Conscience

by John Skipp

  The Big Lug looks like this is the best invitation he’s had all day, and the two of them begin to square off.

  ANGLE – PUNK GIRL

  She leans worriedly against the tree, beside the DANGLING DUMMY.

  Whose FEATURES SUDDENLY ANIMATE INTO TOOTHY GRIN AND BLAZING DEVIL-EYES…

  ANGLE – JOHNNY/THE CROWD AT THE GATE

  As they whirl to the sound of the PUNK GIRL’S SCREAM.

  And suddenly, it’s as if a FIREBALL FROM HELL is BLASTING TOWARD JOHNNY, and we are its POV: watching the TERRIBLE RED GLOW DEEPEN as we RACE TOWARD JOHNNY, PARTING THE CROWD…

  …and suddenly JOHNNY’S GLOWING DEMON-SWORD is RAISED, as he stares the POV STRAIGHT IN THE EYE.

  CUT TO:

  PRESENT – INT. NEWS VAN – LATE AFTERNOON

  As Johnny suddenly snaps out of it, to the sound of Liney’s voice.

  LINEY

  Johnny? You there, man?

  JOHNNY DEATH

  Yeah. I’m here.

  LINEY

  Good. Cuz it’s time for you to move.

  Johnny looks up and sees that it’s true: an enormous POLICE BLOCKAGE / CHECKPOINT is set up in the middle of the road, maybe a hundred yards ahead. He closes the locket and gets down on his haunches, hunkers toward the back.

  There is a LARGE EQUIPMENT CASE, with strategic air holes, at the rear of the van. Johnny lies down in it.

  ANGLE – INSIDE THE CASE

  Johnny closes his eyes, crosses his arms, assumes a meditative state.

  ANGEL (O.S.)

  Now.

  Suddenly, JOHNNY’S SPIRIT arises from his inert body: a gleaming-yet-substantial SPIRIT BODY, separated from the slumbering form in the box.

  ANGLE – OUTSIDE THE CASE

  As JOHNNY’S SPIRIT-FORM rises through the top of the equipment case, looks around the van and smiles.

  ANGLE – GRACE (THE ANGEL)

  Sitting right next to the seat previously occupied by Johnny. She is a jarring vision: RADIANT AND BEAUTIFUL on the one hand, with her exquisite features and RESPLENDENT WINGS.

  But the SCARS that criss-cross her features testify to all the tortures of Hell. And ONE OF HER EYES – at the center of a LONG FACIAL GASH – is marbled-over. Which is to say, BLIND.

  GRACE

  (smiling)

  Roadblocks, hmmm? Looks like we’re moving up in the world.

  The News Van pulls up to the roadblock, and the back doors fly open, flooding the van with light. TWO COPS poke their heads in, staring directly at Johnny and Grace without seeing them.

  ANGLE – LINEY AND KINEDA

  They nod to the roadblock cop who waves them through, then look at the Sacrilege-Mobile, its occupants now being SPREAD-EAGLED AND SEARCHED against it.

  KINEDA

  Take care, now!

  LINEY

  See you in Hell!

  Leaving both cops and spooky kids glaring as they head for the heart of town.

  EXT. DOWNTOWN SLEEPY HOLLOW – LATE AFTERNOON

  The parade is gearing up to roll now: TWENTY FLOATS lined up to either side of the plaza and counting.

  Main Street has been cordoned off, and the crowd is thickening: people staking out their piece of sidewalk with lawnchairs and coolers. SUPER-TITLES:

  5:45 P.M.

  ANGLE – LEVON AND LORETTA

  Exhorting their crowd of protesters, which has grown to nearly one hundred.

  ANGLE – QUINN

  Way up on an electrical pole, setting up a SMALL HI- TECH DIGITAL CAMERA on a REMOTE-CONTROLLED PIVOT MOUNT. He’s Irish-American. In his fifties. Salt ‘n’ pepper hair. Bifocals. Dressed, like the others in the team, all in black. He’s got a pretty good view from up there, which he pauses for a second to appreciate.

  GOOD COP (O.S.)

  Hey, fella! What’cha doin’ up there?

  QUINN looks down, sees a PAIR OF COPS looking up at him.

  QUINN

  Putting up this camera, if you don’t mind terribly.

  BAD COP

  Listen, pal. Don’t give us any shit.

  GOOD COP

  See, we just don’t have any record of cameras going up there, is the problem.

  QUINN

  Oh, sweet Jesus…

  (hollering)

  MAGGIE!!!

  The cops look around confused for a second, then back up at him.

  BAD COP

  I think you’d better come down now, fella.

  QUINN

  Hang on a second…

  BAD COP

  Now.

  QUINN

  MAGGIE!!!

  ANGLE – MAGGIE

  Appearing suddenly behind the COPS. She’s short and stacked, Hispanic-American, with huge glasses that make her look owlish.

  MAGGIE

  Ai-yi-yi. I’m sorry, officers.

  They turn to see the OFFICIAL-LOOKING DOCUMENTS in her hands.

  MAGGIE (CONT.)

  I think you must be looking for these.

  The cops stare at the papers, leaf through them. MAGGIE smiles at Quinn. He gives her the okey-doke sign, gets back to work.

  Behind Maggie and the cops, a FEDERAL VEHICLE wheels onto the cordoned-off street. Quinn watches carefully as it pulls to a stop.

  ANGLE – THE FEDERAL CAR

  As SPECIAL AGENT CARL PANKOW gets out. He is one hard- looking dude. Mid-fifties. All business.

  Behind him exits Agent Castle. He looks frightened, but clearly defers to Pankow.

  CASTLE

  Agent Pankow.

  PANKOW

  (clearly irritated)

  What?

  CASTLE

  I…I’m not sure what you want me to do here.

  PANKOW

  Just keep your eyes peeled. And for God’s sake, try not to piss yourself.

  INVISIBLE POV

  Moving past Pankow and Castle without being seen at all.

  ANGLE – GRACE AND JOHNNY DEATH

  Walking invisibly down the middle of Main Street, him leading her by the hand. He retains that strange SPIRIT-GLOW – though not as bright as hers – and the DEMON-SWORD is in his other hand.

  They’re coming up on the protesters now, none of whom seem to see them. But as Johnny and Grace push through the throng, Levon gets a COLD RUSH. He stares after them, not seeing anything but certain there’s something.

  Johnny and Grace wade through the last protesters, almost to the gate.

  Suddenly, the last protesters and sign are past, revealing…

  ANGLE – THE GATE DEMON

  Seven feet tall and flaring red, with a face and build like a Hindu deity: THREE EYES – huge and yellowed – and FOUR ARMS, all of which bear SCIMITARS OF CURLING FLAME.

  For a moment, Johnny and the DEMON just stare at each other, completely surprised.

  Then the fighting begins.

  Johnny is fierce and incredibly fast, but it’s like he’s up against four opponents. And the demon may be slow, but it’s incredibly strong. Johnny finds himself being beaten back, finds this unacceptable.

  He CUTS OFF A DEMON ARM.

  The demon howls, spurting, lunges forward with THREE SCIMITARS BLAZING. The flame has gone out on the fallen blade. Johnny notes this, sidesteps to the wounded side, CUTS OFF THE SECOND ARM.

  Now the demon is down to TWO SWORDS, both on the same side. It keeps desperately spinning, trying to cover itself, while Johnny circles with it. Waiting for his moment.

  Finally, the demon takes a fierce TWO-ARMED SWING. Johnny dodges, ducks behind it, and – with one upward swipe – TAKES OFF THE TWO REMAINING ARMS.

  Then, as the disarmed demon whirls, Johnny hurls the blade forward and IMPALES THE DEMON THROUGH THE THIRD EYE.

  It goes down at last.

  And the crowd never notices a thing.

  Except for Levon and Loretta, who are staring with a sort of dawning horror.

  Johnny puts his foot on the demon’s dead head, pulls the blade free. Then he takes Grace’s hand, leads her up to the gate.
Opens it.

  Together, they enter the CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS.

  ANGLE – LEVON AND LORETTA

  Staring as the GATE SHUTS, THEN LOCKS, all by itself.

  LEVON

  There’s something very wrong here.

  LORETTA

  We’d better talk to someone.

  LEVON

  Damnation! I wish I could see what’s going on!

  LORETTA

  Soon, honey. Very soon.

  INT. BERGEN HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON

  Rebecca is moving weakly through the living room now, with her small bag clutched in hand…

  …when suddenly, the TV TURNS ON. Loud.

  REBECCA cries out, falling back against the shelves containing the ceramic angels, which begin to CLANK AND JIGGLE…

  EXT. MAIN STREET – LATE AFTERNOON

  As Loretta leaves the plaza, crossing into Main Street proper, moving with definite purpose in her stride.

  When a series of SMOKE BOMBS LOUDLY GOES OFF, one of the DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HER.

  LORETTA SCREAMS, and the crowd starts screaming as well. They scatter wildly, fleeing Main Street and the plaza.

  INT. REBECCA BERGEN’S HOUSE – LATE AFTERNOON

  REBECCA stares wide-eyed at the TV screen.

  ON THE SCREEN

  Flip Martindale is surrounded by screaming, fleeing people. Behind him, SMOKE plumes and billows.

  FLIP MARTINDALE

  (freaking)

  It seems to be some kind of explosive! We’ve got UTTER PANDEMONIUM…!

  ANGLE – REBECCA

  Laughing in stunned astonishment.

  REBECCA

  Omigod. It’s starting…

  While, behind her, the ceramic angels continue to jitter and clink…

  EXT. MAIN STREET – LATE AFTERNOON

  As Levon tries to keep his protesters from fleeing.

  LEVON

  No! No! Stop! We must trust in the Lord…!!!

  ANGLE – THE ASTOUNDING RODNEY

  Standing there, grinning sourly, in the middle of the pandemonium.

  ASTOUNDING RODNEY

  (amused/disgusted)

  Son of a bitch…

  INT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – LATE AFTERNOON

  As Marabeth, Suzie, Ann and a half-dozen other women rush to the windows.

  ANN

  What’s going on out there?

  MARABETH

  I have no idea. Suzie…?

  Suzie starts moving fast toward the door. Marabeth follows, alarmed.

  SUZIE

  I don’t know, but I’m gonna find out!

  MARABETH

  Wait!

  Suzie throws open the door, then steps back, stunned. Marabeth echoes the gesture. There is a STRANGE RADIANCE coming from the doorway.

  ANGLE – GRACE AND JOHNNY DEATH

  Standing framed in the doorway.

  GRACE

  May we come in?

  Suzie and Marabeth just stare for a moment, stunned. Then, slowly nodding, they usher Grace and Johnny inside, shutting the door behind them.

  EXT. MAIN STREET – DUSK

  The NEARLY-EMPTY PLAZA is suddenly overrun with cops: nearly fifty of them, equipped with gas masks, riot gear and serious firepower. They plunge into the smoke and VANISH.

  Suddenly, a POLICE HELICOPTER descends from overhead, helping to clear the smoke from the plaza.

  ANGLE – AGENTS PANKOW AND CASTLE

  Watching the chopper descend. Pankow is on the radio.

  PANKOW

  No. This situation is under control… absolutely…you tell ’em we cleaned it up in just under a minute and a half… yessir, I will…

  Pankow hangs up. Castle looks at him hard.

  CASTLE

  You don’t really believe that, do you? That we have things under control?

  As the smoke clears, we see the FRESH GRAFFITI on the PLAZA WALLS: the beginnings of the DEATH RULES! PREPARE FOR HELL! template. And we also see a handful of PUNK KIDS being dragged off by COPS IN RIOT GEAR.

  PANKOW

  Well, it sure as hell looks that way to me, Castle. Unless you’ve got something else that you’d like to contribute.

  CASTLE

  Just that you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.

  ANGLE – MAGGIE AND QUINN

  Sitting in the cab of an IDENTICAL NEWS VAN to the one Liney’s driving. They’re watching the cops drags the kids away, too.

  MAGGIE

  (depressed)

  Those kids are gonna die in jail. They won’t even have a chance.

  Quinn nods, dour, picks up his radio.

  QUINN

  Yo, me brothers…

  ANGLE – LINEY AND KINEDA

  As Liney nods agreement, on the radio in his van.

  LINEY

  Agreed. This is not a good scene.

  Meanwhile, Kineda moves to the back of the news van, opens the case that contains Johnny’s body, and leans very close.

  KINEDA

  (softly)

  Johnny. It’s now or never.

  CUT TO:

  INT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – DUSK

  Johnny is talking with Marabeth and the others when he hears KINEDA’S VOICE softly inside his head. He shuts his eyes and puts one hand up, as if to say hang on a second. Then he looks at the women.

  MARABETH

  What is it?

  JOHNNY DEATH

  You need to let my friends in now.

  SUZIE

  We’ve still got a bunch of questions…

  JOHNNY DEATH

  What we don’t have is time to wait.

  Marabeth gives the nod, and Suzie hastens out the door.

  CUT TO:

  INT. REBECCA BERGEN’S HOUSE – DUSK

  The ceramic angels – at long last – settle into an uneasy stillness, and Rebecca returns her gaze to the TV.

  FLIP MARTINDALE

  And with the arrest of the three young would-be saboteurs, order would seem to be restored…

  When suddenly the ANGELS SNAP IN HALF: one after the other, like a string of firecrackers…

  …and REBECCA SCREAMS…

  …and suddenly BLOOD SQUIRTS AND OOZES from the SHATTERED CERAMIC ANGEL SHELLS. All of them JITTERING, as if possessed…

  …and Rebecca whirls, heading for the door…

  …which SWINGS OPEN, ALL BY ITSELF, and then SLAMS SHUT just as she reaches it. Sending a SHOWER of STORM GLASS in her direction…

  …as she SCREAMS, cut in a dozen tiny places, THROWING OPEN THE DOOR and wandering out into the deepening dark…

  CUT TO:

  EXT. CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS – DUSK

  Suzie throws open the gate for the TWO NEWS VANS. They blast past her with no further ado. SUPER-TITLES:

  6:10 P.M.

  Suzie shuts the gate, locks it, prepares to turn away. Suddenly, LORETTA’S FACE appears between the bars, inches from Suzie’s.

  LORETTA

  You’re gonna burn in hell, little sister.

  SUZIE

  Ya know – looking at you – I feel like I’m already there.

  Suzie turns away, starts heading up the drive toward the others. But something’s bothering her. Almost against her will, she looks back over her shoulder at…

  ANGLE – LORETTA

  Horrific in the shadows of dusk. HUGE GLISTENING BLACK SOCKETS where her EYES should be. And a MOUTH TOO WIDE, full of HUGE YELLOWED TEETH in a hideous, OVERPAINTED HELL-CLOWN’S RICTUS GRIN…

  …and then Suzie blinks, and Loretta looks like herself again: a gaunt Phyllis Schafly wannabe.

  With a terrible knowing smile.

  Suddenly, SUZIE BUMPS INTO THE BACK OF THE VAN, with audience-jerking abruptness. She JUMPS, and suddenly Maggie and Quinn are there, introducing themselves.

  MAGGIE

  Hi. I’m Maggie. This is Quinn. We’re the Science team.

  QUINN

  Delighted.

  SUZIE

  Umm…Suzie. Hi.
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