Court has reconvened. Lucky, Three Skinheads, Clerk, and Howard are in the jury box, with Mr. Ryan presiding. The courtroom observers are Pam, Kelly, Craig, Mrs. Ginty, a noseless Dad and an armless Mom.

Crutch sits confidently behind the prosecutor’s table, and Thel is nervously sitting behind the defense table. Mr. Ryan bangs the gavel.

MR. RYAN

Mr. Prosecutor, you may continue with your case.

Crutch stands up.

CRUTCH

The prosecution rests, your honor.

Mr. Ryan looks at Thel.

MR. RYAN

Are you prepared to defend yourself?

Thel gets up and walks to the witness stand. He looks at Mr. Ryan.

THEL

Would it be okay, if I told my side of the story? I have no witnesses to call.

Mr. Ryan looks at Crutch.

MR. RYAN

Any objections?

CRUTCH

No, your honor. Give ‘em enough rope.

Mr. Ryan looks back to Thel.

MR. RYAN

Go ahead.

Thel sits in the witness chair. He looks over the jury, the crowd, then at Crutch. He clears his voice, then proceeds.

THEL

I’m not exactly sure of, what it is I am accused of. I know that I have done some really bad things, recently. I don’t want your pity, I just want you to understand.

Lucky jumps up and points at Thel.

LUCKY

Hang that fucking traitor!

Mr. Ryan bangs his gavel, as he addresses Lucky.

MR. RYAN

I’ll have to ask you to refrain from that type of behavior.

After a moment, Thel continues.

THEL

I’m a loser, and I always have been. Girls don’t like me, my clothes aren’t cool. I never get invited to parties. I was truly unhappy for the first sixteen years of my life. Then, I meet Crutch. He gives me all the things I’ve ever wanted. Chicks, cars, whatever. But he gives me something else. The ability to take revenge on all those who had wronged me. I was able to smite down my enemies in a merciless, brutal fashion. It was great, except that there was a fundamental problem.

Thel pauses for dramatic effect.

THEL

I didn’t know it was real. I was tripping on a psychedelic root. I thought it was all make believe.

Thel takes a piece of root from his pocket, and holds it up.

THEL

This is the true culprit. It made me into a monster. I never wanted to hurt anyone. I tried to quit, but it kept calling me back. Making me kill.

Thel angrily throws the root across the room. He takes a breath to calm down.

THEL

I can accept the fact that I’ve ruined my life. I suppose I deserve it. I feel no remorse, and I have but one regret. I had two of the greatest friends in the world. Now, one of them is dead...

Thel looks at Pam, who has a dead-pan expression.

THEL

...and the other one hates me. I was such an arrogant bastard, that I drove her away from me. I’m sorry.

Thel looks over to the jury.

THEL

Judge me, how you will. I am but a scared kid, who’s been manipulated by forces greater than me. I am at your mercy.

The jury and audience begin to “boo” Thel. They throw garbage at him. Mr. Ryan bangs furiously with the gavel. Eventually the ruckus dies down.

MR. RYAN

One more outburst like that, and I’ll clear this courtroom.

Mr. Ryan looks down at Thel.

MR. RYAN

The evidence against you is so overwhelming, I see no reason to proceed. In the eyes of this court, you are nothing but a wormy little punk, who refuses to take responsibility for his actions.

Crutch pats himself on the back, literally. Thel stands up and begins to slink back to his table.

MR. RYAN

Due to the cowardly nature of your crimes, I am prepared to sentence you to an eternity of homosexual sodomy in the fifth plane of Hell, Furthermore...

Just as Thel is about to take his seat, he looks at Pam again. His eyes light up and he turns to Mr. Ryan.

THEL

Wait. I have one witness to call.

Crutch stands up in protest.

CRUTCH

Your honor, this is nothing more than stall tactics.

MR. RYAN

(To Crutch)

Sit down. The boy has a right to due process.

Mr. Ryan looks at Thel.

MR. RYAN

Call your witness.

THEL

I call Pam to the stand.

Still emotionless, Pam takes a seat on the witness stand. Thel looks at Mr. Ryan.

THEL

I believe that this witness has undergone extensive brainwashing. May I have permission to treat her as a hostile witness?

Mr. Ryan nods affirmatively. Thel looks at Pam.

THEL

I’m only going to ask you one question. Before you answer, I’d like you to remember all the good times we’ve had together.

Thel moves closer to Pam.

THEL

How do you feel about me?

Crutch jumps to his feet.

CRUTCH

Objection. That question is...

Crutch struggles with the term.

CRUTCH

I don’t know what you call it, but it’s bullshit.

MR. RYAN

Overruled.

Thel moves even closer to Pam.

THEL

I’ll ask you again. How do you feel about me?

Pam thinks for a while. The tension is thick. She settles on her answer. She looks at Thel and smiles.

PAM

I love you.

Lucky explodes, sending a shower of innards over the court. Crutch screams.

CRUTCH

Stop this insanity, right now.

Thel smiles as he looks at Pam.

THEL

Could you repeat that, please?

PAM

I love you, Thel.

The Clerk explodes. Pam stands up, smiling.

PAM

I love you, I love you, I love you.

In order, the Three Skinhead explodes. Pam and Thel hug. Crutch runs to Mr. Ryan. Crutch is in a desperate panic.

CRUTCH

I move for a mistrial.

MR. RYAN

Denied.

Thel and Pam are still embracing.

THEL

I love you too, Pam.

Howard explodes. Crutch turns to Thel and Pam.

CRUTCH

Would you stop saying that?

THEL

What? Love?

Craig explodes. Crutch is trying not to show his fear.

CRUTCH

I tell you what. All is forgotten. Quit this foolish charade, and come back to your sugar daddy, Crutch. I’ll take care of you.

Thel smiles.

THEL

I’d love to.

Mrs. Ginty explodes.

THEL

But I don’t need you anymore. Pam loves me, and I love her.

Mom and Dad explode. Crutch gets extremely angry.

CRUTCH

I’m done playing games with you. Prepare to die, fuck nuts.

Crutch gears up to attack Thel. Pam and Thel are frightened. Suddenly, the courtroom doors burst open and Justin walks in. He is blue from asphyxiation.

JUSTIN

I love you too, man.

Kelly explodes. Crutch looks on in horror, as Justin walks to Thel and Pam. They engage in a group hug. Thel looks at Crutch, who is frozen in place.

THEL

I’m through with you. I have love in my life now.

Crutch grows weaker.

CRUTCH

Stop saying that word.

JUSTIN

(To Crutch)

But it’s a love fest.

Crutch’s arm explodes.

CRUTCH

I’ll ruin you.

PAM

(To Crutch)

I’d love to see you try.

Crutch’s other arm explodes.

Thel, Pam, and Justin chant the “L” word over and over again. Crutch screams as the flesh from his body falls away. As the chanting continues, Crutch’s skinless body convulses and smokes.

The pressure builds to a head, and Crutch explodes with a fury, that destroys the courtroom. Thel, Pam, and Justin are knocked over. When the smoke clears, the three friends get to their feet.

Thel looks at Pam and Justin.

THEL

Thanks guys. You really came through for me.

JUSTIN

It’s nothing.

THEL

So, you’re not mad about me killing you?

JUSTIN

You didn’t kill me. I really committed suicide.

Thel and Pam look shocked.

JUSTIN

Hey, I had a lot of shit going on, and I couldn’t deal. Which reminds me, I have to get going. I’m making a run at the light.

Justin salutes Thel. Justin turns and walks out of the courtroom. Pam brings Mr. Ryan’s presence, to Thel’s attention. Mr. Ryan looks a little fearful.

THEL

What am I going to do with you, Mr. Ryan.

MR. RYAN

Haven’t you done enough? I’m out of here.

Mr. Ryan jumps up and flees the courtroom. Pam and Thel kiss. Pam looks at Thel.

PAM

You beat it. It’s all over.

Pam and Thel hug. As they do, the room begins to warp, then slowly melts away, leaving darkness.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY

It is early morning. Pam and Thel make awkward love. Thel tries his best to do it right, and Pam doesn’t mind that it is all wrong.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. THEL’S HOUSE - DAY

Thel is being lead in handcuffs from his house. He is escorted by TWO COPS. Thel has tears in his eyes, as he’s placed in the back of a cop car.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. THEL’S HOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY

Pam lies dead on Thel’s bed. She has been hacked to pieces. The bed is soaked in her blood.

INT. POLICE STATION - DAY

Thel sits in a plain cinder block room. The police Detective sits across from him, next to a television and VCR.

DETECTIVE

You’re telling me, that some guy named Crutch did all the killing. You are completely innocent.

THEL

That’s right. He made me watch. I was so terrified.

DETECTIVE

Maybe, you could explain this to me. We got this from a security camera at the shopping center.

The Detective pushes the play button on the VCR.

TELEVISION:

The footage is in black and white. It shows the shopping center parking lot. Mr. Ryan is standing by his make-shift recycling center. Thel appears from behind a car and approaches Mr. Ryan.

MR. RYAN

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

Thel produces a knife and attacks Mr. Ryan. Mr. Ryan screams as Thel stabs him repeatedly. Mr. Ryan falls in a pool of his own blood. Thel continues to stab.

POLICE STATION:

The Detective pauses the VCR. Thel is horrified.

DETECTIVE

I see you, I see the victim. Where’s Crutch?

THEL

How can that be? I know for a fact that Crutch killed Mr. Ryan.

The Detective rewinds the tape and plays the attack again.

DETECTIVE

Let’s watch it again. Maybe I missed something.

Thel turns white, as the Detective plays the brutal assault, over and over again.

INT. ASYLUM - DAY

TWO NURSES stand by a thick metal door, with a small glass window. Through the window is Thel. He is in a straight-jacket. He is babbling and drooling. His eyes float wildly in his head. NURSE #1 looks in at Thel.

NURSE #1

What wrong with him?

NURSE #2

Drug overdose. He fried his brain on acid.

NURSE #1

Poor kid.

NURSE #2

He got what he deserved.

The Two Nurses walk away.

INT. ASYLUM/THEL’S CELL - DAY

Thel sits bound and drooling. The Witch Doctor is dancing around the room. Evan is clapping in rhythm and laughing. Evan looks into the camera.

EVAN

I told you this shit would blow your fucking mind.

Evan laughs maniacally.

FADE TO BLACK:

THE END