Dark Quests (Three Screenplays)

by J. R. Rain

  CAMERA TIGHT on one of Draken’s cult members. The man suddenly jerks, his body spasming as if something has entered him. Possessing him. His shocked face morphs into that of a demon. His legs and arms stretch into blackened limbs, and great leathery wings blossom on his mottled back. The demon looks at the camera, opens its mouth wide, and hisses. It leaps high into the air, flying.

  WIDE ANGLE on the circle of rocks, as one by one all of Draken’s men turn into shrieking demons. All take flight, darting in and out of the stone megaliths.

  The demon that was once Draken, bellows loudly, its mouth opening impossibly wide on unhinged jaws. Now taking huge strides, it rushes toward Trey and Eve. Trey, using all his strength, smashes the rock down hard, and this time the chain breaks free. Eve rolls off the altar, and together they dash away. The demon is right behind them, its huge jaws snapping shut at their heals.

  TREY

  Split up!

  They do so. Eve angles off to the right—as Trey continues down the center of the massive ring of stones. With the creature right behind him, Trey suddenly stops running, realizing the futility of it. He turns and faces the demon. Like a crucifix he holds the Fourth Nail up before him.

  The demon roars, its mouth opening wide, poisonous saliva dripping from its black gums. Trey bravely stands his ground, except the Fourth Nail looks horribly inadequate compared to the fearsome creature before him.

  TREY

  C’mon, you big silver asshole.

  The demon appears cautious of the Fourth Nail, and circles Trey carefully, snorting steam, and leaving behind charred footprints in the grass. Trey continues to hold the Fourth Nail before him.

  TREY

  Does this make you nervous? C’mon!

  Give me your best shot!

  The demon suddenly spins, and its long scaly tail whips Trey, hurling him to the side, where he slams into an unmovable megalith. He promptly loses the Fourth Nail, which goes sailing out into the grass.

  Trey sits up, shaking his head. Blood pours from a head wound. We see what he sees: three hideous silver demons, a result of his blurred vision. Trey blinks hard.

  TREY

  As if one wasn’t bad enough.

  When his vision clears, the three creatures merge back into one.

  WIDE SHOT of the sky, as the winged demons, seemingly realizing Trey is now without the Fourth Nail, alter their flights and angle down towards him.

  CUT TO: Trey is up and on his feet. Soon he’s pressed against a stone wall. Trey looks desperately for Eve, finds her not far away.

  TREY

  The Nail, Eve! Look for the Nail!

  EXT. OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE OF STONES

  Eve moves off into the night, holding one of the cult member’s torches. She hunches over, sweeping the torch over the ground, searching for the Fourth Nail...

  EVE

  Now where the heck did you go?

  INT. WITHIN THE CIRCLE OF STONES

  Trey lures the demon away from Eve, running back to the center of the stones. The demon turns, following him.

  Trey spies some of the cult members’ automatic weapons. He grabs a rifle up, turns back to the demon and promptly fires. The weapon bucks wildly in his hand, as bullets impact the demon’s molten flesh. The bullets do little damage; indeed, they seem to melt on impact.

  Trey next turns the weapon onto the demons dive-bombing from above. The bullets do no harm, but at least cause them to veer away.

  EXT. OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE OF STONES

  Eve bends down, then triumphantly holds up the Fourth Nail.

  EVE

  Got you!

  INT. WITHIN THE CIRCLE OF STONES

  The silver demon slowly stalks Trey, until the antiquities thief is finally pinned against a massive stone megalith. Trey takes aim with the rifle, pulls the trigger...nothing. Didn’t matter; the gun was useless anyway. He hurls the weapon at the creature. The rifle bursts into flames before it even reaches the demon.

  Trey’s out of options: no place to run or hide. As the demon raises its clawed hand for the final blow, Trey makes the sign of the cross and closes his eyes.

  EVE

  Hey, asshole! Up here!

  WIDE SHOT on the circle of stones. We see that Eve has climbed to the top of the stone megalith. Her hair is billowing in the wind. The demon and Eve are now at about the same level. She flips the Fourth Nail over and holds it like a dagger. She cocks her arm back, ready to throw it. But hesitates. Trey watches all this from below.

  TREY

  Throw it, Eve!

  CAMERA TIGHT on Eve’s face, as the smoldering silver creature reflects in Eve’s beautiful eyes.

  THE CAMERA MOVES EVEN TIGHTER as we now hear a hissing, seductive voice in her ears. It seems that Eve has not fully escaped the curse of the coins. The voice, we realize, belongs to Draken.

  DRAKEN

  Join us, and the coins will be yours, too.

  CUT TO: Below, Trey realizes something is wrong. He dashes behind the megalith and begins climbing.

  CUT TO: The demon moves closer to Eve, poison dripping from its black gums.

  CUT TO: Trey appears at the top monument. The sky above is black with a swirling vortex of screeching, winged demons. Wind pummels Trey, but he stands his ground.

  TREY

  Give me the Nail, Eve!

  CAMERA TIGHT on Eve, as we once again hear the seductive voice that reaches her telepathically:

  DRAKEN

  Kill him, Eve. Kill him, for he stands

  between you and the coins.

  Eve’s pupil’s shrink to tiny pinpricks. The demon steps closer to her. Lightning flashes in the sky above. Trey moves along the top of the massive megalith, struggling to keep his balance.

  TREY

  Whatever he’s telling you, Eve, fight it.

  He will destroy you. He’s already

  destroyed himself.

  Back to Eve. Her pupils continuing shrinking. She glances back at the approaching Trey. Silver fire blazes in her eyes. The corners of her lips raise in a snarl.

  DRAKEN

  Kill him!

  Instead, she closes her eyes. Her long hair blows crazily in the wind. When she looks again at Trey, her demeanor has changed completely. She now looks like a frightened girl.

  EVE

  Please help me fight it, Trey!

  He approaches her cautiously, and as he does so, Eve Lashes out at him, plunging the Fourth Nail at his heart.

  Trey catches her wrist in mid-flight. She fights him, struggling like a woman possessed, as she very well is. Her eyes are alight with hate and supernatural fire.

  As she stares at him, her face just inches from his, emotions sweep across her features: horror, fury, shame. Finally, she drops the Fourth Nail, which clatters to the stone—

  The demon screeches and slashes with its claw, hurling Eve off the megalith, where she lands hard in the grass far below.

  Trey grabs the Fourth Nail and rolls sideways just as the demon’s fist pulverizes the rock beside him. The megalith shudders from the brute force. In fact, the massive stone block is cracking and splintering beneath Trey’s feet. The demon reaches back, ready for a final blow.

  Trey has but one choice. He dashes across the crumbling rock surface—leaps out into space, raises the Fourth Nail high overhead...and plunges it deep into the molten heart of the demon.

  The creature shrieks, clawing at its chest, as flames erupt from around the head of the Fourth Nail. The flames quickly spread...and soon engulf the entire demon.

  As Trey lands, tumbling, he watches as the being melts before his very eyes. Molten silver flows like rivers down into the ground, disappearing into the earth. Soon, all that is left is the charred remains of Senator Draken...and the scattered thirty Judas Coins.

  The smaller, flying demons stop in mid-flight...and burst into flames. They drop out of the sky like burning meteors, leaving behind black tendrils of smoke.

  When the smoke clears, Trey is at Eve’s side. Pro
foundly relieved to see her breathing. She looks up at him.

  EVE

  I’m so sorry, Trey.

  TREY

  It’s okay. It’s over.

  She weeps, burying her face into his chest. He holds her tightly.

  EXT. VATICAN CITY – DAY

  SUPERIMPOSED across the screen are the words: “VATICAN CITY.”

  Hordes of tourists flow in and out of the Vatican’s many architectural wonders.

  INT. OUTSIDE POPE’S PRIVATE OFFICE – DAY

  Trey and Eve are in a small waiting room. A door opens and the Camerlengo steps through.

  CAMERLENGO

  He will see you now.

  INT. POPE’S OFFICE – DAY

  The office of the most powerful religious figure in the world is ornately decorated. The Pope himself, dressed in a pristine white robe, is staring out his massive window which overlooks St. Peter’s Square.

  Trey and Eve sit in comfortable wingback chairs before a massive desk. Franzini is sitting nearby on a leather couch against the back wall. The Pope, a small man, projects both power and piety. He speaks in a heavy German accent.

  POPE

  We appreciate your help, both of you.

  Trey and Eve, both humbled to be in the presence of the Holy Father, merely nod. Trey, in particular, looks very nervous and uncomfortable, perhaps because of his chosen profession as a thief.

  POPE

  (to the Camerlengo)

  I trust they have been adequately

  reimbursed?

  CAMERLENGO

  The money has been deposited in a

  Bank of America for Miss Friday

  and a rather obscure Swiss account for

  Mr. Jordan.

  Trey gives the Pope a sheepish smile.

  POPE

  We now have the Judas Coins in our possession,

  secured in our safest of vaults. But there’s

  still one small matter.

  Trey and Eve look at each other nervously.

  POPE

  We have only twenty-nine coins.

  Where is the thirtieth?

  TREY

  The final coin appears to have been,

  ah, misplaced.

  FLASHBACK – LOCH ENDES

  We are back on the Scottish loch. Trey and Eve are in a speed boat. Behind them is the smoky ruins of the Circle of Stones, where Draken has just been defeated.

  Trey and Eve lean out over the railing of the boat. Eve is holding the thirtieth coin and is looking very reluctant. Trey pats her reassuringly; after all, Eve has been dealing with her own inner demons when it comes to these cursed coins. Eve finally sighs and tosses the coin into the loch. Trey hugs her and kisses her, as she watches the coin flashing down through the water until it disappears from view.

  INT. DEEP WITHIN THE LOCH

  The silver coin drifts down through the dark water, see-sawing as it goes. It hits the sandy bottom, where it glitters brightly. Immediately the silt washes over it, half-burying the coin.

  POPE (V.O.)

  Then let’s pray we never see it again.

  A large silver trout, attracted to the glittering light, suddenly swallows the coin whole. The fish flips its tale, and disappears into the murky darkness.

  BACK WITHIN THE POPE’S OFFICE – PRESENT DAY

  CAMERLENGO

  Now, Mr. Jordan, would you like to

  see your father? You have fulfilled your

  end of the agreement.

  Trey sucks in some air. Lets it out slowly. Eve takes his hand in hers and squeezes.

  TREY

  I thought you’d never ask.

  EXT. STREETS OF ROME – DAY

  Outside, in a stretch limo, Trey puts his arm around Eve. She snuggles close and they kiss.

  TREY

  I thought you didn’t kiss thieves.

  EVE

  I’ll make an exception this time.

  As they kiss again, she frowns and pulls away. She probes inside his jacket...and removes an ornate, golden cross, clearly stolen from the Vatican. She holds it up, mouth hanging open.

  TREY

  (mischievous, shrugging)

  For good luck.

  Eve shakes her head in utter disbelief. She changes the subject.

  EVE

  So, what are you going to say to

  your father after all of these years?

  Trey turns and stares off into the middle distance. He sets his jaw firmly.

  TREY

  I’m going to tell him to get ready.

  EVE

  To do what?

  TREY

  To go home.

  INT. VATICAN HALLWAYS

  The Pope is shuffling along with his cane, deep in thought, when he pauses. On the wall next to him is the faint outline of what is clearly a missing cross. He shakes his head, grins, and mutters a small prayer. He continues on.

  INT. PRISON CORRIDORS – NIGHT

  A key turns a rusted lock. Tumblers fall into place. A pale hand turns a lever, pushes a heavy door open, which groans on ancient hinges. Water drips from somewhere.

  INT. PRISON CELL – NIGHT

  A splash of light reveals an old man lying on a cot. The man sits up slowly, blinking hard. Stares at a tall man silhouetted in the doorway, who looms over him like a specter from a nightmare, face hideously deformed. Or not. The man in the doorway reaches up and removes a black gas mask, revealing our hero, Trey Jordan.

  TREY

  You ready, father?

  DAMON JORDAN

  I thought you’d never come.

  Trey laughs and tosses his father a similar gas mask. In the background, sirens begin wailing; lights flash everywhere. A voice speaking in Italian blares over a sound system. Trey looks at his watch.

  TREY

  We should hurry, pops, we have reservations

  tonight at eight. Best Italian bistro in town.

  DAMON JORDAN pulls on his own gas mask. Together, he and his son leave the cell, stepping over the slumped bodies of unconscious prison guards as they go. A smoky haze drifts in the air, spewing from various canisters. The men dash off through an arched doorway, as sirens continue to wail and lights flash.

  FADE OUT

  Return to the Table of Contents

  LOST EDEN

  Copyright © 2010 by J.R. Rain

  All rights reserved.

  Acknowledgment

  Once again, I would like to to thank Sandy Johnston for her wonderful help.

  Lost Eden

  FADE IN:

  A Bible verse appears on the screen, scrolling slowly up from the bottom:

  Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever.” So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which flashed back and forth, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.

  —Genesis 3:22-24

  SUPERIMPOSED on the screen are the words: ‘SUCCREA, OMAN.’

  EXT. OMANIAN DESERT – DAY

  A lifeless desert. Dry sands. Windblown dunes. A place known as “The Empty Quarter”, except it isn’t entirely empty—

  A makeshift bleacher has been erected seemingly in the middle of nowhere. A row of gleaming Bentleys and Mercedes contrast with heavily-laden pack animals. Stretching before the bleacher is a straight-away race track—the kind used for camel races. And at the starting gate are, indeed, a dozen or so unruly camels, all mounted by what appears to be very very little jockeys.

  The whole place is humming with activity. Rich sultans sit high in the stands. Servants using umbrellas to shield them from the heat and sun. Rich or poor, all are eager for the camel race to begin.

  EXT. AT THE STARTING GATE – DAY

  TIGHT SHOT of a pair of rough hands tightly securing one of the jockeys to the camel itself, using leather straps. Interestingly, there’s no saddles. The jockeys themselves
are secured straight to the camel. As the pair of hands tightens the leather straps, the little jockey inadvertently gasps in pain. It’s a girl’s voice.

  TIGHT SHOT on the jockey’s face, and only now do we realize that the rider is a very young girl. Twelve-year-old Tessla is beautiful and exotic. She’s a Bangladeshi, like many of the jockeys here. And like the others here, she was kidnapped or purchased at a very young age and forced to partake in the Omanian camel races.