Thursday, April 12, 2012

THE MAN WHO WOULD BE THE END p.72-80

INT. MOTOR HOME (DRIVING) - DAY
Stan looks out the window anxiously. Serena is reading through a Bible. Stan is surprised.

STAN
Why are you looking at that crap?

SERENA
Know thy enemy.

STAN
What’s there to know? They’re crazy and want to kill me.

SERENA
Do you even know why? What do you know about the Antichrist?

STAN
He’s...bad?

Serena tosses the Bible to Stan.

SERENA
You thought earlier you were the Antichrist. Take a look and see.

DAN
We’re here! Hurry up!

EXT. LAURA LUTHER’S HOUSE - DAY
The Motor Home pulls up to Laura’s home. Stan exits. He sneaks up to her door and knocks. No answer. Stan knocks harder. Impatient and worried, he runs at the door. After three times, he breaks it open.

INSIDE
Laura is in the kitchen, holding a hot tray of cookies.

LAURA
Stan?!

STAN
Sis, we have to go! Get what you need, Dan’s Motor Home is outside--

LAURA
--Stan, I’m not going anywhere! Wherever you’re going, I don’t--

STAN
--it’s not...I need your help! Come with us, please. You’re the smart one in the family.

LAURA
I want to stay here! You don’t need me, so please--

Stan picks up Laura, cookies and all.

STAN
--sorry Sis.

OUTSIDE
Stan carries Laura to the Motor Home. She yells and protests the entire time. Neighbors see. One gets on a phone.

INSIDE MOTOR HOME
Stan carries Laura in.

STAN
We can leave now.

DAN
Where are we going?

Stan looks at Laura, still in his arms.

STAN
Where are we going?

LAURA
I don’t know! Put me down!

Stan puts Laura down. Serena grabs a cookie from the tray, tries it and spits it out.

SERENA
Raisins? Uch!

STAN
Laura, this is Serena and Mitchell.

LAURA
What’s wrong with raisins?

EXT. NATIONAL GUARD BASE - DAY
Omber stands in the Humvee parking lot. His followers are getting in two Humvees, carrying mortar launchers.

OMBER
We have a sighting! They’re heading north.

The zealots drive off.


INT. MOTOR HOME (DRIVING) - DAY

Dan drives. Mitchell sits next to him, talking. Serena, Laura and Stan sit in the back awkwardly.

SERENA
The President sounded like he was on your side. Let’s go to DC.

LAURA
I’m sure the President will offer protection to a priest killer.

Stan is about to speak.

SERENA
He got off for that!

LAURA
Trust me, kiddo, it’s was Stan’s fault. It’s always his fault.

SERENA
What a kind and loving sister.

Stan is about to speak again, but shakes his head and turns away, spotting the Bible. He picks it up and starts reading.

LAURA
I have stood by my brother his whole life!
(to Stan)
I tried so hard to get you on the right path! But not my love, not Hucklebee, not even God could save you.

SERENA
Ever think that maybe God isn’t the solution to all of life’s, or any of life’s problems?

LAURA
Oh, I’m sorry, is putting on black make-up and hating the world a better solution?

STAN
Enough, enough, enough! Laura, you’re right. You tried everything you knew to make me a good, mature adult like you, and I rejected it every time.

Stan drops the Bible and opens an ice chest for a beer.

STAN
But maybe I shouldn’t have to be like you! I’m not perfect, but I was usually happy, until all of this. And for once, this isn’t all my fault!

Serena looks proud of Stan. Laura is silenced. Stan drinks and looks out his window. The view is peaceful. Blue skies, green hills, and a few trees. Two squirrels playfully run along the raised embankment with the Motor Home.

BOOM!
The squirrels and most of the hillside disappears in an explosion of dust and debris.

STAN
What the--?

Another explosion rocks the Motor Home. Laura screams. Dan looks in the side mirror. Two Humvees are tailing them and launching mortars.

DAN
We got well-armed psychos at six o’clock.

MITCHELL
Take evasive measures.

Dan swerves the Motor Home wildly, barely dodging another explosion.

DAN
I don’t know any evasive measures!

Mitchell pushes Dan out of the seat and takes control of the vehicle. Laura hides underneath a bunk.

LAURA
Stan, take cover. Dan, call the highway patrol. Serena--

Serena, opens the ice chest and pulls out three beers.

SERENA
Stan, give me a boost.

She points towards the roof hatch. Stan looks from her to Laura, deciding. He lifts Serena through the roof.

OUTSIDE
Serena lobs the beers like bombs at the Humvees. One hits the windshield. The Humvee swerves. The zealots prepare to fire another mortar, until one is hit in the head by a beer.

SERENA
Ha! Don’t fuck with--

The other zealot pulls out a gun. Serena ducks back into the Motor Home as a bullet whizzes by.

INSIDE

SERENA
They shot at me!

Stan is angry. Another mortar hits near the driver’s seat. Mitchell screams, his arm cut up by the window glass.

STAN
Dan, get Mitchell out of there!

Dan gets Mitchell out of the seat. Stan takes the wheel.

LAURA
Stan, what are you doing? You don’t know how to drive this thing!

STAN
No, but I know how to drive like a bad ass!

Stan turns the Motor Home around, skidding and picking up dust on the narrow road. Stan punches the gas, heading right towards the Humvees.

STAN’S POV: The outdoor scene turns into the video game he was playing at the beginning, and back to reality.

STAN
Oh, I know this game!

The drivers of the Humvees, surprised, prepare to launch more mortars. Stan dodges one mortar. A game of chicken is afoot. Stan picks up speed. The Humvees chicken out and split to each side of the road.

Stan drives the Motor Home into the Humvee on the right, knocking it off a steep embankment. The zealots abandon ship as the vehicle flips and crashes. Stan sticks his head out the window to taunt the zealots.

STAN
Another one for Stan the Antichrist!

LAURA
Stan!

STAN
I’m kidding. It’s too bad that Jesus doesn’t teach you how to kick ass.

Serena moves up front and puts her hand on Stan’s shoulders and points to the other Humvee.

SERENA
Run ‘em off the road!

Stan speeds up, but seeing Laura’s worried face, slows. Serena is disappointed, but Laura is relieved. The zealots prepare to fire another mortar while approaching a tight turn. Stan hits the horn. The zealots turn around too late, and go flying off the cliff. Serena hugs Stan.

SERENA
That was still pretty hot.

DAN
Saving our lives or not, you’re helping me repaint Bertha.

Stan looks back and sees Laura quietly straightening up the Motor Home. She doesn’t look at him. Stan is proud either way. Serena takes the passenger seat.

SERENA
To DC, Dark Lord Luther.

INT. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - DAY
Omber, flanked by two followers, walks down a corridor.

OMBER
You’re sure this is the best hospital in DC?

FOLLOWER 2
The very best, sir. Nothing but for the Reverend.

Omber ENTERS a room. The Followers remain outside.

HUCKLEBEE’S ROOM
Surrounded by flowers and get-well cards is Hucklebee, in a coma. Omber goes to his side.

OMBER
Oh Reverend...Hollis...I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to visit, but I’ve been very busy avenging you. I have taken your place, and started an epic crusade of holy men to bring down the vile Stan Luther! You would be so proud of me! The power I have garnered is great. Maybe greater than yours...

Hucklebee’s eyes open.

HOLLIS HUCKLEBEE
What?

OMBER
Sir? Reverend!

HOLLIS HUCKLEBEE
What...are you talking about? Who’s Stan Luther?

OMBER
Stan Bee Luther! The man you claimed was the Antichrist. The bringer of the Apocalypse. The end of the world.

HOLLIS HUCKLEBEE
No no, I didn’t say that, moron. I said Satan. Beezlebub. Lucifer. The old shtick.

OMBER
But...I thought--

Shocked and terrified, Omber scans the room. On a table is a collection of pills. Omber opens the vials and puts pills into his hands.

HOLLIS HUCKLEBEE
--What kind of idiot would think I said--

Omber forces the pills into Hucklebee’s mouth, and waits till they’re swallowed. Hucklebee is back to sleep. Omber grabs one pill bottle. The label warns: May Cause Hallucinations. Omber pockets it and EXITS the room.

OUTSIDE
Omber heads back down the corridor, flanked by the followers.

FOLLOWER 1
Sir, did we hear the Reverend speaking?

OMBER
Stan has deeply cursed the Reverend. He woke briefly, but spoke only nonsense and lies. I need you two to stay and guard his room. Let no one in. The agents of Stan are everywhere!

FOLLOWER 2
Yes sir.

OMBER
Good.

FOLLOWER 1
Sir? We received word that your special...task force failed.

FOLLOWER 2
It seems that Stan is heading to the Capital.

OMBER
Alert all loyalists in DC. I’m going to see if the President is ready to redeem himself. Don’t let Stan reach the White House!