The Vail (Episode Four: The Scene)

Look, I realize I only just posted episode three about a day ago but, what can I say, I am adamant about this series and looking for any excuse to write an episode. Like I said, I hate it when the holiday takes away my favorite shows. I want to mae sure I don't lose any fans of "The Vail" because they don't have anything to read. Those of you who haven't been able to read episode three yet, lucky you, you got extra episodes to read. It's like a Black Friday sale, two episodes when you usually only get one.
I also feel that there are those out there who will really like this episode. It's a lot like episode two, building the mystery, and I'm sure many of you out there will begin to see a story really beginning to evolve. As with all the other episodes, I wanna know what you all think. Please.
Enjoy, my friends.

Joey Pettine

The Vail

by Joey Pettine

Episode Four: The Scene

(A basement and a crime scene, damp and dark. Police tape stretches across the front of the stage. A bare light bulb hangs from the ceiling giving minor relief to the deep, pervasive shadows. Directly beneath the dim bulb is a bloodstained workbench, blood pooled most around the half open vise and gore smeared circular saw, framed by a wall of tools, power tools, and other accessories. Crimson life has dripped off the table and left it's mark upon the cold floor. Offstage there is the slow creak of a door opening and then the rhythmic thump of feet upon dusty wood as ANDY VAIL comes down the steps and enters the crime scene, rubbing his hands nervously. He looks over the crime scene, focusing on the pool of blood that once pumped through his brother's brain. Now and then his attention is nervously drawn to the shadows around him, wondering if someone isn't there. Then his eyes go wide with frightened disbelief, his hands fall cautiously to his sides. A man, HENRY, enters from the shadowy corners of the basement, he is armed with a sawed off shotgun trained directly on Andy's face. Henry stands tall and straight, his hands steady, his face an epitome of calm neutrality, yet his eyes seem to explode with intensity. He approaches Andy, never taking his eyes off him.)

HENRY

Speak.

(The statement is the last thing Andy expects and though his mouth opens his lips stammer silently. Henry moves the barrel of the gun a hair's breadth from Andy's eyeball.)

HENRY

Speak to me. Tell me who you are.

ANDY

I-I-I-

(Henry immediately lowers the weapon, the intensity in his eyes fade.)

HENRY

That is satisfactory, thank you. You are not who I seek. I apologize for the threatening advancement but I had to be sure of your identity. If you'll excuse me, I must complete my investigation of the scene of the crime. Please, return to your home and your bed and enjoy your holiday weekend.

(Henry turns his back on Andy, as if he doesn't matter anymore, leans the gun against the bench, then begin to closely inspect the blood, never touching but hovering his hands and eyes as close to the maroon puddle as possible. Andy is speechless, shocked, surprised, and everything in between. He even takes a moment too long of a moment to glance disbelievingly from the loaded weapon to this strange man. Finally, he grabs the shotgun and turns it on his calm assailant.)

ANDY

FUCK YOU, YOU CRAZY SON OF A BITCH! TURN AROUND!

(Henry slowly turns, giving Andy a perfunctory sideways glance, looking quite confused.)

ANDY

I SAID TURN THE FUCK AROUND!!

(Henry does with an interested look.)

HENRY

Put down the weapon and return to your home.

(Andy looks at him with disbelief, not quite sure if this is a trick or not. At the same time it's as if he can't properly see Henry's face, something he can't put his finger on.)

ANDY

What?! Fuck you! Who the fuck're you?

HENRY

It does not matter. Place the weapon on the floor, leave this residence, and forget me in your dreams.

ANDY

Stop fuckin' doing that! You think you're a Jedi or something?

HENRY

Jedi?

ANDY

I know you. I... You're him, aren't you?

HENRY

No. Why aren't you leaving?

ANDY

Because I'm gonna blow your fuckin' brains out, asshole!

HENRY

You have been partially unveiled. Do you know who I am?

ANDY

My brother's killer.

(Andy harshly jabs the gun's barrel into Henry's chest. Henry lets himself be pushed back but stands tall.)

HENRY

No, I assure you that is incorrect and impossible, but you deeply believe that I am.

ANDY

You killed him. I know it just as sure as if you'd walked into my home and slit his throat in front of me. You're coming with me.

HENRY

Why?

ANDY

Because I have the gun and I said so.

HENRY

Where are we going?

ANDY

To save my sister-in-law.

HENRY

I see. Very noble. But before you commit to this theory that I am the murderer, let me show you something.

ANDY

Fuck you.

HENRY

I simply want you to look at the workbench. If it adds to the comfort and security of the situation, you may keep the weapon trained upon me. Please, look at the bloodstains.

(Andy is suspicious but curious. He slowly walks toward the bloodstain. Henry's hands are raised in a gesture of surrender.)

ANDY

Back up.

(Henry complies. Andy keeps his attention on Henry but looks over the crime scene.)

ANDY

This is disgusting.

HENRY

Horrific, I know. What do you see?

HENRY

Blood, you sick fuck!

HENRY

Look again, open yourself to more than just your brother's death.

ANDY

What?

HENRY

You are blinded by grief and the desire to prove your sister-in-marriage's innocence. Look past the crime, see the scene for what it is.

(Andy is still suspicious but he looks again and notices something.)

ANDY

What is that? Writing?

HENRY

They're footprints.

(This hits Andy, he turns his attention back to Henry and prods him with the gun.)

ANDY

You're fuckin' nuts!

HENRY

I am not. That, in your brother's blood, are the footprints of his true killer. Your brother was dead long before I or whoever did this even arrived.

ANDY

What the fuck are you saying?

HENRY

You are right in believing your brother's assailant has not been apprehended. They have escaped.

ANDY

Across the top of the table?! On tiny chicken feet?!

HENRY

They fled after being cut from your kin's cranium, which they were inhabiting.

ANDY

What? I--I--

HENRY

You believe me. There is one more point of interest. The murder weapon.

ANDY

Yeah.

HENRY

What did you notice?

ANDY

Hair and skin.

HENRY

Look past the death. You're mind has been opened. Do not ignore this.

ANDY

Just tell me, fucker.

HENRY

The extension cord is still hanging on the wall.

(The realization hits Andy like a ton.)

ANDY

The saw doesn't run on a battery.

HENRY

It must be plugged into a power source. Yet whoever wielded it needed nothing of the sort. Narrows the suspect list substantially.

ANDY

This is crazy.

HENRY

Look at me.

(Andy does.)

HENRY

What is your name?

ANDY

Andy. Andrew. Andrew Vail.

HENRY

You may call me Henry, Andrew, because I, like you, seek whoever did this to the ones you love. Do you still believe I murdered your brother?

ANDY

Without a doubt in my heart. We're going to the station.

(Andy walks Henry out of the crime scene, the gun always at ready. Moments after they leave, the light bulb burns out and the scene goes black.)