Hunter and Prey

HUNTER AND PREY ©

Part 4

FADE IN ON EXT. REAR OF FARMHOUSE - A NIGHT IN THE LATE 1940’S
TIGHT SHOT ON BACK DOOR
Mason, dressed in formal 1940’s clothing, approaches the back door of the house and knocks. An elderly man – COURTNEY’S FATHER – answers the door.

COURTNEY’S FATHER
Mason. Good to see you.

MASON
Thank you, sir. I have come to visit with Courtney. May I come in?

COURTNEY’S FATHER
Most certainly. The Doctor Miller is upstairs seeing Courtney,
but I’m sure that she would be happy to see you afterward. Come in.

CUT TO INT. HOUSE – SAME TIME
MEDIUM THREE SHOT
COURNTEY’S MOTHER is sitting at the kitchen table with a worried look on her face. She attempts to put on a happy face as Mason enters the house.

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
Good evening, Mr. Mason.

MASON
Good evening to you, madam. How is your daughter this evening.

The question almost brings the mother to tears.

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
She is not doing well at all Mr. Mason. She had another spell this afternoon.
Each is worse than the last. Doctor Miller has found another lump in her stomach,
but has no idea what may be the cause.

MASON
I am sure he is doing all that he can.

Courtney’s mother begins to weep.

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
I can not bear the idea of loosing her Mr. Mason.

COURNTEY’S FATHER
We do not want to bother Mason with our burdens.

Mason turns to face Courtney’s father.

MASON
They are my burdens as well.

COURTNEY’S FATHER
I realize that you have feelings four our daughter, Mr. Mason,
but you can understand our trepidation toward allowing her
to be courted in her condition. You would be far better off
giving up on Courtney and finding a wife that you can grow old with.

At this, Courtney’s Mother begins to cry harder.

MASON
With all due respect, sir, I have found the woman to share
the rest of my life with. She is currently upstairs.

Mason turns to Courtney’s Mother.

What if I told you that I knew of a way to remove Courtney’s pain;
if I could make her healthy again?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
How? Why do you only bring this to us now?

MASON
If I were to do this, it would come at a great cost.
Courtney would have to leave here, and never return.
I would have to take her far away.

COURTNEY’S FATHER
What are you saying?

MASON
I am speaking of saving your daughter’s life,
if she – and you - will allow me.

COURTNEY’S FATHER
Do you expect us to turn over our daughter to you with such little information?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
I do not care what it takes. I want my daughter to live.
You have my permission.

COURTNEY’S FATHER
What?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
Be quite, father. I can at least take comfort in knowing
that my daughter will live, and I trust Mr. Mason
to do whatever it takes to ensure that happens.
If anyone loves our daughter as much as we do, it is he.

DOCTOR MILLER is visible in the background as he comes down the stairs. Courtney’s Mother stands and faces the doctor.

How is she, Doctor?

DOCTOR MILLER
Not good, I am afraid.
She is worse than the last time I saw her, and I have no idea what ails her.
The best I can do is make her comfortable.

Doctor Miller reaches into his medicine bag and pulls out a bottle.

Give her this and keep her warm. It will help ease the pain.
I am sorry there is not more that I can do.

COURTNEY’S FATHER
We know, doctor. Thank you for all you have done. I will walk you out.

Doctor Miller walks forward and is escorted out the door by Courtney’s Father. Mason turns to Courtney’s Mother.

MASON
Would you please go get Courtney?
Pack lightly for her; we will leave immediately.

Courtney’s Mother turns starts to go upstairs. Halfway up, she is stopped by Courtney, who is on her way down. She looks very pale, weak, and sickly.

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
How are you feeling, dear?

COURTNEY
Terrible, mother. Did I hear Mason downstairs?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
Yes. He has come for a visit, and has some good news.

COURTNEY
Really?

Courtney descends the stairs and approaches Mason.

So what is your good news?

MASON
Do you feel up to talking a walk?

COURTNEY
I suppose. I had better enjoy it while I am able.

Mason nods at Courtney’s Mother, who gives her daughter a hug and turns to go up stairs, beginning to cry once more. Mason takes Courtney by the arm to help support her and they start to step out the door.

CUT TO EXT. REAR OF FARMHOUSE – SAME TIME
TIGHT SHOT ON BACK DOOR
Mason and Courtney exit the house, and are met by Courtney’s Father on the steps. He and Mason’s eyes meet. He then turns to Courtney and embraces her with a hug.

COURTNEY’S FATHER (whispering)
I love you.

COURTNEY (whispering)
I love you too, Poppa.

Courtney’s Father separates from his daughter, shakes Mason’s hand, and walks inside. Mason and Courtney continue down the stairs.

PAN TO MOVING MEDIUM TWO SHOT
Mason and Courtney start walking toward the barn.

COURTNEY
I do not know how long I will be able to do this.
They act as though I am already gone.

MASON
They are trying to deal with their grief.

COURTNEY
Thank you. I was afraid that you would try to sugarcoat this as well.

MASON
Never. I do need to speak to you about this, though.

Mason opens the door of the barn and holds it open for her to enter. Courtney separates from Mason and enters.

CUT TO INT. BARN – SAME TIME
MEDIUM TWO SHOT
Courtney and Mason enter the barn. Mason again takes Courtney’s arm to help her.

COURTNEY
What is there to talk about? No one has wanted to say the words,
but I am dying. I know this. I have come to terms with it.

Mason leads Courtney to a bale of hay and sits her down. He then reaches over and grabs a lantern.

MASON
I have something to tell you. It will seem unbelievable, but it is true.
Furthermore, it may be able to save your life.

Mason strikes a match and lights the lantern.

CUT TO INT. COURTNEY’S ROOM – SAME TIME
MEDIUM TWO SHOT
Courtney’s Mother is packing a bag of essentials for Courtney to take with her. Young Devon steps into the doorway to see what is going on.

YOUNG DEVON
Mother?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER (weeping)
Yes, Devon.

YOUNG DEVON
What is going on?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
You know that Courtney has been very sick.

YOUNG DEVON
Yes.

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
Mr. Mason is here.
He has said that he can take Courtney somewhere where she can get better.

YOUNG DEVON
That is good news, Mother. Why are you crying?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
Courtney is going to have to go away, and she will probably never return.

YOUNG DEVON
What?

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
They will be leaving immediately.

YOUNG DEVON
Where is she? She would not leave without saying goodbye.

COURTNEY’S MOTHER
She and Mr. Mason went outside. They are preparing to leave.

YOUNG DEVON
No!

Young Devon runs out of sight in a panic.

CUT TO INT. BARN – SAME TIME
MEDIUM TWO SHOT
Mason and Courtney are sitting on a bale of hay. Courtney has put a little bit of distance between herself and Mason, as he is now vampire in appearance. However, she is still listening intently and not afraid.

COURTNEY
You are telling me that you are a vampire.

MASON
Yes.

COURTNEY
Moreover, you want to make me into a vampire.

MASON
Yes.

COURNTEY
In addition, you believe that this will cure me.

MASON
Yes.

COURTNEY
Why?

MASON
Why do I want to save your life?

COURTNEY
Yes.

MASON
Because I have fallen madly in love with you,
and could not continue without you.

COURTNEY
That, Mr. Mason, was the answer I was looking for.
Do you swear to never leave my side and stay with me forever?

MASON
Yes.

COURTNEY
Then come over here and let us start the rest of our life together.

Courtney gently grabs hold of Mason’s jacket and weakly pulls him forward. He helps her and leans in to kiss her on the mouth.

CUT TO EXT. REAR OF FARMHOUSE – SAME TIME
TIGHT SHOT ON BACK DOOR
Young Devon runs through the back door.

YOUNG DEVON (yelling)
Courtney, where are you?

PANNING SHOT OF YOUNG DEVON

Young Devon moves out of the farmhouse and starts searching the area for Courtney. He eventually moves towards the barn, seeing a lantern burning through the cracked-open door.

CUT TO INT. SHOT OF BARN - SAME TIME
TIGHT SHOT ON DOOR
Young Devon eases the door open slowly and peers inside.

PANNING SHOT TO YOUNG DEVON’S POV
Young Devon witnesses Mason holding Courtney in his arms, sucking the blood from her neck. Mason feels Young Devon’s presence and turns toward him, vampire in appearance. Young Devon screams in fear.

COURTNEY
Devon! It is not what it seems.

YOUNG DEVON (panicked)
He is a monster! What is he doing to you?

PANNING SHOT OF MASON
Devon steps back in fear. The movement knocks over the lantern and sets the hay on fire. Mason scoops Courtney into his arms and rushes towards the door. With a fluid motion, Mason switches Courtney into one arm, grabs Young Devon by the shirt, and carries the both of them through the door. Young Devon continues to scream in fear as Mason drops him to the ground, launches into the air, and flies away as the barn burns.

FADE TO INT. BLISS – 30 MINUTES BEFORE DAWN
TIGHT SHOT ON COURTNEY’S EYE
The image of the burning barn is encased inside Courtney’s eye.

ZOOM OUT TO MEDIUM SHOT

Courtney is sitting at the bar alone, thinking about the past. She is dressed in a conservative pant-suit, which looks a bit out of place in the club. As if startled, she jumps lightly, gets off the stool and moves toward the door.

PAN TO MEDIUM SHOT OF DOOR
As Courtney nears, a charging Mason flings the door open. He swings around and slams the door shut behind him, slamming the lock into place.

COURTNEY
The others have already left, gone to stay with our friends around town.
The only ones left here are you, Boris, Gregory, and I.
They are watching the other doors.
When Boris returned, I dispatched everyone else.

MASON
I knew I could count on you. I dropped Meagan off at Peter’s on my way over.
I also told him to stay clear until I told him it was safe.
Are you ready to go?

COURTNEY
Almost. We are still waiting to hear back from Linda and Quentin.

MASON
We are not going to. Linda was lost at the Meat Processing Plant.
Quentin was ambushed on his way here. I arrived too late to help him.

COURTNEY
Devon is aiming for a bloodbath.

MASON
When did you figure it out?

COURTNEY
Soon after you left this evening. You were cautious, but refused to explain.
It did not take much to figure out that you were trying to protect me again.

MASON
I am sorry. Go get the boys. We have very little time left.

Courtney reaches out, takes Mason by the hand and squeezes it, then turns and leaves.

PAN TO MOVING WIDE SHOT
Mason takes a moment to look around the room, but his reflection is interrupted by a commotion behind the stage curtains.

ZOOM OUT TO WIDE SHOT
GREGORY, flying through the curtains with a stake through his heart, follows the sound of gunfire and a Dominator firing. Three mercenaries storm through the now-open curtains. A bang comes from the front door.

CUT TO MEDIUM SHOT OF FRONT DOOR
The front doors burst open as Joshua and Nate swing a police-style ram. They drop the ram immediately upon the door giving and lift their flame-throwers to bear on Mason. From out of the darkness, Devon enters behind Joshua and Nate with a Dominator in one hand – the other behind his back.

DEVON
It is good to see you again Mason.

PAN TO WIDE FOUR SHOT

MASON
I sincerely doubt that.

DEVON
On the contrary, Mason. I am very happy to see you again.
I have been waiting over sixty years to see you again.

MASON
After all the men that have already given their lives for you,
I had hoped that you would give up this quest.

DEVON
You knew better than that. You knew that I would come here after you.
You sent your people away to try and protect them. Not to worry, however,
I have a few leads, and as soon as I am done here, we will track them down too.

MASON
I have defeated more of your men than this.
Do you really believe that this will end any other way than in the waste of human life?

DEVON
I would be sorely lacking if I wrote off their failures as luck on your part.
But I know a few things about you.

MASON
I would hope you know more than just a few.

DEVON
I know that you pretend to hold human life in high accord.

MASON
There is no pretending involved.

DEVON
I know that you strive to maintain a human appearance,
but yet have no problem feeding the monster within you.
Moreover, if the need arises, you twist the minds of others
to believe as you do.

MASON
Devon. I am not the one with the monster.

DEVON
Be quiet. You have managed to twist several of these fine men to your side.
Men such as Walter…

Devon pulls his hand out from behind his back, holding Ford’s head in it.

… and Ford. Their deaths are on your head.

Devon throws the head at Mason’s feet and brings the Dominator to bear.

MASON
No, Devon. I did not cause these men to die.

DEVON
Of course you did. If you had not twisted them over to your side,
they would still be alive today.
They died because of your monstrous influence.

MASON
I concede that these men died because of a monster that was in their lives.
That monster was your desire for vengeance.

DEVON
What I desire is justice.

Gunshots ring out from behind the men.

PAN TO WIDE SHOT
The three men in the back look toward the back corner of the building. The mercenaries with the Uzi and flame-thrower open fire in an attempt to hit whatever they thought they saw. MERCENARY #2 stands ready with a Dominator. The furniture, rugs, and walls quickly catch fire.

DEVON
What is it?

MERCENARY #2
We thought we saw something move.

DEVON
Well, congratulations. You have just started a fire.

PAN TO WIDE FOUR SHOT
Devon turns back to Mason.

DEVON
It looks as though we will have to rush this a bit.

MASON
What you seek is not justice, Devon.

DEVON
Really? What is it that I seek then?

Courtney steps out of the shadows behind Devon.

COURTNEY
You seek answers.

Joshua and Nate spin around to see who has crept up on them. They both aim their weapons on Courtney.

You want an explanation for the images you saw those many years ago.

DEVON
I know what I saw. I saw this monster kill my older sister
and replaced her with you.

COURTNEY
What you saw was Mason giving me a new lease on life;
a chance to flee from the pain.
I am sure that you know of the pain I speak, Devon.
After all, cancer is hereditary.
Of course, they had no idea about such things back then.

DEVON
Science has come a long way in such a short period of time.

COURTNEY
Mason saved my life.

Devon turns to face Courtney.

DEVON
No, he killed you. He turned you into the living dead; into a monster.
He took away the only thing I ever held dear…. my sister.

COURTNEY
I am right here, right now.

DEVON
You are not my sister.

Devon brings his Dominator up and aims at Courtney. Jacob is shocked and turns toward Devon.

JACOB
My God, man. What is wrong with you?

DEVON
At ease, soldier. Do your job.

JACOB
Don’t you see that she is reaching out to you?
You have been describing these people as rabid animals
that needed to be put down. So far, though,
the only animals that I have seen are us.

DEVON
Shut up, Jacob.

JACOB
No! I stood by and watched – helped – you kill my own brother.
Now you get ready to kill the person you claim to care the most about.
I can’t stand by and watch this happen.

DEVON
As you wish.

Devon turns quickly and fires the Dominator stake through Jacob’s stomach, launching him backward and flinging him against the wall. At that same moment, more gunfire goes off in the back.

CUT TO WIDE SHOT
The three men in the back open fire once more, but this time the object they saw is visible. Boris, moving at a blur, runs into their midst and knocks all three men unconscious.

CUT TO WIDE FIVE SHOT
As Jacob falls to the floor, Courtney moves toward him. The other mercenary, turning to investigate the noise in the back, now aims at Mason.

DEVON
Kill them! Kill them all!

The mercenary begins to pull the trigger on the flame-thrower as a blurred Boris moves into view. Without stopping, Boris runs into the igniting flame, using his own body to shield Mason. As his body begins to burn and disintegrate, he reaches out and snaps the neck of the mercenary. The mercenary’s body drops as the flame goes out, leaving the nozzle and what is left of Boris to fall freely to the ground. Courtney is visible in the background kneeling over Jacob, whispering.

PAN AND ZOOM TO TIGHT TWO SHOT
Mason moves quickly, closing the distance between himself and Devon, grabbing him by the shoulders and lifting him into the air. The fire in the back is quickly spreading along the walls of the building.

MASON
Are you happy now, Devon?
Are you pleased with the bloodshed your vendetta has caused?

DEVON (calmly)
I won’t be pleased until you are dead.
Whether it is by my hand, or another’s, you will pay for your crimes
against humanity. When that happens, whether in heaven or hell,
I will dance the dance of victory.

MASON
Well, it will not be by yours.

Devon turns his head, both in rebellion and as an acceptance of his impending death.

I am not going to kill you, Devon.

Devon is surprised.

I am going to turn you over to the authorities,
which will prosecute you and punish you for your crimes.
They are already on the way here, though they were told to stay away.
Beyond whatever you may think, I would not – could not – kill you.
I am not the beast that you make me out to be.
While I would have every right to end your existence right now,
I will not; if for no other reason than you are Courtney’s
brother, and I could not inflict that level of pain upon my beloved.

Mason drops Devon, who lands next to the dead mercenary with the flame-thrower.

I have never, in my entire existence,
purposefully brought harm to a helpless soul.
And you, Devon, are the most helpless of all.

CUT TO MEDIUM FOUR SHOT
As Mason turns as begins to walk away, Devon grabs hold to the flame-thrower and begins to point it at Mason. Courtney looks up from Joshua in time to see what Devon is going to attempt. Sirens can be heard lightly in the background.

COURTNEY
No!

Courtney grabs hold of the stake sticking out of Joshua’s stomach, pulls it out, and throws it at Devon.

PAN TO TIGHT MOVING SHOT
The stake slams into Devon’s heart.

CUT TO MEDIUM THREE SHOT
Mason turns to see what has happened. A look of anguish crosses his face as he lowers his head. The sound of sirens gets increasingly louder.

FADE TO EXT. BLISS – 15 MINUTES LATER
WIDE SHOT OF BUILDING
The sky is beginning to show signs of the impending sunrise. As the building smolders, firefighters are visible working to extinguish the last of the fire. Several police cars are present. The three mercenaries that were in the back of Bliss are receiving medical attention with an officer beside them, ready to take them into custody. Inspector Kelly is the officer in charge of the situation, and begins to walk toward Mason, who stands within a few feet of the front door.

ZOOM TO MEDIUM TWO SHOT
Kelly walks up to Mason with a look of questioning on his face.

KELLY
What are you still doing here? You should have left by now.

MASON
No, Peter. This is our home.

KELLY
But sir. They will be working on it well into the morning. You need to find shelter soon.

MASON
We will find shelter in the catacombs, just like we do every night.
It is secure. We will not bother anyone, and no one will bother us.
When the time comes, we will simply walk inside,
and no one will be the wiser.

KELLY
How is Gregory?

MASON
He is fine. He is already below, resting.

KELLY
And the other one.

Courtney’s voice comes from inside the doors.

COURTNEY
Joshua is fine as well.

Courtney and Joshua exit the building. Joshua looks to be in perfect health.

It was a narrow escape, but he and I had a quick talk,
and he agreed to join our family.

JOSHUA
This is going to be interesting.

KELLY
You can say that again, kid. Again, I’m sorry about your brother.

JOSHUA
Thank you, Inspector.

In the background, the three mercenaries are taken by police officers to patrol cars.

KELLY
You know, this one is going to be a bit difficult to cover up.

MASON
I have faith in you, Peter.

KELLY
I’m just saying that this would be a lot easier to handle
if there weren’t any witnesses left to talk.

MASON
You know that is not the way we operate.

KELLY
I know. I suppose that, if it were, I wouldn’t be here now.

COURTNEY
The sun is coming up.

MASON
I know. Go ahead and take Joshua inside. I will be along in a moment.

Courtney takes Joshua’s arm and walks with him inside. No one seems to notice that two people are re-entering the crime scene. Mason still looks depressed.

KELLY
You know that none of this was your fault, Mason.

MASON
The direct actions of the past few days are not mine,
nor would I have changed any of my actions that lead to this horrific outcome.

KELLY
There is a but in there.

MASON
I have always tried to live my life as a good man.

KELLY
And you have succeeded.

MASON
However, being a good man is never quite enough.
Humankind has always struggled with monsters and demons,
but not the type that Devon came here to hunt.
The truth of the matter is that man needs to conquer the monsters
inside of him. If he can do that, he can stop being a good man,
and become a great one.

Inspector Kelly gives him a look that conveys disbelief.

KELLY
You had better get inside.
The sun will be breaking the horizon any second now.

Kelly turns and walks away. Mason continues to stand in the same spot and watches as the sun creeps toward him.

CUT TO TIGHT SHOT OF MASON’S FACE
The sun rises his face slowly, illuminating the paleness of his skin. He looks at it longingly. As the sun hits his eyes, Mason stands his ground, seeing the sunrise. He begins to smile.

MASON
With each morning comes a new beginning.

Mason turns slowly, basking in the sun’s rays, enters the building, leaves the doors open, and disappears inside.

FADE OUT