A CHRISTMAS EXORCISM ZACK AKERS

Transcription

1 A CHRISTMAS EXORCISM By ZACK AKERS (C) 2014

2 BLACK SMASH TO: INT. POLICE CAR- NIGHT The SIRENS BLARE as the car speeds down a snow covered back road. The red and blue lights on the roof flash and illuminate the surroundings outside. The windshield wipers frantically whip back and forth, unable to keep up with the thick snow that falls from above. Behind the wheel is SHERIFF, (mid 40 s), slightly overweight and balding. Beside him sits DEPUTY, (mid 20 s), fit and handsome. Davis turns to Winston. You don t believe this sort of stuff... Do you? I mean... How do they know he s not just sick or something? How do they know he s... possessed? Winston shrugs, but never removes his eyes from the road. I don t know. But I trust Father Linus. He s a good man. If he believes it, who am I to doubt him? The car slows as it turns onto another side road. (CONT) And I know the Carpenters. They re honest people. Every year for Christmas, Mark dresses up as Santa and visits the sick children at the hospital. Great man... Davis nods in silent agreement as he turns his attention back to the road. Winston nods. Their little girl goes to school with your son, right?

3 2. Yeah. Sara came to Tim s birthday last month. Davis turns back to Winston. I don t know. It just seems like something out of a horror film... You aren t very religious, are you? Davis shrugs and again turns back to the road. I believe in God, if that s what you re asking. The snow seems to get thicker and fall faster. I ve known Father Linus for fifteen years. When I talked to him on the phone... I ve never heard fear in someones voice like that... Davis grows nervous, fidgets around in his seat anxiously. (CONT) No matter what happens... I m going to need you composed Davis. Yes sir. The car pulls onto a snow covered drive way. Up ahead, through the thick snow, you can just make out a large two storied house. Here we are. Winston flips a switch and turns off the SIRENS. EXT. CARPENTERS HOUSE The house sits snug in the heavy snow, thick forest surrounds it on either side. Christmas lights and various decorations are strewn throughout the house and front yard.

4 3. A snowman, complete with a top hat, a carrot nose, and two large buttons for eyes, is planted in the middle of the yard. The police car, lights still flashing, pulls to a stop behind a snow covered sedan. Winston and Davis exit the car and approach the front door. The snow CRUNCHES beneath the weight of their feet. Just as they reach it, the door opens. Winston stops and motions for Davis to do the same. Davis silently complies. No reply. Mark? Jessica? It s Sheriff Winston. We got Father Linus s call. We re here to help. Winston turns to Davis, who shrugs. He turns back to the front door and steps forward. FATHER LINUS, (late 50 s), tall and thin, stumbles out through the front door. He is covered in blood, vicious stab wounds riddle his chest. His eyes are blank, an emotionless look on his face. Jesus! Winston rushes to Linus s aid, who collapses just as the Sheriff reaches him. (CONT) Linus! C mon, stay with me! Davis doesn t move, stunned. What the hell happened to him!? Winston turns to Davis. Get on the radio and get us some damn back up! Davis still doesn t budge.

5 4. What the fuck- NOW! Davis snaps out of it. He turns and rushes back to the police car. Right! Winston turns back to Linus, who seems to be in shock. The blood splattered across his face sits in stark contrast to his pale white skin. Hang on Linus, helps on the way. Linus s blank eyes meet Winston s. LINUS (Weak) I... I failed... Winston grabs and squeezes Linus s bloody hand. Save your strength. You re going to be alright. LINUS The Devil... The Dev- Linus coughs up thick, dark blood. Jesus! LINUS S-save... Save Sara... Linus s eyes go blank once more as his raspy last breath leaves his body. Winston shakes Linus, refuses to let him go. Father? FATHER!? It s too late. He s gone. Davis rushes back to Winston s side.

6 5. Backup s on the way... He looks at Linus s motionless body. (CONT) God. Is he...? Yeah... Winston carefully lays Linus down, but can t look away at him. (Panicky) What do we do now? MUSIC starts to PLAY from inside. It s LET IT SNOW by FRANK SINATRA. Winston stands up and stares at the open front door. Davis steps next to Winston, terror fills both of their faces. Sheriff Winston... What the hell is happening here? Winston draws his handgun and takes a step forward. Davis grabs his arm and stops him. (CONT) Are you crazy!? Backup will be here soon! A little girls CRIES come from inside (O.S.). Winston doesn t hesitate. He moves with a purpose and disappears inside. Fuck! Davis takes one last glance at Linus s body, then back to the open front door. He draws his handgun and steps inside.

7 6. INT. CARPENTERS HOUSE- FOYER Davis steps into the large foyer. A blood trail leads up the staircase. To the right is the living room. Davis peeks inside the living room. Disgust and terror spread across his face. LIVING ROOM The large room is trashed. Furniture broken and flipped. The Christmas tree on it s side. Blood is splattered all over the walls and floor. On the floor is a shattered family portrait. CLOSE ON PORTRAIT-- CARPENTER, (mid 40 s), stands beside JESSICA CARPENTER, (late 30 s), who holds SARA CARPENTER, (about 5). They are all dressed in their Sundays best and have big smiles on their faces. A very happy family. FOYER Davis turns to the staircase and starts up it. Sheriff? He makes his way up the stairs. UPSTAIRS HALL The blood trail leads to an open bedroom door at the end of the hall. Jessica lies face down in a puddle of blood in the hall. She has multiple stab wounds in her back and head. Davis reaches the top of the steps just as the SONG ends. He takes one look at the corpse on the floor, turns green, and vomits. Another SONG STARTS. It s WHITE CHRISTMAS by FRANK SINATRA. More CRYING comes from the far bedroom.

8 Davis does his best to gather himself and wipes the bile from his chin. He carefully steps around the corpse and makes his way toward the open bedroom door. SARA S BEDROOM (Shaky) Sheriff... Davis enters the bedroom, his weapon ready. Standing in front of him is Winston, who aims his gun at something. Then Davis sees what Winston sees. In the far corner, sitting on a child s bed, is Mark, dressed up as Santa Claus. He is covered in blood, his skin a sickly yellow with eyes to match. Sara, dressed in a blood drenched night gown, sits on Mark s lap. She CRIES, scared out of her mind. Mark has a blood stained kitchen knife held against Sara s quivering cheek. With his free hand he runs his fingers through the scared little girls blond hair. Marks eyes are fixed on the wall in front of him. It s as if he stares through it. On the nightstand next to the bed sits the radio that the MUSIC plays from. 7. Mark... No response. Winston s eyes meet Sara s. He forces a smile as tears well up in his eyes. (His voice cracks) It s gonna be okay sweetie... Slowly and methodically, Mark turns his gaze to Winston. (Demonic Voice) No it s not. Mark lets out an UNNERVING CACKLE. Winston has his weapon trained on Mark.

9 8. Put your daughter down Mark. You don t want to hurt her... Yes I do. Another CACKLE. Mark, listen to- S BURNING IN HELL! An evil grin spreads across Mark s face. Tears fall down Winston s cheeks. Please don t do this. Pathetic Sheriff. This little bitches blood will be on your hands. Davis steps beside Winston and aims his weapon at Mark. LET HER GO DAMMIT! Mark s sick, yellow eyes travel from Winston to Davis. Another CACKLE. Sara WHIMPERS. You wish to save this little one? Place your gun in your mouth. Kill yourself. I said let her go. Sara, how are you enjoying Christmas? Isn t it cheerful? SARA (Crying) Please Daddy...

10 9. Tell her you are going to save her Sheriff. Lie to her. Please... I SAID LIE TO HER YOU FUCKING FAGOT! Winston s bottom lip quivers. He forces a smile. (Fights back tears) It s going to be okay Sara. I m going to- Mark rips the knife across Sara s throat. NO! Mark quickly jumps to his feet and throws Sara at Winston, who instinctively catches her. Davis takes his shot and hits Mark in the chest, but it doesn t stop him. With a full head of steam, Mark charges at the bedroom window and jumps through it. He disappears in a CRASH of broken glass. Winston cradles Sara and places his hand on her throat, desperately tries to stop the bleeding. Tears fill both of their eyes. Blood begins to puddle around them. It s okay sweetie. It s okay. Davis rushes to the window and aims his weapon out it. He turns back to Winston, confused. HE S GONE! HE S FUCKING GONE! Winston can t turn away from Sara. (To Davis) Well go get him dammit...

11 10. Davis shakes his head. He can t believe what just happened. I shot him. No way he s- GO NOW! Davis doesn t say anything, he just books it out of the room. Winston brings Sara to his chest. She fades fast. The SONG ends. It s okay sweetie. Everything s okay. EXT. CARPENTERS HOUSE The snow continues to pour down from above. Davis rushes out the front door. He glances down at Linus s snow covered corpse. Then he turn his attention to the shattered upstairs bedroom window. Mark CACKLES (O.S.). Davis whips his weapon around, searching for his target. He is terrified, the weapon rattles in his shaky hands. No reply. WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU!? INT. CARPENTERS HOUSE- SARA S BEDROOM Winston gently lays Sara s body down, fights the urge to sob. Tears drip from his face. Forgive me... GUNSHOTS (O.S.) startle Winston, who jumps to his feet. He draws his weapon and runs out the bedroom door.

12 11. EXT. CARPENTERS HOUSE Winston steps through the open front door, weapon at the ready. Davis and Mark are no where to be seen. Davis? No reply. Then he sees it. The snowman in the middle of the yard. Something is different about it. Winston cautiously approaches the snowman. Once he s within a few yards of it, he falls to his knees. Horror fills his face. CLOSE ON-- Davis s decapitated head now replaces the snowman s head. His face is forever frozen in a horrifying scream. BACK TO SCENE-- Winston can t take his eyes off what he sees. The sadness on his face turns to anger. Mark CACKLES (O.S.). Winston jumps to his feet and turns to where the cackle came from. Mark stands about ten yards away, the bloody kitchen knife still gripped in his hands. He still wears the same evil grin. Merry Christmas Sheriff. SIRENS (O.S.) grow louder and louder. Winston takes a few steps towards Mark, his weapon trained on the macabre Santa Claus. Here comes your back up. Too late.

13 12. Shut your mouth. Fuck you. Coward. Winston takes another step forward. He tightens his grip on his weapon. I said- BAM! Winston pulls the trigger and a bullet tears through Mark s left eye. Chunks of brain and skull explode out of the back of his head as he falls backwards in the snow. Shut it. (CONT) Winston slowly lowers his weapon. With an emotionless expression, he turns to the silent house. The SIRENS (O.S.) continue to grow louder. CLOSE ON-- Mark s bloody face. His one good eye stares up at the sky. The corners of his lips rise. SMASH TO: BLACK