INT. TATTERDEMALION STAGE AREA - NIGHT
Ebaneen slowly approaches the Demons. She holds out the water bottle like a weapon.
The Demons slowly take notice of her. They lick their fangs.
Off to the side, Ebaneen’s bandmates Liza and Paulette watch carefully.
LIZA
Ebaneen... be careful!
PAULETTE
EBANEEN
Find a priest to bless more water.
She looks fierce, never taking her eyes from the Demons.
Arden rushes down from the balcony stairs.
ARDEN
Ebaneen! Are you out of your mind?!
She keeps moving forward.
EBANEEN
Somebody has to try something.
ARDEN
But what’s water going to do?
She aims the water bottle at the Demons.
EBANEEN
This!
She squirts the bottle. The water arcs up, then comes down - landing on one of the Demons AND SLICING IT IN HALF!
The other Demons back away from their slain comrade, heading to the center of the stage. The bisected beast’s innards burble as its dying muscles spasm.
ARDEN
What the--? How did--?
Ebaneen holds up the water bottle. The name “OSKAR” is written on the label in marker.
EBANEEN
Holy water. It’s all Oskar drinks on stage. I read it on his blog.
ARDEN
Ha! I knew those guys would be good for something. Where is Sinner Supremacy anyway?
Richie, Turk, and F.F. run over and fall into place.
RICHIE
They were loading out right when everything went down.
The group turns to the door that leads to the loading area.
ARDEN
That holy water won’t last long. We’ve got to find those Jesus freaks. They might be the only ones who can save us.
INT. TATTERDEMALION LOADING AREA - NIGHT
Arden, his bandmates, Ebaneen, and a few stray club staff and audience members stand around the open rear door. They all stare out - and up.
ARDEN
Well that sucks...
EXT. TATTERDEMALION ROCK CLUB/NEBULOUS VOID
Floating in the void are chunks of the parking lot, a trash can, light poles... and Sinner Supremacy’s van and band members!
F.F.
Are they even breathing?
Turk points to the floating band.
TURK
Yeah, check it. Bobby’s gut is moving.
EBANEEN
We have to rig something up to get them back here.
ARDEN
Hmmm....
Arden looks around frantically. He sees, in quick succession:
• a MIC CABLE coiled on the floor
• a FIRE EXTINGUISHER holding the door open
• a TRASH CAN with rotting garbage inside
• a rubber GUITAR STRAP behind the door
ARDEN
I think we can make this work...
A FEW MINUTES LATER
The group finishes arming the JURY-RIGGED SLINGSHOT. The guitar cable is attached to the fire extinguisher, which is shoved into the trash can, pressed against the guitar strap.
EBANEEN
The chances of this working are--
ARDEN
Way better than anything else. Are any other plans being proposed?
He looks around the group, stopping at Ebaneen. She scowls.
EBANEEN
You’re a dick.
ARDEN
Yes I am. But a dick who wants to get back into the contest. Now let’s launch this baby!
Richie and Turk secure the trash can on each side. F.F. lets out the slack in the guitar cable.
Ebaneen pulls back on the fire extinguisher.
She strains to hold it in place.
EBANEEN
Okay. We’re ready.
The group look expectantly up to Arden.
ARDEN
A little to the left.
EBANEEN
Maybe you missed it but I said - we’re ready!
ARDEN
Okay, okay - shoot it off!
Ebaneen takes final aim, then releases the fire extinguisher.
The group watches as the fire extinguisher sails out into the void, rotating end-over-end.
The guitar cable it’s attached to slowly tightens, finally running out of slack as the extinguisher stops - a few feet away from the nearest member of Sinner Supremacy.
Ebaneen and Arden’s bandmates look at Arden accusingly.
ARDEN
That’s... that’s pretty close.
RICHIE
But not close enough for them to reach it!
ARDEN
The van. They can push themselves off it!
Arden leans out the doorway.
ARDEN
(screaming)
Oskar! Use the van to propel yourselves to the extinguisher!
The group watches as the distant band members struggle to hear them. Arden mimes what he wants Oskar to do. Oskar nods.
ARDEN
(screaming louder)
Use! The Van! Grab! The extinguisher!
One by one, Oskar and his bandmates propel themselves from the free-floating van to the tethered fire extinguisher.
F.F.
Yes!
TURK
They’re gonna make it!
The group watches, looking hopeful. Only one last band member - Syd the drummer - hasn’t reached safety.
SINNER SUPREMACY BASSIST
Syd! Hurry it up, man!
Syd propels himself from the van, but his aim is off. He floats too fast and too far out, missing his bandmates’ grasping hands and hurtling off into the nothingness.
Once Syd reaches the edge of the invisible bubble, his form crumbles. His bandmates' tiny faces scream in horror.
In the doorway, Arden and the rest of his group share similar expressions of revulsion.
EBANEEN
His body... he just...
ARDEN
Forget it! Just reel the rest of ‘em in!
Ebaneen, Richie, Turk and F.F. pull on the cable. Slowly, Sinner Supremacy are pulled into the narrow doorway. One by one, they jump to safety.
Oskar looks to Arden.
OSKAR
What the hell is going on?
EBANEEN
A bunch of demons took over the club!
F.F.
And the whole building is floating in a nebulous void!
TURK
The demons are trapped on the stage with your holy water!
RICHIE
But it's evaporating!
ARDEN
So we need your band to fight them!
Oskar and his bandmates look incredulous.
OSKAR
You’re... you’re...
Arden points to the void behind him. The van reaches the end of the bubble and crushes in on itself.
ARDEN
Yes, we are. Does that look like a joke?
OSKAR
Good point.
Arden grabs Oskar by the arm and drags him inside.
ARDEN
Come on. If anyone can defeat hellspawn, it's a Christian Metal band! Or what's left of you. Sorry about your drummer, by the way.
OSKAR
It's okay. His playing was weak.
Arden gives Oskar a look of surprise.
INT. TATTERDEMALION STAGE AREA - NIGHT
Arden and his bandmates, Ebaneen, and Oskar and his bandmates stand in front of the stage. A few audience members cluster nearby, all staring blankly at the scene.
On the stage, the Demons wander around. They roam the perimeter formed by the holy water, hunting for a weak spot.
OSKAR
Amazing! So Heaven is real.
ARDEN
I don't know about that, but now I'm pretty sure that Hell isn’t just a metaphor for a crappy show.
IVOR DEMON P.O.V.
From the Demon's perspective, we see the ring of holy water - it produces celestial light beams that stream upward.
But in a few spots where the water has started to evaporate, the light streams are diminished.
END P.O.V.
Ivor Demon makes eye contact with the group. He snarls.
IN FRONT OF THE STAGE
Oskar looks at the group around him.
OSKAR
So what exactly were you expecting us to do?
ARDEN
Play one of your tunes! Whichever one has the most holy words in it!
OSKAR
You expect me to get on stage with Satan’s minions and serenade them?
ARDEN
You're not going to sing to them, you're going to sing at them. And if your old bottled water is able to hold the Demons back, then your music - weak as it may be - might be able to destroy them and bring the club back to Earth!
OSKAR
Well... let me just think for a second...
Arden grabs a mic from the sound booth. He points to the lingering Sound Guy, still manning his board. The audience members begin filtering in.
ARDEN
Can we get some levels?
The Sound Guy nods, pushing a couple sliders on his board. He flicks on the house lights.
Arden hands the mic to Oskar.
Oskar looks like he doesn't know what to do. Arden motions for him to start singing.
OSKAR
(into mic, tentatively)
...check... check one two...
There's a SCREECH as the sound comes through the club's massive speakers. The Demons switch into high alert.
Arden's bandmates hand Oskar's guys a bass and guitars.
OSKAR
What about drums?
ARDEN
Play one of your wimpy acoustic ballads. That should work.
OSKAR
Some respect, Arden!
EBANEEN
Hurry, Oskar! The holy water is almost gone!
Oskar looks up at the stage and sees that she's right.
Slowly, he walks toward the stage. With each step, he takes on more of his overdramatic stage persona.
Sinner Supremacy begins playing a major chord manifesto. The song is mindlessly simple, but it still sounds pretty.
Oskar puts the mic to his lips.
OSKAR
(singing)
Some would say our place on Earth
Is all that we should need
Others say they find their home
Out here amongst the freed
More audience members approach. They look hopeful.
Oskar gains confidence. He and his bandmates approach the edge of the stage. The music grows louder and fuller.
OSKAR
(singing)
But I have long since known I hold
A simple servant's heart
And one that beats for every child
That's why I do my part
The Demons huddle near each other, watching Sinner Supremacy.
In the audience, faces look optimistic.
FACE TAT GUY
I think... the song is really fucking with the demons!
FISHNET GIRL
Look! The monsters are actually scared!
The Demons squint and pant. They’re struggling with the song.
ARDEN
It's working. It's really working!
EBANEEN
I know! We might actually get out of this!
Oskar climbs to the edge of the stage, exchanging confident smiles with his bandmates, who walk up the side ramps.
OSKAR
(singing)
One power
One pain
One glory
To gain
One sure and certain
Eventuality...
He holds the note, adopting a Christ-like pose. Ivor Demon is just behind him now, still inside the ring of holy water.
OSKAR
I know Him
And he knows--
Ivor Demon lunges over a break in the ring of holy water. He lands on Oskar's shoulders and bites his head off in one nasty chomp.
The audience members run off like frightened children.
ARDEN
Guess they were posers after all.