I Am The Night (Scene 6)

Scene 61

(The screen opens up again to a room where many people are sat down. The tables are a dark wooden colour; hardly able to be seen in a cellar where light is a luxury. On the chairs are the top dogs of the underworld criminal gangs and riff-raff of Metropolis. The chairs seem to be in their hundreds, everywhere it seems, someone is sitting down, thankfully, the cellar is rather large and more like an underground conference room. The dank and stinky room has aggravated many, who wonder why they are here in the first place. Their bodyguards eye each other closely, staring at each others movements. Most of these gangs have been at war with each other for some time, so to sit in the same room; even if it is only a dark one at that is nothing short of a miracle. The floor is marble, as are the stairs which go off to the side, so it’s quite hard to see anyone coming down them. 2

Some of the gang leaders and mob bosses are wondering why they are here in the first place. They heard the rumour, they heard the calling. Word had gotten to the streets that their employees operate on; the word was that something is going to happen and it’s going to be big, that they all need to converge at this designated place and talk about it. So they came, most reluctantly, as criminal gangs these days aren’t bothered about turf wars so much anymore. They’re more bothered about the certain law enforcer who is making their lives and very existence unbearable. They heard this something had to do with that. So with baited breath and interest, they all came...one after the after, like black sheep walking in blind to shadows that didn’t show themselves. They are nervous, this could all be a trap, but most doubted that. Some took some teams of mob enforcers with them and put them out and about, on call if needed. 3

The lantern that lights the stairway is rocking slightly; the draft from the wind is shaking it. The flame flickers very slowly, then dramatically regenerates itself and carries on.)4

Mob boss#1: Whoever it is (looks at Rolex gold watch) is late. I ain’t too impressed ya’ know?? (He speaks to another and he nods in agreement.) I thought you’d agree with me.5

(Then, suddenly, we hear a noise from upstairs. It’s a slow painful noise and the camera focuses on it, squaring up to the entrance of the stairs, looking around and we see the leaders of the criminal fraternity all silent, awaiting this meeting they were called to. We hear one foot step, then another. We then hear another foot step, followed by one more and then silence.6

A click can be heard, a subtle noise of a weapon and a bullet is realised from the pistol into the lantern, breaking it and the light dies alongside the shards of glass that cover the entrance. We hear alarmed murmurings from the gang leaders and their bodyguards, some are getting ready to cock their weapons and others are calming down their dubious employers. We then sit there in darkness awaiting something but not sure what. The anticipation is raw and heavy with dread and curiosity filling the air.7

Another footstep followed by heavy breathing. Then a clunk on the floor, we hear metal spin a few times on the cellar floor. Heavy breathing again as another foot step is taken.)8

Voice: Put your weapons away. That was mine.9

(He or she then gets to the bottom of the staircase and turns quietly. The camera is following the shadow in the darkness, we can hardly make out the frame of whoever this is, let alone recognise him/her. He leans against a table, propping against it for added support. Heavy breathing again, a sniff and then silence.)10

Mob boss#1: Lateness is something we do not tolerate. 11

Voice: Punctuality should not judge a man.12

Mob boss#1: Not showing up on time shows disrespect. Tell me, are you disrespecting every gang leader in here?13

Voice: I have a limp. Sometimes it takes me longer that’s all. If you want an apology, get out of here now… and never come back.14

(He clears his throat. The camera can see him a little clearer, but his hands are covered in gloves and his face is covered by a loose hoodie jumper that he is wearing. The front row of gangsters try to, futile in many ways, try to see what he looks like. We are looking at him from behind, he seems perfectly normal.)15

Three years ago, people like him wouldn’t be causing the trouble they’re causing now. They have become an inconvenience yes? I guess they have. It’s why you are all here. You want the heat off you right?16

(Slight shuffling and whispers can be heard.)17

Mob boss#1: Yes we do, you’re right there. (Twitching his moustache) How would you solve us our problem though?18

(More gangsters lean forward hoping to catch a word of what he says.)19

Voice: The moon is darkening, the shadows are blending and the night is mine.20

Mob boss#1: What are you going on about? (Raised eyebrows and in a preposterous tone of voice.) Make sense now.21

Voice: First, you pay me lots of money. (Points to the table and taps it fervently, his whole body shaking. His hunchback shoulder looking stance, with them slumped forward gives the impression of him being nervous.)22

Mob boss#1: How much? 23

Mob boss#2: How do we know that whatever job we are paying you for…that you will complete and not fail?24

(Other mob bosses and leaders start nodding and shaking their heads in agreement, some are getting quite rowdy in their agreeing. It slightly unsettles the weird man we see from behind. Not in a good way either. He clears his throat even more.)25

Voice: You pay me how much you think the job is worth paying… Then… (He carries on regardless of the interruption.) You give me men. I want men to help me. I don’t care how many. They will probably die anyway.26

Mob boss#1: Never in my life have I come across someone with such nerve. You impress me; however you still haven’t answered our questions. 27

Voice: I won’t fail. I can’t fail. Do any of you know what happened to Boss Mario? (His breathing gets heavier, we see him wipe his face under the thick hoody. 28

They all sit there, in a silence. Wondering what he is going to do or say next.)29

I’ll tell you then shall I? I walked into his home and killed him. Not just him though. I killed his mother, his seven sons, his young daughter, his wife and his ten bodyguards. (Heavy breathing.) But I saved the best till last because if you can’t recognise his body in the morning, it’s all thanks to a little thing called ‘revenge’. Just a little bit of acid… (We hear anger in his voice a little, violent shaking) and a little of this! (Holds up a lighter.)30

(Silence again. Stunned silence from the crowd. They give off a sense of shock, while some give off a sense of dread.)31

You wonder what kind of maniac you’re talking to? 32

Mob boss#1: (His voice trembling.) You killed Mario? You killed a respected man? A made man? (His voice still trembling.) Do you know what you have done? Do you know that we are all made men?33

Voice: Shut up. He wasn’t respected, cos’ I never respected him! (Slams his hand on the table) I know what I’ve done, I know the rules. (Breathing heavily again.) Don’t ever ask me questions like that again. 34

I feel some of you aren’t convinced, possibly thinking I’m exaggerating? Would I be exaggerating if I was to tell you I became the nightmare of his before I dropped the lighter onto the acid? Well let me tell you what I’m gonna’ do. I’m gonna’ take back this city for you lot. For a price, you decide that, I don’t care how much, just make it good. The young Captain of the police will be killed. I will systematically turn this town into a rubble and fuck me…I’m gonna’ enjoy it. 35

(A silence across the room yet again.)36

So who is with me then?37

Mob boss#3: Who the hell do you think you are? 38

Voice: I am the night…I am… (Takes his hoody off and everyone peers for a look, but soon, it’s a look of fright and disgust. They don’t know where to turn, where to go. What to do. It’s frightening; it’s something they’ve never seen before. The camera denies us a clear look of his face, but we see his hair, which is in tufts; some at the front, other clusters of hair to the side and the back.) I am…Jack In A Box…and I’m gonna’ give this place a party. MWAHAHAHAHAHA!39