HELLRAISER: PARADOX
BY
ARTHUR MCCAUSLAND
INT. EMILY'S ROOM
EMILY (A LITTLE GIRL) IS LOOKING OUT HER WINDOW AND STARING AT THE STARS
EMILY (V.O)
WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL, I USED TO LOOK UP AT THE STARS... I WAS SO FASCINATED BY THEM, I USED TO THINK IF I STARED AT THEM FOR A LONG ENOUGH THEY WOULD SHOW ME THEIR SECRETS
INT. THORPE HOUSE
9 YEARS LATER
EMILY THORPE IS SITTING AT A TABLE EATING CEREAL
EMILY'S MOTHER NICOLE WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN
NICOLE
SHOULDN'T YOU BE AT SCHOOL
EMILY
I'M GOING IN A MINUTE... I JUST WANTED TO HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT FIRST
NICOLE
OK, BUT HURRY UP... I'M MEETING SOME VERY IMPORTANT PEOPLE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOU
EMILY LOOKS AWAY FROM HER MOTHER, SHE FINISHES HER CEREAL, GRABS HER BACKPACK FROM UNDER THE TABLE AND TURNS TO WALK OUT THE DOOR
EMILY OPENS THE DOOR AND COMES FACE TO FACE WITH THE MAIL MAN - HE HAS A CARDBOARD BOX IN HIS HANDS
MAIL MAN
ARE YOU EMILY THORPE
EMILY
YEAH
THE MAIL MAN GIVES EMILY A SLIP OF PAPER AND A PEN
MAIL MAN
SIGN ON THE LAST LINE, PLEASE
EMILY SIGNS THE SLIP GIVES IT BACK TO THE MAIL MAN, HE GIVES EMILY THE BOX AND WALKS AWAY
EMILY IS ABOUT TO OPEN THE BOX
NICOLE (v.o)
ARE YOU STILL HERE
EMILY
I'M LEAVING IN A MINUTE
EMILY RUNS UPSTAIRS AND OPENS THE DOOR TO HER BEDROOM
INT. EMILY'S ROOM
EMILY PUTS THE BOX DOWN BESIDE HER BED, LOOKS AT IT FOR A SECOND AND WALKS AWAY
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL
EMILY WALKS UP TO THE SCHOOL, SOMEONE WALKS UP BEHIND EMILY AND TAPS HER ON THE SHOULDER - IT'S LIZ VERNON
LIZ
HEY, HAVE YOU SEEN JAKE
EMILY
NOT FOR ABOUT WEEK MAYBE TWO
MAXINE LITMAN RUNS UP TO EMILY AND LIZ
MAX
WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT
LIZ
JAKE DOYLE, I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN AGES
MAX
HE MOVED TO TEXAS
LIZ
WHAT... WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT
MAX
HE SAID ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO
LIZ
AH FUCK
EMILY
WHY DO YOU CARE
LIZ
HE SAID... NEVER MIND
EMILY, LIZ AND MAX WALK INTO THE SCHOOL
INT. ENGLISH CLASSROOM
ABOUT 25 STUDENTS ARE IN THE CLASSROOM, EMILY AND MAX ARE SITTING AMONG THEM, THEIR TEACHER IS MR. OAKLEY
MR. OAKLEY IS USING HIS LAPTOP AND THE REST OF THE CLASS IS WORKING, EXCEPT FOR JASON LI WHO IS STARING AT EMILY
EMILY STOPS WORKING FOR A SECOND AND LOOKS AROUND AT JASON, HE JUST KEEPS STARING AT HER
EMILY FORCES HERSELF TO LOOK AWAY AND STARTS WRITING
INT. HIGH SCHOOL
EMILY AND MAX ARE WALKING DOWN A HALLWAY, TEENAGERS ARE WALKING BY THEM AND A FEW TEACHERS ARE STANDING AROUND TALKING TO EACH OTHER
MAX
KEVIN'S TRYING TO GET ME TO GO OUT WITH HIM TONIGHT
EMILY
SO GO OUT WITH HIM
MAX
WITH KEVIN... NO, NO, NO, NO... NO
EMILY
JUST GO OUT WITH HIM AND... PUT HIM OFF
MAX
WHAT
EMILY
ACT BITCHY, WEAR HORRIBLE CLOTHES
MAX
THAT WOULD PROBABLY TURN HIM ON
EXT. THORPE HOUSE
EMILY WALKS UP TO HER HOUSE, OPENS THE DOOR AND WALKS INSIDE
INT. THORPE HOUSE
IN THE LIVING ROOM, NICOLE IS TALKING TO TWO MEN WEARING BUSINESS SUITS - THEY DON'T SEEM TO NOTICE EMILY WHO IS STANDING BESIDE THE DOOR
EMILY WALKS UPSTAIRS AND INTO HER ROOM
INT. EMILY'S ROOM
EMILY SITS DOWN ON HER BED, SHE LOOKS DOWN REMEMBERING THE CARDBOARD BOX
EMILY LIFTS THE CARDBOARD BOX OFF THE GROUND AND RIPS IT OPEN - INSIDE THE CARDBOARD BOX IS A SMALLER BOX, MADE FROM WHAT LOOKS LIKE METAL AND WOOD
EMILY LIFTS THE SMALL BOX OUT OF THE CARDBOARD BOX - LETTING THE CARDBOARD ONE FALL TO THE FLOOR
EMILY PUTS HER FINGERS ON THE BOX, SEARCHING FOR SOMEWAY TO OPEN IT - SHE CAN'T DO IT
EMILY PUTS THE BOX DOWN BESIDE HER, SHE HEAR HER MOTHER LAUGHING DOWNSTAIRS
EMILY LIFTS UP THE BOX AND TRIES OPENING IT AGAIN, SHE TRACES HER THUMB AROUND A CIRCLE ON THE BOX - THE BOX FALLS OUT OF EMILY'S HANDS AND ONTO THE FLOOR, IT PLAYS A STRANGE TUNE AND STARTS SOLVING ITSELF, PART OF THE PUZZLE BOX RISES, ROTATES AND FALLS, AS IT FALLS THE ROOM GROWS DARKER, CHAINS APPEAR, EMILY IS NO LONGER SITTING ON A CLEAN BED BUT A BED WITH BLOOD STAINS AND DIRT ON IT
EMILY STANDS UP AND LOOKS AROUND IN WONDER AT THE WORLD SHE HAS FOUND HERSELF IN
PEOPLE START TO WALK OUT OF THE DARKNESS, THE FIRST ONE IS A WOMAN WITH A PALE FACE AND A METAL SPIKE THROUGH HER MOUTH SHE IS WEARING SOME SORT OF BLACK LEATHER, THE NEXT ONE IS A MAN, HIS FACE IS STRETCHED AND UNRECOGNIZABLE, EVEN HIS EYES CAN BARELY BE SEEN BUT EMILY SHUDDERS BECAUSE SHE CAN FEEL HIS GAZE ON HER, HIS TEETH ARE CHATTERING AND HE TOO IS WEARING THE BLACK LEATHER UNIFORM
SOMEONE ELSE STEPS OUT OF THE DARKNESS, A WOMAN, SHE TOO HAS A PALE FACE AND IS WEARING THE BLACK UNIFORM, HER HEAD HAS BEEN CUT OPEN AND HELD OPEN BY A THIN PIECES OF METAL, HER SKULL IS EXPOSED, SHE TAKES HER PLACE BESIDE THE OTHER FEMALE AND THE CHATTERER
EMILY STANDS IN FRONT OF THE CENOBITES, SHIVERING
ONE MORE PERSON STARTS TO WALK OUT OF THE DARKNESS, HIS FACE IS FULL OF PINS, HIS EYES ARE BLACK AND COLD, HE TOO WEARS THE UNIFORM OF THE CENOBITES BUT CONDUCTS HIMSELF LIKE A GENERAL, HE IS THE LEAD CENOBITE
THE LEAD CENOBITE WALKS UP TO EMILY, THE OTHER CENOBITES STAND BEHIND HIM
EMILY
WHAT... ARE YOU
LEAD CENOBITE
WE ARE TEACHERS OF PAIN AND SUFFERING
EMILY
WHY ARE YOU HERE
LEAD CENOBITE
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND CHILD, WE OWN YOU, YOUR FLESH, YOUR BLOOD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY YOUR SOUL
EMILY
THIS CAN'T BE REAL
EXPOSED CENOBITE
YOU WILL LEARN, GIRL... YOU WILL LEARN OF THE PAIN... AND THE PLEASURE
THE LEAD CENOBITE RAISES ONE OF HIS HANDS
EMILY
WHAT DID I DO TO YOU
LEAD CENOBITE
YOU OPENED THE BOX
CHAINS SHOOT INTO EMILY'S ARMS AND LEGS, SHE SCREAMS IN PAIN
EXT. THORPE HOUSE
NICOLE SHOWS THE MEN IN SUITS OUTSIDE, THEY EXCHANGE A FEW WORDS AND THE MEN WALK BACK TO THEIR CAR
AS THE MEN DRIVE OFF, MAX WALKS UP TO THE HOUSE
MAX
IS EMILY IN
NICOLE
YES, SHE'S UPSTAIRS
NICOLE MOVES OUT OF THE WAY TO LET MAX INTO THE HOUSE, MAX WALKS IN AND WALKS UPSTAIRS
INT. EMILY'S ROOM
MAX WALKS INTO EMILY'S ROOM, EMILY'S NOT THERE
MAX SHAKES HER HEAD, SHE LOOKS DOWN AT THE FLOOR, LYING ON THE GROUND IS A SMALL BOX
MAX LIFTS IT UP AND EXAMINES IT
MAX
EM... WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU INTO
MAX PUTS THE BOX IN HER POCKET AND WALKS OUT OF THE ROOM
EXT. VERNON HOUSE
MAX WALKS UP TO THE HOUSE AND RINGS THE DOORBELL - NO ONE ANSWERS
MAX RINGS THE DOORBELL AGAIN - NO ONE ANSWERS
LIZ (V.O)
HEY
MAX TURNS AROUND TO SEE LIZ
MAX
HAVE YOU SEEN EMILY
LIZ
NOPE, WHY
MAX
HER MOM SAID SHE WAS IN HER ROOM BUT... SHE WASN'T
LIZ
SO... WHAT ARE YOU HER GODMOTHER OR SOMETHING
MAX
NO BUT I FOUND THIS IN HER ROOM
MAX TAKES OUT THE SMALL BOX
LIZ
I STILL DON'T GET WHY YOU'RE SO... CONCERNED... IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A PUZZLE BOX
MAX
BUT LOOK AT THE SYMBOLS THEY'RE OLD VERY, VERY OLD
LIZ
IT'S PROBABLY A FAMILY HEIRLOOM OR SOMETHING... YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GIVE IT BACK
LIZ WALKS UP TO THE DOOR, TAKES A KEY OUT OF HER POCKET, OPENS THE DOOR AND WALKS INSIDE
MAX WALKS AWAY FROM THE HOUSE, SHE LOOKS DOWN AT THE BOX AND AFTER A FEW SECONDS OF STARING AT IT PUTS THE BOX BACK IN HER POCKET
INT. LIBRARY
MAX IS SITTING AT A COMPUTER, SHE TYPES THE WORDS PUZZLE BOX INTO A SEARCH ENGINE AND PRESSES ENTER ON THE KEYBOARD - SEARCH RESULTS ON SCREEN INCLUDE CHINESE PUZZLE BOXES, ETERNAL PUZZLE BOXES AND PYRAMID GALLERY
MAX CLICKS ON THE CHINESE PUZZLE BOX LINK AND IS REDIRECTED TO A PAGE SHOWING PICTURES OF PUZZLE BOXES BUT THEY DON'T LOOK LIKE THE ONE SHE'S CARRYING
LIBRARIAN (V.O)
CAN I HELP YOU WITH SOMETHING
MAX TURNS AROUND TO SEE THE LIBRARIAN STANDING BEHIND HER
MAX
I WAS JUST DOING SOME RESEARCH
MAX TAKES THE PUZZLE BOX OUT OF HER POCKET
MAX
ON THIS
THE LIBRARIAN STARES AT BOX
LIBRARIAN
WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO FIND OUT
MAX
WHO MADE IT
LIBRARIAN
HAVE YOU OPENED IT
MAX
NO, I HAVEN'T TRIED YET
LIBRARIAN
MAYBE IT HAS A PIECE OF PAPER INSIDE WITH IT'S MAKER'S NAME ON IT
INT. MAX'S ROOM
MAX IS SITTING ON HER BED, WITH THE SMALL BOX IN HER HANDS
MAX TRIES TO SOLVE THE BOX, HER HANDS TRYING TO TWIST CORNERS AND FEEL AROUND FOR A HIDDEN PART - NOTHING HAPPENS
MAX THROWS THE BOX ON THE FLOOR
INT. HIGH SCHOOL
MAX WALKS INTO THE HIGH SCHOOL, LIZ RUNS UP TO HER
LIZ
HAVE YOU SEEN EMILY
MAX
NOT SINCE YESTERDAY, WHY
LIZ
SHE'S MISSING... HER MOM HASN'T SEEN HER OR HEARD FROM HER... AND...
MAX
AND WHAT
LIZ
HER MOM SAID WHEN SHE WENT INTO HER ROOM SHE SAW A PIECE OF SKIN, IT... LOOKED LIKE IT WAS RIPPED OFF
MAX
FUCK
LIZ
WHY WERE YOU IN HER ROOM YESTERDAY
MAX
WHAT
LIZ
YOU SAID YOU WENT INTO HER ROOM AND TOOK THAT BOX THING
MAX
I WAS LOOKING FOR HER AND I SAW THE BOX ON THE FLOOR... WHAT ARE YOU GETTING AT
LIZ
... NOTHING... I'M SORRY
MAX
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT THIS IS
MAX TAKES THE BOX OUT OF HER POCKET
LIZ
IT'S JUST A PUZZLE BOX... EM MUST HAVE BEEN HAD IT LYING AROUND
MAX
I THINK IT'S MORE THAN THAT... I CAN'T EXPLAIN IT BUT
LIZ
MAX, IT'S JUST A STUPID BOX
LIZ TRIES TO TAKE BOX FROM MAX, BUT MAX HOLDS ON TO IT, MAX'S FINGERS BRUSH AGAINST A CIRCLE ON THE BOX
MAX
IT'S MINE
THE BOX STARTS SOLVING ITSELF AS MAX AND LIZ LOOK AROUND IN TERROR AS THE STUDENTS AROUND THEM, THE TEACHERS, THE LOCKERS FADE AWAY AND THEY ARE LEFT IN A DARK ROOM
THE CENOBITES START WALKING THROUGH THE DARKNESS INTO THE ROOM
THE EXPOSED CENOBITE IS FIRST THIS TIME, BEHIND HER IS THE CHATTERER AND THE OTHER FEMALE CENOBITE
ANOTHER FIGURE WALKS INTO THE ROOM, PALE FACED LIKE HER COMRADES, WITH MULTIPLE CUTS ON HER FACE SOME GROTESQUELY DEEP OTHERS SCRATCHES BY COMPARISON, HER FACE ALTHOUGH BADLY DAMAGED IS STILL RECOGNIZABLE AS EMILY
EMILY TAKES HER PLACE WITH THE OTHER CENOBITES AS THE LEAD CENOBITE WALKS OUT OF THE DARKNESS
MAX WHO CAN'T TAKE HER EYES OFF EMILY, RUNS UP TO HER
MAX
EM, IS THAT YOU
EMILY LOOKS AT MAX WITH NO EXPRESSION ON HER FACE
LEAD CENOBITE
I CAN FEEL YOUR PAIN
MAX LOOKS AROUND AT THE LEAD CENOBITE
LIZ
WHAT IS THIS PLACE
LEAD CENOBITE
SOME WOULD CALL IT HELL... THOUGH YOU WILL CALL IT HOME
MAX
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO EMILY
EMILY
THEY HAVE SHOWN ME THE WONDERS OF LEVIATHAN, FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS I WAS TAUGHT ABOUT THE SECRETS OF PAIN AND PLEASURE
LIZ
YOU'VE ONLY BEEN GONE ONE DAY
LEAD CENOBITE
TIME WORKS DIFFERENTLY IN HERE... BUT YOU SHALL DISCOVER THAT FOR YOURSELVES
MAX TAKES LIZ'S HAND AND RUNS INTO THE DARKNESS
LEAD CENOBITE
BY ALL MEANS... HAVE A LOOK AROUND YOUR NEW HOME
HELL
MAX AND LIZ RUN THROUGH THE DARKNESS AND INTO A HALLWAY, LEFT TO RIGHT THERE ARE DOORS, ONE HAS FOUR BLADE MARKS ON IT, ANOTHER HAS A TURKEY FEATHER NAILED TO ITS DOOR AND ANOTHER HAS A SANTA HAT NAILED TO THE DOOR
LIZ
WHERE ARE WE GOING
MAX
THERE HAS TO BE A WAY OUT OF HERE
LIZ
DIDN'T YOU HEAR HIM... WE'RE IN HELL... NO WAY OUT
MAX
BULLSHIT... THIS ISN'T HELL
LIZ
WE OPENED THE BOX... THE BOX TO HELL
MAX
LIZ, WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS
LIZ (SHOUTING)
WE CAN'T
MAX
COME ON, JUST A BIT FURTHER
LIZ NODS HER HEAD
MAX AND LIZ WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY, THEY COME TO A DOOR, MAX OPENS IT - IT'S THE HIGH SCHOOL
LIZ
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT
LIZ WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR AND VANISHES, A FEW SECONDS LATER HER SCREAMS ARE HEARD, MAX TRIES TO RUN BACK THE WAY SHE CAME BUT SHE'S NO LONGER IN THE HALLWAY, SHE'S BACK IN THE DARK ROOM WITH THE CENOBITES, LIZ'S DECAPITATED HEAD HAS A HOOK THROUGH IT AND IS PINNED TO THE WALL
THE LEAD CENOBITE APPROACHES MAX, BEHIND HIM THE OTHER CENOBITES ARE INTRIGUED BY HER
EMILY
YOU WILL SEE THINGS YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGED IN YOUR DEEPEST FANTASIES
MAX
I DON'T WANT TO
EXPOSED CENOBITE
WE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL THE PLEASURE IN PAIN
LEAD CENOBITE
YOU WILL BECOME ONE OF US
MAX LOOKS OVER AT LIZ'S HEAD, HER EYES SNAP OPEN
LIZ (MOUTHING)
THE THINGS YOU WILL SEE
A HOOK GOES THROUGH MAX'S LEFT ARM, ANOTHER HOOK GOES THROUGH HER RIGHT ARM, HOOKS START ATTACHING THEMSELVES TO MAX'S FACE, LEGS AND CHEST
INT. HIGH SCHOOL
THE HALLS ARE EMPTY
THE LAMENT CONFIGURATION IS LYING ON THE GROUND
JASON LI WALKS UP TO IT AND PICKS IT UP
EMILY (V.O)
I USED TO CARE ABOUT THE STARS AND THEIR SECRETS... NOW I ONLY CARE ABOUT LEVIATHAN
