Darque's Locket

 Screenplay

DIM ROOM, NIGHT
Several men in suits are sitting around a table, playing
cards. MERCENDO, sharp, distinguished the boss, sits in the
center. RICK, the hitman, is at his right.
MERCENDO
They’re mucking up business.
They’re making too many avenues for
other families to go legit, and its
drying up our revenues. Rick, you
need to deal with this. Tonight.
RICK
On it boss.
He tosses down three of a kind and walks out.
INT. CHILD’S BEDROOM, NIGHT
Thunder rolls outside. A clap of thunder causes Constance to
jump up and scream. Mom enters.
MOM
What’s the matter sweetheart?
CONSTANCE
The storm scared me.
MOM
Hush now. There’s nothing going to
hurt you.
Mom kisses Constance’s forehead.
MOM
If you get scared during the night,
just remember the prayer we
memorized and it will scare all the
badness away.
Constance sniffles and nods. Mom tousles her hair and
leaves.
INT. CHILD’S BEDROOM, LATER
Constance turns over, eyes wide. The thunder continues to
roll. She hears the wind howl outside.
2.
INT. CHILD’S BEDROOM, NIGHT
Constance folds her hands and squeezes tight. Her prayer
overlays the actions within the house.
CONSTANCE
May the Sacred Guardian watch and
protect me.
INT. HOUSE, NIGHT
Rick enters the back door, setting down a crow bar silently.
INT. PARENT’S ROOM, NIGHT
Mom blows out a candle. Dad is already laying down.
CONSTANCE
The ancient pact, may it ever be.
Dad stirs in bed. He looks around, hearing something in the
house. He reaches for his gun. Mom reaches for a locket on
her nightstand.
CONSTANCE
If evil come before the waking day.
Rick shoots Mom and Dad. Silencer.
CONSTANCE
I pray you come and take the dark
away.
Mom’s hand dangles off edge of bed. The locket hangs from
between her fingers, blood dripping down the chain, onto the
locket and onto the floor.
INT. CHILD’S BEDROOM, NIGHT
CONSTANCE
It didn’t work. I’m still scared.
She cradles her teddy bear for a moment. She sits up to peer
out the window and sees a man in a long coat walking away.
She looks at her own door.
CONSTANCE
Mommy?
Constance walks to door.
3.
INT. PARENT’S ROOM, NIGHT
Constance peeks through the door and sees Mom and Dad laying
on the bed.
CONSTANCE
(whispered)
No
Constance runs to her Mom.
CONSTANCE
Mom? Mommy. Wake up. You’re
supposed to chase the boogeymen
way. Mommy...
She collapses, sobbing.
CONSTANCE
Please wake up...
She picks up the locket.
EXT. STREET, NIGHT
Rick walks away, whistling a happy, haunting tune. Constance
hears it. She walks to the window. Lightning flashes,
reflecting the rage in her eyes. As though feeling her eyes
on him, Rick stops, turns, looks at her, smiles, tips his
hat and walks away.
INT. PARENT’S ROOM, NIGHT
Constance punches the glass, shattering it. Blood runs down
her hand and onto the locket. Tears run down her face.
CONSTANCE
Somebody... please...
Constance looks down at the locket.
CONSTANCE
I forgot a verse...
Constance folds her hands and prays again.
CONSTANCE
May the Sacred guardian watch and
protect me
Our ancient pact, may it ever be
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
CONSTANCE (cont’d)
As evil is cleansed in fire and
flood
And ties that bind, are marked in
blood
And if evil come for me
Before waking day
I pray you come and take the
Dark away...
Thunderclap. Door creaks open. Long haired dark figure
stands in doorway. Constance half turns, but stares back out
the window.
CONSTANCE
Are you here to kill me?
DARK
That depends.
CONSTANCE
Were you with that bad man?
DARK
That one? No.
CONSTANCE
Are you the boogeyman?
DARK
(chuckles)
I’ve been called that.
Constance holds up the locket.
CONSTANCE
This brought you here.
DARK
Yes.
She holds it up to her eyes, staring at it in wonder.
CONSTANCE
I can feel it somehow.
DARK
Blood activates it. Your Mother’s
turned it on. You control it now.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
CONSTANCE
It... controls you?
DARK
Yes.
CONSTANCE
Can I ask you to do something?
DARK
What would you ask me to do?
Silence hangs in the room. Rain continues to fall outside.
Thunder rumbles somewhere in the distance.
CONSTANCE
Kill the bad man.
DARK
I’m assuming you want me to start
with the ones responsible for...
this.
CONSTANCE
Yes.
DARK
Kill? Not punish. Not arrest.
CONSTANCE
No. They killed my mommy and daddy.
DARK
As you wish. Will you stay here?
CONSTANCE
You’re coming back?
DARK
If you wish me to.
CONSTANCE
(whispered)
Please.
Dark smiles, bows and vanishes.
6.
INT. DIM ROOM, NIGHT
Mercendo sits at the card table counting money. Rick enters,
throwing off a wet coat and shaking off wet hair. Other
thugs in suits stand or sit nearby.
MERCENDO
Is it done?
RICK
Yep.
Rick pours himself a drink and puts his feet up.
MERCENDO
Good. Trying to drive all the
business in town legit. What
bullshit...
Lights go out.
MERCENDO
What was that?
RICK
Fuse blew?
MERCENDO
Bullshit.
Gunshots and screaming heard downstairs. All the goons reach
for guns except Mercendo and Rick. They both exchange looks.
RICK
Fuse blew and... whatever that was?
MERCENDO
You’re fucking hilarious. Find out
what that was and kill it.
Rick finishes his drink then salutes.
RICK
On it boss...
Rick leaves.
MERCENDO
Fuckin’ hitmen think they’re
fucking comedians now...
7.
INT. DOWNSTAIRS, NIGHT
Rick walks downstairs. See Dark holding a body then dropping
it.
RICK
You’re probably wondering why I
called you here.
Dark smiles. Rick signals to goons nearby.
RICK
Well?
Goons charge. Dark moves quickly. Glimmers of metal flash in
the dark. Goons fall.
RICK
Oh. You can dance.
Rick rolls up his sleeves. They fight square off. They
fight, exchanging a flurry of attacks, blocks and counters.
Eventually Rick tires, taking more hits and getting knocked
down.
RICK
No one... ever dropped me
before.... Who are you?
DARK
No one of consequence. A mother’s
whisper. A child’s dream.
Realization sparks in Rick’s eyes.
RICK
You gotta be shittin’ me.
Stabbing sound. Rick’s eyes go dead.
INT. PARENT’S ROOM, NIGHT
Door creaks open. Dark is standing there.
DARK
It is done.
CONSTANCE
Thank you.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
DARK
Do not thank me for such things.
CONSTANCE
What happens now?
DARK
You’ll likely stay with family.
CONSTANCE
I want to stay with you.
DARK
That.... would be unwise.
CONSTANCE
Please?
DARK
No.
Constance clutches the locket, dried blood still covering
it. She holds it toward him.
CONSTANCE
I command you to take me with you.
Silence. Dark laughs. He laughs for a long time. Constance
is angry, sad and confused.
DARK
Alright child. But you don’t know
what you’re asking. Gather your
things.
Constance nods and runs off. Dark kneels next to Mom.
DARK
I’m sorry I failed you. this is not
what your grandmother would have
wanted.
INT. HALLWAY, NIGHT
Dark is standing by the door. Constance walks down the hall,
teddy held tight, backpack over her shoulder. Dark chuckles.
DARK
So what will you do? Living with
me?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
CONSTANCE
The ones that killed my parents,
there are others like them?
DARK
Many
CONSTANCE
They hurt other families? Other
mom’s and dad’s?
DARK
Sometimes.
CONSTANCE
Then I want them to be afraid of
the boogeyman.
Dark smiles.
DARK
That can be arranged.
He places a hand over her shoulder. They leave. Constance
takes one last look back down the hall, at her Mom and Dad
laying on the bed. Door closes. Black.