ACT 5, SCENE 1 INT: SISTER’S HOME – BASEMENT – NIGHT
SISTER struggles to pull a lifeless LEIGH up the steps.
SISTER (mumbling to herself):
Son of a…What the hell did I do? We had a plan, Sister. Right? Sister? What the hell did I do!
CUT TO, ACT 5, SCENE 2 INT: SISTER’S HOME – FOYER – NIGHT.
SISTER calmly dials a number.
SISTER:
Hi Omar.
OMAR (O.S.):
Hey, what is it?
SISTER:
Nothing serious. Maybe. Omar, I need help. I did something.
In the background, LEIGH remains lifeless on the floor.
ACT 5, SCENE 2 INT: REV’S HOME – KITCHEN – NIGHT
REV comes in through the door.
REV:
Honey? Rachel? I’m home.
REV slowly and calmly walks into the kitchen.
REV:
Rachel? Where are you?
REV finds a crack pipe on the kitchen table.
REV:
Rachel?
ACT 5, SCENE 4 LIVING ROOM
REV walks into the living and immediately covers his nose. The couch is soiled.
REV:
I’m sorry I left you. I didn’t mean to. Honey? Where are you?
TELEVISION is on announcing MAYOR’S speech soon as well as interviews with alleged REV victims.
REV:
Have you been watching the news?
ACT 5, SCENE 5 INT: UPSTAIRS
REV:
We need to go. We can’t stay here. Rachel?
RACHEL walks quickly behind him into another room.
REV turns around and follows what he saw.
REV:
Don’t be mad. We’ll find something else. I’m so sorry. I’m weak. I didn’t know what came over me. I thought I could control them. And for a while, I did. Rachel? I thought…
RACHEL is a zombie now and attacks REV. She bites into his neck and they stumble backwards down the stairs.
ACT 5, SCENE 6 INT: LIVING ROOM
REV and RACHEL are crumbled at the bottom of the stairs. REV is bleeding from his neck. He presses down on the wound and crawls away.
RACHEL grabs his ankles and tries to bite. REV kicks her and gets up to his knees. He straddles and strangles her.
REV:
Stop!
RACHEL keeps fighting.
REV:
Stop! Be still!
REV’S eyes turn black and snakes course through his veins. When RACHEL keeps fighting back…
REV:
Die! DIE!
RACHEL finally stops spasming. REV releases his hold.
REV:
Rachel?
REV shakes her. Then places his hand on her.
REV:
Wake up. Wake up! I command you to move.
RACHEL’S body moves and jolts enough REV has to jump back.
RACHEL’S BODY bursts open and worms and snakes erupt from her.
REV looks at his hands in disgust and runs out of frame.
ACT 5, SCENE 7 PRESS CONFERENCE
MAYOR’S point of view.
ASSISTANT:
Mayor Aspotolou, they’re ready for you.
MAYOR:
Let’s do this.
MAYOR moves forward.
ASSISTANT:
Camera one ready.
MAYOR:
Any word on my wife?
ASSISTANT:
She’s well.
MAYOR:
Be honest with me. How is she?
ASSISTANT
Upset I think.
MAYOR:
Tell her I’m sorry.
MAYOR walks out onto the blinding lights of the stage.
END MAYOR POV
MAYOR looks out and he can see MELISSA taking her seat and all the other reporters and photographers awaiting his word.
MAYOR:
Good evening.
LIGHT BULBS flash.
MAYOR:
So much has happened this past day. So much. I stand here today, because I need to speak the truth. That’s what they told me. I…need…this, this is hard for me. It will be a hard day for the rest of you. I did the best I could for Astro City. I tried to live up to being an Apostolou. I love my family and my kids. I love being a mayor. I had to BE something to change where I came from and what I did. I…I have weaknesses. I’m human. But I won’t leave my city to ruin. I promise I won’t let you succumb to weaknesses. There will be peace for now. At least you can take solace in that. That’s the truth. MY TRUTH. I…Melissa Day, are you here? Please come up.
MELISSA reluctantly comes forward.
MELISSA:
What are you doing?
MAYOR hands her an envelope.
MAYOR:
I wrote down everything I couldn’t speak. I trust you to tell my story.
MELISSA:
Ok?
MAYOR:
Everyone else, I’m sorry if I will cause you any harm today. If you get sick easily, please leave now.
MAYOR pulls a gun out of his jacket.
MELISSA:
Oh my God!
MAYOR quickly puts the gun in his mouth before others can respond and pulls the trigger.
QUICK CUT TO MELISSA just as the trigger is pulled. As chaos and screams ensue around her, MELISSA’S eyes widen. She can’t move. Spots of blood are on her face.
ACT 5, SCENE 8 INT: AMED’S HOME – NIGHT
AMED is rocking back and forth with a deceased LINDA in his arms.
Doorbell rings frantically. AMED fixes LINDA’S hair as he parts from her. AMED goes to answer the door.
REV burst through the door with his towel stopping the bleeding from his neck.
REV:
Help me.
AMED:
What happened?
REV:
Have you watched the news yet?
AMED:
No.
REV:
Good. Where’s your wife?
AMED:
In the kitchen.
REV goes into the kitchen and sees LINDA.
REV:
Linda, please forgive…Jesus!
AMED:
I think I hurt her and forgot about it.
REV:
Jesus.
AMED:
She stayed around because of me I think. I needed her to. It has to be the curse. I’m just like my mother.
REV:
I’m so sorry, Amed.
AMED:
Your prayers didn’t work. I’m not cured.
REV:
I see the limitations now. The more I use it the less it works just like any other drug.
AMED:
Rev, I’m gonna call the police. I think you should leave before they get here.
REV:
I have nowhere else to go.
AMED:
I need them to kill me.
REV:
No. You don’t need them. You need me.
REV smashes both his hands into AMED’S face and throws all his power into him.
REV:
Only me. All about me.
END OF ACT 5