BRIMSTONE VS Episode #206 Written by Derek Saul "VIGILANTE" TEASER FADE IN: INT. MEAT PACKING PLANT - NIGHT A cold slaughterhouse. Large slabs of skinned beef hang from hooks. The walls and floor spattered with animal carcass blood. Lighting is dim. About twenty-five THUGS are assembled here, seated around a long wooden table set up in the center of the killing floor. They're laughing, drinking, smoking. The table is littered with beer bottles, open cigarette packs, ashtrays, ammunition. And GUNS. Lots of them. Enough to supply a small army. The air is humid and thick with smoke. The chair at the head of the table is empty. CUTTER enters through a side door and makes his way casually toward the table. He's big, bulky, with a clean-shaven head and a long mustache that trails down to his jaw. A long scar runs across his right eye. Wearing leather and studs. He looks like he belongs on a Harley. The assembled group tones down as Cutter takes his place at the head of the table. CUTTER Alright, let's get started. (lights a smoke) So how're we gonna do this thing? I got three people waitin' for their cut. THUG #2 I say five people, max. Two in the front, two in the back, one on the roof on lookout. THUG #1 We could use another guy on the street, at least till we knock out the security system. CUTTER Sounds decent. What's the security situation there anyway? THUG #4 Standard gridlock system. I can have it down in twenty seconds. CUTTER Shave five seconds off that time. We need to get in and out like livewires. THUG #1 (grins) Like ghosts. Murmured chuckles make their way around the table. Cutter smiles like he knows something the others do not. CUTTER Okay, what about the night guard? We'll need some -- Cutter stops. Spins his head like he heard something. The others watch him curiously. One of the thugs, SPOOKY, is in his mid-40's and older than the others. He glances over at his cohorts around the table, waiting if someone else will speak first, before finally voicing their collective thought. SPOOKY Cutter, man, what is it? CUTTER Nothing... just... His focus is back on the table. CUTTER So anyway, what about the night shift -- BANG! A GUNSHOT suddenly rings out. It echoes repeatedly off the blood-soaked walls. THUG #4's chest explodes, the impact of the bullet sending him off his chair. He's dead before he hits the ground. Everyone is up now, their chairs thrown back and flung across the room. Guns drawn. Alert. All eyes scanning the surrounding smoke and darkness. You can cut the tension in this room with a knife. There's barely a millisecond for anyone to register the ARROW that's slicing through the smoke-thick air before... THWAP! The silver projectile impales itself into THUG #12's throat. He grips the arrow and gargles something resembling a faint gasp before collapsing dead to the floor. THUG #6 can't stand this any longer. He snaps. Raises his Uzi and FIRES off an endless volley into the ceiling. Several more of them join in, blindly unleashing their arsenal into the darkness. The ongoing stream of slugs cut a path of destruction everywhere. Chunks of wood, cardboard and concrete fly and scatter in all directions. Desperation is heavy. Finally, after maybe a full minute, they stop. The silence that ensues is deafening. Gun barrels are sizzling. Smoke pours from their muzzles. The thugs scan the walls. Ceiling. Every dark crevice. Feeling more at ease now. Nothing could have survived that. The glass sunroof suddenly SHATTERS. A DARK FIGURE descends on them in a shower of broken glass. He lands on the table in a crouch. Covered in black from head to toe. Long leather trench coat. Black gloves. And a ninja-like DARK MASK with a black tinted visor across the eyes. He reaches both hands into his trench coat. And all hell breaks loose. A bulletfest erupts. All guns blazing. Dark Mask pulls out a pair of MAC-10s from his trench coat and unleashes 9mm death. The thugs scatter and duck as they press on their assault. Dozens upon dozens of rounds are connecting with this guy, but they can't understand what they're seeing -- DARK MASK ISN'T EVEN SLOWING DOWN! The bullets continue to pummel and rip his body up, but Dark Mask just continues marching down the length of the long table, spraying bullets from his machine pistols on either side of the table like paint from an airbrush. The thugs are falling, one by one. The scene is bordering on bloodbath. SPOOKY is actually slighter smarter than he looks, realizing that this is a losing battle. He tries inching his way toward the nearest exit, crouched low, hoping to elude the chaotic gunfire. CUTTER begins backing away from the scene discreetly, edging himself toward a dark corner of the room. He watches this intruder with awe. Dark Mask launches himself into the air, flips to his feet, moves acrobatically. Resumes his barrage. His gun clips are empty. Tosses his MAC-10s aside. Produces two long DAGGERS from his waist sheaths. There aren't many thugs left anyway. He slashes and slices his way through the remainder of the group. Blindingly fast and deadly. These poor bastards don't stand a chance. With a final throw that sends his blades through the throat of the last breathing thug and impales him into the wooden beam behind him, the carnage is over as quickly as it began. Dead silence. From overhead, we see the portrait of genocide -- a sole man standing amidst a sea of mutilated corpses. The proverbial slaughterhouse. CUTTER (O.S.) Hey... Dark Mask spins around. CUTTER emerges from the shadows unscathed, gun held out. CUTTER Forgot one, hotshot. BANG! Pulls the trigger. Hits Dark Mask dead center in the chest. But like the previous hail of gunfire, this shot has NO AFFECT! He doesn't budge an inch. Too quick for Cutter to register, Dark Mask whips out his own GUN from his shoulder holster and FIRES one shot. His aim is true, nailing Cutter square in the LEFT EYE. The blue soulflame shoots out from his punctured socket. CUTTER AAARRGGHHH!! Cutter clutches his left eye, the flames pouring out between his fingers. CUTTER You know who I am, you sonuvabitch?! You got no idea who you're dealing with! He pulls out a BOWIE KNIFE from his back pocket, raising it over his head to throw it. Dark Mask seems almost bored as he raises his gun again and fires one quick shot, shooting the knife out of Cutter's hand. Dark Mask suddenly LEAPS into the air, blue flame trailing his body, covering the forty feet separating them in a single bounce. Cutter panics, quickly reaching for another knife, but Dark Mask grabs his arm. Pulls and twists violently. CRUNCH! Bones snap. Cutter shrieks in agony. Dark Mask drives a gloved fist into Cutter's mouth, then raises his gun, sinking the barrel into Cutter's RIGHT EYE. Cutter is in agony, gasping for mercy. CUTTER Wait... for Christ's sake! STOP!! What the hell do you want? WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! Dark Mask stands there, motionless, holding the gun to Cutter's eye. Then, with his other hand, very slowly, he brings it up to his mask, and PULLS IT OFF. Cutter looks into Dark Mask's unveiled face. Dark, stubbly, showing years of battle hardened savagery. Brown messy hair. Scars covering almost every pore. Eyes deep and haunted. Cutter's mouth drops. Recognition is written all over his expression. CUTTER You... it -- it can't be... You died! YOU FREAKIN' DIED!! YOU'RE DEAD! DARK MASK So are you. BANG! He pulls the trigger point blank into Cutter's RIGHT EYE. The blue soul-essence shoots out from this eye as well, both eyes now giving up his spirit and pulling it down to Hell. Dark Mask lowers the gun. Watches the ground where Cutter stood with grim victory. His eyes flash hellfire. FADE OUT. END OF TEASER ACT I FADE IN: EXT. MEAT PACKING PLANT - DAY The parking lot is swarming with POLICE, AMBULANCE, FIRE TRUCKS and MEDIA VANS. The entire area is cordoned off by YELLOW CAUTION TAPE. STONE is weaving through the crowd, making his way toward the entrance. The UNIFORM standing guard there stops him. Stone badges him. The Uniform lets him through. INT. MEAT PACKING PLANT More of the same. POLICE OFFICERS and FORENSICS EXAMINERS are everywhere. A few PLANT WORKERS are sweeping large puddles of blood from the floor with water brooms. CORONERS and PARAMEDICS are hauling out BODYBAGS. DETECTIVE FRAKER is questioning a couple of plant workers. While one of the workers is speaking, Fraker glances quickly over their shoulders. FRAKER'S POV Stone is standing by the entrance, hands in his trenchcoat pockets, watching the bodybags being hauled out. Fraker excuses himself from his discussion with the workers and crosses to Stone. He looks irritated. FRAKER Can I help you, Stone? Stone turns, sees Fraker. He looks irritated as well. STONE Good morning to you too, "Detective" Fraker. FRAKER Any particular reason you're trespassing at a crime scene? STONE Same reason you are. Just trying to get some information. Have any? FRAKER Now why in the world would I give up any information to YOU? Stone doesn't have an answer. FRAKER You know, Stone, I've just about had it with your private investigator bull, snooping around crime scenes, gaining access to confidential files, just plain being a pain in the ass. Maybe you thought you had some sort of "inside track" when Sergeant Ash was around, but since her -- (accusing tone) -- "disappearance", you've become nothing more than a pest to me, just itching to be exterminated. Stone's been wearing an amusing smirk throughout Fraker's muffled tirade. STONE Gee, detective, I'm flattered, but I'm kind of involved right now. Maybe some other time? HARLOWE (O.S.) Fraker... Stone and Fraker turn around, notice DETECTIVE HARLOWE (30's, handsome) standing there. HARLOWE Just spoke to the nightwatch. Story's pretty much the same as the others. (re: Stone) Who's this? Fraker is clearly reluctant about introducing the two of them. FRAKER Detective Harlowe, this is "Detective" Zeke Stone. HARLOWE (extends his hand) How do you do? STONE (shakes it) So what story are we talking about here? FRAKER Stay out of this, Stone. HARLOWE (to Fraker) Hey, it's alright. I can handle this. Fraker raises his hands in the air, as if to say "I give up", and strutters off. STONE (watching Fraker go) Charming guy. HARLOWE I think he's just a little uptight about you having solved more cases in a few months than he has in years. Stone smiles. He likes this guy. HARLOWE Detective Ezekiel Stone. I read about you while leafing through Sergeant Ash's case files before her disappearance. I understand you worked closely with her. STONE Yeah... I did. HARLOWE I'm told she was one hell of a cop. STONE (sotto voce) To say the least. (re: crime scene) So what went down here last night? HARLOWE Mass slaughter, as far as we can tell. But I'm sure you already knew that. STONE Pretty much. Any names? HARLOWE A few weeks ago Homicide received a tip about a major meeting of organized crimeheads going down somewhere in the warehouse district. According to their source, a few of the names they had match with some of the I.D. we found here this morning... except for one guy. Went by the name "Cutter". Supposed to be the top man behind this little gathering. STONE Know which gang organized this shindig last night? HARLOWE El Diablos. We've been monitoring their activities for a while now. They're gaining respect among the competition and expanding rapidly. STONE Any idea who could've done this? Rival gang maybe? HARLOWE It's possible. We won't know much till we get some test results back from forensics. They gathered fingerprints, blood samples, shell casings. Maybe that will provide us with some clues. There's something else though. Stone waits for him to speak. HARLOWE Homicide's source said there'd be twenty- six members of El Diablos present at this meeting. We only found twenty-four bodies. So, aside from Cutter... STONE ...someone else is missing. Stone weighs in this new information. INT. BANK - DAY Typical business day. Very few CUSTOMERS are standing in the line to see a teller. ROSALYN is at the head of the line, eyeing the people around her. The next available TELLER waits till her latest customer leaves the space in front of her, then looks at Roz. TELLER Next, please. Roz crosses to the teller, lays out a few slips of paper on the counter before her. ROSALYN Hi, um... the ATM machine back there seems to be out of order. I've just got a couple of checks here I'd like to deposit. TELLER Yeah, I'm sorry about that. A few other customers have had the same problem. The maintenance guy should be coming in sometime today. (collects the checks) In the meantime I'd be glad to deposit these. Checking or savings? ROSALYN Savings, please. The teller smiles before stepping over to a filing cabinet nearby. Roz stands there, watching the teller pull out the usual papers. Suddenly feeling uneasy. Sensing something strange... MALE VOICE (O.S.) Roz... Roz freezes. Her eyes are wide. She recognizes this voice. It's imprinted into her brain. But she can't believe it. Slowly, she turns... STONE is standing there, at the head of the tellers line, hands in his coat pockets. Smiling warmly. For maybe a minute, no words are said. They simply stand in their places, staring at each other; Roz watching him incredulously, and Stone looking upon her gently. ROSALYN Zeke...? STONE Roz... He walks over to her. She backs away slightly into the counter, still not sure what she's seeing, trying to process it all. STONE ...I missed you so much. ROSALYN My God... Zeke... is it really...? She slowly reaches out, her finger lightly tracing the fabric of his sweater. This can't be. It feels real. ROSALYN How... how can this... Stone's demeanor suddenly changes, gentle warmth giving way to perilous concern. He grips Roz by the shoulders. STONE Roz, listen to me. You have to get out of here. Something is about to happen, and if you don't leave NOW, you might get hurt. ROSALYN But... STONE There's no time to think about it. Just leave. GO NOW! Before... before... Stone lowers his head, clenches his teeth, as if in massive pain. He's shaking, his grip on Roz tightening. She's getting scared. ROSALYN Zeke... you're... hurting me... Stone's head suddenly snaps backs, his face wracked with pain. SMOKE begins pouring from his tightly shut eyes. Roz begins to panic when suddenly STONE'S EYES SNAP OPEN and the blinding BLUE FLAME of his soul shoots out from them. Stone is shrieking, his cries merging with those of the damned down below awaiting his return. Over this we hear a strange KNOCKING, as if someone wrapping on a door... Roz watches helplessly as his soul envelops her and begins to pull her down as well, before we WHITE FLASH CUT TO: INT. ROSALYN'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY ROZ BOLTS UP from her couch, where she'd obviously been dreaming, her long brown hair and forehead damp with sweat. The KNOCKING we heard before continues till Roz realizes it's her door. ROSALYN Uhh... just one second... She darts up from the couch and crosses to the door, stopping by a closet mirror on the way there to quickly compose herself. She opens the door. DAN COPPER is standing there, looking both relieved and worried. ROSALYN Danny... DAN Roz, are you okay? I've been knocking on this door for almost two minutes. For a second there I thought my knuckles were going to snap. ROSALYN I'm so sorry. I'm fine. Come in. I was just... taking a nap. DAN (walking in) You're a pretty heavy napper there. I tried calling you earlier but there was no answer. We were... uh... supposed to go over the lessons for the class field trip tomorrow. ROSALYN (closing the door) Oh God, I completely forgot about that. (starting toward the kitchen) Let me get my notes... DAN Wait, Roz... Roz stops, turns around. Dan can see she's wound up, but he's still a bit nervous approaching her. DAN Are you sure you're okay? You just seem a little bit shaky... like you've seen a ghost or something. Roz hesitates, unsure whether she should pursue this. DAN Roz, I didn't mean to be so forward. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I'm just trying to be a... friend. Don't be afraid to confide in me. Roz regards him dubiously for a moment, then gives in. ROSALYN Oh, Danny, it's nothing. She moves toward the couch and plops herself down. ROSALYN It's just the same old thing. I'm sure you don't wanna hear about it. Dan approaches cautiously, sits down at the other end of the couch. DAN Your husband? ROSALYN It's funny, you know? You'd figure after almost sixteen years, you'd be able to move on with your life. DAN You HAVE moved on, Roz. An occasional thought or dream now and then... that's just normal. ROSALYN I can handle the occasional thought or dream. But... it doesn't end there. (tearing up) I've reached a point where... I just don't know what to do anymore... INT. BAR MEDIANOCHE - DAY A predominantly Spanish/Latino establishment. It's humid in here and the place is jammed. NOVAK enters. Tall, lean, in his late 40's, greying hair, wearing a long brown trenchcoat. His white-man features are definitely out of place among the dark-skinned hispanics in here. He scans the tables, his face devoid of emotion, till his eyes fall upon one particular table. NOVAK'S POV Four rowdy guys with shaved heads are seated around the table, one of them wearing a vest marked with the "EL DIABLOS" insignia. Novak approaches. AT THE TABLE THE FOUR DIABLOS are drinking and being loud, one of them very animated in his storytelling as the other three laugh it up. He's big. Dark. Has a goatee. Gang tattoos adorn his arms, indicating his stature with the gang. This is ROCCO. He continues his monologue to his buddies around the table, taking him a while before he realizes that Novak is standing behind him. Rocco slowly turns around. NOVAK A word, please. Rocco makes a show of looking bothered as he pushes himself up from the table and follows Novak, who's walking into the narrow corridor leading toward the bathrooms. They stop there, Novak looking over Rocco's shoulder and making sure they are alone. They speak in hushed tones. NOVAK You heard what happened at the meeting. ROCCO (bored) Yeah. I heard. NOVAK Cutter was killed. ROCCO So what? Some trigger-happy punk got lucky and wiped his ass with him. Big deal. NOVAK (pissed) It IS a big deal, moron. You think any common street punk can get THAT lucky?! This person knew what he was doing. He knew where to shoot. (beat) I think Killion might be back. ROCCO (breaks into laughter) Killion?! The hell are you babbling about? Guy's dead and buried. NOVAK So was Cutter. A beat as this sinks into Rocco. ROCCO Man, so what the hell you want ME to do? YOU'RE the cop. I'm just an honest workin' civilian. Novak fixes him with a stare, as if to say, "Sure you are." NOVAK Spooky somehow made it out of that mess. But I don't trust him. He's not clever enough to stay out of sight for long. Go to his apartment. Chances are he's laying low over there. Find him and bring him to me. ROCCO I got things to do, fuzzball. Why don't YOU go fetch him. Novak suddenly LASHES OUT at Rocco, pinning him to the wall behind him, moving his face in close to his. His eyes flash hellfire. NOVAK Bring him to me. Don't make me say it again. Rocco looks horridly into Novak's glowing red eyes. FADE OUT. END OF ACT I ACT II FADE IN: EXT. STREET - DAY Stone is standing on a busy street, trying to hail a cab. Several of them pass by before one finally stops for him. Stone gets in. INT. CAB Stone climbs into the back seat. We can't see the DRIVER. DRIVER (O.S.) Where to, buddy? STONE Uhh... some bar called Medianoc... nooce... The driver turns in his seat to face Stone. It's the DEVIL, dressed in casual cabbie clothes. DEVIL ...noche. You know, Mr. Stone, you should really brush up on your Spanish if you're planning on making L.A. your long-term residence. Stone rolls his eyes. This is the last person he expected to see at the wheel of a cab. STONE Terrific. The Devil turns, facing front again, shifting into cabbie mode. He sets up the pay meter. DEVIL Alrighty, detective, let's see how much green you'll be coughing up for this little ride... (shifts into drive) ...and we're off. The cab pulls into the street and drives off. The Devil seems to be enjoying himself. Stone, however, appears slightly annoyed in the back seat. DEVIL I must say though, Mr. Stone, I'm quite impressed. You finally decided to take some initiative for a change, instead of waiting for me to show up and nudge you in the back. Finally realized that sometimes all it takes is turning on your pathetic excuse for a television to the local news. STONE Yeah, well, "Touched By An Angel" was a rerun this morning. DEVIL Oh, don't you just love that Roma Downey? Mmmm... makes my skin tingle. STONE So if I'm on the right track, then what the hell are you doing here? DEVIL Don't employers hold an ethical and contractual obligation to check in on their employees from time to time? STONE The hell do YOU know about ethics? DEVIL Ethics? You mean the system of moral principles which you yourself so brazenly threw out the window when you killed the man who raped your wife? I value them more than anyone. The human dilemma caused by the strict adherence to these principles is the number one reason why business down below is booming. It's what brought US together after all. STONE Are you through with your ethics lesson? DEVIL Just remember, detective. The fugitives you're chasing are not all that different from yourself. STONE (mutters) They're nothing like me. DEVIL You ALMOST had me convinced there for a second. EXT. BAR MEDIANOCHE - MINUTES LATER The cab pulls up in front of the entrance. DEVIL (O.S.) Ah, here we are, detective... INT. CAB The Devil shifts it into park and consults the meter. DEVIL ...and you owe me... The Devil turns around slowly toward Stone, a pretentious smile on his face. DEVIL ...thirty-six dollars and twenty-seven cents. Stone leans forward to get a better look at the meter. Sure enough, it reads: $36.27. STONE Perfect. Stone reaches into his back pocket for his wallet, which he opens and starts fishing for bills. The Devil watches Stone sifting for his change. DEVIL Tell you what, Mr. Stone. Hang on to that for now. Consider this amount our wager. STONE Wager? DEVIL If you send your next quarry back into my loving embrace, consider it payment in full for the ride. If your next quarry sends YOU back... STONE You're betting AGAINST me? DEVIL Hey, a good gambler always picks the favorite. STONE (getting out of the cab) Get ready for an upset. EXT. CAB - BAR MEDIANOCHE Stone climbs out of the cab and slams the door shut. The cab SPEEDS OFF, tires squeeling. Stone shakes his head and heads for the entrance. INT. BAR MEDIANOCHE Stone walks in, eyeing the regulars as he makes his way toward the bar, getting the routine once-over from the patrons. AT THE BAR Stone leans over on the counter. The BARTENDER is standing there, waiting for Stone to order. STONE (badges him) Detective Stone. Just wondering if you know a regular who comes here called "Spooky". AT A NEARBY TABLE THE THREE EL DIABLOS MEMBERS we saw earlier in ACT ONE, minus Rocco, watch Stone closely. AT THE BAR BARTENDER Yeah, I might've heard of him. DIABLOS #1 (O.S.) Hey, officer... One of the Diablos cuts in before the bartender can say another word. He's up from the table and crossing slowly toward Stone, his two buddies following suit. Stone regards them with mild bemusement. DIABLOS #1 There a problem here, officer? STONE And you are? DIABLOS #1 I'm Cortez. He points to his two sidekicks flanking him. CORTEZ (DIABLOS #1) This is Oscar and Willy. Anything we can help you with? Stone plays along, but remains vigilant. STONE Yeah, maybe you can. Any of you know someone who comes here a lot, goes by the name "Spooky"? CORTEZ Yeah, maybe we do. STONE Can I talk to him? CORTEZ (looks at his buddies) Well, he ain't here right now. STONE Know where I can find him? CORTEZ What's it to you? STONE I just wanna talk to him. Cortez turns to his two cohorts, as if conferring with them, then turns back to Stone. CORTEZ Follow me. The three Diablos begin shuffling off toward a narrow corridor at the back of the bar. Stone watches them leave for a moment, then looks at the bartender. The bartender stares back at him, stone cold, not offering any clue as to what this is about. Stone looks away and follows them. EXT. ALLEY BEHIND BAR The back exit door opens. Cortez, Oscar and Willy pour out into the alley, followed by a perplexed-looking Stone. The second the door is closed, Oscar and Willy POUNCE ON Stone, each grabbing an arm and slamming him up against the brick wall. Cortez is just as quick, pulling out a GUN and shoving the barrel up Stone's jaw. CORTEZ It never ceases to amaze me how stupid cops are. You guys always walking in somewhere, thinkin' you own the place. (laughs) You really screwed yourself now, pig. You just walked in the wrong place at the wrong time. You think we're scared to shoot cops? You got no idea who you're dealin' with here. We got our people everywhere. You're just gonna become another statistic, like you never existed. And nobody'll know a thing. Life will go on, chief... but without YOU. Cortez immediately backs away from Stone, raises his gun, and FIRES three rapid shots point blank into STONE'S CHEST! As always, the shots have no affect on Stone. Oscar and Willy, who at this point are usually accustomed to keeping the weight of the dead body from slumping over to the ground, just look at Stone, stunned. Cortez's eyes are wide in shock. He inspects his gun, thinking it's a malfunction. CORTEZ What the hell -- He FIRES AGAIN into Stone's chest. Still no affect. SMOKE suddenly begins pouring from STONE'S ARMS, where Oscar and Willy are grabbing hold of him. They yank their hands away, their palms smoking and scorched red. OSCAR Jesus... this guy's burning up!! Stone suddenly LEAPS AT Cortez, slapping the gun out of his hand and slamming him viciously against the other brick wall. Cortez lets out a painful YELP as his back hits the wall. Something obviously snapped upon impact. Oscar and Willy look at each other for a beat, frightened, their hands still charred, then TAKE OFF down the alley. Stone leans in close to Cortez. He's deadly serious. STONE You're going to tell me where I can find Spooky right now... (eyes flash hellfire) ...or I'm going to burn the flesh from your bones. Cortez looks into Stone's glowing red eyes with horror. EXT. ST. ROSE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH - NIGHT - ESTABLISHING A familiar looking parish. A large BOEING 747 passes overhead, flying low to the ground, practically just above the steeple. The ENGINE NOISE is deafening. INT. ST. ROSE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH The mass auditorium is large and beautiful. The stained glass windows are decorated with mosaic paintings. It's very quiet, till we hear the SHUFFLING of feet... FATHER HORN is moving slowly toward the wall of VOTIVE CANDLES. He takes one of the sticks, dips it into a lighted candle, then lights another one with it. We get the sense that the warmth of the flames gives him peace of mind. WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.) Father... Father Horn turns at the sound of the voice behind him. We can only see the WOMAN from the back. FATHER HORN Yes? WOMAN I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. FATHER HORN That's quite all right. I was just lighting a candle for all the... lost souls who can't find their way to Heaven. Is there anything I can do for you? WOMAN I was just wondering if you could help me, Fatherrrr...? FATHER HORN Horn. Cletus Horn. And you are? Finally we get a frontal shot of the woman. We see that it's -- ROSALYN Rosalyn. Rosalyn Stone. OFF FATHER HORN'S bewildered expression, we CUT TO INT. SPOOKY'S APARTMENT - NIGHT A tiny, decrepit dwelling. Rocco is helping Spooky pack up what little belongings he has, hurriedly stuffing some weapons and items of clothing into duffel bags. Rocco is working extremely fast, obviously annoyed with the chore. Spooky isn't thrilled about it. SPOOKY Will you hang on a second?! What's the big rush? I don't see the point to all this, man. ROCCO 'Course you don't. You're an idiot. SPOOKY I'm safe here, man. That psycho don't know where I live. ROCCO He DOES know where you live, stupid. He knows everything about you. One more hour in this dump and you'll end up a corpse. Is that what you want? SPOOKY No, but... man... Rocco stops his packing, looks Spooky straight in the eyes. ROCCO But nothin', gringo. Listen to me. Wise up. You think Cutter's death was a mistake? An accident? If you weren't smart enough to get out of that place last night, we wouldn't even be having this discussion now. But that masked dude ain't done with you. He won't be done with you till your chest is ventilated. Now what did Novak tell you? Do your freakin' job, shut your mouth, and Ash will give you what you want. That's the deal, homey. Comprende? Suddenly they hear a CREAKING sound... The DOOR is slightly ajar, and opens just a nudge. STONE peeks his head through, immediately spots the two Diablos inside. He KICKS the door open wide, gun drawn. Rocco and Spooky whip out their own guns, their sights set on Stone. ROCCO Who the hell are you? STONE I'm the landlord. Spooky's about to be evicted. SPOOKY I never seen you in my life, loco. STONE Let's keep it that way. ROCCO (fed up) Ah, forget this, hombre. We ain't got time. BANG! Rocco FIRES once. Nails Stone dead center in the chest. Stone doesn't budge. Spooky's eyes are wide. SPOOKY Damn... he's high... like the masked freak! The truth hits Rocco. He grins sadistically. ROCCO Looks like we got the diablo's little bitch here. Rocco charges. Stone FIRES away, pumping lead into Rocco, TO NO AFFECT! Rocco knocks the gun from Stone's hand and grabs him by the throat. ROCCO Check it out, G-man. Ain't nothin' more dangerous than a dead crackhead. With one arm, Rocco launches Stone into the wall, SMASHING THROUGH IT. INT. ADJACENT APARTMENT The wall blows out, STONE PLOWING THROUGH, plaster and aluminum siding flying everywhere. He collapses to the floor. Rocco aggressively charges through the huge hole in the wall and crouches over Stone, grabbing his throat with his left hand and holding his gun to Stone's eyes with his right. ROCCO Two caps in the eyeballs, amigo, and the rat race is done. It's been real. Rocco levels the gun to Stone's eyes, but before he can pull the trigger... BANG! Rocco's left eye is shot out, his soul bursting forth. BANG! His right eye is blasted too, both eyes now spewing out his soul and sucking it down to Hell. Stone lies there a moment, staring at the spot where Rocco stood seconds ago, then spins his head toward the door. DARK MASK stands there, holding two smoking GLOCK PISTOLS, one in each hand. Stone lies there, frozen. This guy saved his life. Dark Mask crosses the room, walking slowly toward Stone. He stops in front of Stone, standing over him, planting his feet in the exact spot that Rocco occupied moments earlier. Stone watches him warily, staring into his tinted visor. Dark Mask raises his Glocks, levels them at STONE'S EYES. Cocks back the hammers. Locked and loaded. Stone shifts his gaze from Dark Mask's visor to his guns. Staring down the barrels as if the flames of the abyss are waiting inside. FADE OUT. END OF ACT II ACT III FADE IN: INT. ADJACENT APARTMENT - NIGHT (RESUMING) Dark Mask stands above Stone, guns aimed at Stone's eyes. CLOSE ON DARK MASK'S FINGERS tensing on the triggers. Stone takes in a deep breath, just about ready to meet his end once again, till we hear POLICE SIRENS just outside the building, accompanied by SLAMMING CAR DOORS and SHOUTING POLICE OFFICERS. Dark Mask looks toward the window, listening to the sirens for a moment, then turns back to Stone. He stands there, pondering something. Then, he lowers his guns and DASHES OFF through the enormous hole in the wall, out of sight. Stone stares after him, breathing a sigh of relief, absorbing the familiar tune of policemens footsteps ascending the staircase. INT. ST. ROSE'S CATHOLIC CHURCH - NIGHT Father Horn and Rosalyn are seated in one of the pews near the front altar. ROSALYN I don't know where to turn to anymore, Father. I don't even know what I'm doing here. I was just hoping, maybe, you or this... place, could shed some light on my situation. FATHER HORN Do you believe in God? ROSALYN Maybe... I don't know. I've never really thought about it. FATHER HORN It's very natural for believers and non-believers alike to turn to some sort of higher faith in times of distress. ROSALYN I'm not sure how "distressful" this really is. I don't know how to explain it. She pauses a moment, thinking of the proper way to phrase this. ROSALYN I just feel like, somehow, I'm being watched. (beat) I feel haunted... like I've seen a... FATHER HORN ...ghost. Rosalyn looks at the priest. ROSALYN It's just strange, you know? I was married, a long time ago. My husband was a police officer. A detective. Something... happened that affected our marriage. My husband died soon after. I never really forgave myself for shutting him out during our final months together. FATHER HORN And you feel haunted by this regret? ROSALYN I'm afraid the feeling is more physical, Father. In recent months, I feel like, somehow, his presence is stronger than ever. What I can't understand is... why now? After almost sixteen years since his death... why now? FATHER HORN I know it's not easy to cope with decisions we've made in our lives. Believe it or not, there are times when I feel like I've made some decisions that I regret. But we have to trust that this is what God has planned for us. ROSALYN (not buying it) Right... "the master plan"... FATHER HORN Alright, forget about that for now. Just think about this: Despite what you feel you've done, try to realize that your husband bears no grudge or ill will against you. He's not "haunting" you because he feels you've wronged him. But your husband IS watching you, and he DOES still love you. That much is true. He places a gentle, paternal hand on her knee. FATHER HORN Have faith. ROSALYN (smiles) You almost sound like he's spoken to you. Father Horn responds simply with an innocent smile. ROSALYN It's funny, listening to you talk about faith, even though you're... She indicates her eyes, before realizing that he can't see what she's pointing to. FATHER HORN ...blind? Rosalyn looks ashamed. Father Horn smiles. FATHER HORN All part of the plan. Rosalyn looks at him, studying his smile. She laughs, looking as if some weight has been lifted from her shoulders. Father Horn laughs along with her. A connecting moment. ROSALYN Right... the plan... INT. LAPD INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY Spooky is sitting on a chair, looking agitated. Detective Harlowe is standing against the wall. SPOOKY Look, how many times we gotta go through this, man? HARLOWE Till I'm satisfied that you ain't playin' me. How many guys were at the meeting? SPOOKY I told you. Twenty-six. You got all this crap from the snitch. What you need ME for? HARLOWE Including Cutter? SPOOKY Yeah, man. HARLOWE What happened to him? SPOOKY The hell do I know. Don't care either. Lone Ranger could've capped his fat ass, ain't no skin off my back. Guy was a stinkin' lowlife. HARLOWE Not like you, right Spooky? SPOOKY Das right. Spooky's a good boy. Upstanding citizen. Harlowe begins slowly circling him. HARLOWE Carry groceries around for little old ladies, do you? SPOOKY Yeah, man. Groceries. INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - INTERCUT Stone and Detective Fraker are watching behind the glass. FRAKER This is a waste of time. This guy's just a gopher. STONE Even gophers have ears, Fraker. He might know something the other gang members don't. FRAKER That why YOU know so much about our cases? Stone shoots him a "don't push me" look. HARLOWE So this "Lone Ranger" who busted up your meeting at the beef factory... he the same guy who busted up your apartment? SPOOKY Guy's loco. A freakin' maniac. (thumbs the mirror) Just like that hellcop who's probably watchin' behind the glass. Fraker looks at Stone inquisitively. FRAKER "Hellcop"? Stone's searching for a response. STONE He's just a gopher. He doesn't know anything. HARLOWE So what was Rocco doing in your apartment? SPOOKY Just chillin'. HARLOWE Yeah? I heard he was helping you pack. Where you going, Spooky? SPOOKY Nowhere, man. Just a little trip. Got some vacation time comin' up. HARLOWE You hidin' from something? Or someone? This "Lone Ranger" guy maybe? SPOOKY Look, man, am I under arrest or what? HARLOWE Where's Rocco? You're the last guy who saw him before he disappeared, just like Cutter. Where'd they go? Did the "Lone Ranger" take 'em? SPOOKY Look, man, I don't know jack. This guy shows up, caps a couple o' our guys, then "recedes into the night", you know? He's like a ghost. Rumors goin' around that it's Killion. Harlowe reacts. HARLOWE Who's Killion? SPOOKY A cop. Psycho cop. Went on a shootin' spree years ago. Can't be him, man. HARLOWE Why not? SPOOKY He's dead. Stone straightens up. Fraker nods. FRAKER Knew that name sounded familiar. STONE What? FRAKER Killion. Corporal Adam Killion. LAPD. I read about him in our case files. It's almost common knowledge inside the department. STONE Who was he? FRAKER Member of the east division SWAT team, hostage and demolitions specialist, back in the early seventies. STONE Why'd he go to Hell? FRAKER (confused) What? Stone realizes he slipped up. STONE Uhh... I mean... What happened to him? FRAKER His team performed a routine arms seizure one day at some crackhouse. They caught a few members of the El Diablos. Killion swore he caught a glimpse of Novak fleeing the scene. STONE Novak? FRAKER (sighs annoyingly) Detective Jason Novak. Served with the LAPD in the sixties and early seventies. Received several medals of honor and citations by the department. Killion was convinced that Novak was on the take, working with several organized crime groups on the side. Killion urged Internal Affairs to open up an investigation against Novak, but there just wasn't any evidence to support a case. Killion grew frustrated with the system. Decided to investigate Novak on his own. STONE Let me guess: Killion got too close to the truth. FRAKER That's what they say. Suspicions regarding Novak started to circulate around the department. Weeks later, a hit was ordered on Killion and his family. Four Diablos broke into his house in the middle of the night. His wife and kid were murdered. Killion survived. He was convinced that Novak ordered the hit, but again, the evidence wasn't substantial. STONE What happened to Killion? FRAKER He escaped from the hospital one night and disappeared. Shortly after that, a slew of killings started appearing in the papers. Some vigilante with a black mask was going around knocking off scumbags, most of them members of El Diablos. One by one he gunned down the men who murdered Killion's family. That's when the rumors started that this vigilante was actually Killion. STONE What about Novak? FRAKER Somehow, Killion tracked him down at the Galleria shopping mall, where Novak was doing some shopping with his wife and two kids. Killion walked into the mall and opened fire on Novak. Novak ran. Killion chased him into a crowded department store and jumped him. They struggled. Then Killion detonated a pack of explosives strapped to his chest. Killion, Novak, Novak's family, and twenty-nine other people were killed. Dozens injured. Stone is captivated. The memory hits him like a slap in the face. STONE When did this happen? FRAKER October 14th, 1975. They called it the... STONE ...Columbus Day Massacre. Fraker looks at him, surprised. FRAKER You remember that? You couldn't have been more than ten years old. STONE Some memories never die. Harlowe enters the observation room. HARLOWE We gotta let him go. We got nothing. Stone looks at Fraker. Their hands are tied. EXT. DESERTED STREET - NIGHT Spooky is strutting down the wet street, hitting parking meters and street lights as he passes them, energized and pumped. SPOOKY (shouting) FREAKIN' PIGS! Think they can bring me down. Screw' em. Spooky makes his own damn way! SCREW 'EM ALL!! HA HA!! He stops under a street light. Starts lighting a smoke. But his lighter won't catch. SPOOKY C'mon dammit... stupid lighter... Finally it catches. He laughs. Lights his smoke. Pockets the lighter and turns around, looking straight at DETECTIVE HARLOWE standing right in front of him on the street. SPOOKY C'mon, man, the hell you want from me? I got nuthin' for you. I told you everything. HARLOWE Not everything... Harlowe steps closer, under the street light. Spooky watches him, then notices something... Harlowe's features are beginning to CHANGE. His shoulders BULK UP, two inches are ADDED to his height, his hair FADES to a LIGHTER color, his face twisting and MORPHING into that of another man's -- NOVAK Spooky's eyes are wide. SPOOKY Novak... holy god... NOVAK Not yet... but soon. Suddenly another MAN steps up behind Spooky. Huge, shaved head, EL DIABLOS TATTOOS running down his arms. This is WELLAND. He leans over into Spooky's ear. WELLAND Boo. Spooky jumps, spins around, startled. He's only half relieved when he sees who it is. SPOOKY Jesus... Welland... What the hell are you guys doing here...? WELLAND We got a job for you, little man. Direct from Ash. Spooky's face lights up. SPOOKY Ash?! Ash mentioned me? WELLAND Oh you bet, homey. Wanna make her proud? Novak gets in Spooky's face. NOVAK You're gonna help us become gods, Spooky. You do this for us, and Ash will have something special planned just for you. Spooky is beaming with joy. SPOOKY This is unreal... What do I do? NOVAK It's simple. You're going to help us kill two birds with one... stone... Novak smiles. His eyes flash hellfire. FADE OUT. END OF ACT III ACT IV FADE IN: INT. RAWSHANK'S DINER - DAY Stone enters. He sees TERESITA behind the counter as he passes. TERESITA Hola, Mr. Stone. STONE Hey. Didn't you tell me it was your day off today? TERESITA You know how it is, honey. Girl gets sick, good ol' Teresita's gotta cover for her. Makes me sick being so nice all the time. Maybe I should start actin' like a bitch. Get more respect. Like Madonna. STONE I wouldn't if I were you. Not good for the soul. TERESITA Talkin' from experience? STONE Wish I wasn't. Suddenly Stone is BUMPED by a MAN on his way out the door. BLACK, medium build, mid-30's, wearing a NAVY T-shirt. NAVY SHIRT Sorry. STONE No problem. Navy Shirt is about to step out the door, but he turns, looks at Stone again. NAVY SHIRT Excuse me. I'm sorry to disturb you again but... you look familiar. Stone is caught off guard. STONE I do? NAVY SHIRT Yeah. I think I may have seen you before... back in New York a few months ago. Were you there maybe in late October or November? STONE Uhh... yeah... I think I was... NAVY SHIRT (extends his hand) Name's Apollo Law. I apologize if I've weirded you out. Didn't mean to. I'm just always intrigued when I see a familiar face. Curious by nature. Just have to know where I've seen them before. STONE (shakes his hand) Zeke Stone. (off Apollo's shirt) You in the navy? APOLLO (grabs his shirt) This? Nah. Just got this at some used clothing store. I AM a sailor though. Got my own boat up at the beach. Love the waters. STONE That's great. (beat) Well, maybe I'll see you around. Good meeting you, Apollo. APOLLO Same here. Have a good day. Apollo exits the diner. Stone stares after him, then looks at Teresita. STONE Friendly people here. TERESITA Guess my wily charms are rubbing off on the customers. STONE (smiles) I'm sure. WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.) HEY, ZEKE! Stone spins around. HIS POV SAMANTHA is sitting at a NEARBY BOOTH with four friends, waving at him. SAMANTHA Over here, tough guy! Stone crosses. He recognizes ALEX and AMIE squeezed in beside Sam. Two other GUYS are sitting across from them. STONE Hey, Sam. SAMANTHA Zeke, you remember Alex and Amie. Alex and Amie nod, staring at Stone suspiciously. Stone picks up on this. STONE Look, guys, I'm sorry about last time at the movie theater. It was just -- SAMANTHA (overlapping) Forget it, Stone. I explained the whole thing to them. (she winks) They understand. But they still think you're dark and mysterious. STONE I can live with that. Sam points to the two guys sitting across from them. SAMANTHA Zeke, may I present to you, the remaining two members of Lost Souls. This is Tobin, our bass player and main music composer, and Tommy, our drummer. We call him "Skins". STONE (nodding) Nice to meet you guys. SAMANTHA We're just chilling before our gig tonight at Babylon. You're gonna be there, right? STONE Wouldn't miss it for the world. SAMANTHA Cool. We just finished our soundcheck. Music was bitchin'. TOMMY We're gonna bring the house down. SAMANTHA We're also trying to cheer up Tobin here. (mock whispers to Stone) He just got fired from his job. STONE I'm sorry to hear that, Tobin. TOBIN That's okay. I hated that place anyway. STONE Where'd you work? TOBIN Some corporate bigshot office. I was the maintenance guy, fixing photocopy machines and stuff. STONE What happened? SAMANTHA (laughing) He called the boss's daughter a "stupid bitch". Stone is trying to suppress a laugh as well. STONE Wow, Tobin. That... sucks. TOBIN Chick was a real bitch. She did nothing all day. Pampered little daddy's girl. Someone HAD to say it. AMIE And it HAD to be you, right? TOBIN Damn right. Who else is gonna stand up in the name of justice? ALEX Rock on, brother. Alex and Tobin high-five. Stone just laughs. STONE Well I'm gonna go have a bite. It was nice meeting you. I'll see you guys later. Stone taps the table and starts off toward an empty booth before he hears... SAMANTHA (O.S.) Oh, wait, Zeke... Stone turns, strolls back toward their booth. SAMANTHA You got a call at the hotel last night. You weren't in your room. Some guy called Detective Harlowe. Said you have to meet him somewhere. She reaches into her jeans pocket, pulls out a piece of paper and hands it to Stone. OFF STONE reading the note, we CUT TO: INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE - NIGHT A large empty space. There are only a few light bulbs hanging limply from thin wires. Aside from that, it's pitch dark. Spooky is standing beside a concrete pillar, one hand in his pocket, the other holding a smoke to his mouth, shoulders hunched, as if shivering. SPOOKY (mumbling) Novak tells me to come here, tells me to wait... wait for what, man... (takes a puff) Where the hell are they... Then, a SCRAPING sound... Spooky jumps. He's stiff as a board. SPOOKY WHO'S THERE, MAN?! (beat) Novak, is that you? He hears FOOTSTEPS nearby... hard heels clamping on the floor. A casual stride. SPOOKY WELLAND?! YOU THERE? (spins around) NOVAK? He senses something, whirls around again. His eyes bulge. SPOOKY'S POV There, standing in the distance, is DARK MASK holding his two GLOCK PISTOLS, one in each hand. He approaches Spooky with determination. Spooky's shaking uncontrollably, slowly backing away. SPOOKY Wait, man! Stop! STOP!!! I didn't do nuthin'! I swear! I just do what they tell me! Please... Dark Mask seems unaffected by Spooky's pleas, continuing his determined march. Spooky starts to run, but he only gets off two steps before Dark Mask is on him. He grabs Spooky by the collar of his jacket and FLINGS him across the warehouse into the far wall, with no more effort than if he was throwing a pencil. Spooky is writhing on the floor, dazed from the crushing impact, as Dark Mask marches purposefully toward him again, KICKING him in the ribs. Spooky coughs, the wind knocked out of him. Dark Mask KICKS him again. Cold. Unforgiving. Dark Mask KICKS Spooky once more, this time in the jaw, having him turn over on his back. Spooky looks up into Dark Mask's visor, blood running down the side of his mouth. Helpless. Defeated. Dark Mask raises his Glocks, ready to execute. MAN'S VOICE (O.S.) HEY, BATMAN! Dark Mask spins his head. WELLAND stands there, off in the distance, GUN drawn. WELLAND Say hello to Robin for me, muchachos. BANG! Pulls the trigger. Dark Mask's visor SHATTERS as the bullet punctures his LEFT EYE. The blue soul-light bursts out, immediately lighting up the warehouse. Dark Mask crumbles to one knee, clutching his shattered visor, revealing a side of him we haven't seen before -- vulnerability. Welland laughs, aims his gun again to finish the job, when suddenly we hear a WHISTLE from behind him. Welland turns around, but even before he can complete the turn, his RIGHT EYE IS SHOT OUT, THEN HIS LEFT. The blue flames are unleashed. STONE emerges from the darkness nearby, his GUN held out and SMOKING. Welland convulses as his soul vanishes into the ground and completes its journey back to Hell. Stone winces in pain, gripping his arm where Welland's mark is being burned off his skin. He straightens up and looks toward Dark Mask, noticing that the blue flames are no longer bursting out of his shattered visor. CLOSE ON DARK MASK'S VISOR We can SEE his eyes clearly through the broken plastic. His left eye is HEALED. Stone levels his gun quickly at Dark Mask's eyes. Dark Mask is just as quick, leveling his Glocks toward Stone. DARK MASK You know who I am now. It was more of a statement than a question. STONE Killion. Slowly, Dark Mask reaches up and PULLS OFF his mask, revealing the grim, scarred face underneath once again. KILLION (DARK MASK) Don't look at me like that, Stone. You've got no right to judge me. You're no better than me. STONE How do you know who I am? KILLION I was a cop, just like you. I track down information. That's what cops do. STONE Cops don't kill innocent people. KILLION (laughs) Is that what this is about? You just don't get it, do you, Stone. (beat; thinking) Or maybe you do. You're no different than me. We're just two people who happened to have been cornered in a situation where the "system" failed. So we BECAME the system. STONE It's not the same thing. I killed the man who raped my wife. It felt like justice at the time, but if I had to do it all over again... I don't know. You, on the other hand, didn't care who got killed. As long as you got your men... KILLION War is a vicious creature, Stone. Eventually, we ALL get caught in the crossfire. STONE Women...? Children...? Killion sneers in contempt. KILLION Screw you, Stone. It was MY woman, and MY child. After they were SHOT and KILLED by those bastards, they weren't the only ones that disappeared from my life. Everyone else disappeared too. I didn't see anything. I didn't WANT to see anything. The only people in the world that still existed were my family's killers -- Rocco, Cutter, Welland... He KICKS Spooky, who's still lying at his feet. KILLION ...and this cockroach right here... and the shitstain who started it all. STONE Novak. KILLION Admit it, Stone. You know he deserved to die. He was a weasel. A rogue cop with ties to every criminal organization in the coast. He's always wanted power. That's what he STILL wants. And even now he's doing what he did when he was alive -- siding with the winning team, the stronger team. STONE With Ash? KILLION He's the top lieutenant of that whole operation. Ash's second-in-command. Who do you think taught her the tricks of the trade? Gave her the one-oh-one on police tactics? And who, in turn, taught Novak the secrets of Hell, the powers that no "young" souls like us could possibly ever know? STONE You're right. Novak was, and still is, an evil man. But that didn't grant you a license to kill. KILLION You don't play the part of the preacher very well, Stone. Novak is going back to Hell, and anyone standing in my way is just... collateral damage. STONE You're insane, Killion. KILLION The WORLD is insane, Stone. I'm just trying to keep up. STONE Novak WILL go back to Hell... (raises his gun) ...but it won't be you who'll send him back. Before Stone can let off a shot, Killion ROLLS OVER and levels his Glocks at Stone, OPENING FIRE. Stone DIVES, rolls, FIRES. Killion ducks behind the nearest concrete pillar and sprays out a volley of slugs from his Glocks. Stone RUNS and as the bullets trail behind him, following him as he DIVES behind a CRATE of cardboard boxes. Stone realizes his cover is flimsy as the boxes are BLOWN APART by a hail of gunfire. Killion steps out from behind the pillar, laughing. KILLION You can't stop me, Stone. I'm older. I'm stronger. You were a detective, with a pussy desk job, talking people to death. I worked in the field, wiring explosives, dodging bullets. Now I'm even stronger. HOW ARE YOU GONNA STOP ME?! Killion is approaching the crate of boxes with a confident stride, teasingly firing off shots. KILLION Come out, Stone. Don't make this any more painful than it's already gonna be. BEHIND THE CRATE Stone is breathing hard. Concentrating. He's done it once, he can do it again. Killion fires again. KILLION Let's have one more look at ya, pretty boy. Suddenly the BOXES EXPLODE, STONE PLOWING THROUGH THEM like a bulldozer. He LEAPS in the air toward Killion, leaving a trail of BLUE FLAME behind him like a comet. He goes CRASHING into Killion, his Glocks flying from his hands and clattering across the floor. Stone and Killion LAND heavily on the ground and begin to struggle. SPOOKY still lying bloodied on the floor, spots one of Killion's Glocks nearby. He begins to drag himself toward it. STONE AND KILLION are rolling across the floor and throwing punches. The blows hurt both of them. SPOOKY reaches the gun, gets a firm handle on it. STONE AND KILLION continue their battle. Killion gains the upper hand, rolling over ON TOP of Stone and pinning him to the floor with his legs. KILLION You fought the good fight, Stone. But it's time you go home. Killion throws his arms up, SLIPS A KNIFE OUT from his sleeve. He raises it over his head. KILLION Give my regards to Novak when he gets there. He's about to bring the blade down on Stone's eyes, but suddenly... A GUNSHOT RINGS OUT, BLASTING OUT KILLION'S LEFT EYE. Killion shrieks as his soul is seizured out through the punctured socket. With his right eye he sees SPOOKY crouching weakly in the distance, holding out a SMOKING GLOCK. Almost with lightning speed, Killion raises his knife again and THROWS it. The blade sails through the air with blinding speed. It PIERCES Spooky's chest before he even knew it was coming. Spooky falls to the ground. STONE, still pinned under Killion, locks his eyes on something... STONE'S POV A KNIFE HILT is sticking out of Killion's SWAT VEST. Without a moment's thought, Stone GRIPS THE HILT, PULLS IT OUT of its sheath, and JAMS it clean into KILLION'S RIGHT EYE. Killion's shrieks intensify, as both eyes are now hemorrhaging out his soul, sucking it into the cosmic vacuum and dissipating it down to Hell. When the supernatural dust settles, Stone grips his shoulder, once again experiencing the pain accompanied by another TATTOO being scorched off his body. Nearby, he hears a MOAN... SPOOKY is lying on the ground, the knife still sticking out of his chest. Stone stands up wearily, trudges toward him. Spooky looks up at him, his eyes dim. Stone can't help but feel a pang of pity. STONE Spooky... He places a gentle hand on Spooky's shoulder. STONE Thank you. He can see that Spooky probably can't even hear him. He's near the end. SPOOKY Feels... so... cold... STONE Hang on to that feeling, Spooky. There won't be any air conditioning where you're going. Spooky coughs, then his head limps lifelessly to its side. He's dead. Stone's head drops. He remains there a while, by Spooky's side... out of respect. DISSOLVE TO: INT. CLUB BABYLON - NIGHT Your typical dim, smoky rock bar. LOST SOULS are performing on the small stage -- Sam on vocals, Alex on guitar, Tobin on bass, and Tommy behind the drum kit. The music is raw and grungy, dirty distortion bordering on early BLACK SABBATH, but with female vocals. The crowd is enjoying it, nodding their heads along to the grinding beat as if hypnotized. Amie is sitting alone at a table near the back of the bar, watching the band intently. STONE enters, immediately spotting the band on stage. HIS POV Sam is sensually moving her hands up and down the mic stand, her head swaying gently as she sings... SAMANTHA (singing) "I want the world, I want it all. I push so hard but still I fall. Just give me grief, give me pain. Tell me my life is all in vain. Into the void, into the mist, I'm falling deeper into the abyss..." Stone is mezmorized. But he finds himself actually enjoying the music. AMIE (O.S.) ZEKE! Stone turns, sees Amie waving to him at the nearby table. He weaves his way through the crowd and sits across from Amie. STONE (over the music) Sorry I'm late! Amie makes the "shhhh" sign. AMIE Later, Stone. I can hardly hear a thing over this noise. STONE Right. Sorry. The song comes to an end. The crowd ERUPTS in cheers and applause. ON THE STAGE Sam bows in that cute, charming manner she has. SAMANTHA Thank you very much. We'll be taking a little breather for a few minutes. I think Alex broke a string again. (turns to Alex) What is that, Alex? The fourth one tonight? The crowd LAUGHS. SAMANTHA Anyway, we'll be back for our second set after the intermission, so don't go anywhere. She leaps off the stage and hops excitedly toward Amie's and Stone's table. SAMANTHA Hey, Zeke, about time you finally made it out to one of our shows. STONE I'm a man of my word. AMIE Loved the set, Sam. You guys wiped the floor with 'em. SAMANTHA Thanks. Although I think my voice cracked during the second verse of "Abyss". STONE Is that the song you just played? SAMANTHA Yep. STONE It was really good. I liked it a lot. SAMANTHA How polite of you, Ezekiel. Don't be shy to speak your mind, darkman. STONE (laughs) I mean it, Sam. I really enjoyed it. I'd like to have a copy of your stuff, if you have any. SAMANTHA (excited) You got it, Stone! I'll bring it by tomorrow at the hotel. STONE Great. AMIE How's Alex? SAMANTHA Still bitter about the strings. He decided to go with a different brand for tonight's gig. Didn't quite pan out. AMIE Maybe I should go see him, huh. SAMANTHA I'll come with you. A couple of things I gotta mention to Tobin before we start our next set. (to Stone) We'll be right back. Stone nods as Sam and Amie race off backstage. Stone sits there a moment, absorbing the sights and sounds around him, before he hears a voice behind him. VOICE (O.S.) Mind if I join you, detective? Stone turns, sees the DEVIL wearing an expensive dark suit and designer sunglasses. Stone cracks up. STONE What the hell is this? DEVIL Record company scouts have to display their status in the music scene, Mr. Stone. STONE Gimme a break. The Devil sits at the table with Stone. DEVIL Ah, rock'n'roll. The "rebel yell" of the young. Scourge of the old. You've gotta love those riffs. STONE I'm sure YOU do. Look at all the bands that play in your name. DEVIL Most of those bands, detective, are comprised merely of average everyday shmoes using my good name to elevate their "bad" image. Those who actually sold their souls to me for fame and fortune, however, those are the true pioneers of my music... and most of them aren't even rock'n'rollers. STONE Like who? DEVIL Shame on you, detective. You know I'm not at liberty to divulge any names. (into the air) Are you listening to me, Michael Jackson? Stone rolls his eyes. DEVIL So, Mr. Stone, care for another lesson in ethics? STONE Not really. DEVIL Adam Killion. SWAT team officer. Tried to obtain justice, like any good cop, but failed. Ended up costing him his wife and child. So he repayed their lives with the blood of others. STONE Your point? DEVIL You and he were not all that different. You both justified your means to the same end. STONE Except he lost it. Killed innocent people. (looks at the Devil) Is that what you want in a "hellcop"? DEVIL Hey, whatever gets the job done. STONE Guess my cab fare is taken care of. Stone smiles mockingly at him. DEVIL You haven't won, Mr. Stone. Nobody beats me. Sam suddenly comes running up to the table. SAMANTHA (to Stone) Well, Alex is feeling a little better, even though he'll have to play with three strings for the rest of the show. (re: the Devil) Who's this? The Devil rises from his chair with a flourish. DEVIL Why hello there, Samantha. My name is Geoff Sellers. I'm with A and R at Hellbent Records. I just wanted to say, I've been watching your performance so far this evening and absolutely ADORED it. SAMANTHA (excited) Really?! DEVIL Oh, yes... The Devil puts an arm around her and begins ushering her away from the table. He throws a quick glance over his shoulder at Stone. DEVIL I think we really have something special here. Let's go have a chat with the rest of the band... They stroll off. Stone laughs, shaking his head. FADE OUT. THE END