The Anti-Antichrist (4) One question. JACK Yes? HANK My father told me there were no prisoners here. Why were you locked up? JACK It is true that there are no prisoners in the strictest sense. Never the less, some of us have to be separated from the general population for their protection. HANK What did you do? JACK I made some mistakes, a long time ago. But I am a different man now. They walk in silence for a while. HANK Where is everybody? JACK Preparing for the coming Apocalypse, no doubt. HANK You know about that? JACK Everyone knows. Do you think you will help your father in the struggle? HANK I haven’t decided yet. JACK I think you will have to decide soon. HANK So, how do we escape? JACK In good time. First I shall give you the tour. HANK I’ve already been on it. JACK Perhaps, but I am sure there are parts your father chose not to show you. Come. He leads Hank towards a growing light source. CUT TO: INT. KINGDOM OF HELL – MOSH PIT Hank and Jack exit the tunnel into a large, crowded chamber. Humans are DANCING, FUCKING, and generally having a GOOD TIME. Some people are being WHIPPED and MUTILATED by others, but even they seem to be enjoying themselves. There is a bizarre party atmosphere as loud music shakes the walls. HANK It still doesn’t seem that bad. Hell, I mean. JACK Everyone thinks that before they arrive. Your father ensures that all are free to indulge their fantasies here. Of course, the only problem is that some people have some rather unpleasant desires. But we do not judge them. Even I have learnt to accept the display of carnal desires in this place. HANK It’s so overwhelming. JACK Would you like to meet some of the more distinguished inhabitants. Vlad the Impaler? Hitler? Ted Bundy? They all make for amusing conversations. HANK No thanks, unless they can help me get topside. JACK Doubtful. You will need to talk to a higher demon about that. HANK Where do I find one? A fearsome WINGED BEAST, with a horn in its forehead, suddenly lands in front of them. JACK Problem solved, I believe. The Beast BARKS at them in a guttural tone. BEAST Who you? Where your authorisation papers? JACK (to Hank) I think you should tell it who you are. HANK (clears his throat) I am Hank Bryce, son of Mr. Callow. Also known as Satan, your boss. I would like you to take me and my friend here to the surface. The Beast lets out a BELLOWING LAUGH. BEAST Thanks for brightening my day, soft-skin. Now get back to whatever you people do. HANK No. I want to leave. BEAST Then . . . you die! Its clawed arm FLIES OUT and KNOCKS Hank across the cavern. The Beast SWOOPS ACROSS and lands beside him. HANK (winded) You’re making a big mistake. My father won’t like this at all. BEAST You not Satan’s son. I know if he sent you here. HANK Guess there’s a lot they don’t tell ya, ugly. The Beast ROARS and lifts Hank up in its mighty arms. BEAST I know the management no like, but I think I teach you new level of pain. It begins to strangle Hank, its claws DIGGING INTO HIS THROAT. Hank struggles to break free, screaming silently. Suddenly, the Beast CRIES OUT in pain. It drops Hank and clutches at a BLADE that has appeared in its back. BEAST What happen to me? Hank watches as Jack walks up to the beast and wrenches the knife free. JACK I happened. He STABS the Beast again. The creature falls to its knees, unprepared for the attacks. Jack SLASHES THE KNIFE DOWN again and again, until the Beast’s cries stop. Eventually, it lies at his feet in a puddle of green blood, it’s misshapen organs spilled on the ground. Hank looks both relieved and sickened by the ferocity of Jack’s attack. HANK You saved me. JACK That is what gentlemen do. He helps Hank to his feet. JACK We had best be gone, before this uncouth fellow reincarnates. HANK But how do we get to the surface? Jack looks at the body, and spies a SECURITY CARD among the remains. JACK This should do the trick. He takes the card and hurries to an alcove ahead of them. Hank follows. INT. KINGDOM OF HELL – ALCOVE Jack slides the card into a small crevice, and a rocky doorway opens. They peer into a shiny metal tube. JACK I believe this is called an elevator. It should carry us all the way home. HANK Well, we got nothing to lose. Let’s get the hell out of here. They jump into the lift. It immediately HURTLES UPWARDS, disappearing from sight. CUT TO: EXT. STARBUCKS – DAY A doorway opens just to the side of the coffee shop. Hank and Jack step out of the elevator. They squint at the bright sunlight. JACK We chose wisely. (turns to Hank) I had a great adventure, Hank. But now I must bid you adieu. He offers his hand, and Hank shakes it again. HANK Thanks, I couldn’t have done it without you. Just do me a favor and stay out of trouble, okay? JACK Of course. After all, it’s a long way from Whitechapel, and I’m a reformed man. (smiles) Mostly. Hank stares in shock as Jack walks off into the sunset. CUT TO: EXT. HANK’S HOME – DUSK Hank returns home, exhausted. Before he can enter his house, Catsun steps out of the shadows. CATSUN Hank Bryce, I am relieved to see you alive and well. You must come with me immediately. HANK (tired) Look, I don’t know if you’re an angel or a devil, and I don’t care. I just wanna go home and relax. Cut me some freaking slack, okay? CATSUN I work for your father. Mr. Callow is currently in the hospital. (beat) He’s dying. Hank looks at him, stunned. HANK Satan can’t die. CATSUN I’m afraid even Lucifer isn’t immortal. Every time he assumed human form, it weakened him. He doesn’t have much time left, and he wants to see you. Will you come with me? Hank slowly nods. CUT TO: EXT. HOSPITAL – NIGHT Hank and Catsun enter the rich man’s hospital. INT. HOSPITAL - CALLOW’S ROOM – NIGHT Hank is let into the room by a GUARD with glowing red eyes. The door is closed, leaving father and son alone. Callow lies in bed, looking very old and frail. Hank stares at him sadly, not knowing what to say. CALLOW (croaks) You made it. I thought you were lost to me, but I hoped deep down you would find the strength to escape. HANK It wasn’t easy. CALLOW I don’t doubt it. But it proved you are the man for the job. HANK What’s going to happen now? CALLOW Time is running out. If God’s agents don’t finish me off, my weak heart will. The forces of light will vanquish the forces of darkness. The Kingdom of Hell would no longer exist. HANK And that would be bad? CALLOW Of course it would! It would destroy the natural balance. Hell may not seem perfect to you, but you’ve never been to Heaven. It’s the most boring place in the multi-verse. God needs me, but he’s forgotten that fact. With your help, we can remind him. HANK I don’t know if I can help you. Callow beckons Hank closer. CALLOW My son, Hell needs a strong leader. Not an evil ruler, as I’ve already explained, but someone with the strength of will to stand up to God and his minions. I can no longer perform that function. If I have to hand my title over to anyone, I want it to be you. HANK How do I find that strength? CALLOW It has to come within you. You have to let out your anger, vengeance and lust. You’ve spent your whole life suppressing those emotions, but they’re still there. You must release them, but use them with wisdom and justice. Perhaps I can show you the way. Take my hand, and I’ll give you a taste of my dark power. Hank nervously reaches out to hold his father’s hand. At first, nothing happens. Then Hank jerks as if given an ELECTRIC SHOCK. It last seconds before he falls back. HANK Whoa . . . CALLOW How you feel? HANK I feel . . . evil. CALLOW That’s natural, but you mustn’t dwell on that, like our enemies do. Evil is just a tool, on the path to righteousness. Callow suddenly grains in pain, and CLUTCHES his chest. HANK Father! CALLOW (faint) It’s too late . . . too late . . . Use your dark power . . . He closes his eyes and DIES. HANK No. Hank stays there by the body, silent. Eventually, Catsun appears beside him. CATSUN There’s nothing you could have done for him. You are my master now. HANK (wipes away tears) I haven’t decided if I’m gonna take the job, yet. CATSUN Then you have twelve hours to decide. HANK How do you work that out? CATSUN That is how long I can hold the Kingdom of Hell together without a ruler. Once word gets out of your father’s demise, all Heaven will break loose. HANK I’ll need to put my human affairs in order. CATSUN Do what you must, but be careful. Now is the most dangerous time, for all of us. HANK How do I let you know when I’ve- CATSUN When the time comes, I will be there. But you must know that if you’re not with us, you’re against us. There is no middle ground. Hank nods and leaves the room. CUT TO: INT. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN – HEAD OFFICE Gabe and Az stand before GOD. They both look shocked and confused. GABE Bryce is alive? And on the surface? How is that possible? GOD IT IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE YOU FOOLS HAVE FAILED. YOU SENT HIM TO HELL AND LET HIM ESCAPE, WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE SENT HIM TO ME. EVEN NOW HE IS PLOTTING AGAINST ME WITH HIS DYING FATHER. GABE Forgive me for my failure. I- God brings his fist down, and Gabe is consumed by HOLY FLAME. He screams in agony before finally falling into ashes. GOD I FORGIVE YOU. Az turns away from his master, expecting the same punishment. GOD YOU, I WILL GIVE ONE MORE CHANCE. FIND THIS SPAWN OF SATAN AND KILL HIM. UNTIL HE IS DEAD I CANNOT CHOOSE A SUBJECT FOR THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION. WITHOUT MY SON, ALL IS LOST. DO YOU UNDERSTAND? Az nods. GOD THEN GO. Az flies away as quickly as he can. CUT TO: EXT. INSURANCE COMPANY – DAY Hank passes by his old place of work, deep in thought. He pauses, shrugs "why not?" INT. INSURANCE COMPANY - PETERSON’S OFFICE – DAY Peterson seems to be masturbating over a Playboy centerfold as Hank bursts into the office. An angry and embarrassed Peterson quickly hides his shame. PETERSON What the hell are you doing here? I thought I fired you. HANK You did. I’m back to collect my final payback. PETERSON What do you mean? Hank points his finger at Peterson like a trigger. HANK You’re fired. A BOLT OF ENERGY shoots out of his finger. It hits Peterson and shocks him into unconsciousness. HANK (smiles) I could get used to this Satan business. He walks out. CUT TO: EXT. STREET – DAY Hank walks along, still mulling over his decision. He bumps into Aaron coming out of a porno shop. AARON Hey, dude! HANK (surprised) Hi. What’s up? AARON Not much. I heard you got a new job. HANK How’d you know that? AARON I keep my ear to the ground. HANK Yeah? Well, I’ve been offered the position of Overlord of Hell, but I don’t know if I’m gonna take it. AARON Are you crazy? It’s the opportunity of a lifetime! HANK Maybe you’re right. Say, would you like a job in Hell? AARON You shitting me? HANK No. They could use a guy like you, more than they could a guy like me. AARON Wow, that’d be- Aaron suddenly CRIES OUT in agonizing pain. His CHEST EXPLODES outward in a shower of blood. Hank watches in horror as the angel Az climbs out of the shell of Aaron’s body. He FLAPS HIS WINGS, shaking the blood off. AZ Surprise! Man is the warmest place to hide, you know. HANK You bastard! I’ll kill you! Hank lunges at Az in blind rage. The angel SWATS HIM ASIDE as if he is a fly. Hank gets to his feet, bloody but unbowed. HANK You won’t banish me again. AZ No, I’ll kill you. Az holds up his hands and CLAWS POP OUT of the ends of his fingers. He leaps at Hank and RAKES THE CLAWS along his chest. Hank kicks Az in the groin to no effect. AZ Angels are eunuchs you imbecile. HANK Is that why you have a big scythe, to make up for your missing parts? AZ Thanks for reminding me. The BLADE appears in Az’s hands. He wings it at Hank’s head. He DUCKS just in time, almost getting a free haircut. Hank GRABS the handle of the blade, and it DISSOLVES in his hands. AZ That’s impossible! HANK Not for the Antichrist. Az grabs hold of Hank and suddenly FLIES STRAIGHT UP one hundred feet. He hovers in the air, holding on to Hank. Az flies out over the city. They head towards the spire of a church. EXT. CHURCH – DAY Az floats above the church. AZ What a perfect place for you to meet your doom. HANK My thoughts exactly. He reaches up and POKES HIS FINGERS into Az’s eyes. The demon screams and LETS GO of him. Hank falls down and LANDS ON a stained-glass window on the sloping roof. Az flies out of control and IMPALES himself on the SPIRE of the church. Hank barely has time to savor his victory before the glass begins to CRACK beneath him. It SHATTERS and he cries out as he FALLS DOWN. INT. CHURCH – DAY Hank’s fall is broken by a ROBED MAN. He gets to his feet and finds himself surrounded by angry CHRISTIANS. HANK Sorry about that. He starts to walk out of the church. They block his exit. CHRISTIAN #1 Halt! The mark of the beast is upon you. HANK So? CHRISTIAN #2 We are servants of God, and we don’t like your kind. HANK (grins) Then forgive me. He waves his hand and they fall away like skittles. Hank walks out of the church, a determined look on his face. HANK One more thing to take care of. CUT TO: EXT. SCHOOL – DAY Hank walks past the school as the kids are leaving for the day. He spots Debbie walking out with some friends. She looks happy and healthy following her ordeal. Hank waves to her. She runs over on her own. HANK Hi, Li’l Debbie. DEBBIE Hank! What’s up? HANK Just came to say goodbye. DEBBIE Where you going? HANK I have a new job. Top secret stuff, you know? DEBBIE Cool. You were always my favorite adult. HANK Just do me a favor. DEBBIE Yeah? HANK Stay on the side of the angels. I like you better that way. DEBBIE (confused) Okay. He pats her on the head. HANK Goodbye. Hank turns and walks away. HANK (calls out) Catsun! I’m ready to fulfil my destiny! Flames WIPE across the screen. INT. KINGDOM OF HELL – FUNERAL GROUNDS MILLIONS of humans, demons and miscellaneous souls have gathered for the funeral of their master. Callow’s body rest upon a pyre. It suddenly ERUPTS INTO FLAMES. A solemn Hank stands next to Catsun. Astrygll is also present. CATSUN Now is a critical time. You must be seen as a strong leader, not an ineffectual son trying to fill his father’s hooves. You are our last, best hope against the forces of order. HANK I will do what I must. CATSUN Then take the podium and address your loyal subjects. Make a speech to rally the troops. Hank floats over to the podium. A quiet hush falls over the crowd. Hank still looks human as he stands before the flaming funeral pyre. However there is a steely determination in his eyes that wasn’t present before. HANK I didn’t really know my father until recently. I know he was a bad man, but in the best possible way. He ruled here for millennia, and that’s a tough act to follow. But I’d like to try. Deafening CHEERS from the crowd. HANK I’ve come to terms with my dark side. I want to help the fallen fight back. And what better way to do that than carry on the fight on Earth? (beat) In the meantime, I trust Catsun to carry on the day to day running of Hell. He’s more experienced than me, and my father believed in him. He will do the right thing. Catsun looks just as surprised as the people around him. HANK God will not win this battle, I promise you. Thanks you and good night. Hank leaves the podium to even wilder APPLAUSE. He rejoins Catsun. CATSUN This is an unexpected honor. I don’t know what to say. HANK Just rule justly. Remember, I’ll be watching you. CATSUN What will you do on the surface? HANK Show the world my new face. (smiles) No more Mr. Nice Guy. Hank’s eyes glow RED. CUT TO: EXT. RED LIGHT DISTRICT – NIGHT "Scentless Apprentice" by Nirvana plays at full volume over the following scene. We follow a pair of black leather BOOTS walking along the filthy sidewalk. We slowly pan up the body of FIGURE dressed in a flowing TRENCH COAT. FIGURE’S POV – the people around him, even the PIMPS and other LOWLIFES, all turn away in fear. We finally pan up to the Figure’s face, and see it is Hank. He is barely recognizable from his normal self. His skin is pale, almost translucent. His fingernails have grown into CLAWS. His jet-black hair hangs down to his shoulder. The only color in his face are his crimson lips and glowing eyes. He has transformed into the ultimate vision of the ANTICHRIST. He passes a store window, and it EXPLODES outwards. Hank walks on casually as LOOTERS help themselves to the valuables in the store window. Hank sees some CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES up ahead, trying to help the homeless. He recognizes one of them as Jemma. He walks up behind her. He grabs hold of her throat and thrusts his pelvis into her bottom. JEMMA (screams) Let go of me! He LICKS her neck, then releases her. HANK Don’t you remember me? She slowly realizes who he is. JEMMA H-Hank? HANK That name no longer has any meaning for me. JEMMA Oh my God. You’ve become- She tries to run away. Hank grabs her hand. He KISSES her passionately. When he pulls away, she stares at him BLANKLY. HANK You are now my slave. JEMMA Yes, Master. Hank puts his arm around her and starts to lead her away. He spares one final glance at her Christian friends. HANK Tell your God there’s a new Devil in town! Order dies, chaos rules! He LAUGHS maniacally as he floats away with Jemma. FADE OUT
Copyright © 2001 Randall Flagg |