THE DEAD OF NIGHT
by
Alex Hilhorst
Alex Hilhorst
336 W 11 St., Apt. 5D
New York, NY 10014
(917) 699-8751
Monco60@earthlink.net Third Draft
Registered w/ WGA-E June 2010. 03/01/2010
KELLY WAKES WITH A START, GASPING, EYES WIDE.
EXT. JUNGLE- NEAR RIVER - MORNING
Still gasping and groaning- he’s clearly in pain- Kelly
flails around with his good arm.
Alan sleeps in the same position we last saw him in- he
clearly dozed off while on watch.
Kelly realizes he’s only using one arm, as if he had been
lying on top of the other and put it to sleep. But he’s not-
it’s still dangling over the edge.
He looks over to see what’s wrong- and instantly starts
SCREAMING- short, strangled little cries.
Alan’s eyes flutter open and he wakes.
ALAN
(groggy)
Wh- what- what is it?
His eyes follow Kelly’s, and he DRY HEAVES.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Oh, what the fuck?!!
He looks again- another wretch, almost blowing chunks now-
Finally the audience gets to see what’s wrong:
KELLY’S WOUNDED ARM HAS BEEN ENGULFED UP TO RIGHT ABOVE THE
ELBOW BY A MASSIVE, EIGHT-FOOT LONG BOA CONSTRICTOR.
KELLY
OH MY GOD!! OH MY GOD!! Get it off
me, GET IT THE FUCK OFF ME!!
ALAN
Okay, okay, hold on-
He jumps off the bed, grabbing the MACHETE in the process.
As he approaches the snake and an agonized Kelly:
ALAN (CONT’D)
Oh, Jesus... Jesus fucking
Christ...
KELLY
GET THIS FUCKING THING OFF ME!!!
ALAN
Alright, alright!! Where- where’s
your hand, show me where your hand
is!!
Kelly slaps the back of the snake, approximating what part of
its digestive tract his hand is sitting in. This causes the
snake to hiss and start to coil, which freaks out Alan:
ALAN (CONT’D)
Ah, Christ...
He’s hesitating, afraid of the animal-
KELLY
FUCKING DO IT!!
Alan nuts up, drops to his knees beside the snake.
ALAN
Okay... okay...
He grabs it below where Kelly put his hand, which causes the
snake to hiss more, and start to coil its lower half around
his arm.
The sensation sends a ripple of repulsion down Alan’s spine,
and he acts on instinct, CHOPPING IT IN HALF.
Residual synapses fire, causing the half-snake to thrash
about madly, still latched on tightly to Kelly’s limb.
When it finally stills and dies, Kelly slides his quivering
fingers under its jaw, and pulls its top fangs out of his
bicep. They’ve left big bleeding HOLES in his muscle, and
removing them is visibly painful.
There’s a sickening CRUNCH as Kelly breaks the beast’s jaw to
better remove the lower fangs from his flesh. Once he has, he
proceeds to peel the rest off his arm.
When he does, Alan promptly vomits all over the ground.
Kelly looks at his arm, or what’s left of it.
KELLY
Ah, fuck, Jesus fuck...
It’s completely revolting. It appears to have been PARTIALLY
DIGESTED, and is now a WITHERED, YELLOWED, and mucous mess.
The skin has been shriveled and now clings to Kelly’s bones
like dried paper, and his fingers are completely useless- he
tries moving them to no avail.
KELLY (CONT’D)
Oh my god, oh my god I can’t move
my hand, man, I can’t-
Alan finishes vomiting, wipes his mouth, dazed.
KELLY (CONT’D)
Help me... please help me...
Alan takes another look at the arm, which Kelly is cradling
against his chest like a baby, stifles another heave.
ALAN
Okay.
KELLY
Please help me-
ALAN
Okay.
(beat)
I need to make you a sling.
SMASH CUT TO:
CLOTH IS RIPPED!!
CUT TO:
A KNOT IS TIED!
EXT. JUNGLE- NEAR RIVER - MOMENTS LATER
Alan has successfully put Kelly’s digested arm in a sling,
but the man is still in excruciating pain and is completely
delirious, his head lolling from side to side. Occasionally
he mumbles to himself, as his eyes roll back into his head.
Alan kneels in front of him.
ALAN
Freddy... Freddy...
Slaps him lightly on both cheeks. Kelly blinks, tries to keep
focus.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Freddy- we need to keep moving.
C’mon, I’ll help you up.
With much effort, he lifts the man up, slinging his good arm
over his shoulder.
EXT. RIVERBANK - MORNING
Alan helps a groggy Kelly limp through the mud.
KELLY
Bloody snake came after me... did
you see that?
Alan isn’t listening- he’s noticed something:
A SEMI-CIRCLE OF DEAD, ROTTED TREES.
Printed on each in blood-red ink (or maybe just blood) is
SOME KIND OF EMBLEM. It’s a strange symbol, one that seems
man-made but which Alan can’t quite place. Something about it
is extremely disconcerting.
KELLY (CONT’D)
(growing delirious)
Must’ve seen me kill its brother...
wanker wanted revenge... you see
that?
ALAN
Yeah... C’mon... let’s get out of
here.
He leads Kelly back into the jungle, away from the river and
the strange symbols.
EXT. JUNGLE - DAY
Alan stumbles through the jungle, unable to use the machete
with Kelly slung over his arm. Kelly’s legs are jelly, and
Alan more or less drags him along as the man mumbles an old
sea shanty to himself, occasionally shouting out a particular
lyric.
Kelly’s foot catches on a root and the pair almost go down.
Kelly giggles as Alan tries to right him.
ALAN
C’mon, man, you gotta keep up...
KELLY
No, mate, no, we need to find that
birdie of yours, that fucking
bugger-
ALAN KELLY
Forget about the bird- Fucking bloke...
Kelly suddenly becomes a dead weight, and slips out of Alan’s
grasp, dropping like a sack of bricks.
ALAN
Fuck-
He drops down beside him, feeds him some water.
KELLY
Don’t worry about me, mate, I’m
just dandy...
Alan puts a hand to his companion’s forehead.
ALAN
Christ, you’ve got a fever.
KELLY
Fever? Like cat scratch fever?
(giggles)
Alan undoes Kelly’s sling, pulls back his hastily prepared
bandages to inspect his partially digested arm.
One look and he hangs his head. The arm is turning rotten
with GANGRENE.
Kelly starts to doze off, but Alan slaps him, gives him more
water.
ALAN
Kelly- Kelly! You need to stay
awake. I need help. Your arm-
KELLY
What about it?
ALAN
It’s infected. Looks bad-
KELLY
Well that’s a bloody nuisance,
isn’t it?
ALAN
You have medical experience. I know
you’re tired, but I need you to
advise me-
KELLY
I’m no fucking doctor, you fucking
fuck-
ALAN
You patched up Martín-
KELLY
Only know what Andrews used to show
me... he was the medic, you know-
ALAN
That’s great, that’s great, think
about uh, Andrews- what did he do
when someone had gangrene?
KELLY
Gangrene? Cut it off, mate.
Alan pales.
ALAN
Oh, Christ...
KELLY
Fucking cut it off...
ALAN
I- I don’t think I can do that,
Freddy-
KELLY
Think you’re gonna have to.
ALAN
We, we- don’t have any medicine.
Kelly raises his arm to point at a nearby tree. It’s the same
one Martín directed him to when he needed stitches.
Alan looks at the tree, then back at Kelly. He’s terrified...
but resolute.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Alright...
(beat)
Alright.
He gets up, jumps into action.
CUT TO:
THE MACHETE COOKS IN A NEWLY MADE FIRE.
EXT. JUNGLE - LATER
As the machete blade is heated for sanitary reasons, Alan
wiggles open a cleft in the medicinal tree’s bark, exposing
the sap beneath, which he collects on a leaf.
Kelly, shivering under his only blanket- Alan’s vest-
continues to mutter deliriously to himself.
Alan crosses over to the fire, retrieves the machete and
returns to his friend’s side.
Kelly looks up at him with weak, pained eyes.
ALAN
Are you ready?
KELLY
Need a tourniquet...
ALAN
Oh right. Of course, of course.
He takes off his belt, ties it right above Kelly’s wound, and
tightens it as hard as he can.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Here-
He puts a piece of wood in Kelly’s mouth for him to bite down
on.
ALAN (CONT’D)
You sure about this?
Kelly nods.
Alan takes a deep breath. Grabs the machete. Kelly’s eyes
dart to it, growing nervous at the sight.
ALAN (CONT’D)
I’m sorry.
Kelly reverts his gaze to Alan, and his expression seems to
say, Do it.
Alan nods. Raises the machete. Kelly starts to hyperventilate
through his bit, can’t take his eyes off the weapon.
Alan hesitates. CAMERA CLOSES IN ON MACHETE.
THUNK!!
Squeezing his eyes shut and grimacing, Alan lets the machete
fall.
KELLY SCREAMS THROUGH THE WOODEN BIT.
BLOOD SPRAYS ONTO ALAN’S FACE.
Kelly rocks back and forth wildly, screaming, his pain
unimaginable.
Closing his eyes was a bad idea, and when Alan reopens them
he sees why-
HE HASN’T SEVERED KELLY’S ARM.
The machete went about halfway through, but is lodged in the
bone.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Oh shit!!
He grabs the machete, tries to wrestle it free, only
intensifying Kelly’s pain. The man is thrashing about so
violently now, Alan is forced to hold him down with his knees
and free hand.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Sorry, sorry!
Finally the machete comes free.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Okay, okay, you’re okay- just one
more okay, one more, then it’s
over, I promise.
Kelly shakes his head no, but Alan ignores him and slams the
machete down onto his half-severed arm once more.
A CRUNCH accompanies the separation of the limb, as the
machete slams through the bone. Little bits of blood squirt
out of half-closed arteries, and Alan quickly tightens the
tourniquet.
ALAN (CONT’D)
All done! All done, you’re okay!
Repulsed, Alan grabs the severed arm and tosses it aside.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Okay, I just need to cauterize the
wound, okay? You’re doing great
Freddy, you’re doing great-
His words are no comfort for the Brit, who is a complete
mess, and unfortunately, still conscious.
Alan takes the flat of the machete blade and presses it
against Kelly’s bloody stump. A SIZZLE is heard as the wound
is cauterized, and little wisps of steam rise into the air.
Kelly, overcome with agony, spits out his bit and lets out a
long, strangled, practically inhuman cry.
CUT TO:
WS OF TREE CANOPY, AS KELLY’S SCREAM ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE
JUNGLE. FLOCKS OF STARTLED BIRDS TAKE FLIGHT.
EXT. JUNGLE - LATER
Alan puts the finishing touches on the bandages (torn
clothes) he’s been applying to Kelly’s stump, which has
already been slathered in the medicinal sap. The helo pilot
is out cold, and very, very pale.
Alan checks the bandages, then tries to wake his friend.
ALAN
Kelly.
(beat)
KELLY.
But it’s no use, and Alan knows it. Kelly isn’t waking up
anytime soon.
Alan takes a seat beside the slowly dying fire, watches the
flames flicker.
CUT TO:
ALAN HAS FALLEN ASLEEP.
The fire is dead. The jungle is eerily quiet.
KELLY (O.S.)
(weak)
Alan.
(beat)
Alan.
Alan’s eyelids flicker open.
KELLY (CONT’D)
Alan.
Alan comes to his senses, then rushes to Kelly’s side.
ALAN
Yeah, yeah, I’m here, man, I’m
here.
He grabs Kelly’s hand, squeezes it.
KELLY
Alan.
ALAN
Yeah, I’m here. What’s wrong?
KELLY
I want... tell me... tell me why
you stopped being a war
photographer.
ALAN
I will, I promise, but we really
need to get moving again. It’s
going to be dark soon-
KELLY
I know it has something to do with
that photo. Something happened and
I want you to tell me what it was-
ALAN
Freddy, I can’t-
KELLY
(starts to cry)
I’m going to die, mate, I’m going
to bloody die and the least you can
do is tell me this one thing-
ALAN
We really don’t have time-
KELLY
TELL ME!!
ALAN
Alright, alright!! Okay, um... we
were in Falujah. The guys I was
stationed with- a whole bunch of
their friends got wasted by this
sniper, and they met a guy who knew
a guy who said he knew where he
lived. So late one night, they
snuck out and went to find him.
KELLY
You didn’t tell anyone?
ALAN
No. We had all been drinking, and I
was pissed too. I mean, I saw these
two guys and this one woman- people
that had become my friends- saw
their heads just get blown open,
and... I don’t know, I wasn’t
thinking clearly, I thought maybe
there was a story there... I didn’t
think they would...
(beat)
The three of us bust into the house
in the dead of night. Found the guy
and his wife, got them on their
knees. Ramon was really hammered,
and he kept shoving the photo of
our battalion in the guy’s face and
demanding to know if he was the one
who sniped them, but the guy didn’t
speak a word of English, and I only
spoke a little Arabic. But Ramon
was convinced he was the guy, and
before I knew what was happening
he’d pulled out his sidearm and
shot him right in front of his
wife. Right in fucking front of
her.
(beat)
I freaked, tried to get them to
leave, but they were just so riled
up they started grabbing the woman,
and I thought they were going to
rape her.
KELLY
So what did you do?
Alan looks off, his expression graver than ever.
ALAN
I grabbed Greg’s pistol and shot
them both in the back. God, I...
(starts to cry)
I didn’t even hesitate...
KELLY
(smiles)
I knew it...
ALAN
What?
KELLY
I knew you were hard. I knew you
had it in you...
ALAN
(wipes eyes)
Had what in me?
KELLY
A killer’s instinct.
ALAN
You’ve got it wrong. I didn’t enjoy
killing them. That’s why I keep the
picture with me. To remind me of
what I did.
KELLY
It has nothing to do with pleasure,
mate... you’re a good man... but
you know what it means to make a
hard decision. And that’s how I
know you’ll do me one last favor.
ALAN
What?
KELLY
You and I both know I’m not going
anywhere. You try to carry me
along, we’ll both die.
ALAN
No, I can build a stretcher, drag
you-
Kelly grabs his hand, squeezes it hard.
KELLY
No. It won’t work. But you can’t
just leave me here for those...
those things to tear apart-
ALAN
I can’t do what you’re asking me-
KELLY
Please, mate. Please. Do this for
me. Please.
ALAN
I’m not a killer-
He tries to move away, but Kelly clutches his hand in a vice-
like grip.
KELLY
(crying)
You can’t leave me here. There’s no
other way. I’m asking you to do
this for me, as a friend. It’s not
murder...
ALAN
(crying)
Freddy, please... god, please don’t
make me do this... please don’t do
this to me...
KELLY
There’s no other way, mate. No
other way. Just, promise me
something-
ALAN
Yes-
KELLY
Promise you won’t leave my body out
here for them. You bury me,
alright? Bury me.
Alan, weeping, nods.
ALAN
Okay. Yes, I promise.
KELLY
You’re a good man, Alan.
ALAN
No I’m not.
(beat)
Close your eyes.
Kelly, still crying, closes his eyes.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Hush now. It’ll be over soon.
Slowly, he puts his hand over Kelly’s mouth and nose, and
presses down.
Kelly tries to stay calm, but as he starts to lose oxygen, he
opens his eyes and begins to struggle slightly.
ALAN (CONT’D)
Shh, shh, it’s okay.
Kelly and Alan stare at each other, as Kelly struggles,
turning blue...
CLOSE-UP ON THEIR INTERWOVEN HANDS, SQUEEZING TIGHTLY.
ALAN (CONT’D)
It’s okay... it’s okay...
Kelly becomes still and his eyes roll back. Another second or
two and he’s gone.
A beat, and Alan removes his hand from Kelly’s face.
CLOSE UP: KELLY’S LIMP HAND SLIDES OUT OF ALAN’S GRASP.
Alan, teary but fighting back sobs, gently closes Kelly’s
eyes. Overwrought with emotion, he buries his face in his
hands and takes big gulps of air to calm himself.
After a moment, he peeks through parted fingers. He wipes his
eyes, then:
ALAN (CONT’D)
Fuck.
He does what he has to do. He searches Kelly’s corpse for
anything useful:
-His HUNTING KNIFE
-A WALLET, with some photos of him, Martín and other
Belizeans outside a bar, arms around each other, smiling.
-The WATCH COMPASS.
-Most importantly, his ZIPPO LIGHTER, and a soggy PACK of
CIGARETTES, with just a few smokes left.
Alan takes one out, lights it, takes a drag. It’s good,
calming. He sits there, afraid to leave Kelly’s side, and
smokes.
CUT TO:
A PIECE OF BARK DIGS INTO DAMP SOIL.
EXT. JUNGLE - DUSK
Alan, smoldering cigarette butt hanging out his mouth, is
busy digging a shallow grave for Kelly with a large piece of
thick bark.
After a few more shovels, he’s satisfied, tosses the bark
aside and wipes his brow. He checks his cigarette, then
flicks it into the hole. He turns to Kelly’s body, dreading
what he has to do next.
CUT TO:
KELLY’S BODY LIES IN THE GRAVE, REMAINING ARM OVER HIS
BREAST.
Earth starts to land on his face and body in clumps, as Alan
buries him.
CUT TO:
ALAN CARVES KELLY’S NAME INTO A PIECE OF BARK WITH HIS
POCKETKNIFE.
Finished, he walks over to the newly-formed mound of earth,
and sticks the makeshift headstone above it.
Then he prepares to move off- attaches Kelly’s knife to his
belt, slings his canteen over his shoulder.
But Kelly’s presence won’t seem to let him go, and Alan finds
himself staring at the grave once more. He takes a moment...
ALAN
I’m sorry, man.
Then heads off into the jungle, machete swinging.