Scene 1 - Confronting the Brother

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EXT. - ABBEY EXTERIOR - DAY

Car tyres on GRAVEL. The car comes to a Stop. Doors OPEN and CHHARLIE and GRACE get out and walk across Shoes CRUNCHING on stones. Change to FLAGSTONES. AMBIENT birds, wind and trees. 

RINGING doorbell of a large house. Doorbell is DEEP and within the building. After a short pause the door opens with a CREAK.

 

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angrily)

How can I ...

​

CHARLIE

(Sternly)

How’s the hand?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angrily)

What are you talking ...

​

CHARLIE

(Sternly)

Cut the crap, Brother. You have a cut on your hand. How did you get it?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angrily)

My hand has nothing to do with ...

​

Charlie lunges at Brother Ambrose and PULLS his hand out of his robe.

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Shouting)

Get off me ... grrhh

​

CHARLIE

(Shouting)

How did you cut your hand? 

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Shouting)

Get off ...

​

CHARLIE

(Shouting)

Tell me now or I’ll bloody well break it.

​

GRACE

(Sternly)

Charlie, let go of him. Now!

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Grunting)

Gggrrrhhh

​

CHARLIE

(Shouting)

How did you cut your hand?

​

Charlie TWIST his arm harder.

 

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Mumbling)

A razor ... arrgghh.

​

CHARLIE

(Shouting)

Try again, Brother.

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Crying out)

A razor, I cut it on a razor. Arrrgghh. Let me go.

​

CHARLIE

(Angrily)

Not until you tell me how you really cut it.

​

Charlie twists Brother Ambrose’s arm again and the Brother falls to the floor.

 

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Crying)

Aaarrgghh.

​

Grace grabs Charlie and PULLS him from Brother Ambrose.

 

GRACE

(Shouting)

Stay off him Charlie or I will arrest you. Do you understand?

​

CHARLIE

(Angrily)

He bloody shot me.

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Crying)

He’s broke my arm.

​

GRACE

(Angrily)

You shut it too. 

(Calmly)

Charlie, you can’t do that. Stay away from him. 

(Pause)

Let’s see your arm, Brother Ambrose. He won’t touch you again.

​

Grace takes Brother Ambrose’s arm and feels for breaks.

 

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Crying)

Ow. I am a Brother of this Abbey and you ... 

​

GRACE

(Calmly)

You’re fine Brother. Nothing broken, maybe a strain but you’ll be fine.

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angrily)

I’ll have you charged for this, you, you.

​

GRACE

(Calmly)

Were you anywhere near Boleskine House yesterday, Brother Ambrose?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angrily)

What? What are you talking ...

​

GRACE

(Calmly)

Did you go anywhere near Boleskine House yesterday? There was an attempted murder.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

One last time, Brother. Were you anywhere in the vicinity of Boleskine House yesterday?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Confused)

Erm, no I. I was here. I was. I was in the Library and then in my room. I was.

​

GRACE

(Professional)

Can anyone verify that?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Confused)

Attempted murder. What are you ...

​

GRACE

(Professional)

Can someone verify your whereabouts yesterday? Between the hours of 4pm and 6pm?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Confused)

Erm. The Abbot was ... I was in the Library. The Abbot was ... He came in in the afternoon. I don’t know when ... I ...

​

GRACE

(Professional)

How did you cut your hand, Brother?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Confused)

I ... I cut it with my razor. I had a fall ... I had a fall yesterday morning. I had a fall in the shower. I landed on my razor. Who is trying to murder?

​

GRACE

(Professional)

Is the Abbot in?

​

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Confused)

He is in his office, he was ...

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GRACE

(Professional)

Excellent, he can verify where you were. Shall we?

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BROTHER AMBROSE

(Confused)

What?

​

GRACE

(Professional)

Let me help you up and we can go and see the Abbot together. Shall we.

​

Grace HELPS the Brother to his feet and they start WALKING across the STONE hallway.

 

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angrily)

Just keep that ... that man away from me.

​

CHARLIE

(Calmly)

Let’s go Brother.

​

The front door closes with a BANG.

​

Scene 2 - The Abbot's Office

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INT. - THE ABBOT’S OFFICE - DAY

The ABBOT is WRITING in his book. The door OPENS abruptly and CHARLIE, GRACE and BROTHER AMBROSE enter. The Abbot closes his book.

​

ABBOT ALARIC

(Pleasantly)

Good afternoon, how can I ...

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BROTHER AMBROSE

(Sternly)

These people are accusing me of ...

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CHARLIE

(Annoyed)

Shut your ...

​

GRACE

(Angrily)

Enough.

(Pause)

Okay, everyone just calm down.

​

ABBOT ALARIC

(Pleasantly)

Grace, what is going on here?

​

GRACE

(Professional)

We need some information, Abbot. 

​

ABBOT ALARIC

(Pleasantly)

Okay.

​

GRACE

(Professional)

Can you confirm the whereabouts of Brother Ambrose yesterday between 4pm and 6pm.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Surprised)

Has the Brother done something wrong?

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GRACE

(Professional)

That’s what we are trying to establish. Do you know the Brother’s whereabouts between 4pm and 6pm yesterday?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Surprised)

Well I can’t be sure about the whole time but I went to the library around 5pm. I spoke to the Brother about a call we had received from a University student who was looking to visit as part of their PHD research. I can get you a copy of the phone log from the computer if you like.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

That would be great, Abbot. Thank you.

​

The Abbot GOES to his computer and TYPES on the keyboard.

 

CHARLIE

(Whispering)

He hasn’t asked about Brother Ambrose and he was too prepared with that call log. There’s something

(Pause)(Surprised)

Hold on.

 

Charlie WALKS to the other side of the room.

 

GRACE

(Curious)

What is it?

 

CHARLIE

(Sternly)

Do you have a new hobby Abbot?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Surprised)

I’m sorry?

 

CHARLIE

(Sternly)

Taking up shooting have we?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Surprised)

I have no idea what you are talking about.

 

CHARLIE

(Sternly)

The rifle, Abbot. Why do you have a rifle?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Friendly)

Oh that, I’ve been holding onto it.

 

CHARLIE

(Angry)

Have you really. Who have you been holding onto it for?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Friendly)

Our good friend Noah. 

 

CHARLIE

(Angry)

And why would you have Noah’s gun?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Friendly)

Is everything alright, Charlie?

 

CHARLIE

(Shouting)

Why do you have Noah’s gun?

 

GRACE

(Surprised)

Charlie, stop it.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Surprised)

I don’t know what’s going on here but I had Noah’s gun because the sights needed checked. I took the gun to my friend, Stuart, he is a Gilly for the Mar estate. He is a gun expert and he checked the sights and gave me back the rifle. I’m sorry but I haven’t had time to return it to Noah. I know it should be in a cabinet but I was planning on seeing him tonight.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

When did you get it back from Stuart?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Remembering)

That would have been yesterday afternoon, he came in about one o’clock.

 

CHARLIE

(Frustrated)

So it’s been sitting in your office since then? Hasn’t moved?

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Surprised)

Certainly, the office is locked unless I am here. I lock it every time I leave the room. It’s been perfectly safe.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

I’m going to have to take it with me Abbot. There is a concern that it was involved in an incident.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Professional)

Oh dear, what kind of incident?

 

GRACE

(Professional)

A very grave one, Abbot. I can’t say more than that I’m afraid. Once I’m done with it I’ll give it back to Noah.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Friendly)

Of course. I’ll be glad to not have it sitting in the office. 

(Pause)

I’ll just print you that call log.

 

The Abbot returns to the computer and finished printing the call log. The printer WHIRS.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Friendly)

Here you are. Here’s the call. You can check the number, I’m sure.

 

Grace TAKES the paper.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

Thank you Abbot. I certainly will. 

(Pause)

I think that’s everything for now. I’ll be in touch.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Friendly)

Of course, we are always happy to help.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

Thank you again, Abbot. 

 

Charlie and Grace walk out of the room as the door CLOSES behind them.

 

FADE OUT

​

Scene 3 - Noah

 

INT. - GRACE’S CAR

GRACE’s car pulls up in front of the Tuath na Marbh Inn. The engine is TURNED OFF.

 

GRACE

(Friendly)

So you still think that the Brother’s are behind this? It doesn’t fit, they have no motive.

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

The have the means and the opportunity to get rid of Jamie. But the motive ...

(Pause)

Perhaps they are hiding Jamie, after the theft. Or they have the amulet and got rid of Jamie for stealing it. Maybe they need the money and used Jamie as a scapegoat. I don’t know yet.

(Sighing)

I don’t have the motive yet. But there are too many things linking them to this. Jamie was staying with them at the time of the theft. Jamie was learning about the occult from their library, possibly with the assistance of Brother Ambrose. The Abbot had a rifle when I was shot at. The blood at the scene fits with Brother Ambrose’s injured hand. These things cannot be a coincidence.

 

GRACE

(Professional)

That’s too many coincidences and too many motives, Charlie. It also doesn’t account for the incident at the museum.

 

CHARLIE

(Considering)

No it doesn’t. 

(Pause)

I need to think on it. Thanks for the lift, Grace.

 

GRACE

(Friendly)

Anytime big guy. I’ll catch up with you if I find out anything more.

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

Thanks, Grace. For everything. I’ll check in with you later.

 

The car door OPENS and CLOSES. The street is QUIET but it is WINDY and there are birds CHIRPING. Charlie WALKS across the pavement and OPENS the door into the Tuath na Marbh. The ambient street noise LESSENS and we hear distant CHATTER from the bar. 

 

NOAH

(Friendly)

Afternoon mate, how are things going?

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

Good, Noah. Thanks. It’s been a busy few days. How are things here? Keeping busy?

 

NOAH

(Still friendly, but distracted)

You know mate, same old, same old. Just keeping the place ticking over. Always something to fix or sort out, can’t afford the staff mate so it’s all me.

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

This is going to be a strange question but I’m looking to get a hold of a rifle. Do you know anyone who has one?

 

NOAH

(Chuckling nervously, clearly surprised)

A rifle? What kind of adventure are you having, mate? That’s a bit of a strange one.

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly, but serious)

I’ve been invited to a shoot in a few days. I want to scope out some of the attendees but I don’t have a rifle and I wondered if you knew anyone with one that I could borrow.

 

NOAH

(Friendly but now slightly hesitant, choosing his words carefully)

A shoot, eh? Well... I do have one you could use, mate. But... it’s not here with me.

 

CHARLIE

(Persistent but polite)

That would be brilliant, where is it I would be happy to get it. Since I’m going to be borrowing it.

 

NOAH

(Forcing a smile, trying to stay casual)

Oh yeah, right. Of course. It’s, erm... up at the Abbey. 

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

The Abbey, what would they need a rifle for?

 

NOAH

(Quickly, with a nervous laugh)

Oh no, no, mate. The sights have been wonky for a while and the Abbot knows a bloke who said he would take a look at it. You know, just a quick repair.

(Chuckling again)

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

I’ll be going up there tomorrow so I could check in and see if it’s ready.

 

NOAH

(Friendly)

Yeah, of course, mate. Of course. Must be fixed by now, he’s had it for a week, or so. 

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

Perfect, thanks Noah. I really appreciate the help.

 

NOAH

(Forcing his usual cheerfulness back, but with a slight undercurrent of tension)

Not a bother, mate, not a bother. Anything else you need.

 

CHARLIE

(Friendly)

No, thanks. I’m good. See you later, Noah.

 

NOAH

(Friendly)

See you, mate.

​

Charlie WALKS away from the reception desk.

​

Scene 4 - The Dream

 

INT. - CHARLIE’S ROOM

 

CHARLIE

(Shaking from fear)

This is voice note 015, for case number FA7638. It is

(Pause)

3:25AM. I have just woken from the strangest of dreams. I’m not sure where to start.

(Pause)

I was in the chamber underneath Boleskine and I was walking through the tunnel.

 

The sound of Charlie WALKING through the tunnel.

​

(Tired)

I had reached the end of the tunnel and walked up to the alter and in the alcoves, instead of being empty were figures standing. They spoke to me and said.

 

A wind BLOWS through the chamber.

 

NOAH

(Happy)

Alright mate, this is your final night with us.

 

ABBOT ALARIC

(Serious)

You’re here by our wish, Charlie. Here because you cannot find the boy you lost. But he is here, like the Prodigal son he has returned.

 

ANNA

(Serious)

The one you is here Charlie, you just need to look, look with your heart, look with your souls, look with your eyes.

 

CHARLIE

(Shocked)

Jamie.

 

The wind DIES down and we hear the NOISES of the hotel.

​

He was on the altar. He was chained, like the chains that were attached to the bed in the room off the tunnel. His clothes were torn and soiled. His hands were clenched as if he was in pain and as I looked up at his face.

(Pause)

It was horrible, his face was that of a demons. His face looked like a goats, with two long curved horns, A five pointed star on his forehead and a long crown with two flames ejaculating from the top. As I watched him his eyes opened, they were so bright I could barely look and as he turned I felt a hand of my shoulder and turned to see.

 

The wind RETURNS.

 

BROTHER AMBROSE

(Angry)

Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

 

The wind gets LOUDER throughout Grace’s speech.

 

GRACE

(Starts quite and gets quicker and louder)

You will be the end, the end of this town, the end of this people, the end of this age, and the end of our world. You are the link and the harbinger. You are the master and AIWAZ will guide you to the will of RA-HOOR-KHUIT and you will be his His emblem, his BAPHOMET, and you will know thyself.

 

The wind CRESCENDOES and dies. We slowly hear the sounds of Charlie’s ROOM.

 

CHARLIE

(Quietly)

And then I awoke. 

(Pause)

I don’t know what to think about it. I don’t often dream and then this. There’s a theory in psychology that dreams are our thoughts arranging themselves from the day. Maybe that’s what this is. My suspects were all in the dream, as was Jamie, as was the chamber. They are all linked. I need to flush out my friends from my enemies. Now I have a plan.

 

FADE OUT​​​