Painting status

So with having a new job, I haven't had as much time to paint lately...but I will again! Have a couple ideas brewing...just waiting for the time to work on them. In the meantime, I'll try to find some old art to put up here on the site.

Thanks for continuing to read.

Bo

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE THE END p.55-63

INT. SERENA’S CAR (DRIVING) - NIGHT

STAN
I think I am the Antichrist.

SERENA
No you’re not.

STAN
Everything I do turns out for the worst. I’m only good at fucking things up.

Serena slaps him.

SERENA
I hate self pity. Keep that in mind.

STAN
Sorry, but growing up, that’s all I heard. I would get in trouble, and my old man would scream at me for hours. The guy thought that if you didn’t love the Lord, you weren’t worth shit.

SERENA
At least you got out to get into trouble. My parents had me under house arrest most of my life thinking it would keep me safe.

STAN/SERENA
(shaking heads)
Fucking family.

INT. SERENA’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Stan ENTERS the apartment, out of breath.

SERENA
Elevator’s been out since May, but stairs are great for the glutes.

Stan lays on her couch. He checks out the apartment: Extreme Sports DVDs. Posters of nu-metal bands. A skate board. A pair of handcuffs. Fireworks. A care bear in a noose.

STAN
Your place is...cool.

Serena enters the kitchen and opens the fridge.

SERENA
Thanks. You want any water before--

Stan has fallen asleep on the couch. His belly protrudes from under his shirt. Serena grabs a beer.

SERENA
If the world could see him now. Antichrist my ass.

MORNING
Stan sleeps on the edge of the sofa. Serena shakes him, holding a pair of binoculars.

SERENA
Stan, wake up.

STAN
No.

SERENA
Come on, you need to see this.

STAN
Naaa I don’t.

Serena punches Stan in the gut.

STAN
I’m up!

Serena grabs Stan’s hand and drags him out the door.

ROOFTOP
Stan and Serena stand at the roof’s edge. The view shows people for miles around marching towards one location.

STAN
I can see my house from here.

SERENA
Oh, you mean the one surrounded by a torch-wielding mob?

Serena hands Stan the binoculars.

OUTSIDE STAN’S HOUSE
The old protestors are still there. New Huckle-beings from all over the world have joined them. Omber stands between Stan’s door and the mob. He yells at the house.

OMBER
Show yourself, vile demon. Surrender yourself, or prepare for destruction!

INDIAN ZEALOT
You sure he’s there?

OMBER
He got out of jail, where else would he be?
(to the house)
If you come out, we promise you a fair trial before burning you at the stake. How does that sound?

JAPANESE ZEALOT
Maybe we should knock?

ROOFTOP

STAN
The United Nations of crazy are after me now. Great.

SERENA
(excited)
Man, you have to be someone dangerous to get so many different people wanting you dead.

STAN
Fuck! I can’t even go home!
(to the Heavens)
You win. I give up! I’ll just jump off this roof now!

SERENA
Stop it. We need to get you somewhere safe.

STAN
(re: mob)
Please, do tell me where I can go where that won’t get me.

Serena runs to the stairs.

SERENA
Follow!

INT. SERENA’S CAR (DRIVING) - DAY
Serena slowly drives against the grain of people. She honks to get people to move. Some zealots yell and hit her car. Stan peaks his head up from under a blanket in the back.

STAN
Where are we going?

SERENA
Get down and stay still!

STAN
It’s dirty down here.

SERENA
Better than out there.

Stan peaks over the window, and sees the mobs carrying effigies of himself. Stan ducks back down and grabs Serena’s cell phone from the passenger seat. He dials.

STAN
I need to call Laura.

SERENA
Who’s Laura?!

STAN
My sister.

INT. SOUP KITCHEN - DAY
INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION
Laura dolls out soup to the homeless. She picks up her cell phone on the second ring.

LAURA
Hello?

STAN
Laura, they’re all trying to kill me!

LAURA
Stan, I can’t--

Stan peaks out the window again, seeing different religious groups carrying nooses and clubs.

STAN
They have machetes and pitchforks! Please sis!

Laura drops her ladel and motions a young woman to replace her as she walks back into the kitchen.

LAURA
Stan...when Hucklebee collapsed, you showed no signs of concerns.

STAN
So? He wasn’t my life guru!

LAURA
When the priest died, you didn’t mutter a word of sympathy.

STAN
It’s not my fault he was a lecherous old--

LAURA
--He was a person, Stan! When someone suffers or dies, it’s human to show compassion! You have none! How am I supposed to believe you’re not the Antichrist when the only person you ever show any concern for is yourself?

Stan is stopped cold. He slumps back down behind the seat.

STAN
(sincerely)
I’m...sorry Laura...for bothering you.

LAURA
Stan--

Stan hangs up and throws the phone onto Serena’s seat.

SERENA
Not getting along with the sibling?

STAN
Not really.

SERENA
Been there, about to do that.

EXT. ALABAMA NATIONAL GUARD BASE - DAY
Serena’s car drives up to the gated entrance. A young, studious GUARD addresses her.

SERENA
Here to see Lieutenant Mitchell Sherman.

GUARD
Do you have an appointment?

SERENA
I’m his sister. It’s an emergency.

GUARD
Do you have any ident--

SERENA
Damn it, soldier! People will die if I don’t get in to see my brother in the next two minutes! Do you want that on your conscience?

GUARD
Identification...please.

Serena gets out her license and shows the Guard. He opens the gate and Serena plows in.

INSIDE BASE
Serena parks her car next to a building.

SERENA
Just stay in the car til I talk to my brother. He’s never been a big fan of the guys I’ve hung out with.

MITCHELL SHERMAN, 36, strong and stern, exits the building.

MITCHELL
Sis? What are you doing here?

SERENA
Hey bro, kinda needed to talk to you about something.

MITCHELL
What, you and your punk friends vandalize the postal workers this time? You in some kind of trouble?

SERENA
No, no, but a friend of mine is.

MITCHELL
Friend? What friend?

Stan peaks his head out the car window and waves.

STAN
Hi.

MITCHELL
Shit.

STAN
I’m--

MITCHELL
--all over the news. Evil incarnate. Shit! Sis, you and your god-damn friends!

Mitchell angrily enters the building. Serena waves Stan to follow. Stan and Serena enter the building. Behind a building, a HUCKLE-CROSS-WEARING GUARD spots them. He takes out a phone.

HUCKLE-CROSS-WEARING GUARD
Send word to Reverend Grayson. The Antichrist is here. I repeat, the Antichrist is in the base!

EXT. STAN LUTHER’S HOUSE - DAY
A zealot whispers in Omber’s ear.

OMBER
He’s at the National Guard base! Let’s go!

The mobs get into their cars. All the cars putter and choke. Beezy runs through the background, laughing victoriously.

OMBER
On foot! We’ll march!

EXT. SOUP KITCHEN - DAY
Laura leaves the Kitchen as the mob marches past. A hyper-vigilante fanatic sees Laura with the cross around her neck.

VIGILANTE FANATIC
Hey good Christian, we’ve found where the Stan Luther is! Going to help us burn him?

LAURA
No! That’s not what Jesus would do.

VIGILANTE FANATIC
He’s the Antichrist! Jesus would lead the charge!

The fanatic returns to the mob. Laura watches, distressed.

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE THE END p.47-55

EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT
Stan faces the church, spiteful and afraid. He still holds the wine bottle. Each step towards the church is a struggle of will. He curses under his breath.

INSIDE
Stan forces each step. He dabs his hand in the holy water. He steps into a pew and sits.

STAN
Yo, what’s going on...God. Your favorite fuck--er, screw-up here. Bet you’ve really missed me, though you’re obviously still having some jokes at my expense.

From an office, FATHER BERMAN exits, giggling playfully with a pretty soccer mom. They poke and grab each other flirtatiously. Berman stops when he sees Stan. Silently motioning the woman to leave, Berman observes him.

STAN
You know I’m not a big fan of you. I doubt you’re even there. Maybe you’re just jackin’ it to pictures of Aphrodite in Heaven’s bathroom, I don’t know, but if you could come out for a minute and give me a hand, I could use one.
(beat)
I’m in way over my head. I don’t really know what you can do, but my sister usually has good ideas for things like this, and she won’t help me unless you do. Sooo...do something. Please! I’ll buy you a forty, when I...eventually get up there.

Stan waits. Nothing.

STAN
Fine, is that how it’s going to be? You selfish bastard. I come here, begging you, and you’re just sitting up on your high horse laughing at me.
(standing, with Bible)
Fuck you! Fuck you and your book! And if my dad’s there laughing with you, you can tell him to go to Hell. I’m going to kick him in the balls when I see him!

Stan prepares to throw the bible. Berman runs over.

FATHER BERMAN
Whoa whoa there son, calm down.

Berman puts his hands on Stan’s heaving shoulders. Stan looks furiously up towards the Heavens.

STAN
That jerk.

FATHER BERMAN
Let’s have a talk in my office.
(re: wine)
And maybe a drink.

Sneaking out behind the front door is Berman’s mistress, recording everything on her phone camera.

BERMAN’S OFFICE
Stan sits on a sofa. Berman finds a corkscrew in his desk.

FATHER BERMAN
It’s not everyday I get the Antichrist in my church.

Stan freezes. Berman laughs.

FATHER BERMAN
Don’t worry, I’m just messing with you. You don’t survive as a priest for thirty seven years by buying into every holy crisis.

Berman subtly puts away a pill bottle while finding two glasses. Stan relaxes into the sofa, very relieved.

STAN
You have no idea how nice it is to hear that from a religious guy! I’ve been searching high and low for someone who could just get all these crazies off my back!

Berman chuckles as he opens the bottle of wine. He stares at the wine with an alcoholic’s thirst.

FATHER BERMAN
The Bible teaches many great things, but common sense isn’t one of them.

Berman pours the wine. A large glass for himself. A small bit for Stan.

FATHER BERMAN
Too many Christians have lost touch with the real world. Forgot how to have fun!

STAN
(taking glass)
Yes, yes! I mean, why can’t you believe in God, and still raise a little Hell now and then?

FATHER BERMAN
Amen, brother. Don’t you worry, I have a lot of friends in the religious community. In a little time, I can get things sorted out for you.

STAN
Thank you! Thank you! You don’t know--

Berman drinks the wine. Stan looks at the bottle and puts down his glass quickly. He motions to stop Berman.

STAN
Oh, stop, geez, ah man.

FATHER BERMAN
Hm? What’s the problem?

STAN
You’re a priest, right? You weren’t planning on having kids--

Father Berman begins choking and clutching his heart. Within seconds, he keels over, dead. Stan stares, paralyzed.

EXT. CHURCH - NIGHT
Sergeant Billfro and Officer Peyton take Stan away in handcuffs. A third officer carries out the wine and glasses in plastic bags. Paramedics roll away Berman’s corpse. Cherry Bims is on the scene, covering the whole event.

STAN
It’s not my fault! I swear I got the wine from a college professor!

SERGEANT BILLFRO
Like you could even get into college!

CHERRY
And in the continuing story of the man who might be the end of the world, much-loved Father Berry Berman died tonight after sharing a glass of wine with the Antichrist.

STAN
I’m not the Antichrist!

Stan is pushed into the back of a squad car.

INT. DARWIN’S DISCIPLES HEADQUARTERS
Zallynack, Lilly, and three other Disciples watch the report. Everyone but Zallynack is shocked by the information.

LILLY
It...wasn’t supposed to kill people, sir.

ALBERT
I can get all of the boxes off the market before morning--

ZALLYNACK
--No! Continue the operations.

The Disciples return to work. Zallynack grins.

EXT. STAN LUTHER’S HOUSE - NIGHT
Omber watches the report on a portable TV. His Followers surround him.

OMBER
Call an emergency meeting of the Huckle-Being Cabal!

Omber jumps into a limousine. The DRIVER starts the limo, but it putters. The Driver stares at his gas meter.

DRIVER
We’re out of gas?!

Omber bristles his mustache, alarmed. In the background, Beezy runs across the street, laughing victoriously.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
Omber stands in a small conference room with seven video screens surrounding him. On each screen is Cardinal of the Hucklebee Church; MILDON (English), CHARO (Mexican), RAJ (Indian), PAULO (French), TAKASHI (Japanese), ANTOINE (African), and VALSTAD (Russian)

OMBER
Gentlemen of God, and the Hucklebee Worldwide Covenant, I bring you news on our current crisis.

MILDON
Before the news, how is our holy Reverend doing?

OMBER
I am afraid he is still in a coma. I, like you, miss his presence terribly, but take upon myself the burden of fighting the fight he would have lead himself - the hunt for the Antichrist!

The leaders look at each other (from screen to screen) nervously.

TAKASHI
Uh...Omber, about that. Do you truly believe this man is the Antichrist? We have seen the reports and footage of the man, and...

VALSTAD
...while he is certainly a vile heathen, he does not have the gravitas of an Antichrist.

ANTOINE
Yes. He seems to be more of a lesser demon.

OMBER
He was named by the Reverend himself! By our Reverend! Is that not enough for you? Is putting the Reverend in a coma and killing a priest not enough for you?!?

MILDON
We mean no disrespect to our fallen savior, but...

PAULO
...his health had been in question before his collapse.

RAJ
Both mental and physical.

OMBER
Fine! If you need more proof.

Angry, Omber digs into a briefcase and pulls out a pile of photos which he holds up to the screens. The group exams a picture of Stan in his bathroom, the sign “The Temple” visible, followed by a blow-up of Stan’s drivers license.

OMBER
Paul wrote the Man of Sin would be “sitting in the temple”. He will be an adversary of Christ while resembling him deceptively.

Omber turns on a video screen behind him. Stan’s blow-up at the church filmed on the camera phone plays, followed by Stan saying he is Jesus at the revival.

OMBER
Barclay has said the Antichrist will incarnate itself in those who are blatant opponents of God! Yet, he that sits in the temple of God shall also affirm that he is God!

CHARO
Ay dios mio!

OMBER
The signs are all there gentlemen. You must send me all your followers. All your holy warriors! We must stop this creature of pure evil before he destroys our entire world!

The leaders all look at each other again, nodding.

MILDON
You are making an extremely risky proposition, Omber. You best be right that this would be Hucklebee’s wish. Crusade!

PAULO
Crusade!

RAJ
Crusade!

The other leaders chant “crusade” over and over again. Omber smiles devilishly.

INT. JAIL - NIGHT
Stan sits in a dirty jail cell, staring at his reflection in a one-way mirror. Three days worth of beard has grown. An old DRUNK sits next to him.

DRUNK
Antichrist! What up bro?

Stan somberly high-fives the Drunk.

OFFICE
On the other side of the mirror, Billfro and Peyton watch Stan. Billfro drinks coffee.

OFFICER PEYTON
According to the labs, the chemical in the wine should just have sterilized the drinker. Problem was Berman had Viagra in his system. The combo fried his heart.

SERGEANT BILLFRO
Can’t we hold him on that?

OFFICER PEYTON
Corkscrew and wrapper at the scene leads forensics to believe the wine wasn’t tampered with, and Antichrist in there doesn’t own a vineyard. Can’t seem to trace who made this stuff.

SERGEANT BILLFRO
Think there’s any truth to it being that Atheist Zallynack?

OFFICER PEYTON
We can investigate, but the guy’s got money and lawyers up the wazoo. Either way, we have nothing on Luther.

SERGEANT BILLFRO
Damn it. Fine, get him out of here.

Peyton leaves the office.

JAIL
Peyton enters. Stan stands up.

STAN
Hey, I’ve been in here for three days! Can’t I at least get a--

OFFICER PEYTON
--You’re free...for now.

Stan looks surprised as Peyton opens the cell. Stand leaves.

OFFICER PEYTON
Make your call and get out.

EXT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Stan leaves the station. Serena is waiting for him next to a beat up car.

STAN
You’re the only one who picked up.

SERENA
I’m tired, so you’re crashing at my place. I’ll give you a ride home in the morning.

Destiny Manifest

I realized with this painting that cars are not my strong point.