Thel enters his room, wet and emotionally drained. He grabs the woven bag and grips it forcefully. He screams to the heavens.

THEL

Crutch! Show your face, you fucking pussy.

Thel looks at the woven bag.

THEL

Damn you, root. I wish I’d never fucking met you.

Thel violently whips the woven bag across the room. He goes into a blind fit and tears his room to shreds. He falls to his knees, with tears of rage streaming down his face.

He screams to the heavens, once again.

THEL

You won, motherfucker. Are you happy? You beat me, you fucking prick. I hope you burn in hell. This shit is over.

Thel gets up and exits his room.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BATHROOM - DAY

Thel enters the bathroom. He looks at his anguish in the mirror. He wipes away the tears.

THEL

I am a monster. A fucking monster.

Thel turns and starts up the shower. He reaches into the medicine cabinet and grabs a razor blade. He places the blade on the counter, then gets undressed.

He picks up the blade, and gets into the shower. He sits on the shower floor. He puts the razor to his wrist and thinks for a moment. Thel musters the courage, and slashes his wrist.

He takes the razor in the other hand, and slashes the other wrist. He leans back and watches his blood flow down the drain.

THEL

It’s over.

Thel cracks a slight smile and closes his eyes, as he waits for death. Blood pumps from both wrists. Suddenly, Crutch appears. He reaches into the shower, and pulls Thel out of the tub, by his neck.

Crutch lifts Thel and pins him against the wall. Crutch is fuming mad.

CRUTCH

What the fuck are you doing? You don’t die unless I say so. You got that?

Thel laughs.

THEL

It’s too late. I’m a goner.

Thel holds up his wrists. He is shocked by the fact that neither one is slashed.

CRUTCH

Amateur.

Crutch drops Thel on the floor.

CRUTCH

Put some clothes on. You’re a fucking disgrace.

Crutch kicks Thel in the stomach.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY

Crutch has Thel by the back of his neck. Thel is shirtless, only wearing pants. Crutch tosses Thel to the ground. Crutch grabs the woven bag and takes out a root. He gets on Thel’s chest and tries to force the root into Thel’s mouth. They struggle.

CRUTCH

Eat this. We have more killing to do.

THEL

I don’t want to anymore.

CRUTCH

Yes you do.

Thel pushes Crutch off of him. Thel gets up and runs out of the room.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/KITCHEN - DAY

Thel runs into the kitchen. He slides feet first towards the cabinet under the sink. He frantically opens the cabinet and grabs a bottle of bleach.

Thel opens the bottle and begins to chug bleach. Crutch runs into the kitchen and sees Thel drinking.

CRUTCH

Are you nuts?

Crutch lunges for Thel, knocking the bleach bottle away. They wrestle some more. Crutch pins Thel down.

CRUTCH

Don’t you fucking do this to me.

THEL

It’s the only way out. It’s the only way I can stop you.

CRUTCH

You don’t want to stop me.

Thel turns his head and violently pukes.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BATHROOM - NIGHT

Thel kneels over the toilet, vomiting. Crutch is holding his head, and tenderly caressing him. Thel falls back into Crutch’s arms. Thel goes unconscious. Crutch grabs some toilet paper and gently wipes the sweat from Thel’s brow.

CRUTCH

Don’t worry, my boy. Everything is going to be all right.

Crutch wraps his arms around Thel and rocks him slowly back and forth.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BATHROOM - DAY

As the sun rises, Thel lays motionless on the floor. He is still shirtless, and all alone.

INT. SCHOOL/HALLWAY - DAY

Pam is walking down the empty corridor. She has a note in her hand. She comes to a door marked: PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE. She goes to knock, when she notices the door is ajar.

She looks in and sees a police DETECTIVE talking to Principal James. She eavesdrops.

INT. SCHOOL/PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE - DAY

Principal James sits behind his desk. Standing in front of him is a police Detective. Pam is peeking through the crack in the door.

JAMES

What do you want me to do about it?

DETECTIVE

Seven of your students are missing, not to mention the suicide. I’m a little offended by your cavalier attitude.

JAMES

Kids disappear all the time. They’re all a bunch of drug-crazed dope-fiends.

The Detective slams his fist on the desk.

DETECTIVE

Damn it! This isn’t the summer of love. They didn’t all run off to Frisco. These are good kids.

JAMES

What the hell do you want from me?

DETECTIVES

I want you to give a shit. I want some answers.

James takes a deep breath.

JAMES

Fine. Why don’t you tell me who’s missing, and I’ll tell you what I can.

The Detective takes a note pad, from his pocket, and begins reading.

DETECTIVE

Craig Musky, Howard Washington, Kelly Douglas, Francis Todd A.K.A. Lucky the Skin,...

The names strike a chord of familiarity in Pam. She gets an uneasy feeling and runs away from the Principal’s office.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BASEMENT - DAY

Thel sits in a chair, in the basement. He is devoid of any emotion. Crutch is pacing in front of him.

CRUTCH

I am a killer.

Thel repeats.

THEL

I am a killer.

CRUTCH

Pain is my law and death is my savior.

THEL

Amen.

CRUTCH

I will rape and torture and maim. Human life means nothing to me.

Crutch falls to his knees, in front of Thel.

CRUTCH

You believe all of this, don’t you? I mean, your not just saying it, to make me happy, are you?

THEL

I am a juggernaut of death. I destroy everything in my path.

CRUTCH

Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.

Crutch stands up.

CRUTCH

What are you going to do to the son-of-a-bitch that looks at you funny?

THEL

Kill!

CRUTCH

What about the drive-though clerk that fucks you out of your French fries?

THEL

Kill!

CRUTCH

What happens to the dude with the girlfriend, who’s prettier than yours?

THEL

Kill!

Crutch and Thel scream the K-word in unison, over and over again. Then, the doorbell RINGS. They stop screaming.

CRUTCH

Here’s your chance. Prove to me, that you’re not weak. You go kill whoever that is, for being a rude interrupting bastard.

Thel stands up. Crutch hands him a .38 caliber revolver.

CRUTCH

Take this. I found it in your dad’s sock drawer.

Thel takes the gun and walks with determination, up the stairs.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM

Thel comes up from the basement and heads for the front door. He tucks the gun down the back of his pants. He opens the door. Pam is standing there. She looks gravely serious. Thel dons a big fake smile.

THEL

Pam. So glad to see you. Won’t you come in.

PAM

I really need to talk to you, Thel.

Pam enters. Thel keeps his front facing her, at all times.

THEL

Have a seat.

Pam and Thel walk to the sofa and sit. Pam takes Thel’s hand.

PAM

I want to apologize. I should have listened to you.

THEL

That’s okay. I forgive you.

Thel slowly reaches back, and puts his hand on the gun.

PAM

I know that Craig and Howard are missing. I’m not sure I really understand, but I believe you now?

Thel snaps out of his spooky politeness.

THEL

You do?

PAM

Absolutely. You’re in trouble, and I want to help.

Crutch appears, standing across the room. Pam is unaware of Crutch’s presence.

CRUTCH

Don’t listen to her. She’s fucking with your head.

Thel looks at Crutch, then back to Pam. He is confused.

PAM

If you say that you brought a killer back from your trip, I believe you.

CRUTCH

Take the gun, put it to her head, and pull the trigger.

PAM

We have to figure out how to stop the killing.

CRUTCH

Do it now, you pussy.

Thel pulls the gun out and puts it to his head. Pam and Crutch are shocked. Unwittingly, the both yell in unison.

PAM AND CRUTCH

Thel. No.

Thel looks at Crutch.

THEL

Get the fuck out of here.

PAM

What’s going on?

THEL

(To Pam)

He’s here.

PAM

The killer?

Thel looks back at Crutch. Pam looks around the room. She is in a panic.

THEL

If you don’t leave, I’ll pull this trigger, and we’re both done for.

CRUTCH

Let’s not do anything hasty.

Thel pulls the hammer back, on the gun.

CRUTCH

Maybe I’ll come back, when you’re in a better mood.

Crutch disappears. Pam is still looking around the room.

PAM

Where is he?

THEL

He’s gone.

Thel takes the gun away from his head and carefully lowers the hammer. Pam throws her arms around Thel.

PAM

I’m so scared.

THEL

So am I.

Thel halfheartedly hugs Pam. He stares off in the distance.

EXT. INTERSTATE - DAY

A car pulls over to the side of the highway. A MOTORIST jumps out of the car and runs to the nearby woods. He finds a tree he likes, and begins to urinate on it.

The motorist looks down, and is horrified to see a decomposing human hand, sticking out of the soil.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BEDROOM - NIGHT

Thel is laying on his bed. He has the gun in his hand. Pam is cleaning up the mess, from when Thel went ballistic. She looks at the gun.

PAM

Can you put that thing away? Guns make me nervous.

THEL

As long as I have this, Crutch will stay away. He knows that if I kill myself, he dies too.

PAM

That puts us in kind of a dilemma, doesn’t it?

THEL

I wish you would go home. I don’t want you getting involved in this. It’s enough, knowing that someone believes me. Knowing that I’m not crazy.

PAM

I don’t ditch my friends, when they need me the most. You would do the same for me.

Pam sits on the bed.

THEL

You are really special.

Pam puts her hand on Thel’s leg. She gives him a reassuring smile.

PAM

If we’re going to stop him, I need to know the facts. When does he come? When you’re tripping on the root?

THEL

No. He comes when he pleases.

Thel thinks for a moment.

THEL

But he’s much worse when I’m on the root.

PAM

There’s your answer. You take the root, and fight him on his turf.

Thel is unsure.

THEL

I don’t know. He has this, sort of, control over me.

PAM

You have to stand up to him. He controls you, because you are scared. You can do it. I know you can.

Thel ponders the thought.

PAM

I’ll come with you.

THEL

Absolutely not.

PAM

You need me. Haven’t you ever heard of safety in numbers?

Pam puts her hand out. Thel places his hand in hers. She smiles. He looks unconvinced.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BEDROOM - NIGHT

Pam and Thel are sitting on the floor, facing each other. The woven bag is between them. The gun is in his lap. Thel reaches in and takes out two pieces of root. He hands a piece to Pam. She looks at it.

PAM

This is it, huh?

Thel puts his root in his mouth. Pam nervously does the same.

PAM

Shouldn’t we put on some Pink Floyd?

Thel gives her a dirty look.

PAM

I heard it helps the experience.

Thel reaches for Pam. They join hands. The room begins to shake, and the lights begin to flicker. Pam and Thel are engulfed in a tornado of lights.

The colorful lights swirl faster and faster, until the room explodes and everything goes black.

INT. THEL’S ROOM(TRIP VERSION) - NIGHT

Thel and Pam are still holding hands on the floor. The room is illuminated by red light, and the walls are breathing. Pam is utterly astonished. They both stand up. Thel has the gun in his hand.

PAM

Are we here?

Pam looks around the room, then at Thel.

PAM

Are you here? Am I here? Are we here together?

Thel pinches Pam. She winces from the pain.

PAM

Ouch. Why did you do that?

THEL

We’re both here.

PAM

This is amazing. To tell you the truth, I thought you were full of shit.

THEL

Gee, thanks.

PAM

You have to admit, this is pretty far fetched.

THEL

Get over it. We have something important to do.

Thel and Pam cautiously exit the room.

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/HALLWAY - NIGHT

Thel and Pam creep down the hallway, towards Thel’s parent’s room. Thel is carrying the gun. He’s about to open the door, when he hears voices. He and Pam eavesdrop.

MOM(O.S.)

I’m worried about Thel. I think he’s turning soft.

DAD(O.S.)

He’s no killer. By the time I was his age, I had killed so many people, the cemetery had to bury ‘em three to a hole. The kid’s a punk.

MOM(O.S.)

You’re terrible.

Thel swings the door open. The decomposing bodies of his parents, lay on the bed. The DAD corpse looks at Thel and speaks.

DAD

Give ‘em hell, boy.

The MOM corpse adds.

MOM

And bring a jacket.

Terrified, Pam and Thel turn and flee.

INT. JUNGLE ROOM - NIGHT

Pam and Thel enter a room that is a cross between a jungle hut and Evan’s tripadelic garage. Thel has the gun in his hand. Sitting on beanbag chairs, around a small fire, are Evan and the Witch Doctor.

Evan has a fresh bullet hole in his forehead. Evan sees Thel and smiles.

EVAN

Hey little brother. How’s it hanging?

THEL

What happened to you?

EVAN

You mean this?

Evan fingers his bullet wound.

EVAN

The fucking Feds got me. I became to dangerous for society, because of my knowledge of herbs, so they popped me in the head, man.

Thel and Pam are speechless.

EVAN

It’s no big deal. In fact it’s kind of far out. Take a look at this.

The Witch Doctor inserts a long smoking pipe through Evan’s bullet hole. The bowl end of the pipe sticks out of Evan’s forehead, while the mouthpiece is coming out of the back of his head.

The Witch Doctor lights the bowl and smokes, through Evan’s head.

EVAN

Skull hits, man. It’ll blow your fucking mind. You want one?

THEL

No thanks.

Pam jumps in.

PAM

(To Evan)

You have to tell us how to stop Crutch.

EVAN

Is that all you want? No problem.

Evan gets up, with the pipe still stuck in his head. He approaches Thel.

EVAN

The first thing you have to do, is believe. Do you believe?

THEL

I guess so.

EVAN

Good enough. Next, you want to be totally mellow and relaxed.

Evan shakes out his body. Thel does the same.

EVAN

Do you feel good?

THEL

I feel good.

EVAN

Now, you want to click your heels together, and repeat. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.

Evan laughs maniacally. Thel and Pam grow nervous. Evan grabs Thel by the collar.

EVAN

I told you not to abuse the root, but you didn’t listen. Now you’re going to fucking die.

Thel pushes Evan away. Thel and Pam retreat from the room.