.

(GRUNTS)

- (INHALES SHARPLY) Do it.

- (SOBBING) I can't. No

BALLANTINE: It has to be you.

I'm so proud of you, Jade.

Training you, raising you,

the best thing I ever did.

- (JADE CRYING)

- (SHUDDERS, GRUNTS)

- Now please, release me.

- (SNIFFLES)

(JADE YELLS)

- (JADE SOBBING)

- (SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING)

Are you okay?

Horses are gone. They ran off.

And I think they had the right idea.

The Pitiless Pass is about to become

the Pitiless Lake.

I don't think we can

get out the way we came in.

- There's another way.

- KIT: Those steps?

- No. We can't go that way.

- Why not?

Okay, well, now you can do magic,

you wanna fly us out of here?

No? Well, then I'm going up

the big, scary steps.

- (OMINOUS MUSIC PLAYING)

- (SIGHS)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

- ELORA: Are you okay?

- Uh. Just need a rest.

Then we resume your training.

You've still a long way to go.

- Maybe if I had the wand

- (GRAYDON GROANING)

Wait! Graydon's hurt!

Bad magic.

We have to get him to shelter!

Something!

Yeah? And what do you suggest, huh?

We're right in the middle of

I don't even know

where in the middle of!

- I do.

- (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)

Nockmaar.

(ROCK MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING)