THE VOICE OF ATON "THE SWORD OF GIDEON" by GORDON D WENN CAST LIST --------- SULLIVAN ARCHANGEL NICK SET LIST -------- EXTERIORS --------- PARK Copyright (c) 2003 - All rights reserved - KitsWriter@Yahoo.com # 1. ACT ONE FADE IN: EXT. - PARK - DAY We see a man, we will come to know as SULLIVAN, walking down a pathway of a public park. He's wearing jeans, a jacket, and a blue denim shirt, all very casual. The trees along the path, open onto grass, where Frisbee Flickers and Tai-chi Strutters have staked their claims. He stops and sits on a bench opposite a small group of Sun Worshippers. Stares at them for a moment, then stretches out his arms along the top of the bench. He tilts his head back and closes his eyes. There is moment of calm before we realize something is wrong. All the noise around him has ceased. His attention turns to the silence. He looks around for some cause, then notices that the people he'd just seen, have disappeared. He stands up searching for their hiding place. Oddly, his breathing becomes laboured. He gasps, holds his chest. He tries to sit back down on the bench, but falls to his knees. SULLIVAN (confused) What the?... From above, a cone of light envelops him. He begins to breathe easier. He lifts his head to listen to something unheard. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (to unheard voice) Cool!... Thanks. He smiles, looks up into the sky. Then listens intently. His expression begins to change into an overwhelming concern for something, then into a strange disbelief. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (to unheard voice) What?... Really!... Your kidding!... But, that's stupid!... I know!... He seems overwhelmed, but nods his head in understanding. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (to unheard voice) Okay, sure. No problem.... I'd be glad to help out. # 2. He sits back down on the park bench. Waits. But not for long. We hear an audible noise, albeit a whisper, getting louder. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (to whisper) Could you speak up! I'm having a problem hearing you! An ARCHANGEL appears before him. Hovering above the ground, glowing brightly. ARCHANGEL (louder) Son of Gideon! You have been chosen this day to be the servant of the Lord. A Flaming Sword appears in front of SULLIVAN. ARCHANGEL(CON'T) Son of Gideon, take up thy staff! SULLIVAN (thinks) Hmmm.... No. I'll pass. The ARCHANGEL moves in suddenly, a few inches from SULLIVANS' face. He stares at him, on the verge of something nonangelic. ARCHANGEL (irked) What do you mean No? You can't say No! SULLIVAN stands, moves to his right, putting the ARCHANGEL between him and the Sword. SULLIVAN You just might have the wrong guy. My name's Sullivan. Larry Sullivan. Not this Gideon person. (pause) Also, the words Judgement Day, seem to leap out at me. ARCHANGEL (adamant) That's the whole point! # 3. SULLIVAN No, I'm definitely going to pass. ARCHANGEL (angry) Take the Sword! SULLIVAN (gestures) Hey, It's just not going to happen. The ARCHANGEL floats up and back slightly. SULLIVAN changes the subject. SULLIVAN(CON'T) So how's Elvis? ARCHANGEL (angrier) Take the Sword! SULLIVAN (observation) I get the feeling that you're on the edge of profanity. You want to call me some stupid name. To diminish me, make me smaller. Lower my self esteem. Just to ease that irrational sense of fear in your gut. Don't you?.... Go ahead. If it makes happy? The ARCHANGEL moves closer, glowing brighter. ARCHANGEL (forceful) I am an Angel of the Lord, I fear nothing! SULLIVAN Yeah, perhaps you should. You're on my Turf, now. The laws of Living Things prevail. Fear is merely a sign post in our emotional landscape. The ARCHANGEL looks at him strangely. SULLIVAN(CON'T) Okay, so you're an Angel..... # 4. ARCHANGEL (interrupts) Archangel! SULLIVAN (goading) Swell. You take the Sword. You destroy everything. C'mon. Go ahead. Feel free. You have my permission. The ARCHANGEL ignores him. ARCHANGEL Son of Gideon.... SULLIVAN (interrupts) You can't, can you? It has to be me. I'm the guy!... The only one who can touch the damn thing.... Well guess what? I'm not doing it! SULLIVAN sits back down, indignant. The ARCHANGEL continues. ARCHANGEL Son of Gideon.... SULLIVAN (interrupts) Why do you keep saying that? My Dads' name is Mike. The ARCHANGEL rises. Speaks in a deep, compelling voice. ARCHANGEL As it was in the beginning.... SULLIVAN (apologetic) Sorry, It's just not going to happen. ARCHANGEL (prophetic) You are, who you are. You are, who you must be. You are chosen. You are the right hand of the Lord. Take up thy Staff. Cry Havoc, Let loose the Dogs of War! # 5. There is a very noticeable moment of silence. SULLIVAN (interjects) You know, I'm not really that religious. I'm sort of a Pedestrian. Which I think is more of a Philosophy, than one of your more organized Faiths. But we do have our own Dietary Laws. Potato Salad is good, Coleslaw is evil. Just go to any fast food place, check out the Coleslaw. That stuff moves. It clocks in, in the morning. Like that cartoon with the Sheep Dog and Coyote..... Morning Ralph, Morning Sam. Ding. The ARCHANGELS' glow shifts a wavelength. SULLIVAN continues. SULLIVAN(CON'T) In fact, we get buried in these large, six foot styrofoam containers of Potato Salad. Knowing full well, that when we receive our final reward, there'll be someone there, asking us if we brought enough for everybody. The ARCHANGEL looks somber. ARCHANGEL Take the Sword. SULLIVAN (loud) Hey! What part of No, didn't you get? The ARCHANGELS' patience ends. SULLIVANS' body begins to twitch. He rises, jerks forward, toward the Sword. The ARCHANGEL is cheating. SULLIVAN(CON'T) Wait a minute! You can't do this! Your cheating!... And very Badly! I feel like a Living Dead Extra. # 6. SULLIVANS' right arm lifts hesitantly to the Sword. His hand touches the hilt, then he collapses onto the ground. The ARCHANGEL moves towards him. Unfortunately, his control over SULLIVAN ended, the moment he touched the sword. SULLIVAN rises up, gripping the Sword. He slices at the ARCHANGEL. Then again. He connects. The ARCHANGEL falls to the ground, wounded. He looks very confused and in pain. SULLIVAN lunges towards him. But is stopped by a Shield of Fire. He takes a few steps back. SULLIVAN(CON'T) Okay, time for back up! SULLIVAN moves to a more open spot. He begins to sketch out a precise geometric shape. A Pentagram. We see him write the numbers six six six, in the centre. Then he plunges the Sword into the middle of the Pentagram, completing the ritual. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (yells) Hey, Nick! A Beastly Shape appears in an acrid cloud of smoke. The Devil. Horns, Tail and a Business Suit. He looks confused. SULLIVAN speaks to him. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (explains) Hi, I'm Larry Sullivan. Apparently, The Son of Gideon. What ever that's worth.... Anyway, that Sword stuck in the ground, over there, would be my Staff. I guess I destroy the World with it.... (points) And of course, over there, an Archangel. (pause) Have either of you met before? NICK quickly assesses the situation. NICK (to Sullivan) Yes we have! (to Archangel) Are you nuts?... Didn't we just talk about this last week? # 7. The ARCHANGEL looks up at him, from beyond his Shield of Fire. ARCHANGEL (contempt) What's your problem? NICK Right now, that would be YOU! ARCHANGEL Well pardon me for being difficult, but the World's about to End. NICK No it's not. You're having another one of your episodes. ARCHANGEL (loud) Episodes! You, the Father of all Lies, are telling me that I'm nuts. Your the One that's delusional! NICK (concerned) How long have we known each other? In the old days, we were friends. ARCHANGEL That was an Eternity ago. NICK True, and by definition Forever. ARCHANGEL Yeah, well forever is about to end. The ARCHANGELS rises to his feet. His protective Shield disappears. He appears whole. His wounds healed. ARCHANGEL(CON'T) You of all people should be pleased. NICK Actually I'm not. But I am worried about you.... We can fix this.... There's still time. # 8. The ARCHANGEL casts his thoughts inward. Sophomoric. ARCHANGEL Time. Space. Beginnings. Endings. They're all the same. NICK I am going to stop you! ARCHANGEL (goading) You and what Army? NICK Well there's the damned! I am hip deep in them. ARCHANGEL Vile Creature, do not stand in my way. I am on a Holy Mission! NICK No you're not! Just stop saying that! Everything will be fine. Okay? ARCHANGEL The Day of Judgement has arrived! NICK (irked) Are you Brain Dead? Is there something seriously wrong with you? You can't just come out and say it! You're not really supposed to do that. Why do you have to make things so difficult? The ARCHANGEL ignores him. He begins to rise higher. NICK grabs hold of him. They struggle. ARCHANGEL (laboured) You will not prevail! Judgement comes! A Host of Angels appear, distracting NICK. The ARCHANGEL manages to break free, sending NICK back to the ground. The ARCHANGEL floats up to join the Host. SULLIVAN shares his concerns. # 9. SULLIVAN (to Nick) So, what's plan B? NICK takes a cell phone from his pocket. NICK (into phone) Charlie Charlie One, this is Zero. Judgement Day in Progress. I say again, we have Judgement Day. An equal number of Damned souls appear. Dressed in riot gear. NICK turns to SULLIVAN. NICK(CON'T) Make them an offer. SULLIVAN Who are they? NICK A few damned souls. Not exactly my A-List guys, but useful. Cops on the take, corrupt Civil Servants, the odd Blasphemer.... I got most of them in a class action suit.... Make'em a Deal! SULLIVAN thinks for a moment, then addresses the Damned. SULLIVAN Okay, it's really simple. Your place in Hell, for their place in Heaven. The Damned mull it over. They seem to agree. SULLIVAN looks at their weapons, addresses NICK. SULLIVAN(CON'T) Cool.... Would you mind taking care of Mister Schizo, in the middle, there. NICK It would be my pleasure. NICK spits into his hand, offers it to SULLIVAN. They shake. SULLIVAN suddenly grimaces in pain. We see smoke rising from their joined hands. NICK releases SULLIVAN. Who stares intently at the Pentagram branded into his palm. # 10. SULLIVAN (surprised) I thought that this one of those time limited offers, not available to residents of New Jersey. NICK winks at him, then turns to the Damned. NICK (loud) En Avance! Attaque! The Damned engages the Host. CAMERA CLOSES IN ON SULLIVAN. The light from explosions splash across his face. He grimaces, looks shocked, concerned, disgusted, then eventually calm. SULLIVAN looks out on the carnage. The Damned litter the field. Feathers drift in the wind. We see NICK and the ARCHANGEL holding on to each other in a final Apocalyptic Wrestling Match. SULLIVAN removes the Sword from the Ground. Approaches them. He swings the Sword up above both of them. SULLIVAN I can't have either of you wandering the Earth. NICK smiles. Grips the ARCHANGEL tighter. SULLIVAN brings the Sword down, slicing through both of them. They vanish. The remains of the Host slip quietly into the Earth. The Damned rise up. The battlefield repairs itself. Everything appears normal, as if nothing had happened. A Bush burns. SULLIVAN walks over to it. Places the Sword in the flames. Then steps back unharmed. He suddenly notices the mark in his palm has disappeared. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (smiles) Cool.... Thanks! The Bush returns to normal. His gaze lifts skyward to a familiar unheard voice. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (to unheard voice) Oh, sure.... (shrugs) No, I didn't tell them.... But I really wanted to.... # 11. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (to unheard voice) It was just like you said. Jerk him around a bit, he'll make a mistake.... Thanks for the warning.... I'm just glad I could help.... A reward? Hmmm.... Well, just between the two of us, I have this rash on my feet. It's a little icky. Somewhat embarrassing. Something strange happens in SULLIVANS' shoes. He walks gingerly back to the parkbench. Then removes his right shoe and sock. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (looks at feet) Hey, thanks. Really.... Thanks a lot. Something slides down from inside his shoe. He picks it up. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (surprised) Your Gold Card? SULLIVAN does a double take on the card. SULLIVAN(CON'T) (confused) What's with this expiry date? FADE OUT. THE END #