ACT 4, SCENE 1 – VARIOUS – VARIOUS
VARIOUS NEWS CASTERS:
Breaking news tonight at 10. Mayor Apostolou is a victim of a home invasion.
MAYOR:
I’m safe. My wife’s safe, but the crime in Astro City is out of control. I’m not leaving office, until I’ve done everything in my power to stop it.
VARIOUS:
Also:
HIDDEN CAM VIDEO of REV trying to grab LEIGH.
VARIOUS:
A prominent reverend accused of assaulting a number of victims.
ACT 4, SCENE 2 INT: REV’S HOME – LIVING ROOM – CONT’D
VARIOUS (O.S.):
Find out more tonight.
CLOSE up of stocking-feet. Slowly PAN UP. The stockings are wet and dirty. The couch is soiled. PAN UP more to reveal a very disheveled RACHEL MACCABEE. She looks as if she hasn’t showered in days.
Finally she GASPS and comes to her senses. She immediately cries forcefully.
CUT TO ACT 4, SCENE 3 INT: REV’S HOME – BATHROOM – CONT’D
RACHEL hops out of the shower and steps over her soiled clothes. She puts on her white nightgown and just sits on the toilet. She is lost.
CUT TO ACT 4, SCENE 4 INT: REV’S HOME – KITCHEN – CONT’D
From the POV inside a kitchen cupboard: the cupboard door is opened and a calm RACHEL reaches in and grabs something from the back.
CUT TO ACT 4, SCENE 5 INT: REV’S HOME – KITCHEN – TABLE – CONT’D
RACHEL burns the contents of a baggie in a crack pipe and smokes it. Her eyes are fluttering, pupils dilating, and limbs spazzing. She’s grunting and sweating. She’s changing.
ACT 4, SCENE 6 INT: HE IS RISEN – REV’S OFFICE – LATE AFTERNOON
REV is on his computer watching the hidden cam video of him and LEIGH on a news website. He is on his cellphone.
REV:
I think the Mayor had something to do with it. Of course, he still has to obey me. They all have to, but maybe he’s found a way out. I don’t know how, but maybe he’s found a way.
INTERCUT WITH ACT 4, SCENE 7 INT: SISTER’S HOME – KITCHEN – CONT’D
SISTER:
I don’t know. Everything in my tea is dark. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. Nothing’s working the way it should.
SISTER’S POV of her tea cup and its dark contents.
SISTER:
This isn’t good.
REV:
I know that.
He ignores the knock on his door.
SISTER:
Rev…Joe…did you try to hurt Leigh?
REV:
That’s ridiculous! She tricked me to make it look that way.
A pause follows.
SISTER:
Joe, why do I feel like I’ve heard this before?
REV:
Netta, all the good I’ve done with my gift. This was bestowed on me for a reason! Why would I throw that all away?
SISTER:
Ok, Rev. I believe you.
REV:
Sister, you have to do something about your foster daughter, before she destroys everything we’ve accomplished.
SISTER:
I could call her social worker. God knows they’ve been trying to reach me.
REV:
More than that Sister.
SISTER:
What do you mean?
REV:
You heard me! Do something about her.
REV angrily hangs up his phone. As soon as he does that, his office phone starts ringing. He picks it up.
REV:
What?
CALLER:
Is this Reverend Joe Mac?
REV:
Who is this?
CALLER:
Channel 5. What do you have to say about that video?
REV slams the phone down. The phone starts ringing again, but he leaves it alone and walks out of his office.
ACT 4, SCENE 8 INT: CHURCH – FRONT OFFICE – CONT’D
REV:
Why aren’t you holding the calls?
PAN away to reveal the office full of people, but no secretary. REV is stunned. The CROWD presses forward. An obvious face in the crowd is SHAUNICE’S MOTHER.
SHAUNICE’S MOTHER (S.M.):
I need to talk to you, Reverend.
VARIOUS:
What did you do to me? Did you touch me? Reverend, I need to speak with you!
REV:
Get out of my way.
Some of them respond, but the others remain. ESPECIALLY SHAUNICE’S MOM.
REV:
Why won’t all of you move?
SM:
I’ve been thinking about this a mighty long time. Shaunice told me what happened, but I believed you.
REV:
Move!
CROWD:
Is what they say about you true? Why did I pass out in your office?
SM:
Why did I believe you over her?
REV lashes out and grabs SM by her throat.
REV:
MAKE THEM MOVE!
REV forces all his power into her. His veins are large and his eyes become black.
The SM turns around and pushes and punches everyone.
In the midst of the chaos, REV makes his escape out of the crowd.
ACT 4, SCENE 9 INT: MELISSA DAY’S OFFICCE – LATE AFTERNOON
MELISSA is typing excitedly at her desk. People are coming in and out of her office.
ASSISTANT:
You need anything?
MELISSA:
I’m good.
REPORTER:
Amazing find, Melissa. How’d you do it?
MELISSA:
I don’t reveal my sources.
She is interrupted by a knock on her door.
MELISSA:
What do you want?
The MAYOR enters her office. There’s a lot of fanfare behind her door.
MAYOR:
What a crowd.
MELISSA:
It’s about time a woman gets some recognition around here.
MAYOR
Can we get some privacy?
MELISSA:
I rather not.
MAYOR:
Even if it’s on the record.
MELISSA gives the signal for ASSISTANT and REPORTER to leave the room.
MAYOR closes the door behind them.
MAYOR:
Afternoon.
MELISSA:
Cut the pleasantries. I hate you.
MAYOR:
I’m not here to make you like me.
MELISSA slams her tape recorder on her desk.
MELISSA:
Good. This conversation is being recorded. So don’t try bribing me or threaten to send goons after me.
MAYOR:
I’d expect nothing less from you. You’re always ready.
MELISSA:
I gotta be around men like you.
MAYOR:
Congratulations on catching Reverend Maccabee. To be honest, I never liked him. You finally got your story. You must be happy.
MELISSA:
Not quite. I’m after someone bigger and whiter.
MAYOR:
Listen. You and I haven’t been on the same page, and I admit I haven’t been a saint.
MELISSA:
That’s an understatement.
MAYOR
But I have so much more to do before my press conference. I need to trust someone with this.
MELISSA:
With what?
MAYOR:
You’re…an amazing reporter.
MELISSA:
What did I say about pleasantries?
MAYOR:
You’d never stop until you have your story. So I want you to tell my story.
MELISSA:
I tried. You and your machine shut it down.
MAYOR:
I…I’m more than that. I’m not a kid anymore. I have a family now.
MELISSA:
You’re gonna play that card? Really?
MAYOR:
If it wasn’t for me, the police department wouldn’t have their lead on this drug epidemic.
MELISSA:
How would you have a lead like that?
MAYOR:
I love this city. Just like you. My father helped make Astro City what it is. His work, his legacy, it’s all I know. I made mistakes, but I will make it right. (pressured speech) I have to make it right. I have to tell the truth.
MELISSA:
I have mace if you’re about to spaz out on me.
MAYOR:
Just tell my story. Get down to the bottom of this.
MELISSA:
Bottom of what?
MAYOR:
Come to my press conference in a few for the real story.
MELISSA:
Why don’t you tell me right now?
MAYOR:
Because…I have so much more to give.
MAYOR’S speech is pressured when he says it, and then he gets up to leave the room.
MELISSA:
Does Omar have something to do with this?
MAYOR stops in his tracks.
MELISSA:
Of course, he does. He’s always hidden his true self. I couldn’t believe it at first, until I saw it with my own eyes. I blame you for leading him astray. Your sexcapades with Sarah. Your drug binges. I was gonna bring you down and free him and everyone else you’ve manipulated.
MAYOR:
I’m sorry.
MELISSA:
You can start by telling me what you did with Sarah.
MAYOR:
I…fired…I…Riding in the town car is a waste of tax payer money, right?
MELISSA:
What?
MAYOR:
It’s a waste. It was all a waste. So I just hired a driver on staff to drive me around. They’ll know everything. (BEAT) See you tonight.
MAYOR walks out of the office. MELISSA turns off her recorder.
ACT 4, SCENE 10 INT: SISTER’S HOME – LATE AFTERNOON
LEIGH walks into the house with a smile on her face. She is about to make her way upstairs.
SISTER(O.S.)
Leigh is that you?
LEIGH:
Yeah.
SISTER (O.S.):
Can I talk to you?
LEIGH sighs heavily and makes her way to the kitchen.
ACT 4, SCENE 11 INT: SISTER’S HOME – KITCHEN – CONT’D.
LEIGH enters the kitchen. SISTER is at the kitchen table pouring some tea.
SISTER:
Have a seat. Are you going somewhere?
LEIGH:
I wanted to catch the news.
SISTER:
Yes, I heard what happened.
LEIGH:
It’s out there already?
SISTER:
What did you do?
LEIGH:
I caught a predator.
SISTER:
Would you like some tea?
LEIGH:
Not your kind of tea.
SISTER:
Alcohol-free, I promise. You should have some.
SISTER pours another ready cup.
LEIGH:
I’m too excited for tea. I caught Rev Joe Mac.
SISTER:
Not everything you hear is true.
LEIGH digs in her bookbag, grabs Shaunice’s diary and throws it on the table.
LEIGH:
Read the entry from about a year ago.
SISTER picks it up and slowly opens it.
LEIGH:
Long story short: Rev Joe Mac sexually assaulted Shaunice. I don’t know how many times he did it or why she didn’t come forward, but he did it. He had some kind of control over her.
SISTER:
Last year, Bettie went missing too.
LEIGH:
I don’t know who Bettie is, but like you said, the masks are falling down. I know what’s wrong with Astro City, and it starts with people like Rev Joe Mac getting full of themselves. His revolution is an act.
SISTER:
Leigh, this is very dangerous. I don’t want to lose you.
LEIGH:
I’m not afraid anymore. I can see now.
SISTER:
Drink some tea. It’ll help you relax.
LEIGH:
Someone has to stand for justice and I’m…
LEIGH looks off in the distance.
SISTER:
Your eyes are glowing.
LEIGH:
She’s here.
SISTER:
Who?
SISTER looks behind her, but sees no one.
LEIGH:
Shaunice.
SISTER:
She’s here?
SHAUNICE is pointing in the direction of the living room.
LEIGH:
You don’t see her.
SISTER:
No, but how can you see her?
LEIGH:
What is it?
LEIGH follows where she is pointing.
SISTER:
Where are you going?
ACT 4, SCENE 12 INT: SISTER’S HOME – LIVING ROOM – CONT’D
LEIGH runs into the living room. SISTER is far behind her.
SISTER:
Leigh? Why can’t I see her?
The walls are bare without masks. Except the GHOST OF GRACE standing in the middle of the room.
LEIGH:
Someone else is here. I don’t know who she is.
SISTER:
She?
SISTER is astonished.
SISTER:
Sister, Why can’t I see you? Let me see you!
LEIGH:
They want me to see something.
GRACE is pointing in the direction of the FOYER.
LEIGH runs out there.
SISTER:
Sister, what are you doing?
ACT 4, SCENE 13 INT: SISTER’S HOME – FOYER – CONT’D
LEIGH pauses in front of a GHOST OF A BLOODY HOODED JOSHUA BIRDSONG as he points in the direction of the basement.
From the point of view of the basement, the door opens and LEIGH is standing at the threshold.
SISTER (O.S.):
Leigh! Don’t go down there.
LEIGH descends anyway.
ACT 4, SCENE 14 INT: SISTER’S HOME – BASEMENT – CONT’D
In the basement, LEIGH scans around searching for something. Her eyes glowing like cats in the night.
SISTER comes running down the stairs.
SISTER:
Leigh, come back up here. You shouldn’t be down here.
LEIGH:
They want me to find something.
SISTER:
Please stop.
LEIGH finally stops in front of a brick wall. HER eyes continue to glow.
LEIGH:
I can see it.
LEIGH’S POV: The brick wall begins to fade as if she has x-ray vision.
LEIGH:
Oh god, is that a body?
LEIGH is knocked out from behind.
SISTER is holding a piece of plywood in her hand.
SISTER:
You should’ve drank the damn tea.
END OF ACT 4