The Monster Squad Page #7

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Liam continues around the corner. He takes a few more steps,

and stops. There's nothing in either direction but empty

street and darkness. He heaves a few breaths, trying to make

up his mind, as a BUS wobbles up the road. Liam runs across

the street and waves it down at the opposing stop. Brakes

hiss, the door opens, and he climbs on.

INT. CHERRYMOUNT ASYLUM

Darkness. There's a sound of rusted hinges, and a long shaft

of flickering lantern-light spreads with the opening of a

door. Caught within its glow is the crumpled form of Charles

Rueger, who has fallen asleep against the wall. He awakens

slowly and snaps to attention, struggling to his feet and

wiping drool from his mouth with a sleeve.

.

RUEGER:

I've brought him. He's in the

eastern wing.

44.

With a whisper of cloaks and a regal movement, Kaziglu Bey

steps into the light, lantern in hand.

KAZIGLU:

Show me. We've catching up to do.

INT. THE BUS - NIGHT

The bus continues to steam along, completely empty save for

Liam. Seated in the back, he stares out the window with

glassy eyes. His thoughts are distant and his mouth tight,

unaware as the bus comes shuddering to a stop.

DRIVER:

Alright, there. Cherrymount Court.

End of the line.

Liam snaps out of his bitter reverie and moves to the front

of the bus.

LIAM:

I think I'm going to just go back.

DRIVER:

Not on this bus, kid. I'm heading

for the yard.

Liam looks out the window, finding only a deserted street and

darkness. The bus stop is illuminated by a single, stuttering

lamp.

LIAM:

So I've got to wait? Out THERE?

DRIVER:

Or you could start walking? Nah,

nah. I'm just messing with you.

There'll be another 74 by in about

fifteen minutes.

45.

The door hisses open, apparently signaling the end of the

conversation. Liam gives the driver a poison look and moves

down the steps.

DRIVER:

Hold up, kid. (Beat) Don't forget

your transfer.

The driver grins and hands Liam a slip of paper. The boy

takes it, glaring at the older man, and steps out onto the

sidewalk.

DRIVER:

You have yourself a great night.

EXT. THE STREET

The door hisses shut and the bus chugs into motion, fading

out into the distance. Everything is still and dark, as Liam

nervously breathes into his hands. As he glances to the

looming shape of the asylum, a single light CLICKS ON,

standing out against the darkness. Liam squints at the sight

curiously, but finds himself GRABBED by the sudden curl of an

arm. Howling in surprise, he struggles against the headlock

.

LIAM:

GET OFF ME!

It's the Flanch twins. They laugh as Liam fights to get

loose.

GRANT:

The hell are you doing up here,

Cross? Looking for daddy's grave?

JEREMY:

I don't think he's getting the

idea, Grant. We keep having to go

through this, again and again… I

think maybe Liam's a little

masochist. (He squeezes Liam's

head) That right, Cross?

46.

The two brothers shove Liam up against the fence.

GRANT:

You get hard off of being such a

f***ing loser?

LIAM:

You both came to every one of my

birthday parties from the time I

was five until I was twelve. We

grew up together, spent summer

vacations in each other's yards,

had a million sleepovers. So if

anybody knows what makes me tick…

Liam SPITS in Grant's face.

LIAM:

… it would be you a**holes.

Grant PUNCHES Liam in the chest, knocking the air out of him.

JEREMY:

I like it better when he doesn't

talk.

GRANT:

Yeah. He's got the wrong idea.

Today's lesson isn't about local

history, it's about humility.

The Flanches grab Liam and begin to drag him along the length

of the asylum's fence. Cross gasps for air and tries to fight

against their grip.

LIAM:

(Heaving)

… get… get off me…

47.

JEREMY:

No, nonono. We're going to help

you. Big, tough emo-goth f*ggot

like you? You'll love this.

GRANT:

Got him?

The twins get a clumsy hold on Liam's arms and THROW him

forward. He's pitched over a sagging part of the fence and

rolls down a slimy, leaf-covered hill into a rain ditch. The

laughter of the Flanches can be heard from above, as Liam

fights to get his footing in the muck. The sluice is too

steep and wet to scale, leaving him trapped at its foot.

LIAM:

F***ing a**holes!

The twins peer down from the crest of the slanted terrain.

Jeremy shakes his head in disgust.

.

JEREMY:

You brought this sh*t on yourself,

Cross! I didn't want it to be like

this, Grant didn't want it to be

like this, but you just can't

f***ing grow up and get over

yourself. You're a loser because

that's all you know how to be.

GRANT:

But look at it this way: at least

if you see any fish-people or

zombies in there, you'll know how

to handle yourself.

LIAM Jeremy!

JEREMY:

Later, Liam.

48.

The Flanch twins vanish from Liam's view, and everything's

quiet again. Liam brushes mud and filth from his sleeves and

looks up to the asylum, where that single light is still

burning.

LIAM:

Goddammit.

INT. CHERRYMOUNT ASYLUM

A piece of canvas is sharply torn away by someone's hand,

revealing the varnished flesh of a PETRIFIED CORPSE. The

figure-once a man-is dressed in flaking and aged leather,

most likely circa the mid-1800's. His moustache and strands

of white hair have been perfectly preserved by time. Half-

closed eye sockets stare into space, yellowed teeth bared by

a lack of lips.

Rueger steps back from the rusted examination room table. The

walls of the operation room are stained by water damage,

light provided by a halogen work lamp.

RUEGER:

There.

Kaziglu's eyes glitter, as he hunches over the mummy and

draws in a deep breath through his nostrils.

KAZIGLU:

It's Colton Darrow. I remember his

scent.

RUEGER:

You knew him?

KAZIGLU:

Once upon a long time ago, yes.

Darrow was quite a cunning

adversary. I believe that only time

and his own mortality truly stayed

his hand, had he been more like you

and I…

49.

Rueger's disgust at the implication is obvious. It causes

Kaziglu to smile.

KAZIGLU:

Why, Charles. Do I detect an

indignant breath?

.

RUEGER:

I didn't have a choice in "being"

this way. Neither did my father, or

grandfather, or anybody else in my

family. Our obligation and bond to

you doesn't mean jack sh*t to me… I

just want it to be done with. No

more killing, no more sickness.

KAZIGLU:

(Laughing)

Life is sickness, Rueger. Your

ancestors knew it, and so shall

you.

EXT. CHERRYMOUNT ASYLUM - MAIN GATE

The heavy iron slats of the main gate roll back, illuminated

by the slanted shaft of headlights. A figure trots back to a

nearby car; it's a white and red cruiser with the words "HOME

FIRES SECURITY" written over a brass crest on its doors. An

older, wearier looking sentry is behind the wheel.

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