The Urban Creepers

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The Urban Creepers Page 5

by Dreama Elmore


  Dan hesitates, walks over poignantly, and wraps his arms

  tightly around Jillian. Her face reflects utter disbelief.

  DAN

  After we get Eddie to the hospital

  and report what happened here to

  the police, maybe we can grab some

  coffee and talk if you’re still up

  for it.

  Jillian swallows hard.

  JILLIAN

  I’d like that.

  Dan releases Jillian reluctantly, stares down at his hand.

  DAN

  Of course, if the police decide to

  throw me in jail for killing that

  lunatic then I suppose we could

  talk through the glass.

  JILLIAN

  I’ll sneak you in some cigarettes

  if that happens. It will make you

  look tougher.

  Dan smiles, nods head in agreement. His face suddenly turns

  serious; he brings his mouth next to Jillian’s ear.

  DAN

  There’s something else down here.

  I swear I saw something not quite

  . . . human.

  JILLIAN

  I saw it too.

  DAN

  I don’t think it’s friendly.

  JILLIAN

  I don’t think so either.

  Dan turns, hurries off. Light from headlamp diminishes.

  50

  Mike moves forward with Eddie leaning heavily on him. Debra

  and Jillian walk behind them.

  MIKE

  Well, Eddie, it took you almost

  dying, but I think your tactic on

  getting Jillian and Dan to talk

  worked out real well.

  EDDIE

  (grimacing)

  Hey, no problem.

  JILLIAN

  I hope it lasts. Dan and I used to

  have so much fun together – it

  drove Charlie nuts.

  MIKE

  The two of you need to move on

  with your lives. Charlie would

  have wanted that. You ought to

  tell him that it wasn’t you that

  anchored the ropes.

  JILLIAN

  What good would it do? It would

  merely tarnish the name of a very

  good man and the one who I still

  love more than life itself.

  Mike glances over his shoulder, face saddens.

  MIKE

  I know, sis, I know.

  Jillian HEARS nibbling, searches with headlamp in various

  directions, and spots RATS huddled on a crumbled section of

  brick.

  JILLIAN

  Hold up for a sec, okay?

  Mike pauses, helps Eddie over to wall. Debra shines light

  from headlamp into backpack, snatches out a bag of Cheetos,

  and chows down.

  51

  Jillian runs hand on wall, locates loose brick and removes

  it. She walks away from the others, hurls it toward RATS.

  They scatter, revealing a decomposing human hand. Jillian

  stumbles back, turns face away, and dry-heaves.

  Debra drops bag of Cheetos into water, rushes toward her.

  DEBRA

  What’s wrong?

  Jillian grabs Debra’s hand, pulls her toward Eddie and

  Mike.

  JILLIAN

  I spooked myself, that’s all.

  DEBRA glances back, headlamp illuminates. She sees nothing.

  DEBRA

  You’re lying.

  JILLIAN

  Just trust me.

  DEBRA

  I’m already scared shitless and

  this isn’t helping.

  JILLIAN

  Well, that makes two of us.

  DEBRA

  Is that supposed to make me feel

  better?

  JILLIAN

  No, but it’s the truth and in

  times like this, we have three

  options: fight, flee, or freeze.

  Right now, we’re fleeing.

  DEBRA

  I like that one.

  52

  INT. LOS ANGELES - STORM SEWER – 1.35 MILES IN - NIGHT

  Six-feet in diameter, old, crumbling red brick, unchanged

  ground slope, knee-deep water. New, overhead plastic pipes.

  Pitch black.

  Mike shines flashlight and headlamp into three intersecting

  tunnels. TUNNEL #3 veers off in opposition to TUNNEL #1 and

  #2.

  MIKE

  I wonder which one Dan took.

  Jillian points to TUNNEL #3.

  JILLIAN

  Well, I doubt it’s that one due to

  its downward slope.

  MIKE

  I agree.

  Mike helps Eddie to wall, then cups hands around mouth.

  MIKE

  Dan! Can you hear me?

  Mike’s ECHO answers.

  DEBRA

  This is just great.

  Debra takes off backpack, removes unopened bottle of Jack

  Daniels, and refills canteen. She takes few swigs and waves

  bottle in front of Jillian.

  DEBRA

  It looks like you could use it.

  JILLIAN

  Nah, that’s okay. You and Eddie

  can have it. He probably needs it

  more than any of us.

  53

  DEBRA

  (chuckles)

  We have plenty to pass around,

  trust me.

  Debra walks over to Eddie, holds out canteen.

  DEBRA

  It might help with the pain.

  Eddie accepts it eagerly, gulps it down.

  EDDIE

  My leg is killing me. It’s fucking

  ridiculous. How in the world am I

  going to explain this to my

  sponsors? They just launched my

  Chaos label.

  Jillian smiles, shakes her head, walks toward Mike.

  JILLIAN

  (to EDDIE)

  I think they’ll understand and who

  knows, maybe it will increase

  sales when this story breaks.

  DEBRA

  Ooh, I’d get to do more shopping.

  Eddie shakes his head, takes another sip.

  EDDIE

  I’m going to ignore you said that.

  Eddie offers to Mike, but he waves it off.

  MIKE

  No thanks. The last time I had

  that stuff it nearly killed me.

  JACK (O.S.)

  (whispers)

  Chicken shit. Wait till I get

  through with you.

  Jillian stiffens, grabs Mike’s wrist.

  54

  JILLIAN

  Did you hear that?

  MIKE

  The ghost whispering?

  JILLIAN

  No, it was more solid . . . like a

  man’s voice.

  MIKE

  What did he say?

  JILLIAN

  Something about being a chicken

  shit.

  MIKE

  It’s not the time, Jill.

  JILLIAN

  I’m serious.

  EDDIE

  (laughs)

  It’s probably Dan fucking with

  you.

  JILLIAN

  It wasn’t him. He knows we can’t

  waste time.

  Mike shines flashlight beam down each tunnel.

  DEBRA

  Maybe someone else is down here.

  EDDIE

  Like who? Dan took care of the

  lunatic that attacked Jillian.

  MIKE

  Shh.

  55

  Jillian takes a few steps further in, notices tunnels grow

  slightly narrower, sound of running water surrounds her.


  She sees someone dart out of sight from where the extents

  of Mike’s flashlight beam reaches in TUNNEL #1, steps back.

  JILLIAN

  Someone’s down there.

  MIKE

  Are you sure?

  JILLIAN

  Yes, I’m sure.

  MIKE

  (whispers)

  Could it be Dan?

  JILLIAN

  No. Dan and Charlie have the same

  build. I’ve seen Charlie many

  times shrouded in darkness.

  Whoever’s down there is too tall

  to be Dan.

  MIKE

  I want you to stay here with Debra

  and Eddie. I’ll check it out.

  Eddie sways back and forth, hands canteen back to Debra.

  EDDIE

  Man, why do I have to stay here

  with the girls? I can hold my own.

  I feel pretty good right now.

  MIKE

  That’s because you’re suffering

  from what’s called liquid courage.

  Besides, you need to stay off that

  leg as much as possible and watch

  over these two.

  (winks at JILLIAN)

  They might get scared.

  JILLIAN

  That’s true.

  56

  Eddie crosses his arms, leans against Debra.

  EDDIE

  You’re going to feel like a tool

  when you realize its Dan down

  there fucking with you.

  MIKE

  I’m willing to risk it.

  Jillian pulls Mike to the side.

  JILLIAN

  I found a book earlier - -

  MIKE

  Okay.

  Jillian removes BOOK from coveralls, shows Mike. He takes

  it, flips through the pages, and sees demonic passages with

  each starting with a different name.

  MIKE

  How in the world did you find a

  book down here?

  JILLIAN

  (elusive)

  Luck.

  Mike holds Jillian’s gaze, shakes head.

  MIKE

  Forget I asked.

  Jillian looks at Debra and Eddie, swallows hard.

  JILLIAN

  I think we’re in really serious

  trouble. Did you notice one

  certain name on the list?

  MIKE

  Yeah, it’s the last name of our

  grandfather, but that doesn’t mean

  anything.

  57

  Mike shakes his head profusely.

  MIKE

  Look, don’t let your imagination

  run wild. I need you here.

  Mike hands BOOK back to Jillian, proceeds into TUNNEL #1.

  Jillian tucks BOOK away, keeps a vigilant watch on Mike’s

  progress until his light fades out completely. She retreats

  a few steps into Eddie and Debra’s line of sight.

  JILLIAN

  I don’t like this.

  DEBRA

  I wouldn’t worry . . . we’ve

  encountered all sorts of wackos

  since we started exploring. Grant

  it, tonight takes the cake.

  JILLIAN

  I’m sure it does.

  DEBRA

  I remember this one time - -

  Debra sips from canteen, headlamp goes out.

  DEBRA

  Damn it.

  Debra removes helmet, thumps heel of her hand against it.

  DEBRA

  Stupid piece of shit. I just

  replaced the batteries before we

  left tonight.

  Jillian sweeps headlamp between Debra and Eddie.

  JILLIAN

  Perhaps, it’s the equipment. Do

  you know if it’s waterproof?

  58

  DEBRA

  It’s supposed to be. Hey, keep

  your light steady for a minute. I

  need to put this bottle away and

  get my flashlight.

  Jillian shines headlamp on Debra, keeps flashlight trained

  on TUNNEL #1.

  JILLIAN

  Just hurry up.

  Jillian’s headlamp goes dark.

  DEBRA

  Hey, that’s not funny.

  JILLIAN

  I didn’t do it on purpose.

  Jillian whacks her palm against helmet a few times.

  JILLIAN

  Come on; don’t do this to me now.

  Jillian’s flashlight dims.

  JILLIAN

  Have you found the flashlight yet?

  DEBRA

  Keep your panties on. If I had, I

  would turn it on.

  Bottles CLANK together in Debra’s backpack. Jillian shakes

  head, takes step back. Shadows loom. She smacks into wall.

  JILLIAN

  Jesus! Find the fucking flashlight

  already.

  Debra takes another sip from her canteen.

  59

  DEBRA

  (slurs)

  I should have bought the kind with

  the glow-in-the-dark handle, but

  it reminded me too much of a light

  saber. Can you imagine? Eddie

  would be in Star Wars heaven. I

  need to tell you about the night

  he dressed up as Darth Vader and I

  was Princess Leia.

  JILLIAN

  Another time, okay?

  DEBRA

  Sure, but let me just say that we

  had some fantastic sex that night.

  JILLIAN

  (irritated)

  That’s great.

  Jillian’s flashlight brightens, dims again. She sees FLAME

  from a lighter in TUNNEL #1.

  JILLIAN

  Mike? Is that you?

  Jillian holds breath, steps forward. FLAME goes out, flares

  up again.

  JILLIAN

  Mike, if you’re screwing with me,

  I’m so going to kick your ass.

  DEBRA

  (snorts)

  You tell him, sister.

  Jillian’s headlamp brightens, she moves deeper into TUNNEL

  #1. FLAME vanishes.

  JILLIAN

  I’m serious. You know how much I

  hate being alone in the dark.

  60

  DEBRA

  What are we? Chopped liver?

  Jillian’s headlamp dims. FLAME reappears, closer this time.

  MIKE (O.S.)

  (shouts)

  I’m working my way back to you. My

  fucking flashlight and headlamp

  stopped working.

  JILLIAN

  Where did you find the lighter?

  MIKE (O.S.)

  What lighter?

  FLAME vanishes. Jillian’s flashlight dims. She hears FLICK

  of lighter, FLAME is even closer now.

  A small GLOW from TUNNEL #2 illuminates, captures Jillian’s

  attention. She turns slightly, glimpses Charlie’s Ghost in

  spelunking gear.

  JILLIAN

  (breathless)

  It can’t be.

  Charlie’s Ghost evaporates, rematerializes behind her.

  CHARLIE’S GHOST

  Don’t go down there. It’s not

  safe. He wants to hurt you.

  JILLIAN

  Who? Who wants to hurt me?

  DEBRA (O.S.)

  Who are you talking to?

  CHARLIE’S GHOST

  Be careful, my love. Don’t listen

  to them. I want you to live, so

  choose life.

  JILLIAN

  Listen to whom?

  61

  Charlie’s Ghost vanishes.

  Jillian’s headlamp and flashlight illuminate. Dan suddenly

  is in
front of her. Jillian jumps, raises flashlight like a

  weapon.

  JILLIAN

  Are you trying to give me a heart

  attack? I almost struck you.

  Dan turns face away, takes a step back, and holds up his

  hands defensively.

  DAN

  No, I would never do that. I’m so

  sorry.

  Jillian lowers flashlight.

  JILLIAN

  Why are you roaming around in the

  dark? I thought you were looking

  for the closest exit.

  Dan waves his flashlight in air, rattles the components.

  DAN

  As strange as it sounds, my

  headlamp and flashlight went out.

  I was stumbling around in the dark

  until I heard your voice, so I

  followed it.

  Jillian motions at Dan’s flashlight.

  JILLIAN

  Try it now.

 

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