The Skull Ring (49 page)

WALTER

You reckon he's in on this Snead deal?

JULIA

I don't think so. He just wanted me as his little toy. Snead wants me for Satan.

WALTER

They'll be coming soon, if Mitchell really did call the cops.

They start back toward the cabin, then Walter stops.

WALTER

Why did you decide to trust me this time?

JULIA

You seem to be the only one in the world who isn't stealing my panties or trying to marry me off to the devil.

Walter has no response to that.

CUT TO:

EXT. CABIN.

Walter and Julia come out of woods. The cabin door is open.

WALTER

The Jeep won't do us any good. They probably got the road blocked off.

JULIA

Maybe we should hold out here. You've got the gun.

WALTER

I'm no Clint Eastwood, remember? I'd be just as likely to shoot myself as shoot one of them. And they got us outnumbered. We better walk out.

JULIA

Which direction do we go?

WALTER

(motioning to the ridge)

If we head over the back side of the mountain, we can follow the creek down. Keep steady, and we ought to be out of the county in a couple of days.

JULIA

I'll pack up. Why don't you scout for creeps?

Walter nods and heads for the woods. Julia enters the cabin.

CUT TO:

INT. CABIN.

The fire is nearly dead as Julia puts the food and clothes into the backpack. She rolls up the sleeping bag and then looks at the hearth where she'd left the skull ring with the rubies. It is gone.

JULIA

(to herself)

The ring.

Something stirs in the loft, and a muffled voice comes. It is Wheatley, the robed creep from Julia's past, the one who held the knife at the ceremony.

WHEATLEY

Hello, Jooolia.

Wheatley is in the shadows of the loft. Eyes glow red, but Julia is running out the door, dragging the backpack.

CUT TO:

EXT. WOODS AROUND CABIN.

The sky grows darker as Julia flees.

WHEATLEY (O.S.)

(from the cabin)

J-O-O-O-LIA!

JULIA

(running)

I am a mountain, I am a mountain, I am a mountain...

She reaches granite boulders at the top of the ridge and squeezes into a crevice. She looks over the ledge at a forty-foot drop.

She moves to the edge as if she's going to jump.

JULIA

(whispers)

No. I'm a mountain. They can't break me.

Faint voices come from the forest. Julia grabs a thick fallen branch and backs into the crevice.

The voices grow louder, then fade. A twig snaps. Steps come closer, closer, then past as a shadow passes over the mouth of the crevice.

Julia steps out and raises the club. No one is there. Behind her comes breathing, in rhythm with her own.

She turns. It is Snead in his robe, hand raised. The hand holds a knife and wears the skull ring and for a moment, Julia is four again and helpless. She drops the branch.

SNEAD

Are you ready, Julia?

Snead takes her by the arm. Julia drops the backpack.

SNEAD

(calling)

I found her.

(to Julia)

Come along, Judas. We've waited a long time for this.

Thunder punctuates Snead's words. The sky is really getting dark and the wind picks up.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST CLEARING.

Snead leads her between the boulders to a clearing. Wheatley waits, wearing his robe and hood. Another robed figure is with him. It is Dr. Forrest, though Julia doesn't know it.

Two more hooded figures come out of the woods. As they gather around Julia, she notices they wear patent leather cop shoes. One of them is the brawny cop.

WHEATLEY

Where’s Triplett?

BRAWNY COP

No sign.

SNEAD

Don't worry. I'm sure we can arrange a little 'accident.' Nobody will think twice about it. Not with his past.

WHEATLEY

(to Snead)

Tie her.

(to two hooded figures)

Let's get on with it.

Snead and Dr. Forrest bind Julia with a rope.

DR. FORREST

You're one of us. You've always been one of us.

JULIA

(recognizing voice)

I've never been one of you, Doctor.

DR. FORREST

You were born one of us. You belong.

WHEATLEY

(to the stormy sky)

The master is ready. He's given us the signs.

SNEAD

(pulling back hood)

We've got too many loose ends, Wheatley.

WHEATLEY

Are you doubting him, my Brother Judas?

SNEAD

You play with fire and I have to bury the ashes.

A gunshot echoes from the woods. Wheatley crouches and motions Snead to investigate.

JULIA

(to herself)

Walter!

WHEATLEY

(to Dr. Forrest)

Watch the whore.

Wheatley draws a gun and runs into the woods. Julia starts to cry.

DR. FORREST

Hush, Sister Judas. You're nearly healed.

(beat)

If only your father could see you now.

JULIA

You knew my father?

DR. FORREST

He lost his faith. Imagine the power Satan would have bestowed upon him if only he'd have had the strength to seize it.

JULIA

You were there?

DR. FORREST

When it came time to deliver you to the master, Douglas stole you.

Dr. Forrest moves closer and we can see her face beneath the hood. She is no-doubt nuts.

DR. FORREST (CONT'D)

But nobody runs away from the Brotherhood.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST.

Walter runs through the trees, carrying the gun. Seconds later, two robed figures follow on his trail. Chase continues as Julia nad Dr. Forrest talk over sounds of crashing branches.

JULIA AND DR. FORREST (V.O.)

What did you do to him?

DR. FORREST (V.O.)

We were ready to offer you, the altar was waiting, but Douglas double-crossed us. If Snead hadn't been there to protect us—

JULIA (V.O.)

That's not the way it happened.

DR. FORREST (V.O.)

Are you getting confused again, Julia?

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST CLEARING.

Julia turns her face away. The storm is growing.

DR. FORREST (CONT'D)

There was so much blood, so much magic. I don't know how he resisted. The blood is so sweet. So sweet.

JULIA

Why me, then?

DR. FORREST

You must come to Satan to pay for your father's betrayal. And you've been so very difficult.

JULIA

Wasn't killing him payment enough?

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST.

Walter deliberately scuffs leaves, making it appear he’s headed downhill. Then he backtracks and hides behind a boulder. The two robed figures run past, see the marks. One points and the other runs downhill while the other waits. Walter sneaks up on the robed figure...

DR. FORREST (V.O.)

Just giving your life isn't enough. You have to give him everything, your soul, your love, your faith. You have to believe.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOREST CLEARING.

A shout comes from the forest, then a shot. Julia struggles to sit up.

JULIA

I couldn't have made it without you.

DR. FORREST

His truth will set you free.

JULIA

I want to be free.

DR. FORREST

Embrace him, then. Surrender.

More shouting from the ridge. The wind roars. Wheatley emerges from the trees.

WHEATLEY

Bring the whore to the altar.

JULIA

(to Dr. Forrest)

I want to give myself. I'm healed now.

(faster)

I was forgetting so much. But now I see.

DR. FORREST

He will love me for delivering you. You'll have to be marked.

JULIA

I'm ready to wear his ring.

DR. FORREST

Become his whore, Julia.

Snead rushes into a clearing.

SNEAD

We haven't got him yet.

WHEATLEY

Have faith.

SNEAD

Damn it, I can’t patch all the cracks. She'll give you the money.

WHEATLEY

Silence, Judas.

JULIA

(whispers)

Money.

SNEAD

Screw the mumbo-jumbo.

DR. FORREST

But the Master—

SNEAD

Satan doesn’t make the world turn. Money does. And I want a bigger cut.

WHEATLEY

That wasn't the deal.

Snead draws a gun from his robe.

SNEAD

New deal.

WHEATLEY

Don't! She's the only one who can get it.

DR. FORREST

What are you talking about?

SNEAD

(points gun at Wheatley)

Talk.

WHEATLEY

Douglas Stone stashed it in a secret trust fund. This whore's the only one who can get it out.

SNEAD

Shit. I thought it was hidden in the barn.

Snead grabs Julia and holds the gun to her head.

SNEAD (CONT'D)

(to Wheatley)