I Am The Night (Scene 10/11)

Scene 101

(The scene opens up with John being comforted by Rafa, crying into his chest, with two policemen and Captain Kryzios looking on. John is being nursed, sitting on a work table as he was told the news of what happened to his older sister Kelly. We don’t hear any of this; we just watch the scene of turbulent emotions unfold before us. Kryzios takes his hat off and runs his hand down his face, upset with the loss of a good police officer and now that John has no family left. The two policemen look uncomfortable but we can be forgiven for thinking they haven’t done this before. One shuffles towards the door while the other watches on, coldly. John, as he cries looks up at the one watching him with his arms folded and nothing can come to him about this man’s emotionless stance and poise towards him. He see’s that man as cold as ice, while Kryzios explains to him what they think had happened and how they think she might have died. Rafa continues to cradle John in this time of feeling like he’s been punched in the stomach so hard; that he gasps for breath and will never get any ever again.)2

Captain Kryzios: Right, if you excuse me, I must go now. (He bows his head slightly to John and Rafa and begins to walk out of the back of the shop with the two police officers to await his escort again. *Eptesicus- Zimmer/Newton Howard*)3

John: Who…did it? (His eyes are red from the tears; he stopped them from rolling down his face though with the tissues scrunched up in his hands. He asks the question, swallowing really hard and gulping for air.)4

Captain Kryzios: (Turns around and looks at John.) I cannot say John. You know that.5

John: Why? (His mouth trembles a little, Rafa looks on.) 6

Captain Kryzios: It’s the law John. We have an idea as to who it is. We’ll find that scumbag and we’ll haul him in front of a court and get his ass half nailed to a coffin, because believe me, I will not let a cop-killer get away with it.7

John: (He gets up.) Just tell me. (He walks towards Kryzios a little.)8

Captain Kryzios: Tell you John? Then what?9

John: I’ll go and kill the bastard that did this.10

Captain Kryzios: Revenge? You wanna’ be a vigilante John? You go ahead and be a vigilante and find this nut job, you kill him and then what? Exactly! You don’t know. Well let me tell you John what happens to vigilantes: they become extreme in their beliefs because they feel that they are right no matter what. Their reasoning goes beyond the pale and then we have a psychopath on the loose. How many will you end up killing? What if you kill someone that was innocent of something, but to you was guilty of a crime you believe needs to be upheld? The justice system is impartial because of those reasoning’s, it’s why we have law enforcement, it’s what we have to hold onto.11

(John walks up to him and stops just short of being nose to nose with Kryzios. He looks him in the eyes and starts trembling. Kryzios grips one of his shoulders as he looks down on the floor and remains silent.)12

See…I’m right. Leave it to us John. It’s more dangerous if you know, than if you don’t.13

Narrator: It’s then that after he took in those words of wisdom from Captain Kryzios that he realised that the anger in him would stay there forever, that it would never be released because he can’t tell his sister that he loves her anymore, that he has lost the only person in his family has become a mortal blow to the morals and feelings he holds dear within him. He sits and watches as the policemen leave and get into their car-pods and go. Rafa watches him as he carries on pottering around the shop, he just watches John, who in turn just sits and looks at the world go by. The very possibility it could move on and leave him behind is as dangerous as the anger he feels. 14

Scene 1115

(We hear the rain splat against the camera face as the screen opens up and we watch the proceedings of Kelly’s funeral. It’s a quiet and small occasion. Six men in police ceremonial uniforms stand to attention with rifles bared across their chest, clutched tightly. Opposite them to their left is Captain Kryzios and his small entourage of staff, some friends of hers and some people that knew her through her job. On the right hand side of the six man parade, are John, Jilly and Rafa. All dressed in black. John is wearing an overcoat that’s become shiny from the rain, his shoes are polished and his feet are damp. His tie is waving about in the blustering wind, the sea remains relatively calm but the rain thrashes against the walls and their heads are bowed while the priest in his darkened garb proceeds with the ceremony.16

They all stand back and look on as the coffin, with the flag of the MCPD draped upon it, is lowered slowly into the cold water of the Endless Ocean of The New World by six pallbearers all wearing MCPD ceremonial uniform as well. A few tears are visible from people’s faces, with Kryzios looking solemn about the whole affair but it seems nothing can make John cry. He just stands there watching it all through, squinting a little as the sun rises up for a new day, a new beginning. The silhouettes of the skyscrapers and the wavering sea are the setting for what is possibly the saddest day of his life. The coffin slides into the sea ever so slightly, bobbing up and down as the current slowly starts to take Kelly away from her brother; John. All he can think about is that he’ll never see her again. *Corynorhinus- Hans Zimmer/Newton Howard* starts to play as the coffin becomes harder and harder for him to see. Now, life will be different, there is no Kelly to wake him up, wash his clothes, do his ironing or cook his dinner. It’s just him now and he can’t depend on her anymore, not like he has done ever since he was small and vulnerable. 17

Jilly looks at him glancing quickly so he doesn’t catch her staring at him; she watches the coffin go too but see’s no emotion from him except the cold look he is giving it as he watches it intently, not keeping his eye off the coffin. She slowly takes her left hand out of its glove and so gently, with the true intention of friendship and love, she shows how much he means to her by slightly pushing her hand against his. Their knuckles rub slowly against each other, she won’t try to hold his hand though, she fears he’ll reject the offering and it’ll make him uncomfortable as well as upset. He notices and places her hand in his, clasping it softly, rubbing the top of her knuckles with his thumb, rubbing them in a circular motion. They both look at each other and to him, maybe she can give him some comfort, just what he needs right now.18

The priest finishes with what he has to say, closes his book and tucks it under his arm. The six man parade start an eight shot salute into the air in a regimented, old fashioned military way, with onlookers witnessing the end of the funeral. Slowly, everyone starts to walk away, many offering their condolences but John says nothing back and its left to Jilly to thank them for their support as he looks down onto the ground, staring at a bottomless pit, that very place he wishes he could hide in, where he could be left alone. It starts pelting down with rain and his soaked hair runs down onto his face, the gel no longer there to keep his smart appearance up.)19

Lawyer: Hello Mr Creed. (He tries to shake John’s hand but he doesn’t get the mutual offer back so he clears his throat as a welcome distraction.) Anyway, I just wanted to say that being the family lawyer, I was always told that in the case that Mrs Creed… (He stops just short.) Then you were to get her pension, life insurance, the four years pay scheme and live in the apartment. It’s all been sorted out for you. (He smiles a little but realises that he isn’t getting any back.) So come see me one day and we’ll sort it all out…20

(As the screen opens up again, we watch John staring right at us. No remorse in his face, no inkling of emotions, let alone a tear in his eye. The camera works its way behind him and we witness that he’s looking out of the shop window, watching what everyone is doing. Still soaked to the bone by the rain he doesn’t take his coat off or any of his clothes. He just stands there, his hands in his pockets, his shoulders slumped and he can’t understand how the world just keeps on living life without people.)21

Rafa: Would you like to watch a film? There’s a good one coming on now. (He says peering around the corner of the back door of the shop.)22

John: Rafa, not now. (He turns his head and then looks back again, carrying on with whatever he was doing. The sadness in his voice persuades Rafa to leave him alone.)23

(The camera then opens up again, the pitch black fading away as we watch John in a dirty dressing gown, with stains all over it, a cigarette in one hand and a glass of vodka in the other looking out of the windows of his apartment. The bridge which is near by, is full of traffic, with the sun slowly melting away into its usual sunset conundrum and the statue of Liberty in the distance causing a beautiful skyline when you mix the other buildings and the neon and bright lights of a grimy city together. It seems he hasn’t been out for a while and with boxes laying all over the place, his ruffled hair looking like he’s just got out of bed and with the TV on rolling news channels, he has become obsessed with watching what’s going on in a world that he doesn’t want to be a part of. We look around the living room/lounge area of the apartment and photos that contained Kelly in them are face down, her books are nowhere to be seen, her wardrobe is emptied, anything that belonged to her has been relocated somewhere, so he doesn’t have to remind himself of his loss. We hear the TV and the report it’s giving out, the camera zooms in on the back of John as his ears prick up to listen to the news.)24

TV Reporter: As today nears an end, once again it’s all about the most dangerous man in Metropolis; Jack-in-a-box. Ever since he introduced himself to a terrified public almost a month ago, everyday has been another of murder and lunacy from a man who is dangerously and clinically, according to many criminologists, a murdering sociopath who is making it big in the town. Fast becoming more dangerous than any criminal of recent history he has in just the last two weeks robbed several banks, supermarkets and department stores; killing over two-hundred and sixty-five people along the way, seventy three of them cops.25

Jilly: You ok? (She walks in, puts her handbag on the table, along with a small pile of notes and letters. He still looks out. She realises what’s on the television and turns the volume down.) I suppose you’ve been living like a hermit John huh? (Still no response) Me and Rafa are concerned about you John, it’s why (She tries to think of something to say) it’s why I’m here. Just wanted to check up on you. I know you said you wanted some space, so we’ve given it to you; it’s just that you haven’t spoken to anyone or gone out of this room in over two weeks. (She’s looks at all the takeaways lying about on the floor, adding to a pungent smell to the room. She waves the smoke away from his cigarette as he takes another puff.) I see you’ve been eating healthily then John…26

John: What did you want?27

Jilly: To make sure you’re ok. (She starts picking up the rubbish and pushing it into the bin in the kitchen.)28

John: Well, I’m fine.29

Jilly: John, you haven’t even taken any of the exams at campus. I’ve wondered, when I’m sitting there opposite your table, thinking ‘where is he?’ and I know, but I hoped you would make an appearance and try to do some. Don’t waste your life away in sorrow John. It’s not a good thing.30

John: It’s your opinion. I can’t go back there at the moment, it just doesn’t feel right. (He takes a gulp of the vodka, winces for a second and then carries on looking out, not turning around to see Jilly.)31

Jilly: The tutors said they understand what you’re going through. (She expects a response but doesn’t get one.) They said that when you feel ready during the mid-year break then feel free to go there and do the exams. (She rifles through a bag and puts some fresh blue flowers on the table.)32

John: (Softly spoken.) I don’t need your sympathy Jillian.33

Jilly: (Purposely ignoring what he just said.) I’ll…go put these in a pot or something, make sure they have some water huh?34

John: No…they’ll only die.35

(She stops, watching John as he turns around, a full on black beard and matted, greasy hair, smelling of smoke as he walks very slowly to the last remaining picture of him and his sister in her police uniform posing for a photo. It hangs on the wall, he looks at it and in a fit of a rage throws his drink over it.)36

BASTARD! BASTARD! BASTARD!37

(He then tears the framed photo down, opens one of the sliding windows and throws it out of the apartment with a ruthless casual attitude that stuns Jilly. He takes a deep breath and turns and looks at her.)38

Jilly: (Feeling slightly frightened.) I…see that you’ve become captivated by the news.39

John: He killed Kelly.40

Jilly: What?41

John: (Raises his voice a little) He killed Kelly!42

Jilly: Well…43

John: (Throws the glass across the room and it smashes, the shards can be heard peppering themselves around the vicinity of where the glass landed.) He did! All those cops getting killed! It must be him!44

Jilly: Calm down John. (She edges closer a little towards him as he starts waving his arms about in exasperation, tears finally rolling out of his eyes.)45

We’ll find out when the police do John. (She steps closer and he moves to hug her, sobbing loudly, his voice coarse, in a drunken state, his weight pushes against her and she sort of stumbles back at first but in the awkward moment of help and comfort that he’s finally admitted to himself that he needs, she’s there for him.)46

John: We won’t (Crying still) they pretty much said so.47

Jilly: (Hugging him tightly.) Don’t isolate yourself John. (He looks at her, tears burning through his cheeks, the steam created bemuses her as well as puzzles her, but she mentions nothing of it.) You need to be with people you love… (She pushes herself slightly against him, her forehead close to his.) People…who love you. (She looks up at him, as he looks back.) You going to come back to mine? Stay with me…48

(They both subconsciously move in for the kiss, but then, John stops just short.)49

John: I need…to find my sisters killer Jilly. (He moves away a little, wiping his eyes. Jilly is frustrated and momentarily loses her cool. *Vespertilio- Hans Zimmer/Newton Howard*)50

Jilly: John! You can’t! (She starts frowning at him.) Some guy is running around killing people like there’s no tomorrow, the city has been plunged into darkness even more than it was when we were kids! You go looking for him and he’ll wipe you out…51

John: (Looking into her eyes.) Your point is?52

Jilly: My point is that you should look at the bigger picture. This place is suffering, we need a damned miracle. Just when the police were winning the war on the mobs, they go and get more power. They get that power because this lunatic is being paid by them. They knew full well what they were letting themselves in for when they gave him that contract. That’s the kind of people we have to deal with, right across the spectrum John, this guy is injecting fear… (She starts to walk away towards the door and then turns around to carry on.) It’s contagious, just like corruption…spreads from the top to the bottom. You think you can go looking for a guy like that? Then carry on. See ya’ later John. (She walks out, the door stays open and he looks on, thinking really hard about what she’s said. For once, to him, she was right.53

A few days later, back at Rafa’s shop John swallows hard; he walks back in and squeezes past some of the customers to get to the front desk where Rafa and his till are.)54

Rafa: Ah, John! There you are! Haven’t seen you for ages! (He and John shake hands and he pats John on the back affectionately, also pulling him gently behind the front desk.) Jilly saw you huh? 55

John: Yeah she did, she kind of made me think though.56

Rafa: Think about what exactly John-boy?57

John: I need to do something for this world we live in…58

Rafa: (Looking terrified and slightly worried at what John is saying.) Maybe John, to put this nicely, you should do something for yourself rather than putting all these people first hmm?59

John: (Speaks quietly) Maybe they need someone who’ll put them first, I don’t need to look after myself anymore…60

Rafa: (Interrupting) You’re just saying that because you’re grieving John.61

John: Thing is, I don’t think I am grieving anymore. I’m fed up of looking on the past Rafa. (He looks at Rafa in the eyes.) It’s time to look to the future and act on the mistakes of the past right?62

Rafa: (Speechless, the camera looks at him and then turns to John who is still looking down on the floor but he’s started to smile.) Ok John, I don’t know what to say anymore. You’ve stumped me now. (He starts laughing) You really have got me. What are you getting at?63

(John puts his rucksack on the floor; he undoes the zip on the camouflage rucksack and out comes the latest edition of Metropolis Herald. He holds it up in front of Rafa’s face who looks baffled and slightly concerned at what the customers may think, but they’re too busy mingling in the shop.)64

John: Seen today’s latest Rafa?65

Rafa: No I haven’t. Is this it? (Grabbing the newspaper off John)66

John: Look at the front page. Look at the headline. (He points Rafa in the right direction. His eyes follow John’s index finger which stops at the headline. It reads:67

‘VICTOR REDDING IS THE TERROR OF METROPOLIS’68

Then as Rafa looks at the first couple of lines he understands finally what John was going on about:69

‘The criminal mastermind terrorising the streets of Metropolis has today been named as Victor Redding, a human being so badly disfigured and psychopathic he was kept in the notorious ‘Dark suite’ wing of Metropolis incarceration centre. It’s revealed the mass murder spree that was committed in the incarceration centre before his escape was pre-meditated!’70

Rafa hands back the paper.)71

Rafa: I know what you’re thinking. Empty yourself of all those thoughts. 72

John: All those weeks ago, I had a chance to capture him, like you said and I didn’t because I was afraid. Look at what he’s ended up doing. All those deaths…73

(John rushes into Rafa’s workshop at the back and there he finds the board. He gets a pin, some scissors and a marker pen. Before Rafa’s eyes we see John rapidly cut out parts of the newspaper. The camera closes in on his strained expression, still hiding that tonne of grief and anger, both mixing into revenge. He wipes his fringe to the right hand side as he carries on cutting rapidly. We soon see that he’s cutting around the picture of Jack-In-A-Box , a facial ID photo-fit supplied by the MCPD, he then cuts out paragraphs that he highlighted earlier and tearing through the paper he gets to the tenth page where a small article, crammed into the top left about Kelly’s funeral and the MCPD ‘mourning her death’ is described in usual tabloid fashion. He tears this bit out with his own hands and places it on the wall as well, pinning both near each other he draws a red line with the marker between both. Rafa just stands there amazed at what he’s seen.)74

Rafa: (In a quietly spoken Spanish accent.) You should not blame yourself because of the decision you made. 75

(John turns towards the board, a piercing glare fixated on the manic laughing picture of JIAB and the small article that summed up Kelly’s life in less than three hundred words.)76

John: Kelly would probably still be alive. (A tear runs down his cheek; a lone tear which burns into his face. He tries to wipe it away but it doesn’t work.)77

Rafa: You didn’t know that would happen Mr John.78

John: If there’s one thing I’ve realised… (He pauses for a moment, they hear the counter bell go off, a customer wants their attention.) That consequence’s affects everyone from the decisions people make. You don’t realise how much one decision you make could affect all the people surrounding you. It’s ridiculous. 79

Rafa: Then you may have to live with that guilt forever. I need to go and serve a customer… keep the business going you know? (He laughs a little and then looks serious at John.) John, please don’t let it eat you up. (He carries on looking at John who still looks away from him.)80

John: Tell me… how much is the most expensive hoverboard we have in stock? I can’t remember.81

Rafa: Why’s that? (A surprised look on his face which is undisturbed even though the constant ringing of the bell is getting to him slightly) I’d say about four thousand credits.82

John: Cos’ It’s now mine. (He turns to Rafa and hands him a wad of credits and his signature on a credit cheque to make sure such a large value is carried through by the Metropolis banking system.)83

Rafa: (Sighs) Oh god, I’m rich. I might need to sit down… (He points to the woman in the shop and tells her to go away.)84

John: Close the shop Rafa, I’m going to need you to help me put some modifications on the damn thing.85

Rafa: My friend, I’ll do anything you want.86

John: Good, cos’ we’re going for him, starting from the bottom of the pyramid right to the jugular. (He slams his palm on the picture of JIAB firmly and slowly removes his palm from it, looking up at it with revenge in his mind.87

As the scene opens up again we watch from the cameras point of view Rafa at a metal workshop table with his goggles on and a blowtorch and John sitting down with one part of the hoverboard in his arms as he frantically starts screwing mini propulsion jet engines onto the hoverboard. Two are on either side of the hoverboard while another would be nearer to the front of the V-shape of the board. Rafa stops for a minute and wanders over, curious as to what John is doing.)88

Rafa: Just making a small observation amigo, but why are you tinkering?89

John: So I can put propulsions on Rafa. (He looks and smiles. A few sparks appear from the friction when he aggressively starts putting another onto the underside of the board.)90

Rafa: (Taking his goggles off and looking at John sternly.) the propulsions will be very noisy you know. 91

John: It’s what I want. I want the scum of this city to feel fear when they hear the screeching noise of this delight roaring down the street coming to get them. (He starts waving his tool in his hand flippantly at Rafa) Also, this will be so fast that no law enforcement vehicle will even be able to touch me when I’m on this.92

Rafa: So you’re gonna’ make a stand and be counted for? (Looking even more concerned)93

John: Yeah. Metropolis needs hope. I need hope. 94

Rafa: (Sighing and trying to pass down some wisdom to a young, angry man such as John.) We all need that. I just hope this isn’t about revenge.95

John: It’s not. (The camera looks at his face and deep within it, we can tell he’s lying. He wants to kill JIAB and destroy anyone associated with him, because in his eyes, they helped the disturbed, murderous freak kill his sister. No matter how small a part they may have played in it, he wants them all dead.)96

Rafa: I was wondering Mr John. Have you thought of a name? 97

John: A name? (Looks surprised.)98

Rafa: Yes. You need a name that the bad people of this city will mutter in dread and ultimately, contempt. (He looks at the hoverboard, the mini propulsion jets that are newly attached and we see his face light up. A genius spark has just hit him.) I don’t know… maybe something like, Green Lightning? (He shrugs his shoulders as he says it, baying for approval.)99

John: (Says it in almost an unbelieving tone.) Green Lightning?100

Rafa: Yeah. (John nods his head in approval.101

Then sometime later as the camera opens up again we watch Rafa spray paint the board a luminous green colour, which would show up in the night like a beacon. The board, hanging up on the wall so he can spray paint it with better direction and accuracy is slowly turning into the colour as he goes over it methodically, taking some sort of pride in his work. John watches in a sort of marvel at the work being done before his eyes and he walks up to it with his mask on to protect himself from the fumes the paint is giving off.)102

John: So I can light up the sky… (He touches it gently, feeling the metal body through his fingertips.) It’s almost beautiful. *Corynorhinus 03:19 – 05:04, Zimmer and Newton Howard* 103

(Next scene we see Rafa playing about with one of the gloves he ordered in and promptly modified. They’ve been working through the day and afternoon to try all the new equipment out, most of which they’ve fitted for their purposes. The glove has five nodules on it, each on the end of a respective fingertip, with elastic material that stiffens when it feels movement through the sensors. Rafa gives it to John, who replaces his old one with the new version. He tries it on and starts trying to play about with it.)104

Rafa: (Notes to John) the new glove, the sensors will react when… your natural talent appears. They won’t restrict any of it when you need to use your ‘powers’. (As he says that, John, with a little concentration on his face, rips a fireball through and it hovers just above his hand, with the glove on it. They start smiling at each other, in the sense that it’s another objective completed and another thing they’ve achieved.)105

John: How illegal was this one then? (He asks smugly.)106

Rafa: We’re talking a lot of years.107

John: So if I get caught, then I can blame you? (He says jokingly.)108

Rafa: I’d prefer you didn’t (Smiling back. He can feel he’s doing something important. Yet underneath, he still fears the real objectives of all this.)109