145. Angels Rise the Mad Society

• FADE IN:


• INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY


• VAN walks cautiously down the rows of books that pack the small store.


• He sniffs at the air, shakes his head, and walks on.


• He comes to the end of the row which opens into a small, cozy reading space ringed with circular shelves that crawl up the walls to a high ceiling.


• Worn, old chairs ring the circle, providing patrons with a comfortable spot to curl up with book after they've braved the ladders that climb the shelves.


• AMI sits on the floor, a large candle clasped in her small hands.


• Her dirty dreads wrap around her face, and she wears a long, faded dress.


• She sways back and forth mumbling.


• VAN
• Excuse me, lady? You can't have candles in here. Ma'am?


• AMI
• The mad society, the mad society.


• VAN
• Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to put that candle out.


• AMI
• The world must burn, can't you see it burning? Into nothing, even the dust burns.


• VAN
• Ma'am.


• Ami stands and waves the candle, it's flame elongating dangerously towards the books.


• VAN
• Hey somebody, need help at the back!


• AMI
• Don't you see it? It's already burning! The angels, do you see the angels?


• VAN
• No, Ma'am, there aren't any angels here, please, you need to leave now.


• AMI
• The angels rise the mad society kingdom. And it will all burn!


• She tosses the candle into the books and the rows of wood and paper lick up the flame hungrily, a symbiotic destruction.


• Van pulls his polo off and begins beating at the flames.


• AMI
• No, no, no.


• Ami tries to stop him, and he pushes her away.


• VAN
• Fire! Somebody call 911!


• Van manages to beat out the fire, but rows of books are charred.


• Ami stands rocking as a fire fighter comes in.


• VAN
• Always late.


• A police officer arrives after the fire fighter, and they survey the damage.


• Van, out of breath, simply points to Ami.


• The officer pulls her aside and Val stares at the burned shelves.


• Ami just mumbles.


• The office puts her in handcuffs and begins to lead her away.


• She turns to Van.


• AMI
• You'll see. It's already gone.


• Ami is pulled away.


• The firefighter looks over at him and smiles.


• FIREFIGHTER
• She's right you know? It's already gone.


• He bursts into flames, and as he burns, the specks of dust he dissolves into burn as well, drifting to the ground.


• Van stares and then realizes that one by one, the books are dissolving into flames.


• He looks down at his hands, and sees his fingertips dissolving into burning dust.


• He screams and falls to his knees as his body ignites.


• Ami breaks free from the officer who has begun to burn and runs back to Van.


• She cradles his burning body.


• AMI
• There, there, now we can start over. It will all be new. Shhh. I'll be here in the morning.


• FADE TO BLACK.