Chereads / Phantasm: Rise of the Tall Man / Chapter 4 - Believing

Chapter 4 - Believing

INT. MIKE'S ROOM

MIKE lays on his bed as JAYSON laid on the opposite end so that they're heads were laying beside each other, MIKE and JAYSON staring up at the ceiling as they both wore the same shocked expression. 

MIKE

I don't know what just happened...but we both agree right here...right now...that it did...agreed? 

JAYSON

Agreed. 

MIKE

So...what do we do...?

JAYSON

I don't know. Let's tell JODY...or the cops...someone. 

MIKE

We'll tell him in the morning if he'll believe us. 

JAYSON

I've got something in my pocket that says he will. 

MIKE

Throw that in my drawer, and I'll go on watch. 

JAYSON

You're not going to sleep?

MIKE

Not yet. 

JAYSON

Mind if I crash?

MIKE

No. 

JAYSON

Thanks. 

JAYSON grabs a pillow and hands MIKE the FINGER of the LURKER, MIKE going over and putting the FINGER in his top drawer as he then turns and watches JAYSON drifting off to sleep, MIKE nodding as he leaves his room. 

DREAM SEQUENCE

MIKE is sleeping in his bed as he hears voices calling out to him, MIKE opening his eyes as he looks around to see that he was in the CEMETERY in MOURNINGSIDE, MIKE leaning up as he notices the silhouettes of familiar people. 

VOICE

MIKE...

VOICE 2

Come to us mike...come with us...

MIKE

Mom...Dad?

LIZBETH

(O.S.)

Don't listen to them MIKE...He's getting stronger...he's chosen you...fight him...fight him MIKE...

MIKE

LIZ...?

SUDDENLY THREE ZOMBIES burst from the ground around him, MIKE screaming as he is thrown back onto the bed and is being torn apart, MIKE screaming as the ZOMBIES began to eat and tear into his flesh, MIKE screaming as he watches THE TALL MAN standing over his bed, laughing sinisterly. 

END OF DREAM SEQUENCE

MIKE wakes up quickly, looking around as he notices that it is still dark out, MIKE sitting on the middle steps of the stairway leading into the second floor as MIKE rubs his face and shakes the dream off as he is gripping a loaded 12 gauge pump action shotgun in his hand. 

A FEW HOURS LATER

JODY, who had at some point made it up into his room, comes out of it as he uses the restroom and checks in on MIKE, finding only JAYSON sprawled out on MIKE'S BED. 

JODY huffs and rubbing his face and yawning he begins downstairs but stops when he notices a passed out MIKE sitting on the stairway, a SHOTGUN in his lap. 

JODY raises an eyebrow and comes down, sitting by his brother who is still sleeping. 

JODY grabs the SHOTGUN and checks it, he begins pumping it, watching as shell after shell begins to come pouring out of it. 

JODY looks confused as he taps MIKE, who quickly looks about before settling down, JODY staring at him quizzically as MIKE rubs his eyes and stretches. 

JODY

MIKE? 

MIKE

I've got something to tell you. 

INT. PEARSON KITCHEN

JAYSON and MIKE are sitting around the dining room table as JODY stood by the fridge in disbelief. 

JODY

You guy's taking acid or something together? 

MIKE

No JODY, we were there, we saw it. 

JODY

I get that but come on, killer spheres, and little dwarfs monsters, and grave robbing I mean even for you guy's that's kinda crazy. 

JAYSON

it was JODY, but man if you would have seen the shit we saw. 

JODY

Look, I want to believe you guys but I grew up a long time ago, and MIKE, man what's gotten into you?     You know better than to be sleeping with a loaded gun like that you trying to...

MIKE

Show him the photos. 

JAYSON pulls out his cell phone and hands it to JODY, JODY skeptically skimming through the PHOTOS before he starts to seriously somber up to the idea as the pictures of the missing graves and the headstones of people they knew or heard of was being collaborative with. 

JODY

What the hell...?

JAYSON 

Took those last night. 

JODY

How many? 

MIKE

Had to be at least....40.

JODY

Come with me. 

MIKE

There's still something else we have to show you. 

JODY raises an eyebrow as JAYSON and MIKE head upstairs. 

INT. MIKE'S ROOM

MIKE steps back as he opens the DRAWER, JODY looking at the two who urge him to look. 

JODY hesitates before he steps forward and looks inside, JODY'S EYES going big as he notices a small moving finger of a LURKER squirming about in it's own yellow and orange goo. 

JODY quickly pushes the drawer closed as he backs away, his hand over his chin as he contemplates. 

JODY

Goddamnit...

JAYSON

You believe us...?

JODY

Come with me. 

JODY heads out of MIKE'S ROOM as MIKE and JAYSON follow. 

INT. THE CUDA

JODY pulls up next to the side of MOURNINGSIDE that can view into the CEMETERY, JODY rolling his windows down as JAYSON and MIKE look out in disbelief. 

MIKE

What the fuck?

JAYSON

no way...?

JODY twitches his cheeks and nods as he drives off as all the GRAVES were seemingly untouched and were planted with new flowers and touch ups. 

INT. PEARSON KITCHEN

JAYSON, JODY and MIKE sit around the KITCHEN saying nothing as JODY bit his thumbs thinking. 

JODY

Something is going on up there...You two dip shits wouldn't go through all of this to make some sort of sick joke. JAYSON, go on home please, I need to talk to MIKE. 

JAYSON

Uhh... I need a ride. 

JODY

Give me a few minutes. 

JAYSON gets up and goes into the living room as MIKE looks at JODY and then looks away. 

JODY stands up and walks around before leaning against the kitchen sink. 

MIKE

Dude, I know what you're going to say...

JODY

You went out there, without me!? Shot daddy's gun, for fucking sake, MIKE you took JAYSON with you! What if you guys were wrong about all of this! You think you'd be alright having shot two innocent people?!

MIKE

I didn't hesitate...I gave a warning shot...and what daddy always says? 

JODY

No warning shots, warning shots are bullshit. 

MIKE

I'm sorry JODY...

JODY

You gotta be smarter than this man! If I lost you last night...I...

MIKE

JODY...

JODY

MIKE, just...from here on, we handle this together, no more sneak offs with JAYSON? Agreed?

MIKE

Yeah. 

JODY

Let's take JAYSON home. 

There is a rapid knock on the backdoor and before JODY or MIKE could re act, REGGIE walks inside. 

REGGIE

Hey-o!

JODY

Dude, you can't be doing that no more...

REGGIE

Why not? 

JODY

Fill you in later. 

REGGIE

Uhh...okay? MIKE, are you ready for your first day? 

MIKE

What?

REGGIE

I told you man I got you that gig with me selling ICE CREAM?

MIKE

Oh shit...

REGGIE

Come on man, let's get rolling.

MIKE

Yeah, uh, REGGIE...Umm...

JODY

Just...come with us man. 

JODY grabs his keys as REGGIE raises an eyebrow and follows him out as MIKE and JAYSON follow. 

INT. THE CUDA

JODY and REGGIE sit up front as JAYSON and MIKE sit in the back as REGGIE is explaining a song idea to JODY who is going in and out of thought as JAYSON looks at MIKE. 

JAYSON

Glad JODY believes us...

MIKE

I guess. 

JAYSON

He get mad at you? 

MIKE

It's nothing new. 

JAYSON

Sorry man. 

MIKE

It's fine, long as he doesn't think we're nuts then we...

LIZBETH

(O.S.)

He knows about you guy's...he knows...and he's going to send you all a message...

a VISION of a GAS MAIN leak in the ALLERD HOME suddenly flashes in MIKE'S HEAD as JODY rounds the corner towards JAYSON'S HOME. 

MIKE

...We gotta get them out!

JODY

What?

REGGIE

What's up?

MIKE

JAYSON, call your dad, call your house, get them out right now!

JAYSON

Why, what's going...?

JODY breaks as suddenly the ALLERD HOME EXPLODES. 

REGGIE screams in horror at the sound as the CUDA rocks as JAYSON lets out a horrifyingly chilling scream as MIKE watches on in horror as the neighborhood runs out from all over calling the fire department on their cellphones as the large home was quickly burning down, JAYSON gets out as REGGIE is forced to let the crying and grieving young man out but MIKE hurries out and grabs him, tackling him to the ground before he could run towards the fire as the sirens can be heard coming up quickly in the distant as JODY just watches on  with shaking hands. 

INT. PEARSON LIVING ROOM

REGGIE sits in the recliner, hands on his face as he looks solemn and confused as JODY pumps a SHOTGUN and hands it to MIKE. 

JODY

Here. 

MIKE

Sweet. 

JODY

Remember what dad always used to say about a gun, MIKE? 

MIKE

Yeah. 

JODY

Say it. 

MIKE

I know what it is!

JODY

I don't care, say it now or I lock these all back up!

MIKE

Never aim a gun at a man unless you  intend to shoot, and you never shoot a man, unless you intend to kill him. 

JODY

Good, no more warning shots, warning shots are bullshit anyone try to get in here that you don't know you shoot him. 

REGGIE

What the hell is going on?!

JODY

REGGIE...

JODY hands REGGIE another SHOTGUN as JODY takes the .45 and a few reloads as he puts them in the pocket of his leather jacket.  

JODY

I need you to stay here and watch MIKE, if I don't come back I need you to watch him. 

MIKE

Don't say that...

JODY

I'm just going up there to take a look around myself but hell I've got this and this will keep anything down.

REGGIE

JODY, man, please tell me what's going on...

JODY

MIKE. Fill him in. 

MIKE

JODY...

JODY turns to MIKE as he is about to head out. 

MIKE

I kicked a WINDOW out on the right side of the MORTUARY...there are things in there. Be careful. 

JODY

I will. 

JODY heads off into the night towards MOURNINGSIDE  as REGGIE looks at MIKE who quickly shuts the door. 

MIKE

You might want to sit back down REG...This may take a bit to sort out.

EXT. MOURNINGSIDE

JODY comes up to the GATES which are wide open, JODY raising an eyebrow as he pulls his .45 out and a flashlight, JODY raising them both up as he begins inside. 

INT. PEARSON LIVING ROOM

REGGIE looks stunned as MIKE hands him a beer, REGGIE taking it but just sets it down as he looks at MIKE who sits down beside him. 

REGGIE

And...JODY believes all of this? 

MIKE

Why not? He saw what we saw. And with JAYSON'S...It all fits.

REGGIE

This is too much...and you're saying that TALL MAN is the cause of it? 

MIKE

I don't know if he is or isn't. I just know he seems to be the big kahuna that is running the show up there. 

REGGIE

Jesus Christ...

MIKE

Do you want to see it? 

REGGIE

What? 

MIKE

The finger...?

REGGIE

I don't know about all that...

The BACK DOOR slams shut and REGGIE and MIKE both stand with the SHOTGUN raised up but lower them as JAYSON shambles inside. 

MIKE sets the gun and grabs his friend in a big bear hug, JAYSON having the same shocked expression as REGGIE comes over and pats him on the shoulder. 

REGGIE

JAYSON...I'm so sorry, man. 

MIKE

What are you doing here? 

JAYSON

They want to send me to my aunt in OKLAHOMA...I lied and said I had some cousins living here I could stay with so they dropped me off here. 

MIKE

You alright? 

JAYSON

No...But I'll live. 

JAYSON looks around as he notices JODY wasn't around. 

JAYSON

JODY? 

MIKE

Went to go check around MOURNINGSIDE. 

JAYSON

By himself? 

MIKE

Yeah, he wouldn't let us go with him. 

JAYSON

Crazy bastard. 

MIKE

Yeah...

REGGIE

You going to show me that FINGER y'all found or what? 

MIKE

Oh, right...come on...it's in my room. 

MIKE heads upstairs as JAYSON and REGGIE follow him. 

INT. MIKE'S ROOM

MIKE comes over towards his DRAWER as JAYSON and REGGIE crowd around him. 

MIKE reaches over and pulls the DRAWER open. 

MIKE

Now it's kinda gross looking but...

A GIANT BUG LIKE CREATURE fires out of the DRAWER, biting MIKE in the hand as MIKE drops back screaming as REGGIE fell over in horror, JAYSON running over as he grabs the LARGE BUG as it's JAWS were biting into MIKE'S HAND, causing blood to seep out as MIKE punches at it and tries to pry it off as JAYSON grabs one of MIKE'S shirt and runs over wrapping it around MIKE'S hand and the BUG before he pulls, MIKE yanking his hand free as JAYSON suddenly is being thrown about as he holds onto the BUG that  was now trapped within the shirt. 

JAYSON

Help me!

MIKE runs over and grabs the shirt with JAYSON as REGGIE looks around and runs to MIKE'S desk, grabbing a SCREWDRIVER as JAYSON and MIKE wrestle the shirt down onto the ground, REGGIE running between them as he starts stabbing down, screaming as yellow blood begins to slosh out of the holds in the shirt where he was stabbing the BUG. 

MIKE and JAYSON keep the BUG pinned down with the shirt as REGGIE stabs it another 30 to 40 times before he stops, MIKE noticing the yellow blood oozing off of the screw driver. 

MIKE winces as he grabs his hand, JAYSON checking it as REGGIE just shakes. 

REGGIE

What the hell is going on?!

MIKE grabs another shirt and tears it, making a tourniquet around his hand as JAYSON opens the shirt to see the BUG now completely dead, as it was stabbed to the point that holes were the only thing you can make of what it was. 

JAYSON

That happened with just one of those damn things fingers?

MIKE

We gotta go get JODY...he has no idea what he's running into out there. 

REGGIE

What? 

MIKE

Come on! We gotta go get JODY!

MIKE runs out of his room as JAYSON follows, REGGIE looking around before following them quickly out.