|
ANGLE - SKULL COWBOY (EFFECT)
As the force of the storm dust-devils around him and begins to
disassemble him. The fire in his eye sockets goes out. His hat
flies off an is pulverized by the wind. The garments begin to
disintegrate and blow around, rotten cerements falling apart in
mid-air.
ANGLE - ERIC ON STEPS -- transfixed by this unexpected
development. A shard of the Skull Cowboy blows past Eric's face
and transmutes to dust!
RESUME SKULL COWBOY AT TOP OF STEPS (EFFECT)
Transparent, ancient bones, crumbling and blowing away.
ANOTHER ANGLE - ERIC ON STEPS
As Eric lunges for what's left of his mysterious, smart-ass
mentor
CLOSE-UP - ERIC'S LUNGING HAND
Meeting only a swirl of vaporous dust where the Skull Cowboy's
heart would have been.
TIGHT ANGLE - ERIC ON STEPS
He has time to register the dust in his palm before it, too,
renders down to nothingness, leaving a vague green glow that
dies. And as he looks to the sky --
UP ANGLE - THE CROW
flapping down to land on Eric's shoulder. Eric is astonished.
ERIC
But why are you still here?
CLOSE-UP - THE CROW
No answer in the crow's eyes.
RESUME AND FOLLOW ERIC
That's good enough for Eric. He marches to the double doors and
shoves them back.
INT. CHURCH - AS ERIC COMES THROUGH THE DOORS - NIGHT
The high breeze blows in with him, disturbing dust in the
disused Gothic dark. Hollow cathedral ECHOES to sounds. A
giant 27" TV positioned on the alter, broadcasting static.
LONG SHOT - ERIC AS HE APPROACHES THE ALTER - ("CROWVISION")
Leery of potential danger from a thousand dark places.
ANGLE - THE TV - AS ERIC ENTERS FRAME
Onscreen: Elly, gagged with duct tape and handcuffed to an iron
ring bolted to a flagstone wall. Could be anywhere inside the
church.
LAO (O.S./FILTERED)
I believe our friend Elly call
you Mister Crow.
(beat)
Please acknowledge; the mike
will pick you up.
ERIC
I can see her.
LAO
Of course you can.
ANGLE - GRANGE IN THE GALLERY -- in darkness. The running
lights on his night-scoped, laser-sighted sniper's rifle which
THROWS vague sprays of eerie red and green light.
LAO (CONT'D; O.S./FILTERED)
Don't permit your rage to cloud
the issue. I believe in barter.
I propose a simple trade.
Grange sights his weapon.
CROSSHAIR POV - ERIC AT THE ALTER
Bluring as Grange resights. Eric is not the target. Blur
FINDS the crow at the far end of the nave, perched in front of
a giant stained glass window.
NEW ANGLE - GRANGE -- squeezing off two quick, SILENCED shots.
ANGLE - STAINED GLASS WINDOW -- the first shot blows a hole in
some pastoral religious presentation. TINKLE of glass.
ANGLE - ERIC -- Spinning at the quiet !pfut! sound, to witness.
ANGLE - INCOMING DART - ("CROWVISION")
SPinning and hissing venomously.
ANGLE - ERIC DUCKS
As before, but the crow is not as fast.
TIGHT ANGLE - THE CROW
As it catches the dart and goes down in a flurry of feathers.
LOW ANGLE - ERIC AT ALTER - INCLUDE TV
His knees buckle. Sympathetic PAIN from the hit.
LAO (O.S./FILTERED)
You intended to finish this
evening in the cemetery. I am
here to help you on your way.
ANGLE - RESUMING GRANGE IN GALLERY
Swapping his tranquilizer gun for a more lethal rifle, similarly
scoped. He sights the fallen Eric in a spray of green light.
HIGH ANGLE - HAND HELD - ERIC AT ALTER
Groping for support to drag himself back to standing.
GRANGE (O.S.)
I've got him if you want him.
LAO (O.S./FILTERED)
No shooting.
GRANGE
(into headset)
Move in, guys.
HIGH ANGLE - THE SANCTUARY -- as Lao Guards #3 and #4 move
into light, closing on Eric's position in the center of isle.
Both wield calico's and one bears a sword.
CLOSE ANGLE - ALTER -- Lao makes his entrance from shadow
wearing a brisk pugilist get-up, a practical fighting outfit.
Makes a show of drawing the killing blade.
LAO
I wish to possess what you have now.
ERIC
I want the girl. Unharmed. Now.
LAO
I know. That is why I will
prevail. Mr. Grange... ?
Eric CRAMPS UP, CLUTCHING his throat in obvious pain.
ANGLE - GRANGE AT STAINED GLASS WINDOW
Holding the crow by the neck, TIGHTLY. He plucks the tranq dart
from the its body.
ANGLE - RESUMING ERIC AS LAO MOVES IN CLOSER
Crashing to one knee, invisibly bludgeoned, struggling to
breathe. Lao has no fear, walking around the stricken Eric.
LAO
Sooner or later, my action were
destined to bring me a genuine
Fury. And it turned out to be you.
At last. I appreciate your
abilities as few mortals can.
That's why I desire them.
ERIC
You're too late. There was a guy
outside - on the stairs - you
really need to talk to. But he
turned to dust and blew away.
(beat, gasping)
I don't have any power for you to take.
|
|
|
LAO
I don't believe that.
Lao motions to Grange with the killing blade. Grange RELAXES
his deathgrip on the crow. MOVE IN CLOSE on Eric so we may
perceive a palpable degree of relief.
LAO (CONT'D)
Time for you to die for me.
(beat)
Funny, how the dead can still
bleed. How they need air.
Eric IMMOBILIZED as Lao DRAWS BACK the Blade. To Grange:
LAO (CONT'D)
Break its neck.
ANGLE - RESUMING GRANGE AT WINDOW as he prepares to do dirty on
the bird.
Over his shoulder, we PUSH in to the BULLETHOLE from the first
dart until we're in TIGHT CLOSE-UP of an eye watching through
the hole.
EXT. CHURCH - OBVERSE OF WINDOW - NIGHT
Albrecht digs through a sling bag of weaponry, trying to
simultaneously monitor the peephole, muttering sotto to
himself.
ALBRECHT
Had to go get yourself hip-deep in
shit, didn't you, my friend.
It begins to rain. Albrecht glances resentfully toward the
sky.
ALBRECHT (CONT'D)
Give it a rest, huh?
A hefts a machinegun, clipped over and under. CUTS LOOSE on
full auto into the Madonna on the window.
INT. CHURCH NAVE - NIGHT
As the window EXPLODES toward Grange and he sucks big hits from
behind, DROPPING the crow. The bird hits the ground, flapping
weakly.
LAO GUARDS #3 & #4 exchange a look and whip up their Calicos,
RETURNING FIRE.
EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT
Albrecht takes cover as a lot of religious stuff is noisily
destroyed all around his position. Chunks of the window
continue to disintegrate.
INT. CHURCH ALTER (NIGHT)
Eric tuck-and-rolls out of the way as we go CLOSE on Lao,
screaming.
LAO
I said no shooting!
Then he's ducking bullets himself as Albrecht STEPS IN through
the blown out window, the machine gun stuttering on slugs.
The sanctuary comes apart around Lao. He RETREATS to the alter
and EXITS whence he came.
TIGHT ON PEW -- ERIC DIVES just as Guard #4 comes after him with
the sword, which chomps into the wood and gets stuck there.
Guard #4 releases it and cross draws his Calico as ERIC springs
back into the frame -- STRAIGHT UP.
TIGHT ON GUARD #4 as Eric's lancing foot propels him backward
before he can fire.
INTERCUTS -- ALBRECHT AND GUARD #3 scrambling to reload. Guard
changes magazine; Albrecht swaps clips.
ANGLE - DOWN LENGTH OF PEW -- Guard #4 slides. Sits up with his
gun as Eric, down-pew, grabs the sword.
ANGLE - ALBRECHT AT WINDOW firing now with a gun in each hand.
RESUME ERIC AND GUARD #4, who eats it from Albrecht's gunfire,
but not before he puts a round through Eric.
Eric staggers back from the impact but keeps his feet.
RESUME ALBRECHT as he tosses away the dry pistol. His machine
gun jams, he fights to get the clip.
ANGLE - GUARD #3 -- reloaded and rising, having caught Albrecht
dead-bang in the open by the window.
MOVING ANGLE - WITH ERIC -- A complex leap with the sword
flashing. He lands near Guard #3 and SLASHES UPWARDS, blade up.
CLOSE-UP - GUARD #3 -- screaming in pain, gaping DOWN O.S.
TIGHT ON ALBRECHT - looking UP, following the trajectory of
something AIRBORNE toward him.
CLOSE-UP - GUARD #3'S Calico spinning mid-air with Guard #3s
HANDS still attached, severed mid-forearm by Eric's devastating
strike.
ANGLE - ALBRECHT drops Guard #3 -- to REVEAL Eric in the
background. Eric salutes Albrecht with the tip of the sword.
WITH ALBRECHT as he moves into the nave, which has been torn
apart by gunfire. Hazy smoke. Two dead guys. And Eric.
ALBRECHT
You sorta looked like you might
need my help.
ERIC
This isn't your place. This isn't
your fight. And I don't need
your help.
ALBRECHT
You're welcome.
ERIC
Leave here. Don't do this. I
don't want you here.
ALBRECHT
The hell you say. This isn't just
about you any more.
Eric stares dead-on at Albrecht, acidly, then BREAKS the Guard's
sword, dropping the pieces and turning his back on Albrecht, who
pursues Eric to:
INT. SPIRAL STAIRCASE - TO BELL TOWER - NIGHT
The crow FLAPS UPWARD through the void. Eric grabs the thick
bellrope, testing it. A final look to Albrecht.
ERIC
Don't interfere.
ALBRECHT
You're bleeding, man. You can't
make it.
Eric shinnies up the bellrope, ignoring Albrecht.
ON ALBRECHT
Watching as Eric dissappears from view, fast.. Grumbles.
ALBRECHT
You won't mind if I just take the
stairs, then, smartass...
He hefts his arsenal bag of hardware and begins to plod up the
steps.
ANGLE - MOVING WITH ERIC ON THE ROPE -- A weird perspective of
speed climb. Zip! All the way to the top.
EXT - CHURCH ROOF - NIGHT
Slanted, shingled, slippery, dark. Lightning deep in the turbid
clouds. The crow circles as Eric RISES INTO FRAME.
ERIC
Here I am.
DOWNFRAME lightning STRIKES the ornate LIGHTNING ROD (large,
Victorian, lance-like) at the far end of the roof from the bell
tower.
SILHOUETTING Lao and Elly standing in front of it. Elly
flinches at the strike.
LAO
Can you fly, Crow man?
INT. BELLTOWER SPIRAL STAIRS - RESUMING ALBRECHT
He stops his ascent to light a cigarette.
ALBRECHT
I ain't cut out for this superhero
shit.
EXT. CHURCH ROOF - RESUMING LAO - NIGHT
Lao SNAPS Elly's free handcuff to the dimly glowing lightning
rod and advances, one foot on either side of the peak of the
roof, his blade brandished.
CLOSE MOVING SHOT - ERIC -- Hands up to grapple, but
weaponless. He spiders to meet Lao, suddenly PICKING UP SPEED
and RUNNING along the precarious peak.
Lao sees him coming, braces to strike, but Eric executes a BROAD
FLYING LEAP right over Lao's head.
ERIC LANDS, SLIPS, sprawls sideways, clinging to the peak of the
roof. Lao hurries in to slash with the blade, as Eric averts.
The steel RINGS. Eric converts his dodge into a low spin kick
that DUMPS Lao.
Eric SPREAD-EAGLES to keep from falling. Distantly, Lao
similarly saves himself.
NEW ANGLE -- THE FIGHT -- Here comes Lao, crabbing back toward
the peak. Eric ROLLS to Elly's position, GRABS the lightning
rod and tries to wrest it loose.
SIZZLE OF FLESH as Eric's hands are scorched: the metal is still
blue-hot.
MOVING WITH LAO as Eric battles to free the lightning rod. Lao
closes up distance, gives a warcry and prepares to swing as -
Eric WRENCHES the rod loose and turns to deflect Lao's blow.
The weapons spark as they meet... and there goes Elly, her
handcuff freed, SLIDING DOWN THE ROOF SLOPE.
ANGLE -- ROOF SLOPE -- WITH ERIC as he dodges Lao by using the
lightning rod to vault down to where Elly is about to slip off
the roof.
With the rod embedded in the roof, Eric hangs on, and elly hangs
on to Eric.
UP ANGLE -- LAO, a dark figure against the night sky, raising
the sword.
LAO
Face me!
Eric guides Elly to the top of one of the flying buttresses.
When he looks up, Lao is gone.
ANGLE - BELL TOWER -- Albrecht's head pokes up at last. Looks
around, finally spots Eric below and to the left. YELLS, serio-comic.
ALBRECHT
Is he dead yet?
INSERT - ALBRECHT'S HOLSTER as Lao's hand draws Albrecht's
gun quickly.
ANGLE - ALBRECHT AND LAO --Lao has blindsided Albrecht.
LAO
No. You are.
He jams the gun into the base of ALbrecht's neck and fires three times.
CLOSE ANGLE - ERIC - He's too far away to matter. Shock.
INSERT - ALBRECHT'S CIGARETTE as it rolls down the slope,
trailing sparks, snuffing out.
ANGLE - ERIC holding onto the lightning rod as lightning CUTS the
night above him.
ANGLE -- LAO AT BELL TOWER, triumphant and a bit wild, SHOUTING.
LAO
You've caused another death,
Mister Draven! The girl will die
as well -- because of you!
ANGLE - ELLY ON FLYING BUTTRESS
The base of a triangle - Lao, Eric, Elly.
ELLY
You go to hell, you pervert!
RESUME ERIC
Rage over the loss of Albrecht. He RISES, hurting but mad as
hell. GLARES UP toward Lao.
ERIC
And how many lives have you destroyed?
LAO
I took yours from you. Your
little girlfriend? I took hers,
too. Your meaningless, petty
life? I took it so that tonight
your existence might gain a
purpose. You're no avenger.
You're mine.
PUSH IN TIGHT ON ERIC.
Eyes alight with hatred for Lao.
ERIC
(to himself)
You're right, I'm not an avenger.
Not any more.
As lightning strikes, Eric Fires his gaze TOWARD THE SKY.
HIGH ANGLE - LAO ON ROOFTOP - ("CROWVISION")
SEEING the crash dive toward Lao through the row's eyes.
ANGLE - LAO ON ROOFTOP
As the crow wings down INTO FRAME and lights on Lao's head, CLAWING!
CLOSE-UP -- THE CROW ON LAO'S HEAD slashing with its claws.
Pecking out Lao's eyes.
WITH ERIC -- on the roofslope as he totters but maintains his
climb, the crow/Lao UPFRAME B.G.
RESUME LAO -- as the crow abandons him. Lao STAGGERS AND FALLS
down the roof - toward Eric.
SLANTED ANGLE -- ERIC AND LAO -- Eric ARRESTS Lao's fall,
fisting lapels and bringing him nose to nose. Fury.
ERIC
Time for a sacrifice.
Lao's face is a hideous bloody mask with black holes where the
eyes used to be. He smiles gruesomely.
LAO
I don't need eyes to take what I
want from you.
He EMBRACES Eric and RAMS the killing blade deep into Eric's
back!
ON ERIC as he looks down to see the blade protruding from his
sternum. Tight grimace. A lot of pain.
ERIC
Can you fly?
He pulls Lao into a BACKWARD ROLL down the roof, HOLDING HIM
TIGHT.
MOVING ANGLE -- INTERCUTS -- ERIC AND LAO FALL
Eric lands on his back, forcing the blade THROUGH himself and
INTO Lao. Eric completes the roll and KICKS Lao off INTO SPACE,
the killing blade still embedded in him!
WITH LAO as crashes, sliding, sprawling down PAST Elly's
position. Gets to his knees atop the flying buttress. Sees the
blade in his own chest.
CLOSE-UP - ELLY - she sees it all happen.
RESUME LAO - a regretful look toward Eric. He PLUMMETS off the
roof edge.
ANGLE - ERIC SLIDES DOWN ROOF -- He slows, stopping when Elly
is in frame. He clutches his own chest. Regards his own
shaking hand, drenched in his won blood. Glazed.
|
|
ON ELLY, as she finally gets the duct tape off her mouth, trying
to get to Eric. She flails and cries out.
ELLY
Don't let me fall!
CLOSE-UP -- their hands finally meet and GRASP TIGHT.
EXT. CEMETERY - NIGHT (LATER) (RAIN)
A low angle TRACKING SHOT (as when we first met Elly).
Eric's and Elly's feet pass graves. Eric's pace is slow, crippled,
limping. They STOP at a grave where elly BENDS INTO FRAME to steal
the flowers there.
Eric is bloody and out of it. She helps him walk.
ELLY
Now do you get to see her? Shelly, I mean.
ERIC
In a better place. I hope.
ELLY
You're not gonna come back, are you?
Eric's response is halting and uncertain. But he tries to give
her hope. He reaches for Shelly's ring around her neck, holds
it up to her.
ERIC
I don't know if I can. But you
have this... and you know where to come.
ELLY
You mean you'll, like' dig your way
out of the grave? Euww.
Eric is amused by this in spite of his grievous injuries.
He grasps Elly's face in his hands and bends, painfully,to kiss
her on the forehead.
ERIC
For you, I'll try. Promise.
MOVE WITH ERIC
Spent, empty, he holds the rose determinedly, but he's never
going to make it the few yards back to his own grave. So close.
His legs finally go and he collapses onto the humus. One
groping hand tries to drag him further.
ERIC
Leave me now.
ANGLE - ELLY
Tears on her face. She can't watch this. She TURNS and drops
the flowers on Shelly's grave.
ERIC'S POV - HIS OWN GRAVE
Still too far away to matter.
RESUME ERIC ON GROUND
He gives it up, his face sinking into the wet grass for a beat
before SHELLY'S HAND intrudes INTO FRAME to GRASP his hand.
No ethereal glow, no heavenly choir... just a near-dead Eric's
blank-faced astonishment, and he moves forward.
ANGLE - ELLY - SHELLY'S GRAVE BG
She struggles to get her hood up against the rain and roughly
wipes the moisture from her face with her sleeve. She turns
toward Eric's grave. Then, surprised, she looks close.
ANGLE - ERIC'S GRAVE
Eric is gone. The white rose lies neatly on the top of the
undisturbed earth there.
HIGH ANGLE - CEMETERY
Emphasizing that Elly is now ALONE in the graveyard.
LOW ANGLE on Elly, ROSE in the foreground --
She walks OFF. HOLD the rose.
CUT TO:
INT. DARLA'S APARTMENT - DAY (OVERCAST)
A grey day but no rain. Elly stands wistfully by the window,
her doll on standby. The apartment is in order and perhaps we
notice a few new items. Gabriel the cat, miraculously ALIVE, is
sprawled on a chair, licking himself. Darla BUSTLES INTO FRAME
B.G. Her wardrobe more upscale, her hair done. Her manner is
hectic but natural.
DARLA
Worktime, kiddo. First day, new
job, gotta go.
This does not get the expected smile from Elly.
DARLA (CONT'D)
You sure you're gonna be okay?
Elly turns from the window and NODS silently.
ELLY'S POV - OUTSIDE
The aforementioned grey day in the city.
ANGLE - DARLA AND ELLY AT THE WINDOW.
Darla comes up. Arm around Elly. Cheer up; he attitude much
more connected and loving. PUSH IN ON ELLY so we know she is
clutching SHelly's ring tightly in her hand. Darla looks past
Elly, out the window.
DARLA
At least it finally stopped
raining.
ELLY
It can't rain all the time.
Darla kisses Elly on the temple and it out the door. Elly OPENS
her hand to consider the ring. She looks back out the window --
ANGLE - THE CROW ON THE LEDGE
Elly is looking right at it. Same crow. We're positive. So is
Elly. It TAKES WING and flies away.
EXT. CEMETERY - DAY
An UP ANGLE from Eric's grave toward the tree as the crow FLIES
INTO FRAME and perches there, shucking water. PUSH IN on the
crow. Watching. Waiting.
SLOW FADE TO DEAD BLACK. FA
THE END
|
|
|
