HEIR TO THE THRONE Scene 1: Shot of a room of five men in suits sitting at a table eating. Two men walk down a hallway, approaching the door to this room. They stop and stand outside of it. Niles (getting pumped up) Ready to see 'em dance the lead ballet? Kyle (monotone) About as much as always. Niles Hell, sunshine, I'll let you kick in the door if it'll perk you up. Kyle Nah, thas' alright. Go ahead and do that voodoo, ram-man. Niles (grinning gleefully) Your loss, cowboy. Niles pops his neck, and kicks the door. Kyle leaps in, immediately dropping two men with headshots. Niles jumps in the other side with two guns, going down on his stomach and takes out the kneecaps of two other men. Once they fall, he fires into their bodies. The fifth man fires at Kyle causing him to duck down, and then hits Niles in the arm as he stands up. He runs out the door. Kyle You hurt? Niles Nothing I can't fix. Go kill the rabbit. Kyle Right. Kyle runs out, Niles pulls out what looks like a prescription bottle. The fifth man is running down a staircase, with Kyle in pursuit. Kyle turns a corner and time seems to slow down. Out of the shadows comes a tall, thin man will pale skin and shadowed, seemingly black eyes. He is wearing a long black coat and a dark, wide-brimmed hat. This is Death. Kyle (as if just realizing where he is) GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!! The fifth man sees Death and freezes as he (Death ) floats by him and whispers the words "you're about to die" in his ear. Death then fades back into the shadows as Kyle shoots the man in the forehead. Niles (O.C.) What the hell was that? Kyle turns suddenly. Kyle (out of breath) Damned if I know. You saw him too? Niles (noticeably edgy) I just saw you let a goddamn witness go! What the hell's your problem? Kyle I get the feeling he won't report us. (pauses) C'mon. Let's get the hell out of here before a real problem shows up. Niles (smiles, eyes wide) Hell, yeah, man! Let's go and collect. Dinner's on the Shark tonight. The two get in their car. Niles is driving. Kyle (massaging his temples) You gonna get that looked at? Niles (scarily energized) Oh, crap, yeah. I'll have the shark's men look at it. Look, can you sit with Terry for a bit while I go and pick up our green? Kyle Sure. Niles Thanks. She'll probably be pissed, but she'll forgive and forget once she sees what I bring home. Kyle (weary) Stop kiddin' yourself. She's not half the mercenary that we are. Niles I prefer to think of us as neighborhood do-gooders, like Daredevil, or the Punisher. Scene 2: The club of Johnny "the Shark" Mako. Niles is being bandaged by one of his men, while Johnny sits across a table from him. Various gangsters are milling about, watching TV, playing cards, etc. Shark Whaddaya mean, no more hits! Do you know how badly this'll mess things up? Niles (almost aside) Calm Down. Shark Calm down, hell! You come in here, spreading your DNA all over my barstools, and tell me you got spotted by some Fu Manchu looking freak that you think is a message from above to throw off my plans. How am I supposed to feel? You going all bleeding heart on me, you little psycho? Niles (bolting up from his chair, wired, moving sporadically as he talks) Point of parliamentary procedure, fishman! I'll have you know that I am completely in possession of each of my god-given marbles! This guy was like something out of a Hammer film, staring me down not from above, but from below. But he wasn't condemning, oh no... he was...assessing...made me feel like an amateur... Shark How many drugs are you on? Niles (looking aside, hand on his chin) You know, I dreamed the other night that the coyote finally caught the roadrunner. It was very cathartic, like some kind of collected burden had been lifted off of the world's shoulders. Shark... Yeah. And I dreamt that you actually shut up for once. Niles (as if acknowledging him for the first time) You think that means something? Like, maybe my time is up. (eyes light up) I had a dream about you once, y'know. Shark Take your money and get out. Niles We were in the back of a limo, except that it was made of bread, and you had to pull apart the slices to get in, but once you did, it was fully furnished... Shark (getting angrier) Get out now! And don't come back unless you come back carryin'!! Niles The bottom half of your body was a fish tail, and it made you unable to run when I pulled out my gun and shot you. Shark Get out!! Niles Maybe this means that my time is just beginning. Your hourglass is running out. The Shark keeps yelling as Niles leaves, grinning ear to ear. Scene 3: Kyle and Niles' girlfriend are sitting at a table at a restaurant. Kyle Bastard's always late. Terry Yeees. Infuriating, isn't it. Kyle You should leave him. Terry Maybe, but only for you, handsome. Kyle It's so nice to be wanted. I have to ask you though, seriously, why are you with him, with us? Doesn't what we do bother you in the slightest? Terry Not as much as what I used to do. I'm of the philosophy that if guys like you and Niles come calling, you deserve what you get. You guys aren't psychos. You always make it clean, don't you? Kyle I try. No point in dragging out these things. But you can't even compare what we do to your previous occupation. You did it to survive, not because you wanted your body violated. It doesn't end lives. Terry No. It just wrecks them. (pauses) As to why I'm with you guys, I fell in love with Niles the instant he burst through that door and shot that scumbag pimp down. I thought he was going to kill me. Thank god he was punctual that time. As for you, you're just a gentleman and a scholar, and I'm determined to see you settled and happy before we part ways. Kyle I'm a sucker for a pretty face, but few are as tolerant as you are. (hesitates) Uhm... what you were saying earlier...about us being professionals and all... lately Niles has kind of been... Terry (interrupting) Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if we had wound up together...if, you know...you had come through that door first and fired that shot... right between the eyes, like you always do? Kyle Sometimes. Terry It's like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." I'm involved with two roguish gunslingers, but can only have one. Edda Place, through and through. Kyle starts to speak, but Niles walks up from off-camera. Niles I prefer to think of us as Chow Yun Fat and Danny Lee. Two clashing philosophies teaming together to simply kick ass with a twin-gunned fury. Terry But Butch and Sundance got to go out in a blaze of glory. Niles True, but according to myth, they made it back to America and faded into obscurity as ranchers, or some other kind of nonsense. Not my thing. Kyle Sounds kind of nice to me. Betcha don't see no crazy-ass apparitions out on a Montana sheep ranch. Niles Shut up, Kyle. I told Johnny Mako that you wanted out because of that spook and he disowned me. Man was like a father to me, and he actually called me out. Hate for him to wind up like my real father. Terry What're you talking about? You guys want out? Niles Kyle saw Casper the friendly-ass ghost and took it as a sign to stop killing. Kyle You saw it too, and you're the one who claimed it was a sign. Niles Yeah, but not one to stop. (tosses Kyle his cut of the money) But I don't work without my prodigy. You retire, I retire. The game is over. Terry You mean it? You guys are actually gonna stop? Niles Not like we're short on money. (looks at Kyle) It never really sat well with you anyway, did it? (Kyle looks down) That's okay. I should stop before I get a real...taste...for it. (drifts for a moment) Now, lets go celebrate these moments of clarity somewhere more private. The three get up to leave, Terry smiling at the news, Kyle uneasy as he flashes back to the grin on Niles' face as he blew the kneecaps out of the men they killed earlier today. Kyle (to himself) Don't you already have the taste? They all leave. The three of them are walking down the street. Niles Look, I'm gonna go down to the ABC store, purchase some liquid courage. You guys game? Kyle Sure. Terry Kyle, you're actually going to imbibe with us? Kyle I'm actually hanging up my spurs. I'll drink to that. (looks at Niles) Come here a second. (to Terry) Man talk. Terry (smiling) Oh, of course. Kyle and Niles step to the side. Kyle Look, I know we've haven't always seen eye to eye, but just because I want out doesn't mean that you have to give up the life. You took care of me after dad died, and I'll always owe you that. Just cause I'm backing out... Niles Look, kid, I owe you just as much. You're half the reason people fear me on the street. You did good by me. Maybe it's time I quit. I have Terry to think about. (suddenly) Speaking of which, would you walk her home while I get the booze? Kyle We can all come. It's not like you're buying for under-age kids... Niles I know, I just got some personal business to take care of. I won't be long. Kyle Okay, man. Niles walks off as Kyle and Terry head off in a different direction. Terry takes Kyle's arm in her's. Kyle Maybe you should cool it. I think Niles might be the jealous type. Terry I think that it makes him proud for me to drive other men wild with my flirtatiousness. Cut to: Niles walking, but someone can be seen following him. Back to Terry and Kyle. Kyle Sometimes you flirt a little hard with me. Terry You're a good guy, Kyle. And you deserve a good woman. Maybe I just want to give you the confidence to go and get one. Kyle The one I want is already spoken for. (realizes his blunder) Butch and Sundance through and through, that's us. Terry (seeing that he's uncomfortable) And you're finally laying your guns in the ground. I can't believe it. Cut to: Niles in an alleyway, looking from his little prescription pill container to sewer drain. He turns suddenly to look at the man who has been following him. Niles Hello, Victor. Victor Evening, Niles. Niles (walking towards Victor) I figured that the Shark wouldn't let me walk away clean. Is this business or personal? Victor A little of both. Back to Kyle and Terry. Kyle He's quitting for you. Terry How sweet. Will you be coming with us, wherever we go? Kyle Probably not a good idea, kid. Terry I know that Niles used to be really messed up, and that he still has progress to make, but you were always sort of a grounding force for him. I think if you're around it'll help. Kyle I never thought that he looked to me that way. Cut to: Victor pulling his jacket aside to show a gun in the waistline of his pants. Niles What about the kid? Victor The Shark figures we can still work with him. You've been a liability for a while now, Niles. Should've laid off the junk, assh- Victor goes for the gun, but is interrupted as Niles quickly grabs hold of it while it is still in his waistline. Niles A little song, a little dance, a little ammo down your pants. (looks Victor in the eye) Oh, I'm still gonna quit, oh yeah, just think of yourself as my cool down. (his breathing grows heavier) Man, I want to blast the crotch out of your pants so bad, but I'm not that sloppy. Niles' other hand pulls a knife from his back pocket and he jams it into the side of Victor's head. As Victor falls, Niles pulls the gun from his pants, looking at it angrily. Back to Kyle and Terry. Kyle I think there might be hope for Niles yet, cause he has good intentions, but I don't think I'll help. You two will be fine without me. I'd only be a fifth wheel; a reminder of a past best left forgotten. Terry (almost to herself) I guess I just don't want you to go... Back to Niles, who is leaning up against a wall. He is breathing hard, and looking at the pillbox. Suddenly he rips the top off and swallows the contents. He emits a guttural growl and starts looking around the alley as if he knows someone is there. Niles Where are you, you big dead bastard? What do you want, show yourself? Afraid I'll outsmart you too, eh? Can't handle the rush, huh, WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? (calms, grinning) Oh, I get it. This is another sign, you brilliant little malnourished prick! I can't stop now, can I? Of course, it was obvious all along! HAH! Show yourself, goddammit, stop talking in riddles and rhyme and tell me what you want! Niles gets only silence as a response. Well, I know what I want! GOD DAMNED LIQUOR! You can come too, and we'll toast the night away! Ha-HAH! Come on, let's go. WHOO! Niles leaves the alley, in a state of drug induced rage. Scene 4: Kyle is lying in bed. Flash into his dreamworld. Kyle dressed all in black, standing before a table seating everyone he has ever killed. All have bullet holes in their foreheads and black, lifeless eyes. At the head of the table is Death. Beyond the table is complete darkness. Death Take a seat, Mister Wesley. I believe you know everybody here. You did, after all, bring them into my care. Their blood is on your hands. Kyle looks down at his hands, which are soaked in blood. He acts as if this is all completely normal. Death Do you believe that this is a dream? Kyle This is more like a vision. Death Do you know who I am? Kyle Funny. I always thought you wore a cloak and carried some kind of blade. Death (smiling) No, I haven't worn the cloak in a century or so, and I've replaced my scythe with something a bit more modern. Death pulls his long coat aside to reveal a gunbelt containing two revolvers. Kyle (nodding) Nice. Death (pulling his coat against him) Why do you kill, Mister Wesley? Kyle It's all I know. Death (smiling) We all start somewhere. Kyle When I was fifteen, some of the neighborhood boys tried to rape my sister. They knew dad wasn't home, but they never noticed me. I got dad's revolver, and shot them down. After dad was killed by a rival boss, Johnny Mako offered me a job as a hitman. I got my revenge for my father, and supported my sister and me. I haven't been able to break away. Death You wish to quit? Kyle More than anything. I've wanted to stop since the Shark took me under his wing. Death (laughing) Don't you mean fin? (stops smiling abruptly) You recognize everyone here, of course. You've kept me busy these past few years. Kyle I frequently see these faces in all my nightmares. This is nothing new to me. One of the dead gets up and approaches Kyle. Kyle Hello, Billy. Billy I never meant your sister any harm. Kyle That a fact? They say you never truly enjoy your first kill, but I would enjoy an eternity of ending your existence. Billy I can think of a worse fate. In fact, I'm the one who's recommending you for the job. Kyle (confused) What job? Death remains silent. Billy (pointing to the gunshot in his forehead) Even then, you knew to make it clean. Death waves his hand, and everything but Kyle disappears. Scene 5: Shot of Niles and Terry asleep in bed. Flash into Niles' dream. Bodies lay everywhere, blood spattered all around, like some kind of human butcher shop. Niles is in all black, and Death stands in the center of the carnage. Death Hello, Mister Cannon. I believe you know everybody here. You did, after all bring them into my care. Their blood is on your hands. Niles looks at his blood-soaked hands. He looks up at Death, smiles, and licks it off. Niles I know who you are. You're the man himself. Like the guns. Death Why do you kill, Mister Cannon? Niles I am inclined to believe, sir, that no matter where you go in this god-forsaken planet, hell, this entire universe, death is the only constant that exists everywhere. I like being part of a scheme that big, that pure. Death How very philosophical of you. How long did it take you to come up with that rationalization? Niles remains silent. Death But you are right. I am the only constant in this universe. What drives you to do it? Niles (grinning) TV influenced me. Hell, my pop would just sit me in front of it, and let it broaden my horizons... Death Is that so? One of the bodies crawls up off the floor. He is horribly butchered. He approaches Niles. Niles (raising eyebrows, as if unimpressed) Hello, father. Death Your first? Niles Oh, yes. Father You little son of a bitch. Niles Hey, I didn't pick my mother. You did. Father How much did you get for my eyes, huh? Niles The Shark didn't offer me a lot for you, but for a kid of fourteen, it seemed like a whole hell of a lot. Father You little bastard, when you see what destiny has in store for you, I want you to know that it was me who recommended you receive that fate. Niles (unwavering) Thanks, dad, but don't think that you'll get any satisfaction from hearing me curse your name when I'm taken from this world as I did when I was dragged into it. (turns to Death) So what's my fate? Death waves his hand, and Niles is suddenly back in the room where he and Kyle killed the five men that day. Kyle is also there. Niles (to Kyle) You been getting this sermon too? Kyle says nothing. Death You two have been chosen for a special task. My time is passed; it is time to move on. One of you will replace me as the gatherer of the dead, the Dark Angel. Kyle and Niles stare, unmoving. Death Whomever of you two prove worthy of this position shall be deemed my successor. Niles And how do we do that, exactly? Death A competition, of course. Niles smiles, sadistically. Kyle shakes his head. Kyle No contest. Give it to him, I don't want it. I don't have the "taste" for it. Death You have no choice. You two come with the highest recommendations of the dead. The competition begins now. Both Kyle and Niles snap out of their dreams. In Kyle's room: Kyle pulls the gun from under his pillow. His hands are still bloodstained. He throws his gun down. In Niles' room: Niles snaps up, sweating and smiling. He looks down at his bloody hands. Terry (groggy) What's happening, baby? Niles (staring at his hands) I've just been inspired, sweetheart. The game's not over yet. Fade out. Cut to: Niles standing in a field, shooting towards the camera. Kyle approaches him from off-camera. Kyle Birds? Niles Squirrels. Little bastards are trickier. Kyle Do you think it was real? Niles I know it was. If it was just me you'd say it was the drugs, but you saw him too. At a hit, no less. You on something? Kyle I think that when Death himself wants you, it's a sign that you've gone too far. Niles So what? You quitting? Kyle I thought you already told Johnny Mako that we were retiring. Niles How can you want to quit after a call to arms like that? Screw retiring, I have a new job to apply for. Kyle What do you intend to do? Niles What do you think? How does one impress Death himself, dumbass? I'm gonna kill. Kyle Who? Niles Does it really matter? Kyle How much muck do you have pumping through that brain of yours? You're talking about a goddammed killing spree. Niles (lowering his gun) Listen to yourself. Do you know how you've been supporting yourself all your life? You kill for money, just like I do. You're no better than me. Kyle You know I've never enjoyed it, not like you. Niles Hey, at least I accept my place in life. You, you're a walking conundrum. You're a hitman with a conscience. You're an enigma wrapped in a riddle, and all that crap. Now, you can do me a favor and drop all this high and mighty crap and provide me with some healthy competition. Kyle I don't want to compete for this... Niles Test the skills I taught you. Make me earn this post. It's the least you can do for all I've given you. Kyle You mean slaughter? Niles Hey, have no illusions about what we did. The Shark, ungrateful bastard that he is, brought you to me and told me to make a professional killer out of you. And that's what I did. We killed men, women, and children, and we profited from it. Who twisted your arm? Kyle (turning to leave) I guess fate. And I never killed women and children. Niles (raising his gun to resume shooting) So I'm an equal opportunist as well. We'll see you in the rat races. Kyle You seem so sure that I'll actually play this game. Niles No offense, but you don't have much of a life. What else are you going to do? Kyle says nothing, then turns and leaves. Niles starts shooting, but stops to pull a little pill container out of his jacket pocket. He sighs and smiles. Scene 6: The Shark's club. Kyle stands before the Shark, surrounded by his men. Shark Why're you jerkin' me around, kid? Kyle (weary) I'm not Johnny, I swear. I know things have been rough lately, but I just wanted you to know that I'm leaving, and that I'm not coming back. Shark This is old news to me. Your freak friend already told me all this. You saw a damn ghost and now you've come to realize the moral complications that accompany your line of work. Kyle I blame no one for my lifestyle, not even you. You're about the closest thing to a father that I ever had. Remember, you put me under Niles' tutelage. Your idea. Shark My ass bleeds for ya... Kyle (not even looking at Johnny) You said he was a good kid... Shark I didn't deal him those crazy drugs... Kyle But you fed his bloodlust. Shark Look, I always liked you, kid, liked your father too. That's why I'm gonna let you go, even though I should gun you down. At least you have some modicum of respect for me. Now go, before I change my mind. Kyle (turning) Fair enough. Shark Tell your maniac friend that the same courtesy don't apply. I'll have him gunned down like a goddammed mutt if I see him again. Kyle (as he's leaving) Doubt I'll see him, cause I'm planning to stay out of his way. You might consider the same. He has an uncanny habit of avoiding lead. Shark (sneering) I'm shaking. Kyle Fare thee well. Kyle leaves. As he leaves, Niles pulls up and gets out of his car, and stares up at the building he is about to enter. Scene 7: Kyle is packing in his apartment. There is a knock at the door. He answers, and it is Terry. Kyle Hey, kid. Terry Have you talked to Niles lately? Kyle No,...I really haven't been in touch with him...(suddenly) we didn't have a fight or anything...it's more like... Terry He's lost his mind. Kyle (not surprised) Has he? Terry He came over last night.... FLASHBACK: Niles bursts into Terry's room and goes straight to her fridge. He starts drinking milk from the carton. Terry Hi, honey. I didn't know you were coming. Niles (wired, sporadic) I kind of need to stay here for...um...a rather...extended period of time. Terry Uhhh...okay. (pauses) Not that I'm complaining, sweetheart, but why? Niles You know Mrs. Bisby, my landlady? Terry The one with that yapping shiatsu you hate so much? Niles (reflective) Yes, that damnable little mutt. Terry She evict you or something? Niles Not exactly. (swigs the milk) I killed her ass. Terry WHAT?! Niles She and that bastard mutt can yap in hell tonight. (sighs) Got any Irish cream? BACK TO PRESENT Kyle Is he still at your place? Terry Yeah. I didn't know where else to go. Kyle (lets her in) You came at a bad time. I was just leaving. Terry Weren't even gonna say goodbye? Kyle Figured it'd be better if I just left. Terry You know Niles is whacked out on all sorts of crazy drugs. Kyle That's not news to you. Don't pretend like it is. Terry But it's never been this bad. And I figured that I could come to you. Kyle And why do you think that? Terry Because I know how you've always really felt about me. Kyle looks down. Kyle I was never good at being discrete. Terry tries to put her arms around him. Kyle doesn't respond at first, but then gradually moves to embrace her. Fade out. Scene 8: Niles is in the Shark's club, butchering men with an axe. He has evidently been at it for a while. Niles (screaming and hacking at prone body) YOU...CAN'T...TOUCH...ME.... CAUSE...I'M ELECTRIC...(calms, panting) and I WILL shock you... Niles looks around. He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt, unbuttoned down the front, soaked in blood. The Shark is sitting in a corner, his legs maimed. Niles (wired again) I came carrying, paisan. You know, you're not even Italian, are you? Tossin' your weight like some kind of powerful goombah. Showed you "greaseballs" somethin', didn't I? The Shark coughs up blood in response. Niles kneels in front of him. Niles Maybe that dream did have some meaning. You can't walk away from your demise. Doubt you could swim, for that matter, fishman. But for all that predilection, I still don't know what that car made of goddammed bread meant! (laughs) Shark (gurgling) Maybe you're just seriously messed up. Niles Yeah, pleased to meet you, won't you guess my name? Niles wipes blood off of the Shark's body and paints the word "DIE" on his forehead. The Shark is breathing heavily. Niles then picks up a gun and in a screaming rage empties it into the Shark's body. Then he comes down off of his high, looks at himself and circle of bodies that encircle him. He is breathing heavily. Niles And definitely a man of wealth and taste. (licks his lips and wipes his nose with the back of his hand) Wonder how the competition is doing? Leaves the scene. Cuts to: Scene 9: Kyle opens door, and a blood-stained Niles is there leering at him. Kyle does not flinch. Niles How goes the body count? Kyle No new notches in my gun. Niles (suddenly Agititated) I told you...how can you deny me my birthright? Kyle I'm handing it to you on a silver platter, you oblivious moron... Niles (interrupting) Don't you...REALIZE...that it will mean nothing to me if you don't do me the honor...of vying for this privilege? Does my friendship mean nothing to you? Kyle (sarcastically) I'm not a worthy competitor... Niles THE HELL YOU'RE NOT! You've always been better than me! The student has surpassed the teacher, and I must prove myself better! You're humiliating me! I'd rather lose than gain a hollow victory! Kyle How many people have you killed today, Niles? Niles Why should I tell you, you goddammed aristocrat! I've been soiling my hands with the blood of the lambs while you've been crying yourself to sleep contemplating the contradiction that is your life! Kyle (smugly) Well, I wouldn't say I was crying in bed... Niles Shut up bitch! Niles pushes past Kyle into the room. He walks directly to a window. Niles Hello, hello. (to Kyle) Come here. Kyle approaches, and Niles hands him a rifle that was lying on a table. Niles Shoot that girl. Kyle What? Niles You heard me. Do it. Thin the heard. Do me this one heartless deed, and I'll be happy. DO IT, YOU SON OF A BITCH! Kyle You've lost all humanity. Is this all that really matters to you? Niles Yes, by god! This is all I could ever have wanted! This is my redemption! Shoot that bitch now! Kyle If I do this, will you get out of my life? Go and be death and leave me out of it? Niles Yes, goddammit, if that is what it takes! Oh, look, her boyfriend is coming to meet her! Shoot her down in front of him! This one cold-blooded thing is all I ask! You've killed for Mako, for your family, now kill for me! He's unlocking the car door, shoot her now! Kyle aims for a minute, but then puts the gun down. Kyle I can't. Niles (cocking his head, popping his neck) Oh, well. Dibs. Niles whips out a gun and aims it. Terry (from O.C.) NO! Niles turns to see Terry, wearing a robe, standing in the bedroom doorway. Niles (calming) I was wondering where you had gotten to. (to Kyle) Nice to know you got laid, even if it was with my girl. Both a lover and a fighter, now? (to Terry, not taking his gaze from Kyle's face) How was he girl? I taught him everything he knows, ya know. Terry At least he prefers me over some killing-induced entity. Niles I oughtta slap you... Death (from O.C.) She is right. Kyle, Niles, and Terry turn suddenly to see Death standing in the other side of the room. Niles If I'd known you were coming, I would've washed up. Terry This guy is real? Kyle Very. Death Nice to know that you believe, Mister Wesley. I thought you would like to know that I have chosen you. Niles Are you out of your goddammed dead gord? He hasn't even killed anyone yet. Death But he has sacrificed more than you will know. You were right, though. Death is pure throughout this universe. But you would only taint it. Kyle Look, I don't want this job... Death And you think I did? Someone who enjoys this work is ill-suited for my job. (smiles) Even at the beginning, you knew how to make it clean. Niles Sacrifice... Death His livelihood, his peace of mind, and ultimately, the friendship between you two. You, Mister Cannon, used this contest to simply indulge, mindlessly and without reason. You would only abuse this sacred post. Kyle You can't do this to me. I've actually found the first shreds of a real life. I've done nothing to earn this damnable position. Death What have you been doing all your life? Oh, yes, killing for money. Niles (seething) Sacrifice? I'll show you some goddammed sacrifice! Without even turning his head, Niles raises his hand and shoots Terry in the head. Niles Now show me what you've got. Kyle screams in rage as he lunges at Niles. Niles sidesteps and guides Kyle's face into the wall. Kyle tries to swing, but Niles arm traps it and punches Kyle in the face. He then throws some knees and lets go. As Kyle is stepping away, Niles kicks out his knee. Kyle goes down, but sees Niles' gun on the floor. He goes for it, and comes up to shoot, but Niles catches his hand. Kyle head-butts, and blasts Niles with punches to the head. Niles catches one and wrenches it down, and pulls a knife with his other hand. He turns to stab, but Kyle grabs his arm and locks it, making Niles drop the knife. He then kicks Niles in the groin, grabs the knife, and sticks it in Niles' side. Niles pulls away, shocked yet smiling. Kyle picks up the gun. Niles See, if you'd have had the balls to do this earlier, this whole unfortunate situation could have been avoided. Kyle Go to hell. Niles Well, kill me. The job is yours, oh holy angel of death. Surpass me. Embrace the paradox that is your fate. Kyle I didn't lose much by sacrificing your friendship. Niles What was the name of that piece of meat that was gonna turn your life around? The one I used to screw day and night... Kyle raises the gun to shoot, put Niles suddenly slaps it down, and a round discharges into Kyle's leg. Niles snatches the gun, and shoots Kyle in the chest. He then turns and leaves. By this point, sirens can be heard. Cut to Niles leaving the building and facing a wall of policemen. His breathing grows heavy and he smiles. He raises the gun, but the cops open fire. Time seems to slow down. Niles (looking disappointed) What, you mean this is it? Death appears for a split second at his ear. Death This is it. Death swiftly vanishes. The cops open fire. Niles spreads his arms, Christ-like, to embrace the hail of bullets. He roars like a beast as they tear through him, and then turns as if to re-enter the building, but abruptly falls. Cut to: Kyle stands up, dressed in a black suit, his hair slicked back, and dark sunglasses covering his eyes. Kyle Now what? Death appears at his side. Death Now? Now you do your job. Kyle looks at him, and then nods reluctantly. Death Now, shepherd the first of your flock into the afterlife. Kyle turns to see Niles and Terry standing behind Death, dressed nicely. They are looking ahead lifelessly. Kyle bows his head, and nods begrudgingly. Kyle steps to the side and motions for the others to follow. He then turns into the camera, and then darkness. THE END