Angels on a Bullet
A screenplay by Jordan Mounteer
INt. large office - night
The first shot is of a jittery man called Eugene (17) whose sitting at the end of a table, his feet nervously tapping on the floor, and both his arms resting on the table.
The shot fades to a similar shot of another man, very confident and staring straight ahead at Eugene, his arms crossed.  Robert (17) is the head of Angels on a Bullet. 
After awhile he uncrosses his arms, and we see that a Glock automatic pistol is in one of his hands, hidden until now by his posture.  He brings the gun up and sets it down on the table gently.
Then slowly he looks up...
Eugene stiffens and his jaw is clenched and tight.
Robert smiles a little grin, gathers himself by clearing his throat, and looks back at Eugene with a pair of startlingly penetrating eyes.
Robert
Redemption.  The purging, the liquidation of animosity and sin.  It's a beautiful word.  It's synonymous, to me at least, with the ultimate avenue of our sapien potential.  
The gift of vindication.  Something...so divine, that in its irony finds refuge within the sordid shell of humanity.  
And consequently, is the reason you're here, isn't it?
Eugene nods...
Robert sits back and bites his lip...
RoberT (CONT'D)
You wanna talk about it?  Maybe give us a better idea of what happened.  
Eugene
It's...it's pretty simple, really.  I mean....I've already told you just about everything...
RoberT
Just about.
(beat)
Sometimes its the smallest things that matter the most...carry the most weight.  We can only help you if you're honest with us. 
Eugene
(taking a hint)
Listen, it wasn't my fault.  But....but it happened anyways.  You know how it is....when, something just gets outta hand.  You don't mean for it to happen, but...it does.
ROBERT
Go on.
Eugene
(deep in though, remembering)
My wife.  Alexa.  Wow, she's...well she's just amazing.  Its like when you find that one person in the whole world who you know you wanna spend thes rest of your life with.  That's what it was like, with Alexa and me.  
(pause)
But...after awhile, that fire you have for each other.  I don't think it ever really dies, not if it's special.  But you get used to it.  You....start to wonder what you're missing.  You start wondering what things might be if....
Eugene wanders off.
Eugene (CONT'D)
Anyways...I came home from work one night and noticed that there was another car in the driveway.  A CRV.  We...we don't own a CRV.  
I went inside and fixed myself some tea.  Two cups.  One for me, one for Alexa.  And...and I started to walk...up the stairs.  I came to our bedroom and heard...sounds.  I figured it was the television.  Alexa is always watching those stupid soap operas while she waits for me to come home.
So I opened the door.  And...the T.V. was on.  And...there was a man on top of her, in bed.
I ran forward, I...was so full of anger, I just ripped him off her with one hand.  He slammed against the far wall, made a giant dent in the dry wall.  I didn't realize how strong I had become, but when I saw that his head had painted a red streak down the wall I just didn't care.  I don't know if I knew it then...or whether it dawned on me when I picked him up.  He was dead.  And I felt...like I was invincible.  It's funny...the way murdering a man makes you feel more alive than you've ever been.....like you'd think you'd feel sick, get that knot in your stomach...but it doesn't work that way.  You just get stronger.....
Robert
Rage has that tendency.  
Eugene 
How would you know??
RoBERT
(amused)
You don't think I've lived this long and never been pissed off, do you?  But you gotta learn to curb those emotions.  Kinda like the trips you take with your parents when you're a kid...and you're brother or sister won't leave you the fuck alone.  And all you wanna do at that precise moment is sledgehammer their heads in...
(pause)
However, after awhile....if you're smart....you just ignore them.  You keep all that frustration in, and if you can last, then your sibling gets tired and gives up.
Everybody's a winner.
Eugene
I wish I had your restraint.
Robert
It's...an acquired skill.  But please, I interrupted you....continue.
Eugene
(begins again)
Well after I went over to him....looked at him, I knew he was dead.  The fucker wasn't breathing.  And there was blood everywhere.  The floor was just a giant puddle.  And Alexa....she was screaming at me.  Just wailing her head off.  I told her to shut up....by now, I was trying figure things out.  I knew what was going on.  It was her fault, dammit!!  
And she got up, screaming, and started to throw things at me.  I....I tried to tell her to stop, but I...I just couldn't.  The words froze in my throat.
She wouldn't stop!!  So I....I walked over to her and grabbed her, threw her down.  I just wanted it quiet.  But no...she had to keep screaming, so I bent down...and...her neck was so warm.  And then suddenly, she wasn't screaming.  It was quiet.  But I..I didn't even notice.  Heh....when I saw that her eyes were closed I think I finally stopped.  I got up...I....poured myself a glass of milk.  And....I got in the car and just...drove.
ROBERT
And here you are....haha....immortal providence.
Eugene
What do you mean by that?
Robert
What I mean by that is...everyone like you ends up here.  It's like a giant funnel.  A blackhole of sin.  Separates the uh...worthy, from the unworthy.  I dunno....moral natural selection right?
Eugene
(after a long pause)
You're card...it says you could help people that have problems.  Well I told you everything now help me.
Robert
(stands up and fiddles with the gun)
That's right.  Let me ask you a question.  Do you believe in second chances?   
Eugene
Not if we're talking about mine.
Robert
I can help you Eugene.  In one of two ways.  I can make you look at your life so that you realize you actually have something to live for.  That you can turn it all around and avoid method two.  
(beat)
On the other hand, method two is also available...for a price.
Eugene
I brought money.  That's not a concern.  
Robert
Okay, have it your way.  But you still haven't answered me.  You wanna do this the hard way or the quick way??
Eugene
The quick way.
Robert
(hesitates)
Okay I have another question for you.  
(beat)
How many angels can you fit on the tip of a bullet?
Eugene
What?  
Robert
How many angels..can you fit on the tip of a bullet?
Eugene
I...I don't know.
Robert
It's a rhetorical question.  Nobody knows how big an angel is, so you can't truthfully answer.
(pause)
Subsequently, a bullet is an instrument of evil, so an angel couldn't exist on the tip of one if it wanted to.
Robert smirks, walks around the table and picks up the gun, holding it below his waist.
Robert (CONT'D)
Angels On A Bullet, you understand, assume no responsibility for any....earthly inconvenience that might occur as a result of your transcendence?
Eugene nods.
EUGENE
I do.  
Robert
However, in that instance, and if you're payment is suitable and to our specifications, you are guaranteed salvation.  Is that what you want?
Eugene
Yeah.  I think so...
Robert clears his throat, uncomfortably, realizing that Eugene is NOT ready for transcedence.
Robert
Do you know why Angels On A Bullet was first created?  Why it was necessary for our services to exist?? 
Eugene
No...I...don't know.  I just saw your company in the phone book.
Robert
Oh.  Well let me enlighten you.  Its said...that when you die, your whole life flashes before you eyes.  Think about that for a minute.  40, 50, 60, 70, 80 years of experience, memories.  All of your fantasies, your dreams, your prides, your regrets.  All of it...condensed down to one infintesimal moment before it all goes dark.
Like...watching the longest movie in history in the shortest amount of time imaginable.  Ah..haha..it's kinda overwhelming if you try and wrap your mind around it.  I must say...I don't even try anymore.  I just...let it be.
(pause)
But that brings me to our origins.  If you go by what I just said, then everything in your life is played back through your eyes.  All the terrible things, the brutal, uncompromising scenes of the most gruesome parts of your life become as vivid and lucid as everything else. 
We had to...enrich our ethics in order to compensate for this little debacle.  When you start growing wings, the last thing Angels On A Bullet wants is for you to start being brainwashed by the concentrated sorrow and rancour and agony of your life. 
It's..often a question that comes up.  What they'll see the moment they die.  Are you afraid of what you'll see, Eugene?
Eugene doesn't answer, but it's obvious he does.
Robert (CONT'D)
Well don't worry, my friend.  We have devices implemented to prevent you from being swayed to the dark side, okay.  Ahha..you not fear.
Eugene
Salvation at the end of a bullet.  That's a...strange paradox.
Robert
The second ultimate irony.  Passage to the Holy Realm through the instrument of a more Southern vicinity.  Don't worry...it doesn't hurt.  
Eugene
I'm not worried about that.
After a long pause, Robert looks back at Eugene.
RoBERT
Well, lets not hold it off too long, or you might lose nerve.  You ready?
Eugene nods and closes his eyes, trembling and crying as Robert lifts the gun up and holds it against Eugene's forehead.  Eugene is muttering something in staggered breaths, his eyes still closed, as the gun touches his forehead.
RoBERT (CONT'D)
I forgive you.....
FaDE TO BLACK.
The shot fades to utter blackness and suddenly...
BANG!!!!!
The End.