Title: Vestige

Author: K. J. Pedersen

Genre: M/M Horror-Sci fi-Paranormal

Word Count: Approx. 57,000

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Art: Paul Richmond

 

 

VESTIGE is the story of Josiah Alaka‘i Halden, a golden boy, whose life is slowly coming apart. Athletic, handsome, and college bound, everyone thinks he has it made. But he is haunted by impossible visions of the night his parents were killed fifteen years before. As the visions intensify, he fears he is falling victim to the family curse that has claimed the sanity and lives of its male members for generations. And then there’s the black iron idol, the image of a spear-bearing Canaanite warrior-god, long in the family’s possession, which is central to his nightmares. His best friend believes the statue is ‘wrong’ and accuses Josiah of bringing a foreign god to the Hawaiian Islands. Neither suspect just how foreign it truly is.

 

 

Originally, I wrote Vestige as both a novel and a screenplay simultaneously, finishing the screenplay first late in May, 2011. I am including here an excerpt from the screenplay, the first twenty-three pages, as a bonus. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

 

 

VESTIGE

 

by

 

K. J. Pedersen

 

 

Logline: A young man, haunted by visions, is accused by his best friend of bringing a foreign god to the Hawaiian Islands.

 

 

 

Copyright © 2011 KJPedersen

 

 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

INT. BLACKENED VOID — CONTINUOUS

 

A cone of light falls upon the STATUE OF THE DÆMON, a representation of a Canaanite warrior god (cast in an unknown black ore). In its right hand, a javelin.

 

ANGLE IN SLOWLY — STATUE

 

CUTAWAY TO A SERIES OF IMAGES

 

Gods, ghost-gods, and heroes from the mythologies of Polynesia and Australasia appear in sequence. Among these images, tikis. Tempo, slow.

 

RETURN TO SCENE

 

The camera continues steadily to close on the statue.

 

CUTAWAY TO A SERIES OF IMAGES

 

from the mythologies of the Americas. These are totems from North America and the gods and demons of the Aztecs, Maya, and Incas. Tempo, moderate.

 

RETURN TO SCENE

 

The camera closes on the statue.

 

CUTAWAY TO A SERIES OF IMAGES

 

from Asian mythologies. The gods and demons are Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hindu, etc. Tempo, quicker.

 

RETURN TO SCENE

 

The camera is about halfway to the statue now.

 

CUTAWAY TO A SERIES OF IMAGES

 

These are Greek, Roman, Celtic, Germanic and Slavic gods, demigods, giants, and heroes. Tempo, swift.

 

RETURN TO SCENE

 

The camera closes on the statue.

 

CUTAWAY TO A SERIES OF IMAGES

 

The gods and demons of Africa and ancient Egypt appear rapidly in sequence.

RETURN TO SHOT

 

The shot is very close on the statue and continues.

 

CUTAWAY TO A SERIES OF IMAGES

 

from Sumeria, Babylonia, Assyria, Canaan and Persia. As the sequence progresses, Judaic, Islamic and Christian mythologies dominate. These include ancient, medieval and modern images. Tempo, very rapid.

 

HARD CUT TO:

 

 

EXTREME CLOSE UP — STATUE OF THE DÆMON

 

 

INSERT TITLE

 

White upon black: “VESTIGE”.

 

 

DREAM SEQUENCE — EXT. HALDEN HOME — NIGHT

 

The exterior of this older Tudor-style home in Norwich, England is dark except for the porch light. Interior lighting can be seen through the windows.

 

 

DREAM SEQUENCE (CONT’D) — INT. HALDEN HOME — LIVING ROOM — MOMENTS LATER

 

CATHERINE HALDEN, twenty-six, pretty, descends the stairs. Just beyond, her husband, JEREMY, twenty-seven, handsome, clean-cut, sits in a chair with a high back and reads the daily paper.

 

CATHERINE

(harried)

Joshy’s finally tucked-in and

settled.

 

JEREMY

It’s nearly eleven!

 

Catherine approaches Jeremy.

 

CATHERINE

He never settles easily; moves

a mile a minute!

Jeremy sets aside the newspaper.

 

JEREMY

How do you keep up with our

little devil boy, Cathy? I know

I can’t!

 

CATHERINE

(scolds her husband)

He’s a good lad -- don’t call

Josiah “devil boy”!

 

Jeremy offers his wife his hands and she settles on his lap. She leans forward and they nuzzle. He kisses her.

 

ON FAR WALL

 

A thick, black, liquid metal appears to ooze through the wood paneling. At first the liquid appears in droplets ... then in thick clumps.

 

JEREMY (O.S.)

I should tell him goodnight

before he falls off to sleep.

(beat; teases)

I wouldn’t want him to grow up

thinking his old man doesn’t

love him.

 

CATHERINE (O.S.)

Old man, is it? At twenty-seven?

 

It accumulates and the metallic filth flows downward as the clumps grow in size and weight.

 

JEREMY (O.S.)

Three years with the “devil

boy” have aged me, woman! Can’t

you see?

 

The filth has pooled on the floor.

 

CATHERINE (O.S.)

(laughs)

Shall I help you up the stairs,

or can you manage on those old,

wretched knees of yours alone?

 

It gathers, rises slowly and takes on a roughly human form -- head, neck, shoulders....

NEW ANGLE

 

Jeremy nudges Catherine off his lap.

 

JEREMY

All right then -- upstairs!

 

Catherine takes Jeremy by the hands and pulls him up. He springs forward and wraps his arms around her.

 

CATHERINE

Just a little playful tonight?

 

Jeremy sees movement on the far side of the room. He has spotted the intruder, this shape-shifting DÆMON.

 

Catherine sees Jeremy’s look of surprise.

 

CATHERINE

Jeremy...?

 

He does not answer. The look in Jeremy’s eyes transforms into one of growing terror.

 

Catherine follows his eyes.

 

The Dæmon, its form still indistinct, takes a small, lurching step towards them. Its movements are unnatural, almost serpentine.

 

A point appears in its right fist. The point grows, becomes a spearhead, and is followed by a handle which grows forwards and backwards simultaneously.

 

The Dæmon’s form becomes clear. This wight-like manifestation is extremely pale, sinewy. A ring-shaped mouth and two small, oblong holes located higher on the sides of its head, right and left, are its only distinguishing features.

 

It thrusts its head forward and its hideous maw opens -- a perfect circle, filled with rows of shark-like teeth. A narrow black tongue issues forth!

 

It HISSES!

 

Jeremy takes Catherine in his arms and they draw back away from the intruder together.

 

JEREMY

It’s you....

(beat)

My God! In my dreams! You! How

can this be?

 

CATHERINE

Jeremy ... what is it?

 

Jeremy cannot answer.

 

The Dæmon advances, and as it does, it transforms again, as though stepping out of one skin and into another. It appears as Baal -- a powerfully-built god with black hair, a braided beard, and in the garb of Canaanite royalty -- the warrior statue incarnate.

 

Jeremy stops, pushes Catherine back gently, and steps in front of her.

 

The Dæmon struts arrogantly and passes the javelin back and forth, hand to hand. It’s eyes are cold. Now upon them, it levels the javelin at Jeremy’s chest ... and lunges!

 

 

END DREAM SEQUENCE.

 

 

INT. JOSIAH’S CONDO — BEDROOM — BEFORE SUNRISE

 

JOSIAH HALDEN, eighteen, awakens suddenly!

 

The handsome wiry lad sits up and moves to the edge of the bed. He pushes his long, blond, sweat-dampened curls back with both hands, and leans forward.

 

Outside, a heavy DOWNPOUR.

 

Josiah scratches his jaw and the fuzzy, sparse teenager’s beard he sports. He stands, wearing white briefs, and stumbles forward.

 

The warrior statue, which has long been in his family’s possession, stands prominently on the bookcase. Josiah moves towards it. He takes the statue down, examines it for a moment.

 

It gives him the creeps; always has.

 

He places it on the bookcase once again, but at the back of the shelf this time, and facing backwards.

 

 

EXT. KEAUHOU — ALI’I MAKAI RESORT — ESTABLISHING — MORNING

 

Gardens and trees, a stream and fish pond, and meandering footpaths make up the grounds of the resort. The ziggurat consists, primarily, of hotel rooms for guests, but has also a number of condominium homes.

 

The rain persists, more a DRIZZLE now than a downpour.

 

Josiah walks from the main entrance to the front parking lot. He opens his car, sits, starts the engine.

 

 

EXT. KAILUA-KONA, HAWAI’I — ESTABLISHING — MORNING

 

The village as viewed from Kailua Bay.

 

NEW ANGLE — ALI’I DRIVE

 

Morning traffic winds through the heart of town.

 

CLOSE ON JOSIAH’S CAR

 

Josiah, at the wheel, is on his way to school.

 

 

EXT. NORTH KONA H.S. — ESTABLISHING — MORNING

 

The campus sprawls out across a gentle slope above Kailua, at Kealakehe.

 

CLOSE ON SIGN

 

which reads “North Kona High School”.

 

NEW ANGLE

 

Josiah parks the car and crosses the student parking lot briskly. Other STUDENTS arrive by bus, or on foot, or by car. Even in this faltering shower, all are eager to get inside.

 

 

INT. NORTH KONA H.S. — ENGLISH CLASS — MOMENTS LATER

 

Josiah enters the classroom -- he looks exhausted -- and approaches his friend, KEKOA PROVOST, seventeen.

 

Cute and mischievous, Kekoa is a few inches shorter than Josiah’s 6' 2", but he’s more muscular. He is hapa haole -- half-Hawaiian, half-English.

 

Class has not started yet and most of the twenty or so students are lost in their conversations (though these are indistinct and collectively CLASSROOM NOISE).

 

KEKOA

Joshy, my boy, howzit?

 

The friends bump fists, knuckles together, in greeting.

 

JOSIAH

(shrugs)

Okay, I guess.

 

KEKOA

(watches Josiah)

Rough night?

 

JOSIAH

Didn’t sleep well.

 

They take their seats.

 

KEKOA

(beat)

So ... is it on Friday or not?

 

Josiah shakes his head.

 

KEKOA (CONT’D)

Why not? You have the condo to

yourself.

 

JOSIAH

I promised Aunt Maggie there

would be no parties at the

condo while they’re away.

 

KEKOA

(protests)

There’ll be ten of us. It’s not

like half the school’s coming.

Besides, Maggie and Bill are on

the Mainland -- they won’t

know.

JOSIAH

I’m eighteen now. She trusts

me, Kekoa.

 

KEKOA

(goading)

What, brah ... you’ll feel

guilty?

 

The BELL RINGS to bring class to order. The conversations, the banter, the shameless flirting continue regardless.

 

MISS WALCOTT, thirty, enters the classroom, arms full with a bundle of papers. Her black hair is pulled back in a bun and the black business pantsuit she wears merely accentuates her grim appearance and demeanor.

 

MISS WALCOTT

(loudly over the din)

Okay, people, quiet. Class has

started.

 

The conversations die out.

 

MISS WALCOTT

Mr. Provost? Come up here. Take

these papers.

 

Kekoa does as he is asked.

 

MISS WALCOTT (CONT’D)

You’re holding the test. Pass

the copies around.

 

Kekoa hands out the test sheets. Miss Walcott moves to the center of the class.

 

MISS WALCOTT

As you all know, people, today

you’ll be taking the final exam

for this unit.

(beat)

I hope you’ve studied well.

This will be one of the more

difficult tests you’ve taken.

 

Josiah is tired and lays his head on the desk.

 

MISS WALCOTT (CONT’D)

As this is an Honors English

Class, I should not have to

repeat this, but I will

tolerate no cheating.

 

She notices Josiah with his head on the desk.

 

MISS WALCOTT

Mr. Josiah Halden ... I don’t

suppose I’ll have to strip

search you for cheat sheets,

will I?

 

Josiah sits up immediately. His face reddens. And Kekoa, still handing out the tests, gives Josiah’s shoulder a rough, playful shove.

 

JOSIAH

I usually prefer to undress

myself.

 

A few SNICKERS and GIGGLES go up. Miss Walcott is not amused. She is not used to being talked back to.

 

MISS WALCOTT

Don’t wear my patience thin,

young man.

 

JOSIAH

(flippantly)

If you insist on doing the

strip search yourself, that’s

okay. I’m wearing clean

underwear.

 

More GIGGLES.

 

JOSIAH (CONT’D)

Hope you don’t mind briefs

though; I hate the way boxers

leave me hanging.

 

The SNICKERS in the background explode into outright LAUGHTER. All order has been lost!

 

MISS WALCOTT

Mr. Halden, out! Now! Report to

Principal Wu’s office!

 

 

INT. NORTH KONA H.S. — HALLWAY — MOMENTS LATER

 

Josiah passes JOHN DAVIS, seventeen, who approaches from the opposite direction and carries a transparent neon-orange clipboard marked “HALL PASS”.

 

John is the all-American “boy next door”-type -- handsome, tall, slender, with floppy dusty-blond hair and blue eyes. His clothes, however, are worn, faded, and unfashionably so.

 

Josiah is grinning, smug even (a look of victory taken from his verbal battle with Miss Walcott). He meets John’s eyes and smiles at him.

 

They watch each other for a moment as they approach. Then, suddenly, John looks away, shy and embarrassed because his interest in this handsome blue-eyed boy might be self-evident.

 

They pass each other.

 

 

EXT. NORTH KONA HIGH SCHOOL — AFTERNOON

 

Lunch hour. The rain has stopped. Groups of students leave the school and head out towards the parking lot.

 

 

INT. NORTH KONA H.S — LUNCHROOM — MOMENTS LATER

 

The lunchroom is full, NOISY. Some students are in line at the lunch counter, others mill about the vending machines in clusters, and the rest are already sitting at the tables.

 

John is at a table with his brother, CALEB, sixteen, and Caleb’s best friend, MAKANI DA SILVA, seventeen.

 

Caleb looks remarkably like his brother -- the same longish hair, blue eyes, and mild, pleasant expression.

 

Makani is hot! He has long, dark-brown hair; warm, friendly, brown eyes; an easy, natural smile; and a muscular, lithe body. Like Kekoa, Makani is hapa haole (in his case Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Portuguese).

 

MAKANI

(excited)

After the movie, Sara and I

went back to her house....

 

Caleb hangs on every word and Makani takes great pleasure in leading him along like this, teasing him.

 

MAKANI (CONT’D)

She took me by the hand ...

(bites his bottom lip)

led me to her bedroom....

 

Unlike his brother, John isn’t impressed by tales of Makani’s exploits. He rolls his eyes.

 

Caleb’s eyes widen; he’s eager to hear what Makani has to say.

 

CALEB

Yeah? And...?

 

Makani leans close to Caleb.

 

MAKANI

Let’s just say it’s better when

it’s someone else’s hand!

 

CALEB

(hoots)

Hell yeah, Makani!

 

John blushes. Makani sees this.

 

MAKANI

John -- you’re blushing!

 

JOHN

Am not.

 

MAKANI

(shakes his head)

You Evangelicals are so tightly

wound up!

 

JOHN

Screw you!

 

MAKANI

(teases)

You wish.

 

John turns up his middle finger. Makani, in good spirits, responds, plucks a piece of crust from his sandwich and flicks it at John.

 

Caleb touches John’s arm.

 

CALEB

Hey, brother, look! It’s that

jerk-off you hate!

 

John and Makani stop to look.

 

Josiah stands at the lunch counter.

 

PULL BACK

 

to reveal he is accompanied by ZACHARY SCHILLING, seventeen, and Kekoa. The three of them are popular and their posture exudes confidence. This is particularly true of good-looking, athletic Zachary.

 

They are joined by three PRETTY GIRLS who eventually all focus their attention on Zachary.

 

JOHN

(bitterly)

Josiah.... Kekoa. Zachary.

Jocks and snobs, all of them.

 

MAKANI

Nah. They’re not like that.

 

JOHN

Really? They’re always giving

me shit!

 

MAKANI

Not Josiah. He’s solid. We

were tight in junior high.

Best friends.

 

JOHN

“Were” is key.

 

CALEB

(asks Makani)

What, did you two fall out?

 

MAKANI

Nah. Sometimes friends just

drift apart. He started to hang

with the jocks. And I....

(beat)

I fell in with the wrong crowd.

 

CALEB

(to John, quietly)

Drugs. Makani got arrested his

sophomore year.

 

MAKANI

(angry)

Caleb! That is not cool! I told

you that in confidence!

 

Caleb looks away, hurt by the scolding, and sorry he betrayed his best friend’s trust.

 

John watches Josiah for a long moment. And Josiah senses he is being watched. He turns. His eyes meet John’s. As soon as they do, John looks away.

 

 

INT. NORTH KONA H.S. — BOYS’ LOCKER ROOM — LATER

 

Josiah, Kekoa and Zachary enter together and go to their row of lockers. They pull out gym clothes and begin to dress.

 

JOSIAH

(to Kekoa)

Do you think Walcott will let

me take the test later?

 

KEKOA

If not, brah, you’re screwed

-- automatic “F”!

 

John arrives. Kekoa and Zachary regard him with contempt. Josiah, however, watches him with guarded interest. John keeps to himself.

 

Zachary grabs John’s sleeve and tugs it roughly.

 

ZACHARY

What, Davis, Salvation Army,

general issue?

 

John pulls away from Zachary.

 

JOHN

Idiot.

 

Zachary lunges at John, fists clenched, then slams a fist into the locker next to John. The sudden movement and CRASH startles John. He flinches.

 

John looks away, hopes to avoid a confrontation. He is frequently the target of their harassment.

 

Zachary sizes John up. He knows he has the upper hand. He lunges again; John flinches again.

 

ZACHARY

Pussy.

 

Zachary shoves John. John backs away. Zachary persists, shoves John again, harder now.

 

ZACHARY

C’mon, Davis, you fuckin’

pussy, fight back!

 

John’s had enough -- he shoves Zachary back, hard.

 

Josiah quickly steps between them.

 

JOSIAH

Cut it out, Schilling. Coach

Martines is coming.

 

Zachary reluctantly backs off.

 

 

INT. DA SILVA RESIDENCE — LIVING ROOM — ABOUT 4:30 P.M.

 

BENJAMIN DA SILVA, eleven, sits in front of the TV on the floor. He is enthralled by the console game.

 

VIDEO GAME SFX dominate; the TV’s volume is loud.

 

The KNOCK at the door is nearly drowned out by the TV.

 

Benjamin ignores the knock.

 

The DOORBELL rings.

 

Benjamin GROWLS because his game is interrupted. He pauses the game, stands, and answers the door.

 

Josiah is on the front porch.

 

JOSIAH

Hey, Benjamin -- is your

brother home?

 

Benjamin smiles when he sees Josiah. He opens the door wide and lets Josiah inside. Of all Makani’s friends, he likes Josiah the most, and looks up to him.

 

BENJAMIN

He’s in his room.

(shouts)

Makani! Josiah’s here!

 

Josiah leaves his sandals at the door with all the other shoes and slippers and follows Benjamin.

 

 

INT. DA SILVA RESIDENCE — MAKANI’S BEDROOM — MOMENTS LATER

 

What a mess! Clothes are strewn about on the floor, along with magazines, a CD folder, and jewel-cases. The bed is unmade.

 

Benjamin’s cat, POPOKI, sleeps soundly atop a pile of Makani’s dirty laundry.

 

Makani, however, is nowhere to be seen.

 

BENJAMIN

(insistently)

Wait here. I wan’ show you

somet’ing.

 

JOSIAH

Wha’?

 

BENJAMIN

(mischievously)

You wait! You’ll see.

 

Benjamin runs out.

 

Josiah looks around, approaches Popoki. The cat lifts her head and sniffs at Josiah’s outstretched hand. He picks the cat up, strokes her fur, and rubs her chin.

 

JOSIAH

You’re one good kitty, eh,

Popoki?

(touches his nose

to the cat’s)

Such a good kitty.

 

MAKANI

(lays the pidgin on

thick)

Hey, you lolo? You talkin’ to

one cat!

 

Josiah drops the cat.

 

JOSIAH

I didn’t hear you come up

behind me.

 

Makani grins and then looks around his cluttered room. Josiah watches him.

 

JOSIAH

What are you doing?

 

Makani looks under the bed.

 

MAKANI

I need to find my work shirt.

 

Josiah opens the closet door. Only one shirt hangs there. He pulls it down and throws it to Makani.

 

MAKANI

Mom must’ve washed it.

 

JOSIAH

Obviously.

 

MAKANI

(beat)

It’s been a long time, brah.

What brings you ‘round?

 

JOSIAH

Saw you in the lunchroom this

afternoon.

(beat)

Started me thinking about you;

wondering how you’ve been.

 

Makani’s posture relaxes and he leans his weight to one side. Absently, he raises the front of his tank top a little, and gently bites his bottom lip.

 

MAKANI

Been okay, I guess.

(beat)

I work tonight.

 

JOSIAH

When did you get a job?

 

Makani removes his tank top.

 

MAKANI

Last month. I work about ten

hours a week. Wouldn’t want

work to interfere with play,

you know.

 

JOSIAH

Of course not.

 

Makani drops his khaki-colored shorts. He wears bikini briefs underneath. Though subtle, he wants to draw Josiah’s attention to his body. He pretends to be tired, lifts his arms over his head, YAWNS, stretches.

 

Josiah watches Makani -- he cannot help it.

 

MAKANI

Since I’ve hooked up with

Sara, I need the extra cash

for dates and all that.

 

Makani takes a step towards Josiah.

 

JOSIAH

Dinner ... movies....

 

Makani sees the cautious desire in his friend’s eyes and steps closer still.

 

MAKANI

I need to keep my girl happy.

 

Josiah swallows the lump in his throat.

 

JOSIAH

Yeah ... I guess so.

 

Makani grins, flexes, and makes his biceps bulge. Josiah responds to this display by lowering his eyes.

 

Benjamin walks into the bedroom holding a stack of magazines.

 

MAKANI

Benji! Get out! Can’t you see

I’m getting dressed?

 

Benjamin doesn’t understand Makani’s embarrassed outburst and ignores it. He’s seen Makani’s underwear before and does not even begin to comprehend that his big brother was flirting with Josiah.

 

BENJAMIN

(to Josiah)

These are what I wanted to show

you.

 

Benjamin holds the magazines out for Josiah to see.

 

MAKANI

My magazines! I wondered where

they disappeared to.

 

Makani rips the titty magazines away from Benjamin.

 

BENJAMIN

(protests angrily)

I’m telling mom!

 

MAKANI

(laughs)

Yeah, right!

(beat)

You’ll get in even more trouble

than I will. Mom’d freak if she

knew you were looking at porn.

 

Makani gives Benjamin a hard shove out the door. Josiah smiles at this brotherly tussle, then grabs one of the magazines from Makani and shakes it.

 

JOSIAH

Still into this, eh, Makani?

 

MAKANI

Nah. Now that I’m with Sara,

I have other things to keep me

entertained.

 

Makani drops the magazines and kicks them under the bed. He approaches Josiah again. He isn’t at all shy. Josiah is though -- he lowers his eyes again and draws back.

 

There are unresolved feelings between these two.

 

JOSIAH

What are you doing tonight

after work?

 

Makani pulls on his work shirt.

 

MAKANI

Meeting up with my friend

Caleb.

 

JOSIAH

(disappointed)

Oh.

 

Makani puts on a pair of slacks.

 

MAKANI

Well ... I’ve got to go. I’ll

be late for work.

 

 

INT. GROCERY STORE — FRONT END REGISTERS — NIGHT

 

John stands at the end of a check-out counter bagging groceries. The CASHIER rings up the purchase for the single CUSTOMER in line.

 

John hands the bag of groceries to the customer. Then, once the customer is gone, he impatiently watches the clock: 8:47 P.M.

 

 

EXT. KAILUA-KONA — “HAMBURGER HILL” — LATER

 

John enters the overgrown fields which surround the “Hamburger Hill” neighborhood. He makes his way carefully along the path, through the foliage, and over lava rocks. Walking alone, and without the moon’s light, he is eager to get home.

 

The WIND picks up and RUSTLES branches; a STORM, heard at a distance, is coming.

 

John stops to listen. A moment passes. He walks towards the neighborhood and its streetlights more quickly now. As he approaches a small copse, he slows again.

 

The CRUNCH of a step upon rocks spooks him.

 

He instinctively crouches, listens. Nothing more. He starts forwards again. As he passes, a homeless man, MALACHI, fifty-seven, steps out from the shelter of the trees and onto the path. John jumps back, startled.

 

JOHN

Shit! You scared me!

 

Malachi is of mixed Hawaiian, European, and, predominantly, Chinese ancestry. He is short, pot-

bellied, and balding. His sparse hair is gray, wiry, and quite a mess. He wears a wispy beard on his chin. His clothes are filthy.

 

MALACHI

Scared? No need.

(beat; leans close;

then, quietly)

You accept Jesus Christ as your

Savior, yeah?

 

John is stunned by this question, its suddenness and the personal nature of it, and has nothing to say. He steps back. Malachi steps towards John and puts his hands on the boy’s shoulders firmly.

 

MALACHI

You accept Our Lord in your

heart, yeah?

 

JOHN

(beat)

Yes.

 

MALACHI

Good! Good.

(beat)

Dark times, you see? We live in

very dark times, young man.

 

John tries to move past Malachi. The old man smells atrocious. Beyond that, John’s initial surprise edges towards genuine fear. Malachi is intense, creepy.

 

JOHN

I need to go.

 

MALACHI

Wait one minute. I need to tell

you somet’ing.

(beat)

You believe in visions --

revelations -- yeah?

 

JOHN

(cautiously)

I suppose so.

 

The WIND becomes fierce!

 

MALACHI

Not long ago, I had one vision.

I was at the top of the hill

there, by the highway...

(points mauka)

...when I saw one vision in the

heavens above.

 

John has heard enough. He walks away, but Malachi catches him by the wrist roughly.

 

JOHN

Hey!

 

MALACHI

(with wild-eyed

intensity)

“As I looked, behold, a stormy

wind came out of the north, and

a great cloud with brightness

round about it, and fire

flashing continually, and in

the midst of the fire, it

gleamed bronze -- ”

 

John breaks free of Malachi’s grasp and runs.

 

MALACHI

(shouts after John)

Young man! Young man, come

back!

 

John trips on a lava rock and goes down. He scrapes his hands and elbows. In an instant, he is up again, despite the pain, and runs home.

 

 

DREAM SEQUENCE — INT. JOSIAH’S CONDO — BEDROOM — LATER

 

The STORM, the unrelenting SPLATTER of rain hitting the bedroom window and WIND are the only sounds.

 

Josiah awakens, startled. His father’s journal, now fifteen years old, sits open across his chest. He has sensed another presence and reacts accordingly.

 

He sits up, frightened, the journal falls away, and he strains his eyes to see in the near complete darkness. His senses are all highly alert. He lowers his feet over the side of the bed and stands.

 

A faint HISS.... It sounds to Josiah as if it came from down the hallway, and he looks towards the closed bedroom door.

 

Josiah gets up from bed, tugs his briefs higher on his hips, and opens the door. He steps out.

 

 

DREAM SEQUENCE (CONT’D) — INT. JOSIAH’S CONDO — STUDY — MOMENTS LATER

 

The floor lamp beside the desk is on and casts a shadow of the grand, ornate bookcase onto the far wall.

 

There ... the Dæmon stands in the shadow by the sofa. In its right hand, clutched tightly, is a javelin. (Note: This is the Dæmon’s pale, faceless wight-like manifestation, as in the earlier dream.)

 

It lifts its head to “face” Josiah; its maw gapes open; it HISSES!

 

Josiah stumbles backwards, trips over his own feet, and winds up flat on his rump.

 

The Dæmon approaches.

 

Josiah scrambles to his feet and backs up.

 

Josiah’s eyes are fixed on the invader. He opens his mouth to cry out -- but the scream will not come.

 

The Dæmon levels the javelin at Josiah and bolts forward with inhuman speed!

 

Josiah is SLAMMED backwards against the wall by the force of the attack. The javelin runs him completely through, BREAKS his sternum. The bitter, metallic taste of blood seeps up into the back of his throat; he CHOKES ... SPITS blood.

 

In the pale lamplight, dark blood flows over his hands and oozes through his fingers where he clutches tightly at the javelin’s shaft.

 

END DREAM SEQUENCE.