Patricia is forced into helping her boss track down a serial killer. |
Monthly Scriptwriting Contest (May) — Prompt: Horror/Mystery FIGHTING DEATH "Round One" TEASER FADE IN: EXT. — CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK — EVENING — 8PM MORRIS GRAVES (25), muscular, attractive, dark hair, dark eyes, cruel, watches as a LARRY ADAMS (30), short, bald, overweight, and his wife ROSE ADAMS (30), tall, skinny, short-cropped hair, walk through the park, arm-in-arm. MORRIS (whispers) Just a little closer— The woman's laugh turns into a shriek as Morris steps out of the shadows. LARRY (gasps) It—it can't be! MORRIS (leans close and raises an eyebrow) Did you think I would not find you? Did you believe a mere mortal could escape the clutches of death? ROSE (hides behind Larry) If this is a joke, it's not funny! MORRIS (sighs and crosses his arms over his chest) You could have made this easy, Larry. But now? Now I'll have to take Rose, too. (shakes his head) Sorry, toots. It's not your time but we can't have any witnesses, now can we? LARRY (yells) There's gotta be something you want! I'll give you anything! Anything! MORRIS (grins) There's nothing I want from you Larry. Nothing but your soul, that is. LARRY (stutters) Look, I'm sure we can come up with some kind of arrangement. I—I'll pay you! Just let us go! Morris pulls back his black trench coat. Larry flinches and Rose screams as Morris pulls out a torch. The torch bursts into life. Flames flicker, casting shadows that writhe and twist across the ground. MORRIS (tsks his tongue) Bribery might have saved your rear when you were alive, Larry, but it doesn't work that way this side of the grave. ROSE (whispers) This side of the grave? Morris turns his torch upside down and the flames disappear. He points at a spot behind Larry and Rose. The couple cautiously turn and find their lifeless bodies lying on the park's path. LARRY We're— ROSE (screams) Dead! MORRIS (laughs) You're mine, now! Morris drops the burned-out torch next to the Adams' bodies. Stepping forward, he places one hand on Larry's shoulder and the other on Rose's elbow. The three vanish. FADE OUT END TEASER ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. — OFFICE — MORNING GRAHAM ROBERTS (40), African American, 6' tall, broad shoulders, fit, dark hair, detective, leans back in his office chair as a KNOCK is heard. GRAHAM C'mon in. PATRICIA ALLAN (32), Native American, long dark hair, glasses, intelligent, Graham's secretary, pokes her head into the office. PATRICIA You told me to let you know if another one was found, boss. GRAHAM (sighs) Who is it this time? PATRICIA (plops a folder on the desk) Two of'em this time, boss. Larry and Rose Adams. Husband and wife. GRAHAM (frowns and picks up folder) Two? He's never taken two at a time before. Did he leave— PATRICIA (interrupts) A torch? Yes, sir. GRAHAM (scans the papers in folder) Same calling card but more than one victim— PATRICIA Are you sure it's the same guy, boss? GRAHAM (clenches his teeth) Oh, I'm sure. Graham taps a picture of the torch in the folder with his index finger. GRAHAM (murmurs) This isn't just his calling card. He's calling me out. Taunting me. But he's not going to beat me this time. I've got his number, so to speak. PATRICIA Sir? Graham stands and walks across his office, where a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf stands. He reaches for a tome, pulls it out, and blows dust from the top. He flips open the book and turns several pages before stopping. GRAHAM Behold, our criminal! PATRICIA (squints at the page) Thanatos? Sir, this is Greek Mythology. Thanatos isn't real! GRAHAM He goes by Mors in the land of the living. PATRICIA (jaw drops) Sir—we're looking for a serial killer. Not a Greek god! GRAHAM (scowls) How quickly you mortals scoff! Patricia steps back a pace from her boss. PATRICIA Sir? You're scaring me— GRAHAM (rolls his eyes) I'm going to need some help tracking Mors down and capturing him. I'd hoped to do it on my own but the world has changed too much since the last time Mors and I competed. PATRICIA (stutters) C—competed? GRAHAM For souls. Except this time Mors has taken it too far. He's strictly forbidden to take a life before its time is up. He's cheating, and I've got to stop him! PATRICIA I know this case has you worked up, boss, but— GRAHAM (shakes his head) You creatures are so skeptical without your proof, aren't you? (puckers lips in disgust) I suppose I'm going to have to prove I know what I'm talking about. Patricia presses her back against the office wall when Graham stands in place and begins to spin. As his black coat twirls, his body transforms. His flesh melts away until a dark skeleton is left. In one bony hand, he holds a scythe. PATRICIA You—you're the Grim Reaper! GRAHAM Scythe and all. Though I have to say, it's much more unwieldy than my gun. Some of these modern advancements have been a huge blessing. Graham twirls again. The scythe disappears and his tendons, blood, and skin grow in layers before Patricia's eyes. GRAHAM I've been watching you, Allan, and after all our years working together I've learned to trust you with (pause) (laughs) well, with my life. PATRICIA I don't believe this! My boss is the flippin' Grim Reaper! GRAHAM (sighs) We don't have time for hysteria, Allan. I need your help catching Mors. PATRICIA (licks lips) What if I say no? GRAHAM (shrugs) Then I'll have to kill you and find someone else to assist me. Patricia gasps. Her face turns white and Graham laughs. GRAHAM That was a joke. I can't kill you, Allan. You're not scheduled to leave this side of the grave until— (pause) (tsks his tongue and wags his index finger) Almost got me there. But revealing the date of a mortal's death is strictly forbidden. Almost as bad as taking a soul before its time! Patricia smiles weakly as Graham moves to stand directly in front of her. GRAHAM (stands) Come, Allan. We're going to a funeral. PATRICIA (wrinkles her sweaty brow) Wh—whose? GRAHAM Larry and Rose Adams', of course. Mors will be waiting for me at the graveyard. (pause) (frowns) He'll want to rub my nose in the fact that he's ahead in our little game. He'll feel secure, assuming I can't touch him. That's where you come in. PATRICIA Me? Graham reaches out and places a hand on Patricia's shoulder. She flinches as he grins into her frightened face. GRAHAM (winks) You're my secret weapon, Allan. PATRICIA (shudders) Of course I am. Graham stalks from the office. Patricia hesitates before following him. With trembling hand, she shuts the office door behind her. FADE OUT END ACT ONE |