FADE IN:
EXT. SKYLINE - NIGHT
An unknown city of dark buildings spreads out before us. A
sprawling landscape of brick and steel. Some are office
buildings, the others hotels, or homes.
A CROW flies by.
SHANNON (V.O.)
Long ago, some people once believed
that the Crow carried the soul to
the land of the dead. But sometimes
something so bad happened that the
soul carried a great sadness and
could not rest. And sometimes, just
sometimes, the Crow will bring that
soul back to set wrong things
right...
FADE TO:
EXT. HOUSE - EARLY EVENING
A medium sized two story house. Cars of various makes and
models are parked outside. Loud music can be heard from
within. Various people sit on the front porch, or stand
around, drinking beers, smoking cigarettes, and ad libbing
various conversations.
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
People dance extremely close, bumping and grinding to music.
Couples move off upstairs to do who knows what. Off to the
side a group of guys talk. Someone grabs a beer, another
fills a cup from a keg. People smoke in here too.
Sitting on the couch, watching people dance, smoke, talk,
etc., are HUNTER GRAY and ASHLEY CROUCH.
HUNTER
How did a girl like you end up with
a guy like Mike?
ASHLEY
I met him at the park. My friend
Krystel had to go see this guy she
liked and he walked over and said hi.
Hunter shakes his head and takes a drink from his cup.
2.
HUNTER
Has he been treating you right? I
knew a few of his other love
interests and they all had bruises.
Ashley sits silent for a moment, then
ASHLEY
He treats me alright.
Hunter notices the slight pause, but ignores it.
HUNTER
Okay.
ASHLEY
So... how many people are in the
Crow?
HUNTER
Oh fifteen or so.
ASHLEY
Why are you the only one wearing a
crow tattoo?
Hunter regards the tattoo of a familiar looking Crow shape
on his forearm. He shrugs.
HUNTER
No idea.
OVER IN THE CORNER
MIKE SHIP, JAMES ARTUBURY, JACK DAVIS, and ERIC MOORE are
talking, drinking, and smoking dope.
Eric nudges Mike and points to the sofa.
ERIC
Hey Mike, isn't that Ashley?
Mike follows Eric's finger to look at Ashley talking to
Hunter. His smile is quickly replaced with an expression of
anger.
MIKE
I thought I trained that dog better.
(shouting)
ASHLEY!
ON THE SOFA
Ashley looks at Hunter.
3.
ASHLEY
I gotta go.
HUNTER
Okay. Bye.
She gets up and leaves. Hunter returns to staring at everyone.
Ashley walks up to the group.
ASHLEY
You beckoned?
Mike backhands Ashley square across the face, hard. She
falls to the floor. Mike grabs a handfull of her hair. He
gets face to face.
MIKE
Bitch! I told you not to talk to
anyone, especially Hunter Gray!
ASHLEY
He came up to me!
MIKE
You still talked to him.
He draws back his fist.
HUNTER (O.C.)
Back off!
He grabs Mike's fist and spins him around, decking him with
a solid right to the jaw. Mike hits the floor. He touches
his lip. Blood. The entire party stops.
MIKE
You'll pay for that.
HUNTER
(ignoring)
Come on Ashley. Let's go.
Hunter takes Ashley's hand and helps her to her feet.
MIKE
I got people all over the fucking
place!
Eric and James help Mike to his feet.
MIKE
You'll never make it to the door.
4.
HUNTER
Can you not fight on your own?
MIKE
Of course I can.
HUNTER
(grabs crotch)
Then grow a set of these and meet
me outside.
Hunter and Ashley leave the group behind and head for the
door. The party starts up again.
JAMES
Are you gonna let him do that?
MIKE
Of course not.
EXT. HOUSE/FRONT LAWN
Hunter and Ashley walk out of the front door. They cross the
front lawn to Hunter's black Harley Davidson parked on the
curb. Hunter hands Ashley a helmet with a Crow on it.
HUNTER
Here.
ASHLEY
Why did you do that?
HUNTER
Punch Mike?
ASHLEY
Yeah.
HUNTER
Not the first time, not the last.
Mike and his boys emerge from the house.
MIKE
Hunter!
Ashley and Hunter turn around. Hunter sighs.
HUNTER
(to Ashley)
Here we go again.
(louder; to Mike)
What? Do you really want to go?
5.
MIKE
I won't lose.
By this time most of the party goers have emerged outside
and started forming a circle.
Hunter cracks his knuckles.
HUNTER
Right.
ASHLEY
Don't.
HUNTER
(whisper)
Don't worry. I see Eric, James, and
Jack. They can't fight. This'll be
short.
Hunter walks toward Mike.
HUNTER
Let's rock.
The circle closes. Ashley stands by Hunter's motorcycle to
see over the crowd.
Mike swings at Hunter, but he side steps and Mike hits only
empty air. He swings again and Hunter merely leans his head
back and avoids the punch. Mike punches again and Hunter
grabs his fist. Mike throws a punch with the other hand and
Hunter grabs that fist in his other hand.
HUNTER
So you grew some balls. Nice. Too
bad you didn't learn to fight.
Hunter shoves Mike backward. Mike trips and falls. Hunter
walks toward the edge of the circle.
HUNTER
Let me by.
The crowd starts to part.
MIKE
I know how to fight! I beat that
little slut plenty of times!
Hunter turns, eyes narrowing.
HUNTER
What?
6.
Mike gets back to his feet.
MIKE
As if you never hit a girl.
HUNTER
I'm looking at one.
That pisses Mike off. He throws a right out of anger. Hunter
ducks it and punches Mike in the face. Mike stumbles and
Hunter spin kicks him, smashing his calf bone smack into the
side of Mike's head with a sickening THUD!
Jack, Eric, and James interfere.
Jack attacks from behind, but Hunter throws up his fist and
nails Jack in the face as he rushes for him. Eric tries to
punch but Hunter ducks and nut taps him. Eric falls to the
ground in agony. James attacks Hunter with a dagger. He
slashes, but Hunter leans back and grabs James's blade arm,
and elbows Eric in the face. Hunter disarms him and takes
the takes the knife.
HUNTER
(to Mike)
Can you ever fight one on one?
Hunter ditches the knife and pushes through the throng of
people to his Harley. He helps Ashley on and mounts it
himself. He roars off into the night.
EXT. STREET/MOTORCYCLE - NIGHT
Hunter and Ashley ride down a road. They stop at a red light.
HUNTER
Tell me where you live and I'll
take you home.
ASHLEY
No. They'll be waiting for me.
HUNTER
Your parents know?
ASHLEY
No. And they're not home. Won't be
until next week.
HUNTER
Would you feel comfortable at my
place?
Ashley looks a bit skeptical and scared at that suggestion.
7.
ASHLEY
You're not going to rape me, are you?
Hunter laughs.
HUNTER
Unlike those other dicks I prefer
consentual. Besides, you've known
me forever. I'm not like that.
The light turns green and they drive off.
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT COMPEX - NIGHT
Hunter pulls up toward the patio door of an apartment
complex and parks right outside. He leans his motorcycle
against the wall.
ASHLEY
This is where you live?
HUNTER
Yep. Small and quiet; just the way
I like it.
ASHLEY
Can I ask you something?
HUNTER
(unlocking patio door)
Sure.
ASHLEY
How do you do it?
Hunter slides open the door and look back at her.
HUNTER
Do what?
They walk inside.
INT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
One big room with a bed up against one wall, two easy chairs
in front of an entertaiment center. A bookshelf, and a
computer off on another wall. The bathroom is off in another
room.
ASHLEY
How do you make everyone so damned
scared of the Crow?
8.
HUNTER
Have a seat.
Ashley sits in an easy chair.
HUNTER
Hungry? Thirsty?
ASHLEY
Both.
Hunter walks over to the pantry and a small igloo fridge. He
returns with a can of Dr. Pepper and a bag of chips. He
hands the items to her.
HUNTER
I don't drink, so I figured you
wouldn't want a beer...
ASHLEY
Thank you
Hunter sits on the foot of the bed.
HUNTER
I'll tell you how. I induce fear.
It's all really easy. Gangs hate it
when someone knows too much about
them. I know everything about them
and use it. What scares them more
is they don't know how many Crow
there are.
ASHLEY
How many are there?
HUNTER
That's the best part: Only one. Me.
Ashley reacts in surprise, nearly choking on a chip.
ASHLEY
One?!
HUNTER
What can I say? I rule.
Ashley gets up and walks over to the bookshelf. She examines
the books and other objects contained on the shelf.
ASHLEY
What made you leave them?
9.
HUNTER
Got tired of their attitudes and
the stupid, pointless fighting.
They were wannabes to the extreme.
I started using everything I knew
against them.
(beat)
And I left because I couldn't stand
what they were doing to you.
Ashley looks at him.
ASHLEY
Really?
Hunter nods.
ASHLEY
Why are you telling me this? Do you
know how easily I could have you
killed?
HUNTER
I trust you.
Ashley turns back to the shelf and looks at a porcelain doll
of a dove on the shelf.
ASHLEY
I used to have a doll just like this.
Hunter walks over.
HUNTER
I know. Mike stole it from you.
ASHLEY
He did?! He told me he didn't know
what happened to it!
HUNTER
He was going to pawn it, but I
stole it back. I was just waiting
for the right moment.
Tears well up in Ashley's eyes. She hugs Hunter.
ASHLEY
Thank you.
HUNTER
No problem.
10.
Ashley reaches up and kisses him lightly on the cheek.
Hunter pulls back and looks at her. Ashley looks up and
pulls him into a deep, passionate kiss.
They finally break.
HUNTER
What was that for?
ASHLEY
Getting my doll back.
HUNTER
Remind me to do it again sometime.
Hunter turns and walks toward the TV. Ashley looks at a
black Crow porcelain statuette next to the dove.
ASHLEY
What's this?
HUNTER
That Crow is my pride and joy. I
put it next to the dove as they
symbol of life and death.
ASHLEY
Wow.
HUNTER
Long ago, some people once believed
that the Crow carried the soul to
the land of the dead. But sometimes
something so bad happened that the
soul carried a great sadness and
could not rest. And sometimes, just
sometimes, the Crow will bring that
soul back to set wrong things right.
In short: Love, Death, and
Redemption.
ASHLEY
Whoa.
HUNTER
That's where I got my name. I'm an
omen of death.
ASHLEY
No wonder you scare.
Hunter walks over to Ashley and pulls her into a hug.
11.
HUNTER
I know everything they've done to
you, Ashley. Everything. And I'll
get them for you.
ASHLEY
Thank you.
CUT TO:
INT. MALL - FOOD COURT
Hustle and bustle, but not very crowded. People walk to the
various fast food chains they have around. Many conversations
float in the air.
SHANNON WINSTEAD and DUANE KUGLER are sitting at a table
near the door.
SHANNON
Where is she?
DUANE
You know Ashley. She's never on time.
SHANNON
Who's this new guy?
DUANE
You got me, but I didn't like Mike
too much.
SHANNON
I know what you mean.
Ashley and Hunter walk through the doors and into the food
court. They look around for Shannon and Duane. Hunter is Mr.
Cool today, wearing black shades and a black bandanna.
Shannon waves.
SHANNON
There they are.
The two approach.
ASHLEY
Hey guys.
DUANE
Hi Ashley.
Hunter and Ashley sit. Hunter pulls off his dark sunglasses.
12.
ASHLEY
Duane, Shannon, this is Hunter.
HUNTER
What's up.
SHANNON
I've seen you around. You run with
the Crow gang?
HUNTER
Run with it? Hell... sorry, I am
the Crow gang.
DUANE
Huh?
HUNTER
I'll explain later.
SHANNON
Where's Krystel?
ASHLEY
Couldn't make it.
HUNTER
Hungry?
ASHLEY
Yeah. You know what I like.
DUANE
I'll go with you.
Hunter and Duane leave the table and walk to one of the fast
food places. They stand in line.
Shannon leans over to Ashley.
SHANNON
He's hot!
ASHLEY
I know!
Mike walks into the food court. He spots Ashley and Shannon.
MIKE
Fucking bitch.
He walks over.
13.
MIKE
Hello Ashley.
Ashley and Shannon look up.
SHANNON
Shit.
ASHLEY
Go away Mike.
Mike grabs her by the shoulders and forces her to her feet.
MIKE
Wasn't smart to walk out on me.
ASHLEY
Treat me like dirt and enjoy seeing
my back.
IN LINE, Duane and Hunter converse.
DUANE
How'd you meet Ashley?
HUNTER
My parents and her parents are old
friends. I've known her since she
was six. We sort of parted ways a
little while ago. Got back together
at a party where I KO'ed Mike and
his inner circle.
DUANE
They had it coming.
HUNTER
No...
(spots Ashley and Mike)
Shit.
DUANE
What?
(turns)
Oh.
AT THE TABLE
MIKE
No one walks out on me.
ASHLEY
I did.
14.
HUNTER (O.C.)
And you also said no one could kick
your ass. Are you always wrong?
Mike looks at Hunter, releasing his grip on Ashley's
shoulders.
MIKE
Thought you'd be smart enough to
stay out of sight.
Hunter laughs.
HUNTER
Please. Me afraid of a few wannabes
like you? I thought you'd be smart
enough to leave Ashley alone,
unless you want me to have to
humilate you again.
(beat)
By the way, I see you travel in
packs. Can you ever go anywhere
with those other losers?
Mike grins.
MIKE
Might want to watch your back
there, pal.
HUNTER
Please.
He steps to the side and swings his hand up, catching a
knife by the hilt as it flies over his shoulder. Mike's grin
falls. Hunter sticks the blade in the table.
HUNTER
Pathetic.
(to the others)
Come on, let's go.
Duane takes Shannon's hand and walks off. They stop at the
door and wait. Ashley shoves Mike out of the way and follows.
They wait for Hunter.
HUNTER
Nice try.
He walks after them. Mike watches Hunter go, and then,
enraged, charges Hunter from behind. Hunter spins, locking
an arm around Mike's waist. Using Mike's momentum against
him, he pivots 180 degrees, and slams Mike hard onto the tile.
15.
Hunter stands.
HUNTER
The Crow never loses. Remember that.
He walks to the doors and joins a clapping Duane, Shannon,
and Ashley. They walk out.
EXT. MALL PARKING LOT - DAY - CONTINUOUS
The four walk to Shannon's car.
DUANE
That was great!
SHANNON
How did you know the others were
there?
HUNTER
Mike never goes anywhere alone.
That's like saying some people
aren't greedy. I knew the knife was
coming because James, in true
predicatble fashion, does it all
the time. I just saw him while I
was in line.
DUANE
Well where too now?
SHANNON
How about Hunter's?
Hunter balks.
HUNTER
Sorry, but I don't show anyone
where I live.
SHANNON
Why?
HUNTER
Take a guess.
SHANNON
Oh.
Duane and Shannon get into the car. Hunter leans into the
window.
HUNTER
We'll call, set something up.
16.
DUANE
Okay. Nice meeting you.
HUNTER
You too.
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
A sliding glass door opens and RICHARD FRANCES steps out,
zipping up his fly. He slides the door shut behind him.
RICHARD
Ooh, what a mouth.
ASHLEY (O.C.)
I hate you!
He looks over to see Ashley storm out of Hunter's apartment.
Richard's "date" lives in the same complex!
Hunter runs after her.
HUNTER
It was a couple months ago! I never
thought I'd see you again! It means
nothing to me. You mean everything.
Ashley stops walking and turns to Hunter, tears streaming.
ASHLEY
Hunter, I can't believe you did
that. Not just to her, but to me.
If you know everything they've
done, then you know I can't forgive
you for what you did to me.
She rushes off. Hunter follows. Richard grins. He knows.
CUT TO:
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHT
The Rage is having a meeting. They're sitting around,
basically doing nothing but smoking dope, doing dope, and
drinking. Our four villians are sitting around JACOB PARKER
as he carves his initials into the concrete.
JACOB
God that little whore squirmed and
scream so much. I don't think I've
cum so hard in my life. That was
definetly worth marking.
17.
JACK
Sounds like it.
Richard walks down into the ditch.
RICHARD
Mike Ship?
The entire gang turns to look at Richard. Some draw weapons.
Mike stands and walks over to him.
MIKE
Yeah, what do you want?
RICHARD
I might have information you want.
MIKE
Spill it.
RICHARD
Not until you agree to let me in.
Eric speaks up from where he's sitting.
ERIC
You want to be a Rage?
RICHARD
Yes.
MIKE
Depends on what you tell me.
RICHARD
Okay. I know where Hunter Gray
lives. I was fucking a girl in his
apartment complex.
Mike grins. He turns to glance at the others and then back
at Richard.
MIKE
You're in... providing you help us
kill him
RICHARD
Deal.
CUT TO:
EXT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
CAPTION FADES IN: One Week Later
18.
A PAIR OF LIPS
kiss deeply, passionately, and finally part.
The CAMERA PULLS BACK until we see Hunter and ASHLEY as the
owners of the kissing lips. They're holding hands.
Out in the street, Shannon is waiting in her car.
HUNTER
I hate for you to leave like this.
ASHLEY
I know. Thanks for telling Shannon
where you live.
HUNTER
No problem. I'll be over to meet
your parents tomorrow.
ASHLEY
Okay. Two o'clock.
HUNTER
I'll be there.
One more quick kiss before Ashley moves off toward Shannon's
car.
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Shannon is sitting in the car, very rigid. Ashley sees this
and immedietly knows something is wrong.
ASHLEY
Shannon?
SHANNON
Yeah?
BLAM!
a gunshot rings out, it hits Ashley in the arm. She spins
and falls.
INT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT
He hears the gunshot.
EXT. STREET
Ashley falls to the ground, holding her bleeding arm.
19.
Mike, Richard, and James climb out of Shannon's car, while
Jack, and Eric emerge from behind it.
Shannon has tears running down her face.
Mike leans into the open window.
MIKE
Go. Now!
Shannon, sobbing, puts the car in gear and roars away.
The others lean over Ashley. Jack roughly pulls her to her
feet.
ASHLEY
What do you want?!
RICHARD
Revenge.
ASHLEY
What did I do?
JAMES
Broken hearts, maybe?
Ashley's eyes widen. She kicks Jack in the shin and takes
off running. Mike shoots her in the leg.
That doesn't stop Ashley's progress. She hobbles to the door
until her other leg is shot out from under her.
ASHLEY
I never broke your fucking hearts!
You treated me like dirt so I left
your fucking asses on the doorstep!
MIKE
Dry up. We want Hunter. You just
happen to be an added bonus.
With a roar of anger, Hunter leaps from the patio door and
tackles Mike.
The two roll over until Hunter lands on top and proceedes to
beat the living daylights out of Mike.
HUNTER
Touch her again and I'll kill every
last one of ya!
Ashley is forgotten for now as the other four converge on
Hunter.
20.
He puts up a hell of a fight, but gets dragged off of Mike
and tossed into the mailbox.
Ashley leaps on Eric's back, shoving her knee into the small
of his back. She falls to the ground and drives his back
into her knee.
The other three never expected this much resistence, and are
disctracted long enough for Hunter to regain control.
He grabs Jack and throws him into James. Mike and Richard
try to grab him, but he slams them together.
Ashley kicks Eric and then kicks Jack.
Unbeknownest to Ashley and Hunter, Mike retrieves his
dropped gun. He raises it at Hunter's back.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Hunter staggers, but doesn't fall.
Ashley screams.
ASHLEY
Watch out!
Mike unloads the entire clip into him.
MIKE
Why can't ya just fucking die?!
Hunter finally falls.
Ashley screams.
ASHLEY
Hunter!
She rushes to his side as Mike reloads.
Once again, a recovered Jack and Eric lift Ashley to her feet.
Mike puts the gun to her head.
MIKE
Any last words?
ASHLEY
Go to Hell.
Mike cock the gun.
21.
MIKE
You first.
BLAM!
FADE TO:
EXT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - LATER
Sirens blare in the distance, growing ever closer. Rain
begins to come down in sheets as thunder rumbles overhead
and lightning flashes.
Hunter, mortally wounded and dying quickly, crawls over to
the already dead body of Ashley. He takes her limp hand in
his and squeezes.
HUNTER
I'll get them for us Ashley. I
promise.
And with this, he dies.
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETARY - RAINING - NIGHT
We see two graves, side by side. They read Ashley Crouch and
Hunter Gray.
SHANNON (V.O.)
Two star crossed lovers, united in
a love so bright in shadowed even
the brighest star. They died
together as one, and now one has a
chance to exact his revenge.
A HAND
place a flower in front of each gravestone.
PULL BACK to reveal Shannon, and her boyfriend Duane Kugler.
Shannon puts her hand over her mouth, but not before we see
her quivering bottom lip.
Tears well up in her eyes.
CAPTION: One Year Later
Duane has his arm around her.
SHANNON
I wish I could have done something.
22.
DUANE
If you had shown up any sooner they
would have killed you too.
SHANNON
I know, but maybe they would've run
or... or... I don't know...
It starts to rain.
DUANE
Let's go.
SHANNON
I... okay.
She snuggles closer to Duane as they leave. She glances back
once to catch one last look at the graves.
Then they're gone.
Lightning and thunder clash and flash in the background.
A Crow silently lands on Hunter's tombstone. It CAWS just
once as a large black cloud blots out the sun, throwing the
graveyard into darkness. The rain begins to come down in
sheets.
A BLACK LEATHER BOOT
steps into frame. It begins to tap, impatient.
The Crow continues to peck on the tombstone.
The ground begins to heave.
The boot taps again.
CAMERA PANS UP THE BOOT
to reveal its owner. THE SKULL COWBOY.
The Crow stops pecking.
The ground gives on final heave as a coffin lid breaches the
soil and crashes in front of the new hole in the ground.
A figure pulls itself up out of the grave. He falls to the
ground, and is immedietly soaked.
He grips the top of his tombstone and claws his way up,
grabbing the top of the tombstone and clutching it for
balance.
23.
The Crow CAWS and takes off, landing on the Skull Cowboy's
outstretched arm.
The boy looks up at the Skull Cowboy.
SKULL COWBOY
Welcome back Hunter.
HUNTER
Who are you?
SKULL COWBOY
You can call me the Skull Cowboy.
Hunter looks around at his surroundings, taking them in.
He's confused.
HUNTER
What happened to me?
SKULL COWBOY
All will be explained....
Hunter looks at the gravestones, and at the names.
HUNTER'S POV
ASHLEY'S GRAVEMARKER.
NORMAL POV
HUNTER
No....
He looks at the Skull Cowboy, but the Skull Cowboy is gone.
He falls to his knees in the dirt.
HUNTER
No...
The Crow lands on Hunter's shoulder. It CAWS and takes
flight. It wants him to follow.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
A one story house, the windows missing, graffitied, and out
and out desecrated.
The Crow lands and begins to walk up the driveway. Hunter
remains at the entrance.
HUNTER
I know this house.
24.
The Crow reaches the front porch and hops up to the broken
door. It stops and looks back at Hunter, giving him a beckon
CAW.
HUNTER
You want me to follow?
The Crow hops inside.
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Hunter walks inside and looks around.
FLASHBACK
A once beautiful interior
END FLASHBACK
Now wrecked, the sofa flipped, the shelves shoved over,
everything breakable broken.
HUNTER
What happened?
The Skull Cowboy walks in through the broken door.
SKULL COWBOY
Vandalism. When you two died, they
struck here. Her family grabbed
what they could carry and left.
Hunter touches the overturned, ripped couch.
FLASHBACK
Ashley holding a rag against Hunter's jaw.
ASHLEY
Hold it there and it'll stop
bleeding.
HUNTER
Leave it alone and it'll stop on
it's own.
Ashley gives him a look.
Hunter kisses her.
HUNTER
Okay, Nurse Ashley, I'll hold it.
END FLASHBACK
25.
Hunter stares at the couch.
HUNTER
This is horrible.
SKULL COWBOY
Check out her room.
Hunter looks at him, shocked, and runs toward
INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM
Hunter walks in. Objects are smashed, poster ripped off the
walls, stuffed animals ripped open.
As soon as he enters, he falls to his knees.
FLASHBACK
The two of them, laying on a floor, looking through books,
researching.
END FLASHBACK
He falls backward against the bed and arches his back in pain.
FLASHBACK
Ashley thrown on her bed, being raped.
END FLASHBACK
He falls forward against the closet door, but no flashback
occurs. He rolls onto his back and stares up.
HUNTER'S POV
THE SKULL COWBOY STANDING IN THE DOORWAY, THE CROW PERCHED
ON HIS SHOULDER.
NORMAL POV
HUNTER
What happened?
SKULL COWBOY
Memories.
Hunter stands and leans against the bed for support. He
braces himself.
FLASHBACK
26.
Ashley hit by an uknown assailant. She falls onto her bed,
the guy on top.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter screams and flings himself into the wall at the head
of the bed. He grabs one of the remaining posters and rips
it away, exposing a spot of blood.
FLASHBACK
A very young Ashley slammed against the wall by a man with a
knife in one hand and the other around her throat.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter grabs his chest and falls to the floor.
FLASHBACK
Ashley cutting herself with a dagger, being watched over by
an unknown man.
END FLASHBACK
He leans back against the mirror.
FLASHBACK
Ashley putting her make up on in the mirror, smiling at
Hunter as he enters her room.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes are closed. He's panting. He eventually opens
them.
The Skull Cowboy is watching, still standing in the doorway.
Hunter's gaze falls on a broken porcelain doll: the dove he
gave her.
HUNTER
No.
He knee walks over to it and grabs the pieces, cradling the
pieces like a baby. He rocks back and forth.
FLASHBACK
Ashley and Hunter are fighting in his apartment.
Ashley slaps Hunter.
27.
He grabs her by the throat and slams her against the wall.
She looks up, fear, betrayl, in her eyes.
ASHLEY
Why?
END FLASHBACK
Hunter has tears flowing down his cheeks.
FLASHBACK
Ashley enters her room and finds the doll in it's box
sitting on her bed. She drops her backpack and picks it up.
A tear rolls down her cheek.
Hunter enters and walks up behind her.
HUNTER
Never thought you'd see this huh?
Ashley turns to look at him.
ASHLEY
It's... it's the one I always wanted.
HUNTER
I know.
(takes her hand)
I'm so sorry.
He holds her and they kiss.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter drops the doll. He looks up at the Skull Cowboy.
HUNTER
I don't even remember what the
fight was about.
SKULL COWBOY
Do you want to see your apartment.
HUNTER
Yes..
INT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT
Hunter steps through the opening in the broken glass in the
patio doors. His apartment has been ransacked, his things
thrown about on the floor. The stuff that could be carried
by five people is gone.
28.
The rest is smashed, including Hunter's precious Crow
statuette.
SKULL COWBOY
They took everything.
HUNTER
No!
FLASHBACK
Hunter and Ashley sharing their first kiss, the deep
passionate one.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter stumbles backward.
FLASHBACK
Ashley and Hunter laying on his bed.
ASHLEY
I love you.
HUNTER
I love you too.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter falls to his knees.
HUNTER
No more!
FLASHBACK
Ashley's face, sweating, panting. Hunter's face leans into
frame. They kiss deeply. It's obvious what they're doing.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter puts his hands on his head.
HUNTER
No more! Make it stop!
(screaming)
MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!
The Skull Cowboy drops the dove at Hunter's side.
SKULL COWBOY
Then you know what you must do.
29.
Hunter looks at the doll.
SLOW MOTION:
Hunter picks up a chunk of the doll, throwing it to the
floor, where it explodes, sending pieces flying in every
direction.
He picks up a chunk of white porcelain. He crushes it in his
hands until it's powder and applies it all over his face.
He picks up a portion of the smashed Crow and crushes the
black porcelain. He runs a finger down each eye and around
his lips.
He moves to his closet and throws it open. His clothes are
still there. He changes from his burial clothing into a pair
of black pants, a black shirt, black boots, and a long
leather jacket.
He stands.
NORMAL MOTION:
A flash of lightning illuminates his painted face.
HUNTER
Oh yeah. I'm ready.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A cherry red convertible flies down the road.
INT. CONVERTIBLE
In the back sit Eric, Jack, and James. In the passenger seat
is Richard. Mike is driving.
They're each drunk and holding a beer bottle in each hand.
They fly passed an office building and skid into the parking
lot.
EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
A YOUNG WOMAN emerges from the building, locking the door
behind her. She deposits the keys in her purse.
The convertible skids to a halt.
RICHARD
What the fuck are we doing here?
30.
MIKE
Why do you think? Fuck Project at
high noon.
The woman walks toward her car, not seeing the convertible.
ERIC
Fuck yeah! Let's go!
They pile out of the car.
The woman pulls her car keys from her purse as she approaches
her car. She unlocks the door as James comes up behind her.
JAMES
Hey baby. Wanna go for a ride?
WOMAN
No.
JAMES
Oh come on.
WOMAN
No. Now please go away.
He grabs her and spins her around, slamming her against her
car. He pins her against it.
JAMES
No is not an option.
The other four suddenly swarm the scene. They grab the woman
who screams. Mike shoves a gag in her mouth.
MIKE
Shut up.
(to the others)
Let's go.
They drag the woman to the convertible and throw her in the
backseat. They all pile in and Mike starts it up and they
roar off.
A HEADLIGHT
comes on behind them, and a familiar clad man on a motorcycle
rides after them.
CUT TO:
31.
INT. JAMES' BEDROOM
The woman is lying in some peverse sexual contraption on the
wall that has her hands above her head, and her legs spread.
She's a few inches above the floor.
The five stand around her.
JACK
Now all we need are the proper
untensils.
JAMES
You guys get them. I'll stay here
and get her prepared.
RICHARD
With pleasure.
The four leave.
James checks out his impressive knife collection that's
hanging on his wall.
JAMES
It doesn't hurt as bad if you don't
struggle.
The bound and gagged woman screams into the gag.
James picks up and examines a knife.
JAMES
I'll tell ya one thing though. That
Ashley bitch we knocked off last
year used to fight like a lion. We
always won though.
(puts down knife;
picks up another)
I always won.
OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER
the woman is still in the contraption.
CAMERA PANS FROM HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO HIS RIGHT AS HE SPEAKS
THE NEXT LINE.
JAMES
Like to cut her. Maybe they'll let
me cut you.
OVER HIS RIGHT SHOULDER
32.
the woman is gone, but Hunter stands behind him.
James turns around, holding a knife in his hands.
HUNTER
How badly do you want it, baby?
JAMES
What the fuck are you?
HUNTER
Just your average Hunter.
He grabs James around the throat and throws him into the
opposite wall.
HUNTER
And you're my prey.
INT. SEX ROOM
A large room filled with perverse sexual playthings. Only
these perverted five know it exsists.
JACK
We're gonna rip this bitch up.
MIKE
We'll make her scream all night long.
Suddenly there's a THUMP! and a WHAM! from upstairs.
RICHARD
What the fuck?!
ERIC
Jimmy!
They run out.
INT. JAMES' BEDROOM
James is now hanging in the contraption by his wrists. His
feet dangle a few inches from the floor.
Hunter stands by the knife collection.
JAMES
What are you gonna do?
Hunter takes a knife. He holds it up so it glistens in the
light. He runs the blade along his cheeks and chin and licks
the blade.
33.
HUNTER
I'm gonna cut ya.
He hurls the knife. It misses, embedding itself in the base
of wall below James's feet.
Hunter grabs a handfull of knives and throws.
James screams.
We see the knives are forming an unseen outline.
James stops screaming as he realizes the blades have missed.
JAMES
Missed.
Hunter has his back turned. He's holding a knife hilt
against his forehead.
FLASHBACK
James forcing Ashley on the bed and pinned her down.
END FLASHBACK
FLASHBACK
James watching Ashley cut her forearm.
END FLASHBACK
FLASHBACK
James cutting her now. Ashley's screaming.
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
Liked to cut her. To rape her with
knives to sastify your own sick,
perverted sense of pleasure.
He puts his head against the wall and begins to
absentmindedly carve something in the wall.
JAMES
Yeah. So what of it?
Hunter turns and glares at James. The fires of Hell burn in
his eyes.
HUNTER
Here's my pleasure.
34.
He throws the knife. It goes straight between James' eyes.
His eyes open wide before they roll back. He lets out one
final yelp.
Hunter walks back to the window and silently slides out.
The other four burst into the room.
ERIC
Oh shit.
MIKE
Who did this?
RICHARD
Ah fuck man. If we had been here we
would've been killed!
JACK
Is that a... a Crow?
WIDE SHOT
the outline is revealed. It's a Crow made of knives, the tip
of the beak the knife that killed James.
ON THE WALL
behind the four survivors is one word, the word Hunter
carved. It's ASHLEY.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter sits on the concrete and leans against his motorcycle,
holding an ornate dagger, it's blade a gold color, it's hilt
silver, encrusted with jewels. He clutches it tightly as he
has a
FLASHBACK
A young Ashley giving a box to James.
ASHLEY
Happy one month.
JAMES
For me?
He opens the box and removes the dagger.
ASHLEY
I know you like knives and all..
35.
JAMES
Oh it's beautiful.
He kisses her.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter begins to rock back and forth, clutching the dagger
tighter.
FLASHBACK
Ashley sitting on the floor in her room, holding the dagger
in her hand.
James is watching over her.
JAMES
Now cut yourself! Do it, or I'll do
it for you!
ASHLEY
No!
JAMES
Fine!
He grabs her arm and the knife. We see that it's the dagger.
He puts the blade on her flesh but we come to the
END FLASHBACK
Hunter drops the dagger.
He's breathing hard. He looks at the dagger. The blade has
blood on it. He looks at his hands. They're cut, a deep cut,
blood pouring.
He dips a finger in the puddle of blood forming on his hands
and writes ASHLEY in blood on the concrete.
He looks at his hands and the cuts close before his eyes.
The Skull Cowboy appears.
SKULL COWBOY
You did good.
HUNTER
Yes, I know.
He lifts the dagger, expecting another flashback, but none
comes. He slips it in his leather jacket's pocket.
36.
He turns to the Skull Cowboy.
HUNTER
I can heal myself?
The Skull Cowboy nods.
SKULL COWBOY
Yes.
HUNTER
Am I invincible.
SKULL COWBOY
As long as the Crow remains alive,
so shall you.
Hunter looks at the Crow that has now perched on his shoulder.
HUNTER
Of everything that must die between
tonight and tomorrow, the Crow
shall not be one of them.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
Shannon is lying in bed, tossing and turning to an unseen
dream. But we do hear a jumble of OVERLAPPING VOICES.
HUNTER (V.O.)
(overlapping)
So I'll see you tomorrow.
ASHLEY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Count on it. Two o'clock.
HUNTER (V.O.)
(overlapping)
I'll be waiting.
ASHLEY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
I never broke your fucking hearts!
You treated me like dirt so I left
your fucking asses on the doorstep!
HUNTER (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Touch her again and I'll kill every
last one of ya!
37.
MIKE (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Why can't ya just fucking die?!
ASHLEY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Go to Hell.
MIKE (V.O.)
(overlapping)
You first.
A GUNSHOT
SHANNON
NOOOOOOOO!!!
She bolts upright in bed, sweating, panting, the sheet
clinging to her body, the rest of them twisted or on the
floor.
She puts a hand on her chest, feeling her racing pulse. She
tries to steady it with a few deep breaths before she breaks
down in tears.
SHANNON
No.
EXT. SHANNON'S WINDOW - NIGHT
The window goes up and Shannon steps out onto the grass.
EXT. SHANNON'S DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
She starts her car and drives off, her tailights vanishing
in the dark.
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETARY - NIGHT
Hunter is sitting in front of Ashley's tombstone.
HUNTER
I can do it now. I can do everything
I promised. Everything I swore I
would do. I can get revenge, I can
kill, all the people who hurt you.
The people who wrecked your life.
The ones that hurt you, raped you.
I can keep the only promise I could
never fulfill in life.
38.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CEMETARY - NIGHT
Shannon's car pulls up. She gets out and looks at the
forboding gate, and the darkness beyond, lit by only a few
lights.
She sighs and walks in.
EXT. CEMETARY - CONTINUOUS
She steps on a twig. It SNAPS under her foot.
Hunter hears this and looks up. He quickly ducks behind
Ashley's tombstone, blending in perfectly with the shadows.
Shannon walks up to the grave.
When she talks, her voice is close to cracking and she's
close to crying.
SHANNON
I... I needed to tell someone about
this. It's... it's been eating me
since it happened. The... the guys
who killed you
(beat)
I brought them. They were in my car.
They were waiting... waiting for
you two to part... waiting to
strike...
(sobbing)
I'm so sorry Ashley. It's all my
fault!
She breaks down and runs out of the cemetary.
Hunter rises from behind the tombstone, murder in his eyes.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
Shannon slips back into bed just as MRS. WINSTEAD opens the
door and peaks in.
Shannon's eyes are closed, she's asleep. Or so it seems.
Maureen Winstead lays a slip of paper on Shannon's nightstand.
MAUREEN
(whispering)
Good night.
She shuts the door.
39.
Minutes later we hear a car start and drive away, but
another one pulls up.
Shannon gets out of bed to check on it.
INT. LIVING ROOM
There's a knock on the door.
Shannon opens it.
Hunter is immedietly upon her, his hands around her throat,
squeezing the life out of her. He drives her backward and
she trips over the arm of the sofa. Hunter falls on top of
her.
HUNTER
Why?! WHY?!
Shannon can barely get a breath, but she somehow manages a
weak
SHANNON
Hunter?
HUNTER
Why?! Why did you bring Death to
our door?! Why?
He gets up off of her and lifts her up, his hands still
around her throat. He throws her and she crashes against a
wall.
She backs into a corner and draws herself up into a ball.
SHANNON
I... I didn't want to! They made me!
They made me do it!
HUNTER
Liar!
He grabs her around the throat and lifts her up and again
slams her against the wall.
HUNTER
I want the truth and I want it now!
FLASHBACK
Shannon's filling her car up with gas. The gas station is
all but empty, and the attendant inside can't be seen
because of the gas pump.
40.
The five murderers sneak up behind her.
James pulls a familiar looking dagger and grabs Shannon,
placing the blade firmly against her throat.
JAMES
Scream and you're dead.
Shannon's face is twisted in fear.
SHANNON
What do you want?
MIKE
We have a choice for you. Take us
to Hunter's, or die.
SHANNON
No.
James drives the dagger into Shannon's side. She screams in
pain.
JAMES
Agree, or I knick a vital organ!
Shannon's face contorts in pain.
SHANNON
No. I won't betray my friends!
James twists the dagger.
Shannon screams.
SHANNON
Okay! Okay! I'll take you there!
Just stop stabbing me!
RICHARD
Hey Mike, no one's here.
MIKE
You up for it?
ERIC
Damn right.
JACK
Hell yeah.
41.
James pushes her against the gas pump. You can guess what
they do afterwards because we have come to the
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes open wide.
FLASHBACK
Shannon's sitting in her car, watching the exchange between
Hunter and Ashley.
The others are in the back.
Mike gets close to her ear.
MIKE
You act anything but casual and you
die with them.
Shannon nods.
SHANNON'S POV
Ashley and Hunter kiss and Ashley walks toward her car.
Ashley suddenly stops walking.
ASHLEY
Shannon?
SHANNON
Yeah?
BLAM!
a gunshot rings out, it hits Ashley in the arm. She spins
and falls.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter releases her and Shannon slides to the floor, gasping
for air and holding her throat.
Hunter stumbles backward and falls heavily to the floor.
HUNTER
Oh, my God.
Shannon starts to cry.
HUNTER
Oh, my God!
42.
SHANNON
(weakly)
Hunter?
Hunter stands and runs out the door.
SHANNON
No! Wait!
EXT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Hunter runs out.
Shannon stops at the door.
Hunter hops on and starts his motorcycle. He drives away.
Shannon watches him go.
SHANNON
Wait...
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter pulls over to the side of the road and stops. He lays
his head in his hands.
HUNTER
What the hell happened to me?
The Crow perches on the handlebars and CAWS, as if offering
some kind of guidance.
Hunter looks at the Crow and shakes his head.
HUNTER
I miss Ashley.
The Skull Cowboy appears from the shadows.
SKULL COWBOY
You let your anger, your thirst for
vengence, cloud you judgement. You
know Shannon would never voluntarily
betray you or Ashley.
Hunter looks down at the handlebars.
HUNTER
I know.
43.
SKULL COWBOY
You know who hurt her and who
killed the two of you. Go after
them. Focus your anger on those who
deserve it or else you will end up
harming those who even mention the
name Ashley, whether it was Ashley
Crouch or not.
Hunter wipes away a tear.
HUNTER
I really miss her.
SKULL COWBOY
(softer)
She misses you too. But the sooner
the deeds are done, the sooner the
scales are balanced...
HUNTER
(interrupting)
The sooner I get to see her again.
If the Skull Cowboy's face could be seen, he would be smiling.
SKULL COWBOY
Ride Cowboy, ride.
Hunter does smirk, a lopsided smirk.
HUNTER
Keep on Rollin' baby. You know what
time it is.
EXT. VACANT LOT - NIGHT
Vacant, dark. A group of thirteen members of the Rage hang
around, leaning on cars, drinking, smoking, or doing drugs
in a variety of ways. Ad libbed conversations about sex or
drugs, or anything are heard.
Another car pulls in.
HEROINE ADDICT
Darryl's here.
BLUNT SMOKER
Who's he got with him now?
The car pulls to a stop. The headlights extinguish. The car
shuts off. For a long moment, nothing happens... then the
door opens and.. DARRYL'S BODY HITS THE CONCRETE!
44.
POT SMOKER
What the fuck?!
The Crow flutters to a landing on the hood of the car.
Hunter steps out of the car.
HUNTER
What's up?
MARIJUANA ADDICT
Who are you?
Hunter bows.
HUNTER
Hunter Gray, at your service.
ECSTACY ADDICT
But you're dead!
Hunter walks over to him. He regards him.
HUNTER
Correction: You are.
In a swift movement, Hunter grabs the addict's head and
twist, snapping his neck and twisting his head all the way
around.
HUNTER
Let the bodies hit the floor.
He attacks the others, punching and kicking with full force,
breaking bones. He grabs one of the remaining group members
by the belt and back of the collar and slams him into a car
door. The door becomes heavily dented and smeared in blood.
Hunter pivots, backhanding an oncoming punch that breaks the
victim's hand. Hunter elbows him in the stomach and the
druggie doubles over, spitting up blood, foaming at the
mouth. He goes down, dead.
The Rage dogpile Hunter, throwing punch after punch onto the
downed dead man. The Crow CAWS. Hunter forces his way up,
throwing the Rage every which way.
Hunter punches the nearest member smack in the nose. He
falls, nose bleeding. Hunter steps on his head, crushing his
skull with a sick CRUNCH.
Hunter advances on a group. He grins.
HUNTER
Rage? Are you scared?
45.
He grabs another member, lifting him up onto his shoulder
and chucking him head first into the concrete.
Another member, the Heroine Addict, whips out a switch blade
and rushes Hunter. Hunter grabs him by the shirt and throws
him onto the hood of Darryl's car. The Heroine Addict slides
on the hood, forcing the Crow to flap into the air, and
crashes headfirst through the windshield. He goes halfway
through, leaving bloody bits of broken glass behind.
The Crow lands, cawing in annoyance, on the victim's butt.
Hunter cracks the ribs of another Rage member with a stiff
and wicked elbow.
Another member, the Blunt Smoker backs away from Hunter.
Hunter steps toward him.
HUNTER
Are you afraid?
He takes the addict's head in his hands.
HUNTER
Don't be afraid. It'll be over soon.
Hunter twists his neck, breaking it.
The Pot Smoker pulls a gun.
POT SMOKER
Die you undead motherfucker!!
He fires.
Hunter dodges, spinning on one hand, cartwheeling, the
bullet flies over him, missing him.
CROWVISION: The Crow tries to dodge the bullet as well, but..
The bullet pierces through the Crow's wing, blood, bone, and
feathers splatter on the broken windshield. Hunter spins
around as if he were the one shot in the arm. He falls to
one knee.
HUNTER'S POV
He's staring down at his hand. Blood begins to pour off his
fingertips as though he recieved the same wound.
BACK TO SCENE
Hunter looks to the Crow, the bird's wing already healing.
46.
Hunter tries to stand but one of the remaining Rage members
kicks him in the arm. Hunter cries out in pain. The member
sneers and stomps Hunter's arm again. The six other suriving
members converge on the injured avenger.
The Crow's wing is now a battered, bloody mess. Bloody
feathers are matted against the bone, blood oozing.
HUNTER'S POV
His world becomes a world of punches and kicks, each striking
him.
FLASHBACK
Ashley being beaten by the Rage.
END FLASHBACK
The Rage hauls Hunter to his feet. He's a bloody mess, his
nose broken, lip busted, and bleeding, eyes swollen, head
covered in a mess of cuts, blood pouring down his face, his
sleeve clinging to his arm. It hangs limp, broken.
Two members hold Hunter by the arms. Another approaches,
waving a butterfly knife.
The knife handler grins.
FLASHBACK
Ashley getting a butterfly knife run over her stomach. The
knife man grinning insanely.
END FLASHBACK
KNIFE MAN
You see this blade? This blade is
gonna make you squeal like a bitch.
He slashes Hunter across the face, cutting his cheek. The
cut begins to ooze blood, adding more crimson to his already
red face. Hunter glares.
FLASHBACK
The cuts on Ashley's stomach begin to ooze blood.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes burn.
The knife man places the knife against Hunter's throat.
Hunter kicks the knife man. He stumbles back.
47.
Hunter pulls the two holding him together. Their heads
collide with a sick THUD!
The knife man attacks Hunter. Hunter allows himself to be
stabbed and slashed. More blood oozes. Hunter grins.
HUNTER
Stop. That tickles.
He grabs the butterfly and pulls it out of the attacker's
hands. Hunter plunges it through the attacker's chest, his
whole arm going completely through his back. He pulls his
arm out and wipes off the blood.
The survivors pile into one car.
MARIJUANA ADDICT
Let's get the fuck outta here!
The car peels off. Hunter watches for a second, as the car
skids around, speeding toward the entrance to the lot.
Hunter flicks the butterfly knife.
THE KNIFE flips end over end, flipping.
INT. CAR
The butterfly knife flips into the car and impales the
driver. He slumps against the wheel, dead. The other members
begin to yell and try to pry the dead man off the wheel.
The dead weight of the driver causes his FOOT to floor the
accelerator.
EXT. VACANT LOT - NIGHT
The car skids out of control and slams into Darryl's car.
Both cars explode.
Hunter watches the burning wrecks, the firey air blowing his
black hair and long black coat out behind him. Hunter is
smiling.
HOLD ON THE BURNING WRECKS
FADE TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - LATER
The burning wrecks are no longer burning, but smoldering.
Police and fire crews swarm the scene.
48.
DETECTIVE MAUREEN WINSTEAD ducks under a line of police tape.
She approaches OFFICER LARRY MITCHELL, who's watching one of
the body bags get loaded into the back of a corner's van.
MAUREEN
Christ, what happened here?
LARRY
Fucked if I know. Someone hears an
explosion and calls us. Dispatch
said carbombing. They forgot to
mention massacre.
MAUREEN
Any witnesses?
LARRY
A homeless guy saw someone leave.
Said something about a bird.
Otherwise no physical description.
MAUREEN
One guy?
LARRY
This could've been a little gang
brawl, one gang attacks one member
of another, and underestimates him.
All the bodies have the Rage tattoo.
MAUREEN
And there are a lot of bodies. I
don't think they could underestimate
on man, or that one man could kill
these people in this fashion. These
deaths are like something out of
Friday the 13th.
INVESTIGATING OFFICER (O.C.)
Hey Detective! I think you might
want to see this!
Maureen and Larry jog over to one of the remaining cars and
the Investigating Officer. The officer points to the door of
one of the cars. Painted on the side, in blood, is a Crow.
LARRY
Jesus.
MAUREEN
The Crow.
49.
LARRY
Yeah, but all those guys have done
is leave chalk messages. And those
stopped a year ago.
MAUREEN
They've been threatening to have a
war, Larry. It looks like it started.
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
Hunter stumbles toward his motorcycle and falls to his knees.
He looks at his reflection in a nearby puddle.
He touches his face.
HUNTER
Why am I not healing?!
The Crow hops into the alley, it's bloody, boney wing
healing rapidly. Hunter looks from the Crow to the puddle.
HUNTER'S POV
In the puddle. His face heals slowly.
BACK TO SCENE
HUNTER
Next time you stay out of the
battle zone.
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHT
The four survivors, and a new pal, JACOB PARKER, walk
alongthe ditch and smoke weed.
JACOB
A Crow outline?
ERIC
Yeah. Weirdest fucking shit you've
ever seen.
JACK
Ashley was craved into the wall too.
MIKE
Somebody who knows told somebody
else.
JACOB
Who else knows?
50.
RICHARD
Us five, Jimmy, and...
MIKE
Shannon! That bitch!
ERIC
So what are we gonna do about it?
RICHARD
Send her to Ashley and Hunter.
They reach the convertible parked on the street.
JACOB
I'll be here when you get back.
We'll celebrate.
The four climb into the car and it roars away.
Jacob walks back toward the big sewer drain. He crouches
down and walks in.
Unbeknowest to Jacob, Hunter is perched on the chainlink
fence surrounding it.
FLASHBACK
Ashley ducking and following Jacob into the sewer.
END FLASHBACK
Jacob walks out. He lights up another blunt.
Hunter silently lands behind him.
HUNTER
Was it good for you?
Jacob spins around.
JACOB
Who the fuck are you?
HUNTER
I'm going to tell you a story of
man who should have learned not to
play with knives. You see, this man
meant an unfortunate, yet ironic
end. Now as this story progresses,
the friend of the deceased, a drug
dealer, also meets his end, but his
way is much more fun.
51.
The Crow lands on to the fence above them.
JACOB
You killed Jimmy...
Hunter grabs Jacob by the collar and slams him into the
concrete wall.
HUNTER
Your turn.
FLASHBACK
Ashley, on the concrete, being raped by Jacob.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter closes his eyes tight, racked in pain.
FLASHBACK
Ashley now being slammed up against the ditch, being raped
once more.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes snap open. The pupils remind us of a Crow.
FLASHBACK
Jacob giving Ashley a few sticks of pot for her "efforts."
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
You twisted her! You made her do
things she never wanted to do just
so you could give her a high and
get yourself off! You fucked her in
this filthly, disgusting hell hole
of a drainage ditch! You made her
feel like it was her fault!
JACOB
It was her fault!
Hunter slams his forearm against Jacob's throat.
HUNTER
Wait your turn. You made me crazy
in life! Now in death I can do
something about it!
52.
JACOB
Dude, you used to be cool when you
ran with us. What happened?
HUNTER
You'd be amazed at how much a man
can change in a year.
He punches Jacob in the head and he knocks him out. Hunter
slings him over his shoulder and proceeds into the sewer.
INT. SEWER
Jacob is duct taped to the floor of the sewer, four blocks
of c4 taped next to him.
The TIMERS read 30 minutes 04 seconds and keep ticking down.
Jacob comes to and feels the duct tape keeping him down. He
easily tears his arms free. He sits up.
Hunter is sitting Indian style at the entrance, watching.
Jacob holds up his free arms, duct tape dangling. He rips
his legs free.
JACOB
Ha!
Hunter holds up a REMOTE DETONATOR.
HUNTER
Ha.
He presses the button.
Jacob screams as the four blocks explode at once.
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - CONTINUOUS
BOOM!
The ditch collapses inward and then explodes, sending debris
flying everywhere. A huge fireball explodes skyward, the
ground cracks, and anything flammable nearby is set ablaze.
And walking out of the blaze, unharmed, the Crow flying
above his head, is HUNTER.
53.
EXT. SKY ABOVE DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHT
From the air we can see that the explosions caused a huge
inferno shaped like a Crow.
CUT TO:
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH EXPLOSION - LATER
Police swarm the now dying blaze.
Two officers interview a witness, an old WOMAN. One sketches
her description
WOMAN
He was about six two, maybe 220
pounds. He looked well built. Short
black hair, wore all black. His
face was, well painted white.
The POLICE SKETCH ARTIST looks up at her.
SKETCHER
Painted white?
WOMAN
Yes, with black lines down his eyes.
He just walked out of the flames.
Had a Crow with him.
The Sketcher finishes up.
SKETCHER
Like this?
He holds up the drawing.
HOLD ON THE DRAWING AS IT PULLS BACK AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A
TELEVISION SCREEN
A NEWS ANCHOR sits at the desk. The picture now a small
graphic next to his head.
NEWS ANCHOR
Police are on the look out for this
man. He's describe at being six-
two, 220 pounds, with short black
hair and the face you see in the
photo. May be accompanied by a Crow.
PULL BACK UNTIL WE'RE
54.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Shannon is curled up on the sofa, watching the news. Duane
is sitting next to her.
NEWS ANCHOR (TV)
He is said to be extremely dangerous.
If spotted please inform your local
police.
(beat)
In other news, police are still
searching for the person or persons
involved in the robbery of Hunter
Gray's grave, stealing the body.
This news leaves some to wonder if
there isn't some connect between
the grave robbery, the recent
explosion of the drainage ditch,
and the mysterious death of James
Artubury.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter rides his motorcycle.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
SHANNON
I know it sounds crazy, but I swear
Hunter attacked me.
DUANE
It does sound crazy. He's dead.
Besides, why would he do that?
SHANNON
I don't know. Whoever it was asked
me why I brought death to them.
Duane shakes his head.
DUANE
I don't know.
SHANNON
He looked different. Even scary.
(she shivers)
His face was white, and he black
lines down his eyes. He.. he was
really really strong. He.. he
grabbed my throat and then just let
me go and ran.
55.
DUANE
Now that is weird.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE SHANNON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A red convertible pulls up.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
There's a knock on the door.
Shannon gets up to go answer.
SHANNON
What now?
She opens the door.
And Eric leaps in and knocks her back against the wall.
Duane rushes and pounces on Eric. He knocks him to the floor.
Mike pulls Duane off Eric and pistol whips him. Richard
punches him in the face.
Jack helps Eric hold Shannon back.
JACK
Where to?
MIKE
Upstairs.
ERIC
(RE: Duane)
What about him.
DUANE
Let her go!
MIKE
Him too.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
The door is kicked open and Eric and Jack drag Shannon in.
She's kicking and screaming.
Duane is dragged in after her.
Eric and Jack shove Shannon onto her bed. Richard pulls up a
chair and they sit Duane down in it and duct tape him to the
chair.
56.
RICHARD
What us rip her open again.
Duane's eyes widen in anger.
DUANE
Again?! Again?!
He fights against the chair, but Mike punches him in the face.
MIKE
Sit still.
Richard climbs on top of Shannon.
RICHARD
Me first.
SHANNON
No!
TAP! TAP! TAP!
MIKE
What the fuck?
TAP! TAP! TAP!
ERIC
It's just a Crow.
The Crow is perched outside Shannon's window pecking on the
glass.
EXT. SHANNON'S WINDOW
Hunter is perched above the window.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
Richard is struggling to hold Shannon down.
RICHARD
Help me here!
Eric and Jack move in and hold Shannon down.
HUNTER (O.C.)
And suddenly I heard a tapping, as
if someone gently rapping, rapping
at my chamber door.
Richard looks up from strugging to get Shannon's pants off.
57.
ERIC
What's that?
RICHARD
Find out!
BAM!
The window blows open.
HUNTER (O.C.)
"'Tis some late visitor," I
muttered, "tapping at my chamber
door - only this and nothing more."
Mike sticks his head out the window.
EXT. SHANNON'S WINDOW
Hunter grins down at the back of Mike's head.
Mike pulls his head back in.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
MIKE
I don't see anything.
The lights dim and then come back on...
And Hunter is perched on the windowsill.
HUNTER
And the silken, sad, uncertain
rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me--filled me with
fantastic terrors never felt
before; So that now, to still the
beating of my heart, I stood
repeating...
RICHARD
(overlapping)
Waste the son of a bitch!
HUNTER
"'Tis some visitor entreating
entrance at my chamber door-- Some
late visitor entreating entrance at
my chamber door;-- This it is
(He steps off the
windowsill and onto
the floor)
and nothing more."
58.
And three guns ring out, firing shot after shot at Hunter.
Hunter spreads his arms crucifix style, accepting each shot
as it comes.
Shannon screams.
Finally the shots stop.
And Hunter stands, unscathed.
ERIC
The fuck?!
RICHARD
He should be a motherfuckin' pin
cushion!
Duane blinks, suprised.
Shannon gapes.
Hunter simply wears his lopsided smirk and grandly states
HUNTER
Then this ebony bird beguiling my
sad fancy into smiling, By the
grave and stern decorum of the
countenance it wore, "Though thy
crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I
said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly
grim and ancient Raven wandering
from the nightly shore-- Tell me
what thy lordly name is on the
night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the
Crow, "Nevermore."
He grabs Jack and chucks him into the dresser.
MIKE
Fuck this shit!
He turns and fires at Shannon.
DUANE
No!
Hunter swiftly steps in front of the bullet, snatching it
out of midair.
The four run, but Hunter puts his hand to his mouth and
blows the bullet. It flies and hits Jack in the leg.
He falls.
59.
Hunter advances on him.
EXT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The remaining three leap into the convertible before they
realize
RICHARD
Where's Jack?
MIKE
Who fucking cares!
He starts the car and floors it. They peel off into the night.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - KITCHEN
Jack flies through the swinging door into the kitchen. He's
bleeding from various places, and limping noticeably, blood
oozing from his leg.
JACK
Somebody help me!
HUNTER (O.C.)
There's no one to help you now.
Hunter suddenly appears next to Jack. He throws him into the
wall.
HUNTER
You controlled her! You fucked her
in your sick and twisted ways!
Hunter grabs him by the collar and lifts him until they're
face to face.
HUNTER
Even against her will.
FLASHBACK
Ashley tied to a bed in a room containing some sick items.
She's struggling against the ties that bind.
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
You violated her! You told her how
to act and who to know or else you
beat her!
FLASHBACK
60.
Ashley falls to the ground after Jack hit her. He grabs a
handfull of her hair.
JACK
You broke our agreement!
ASHLEY
I'm sorry!
He raises his hand again.
END FLASHBACK
Jack crashes against the refridgerator. Hunter opens it.
HUNTER
You
(puts Jack's head in
the door)
sadistic
(slams the door HARD)
bastard!
He pulls Jack out.
HUNTER
Time to join James and Jacob.
Hunter pulls a gun from his pocket and puts it against
Jack's head.
JACK
No man. Please, wait...
HUNTER
Go on. Beg. It makes this all the
more...
BLAM! Hunter pulls the trigger and the gun goes off, blowing
Jack's brain out of the back of his head. Brain matter,
gore, and blood splatter on the linoleum.
HUNTER (CONT'D)
Sweeter.
Hunter sits hard on the floor.
Shannon and Duane enter.
Hunter looks up at them, his young face looks old and very
tired.
HUNTER
Three more. Only three more.
61.
EXT. STREET/CONVERTIBLE - NIGHT
The red convertible rockets down the street, the remaining
three crammed inside, trying to righten themselves out.
They're both very much overly stressed out.
ERIC
What the fuck are we supposed to do?!
RICHARD
I don't know, but I'm too fucking
young to die!
MIKE
Shut up! Just shut up!
The two fall silent.
MIKE
Everything dies. There has to be
some way to kill him.
ERIC
Ah fuck man, we pumped his fucking
body full of leadand he didn't even
bleed! Didn't even take a fucking
step back! It's like he's the
fucking Angel of Death or something!
MIKE
No one's immortal!
RICHARD
Maybe he was wearing a bullet proof
vest or something.
ERIC
Yeah. Yeah. A bullet proof vest. I
didn't try to shoot him in the head.
Did you?
RICHARD
Nope.
MIKE
No. He must be a cop.
ERIC
Yeah. He's trying to scare us into
talking. He won't come after us. He
can't risk killing all three of us.
Not if he wants to arrest us.
62.
RICHARD
Yeah.
MIKE
Let's go get Jacob.
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH EXPLOSION - NIGHT
The three are standing on what is now the edge of a small
crater. Police tape ropes off the deserted crime scene.
MIKE
What the fuck happened?
RICHARD
Looks like some kind of fucking
explosion.
ERIC
Same guy?
RICHARD
No way. It took us a little while
to get to Shannon's. This guy had
to have time to do all this. Ain't
no way.
Mike moves down into the rubble. He searches around a bit as
Richard continues.
RICHARD (O.C.)
Ain't no fucking way!
Mike finds something and walks toward it. He ducks out of
frame.
MIKE
Hey guys! Come here!
Richard and Eric scramble down into the debris.
RICHARD
Mike?!
MIKE (O.C.)
Over here!
They follow the sound of his voice and find Mike standing in
front of a small portion of the only surviving wall that
somehow survived the blast.
Burnt into the wall is a Crow, and below it the word ASHLEY.
Mike holds up a roll of duct tape.
63.
MIKE
Found this too.
RICHARD
Oh man! It was him! It was!
ERIC
But who is he?!
There is a WHOOSH of black leather and a CACKLE OF EVIL.
The three spin.
The Skull Cowboy is standing behind them.
RICHARD
Who are you?
SKULL COWBOY
I am but a simple messenger. You
may call me the Skull Cowboy.
MIKE
Listen Mr. Cowboy, or whatever the
fuck your name is, we really aren't
in the mood for anymore freaky shit
to happen!
The Skull Cowboy shrugs.
SKULL COWBOY
Not my problem. I'm just a messenger.
I bring you one.
ERIC
What is it?
SKULL COWBOY
Death is coming for you, and Hunter
Gray sends his regards.
The three stare, their faces are a mixture of shock,
surprise, and fear.
RICHARD
But this is the real world, the
real real world, the dead don't
come back. The dead don't come back!
The Skull Cowboy cackles.
64.
SKULL COWBOY
"And abashed the devil stood and
felt how awful goodness is."
(beat)
You three messed up. Now it's time
to pay the Crow.
MIKE
Fuck you!
SKULL COWBOY
Sorry. I'm not of that sexual
preference. But trust me when I say
to say your prayers. Judgement Day
isn't coming; it's already here.
The Skull Cowboy turns and walks off.
ERIC
Hey! Come back here!
The Skull Cowboy glances over his shoulder and cackles again.
Then he's gone, but his laugh still hangs in the air.
CUT TO:
INT. SHANNON'S LIVING ROOM
Hunter is sitting on the couch, the Crow perched on the arm.
Duane and Shannon are sitting on an easy chair.
HUNTER
I miss her terribly.
SHANNON
I know.
HUNTER
I promised to protect her in life
and I failed. Yet in death I am
given another opportunity.
DUANE
Does it hurt?
HUNTER
Take all the pain you can imagine
and multiply it 900 trillion times.
Now take that number and imagine
dying and then imagine clawing your
way out of a coffin. Now imagine
being alone.
Hunter stands.
65.
HUNTER
I must leave.
SHANNON
Why kill them?
HUNTER
They hurt her. They killed us.
DUANE
Nice seeing you again.
HUNTER
You too. Good bye.
Shannon stands.
SHANNON
Wait. Why are you killing them?
Just because they hurt her?
HUNTER
I swore to protect her. I broke
that promise. I only have three
things to live for now.
SHANNON
What are those three things?
HUNTER
Love, Death, and Redemption.
With that said, he walks out the front door.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter rides his motorcycle down the street. He stops at the
curb and dismounts. He walks over to a white bricked building.
HUNTER
She told me about this place.
FLASHBACK
Hunter and Ashley riding in his car.
ASHLEY
First time I ever got drugs was out
here. My brother got me started.
HUNTER
Fucking dick. One of these days
I'll have that building destroyed.
66.
ASHLEY
There's no way you can.
HUNTER
I know. And it breaks me up inside.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter punches the side of the building. He leaves a large
hole in it. He falls on his butt and just stares at the
building.
A JUNKIE walks up to him.
JUNKIE
Damn man. What the fuck are you
supposed to be?
HUNTER
Pissed off.
The Junkie takes a joint from his pocket.
JUNKIE
Take it.
Hunter stands and waves his hand.
HUNTER
No.
JUNKIE
It'll fuck you up real good.
Hunter glares.
FLASHBACK
Ashley and the Junkie. He hands her a blunt.
JUNKIE
It'll fuck you up real good.
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
I'll give ya something that'll fuck
you up real good.
He grabs the Junkies head and smashes it into the wall,
literally crushing his head into pulp, and leaving a bloody
stain on the wall.
67.
HUNTER
That'll be free.
He mounts his motorcycle and roars off.
EXT. CEMETARY - NIGHT
Hunter kneels at Ashley's grave.
HUNTER
I did it Ashley. I got the son of a
bitch that got you started in drugs.
I killed him. Smashed his fucking
head into a wall.
Hunter falls forward, resting his face in the grass in front
of the tombstone.
HUNTER
Almost done. Almost done.
He falls forward onto the dirt.
CUT TO:
INT. MALL
Crowded. Shoppers enter stores, exit stores, carry bags,
purchase items, eat at the food court, etc.
Amid all this organized chaos are Duane and Shannon.
DUANE
Did last night even happen?
SHANNON
I don't know. I hope so. I enjoyed
talking to Hunter again, even if he
isn't the same.
DUANE
That was fun. The other parts...
Shannon shivers.
SHANNON
Forget about the other parts.
DUANE
Okay.
A CAW! is suddenly echoed throughout the mall. Duane and
Shannon look around.
68.
SHANNON
You don't think.
Hunter sneaks up behind them.
HUNTER
Boo!
Shannon and Duane both jump.
DUANE
What are you doing here?
HUNTER
Enjoying myself? Trying to have one
last moment of normalcy? Trying to
get one last grip on any sanity I
have left?
SHANNON
There are cops everywhere! They're
looking for you.
HUNTER
Let them.
SHANNON
What do you need to buy? Corpses
don't tend to carry cash, check, or
a major credit card.
HUNTER
There is an object of my vengence
here.
He pushes between them and walks off but Duane and Shannon
grab his arms.
DUANE
Excuse me?
Hunter stops and stares at both of them.
HUNTER
Ashley's half brother.
SHANNON
And what did he do?
Hunter's eyes look sad. There is obviously an internal
conflict.
HUNTER
I... I cannot say.
69.
DUANE
Why?
HUNTER
I made a promise to Ashley never to
tell her secrets.
CAW!
The Crow flies around.
People point. "Look a bird!" "Cool, a Crow!" "That's one
fucking big Crow!" and other ad libbed lines are thrown
about in the background.
The Crow perches on Hunter's shoulder. It CAWS once more.
Hunter scoffs.
HUNTER
Spencers. It would figure.
INT. SPENCER'S GIFTS
The sex shop in the mall.
MANNY BOYD is standing at the counter, paying for his
purchase. The CLERK hands over the bag and some change.
CLERK
Two dollars forty cents is your
change. Receit's in the bag. Thank
you and come again.
Manny takes his bag.
Hunter walks into the store, the Crow perched on his shoulder.
He is immedietly given strange, curious glances.
He looks up at an unseen security camera and smiles and waves.
Manny and Hunter bump into each other.
MANNY
Oh sorry. Hey, nice bird.
(beat)
What the hell happened to you?
Halloween party?
HUNTER
No. But the same thing will happen
to you.
Manny blinks, confused.
70.
MANNY
(laughs)
Oh yeah. What's that?
HUNTER
I died.
He grabs Manny and slams him into the rack of sex toys
behind him.
EXT. SKYLINE - NIGHT
An unknown city of dark buildings spreads out before us. A
sprawling landscape of brick and steel. Some are office
buildings, the others hotels, or homes.
A CROW flies by.
SHANNON (V.O.)
Long ago, some people once believed
that the Crow carried the soul to
the land of the dead. But sometimes
something so bad happened that the
soul carried a great sadness and
could not rest. And sometimes, just
sometimes, the Crow will bring that
soul back to set wrong things
right...
FADE TO:
EXT. HOUSE - EARLY EVENING
A medium sized two story house. Cars of various makes and
models are parked outside. Loud music can be heard from
within. Various people sit on the front porch, or stand
around, drinking beers, smoking cigarettes, and ad libbing
various conversations.
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
People dance extremely close, bumping and grinding to music.
Couples move off upstairs to do who knows what. Off to the
side a group of guys talk. Someone grabs a beer, another
fills a cup from a keg. People smoke in here too.
Sitting on the couch, watching people dance, smoke, talk,
etc., are HUNTER GRAY and ASHLEY CROUCH.
HUNTER
How did a girl like you end up with
a guy like Mike?
ASHLEY
I met him at the park. My friend
Krystel had to go see this guy she
liked and he walked over and said hi.
Hunter shakes his head and takes a drink from his cup.
2.
HUNTER
Has he been treating you right? I
knew a few of his other love
interests and they all had bruises.
Ashley sits silent for a moment, then
ASHLEY
He treats me alright.
Hunter notices the slight pause, but ignores it.
HUNTER
Okay.
ASHLEY
So... how many people are in the
Crow?
HUNTER
Oh fifteen or so.
ASHLEY
Why are you the only one wearing a
crow tattoo?
Hunter regards the tattoo of a familiar looking Crow shape
on his forearm. He shrugs.
HUNTER
No idea.
OVER IN THE CORNER
MIKE SHIP, JAMES ARTUBURY, JACK DAVIS, and ERIC MOORE are
talking, drinking, and smoking dope.
Eric nudges Mike and points to the sofa.
ERIC
Hey Mike, isn't that Ashley?
Mike follows Eric's finger to look at Ashley talking to
Hunter. His smile is quickly replaced with an expression of
anger.
MIKE
I thought I trained that dog better.
(shouting)
ASHLEY!
ON THE SOFA
Ashley looks at Hunter.
3.
ASHLEY
I gotta go.
HUNTER
Okay. Bye.
She gets up and leaves. Hunter returns to staring at everyone.
Ashley walks up to the group.
ASHLEY
You beckoned?
Mike backhands Ashley square across the face, hard. She
falls to the floor. Mike grabs a handfull of her hair. He
gets face to face.
MIKE
Bitch! I told you not to talk to
anyone, especially Hunter Gray!
ASHLEY
He came up to me!
MIKE
You still talked to him.
He draws back his fist.
HUNTER (O.C.)
Back off!
He grabs Mike's fist and spins him around, decking him with
a solid right to the jaw. Mike hits the floor. He touches
his lip. Blood. The entire party stops.
MIKE
You'll pay for that.
HUNTER
(ignoring)
Come on Ashley. Let's go.
Hunter takes Ashley's hand and helps her to her feet.
MIKE
I got people all over the fucking
place!
Eric and James help Mike to his feet.
MIKE
You'll never make it to the door.
4.
HUNTER
Can you not fight on your own?
MIKE
Of course I can.
HUNTER
(grabs crotch)
Then grow a set of these and meet
me outside.
Hunter and Ashley leave the group behind and head for the
door. The party starts up again.
JAMES
Are you gonna let him do that?
MIKE
Of course not.
EXT. HOUSE/FRONT LAWN
Hunter and Ashley walk out of the front door. They cross the
front lawn to Hunter's black Harley Davidson parked on the
curb. Hunter hands Ashley a helmet with a Crow on it.
HUNTER
Here.
ASHLEY
Why did you do that?
HUNTER
Punch Mike?
ASHLEY
Yeah.
HUNTER
Not the first time, not the last.
Mike and his boys emerge from the house.
MIKE
Hunter!
Ashley and Hunter turn around. Hunter sighs.
HUNTER
(to Ashley)
Here we go again.
(louder; to Mike)
What? Do you really want to go?
5.
MIKE
I won't lose.
By this time most of the party goers have emerged outside
and started forming a circle.
Hunter cracks his knuckles.
HUNTER
Right.
ASHLEY
Don't.
HUNTER
(whisper)
Don't worry. I see Eric, James, and
Jack. They can't fight. This'll be
short.
Hunter walks toward Mike.
HUNTER
Let's rock.
The circle closes. Ashley stands by Hunter's motorcycle to
see over the crowd.
Mike swings at Hunter, but he side steps and Mike hits only
empty air. He swings again and Hunter merely leans his head
back and avoids the punch. Mike punches again and Hunter
grabs his fist. Mike throws a punch with the other hand and
Hunter grabs that fist in his other hand.
HUNTER
So you grew some balls. Nice. Too
bad you didn't learn to fight.
Hunter shoves Mike backward. Mike trips and falls. Hunter
walks toward the edge of the circle.
HUNTER
Let me by.
The crowd starts to part.
MIKE
I know how to fight! I beat that
little slut plenty of times!
Hunter turns, eyes narrowing.
HUNTER
What?
6.
Mike gets back to his feet.
MIKE
As if you never hit a girl.
HUNTER
I'm looking at one.
That pisses Mike off. He throws a right out of anger. Hunter
ducks it and punches Mike in the face. Mike stumbles and
Hunter spin kicks him, smashing his calf bone smack into the
side of Mike's head with a sickening THUD!
Jack, Eric, and James interfere.
Jack attacks from behind, but Hunter throws up his fist and
nails Jack in the face as he rushes for him. Eric tries to
punch but Hunter ducks and nut taps him. Eric falls to the
ground in agony. James attacks Hunter with a dagger. He
slashes, but Hunter leans back and grabs James's blade arm,
and elbows Eric in the face. Hunter disarms him and takes
the takes the knife.
HUNTER
(to Mike)
Can you ever fight one on one?
Hunter ditches the knife and pushes through the throng of
people to his Harley. He helps Ashley on and mounts it
himself. He roars off into the night.
EXT. STREET/MOTORCYCLE - NIGHT
Hunter and Ashley ride down a road. They stop at a red light.
HUNTER
Tell me where you live and I'll
take you home.
ASHLEY
No. They'll be waiting for me.
HUNTER
Your parents know?
ASHLEY
No. And they're not home. Won't be
until next week.
HUNTER
Would you feel comfortable at my
place?
Ashley looks a bit skeptical and scared at that suggestion.
7.
ASHLEY
You're not going to rape me, are you?
Hunter laughs.
HUNTER
Unlike those other dicks I prefer
consentual. Besides, you've known
me forever. I'm not like that.
The light turns green and they drive off.
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT COMPEX - NIGHT
Hunter pulls up toward the patio door of an apartment
complex and parks right outside. He leans his motorcycle
against the wall.
ASHLEY
This is where you live?
HUNTER
Yep. Small and quiet; just the way
I like it.
ASHLEY
Can I ask you something?
HUNTER
(unlocking patio door)
Sure.
ASHLEY
How do you do it?
Hunter slides open the door and look back at her.
HUNTER
Do what?
They walk inside.
INT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
One big room with a bed up against one wall, two easy chairs
in front of an entertaiment center. A bookshelf, and a
computer off on another wall. The bathroom is off in another
room.
ASHLEY
How do you make everyone so damned
scared of the Crow?
8.
HUNTER
Have a seat.
Ashley sits in an easy chair.
HUNTER
Hungry? Thirsty?
ASHLEY
Both.
Hunter walks over to the pantry and a small igloo fridge. He
returns with a can of Dr. Pepper and a bag of chips. He
hands the items to her.
HUNTER
I don't drink, so I figured you
wouldn't want a beer...
ASHLEY
Thank you
Hunter sits on the foot of the bed.
HUNTER
I'll tell you how. I induce fear.
It's all really easy. Gangs hate it
when someone knows too much about
them. I know everything about them
and use it. What scares them more
is they don't know how many Crow
there are.
ASHLEY
How many are there?
HUNTER
That's the best part: Only one. Me.
Ashley reacts in surprise, nearly choking on a chip.
ASHLEY
One?!
HUNTER
What can I say? I rule.
Ashley gets up and walks over to the bookshelf. She examines
the books and other objects contained on the shelf.
ASHLEY
What made you leave them?
9.
HUNTER
Got tired of their attitudes and
the stupid, pointless fighting.
They were wannabes to the extreme.
I started using everything I knew
against them.
(beat)
And I left because I couldn't stand
what they were doing to you.
Ashley looks at him.
ASHLEY
Really?
Hunter nods.
ASHLEY
Why are you telling me this? Do you
know how easily I could have you
killed?
HUNTER
I trust you.
Ashley turns back to the shelf and looks at a porcelain doll
of a dove on the shelf.
ASHLEY
I used to have a doll just like this.
Hunter walks over.
HUNTER
I know. Mike stole it from you.
ASHLEY
He did?! He told me he didn't know
what happened to it!
HUNTER
He was going to pawn it, but I
stole it back. I was just waiting
for the right moment.
Tears well up in Ashley's eyes. She hugs Hunter.
ASHLEY
Thank you.
HUNTER
No problem.
10.
Ashley reaches up and kisses him lightly on the cheek.
Hunter pulls back and looks at her. Ashley looks up and
pulls him into a deep, passionate kiss.
They finally break.
HUNTER
What was that for?
ASHLEY
Getting my doll back.
HUNTER
Remind me to do it again sometime.
Hunter turns and walks toward the TV. Ashley looks at a
black Crow porcelain statuette next to the dove.
ASHLEY
What's this?
HUNTER
That Crow is my pride and joy. I
put it next to the dove as they
symbol of life and death.
ASHLEY
Wow.
HUNTER
Long ago, some people once believed
that the Crow carried the soul to
the land of the dead. But sometimes
something so bad happened that the
soul carried a great sadness and
could not rest. And sometimes, just
sometimes, the Crow will bring that
soul back to set wrong things right.
In short: Love, Death, and
Redemption.
ASHLEY
Whoa.
HUNTER
That's where I got my name. I'm an
omen of death.
ASHLEY
No wonder you scare.
Hunter walks over to Ashley and pulls her into a hug.
11.
HUNTER
I know everything they've done to
you, Ashley. Everything. And I'll
get them for you.
ASHLEY
Thank you.
CUT TO:
INT. MALL - FOOD COURT
Hustle and bustle, but not very crowded. People walk to the
various fast food chains they have around. Many conversations
float in the air.
SHANNON WINSTEAD and DUANE KUGLER are sitting at a table
near the door.
SHANNON
Where is she?
DUANE
You know Ashley. She's never on time.
SHANNON
Who's this new guy?
DUANE
You got me, but I didn't like Mike
too much.
SHANNON
I know what you mean.
Ashley and Hunter walk through the doors and into the food
court. They look around for Shannon and Duane. Hunter is Mr.
Cool today, wearing black shades and a black bandanna.
Shannon waves.
SHANNON
There they are.
The two approach.
ASHLEY
Hey guys.
DUANE
Hi Ashley.
Hunter and Ashley sit. Hunter pulls off his dark sunglasses.
12.
ASHLEY
Duane, Shannon, this is Hunter.
HUNTER
What's up.
SHANNON
I've seen you around. You run with
the Crow gang?
HUNTER
Run with it? Hell... sorry, I am
the Crow gang.
DUANE
Huh?
HUNTER
I'll explain later.
SHANNON
Where's Krystel?
ASHLEY
Couldn't make it.
HUNTER
Hungry?
ASHLEY
Yeah. You know what I like.
DUANE
I'll go with you.
Hunter and Duane leave the table and walk to one of the fast
food places. They stand in line.
Shannon leans over to Ashley.
SHANNON
He's hot!
ASHLEY
I know!
Mike walks into the food court. He spots Ashley and Shannon.
MIKE
Fucking bitch.
He walks over.
13.
MIKE
Hello Ashley.
Ashley and Shannon look up.
SHANNON
Shit.
ASHLEY
Go away Mike.
Mike grabs her by the shoulders and forces her to her feet.
MIKE
Wasn't smart to walk out on me.
ASHLEY
Treat me like dirt and enjoy seeing
my back.
IN LINE, Duane and Hunter converse.
DUANE
How'd you meet Ashley?
HUNTER
My parents and her parents are old
friends. I've known her since she
was six. We sort of parted ways a
little while ago. Got back together
at a party where I KO'ed Mike and
his inner circle.
DUANE
They had it coming.
HUNTER
No...
(spots Ashley and Mike)
Shit.
DUANE
What?
(turns)
Oh.
AT THE TABLE
MIKE
No one walks out on me.
ASHLEY
I did.
14.
HUNTER (O.C.)
And you also said no one could kick
your ass. Are you always wrong?
Mike looks at Hunter, releasing his grip on Ashley's
shoulders.
MIKE
Thought you'd be smart enough to
stay out of sight.
Hunter laughs.
HUNTER
Please. Me afraid of a few wannabes
like you? I thought you'd be smart
enough to leave Ashley alone,
unless you want me to have to
humilate you again.
(beat)
By the way, I see you travel in
packs. Can you ever go anywhere
with those other losers?
Mike grins.
MIKE
Might want to watch your back
there, pal.
HUNTER
Please.
He steps to the side and swings his hand up, catching a
knife by the hilt as it flies over his shoulder. Mike's grin
falls. Hunter sticks the blade in the table.
HUNTER
Pathetic.
(to the others)
Come on, let's go.
Duane takes Shannon's hand and walks off. They stop at the
door and wait. Ashley shoves Mike out of the way and follows.
They wait for Hunter.
HUNTER
Nice try.
He walks after them. Mike watches Hunter go, and then,
enraged, charges Hunter from behind. Hunter spins, locking
an arm around Mike's waist. Using Mike's momentum against
him, he pivots 180 degrees, and slams Mike hard onto the tile.
15.
Hunter stands.
HUNTER
The Crow never loses. Remember that.
He walks to the doors and joins a clapping Duane, Shannon,
and Ashley. They walk out.
EXT. MALL PARKING LOT - DAY - CONTINUOUS
The four walk to Shannon's car.
DUANE
That was great!
SHANNON
How did you know the others were
there?
HUNTER
Mike never goes anywhere alone.
That's like saying some people
aren't greedy. I knew the knife was
coming because James, in true
predicatble fashion, does it all
the time. I just saw him while I
was in line.
DUANE
Well where too now?
SHANNON
How about Hunter's?
Hunter balks.
HUNTER
Sorry, but I don't show anyone
where I live.
SHANNON
Why?
HUNTER
Take a guess.
SHANNON
Oh.
Duane and Shannon get into the car. Hunter leans into the
window.
HUNTER
We'll call, set something up.
16.
DUANE
Okay. Nice meeting you.
HUNTER
You too.
CUT TO:
EXT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
A sliding glass door opens and RICHARD FRANCES steps out,
zipping up his fly. He slides the door shut behind him.
RICHARD
Ooh, what a mouth.
ASHLEY (O.C.)
I hate you!
He looks over to see Ashley storm out of Hunter's apartment.
Richard's "date" lives in the same complex!
Hunter runs after her.
HUNTER
It was a couple months ago! I never
thought I'd see you again! It means
nothing to me. You mean everything.
Ashley stops walking and turns to Hunter, tears streaming.
ASHLEY
Hunter, I can't believe you did
that. Not just to her, but to me.
If you know everything they've
done, then you know I can't forgive
you for what you did to me.
She rushes off. Hunter follows. Richard grins. He knows.
CUT TO:
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHT
The Rage is having a meeting. They're sitting around,
basically doing nothing but smoking dope, doing dope, and
drinking. Our four villians are sitting around JACOB PARKER
as he carves his initials into the concrete.
JACOB
God that little whore squirmed and
scream so much. I don't think I've
cum so hard in my life. That was
definetly worth marking.
17.
JACK
Sounds like it.
Richard walks down into the ditch.
RICHARD
Mike Ship?
The entire gang turns to look at Richard. Some draw weapons.
Mike stands and walks over to him.
MIKE
Yeah, what do you want?
RICHARD
I might have information you want.
MIKE
Spill it.
RICHARD
Not until you agree to let me in.
Eric speaks up from where he's sitting.
ERIC
You want to be a Rage?
RICHARD
Yes.
MIKE
Depends on what you tell me.
RICHARD
Okay. I know where Hunter Gray
lives. I was fucking a girl in his
apartment complex.
Mike grins. He turns to glance at the others and then back
at Richard.
MIKE
You're in... providing you help us
kill him
RICHARD
Deal.
CUT TO:
EXT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
CAPTION FADES IN: One Week Later
18.
A PAIR OF LIPS
kiss deeply, passionately, and finally part.
The CAMERA PULLS BACK until we see Hunter and ASHLEY as the
owners of the kissing lips. They're holding hands.
Out in the street, Shannon is waiting in her car.
HUNTER
I hate for you to leave like this.
ASHLEY
I know. Thanks for telling Shannon
where you live.
HUNTER
No problem. I'll be over to meet
your parents tomorrow.
ASHLEY
Okay. Two o'clock.
HUNTER
I'll be there.
One more quick kiss before Ashley moves off toward Shannon's
car.
EXT. STREET - CONTINUOUS
Shannon is sitting in the car, very rigid. Ashley sees this
and immedietly knows something is wrong.
ASHLEY
Shannon?
SHANNON
Yeah?
BLAM!
a gunshot rings out, it hits Ashley in the arm. She spins
and falls.
INT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT
He hears the gunshot.
EXT. STREET
Ashley falls to the ground, holding her bleeding arm.
19.
Mike, Richard, and James climb out of Shannon's car, while
Jack, and Eric emerge from behind it.
Shannon has tears running down her face.
Mike leans into the open window.
MIKE
Go. Now!
Shannon, sobbing, puts the car in gear and roars away.
The others lean over Ashley. Jack roughly pulls her to her
feet.
ASHLEY
What do you want?!
RICHARD
Revenge.
ASHLEY
What did I do?
JAMES
Broken hearts, maybe?
Ashley's eyes widen. She kicks Jack in the shin and takes
off running. Mike shoots her in the leg.
That doesn't stop Ashley's progress. She hobbles to the door
until her other leg is shot out from under her.
ASHLEY
I never broke your fucking hearts!
You treated me like dirt so I left
your fucking asses on the doorstep!
MIKE
Dry up. We want Hunter. You just
happen to be an added bonus.
With a roar of anger, Hunter leaps from the patio door and
tackles Mike.
The two roll over until Hunter lands on top and proceedes to
beat the living daylights out of Mike.
HUNTER
Touch her again and I'll kill every
last one of ya!
Ashley is forgotten for now as the other four converge on
Hunter.
20.
He puts up a hell of a fight, but gets dragged off of Mike
and tossed into the mailbox.
Ashley leaps on Eric's back, shoving her knee into the small
of his back. She falls to the ground and drives his back
into her knee.
The other three never expected this much resistence, and are
disctracted long enough for Hunter to regain control.
He grabs Jack and throws him into James. Mike and Richard
try to grab him, but he slams them together.
Ashley kicks Eric and then kicks Jack.
Unbeknownest to Ashley and Hunter, Mike retrieves his
dropped gun. He raises it at Hunter's back.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
Hunter staggers, but doesn't fall.
Ashley screams.
ASHLEY
Watch out!
Mike unloads the entire clip into him.
MIKE
Why can't ya just fucking die?!
Hunter finally falls.
Ashley screams.
ASHLEY
Hunter!
She rushes to his side as Mike reloads.
Once again, a recovered Jack and Eric lift Ashley to her feet.
Mike puts the gun to her head.
MIKE
Any last words?
ASHLEY
Go to Hell.
Mike cock the gun.
21.
MIKE
You first.
BLAM!
FADE TO:
EXT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - LATER
Sirens blare in the distance, growing ever closer. Rain
begins to come down in sheets as thunder rumbles overhead
and lightning flashes.
Hunter, mortally wounded and dying quickly, crawls over to
the already dead body of Ashley. He takes her limp hand in
his and squeezes.
HUNTER
I'll get them for us Ashley. I
promise.
And with this, he dies.
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETARY - RAINING - NIGHT
We see two graves, side by side. They read Ashley Crouch and
Hunter Gray.
SHANNON (V.O.)
Two star crossed lovers, united in
a love so bright in shadowed even
the brighest star. They died
together as one, and now one has a
chance to exact his revenge.
A HAND
place a flower in front of each gravestone.
PULL BACK to reveal Shannon, and her boyfriend Duane Kugler.
Shannon puts her hand over her mouth, but not before we see
her quivering bottom lip.
Tears well up in her eyes.
CAPTION: One Year Later
Duane has his arm around her.
SHANNON
I wish I could have done something.
22.
DUANE
If you had shown up any sooner they
would have killed you too.
SHANNON
I know, but maybe they would've run
or... or... I don't know...
It starts to rain.
DUANE
Let's go.
SHANNON
I... okay.
She snuggles closer to Duane as they leave. She glances back
once to catch one last look at the graves.
Then they're gone.
Lightning and thunder clash and flash in the background.
A Crow silently lands on Hunter's tombstone. It CAWS just
once as a large black cloud blots out the sun, throwing the
graveyard into darkness. The rain begins to come down in
sheets.
A BLACK LEATHER BOOT
steps into frame. It begins to tap, impatient.
The Crow continues to peck on the tombstone.
The ground begins to heave.
The boot taps again.
CAMERA PANS UP THE BOOT
to reveal its owner. THE SKULL COWBOY.
The Crow stops pecking.
The ground gives on final heave as a coffin lid breaches the
soil and crashes in front of the new hole in the ground.
A figure pulls itself up out of the grave. He falls to the
ground, and is immedietly soaked.
He grips the top of his tombstone and claws his way up,
grabbing the top of the tombstone and clutching it for
balance.
23.
The Crow CAWS and takes off, landing on the Skull Cowboy's
outstretched arm.
The boy looks up at the Skull Cowboy.
SKULL COWBOY
Welcome back Hunter.
HUNTER
Who are you?
SKULL COWBOY
You can call me the Skull Cowboy.
Hunter looks around at his surroundings, taking them in.
He's confused.
HUNTER
What happened to me?
SKULL COWBOY
All will be explained....
Hunter looks at the gravestones, and at the names.
HUNTER'S POV
ASHLEY'S GRAVEMARKER.
NORMAL POV
HUNTER
No....
He looks at the Skull Cowboy, but the Skull Cowboy is gone.
He falls to his knees in the dirt.
HUNTER
No...
The Crow lands on Hunter's shoulder. It CAWS and takes
flight. It wants him to follow.
EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT
A one story house, the windows missing, graffitied, and out
and out desecrated.
The Crow lands and begins to walk up the driveway. Hunter
remains at the entrance.
HUNTER
I know this house.
24.
The Crow reaches the front porch and hops up to the broken
door. It stops and looks back at Hunter, giving him a beckon
CAW.
HUNTER
You want me to follow?
The Crow hops inside.
INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Hunter walks inside and looks around.
FLASHBACK
A once beautiful interior
END FLASHBACK
Now wrecked, the sofa flipped, the shelves shoved over,
everything breakable broken.
HUNTER
What happened?
The Skull Cowboy walks in through the broken door.
SKULL COWBOY
Vandalism. When you two died, they
struck here. Her family grabbed
what they could carry and left.
Hunter touches the overturned, ripped couch.
FLASHBACK
Ashley holding a rag against Hunter's jaw.
ASHLEY
Hold it there and it'll stop
bleeding.
HUNTER
Leave it alone and it'll stop on
it's own.
Ashley gives him a look.
Hunter kisses her.
HUNTER
Okay, Nurse Ashley, I'll hold it.
END FLASHBACK
25.
Hunter stares at the couch.
HUNTER
This is horrible.
SKULL COWBOY
Check out her room.
Hunter looks at him, shocked, and runs toward
INT. ASHLEY'S ROOM
Hunter walks in. Objects are smashed, poster ripped off the
walls, stuffed animals ripped open.
As soon as he enters, he falls to his knees.
FLASHBACK
The two of them, laying on a floor, looking through books,
researching.
END FLASHBACK
He falls backward against the bed and arches his back in pain.
FLASHBACK
Ashley thrown on her bed, being raped.
END FLASHBACK
He falls forward against the closet door, but no flashback
occurs. He rolls onto his back and stares up.
HUNTER'S POV
THE SKULL COWBOY STANDING IN THE DOORWAY, THE CROW PERCHED
ON HIS SHOULDER.
NORMAL POV
HUNTER
What happened?
SKULL COWBOY
Memories.
Hunter stands and leans against the bed for support. He
braces himself.
FLASHBACK
26.
Ashley hit by an uknown assailant. She falls onto her bed,
the guy on top.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter screams and flings himself into the wall at the head
of the bed. He grabs one of the remaining posters and rips
it away, exposing a spot of blood.
FLASHBACK
A very young Ashley slammed against the wall by a man with a
knife in one hand and the other around her throat.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter grabs his chest and falls to the floor.
FLASHBACK
Ashley cutting herself with a dagger, being watched over by
an unknown man.
END FLASHBACK
He leans back against the mirror.
FLASHBACK
Ashley putting her make up on in the mirror, smiling at
Hunter as he enters her room.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes are closed. He's panting. He eventually opens
them.
The Skull Cowboy is watching, still standing in the doorway.
Hunter's gaze falls on a broken porcelain doll: the dove he
gave her.
HUNTER
No.
He knee walks over to it and grabs the pieces, cradling the
pieces like a baby. He rocks back and forth.
FLASHBACK
Ashley and Hunter are fighting in his apartment.
Ashley slaps Hunter.
27.
He grabs her by the throat and slams her against the wall.
She looks up, fear, betrayl, in her eyes.
ASHLEY
Why?
END FLASHBACK
Hunter has tears flowing down his cheeks.
FLASHBACK
Ashley enters her room and finds the doll in it's box
sitting on her bed. She drops her backpack and picks it up.
A tear rolls down her cheek.
Hunter enters and walks up behind her.
HUNTER
Never thought you'd see this huh?
Ashley turns to look at him.
ASHLEY
It's... it's the one I always wanted.
HUNTER
I know.
(takes her hand)
I'm so sorry.
He holds her and they kiss.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter drops the doll. He looks up at the Skull Cowboy.
HUNTER
I don't even remember what the
fight was about.
SKULL COWBOY
Do you want to see your apartment.
HUNTER
Yes..
INT. HUNTER'S APARTMENT
Hunter steps through the opening in the broken glass in the
patio doors. His apartment has been ransacked, his things
thrown about on the floor. The stuff that could be carried
by five people is gone.
28.
The rest is smashed, including Hunter's precious Crow
statuette.
SKULL COWBOY
They took everything.
HUNTER
No!
FLASHBACK
Hunter and Ashley sharing their first kiss, the deep
passionate one.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter stumbles backward.
FLASHBACK
Ashley and Hunter laying on his bed.
ASHLEY
I love you.
HUNTER
I love you too.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter falls to his knees.
HUNTER
No more!
FLASHBACK
Ashley's face, sweating, panting. Hunter's face leans into
frame. They kiss deeply. It's obvious what they're doing.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter puts his hands on his head.
HUNTER
No more! Make it stop!
(screaming)
MAKE IT STOP!!!!!!
The Skull Cowboy drops the dove at Hunter's side.
SKULL COWBOY
Then you know what you must do.
29.
Hunter looks at the doll.
SLOW MOTION:
Hunter picks up a chunk of the doll, throwing it to the
floor, where it explodes, sending pieces flying in every
direction.
He picks up a chunk of white porcelain. He crushes it in his
hands until it's powder and applies it all over his face.
He picks up a portion of the smashed Crow and crushes the
black porcelain. He runs a finger down each eye and around
his lips.
He moves to his closet and throws it open. His clothes are
still there. He changes from his burial clothing into a pair
of black pants, a black shirt, black boots, and a long
leather jacket.
He stands.
NORMAL MOTION:
A flash of lightning illuminates his painted face.
HUNTER
Oh yeah. I'm ready.
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A cherry red convertible flies down the road.
INT. CONVERTIBLE
In the back sit Eric, Jack, and James. In the passenger seat
is Richard. Mike is driving.
They're each drunk and holding a beer bottle in each hand.
They fly passed an office building and skid into the parking
lot.
EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
A YOUNG WOMAN emerges from the building, locking the door
behind her. She deposits the keys in her purse.
The convertible skids to a halt.
RICHARD
What the fuck are we doing here?
30.
MIKE
Why do you think? Fuck Project at
high noon.
The woman walks toward her car, not seeing the convertible.
ERIC
Fuck yeah! Let's go!
They pile out of the car.
The woman pulls her car keys from her purse as she approaches
her car. She unlocks the door as James comes up behind her.
JAMES
Hey baby. Wanna go for a ride?
WOMAN
No.
JAMES
Oh come on.
WOMAN
No. Now please go away.
He grabs her and spins her around, slamming her against her
car. He pins her against it.
JAMES
No is not an option.
The other four suddenly swarm the scene. They grab the woman
who screams. Mike shoves a gag in her mouth.
MIKE
Shut up.
(to the others)
Let's go.
They drag the woman to the convertible and throw her in the
backseat. They all pile in and Mike starts it up and they
roar off.
A HEADLIGHT
comes on behind them, and a familiar clad man on a motorcycle
rides after them.
CUT TO:
31.
INT. JAMES' BEDROOM
The woman is lying in some peverse sexual contraption on the
wall that has her hands above her head, and her legs spread.
She's a few inches above the floor.
The five stand around her.
JACK
Now all we need are the proper
untensils.
JAMES
You guys get them. I'll stay here
and get her prepared.
RICHARD
With pleasure.
The four leave.
James checks out his impressive knife collection that's
hanging on his wall.
JAMES
It doesn't hurt as bad if you don't
struggle.
The bound and gagged woman screams into the gag.
James picks up and examines a knife.
JAMES
I'll tell ya one thing though. That
Ashley bitch we knocked off last
year used to fight like a lion. We
always won though.
(puts down knife;
picks up another)
I always won.
OVER HIS LEFT SHOULDER
the woman is still in the contraption.
CAMERA PANS FROM HIS LEFT SHOULDER TO HIS RIGHT AS HE SPEAKS
THE NEXT LINE.
JAMES
Like to cut her. Maybe they'll let
me cut you.
OVER HIS RIGHT SHOULDER
32.
the woman is gone, but Hunter stands behind him.
James turns around, holding a knife in his hands.
HUNTER
How badly do you want it, baby?
JAMES
What the fuck are you?
HUNTER
Just your average Hunter.
He grabs James around the throat and throws him into the
opposite wall.
HUNTER
And you're my prey.
INT. SEX ROOM
A large room filled with perverse sexual playthings. Only
these perverted five know it exsists.
JACK
We're gonna rip this bitch up.
MIKE
We'll make her scream all night long.
Suddenly there's a THUMP! and a WHAM! from upstairs.
RICHARD
What the fuck?!
ERIC
Jimmy!
They run out.
INT. JAMES' BEDROOM
James is now hanging in the contraption by his wrists. His
feet dangle a few inches from the floor.
Hunter stands by the knife collection.
JAMES
What are you gonna do?
Hunter takes a knife. He holds it up so it glistens in the
light. He runs the blade along his cheeks and chin and licks
the blade.
33.
HUNTER
I'm gonna cut ya.
He hurls the knife. It misses, embedding itself in the base
of wall below James's feet.
Hunter grabs a handfull of knives and throws.
James screams.
We see the knives are forming an unseen outline.
James stops screaming as he realizes the blades have missed.
JAMES
Missed.
Hunter has his back turned. He's holding a knife hilt
against his forehead.
FLASHBACK
James forcing Ashley on the bed and pinned her down.
END FLASHBACK
FLASHBACK
James watching Ashley cut her forearm.
END FLASHBACK
FLASHBACK
James cutting her now. Ashley's screaming.
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
Liked to cut her. To rape her with
knives to sastify your own sick,
perverted sense of pleasure.
He puts his head against the wall and begins to
absentmindedly carve something in the wall.
JAMES
Yeah. So what of it?
Hunter turns and glares at James. The fires of Hell burn in
his eyes.
HUNTER
Here's my pleasure.
34.
He throws the knife. It goes straight between James' eyes.
His eyes open wide before they roll back. He lets out one
final yelp.
Hunter walks back to the window and silently slides out.
The other four burst into the room.
ERIC
Oh shit.
MIKE
Who did this?
RICHARD
Ah fuck man. If we had been here we
would've been killed!
JACK
Is that a... a Crow?
WIDE SHOT
the outline is revealed. It's a Crow made of knives, the tip
of the beak the knife that killed James.
ON THE WALL
behind the four survivors is one word, the word Hunter
carved. It's ASHLEY.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter sits on the concrete and leans against his motorcycle,
holding an ornate dagger, it's blade a gold color, it's hilt
silver, encrusted with jewels. He clutches it tightly as he
has a
FLASHBACK
A young Ashley giving a box to James.
ASHLEY
Happy one month.
JAMES
For me?
He opens the box and removes the dagger.
ASHLEY
I know you like knives and all..
35.
JAMES
Oh it's beautiful.
He kisses her.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter begins to rock back and forth, clutching the dagger
tighter.
FLASHBACK
Ashley sitting on the floor in her room, holding the dagger
in her hand.
James is watching over her.
JAMES
Now cut yourself! Do it, or I'll do
it for you!
ASHLEY
No!
JAMES
Fine!
He grabs her arm and the knife. We see that it's the dagger.
He puts the blade on her flesh but we come to the
END FLASHBACK
Hunter drops the dagger.
He's breathing hard. He looks at the dagger. The blade has
blood on it. He looks at his hands. They're cut, a deep cut,
blood pouring.
He dips a finger in the puddle of blood forming on his hands
and writes ASHLEY in blood on the concrete.
He looks at his hands and the cuts close before his eyes.
The Skull Cowboy appears.
SKULL COWBOY
You did good.
HUNTER
Yes, I know.
He lifts the dagger, expecting another flashback, but none
comes. He slips it in his leather jacket's pocket.
36.
He turns to the Skull Cowboy.
HUNTER
I can heal myself?
The Skull Cowboy nods.
SKULL COWBOY
Yes.
HUNTER
Am I invincible.
SKULL COWBOY
As long as the Crow remains alive,
so shall you.
Hunter looks at the Crow that has now perched on his shoulder.
HUNTER
Of everything that must die between
tonight and tomorrow, the Crow
shall not be one of them.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
Shannon is lying in bed, tossing and turning to an unseen
dream. But we do hear a jumble of OVERLAPPING VOICES.
HUNTER (V.O.)
(overlapping)
So I'll see you tomorrow.
ASHLEY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Count on it. Two o'clock.
HUNTER (V.O.)
(overlapping)
I'll be waiting.
ASHLEY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
I never broke your fucking hearts!
You treated me like dirt so I left
your fucking asses on the doorstep!
HUNTER (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Touch her again and I'll kill every
last one of ya!
37.
MIKE (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Why can't ya just fucking die?!
ASHLEY (V.O.)
(overlapping)
Go to Hell.
MIKE (V.O.)
(overlapping)
You first.
A GUNSHOT
SHANNON
NOOOOOOOO!!!
She bolts upright in bed, sweating, panting, the sheet
clinging to her body, the rest of them twisted or on the
floor.
She puts a hand on her chest, feeling her racing pulse. She
tries to steady it with a few deep breaths before she breaks
down in tears.
SHANNON
No.
EXT. SHANNON'S WINDOW - NIGHT
The window goes up and Shannon steps out onto the grass.
EXT. SHANNON'S DRIVEWAY - CONTINUOUS
She starts her car and drives off, her tailights vanishing
in the dark.
FADE TO:
EXT. CEMETARY - NIGHT
Hunter is sitting in front of Ashley's tombstone.
HUNTER
I can do it now. I can do everything
I promised. Everything I swore I
would do. I can get revenge, I can
kill, all the people who hurt you.
The people who wrecked your life.
The ones that hurt you, raped you.
I can keep the only promise I could
never fulfill in life.
38.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE CEMETARY - NIGHT
Shannon's car pulls up. She gets out and looks at the
forboding gate, and the darkness beyond, lit by only a few
lights.
She sighs and walks in.
EXT. CEMETARY - CONTINUOUS
She steps on a twig. It SNAPS under her foot.
Hunter hears this and looks up. He quickly ducks behind
Ashley's tombstone, blending in perfectly with the shadows.
Shannon walks up to the grave.
When she talks, her voice is close to cracking and she's
close to crying.
SHANNON
I... I needed to tell someone about
this. It's... it's been eating me
since it happened. The... the guys
who killed you
(beat)
I brought them. They were in my car.
They were waiting... waiting for
you two to part... waiting to
strike...
(sobbing)
I'm so sorry Ashley. It's all my
fault!
She breaks down and runs out of the cemetary.
Hunter rises from behind the tombstone, murder in his eyes.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
Shannon slips back into bed just as MRS. WINSTEAD opens the
door and peaks in.
Shannon's eyes are closed, she's asleep. Or so it seems.
Maureen Winstead lays a slip of paper on Shannon's nightstand.
MAUREEN
(whispering)
Good night.
She shuts the door.
39.
Minutes later we hear a car start and drive away, but
another one pulls up.
Shannon gets out of bed to check on it.
INT. LIVING ROOM
There's a knock on the door.
Shannon opens it.
Hunter is immedietly upon her, his hands around her throat,
squeezing the life out of her. He drives her backward and
she trips over the arm of the sofa. Hunter falls on top of
her.
HUNTER
Why?! WHY?!
Shannon can barely get a breath, but she somehow manages a
weak
SHANNON
Hunter?
HUNTER
Why?! Why did you bring Death to
our door?! Why?
He gets up off of her and lifts her up, his hands still
around her throat. He throws her and she crashes against a
wall.
She backs into a corner and draws herself up into a ball.
SHANNON
I... I didn't want to! They made me!
They made me do it!
HUNTER
Liar!
He grabs her around the throat and lifts her up and again
slams her against the wall.
HUNTER
I want the truth and I want it now!
FLASHBACK
Shannon's filling her car up with gas. The gas station is
all but empty, and the attendant inside can't be seen
because of the gas pump.
40.
The five murderers sneak up behind her.
James pulls a familiar looking dagger and grabs Shannon,
placing the blade firmly against her throat.
JAMES
Scream and you're dead.
Shannon's face is twisted in fear.
SHANNON
What do you want?
MIKE
We have a choice for you. Take us
to Hunter's, or die.
SHANNON
No.
James drives the dagger into Shannon's side. She screams in
pain.
JAMES
Agree, or I knick a vital organ!
Shannon's face contorts in pain.
SHANNON
No. I won't betray my friends!
James twists the dagger.
Shannon screams.
SHANNON
Okay! Okay! I'll take you there!
Just stop stabbing me!
RICHARD
Hey Mike, no one's here.
MIKE
You up for it?
ERIC
Damn right.
JACK
Hell yeah.
41.
James pushes her against the gas pump. You can guess what
they do afterwards because we have come to the
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes open wide.
FLASHBACK
Shannon's sitting in her car, watching the exchange between
Hunter and Ashley.
The others are in the back.
Mike gets close to her ear.
MIKE
You act anything but casual and you
die with them.
Shannon nods.
SHANNON'S POV
Ashley and Hunter kiss and Ashley walks toward her car.
Ashley suddenly stops walking.
ASHLEY
Shannon?
SHANNON
Yeah?
BLAM!
a gunshot rings out, it hits Ashley in the arm. She spins
and falls.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter releases her and Shannon slides to the floor, gasping
for air and holding her throat.
Hunter stumbles backward and falls heavily to the floor.
HUNTER
Oh, my God.
Shannon starts to cry.
HUNTER
Oh, my God!
42.
SHANNON
(weakly)
Hunter?
Hunter stands and runs out the door.
SHANNON
No! Wait!
EXT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Hunter runs out.
Shannon stops at the door.
Hunter hops on and starts his motorcycle. He drives away.
Shannon watches him go.
SHANNON
Wait...
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter pulls over to the side of the road and stops. He lays
his head in his hands.
HUNTER
What the hell happened to me?
The Crow perches on the handlebars and CAWS, as if offering
some kind of guidance.
Hunter looks at the Crow and shakes his head.
HUNTER
I miss Ashley.
The Skull Cowboy appears from the shadows.
SKULL COWBOY
You let your anger, your thirst for
vengence, cloud you judgement. You
know Shannon would never voluntarily
betray you or Ashley.
Hunter looks down at the handlebars.
HUNTER
I know.
43.
SKULL COWBOY
You know who hurt her and who
killed the two of you. Go after
them. Focus your anger on those who
deserve it or else you will end up
harming those who even mention the
name Ashley, whether it was Ashley
Crouch or not.
Hunter wipes away a tear.
HUNTER
I really miss her.
SKULL COWBOY
(softer)
She misses you too. But the sooner
the deeds are done, the sooner the
scales are balanced...
HUNTER
(interrupting)
The sooner I get to see her again.
If the Skull Cowboy's face could be seen, he would be smiling.
SKULL COWBOY
Ride Cowboy, ride.
Hunter does smirk, a lopsided smirk.
HUNTER
Keep on Rollin' baby. You know what
time it is.
EXT. VACANT LOT - NIGHT
Vacant, dark. A group of thirteen members of the Rage hang
around, leaning on cars, drinking, smoking, or doing drugs
in a variety of ways. Ad libbed conversations about sex or
drugs, or anything are heard.
Another car pulls in.
HEROINE ADDICT
Darryl's here.
BLUNT SMOKER
Who's he got with him now?
The car pulls to a stop. The headlights extinguish. The car
shuts off. For a long moment, nothing happens... then the
door opens and.. DARRYL'S BODY HITS THE CONCRETE!
44.
POT SMOKER
What the fuck?!
The Crow flutters to a landing on the hood of the car.
Hunter steps out of the car.
HUNTER
What's up?
MARIJUANA ADDICT
Who are you?
Hunter bows.
HUNTER
Hunter Gray, at your service.
ECSTACY ADDICT
But you're dead!
Hunter walks over to him. He regards him.
HUNTER
Correction: You are.
In a swift movement, Hunter grabs the addict's head and
twist, snapping his neck and twisting his head all the way
around.
HUNTER
Let the bodies hit the floor.
He attacks the others, punching and kicking with full force,
breaking bones. He grabs one of the remaining group members
by the belt and back of the collar and slams him into a car
door. The door becomes heavily dented and smeared in blood.
Hunter pivots, backhanding an oncoming punch that breaks the
victim's hand. Hunter elbows him in the stomach and the
druggie doubles over, spitting up blood, foaming at the
mouth. He goes down, dead.
The Rage dogpile Hunter, throwing punch after punch onto the
downed dead man. The Crow CAWS. Hunter forces his way up,
throwing the Rage every which way.
Hunter punches the nearest member smack in the nose. He
falls, nose bleeding. Hunter steps on his head, crushing his
skull with a sick CRUNCH.
Hunter advances on a group. He grins.
HUNTER
Rage? Are you scared?
45.
He grabs another member, lifting him up onto his shoulder
and chucking him head first into the concrete.
Another member, the Heroine Addict, whips out a switch blade
and rushes Hunter. Hunter grabs him by the shirt and throws
him onto the hood of Darryl's car. The Heroine Addict slides
on the hood, forcing the Crow to flap into the air, and
crashes headfirst through the windshield. He goes halfway
through, leaving bloody bits of broken glass behind.
The Crow lands, cawing in annoyance, on the victim's butt.
Hunter cracks the ribs of another Rage member with a stiff
and wicked elbow.
Another member, the Blunt Smoker backs away from Hunter.
Hunter steps toward him.
HUNTER
Are you afraid?
He takes the addict's head in his hands.
HUNTER
Don't be afraid. It'll be over soon.
Hunter twists his neck, breaking it.
The Pot Smoker pulls a gun.
POT SMOKER
Die you undead motherfucker!!
He fires.
Hunter dodges, spinning on one hand, cartwheeling, the
bullet flies over him, missing him.
CROWVISION: The Crow tries to dodge the bullet as well, but..
The bullet pierces through the Crow's wing, blood, bone, and
feathers splatter on the broken windshield. Hunter spins
around as if he were the one shot in the arm. He falls to
one knee.
HUNTER'S POV
He's staring down at his hand. Blood begins to pour off his
fingertips as though he recieved the same wound.
BACK TO SCENE
Hunter looks to the Crow, the bird's wing already healing.
46.
Hunter tries to stand but one of the remaining Rage members
kicks him in the arm. Hunter cries out in pain. The member
sneers and stomps Hunter's arm again. The six other suriving
members converge on the injured avenger.
The Crow's wing is now a battered, bloody mess. Bloody
feathers are matted against the bone, blood oozing.
HUNTER'S POV
His world becomes a world of punches and kicks, each striking
him.
FLASHBACK
Ashley being beaten by the Rage.
END FLASHBACK
The Rage hauls Hunter to his feet. He's a bloody mess, his
nose broken, lip busted, and bleeding, eyes swollen, head
covered in a mess of cuts, blood pouring down his face, his
sleeve clinging to his arm. It hangs limp, broken.
Two members hold Hunter by the arms. Another approaches,
waving a butterfly knife.
The knife handler grins.
FLASHBACK
Ashley getting a butterfly knife run over her stomach. The
knife man grinning insanely.
END FLASHBACK
KNIFE MAN
You see this blade? This blade is
gonna make you squeal like a bitch.
He slashes Hunter across the face, cutting his cheek. The
cut begins to ooze blood, adding more crimson to his already
red face. Hunter glares.
FLASHBACK
The cuts on Ashley's stomach begin to ooze blood.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes burn.
The knife man places the knife against Hunter's throat.
Hunter kicks the knife man. He stumbles back.
47.
Hunter pulls the two holding him together. Their heads
collide with a sick THUD!
The knife man attacks Hunter. Hunter allows himself to be
stabbed and slashed. More blood oozes. Hunter grins.
HUNTER
Stop. That tickles.
He grabs the butterfly and pulls it out of the attacker's
hands. Hunter plunges it through the attacker's chest, his
whole arm going completely through his back. He pulls his
arm out and wipes off the blood.
The survivors pile into one car.
MARIJUANA ADDICT
Let's get the fuck outta here!
The car peels off. Hunter watches for a second, as the car
skids around, speeding toward the entrance to the lot.
Hunter flicks the butterfly knife.
THE KNIFE flips end over end, flipping.
INT. CAR
The butterfly knife flips into the car and impales the
driver. He slumps against the wheel, dead. The other members
begin to yell and try to pry the dead man off the wheel.
The dead weight of the driver causes his FOOT to floor the
accelerator.
EXT. VACANT LOT - NIGHT
The car skids out of control and slams into Darryl's car.
Both cars explode.
Hunter watches the burning wrecks, the firey air blowing his
black hair and long black coat out behind him. Hunter is
smiling.
HOLD ON THE BURNING WRECKS
FADE TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - LATER
The burning wrecks are no longer burning, but smoldering.
Police and fire crews swarm the scene.
48.
DETECTIVE MAUREEN WINSTEAD ducks under a line of police tape.
She approaches OFFICER LARRY MITCHELL, who's watching one of
the body bags get loaded into the back of a corner's van.
MAUREEN
Christ, what happened here?
LARRY
Fucked if I know. Someone hears an
explosion and calls us. Dispatch
said carbombing. They forgot to
mention massacre.
MAUREEN
Any witnesses?
LARRY
A homeless guy saw someone leave.
Said something about a bird.
Otherwise no physical description.
MAUREEN
One guy?
LARRY
This could've been a little gang
brawl, one gang attacks one member
of another, and underestimates him.
All the bodies have the Rage tattoo.
MAUREEN
And there are a lot of bodies. I
don't think they could underestimate
on man, or that one man could kill
these people in this fashion. These
deaths are like something out of
Friday the 13th.
INVESTIGATING OFFICER (O.C.)
Hey Detective! I think you might
want to see this!
Maureen and Larry jog over to one of the remaining cars and
the Investigating Officer. The officer points to the door of
one of the cars. Painted on the side, in blood, is a Crow.
LARRY
Jesus.
MAUREEN
The Crow.
49.
LARRY
Yeah, but all those guys have done
is leave chalk messages. And those
stopped a year ago.
MAUREEN
They've been threatening to have a
war, Larry. It looks like it started.
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
Hunter stumbles toward his motorcycle and falls to his knees.
He looks at his reflection in a nearby puddle.
He touches his face.
HUNTER
Why am I not healing?!
The Crow hops into the alley, it's bloody, boney wing
healing rapidly. Hunter looks from the Crow to the puddle.
HUNTER'S POV
In the puddle. His face heals slowly.
BACK TO SCENE
HUNTER
Next time you stay out of the
battle zone.
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHT
The four survivors, and a new pal, JACOB PARKER, walk
alongthe ditch and smoke weed.
JACOB
A Crow outline?
ERIC
Yeah. Weirdest fucking shit you've
ever seen.
JACK
Ashley was craved into the wall too.
MIKE
Somebody who knows told somebody
else.
JACOB
Who else knows?
50.
RICHARD
Us five, Jimmy, and...
MIKE
Shannon! That bitch!
ERIC
So what are we gonna do about it?
RICHARD
Send her to Ashley and Hunter.
They reach the convertible parked on the street.
JACOB
I'll be here when you get back.
We'll celebrate.
The four climb into the car and it roars away.
Jacob walks back toward the big sewer drain. He crouches
down and walks in.
Unbeknowest to Jacob, Hunter is perched on the chainlink
fence surrounding it.
FLASHBACK
Ashley ducking and following Jacob into the sewer.
END FLASHBACK
Jacob walks out. He lights up another blunt.
Hunter silently lands behind him.
HUNTER
Was it good for you?
Jacob spins around.
JACOB
Who the fuck are you?
HUNTER
I'm going to tell you a story of
man who should have learned not to
play with knives. You see, this man
meant an unfortunate, yet ironic
end. Now as this story progresses,
the friend of the deceased, a drug
dealer, also meets his end, but his
way is much more fun.
51.
The Crow lands on to the fence above them.
JACOB
You killed Jimmy...
Hunter grabs Jacob by the collar and slams him into the
concrete wall.
HUNTER
Your turn.
FLASHBACK
Ashley, on the concrete, being raped by Jacob.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter closes his eyes tight, racked in pain.
FLASHBACK
Ashley now being slammed up against the ditch, being raped
once more.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter's eyes snap open. The pupils remind us of a Crow.
FLASHBACK
Jacob giving Ashley a few sticks of pot for her "efforts."
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
You twisted her! You made her do
things she never wanted to do just
so you could give her a high and
get yourself off! You fucked her in
this filthly, disgusting hell hole
of a drainage ditch! You made her
feel like it was her fault!
JACOB
It was her fault!
Hunter slams his forearm against Jacob's throat.
HUNTER
Wait your turn. You made me crazy
in life! Now in death I can do
something about it!
52.
JACOB
Dude, you used to be cool when you
ran with us. What happened?
HUNTER
You'd be amazed at how much a man
can change in a year.
He punches Jacob in the head and he knocks him out. Hunter
slings him over his shoulder and proceeds into the sewer.
INT. SEWER
Jacob is duct taped to the floor of the sewer, four blocks
of c4 taped next to him.
The TIMERS read 30 minutes 04 seconds and keep ticking down.
Jacob comes to and feels the duct tape keeping him down. He
easily tears his arms free. He sits up.
Hunter is sitting Indian style at the entrance, watching.
Jacob holds up his free arms, duct tape dangling. He rips
his legs free.
JACOB
Ha!
Hunter holds up a REMOTE DETONATOR.
HUNTER
Ha.
He presses the button.
Jacob screams as the four blocks explode at once.
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH - CONTINUOUS
BOOM!
The ditch collapses inward and then explodes, sending debris
flying everywhere. A huge fireball explodes skyward, the
ground cracks, and anything flammable nearby is set ablaze.
And walking out of the blaze, unharmed, the Crow flying
above his head, is HUNTER.
53.
EXT. SKY ABOVE DRAINAGE DITCH - NIGHT
From the air we can see that the explosions caused a huge
inferno shaped like a Crow.
CUT TO:
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH EXPLOSION - LATER
Police swarm the now dying blaze.
Two officers interview a witness, an old WOMAN. One sketches
her description
WOMAN
He was about six two, maybe 220
pounds. He looked well built. Short
black hair, wore all black. His
face was, well painted white.
The POLICE SKETCH ARTIST looks up at her.
SKETCHER
Painted white?
WOMAN
Yes, with black lines down his eyes.
He just walked out of the flames.
Had a Crow with him.
The Sketcher finishes up.
SKETCHER
Like this?
He holds up the drawing.
HOLD ON THE DRAWING AS IT PULLS BACK AND WE ARE LOOKING AT A
TELEVISION SCREEN
A NEWS ANCHOR sits at the desk. The picture now a small
graphic next to his head.
NEWS ANCHOR
Police are on the look out for this
man. He's describe at being six-
two, 220 pounds, with short black
hair and the face you see in the
photo. May be accompanied by a Crow.
PULL BACK UNTIL WE'RE
54.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
Shannon is curled up on the sofa, watching the news. Duane
is sitting next to her.
NEWS ANCHOR (TV)
He is said to be extremely dangerous.
If spotted please inform your local
police.
(beat)
In other news, police are still
searching for the person or persons
involved in the robbery of Hunter
Gray's grave, stealing the body.
This news leaves some to wonder if
there isn't some connect between
the grave robbery, the recent
explosion of the drainage ditch,
and the mysterious death of James
Artubury.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter rides his motorcycle.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
SHANNON
I know it sounds crazy, but I swear
Hunter attacked me.
DUANE
It does sound crazy. He's dead.
Besides, why would he do that?
SHANNON
I don't know. Whoever it was asked
me why I brought death to them.
Duane shakes his head.
DUANE
I don't know.
SHANNON
He looked different. Even scary.
(she shivers)
His face was white, and he black
lines down his eyes. He.. he was
really really strong. He.. he
grabbed my throat and then just let
me go and ran.
55.
DUANE
Now that is weird.
EXT. STREET OUTSIDE SHANNON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A red convertible pulls up.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM
There's a knock on the door.
Shannon gets up to go answer.
SHANNON
What now?
She opens the door.
And Eric leaps in and knocks her back against the wall.
Duane rushes and pounces on Eric. He knocks him to the floor.
Mike pulls Duane off Eric and pistol whips him. Richard
punches him in the face.
Jack helps Eric hold Shannon back.
JACK
Where to?
MIKE
Upstairs.
ERIC
(RE: Duane)
What about him.
DUANE
Let her go!
MIKE
Him too.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
The door is kicked open and Eric and Jack drag Shannon in.
She's kicking and screaming.
Duane is dragged in after her.
Eric and Jack shove Shannon onto her bed. Richard pulls up a
chair and they sit Duane down in it and duct tape him to the
chair.
56.
RICHARD
What us rip her open again.
Duane's eyes widen in anger.
DUANE
Again?! Again?!
He fights against the chair, but Mike punches him in the face.
MIKE
Sit still.
Richard climbs on top of Shannon.
RICHARD
Me first.
SHANNON
No!
TAP! TAP! TAP!
MIKE
What the fuck?
TAP! TAP! TAP!
ERIC
It's just a Crow.
The Crow is perched outside Shannon's window pecking on the
glass.
EXT. SHANNON'S WINDOW
Hunter is perched above the window.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
Richard is struggling to hold Shannon down.
RICHARD
Help me here!
Eric and Jack move in and hold Shannon down.
HUNTER (O.C.)
And suddenly I heard a tapping, as
if someone gently rapping, rapping
at my chamber door.
Richard looks up from strugging to get Shannon's pants off.
57.
ERIC
What's that?
RICHARD
Find out!
BAM!
The window blows open.
HUNTER (O.C.)
"'Tis some late visitor," I
muttered, "tapping at my chamber
door - only this and nothing more."
Mike sticks his head out the window.
EXT. SHANNON'S WINDOW
Hunter grins down at the back of Mike's head.
Mike pulls his head back in.
INT. SHANNON'S ROOM
MIKE
I don't see anything.
The lights dim and then come back on...
And Hunter is perched on the windowsill.
HUNTER
And the silken, sad, uncertain
rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me--filled me with
fantastic terrors never felt
before; So that now, to still the
beating of my heart, I stood
repeating...
RICHARD
(overlapping)
Waste the son of a bitch!
HUNTER
"'Tis some visitor entreating
entrance at my chamber door-- Some
late visitor entreating entrance at
my chamber door;-- This it is
(He steps off the
windowsill and onto
the floor)
and nothing more."
58.
And three guns ring out, firing shot after shot at Hunter.
Hunter spreads his arms crucifix style, accepting each shot
as it comes.
Shannon screams.
Finally the shots stop.
And Hunter stands, unscathed.
ERIC
The fuck?!
RICHARD
He should be a motherfuckin' pin
cushion!
Duane blinks, suprised.
Shannon gapes.
Hunter simply wears his lopsided smirk and grandly states
HUNTER
Then this ebony bird beguiling my
sad fancy into smiling, By the
grave and stern decorum of the
countenance it wore, "Though thy
crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I
said, "art sure no craven, Ghastly
grim and ancient Raven wandering
from the nightly shore-- Tell me
what thy lordly name is on the
night's Plutonian shore!" Quoth the
Crow, "Nevermore."
He grabs Jack and chucks him into the dresser.
MIKE
Fuck this shit!
He turns and fires at Shannon.
DUANE
No!
Hunter swiftly steps in front of the bullet, snatching it
out of midair.
The four run, but Hunter puts his hand to his mouth and
blows the bullet. It flies and hits Jack in the leg.
He falls.
59.
Hunter advances on him.
EXT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The remaining three leap into the convertible before they
realize
RICHARD
Where's Jack?
MIKE
Who fucking cares!
He starts the car and floors it. They peel off into the night.
INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE - KITCHEN
Jack flies through the swinging door into the kitchen. He's
bleeding from various places, and limping noticeably, blood
oozing from his leg.
JACK
Somebody help me!
HUNTER (O.C.)
There's no one to help you now.
Hunter suddenly appears next to Jack. He throws him into the
wall.
HUNTER
You controlled her! You fucked her
in your sick and twisted ways!
Hunter grabs him by the collar and lifts him until they're
face to face.
HUNTER
Even against her will.
FLASHBACK
Ashley tied to a bed in a room containing some sick items.
She's struggling against the ties that bind.
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
You violated her! You told her how
to act and who to know or else you
beat her!
FLASHBACK
60.
Ashley falls to the ground after Jack hit her. He grabs a
handfull of her hair.
JACK
You broke our agreement!
ASHLEY
I'm sorry!
He raises his hand again.
END FLASHBACK
Jack crashes against the refridgerator. Hunter opens it.
HUNTER
You
(puts Jack's head in
the door)
sadistic
(slams the door HARD)
bastard!
He pulls Jack out.
HUNTER
Time to join James and Jacob.
Hunter pulls a gun from his pocket and puts it against
Jack's head.
JACK
No man. Please, wait...
HUNTER
Go on. Beg. It makes this all the
more...
BLAM! Hunter pulls the trigger and the gun goes off, blowing
Jack's brain out of the back of his head. Brain matter,
gore, and blood splatter on the linoleum.
HUNTER (CONT'D)
Sweeter.
Hunter sits hard on the floor.
Shannon and Duane enter.
Hunter looks up at them, his young face looks old and very
tired.
HUNTER
Three more. Only three more.
61.
EXT. STREET/CONVERTIBLE - NIGHT
The red convertible rockets down the street, the remaining
three crammed inside, trying to righten themselves out.
They're both very much overly stressed out.
ERIC
What the fuck are we supposed to do?!
RICHARD
I don't know, but I'm too fucking
young to die!
MIKE
Shut up! Just shut up!
The two fall silent.
MIKE
Everything dies. There has to be
some way to kill him.
ERIC
Ah fuck man, we pumped his fucking
body full of leadand he didn't even
bleed! Didn't even take a fucking
step back! It's like he's the
fucking Angel of Death or something!
MIKE
No one's immortal!
RICHARD
Maybe he was wearing a bullet proof
vest or something.
ERIC
Yeah. Yeah. A bullet proof vest. I
didn't try to shoot him in the head.
Did you?
RICHARD
Nope.
MIKE
No. He must be a cop.
ERIC
Yeah. He's trying to scare us into
talking. He won't come after us. He
can't risk killing all three of us.
Not if he wants to arrest us.
62.
RICHARD
Yeah.
MIKE
Let's go get Jacob.
EXT. DRAINAGE DITCH EXPLOSION - NIGHT
The three are standing on what is now the edge of a small
crater. Police tape ropes off the deserted crime scene.
MIKE
What the fuck happened?
RICHARD
Looks like some kind of fucking
explosion.
ERIC
Same guy?
RICHARD
No way. It took us a little while
to get to Shannon's. This guy had
to have time to do all this. Ain't
no way.
Mike moves down into the rubble. He searches around a bit as
Richard continues.
RICHARD (O.C.)
Ain't no fucking way!
Mike finds something and walks toward it. He ducks out of
frame.
MIKE
Hey guys! Come here!
Richard and Eric scramble down into the debris.
RICHARD
Mike?!
MIKE (O.C.)
Over here!
They follow the sound of his voice and find Mike standing in
front of a small portion of the only surviving wall that
somehow survived the blast.
Burnt into the wall is a Crow, and below it the word ASHLEY.
Mike holds up a roll of duct tape.
63.
MIKE
Found this too.
RICHARD
Oh man! It was him! It was!
ERIC
But who is he?!
There is a WHOOSH of black leather and a CACKLE OF EVIL.
The three spin.
The Skull Cowboy is standing behind them.
RICHARD
Who are you?
SKULL COWBOY
I am but a simple messenger. You
may call me the Skull Cowboy.
MIKE
Listen Mr. Cowboy, or whatever the
fuck your name is, we really aren't
in the mood for anymore freaky shit
to happen!
The Skull Cowboy shrugs.
SKULL COWBOY
Not my problem. I'm just a messenger.
I bring you one.
ERIC
What is it?
SKULL COWBOY
Death is coming for you, and Hunter
Gray sends his regards.
The three stare, their faces are a mixture of shock,
surprise, and fear.
RICHARD
But this is the real world, the
real real world, the dead don't
come back. The dead don't come back!
The Skull Cowboy cackles.
64.
SKULL COWBOY
"And abashed the devil stood and
felt how awful goodness is."
(beat)
You three messed up. Now it's time
to pay the Crow.
MIKE
Fuck you!
SKULL COWBOY
Sorry. I'm not of that sexual
preference. But trust me when I say
to say your prayers. Judgement Day
isn't coming; it's already here.
The Skull Cowboy turns and walks off.
ERIC
Hey! Come back here!
The Skull Cowboy glances over his shoulder and cackles again.
Then he's gone, but his laugh still hangs in the air.
CUT TO:
INT. SHANNON'S LIVING ROOM
Hunter is sitting on the couch, the Crow perched on the arm.
Duane and Shannon are sitting on an easy chair.
HUNTER
I miss her terribly.
SHANNON
I know.
HUNTER
I promised to protect her in life
and I failed. Yet in death I am
given another opportunity.
DUANE
Does it hurt?
HUNTER
Take all the pain you can imagine
and multiply it 900 trillion times.
Now take that number and imagine
dying and then imagine clawing your
way out of a coffin. Now imagine
being alone.
Hunter stands.
65.
HUNTER
I must leave.
SHANNON
Why kill them?
HUNTER
They hurt her. They killed us.
DUANE
Nice seeing you again.
HUNTER
You too. Good bye.
Shannon stands.
SHANNON
Wait. Why are you killing them?
Just because they hurt her?
HUNTER
I swore to protect her. I broke
that promise. I only have three
things to live for now.
SHANNON
What are those three things?
HUNTER
Love, Death, and Redemption.
With that said, he walks out the front door.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Hunter rides his motorcycle down the street. He stops at the
curb and dismounts. He walks over to a white bricked building.
HUNTER
She told me about this place.
FLASHBACK
Hunter and Ashley riding in his car.
ASHLEY
First time I ever got drugs was out
here. My brother got me started.
HUNTER
Fucking dick. One of these days
I'll have that building destroyed.
66.
ASHLEY
There's no way you can.
HUNTER
I know. And it breaks me up inside.
END FLASHBACK
Hunter punches the side of the building. He leaves a large
hole in it. He falls on his butt and just stares at the
building.
A JUNKIE walks up to him.
JUNKIE
Damn man. What the fuck are you
supposed to be?
HUNTER
Pissed off.
The Junkie takes a joint from his pocket.
JUNKIE
Take it.
Hunter stands and waves his hand.
HUNTER
No.
JUNKIE
It'll fuck you up real good.
Hunter glares.
FLASHBACK
Ashley and the Junkie. He hands her a blunt.
JUNKIE
It'll fuck you up real good.
END FLASHBACK
HUNTER
I'll give ya something that'll fuck
you up real good.
He grabs the Junkies head and smashes it into the wall,
literally crushing his head into pulp, and leaving a bloody
stain on the wall.
67.
HUNTER
That'll be free.
He mounts his motorcycle and roars off.
EXT. CEMETARY - NIGHT
Hunter kneels at Ashley's grave.
HUNTER
I did it Ashley. I got the son of a
bitch that got you started in drugs.
I killed him. Smashed his fucking
head into a wall.
Hunter falls forward, resting his face in the grass in front
of the tombstone.
HUNTER
Almost done. Almost done.
He falls forward onto the dirt.
CUT TO:
INT. MALL
Crowded. Shoppers enter stores, exit stores, carry bags,
purchase items, eat at the food court, etc.
Amid all this organized chaos are Duane and Shannon.
DUANE
Did last night even happen?
SHANNON
I don't know. I hope so. I enjoyed
talking to Hunter again, even if he
isn't the same.
DUANE
That was fun. The other parts...
Shannon shivers.
SHANNON
Forget about the other parts.
DUANE
Okay.
A CAW! is suddenly echoed throughout the mall. Duane and
Shannon look around.
68.
SHANNON
You don't think.
Hunter sneaks up behind them.
HUNTER
Boo!
Shannon and Duane both jump.
DUANE
What are you doing here?
HUNTER
Enjoying myself? Trying to have one
last moment of normalcy? Trying to
get one last grip on any sanity I
have left?
SHANNON
There are cops everywhere! They're
looking for you.
HUNTER
Let them.
SHANNON
What do you need to buy? Corpses
don't tend to carry cash, check, or
a major credit card.
HUNTER
There is an object of my vengence
here.
He pushes between them and walks off but Duane and Shannon
grab his arms.
DUANE
Excuse me?
Hunter stops and stares at both of them.
HUNTER
Ashley's half brother.
SHANNON
And what did he do?
Hunter's eyes look sad. There is obviously an internal
conflict.
HUNTER
I... I cannot say.
69.
DUANE
Why?
HUNTER
I made a promise to Ashley never to
tell her secrets.
CAW!
The Crow flies around.
People point. "Look a bird!" "Cool, a Crow!" "That's one
fucking big Crow!" and other ad libbed lines are thrown
about in the background.
The Crow perches on Hunter's shoulder. It CAWS once more.
Hunter scoffs.
HUNTER
Spencers. It would figure.
INT. SPENCER'S GIFTS
The sex shop in the mall.
MANNY BOYD is standing at the counter, paying for his
purchase. The CLERK hands over the bag and some change.
CLERK
Two dollars forty cents is your
change. Receit's in the bag. Thank
you and come again.
Manny takes his bag.
Hunter walks into the store, the Crow perched on his shoulder.
He is immedietly given strange, curious glances.
He looks up at an unseen security camera and smiles and waves.
Manny and Hunter bump into each other.
MANNY
Oh sorry. Hey, nice bird.
(beat)
What the hell happened to you?
Halloween party?
HUNTER
No. But the same thing will happen
to you.
Manny blinks, confused.
70.
MANNY
(laughs)
Oh yeah. What's that?
HUNTER
I died.
He grabs Manny and slams him into the rack of sex toys
behind him.