Conscience
Page 18
The doors open on the other van, and Suzie turns in time to see Liney & Kineda smiling at her, obviously interested.
LINEY AND KINEDA
Hi!
SUZIE looks at the goofy grinning studboys. Her eyebrow cocks skeptically, as if to say oh, just kill me now…
CUT TO:
INT. FLORENCE BERGEN’S OFFICE – DUSK
As she attempts to call home, the PHONE RINGING ENDLESSLY. At last, she slams it down in terrible, desperate frustration.
FLORENCE
Damn!
CO-WORKER
What is it?
FLORENCE
I knew I shouldn’t have left my daughter alone today!
(getting up)
I’ve got to go home. Well, ’bye!
CO-WORKER
(calling after, as she heads for the door)
Are you going down to the parade tonight? I hear it’s gonna be a real humdinger…!
CUT TO:
EXT. SUBURBAN BACKSTREETS – DUSK
As Rebecca wanders the deepening shadows. She STUMBLES, nearly falling; and in the moment that she catches herself, we see how close to blacking out she really is.
At the corner, up ahead, a FAMILY OF SKELETONS WALKS PAST. They seem to be moving in slo-mo, and Rebecca shakes her head to clear it. But though the children are the only ones wearing costumes, she can’t get past how dead they all look.
Rebecca moves haltingly forward. DUMMIES with SPOOKY MASKS hang from trees and porches, or sit propped up in rocking chairs.
As she passes each one, they TURN TO LOOK AT HER WITH TERRIBLE, GLEAMING EYES.
And, one by one, they begin to SPEAK…
DUMMY DEMON # 1
Go back home, Rebecca…
DUMMY DEMON # 2
Go back and wait for us…
DUMMY DEMON # 3
It won’t be long now, Rebecca…
Rebecca starts to run, a panicky lopsided canter to the middle of the street. Heading straight for the heart of town.
DUMMY DEMONS
Go back… Go back…
CUT TO:
EXT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – DUSK
As the SCIENCE CREW powers up the MONITORING STATION in the back of their van: video monitors, pirate recording and transmitting equipment, more sophisticated devices. Liney and Kineda break out the digital video cameras, start setting up on the grounds. SUPER-TITLES:
6:26 P.M.
EXT. THE PLAZA – DUSK
The floats – abandoned during the panic – are being reinhabited. Pedestrians and protesters are returning to the sidewalks.
And there are cop and Fed cars gathering with media at the center of Main Street.
CUT TO:
EXT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – DUSK
Johnny and Marabeth stand on the lawn, observing.
MARABETH
How many do you think we’ll be able to save?
JOHNNY DEATH
To be real honest, I don’t know for certain that anyone’s gonna survive the night.
Her eyes go wide, but Johnny’s gaze won’t let her off the hook.
JOHNNY DEATH (CONT.)
We’ll do what we can. But you gotta understand: once we open the door, all bets are off.
Marabeth nods slowly, taking this in. It’s scaring her, but it’s clear she’s strong.
JOHNNY DEATH (CONT.)
A lot of people are gonna die tonight. I need you to know that, because you’re going to watch them die. And you’re going to want to help them. And you won’t be able to. It’s enough to make anyone crazy.
And in that moment, we can see it in his eyes: this is a boy who’s seen too much, and it has left its mark on him.
MARABETH
I could help you with your pain, you know. That’s what we do here.
JOHNNY DEATH
(shaking his head)
Thanks. But I’m using it.
INT. BERGEN HOUSE – NIGHT
Florence hurries in the kitchen door, hears the TV blaring. She shuts the door, her expression worried.
FLORENCE
Rebecca?
No answer. Florence walks into the dark living room, which is crawling with shadows that shift uneasily in the video light.
FLORENCE (CONT.)
‘Becca, honey?
On the TV are D.A. Raymire and MAYOR “BOB” DOBBSTOWN, identified by name in the little neon letters. They are on the mayor’s platform, surrounded by risers and bunting. The Mayor smokes a pipe, and looks like Ward Cleaver.
Behind them, the sidewalks are filling up with people again, many of them in costume. Note, in particular, one LITTLE KID standing with his family. He’s wearing a CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST MASK.
D.A. RAYMIRE
We urge everyone to rise above the panic and insanity caused by these hi-tech vandals. There is absolutely nothing to fear!
MAYOR “BOB” DOBBSTOWN
And, folks, looks like it’s gonna be one heck of a parade! So COME ON DOWN! You’ll be glad you did!
The people on the sidewalks cheer. Florence smiles a little, hopefully.
FLORENCE
Sweetheart? You gonna come watch with me…?
Suddenly, the TV SCREEN is overwhelmed with roaring static. THE PICTURE DISSOLVES, then reformats.
Into the image of Johnny Death.
FLORENCE
Oh my god…
Johnny stares at her, from the screen. Behind him, the LAST RAYS OF SUNSHINE are disappearing into night.
JOHNNY DEATH
Okay, listen up. Cuz this is it. We’ve got about fifteen minutes.
Florence tries to turn the channel with the remote. But every channel is carrying the JOHNNY DEATH BROADCAST.
JOHNNY DEATH (CONT.)
If you can get…
(click)
…out of town, do it now.
(click)
If you can’t…
FLORENCE
DAMN IT!
JOHNNY DEATH (CONT.)
…there’s a place on Main St., called the Center for the Healing Arts.
(click)
Go there now. It’s the only other chance you have…
As the TV is once again OVERWHELMED WITH STATIC…
…and suddenly, Flip Martindale is back on the screen, with a peck of flustered public officials: Pankow, the Mayor, the D.A., and more. They seem to have forgotten that they’re on TV.
D.A. RAYMIRE
What the fuck?
PANKOW
Triangulate that, goddamit! I wanna know exactly where that came from!
(storming from frame)
Sonofabitch was right under our nose…!
And suddenly, Florence sees her poor sickly daughter on the screen, trying to push her way through the crowd behind Flip Martindale.
FLORENCE
Omigod! Rebecca…!
As she RACES FOR THE DOOR.
CUT TO:
EXT. SLEEPY HOLLOW MEMORIAL CEMETERY – NIGHT
The beautiful, expansive CEMETERY we saw in that first aerial view of town. At night, up close, it looks brooding and gothic in the extreme. Tons of ornate sepulchers and memorials. Many, many long shadows cast.
ANGLE – THE SACRILEGE-MOBILE
Parked near the summit of the CEMETERY HILL, so that you get an excellent view of the city below. Also of the FOUR DEATHROCKIN’ TEENS who now gather there, pausing before a GRAVE. SUPER-TITLES:
6:45 P.M.
ANGLE – VANCE AND SLAG
In the forefront. They are clearly the Alpha Male and Female of this little dysfunctional teenage wolfpack. Vance is spookily aloof; Slag is creepily ecstatic. Both give off IMMENSELY BAD VIBES.
Behind them stand WEEZ and THE HEEP: the former as scrawny and bug-eyed as the latter is enormous and dumb. They are, of course, the ones carrying the SHOVELS.
SLAG
(sighing)
Dwayne E. Cobblehaufer. He shot fifteen people to death in a Burger King before blowing his own brains
out.
VANCE
I know the feeling.
SLAG
(squeezing him)
Oh, Vance! We’re gonna have our own famous mass murderer’s skull! That should be all the protection we need!
VANCE
Then we all get welcomed into Hell, right?
SLAG
It’s true! I read about it!
WEEZ
(nervously)
You sure, Vance? I mean, you know what we’re doin’?
VANCE
Weez, you worry too much.
SLAG
(psychotic)
You and The Heep just start diggin’, okay? It’s all you’re good for, you stupid fuck!
(deliriously happy)
Oh, Vance! This is so exciting! Can’t you already feel it? I know I can!
Slag wiggles a little. Vance says nothing. Either does The Heep, who just starts digging. Vance watches with Slag. Weez stares at them.
VANCE
Weez.
Weez starts to dig, too.
CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN STREET PLAZA – NIGHT
As the first HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND blaringly sets forth, officially OPENING THE PARADE.
The CROWD BEGINS TO CHEER.
And as the first enormous corny float rumbles off in slow pursuit, we see the cops and Feds gathered at the gate to the Center. They have POLICE BARRICADES up to hold back both protesters and crowds.
CUT TO:
EXT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – NIGHT
Starting with the SACRED CIRCLE, a PERFECT WHITE CIRCLE OF SALT that rings the perimeter of the estate. And the MANY BURNING CANDLES that strategically punctuate it.
The Center itself is precisely in the center of this circle; and LINES RADIATE OUTWARD to join this center ring with the outer ring of the estate’s perimeter.
Candles also trace these lines, illuminating them.
CUT TO:
INT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – NIGHT
A circle of women sits in meditative concentration, Suzie and Ann among them. At the epicenter is Marabeth, performing a guided visualization. Her voice is husky, cadenced, hypnotic.
MARABETH
I want you to reach deep inside of yourself, and picture Sanctuary: a place undisturbed by the madness of the world. A green place, full of living things. At peace and in harmony. Sanctuary.
[At this point, we begin a STEP-BY-STEP APOCALYPSE MONTAGE, drawing together the various characters and sub-plots into a spiraling narrative storm of increasing intensity, all narrated by Marabeth’s V.O.]
MONTAGE – ANGLE – THE PARADE
Full of big smiles and grand gestures, both genuine and otherwise: false hope draped in balloons and bunting, delivered by MAJORETTES and CHEESY MONSTERS. Carefully concealing its collective apprehension. Waving to the crowd, and the Mayor’s platform, as it trundles by.
MARABATH (V.O.)
And we are together in this place.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – AGENT PANKOW AND THE COPS
As they converge on the gate, where their instruments have led them.
Behind them, Levon and Loretta invoke the protesters to a ROAR.
MARABETH (V.O.)
And there is no malice between us.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – MARABETH
Encircled by women in candlelight.
MARABETH (V.O.)
I want you to picture yourself at the heart of Sanctuary, at the heart of perfect peace.
Draw back to show Quinn, getting it all on camera.
MARABETH (V.O.)
And to draw down a great Circle of Light to surround us.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – THE SACRED CIRCLE (EXT.)
As the candles around its boundaries FLARE.
MARABETH (V.O.)
Warm us.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – JOHNNY DEATH
In SPIRIT-FORM, with DEMON-SWORD BLAZING.
Behind him, in formation, follow Liney and Kineda: also in spirit-form, and armed in kind. They are determined and ready.
Johnny’s smile is so intense that it’s almost frightening.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – GRACE
Kneeling inside Liney & Kineda’s van: protecting not just Johnny’s body, but LINEY’S and KINEDA’S, as well.
MARABETH (V.O.)
Keep us safe.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – REBECCA
On the Main Street sidewalk now, with the parade blasting by and the crowds yielding little ground.
Rebecca’s weak, and pushes forward with difficulty. Past the little kid in the Casper mask. Heading for the gate.
MARABETH (V.O.)
And screen out those who would do us harm, but welcome only those of good will…
MONTAGE – ANGLE – WEEZ AND THE HEEP
Nearly six feet deep in the grave and still digging, while Vance and Slag look on from above.
MARABETH (V.O.)
…who seek Sanctuary from Hell.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – THE GATE
As Johnny begins to UNLOCK IT, just as the lock is about to blow.
The eyes of Pankow, Castle, and the cops widen in amazement.
MARABETH (V.O.)
Let it be a beacon to the frightened and the lost.
Watching as the GATE UNLOCKS ITSELF.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – REBECCA AND FLORENCE
As Levon and Loretta stand DIRECTLY IN THEIR WAY, ten feet from the gate.
MARABETH (V.O.)
Drawing them to Sanctuary.
MONTAGE – ANGLE – THE HEEP
His face enshrouded in darkness, as his shovel strikes the COFFIN LID below.
MARABETH (V.O.)
Before it’s too late.
[End MARABETH’S V.O. and MONTAGE.]
ANGLE – THE GRAVE
As a SINISTER VAPOR WAFTS UP from beneath the coffin’s lid. That, and a number of STRANGE, MUTED SCRAPING AND THUDDING SOUNDS.
Weez dances back in the grave, terrified. His back hits the wall.
WEEZ
JESUS! What the fuck is that?
VANCE
What’s goin’ on down there?
SLAG
(hugging herself)
Did it just get cold…?
Something SLAMS HARD against the inside of the lid. EVERYONE JUMPS but The Heep. Weez scrambles up the side of the grave.
The Heep drops his shovel and drops to his knees, proceeds to OPEN THE LID. AN UNEARTHLY RED LIGHT EMANATES from beneath it.
Illuminating his face.
His hideous grinning DEMON FACE…
Then the COFFIN LID BLOWS OPEN, and A RUSH OF DEMONS COMES FLYING OUT OF THE COFFIN.
THE HEEP’S HEAD VAPORIZES as the demons blow through it, on their way straight for Slag.
SLAG
(not ecstatic)
VANCE!!!
Vance, however, is backing up fast; though not as fast as Weez, who is already running away.
But by the time the DEMONS ATTACH THEMSELVES TO SLAG’S FACE, Vance is already racing Weez down the cemetery road.
Heading for town.
With DEMONS FLYING AFTER THEM, in hot pursuit.
CUT TO:
EXT. MAIN STREET – NIGHT
As the paraders look up from their floats and formations: staring at the RED DEMON LIGHTS SHINING UP from the cemetery on the hill above.
The awe spreads through the crowd, all the way to the gate, where we see the faces of Rebecca and Florence. Levon and Loretta. Pankow, Castle, and The Astounding Rodney.
As they watch, MORE COLUMNS OF DEMON LIGHT ERUPT FROM THE HILLSIDE. SUPER-TITLES:
7:01 P.M.
CUT TO:
EXT. CEMETERY – NIGHT
As Vance and Weez haul ass downhill, while GRAVES BLOW OPEN to all sides of them. BEAMS OF DEMON LIGHT emerge, as do all manner of DEMONIC MONSTROSITIES.
Vance and Weez are screaming as they run.
CUT TO:
INT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – NIGHT
Marabeth and the other
s look up, to see the red lights punctuate the sky.
SUZIE BRIGHT
Holy fuck…
MARABETH
We’ve got to close the Circle. Now.