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Fanfiction
II-4 - Dancing With The Devil
written by Collin J.H. Chang
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About this story
Published: 1997 | Size: 32 KB (6222 words) | Language: english | Rating: RWaiting for 5 votes before displaying rating information.
A MSCL and "John Constantine, Hellblazer" crossover
based on stories and characters created by Winnie Holzman
THE STORY THUS FAR:The Three Fallen Brothers of Hell are ever so close to dragging Rayanne's soul to The Abyss. And he amongst them who does rules Hell. Last episode dramatically climaxed with Rayanne's estranged father sticking a magnum in his mouth and blowing his brains out after Angela revealed to the First of the Fallen Brothers just how much he meant to the "Woman/Child."
Well, the shit's about to hit the fan, as Angela tries to make amends for her betrayal, Jordan tries to stop her and Rayanne makes the most foolish decision of all: To descend to Hell to rescue the soul of her father. Mysteries are revealed, allegiances are struck and, before it's all said and done, Rayanne will learn the darkest secret in the Universe!
INT. BIG GUY BURGER - DAY
BRIAN KRAKOW and THE PENCIL GIRL sit at a booth with their textbooks open.
BRIAN
Okay, see, the whole point of the Myth
of Orpheus is that once someone's dead,
they're, like, dead, and you shouldn't,
you know, go to rescue them, because
it's against the will of the gods, and
you'll just get burnt. Does that, like,
make sense to you?
The PENCIL GIRL sits across from him, mesmerized by his every word. She holds a PENCIL in her hand, unconsciously rubs it with her fingers. Slowly, almost unconsciously, she lowers the pencil below the table top.
PENCIL GIRL
You make it so easy to understand. Is
anything ever hard on you -- I mean,
hard with you -- I mean, do you ever
have a hard time with anything?
She stares at Brian, and her shoulder begins to twitch as she does something, though we can't see it, with her wrist under the table.
BRIAN
Is something wrong? You're, like,
twitching.
PENCIL GIRL
Oh, no no no. Stay just like that.
Keep your face at _just_ that angle...
don't move...that's perfect...
perfect...
Suddenly, RICKIE VASQUEZ bursts into the joint, killing the moment.
BRIAN
Rickie, what are you -- ?.
RICKIE
Have you seen Rayanne?
BRIAN
No. Why, is she, like, in trouble?
RICKIE
Angela doesn't know where she is. I
mean, I just learned that her father --
Rickie notices the Pencil Girl.
RICKIE
Hi.
PENCIL GIRL
Hi.
(a beat)
He's helping me with my World Lit paper.
Brian smiles sheepishly.
RICKIE
(politely)
Uh, yeah?
PENCIL GIRL
It's on the Myth of Orpheus. And he
makes it so fascinating.
BRIAN
It's really pretty simple. You see,
Orpheus was a legendary Greek singer
rumored to be the son of the God
Apollo, and Calliope, the Muse, which
is where he got his ability to sing.
RICKIE
His father was a God?
BRIAN
Yeah. Which explains why he was so,
you know, arrogant. You see, his
lover was killed, and she was sent to
Hell, for, like eternity. And against
the wishes of his father and all the
other gods, Orpheus descends to Hell
to rescue her, by, like, making a deal
with the gods down there.
RICKIE
Wow. That sounds --
BRIAN
Oh my God. That reminds me. You
would not believe what I saw Angela
Chase do last night.
INT. RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL - DAY
GEORGE CATALANO
sits in his hospital room watching television, the windows shuttered, his shoulder still bandaged from his gunshot wound. Suddenly, the bowling match he's watching goes black.
GEORGE CATALANO
What the fu -- ?
He hits the remote control on his bedside, but nothing happens. Suddenly, the screen glows an eerie green, and A FACE appears. It's the SECOND OF THE FALLEN.
THE SECOND
I have need of you, George Catalano.
GEORGE CATALANO
What the fu -- ? Who the Hell -- ?
THE SECOND
I am the Second of the Fallen Brothers
who now rule The Abyss. And I am one
who can ease your pain.
GEORGE CATALANO
My pain? Shoulder's a lot better 'n
it was when I got here, that's fer
Goddamn sure.
THE SECOND
That is not the pain of which I speak --
though that, too, will be eased.
GEORGE CATALANO
It will, huh? And what do you get out
of it?
THE SECOND
A small thing only, George Catalano...
the destruction of your son.
GEORGE CATALANO
The kid? Damn it, what's he done now?
THE SECOND
The threat lies in that which he may do.
The one named Angela Chase will soon foray
into The Abyss, seeking to save her thrice
damned friend, the Woman Child -- Graff
herself.
GEORGE CATALANO
Yeah? That Chase chick? Cute little
redhead?
THE SECOND
Like one who came before him, your son
will venture into hell in a foolish
attempt to save her, even as she attempts
to save her friend. It has been foreseen.
I have need of the Chase girl. Thus, she
must not be swayed from her descent into
Hell.
GEORGE CATALANO
If it's so Goddamn foolish, why do you
need my help?
THE SECOND
The one who came before -- the son of
Apollo -- did nearly succeed. Strange
are the ways of human love -- even in
Hell. Thus, the bargain: Your son's
destruction to save that which you most
value -- yourself.
GEORGE CATALANO
Let me get this straight -- I destroy my
kid to save myself? And I get a brand
new shoulder to boot?
THE SECOND
Yes.
GEORGE CATALANO
Hell...I almost killed that kid a couple
times growin' up. And this bullet wound
might throw off my bowling arm. So you
got yerself a deal. Only, how come you
don't kill my kid yerself? What do you
need me for?
THE SECOND
We of The Abyss are not allowed to tamper
with human life except to tempt and to
deceive.
GEORGE CATALANO
Anything you say, buddy. Just remember
your side of the deal...but tell you
what -- how's about a down payment right
now so's I can do the job?
Suddenly, there's a HOT RED GLOW on George Catalano's shoulder, and he winces. Then, the pain is gone.
GEORGE CATALANO
(feeling his shoulder)
Hey. It's gone. Jesus, you weren't
gold-bricking, were ya?
THE SECOND
Not quite Jesus... Now, go and do as
I have commanded...
INT. RESTAURANT HOLOGRAM - NIGHT
GRAHAM CHASE AND HALLIE LOWENTHAL
stand inside the restaurant's walk-in refrigerator.
GRAHAM
Hallie, I always loved that...poor
thing. I always bought the best food
for it. She always _hated_ that poor
creature! It always hid from her.
HALLIE
Graham, sweety, a dead animal does not
mean someone's returned from the grave.
You know, you're just like Brad. You're
both willing to believe anthing at the
drop of a dime.
GRAHAM
Hallie -- ! Who in their right mind
would break in here, just to -- to
plant that...that poor thing?
PULL BACK TO REVEAL
A STIFF, FROZEN BLACK CAT
that's been chopped into a dozen pieces, then sewn back together with black thread, like a patchwork. It stands on a shelf in the fridge, frozen on its hind legs, front paws groping for freedom, it's maw wide open in a final, desperate "Meow!"
GRAHAM
I don't know how, Hallie. And I don't
want to believe it...but Patty's back.
Suddenly, there's a sound of something SLIDING ON THE FLOOR. Hallie and Graham turn to look at the door of the restaurant, hold their breath.
BLISTER SISTER,
formerly known as DANIELLE CHASE, comes sliding in like a slug. 95% of her skin has been burned off, and is as black as coal, her eyes are burned shut and her arms have melded to her sides, so she resembles a garden slug more than a human being.
HALLIE
Oh my God, it's Danielle!
GRAHAM
Who?
HALLIE
Danielle, your daughter? Your youngest?
Can't you smell her burned flesh?
GRAHAM
Oh! That's right! Danielle! Danielle,
did you cut your hair?
BLISTER SISTER
(straining)
Nnnnoooo...
GRAHAM
How did you get here?
BLISTER SISTER
Moooommmm...moommm drove me...
HALLIE
Your mother drove you? Are you sure
of that, Danielle?
GRAHAM
Of course she is, Hallie, it's her
mother.
HALLIE
But she _did_ burn her eyes shut.
GRAHAM
Emanuel, where's your mother now?
HALLIE
It's "Danielle."
GRAHAM
Oh, yeah.
BLISTER SISTER
Ooouutsideee...
She points her nose in the direction of the front door. Graham and Hallie follow her nose, then look at each other. They race outside.
THE CHASE'S TAURUS WAGON
sits outside, but no sign of Patty.
GRAHAM
This is our car, Hallie, but how'd it
get here? Michelle can't drive.
HALLIE
You mean Danielle.
GRAHAM
Who?
HALLIE
Danielle. Your daughter. The youngest
one?
GRAHAM
Oh, yeah. Right.
That's when Graham notices the FOOTPRINTS in the snow near the driver's side door. They're BLOODY FOOTPRINTS that walk off into the distance.
GRAHAM
Hallie...
HALLIE
Oh my God...
EXT. LOUIE'S - NIGHT
RAYANNE GRAFF
sits on a wall outside the teen hangout, drinking from a half empty bottle of Jack Daniel's. Rickie walks up to her, sits next to her. She doesn't say a word, just takes another chug.
RICKIE
Rayanne. You've been, like, impossible
to find. So are you, I mean, is every-
thing -- ?
A beat. Rayanne punctuates the silence with another chug of the Jack.
RICKIE
Angela was sort of worried about you...
I mean, I was, too.
RAYANNE
(laughs)
You mean Angela stopped thinking about
Catalano long enough to actually, like,
worry about me? That's laughable.
RICKIE
(points to the whiskey)
Is that...the best thing to do?
RAYANNE
If you mean for the baby, we're, like,
celebrating, here. Cause her dream
finally came true.
RICKIE
"Dream?" What dream? Rayanne, I -- I
don't --
RAYANNE
Because last night she, like, lost her
grandfather -- which means now she'll
never have to worry about him locking
her in the basement or, you know,
beating the shit outta her when she
accidentally spills her food. Espe-
cially on the new linoleum tile he
spent twelve hours a day breaking his
back to afford.
She laughs, takes another swig of the Jack.
A DARK CLAD FIGURE
watches them briefly from around a corner, then turns and quietly walks away.
RICKIE
Rayanne, I -- I know how you feel. I
mean, I don't know. But this won't...
solve anything.
(a beat)
I'm sorry about your father.
RAYANNE
What are _you_ sorry about? It's not
like you stuck the gun in his mouth
and made him pull the trigger, or
anything.
RICKIE
No.
RAYANNE
And speaking of gunshots, have you
heard the news? Jordan's gonna be
just fine.
RICKIE
Yeah, I...heard.
RAYANNE
Angela's, like, doing cartwheels.
RICKIE
(a beat)
Rayanne, Angela might be in trouble.
RAYANNE
Whatta you mean Angela's in trouble?
How can she be in trouble?
RICKIE
Brian told me that he saw her, sort of,
make a deal with -- with a demon from
Hell. I mean, you know, in exchange
for Jordan's healing.
RAYANNE
What -- ? Angela made a deal? With
a demon from -- ?!
A long beat. Almost an eternity. You can hear the world spin.
RAYANNE
The Oracle. He told me if those demons
got to dad first -- !
Suddenly, Rayanne's jaw tightens, and her face hardens into a solid rock of fury. She throws her Jack Daniels to the ground, SMASHES it to a thousand shards, then begins walking away.
RICKIE
Rayanne, what are you -- ? Where are
you going?
RAYANNE
(cold)
To see a "friend."
(a beat)
Thanks.
RICKIE
(under his breath)
You're welcome.
Rickie watches as she leaves, a tightly wound ball of fury.
INT. JORDAN'S ROOM - NIGHT
Angela gently lowers Jordan into his bed.
ANGELA
So, do you want another pillow, or
something?
JORDAN
(weak)
I... I need...
ANGELA'S VOICE
You need me to care for you for the
rest of your life. You'll die if I'm
not there for you, at your bedside,
every waking moment...
JORDAN
...to prop my leg up.
She grabs a cushion, places it under his leg, begins tucking him in.
JORDAN
(with an effort)
You don't have to...
ANGELA
I don't mind. I mean, you know, you
sort of need the help.
JORDAN
(slow smile)
Have sex with me, then...that's how
you can help.
ANGELA
What?!!
(laughing)
You must be feeling better!
JORDAN
It's been, like, forever since I touched
you. I may be weak, but I'm not dead.
ANGELA
(serious)
No...no, you aren't.
Jordan looks at her, his face deadly serious.
ANGELA
You're serious -- ! Are you demented?!
(touches his hair)
Go to sleep.
He smiles, turns to the side, shuts his eyes. Angela steps back, watches him drift into much-needed rest.
RAYANNE (O.S.)
Were you happy?
Startled, Angela jerks around. RAYANNE stands in the doorway. If looks could kill...
ANGELA
(nervous)
Ray - Rayanne...
RAYANNE
(coldly)
I guess you weren't expecting me.
AMGELA
I -- I didn't --
RAYANNE
Didn't what?
A beat. Angela takes a deep breath.
ANGELA'S VOICE
When you've betrayed someone, someone
who means a lot to you, there's, like,
this thing that sort of hangs in the
air between you, like a huge umbrella,
or a clock radio, or something.
Rayanne lifts her whiskey flask to her lips, chugs it. She looks at the sleeping Jordan.
RAYANNE
So -- was he worth it? Was he worth
EVERYTHING you did for him?
ANGELA
Rayanne, I -- I can't explain it...
Rayanne turns away, walks into the hall. Angela follows her. Jordan lifts his head, straining to hear them.
ANGELA
It -- it wasn't something I -- !
RAYANNE
(suddenly turns)
I'll bet you just couldn't wait to go
to them with the deal!
ANGELA
NO -- ! That's not the way it was! I
I can't explain it... It -- it's not
going to sound right --
RAYANNE
Don't even try.
(a beat)
Why didn't you _trust_ me, Angela?
ANGELA
(flaring)
I trusted you once! And you -- !
An awkward beat of silence. Angela's face turns into a prune.
ANGELA
I'm sorry, that's not what I -- !
RAYANNE
You're sorry?! What a crock -- !
ANGELA
I feel so horrible about what I've
done to you, Rayanne!
RAYANNE
You?! Did to me?! Angela, I lost
nothing. A soul already on the brink;
a dad I never really had. I lost
nothing.
(a beat)
But you... He gets your soul too, now.
Your innocent soul. Didn't you know
that?
ANGELA
Yeah... I sorta figured that.
RAYANNE
You lost everything.
Angela begins her lip-quivering thing.
RAYANNE
You've damned us both -- to buy life
for Jordan Catalano! I'm going to
Hell for my dad, and you're going
there for a guy whose not even yours.
Real brilliant, Angelika.
ANGELA
I had to do it. I had to! Tell me
what I can do to make things right,
Rayanne...
She laughs, cold and bitter.
RAYANNE
Haven't you already done enough?
She leaves. Angela covers her face, begins to cry. She goes back into Jordan's room, looks at him. He appears to be sleeping. She lightly brushes his hair, then turns and leaves the room swiftly, racing out of the house.
EXT. AMISH FARMHOUSE - RURAL PENNSYLVANIA - NIGHT
LIGHTNING FLARES. THUNDER shakes the vast acre of land the farmhouse sits upon. AN AMISH MAN (ELI) walks towards a stable. He holds something in his hands. His DAUGHTER (RACHEL) grabs him, tries to hold him back, crying hysterically.
RACHEL
(Dutch accent)
Please, father, please -- ! She'll be
fine in the morning! Just wait until
the sun rises! You'll see...
Now we see what's in his hands. It's a LARGE AXE.
ELI
(Dutch accent)
I'm sorry, Rachel. It is the only way.
She'll pass the fever to the others.
He pushes past his grieving daughter, walks up to a SNOW WHITE COLT that's lying on her side, obviously with fever. He raises the AXE high above his head, swings it hard, swift! At that exact moment a peel of THUNDER rings out, and Rachel SCREAMS, covers her eyes.
A HAND
lashes out, lightning quick, stops Eli in mid-swing.
ELI
Who -- ?!
The Hand belongs to A TALL MAN, darkly dressed.
TALL MAN
Stay your hand.
ELI
Who are you! What are you -- ?!
The Tall Man releases Eli's wrist, looks at the Colt.
TALL MAN
What am I doing. _Good_ question. I'm
saving her life. She doesn't have to
die. That would be a shameful waste of
such a beautiful creature, don't you
agree?
The Tall Man kneels, and touches the Colt. Rachel quietly watches, takes a deep breath. Suddenly, as if through a miracle -- for that is what it is -- the Colt shakes her head, kicks her legs, NEIGHS, and then, amazingly, rises, completely healed.
RACHEL AND ELI
walk up to the Colt, touch it. They're amazed. Rachel turns back to the Tall Man -- but he's gone! Only the peeling of THUNDER marks his departure.
EXT. AN OLD, ABANDONED CHURCH - TENESSEE AVENUE - NIGHT
GRAHAM AND HALLIE
follow the BLOODY FOOTSTEPS into the church. The FOOTPRINTS continue down into the basement. They follow them.
HALLIE
Graham, it's a prank. This is some-
body's sick idea of a joke!
GRAHAM
A joke, Hallie? Who in their right
mind would -- ?
HALLIE
Wake up and smell the sour grapes!
Jealous chefs, rival restaurants,
neighborhood -- !
Suddenly, a Black Cat races past, stops in front of them. It's got something in its mouth.
A HUMAN FINGER
still wearing its WEDDING RING.
GRAHAM
Oh my God, Hallie...
HALLIE
Graham, is that what I -- ?
GRAHAM
That -- that's Patty's...wedding ring.
HALLIE
Which means that must be -- !
They look at each other, take a deep breath.
HALLIE
We've have to catch that animal!
Graham and Hallie slowly approach the Black Cat, which suddenly races down a stone stairway.
HALLIE
No -- ! Little bitch -- !
The Stairway leads to an ancient, moss covered maze of CATACOMBS under the church. The Cat races through the catacombs, the FINGER with Patty's wedding ring tightly between its jaws.
HALLIE
Graham, catch that damn beast!
GRAHAM
Hallie, I'm trying to! I'm not -- !
Hallie runs into Graham's back. She pushes him aside.
HALLIE
You are such a wimp! I may run like
a girl, but I can still run faster
than you!
The Cat races through a small hole in a wall. Hallie strains to see where it ran.
GRAHAM
Look, it's gone, okay? We'll never --
Hallie, that's its dinner. All evidence
of Patty's finger will be...catnip by
tomorrow.
HALLIE
Do you get your M.O. from dime novels?!
If anyone digs around here long enough,
they'll find a human bone with a wedding
ring on it. Your wife's wedding ring!
Capeesh?
A beat, as Graham puzzles over this.
GRAHAM
But Hallie, we're not going to -- !
Hallie gets on her hands and knees. With a sigh, Graham follows suit. They crawl through the tiny hole in the wall. It's a dead end, buttressed with a stone wall. A torch burns on the far wall, creating eerie, shimmering shadows throughout the crypt.
THE CAT
sits in the corner, gnawing away at Patty's finger. Hallie creeps up to it.
HALLIE
Here, kitty kitty kitty...
Suddenly, it leaps up, and claws her face! Then it races into a dark corner of the make-shift crypt.
HALLIE
Owww!!! Come here, you oversized
rat -- !
She turns to race after the cat, when a VOICE speaks from the darkness.
VOICE
Do you two always fight like this?
PATCHWORK PATTY
steps out of the darkness, her body a patchwork of parts sewn back together with black suture. Hallie covers her mouth, gasps! Graham's knees buckle.
HALLIE
Oh my God...
GRAHAM
Patty...I -- I have a confession to
make...I haven't been completely
honest with you...
PATTY
There's no need for that, honey.
Since you two want to be together so
badly, I will be totally, one hundred
percent supportive. I just want to
see that you two get your wish!
As she says this, she rolls a HUGE ROUND STONE over the hole in the wall, sealing them in.
PATTY
Don't worry -- you're not going to
suffocate. There are hairline cracks
in the masonry. And you're not going
to starve, either. Or, at least, you
don't have to.
(to Graham)
I know how you'd hate that! I have a
surprise for you.
She unveils a stack of FROZEN TV DINNERS in one corner of the alcove. Graham makes a naseaus face.
PATTY
Oh, I know how these disgust you. So
I've prepared a special treat for you --
Oh, it's so exciting!
She unveils a small branch of CILLANTRO leaves.
PATTY
Cillantro. Perfect for garnishing your
favorite dish, Graham!
Patty looks at Hallie.
HALLIE
Oh, god...
With a flourish, Patty pulls aside a curtain, revealing a chopping block, a butcher knife, a set of razor sharp steak knives and an oven.
GRAHAM
Patty...you can't...this is inhuman.
He looks at Hallie, then at the Cillantro, then back to Patty.
GRAHAM
You know how much I love kidney pie!
PATTY
You've got three choices, honey. You
can either starve, you can have tv
dinners... Or you can have your favor-
ite dish! Your choice.
HALLIE
This isn't happening...
With that, Patty walks right through the wall, like a ghost.
PATTY
(as she vanishes)
And don't leave a mess for me to clean
up tomorrow morning!
EXT. ALLEY OUTSIDE 'LET'S BOLT' - NIGHT
Rayanne sits against the wall in the alley, in a spot where the snow hasn't touched. She's dressed warmly, but still shivers against the cold. She's nursing another bottle of Jack Daniels that's more than half empty.
THE DARK CLAD FIGURE
that spied on her earlier appears at the mouth of the alley. Rayanne looks up, an alcoholic stupor clouding her vision. As the Figure comes closer, it turns into a NUN.
RAYANNE
(half drunk)
It's a little late for cofession,
Sister. He'll be coming soon, for
my soul and all, and there's, like,
nothing I can do about it. No
sliding around it. No last second
steals. I've already, like, pulled
all my aces.
A beat. The Nun takes a step closer, but a shadow cast by the hood of her habit hides her face.
THE NUN
Remember, everything must have balance.
Put things back as they were, and all
shall be in harmony once more.
RAYANNE
What -- ? I don't -- ?!
The Nun turns, begins walking away. Rayanne stands, with an effort, tries to follow her, stumbles drunkenly once, gets up again.
RAYANNE
Wait -- ! What do you mean by --
The Nun turns a corner, and vanishes into thin air. She leaves no footprints in the snow.
RAYANNE
-- balance?
Rayanne stands there, fast becoming sober.
RAYANNE
"Put things back as they -- "
Suddenly her face lights up as if she swallowed a flare. She puts a finger to her temple.
RAYANNE
Oh my God -- ! That's it! Balance!
"And all shall be in harmony once more!"
She gasps deeply, joyfully. Then, she knits her brow, races around the corner, through the snow, shouts to the empty night air:
RAYANNE
Wait -- !
(under her breath)
Who are you?!
INT. CHURCH - NIGHT
An old church in downtown Pittsburgh. Angela Chase kneels before the altar, which is dark except for a single votive candle.
ANGELA'S VOICE
I've always had this, like, fear of
Churches, or something. My mother once
told me God is always there, and He's
always listening. That is, like, the
scariest thought, because I would just
die, or something if He heard, like,
half my thoughts.
She looks up.
ANGELA
Please God...I know I've made a bargain
with a demon, and I've done a million
other bad things, including not quite
believing in you, but please...help
me to save Rayanne...and myself...
She takes a deep breath.
ANGELA
Who am I kidding? It's too late,
isn't it?
She shuts her eyes. Then, from behind the altar:
VOICE
Maybe not.
Angela looks up, startled. There's a sound from the altar. She holds her breath. BRIAN walks out from behind the altar and she jumps.
ANGELA
God -- ! Don't do that, Brian! You
scared me.
BRIAN
That is, like, so ironic. You're not
afraid to make a deal with this, like,
demon from Hell, but I scare you?
ANGELA
Shut up!
BRIAN
I saw you, Chase.
ANGELA
Saw what, Brian? What did you see?
BRIAN
I saw...the terrible thing you did...
to Rayanne.
ANGELA
(a beat)
What do you mean?
BRIAN
Angela, I saw you. I saw the choice
you made...for Jordan. I mean, it
was obvious what you were doing.
ANGELA
What, were you, like, spying on me,
Krakow?! Am I, like, your world?!
BRIAN
Shut up! I mean, I can partly under-
stand, you know, why you did it.
ANGELA
YOU COULD NEVER UNDERSTAND, BRIAN!!!
BRIAN
HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT?!!
A beat, as the church echoes with Brian's shout.
BRIAN
"Oh, that Brian, he never understands
anything." "Don't worry about Brian, he
doesn't have any feelings." Only I do.
And I understand what it's like -- to
have something...and then to lose it.
They stare at each other, openly, for the first time since their encounter at Riverside Cemetery.
ANGELA
(a beat)
And now nothing can change...what I did.
BRIAN
You mean...the choice you made?
ANGELA
Yes. For Jordan.
BRIAN
(a beat)
Nothing?
There's a long silence between them.
ANGELA
(deep breath)
Brian, I made the decision for Jordan
the night he almost died. I guess it
was more of an unconscious wish, than
a choice.
Brian takes a deep breath, then looks away. Angela stands, begins walking towards the exit.
ANGELA
But there's still time to make it
right. There's still time to save
Rayanne.
She bolts. After a beat Brian follows after her.
BRIAN
Angela, wait -- !
EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT
He races outside, but she's gone.
EXT. RIVERSIDE CEMETERY - NIGHT
Rayanne stands at the open gate of the graveyard, illuminated only by the moonlight. She knocks back a mouthful of the Jack Daniels she's nursing.
A ROARING SOUND. It's a '69 WHITE CAMARO leaving the graveyard. R.E.M.'s CRUSH WITH EYELINER blasts out the windows, at about a million decibels. A DRUNK GUY leans out the window, shouts at Rayanne as the car drives past.
DRUNK GUY
Hey, Graff! Wanna roll on a grave?!
RAYANNE
Shut up...
Rayanne walks into the middle of the cemetery. Suddenly, a BLACK PILLAR OF FLAME explodes from the ground, rises high. There's a smell of sulfer and coal.
RAYANNE
What took you?
THE FIRST
The first ten thousand years, the depths
of pain your father can endure shall I
explore, through every possible angle of
evisceration. Just a beginning, will
that be. Broken will he become. Forced
to live through scenarios, fantasies he
has harbored deep within, of ripping your
one year old body asunder...
RAYANNE
Just cut to the Goddamn chase -- !
THE FIRST
What I offer, you very well know...
RAYANNE
It's not like I have to be Alex Trebek,
or anything.
THE FIRST
Do you accept the terms?
RAYANNE
On one condition. You throw Angela
Chase into the mix. You give up
your right to her soul as well.
THE FIRST
Impossible -- ! A fair exchange for
your father have I already advanced!
RAYANNE
Then no dice, Kimosabe.
A beat. Rayanne pushes the envelope a bit further.
RAYANNE
I mean, daddy wasn't exactly Mike
Brady, know what I mean?
THE FIRST
(a beat)
My own conditions, has The First.
RAYANNE
Yeah? You gonna give with 'em, or
are we gonna play, like, The Dating
Game?
THE FIRST
That I be allowed to retain the Chase
girl's essense. Sweet, oh so sweet is
her innocence. Her shell, her naked
soul shall I pass over. Her innocence,
however, that eternally precious commo-
dity, shall I have.
RAYANNE
I don't get it. What good is innocence
in Hell?
THE FIRST
What good? Oh, truly are you but an
innocent mortal, yes?
RAYANNE
That's a first...
THE FIRST
So much sweeter is suffering when in-
flicted with but a touch of innocence.
A beat. It feels like an eternity.
RAYANNE
Deal. But I'll need a couple days.
THE FIRST
Impossible! Your eternal soul shall I
have this very moment, and ascend the
Throne of Hell shall The First -- !
RAYANNE
Look. You said it yourself. Suffering
is like maximum intensity when there's
a touch of innocence. I need a couple
of days to square away with everyone I've
ever screwed over. Imagine how sweet
and innocent I'm gonna be after that.
Another eternal beat. Rayanne holds her breath.
THE FIRST
Hmmm...until sundown tomorrow shall I
grant you.
RAYANNE
Fair enough.
THE FIRST
And then it begins. Unending, unendurable
agony. So horrible shall it be, conceived
in the mind of your Creator you shall wish
you never were.
RAYANNE
Anyone ever tell you your closing pitch
could maybe use a little polishing?
THE FIRST (O.S.)
(as he vanishes)
Remember: Until sundown tomorrow. Then
rightfully mine is your soul.
The Pillar of Fire vanishes as quickly as it appeared. Rayanne takes a swig from her Jack, smirks.
RAYANNE
(to herself)
Got your work cut out, girlfriend.
NEXT! EPISODE #5
As Rayanne races against the daylight, friends converge, a mother falls apart, a Holy woman is revealed and an ancient nemesis is wooed.
english | Rating: R