BRIMSTONE VS Episode #311 "Couples" by Robert Rand TEASER EXT. - HAVEN APARTMENTS - ESTABLISHING - NIGHT The Haven Apartments are in a decent part of town. A few people walk down the well lit street, chatting casually. A Ford Taurus pulls up to the building, and a man gets out. This is AL CANDLE. INT. - HAVEN APARTMENTS - THIRD FLOOR HALLWAY Al is standing in front of the door to apartment 309. He glances around the empty corridor. From inside, we hear the CHAIN BEING REMOVED. A woman wearing a blue bathrobe peers out. This is SYLVIA CARTER. SYLVIA Al? What are you doing here? AL We need to talk. SYLVIA It's after midnight. AL I saw you tonight. Who was he? Sylvia still hasn't opened the door all the way. This isn't a conversation she wants to have in the hallway; this isn't a conversation she wants to have at all. She makes an attempt to buy time. SYLVIA Al, I have to get up early. Call me tomorrow, okay? AL No. With the moon as my witness, this business must be settled. Sylvia is surprised and confused by his response, but starts to close the door anyway. SYLVIA Not tonight. Go home. INT. - APARTMENT 309 - NIGHT AL PUSHES THE DOOR OPEN, forcing his way inside. Sylvia steps back, wrapping her bathrobe tighter around her. SYLVIA Al! Get out of here! Al is unruffled, giving no hint that he has lost his temper. When he speaks, it is in a smooth and controlled voice. AL Our love is true. Why do you tarnish it by bestowing affection onto another? He SLAMS the door behind him. SYLVIA What are you talking about? Go home. (beat) We'll discuss this later, if you want. AL I can only hope the treachery inflicted on our relationship this day was the first of its kind. SYLVIA Al. Go home. Sylvia turns her back and walks into the KITCHEN AL SHOVES HER FORWARD. She puts her hands out and stops her fall, then WHIRLS BACK on him. Al's expression is blank, no hint of anger on his placid mien. SYLVIA What do you think you're doing? What the hell is the matter with you? AL (calmly) You've betrayed me, Syl. We could have been happy together. SYLVIA Get out! Leave now, and I won't call the cops. And don't come back. Al picks a BUTCHER KNIFE from the rack on the counter. AL Your treachery makes it impossible for us to remain joined in this life. Perhaps, on a higher plane, we will again forge a union. SYLVIA Al! Al STABS HER in the stomach, planting the knife impossibly deep in her belly. SYLVIA (softer) Al... Al pulls out the blade. AL I love you. HE STABS HER AGAIN! This time the wound is fatal, and Sylvia sinks to the floor, propped up against her kitchen cabinets. Her eyes flutter, then close as she falls into never ending slumber. Al regards her sadly. AL Fear not, my sweet, for we shall approach the gates of heaven hand in hand, that St. Peter himself may know how I worship you. Al REVERSES HIS GRIP on the knife, pointing the tip toward himself. AL I join you, for all eternity. He THRUSTS THE KNIFE into his abdomen, then TWISTS the BLADE. His eyes open wide, as he now grasps the enormity of what he has done. AL Sylvia... He falls to his hands and knees. The knife remains EMBEDDED in his flesh. CU ON KNIFE BURNED into the WOODEN HANDLE are a set of FINGERPRINTS. AL topples onto his side, leaning against Sylvia, his head resting on her legs. He grasps her hand, INTERTWINING THEIR FINGERS for the final time. His eyes close. We hold on the two of them for a moment, wondering why two young people should have died so tragically, then: CUT TO: EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - A PATH IN THE WOODS - DAY Ice Lake, New York is a quiet town upstate, home to several hundred local residents. The population swells on the weekends as people flee the City in search of a quiet place to get away. KARA and VICK BAKER manage the resort, a young married couple. Right now, Kara Baker is touring the grounds of the resort. She is dressed casually on this weekday morning. She takes a path into the woods bordering the estate. Sunlight filters through the leafy trees, splashing across her as she follows the path. KARA (calling expectantly) Jimmy? INT. - JIMMY'S HOUSE - DAY Our first view of Jimmy's house is his kitchen table. THREE NEWSPAPERS are spread out on the table. A PAIR OF SCISSORS is there; we see a story has been cut from one of the papers. We ZOOM OUT. STACKS OF NEWSPAPERS are everywhere. JIMMY PRICE is in his 40s, his close cropped hair showing the first hint of male pattern baldness. Clenched in his mouth are several MULTI-COLORED PUSHPINS. His face is expressionless, but our attention is drawn to his eyes. His slightly vacant expression clues us in to the fact that Jimmy is not playing with a full deck... but in his case, just one or two cards are missing. Maybe just the three of clubs, and/or the nine of diamonds... but enough to disrupt the simplest of card games. Jimmy holds a NEWSPAPER CLIPPING in his hand. He presses it against the wall, and uses the pushpins in his mouth to mount the article. KARA (off screen, from outside) Jimmy? EXT. - JIMMY'S HOUSE - FRONT DOOR Jimmy opens the door, just as Kara arrives. He steps outside, not wanting her to enter his home. KARA Jimmy? Will you be able to finish planting the flowers by the driveway today? JIMMY Yes. INT. - JIMMY'S HOUSE - CLOSE UP ON NEWSPAPER ARTICLE - INTERCUT The HEADLINE grabs our attention. 'MAN STABS GIRLFRIEND, THEN SELF,' it claims. We recognize the people in the photograph - it's Al Candle and Sylvia Carter. FRONT DOOR KARA I'm going to need you to pick up the meat order in town this Friday. We're practically booked solid for the weekend; it's going to be one of our busiest events yet. JIMMY Okay. CU ON NEWSPAPER ARTICLE We begin to ZOOM OUT, and see there are other articles pinned to the wall around the first one. Some of the other headlines read 'MURDER SUICIDE LEAVES COUPLE DEAD' and 'CAR ACCIDENT CLAIMS TWO.' FRONT DOOR KARA I want everything to go smoothly this weekend. Vick and I expect everything cleaned up and looking sharp before the guests arrive. JIMMY Okay. NEWSPAPER ARTICLES We continue to ZOOM OUT, revealing the entire wall. CLIPPINGS ARE EVERYWHERE, from floor to ceiling. As we begin to comprehend the scope of Jimmy's collection, we ROLL CREDITS BRIMSTONE I was a cop... Then my wife was raped. I caught the guy who did it, And I killed him. Two months later I died, And went to Hell. (evil laughter) 113 of the most vile creatures escaped. They think they'll beat the Devil Nobody beats me. So, how am I supposed to them back? The eyes, windows to the soul. Destroy the eyes, and the damned get a one-way ticket back home to Hell. But it's not Hell you should be scared of -- It's losing your second chance at life on Earth. Time to give the Devil his due. ACT ONE EXT. - BILL'S GAS STATION - ESTABLISHING - DAY Bill's Gas Station has four pumps, two service bays where you can get your oil changed or a flat repaired, accepts all major credit cards, and has a wide variety of snack selections. It's a cornerstone of Ice Lake commerce. INT. - BILL'S GAS STATION - DAY The owner, BILL WEBSTER works behind the counter on Friday and Saturday. With all the weekend visitors, he does roughly half of his business on those two days, and likes to be there to make sure things go smoothly. EZEKIEL STONE enters, a BELL CHIMING as the door opens. BILL Good afternoon, how are you today? STONE Fine, thanks. Stone looks over the selection of CANDY BARS and selects one. Bill is totaling his purchase as he arrives at the counter. BILL With the gas, it'll be fourteen eighty. Nice car. Stone hands him the money. STONE Thanks, a friend loaned it to me. (beat) I was wondering if you could help me out with directions. BILL Sure! I've lived around here for thirty years. If I don't know how to get there, it's not worth visiting. Where you headed? STONE The Ice Lake Resort. BILL No problem. If you and your girl are taking separate cars, you really need this weekend. You know, I've got some roses for sale, if you'd like. STONE No, there's no girl. Just me. BILL Oh, sorry. This is their monthly couple's weekend, I just assumed. Just follow this road to Potter's Lane, turn right, and it's two miles on the left. Bill NODS TOWARD THE GAS PUMPS. Jimmy Price is there pumping gas into a older model truck. BILL (continued) You see that guy there? That's Jimmy Price. He lives out there, does all the landscaping for the new owners. I wouldn't ask him for directions, though. Bill TAPS THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD, indicating Jimmy is a little slow. STONE New owners? BILL New to the town, anyway. It's been, oh, two years since they showed up. Don't remember where they came from. Somewhere warm, though. STONE Thanks. EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ESTABLISHING - DAY It's early August, and it's a beautiful time to escape the heat of New York City. This is the destination for forty-odd people this weekend. The main building is one story, stretching far along the left side. Large windows are set everywhere in the stone walls. The roof is short, with cedar shingles that perfectly compliment the colors of the trees in the background. And to the right, in the distance, we can just make out Ice Lake itself. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - FRONT DESK - DAY The resort is styled in typical New England fashion. Wood and wood paneling is everywhere, creating a warm, comforting setting. The large windows let in plenty of afternoon light. It's a good place to spend a weekend. Behind the front desk is KARA BAKER. Her husband VICK is standing next to her, talking softly with her. A couple approaches the desk. It's WILLIAM KANE and SOPHIA D'AMATO. Kara immediately gives them her full attention. KARA Hi, welcome to Ice Lake. WILL Thanks. We'd like to check in. I'm Will Kane, and this is my wife, Sophia. Will throws an ARM AROUND HER WAIST and they both smile. KARA Of course. I'm Kara Baker and this is my husband Vick. We're happy that you could join us this weekend, and we think your marriage will thank you too. Kara hands Sophia some PAMPHLETS. KARA (continued) The theme of this weekend's relationship building workshops is 'communication.' We have three workshops that we hope you will attend. 'How to Listen' after breakfast on Saturday, 'Improving the Lines of Communication' after lunch, and 'Opening up to Your Partner' on Sunday morning. (beat) We also offer personal counseling sessions of an hour or half hour, if there is something specific in your relationship that you'd like to address, or would feel more comfortable talking about privately instead of in an open group session. SOPHIA I think we're okay. Kara checks the REGISTRATION BOOK. KARA You're in room fifteen. Vick will show you the way. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - DAY The empty room seems cozy. It has a KING SIZED BED covered with a thick comforter, decorated with various New England flowers. The tables and lamps all look appropriately rustic. KEYS JINGLE as the door opens. Vick Baker enters, carrying their two suitcases. Will and Sophia are right behind him. VICK This is one of our best rooms. You've got a nice view of the lake, a hot tub, and his and her vanities. Will puts his arm around Sophia again. WILL Doesn't this look nice, honey? SOPHIA It sure does, dear. VICK I'll let you two get settled in. Dinner is at six tonight, and the workshops begin at nine tomorrow morning. WILL Thank you so much. VICK If there is anything you need, please let Kara or myself know. Will pulls Sophia tighter to him. WILL We're looking forward to it. Vick smiles to them as he leaves, closing the door firmly behind him. As soon as they are alone, SOPHIA PUSHES WILL'S ARM AWAY. She immediately begins a circuit of the room, peering at everything. SOPHIA You don't have to go overboard on the couple act. WILL Just trying to stay in character. SOPHIA Well, don't get any ideas just because we're sharing a room. You're sleeping on the floor. WILL How about flipping a coin for the bed? SOPHIA How did I ever let you and Stone talk me into this? WILL You wanted Zeke and I to pretend to be a couple? THAT wouldn't attract attention. What about paper rock scissors? SOPHIA Where is Stone, anyway? WILL He should be in town by now, if he didn't get lost. SOPHIA Why'd I have to lend him MY car and MY cell phone? I've sacrificed enough, Will. You're stuck with the floor. WILL (giving up) Fine. SOPHIA I wonder if any of them stayed in this room. Will LIFTS HER SUITCASE onto the bed. It's heavier than he thought it would be. WILL Jeez, what did you bring? SOPHIA I might need everything in that suitcase. Just want to be prepared. WILL Boy scout. Will puts his own suitcase on the bed and opens it up. He removes THREE MANILA FOLDERS and flips through them. WILL Okay, here's what we have so far. Pete Masters and Rose Linwood. He stabbed her with a screw- driver, then fatally stabbed himself. James Kramer gutted his wife, Leslie, with a broken bottle, then did himself. And last week, Al Candle stabbed his girlfriend with her kitchen knife, then committed suicide with it. Three couples, and they all stayed here for a weekend in the month before they died. SOPHIA All three cases are similar; he kills her, and then himself. We should try and get a look at the files from this place, see what rooms they all stayed in. WILL Good idea. SOPHIA But I don't see how we know it's related to the damned. WILL You probably don't want to meet Stone's source. SOPHIA Good point. She glances around the room. SOPHIA (continued) No TV. Great. WILL We're supposed to be working. Besides, it rots your brain. SOPHIA You still have that 35 inch at your place? WILL Of course. Will begins to unpack his clothes. Sophia turns on the light in the bathroom and surveys it. SOPHIA You might be more comfortable in the tub than on the floor. This thing is HUGE! Will just shakes his head. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - DINING ROOM - EVENING The dining room has six large tables, each seating eight. There are a dozen or so couples in the room. Will and Sophia enter, dressed casually, and look for a place to sit. They head towards a table with three other couples at it. To the right of the empty seats is an older couple, JOHN and WENDY PORTER. The other two couples are in their late twenties, one white, one black. WILL Are these seats taken? John Porter smiles up at them. He's in his sixties, with a solid head of white hair and twinkling blue eyes. JOHN No, please, make yourself comfortable. WILL Thanks. Will Kane and Sophia D'Amato sit down. JOHN Is this your first time here? WILL Yes, it is. My wife Sophia and I thought we should get away for the weekend, and that this would be a good place to do it. I'm William Kane, but my friends call we Will. JOHN John Porter, and my wife Wendy. A pleasure to meet you, Will. Wendy and I have been married for many years, but we attend these weekend retreats almost every month. We always enjoy meeting young couples like yourself. Tell me, what do you do? SOPHIA I sell insurance, and he's an accountant for the City. (beat, to John) You know, you can never have enough insurance. Have you ever thought about increasing your coverage? WILL Honey... we talked about this. SOPHIA Sorry. (to John, whispering) We'll talk later. JOHN Have you met Kara and Vick? SOPHIA Yes, they seemed very nice. JOHN (to Will) They've done wonders with this place. Wendy notices another couple arriving. WENDY Looks like this will be their last chance to get away for a while. The woman is VERY PREGNANT, and looks as if she could go into labor at any time. Will glances to see who is being referred to, and does a DOUBLE TAKE when he realizes that he recognizes her. WILL (to Sophia) See them? SOPHIA Yes. WILL That's Rosalyn Stone, and her new husband. DAN COPPER takes his wife firmly by the arm, and leads ROSALYN to a table. She looks happy to sit down. Will and Sophia trade a worried glance. What are the odds of running into someone here that knows Detective Kane? Their cover could be blown. Off of their expression, we CUT TO: INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - WOMEN'S ROOM - EVENING Sophia is checking her makeup in the mirror. A TOILET FLUSHES. Rosalyn exits a stall and begins to wash her hands. Sophia turns to her. SOPHIA Mrs. Stone? Rosalyn looks surprised at the mention of her old name, but covers quickly. ROSALYN It's Copper now, actually. Do I know you? SOPHIA I'm sorry, I didn't know your new name, Will just told me you were Rosalyn Stone. (beat) I'm not making any sense, am I? Okay, I'm here with William Kane, we work together. Do you remember him? ROSALYN Sure. Did you know Zeke too? SOPHIA What? Uh... no, no, I don't. Didn't. Roz gives her a suspicious look. SOPHIA (continued) Anyway, I came in here to tell you that Detective Kane and I are working under- cover this weekend. We'd appreciate if you didn't mention how you know us to anyone. ROSALYN Okay. The BATHROOM DOOR OPENS and another woman walks in. Sophia quickly switches topics. SOPHIA Well, congratulations. Do you know if it's a boy or a girl? ROSALYN It's a girl. SOPHIA That's great. EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - PARKING LOT - NIGHT The parking lot is half full, with 25-30 vehicles parked there. Most are newer models, in good condition. Along the building there is a SIDE DOOR not far from a TRASH CORRAL. Ezekiel Stone is looking over a 1981 CHEVY MONTE CARLO when THE DEVIL approaches him. DEVIL I'm always to pleased to see people covet. I don't mean to brag, but I invented advertising. Once that ball got rolling, there was no stopping it. Stone is paying little attention to him, still looking at the car. STONE Didn't like the '78 or '79 as well. I came really close to buying one of these. Turned it down. Used the money for a down payment on a house instead. DEVIL What a wonderful story, Mr. Stone. Instead of leaving your widow a vehicle she could sell, you left her with twenty- eight years on a mortgage and almost no equity. You know, her new husband owns his home AND car. STONE What are you saying, she married him for his money? DEVIL (grinning) Why, what would you do if that were the case? STONE I just want her to be happy, that's all. DEVIL (mocking) I just want her to be happy. (normal tone) You're not here to make people happy, Ezekiel. You're here to return all of my escaped souls to me. So get back to work. The door on the side of the building opens, and Vick Baker steps out. He LIGHTS A CIGARETTE. Stone looks around; the Devil has disappeared. Vick walks toward him. VICK Nice night, isn't it? STONE Sure is. VICK I must have missed you at check in. I'm Vick Baker. Stone has his standard alias ready, and offers his hand. STONE John Gonner. VICK Good to meet you. This your car? STONE No, just looking it over. From the open side door, Jimmy Price begins wheeling a LARGE TRASH CAN out toward the dumpster. Vick takes a drag from his cigarette. VICK And you're up here with...? STONE (thinking fast) My fiancée, Alexandra. VICK Things going okay? STONE They could always be better. Vick takes another drag off his smoke, watching Stone closely. Something's not right, he can tell. VICK Do you have a view of the lake from your room? It's very nice at sunrise. Stone's sweating a little. CRASH! Jimmy has stumbled, and tipped over the trash can! Garbage is everywhere. Jimmy is splayed out on the ground, and slowly picking himself up. VICK Excuse me. Vick hurries over to Jimmy, and touches him on the shoulder. VICK Jimmy, you okay? JIMMY SMASHES HIS HAND AWAY. JIMMY DON'T TOUCH ME! VICK Sorry. I'll get a broom. Vick FLICKS HIS CIGARETTE BUTT into the trash corral and walks back to the building. He looks around. Stone is gone. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - NIGHT Will is lounging on the bed. Sophia is speaking into the phone. SOPHIA Who called for me? STONE (on phone) Mike Adams. Isn't he your fiancé? SOPHIA I'm sure it wasn't important. Anyway, we're in room fifteen. STONE (on phone) I'm just pulling into the parking lot now. SOPHIA Okay, see you in a minute. She HANGS UP THE PHONE. SOPHIA Stone's on his way. (beat) Don't get too comfortable on the bed. You're stuck with the floor. WILL Are we going to trade tomorrow night? That'd only be fair. SOPHIA Let me think... No! There is a KNOCK on the door. Will SIGHS, and gets up to open the door. It's Stone. WILL Come on in. Just don't sit on the bed, it's her territory. Sophia SCOWLS at him. Stone selects a chair at the foot of the bed. STONE Any leads so far? WILL There was one guy, but there's something else you should hear first. He nods to Sophia, indicating she should tell him. SOPHIA Rosalyn is here. With her husband. STONE IS STUNNED. He looks to Kane, and gets a confirming nod from him. STONE HERE? SOPHIA I talked to her, told her that we were working undercover. She agreed not to say anything about us being detectives. STONE How... how is she? SOPHIA She seems fine. She looks like she could go into labor any minute now. Someone else pointed out that this is probably the last chance that she and her husband will have to get away for quite a while. (beat) But I guess that's not what you're worried about. STONE No. WILL So we decided you'd really better stay out of sight this weekend. If she starts talking about her husband returned from the grave, it's going to tip off our target. Whoever that is. STONE The Devil's not being very cooperative on that front, if you can believe it. You said you had a lead? WILL Yeah, maybe. I was in the bathroom earlier, and this guy was there. 40s, short hair. Don't know his name. (beat) Anyway, I walked in and he just started talking. Telling me that he learned to clean bathrooms in the USMC. It's always something you like to know about the guy cleaning your toilets, right? (beat) So while I'm standing there using the facilities, he keeps talking. About how it wasn't the Marines that messed him up. It was the VA hospitals, plural. He told me he was in three, all together, and that he escaped from every one. 'I like escaping', he said. That got my attention. (beat) I zip up and turn around, and he's GONE. Nowhere to be seen. I can't swear that he didn't use the door, but I didn't hear it. Creepy. STONE It's a place to start. Sounds like Jimmy Price. Guy at the gas station told me he does the landscaping, but I saw him taking out trash tonight. (beat) I'll check him out tomorrow. SOPHIA How's my car? STONE It's fine. SOPHIA I've got two more payments on it and then it's mine. Whatever you do, Stone, don't mess it up. STONE Not a scratch. I promise. FADE OUT ACT TWO INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY This is the workshop 'Improving the Lines of Communication.' Chairs are set up in a half circle, facing inwards. The genders are separated, with the men on the right, and the woman on the left half of the room. Vick and Kara Baker are at the center of the arc. KARA is speaking with a WOMAN. KARA And did you talk to him about how you felt? WOMAN Why should I talk to him about it? He was the one who was wrong. KARA Communication has to be both ways, August. Next time you feel upset about something, I want you to talk with him. Will you try that? The woman nods. KARA (continued) Thank you. Okay, I'd like to hear from someone else. Sophia, how long have you and your husband been married? Sophia glances at Will across the room. They've worked out most of the details of their 'relationship' beforehand, but this is the first time it's been under direct questioning. SOPHIA About six months now. KARA Do you believe you communicate well with each other? SOPHIA Well, I keep telling him to put the toilet seat down, but he seems to tune that out. LAUGHTER in the room. KARA Okay, that's a start. Can you think of a time when Will didn't communicate with you the way you would have liked him to? SOPHIA Sure, driving up here. I had the directions, but he wouldn't ask which way to go. WILL LAUGHS along with everyone else. Then something catches his eye outside the window. KARA (o.s.) Okay, Mrs. Kane, this exercise won't work unless you want it to. We'll move on to someone else. THE WINDOW Ezekiel Stone is outside, PEERING IN. SOPHIA actually has something she'd like to talk about. SOPHIA Okay, no more jokes, I promise. (beat) There was a time about two years ago, when he wouldn't talk with me. A friend of his was murdered. WILL isn't paying attention. He's trying to see what Stone is doing. SOPHIA (o.s., continued) He just closed up. Wouldn't talk to me about it at all. I could see how much it hurt him. THE WINDOW Stone is holding up what appears to be a handle for a rake or shovel, and motioning for Kane to come look. SOPHIA (o.s., continued) I just wanted to help him. KARA KARA And was there a resolution? How did you two end up dealing with it? WILL has no idea he is being discussed. But whatever Stone wants him to see, must be important. HE SLIDES OUT OF HIS SEAT AND WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM. SOPHIA is crushed. Her face goes slack, and she blinks rapidly to prevent the forming tears from appearing. SOPHIA (softly) He walked away from me... WENDY PORTER shakes her head sadly. ROSALYN COPPER watches this with sympathy. Off of this, we CUT TO: EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - OUTSIDE THE CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Will pushes the door open and exits into the August sun. Stone is waiting there for him, leaning on a SHOVEL. WILL You're lucky I saw you through that window. Rosalyn is in there. STONE Take a look at this. He holds out the shovel handle. A full set of FINGERPRINTS are BURNED into the wood. WILL Looks like a landscaper's tool. STONE My thoughts exactly. I'm going to follow Jimmy home this afternoon. WILL If you get him, can we head back? (beat) Sophia's making me sleep on the floor, and my back is killing me. STONE No problem. But first, can you get have these prints compared to the ones that were burned into the knife? WILL (doubtful) I can try. It's going to be hard to fax this handle. STONE Thanks. I'll see you tonight. Call me on Sophia's cell phone if you find out anything. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY The workshop has ended, and twenty couples and one lone woman are leaving the room. Sophia is halfway to the door when she is intercepted by Rosalyn Stone. ROSALYN Sophia? SOPHIA Yes? ROSALYN I thought that was very rude, Will walking out of the room like that. SOPHIA He just has some things on his mind. ROSALYN If you DO know Ezekiel, you must know that he walked out on me like that, just when I needed him the most. How long do you think it'll be before Will does the same thing to you? Believe me, men like that aren't worth losing sleep over. Just some friendly advice for you to think over. Sophia is caught off guard by Rosalyn's revelation. Roz knows that Stone is around? But before she can reply, another woman approaches them. KARA Excuse me, Mrs. Kane? I was concerned by your husband's behavior. ROSALYN We all were. Remember what I said, Sophia. Rosalyn WALKS AWAY to join her waiting husband. Sophia would like to go after her, but Kara continues speaking. KARA Vick and I would like to meet with you and Will this afternoon. There would be no charge, of course. We just want you two to benefit from your time spent here. Sophia looks after Rosalyn. SOPHIA Well, I'd have to talk it over with Will... Can I get back to you? KARA How's four sound? Vick and I will be expecting you. SOPHIA Okay, thank you. Sophia rushes away, trying to find Rosalyn. But it's too late; she's disappeared. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - BAKER'S OFFICE - DAY Vick Baker is seated behind the desk. He sits in an swivel chair with rollers. Right now he is peering out the window at the grounds outside. KARA What are you looking for? VICK That guy wandering around outside last night. I checked, and we don't even have a John Gonner registered here. It made me nervous. KARA Nobody knows about us, Vick. You're just paranoid. Kara sits on the edge of the desk, turned toward him. KARA (continued) We're doing what we always dreamed about here. I don't want to leave. VICK I don't want to leave either. Just keep an eye out for this guy. There is a KNOCK on the office door. Jimmy opens the door and comes in. VICK What is it, Jimmy? JIMMY I'm going home now. KARA That's fine. Thanks, Jimmy. Jimmy leaves, closing the door behind him. KARA We've got a session with the Kanes at four. VICK Hour or half hour? KARA The important thing is that we help them. It doesn't matter how long it takes. VICK'S POV (THROUGH THE WINDOW) Jimmy cuts across the grass, heading to the path in the woods that leads to his house. CUT TO: INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - MAIN HALL Will and Sophia are seated at a table there, keeping their voices level as they argue. WILL I'm not going to a private counseling session. SOPHIA Look, you're the one who made a scene. This whole thing is your fault. I was just staying in character by accepting the invitation. So now we're going to have to deal with it. WILL (just a little louder than necessary) I'll tell you how I'm dealing with it- I'm not going. JOHN PORTER (o.s.) I hope we're not interrupting anything. John and Wendy Porter are standing next to them, smiling and holding hands. Sophia looks sheepish, caught fighting in public, but Kane is defiant as ever. WILL John, Wendy, how are you? JOHN We're fine. Seemed like you two were having a bit of a disagreement, and we thought that an intervention might be in order. John places a hand on Kane's shoulder, directing his full attention. JOHN (continued) (to Will) Take it from two people that have been together a long time. Life's too short. Wendy puts her hand on Sophia's shoulder, making a personal connection as she continues John's theme. WENDY (to Sophia) When you've made that commitment to one person, it's important that you keep it. Don't let little things make you unhappy. WILL Everything's fine, thank you for your concern. WENDY We don't mean to meddle, dear. JOHN Wendy, we shall take our leave. The older couple steps back, still holding hands. John NODS POLITELY as he leads his wife away. WILL All right, we'll go. Like you said, it'll be keeping in character. SOPHIA Maybe we can get a look through their files. They exchange a GLANCE, each moderately satisfied with their resolution. INT. - JIMMY'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY Jimmy is making a sandwich when there is a KNOCK on the door. FRONT DOOR Stone stands there, holding out his police badge. He is up close to the screen door, preventing Jimmy from exiting. STONE Jimmy Price? Jimmy stares at him for a moment, then BOLTS. LOUD FOOTSTEPS can be heard as he runs upstairs. Stone swears under his breath and tries the screen door. It's locked. Stone PUNCHES THROUGH the screen and fiddles with the latch. Finally it opens, and he enters Jimmy's house, his GUN DRAWN. THE WALL OF CLIPPINGS is the first thing he sees. The wall is decorated starting at the right corner and working left, ending about 2/3rds of the way across. Stone sees the most recent clipping - the piece on Al Candle and Sylvia Carter. STONE Biggest scrapbook I've ever seen. Stone works his way to the stairs, and cautiously works his way up, wary of an ambush. UPSTAIRS is a hallway with three doors. Stone approaches the closest one, then bursts into the room. NO ONE IS THERE. There are two other doors at the end of the hall. The one on the left is closed. Stone peers carefully into the room on the right. Jimmy is there, hands hidden behind him. JIMMY I'm not going back. STONE Yeah, I'm afraid you are. He raises his gun. JIMMY Dad said I wouldn't have to. He said I could stay here. STONE Sorry. That's just the way it is. JIMMY (louder) I'M NOT GOING BACK! Jimmy lunges forward. From behind him, he draws an ALUMINUM BASEBALL BAT, and swings it at Stone's extended gun hand. CRACK! He KNOCKS THE GUN LOOSE. Stone is already stepping back. STONE Wait! JIMMY (screaming) NOT GOING BACK! Jimmy brandishes the bat and moves threateningly closer. Stone, incredibly, is GRINNING. STONE Hold on, I made a mistake. POW! Jimmy swings again, hitting Stone in the shoulder. If there had been a baseball there, it would be out of the park. Stone isn't even fazed by it. He can only be hurt by another damned soul. Therefore... STONE (continued) You can't hurt me with that thing. You're not the person I'm looking for. Jimmy steps back, trying to figure out what's going on. CUT TO: INT. - JIMMY'S HOUSE - WALL OF CLIPPINGS Stone points to an article on the wall. The headline reads 'MURDER SUICIDE LEAVE COUPLE DEAD' and has a picture. STONE What can you tell me about Peter Masters and Rose Lindwood? JIMMY They came here June 19th, he drove a blue car. (beat) They had matching bags. (beat) He saw me by the front entrance. He said, 'How you doing?' (beat) Seemed like a nice man. Stone steps back to get a larger view of the wall. Newspapers are stacked along the floor. There are at least 200 articles posted. STONE So you knew ALL these people? JIMMY Yes. STONE But why do this? JIMMY Just because someone dies, I don't think they'd want to be forgotten. Stone looks at him carefully. It seems like a PROFOUND THOUGHT for Jimmy. He can certainly agree with it. INT. - THE BAKER'S OFFICE - SIDE ROOM The side office that the Bakers use for their counseling is decorated the same as the rest of the resort. Will and Sophia are seated on a leather couch with a straight back. Neither is appears very comfortable; it could be the seat or perhaps we are clued in because they don't look at each other. Sitting across from them, across a low coffee table, are the Bakers. Kara and Vick sit in separate chairs, Kara leaning forward as she addresses them. KARA Sophia, how did you feel when Will walked out of the session earlier? SOPHIA It bothered me. WILL (defensive) I just wasn't paying attention. SOPHIA Why not? Will's in trouble. He can't very well mention Stone outside the window as the reason he walked out. WILL I had to use the bathroom, okay? KARA Don't put your walls up, Will. Your wife is just trying to let you know how she feels. You want to hear that, don't you? WILL Of course. KARA Is there anything you'd like to tell her? (beat) She's listening. Sophia looks to him expectantly. WILL No, I think we're okay. VICK Will, you're free to talk here. This is a safe place. We're not going to judge you. WILL Thanks, but there's really nothing on my mind. KARA Sophia, Will is paying attention now. Would you like to repeat what you told the group earlier? SOPHIA No, it really wasn't important. KARA I thought it seemed important to you then. There is no question there, and Sophia, familiar with the witness stand, does not respond. Kara waits, giving them a chance to speak, hoping the silence will draw them out. Finally Vick gets tired of waiting. VICK I'm getting the impression you two are hiding something. (beat) I don't know if it's from each other, or from us, but you're going to need to deal with it. You want to communicate better with each other, don't you? KARA I think they do, Vick. I'm convinced that they want to make their marriage work. Why else would they be here? Silence looms. KARA Okay, I can't force you two to talk to each other. VICK Kara, let's give them some time alone. KARA All right. (to Will and Sophia) We're going to leave the room. I want you two to actually talk to each other. What ever is on your mind, what problems you see in your relationship. Really open up to each other. It'll be good for you, I promise. WILL NODS. SOPHIA Okay, we'll try. Vick and Kara get up and go into the next room. WILL It looks like they're buying all this. SOPHIA Apparently, we don't act like a happy couple anymore. WILL Too bad they didn't leave us in the other room. We could have used the chance to look through their files. SOPHIA If the boys at the precinct could hear you now. WILL So how long do we have to wait in here? SOPHIA Bored already? Will nods. Silence looms. Sophia shifts uncomfortably. No one says anything. Five seconds pass, then ten. Finally, Sophia speaks. SOPHIA Actually, there is something I've been hiding from you the last few days. I thought this weekend would be too uncomfortable if I told you. (beat) I called things off with Mike. WILL IS STUNNED. She's been engaged since Thanksgiving, this is the first hint he's had that things weren't perfect. WILL I'm sorry, Sophia. (beat) Are you okay? SOPHIA Still getting used to the idea. It's your fault, you know. (corrects herself) Yours AND Stone's. Ever since you got me involved in this supernatural mumbo jumbo, I can't look at the world the same way. Mike just doesn't understand it. I tried to explain it to him. He suggested therapy! He looks around pointedly. WILL And look where we're at now. SOPHIA Not for US, for ME. He thought I was crazy. (half-beat) Had a screw loose. (half-beat) Ready for the nuthouse. WILL Okay, I get it. (beat) Maybe you should bring him to one of these weekends, try and work things out. SOPHIA I don't think it'd make a difference. It's finished. WILL I hope you weren't too rough on him. You're not an easy woman to get over. Sophia allows herself a smile, Will joins in. SOPHIA You too. (beat) I mean, except for the woman part. WILL Thanks. Silence. The moment stretches out. Hope is beginning to form, a fragile, crystalline structure. Each is afraid to move, to speak, to do anything that could shatter a chance at reconciliation. BAKER'S OFFICE Kara is sitting at the desk, and Vick is again peering out the window. KARA Think it's working? VICK We'll find out. (beat) I'm recording their conversation. (beat) After they leave, we can hear what they said. KARA You really are paranoid, aren't you? Well, you've done a good job of keeping us our freedom so far. What do you think they're hiding? VICK Could be anything, but I want to know for sure. SIDE ROOM Will and Sophia still sit silently on the couch, gazing deep into each other's eyes. Will leans forwards slightly, Sophia does the same. Will, searching her face one more time, moves in to kiss her. She tilts her head slightly, parts her lips. They're inches apart, almost touching. SOPHIA No. SHE LEANS BACK. WILL I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that, I was just... SOPHIA It's okay. But I'm not going to rush into anything, if things haven't changed between us. What do you want, Will? You're going to have to talk to me. A puzzled expression latches onto Will's face. He struggles to find the right words. WILL I want us to be together again. (beat) I want to try and work things out, instead of ignoring problems and hoping they'll go away. (beat) I was stupid before, to let you get away. Can we try again? SOPHIA IS BEAMING. SOPHIA That's what I want, too. (beat) I shouldn't have let you push me away, I could have tried harder to keep us together. WILL IS GRINNING PROUDLY, as if he was a new father. WILL Can I kiss you now? SOPHIA You'd better! He does, they do, and it's beautiful. FADE OUT ACT THREE EXT. ICE LAKE RESORT - PATH THROUGH THE WOODS - LATE AFTERNOON Stone is walking back from Jimmy's house. Leaning against a tree, waiting for him, is THE DEVIL. DEVIL For a couple of seconds there, I thought you were going to kill another mortal. You really shouldn't get my hopes up like that. STONE Checking up on me? DEVIL I'm getting impatient, Mr. Stone. You've been here a couple of days, and you still haven't returned any of my flock. STONE I'm working on it. Kane and Sophia are checking around inside, and I'm looking around outside. We've got the place covered. If you're in a hurry, though, feel free to clue me in on who exactly I'm looking for. DEVIL (chuckling) Who gave you the clue that led you up here? I'm not one to provide extra help. STONE Trying to be clever, aren't you? COUPLE of seconds, COUPLE of days, NOT ONE. I get it, it's a pair of damned souls here. (beat) That doesn't exactly help me out. There are twenty-one couples registered here this weekend. Think you could narrow it down a little more? DEVIL You've got Tweedledee and Tweedledum here with you. Shouldn't three of New York's finest be able to crack the case? STONE I promise, two people aren't going home from this weekend. (beat) Well, I guess they'll be going back to Hell, which really is their home. (beat) So, everyone's going home, just, two of them are going back to Hell. (beat) Okay, how about this? One couple won't be driving home? Stone looks around. The Devil has disappeared. INT. - BAKER'S OFFICE - LATE AFTERNOON Kara and Vick are sitting and waiting. Both look up at the sound of the DOOR OPENING. Sophia exits the side room first. She's smiling, and Kara quickly follows suit. Will is right behind her, a little sheepish. KARA You two look happy. SOPHIA We are! Kara throws her arms around Sophia and HUGS HER. WILL I don't know how to thank you. Kara HUGS HIM too. KARA You two are welcome here anytime. Promise you'll come back and visit us again. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE ROOM FIFTEEN - NIGHT Ezekiel Stone KNOCKS on the door. He glances down the hallway, looking to see if anyone is around. He continues to wait. NO RESPONSE from the door. Stone KNOCKS on the door again, a little harder this time. Where could they be? WILL (o.s., from inside) Just a minute. Stone checks the hallways again. What's going on? Eventually, THE DOOR OPENS halfway. Will stands there, blocking entrance. Stone stares at him. His SHIRT IS UNTUCKED, his HAIR IS RUMPLED, and he throws glances back over his shoulder into the room. WILL Stone, what's up? STONE Are you okay? Will bursts into a smile. He can't help himself, he's intoxicated with thoughts of Sophia. WILL Great, everything's great. The door opens the rest of the way, and Sophia slides up next to Will. She's in the same hurriedly dressed condition. SOPHIA Hi, Stone, come on in. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - NIGHT Stone continues to eye the couple. STONE Is something going on? Are you two...? SOPHIA (proudly) We're back together! STONE Wow! That's great! I'm happy for you two. Sorry, I didn't know I was interrupting anything. WILL It's okay. Did you find Jimmy? Was he the one behind the deaths? STONE I found Jimmy, but he's not the one we're looking for. The Devil told me it's a couple who's here, but that doesn't help us much. What do you guys know about the Bakers? SOPHIA Kara and Vick? They're great people, I can't imagine them being damned souls. WILL She was so happy for us. They couldn't be the ones. STONE Jimmy said they showed up a couple of years ago to run this place. I had a friend run a background check done on them, or tried to. (beat) No trace of them before they arrived here. I'm going to see if I can find anything in their office tonight. WILL Need a hand? Stone grins. STONE I think you two should hang out here tonight. (beat, straight faced) Keep up the undercover work. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - BAKER'S OFFICE Vick sits behind their desk, holding a micro cassette recorder. Kara is waiting to hear what's on the tape. Vick hits PLAY. WILL (on tape) It looks like they're buying all this. Vick raises an eyebrow. SOPHIA (on tape) Apparently, we don't act like a happy couple anymore. WILL (on tape) Too bad they didn't leave us in the other room. We could have used the chance to look through their files. Kara scans the room as if to verify that the file cabinets are still there. SOPHIA (on tape) If the boys at the precinct could hear you now. VICK They're cops! I knew they were hiding something. KARA Bastards! INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - JOHN AND WENDY PORTER'S ROOM The older couple stands near the bed, facing each other. Wendy hangs her head, as if ashamed of something. John is speaking. JOHN Perhaps, on a higher plane, we will again forge a union. JOHN RAISES A KNIFE! WENDY John! JOHN STABS her in the stomach, thrusting the blade in as far as it will go. Then he pulls it back out. JOHN I love you. HE STABS HER AGAIN! This time she keels over backward onto the bed. John regards her sadly, then presses the tip of the knife to his own belly. JOHN I join you, for all eternity. The blade slips into him. He GASPS at the pain, then collapses on top of his wife. CUT TO: EXT. - ICE LAKE MOTEL - PARKING LOT - NIGHT Stone cuts across the parking lot. On the other end, he can see two people hurriedly throwing BOXES into a car. It's Kara and Vick Baker. It looks as though they're taking their files out of their office. Why would they do that at night? Definitely worthy of investigation. But walking past the Bakers, towards him, is a couple. The woman is extremely pregnant. It's ROSALYN and Dan Copper. He's got to get out of there before she spots him. Stone ducks back the way he came, around the side of the building. He glances up toward the roof. It's only a one story building. HE LEAPS UP ONTO THE ROOF. THE BAKERS have their car loaded up. Vick slams the trunk, Kara climbs into the passenger's seat. Vick takes a quick look around, knowing this could be the last time he sees the place. STONE stops running for a moment. He's right above Rosalyn and Dan, and he can't help but look at her. STONE'S POV Rosalyn's smile is just how he remembers it, but this time it's aimed at another man. She's laughing at something Dan has said. STONE swallows hard. It's the closest he's been to Rosalyn in months, the first time that he's seen her since carrying her out of Barry Ceniza's house. ROSALYN stops where she is. Motions for Dan. She takes his hand and places it on her swollen belly. The baby is kicking. They stand there for a moment, marveling at the life they have created, then continue on. STONE tears himself away, and continues toward the Bakers. But it's too late. PARKING LOT The Baker's car is pulling out. Stone lands on the asphalt right behind them. BAKER'S CAR VICK Did you see him? That's him! That's the guy! KARA Go! Go! Go! Vick accelerates out onto the road, FISHTAILING WILDLY. D'AMATO'S CAR Stone climbs in, ready to pursue the Bakers. EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - PARKING LOT - NIGHT Stone follows the other car, but drives more cautiously than Vick. Sophia would kill him if anything happened to her car. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - NIGHT The lights in the room are dim, and all is quiet. Two bodies lay on the bed, tastefully covered with sheets. Will appears to be dozing lightly, but Sophia is still restless. SOPHIA Will. No response. She turns on her side and nudges him gently. SOPHIA Will... WILL Yes? SOPHIA I'm hungry. Will says nothing. SOPHIA Are you? WILL Not really. SOPHIA Doesn't Chinese sound good? I saw a place just down the road. Will gives in. He rolls onto his side, and faces her. She smiles, knowing that she's won. WILL Would you like to go out to dinner? SOPHIA Oh, no, I don't feel like going out. I was hoping that you'd bring some back for us. Please? WILL All right. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - FRONT DESK - NIGHT The bell on the door DINGS as a man enters. He's average looking, wearing a shirt and tie. His name is MIKE ADAMS, a banker in New York City, and until a few days ago, he was Sophia D'Amato's fiancée. He approaches the vacant front desk, and rests his arms there for a moment, waiting to be greeted. No one appears. He glances at his watch, a gold Rolex. Tired of waiting, Mike reaches behind the counter and picks up the REGISTRATION BOOK Mike runs a finger down the column of names. No D'Amato. He pauses for a minute, then goes through it again. This time his finger stops next to room fifteen. There it is. Kane, Mr. & Mrs. MIKE SLAMS THE BOOK SHUT. EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - PARKING LOT - NIGHT William Kane sits behind the wheel of his car. He STARTS THE ENGINE and reverses out of the stall. Shifting into drive, he pulls away. We hold there a moment. Then another car arrives, slipping into the spot that Kane just vacated. A man gets out - it's MIKE ADAMS. EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT The Bakers drive down the two lane highway. INT. - BAKER'S CAR - NIGHT KARA Did he follow us? VICK I don't know. Just let me think. EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT The BAKER'S CAR zooms down the road. We hold there for a moment, and SOPHIA'S CAR passes the same point. INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT Stone is hunched over the wheel. The speedometer SHOWS 65 MPH. The ENGINE REVS, and the NEEDLE CLIMPS TO 75 MPH. INT. - CHINESE RESTAURANT - NIGHT WILL ...and let me get some extra egg rolls. She loves those things. He's the only customer in the restaurant, giving his order to a bored looking Asian TEENAGER. TEENAGER Twelve fifty. Be ready in a minute. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE ROOM FIFTEEN Mike Adams KNOCKS on the door. After a brief pause, Sophia opens it. SOPHIA That was fast, Will. Did you forget... SHE SEES WHO IT IS. Emotions flash across her face; surprise, confusion, anger. SOPHIA Mike, what are you doing here? MIKE We need to talk. He PUSHES his way into the room. The DOOR SLAMS SHUT behind him. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN Sophia is caught off guard by Mike's intrusion, but she's vulnerable right now, wearing only a bathrobe with the resort logo on in. SOPHIA What the Hell are you doing, Mike? MIKE Where's Kane? Let me guess, you got your post-coital craving for Chinese food, and sent him out to get some? SOPHIA You ass. MIKE It's just as well he's not here. This is just between us. SOPHIA There is no 'us', Mike. It's over. MIKE How could you do this to me, Sophia? Just run out on me and then go off with your ex for the weekend? Sophia backs away, not looking for a confrontation. She cinches the robe firmly around her. SOPHIA I told you why we came here. MIKE Oh, right. The demons from Hell are responsible for some suicides in the City. How could I forget? (beat) I'm not letting you go like this, Soph. Listen. I don't know what's changed, why you made up that story to tell me. But I still want to marry you. SOPHIA Not a chance. Will's the right man for me. Not you. Now get out of here. Sophia moves backward, reaching the window that overlooks the lake. MIKE I spent two hours driving up here, I'm not leaving until I talk some sense in you. Mike takes two steps closer to her. SOPHIA Get out of here! MIKE NO! He walks forward again, breaking into her personal space. It's too much, she SHOVES HIM AWAY WITH PRETERNATURAL STRENGTH! MIKE FLIES TEN FEET ACROSS THE ROOM, SLAMMING INTO THE DOOR. SOPHIA GET OUT OF HERE! Mike is stupefied. What the hell happened? MIKE I... What...? Sophia is trembling with rage. SOPHIA Get. Out. Sophia stalks towards him. MIKE reaches for the doorknob, his fingers slipping as he tries to turn it from the seated position where he landed. SOPHIA steps closer and closer. MIKE grasps the doorknob and twists, forcing the door open. He scrambles out into the hallway on all fours, not taking the time to stand upright. SOPHIA says nothing, just slams the door. THE ROOM is still once again. Sophia continues to breathe heavily. But something is wrong with the door. She notices it, and stares in amazement. What could have caused it? THE DOOR is wood paneled, a light brown color. But a dark spot mars the exterior. Sophia holds her hand up to verify what she suspects. Where she slammed the door, her hand scorched the surface. It's even marked with her fingerprints, burned into the wood. INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT Stone is still in pursuit of the Bakers. We hear a RINGING SOUND, it's Sophia's cell phone. Stone answers it. STONE Hello? SOPHIA (on phone) Stone? Something's wrong! You're not going to believe what just happened. INT. - KANE'S CAR - NIGHT Will is smiling now, happy to be getting back to the room. Maybe he was a little hungry, the food certainly smells good now. EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - FRONT ENTRANCE - NIGHT Will turns off the main road into the resort. Another car is idling at the curb, waiting to turn onto the road. INT. - KANE'S CAR - NIGHT He glances at the driver, and RECOGNIZES MIKE ADAMS. There is only one person Mike could have come here to see. His smile vanishes. INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT STONE (into the phone) You burned it? That explains the fingerprints on the knife. (beat) Okay, here's my theory. Kara and Vick needed a little extra help to bring you two together, same with those other couples who died. So they used their hell powers to influence you, to make you feel their love for each other. (beat) Only it didn't work right. I'm guessing that in life, he killed her, and them himself, just like everyone has been reenacting. Somehow that impulse got passed on to you and Will. SOPHIA (on phone) He's going to try to kill me? STONE We've seen this type of thing before. As soon a damned soul gets returned, everything they've influenced in this world reverts back. As soon I send them back, it'll be over. SOPHIA (on phone) You'd better hurry. STONE If I'm going to force them off the road, it might not be good for your car. SOPHIA I DON'T CARE! GET THEM! THE ENGINE REVS LOUDLY. Stone is putting the pedal to the metal. STONE Just checking. EXT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - PARKING LOT - NIGHT Will gets out of his car, carrying the Chinese food. He SLAMS the door behind him. INT. - THE BAKER'S CAR - NIGHT VICK Did we lose him? KARA Behind us! CRASH! The car lurches forward as it is rear ended. Kara SCREAMS. VICK He's not getting us that easy. Vick yanks the wheel to the left, driving into the other lane. EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT The Baker's car swerves into the left lane, Stone tries to pull up beside them. As soon as he is halfway there, Vick jerks the car back to the right, ramming the rear of his car into Stone's hood. INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT STONE GRIPS THE WHEEL TIGHT, KEEPING THE CAR ON THE ROAD. INT. - BAKER'S CAR - NIGHT KARA Run him off the road! VICK What do you think I'm trying to do! He continues to hold the wheel to the right. EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT SPARKS FLY between the cars as D'AMATO'S CAR EDGES OFF THE ROADWAY. The camera pans up, and we see a bridge coming up. TWO CONCRETE BARRIERS mark the sides. If Stone continues on his path, he's going to hit the right hand one DEAD ON. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - NIGHT Sophia is buttoning the last button on her shirt. She's FULLY DRESSED, and makes her way to the door. No telling what's going on here, but she sure doesn't want to hang around. She whips the door open. WILL STANDS THERE, LEERING AT HER WITH A MINATORY EXPRESSION. WILL Going somewhere? SOPHIA STEPS BACKWARDS into the room. HARD CUT TO BLACK ACT FOUR INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT (CONTINUED) Stone still struggles with the wheel. The Baker's car is just outside his window. STONE'S POV The bridge is fast approaching. Yellow reflectors stare back at him like a pair of glowing eyes. STONE spins the wheel to the right, allowing the car to drift farther right, and creating a gap in between the vehicles. His speed slows just a little bit, and he spins the wheel back to the left. EXT. - COUNTRY ROAD - NIGHT D'Amato's car hits the Baker' right at the bumper. The lead vehicle swerves, aiming dangerously to the right. Then it SWINGS back the other way; Vick has overcorrected. At these speeds it's all over in a few seconds. THE BAKER'S CAR is AIRBORNE as it goes off the road. BRAKE LIGHTS FLARE, but it's too little too late. The car smashes into a tree. The HORN BLARES loudly. STONE has stopped Sophia's car on the side of the road and leaps out. He jogs towards the wreckage. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - NIGHT (CONTINUED) Will sets the Chinese food down on the bed calmly. WILL You were about to run out on me again, weren't you? Don't lie to me. I saw him, Sophia. I saw Mike. SOPHIA Will, listen, it's not what you think. Stone and I figured out what's going on. It's the Bakers. They influenced us somehow, trying to make us fall in love again. WILL (ignoring her) Our love is true. Why do you tarnish it by bestowing affection onto another? SOPHIA What? I told Mike to leave, I'm done with him. It's you that I want, Will. But you're making me a little afraid right now. Will opens his suitcase and begins fiddling with it. His expression is blank, no hint of anger on his placid mien. WILL You've betrayed me, Soph. We could have been happy together. Will REMOVES HIS HAND from the suitcase. He carries his SERVICE WEAPON in his hand. He points it at Sophia. SOPHIA Will? What are you doing? Put that down! EXT. - BAKER'S SMASHED CAR - NIGHT The STUCK HORN continues to scream in the night. Stone has his weapon trained on the front seat as he moves in a careful arc around the wreckage. His flashlight is out and he shines it into the car. Vick and Kara are slumped over the dashboard. Vick raises his head; it's A BLOODY MESS. VICK Help us. Please. STONE (to himself) It can't be... Stone trains his beam on Kara - blood is splattered across the dash. STONE (to himself) No... Damned souls don't bleed, being supernatural creatures. The blood can mean only one thing - Vick and Kara Baker are mortal... and he's SCREWED UP BIG TIME. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN Will still has the gun pointed at Sophia. WILL Your treachery makes it impossible for us to remain joined in this life. Perhaps, on a higher plane, we will again forge a union. The PHONE RINGS, breaking his concentration. Still holding the gun on her, Will picks up the receiver. A BLARING CAR HORN can be heard in the background. STONE (on phone, shouting) Sophia, it's not the Bakers. Get out of there! Get away! WILL CRUSHES THE PHONE in his hand, plastic shards falling away as Stone's voice dies. He opens his hand, letting the remaining pieces fall to the floor. Sophia's EYES WIDEN. EXT. - BAKER'S SMASHED CAR - NIGHT Stone stares at the phone as his call is disconnected. He holsters his gun and rapidly dials a number. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN Sophia is making a last attempt to sooth Will. Her hands are held out in a non-threatening manner. SOPHIA (calmly) Will, listen to me. This isn't you. I know you. You would never threaten me like this. What about the phone? Isn't that proof that we've been influenced by the damned? How else could you do what you did? Just put the gun down. WILL Sophia, don't you see? I'm doing this because I love you. It's the only way we can be together. SOPHIA No, Will, we can be together right here, right now. WILL You're going to leave me. SOPHIA I'm not. WILL But I'll be right behind. CU ON THE GUN WILL SQUEEZES THE TRIGGER! BLAM! The gunshot echoes. SOPHIA can't believe it. Her mouth opens and closes. SOPHIA NO!!! WILL wears a blank expression. BLAM! He fires again. SOPHIA clutches her midsection, and topples to the floor. WILL Fear not, my sweet, for we shall approach the gates of heaven hand in hand, WILL reverses his grip on the gun, pointing it toward himself. WILL (continued) ...that St. Peter himself may know how I worship you. EXT. - BAKER'S SMASHED CAR - NIGHT The car horn has finally died, and Stone looks up at the stars in the night sky. He's pulled KARA and VICK BAKER from the wreckage, they rest on the grass. STONE Please. Don't let them die. Please. A mocking laughter fills the air. DEVIL Who are addressing, Mr. Stone? You think he cares what you have to say? He's the one who sent you to Hell. STONE It's not for me. What did they do to deserve this? DEVIL Who are praying for? The Bakers? Or your friends? Detective Kane has already shot the woman. Stone CRINGES. DEVIL (continued) He's got his gun pointed at himself. I hope you enjoy the play by play, Mr. Stone. STONE Do something! DEVIL No. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN Sophia rolls on the floor, gasping, trying to form words, but it's no use. WILL I join you, for all eternity. THE DOOR BURSTS OPEN, the frame splintering. Kane whirls around at the intrusion, to see JIMMY PRICE wielding his baseball bat. Will raises the gun, but Jimmy KNOCKS IT DOWN, out of his hand. Will throws a punch, but Jimmy parries it with the bat, reversing his grip to HIT KANE IN THE HEAD with the handle. WILL CRUMPLES TO THE FLOOR, unconscious. Jimmy rushes over to Sophia, still lying on the floor. There are two dark circles where the bullets struck, and powder burns around them. But there is no blood. JIMMY I'll call 911. SOPHIA No... She reaches under her shirt. VELCRO RIPS as she loosens her BULLETPROOF VEST. SOPHIA (Continued) (gasping) Just knocked the wind out of me. INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT APPROACHING SIRENS can be heard. Stone is pulling back onto the road, heading back to the Ice Lake Resort. The Devil rides shotgun. STONE So what happened? DEVIL I don't want to ruin the surprise. STONE What happened to the play by play you promised me? Did Jimmy get there in time? DEVIL I can't believe someone you threatened just a few hours ago would do a favor like that for you. Really boggles the mind. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN Jimmy is helping Sophia back to her feet. Will's gun has been picked up and placed on the table next to them. JIMMY He said you were in danger. I didn't want you to die. They hear a voice from the doorway. WENDY PORTER What's going on in here? Is everything all right? SOPHIA It's fine. Police business. John Porter appears at his wife's side. JOHN We thought we heard gunshots. (re: Kane) Is he...? WENDY (to Sophia) Are you sure you're all right, dear? SOPHIA Everything's okay. Could you help me get him up on the bed? He'll be more comfortable there. Jimmy and John lift Kane up onto the bed. WENDY (to her husband) He did this to her. JOHN You're lucky to be alive, child. But Sophia isn't paying attention to what they are saying. Her eyes are locked onto the SHIRT that Mrs. Porter is wearing. Just above the belt are TWO SLASHES where something has cut through. She looks at JOHN. His SHIRT has a LARGER GASH in it as well. SOPHIA (slowly) It was you... JOHN AND WENDY LOCK EYES. The jig is up; they've been found out. JOHN BACKHANDS JIMMY, sending him flying over the bed. He hits his head on the night table as he lands, knocking him unconscious. Sophia grabs for Will's gun next to her, and points it at John. He's across the bed from her, too far away to reach easily. But Will is right next to him; a potential bargaining chip. SOPHIA Freeze! John wraps his hands around Will's head and lifts him slightly. His EYES GLOW WITH HELLFIRE. JOHN I'll snap his neck if you make me. SOPHIA You'll have to be pretty damn fast to outrun these bullets. Two shots and your eyes are gone. WENDY You seem to know a lot about us. SOPHIA Your kind is all the same. My father was murdered last year by one of you. JOHN We didn't kill him, though. SOPHIA No? But you're responsible for the deaths of Pete Masters, Rose Linwood, James and Leslie Kramer... WENDY We only tried to help. SOPHIA (continued) Al Candle and Sylvia Carter. All dead because of you and your meddling. JOHN We just wanted them to be happy. We couldn't have known that what we had done would be replayed by them. (beat) We used to come here, back in the 60s. The Haverts ran the resort then, and threw the best parties. WENDY We were the Godparents of all the couples who visited. Everyone loved us. SOPHIA And what happened? Wendy hangs her head. JOHN I caught her with another man. (points to Jimmy) His father, Arnold Price. I couldn't bear the thought of losing my true love. So I made sure we would be together always. SOPHIA If you couldn't have her, no one else could either. What a selfish pig. JOHN I did it for love. SOPHIA You were greedy. Do you think she'd still be with you if you still had a choice? JOHN Wendy, tell her. Wendy says nothing. She avoids her husband's gaze, and looks to Sophia. For a moment, there is a kinship between them. Where Sophia ended things with Mike to find a better man, Wendy has stayed in the same relationship. Sophia knows that she could have ended up like her. JOHN Wendy, tell her! WENDY I'm sorry, John. John RELEASES WILL and turns to face his wife. JOHN Wendy? BLAM BLAM!!! Sophia fires twice, destroying the eyes of Wendy Porter. Blue light explodes, splashing across a stunned John Porter. JOHN NO!!!!!! SOPHIA Want to find out what she meant? You can ask her when you see her. BANG BANG!!! Two expert shots shatter the windows to John Porter's soul. Wendy's soul is still being sucked back to Hell, and John grabs her hand as his own descends next to her. Together, they disappear into the earth. INT. - D'AMATO'S CAR - NIGHT Stone is turning back into the Ice Lake Resort when he feels the two tattoos begin to burn off. He WINCES with the pain. DEVIL It's really not fair, Mr. Stone. You're doing so little work these days. Not very sporting of you to have others doing your job for you. STONE You know why they help me? Because they want to see your mess cleaned up even more than you do. DEVIL Is that so? It sounds good now, but I'll bet your allies desert you left and right when the first one dies. It'll happen sooner or later, Ezekiel, mark my words. STONE So, no one died, huh? You went and ruined my surprise. The Devil scowls, but figures there is another barb he can use to piss Stone off. DEVIL How did it feel to see Rosalyn again? Everything you expected? STONE If she's happy, I'm happy. DEVIL Bah! You and platitudes make me want to vomit. Stone parks the car and shuts it off. STONE We can't have the life that we missed out on; I've accepted that. As long as she doesn't know that I'm back, she can be happy with the life she's created for herself. He opens the car door. DEVIL The life she created for herself? More like- SLAM! Stone has exited the vehicle and shut the door behind him. He walks away, satisfied with having the last word. The devil glowers. INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN Stone walks into the room. Kane sits on the bed, holding a BAG OF ICE to the side of his head. Jimmy is seated in a chair, holding still while Sophia dabs at the cut on the back of his skull. STONE Everyone okay? WILL I've got a hell of a headache. JIMMY Sorry. WILL Don't be. You saved my life, Jimmy. I owe you one. Jimmy BRIGHTENS. SOPHIA Looks like you'll be fine. JIMMY Okay. I'm ready to go home now. STONE I'll walk back with you. JIMMY Okay. Stone picks up Jimmy's bat, smiling, and the two men walk out. As they leave, Stone begins to tell Jimmy what happened. STONE There's something I have to tell you about the Bakers... Sophia moves to sit next to Will on the bed, but she doesn't touch him, just looks at him. WILL I'm sorry I shot you. SOPHIA I'm just glad I brought my vest this weekend. It wasn't you, I know. The Porters affected us, changed the way we felt. She waits to see what he has to say. WILL Are you asking if I still want to be with you? (beat) Because if you'll have me after what happened tonight, I think we can make things work this time. SOPHIA I do want to try again. I've wanted to for a while now. WILL Me too. So it's settled. SOPHIA SMILES, and Kane joins in. They embrace passionately. WILL Sophia? SOPHIA Yes? WILL Does this mean I can sleep in the bed tonight? As Sophia beats him over the head with a pillow, we FADE TO: INT. - ICE LAKE RESORT - ROOM FIFTEEN - MORNING The happy couple is waking up. Kane opens his eyes first, and smiles at the sight of Sophia next to him. He kisses her softly. WILL Good morning. How do you feel? SOPHIA Blissful. WILL Me too. There is a knock on the door. Will gets up, scratching and yawning, and undoes the chain. With the frame shattered last night, it's all that holds it shut. Ezekiel Stone is there, holding a newspaper. STONE You're not going to believe about Vick and Kara. SOPHIA What? STONE First, they're going to fully recover... in jail. They're not really named Baker. It's an alias. The police ran their fingerprints after the accident. Turns out they're wanted in New Mexico for a series of bank robberies. It's how they got the money to lease this place from Jimmy. WILL Jimmy doesn't work for them? STONE His dad had a clipping collection too, in another room, going back to 1959. Jimmy left it up as a memorial. Turns out he started the collection when his wife and son drove into Ice Lake. He collected the articles on her death. SOPHIA That's so sad. STONE Then he kept on collecting articles about people he knew that died. I found the Porters on the wall. Apparently they died back in 1961. Anyway, the old owners, the Haverts, left the property to Jimmy in their will. So he owns all this. Oh, one other thing - guess who pulled Jimmy Price out of Ice Lake when he was a boy? (beat) John Porter. WILL (slowly) So, if he hadn't saved Jimmy's life back then, Jimmy wouldn't have been able to save us last night. And the Porters would still be walking around. STONE (jokingly offended) I do occasionally send back a damned soul myself, you know. SOPHIA Oh my God! I can't believe I forgot to tell you before. In all the excitement, it slipped my mind. STONE What? SOPHIA Rosalyn, your ex-wife? She knows. Ezekiel Stone is dead, no blood flows through his veins. But for a moment there, it looked he like paled several shades. STONE What? What does she know? SOPHIA She thinks you walked out on her. That you faked your death to get away from her, when she needed you. I'm sorry, Zeke. STONE SLUMPS INTO A CHAIR. STONE What... How... What should I do? WILL (looking at Sophia) You care about this woman, always have, and always will. But if you told her how you felt, and it destroyed her relationship, a chance of her being happy, how would you feel then? SOPHIA (looking at Kane) But what if she's not as happy in her relationship as she was with you? Maybe she's afraid to end things because she doesn't want to be alone. You should tell her how you feel, and let her make her own decision. Otherwise, there's no guarantee that you'll ever get a second chance. STONE If we don't stop Ash soon, all bets are off. I've got to focus on that first. WILL You mean WE'VE got to. I'm with you all the way, Stone. SOPHIA We both are. Stone nods firmly. He's going to need all the help he can get to win this war. STONE Thanks. I appreciate it. And Sophia, I'm sorry about your car. SHE SITS UP STRAIGHT IN BED. SOPHIA What did you do to my car? STONE It looks worse than it really is. Sophia whirls into a robe, and marches barefoot out of the room, leaving the door open. We hear a SCREAM. SOPHIA MY CAR!!!!! FADE OUT THE END