Witch - Episode 1.07 - "How Can I Help?" (Part Two)
Act Three.
[Open to: the witches’ living room, day. Pete stands up, suddenly breathing heavily as the green glow dies away.]
Pete: No. No…
Kaspar: Oh god…
Ezra: The release spell.
Pete: [dark] I’m infected with whatever he had, aren’t I? I can feel it.
Autumn: [mortified] How did this happen?
Pete: When the smoke touched me…. It’s inside me. It’s inside me.
Ezra: The energy must’ve infected the nearest person instead of going into the ether.
Autumn: Oh god, oh god, oh god…
Tara: We’ll f-find a way to fix this. This w-won’t set us back, we won’t let it.
Pete: [trembling slightly] D-did the spell work though? Is Darren still infected?
Darren: [quietly] No… I don’t think it worked. It’s still there. [beat.] I know it.
Kaspar: [with an irritated sigh] None of this worked then.
Autumn: We’ve only made things worse.
Darren: I’m so sorry about… about putting all this on you.
Ezra: Don’t be, we’ve come this far, we’re going to see you through it.
Tara: We’ll find a cure, for both of you.
Rina: So what’s the next thing we can do?
Tara: Do we have anything on this yet?
Autumn: [grim] O-on the book front, we’ve got nothing so far.
Kaspar: I’m now voting for hack and slash method, we can’t really trust magic right now.
Tara: You’re right, it looks like that’s our best bet right now.
Kaspar: I’ll go. I need to deal with this for you, Pete. And you Darren.
[He nods to Pete, who smiles weakly in appreciation.]
Tara: Who wants to come with?
Rina: I’ll be willing.
Ezra: Well if my baby goes, I’m not far behind.
[Ezra smiles gently to Rina who returns it with an equally warm grin. Kaspar notices this and his expression darkens further.]
Pete: [slightly weak] I… I should probably stay. I’ll find a way to reverse it, or t-try to find one at least.
Darren: [brisk] I want to come.
[Kaspar raises his eyebrows.]
Darren: I’d like to help fight, with you. I brought this thing into your lives, I think I should at least try and get help rid of it, to do what I can. If you’ll let me.
[Kaspar looks around to the rest of the witches who seem to have no objection to it.]
Kaspar: Well, nobody’s stopping you.
[Cut to: Tara, Ezra, Rina, Kaspar and Darren walking along an empty alley, with nothing but pavement, night. Rina holds a map while they walk. She’s also carrying an axe, Ezra and Rina both have kitchen knives and Tara a battle axe.]
Tara: So this is Jewel Avenue?
Rina: According to the map, yeah.
[The five stop.]
Ezra: Ok, then where the hell is our demon?
Kaspar: It doesn’t look like anything lives here at all.
Ezra: So I don’t get to axe anything?
Tara: Are we sure this is the right place?
Autumn: As sure as some… really sure thing, yeah.
Tara: We should go back, this was a waste of time.
Darren: When I walked along here I had no idea where it came from. It may sound a little weird but maybe it’s in the wall?
Rina: Haven’t we tried every revealing spell we know? If it’s not coming out for us now, it never will.
Tara: I don’t think we’re gonna get anything out of this.
[Cut to: the witches’ house, day. Drake rushes suddenly up the garden path, hot, sweaty and flushed with wild panic, scared. He reaches the door and knocks on it desperately. It opens, Autumn is behind it, and naturally she instantly closes it again, her eyes widening in surprise.]
Autumn: [under her breath] I’m not having much luck with visitors today.
[The knocking continues, frantic and quick.]
Kaspar OS: Who’s knocking?
Autumn: Drake.
Kaspar: Drake? Has he decided to drop by for some tea followed by a spot of attempted murder?
Autumn: Don’t know. Didn’t ask.
[Kaspar stops for a moment, flash back to the end of 1.06 - the witch hunters’ house, night. Drake is at the door with Rina.]
Rina: Mind if I come in?
[Flash to: reality again. Kaspar approaches the door with more determination this time and opens it.]
Drake: [gasping] Please, please, help me.
[Tara, Ezra and Rina are attracted by the noise and approach the door.]
Ezra: Another visitor? Jeez, we’re popular at the mo-
[Ezra stops in mid-sentence.]
Ezra: Oh, this has to be a joke.
Tara: [sarcastic] Gee, I’m in hysterics.
Drake: [gasping] I’m… I’ve been infected, by something, something that makes me...kill.
Autumn: And how is that different for you?
Drake: Please, you’re the only ones that can help me.
Ezra: Oh come on, what d’you think we are?
[Beat.]
Tara: We should let him in.
Ezra: [to Tara] Oh come on, what d’you think we are?
Autumn: [wary] Tara…
Tara: It’s better to have him locked up rather than Mr. Psycho Killer on the loose.
[They all look at Drake.]
Drake: I wouldn’t disagree.
Kaspar: Oh come on! This is ridiculous!
Tara: I know it’s not my place, but I think it’s a good idea. It may be a sacrifice, but I think it’s worth it, so he doesn’t start killing.
[Tara around for some kind of approval. Slowly, Autumn and Rina nod in agreement. Kaspar stares at Rina as she nods, their eyes lock for a second - hard, jagged.]
Autumn: Tara’s right.
Kaspar: What if he’s lying?
[Tara looks to Kaspar, who looks back, with a cold stare.]
Kaspar: This is stupid. We all know what he really wants, he’s going to use this-
Ezra: [hard] Well we’re not going to let him.
Kaspar: That’s just what I think. Though my opinion never counts for anything anymore. But I have a job to do, we all do, so why bother wasting time arguing?
[He sighs, his very breath wintery cold. He turns and he leaves.]
[Cut to: Pete in his room, reading through a textbook named “Supernatural Sickness” on his bed, night. His usual more cheery air has vanished, replaced by a scared and slightly bitter coldness in his expression. Kaspar slowly and carefully walks in through the open door.]
Kaspar: Bookworm Pete. Now those are two words I’d never have though would be in the same sentence. [smiles] Found anything useful?
Pete: [quiet] Yeah. A simple reversal spell, it could help.
Kaspar: It’s worth a shot.
[Long beat. Kaspar just looks at Pete for a moment while he looks down. Kaspar’s eyes are brimmed with worry, Pete’s with taught fear.]
Pete: Sure you don’t wanna back out, in case you become Rogue Number Three?
Kaspar: [with a reassuring grin] I’ll risk it.
[Pete tries to smile, reaching over for three crystals on the bedside table, he hands both over to Kaspar.]
Pete: Ok, all you have to do is say the words, cos you’re chanty witch guy.
Kaspar: Warlock.
Pete: [shrugs] Whatever.
[Kaspar huffs slightly.]
Pete: The point is you’ll make it work. I just want you to make this… better.
[Beat. Kaspar takes in what he’s just said with heartfelt gratitude.]
Kaspar: I will. And I promise.
[Pete nods appreciatively.]
Kaspar: But call me a witch again, not a warlock and I won’t hold back on the next PS2 game of Ninja 4000.
Pete: [laughs] Oh you bring it on!
[The two chuckle together for a few moments. Then Kaspar takes a breath to begin the spell.]
Kaspar: The spell that was cast, will be reversed
Turn back the pain, take back the hurt
Return! Release you from your curse
[Kaspar looks up. The crystals start glowing green momentarily, then it fades away a moment afterwards.]
Pete: Well that sucked.
Kaspar: It’s still in there?
[Pete looks down, disappointment welled in his eyes.]
Kaspar: [soft] I’m sorry.
[Beat. Pete looks up, placing on a faux smile.]
Pete: It’s alright, these things happen. Not like I ever expected it to work anyway. It’s just a price I have to pay.
Kaspar: A price you have to pay? What have you done to deserve any of this, Pete?
Pete: [slightly weakly] It’s just I’m here. Along side you all, fighting the good fight and being all superhero-ey. Or trying to be anyway in my case. I want to, no matter what happens I’ll always love you guys… but the reality of it is - I don’t think I should be here, really. It’s ironic, me being the only non-witch that I’m the guy who gets the killer power and that’s in the literal sense. This is the one chance I get to be super, and it turns out to be this. I guess I’ve realised it’s kind of overrated now.
Kaspar: This price, is it worth it?
[Beat.]
Pete: Every moment.
[Cut to: the witches’ prison cellar, day. Drake is pacing up and down the empty room. The door slides open, an eerie breeze brushes in. Drake turns, a vicious smile appears on his face.]
Drake: Well, hello there.
[The door quickly slides shut. It’s Rina.]
[Drake grins as Rina lowers a plate of some sort of food - could be anything. She swiftly turns to leave.]
Drake: Stop.
[Rina freezes.]
Rina: For once, why don’t you stop?
Drake: May I ask - stop what, honey?
Rina: Stop all this. And don’t call me honey. Only she can call me honey. I know what you’re trying to do, Drake.
Drake: Oh that, plus more.
[Drake approaches Rina, she steps back.]
Drake: Oh come on, you don’t need to keep the act up in here, being all innocent.
[Drake moves swiftly closer to Rina.]
Drake: We both know you’re not.
[Drake continues to move closer, closer, closer until his mouth is near her ear.]
Drake: [with a hard whisper] You’ve been tainted.
[Drake slowly steps back.]
Drake: But just for show, I’ll-
[Drake grabs Rina.]
Rina: What are you doing?!
Drake: Don’t worry, I have more control of every inch of my body than you could imagine, including this.
[The door instantly slides open, Tara and Kaspar rush in.]
Tara: Burn.
[Drake’s hand suddenly burns hot, he releases Rina in his pain. Tara grabs Rina and pulls her out of the cell.]
Tara: [to Drake] Don’t you try that again.
Kaspar: In his hands lie destruction.
[The cell door quickly slides to a swift close.]
Tara: We heard the yell, so we-
Rina: [breathing heavily] Thanks.
Kaspar: We couldn’t hear what you were saying, what were you talking about in there?
Rina: He-he was just trying to intimidate.
Tara: C’mon, we should just get you upstairs.
[Tara and Rina walk away up the stairs of the cellar, Kaspar’s eyes are still focused on Rina with a tough stare. She looks back to him over her shoulder as she walks, their eyes meet. Kaspar shoots daggers to Rina who looks back to him, blank. She turns and resumes walking up the stairs. Kaspar retains his steely gaze, suspicious.]
[Cut to: Ezra researching through a textbook in the living room, day. Rina walks in.]
Ezra: Oh hey, hun.
Rina: How’s the research coming along?
Ezra: Oh…same old same old.
[Rina perches herself down next to Ezra.]
Rina: Need a research partner?
Ezra: [grins] Yes, please.
[The two share a warm kiss, slowly separating.]
Ezra: So I talked to Kas today.
[Rina turns to Ezra, worried though she puts on a faux calm smile.]
Ezra: He said you wanted to tell me something.
Rina: Oh really? W-what did he say?
Ezra: He said that’s for you to say and for me to find out.
Rina: I don’t know what he’s talking about.
Ezra: [eyebrows raise] You sure?
Rina: [smiles] Positive.
[Beat. Ezra thinks.]
Ezra: [shrugging] Maybe he just made a mistake.
Rina: I’m sure he did.
[Ezra and Rina share a quick kiss.]
[Fade to: Autumn entering Pete’s room, night.]
Autumn: [soft] Hi.
Pete: [looks up and smiles] Autumn, hi.
[Beat.]
Pete: [smiles] Well, anything yet?
Autumn: Nothing. A whole gigabyte of nothing, technology’s not keen on co-operating. I’ve decided to let Kaspar take the wheel on the research front for a while, hopefully he’ll uncover a better lead.
[Pete smiles and nods. Silence.]
Autumn: So d’you want anything? Some food?
Pete: As much as I’d love to be served by Autumn the personal maid, I’m ok for now. But thanks.
Autumn: So there’s nothing I can do? Nothing at all.
Pete: [with a cheeky grin] Nothing that won’t sound really dirty.
[Autumn manages a little chuckle, but can’t help look at Pete with her eyes dark, scared.]
Autumn: You’re always able to see the light, even in the worst moments. How do you do that?
Pete: Long hours of serious, somber practice.
[Autumn can’t help but chuckle again.]
Autumn: Wanna keep some of that comedy to yourself a bit rather than giving it away?
Pete: Guess I can’t help it.
[Pause.]
Autumn: [hoarse] You know, we’re still trying. We’re still looking. And we won’t stop until we’ve found the cure. Pete, I want you to know that… that you’ll be okay.
[Pete sighs, looking down with slight annoyance.]
Pete: Autumn, I don’t need this.
Autumn: Need what?
Pete: I don’t need your pity.
Autumn: I-
Pete: [harsh] Look, I’m tired of keeping a brave face. I’m tired of smiling. I’m tired of trying to blow everything away with a gesture. I’m tired of pretending everything’s okay, because it’s not. You don’t need to tell me everything’s gonna be okay. Because I know it’s not.
Autumn: I didn’t mean…
Pete: I know. You never mean to. It’s the same story every time.
[Autumn looks at Pete, her cheeks sink a little in a slight tinge of pain. She looks down, turns and walks out of the room, slightly beaten. Pete bites his lip, regretting what he had just said in his moment of frustration.]
Pete: Autumn I-
[Pete stops in mid sentence, and sighs, weighed down by guilt.]
Pete: Autumn, I need you…
[Cut to: the witch hunters’ living room, day. Fynn is there reading through a newspaper while Jade enters quickly.]
Jade: Hey, have you heard the new news about what Drake is doing?
Fynn: [dryly sarcastic] Yeah, it’s the new hot gossip over at Witch Hunter Weekly.
Jade: I didn’t know there was-
[Fynn grins cheekily to her.]
Jade: Oh Fynn, you were always so funny!
Fynn: So how are you, Jade?
Jade: I’m good. Though I’ll boost that up to a great now that you’re here.
[Fynn puts his head in his hands.]
Fynn: Jade…
Jade: Wait, don’t ruin it. This moment we’re having.
Fynn: Moment?
Jade: I’m looking into your eyes-
Fynn: My head is down.
Jade: That’s not the point. I can see your soul, I can see the real man underneath that rough exterior, I can see what your heart longs for. [beat] And vice versa.
Fynn: No no. Vice versa that vice versa.
Jade: I can already feel the burning tension, yearning for release, the passion. Kiss me.
[Jade closes her eyes and leans forward to kiss Fynn, but of course he pushes her away.]
Jade: [grins] So you like it rough.
Fynn: No, no I don’t like it at all. Not with you, Jade. I’m with Ameya - take the hint.
[Jade backs away slowly, her firey spark extinguished.]
Jade: [suddenly quiet] Yeah, I just thought…
Fynn: I know you like me, and I’m flattered really, I just can’t. Not now. Not ever.
[Jade looks up to Fynn, now failing to fight back brimming tears. Fynn turns and walks away.]
Jade: [softly whispering] Not ever…
[Cut to: Kaspar sitting down on the garden bench, day. He’s in deep, dark thought. Darren comes outside and sees him.]
Darren: [quiet] Hi.
[Beat. Kaspar turns to him and smiles.]
Darren: Is everything okay?
Kaspar: [empty] Yeah, good.
Darren: You know you didn’t have to do this.
Kaspar: [with a grin] I don’t? Well I suppose our sessions should really be raised up by five dollars per hour to compensate if this is something I don’t have to do, don’t you think?
Darren: I don’t think any price could be put on this, any of this. I didn’t mean to bring any of this onto you.
Kaspar: So you came to and paid a psychologist by accident?
Darren: Well I wanted help. I need help. I just didn’t think it would cause all this mayhem. All this…
Kaspar: Death?
Darren: She’s really important to you, isn’t she?
Kaspar: My oldest. And I love her with everything I have. It’s just…
Darren: I hope I’m not out of line, but I just have to admit I overheard your conversation before. How are you so calm now?
Kaspar: What’s the point in falling apart? It’s one of the few things psychology has taught me. It’s not going to get you anywhere.
Darren: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Kaspar: Hey, just doing the job.
Darren: No, you’ve gone further than that. Thank you for trying. These past few months.. I almost wished I was dead instead of them, because of what I was doing, what I could do. I couldn’t control it, I don’t want to control it. I’ve been to so many places, I’ve been turned away, rejected, scorned. But you - you’re the first who’ve actually made the effort, tried to help me. Even if it all doesn’t work, I just want you to know I’m grateful.
Kaspar: [softly] You’re welcome.
[Darren nods.]
Kaspar: I’m suddenly tempted to give you a ten percent discount on your next four sessions.
Darren: Oh, then give in.
[The two of them grin.]
Darren: Looks like-
[Darren suddenly takes a breath, his eyes widen as he collapses onto the floor. Kaspar instantly shakes Darren worried.]
Kaspar: Darren! Darren!
[Cut to: a fist knocking on the wooden door of a room, where Pete is lying face up on his bed, face blank, day. The curtains in his room are closed, only little slits of light manage to sneak their way into the darkness.]
Ezra OS: I guess “How are you?” would be a pointless question to ask.
Pete: [sits up] You want a full description?
Ezra: Knowing you and the way you yammer on - that’s gonna go on forever.
Pete: [eyebrows raised] I yammer on?
Ezra: Well, just came here to give you a little update… in case you were wondering.
Pete: And what if I wasn’t?
Ezra: [playful] Then tough.
Pete: [with an attempt at a smile] So what’s the lowdown?
Ezra: It’s not good. The demon we went after wasn’t there, we’ve tried a locator spell but that went ka-bam. So we’re out of leads right now.
Pete: Oh. And here I was thinking every cloud has a silver lining.
Ezra: We’re not done yet, it’s not over. There’s still hope, you know.
Pete: If you translate hope as disappointment and despair, I’d agree.
Ezra: [with a warm smile] Don’t worry.
[Ezra puts out her hand without thinking.]
Ezra: Now you will come with me, and I will make you something food-like. I could stick the pizza in the microwave and see what comes out, knowing me that could be anything. Either pepperoni or cheese and bread slosh. Your pick.
Pete: Wow, how tempting.
[He takes Ezra’s hand with appreciation and she pulls him up.]
Ezra: Now -
[The moment Pete takes Ezra’s hand, Ezra freezes. He instantly rips his hand away, as a horror striking green light emits from them. He stagger back, eyes scratched with horror and shock.]
Pete: Ezra…
[We see in slow motion as Ezra’s skeleton body glows the same eerie green, her skeleton now visible. Pete clasps his hands to his mouth, crying in horror, we see him mouthing the words “No no no!” as the sound fades out. The green light fades as Ezra falls to the floor - eyes wide open morbidly - silent still, no sound at all - dead. The only thing we can hear is the eerie sound of a heartbeat, growing fainter, fainter and fainter…]
[Cut to black.]
End of Act Three.
Act Four.
[Open to: Tara, Rina, Kaspar, Autumn in the living room, we see both Darren and Ezra’s bodies on the floor. Limp, still, dead.]
[Song: “Into Dust” cover by Ashtar Command.]
Still falling
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
[There is silence. Limp, still, dead. Intense distress is clearly in everybody’s eyes. We see Tara with a heavily saddened expression weighing down on her face. Slowly pan around to see the expressions of every one of the witches.]
Around broken in two
Till you eyes shed
Into dust
[There are obvious tears welled up in Autumn’s weeping eyes, Kaspar’s eyes are tearless but no less stricken with empty grief and...regret. And Rina. We see her stare blankly at the two bodies, as if she’s not taking the situation in at all, as if she’s not really there.]
Like two strangers
Turning into dust
Till my hand shook with the way I fear
[Her eyes are empty. Kaspar takes Autumn’s crying figure and holds her in a soft embrace. The silence continues to rain down everywhere, never stopping, never relenting.]
Voice: [slickly satisfied] All this carnage, all this pain, so easy. So so easy, lovely.
[Tara, Rina, Autumn and Kaspar look up, slowly breaking away from their silence in surprise, they look around the room, wondering where the voice has come from.]
Voice VO: I’m not he-ere. You won’t be able to find me here. [sing-song] You-can’t-find-me.
Kaspar: [hard] Who are you?
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
Voice VO: That is for me to know and you to find out, I enjoy seeing you all squirm - gives me such a fuzzy feeling inside.
Tara: [sharp] You did this?
Voice VO: [almost childlike] Yes, I did! Human suffering - so easy, yet so satisfying. You couldn’t find me. You never will. It’s a big game of hide and seek, and guess who’s wi-nning?
[There are no replies. Simply fumes of anger and sobs of despair, sighs of desolation. We see Rina’s expression darkening, anger, anguish growing more and more prominent with every second that goes by.]
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
Voice VO: Cry little children, cry. Your tears taste of sweet sugar. Your cries are a sweet melody to me, your-
Tara: [quietly stern] What do you want?
Voice: This is all I want? A massacre of course. Your pain, your suffering, your death.
[Rina walks out of the room, it’s all getting too much for her. Autumn and Tara run after her. Kaspar lingers in the room for a few moments longer, his abhorrence of Rina coming back to him he slowly exits.]
It was you breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers turning into dust
Turning into dust…
[We still hear the evil, cold and merciless laughter, reverberating through the house, as if it will never end.]
[Cut to: Kaspar knocking on the door to Pete’s room. No answer. Kaspar knocks again. No answer.]
Kaspar: Pete..
[Kaspar slowly places his hand on the door.]
[Cut to: the interior of Pete’s room, we focus on the door knob and see a hand twist and pull it, his door slowly opens. Kaspar walks in with a blank expression.]
Kaspar: [softly] Hey.
[Pete slowly retreats nearer to his bed. He turns his back to Kaspar.]
Kaspar: Pete…
[Kaspar sighs. He slowly walks to Pete and sits on the end of the bed, tentative, clearly unsure of what exactly to say.]
Kaspar: This... this...
Pete: [weak] This shouldn’t be happening.
Kaspar: I wish.
[Silence.]
Kaspar: I know what I’m about to say isn’t going to make things better, but - Darren… He’s in the same condition as Ezra.
[Pete turns around, a look of anger on his face.]
Pete: The same condition, Kas? I’m not one of your patients, you don’t have to tip-toe around me!
Kaspar: [quiet] We think - we think it was because of the disease in him. It…
Pete: I think it’s self-evident what’s coming next.
[Silence.]
Pete: Kas, please just go.
Kaspar: [hard] Well me going is not going to make this inside go away, is it?
[Another silence.]
Kaspar: [quiet] I’m sorry.
Pete: [growing bitter] You don’t need to be.
Kaspar: Well neither do you, about all of this.
Pete: Kaspar please, just-
Kaspar: I can’t. I won’t.
Pete: So you want to be locked in the room with the murderer?
Kaspar: You’re not a murderer.
Pete: I’m not a murderer?! I killed one of your oldest friends!
[Beat. Kaspar looks down with a pained expression, almost regretfully. Growing with remorse, Pete moves slightly closer towards Kaspar.]
Pete: I’m sorry.
[Kaspar doesn’t seem to want to look at Pete. They sit there for a while, just in silence.]
Pete: You should go, please.
Kaspar: That’s not gonna scare me away and you know it.
Pete: I need to be locked up. Away from you, away from the world. I’m dangerous.
Kaspar: Locking you away isn’t going to solve this problem.
Pete: Why’re you doing this? I killed her! I’m a killer, she doesn’t deserve to die! If anything I should be in her place.
Kaspar: You’re my best friend. No matter what you do, nothing can change that, and none of this was your fault. You can’t blame yourself for this!
Pete: [with sarcasm] That’s just great then, everything’s cleared up then, nothing-
Kaspar: How did it happen?
[Pete at Kaspar, slightly taken aback by this sudden question.]
Kaspar: You can tell me.
Pete: I…
[Pause. Kaspar waits patiently.]
Pete: She was here, just here and then she tried to make me feel better. She pulled me up - we touched… she was gone.
[Pete takes a deep breath, while Kaspar takes in the story, a pain clearly in his eyes.]
Kaspar: Feel any better?
Pete: A little. But it’s still there, the burning hole, eating away, it’s like it’s never going to stop. It feels like it’s going to be with me forever. The blood on my hands. I killed her. I killed her with these hands.
Kaspar: It wasn’t you. It was this demon, this thing, it spoke to us just before. Whatever it is, it’s the one responsible. Not you. Never you.
[Pete stares at the ground, a climaxing pain growing more and more in strength in his expression. A small tear slowly escapes from his eye, flowing gently down his cheek. He starts to cry.]
Pete: Then why do I feel like this? If it wasn’t my fault then why is this pain so huge? If it wasn’t my fault then why do I feel responsible? Why do I feel like I need to be punished?
Kaspar: Pete...
[Kaspar looks at him with compassion and sorrow.]
Pete: [in tears] Why do I feel like this? Why? I killed her! I killed her. I killed her…
[Fade to: Rina sitting cross legged next to Ezra’s dead body in the witches living room, night. In silence. In empty solitude while she stares at Ezra’s pale form. A world of pain swirls darkly in her eyes. There is a knock, but Rina just continues to stare, ignoring the sound, her eyes dark and desolate.]
Tara OS: [gentle] Hi.
[Still no response.]
Tara: Is she… is she comfortable?
Rina: How can she be? She’s dead.
[Heavy silence. Tara walks slowly towards Rina’s gaunt figure, she kneels herself down and places her hand on Rina’s clenched fist. Rina turns to Tara and looks to her, to Tara’s surprise Rina’s clenched fist opens, letting Tara’s warm hand in.]
[Tara smiles in support and sympathy to Rina who only manages an attempt at a flicker of a smile. It doesn’t last. Tara looks to Ezra’s body, her smile quickly fades away. Heer eyes slowly turn darker, wider. She gulps, a powerful gulp, swallowing down the pain. Rina continues to look with empty eyes at Ezra’s body.]
Rina: Where d’you think she is now?
Tara: [hoarse] I’m sure she’s in a good place.
Rina: How do things get so muddled? One minute we were contemplating breakfast options, the next…
[Beat.]
Rina: She’s been ripped away.
[Rina turns to Tara.]
Rina: [heartfelt] Tara, you’ve died and came back. You overcame it, you struggled through. Tell me she can do the same.
Tara: I…
Rina: Tell me she’s safe. Tell me it’s all going to be okay. Is it?
Tara: [weak] Yeah, it will.
Rina: It has to. It can’t get any worse than this. It can’t get more painful than this.
[Tara and Rina turn to look at one another. Sharing all the pain in their eyes.]
[Cut to: Pete and Kaspar walking down the stairs towards the living room. Pete’s head is slightly lowered. We see Tara, Autumn and Rina are researching in silence, Tara looks up noticing the boys come down.]
Tara: [faint] Hi.
Kaspar: Hi.
Rina: I think I’ve found something.
Autumn: You have?
Rina: The creepy voiceovers, infecting humans with a power. It’s… all here. It all seems to lead to this thing.
Tara: So what is it?
Rina: It’s called Lazera, it was cursed - stopped from killing by a witch in the twelfth century.
Autumn: Stopped from killing?
Rina: It can’t ever kill, at all, it’s just not possible. So the only way the demon can inflict its pain is to use others are conduits, infecting them with its power. And…
Pete: Making them do it for it.
Rina: [dim] Yeah.
Kaspar: [hard] Does it say how to kill it?
Rina: [irritated] I was getting there. It can be killed with mortal weapons, like knives and gun - but it’s difficult to. It says it’s pretty resistant.
Tara: Anything else?
Rina: Not that I can see.
Autumn: B-but h-how are we going to kill it if we can’t find it?
Rina: It..it can make itself invisible, so all we need is an anti-invisibility specific revealing spell. That should do it.
Autumn: If we can’t kill it more easily shouldn’t we find a way to kill it directly?
Rina: The book said it was resistant to weapons - but it didn’t say anything about magics, I think that’s worth a shot. We need anything we can to put this thing in the ground, where it belongs.
Pete: Does it say…
[Beat.]
Pete: Is there any way back for… for Ezra, for Darren, for…for me?
Rina: [hoarsely weak] It… it…
[Tears quickly start to well in Rina’s eyes and all she can do is shake her head.]
Pete: Oh… ok.
Tara: Well I think we should go now, if that’s ok. Kaspar? Autumn?
Pete: I’m going with you.
Kaspar: Pete, you shouldn’t.
Pete: I have to help. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I did this to her.
Autumn: No you didn’t, when will you see that?
Rina: Y..You should rest.
Pete: I was part of the cause, I want to be part of the solution. I need to be.
[Fade to: Tara, Kaspar, Autumn, Rina and Pete walking down Jewel Avenue, they’ve reached the spot where they came to the first time.]
Autumn: We turned back the first time, when we thought there was nothing here. It tricked us.
Kaspar: Hopefully it won’t do the same again..
[Tara brings out a handful of herbs from her pocket, chucking it in front of her.]
Tara: Reveal.
[The herbs seem to burn and spark in mid-air as they fall. Beat.]
Voice: Abracadabra, abracadabra. Your magic tricks won’t work on me.
[The alcove still remains empty. A harsh scratch suddenly appears on Tara’s face and she recoils in pain. Tara hurls another handful of herbs.]
Tara: Reveal.
[This time there aren’t even any sparks, the spell clearly is not working. Autumn gets pushed back by an invisible force and Kaspar is punched in the stomach a moment later. He suddenly stands on guard as do the other witches, just ready and tense.]
[Rina is hit down to the floor in the face, she rubs the bruise on her cheek and gets up, walking up to Tara with Kaspar. The three of them come together and grip hands, they look to one another, knowing just what to do.]
Rina/Kaspar/Tara: Reveal!
[All of a sudden out of the blue, a green, clawed demon materialises into view - Lazera.]
Kaspar: Voila.
Tara: Want me to show you another trick?
[Pete charges at the demon, brandishing a sword, but Lazera swiftly dodges and kicks Pete aside.]
Lazera: That’s not the only trick I can pull.
[Tara sends a telekinetic force at Lazera, making it stagger back. Rina hurls a small ball of fire at it and it yells in pain, but the pain quickly turns into laughter.]
Lazera: [laughing] Fire won’t kill me, magic won’t kill me! I’ve caused more pain to you than you could ever inflict on me - it’s delicious.
[Pete gets up again, with a look of determination deeper than ever. Lazera turns and Pete ducks one of it’s swipes narrowly but is scratched deeply on the chest. Furiously determined, Pete stabs the sword into Lazera. Pete staggers back but his expression quickly turns to shock as the demon pulls out the sword with ease.]
Lazera: Do these things always itch this much?
[Pete suddenly charges at Lazera. No thought involved, just pure, charged emotion.]
Kaspar: Pete no!
[Pete dodges a swipe from the creature, he manages to grip Lazera’s wrist, his hand physically connected with the demon’s who struggles in Pete’s grip. Lazera is weakening, he’s losing power, as the green light reappears at the point where Pete’s hand gripped to Lazera’s wrist. The green light glows brighter and brighter, more blinding than ever.]
Lazera: [hoarse] What are you doing?
[Pete glares at the demon with a look of disgust, hatred and pure fury as it grows weaker and weaker in Pete’s grip. The light slowly fades and witches simply watch as the demon slips from Pete’s grip - dead. Pete breathes, with heavy and hard breaths. There is complete silence around them.]
[Pete takes another laboured breath and kicks the demon’s dead corpse in his fury and despair. He slowly collapses to his knees and starts to cry again, starts to break down.]
[Song: “Mad World” by Gary Jules.]
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
[Kaspar runs up to him as he cries, hugging Pete, letting Pete cry into his best friend’s shoulder. Zoom slowly back, zooming slowly away from the scene until we see a landscape view of dawn in Lesper Bay.]
[Fade to: Darren’s body in the living room of the witches’ house. Darren’s eyes slowly flutter open. He sits up in surprise, the expression quickly turns to joy, he stares ahead, quickly tears of joy appear in his eyes.]
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
[Cut to: Julia’s body, in a morgue, she slowly sits up. A male morgue worker turns to see her sit up, his eyes explode wide in surprise, he’s completely frozen. There’s a female morgue worker behind him.]
Female Morgue Worker: Jeffrey, did you not hear what I said? Jeffrey?
[She turns to see the male morgue worker staring at Julia. She’s equally stunned in shock. Julia quickly pulls the cloth further up her body.]
Julia: [nervously] Uh…hi.
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
[Fade to: Tara, Kaspar, Pete, Rina and Autumn running into the witches’ living room - slow motion. We slowly see Ezra sit up as they come in, she is beaming. Tara, Kaspar, Rina and Autumn rush towards her, hugging her, laughing, smiling, beaming and crying with joy. However, Pete doesn’t join in, he simply looks at the hugging group - an empty expression on his face.]
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world, mad world
[Fade to: Pete lying down on his bed, simply staring at the ceiling. The door opens.]
Ezra: Hi.
Pete: [sits up, softly surprised] Ez, hi...
Ezra: I’m probably the last person you expected to see.
Pete: No, I think Samuel L. Jackson tops that to be honest. But yeah, I’m a little surprised I guess. So new life, how’s the working out for ya?
Ezra: [with a gentle smile] It’s alright. Well I heard another witch died sometime then came back to life, so I thought I’d give it a try too - see what all the fuss is about.
Pete: Really?
Ezra: Yeah, heard it’s what all the cool witches are doing now.
Pete: You’re really down with the street cred aren’t you?
[Ezra chuckles lightly.]
Pete: Well if you came here to talk about that death thing, and how I-
Ezra: You did not kill me.
Pete: Your non-beating heart kind of disproves that theory, love.
Ezra: I know you Pete, I know what happened, I know the whole story. And I also know that you are not capable of anything like this, not really.
Pete: Really?
Ezra: [strong] You aren’t. What happened to you, or to me wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t take guilt for what it did. You didn’t do this. None of us could ever do anything like that.
Pete: Wow, for a dead girl you talk a lot.
[Ezra walks over to Pete and gives him an affectionate hug.]
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
[Cut to: Ezra and Rina’s room, where Rina is lying on the bed reading a book, Ezra enters and Rina looks up.]
Rina: Issued resolved?
Ezra: [smiles] Issue schimissue.
[Ezra climbs onto the bed and kisses Rina with passion.]
Rina: Would this be counted as necrophilia?
[Ezra punches Rina playfully.]
Rina: Normally I would find that sort of thing gross, but this time, I guess I’ll make an exception this time.
[Ezra starts to kiss Rina’s neck. She stops, looking to Rina. They gaze into one another’s eyes, we see Rina’s eyes slowly redden and a tears start to roll down from them.]
Ezra: A-am I that bad?
Rina: I can’t believe... I can’t believe I nearly lost you.
Ezra: Sshh...
[Ezra kisses Rina’s forehead.]
Ezra: I’m here. I’m right here in front of you, very much alive. I’m right here with you and I will never leave you.
[Ezra hugs Rina tightly and closely.]
Ezra: We beat death. We conquered it. And we’ll beat it again if we have to. We can beat anything that comes our way...
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
[Fade to: Kaspar and Ezra, both of them walk into the living room, though through different doors. They stop when they see one another.]
Ezra: Hey.
Kaspar: Hi.
Ezra: So the thing you were talking about before, before all this - care to explain?
Kaspar: Ezra I…
[Beat.]
Ezra: What?
Kaspar: Did she tell you?
Ezra: She did.
Kaspar: And?
Ezra: She said nothing’s happened, nothing’s wrong.
Kaspar: And you believe her?
Ezra: [eyebrows raise] Why wouldn’t I?
[Kaspar takes a deep, slow breath.]
Ezra: Kaspar, tell me what all this is about.
Kaspar: [weakly] Ezra, I can’t. Not now, I’m not sure if I ever can say it.
Ezra: Why? Kas, just talk to me.
Kaspar: I-I just need to sort this out. Once and for all.
[Kaspar walks away from Ezra, back the way he came from. Ezra looks down, confused.]
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world ... mad world…
[Fade to: the kitchen, later that morning. Ezra stumbles into the room as Tara pours herself some cereal.]
Tara: G’morning.
Ezra: My only response has to be - Yawn. Moan. Yawn.
Tara: [shrugs] That works too.
Ezra: Who says we have to stick to the conventional ways of greeting? I need food, of the croissant variety.
Tara: Sorry, swiped the last one.
Ezra: I’m resisting the urge to fry you with bacon.
Tara: So, you always this twitchy the morning after a death?
Ezra: Usually, yeah.
Tara: I wanted to ask, for you, what was it like - dying?
Ezra: What?
Tara: The… the dying.
Ezra: I don’t remember. I remember just blacking out. The world peeled away for a while, it just blew out, then the next second I was back. Why d’you ask, you think I was in heaven or something? St. Pete up there would sure as hell be confused.
Tara: Just wondering.
Ezra: You wanted to know if I was where you are in your temporary after life.
Tara: Looks like we have one more thing in common - we both know what it’s like to die.
[Beat.]
Tara: When the dying started, I was scared. For myself, for the others. But it was also a revelation. Gaining life is a slow, gradual process, but ending it.. so quick. I’ve realised that I shouldn’t be focusing on where I was - I should be happy, grateful that I got this second chance. Somewhere, somehow, somebody gave me that. And I’m not going to waste it.
[Fade to: Kaspar’s psychiatrist’s office, he’s sorting through files, day. The door opens and it’s Julia.]
Kaspar: [smiles] Julia, welcome back.
Julia: [nods] Mr. Sharpe.
Kaspar: What happened to you yesterday? You appeared to have just passed out.
Julia: Must’ve slipped. They thought I’d died. Weird huh?
Kaspar: And you’re ok?
[Beat.]
Julia: I’ve actually never been better, sir.
Kaspar: Kas, or Kaspar - remember.
Julia: Oh, I’m sorry, sir… I mean Kaspar.
[Kaspar smiles and Julia starts to leave.]
Kaspar: Oh Julia!
[Julia stops and turns back to Kaspar, her expression curious.]
Kaspar: Do something for me will you?
Julia: Of course, Kaspar.
Kaspar: Enjoy your day, every moment you have of it.
Julia: [smiles] I will.
Kaspar: Could you send my next patient in?
[Julia nods, stepping aside. A tall, lanky man comes in, just fitting in through the door, he walks up to the patient’s chair and takes a seat.]
Kaspar: So, how can I help?
[Cut to: a residential street, night. The sky is black, covered in a blanket of clouds. A brutal, loud wind rushes through the street. Rina stands on the pavement, wrapped in a scarf, her hands in her pockets, waiting. Kaspar walks into view, approaching Rina.]
Kaspar: Thanks for meeting me here.
Rina: [a little uncomfortable] What’s this about?
Kaspar: I think you know.
Rina: Kaspar, just say it.
Kaspar: [growing more serious] Don’t play games with me, Rina. This is serious.
[Beat. Kaspar stares heatedly at Rina, she stares back at him - resolute.]
Kaspar: What were you doing at the hunters’ last night?
Rina: [softly] I can’t say.
Kaspar: [rough, hard] Why not?!
[Beat. Rina stays silent.]
Kaspar: Whatever you’re doing this has to stop. I’ve known you for years, I’ve talked with you and I trusted you. I want that to stay. I don’t want to believe what you’re doing could cause us harm, but it’s stupid. This is stupid.
Rina: Does Ezra know?
Kaspar: No.
Rina: Don’t tell her, please, not anyone.
Kaspar: I won’t. I don’t want to hurt Ezra, she’s been through enough. She doesn’t need this. She doesn’t need to know any of this happened, none of them do.
Rina: I know.
Kaspar: Are you going to tell me then? So we can stop all this.
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world ... mad world…
Rina: It will stop eventually, but I can’t say. It would be better, so much better if you didn’t know. Safer.
Kaspar: Fine. But this will stop. Cos if you hurt Ezra, or any one of us…
[Beat.]
Kaspar: I’m gonna kill you.
[Kaspar looks Rina hard in the face and walks past her, away, leaving her there on the street - scared.]
Enlarging your world,
Mad world…
[Blackout.]
The End.
[Open to: the witches’ living room, day. Pete stands up, suddenly breathing heavily as the green glow dies away.]
Pete: No. No…
Kaspar: Oh god…
Ezra: The release spell.
Pete: [dark] I’m infected with whatever he had, aren’t I? I can feel it.
Autumn: [mortified] How did this happen?
Pete: When the smoke touched me…. It’s inside me. It’s inside me.
Ezra: The energy must’ve infected the nearest person instead of going into the ether.
Autumn: Oh god, oh god, oh god…
Tara: We’ll f-find a way to fix this. This w-won’t set us back, we won’t let it.
Pete: [trembling slightly] D-did the spell work though? Is Darren still infected?
Darren: [quietly] No… I don’t think it worked. It’s still there. [beat.] I know it.
Kaspar: [with an irritated sigh] None of this worked then.
Autumn: We’ve only made things worse.
Darren: I’m so sorry about… about putting all this on you.
Ezra: Don’t be, we’ve come this far, we’re going to see you through it.
Tara: We’ll find a cure, for both of you.
Rina: So what’s the next thing we can do?
Tara: Do we have anything on this yet?
Autumn: [grim] O-on the book front, we’ve got nothing so far.
Kaspar: I’m now voting for hack and slash method, we can’t really trust magic right now.
Tara: You’re right, it looks like that’s our best bet right now.
Kaspar: I’ll go. I need to deal with this for you, Pete. And you Darren.
[He nods to Pete, who smiles weakly in appreciation.]
Tara: Who wants to come with?
Rina: I’ll be willing.
Ezra: Well if my baby goes, I’m not far behind.
[Ezra smiles gently to Rina who returns it with an equally warm grin. Kaspar notices this and his expression darkens further.]
Pete: [slightly weak] I… I should probably stay. I’ll find a way to reverse it, or t-try to find one at least.
Darren: [brisk] I want to come.
[Kaspar raises his eyebrows.]
Darren: I’d like to help fight, with you. I brought this thing into your lives, I think I should at least try and get help rid of it, to do what I can. If you’ll let me.
[Kaspar looks around to the rest of the witches who seem to have no objection to it.]
Kaspar: Well, nobody’s stopping you.
[Cut to: Tara, Ezra, Rina, Kaspar and Darren walking along an empty alley, with nothing but pavement, night. Rina holds a map while they walk. She’s also carrying an axe, Ezra and Rina both have kitchen knives and Tara a battle axe.]
Tara: So this is Jewel Avenue?
Rina: According to the map, yeah.
[The five stop.]
Ezra: Ok, then where the hell is our demon?
Kaspar: It doesn’t look like anything lives here at all.
Ezra: So I don’t get to axe anything?
Tara: Are we sure this is the right place?
Autumn: As sure as some… really sure thing, yeah.
Tara: We should go back, this was a waste of time.
Darren: When I walked along here I had no idea where it came from. It may sound a little weird but maybe it’s in the wall?
Rina: Haven’t we tried every revealing spell we know? If it’s not coming out for us now, it never will.
Tara: I don’t think we’re gonna get anything out of this.
[Cut to: the witches’ house, day. Drake rushes suddenly up the garden path, hot, sweaty and flushed with wild panic, scared. He reaches the door and knocks on it desperately. It opens, Autumn is behind it, and naturally she instantly closes it again, her eyes widening in surprise.]
Autumn: [under her breath] I’m not having much luck with visitors today.
[The knocking continues, frantic and quick.]
Kaspar OS: Who’s knocking?
Autumn: Drake.
Kaspar: Drake? Has he decided to drop by for some tea followed by a spot of attempted murder?
Autumn: Don’t know. Didn’t ask.
[Kaspar stops for a moment, flash back to the end of 1.06 - the witch hunters’ house, night. Drake is at the door with Rina.]
Rina: Mind if I come in?
[Flash to: reality again. Kaspar approaches the door with more determination this time and opens it.]
Drake: [gasping] Please, please, help me.
[Tara, Ezra and Rina are attracted by the noise and approach the door.]
Ezra: Another visitor? Jeez, we’re popular at the mo-
[Ezra stops in mid-sentence.]
Ezra: Oh, this has to be a joke.
Tara: [sarcastic] Gee, I’m in hysterics.
Drake: [gasping] I’m… I’ve been infected, by something, something that makes me...kill.
Autumn: And how is that different for you?
Drake: Please, you’re the only ones that can help me.
Ezra: Oh come on, what d’you think we are?
[Beat.]
Tara: We should let him in.
Ezra: [to Tara] Oh come on, what d’you think we are?
Autumn: [wary] Tara…
Tara: It’s better to have him locked up rather than Mr. Psycho Killer on the loose.
[They all look at Drake.]
Drake: I wouldn’t disagree.
Kaspar: Oh come on! This is ridiculous!
Tara: I know it’s not my place, but I think it’s a good idea. It may be a sacrifice, but I think it’s worth it, so he doesn’t start killing.
[Tara around for some kind of approval. Slowly, Autumn and Rina nod in agreement. Kaspar stares at Rina as she nods, their eyes lock for a second - hard, jagged.]
Autumn: Tara’s right.
Kaspar: What if he’s lying?
[Tara looks to Kaspar, who looks back, with a cold stare.]
Kaspar: This is stupid. We all know what he really wants, he’s going to use this-
Ezra: [hard] Well we’re not going to let him.
Kaspar: That’s just what I think. Though my opinion never counts for anything anymore. But I have a job to do, we all do, so why bother wasting time arguing?
[He sighs, his very breath wintery cold. He turns and he leaves.]
[Cut to: Pete in his room, reading through a textbook named “Supernatural Sickness” on his bed, night. His usual more cheery air has vanished, replaced by a scared and slightly bitter coldness in his expression. Kaspar slowly and carefully walks in through the open door.]
Kaspar: Bookworm Pete. Now those are two words I’d never have though would be in the same sentence. [smiles] Found anything useful?
Pete: [quiet] Yeah. A simple reversal spell, it could help.
Kaspar: It’s worth a shot.
[Long beat. Kaspar just looks at Pete for a moment while he looks down. Kaspar’s eyes are brimmed with worry, Pete’s with taught fear.]
Pete: Sure you don’t wanna back out, in case you become Rogue Number Three?
Kaspar: [with a reassuring grin] I’ll risk it.
[Pete tries to smile, reaching over for three crystals on the bedside table, he hands both over to Kaspar.]
Pete: Ok, all you have to do is say the words, cos you’re chanty witch guy.
Kaspar: Warlock.
Pete: [shrugs] Whatever.
[Kaspar huffs slightly.]
Pete: The point is you’ll make it work. I just want you to make this… better.
[Beat. Kaspar takes in what he’s just said with heartfelt gratitude.]
Kaspar: I will. And I promise.
[Pete nods appreciatively.]
Kaspar: But call me a witch again, not a warlock and I won’t hold back on the next PS2 game of Ninja 4000.
Pete: [laughs] Oh you bring it on!
[The two chuckle together for a few moments. Then Kaspar takes a breath to begin the spell.]
Kaspar: The spell that was cast, will be reversed
Turn back the pain, take back the hurt
Return! Release you from your curse
[Kaspar looks up. The crystals start glowing green momentarily, then it fades away a moment afterwards.]
Pete: Well that sucked.
Kaspar: It’s still in there?
[Pete looks down, disappointment welled in his eyes.]
Kaspar: [soft] I’m sorry.
[Beat. Pete looks up, placing on a faux smile.]
Pete: It’s alright, these things happen. Not like I ever expected it to work anyway. It’s just a price I have to pay.
Kaspar: A price you have to pay? What have you done to deserve any of this, Pete?
Pete: [slightly weakly] It’s just I’m here. Along side you all, fighting the good fight and being all superhero-ey. Or trying to be anyway in my case. I want to, no matter what happens I’ll always love you guys… but the reality of it is - I don’t think I should be here, really. It’s ironic, me being the only non-witch that I’m the guy who gets the killer power and that’s in the literal sense. This is the one chance I get to be super, and it turns out to be this. I guess I’ve realised it’s kind of overrated now.
Kaspar: This price, is it worth it?
[Beat.]
Pete: Every moment.
[Cut to: the witches’ prison cellar, day. Drake is pacing up and down the empty room. The door slides open, an eerie breeze brushes in. Drake turns, a vicious smile appears on his face.]
Drake: Well, hello there.
[The door quickly slides shut. It’s Rina.]
[Drake grins as Rina lowers a plate of some sort of food - could be anything. She swiftly turns to leave.]
Drake: Stop.
[Rina freezes.]
Rina: For once, why don’t you stop?
Drake: May I ask - stop what, honey?
Rina: Stop all this. And don’t call me honey. Only she can call me honey. I know what you’re trying to do, Drake.
Drake: Oh that, plus more.
[Drake approaches Rina, she steps back.]
Drake: Oh come on, you don’t need to keep the act up in here, being all innocent.
[Drake moves swiftly closer to Rina.]
Drake: We both know you’re not.
[Drake continues to move closer, closer, closer until his mouth is near her ear.]
Drake: [with a hard whisper] You’ve been tainted.
[Drake slowly steps back.]
Drake: But just for show, I’ll-
[Drake grabs Rina.]
Rina: What are you doing?!
Drake: Don’t worry, I have more control of every inch of my body than you could imagine, including this.
[The door instantly slides open, Tara and Kaspar rush in.]
Tara: Burn.
[Drake’s hand suddenly burns hot, he releases Rina in his pain. Tara grabs Rina and pulls her out of the cell.]
Tara: [to Drake] Don’t you try that again.
Kaspar: In his hands lie destruction.
[The cell door quickly slides to a swift close.]
Tara: We heard the yell, so we-
Rina: [breathing heavily] Thanks.
Kaspar: We couldn’t hear what you were saying, what were you talking about in there?
Rina: He-he was just trying to intimidate.
Tara: C’mon, we should just get you upstairs.
[Tara and Rina walk away up the stairs of the cellar, Kaspar’s eyes are still focused on Rina with a tough stare. She looks back to him over her shoulder as she walks, their eyes meet. Kaspar shoots daggers to Rina who looks back to him, blank. She turns and resumes walking up the stairs. Kaspar retains his steely gaze, suspicious.]
[Cut to: Ezra researching through a textbook in the living room, day. Rina walks in.]
Ezra: Oh hey, hun.
Rina: How’s the research coming along?
Ezra: Oh…same old same old.
[Rina perches herself down next to Ezra.]
Rina: Need a research partner?
Ezra: [grins] Yes, please.
[The two share a warm kiss, slowly separating.]
Ezra: So I talked to Kas today.
[Rina turns to Ezra, worried though she puts on a faux calm smile.]
Ezra: He said you wanted to tell me something.
Rina: Oh really? W-what did he say?
Ezra: He said that’s for you to say and for me to find out.
Rina: I don’t know what he’s talking about.
Ezra: [eyebrows raise] You sure?
Rina: [smiles] Positive.
[Beat. Ezra thinks.]
Ezra: [shrugging] Maybe he just made a mistake.
Rina: I’m sure he did.
[Ezra and Rina share a quick kiss.]
[Fade to: Autumn entering Pete’s room, night.]
Autumn: [soft] Hi.
Pete: [looks up and smiles] Autumn, hi.
[Beat.]
Pete: [smiles] Well, anything yet?
Autumn: Nothing. A whole gigabyte of nothing, technology’s not keen on co-operating. I’ve decided to let Kaspar take the wheel on the research front for a while, hopefully he’ll uncover a better lead.
[Pete smiles and nods. Silence.]
Autumn: So d’you want anything? Some food?
Pete: As much as I’d love to be served by Autumn the personal maid, I’m ok for now. But thanks.
Autumn: So there’s nothing I can do? Nothing at all.
Pete: [with a cheeky grin] Nothing that won’t sound really dirty.
[Autumn manages a little chuckle, but can’t help look at Pete with her eyes dark, scared.]
Autumn: You’re always able to see the light, even in the worst moments. How do you do that?
Pete: Long hours of serious, somber practice.
[Autumn can’t help but chuckle again.]
Autumn: Wanna keep some of that comedy to yourself a bit rather than giving it away?
Pete: Guess I can’t help it.
[Pause.]
Autumn: [hoarse] You know, we’re still trying. We’re still looking. And we won’t stop until we’ve found the cure. Pete, I want you to know that… that you’ll be okay.
[Pete sighs, looking down with slight annoyance.]
Pete: Autumn, I don’t need this.
Autumn: Need what?
Pete: I don’t need your pity.
Autumn: I-
Pete: [harsh] Look, I’m tired of keeping a brave face. I’m tired of smiling. I’m tired of trying to blow everything away with a gesture. I’m tired of pretending everything’s okay, because it’s not. You don’t need to tell me everything’s gonna be okay. Because I know it’s not.
Autumn: I didn’t mean…
Pete: I know. You never mean to. It’s the same story every time.
[Autumn looks at Pete, her cheeks sink a little in a slight tinge of pain. She looks down, turns and walks out of the room, slightly beaten. Pete bites his lip, regretting what he had just said in his moment of frustration.]
Pete: Autumn I-
[Pete stops in mid sentence, and sighs, weighed down by guilt.]
Pete: Autumn, I need you…
[Cut to: the witch hunters’ living room, day. Fynn is there reading through a newspaper while Jade enters quickly.]
Jade: Hey, have you heard the new news about what Drake is doing?
Fynn: [dryly sarcastic] Yeah, it’s the new hot gossip over at Witch Hunter Weekly.
Jade: I didn’t know there was-
[Fynn grins cheekily to her.]
Jade: Oh Fynn, you were always so funny!
Fynn: So how are you, Jade?
Jade: I’m good. Though I’ll boost that up to a great now that you’re here.
[Fynn puts his head in his hands.]
Fynn: Jade…
Jade: Wait, don’t ruin it. This moment we’re having.
Fynn: Moment?
Jade: I’m looking into your eyes-
Fynn: My head is down.
Jade: That’s not the point. I can see your soul, I can see the real man underneath that rough exterior, I can see what your heart longs for. [beat] And vice versa.
Fynn: No no. Vice versa that vice versa.
Jade: I can already feel the burning tension, yearning for release, the passion. Kiss me.
[Jade closes her eyes and leans forward to kiss Fynn, but of course he pushes her away.]
Jade: [grins] So you like it rough.
Fynn: No, no I don’t like it at all. Not with you, Jade. I’m with Ameya - take the hint.
[Jade backs away slowly, her firey spark extinguished.]
Jade: [suddenly quiet] Yeah, I just thought…
Fynn: I know you like me, and I’m flattered really, I just can’t. Not now. Not ever.
[Jade looks up to Fynn, now failing to fight back brimming tears. Fynn turns and walks away.]
Jade: [softly whispering] Not ever…
[Cut to: Kaspar sitting down on the garden bench, day. He’s in deep, dark thought. Darren comes outside and sees him.]
Darren: [quiet] Hi.
[Beat. Kaspar turns to him and smiles.]
Darren: Is everything okay?
Kaspar: [empty] Yeah, good.
Darren: You know you didn’t have to do this.
Kaspar: [with a grin] I don’t? Well I suppose our sessions should really be raised up by five dollars per hour to compensate if this is something I don’t have to do, don’t you think?
Darren: I don’t think any price could be put on this, any of this. I didn’t mean to bring any of this onto you.
Kaspar: So you came to and paid a psychologist by accident?
Darren: Well I wanted help. I need help. I just didn’t think it would cause all this mayhem. All this…
Kaspar: Death?
Darren: She’s really important to you, isn’t she?
Kaspar: My oldest. And I love her with everything I have. It’s just…
Darren: I hope I’m not out of line, but I just have to admit I overheard your conversation before. How are you so calm now?
Kaspar: What’s the point in falling apart? It’s one of the few things psychology has taught me. It’s not going to get you anywhere.
Darren: Thank you. Thank you so much.
Kaspar: Hey, just doing the job.
Darren: No, you’ve gone further than that. Thank you for trying. These past few months.. I almost wished I was dead instead of them, because of what I was doing, what I could do. I couldn’t control it, I don’t want to control it. I’ve been to so many places, I’ve been turned away, rejected, scorned. But you - you’re the first who’ve actually made the effort, tried to help me. Even if it all doesn’t work, I just want you to know I’m grateful.
Kaspar: [softly] You’re welcome.
[Darren nods.]
Kaspar: I’m suddenly tempted to give you a ten percent discount on your next four sessions.
Darren: Oh, then give in.
[The two of them grin.]
Darren: Looks like-
[Darren suddenly takes a breath, his eyes widen as he collapses onto the floor. Kaspar instantly shakes Darren worried.]
Kaspar: Darren! Darren!
[Cut to: a fist knocking on the wooden door of a room, where Pete is lying face up on his bed, face blank, day. The curtains in his room are closed, only little slits of light manage to sneak their way into the darkness.]
Ezra OS: I guess “How are you?” would be a pointless question to ask.
Pete: [sits up] You want a full description?
Ezra: Knowing you and the way you yammer on - that’s gonna go on forever.
Pete: [eyebrows raised] I yammer on?
Ezra: Well, just came here to give you a little update… in case you were wondering.
Pete: And what if I wasn’t?
Ezra: [playful] Then tough.
Pete: [with an attempt at a smile] So what’s the lowdown?
Ezra: It’s not good. The demon we went after wasn’t there, we’ve tried a locator spell but that went ka-bam. So we’re out of leads right now.
Pete: Oh. And here I was thinking every cloud has a silver lining.
Ezra: We’re not done yet, it’s not over. There’s still hope, you know.
Pete: If you translate hope as disappointment and despair, I’d agree.
Ezra: [with a warm smile] Don’t worry.
[Ezra puts out her hand without thinking.]
Ezra: Now you will come with me, and I will make you something food-like. I could stick the pizza in the microwave and see what comes out, knowing me that could be anything. Either pepperoni or cheese and bread slosh. Your pick.
Pete: Wow, how tempting.
[He takes Ezra’s hand with appreciation and she pulls him up.]
Ezra: Now -
[The moment Pete takes Ezra’s hand, Ezra freezes. He instantly rips his hand away, as a horror striking green light emits from them. He stagger back, eyes scratched with horror and shock.]
Pete: Ezra…
[We see in slow motion as Ezra’s skeleton body glows the same eerie green, her skeleton now visible. Pete clasps his hands to his mouth, crying in horror, we see him mouthing the words “No no no!” as the sound fades out. The green light fades as Ezra falls to the floor - eyes wide open morbidly - silent still, no sound at all - dead. The only thing we can hear is the eerie sound of a heartbeat, growing fainter, fainter and fainter…]
[Cut to black.]
End of Act Three.
Act Four.
[Open to: Tara, Rina, Kaspar, Autumn in the living room, we see both Darren and Ezra’s bodies on the floor. Limp, still, dead.]
[Song: “Into Dust” cover by Ashtar Command.]
Still falling
Breathless and on again
Inside today
Beside me today
[There is silence. Limp, still, dead. Intense distress is clearly in everybody’s eyes. We see Tara with a heavily saddened expression weighing down on her face. Slowly pan around to see the expressions of every one of the witches.]
Around broken in two
Till you eyes shed
Into dust
[There are obvious tears welled up in Autumn’s weeping eyes, Kaspar’s eyes are tearless but no less stricken with empty grief and...regret. And Rina. We see her stare blankly at the two bodies, as if she’s not taking the situation in at all, as if she’s not really there.]
Like two strangers
Turning into dust
Till my hand shook with the way I fear
[Her eyes are empty. Kaspar takes Autumn’s crying figure and holds her in a soft embrace. The silence continues to rain down everywhere, never stopping, never relenting.]
Voice: [slickly satisfied] All this carnage, all this pain, so easy. So so easy, lovely.
[Tara, Rina, Autumn and Kaspar look up, slowly breaking away from their silence in surprise, they look around the room, wondering where the voice has come from.]
Voice VO: I’m not he-ere. You won’t be able to find me here. [sing-song] You-can’t-find-me.
Kaspar: [hard] Who are you?
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
Voice VO: That is for me to know and you to find out, I enjoy seeing you all squirm - gives me such a fuzzy feeling inside.
Tara: [sharp] You did this?
Voice VO: [almost childlike] Yes, I did! Human suffering - so easy, yet so satisfying. You couldn’t find me. You never will. It’s a big game of hide and seek, and guess who’s wi-nning?
[There are no replies. Simply fumes of anger and sobs of despair, sighs of desolation. We see Rina’s expression darkening, anger, anguish growing more and more prominent with every second that goes by.]
I could feel myself growing colder
I could feel myself under your fate
Under your fate
Voice VO: Cry little children, cry. Your tears taste of sweet sugar. Your cries are a sweet melody to me, your-
Tara: [quietly stern] What do you want?
Voice: This is all I want? A massacre of course. Your pain, your suffering, your death.
[Rina walks out of the room, it’s all getting too much for her. Autumn and Tara run after her. Kaspar lingers in the room for a few moments longer, his abhorrence of Rina coming back to him he slowly exits.]
It was you breathless and tall
I could feel my eyes turning into dust
And two strangers turning into dust
Turning into dust…
[We still hear the evil, cold and merciless laughter, reverberating through the house, as if it will never end.]
[Cut to: Kaspar knocking on the door to Pete’s room. No answer. Kaspar knocks again. No answer.]
Kaspar: Pete..
[Kaspar slowly places his hand on the door.]
[Cut to: the interior of Pete’s room, we focus on the door knob and see a hand twist and pull it, his door slowly opens. Kaspar walks in with a blank expression.]
Kaspar: [softly] Hey.
[Pete slowly retreats nearer to his bed. He turns his back to Kaspar.]
Kaspar: Pete…
[Kaspar sighs. He slowly walks to Pete and sits on the end of the bed, tentative, clearly unsure of what exactly to say.]
Kaspar: This... this...
Pete: [weak] This shouldn’t be happening.
Kaspar: I wish.
[Silence.]
Kaspar: I know what I’m about to say isn’t going to make things better, but - Darren… He’s in the same condition as Ezra.
[Pete turns around, a look of anger on his face.]
Pete: The same condition, Kas? I’m not one of your patients, you don’t have to tip-toe around me!
Kaspar: [quiet] We think - we think it was because of the disease in him. It…
Pete: I think it’s self-evident what’s coming next.
[Silence.]
Pete: Kas, please just go.
Kaspar: [hard] Well me going is not going to make this inside go away, is it?
[Another silence.]
Kaspar: [quiet] I’m sorry.
Pete: [growing bitter] You don’t need to be.
Kaspar: Well neither do you, about all of this.
Pete: Kaspar please, just-
Kaspar: I can’t. I won’t.
Pete: So you want to be locked in the room with the murderer?
Kaspar: You’re not a murderer.
Pete: I’m not a murderer?! I killed one of your oldest friends!
[Beat. Kaspar looks down with a pained expression, almost regretfully. Growing with remorse, Pete moves slightly closer towards Kaspar.]
Pete: I’m sorry.
[Kaspar doesn’t seem to want to look at Pete. They sit there for a while, just in silence.]
Pete: You should go, please.
Kaspar: That’s not gonna scare me away and you know it.
Pete: I need to be locked up. Away from you, away from the world. I’m dangerous.
Kaspar: Locking you away isn’t going to solve this problem.
Pete: Why’re you doing this? I killed her! I’m a killer, she doesn’t deserve to die! If anything I should be in her place.
Kaspar: You’re my best friend. No matter what you do, nothing can change that, and none of this was your fault. You can’t blame yourself for this!
Pete: [with sarcasm] That’s just great then, everything’s cleared up then, nothing-
Kaspar: How did it happen?
[Pete at Kaspar, slightly taken aback by this sudden question.]
Kaspar: You can tell me.
Pete: I…
[Pause. Kaspar waits patiently.]
Pete: She was here, just here and then she tried to make me feel better. She pulled me up - we touched… she was gone.
[Pete takes a deep breath, while Kaspar takes in the story, a pain clearly in his eyes.]
Kaspar: Feel any better?
Pete: A little. But it’s still there, the burning hole, eating away, it’s like it’s never going to stop. It feels like it’s going to be with me forever. The blood on my hands. I killed her. I killed her with these hands.
Kaspar: It wasn’t you. It was this demon, this thing, it spoke to us just before. Whatever it is, it’s the one responsible. Not you. Never you.
[Pete stares at the ground, a climaxing pain growing more and more in strength in his expression. A small tear slowly escapes from his eye, flowing gently down his cheek. He starts to cry.]
Pete: Then why do I feel like this? If it wasn’t my fault then why is this pain so huge? If it wasn’t my fault then why do I feel responsible? Why do I feel like I need to be punished?
Kaspar: Pete...
[Kaspar looks at him with compassion and sorrow.]
Pete: [in tears] Why do I feel like this? Why? I killed her! I killed her. I killed her…
[Fade to: Rina sitting cross legged next to Ezra’s dead body in the witches living room, night. In silence. In empty solitude while she stares at Ezra’s pale form. A world of pain swirls darkly in her eyes. There is a knock, but Rina just continues to stare, ignoring the sound, her eyes dark and desolate.]
Tara OS: [gentle] Hi.
[Still no response.]
Tara: Is she… is she comfortable?
Rina: How can she be? She’s dead.
[Heavy silence. Tara walks slowly towards Rina’s gaunt figure, she kneels herself down and places her hand on Rina’s clenched fist. Rina turns to Tara and looks to her, to Tara’s surprise Rina’s clenched fist opens, letting Tara’s warm hand in.]
[Tara smiles in support and sympathy to Rina who only manages an attempt at a flicker of a smile. It doesn’t last. Tara looks to Ezra’s body, her smile quickly fades away. Heer eyes slowly turn darker, wider. She gulps, a powerful gulp, swallowing down the pain. Rina continues to look with empty eyes at Ezra’s body.]
Rina: Where d’you think she is now?
Tara: [hoarse] I’m sure she’s in a good place.
Rina: How do things get so muddled? One minute we were contemplating breakfast options, the next…
[Beat.]
Rina: She’s been ripped away.
[Rina turns to Tara.]
Rina: [heartfelt] Tara, you’ve died and came back. You overcame it, you struggled through. Tell me she can do the same.
Tara: I…
Rina: Tell me she’s safe. Tell me it’s all going to be okay. Is it?
Tara: [weak] Yeah, it will.
Rina: It has to. It can’t get any worse than this. It can’t get more painful than this.
[Tara and Rina turn to look at one another. Sharing all the pain in their eyes.]
[Cut to: Pete and Kaspar walking down the stairs towards the living room. Pete’s head is slightly lowered. We see Tara, Autumn and Rina are researching in silence, Tara looks up noticing the boys come down.]
Tara: [faint] Hi.
Kaspar: Hi.
Rina: I think I’ve found something.
Autumn: You have?
Rina: The creepy voiceovers, infecting humans with a power. It’s… all here. It all seems to lead to this thing.
Tara: So what is it?
Rina: It’s called Lazera, it was cursed - stopped from killing by a witch in the twelfth century.
Autumn: Stopped from killing?
Rina: It can’t ever kill, at all, it’s just not possible. So the only way the demon can inflict its pain is to use others are conduits, infecting them with its power. And…
Pete: Making them do it for it.
Rina: [dim] Yeah.
Kaspar: [hard] Does it say how to kill it?
Rina: [irritated] I was getting there. It can be killed with mortal weapons, like knives and gun - but it’s difficult to. It says it’s pretty resistant.
Tara: Anything else?
Rina: Not that I can see.
Autumn: B-but h-how are we going to kill it if we can’t find it?
Rina: It..it can make itself invisible, so all we need is an anti-invisibility specific revealing spell. That should do it.
Autumn: If we can’t kill it more easily shouldn’t we find a way to kill it directly?
Rina: The book said it was resistant to weapons - but it didn’t say anything about magics, I think that’s worth a shot. We need anything we can to put this thing in the ground, where it belongs.
Pete: Does it say…
[Beat.]
Pete: Is there any way back for… for Ezra, for Darren, for…for me?
Rina: [hoarsely weak] It… it…
[Tears quickly start to well in Rina’s eyes and all she can do is shake her head.]
Pete: Oh… ok.
Tara: Well I think we should go now, if that’s ok. Kaspar? Autumn?
Pete: I’m going with you.
Kaspar: Pete, you shouldn’t.
Pete: I have to help. I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I did this to her.
Autumn: No you didn’t, when will you see that?
Rina: Y..You should rest.
Pete: I was part of the cause, I want to be part of the solution. I need to be.
[Fade to: Tara, Kaspar, Autumn, Rina and Pete walking down Jewel Avenue, they’ve reached the spot where they came to the first time.]
Autumn: We turned back the first time, when we thought there was nothing here. It tricked us.
Kaspar: Hopefully it won’t do the same again..
[Tara brings out a handful of herbs from her pocket, chucking it in front of her.]
Tara: Reveal.
[The herbs seem to burn and spark in mid-air as they fall. Beat.]
Voice: Abracadabra, abracadabra. Your magic tricks won’t work on me.
[The alcove still remains empty. A harsh scratch suddenly appears on Tara’s face and she recoils in pain. Tara hurls another handful of herbs.]
Tara: Reveal.
[This time there aren’t even any sparks, the spell clearly is not working. Autumn gets pushed back by an invisible force and Kaspar is punched in the stomach a moment later. He suddenly stands on guard as do the other witches, just ready and tense.]
[Rina is hit down to the floor in the face, she rubs the bruise on her cheek and gets up, walking up to Tara with Kaspar. The three of them come together and grip hands, they look to one another, knowing just what to do.]
Rina/Kaspar/Tara: Reveal!
[All of a sudden out of the blue, a green, clawed demon materialises into view - Lazera.]
Kaspar: Voila.
Tara: Want me to show you another trick?
[Pete charges at the demon, brandishing a sword, but Lazera swiftly dodges and kicks Pete aside.]
Lazera: That’s not the only trick I can pull.
[Tara sends a telekinetic force at Lazera, making it stagger back. Rina hurls a small ball of fire at it and it yells in pain, but the pain quickly turns into laughter.]
Lazera: [laughing] Fire won’t kill me, magic won’t kill me! I’ve caused more pain to you than you could ever inflict on me - it’s delicious.
[Pete gets up again, with a look of determination deeper than ever. Lazera turns and Pete ducks one of it’s swipes narrowly but is scratched deeply on the chest. Furiously determined, Pete stabs the sword into Lazera. Pete staggers back but his expression quickly turns to shock as the demon pulls out the sword with ease.]
Lazera: Do these things always itch this much?
[Pete suddenly charges at Lazera. No thought involved, just pure, charged emotion.]
Kaspar: Pete no!
[Pete dodges a swipe from the creature, he manages to grip Lazera’s wrist, his hand physically connected with the demon’s who struggles in Pete’s grip. Lazera is weakening, he’s losing power, as the green light reappears at the point where Pete’s hand gripped to Lazera’s wrist. The green light glows brighter and brighter, more blinding than ever.]
Lazera: [hoarse] What are you doing?
[Pete glares at the demon with a look of disgust, hatred and pure fury as it grows weaker and weaker in Pete’s grip. The light slowly fades and witches simply watch as the demon slips from Pete’s grip - dead. Pete breathes, with heavy and hard breaths. There is complete silence around them.]
[Pete takes another laboured breath and kicks the demon’s dead corpse in his fury and despair. He slowly collapses to his knees and starts to cry again, starts to break down.]
[Song: “Mad World” by Gary Jules.]
All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
[Kaspar runs up to him as he cries, hugging Pete, letting Pete cry into his best friend’s shoulder. Zoom slowly back, zooming slowly away from the scene until we see a landscape view of dawn in Lesper Bay.]
[Fade to: Darren’s body in the living room of the witches’ house. Darren’s eyes slowly flutter open. He sits up in surprise, the expression quickly turns to joy, he stares ahead, quickly tears of joy appear in his eyes.]
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
[Cut to: Julia’s body, in a morgue, she slowly sits up. A male morgue worker turns to see her sit up, his eyes explode wide in surprise, he’s completely frozen. There’s a female morgue worker behind him.]
Female Morgue Worker: Jeffrey, did you not hear what I said? Jeffrey?
[She turns to see the male morgue worker staring at Julia. She’s equally stunned in shock. Julia quickly pulls the cloth further up her body.]
Julia: [nervously] Uh…hi.
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
[Fade to: Tara, Kaspar, Pete, Rina and Autumn running into the witches’ living room - slow motion. We slowly see Ezra sit up as they come in, she is beaming. Tara, Kaspar, Rina and Autumn rush towards her, hugging her, laughing, smiling, beaming and crying with joy. However, Pete doesn’t join in, he simply looks at the hugging group - an empty expression on his face.]
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world, mad world
[Fade to: Pete lying down on his bed, simply staring at the ceiling. The door opens.]
Ezra: Hi.
Pete: [sits up, softly surprised] Ez, hi...
Ezra: I’m probably the last person you expected to see.
Pete: No, I think Samuel L. Jackson tops that to be honest. But yeah, I’m a little surprised I guess. So new life, how’s the working out for ya?
Ezra: [with a gentle smile] It’s alright. Well I heard another witch died sometime then came back to life, so I thought I’d give it a try too - see what all the fuss is about.
Pete: Really?
Ezra: Yeah, heard it’s what all the cool witches are doing now.
Pete: You’re really down with the street cred aren’t you?
[Ezra chuckles lightly.]
Pete: Well if you came here to talk about that death thing, and how I-
Ezra: You did not kill me.
Pete: Your non-beating heart kind of disproves that theory, love.
Ezra: I know you Pete, I know what happened, I know the whole story. And I also know that you are not capable of anything like this, not really.
Pete: Really?
Ezra: [strong] You aren’t. What happened to you, or to me wasn’t your fault. You shouldn’t take guilt for what it did. You didn’t do this. None of us could ever do anything like that.
Pete: Wow, for a dead girl you talk a lot.
[Ezra walks over to Pete and gives him an affectionate hug.]
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me
[Cut to: Ezra and Rina’s room, where Rina is lying on the bed reading a book, Ezra enters and Rina looks up.]
Rina: Issued resolved?
Ezra: [smiles] Issue schimissue.
[Ezra climbs onto the bed and kisses Rina with passion.]
Rina: Would this be counted as necrophilia?
[Ezra punches Rina playfully.]
Rina: Normally I would find that sort of thing gross, but this time, I guess I’ll make an exception this time.
[Ezra starts to kiss Rina’s neck. She stops, looking to Rina. They gaze into one another’s eyes, we see Rina’s eyes slowly redden and a tears start to roll down from them.]
Ezra: A-am I that bad?
Rina: I can’t believe... I can’t believe I nearly lost you.
Ezra: Sshh...
[Ezra kisses Rina’s forehead.]
Ezra: I’m here. I’m right here in front of you, very much alive. I’m right here with you and I will never leave you.
[Ezra hugs Rina tightly and closely.]
Ezra: We beat death. We conquered it. And we’ll beat it again if we have to. We can beat anything that comes our way...
And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I’m dying
Are the best I’ve ever had
[Fade to: Kaspar and Ezra, both of them walk into the living room, though through different doors. They stop when they see one another.]
Ezra: Hey.
Kaspar: Hi.
Ezra: So the thing you were talking about before, before all this - care to explain?
Kaspar: Ezra I…
[Beat.]
Ezra: What?
Kaspar: Did she tell you?
Ezra: She did.
Kaspar: And?
Ezra: She said nothing’s happened, nothing’s wrong.
Kaspar: And you believe her?
Ezra: [eyebrows raise] Why wouldn’t I?
[Kaspar takes a deep, slow breath.]
Ezra: Kaspar, tell me what all this is about.
Kaspar: [weakly] Ezra, I can’t. Not now, I’m not sure if I ever can say it.
Ezra: Why? Kas, just talk to me.
Kaspar: I-I just need to sort this out. Once and for all.
[Kaspar walks away from Ezra, back the way he came from. Ezra looks down, confused.]
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world ... mad world…
[Fade to: the kitchen, later that morning. Ezra stumbles into the room as Tara pours herself some cereal.]
Tara: G’morning.
Ezra: My only response has to be - Yawn. Moan. Yawn.
Tara: [shrugs] That works too.
Ezra: Who says we have to stick to the conventional ways of greeting? I need food, of the croissant variety.
Tara: Sorry, swiped the last one.
Ezra: I’m resisting the urge to fry you with bacon.
Tara: So, you always this twitchy the morning after a death?
Ezra: Usually, yeah.
Tara: I wanted to ask, for you, what was it like - dying?
Ezra: What?
Tara: The… the dying.
Ezra: I don’t remember. I remember just blacking out. The world peeled away for a while, it just blew out, then the next second I was back. Why d’you ask, you think I was in heaven or something? St. Pete up there would sure as hell be confused.
Tara: Just wondering.
Ezra: You wanted to know if I was where you are in your temporary after life.
Tara: Looks like we have one more thing in common - we both know what it’s like to die.
[Beat.]
Tara: When the dying started, I was scared. For myself, for the others. But it was also a revelation. Gaining life is a slow, gradual process, but ending it.. so quick. I’ve realised that I shouldn’t be focusing on where I was - I should be happy, grateful that I got this second chance. Somewhere, somehow, somebody gave me that. And I’m not going to waste it.
[Fade to: Kaspar’s psychiatrist’s office, he’s sorting through files, day. The door opens and it’s Julia.]
Kaspar: [smiles] Julia, welcome back.
Julia: [nods] Mr. Sharpe.
Kaspar: What happened to you yesterday? You appeared to have just passed out.
Julia: Must’ve slipped. They thought I’d died. Weird huh?
Kaspar: And you’re ok?
[Beat.]
Julia: I’ve actually never been better, sir.
Kaspar: Kas, or Kaspar - remember.
Julia: Oh, I’m sorry, sir… I mean Kaspar.
[Kaspar smiles and Julia starts to leave.]
Kaspar: Oh Julia!
[Julia stops and turns back to Kaspar, her expression curious.]
Kaspar: Do something for me will you?
Julia: Of course, Kaspar.
Kaspar: Enjoy your day, every moment you have of it.
Julia: [smiles] I will.
Kaspar: Could you send my next patient in?
[Julia nods, stepping aside. A tall, lanky man comes in, just fitting in through the door, he walks up to the patient’s chair and takes a seat.]
Kaspar: So, how can I help?
[Cut to: a residential street, night. The sky is black, covered in a blanket of clouds. A brutal, loud wind rushes through the street. Rina stands on the pavement, wrapped in a scarf, her hands in her pockets, waiting. Kaspar walks into view, approaching Rina.]
Kaspar: Thanks for meeting me here.
Rina: [a little uncomfortable] What’s this about?
Kaspar: I think you know.
Rina: Kaspar, just say it.
Kaspar: [growing more serious] Don’t play games with me, Rina. This is serious.
[Beat. Kaspar stares heatedly at Rina, she stares back at him - resolute.]
Kaspar: What were you doing at the hunters’ last night?
Rina: [softly] I can’t say.
Kaspar: [rough, hard] Why not?!
[Beat. Rina stays silent.]
Kaspar: Whatever you’re doing this has to stop. I’ve known you for years, I’ve talked with you and I trusted you. I want that to stay. I don’t want to believe what you’re doing could cause us harm, but it’s stupid. This is stupid.
Rina: Does Ezra know?
Kaspar: No.
Rina: Don’t tell her, please, not anyone.
Kaspar: I won’t. I don’t want to hurt Ezra, she’s been through enough. She doesn’t need this. She doesn’t need to know any of this happened, none of them do.
Rina: I know.
Kaspar: Are you going to tell me then? So we can stop all this.
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It’s a very, very mad world ... mad world…
Rina: It will stop eventually, but I can’t say. It would be better, so much better if you didn’t know. Safer.
Kaspar: Fine. But this will stop. Cos if you hurt Ezra, or any one of us…
[Beat.]
Kaspar: I’m gonna kill you.
[Kaspar looks Rina hard in the face and walks past her, away, leaving her there on the street - scared.]
Enlarging your world,
Mad world…
[Blackout.]
The End.