Only humble pie served on the street today. Get 'em tomorrow. Meanwhile, here's an excerpt from the All Hallows screenplay, available at Amazon for a dollar. Five nuts escape an asylum, wreak havoc on a small town. Strictly for fun, I think of it as Revenge of the Townies, an ode to films and TV fare that have entertained us for decades. The entire screenplay can be read in a sitting or two.
Part 25: The party. Castle, squatting beside Miller, is lighting matches, letting each burn down to his fingers before dropping it. Miller's eyes are spread with fear.
Castle: What is it about fire that fascinates me so? I've loved it since I sent the neighbors' doghouse up by accident. There's nothin't like somethin' burstin' into flames. And for that they call me a psychopath?
He tosses a lit match toward a line of gasoline. Miller coils. There is no ignition.
Castle: You shoulda seen the institute go up. It was beautiful, like somethin' out of a movie. He imitates the sound, gesticulates.
Castle: This's gonna be even better. I'm at the height of my powers now. Those drugs gave me new insight. I'm really an artist at heart, that's all. You're lucky. You have a front row seat. No one else'll be seated 'til the show's over.
He stands and hums the 20th Century Fox theme. From a position directly behind the tree, he drops a match. Fire defines a circle around Miller, who fights to break free, in vain. The fire spreads and traces four widely set lines to the house.
Inside, Tod is playing the violin, Bach's Fugue in D Minor. Everyone is surprised at his
skill, oblivious to the flames barreling down on the house. Ginny, poised against a window sill, catches a gleam out of the corner of her eye and backs away abruptly.
Ginny: Oh my God!
Tod, annoyed, stops playing. Everyone looks toward the window.
Rick: What the hell?
And hell it is, as flames lick the house. Panic ensues. Screaming is prevalent. Windows are broken, only to have flames surge inside and set fire to drapes. The front door is opened and immediately shut, the flames on the porch so intense. Fire surrounds the house. Rick grabs Tod.
Rick: Do you have an extinguisher in the kitchen? Tod mulls the question.
Tod: I think so.
Rick: Maybe we can make an alley and get everybody out.
Tod leaves and returns with an extinguisher.
Rick: Do you have a garden hose hooked up?
Tod: At the side of the house.
Rick: You first, then. Take Ginny with you. Aim the hose right at the door and keep it on it. Man the door, Jason. Close it as soon as they're out.
Jason reaches for the knob and snaps his hand away. He rips at Tod's toga.
Jason: 'scuse me, Chattsworth.
Rick: Hurry up.
Jason wraps the rag around his hands and tries the door again. Rick sprays the
extinguisher. Tod and Ginny dash out, arms around each other.
Visit Vic's sites:
Vic's Third Novel (Print or Kindle): http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3
Vic's Website: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
Vic's Short Story Collection (Print or Kindle): http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/6b86st6
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/94t5h
Vic's Screenplay on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3
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