BRIMSTONE VS Episode #210 "This Mortal Coil" Written by Phil Gee TEASER BOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!! A MASSIVE EXPLOSION RIPS ACROSS THE SCREEN BEFORE WE ARE EVEN ESTABLISHED!!!!!!! EXT. GRITTY STREET - NIGHT We now SEE that the explosion has come from a CAR CRASH. A brand new FORD EXPLORER has just plowed into a ROW OF PARKED CARS, and the fire has already reached beyond the melting point. It looks as if no one could have survived the impact. If the driver WAS lucky enough to make it, he'd be burned to a crisp by now. From around the corner comes STONE. He is running full tilt, weapon drawn. It's obvious he was after whoever was behind the wheel. Stone slows as he gets near the wreck. The heat is so intense, he can only get about fifty feet away from the molten mess. STONE Thought you could handle that baby, huh? You got a good hundred yards on me, and look what happened. Roy Earle may have been the best wheel man in Chicago seventy years ago, but that don't mean jack to me in 1999! A CROWD has started to gather around the carnage. Stone becomes aware of them, and puts his gun away. No need to tip his hand yet. FIRST MAN Did you see what happened? SECOND MAN Yeah! He came around the turn, doin' at least seventy-five! No way he could have made the curve at that speed. From the wreckage, MOVEMENT begins. It looks like someone is trapped inside, trying to get out! The Crowd notices this a second after Stone does. They begin to POINT and GASP, whispering opinions of disbelief. Stone, although he figured this was going to happen, is still a bit stunned. For once, Stone thought he might get a break. STONE I guess "Black Jack" can wait one more night. He gets as close as he can to the flames. Sure enough, a FIGURE PUSHES OUT THE WINDSHIELD! A DARK, SHADOWY MAN stands. His clothes are smouldering. Other than that, he appears to be alive and well. This is "MAD DOG" ROY EARLE. Former Wheel Man for Al Capone, among others, at the height the Mobster Days in old Chicago. The automatic transmission and massive engine power of the Explorer proved too much for him to handle. He rises, trying to get his act together fast. Earle SEES Stone through the smoke and distortion. The tough guy inside wants to lunge after Stone, but he's smart enough to know his only chance right now is to beat feet. EARLE Think you got me, Copper? Think again! No one's gonna send Mad Dog back to the joint! No one! Earle sounds like a bad impression of Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney put into a blender and set on "High Speed". He's still one hundred percent Gangster to the bone. Earle scrambles his way out of the pile up, and begins to make a hasty retreat in the opposite direction of Stone. He continues to taunt Stone with all the HARD BOILED BRAVADO he can muster. With determined effort, Stone takes off after Earle. Despite Earle being a Damned Soul, Stone has a grudging admiration for this one. It's as if Earle has jumped off the silver screen of Stone's memory, and slapped his face, all the while retaining his "Larger Than Life" swagger. DEAD END ALLEY Earle takes a wrong turn, and before he knows it, he's up against a brick wall. Nowhere left to run. He looks at his surroundings, trying to find any means of flight. No fire escape. No crates to pile up and climb over the wall. Just one door that is a back exit to "Club Juana", the classiest strip joint on the street - which isn't saying much for this part of town. With nothing to lose, Earle goes over to the door and tries like crazy to get it opened. No dice. Barred up from inside. He pounds his fists on the metal, hoping someone will come to his rescue. At that point, Stone rounds the corner cautiously. All feelings aside, he has no choice but to put this guy's lights out and send him back to Hell. With gun leveled, Stone pads lightly towards Earle. STONE Give it up, Earle. No one's gonna save you this time around. Earle freezes for a second in the door way. His eyes dart madly between Stone and the end of the alley. The wall looks pretty high, but maybe with a running start, he can make it. EARLE You think Mad Dog's yellow, right Copper? Think I'm gonna die on my knees, crying like a baby who wants his Mama? Not Mad Dog, see? No, Mad Dog's gotten outta tougher scraps before, see, and this one ain't nothin' but a walk in the park. Stone keeps heading in Earle's direction, gun pointed at his eyes. STONE You're going back, Earle. You know it and I know it. It's that simple. EARLE (sweating) You got it wrong, Gum Shoe. The only place I'm headed is over that wall! With that, Earle LEAPS towards the rear wall of the alley. A TRAIL OF BLUE ELECTRICITY CRACKLES behind him, catching Stone off guard. Before Stone can reach him, Earle is already halfway over the wall. Holding his gun in one hand, Stone LEAPS UP, trailing ELECTRICITY as well, and grabs one of Earle's legs. Earle kicks for all he's worth, but Stone keeps his grip on him. After a beat, Earle is finally pulled off the wall. They drop to the ground in a heap. Earle is right back up in Stone's face, a firm choke hold around his throat. Earle has been in more then one back alley scrap, and knows all the tricks. Still crushing Stone's neck, he drives a quick KNEE to Stone's gut, doubling him over. Still reeling from the blow, Stone is KICKED in the FACE by Earle's once polished Brougham. He flips back to try to avoid the full impact, but still manages to take a good knock to the cheek. The force makes Stone DROP HIS GUN. It is lost in the darkness. Parading like a peacock, Earle stands over the moaning body of Stone. EARLE You Sam Spade types are all the same. No guts, and no brains. Never met a Dick that was smarter than Mad Dog, and never will! Earle kneels over Stone, enjoying the moment. He SEES a BROKEN WHISKEY BOTTLE nearby. With a grimace of satisfaction, he grabs it, and starts to plunge it into Stone's eyes. EARLE Wake up, Copper. Time to die! The whiskey bottle begins to plummet towards Stone. At the last possible second, Stone throws his arm up. It takes the full impact, shattering against the bone in his arm. It hurts like hell! STONE (screaming in pain) AAAAHHHHH!!! The pain brings Stone to his senses. Admiration is out the window. Time to punch this guy's ticket to Hades. With renewed vigor, Stone tackles Earle, sending him to the ground. Stone is on top of him, pinning his back to the pavement. Stone realizes, though, that he has no weapon. What can he do to take this guy's eyes out? Slowly, a grim reality washes over Stone. This is going to be nasty. It's going to gross him out big time. But then again, what part of this job hasn't been sickening? Dreading the task, Stone takes his thumbs and places them over Earle's eyes. Earle gets the message clearly. All the bluster quickly escapes, like a balloon losing its air. EARLE (pleading) C'mon, pal! Can't ya see that ol' Mad Dog was just makin' a joke? Yeah, sure, that's it! I was only foolin', see? I'm a big joker! Ask Mugsy, or Rocky down at the pool hall. Boy, the knee slappers I've pulled on those two maroons! Stone's thumbs are now starting to press down on Earle's eyes. The pressure is felt. The process begins. Earle knows this is it. Back to Hell. Express ticket. No stops. EARLE (screams in agony) NOOOOOO!!!!! Stone continues with the grisly task of putting Earle's eyes out by hand. The LIFE FORCE ELECTRICITY begins to seep out slowly. This is not a clean kill by any means. The flow of electricity begins to grow. Yet Stone still can't remove his thumbs from the eye sockets until it's all over. Despite all Stone's doing to him, Earle's body is still twitching. He's not done yet. Gritting his teeth, Stone pushes his thumbs harder and deeper into the eyes of Mad Dog Earle. A sudden SURGE OF ELECTRICITY EXPLODES! Stone has finally done it. Earle's body stops moving. However, the electricity leaving Mad Dog is like a BATTERING RAM! It sends Stone FLYING BACK towards the alley wall. Stone was directly over Earle when his life force left his body, and wasn't prepared for what happened. WHAM!!! Stone hits the alley wall like a sack of potatoes. In a heap, he falls to the pavement, and almost passes out. He's dazed, disoriented, as Earle's TATTOO BURNS from his chest. The pain, as always, is gruesome. After a moment (or several moments?), Stone begins to get his head together. As luck would have it, he's landed two feet away from his gun. He picks it up, and staggers back toward the alley's entrance. STONE'S POV The buildings all appear to be WARPED, as if they are SLANTED and ROTATING in front of him. A WHISPY HAZE clouds his vision slightly. CLUB JUANA EXIT DOOR It opens, and MAGDALENE REGAL (her stage name, of course), staggers out into the alley. Stripper by trade, she makes a few extra bucks on the side by turning tricks between numbers. Track marks on her left arm. Syringe and smack in her tiny purse. She's slipped out of Club Juana without the boss knowing. He frowns on that sort of thing, but a girl's gotta make a living any way she can. STONE'S POV He SEES Magdalene Regal step out into the alley. MAGDALENE Catches Stone out of the corner of her eye. Wary of the kind of people she's met in dark alleys before, she approaches him with caution. MAGDALENE Hey, sweetheart...you wanna have a good time with the Regal Lady tonight? She has a slight trace of a RUSSIAN ACCENT. STONE'S POV He gets closer to her. Takes a long, hard look into her eyes. They appear to BURN WITH HELLFIRE!! MAGDALENE I was supposed to meet a guy out back in a few minutes for a good time, but you'll do just as well, honey. MAGDALENE Stone stumbles in her direction. He's a mess. She's finally able to see him up close. Probably better for her to go back inside and make up the fifty bucks later on. MAGDALENE Tell ya what, sugar. Come back after you've slept it off. I'm sure I can squeeze you in. STONE'S POV No doubt in his mind. This is another Damned Soul. He raises his gun, points it at her. Her eyes are the reddest he's ever seen. MAGDALENE - CU She's had enough. She slowly backs up, trying to feel the door way with her hand behind her. Clearly, we SEE her eyes are not at all red. Stone has a bead on her. He walks closer, almost at arms length. STONE (speech slurred) Time to give The Devil his due. Magdalene puts up her hands, dropping her tiny purse to the ground. MAGDALENE (pleading for her very life) Please, mister. Whatever you think I did, I swear to God I didn't! I'm just tryin' to survive like everybody else on the street... PLEASE DON'T... BLAM!! BLAM!! Stone has fired off two rounds. Direct hits, both of them. Magdalene drops without another sound coming from her lips. Stone closes his eyes, braces himself for the experience again. From Magdalene's eyes pours... BLOOD! No electricity. Nothing but HUMAN, MORTAL BLOOD! Stone waits for the familiar burning sensation of her tattooed name somewhere on his body. Nothing. Not even a twinge of pain. He opens his eyes, unsure of himself. Walking towards the once living form of Magdalene Regal, Stone bends down and takes in the spectacle of his actions. He shakes his head, looks again at the body before him. STONE'S POV His vision starts to get focused now. He blinks once or twice more, and then fully realizes what has happened. HE'S KILLED A MORTAL BY MISTAKE!!! HIGH ABOVE The DARK NIGHT GROWS DARKER! CLOUDS SWIRL! WIND BLOWS! LIGHTNING FLASHES! Clearly, this has upset the balance between Good and Evil. Between Right and Wrong. Heaven and Hell. Suddenly, without warning, Stone is simply GONE! The dead figure of Magdalene the only evidence that he was ever there at all. FADE ACT I DARKNESS. THE BLACKEST VOID IN EXISTENCE. Although we are not yet aware, this is STONE'S POV. We HEAR a jumble of SOUNDS that we can't quite place. A WHOOSH that almost sounds like WIND. A faint CRY OF ANGUISH. A THUNDEROUS CRASHING. Familiar, but somehow different. Next, there are several DISEMBODIED VOICES. We can only grasp bits of words, not entire phrases. VOICE #1 ...never happened before... VOICE #2 ...mistake... VOICE #3 ...not sure.. BLAM! BLAM! The distinct sound of Stone's GUN. THE CRY OF A NEW BORN BABY AS A DOCTOR SLAPS IT. THE SOUND OF DIRT HITTING A CASKET AS IT IS BURIED. VOICE #4 ...will have to answer for his actions... A CRACK OF LIGHT APPEARS The light shines to reveal STONE. He is SPRAWLED out on what would normally be called a floor. The sliver of light expands, and plays across Stone's eyes. He opens them, then raises a hand to block the brightness. The light is then ECLIPSED by a LEAN FIGURE. A SHADOWY FORM walks in Stone's direction. STONE'S POV The Shadowy Form grows closer, until Stone is looking directly at his feet. Stone is still dazed at what has happened to him. Slowly, he raises his head, then is shocked to see... THE DEVIL We've never seen him quite like this before. Agitated. Distressed. You'd swear he was sweating. DEVIL Get on your feet, Ezekiel, and follow me. Quickly! Stone takes too long to get going, so The Devil grabs him by the arm and YANKS him up. He rushes Stone toward the Crack Of Light. Stone throws his arms up to avoid the brightness. He can't make his feet work the way they're supposed to. DEVIL Why, Ezekiel? Why did you do it? Stone doesn't understand the question. He squints at The Devil. STONE ...Do what...what did...I do...? DEVIL (outraged) Kill a Mortal! You fool! You have no idea of the balance you've upset! The Devil's words don't register. Kill a Mortal? He never would have done that...would he...? DEVIL You really did it this time, Ezekiel. (tries to get his composure back) I think I can handle this. Just don't say a word to anyone! No matter what! They have reached the Crack Of Light, and step into the... WHITE ROOM Waiting a few paces inside the White Room is LUKAS. He is clearly upset by the recent turn of events. He approaches Stone, looks deeply at him. He can tell Stone is not fully aware of where he is. DEVIL (defensive) He's fine. I have everything under control. LUKAS You have NOTHING under control! If you did, we wouldn't have been summoned here! Lukas runs his hand over Stone's face, compassionate. LUKAS (sympathetic) Ezekiel...what are we to do...? DEVIL Do? There is nothing to do. He was just returning another Damned Soul when that woman got in the way. Lukas shoots him a look of disbelief. He knows the entire scenario already. LUKAS Both of you, wait here. Lukas LOOKS at Stone's GUN. It VANISHES. He then takes a hard look at the both of them, and VANISHES TOO! DEVIL Think, Zeke! What do you remember? Stone runs his fingers through his hair. He's a blank. ROOM OF THE ELDERS Lukas is standing before a COUNCIL OF ELDERS. There are about ONE DOZEN of them. They are visible only as BEINGS OF ENERGY. They have no physical body. Lukas walks around as he speaks, pleading Stone's case before them. LUKAS You witnessed what transpired. It was an unfortunate accident. The woman was nothing more then a casuality of war. ELDER #1 Surely you know of the value of Mortal existence. You are willing to categorize this event in such a manner? Lukas realizes that this is not going to be an easy sell. LUKAS ...Forgive me...perhaps I should not have expressed it in such base terms. I only know that Ezekiel Stone was a man of decency in his Mortal life. He is now charged with an awesome task. The weight of what he is trying to accomplish must be set beside this, to view it in a fair light. ELDER #1 A Mortal who was willing and able to kill one of his own kind you would call decent? LUKAS He did only what he felt was just. The Council MURMURS among itself. The visible patterns of energy CHANGE COLORS. For a beat, Lukas stands uncomfortably. Finally, The Council's energy returns to its former shade. VOICE #2 We will hear the voice of the one sent to the Mortal World. Begin the necessary arrangements. He will be judged. But, be forewarned: this "Stone" WILL be held accountable for his actions. And so too shall be his keeper. They are both as one in this. ELDER #3 You are to bring the charges forth. LUKAS (taken aback) I thought I was called to be his protector. ELDER #2 Lucifer must protect his own. ELDER #1 It is so ordered. It is so done. WHITE ROOM The Devil is pacing. Stone is sitting down, head hung low. It's taken him a bit of time, but what happened is finally registering. He's staring to wonder if he's actually killed a Mortal. Suddenly, Lukas APPEARS between them. The Devil rushes to his side. DEVIL What's going on? Lukas ignores The Devil, instead going over to Stone. He kneels down, makes EYE CONTACT with Stone. A LONG BEAT passes. It seems as if Lukas is using some sort of POWER to return Stone fully to his senses. Finally, Stone looks like he's gotten it together. Lukas helps him to his feet. LUKAS How are you feeling, Ezekiel? STONE I'm not sure...Like I was in a car wreck or something. Where are we? LUKAS We're in a place that has no corporeal location. A plane between Heaven and Hell. Between the living and the dead. Think of it as a transfer station. Some wait here a very long time before moving on to their final destination. The Devil is tired of being the third wheel. DEVIL WHY are we here? This is totally uncalled for! Mr. Stone is a busy man, and has work to do, which you and yours are keeping him from. Lukas walks up to The Devil, gets right in his face. LUKAS This is all YOUR doing! If you had kept a tighter grip on Ashur and her followers... DEVIL Oh, sure! Blame all the troubles of the Netherworld on ME! Did your kind ever stop to think of all the times I've actually KEPT the Damned from returning to the Mortal region? 113 out of HOW MANY since time ITSELF began? I'd have a better average than Ted Williams with those numbers! The Devil is true to form. Shifting the blame, trying to pat himself on the back at the same time. Lukas turns away disgustedly, and goes back over to Stone. He takes ahold of him around the shoulders. LUKAS This is very important. What is the last thing you remember about returning Earle to Hell? Stone furrows his brow. It's hazy, but he's pulling it out. STONE I chased him into an alley...he knocked me down...lost my gun. I...had to use my hands to put his eyes out...then...I...I saw another Damned Soul...and...found my gun... DEVIL (interjecting) ...Then he blasted her back to where she belonged! LUKAS (disturbed) You will not speak! The Devil is quite taken aback! He's not used to getting bitch slapped! Instead of arousing his ire, The Devil takes it in stride. DEVIL (laughing) Pull your claws in, honey! He's all yours if you really want him that badly. There's more of his kind back at the trailer park. Lukas returns his attention to Stone. LUKAS (picking up) You found your gun, then what? STONE I found my gun...then saw a woman step into the alley. She was...her eyes had the look of Hellfire. I'm sure of it! I did what I had to do. I sent her back to her eternal Damnation of Brimstone... The narrative has drained Stone. LUKAS When you took Earle's eyes, you were right over him, correct? Stone nods. LUKAS His Life Force impacted with your physical body, and sent you across the alley? Again, Stone nods. Too weak to speak. Lukas inhales deeply. LUKAS I know that you are getting used to the powers and abilities now afforded you. There are things unknown to you that you are capable of. The leaping, the strength... these are only parts of the whole. Your inner self dictates what special gifts you are to possess in this form. Earle's Life Force was a lightning rod, taking your abilities to a new level they weren't ready for. As a Detective in your Mortal existence, you had the knack for knowing who was going to mug a person, BEFORE it happened. You SAW IT in your soul. You KNEW who was holding, who was packing heat. It was your Mortal gift. As it is now. The woman was not a Damned Soul, but well on her way to being one. The overwhelming might of Earle's Life Force accelerated your vision in regards to her. The explanation hangs in the air, each one taking it in and examining it up and down. The Devil is the first to jump at it. DEVIL So, there! It wasn't his fault! Act of God! Isn't that what they put on all those hurricane policies in Florida? LUKAS You understand the deeper meaning of this as well. It is not Ezekiel alone that must answer for this. To that statement, The Devil has no answer. STONE (weakly) Lukas...why am I here? What's happening to me? It is a beat before Lukas can respond. The Devil beats him to the punchline. DEVIL You're going to be tried, Zeke. And so am I, it seems. "Thou shalt not kill", or some such commandment if I recall my Old Testament. LUKAS (angry) The Word of God is not yours to slander! STONE But...it was a mistake... DEVIL (taunting) Goodness me, and Jax overdosed accidentally as well, didn't he dear Zeke? The remark hits Stone like a cannon shot to the gut. Lukas gathers himself. LUKAS You have little time to prepare, Ezekiel. STONE Prepare what? LUKAS Your defense. What you'd call a "Trial" is about to begin. STONE Will you be by my side? LUKAS (hesitates) That isn't possible. I'm to be your prosecutor. Stone is floored. His only ally is on the opposing team. STONE Then, who... Slowly, Lukas points to The Devil. LUKAS The Prince of Lies must see to his own in this. It has been so ordered. DEVIL By whom? LUKAS The Elders have spoken. You will wait here until called for. Waste no time. There is not much of it left. Lukas pauses. LUKAS I wish this were otherwise, Ezekiel. I'm truly sorry that it has to be this way. The two exchange a long look. Then, Lukas VANISHES. The Devil and Stone share an exchange as well. What are they going to do? FADE END ACT I ACT II FADE UP EXT. GRITTY ALLEY - NIGHT We are back at the location of our opening scene. The events are passing by us in TIME CUT SEQUENCES. Jumpy, blurry, we review the actions that transpired between Stone and Earle. Then, Magdalene walks into the alley. Stone takes his gun and fires! This time, though, it's as if Magdalene actually WAS a Damned Soul! Her LIFE FORCE EXITS THROUGH HER EYES! In an impressive display of pyrotechnics, she's GONE! Stone pulls back his sleeve, waiting for her name to burn off his arm. Nothing happens. Of course, she was never a Damned Soul to begin with. We PULL IN to an extreme CU of STONE'S EYES. He hold there for a beat, and then slowly PULL BACK. As we MOVE, we discover that we are SEEING Stone in the... WHITE ROOM He has been replaying the entire thing in his mind. He's convinced Magdalene was a Damned Soul, despite what Lukas has told him. The Devil has been talking to Stone for a while now, and getting no response. He decides to get his attention. DEVIL Did you hear me, Zeke? STONE (distracted) Huh? DEVIL I said, why did you really shoot her? You can tell me...I'm your lawyer. Attorney/Client privilege. Just like a Priest. STONE (disgusted) You are NO priest! DEVIL Whatever you say...I just can't figure it out. Did she do or say anything to make you believe she was a Damned Soul? STONE I felt it. I SAW it. She WAS a Damned Soul. DEVIL As much as it would please me to say you're right about her, let me assure you she was alive and kicking. The Devil raises three fingers. DEVIL (cont'd) Scout's honor. (beat) Okay, Zeke, let's put our heads together. The only possible thing we can fall back on is the tried and true insanity plea. It worked for Hinkley. Y'know, it was always a let down that Reagan survived. I was too cocky, I admit. I was SURE ol' Johnny was going to get that B actor, I really didn't put too much effort into that one. So, why not let his would be assassin get off with the looney tunes excuse? Come to think of it, that's probably why he failed. He really WAS nuts! I mean, C'MON! In love with JODIE FOSTER for crying out loud? That's just plain INSANITY! (shrugs) At least Kennedy went down without a snag. For the most part, anyway. STONE (still convinced) I'm telling you, she was... DEVIL (cutting him off) ...a Damned Soul, yes, I know that song. You still don't see? This is IT. The end of the line, the last stand. You lose this round and the fight's over. Back to the furnace. No more hope of redemption. No more hope of Roz and your precious "Happily Ever After". STONE And what about you? If I lose, you go down with me. This could be YOUR last stand too! Finally lose your crown. Be replaced by some- one else! Your fragile ego just couldn't take that, could it? DEVIL Then you see how important this is to both of us. (twisting the knife) And ROZ... Stone LUNGES towards The Devil. Before he reaches him, they VANISH. ROOM OF THE ELDERS Stone and The Devil reappear in front of the Council of Elders. They are facing the opposite of one another. Stone has shown up in mid- lunge, except that now The Devil is no longer near his outstretched hands. A bit shaken by the "teleportation", it takes him a second to get composed. The Devil knows exactly where he is, and who he is in front of. Although trying not to, he is showing signs of intimidation. DEVIL (coolly) Face the board, Mr. Stone. The teacher's called class to order. Stone looks up to SEE the Council of Elders. He is amazed at their structure. ELDER #1 You are the one who was once known as Ezekiel Stone. Is that correct? STONE (quietly) Yes. ELDER #2 And the Prince of Darkness... DEVIL Such a demeaning moniker, but one that I've grown rather fond of. ELDER #2 You will govern your tongue in our presence! The Devil reacts like a kid who's been caught talking in class out of turn. DEVIL Okay, okay! Sheesh! I was just trying to freshen up the stale air in this place! ELDER #3 You will present yourselves here. A MOCK COURT ROOM APPEARS. Judges bench. Witness stand. Tables for the Prosecution and Defense. There is no jury box, however. DEVIL Nice touch. Where's the jury going to sit? ELDER #4 There is no jury. Only a judge. One voice, one vote. You will both share the fate of of the final verdict. DEVIL What are the rules? ELDER #5 This is to be a hearing of the truth. You are known as "The Prince of Lies", but your ways will not be tolerated here. It is so ordered, it is so done. No lies will emit from your tongue while in our presence! The Devil suddenly GRIPS HIS THROAT AND MOUTH! His power to deceive has been taken from him! His eyes go WIDE! Never has that ability been removed before! Stone steps towards the Council of Elders. STONE Then, who is to preside? ELDER #6 You alone will make that determinaion. Stone doesn't understand. ELDER #7 From within your mind, the decision will be made. Chosen to judge you will be the being you have always considered to be the fairest in your Mortal existence. You cannot claim to have been treated unfairly, if you have elected the one who must judge you. STONE But I can't pick out a... ELDER #1 It is done. With that, the entire Council of Elders VANISHES. A split second later, Lukas appears. He is located near his Prosecution table. Stone and The Devil look at one another, and then decide to go towards their own table. From nowhere, THE JUDGE APPEARS. It is none other than ROSALYN! Stone's jaw drops! The Devil spreads a sly grim across his lips. DEVIL This is in the bag, m'boy! Lukas keeps his head down while addressing Stone. LUKAS She does not know you, Ezekiel. STONE What do you mean? That's my WIFE! LUKAS She is all that was good and honest in your Rosalyn. Unbiased. Compassionate. Forgiving. But she has no knowledge of you, or your existence together as husband and wife. How could she judge this hearing otherwise? Rosalyn has not heard any of the conversation between those in front of her. She is busy preparing herself at the bench. Stone walks slowly towards her. The Devil makes his first objection. DEVIL I must protest! This won't do at all! LUKAS Do you really think I'm against Ezekiel?! That I want to be the one trying to remove him from his duties?! There is no other way. DEVIL (thinking) ..Well, at least he wasn't thinking of Sting. I get so tired of that condescending SOB... Stone has reached Rosalyn. He tries to speak to her. STONE Roz...can you hear me? It's Zeke. I'm right here, in front of you... No use. She's not tuned in to the rest of them. STONE There are so many things I want to tell you. So many things I'd do differently if I had the chance... Suddenly, The Council of Elders appear. Lukas takes this as a signal. LUKAS It's time. You must return to your place. STONE (whispering) I love you, Roz... She still has no clue that Stone is right in front of her. Sadly, he takes his seat by The Devil. The Council of Elders open the proceedings. ELDER #1 This is to be a hearing regarding the actions that took the life of a Mortal. The being once known as "Ezekiel Stone" has been charged with the violation of her continued Mortal existence by taking her life before it was so destined. ELDER #2 He is to present his argument to the sole judge in this matter. Only the truth shall be spoken. As if remembering his inability to lie, The Devil grips his throat. ELDER #3 The facts will be heard. A verdict will be rendered. Both of you will be bound to the ruling by the Laws of God. ELDER #4 It is so ordered, it is so done. With that statement, The Council of Elders VANISHES once more. This action seems to bring Rosalyn out of her isolation. She now looks up and SEES those in front of her. She gives no hint that she knows ANY of them. After giving everyone a hard lookover, she takes her GAVEL and BANGS IT LOUDLY. ROSALYN All rise! Everyone stands. ROSALYN (cont'd) The accused will step forward, please. Stone and The Devil both approach her. ROSALYN You have been charged with taking the life of a Mortal before it had been so designated. Are you and your council prepared to answer this charge? DEVIL Yes. ROSALYN How do you plead? DEVIL Your Honor, on behalf of Det. Stone, I enter his plea of "Not Guilty". STONE (pissed) I withdraw that plea, Your Honor. I don't know if I'm guilty of this murder, but I have taken a life when I was a Mortal. That can hardly make me not guilty in my soul, in any case regarding the taking of a human life. ROSALYN Then how do you wish to enter into this hearing? STONE I'm not sure. ROSALYN I have always believed a person should be considered innocent until proven otherwise. Therefore, I will enter a plea of "Not Guilty" if that is satisfactory to you. Stone nods. Rosalyn BANGS her GAVEL again. ROSALYN So noted. This hearing is now in session. You all may take your seats. The Prosecution may begin its case. All parties return to their places as we... FADE END OF ACT II ACT III WHITE ROOM The trial has begun. Lukas is finishing his opening statement as we join the scene. LUKAS And so, you must see that Ezekiel Stone did knowingly and willingly kill a Mortal before it was her determined time to die. Stone sits, chomping at the bit. He's already ticked at the fact that Lukas has to prosecute him. He's doubly upset that Lukas seems to be enjoying it. STONE That's not how it happened at all!! He jumps up as he speaks. The Devil places a hand to restrain him. ROSALYN You will have your turn, Mr. Stone. STONE But he...he wasn't even there! How can he make these accusations? I thought he was my friend! ROSALYN We all must answer to a Higher Power. Lukas is only doing the job he was given. Stone reluctantly sits back down. The Devil stands. It's his turn. ROSALYN The Defense may speak now. DEVIL Your Honor, I ask that all charges be summarily dropped against Det. Stone. He was clearly not in control of his actions when this unfortunate incident occurred. He is performing a task which NO ONE in this room can deny is a necessary evil. It is a sad turn of events that the woman lost her Mortal existence before its predestined end. But, the war Det. Stone wages will probably be filled with such casualities. This might only be the first of many. Are we to stop and bicker each time something goes wrong? Doesn't the responsibility of returning The Damned grant him certain leniencies? Certain restrictions be lifted in lieu of the end result he hopes to achieve? ROSALYN I might agree with you to a point, Council, but as I said, we all must answer to a Higher Power. "Thou Shalt Not Kill" cannot be written any clearer. The Damned are already dead. THEY are excluded. Not the Mortal in question. The Laws of God are not to be interpreted, they are to be obeyed. I decline your motion to drop the charges against Det. Stone. The prosecution may continue. The Devil sits. It would be so much easier if he could tell a lie or two! From his table, Lukas speaks. LUKAS The presecution calls the Mortal in question to the stand. Instantaniously, Magdalene Regal APPEARS in the witness box. She is cleaned up. Not looking at all the way we saw her in the alley. No track marks. Hair styled. Modern dress. Total opposite of the strung out stripper. We also see that she is very young, no more then nineteen years old. She's probably been on the streets for close to half her life. When Magdalene shows up in this fashion, The Devil quickly jumps up. DEVIL I object! This is not the way this woman looked when she was killed! If this is to be a court of truth, then her honest appearance must be presented! ROSALYN (to Lukas) Council? Lukas holds up his hands, as if to say "okay". Suddenly, Magdalene MORPHS back to her previous self. The difference is stunning. They are two different people. Lukas walks towards her as he begins his questioning. LUKAS Magdalene, you were born in Russia, correct? Under another name? MAGDALENE Yes. My last name was Zonova. I came with my family to the United States when I was twelve. My parents tried to make a better life for all of us. But it didn't turn out that way. LUKAS What happened? How did you end up with the life you had? MAGDALENE My parents were arrested and deported. There was some kind of error in their immigration papers, and my father was confused with another man of the same name. The other man was a known Party member, and the United States couldn't take the chance on letting the wrong man stay. They sent all of us back. LUKAS Yet, you managed to remain behind. How did this happen? MAGDALENE My mother told me to run and hide as the men came to our home. She knew it was better for me to stay behind, than to return to Russia with them. So, I ran down the hall, hid in the bathroom. The INS never bothered to look for me. As I said, the paperwork was mixed up, so there was never a record of me entering the country at all. LUKAS Is that when you began to live on the streets? MAGDALENE Yeah...I had no choice. I had to do whatever I could to make it day by day. LUKAS Did you ever try to seek help? The aid of any church, or Priest perhaps? Any kind of community center run by a religious organization? Were you ever exposed to the Word of God? MAGDALENE My family was never religious. It was hard to belong to any kind of denomination when we lived in Russia. Unless you worked for the Party, there was not a lot of things open for you. LUKAS How did you see your life ending up? Were you ever going to try to go to school? Learn a skill? Straighten yourself out with God? MAGDALENE I never had a reason to...no one ever sat me down and talked to me about God, or religion, or what my life could be like if I had a chance to turn it around in some way. As far as anything else ...there was no way I could go and learn a skill. I never was a real person, as far as the United States was concerned. I didn't exist. I think my my life was going to be the way it was for a long time. At least until...I mean IF someone had come along, showed me a better way of living. A better way of survival. Despite her appearance, and the obvious way Magdalene carried herself while a Mortal, you can't help but feel a bit of sympathy for her. LUKAS Thank you, Magdalene. Lukas goes back to his table. ROSALYN You may question the witness, Council. The Devil goes over to Magdalene, leans close to her on the railing. DEVIL Miss Regal... LUKAS (interjecting) ...Miss ZONOVA... DEVIL I stand corrected. Miss Zonova, did you like your job? Enjoy the attention? MAGDALENE At first, yeah. It was an amazing thing to have all these people so interested in me. Then, a year or so into it, it became a regular thing. Like a normal job. Boring. Routine. DEVIL So then what did you do to keep the excitement level up? MAGDALENE I started to shoot up. A little bit here and there. I never got hooked...I was able to keep it under control. For the most part... DEVIL And when the drugs weren't enough? MAGDALENE It's easy to pick up Johns in that business... DEVIL Johns...? MAGDALENE Johns. Tricks. Guys who want sex, and are willing to pay for it. The money wasn't great, but it helped on slow nights. DEVIL So, this lifestyle of sex, drugs, stripping...you admit that, despite the immorality of it all, it appealed to you...you liked the way things were. MAGDALENE ...It was never my dream to end up that way, but it could have been worse. In Russia, it's almost EXPECTED to be worse. I don't think it was so bad...I mean, I never killed anybody... LUKAS Is the Defense going to make a point with this line of interrogation? The Devil turns to Roz. DEVIL Your Honor, I'm leading to one simple question; if you were to pass sentence on Miss Zonova for her Mortal existence, where would you send her for her eternal reward? LUKAS She's not the one on trial here! DEVIL Just a question of character, not of salvation. Roz hesitates. The Devil prompts her. DEVIL I know that this place is where recently departed Mortals go onto their way to eternal judgment. She'd probably get the hot seat anyway, so your opinion wouldn't sway The Man one way or another... The question hangs in the air for a beat. Lukas looks to Roz, who in turn looks to Magdalene. ROSALYN With the full knowledge that this trial is only interested in the actions of Det. Stone, I would have to say, based on the description of Miss Zonova's life by her own admission...she would not be allowed to enter into the Kingdom of God. DEVIL By her own admission...by her OWN ADMISSION, she had lived a life of sin! No other way to call it. I've had my hand on her since her existence began. I doubt that she was going to be "Saved", to use the vernacular so popular these days. Prostitution, drugs...why beat a dead horse? She was going to be one of mine, if she died today, yesterday, or ten years from yesterday. Her place was already reserved in my Dominion, and I think no one here can deny that. The Devil pauses, lets his words sink in. DEVIL I'll see you in Hell, my sweet... A wicked grin on his face, The Devil returns to Stone's side. Magdalene VANISHES from the witness box. ROSALYN The Prosecution may call its next witness. LUKAS I call Gilbert Jax, Your Honor. Stone's brow rises. It's not getting easier, and Lukas seems to be out to win the second round with a knock out. JAX APPEARS in the witness box. He's UNAWARE who Roz and Stone are. In fact, he's a little bit confused by the whole thing. LUKAS Your Honor, a word with the Defense please. The two parties gather between their respective tables. LUKAS (to Stone) He doesn't know either of you. He'll only answer the questions asked, but will have no other knowledge beyond that. STONE Why is he here? HE wasn't involved with what happened. DEVIL Character witness, Mr. Stone. The worst one you could ever imagine. ROSALYN Are both Councils ready to continue? LUKAS Yes, Your Honor. Stone and The Devil return to their table. Lukas goes towards Jax. LUKAS Gilbert Jax. Murdered by Det. Ezekiel Stone in your Mortal existence. Set up to look like an accident. Tell us about that night. JAX What's there to say? The bastard had it in for me. He shot me up, and left me for dead. I gotta give it to the guy, though. He knew how to do it right. LUKAS Tell me what you mean, "he knew how to do it right"? JAX If you're a cop, you learn all the tricks. How to set a sucker up, plant evidence, fake reports, skim off the top of a drug buy... DEVIL Objection! Does the witness have any first hand knowledge of this type of behavior concerning Det. Stone? JAX What? ROSALYN Did you ever see Det. Stone plant evidence at a crime scene? Or anything consistent with the kind of behavior you just described? JAX Yeah, he stuck a NEEDLE in my friggin' arm! DEVIL The Defense is willing to concede the fact that Det. Stone did cause the death of Gilbert Jax. We will pursue that line of questioning later. LUKAS Did you have any chance of escape when Det. Stone was preparing your murder? JAX Hey, the guy was thorough. He wasn't leaving ANYTHING to chance! LUKAS So, the Mortal you knew as Det. Stone did, of his own free will, murder you himself and left you to die with the appearance of an overdose? Is that your account of the event? JAX Yeah...that's it up and down. (scoffs in disgust) Never trust a cop to do anything honest... LUKAS No more questions... Lukas goes back to his desk. The Devil walks to Jax. ROSALYN Council...you may proceed. DEVIL Gilbert Jax. We've known one another a long time, haven't we? JAX What do you mean? DEVIL You and I. We've been buddies since day one. "Born under a bad sign"...isn't that how the expression goes? You recall when you were five and your brother Hank was eight? He picked on you MERCILESSLY. Always pulling the prank, and somehow YOU getting the blame for it. He told you to keep your mouth shut, or he'd make you pay...pound you good if you talked. Jax looks uncomfortable at this disclosure. JAX That's what brothers do. DEVIL Which brothers? Cain and Abel? You took his abuse for a few more years. Then, one day you had enough. You pushed him out of your tree house...remember? You told your parents it was his fault, that he slipped and fell of his own carelessness. In fact, it was YOU who pushed him. YOU who MURDERED your own brother! The sadness you caused your mother. The pain your father suffered. None of that mattered to you. You were SO GLAD that you'd finally be free of his torture! And it felt GOOD to know you had that power! You didn't really do much with it until many years later. You let it build up inside you, until it boiled over and never cooled off. Robbery, battery...rape... Stone lowers his head at this. He knew it was a matter of time before it was brought up. Jax has been squirming in his seat while The Devil has been singing his praises. He clearly doesn't like having his life opened up so. DEVIL (cont'd) ...You never said WHY Det. Stone had it in for you. Why he murdered you, and set it up to look like an accidental overdose. You, Gilbert Jax, had raped his wife. Caused them both untold pain and misery. And if that weren't enough, you were set FREE! The result of an imperfect legal system, made possible by an imperfect society. Is that justice? What you deserved for your punishment? "An eye for an eye"! That's the Almighty way of retribution! I think Det. Stone was only meting out the lost justice that was owed him and his wife. During The Devil's entire diatribe, Roz's face has showed no sign of emotion. How ironic that she is sitting in power over the darkest person in her life, and is not even aware of it. Stone, however, has buried his head in his hands. It is too much for him to bare. JAX I can't change the way the system works! I could have easily been sent to the joint the same way I was let off. DEVIL Ya know, you're right. So, let's forget that you did get released. You raped her, but for the sake of argument, you were never caught. You fled the scene of the crime, only to be struck down and killed by a speeding car moments later. Your death, one way or another, has really no meaning to this trial. LUKAS I beg to differ! It shows that Stone's character was of question. He was fully capable of taking the life of another Mortal, no matter WHAT form of being he existed in. DEVIL When cornered, a Mother will protect her young. Given the right set of circumstances, most Mortals are capable of doing many things that they think otherwise impossible. Det. Stone only reacted to the lack justice he and his wife seeked. (beat) Gilbert Jax, however, is another beast entirely. I said we'd been buddies for a long time, and I meant that. No lies, if I recall the ground rules? There are those who are born to serve God. Nothing will ever come between them and their Savior. There are those who are born on the fence. They could go either way. If they hear God before I have a chance, or vice versa, they get to make their own choice. And then...there are those such as Gilbert Jax. "Born under a bad sign"...that's him alright. He was never going to be an Altar Boy. Never going to take Communion. Never going to confess his sins and seek penance for his actions. He was going to die as he was born...totally and unconditionally MINE!! Both he and Magdalene Zonova were NEVER to be "Called to Glory". NEVER to hear the words "Well done, thy good and faithful servant"! There was ONE PLACE that their Mortal existence was headed. And they both got the reward they deserved!! The Devil looks straight into Jax's eyes. The Prince of Lies has never been more truthful. Jax almost shrinks away from The Devil's gaze. After a beat, he returns to Stone's side. It is almost a relief when Jax VANISHES. Deathly silence for several beats. Then suddenly, Stone stands. STONE Your Honor...I wish to withdraw my earlier plea, and enter a new one...I plead guilty as charged... It's a BOMBSHELL!! NO ONE was expecting this! END OF ACT III ACT IV WHITE ROOM - SECONDS LATER Stone has just shocked everyone present with his request. ROSALYN Det. Stone...please repeat yourself. STONE I wish to plead Guilty to the charge of taking the Mortal life of Magdalene Zonova. The Devil stands up, excitedly. DEVIL Your Honor, Det. Stone is speaking without the advice of his Council. Lukas is disturbed as well. He's trying to give Stone and The Devil as many easy pitches as he can, but Stone isn't making it any simpler. STONE I don't need to drag this out any longer. I belong with them. ROSALYN Explain yourself. STONE Magdalene Zonova...Gilbert Jax. I'm no different than them. I may have worn a badge, but in the long run, I see now that it didn't make me any better or more righteous in what I did in MY Mortal existence. Stone stands up and walks toward Rosalyn. He's speaking to her, about their life together, but she doesn't understand the personal connection. STONE (cont'd) My wife was raped. The guy who did it was Jax. When he was set free, I decided to take justice into my own hands. I killed a man, out of hatred and disillusion in the system I'd sworn to uphold. Was I different than any other person who did the same crime for another reason? Than the guy who kills a person for witnessing his robbery? No better than a junkie who can't see the needle is too full of smack, or just doesn't care if it is or not? I loved my wife...more then life itself. I broke the Law of God. No matter what I do beyond that isn't going to change my actions, or what I eventually became. Rosalyn appears to be giving serious consideration to Stone's words. The Devil sees that this could be the moment it all slips away from him, and approaches Roz and Stone. DEVIL Your Honor, I must have a brief recess to speak to Det. Stone. ROSALYN Recess is granted. Summon us when you are ready to resume. With that, Lukas and Roz VANISH. Stone and The Devil are left alone. DEVIL This is NOT the time to go soul searching, Ezekiel! Just what do you think you're doing here? STONE Telling the truth. You said it yourself; there are those who are born and die as your servant. No matter how you slice it, I was destined to do what I did to Jax. As he was destined to rape Roz. You can delude yourself into thinking you're something better, or something smarter because the law is on your side. But when it comes right to it...I'm the same as any other Damned Soul. I'm just wearing a different kind of badge this time around. DEVIL Now, you listen to me! You CAN'T go down like this! You HAVE to fight for youself! What is at stake is more then your petty sense of right and wrong! This is the entire balance between the living and the dead! Between Heaven and Hell... Stone feels the sense of urgency that The Devil is displaying. STONE And quite possibly your final curtain! Your last exit! No more hot times in the old town for Satan...isn't that right? DEVIL (backing off) Ezekiel...Zeke...let me call one witness. If you're still sure you want to plead guilty after that... we'll take it from there. STONE Like I can believe you... DEVIL What other choice do I have? They won't let me lie, and I can't beat you over the head in this place...Put your trust in me, dear boy. We'll make it out of this yet. STONE How much closer to a lie could that statement be? Trust you? I may be dead, but I'm not stupid! DEVIL Then trust yourself...if no one else. They look hard at each other for a beat. STONE Okay...let's finish this. DEVIL Your Honor, we're ready to resume. Roz and Lukas RETURN to their places. The Devil remains standing as Stone sits down. DEVIL Your Honor, Det. Stone wishes to retain his plea of Not Guilty. ROSALYN So noted. This hearing is now back in session. Does the Prosecution have any further witnesses to present? LUKAS No, Your Honor. ROSALYN The Defense may call its first witness. DEVIL Your Honor, the Defense needs to call only one witness. Will Martin Benedict please take the stand? BENEDICT APPEARS in the witness box. Still dressed in his Greatcoat. The Devil goes to him, trying his best to put Benedict at ease. DEVIL Martin Benedict. Member of the Afdeelingen. The Dutch SS. Also known as "The Angel of Mercy". BENEDICT Yes, that is all true. DEVIL How did you come to be called "The Angel of Mercy"? Der Engel van Genade? BENEDICT I was going to help supply transit cards to Dutch Jews. They looked to me as some sort of protector I guess. DEVIL Yet, you never did get them their visas...? BENEDICT (head down in shame) No...I didn't. I was afraid of what would happen to me if I was discovered. DEVIL So, you let eighteen men and women die, simply to save your own neck. Benedict has no reply for this. Stone looks worried. If this was The Devil's big surprise witness, it sure doesn't seem to be working. DEVIL You were sent to Hell, to spend your eternity as another Damned Soul. Yet, you managed to escape my dominion, and return to the Mortal world. BENEDICT Yes. DEVIL And upon returning, what did you do? BENEDICT I don't understand... DEVIL Did you go round up more Jews? Make promises you couldn't keep? Lie, cheat, murder? Anything at all like that? BENEDICT No...nothing of the kind. I tried to atone for my mistakes...make up for the lives I let die due to my own selfish fears. DEVIL In effect, you tried to once again become an Angel of Mercy, this time to the people living on the streets. The poor, the homeless, the ones who had no champion. You became THEIR champion. BENEDICT I...that is the truth of it. DEVIL What happened after that? Were you able to stay and protect these poor souls? BENEDICT No. I was returned to my place in Hell. DEVIL The one who sent you back...did he simply make you return? Did he have to fight with you? Was it a struggle to get his job done? Stone now sees where this is headed. BENEDICT He didn't want to send me back. DEVIL Repeat that, Mr. Benedict. Roz perks up. This is getting interesting. BENEDICT He did not want to send me back to Hell. He told me to run. DEVIL And did you? BENEDICT I started to...then, I realized I had to face it. DEVIL Face what? BENEDICT My day of reckoning. The Agent of yours didn't want to be my Reckoner, but I told him it was not up to him. It was up to ME to earn my own peace, my own forgiveness. But, no matter what I did, it would never be enough. Perhaps HE has a chance to gain redemption by returning the Damned, but my chance will never come. DEVIL Despite his task, this Agent was ready to let you go. Spoil HIS OWN chance at redemption at the expense of your freedom? BENEDICT I believe so. DEVIL Justice, tempered with mercy and wisdom. What was your impression of this Agent? BENEDICT As you described him. A complex man in his Mortal existence, I'm sure. One who was faced with many challenges to his dignity and soul, but was probably able to make the right decisions when it counted. He never would have lost his nerve as I did. Stone is touched deeply by Benedict's opinion of him. To his own surprise, he sees the truth of Benedict's words. DEVIL No further questions. He returns to Stone's side. The White Room is silent for a beat. Each one taking in Benedict's statement. ROSALYN (to Lukas) Council, do you wish to question the witness? Lukas shakes his head "no". What more can he add to the proceedings without hurting his friend? He's going to have a tough time as it is dealing with his soul no matter what verdict is handed down. Benedict VANISHES. The White Room is still silent. Then Roz speaks. ROSALYN Det. Stone, please step forward. Uncertainly, Stone goes to the bench, stands by himself before Roz. ROSALYN I have heard all the evidence and witnesses for and against you. Do you have anything to add before sentence is passed? Anything to say about the events that caused this event to happen? STONE I can only say that I believed Magdalene to be another Damned Soul. Maybe Earle's Life Force did trigger some kind of sensor in me, some kind of advanced future vision I wasn't prepared for. I KNOW she was a Damned Soul. Or at least was destined to be one. ROSALYN You yourself are one of the Damned. You were sent to Hell for killing Gilbert Jax. Knowing what you did, what it has cost you and your immortal soul, would you do it again? Kill him once more if you had the chance? Stone can't find his voice. Finally, he whispers his reply. STONE I don't know, Your Honor. I would like to say no. Every piece of me knows it was wrong. It WAS wrong. But so was what he did to my wife. (looks Roz straight in the eyes) She didn't deserve what he did to her. He didn't deserve to be let free. (beat) And he didn't deserve to die by my hands, no matter what the courts did. (beat) I just don't know... A heavy silence. Then... ROSALYN You may take your seat. Stone trudges back to his place. The White Room again retains a mighty hush, as Roz sits at her bench, contemplating the fate of the accused. ROSALYN I wish to thank both Councils for keeping their arguments brief and to the point. Despite that, it does not make this decision any easier. Certainly nothing like this has ever occured before in the Mortal world. But, The Almighty has seen fit to declare me the sole voice of judgment, and it is a task I take most seriously. (beat) I find more truth in The Prince of Lies' statements than I care to admit. DEVIL (under his breath) You'll never know... ROSALYN (cont'd) However, I am loath to agree with him to the extreme. Good and Evil. Black and White. Things are never as simple as they seem. Which leads me to the actions of Det. Stone... Stone grips the edge of the table in anticipation. The Devil grits his teeth. Lukas also is anxious. ROSALYN (cont'd) There are no precedents to draw upon. As I said, nothing such as this has ever happened before. Certainly, the mission he is charged with -- the returning of the Damned -- is of the utmost and dire importance. It must continue, but at what cost? If this IS a war, it must be fought as one. And in war, innocents are sometimes caught in the cross fire. Through no fault of their own, they are struck down. This, however, would have to be considered their predestined time to leave this Mortal Coil. In the case of Magdalene Zonova, I submit that it WAS NOT her destiny to die at that point in her existence. I also submit that she was not lost to The Devil from her conception, as he so readily claimed. Yes, she was no saint, living a life of sin and degradation. But who among us can say that she would not one day turn herself around? That after a life of sin, she might take God into her heart in a hospital bed while being visited by a Priest? Or even another soul who has lost his way could be an inspiration to her, keep her from a destiny of Brimstone with only a simple word or two? Point her in the right direction in her time of need? (beat) It is with these factors in mind that I reach my final judgment. Roz reaches for her gavel. Off this we... DISSOLVE EXT. GRITTY ALLEY - NIGHT We resume our opening scene just as Magdalene has entered the alley. MAGDALENE Hey, sweetheart...you wanna have a good time with the Regal Lady? Stone whips his gun up, points it directly at her. It FREEZES her in her tracks. He continues to head her way, weapon held high, locked in on both her eyes. MAGDALENE (pleading for her very life) Please, mister. Whatever you think I did, I swear to God I didn't! I'm just tryin' to survive like everybody else on the street... Slowly, Stone lowers his weapon, puts it in its holster. He walks over to her, pulls out his badge. Magdalene reacts in a totally different way, now that the reality of the situation has presented itself. MAGDALENE Hey, I was just takin' my break. Wanted to get some fresh air. Gotta protect my lungs against second hand smoke. (cough, cough) Smoky in there... Stone grabs her tiny purse, opens it to find the smack. Magdalene moans. MAGDALENE Oh, damn! I just got out two weeks ago! I sure as hell don't wanna sit on my ass for another three months in the tank. Stone pockets her purse. He gets a sparkle in his eyes. STONE What's your name? MAGDALENE Magdalene Regal. STONE That's really your last name? MAGDALENE Zonova. Magdalene Zonova. STONE Well, Miss Zonova... MAGDALENE ...my friends call me Maggie... STONE ...Okay, Maggie. I just went off duty five minutes ago. Now, I could be persuaded to clock back in unless you agree to what I'm about to say. Magdalene is shocked. She's never run into a cop before who was willing to give her a break. However, she's street smart enough to know this might be a hustle. MAGDALENE What's the catch? STONE No catch. No strings attached. I just think you need some help. I know what you're going though. I've seen it before a hundred times. I was never in a position to help a lot of people before, but I think it's time I got to one before it's too late. MAGDALENE One what? STONE Sorry. I just mean, I need to help out a person in need when I get the opportunity. Kind of on my own personal parole, if you know what I mean. MAGDALENE (smiles) Not in the least... Stone extends his hand. Magdalene takes it. MAGDALENE You're not really a Priest in disguise, like Robert Blake in "HELL TOWN" are you? I used to watch that show when I was a kid in Russia. I thought all American Priests were tough guys. STONE No, I'm the farthest thing from a Priest. But there's one I'd like you to meet. His name is Father Horn. They begin to exit the alley. STONE He knows a lot about helping people who are lost. I'm sure he knows someone who can help you kick the monkey, too. Magdalene looks over her shoulder as they pass the exit door to Club Juana. MAGDALENE Hey, my job. I'm back on in fifteen... Stone keeps a grip on her, won't let her turn around. STONE There's nothing in there that you need. Trust me, you've had enough of that kind of life. It's not too late to start over. Magdalene is stunned by Stone's words. For the first time in her life, there seems to be someone there she can really trust. MAGDALENE I don't know why, but I believe you. (laughs) I believe you, but I don't even know your name! STONE Ezekiel Stone. MY friends call me Zeke. From HIGH ABOVE, we SEE the two walking out onto the street, and then out of frame. We HOLD on the empty alley exit. BANG! BANG! The sound of Rosalyn's GAVEL is heard. ROSALYN (VO) I am returning you to the Mortal world. You are to continue with your mission to send the Damned to their place. I believe that this was the most unfortunate of circumstances that caused you to take the Mortal life of Magdalene Zonova. You have the power and ability, but not all is in harmony as of yet. You must learn how to deal with and control your actions, especially when involved with those of corporeal existence. I am also charging you with the responsibility of the Mortal known as Magdelene Zonova. She is to be returned to the Mortal Coil also, and given another chance to turn her life around. You will teach her, show her the error of her ways. Provide her with guidance, make her earn self respect. Point her in the right direction. I do not know if she will ever become a member of God's House, but in lieu of the circumstances, she must have one more opportunity. The judgment has been rendered. The rest is up to you. As Rosayln's final words are spoken, we... FADE OUT THE END May the "real" Charlie Hart rest in peace.