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FADE IN
EXT. OUTSIDE ON STREET
A young man, ZACK (16), is walking on the side of the
street, carrying a apple in one hand and a mp3 player in the
other. He is concentrating on the music while occasionally
taking a bite out of the apple.
In back of him we hear a car squeal and sounds of increasing speed.
Zack turns the corner while taking the bite of the apple.
Zack gets hit while the car keeps on driving, turning the
corner at a amazing speed.
Closing shot is on Zack and the apple with someone running
at his side and the sounds of an ambulance in the
background.
FADE OUT
EXT. SHED
FADE IN
Zack is standing in front of what appears to him as a shed.
His hand is raised and ready to knock. A confused look is on his
face. He looks at his hand and the door, wondering what he
is doing there.
He knocks twice.
MAN
You're here? Finally! Come in, come
in. It is about time you got here!
Zack hesitantly opens the door and walks in. The walls are lined
with tools and some are on the ground. It looks like a
ordinary shed
The man seems to be searching frantically though things.
Zack steps forward
MAN
Oh come on boy! I know you were
raised better then that.
ZACK
Who are you?
MAN
Come on in boy! Sit down and relax
a bit
The man flicks his wrist, closing the door behind him with a bang.
The man walks up to him and puts his hand on his shoulder
MAN
Sit, relax! Enjoy yourself.
The man pushes Zack into a chair, which seems to have just appeared.
The man pulls up another chair and sits in it backwards.
MAN
So kid, what's your name?
ZACK
My name is Zack. Where am I? Do I
know you? You seem
MAN
That would be a yes to the second
question, Zack. You know me very
well Zack Frampton from Lincoln,
Nebraska. The first question is a
little harder to answer.
The man stands up, walking over to some tools on the wall.
He appears to be examining them
MAN
Tell me, Zack. What was the last
thing you remember before you came
to be here?
ZACK
I was walking on the street
listening to music. I heard a car screech
and....Oh God....Am I dead? Is this
hell?
The man laughs and picks up a tool, examining it.
MAN
Unfortunately, no. You are still
very much alive boy.
ZACK
Are you God?
The man starts laughing historically, in a evil way, while the
tool he had falls to the ground
MAN
Oh God, that's a good one kid. I'll
have to remember that one for
later. However, I am not God. You
are kinda close though.
ZACK
Are you the devil then?
DEVIL
Do I look like the devil to you
kid? Huh? Do I?
The devil laughs and starts walking, rubbing his hands over the
tools while looking at Zack, concentrating on him only.
Zack tries to get up, only to find he can't move his feet.
He struggles but it's no use.
DEVIL
You should look at your face kid.
It's classic.
MAN
Are you the devil?
DEVIL
We'll find out soon enough. Now
won't we.
The devil walks over to the tools again. Searching for something.
He pulls out a machete and a knife.
DEVIL
I know what you are thinking. Why?
Why me? Oh god, what did I do to
get sent to hell? Boooo freakity
whoo. Why me? Yeah that's right.
Start crying.
The devil mimics Zack crying.
DEVIL
Oh God, I'm sorry! I didn't do
anything! Don't send me there! I
really hate to break it to you...
The devil places the machete and places it on Zack's
shoulder and leans in to whisper into his ear
DEVIL
But you aren't dead, yet.
The devil stands back up and goes back to the tools.
DEVIL
Don't worry. You will only be here
for a little while. Lucky lucky
you.
The devil steps back towards Zack, raising the machete over his
head.
DEVIL
Do you think I am insane? Do you
fear me?
ZACK
Yes. I do.
DEVIL
You should fear me. I can tell you
are. What is fear though? Fear
comes with imagination, it's a
penalty, the price of a
imagination. I'm glad I made up
such a thing.
ZACK
Why? Why are you doing this? Why
are you doing this to me?! I have
done nothing!
DEVIL
Why? WHY!? I own you. I own you're
life. I own your soul. You are mine
for the taking and, believe me when
I say this, I always get what
Somewhere off in the distance, we hear a explosion. Outside the
door, we hear footsteps and another explosion. The door
bursts open.
The man puts his hand on Zack's shoulder, releasing him from the
chair. The man pulls Zack towards the door.
DEVIL
Michael? Is that you? It's been a
long time. You didn't come all the
way just because you missed me, did
you?
The man pulls Zack out of the shed
DEVIL
Run all you want Michael. This one
is mine!
The devil flicks his wrist, making the door slam shut
FADE OUT
EXT. EDGE OF WOODS
FADE IN
Zack and Michael fall into what seems to be a drain leading under
a road. Around them are woods.
ZACK
Thanks for that. But who the hell
are you? Who was that?
Michael flinches at the word "hell"
MICHAEL
My name is Michael
Michael extends his hand in a handshake
ZACK
Hi, Michael. I'm Zack.
They both shakes hands. Zack pulls away as if he got hurt
ZACK
Your hands. They are so cold.
MICHAEL
We can't talk here. It's not safe.
Follow me.
Michael leads Zack though the woods.
EXT. EDGE OF WOODS
Behind them, the devil appears out of the shed. He reaches
the edge of the woods and closes his eyes. He breathes in
deep, holding it for a moment, then letting it out.
DEVIL
Oh Michael, you really should have
killed him already. Dagon!
A creature, covered in mud and grass, emerges from the
woods. Hissing all the while
DEVIL
Find them. Kill the angel. Bring me
the boy.
Creature hisses
DEVIL
If he fights, yes. Now go!
Creature heads into the woods, vanishing among the grass
EXT. WOODS
Zack stumbles at one point, getting his leg stuck in between
a tree. Michael touches the tree, setting him free. Several
times Zack starts to talk, but Michael gestures to be quiet.
ZACK
How did you do that?
Michael doesn't answer. He continues forward. Eventually, they
make it to a path. Zack breathing hard as if they had been
walking for miles, Michael doesn't seem to be affected.
ZACK
No more. I'm not going any further
unless you answer some questions.
MICHAEL
I do owe you that much, yes. Hurry
though. We don't have much time.
ZACK
Why? Is he after us? What does he
want with me?
MICHAEL
Did he tell you anything?
ZACK
What? Oh, no. Not really. He told
me he was the devil and that I got
hit by a car.
MICHAEL
He wasn't lying.
ZACK
You mean, I really am dead?
MICHAEL
No, you aren't quite there yet.
ZACK
Where then?
MICHAEL
Where you are now is the gateway
between heaven and hell. At one end
is heaven. The other, hell.
Zack falls onto the ground, thinking. Michael walks over to some
plants, examining and smelling them.
MICHAEL
A small green isle, it seem'd no
more, Scare broader then my dungeon
floor, but in it there is three
tall trees, and o'er it blew the mountain
breeze
ZACK
What? Oh. Poetry. I used to write
some. Lately, it's just been all
worthless. Too mad at the world.
But please, tell me! Why am I here? Does
everyone go here before they die?
MICHAEL
Yes. Most go though without ever
seeing it. They are too busy caring
about themselves. You, Zack, are
different.
ZACK
How am I different?
MICHAEL
You care. You care about everyone
and everything. Do you remember
what you were thinking about when
you got hit?
ZACK
My mother. She's...
MICHAEL
Dying. Yes, I know a great deal
about that and you. Your father left
you and your two sisters. Both are
younger then you. You are having
trouble taking care of them.
ZACK
How do you know me? Who did that
guy back there know me? Who the
hell are you people?
Michael flinches once again at the word "hell"
MICHAEL
Zack, please don't say that word in
front of me.
Michael gestures to the plants
MICHAEL
Do you see these? They are works of
art, aren't they? Beauty at in its
finest form. It's things like this
that we have to care of, to safe.
Michael walks over to Zack, putting his hand on his
shoulder.
MICHAEL
Zack, you are special. You have a
gift, a certain way with people
unlike any other. You have to get
back. I am here to help you with
that.
ZACK
Why me? Why am I so special? Tell
me that. What makes me so different
from the rest of the people that
come through here?
MICHAEL
Can't you see? The difference
between you, and the people that
pass though here is only one big
thing. You stopped. Our ride is
almost here.
ZACK
What ride?
MICHAEL
I want to show you something, Zack.
Michael leads Zack down a trail. Michael still holding the flower.
A sound of water is getting louder and louder.
ZACK
Where are you taking me?
MICHAEL
Hold on. It's not far now.
They come out of a clearing and before then is a river. Dirty,
polluted.
ZACK
This is it? The river? What the
hell...heck we doing here?
MICHAEL
You most certainly ask allot of
questions, Zack. You're just like
your mother
Michael walks both of them to the edge of the river
MICHAEL
I'm afraid this is where I leave
you, Zack. I wish you the best of
luck on the rest of your journey.
Michael starts to walk away
MICHAEL
A few tips before I leave, though.
Stay close to the river, and keep
in mind where you're going. You do
that, you just might make it.
Michael starts to walk away again
ZACK
But, where am I going?
MICHAEL
If you don't know that yet, then
I'm afraid I've wasted my time.
As Michael walks off and disappears, Zack looks around at everything,
including the river. He starts to walk up the river.
FADE OUT TO WHITE
EXT. HEAVEN'S HOUSE
FADE IN
Zack is standing, staring at a large white house on top of a
hill. He looks around, seeing animals in a pen behind him.
He turns to see a man in white with a cowboy hat ride up on
a horse. He stops and dismounts.
MAN IN WHITE
Jeez, I have been waiting for you
for a couple of hours now. I almost
gave up on you.
ZACK
Sorry. I tried to get here. But I
didn't know the way.
MAN IN WHITE
Don't worry, I wasn't going to give
up on you. I can understand getting
lost on the way here. It's a pretty
tough trip if you're not quite sure
where it is you're headed to
ZACK
Yeah. Is that your house?
MAN IN WHITE
It's everybody's house, son. But
yes, I spend most of my time there.
ZACK
Can, can we go inside?
MAN IN WHITE
I really wish we could, Zack. But
you're not quite ready for that
yet. Come on, let's take a walk.
Both of them start walking towards the house.
MAN IN WHITE
So how's you life been going
recently Zack? How's your mom?
ZACK
Um, well, apart from being dead,
every thing's been going alright I
guess. Mom's the same.
MAN IN WHITE
Well, I hope your mom gets better.
And you aren't dead. Didn't Michael
tell you anything?
ZACK
Not a lot, no.
MAN IN WHITE
I'll have to talk to him about
that. Here, have a seat.
They both sit on the porch
MAN IN WHITE
Well, you're probably pretty
confused right now, I know I would
be. Okay, so what do you know so
far?
ZACK
Well, I'm not dead, I'm between
heaven and hel...the other place
MAN IN WHITE
I have no problem with the
word boy, only Michael. Go on
ZACK
Um, the devil wants to kill me. And
you're God. That's my knowledge so
far.
GOD
Okay, you got a basic grasp on
things. First of all, yes, you are
between heaven and hell. Do you
know much about mythology?
Zack shakes his head.
GOD
Oh well, in Greek mythology the
area between life and the
underworld was the river Styx. The
lost souls were ferried across it
by Charon, the gatekeeper. In
essence, although its horribly wrong,
this is the river Styx.
ZACK
So, just a place between
worlds?
GOD
Exactly. Now, on to your second
point. The devil does want to kill
you, yes.
ZACK
But why?
GOD
Because, people who are stuck
between world aren't actually dead
yet. I think the word you know it
as is a coma. Your body is
functioning normally in a hospital
bed surrounded by your family. But
your soul is here. If the devil
"kills" you, severing your soul
from your body, he gains your soul.
Same with me, if I "kill" you, I
gain your soul.
Zack scoots a little bit away from God
GOD
Don't worry, I won't take your
soul. It's yours to give, not
mine to take. Which is why I'm
afraid I must send you back
into the woods, my good man.
God stands up and gets on the horse
ZACK
Wait, what? You're sending me back?
But, he'll kill me?
GOD
Only if you let him, boy.
ZACK
But why do I have to go back?
GOD
Because it's your job to find your
way back. It's not your time yet.
You still have some life left in
you I think. Don't worry, it's not
as hard to get back as it was to
get here. All you have to do is
remember where you were in the
first place
The man in white smiles and turns the horse around. Starts
to gallop away. Zack runs after a little, yelling wait,
wait. But gives up in the end, and turns to start walking.
He goes to the house and tries the door, but it won't open.
He starts walking down the road.
FADE OUT TO WHITE
EXT. WOODS
Zack's walking though the woods again, kind of in a walking montage.
After a while, he starts getting scared. He can't get out of
his prison. He starts crying, running around scared.
Everything he sees scares him. Falling to his knees, he
looks up at the sky
ZACK
Where do I go?!?!?!
Hanging his head down low, he cries. We get the feeling of him
being there for a long time.
We hear a hiss. Turning quickly to his left, Dagon is standing
there. Zack starts to stand up slowly. Dagon hisses again,
signaling Zack to run the other way. Dagon follows.
They run for awhile, Dagon getting closer all the time. At one
point, Zack stumbles and falls. Dagon stops and stands above
him, breathing heavily. He starts reaching down for Zack.
Suddenly, Michael screams from the side and tackles Dagon.
Dagon throws him off and turns toward him. Michael turns
towards Zack and yells.
MICHAEL
RUN!!!!
Zack stands up and starts running. A short fight commences between
Dagon and Michael.
The camera goes back to Zack, who is running though the woods.
Soon he sees the shack and big house. He feels like that is
where he needs to go. While climbing up the hill, he gets
his leg stuck in a tree branch. He screams and struggles to
get free.
The camera goes back to the fight. The creature and Michael are
still fighting. When the creature hears Zacks screams for
help, he hits Michael in the head and runs after Zack.
The camera goes back to Zack, still struggling with the log. Off
in the distance, he hears Dagon coming after him. Thinking
that he was going to die, he starts to have a flash back to
his family.
EXT. HOUSE
ZACK
Sarah, don't do that!
The scene opens up with Sarah taking things off of a shelve.
She is standing on the top of a chair, the chair losing its
balance. Zack rushes over to help her down
ZACK
Be careful Sarah! I could have
helped you.
SARAH
You were helping mommy. I can this
by myself
Sarah jumps down and runs off.
ZACK
Sarah wait!
Zack searches though part of the house, finding no signs of
Sarah. He then finds her outside by the lake.
ZACK
Are you alright Sarah?
SARAH
Zack, is mom going to be ok?
Zack looks toward the water, thinking of what to say to her.
ZACK
Yes Sarah. It'll be just fine
They stay there for a moment before Zack starts crying.
Sarah puts her head in his lap and cries too.
FADE OUT
EXT. WOODS
FADE IN
The scene opens up with Zack laying on the ground, just now
realizing what has happened. Inside of him, he has finally
go the strength.
Zack pulls on his leg, with inserts of Dagon coming closer
and closer.
Zack doesn't get his leg out in time before Dagon gets to
him. Dagon runs toward him, picking up a stick along the
way. He smashes it down on the log, right next to Zack's
foot.
Zack screams.
Dagon tries another time, even more angrier then ever. Right
as it is above his head, he gets tackled by Michael.
MICHAEL
What are you waiting for?!? GO!!!
Zack tries with all of his might to get his leg free. At one
point he thinks about Michael and how he undid his leg
before. He ignores the thought and continues to pull on his
leg when Dagon and Michael fight.
A moment later, he is free
He is running to the house, the shed and house directly in
front of him. He breaks out of woods then stops and ducks
back, looking for the devil. Making sure the devil isn't
there, he looks back at the fight behind him and breaks free
again of the woods.
Right before he gets to the front door, the devil steps out
in front of him with the machete.
DEVIL
Was it really worth it? Was it
really worth all of that work just
to end up here again?
Zack stares at him.
DEVIL
Guess not.
The Devil raises the machete. The camera then goes to
Michael who is crawling out of the woods, bloody and hurt.
He has a bow and arrow. He takes it out, pulls back, and
whispers his next line.
MICHAEL
I'm sorry.
Zack closes his eyes, apparently hearing what Michael said.
Michael shoots the blow. It shows the devil, his eyes open
wide, like he got hit. Zack falls with blood on his hands.
We hear a heart monitor in the background, getting slower
and slower.
It flat lines
The devil looks up and screams, all of his anger stored up
until that last moment.
The camera fades to God, holding his door open and smiling
FADE OUT TO BLACK
THE END
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