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For Whom The Bell Tolls



Tom Griffin


















FADE IN

SCENE 1: Int. SEDRICK'S Apartment, a darkened room- Night

A figure sits hunched over a small table in the corner. The only light 
comes from a desk lamp. The sound of a pen can be heard scribbling 
quickly over the page. SEDRICK is writing his poem. 


				SEDRICK [mumbling]:
		No, that's not it. Fuck! Mmm… fuck! How did I forget it?

SEDRICK throws a paper ball over his head back into the darkness. 

				SEDRICK:
		Wait! I remember now. It's… it's:

SEDRICK speaks clearly and loudly:

				SEDRICK:
		And the day I die
		Many will fall
		No, it won't just be I
		I'll kill them all.

SEDRICK'S face is revealed: his hair is a mess; a scar runs across his 
forehead. An evil grin covers his face as he begins breathing deeply. 
The page is revealed before him- the poem has been written in messy 
blotchy black ink. He stands up and walks off into the darkness. The 
sound of a light switch is heard and the overhead flickers on. The 
small bedroom is revealed- the walls are covered in this poem in many 
different colours and designs.

								FADE TO:

SCENE 2: INT. Bus, Top deck- Day

SEDRICK is sitting down the back of the bus with a shoulder bag beside 
him. The camera is centred on him as the bus moves along. 
A high-pitched piercing noise can be heard inside SEDRICK'S head. He 
grips his head and rubs hard at the scar on his forehead. He breathes 
heavily and begins growling; other passengers look concerned.

				
SEDRICK [animal voice]:
		Tick-tock six O'clock! [BEAT]
		Oh yes six tix-tox tix-tox…
		Soon… soon you will all know true fear!


As SEDRICK continues his voice grows louder. Other passengers shift 
uncomfortably in their sits. 

				SEDRICK [animal voice]:
		Yes they will all know my wrath.
		And they will die knowing true fear!

SEDRICK stands as he says this last line, his bag over his shoulder. He 
stretches his arms out and bows his head. 

				SEDRICK [roaring voice]:
		And the day I die
		Many will fall
		No it won't just be I
		I'll kill them all!

He lowers his arms and begins walking up the aisle, he has an evil grin 
on his face and breaths heavily.

				Elderly Male Passenger:
		Get off the bus you fucking nut!

SEDRICK stops beside him, still staring forwards.

				SEDRICK [quiet growl]:
		What did you say?

				ELDERLY MALE PASSENGER:
I said get off the bus you nut. Can't you see you're scaring everyone?

SEDRICK turns his head slowly towards the man.

				SEDRICK:
		Oh, I know they are frightened.

He leans close to the man and stares him straight in the eyes. The 
noses touch.

				SEDRICK:
		And they should be- for the hour of doom is near.
He pulls away quickly and speaks loudly.

				SEDRICK:
		But it is not here yet. Six o'clock

SEDRICK darts forwards and runs quickly down the stairs. He gets off 
the bus at the next bus stop.

CUT TO: 

EXT. CITY, A RUNDOWN STREET- AFTERNOON.

SEDRICK crosses the road ignoring the fast moving traffic. He looks up 
at a clock on the side of the building- it reads 14:23. SEDRICK smiles 
as he walks to a post box. He opens his bag and takes out a bundle of 
envelopes.

				SEDRICK [whispering to himself]:
		A poem for this newspaper. 
[He drops an envelope into the letterbox.]
		A poem for that newspaper.
[He drops in another]
		A poem for this TV station.
[Another]
		One for that radio station.
[Another]
		And one for the police.
[He drops in the final envelope.]
		

He looks up at the sky and laughs loudly.

				SEDRICK [shouting loudly]:
		And the day I die
		Many will fall 
		No it won't just be I
		I'll kill them all!

He looks down from the sky and realises a young man is staring at him. 

				SEDRICK:
		What is your fucking problem!

				YOUNG MAN [shocked]:
		Nothing, man. Take it easy.
		
				SEDRICK:
		No, no wrong answer. Your problem is [BEAT] me!

				YOUNG MAN: 
		Wow, wow take it easy- I'm sorry.

				SEDRICK:
Your problem is [BEAT] I'm going to mash your face in!

SEDRICK lunges forward at the YOUNG MAN and knocks him to the ground. 
He punches wildly at the man's stomach, chest and face. He pulls a 
chunk of hair from his head. He smacks the man's head of the ground and 
twists his nose hard. 

SEDRICK jumps up and howls at the sky. 

				SEDRICK [pointing at dazed man]:
		Six o'clock!

SEDRICK runs off up the road.

								CUT TO:

INT. POLICE STATION, McCormack's Office- DAY

MCCORMACK is sitting at his desk sipping a cup of coffee. He looks at 
his watch- four o'clock. He sighs.

				MCCORMACK [to himself]:
		Fucking boring.

A knock bangs hard on the thin door.

				MCCORMACK:
		Come in.

ARTHURS swings in on the door.

				ARTHURS:
		Hey McCormack, you busy?

MCCORMACK looks around office then at ARTHURS.

				MCCORMACK:
		Hell no. What's up?

				ARTHURS:
		Want to give us a hand with something?

				MCCORMACK:
		What you mean carrying something or something?

				ARTHURS:
		No I think I might have something.

				MCCORMACK:
		Sit down. I'm all ears.
		
ARTHURS sits down beside him.
		
				ARTHURS:
	Well I got a report around two from a bus driver.   Some nut 
shouting and harassing passengers. Now I thought it was just a standard 
report- some crack head making trouble. The thing is there was an 
attack on that bus route only a few minutes later.

			MCCORMACK:
	So? It's probably a rough neighbourhood right?
				
			ARTHURS:
	Yeah
		
			MCCORMACK:
	Yeah so there were probably five attacks that weren't even 
reported at the same time- you know the stats.

			ARTHURS:
	Yeah I know I know but it's what the crack head was saying on 
the bus that's weird. From what the bus driver heard it was something 
about six o'clock. The guy kept making ticking noises. Some old dear 
thought he had a bomb. 

			MCCORMACK:
	So some whacko was talking shit- happens everyday.
		
			ARTHURS:
	Listen McCormack, I know all this will you just let me finish 
I'm trying to get to something here.
		
			MCCORMACK:
	Well your taking the fucking scenic route with it.
		
			ARTHURS:
	Listen the guy who was attacked said the assailant was putting 
envelopes in a post box and then started shouting some rhyme at the 
sky- scared the shit out of him. After he was attacked the crack head 
shouted six o'clock at him.

			MCCORMACK:
	Where is this victim?

			ARTHURS: 
	He's in James' A&E. He won't be winning any beauty contests with 
what's left of his face- poor bastard.
	
			MCCORMACK:
	So what are you thinking?
		
			ARTHURS:
	Well both reports said something about six o'clock. I think this 
could be big.

			MCCORMACK:
	Okay well I think we should start with that post box maybe he 
left something in it.

			ARTHURS:
	Oh Jesus, McCormack what if it's a bomb?
		
			MCCORMACK:
	It's probably a random attack. Besides, I seriously doubt a 
crack head has a bomb.

MCCORMACK picks up his coat from behind the chair and walks to the 
door.
	
				MCCORMACK:
		Come on.

								CUT TO:

	INT. SEDRICK'S APARTMENT, BEDROOM- DAY.

SEDRICK bursts into the room and moves quickly to a chest in the 
corner.
		
				SEDRICK:
	I'm late. I'm fucking late. It's five already. Tick-tock six 
o'clock.

He opens the chest and pockets a few items before we can see what they 
are.

				SEDRICK:
		And the day I die 
Many will fall
No it won't just be I
I'll kill them all.

SEDRICK charges out the door.

								CUT TO:
		
EXT. CITY, STREET- DAY

SEDRICK runs along the street. He begins chanting the poem and his 
voice builds to a high-pitched scream. He stops suddenly and looks up 
at something off screen and smiles.

								CUT TO:
			
EXT. CITY, CRIME SCENE- DAY

MCCORMACK and ARTHURS are standing at the post box waiting. MCCORMACK 
taps his foot impatiently. A POSTMAN appears.

				MCCORMACK:
You took long enough. We told you we were in a hurry.

		POSTMAN:
I'm sorry I got here as fast as I could in the traffic.

		MCCORMACK:
Just open the fucking thing.

		ARTHURS:
Hey McCormack will you lay off him already. He's doing us a favour.
	

The POSTMAN unlocks the post box.
				
				MCCORMACK:
		Now get out of my way.

MCCORMACK kneels into the box and begins searching the bag.
				
ARTHURS:
		Thanks man we really appreciate it.

				POSTMAN:
Hey are you guys doing the good cop bad cop thing on me?

		ARTHURS:
No he's just an incredible arsehole.

MCCORMACK stands up holding a bunch of envelopes.
	
				MCCORMACK:
		Here open these.

				POSTMAN:
		Hey man that's an offence.

				MCCORMACK [gives a long stare]:
		Are you serious? Go fuck off you little shit!

				ARTHUR:
		Don't worry about it. You can go now. McCormack what if 
he's got anthrax or small pox in here?

				MCCORMACK:
		What's with you? Where the fuck would he get smallpox 
from? [BEAT] Fucking smallpox, I ask you!


ARTHURS opens an envelope. MCCORMACK leans back into the bag. The 
POSTMAN leaves in silence. 

				ARTHURS:
	Here's something. It was addressed to the indo. It's written 
really badly- eh [BEAT] And the something I lie many will something no 
it won't just be I I'll kill them all… oh Jesus.

				MCCORMACK:
	Take it easy it mightn't be nothing. Keep looking.

			ARTHURS:
	McCormack there's ones addressed to RTE, the Herald and 2FM 
here.

			MCCORMACK:
	Yeah well I found one for us.
			
			ARTHURS:
		Us? 

				MCCORMACK:
	Yep, addressed to Mr. Policeman, Police station, Town. 

MCCORMACK tears open the envelope.

			MCCORMACK:
	Okay we have that bullshit poem [BEAT] and a letter.

			ARTHURS:
	A letter? What does it say?
	
			MCCORMACK:
	Dear Policeman [BEAT] John baptised with water. Jesus baptised 
with life. I will baptise with fire. And you will know my furry- he 
spelt it furry- Eh, you will know my fury at six o'clock.

			ARTHURS:
	McCormack I think I was right- this is something big.

				MCCORMACK:
Could be. Do you think that baptism things a clue?

		ARTHURS:
What like a location? [BEAT] Well it could be The Church of John the 
Baptist.

		MCCORMACK:
That's what I was thinking- let's go.

They run to their car and open the doors.

			ARTHURS:
	You weren't really thinking that were you?

			MCCORMACK:
	Shut the fuck up, and get in.
	
								CUT TO:

EXT. CITY, CHURCH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST- EVENING

SEDRICK is upstairs in the bell tower of the church. He takes out what 
he had pocketed in his apartment. He reveals a revolver and can of 
petrol. 

He looks out from the bell tower over the city. He begins loading the 
pistol slowly. 

				SEDRICK [shouting out from the tower]:
		And the day I die
		Many will fall
		No it won't just be I 
		I'll kill them all!

He finishes loading the gun and points it out over the city. From his 
POV we see the gun panning across the street, he is looking for a 
target. He spots an old woman and takes aim. He looks at his watch- 
5:57. He closes one eye and licks his lips.

				PRIEST [o/s]:
		Who are you?

SEDRICK is startled. He spins around and points the gun at the PRIEST. 
Seeing the gun the PRIEST throws his arms into the air.

				PRIEST:
	Wow, easy my child. [BEAT] I can help you; let's just talk a 
moment.

			SEDRICK:
	Move up against the wall.
		
The PRIEST obeys.
			
			PRIEST:
	What is your name my son?
			
			SEDRICK:
	It's Sedrick. What are you doing here?
	
			PRIEST:
	I came to ring the bell. [BEAT] Sedrick, I sense you are angry.

			SEDRICK:
	I'm not angry I'm happier than ever- I'm going to kill them all. 
[BEAT]

The PRIEST looks shocked. SEDRICK looks at him for a moment.

			SEDRICK:
	And the day I die
	Many will fall
	No it won't just be I 
	I'll kill them all!

			PRIEST:
	That's very good. Did you write that? 
	
			SEDRICK [bewildered]?
	What?
			
			PRIEST:
	It's an excellent piece of poetry- really shows your emotions.
		
			SEDRICK: 
	You really like it? What's your name?
	
			PRIEST:
	My name is Father Smith. But you can call me Ralph if you like.

			SEDRICK: [To himself]
Father Ralph.

		RALPH:
That's right. [BEAT] Now Sedrick do you want to tell me why you're so 
upset?

		SEDRICK:
No.

		RALPH:
Has someone upset you?

SEDRICK looks up at RALPH- he is near tears.

				RALPH:
		That's it isn't it? Who has hurt you?

				SEDRICK [Breathes deeply]:
	- No one!

			RALPH:
	It's okay, Sedrick you can tell me. I'm listening and [BEAT] God 
is listening.

			SEDRICK [shouts]:
	God hurt me!
		
			RALPH:
	Okay, Ralph how? Did he take someone away from you- your 
parents?
			
			SEDRICK:
	No.

			RALPH:
	Then how, how did he hurt you?

SEDRICK stares into the distance, tears in his eyes.

			SEDRICK:
	Jesus touched my willy!

Father Ralph looks at him in shock- he is speechless.

			SEDRICK:
	Jesus comes and touches my willy! I say no touch your own willy, 
Jesus but he just laughs!

SEDRICK breaks down crying and RALPH slowly moves in to hug him. 
			 
								CUT TO:

EXT. CITY, CHURCH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST- EVENING

ARTHUR and MCCORMACK pull up in their car and jump out. They stand at 
their doors and look up at the church. The church bell begins ringing 
out slowly.

				ARTHUR:
		The Angelus- [BEAT] a false alarm?

								CUT TO:

INT. CHURCH, BELL TOWER- EVENING
	
SEDRICK can be seen striking the bell. The camera rotates to reveal 
what he is striking it with. He is slamming FATHER RALPH'S head off the 
huge metal bell. The priest's head is bloody and a large stain has been 
left on the bell.

				SEDRICK [in time with the bell]:
		SIX [BEAT] O [BEAT] CLOCK 

He laughs giddily. He drops the dead priest's body and moves to the 
window and picks up his gun. 

								CUT TO:

EXT. CITY, CHURCH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST- EVENING

ARTHURS and MCCORMACK are still looking the bell tower. A figure 
appears in the window.

				ARTHURS:
		MCCORMACK! 

				MCCORMACK:
		I see him.

Suddenly a volley of bullets flies towards them but they impact well on 
front of them. People scream around them as they take cover behind 
their car.

 								CUT TO:

INT. CHURCH, BELL TOWER- EVENING

SEDRICK empties the gun and throws it out the window. He turns to his 
bottle of petrol and picks it up.

				SEDRICK:
		I anoint you in fire!

He throws the bottle out of the window.

				SEDRICK:
		Fuck! I forgot to light it! [BEAT] Come back!

He jumps out the window after the petrol.

								CUT TO:

EXT. CITY, CHURCH- EVENING. 

ARTHURS and MCCORMACK stand up- the bullets have stopped. They stepped 
forward. A plastic bottle of petrol smacks on the road in front of them 
and begins spilling on the ground. A body falls from the window and 
slams into the grass below the bell tower.

The two detectives run into the church grounds. They slowly approach 
the body and stop over it. SEDRICK is dead. 

				MCCORMACK:
			What the fuck was that?

								FADE OUT

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