Free Slippage by Harlan Ellison Page B

for.
     
    VOLKERPS
    (jubilantly)
    The threshold of Hell Itself will resonate with a fearful threnody at the arrival of these three, my dear Cassandra. But...
    (beat)
    Come stand close beside me, so you won't risk fractures and bodily harm from flying shards of bone or projectile heart muscle when I zap them.
     
    His smile is so unctuous, and his gesture so smoothly compelling, that Cassandra steps across the blue chalk line of the protective pentacle.
     
     
    21A - CLOSEUP - RAPID INTERCUT
     
    On CASSANDRA'S open-toed sandaled FOOT as it steps across the runic blue chalk line.
     
    CUT BACK TO:
     
     
    21B - SAME AS 21 - A MOMENT LATER
     
    CASSANDRA
    (coming closer)
    Here I am, honey. Now whack'em good!
     
    VOLKERPS
    First things first. The little rat-human...(points a claw at Arky)...he has a week...
    (turns to her)
    ...but you...
    (in a Cagneylike voice)
    I'm gonna give it to you, the way you give it to me brudder...
     
    And with one taloned hand extended, he suddenly aims a mean clawed finger at her; a sizzling bolt of bright-red power erupts from his digit and strikes her.
     
    VOLKERPS
    (viciously)
    Fry, bitch!
     
    There is a bright FLASH OF UNBEARABLE LIGHT that blots the frame for a moment and then:
     
     
    22 - ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVORING PENTAGRAM & NINO
     
    All that remains of Cassandra Fishbein is a neat pile of smoking pearly gray ash. And one of her sandals. A twist of smoke ascends to the ceiling as we:
     
    CUT TO:
     
     
    23 - SERIES OF INTERCUTS – CLOSEUPS
    thru
    26 - On Nino, Arky and Gus Chaucer as each bugs his eyeballs, gives a shriek of horror and we:
     
    CUT TO:
     
     
    27 - FROM VOLKERPS - HIGH SHOT DOWN ON THE THREE MEN
     
    As he smiles a ghastly smile, and looks at them meaningfully.
     
    VOLKERPS
    (charming)
    Next?
     
    The three scream and as they take the first fast step bolting toward the door of the shoppe we:
     
    SMASH-CUT TO BLACK
    and
    OUT.
     
    END ACT ONE
     
     

 

 
    ACT TWO
     
     
    FADE IN:
     
     
    28 - EXT. ALLEY - SAME AS SCENE 1 - NIGHT (SHOOT DAY FOR NIGHT)
     
    As Arky and Gus come running down the alley toward Nino's warehouse. They are running like mad things. Literally, the demons of hell are on their heels! CAMERA HOLDS as they RUN INTO F.G. and WHIP-PANS to FOLLOW THEM as they race past. (Make sure we see that) Nino is not with them. CAMERA COMES IN CLOSER as they reach the door of the warehouse that Arky smashed in Scene 4. It has been hastily repaired with boards nailed across to prevent entrance. Gus hits it with a crackback block, shattering the boards off their nails as we:
     
    CUT TO:
     
     
    29 - INT. WAREHOUSE - FULL SHOT
     
    On Arky and Gus as they madly pile crates against the door, or what's left of it. They are moving so fast, they're a blur. Now, running across the length of the warehouse comes Hazel, with Bork in her wake. He carries a hammer, as if he'd just gotten through repairing what they've smashed again. Gus and Arky pay no attention to the newcomers.
     
    BORK
    Hey you guys, I just finished repairin' that door!
     
    ARKY
    Help! Help us! Don't just stand there...pile...pile!
     
    HAZEL
    (alarmed)
    What happened? Where's Nino?!
     
    Gus is now performing herculean feats, lifting great boxes and stacking, stacking, stacking! He's like a dog burying a bone.
     
    ARKY
    (hysterical)
    I dunno, he's dead, he's gotta be dead! Volkerps came, big...he was big...and right there...he came straight from hell, he still stunk'a rotten eggs...
     
     
    30 - WITH HAZEL
     
    As she grabs Arky. He's a little guy, and she's a strong woman. She manhandles him around and she's furious.
     
    HAZEL
    You left him!?! You ran?!
     
    ARKY
    (whimpers)
    I ran...he ran...
    (indicating Gus)
    ...we ran like hell. That thing just fricasee'd the chubby lady. Hit 'er with some kinda laser, made her into ashes like an old cigar! You could hear the fat sizzlin' like a pan'a sausages!
     
    HAZEL
    Ohmigod, Nino! Neeeeeenol
     
    Now she's hysterical. This goes on for a second