--__; p___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnoqrstuvwxyz{|}~Root EntryF6$MatOST f$6$MMMN0____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________NDࡱ;  FMicrosoft Works MSWorksWPDocࡱ; ________________________________________________________________THE LAST DAY WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CRANE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION Restaurant kitchen at 6:00 am. Breakfast is just beginning and Franco the cook is --__; _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ N}}T h6=/8d__*THE LAST DAY WRITTEN BY MICHAEL CRANE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION Restaurant kitchen at 6:00 am. Breakfast is just beginning and Franco the cook is standing in front of the grill and cracking eggs. His eyes are tired and red from just waking up and he is sniffling as if he has just got over a cold. No one else is in view. As he is cracking an egg onto the grill the pots and pans hanging above him start to shake. The intensity grows stronger and soon the whole kitchen is shaking. Franco What the hell was that? He leaves the kitchen and runs out into the restaurant. The diner is full and there are three waitresses working with him. Cassandra, young, white, tall, slim, Maureen, 40'ish, petite, graying, and Angelina, fifties, large, boisterous. There is a large buzz going through the diner and all eyes are looking outside. Nothing different is seen outside. Cassandra Jesus Christ, Franco, did you feel that? It felt like a bomb went off there a minute ago. Half the goddamn cups are broken and we lost three pots. What the hell is going on. There is fear in her eyes but she is still in more shock than anything else and she continues to clean up the mess. Franco walks to the large picture windows in the front of the restaurant and in the distance he notices a large cloud of smoke billowing up into a mushroom cloud. The diner is located fifty miles from ________ and the shock wave has yet to hit them. Franco Holy shit!!! We're dead. Whispered, he walks back towards the kitchen trying not to create a stir but others have noticed the cloud also and panic has started to set in. Screams are heard from the diner as Franco heads into the kitchen and as he braces himself under a table the aftershocks of the explosion hit the diner and shatter the picture window he was standing in front of only moments before. The wind noise lasts for half a minute and is replaced by the sound of whimpering and feet moving over broken glass. Go to credits, opening music. Once the noise dies down Franco comes up from beneath the table and sits on the floor in front of it. Everything is quiet except for the exhaust fan. He lights a cigarette with shaking fingers and inhaling he first bit of smoke the power goes off. It takes thirty seconds for the power to go back on, but it is an eerie light from the back-up generator emergency lights. Cassandra stumbles into the room, crying. Cassandra What are you doing there sitting. You've got to do something. All the walls are falling own and there's broken glass all over the place. obviously still in shock. Franco What the fuck do you expect me to do about it? The fucking town just blew up and you're asking me to do something about it. I think there's a shovel in the back somewhere. do you want me to go out there and start digging graves? Cassandra looks hurt and continues to cry louder. Cassandra Everything's on fire out there, you've got to help us do something, hysterically, why the fuck are you still sitting there, I told you the place is burning up, help me help me help me. Franco slaps her across the face and although this does stop her raving and screaming, she continues to cry. Franco looks sorry and takes her into his arms. She comes willingly and they hug for about ten seconds. Franco breaks the hold and looks and talks to her calmly. Franco Sorry I slapped you. But you've got to relax. Either the gas plant just exploded or we ad a bomb dropped on us. Didn't you see the cloud out there? It's far away but I don't think we are going to be safe here. Come on, let's go see what's happening out there. They exit the kitchen and walk back into the diner. The scene here has completely changed. All the windows are broken and tables and chairs are skewn across the floor. One of the booths was torn from it's hinges and is lying sideways. The couple that were sitting in the booth are still in there. The man has a bleeding nose and is unconscious. His legs are trapped underneath the booth and have the appearance of being broken. The woman has no blood on her but her neck is situated at an impossible angle. She is obviously dead. Other customers are starting to move around, some crying and others trance like, looking around trying to figure out where they are. The other two girls are huddled together in a corner, frightened beyond belief. Some of the customers try to leave the building and even though there is no more glass in the door they still open it and walk outside. Smoke fills the air outside as there are fires everywhere and even the sky is lit up by a bright orange hue. People are running in every direction, some are on fire but nobody tries to help those that are fallen. They all seem to have their own place to go. Back in restaurant. Franco and Cassandra walk over to the corner where there fellow workers are huddled together crying. Franco Come on you guys. Lifes not that bad. It just looks as if it's going to be a little shorter than you thought it was. Both girls begin to cry louder as Cassandra looks at Franco with incredulity. Cassandra You fucking bastard, why do you have to be so mean. Can't you see that they're scared shitless. Franco shrugs his shoulders Franco What the hell am I supposed to say? Look outside for a second. Any idiot can tell that we're fucked. What do you think is going to happen. Someone is going to call the fire department and they are just going to come and put the fucking thing out? I'm just being realistic, we've had it. Maureen What do you think happened: whimpering Cassandra I don't know what happened but asshole here seems to think that we were hit by a bomb or something. But that didn't feel like an explosion or anything. God, I've got to try and phone my mother. She walks over to where the phone used to be and after searching for a minute frantically she picks it up and tries to dial. She dials twice before she realizes that it is dead. She starts to cry again and sits on the floor with the phone still in her hands. Franco Stupid women! Why can't you just realize that there is no way out of this one. If we leave the building you'll burn up before you get anywhere. Anywise, do you think that there is going to be any busses running right now. Take a goddamn good look out the window there. The whole city is on fire and its only a matter of time before it gets to us. Angelina What are you proposing we do, little man, just sit here and wait to die. I have a choice here and you're the last person I want to spend the rest of my life with, no matter how short it is. I need to try and get to my family. Franco Get it through your skull girl, there's no way out of here. Practically every building on the street is on fire, we may even be too. Do what you want, but I think the safest place for us to be right now is right here. As they are speaking, all of the customers, save two have left the diner. They leave running. Two are seen heading down the street and are hit by debris from a collapsing building. One does not get up, the other staggers to his feet and realizing that he is on fire he begins to run. The flames grow larger and overtaking him he collapses on the street, dead and still burning. Franco Looking out the window: Did you fucking see that. That's what happens when you get the bright idea to leave the building. They're both fried to cinders right now and we're still alive. I don't know how long we're going to last, but we have a lot to eat here and you never know what kind of luck we might have. If it's not a war we might still have a chance to be rescued. Cassandra Having got up from the phone: Let's go to the basement. I think we'll be a lot safer in there. If it was a bomb then we are going to be hit by some radiation soon, aren't we. I mean doesn't it take a while to get here or something. Franco I don't know about any of that technical shit but I think you're right, let's go down to the basement. If anything it will be a quicker death if the whole building falls on top of us down there. The four walk gingerly back through the kitchen and reach the stairs to the basement. It is very dark down there as there is only one emergency light. Franco realizing that the lights might not last that long doubles back into the kitchen to get a flashlight. Entering the kitchen, the enormity of the situation weighs down on him for the first time and he lets a sob escape from his chest. He takes a second to gather himself up and then heads back for the basement. The girls are waiting for him at the head of the stairs and with him leading the way, all four head down into the basement. The basement is very dark and very eerie. There is one emergency light that gives very little shine. The basement is small. There are lots of shelves loaded with canned goods and various pieces of restaurant equipment. There is a large table with about nine different chairs, all too old to be used in the restaurant. The table is covered with coffee cups and overflowing ashtrays. The group stand in the doorway looking around for a minute. Franco is the first one to make the move to sit down and the rest soon follow. Angelina tries to close the door when she realizes that there are two more people waiting outside. A couple from the diner have followed them down and they let them in. The couple are middle aged and are obviously man and wife. They are shy and have yet to speak a word. A long silence pervades the room as the occupants get used to seeing each other in the semi-darkness. There are very few noises to be heard from the outside except for the occasional siren. Franco In a monotone: It's so strange to just sit here and not know if you're going to be here in 24 hours. Think about it, as far as we know the world has come to an end and we could be the last people on earth. This room, this building, this block could be the last bastion of civilization and we are now the rulers. The all-seeing government without constituents. I think I like this. No phones, no TV, no distractions, just us. We are a new country sprung from the ashes of an old one. What do you think: turning to Cassandra. Cassandra I think you're fucked in the head, that's what I think. I don't know about the rest of you but I feel like I'm in a dream and I'm going to wake up any minute and all this will be is a bad nightmare. You act as though you're happy this happened. Franco What do you mean happy? As far as I know the whole world is dead. Do you think that makes me happy? I just can't see the use of worrying about the rest of the world when it appears that it's everyone for themselves right now. Maureen Don't you have a family or anyone close? Aren't you just a little worried about what happened to them" Franco What am I supposed to do about it. I didn't cause any of it and there's nothing I can do about it, there's no sense living in the past. Maureen You've got worse problems than this then pal, I can't believe that you are so nonchalant about the end of the world. I know you're just a cook but your loss of reality scares me. You're far too cool to be human about the whole thing. Franco And just how the fuck do you describe human. This has been sneaking up on us for years and you're acting as though it never could have happened when in all actuality we should have been living our lives as if it were the last day for years. What were you doing, raising a family, dreaming about having children and a 200,000 dollar house with a heart-shaped pool that you could pass on to your children and their grandchildren? You're the ones who have been living with your heads up your assholes all these years while I have just been living. Old couple start at the word asshole. Franco You two, what have you contributed to this fine earth that has been destroyed and sent to hell. Was it all worth it in the long run? You're going to die like a couple of pigs along with the rest of us and there will be nobody around to even examine the remains. Was spending the winters in Florida and seeing your grandchildren at Christmas worth it when you're going to die in your own urine and shit..... Cassandra rising: Stop it, just stop it, or I swear to God, I'll kill you where you sit group recoils in horror from the loudness and from the threat. Franco Wellll , sounds like someone has got to the end of the rope and had to shed a little tenseness, just how do you think you are going to be able to accomplish this threat of yours. I don't think you have a gun, so how exactly are you going to kill me. I know there are lots of knives here so maybe you are thinking of stabbing me. Cassandra Maybe Franco Make no mistake about it little girl, if you are threatening to kill me you'd better do it. Threatening always comes too late. If you are going to do something, do it, don't threaten, It gives me too much time to react. Maureen Come on you two, relax, there's probably millions of dead people out there, why do you have to talk about killing each other. Franco She started it, I didn't say I was going to kill anybody. Noticeable sigh of relief from all in company But now that the subject has been broached, why not? There's actually very little here to stop me from killing any one of you. I am bigger and stronger than all of you and I doubt that even if all of you were to come at me at once that I couldn't defend myself. Angelina Please stop, you're scaring me. Franco Scaring you. All of the shit that has happened in the last hour and I'm scaring you. Where the fuck have you been? This whole city is on fire and I'm sitting here just talking and that scares the shit out of you. You better take a long look out the window if you want to be a little scared, Cassandra Just lay off her will ya, I'm a little hungry, do you think we could get something to eat around here? Franco What the fuck do I look like. I don't think I'm on the payroll anymore so if you want something to eat you better get it yourself. Cassandra and Maureen get up to look around the stores, Cassandra mutters "jerk" on her way past Franco. Franco remains seated and seems to be staring at the old couple. Old man I don't know exactly what your problem is buddy but what did we do to you wife tries to quieten him Franco Don't get yourself into a snit old man, I guess the whole thing has got on my nerves, ok Old man Well if you don't mind, you're scaring my wife, so please stop. I think we should try to come up with a plan of action, set up some sort of survival plan. Franco I can't believe this, what kind of survival plan are you thinking about setting up. We're waiting here to die, can't you see that? Old man Sorry, in my time we didn't give up that easily Franco leans across the table and in one fast and fluid motion he slaps the man across the face, not enough to hurt but enough to surprise him and make him stop talking. Franco In your time. What an interesting way you have of putting that to me. Don't you understand that you and your generation are responsible for what we are going through right as we speak. If there is a war going on out there right now, it is one that you started over forty years ago. I wasn't even born then, but it's me that has to pay for it now. Your fucking wars that you were always so good for starting but could never have the balls to complete the endings. You lived through it all so we could all die like this Big tough guy, let's see how tough you are now, old man. Franco begins to beat the man about the head while he is still sitting down. The man is either too afraid or too weak to defend himself from the blow. No one in the room moves as Franco pummels the old man with his fists. His wife cannot move and makes no sound. As blood starts to pour from the mouth and nose of the man there is a sharp crack and a large rumble in the room. It is the same sensation that was felt before but this time it is a little stronger. They sway in their chairs and Franco stumbles, his face sweating from the exertion of beating the old man. The noise and the motion stops. Everything is back to normal and all are ok. Even the old man can sit up in his chair and his wife fins a handkerchief in her purse to wash away some of the blood. Franco I'm going up to see what happened, who's coming with me All look down, except Cassandra Cassandra I'll come with you, we're not dead, so how bad can it be? Franco Hey, maybe you're not as stupid as you look. Let's go. The two head up the stairs, the rest of the group remains with their heads looking down. No words are spoken for a minute. Finally, Angelina is the first to break the ice Angelina That Franco is crazy. I've never liked that guy, and now I know why. I think we would be a lot safer and a lot smarter to get the hell out of here. Maureen And go where? You've seen it outside, we're trapped in here and he knows it. The best thing to do is to just go along with him and don't get him all riled up. He does have a problem. Looking suddenly to the old man--- say mister are you ok. I don't know what got into him but you sure made him mad for some reason. Old woman He didn't do anything. That bastard just started hitting him for no reason. Why did everyone just sit here. Not one of you even said anything. He could have killed him if it weren't for that other explosion. Old man It's ok honey, don't worry. He seems to be ok now. I won't talk to him anymore and I'll bet he'll leave me alone. As he speaks blood keeps pouring out of his nose and he looks down and notices the handkerchief is saturated in blood. He gets up slowly and then staggers a bit, holding onto the end of the chair. With blood still pouring out of the nose, he sits back down. Well he sure got me good. That kid has a real good left. I don't know why, but I can't seem to stop this bleeding. Maureen Look, just sit back down here and put your head back for a while. That will stop the bleeding I think. The man does as he is told but Maureen has a very scared look on her face. His wife also looks worried and starts fussing over him and cries again. Old man Look, I'm fine, just leave me alone for a couple of minutes and all this will stop. Look it's getting less already. The blood was however pouring out faster now and the man's face turns white and he collapses on the floor. The blood keeps spewing out of his mouth and a small trickle appears at one of his ears. Old woman Oh my God, someone please do something, he's dying right in front of our eyes All panic and crowd around the old man, holding his head up and trying to revive him. The old woman is shouting for help as Angelina and Maureen are doing their best to try and wake him up. He opens his eyes for what will be the last time, looks at his wife and then at the two girls. With his final breath he rasps "Get out of here, before he gets back". His head slumps onto Maureen's lap and one last gush of blood pours from his nose as he dies. All is quiet except for the quiet sobbing of his wife. Meanwhile back in time , going up the stairs are Franco and Cassandra. Franco takes the lead, holding the flashlight in front of him and walking slowly. Cassandra follows close behind him holding on to the end of his shirt. They get to the top of the stairs and Franco pauses for a minute. He feels around the edges of the door. Cassandra What the hell are you doing now, just open the stupid door, it's scary standing on the stairs. Franco I'm checking the door to see if its hot you imbecile, don't you ever watch any movies. If there's a fire on the other side, we don't want to walk into it. Where did you get your brains anyway, I'm surprised that you were able to hold down a job this long. Cassandra Ok, ok, I'm sorry. Why do you have to be such an asshole. We're all under a lot of pressure, why do you have to make it worse. Franco Maybe it's because I'm sick and tired of being surrounded by idiots all the time. Why do I have to be the only one around here to make all the decisions/ I'm the one here who has to be brave for everybody because no one else has the guts to do it. Yeah, I'm feeling a little pissed because maybe I want to be a little scared too. Cassandra Go ahead and be scared then. I don't remember anyone electing you the president around here and I'm sure that we can handle things just as well without you. Franco Like fuck you could, if I hadn't been here you would have all burnt up outside, running home to see your mommies. You need guys like me, you need me to keep you from killing each other, Cassandra Yeah, right, I'm sure that old man down there feels just great about having you around. Franco Fuck you Franco, satisfied that there is no fire on the other side, opens the door a crack and peers out. He looks for a couple of seconds and then opens it wide enough to step out. They both step out together and walk towards the front. There is no noise from the outside except for the sound of fire in the distance. There is a little bit of smoke but it is obvious that the place is not on fire. They walk to the front of the diner and look outside. The sky is still red and they can see fires raging in the distance. There are no more sirens and no people evident. There is nothing different from what they had seen before. Cassandra It all looks the same. What do you think that last noise was? Franco Once again you ask me a stupid question, how the fuck am I supposed to know. You see the same shit that I do what is it that I should see that you don't. Cassandra Please don't hit me, you're not going to hit me are you,< watery eyes> Franco No I'm not going to hit you stupid, you're just making me mad with all your dumb questions, I can only see the same things you do. Both sit down at the nearest table, slumping down in their chairs. Franco finds a pack of cigarettes and lighting two, he offers one to Cassandra. She takes it with a thanks and the two sit there, deeply inhaling and looking out the window. Cassandra Why did you hit that old man? He really didn't try to make you mad. He wasn't even fighting back. Franco You want to know why, I'll tell you why. A man like him is the worst type of person to have in a crisis. They think they're still living back in the sixties and they can solve all the problems of the world. They don't want to hand over the reigns to the newer generation. He was just getting ready to tell us what to do and then he would happily lead us all to our deaths. He looked like a vet. You know some of those people are so ashamed that they lost the war that they are willing to do anything to get back their nerve. A nerve that they lost when they lost the war. Under fire is the only way they can accomplish this and that's where we are now, under fire, I just had to let him know who was boss at the outset, before he tried anything. Cassandra You think he was trying to take over? Take over what, a couple of waitresses and one psychotic cook, not to mention an old wife. I still think you over reacted just a little. Franco What the fucks the difference, it's not as though I hurt him or anything. At the very worse, I might have scared him a little bit. Who cares? Look I was just thinking, since we're alone right now, this might be the last time we ever have to you know, have sex, Cassandra What!!! Are you kidding me, you're going to have to rape me first you fucking pig, how can you think of that right now? Franco flings his cigarette on the floor and moves towards her. She moves back in her chair and tries to move away but the chair sticks in the carpet. Get away from me you bastard or I'll scream. Franco Scream away, who's going to hear you, maybe that old man is going to come up here and rescue you, I doubt it. He has reached her and he grabs her by the head and forces his lips to her mouth. She resists and a muffled cry is heard as he tries to pry open her mouth with his tongue. This would be a lot easier and nicer for you if you do what I say, you know. He slaps her quickly across the face. Both freeze. She then brings her knee up and connects with his groin. As he doubles over in pain they suddenly hear some screaming coming from downstairs. She is the first one up and she heads for the basement first with Franco following her still doubled over in pain. They reach the basement to find Maureen and Angelina still comforting the dead old man while the woman is sitting at the table, crying uncontrollably. Franco What the fuck is going on down here. What's the problem with the old man. The two women on the floor look up at him but say nothing. The old woman stops crying all of a sudden and looks up at Franco. Old woman You killed him you bastard, you filthy murdering bastard She gets up and runs towards him. She hits him with her small arms. She hits him on the chest and face. He just looks down at her, barely feeling the blows. She is sobbing while she hits him. Finally she tires and collapses on the floor in front of him, she crouches on the floor with her forehead resting at his feet. Why, why why, why did you want to hurt him. He never hurt anyone in his life, and then you come along and for no reason, no reason you just kill him like he was a dog. Franco stands there, looking down at her with a smile on his face. She continues to cry, looking down at the floor. Cassandra is still standing by the door, and is staring at the old man lying dead. All is quiet save for the sobbing of the old woman. Franco I don't know what all of you are thinking right now, but when I left this room ten minutes ago this man was alive. I beat him a little bit but I didn't kill him. You know what I think? I think something happened after I left. Did he fall? Come on, tell me what really happened, you're not going to pin this on me. Maureen It took a little while, because a man takes a long time to bleed to death. You have a lot of blood in you, you know. He waited a while before all the blood flowed out of him and then he died. He died because of you, you hit him so much that he died. Why shouldn't we blame you, you did it. Franco Ok I see what's going on here and you know what? I don't care. What if I did kill him. Nothings gonna happen to me. When do you think the police are going to get here. Do you think I'll get a fair trial. What makes you think that any judges made it through all this. Nothings gonna happen to me. The old woman stopped crying again and looked up at Franco with what can only be described as true hatred in her eyes. Slowly she gets up and spits in Franco's face. He calmly looks at her and then wipes the spittle off his face. All are quiet as they stare at each other for a full minute. Out of the blue, Franco raises his hand and strikes the woman across the face with a blow that sends her five feet, landing on the floor in a heap. Cassandra and the others scream as Franco walks over and begins to kick the woman. He kicks her about the face and body as hard as he can. Not a sound comes from the woman as he beats her mercilessly. After a minute Cassandra leaps at Franco, knock him to the floor. Cassandra Stop it, are you crazy, do you want to kill her too? Franco looks up from his position on the floor but does not get up. He shifts his position so he is comfortable and looks at Cassandra. Cassandra turns over the old woman and looking at her sees that she is dead. Her face is black and its as if her whole skull has been bashed in. She carefully lays the old woman down, appearing to make her comfortable. She begins to weep again but no tears come to her eyes. Franco is still sitting on the floor a couple of feet away with that smile on his face. The other two girls are still sitting on the floor close by with the old man dead in their lap. Franco Correct me if I'm wrong but it looks as though a few things are going to have to change around here. We are all going to die anyway so the choice is up to you. Do you want to go like these two old scraps of shit or maybe try to go naturally by fire. Which one of you has the guts to run out into the fire instead of me? Not much of a choice, I know, but what can you do? I think we all know whose in charge here. If you want to live, you're going to have to do what I say. Now my first order of the day is help me get rid of these bodies. They're going to start to smell soon. Nobody moves. Cassandra's lips start to quiver and the tears finally start to come to her eyes. The other girls don't move but they also begin to cry. Let's go! < he slaps the floor making a loud noise> All jump at the sound of the slap but no one knows what to do. I said somebody help me get these bodies into the fridge. Franco gets up and starts to drag the woman's body towards the walk-in fridge. Cassandra moves aside when he pulls the woman across her but does not get up or offer any help. Angelina and Maureen just sit there and do nothing. When he comes back out of the fridge and begins to walk towards the girls with the man's body, they start to get up, crying aloud. Franco I'm not going to do all the work myself. Now you two start moving that body into the fridge or you're going to end up in there with him. This was enough to get the girls moving. They drag him slowly towards the fridge. Franco stands there breathing heavily. When the girls disappear into the fridge, he breathes a sigh of relief and seems to relax. He walks over to Cassandra and lifting her up by one arm, walks her over to the table and sits her down. The two girls reappear from the fridge, still crying and seeing Cassandra sitting, come to the table and sit down too. Franco stares at them all for about thirty seconds and then, turning one of the chairs around, he faces them all a couple of feet away from the table. He is again silent for another thirty seconds until he begins to speak again. Franco I think I know what you all must think of me. You think I am a murderer and a killer. Well on that account I guess you are only partly right. Those two were going to die anyway. I only speeded up the process for them. They didn't suffer that much. Not as much as we are anyway. Can you imagine what its going to be like to be burnt alive. I don't think its going to be that nice. Do you know that your flesh can be melting off you when you are still alive. Imagine what the pain is going to be like. I think I did these two a favor. We still have to wait here for the end. They're already there. Angelina What if we're not going to die. What if you're wrong about everything and we're going to be rescued. It could happen you know. Maybe it's not a war and there are firemen fighting this right now. What are you going to say to them if they walk in the front door in five minutes. Franco Please tell me that you are not really that stupid. I hope not. We were just up there and things are twice as bad as they were before. We have a couple of hours left at the most. the fire is getting closer every second. Look around you. These are the last faces that you are ever going to see. Maureen Why the hell are you so sure of yourself? You're not any smarter than the rest of us. You could be wrong. Why won't you admit that and maybe we could even plan for that. It's better than just sitting around and waiting to die. Franco Sitting around and waiting to die. Is that what you think I have planned for us? These are going to be our last hours on earth. I don't plan on waiting here like an idiot. I think we should do something before it happens. Maureen That's better. Anything to break up this waiting. Cassandra what exactly did you have in mind? Franco I'm not sure yet. We've all faced the fact by now, I hope, except for the ones in the fridge, that we are going to die. Now, I've told you what it's going to be like when we burn to death. It's not going to be very pretty. What I'm suggesting is an alternative to immolation. Call it a game if you wish, a game with a sad ending yet a better ending that what awaits us. Maureen I don't think I like the sound of this Franco That's because you haven't let me explain myself yet. How the fuck do you think you can understand it if you don't let me finish explaining? Maureen Sorry Franco That's ok, you don't seem that smart, so I better go slow. Think of one of your favorite word games. We can play that, I don't know, anything, and the one that loses the game actually wins. They get to die by their choice. think about it, you can get strangled or smothered, quick and easy and above all, no pain. It'll be great. All mouths drop open at the same time. The beauty of this game is that you have to lose to win. I know that all of you are stupid to a degree but you all have enough common sense to hold down a job, even if it is a dead end one. What do you think, Cassandra? Cassandra looks at him blankly and then speaks Cassandra You mean to tell me that you are going to value our lives by how well we do in a word-game? That's the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. You can count me out. Franco Don't be silly, either everybody plays or nobody does. It won't be fun unless we get the whole community involved. Maureen and if one of us doesn't want to play your stupid game? Franco That's easy, you'll end up in the fridge with your new friends, that door over there is bolted, if one of you tries to get to it, I'll be there before you can get it open, and you all know what I'm capable of, so I think that my game is the easiest way to stay alive at the moment. What do you think? Cassandra What happens if you lose? Are you going to let one of us kill you? Franco First of all, that's not going to happen, but in the unlikely event that it does, I won't have any choice but to let one of you kill me. I am fair, but I'm not that worried. I never lose. Angelina starts to cry very hard at this point, gut racking sobs that make it hard for her to breathe. Angelina I don't want to die, please don't let me die, I don't want to play the game, I'll lose and you'll kill me. Franco What makes you so sure? Angelina I just know I'm going to lose, I'm not that good at words, I didn't even make it through high school. Franco That doesn't matter. This game is based on adrenaline. You've never played a life and death game before. Wait till you feel the high you're going to get when you realize that the wrong answer will mean the end of your life. You'll be surprised about what your brain can remember when it has to. Angelina But I'm not good at words. English is my second language, I was raised in Italy. It's not fair. Franco I just said a word game, it can be any type of game. Come on, let's try that geography game, you know the one we used to play when we were kids. One person starts the game by saying the name of a city or country. The next person has to think of a city or country that begins with the last letter in the name. For example, if I was to start with the name Tahiti, then the next person has to come up with something beginning with the letter "I". See it's easy. This game could go on for hours. Angelina I don't understand Franco slaps his head Franco What part of it didn't you understand. I even made that one easy just for you. Name a country that begins with "I". Angelina I don't know, honest Franco looks perplexed Franco Where the fuck are you from, you moron? Angelina Italy? Franco There you go woman, you just saved your life. Now does everybody understand the rules of the game? Cassandra You're really going to make us do this? Franco You're either going to do this or I'm going to kill you for sure. Even though you know you're going to die you have to let yourself live until the last minute. It's part of human nature, trust me. Now stop your fucking crying and let's get moving. Since I came up with the plan I'm going to go first. We'll move in a clockwise direction, so it's me first, you Cassandra, then Maureen and then on to the genius Cassandra. You can't take too long with the answers, I don't want to die before we finish the game. Ok. Let's see,... Cassandra Just a sec.... It's countries and cities right Franco I think we've gone over the rules to death, this is a fucking kids game Cassandra Yeah but kids don't kill each other when they lose. Franco Point well taken, but who cares, Here we go "Canada" I need an "a". Cassandra That's easy "Argentina" Maureen So that means I have another A right, ok give me a second.........minute....."Australia" is that right? Franco Of course its fucking right, this is going too slow, speed things up a bit. Angelina, "a" hurry up. Angelina has been very quiet, staring at the table and tears are still falling from her eyes. She thinks for about thirty seconds. Angelina Algeria? Franco What the fuck are you guys trying to do. Take us through all the A's in the whole fucking world. This is not supposed to be taking a couple of days you know. We might not have that long. New rules. You can't use the same letters more than three times. Fuck, why are you all trying to stall this for so long. That fire is getting closer every second. Angelina starts to cry louder. Stop it, stop it now, stop that fucking crying or I'm going to kill you right now. Play by the rules or your out, and you know what that means. Angelina stops crying immediately. Back to normal, good. My next word to break this stupid "a" stalemate is...Arkansas Cassandra Is that an 's' or a 'w'. Franco 'S' for stupid. Cassandra Just checking asshole, I don't want to make a mistake. Let me think... Sicily, 'y' you need a 'y'. Maureen Thanks a lot bitch, what the fuck are you trying to do, kill me? Cassandra Sorry, better you than me. Angelina Wait a second, Sicily is not a city or a country, its an island, that's not a correct answer. Franco Fuck that, you know where it is and what she means, Sicilians wish it was their own country anyway. I say its good enough and since I'm in charge, I'll be the moderator. Good enough for me. Let's hear a 'y' Maureen. Maureen Give me a minute, that's a hard one, oh wait I've got one, Yugoslavia... Franco Back to the stupid 'A's again. This is really starting to make me mad. Angelina don't disappoint me here. Angelina I'll try not to but this is too hard for me. Franco Well I'll make it easy for you, think of a name without the letter 'a' at the end. Wait a minute, I get this feeling here that you girls are trying to fuck me around. We are going to play this game and we are going to play it until there is one of us left sitting here by himself waiting to die. I don't know who its going to be but I promise you that it will happen. Franco gets up and goes to one of the counters. He reaches into one of the drawers and pulls out a large carving knife. He tests the blade against his fingers, emitting a smile to let the other people know that it is sharp. He calmly walks back to the table and laying the knife down on the table by his side he sits down to resume the game. No one says anything but there is fear in the eyes of everyone and Angelina lays her head in her arms on the table. Now, you come up with an answer in two minutes or you're going to lose a finger for every minute longer than it takes, so I would start to think hard if I were you. Angelina breathes deeply but does not answer for at least a minute. Angelina Algiers, Algiers is a city in Algeria, I know that one. Franco What's with you and Algeria? Doesn't matter, you're right, let's keep the ball rolling, Senegal, that's a country in Africa, 'l' next, Cassandra, remember the time limit. Cassandra This is getting silly, I feel like a little kid here, why do we have to do this. Franco This is going to be the last time I am going to explain this. This is no longer a little game, it's life and death, understand, If you don't play properly and you lose, you are going to die. You are going to die anyway, but if you don't play properly you're going to die the most horrible death imaginable. Got it, good, I'm sick of explaining myself, all that fire out there has set my nerves on edge. Now are you going to come up with an 'I'' or am I going to have to cut your fucking hands off? Cassandra Lexington, whatever happened to you, you were a nice guy at one point in time if I remember correctly. You were always friendly and you were the only one who gave me a hand when I started here. You were human at one time. Franco Yes, at one time, I was, in case you haven't noticed though, times have changed, nothing is ever going to be the same again. Another thing, what did you girls ever do for me? Do you think I enjoyed coming in here every day only to be nagged at by the likes of you. Every day I got more and more pissed off. I never exploded because I needed the job and I didn't really have anything else to do. I knew I would blow up one day and since this appears to be my last chance I have to do it now. Cassandra What about your family. Don't you wonder about what might of happened to them. Maybe there's some way we can get in contact with them. Franco That just shows how really little you know about me, I have no family, did you ever reach out to me before to find this out, no, you were always so concerned with your own shitty little lives that you never really gave me a second glance. Well now you have to notice me don't you, right now I am the most important person in your lives. Now I want to hear a city that begins with the letter 'n' and I want to hear it two minutes ago. For the last three minutes we see Franco playing with and holding the knife more. He digs the point onto the table and turns the blade over and over putting fear into the others around him. Maureen < waits the full two or three minutes staring at Franco, fear and maybe defiance are seen in her eyes> Nassau. Franco That was a bitchy one to come up with. Ok Angelina thanks to your friend here, you have to come up with a 'u'. Angelina I can't, I can't do this anymore, why are you torturing me like this? Franco Come on, let's hear it, I'm not going to let you get past two minutes. Angelina Can't you see that I don't know? I'm not good at this. Franco < sweating and breathing heavily> There you see, she didn't come up with the right answer on time and that's what happens to you when you're wrong, now someone help me get that bleeding stopped, I don't want her to die yet, she deserves another chance, the nice lady. Franco takes off his own shirt and wraps it tightly around Angelina's hand. She begins to come to, cringe, and by the time Franco has the wound tied up she is fully conscious and sitting upright. She stares at the blood-stained bandage where three of her fingers used to be but she does not say a word. Franco I think it would be a good idea to let dear Angelina sit out the next round as she has gone through a little bit of trauma that may affect her answers a little. So that leaves it to be my turn. I hope I can get something as I'd hate to have to cut a couple of my fingers off, right Angelina, it hurts a little doesn't it, that's ok it'll all be over sooner than you think. Franco takes his time, playing with the knife and staring at Angelina. She sits wide-eyed and disoriented. Franco Let me see now, Ulan Bator, what a memory, I have. That's an 'r' for you Cassandra, I'll let you do it on your own, I don't think you want to give me a hand. Franco has begun to talk a little faster, turning into his suppressed, until now, lunatic side, his breathing remains heavy and he never stops playing with the knife. Cassandra Where the fuck did you come up with the name, Ulan Bator, I've never heard of it. Maybe you should give that knife to someone else when you're answering the questions. Franco It's a city in Mongolia , moron, didn't show up in school a lot did you, dreaming about fucking the boy in front of you during geography class I'll bet. Maybe you should have thought more about what the teacher was saying than imagining that boy rutting between your legs. Or maybe it was the teacher you were hot for instead? Doesn't matter, has anyone else here not heard of Ulan Bator? All shake their heads no but none say a word. Franco Well it seems as though we've run into a little problem here then. I don't think there is an atlas in the restaurant and since none of us is Mongolian, I don't know how we can solve this problem. Just a sec, I just had a brainstorm, oh forget it, we can't phone anyone, I forgot, all the phones are out. What am I going to do. Cassandra We could cancel the stupid game for starters. Franco And how would that make me look. I get a wrong answer and we cancel the rest of the game. That would make me a very poor loser indeed. No I think the answer is more than obvious, I know what I have to do. With that, he raises the knife and swiftly severs the thumb on his right hand. His face grimaces in pain but he does not utter a sound. He has a piece of his shirt beside him and he slowly wraps the piece tightly around his hand. When he finishes he uses another piece of the shirt to wipe away the blood that has pooled in front of him. Franco There we go, all is fair in love and war, and this has turned into the final war to end all wars. Let there be no more mistakes made here. I mean business, and if you don't believe me, just keep your eye on this. He picks up his severed thumb and props it up in an ashtray in the middle of the table. It has already withered a bit from lack of blood but the ashtray soon fills up halfway. Franco Out of fairness, It's still my turn, so I have to come up with another 'u'. Don't rush me, I still have two minutes. Pass two minutes silence: Uruguay, there now has everyone heard of Uruguay, it's a small country in South America bordering... Cassandra I think we got it, that leaves me with a 'y' doesn't it. Franco Give the girl a dog biscuit, only one though as you don't get the one for congeniality. Cassandra You get the Mr. Psychotic one for sure. Franco smiles Cassandra Ypsilanti, Ypsilanti, Michigan, everyone has heard of that haven't they, it's past Detroit on the interstate, I've passed through it hundreds of times... Franco Ok, ok don't kill yourself over it, I've heard about it, you're right, boy this is starting to get a little tense again. I believe its your turn again Maureen and you get to choose from the letter 'I', good luck and God help you. Maureen That's an easy one, Iceland, looks like I'm safe for another round. Franco Angelina, you have the con Angelina I just don't know, can we stop this now, I'm starting to feel sick, and I'm starting to get really cold. I don't want to play anymore. Franco You can't stop now, things are just starting to get interesting. What's wrong? Does your little hand hurt? Are you afraid that you're not going to be able to waitress like you used to? You don't have to worry about that anymore, hamburgers have gone out of fashion as of today, no more worries in store for those starving children at home and that out of work drunk husband that spends the money as fast as you make it. Angelina How can you talk like that? You don't know anything about me so shut up. Franco Will not, and you have about one minute to go my dear before I take the whole arm off. Angelina Go ahead, do your worst to me, I don't care anymore, just don't make me play this stupid game, I can't stand it. Franco Thirty seconds and counting, I don't think the game was made to end like this, It's too soon, you're not ready to die yet. Angelina looks confused, her bandaged hand is bright red and she has broken out in a cold sweat. All tears have left her eyes and she looks as though she has no intention of answering the question. Angelina I'm not going to play anymore, if you want to kill me, you're going to have to do it but I'm not going to part of this torture anymore. Franco Fine by me baby, it's your funeral. Franco stands up still holding the knife and circles the table. He is silent for about thirty seconds and then taking a deep breath he starts, Franco I just wanted to make sure that the full time had elapsed. I don't want anyone to think that the game had not been played fairly. You voluntarily left the game of your own free will and now you have to suffer the penalty. According to my rules of the game, we must now all decide how she is going to die. < looking at Cassandra> Cassandra, how do you think we should terminate the life of the loser? Cassandra I say we let her live and we forget this whole stupid incident. Franco We can't do that and you know it. You should be happy, we're making the time go quickly instead of just sitting here waiting to go. You should all be thanking me instead of looking at me as if you all hate my guts. Cassandra But we do. In fact I don't think I have ever hated anyone as much as I hate you at this moment. I'm not having any part of this. Franco But you're a part of this just by being here. If you don't try and stop me you are just as guilty as I am. You have the right to stop all of this, you just don't have the power. Cassandra Rationalize it anyway you want, I'm still not having anything to do with it. Franco Maureen, Do you feel the same way as your friend does here? Do you refuse to take part in the punishment section of the game? Maureen stares back at him, mute. Franco Which brings us back to you, Angelina, do you have anything to say about the way you wish to die? Angelina Fuck you! Franco I'd hate to think that those are the last words to usher from your mouth but that's up to you. I guess this means that you have left the problem up to me. Now I'm going to have a little trouble with this one I'm sure. I don't know if I could just kill someone in cold blood. I'm not a savage you know. Franco gets up and starts circling the table. All eyes follow him and his movements. Franco I can't think under this duress. I think it would be easier if I didn't have to look at the lamb that is about to be slaughtered. After saying this he grabs Angelina around the waist and begins to drag her towards the freezer. She screams incoherently, apparently asking for help from the others seated there. No movement detected although all stare at the ground. Franco drags her to the door and opening it he throws her inside. He slams the door on her hand, opening the door again her reaches in and pushes her to the ground. He then closes the door and locks it. Wiping the sweat from his brow he returns to the table and sits down as though nothing has happened. Franco Well, if I don't come up with anything soon the freezer will take care of the job for me. Shall we continue on with our game? I think we all could use a break at this time, maybe to talk a little about our dear departed friend or maybe you two would like to brush up on your geography a little? A muffled pounding and scream are heard from the freezer. Franco OOPS, I forget that the other couple were already occupying the coffin I chose. She must be having a little trouble dealing with those corpses staring at her. I feel kinda sorry for her, don't you? I know a way I can help the poor girl out. He rises and walks over to the freezer. He puts his hand on the door handle but instead of opening it he reaches up with the other hand and switches off the light. Louder screams are heard from inside the freezer. Cassandra You fucking bastard, let her out of there. Don't you think you've scared her enough? She can die in there. Franco Correction, my dear, she is going to die in there. Cassandra jumps up and runs over to the door and tries to open it. Franco meets her there and sends her flying across the room with one stinging slap. He holds up the key to the padlock. Franco This is the only way she is ever getting out of here, dead or alive, heroics are a bit useless here. Franco goes back to sit at the table. He slings his leg over the back of the chair and stares at the rest of the group. They are silent. Cassandra slowly picks herself off the floor and stands there rubbing the side of her face. There are no more sounds heard comin-g from inside the freezer. Inside of freezer. It is dark but we can see Angelina sitting there, crying, as far away from the other two bodies as she can get. After a minute we go back to the main room. Franco So like I told you time and time again, I know my geography. I used to get bored in class and I'd spend the most boring times looking at an atlas and deciding where in the world I'd rather be at that given time. I practically have it memorized. Maureen Yah, you really should be proud of yourself. Franco I don't think we're ever really going to be friends, me and you, I feel far too much animosity here. I don't know what I have to do to make you two realize that I am actually enriching the last moments of your lives. You've even stopped crying. That wouldn't be so if it weren't for me. < pauses and looks where his finger used to be> this is starting to hurt a little bit, oh well I guess there's no sense in trying to find an open hospital, I'm just going to have to grin and bear it. I think we can have a little rest before we continue on with the game. What do you think? I'm sick of doing all the talking myself. Cassandra I think it's a great idea, are you going to try and get some sleep? Franco Right, you two would try and kill me as soon as my eyelids closed. But you would fuck it up somehow, I'd wake up and then I'd have to kill you. Then who would I have to play with? Cassandra Exactly, we're not going to try anything we're not stupid. Franco But you think I am, why wouldn't you try and do anything, you have nothing to lose, you're both going to die anyway. The only way I would feel safe enough to get any sleep would be to lock you in the freezer with your friends there, is that what you want? Cassandra Ok forget it, bad idea, let's just sit here and relax for a while. Franco looks around but remains silent for a minute. Franco I think I have to tell you guys something. Do you think I really want things to end this way? I never expected in a million years to end up in this place. I just needed the money. That's the only reason I worked here. It's an easy job and that's all. It's not the only thing I could do. Cassandra What was it that you wanted to do. Join the army and go around killing people? Franco Very funny! You'll get that comedian award soon enough. I wanted to be an architect. I just couldn't afford to get myself through school. It ain't easy you know. Maureen It's never too late you know. Franco And you're going to get the biggest fucking idiot in the world award before it's too late, what the hell did you mean by that. It's way too late now, moron, what kind of buildings do you think I am going to start designing now! You don't need an architect to design a coffin. Fuck are you ever stupid. Maureen I didn't mean it that way, I just meant that there would have been nothing wrong with you keeping your hopes up, if this never happened I meant. Franco I know what you mean, I just feel like being an asshole today. I was in a dead end for the longest time and now that this has happened to us this is my moment to shine. God ordained this to happen you know, He put me in charge for the final remaining hours, the last day, the last day belongs to me. Cassandra What about us? Do you really think that he had this planned for us. What did we do to deserve this? Franco I can't figure that one out. I don't think you did anything wrong and if you look at the whole thing closely I think that you would see that you both have led much purer lives than I have. But you see, I don't think God meant us to lead pure lives, no, I think we were put on the earth to see who comes out on top. There are far too many people on the earth for absolute peace and love. That's a fact. The way human nature works it is physically impossible for everyone on the planet to get along. Therefor he must have had some other idea for us. Maureen What about the bible. Why would he have written that if we weren't supposed to follow those rules. Franco You're either very gullible or very stupid. Anyone could have written the Bible. It is a bestseller and perhaps one of the greatest pieces of fiction of our time. Look at those Russian writers who write those long and boring books, Tolstoy, Dostoevtsky, Googol, do you not think that any of them had the talent to write something as good as the Bible? I think they do and could of. I would have loved to see the look on millions of faces if it had ever been proved that the bible was a hoax. That one stupid book has shaped the history of the world for the last two thousand years. What good is it now? Do you really think that a forgiving God would have done this to the world? It's being destroyed, by science, not by some old man with a beard. Cassandra If I were you, I'd believe in your theory because if there is a God, You're sure not going to meet him. Maureen There is a God, you'll see. This whole thing has been a test of faith and you are failing miserably. Franco Maybe so, but I don't care, If there is a heaven and a hell I think I would rather spend eternity in hell, it sounds like a lot more fun. What could you do in heaven all the time, except go to church. Cassandra I don't think you have to worry about it at all. That's the last place you are going to, after the way you treated us. Franco You should think about that last statement for a minute. All I did was keep you busy and keep you from thinking about dying. I could have raped all of you or slowly mutilated all of you. I could have tied you all up and slowly killed every single one of you. You could have each watched while the others died. And who would I have chosen to kill last. I would have had a serious problem don't you see? Cassandra You're acting like you are some sort of God. Why do you think that since you're the strongest one here that it automatically puts you in charge of the fort? You're an animal, a sick animal, no human being would treat others this way. Franco Oh no, come on, forgetting the course of history again. Look at most of the great leaders of the world. They were all evil in one way or another. Certainly there were many that don't even compare to me. I'm an angel. Now these men, in my opinion are the ones that God chose to run the world. You couldn't have some nut sprouting peace and love all over the place, and also rule the world. I think God likes the strong men and that's why he made us that way. Cassandra So you're telling me that God made all these evil men in his image? Franco I do, and if all you have to tell me that I'm wrong is a really long novel than I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep on thinking this way. I really think that we've talked enough for the time being, I really would like to get back to the game for a while. First though I think we should check on our loser in the freezer and see how she's doing. Franco gets up and walks over to the freezer door. He takes out the key and opens the padlock after listening at the door for a minute. Franco It's awfully quiet in there, I hope she hasn't left us yet. He opens the door and Angelina is still in the same place as we had seen her last. When the door opens she shields her eyes from the unaccustomed light and tries to get up. When she tries to get up she slips on the floor and lands in a heap, unable to move. Her skin is blue and she looks to be near death. Maureen nor Cassandra move from their chairs or try to look into the freezer. Her breathing is shallow but she manages to get some words to issue from her lips. Angelina Lexington she expires on the floor. Franco Awwww, baby that was about half an hour too late. You should have thought harder when you had the chance. Franco slams the door although he does not lock it this time. He goes back to the table with a large smile on his face and sits back down. Franco Sorry girls, our first contestant has definitely left the game for good. I was hoping to give her another chance but I think she would rather get some sleep right now. Cassandra she's dead isn't she? Franco Yup, she's dead all right. But I think we should forget about her for a while. Let's live in the present ladies. She's dead and we're alive so let's leave it at that. Maureen Come on, haven't we all had enough of this. There's three dead bodies in the freezer and a million more outside, don't you think we've had enough for one day? Franco Not if you remember that this one day is the last day, there might not be a tomorrow, so let's see if we can finish this one off before it gets dark for good. I think it might be a good idea to change a few rules this time around. I feel kinda bad about poor Angelina in there, so cold and all, she really didn't have a chance and I think she knew that. I'll try to make a few changes that will make things a bit more on the fair side. Cassandra Like what? Franco Well, for starters, I think that we should include lakes and rivers in the next session. It might make the game last a little longer as I'm sure you both want it to. And also I think it might not be a bad idea to dispense with the time limit for a while. It puts too much pressure on us. Cassandra So we can have as much time as we want? Franco I think we can do that for a while. But don't abuse my kindness. If I think you're stalling for a few more breaths, then the rule dies and so do you. Cassandra I'm sure we'll all do our best. Franco That's the spirit, right Maureen? Maureen Right, Franco, this is fun. Franco Now I'm not really sure that we know where to start and I think it would be in bad taste for us to start with Lexington as it was the last word that came from Angelina's mouth. Both girls stare at Franco Cassandra What are you talking about? Franco Oh!, did I forget to mention that. She was alive when I walked into the freezer. She just looked up at me after she fell down, and said Lexington. Then the breath went out of her and she died, ok, that's that. Cassandra You mean you could have saved her, why the hell didn't you. Franco Saved her from what, I didn't put her in there to pick flowers, I put her in there to die, and that's what she did, so that's what happens when you stay in one of those things for too long. I'm going to go fucking crazy before this day is through with you two idiots hounding me all the time, why didn't you save her? Why did she have to die like that? Why are you such a bastard, Franco, shut the fuck up and play the game. I think Cassandra is the best person to start out this time, so let's go, don't make me enforce a time limit again. Cassandra is meditative, Franco is drooling with excitement, and Maureen looks as though she is about to die. Outside the fire still rages and a wind has begun to blow spreading the flames faster and higher. Cassandra Who goes after me? Franco I do, come on let's go! Cassandra Zgierz, that starts with a Z, its a town in Poland, and it also ends with a Z, let's see you get past that one smart-ass. Both girls sit up and look very happy with themselves as though they have won the game already. Franco You two look like you already have me stumped. I told you I was an expert on geography and you think that you can fool me with a simple Z. Come on, I thought you had come up with something a lot more challenging than this. Well I think I'm going to take my time as I don't know whether to take Zaire or Zambia or maybe Zanzibar, or I could even choose the Zambesi River, couldn't I. Gee you two sure have me stumped, I don't know which one to pick. But my life depends on this so I better make my decision soon. I think I'll stick with Zurich, that's a city that everyone has heard of, haven't they? Both smiles that were on the girls faces disappear rapidly as they realize they are in a lot of trouble. Maureen You know we've heard of it. You don't have to be so cynical all the time you know. We're not as dumb as you think we are. Franco I'm pretty sure that the two of you are a lot smarter than I could ever give you credit for but what you really have to be worried about is whether you're both smarter than me. I wouldn't be placing any bets if I were you. Maureen You're such a fucking asshole, did you know that. I mean I think you are the biggest prick I have ever met in my life. Franco Flattery, as you should know by now, is not going to get you anywhere with me. I guess you never really thought that one day I would become the single most important person in your life? Think about it. You came into work every day, sometimes saying hello and other times not, but you never really thought that I was going to play any role in your lives. The stupid cook, you've always needed me, you just never knew how much until now. It seems the person you least expect can come between you and the ones you love. Can you imagine six months ago that I would play such an important role anywhere, I doubt it, anyway, doesn't matter really, does it. I think we were left with the letter H. Maureen, you have the floor, I believe. Maureen Haven't you had enough? I can't take any more of this. How do you expect us to keep this up. H I'll give you a place with an H,,, Hell and that's where you're going to find yourself when this is all over. < starts crying uncontrollably> Franco rises from his chair and grabs Maureen by the arm. Raising his arm to hit her, he instead grabs her and hugs her close to him. She responds by hugging him in return. After a minute or two of hugging he pushes her away and then slaps her across the face. Franco Oh I thought that hug was going to help. You see I really do care about you, but I just want to get this game over with before God ends it for us. You realize that we could all be incinerated in seconds. Do you want to meet your maker without finishing the last project you attempted, I don't. Now let's hear it for the letter H. Maureen, stop crying, it's not going to save you and if the truth be known, it's only going to make matters worse. I don't think I can accept Hell as a correct answer because it's a fictional place. Maureen Holland, there are you satisfied. Franco Of course I'm satisfied. I'm a fair person and you have a correct answer. As long as you play the game correctly I'm going to be happy, so why don't you stop fighting me and get on with it. If you keep playing long enough maybe God will win the race. Cassandra God has already won the race you stupid bastard, don't you realize that. There's nothing you can do to us that isn't going to happen to us anyway. You were right all along, and I think I'm just beginning to see that now. We're already dead. Maureen, can't you see that we've won. The worst he can do to us is kill us . We're already dead. Maureen What are you trying to do, give him extra ammunition. Franco No, she's right, you are both already dead, but there is still something I can do that is worse than death. I could torture you, kill you slowly, is that what you want? Cassandra It doesn't matter, any of it, no matter what you do to us when the sun comes up tomorrow we're all going to be burnt to a crisp no matter how much you torture us. Come on, let's keep playing the game. It's my turn isn't it. D right, Denmark , that gives you a K Franco, let's see what you can do with that. Franco You know, you might think that you've ruined all the fun for me but you're wrong. I'm still going to come out on top of this. Cassandra Okay, fine, do your best, let's just keep the game going . Franco So, I've got a K, do I, well I can't think of anything at the moment so you're going to have to give me a second or two. Franco rises and starts pacing around the room. He is still holding his hand which is bandaged by a shirt. The shirt is red with his blood and there is a small pool of blood on the floor by where he was sitting. The girls look tense as he walks around the room. Cassandra Come on Franco, we're waiting here, are you having trouble? If you are I guess we could let you sit out this turn. Franco No, no, I'm thinking, I'm just a little dizzy, that's all. Franco takes a couple of more steps after saying that and then collapses in a heap on the floor. The two girls wait a minute before they react. Cassandra Oh my God, what do we do. Maureen I'll tell you what we're going to do, we're going to kill him. Cassandra Why.....I mean how, I mean what do you mean kill him, I just can't kill him. Maureen Don't you think he would kill you if he had the chance. He's already killed three people, and that's what we've seen, maybe he's killed a lot more that we just didn't know about. Pass me that knife. Cassandra Why? What are you going to do with it? Maureen I'm going to stick it down his fucking throat, what do you think? Cassandra You can't just kill him, it's wrong, that'll make us just as bad as him. I won't do it. Maureen He was going to kill us and not even think twice and now you're afraid to get rid of him. I don't want to die like that. If I was meant to burn alive then fine, but I'm not going to die like a pig because that's what he has on his mind. Where the fuck did he come from anyway? Cassandra I don't know, I haven't worked here that long, remember, he was here when I got here. Maureen I know, he's always been here. He used to yell a lot and sometimes he got real mad, but I never expected that he was fucked up like this. Cassandra Well let's tie him up or something, he could wake up anytime and I don't want the first thing for him to hear to be how or why we're going to kill him. Come on help me, we need some rope or something. The two women start searching for something to tie him up with. They are not looking at him and he opens his eyes looking at the two. He does not move but a smile comes across his face and he closes his eyes again. They rummage around in a box for a while until they come up with a long piece of strong rope. Cassandra Come on, this will work. You've got to help me roll him over. The two roll him over and begin to tie his arms around his back. When they move him the bandage falls off his hand, exposing the amputation. Blood spurts from the wound. Maureen Oh, god that's gross. Cover it up again. Cassandra winds the bandage around the hand tightly and they continue to tie him up. Once they have his arms and legs trussed they lift him up with great difficulty and sit him in one of the chairs. They don't notice but we see his eyes open and another smile cross his face. Both girls sit down and let out sighs of relief. Cassandra There that's done, now let's decide the best thing to do with him. Maureen I say we just put him in the fucking fridge, that's what he was going to do to us. Cassandra A bit cruel, don't you think? Maureen It's really fucking cruel but that's what he had in mind for us. Why do you feel so sorry for him all of a sudden? Cassandra I don't feel sorry for him, I just don't want to be like him. At this moment Franco opens his eyes wide and stares at the two. They both start in fright and Maureen lets out a small scream. Franco You're already like me. You've got me tied up here like a prisoner. I hadn't done anything to you yet, I'd only threatened you. I wasn't really going to do anything. Maureen What about Angelina? She's lying in the fridge there dead, was that an accident? Are you going to tell me that you didn't really mean to do that? Franco Ok that was an unfortunate experience, I know, but it was in the heat of the moment, I lost my mind for a while. The world is coming to an end and you expect me to stay sane? Look I thought I was going to die and I lost my head for a while. I'm ok now, so what do you say we untie me and I'll be fine. My hand really hurts, what happened. Cassandra You don't remember, you cut your own finger off. Franco Your kidding me, why would I do that. Let me see, I can't see. Franco starts thrashing around in the chair but they have tied him tight enough. He thrashes around for a minute and then stops, exhausted. Franco Why are you lying to me? I wouldn't have cut my own finger off, why would you have done something like that to me, I'll kill you. Cassandra Don't listen to him, he's trying to fake us out. Franco Come on I mean it, let me out of here, this is really starting to hurt. Cassandra Get the idea of being let go out of your head for the time being. I'm not crazy and I don't want to end up dead just yet. Come on Maureen, let's go upstairs for a minute. The two girls walk towards the stairs, Franco begins screaming at them Franco Let me out of here you fucking bitches when I get out of here I'm going to finish you both off for sure, no more of the fucking games, instant death, painful and deliberate, I bet you can't wait. Move upstairs Maureen and Cassandra are sitting on the top steps. W e can still hear Franco screaming from the basement but the distance and the doors make the words incoherent. Cassandra I told you I just can't kill the guy. I know he was going to do the same thing to us but that doesn't make it right. Let's just see if maybe we can take a look outside and make a run for it. He's going to get out of those ropes sooner or later anyway. Maureen Ok, I don't think I'd be able to kill him either, it's just that I've never met such an evil person before in my life. How does someone get like that. We're all in the same position. Cassandra I don't know, c'mon, let's go have a look. Girls exit into the restaurant as we go back to the basement. Franco has freed himself and he is walking around the basement screaming for the girls to come back and untie him. He stands at the door yelling up the stairs. Franco Come back please, I promise I'll be good, no more games and no more death, I just want something to eat and maybe get a little sleep. I really love you two, that's why I let the game go on so long, I had no intention of killing either of you. Just come back down and we'll start again from scratch. This time one of you is in charge, I promise. He is smiling as he is yelling, looking at us once in a while to let off a smirk. Upstairs Cassandra and Maureen are looking out the window. It is dark outside save for a very faint red glow in the sky. Smoke pours from one of the buildings across the road, but otherwise, everything seems a little too quiet. Cassandra God it looks spooky out there. Maureen I know what you mean, but look, it doesn't look as bad as it did before. There's not as much fire. Cassandra I know it looks better, but we still don't know what happened, what if there's a lot of radiation or something. Maureen Then we take that chance, it doesn't look so bad, just a few fires and a lot of smoke. It might not be as bad as we thought it was. Cassandra Haven't you noticed, there aren't any people. If it wasn't that bad, why wouldn't there be any people out there. You'd expect to see a couple of firemen at least. Maureen If there's a lot of fires, they might not have made it this far yet. It's not as though this is the nicest part of town. It's also night everyone might be home in bed. Cassandra just stares at her. Maureen I mean, who knows, right now my family could be sitting in the living room waiting for me to walk in the door. Let's go, I want to see my family again. She starts to run for the open window. Cassandra holds her back and they fight for a minute. Finally Cassandra gets the upper hand and slaps Maureen across the face. Maureen What did you do that for. Cassandra Because you're acting stupid for fuck sakes. Don't walk out that door until we know for sure that we're going to make it. Maureen I can't just do that anymore. I'm not going to die in this stinking restaurant with that psycho asshole in the basement. Let's just go and take our chances, if you don't want to come with me then I'll just go by myself. Cassandra You're right, I know, I just didn't want to admit it. I'd rather die trying to get out of here. The least we can do is go tell him that we're leaving him here. Maybe it will give him a bit of a fright. I hope so anyway. Move downstairs Franco is sitting on the floor by the stairs whispering to himself Franco First I'm going to cut off all your fingers and toes, then I'm going to tear out your eyelids and paste them to mine. Then when you're in a whole lot of pain and you think you can't stand it anymore I'm going to take a saw and start cutting off your arms and legs. Move top of stairs Cassandra and Maureen begin to walk down the stairs closing the door behind them. Cassandra I hope he's still tied up Maureen Of course he is, we're not that weak. Move downstairs Franco smiles when he hears the door and stops chanting. He stands by the door to the left, waiting for it to open. Move stairs Cassandra has reached the bottom of the steps and she reaches for the doorknob waiting for Maureen to join her before turning the knob. Move other side of door Franco crouches like a cat waiting for the door to open. We see the doorknob turn and Franco freezes as the door opens. Move other side We see Cassandra open the door and walk through, Maureen follows her and they walk into the middle of the room. We see Franco beside the door watching them as they walk into the center of the room. They look around for a sec and then their eyes focus on the chair, the loose ropes and the empty seat that Franco used to occupy. It's then that they look back to the door and see Franco standing there. Franco Well, well well, if the two idiots weren't stupid enough to come back, . I had more faith in you than I thought. I figured you would have been a hundred miles away from here by now. Cassandra We came back to play some more of the game. Franco Nice try, why do you insist on trying to outsmart me. You're never going to do it. I don't believe for one fucking minute that you came back to continue fighting for your lives. You came back here to kill me. Maureen No we didn't, we came back to tell you that it doesn't look that bad outside and that we were going to try and make a run for it. Franco Why would you risk coming downstairs just to tell me that. Cassandra I don't know, it seems pretty stupid now, we just thought it was the right thing to do. Franco It was definitely not the right thing to do. I can't let you out of here now, what would it do for my reputation. On second thought I think it's time for Maureen to go, you've had enough for one day, haven't you little baby, if you want to go and have a run at the fire, then you just go and have your way. Come on I'm not going to stop you. Maureen hesitates, then looks a t Cassandra Cassandra What about me? Franco What about you? Cassandra Can I go too? Franco Now that's not such a good idea. I'm not going to die here alone. One of you has to stay and I'm going to take the younger and the better looking one. If I had to die looking at your ugly face I couldn't live with myself for eternity. Cassandra Maureen, just go before he changes his mind, I'll be ok. Maureen I'm not going without you. Cassandra Yes you are, now get lost, I think I can handle him by myself, if you get through to anyone, send help, it's our only chance, I think I can keep him interested enough to keep me alive until you get back. Maureen I'm going. She moves towards the door and as she nears it, Franco opens it wide to let her through. She stops beside him as she is about to exit the room. Franco I hope you don't have any really hard feelings about all this. Maybe one day we can be friends again huh. Maureen Fuck you! Franco What a pity such dirty words coming out of such a pretty mouth, bye now love. As she walks out the door Franco seizes her by the hair and flips her over his shoulder. As she lands on the other side of him we hear a loud snap as her neck breaks. She lands in a heap on the floor, blood pouring out of her mouth. Cassandra, is like a statue not emitting a sound. She looks at the dead body on the floor and slowly her eyes move up to look at Franco. Franco What are you going to tell me now, that I shouldn't have done that. I had to, I was going to let her leave and then she told me to fuck off. I couldn't let our friendship end that way, especially when I think we're getting real close to the end of it. Do you think she would have lasted that long out there? I did her a favor by putting her out of her misery. Did you see the way that neck snapped, she didn't feel a thing. Cassandra I guess it's my turn then, come on let's get this thing over with. Franco Don't be silly, I'm not going to kill you yet. We have so much fun ahead of us yet. I could have killed you at any time but don't you see that I liked you the best? You're not any smarter than the rest of them, I just happened to have this deep feeling about you that would have made it hard for me to kill you. You have more spirit for life than the other ones and that's what I like about you the most. Cassandra Even though I don't think you're any better than a writhing piece of shit. Franco Especially because you think that way of me and you have the guts to say it to my face. I can't tell you how much it means to me that the last person I'm going to see on this earth is you. Cassandra Well you're definitely not the one I would have chosen to be my final vision. Remember in the movies when the woman always says to the man that she wouldn't kiss if he was the last person on earth? Well I can appreciate that now. I always thought tat no matter who it was I could find something nice about that person. You, however are a different story. Franco You mean to tell me that you aren't going to kiss me good-bye? That really hurts you know, especially after all we've been through together. I though we had created a bond or something like that. Cassandra You really are crazy, I hate you more than anything I have ever hated in my life. If you put a gun into my hand at this moment I don't think I would even have to think about it. Franco Well you don't have a gun so don't torture yourself about what might have been. Let's just try to get this thing over with as quickly and as painful as possible. Cassandra Don't tell me that we're going to play that stupid game again. It's getting a little stale, don't you think. Franco Do you have any better suggestions? Cassandra I've got a lot of better suggestions, you probably don't want to hear them though. Franco Not if they have anything to do with letting you go, I'm not going to do that, we've come to far for me just to give it up like that, and you shouldn't be so sure that I'm going to win. Look, I've been bleeding for a long time and it doesn't look like it's going to stop, so maybe we'll be playing along like nothings happening and I'll suddenly keel over on the floor and die. Cassandra I'm not that lucky. Franco Never say never you know, you could still come out on top of this yet. Cassandra Trust me, if I'm so lucky, how the hell did I end up with an asshole like you. Franco Enough of that, we'll both be able to ask someone that question real soon. Let's get started. Since there's only two of us left this could go real fast so let's get comfortable before we start. They both sit facing each other across the table. Franco has his bloody hand on the table, and his face has turned a little gray from the lack of blood. Cassandra seems fine now, although a little tired, and she looks as though she has accepted her position and just wants to get it over with. Franco I forget what country we were in last. Can you refresh my memory or should we just start a new game. A new game, ok. Let's keep the rules open this time, then maybe the game can last a little longer than expected. I'll start, because I am still in charge around here, my god it's quiet without those other people around, maybe I shouldn't have killed them so soon. They did provide some nice entertainment. Cassandra No you shouldn't have killed them. Are you just realizing that now. Don't you have a mother somewhere. Franco What? Cassandra I said, don't you have a mother somewhere, or a father or both? Franco What does that have to do with anything? Cassandra Everyone has a mother and a father, and I'm sure that they didn't want you to end up like this. Franco goes off into a dream. We see a dirty looking apartment with old furniture, dirty dishes and a fat man in a dirty white undershirt sitting on one of the couches with a can of beer in his hand. On the floor close to him we see a boy of about eight sitting on the floor, playing with a model train but not making any noise. There is a TV on with a game show. Suddenly the train the boy is playing with breaks and the boy starts to cry. The man jumps out of the chair and starts slapping the boy across the head making him cry louder. He increases the slaps which in turn increase the volume of the screams. A woman comes out of what appears to be the kitchen screaming at the man to stop hitting the boy. The man stops for a second, he appears to have overexerted himself and is sweating profusely. The boy runs from the room picking up the broken train as he leaves. The man catches his breath and grabs the woman by the hair, holding her down on the ground he starts punching her in the face. She makes a sound from the first two blows but is silenced after that. We move to the boys bedroom where he is sitting on the be, looking out the window and listening. We hear the sounds of fist hitting face and slowly move out seeing a tear slowly crawling down the face of the boy. Franco My mother and father have no concern for me. I haven't seen them in years and have no intention to do so now. Cassandra You don't care if they're dead or alive. Franco No I don't, and neither should you. Let's get on with it. This is starting to take too long again. Where were we,,I know we were going to start the game all over again. I've got an easy one, just to make you believe that I'm not as bloodthirsty as you think I am. Canada. Cassandra Australia Franco Afghanistan Cassandra Nigeria Franco Algiers Cassandra Sumatra Franco Antwerp Cassandra Pakistan Franco Netherlands Cassandra Sweden Franco Nepal, things are moving along nice and fast now, that's the way I like it. Don't you think that things are better this way. Cassandra Don't you think it's just a little silly, I mean this could go on for hours. Franco I know, I know, it could but you have to ask yourself if you really have anything better to do. Either you would be sitting here playing with yourself or you would have been burned to a cinder out there with a crazy notion of somehow being able to see your family again. I have set you on the right path and the only way you can make it to the end of the path is either beating and killing me or accepting defeat and dying by my hand. You don't have the guts to take your own life do you. Cassandra No I wasn't brought up to be like that. Franco You weren't brought up to be brave and stand up for yourself. In a situation like this it takes a brave person to stand up for themselves with dignity and pride. You have to show the world what you are made of. And that means not waiting for the flames to take you, but running to the flames and trying to beat them. Cassandra You wouldn't let us run outside. Franco That's not what I meant. The flames are going to get you sooner or later. What you have to do is to decide for your own death. Out there you have no chance. Here you have a chance to use your brains and your wit and maybe the last victory could be yours. Cassandra Where is your father? Franco Why did you just ask that? Cassandra I just wanted to know. Who or what did a person like you come from. Franco My father is dead. Cassandra How did he die? Franco stares at her and says nothing. We drift out into a dream of Franco's. His father dressed much the same as we saw him last time is sitting on the couch. The TV is blaring on a test pattern. On the table in front of the father we see an empty bottle of tequila and ten or twelve used wedges of lime. His father is passed out with his head rolled back and drool coming out of his mouth. The boy stands in front of him looking at the drool coming in and out of his mouth in time with his breathing. The boy we see now is about fourteen years old. He stares at his dad for a while. We go to the parents bedroom and we see Franc's mother lying on the bed. Both eyes are black and there is blood coming out of her nose. She is whimpering and whispering something that we can't make out. We stay here for a minute and then we go back to the living room. As we reach there the young Franco removes a pillow from his fathers' face. The eyes are rolled back in his head and there is a small trickle of blood coming out the nose. The man is obviously dead. The young Franco drops the pillow on the floor and quietly walks into his bedroom. Franco Old age I guess. Cassandra Old age? You're not that old, how could he have died of old age. Franco Well, I can't see that being any of your business so let's just drop it for now before I get real mad. Cassandra I guess I kind of hit a sore spot eh? Franco No you didn't hit a sore spot, it's just none of your fucking business and that's all that's going to be said about it, understand? Cassandra Yes I understand. Franco You think you're pretty fucking smart don't you. You think you've just found a little insight as to why I'm a bit strange didn't you. Remind yourself of one thing young lady , remind yourself of the fact that you really don't know anything about me. Both of my parents could have been ministers as far as you know and that wouldn't shed any light whatsoever as to why I went on this murderous rampage. Don't worry about my parents, they never helped me and they sure as hell are not going to help you. Cassandra Well I can take it from that, that you didn't have the best parents in the world anyway. I don't think that's any reason why you should take it out on me. Franco I'm not taking anything out on you because of my parents. I just didn't want to die this young without affecting anybody. I've never had an effect on any person ever and I just didn't want my chance taken away. Cassandra Look, obviously somebody fucked you over real good and you've been plotting some sort of revenge for a long time. Don't you see that it's not healthy. Just because you were tortured before doesn't mean you have to inflict it upon someone else the first, or the last, chance you get. Franco Nobody ever did anything to me. We move to a reform school dormitory housing about twenty young boys aged 15-18. Franco is being punched by one of the bigger boys. When he is almost unconscious five boys strip him of his clothes and hold him don stretched across one of the beds. We see the biggest boy, the one that was beating on him taking off his belt and pulling down his pants. Big Boy Let's see if the new boy knows how to scream real loud---- there, how was that, how many more minutes of that do you think you can stand before you pass out on me. I'm in control, there's never been any doubt about that. I am the king, the god, the prince, the deliverer. you can't do anything without consulting me, I am your mother and father put together, every teacher you ever had, every senator and every policeman who ever gave you a parking ticket. Cassandra You're fucked in the head. Franco Yes, I'm that too, but it doesn't matter because I am the best. Everything I do affects you and you can't handle it, now get up and let's get back to the game. Cassandra Fuck you Franco No thanks, I have a headache. Franco picks her up by the hair and begins to drag her back to the table. She tries to resist him but she has been made too weak by the beating to have any affect on him . By the time he gets her back to the table he is breathing heavier than before and she is still sobbing. Her eyes are both puffed up and there is a lot of blood coming out of her nose. Franco thank you so much for seeing things my way at last, < slaps her across the face> now if you're through with your stalling tactics, let's get back to the game. I believe your last attempt at my defeat was made in Nigeria. I was about to come back and take you to Amsterdam before that last little outburst of yours. Franco is sitting on the table right in front of her staring into her face. She is still crying and doesn't appear to be listening to anything. Franco Come on little girl, I didn't hurt you that bad. Let's just do a few more little ones and then we can rest for a while. She looks up at him with a smile on her bleeding lips. He doesn't say anything but he cradles her head behind her neck . Franco I know this is hard for you but there's only a little bit left and then this will all be over. Franco looks right into her eyes, inches away, Franco Under different circumstances I think we could have been good friends. I don't think you ever really looked at me, but I looked at you a lot. I always thought you were pretty good looking. I was never anything to you before this and you never suspected that I would ever play any part in your life. Funny how things work out sometime. Cassandra What else can you do to me without killing me? Franco Don't be silly, I could rape you, or slowly kill you. There's no end to my imagination. But don't worry, I don't think I have the energy to rape you, in fact I don't think I'd even enjoy it, so you can get that out of your mind. I guess I'm going to have to stick with torture if you don't smarten up and play the game properly. Cassandra I don't want to play anymore, I've had enough. You can torture me, rape me kill me, do what ever you want to me, I'm not going to play your stupid game anymore. Franco Fine then, have it your way. Franco sticks his thumb into her eye socket and starts to gouge her eye out. She screams in pain and tries to pull his hand out of her eye. Franco Are we still not going to play our fun little game. I think you're almost ready to change your mind. Cassandra Stop it, stop it please. Franco Are we going to continue the game? Cassandra Yes, yes, I'll play. Please stop. Franco promise. Cassandra Yes, I'll play, please don't do that again. Franco I won't, if you keep up your end of the bargain. Cassandra I'll play properly, but I forget where we were. Franco We were in Amsterdam, come on, it wasn't that long ago, your memory must be getting to you. I guess I beat you up pretty bad. Cassandra you did. Franco Only because you deserved it, don't forget that. Cassandra Enough , I don't want to talk about it anymore. Madrid is my next answer. Franco Very good, I see you're back on line. Do you know that if we can't decide a winner in this game we can change the rules. It doesn't have to be countries, you could do bands or Broadway shows or whatever turns you on. Cassandra stares at him but says nothing. Franco Well let's just stick to this for now. So I have a D huh. Cassandra Yes, I believe that's what's going on. Franco Come on, let's not get snotty. Revelations is at hand you should be awed. Cassandra I'm awed at nothing, I just can't believe my life is going to end like this. I've got so much more I wanted to do. Franco Let's be honest, I really don't care, obviously, Dresden is my next choice. Wow that's funny. Wasn't it the town of Dresden that got bombed so badly at the end of the war that humans actually melted on the streets before they burned. Can you imagine heat that intense that you melt. Maybe if you behave yourself, you'll find out what it's like. I'm kind of looking forward to it. We're a part of history. Do you think the people in Dresden had the chance to think about the fact that they were a part of history. That the one thing they would be remembered by was the night that they turned to animal fat. I doubt it. Think about how lucky we are to experience this. Cassandra Sorry if I don't share your enthusiasm, but I can't think of anything at the moment to be happy about. Can we just get on with the game. Nippissing. Franco Funny how just a couple of minutes ago you didn't want to play anymore and now you can't wait to get started again. Will wonders never cease. Fair enough, Geelong. There's a sharp bang heard from upstairs. Cassandra jumps at the noise but Franco does not respond. Cassandra Did you hear that? Franco Hear what? I didn't hear anything. Cassandra I thought I heard a noise coming from upstairs. Franco Don't be stupid. What could possibly be going on upstairs? Cassandra I don't know, that's why I asked you. Franco Maybe the building is starting to come down, I don't know, if it is we better get this game over with fast. You have a G let's go. Cassandra I know I heard something. Franco I said let's go, cut the crap and move it. Franco starts to get up. Cassandra Gagetown. Another noise is heard but this one is quieter. Cassandra It must have been the wind. Franco Yes that great old wind that is soon going to carry us to our deaths. I don't think I'm going to kill you. We might as well just wait here for the fire to get us. I don't think we have a lot of time left. Cassandra Well we might as well keep on playing then. You have an N. Franco Make up your mind would you. When I don't want to play, you seem to go against anything I say. You're not being a very good little partner are you? Cassandra We might as well do something. It still could take a long time you know. Franco Well, maybe I don't want to play anymore. How about that. The noise from upstairs is getting louder but Franco still doesn't seem to hear it. Cassandra jumps up from her chair again and moves towards the door. Cassandra I know I hear something up there, I'm getting out of here. Franco lunges at her and they both go falling to the floor. Cassandra seems to have the upper hand as Franco has become increasingly weaker due to the loss of blood. They wrestle for a while. As they thrash around the floor, they move towards the wall. There is a rack of canned food there and as they bump into it some cans get knocked to the floor. One hits Cassandra in the head but she is not hurt. She picks the can up and bashes it into Franco's head. Immediately a cut is open and blood starts pouring out the head. Franco You fucking bitch, I'll kill you. Cassandra I doubt that very much. She rolls him over and straddles him, holding the can above her head, about to strike him. Suddenly the sound of footsteps is heard on the stairs. Cassandra lowers her hand and looks towards the door. We see the knob start to move. We then see Franco grab Cassandra by the hair and begin to pull her towards him. She resists and raises the can again. At this moment the door opens and about five National Guardsmen, rifles loaded pile into the basement. 1st Guard Drop it and get off. Cassandra Ok, Ok, don't shoot. Cassandra begins to lower the can when out of the corner of her eye she sees a knife ion Franco's hand out of view to the soldiers. She screams and raises the can again ready to hit him. We then hear one shot and a red dot appears on Cassandra's head. She slowly falls on top of Franco. Her eyes are wide open but she cannot speak. A trickle of blood pours out of her mouth and then she dies. All is silent for a minute and then Franco moves a little and pushes the dead girl off him. The knife has disappeared. Franco You guys got here just in time, that fucking bitch went crazy. Wait till you see all the stiffs in the freezer. What a fucking mental case. 2nd Guard You're hurt, you need some medical attention. Franco You're fucking right I do, hey what the fuck happened out there anyway. 2nd Guard Biggest fucking gas explosion you've ever seen, half the town was burnt to a crisp. Two of the guard help Franco up and help him towards the door Franco You don't say. THE END ake. The intensity grows stronger and soon the whole kitchen is shaking. Franco What the hell was that? 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