FRANK HERBERT'S CHILDREN OF DUNE
Teleplay by John Harrison
based on the novels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune
FRANK
HERBERT'S CHILDREN OF DUNE
Teleplay
by John Harrison
based on the novels Dune Messiah and Children of Dune
(WARNING
SPOILERS AHEAD)
"When religion and politics ride in the same cart...
the whirlwind follows."
Twelve
years have passed since Paul "Muad'dib" Atreides became Emperor by
vanquishing Shaddam IV and assuming rule of the planet Arrakis
("Dune"), home of Spice, the most valuable commodity in the universe.
Since his ascension to the throne, his fervent followers have fought a brutal
jihad in his name that has spanned the known universe. Paul recognizes that the
revolution he inspired has become perverted, brutal and totalitarian. As ruler,
he longs to enact change, but he must contend with his own deification, as well
as the threats to his rule both internal and external.
Inside, the Priests, the bureaucrats and the fanatics of his theocracy will do
anything to protect their own power and privilege. Outside, a cunning alliance
of former enemies, including Princess Wensicia of the deposed House Corrino, the
Bene Gesserit sisterhood and the Spacing Guild conspire against him in the hopes
of regaining power.
Paul realizes the only way to rid the Empire of its corruption is for Maud'dib
the god to cease to exist. He has visions of a son who will return peace to the
universe by guiding man down the "Golden Path." During a failed
assassination attempt on his life, Paul is blinded. After his beloved concubine
Chani dies giving birth to twin heirs, Leto II and Ghanima, Paul wanders off
into the desert, perhaps never to be seen again.
In Paul's absence, his sister, Alia, rules as Regent in the name of the
children. Alia awoke to consciousness while still in the womb and suffers the
curse of all of those who are "pre-born"; the memories of her
ancestors float within her, waiting to be awakened. In an attempt to see the
future, she begins taking large quantities of spice. However, the spice awakens
memories and personalities within, including that of the evil Baron Harkonnen,
her maternal grandfather, who vies for control of her mind. As she slips further
into a possessed state, her only comfort comes from her husband, a clone of the
trusted Atreides warrior, Duncan Idaho.
Paul's twin children, Leto and Ghanima, are also "pre-born." They are
now 'of age' and Leto will soon take over the throne. Haunted by visions of a
far off place, Leto slowly sees that he is destined to play a role far greater
than Emperor.
Alia's increasingly erratic behavior and the resulting civil unrest on Arrakis
is the talk of the empire. Old enemies of the Atreides see their rule as
vulnerable. On planet Selusa Secundus, Princess Wensicia devises a plan to
assassinate the royal heirs.
As Leto's investiture approaches, Lady Jessica returns to Arrakis from the
Atreides home world, Caladan. Irrevocably strained relations between mother and
daughter are further worsened when Jessica realizes what is happening to Alia:
Abomination, defined by the Bene Gesserit as complete possession of a pre-born
by an ancestral spirit. Jessica fears her grandchildren will suffer the same
fate if left to Alia's care.
Meanwhile, a mysterious preacher blows into Arrakeen from the desert,
proclaiming that the blessings of Muad'dib have been corrupted. His words
provoke contempt among the masses. Civil war brews. Alia attempts to exploit
this atmosphere of civil unrest by ordering her mother's assassination. The
attempt fails. Meanwhile, the twins escape into the deep recesses of the desert,
only to meet with blood-thirsty tigers bred by Princess Wensicia.
Surviving the tiger attack, Leto is put to the test in the desert. There he must
silence the voices in his head if he is to guide humanity down the "Golden
Path" or suffer the same fate as his aunt.
To protect herself from Alia, Jessica flees Arrakis and is forced to form an
alliance with the Corrinos on Salusa Secundus. In exchange for sanctuary,
Jessica teaches Princess Wensicia's son, Farad'n, the Bene Gesserit ways. Soon
his commitment to his mother's conspiracy against the Atreides begins to wane. A
proposal is then made that would unite House Corrino and House Atreides through
the marriage of Ghanima and Farad'n. The hope is that this union will stabilize
the Empire.
Once on Arrakis, Farad'n quickly offers up his mother as his wedding gift to
Ghani. However, before they can say "I do", Leto emerges from the
desert to dethrone Alia and put an end to the growing civil war. Ultimately, the
fate of Arrakis - and humanity - is left with Leto. He has taken a path to
demystify his father. He must sacrifice his own physicality and freedom, in
order that mankind control its own destiny.