Dark City Page #8

TIGHT ON THE PRIEST - He begins his sermon.

PRIEST:

Beware! The night is deadly. There

is a criminal among us.

Walker moves into the church, through heavy carved doors. He sits

on A PEW, at the back of the room, tries to blend with the SMALL

GATHERING sitting silently around him.

TIGHT ON - the priestís hand pointing, moving over the heads of

the congregation, accusingly, suddenly jabbing towards an OLD WOMAN

in the front row.

PRIEST:

(Cont.)

It could be the woman across the

street!

Everyone turns to stare at the woman. Sheís nervous The hand

moves slowly now, across to a YOUNG WOMAN several rows back - she's

oriental and quite beautiful.

PRIEST:

(Cont.)

Or the girl next door!

The priest pauses dramatically then:

PRIEST:

(Cont.)

Or the man in the back row!

Suddenly the finger is pointing at Walker. All the faces turn,

stare suspiciously at Walker.

ANGLE ON WALKER - frozen with fright. Then the priest lowers his

hand, continues the sermon. The people look away.

PRIEST:

(Cont.)

It could be anyone!

Walker goes to leave, but as he stands, the DOORS of the church open.

THE STRANGERS step inside. They look around.

Walker ducks down, crawls between pews, startling several people.

He motions to them to keep quiet.

Not looking, he runs into the legs of the Young Oriental Woman the

priest pointed out. She seems surprised but looks down at him and

smiles.

PRIEST O.S.

(Cont.)

Evil stalks our streets. It seeks to

hide in our hearts. Have you not

evil within you now?

Staying low, Walker runs, almost knocks over a large illuminated

candle-holder, darts into a nearby CONFESSION BOX.

INSIDE - Walker breaths relief.

HIS P.O.V. - carved on the dark stained wood in front of him is a

crucified insect. A voice startles him - another PRIEST, OLDER.

PRIEST 2

You have sinned?

WALKER:

No. I...

Walker watches the two Strangers walk past the ornate wooden grill

in front of his face.

PRIEST 2

You seem restless.

The Strangers looks at the box for amoment, towards Walker, but keep

walking.

PRIEST 2

(Cont.)

I am listening.

Walker takes out the gun, keeps it hidden from the priest. Opens

the chamber.

TIGHT ON THE GUN - Only ONE BULLET left.

PRIEST 2

(Cont.)

Is there something wrong, my son?

You can tell me.

Walker doesn't even hear this, he's staring at the Strangers The

priest notices Walker is looking out into the church.

PRIEST 2

(Cont.)

Let me help you.

WALKER:

Thanks. It's okay.

PRIEST 2

Is someone after you?

Walker is surprised by the question.

WALKER:

What? No, of course not.

The silhouette on the other side of the box suddenly stands.

WALKER:

(Cont.)

Where are you going?

PRIEST 2

To notify the police...

WALKER:

Please sit down.

The priest just smiles and turns to leave. Walker lunges, grabs his

shoulder with one hand and points the gun at him.

WALKER:

(Cont.)

Now listen. I have to get out of

here. Walk with me. Quietly.

(holds up gun)

Understand?

The priest nods.

OUTSIDE the Strangers seem to have gone.

Walker pushes the priest out of the confession box, grabs his coat

from behind, puts the gun to his back. They head for the doors.

Still no sign of the Strangers.

PRIEST 2

Donít kill me!

WALKER:

Be quiet!

PRIEST 2

Please...

Walker loses his temper, tightens his grip on the priest.

WALKER:

(not so quietly)

Iím not going to kill you, okay!

Faces turn.

The priest kicks Walker in the leg. Walker winces in pain and the

priest breaks away.

PRIEST 2

(shouting)

Criminal!

People turn and look. The GAUNT WOMAN points at Walker.

GAUNT WOMAN:

Itís him! Murderer!

Frightened, Walker holds the gun up.

Everyone starts to scream and run, people scatter, run for the exit.

The gaunt woman is pushed screaming to the floor.

Amidst the chaos, the two STRANGERS appear across the room, see

Walker, head towards him. He bolts.

A STAIRCASE:

Walker climbs narrow stairs rapidly.

INT. BELL TOWER - NIGHT

Walker enters a low, raftered room, with three huge black BELLS

hanging in the center. Nowhere left to go, just a long drop to the

street through a series of arched windows.

There's a SUDDEN GROAN OF GEARS in the ceiling and the bells start

to SWING, building momentum.

CLANG! CLA-A-A-ANG! A cacophony of noise.

Walker puts his hands over his ears, turns to the stairs.

HIS P.O.V.

Through the swinging bells - the STRANGERS climb the last steps on

the other end of the room. They advance slowly, clutching daggers.

Walker raises his gun. Aims. Difficult to find his target - the

approaching Strangers are obscured by the bells.

Walker steps sideways, never taking his eyes off the men. They

follow him slowly, pivoting about the bells in the centre of the

tower.

The Stranger stop, separate, now approaching from OPPOSITE sides of

the bells.

Walker doesnít know where to point the gun - he swings back and

forth, one to the other, as the Strangers approach - closer and

closer.

Then Walker thrusts the gun towards the head of Stranger 1 on his

right, and FIRES. Stranger 1 steps back, spouting liquid from the

bullet hole, hits a low railing, FALLS into the shaft at the center

of the tower.

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