The Crow: City of Angels Page #18

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cheek.

JUDAH:

...but that only made the visions stronger, didn't it, dear?

Sibyl turns her head away from Judah, shunning his caress.

SIBYL:

I've learned to live with my affliction.

JUDAH:

Don't we all.

Sarah backs away from Judah, wary.

SARAH:

Judah Earl.

JUDAH:

My reputation precedes me.

SARAH:

(DISGUSTED)

I've seen what your drugs have done to this city.

JUDAH:

(SHRUGGING)

I saw a need, I exploited it. It's all economics, Sarah. Supply

and demand.

SARAH:

Why did you bring me here?

JUDAH:

I'm glad you asked that, Sarah. You've got a very important part

to play in this little drama of ours. You see, I intend to capture

the Crow...

Judah draws near, devouring Sarah with his hungry eyes. USING

A JAGGED FINGERNAIL, HE INCISES A CROSS INTO HER FOREHEAD.

JUDAH (O.S.)

... and you, my dear, are the birdseed.

CUT TO:

EXT. SARAH'S LOFT/ALLEY - NIGHT

Kali comes CRASHING through the window, falling down to the sidewalk

below. She lands atop a wrecked car, snapping her back in two...

CLOSE ON KALI:

lies on the ground, her limbs twisted at awkward angles. She

MOANS, somehow still alive.

KALI'S POV

as Ashe approaches. The Crow flits in from off-screen, landing

on his shoulder. Watching Kali with it's curious golden eyes.

As Ashe draws near, Kali tries to rise. The most she can do is

lift her head.

KALI:

(GASPING)

I...can't...move...

Ashe stares at her, dispassionate.

KALI:

Kill...me, then...finish...it...

Ashe simply shakes his head.

KALI:

You...have to.

ASHE:

My job is to send you to hell. You're in it.

Kali stares at Ashe in disbelief, her stoic warrior's mien quickly

evaporating.

KALI:

There's no...honor in this. It's my...death. I've won it..

Ashe turns and starts away.

ASHE:

Me, too.

KALI:

Wait! Where are you going?! Wait! You can't...do this! You can't

do this!!!

But Ashe doesn't turn back. He leaves Kali in the cold, wet street,

ignoring her pathetic laments.

Ashe continues on to the end of the alley...

THE CROW:

lands on Ashe's outstretched hand.

The Crow takes wing, lifting its way up into the night.

Ashe fires up the motorcycle's engine, tearing away from Sarah's

apartment in a cloud of smoke.

CUT TO:

INT. JUDAH'S TOWER, CAMPANILE - NIGHT

The scene resumes. Sarah stares at Judah, horrified.

SARAH:

Why are you doing this?

JUDAH:

Have you ever read Dante's Inferno? It says that the only true

path through Hell lies at its center. If you want to escape it

-- you have to go further in.

Judah lowers himself into a chair.

JUDAH:

When I was a boy I fell through the ice of a lake. I remember

seeing the sky through the ice above me, close enough to touch.

The world grew cold around me. Dark. Eventually my heart stopped

beating. And in that moment, I died.

Judah sweeps his hand through one of the candle flames, then

pinches the flame out of existence. A tiny wisp of smoke trails

up into shadow.

Judah settles back in his chair, overcome by a memory that for

him has never lost its vibrancy.

JUDAH:

A half-hour later I awoke on an operating table. I had returned

to the world of flesh and bone -- But I brought a knowledge back

with me...

(tapping his forehead)

Forbidden knowledge.

Judah leans in close to Sarah, his lambent eyes glowing like

hot coals. As Judah continues, Sarah fingers the ankh which hangs

from her neck.

JUDAH:

I've been living on borrowed time ever since. I've always known

Death would be coming for me.

(BEAT)

I see now that your friend is the one I've been waiting for.

SARAH:

You can't stop him.

JUDAH:

You're wrong, Sarah.

(RISING)

There is a way to defeat Death... and that's to trade places

with him.

Sibyl turns her head towards the east.

SIBYL:

The Crow is coming.

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