The Key

int. driving: car - afternoon

Shaun is watching the celebration in the streets.

Signs of all kinds are being shown. People are praying and crying.

Some are asking the people to think twice and others are calling him the Anti-Christ.

MARCUS

(from the passenger seat)

This is wild huh? Just yesterday err'body was enjoyin sin.. now look at em? They just wanna act the part till they find a way to get away with it all, all over again.

Shaun turns his attention to Marcus.

Marcus is now looking out the window.

GARY

I didn't know you were into God Marcus?

Marcus remains silent and is staring out the window.

GARY

That's right..joined the squad what? Last week? And still haven't told us much about yourself or your girl Henny.

Marcus remains silent.

GARY

Whatever it is, lets just hope it don't rhyme with cop.

Gary turns his attention to Shaun.

GARY

And what do you think Shaun?

Shaun turns his attention to Gary.

SHAUN

About what?

Gary

What? You think I forgot? That day when Sammy was choking....that day with the bus...your hands and..that flash..

SAMANTHA

What are you talking about Gary?

Gary's friend looks suspiciously at Shaun.

Marcus looks at Shaun from the rear view.

Gary's friend is still staring.

Shaun notices and stares back.

int. The gathering: house - Night

Shaun, Samantha, Gary, Marcus and Henny are at a house party sitting on a couch.

Marcus whispers to Henny.

Henny looks concerned for a few seconds and steps out.

Samantha starts to take notice of Shaun who is just looking at the floor.

SAMANTHA

Hey..you alright?

GARY

He's probably prayin'.. (laughs)

MARCUS

And just what is wrong with praying?

Gary sneers.

MARCUS

So you're the church boy huh?

SHAUN

Something like that..

MARCUS

I would'nt have thought this was your type of scene church boy..

Shaun looks at Samantha..Samantha looks back at Shaun.

SHAUN

It's not.

Marcus looks at Samantha.

Samantha looks the other way.

The door opens and a guy named Big Cheeze walks in.

BIG CHEEZE

Yo, Yo, Yo! What the hell is going on in here?

Gary's friend whispers in Big Cheezes ear.

BIG CHEEZE

Messiah!? Christ don't run this joint.. I do! We got some special bid-ness' goin' down today..the hell were you thinkin'?

GARY'S FRIEND

I can tell em to bounce if you want boss?

BIG CHEEZE

(looks around and notices Samantha)

Nah, Nah..we' good. It'll be cool. We'll just handle it in the back room.

Gary's friend looks over to where Shaun is sitting. He then whispers in Big Cheeze's ear and puts up his hands.

Shaun looks serious.

Gary is about to get up as Big Cheeze makes his way over.

BIG CHEEZE

Nah, nah, that's a'ight. chill.

Samantha looks uncomfortable.

BIG CHEEZE

Whose is this? (asking about Samantha and putting on a disgustingly charming look)

GARY

She's Samantha. An old friend of mine.

BIG CHEEZE

(Angrily)

And did I ask you? (exaggerating) Gary!?

Samantha shuffles in her seat.

BIG CHEEZE

(smiles at Samantha)

Sorry about my manners. You here to celebrate the Messiah too?

Samantha looks thrown off.

SAMANTHA

Yeah.. I am (smiles)

BIG CHEEZE

.. Well look ma.. Feel free to come over here anytime when you wanna celebrate you feel me?

Samantha looks down in discomfort.

The door knocks.

Big Cheeze signals for Gary's friend to get the door.

Gary's friend goes and gets the door.

Big Cheeze turns his attention to Shaun.

BIG CHEEZE

And your name?

Marcus

(interrupting)

Ay Big Cheeze.. it's that business.

Big Cheeze looks at Marcus angrily.

Marcus nods to the door.

2 Men in all black are holding a bag. They have a serious look on their faces.

BIG CHEEZE

(smiling)

There it is.. there ..it..is!

MARCUS

What you mean?

BIG CHEEZE

Remember those dudes I was tellin' ya'll about? Who hooked my peoples up with that new dope? Not only did it sell like crazy but they gave it away for free! Talkin' bout they just tryna' get their names out! Word is that not every hood on the grid is pickin' it up though. Some of these cats are actually sayin' no! Scared of it or somethin'.

Big Cheeze greets the 2 men and brings them into the back room.

Gary's friend is leaning at the door.

Shaun turns to Samantha.

SHAUN

Sam.. I think we should get going...these guys and whats going on right now..it's not safe.

GARY

Keep it quiet church boy.. Aint nothin' gonna happen to her. You heard Big Cheeze.

SHAUN

Sam..please..lets go. You too Gary. lets forget about the past and get out of here.

MARCUS

Ay Shaun.. If you really wanna get goin' I'm down to bring you guys home. Ya'll shouldn't be here.

Gary rolls his eyes and stands up.

GARY

Pfft. They ain't leavin' anywhere bro! Especially not him!

Gary turns to Marcus.

GARY

And I'm not surprised you'd chicken out on this deal Marcus! Big Cheeze told me about you.

Gary pulls out a gun. Everyone on the couch gets up. No one else at the party notices.

SAMANTHA

..Gary?

GARY

Don't Gary me Sammy! You're telling me not once did it cross your mind how this punk saved your life? Not once?

Samantha

Gary please! I don't remember anything!

GARY

Liar! You're both Liars!

Gary walks forward to Samantha.

SHAUN

Gary..Don't!

Marcus steps in the way.

Gary raises his arms.

MARCUS

Unless you want to get on my last nerve.. I suggest you let it go and let them out of here kid.

GARY

Yeah? Or else what!?

Gary points the gun at Marcus.

Marcus pulls out a small blade.

Big Cheeze is seen sampling the drugs. He begins to twitch and knock things over a table. The people at the party begin to cheer.

One of the two men notices Marcus' blade. He squints and then becomes wide eyed at Marcus.

MARCUS

Alright..It's really about to go down.

Gary is confused and turns around to see the 2 men in black.

Big Cheeze is laying unconscious on the table.

GARY

What the fu-

Marcus takes the gun out of Gary's hand.

Gary is shocked and turns to the room. He is trying to wake Big Cheeze up.

Big Cheeze rises while staring at Gary as he gets up.

The 2 men step out of the room and close the door with Gary still inside.

Marcus

Hey! It's time you kids got out of here! Go on.. I'll be right behind you.

The people at the party stop dancing and are beginning to leave the party.

Shaun and Samantha make their way to the exit.

The 2 men look at each other and let out a soft laugh.

Gary's friend is smiling.

Shaun and Samantha are outside.

ext. The Gathering 2: outside -night

Shaun and Samantha leave the party among the others running out and screaming.

Shaun sees Henny at the car they came in.

SHAUN

Come on Sammy.

SAMANTHA

But what about?-

Just then the house door bursts open.

Marcus' right hand is covered in blood and he has a scar across his chest.

Samantha covers her mouth.

SHAUN

What happened in there? Are you alright? And wheres Gary? Those guys they-

Marcus

Forget it kid! We gotta take you guys home right now!

Marcus walks fast to the car.

Shaun and Samantha follow.

Shaun and Samantha see Henny at the car.

Marcus opens the car door. When everyone is in he speeds off.

int. The gathering 3: Highway - night

Marcus is speeding down the highway.

Shaun looks frightened.

SAMANTHA

(scared)

Hey..what's going on?

MARCUS

Come on, come on...

SHAUN

Guys! Please! Just tell me what's goin- Ah!

Shaun grabs his head in pain.

Shaun keeps hearing his name over and over again by different voices.

SHAUN

(in tears and pain)

Whats...happening?

SAMANTHA

Shaun!? Hey! Pull over..Somethings wrong with Shaun!

Marcus looks at the rear view. Henny is watching out for a tail.

SAMANTHA

This isn't making any sense! Just please... pull over or drive us somewhere so we can get help! Dammit if you don't listen to me I'm calling the cops!

Marcus and Henny slightly look at each other but remain looking forward.

Samantha pulls out her phone. As she does it rings.

Samantha jumps. Samantha gains composure and sees the caller is Kevin.

SAMANTHA

Thank God it's you Kevin! Something's going on with Shaun..I..I Don't know Kevin they aren't telling us anything. OK..OK I'm calm. No, I'm not hurt.. They said they are going to drop us home. OK.. I'll meet you there.

Samantha hangs up.

Samantha turns back to Shaun and puts his head on her lap.

Samantha can't fight back tears.

Marcus is passing a sign that says airport exit. He turns to Henny.

Henny shakes her head no.

HENNY

We can't..

Marcus is fighting tears and slams his fist on the steering wheel of the car.

He begins to nod his head in agreement.

When he stops nodding his head he puts his hand over his mouth and lets it drop back down to the steering wheel.

Marcus turns to Henny.

Marcus

But you know what this means for us...(starts breaking down)

Henny fights back her own tears.

HENNY

Marcus..You are not supposed to...

Marcus looks forward and clenches his jaws.

Ext. Training: House - night

Samantha is dropped off at her home.

Kevin greets her outside with a hug.

Kevin takes a look at Shaun who has passed out in the back seat of the car.

Kevin stares angrily at Marcus.

Marcus stares angrily back at Kevin.

Henny stares angrily at Kevin.

The car speeds off and Kevin is walking Samantha the rest of the way home.

SAMANTHA

What was that about?

Kevin

That's a question I don't think the universe even has an answer for...come on lets get you home safe.

Shaun is let out of the car. He is awake but still out of it.

Henny looks determined into his eyes.

Henny

Shaun..I wish we could..

Marcus

What she means to say Shaun is that we can't help you with this headache you got. Just go home, lock the doors and get some rest.

Shaun doesn't understand what he means and turns for home.

Marcus speeds off with Henny in the car.

(slow motion begins)

Shaun looks and sees the backyard gate.

Shaun walks towards the gate.

Marcus has a hand on his head. Henny is looking out of a rolled down window. A tear falls down her cheek.

Shaun stumbles into the backyard.

Marcus and Henny are cut off the road by Big Cheeze.

The 2 men in black look out the window.

Gary leans forward smiling.

Shaun finds a spot in the backyard.

A badly beaten Marcus. His eye swollen and blood dripping all over.

Henny is screaming for them to let him go.

Big Cheeze walks over to Henny and slaps her with the back of his hand.

Shaun drops to His knees.

Marcus has stopped struggling.

Big Cheeze grabs him by the chin.

Shauns tears and a storm begins to brew.

A Loud thunder clap goes off and Shaun slumps to the snowy ground with his hands on his head.

Marcus struggling to get free and shouting.

Henny is being dragged by her hair into a room by Big Cheeze.

Henny is reaching out to Marcus with one hand. The other hand is grabbing her hair.

Henny is thrown on the bed. She is sitting up.

Big Cheeze is unbuckling his belt and walks towards her with the door open for Marcus to watch as he is held down.

Big Cheeze's gun can be seen at his side.

Marcus is struggling to be free - tears are streaming down his bruised face.

Henny raising her head and mouthing the words "have faith".

Henny leaps from the bed towards Big Cheeze who threw his belt on the ground.

Mrs. Paschar is sitting at the dinner table looking out of a window and at the storm. She suddenly becomes alert and pushes from the table.

Mrs. Paschar runs in the direction of the backyard.

Big Cheeze is laying dead on the floor.

Henny grabbed his gun and is pointing it at the two men in black holding Marcus.

Henny is crying. They smile and let Marcus go.

Gary walks into the camera view.

Henny mouths the words "back up" but Gary proceeds.

Henny shoots Gary 3 times but he neither flinches or drops but continues to walk.

Henny looks at Marcus and slightly smiles..She mouths the words "I love you" just before Gary grabs her by the throat and throws her into a black vortex.

Marcus screams his head off.

The 2 men turn to watch Marcus in pain and begin to laugh.

Marcus is shown kneeling for a few seconds before quickly getting up and running out of the window.

Scene showing Mrs. Paschar coming outside and looking up into the sky worried.

Mrs. Paschar sees Shaun laying on the cold and wet floor crying.

Shaun is soaking wet and freezing.

MRS. PASCHAR

(Hands clasp around her mouth)

Mrs. Paschar runs over to her son weeping uncontrollably and helps him up to bring him inside.

int. close encounter: house - continued

Scene Showing Mr. and Mrs. Paschar downstairs in a dim living room.

Shaun is staring into a foggy bathroom mirror with a towel on.

Mrs. Paschar is crying with a napkin on the couch next to her husband.

Shaun is back in his room.

Shaun's phone rings, it's Kevin.

Shaun is laying on the edge of his bed with his feet still on the floor of his room.

Shaun is rising back up.

Shaun pulls his computer chair.

Shaun is typing in a search about the Messiah on his computer.

Shaun is going through pages.

Shaun has found a page for discussion about the Messiah.

Scene showing Shaun typing "hello?". No reply

(slow motion finishes)

Shaun has fallen asleep in his chair and is woken up by a message on the computer.

ANGIE

(typed)

Hi, how's it going? You still there?

SHAUN

(typing)

Hi. I need to just talk to someone..

Camera shows time passing as Shaun and Angie exchange messages in the night over the computer.

Shaun talks about his dreams and the man in white.

Angie shares that she is very biblical and one hundred percent about God.

The camera fades into the next scene.