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Fanfiction

I-5 - Goodbye, Cruel World

written by Collin J.H. Chang

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About this story

Published: 1997 | Size: 46 KB (8550 words) | Language: english | Rating: R
Average: 2.5/5   2.5/5 (6 votes)
Abstract:
A MSCL and "John Constantine, Hellblazer" crossover

based on stories and characters created by Winnie Holzman

FADE IN:
EXT. THREE RIVERS SANITARIUM - DAY

MOVE SLOWLY amongst the tall Douglas fir trees that line the preternaturally quiet acre of land the asylum occupies. We pass by wrought iron posts and solid steel butresses that turn the asylum into a fortress. Nothing will escape from here.
CONTINUE MOVING until we come to a WINDOW reinforced with solid iron bars.
CLOSE ON THE WINDOW
A FIGURE sits in the shadows of the space behind the window. It's wrapped in a tight strait jacket and baggy long pants.

INT. SANITARIUM CELL - DAY

MR. KATIMSKI
sits in his padded cell, leaning against one wall, staring intensely at the other. He's sweating, and blood runs down his lip where he's bit himself. He's trussed up in a tight strait jacket, looking not unlike a snake shedding its skin. His baggy pants are soaked with patches of urine.
A RATTLING SOUND AS THE CELL DOOR
is shaken. A SHADOW moves across the reinforced glass of the door. Mr. Katimski begins quivering, and shaking in complete terror. And that's when the CELL DOOR IS RIPPED CLEAN OFF ITS HINGES!!!
The sprawled figure stirs, slowly looks up. Only a frightened whimper manages to escapes his lips.
A HUGE SHADOW
moves into the cell. Katimski silently stares, as his lower lip trembles. He bites his lip again, whimpers, and shuts his eyes, as he takes further refuge into madness.

EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - ABNER'S BOOKS & ANTIQUES - DAY

It's a bookstore as old as the hills.

INT. BASEMENT OF ABNER'S - DAY

BRIAN, SHARON & RICKIE
sit hunched together over a LARGE, ANTIQUE BOOK.
CLOSE ON JORDAN'S CONTRACT
as it lies alongside the book. ARAMAIC WORDS are inscribed throughout the body of the Contract. Brian leans over the book with a magnifying glass, obviously translating the Aramaic Words on the Contract.
Brian suddenly looks up at Sharon and Rickie.
BRIAN
Oh, my God.
(a beat)
Has, like, anyone else seen this?

EXT. GASWORKS - DAY

RAYANNE AND THE HEBREW
walk through an abandoned Gasworks. Rusted pipes and boilers protrude from all angles. The Hebrew is olive skinned and striking in appearance. He has the look of one well-traveled.
The Hebrew holds a SHEET OF PAPER in his hand, studies it.
CLOSE ON THE PAPER
It's a XEROX COPY OF JORDAN'S CONTRACT.
RAYANNE
"Early Aramaic?" Like, there's such a thing as Late Aramaic?
The Hebrew puts up a hand, signaling Rayanne to be quiet. He studies the xerox carefully, deep in thought.
THE HEBREW
Wait...wait...I'm quite rusty. It's been so long...
He looks to the sky, squints.

EXT. BARREN INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT - DAY

Rayanne and The Hebrew walk past a row of abandoned warehouses. The Hebrew hands the xerox sheet back to Rayanne. She holds it up, looks at it.
RAYANNE
Pretty wild.
She begins folding the copy into fourths, sticks it in her oversize bag.
RAYANNE
Thanks, Jude. That's pretty damn good for something you haven't studied in, like, ages. I mean, I can't even remember books from Freshman Lit. Not that I even _read_ them.

THE HEBREW
I've found that you tend to remembe the things that are important to you. And then there are those that you can never forget.

Rayanne squints an eye.
RAYANNE
Such as?

THE HEBREW
In my brief stint with the Huns, I was accused of sorcery when an arrow through the heart failed to do the trick. That very night, I overheard the Chieftains discussing the necessity of putting me to the stake.

He muses about this.
THE HEBREW
Before Sunrise I fled to the vast land that is now Russia.

RAYANNE
Jesus, Jude, Pittsburgh's an armpit compared to where you've been. And you've been to a hell of a lot of places for a guy who's supposed to be dead.

THE HEBREW
The chronicle of my spectacular demise has been quite exagerated, I must tell you.
(laughs)
I'd always wondered...which was it? Did I dash myself upon the rocks, or did I hang myself from the gnarled branches of a Joshua tree?

RAYANNE
I'd hate to have to choose.

The Hebrew is silent for a long beat.
THE HEBREW
I didn't realize my curse, at least not until the first twenty five years. That's when my first wife passed on. She was a beautiful Turkish peasant girl who was all but dazzled by the breadth of my travels.
(a beat)
I outlived all those I grew close to. And that's when it dawned on me. I was cursed to live with it. I was cursed to live with my betrayal.
Rayanne pulls out her whiskey flask, takes a deep swig. As she brings the flask to her lips, her hand trembles. Just the effort to swallow is painful. She composes herself.
RAYANNE
So, you're telling me that after two thousand years, He's still pissed at you? Jesus, talk about holding a grudge. And I thought Rickie was bad.

THE HEBREW
No, that isn't the case. He's offered unconditional redemption for years, now. The moment that last nail was hammered through, forgiveness was mine for the taking. That's not the problem.

RAYANNE
So, what's the deal?

The Hebrew is silent for what seems a brief eternity.
THE HEBREW
_I_ haven't forgiven myself.
(pauses again, remembers)
We grew quite close, really. It's not chronicled in the histories, but I like to think I was His closest friend. Do you know that He rather fancied collecting seashells? He never actually came out and said it, but I gathered as much.
He's silent for another beat.
THE HEBREW
I have never quite forgiven myself for betraying my closest friend.
(a beat)
Do you know what it's like to betray your closest friend?
Rayanne does not answer the question. Instead, she takes another swig, shudders as it burns inside her.
THE HEBREW
And now, it's too late for me...

RAYANNE
Two thousand years is, like, a long time to live with _anything_. God, how many languages do you know?

THE HEBREW
Thirty nine. Should you be doing that?

RAYANNE
(lifts her flask)
This?
(she shrugs)
Want a shot?

THE HEBREW
No. And I hardly need add that you shouldn't either. As it is, you've got but days left, before...

RAYANNE
I wish. Probably just a day. Probably tonight. Feels that way.

THE HEBREW
And then he gets you. I wouldn't want to be in your shoes.

RAYANNE
Well, you probably wouldn't fit, anyway.

THE HEBREW
This isn't a matter to take lightly, Rayanne. You realize he's going to take it all out on you?

Rayanne gives him a quizical look.
THE HEBREW
The Fall. His Fall. And all those martyrs and saints and bloody good souls slipping through his grasp all these eons. Always being one step behind that vast, unimaginable mind of The Almighty. You've become the focal point of his rage, I must tell you. The Nazarene is now but an afterthought.

RAYANNE
(nervous laugh)
Should I be flattered?

THE HEBREW
You should be looking for a way around this.

RAYANNE
Got any ideas? I kind'a misplaced my thinking cap.

THE HEBREW
(a beat)
There is an ancient clause. Its truth is hidden within the Dead Sea Scrolls, but the Adversary himself is quite aware of it.

RAYANNE
Yeah? I'm, like, taking notes.

THE HEBREW
Find something to live for.

RAYANNE
"Something to live for..."? That's it? That's too easy. How 'bout something like, the absense of pain?

THE HEBREW
Find a reason to live, Rayanne. Something to live _for_. So that you won't have to die. So that you won't _want_ to die.
(a beat)
Before it's too late.

And he walks off, leaving Rayanne to watch as he vanishes over the horizon.

INT. ANGELA'S HOUSE - NIGHT

PATTI
dressed in a BRIGHT YELLOW DRESS, picks up her purse, straps it over her shoulder. She scoops up her SET OF CAR KEYS, looks at them to make sure everything's there.
DANIELLE
speaks on the kitchen phone.
DANIELLE
(over phone)
Okay. So do you have enough string?
(a beat)
Good...Yeah, my mom's gonna drop me off...Yeah, right now. Okay...bye...
THE SOUND of feet scampering down the stairs. ANGELA appears in the kitchen.
ANGELA
Mom. Can I--Can I get a ride with you?

PATTI
(sighs)
Where, Angela.

ANGELA
Where are you--?

Patti takes an exasperated breath.
PATTI
Your father, and that Hallie person have managed to get stalled in the _worst_ possible place they could think of--!
She rolls her eyes.
PATTI
I warned him about letting that woman drive. Her-her engine is literally held together by string--!

ANGELA
Where'd they get stalled?

PATTI
The abandoned train yards. Heaven only _knows_ what they were doing driving out there--! I mean, that's where the mob takes you when they want you to disappear.

Danielle sits on the arm of one of the dining room chairs, starts to do a handstand.
DANIELLE
Courtney says that a man was tied to the train tracks and his head was cut off. Is that true?

ANGELA (VO)
When my mother gets real mad, it's like, she feels the whole world's ganging up against her. It's like she thinks she's the only one who feels that way.

PATTI
(deep breath)
Okay, where do you need to go?

Angela pauses a moment, before answering.
ANGELA
I--I need a ride to Riverside Cemetery.

DANIELLE
Mom! Is that true?

PATTI
Riverside Cemetery--?! What on earth could you--?!

ANGELA
It's Rayanne. She needs my help with this history project she's doing, or something.

PATTI
Rayanne. Needs your help. With a history project...?

ANGELA
I-I know it sounds really, like, weird, but she begged me to, you know, help her.

Angela flicks her hair behind her ear as she says this.
DANIELLE
Mom, is it?

PATTI
No, sweetie, it isn't true. There aren't any trains that go through there anymore.

DANIELLE
But how come Courtney says that--

Patti cuts off her youngest daughter.
PATTI
I thought you and Rayanne weren't speaking to each other anymore.

ANGELA
Mom, I never said that. I mean, I know it's what you wish. It's, like, what you've always wished--!

PATTI
Angela, after what Rayanne did to that sweet little Angel, I mean, sawing off her wings...! I-I can't for the life of me see why you'd want to have _anything_ to do with that girl--!

Angela's face wrinkles into a prune as she spins away, heads towards the stairs.
ANGELA
Look, all right! I'll find a way there myself, okay?! Maybe Jordan Catalano can give me a ride, or something!
(a beat)
Thanks a lot, mom!
Patti sighs again.
PATTI
Look!
(a beat)
All right!
(a beat)
I will _give_ you a ride! Just promise me one thing, Angela. That--that you will call me if you get stranded out there. I mean, with this Rayanne person, I just never know what to--!

ANGELA
All right! Okay! God...

DANIELLE
Mom...! Courtney's waiting for me...!

PATTI
I'm going to take my cellular phone with me. You _do_ know the number, don't you?

ANGELA
I have it written on the inside of my shoe, somewhere.

PATTI
(smiles)
On the inside...of your shoe?

ANGELA
(laughs)
That way I make sure I always have it with me. It's a trick Rayanne taught me.

PATTI
Well, just make sure you don't lose your shoes.

ANGELA (VO)
I can't imagine a time when my mother, was, like, not a mother. It's like, she was born with me in her womb. When did she and dad, like, ever have time for sex? God, what a sick thought!

Patti heads out the door, pushes Danielle in front of her.
PATTI
Come on, your father's probably getting very impatient by now. And I _don't_ like the thought of him all alone out there with that Hallie Lowenthal person.

ANGELA
Why is that?

PATTI
(as she shuts the door)
Because someone could get killed out there. That's why.

EXT. BARSCH RESIDENCE - NIGHT

JODY
walks up the porch stairs, a backpack slung over her shoulder. She's pleasantly plump, but attractive, with natural, rich red hair. She stands in front of the door, fumbles with her keys. She finds the right key, then begins scratching her left wrist.
CLOSE ON HER LEFT WRIST
THREE DEEP VERTICAL SCARS
can clearly be seen there. Suddenly, a CREAK OFFSCREEN. Jody spins.
JODY
Is someone there?
A beat.
JODY
Darrell, is that you? Quit joking, I'm telling mom...

RAYANNE (O.S.)
It's not Darrell.

Rayanne steps out from the shadows at the corner of the porch, and under the porch light. She's slimmer than she was when we last saw her. Almost gaunt.
RAYANNE
Hi.
Jody sighs in relief. Then an angry look crosses her face.
JODY
What do you want?

RAYANNE
I...kind of wanted to give this back to you.

Rayanne takes another step forward, holds out a CD, in its case.
RAYANNE
I found it under my bed yesterday. It's yours. Cheap Trick, At The Budokan. Classic.
Rayanne smiles as she says the word, "Classic." Jody just stands there, as Rayanne holds out the CD. She doesn't reach out for it.
JODY
You can have it. I don't even--I forgot I even had it.

RAYANNE
Oh. Well, you know, cause, I'm not going to need it anymore.

JODY
Why? Are you going someplace?

RAYANNE
Sort of.
(nervous laugh)
I'm, like, probably not going to be back.

JODY
You're transferring?

RAYANNE
No.

An awkward beat of silence.
JODY
I can't believe we're actually talking.

RAYANNE
Yeah, I know.

JODY
My mother--you know, my mother wanted to kill you.

RAYANNE
Yeah?
(laughs)
That's not surprising.

JODY
For a while, I did, too.
(after a beat)
Do you--do you want to come inside?

Jody sticks the key in the lock, turns it.
JODY
Why don't you come in. Mom doesn't come home till ten.
Rayanne shakes her head "no."
RAYANNE
I better not.

JODY
All right. Look, you can have the Cheap Trick. Cause I--I don't want it anymore.

She starts to go into her house.
RAYANNE
Jody--?

JODY
What?

Rayanne builds up her courage.
RAYANNE
I'm...I know what I did was reall uncool? (a beat)
It's just, that, when I have something that's, sort of, really...cool? I tend to, you know, _do_ things to...ruin it.
Rayanne smiles nervously.
RAYANNE
If, you know, I could go back in time?
(she takes a deep breath)
I'd go back to when we were friends, and tell you that I'm going to do something, really, you know, uncool to you...and will you please forgive me when I do it.
A long beat. Rayanne bites her lip. Her jaw trembles.
RAYANNE
Because I really, really want to stay best friends with you.
A long pause. Jody looks away for a beat, then goes inside, and slowly begins to shut her door.
RAYANNE
But, I guess you can't go back in time, can you?
Jody stops, looks at Rayanne. Her eyes are misty.
JODY
Maybe--maybe if you cared for someone--besides yourself? Things would be different.
Rayanne just looks at her. She hasn't got an answer. Jody shuts the door. Rayanne watches the door for a long moment, then turns to leave. As she leaves the porch, she places the CD on the railing.
Suddenly, she begins coughing again, then doubles over in pain. She leans over the railing, and vomits into the bushes. A thick wad of blood and mucous issues forth. She gasps as she struggles to breathe.

EXT. LOUIE'S - NIGHT

JORDAN'S CAR
sits in the parking lot, as a slight drizzle tickles it.
RICKIE, BRIAN AND SHARON
surround Jordan's car. He sits behind the wheel, overwhelmed.
RICKIE
Jordan, didn't the words, "Binding for Eternity" make you think, just for a second?
Jordan is silent.
RICKIE
I mean, it's written in English. Didn't you at least--?

BRIAN
Rickie...

RICKIE
You must have at least had the feeling that something was--

BRIAN
Rickie, see, there's something you don't...

RICKIE
Can I just ask you one thing? When you read the words--!

JORDAN
Okay! Look! I didn't read the words! I didn't read them! Because...I couldn't read them. Satisfied?

RICKIE
(dawns on him)
Oh. Oh, I see. I didn't...

BRIAN
(a beat)
In case you were interested, you've sold your First Born to the Devil. He gets your first child the day it's born. I just thought you might want to, you know, know this.

A long pause.
JORDAN
Oh...yeah...? Whatever. I really thought Racine was, like, this cool blackmarket parts dealer.

SHARON
Why in the world would you think that?

JORDAN
He--He promised me this totally rebuilt Mopar engine, if I kind of, stayed away from Angela, and didn't, you know, mess with her.

BRIAN
Didn't "mess with her?"

JORDAN
Yeah, I kinda thought he was just this teacher dude who was totally into, you know, advocating like, abstinence, or whatever.

Sharon thinks deeply about this.
SHARON
He needs her to be a virgin...

RICKIE
Does--does anyone else know about this, Jordan? About your contract?

He thinks a beat.
JORDAN
Sure. Rayanne. Rayanne Graff. She was the one with this whole scheme to get Angela involved.

BRIAN
Angela?! Angela Chase is involved?

RICKIE
Where is she now?

EXT. RIVERSIDE CEMETERY - NIGHT

ANGELA
steps out of her parents' FORD TAURUS, shuts the door. Patti's behind the wheel.
PATTI
So, Rayanne said that Amber's going to pick you both up? You're certain of that?

ANGELA
Mom! What? Like her mom's really going to leave us out here all night? God...! You must think she's, like, the worst mother in the world, or something.

PATTI
Okay. Just checking. You have the number.

She drives off. Angela walks through the open gate of the cemetery. As she walks further into the graveyard, she doesn't notice as the CEMETERY GATE SHUTS ON ITS OWN, with a solid CLACK!

INT. DEEP IN THE CEMETERY - NIGHT

Angela is deep inside, now, when she hears a TWIG BREAK. She looks in the direction of the sound.
RAYANNE
taps her shoulder. Angela nearly screams, but catches herself when she sees it's Rayanne.
ANGELA
Rayanne! Don't scare me like that. God!

RAYANNE
Angela. Thanks for coming. This way. Follow me.

ANGELA (VO)
"Follow me." Isn't that, like, what I tried to do from the first moment I met Rayanne Graff? When you try to be like someone else when you're not happy with who you are, you sort of lose your soul, or something. Or at least your originality, which is, like, a lot worse.

Rayanne leads her by the shoulder, as they step forward about twelve feet.
RAYANNE
Stop right here. Okay, stand still, don't move. All right?

ANGELA
Rayanne, what are you--?

RAYANNE
Don't move, okay?

She nods in compliance. Rayanne strikes A MATCH. It glows in the eerie darkness of the graveyard, reflecting off the numerous tombstones like a dying moth. She drops the match to the ground, and suddenly
A HUGE RING OF FIRE
engulfs them! It's thirty feet in diameter, and the flames around its perimeter lick about two feet high. The CRACKLING FIRE sounds like the crushing of bones.
ANGELA
So, is this, like, for extra credit, or something?

EXT. CEMETERY GATE - NIGHT

JORDAN'S CAR
pulls up to the side of the cemetery, just outside the entrance.

INT. JORDAN'S CAR - NIGHT

JORDAN
This is where Angela said she was meeting with Rayanne Graff.

RICKIE
A cemetery? Why a cemetery?

SHARON
Weird.

The four of them get out of the car, head towards the entrance gate.
BRIAN
I have a bad feeling about this.
They reach the gate. It's locked solid.
JORDAN
I have this lock pick that Tino left in the glove compartment. Wait here.

RICKIE
I'm going to find another way in. I think Angela's in trouble. Like, real trouble.

Rickie races around the side of the cemetery.

INT. RING OF FIRE - NIGHT

Rayanne walks to the middle of the flaming circle, turns back, looks at Angela. Her dark brown eyes reflect the dancing flames, and her slender body resembles a surreal Samurai standing in a flaming field. Rayanne holds out her left hand, unfurls it in a beckoning gesture.
RAYANNE
Angelika. Come here.

ANGELA
Over there? Why?

RAYANNE
Hurry.

Hestitantly, Angela takes a step forward, as if walking through a mind field. Then a second step. She trembles, ever so slightly.
CLOSE ON A RAZOR SHARP COMBAT KNIFE
Rayanne unsheathes it from a pocket at her side, hides it in the shadows of her body. It GLINTS from the incandescence of the fire, its teeth gleaming.
Angela stops.
ANGELA
Here? RAYANNE
No. Closer. Closer, Angelika...
A beat. Angela takes two more steps towards Rayanne. Then another two. She stops, a hairbreadth within Rayanne's grasp.
Rayanne raises her right arm, and the razor steel of the blade paints a silver crescent against the flaming horizon. Rayanne lashes out, and grasps Angela's left wrist--!
ANGELA
Rayanne--!!!
Rayanne pulls her close, whips the razor sharp blade forward, and brings it down upon Angela's open left palm. She slices a semi-deep wound there, then grasps h er hand, and squeezes.
ANGELA
Ooowwwwwww!!! What are you--?!
Three drops of Angela's blood spills on the ground at the center of the burning circle. Angela yanks her arm away from Rayanne, then turns to run away.
RAYANNE
Angela--! Stop--! Don't leave the circle! Angela--!!!
A HUGE PILLAR OF BLACK FLAME
rips out of the cemetery floor, exactly where Angela's blood fell. The Black Flame rises thirty feet into the air, then falls back to the earth, begins coalescing, becoming solid.
ANGELA
is frozen in her tracks, can't help but turn and look at this unearthly spectacle. Her lower lip quakes at this spectacular sight.
The Black Flame completes its metamorphosis, becoming Victor Racine, The Devil. But he's now eight feet tall, and incredibly muscled. He looks at Rayanne, then turns his gaze to Angela.
THE DEVIL
The damnation of the innocent is so, so delicious.

RICKIE (O.S.)
Angela, run!

RICKIE
stands outside the flaming circle, frantically waves Angela towards him.
RICKIE
Angela, hurry! Get out of the circle!

RAYANNE
No--! Angela--! Don't leave the circle! Stay _in_ the circle, Angela! Stay in the circle!

RICKIE
Angela--!

Angela looks at Rickie, then back at Rayanne. Rayanne stands, illuminated by the dark light shed by Racine. She's a silhouette standing at brink of damnation.
Angela makes her choice, and races out of the circle, and into Rickie's arms.
THE DEVIL
throws his huge head back and laughs, a black, soul-searing laugh. He looks at Angela, his eyes pierce her.
THE DEVIL
You should have stayed in the circle. But then, your generation isn't known for appreciating good advice.
Rayanne turns to face the Devil. Horns sprout from his gnarled features, and jet streams of smoke issue forth from his oversize nostils.
THE DEVIL
And now, I have you both. The Angel, and the Bad Girl. I've wanted you so badly, Graff, I could taste it.
Racine savors this moment.
THE DEVIL
I am going to enjoy spending eternity with you. Every moment, of every day, for the rest of eternity I will torture you, Graff. And I will look forward to the next day twice as much as the last.
And now, to Hell.

BRIAN (O.S.)
It won't be that easy, Mr. Racine.

Racine looks up at this latest voice. Brian, along with Jordan and Sharon, walk up to the flaming circle. Angela stands at Rickie's side.
THE DEVIL
Oooooo...! Have you brought unto me another virgin, Graff? You're better than I thought...
BRIAN, SHARON AND JORDAN
look from one to the other, trying to discover the virgin in their midst. Finally, both Sharon and Jordan are left staring at Brian.
BRIAN
Look, my parents are Freudian/Jungian psychiatrists! It's not _my_ fault!
Brian shoots an angry glare at Racine.
THE DEVIL
I'm sorry, Mr. Krakow, but your hand doesn't count here. (a beat)
But now, it's time we were off.

RAYANNE
Not so fast, Vic. You haven't noticed yet, have you? You haven't looked deep enough, you self-righteous prick.

THE DEVIL
What are you babbling about, Graff?

RAYANNE
I've found a reason to live. Took about a million years, but it's finally happened.

THE DEVIL
You must realize that I don't believe your bluff for a second. Because I see it for what it is: merely a ruse to postpone your inevitable agony. You? A reason to live? If that isn't the cleverest bit of fiction.

RAYANNE
Believe it, you son of a bitch. It's a small reason. Like, a real tiny reason. And she isn't even born, yet.

Racine knits his reptillian brow. Suddenly a look of horror falls across his face.
THE DEVIL
No...
Rayanne nods her head slowly.
RAYANNE
Y'see, Vic, it's like this. I missed my period last week, which really got me wondering. Then, when I threw up a bucket of blood at Jody Barsch's house tonight--

SHARON
You--?! Went to Jody Barsch's house tonight? Did she, like, pull a meat cleaver on you?

She smiles at Sharon, snd nods her head, "No."
RAYANNE
I checked into an emergency clinic, where I found out about-- (a beat)
about the little girl inside of me.
She turns, looks straight at Jordan.
RAYANNE
I believe you've already met her father.

JORDAN
What--?

RAYANNE
I'm kind'a partial to the name Plymouth, how 'bout you?

Angela crosses her arms, and shuts her eyes in disgust.
Racine blows smoke from his nose, as he seethes with rage.
RAYANNE
And you can't touch her, Vic. Least, not until she's born. Problem is, if I die, she dies.
She places a hand on her stomach.
RAYANNE
And we wouldn't want that to happen, now, would we? Because you'll break your pact. And we both know what happens when you break your pact.
She glares at him, smiles a wicked, knowing smile. It's obvious only she and Racine knows what'll really happen to him.
THE DEVIL
You little--! You're not going to force me to--!

RAYANNE
I already have, and you know it, snot face! I'm dying. From AIDS. In minutes. And if you don't heal me, the First Born of Catalano dies, and you're up shit creek! Deal with it!

He shudders with rage, his veins popping out.
THE DEVIL
If I can't have you, Graff--at least allow me the pleasure of taking the two Virgins!
He begins towards Angela.
RAYANNE
Krakow, you know what to do--!

BRIAN
What do you mean, *I* know what to do? Why does everyone always think *I* know what to do?!

RAYANNE
Get moving, Krakow--! Now--! You too, Angelika--!

ANGELA
What? What am I supposed to--?!

She looks up at Brian, at the exact same moment Brian looks up at her.
ANGELA
Ooooohhhh...Ooooooohhh noooooooo...! Uh uh...! Nooooo waaaayyyyy...!
THE DEVIL
approaches Angela. She begins backing away.
RAYANNE (O.S.)
Hey, Vic! Victor! Check it out!
Racine turns, and sees Rayanne brandishing the Razor Sharp Combat Knife.
RAYANNE
grasps the knife tightly, holds it above her stomach.
RAYANNE
I'll make things easy for you...
She takes a deep breath, then plunges the knife deep into her belly, and pulls it slowly across, Braveheart style. Mel Gibson would be proud of her! We see her innards begin slipping out through the razor-thin crack in her midsection.
RAYANNE
AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!
She wasn't ready for this much pain!
THE DEVIL
Nooooo!!!!!
Rayanne falls to her knees, gasps for air. Her vision is clouded with a blinding white storm of pain, as her viscera begins to slowly slip out!
RAYANNE
(with incredible strength)
Her anaerobic fluid's seeping out--! Better hurry--!

SHARON
(under her breath)
"Amniotic fluid."

Racine's feautures bundle up in unbridled fury.
THE DEVIL
I absolutely refuse to give you the satisfaction, Graff! I'm entirely content to watch as you lie there dying in agony!

RAYANNE
(rasping)
Then...see you...up...sh*t creek... scumbag...

Her words trail off as she loses consciousness. Brian steps forward.
BRIAN
Go ahead, then! Go ahead and Let her die! And you'll be screwed for the rest of eternity. You see, it doesn't matter how much satisfaction you get from watching her die. It doesn't matter who has the last word tonight. You've already signed the stupid pact, and it can't be, like, erased!
Racine clenches his fists, and grits his teeth. Fire shoots from his nostrils. He's really pissed.
THE DEVIL
She will not beat me a third time...!

BRIAN
In about exactly ten seconds, she--!

THE DEVIL
ENOUGH!!!

Racine raises his arms, and suddenly Rayanne is hit with a bolt of dark energy. She screams in soul-searing pain.
THE DEVIL
At least allow me the pleasure of healing you with as much pain as possible, Ms. Graff! It's the least you can afford me in this, your greatest moment of my humiliation!

SHARON
Oh my God--! What's he doing to her!

RICKIE
I--I think he's actually healing her. I think. Don't worry. She won't remember this tomorrow.

Wave upon wave of energy washes over Rayanne, as her body glows. The mortal wound to her belly begins to knit itself together. Rayanne twists, and turns in unbelievable pain. She twists her neck, looks up at Angela.
RAYANNE
Angelika...Hurry...
Angela takes a drunken step backward, turns, sees that Brian is looking at her.They stare at each other silently. Brian's about to speak, but stops.
ANGELA
What?!

BRIAN
I didn't say anything--!

ANGELA
You never say anything! Why are you like that? Why don't you ever _say_ anything?!

BRIAN
What, you, like, hardly talk to me, and now you're an expert on how I feel?

ANGELA
Why can't you tell me the truth, Brian?

A beat.
BRIAN
(knowingly)
You believed what you wanted to believe. You saw what you wanted to see. You only see what _you_ want to see--

ANGELA
That is SUCH a lie!

BRIAN
You're so blind, you can't even see the people who care about you... All you see is what you want to see!

ANGELA
And you?! And you?! What about you?!

BRIAN
At least I don't use people...as an excuse to free my emotions...just to get what I want.

ANGELA
GO TO HELL!!!

A beat.
BRIAN
I would, Angela. I would...if you asked me to...
Angela's heart suddenly skips a beat. She stares openly at Brian. Slowly, her features melt.
ANGELA
Brian...
RAYANNE
is suspended over the ground, the dark energy crackling throughout her entire body. She continues to shriek in soul-searing agony! And suddenly, it's over. She falls to the ground, naked as the day she was born, completely healed.
THE DEVIL
turns his gaze to Angela and Brian.
THE DEVIL
And now, to collect my Virgins...
Racine walks towards Brian and Angela, as they stand staring at one another.
RICKIE looks at Jordan.
RICKIE
Well, at least give her your coat...
He looks at Rickie, then at the stark naked Rayanne.
JORDAN
Oh...yeah...
He takes off the long black coat he wears, goes through the fire, and drapes it over Rayanne's shoulders.
ANGELA AND BRIAN
continue staring at one another as the Devil slowly approaches.
ANGELA
Brian...? Did you...?
Her words trail off. The two teens stare at one another, openly communicating without speaking a word. Angela takes two steps forward, and Brian meets her. They rip each other's clothes off, fall together into a fleshy mass of passion, and roll over the grave of NICKY DRISCOLL.
ANGELA
Oh, Brian...

BRIAN
Angela...

Brian tears her boxer shorts off, pounces on her.
ANGELA
Oh, Brian! Oh, Brian! Oh...Wait! Wait! It's--It's too big--! It's too big--! It won't fit--!
And then she screams from a place somewhere between pleasure and pain.
THE DEVIL
NOOOOO!!!!!!
Racine screams as he sees Angela and Brian writhing together on the grassy knoll of Nicky Driscoll's grave.
RAYANNE (O.S.)
There go your virgins, Vic.
THE WHINE OF A CHAINSAW
suddenly rips the night in half!
CLOSE ON A HUGE, GLEAMING CHAINSAW
it's gassed again, and once more, a ROARING SCREAM peels out of it as the chainsaw blade spins furiously. Then it's silent once more.
THE HANDS
holding the Chainsaw lob the weapon high through the air, into the stygian circle of fire. Rayanne catches it cleanly, and pulls it's trigger, ROARING it to life once again. She turns, looks at someone OFFSCREEN.
RAYANNE
Perfect timing, Tino.
She turns to face Racine once again, a mad gleam in her eyes.
RAYANNE
Heard the latest buzz, Vic?
And she savagely attacks him with the chainsaw.
THE DEVIL
No...No...No, wait...! No, wait! Graff!!! Noooooooooaaaaarrrgggghhhhhh!!!!!!!!
And the CHAINSAW bites into his earhtly flesh as he SCREAMS screams of unearthly agony. Rayanne carves him into a dozen writhing, throbbing pieces, while his head continues its ghastly screams. Blood, bones and brains fly everywhere, as Rayanne is splattered by the grisly meat of her hapless prey.
CLOSE ON JORDAN
as he watches all of this in mute terror. Finally, he speaks, to anyone listening.
JORDAN
He--he couldn't lay a finger on her.

BRIAN
Sure...

Jordan turns to see Brian, lying at Angela's side. The two lovers are spooning. Angela has her eyes shut, oblivious to everything save her complete satisfaction. Brian leans up on one elbow.
BRIAN
If he had killed her, he'd kill your unborn daughter. And if he'd done that, he'd be screwed, worse than he is now, if you can believe it.
Brian laughs a hearty laugh.
ANGELA
What's so funny about this, Brian? I mean, someone just got chainsawed, into, like, these little Chicken MacNuggets. God, that's soooo gross.

BRIAN
Look, I have a right to hate him. I have a right to enjoy seeing him carved into, like, a million pieces. It's, like, my privilege.

ANGELA
That's true. You do have that right.

BACK TO SCENE
And then it's over. Rayanne is left standing in the middle of the circle, blood splattered on and around her. She breathes a deep sigh of eternal relief, as Racine's viscera clings to her body.
RAYANNE
Gotta admit, Vic. You got guts.

JORDAN
Wow. Cool. Uh, you can have the coat.

The circle of fire begins to die, and the whole gang begins to leave the cemetery. Brian and Angela begin slipping their torn clothes back on. Angela lifts her torn dress from the ground, covers her breasts with it, then picks up her discarded shoes, carries both of them in one hand. Brian walks up to Rayanne.
BRIAN
You realize, this isn't the end of it? He'll be back. When she's born.

RAYANNE
Yeah. I kind of figured that. But this time I'll be ready. I'll have to be. Cause it's not just me, anymore.

Brian smiles at her. It's a sexy smile that she picks up on. Then he turns and walks away with Angela. As they leave, Angela turns back to look at her, then just as soon looks away. And they leave. Rickie moves to join them.
RAYANNE
Vasquez...
Rickie turns.
RAYANNE
Thought I was gonna sell the redhead out, didn't ya?
He glares at her.
RAYANNE
That's all right. I figure you were about to do the same to me, anyway.
A long pause. Rickie stares at Rayanne for what seems an eternity. Then he turns away, begins to leave. Rayanne stands there, Devil's blood still caking her body, and watches as he walks away.
RAYANNE
(calls after him)
Hey, Vasquez!
Rickie stops, slowly turns back to look at Rayanne. She points a finger beneath her eye, smirks at him.
RAYANNE
You missed a spot.
An awkward beat of silence. A whisper of a smile begins on Rickie's face, and just as quickly vanishes.
RICKIE
F*ck you...
The two friends exchange a long stare. Then Rayanne lifts her finger in the international gesture of salutation.
RAYANNE
Up yours.
That whisper of a smile raises its voice to a hushed grin, but only for a second, then it's gone.
RICKIE
Go to Hell, Rayanne.

RAYANNE
You know, that actually could be arranged...

This time, a full on smile flashes across Rickie's face, as he turns and follows the crew out the cemetery gate.
Rayanne watches as they leave. That's when she sees THE OBJECT on the ground, just inside the gates. She walks down to the object in the grass.
ANGELA'S RIGHT SHOE
sits just inside the gate. Rayanne picks it up, goes over to Jordan's Plymouth.
THE PLYMOUTH
RUMBLES, smoke issues from its duel exhaust pipes, billowing the chilly night with a gas-tinged fog.

INT. JORDAN'S CAR - NIGHT

Through the window, we see RAYANNE'S FIGURE wade through the billowing fog and up to the passenger window. The Figure taps on the window.
CLOSE ON ANGELA
as she turns, startled. She sees Rayanne outside, rolls down her window.
RAYANNE
You left something behind.
Angela looks at her, refusing to betray any kind of emotion.
ANGELA
What?
Rayanne looks at her friend for a brief moment.
RAYANNE
This.
She hands Angela her shoe.
RAYANNE
You don't want to lose this, do you?
A trace of a smile crosses Angela's face.
ANGELA
(almost a whisper)
No. I don't.
Rayanne leans down, looks at Jordan.
RAYANNE
You can go, now.
The Plymouth moves, just as Angela winds up her window, but not before she and Rayanne exchange a smile. Rayanne watches as the car carrying her best friends in the whole world vanishes over the horizon.

EPILOGUE:
EXT. DARK, WINDING FOREST ROAD - NIGHT

A PAIR OF HEADLIGHTS
wind their way up this road. As it gets closer, we see it belongs to an OLD, RUSTY NOVA. This is Hallie's car.

INT. HALLIE'S CAR - NIGHT

GRAHAM AND HALLIE
ride in the car. Hallie drives.
GRAHAM
Oh my God. Oh my God. But how, how did it happen? How could this have--?

HALLIE
(interupting)
No, no, no! No! Graham, honey, you've got it all wrong. The first hurdle is disbelief.

Hallie makes a dramatic gesture with her arms.
HALLIE
At first, you can't accept that it's happened. "I-I don't believe this...I don't believe this! This can't be happening!" Okay. You try it.
Graham takes a deep breath.
GRAHAM
So much for playing Mercurio in 10th grade...

HALLIE
What--?

GRAHAM
What do you mean, "What--?". I'll have you know I was a very good looking kid when I was sixteen.

HALLIE
No, I mean, Mercurio--?! You--?!

GRAHAM
Sure, why not?

HALLIE
Okay, MacBeth, I can see. You kind of do fall into that hen-pecked mode. But Mercurio...?

GRAHAM
Hen-pecked? Whoa! Waitaminit--! Just what are you saying, Hallie?

HALLIE
What I'm saying, is...that you're a very...obliging person.

GRAHAM
And, uh, in Hallie-speak--?

HALLIE
You like to please the women in your life. Because you're surrounded by women. And you're very good at it, I might add.

GRAHAM
"Like to please the women in my life." Is that, kind of synonymous with the word, "Wimp?" HALLIE
Graham, face it, you let the women in your life lead you.

Graham puts up his arms in a defensive gesture.
GRAHAM
How can you say that, Hallie? People, you know, people can't be easy going and friendly these days, especially men, without being accused of being a wimp. Now that really bothers me!

HALLIE
I didn't say anything about anyone being a wimp, Graham! You're...

GRAHAM
I'm just a mellow, loving guy.

HALLIE
Right! Exactly. You're a mellow guy. You're...a follower. But you're comfortable as a follower. Which is just fine. Where'd the world be if we all wanted to be leaders?

Graham pauses, thinks about this.
GRAHAM
One, great big, endless Summit meeting?
Hallie makes the gesture, "There you have it!"
GRAHAM
(calms down)
Okay, Gracie. One more time:
(clears his throat)
"I don't believe this...! I-I can't believe this could--I just saw her this morning--!"

HALLIE
There's hope. There's hope for us, yet!

EXT. HALLIE'S CAR - NIGHT

Hallie goes speeding up the dark, winding forest road.
CLOSE ON THE TRUNK
A STRIP OF A TATTERED BRIGHT YELLOW DRESS
hangs out through the lip of the trunk. A SMALL, DARK RED STAIN grows on the strip of yellow dress.

FADE OUT

The End of RAYANNE GRAFF, HELLBLAZER


AUTHOR'S NOTE
 Will there be more MY SO-CALLED GOTHIC LIFE Stories? We'll see. Thanks for all the support out there, folks. You know who you are. I'm letting Jonathan handle the next story arc. If any of you out there would like to add to the mythos, the offers always open! It's been fun!

-- Collin

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II-1 - Open Season by Collin J.H. Chang
Published: 1997 | Size: 33 KB (4305 words) | Language: english english | Rating: R
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A MSCL and "John Constantine, Hellblazer" crossover

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“Ignore her. She got up on the wrong side of the coffin this morning.”

Enrique (Rickie) Vasquez, Episode 9: "Halloween"