by John Skipp
ICE
(cheerfully)
I HAVE SOMETHING HERE FOR YOU, JOHNNY! IT MIGHT MAKE YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND!
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
Johnny’s breath sucks in sharply; and his team watches him very carefully. It’s clear from the overall feeling of anxiety that Ice knows Johnny’s Achilles Heel, and is just about to exploit it.
LINEY
Johnny…
JOHNNY DEATH
(cutting him off)
I’m okay.
(to ICE)
WE’RE NOT MAKING ANY DEALS, MAN! YOU MIGHT AS WELL FORGET IT!
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
As Ice shrugs, nonchalant, then leans into the ROYAL HELL-CARRIAGE and disengages a series of glowing SPIRIT CHAINS.
From inside, we hear a LOW FEMININE MOAN.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
As JOHNNY GRITS HIS TEETH and leans into the gate.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
As Ice grabs a stout length of chain and slowly, flirtatiously pulls out the beautiful PUNK GIRL.
ANGLE – PUNK GIRL
She is dressed in HELLISH BONDAGE GEAR: provocative, sexy and painful to wear. The chain is attached to the GLOWING COLLAR around her throat.
There is a FRIGHTENING RED GLOW IN HER EYES, but it looks less like willful possession than the mark of terrible, infernal suffering.
ICE
(gloating)
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HER, YES? A LOVE THAT WOULD NEVER DIE?
He laughs then, horrible; and the girl moans, tortured by some private pain that floods her features with sorrow.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
As Rebecca watches with dawning horror. She has seen the locket in her dreams. She recognizes the face.
REBECCA
(to MARABETH)
Who is that?
All at once, GRACE THE ANGEL is just beside her, radiantly glowing but gravely concerned.
GRACE
That is Hope.
Rebecca turns to her and gasps, stunned by Grace’s unearthly beauty, the simple fact of her existence. Grace radiates empathy, warmth, trust, understanding. It’s clear to Rebecca that Grace knows how she feels.
REBECCA
And he loves her?
GRACE
More than the world.
(solemn)
More than life itself.
Rebecca shudders, understanding at last how much is at stake in this moment. With tears beginning to form in her eyes, she turns her gaze back to Johnny…
…who WIPES THE TEARS FROM HIS OWN EYES as he straightens himself, clears his throat, then addresses Ice again.
JOHNNY DEATH
Well, now we have something to talk about.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
Ice appears delighted to hear this. HOPE looks down, dark hair falling over her face, as if she’s ashamed to be seen.
ICE
AH! PERHAPS SOMETHING IN THE WAY OF FAIR EXCHANGE? SOMETHING YOU VALUE FOR SOMETHING WE VALUE?
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
With Johnny at the gate.
JOHNNY DEATH
The women are not negotiable. I have something else in mind.
ICE (O.S.)
HMMMN! AND WHAT IS THAT?
JOHNNY DEATH
I fight you. For her.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
Ice laughs and laughs and laughs, with the echoing chorus Hell behind him.
ICE
(delighted)
AHHHHH!!! YOUR LITTLE HOPE IN HELL! WHY DIDN’T I THINK OF THAT?
He discreetly signals to a pair of DEMON COMMANDERS, who discreetly nod and then take off.
ICE (CONT.)
AND IF YOU LOSE?
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
As the others watch in dread.
JOHNNY DEATH
Then you have the sword. And you have me.
LINEY (O.S.)
NO!!!
Suddenly, Liney and Kineda are stomping toward him, whipping him around. He looks at them with murderous eyes, but they do not back down.
[This entire conversation is conducted in terse and muted terms: even the exclamations are bitten off so that only the three of them can hear.]
KINEDA
You can’t do that, man. They’ll kill you the second you step out the door.
JOHNNY DEATH
Bet they’ll try.
LINEY
You can’t go up against them all by yourself!
JOHNNY DEATH
Wouldn’t be the first time.
LINEY
(in his face)
Johnny, listen…!
JOHNNY DEATH
(back at him)
No, you listen! Grace was tortured down there for a thousand years! A THOUSAND YEARS! You understand what I’m saying?
Liney has no response. Kineda, either.
JOHNNY DEATH (CONT.)
This has always been the deal, man. You knew this coming in. If I ever found Hope, I would save her or die. And there she fucking is.
(beat)
You think that I could live with myself, looking her in the eyes and then letting her go? Do you honestly believe that?
KINEDA
Do you honestly believe that they’ll let you take her back?
JOHNNY DEATH
(bitter cold)
I guess we’ll just have to find out, won’t we?
ICE (O.S.)
WE’RE WAITING…!
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
As ICE YANKS HARD ON HOPE’S CHAIN, and she cries out.
ICE (CONT.)
AND BELIEVE ME: WE WON’T WAIT FOREVER…
ANGLE – EXT. CIRCLE OF LIGHT – HELL
Demons scrabble along its circumference, searching for weaknesses in the fluttering structure of the WALL.
One demon finds a DARK PATCH in the wall, attempts to squeeze through it. The demon promptly MELTS DOWN, filling the air with black fumes and terrible dying sounds.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
Johnny huddles with his comrades at the gate.
JOHNNY DEATH
They’re gonna try to break in now, any way they can. You gotta cover the perimeter, try to keep people focused.
LINEY
Do you realize how depressing it’s going to be if you go out there and die like an asshole?
KINEDA
Not real good for morale.
JOHNNY DEATH
Well, thanks for your support. Now if you’ll excuse me…
He shoulders past them, to the lock on the gate. Liney moves to intervene, but Kineda stops him. End of muted conversation.
JOHNNY DEATH (CONT.)
(to ICE)
Get your shit out of my way, okay? I’m coming out.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
Ice grins hugely, then nods and signals the demons to back away from the gate, clearing the path between them.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
JOHNNY UNLOCKS THE GATE, then looks back over his shoulder at Rebecca, Marabeth, and Grace, who are watching him sadly. He nods once, in acknowledgement of the tears in their eyes.
Then OPENS THE GATE, and steps outside.
LOCKING IT behind him.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
It is cold in Hell. Johnny’s breath is visible as he turns, demon-sword glowing, and strides down the long road between himself, his enemy, and the woman he loves.
Ice smiles, drawing his own glowing sword. He PULLS HOPE CLOSE to his freezing flesh, takes a moment to grope her with his free hand.
Johnny glowers, striding closer. FROST begins to appear on his jacket, his wild hair. But the DEMON-SWORD BRIGHTENS, as if it were
giving off not just light but HEAT.
EXT. HELL – WALL OF LIGHT – NIGHT
More and more demons are fanning out along the length of the WALL. There are more DARK SPOTS in the FLUTTERING LIGHT; and some of them look more promising than others.
Three holes are tried. Two result in demon death.
But on the third try, a demon finds a DOOR INTO SANCTUARY.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
Marabeth spontaneously shudders. Rebecca looks at her.
REBECCA
What’s wrong?
MARABETH
Something just got in.
ANGLE – DEMONS
FIVE OF THEM AND COUNTING, concealed by hedges, piling one after another through the breach.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
As Johnny comes closer, closer. On all sides of him, demons hoot and jeer. But the frost on him has melted, gleaming wetly in the glow of the blade.
JOHNNY DEATH
Let go of her.
ICE
But that’s not how it works. You see, she’s with me constantly now. We’re what you might call…
(yanking her chain)
…inseparable.
Ice steps forward, using Hope as a shield, and raises his sword. Johnny closes the distance…
And the battle begins: Ice taking the offensive, attacking Johnny, who parries the blow. Johnny is clearly afraid to take the offensive, for fear of slicing into Hope. Ice finds this delightful.
ICE
I love defensive opponents. They never win. They haven’t a Hope.
Suddenly, Johnny makes a quick thrust that SLICES OFF ICE’S EAR. ICE’S FACE IS WET on the side that Johnny sliced: as if the heat of the blade actually began to MELT him.
ICE ROARS and lunges back to the offensive, ruthlessly dragging Hope before him.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
Liney, Suzie and Kineda round a corner of the Center, just as a TRIO OF DEMONS jump out.
Liney and Kineda dispatch theirs in short order.
But Suzie’s battle is more ferocious. It takes every bit of her strength and skill to keep even with this vile, grinning monster. Her comrades begin to come to her assistance.
SUZIE
NO!!!
In a series of ULTRA-FAST MANUEVERS, SUZIE CHOPS THE DEMON INTO ITTY-BITS.
SUZIE (CONT.)
(grinning, intense)
Hang on there, boys! I’m just getting’ warmed up!
Suddenly, THIRTY MORE DEMONS come blasting around the corner, DIRECTLY TOWARD THEM.
LINEY, SUZIE, KINEDA
(in unison)
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!!!
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
Johnny proceeds to relentlessly BEAT ICE BACK, finding ways around his defenses. Ice remains aggressive, but he’s getting nervous; still, his cunning doesn’t fail him.
ICE
That’s right! Don’t be afraid to cut her! She loves to be cut! She loves all kinds of things!
Johnny’s next slash is brutal, forcing Ice to drop back. Johnny looks at Hope. She will not meet his gaze.
ICE (CONT.)
(getting desperate)
You wouldn’t believe what I’ve taught her to love!
Johnny roars and SLICES ICE at the shoulder, narrowly missing Hope’s neck. But his return swipe CLEANLY KNOCKS THE BLADE FROM ICE’S HAND.
JOHNNY DEATH
(to HOPE)
Let’s go.
Hope looks up for a moment, her RED EYES GLEAMING. Then she bows her head and RACES TO JOHNNY, the spirit-chain pulling taut behind her as Ice staggers back.
Johnny raises his sword to sever the chain.
Hope pulls a glowing spirit-dagger.
And PLUNGES IT INTO JOHNNY’S BELLY.
HOPE
(in JOHNNY’s ear)
He’s right, you know. I deserve to be punished.
She STABS DEEPER, as Johnny sags back, his eyes crawling with agony and horrified betrayal.
HOPE (CONT.)
And so do you.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
REBECCA SCREAMS, watching Johnny stagger back with a knife in his guts. She and Marabeth turn to Grace.
But Grace has disappeared.
And in that moment, FIFTY DEMONS CHASE LINEY, SUZIE AND KINEDA AROUND THE CORNER, into the heart of Sanctuary.
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EXT. HELL – NIGHT
JOHNNY’S DYING FACE chokes back a scream, and he falls back: sword glimmering faintly, the frost on his features CONGEALING INTO ICE.
HOPE
Why’d you have to steal his sword? You doomed us!
JOHNNY DEATH
He’d have…come anyway…
She STABS DEEPER. He dies a little more.
HOPE
But he wouldn’t have come for US, would he? NO!!! He’d have taken over some other part of the world first!
JOHNNY DEATH
…tried to…
STABBING DEEPER STILL.
HOPE
Warn us? I know. But who would ever listen to YOU?
JOHNNY
(dying now)
But…I loved…
STABBING DEEPER STILL, as his FACE FREEZES OVER ENTIRELY.
HOPE
(grinning)
I know. That’s what makes it so easy.
Then HOPE GUTS HIM SOME MORE, giving the knife an extra twist before pulling free…
…just as GRACE SWOOPS DOWN TO WRAP HER ARMS AROUND JOHNNY and spirit him up, up, into the sky, away from the horror, away from Ice and Hope and the roaring hordes.
JOHNNY DEATH
(voice croaking)
G-Grace…
Suddenly, a WINGED DEMON flies up to counter Grace. She takes Johnny’s sword – which GLEAMS INSTANTLY TO LIFE – and counters the demon.
It SWOOPS ONTO HER, raking her shoulders, then tries to chew through her neck.
She STABS IT THROUGH THE CHEST, and it plummets, shrieking.
Grace swoops for the gate, still holding Johnny. A steady stream of BLOOD – both hers and Johnny’s – flows down her shoulders and arms, speckles her face and wings.
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EXT. SANCTUARY – NIGHT
As the ARMY OF SURVIVORS rises up to counter the HELL-HORDES now streaming through the breach. FIFTY SPIRIT- SABERS GLEAMING, against the descent of a HUNDRED DEMONS:
• Castle whacking the first demon to come his way;
• THREE TURBO-DEMONS, moving through the survivors and killing them off TWO AT A TIME;
• Liney, Suzie, and Kineda, whirling to fight;
• Weez, confronting a WEENIE DEMON very much on his level, and ENGAGING IT IN RELUCTANT COMBAT.
ANGLE – SANCTUARY – AERIAL VIEW
As Grace and Johnny come soaring in over the battlefield. Rebecca is directly below, with Marabeth. Grace comes down to a landing.
ANGLE – REBECCA
GRACE
Quickly!
Who is there at once, leaning over the prone Johnny, who is now quite possibly dead. She puts her head on his chest, makes a terrible sound, then LAYS BOTH HANDS UPON HIM.
REBECCA
(sobbing)
NO! YOU CAN’T DIE, DAMMIT!
Her AURA quickly SUBSUMES THEM BOTH IN A BLINDING GLOW.
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JOHNNY’S DEATH-VISION
And he is FALLING, FALLING, down the same VOLCANIC HELLHOLE from Rebecca’s vision. In his hand is the barbed wire locket, open to Hope’s picture.
With all the BLOOD FALLING DOWN…
…and suddenly REALITY INVERTS ITSELF, and Rebecca is suddenly seeing her vision from a whole new perspective…
…realizing that it’s Johnny that’s falling, not her…
…and that SHE has to catch HIM, not the other way around…
…and in that moment, HER HAND STRETCHES OUT TO HIS…
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