The Urban Creepers
Page 5
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.