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Its 1940 when a young girl and boy accidently embark on a train below London, finding themselves in a strange world inhabited by talking animals and train pirates. They must travel into the heart of a growing darkness to return home.

Not long after the Great War, Bottomside city has become a battle ground of political struggle. Concerns of a grow-ing dark power become more complicated when two humans arrive at the Grand Central Station.

During an air raid over London, BLANCHE finds herself in an abandoned train station below London Library. There she meets a young Polish boy, HENRYK, and his peculiar talking RAT, who are lost. Blanche and Henryk accidently embark on a rollercoaster train ride which takes them to another world. The children arrive in the city of Bottomside where they are met with deeply frightened animal civilians. Henryk has been to this world before, and knows better than to think they are safe in the big city. Bottomside has only just recovered from the Great War between animals

SynopsisDuring an air raid over London, BLANCHE finds herself in an abandoned train station below London Library. There she meets a young Polish boy, HENRYK, and his peculiar talking RAT, who are lost. Blanche and Henryk accidently embark on a rollercoaster train ride which takes them to another world. The children arrive in the city of Bottomside where they are met with deeply frightened animal civilians. Henryk has been to this world before, and knows better than to think they are safe in the big city. Bottomside has only just recovered from the Great War between animals

and humans. Resulting from the war, humans have been banished from the city. Now, political tensions are high and the arrival of human children plays right into the hands of those vying for power.To get home the children must travel to a doorway that is linked to Henryk’s Polish hometown. Under the protection of the Badgers and Lions they embark on a military train towards the doorway and the heart of the growing darkness. They encounter all kinds of obstacles including betrayal, train pirates, tribal bats, rickety train tracks and a dark energy that intensifies as they

near their destination. Along the way they make great friends; Bastion the lawyer owl, Farpaw the badger, an ancient man who makes fireworks and a devil-may-care train pirate. With fortune comes mishap, as the children must also tackle great foes. Lord Ironglow the Leader of Lions, Dun’gaar O’lek the Pirate King and Raoul the vampire bat stand in their way of returning home. Henryk and Blanche must learn to trust each other in a time when no one can be trusted.

The war is not only at Blanches doorstep but litterally inside her home. Her fathers pigeon messaging business has been overturned into a

London city defense headquarters. With her mother only recently passed away and her father increasingly busy with the war effort, Blanche finds herself wagging school more frequently. Prefering the dark corners of the London Library or the excitement of a fist fight with a neighborhood rat bag. When thrust into the dangers of real adventure, with real costs to consider, Blanche must learn to face responsibility not only to herself but to others.

Blanche

Bastion

Characters

Bastion is what they call a door owl. Travelling gypsy owls that moved into the big city after the great war. Door owls were given their nickname because they

litterally inhabit doorways. Once your home or business had a door owl it was hard to get rid of it. They stand outside all day peddling their wares, or greeting customers and demanding compensation for their time. Bastion was different from his fellow nuisances. Holding a degree in law he envisioned freeing not only his kind from persecution but all minorities, even humans. Bastion has a big heart and an even larger brain but lacks the courage and conviction to be the owl he wants to be. Bastion will need to learn to be courageous even if his brain is telling him otherwise.

The Rat

Rat is the kind of animal you wouldn’t think has a lot going on in his head, and you would be right. He is far more concerned about finding

valuable trinkets and keeping the flame upon his head lit. No one is really sure why rat has a candle on his head, in fact, rat isn’t really sure either. His lack of thought aside he is incredibly brave. Rat is the kind of furred creature that would take on ten lions and a irate badger without a second thought. As often as rat exhibits remarkable bravery so does he exhibit dangerously explosive recklessness. Rat must learn that sometimes you have to think, even if just a little before taking daring action.

HenrykHenryk is a loner. Which isn’t entirely his fault as his home village has been

fenced off, him family seperated and his only friend a muttering rat with a candle on its head. Things inside the slum are not condusive to good health or fortune with more and more people dissapearing each day. A secret doorway that leads to another world is his only escape. Henryk has been visiting bottomside for quite some time, stealing trinkets to sell back home in an attempt to get enough money to buy his freedom and find his family. Henryk is not a trusting person, especially of foreigners. He must learn to trust those around him if he is ever to escape not only bottomside but the dangers of his home.

Characters

Her attention is drawn back to the door. In the centre of the crest is a Toad with its mouth open. Blanche sceptically goes to put

the ticket in the Toad’s mouth, when its golden tongue lashes out, grabbing the ticket and swallowing it. The Toad spits out a ticket which reads “Return”, but Blanche is already gone.

The Discovery

The track flies over the walls and joins the city circle, a collection of tracks for the commuting populace. Black smoke billows out

of chimneys and large cog wheels turn to power factories. The city feels like it is in the midst of a technological and industrial revolution.

The Plunge

An industrialized dock hosting some of the biggest in locomotives. The Kronaura is more akin to a moving battle station than a

mode of transport. Its giant steam funnels and monolithic shell are built for raw power. From its sides protrude hundreds of cannons making it a menacing sight. Underneath the main deck is enough space to move an army or in this case two armies of Lions and Badgers.

The Action

Blanche, Henryk, Rat and Bastion creep around boxes until they come across an ancient looking man, the FIREWORKS

MAN. He leans precariously over the top of the furnace, two stories up, on a rickety wooden ladder. His beard nearly touches his feet and his extravagant rainbow cloak, adds to his peculiar presence. A moustache, that clearly stems from never trimmed nostrils, rolls into curled tips that touch the brim of his old, military hat.

The Magic

Located on the coast line of the Out Fields, the Crossroads is made up of shelled out trains stacked and smashed together

to create buildings. Wooden, rickety tracks jet off in all directions. Cobbled streets echo to the sounds of market bazaars. The docks host hundreds of makeshift pirate trains and stolen commercial shippers. On board, Crews watch other Crews, as if sparks could fly at any moment. The Children are escorted to a building made of wood and metal, shaped like a scary, angler fish.

The Spectacle

The Sky Piercer slows as it navigates the red-crystalcovered landscape.Blanche holds her hand out, the breeze carries red

dust which fractures light in her hand. Henryk covers his mouth with his shirt and places his goggles over his eyes. The air is polluted. Rounding a corner, the Iron Fortress is revealed. It glows red. Down its sides cascade molten lava from the forges inside.

The Mystery

ContactTimothy Wood - Writer

0459700719

timwood@quickshoot.com.au

Any enquiries regarding the Skyrtrain script, concept or related material can be forwarded to any of individuals below.

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