Second Place: Valkyrians by Darren Defreitas

Second Place: Ten-Minute Play/Screenplay Valkyrians Darren Defreitas

EXT. - CITY OF PALACETINIA - PARK – NIGHT

Bizarre ominous music. We see people in red robes standing around in prayer. We hear running water in the background. We get a wide CAMERA shot of FATHER URION smiling with an accomplished grin and his arms stretched out emulating Jesus Christ himself.

Behind him is a water fountain out of focus. FATHER URION, Gorgeous slightly androgynous man, LOOKS 30, stunning blue eyes, long swirly god like hair, very angelic, other worldly and kind. Is wearing the same red robe as everyone else. Leader of the church. Tall-ish.

We get a shot of a portion of the water fountain. The water is discolored with a red hue. We see EMILIA looking onward horrified. EMILIA, 17 years old, very cute, brown hair, brown eyes, is wearing a white veil on her head. We finally see the water fountain.

The way it’s designed is so that there is a long spike emerging from the top. On the top of the fountain we see a cow has been impaled using the long spike. The blood of the cow seeps from its body down the spike and into the water. IT’S GRUESOME!

REJI and CHASER enter and they see the crowd of people. They don’t see the cow. CHASER, 17 years old, spiky brown hair, slim but slightly muscular and athletic, hot-headed, kind of a trouble maker. REJI, 17 years old, short black hair, stout beefy build, smart and friendly, the more level headed of the two, is CHASER’S childhood best friend.

REJI: What the..? What are all of these people doing here at this time of night?

CHASER: (serious) Look at the insignia, it’s the Church of LIFE EVERLASTING.

REJI: Oh my gosh you’re right.

CHASER: Come on, let’s find out what those bastards are up to. CHASER runs towards them quietly.

Wait! REJI:

REJI chases after CHASER. CHASER maneuvers his way through the crowd to get a view. REJI struggles to keep up but eventually he catches up. We see CHASER standing motionless and his facial expression is unseen.

REJI: (out of breath) You know you really shouldn’t go off without me like that, I can’t keep up with you. I’m not as athletic.

CHASER ignores. REJI notices the expression on CHASER’s face. HE IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED.

REJI: Huh?...CHASER what’s wrong?

REJI finally turns to the fountain and is horrified at the sight.

REJI: (CONT’D) W-what...what the?

CHASER: (freaked out) What the hell is going on here??

FATHER URION: (to the crowd) People of the CHURCH of LIFE EVERLASTING, Hear my voice. The day of truth is nearly upon us.

REJI: (whispering) It’s FATHER URION.

CHASER: (whispering) That bastard.

FATHER URION: This is the ritual of TRANSUBSTANTIATION. Once you do this, you shall attain eternal life.

The church members look at each other in excitement and celebrate prematurely. FATHER URION smiles. CHASER scrunches his face in disgust.

FATHER URION: (CONT’D) And not only that, you will also have all that you need to be indoctrinated into the PROMISED LAND.

The church members begin to rejoice even more. EMILIA looks around and smiles a smile of uncertainty.

FATHER URION: (CONT’D) But, wait my children. In order for you to attain the promised land, there is one more thing that you must do.

FATHER URION turns around and walks over to the fountain of blood. He submerges his fingertips into the water. He removes his hand and it is now stained in “red water.” He licks his fingertips provocatively. When he is done he grins maniacally (his back is turned).

FATHER URION: (CONT’D) In order for you to inherit the promised land, you must drink the blood of the sacred heifer!

The church members are stunned. They all start to whisper amongst themselves incredulously. CHASER AND REJI are shocked.

EMILIA: Drink the blood?....

FATHER URION: What is the matter my children? Do you doubt my power? The power of the church? I HOPE THIS ISN’T THE CASE.

The church followers are made to feel uncomfortable. Many of them deny FATHER URION’s claims.

FATHER URION: (CONT’D) Maybe you’re no longer interested in YOUR SALVATION. I See.

EMILIA: Father! It’s just not true! We’ll do anything! We’ll do as you say!

CHASER AND REJI notice EMILIA for the first time.

REJI: (to chaser) That’s EMILIA.

FATHER URION: (to EMILIA) Is that so? EMILIA

EMILIA: (pause) Yes father...I’ll do..anything.

FATHER URION smiles at her. A golden chalice emerges from his robe. He turns around and walks over to the fountain. He dips the chalice into the red water and faces the congregation, back to EMILIA.

FATHER URION: (to EMILIA) Then why don’t you begin the transubstantiation ritual.

EMILIA is stunned. CHASER and REJI are also stunned. FATHER URION looks at EMILIA and so does the rest of the church members. EMILIA looks around and realizes that she has been placed the spot.

EMILIA: ...Yes father...

CHASER AND REJI are floored. FATHER URION grins victoriously. EMILIA slowly walks toward FATHER URION. She looks into his eyes. FATHER URION hands the chalice of red water to EMILIA. EMILIA accepts it hesitantly. The chalice shakes in her quivering hands.

She looks to the top of the fountain and sees the dead heifer. She looks into the cup of red water.

EMILIA: No!!...I am a devout follower of the Church of LIFE EVERLASTING. I will do this for my salvation... (Pause) ...And for the salvation of my LOVED ONES..

EMILIA grips the chalice. She closes her eyes and lifts the chalice to drink its contents. A stone smacks the chalice out of her hands milliseconds before she drinks it. The chalice falls and spills over. EMILIA grips her hands and looks at the spilled chalice in horror.

EMILIA!! CHASER:

EMILIA notices CHASER holding a sling shot.

EMILIA: CHASER?

FATHER URION frowns in disapproval. CHASER AND REJI break from the crowd and run to the center where EMILIA and FATHER URION are standing.

CHASER: (to EMILIA) You’re such in idiot!

Huh?- EMILIA:

CHASER: How could you be so stupid!? Were you seriously about to do that!? Drink blood?! Are you a vampire!?

EMILIA: CHASER, you don’t understand-

CHASER: I DO understand! You’ve lost your mind. When are you gonna realize that this is one big sham!?

CHASER faces the congregation.

EMILIA: (upset) CHASER! You just don’t get it do you!?

CHASE: (patrionizing) Oh really? What is it that I don’t get?

EMILIA: We’re doing this for our salvation!!.........I’m doing this for YOUR salvation, and REJI’s too.

CHASER is taken a back for awhile. Then CHASER sees FATHER URION standing behind EMILIA with a smirk. We get a close-up shot of FATHER URION’s smug face. CHASER becomes upset again.

CHASER: You’re a damn liar.

EMILIA: What?... What are you.... saying?

CHASER: Just admit it, EMILIA. You’re doing this for HIM. You don’t give a damn about me!

REJI: Hey! CHASER, wait a minute-

CHASER: SHUT THE HELL UP, REJI!

EMILIA: CHASER-

CHASER (to EMILIA) YOU SHUT UP TOO.

EMILIA is speechless.

CHASER: (upset) Tell me something EMILIA. How was it? Was it good? When FATHER URION deflowered you.

EMILIA is mortified.

EMILIA: (upset) How dare you...

Tears well up in EMILIA’s eyes. She walks up to CHASER and SLAPS him across the face. CHASER just stands there and takes it. EMILIA storms off weeping, leaving the ceremony.

EMILIA! REJI:

CHASER: Forget about her REJI.

REJI: I’m going after her!

REJICHASER:

REJI exits. CHASER stares at the bricked road in frustration.

FATHER URION: (to CHASER) How cruel...

CHASER: You stay out of this.

FATHER URION: CHASER was it? You haven’t been at any of our recent sermons. Is everything alright my child?

CHASER: Everything’s fine. I’ve opened my eyes to the truth... that’s all.

Oh? FATHER URION:

CHASER: Yeah. It took losing something very dear to me to realize that...

FATHER URION: Then tell me young man, what will you do on the DAY OF RECKONING?

CHASER: (to himself) “DAY OR RECKONING?” I swear, these cults are all the same. Full of shit.

FATHER URION: What will you do when the bosom of sky opens up? And the glory of our god rains down upon us? And the song emerges. Sweeping us all into the promised land. Will you allow yourself to be left behind?

CHASER: You know what.. I really don’t give a damn about all that.

FATHER URION: (serious) Very well. It would seem that you have made your decision. However let me warn you. The alternative to LIFE EVERLASTING in the promised land...is CERTAIN DEATH.

The congregation all become frightened. FATHER URION smiles in response. It appears to be exactly the reaction that he wanted.CHASER sees all the petrified people and he becomes deeply moved. He turns to face FATHER URION.

CHASER: You’re not gonna get away with this...

FATHER URION smiles at CHASER and doesn’t respond.

CHASER: (CONT’D) You’re just a predator...preying on all of these innocent people and their insecurities. I’m gonna put a stop to this.

The music intensifies as they look at each other. CHASER is enraged, FATHER URION LOOKS indifferent. A group of aggressive, DISEMBODIED VOICES speak in unison.

VOICES: (to CHASER) FOOLISH HUMAN! THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP IT. YOUR LIVES BELONG TO US!

CHASER: (shocked) What the heck!

CHASER looks to FATHER URION. His facial expression has not changed and he hasn’t said anything.

CHASER: Who said that??? Was it you??

CHASER looks to the congregation. They did not appear to have heard the voices.

CHASER: (CONT’D) Nobody else heard that!?

CHASER looks around all flustered and panicked. We hear a sharp ringing in CHASER’S eardrum. We see CHASER holding his head in agony.

FATHER URION: (under his breath) You heard THEM...Didn’t you....?

CHASER: (horrified) W-w-what’s going on here??

The voices start laughing. They don’t do this in unison. The laughter becomes louder and louder.

CHASER: STOP! Get out of my head!

CHASER: (CONT’D) AAAAHHHHH!!!

The voices abruptly stop. We see CHASER on his knees with his hands covering his ears and tears in his eyes. He’s shivering like a lost puppy. FATHER URION looks on indifferently.

Some of the members of the congregation approach CHASER. They attempt to help him. CHASER gets freaked out, reacts like a petrified animal.

CHASER: (CONT’D) GET AWAY FROM ME YOU MONSTERS!

CHASER gets up runs off. We get a sequence of CHASER running off. We watch as terror consumes him. He disappears into the night.