For Annabelle Part IV
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Let's finish...
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
A vibrant place that has been dulled. Everything is made of polished plastic apart from the people who silently eat their meals.
There are no couples or groups of friends, there aren't even tables or booths that facilitate more than two people.
The shutters are down, the artificial light of the place not making anything feel less enclosed and confined.
Backpacker enters, momentarily letting light that doesn't seem to belong through the door.
Backpacker goes straight to the WAITER behind the counter, a young male, probably only just twenty.
WAITER
What can I do for you?
BACKPACKER
You've got a strange place here.
WAITER
The shutters are down, the manager couldn't get them up.
BACKPACKER
Oh, why?
WAITER
He changes his story every day.
BACKPACKER
Everyday?
WAITER
Yep, this place hasn't seen the light of day since... shit, before I came here.
BACKPACKER
Shit? That's not very professional.
WAITER
Sorry, sir. What can I get you?
BACKPACKER
Kind of dingy in here. Don't you think?
WAITER
Not at all, it's um... idiosyncratic... not my words. Personally, I think it looks better with the light streaming in.
BACKPACKER
No, I don't think that would help anything.
Backpacker looks at the place a moment whilst the Waiter waits.
WAITER
Well...
BACKPACKER
It's probably good for business though.
WAITER
What do you mean?
BACKPACKER
Some people don't like the big windows, you know. They think they're on some kind of show whilst they eat the dinner. It's kind of backwards... no, it's kind of fucked up.
The Waiter doesn't know what to say.
BACKPACKER
You got loyal customers, right?
WAITER
We get the same bunch a lot, but doesn't every place?
BACKPACKER
Ebb and flow, you know. You've always got some of the same customers, but you should usually have new ones coming in too. Sometimes only a few a day. Sometimes more. Am I right? Or do I sound like an ass?
Waiter laughs.
BACKPACKER
Of course I could be an ass and be right at the same time. Or maybe you're afraid to say?
WAITER
No, no, no, you're no...
He doesn't want to swear.
BACKPACKER
Ass is not a swear word. At least, I wouldn't say it is.
WAITER
Yeah, well... what will you have?
Backpacker just looks at him.
WAITER
You could just... take a seat. I'd come to you, you know.
BACKPACKER
Who'd be at the till?
WAITER
It's all right -
BACKPACKER
A little understaffed here?
WAITER
It's manageable.
BACKPACKER
And who does that managing. The manager?
WAITER
He's out back.
BACKPACKER
Doing what exactly?
WAITER
I don't know...
BACKPACKER
He sounds like a strange guy.
WAITER
No, he's -
BACKPACKER
I'd like to see him.
WAITER
See my manager?
BACKPACKER
Yes, but not now.
WAITER
What's wrong, sir?
BACKPACKER
Don't worry, it definitely wasn't the swearing. Or the service. I liked your smile. You did smile, right?
The Waiter shakes his head, he doesn't know.
BACKPACKER
No, it's none of that. I want to show you something.
WAITER
What is it?
Backpacker leans in so the customers can't hear.
BACKPACKER
A dead rat.
The Waiter is both shocked and embarrassed.
WAITER
Where?
BACKPACKER
Well... it's not a rat... it's not really dead either... err...
Waiter is beginning to think this is a joke or prank.
BACKPACKER
(very serious)
No, it's much worse.
Waiter starts to get nervous.
BACKPACKER
I'll show you. Follow me.
Backpacker goes to the door, Waiter follows.
They stand there for a moment, the Waiter expectant and nervous whilst the Backpacker casually leans against the door.
WAITER
Wha -
BACKPACKER
Could you hold this?
Backpacker takes his bag off and puts it in his arms.
The backpack has blood and sand at the base, the Waiter gets it all up his arms, cringing in disgust, suppressing a yelp.
Backpacker pulls his gun and he freezes, a scream about to squirm past his lips.
BACKPACKER
If I may have your attention please!
He waves the gun about so everybody can see it. They of course panic.
BACKPACKER
Stay where you are and so on, otherwise... dead people.
The Waiter drops the bag and tries to wipe the blood of his arms, in disgust, losing his mind, making small yelping noises.
Backpacker taps the gun on his head.
BACKPACKER
Pick it up.
As the Waiter leans down to pick the bag up he starts to cry, so much so that he can't manage to get back up.
BACKPACKER
What is this?
He turns to the customers.
BACKPACKER
What is this?
No one knows what to say.
BACKPACKER
I mean, can you believe this?
He gets nothing from them.
BACKPACKER
(to the Waiter)
All right, get up.
The Waiter stands, quivering and without the bag.
BACKPACKER
The bag, I told you to pick up the bag. Weren't you listening?
The Waiter just sobs.
BACKPACKER
Pick the bag up, numb nuts! Shit. Some guy definitely pissed in your mother to bring you about.
(laughs, then to customers)
You know that one? It was in Amelie.
Nothing again.
The Waiter just about picks up the bag, snot streaming from his nose, drool coming down his chin.
Backpacker snatches the bag from him.
WAITER
I want my mum... I want...
BACKPACKER
What the fuck are you telling me for?
WAITER
I can't, I can't...
He starts hyperventilating.
Backpacker can't take it, he slams the bag down on the table, takes a bullet out and loads his gun.
All the while the Waiter cries, hyperventilating, eyes closed, looking pretty ridiculous, like an ugly child who thinks he's lost his mother.
Backpacker holds the gun to his face. Waiter doesn't notice.
SMACK
A good slap brings the Waiter back to reality.
Upon seeing the gun the Waiter cries harder, crumbling to his knees.
BACKPACKER
I can't believe this!
Backpacker grabs his collar and drags him to a corner.
WAITER
Please! Just let me go! I can't handle it! I can't!
Backpacker looks at him with disgust.
The Waiter starts begging.
BACKPACKER
Stop!
Backpacker pushes his face away.
BACKPACKER
Face the corner!
The Waiter turns to sob into the corner, covering the wall with snot and slob.
Backpacker has had it.
BANG
He shoots him in the head.
The Waiter is left with his face smushed against the wall, grey matter stained red, dripping.
The following silence is like heaven to Backpacker, he sighs, breathing the serene air in.
BACKPACKER
All right. Everyone. Stand up.
The customers stand.
BACKPACKER
Ok, how many we got? One, two, three... six. Ok, you.
He points to a man about the same size as the waiter.
BACKPACKER
Come here.
The man wearily walks up to Backpacker, looking to the other customers for some kind of help, of course he's getting none.
The man stands before Backpacker, but keeps his distance.
Backpacker steps toward him and shakes his hand.
BACKPACKER
Congratulations. You are now the waiter. Everybody...
Backpacker starts to clap enthusiastically.
BACKPACKER
Everyone!
The other customers clap half heartedly.
BACKPACKER
Ok, go collect your uniform.
Backpacker ushers the man to the dead Waiter.
BACKPACKER
Go ahead, don't be shy. Give it up people.
The man goes over to the dead body and looks at Backpacker. He smiles, pointing the gun at him.
The man proceeds to awkwardly take off the Waiter's uniform: the apron and shirt.
Backpacker sits next to his bag and watches him whilst the other customers uncomfortably stand, emotionally petrified, staring into space.
BACKPACKER
It's strange, isn't it?
(starts loading his gun)
Here I am and there you all are. Me, the bad guy, and you, the victims. Hostages if you'll have it.
Backpacker finishes loading his gun.
BACKPACKER
Up until now, I was not a threat to you. Well, not all of you. If you think about it, right now, I'm not either.
He looks at them and them to each other.
BACKPACKER
Yeah, you're not going to get it. Six bullets I got in here, and there's six of you. I guess that's the way it always is -
The Backpacker catches a glimpse of the Manager peeking out from in the kitchen.
BACKPACKER
Well I was wrong. Off to the kitchen we all go. Don't I look like dick?
The Backpacker gathers all the customers, stopping the man from undressing the dead Waiter, and getting them to file into the kitchen.
The doors swing shut.
BANG
BANG
BANG
WOMAN
AHHHH!
BANG
A few moments later Backpacker comes through the door followed by the six customers.
He gets them all back to their places, apart from the man who is to continue undressing the Waiter. They're all shook up, mouths unable to close, stupefied.
Backpacker goes back to the table and reloads his gun.
BACKPACKER
Crowd control. It's obscenely easy and it shouldn't be.
He finishes loading his gun.
BACKPACKER
What I was going to say before was... I am one man. Yes, there are six bullets and six of you. But, there is one gun. Still you all lack the courage to take me down. You see it all the time. I mean, look at prisons, there's got to be more than ten criminals to one guard. Maybe that was a bad example. What was that film... ah, The Bridge on River Kwai. Don't get me wrong, the film is brilliant, but there's like twenty Japs and over a hundred men. Soldiers nonetheless. Now I've never been held prisoner of war but I mean... at the loss of a few men they could have taken over, you know. Maybe there's some logistical bits I'm ignoring, but the points is... A Bug's Life, am I right?
He gets nothing but terrified stares and awkward avoision of eye contact.
BACKPACKER
Of course you have no idea, you probably didn't even see Antz...
He looks at them, wanting some kind of response.
BACKPACKER
You! Are you done yet?
He goes to the man undressing the Waiter, he's got the apron off and just has one more button to do on the shirt, fingers quivering.
BACKPACKER
Ok, up you come.
(he does)
Put it on.
The man looks at the blood on the shirt in disgust.
BACKPACKER
Just go behind the counter and put it on. It can go on over your t-shirt. Come on.
Backpacker leads the man behind the counter where he puts on the clothes.
BACKPACKER
You see, I work with you guys, the cashiers, clerks, till guys, you know. Unfortunately... well, you know about that guy. So you'll have to do instead.
Backpacker goes to the other side of the counter.
BACKPACKER
(to everyone)
I doubt you'd have the guts, but I will torture you if you try to escape. Capisce?
(to the 'waiter')
You seen Bugs life?
He shakes his head, no.
BACKPACKER
Shit, there's something wrong with you. How about Antz, you know, Stallone. Adrian! That wasn't from that film but...
The man just shakes his head in confusion.
BACKPACKER
Fucking hell, I -
A car pulls up to the restaurant.
Backpacker hears this and gets an idea.
BACKPACKER
All right, we're going to play this cool, have a bit of fun. Everyone, act as natural as you can.
Backpacker runs to a table near the door where his bag is.
He shows everyone his gun and then hides it under the bag on the table.
BACKPACKER
Remember, just keep it cool.
Everyone just stands there.
BACKPACKER
Sit. Jesus...
They do.
Backpacker gets real excited, nobody has a clue of what's going on.
They sit in silence as the car is parked. The silence is long and awkward, stained with fear.
BACKPACKER
How long does this guy take?
They wait a few moments more before...
BANG
A MASKED MAN bursts through the door with a shotgun.
MASKED MAN
Everybody! Keep you fucking heads down! This is a robbery! You!
He charges toward the man at the till with an open bag.
BANG
The masked man drops dead, a hole through his skull.
Backpacker checks out the door for any accomplices.
Nothing.
He looks at everyone, pretty proud of himself. He then pulls a wide smile, claps his hands once and:
BACKPACKER
(sings)
Gotta dance. Gotta dance. Goooootaaaa daaaance!
He tap dances toward the dead masked man, everyone looking at him as if he were mad.
BACKPACKER
I suppose that makes me the hero!?
He laughs to the man behind the till. He gets nothing back.
All the joy fades from his face.
BACKPACKER
(sighs)
Whoever is closest to my bag, get it.
An old man gets up and takes the bag to the Backpacker. He stands in front of him with his chin up, unafraid, defiant.
BACKPACKER
(taking the bag)
Thanks.
He then reloads his gun.
BACKPACKER
How are you doing today?
OLD MAN
Fuck you.
Backpacker raises his eyebrows, unimpressed.
He's given up hope with this crowd.
B-BANG
BANG
B-B-BANG
He shoots everyone in between the eyes without blinking and in less than a few seconds.
He stands in amidst the massacre, quite annoyed.
BACKPACKER
A tough day. You can't expect this kind of stuff.
He kicks the masked man's shotgun, scoffs then goes up to the cash register to open it.
Backpacker starts putting the coins into the bag, checking each one as he does, leaving the notes.
BACKPACKER
Where the fuck are you?
He keeps checking the coins.
BACKPACKER
(sighs)
All this I do to find you...
He looks at the mess around him and smiles.
BACKPACKER
All for Annabelle.
He throws the last coin in his bag and zips it up.
>FADE OUT
END
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