Thel is leaning against his Coronet R/T. He is dressed in some “cool” clothes and has sunglasses on. A group of students are checking out his car, and he has his arms around TWO BIMBOS.

Justin is walking by, when he notices the spectacle. Justin approaches Thel.

THEL

(To Justin)

What’s the haps, bro? How you like my wheels?

JUSTIN

(Confused)

What’s the haps?

THEL

Yeah. What’s going on?

JUSTIN

You tell me.

THEL

Not much, just kickin’ it.

JUSTIN

Can I speak to you for a moment?

THEL

Shoot.

JUSTIN

Alone.

Thel looks at the Two Bimbos.

THEL

Don’t you girls run off on me.

The Bimbos giggle. Thel follows Justin away from the car.

JUSTIN

I’m looking for my friend Thel. Have you seen him?

THEL

I’m standing right here.

JUSTIN

Do you realize what an ass you’re making of yourself.

Thel gets upset and pulls off his sunglasses.

THEL

I have a bad-ass car and hot chicks all over me, and I’m making an ass of myself?

JUSTIN

Exactly. This is not you. This is some asshole gear-head, who’s into beer drinking and date-rape.

Thel puts his sunglasses back on.

THEL

Looks like someone’s jealous.

Thel turns and walks back towards his car. The Bimbos greet him with open arms. Justin stares in disgust.

INT. THEL’S CAR - DAY

Thel is driving towards his house. The Two Bimbos are in the front seat with him. As he drives past Mrs. Ginty’s house, he snickers at the fact that her mail and newspapers are piling up on her porch.

He pulls into his driveway and parks. The Two Bimbos follow him into the house.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BEDROOM - NIGHT

Thel awakens from a deep sleep. He is startled by the fact that the Two Bimbos are sleeping in bed with him. He pulls back the covers to get a look at their bodies, when he sees that they have both been stabbed multiple times.

Thel screams, because he is drenched in the dead Bimbo’s blood. Crutch appears, on top of his dresser.

CRUTCH

There’s something so sweet about a slut sandwich.

Crutch grabs the woven bag, on the dresser, and retrieves a piece of root.

CRUTCH

Open up.

Thel opens his mouth. Crutch tosses the piece of root, across the room, and into Thel’s mouth.

CRUTCH

Three points.

Thel climbs over the dead Bimbos and gets out of bed.

THEL

I feel cheated.

CRUTCH

Why is that?

THEL

When I first started taking the root, stuff would explode and melt away. I’d see entire Biblical scenes on the wall. Now, I get nothing. You’re not putting much effort into this anymore.

Crutch leaps off of the dresser.

CRUTCH

It’s got nothing to do with me. It’s all in your head.

Thel takes that statement in for a while.

THEL

What do we have going on tonight?

CRUTCH

I was thinking something sick, something twisted. Maybe cross the line a little.

THEL

What, like killing puppies or invalids?

CRUTCH

You’re the boss.

THEL

Let’s do it.

Crutch looks at Thel’s blood soaked clothes.

CRUTCH

You’re not going out like that, are you?

Thel looks at the blood. Almost apologetically, he gets some clean clothes from the dresser.

INT. HOWARD’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Howard’s GRANDMA is sitting at the kitchen table. She has a piece of paper in her hand. She yells out.

GRANDMA

Howard. Come in here.

Howard enters the kitchen. He looks depressed.

HOWARD

Yes, Grandma.

GRANDMA

Why have you been moping around the house, for the past few days?

HOWARD

It’s Craig. He won’t return my calls. He never comes by. I miss him.

GRANDMA

I think I know, what will cheer you up.

Grandma hands the piece of paper to Howard.

GRANDMA

You’ve been accepted to State University, on a full baseball scholarship.

Howard's eyes light up.

HOWARD

All right.

Howard gives his Grandma a big hug.

GRANDMA

I am so proud of you. The first one in our family to go to college.

They break from the hug.

HOWARD

I won’t let you down.

GRANDMA

I know you won’t, baby. Why don’t you go take down the wash, and when you’re done, we’ll go out and celebrate with a pizza.

HOWARD

You bet.

Howard jumps up and runs out the back door.

EXT. BACK YARD - NIGHT

Howard runs out the back door, into the back yard. Fresh clothes and linens hang from lines all over the yard. Howard grabs a basket and begins collecting the wash, from the lines.

As he’s is about to take down a sheet, he hears FOOTSTEPS. He calls out.

HOWARD

Who’s there?

There is no answer. After a moment, Howard calls again.

HOWARD

I said, who’s there.

Suddenly, a sharp stick comes through the sheet and plunges into Howard’s stomach. He falls to the ground. He looks up and sees Thel standing over him.

THEL

The angel of death.

Thel grabs a metal rake and swings it at Howard's head. The tines of the rake stick in Howard’s face. Thel pulls the rake and drags Howard behind the tool shed.

With a stick in his gut and a rake in his face, Howard is still alive. Thel kneels beside him.

THEL

I have a big fucking boner, right now.

Unable to speak, Howard looks on in terror. Thel Stands up, and takes the stick out of Howard’s stomach. He spits on Howard, then plunges the stick in Howard’s throat. Howard gurgles blood, as he dies.

Crutch comes around the side of the tool shed and looks at Howard’s corpse.

CRUTCH

This is definitely one of your better kills. It’s creative, it’s resourceful. God damn, it’s downright beautiful.

Crutch looks at Thel.

CRUTCH

You’re the frickin’ Michelangelo of mutilation.

Crutch fakes wiping a tear away from his eye. Crutch turns to the camera and speaks directly to the audience.

CRUTCH

Come on. He was the class bully. He just got a college scholarship. You knew that sorry son-of-a-bitch was going to eat shit.

Crutch smiles and winks at the camera.

EXT. SHOPPING CENTER - NIGHT

Thel and Crutch are crouched behind a car, in the mostly empty shopping center parking lot. Across the lot, is Mr. Ryan, who is manning a make-shift recycling center.

Thel and Crutch peer over the car at Mr. Ryan.

CRUTCH

There he is, and he’s all alone. Doesn’t he know how dangerous the night can be?

THEL

I don’t think we should do this. Mr. Ryan has always treated me well.

Crutch gets short with Thel.

CRUTCH

What about last month, when he gave you a C, because you didn’t write from the soul? Not to mention the fact, that he sent you to the principal’s office, for expressing yourself. This new age fuck must be stopped.

Thel reluctantly agrees.

CRUTCH

You just relax. I’ll take care of this one.

Crutch stands up and walks towards Mr. Ryan. Thel drops behind the car, as he doesn’t want to watch. Thel hears Mr. Ryan’s VOICE.

MR. RYAN(O.S.)

Hey, fancy seeing you here. Are you interested in the wonderful world of recycling?

Thel hears a STRUGGLE, then Mr. Ryan SCREAMS.

MR. RYAN(O.S.)

No. Please.

Mr. Ryan continues to scream as the sounds of a BRUTAL ATTACK resonate. Thel covers his ears and closes his eyes. He feels great

anguish and shame.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/DEN - DAY

Thel and Pam are on the sofa, making out. Thel reaches for Pam’s breast, and she pushes his hand away. They break from the kissing.

PAM

Aren’t you worried your parents will walk in? Where are they, anyway?

THEL

I don’t know.

Pam looks deep into Thel’s eyes.

PAM

I really like you, Thel. I always have.

Thel struggles with his words.

THEL

I really like you too, which is why I have to tell you something.

Thel pauses.

THEL

You know how I told you about the psychedelic root? Well, there’s more to it. I entered an alternate universe, but when I came back, I brought something with me.

PAM

(Semi-patronizing)

You did?

THEL

It’s this guy, and his name is Crutch. He’s killing people. He’s making me kill. I can’t stop him, and it’s getting worse.

Pam laughs.

PAM

How gullible do you think I am?

THEL

Damn it, Pam. I’m serious. Every night, he makes me go out and kill.

PAM

Think about what you are saying. So you dropped some acid, and fried your brain a bit. That happens when you mess with drugs. I heard about a guy that tripped so much, he thought he was a banana.

Thel is getting frustrated.

THEL

This isn’t some bad trip, this is real. I thought you would understand.

PAM

Okay, you said you killed some people. Who?

THEL

Craig, Howard, Mr. Ryan. There’s a whole pile of them out by the interstate.

PAM

Let’s take a drive out there, and you can show me.

Thel becomes deflated.

THEL

I don’t know exactly where they are buried. Crutch was the one that disposed of the bodies.

Pam gives Thel a weird look.

PAM

You’re starting to give me the creeps. My suggestion to you is, that you lay off the drugs, and get some rest.

Thel folds his arms and looks away from Pam.

PAM

I’m going to get a soda. Do you want one?

Thel doesn’t answer. Pam gets up and exits the room.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/KITCHEN - DAY

Pam enters the kitchen and goes to the refrigerator. She opens the door and takes a can of soda from the door rack. She fails to notice the severed head of Mr. Ryan is on the main rack. She closes the door and exits the kitchen.

EXT. PARK - NIGHT

Thel walks angrily down a pathway, in the park. Crutch is beside him. Crutch is also unhappy.

CRUTCH

Are you a fucking moron, or what? You told that little dyke, all of our pretty little secrets.

THEL

She’s not a dyke, and it doesn’t matter anyway. She didn’t believe me. She thinks I’m a lunatic.

CRUTCH

You are a lunatic, but that’s beside the point. What if she goes to the cops?

Thel stops and confronts Crutch.

THEL

It’s over. You and I are through.

Thel shoves Crutch, then walks away. Crutch is a little stunned. He grows angry, as he watches Thel walking away from him.

CRUTCH

Don’t you fucking talk to me like that.

Crutch runs after Thel, and tackles him from behind. Thel and Crutch wrestle. Crutch gets on top of Thel and holds him down.

CRUTCH

This shit ain’t over, it’s just begun. I made you, motherfucker. You don’t turn your back on me.

THEL

Get the fuck off of me.

CRUTCH

You need a lesson about true friendship.

Crutch gets off of Thel and stands up. Thel is on the ground panting.

THEL

What do you mean?

CRUTCH

I’m talking about your so-called friend Justin.

THEL

What about him?

CRUTCH

He’s jealous of you. He bad-mouths you, behind your back. That little son-of-a-bitch has got to go.

Thel jumps to his feet.

THEL

You shut your fucking mouth. We’re not laying a hand on Justin.

CRUTCH

You want to bet? We are going to send that little pervert straight to porno hell.

Thel grabs Crutch by the collar.

THEL

I said, leave Justin alone.

Crutch simply smiles a big shit-eating grin. Thel releases Crutch.

THEL

I’m not going. I will not participate. So, I guess the subject is closed.

CRUTCH

I don’t need you, Thel. You need me.

Crutch smiles, then adds.

CRUTCH

And Justin needs a good mortician.

Crutch disappears. Thel is terrified. He starts running, as fast as he can.

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT

Thel is running at top speed, through the neighborhood. He cuts through back yards and hops fences. He trips over a bicycle, and tumbles. He quickly gets to his feet and resumes his desperate run.

EXT. JUSTIN’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Thel sprints to the front door. He frantically pounds on the door. JUSTIN’S MOM answers the door.

JUSTIN’S MOM

Hi Thel. How are you...

Without a word, Thel darts paste her and enters the house.

INT. JUSTIN’S HOUSE - NIGHT

Justin’s Mom watches as Thel runs past her, towards Justin's room. Thel looks in Justin’s room, but it is empty. Thel runs back to Justin’s Mom.

THEL

Where’s Justin?

JUSTIN’S MOM

He went out to the garage.

Thel turns and runs to the garage. He opens the door.

INT. JUSTIN’S HOUSE/GARAGE - NIGHT

Thel enters the garage, and is immediately hit by the exhaust, coming from the running automobile. Thel sees Justin inside the car, with his eyes shut.

Thel hits the garage door opener button, then rushes to the car. He opens the door, shuts off the engine, then drags Justin out of the car. Thel kneels over Justin’s lifeless body and cries.

Justin’s Mom stands in the doorway, horrified.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY

Thel, Pam, Justin’s Mom, and a MINISTER watch, as a casket is slowly lowered into the ground. They are all under a canopy, to protect them from the driving rain. All but the Minister are in tears.

Only Thel can see Crutch, who's riding on the lid of the casket. Crutch blows Thel a kiss. Thel tries to hold back his rage. He is trembling. He grits his teeth, as the tears shoot out of his eyes.

When the casket is lowered, Justin’s Mom turns to Thel.

JUSTIN’S MOM

I want to thank you for trying to save my Justin’s life. If only I had listened. If only I had read the signs.

She bursts into tears and hugs Thel.

JUSTIN’S MOM

I miss him, so much. Oh God, why did this have to happen?

The outpouring of emotion is too much for Thel. He pushes Justin’s Mom away, and runs from the canopy. Pam takes off, after him. The rain soaks Pam and Thel.

Pam catches up to Thel, who has slowed his run to a walk.

PAM

Wait, Thel. This is hard on all of us. We need to stick together.

Thel keeps walking. Pam grabs him and stops his progress.

PAM

Would you talk to me, please?

THEL

This is all my fault.

PAM

Don’t blame yourself, blame Justin. He’s the one that took the chicken-shit way out. Suicide is a selfish act.

THEL

He didn’t kill himself, Pam. It was Crutch.

Pam can’t believe her ears.

PAM

Are you still on this stupid kick?

THEL

Believe what you want, but you are in danger. He’s going to come after you next.

Pam grows impatient.

PAM

Why would some fairy from your dreams want to kill me? Why don’t you come back to reality and deal with the situation at hand?

Thel’s faith in Pam is lost.

THEL

If you’re not going to help, why don’t you just go fuck yourself?

Thel turns and walks away from Pam.

PAM

God damn you, Thel. You need help. If you keep this up, you’ll end up just like Justin.

Thel ignores Pam. She breaks down and cries.