THE CONTRACT MURDERS OF MIKE AND MARK DORSEY by JAMES GAUDIOSO BASED ON THE "DORSEY CASE" OF 1977 Los Angeles, CA 310 866 1764 gaudiosojames@yahoo.com FADE IN: EXT. NEW YORK CITY -BROWNSTONE -NIGHT TITLE CARD: ŅJune 7th, 1997Ó POV: DESCENDING THE STEPS OF A BROWNSTONE IN NYC, MID AFTERNOON. We see the world through an unseen MALE NARRATORÕs eyes and his eyes alone. NARRATOR (V.O.) And as I descended the staircase on East Second Street and Avenue B on the Lower East Side of New York, I felt the best part of the day had passed... UP THE STREET, A CRANBERRY AND CREME IDLES IN THE RED ZONE WITH ITS HAZARDS ON. NARRATOR (V.O.) I saw my mother had found parking on the next street...or rather up the street, but I didnÕt rush back. I just stood there taking in the warmth of that June 7th. I looked up and saw the leaves give truth to the existence of a warm breeze, and there was this stillness...in me and all around, the kind of day I used to lay out in, in my dadÕs backyard, where the sun blankets you in warmth only to be washed away by the tide of a passing breeze. I could never tell which one I liked more, the warmth of the sun or the relief of the chill which washed it away. POV: BASKING IN THE SUN AT THE TREES ABOVE AND FOR A MOMENT... We see him, from across the street, the figure of youth, 17 and thin, veiled betwixt a collage of parked cars, trees and city. AS WE RETURN TO HIS VANTAGE HE EXAMINES THE SURROUNDINGS BEFORE HIM. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) And then I remembered... I remembered the woven hats selling on the corner. INT. ASTRO VAN -BACK SEAT -NIGHT Blinds from the back cab area of an Astro van separate and the back of a young man is seen taking in a street vendor. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) ...The audition is so close. When are we gonna be back here, in this area? Mom wouldnÕt mind. ItÕs him, he never likes to wait for me or check things out. POV: HE LOOKS DOWN TO THE STREET WHERE AN OLDER STREET VENDOR SELLS HATS. A RESTAURANT, ŅJPÕS,Ó CATCHES HIS EYE. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) Let me see what heÕs got quick--I waited too long, heÕll be down soon and IÕll never hear the end of it. POV: HE LOOKS BACK UP THE STREET TO THE ASTRO VAN THAT WAITS HAUNTINGLY STILL UP THE STREET, THEN TO THE DOUBLE DOORS HE JUST EMERGED FROM AND BACK TO THE VENDOR IN THE DISTANCE. HE EMBARKS TOWARDS THE CORNER. A cloud passes over the sun shrouding the street in the dark of day. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) And as I took that first step, something felt amiss, like I was suddenly ill, or off. Off course, like I was passing through a threshold... Like I was walking through my--NO. He has some time yet, I told myself. Not really. IÕll be, IÕll be quick. I wouldnÕt what I came to find out years later was A.D.D. had plagued my decision-making ability for years and the general of anyone who had the misfortune of being at my side while buying a pack of least of all a yarn hat. Plus, what was I hurrying for? He begins to walk away from the brownstone, away from the Astro van, away from the warmth, entering the unknown. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) All these justifications, the justifications of a 17-year-old... ŅWe werenÕt getting along, all I had to look forward to was being ignored in the van while he pretended to pass out, or to do homework...Ó (beat) Still a feeling told me NO, not go back, not run, just NO. And yet I kept walking, walking away from the inner sense that something was wrong. And it was, although in my adolescent time on this earth I could never imagine the horror I would witness on that day. POV: FROM ACROSS THE STREET WE SEE THE YOUNG MAN WALKING FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) To this day all these years later, I still wonder, not about that feeling, the thing people chock up to coincidence, afraid to face, because it means accepting that which we are not shown in a physical sense. No, that I know. That I have always known... FROM BEHIND WE SEE THE YOUTH DISAPPEAR INTO THE CITY. MALE NARRATOR (V.O.) No, to this day I wonder where the other me is now...the one that turned back, the one who listened, the one who turned right instead of left. INT. ASTRO VAN -SAME TIME Inside the Astro van, MARYANN (40s), pretty, dressed in a black lycra skirt and casual top, sits listening to opera, her mind trying to find solace among the sounds of the city. Suddenly a distant scream catches her attention. She is out the door in an instant. Multiple screams can be heard as we remain inside the van not privy to their origin. MARYANN WhatÕs going on! What? What happened?! MALE VOICE MUFFLED. YOUNG MAN (O.S.) Get in! Get in! Start the van, Mom! MARYANN What?! What happened? Gunshots can be heard, followed by a scream. POV: THE SCENARIO UNFOLDS FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT AS MARYANN ENTERS HASTILY. AN UNSEEN PASSENGER RIDING SHOTGUN ENTERS. YOUNG MAN (O.S.) GO! GO! GO! MARYANN OKAY! OKAY! ALRIGHT! WHAT HAPPENED? We hear muffled voices O.S., almost as if the memory is fading. MALE VOICE MUFFLED. YOUNG MAN (O.S.) (panicked) I SAW SOMETHING, MOM. JUST START THE CAR! PLEASE! MOM, GO! MARYANNÕS VOICE MUFFLED. MARYANN What?! What did you see?! YOUNG MAN (O.S.) NOTHING, JUST GO, MA!! MARYANN (beat)ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT! Immediately Maryann looks to the rearview mirror and springs into action shuffling the obscured figure into the back seat. MARYANN GET IN THE BACK! Lock your doors! Just do it!! MALE VOICE MUFFLED. As Maryann returns to the driver seat a GUNSHOT hits her windshield. A man approaches and punches through the broken glass tearing at MaryannÕs blouse. Undeterred, she slams the van into reverse, dragging her attacker backwards. Two young men seen only from the side lunge over MaryannÕs shoulders from the backseat grabbing the assailant arm as he fires widely into the van, knocking out the windshield. Maryann screams as the man attempts to choke her. She bites his hand drawing blood then floors the van into the car parked ahead, dragging the assailant several feet forward. MARYANN NO!! NO!! The man shakes his gun wildly releasing live rounds into the car unable to free himself of the sonÕs grip. Feet scurry to the back of the van. An arm raises. Maryann glances into her rearview mirror and screams. MARYANN DOWN! She floors it into reverse knocking the attacker from behind to the ground, violently. MALE VOICE MUFFLED. YOUNG MAN (O.S.) Roll it up! Roll it up! MARYANN Sit back! Now! The two young men roll up the driver-side window sending sharp glass into the remaining attackerÕs arm. The van screeches as it peels out into the distance followed by more gunshots and sound of sirens. NARRATOR (V.O.) And then I knew my youth was over. EXT. LOWER MANHATTAN -STREETS -CONTINUOUS The Astro flies street by street in an attempt to flee the scene, tailed by a black El Camino releasing rounds. The El Camino is temporarily side-tracked and slowed by a car at an intersection and loses the Astro van. EXT. MANHATTAN PRECINCT -NIGHT Maryann pulls up almost to the front door of the precinct and exits the astro van. She runs around the car opens the back door. Identical twins DILLON and MARK (17) exit. They race up the concrete steps towards the glass doors. The black El Camino pulls up shortly after. The three narrowly escape into the precinct. INT. PRECINT -NIGHT Maryann enters and guides the two young men toward the back of the lobby. Bloodied and bruised, she begins to scream. MARYANN HELP US HELP US HELP US!! WeÕre being attacked!! Several cops run past and out the door. The El Camino pulls away slowly. INT. MANHATTAN COURTHOUSE -DAY (WEEKS LATER) PROSECUTOR TERRANCE CHANCELER (55), a tall, genial man, sits alongside a distraught Maryann. Two US Marshals stand. AGENT MANZO (39), a hardened and tough woman inside and out, joins the marshals and stares, unsympathetic, across the room, momentarily exchanging a glance with Maryann. JUSTICE CHANCELLOR An official request for protection was submitted by myself as well as the New York City Police Department to the Department of Justice. MARYANN Okay. JUSTICE CHANCELLOR Maryann, this is unlike any other case they or I have ever seen-. MARYANN And you feel like this is the only way? JUSTICE CHANCELLOR Yes I do. MARYANN So what happens next? Where do we go? What do I do? US MARSHAL 1 You havenÕt informed her? MARYANN Informed me of what? US MARSHAL 1 Ms. Mochetto, the Department of Justice arranges a preliminary meeting for the US Marshal service to report their findings. From there, that agency submits their conclusions directly to the US Attorney General who weighs in on the matter. US MARSHAL 2 Due to the severity of the case and the power of your sonsÕ testimony to the prosecution of this racketeering ring, the United States Marshal service has recommended to the Department of Justice that the witness in this case... (beat) ...your son, be admitted immediately, especially in light of the retaliation which has already been exacted on your family. (beat) IÕm very sorry. ItÕs-. MARYANN Devastating. US MARSHAL 2 Yes, as such in an effort to ensure your very best chances for survivalŠ. MARYANN I donÕt care about me-. AGENT MANZO To ensure your sonsÕ survival we need your cooperation. MARYANN Cooperation? What does that mean? AGENT MANZO We canÕt protect them. Not like this. What happened to your sister and her husband last week. That was just a warning. MARYANN A warning? SheÕs dead. She was a mother of two daughters. Run off the road and shot unarmed-. AGENT MANZO These individuals are criminals. They will not stop until your sons are dead. Your son witnessed the murder of an elected official in broad daylight. They cannot let him live. JUSTICE CHANCELLOR Permission has been granted by the Attorney General and the Department of Justice warranting the admittance of your son into the Witness Security Program effective immediately. MARYANN (nods) Oh my God... US MARSHAL 1 Unfortunately because of the highly unusual circumstances which surround his identity, the agency has determined that it would be impossible to allow you to-. MARYANN (flabbergasted) What? (beat) To what? US MARSHAL 1 To place you together. Agent Manzo hands Maryann a form. MARYANN What what is this? You think IÕd sign something like this? Are you out of your minds? Over my dead body. A long moment of silence begets tears. US MARSHAL 1 This is a ŅMemorandum of Understanding.Ó You are his legal guardian. As such you need to release him from your custody. MARYANN I already told you, thatÕs not gonna happen--You can take this back to whomever you like, I really donÕt give a shit. OVER MY DEAD body youÕre taking my kids. AGENT MANZO No, over theirs. MARYANN What did you say, bitch? AGENT MANZO ThatÕs right, your sons. ThatÕs who they want, and that is who they will put a hit on until they succeed, until he is dead. And in this case that might be at the expense of-. MARYANN What are you saying to me? AGENT MANZO Your son witnessed the murder of an elected official on the streets of New York City in broad daylight. He can put away one of the biggest (MORE) AGENT MANZO (CONT'D) criminals the tri-state area has ever seen. His testimony could end a racketeering era. (beat) ) Your sister-.(beat) That was nothing to them. MARYANN DonÕt you even mention my sister. If you fucks had done your God-damn job-. AGENT MANZO Then let us do it now. (beat) This man, this person who your son can identify, I canÕt even tell you the depravity and pain this man has caused in the lives of so many. His crimes, his destruction know no bounds. They have no age requirements, Maryann, and the lengths he will go to to silence your sons, not even the crime scene photos can do it justice. TheyÕll knock off your family one by one if they have to. Maryann begins to sob. MARYANN This is the hardest decision I will ever make in my life. Not these hands. (beat) Not with these hands. No mother can sign away her childÕs life. US MARSHAL 1 One that wants them to have one. Some semblance of normalcy outside of these four walls with a camisole covering his face. MARYANN On one condition. AGENT MANZO Name it. INT. COURT CHAMBER -DAY Over the shoulder of two young men whose faces are only partially DISCERNIBLE, we stay close on Maryann. Maryann sobs as she sits positioned between her two sons. MARYANN IÕll see you again. Do you understand me? [[WHO?]] (O.S.) No. No, you wonÕt. MARYANN I donÕt care what their contract says. I donÕt give a FUCK. I will see my sons again when all this is over. My sons. WeÕll walk side by side down the streets of Salem. (beat) Do you two remember? Like in the picture of us when you two were young? It was so windy and you were dressed as a little ghost and Dracula. Do you remember? We were so happy heading to the Hawthorne hotel after the carnival. (beat) ThatÕs where I want you to go in your minds. When you miss me. ThatÕs where IÕll go too and that way weÕll never be apart. WeÕll always have that memory. ThatÕs where IÕm going to meet you both when this is done. When this is long over. Maryann loses it. MARYANN And this wonÕt matter. I love you with every ounce of my soul. Do you two understand me? You carry me with you. You care for each other no matter what. IÕll see you both. Love never dies. It never dies. MONTAGE: BLACK-AND-WHITE STILLS INTERCUT with TWO YOUNG MEN, 17, DILLON AND MARK DORSEY, wide eyed and young, featured alongside Maryann burn one after the next. EXT. OHIO UNIVERSITY RYERSON HALL -DAY (2007) TITLE CARD: Ņ10 YEARS LATERÓ Two voices can be heard INSIDE. [[WHO?]] (O.S.) I think itÕs foolish. I think itÕs a waste of talent and incredibly naive to think someoneÕs just gonna walk up and offer you an internship without seeing what you can do! (beat) This essay is exceptional. ItÕs socially relevant, itÕs now. ItÕs important and it needs to be read. You know how many writers never get to be where you are? Your voice, itÕs poignant and itÕs important for people to know this. (beat)Please let me publish it for you. IÕm friends with the editor of the New Yorker. That magazine is seen by everyone in the tri-state area. What? YouÕre shaking your head?! Please. Please! Why not? What are you afraid of? Getting your voice out there? (beat) Fine weÕll work on the scholarship but IÕm not gonna give up on this. EXT. MANHATTAN -EARLY MORNING A restored 1973 Buick Riviera pulls away from a storefront making its way into the distance. INT. BETA EPSILON HOUSE -EARLY MORNING The alarm on a young manÕs watch goes off. From another part of the house a voice calls out. [[WHO??]] (O.S.) JULIAN! Tired but awake, JULIAN (23) shuts off his alarm and turns toward the blue light creeping through his window. He smiles, puts on jeans, a flannel shirt and boots, and throws some serious camping gear over his shoulder. As he leaves he grabs his watch off the dresser and steals a quick glance in the mirror before heading out. INT. BETA EPSILON HOUSE -EARLY MORNING Julian descends the stairs of the frat carrying a full pack on his back, as he approaches the end of the hall he stops in front of a door with the letters P&J hung upon it. He goes to knock and is taken aback by the sound of his alarm again. [[WHO??]] Fucking snooze, man! Quickly he fumbles with and shoves it in his boot, making haste down the stairs. EXT. OHIO U -BETA EPSILON HOUSE -EARLY MORNING The young man exits the front door, locks it, and as he turns is accosted by a ghost decoration which lands on top of him. He stumbles back a few feet then laughs it off. JULIAN Starting a little early, guys? Julian heads across the front lawn with his oversized raincoat and goes around back in the early morning fog. As he pulls the large white wooden garage door out and up, 2 high beams pull into the driveway behind him. JULIAN (blinded) Can you shut off your high beams, man? The high beams fade out and someone exits in the morning fog. JULIAN Are you lost, man? Do you need directions? THE SHAPE of a man stands in the distance. Julian turns and continues to load his trunk. JULIAN Fucking pledges. From the reflection in JulianÕs rear window we can see the shape nearing us. JULIAN (turns quickly) IÕm sorry, I didnÕt mean to yell at you, but I didnÕt-. Julian is shot several times in the chest with a silencer. His speech carries on as he falls to his knees. POV: FROM ACROSS THE STREET WE CAN VAGUELY MAKE OUT THE SHAPE AS THE WHITE GARAGE DOOR SLOWLY CLOSES. EXT. OHIO U -CAMPUS -DAY TITLE CARD: ŅOCTOBER 30THÓ Open on a WIDE SWEEPING SHOT revealing the fall colors. The quad is brimming with undergrad and doctorate students alike, tossing pig skins and congregating about on the sprawling lawns. Two similar-looking individuals, MIKE DELAEH and MARK TÕSOL, cousins of indeterminate age, walk single file. Their style, hair, and dress couldnÕt be further apart. MarkÕs perfectly kempt jet-black hair, retro dark-rimmed glasses and ass-kicker steel-tipped boots give the facade of style. He walks affected, as if listening to a conversation being held about him. Mike emanates an air of renewal, almost as if heÕs experiencing life for the first time. He sports a bright blue dress shirt and khakis. As they hit the campus sidewalk the two walk side by side. Mark looks over his shoulder, then again several times. MIKE What? WhatÕs the matter? MARK Nothing. ItÕs nothing. MIKE DonÕt get spooked. Halloween isnÕt till tomorrow! Mike howls in the mid-day sun, exchanging the odd call with fellow passersby. MARK Cut the shit. MIKE Lock the doors, bolt the locks! MARK IÕm serious, Mike. MIKE What? Remember the movie... IÕm just trying to have a little fun. MARK We look like imbeciles when you do that shit. Act your age. MIKE I am acting my age. MARK No youÕre not, youÕre acting like fucking Count Chocula, now cut it out. Mike is silent. They walk quietly passing several buildings. MARK What, youÕre angry now? Mike, youÕre mad? What, because IÕm not parading around the street like a fairy over some stupid holiday that means nothing to me-. MIKE Exactly. ItÕs a holiday, Perry. MARK So? MIKE So itÕs supposed to be fun. WeÕre graduating in four weeks, man-. MARK SHUT UP! MIKE What? No one can hear me. MARK Just shut the fuck up, Mike. WeÕre not out of the woods yet. MIKE Okay. Listen, donÕt rag on me because I want to enjoy Halloween the last couple of weeks weÕre ever gonna have here. Mark lightens. MARK Sorry, man. Just a really persistent professor who wonÕt take no for an answer regarding some of my work. It got me all spun out. MIKE The wind blows and you get spun out. Mark laughs a bit. MARK I suppose. Listen I gotta take off-. MIKE Wait-. Mike lifts his hair line exposing a lighter patch of hair. MARK What? ... Oh, Again? MIKE Yeah... The new stuff only lasts about 6 weeks. MARK God your really annoying me today. MIKE LetsÕ get it over with. IÕll do yourÕs too. INT. NEW YORK CITY -LOWER EAST SIDE BAR -DAY A man sits alone at a table smoking a cigar tapping his fingers pensively. Before him is a magazine, whose front cover is obscured from view. OVER THE MANS SHOULDER THE HEADING READS ŅTHE NEW YORKERÓ. The man sighs then moves 2 revolvers over and takes a sip of espresso. EXT. BETA EPSILON HOUSE -CONTINUOUS Mike and Mark arrive. BENNY, 24, a gregarious super senior from England, MikeÕs best friend, cracks up. BENNY Oh well what do we have here? What are you girls dressed as this year? The two are mildly amused. MARK Can you let me by? BENNY Honey we have a lovely couple at the door-. KRISTOPHER comes to the door, 22, extremely well built. KRISTOPHER Oh my word, it is, its a beautiful gay couple. Well I bet your names are something darling like Jack and Me off? Am I close? MIKE No there ŅfuckÓ MARK And ŅyouÓ. KRISTOPHER OOOOOHHHH. ItÕs like theyÕre identical so in sync! Do you boys know ÕN Sync? MIKE Yeah I think your mom was the lead singer. KRISTOPHER No. She wasnÕt. BENNY Well thatÕs not very nice you wanker. KRISTOPHER I bet they know all the words! Our little Phineas will be so upset! The 4 laugh, Kristopher exits. KRISTOPHER Happy Halloween ladies, I have to go, be safe, wear reflective gear and a rubber and donÕt let any Gamma PhiÕs near your little pussyÕs. MARK Who was that guy? BENNY Um Kris, heÕs our Fraternity brother, slightly retarded, socially embarrassing... and threatening but mostly to the opposite sex. MARK IÕm talking about the dude who was here when we walked up. Mike grabs MarkÕs wrist. MIKE Chill. BENNY Who? MARK That guys that guys that guy!! BENNY Relax Columbo you donÕt know him. He was just dropping off something for Julian. MARK No ones heard back from him yet? BENNY You guys worry too much. HeÕs probably on a bender-. (beat) Or laced out of his mind in a national park. That is his modus operandi. MARK I donÕt think so. MIKE Remember though... last time though he didnÕt tell anyone, he left for like fucking 2 weeks in the middle of the semester, his mom and dad drove up twice looking for him. (To Mark, stern) Yeah heÕs mess can we go now? The three laugh and pile in. INT. MARK AND MIKEÕS DORM ROOM -LINCOLN RESIDENCE HALL JUSTIN, a late transfer, 24 stares into the cousinÕs room, he is the Fraternity president, a well put together, well spoken, fit rugby type. He marvels at the simplicity and bare nature of the room, which looks as if the two had been living out of bags for the past two years. JUSTIN Mike? (beat) Mark? An oddness blankets the room, the still, and unsettled vibe. JUSTIN Men... MIKE (O.S.) Be right out. Just then ESSEX, early 20Õs and wily, the fraternityÕs resident instigator joins Justin. ESSEX DonÕt tell me there in the shower together? What a joke. JUSTIN Go. ESSEX Kissing cousins its cool. JUSTIN Now. Essex exits. ESSEX What are you gonna do when your besties are gone Jus-. JUSTIN IÕll make a project outta you-.Want me to start now? Essex leaves. JUSTIN Come on men we gotta-. Just then the two emerge. Mike hastily as Mark follows with a towel wrapped around his shoulders, his hair now JET BLACK. JUSTIN Oh WOW. This is new. WhatÕs the occasion? Mark sits on his bed. Mike quickly covers. MIKE Halloween. Just mix it up a bit. What you gonna be? JUSTIN I donÕt know yet, come on, weÕre late. MARK Well catch up. He exits. Mark sees MichaelÕs computer is open on his bed and flies across the room shutting it quickly. MARK What did I tell you about this? Your slipping. MIKE IÕm not slipping. It was open for 4 minutes. MARK Never not ever. Anything over 6 minutes is traceable. WeÕre so close. EXT. OHIO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS -MID DAY A large group of the Gamma PhiÕs, including Mike and Mark, Benny, Kristopher, Justin, Essex and others make there way across campus. They joke back and forth, and wrestle about, all while sporting their greek letters. Mark turns to Mike. MARK IÕm so over this. MIKE Me too were so close. 4 weeks. Other competing frats can be seen making there way across the green. Mike and Mark hang back, Mark taking several huge breaths. Essex catchÕs this and rolls his eyes. ESSEX Fucking losers. INT. STUDENT UNION -STAIRWELL MONTAGE Each respective fraternity and sister sorority make their way down the varying stairwells which lead to the student union, each singing its Alma Matta. For the first time we see the camaraderie and sense of family which is inherent in the boys of Gamma Phi, especially Mike and Mark, who goad on the some of the younger pledges. INT. STUDENT UNION -NIGHT Crowds of Greek order fill the white walled room in the basement of old student union. LYNN TIERRE, late (40Õs), head of student affairs addresses the crowd. She is dressed business casual. She has a calmness about her which puts people, especially the men in the room at ease. LYNN TIERRE OK guys, Is this on? OK lets quiet down, I said lets quiet down, everyone, we brought you all here for a reason. The Gamma Phi men stand at attention. Oddly Mike and Mark consciously distance themselves from one another standing at opposite sides of the room. PHINNY (early 20s), an upperclassman, the openly gay brother, whoÕs intelligence and athleticism endear and ostracize him all at the same time, nears. KRISTOPHER (to Phinny) I really wanna fuck Ms. Tierre. PHINNY Wow and I bet your just the Gamma to give it to her-. KRISTOPHER Uh-huh. PHINNY I heard she doesnÕt like muscles-. KRISTOPHER Well, if you werenÕt gay for pay we could always double team her? Justin, the class president break into laughter, then quickly rebounds as Lynn Tierre looks directly them. He throws her an agreeing nod which he relays to his fellow brothers. JUSTIN Come on guys. LYNN TIERRE (beckoning) Mr. Timet. Now. Justin, and ALAN LEE, (23), Chinese approach the stage. Alan is the tall, uptight Vice President of the chapter. Alan turns to Justin. Mike off to the side, now removed from his brothers stands among a rival Fraternity Pike. He eyes the exit several times as he clutches a pole nearby. ESSEX Why is your cousin standing with the Pikes? MARK Why do you care? ESSEX He doesnÕt like basements? MARK Maybe he doesnÕt like you. Mark b-lines with Benny right behind. ESSEX The feelings mutual. LYNN TIERRE OK guys lets get it in line, lets listen to what Mr. Timet-. (beat) Hey the quieter you all are the faster we can all leave. As Justin hits the stage his Fraternity sends out a collective HOWL. Mike recoils. MARK You good? Justin turns to Alan and laughs. He returns a quick howl then motions for Alan to begin. JUSTIN The administration as well office of student affairs has asked each of us to stand before you today as well as each other in agreement that all fraternal and sorority functions being held on Halloween this year be dry. The room erupts in contention. JUSTIN There is a curfew in affect and myself as well as each of the presidents and Vice Presidents along with the Inter Fraternal Council have agreed collectively to abstain from hosting any event involving liquor. There is an outburst from the audience. FRAT GUY This sucks! FRAT GUY 2 What are you kidding? That wasnÕt even us?! Mark stares at his cousin who is genuinely enjoying himself. MIKE IÕm gonna miss this. Perry nods, faking a smile. MARK Yeah... me too. JUSTIN Nobody is saying we canÕt party guys... ladies no one is saying you cant dress up! That would be criminal right... BENNY Especially for the Sigma SigmaÕs. SomeoneÕs gotta cover those faces!! JUSTIN Were supposed to have fun. ThatÕs the point! And the Greek order wants that, they do, but not at the expense of safety, and thatÕs why were here tonight. We canÕt have a repeat of last years offenses. (beat) So just know that if you do plan to drink tomorrow it will not be at any of the houses along Greek row. FRAT GUY 2 This blows! Justin hands the Mic to Lynn. JUSTIN I tried. TheyÕre all yours. Mike stares over his shoulder at the exit, the crowd grows denser and denser only fueling his anxiety. The darkness of the hallway seems to bother him as he eerily searches the long empty breezeway. FRAT GUY 2 What if were over 21! LYNN TIERRE Your not. (beat) 75 percent of you arenÕt. Unless your all grad students? Are you guys all grad students? Perry wide eyed acts as he hears something. LYNN TIERRE Because last I checked they donÕt partake it greek life. (interjecting) That actually brings up a good point. (beat) You, all of you by being part of a Greek organization have given this institution your word, if thereÕs legitimacy to your crests and songs I heard storming down the hall just a few minutes ago, youÕll stick by your word and the word of your Presidents. JUSTIN (quietly) Oh we will. Mike smiles halfheartedly. Benny latches onto him thrusting him back and forth jokingly. Sensing his discomfort he throws an arm around his friend tightly. BENNY (beat)Lighten up, its almost over. The crowd fills in a bit more, boxing Mike in. He looks once more to the darkness within the long hall, this time knowingly. What sounds like a hissing sound comes from the dark. MikeÕs eyes widen. LYNN TIERRE (O.S.) Make room for some of the late arrivals people. Just as Mark reaches for his cousin, a hand takes his. It belongs to OLIVIA ŅOVIÓ JACOBS, (26) a Caucasian graduate student and stone fox, she stands on the opposite side of the blue pillar which Mike is leaning. Her hair is shiny, her dress her own. She is an "Earthy Chick" She is one of the few in attendance who is NOT a GREEK. Immediately, he feels calm. OVI (soft) Hi. MIKE Hi. What are you doing here? Mark looks over and catchÕs there brief exchange. OVI I got bored I thought IÕd come meet you, Some guy at your house told me you were here. MIKE What guy? OVI I couldnÕt pronounce his name. LYNN TIERRE Last year we had a crowd control issue no University this size should ever face. Anytime outside enforcement is called in, It seriously calls into question the Inter fraternal councils ability to host on campus events. (beat) Last year we had a near riot, an underclassman was hospitalized and nearly trampled to death. OVI Wow there really coming down hard this year. MIKE They should. We deserve it. Last year was a mess. LYNN TIERRE Last years behavior was criminal and you have only yourselves to blame for the strict decorum in place. Curfew is 11PM. There is a collective sigh. OVI The Witching hour. MIKE & MARK What OVI (lowly reciting) At 11 PM on Halloween night, the goblins break free and witches take flight, Heckle and Jeckle with no end in sight, till 1 after 12 the following night. So face all your fears and fight for your life, For this is the Witching hour on Halloween Night. You never heard the rhyme? ItÕs the Witching Hour. MIKE & MARK No. MARK No but now ill never sleep again thanks Olivia. Lynn Tierre goes to leave the stage and stops dead in her tracks. For a moment she considers something to herself, then chuckles a bit. LYNN TIERRE I almost forgot... (beat) The most important thing I wanted to say about tomorrow... I wish you all a fun, safe, and Happy Halloween. The crowd applaudÕs all despite the meetings somber message. INT. STUDENT UNION -HALLWAY Mike and Ovi stand close, the guys conversing in the background. OVI You wanna walk me to class? MIKE I do... but I cant OVI Why not? Mike motions to the frat. OVI Right I forget sometimes... hey if duty calls. MIKE ItÕll be over soon. Were not going late tonight. There is a long pause. Ovi looks saddened. OVI You gonna miss this? MIKE No. OVI Really? MIKE IÕm ready for the next chapter. INT. FOYER FRAT HOUSE -CONTINUOUS Alan Lee fumbles his key in the lock before entering the dark frat house. He races up the stairs, down the hall and to his room. Enters momentarily then exits with several pieces of minutes. As Alan comes down the stairs he notices the front door is open. This stops him in his tracks. ALAN LEE Is anyone there? If your here youÕre in deep shit. The council meeting is mandatory... Nothing. ALAN LEE ThereÕs a rule in life you know. If you enter a room youÕre supposed to shut the damn door behind you. Just as Alan shuts the door a figure grabs him from behind by the mane of his hair and smashes his face into the door 4 times cracking his glasses. INT. FRAT HOUSE -HALLWAY -CONTINUOUS Alan is being dragged down the hallway away from the open door. POV: ALAN CAN SEE HIS BROTHERS NEARING THE QUAD HEADING BACK TOWARDS THE DORM. ALAN LEE No... No... Alan grabs the door frame as his shrouded assailant drags him from behind. Almost coming to Alan realizes the severity of his circumstances. He screams. ALAN LEE NO... NO!! ItÕs no use. A knife is driven down upon his crown and Alan is dead. EXT. STUDENT UNION -EARLY DAY As Justin, Kristopher, Essex, Benny, Mike and Mark and several others including LUKE and DERRICK cross the quad, they can see a prank has been staged on the football field. A rival Fraternity, the Pikes have adorned the goal post with male blow up dolls, all dressed as Kappa GammaÕs in long dresses. Some of the brothers laugh, others desperately to tear down the inflatableÕs. Mark stands off to the side alongside side several other less sensitive brothers. He seeÕs Ovi walking far in the distance. She waves to which he lowers his head. EXT. OHIO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS -DAY Ovi walks across the campus as a friend calls out to her. LEANNE, (22) Filled with spunk she grabs for OviÕs ass. LEANNE What ya doing girl! You made me run all the way across the quad... OVI Sorry honey I spaced, what are you doing? (indicating the kite) WhatÕs this? LEANNE Oh I picked it up at the local store, ItÕs a piece of shit but Lou and I were trying all afternoon to get it in the sky... Ovi laughs. LEANNE Its super difficult. IÕve been running from one end of this damn quad to the other for an hour. OVI In literal flip flops. LEANNE In no bra. Well I had one on but the wire was coming out and poking me in the side, so intensely I had to let the ladies free. OVI Says the former cheerleader to the earthy chick. LEANNE No, what the cheerleader says to the earthy chick is... are we still going this weekend? OVI Where? LEANNE To the Sigma party! I got my costume. ItÕs legit radical. I designed it myself and constructed it based off of early 20th century images of the stage in LondonÕs West End. OVI I donÕt know, I feel like such a loser IÕm a child development graduate student and IÕm going to dress up like a silly teen? IÕm literally 4 years older-. LEANNE 26 year oldÕs donÕt have fun? ThatÕs lame. Do I have to stop celebrating Halloween when I hit 26 too? OVI No. No. For me it feels weird, like I should be acting older or something. Like I should be the chaperone. LEANNE Chaperone? Stop. OVI The last time I came by that girl Michelle gave the "Who invited a teacher?" Look. LEANNE SheÕs insecure and said that because you dressed like an old woman that works in nursery. OVI WHAT! LEANNE ItÕs true but thatÕs whatÕs so wonderful about Halloween. We can be anything we want to be with limited judgement. OVI If you only knew me when-. LEANNE When? 6 years ago? Olivia donÕt be a stick in the mud. Leanne turns towards her class in the distance then back to Lou. OVI Go, go you have to go. Leanne drops her kite. LEANNE I donÕt. (beat)WhatÕs the matter? OVI LetÕs go sit. Ovi says nothing. INT. CAFETERIA -LATER The two young ladies sit across from one another on a bench. OVI I just... ItÕs nothing. LEANNE Is it easier to keep it bottled up then to release it? (beat)YouÕve been off for a few weeks, come on, you know me. OVI Its Mike. HeÕs off and so IÕm off. LEANNE Why? OVI Why? Because I love him, and heÕs leaving. And he doesnÕt seem to care. And I tried to play it cool I thought I would get him back but...I can feel him pulling away, and it hurts to have someone move on, especially when your still in love. I feel so badly... LEANNE IÕm sorry. OVI And it hurts more this way, this gradual disconnect-. LEANNE Yeah, I donÕt know why guys are like that. TheyÕre so difficult to read but then you beat em senseless, drag em back to your cave... (beat) Or nursery. She wraps her arm around Ovi lightening the mood. LEANNE (serious) And there they stay for a while, but just for a while and everythingÕs good, and heÕs sweet and sensitive and giving until the spark goes out, or something goes wrong, or it gets difficult or too REAL for then they turn into fairies, the same guy you couldnÕt read in the beginning, only now your stuck in the dark together, trying to find your way out. (beat) Ovi, they canÕt communicate, maybe they feel it makes them less of a man. I never understood it. (beat) Maybe its like they say though, if a mans really quiet they just have nothing to say. OVI No thatÕs beautiful, your right ...thank you, and IÕm not trying to argue you, IÕm not, It just seems different with him, like itÕs something under the surface. Deep. LEANNE Splinters have a way of finding there way out. One way or the other. The two laugh and walk off. OVI (trailing off) So what are you gonna be for Halloween! And how do deal with all this shit with Lou. LEANNE LouÕs a Neanderthal, Ovi. I give him lots of compliments and enjoy his dumb company. (beat) No... HeÕs actually a bit deeper than I initially gave him credit for. OVI I KNEW IT! LEANNE Well you set us up. OVI I just had this feeling. The 2 walk off. From across the quad we can see they are being watched by a shadowy figure. EXT. STUDENT UNION -FOOTBALL QUAD -LATER The frat stands in awe and sort of respect at the sheer mockery made of them. Essex is furiously pacing, on the defensive. He snaps at a nearby student walking by. ESSEX What the fuck are looking at dick head! MIKE Just shut up Essex, really. ESSEX Why isnÕt this bothering you? MIKE Its a damn joke! Get over it. ESSEX So that makes it OK to make a mockery of us... of our LETTERS? MIKE What about everything weÕve done to them man? ItÕs always been a pendulum. It swings back and forth. Lynn Tierre walks by noticing the Malay. She tries to calm Essex. LYNN TIERRE Son, itÕs just a prank. Nothing I would even fill a report out for. IÕll have Mr. Jaxx take them down as soon as he can. No one will remember it in the morning.. Suddenly a call comes into the dean. She moves a few steps away from the men and answers her cell. LYNN TIERRE Hello... Oh hi yes, I wasnÕt able to reach anyone at the security switchboard this morning. (MORE) LYNN TIERRE (CONT'D) (beat) Is everything status quo over there? (beat)Wonderful. I was just about to drive to the main gate. You saved me a trip. She hangs up her phone and moves on. ESSEX Great, so the whole school can mock us in the meantime. LYNN TIERRE There only laughing at us because your getting so upset Essex, no one cares. ESSEX I care. MARK I think itÕs genius. ESSEX You would. (to Mark, his crony) Help me dick heads. Lynn Tierre walks off not before making eye contact with Mike and Mark. Essex continues to furiously rip at the inflatableÕs wrapped around the gal posts. Too short to successfully reach them he falls into the mud below begetting a ferocious laugh from the crowds and his brothers. Justin and Mark stand off to the side. JUSTIN I actually gotta give it to emÕ thatÕs pretty fucking funny. MARK Which oneÕs me? JUSTIN The one that looks like Tom Selleck. The guys collectively look to Benny. EXT. OHIO UNIVERSITY CAMPUS -QUAD DAY -LATER The boys make their way across the campus. Essex rips off his shirt tossing it across the lawn. The brothers trail behind and alongside trying not to laugh. ESSEX Fucking sucks!! The brothers bust out laughing. MIKE It was funny Essex, thatÕs why were laughing no one abandoned you. ESSEX Might as well. Am I the only one with a fucking spine in this Frat? KRISTOPHER Your the only one who wants to fight in this frat... Once in a while cool man, but most of us are super seniors. God knows how old the cousins are. It was fine when we were Sophomores but come on man. BENNY (toting his blow up) I donÕt mind a good ass whoopin every once in a while but that shit was funny! IÕm keeping my blow up doll for a snoggin tonight. ESSEX What a crock of horse shit! Cant we just buy off one of the fucking security guards? MIKE I donÕt think its that easy. ItÕs not that big a deal Essex-. ESSEX For YOU. FOR YOU Mike. For you and Mark. Some of us actually wanna have a good time and maybe get laid this weekend. MIKE WhatÕs that supposed to mean? ESSEX Guess! GOD!... FUCK!!! CanÕt Phinny just fucking blow the security detail or the entire security office... (low to Derrick) I mean why do we keep around otherwise? Some of the guys laugh, Phinny, used to this abuse, comes back sharply. BENNY Easy dude, heÕs one of the coolest broÕs I donÕt care who he blows. ESSEX ThatÕs because he blows you! BENNY So. KRISTOPHER Are you mad because he wont blow you and Derrick Essex or because he can beat you up? DERRICK Whatever. Everyone laughs. MIKE Come on man, itÕs just a stupid party. ESSEX What? Like it matters to you eitherŠ-youÕll be home baby sitting your sister. MIKE What are you talking about? ESSEX Oh right because were all just supposed to act like were fucking blind. KRISTOPHER Dude your a mess. BENNY Essex shut the fuck up before I beat your ass proper. ESSEX God forbid I tell the truth. MIKE DonÕt rag on my cousin dude, What are you mad because you thought you actually had a chance at pussy tomorrow? I donÕt think they sell masks big enough to cover a KING.SIZE DOUCHE. The guys all laugh, including Essex. There is a moment of silence and mutual respect. ESSEX That was actually pretty good. MIKE Really? Right out of thin air.. ESSEX Your getting better, its about time. ItÕs only been 4 years. MARK Wait I have an idea. JUSTIN What is it? MARK What about old Solace Mannar? JERRY What about it? MARK Way back there in the woods. The old residence hall. KRISTOPHER ThatÕs a great place for a Halloween party. Are we all getting tetanus shots tomorrow? DERRICK The place is a death trap, its condemned. Like literally boarded up. ESSEX Its not that bad. DERRICK What! How, do you know? YouÕve gone in there? ESSEX Yes Mary, Some of us actually like to explore and live a little. I fucked a chick in there over winter break last year. BENNY ME TOO! KRISTOPHER ME TOO! MARK You sure you didnÕt fuck each other? KRISTOPHER So? MIKE Essex the young lady you slept with... Did they find her body yet? IÕm just asking for the family... They need to know. MARK No but seriously. ItÕs perfect. You heard Tierre, All there resources are being spent on the faulty electricity. They donÕt have the manpower to patrol the woods, every extra security will be on Main Street. We could play our music as loud as we want and no one would hear it. Everyone is quiet. JUSTIN Yeah but we gave our word. ESSEX No. You gave your word. DERRICK He gave our word Essex. ESSEX Technically you wouldnÕt be breaking your word. Justin gives Essex an odd look. ESSEX Look. You said, "If you plan to drink, just know it will not be at any of the houses along the row" MARK Solace Mannar is off the row. MIKE Wow, great moral compass guys. JUSTIN Solace Mannar is off the map. What if something happens? KRISTOPHER Then we deal with it. What are we in 6th grade? MARK It would be kind of cool to get Steve and his guys to play. And deck the place out -. DERRICK Believe me it doesnÕt need it. MARK No but I mean get it to where we CAN put our beer down and not worry about a ghost blasting in it. ESSEX DonÕt make me actually start to like you two. JUSTIN A band might be a bit much donÕt you think... MARK Why Main street is deafening, you cant hear anything, especially out there. I think we could pull it off. MIKE I donÕt think itÕs a good idea, at all -I have a bad feeling about it. ESSEX You agree because your scared. MIKE IÕm not scared. I donÕt wanna get expelled! DERRICK LetÕs table it until later tonight. Well convene after the pledge class leaves and make a sound decision. The men disperse. Mike quickly on his own. INT. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICE -EARLY MORNING The Õ73 El Camino enters the security check at the University of Ohio. A layer of morning fog obscures the driver from view. Two GUARDS, 40Õs, squint to make out the driver. He exits the car and approaches the booth. SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER First a new hire... then this? SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER 2 Do you want me to check them in? SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER No. YouÕre not on the clock yet. Just fill out your new hire paperwork. The senior security officer exits the booth abruptly. EXT. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS SECURITY OFFICE -CONTINUOUS [[who/what]] SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER Hey man you canÕt idle your car here. You need to show your credentials at the call box. Nothing. The character stands, obscured in the thick dense fog. A solo jet black figure. SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER Did you hear what I said! Just then the officer from inside the booth exits and ties a garrote around the security officers neck. The two struggle a moment until a lone shot fires from the shadowy figure into the skull of the security officer. He dies instantly. Security officer 2 drags security officer 1 inside the check in booth. Moments later the gate lifts. The El Camino enters the campus. EXT/INT. SIGMA HOUSE -HALLWAY -CONTINUOUS Benny, Justin, Kristopher, Luke, Derrick, Mike and Mark come in through the door. LOU, 22, a Caucasian overweight/muscular character enters as well. Derrick turns to Lou. DERRICK Hey LOU!! We missed you my man! LOU Sorry I couldnÕt make it. I had the gym and a calculous test man. Derrick then turns to Luke who enters last. DERRICK Where did you go Luke? LUKE Oh just had to take care of something. DERRICK You settled in upstairs? LUKE Completely. Lou heads down to the basement. The others disperse. INT. SIGMA HOUSE -BASEMENT -LATER Lou and his girlfriend Leanne, a small raven haired beauty of 20, hookup, Halloween decorations strewn all around. It rains outside the windows. Things grow more intense as Lou lays her down and removes her top. LOU You wanna take this to my bed? LEANNE (beating around the bush) Nooooo. LOU Why? LEANNE Because then your gonna wanna, you know-. LOU We can wait, I told you. LEANNE Yeah but I donÕt wanna keep doing this--Making you... LOU What? LEANNE Giving you blue balls. Making you all worked up then not being--not doing it... the deed, sex, everything all college guys think about. LOU ItÕs not all we think about. There is a long pause. LOU Alright itÕs mostly what we think about. (beat) I like you. If were on my couch kissing or in my bed completely undressed IÕm still gonna wanna be with you-. LEANNE I know. There is a moment of silence. LOU DonÕt look so stressed. Getting heady? Suddenly a noise from the corner of the room almost as if something was moving behind the walls. LEANNE What was that? LOU ItÕs a 100 year old house. IÕm not even supposed to have a bedroom down here and thereÕs 4!! It must be one of the other dudes. He removes his shirt. HeÕs ripped. LEANNE I told you when we started this and you came up to me IÕm a mess. LOU It doesnÕt have to be drama Bree-. LEANNE No I know--I jus-. LOU It could be something nice that we both enjoy together. LEANNE I guess IÕm just afraid youÕll dump me after we have sex. LOU I told you IÕm not like that. (beat) Lets take a break, I can put my shirt back on and you-. LEANNE Scared you away huh -. LOU It takes a lot to scare me, believe me, IÕm not going anywhere. (beat) But we donÕt have to beat a dead horse. Thank you for getting the decorations, were gonna use the left over money for Mike and MarkÕs cake tomorrow. He immediately covers his mouth and runs to the base of the stairs-. LEANNE (to herself) I thought it was just you down here? LOU It is normally but in this house You never know especially with those two. Leanne studies Lou. She really does love him. She gets up puts her bra on. LEANNE I thought you were gonna help me with this spider. Thank God the Phi PhiÕs saved a lot of this junk from last year. LOU Junk this stuff is great, I used to decorate the front lawn with my cousins Connor and Michael when I lived back home. LEANNE (holding up a fake knife) Oh yeah... When can I meet them? LOU One step at a time. His eyes widen, they eyes lock, and begin to kiss falling on the couch. LOU Were not gonna get any decorating done this way. INT. SIGMA HOUSE -OHIO UNIVERSITY Screaming can be heard coming from up the stairs. ItÕs coming from Mark and MikeÕs room. Inside a young pledge LONNIE, 18, sits at Mark and MikeÕs desk with MarkÕs MacBook open. Mark shuts it. MARK I donÕt care what you were thinking, donÕt come into my room and use this fucking computer! Do you understand me! Not ever. Say it not ever!! LONNIE OK Ill log off, I didnÕt realize it was such a big deal, Miles comes and uses LouÕs all the time. MARK It is a big deal. LONNIE IÕm still waiting for my computer from my parents to come in. Chill. Look they sent me a -. Lonnie makes the mistake of attempting to show Mark what he was using the computer for. MARK I donÕt care!! I donÕt give a fuck!! DonÕt touch it and donÕt tell me to chill. When I am not here, this computer is off limits, do you understand me? LONNIE Fine Mark take it easy. MARK DonÕt call me... LONNIE What? Your name? Mike enters. MIKE CALM DOWN Mark. Lonnie gets up and pushes past Mark. LONNIE Dude whatÕs the matter with your cousin? HeÕs completely insane. Lonnie exits. Mike moves over to Mark who is fuming. MIKE Did you erase the Queue? MARK Yes. MIKE OK so then whatÕs the issue? ItÕs OK. MARK No. ItÕs not. MIKE ItÕs been 10 years. It would of happened by now. WeÕve been so safe. So incredibly safe. I need to live my life some semblance of a life or whateverÕs left of it. I suggest you do the same. MARK One slip up. ThatÕs all it takes. You remember what the MarshalÕs told us in those classes. WeÕll have to look over our shoulders for life. MIKE I donÕt know how much longer I can do it. Mark storms out leaves. Derrick enters. DERRICK What the fuck is going in here? MIKE ItÕs bullshit, theyÕre squashing it. DERRICK Are you sure? MIKE ItÕs over, he got mad because Lonnie dropped our mac book. We only have one between us. We canÕt afford to replace it. DERRICK Oh. MIKE Derrick? DERRICK Yup? MIKE Have you heard back from Julian yet? DERRICK No, nothing yet. IÕm sure heÕs OK. Mike looks a little concerned. EXT -BETA HOUSE BACK YARD -SAME TIME Mark lays atop a brick wall, hand covering face similar to before. Benny exits, with Justin. BENNY What the fuck was that all about love? Mark does not respond. BENNY (beat) IÕm speaking to you Mark. IÕm communicating. I said IÕm speaking to you. MARK No your speaking at me. BENNY Look whoÕs talking then! The barking dog at the Frosh class. These kids look up to us man!! PERRY Why are... Can you not scream? BENNY You first. You first. You were completely out of line. PERRY What are you talking about? BENNY Are you cracked? JUSTIN Come on Benny. BENNY That shit you just pulled on your little brother. Mark does not respond. BENNY You got nothing to say on it? (beat)ThatÕs just great. And graduation not telling me your graduating, thatÕs... well I donÕt think even (MORE) BENNY (CONT'D) we have a word for that where I come from.. Mark says nothing. MARK I donÕt need you up my fucking ass man! BENNY No you need a foot up it. (beat) Your acting like-. MARK (sits up) What! What am I acting like? BENNY Like a coward. Mark is silent. MARK Fine. BENNY No. I donÕt think you are mate. Every picture I have ever seen of you, you look miserable, like your not there in that moment. Like your stuck. MARK If you knew why I was like this if you could see it. You would understand. BENNY So tell me. MARK I canÕt. BENJI Why not? MARK It would put you in danger. Listen we have the meeting. LetÕs just talk about it in a bit. EXT. FRAT HOUSE -FRONT DRIVEWAY -LATER The El Camino idles across the street. POV the brothers decorate the house as best as these young men can. INT. FRAT HOUSE -LATER A group of 10, mixed race 20 something rushes come up from the basement stairs in their underwear and blindfolds tethered to one another in an obvious initiation. They are led safely to the door by Derrick, Luke, Lou, Kristopher, Mike and Mark. The men lead the pledges to the front door. LOU Now as we uncover your eyes, you will have 1 hour to race across campus to each respective founding fathers monument where you will enact poses of the sacred Kama Sutra upon one another in front of these structures. Some of the brothers laugh. The rushes cringe. LOU Feel free to involve the stone structures in your nastiness... Then you will retire in shame to your dorms. Lou looks to Mike and Mark. LOU Then you will await further instructions regarding the party tomorrow night. (beat) NOW GO!! The ten underclassmen run from the residence unleashed like nuts onto the campus. Speech at night after the pledges leave and plan to make a party. The last of the pledges leave and the men sit around and talk INT. FRAT HOUSE -GREAT MEETING ROOM -NIGHT All the brothers sit in different spots in the room. Some on couches. Some on the window bench and few by the fireplace. In attendance are Derrick, Luke, Lou, Kristopher, Mike, Mark, Benji, Justin & Essex DERRICK Where the fuck is Alan? IÕve texted him like 20 times. I swear to god he better drop off the minutes tomorrow. Well we have to start. IÕve got class at 7. MIKE I know he has a class that goes pretty late... MARK So what do we think are we going to do this party? MIKE I really donÕt think itÕs a good idea. ESSEX YOUR GRADUATING!! Who cares fucking live it up for once! Stop moping around like some ghost fucked you in the ass. The two of you are so depressing!! Lou and Derrick lose it. Uncontrollably laughing. LOU Your graduating? ESSEX They both are. I over heard them tell Justin not to tell anyone about it. MARK Shut the fuck up Essex! MIKE So why would say it now? ESSEX DonÕt we all deserve to know? IsnÕt one of our credoÕs solidarity above all else? LOU Why is it a secret? MARK ItÕs not. MIKE ItÕs not. LOU It seems like a secret. Were you just gonna leave? Without telling anyone, without telling your brothers. A long moment of Silence. Mike and Mark donÕt know how to respond. Justin looks to them not sure whether to throw a life line. LOU Mike? Mark? MIKE No. We just didnÕt want to make a big deal out of it is all. MARK Maybe we should throw the party. BENNY Why donÕt you wanna move out while were all there? MARK No. BENNY You sure? MARK Yes, IÕm sure. IÕm sorry we didnÕt tell you all. IÕm sorry were so damn secretive. We would of told you itÕs just... The look to each other. BENNY Wow you donÕt seem so convinced. LOU Maybe we should have a party. We can send Boris and Natasha off in style. ESSEX Finally, some sense. JUSTIN I donÕt think itÕs a good idea. ESSEX Now you? WHY NOT! JUSTIN That place is a shit hole! LUKE You can have the pledge class clean it. ESSEX I knew I liked you... I know your a transfer, only 4 weeks in but thatÕs an incredible idea. JUSTIN ThatÕs not bad. It will more than fulfil there camaraderie requirement. IÕm so fucked if something goes wrong... IsnÕt it too late though? We wanna do this tomorrow night right? KRISTOPHER ItÕs actually perfect. If you tell them too early we risk someone slipping, or too many people coming which will definitely get us caught. JUSTIN Yeah but how do we get people to come? That place is so fucking nasty. MIKE ItÕs Halloween, IsnÕt it supposed to be kind of fucked up. JUSTIN I just donÕt want anyone to get hurt. The last thing I want is for us to lose this chapter over some dumb shit. KRISTOPHER So letÕs have the pledge class act as recon, then they can clean it from top to bottom. MIKE With what? ESSEX A fucking mop! MIKE What fucking moron frosh would do that? I mean besides you? DERRICK I mean, Lou and I can send out an email right after the meeting. Make it mandatory. MIKE Wait what about security? The dean said they would be hitting each house LOU We can stage a fake Party, and have some, a few of the pledges and some of us hang back, IÕll have Leanne throw up some decorations. MARK IÕll hang back. JUSTIN No its a good Idea. (beat) Can you imagine when Julian gets back, if he decides to come back tomorrow night to an empty house on the craziest night of the year. KRISTOPHER Serves him right, heÕs hasnÕt returned any of my texts, Mike said he had a couple missed calls from him right Mike? MIKE Yeah... ItÕs really weird... So itÕs decided. The guys, Derrick, Luke, Lou, Kristopher, Mike, Mark, Benji, Justin & Essex all place their hands in the center of the room. ALL SIGMA OMEGA!! Benny gives Mark and Mike a discerning look. INT. LYNN TIERRE -MANSION ON CAMPUS -NIGHT The lights flicker as Lynn sits reading a book by the window. She gets up and marks her page then calls up stairs. LYNN TIERRE Girls are you up? Nothing. The lights flicker once more. INT/EXT. SECURITY OUTPOST -NIGHT Lynn Tierre stands outside the security post as the lights begin to flicker, then go out. Lynn enters. LYNN TIERRE Did we lose MAIN? SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER 2 Yep. LYNN TIERRE Quick throw the switch for the back up generator before we lose everything. SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER 2 OK. LYNN TIERRE Is it on. She races to the door and looks out into the distance. LYNN TIERRE Oh thank God, otherwise you have to do it manually... (beat) Say.. WhereÕs Sam? SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER 2 Who? LYNN TIERRE Sam Morgan. Worked here 17 years. Senior Security officer 2 reaches for his gun. Just then LynnÕs phone goes off illuminating an image of her 2 daughters on the screen. The security officer genuflects. SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER 2 ...I wasnÕt supposed to say maÕam but the staffing company told me he has Covid. LYNN TIERRE Oh. I had no idea. IÕll give him a call tonight-. SENIOR SECURITY OFFICER 2 Best to give it a few days maÕam, heÕs been dead to the world. WE TILT DOWNWARD TO SEE SAM MORGAN DEAD UNDER THE DESK. LYNN TIERRE Good Idea... Carry on. INT. FRAT HOUSE -DERRICK AND LUKEÕS ROOM Derrick snores as Luke lies awake staring at the ceiling. Footsteps can be heard above. WE PAN UPWARDS. Scene between Mike and Justin INT. FRAT HOUSE -ATTIC -CONTINUOUS Mike sits by the window in silence, smoking. It storms out. The attic is unfinished in the best way possible but sprawling none the less. A few Sigma Omega insignia lie about. Justin comes up and looks around. JUSTIN My god I havenÕt been up here in 4 years!! We used to let people dorm up here. Like in the 70(s). I forgot we had all this shit. Now this is a job for the rushÕs instead of Solace. IÕm sure thereÕs some cool memorabilia up here. Silence. JUSTIN My god DonnieÕs weights are still up here. This dude was like a super senior when I was visiting from Lake Success. I need to text him. Silence. Justin sits next to Mike. JUSTIN We know you guys are lot older Mike. No one cares. What are you and your cousin like 27? MIKE ItÕs not about that? Not even close my man JUSTIN Then what is it? What could be so bad that your cousin acts up like that. That would want to secretly graduate without telling us. MIKE Something. (beat)Sometimes in life you need to let sleeping dogs lie man. JUSTIN What does that even mean? MIKE It means when something is dead and buried you donÕt unearth it. Some thingÕs are better left in the past. INT. MIKE AND MARKS ROOM -LATE NIGHT Mike enters and is met face to face by Mark who is indignant. There are several weights which are positioned next to the inside of the door. Mark looks to the weights then up to his brother. MARK I told you not to do that. If you leave you have to tell me so I can secure it. What the fuck-. MIKE Stop today was a lot with Lonnie-. MARK Were almost out of here. We canÕt slip up. MIKE ThatÕs right were almost of here you need to keep it together. MARK No you need to follow the protocol that way laid out for us 12 years ago. MIKE IÕm sick of it IÕm sick of it. MARK ItÕs what keeps us living. ItÕs kept us alive for 12 years. WhatÕs the matter with you? MIKE IÕm done IÕm done I want a new life. MARK This is our life. This is it. MIKE No itÕs not. This is secrecy this is nuts. Do you want to live looking over shoulder for the rest of your life? What type of life is that? MARK WhatÕs the option. IÕll tell you because I already know it. ItÕs 6 feet below ground with matching headstones. INT. MIKE AND MARKS ROOM -LATE NIGHT Mike wakes up to the sounds of something coming from the bathroom. He looks to the door. ItÕs secure, then MarkÕs bed which itÕs empty. He moves to the doorway to the bathroom and sees Mark sitting on the ledge of the tub crying. He moves inside next to his cousin placing his arm around him. MARK I ruined it for us. I made this whole experience difficult. INT. MIKE AND MARKS ROOM -MORNING Mark wakes up and sees Mike sleeping on his side. He stands moves to the door, slides the weights aside and leaves, not before locking it from the inside as well as with a key. EXT. SOLACE MANNAR -MORNING Mark comes outside and sits on the back porch. He smokes, then walks to the fence and puts out his cigarette on the slats. Mark walks towards the frat house when a shadow encroaches upon him. He turns to see Agent Manzo, one of the agents assigned to his case standing on the other side of the fence. MARK What are you doing here Agent Manzo? AGENT MANZO Just checking in. MARK You live 2 states away. AGENT MANZO Well were coming up on what we call in the agency a milestone. MARK A milestone? AGENT MANZO Your commencing in 4 weeks correct? MARK ThatÕs correct. AGENT MANZO How have you been Mark? Mike told me youÕve been struggling a bit. MARK I might... I... ItÕs been difficult. AGENT MANZO What has? MARK Feeling like once this is over... AGENT MANZO Once this is over what? MARK What next? A new state, a new name a new identity, when does it end? AGENT MANZO When thereÕs a conviction. The legal system unfortunately is like life. ItÕs not a meritocracy itÕs also criminally slow. Once this last case comes to court. MARK NO. ItÕs been 12 years for ChristÕs sake. ItÕs making us sick inside. You have no idea what youÕve done to us. Were a fucking science experiment for the US department of Justice. AGENT MANZO We are so close. This is the sacrifice you made for your safety and the safety of mother and father. MARK You orphaned us. My mother and father? They wouldnÕt even be able to identify us in a line up. AGENT MANZO IsnÕt that better than identifying you in a morgue? MARK IÕm not so sure anymore. She pivots handing the disgruntled man an envelope with a plastic bag inside it. AGENT MANZO This is your last burner phone for the month. When theyÕre minutes expire dispose of them immediately. MARK I know. I know. I have the same damn conversation with whichever agent you send down to show up and scare the shit out of me every month for the last 12 years. AGENT MANZO Scare the shit out of you? MARK Would you like to be snuck up on when life is already marked? AGENT MANZO Stay the course and one day I promise you will come out of this. You will laugh again and look forward to the morning. MARK I doubt it. The guys get to the house and begin to set up. EXT. SOLACE MANNAR -7 AM Essex stands before the doorway to old Solace Mannar. He stairs at the ornate door, whoÕs carvings and black stained glass act as a mirror to not only the past but the dense forest behind him. The wood depicts collegiate aged students and the camaraderie they share which came long before this class called the University of Ohio their home. The structure itself is boxlike and 6 stories high, a lingering remnant of the ŅOLD CAMPUSÓ. ESSEX (After a long moment) What a shit hole. Essex tries the metal knob and slams against the door several times which does not move. ESSEX How the fuck did we get in here last time? The sound of something whining catches Essex off guard. He motions his head closer to the door and listens. The sound is laborious like that of a slowed demise. Essex slams the door once more and this time the locks opens. Something seems to be weighted from the inside. As Essex steps inside a dead deer lay before him at the base of the foot of the door. It looks up then dies. For a long moment Essex stares at the doe then takes the creature up cradling it in both hands. A loud sound is heard outside, Essex emerges with the doe in his arms approaching a pickup truck. 10 rushing members including SPENCER C, SCOTT, and MORGAN, (17-20) ride in the back with Lou in the driver seat. They hop out. SPENCER C Dude is that a prop? SCOTT Whoa where was that? ESSEX ItÕs dead. It was in front of the door. MORGAN Why are you holding it like that? The rush class stand around it in awe. ESSEX Are you deaf or stupid Morgan? Moron, It was blocking the door so I scooped it up to move it. Is that impossible to understand? MORGAN Sick man you should sanitize dude, deer have ticks. A somber tone overcomes Essex almost as if heÕs having a premonition of some sort. ESSEX Its a Doe. LOU Cool. Lets string it along with the mannequins dressed up like Kappa Gamma in dresses up from the roof scare the shit outa of some chicks-. ESSEX (affected)Spencer, Scott. Drag it over by that tree. Come on! We have a ton of work to do. LOU Come on guys, unload the cleaning supplies. You have 6 hours to make this inhabitable... Essex and Lou stare at one another disbelieving... LOU Just focus on the first floor. Essex seems troubled, he looks at his phone, one missed call ŅJulianÓ. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -CONTINUOUS They step into the foyer. LOU OK. ItÕs you ten for the next 6 hours... then the rest of the rush show up so show me you have hat it takes to be SIGMA O material and which of you have the determination and strength to get this job done. Lou flips a switch shockingly revealing some lights. LOU Wow, everything else on campus is a wash and this old dump has juice. ESSEX Wait so what are we having these guys do? LOU Work. Come on men. Lou catches the pledge class acting up. LOU Hey dudes? PLEDGES WhatÕs up? LOU What the fuck are you doing? Were trying not to get caught. MORGAN I didnÕt know we were cleaning ladies. LOU Well you are and I have a perfect dress for you to wear Spencer. Essex stares off. LOU Open all the windows, doors and just start cleaning. The ten freshman head into different directions in the house. Lou turns to Essex. LOU This place is worse off than I thought. ESSEX Well what did you expect Lou, a fucking Marriot, the last time you saw it was 6 years ago on Hell night. EXT. SOLACE MANNAR -ROOFTOP -LATER Scott, Morgan, Spencer, Lou, and Essex break through the metal door leading to the roof top. ItÕs uneven and aged but they can walk across it slowly. LOU IÕm gonna fall through this piece of shit. ESSEX Stop carbo loading like a damn Neanderthal and you wont be such a fat ass. Lou laughs. LOU Hey man, have you heard from Alan? I know he goes off the radar to visit his chick in Michigan but I got a call today from Tierre that he never showed up with the minutes. ESSEX Are you for real? LOU We could lose out letters. ESSEX What a fucking douche bag. LOU DonÕt lose it. I got them to give us an extension til Monday. ESSEX IÕm gonna light that mother fucker up. Essex steps off and pulls out his cell. LOU OK dudes. LetÕs string em up and make sure they face the front of the manor... Essex stands off to the side as AlanÕs cell rings. INT. GARAGE -CONTINUOUS AlanÕs cell rings in the pocket of the dead young man. His body stacked atop that of JulianÕs who is also dead. The two men are cheek to cheek. Their facesÕ stone white and lips blue from the inclement weather. A moment later the light on AlanÕs phone goes dark but that of JulianÕs comes alive. ŅESSEXÓ can be seen on the screen. It rings 4 times then also goes dark. EXT. SOLACE MANNAR -ROOFTOP -LATER Essex hangs up his phone discouraged. ESSEX God damn it!! ItÕs like these two fell off the earth man. Julian wonÕt pick up either. LOU I mean do they know itÕs you... I donÕt answer 70 percent of your calls man. Essex gives Lou the finger then changes direction deflecting his anger towards the rushes. ESSEX LetÕs go. LetÕs go. LetÕs go how fucking long does it take to hang a fucking mannequin off the side of this death trap? It doesnÕt have to look like the windowÕs at MacyÕs you MaryÕs... The rushÕs toss 10 mannequins dressed in various forms of lingerie and Kappa Gamma sweaters off the side of the old dormitory. Lou takes a steps and his foot goes through the roof. LOU Oops!! Stay off this side dudes! Come on letÕs go downstairs we have 4 hours left before the next wave comes it. INT. FRAT HOUSE -LATE NIGHT Mike canÕt sleep. He tosses and turns finally towards the bunk of Mark whoÕs of course awake staring back at him. MIKE I have to tell her. MARK Do it. Mike hops up grabs a shirt and leaves. EXT. FRAT HOUSE -CONTINUOUS Mike exits the house and begins to walk in the direction of OviÕs dorm. He turns to see Mark in the second floor window starring back at him then continues on his way down the road. INT. MINTEN MANOR -LATE NIGHT Michael sits on the shag carpet of OviÕs room. HeÕs still. Laid out are 2 costumes. One of a sexy waitress and the other a beekeeper. OVI I canÕt decide. Silence. OVI What? What is it? MIKE I owe this to you. I donÕt have much time Ovi. Sit here with me and just listen. OVI No. I donÕt think I want to... What is this all about Mike? MARK The reason I never talk about our past is because it was erased... on purpose. OVI What? What are you even talking about? MIKE ThatÕs the reason Mark is such a miserable human being. I donÕt have (MORE) MIKE (CONT'D) much time. When I was 17 years old I witnessed a murder on the streets of NY City. OVI NY what were doing in NY, your from Oregon. MIKE No IÕm not. Neither is Mark. Were from Long Island at least we were a very long time ago. OVI I donÕt understand. MIKE I witnessed the murder of a man running for mayor who was being blackmailed by the mob. We escaped but they murdered several members of our family including our... (beat, labored) NY State go involved but when they couldnÕt ensure our safety they decided -. OVI Decided what? MIKE They decided for the first time in US history to not only induct an individual into the witness protection program but to include his identical twin... OVI What? MIKE Mark is not my cousin. OVI My God Michael who is he your father? Your son? MIKE My identical twin. OVI Why are you tell me this? MIKE If I donÕt make... This was the reason. It had nothing to do with you and zero to do with how much I love you Olivia. OVI Love isnÕt lying Michael. MIKE I lied to survive. In return for identifying the men in court who murdered this individual I was granted a new life on one condition. OVI What? MIKE We had to leave our mother, our dad, and every shred of our lives that we knew in NY... For the first 6 years we were living under assumed identities in... OVI What does this have to do with Mike... Christ if thatÕs even your name -. MIKE Mark hates me because I stole from him a father, a mother and a life. IÕm the once who witnessed the slaughter of this man. IÕm the one who had to testify but because we share a face. Mark is the one who lost his life. WeÕve been living on the run for 12 years. OVI So why now? After all this time? Especially if you testified already and why waste my time why involve me in something you knew could never develope into anything other than a fling? MIKE I only identified one of the men. The other man goes to trial in 4 months. ThatÕs why IÕm graduating early. ThatÕs why Mark is on edge (MORE) MIKE (CONT'D) all the time. ThatÕs why when I leave this university I have to go into hiding once more. (beat) You werenÕt a fling.(emotional) I really loved you. Ovi takes a deep breath. OVI I loved you too. Ovi cries and embraces Mike. MIKE I could lose my life just for saying these words but I never felt a connection like the one we shared with you Olivia and IÕm so scared for whatÕs to come but IÕm even more scared of not letting the woman I loved know how much she meant to me. Ovi cries. OVI IÕll find you again someday. INT. FRAT HOUSE -NEXT DAY Mark packs his bags as does Michael clearing out their belongings from the large closet. Justin and Lou and Leanne enter and begin and stare for a moment then begin to help the two. There is an understanding and sadness felt between the longtime friends. INT. FRAT HOUSE -LATER Lou and Leanne exit the room hand in hand. Leanne turns to Lou. LEANNE Well that was sad. LOU Yes it was. But theyÕre ready to move on. LEANNE So am I. LOU What? LEANNE I want tonight to be our first night together. I want you to be my first. She tenderly touches his chest and kisses him. The two walk off. INT. FRAT HOUSE -FRONT -HALLWAY -CONTINUOUS The house is decked out, staged to create the illusion of a fake gathering. Mike and Mark stand with Kristopher, Lou, Leanne, Benny, Derrick and two others named SPENCER C,(19), and SCOTT, (20), underclassman. MIKE You sure? MARK Yep. MIKE You sure, sure? I can have one of these tools do it man. MARK No I want to enjoy this dude. How often does a Sigma have this whole place to himself? DERRICK Uhm never... Including tonight. LonnieÕs here. DonÕt worry heÕs not on youÕre damn computer but heÕs crashed out it in my room. I said it was cool. MIKE HeÕs under the weather. MARK OK. IÕll check in on him in a little bit. DERRICK He doesnÕt need a damn nurse man. The collective laughs. Mike lingers for a moment with Mark. MARK IÕm sure. They leave. INT. FRAT HOUSE -DERRICK AND JULIANÕS ROOM -LATER Mark comes in. Lonnie is laid up watching UFC on his phone. MARK Lon? LONNIE DonÕt come any closer. MARK OK. LONNIE ItÕs not COVID. I tested negative but not sure what it is. A long moment of silence. MARK Listen Lonnie. I apologize for my behavior last week. It wasnÕt cool. Not even close. LONNIE ItÕs OK. My siblings are like that about their stuff too. MARK IÕm supposed to be your big brother and I let you down. IÕm sorry. Lonnie nods. INT. FRAT -LATER Mark sits on the window ledge on the second floor landing but looks out the window noticing for the first time a stain of some sort on the concrete outside the garage. He places his book down and looks closer, even trying to open the window though itÕs painted shut. The doorbell rings. LONNIE (O.S.) IÕll get it. Give me one sec-. MARK Stay in bed. IÕll get it. Seriously Lon, itÕs cool. Mark comes down the stairs slowly. He cannot see an identifiable person through the windows which line the side of the door. As he opens the front door we can see the back door of the home open. A figure steps inside. Mark steps outside the home. EXT. FRAT HOUSE -PORCH -CONTINUOUS Mark stands on the porch. Suddenly an assault of 4 eggs hit the door behind him. He reacts dramatically then looks up to see several college students running by. Mark looks to his hands which shake. BEHIND HIM WE CAN SEE THE FIGURE WHO ENTERED THE HOME WHEN MARK STEPPED OUT ONTO THE FRONT PORCH NOW MAKING HIS WAY UP STAIRS. EXT. FRAT HOUSE -SAME TIME Mark paces the yard trying to calm down then looks to the garage and the stain on the concrete. Slowly nearing Mark bends down and further examines the dark red stain. MARK Christ. Mark makes his way around the side of the garage which is a removed structure from the Frat house. He looks into the window but cannot make out anything. Mark tries the lock several times then picks up a large stone and breaks the window. He reaches his arm in and opens the door. INT. FRAT HOUSE GARAGE -CONTINUOUS Inside the garage Mark hears the labored sounds of what sound like breathing. He looks to JulianÕs hatchback and notices the trunk is open. Mark makes his way around the car slowly only to find Julian laying on his back stacked with Alan as well as the security guard. Mark backs up to the wall and screams in disgust. EXT. FRAT HOUSE -CONTINUOUS Mark comes out of the garage holding an ax. He is noticeably shaken and now sees the front door to the frat house is open. Slowly and methodically dials Mike. Nothing. MARK Pick up your phone. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -CONTINUOUS Mike looks to his phone seeÕs incoming call from ŅCOUSINÓ. Derrick looks down and rolls his eyes. DERRICK Christ. Already? MIKE Not tonight my man. I just need one night of quiet. One night for me. Mike turns it on silent. DERRICK Come on. Let me show you the rooftop. Essex is a genius he rigged mannequins of the SIG EP guys from the rooftop in their underwear. Mike laughs and the two enter the party which is in full swing. INT. FRAT HOUSE -CONTINUOUS Mark comes in through the front door and marches head down up the stairs in the direction of LonnieÕs room. INT. FRAT HOUSE -DERRICK AND JULIANÕS ROOM -LATER Mark comes in slowly hugging the wall. The ax in his clutches. He slowly approaches Lonnie who is motionless under the sheets. Mark pulls the sheets off Lonnie and cannot contain himself. MARK Oh my god...(beat) Oh my god... Mark is buckled over. MARK Oh my god...(beat) Oh my god... EXT. LYNN TIERRE -MANSION ON CAMPUS Mark carries Lonnie dead corpse wrapped in white bedsheets to Lynn TierreÕs house. She comes out the door and races to him. LYNN TIERRE What happened? Who is this. MARK You need to call this number. Say into the line itÕs a code Condor. (MORE) MARK (CONT'D) TheyÕre here on campus and theyÕre more than one. TheyÕll kill as many students as possible until were dead. LYNN TIERRE ThatÕs impossible. They assured me students would be safe. The interrogation would be seamless. MARK Do it now. I have to warn Nicholas. LYNN TIERRE Who? MARK My identical twin. Mark lays Lonnie down on the front lawn and walks off. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -ROOFTOP The party can be heard below. Several brothers stand on the rooftop. There are at least 10 mannequins dressed up as rival collegiate fraternity SIGMA EPSILON which dangle from the top of the structure. Kristopher and Justin are arm in arm with Benny and Mike. KRISTOPHER Come on man. ArenÕt you gonna miss this? MIKE Of course I will. KRISTOPHER ArenÕt you going to miss us!! MIKE Of course I will. BENNY You will never find a more loyal group of friends then Sigma o . MIKE I know it!! Luke joins them. LUKE I just want to say thank you dudes. IÕve never been so accepted by a chapter then I have with you guys. BENNY YouÕre welcome man. The four hug and hold up their drinks. Luke turns to Mike. LUKE Hey man, Can I show you something I found downstairs... ItÕs really weird. MIKE Sure dude. Benny interjects. BENNY No fucking way. IÕm getting this man on the dance floor before itÕs too late. JUSTIN ThatÕs right!! LUKE Of course later. The 4 march to the rooftop access door and head downstairs. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -LOU AND LEEÕS ROOM The purple hue of lava lamps illuminates the room and dances off the walls. Lee naked rides Lou. Her breasts illuminated by the moon through the boarded up windows. She lowers herself and kisses Lou passionately their tongues intertwined. Lou turns her over and Lee wraps her legs tightly around her lover. They lock eyes. LOU I love you. LEE I love you. They kiss passionately as Lou makes love to her for a long while. From across the room we can see through the reflection in an old armoire a shadowy figure approach with a knife. INT. LYNN TIERRE -MANSION ON CAMPUS Lynn races into the home to a nearby credenza where she riffles through a few drawers until she locates a small index card. She immediately picks up the land line and dials. It rings 4 times until-. VOICE This is the DOJ confidential line. What is your numerical code? LYNN TIERRE ItÕs 4122-06 VOICE State the nature of your second code. LYNN TIERRE This is code condor. There is a moment. VOICE WeÕve located you and are dispensing officials to the site immediately. Suddenly the call goes dead. The man from the security booth appears behind Lynn and strangers her from behind. She is dragged out of the room. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -LATER Mike dances on the floor of old Solace Mannar with Julian, Benny and Luke. From across the floor an older man of 47, approaches slowly as they live it up. He taps Mike on the shoulder. Mike turns and looks at the man questionably. Luke clocks this. MAN Are you Michael Dorsey? Mike doesnÕt respond for a second, then-. MIKE What is it? MAN IÕm Quinn Moore. IÕm your cousins professor. Can I talk with you for a second? MIKE Uhm... Sure. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -SIDE ROOM -CONTINUOUS Mike stands with the man Quinn Moore, 47. MIKE What are you doing here? QUINN I need to see your cousin. ItÕs incredible. ItÕs incredible. MIKE What? WhatÕs incredible? QUINN ItÕs the most monumental news your cousin will ever receive. IÕve been texting him for a week. I wonder if heÕs been receiving my messages? MIKE IÕm not sure. Listen, I should get back. QUINN It doesnÕt matter. I can tell you... I have to tell someone or IÕll explode. (beat)Listen I got your cousin full circulation. MIKE What? What are you talking about. QUINN His solo independent study ŅMy new identityÓ. MIKE The story he told you not to run? QUINN I got it major circulation in 17 markets-. MikeÕs face goes stone white. QUINN They even ran an image of you both. MIKE You told him all material would be for inner office only... QUINN IÕm sorry. It was too good. YouÕre cousin is a remarkable writer. 1 in a million. Mike looks down to see the front cover of THE NEW YORKER with the headline. ŅMY SECRET LIFE... My NEW IDENTITYÓ and a candid image of Mark and Mike on campus is splashed on the cover. Mike starts to shake. QUINN What? What is it? I thought youÕd be thrilled for him. YouÕre not one of those competitive set of cousins are you? MIKE No... IÕm not one of those competitive sets of cousins you witless ideologue. You fucking moron! QUINN Are you out of your mind? MARK ItÕs a true story you fucking imbecile!! Do you know what youÕve just done to us? Quinn is slightly stunned. QUINN IÕm sorry. IÕm so sorry... I-. MARK YouÕre sorry? YouÕre sorry? Get out!! Get out!! YouÕre sorry... ThatÕs wonderful you can write it in our fucking obituaries!! Mike ushers Quinn out the door and sits on the sofa. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -SIDE ROOM -CONTINUOUS Mark makes his way into the room skirting a few underclassman to find Mike. MARK I need to talk to you like right now. MIKE I know. You just missed Quinn. MARK What? MIKE Congratulations youÕve been published. Mike tosses a copy of the New Yorker at MarkÕs feet. Mark scoops up the copy and looks for a second then turns quickly to the cover story. MIKE ItÕs only a matter of time. Mark tosses the news paper and races to Mike. MARK They found us. TheyÕre here now. MIKE What? MARK ItÕs a code condor. I just carried LonnieÕs body to Lynn TierreÕs. They shot him in cold blood. SheÕs calling the investigators now. We have to get out of here now. MIKE This is not--ItÕs not possible. ItÕs been 12 years-. Suddenly a massive explosion from the woods outside rings out. ItÕs deafening and knocks several slats covering the windows lose. The party races from Solace Manor into the woods starting to clear it out. MIKE ItÕs a diversion. We need to leave immediately. Mike starts to head off. Mark stops him. MARK If we go through the woods were sitting ducks for them. ThatÕs what a marksman wants-. MIKE Are you sure? MARK ItÕs open season if we try to flee this way. Kristopher and Derrick come in. KRISTOPHER We need to talk to you both. MIKE Same. Can you get the core together? KRISTOPHER Sure. EXT. SECURITY BOOTH -CONTINUOUS The second security officer approaches removes plastic gloves he used to kill Lynn Tierre and enters the booth. He takes a large ax and begins to dismantle the security system mainframe console. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -SIDE ROOM -CONTINUOUS Kristopher, Benny and Derrick stand in shock having just heard what Mike shared with Ovi the night before. There is a mounting deafening silence. There is a knock on the door. Derrick opens it, thereÕs still scattered individuals about. Spencer C. stands at the door. SPENCER C. Is everything OK? KRISTOPHER No. Clear everyone out. Make sure everyone leaves safely. We need some more time in here. SPENCER C. Oh man... This was the best party ever dude-. Kristopher shuts the door. This time locking it. Mike stands and double locks, then places a metal chair against the knob. Silence. BENNY Why didnÕt you tell us? MARK We were under a strict set of rules. BENNY From who? MARK The state of NY, the US government... does it matter! BENNY Of course it matters!! You put us in danger!! KRISTOPHER I think IÕm gonna be sick. MARK IÕm sorry. KRISTOPHER IÕm sorry... IÕm sorry? You inconsiderate fucks!! BENNY Not Lonnie man. IÕm best friends with his sister.. HeÕs such a good dude. HeÕs only 20. DERRICK IÕm outa here. I donÕt have to stay here and listen to this sick shit. Mike gets up off the couch. MIKE If you walk out that door your a dead man Derrick. DERRICK What are talking about? MIKE Look through that peep hole. Derrick does. Essex and Luke come stumbling to the door arm in arm. Drunk. ESSEX You know your actually pretty cool... for douche bag. The two laugh. LUKE Come on guys open the door!! DERRICK ItÕs just EssexÕs dumb ass and Luke, thereÕs nothing wrong. Derrick goes to open the door. MIKE DonÕt do it! ItÕs a trap. LUKE Come on dudes, were still lit... Let us in. ESSEX Mike, Mark you have to see this thing Luke showed me... e have to show them. Mike whispers to Derrick. MIKE Tell them we left, We werenÕt feeling well. DERRICK They left man... ItÕs just my chick and I in here. I think they went home. Suddenly LukeÕs disposition changes intensely. He puts Essex in a full nelson choking him and shoots him in the temple twice... Spencer C. comes down the stairs behind Luke. SPENCER C. Well thatÕs it were all cleared out. Luke turns and shoots Spencer in the forehead. Derrick loses it. LUKE (Staten Island voice) Thank god I donÕt have to suffer this intolerable voice no longer. Derrick turns to the others. DERRICK He fucking shot Essex in the fucking head!! (beat) What do we do... MARK ItÕs the consigliere. DERRICK What the fuck is a consigliere? Luke hears this though the door and chucles a little. LUKE We donÕt actually use that word any longer in my line of work. I commend you for even knowing what that is... No a consigliere is meant to be someone who resolves disputes within the mob. ThatÕs sort of the opposite of what IÕm here to do. IÕm what you would call a button man. A much, much, much more low level member with a certain skill set which you men will come to learn. KRISTOPHER We have to get you out of here. BENNY No we stand together. IÕm staying. KRISTOPHER Fuck that he just shot our brother in the head. These two lied to us for 6 years. Let them deal with the consequences of this. Why should I have to die for something they saw? BENNY Then you go. IÕm staying with them. I lived with them, IÕll die with them. DERRICK You didnÕt see what I did. MIKE No leave... Seriously. ItÕs the only way. Tell them itÕs the Dorsett case. TheyÕll understand immediately and send someone. Tell them everything I said otherwise... KRISTOPHER Otherwise what? MARK Otherwise we died for nothing. BENNY No one is dying... Stop with this shit. DERRICK He killed Essex man and shot Spencer in cold blood. BENNY DAMN IT!! You should of told us!! MIKE Listen to me. There is no doubt in my mind if that man breaks through this door were all dead. Someone has to survive... someone has to live on. MARK!! MARK IÕm sure. DERRICK WeÕll call for help!! LetÕs go Benny!! Kris, Derrick and Benny break a few slats off a nearby wall and on their backs slide into an adjoining room with windows. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -SIDE ROOM -CONTINUOUS Mike and Mark stand next to one another on the couch. The door begins to break down. MARK What do we do? We have to fight. MIKE IÕm not going to die like this. I refuse to become a statistic of this sick case. MARK We have to run. ThereÕs no other option. MIKE LetÕs move. Mark and Mike lift the couch as well as credenza against the door and find a weak spot on the far wall. They begin to use 2 massive old candle sticks to break through into the next room. They make a massive opening large enough to climb through. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -LOU AND LEEÕS ROOM The room is oddly lit purple with the colors of several lava lamps dancing across the walls. ItÕs oddly quiet. Mark and Mike approach the bed to see Lou and Lee have had their throats slit and LouÕs arm is broken. MIKE If he could do this to Lou... If he could do this to Lou... how can we survive? MARK DonÕt lose it. DonÕt lose it. We have to use our minds. MIKE I canÕt. I canÕt!! MARK You can and we will. We have to find a way out. The two look around for something to use in their defense. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -LOU AND LEEÕS ROOM Luke comes to the door which is locked. He breaks through, methodically. LUKE Come out come our whereever you are identicalÕs. ThereÕs no use in running. It always ends the same. As Luke enters he can see Mike sitting bedside over the shirtless partially clothed corpses of Lou and Lee. As he nears he loads a few bullets into his smith and wesson. We can now see it isnÕt Mike sitting bedside mourning his fraternity brother but rather LouÕs corpse which is propped up and dressed loosely in MikeÕs clothes, MikeÕs foot positioned in the middle of his chest. Just as Luke leans down close enough... Mike whispers to his fallen comrade. MIKE IÕm so sorry Lou... With a insurmountable drive not seen before Mike drives LouÕs head directly into that of LukeÕs who stumbles to the floor. Mike jumps from the bed shirtless and Mark rushes Luke kicking him in the face several times then wrestling for control of the gun. Luke is insanely strong and drives the gun into Marks face, then shoots him in the shoulder. Mike then thrusts LouÕs corpse off the bed and onto Luke knocking his head against the wooden floor. HeÕs temporarily knocked out. Mike helps Mark and the two exit out the door. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -FRONT HALL -CONTINUOUS The two make it to the front hall and realize Luke has barricaded them inside. They race up the stairs several flights up. INT. LYNN TIERRE -MANSION ON CAMPUS Lynn Tierre stands before her credenza. The body of Julian in the backdrop on the front walk. Nervously she withdraws a card and unfolds it. She picks up the land line and dials. LYNN TIERRE Is this the confidential line of special investigator Dorsey. I was told I to use this line in case of a code Condor. The University of Ohio, in Athens. The subjects are located off the main row. 2 casualties as far as I can tell. You need to get here immediately, heÕs going to kill them both. The line suddenly cuts off. INT. SOLACE MANNAR -SPIRAL STAIRCASE Mike and Mark make it to the rooftop access door. EXT. ROOF -CONTINUOUS The two storm out onto the roof and towards the ledge. Mark collapses. MARK I canÕt move any further. This is it for me. IÕm done Mike rushes back to the door and places a few items in front of it then returns to his brother. MIKE I love you and I know that I did this to us. IÕm sorry, If I could take it back for us I would. IÕll never forgive myself for what I did to you and mom. I stripped you both of love and life but IÕm not gonna let this son of a bitch hurt us. Hell have to go through me first, do you understand me? (beat) DonÕt say anything just let me go look for something for us to use. Mike runs to the roof. Mark is on his side. INT. STAIRWELL -CONTINUOUS From inside the stairwell Luke makes his way to the top of the landing and begins to charge the door. Suddenly Benny shows up and starts to throw wild body shots which catch the contract killer off guard. The two struggle for control of the knife that Luke. Unfortunately Benny is not strong enough for this confrontation and begins to lose his footing. Luke pommels Benny into the door several times and then slowly drives the knife into his shoulder. Benny squeezes LukeÕs throat eliciting a sound from the massive man. Luke then lifts Benny and tosses him off the stairwell where he falls several floors to his instant death. EXT. ROOFTOP -CONTINUOUS Moments later the door to the roof flies open and Luke marches through it. Mike with a rope around his waist is standing at the roofs edge screaming for help as Luke marches toward the incapacitated Mark MIKE Stay back, get back, donÕt you take another step!!. Help us!! Help us HeÕs right here!! HeÕs going to kill us!! Luke moves steadfast to Mark lying on his stomach. MIKE DonÕt you fucking touch him you piece of shit!! Michael becomes temporarily tangled in the ropes. MIKE NO!! Luke withdraws his knife and drives it through Marks back only to find that this is one of the dummies Essex hung over the side. Michael immediately pounces. MIKE Stupid fuck!! Immediately Mark jumps from the top of the meatal rooftop access door where Luke just exited and tackles him. The two young men, Mike and Mark begin a fight for their lives against this contract killer. Mike smashes LukeÕs head into the asphalt several times until Luke backhands him in the mouth then kicks Mike him off. Mark punches Luke in the face several times then starts to strangle him. Luke turns his head in MarkÕs direction slowly and smiles. He drives his hands between Marks releasing his grip and head buts him off of him. Luke stands slowly just in time to receive a steel pipe across the face and chest from Mike. Mike winds up once more but Luke catches the metal pipe and knocks Mike out cold with it. Luke stands over Mike about to drive the metal down on his crown when 4 shots ring out. Mark continues to fire sending the oaf almost off the roof. 6 shot. The chamber is now empty. Mike begins to come to. Luke rips his shirt open exposing a bullet proof vest. Mark charges in an effort to force the man off the roof. From below Kristopher and Derrick as well as responding police officer as well as Justin watch in horror. The frat prods the officers. DERRICK Shoot him!! Shoot him!! OFFICER I canÕt get a clear shot. The officer takes aim once more. Mike stands and joins Mark. In an insane jesture of sheer will and strength Luke lifts both Mike and Mark up by the neck as the three dance closely to their demise. Mark wraps loose wire around neck of Luke and grips it with everything his has left. Two OFFICERS from below discharge several rounds into the back of Luke sending he, Mike and Mark several stories off the roof. Luke breaks his neck instantly and is killed when the wire around his neck catches. Mark and Mike fall and land on opposite sides of the white picket fence which lines Old Solace Manor. OFFICER I need backup and a bus immediately to the University of Athens in Ohio. We have 1 dead and potentially more. Mike C. Exits Solace Manor shaken. Justin, Kristopher, Derrick, Lonnie and Scott approach. SPENCER C. They killed Lou. They killed Lou and Leanne. The brothers rush past. INT. HOSPITAL -THE NEXT DAY -MORNING The surviving members of SIGMA OMEGA sit in a waiting area in utter shell shock. ItÕs Derrick, Kristopher, and Justin surrounded by Ovi, and a few others. Suddenly the loud sound of crying catches everyone off guard. They rush with several staff down the hall to Mike and MarkÕs room. INT. HOSPITAL ROOM -CONTINUOUS As Derrick, Kristopher, Justin and Ovi enter, and a few staff move into the room they see Mark in bed and are shocked to find Michael sitting at the window wildly shedding tears of joy not anguish for once. OVI What? What is it!! MIKE ItÕs the first time IÕve ever looked forward to the morning. ItÕs (MORE) MIKE (CONT'D) the first time IÕve ever wanted to wake up. Mike looks to Mark and reaches for his hand. MARK We did it. We did it. EXT. SALEM MASSACHESETTES -ESSEX STREET -WINTER Mike and Mark stand atop a concrete ledge in the center of town square. Mike is still bandaged up, his arm in a sling. The two look down a flight of steps which lead to an office building below. The iron access gate to itÕs dissension is locked. MIKE Do your remember we used to run up and down as children? MARK I do. Suddenly from behind their attention shifts. Maryann, now 62, stands accompanied by several agents including Agent Manzo. She has flowers in her hands and stands in disbelief. She tilts her head a little. MARYANN My sons. The two approach her and collectively they sob. Agent Manzo turns away for a moment as the reuniting of this family is too much to conceive. Maryann is arm in arm with her sons. MIKE I almost forgot what you looked like. MARYANN Not me. Love never dies. It never dies. MARK We thought maybe you might of moved on. MARYANN No. No mother could. I survived but I wasnÕt living. Till now. Til now. The three walk down the cobblestone road hand in hand. The federal agents follow them. FADE OUT.