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PURGATORY
PART II
EXT. CITYSCAPE - NIGHT
The moon is high now, and sirens sound off in the distance,
just faintly.
The camera PANS DOWN and we see a sole car zooming down a
main street. The camera follows the car until its static red
rear lights have all but disappeared into the city.
INT. BYRON'S CAR - NIGHT
Byron is driving, silently, with Alexis, unconscious, riding
in the passenger seat. Veronica is sitting in the back,
watching the buildings fly by.
BYRON (V.O.)
(looks over at Alexis)
How long has it been? No more than
twelve hours since it began.
Twelve? Christ, I've lived a
hundred centuries already.
Purgatory...
(pause)
Alexis. The angel of Purgatory.
The whitest angel. There was blood
on her brow. But she was asleep.
I need help...and I know who can
give it.
INT. PRECINCT HEADQUARTERS - NIGHT
Felix Myers is walking down the very empty configurations of
desks at the police headquarters, and his face is very
screwed up and seems to be in a state of confusion.
A police officer doing some paper work looks up at Felix as
he passes and nods.
OFFICER
Myers, the boss told me to tell you
to check your desk when you got in.
It's about some new case you're on
or something.
FELIX
Thanks Jake.
(beat)
Hey, do you know if the forensics
guys have finished up?
OFFICER
Uh, not sure. You'd have to call
them up.
FELIX
Alright, thanks.
Felix makes his way to his desk and sits down. There's a
paperwork cluttered on his desk, and when he picks it up and
starts reading, we can hear the boss' voice overtop.
BOSS (O.S.)
Felix. I don't know if you've
found anything new, but I've got
off the phone with my superiors.
We've got a witness Felix. Claims
he saw everything. And Veronica is
public enemy number one. We have
him in protective custody. Talk to
him. We've got to find her. Find
Reynolds, find Veronica. And we've
found our murderer.
Felix finishes the note and crumples it up in his fist. He
knows something is wrong, but he can't figure out what.
He gets up off his desk again and rushes over to the other
officer.
FELIX
Hey! Do you know where this
witness is being kept?
OFFICER
Which one?
FELIX
The case, the new one.
OFFICER
Oh...uh. Yeah, hold on a sec.
(looks through drawer and pulls out
a piece of paper)
That's the address. We've got a
detail there watching his premises.
FELIX
Thanks a lot.
Felix takes the piece of paper and is hurrying out of the
Police department.
CUT TO:
EXT. PRECINCT HEADQUARTERS - SECONDS LATER
Felix is just racing down the steps of the building when he
reaches into his holster and pulls out his gun. He knows
something is wrong and needs to get to the bottom of it.
However, just as he does this, his phone rings. Cautiously
he reaches for it.
FELIX
Hello?!
BYRON (O.S.)
Felix. Are you being careful?
FELIX
...Byron. Sir, why are you calling
me?
BYRON (O.S.)
I need your help. Big time.
There's...something on the mega
scale being riled up. And I need
your help.
FELIX
(with mixed feelings)
I'm heading down to an address
right now. Apparently...there was
a witness to the murder, and
they've got him locked down.
BYRON (O.S.)
Any idea who the snitch is
accusing?
FELIX
No. No, I don't know yet.
(beat)
Where are you?
BYRON (O.S.)
To your right, across the street.
Felix looks and we see that Byron is waving to him from his
car on the other side.
FELIX
You spying on me, sir? What do you
need?
BYRON (O.S.)
Asylum.
FELIX
(confused)
I don't get it.
BYRON (O.S.)
I'll explain later. Do you have a
safe place that we can go?
FELIX
I think so.
BYRON (O.S.)
I'll follow you there.
Byron hangs up, leaving Felix staring rather stupidly at the
car. He doesn't know what he's getting into, but hops into
his car and drives off. Byron is right behind him.
EXT. RURAL ROAD - NIGHT
The two cars finally come to a stop. Felix gets out of his
car first, followed by Veronica and then Byron, who lifts
Alexis out of the back seat (still unconscious).
FELIX
(looks at Veronica and
Alexis)
Do I need to ask?
BYRON
Felix, this is Veronica Goudreau.
And this...is Alexis Rosochev.
FELIX
...shit.
INT. FELIX'S RESIDENCE - NIGHT
Byron puts Alexis down on one of the couches, and wipes at
her brow with a wet cloth supplied by Felix, who sits down
opposite in a rocking chair. Veronica is comfortably perched
on the sofa.
FELIX
(frowning)
So we have a gangland leader
murderer and an a teenage Russian
mafia punk.
(beat)
Whose next?
BYRON
Peter Cottontail and a leprechaun.
(beat)
You know as well as I whoever
pegged Isaac has some serious Asian
influence. You get the report from
the morgue?
FELIX
They didn't have it yet.
BYRON
Hm.
VERONICA
(with lethal intent)
You must think you're pretty damn
special to assume the nature of
people just by looking.
FELIX
I've had practice.
(beat, then to Byron)
But I agree with you, Mr. Byron. I
got another look at that cut. And
unless Mrs. Goudreau has any
experience with a sword-
VERONICA
(pulls out her Rapier)
I have experience, Felix. Just not
the stabbing kind.
(beat)
Isn't Felix like a cat? You remind
me of a cat.
BYRON
Enough.
FELIX
(looks away from Veronica)
Why did you call me?
BYRON
Because I know I can trust you.
You're not a total asshole, and you
have something like a conscience.
(beat)
Whoever was taking out
Isaac...well, like I said
before...I'm not putting Alexis out
of the picture. Not yet.
FELIX
(looks disdainfully at
Veronica...he doesn't
like her)
Then why is the blame pointing
at....her?
VERONICA
I'm a good scapegoat. In fact, I'm
perfect. I got a bad reputation,
Felix...especially with
relationships.
FELIX
I believe you. What happened to
the little one?
BYRON
There's way more to this than meets
the eye, Lieutenant. She was
jumped before I could get to her.
They were pretty serious. And they
were Hannibal's.
FELIX
What?
VERONICA
The mark of a Raven. Oooohh!
That's pretty pathetical too, isn't
it Byron? Like omen's and stuff.
Hannibal and his flock of Ravens,
but you showed them good, didn't
you?
BYRON
It's...prophetical, Ron.
(beat, back to Felix)
I had to deal with them.
FELIX
And?
VERONICA
(alludes to the body)
You pile-drived him good. You're
not much for conversation or
sympathy or sensibility but you're
handy in a fight.
(beat)
It was a cereal hit. Snap,
crackle, pop.
BYRON
(distastefully)
There's a...an issue sitting in my
car. His neck isn't attached to
his head anymore.
FELIX
(realizes he's in deep)
SHIT!! Oh...fuck me. What have
you gotten me into, sir?
Shit, shit!! You killed him...
BYRON
I had too, don't worry. It's not
gonna leave a smudge on any record,
yours or mine, so calm down.
(pause)
The real issue is...why is Hannibal
sending his stooges to make
porridge of his daughter Goldilocks
there?
FELIX
(ignores the reference to
the Three Bears)
...uh. That's...interesting.
What do you want me to do about it?
BYRON
I want you to keep Alexis here and
outta the way of our unknown sword
fighter. Did you get any further
leads?
FELIX
On the case, actually no. It's
fairly well sealed up. Which is
strange, I agree. But not...not as
strange as what you're telling me
about the Tenyeh.
(beat)
It wouldn't make any sense. First
we have the sword guy taking out
Isaac...but why the Tenyeh taking
out Alexis?
BYRON
That's the million dollar question.
(beat)
You mentioned uh...witness?
FELIX
Right. Some guy, that's all I
know.
BYRON
We'll do this thing, in the
morning. Right now I think we all
need to get some rest.
FELIX
If the Boss-
BYRON
Don't worry about the Boss. Just
worry about me..
VERONICA
How comforting.
FELIX
You trust her, sir? Shit! This is
too deep! For all we know maybe
she has a katana down her pant leg.
I think, sir, it would be best to
take her downtown-
VERONICA
Screw you! Hahah! You even try
and touch me, copper, and that'll
be the end. So keep your hands to
yourself...and I'll do the same.
BYRON
(sighs)
I trust her.
VERONICA
(teasing)
Just like the old days, huh?
BYRON
Just like.
(pause)
You two...bury the body alright?
FELIX
Oh geez..
(beat)
I'm..crazy....I'm crazy....I'm
crazy.
Byron leans over Alexis, wondering.
Veronica is about to say something to Byron in reference to
Felix who is losing his mind over the events, but doesn't.
As the two go outside, Byron takes a seat on the chair
opposite her and puts a gun on his lap.
BYRON
I'll sleep here.
After awhile we hear another voice, Veronica's, reiterating
in his mind while he looks on at Alexis.
VERONICA (O.S.)(FLASHBACK)
There's a war on, Wally...its just
starting, like the calm before a
shit-storm. Can't you feel it? No
one's getting outta this...we're
all gonna burn.
CUT TO:
INT. FELIX'S RESIDENCE - MORNING
Byron is sleeping, and as we fade in, we see that someone is
about to smack him with a piece of firewood. He wakes up
quick enough and grabs the piece of wood, and ends up hurling
it away. The wielder of the piece of wood is a frightened
Alexis, who falls back onto the floor.
ALEXIS
(scared)
What the hell is going on? Who the
hell are you??
BYRON
(awkwardly)
Hey! Hey...calm down...it's okay.
ALEXIS
It is NOT okay!!!
The shot moves to a wide-frame where only the voice-over can
be heard, but Alexis is fighting back with her fists and
nails, trying to escape.
BYRON (V.O.)
It took me a half-hour and some
rude insults to settle her down
enough to get my story in and hers
out. I hate swearing at a woman,
but I didn't have an excess of time
on my hands. She took it better
than I thought. But she didn't
have much to say....which was bad
for me.
INT. FELIX'S PORCH - LATER
Alexis has a bandage across her forehead and is wrapped up in
a brown blanket, crouched up on the wooden bench. She looks
still very shocked and upset. Byron is sitting next to her
on a stool. Veronica is in the other room.
ALEXIS
(whispering)
So you were following me...
BYRON
I found you at Escobars. It took
me awhile, but I found you at last.
I have to say, I'd have been
happier if you'd chosen another
location.
ALEXIS
(smiles weakly)
My friend Carmanah likes it there.
Her boyfriend is the bartender, so
we get free drinks sometimes.
BYRON
Did you know these people that
attacked you?
ALEXIS
(hesitantly)
...yeah. A couple of 'em are my
brother's friends. Or...I guess.
I...I just...I've known a few of
them since I was like 5!
And..they...just..
Alexis rubs her head.
BYRON
..do you know why they were after
you?
(Alexis shakes her head)
They were the Tenyeh Talycheeks,
weren't they?
ALEXIS
(looks up in surprise)
How could you know that...
BYRON
(lights another cigarette)
I'm a cop. Every cop knows your
father's shadow boys.
(beat)
What beats me is why they took
after you. They take orders from
you know who, so it doesn't make
sense.
Alexis lowers her eyes painfully.
BYRON (CONT'D)
There's something wrong...
ALEXIS
You're telling me..heh.
What...what happened? I
mean...I...I lost it or something.
What happened to..them?
BYRON
(tentatively)
I scared them off.
ALEXIS
...and you took me..
BYRON
(licks his lips)
I've been following you,
Alex...against the better judgement
of my bosses. I got...a bad
feeling last night, y'know. I
uh...get it sometimes, just like
heartburn.
(beat)
You're more at risk...
ALEXIS
...more at risk? Than what?
I'm...I'm a Rosochev. My father
...
BYRON
Bingo. But your father can't
protect you, not all the time...I
think we've pretty well proved
that.
(beat, as he becomes uncomfortable)
...do you know where your brother
is?
ALEXIS
Isaac. I dunno. He could be with
his girlfriend. I haven't met her.
BYRON
(sinks his head into his
hands)
Ahhh. I don't...I don't
even...know...how the hell I'm
supposed to do this.
(pause)
I can't even...begin, to imagine
how you say something...
ALEXIS
(gets the feel that
something is very wrong)
....what...
BYRON
(looks up slowly)
Your brother, Alexis. I..I....I
saw him...last night.
(pause)
Listen, there's...fuck...there's
something you have to know.
And...all I can do is..say it...
ALEXIS
(feels very uncomfortable)
...what...what....
BYRON
He's...he's dead.
There is a long silence between the two of them. Alexis
keeps her emotions bottled up, but they begin to show on her
face in grievous lines.
ALEXIS
(firmly)
You're a liar. I...no, I...you're
a liar.
BYRON
I wish I was Alexis. This..one
time...this only time....I wish I
was.
ALEXIS
...I don't believe you. It's
not...it's not real, you-
BYRON
I'm...so...sorry, Alexis.
ALEXIS
(bits her lip hard)
How...how..did....?
BYRON
We're looking for the guy that did
it.
ALEXIS
I asked how!!
BYRON
...he was stabbed.
Alexis stands up, arms crossed, and makes her way to the
fireplace in the corner.
ALEXIS
(after a long pause)
I guess I oughta thank you.
For..saving my life and stuff.
That's cheesy, but whatever.
There's a pregnant pause between the two.
BYRON
There's something really wrong
here, Alexis. I don't why the
Tenyeh were after you....but I want
you to stay here while I figure it
out.
ALEXIS
I wanna go home.
BYRON
I know. But I can't take that
risk, okay?
ALEXIS
(suddenly vicious)
You can't keep me here! Are you
abducting me or what? Don't even
answer! I wanna go home, that's
all!
BYRON
If your father...sent the-
ALEXIS
Why would he do that!!?
BYRON
I don't know, but-
ALEXIS
(gnaws on her lower lip)
....he wouldn't. That's just so
stupid it's not even-. I wanna
go...
BYRON
(shakes his head)
I have to talk to a man about
something. Then...I'll come back.
We'll see what happens.
ALEXIS
You're not even supposed to know
me!
BYRON
I gotta go.
Byron heads inside and sees Veronica standing in the doorway.
BYRON (CONT'D)
You should um....
(beat)
You guys have something in common.
She'll be...glad to see you, I
think. Please, Veronica....
VERONICA
Don't worry about her.
She smiles and heads out. Felix is there as well.
BYRON
Let's go pay this witness a visit.
EXT. RURAL ROAD - MORNING
Felix gets his car keys out.
FELIX
Geeezus Christ, sir. I'm having
trouble dealing with this. This
thing is...getting out of control.
And nothing is making sense
anymore.
BYRON
(with a grin/grimace)
Welcome to my world.
FELIX
You mean Purgatory.
BYRON
I mean my world.
Felix is driving and slips into the driver seat, while Byron
takes the passenger seat with a grin.
EXT. PURGATORY STREETS - MORNING
Felix's car burns down Purgatory. Byron has his window down
with his arm out the window.
EXT. CURBSIDE - MORNING
The car parks on the curb with a squeal of breaks, and the
two of them get out.
EXT. WITNESS PROTECTION HOUSE - LATER THAT MORNING
In front of the house is a constant patrol of police
officers, moving back and forth across the lawn. Byron and
Felix get out a block away and sneak up to the residence.
BYRON
This is the place?
FELIX
It's the address. How are we
getting in?
BYRON
The old-fashioned way. Follow me.
Before Felix can protest, Byron is heading towards the door.
The cop on duty doesn't recognize him, and points his gun in
his direction.
But before he can even react, Byron slaps away the gun and
does a back-roundhouse kick that sends the policeman
scattering to the ground. The other policeman is right there
and jumps at Byron, punching him in the face. Byron takes
the first hit, and ducks the second.
With a crushing blow of his knee he jumps up with incredible
vigor and knocks the second one out. Felix comes up, his
hands on his head.
FELIX
(with an almost vacant
expresson)
....old fashioned.
BYRON
They don't know who hit them. Stop
worrying about your moral
prejudices...they don't have any
value here.
FELIX
(completely insane)
You're crazy...
BYRON
(grins)
Only half-crazy. C'mon...
INT. WITNESS PROTECTION HOUSE - MORNING
Felix and Byron are moving through the house, quietly, when
they come to the living room. A man with a paper bag over
his head is watching Johnny Mnemonic. Byron takes out his
gun and approaches carefully.
BYRON
Stand up.
The Bagman continues to watch.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Stand up, now. I won't ask three
times in a row.
The Bagman seems to notice that Byron is behind him finally,
and then, after a minute, stands up slowly. He has an eerie
paper bag over his head.
BYRON (CONT'D)
That's better. Myers, shut those
blinds please.
(beat)
Who are you? This time, I'm only
asking once.
The Bagman doesn't say anything. Byron cocks his Beretta.
The Bagman suddenly feels like talking.
BAGMAN
Who are you?
BYRON
I'm asking the questions.
BAGMAN
Most of my friends call me Frankie.
You can call me whatever you like.
BYRON
Frankie will do. So, Frankie. You
saw something last night I'm told.
Well, I wanna hear it from you.
FRANKIE
(hesitates)
You're obviously talking about the
murder on Fifth and Wesson. There
isn't anything else that I've seen
last night...worthy enough for this
intrusion.
(pause)
Why do you care what I saw?
FELIX
We're a bunch of curious cats.
FRANKIE
(sits down again)
I saw a beautiful woman with black
hair.
FELIX
Bull. You saw something else.
Start talking.
Frankie doesn't speak.
BYRON
I'm sick...and tired...of people
wasting my time. It wasn't a
beautiful woman, Frankie. Try and
remember now.
FRANKIE
It was.
BYRON
(points the gun at
Frankie)
No...it wasn't.
FRANKIE
There is no other?
BYRON
I'm pretty sure there is, and I'm
even more sure that you know him.
FRANKIE
(changes)
Hell will freeze over before you
find him.
BYRON
Hell is frozen over.
Mythologically, anyway. The Ninth
Bolgia and the last level of Hell.
(beat)
What's the matter with people these
days, huh? Doesn't anybody read
anymore?
(beat)
The rest of Hell is symbolized by
fire, but at the very bottom, it's
so cold your eyes freeze open. My
conscience would tell me
that's..."convenient", because I
need your eyes. I need them to
look at me and through me so you'll
be sure that I'm not speaking
facetiously.
FRANKIE
You like my eyes.
FELIX
Byron....what are you doing?
BYRON
It's also convenient that I can't
see your face. The problem I have
is that I don't know what the face
of our...mutual friend, looks like.
(beat)
Take the bag off.
Frankie just stares at him through the holes in his bag.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Felix.
Felix comes up behind him and rips the bag off. Byron
refuses to grimace. Frankie's face is distorted, mutilated,
nearly inhuman.
FELIX
Geezus.
FRANKIE
You wanted to see what was under
the bag. Now what do you think?
FELIX
What the hell...
BYRON
(unfazed)
Much better. Far more personal
this way, just the way it should
be. Who is it Frankie? Whose got
you wrapped around his finger....?
FRANKIE
He's coming. He's coming for you
now. He's the reactant, the
epitome, the final solution.
FELIX
Sir, he's crazy. He's whacked out.
He doesn't even know what he's
talking about.
BYRON
I think Frankie knows exactly what
he's talking about.
(beat)
Avarice, envy, pride. Three fatal
sparks have set the hearts of all
on fire. Pride, dear Frankie...is
your problem.
(beat)
Felix, do you have a pocket knife?
FELIX
...yeah.
BYRON
Get it out. Take out the small
blade, the sharp one.
(Felix obeys)
Now when I tell you, chop off one
of his digits.
FELIX
..sir, I-
BYRON
Who is he? Whose your boss?
FRANKIE
Nameless as the wind.
BYRON
Felix, take off his pinkie.
Felix seems somewhat hesitant. He takes the finger of the
man's right hand and puts the knife on it. A band of red
appears around it.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Felix..
FELIX
I can't do this!! I...what the
fuck am I doing?!
BYRON
I gave you an order Lieutenant.
The little piggy goes to the
slaughterhouse. Take it off!
FELIX
I...sir, I....I didn't think...
(beat)
Oh god...you're serious...I...sir.
BYRON
Damn right I'm serious!
Byron gets up and takes the knife from Felix. Frankie
glances at him for a second as his interrogator takes the
knife away from the Lieutenant and grips his fingers.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Now...who...is he?
Frankie doesn't speak. Byron grunts and slices at the
finger, drawing more blood from the finger, and Frankie
screams. But Byron has a hand over his mouth at that moment.
Frankie looks at his wounded hand and Byron slowly takes away
his hand.
BYRON (CONT'D)
If you scream Frankie, I'll take
off all ten at once.
(beat)
You still have nine chances. Nine
lives. But unlike Felix here, you
won't be coming back in perfect
health.
Byron flicks at Frankie's remaining undamaged fingers.
FRANKIE
(sobbing and holding his
finger)
He....will kill you. Both of you.
But...before he does, you will know
his name. He'll tell you, right
before he does it.
(beat)
Bishop...bishop.
FELIX
Bishop..
BYRON
Never heard of him. He has a nice
big sword?
Frankie nods.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Gooood. Where is he?
Frankie is hesitant once again. Byron sighs and takes the
wounded hand again and puts the blade to the next finger.
FRANKIE
No!!!
(Byron puts a hand to his mouth)
BYRON
Shhhh....where is he?
FRANKIE
(desperately)
I...the bridge. The bridge!!
FELIX
Which bridge?
FRANKIE
St. Andrews. God, St. Andrews!
That's where he is!
Byron folds the knife back up after cleaning the blade on the
knife and hands it back to Felix.
BYRON
What else can you tell us?
FRANKIE
(gasping)
He's...he's uh...a Christian.
FELIX
Aren't we all. What else?
FRANKIE
No, you don't get it. He's
religious. He's as hardcore
Christian as they come.
BYRON
Why would I want to know that?
FRANKIE
Because if his god thinks you're
worthy, you're next on his list, a
right follower of that Isaac punk.
Byron steps forward and pistol whips Frankie across the face.
BYRON
That was for Veronica..
He hits him again.
BYRON (CONT'D)
And that was for me....
Frankie recovers somewhat and wipes at his mouth. Byron
looks back at Frankie once and turns to leave.
FRANKIE
(speaks up)
You can't stop it! You won't be
able to! It's already begun and it
won't be undone!! You're dead!!
You and everyone you know are
already dead!!
BYRON
(turns around with a
frown)
Whatever...war...is looming here,
you won't survive it either, dear
Frankie. I'm going to stop it,
whatever is coming, I'm going to
put it down and end it. And you'll
remember it Frankie.
(beat)
Remember tonight...for it the
beginning of always.
CUT TO:
INT. FELIX'S CAR - MORNING
As they head back to Felix's cabin, Felix seems completely
aghast. They drive in silence for a minute before Byron
speaks up.
BYRON
Do you have guns?
FELIX
You mean...at my place? I have an
extra Beretta. There's a...shotgun
in the attic. A Glock upstairs in
the cabinet.
BYRON
Well armed for a residential man.
FELIX
Yeah. The 28 taught me something.
(beat)
Listen, I'm sorry sir...about that.
I freaked out and I shouldn't have,
I realize that. I just...ah...I
dunno. I'm sorry.
BYRON
Don't be. I was counting on your
reaction to be somewhat
like...well, what it was. You did
good.
(beat)
Frankie needed to believe that I
was crazy. You made the perfect
contrast. Besides, I didn't cut
him too bad. I didn't hit the
joint.
FELIX
(sighs and shakes his
head)
Compared to Purgatory...the
28...geez. The Boss is gonna chew
my balls off.
(beat)
I'm so friggin' dead in the
morning.
BYRON
We'll share a grave in that case.
A pause.
FELIX
You were right. About the murderer
I mean, and the girlfriend.
BYRON
Veronica.
FELIX
What are we going to do?
BYRON
About Frankie's friend? I'm not
sure yet. There's no motive to
kill Isaac. The Tenyeh must have
something to do with this guy.
Hannibal is the key.
(beat)
But sending his troops to butcher
his daughter. This is outrageous.
FELIX
Maybe this...guy...was hired by
Hannibal.
BYRON
To take out Isaac? And then what,
make sure the Tenyeh did a good job
of Alexis?
That fits all the pieces except for
the biggest one...
FELIX
(finishes his sentence)
Why kill his children.
(pause)
Who knows why guys like him do
anything.
The shot focuses on a CU of Byron, who seems to be working
things out.
BYRON
Let's let Veronica handle this
piece of the puzzle.
FELIX
...you got something there.
Between you two. It's like...
BYRON
Stop thinking Felix...you'll lose
all concept of ethics.
FELIX
(chuckles)
If you trust her, sir, that's good
enough for me. I still can't
believe I'm doing this. I must be
crazy...
BYRON
You're a good cop, Myers. I won't
patronize you with bathetic
compliments, but...hell, if you're
following an old-timer crazytown
patron like me you've gotta be a
good cop.
(smiles)
....to do what's right, Felix. If
you can do what's right, and not
think twice...well, then.
FELIX
What's right?
BYRON
...that's a judgement call.
(beat)
It's not easy. There aren't any
black and white comic hues, my
friend, no easy borders to tell you
which is which.
(beat)
...you have to rely on intent. The
outcome, the process...as long as
the intent is right.
FELIX
I'll try to remember that sir.
(long pause)
You ever had a Rubik's cube, sir?
BYRON
(smiles)
Threw the damn thing off my
balcony.
(beat)
Don't worry. This puzzle...we got
a genius on our side. It'll fit
together somehow...
FELIX
(in reference to Veronica)
You think she knows more than she's
letting on?
BYRON
She always knows more than she's
letting on. She told me that
Hannibal knew about her and
Isaac...she was afraid that he was
looking for her.
(beat)
It's mad, but maybe she's got
something, something to explain old
man Rosochev turning to
infanticide.
(beat)
In this case, though, no. I don't
think
Veronica's even made the
connection.
(beat)
But....I'm glad we have her. I'm
glad that...Alexis has her.
Felix doesn't ask and lets Byron continue to sort things out
as they make it back to the house.
INT. FELIX'S RESIDENCE - LATER
Felix and Byron walk in through the door and find that Alexis
is reading a magazine and that Veronica is watching T.V.
VERONICA
Find anything?
BYRON
Maybe.
(whisper)
How is she?
VERONICA
Her concussion isn't too bad.
BYRON
I meant..
VERONICA
Yeah, yeah. No she's uh...
(looks at Alexis)
She's shaken, man. Big time
earthquake milkshake shaken, lover.
She's tough...real tough. We kinda
know each other and that helps
things...
I dunno, man.
BYRON
Okay.
(pause)
I'm going to take her out for
breakfast. Maybe....maybe she can
remember something, anything.
It'll be easier if she has
something in her stomach.
VERONICA
I'm coming with you...
It's not a question; it's a statement. So Byron nods.
BYRON
Felix. Get your guns. Meet us at
the Heart of the City.
FELIX
That a restaurant?
BYRON
The best kind of restaurant.
CUT TO:
INT. CLUB - MORNING
The extreme CU lower face of an anonymous man fiddles with a
lit cigarette. Smoke drifts from his lips as he opens them
to speak into a cell-phone. This...must be Bishop.
BISHOP
Mr. Rosochev. How pleasant to hear
from you.
(beat)
The cops, I trust...found the body?
Good. Yes...
(pause)
That was not in the agreement.
Killing cops, Mr. Rosochev...in my
line of work, we consider
that...very expensive.
(beat)
I cannot say if my sword is drawn
against him. He seems upon your
word a noble man. But as you
say...all the noble men I know have
died. Except for one. Still...it
is up to God to say whether this
life is invalid or not. That...is
beyond both our words.
(beat)
I must pray.
The phone clicks off and we cut to a back shot of Bishop, his
black hair drawn down his back in a ponytail. We don't see
his face, but he walks along a patio that goes into a Zen
garden.
He reaches a the garden and sits down in a kneeling position.
We have a CU of a Christian cross that he rubs from a small
chain on his neck. His sword is lain at his side, like a
horrible omen.
INT. PANDEMONIUM THRONE - MORNING
As Palk looks on, Hannibal fidgets with some paperwork and
slams a book shut.
HANNIBAL (O.S.)
Everything that I have planned, the
dreams, the desires....they are
fettered by this demon. This
Purgatory saint.
CUT TO:
INT. BYRON'S CAR - AT THAT MOMENT
Byron has a speculating hand on his mouth as he drives both
Veronica and Alexis downtown. He's clearly unhappy and
curious about this new Bishop character.
HANNIBAL (O.S.)
I find that...they are dashed. In
this...cage of a place....this cage
that I have tried..and tried...and
tried to break apart.
(beat)
And in the end, all that I have
done is simply decorate it. It
does not expand...it does not
lengthen, or turn into the horizon
that I seek.
INT. ROSOCHEV BACKSEAT - AT THAT MOMENT
Hannibal is sitting, with a cane, and a frown on his face.
The inside of his car is stark.
HANNIBAL
And still...the final...act, that
would set this apart, that
would...open Purgatory like a
bleeding wound.
(pause)
The simple...so simple...death of
one that plays against my heart.
PALK
Sir...Bishop.
HANNIBAL
There are only three Gods in this
mortal world, Yuriy. There is a
God of compassion, and a God of
vengeance.
PALK
And the third?
HANNIBAL
The third is the price of both
combined.
(beat)
Alexis is that price, and she will
pay it. I will not have
this...failure staining my palms.
She disappeared...now how does that
happen, how does someone disappear
in my city? It's this cop.....he
found her. That goddamn
incompetent that runs the
Precinct...he let this thing out a
cage...heh. And now...now
this...thing...Byron...has Alexis.
(beat)
Bishop will kill Byron, and Byron
will be brought to me. Is that
understood?
PALK
Of course sir.
FADE OUT.
INT. FELIX'S RESIDENCE - DAY
Felix is busy prepping his weapons: the Beretta, the Glock,
the shotgun. He is concentrating heavily on the task at hand
and isn't aware of the ghostly moves of a mysterious shape
that manages to sneak inside.
As he sets the shotgun down he hears an ominous voice and
feels a sharp thing in his back. It's Murphy with his sawed
off shotgun.
MURPHY
Don't force me to kill you.
(beat)
You and I have something to talk
about.
FELIX
(grumpily)
Who the hell are you?
MURPHY
I'm a big guy with a gun.
(beat)
Now if you don't mind, would you
kindly step away from your little
arsenal? There's a good man.
(pause)
Now, good man...let's talk a
little. You know where I can find
a young woman...?
FELIX
I know lots of young woman. You're
going to have to be more specific.
MURPHY
This one speaks French and probably
cut off your balls.
INT. HEART OF THE CITY - MORNING
Veronica is talking to Alexis and Byron when food comes to
their table. Alexis still seems somewhat...dejected and
separated from the world.
VERONICA
I hate potatoes. You know, there's
just no good way to serve them.
Mashed potatoes I guess...are kinda
good.
Veronica is bantering trying to cheer up Alexis, but the girl
still seems lost.
VERONICA (CONT'D)
Oh you know what? Potato cake.
You ever had it? Its
like...potatoes and cake.
ALEXIS
(weakly)
Does it taste good?
VERONICA
Does it taste good? No. It tastes
like cake and...scrambled eggs.
But that's just another bad way to
serve potatoes. They're the
Devil's food...
Alexis smiles a little bit.
BYRON
(uneasy)
I don't know.
I don't mind potatoes. Mashed of
course, but...they're not bad.
ALEXIS
....with gravy.
BYRON
(smiles)
Yeah, with gravy.
ALEXIS
And cranberries on top.
VERONICA
Cranberries! We always put
blueberries on ours...my dad and me
at Thanksgiving you know.
(beat)
But, yeah...
Byron brightens up a bit when he sees Alexis opening up some.
VERONICA (CONT'D)
But yeah, anyway....I gotta use the
ladies room. You two gonna survive
while I'm gone?
BYRON
(laughs)
I think we'll be all right Ron..
Veronica laughs back and leaves the table. Alexis fiddles
with her food for awhile before she looks up at Byron.
BYRON (CONT'D)
How's the eggs?
ALEXIS
(wrinkles her nose)
I don't like over-easy.
(pause)
This whole um...thing. With...with
my father...and the Tenyeh...and
you. I..I don't know what to think-
BYRON
It's okay. You don't need to think
right now. Just eat something.
ALEXIS
No, I wanna talk. Just listen to
me, 'k?
(pause)
You...you saved my life.
I mean, I'm not like...pretending
that everything is all right and
that I'm not scared out of my
friggin' skin right now. But you
did save me. And...it
seems...right, to say thanks.
BYRON
....there's no need for that.
ALEXIS
Yeah there is.
BYRON
(speechless)
....it was lucky.
ALEXIS
(wrinkles her nose again
and stuffs some eggs in
her mouth)
Maybe...
BYRON
(after another short
pause)
Maybe not.
(beat)
I've been watching you, Alexis.
Alexis stops eating and looks at him.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Hehm. Not...like that.
(beat)
I'm a cop remember? I had a case
awhile back, shut down pretty fast.
I was supposed to uh...keep an eye
on you.
(beat)
Even when they shut it down I still
kept an eye on you. Heh! Call it
a crazy parent complex, something,
I dunno.
(beat)
...you disappeared about...two
weeks ago. I couldn't find you.
ALEXIS
...why didn't you let the case go?
BYRON
(sighs)
These streets and Purgatory.
Mostly I guess I didn't
wanna...didn't wanna see you become
something that it ate it for
breakfast. Like potato cake.
ALEXIS
Nobody uses that anymore.
BYRON
Uses what?
ALEXIS
Eating something for breakfast. I
eat baddies for breakfast. Their
always in bad movies. You know,
man..like...that expression.
BYRON
(smiles at the remark)
It's a generation thing.
Alexis smiles back and sips at her juice.
BYRON (CONT'D)
I'm glad you're okay.
(awkward silence)
So..you don't have any idea why the
Tenyeh...
ALEXIS
Tried to kill me? Sorry, man. I
dunno. I kinda hoped I'd stay in
shock so I wouldn't have to
confront that..
(beat)
...guess it wore off.
BYRON
(smiles again)
Those two weeks...
ALEXIS
Oh, right, sorry. Well I uh...I
haven't really exactly been around.
I um...hmm..I sorta took
a...vacation.
(pause)
Me and my friend Carmanah, I was
staying at her place for awhile.
BYRON
...extended sleepover?
ALEXIS
Eh. Sorta. I uh..I...I wasn't
really...enjoying homelife, if you
know what I mean.
BYRON
I don't...fill me in.
ALEXIS
(takes a moment, because
she's not sure about
divulging all her
problems to a cop)
...okay, fine. *sigh* I
um...geez, haha..this is gonna
sound over the top.
(beat)
You even religious Mr. Byron?
BYRON
Call me Walter. And no...no I lost
my faith a long time ago.
ALEXIS
'K, you even at least spiritual?
BYRON
Sure.
ALEXIS
'K well...I just these...these bad
vibes from my father. That really
does sound overtop, holy shit. Ah,
sorry. But I can't say it any
other way.
(pause)
There's like...man...something in
his eyes. And lately he's just
being a pain in the ass, and acting
weird and stuff.
(beat)
I just got creeped out...and
something...geez, I can't even
talk..ahha! I just didn't like it,
alright? I needed to get out so I
met up with Carmanah and stuff and
made the arrangements and...yeah!
I was out...
BYRON
...that's pretty gutsy. I mean,
your father probably hates the
idea.
You running around in Purgatory by
yourself. He probably had all his
ears and eyes out. I guess he and
I got that in common...
(beat)
Brave thing to leave the hired guns
behind and walk alone.
ALEXIS
I guess.
(beat)
I tried to tell Isaac y'know...but
he was like, man, you're crazy,
there's nothing to it, just calm
down. He and I go separate ways a
lot, you know...'cause like he's
the stubborn one in the family and
always does the opposite of me.
(beat)
And he was always like...there's
nothing to fear. He didn't fear
anything. It was crazy. And he'd
tell me "it's a dangerous world,
but we gotta let it be and just
live".
(breaks a tear)
You think he's right about that?
BYRON
(with some difficulty)
...I think he hit it right on the
nose.
ALEXIS
(breaking down)
He was..he was so goddamn stubborn,
y'know? Like man...why couldn't he
just...listen to me, y'know?
Geezus. If he'd listened.....
BYRON
Alexis.
ALEXIS
(starts crying)
Shit! Fuck...fuck...
(beat)
..this is so fucked up.
(wipes away her tears)
Ahhh! I'm going all...frickin'
Niagra on you
here...dammit...dammit....
BYRON
(softly)
...don't try to stop them.
(a compassionate pause)
The dead deserve our tears. Good
men, deserve our tears.
Alexis cringes her face at Byron's sympathetic (and almost
tearful) comment and breaks out sobbing.
Byron is unsure about what do to do, but gets up and walks
over across the table and sits down, and puts an arm around
her shoulder. She falls into him and cries some more.
Veronica is coming back from the washroom and sees Byron with
an arm around Alexis, and makes eye contact with her former
flame. They smile at each other.
CUT TO:
INT. FELIX'S CAR - A LITTLE LATER
Felix is driving the car. He has a grim expression on, and
it has something to do with the shotgun held by Murphy that
is resting next to his ear.
As they reach the Heart of the City diner, the nudging
shotgun suggest that Felix pull up and park. He does, and
the car comes to a gentle halt.
MURPHY
Is she in there, copper?
FELIX
...guess we'll find out.
MURPHY
I'd hate to find out you're feeding
me some nonsense. But like you
said, we'll find out. You're
coming too....get out, slowly.
FELIX
(stands up to get out)
It's gonna be a little tense in
there if you keep a shotgun under
your coat. It's not the typical
holdup weapon.
MURPHY
We're only staying for a second.
C'mon, good man, move.
EXT. HEART OF THE CITY - CONTINUOUS
As Felix tentatively heads towards the diner, he shakes his
head at Murphy, a giant of a man whose pointing a sawed off
shotgun at him. They walk towards the door and Felix struts
in first.
INT. HEART OF THE CITY - CONTINUOUS
He sees Murphy and Alexis in the corner, sitting opposite of
Veronica, whose back is turned. He takes in a deep breath
and tries to move in the other direction towards the other
wing of the restaurant when...
BYRON
shouting up at Felix
Myers! Over here!
(sees Murphy)
Murphy...what...
As it dawns on everyone, Felix takes a gun that has been
concealed in the back of his pants, swats away Murphy's
shotgun, and ends up a few paces away. Murphy has his
shotgun raised at Felix, and Felix vice-versa, while Byron
has stood up and is now pointing his own gun at Murphy.
Veronica stands up and moves a few paces away from Byron.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Murphy what the fuck are you doing
here?
FELIX
He showed up at my house, sir.
He's looking for Veronica.
I'm...I'm sorry sir, I didn't have
a choice...
MURPHY
You always got a choice. He just
made the right one.
(beat)
I guess you found her first, By.
BYRON
I'm not entirely sure if that's my
good fortune.
(beat)
...dammit, Murphy, you just had to
go and make my day the worst one
yet.
MURPHY
...sorry, Byron...that was never my
intention. Just the effect.
(pause)
Veronica.
VERONICA
Daddy.
MURPHY
Let's go, baby, the waitress in the
corner there has already called up
the sirens.
VERONICA
(rebelliously)
I'm with Byron now.
MURPHY
No you ain't. Not that I don't
trust your intentions, Byron...but
I ain't got a choice to trust you.
Right now you're on the wrong side,
and Veronica is joining my team.
BYRON
Isn't that her choice, Murph?
FELIX
Sir!
MURPHY
The cops are a'comin, Walt....now I
can't afford to stay here, so lets
make this fast and easy.
BYRON
It's not gonna be easy, old friend.
You and I never take the easy way.
So let's stop pretending this isn't
gonna end messily.
MURPHY
...you're the one with the big
heart. And this thing in my hands
is too big a radius to miss.
(beat)
Let's go Veronica.
VERONICA
....put the gun down. You're
fucking things up Murphy! Put it
down!
FELIX
Sir! Sir, if you have a shot, take
it! I've got you covered if he
switches!
BYRON
Easy, Felix.
FELIX
Sir, I'm looking down a shotgun!
I'm mutually not taking the easy
way out!
(beat)
If you don't take a shot, I will!
BYRON
...Myers, listen to me, you don't
want to do that. Calm down....
FELIX
This isn't another bluff, sir!
This guys fuckin' real! And...and
right now, sir, is the worst
fuckin' time to tell me to calm
down!
MURPHY
(wryly)
Quite the sidekick you got there.
BYRON
(to Murphy)
If you can't trust me, at least
have faith in me. I'm not a merc,
and I'm not available for any
price. So stop thinking with your
testosterone.
(beat)
I'm on my own side, just like you.
And right now, my gun is pointed at
the guys that are trying to make
fishbait out of the two most
important women in my life.
Veronica is number two, so stop
wetting yourself.
(beat, and lowers gun)
I might've been wrong last night,
when I said when I walked out that
door I'm just another badge. I
might've been wrong about a lot of
things.
(beat)
I'm goddamn right when I say we're
on the same side this time!
Murphy looks at Felix, who is quivering.
MURPHY
It's a little late for a change of
heart.
FELIX
(whispers under his
breath)
...now.
Felix tries to jump back and shoot at Murphy, but Murphy sees
it coming and dodges the bullet (mostly). A small splash of
blood erupts from the big man's shoulder.
In response Murphy brings the shotgun up and fires off a shot
that takes Felix in the left side of his torso, forcing him
to crash into a table.
BYRON
(swearing)
Myers you assho-
Murphy frowns and turns toward Byron again, who is too
stunned to raise his own gun. But a shot pierces the air
anyway.
BANG!
Before he knows what has hit him, Murphy makes a weird face
and falls on his knees, a bright red spot marking the
gigantic entry of a Rapier bullet.
VERONICA
...sorry, old man.
Veronica whirls around and points the gun at Byron, who can't
believe his eyes or ears.
BYRON
(outrageously)
What the FUCK are you DOING???
VERONICA
(laughs a little)
Boy, I musta surprised you
something good, huh lover? I'm
doing something you shoulda done a
long time ago and saved me the
trouble of doing.
(beat)
Please put your gun down. Drop it
there...
Byron does, and Veronica stoops and picks it up.
BYRON
(coldly)
What the fuck are you doing??
VERONICA
There's a war on, Wally...its just
starting, like the calm before a
shit-storm. Can't you feel it? No
one's getting outta this...we're
all gonna burn.
(pause)
I don't wanna burn. And there's
the dilemma, hot stuff. Do I stay
and burn with you, or leave the
cauldron? I choose...I choose to
leave.
BYRON
You're not making any sense
Veronica! This is surreal!
You're...you're fucking insane!
VERONICA
No! Insanity, that's my father,
that's her father.
BYRON
(angry as hell)
Murphy didn't do anything!!!
VERONICA
That's...that's not the point. You
think I like this, Walter!!! Fuck
you if you think I like this,
'cause I don't!! But...but right
now...I got...I got no choice.
(beat)
Old man 'R' needs a sample, and I
told him anything but this.
But...but if I'm gonna get by...if
I'm gonna escape him, I needed to
do this! Now he'll see, and he
won't come after me. I'll give up.
(beat)
That makes me insane? Insanity,
yeah, man...Rosochev stands for
insanity. But you know what? You
know what, he's the only chance I
got...
BYRON
...he thinks you killed Isaac.
He's gonna hunt you down and let
you bleed out like roadkill.
That's a promise I can keep for
him...
VERONICA
You don't get it, do you?
(pause)
He planned this!! He planned
that...that guy...that goddamn
assassin...he planted that guy to
kill Isaac!!
(beat)
Isaac didn't do nothing. And I'm
sorry Alexis. It ain't his fault
he died, and it sure as hell wasn't
mine...but you know what? He died
anyway.
BYRON
That doesn't make any sense!!
VERONICA
(cracked)
Doesn't it? Geeeeezus Christ
Walter, you're a fuckin' detective
so put it together! How the fuck
do you think he expects to get to
me!?
(beat)
He's got you cops on his side!
Maybe not you, but what the fuck do
I know, maybe he does!! One of the
little Rosochev's goes down and it
looks like me! I got a quarter of
Purgatory that belongs to me!!
(beat)
You didn't know that, did ya? You
didn't know about any of that. How
far my power extends!!
BYRON
...I know you got a gang, Ron. I
know you run the East...and you do
a pretty damn good job of it.
Nothing is ever reported there
bigger than a break-in...
(beat)
How the hell did you manage
something like that I wonder...
VERONICA
We take care of our streets.
You're the saint of Purgatory,
you're not doing your job....it's
up to me!
(pause)
And if Hannibal wanted, and he
fuckin' wanted, he could control
the whole thing! That's what this
is about!!
(beat)
Isaac and Alexis in a bodybag
and...and me with a warrant on my
head...that's what this about,
man...dirty down and dirty.
(beat)
He sic's you Feds on me and my
pack, and guess the fuck what?
Purgatory is all his.
BYRON
.....he wouldn't do that. He's not
that stupid. And neither is the
Precinct. If they had a whiff of
anything they'd be sniffing up his
ass so fast it'd be like
precognition.
VERONICA
Or maybe the Precinct likes the
taste of money.
(long beat)
But I'm not gonna burn. He wants
Purg, I'll give it to him....I
don't wanna die...I don't wanna end
up in the ditch, man. No, man, not
me...
(beat)
I'll let him have it, and he'll let
me live. That's why...why...why I
had too...Murphy, he'd
understand....
BYRON
FUCK YOU, VERONICA!!
VERONICA
If I...if I killed him, Rosochev
would believe me. He'd believe me
now...he would!
He'll let me live...and I'll give
it up...all of it.
BYRON
And you'll just let them slaughter
your gang? You are crazy...you'd
put a bullet in my head, you'd put
one in Alexis' if you thought it'd
save your ass!
VERONICA
The gang...they got guns. I told
them to get guns. They'll be okay,
if they run when they're supposed
too. They'll survive!
And you, you won't let anything
happen to her, not while you're
breathing. You gotta get out,
Byron...get out, man. Like me.
You can survive it if you get out.
(beat)
Hannibal'll let me live...he will
now....he has too.
BYRON
You really believe that?? Let me
tell you something and make sure
you get it straight...There is no
way you're surviving this. No
fucking way!
VERONICA
I got no choice, baby...that's just
the way it is, man.
(beat)
But this way...this way, I do got a
choice.
(beat, looks at Murphy)
I didn't wanna kill him, Byron...so
don't think I'm evil. It's just I
got no choice!
BYRON
(quietly, shakes his head)
There's always a choice.
Veronica ignores him as she backs up, pointing the Rapier at
Byron, and goes out the door. She takes Felix's car and
peels out. While she's driving off Byron runs over to Felix.
Felix has been blown into the counters, but he's not
bleeding. He opens his eyes a little and looks up at Byron.
He smiles and coughs, and taps at his chest.
FELIX
(coughing)
Showed...*cough, cough*..him.
Never leave home without your
Kevlar.
Byron shakes his head and smirks, and runs over to Murphy.
Murphy is bleeding but still somewhat alive.
BYRON
Oh, shit...Murphy, can you hear me?
MURPHY
(coughing more severely)
Don't scream....
BYRON
...you'll be okay, man...I think it
just...just grazed
something...don't worry. We'll get
you outta here.
MURPHY
....no...no, B....not this time.
(beat)
You gotta understand, when a man
sees the light at the end of the
tunnel that is
Purgatory..well...*cough*...he
keeps going.
BYRON
Shut up Murphy!
(to a waitress)
Call an ambulance!!
MURPHY
The...cops are comin'.
BYRON
I know.
MURPHY
They won't like you here. You
better go.
(beat)
I'm sorry I ruined your afternoon.
And sorry for something else. I do
got trust in you B....you always do
the right thing.
BYRON
What I view as right...
MURPHY
..is always right.
(pause with more coughing)
She...sure surprised me there.
BYRON
...she's gone.
MURPHY
I know. Rosochev...ah, fuck you
Rosochev...he knew I was comin' for
him. Guess it was all a
facade...goddamn!
(beat)
Just a setup for my little girl to
plug my sorry old ass. Prove to
that bastard she was worth a
damn....
(beat)
She ain't gonna survive, you got it
right...
BYRON
Don't worry about her. Just be
quiet now. The cops are almost
here.
MURPHY
That's....that's right.
You..you...you gotta go...now. Get
outta...here.
(beat, looks at Alexis crying above
him)
That...that you're angel?
Ha...ah...she's pretty, she is.
Just like an angel.
ALEXIS
(hysterical, but quiet)
Oh...god....
Alexis kneels next to Byron, crying a little bit.
MURPHY
(manages a smile)
You...gotta leave B...leave me
behind. That angel there, she's
worth saving. Don't...don't let
the Precinct...get their dirty
hands...on....
(more coughing)
...when you find...Ronnie....finish
her fast, finish her good.
She's just like me...so...stubborn.
(beat)
Only Rosy-chev could...turn
her...against..me
(beat)
But she's still...my angel. Make
sure she doesn't...suffer...'cause
a him...make sure....
Murphy tries to finish his sentence but dies. Byron grates
his teeth and stands up very slowly, still looking at
Murphy's body.
BYRON
Can you walk Felix?
FELIX
(groans)
Ya.
BYRON
Alexis, let's go.
Alexis doesn't argue and follows Felix and Byron out of the
restaurant and into Byron's car, and off they go.
INT. BYRON'S CAR - CONTINUOUS
Byron looks at Felix who gets in the back seat and slumps
down, hissing through clenched teeth. Byron hops in the
driver seat and Alexis sits down in the passenger seat,
dazed.
BYRON
How you doing?
FELIX
...I...I think I'm good. I'm gonna
be sore tonight though.
(beat)
I'm sorry man, about your friend.
BYRON
(nods)
....Alexis.
Alexis is getting more jaded to this sort of thing but she's
never actually seen anyone killed before.
ALEXIS
...I...I...
(pause)
...ahhh...
Byron sighs and turns back to driving.
BYRON (V.O.)
Oh, Veronica. What have you done?
You pulled a 180 on us all. You
thought you could save yourself,
your pals. But all you've done is
rented out a chunk of N.Y. morgue.
You killed Murphy. You killed me.
You killed Alexis. I hope you
believe your life was worth it,
Ronnie baby. I hope you believe
you chose good. 'Cause it's a
choice I'm not gonna forget. I
hope it was worth it.
I hope was worth it, because I'm
gonna make ol' dead Murphy's heart
bleed one more time. I ain't gonna
keep my word. When I find you,
it's not gonna be fast or pleasant
or kind. It's gonna be slow and
mean and nasty.
I hope it was worth it.
EXT. CITYSCAPE - DAY
A time-lapse of the sun reaching its climax at the top of the
sky is established from a high vantage point that overlooks
the metropolitan sector of New York city.
EXT. ROSOCHEV GARDEN - DAY
Hannibal is feeding three vicious looking dogs by a pool
surrounded by exotic ferns and other plants. The dogs snatch
at the pieces of meat he throws to them.
HANNIBAL
(to dogs)
Easy! Easy Cerberus, leave some
for the others...haha....
Palk walks out from the mansion that leads into the veranda
and waits while Hannibal scatters the rest of the meat.
HANNIBAL (CONT'D)
Yuriy. So..
(beat)
Is Bishop-
PALK
Not Bishop. It's something else
you might wanna have a look at...
HANNIBAL
(curious now)
What is it?
PALK
One of 'hers'. The Tenyeh, what's
left of 'em, picked her up just a
couple of hours ago. They thought
you would want to see for yourself.
HANNIBAL
(with big eyes)
Of course I do. Hahah! Of course,
Yuriy! This is..haha! This is
good!
(beat)
She's able to speak I hope?
PALK
They told me they were careful not
to break anything you might want to
interrogate.
HANNIBAL
...very good.
(beat)
The other one that was here wasn't
much help. What was her name?
PALK
Gracie, sir. She's taken care of.
HANNIBAL
Gracie. Yes. Lovely Gracie. This
one is fresh. Maybe she'll talk a
little more. I hope so. It's such
a waste when they don't talk.
INT. HANNIBAL'S BASEMENT - A MINUTE LATER
Hannibal is being led by Palk down a series of spiraling
stone stairs, into the underground heart of the Rosochev
mansion. It functions as a wine cellar and Hannibal's
private torture chamber.
BYRON (V.O.)
It's strange, how evil can put on
so many faces.
It has a wardrobe that is infinite
and endless. It's the perfect
stranger that looks like your best
friend. Or your father. Or your
lover.
(beat)
Evil shouldn't be clandestine, it
should never be a secret. Evil men
should wear name tags that label
them evil men. In a perfect world.
As Hannibal reaches the bottom of the basement and walks
forward where several Tenyeh are waiting with nightsticks. A
woman is bent over, coughing, groaning, and definitely
beaten. She looks up through blood and tears at Hannibal.
It's Maya.
PALK
...she wouldn't tell us her name.
But she's definitely one of hers.
No doubt about it.
HANNIBAL
(squats)
Yes. She is. She knows it, too.
Can you tell me your name?
(Maya stares at him)
...please. I don't want to hurt
you. That's the last thing I want,
truly. But I can't hold them
off...not if you remain quiet.
(Maya stares at him)
...sometimes we say more without
words. You and me can relate to
this, can't we? Yeahhh. You don't
talk much, even without nightsticks
slapping you around. You're the
shy, quiet one in her group I bet.
(beat)
I admire silence, girl. I really
do! It's a special thing.
But...these men, they don't
understand that. They like crude
verbal expressions, y'know? That's
why...that's why they won't stop,
not until you talk.
(a long pause)
...you're very pretty. You have a
very uh..distinguishable beauty. I
don't like to see pretty girls get
hurt. Please...please. What's
your name?
Maya considers for a moment.
MAYA
(coughing painfully)
...M..M...Maya.
HANNIBAL
(smiles, and wipes a dirty
lock of hair out of
Maya's eyes)
...there. Maya. That's a pretty
name too. It's...exotic, eloquent
to speak. Do your friends call you
Maya?
(she nods)
That's good. Good.
(long pause)
You are part of Goudreau's clan,
aren't ya? Yes. It's okay! I
don't care about that. It doesn't
matter here, okay?
It's...irrelevant.
(beat)
....I know you...don't want to
fight. You don't wanna get in
trouble or get hurt. I know this,
Maya. I can see you, inside you,
all the way through. You don't
like this...this conflict that is
just getting warmed up. You just
wanna leave and forget about it.
(beat)
That's why I don't hold anything
against you. I hate this too! I
don't like it at all.
(beat)
That's why it has to end, before
people get hurt. I don't want that
to happen. You and I have to stop
it...do you understand?
(Maya nods)
...good. First, we need to find
Veronica. If I can find her, we
can negotiate and come to an
agreement, we can avert the war.
But...but I don't where she is,
Maya. Do you know where she is?
MAYA
(doesn't say anything for
the longest time)
....Ver...Ronnie...
HANNIBAL
Ronnie. That's right! Do you know
where Ronnie is? We have to find
her...
Maya seems to consider the question for several moments, and
then she backs up against the wall and starts laughing
hysterically. Her laughter gets louder and louder, and
everyone in the room except Hannibal find it one of the most
chilling things they've ever seen.
MAYA
(weakly in a raspy voice)
You...wanna dice up Ronnie
something good. That'd give you
assholes something to do. You'd
love to find her, wouldn't you
assholes?
(beat)
...she'll find you first and cut
you so bad you'll need Fisher Price
to make you whole again. You...you
won't even know what hit you. So
I'm telling you, assholes, what it
was that hit you. It was her...her
and she'll cut you good....you
assholes.
Maya is obviously in excruciating pain due to her previous
beating, and chokes back her words as she taunts her captors.
HANNIBAL
(frowning, disappointed,
stands up)
...Mr. Palk...it seems the lovely
Maya here will be joining the
exquisite Gracie. Take care of
her...
MAYA
(stumbles onto her knees)
Gracie.
HANNIBAL
(turns in mock surprise)
Why, you wouldn't happen to know
her, would you? Would you Maya?
Let's see, the Gracie I know had
blonde hair, blue eyes, great sense
of humour...up until I started
making the jokes, anyway.
(beat)
Same Gracie?
MAYA
...asshole. You're...gonna pay for
that one....asshole.
Hannibal flicks his wrist in a gesture of execution and the
Tenyeh surrounding Maya take out their nighsticks and
advance. Maya keeps her eyes focused on Hannibal.
The first Tenyeh brings the nighstick thrashing down on her
head, but she jumps back, dodging the blow, and blocks a
second attack by the second Tenyeh to her abdomen.
Wrenching on the second Tenyeh's wrist, she slams his
nighstick into the first Tenyeh's thigh, then jumps up and
kicks him square in the chin.
The third Tenyeh, late in the attack, manages a crushing blow
to her back, which sends her sprawling. The second Tenyeh,
seemingly aggravated, leaps on top of her, but she recovers
and kicks out, catching him in the groin. She rolls over on
top of him, snaps his neck, jumps up.
The third Tenyeh strikes again, Maya blocks. Simultaneously
he punches out, and she goes down again. The first Tenyeh,
survived by the second, goes in for the kill, but Maya
redirects his weight and manages to get his head in a lock.
She stares down the last Tenyeh while the Tenyeh in her locks
flails about.
She sighs and collapses to the basement floor, ending the
life of the man in her arm lock as his neck is severed from
the spinal cord.
The third Tenyeh tries to attack by kicking, but Maya grabs
his foot, kicks out with her own to bring the man down, and
somersaults backwards, grabbing a fallen nightstick as she
does.
Meanwhile Palk and Hannibal have been watching on, Palk his
arm in the pocket of his coat, Hannibal quizzically observing
the gladiator brawl.
PALK
(to Hannibal)
...sir?
HANNIBAL
Not yet. Let her finish. A dead
woman's revenge is a right I will
not admonish.
(beat)
This is what she deserves...so let
her have it.
The third Tenyeh picks up his one nightstick and engages in a
fiery fight with the beaten but unrelenting Maya. Finally
she manages to pull a tricky maneuver by dodging the Tenyeh's
downward strike and clubbing at his wrists. Bone shatters
inside skin and muscle.
The Tenyeh tries to punch again, misses. Maya leaps at him,
a 360 and a crack, and is motionless, staring down Palk and
Hannibal. The Tenyeh behind her topples over, third neck
snapped in a row.
MAYA
I...told you. You're gonna pay for
that one...
HANNIBAL
(in an oddly silent,
acquiescent,
compassionate tone)
I will, Maya. But I won't pay it
to you.
Hannibal turns to leave, and we see a medium shot of him
walking away from Palk, who is facing Maya. Maya screams and
runs forward with the night-stick, but there is a...
BLANG!
...and the sound of a body slumping.
Palk catches up with Hannibal, who rubs his forehead.
PALK
She wasn't helpful, sir.
HANNIBAL
No. We have to keep searching,
then. When we find Veronica, this
can finally end.
PALK
The Precinct already has several
squads ready to move on your order.
HANNIBAL
Not yet. We'll wipe them out,
Yuriy, with smoke or fire or
bullets. It'll be done.
But it has to be done in one
stroke.
My trap for her is nearly done.
And then we'll let loose our loyal
dogs of war.
PALK
Yes, sir.
(beat)
What about Byron, sir?
HANNIBAL
Byron has my daughter. He's with
Goudreau. We have connections to
show he's involved with dear
Veronica. We have enough to take
over this place, to bring Purgatory
to its knees before us.
(beat)
In his hands, Alexis is as good as
dead. In a way, Byron has killed
her. But you're right...we need to
find him too. Don't worry, Mr.
Palk...there is one I have trusted
both of their immediate cessations
too that will prevail. Veronica
will come to him, Byron will come
to him. And then we shall go to
the last half of Purgatory, and
make it...ours.
As they're talking a servant has been approaching, and
politely waiting for Hannibal to acknowledge him.
SERVANT
Mr. Rosochev. A phone call for
you.
Hannibal nods and starts to go inside.
HANNIBAL
Very good.
(beat)
Mr. Palk...send out a few men, make
sure that the Precinct is holding
their orders. When the time comes,
they have to be our cavalry.
Palk nods and Hannibal follows the servant into the house.
CUT TO:
ST. ANDREWS BRIDGE - THAT MOMENT
Huddled underneath the concrete pylons of a bridge Veronica
is holding her Rapier and trying to stop from freaking out.
Her back is against the concrete and she's half-whispering
into a phone.
VERONICA
..it...it..it's done...it's over...
There's a pause as she listens to the other end.
VERONICA (CONT'D)
Then it's over...for good. I...I
don't want the fight...you can have
it now, right? ....you can just
take it...
(beat)
The girls...the girls...I had to
make them believe...that it was
gonna be a fight...that wasn't my
choice!
(pause)
...they won't fight, not without
me....you can have it..I just want
it..to end.
Another pause as Veronica makes a horrified face at what the
person on the other end is saying.
VERONICA (CONT'D)
(trying to speak)
...but...but you promised! It..it
was a deal!!...You can't...
(beat, and anger)
I'll kill you...I'll kill you!!
That wasn't the deal!!
Suddenly from where she's sitting a shadow falls across her.
The phone in her hand drops as she looks up at the person
casting the shadow. She is about to open her mouth to scream
when the shot cuts.
CUT TO:
INT. MOTEL ROOM 300 - AFTERNOON
The shot is instantly cut to Alexis staring out the window of
the motel where cars and people are passing by below.
Felix is nursing his chest and talking to Byron, about to
head down to the lobby.
FELIX
(chatting)
I'll meet you there at eight.
BYRON
Alright. You think you can make
it?
FELIX
I'll be fine.
Felix nods and walks out, and Byron slowly turns back to
Alexis.
BYRON
Hey...
(she doesn't turn)
...are you okay?
ALEXIS
(weakly)
No...
Byron sits down on the bed next to her.
BYRON
I'm sorry...that you had to see all
that.
ALEXIS
(still looking out window)
...she shot him.
BYRON
...I know.
ALEXIS
You used to love her didn't you?
BYRON
...she wouldn't let me confess to
something like that but...yeah.
ALEXIS
...it's funny, how people are
never...never ever who we think
they are.
BYRON
Oh, I think we all have...certain
qualities we don't like to
flaunt...
(beat)
Veronica's was a fear. A fear of
death, of pain...
(beat)
So she chose the only way she knew
how to avoid it....
ALEXIS
She..killed him.
BYRON
....yeah.
(pause)
I have to go out tonight, I have to
see if I can find her...and the
others. I have to end it
tonight...
ALEXIS
(finally turns toward him)
...you're going to kill her.
BYRON
I am.
ALEXIS
...and then, you're going to kill
my father.
BYRON
Probably.
(beat)
He's behind all of this...he won't
stop, not until you and me..and
Veronica...are dead.
(beat)
I can't let that happen.
ALEXIS
..I know.
(beat)
I just...I just wish things could
have turned out..differently,
y'know?
BYRON
(smiles)
I know exactly. But...they didn't,
did they? I guess...I guess
somewhere along the line somebody
up there just decided..to hell with
it.
ALEXIS
...I'm not religious.
BYRON
(smiles)
Can you at least be spiritual?
ALEXIS
Sure.
BYRON
(pause)
You ever...you ever read about the
hydra?
ALEXIS
...no.
BYRON
It's this Greek legend...about a
monster. Terrible, terrible
monster. With alotta heads. It
um....well, it was this big
terrible creature that
just...rampaged everything. Killed
everything in its path. Destroyed
everything. And um. The only way
that you could...kill it. The only
way to rid of it, was to take off
all of its head simultaneously, at
the same time. Because if you
didn't, it would just grow a whole
bunch more heads where it lost one.
(beat)
There's this....hydra, Alexis.
It's in Purgatory, and its hungry.
It's fucking evil.
ALEXIS
(tears)
And you're not?
BYRON
(doesn't take offense)
Evil? ...I guess that depends on
your point of view. To some, maybe
I am. To others...ha...I'm a
saint.
(beat)
You can make up your own mind about
me.
ALEXIS
I already have.
(beat)
You gonna kill the hydra?
BYRON
Every last goddamn scaly head I am.
ALEXIS
(after a pause)
...I have...this...memory of Isaac.
I was only ten or something. And I
fell in the river...and I started
to sink and couldn't keep my head
up...I musta sucked in some water
or something 'cause I passed out.
But then, I woke up.
(beat)
Isaac...he'd jumped in. Right
after I fell, he'd jumped in and
grabbed me, and saved me...heh. He
broke his leg...and two of his ribs
when he got slammed against a
rock...but he didn't stop. He kept
trying to reach me...until he did.
BYRON
(pauses for a minute)
...you're brother was a good man.
He had his vices, his flaws, but we
all got 'em. But your brother,
don't forget he was a good man,
Alexis. That's important.
ALEXIS
...How do you even know how he is?
There is a quick flashback of the bald man aiming his gun at
Byron. Another flash of a shot. The bald man falls. Vision
turns to a startled and bewildered Isaac. He nods at
Byron...and runs off.
BYRON
(another pause)
A few years back, one of the drug
runners in Purgatory was gonna get
taken down by the Precinct. I was
in charge the...operation.
We went in and sure enough he was
right there. So I called in the
backup, SWAT and the rest of team,
to take him out.
(beat)
Something...one of those one in a
million things that you never
prepare for happened. The three
cops closest to him were gunned
down.
I shot...three times, and fell on
the floor.
The drug
runner...Marseille...French guy,
scary guy. Well, I was on the
ground, and my gun had jammed and
Marseille took out a gun from his
belt, and aimed it at me.
That's...pretty much the closest
I've ever felt to death, even when
I deal it out.
(beat)
But he didn't shoot. There was a
shot, and Marseille fell. Your
brother had been standing to my
side, with all the people in the
place running for cover.
(beat)
....saved my life. Small world
isn't it?
ALEXIS
(smiles at the memory of
her brother)
Yea...
BYRON
Your brother was a good man.
There's too few good men left in
this world. And they, above all
the others, deserve justice.
There's a saying...that the
greatest evil comes from those who
maintain neutrality during times of
turmoil.
(beat)
I may be evil, Alexis. But for one
night, let me be a saint.
There is a very long emotional pause. Then Byron stands up,
takes his gun off the counter, and loads it with bullets.
BYRON (CONT'D)
I want you to know everything.
Write a book if you like...if I
don't get out of this, you'll be
the only evidence I ever existed.
(beat)
....but I promise this...even if I
don't come back...you'll be safe.
ALEXIS
And what about me...?
BYRON
...I've called a friend. He'll
help you if-...
ALEXIS
(trying not to cry)
So you'll just die for me? Good
promise, man.
(he begins to turn around)
Good promise. Poslushay ty,
mudack! You're not gonna be able
to keep it!
(beat)
He'll kill you too...
BYRON
I made a promise, Alexis. I may
kill plenty of people in cold blood
tonight...but I'm honorable when it
comes to promises.
ALEXIS
...how can you say that?
BYRON
(puts last bullet in his
gun)
Because I haven't broken one yet.
Byron winks, and Alexis, saddened, looks back out the window.
Then she closes her eyes.
EXT. CITYSCAPE - EVENING
The same shot of the building is established in time-lapse as
the sun peaks over the buildings and darkness begins to
surround the city.
INT. PRECINCT HEADQUARTERS - EVENING
Felix has just come in and is rooting through his desk,
arranging papers. The boss comes in and sees him in the
fairly empty enclosure of desks.
BOSS
Felix!
FELIX
(under his breat)
Oh shit...
BOSS
Felix, where the hell have you
been?
FELIX
I got the report on your desk sir,
just like you asked.
BOSS
Screw the report, where have you
been? Did you know there was
goddamn shooting downtown?
FELIX
...no sir.
BOSS
It's Byron! He's turned vigilante!
(beat)
Two people were shot, apparently.
One died, but the other had a
bullet proof vest on, or something.
You telling me you didn't know
about this?
FELIX
No sir, not until this moment.
BOSS
Huh. Everyone...is on the streets.
I'm sending out the whole
department to track down that
insurgent little prick. It's a top
priority, for all departments, to
apprehend Byron and get his ass
behind bars.
FELIX
I see.
BOSS
...he's gonna tear this whole city
down. I'm not gonna let that
happen, understand? I want you and
Reynolds together.
(beat)
...by the way, what are you doing
back here?
FELIX
I just came in to get some stuff.
I was gonna head out right now...
BOSS
Ah. Well, like I said...find
Reynolds. We're all out all night
tonight...
FELIX
Right.
Felix is trying to hide the fact that three Berettas and a
shotgun (under papers) are being smuggled out of the
Precinct. Conveniently, his Boss sees it just then after a
short silence.
BOSS
Felix....what are all these guns
doing.
Felix suddenly seems more assertive and confident.
FELIX
I'm going to use them.
BOSS
Myers, what are you talking about?
I didn't authorize this...
FELIX
I'm going to use them, sir...to
kill some people.
BOSS
(flabbergasted)
...Myers...what the fuck...are you
doing??
FELIX
...I already answered that.
BOSS
And why are you limping?
FELIX
Oh. I was shot today sir. But
don't worry, I had a bullet proof
vest on. Got away with just a
bruise.
The Boss is clearly unsettled by this, realizing that Felix
was with Byron when the shooting in the Diner occurred. He
tries to scramble away but Felix tosses the chair at him,
sending him down.
When the Boss looks up, he sees Felix hunched over him.
BOSS
You were a good cop, Felix! What
the fuck has gotten into you? Are
you with Byron??
(beat)
I was wrong about you...
FELIX
No you weren't. I am a good cop.
One helluva a good cop, and maybe
one of the only two good cops left
in this city.
(beat)
It's all about intention,
Boss....and mine have got merit.
BOSS
I'm going have your badge for
this!! You'll never work ever
again....you're going to live out
your worthless days in a prison
cell Felix!!
FELIX
(coolly)
I'd rather serve an honest term in
jail than become a simpering,
pathetic, Mafia weasel like you...
(beat)
Don't tell me you're not the one
behind the corruption. Hannibal's
got you so wrapped around his
finger so tight you can't even
move.
Felix raises the gun and puts it over his shoulder.
FELIX (CONT'D)
I'm leaving now. Don't follow me.
If I see tail lights I'm pulling
over and executing whoever's behind
the wheel, got it?
(beat)
...and don't try and find me. You
won't.
Felix walks back out the door with the guns and the shotgun
over his shoulder whistling, while the Boss just watches him
go.
INT. SQUAD CAR - EVENING
With Felix behind the wheel of a 'borrowed' police cruiser,
his eyes are just as jagged as Byron's once were.
BYRON (V.O.)
There is evil in this world, my
friend. And such an evil. It
would wipe everything in its path.
(beat)
But we have a chance. A chance to
end it, to stop it. To bring a
sliver of good to the Hell of our
time.
EXT. ST. ANDREWS BRIDGE - NIGHT
By time Felix reaches the bridge, it's dark out, and he
carefully grabs his guns and proceeds toward the building. A
shadow follows him.
BYRON (V.O.)
It is not how far we must go to
achieve this good. It is how
strong we must be to go as far is
needed.
The shadow follows him, sneaks up behind him, and thumps him
on the head.
BYRON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Be strong, my friend. Now, more
than ever before."
INT. BISHOP'S BASEMENT - EVENING
As Byron wakes up, the world slowly comes into focus. He
rubs the top of his head and looks up. He's surrounded by
blackness.
BYRON
...right.
The basement, for the most part, is scant and empty. He sees
the door that leads up a set of wooden stairs, and most
likely out of the homemade dungeon.
Naturally he gets up and tries to slam the door, but his
strength is not enough, and the door seems to be barricaded
from the other side.
He tries again and finally gives up, defeatedly, and sits
down on the stairs.
BYRON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
When things get rough, it's hard to
tell. When things get shaky, it's
hard to tell. But when things get
fucked like now, you can tell
beyond any reason of doubt.
BISHOP (O.S.)
"And the sword that was fit for an
Archangel was light in his terrible
hand..."
BYRON (V.O.)
And then the voice of psychopathy.
Byron looks up at the ubiquitous voice coming from nowhere.
BYRON (CONT'D)
...come out and we'll play swords.
There's a pause. From the darkness a shape emerges, Bishop.
He has on black pants and a black T-shirt with a sword in
scabbard dangling from his right hand.
BISHOP
(raises head)
I'm afraid there'd be no
competition.
BYRON
Ah, I dunno. I used a knife once.
Highschool. Some punk, there were
a lot of punks in my school, tried
to make his point across my face.
I think I did okay. My retort was
all across his face in the end, in
any case.
(beat)
...you must have gotten to
Veronica. That's your paycheck,
I'd bet. Where is she?
BISHOP
(smirks)
Upstairs.
BYRON
Uh...I don't suppose...you could
change my accommodations? This
place reminds me of some bad horror
movie.
BISHOP
I only have so much room, Mr.
Byron. And it'd be like some bad
action movie if I put you all
together to come up with an escape
plan. There isn't any escape, of
course, but...I can't be too
careful.
BYRON
(after a pause)
Guess you got that right.
(pause)
I didn't catch your name. But part
of it's Bishop, right?
BISHOP
Semyaza. Semyaza Bishop.
BYRON
Cool name.
BISHOP
Meaningless, now, to you.
BYRON
...not really. It's common
courtesy to know the name of
someone you intend to kill. That's
what's wrong these days....it's
just cheap and fast and dirty.
(beat)
Nobody takes honor seriously
anymore.
BISHOP
I think you'll find our perceptions
about honor share selfsame
principles.
BYRON
Honor isn't a sword in the back...
BISHOP
Honor is the will of God.
BYRON
(sits down on the stairs)
...don't talk to me about God.
God's dead, and so is everybody
that follows him down to that
bottomless perdition.
(beat)
Hahaha. What God do you think
you're following Semyaza? Who do
you think you are?
BISHOP
I am the right hand of Divine
Interpretation.
BYRON
...interpreter. Straight from
Zeus's mouth to yours. Hahah!
Rosochev, oh you chose better than
I thought! What's God telling you
that he's keeping a secret from me?
(Bishop doesn't answer the
question)
At least tell me how.."God" fits
into this.
BISHOP
God chooses those to enter into the
Divine Kingdom
(beat)
Don't be afraid, Mr. Byron. Your
stairway upwards is very close now.
You will pass through fire.
BYRON
...so you do know my name. I was
wrong about you.
(beat)
But the problem is here. The
problem we've got, is that when I
woke up this morning, there was
only one person on my list of
people to get even with. And
Bishop...Semyaza...none of 'em made
the list.
GUN
(whispering to Byron)
Feel that cold thing again, Walter?
Do you know what that is? That's
the bell, Walter....tolling and
tolling and tolling and-
BISHOP
These moments are yours, Walter.
Use them. Pray.
GUN
Pray Walter. Pray you got what it
takes. Are you going let me down
by letting yourself down? You must
be strong...for her sake.
BYRON
I ain't religious.
BISHOP
Prayer is for everyone. Though it
might not change the nature of God,
it changes the nature of self.
GUN
Time is slowing ticking to your
death.
(beat)
...waste this shithead.
As Byron is talking and sitting on the stairs, he slowly
reaches into his sock, where a small little pistol has been
concealed by his pant leg and shoe.
BISHOP
...God wills that the evil and
unjust in His eyes will be
sacrificed.
Rosochev has asked God to cleanse
the land, and God has asked me to
oblige Him.
BYRON
You're just fucking crazy.
Bishop doesn't even take notice, but kisses a cross on his
neck and unsheathes his sword.
BYRON (CONT'D)
...and I promise I'm gonna make you
realize that.
BISHOP
When I find the angel you have
hidden, it will be complete. And I
will find her. Soon she will join
you. Do not be afraid.
Bishop seems extremely confident and willing to do anything
his "God" asks of him, and advances on Byron who is still
sitting down. However, Byron now has his whole hand on the
grip of the pistol.
BYRON
I ain't afraid. Good
guys...saints...they might find
themselves quivering in their
coveralls. But you and me both
know it's the darkest souls that
survive, like fucking roaches after
a nuclear war.
BISHOP
Hm. Perhaps you think you are a
hero? Heroes don't fear either.
Saints and heroes have erred in
their pride...
BYRON
(reaches into shirt for
cigarettes but can't find
any)
I ask myself what the difference
between a hero and a coward was.
There is no difference. At one
time or another everyone's felt
fear. It's what one person does
that the other doesn't do that
makes him a hero.
(beat)
Saints and heroes...that's just
another name for sympathy after the
fact.
Bishop continues to advance on Byron who is still
nonchalantly sitting on the stairs. As Byron says this he
pulls out his gun and points it at Bishop.
BYRON (CONT'D)
...but of course...I ain't a saint.
Bishop seems startled and steps back a little bit. Byron
winks and fires off a shot that takes Bishop in the side of
the face. He falls to the ground, not even screaming, but
holding his face.
Byron stands up, still holding the gun. Bishop seems to gain
a foothold and stands up shakily, his back to his adversary.
Slowly he drops his hands and turns to Byron, who gasps.
The ninja-assasin's eyes have all but been obliterated by the
shot, and he blindly looks toward the direction of Byron, his
face stolid and unflinching.
BYRON (CONT'D)
....geezus Christ.
The ninja reaches down, easily picks up the sword that is
lying next to him like he knows exactly where it was all
along, and advances on Byron. He swings the sword and Byron
barely ducks the blow, and dives out of the way.
BYRON (CONT'D)
...let me introduce you to my God.
BISHOP
(oddly calm despite the
fact he has no eyes)
God is ubiquitous, unquestionable.
You are deceived, Walter.
Now...pray. The beacon in the
pearly heavens is shining down.
They call to you.
Bishop leaps again, but Byron manages to just get out of the
way, and a pinch of hair gets sliced by the sword.
BISHOP (CONT'D)
Do you intend to defy the Almighty?
I have seen his Word. Logos. His
will must not be ebbed by heresy!
(beat)
It is when your spirit goes
wandering upon the wind, that you,
alone and unguarded, commit a wrong
unto others and therefore unto
yourself.
(beat)
And for that wrong committed must
you
knock and wait a while unheeded at
the gate of the blessed.
Do you claim righteousness for
servitude to darkness??!!
As Bishop tries to run at Byron again, Byron simply lifts the
gun and shoots at Bishop, who falls face down on the ground.
Byron smirks and grabs a pair of keys from the ninja's
pockets.
BYRON
(quoting)
The murdered is not unaccountable
for his own murder, And the robbed
is not blameless in being robbed.
(beat)
"The righteous is not innocent of
the deeds of the wicked, and the
white-handed is not clean in the
doings of the felon."
After this little soliloquy, Byron jumps up the stairs and
uses the keys to open the door. The house is fairly modest,
nothing special, and small. A lot of Oriental art and
weaponry is decorated on the walls.
BYRON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It's not everybody that's got a
Colt .38 for a conscience.
He sees that there are a set of stairs that lead up to the
second level, and cautiously advances upwards, his gun ready.
INT. UPSTAIRS BEDROOM - NIGHT
Frankie has a bag over his head and is sitting watching a
tortured victim of Bishop, tied to the ceiling and
unconscious. As Byron bursts in, Frankie reacts and tries to
grab a Beretta...but he's too late.
BANG! And blood flows wild...
Byron takes a sickened look at Veronica, battered and bruised
and hanging from the ceiling. He screams and shoots once
with the .38 at the rope. It snaps and the woman falls to
the floor.
He turns her over and finds her almost dead.
BYRON
..Veronica. Ohh....geezus. You
little Judas.
(beat)
Veronica, babe...you hear me?
VERONICA
(slowly turns over, gasps)
....sorry, hot stuff.
(beat)
...got...caught...'fore you found
me.
But..but it's good this way....you
shouldn't a been the one to...to do
it.
(beat)
You got...in this...sorry, babe....
(beat)
....luv ya.
And now Veronica, the second Goudreau to fall within 24
hours, is dead. Byron is very stolid. He leans over her for
awhile, and shuts her eyelids.
BYRON
(whispering)
He got to you, didn't he love? You
tried to barter, to beg, but he
wouldn't listen. He didn't want
anything you could give him....he
never stopped. Not until it was
over.
GUN
She suffered greatly before the
end. What a painful way to leave
the world. Where was the saint
this time?
Suddenly Byron chokes a little bit, and a few tears scatter
down his cheeks.
BYRON
(crying)
I'm sorry, babe. I tried to find
him, tried to find you, but you
were always best at hiding.
Even though she's dead, her face stony and silent, her voice
is still with Byron.
VERONICA
(dead, hallucination)
What are you going to do Byron?
Please don't get killed. The
ninja, he wasn't even close to
Rosochev.
GUN
Rosochev has become the worst kind
of demon that Purgatory has known.
He has to be wiped out.
VERONICA
At what expense? Please,
Byron...don't go.
I died so you wouldn't have to!
Vengeance, that's not a reason to
go! That's not a reason to die!
GUN
...it's the only reason.
VERONICA
Byron I loved you. Don't die you
bastard!
Byron stands up. He notices the Beretta still lying on the
table where Frankie tried to grab it....it's Byron's gun. He
picks it up and sets the .38 down.
BYRON
I won't be needing this...
VERONICA
Where are you going? Byron, where
are you going?
BYRON
I'm going to show you that there is
a God.
(beat)
Sleep well, beautiful.
Byron leaves.
INT. BISHOP'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Byron is walking towards the front door. He takes a final
look at the house, and turns around. But then he hears a
sound like footsteps. Cautiously he freezes and listens.
The footsteps try to be quiet, but they are getting louder
the closer they come. Finally they're right on top of the
detective.
Byron flicks out the Beretta and whirls around, the gun
pointed at the sound.
Felix Myers, a little bloodied, drops the sledgehammer he's
carrying.
FELIX
Byron. ...ah...Byron.
BYRON
(lowers gun)
Felix.
FELIX
I tried to meet you, sir. Got
conked on the head pretty heavy.
Woke up in some dinky bathroom tied
to the shower. Broke out okay,
though...
BYRON
...glad to hear it.
FELIX
Did you take care of the invisible
stalker that gave me a goose-egg?
BYRON
...it's all done.
(beat)
I have one more thing left to do.
FELIX
Right.
BYRON
And you're not coming. Go back to
the hotel. Alexis is there...take
her to the morgue.
FELIX
(jumps)
The morgue??
BYRON
You're a cop. You have access.
Show her number 1943220. Let her
see her brother.
(pause)
Then, bring her to the mansion?
FELIX
(questioning Byron's
sanity)
What are you trying to do, man?
Take her to see her goddamn dead
brother and then toss her back to
her father? What the hell are you
thinking?
BYRON
Don't question anything, just do
it. Bring her there...
FELIX
...you'd...you'd better be right.
Where are you gonna go?
BYRON
The mansion.
FELIX
(uncertainly, but
understanding what Byron
has to do)
Can you do it alone?
BYRON
I'd better.
Felix nods again and watches Byron walk out the door.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROSOCHEV MANSION - NIGHT
Outside of the mansion the high, pointed, steel bars of a
fence prevent intruders from getting inside. But Byron has
ever intention of getting in.
His car stops at the gate. He looks rather awkwardly at the
fence. He backs up. He stomps on the gas. The gate becomes
awkward.
Getting out of the car, the Beretta by his side, he casually
shoots the two perimeter guards that are investigating the
disturbance.
Byron takes one look at them and keeps walking.
BYRON (V.O.)
Justice Divine has weighed, the
doom is clear...
And he reaches the front door. He takes a long hard look at
them, and the camera angle looks down on him gazing up at
them.
BYRON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
All hope renounce, ye lost, who
enter here...
And in he goes.
INT. HANNIBAL'S PRIVATE SUITE - NIGHT
Hannibal is sadly sitting in a big comfy chair, looking at a
roaring fire in the fireplace. His eyes are melancholy but
accepting.
There are several shouts, screams, sounds of bodies emptying
redness. But Hannibal ignores them entirely over his music,
a piece by Bach.
Finally, after a short while, Byron walks in, again casually.
Hannibal notices him and lazily acknowledges his presence.
Byron stumbles across the floor, gets a good look around, a
deep breath...
BYRON
Good evening Mr. Hannibal. My name
is Walter Byron. I'm here to kill
you.
HANNIBAL
But of course you are. I was
wondering when you were gonna show
up.
(beat)
You're quite to the point aren't
you? That's a good quality...
BYRON
I hope that won't be a problem.
HANNIBAL
Oh, no no! I love a man who
doesn't weigh down the topic with a
bunch of poetry. That kind of a
man doesn't lose his audience in
his words. Most people only get
the first five words out of a
sentence.
(beat)
And here you are and you just said
all five.
BYRON
You're fairly calm for a dead man.
HANNIBAL
Eh....careful. I'm not dead yet.
Dead men are calm, Mr. Byron.
(beat)
Would you are for a drink before
you shoot me?
BYRON
What if I get a little dizzy and
miss when I shoot you? I'd hate to
be defeated this late in the
game...and when I have such a lead.
HANNIBAL
Well if you miss then maybe you'll
hit me in the leg. Or the arm.
And then you'd have to hear me
scream before you finally got it
right. In the head. Or the heart,
here.
(beat)
You'd like to hear me scream. I
know this, if you don't.
Heheh...but you of course know.
That's why you're here...that's
the...apogee of your purpose here.
That is...why you've come.
So...either way you win.
(beat)
Red wine, white...or are you a
whiskey man?
BYRON
It's all the same to me.
HANNIBAL
Red it is then. A red poison for a
red affair.
Carefully Hannibal slides a wine glass across the table,
after pouring two glasses, and steps back towards the
fireplace.
HANNIBAL (CONT'D)
(eyes lowered)
You saw Isaac.
BYRON
What was left of him.
HANNIBAL
(grins)
Well...
He served his purpose.
BYRON
(sips his wine)
He was your son.
HANNIBAL
Yes. But all sons should be
willing to die for their fathers,
don't you think? Isn't that a
fathers right?
BYRON
I guess that's one more thing I
don't have in common with you.
HANNIBAL
To each his own.
(beat)
How's the wine?
BYRON
Tastes like blood. I lied earlier.
I'm not much of a wine man.
HANNIBAL
(holds up his glass)
There's rye in the cupboard.
BYRON
No thanks.
HANNIBAL
Hmmm. You saw Alexis too I
imagine. I couldn't find her so
I....I assumed the vigilante cop
that was methodically razing my
shadow boys must have found her
first.
You wouldn't be here if you hadn't.
Or maybe you would. How is the
sweet girl?
BYRON
(clenches fists)
...
HANNIBAL
(smiles)
It was more difficult to order her
doom, though, I'll give her that.
Still...
(beat)
You killed Bishop too, I suppose...
BYRON
Oh, you mean that religious
psychopath with the sword?
Yeah...yeah I killed him too.
He put up a helluva fight,
though...I'll give him that. Even
when I took away his eyes...
(reflects)
First real fanatic I ever really
met. Of all the people I've killed
tonight, not counting you, he'll be
the only one I don't have any
regrets about.
(beat)
And hell, if it hadn't been for me,
you'd be one smiling motherfucker
right now. I reckon you'd be
smiling plenty with all of
Purgatory in your pockets.
HANNIBAL
Huh. You figured me out pretty
well, Mr. Byron.
BYRON
(smiles proudly)
Thanks. Took me awhile, too long,
but...
HANNIBAL
(puts wine glass down)
She suffers Isaac's obligation, Mr.
Byron. This is a family matter.
Just the three of us...ah, two of
us. And you are not family.
BYRON
(grimaces)
I felt...obligated. Each and every
time a maniac decides to feed his
children to a samurai assassin, I
feel a little obligated.
(pause)
I see your kind sometimes, the
darker scum in Purgatory. Your
like a fat, fucking fish. The
black slimy kind that live near the
bottom and suck up the shit of the
other animals. That's all you ever
are to me, your whole fucking pack
of psychopaths.
HANNIBAL
You have a dark picture of me in
your mind.
BYRON
It can get darker.
(beat)
Sit down on the couch. I don't
want a mess
(Hannibal gives him a speculative
look)
The cushions, they soak up the
blood pretty nice. I'll be burning
this place down in five minutes
anyway, but it's the principle of
the thing.
HANNIBAL
(stumbles back into the
couch)
Principles. Now that's an irony I
need an explanation for.
BYRON
...even guys like me have
principles.
HANNIBAL
(starts to laugh)
Hahah! You..you are quite a match
Mr. Byron, and for that I am glad.
It would be...unfavourable...to
face a bullet from any other man.
(beat)
And I'm all about favourites. If
it's you, then that's a good thing.
The Bagman came close...but not
like this, not like this. My
match! Hahah! ...my match unto
death.
(pause)
You like my poetry? You remind me
of a man that likes good poetry.
(beat)
Do you imagine this to be true?
Who are you that men should rend
their bosom and unveil their pride,
that you may see their worth naked
and their pride unabashed?
There is a long pause as Byron surveys Hannibal and takes his
gun out, never answering the question.
BYRON
(starts fitting three
bullets into his gun)
You know how guys in movies always
start counting off strikes, like
when they're in a tense
circumstance and are giving their
enemies these chances? Like strike
one, strike two, etc.?
It occurred to me on the way over
here that nobody really says that
anymore. It's a generation thing,
I guess.
(beat)
But like you're all about
favourites, I'm all about
tradition. So. The Three
Bears...funny, you know that
they're not supposed to miss?
HANNIBAL
...are we talking about you, me, or
fairy tales now?
BYRON
(ignores Hannibal)
Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby
Bear.
HANNIBAL
Is this one of your principles?
BYRON
I'm preaching cleanliness. That's
right, a principle. I'm washing
the blood off both of our hands
right now.
HANNIBAL
(sweating)
Tell me, Mr. Byron. Which type are
you?
BYRON
(slams the clip back into
his Beretta)
Type?
HANNIBAL
The honest cop, or the smart cop?
Answer truthfully please...'
BYRON
Can't I be both?
HANNIBAL
No.
BYRON
Then I'd say I'm the smart type.
HANNIBAL
(smiles)
Smart cops know when to cut their
losses.
BYRON
You mean a bribe. That is what you
mean, Hannibal? A bribe?
HANNIBAL
(coyly)
You're not stupid to the rules, not
in this game...
BYRON
It'd take more than figures than
you have to make up the innocent
blood at your feet.
(beat)
Save your money, Mr. Rosochev
....the Devil isn't cheap these
days.
With that Byron takes aim and blasts a hole in his left knee.
Hannibal screams as blood pounds between his fingers and
splatters on the upholstery.
BYRON (CONT'D)
That's Bear number 1. Too hot.
(as a matter-of-factly)
Notice if you will how well those
cushions are mopping up the blood.
I want you to notice, Mr. Rosochev,
how your house, generally, is
remaining clean, pure, spotless.
(beat)
Look, I said!
He grabs Hannibal's head and points it at the wound in the
older man's shoulder.
BYRON (CONT'D)
I will draw an analogy to your
predicament. All the blood you've
shed...geeezus, I must've hit your
femoral...goddamn! Hahaha!
All the blood you've shed, Mr.
Rosochev...I'm cleaning it up for
you.
I'm making as sure as I can that
you, as a whole, will remain
untainted.
(beat)
Now who could ask more from their
murderer?
Byron takes aim again and the force of the bullet explodes a
wet, pink cloud from Hannibal's shoulder, and he crunches his
teeth down in excruciation.
BYRON (CONT'D)
Bear number 2. A little too cold.
(beat)
A clean slate, Han. As soon as
this bullet goes through, a clean
slate. For you and me and all of
Purgatory. Tonight the darkness
ends. Now close your eyes.
Hannibal is ultimately in utter agony, and frantic as he
feels the cold barrel of Byron's gun planted on his forehead.
HANNIBAL
"If the present world go astray,
the cause is in you, in you it is
to be sought."
BYRON
(flinches for an instant)
...so somebody in this dump does
read after all.
(beat)
I've done some serious soul
searching all night, Hannibal...and
I did come to a revelation. It's
like William Golding talked about
with the heart of darkness.
(beat)
The heart of darkness. I've been
there, man...I...have seen it, all
40 blocks of it. But we're talking
about the human heart right?
Everybody's got a pinch of black
here and there, that's just the
human frickin' way of doing a
balancing act.
(beat)
But you...you fuckin' tipped those
divine scales, turned your heart
into a tarpit. That's why I'm your
match, right? Why it's me and only
me standing here shooting you up.
Me and my big heart...probably as
black as yours, but at least it's
black for all the right reasons.
(pause)
....so I guess...what I'm trying to
say...is you're right. On a
personal level, the 'cause for this
Ragnarok-beginning is dwelling
right here.
(pats his heart with his gun)
And as I see it, and somebody told
me I'm always right about these
things, my big pumping ticker is
also the reason Purgatory has a
glimpse of light. Veronica, now
she coulda put a little sunshine
in....but you and me both know that
isn't gonna happen.
So what about Alexis?
Alexis...Alexis was gonna be the
balance, right and true. But she's
leaving.....I'm making sure she
doesn't stay in this place, so
she's leaving. That means now I
got my work cut out for me. Now I
gotta be the reason Purg-burg
doesn't drop into oblivion...and
that's a job for a saint.
HANNIBAL
(crying)
You..you...you aren't free of this!
You're as doomed as me!
You'll...pay...goddamnit, you'll
pay!
BYRON
(looks up)
We all pay a different price in the
end. I have the honor of paying
for your sins. But
you....hm..you'll pay a different
kind of price.
HANNIBAL
What will...what will they think
...of you...ahhaha....haha!
Everbody, this town, your friends.
What will they think of you?!!
You're a filthy murderer Walter.
That's all you are...that's all you
are!!!
BYRON
(nods in silent agreement)
Then we do have something in
common....
HANNIBAL
They'll hate you!! They will..the
murderer....of the saviour of
Purgatory!! Me!! How coudln't
they!!?? You'll be hunted
down...you're dead Walter....you
don't have anyone! She's dead to
you if you kill me!!!
Byron seems taken aback by this and releases the pressure of
the gun on Hannibal's forehead. The gun is still pointing at
him however as the cop whistles into the other room.
BYRON
"Through me you pass into the city
of woe: Through me you pass into
eternal pain: Through me among the
people lost for aye. Justice the
founder of my fabric moved: To rear
me was the task of power divine,
Supremest wisdom, and primeval
love. Before me things create were
none, save things Eternal, and
eternal I shall endure."
(beat)
You, Mr. Rosochev...the fuckin' god
of mercy I hope on you. I don't
for a goddamn minute envy what
you'll endure. I'll face the fire
someday, but you're goin' first and
you're gonna be the first of our
company to know the richest
tortures of whatever Hell I'm
sending you to.
(beat)
Alexis! Come out...
Alexis shyly peers out from behind the doorway, tears
stricken across her cheeks, and her eyes red. She walks
timidly over to Byron and stares down at her father.
Hannibal watches her with a mixture of fear and apprehension.
HANNIBAL
Alexis!!
ALEXIS
(painfully in a whisper)
Daddy....
(pause)
I saw Isaac. I saw what you did to
him. Byron, I was with him. He
had me to go the morgue. I saw
him...
You killed him Daddy. You killed
my brother. You arranged it. You
arranged to kill my brother. And
Isaac, he didn't do anything.
(beat)
And you were gonna kill me too.
And I don't know why either. Maybe
you don't have a reason. And maybe
you do, but I don't care, 'cause no
reason you give me is gonna bring
Isaac back.
(beat)
You're dead to me Daddy. But I'm
sorry. I am, y'know. But...I
don't want anybody else to die.
Isaac...he was a good man. And he
wouldn't want anybody else to die
either.
HANNIBAL
...Alexis, this is a mistake! I
love you! I've always loved you!
I don't want to hurt you!!
(beat)
Please, Alex...I'm your father!!
(beat)
I love you...
ALEXIS
(calmly stoops and kisses
Hannibal's forehead)
I love you too Daddy. But
sometimes...sometimes we gotta let
the people we love die. Sometimes
we gotta kill 'em.
(beat)
...and then, afterwards, we know it
was the right thing to do. Because
then nobody else will die.
(beat)
Goodbye, Daddy.
Byron takes aim at Hannibal now.
HANNIBAL
No! NO! Alexis!!
Alexis turns away as Byron fits the gun back to Hannibal's
forehead. He flinches a little, and by now tears and blood
are streaming down his face.
BYRON
(quietly)
Alexis. Don't turn away. I want
you to see.
(cocks the hammer)
I want you too see what happens to
evil men.
Alexis slowly turns around again and Byron nods and turns
back to Hannibal. In a single instant he pulls back on the
trigger. There is a CU of the side of the gun as it fires.
And then a fading blackness.
FADE TO BLACK.
BYRON (O.S.) (CONT'D)
(sadly, but with a
knowledge that the reign
of terror is over now)
Bear number 3. Just right.
BYRON (V.O.) (CONT'D)
"All our revels now are ended..."
But like I told her, the angel, the
angel Alexis before things turned
into the Hell I was running away
from. I told her that there was an
evil in Purgatory...this big hydra
of an evil.
EXT. CITYSCAPE - NIGHT
The moon is up and sirens sound off in the distance.
BYRON (V.O.)
I chopped off one head. But that
only made room for more. Purgatory
will never be rid of evil. Just
like it will never be rid of good.
That's the curse of this place...
The good, the bad, and the gray
shit that fills in the cracks. The
bad will always find a way back
here. The gray will always be
here.
And the good....huh, the good is
the responsibility of a saint.
'Course...I ain't a saint.
THE END