Always By Anthony Cafeo

anthony.cafeezy@gmail.com

FADE IN EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT ADAM, 28, 6-foot blond with sharp features, sits in a parked Jeep Wrangler on a suburban street. He stares into the dark and looks tired and dejected. He sighs and goes inside. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Adam falls into bed and looks at the clock blinking 12:00 over and over. He shuts his eyes. INT. KITCHEN - DAY TOM, 29, 6-foot 2-inches comedian type with dark hair and features prepares cereal and listens to the news from a TV somewhere. Adam tiredly stumbles in and leans against the counter. TOM Hey buddy. Someone got in late last night, eh? ADAM Ha, yeah. TOM Hows Kaitlin? ADAM Not. Great. TOM Wait, what happened? Is everythingADAM No. We, um, we broke up. TOM Whoa, whoa, whoa. How...? I mean why? Everything seemedADAM Yeah, I know. TOM Well gosh, this is...seriously, why?

(CONTINUED)

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2.

ADAM I dont know. TOM Man. This is just such a, such a shock to me. ADAM A shock to you? TOM Well yeah. Everything was going smooth and then BAM. Does this mean I cant be friends with her anymore? ADAM You can be friends with whoever you want man. Tom pauses with his cereal and they stare at each other for a second. Tom shrugs and continues. TOM Dude its just like I told you: you cant have a meaningful relationship like that so early in life. ADAM Come on, Im 28. Its almost family time for me. TOM You think so huh? I havent told you my theory yet haveADAM Oh God, another theory. TOM Seriously though, hear me out. A man is not ready to raise a child until he can raise the dead. Do not get married until youre 30. ADAM Tom, please tell me; what does being thirty have to do with raising the dead?

(CONTINUED)

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3.

TOM I...am still working on that one. But seriously. ADAM I just dont understand why she was so upset...it really worried me. I cant stand to see her like that. Her eyes, those flushed cheeks...it was heart-breaking. Adam notices Tom staring at him with a bored look on his face. ADAM (CONTD) Come on, havent you ever felt like this? TOM Yes. But know this: it turns out, after having been thrown to the ground half a dozen times by objects of such profound affection, you actually begin to subconsciously despise the thought of love, thereby dismissing it as myth and denying its existence, whilst focusing solely on sex and furthering your own shallow disgrace for the sake of a good lay. No joke. Adam considers this for a moment. ADAM That a fact, huh? TOM I dunno. Ive actually never been to the love part, Ive always just kind of skipped it, ha ha... Adam looks at Tom disgustingly. ADAM Youre a dick. Adam prepares toast. TOM Thats why you love me, champ.

(CONTINUED)

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4.

Adam takes a few slices of bread and puts them into the toaster. He pushes the button down, but they immediately pop back up. He looks at the plug, then tries a few more times. He unplugs and plugs it back in. It still doesnt work. He turns to find Tom staring at him, amused. ADAM I think the toasters broken. TOM Are you sure? Youve only been messing with it for 20 minutes. ADAM Tom, fuck you, ok? TOM Ha ha. Seriously, why do you think Im eating cereal? Adam leaves the kitchen. ADAM (O.S) Cause youre a child? TOM (To himself) Yes I am. INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY Adam laces his shoes and yells to Tom. ADAM Hey, Im taking off. TOM (O.S) And where do you think youre going at this hour? ADAM I need to go get some things from Kaitlin. She still has all my notes. TOM (O.S) Have a good day sweetie! Bring me a bagel! ADAM Yeah ok. He looks at his watch. (CONTINUED)

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5.

ADAM (CONTD) And its 11:30! EXT. KAITLINS HOUSE - DAY Adam knocks on her door and she answers, surprised. KAITLIN, 27, is a cute brunette with bright eyes, about 59", slight of build. The conversation is awkward and somewhat sad. KAITLIN Oh, hey. I wasnt expecting you. ADAM Um, I thought we agreed on noon? KAITLIN Is it noon? Im sorry, my clock must have broken sometime last night. It was dead this morning. ADAM Thats weird. KAITLIN What? ADAM Well, my clock was dead this morning too. Kaitlin shrugs. KAITLIN Power outage? ADAM Not sure. Anyway, um, my notes...? KAITLIN Oh, yeah. God, Im sorry. Come in. INT. KAITLINS HOUSE - DAY KAITLIN Im sorry for being so absent, I had some weird dreams last night. Adam looks surprised and inquisitive.

(CONTINUED)

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6.

ADAM What about--? She interrupts him. KAITLIN Listen, Im sorry for all of this. She hands him a box. KAITLIN (CONTD) I just...I mean, Im just sorry it had to happen like this. She turns away. ADAM Why? She turns back. KAITLIN What? ADAM Why did you have to do this? Why now? Why me? Tears come to her eyes. KAITLIN I cant...Oh, Adam, Im so...Im so sorry. I mean it. He follows her into the kitchen. INT. KITCHEN - DAY ADAM Cant we just talk about this? KAITLIN Please, Adam. I cant. Its too soon. Adam watches her longingly for a minute as she stands at the counter. KAITLIN (CONTD) (through quiet sobs) Do you want a bagel or something?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ADAM Ha, what? KAITLIN I just...I have some extra, and I dont want to throw them out. Do you want one? Adam smiles. She turns towards him. ADAM No thanks. KAITLIN Ha ha, I guess some habits are hard to break. ADAM I guess so. He looks down. She puts her hand on his cheek. KAITLIN Bye, Adam. He smiles sadly. ADAM Bye. INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

7.

Adam and Tom sit on the couch as the news mumbles in the background. They converse. TOM I still think it took too long. ADAM Tom, seriously. TOM I am being serious. There is no way it would have worked. ADAM Tom... TOM Adam, come on. Everybody knows it. You might as well accept it. She is just way too hot for you.

(CONTINUED)

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8.

ADAM Ha ha ha, man, thanks. TOM What? Im dead serious. ADAM No, really. Thank you. Tom smiles mischeiviously. TOM You got it bro. They turn their attention to the news. The report shows an aerial shot of a burning forest. REPORTER For those of you just joining us, we have our Channel 9 Copter over West Lake forest, showing the fire. The meteors have been striking for the last 45 minutes, and dont appear to be stopping. There seems to be no spread of the fire, but the firefighters on the scene have made no progress in calming it. The meteors just continue to strike. Meanwhile, chaos runs amock in the surrounding suburbs... TOM Wait, West Lake? Thats right near us. We can probably see it from here huh? They listen and now notice all of the commotion coming from outside. ADAM "Meteors"? We need to check this out. EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT PEOPLE are running every which way with suitcases, yelling at each other. People are crying. Numerous people are on fire. Screams are heard in the distance; screams for help, names are screamed, horrified shrieks echo throughout. A house a few blocks away is aflame. Far in the distance at the base of a shadowy mountain range is a large but contained conflagration. Adam sees, only for an instant, a (CONTINUED)

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9.

TALLER MAN in the distance, with what look like burnt wings on his back. He dismisses it as hallucination and tries to get the attention of a few passersby. ADAM Excuse me. Um, Excuse me! Sir! Excuse me. They all run past, he finally grabs a MAN. ADAM (CONTD) Sir please! What the hell is going on? MAN Fire, fire everywhere. We need to get out! TOM What!? MAN Its all burning! The world, the whole Earth is going up in flames! Tom grabs someone else, a WOMAN. TOM Excuse me miss, hi, yes, can you kindly tell us just what in the name of unguarded bewilderment is going on here? WOMAN The fires falling from the sky. Weve packed up everything and are going to the city over the mountains, to the west. TOM Well, why are you going to the city? WOMAN Its the military, the military is going to help us there. TOM Alright, alright, sounds reasonable. Why are you running then? No car huh?

(CONTINUED)

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10.

WOMAN No, the car wont start. Its completely dead. Half the people on this street are in the same boat. TOM Well thank you most kindly. She runs off. Adam is still talking to the man who is now yelling at him about God. He crouches down and prays violently, then slumps down, dead. ADAM Ohhhh my God! TOM Woah! We need to get the hell out of-Just then, the sky is instantly illuminated and the entire crowd stops and looks. In the far distance towards the mountains, hundreds of flaming meteorites hurl towards the already glowing fire. They are incessant. ADAM Alright. Time to go. He runs inside. Tom stares at the dead man and notices his Coffee House uniform. TOM (to himself) Jesus. He made the best latte. Tom follows Adam. INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT Adam goes frantically about the room picking up things into a bag. Tom stands watching. ADAM Alright, well get everything we need and head west over the mountain and into the city. TOM But, isnt that where all the burning is taking place?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ADAM They just said on the news that they have the pass road open to us, and it should be safe for the next hour or so. The military has a shelter set up there I guess. If we hurry we can beat the fire. Tom stares at Adam. ADAM (CONTD) And they also said that they have gotten word that this same phenomenon is occurring in a thousand cities around the globe. Including the people burning and all of the insanity and chaos... Adam stops to look at Tom. Tom shrugs. ADAM (CONTD) Tom, people are going insane and lighting themselves and others on fire. We need to GO!

11.

Tom kicks into gear and heads to his room. Adam also goes to his room. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Adam picks up things and packs them. Tom comes in with a small overnight bag. TOM Adam, are we going to be okay? ADAM I...dont know. Im just creeped out about a million things right now. TOM Ha, gee, like what? ADAM Well, the apocalypse for one. And also this dream I had last night-TOM Woah, hold on. Did you predict the end of the world? Adam, are you having visions!?

(CONTINUED)

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12.

ADAM Well, no. Umm, it was just me and, you know, Kaitlin. TOM Of course. Classic sex dream. ADAM What? No. It was...different. He stops and stares into space. ADAM (CONTD) We were in an extremely large, dark room. We were both standing on opposite ends of a well, and reaching over it towards each other. No matter what we did, we couldnt reach each other. I had the distinct feeling that there was nothing but an empty void for all eternity down that well. But I didnt care, I just had to reach her. He continues to pack. Tom looks on, frightened. He looks around the room and down at his overnight bag. TOM We have to get her... ADAM What? No she...she can handle...she can handle her...herself. Adam gulps. Tom looks him hard in the eye. TOM We have to get her...you love her man. You cant deny it, and if this is really the four horseman shit going down, you are going to be pissing yourself for all eternity worrying about her. We have to get her. Now. Adam considers anxiously. ADAM Dammit! Youre right, we need to find her, make sure shes okay. Ill call real quick and see...

(CONTINUED)

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13.

Adam holds his cell phone up to his hear and gets nothing but a busy signal. ADAM (CONTD) No answer. Ill try again. This time the call is answered. ADAM (CONTD) Hello? Hello, hello? Kaitlin? Anyone? Breathing is heard on the other end. KAITLIN (O.S.) (In a frantic whisper) ...Adam...oh, God, Adam. Please get me. Please! The call is dropped. ADAM Fuck! TOM Ill go see if I can start the car. Tom exits. Adam stares at his phone and sighs. ADAM (Whispers) Im coming Kaitlin. EXT. KAITLINS HOUSE - NIGHT Adam and Tom speed up to the house in the Jeep. There is a car in her driveway. They look into the distance and see the long line of taillights trailing towards the mountain pass. There is myst everywhere. In the backyard of the adjacent house, the swimming pool is on fire. There are a few people lying in the road, on fire, and screaming. PERSON 1 Cant you hear me!? Oh, God, cant you hear me!? Take me, please! PERSON 2 ...tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus...

(CONTINUED)

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14.

TOM What. The. Hell? ADAM Shh. Lets just worry about Kaitlin. Adam knocks at her door. KAITLIN (O.S.) Go away! Please! Please just leave me alone! ADAM Kaitlin? Kaitlin, its us. Its Adam and Tom. She opens the door. KAITLIN Oh thank God! Come in here! Come inside! Quick! She pulls them inside and shuts the door hard. INT. KAITLINS HOUSE - NIGHT She locks the door and turns to look at them. ADAM Kaitlin, we need to get out of here, now. KAITLIN (Frantically) No! We cant. We cant go outside! ADAM What? Why? KAITLIN Because theyll come back! ADAM Who? Wholl come back. It was just us out there-TOM Dont forget the latin prayer circle.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ADAM Tom! Seriously! TOM Sorry... ADAM Kaitlin, who are you talking about? Whos going to come back? KAITLIN ...them. The flying ones. ADAM What? KAITLIN Ive been hearing them once about every 5 minutes. I can tell theyre flying by, waiting for me to come out. ADAM Kaitlin, I dont think we need to worry about flying--

15.

Suddenly, outside they hear a loud beating of heavy wings. Just one set at first, then ten or twenty follow. They slow as they pass the house, then continue on and eery silence follows. TOM So Kaitlin, still have any of those bagels? ADAM Okay, we cant stay here, they will get in here eventually. I think if we leave immediately, well be gone before they get back. KAITLIN Adam, seriously we cant just-ADAM Do you want to just sit here waiting for them? We need to go. Now. KAITLIN But I...We...dammit. Fine. Lets go fast though. Really fast. Tom looks out the window towards the mountains. (CONTINUED)

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16.

TOM I dont think thatll be a problem... Adam and Kaitlin go to the window and see what Tom sees: Towards the mountain range, the line of cars has disappeared. TOM (CONTD) Well, no traffic I guess. He turns to them. They look at him angrily. H looks back out the window. TOM (CONTD) I think its a good sign. EXT. KAITLINS HOUSE - NIGHT All three climb into the Jeep. Adam drives, Kaitlin is next to him, and Adam sits in the back. They hear the beating wings again, and a CREATURE comes down seeming to not notice them, and picks up one of the burning people, carrying them away, screaming. The creature is shaped like a human, except much larger, and with incredible wings. Its flesh is strangely translucent and somewhat glows. They do not see its face. TOM Adam, drive, if you please? ADAM You dont have to tell me. They speed away. EXT. HIGHWAY - NIGHT They cruise down the road towards the pass, with the mountains rushing past them. They come into the forest, and the fire has now completely subsided. All of the trees are burnt white. There is no sign of any cars, let alone the hundreds of people who were going on foot. Tom looks into the trees, and sees figures moving past. He gulps and looks forward. TOM Adam, I thought we agreed to drive fast.

(CONTINUED)

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17.

ADAM Tom, Im going 95. If you want to throw this car over a cliff on these curves, be my guest. TOM Alright. Sorry. Im just getting scared I guess. He hums "A Hard Days Night" to himself. TOM (CONTD) So, Im wondering; how come we arent burning alive in horrible fiery torment? I mean, the poor folks back there were awfully tortured it seemed. i mean, how come Im not being lifted out of my seat by a dark angel into the heavens right now? He ponders silently for a moment. TOM (CONTD) And our car, how were we lucky enough to have one of the cars that still works? It seems a little fishy to me. They pointedly ignore him while he ponders again, staring into the distance. TOM (CONTD) You ever wonder if...if its all just for you? ADAM Tom, please, shut the hell up. TOM Sorry. Im just trying to lighten this dank mood. Something large bangs the roof above Toms head. It happens again. It happens repeatedly a dozen times, louder each time. He freaks out. The banging comes to a halt, and silence ensues. TOM It seems I have spoken too soo-He looks to his left and sees a wicked sight. A large CELESTIAL BEING hovers next to the Jeep, and stares in at (CONTINUED)

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18.

Tom menacingly. Its face resembles that of a painting by Michelangelo. It is elegant, powerful, startlingly beautiful, with a frighteningly sad expression. Tom makes eye contact, and slowly turns in the opposite direction to find another CELESTIAL BEING on his right, of the same manner, but different, as if it were the formers brother. He turns forward. TOM Um, guys...? The creatures each break their respective window and grab for Tom. Adam freaks and throws the car into swerves back and forth. The creatures are thrown about, and one eventually is overtaken by a passing tree. They go around a sharp curve dangerously fast, and the other creature is thrown off a cliff. Tom looks out and sees it hovering, staring at him. Then it looks away and flies off. Kaitlin screams and Adam brings the Jeep to a screeching halt. ADAM Tom, are you okay? Are you alive back there? Silence. ADAM (CONTD) Tom, please tell me your aliv-TOM Hmm? Oh yeah, Im just swell. Ive only just almost been kidnapped by Michael and Gabriel over here, but I am absolutely one hundred percent peachy. Adam turns to Kaitlin who looks annoyed. ADAM He probably isnt very far off. KAITLIN Yeah, I know. Adam looks forward. ADAM Seriously, what the hell is going on? They have reached the pass. Before them is the line of cars. They have overtaken the road and are blocking every inch in both lanes. Each car is within inches of the one in front of (CONTINUED)

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19.

it but not touching. It goes on like this for hundreds of feet in front of them, and into a blind fog that overtakes the mountains. There is no sign of anyone at all, in or out of the cars. ADAM I guess we walk? TOM No! Nope! Definitely no. No. No. No and no. ADAM Tom, come on now. TOM Adam, seriously!? I did not see either of those..of those...things going for either one of you. I am not going to walk willingly into a hornets nest. ADAM Tom, do you really want to wait here for those things to come back? We should keep moving. TOM Son of a--! Fine. They get out and nervously inch their way down the row of cars. Adam and Kaitlin are side-by-side, and Tom trails behind. The area brightens to grey with the coming dawn. ADAM Kaitlin, please, tell me whats been bothering you. KAITLIN Adam, I dont really think its the best time-ADAM What better time than now? I need to know why you did this, why this had to happen. KAITLIN Listen, its just too complicated. You cant understand how awful this makes me feel.

(CONTINUED)

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20.

The area around them begins to change. Only Tom seems to notice, but the other two pay no attention to his observations. ADAM What? What do you have to feel so terrible about? Youre great. KAITLIN No. ADAM (CONTD) Youre perfect. Kaitlin begins to cry quietly. TOM Um, guys I think the fog has gotten a wee bit thicker. Im just a little nervous. KAITLIN I am anything but perfect. ADAM You cant be serious. KAITLIN Adam, please. ADAM You dont even see yourself. Youre beautiful. KAITLIN (exasperated) Stop it. ADAM You are smarter than I am. You have no fear of anything. Youre unafraid to be exactly you. KAITLIN Please stop. TOM Alright, I definitely cant see the mountain that is right next to me anymore...Guys?

(CONTINUED)

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21.

ADAM You always know exactly how I feel. You can always see the good in me when Ive done so much wrong. What have I done wrong? KAITLIN You havent done anything. ADAM Then why? Why Kaitlin? Dont you want to be with me? KAITLIN (Weeping softly) Yes. TOM Alright the cars are no longer here. We have passed the cars. Now it is only fog. Adam? ADAM We could be together forever, Kaitlin. We could conquer so much. TOM Theres something wrong with the ground. I no longer feel the grass or sticks or, like, bugs, or anything. It just feels flat. Guys? Are you guys feeling this? Its kind of cool... ADAM We could get married. KAITLIN Stop. TOM The ground is now solid stone. It is not cool anymore. Im scared. Is uh, anyone else just a little scared? Anyone? ADAM We could have a family. KAITLIN Please...Adam.

(CONTINUED)

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22.

TOM But this is a mountain. So of course there should be a slope to it. Which is why the ground cant be completely flat and solid stone like this. It just couldnt happen. Thats it God, I call BS! ADAM We could have chil-KAITLIN Adam! Stop! Please! Kaitlin weeps. ADAM What? Kaitlin, what is it? Kaitlin stops and falls to the ground weeping. Adam stops next to her. Tom continues forward a bit and then stops abruptly. TOM Guys? ADAM Listen, Kaitlin, whatever it is, we can handle it. We can. Just tell me. Tell me. KAITLIN I cant... ADAM Yes you can. TOM It is awfully quiet around here, eh? Guys? KAITLIN No I mean I cant have...I cant have children. Adam is more than subtly shocked. ADAM What...I...what do you mean? KAITLIN I mean I cant have children. I went last month and found out then. (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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23.

KAITLIN (contd) I cant do it. And I know that that is all you want. A family. Kids. But I cant do it. I cant fulfill your needs. Im so sorry. ADAM Oh, oh Kaitlin. Oh God Kaitlin, I dont care. I dont care about any of that. I just want to be with you. TOM Guys... KAITLIN Really? ADAM Yes. Really. All I want is to be with you. For all eternity. Kaitlin smiles warmly. TOM You guys, I love this, and all, but you need to see this. ADAM What? What is it Tom? TOM Oh, a drop. ADAM Well, yeah, were on a mountain. TOM No, no were not. ADAM What...? Adam and Kaitlin get up and go to where Tom is. They see what he sees. Before them the flat stone they have been walking on drops at a 90 degree angle straight down into what seems to be miles and miles of fog. It also extends for miles to the right and miles to the left. ADAM Dear. God.

(CONTINUED)

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24.

TOM Yeah. Kaitlin looks around. KAITLIN It is awfully quiet-Suddenly there is an explosion, and the sun rises before them in a conflagration of light, illuminating the desolate area surrounding them. The sun is ghostly in the myst. Tom screams. He is carried away by one of the creatures while gazing at the sun, and his voice disappears into the myst along with the creature. Adam and Kaitlin scream and grab onto each other. They hear a great mass of beating wings as hundreds of CREATURES rise up like locusts and blot out the sun. They race towards them, and they hold each other tightly, whispering. ADAM I love you. KAITLIN Always. The sound abruptly ends and everything is black. EXT. FOREST - DAY Kaitlin wakes up and looks around, confused. She looks down at herself, dressed in leaves and garlands. She peers next to her and sees Adam, still unconscious, clothed in the same manner. She looks at him as if for the first time. His eyes blink open and he looks at her in the same way. They smile at each other. She hears a sound that startles her, and looks around just in time to see the tail of a snake slithering into the trees at the base of a magnificent tree. She looks up and a golden apple falls down, rolling towards her. She quickly looks back at Adam as if for approval. He looks up toward the sky. FADE OUT