I would also like to say that writing this has been one of the funnest experiences ever. Now this doesn't mean my blog is ending I plan on continuing to write something, I'm just not quite sure yet. And for those of you who don't read this, it'l be easy for you to not worry about what I might post next. However, for those of you who have had fun with the Vail, Gimme suggestions of what you want to read next. Comedy, romance. Do you want fying pig aliens? Or do you just want more Vail? Please let me know however you can.
I would also like to know, now that it's finished, what you guys ahve thought of the Vail. If you haven't read it all yet, all thirteen episodes are up so now's your chance to fuly imerse yourself. But, seriously, what did you guys think? What sucked? What rocked? What caracters did you like or hate? Did you ahve any favorite episodes or moments? And how could it be better? Please, let me know.
Well, here we go my friends. The final episode of the Vail.
The Vail
by Joey Pettine
Episode Thirteen: Love
(Darkness.)
ANDY
This ends tonight.
(A basement, damp and dark. A broken light bulb hangs from the ceiling, the smashed neck jutting from the swinging socket. Directly beneath the broken light is a workbench covered in dozens of flickering candles and melted wax. Shadows dance around the flames. In the center of the workbench an ancient book sits upon an altar of bone, its pages opened to a grotesque and unidentifiable image. The altar is framed by a wall of tools which include a rusty circular saw, an old blowtorch, and a small hatchet. The tools have been draped with holly, incorporating this modern fixture of convenience into the ancient and unholy altar. Standing before the altar is DR. NORTH clad in black robe. He fastens the altar’s final piece, a dead and rotting hand, into the old vise bolted onto the bench’s surface. Flies buzz around the putrid altar. Dr. North finishes and turns, bumping NANCY VAIL who sits catatonically on a stool in the center of the room. He looks annoyed with her then turns his attention to the deep, pervasive shadows of the basement. He seems to be looking at something. He turns back to the altar, raising his arms to begin, then stops as offstage a door crashes open and footsteps thunder upon wood. ANDY VAIL and HENRY barrel down the steps with much haste. Henry is wielding his sawed off shotgun and both men look ready for business. A slight humming noise, like the sound of an electrical generator, begins.)
DR. NORTH
Wait…
(Henry fires into Dr. North’s chest and he goes down like a ton of bricks. The humming is louder.)
HENRY
Get Nancy Vail out of here.
(Andy moves to grab her when the humming grows to a head and then stops abruptly. A flash of bright blue light, sparks fly from every direction, as if lightning was born in the basement. Henry scans the area with his gun. Andy clutches his gut then drops to his knees. Blood soaks heavily into the stomach of his shirt. The buzzing flies grow louder, as if more have swarmed into the basement, and MIKE VAIL steps out from the shadows into the flickering candle light. Andy gasps as he sees what used to be his brother. Blood trickles down Mike’s face from a dark gash that stretches across his entire forehead. The gash has been crudely closed with thick black stitches. Mike’s places his hands inches from Nancy’s temples, sparks pop infrequently from his fingertips. He smiles grotesquely and when he speaks his voice hums with electricity as well as the monstrous buzzing of insects.)
MIKE
Hello, brother. I ssuggezt yyyou sstay calmmm or the little wwoman iz going to get a lethal doze of sshock treatment.
HENRY
That is not your brother, Andrew.
ANDY
I know. It’s Mr. Skinner. It’s that-that thing.
HENRY
The Insect.
MIKE
Neither of thoze namez belongz to mmme. The humanityyy of noww and the humanityyy of yyet to commme knowww nothing of mmmyyyy kind. Wwe are unique. Wwe adapt, ssurvive, overcommme. Yyyou flezh apez fear uz and mmmask yyyour dread wwith ignorance. Labeling uz az if yyyou know uz.
HENRY
We know what you are. You hide amongst the dark, devour all that you see without regard, and swarm upon the weak. You are merely a particular breed of insect in dire need of extermination.
MIKE
Mmmanyyy wwould ssay the ssammme about your sspeciez. Perhapz wwhat upzetz yyou mmmozt iz the kinzhip yyyour kind feelz wwith mmmine. Humanityyy haz harmed itzelf mmmore than wwe ever could.
HENRY
You and your kind are an abomination.
ANDY
One that dies tonight.
MIKE
Could yyyou reallyyy kill yyyour brother?
ANDY
You killed my brother.
MIKE
Yyyez. I knoww. And yyyou tried to kill mmme.
ANDY
One good turn deserves another.
MIKE
Yyyou carcazzez deserve nothing.
HENRY
This does not have to end in death. Return to your dimension.
MIKE
That wwould be rude. Wwe wwere invited to yyyour wworld byyy none other than the vezzel you ssee before yyou. And ssuch a comfortable vezzel it iz. I honor the wwizhez of yyyour brother.
ANDY
Just go home. We’re giving you that chance.
MIKE
Or wwhat? Yyyou don’t sseemmm to underztand that I have the upper hand.
ANDY
I will kill you.
MIKE
The onlyyy blood upon yyyour handz iz yyyour own. Yyou can sscarcelyyy keep anyyy inzide yyyourzelf. Sso mmmuch pain frommm a ssingle bullet.
HENRY
And I would fill your flesh with many.
MIKE
Neither of yyyou wwill dare attack lezt yyou ssacrifice the life of poor Nancyyy Vail.
HENRY
You would destroy many more lives.
MIKE
Iz that wwhat yyou have becommme, Leaper? A mmmurderer of humanz.
HENRY
I will do what must be done.
ANDY
Henry.
MIKE
Thiz iz yyyour allyyy, Mmmizter Vail. A creature wwith no qualmz ssawing into yyyour brotherz sskull. No qualmz ending the life of yyyet another that yyyou love.
HENRY
I will do what must be done for the future.
MIKE
For yyyour future. How sselfizh. Howw wwill killing the humanz of noww ssave yyour people of yyet?
Are theyyy not part of yyyour future? Doctor North. Nancyyy Vail. Wwhere do theyyy not fit in? Kill themmm if you wwizh, though. Their mmmeat annoyz mmme. And noww that North haz reztored me to mmmyyy original inhabitance, I ammm finizhed wwith the humanz.
ANDY
Henry, I'll take care of this.
MIKE
Yyez, Leaper, yyou have had ssuch faith in yyour Vail. Wwhyyy falter noww?
ANDREW
You are wounded, Andrew, and your reason is blinded by grief.
MIKE
Mmmurderer.
ANDY
No, Henry.
HENRY
Andrew, I apologize.
(Henry fires. Andy shoots onto his feet with blinding speed, catching the underside of the gun and twisting it upward. The shots spark off the ceiling. Andy wrenches the gun from Henry and pushes him back. Blood still pools into Andy’s shirt.)
ANDY
You are blinded by grief, Henry. Believe me.
HENRY
You are strong, Andrew
(Andy turns back to face Mike.)
HENRY
This will still hurt.
(Henry grabs Andy's face and there is a loud pop followed by a blinding flash. Andy staggers, dropping the shotgun, clutching his face, and screaming in both rage and pain.)
ANDY
My eyes!
(Henry darts for the gun. Andy blindly swings his fist and connects with Henry sending him back a number of feet. Mike watches with sick glee. Andy turns to face Henry but it is clear he cannot really see. Henry quietly regains his feet.)
ANDY
Henry, what did you do?
HENRY
My people are counting on me, Andrew, I cannot fail them.
ANDY
I am your people.
HENRY
I apologize for temporarily impairing your sight but so much has been sacrificed for this. I cannot rely on fate or prophecies to save my future.
(Henry goes for the gun again, Andy steps in front of him. He is still obviously blind but seems to know where Henry is.)
ANDY
Don't do this, Henry.
HENRY
I must.
(Before Henry can even twitch, Andy is upon him, grabbing his arms. Henry slips an arm out and delivers a right hook into Andy's chin. As the punch connects there is another pop and a flash. Andy staggers back and Henry begins to deliver blow after blow, each one accentuated by the supernatural pop and flash. Then, as if he can stand it no more, Andy lets out a wild yell of rage and clocks Henry hard. Henry steps back and Andy delivers two more crushing blows, yelling like a beast uncaged.)
HENRY
Stop.
(Henry places his hands in front of him, palms out, and stares deep into Andy's face. Henry slows, his feet as heavy as concrete, but keeps toward Henry. Mike is laughing now, his chuckles sound like screeching, hissing roaches.)
ANDY
You can't control me, Henry. You never could.
HENRY
I know and you are much stronger now. But I can still hurt you.
(Henry grunts and his hands tremble. Andy grabs at his head and groans in pain but he keeps moving, step by step, toward Henry.)
ANDY
You don't know what you're doing.
HENRY
This is my last chance.
(Henry lets out a guttural groan, his hands shaking ferociously, and a trickle of blood seeps out his nostrils. Andy pulls at his hair, screaming like a madman, but still moves forward.)
HENRY
Please, Andrew, I have to--
(Andy is inches away and suddenly he pounces onto Henry with a wild burst of energy. Henry falls onto his back, Andy on top of him. Andy begins to pummel Henry, screeching bestially. Mike continues to laugh. Then, as suddenly as he pounced, Andy stops. He clutches Henry about the throat.)
ANDY
We all must save the things we love.
(Andy stands and turns back to Mike, leaving Henry dazed and sputtering on the ground.)
MIKE
That wwaz entertaining.
(Andy picks up the gun.)
MIKE
I wwill kill her.
ANDY
I know.
HENRY
Andrew, we cannot have come so far only to watch our world destroyed. Do not allow the death of your brother to be for naught.
ANDY
Some brother. Mean to everybody. Consumed by work. He chose the monsters over us.
MIKE
Harzh.
(Henry climbs onto his feet.)
HENRY
Please, Andrew.
(Andy hands Mike the gun.)
ANDY
Do what you have to. Just leave her alone.
MIKE
Sstupid mmmeat.
(Mike aims the gun at Andy.)
HENRY
No.
MIKE
Yyyou reallyyy didn't ssee thiz coming?
ANDY
I kinda did.
(Mike fires the gun. A puff of smoke explodes from the back and hits Mike in the face. He lets out the surprised shriek of a hundred pained children, throwing the gun away, covering his face with his hands. Blood leaks profusely from between his fingers. Henry and Andy both rush forward as a team. Henry wrenches the dead hand from the vise, opening the clamp. Andy grabs Mike by the hair and pushes his face toward the vise. Mike fights back, screaming that horrible scream, but his face is blind and bloody, and he is merely flailing, arcs of electricity shooting harmlessly from his hands. With one harsh grunt Andy pushes his face into the vise and Henry tightens it on his neck, trapping him. Henry gives on final crank and there is a sickening crunch as Mike's neck is crushed again. Yet the creature continues to scream, waving his arms wildly. It slams its fists against the workbench and sparks fly up with every beat.)
ANDY
Watch his hands.
(Henry grabs the hatchet off the wall and for the first time ever we see a glimmer of anger and hatred in his face as he chops off the sparking hands. They flop to the floor and blood sputters from the wrists.)
ANDY
That takes care of that.
HENRY
Not yet.
(Henry grabs the circular saw off the wall and revs it up, the blade spinning even though it isn't plugged into a power source. Andy grabs his wrist.)
ANDY
No. Take Nancy and get out of here.
HENRY
The Insect is not yet destroyed, Andrew. It lives within the skull of your deceased brother.
ANDY
I know. I'll take care of it. This is for the Vail to finish.
HENRY
You have already done so much, Andrew.
ANDY
Mike was my brother. If anyone gets to kill him, it's me.
(Henry puts down the saw.)
HENRY
I am sorry about your eyes.
ANDY
Hey, it was convincing. I'll be alright. Just a bit blurry right now.
HENRY
You'll need this.
(Henry pulls a baggy from his pocket and hands it to Andy who puts it in his own pocket. Henry gently takes Nancy’s hands and looks into her face.)
HENRY
Mrs. Vail, I need you to come with me.
(Still catatonic, Nancy stands on her own two feet and Henry walks her up the steps, out of the basement. Andy turns to the flopping body buzzing in the vise. It seems weaker. Andy takes the extension cord off the wall and unfurls it. He plugs it into the saw.)
ANDY
You were such an asshole, Mike. That means you were a good big brother. I love you.
(The saw revs to life. Andy cuts into his brother's skull. The creature screams louder than ever, screams of the damned, and blood sprays. Mike's body stops twitching and all human quality falls away from the damned screaming. Andy puts down the saw and now all that can be heard is the unholy shrieking of the parasite, the combined noise of hissing roaches, chirping grasshoppers, and buzzing cicadas. Andy grabs the blowtorch and steps back. From out of the body, something walks across the workbench. Its body is segmented and black and six legs stretch from both sides of it's torso, each leg ending in a strange black foot not unlike a chicken’s. It has rubbery wings which buzz like electricity, trying to shake the blood off so it may fly. It squeals once more and looks at Andy, its face nothing more a twitching mass of tendrils like black, disjointed fingers, each tendril tipped with an incandescent red light that may or may not be eyes. Andy pulls the baggy out of his pocket.)
ANDY
You left this behind when you killed my brother. Henry said this was the only way to be sure.
(Andy lights the blow torch. The otherworldly bug hisses and takes flight. Andy sets fire to the baggy.)
ANDY
Infierna!
(The baggy disappears in a quick flash of flame. The creature is a foot above the workbench when it bursts into flame with one final unearthly scream. The lit body drops back onto the workbench where it wriggles for a few seconds before stopping. The flames start to spread to the unholy book. There is a sharp intake of breath as Dr. North bolts upright, he looks visibly shaken. Dr. North stands, with much effort, and shakes off the robe he died in. Attached to the back of his neck is a strange device. He peels it off with a grunt and some neon green liquid spatters over his back.)
ANDY
Back from the dead?
DR. NORTH
The... book.
ANDY
It's gone. Good riddance.
ANDY
Did you see anything? When you died.
DR. NORTH
Yes.
(Dr. North slowly begins to shuffle out of the basement.)
ANDY
People are dead because of you.
DR. NORTH
Please... I am done.
ANDY
Wait for me outside. If you run, I will find you and finish you.
DR. NORTH
I am... sorry... for your brother. For... everything.
(Dr. North exits. The top of the workbench is burning pretty good now. Andy takes the blowtorch and ignites other parts of the basement. He then places the blowtorch, still burning, on the ground and exits. The fire rages, burning down the basement and replacing it with a funeral pyre. The flames engulf the stage before dieing out and leaving only darkness.)
DR. NORTH
Death is… something.
(Overhead fluorescents reveal Andy and Henry waiting with their undead friends: Dr. North, STEVEN TILLHOUSE, ZED, ZOD, and ALINA WAITTS. Each of them have luggage. Zed, Zod, and Alina clutch their luggage with blank, brainless stares. Alina has many chunks of flesh missing from her arms and body. Offstage, a train whistles.)
STEVEN
Why don't you go find us seats.
(Zed, Zod, and Alina take the luggage and slough offstage.)
ANDY
How come she’ s like that?
STEVEN
She may have been overexposed to the resurrection serum.
DR. NORTH
While still... preserving the body and it's appropriate... functions... an overdose of Agent North is... harmful to the higher utilities of the brain.
HENRY
Andrew and Steven, I still do not believe it is a well made decision to allow Doctor North his freedom.
DR. NORTH
Please... I want nothing to do with the… occult... or death.
ANDY
A scientist brilliant as Dr. North... The man who cured death.
STEVEN
He can do a lot of good. Sides, I'll be watching him.
DR. NORTH
We should... go... Steven.
STEVEN
Mr. Tillhouse.
DR. NORTH
Sorry… Mr. Tillhouse.
STEVEN
Go. I'll be there in a second.
(Dr. North shuffles off.)
HENRY
I thought you could not defy him?
STEVEN
When he died, things changed. He's undead like the rest of us now. No matter who you are, death makes us all equals.
ANDY
Has he said anything to you about his…?
STEVEN
Experience? No but it's obvious he's... He doesn't like to be alone too long. I think he may have actually… Something happened.
ANDY
Why him?
HENRY
I do not believe that is a question any of us want the answer for.
ANDY
Where are you guys going?
STEVEN
There's a strong zombie community just outside Pittsburgh. Should have no trouble there.
ANDY
Are you going to be alright?
STEVEN
I think so. I'm not the same man I was when I was alive. How many people literally get to start a new life?
ANDY
Or say they really do know there is life after death?
(The train whistles again.)
STEVEN
Be well, Andy.
ANDY
If you ever need anything.
(Steve exits, the train whistle blows, fade to black.)
HENRY
I apologize for ruining your life.
(The fluorescents come back on. Nancy is lying in a hospital bed, peacefully catatonic. Henry and Andy stand beside her.)
ANDY
These past few months, everything I did, were either for her or Mike. Or the memory of them. A memory that wasn’t even that good. What was it all for?
HENRY
We do these things out of love because love is synonymous with insanity.
ANDY
That was the first thing you ever said that didn’t sound strange. They’re all gone, man. What do I do?
HENRY
You have yourself. You will never be able to return to the life you knew but that does not mean you cannot decide what you wish to do now.
(DETECTIVE WILLIAMS and DETECTIVE HARDY enter.)
WILIAMS
Well motherfuckin’ flame farters, look who’s here, Hardy. How did I know I’d be bumping into you again?
HARDY
Remember what the captain said, sir. About harassing?
WILLIAMS
Jesus Christ, I know, I know. Don’t be such a sissy la la.
ANDY
What are you doing here?
HENRY
It was made very clear that Nancy Vail was innocent of her husband’s death.
HARDY
Of course. Michael Vail’s death was purely accidental. We’re not here to dispute that.
(Williams looks like he has a headache.)
WILLIAMS
Yeah. Right.
ANDY
Then what are you doing here?
WILLIAMS
You tell us?
HARDY
Sir. Remember.
WILLIAMS
Your brother’s house burnt down yesterday. One of the worst fires I ever saw.
HARDY
Although we weren’t actually there.
WILIAMS
The point is that after the flames were doused and the fighters went in, it took them less than five minutes to identify the source.
HARDY
A blowtorch.
WILLIAMS
Was left burning. Someone went into the house, down into the basement where your brother was…
(Williams suddenly winces like he has a bad headache.)
HARDY
Migraines again, sir?
WILLIAMS
Where your brother died and left the damn thing to burn. On top of that, the skeleton of a chicken as well as what remained of the severed hand of a Mr. Anthony Hooper was recovered from the ashes. Got any ideas? Maybe you know who did it again?
ANDY
This has nothing to do with Nancy. This is harassment.
HARDY
Please don’t use the “H” word.
WILLIAMS
Interestingly, all of this coincides with a visit that “Nancy” received from a Dr. Ermine North. “Nancy” was checked out two days ago and then returned mere hours after her house burned to the ground. It all seems a bit weird. Especially since Dr. North worked with your brother.
HARDY
As you can see it warrants an investigation.
HENRY
No, it does not.
HARDY
You’re absolutely correct. It’s strange but this isn’t the X-Files, that’s not our job.
WILLIAMS
What? Hardy, something very very FUCKED is going on here and I’m not leaving till I get some answers out of this fuckin tight lipped bastard!
HENRY
There is nothing to get from him, Detective Williams, return home and find another mystery to investigate.
(Williams groans and holds his head.)
HARDY
Sir, your doctor said don’t stress yourself out.
WILLIAMS
I don’t like you, Vail. Something’s wrong with you, I’ve got a sixth sense for this shit.
HARDY
Sir. Harassment.
WILLIAMS
Let’s get the fuck out of here.
(They exit.)
ANDY
Thank you.
HENRY
Andrew Vail, you sacrificed everything you knew for my life and the lives of those that I love. I am forever in your debt and only wish I could offer you some semblance of peace.
(A NURSE enters.)
ANDY
Have to take her back now?
(The nurse nods.)
HENRY
Would you like time alone with her?
ANDY
No. Nancy's had enough of the Vail family for a lifetime.
(Andy kisses her forehead and nods to the nurse. She rolls Nancy out of the room.)
HENRY
The human mind is stronger than most people believe. Nancy Vail could recover one day.
ANDY
So, heading home?
HENRY
Soon, but first I have yet to kill your brother.
ANDY
In the past, you mean?
HENRY
Yet in my future.
ANDY
Man, that’s weird.
HENRY
It is a strange feeling knowing that I must destroy so many lives.
ANDY
Wait a sec. You're a time traveler. Couldn't you just go back to before my brother conjures up the bug and stop him?
HENRY
There are too many variables to account for. Dr. North's plans, Dr. Waitts, the book, and even your brother's original intentions are vastly unknown to me. There are a number of choices I could make yet the outcome would still likely be the destruction of humanity. I must do what is necessary to start the chain of events which will inevitably result in our current victory.
ANDY
Then why try to warn me? After you killed Mike, or after you do kill him, you come and visit me while still in control of Nancy. You told me to leave it all alone. But if I had then none of this would have occurred. Why even take that chance?
HENRY
I do not know. Perhaps it is also necessary for our victory and perhaps I will understand when that time comes.
ANDY
Or maybe the guilt just got the better of you?
HENRY
I shall see.
ANDY
Very true.
HENRY
I truly wish there was some way to protect you from what will occur.
ANDY
I just wish there was a way to help Nancy.
HENRY
Her involvement is crucial to the future if only because it drives you to become involved.
ANDY
Wait a minute. I just needed to get involved in all this?
HENRY
It was your involvement and subsequent decisions which led to you becoming the Vail and our victory over the Insects.
ANDY
Oh, my God. We can save Nancy!
HENRY
I do no understand.
ANDY
Take me. I'll kill Mike.
HENRY
You cannot ask me this.
ANDY
This will work! You posses me, do what you have to, I’ll be arrested, you’ll find me in the police station, and everything else will go as it already did. Except Nancy will be spared.
HENRY
Her husband will still be dead.
ANDY
But she won't have to kill him.
HENRY
There is no guarantee that this would save her and even if she recovered she would forever blame you for what you did.
ANDY
But she'll move on. She'll get the chance to find someone else and have a real life. You have to do this.
HENRY
I do not think you completely comprehend what will occur. You will have killed your brother. Even when you learn you were not in control, your will forever remember that you committed such a heinous crime. You will remember how it felt and no amount of logical thought will alleviate your conscience.
ANDY
I know. I’ll probably think I killed him out of jealousy or because he was a dick to me or something. I know. I can handle it. I already killed him once.
HENRY
Are you positive, Andrew?
ANDY
I need you to do this for me. You owe me.
HENRY
Then I will do as you ask.
ANDY
When?
HENRY
The moment I leave this room. It should occur instantly for you.
ANDY
Thank you.
HENRY
Andrew Vail, you have done great things. Continue to do so, my friend.
(They shake hands and Henry exits. The moment he does, Andy grabs his head and drops to his knees. He starts to scream, pulling at his hair madly. Blackout.)
ANDY
What have I done?
(The end.)
