This is a short, dramatic screenplay created to showcase creating drama through dialogue

FADE IN:
EXT. THE ROYAL PALACE – DAY, SPRING
The Royal Palace stands alone in an ocean of green. Armor and weapons rattle.
The SPYMASTER
(V.O.)
The first law of power is to never outshine the master.
Int. A dark room
Two brothers, in armor, one shark eyed, the other soft.
The SPYMASTER
(v.o)
It is a painful lesson to learn.
The lights come on. The soft boy, the SPARE is jubilant, looking O.S.. The shark eyed youth, the HEIR, shoots the SPARE viciously, humiliating him.
The HEIR
I don't know why I even need to learn this shit!
The SPYMASTER enters, handsome, distinguished.
the SPYMASTER
You need to learn to defend yourself. Your bodyguards won't be with you every single moment of your life.
The HEIR
Bullshit.
The SPYMASTER
You won't always want them around.
They exchange looks.
The HEIR
Oh.
The SPYMASTER
Yeah.
The SPYMASTER notices the KING and his council waiting at the door.
Ext. cemetery – EVENING, FALL
The SPYMASTER is looking at a gravestone with a mother and child's faces engraved in it.
The SPYMASTER
(v.o)
A very painful lesson.
The SPARE, in a military officer's uniform, approaches.
The SPARE
Did you know?
The SPYMASTER
Know what?
The SPYMASTER turns. Time has been unkind, he's been burnt.
The SPARE
Did you know it was my brother?
The SPYMASTER
I couldn't prove it, no.
(beat)
He's gotten better.
The SPARE
And you did nothing?
The SPYMASTER
What was there to do, nephew? It was already done. You think I'd just let a good man die?
(beat)
The better question is why.
The SPARE
To cover up the payoffs.
The SPYMASTER
Payoffs? You think anyone cares about payoffs? It's pricey gossip.
The SPARE
Then why, Uncle? Why did my friend die?
The SPYMASTER turns to the grave, baiting a trap.
The SPYMASTER
Forget it, nephew. Don't get involved. See to your family.
The SPARE
Is that a threat?
The SPYMASTER
A warning. Your family is the only important thing.
The SPARE
My brother is a lot of things, but he wouldn't kill women and children.
The SPYMASTER
He's done it before.
The SPARE
Liar!
The SPYMASTER gestures to the grave. The SPARE recognizes the names.
The SPARE
(cont)
No...No. You're lying.
The SPYMASTER
Why would I lie? Who do you think has been keeping the family secrets?
The SPARE
Why are you still protecting them, if this is true? I knew you, back then, uncle. You wouldn't have let it stand.
The SPYMASTER
Because you all were my only family left. And they didn't know that I knew.
The SPARE
Why would my brother kill your family?
The SPYMASTER
Your father was trying to kill me.
The SPARE
He trusted you, relied on you and needed you. You help him run the kingdom.
The SPYMASTER
And I was content to just help him, help our family. Your father, though, is a very jealous man.
The SPARE
You're delusional.
The SPYMASTER
You remember your nanny? So young and pretty? Both of you boys were in love with her. So was your father.
(beat)
Her husband objected.
The SPARE
No.
the SPYMASTER
There was your tutor, a secretary. Anyone he couldn't buy off, he made sure they received an opportunity, far away. Or...
the SPARE
Why are you doing this, uncle? Why are you putting this nonsense in my head? You're speaking treason.
The SPYMASTER's pained smile sets the hook.
The SPYMASTER
You came to me. You wanted confirmation. I'm offering it to you. Ignore it, if you want.
(beat)
You should. Forget all of this as a just another tragedy in life.
The SPARE
I can't.
Ext. - the SPYMASTER's warren – night
A dilapidated mansion, partially burnt down. Only a single light on the first floor.
The SPARE gazes at the door to the Warren, then opens it.
Int. - the Parlor
The only room in the house that is occupied, the SPYMASTER is sitting at a desk, looking at a monitor as the SPARE enters.
The SPYMASTER
None of this will bring them back, you know, that? That hole in your heart won't go away.
The SPARE
I have to know what kind of men my father and brother are.
The SPYMASTER
I'm not showing you this to satisfy your curiosity. I know you, you're going to want to do something about it.
The SPARE
I'll be the judge of that.
The SPYMASTER lets the SPARE sit at the desk and directs him where to start.
The SPYMASTER
Chronologically, more or less.
The SPARE
Why would they keep you around, though, Uncle?
The SPYMASTER
They broke me, utterly. They were my only family left, how could I betray them? Now it's just you and yours.
The SPARE
Why were you content to let this...shit keep happening? Why now, why all of a sudden must we do something about it?
The SPYMASTER
Hubris. I thought I was managing them, all I was doing was helping them...
(pause)
Your father and I don't have much time left. We'll both be dead within a year.
The SPARE
What?
The SPYMASTER
Turns out they did kill me all those years ago. Your father's indulgences have finally caught up to him.
The SPARE
Uncle...
the SPYMASTER
I don't deserve that look. The person you're mourning is already gone. All that matters now is saving our family's legacy.
The SPARE
Uncle, we can take this, all of this, right now to the courts or the press.
The SPYMASTER
And what will they do with it? Try to bring charges against them. Your father will be dead and your brother firmly in power by then. He won't let that happen.
The SPARE
The press. We'll expose this, we'll force them to abdicate. My father, my brother, we'll figure something out.
The SPYMASTER
There will be riots in the streets. Nevermind what will happen to us. Our dream and countless innocent people will die violently. You've never fought a civil war, nephew. They're worse than anything.
The SPARE
Then how? Uncle, I don't know what to do. This isn't what I'm good at it. I'm a goddamn logistician.
The SPYMASTER
What has more value, nephew: two cruel degenerates or millions of innocent people?
Ext. The palace – winter, night
The palace is dark and cold, an outward manifestation of the corruption and rot that has set in. Skeletal trees reach out to the night.
Int. The Royal study
A plush study, the King in a wheelchair, not there.
The HEIR waits patiently, smugly. He knows.
The SPARE and the SPYMASTER enter.
The HEIR
Excellent! Uncle, disarm my brother.
The SPARE, shocked, is disarmed by the SPYMASTER.
The SPARE
Uncle! Brother! I--
The HEIR
(draws pistol, aims)
Was planning to step over our corpses to sit your spoiled ass on the throne. Yes. Our uncle told me.
The SPYMASTER moves to stand by the HEIR.
The SPYMASTER
Your Highness, I've also ensured that those horrid crimes can be traced directly to your wicked brother.
The SPARE
YOU SON OF A BITCH!
The SPARE lunges, the HEIR shoots him in the leg.
The HEIR
That's no way to talk about our grandmother.
The SPARE
Goddamn all of you!
The SPYMASTER
I certainly hope so.
The HEIR
What was that uncle?
The SPYMASTER
I just received word that everything is in place.
The HEIR
Wonderful! When this unseemliness is over, I'll have a widow to comfort.
The SPARE
I'll fucking kill you!
The SPYMASTER
No, you won't. Nephew. You've spilled enough royal blood tonight.
The HEIR and the SPYMASTER exchange looks.
The SPYMASTER shoots the KING.
The new King
You've killed our father. How could you.
The SPARE
Y-you're monsters. All of you!
The SPYMASTER kicks the SPARE onto his back, aims.
The SPYMASTER
I showed you their cruelty was boundless.
The SPARE
After what they did you your wife and daughter! They burned them alive!
The New King
No, they were dead when the house burned. Father wanted him to hear their screams, but I couldn't do that to our beloved uncle.
(beat)
I don't have that problem now.
The SPARE
No! Please! I'll do whatever you want! Just don't hurt them!
The SPYMASTER
Why? Because of the love our King holds for you? Or because you're a good man?
The SPYMASTER shakes his head ruefully.
The New King
What was it you told me about good men, Uncle? They make terrible kings.
The SPYMASTER
Among other things. They often hope for the best.
The New King
Yes--
The SPYMASTER
They shy away from distasteful tasks. Like securing their enemy's family.
The New King
Which you did, thank you, uncle.
The SPYMASTER
Nor do they prepare for every contingency. Like this meeting not going to plan.
The SPYMASTER looks at the SPARE
the SPYMASTER
(cont)
That's why I mustered your men, Your Majesty.
The SPARE
(realizing)
I should've listened to you.
The SPYMASTER
You should have.
The SPYMASTER kills the HEIR, helps the SPARE up, shoves him to the King and goes to the desk,  hits a button.
The SPYMASTER
See to your father, quickly.
(beat) (panicked)
Crash the palace! The King has been shot, we need help!
FADE TO BLACK