PHANTASM:
RISE OF THE TALL MAN
A REIMAGINED HORROR SAGA BASED OFF THE "PHANTASM" SERIES CREATED BY DON COSCARELI.
"YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD..."
"OPENING THEME"
PHANTASM BY FRED MYROW and MALCOME SEAGRAVE
FADE IN
EXT. STREET
A RUSTIC STREET SCENE announcing to the outside world that they were "ENTERING PERIGORD" a small town in NEBRASKA, dangles from it's wooden planks as the TOWN was now completely barren, streets were littered with trash and other kinds of forestry, as CARS were PARKED and laying about the streets, abandoned and rustic. The electricity was out, and everything was dark.
PERIGORD, NEBRASKA. PRESENT.
A MILITARY CONVOY DRIVES THROUGH THE DESERTED TOWN, THE GROUP OF SOLDIER'S looking about from their windows as the DRIVER slowly drives around and pass the littered abandoned cars in the STREET as a LONE YOUNG MAN, SKINNY and UNFIT sat looking about the windows of the streets as the SOLDIER'S were all remarking to themselves about what they were seeing.
SOLDIER 1
Every town...it's just like every other fucking town...
SOLDIER 2
Ain't nothing we can do about it now, just make sure this suicide attempt ain't for not, know what I'm saying?
SOLDIER 3
All these people...he's gotta pay for this...
SOLDIER 4
To many SENTINEL'S out there just roaming...alerting him at every whim, I'm surprised we haven't been hit by any LURKER'S...
SOLDIER 2
Let's not jinx ourselves here.
The YOUNG MAN looks at the SOLDIER'S before sitting back down, A SOLDIER sitting across from him stands and comes over, taking a seat beside him.
ROCKY
Name's ROCKY MCCLAIN, I know none of the other guy's have given you their names, but I'm different I guess.
YOUNG MAN
Thanks.
ROCKY
You're MIKE PEARSON right?
MIKE
Yep.
ROCKY
This is your hometown ain't it?
MIKE
Yeah...
ROCKY
That sucks man.
MIKE
Tell me about it.
ROCKY
So this is where it all happened...the beginning of the end huh?
MIKE
No...it's still the beginning.
ROCKY
What was this place like...before it got hit?
MIKE
It was like any other small town...vibrant..all sorts of people...and two young kids...best friends...out for a stroll...
MIKE looked out the window as suddenly PERIGORD was a clean vibrant place, the MAIN STREET had people walking about, going in and out of shops, as CARS drove down the STREET and TWO YOUNG TEENAGERS walked side by side.
PERIGORD, NEBRASKA...SIX YEARS AGO.
MIKE PEARSON looks about as he checks his CELL PHONE before putting it away frustrated.
JAYSON ALLERD, MIKE PEARSON'S BEST FRIEND, smacks him across the back of his head, MIKE turning and giving him a bewildered look as a OLDER COUPLE had snickered as they had walked past them just as it happened.
MIKE
The fuck was that for?!
JAYSON
Stop looking at your damn phone, she'll call you when she's ready to call you.
MIKE
Did I do something wrong?
JAYSON
Yeah, you're being an idiot.
MIKE
No dude, for real, did I do something wrong?
JAYSON
She's a girl, you're 17, shit happens.
MIKE
Whatever.
JAYSON
Come on dude, let's go see JODY play.
MIKE and JAYSON continued on towards a local COFFEE SHOP as a nice crowd of people were gathered about inside.
INT. THE COFFEE HUT
JAYSON and MIKE come inside as they work through the crowd up towards the front as a INDIE BAND was finishing up a song, THE CROWD clapping as leader singer and guitarist JODY PEARSON, 26 YEARS OLD, and MIKE'S OLDER BROTHER thanks the crowd as MIKE comes over and orders a coffee from their family friend and JODY'S BEST FRIEND, REGGIE BANNISTER, 28 YEARS OF AGE.
MIKE
Why aren't you playing?
REGGIE
Can't play during work hours man.
MIKE
Well that and the partial baldness doesn't help attract the ladies huh REG?
REGGIE
Eat me, MIKE.
MIKE laughs and comes over to JAYSON as JODY begins playing another song. MIKE and JAYSON cheering as REGGIE air guitars what would have been his parts in the song.
LATER THAT NIGHT
REGGIE, MIKE, JAYSON and JODY are sitting about in the COFFEE HUT, A COUPLE OF EMPTY BEER CANS and BOTTLES about as JAYSON was seemingly the DRUNKEST as MIKE was getting there, REGGIE was playing on his ACOUSTIC GUITAR as JODY danced around.
REGGIE
(SINGING)
SHARING THEIR LIFE...AND SHE WILL LOVE HIM FOREVER..THOUGH SHE REALLY DON'T WANNA...CUZ WE KNOW....
JODY comes over and spins his hat around his head, JODY finishing the little lick of the solo with his own guitar pick as REGGIE and JODY just smile and laugh.
REGGIE
OOOH WEE, ARE WE HOT AS LOVE or what?
JODY
Getting hotter by the hour.
REGGIE
Think you should take them home?
JODY
Nah their...
JODY watches as MIKE was sleeping on a table as JAYSON was on the verge of throwing up.
JODY
Yeah I guess I'll take MIKE home, can you drop off JAYSON, he's on your way out?
REGGIE
Yeah no prob.
JODY
Hey man, thanks for getting us this gig man, we really needed a pick me up show, especially since...
REGGIE
Hey man, shit happens, there's a market out there for us, I know it. Not every studio exec is going to find our style appealing you know?
JODY
I guess man...
REGGIE
So uh...
REGGIE eyes MIKE, making sure he wasn't up and alert before he finished speaking.
REGGIE
...You're going to really..you know? Dump him off on yalls aunt?
JODY
I don't know REGGIE...I just...It was hard enough living on my own...let alone now having to take care of the kid since...
REGGIE
I know man, trust me I do, it's just...MIKE'S old enough to get a job around town, you know, I can probably swing him a job here or somewhere you know...He could help out and you won't have to live off any more of your guy's parents life insurance...
JODY
It's not that man...it's not that, I wish it was...it's...
MIKE stirs awake as he doesn't lift his head up as he just listens once he caught a few words.
JODY
I don't know man, it's just this town isn't taking me anywhere fast man, and I ain't getting any younger. We're gonna make it out there, me and you, and TOMMY and BILSON we just gotta pack this shit up and hit that open road man. But as long as I got MIKE here, we can't just do that.
REGGIE
You're the only one in a hurry man...I'm just saying, we can work this out, you don't have to pawn the kid off just for us, I'm just saying.
JODY
You're an asshole sometimes.
REGGIE
Why?
JODY
I love MIKE.
REGGIE
I know you do.
JODY
But sometimes you make me think I don't...Like I don't...love him enough you know. Sometimes...I think you're a better brother to MIKE than I am.
REGGIE
Your parents wouldn't want you saying that....
JODY
Does it matter what they think? They're dead.
MIKE closes his eyes as this hurts him as JODY throws his beer away as he grabs his guitar case.
JODY
You still gonna take JAYSON?
REGGIE
Yeah, I got it.
JODY
I'll see ya tomorrow REG.
REGGIE
Later.
JODY comes over and taps MIKE, MIKE stirring as he sits up.
JODY
Come on, tiger. We're going home.
MIKE nods and gets up groggily as he heads out the door, tapping JAYSON on the back which finally gets him to start puking in the trash can he was laying by, JODY laughing as he throws a goodbye wave to REGGIE who flips him off, REGGIE beginning to strum and hum as he plays his guitar as JAYSON provides the background noise of someone vomiting.
INT. THE CUDA
JODY drives through the DARK and QUIET STREETS of PERIGORD in a vintage 1972 HEMI-CUDA.
JODY had the windows down as MIKE was laying his head to the side, staring out the WINDOW, in the darkness as JODY paid attention to the road.
JODY looks at him, before turning back to the road as he notices MIKE seemingly to be sobered up.
JODY
You alright, champ?
MIKE
I'm fine.
JODY
That girl ever called you back? What's her name, with the gypsy grandma psychic lady?
MIKE
LIZBETH.
JODY
Yeah, LIZ. Cute girl. Are you going to hit that?
MIKE
Does it even matter to you?
JODY
Should it?
MIKE
I don't know man.
JODY
You alright?
MIKE
Perfect.
JODY
Alright man, you can talk to me baby brother.
MIKE
Yeah...I know.
JODY turns back to the road and turns up the music as MIKE looks out as they drive past the MOURNINGSIDE MORTUARY AND CEMETERY.
MIKE watches as the MORTUARY was eerily the only thing he could see in the darkness, but MIKE sits up, a look of confusion and terror in his face.
OUTSIDE, in the CEMETERY a TALL MAN stands staring at him, MIKE watching as MEN were digging up graves around him, some pulling them towards the MORTUARY as THE TALL MAN just followed them with the slightest of his head turns.
MIKE watches on shaken as the "PHANTASM THEME" plays as this happens.
THE NEXT MORNING.
MIKE sits in his room, as JAYSON rubs his chin, sitting on his MIKE'S BED as MIKE thumbed with a SHOTGUN SHELL that was on his DESK.
JAYSON
Dude, I drove by there earlier, and I didn't see any dug up graves.
MIKE
I know what I saw, JAYSON.
JAYSON
You were drunk, dude.
MIKE
I know what I saw!
JAYSON
Dude, I'm not saying you didn't see it, but I am saying that you were drunk also.
MIKE
Have you ever seen that guy before?
JAYSON
Who? The TALL DUDE? Yeah a few times, I think he's the caretaker there.
MIKE
I've seen him once...when my parents died. He didn't say a lot, told us the funeral was starting and that he was sorry for our loss.
JAYSON
Seems nice enough.
MIKE
Let's go check that place out.
JAYSON
What, MOURNINGSIDE? Why?
MIKE
I want to know what the hell is going on up there.
JAYSON
Dude...
MIKE goes over to his CABINET and opens a DRAWER, pulling out a LARGE BUCK KNIFE as he straps the blade around his leg and covers it with his pants as JAYSON shakes his head and follows him.
EXT. MOURNINGSIDE
The TWO pull up on separate DIRT BIKES outside the GATES that LED into MOURNINGSIDE, THE GATES were open but MIKE didn't go any farther.
JAYSON
What?
MIKE
Let's check out the CEMETERY, first.
MIKE gets off his bike and parks it around the corner as JAYSON does the same, the TWO friends waiting for a few moments before they tandem walk into MOURNINGSIDE.
EXT. CEMETERY
MIKE and JAYSON look about as MIKE investigates around some GRAVES as JAYSON notices a FUNERAL being held over by the MORTUARY as people were arriving for the service inside the nearby CHAPEL that was located a few meters from the MORTUARY.
JAYSON
This just feels wrong man.
MIKE
Never said it was going to feel right.
JAYSON
Are your parents out here? I mean buried in the lot?
MIKE
No...they're in the mausoleum inside the MORTUARY. They wanted it that way for some reason.
JAYSON
They loved zombie movies.
MIKE
Not really in for jokes right now man.
JAYSON
Sorry.
MIKE comes over by a grave and touches the ground as he feels the dirt as it was soft and loose, MIKE looking up at the date he was buried. MARCH 12TH, 1998.
As MIKE did this JAYSON hears a strange noise, like a rumbling low growl, JAYSON turning as he notices something run by a COBBLE GRAVESTONE that was sticking up like a monument, JAYSON raising an eyebrow before he is called over by MIKE.
JAYSON shakes it off and comes over by MIKE who shows him the dirt.
MIKE
Feel it.
JAYSON does and raises an eyebrow as he looks at MIKE.
JAYSON
It's loose...fuck...maybe you did see something.
MIKE
Look.
MIKE motions towards the GATE as the road can be seen from their position in the CEMETERY.
MIKE
It was down this stretch that I saw them, this must have been one of those graves from last night...
JAYSON
What the hell would he need to dig a body up for...?
MIKE
I don't know...
JAYSON
Oh shit!
JAYSON knocks MIKE town as the TWO notice a HEARST pull in not far from where they were at in the CEMETERY, the TWO stay low as they watch the HEARST park and a MAN steps out, he is LARGE, almost hulking as he wore a JUMPSUIT and a GAS MASK.
JAYSON
What the fuck...?
MIKE
Ssh.
JAYSON nods as they watch the GAS MASKED MAN walk towards a different row of GRAVES, JAYSON and MIKE hurrying to hide behind a NEARBY GRAVESTONE as the MAN drew closer, the GAS MASKED MAN looking about before staring at the FUNERAL proceedings for a few moments before he came and started knocking on GRAVESTONES.
JAYSON and MIKE watch on confused as the GAS MASKED MAN does this for an entire row of GRAVES before stopping on one. The GAS MASKED MAN nods and pulls out a SPRAY CAN he marks it with a RED TAG, before he turns and gets back into the HEARST, driving through the lot towards the MORTUARY.
JAYSON and MIKE look on confused as JAYSON hears the same low rumble and this time spots something low and wearing a robe step behind a nearby MARBLE SLABBED ABOVE GROUND GRAVESTONE.
JAYSON taps MIKE and points towards the SLAB but MIKE see's nothing as JAYSON shrugs as MIKE shakes his head and watches as the FAMILIES were leaving the service and heading towards the LOT where TWO MEN were finishing up with the final preparations for the lowering of the coffin into the grave.
JAYSON and MIKE move up as they stay low and watch as the funeral goer's were still weeping and crying and gathering around the grave sight, JAYSON spotting the TALL MAN as he walked behind everyone at a meticulous pace, his face emotionless as he strolled effortlessly across the CEMETERY LAWNS.
JAYSON pats MIKE who looks up at him and shivers as they watch the REVEREND say some more words as MIKE only watches the TALL MAN, who doesn't take his eyes off of the proceedings, until he slowly turns his head and stares at MIKE and JAYSON.
The TWO FREEZE with horror as the TALL MAN smirks and then slowly turns his head back and watches the FUNERAL finish up, MIKE and JAYSON frozen with fear before they quickly bolt out of the CEMETERY, running as fast as they could without being seen towards the DIRT BIKES.
The TWO run and round the corner to jump on them but both notice that their front tires have been slashed, JAYSON cursing as MIKE kicks up the kickstand and starts walking the bike down the street as fast as he could, JAYSON doing the same as they pass the area where they could see into the CEMETERY, MIKE casting only a partial glance but enough to notice that the TALL MAN was watching him, as the FUNERAL was wrapping up, MIKE trembling as he continues to walk as JAYSON was too frozen with fear to speak or even look over as they kept walking down the lonely road towards town.
To Be Continued