popcorn

The specific request ~ "A horror movie in which the antagonist is balloons."

Me - "Awesome."
____________
________

A black balloon tied with three red bows of descending size trailing on her string, floats through the woods and down a steep hill to a white balloon waiting with a black top hat, glossed over construction paper torn and twisted tape.  

Her face is scrawled in rouge lipstick, the only thing that would stand out against the black, his a skull in sharpie with jagged teeth and a smile.

All to be redrawn on both to suit their present emotion while the thin wire on the string expresses their immediate responses.  Jagged when shocked, comfortably curled when drifting, now both entwined.

They look down the hill to the small town below. 

Voiced over ~

"You know your mom's planning a surprise party right ?"

Carla - Eating at the diner with Kate, "Goddamn it I knew it.  You're the best friend ever."

Kate - Eating a fry, "Yah.  Everyone else is in on it.  Like everyone.  Including your cousins from Pennsylvanian and that one creepy aunt.  She gave me candy.  I'm supposed to distract you til 7."

Carla - "How the hell were you supposed to do that !?"

Kate - Slurps her shake.  "Double feature.  Happy birthday."  Last slurps, "Hey did you know you mom thinks you're friends with the whole cheerleading squad ?"

Carla - "What !?"
 

(''Bullshit' by Ed Hall)

~ Float ~

Grins now drawn maniacal, credits as the balloons float through the woods and down the hill for the town.
________

Walking down the street, they look up at the marquise, double feature, 'Float' and 'Carnivores'.

Kate - "If we burn down the theater with ourselves inside, we could skip the pasty for medical attention."

Carla - "A viable option.  But why did you let them think I was friends with cheerleaders ?"

Kate - "Poisoned by candy and stories from your childhood.  They had photos.  I couldn't move."

Carla - "Learn anything good I blacked it all out."

Kate - "For the better.  We doing this ?"

Carla - Checks her Zippo.  "Let's get it done."

Tabby - From the ticket booth under the marquise, nervously.  "Um.  Popcorn ?"

Carla and Kate - "Popcorn."

~ while cheerleaders covered in blood run screaming through the party decorated house the balloons floating their way through the abattoir ...

Mom - In a closet peeking through the slats as the balloons drift by ... more screams ... "They're distracted."

Dad - Loading his shotgun, "Did you see ?  The bullets bounced off."  Locks.  "Unhuman they are ... "Cursed ... as we are cursed.  That's you're side of the family you know."

Mom - "Oh to hell with you."  More screams ... "I've got a box.  To catch them in."

Dad - "And then what."

Mom - Checks her Zippo.  "Then we experiment !  They'll die somehow ... somehow they'll die ... "

Dad - "Cursed ... "

Mom gives him a look before bursting the door open and chasing after with the box held high in a war cry.

Dad - Shakes his head ... "Cursed ... "

Aunt - Standing behind him with candy and tarot cards, "No it is you ... you who are cursed ... "  

She holds out the candy hand ... he takes a piece and turns to follow after his wife.  The aunt laughs and starts scrolling through photos.
____

The basement door at the top of the stairs bangs loudly in threes, while below the remaining cheerleaders huddle scared.

Janine - "Lacy ... you go first."

Lacy - "Why the hell do I go first !?"

The rest look at Janine.

Janine - "You're first year."

They look at Lacy.

Lacy - "Yeah and you're a senior that means I'm useful longer, you're gone in two months !"

They look back to Janine in subtle agreement.

Janine - "Yeah.  To college.  Where I will abso-fucking-lutely be waiting for your little whore ass on my way to a masters in remembering this day forever."

They look to Lacy shocked.

Lacy - "Not if I beat your pretty little face into a hideously disfigured pulp you won't be.  You'll be too busy 'having issues' ... "

They look ... 

Janine - "To the death."  Pulls her knife from the folds of her skirt.

Lacy - "For the honor of the squad."  Pulls hers.

The banging stops, they look up to the quiet door ... 

Janine - "When it's done."  Sheaths the blade.

Lacy - "All over the grass ... "  Sheaths hers.  "Stacy, go check the door please."

Stacy - Just excited to be there, "Okay !"

Runs to the top of the stairs and pulls the door open with a smile, startling dad.  Shotgun blast to the chest, she closes the door and latches it, walks back down the stairs ...

Stacy - "Not okay."  Dead.

Janine - Shaking her head ... "God she sucked."

Lacy - "Agreed.  Let's go kill that guy."

Janine - A sigh ... "Yeah.  She was still total squad, it's in the charter or we're off the team."

Lacy - "And then ... "

Janine - "You and me."  

A knock on the door.  

Dad - "Hello ... ?  Is she okay ... ?"

Lacy and Janine - Cheerfully while glaring at each other, "(: Be right there !"  They look to the next cheerleader.

~ two

~ three

('Desperate Cries' by Crust)

~ intermission ~

popcorn

('Skincrawl' by Drain)

~ five

~ six

('Spitwad' by Cherubs)

Horizon

A child of the future or somewhere else in space reads her report to the class, out the window to her side a string of space stations seen stretched around a world below.

Child - "And peace was finally made and all the remnants of the great war left to live in the heavens above, leaving behind the desolate world that they made below, where none could survive."  

She smiles proud of herself as the nearest station out the window is mired by explosions yet to be noticed by the class.  More missiles strike from below until it falls out of control.

Child - "Radioactive and forgotten for all but the rare minerals we need to power our tools and machines, to be harvested today by drones came to call 'the Hectors'."

Hectors flee the veering station, its edge dipping atmospheric, running from their bays and leaping into converted forms for flight.

She sees the horror on the faces of the class looking to the side out the window, she looks herself as the station veers into near collision with their own, falling just beneath it.  She stares ...

Child - Eyes wide, words numb ... "The end."

From the ground below the station seen falling. a military commander watches with binoculars.  He drops them down.

The station filled with screams and emergency flight alights with fire on entry, a great forest below, steeping unto the crash, a gust wind from impact in the commander's eyes.

Zain - Takes a shot from his flask and smiles ... "Harvest time."  He motions his army forward, soldiers followed by Hectors of their own.

('Get Involved' by James Brown)

~ Horizon ~

~ initial orders follow the song's first series of calls and returns, then views of troop movements squad by squad in the C&R's after, main character introduction fights one by one in between these movements ~

The Hectors above descend into walkers they land, rockets extending as limbs, reaching forward and around individually to drop on them with pads extending they jumping into position, using the outstretched rockets to boost and guide.

While the ground army appears to converted their tech as their own.  The enemy appear to be drones, the Earthbound with the AI pod stripped for cockpits.
____________

Lord Ansel - What's to say, he's clearly the most decorated on in the room, save perhaps the Bishop lurking with a cross-like staff but split at the top.  Talking to a well kempt politico, "We were assured.  We were all assured.  There would be no survivors."

Saulwort (the politico) - "As you needed to believe, to make the people believe."

Ansel - "Why ?"

Saulwort smiles to the bishop and turns away for the door.

Bishop - "For the sacrifice."

Ansel - "You're breeding them.  It was to be only the criminals."

Bishop - "The problem your highness, is that in a perfect society, the sinners run dry.  We ran out.  And it is only by our Lord's protection that this village still stands and so it must be."

Ansel - "Stands.  Your low sacrifices just blew our main refinery from their sky.  Which was positioned next to a witnessing school."

Bishop - "Children.  Who will believe ?  Their teachers are already silenced."

Ansel - "But they will remember.  And how long will it be before your cattle strike us here ?  Not long now I think.  And where did they come by such weapons.  It seems your little day trips were more costly than you admit, and yet now it is I who must face the crowd, ignorant."

Bishop - "Calm yourself.  We've dispatched our best."

Ansel - A suspicious laugh, "Is it her ?"

Bishop - "As I said.  Our best."

...

Ansel - "Get the fuck out of my sight.  And Pray."
____

As the warriors return to Shanty Town at dusk, haulers hauling, the populated dirt road streets with as many women as men and each with a reason in such a place to seem suspicious ~

('Goin' Out West' by Tom Waits)

(like literally all of them)

________

Lord Ansel exits his chamber to the court awaiting eagerly for his report, press flanking the circle with royal guards at the door.

Ansel - To the press, "Out."

The guards immediately set to rallying them reluctantly out the door.

Ansel - Sits on his throne with a sigh, he grasps his lady's hand.  To the court as the door closes.  "It was a lie."  He looks to her reassurance received, "We did not win the war.  We lost it."  Looks to the court, "And so we poisoned the Earth.

"There were to be no survivors, and to this day I believed it true.  Betrayed by the church and the state alike.  I, like you, exist only in symbol.  For the people to look to, to believe.  And so here we are.  Now how the Hell do we spin this."

Lady Grett - Whispers close to his ear flirtatiously, "Should we kill him, do you think ?"

Lord Ansel - Quietly beneath the court's murmur, "I think he makes it requisite.  But then only to be replaced by the next."

Grett - "But what if we kill them all ?  Instead of a house divided."

Ansel - "My sister wife.  You were well chosen."

Grett - "Born to be."

Ansel - "But first I will very much enjoy to kill this one, call the court if you would to witness it.  For those who may betray the kingdoms, and to those who keep secrets.  And in that time my dearest twin ... " in for a kiss, "The time it takes for the next to cement his power within ... "

Grett - "We'll have already have framed them for these lies.  We have our patsy."  A brief kiss, "The Church of Baal."

Ansel - Stands, "Guards, bring us back his holiness."

~ In the great chapel, the bishop kneels before the split topped cross, worshiping at the suffering of his enemy nailed to it.  Interrupted by the guards flanked by protesting priests.

Stabbed in the back before the court by Ansel, dropped as the ruler draws pistol and shoots the politico in the head.

Ansel - To the briefly stunned but excitedly amused court, "I'm afraid there was a coup."

~ two

~ three

Horizon

~ five

~ six

Precipice Edge

Scott walks through the woods, passing campers in their tents and at the tables ... smoking, fucking, arguing, laughing, passing them by on way to the cliff, he's oblivious.  Stunned in the eyes, stoned in the mind, the wind behind blows all their noise away.

Overlooking the precipice edge he lights a blunt and breaths in deep.  Staring blank ... he falls to his knees.  Breathing heavy into sobs, out of madness laughing, and roaring to the moon above.  His body convulses twitching as some internal growth unseen sets in, straightening his arms then the legs, throwing him back from cliff's edge.

Breathing hard into the calm returning he looks to the dropped and smouldering blunt in the pale dry grass.  The tiny cracking ... smoke rises, he stares.  He swipes it from the shot and spits to the ember, coughing heard, the sounds of other campers return as he stands tall, stretching into flex.

Blunt in the mouth, another coughing fit breaks the moment.  Then a grin, the the blunt's swiped from his face.  He looks to the side ...

Roger - Takes a deep hit and passes, words struggling back the smoke.  "Shit'll kill you, you know."

Scott -  "It can get the fuck in line."  Inhales ... "We got a gig."

Roger - "Heh ... "

Scott coughs another fit ...

Roger - "You sure ?"

Scott - Breath returning laboriously, "Yeah.  I'm sure."  Looks at the blunt.  "Need edibles."  Throws it down and stomps it to unknown campers' cheers.

~ The Precipice Edge ~

Their converted school bus spins tires down the road out of the woods and on to the the highway, engine roaring under the blower, matte black and dirty, smoke pouring from the windows like it was born in Hell.

Inside, the campers seem oblivious, along for the ride as Roger drives.

Passing the traffic, swerving through and between like a bird in flight, the city lights glow on the horizon  ahead.  

Roger - "This shit's gonna kill you you know."

Scott - A look ...

Roger - Lights a smoke.  "I mean these gigs.  You need to stop."

Scott - "Then who feeds the kids ?"

Roger - A glance to the likely useless stoner pile in back ... "They really are helpless aren't they.  Adorable.  But helpless."

Scott - "Yeah ... "

Roger - "Look.  I mean you're addicted to this shit."

Scott - "We're all addicted to this shit."  Grabs the blunt from his mouth.

Roger - "No.  I mean death.  

Scott - "So did I."

Roger - "No.  No fucked up jokes.  It's not right.  You've got it all twisted up in your mind.  You're obsessed.  And all these fucks ... you keep em around to witness it."

Scott - "And you ?"

Roger - "I'm your voice of fucking reason."

Scott - "Damn good mechanic too.  You know I can't die."

Roger - "Thank you.  No deflections.  Why did you take this gig."

...

Scott - "Needs doing.  Nobody else will.  Probably nobody else can."

Roger - "And do you think the world will stop turning without you ?  It's killing you.  Inside.  And when you die on the outside ... then what ?"

Scott - "I'll answer the phone."

Roger - "Yeah that'll be me calling you a dumbass.  As long as you know, you can fool all these hippies, but you cannot fool, your voice of reason.  I see it.  You are looking hard, for the one thing you cannot have.  So what's the gig ?"

Entering the city ~

Past the sex district (a bit like New York used to be off the Lincoln tunnel) and into an alley.  

 

Roger - To Marsha (total hippie) seating herself at the wheel with wide eyes over all the switches, she starts flipping them."Nowhere to park the Beast, just keep her rolling."

Marsha - Mad in the eyes with excitement, "Gas money ?"

Scott - "Earn it."

Marsha - Giddy, "Heee ... go.  Go go go."  Flips switches ... a look ... Go !"

They depart, the door slams as the Beast skids to catch its loaded girth up to the hopped motor.  They watch it skid though a turn ... police start their sirens.  

Watching the wailing sounds and engine roaring as though through the buildings, circling the block an getting loud again.

Marsha - As is screams past, "Whoo !"

They watch as it fades again ...

Scott - "Marsha's not useless."

Roger - "No she is not.  Cab."

Scott - "Yep."  One pulls up.

They get out at the inner city motel.

At the desk ~

Hotel Manager (Bob) - "Fuck you."

Scott - "Please.  In and out."

Bob - "Cut."

Scott - "Five."

 

Bob - "Seven."

Scott - "Fine."

Bob - "Fuck you."  Tosses him the keys.  "Roger."

 

Roger - "Bob."  Catches his set.
________

In dreams ~

Devil - Whipping Scott, "But you will.  And then ... this."  Another lash.  "Another world to escape in ?"  A lash, "Another dream in which to hide from it ?"  Lash.  "It will all be for naught.  There is only this.  A lash.

Scott sleeps in his motel bed with an occasional twitch.

Coffee in the shitty motel lounge ~

Roger - "So.  Has your pulse returned ?"

Scott - "Oh ... fuck ... Off.  Yes.  I have a pulse."

Roger - "Let's see." ... "Let's ... see."

Scott sticks out his arm, Roger feels around the wrist looking ... then looking harder.

Roger - Throws down the arm annoyed, "Dead as a door nail."

Scott - "So what.  Eat my fucking vegetables ?"

Roger - "It would help."

Scott - "Help what."

Roger - "What the fuck are you even doing here ?  Why aren't you ... "

Scott - "Dead ?"

 

Roger - "Not that I would miss these chats in such mystifying locales, but yeah.  You seem intent on it, and you've already got it, you undead motherfucker."

Scott - "I guess there's your answer.  I'm not looking for death, death is looking for me and I know it.  You know why I always take the gig ?  As long as I'm necessary."

Roger - "And when the world's done with you ?"

Scott - "I'll leave a hideous corpse."

Roger - "You are a hideous corpse.  We need to get your heart pumping again, drink more coffee."  Looks at his watch, "We're walking."

Scott - "Fuck that."  Slams the cup.

Roger - "Fuck you."  Slams his, they head for door.  "Thanks Bob."

Bob - "Fuck you both kindly and have a nice day."

They open it as the Beast roars by with the sirens, hippies screaming, followed by the police and news choppers.

...

 

They start walking. 

~ two

Walking with sirens in and out in the distance ~

Scott - "What about you ?  Why the Hell are you still here if it's all a lost cause."

Roger - "Didn't say that.  I said you are.  I just like driving the bus."

Scott - "Bullshit.  That's not why.  But also yeah she's a sweet ride.  Tell the truth.  You love this shit."

Roger - "I love getting this shit done.  Who else is stupid enough, like you say but ... "

Scott - "Mm-hm.  Just say it."

Roger - A sigh ... "Yeah it's for the hippies.  They're like an adorable pile of occasionally sexy kittens with infinite weed."

Scott - "Serious weed magnets."

Roger - "Mm-hm.  And there's also Marsha."

Scott - "There is definitely Marsha."
____

The Beast leads the pursuit through a parking garage, screaming hippies piing to sides with each turn to a laughing Marsha.  She watches them in the rear view, an evil look and a grin before a hard turn, screams ...
____ 

Scott - "But that's not why and I already know the truth.  Thanks man.  You too."

...

Roger - "You're welcome."  Eying the passing fast food, "Burger ?"

Scott - "Burger."

While Marsha drives through the morning suburbs, lawns watered and mowed, smoke pouring, police in tail.  Two cops at the end of the road ~ 

One - Puts up a hand to 'halt' while the other rolls out the wheel spikes, the bus's entourage approaching.  "They'll stop."

The bus guns ...

One - "Or ... "  He looks around the suburb ... a lady looks up from her gardening at the blaring sound mixed with screams and smoke.  "Or this could go a lot of ways."  Others walk out of their house to see as the first cop firms his stance.

The bus tires roll over unharmed.  "Whooo !"

Two - "Huh.  Heard of those.  ... Oh fuck."  The first police car's tires blow, swerving as the pile up begins ... the police choppers follow while the news remains to film.
____

Child eating cereal while watching TV ...
____ 

They pile ...
____

An old coupe eating ice cream ...
____

And pile ...
____

Bob at the motel - "Marsha ... "
____

And piled.

Police helos fly over a quiet city street, bus missed in the alley as it creeps out the other way.

Marsha - Talking over her shoulder while driving, "We're gonna have to hit some races soon or we're all out of gas.  There's a hose."

Hippies in a wide eyed pile ... one lights as joint.
________

Eating burger ~

Roger - "What's the plan then ?"

Scott - "We try diplomacy first."

Roger - "Right, because that always works."

Scott - "But then we don't need to feel bad."

Roger - "Was I supposed to ?"

Scott - "Sociopath."

Roger - "Amiable sociopath, to you."

Scott - "Just saying."

Roger - "Fucking corpse."

Leaving the burger joint ~

Roger - " 'Just saying', you're an undead motherfucker."

Scott - "Be nice you.  And what kind of man would choose to hang around an undead motherfucker anyway, but a goddamn sociopath."

...

Roger - "Touche.  How's the pulse ?"

Scott - "Pulse is fine.  We're almost there."  Walks faster.

Roger grows serious as he watches him step ahead, many thoughts behind his eyes.  He catches up.
________

On one side of the screen a bright light, the other pitch darkness.

Dark - Forming into a shadowed face, looking downward.  "So here we are, once again.  Another Hell for another servant.  Torturing your own for you, once again, because you've got not the guts to do it yourself."

Light - Face forming, "Heart.  I've got not the heart."

Dark - A laugh, "To enjoy it."

Light - A sideways look, "I enjoyed yours ... "

Dark - "I'll remember that.  When I deliver the same, to yours."

Light - "I'd appreciate that greatly, thank you very much, you otherwise useless ass."  Flashes out.

...

The darkness growls before the shadows fade to black screen.
________________

Walking ...

Scott - "I don't know.  Sometimes I do wonder about Him."

Roger - "Yeah ?  And why is that.  The suffering of innocents He ignores until someone as stupid as we are shows up to clean up His mess for him ?"

Scott - "Yeah ... that's a reason.  But really, it's the games.  It's one thing to do the deeds and pick up the check, but ... "

Roger - "But it always turns out someway that proves Him right."

Scott - "Right.  Like He's weaving Hell on Earth just so the lucky few survivors get to see how cool He is."

Roger - "And then He'll blame the devil."

Light - Walking with them, the recognizable face, "Crisis of faith ?"

Scott - "God damn it."

Dark - "Sounds about right to me."

Roger - "Jesus Fuck."

Dark - "Oh yeah."

Light - "You were saying, 'The Devil."

Dark - "Evil with a D bitch.  Yes.  I was saying, look at this fool who follows you.  Unto his own end through your torture and mine.  And he has no idea even why ?  How is this free will."

Light - "Oh !  Good start ... so make the pitch."

Dark - A sigh.  Looks to Scott, everything you want.  Wildest dreams and such ... um ... piles of gold."

Light - "Or ... doing the right thing for nothing at all."

...

Scott - "I can't tell if you two are horrible at this, or possibly very good."

Roger - "Seems halfhearted."

Scott - "Like they're just playing the role but completely forgot why."

Roger - "Saying the same catch phrases so many times ... over and over ... "

Scott - "It's like they've got no free will at all !"

Light and Dark stop in their tracks with wide eyes watching them walk away ...

Dark - "I can see why you hate this one so much."

Light - "Love."

Dark - "Uh huh.  His tortures will be exquisite."  He fades away.

Light - Smiles ... "Excellent."  Gone in a pop.

~ as the bus pulls into the car show billowing its smoke ~

While on the long walk Scott and Roger walk by the homeless camp lining the street, people stepping out of their shelters to flex or twitch as the case may be.

Bets taken on the races ...

 

The twitch and flex in both places, shelters and cars ... and then the races while the camp dances to the boombox.  The Beast is a slow starter but it pulls ahead when the fire kicks in shooting from the side mounted stacks (Marsha's having a great old time while the crew smokes the locals out).

~ Afterparty.

~ three

Scott - "Poison."

Roger - "It was her, wasn't it."

Scott - "I guess she thought it was easier than the break-up.  And the old boss.  Death curse.  Killing me was the only thing they agreed on, without even knowing it."

Roger - "Why ?"

Scott - "Hated my ex.  Killed my cat."

Roger - "Damn."

Scott - "Then came my best friend ... hand around my throat.  Wanna talk about trust issues ?"

Roger - "He really did throw it all at you.  Got close.  Warmed right up to you."  A look to the side and a spit.  "Such bitchery."

Scott - "It's pathetic, he does it from hiding because he knows.  So the hunt goes on."

Roger - "Do you get mad at his victims ?  The ones he turns on you ?"

...

Scott - "I try not to ... but it always rings in the back of the mind that he uses their already existent natures.  Like maybe that side wouldn't have taken over, but it was always there."

My friend was always secretly jealous, I saw it, but always came up with or created ways to avoid the actual path.  My ex ... my boss ... both very territorial women, each feeling I was being taken from them by the other.  It was there ... but ... "

Roger - "But if you weren't being hunted, if they never knew you ... "

Scott - "They wouldn't have gotten the good parts either.  Both were going nowhere fast, using up whatever man they could, however they could, to survive.  I kept them going a minute, we did things."

Roger - "Things worth dying for ?" ... they pass a bodega with some street standing in front of it.

Scott - Smiles ... "I guess so.  Smokes."

Roger - "Sodas."

Scott - A glance to the corner, "Weed."

Roger - "Yep."

Scott enters the store while Roger talks to the guys on the corner.
_______

The bus crosses the finish line just before the competing truck.
_______

Roger - Rolling, "Is that when it started ?"  Licks it, "When you started feeling ... "  Lights.

Scott - "Like a patchwork fucking Frankenstein ?  No.  Gimme."  Smokes.  "That was always true."

Roger - "Huh."  Takes and hits, "I'm just wondering if you did die, maybe you're not the same person anymore.  Maybe you're not even a person at all, like on some sort of remote control."

...

Scott - "That is the most fucked up cruel possibly true thing you ever said to me."

Roger - "Is that when you started feeling like 'her' ?"

...

Scott - "No.  But it might be when ... 'she' ... " a look ... "became more undeniable."

Roger - "So maybe she always was you, and all that died was the lie."  Smokes.

...

Scott - "Second most most fucked up yet possibly true thing you ever said.  Enough.  I tap out you win.  "Your turn.  What the fuck happened to you.  You were gone for years and all you've told me since is 'some shit went down'."

Roger - "And it got ugly."

Scott - "Yeah, some shit went down and it got ugly.  So ?  All this lovely time in the sun with sodas and weed and your good old friend."

Roger - "Sorry doll.  I don't know you."

...

Scott - "That actually hurt."

Roger - "Good.  So maybe I do.  You knew what I was off to do, how pretty was it gonna be ?"

Scott - "Yeah but ... you know I'm not the only one who came back different."

Roger - A sigh ... stops walking.  "Yeah.  So we got there.  There were all these people in rooms, a whole complex of ... horror.  One room a dead girl hanging by her wrists, posed in the rigor to tantalize beyond, another one in a chair still twitching from the voltage that killed her ... dome guys gathered around ... laughing nervously ... no idea that in that moment they were indoctrinated, that forced laughter the key.

"Another room a fat man rage fucking something you couldn't see beneath his ... disgusting girth.  The next a man strangles a woman to death while cumming, a cat distracted him and just the worst time, he swatted it away and tried to get back into it ... but the moment was gone.  

"Another and another and another ... then came the meat processing facility.  Like the back room of a fifties diner, old tiles, faded and blood stained yellow and white check, old meat grinders dropping our hamburger on the floor next to a couple of shovels, vintage round clock on the wall above.  That's when I finally got it.

"They were making art.  

"The entire passageway, the entire complex, filled with rooms and horror.  They were making art.  And it was beautiful.  Like Hell.  I went insane."

Scott - "That's the part I did know.  You blew cover and ... "

Roger - "Yeah.  No regrets."

Scott - "None taken."

Roger - "That's when I really understood.  Not only the depth of evil, truly Hell on Earth being physically created on these bodies, but how much everything we've trusted all this time, protected it.  Everything we stood for, everything we believed in.  Fought for.  Killed for.  Died for.

"It was for this.  So yeah.  Even if it destroyed our world, it had to stop.  You know me.  I calculate.  'Caring' is not in my protocol.  That was the day I learned to give a fuck.  The day that old me died.  The one you knew."

Scott - "The one I know.  Giving a fuck looks good on you."

Roger - "Thank you.  You look about the same dead."

Scott - "Thanks.  Roll it up."

Roger - "Yes sir ... "  Pulls out the bag.

~ Intermission ~

Precipice Edge

Marsha - At the shop shop, "I need a new body for the Beast."

Nails - "Anything to do with you being all over the six o'clock news ?"

Marsha - "Everything to do with that.  In three hours, you keep my winnings and the blower and the stacks."

Nails - "What the fuck am I gonna do with the stacks ?"

Marsha - "Five o'clock news.  Others will try."

Nails - "Yeah ... you know more people would have bet against you if it weren't for all that press."

Marsha - "You mean all that awesome ?  And I need the tank from the other bus mounted."

Nails - "In three hours."

Marsha - "I believe in you."

Nails - A look ... "What color."

Marsha - "Schoolbus orange."

Nails - "What city."

Marsha - (: "This one."

Nails - "How 'bout we give it the number from the one that rides that suburb you trashed."

Marsha - "That's a terrible idea.  Make it so."

Nails - "We're gonna need your uh ... " looks to the hippies ...

Marsha - "Hippies."

Nails - "Yeah.  Do you trust them with rivet guns ?"

Marsha - "Some of them ... "

Nails - "And the crane ?"

Marsha - "None of them.  I'm rated."

Nails - "For a shop crane."

Marsha - "Yep !"

Nails - "Where the hell did they find you ?"

Marsha - "Hanging around the grand prix."
____

At the grand prix holding up the trophy.
____

Nails - "Though I recognized you ... 'Marsha'.  Wanna a new job ?"

Marsha - "Maybe when this one expires."

Nails - A laugh, "That might be a while."  He motions over an assistant and whispers in the ear.

Hammer - "A school bus ?" ... "Yeah I now where there might be one."

Nails - "Legitimate.  No one looking for it."

Marsha - "You were gonna rob the school weren't you."

Hammer - Smiles ... "Maybe."

Marsha - To Nails, "You know maybe I work here after this gig, I need to pick up an old guy first and then drop him off."

Nails - "So I hear.  Around the way.  Do you have any idea ... "

Marsha - "Yes."

... 

Nails - "Alright Miss 'Schoolbus Orange', but just so you know, that's why the discount.  Those are not one but two big hits.  Some people don't mind one and some the other but I don't mind both."

Marsha - "And both tanks filled."

Nails - "But I like to now things.  For the gas."  Leans forward, quietly.  "Where you gonna take 'em when it's done ?"

Marsha - "From whence they came ... "

Scott - Coughing hard, he passes back the joint in a hurry.  "Need ... " hack " ... Coffee."
____

Roger - Watching Scott break up the weed into a to go cup ... "What the fuck are you doing ?"

Scott - "It works."

Roger - "Why the fuck out of all these hippies and road, have I heard of no one doing that, ever ?"

Scott - Stirring the cup, "No idea.  But as long as it's got the creamer fats to absorb the THC ... it works.  But you know I've wondered that myself.  You should try it."  Sips ... a smile, "It'll make you a believer."

Furrowed brow ... he pulls out the bag.
____

Laughing their way down the street ...

Roger - "Well ... ho ... lee ... shit.  Why does nobody do this !?  It's fucking perfect !"

Scott - "Ye of little faith."

Roger - "Where'd you pic this hit up from ?"

Scott - "Five years breathing that toxic air ... hence the cough ... and then dealing with humans of course, a solution was required.  You ever try talking to these bastards !?"

Roger - "That I have ... that I have.  They say killing's hard ... but sometimes they really do make it harder not to.  So how are we going to do this."

Scott - "Simultaneous, exactly the same time, or we just wasted it.  Otherwise, it's like any other gig."

Roger - "You sure about that ?"

Scott - "Sadly, very.  Regardless of what that may mean."

Roger - "Hm."  Drinks ... "This is seriously the good shit though.  We need to spread the word."

Scott - "Just did."

Roger - Drinks, "Now.  Are we sure about this one ?"

Scott - "Doesn't matter anymore, we're paid in advance."

Roger - "Un fucking believable."

Scott - "Just you and me, with no one over our shoulders while we check the loot."
____

While Marsha works the crane, lowers the body to the frame ~

Roger - "What about Marsha ?"

Scott - "What about her ?"

Roger - "I think she's earned her slice."

Scott - "And a slice she will have."
____

Marsha - "Thanks Anael ... "

Nails - Suddenly out of breath like a heart attack, "Jesus fucking Christ don't ever call me that here."  Breathing heavy and holding his chest.  "Or anywhere you scared the fuck out me.  You're welcome."

Marsha - "Still thinking about that opening in the shop ?  Still interested."

Nails - ... "You're not gonna want it."  Lights a cigarette, "Not when this is through."

Marsha - A bit of cool veneer falls off, "When ... what's through.  What do you mean ?  I know what kind of ears you've got to the ground.  Why would this be on your radar ?"
____

Voiced over while Roger and Scott walk ~

Nails - "It's about the Dichotomy."

Marsha - "Between what ?"

Nails - "No.  'The' Dichotomy.  It's a name."

~ Scott looks to the side at Scott in quick assessment.

Nails - "Or maybe more like an identity.  A title."

~ Roger glances back with a nod.  "Ready."

~ Scott with a smile, "I believe you."
____

Nails - "I mean only what I said.  Just my intuition, but sure.  If I'm wrong and you still do want job, okay."  The head for the shop door into the light, "I'll try you out I fucking hate working the crane."

Marsha - "I fucking love the crane."

Nails - "Don't ever fucking lie to me again."

~ five

Watched by Light and Dark ~ 

Roger - "I only met Him once directly." (true story) "I looked around at the world, after I found out how Heaven was powered, I found out a lot of things in the hunts.  It wasn't that I lost faith, it's that what I did have faith in was a lot of bullshit.  Not that it wasn't real, but that it was.

"I went mad about, slow brew, days ... and then I pulled my good knife and called Him out.  Right then and there, He was doing down.

"And I heard His voice saying He's on His way, walking up this street from this direction and to meet him at the corner."

Scott - "Crossroads."

Roger - "Yes sir.  I sheathed ans started walking ... "  Shakes his head slow ... "And there He was.  The absolute last kind of guy you wanna fight.  Six and a half feet tall and built like a brick.  Wrap around shades that for some reason didn't look stupid on him, long ass hair blowing in the wind like the wind was made to blow it.

"Hiking gear, with a vest and pockets, no pocket overstuffed, nothing sagging.  Goddamn perfect.  Takes one look at me and smiles and just says, 'Mm-Hm.'  Keeps on walking.

"That's when I knew.  When I understood.  God is a traveler, he created the world to explore it, but that could only be fun, if free will existed.  It had to be unpredictable.  And now that He's got that, he has no interest in ruling it at all.  Only in exploring it."

Scott - "So do you consider that God or Jesus ?"

Roger - "Same thing in that context.  Jesus is God's Avatar, like in a game."

Scott - "You mean our world."

Roger - "Well.  We digress.  Really, all I know is that God is a traveler who wanders the Earth.  The rest is supposition as to why."

Scott - "Makes sense.  Did you ever consider the parallels of Lucifer's tale with that of the Christos ?"

Roger - "Jesus Christ."

Scott - "Yeah that's the one.  Lucifer was the firstborn, so is said of Jesus, and being cast out in spirit is to be born into flesh, there was no Hell at the time of these tale, it was Heaven and Earth.  Hell came later."

Roger - "Heard of it."

Scott - "Yeah you know all that, I'm just connecting the dots to show you a picture."

Roger - "I already see it.  And in  the end, both cried out forsaken."

Scott - "So they say."

Roger - "So they say ... but do you think that it's true ?"

Scott - "I don't think they're the 'same being', no.  I think there's a lot of parallels, and maybe that tells us something about how God treats His children."

Roger - "And you're talking to me about crisis of faith."

Scott - "There's no crisis I already said.  We were paid in advance, this is a job now.  Faith has nothing to do with it."

Roger - "You make it sound so easy."

Scott - "It is that easy."

Roger - "Maybe for you it all got easier over time, but for me, it got harder."

Scott - "Why ?"

Roger - "Lack of finality.  The grind.  You know if you work in a burger joint you get sick of burgers."

Scott - "Not sure that I would."

Roger - "Exactly.  We're almost there, weapons check."

They fade from the world as though cloaking in reverse, the rest of the streets becoming shaky transparencies, themselves now armored, drawing sword to examine.

Scott - Eying Roger's, "Whatchu got ?"

Roger - "Chinese war sword.  Made for two things, taking heads and chopping wood.  Excellent for both."  Eying, "You ?"

Scott - Giggles, "Excalibur."

Roger - "You dork."

Scott - "Yah."

They and the world returns to normal as they sheathe, Scott flickers briefly as female.
____

Marsha - "They're almost there."

Nails - "I know.  I got something for you."

Marsha - "Yeah ?  Why ?"

Nails - Smiles, "You're quick.  But why not I'm in a good fucking mood."  He looks to the hippies loading back into the bus ... "It's a job."

Marsha - "I can't trash this bus, we got as good out here."

Nails - "No no.  You drive this."  He motions to the hot-rod.  "It's hot as hell and I need it disposed of, however." ... "I also need a burger from crosstown.  How you perform these two tasks is entirely up to you."

Marsha - "Excellent.  What's the pay."

Nails - Reaching into his pocket for some cash, "Best burger you ever will eat, on the house."  Drops a couple of twenties in her hand.  "With the fries.  You don't even know the fries.  Try and come back in  something we can chop.  But absolutely not in this conspicuous piece of evidence right here."

Marsha - "What's the crime ?"

Nails - "Asking too many questions."

Marsha - "There's literally a body in the trunk isn't there."

Nails - Another twenty, "And the shakes."

Marsha - "They'd better be damn good shakes."

Nails - "You tell me when you come back with one for yourself but don't touch it one the way now.  I wanna see your face.  Six grand when you do plus whatever for the next car, take it or leave it.  Better get back before it melts, if you really wanna know."

Marsha - ... "I wanna know.  What's this joint called."
____

The tires screech away ...

Nails - Laughs watching ... 

Hammer - "Did you get one for me."

Nails - "Fuck you."

Hammer - "Grand if I get back first."

Nails - "My ass."  Reaches for his money.  "Get me the full trio and I want that fucking shake cold."

~ six

Scott - Eying Light and Dark as they watch from a diner window, "Everything they took from me, was like having another little piece of my soul torn out.  I never let on how much it hurt me, I never wanted them to have that satisfaction.  But it did."

Roger - "And when they fell ?"

Scott - "I laughed.  Such satisfaction, only the tortured can know, if only they're lucky enough for revenge.  But that's what ends up making us the same."

Roger - "No.  It doesn't.  You were the righteous, and they were the thieves in the night.  They never would have stopped and you know it so now there's no need to torture yourself.  Enjoy the peace."

Scott - "Oh I do.  Fingers.  Toes.  Kidneys.  I enjoyed all the pieces."

Roger - A look ... "Stop sidestepping.  You know what I'm saying."

Scott - "Peace is a dream, reality is the night."

Roger - "That's not helpful."

Scott - "Colors.  Colors.  C-c-c-colors.  Colors."

Roger - Laughs, "Don't you Ice-T at me when I'm making a point.  Trying to save your soul."

Scott - Soul's fine.  It grows back."

Roger - "Then why you dodgin' ?"

...

Scott - "Fine.  I'm doing it because it' the right thing to do."

Roger - "And the payday in advance ?"

Scott - "Well.  That just makes it funny."
_______

The car leaps off the cliff over the water, Marsha picks herself up from the dirt and starts walking for the diner ahead.  Inside ~

Raphael - Through the kitchen window, "Now there she is."

Gabrielle - Takes one of two bags and two shakes off the shelf and walks to Marsha, "Have a seat."

Marsha - "You ... huh.  I'm in a hurry."

Gabrielle - Sits at a table and pulls the burgers out, sets one across from her and one for herself, pulls out the fries.  "No you're not.  Stop getting distracted by side quests."

Marsha - Looks at her while she takes a bite ... "Fuck."

Gabrielle - "Mm.  I swear to God I can never get sick of these."
________

Roger - As they stand before a back alley door, "You ready ?"

Scott - Pulls the sword as one world fades to another again, "For Love and Camelot."

Roger - Pulls his, "For unification."
________

Hammer - Pulls up skidding, enters.  "Well look at you."  Grabs the other bag and shakes off the shelf, grins his way out the door.  "Distracted again."  

Marsha - Watches him skid off ... "You just cost me a thousand dollars."  Looks at her bitter, then fades into a smile.  "How you been ?"

Gabrielle - Smiles weakly, "Dead inside.  Healing.  Recovering.  You're right.  It does grow back."

A tear down Marsha's cheek.
 

Roger and Scott enter the door into the light.

Roger walks into Hell and Scott into Heaven, the armies of each charge forth and it's on.  Gabrielle holds out her keys.

They battle, she drive, accelerating into her madness and streaming tears.
________

Light - Stand up from his throne, a slaughter of angels before him, "How dare you ... " 

~ While Dark just grins and lays his head on the stone.

Dark - "A story first.  If you will hear my last words, a story which never was told."

Roger - Looks at his watch, "I'm sure your counterpart's wasting the same time, why not."
____

Light - "I am your maker.  Your creator.  And you dare ... "

Scott - "No you're not.  Or you'd have seen this coming."  Spins the blade, "Now throw down."

Light - ... "Grins ... "  A blinding light as he draws.
____

Dark - Grinning sideways while awaiting the chop with pleasure, "Eve was hungry, do I taught her how to eat.  And I taught her more."

~ Light - In a blocked strike, "Good."

Dark - "And evil ... heh.  I split the apple in two and inside, two seeds.  One was black and the other, skinless white.  It told her that one was the day.  And the other darkest night."

~ Light - "I gave you everything that you are."

Roger - Raises the blade, "You said this was original."

Dark - "It is.  It's nothing to do with good nor evil at all.  Never was, these are absolutes.  And where in the world do absolutes truly exist, no.  It taught her binary.  The core of all mathematics."  Bursts out madly laughing, "And your species has been addicted to counting ever since !"
____

Scott - Running him through, "You both paid in advance."

~ Dark - Calming with the thought.  "Heh.  Good one."  The chop.

The world fades back to the chop shop, and them away with it.  Marsha falls out of the car ... Hammer eating a burger with Nails.  On fours she struggles to stand and works her way to them.

Marsha - "What ... what's happening to me ?"

Nails - Slurps the last of his shake, "Easy kid.  It's just a game."

Marsha - The look on her ace straightening, the powers of light and dark swirling in the other world to the blades in each hand.  "I ... I am ... "

Nails - "That's all that needs saying.  Now get the fuck out of here, stop getting distracted by side quests."  Ignores her back into burger.

She looks at the bus, smoke puffing out from within, 'Midwich SD 319' on the side.  She walks to.

The voice of Dark - "And so God made the game."

The voice of Light - "So She can play it."

~ X O ~