Script #1

EXT. HIGH ABOVE A FOREST, DAY

An extreme long shot of a vast landscape. The bottom of the frame is covered by a layer of swirling mist and clouds. Occasionally jutting out through this layer here and there are large mountain peaks, some lush with greenery, others snow-capped. Amidst this majestic view, we see Garuda the giant eagle as a small form traversing the length of the screen.

Cut in to an extreme close-up of an elephant and a turtle grasped tightly by a huge pair of claws. We hear the rhythmic and heavy flapping of gigantic wings. Also audible is the constant drone of wind blowing.

Cut to an extreme close-up of Garuda's face. His eyes fill the frame as they narrow down in contemplation.

    GARUDA [V.O]

    “Who can these Vālakhilyas be?"

      (A short pause)

    “No sooner does one thing seem to get clearer than another, bigger thing turns up that’s completely obscure.”

Now, we see an unusual image... An extreme long shot of a colossal tree with long, expansive branches piercing through the layer of clouds.  From the left side of the frame, Garuda is flying by the tree. This tree is to the eagle what a banyan tree would be to a honeybee. As he whooshes by, one of his wings skims the tree. Suddenly, the contour of a face is formed on the trunk of the tree. The tree is called Rauhina. 

CUT TO A CLOSE-UP OF RAUHINA'S RUGGED COUNTENANCE.

   RAUHINA 

By all means, rest on a branch and eat.

We see an extreme close-up shot of Garuda's surprised face turn around and look. He then starts hovering in circles just above the tree.

Cut to a close-up of Garuda's eyes.

RAUHINA 

Before you were born you sat here on me, along with a companion of yours, exactly like     yourself.

Dissolve to a close-up of Rauhina's face.

RAUHINA

 Perched on opposite branches, at the  same height, you never left each  other. You were already eating my  fruit back then.

Cut to a top shot of a desert terrain. As Rauhina speaks, we see rocks and slithering snakes embedded within a sea of sand. 

RAUHINA

And your companion watched you, though he didn't eat. You couldn't fly about the world then, because I was the world.

Gradually dissolve back to a close-up of Garuda's eyes. The whistling of the wind slowly subsides and is replaced by the much quieter sound of chirping birds and insects. Then cut to a long shot of Garuda already settled on one of the enormous branches of the tree, with the elephant and the turtle lying by his side. He looks around curiously, unable to remember this strange environment.

Cut to a low angle shot, with the elephant and the turtle lying unconscious on their backs in the foreground, and Garuda's massive face in the background. The focus is on his face. He now turns his head towards his prey. His eyes narrow and dart across his victims' bodies as he tries to find the right spot to sink his beak into. 

Suddenly, the frame starts shaking. We cut back to a long shot of Garuda on the branch and his prey lying beside him. There is a thunderous roar as the branch snaps and gives way, falling out of the frame along with its passengers.