DARKNESS FALLS "HEIR TO THE THRONE" By Ryan Rubio DRAFT SIX 1. INT. STORAGE ROOM - DAY FIVE MEN in suits sit eating at a table. They are particularly tough looking and are laughing and carrying on. 2. INT. HALLWAY - DAY Two men walk down a hallway. This is NILES CANNON and KYLE WESLEY. The two stop and stand outside a door. The other group of men can be heard laughing and talking on the other side. Niles begins breathing harder, getting himself pumped up. Kyle does not look as excited. NILES 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. Niles grins gleefully. NILES Your loss, cowboy. Kyle sighs under his breath. Niles pops his neck, and kicks the door. Kyle leaps in to the left and fires his gun, immediately dropping two men with headshots. Niles jumps down on his stomach on the right, two guns drawn, and takes out the kneecaps of two more men. They fall, and 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 jumps out the window. KYLE You hurt? NILES Nothing I can't fix. Go kill the rabbit. Kyle follows the man out the window. 3. EXT. ALLEYWAY - DAY The fifth man is running with Kyle in pursuit. Kyle turns a corner. As the fifth man looks over his shoulder at Kyle, time seems to slow down. Out of the shadows in front of the fifth man comes a tall, thin man with pale skin and shadowed, black eyes. He is wearing a long black coat and a dark, wide-brimmed hat. This is DEATH. Kyle suddenly snaps alert. KYLE GET OUT OF THE GODDAMN WAY! The fifth man turns back to front. He sees Death and freezes. Death leans in to the fifth man. DEATH (whispering) You're about to die. Death nods towards Kyle. The fifth man looks back. Death suddenly vanishes. Kyle shoots the fifth man in the forehead. A look of confusion comes over Kyle's face as he tries to figure out what he just saw. NILES (O.C.) What the hell was that? Kyle turns suddenly. KYLE (out of breath) Damned if I know. You saw him too? Niles is noticeably edgy. NILES I just saw you let a goddamn witness go! Niles runs down the hallway, looking for Death. NILES What the hell's your problem? KYLE I get the feeling he won't report us. Kyle shakes his head to clear it. KYLE C'mon. Let's just get the hell out of here. Niles nods. 5. INT. CAR - DAY Niles is at the steering wheel and Kyle is at shotgun. Kyle massages his temples and nods towards Niles's wounded arm. KYLE You gonna get that looked at? NILES Oh, yeah. I'll have The Shark's men look at it. Niles pulls away from the curb. 6. EXT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - DAY Niles and Kyle sit in the car outside the apartment. Niles is leaning on the horn. The front door opens and TERRI appears. TERRI Stop honking that goddamned horn! I hear you! NILES Well, then get in the damn car. Kyle smiles. TERRI I'm coming. You're the one who's fifteen minutes late. 7. INT. CAR - DAY Terri climbs into the back seat. TERRI If you were on time once in awhile- Terri notices Niles's wound. TERRI Oh my god, what happened to your arm? NILES What? Oh. Nothing serious. Niles pulls away from the curb. 8. EXT. STREET - DAY Niles's car passes through traffic. 9. INT. CAR - DAY Niles, Kyle, and Terri are all silent. Kyle is gazing out the window. TERRI This is the kind of thing that I worry about the most. NILES (agitated) What, honey? TERRI You getting shot. Niles snorts. NILES Oh. KYLE Maybe she's right. I want to quit before this ends me. And I know it's starting to get to me. And you. I mean that guy- TERRI What guy? NILES Yeah. What guy. KYLE You saw him too, Niles. TERRI What guy? NILES I didn't see nothin'. TERRI If you don't tell me what guy- NILES Some freak in a long black coat. Kyle stares at him. NILES Yeah, I saw him. So what? What does that prove? KYLE Niles, he was- NILES He was nothin'. TERRI Niles, I don't want you to do this anymore. NILES What? What about the money? TERRI You've got enough money. Niles sighs. KYLE Terri's right. Things are getting heavy and you know The Shark's organization is falling apart. We should just cut and run. NILES You too, Kyle? Jesus, you'd think you didn't enjoy this. KYLE I don't anymore. Niles sits silent for a moment. NILES (under breath) Goddammit. (aloud) Fine, you want me out? Fine, I'll tell Johnny Mako that we're out. TERRI Thank you, Niles. NILES Yeah, whatever. 10. INT. THE SHARK'S CLUB - DAY JOHNNY "THE SHARK" MAKO looks agitated. SHARK You're out? Whaddaya mean, you're out? The Shark and Niles are sitting at a table. In the back various GANGSTERS are milling about, watching TV, and playing cards. A CRONY is bandaging Niles's arm. NILES Just that, Shark. I'm out. And so's Kyle. SHARK Do you know how badly this'll mess things up? NILES (aside) Calm Down. SHARK Calm down, hell! You come in here, spreading your DNA all over my barstools, because you got spotted by some albino in a trenchcoat and now you want out? You going all bleeding heart on me? You've gone off the deep end! Why don't you admit the real reason you want out? It's because your bitch has you wrapped around her little finger! Niles bolts up from his chair and begins moving sporadically as he speaks. NILES Point of parliamentary procedure, fishman! My "bitch" doesn't even enter into it! This guy was like a ghost. He was there then... Like something out of a Hammer film, staring me down. But he wasn't condemning, oh no... he was...assessing...made me feel like an amateur... SHARK What the hell are you on? 11. EXT. THE SHARK'S CLUB - DAY Kyle and Terri sit in the car in front. KYLE Bastard always takes forever. TERRI Yeees. Infuriating, isn't it? KYLE How do you put up with him? You could do better than a psycho like him. TERRI (sarcastic) I need someone calm and in control, right? Someone like you, maybe? KYLE (sarcastic) It's so nice to be wanted. I have to ask though, seriously, why are you with him? With us? I mean normal people are horrified by guys like us. TERRI Not many people would consider any who sells her body "normal". 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. TERRI As to why I am with you guys, well I fell in love with Niles the instant he burst through that door and shot my scumbag pimp down. I swear I thought that disgusting tub of lard was going to kill me. Thank god Niles was punctual that time. And as for you, well you're just a gentleman and a scholar, and I'm determined to see you settled and happy before we part ways. 12. INT. SHARK'S CLUB - DAY Niles seems much calmer as he paces back and forth in front of The Shark. He looks aside and puts his hand on his chin. NILES 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 looks at him as if noticing him for the first time. NILES You think that means something? Like, maybe my time is up. His eyes light up. NILES 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 (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 you couldn't 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. 13. INT. CAR - DAY TERRI 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 Maybe. Terri looks at him surprised. KYLE I'm a sucker for a pretty face, but few are as tolerant as you are. She smiles to herself. KYLE Uhm... what you were saying earlier...about us being professionals and all... lately Niles has kind of been... TERRI You know, 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 saunters up. 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. (beat) Well, we're out. Terri whoops for joy and kisses Niles. TERRI Unlike Butch and Sundance you don't have to go out in a blaze of glory. NILES True, but you know according to myth, they made it back to America and faded into obscurity as ranchers, or some other kind of nonsense. KYLE Sounds kind of nice to me. Betcha don't see no crazy-ass apparitions out on a Montana sheep ranch. Niles glares at him. NILES I told Johnny Mako that we 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. Niles tosses Kyle his share of the money. KYLE At least we're not short on cash. Maybe I'll invest in something less bloodthirsty. NILES It never really sat well with you, did it? Kyle looks down. NILES That's okay. I guess it's good to have stopped before I get a real... taste for it. (drifts for a moment) Now, lets go celebrate these moments of clarity somewhere more private. Niles climbs into the car and Terri hugs him around the neck. Kyle looks uneasy. 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? 14. INT. TERRI'S APT - NIGHT The three are drinking heavily. Shot after shot of liquor goes down as music blares from the stereo. Niles is finishing a story. NILES ...So he's gonna get laid, right, and he stops at a gas station to pick up some rubbers and his friend appears out of nowhere and stabs him in his goddamned chest. Later, they found the date's body in the bathroom and they found him stuffed into the trunk of the guy's car. TERRI That's horrible. Niles takes his cigarettes out of his pocket. KYLE Hell, of a friggin' way to go. Taken out by your best friend. NILES Tell me about it. Niles looks in his empty cigarette pack. NILES I'm out. You guys want anything from the gas station? KYLE No, I'm good. NILES You wanna go for a walk, Terri? Terri puts her arm around Kyle. TERRI No, I'll stay here and keep an eye on Kyle. NILES Suit yourself. Niles steps outside. Kyle looks to Terri. KYLE I'll be back in just a sec. 15. EXT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Kyle runs ahead and catches up with Niles. KYLE Niles! Wait up! Niles turns. KYLE I just wanted to say... Well, 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 me under your wing after my dad died, and I'll always owe you that. Just cause I'm backing out... NILES (awkwardly) Look, 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 Terri to think about. He starts to walk away. KYLE You know she loves you, right? NILES (almost regretfully) I know. He waves him back to the apartment. NILES Go on. And don't do anything that I would do. Niles walks off, leaving Kyle with a confused look on his face. 16. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Kyle comes in the door. KYLE Maybe you should cool it. I think Niles might be the jealous type. TERRI I think that it makes him proud for me to drive other men wild with my flirtatiousness. 17. EXT. STREET - NIGHT Niles is walking slowly. Someone can be seen following him. 18. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT KYLE Sometimes you flirt a little hard with me. TERRI 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 What if the one I want is already spoken for? Terri looks at him. He looks down. KYLE Butch and Sundance through and through, that's us. TERRI And you're finally laying your guns in the ground. I can't believe it. 19. EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT Niles is walking and the figure behind him is drawing closer. Niles turns suddenly to look him. NILES Hello, Victor. VICTOR Evening, Niles. Niles walks towards Victor. NILES I figured that the Shark wouldn't let me walk away clean. Is this business or personal? VICTOR A little of both. 20. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT KYLE You know he loves you, in his own weird way. TERRI How sweet. I love him, too. I've kind of made him my little project. KYLE You do a lot for him. It amazes me. TERRI I feel like it makes up for my past sins. He told me I have a calming effect on him. Sometimes he even says that he can't believe I'm with him, that I actually deserve better. Sounds like you. KYLE I can't imagine that. I guess I just haven't seen the changes yet. TERRI Will you be coming with us, wherever we go? KYLE That's probably not a good idea, kid. TERRI 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 as well. I think if you're around, it'll help. KYLE I never thought that he looked at me that way. 21. EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT Victor pulls 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. Shark says you got a big mouth. Victor goes for the gun, but Niles quickly grabs hold of it while it is still in his waistline. NILES Game, set, and match. Victor looks up at Niles's face terrified. Behind Niles, he can see Death standing in a pool of light. NILES A little song, a little dance, a little ammo down your pants. Oh, I'm still gonna quit, oh yeah, just think of yourself as my cool down. Death smiles. 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. 22. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT 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 the past. TERRI (to herself) I guess I just don't want you to go... I still can't talk to Niles like I can talk to you... 23. EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT Niles emits a guttural growl and looks at Victor's body angrily. Then he kicks it. NILES Why here, why NOW? I DON'T need this...this incredible RUSH,... I don't... He stops, realization coming over his face. NILES But I can't stop now, can I? You won't let me! He calms suddenly and catches his breath. NILES Oooooohhhhh, is this supposed to mean something? I can stop. I can stop if I damn well please! Niles gets only silence as a response. 24. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Kyle and Terri are looking deep into each others eyes when Niles suddenly bursts in. KYLE You okay? NILES Fine. He looks at Terri, who is smiling at him. NILES Absolutely peachy. Niles goes to Terri and embraces her. NILES I'm in love, y'know. Got all I'll ever need right here. He kisses her. Kyle looks concerned. 25. INT. KYLE'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Kyle is sleeping in a recliner fully dressed with headphones on. He is breathing fast and hard. FLASH 26. INT. MEETING TABLE - 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 smiles. DEATH 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 nods. KYLE Nice. DEATH Why do you kill, Mister Wesley? KYLE It's all I know. DEATH We all start somewhere. Kyle thinks for a moment. KYLE When I was fifteen, some of the neighborhood boys tried to rape my sister. They knew my dad wasn't home, but they never noticed me. I got dad's revolver, and shot them down. After my father 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. I haven't been able to break away. Until now. 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? He stops laughing abruptly. DEATH 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 What job? Death remains silent. Billy points to the gunshot in his forehead. BILLY Even then, you knew to make it clean. Death waves his hand, and everything but Kyle disappears. He looks confused. 27. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Niles and Terri lay in bed together, sleeping. Niles is breathing fast and hard. FLASH 28. INT. MEETING TABLE - DREAMWORLD 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. He nods towards Death's belt. NILES Like the guns. DEATH Why do you kill, Mister Cannon? NILES I am inclined to believe, sir, that no matter where you go on 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 grins. NILES 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 raises eyebrows, unimpressed. NILES 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 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. (to Death) So what's my fate? Death waves his hand... 29. INT. STORAGE ROOM - DREAMWORLD - NIGHT ...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. Everything vanishes to blackness. 30. INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Kyle awakes with a jerk and aims his gun. His hands are still bloodstained. He throws his gun down. 31. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Niles snaps up, sweating and smiling. He looks down at his bloody hands. TERRI (groggily) What's happening, baby? NILES I've just been inspired, sweetheart. The game's not over yet. FADE TO BLACK END THE FIRST "HEIR TO THE THRONE" Part Two 32. EXT. FIELD - DAY Niles standing in a field, shooting high above us. Kyle approaches him. KYLE Birds? NILES Squirrels. Little bastards are trickier. KYLE Sleep well last night, Niles? Sweet dreams? Niles looks at him. KYLE You too, huh? Do you think it was real? NILES I know it was. If it was just me you'd call me crazy, but you saw him too. At a hit, no less. 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 lowers his gun. NILES 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 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 garbage 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 turns to leave. KYLE I guess fate. And I never killed women and children. Niles raises his gun and resumes shooting. NILES 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 watches him go, sighs, and smiles. 32A. PARKING LOT - DAY Niles walks across the parking lot to his car. NILES I was wondering when you guys would show yourselves. Niles turns and is confronted by COLE, TONY AND MARCUS. NILES Didn't Victor send you guys the message? I mean, I thought that the letter I stapled to his tongue was perfectly clear... Marcus punches Niles in the face. The other two grab him and begin beating on him. Cole holds him while Tony pulls out gun. TONY This one's for Victor. Niles roars and kicks him in the groin, and then he raises his leg to the back and low-blows Cole. Marcus goes for a gun but Niles jabs his throat. Niles takes the gun from him as he falls and shoots him in the knee. He then turns to the fallen Cole and puts the gun to his crotch. NILES You get the honor denied Victor. Niles shoots Cole in the crotch, then the face. He then puts his foot on Tony's throat and breaks his neck. Niles suddenly touches his cheek. NILES Oh, Jesus. I'm bleeding. I'M BLEEDING! Niles goes over to Marcus, straddles him, and begins bashing his face with the gun. NILES DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME! I'LL KILL YOU ALL AND DANCE OVER YOUR CORPSES! THIS HUMILIATION WILL NOT STAND! IF YOU'VE RUINED MY SHOT I'LL... I'll... I've got to make up for this. I've got to show off my versatility. Killing wannabe mobsters is getting a bit old. I mean, variety is, after all, the spice of life. Niles jumps up and leaves. 32B. INT. TERRI'S APT. - DAY There is a KNOCK at the door. Terri opens it to find Kyle standing there. TERRI Hey there, handsome. She sees that he is troubled. TERRI What's wrong? KYLE I just wanted to say goodbye. TERRI What... What do you mean? KYLE I've quit, and I'm leaving. You know this. TERRI But, I thought... I thought you were gonna come with us. KYLE I never said that, remember? It's best if Niles and I go our separate ways. TERRI I just thought... Where will you go? KYLE Don't know yet. Whereever Niles is not. TERRI (slightly offended) What do you mean by that? KYLE Terri, Niles has absolutely lost it. He only has one thing on his mind... and it's not you. TERRI What are you saying? That I mean nothing to him? How can you say that? You've seen us together... KYLE Look. You can't help him anymore. For all he's changed, I honestly don't think any of it truly meant anything to him. You know as well as I that he could give this up. TERRI (angrily) So... what? Just give up on Niles now? And where would I go? With you? KYLE (hesitant) Maybe you should. Niles is a lost cause, kid. I think you should just break, and... and just come with me. TERRI So that's why you came here. Just because you've given up on Niles doesn't mean I will. I love him and he loves me. KYLE Are you sure? TERRI Please leave, Kyle. KYLE (defeated) Okay. Be careful, though, kid. Terri looks down. TERRI Goodbye. Kyle leaves and Terri closes the door. 33. INT. DOOR OF NILES'S APT. Niles walks up to his door and starts looking for his keys. Niles pauses, sniffs the air, and resumes going through his keys. NILES There's that wonderful vapo-rub smell. MRS. BISBY walks up behind Niles. MRS. BISBY Hello, Mr. Cannon. How are you today? Niles doesn't look up from his keys. NILES (mumbling) Great, considering those bastards slashed my tires and I had to take the bus here. (suddenly) Can I borrow your car for a while? MRS. BISBY (slightly unsure) Uhm,... I'm afraid not. I need to take my little darling to the vet. She's been sick, y'know. NILES Aw, poor baby. Tell me you're putting it to sleep. MRS. BISBY (confused) Uh, no... it isn't quite that serious... NILES DAMMIT! Do you know how much racket that damn thing makes? Huh. Well, if you won't kill it I will! MRS. BISBY Wh-what are you...? NILES grabs her by the chin, puckering her lips. NILES And you can watch. 33A. EXT. KYLE'S APT - DAY Kyle is leaving and locking his door. He hears footsteps and turns to see two men, HUNTER and BLAKE. KYLE Hello, gentlemen. What can I do for you? HUNTER The Shark would like a word. KYLE About what? HUNTER About your working relationship. KYLE I thought Niles made the standing of our working relationship clear. I'm through. BLAKE Since when does Niles Cannon speak for you? Kyle glares at him. KYLE None of your damned concern. Tell The Shark I'm still not interested, no matter what he has to offer, or what kind of guilt trip he wants to lay on me. HUNTER Afraid you'd say that. Hunter moves to grab him, but before he can do anything, Kyle smashes his nose. He kicks Blake in the groin, pulls out a gun and hits him on the back of the neck. Kyle grabs the reeling Hunter and slams him into his apt. door. He opens the door and pushes him inside. Kyle aims his gun at him, bracing for the kill. But he stops himself, breathes deep, and lowers the gun. KYLE (to himself) No... no more. He looks at Hunter, beaten. KYLE Guess I need to pay my respects to The Shark in person. 34. INT. TERRI'S APARTMENT - NIGHT Niles bursts in and goes straight to Terri's fridge. He starts drinking milk from the carton. TERRI 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. TERRI Uhhh...okay. (pauses) I'm not complaining, sweetheart, but why? NILES You know Mrs. Bisby, my landlady? TERRI The one with that yapping shiatsu you hate so much? NILES (reflective) Yes, that damnable little mutt. TERRI She evict you or something? NILES Not exactly. He swigs the milk. NILES I killed her ass. TERRI WHAT?! NILES She and that bastard mutt can yap in hell tonight. He sighs. NILES Got any Irish cream? TERRI Wait, wait, wait. Are you serious? NILES Uhm, yeah. TERRI I thought you only killed those that you were hired to kill. Oh, wait, I THOUGHT YOU WEREN'T GOING TO KILL ANYMORE, PERIOD! NILES What do you suggest I do? TERRI I thought we'd start a normal life, together. Leave all this behind us. NILES When did I start banging such an oblivious twit? A normal life? To hell with that, I'm destined for bigger and better things. This "normal life" holds nothing for me. TERRI Nothing? IT HOLDS ME, GODDAMMIT! NILES YOU? WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MATTER? YOU JUST CAME ALONG FOR THE RIDE, TESTING MY PATIENCE AND GETTING ON MY LAST NERVE! WHAT ARE YOU? SOME CHEAP WHORE I PICKED UP ALONG THE WAY! TERRI What's happened to you? NILES NO, WAIT, I KNOW WHAT YOU REALLY ARE. You're a damned obstacle, a hindrance in a tight skirt flaunting herself to derail me from the path to bigger and better things, trying to make me deny my true nature and destiny. Go back to the drainpipe where I found you, bitch, where the only thing you can leech off of is probably more disease ridden than you are! TERRI (sobbing) But I loved you... NILES Do you know how trite you sound? Love? The only type of love you could possibly know I gave you way too often. I don't need you and I don't want you. Now get out of my sight. Terri approaches him. TERRI NO! We've come too far for you to give up now... Niles suddenly punches her in the gut. Terri gasps and drops to her knees, and Niles kicks her in the ribs, and after a second, does it again. Niles picks up the milk carton and starts drinking from it again. He then draws his gun and points it at her. NILES Normally insults like that cost you your ass. But since it's you, I'll count to five very slowly. If you're still here at that point, you'll have to suck on lead for a change. One... 35. EXT. TERRI'S APT. Terri runs out of her front door, holding her ribs and crying. 36. INT. THE SHARK'S CLUB - DAY 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, and I'd appreciate it if you got off my back. SHARK You're actually serious. What a way for the baddest gun on the streets to go out. You freak out, sees ghost or somefin' and now you 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 doesn't even look at Johnny. KYLE You said he was a good kid... SHARK I didn't make him a killer... 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 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 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 walks out the door. KYLE Fare thee well. 37. EXT. THE SHARK'S CLUB - DAY Kyle leaves, not noticing Niles sitting in a parked car pointing a gun at him. Niles smiles, puts the gun away, and stares up at the building he is about to enter. 38. INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT - DAY Kyle is packing his things. There is a knock at the door. He answers. It is Terri. KYLE Hey, kid. Whoa, what happened to you? Oh, wait. Let me guess. TERRI He's lost his mind. KYLE (not surprised) Has he? TERRI He came over last night... it was horrible. KYLE Is he still at your place? TERRI Yeah. I didn't know where else to go. KYLE You came at a bad time. I was just leaving. TERRI How can you leave now? KYLE I want no part of this anymore. TERRI But Niles has never been this bad. KYLE He and I are through. He believes in what he's doing now more than he ever has anything else. TERRI But he can do better... KYLE Whatever grasp Niles was getting on the world is gone. Take comfort in the fact that you got him to at least try and change. You can do better. Get out of this place. TERRI Well... I don't really know where to go, and I figured that I could come to you... KYLE (getting fed up) And what made you think that? TERRI (timidly) Because I know how you feel about me. Kyle sighs and looks down. TERRI And I feel the same about you. 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. 39. INT. THE SHARK'S CLUB - DAY Niles is screaming as he chops down with an axe. At every hack, more blood sprays in his face. NILES YOU...CAN'T...TOUCH...ME... CAUSE...I'M ELECTRIC... (calms, panting) And I WILL shock you... Niles looks around. The room is full of his bloody hacked up victims. He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt, unbuttoned down the front, soaked in blood. The Shark is sitting in a corner, his legs maimed. NILES (excited) 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! Niles laughs heartily. 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 own forehead. The Shark is breathing heavily. Niles begins to walk away and then suddenly he spins and in a screaming rage empties his gun 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. He licks his lips and wipes his nose with the back of his hand. NILES Wonder how the competition is doing? 40. INT. KYLE'S APARTMENT 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 agitated) 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! Do I have to spell it out for you? 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 pauses for a moment and cocks his head, popping his neck. NILES Oh, well. Dibs. Niles whips out a gun and aims it and fires. TERRI (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. TERRI At least he prefers me over some killing-induced entity. NILES I oughtta slap you... DEATH (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. TERRI 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 Terri in the head. Kyle looks at him in disbelief. 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. 41. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - DAY Niles is 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 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. 42. INT. APARTMENT - DAY 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 Terri 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 1