[Apathy's_Child]

Been catching up - have an idea of where this is gonna go. Shit's about to get Manichean.

These characters are old hat and don't act this way anymore. There's a reason.


Fade into the NY night outside – later that same night. Shot moves down onto a street, where a man is walking [or rather, strolling]. He is looking around him with an amiable grin on his face, enjoying the dark streets contentedly.

MAN: Hey, dude. [pause] Dude.

No one appears as he meanders along, but a disembodied voice replies.

VOICE: Yo. You got anything?

MAN: Nah, nah. Just saying. I know we’ve never BEEN anywhere else, but... this has gotta be the greatest city in the WORLD.

VOICE: I know, right? You see that skyline?

MAN: [seen silhouetted against the purple skyline from beneath as he leaps into the air with a grin, touching down in a crouch like a superhero] Um – it’s only THE MOST AWESOME skyline. [suddenly rises to his feet – or rather, floats as though lifted and set on them by an unseen force, before continuing along his way] This is SO COOL. I mean, I still wanna go home more than anything, but... once this is all over and we’re back where we belong, I think I’ll be glad we finally saw this world. You know?

VOICE: [solemnly, staying with him as he walks along] I feel you, bro. I feel you.

Suddenly, an old woman steps out in front of the Man.

MAN: [whispering to the Voice] Shh-shh-shh, heads-up. [looks up and continues towards the old woman] Oh, hey there. [smiles disarmingly] Sooo, you’re an old woman, huh? That’s nice. I’m a man. Yep, that's me - just a young, human ma-

Stops as her eyes scorch black – Man flaps his hands excitedly.

MAN: Dude, dude! I got one! [looks around – eyes light on a sign] 89th!

VOICE: [low and urgent] Already there. DO NOT start without me, you pigfucker!

A second later, there is a blinding flash of light, and a second man emerges, falling out of the air – catches himself before he can crumple to the ground, hovering like the first Man for a second before touching down.

Man 2: [looking at the old woman, who is hissing like a cat, startled by the flash] Awesome! It’s totally evil!

Man: Oh, man, I wanna kill it!

Man 2: [grabs his arm] Nonono! I wanna kill it!

Man: All right, all right – together! [agreed, they turn their heads as one towards the demon which has been staring back and forth between them, now nonplussed – shot of them leaping at the camera]

As they land on the old woman-demon, she appears to electrocute under their touch, hot enough to burst into embers without a long protracted burning-up.

Man 2: [watching the embers settle in the night, which is quiet again] Dude. That. Was. AWESOME.

Man: That was TOTALLY holy.

They bro-pound.

Man 2: [staring at him happily] You know, I KNEW we did the right picking you up, Ashley.

ASHLEY: Thanks, Desp. This last month has been the best of my life. It’s good to be on the side of the angels, you know?

Desp: Wanna go pyro some more demons?

Ashley: Fuck. Yeah.