Fanfiction

II-1 - Open Season

written by Collin J.H. Chang

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based on stories and characters created by Winnie Holzman

THE STORY THUS FAR:

Rayanne was dying of AIDS and on a oneway ride to Hell, where a VERY pissed off Satan was just waiting for her to show up. Until she outwitted him, in one of the most humiliating moments in cosmic history, forcing him to heal her, then chainsawed him into oblivion! But now that Rayanne's destroyed (seemingly) Satan himself, Hell's under siege by the new Young Turk demons just waiting in the wings. It's gonna get bloody!

FADE IN
INT. A LONG HALLWAY - NIGHT

A MAN is escorted down a long, dark hallway by TWO GUARDS. He's slim, well- dressed, anal. He looks terribly out of place flanked by the TWO BURLY GUARDS. This is DOCTOR TENNENT.
SUPER: CALIFORNIA STATE PENITENTIARY INFIRMARY
THE WARDEN (Pierson) steps out from an antechamber. He's short and built like a block. He escorts Tennent down an adjacent hall.

TENNENT
Exactly when did this--how shall I say--? hysteria begin?

PIERSON
'bout twelve hours ago. Just started screaming his Godddamn head off.

TENNENT
In pain? Anger? You see, there are different forms of gross emotional expression.

PIERSON
In Repentance.

TENNENT
Repentence?

PIERSON
He was wailing out of guilt, doc.

TENNENT
Wailing, Mr. Pierson, doesn't necessarily entail a guilty conscience.

PIERSON
Well, Goddamn, you're the expert, here, aren't you? Found this in his cell, though.

The Warden pulls out a ziplock bag from his vest pocket. A BROKEN RAZORBLADE is inside. Blood is caked on the jagged end of it.

TENNENT
Ah, yes. Quite. Were the slashes vertical? You see, the way the patient chooses to slash his wrists is often indicative of his state of mind. How deep were they?

PIERSON
I don't recall saying a word about him slashing his wrists.

Tennent stops dead, looks directly at Pierson.

INT. ROOM - NIGHT

Pierson and Tennent step into the room. In the corner sits a large REFRIGERATOR. He opens it, pulls out a sliding tray. We can't see what's on the tray, but Tennent can.

TENNENT
Oh my God.

PIERSON
You can see by the jagged slice marks he started at the top, worked his way down to his ears, then started pulling it off. Must have got stuck at the nose--cause he tore it right across, from there to--

Tennent begins to sway forward. Pierson reaches out fast, steadies Tennent by the small of his back, as the psychiatrist's knees begin to buckle.

PIERSON
Whoa...! Hold on there, Doc--! Need some fresh air?

TENNENT
No... No... I'm fine.

PIERSON
Would've thought a seasoned criminal psychiatrist would be innured to these things by now. Wrote a book, too, as I recall.

Tennent purses his lips in silent contempt.

TENNENT
Go on...

THE OBJECTS IN THE TRAY
look like two pieces of parchment. Pierson takes a silver pen from his breast pocket, pushes the two pieces together.

PIERSON(O.S.)
Ripped it clean off to the muscle. Refused the morphine the docs were trying to give 'em, too. Boy wants to experience every moment of pain.

THE PARCHMENT
can now be clearly seen for what it is. A HUMAN FACE that's been sliced and torn off, in two separate pieces.

INT. PRISON CELL - NIGHT

Pierson and Tennent walk to the door of a cell that's got yellow cordoning tape blocking it. A YOUNG POLICE OFFICER cuts through the tape. The Warden steps into the cell, followed by the Officer. Tennent hesitantly steps through. On the walls of the cell, words written in dark red are visible.
"BABY KILLER" & "GUILTY"
are written the largest. Tennent takes a deep breath as the gore settles in.

TENNENT
Jesus.

YOUNG OFFICER
He killed babies?

Tennent looks at the Young Officer, raises an eyebrow.

PIERSON
(to Tennent)
Officer--
(reads the Officer's name tag)
'Roseberry'--wasn't even a shot in his dad's pants til the early seventies.

TENNENT
(deep breath)
His victim, Ms. Tate, was pregnant at the time. At his trial, he all but bragged that she'd begged for the life of her child.
(a beat)
And that's when he ordered one of his mindless sex slaves to carve it out. The ruthless son of a bitch.

YOUNG OFFICER
Christ.

TENNENT
In his mind, that's exactly who he was. What in God's name could have possessed him to--?

PIERSON
You got that backwards, Doc. Whatever was inside 'o him, just up and left. Like he just woke up and realized everything he'd done. Damndest thing I've ever seen. Even down to writing his guilt on the walls. Used his own blood, too. Life's little ironies.

The Young Officer squints in confusion.

YOUNG OFFICER
Sir?

TENNENT
It was with Ms. Tate's, and her unborn child's blood that he'd painted his famous phrase on the bedroom wall.

YOUNG OFFICER
Famous phrase?

PIERSON
Wake up, Roseberry. Go to school! The Beatles. The White Album.
(a beat)
"Helter Skelter."

CUT TO:
A MUSCULAR AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN sits comfortably as he's interviewed by a WOMAN.

WOMAN
Mr. Jefferson--

JEFFERSON
Call me Otis, Barbara. Mr. Jeffer- son's the guy on the sitcom.

WOMAN
(smiles)
Otis. I feel very comfortable saying that. I feel as if I know you, after watching you day after day after day on CNN.

JEFFERSON
Barbara, if you could just hear the names I'm being called these days, you'd be happy to hear your first name, too.

The Woman politely laughs.

WOMAN
So. Otis. What every person tuning in today wants to know: What happens now?

JEFFERSON
As I've been saying throughout this whole ordeal, my first priority is my children. They've gone through the kind of trauma no child deserves to ever live through. Not only have they lost their natural mother, they've also been--

Suddenly, like a rag doll, Jefferson's body goes almost completely limp, as if all the wind rushed out of his body at once. He falls to his knees, stunned. He looks up, his face ashen.

BARBARA
Otis...? Mr. Jefferson, is every- thing--?

JEFFERSON
Oh, God! Oh, God, I did it! I killed her! I killed them both--! Oh, Christ! Oh, Jesus!!!

He raises his arms in the air, as if seeking divine forgiveness.
PULL BACK to reveal we've been watching A TELEVISION SCREEN. A NEWSCASTER flashes on screen, while footage of Jefferson being forced into an ambulance wearing a strait jacket runs on a bluescreen behind her.

NEWSCASTER
Former Football legend Otis Jefferson had to be restrained by paramedics who took him to Bellevue State Hos- pital for observation.
(a beat)
Once again, football great Otis Jefferson shocks the world with his public repentence of crimes for which he was dramatically acquitted little over a month ago, while being inter- viewed live today by Barbara...

KYLE (O.S.)
I couldn't believe this actually happened. None of the guys could.

INT. SHARON'S LIVING ROOM - EARLY EVENING

Sharon and Kyle are bundled together on the sofa. The Newscaster continues droning in the background.

NEWSCASTER (O.S)
This just in. According to sources at the California State Penitentiary, mass murderer Charles Manson has reportedly "sliced off his own face" due to emotional trauma. These reports, however, are unconfirmed.

Sharon picks up the TV REMOTE, clicks off the TV. She huddles just a bit closer to Kyle.

SHARON
Oh, get over yourself. Just because all your football jock friends worship the very ground Otis Jefferson walks on, doesn't mean he's not guilty as sin. I told you he did it.
(a beat)
And he should go straight to Hell.

KYLE
(pauses)
Will he?

SHARON
Sure. When he dies. Unless, of course, he repents his sins and accepts forgiveness.

KYLE
But, I thought you told me that Rayanne Graff...destroyed Satan.

SHARON
Sure. She did. Turned him into mincemeat...

Kyle looks at her suspiciously.

SHARON
I was there, Kyle! I saw her do it! With a chainsaw! She was...awesome.

KYLE
I thought you said you hated her.

SHARON
Well, I did. At one time. I mean, I used to.

Unconsciously, Sharon picks up a little stuffed penguin, and begins strangling it.

SHARON
I mean, yes, there are a lot of reasons to hate her, but--!
(angry)
Why are you putting me on the spot?!

KYLE
I'm just making conversation! I heard she has AIDS. What a scuzz bag.

SHARON
She _had_ AIDS. But she forced the Devil to heal her, then she chainsawed him, into, like, a thousand pieces.

KYLE
Really? Wow. How'd she force him to--?

SHARON
It's a long story, and I'm sure you don't want me to bore you with it. I don't even know all the sordid details, myself.

KYLE
(a beat)
So, does that mean there's...no more Hell?

SHARON
(thinks a beat)
Good question. I don't know. I'll have to ask Rayanne next time I see her.
(a beat)
Which reminds me. Rickie was asking if I'd seen her. I told him I haven't seen her for days, which I haven't. He's really worried she's going to do something, you know, drastic? Like usual. I'm kind of worried about her, too.

KYLE
Who's Rickie?

SHARON
He's...kind of her best friend, I guess.

KYLE
Is he that gay guy?

EXT. TENNESSEE AVENUE - PITTSBURGH - EARLY EVENING It's snowing. Small fluries become visible as the day slowly gives way to night. A SMALL, RED HOUSE, paint peeling, sits on the corner. A half-stripped car sits on one side of the garage, and a motorcycle missing its front wheel leans against the far wall. There are grease spots on the floor, and nuts and bolts strewn along the shelves that line the garage.

INT. THE CATALANO HOUSE - SAME TIME

GEORGE CATALANO smirks as he watches the TV. SLIGHTLY OVERWEIGHT and balding, he looks as if he may have been an amateur boxer in his younger days, or perhaps a bouncer. He was both. He's watchting the same NEWS COVERAGE as Kyle and Sharon. We hear it in the background.

CATALANO
Sonnabitch is guilty as hell.

EXT. CATALANO HOUSE - SAME TIME

ANGELA CHASE slowly walks past a tall row of bushes as she approaches the house. About 2" of snow covers the walkway. Angela is dressed warmly in a wool pullover.

ANGELA (VO)
It's so strange when you see someone's house. Someone you used to go out with. Someone you thought was just _so_ cool. I mean, just the fact that they _live_ somewhere, and sleep in a bed at night and go to the bathroom there. It just doesn't seem, like, real.

Angela walks up to the door, presses the doorbell. Nothing. She KNOCKS three times. Nothing. Again, she knocks three times.

INT. HOUSE - NIGHT

George Catalano suddenly appears at the door, wielding a HAND GUN the size of a power drill.

MR. CATALANO
I told ya to stay away from my--! Oh.
(irritated)
Look, we don't want what you're selling, and we don't got no money to give.

Angela does her hair flick thing.

ANGELA
I'm...here to see Jordan?

MR. CATALANO
Oh. Yeah.
(yells over his shoulder)
Jordan! Got a girl out here!

ANGELA (VO)
My mother once told me, if I want to know what a guy's going to look like when he's an adult, just look at his father. I wonder if Jordan Catalano was adopted? I hope he _was_.

He smiles at Angela. It's more than just a friendly smile.

EXT. JORDAN'S HOUSE - NIGHT

Jordan and Angela stand outside, near the curb, both dressed warmly.

JORDAN
Why'd you come here?

ANGELA
Well, you wouldn't talk to me at school...

An awkward beat. Angela looks away, grimaces when she's sure Jordan can't see her. Jordan takes a deep breath.

JORDAN
I thought your family was going on vacation.

ANGELA
No, my dad had to stay here to work on that, you know, that restaurant thing he's doing? So, my mom sort of went by herself, cause she had this, like, printing convention to go to after the New Year. So, he says she won't be back til, maybe, like, sometime in...

JORDAN
Oh. So, the mice will play...?

ANGELA
What?

JORDAN
Nothing. Oh, yeah, Tino was askin' about Rayanne. Wanted to know if I'd seen her around. You seen her lately?

ANGELA
(squints her eyes)
No. Last time I saw her was at Big Guy Burger. She craves anything that's, like, fried and doesn't move these days. JORDAN
She does?

ANGELA
Yeah.
(a beat)
Don't you guys at least... talk? I mean, you're, you know, partly responsible for, like, the way she is.

JORDAN
We did. Last week.
(deep breath)
I told her my dad was willing to pay for...you know, half of it, or, whatever.

ANGELA
Is that your answer? Just to--to cut it out? Doesn't, doesn't it mean anything to you, that--that this is your child, too?!

JORDAN
Look, this is between me and Graff, okay, so just...leave it alone.

ANGELA
I thought you'd, like, at least under- stand how precious life is.

Jordan shuts his eyes, leans against the stripped down car.

ANGELA(VO)
Sometimes, I just wish I could kick someone, to, like, wake them up. I think Jordan could really use a good kick.

JORDAN
So, Tino was worried about Rayanne.

ANGELA
Tino? Was worried about her? Tino never worries about Rayanne. Tino never worries about anything. That's weird.

JORDAN
So what do you want?

ANGELA
What?

JORDAN
Why are you here?

ANGELA
I--I just wanted to make sure that everything's--

JORDAN
You're with that guy, Brain, now, aren't you?

ANGELA
I'm not with him! Is that what you think?!

JORDAN
So, that...wasn't you rolling on the grass with him at Riverside Cemetery... two weeks ago?

ANGELA
I--!
(a beat)
Jordan--!

JORDAN
Whatever. Do what you want to do. I don't--

ANGELA
Are you demented! He was--I mean, it's not like it meant anything. He was, like...just there. You know?

JORDAN
So, what, are you and Brain, like, this couple, now?

ANGELA
God!!! Nooo!

JORDAN
I mean, you know...whatever...

A BLACK CUTLASS SUPREME suddenly SCREAMS around the corner, tires SCREECHING, rubber burning. GEORGE CATALANO BANGS out the front screen door, Magnum in hand. SHOTS are fired, their high-pitched explosions echo through the garage, and Mr. Catalano stumbles down the steps, holding his shoulder, falls on his back. Angela screams! That's when she realizes that Jordan has slumped over in her arms. Her sleeves are soaked red, and something warm and wet runs down her wrists. A gusher of blood flows from Jordan's right eye. And a torrent erupts from a huge hole in his chest, just to the left of his heart.

ANGELA
Oh my God...! Oh my--! Jordan--! Oh God--!

She cradles him tightly, as the snow continues to fall upon them.

ANGELA
Oh, God...Somebody, help me--! Somebody--!!!

But her voice is lost in the flurry of snow.

INT./EXT. DARKNESS - NIGHT?/DAY?

Slowly, a faraway horizon comes into focus, skirting the edge of this outer darkness. Tongues of orange flame rise upward as WAILS of tormented flesh echo throughout the distant canyons. There is no sky here. Only the choking mist of burning sulfer. THE SECOND OF THE BROTHERS surveys the landscape from atop the tallest plateau in Hell. The THIRD OF THE BROTHERS steps from the darkness, joins him.

THE THIRD
So, the murmurings were true. Coming back to the Abyss hasn't been a complete waste of time.

THE SECOND
Just know, Third amongst us, that the Second was here long before you were. I claim the prize as my own. Hell is now rightfully mine.

A VOICE booms out from the darkness behind the two demons.

THE FIRST
Then truthful were the pronouncements. The Lord of of The Abyss is amongst us no longer.

THE SECOND
His absense creates a vacuum, that which demands the fulfillment thereof.

THE THIRD
An honor I'll be more than happy to oblige. Look at my resume. My charge is a legend, these days, as big as the Beatles! Get this, his name is even whispered to children in the--

THE SECOND
You would boast of being sequestered behind bars in the body of a madman for a quarter century?! Your accom- plishment wilts beside the villainy my charges propagated throughout the free world!

The Second gestures grandly, like a graceful marionette.

THE SECOND
More than once, I held the world on the brink of nuclear war through mere murmurs and whispers into the ears of the world's appointed leaders. It is I who have caused the most--!

THE FIRST
Enough--! Both of you! Idiots! Do you not recall the last time The Fallen Angel left to haggle with the Carpenter's Brat?

The First steps forward, between the Second and Third.

THE FIRST
Then, as now, we left our possessed prey behind to race back to The Abyss. For forty days and forty nights we fought over rulership of Hell itself. And nearly tore it apart!

THE THIRD
Yeah, but now that 'ol Lucy's dead and gone, we'll have a lot more than just forty day and nights to declare a new head honcho round these here Darklands.

THE SECOND
The Morningstar was nothing but a preening fool, leaping at every perceived insult to his pride. Three times the mortal insulted him. And three times his vanity was his undoing.

THE THIRD
(smiles)
And the third time she destroyed him.

THE FIRST
A way back for The Fallen One there is, should the constellations line up in his favor.

THE SECOND
All the more reason I should be named his successor, before he can mount a return to power.

THE THIRD
Speaking of preening fools... Your vainglory makes me want to laugh my ass right off.

THE SECOND
Curb your tongue, you overproud whore. Your churlish vanity is wholly without merit.

THE FIRST
Obvious it is, each of us would rather by the Lord of Hosts be reamed, then raise a glass to the other's rulership.

THE THIRD
You got a better idea, give it up.

THE FIRST
Over the Abyss we dare not fight, lest we destroy the Darkness, and have naught left to lord over. Nor will we recog- nize one above the others without a war.

The First pauses a moment, in deep thought.

THE FIRST
An indisputable show of strength, suggest I. Honored with Hell's Lordship, the winner shall be.

THE SECOND
Surely, you jest! We all three have our singular strengths and weaknesses. What contest of wills could we possibly agree upon daunting enough to merit the Lordship of Hell?

THE THIRD
Good question.

THE SECOND
What task surpasses Mighty Hercules, with his brute vitality, overpowering the great dog Cerberus, and dragging him thereafter to the surface world?

THE THIRD
Or that guy, Sisyphus, finally perching that super-heavy stone o' his atop that huge precipice in the twenty second eon of his captivity?

THE SECOND
Even the Nazarene Himself, tearing down the very gates of Purgatory, to free those who would but listen. What prize, what peril remains worthy of affixing the mantle of Hell's Patriarch upon he who completes it?

The First pauses, long and thoughtful.

THE FIRST
Good questions, all...
(deep in thought)
Hmmm... Yes... Yes...! I have it. But, can it be done? Is it possible? Very soon, discovered will that be.

THE THIRD
You gonna keep talkin' in riddles, or are you gonna share this sudden wisdom?

THE SECOND
Yes. What task shall we three attempt, that which only one may accomplish, indisputably deeming him worthy of Satan's hollow crown? Speak now, First amongst the Brothers!

THE FIRST
Why, to accomplish that which even the Adversary, Satan himself, could not. To drag, kicking and screaming into The Abyss, The One Whom He Hates Above All Others, strewn for all eternity across the walls of Dis. Now that, my Fallen Brothers, _that_ would be a display of a Devil's true mettle.

THE SECOND
Yes... Yes! To capture the one mortal in three thousand eons to make a mockery of Once-Proud Lucifer. That _would_ be an achievement worthy of Hell's vacant throne.

THE THIRD
Satan's crown, not to mention his perks, to the Brother who completes the task the old grouch hisself couldn't?

THE FIRST
The task that is. Agreed?

THE SECOND
But, can it be done?

THE THIRD
Is the Second of the Fallen Brothers afraid?

THE SECOND
Out with your blasphemous tongue, you irritating fool. From a mere mortal woman-child the Second would never turn in fear.

He pauses a beat before answering.

THE SECOND
Yes. It is agreed.

THE THIRD
Shoot. And I don't need a million years to make up my mind.

THE FIRST
It is done, then. And as binding as any of our contracts.

The First raises his arms in a graceful parabola and A PILLAR OF FLAME rises. Within the pillar, a holographic likeness of a YOUNG GIRL slowly takes shape. As it comes into focus, we clearly see the familiar wild hair with the hot pink streak, the cutting edge attire, and the oversize shoulder bag.

THE FIRST (O.S.)
Rulership of the Abyss to he who drags, kicking and screaming, the mere mortal Rayanne Graff to her everlasting damnation.

NEXT! EPISODE #2

Jordan's on the brink, Angela makes a sale and Rayanne seeks help from someone from her past.