It has been, and continues to be, a long, winding road for a little script called Amongst The Living.
Recently the script and concept boards were requested by the President of a Network Cable Studio. The President loved it, so he said, but added that the script is too dark and too sophisticated for Network Cable. When i asked if i should dumb it down, so to speak, he replied that no. There's nothing wrong with the script. It's just not the right time and place for it.
I'll be the first to admit that that statement, albeit true, stung me. And in many ways, I agree with the gentleman. Amongst The Living is a very interesting, dark, and, I guess, yeah, sophisticated script. It asks a lot of questions, leaves it up to the audience to find the answers, and so forth.
I will also admit that it's a risky proposition. Half the cast are deceased, and sans clothing. They are seen in the same physical condition of when they died. The protagonist is a gay male, albeit a masculine, stereotype smashing one. The dialogue is cryptic at times. The themes of Religion, Idenetity, Love, Acceptance and Human Connection, although universal, are illustrated in bold, daring and at times frightening context...
In fact, I am beginning to cast a NYC Reading of the script for various industry and professionals, hoping to find some backing. This is risky in and of itself, but it will also get it more out there, so to speak.
Okay, before I get into what the frack the story is, which i will in a moment, I thought it would be fun today to see if i were to cast the film with my dream Cast, if you will. I think some of the choices may perhaps surprise you. I will give my choices while I discuss the character in question. And once the main players are disclosed, I'll go into a synopsis. (Yes, this will be a very long blog, and i apologize to Ms. K if you're nasty lol
So, Today's Dream Cast:
Michael Hutchinson,
Protagonist. Michael is someone who is troubled, to say the least. He works as a Special Investigor with the NYPD, which has garnered him recognition and celebrity he'd rater he didn't have. He's a strong, quiet, dark man. He chooses his words carefully. He has built a facade to hide his true longings and desires. Oh and yes, he not only sees and communicates with dead people (called Phantoms), but is much more comfortable with them, and other supernaturals, than he is among his fellow humans.
Today's Dream Michael Hutchinson:
Wes Bentley
Daemon,
Antagonist. Daemon, as the name suggests, is a demon. He has a personal connection to Michael. He is not one of the Fallen, as, in his own words, he 'chose to leave the heavens'.
Today's Dream Daemon:
Jonathan Schaech
Detective Rick Suttler Rick is a man who is incomplete, overcompensating with physical successes while decaying internally. He is a man to tacitile nature, and finite belief systems. He is also a man of extremes.
Today's Dream Rick Suttler:
Jason Statham
Dr. Claire Daniels-Suttler Claire is a free-willed spirit. She has her own opinions and mind, and most definitely is not afraid to use both of them, no matter the consequences. Her happiness, of course, if often compromised by her own choices.
Today's Dream Claire Daniels:
Holly Marie Combs
One-Armed Man/Brian Brian, (OAM), is a guardian, having watched over and counseled Michael his entire life. He is also a Phantom, and bound to Oakwood. Brian was the first phantom that Michael had ever seen as a child, and is also the first to welcome him back to his hometown.
Today's Dream Brian:
David Chokachi 
Gertrude Hutchinson Gertrude is Michael's mother, who became a Phantom during childbirth with her second Child. She is a product of the Free Love of the sixties. She followed no formal religion.
Today's Dream Gertrude:
Cate Blanchett
So, there are just some of the characters that occupy the world of Amongst The Living. There are of course, many others who inhabit and affect this world, but in the nick of saving some time, i did not include them here.
Anyway, what is Amongst The Living all about? You ask? Well, here's the detailed treatment.
Amongst The Living Oakwood, PA. While Homicide Detective Rick Suttler attempts to indulge his fetishes with his wife, Dr. Claire Suttler-Daniels, his twin sister Jennifer is brutally murdered four streets away.
The dissolve of Rick and Claire’s relationship is evident post coital. Both are cold, detached, and miserable. The tension between them is cut only by the loud ringing of the phone. Claire gets it and hand it to Rick.
At the crime scene, Officer Thomas Harmon cautions Rick not to enter the house by Officer Thomas Harmon. He explains that Jennifer was dismembered joint by joint, eviscerated, and the remains decorated around the living room. Holding in rage and anger, Rick forges past Thomas, and enters the house to see his sister with his own eyes.
New York City, NY. A reporter stands outside an Upper East Side subway station. She delivers news of a continuing investigation on a series of crimes attributed to the mysterious “Subway Banshee”.
Around the corner, on a vacant street, Police Officers Jim Evans and Andrea Styler emerge from a sewer manhole. They are followed by Michael Hutchinson, a rugged and rebellious Special Investigator. Jim and Andrea thank him for his help in the case. Michael simply replies after lighting a cigarette, “Next time call me sooner”. Then he walks off, alone, into the rainy night.
Michael arrives home at his apartment in the West Village and attempts to decompress. The face of the Banshee repeatedly invades his mind like a flash bulb. He tries to literally slap the images out of himself, to no avail. Unable to relax, he showers, dresses, and once again heads out into the night.
He walks to “Midian”, a leather/levi bar in the Chelsea district. He is greeted warmly by the bartender, Kyle Anders, who takes his order after joking about the late night visit. Michael relaxes somewhat, but the ease is quickly interrupted by a Drunkard who hounds him “Aren’t you that guy they talk about on the News? Aren’t you that guy? Is what they all say about you true? You freak!” Kyle tosses the man out of the bar and apologizes to an embarrassed Michael. Michael’s cell phone rings. He answers it.
On the other end of the line is Dr. Claire Daniels, calling from Oakwood. She informs him of Jennifer Suttler’s murder. Jennifer was Michael’s childhood friend. Michael exits the bar to continue the conversation. Visibly shaken, he informs the doctor that he hasn’t seen Jennifer or been to Oakwood in sixteen years. The doctor is persistent, and tells him that he owes it to Jennifer to attend the funeral. And she will only give him more information on her murder in person. The choice is up to him.
The phone goes dead as a cautious Kyle exits the bar, asking if everything is okay. Michael’s reply is simply that he needs another drink.
Flashback “16 years ago”
Michael, a teenager, steps onto his front porch, carrying a large duffle bag. His step-father Gregory follows after him, hands Michael an envelope, and orders him to leave, forever. Michael attempts to explain himself to no avail. Gregory threatens to call the police. Holding back tears, Michael leaves his home, and walks down the street.
Suddenly, a voice calls out to him. He turns around. Jennifer runs towards him. She hands him a picture of him, herself, and Joshua Thompson. “I thought you might want to keep this.” She exclaims, before breaking into tears. Michael wipes a tear from her eye and asks her if she thinks that things would be different if he was a normal kid? She scolds him for denouncing his gifts, which he quickly re-labels as his curse. The two friends embrace for the last time, and as she hugs him tightly, Jennifer cries “Goodbye Michael Hutchinson.” Michael responds with “No goodbyes. Never goodbye.”
Present Day
Michael stares at himself in a foggy bathroom mirror. His face is reddened and puffy from crying. On the sink sits the picture of himself, Jennifer, and Josh. He looks beyond the mirror, and states aloud “Never goodbye.”
Back in Oakwood, Rick is investigating his sister’s house. He sits in her bedroom, and flips through several photo albums. As he flips through the images of himself and his twin, she seems to smile at him from the pictures. He turns page after page, and suddenly comes upon images of Jennifer, Michael and Joshua. Rick is noticeably absent from the photos. He angrily shuts the album and tosses it aside.
The album flips itself open to reveal the photos once again. Suddenly, Jennifer is sitting next to him. He is shocked as she thanks him for taking care of her all of her life. He tells her it was his responsibility and that he would do anything for her. She asks him to do one more thing. She hands him a photograph of the teenaged Michael Hutchinson. “End it for good.”
Meanwhile, Michael drives on the interstate and enters Pennsylvania…
… In his office, Rick surrounds himself in papers, not of the murder and its evidence, but of written reports of Michael Hutchinson.
Claire arrives at the police station and is greeted by Rick’s secretary, Sarah. She tries to stop Claire from going into Rick’s office. Claire brushes past her and enters anyway. Rick quickly covers the newspaper’s regarding Michael as his wife enters. Rick is surprised to see her, especially after their argument. Claire informs him that there are more important things at hand. He is exasperated at the lack of evidence and leads in the murder. Claire suggests to him that perhaps the murder was supernaturally orchestrated.
Rick explodes at her, calling her out and saying that she sounds too much like his sister, who’s “mind was clouded with thoughts” about ghosts and demons. He scolds her, telling her he will have none of that type of talk. She leaves his office and he thrashes the papers onto the floor.
Michael reaches the Oakwood City Limits, and pulls off to the side of the road near the welcome sign to gather his thoughts.
Oakwood. A Great Place to call home.
Suddenly, a One-Armed Man (OAM) appears outside the car window. Michael looks towards the man, who is naked, the arm wound fresh and blood soaked. Nonchalantly, Michael exits the car and smiles.
The OAM is a Phantom, and Michael sees him in the manner in which he met his death. “I remember when I used to make you Scream” the OAM laughs.
Michael also remembers it as if it was yesterday. He was just five years old when he first saw OAM, and ran to his pregnant mother, Gertrude, in tears. Gertrude held him tight and told him there was nothing to be afraid of. In fact, she took him back to the window where he said he had seen the OAM to prove that nothing was there. Through her eyes, there was nothing. But Michael knew better, and he stared, frightened at the OAM, who waved back towards him.
At the city limits, OAM informs Michael that he always knew that the prodigal son would return to save the town. Michael insists that he is only in Oakwood to attend Jennifer’s funeral and nothing else. OAM replies that Michael really has no choice in the matter, and then walks away down the street. Before vanishing he adds “Welcome Home”.
A tired and tried Claire almost bumps into Michael as she hastily exits the Oakwood Diner. Michael is seated at a table and is given the local newspaper. He peruses the headlines, which include information on Jennifer’s murder and her funeral, as well as an update on the destruction of the local Roman Catholic church. When he voices his confusion out loud, he finds Teresa, the town gossip and waitress, eavesdropping.
Teresa lets him in on the story of a young priest who had come to Oakwood about a month before. The priest held a “Mass of Cleansing” and during his sermon, the church exploded in flames. Of the seventy attendees, there were no survivors. Eye witnesses, however, claimed to have seen the Priest, surrounded by flames, walk away from the wreckage, pass them on the street, and then vanish in thin air.
Having heard enough, Michael hands Teresa his credit card to pay the bill. She looks at the card and questions him. “You’re Michael Hutchinson?” He slowly responds “Yes. Is that a problem?” Teresa insists that it’s not, even though Michael is very aware of the silence in the room, and all of the patrons and workers eyeing him.
Before going to his hotel room, Michael passes the ruins of the church. The brick and concrete are covered in graffiti from the Book of Revelations. As Michael is leaving, he notices that he is being spied on by a Young Priest, Father Edward Dow. Michael quickly pulls the car away from the church as Dow watches after him.
That night, Michael’s dreams are haunted by images of a vast wooded oasis, humanoid creatures, and a black, petrified gate locking him in darkness…in the darkness, someone calls his name.
The funeral is a small one, as Rick and Claire are joined at the cemetery by Sarah, Teresa, Thomas, and Officer Richen. Father Dow presides over the service.
Away from the group, on one of the cemetery hills, Michael stands, watching. He can see that the Phantoms of the Cemetery have emerged in full force to attend witness to the funeral, and welcome their newest neighbor. Among them stands OAM.
“You don’t see her, do you?” a voice questions Michael. He turns to see Gertrude, who died in childbirth, standing at his side. Michael tells her that no, he does not see Jennifer. His mother responds “You didn’t see Josh either.” The two begin to quarrel, with Gertrude insisting that Michael takes responsibility and must save the town from ‘What is coming.”
Michael, angered, and childish, storms off down the hill.
Rick spots him descending the hill and bolts towards him, followed closely behind by Claire. Rick and Michael fight in the open, and Rick pulls his gun out, pointing it at Michael. Claire tries to calm them both down, revealing that the only reason Michael is in Oakwood is because she called him and asked him to come. Michael stands still, spreads his arms, and tell Rick to “Shoot me. Go on. Get it over with.”
The stand-off continues and the town horizon erupts with two explosions. Rick storms off to ‘go to work’ while Dow attempts to calm the mourners. The Phantoms all look towards Claire and Michael. Claire pleads with him. “Will you help us, Mr. Hutchinson?” Michael, eyeing OAM and Gertrude, replies “Do I really have a choice?” OAM grins.
Thinking it best to have the local law enforcement on his side during his investigation, Michael makes the journey to the Police Station. Upon his entrance, Thomas, Officer Reichen, and others are immediately on him, and refuse his request to speak with Rick. Rick, opening his office door, gives Michael five minutes.
Inside the office, Rick and Michael show how little both have matured since last time they have seen each other. Michael requests help, and Rick quickly surmises that Michael is the number one suspect. Michael begins his defense as Rick shuts him up with a reference to Josh. Michael scolds him for hitting below the belt. The two are deadlocked in argument, with neither budging. Exasperated, Rick casts Michael out of the office.
Michael, followed by police, heads next to Oakwood Medical Center. Claire stands waiting for him outside. She attempts to apologize for pulling him into the mess, but did not have any other option. She leads him inside the hospital and down to the morgue. Michael questions her why she is taking him to the morgue. She states that she wants him to look at Jennifer’s remains for a clue. “You staged the funeral?” he questions. “Sometimes we have to do what we have to do.” She replies.
They reach the morgue and Michael has a disturbing vision flash of Jennifer’s fingers being separated at the joints. He cautions Claire to wait outside the room while he enters, alone, to look at the body.
The morgue is cold and desolate as Michael finds the tag on the cells that is labeled ‘Suttler, J’. As he is about to open it, a voice rings out from behind him. He turns and sees Daemon, a demon in male human form, his veins pulsating beneath his thin pale flesh. Michael panics as Daemon attempts to have a conversation with him. “What? Are you scared of something?” the demon whispers.
Michael stumbles out of the morgue, grabs Claire, and they head into the elevator. He tells her to burn Jennifer’s remains. He also says that he knows who the murderer is. Claire asks him what should they do now, and he replies. “Nothing. There’s nothing any of us can do.”
Once outside the hospital, he apologizes to her and gets in the car, speeding away down the street.
At a stoplight, he sees OAM standing in his way. He pushes on the gas and drives right through him. A second later, OAM appears at his side. Michael yells at him for not telling him about the demon. OAM replies that he would have if he could, but Michael refuses to listen to him, and speeds away again.
Michael stops the car outside a dive bar called “Sneakers”. He sits in the car, catching his breath, before entering. Once inside, he has second thoughts and turns to leave when the Bartender stops him. “Surely you’ve seen worse things than Sneakers” he remarks. Reluctantly, Michael sits at the bar. He goes to order a drink when Kyle surprises him by orders the drink for him, sitting next to him at the bar. The bartender is in heaven, especially “with two celebrities” in his establishment. He motions to a porno poster on the wall that Kyle had signed, featuring a semi-nude Kyle, and asks if Michael would sign it as well. Michael kindly tells him no.
Once the drinks are on the bar, Michael confronts Kyle. Kyle relates to Michael how the happenings of Oakwood have made national news, and that, yes, Michael has been named in the press. He came out to Oakwood to see if he needed a helping hand. “That’s what friends do”. Michael responds “I don’t really have any friends, Kyle.” Kyle tells him that he has one now, and that he’s not returning to New York without him. “Who knows? Perhaps I can get a job here at ‘Sandals?’” he asks. The ice is broken and both laugh. Michael calls the bartender over to them and orders shots “for his last night alive”, and even agrees to sign the poster.
Claire arrives home to a dark house. In the darkness, she hears messages being played on the answering machine. They are from Thomas and other officers, asking for Rick. Cautious, she tries to turn on the lights, yet the space remains dark. She cautiously makes her way through the house, searching for her husband.
Meanwhile, in a motel room, Rick engages in a sexual game with Sarah, who is cuffed and blindfolded. As they have rough sex, Daemon perches behind them, watching and savoring the moment…
Claire walks through the upstairs hallway, checking the bedrooms. She hears water running in the bathroom and goes to investigate. As she does so, the light in the Master bedroom turns on, spilling out into the hallway. She cautiously opens the door and screams in horror. Human remains are scattered across the bed and “Michael Hutchinson” is written in smeared blood on the wall.” She loses her footing while heading towards the stairway, and falls hard, down the stairs, screaming in pain…
His tryst complete, Rick sends Sarah on her way. He begins to get dressed when Daemon materializes in front of him. Rick immediately tries to attack, but Daemon forces him to stay put on the bed. He informs the detective that he has watched him from the shadows since he was a child, and understands the empty life that he is living. He also states that Michael Hutchinson should have never returned, and only he and Rick can take care of the ‘freak’ once and for all….
At the house, Claire pulls herself towards her purse, and spills its contents on the floor near her. She finds her cell phone and clicks the speed dial…
Daemon explains to Rick how a war is beginning, and that Rick is just the warrior that he’s been looking for. Rick’s cell phone rings. Daemon mentions that it’s Claire, and that she has already chosen her side of the battle. Everything that Claire, or Sarah, or the police force, can not offer Rick, Daemon can. Daemon can show Rick, for the first time in his life, the light.
The demon coaxes the detective to stand, and for a moment, his body becomes feminine. Daemon seduces Rick, kissing him. Upon impact, the demon’s veins glow and extend into Rick’s body. After the separation, Daemon asks Rick to make his choice. Rick chooses the light.
The paramedics arrive at the Suttler house, and immediately prepare Claire for transfer to the hospital. She asks Thomas about Rick and Michael, but he acts as if she’s not even speaking to him. In fact, no one seems to listen to her at all. She tells them that she thinks its Jennifer’s body in the bedroom and that they need to find Michael soon. Again, they ignore her, load her on the ambulance, and drive away.
In the motel room, Kyle keeps watch from a chair as Michael tosses in his sleep. His dream takes him back to the moment that changed his life for ever.
At first, he has a flash of himself and Josh, in an embrace. The two young men happy, and smiling. The moment is short lived, and suddenly, Michael stands in a foyer, facing a crying Josh. Behind Josh is Daemon, who manipulates Josh like a puppet. Josh has a gun in his hand. Michael tries to help him, but it is no use. The two men confess their love for one another as Daemon manipulates Josh’s arm, raising the gun up to his mouth. The demon exclaims “Time to say goodbye” and the trigger is pulled.
In his sleep, Michael screams, and Kyle moves to the bed, lays next to him, and hugs his friend.
The next morning, Michael wakes up with a jolt. Kyle exits the bathroom and Michael immediately accosts him, demanding to know what had happened between them during the night. Kyle tries to assure Michael that nothing happened, but Michael will have none of it. He states that the demon will be after Kyle now. Kyle tells Michael that he is here to help, and that he’s not alone, but he has to tell him what is going on. Michael just needs to tell him the truth.
Reluctantly, Michael confesses to Kyle that he did not leave Oakwood on his own, but in fact, was forced to leave. He tells him how everyone in the town knew of his sexuality, and that wasn’t the issue, even though he was in a relationship with the town’s golden boy, Josh Thompson. What the town could not accept was that Michael claimed to see dead people and demons. When Josh’s body was found, Michael tried to explain that it was not a suicide, but a murder, and that Daemon was the murderer. The town would have none of it, and believed that Michael had made up the story to hide from the guilt of being the real reason Josh killed himself. With his mother already dead, his step-father gave him a check and told him to leave, and never come back.
Kyle attempts to console Michael, but Michael pushes him away. Michael explains that he cares for Kyle, and as a result, Kyle is probably a target for the demon. Michael is convinced that the demon killed Jennifer in order to get him to return to Oakwood. Kyle asks again what he can do, and Michael pleads with him to return to New York. “At least I know you will be safe.”
After some debate, Kyle agrees, and reenters the bathroom to get ready. Michael goes to the window and looks out onto the street. Father Dow is standing across the street, staring up at the window. Without saying goodbye to Kyle, Michael races out of the room.
Outside, Michael rushes towards Dow. Dow tries to get away, but is no match. Michael confronts him, demanding to know why the priest has been following him since he came to Oakwood. Dow smugly replies that he has been keeping an eye on Michael for much longer than the past few days. Michael demands an explanation, and Dow says that he will explain, only if Michael agrees to calm down.
Dow is from a special sect of investigators from Rome. This group has received letters from Michael’s mother Gertrude, seeking answers to her son’s ‘strange ability’. The Church ordered an investigation, and have been watching Michael’s progress. They sent Dow to Oakwood to recruit Michael for their organization.
Michael explodes, telling Dow that no matter what he claims his mother did, or whatever his story was, Michael would never work for the Church that condemns ‘people like me’ to hell. He will never work for a corporation that is responsible for the most bloodshed in the name of God throughout history.
Dow cuts Michael off, asking him if he has heard of a recent earthquake in Cairo, and that the earthquake and the events in Oakwood are only the beginning. He says that they need to work together if humanity is to survive what is coming. He also offers to tell Michael who his real father was, a man Michael never had known, and Gertrude had always refused to tell him.
Disgusted with the ploy, Michael tells Dow to shove his offer and to stay away from him, or else Michael will go against the Church himself. Michael storms off and Dow immediately takes out his cell phone. He hurriedly informs the receiver “We have a major complication.”
At the hospital, Claire persuades a nurse to let her go, even though it is against the hospital protocol. She needs to find both her husband, and Michael Hutchinson.
Meanwhile, Michael storms through the cemetery, shouting for Gertrude to show herself! OAM appears instead, pleading with Michael to calm down. He tells Michael that he has to stop focusing his life on the dead. “You live amongst the living. You must accept that responsibility.” Michael tells him that he can do nothing until he knows the truth.
Michael continues to search for his mother and finally, Gertrude appears. Michael demands answers from her. Answers about the priest, about his father, and about his identity. She informs him that she is not allowed to answer all of his questions. She tells him that his father was a great warrior, a line Michael had heard once too often. He confesses to her that he doesn’t know who he is. That everyone close to him ends up dead. That he’s a shell of himself. Vacant. She tries to get him to calm down, and he snaps at her, wanting to know why they let him come back knowing that the demon killed Jennifer just to make him come home.
Gertrude informs him that the demon did not kill Jennifer to bring him back, but she thinks that it has something to do with Rick, who is now missing. She tells her son to look around him and notice how no one in the town seems to care much about the murder. That they are acting strangely. Not themselves. The demon is responsible, but she does not know what he is planning.
Michael fears that he’s not strong enough to fight the demon. Gertrude tells him that he has to believe in himself again. The courage and strength comes from inside. She tells him he needs to use his gifts.
Suddenly, police sirens wail.
Outside the cemetery, Thomas, along with Richen and other officers, announce their presence and that they are entering the cemetery to search for Michael Hutchinson, wanted for the murder of Jennifer Suttler and the disappearance of Rick.
OAM tells Michael to run, but Gertrude has another plan. She knows that there is no place to run to, but she also knows of a place where her son can hide. OAM begins to protest the idea, cautioning her that she is getting to involved with the living when she snaps at him “He’s my son, Brian! I don’t care what the laws state!”
She leads her son to a mausoleum, where she tells him to hide, while she and Brian will keep watch. Once alone, Michael is struck on the head. He turns to see Rick, veins glowing. Rick lunges at Michael, knocking him to the ground, smacking his head on a rock. Michael winces his eyes and when he opens them, Rick is gone.
In his place stand Reichen and Thomas, their guns pointed towards him. “You are under arrest!”
At the police station, news reporters and citizens align the street to get a glimpse of Michael as they bring him in. Thomas and other officers push Michael through the crowd. Claire arrives and pleads with Reichen to release Michael. Reichen holds her back, telling her that ‘the faggot murdered your sister-in-law, and possibly your husband”. Claire refuses to believe him, but is helpless.
Meanwhile, Gertrude, OAM, and other Phantoms also watch the scene. WOAM questions what they are to do now. At that moment, they are surrounded by a white glow. A Man steps from the light and the light folds itself into the man’s flesh. Gertrude smiles. OAM asks “What is that?” She replies simply, “That’s Michael’s father.”
Kyle drives along the highway, listening to music. Suddenly, the music in interrupted by a special news bulletin relating that Michael Hutchinson has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder. Kyle immediately stops the car, cursing himself for leaving Michael alone. He goes to turn the car back on when Rick appears in the passenger seat, and blocks him. Kyle demands to know who his is and Rick replies “I’m the Devil.”
The next day, Claire goes to the police station. She is confronted by Sarah. Claire asks to speak to Sarah in private, luring her into Rick’s office. Once behind closed doors, Claire informs Sarah that she is aware of her husband’s affair, and that she also believes that Sarah knows where Rick is. Reichen opens the door and demands that Sarah leaves them alone. He questions Claire about her motive for coming to the station. Claire tells him that she has had a change of heart. She agrees that Michael killed Jennifer and has kidnapped Rick, though she is uncertain that he killed him yet. She asks to speak with Michael to try to get the answer out of him.
Reichen plays along for a moment, then attacks her, knocking her down and handcuffing her. He drags her body through the office towards the door, where Sarah, covered in blood is waiting for them. They share a bloody kiss, and he tells her “We have work to do.”
Michael is alone in his empty cell. Richen and another officer arrive and taunt him, laughing and screaming through the bars. Michael, bruised and beaten, is silent. Suddenly, the ground begins to quake beneath them. Reichen questions the prisoner if this is his doing. Michael, just as shocked as the officers, replies that he is not responsible. He tries to stand but is knocked down to the floor. He lays their motionless. Reichen smirks, telling the other officer that “It has begun”.
The quake is over. An eerie silence and stillness fills the area. Reichen tells the officer to follow him. The officer questions what to do about Michael. Reichen tells him not to worry. The only place Michael is going to is his grave.
In the streets, people panic as police officers begin to march towards Market Street Square. When the pedestrians run to them for help, the officers toss them out of the way as if they were rag dolls. The Phantoms stand and watch, helpless. A young Phantom asks OAM and Gertrude what is happening. OAM responds “Simply a demon pretending to be one of the gods.”
In the cell, Michael opens his eyes to see the floor no longer concrete, but made of grass and leaves. He is in the garden of his dreams. He hears voices, and sees the humanoid figures once again. They speak their names, and mention to him that ‘This is the past’ They circle Michael as the trees begin to bend and twist, solidifying and turning into walls. The beings continue to speak. “The Host has betrayed us. The Host has abandoned you. The Heavens are vacant.”
A ball of light appears and the rest of the world is lost in shadow. From the light, the Man appears, and asks: “Do you understand now, son?” He reaches out and clasps Michael by the hand.
Michael sees flashes of men and women flying through the air, the humanoid beings locked away in the garden, a vibrant Gertrude making love with his Father, Michael’s birth, the OAM outside his childhood window, the earthquake in Cairo, and once again the humanoid creatures flying through the air, stretching out long leathery wings.
Michael’s father informs him that he has much to accomplish, and that he has no choice but to follow his destiny.
In the cell, Michael’s eyes dart open. He sits up, feeling no pain. His wounds and flesh are completely healed. Suddenly, the cell wall bursts apart, revealing the night outside. Michael races out of the cell.
He runs towards the noise at the square, and OAM tries to stop him. “You’re not ready! You can’t do this alone!” Michael tells him that he has to do it alone. Only he can stop the demon.
As he nears the square, fire geysers erupt from the surrounding manholes. Michael cries out for the demon to show itself. Instead of the demon, Rick emerges from one of the geysers. He attacks Michael, sending him into the air and onto his back. Rick makes his way towards him when he is stopped by Daemon who stands a few meters away. The demon explains that he wants to enjoy Michael’s suffering.
Michael confronts him, demanding to know what he is doing, and what he wants in Oakwood. The demon replies that every god needs a place, a home. Michael informs the demon that he is not a god.
In response the demon quakes the ground and it splinters apart, the concrete rising into the fiery air, forming a make-shift structure. “Welcome to my kingdom” the demon states, then orders Rick to Bring Michael below. Michael stands his ground and refuses to let Rick near him.
To persuade him to cooperate, Daemon makes a motion, and Reichen and Sarah enter the square. Sarah holds a chain that is collared to a beaten and semi-conscious Kyle. Reichen carries an unconscious Claire over his shoulder.
Michael’s eyes glaze over with fire, and the demon, intrigued, walks towards him. As he passes Rick, he tells Rick to lead the others below. Suddenly, a cloaked figure darts through the fiery wall.
It is Dow, and he immediately pounces upon the demon, reciting the Roman Catholic exorcism rites. The demon is amused as the priest screams “I cast you out! I cast YOU OUT!” The demon simply replies that he is not one of the fallen. He chose to leave the heavens, then takes a chunk of the priests flesh and eats it. Michael yells for him to stop, and the demon quickly kills the priest, and faces his enemy. “I like to watch you squirm” he tells him.
The demon orders Rick to kill Claire. Reichen drops her, as Rick approaches. Michael screams out that he’s the one Rick really wants. It’s not Claire. Rick moves towards Michael instead and the demon forces him to go back towards Claire. Michael tries to run towards her, but Reichen grabs hold of him, lifting his feet off the ground. Claire pleads with Rick to spare her life and he takes her in her arms and kisses her. As he does so, he shoves a knife up inside of her body. He drops her onto the ground. Something snaps in him, and he whispers her name, staring down at her body.
Michael, thinking he has the upper hand, states “Your disciples are turning against you, demon.”
The demon immediately retaliates and motions his hand towards Rick. The demon’s veins jolt from his palm and pierce Rick’s flesh. The demon pulls his veins back and Rick’s body crashes down on top of his wife.
Sarah drags Kyle over to Daemon and Michael screams again. Daemon goes to kill Kyle, but then stops, revealing that he won’t kill Michael’s boyfriend. But then again, he realizes that Kyle wasn’t, and couldn’t, be Michael’s lover, because the demon took care of Michael’s only love years before, and sent Michael running away, where he should have stayed.
The demon asks Michael if he’d like the chance to see Josh once again. Michael pleads with him to let him go, and not to do what he knows the demon is going to do. The demon laughs. Using his veins, he brings Josh back from the dead.
Michael is in tears. Josh stares at him and asks what’s happening. Michael begs the demon to end it, to let him go. Reichen drops Michael, and the demon tells him to come and collect his one true love. Michael can’t move, as Josh continues to question. Michael just looks at him and says that he is sorry. The demon says “You don’t want him then?” and raises his hand to the side of Josh’s head. Josh pleads for Michael to help him. Michael can’t even look. Josh screams as the demon pierces his temple.
Michael looks up as Josh’s body disintegrates into thin air. He howls, hunches over, and cries out in agony. The demon laughs as Michael’s body begins to pulsate. Suddenly, two leathery wings rip through Micahel’s back.
The demon is cautious, confused and astonished. “What are you, boy?”
Michael’s wings flap, lifting him off the ground. He charges towards the demon. They clash in the air. The demon gloats that he can not be killed, and the two fight in the air, surrounded by the flames from the geysers. Michael eventually pins the demon to the erected concrete wall with one of his wings.
For the first time, the demon looks nervous. “Time to say ‘goodbye’” Michael exclaims, holding onto the demons body with his hands and slicing his wings through the demon’s flesh.
The demon falls to the ground in pieces. Michael collapses to the ground, his wings retracted, unconscious. The fires burn out, and a calm sets in over the scene.
Michael’s father appears and forces Kyle awake. He motions him towards Michael’s body. “He needs some comfort now”.
Both the living and the dead gather on the square, attempting to make sense of all that had happened. In the center of all of them lays Michael Hutchinson.
THE END
