Dogma Page #21

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(looksOC)

Shhhh!

A WOMAN and her small DAUGHTER walk past. While the Woman looks at the

items on the top shelf, Loki pulls off Azrael's hat and taps the Daughter

on the shoulder. He points to Azrael's horns. The Woman pulls the Daughter

further down the aisle, oblivious to the trio.

DAUGHTER:

Mommy, that man had horns.

Azrael grabs his hat and puts it back on.

AZRAEL:

That's the kind of sh*t I'm talking about!

LOKI:

Oh, lighten up.

BARTLEBY:

(still reeling)

I can't believe they want to kill us.

AZRAEL:

Believe it, boys. They've even got the Last Scion looking for you.

LOKI:

You're kidding!

AZRAEL:

This is big. I'm telling you. Your re-entry is a thorn in a lot of sides,

and they'll stop at nothing to prevent it.

LOKI:

If that's the case, then why aren't you hunting for us too?

AZRAEL:

Because I want to see you go back. You were both given a raw deal; almost

as raw as mine. If you make it back, then I figure there's hope for me.

(looks around)

In the meantime, I suggest you find an alternate mode of transportation. If

anything else comes up, I'll contact you.

BARTLEBY:

Thank you, Azrael. You're a true friend.

AZRAEL:

Would you expect anything less from a demon. I have to get back to the Pit,

before they get suspicious.

(turns to leave)

LOKI:

Hey Az - what's it like down there. Is it as bad as they say?

AZRAEL:

Give you a hint:
they've been playing 'Mrs. Doubtfire' continuously for two

years now.

(exits)

LOKI:

(looks at Bartleby)

Sh*t man - that is punishment.

EXT CONTRYSIDE - NIGHT

The Train chugs through the darkness.

INT TRAIN - NIGHT

Bethany and Rufus sit across from one another. They stare out the window.

RUFUS:

How you coping, kid?

BETHANY:

It's weird. just when I think I've got a handle on things. something

wholely unbelievable presents itself. Sometimes I wish I had just stayed

home.

RUFUS:

You sound like the Man.

BETHANY:

(beat)

What was He like?

RUFUS:

Jesus? Black.

BETHANY:

Besides that.

RUFUS:

The brother was centered. I mean, He was God, right? But I think He felt

left out because He was more than human, you know? We used to sit around

the fire - me and the other guys - and we'd be talking about what ass-holes

the Romans were or getting laid...

BETHANY:

Some things never change.

RUFUS:

...and He'd just sit there listening and smiling. We'd ask Him why He never

joined in the convo, but He said He just liked to hear us talk; about

anything. Said it was like music. I think He just wished He had unimportant

sh*t to talk about himself.

BETHANY:

How does He feel now?

RUFUS:

He still digs humanity, but it bothers Him to see the sh*t that gets

carried out in His name - wars, bigotry, but especially the factioning of

all the religions. He said humanity took a good idea and, like always,

built a belief structure on it.

BETHANY:

Having beliefs isn't good?

RUFUS:

I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a

belief is trickier. Life should malleable and progressive; working from

idea to idea permits that. Beliefs anchor you to certain points and limit

growth; new ideas can't generate. Life becomes stagnant. That was one thing

the Man hated - still life. He wanted everyone to be as enthralled with

living as He was. Maybe it had

something to do with knowing when He was going to die. but Christ had this

vitality that I've never encountered in another person since. You know what

I'm saving?

BETHANY:

He was big on life?

RUFUS:

It was more than that. He was the only person I ever knew who never engaged

in that most ancient of life-affirming activities.

BETHANY:

Sex.

RUFUS:

Debate. That's the only way people know how to reaffirm that they're alive

- by debating. In all it's forms. People spend their whole lives debating:

we fight about who's right and who's wrong, we fight ourselves, we fight

each other, we fight death, we fight over beliefs, we fight over fights. We

believe that to stop debating - in any fashion -is to stop living and give

up. People say that life's a struggle, but it's not. Life is living. I'm

even guilty of it myself, the way I go on about Christ's ethnicity,

fighting for the truth to come out. And I'm dead. Even in death, the only

way I know how to live is through debate. That's sad, isn't it?

BETIIANY:

Not if you believe it's important for people to know.

RUFUS:

A belief's a dangerous thing, Bethany. People die for it. People kill for

it. The whole of existence is in jeopardy right now because of the Catholic

Belief structure regarding this plenary indulgence bullshit. And whether

they know it or not, Bartleby and Loki are exploiting that belief, and if

they're successful, you, me. all of this... ends in a heartbeat.

(beat)

All over a belief.

Bethany nods. Rufus looks around.

RUFUS:

I haven't seen the moron twins in awhile.

BETHANY:

They went to the lounge car to smoke.

(getting up)

I'll go find them; make sure they're not getting into any trouble.

RUFUS:

I'm going to catch a few z's. Forgot how tiring living can be.

Bethanv heads off Rufus looks out the window, then shuts his eyes.

INT LOUNGE CAR - NIGHT

Bethany enters and spots jay and Silent Bob, talking to an unseen party.

BETHANY:

You two aren't getting into any trouble, are you?

JAY:

Nope. Just about to smoke a bowl with our new friends. You in?

BETHANY:

And who are your new friends?

JAY:

They just got in at the last stop.

Silent Bob moves over, revealing the new friends.

JAY:

This is Larry and Barry.

Bartleby and Loki smile at Bethany.

LOKI:

Jay tells us you're going to sleep with him.

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