TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-TWO By ALEXANDER MASHA

5 Westminster Close London, England IG6 1PQ 07446172523 alexandermasha@gmail.com

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FADE IN: INT. LOCATION BEDROOM - MIDDAY In an apartment a muffled scream of help can be heard coming from one of the bedrooms. MICHAEL (20) a young Caucasian man sits on top of STELLA (21) with his hand clasped across her mouth.

MICHAEL (Softly) Honey please dont scream it hurts me to see you like this, you look ugly when you scream and shout STELLA pulls MICHAELS hand away from her mouth and shouts. STELLA (SHOUTS!) WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME? MICHAEL (Smiles and playfully play with her hair) Dont you remember me? (Pause) You and I together watching the sun go down, forgetting all the worries in the world. STELLA (SCREAMS!) I DONT FUCKING KNOW YOU! MICHAEL Youre not the first to reject me STELLA their have been countless others just like you, who claim they dont know who I am, but I know you STELLA just like I knew the others. MICHAEL gets up from her walking over to the door closes it gently looking back at Stella still on the bed and smiles.

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STELLA (SOBBING) Please I beg you dont do this to me.

MICHAEL begins to walk over to STELLA and begins to take of his clothes. MICHAEL Do what Stella? (Pause) (SHOUTS!) TAKE IT FROM YOU LIKE ALL THOSE OTHER MEN, LIKE I SAID STELLA I KNOW YOU AND BY THE POWERS THAT BE YOU SHALL REPENT. STELLA sets herself free from the bed to the surprise of MICHAEL grabbing a lamp for protection Stella (ANGRILY) Look you psycho leave me the fuck alone or else. MICHAEL smiles and long fully stares at STELLA then lick his lips. MICHAEL I wonder what you could possibly do Stella. (PAUSE) MICHAEL STANDS and runs his hands through his hair picking up a knife hidden in the sheets. We could have had something Stella but now you refuse me all I want is for you to be happy let me set you free. STELLA. (SHOUTS) LET ME SET YOU FREE! MICHAEL charges at STELLA while he screams grabbing her she smashes the lamp against his head bringing him down in the process. STELLA runs to the bedroom door CUT TO

TWENTY-TWO EXT. LOCATION APPARTMENT BLOCK-EVENING DETECTIVE MATTHEWS (20) a young Caucasian male buzzes himself into the apartment; he quickly makes his way up the stairs.

STELLA (SCREAMS) HELP SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE! MICHAEL Dont be afraid Stella, I promise that I do this with the best of intentions. STELLA managing to open the bedroom door makes her way to the front door, stumbling she falls to the floor. This gives MICHAEL enough time to catch and stab her repeatedly. As she lays on the floor dying MICHAEL begins to rape her. CUT TO INT. LOCATION OUTSIDE MICHAEL APARTMENT-EVENING DETECTIVE MATTHEWS presses his ears against the door only to hear the fading screams of STELLA, bursting through the door he is horrified to find her dead body being violated. MICHAEL You arrived a little too soon detective you were not meant to see this, please take a seat. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS What on earth is this? MICHAEL Where are my manners my name is Michael Blake. (PAUSE) MICHAEL stands up from the body kneels down placing his hands at the back of his head. This would be better if you had a seat; I planned to clean this whole mess up before you made it here what you must think of me now.

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DETECTIVE MATTHEWS (ANGRILY) What I think shouldnt matter if I had my way I would put a bullet in your head without a second thought. MICHAEL You are ever so rash. (MORE) MICHAEL stands abruptly prompting DETECTIVE MATTHEWS to take out his gun, as he watches MICAHEL make his way to the sofa. MICHAEL (CONTINUED) We havent got that much time so let me begin, STELLA over there is my 22nd victim. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS What do you mean 22nd? MICHAEL Well I like the number 22 but the number has no significance it could have easily been 30 50 10 5. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS takes a seat placing his gun in his lap staring at MICHAEL. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS 22 innocent people have fallen prey to you and have become victims of your psychotic delusions. MICHAEL (LAUGHING HYSTERICALLY) It doesnt matter if they are innocent or not what is important is the word Victim. I cannot stress how vital that word is to you Detective Matthews. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS What are you talking about? MICHAEL 21 people are not victims yet they are simply awaiting faith now; its your job to save them all before they meet their untimely demise. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS And why should I believe the ramblings of a mad man?

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MICHAEL (FORCEFULLY) Why? Well because I am not giving you a choice in the matter. Follow my rules and they live or else poor Stella wont be the only dead body you will be seeing today.

DETECTIVE MATTHEWS What proof do I have that any of this is real, that I am not going crazy myself. MICHAEL That would be very unfortunate if you were we cant have to mad men playing this game can we. (PAUSES) MICHAEL looks down at his hands and smiles. He then looks back up at DETECTIVE MATTHEWS. My hands will soon be stained with blood if you and I dont act quickly Detective, you dont have much time. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS You and I when did we become a team? MICHAEL That is of no importance, the safety of 21 people rest in your hands might I add so does your sisters. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS What the fuck did you just say? MICHAEL I guess I failed to mention that your sister is part of our little game. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS stands up walking to the back of MICHAEL gently placing his hands on Michael shoulders. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS (ANGRILY) I wont be so gentle next time if you dont tell me where my sister is.

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MICHAEL Please sit down Detective youre wasting your own time here, I want to see you succeed and well by the looks of thats not going to happen. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS sits back down with his head down. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS What do you want from me? (PAUSE) Ill do anything just please dont let her die. MICHAEL Its not up to me if she dies all we can do is try to save her. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS Why her? Why any of these people? MICHAEL (ANGRILY) They all deserve it, through their actions they have sinned against God and now must be judged even you detective must answer to your crimes. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS My sister where does she fit into all of this? MICHAEL Fascinating isnt it to be related and to know so little about her. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS (SHOUTS!) Answer me god dammit. MICHAEL No. (PAUSE) You dont deserve to know, I fear that you will never understand until you immerse yourself in my game. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS (ANGRILY) Playing with peoples life is no fucking game you animal.

TWENTY-TWO MICHAEL I am god I decide if your lifes a game or not, you all disgust me tiny ants who cannot see beyond your tiny little boxes. (BEAT)

DETECTIVE MATTHEWS You are just an ordinary man. MICHAEL Thats what you may believe now but I assure you DETECTIVE you will know me as your god, and divine saviour. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS I will never consider you my god or saviour. MICHAEL That will change in time detective, so can we begin then. MICHAEL stands up from the chair and approaches the DETECTIVE putting out his hand. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS You want to shake my hand because? MICHAEL Well we are going to be working together, I just wanted to seal it with a handshake, or am I going to look like a fool with my hand out. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS (LAUGHS) In my opinion it suits you. DETECTIVE MATTHEWS shakes MICHAELS hand firmly. MICHAEL (SMILES) That wasnt so hard now was it DETECTIVE Both men walk out of the flat leaving the dead body behind.

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