~ Precipice Edge ~

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."

It's my experience that nothing tears down an evil faster than itself in the presence of a good thing it can't destroy.

~ 'The Sin' by Franz von Stuck ~