• Welcome to ZD Forums! You must create an account and log in to see and participate in the Shoutbox chat on this main index page.

General Art After Death - Redemptio Ut Corpus Animus (A Story Based On My Dreams)

The Joker

<span style="text-shadow:2px 2px 4px Purpl
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Location
At Amusement Mile
Author’s Note I - I wrote this story years ago. It is based on many re-occurring dreams that I have had. About 90% percent of this tale consists of my dreams. The story that I used to tie all these scenarios and worlds together is that of a man who is trying to find redemption in a Purgatory of sorts. It is a first draft so things are not exactly how I would have wanted it but never-the-less, I feel that it is an interesting piece. Sometime in the future I will be going back and re-writing it.

It is written as a script so those who are unfamiliar with this writing format, it is very different from any novel. In a script, the actions are shown by what will appear on screen, not by how artistically the words are structured. Anything written that would not be shown are things for the directors and actors to try and elaborate by their own actions.



After Death - Redemptio ut Corpus Animus

By Brian Roman






Sound: Shotgun blast.



INT. GATEWAY

Sound: Lightning and loud wind.

CARL falls onto the wet black-bricked floor, his eyes are
closed. He is wearing nothing.

CARL VASTBINDER just died. It wasn't a very pleasant death
either. For nearly his entire life he's made the wrong
decisions, hung out with the wrong crowd and did many wrong
things.

He slowly opens his eyes. The room is very small. He rolls
onto his back and looks up. A large opening hangs above him.
Inside is nothing but a deep dark abyss.

He looks at himself to make sure everything is intact.

CARL takes a deep breath of nervous thankfulness and looks
around. The whole room is of a very ancient design, none of
it is familiar to him.

One thing that catches his eyes is the only way out, a very
cryptic looking doorway.

He stands up and approaches the arch. Its very presence makes
him hesitant but curiosity's a ***** and he walks through it.



EXT. PURGATORY - TIME IRRELEVANT

A huge gust of wind consistently blows on his face as he sees
his newfound world.

The sky is a deep violet-blue, laced with dark, ugly clouds.
In front of him, stands a railing. Beyond the railing is an
infinite purple ocean that has no bottom and fluctuates
aggressively.

CARL stares in awe of the oddity.

CARL
What...

WOMAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Carl.

CARL turns to see a woman dressed in a very revealing outfit
and holding a staff. She's so beautiful and her body's so
great that he can't take his eyes off her.

AMORRAN is the damned soul in charge of "Welcoming Newcomers"
so to speak. Her skin is very pale and though she resembles a
human, she's definitely not from Earth.

CARL looks around for a moment and his eyes eventually make
it back onto her body.

AMORRAN
I am Amorran.

CARL continues to look at her and he finally looks at her
face.

CARL
Where am I?

AMORRAN
You stand at the junction between
worlds. A dimension of infinity.

CARL is still dazed and looks at his surroundings once again.

CARL
Why am I here? Why not heaven...

CARL remembers the evil deeds of his life.

CARL (cont'd)
...or hell?

AMORRAN
Unlike me, you have been given a
second chance.

CARL
What do you mean, "unlike" you?

AMORRAN
You do not have the qualities that
I require for personal history.

CARL nods.

CARL
I understand.

AMORRAN
Excellent.



INT. PURGATORY - OUTSIDE ABYSS

Amorran and CARL approach an abyss that stands next to the
island.

AMORRAN
Here you will be tested.

CARL looks down the bottomless void.

CARL
What do I do if I need you?

Amorran smiles.

AMORRAN
Call me.

She shoves him over and he falls into the darkness.

CUT TO:



EXT. LARGE CITY

CARL is standing in the center square of a very large, very
majestic city.

He is now clothed.

Most of the structures look Victorian in style but futuristic
in construction.

CARL looks around and takes in the whole amazing sight.

He starts walking, continuing to look around as he moves.
There are absolutely no vehicles anywhere, just crowds of
people.

A beautiful woman passes him. CARL tries to get the attention
of a the woman by waving.

CARL
Excuse me! Miss!

She turns around.

CARL
Can you help me?

She smiles and invites him with her finger. He follows her.



EXT. LARGE CITY - OUTSIDE LIBRARY

She leads him to the steps of a colossal library and points
up towards the entrance.

She hugs him. At first it makes CARL very uncomfortable but
he begins to slowly accept it. He wraps his arms around her.

She lets him go and looks him in the eyes.

She smiles and walks away.

In a daze, he watches her leave. He snaps out of it and looks
up at the unusually large number of steps.

He takes a deep breath and quickly lets it out. CARL begins
walking up the steps.



INT. GIANT LIBRARY

CARL enters the gigantic library where it's ceiling is non
existent, just darkness.

A railing stands not far in front of him. He approaches it.
Over the side he can see a great number of steps going down.
At the bottom is thirty shelves split into three rows.

CARL heads to the first few steps.



INT. GIANT LIBRARY - BOTTOM

CARL comes down from the stairs and walks to one of the
shelves.

He walks past the many different titles until he reaches a
large book sticking out. He stops and picks up the book. He
looks at the cover.

The book's title is "Redemptio ut Corpus Animus".

CARL open's the book.

Beat.

The pages are completely blank.

CARL
Wh...

Suddenly the book becomes flesh-like and begins decomposing.
Small tentacles start growing out from the sides.

CARL looks up and the other books also begin rotting.

He drops the book and turns to run.

Suddenly...

CUT TO:



INT. SCHOOL HOUSE - SLEEPING QUARTERS

CARL wakes up on a blue cot in a room that looks as though it
was decorated for elementary school children. There are
eleven other cots in the room, with others sleeping in them.

The person next to CARL yawns and turns over to him. It's a
girl in her twenties (The same age as CARL). CARL recognizes
her face.

CARL
Erica?

ERICA opens her eyes slightly.

ERICA was a childhood schoolmate he used to know. She was a
brain when he knew her. And CARL had a crush on her because
she was smart but didn't have glasses; a rare thing in his
mind. But she's wearing contacts now.

ERICA
What is it Carl?

CARL
Where are we? Why am I here?

ERICA
Can't this wait til morning? I'm
tired...

CARL
But Erica, last time I saw you was
in fifth grade...!

She puts her hand on his mouth and closes her eyes.

ERICA
Sh...

An old woman enters; the teacher. She glances briefly around
the room.

CARL looks greatly confused.

Beat.

The teacher is satisfied and leaves the room.

Erica slowly takes her hand away from his mouth. And hugs
herself.

CARL
(Whispering)
Please...

Erica opens her eyes slightly again.

ERICA
(Whispering)
In the morning.

She closes her eyes and rolls back over, going back to sleep.



INT. SCHOOL HOUSE - CLASSROOM - MORNING

The lights are on in the room. CARL is still asleep in the
cot.

Sound: Children playing.

He wakes up.

He looks around the room and sees many of his old classmates
playing:

JOSE was a good friend and neighbor when CARL was in the
third and fourth grade. They were best friends for quite
awhile.

RONALD is also another one of his best friends. He was CARL's
best friend after José, until he moved. CARL always regretted
never keeping touch with him.

MEGAN is a girl he had a crush on in the third grade. She
never seemed to be a bad person. She would always help
someone in need.

STEVE used to live in the neighborhood next to his. He was
CARL's first friend he made when he switched schools in the
second grade.

KIMBERLY was a girl who acted very snobbishly towards him
during his early childhood but still treated him better than
most.

MARY was a girl who lived in his neighborhood and was very
kind to him.

TIMOTHY was one of his best friends until their relationship
ended with him moving out of state. CARL then suffered
through middle school with no friends.

BRANDON was the first friend CARL ever had. He was friends
with him during the second grade before CARL moved. After he
moved, he never talked to him again.

JENNIFER was a girl CARL had a crush on when he was in middle
school. He never had the courage to ask her out because he
was so hated by everyone.

JULIE is the girl he had the biggest crush on in middle
school. She was one of the few people who were actually kind
to him in middle school.

Everyone is, of course, in their twenties but they're dressed
and behaving like children.

CARL
This can't be real...

CARL sees Erica playing "Sonic the Hedgehog" on an old Sega
Genesis system. He goes and sits on the floor next to her.

CARL
Erica?

ERICA
Uh huh?

CARL
Please tell me everything.

ERICA
Why does it matter?

CARL
Do you even ****in' know anything?

She pauses the game and looks at him.

ERICA
Watch your language.

She unpauses the game and starts playing again.

CARL lowers his head.

Beat.

ERICA
Just have fun. Play along.

CARL lifts his head up.

CARL
(Agitated but trying
unsuccessfully to hide
it)
I'd feel more comfortable...

ERICA
Good lord Carl! Just grab a toy or
play a video game for Pete's sake!

CARL gets up.

He looks around the room. He sees an old Macintosh computer
system set-up in the back. He starts walking towards it.

The teacher enters the room.

TEACHER
Okay children, recess!

CARL stops in his tracks as the others get up from whatever
they're doing and go outside.

ERICA
Come on Carl.

CARL goes out the door with them.



EXT. SCHOOL HOUSE - PLAYGROUND

All of them go out into the very large field. Its bright out
but the sky is bleak and full of dark clouds.

The teacher remains at the school while they all spread out
into the field.

There are many activities around the area. There's a large
type of turnstile out front. Monkey bars, swings, and
gigantic webbed monkey bars surrounding a twisted, spiral,
Gothically designed slide in the center of the field that
goes straight up; all the way into the sky.

There's also a wooden battleship that comes with a ladder
accessible balcony.

Everything on the field looks rusted and incredibly old. Even
the grass is faded and dying. The only thing that looks new
is the slide, which is made of smooth plastic.

CARL looks over at the webbed monkey bars and sees José,
Timothy, and Erica sitting at the top, having a conversation.
He decides to go there.



EXT. SCHOOL HOUSE - WEBBED MONKEY BARS

CARL climbs up the bars and climbs over to the group.

TIMOTHY
...then we put tooth paste on his
hand and it got all over his face.

They all laugh. CARL remembers the incident he's talking
about; the prank was on him.

CARL
Yeah, it was ****ed up...

They all make a face at him, except for TIMOTHY, who just
smiles.

JOSE
I gotta go.

They wave "bye" to him as he climbs down. ERICA looks at
CARL.

ERICA
You shouldn't cuss...

TIMOTHY
Why not?

CARL sees José heading towards the slide.

He looks at ERICA.

CARL
Where's José goin'?

ERICA
To a wonderful place, "the end of
the line". A direct path the
desired destiny of all beings.

TIMOTHY
If he ever makes it.

CARL
Why do ya say that?

TIMOTHY
He tries all the time but always
fails.

ERICA
He gets pretty far.

CARL looks at José and sees him climbing from the bottom of
the slide.

TIMOTHY
There's no ladder. So you have to
climb up from the bottom.

CARL starts climbing down.

TIMOTHY (cont'd)
Better to remain down here and
enjoy the time.

CARL climbs down to the field as drops of rain begin coming
down.



EXT. SCHOOL HOUSE - PLAYGROUND

CARL starts walking to the slide. The rain is starting to
increase. He gets within six yards of it when the teacher
grabs his arm.

Sound: Thunder.

CARL turns to her.

TEACHER
MISTER CARL VASTBINDER. I heard
you've been using naughty
language...

CARL almost laughs.

CARL
What? Are you ****in' serious?

CARL tries to leave but she pulls him back. It's now pouring.

TEACHER
Where'd you learn such horrible
words!

CARL
Let go!

She really starts squeezing his arm.

TEACHER
You're gonna see the principal!

CARL gets up in her face.

CARL
Hey! **** YOU *****! Who the ****
do you think you are!

CARL grabs her by the collar.

CARL
I'll ****in' KILL YOU if you stop
me!

He shoves her to the ground and runs to the slide.



EXT. SCHOOL HOUSE - SLIDE

CARL jumps onto the slide. He tries to climb up the slide but
he and the slide are completely soaked with water.

He only gets twelve feet up before he falls and slides back
down. He flies off the end and falls through the grass and
into water.

CARL swings his arms about trying to stay afloat.

The teacher is standing up, watching him.

CARL
Help me! Help me PLEASE!

The teacher does nothing. She just stands there, smiling.

CARL
Oh God! Somebody! ANYBODY! HELP ME!

He finally sinks under the water.



INT. UNDERWATER

He reaches out but no one tries to help him. He continues to
sink deeper and deeper into the murky water.

Beat.

He goes all the way into the darkness.

CUT TO:



INT. SMALL APARTMENT - TINY ROOM

CARL wakes in a claustrophobic balcony room. He's in a net
like bed that takes up the entire space.
He sits up and rubs his eyes. In front of him is a tube that
contains a ladder going down.

He's dressed in a fancy, 1940's black suit. He crawls over to
the ladder and goes down.



INT. SMALL APARTMENT - ANOTHER SMALL ROOM

CARL comes down to another small room that has a dresser big
enough for one set of clothes.

There's also a small oval mirror attached to the door.

He looks at his face.

Beat.

CARL grabs the mirror and throws it to the floor, shattering
it.

He opens the door and goes into the next room.



INT. SMALL APARTMENT - DINING ROOM

CARL enters a kitchen/dining room. Three people are eating
breakfast.

ROOMMATE
Morning Carl.

CARL looks around for a moment.

CARL
Morning...

Beat.

ROOMMATE
Want anything?

CARL
No, no. I got a lot to do today.

CARL grabs a hat as he goes out the front door.



EXT. CITY STREETS - DAY

The buildings, though Victorian in style, look much, much
older and nothing like the buildings he had seen previously.
The small groups of people walking around are dressed in
early 1940's clothing.

As usual, the sky is full of dark clouds.

CARL comes out from the apartment. He looks at himself and
feels around, making sure he's in one piece. He looks at the
people walking around.

CARL looks down the street and starts walking.



EXT. CITY STREETS - SIDEWALK

CARL walks for quite some time but looks relieved.

A man in front of him looks very nervous as he passes him.
CARL turns around and watches two Nazi soldiers run up and
begin pummeling the poor man.

CARL
Hold on! Wait!

The two soldiers stop.

SOLDIER
What, inspector?

CARL
Inspector?

CARL feels something in his pocket. He checks it and
discovers a black leather wallet. He opens it and finds a
badge.

CARL
What did this man do?

SOLDIER
He's a Jew who's been hiding from
us.

CARL looks up at the soldier.

CARL
So?

SOLDIER
By law, his life is ours.

The soldier pulls out a pistol and shoots the man in the
head.

CARL covers his mouth, disturbed by the action.

The man falls to the ground, dead.

SOLDIER
We best be on our way sir.

The soldiers walk away.

CARL runs into a large alley.



INT. CITY STREETS - LARGE ALLEY

CARL puts his back up against the wall and closes his eyes.
He bangs his fist on the wall.

Beat.

VOICE (O.S.)
Carl...

CARL looks further down the alley. He sees an entrance to a
bricked off section.

He slowly walks towards the entrance.

CARL
Hello?

Erica appears at the entrance.

ERICA
In here.

CARL goes to her.



INT. ALLEY - SPLIT OFF SECTION

CARL enters and sees BRANDON, TIMOTHY, JULIE, STEVE, MEGAN,
and JENNIFER are also hiding in the semi-hidden area.

CARL
Okay, what's goin' on?

ERICA
Its time to take action.

CARL
Against who? The Nazis? Didn't you
just see what the **** they did?

Beat.

BRANDON
We're storming their headquarters.
You in?

CARL
What? No way!

ERICA
Carl, with your credentials, you'll
have the advantage of surprise.

CARL
This is nuts! Why do I need to do
this?

ERICA
Please Carl...

Beat.

CARL
I...I just need to think.

CARL leaves them.



INT. CITY STREETS - LARGE ALLEY

CARL comes back out into the alley. He feels around his own
chest and reaches into his coat. He finds a six shooter.

He tucks the gun back into his coat and exits the alley.



EXT. CITY STREETS

CARL enters the streets and looks around. He sees an entrance
to a mall in the corner of a building.



INT. MALL

Very few people are in the place, just a few small groups.

CARL walks around the mall, seeing various stores. A
Laserdisc store catches his eye and he enters.



INT. MALL - LASERDISC SHOP

CARL enters the shop. The entire store has nothing but
Laserdiscs, Laserdisc players, and Laserdisc accessories.

Only two other customers, also dressed in the 1940's
clothing, are in the business outside of CARL.

There are three giant monitors set up in the center of the
room.
One set is playing "A Nightmare on Elm Street", the others
are playing "Aliens" and "Indiana Jones and the Last
Crusade". All films with characters he considered heroes as
he grew up. He especially liked the Indiana Jones movies and
saw the Nazis as the ultimate villains.

On one side of the room, some Laserdisc games are playing on
monitors displaying across the wall. "Space Ace" and
"Dragon's Lair 2" run through their respectable demonstration
sequences. While on the other side, rows and rows of
Laserdiscs are resting.

He watches "A Nightmare on Elm Street".

STORE CLERK (O.S.)
Anything interest you?

CARL
Just browsing.

CARL turns to the clerk and jumps when he sees him dressed
like Freddy Krueger.

STORE CLERK
Are you all right sir?

Beat.

CARL
I'm fine.

CARL walks away and leaves the store.



INT. MALL

CARL continues to wander aimlessly around the mall. No one is
around.

CARL
Amorran?

Beat.

AMORRAN (O.S.)
Well? How are things?

CARL turns around and sees her standing right behind him.

CARL
Bad...Those people at the
school...I knew those people
Amorran, I KNEW them. Long
ago...during my childhood.

AMORRAN
I know.

CARL
And these Nazis...on the
playground, we used to play games
involving them as the bad guys...I
was usually playing the villain...

AMORRAN
Are things much different?

Beat.

CARL
What do you want from me?

AMORRAN
Play Carl.

He stares at her for a moment.

CARL
Play?

CARL laughs.

Beat.

He looks over at the Indiana Jones movie playing on the TV
and begins to think back to the Indiana Jones films he grew
up with and the childhood games.

He must now play this game.

CARL
You got it.

He walks away.



EXT. CITY STREETS

CARL comes out from the mall and spots a fair going on across
the street.



INT. FAIR GROUNDS

Sound: Cryptic circus music.

CARL walks around the fair grounds. Many interesting booths
and attractions are available.

CARL walks past a shooting gallery with grotesque heads on
Gothic totems as the targets. A child shoots one of them in
the forehead and the target throws up a greenish-black
substance.

He continues to walk till he reaches pain booths where some
patrons pay to feel a wide variety of suffering.

His eyes catch one customer in particular who has a four inch
thick, rusty steel rod impaled into his stomach. CARL is so
distracted by it that he runs into someone.

They keep walking as if it never happened.

CARL stops to collect himself. He closes his eyes; hoping
that it will all go away.

He opens his eyes and they immediately catch a Haunted House.

He walks towards it.



EXT. HAUNTED HOUSE

CARL approaches the entrance.

It looks oddly inviting and pleasant. The entrance itself is
completely open.

He enters.



INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - WELCOME ROOM

Right inside the entrance is a large archway with a enigmatic
head in the center. He stares at it for a while.

He decides not to go and exits the attraction.



INT. FAIR GROUNDS

CARL comes out and two Nazi soldiers approach him.

SOLDIER
Come with us, inspector.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - COMMANDER'S OFFICE

COMMANDER VALERIE SCHULTZ sits at her desk, waiting for CARL.

COMMANDER SCHULTZ was a person who also hated CARL when he
was alive, during his preteen years to be exact.
She always felt she was above him and treated him with upmost
disrespect. In this world, she's his boss.

The door opens and two soldiers escort CARL into the room.

VALERIE
Glad you could find time to come,
inspector.

CARL immediately recognizes her and is speechless.

VALERIE
No "Hello"?

CARL
What do you want?

VALERIE
A moment of your time.

CARL
Blow me.

One of the soldiers promptly punches him in the stomach. He
falls to his knees, groaning in pain.

VALERIE
Tsk tsk...naughty boy...

She gets up and walks over to him.

VALERIE
Don't **** with me. I can be a
*****.

CARL
Just like old times...

She kicks him in the face. He falls completely over.

The soldiers began kicking him around the floor.

CARL
All right! All right! Enough!

VALERIE
Ready to listen?

CARL
What damn it!?

VALERIE
Not now...I wanna see you squirm...

She smiles.

CARL just lies there, panting and looking at her with hate.

Valerie looks at the soldiers.

VALERIE
Get him on his feet.

They do as she commands.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - OFFICE DEPARTMENT

CARL and Valerie walk past closely spaced empty desks.

VALERIE
I sense a lack of loyalty in you?

CARL
No ****.

She back hands him across the face.

VALERIE
Don't ****in' SASS me!

CARL rubs his face.

CARL
What about my loyalty?

She gives an evil grin.

VALERIE
I feel it needs testing.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - HOLDING ROOM

The door opens. CARL and Valerie enter. CARL sees his
friends; they look worried.

CARL
What are they doing here?

VALERIE pulls out a revolver.

VALERIE
Your friends have been planning
something bad. They need to be
punished.

She offers it to him.

Beat.

CARL
No...

VALERIE
What?

CARL
**** no.

Beat.

VALERIE
If you kill them...I'll give you
what you seek.

CARL looks at his friends.

VALERIE (cont'd)
The direct path...

He takes the pistol.

VALERIE (cont'd)
...to the desired destiny of all
beings; "the end of the line".

He looks at it.

VALERIE (cont'd)
It can be yours...

CARL pulls the top and makes sure that its loaded.

VALERIE (cont'd)
All you have to do is kill.

CARL looks at his friends again...at ERICA. They gaze into
each other's eyes.

VALERIE (cont'd)
It's not like this is your first
time. You know you want to.

CARL smiles.

CARL
You're right...

CARL turns to Valerie, lifts the gun up and shoots her in the
face.

He turns to his, now more fearful, friends.

CARL
Let's get outta here.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - MAIN HALL

CARL peeks his head out in the hall. He comes out with his
friends right behind him. They all start heading for the way
out except for Steve and Jennifer, who are heading in the
opposite direction.

CARL stops.

CARL
(Whispering)
Where are THEY going?

Erica stops and turns around.

ERICA
(Whispering)
There's an access to the slide
somewhere in here.

Beat.

CARL
(Whispering)
I think I'll take my chances with
them.

ERICA
(Whispering)
Good luck.

Erica starts going towards the exit. CARL grabs her by the
arm.

CARL
(Whispering)
Aren't you coming?

ERICA
(Whispering)
I know of another one but it takes
some traveling.

CARL
(Whispering)
**** THAT! I'll see you at the top.

ERICA
(Whispering)
Suit yourself.

CARL watches her leave.

He heads the way Steve and Jennifer went.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - STAIRCASE

CARL reaches a staircase and looks up to see his two friends
have already started their way up the large number of stairs.

A group of Nazis enter the hall far from him. The one in
front spots him.

NAZI SOLDIER
There he is!

CARL shoots him and runs up the stairs.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - STAIRS

CARL runs up the steps, skipping a few as he hurries to catch
up to his friends. He trips and falls, dropping the gun;
which tumbles down the stairs.

CARL
****!

He crawls back up and continues running.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - TOP FLOOR

CARL reaches the top floor containing a number array of halls
and small rooms. Someone grabs and pulls him over to the
side.

They pull him into a broom closet.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - BROOM CLOSET

CARL sees the captor, its Steve.

CARL
The f...

Jennifer slaps her hand on his mouth.

JENNIFER
Sh!



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - TOP FLOOR

The nazi soldiers get to the top floor and look around.

NAZI OFFICER
The bypass! Secure the bypass!

They head to the slide's location.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - BROOM CLOSET

Jennifer slowly removes her hand from CARL's mouth.

JENNIFER
I guess that's it...

CARL gives them a look.

CARL
You're giving up? Just like that?

STEVE
Just like that.

Beat.

CARL
I've got an idea.

His old friends look at him.

CARL
But before I do it, I need...

CARL grabs Jennifer and gives her a kiss. He breaks away and
goes for the door. Jennifer stops him.

She kisses him passionately.

JENNIFER
Good luck.

CARL just stands there, staring pleasantly at her.

Beat.

CARL
The plan!

CARL opens the door and leaves.



INT. NAZI HEADQUARTERS - TOP FLOOR

CARL comes out into the halls and looks around till he sees
the Nazis piled up at the end of one.

He whistles at them.

CARL
Yo, ****heads!

The men look at him.

CARL
You looking for me?

The Nazis go after him. CARL runs down the opposite hall

As soon as they all run past the hall containing the closet,
the door opens and CARL's two friends come out. They head to
the shortcut.

CARL runs around through many different halls, trying to
loose the Nazis but they seem to be closing in on him at
every corner.

He makes it back at the stairs and stops to rest.

CARL takes in deep breathes as he checks his situation. It's
not good, the Nazis have every hall covered.

NAZI OFFICER
Oben geben!

He looks down the stairs and sees many more Nazis coming up.

CARL
(Out of breath)
Fick du...

CARL loses his balance, falls against the railing, and tips
over the side; through the middle of the staircase.



POV - CARL

He falls fast through the many levels until he finally hits
the bottom.

CUT TO:



INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - MORNING

Sound: Insane Clown Posse's "Cotton Candy and Popsicles".

CARL wakes up on a mattress that lays flat on the floor. The
whole room is a complete mess. Garbage, dirty clothes, and
old toys litter the entire room.

He sits up.

CARL looks around trying to get a handle on things. He makes
a face. He looks down.

His hand is covered in some kind of thick, gooey substance.

He pulls his hand up and he frees himself causing the
disgusting material to string onto his forearm.

He looks at his slop covered hand horrifically and with utter
distaste.

TIMOTHY (O.S.)
Carl! Get out here dude! We're
gonna be late!

CARL wipes his hand on the sheet-less mattress.



EXT. HOUSE

CARL comes out from the house and Tim's out there waiting on
a bike. The sky is full of dark clouds and a light mist hangs
in the air.

CARL
Late for what?

TIMOTHY
Fun. Get your bike.



EXT. SUBURBIA

CARL and Timothy ride their bikes down a slum urban street.
The house are very old and look as though no one's lived in
them for quite some time.

No one is out in the street either. The whole place seems
derelict.

A calm breeze blows over them as they ride.

CARL
Where we headed?

TIMOTHY
Its a surprise.

They turn down a street.



EXT. BRANDON'S HOUSE

CARL and TIMOTHY pull into someone's yard. CARL immediately
recognizes the house.

CARL
I don't believe it...

TIM puts his kickstand down. He walks to the door and opens
it.

TIMOTHY
Come on. They're expecting us.

CARL just drops his bike and follows his friend inside.



INT. BRANDON'S HOUSE - BEDROOM

TIM and CARL enter the rather vacant room. Only a few chairs,
a small table and three of CARL's other friends are present.

BRANDON is rolling a joint, ERICA is gently playing Pink
Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" on a guitar, JULIE is reading a
book and MEGAN is just sitting, eating a Ziplock bag full of
green M&Ms.

MEGAN sees them.

MEGAN
Hey!

ERICA and BRANDON look up. The two wave to the group. TIM
sits down.

CARL just stands.

BRANDON
Take a seat man, you're makin' me
nervous standin' up like that.

CARL sits next to ERICA, who looks up from the guitar for a
moment to smile at him.

BRANDON lights up the joint and takes a big, deep hit. He
passes it to TIMOTHY and he takes a hit as well. TIM passes
it JULIE but she is not even paying attention so he tries
passing it to MEGAN who just shakes her head.

He offers it to CARL.

CARL takes it. He puts it to his lips, closes his eyes, and
indulgently takes a huge hit and holds it in.

Beat.

He slowly blows out the smoke, nodding his head.

He opens his eyes. He offers the joint to ERICA.

ERICA
No, thank you.

CARL
Really?

ERICA
Not right now anyway.

CARL makes an intrigued expression and hands the smoke to
Brandon.

CARL
(To ERICA)
How long you been playin'?

ERICA
Quite a while.

TIMOTHY takes a hit, sets the joint between his lips (Amber
end in his mouth), and blows the shotgun into BRANDON's
mouth.

CARL
Did you play when I knew you?

She laughs.

ERICA
You still know me, Carl.

The joint finally comes back to CARL. He shakes his head.

CARL
No.

TIM and BRANDON continue to smoke. CARL watches ERICA play.

Beat.

CARL
Erica...I'm...

ERICA
You don't have to say anything.

CARL smiles.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. BRANDON'S HOUSE - NIGHT

CARL and his friends file out from the house.

CARL
What's next?

ERICA
We're heading to Ronald's to maybe
play cards or just head downtown.

CARL
Sounds good.

As they get on their bikes, CARL notices a house with it's
lights on.

CARL
What's happening over there?

TIMOTHY
Some badass party. I think I'll
head there.

TIMOTHY rides his bike to the house. Everyone else turns
their bikes around except for CARL.

BRANDON
You coming?

CARL
I think I'll check this out.

BRANDON
Well if you change your mind, his
house is three blocks down, take a
right and one more block. His house
will be on the left.

CARL, confused over the directions, cares even less about
going their way.

CARL
(Lying)
Thanks. I might roll by later.

BRANDON
Alright, later.

CARL
Later.

The all wave 'bye' to him and he waves back. He puts his
kickstand up and heads to the lit house.



INT. PARTY

CARL enters the immensely crowded house.

All the people are just standing around, getting drunk and
socializing. TIMOTHY is nowhere to be seen. CARL walks to the
bar and gets a beer. He opens it and takes a huge swig from
the bottle.

He starts walking around, looking at all the people...trying
to remember if he's ever seen any of them before.

He spots KIMBERLY who is talking to two girls who he's never
seen. He walks up to them. As they see him coming, they begin
to laugh.

He smiles as he approaches

CARL
Hey Kim.

KIMBERLY
What the **** do you want?

CARL's smile begins to disappear.

CARL
What's your problem?

KIMBERLY
You...

She gets in his face.

KIMBERLY (cont'd)
You're the ****in' problem.

CARL
What the **** did I do to you!

Beat.

KIMBERLY
Get outta my sight.

CARL
Fine.

CARL turns around and starts walking.

CARL
****in' ****.

KIMBERLY
******!

CARL starts heading back to the bar. A beautiful girl is
there, making herself a drink. He approaches her.

CARL
You with anyone?

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Why?

CARL
(Sensually)
I thought you might want someone to
talk to.

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Sorry, I don't talk to queers.

She starts to walk away from him.

CARL
The **** you call me?

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
Don't take it personally, I just
don't like you people.

CARL grabs her by the arm. She pushes him away.

BEAUTIFUL WOMAN
What the hell are you doing!

He slaps her in the face. A guy in the crowd takes notice.

PISSED OFF MAN
What the **** are you doin' to my
woman!

Everyone in the room stops to see what's happening.

CARL
(To the man)
**** you, *****! The **** is your
pansy *** gonna do!

The girl elbows CARL in the stomach and he lets go. The man
runs up and starts punching him.

CARL falls to the floor.

PISSED OFF MAN
Piece a ****!

He starts kicking CARL in the chest. CARL grabs his foot and
punches the man in the crotch. The pissed off guy falls over
moaning in pain.

CARL gets up and looks around the room. Everyone is staring
at him.

CARL
I don't want any trouble.

PARTY GUEST
You're already in it.

CARL slowly starts walking towards the exit as everyone in
the room slowing advances. He begins to worry.

Beat.

CARL
Outta my ****in' way!

CARL dives through them and heads for the door. They try to
grab him.



EXT. PARTY

CARL breaks through the door and grabs his bike. Many angry
guests run out and chase CARL as he starts peddling.



EXT. SUBURBIA

CARL rides far away from them. He heads the way his friends
went.



EXT. RONALD'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

CARL rides up into Ronald's yard. He immediately jumps off
his bike and trips over it, in a hurry to get to the door. He
starts banging on the door.

No one comes.

CARL
Ronald! Guys!

CARL turns and looks around for a moment.

Beat.

He gives up and sits up against the door.

CARL
Anyone...

CARL lowers his head and begins to weep.

RONALD (O.S.)
Damn, I told ya we should've
waited.

CARL looks up and sees Ronald as well as the rest of his
friends. He wipes his face off and gets up.

CARL
Where were you?

BRANDON
We left to get something to eat.

Brandon opens the paper bag in his hand and pulls out a
cheeseburger.

BRANDON
Want some?

CARL laughs out of relief and shakes his head.

CARL
No...no thanks...

BRANDON
You ready?

CARL
More than ever.

CARL gets on his bike and they ride down the suburban street.



INT. DOWNTOWN

Sound: Fireworks going off.

Small crowds are in the streets, shooting off fireworks. Many
people are cheering and laughing as they celebrate. CARL and
his friends finish parking their bikes at a bike stand.

BRANDON
Where to first?

CARL
What's good?

BRANDON
The arcade is always nice.

CARL
Sounds great.

They walk onto the sidewalk and enter the heart of the town.

On the town's main street there are several types of old
stores and attractions. A fortune telling booth catches his
eye.

CARL
Is the fortune teller any good?

He looks back forward and sees that his friends are gone. He
looks around; they have completely vanished.

Right next to CARL stands the entrance to the Haunted House,
the same exact one he saw before. He stares at it for a
moment.

Suddenly, a huge wind blows in and CARL starts being pulled
into the Haunted House.

He tries to turn around and fight it but its no use. He's
sucked right into the dreadful attraction.



INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - WELCOME ROOM

CARL gets pulled into the "Welcome Room".

He falls and rolls across the ground and into the haunted
house.



INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - HALLWAY

He falls into what looks like an old 1800's decorated
hallway.

Fancy paintings and old mirrors fill the small room. At the
end of the hall is an opening that is covered over by a
velvet curtain.

CARL stands up and looks at the curtain in anticipation.

Sound: Wind rushing from behind the curtain.

He gets more and more nervous, as if expecting something to
leap out.

He quickly looks out the exit and dives into it.



INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - WELCOME ROOM

A large rush of wind continues to force him back. He
desperately grabs at the walls, pulling himself out of the
dreaded place.

He screams as he fights his way out but his voice is muffed
by the sheer magnitude of the gusts.

CARL finally makes it to a corner. He gives it his all and
pulls himself free.

The winds finally stops.

CARL catches his breath.

Beat.

He walks out of the attraction.



INT. DOWNTOWN

CARL walks a ways from the sight. He tries the calm down
mentally; looking around and getting his bearings.

He watches the people as the have fun.

Laughing.

Firing off fireworks.

Laughing.

A firecracker goes off in a boy's hand! His fingers blow off
from his knuckles but continues to smile and laugh.

Another boy fires off a very large bottle rocket and it
malfunctions, going right into a face of a man. His wide
Chelsea-grinned face explodes into chunks and vapor.

CARL blinks a few times and begins to settle into himself. He
looks across the street.

The fortune teller's shop stands with a neon sign out front.



INT. FORTUNE TELLER

Sound: Eerie, slow, mystical tintamarre.

CARL enters the mysterious establishment.

The places is dark but the purple tapestries and ancient
beads can be seen. Further in, the only other room there
awaits CARL's presence.

FORTUNE TELLER (O.S.)
(In CARL's mind)
Come in my child...

CARL moves forward, going to the gypsy's domain.

FORTUNE TELLER (cont'd)
...for I can peer into the void's
flesh, deep down into the dark
wonders of rapture.



INT. FORTUNE TELLER - READING ROOM

CARL walks in and sits down across from the prophet.

The FORTUNE TELLER is dressed in the finest spiritual
clothes. Her eyes are mauve and clouded. The crystal ball in
front of her glows vividly with her breath.

Nothing but the everlasting darkness and the way he came in
is visible in the room.

FORTUNE TELLER
Tell me young one...what do you
seek?

CARL
Knowledge.

She inhales deeply. The darkness around them suddenly fills
with every galaxy and every planet in the universe!

FORTUNE TELLER
Beware the illusions my young
flesh. Beware of temptations and
evil that can take you. If you
rush, you will fall...and you will
fail.

All of the cosmos that was once alive, begins to decompose
and die; fading into the shadowed veil.

Beat.

FORTUNE TELLER
Leave me.

CARL quickly stands but its too late; the way out, the table,
and now even the fortune teller has disappeared.

He's alone.

CARL
Hello?

Nothing. Not even an echo...

CARL
How do I get out?

CUT TO:



INT. WAREHOUSE

CARL stands in the center of what looks like an abandoned
warehouse. Piles and piles of rusty metal, old machinery and
rhubarb nearly surrounds him; except for the fact his back is
facing a concrete wall.

He looks around carefully, being very close to the razor
sharp and incredibly dangerous objects.

He looks along the wall and sees a path leading to an open
door.

CARL begins moving quickly towards it.

Sound: Buckling of metal.

CARL stops in his tracks as the pile tips over, into the
pathway.

Beat.

CARL stares at the disaster.

There's now barely any room for him between the whetted
materials and the wall.

But he has no choice.

CARL presses his chest against the wall and starts side
stepping his way down.

He creeps closer and closer to the door, trying not get cut
by any of the metal.

CARL carefully steps over a large piece of rusted pipe.

Sound: The metal buckling again.

He looks around as he continues to move.

Nothing seems to have moved.

CARL looks back at the door and goes a little faster.

Beat.

The top layer of the pile tumbles over.

CARL stops and screams as bulky machinery and scrap metal
fall against the wall, just above his head. Rods of rhubarb
slide through the masses.

The rusted spikes slam just two inches above his head.

CARL shakes uncontrollably.

A very large machine falls over it all. Steel beams come down
as well, piercing it. The whole thing explodes, sending
fragments, dust and smoke everywhere.

CARL stands very still.

Beat.

The calamity has ceased but now his vision is impaired by the
thick dust and darkened path.

He begins walking down the path again.

CARL'S halfway to the door. He diligently steps through, ever
cautious.

His leg scraps against a very sharp shard of metal.

CARL screams and flinches back. His face slams into a
metallic panel.

He grabs a hold of his head and keeps going.

CARL moves quicker and quicker down the path until he finally
makes it.

Sound: The pile shifting again.

CARL bolts through the door.



INT. WAREHOUSE - HALLWAY

CARL enters the hallway as the entire pile collapses right
into the pathway he took.

There's no turning back now.

CARL looks closely at his surrounds.

The tiny hallway and its three rooms are dimly lit though the
source of its illuminance doesn't exist.

He walks to one of the rooms.



INT. WAREHOUSE - VACANT ROOM

CARL peers into the empty room. There's no windows or
ventilation grills.



INT. WAREHOUSE - HALLWAY

CARL goes to another room.



INT. WAREHOUSE - ANOTHER VACANT ROOM

Its the same thing; empty and devoid of any other way out.

He leaves the room.



INT. WAREHOUSE - HALLWAY

CARL walks to the other end of the hall and enters the very
last room.



INT. WAREHOUSE - DIFFERENT ROOM

CARL enters and immediately notices a slit in one of the
walls.

He walks towards it to get a better look.

The slit in the wall is just a foot and a half wide. A ladder
appears to be on the other side as well as the same strange
light.

CARL stares at the opening. He knows there's no other way
out.

He makes an attempt to get through.



INT. TUNNEL

CARL has some trouble but makes it through into the small
tunnel.

He looks up.

The path up the ladder is uncomfortably restricting and seems
to go up forever. There's only just enough for his body to
fit through.

CARL gets onto the ladder and begins climbing.

The higher CARL goes, the smaller the space gets. He tries
compensating by getting his chest closer to the ladder but it
still manages to slow him down.

CARL starts breathing heavy. He stops and looks down.

The mysterious light begins fading out into darkness and
FAST!

CARL looks back upwards and continues his journey. The tunnel
keeps getting smaller and smaller. CARL screams as he climbs
the best he can do.

There's almost not enough room for him to move and the
darkness is very close to him.

He finally reaches the top, where a vault door blocks his
path.

CARL bangs on the door.

CARL
Open up!

He looks down and see the darkness almost at his feet.

The door's gears turn and click are until it unlocks.

CARL looks back up as the door opens. He quickly climbs
through.



INT. BUNKER ROOM

CARL climbs up into the small bunker. He closes the door back
up and locks itself.

Beat.

CARL looks up and sees a HALF SIZED MAN sitting in his bed;
which takes up more than half the room. He just looks at
CARL, then pays no attention to him.

CARL
How do I get out?

The HALF SIZED MAN looks back up to him.

HALF SIZED MAN
That way.

He points up at a vent that serves as a ceiling.

CARL pushes open the vent and climbs out.



INT. VENT SHAFT

CARL enters the ventilation shaft. He looks down the hollow
realm.

There's only one direction to go and it doesn't look far.

He gets all the way in and crawls to the end. He stops once
he's there, almost in shock of what he sees.



INT. INDUSTRIAL SLIDE

CARL stares at the rusted, iron plated slide. Its exactly
like the other one only the one before him is designed very
differently.

The walls of the room its in is butted up against the spiral
structure. And yellow, dim lights follow the slide up.

CARL gets onto the slide and begins climbing immediately.

He scales the ancient toy rapidly.

CARL continues to climb until suddenly, a metal panel slides
down above him, blocking him from going any further up.

The metal panel next to him opens up, revealing another
ventilation shaft. Lights activate within, showing a very
long path.

He goes in.



INT. ANOTHER VENT SHAFT

CARL crawls through the vent.

Sound: A gaining hum

The slide behind him shatters, like glass, into a thousand
little pieces.

CARL turns around and goes back.



INT. EMPTY SHAFT

CARL looks up the, now empty, shaft.

The upper levels seem to go on forever.

He looks down.

Down below, at the very bottom, its dark. The darkness grows
slowly but steadily.

CARL realizes that the lights are going out.

CARL
Not again!



INT. ANOTHER VENT SHAFT

CARL begins crawling quickly through the ventilation shaft.

He tries his best in what little room there is but he still
doesn't go very fast. Behind him, the other room is getting
darker and darker.

CARL turns his head and watches the room finally go dark. The
lights at end starts going out as well.

CARL goes back to crawling but with more desperation.

Sound: Metal creaking.

CARL stops as the vent piece he's on begins shaking.

The bottom drops out and CARL with it.



INT. CEILING

CARL falls from the vent and grabs a hole of a hanging bar,
suspended by chains.

CARL holds on tightly.

Beat.

One end of the bar starts lowering.

CARL looks over and sees a chain-link bending under his
weight.

CARL
No! Please, no!

The chain breaks.

CARL falls, grasping the bar and screaming.



INT. WAREHOUSE GROCERY STORE

CARL swings into a mountain of paper towels, which all
collapse on top of him.

CARL sits on the rubble for a moment.

A single roll falls down and lands right on the top of his
head.

He gets up and brushes himself off.

GROCERY STORE WORKER (O.S.)
Just what do you think you're
doing?

CARL looks over and sees a GROCERY STORE WORKER walking
towards him.

CARL
Hey!

CARL spears the WORKER's chest with his index finger.

CARL
You need to put a sign up or
something when the floor's
slippery. I almost broke my damn
neck!

GROCERY STORE WORKER
I'm sorry, sir! I'll get right on
it!

The GROCERY STORE WORKER leaves.

CARL smiles, surprised that it worked. He looks around then
decides to start exploring.



INT. WAREHOUSE GROCERY STORE - SHELVES

CARL walks past the many rows of shelves.

Each shelf he passes contains many Earthly and non-Earthly
items.

One shelf is just absolutely full of magazines.

Another has pots and pans of every size and shape.

And there's even a shelf that contains alien items that CARL
can't recognize at all.

Sound: Video games being played.

CARL he's in the direction of the games.



INT. WAREHOUSE GROCERY STORE - ELECTRONIC DEPARTMENT

CARL enters the electronics department.

Every video game system that was ever made is on display and
playing some sort of game. Some of his friends are here.

BRANDON is on a 3DO playing "Shockwave Assault".

MEGAN is on a SNES playing "Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's
Island" as JULIE watches.

And ERICA is on a Sega CD playing "The Adventure's of Willy
Beamish".

CARL walks to ERICA.

He stands behind her and watches her play.

CARL
You've played this game?

ERICA jumps and turns around.

She laughs.

ERICA
Don't sneak up on me like that!

She goes back to playing.

ERICA
So how are things?

CARL smiles.

CARL
What do you think?

ERICA
I think you're having too much fun.

CARL
Or not enough fun. You should've
seen the **** I had to go through
to get here.

ERICA
Language...

CARL
Sorry.

BRANDON walks up to them.

BRANDON
Its getting kinda late. You guys
ready to go?

ERICA looks at CARL.

CARL
You know it.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX - NIGHT - MOMENTS LATER

ERICA's car pulls up to an old apartment complex.

There are many street lights in the area but only a few are
functioning.



EXT. CAR

BRANDON, JULIE, and MEGAN exit the car.

BRANDON
Alright, I'll see you guys at
school!

MEGAN
Bye!

They all wave to each other.

ERICA
See ya!

CARL looks at ERICA.

CARL
"School"?

ERICA
Yep.



EXT. APARTMENT COMPLEX

ERICA's car drives away.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. DESERTED STREET

ERICA and CARL are riding in the car down a dark, deserted
street. The buildings around them look like they've been
abandoned for decades.



INT. CAR

CARL stares out the window, trying to find some sort of light
in the sky.

ERICA looks over at him then back towards the road.

ERICA
You're not gonna find any stars out
there.

CARL turns his head to her. He sits back into seat.

Beat.

CARL
So how long where you here before I
arrived?

ERICA
Much longer.

CARL looks at her.

CARL
Going to school with you, I always
figured you'd be wise enough to
stay alive and out of trouble.

ERICA
Life's always got surprises.

CARL laughs.

CARL
Oh, I know it...

CARL'S thoughts wander.

CARL
Back when I was a kid, not very
many people liked me. I mean, there
was a few who didn't treat me badly
and those who were indifferent.

ERICA looks at him.

ERICA
I'm sorry to hear that.

CARL
There was one who actually became
my friend. It was Jose. He was from
the special classes but he was a
good friend, especially since no
one else would bother with me.

Beat.

CARL (cont'd)
He was murdered by some gang in my
neighborhood.

Tears run down CARL'S face.

ERICA
It's okay.

CARL wipes at his face.

CARL
No. Its not.



EXT. ROAD

ERICA parks at the bottom of staircase.

CARL gets out.

CARL
I'll find you.

ERICA
I know.

They wave to each other and she drives away.

CARL looks up the steps.

They go all the way up a hill, where a large apartment
building sits.

He walks up the steps.



EXT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING

CARL finally makes it up the top step and turns around to
look at the view.

He can see the ruins of a decade in his life along the
horizon. Everything seems to have fallen apart.

He turns back towards the door and goes into the building.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING

CARL enters a dilapidated, slum hallway. The whole place is
silent. Roaches scatter across the walls and floors at the
very sight of him.

He walks down the hall.

As he passes many rooms with no doors, he reaches a window
where a room should be.

He looks out the window. He sees that he's now on the second
floor.

CARL starts walking backwards and instead of bumping into the
other end of the hallway, he continues deeper into a
different hall.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY

He looks around and finally takes notice that he's somewhere
new.

CARL looks back up at the window; its now located at the end
of the hall and there's no sign of where he originally came
from.

He turns around and keeps moving.

MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
What can I get for you?

CARL turns to face what should be a wall.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING - RENTAL MARKET

He sees a very small, six foot by six foot video rental store
that's set up like a bar.

A TV set is on the table in front of the three feet by three
feet opening; which seems to be the only way in or out of the
room. It's currently playing an old zombie movie.

VIDEO STORE OWNER
Well?

CARL
What've ya got?

VIDEO STORE OWNER
I got these hot films back here...

The man points over, as well as he can in the small room, to
a display case that's only holding seven VHS horror/B-movies.

The man turns back to CARL.

VIDEO STORE OWNER
And I got this one right here.

He points to the TV.

CARL's eyes become fixed on the screen.

Beat.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY

Zombies suddenly appear all around him. They are EXACTLY the
same as in the movie, down to the smallest detail and
gruesome elements.

They get closer...

And closer to him...

Until...

CUT TO:



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - REALITY

CARL snaps out of his trance and all the zombies are gone.

Beat.

CARL takes one last look at the screen.

CARL
No thanks, I think I've seen this
one before.

VIDEO STORE OWNER
Ya can't run forever.

The Man watches CARL as he walks away.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER

As CARL walks down the darkening hall, he passes another room
within a wall.

Blue lights emit from the opening. He looks inside.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING - CUBBY ROOM

Inside the small three foot by nine foot room, a young man
lies on a couch, watching a small TV that's on a small night
stand. The TV itself just inches from the man's face.



INT. LARGE APARTMENT BUILDING

CARL enters the darkness and runs into a door. He feels for a
doorknob. He finds it and opens the door.



INT. DARKNESS

CARL enters the darkness.

The path behind him slowly disappears.

Beat.

CARL continues moving.

A glimmer of light shines just ahead.

CARL moves a little faster. He reaches the source of the
light to discover that is a fire in a barrel. Next to the
steel drum is a doorway.

A shadow moves outside.

CARL exits the building.



INT. ALLEY

CARL enters a filthy alley full of garbage and debris. He
looks further down the way and sees many other drums full of
flames.

A few bums are walking around, looking very miserable.

A few makeshift homes line the walls of the building. Some
look barely livable.

CARL starts making his way down the alley.

He passes a MAN shooting up with God knows what. The MAN just
stares back.

CARL keeps walking.

He steps over an EPILEPTIC MAN who's having a seizure.

CARL looks down at the EPILEPTIC MAN as he continues walking.
He's now convulsing. CARL starts moving a little quicker.

Beat.

Sound: A man coughing.

CARL stops. He recognizes the cough. He look down at his
side.

Sitting right next to him, starving and dirty, is CARL's
FATHER.

CARL
Dad...?

HAROLD VASTBINDER had a rough life. He was fired from all his
jobs for one reason or another. Eventually, CARL's mother
threw him out. He became a bum and within a few short years,
he died of pneumonia...CARL was only nine at the time.

HAROLD coughs and squints up at CARL.

CARL
Dad...

HAROLD lowers his head back down.

HAROLD
You got the wrong person.

CARL bends down to him.

CARL
Dad! It's me, Carl!

HAROLD motions his head away from CARL.

CARL (cont'd)
Please, dad!

HAROLD stubbornly turns his body onto his side.

Beat.

CARL
Please...I...

CARL's eyes begin to water.

CARL
I love you...

Tears run down his face.

HAROLD turns his body back over and looks at CARL.

Beat.

HAROLD
Son...

CARL stares at him.

CARL
Dad...

HAROLD sits up.

HAROLD
Why didn't you do anything to help
me...didn't you love me...

CARL tries to hug his father but he pushes him away.

HAROLD
You didn't tell your mother how
much you missed me or that you even
cared! Now look at what happened to
me!

HAROLD turns into a rotting corpse. His eyes melt down his
face and his skin starts pealing away and turning into ash.

CARL
Dad...I'm so sorry...I was weak...I
didn't know what to do...

Tears continue to run down CARL's face. And the CORPSE bends
down as if its crying.

CARL
Please...forgive me...

CARL hugs the corpse of his father.

A large gust a wind begins to blow through the alley.

CARL closes his eyes.

HAROLD goes to CARL's ear.

HAROLD
(Whispering)
I love you, Carl...I'll see you on
the other side.

CARL opens his eyes. His father is gone and the alley is
completely empty; street lights dimly light the area.

CARL wipes his face.

He tilts his head up to the sky, he smiles and laughs.

CARL
Father! I will see you on the other
side!

CARL brings his head back down. He wipes off the rest of the
tears and gets up.

He walks further down the alley and into another dark
section.



INT. DARKNESS

CARL continues walking through the dark shadows.

Florescent lights ahead of him slowly flicker on.



INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY

CARL walks into a hallway of a high school.

The darkness behind him no longer exists, just the rest of
the hallway.

CARL keeps walking, looking at what used to be his school.

The lockers are busted up and rusted over.

Graffiti covers the walls.

Old trash bins full of very old, random trash are dumped out
all over the place.

CARL looks at the room numbers as he walks by. He comes
across "102" and stops.

He looks at the door.

CARL
I know this room.

CARL goes in.



INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CHEMISTRY LAB

CARL walks into the old lab.

The tables' black paint has almost completely peeled off. The
sinks are old but at least clean.

CARL walks around the room for a moment. He makes his way to
the end of the room.

CARL sits up against one of the desks.

CARL
You know, I used to have a crush on
my teacher in this class.

AMORRAN appears right next to him.

AMORRAN
Was she beautiful?

CARL
Very.

CARL looks at her.

CARL
I know I might be out of line...

AMORRAN
You might very well be.

CARL
I'm sorry, I have to know. Why
weren't you given a second chance?

AMORRAN stares into his eyes.

AMORRAN
I was...a murderer.

CARL
So was I. I killed a few of my own.

AMORRAN
Not like you.

CARL
How's it any different?

AMORRAN
I killed my kind for pleasure.

Beat.

CARL
They call that a serial killer on
my world.

AMORRAN
I choose to do a service instead of
Hell.

CARL stares at her.

Beat.

AMORRAN looks away, looking a bit uncomfortable.

AMORRAN
How are you doing on your journey?

CARL
Just great. I'm actually having
fun.

AMORRAN smiles.

AMORRAN
Just don't have too much fun.
There's more up ahead.

CARL pretends to look at a watch on his wrist.

CARL
So our time's up then?

CARL stands back up.

AMORRAN (O.S.)
I'll be around.

CARL
I'll be seeing you.

CARL turns to look at her.

She's gone.

Beat.

CARL
No kiss for luck?



INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY

CARL comes out from the room.

Sound: Footsteps.

KATRINA, is a woman he's never met. She was actually the
girlfriend of a gang member who CARL had murdered. For the
following two years after his death, she lived a better life
before her car accident.

She sees CARL and goes to him.

KATRINA
Are you Carl?

CARL
The one and only.

KATRINA
I need you to come with me.

He follows her down the hallway.



INT. HIGH SCHOOL - ANOTHER HALLWAY

The continue walking down the many long stretches of the
building.

CARL
So what's your name?

KATRINA
Katrina.

CARL
I never knew any "Katrina's".

KATRINA
You don't know me, Carl.

CARL
Do I know the people who asked you
to find me?

KATRINA
Of course.

She starts walking to one of the rooms.

KATRINA
In here.

She opens the door and goes inside.

CARL follows her.



INT. STRANGE ROOM

Sound: Music.

KATRINA is gone.

CARL enters a strange room. Boards are lined up along each
other, making a thin two foot wide path. Magazine clippings
and pages cover these walls.

Notebook paper, pencils and erasers litter the floor.

CARL walks down the path and turns the corner at the end.



INT. STRANGE ROOM - MAZE

CARL continues walking through the poorly constructed maze.

Sound: The music getting louder, the closer he gets to the
source.

CARL steps in something squooshy and stops. He looks down.

He had stepped in a huge ball of gum that's the size of his
fist.

CARL rolls his eyes.

CARL
Great.

He lifts his leg up and scrapes the bottom of his shoe
against the wall; one of the magazine clippings gets stuck on
him.

CARL tries rubbing his foot on the floor to get rid of the
large clipping.

A whole piece of notebook paper gets stuck.

Beat.

CARL sighs and just continues his journey through the maze.



INT. STRANGE ROOM - MAIN AREA

CARL enters the main part of the room.

Inside the room, BRANDON, MEGAN, RONALD, JULIE and ERICA sit
in sections that are split off and separated by curtains.
Mattresses are on the floor in each section.

KATRINA sits next to BRANDON, who is playing a Gameboy.

Each section contains the personal items of each person.

On one of the walls, there sits a TV playing old music
videos, "Video Killed the Radio Star" by the Buggles is
currently playing.

BRANDON looks up from his Gameboy.

BRANDON
Hey! You made it.

BRANDON motions to KATRINA.

BRANDON
I see you met my girlfriend. I was
hoping she didn't get you lost.

She smacks BRANDON in the arm.

BRANDON
Hey! Just kidding!

CARL
Now that I'm here, what is there to
do?

BRANDON
Nothing to do but wait.

CARL
Wait for what?

BRANDON
Look, I'm really into this game and
your interrogation is giving me a
headache...

CARL
Alright! Sorry.

CARL walks over to ERICA.

She looks up at him and smiles.

ERICA
Sit down.

He sits next to her.

They watch the TV together.

CARL
So what are we waiting for?

ERICA
Tomorrow we're taking a trip to the
space port.

CARL
"Space port"?

ERICA
That's right.

CARL
So the slide really does go that
far up?

ERICA
Further than you can imagine.

CARL
How far do you think Jose is?

ERICA
I don't know. I hope he makes it.

CARL
Me too.

Beat.

CARL
Erica...

ERICA
What is it, Carl?

CARL
I always wanted to tell you but I
never had the confidence. Now that
I'm dead, I think I can finally
tell you.

ERICA
What?

CARL
I love you, Erica. I always have.
Even after I never saw you again, I
always thought of you.

CARL lowers his head.

CARL (cont'd)
I don't know...maybe I'm just
obsessed...

ERICA sits up.

CARL (cont'd)
A girl like you could never be
interested in someone like me no
matter how...

ERICA kisses him.

Beat.

CARL kisses her back only more passionately.

Everyone else in the room looks at each other and smiles.

CARL breaks away.

CARL
Thank you. You have no idea how
much I wanted to do that.

ERICA
Was it worthwhile?

CARL
I'd die ten thousand deaths for it.

ERICA
Then have another...

She kisses him again.

CARL
I really wish I had the brass to
ask you out when I was alive. But
I'm very happy to see you here.

ERICA
I'm happy to be here, Carl.

MONTAGE

DISSOLVE TO:



INT. STRANGE ROOM - MAIN AREA - MOMENTS LATER

Everyone sits in front of a hanging sheet where a projector
plays an old B-movie.

ERICA and CARL are sitting close together.

DISSOLVE TO:



INT. STRANGE ROOM - MAIN AREA - HOURS LATER

ERICA and CARL are sleeping in bed together, their clothes
are on.

FADE TO BLACK.



MONTAGE END



INT. STRANGE ROOM - MAIN AREA - MORNING

CARL is still asleep. He slowly opens his eyes and sits up.

All of his friends are packing suitcases and backpacks;
except for BRANDON and KATRINA.

CARL gets up and ERICA goes to him.

ERICA
Did you sleep good?

CARL
Like the dead.

ERICA
Good because its a long drive.

ERICA puts a backpack on and grabs her suitcase.

ERICA
Meet you outside!

ERICA heads out through a door in the back of the room.

CARL notices that BRANDON's not packing. He walks over to
him.

CARL
Hey, shouldn't you be packing too?

BRANDON
I don't think that's
necessary...I'm going to be staying
here.

Beat.

CARL
You sure?

BRANDON puts his arm around KATRINA and hugs her.

BRANDON
Yeah! You go have fun.

CARL walks over to the back-door and turns around.

CARL
Goodbye...

BRANDON waves "goodbye" and CARL leaves the room.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL

Its still very early and the sun isn't even out. Heavy winds
blow the surrounding trees.

CARL comes out from the high school; a running school bus is
parked out front, waiting for him.

He walks over and enters the bus.



INT. SCHOOL BUS

CARL enters the bus.

His friends have already prepared their belongings and taken
their seats.

CARL finds a seat in front of ERICA and sits down.

CARL
Its been awhile since I've been in
one of these.

ERICA
You're gonna be on it for a while,
so you better enjoy it.

The bus's door closes.



EXT. HIGH SCHOOL

The bus departs from the school.

MONTAGE

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. TOWN - MORNING - MOMENTS LATER

The bus leaves the bleak town.

Dark clouds fill the morning sky.



INT. SCHOOL BUS

CARL sits on the bus, watching his old friends enjoy a
conversation.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. OPEN ROAD - DAY - DAYS LATER

The bus continues on its long journey down a lonely road in
the middle of nowhere.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. LONG BRIDGE - DUSK - DAYS LATER

The bus moves along an incredibly long bridge.

Dark, thick, wavy clouds blanket the sky. The only break is a
sliver in the horizon, which turns dark orange as the sun
sets.



INT. SCHOOL BUS

CARL stares through the window, watching the sun go down.

DISSOLVE TO:



INT. SCHOOL BUS - NIGHT

The custom fitted lights on the bus are on.

ERICA is lying down towards the back, she's just now waking
up from a nap.

CARL gets up and goes over to her. He sits at the seat in
front of her.

ERICA
Hey you.

CARL
Hey. You weren't joking about this
being a long trip. We've been
riding non-stop for days.

ERICA
Well don't worry, we're gonna be
making a pit-stop soon.

CARL
That's good. I could certainly
stretch my legs.

CARL looks out the window and into the blackness.

CARL
Erica...

ERICA
What is it, Carl?

CARL
How did you die?

ERICA
That's a good question. I was with
some friends on summer vacation. We
took a trip to the beach.

CARL
Sounds nice.

ERICA
Yeah, up until my friends crashed
the car.

CARL
Sorry...

ERICA
It's okay. I didn't die right away.
I was in critical condition for a
little over a week and then slipped
away.

CARL
That's terrible.

ERICA
Yeah. So tell me, how'd you go?

CARL
Long after we lost touch with each
other. I got heavy into the drug
scene. The people I started hanging
out with weren't the best.
Eventually, I got involved with
things...

ERICA
Like what?

CARL
I started robbing people...but I
didn't just steal from them...I'd
kill them...sometimes I'd find
worthwhile goods...other times I'd
find little or nothing...but then I
tried robbing from the wrong guy. I
was set-up by a group of
vigilantes. They disabled and
disarmed me first. Gave me a speech
about the kind of scum I was...

CARL laughs.

CARL
I actually laughed at them, can you
believe that? I laughed in their
faces and told them, "You people
are too ***** enough to kill me".
That's when one of them aimed their
shotgun at me. It went off and the
blast went right into my throat.

ERICA puts her hand to her mouth.

ERICA
Oh my!

CARL
Yeah. I was definitely by accident.
The poor guy ran up to me shouting
"Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!"
Half of them seemed worried about
me as I drowned in my own blood,
while the others seemed to enjoy
watching. But as I slipped into the
darkness, I knew that I deserved
it. I knew that I was meant for
Hell.

ERICA
But you didn't go there.

CARL
No...just halfway...

The bus stops.

ERICA
Ah, we're here.

CARL looks out the window but cannot make-out what's out
there.

CARL
Where's "here"?

ERICA
The mall.



EXT. SCHOOL BUS

CARL, ERICA, JULIE, MEGAN, and RONALD get off the school bus.

CARL
Wow...

What stands before CARL is the largest mall he's ever seen in
his entire life.

ERICA
Don't get lost. We'll meet back
here in half an hour.

CARL
You got it.

They head into the enormous mall.



INT. GIGANTIC MALL

Inside this mall, there's not only a large number of stores
but also a large number of floors that seem to go on forever.
Despite it's size, there are only a few people in sight.

Escalators lead all the way up.

CARL's friends separate from him and let him wander the vast
structure alone.

He walks past several shops, enjoying fond memories of his
existence on Earth.

VOICE (O.S.)
Hey *******!

CARL turns around.

CARL
Timothy!

TIMOTHY smiles at him, standing in front of a movie theater.

TIMOTHY
Who'd you think it was?

CARL
What are you doing here?

TIMOTHY
Just havin' fun, checking out a new
movie at this theater. You should
come in and check it out too.

CARL
Sorry but I gotta leave in a bit.

TIMOTHY
Ah! Come on! Just watch a little
some of it, you won't be
disappointed. How long before you
see another movie ever again?

CARL
True...

CARL goes in the movie theater with TIMOTHY.



INT. CINEMA MULTIPLEX

The theater looks old but has several movies playing, just
like a modern theater. It even has a large staircase that
goes to another set of many rooms of movies.

The red velvet floors are covered with popcorn and candy,
like is hasn't been cleaned in weeks.

TIMOTHY leads him up the stairs.

TIMOTHY
Here...you'll like this one...

He goes into one of the rooms and CARL follows.



INT. CINEMA MULTIPLEX - THEATER

As soon as CARL gets in, TIMOTHY is gone. In fact, no one
else is watching the movie that is playing; which is a horror
movie involving alien creatures.

CARL doesn't stress, he just stands in the back, watching the
familiar movie.

As he watches it, the walls of the theater begin to morph and
change into that of the scenery contained within the film.
CARL fails to take notice as his eyes are focused on the
movie.

The soldiers within the film start walking seamlessly from
the screen and down the aisles.

Creatures from the movie start crawling down the sides of the
walls.

They aliens attacks the soldiers and begin to devour them.

CARL just watches.

Suddenly, one of the creatures gets close to CARL and that's
when he realizes that they're really there.

He screams and darts out the door.



INT. CINEMA MULTIPLEX

Sound: The soldiers still fighting the aliens inside.

CARL runs out and puts his back up against the door,
preparing to keep the monsters from coming after him but
nothing tries to get out.

He apprehensively moves away from the door. Things seem safe
so he moves down the hallway.

As he makes his way out of the theater, he passes by an open
door with a bright light shining out from it.

He stops and looks inside.

CARL
It can't be...

He goes into the room.



INT. CINEMA MULTIPLEX - MYSTERIOUS ROOM

Inside the mysterious room is the slide!

It looks even more different than before. It looks as though
it's made of brass.

And it also looks old but clean.

CARL runs up to it and looks down. He is way up from where he
was before.

He hops on the slide and begins climbing until he's out of
the building.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

CARL climbs quickly, desperately and without any other
motive.

There's nothing but dark, clouded sky around him. He's
thousands of miles up.

He grabs the lip of the structure and pulls himself up, using
very little off his feet; trying to keep from sliding down
the slick tongue.



EXT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

From a distant, CARL has quite a ways to go. The whole thing
looks as it goes on forever.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

But CARL keeps climbing. Keeps going. He isn't stopping for
anything.

Anything...

CARL begins to wear himself out. He takes notice and stops.

CARL
No...patience...patience.

He starts climbing the slide at a reasonable pace.



EXT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

The clouds become thicker and darker. Their movements also
increase.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

CARL notices the dark clouds.

CARL
Please don't rain again...

He keeps climbing further into a section of the slide that's
encompassed by a brick wall.



INT. BRICKED-IN SLIDE

CARL is confused but it doesn't slow him down.

MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)
Hey there!

CARL jumps and almost falls down the slide. He looks over at
who called out to him.

Right off the lip of the slide is a small room with a TINY
MAN. The room seems to have everything: refrigerator, TV,
small kitchen, and little housely trinkets.

CARL checks out his place.

CARL
You live here?

TINY MAN
Of course.

CARL
Why?

TINY MAN
Why not? Its better than being down
there.

CARL
Yeah but do you know what's up
there?

TINY MAN
Too much work. Besides, I enjoy
being here. Wanna take a rest?

CARL
Sorry but I can't. I need to get up
to the top.

TINY MAN
Well good luck stranger!

CARL continues to climb until he's out of the structure.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

CARL keeps climbing the slide. He seems to be doing well as
he is barely getting tired and is actually getting used to
it.

Sound: Thump followed by a constant WHOOSH.

He stops and listens.

Beat.

Sound: The WHOOSH getting closer and louder.

CARL braces himself.

JOSE comes sliding down and knocks CARL'S feet out from under
him.

They both fall but CARL manages to grab hold of the lip again
and he catches JOSE by the hand.

CARL
****, Jose! You could've knocked me
all the way down!

JOSE starts slipping from his hand.

JOSE
I'm sorry, Carl.

CARL
Don't let go! We'll beat this ****
together!

CARL barely has a hold of him.

JOSE
Goodbye Carl...

CARL now just has his finger tips.

JOSE slips completely off and goes tumbling down.

CARL
JOSE!

CARL closes his eyes

CARL
No! Jose!

Tears run down his eyes.

CARL
Why are you even in this world? Why
weren't you sent to Heaven? You
never deserved any of this...

CARL tries to go back to climbing but his hands are now
sweaty.

He loses his grip.

CARL
Oh no...

He falls backwards and tumbles down the great slide himself.

He continues to fall and fall. Through the bricked up house
and even further down.

CARL flails his arms around trying to grab anything and
manages to grab the lip but because of the momentum he's
going at, it sends him right over the end and off the slide.



INT. FUN 'N' GAMES - NIGHT

CARL falls to the cement floor.

He moans for a moment before getting on his feet.

CARL is in front of the prize booth of the "Fun 'N' Games"
park.

The room, though barely taking up one forth of an acre, is
packed with arcade systems and other forms of entertainment.

Nothing in the room is on. No electricity is running.

CARL walks up to one of the arcade machines and presses some
buttons. Nothing.

He stumbles around for awhile before he makes his way to the
only door in the room.

He goes outside.



EXT. FUN 'N' GAMES - BUMPER CAR TRACK

A very small twenty feet by twenty feet bumper car track that
extends from the side of the building. There are only four
cars that look as though they were made for a child no more
than six years old.

Connected the end of the building is a tall brick wall that
seals in the entire side of the building.

The sky is pitch black.

He looks back down and AMORRAN is just a few feet in front of
him. He jumps back, startled.

CARL
****...Amorran...

AMORRAN
Not having fun anymore?

CARL
No, I'm not having fun.

CARL turns to her.

CARL
Is this what you want?

Beat.

He looks away from her.

CARL
I really ****ed up.

He looks at her.

CARL
I'm sorry.

He turns from her again.

CARL (cont'd)
I'm so ****in' sorry...

Beat.

AMORRAN
Do you want me to leave?

CARL stops for a moment and stares into her eyes.

CARL
Amorran...is this all...

He motions his hands around.

CARL (cont'd)
...my creation...

Beat.

CARL
I mean is it unique...my own
personal Hell or redemption...just
for me...

AMORRAN
No.

CARL
My friends, the people I met...are
they just part of an illusion or
are they real?

AMORRAN
They are your friends Carl.

CARL begins to tear up and closes his eyes as the tears run
down his face.

CARL
Why are they here...?

CARL opens his eyes and looks around.

CARL
I really don't like this place.

AMORRAN points to the corner of the fence where a two foot
wide exit lies.

CARL looks at it.

CARL
I appreciate this.

AMORRAN
Just go.

He looks at her for a moment then runs to the entrance of the
trench and leaves.

AMORRAN looks very worried.



INT. TRENCH

CARL walks down the very narrow bricked and fenced trench.
Vines have grown all over and inside the fence. He takes his
time because the trench seems to go on forever; he cannot see
an end to it.

DARK VOICE (O.S.)
Carl...

CARL turns around and sees a rotten being staring at him with
his bright eyes. It is his own, parasite infested corpse.

CARL runs.

CARL
Oh...please...!

CARL looks back and sees that he's a lot closer yet he's
standing still and continues to stare.

CARL keeps running.

CARL
Please...please don't...!

CARL looks back again and he's very close.

CARL looks as though he's having a panic attack. He
desperately runs as fast as he can.

CARL
Amorran...HELP ME!

He starts to run out of energy.

CARL
AMORRAN...please help...

CARL trips over his own feet and falls to the ground. CARL
crawls further until he reaches someone. He looks up. AMORRAN
is standing over him.

He gets up and wraps his arms around her. She holds him.

CARL
Please...make it go away...

She continues to hold him until the creature gets right up to
CARL's back.

CARL closes his eyes.

CARL
Please...

The creature reaches out.

CUT TO:



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - RESTROOM FACILTY - NIGHT

CARL slowly opens his eyes.

They're now in a large filthy men's room. Many urinals and
toilet are stationed randomly about but no concealment exists
around them.

The floors, walls, and ceilings are stained yellow with
smears of dirt and scum.

CARL still clings to AMORRAN, tears still running down his
face.

He slowly lets her go and looks around.

CARL
Where am I now?

He turns around and finds that he is alone.

CARL
Amorran?

Her name falls dead within the dark room.

CARL
AMORRAN!

Still nothing. Not even an echo is replied.

He walks out of the dirty restroom.



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - MAIN FACILTY

CARL walks out into the main area of this industrial world.

Before him in this abnormally large building is a huge, sea
sized tank, filled with rotting urine and a few other
objects.

One of these objects floats to the glass and CARL recognizes
it.

CARL
Grandma...grandpa...

The two aged corpses cling to each other and seemed to have
died while making love within the human waste.

CARL drops to his knees.

CARL
This must be Hell...it has to be...

He looks up and notices a ladder on the tank that leads to a
walkway.

CARL
But I'm not gonna stay here.

CARL gets up and climbs the ladder.



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - THE UPPER LEVELS

CARL makes it to the walkway to discover that there is no
cover on the tank, allowing the stink of urine fill his
nostrils.

He covers his nose and mouth.

CARL
I hate the smell of urine...

He walks down the grated path till he reaches a section where
it is completely enclosed.

The mirky water glows and reveals to him a grated maze above
the fluid. All the rotting corpses can be seen floating
around.

Beat.

It's a long path but he is not deterred as he continues to
walk through this nightmarish creation.

DISSOLVE TO:



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - THE UPPER LEVELS -
MOMENTS LATER

CARL has walked the maze for a long time.

He sees the wall ahead of him open up, showing him an end to
this maze.

CARL runs for the exit.

Suddenly, the grated floor falls out from under him and he
drops down into the disgusting liquid.



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - THE URINE TANK

CARL forces himself up and immediately screams. The dead
bodies float towards him. Some even reach out.

He tries to swim away to the wall where he say the exit.

The corpses grab ahold of him pull him back under the human
fluid, he takes in an unwanted mouthful.

CARL punches and kicks at the creatures until they let go of
him. He swims back up, spits out the rank waters, and keeps
swimming to the wall.

He reaches the wall to see that it is actually not made of
cement but of flesh.

He grabs a vein and pulls himself out of the urine.

As CARL climbs the vein, it begins to pulsate and throb. The
liquid below even begins to become more wild; as if the
entire area is becoming so how aroused by his interaction.



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - THE UPPER LEVELS

He makes it to the top. He frantically kicks at the grating
that blocks him from leaving this nightmare.

The metallic grating gives way and bleeds at the broken tips.

As soon as it's wide enough for him to enter, CARL jumps
through it and runs through the opening.



INT. INDUSTRIAL RESIDENTIAL WORLD - LONG HALLWAY

CARL runs down the long, dark hallway. He's exhausted but he
pushes himself as he sees a light at the end.

When he makes it to the light's source, he despairs.

CARL
No...not this...

He stands before his only way out, the Haunted House
attraction.

Beat.

CARL sighs.

CARL
Well...I can't run forever...

He enters the attraction.



INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - HALLWAY

CARL walks into the 1800's decorated hallway.

Fancy paintings and old mirrors fill the small room. At the
end of the hall is an opening that is covered over by a
velvet curtain.

CARL looks at the curtain in the back.

Sound: Wind rushing from behind the curtain.

He starts getting nervous again but knows what lies behind
him.

He walks forward.

Sound: Voices murmuring from behind the curtain.

He continues until he finally reaches the dark velvet
curtain.

CARL pulls the curtain to the side.

Nothing is seems to be inside except for darkness. Lonely
darkness.

A wind starts blowing and he's pulled right into the void.



INT. HAUNTED HOUSE - THE VOID

CARL tumbles aimlessly through the void.

VOICE (O.S.)
Please...please don't...I'm begging
you...

Sound: Gunshot.

CUT TO:



INT. CITY STREET - NIGHT

CARL holds a smoking gun over a dead body.

CARL
What have I done...

The blood covered corpse gets up.

CORPSE
You...killed me...

The corpse begins morphing into many other people of all
different genders, ages and races. Even a pregnant woman.

CORPSE
You killed all of us...

CARL
I know...I know I did...

CORPSE
Why...why did you kill us...?

The corpse turns into a little girl who's no older than
fourteen.

CORPSE CHILD
Why did you kill me?

CARL starts crying.

CARL
You saw me kill someone...I
couldn't let you live...

A shotgun blast takes off one of CARL's legs at the knee. He
screams and falls over.

A group of men surround him. Each of them are armed but one
of them holds a shotgun.

VIGILANTE
You son of a *****...you
murderer...

CARL struggles to get up.

CARL
Yes...yes I am a murderer...

VIGILANTE
Those people you killed, they had
families. People who cared about
them and loved them! What do you
have to say for yourself, monster.

CARL
I'm sorry...

VIGILANTE
You're "sorry"!

CARL
I know..."sorry" isn't good
enough...it will never be
enough...I can never bring any of
them back from the dead...I can
never undo my evil actions...I AM a
monster...

CARL looks up at the VIGILANTE.

CARL
Do what you have to do. I deserve
anything that I have coming.

The VIGILANTE's shotgun goes off and the blast rips through
CARL's throat.

CARL falls to the ground, choking on his own blood.

He doesn't fight it. He just lies there, letting the warm
liquid fill his lungs and consume him.

The VIGILANTES just stand and watch.

A large puddle of blood forms under him very quickly.

CARL slowly stops twitching as his heart goes still. His eyes
roll back and his body starts sinking down into the red ooze
until he falls through it.

CUT TO:



INT. ENORMOUS COLOSSEUM - DAY

Sound: Footsteps echoing and people talking.

CARL falls to the marble floor. The wound on his neck is gone
and he is not covered in any liquid.

He blinks a few times, getting his vision in order.

CARL gets up and looks around. They are people of every
different culture and species walking around.

The place is even larger than most of the other realms, only
this one looks very new and very clean, even though the
design is an old style.

CARL
I made it...I made out off there...

VOICE (O.S.)
There he is!

CARL looks over to see a group of NAZIS

CARL
Not these guys again!

CARL runs through the crowds.

He passes many pillars and then jumps around and hides behind
one.

Beat.

The NAZIS run right pass him.

CARL takes off opposite from their direction only to run into
the party go'ers who he angered earlier.

PARTY GUEST
That's the guy!

CARL runs from them.

CARL
Where are these people coming from!

The creatures from the cinema multiplex come from around the
corner and head his way.

CARL
Damn it!

CARL darts out of the colosseum.



EXT. ENORMOUS COLOSSEUM

CARL looks around.

Outside the colosseum is covered with various decorations and
different colored ropes coming off the building and across a
bright, sparkling river.

CARL
Where am I suppose to go now?

ERICA (O.S.)
Carl! Over here!

CARL sees his friends on a rail-less lift on the other side
of the sparkling river.

CARL
Erica!

The lift starts being raised.

JULIE
Quick! Get on!

CARL runs to the river. Just as he grabs one of the ropes,
all his enemies come pouring out of the colosseum.

CARL screams and swings across the river. As soon he gets
close, he jumps to the lift.

He barely makes it and clings onto the edge.

ERICA, RONALD and JULIE pull him up.

CARL looks back down, they are now a few thousand feet into
the air and just going higher and higher.

CARL
Where does this go?

ERICA
Where do you think?

JULIE points out to a large, docked ship that floats in the
sky. The spiral slide can be seen in the distance.

JULIE
The spaceship.

ERICA
I'm glad you made it. I was a
little worried after we lost you.

CARL
I was too. Don't worry, I will
never separate from you ever again.

The lift floats over to the spacecraft.



INT. SPACESHIP

They enter the spaceship and make their way to some seats as
the engine starts up.

ERICA
Okay, looks like we made it just in
time. Find a seat and buckle up.

They all sit down and put on their seat-belts.



EXT. SPACESHIP

The docking station breaks off from the ship and shatters to
the planet below.

The engines fire up and the spacecraft takes off up into the
sky.



INT. SPACESHIP

The entire ship rumbles and CARL looks out the window.

He watches the blue sky disappear and the familiar blackness
take over.



EXT. SPACE

The ship soars away from the planet at great speed and
follows the great spiral all the way out into the darkness.

DISSOLVE TO:



INT. SPACESHIP - HOURS LATER

CARL and his friends sit patiently but with anticipation.

ERICA
Now that we're close to the end, I
feel that you deserve to know more
about what's going on.

CARL
Thank you. I feel like I've just
been thrown around to some random
point to another.

ERICA
I know. I bet its all been very
confusing to you.

CARL
It has.

ERICA
What this is...Redemptio...its some
kind of purgatory. A place of
redemption if you will. Every fear
you ever had, every sin that you
ever committed, this place comes at
you with it; if death had not made
a true change within your heart.

CARL
That explains the drugs, the party,
being on the villains side in an
imaginary world.

ERICA
That's right. Even something as
simple as swearing and social
timidity is worked on. And your
fear of the dark, of heights, and
other horrors. Even we as your
friends and your enemies we are
here to either help you or hurt you
on your journey.

CARL
All to build my soul up?

ERICA
Yes, To make you whole. To make you
worthy of being in a higher realm.

CARL
How is it that you have not passed
on?

Beat.

ERICA
I'm...I cannot go into that right
now. I'm here...I EXIST to help
you. We all do.
We're almost to the end. We will be
reaching Glacialis Mundus soon.

CARL
What is that place?

ERICA
It's an ice world. Great glacier
mountains and vast oceans.

CARL
So once we hit this planet, we'll
just have to climb?

ERICA
Unfortunately its not going to be
that easy.

CARL
I kinda figured.

ERICA
There's no place to land anywhere
near its location. And we can't
land in the ocean.

CARL looks worried.

CARL
Do we have to swim?

ERICA
We have no choice.

Her words hit him hard.

ERICA
I know your fear of water, Carl. I
was hoping your experience earlier
would have conquered it but the
"powers that be" have made this
your final test.

CARL
Seems fitting. I've had a fear of
water ever since I nearly drown as
a kid. It's stuck with me my whole
life.

ERICA
Well, I hope you're ready for
what's to come.



EXT. SPACE

The spacecraft flies towards the bright, white world where
the spiral slide ends.



EXT. GLACIALIS MUNDUS - INFINITE NIGHT

The coldest realm of Redemptio, Glacialis Mundus. The whole
land is nothing but snow and glaciers.

The sky itself contains nothing; no stars, no
clouds...nothing except infinite blackness.

There is no wind.

The ship lands and they exit the large craft.

CARL looks around and sees extraordinarily tall mountains on
the horizon.

ERICA
Beautiful, isn't it?

CARL
It's amazing.

Outside of CARL and his friends, there are no other creatures
around.

MEGAN
We better get moving.

JULIE
Yeah, its a long way from here.

CARL and the others begin their journey into the tundra.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. GLACIALIS MUNDUS - MOMENTS LATER

They finally get close to a waveless ocean.

CARL
All right.

Everyone starts taking off their jackets and boots.

ERICA
You ready?

CARL takes off his last boot.

CARL
Yeah.

They all walk into the water slowly.

As the water raises higher and higher, CARL becomes more and
more nervous. It finally goes over his waist.

CARL
How far are we goin'?

ERICA
All the way.

CARL closes his eyes.

They keep walking until the ice cold water reaches their
chests.

CARL
Its so...cold...

ERICA
You'll warm up after the first
dozen miles.

The water finally comes up below their necks.

CARL
Erica...I don't...think...

ERICA
Start swimming!

CARL picks his feet off the moist sand below and brings
himself up to the surface of the water. Everyone else does
the same.

They all begin swimming across the water.

As they swim out, the icy land behind them sinks into the
water.

DISSOLVE TO:



EXT. GLACIALIS MUNDUS - THE OCEAN - HOURS LATER

CARL and his friends have been swimming for hours. CARL is
still terrified as he franticly continues to swim.

He stops and swims around in place.

CARL
I...I can't do this...

ERICA swims to him.

ERICA
Carl! You have to conquer your
fear! If you don't we'll never
reach the end of this!

CARL
I'm sorry, Erica...I just
can't...I'm too...

CARL sinks under the water like a rock.



INT. OCEAN

CARL sinks lower and lower into the water.

All his efforts to swim up fail as he is pulled to the
bottom.

Beat.

A hand reaches out, grabs a hold of his wrist, and pulls him
up.



EXT. GLACIALIS MUNDUS - THE OCEAN

ERICA pulls him to the surface of the water.

ERICA
I'm not you drown this time!

CARL coughs up the water and fights to stay up.

ERICA (cont'd)
You have to keep swimming! If you
sink, you'll be sent back to the
beginning! Swim, Carl! Swim!

ERICA starts swimming and CARL follows her.

ERICA (cont'd)
Fight your fear Carl, you have to!

CARL keeps swimming faster and faster until it hits him.

CARL
I can't swim to get out...I have to
not be afraid to be here forever.

CARL slows down until he's just leisurely swimming. At the
same time, he begins to calm down.

Beat.

The world begins shaking and up ahead, a building rises out
from the water and with it, a beach.



EXT. GLACIALIS MUNDUS - THE ISLAND

CARL and his friends swim to shore.

ERICA
You made it, Carl.

CARL
WE made it.



INT. RESORT HOTEL

They enter the luxury hotel. It's the most lush and fancy
place CARL has ever seen.

CARL
This is heaven?

MEGAN giggles.

ERICA smiles at him.

ERICA
Not yet.

DISSOLVE TO:



INT. RESORT HOTEL - CARL'S ROOM

CARL finishes getting dressed. He looks at himself in the
mirror.

He smiles confidently at himself before leaving the room.



INT. RESORT HOTEL - ARCADE

CARL enters the arcade where his friends enjoy many of the
video games.

He sees ERICA and goes to her.

CARL
Hey you.

ERICA
Hey Carl!

CARL
So this it? This will be the last
time we see each other?

ERICA
Unfortunately, yes.

CARL
Alright. Then there's something I
need to talk to you about.

ERICA
What is it, Carl?

CARL
Are you really Amorran?

ERICA stops playing the video game. She turns to him.

ERICA
I'm...not really her...I MADE
her...

CARL
So, you're actually damned?

ERICA
Yes...my punishment, instead of
Hell, is to lead others to
redemption and watch as they passed
on...

CARL
What happened?

ERICA
Carl...I wasn't the innocent girl
that you and everyone around me
thought I was...I had a darker
side...like you, I got involved in
drugs but I also found pleasure
in...other things...I found
enjoyment in hurting people and
making them suffer...later I found
enjoyment in killing...then one
day, one of my victims managed to
get away and ran me down with their
car...I ended up here and given the
knowledge that what I must do for
eternity...I made a guise for
myself and a new name after I met
others who I had once known;
obviously further punishment for
me...I was ashamed at who I was and
chose to hide myself, only showing
my true form during their
journeys...

CARL
They can't still be making you do
this...you're the purist being I've
seen in this world...

ERICA
I'm sorry Carl but I'm not...I am
only this way after being others to
something that I will never see...

CARL begins to weep.

CARL
This is not fair. You deserve to be
there more than me.

ERICA
No, Carl. I don't. And it's time
for you to pass on.

CARL
Not without you!

ERICA
You have to! Otherwise all I did
was for nothing! Please, Carl...

CARL looks down.

CARL
But I love you...

She holds him and kisses him.

ERICA
It's time...

She turns him to a door within the arcade.

CARL stands walking towards the door. He stops and turns to
her.

CARL
Goodbye, Erica.

CARL goes into the room.

ERICA
Goodbye...



INT. MYSTERIOUS HALLWAY

A short, spiral hallway leads to a shining room at the end.

He walks down the hall. When he gets to end, he is now upside
down from where he first entered the room.

CARL enters the next room.



INT. MYSTERIOUS ROOM

CARL walks into the next section to see the slide; which is
now made of crystal and has handlebars.

There are no walls, just infinite space and thousands of
galaxies that can be seen in the distance. And an old
friend...

TIMOTHY
So you finally made it...huh
Carl...

CARL
Timothy? What are you doing here?

TIMOTHY
Let's ride down the slide Carl.
It'll be GREAT. It's the longest
****ing slide you'll ever be on!
It'll last for almost an eternity!

CARL
I can't...

TIMOTHY
Come on! Stay! We can play forever!

CARL
No Timothy...no more games...

TIMOTHY
Alright...I understand...

CARL starts walking towards the slide.

Beat.

TIMOTHY grabs him and tries to throw him off the edge.

TIMOTHY
You son of a *****! If you won't
stay, I'll MAKE YOU stay!

TIMOTHY punches him in the mouth and trips him, nearly
sending CARL over.

TIMOTHY
Did you really think I'd let you
leave!

TIMOTHY hits him.

TIMOTHY
I will make you stay still the
stars burn out!

TIMOTHY hits him again.

TIMOTHY
I will make sure you NEVER make it
to the top!

TIMOTHY goes to hit him again but CARL grabs his arm and
kicks him upward, sending him off the edge.

TIMOTHY grabs his arm as CARL holds his.

TIMOTHY
Please don't do this Carl...we're
best friends...

CARL
Not anymore.

CARL pulls his arm out from him and TIMOTHY screams as he
falls through the universe.

Beat.

CARL turns his attention to the slide. He gets on it and
starts climbing.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

CARL climbs patiently up the now majestic looking slide. The
takes each step carefully and slowly, clinging to the
handlebars.

The galaxy filled sky around him begins to brighten till it
becomes completely white. And as he gets further up, the
slide starts to become more level.

CARL walks up the tongue until he steps into a metallic pod
melded along the way.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE - POD

CARL enters the tiny pod.

Two very, very small, fifteen inch tall children sit along
the walls of the pod. They giggle as they watch him.

CARL
How much further is it to the top?

The two creatures look at each other and burst out into
laughter.

CARL
So you're gonna be no help? That's
alright, I'm sure its not much
farther.

CARL begins walking across and one of the kids trip him.

He falls face first.

CARL
What...

The other one is already on his feet and he kicks CARL in the
mouth. He clamps his hands over his mouth and moans in agony.

CARL
(Muffled)
You little...!

Both the creatures grab CARL by the ears and pull him back by
the way down.

CARL cries out in pain and grabs the two creatures by the
neck. They cry as CARL seems willing to kill them then and
there.

Instead, CARL tosses them to the other end of the pod.

CARL
No...I won't kill...not again...not
even for this.

CARL turns around to get back onto the slide.

The two tiny creatures go to rush him, in an attempt to knock
him down the slide.

But CARL is ready for them, he just simply steps aside and
trips them. The two creatures fall, face first, down the
crystal slide.

CARL smiles to himself as he goes back to climbing.



INT. THE SKYWARD SLIDE

CARL keeps climbing up the slide.

He keeps going until it levels out and becomes a straight
path.

A gateway begins to materialise around him as he walks.



INT. END OF THE LINE

CARL gets to the end of the gateway and a being dressed in
holy garments appears before him.

GATEWAY GUARDIAN
So you have made it?

CARL
I have.

GATEWAY GUARDIAN
What have you learned from this
experience?

CARL
That I was wicked in life.

GATEWAY GUARDIAN
What is the meaning of life?

Beat.

CARL
To be more. Not to be better than
others but to be better than
yourself.

GATEWAY GUARDIAN
You have learned many things in
your life and much more in your
death. You have passed the trials
and gained the necessary
enlightenment. Are you ready to
pass on, Carl?

CARL
I am.

GATEWAY GUARDIAN
Welcome to paradise.

Light fills the area and CARL is lifted upward. His body
glows as he blends with the light.



INT. PARADISE

CARL materializes within the great city of Paradise.

The entire place looks as though its made of crystal,
diamonds and other precious jewels.

An incredibly large number of people inhabit this ultimate
civilization. Several people walk around but many are also
flying.

Buildings float throughout the air and go as far as the eyes
can see.

Flowers and trees are grown all over the structures and
connect to the ones in the sky. Many planets, moons, and
galaxies also fill the sky.

CARL is overwhelmed not other by the sight but also by the
instant knowledge of its layout.

CARL
Everything...how is it that I what
what everything is...

He looks over at the central structure in the sky. It has an
innumerable number of steps leading from the ground to it's
entrance, though it lacks any sort of foundation.

CARL
The Great Cathedral...I must talk
to The One.

CARL floats into the sky and towards the grand building.



INT. THE GREAT CATHEDRAL

CARL enters the holy structure.

No walls are within this place, just the sight of the great
city surrounding it.

Diamond steps lead to the top but CARL just flies up to where
he needs to be.

He reaches a huge doorway and it opens to him; as if was
expecting his presence before he even arrived. He lands onto
the clear floor and walks in.



INT. THE GREAT CATHEDRAL - THE HOLY ONE'S CHAMBER

CARL walks into the void. Galaxies now surround him.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
So you have questions my son.

CARL
I do but you know what I am going
to talk about.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Yes. But the words are yours to
say. Not mine to ask.

CARL
I come regarding one of the damned.
A resident of redemption.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Erica.

CARL
Yes.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Her kind is forbidden to our realm.

CARL
I know that but she has changed!
She knows what she did was wrong
and she has paid for it.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
That does not matter. She made her
choice in life and in death.

CARL
Please! She is the only reason I
made it HERE.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Her fate is sealed and she has her
place now.

CARL sighs.

CARL
Then take me instead. Let her into
Paradise and let me lead the
astray.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Do you know the ramifications of
your actions?

CARL
I do. And it is worth it.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
You will never again be able to
enter our realm.

CARL
I understand.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Very well.

ERICA appears before them.

ERICA
What's going on?

CARL
You're passing on, Erica.

ERICA
Why?

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
He will be taking your place, my
child.

ERICA
No! You can't let him do this!

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
It is his choice.

ERICA
But I am not worth it!

CARL
Yes you are, Erica. That world is
no place for you. You deserve to be
in Paradise.

ERICA holds him.

ERICA
Carl...please don't do this...

CARL
I have to.

They kiss.

ERICA
I love you, Carl. This will not be
my paradise without you...it will
be my Hell knowing that you gave it
up for me.

ERICA turns to the void.

ERICA
Please! What ever you are, do not
let him do this! You will be
exiling a good man!

ERICA being crying.

ERICA
Please...please don't do this...

Beat.

HOLY BEING (O.S.)
Carl, it appears that you are
right. This being is worthy of
entering Paradise. You both may
stay.

ERICA goes to CARL and holds him again. They embrace amongst
the galaxies.

They exit the void, holding hands. Going to off begin their
eternity together.




The End
 
Last edited:

arkvoodle

Diabolical
Joined
Sep 20, 2008
Location
Somewhere
Wonderful Lazarus! Simply wonderful! I'm quite a fan of the format you used, and the writing is just exceptional. The dialogue is interesting, and the scenes you created were quite captivating and interesting. I liked the flow of the whole thing and the scene jumps. It all filters in to a very good story that really leaves an impression- a sign of good writing, wouldn't you know.

Excellent work. I give your subconscious an A+!
 

The Joker

<span style="text-shadow:2px 2px 4px Purpl
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Location
At Amusement Mile
Thanks! I did my best to make a coherant story out of my dreams, this was the first time I had ever attemted to make ANY SENSE out of my dreams too. There definately needs some improvement in places; the ending is too Deus Ex Machina for my taste and I wish I dreamt of something that wrapped it up a little better. Anyways, thank you for your comment!
 

theoathtoorder

“Zinga-dingding!”
Joined
May 10, 2012
lazarus,
great job. pardon me for bringing up a previous thread but have you ever thought about why you felt down? you are an artist. artist's feel things much more deeply...that is how they are able to keep creating from the destruction. keep it up man! I would say anytime you feel down- your method of coping should be to write!! thanks for sharing your gift. I hope I didn't get too Oprah on your ***.

peace
 

The Joker

<span style="text-shadow:2px 2px 4px Purpl
Joined
Nov 24, 2011
Location
At Amusement Mile
Well, most of my life, I used art as a means to vent my feelings. For a few years (Up until these past couple of days), I had been focusing on other things, not any kind of art; unless you can consider fan-edits of movies as an outlet, which didn't do much for me.

I will go into detail as to why I feel the way I do sometime in the future once I've developed the strength to do so.

Thank you for your comment, I was a little worried about how this work would be seen since it is something that is not your casual story or Hero's Journey. Plus, its a first draft lol
 

theoathtoorder

“Zinga-dingding!”
Joined
May 10, 2012
therein lies your problem "I had been focusing on other things, not any kind of art". even through cases of writer's block you must continue. it is part of who you are apparently. i know if i get down my husband (and best friend) tells me..."kate- you need to go play...kate you need to go write...or let's go to a concert". celebrate your creativity and remember- we are meant to share experiences.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top Bottom