brimstone television pilot

8/14/2019 Brimstone Television Pilot

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BrimstoneSeries Premiere

"Pilot"

Original Airdate: 23-OCT-1998

Written by Ethan Reiff & Cyrus Voris. Directed by Felix Enriquez Alcala Courtesy ofBrimstone Virtual Seasons. Transcribed by N/A

Notes - This original pilot episode was filmed considerably before the series was picked up. Thus it is setin New York City (the rest of the episodes are in L.A.), while Rosalyn Stone and Gilbert Jax are played bydifferent actors than the ones who would be cast as the same characters in later episodes.

Ezekiel Stone wakes on a subway car. It is empty, void ofpeople, as is the station at which he exits. Slowly, he walks

up the stairs, rising from beneath the earth. Only when hereaches the street does he find himself surrounded by people.

The sights and sounds of his location are familiar to him,and Ezekiel recognizes that he is in his hometown of New York

City. His steps are purposeful as he walks to a church.

He enters the confessional, crossing himself before speakingin a modest tone, "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It

has been a long time since my last confession. I was a cop,and good at my job. I was married. I had a good life." A

pause, while Stone braces himself to continue speaking, "Thenmy wife was raped. We, uh, caught the guy who did it, but hegot off. I tracked him down... and I killed him..." There is

an echo, "killed him.., killed him..."

"This is a terrible, terrible sin, my son," the priest tells

him.

"Two months later I cornered this petty thief who had a gun.He opened up on me, and I took five bullets to the face and

neck... and I died. And because I had killed a man in coldblood, I went to hell," Stone tells him. The priest sits

there in shocked silence for a moment, and Stone asks, "You

okay in there, Father?"

When there is no response, Stone continues. "You know it's

funny, but even in the most maximum security penitentiary,from time to time, inmates will escape. It happened on

Devil's Island, it happened at Alcatraz, and six weeks ago,it happened in Hell. One hundred and thirteen of the most

vile creatures who ever walked the earth escaped. And nowthey're back."
http://www.113souls.com/mailto:N/Ahttp://www.113souls.com/mailto:N/A


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The priest responds, "But the Prince of Lies, the Master of

Hell, surely having his subjects back on Earth, spreadingchaos and destruction, all this would bring a smile to his

face."

"I don't know, Father. You of all people know that even theDevil has to answer to a higher power. He screwed up, and now

he needs someone to fix things. Someone to track down thesecreatures... and send them back to Hell.

"Why are you telling me this... this, ridiculous story?"

"Oh, come on, Father, Stone says coldly, as the camera zooms

in on his face, I think you know why."

The wood in the confessional creaks and breaks, and the

priest runs. Stone bolts after him. The priest scampersacross the street and is hit by a taxi. He continues on,

unharmed, glancing furtively over his shoulder to see EzekielStone following him. He runs down an alley, only to realizehe has been cornered by a chain link fence blocking the

path. Stone stands at the mouth of the alley, and trains hisgun on the priest. "Time to give the Devil his due," he says.

Just then, a squad car pulls up, lights flashing and sirensblaring.

Two officers jump out of the car. Detective William Kane

speaks first. Drop it, he orders. You deaf? I said dropit! His partner, Charlie Hirsch, trains his gun on Stone.

With a sigh, Stone lowers his weapon. Kane pushes him

against the squad car.

Hirsch goes after the priest, asking, Father, are you

okay? But the priest is gone. Where he stood just a momentago, a gaping hole now stands in the chain link fence, the

edges still glowing cherry red from where someone orsomething burned through it.

B R I M S T O N E

Hirsch touches the fence, burning himself. Son of a

bitch. He hollers back to his partner, Detective Kane, who

has Stone handcuffed and bent over their squad car. Imgoing to go find that priest before he gets hurt.

All right, Kane replies.

You working the kids, right? Stone asks quietly.

What?


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The missing altar boys. How many so far?

Why dont you tell me? Kane replies.

Oh, you think I did it, huh? It was the priest you geniuseslet escape.

The priest you were running around trying to kill? Kane

mocks. You know, you can go to Hell for something likethat.

Already been there, Stone mutters.

You know what I think?

I could care less.

I think it was you that snatched those two altar boys. Thefather spotted you trying to snatch number three, so you

decided to take him out, huh? No witnesses.

Two, Stone repeats. Thanks for your help, officer.

Stone puts his foot against the car, pushing off of it andtumbling back onto Detective Kane. Stone smashes the back of

his head into Kanes face, then rolls away. He stands,handcuffs dangling from his wrist, and picks up his gun. As

Kane clutches his nose, Stone jogs away.

#

A few blocks away, Stone enters a hotel. The clerk, a young

woman with a nose ring, eyes him as he enters, and so do theother people hanging out in the lobby. Stone approaches thedesk and speaks, his voice low, Room, please.

$62.50 a night, cash up front, the clerk tells him.

Stone spots the baseball game on the television. Oh, the

Yankees and Reds. I havent seen a World Series since, uh,83.

Series? What series? the clerk asks, looking up from the

form she is filling out. This is interleague play.

Wait a minute, interleague? Stone repeats. Like, theNational League and the American League play each other

during the regular season?

They been doing this for two years, where you been?

Out of the country.

Whereabouts?


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Down under.

Huh. She slides a key across the desk to him. There you

go. The elevators busted, but youre only on the thirdfloor.

Stone takes the key and walks off, muttering under his breath

as he does so, As long as Im going up.

#

The room isnt much. A red neon sign glows just outside hiswindow, and police sirens pass by on the street. As the

sirens die down, a toilet flushes next door. Stone sighs,and takes off his jacket. He steps to the sink and wipes the

cracked mirror, staring at his reflected image as he turns on

the water.

As he washes up, he discovers strange runic tattoos on hisbody. He hears a voice, "The names of the fugitives. Pennedin my native tongue, of course." To the sound of mocking

laughter, Stone prowls out on the fire escape with his gundrawn.

The Devil sits there on the railing, silhouetted by a freak

flash of lightning. "You know, they planned this forcenturies. Totally unprecedented. Oh, there have been a few,

over the millennia, who've slipped through the cracks.Isolated incidents. Never anything like this. They think

they'll beat the Devil. They're wrong, Ezekiel. Nobody beats

me."

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, it's your first day on the job, you dropped the ball,

I'm thinking maybe I picked the wrong guy."

"Yeah, maybe you did." The Devil laughs. Stone continues, "Hewas stronger than me, faster. He even burned a hole through a

chain link fence."

"After all, he was my guest for nearly a century. You were

with me what, fifteen years? The longer you are in hell, the

more it becomes a part of you, literally. Some of those thatescaped have been mine since the dawn of time, and have the

powers to prove it."

"Terrific, nice odds."

"Relax. You all play by the same rules, more or less."

"More or less?" Stone asks.


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"Well, you're already dead, so you can't be killed, or even

feel pain, unless it is inflicted by another damned soul."

"So how am I supposed to send them back?"

"Did I forget to tell you that part?" The Devil laughs. "It'sthe eyes, windows to the soul. Anyone, alive or dead,

destroys the eyes, and the damned get a one way ticket backhome to Hell."

"Including me?"

"Silly question, Ezekiel. Last time I checked, you were one

of the damned. Now, stop asking questions, and get back towork. It's the only way you'll ever earn your second chance

at life on earth."

"Yeah, about that second chance," Stone begins, the Devil

smiling appreciatively, "How does that work, exactly?"

"That's for me to know, and you to find out -- in the event

you actually succeed at rounding up all one hundred andthirteen of your wayward brothers and sisters."

"One hundred thirteen to one, huh? Great."

The Devil stands behind Stone and speaks into his ear.

"Remember, Mr. Stone, Gilbert Jax was a rapist, not amurderer. He didn't kill your wife. You had no right to kill

him. God's universe doesn't work like the American legal

system. You do something, you pay for it."

"That is all I was doing," Stone responds forcefully, "I was

trying to make the bastard pay."

"Yes, yes," the Devil whispers, "now that's what I like tohear. The indomitable spirit, and righteous indignation of

the human species. I've heard it a billion times, defending abillion atrocities, and it's still music to my ears."

"Listen pal, Stone shoots back, you need me as much as I

need you. You may be all powerful down below, but up here,

you're just another corporate big shot who's trying to cover

his ass. Now, if you can't police your own, no one is gonnaever be afraid of you again."

The Devil, smiling again, has only one response. He holds up

a single digit on his right hand, and pushes Stone off thefire escape. Stone lands unhurt on the ground, and brushes

himself off.

#


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In the eleventh precinct, Detective Kane is showing around a

sketch of his assailant. He has a bandage on his nose. Itsvery strange, his boss, Tibbetts, tells him, Id swear your

suspect is Zeke Stone.

Who?

Homicide Detective worked out of Manhattan South before yourtime. I was his sergeant after he got the gold shield. Good

cop. Cant be him though.

Why not?

Hes dead. Got blown away by some trigger-happy punk, oh,must have been fifteen years ago. Tibbetts turns to leave.

Night, Will.

Hey, thanks, Kane replies, thinking over the new

information. He stares at the sketch.

#

At a museum, Ms. Gilliam is herding a group of school

children from one room to another. The priest we saw earlieris there also, and he watches them come in. So how many of

you have been to a museum before? the teacher wonders.Oh, almost everybody. So you know how to behave, right? No

touching anything, no fooling around, she tells them.

The priest approaches, quoting, Happy hearts and happy

faces, happy play in grassy places, that was how in ancientages, children grew to kings and sages.

Ms. Gilliam crooks her head, considering. Did you writethat, Father?

Oh, no, it wasnt me, no, he chuckles. It was Robert

Louis Stevenson. Yes, he wrote that in 1885, just a fewyears after this was painted. It was a better time then,

more innocent. This city was clean, unspoiled. In thosedays, when it snowed, it didnt turn to gray, ugly slush. It

was white for days on end. Like heaven.

You sound like you were there.

Oh, but I was. The teacher looks at him oddly, so heclarifies, In my dreams, of course.

Oh, she says, relieved.

A student approaches them and interrupts the conversation.

Ms. Gilliam, Ive got to use the bathroom.


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One second, Chris, she tells him. Austin, Billy, cut that

out!

Id be happy to take him, if youd like, the priest offers.

Oh, thank you, Father. Would you?

Yes, come on, he replies, smiling as he holds his hand outto the young boy, Chris.

As he leads the child away, Ms. Gilliam turns back to her

group of children. Stop that. Cut it out!

ACT TWO

In the restroom, the priest and the boy wash their hands.Well, Christopher, did you enjoy seeing the pictures in

there? the priest asks.

Not really. The museums boring. I wish wed take a field

trip someplace cool.

Did you know that Saint Christopher was said to have carriedthe Christ child across a river?

I cant swim, Chris says.

The priest laughs. Neither can I, he says. Do you go to

church?

I kinda have to now, Chris says dejectedly. I startedserving as an altar boy this year.

The priest considers this. You know, I have a friend who

works at the Central Park Zoo.

Really?

If we leave now, we could make it by feeding time. Im sureI could persuade my friend to let you feed the animals

yourself.

You think so? Chris replies, enthused.

Well, perhaps not the lion. But certainly the lamb.

Well, I dont know, Chris says. How are we going to makeit back before the end of the field trip? And if Ms. Gilliam

finds out Im gone, Ill going to be in a lot of trouble.

Not nearly as much trouble as youre going to be in if you


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dont come with me, the priest says, leaning in towards theboy. When they are face to face, he growls.

Chris tries to run, but the priest snaps him up. He begins

to open the window in the bathroom, only to be interrupted byanother man entering the room. Hey, the man demands, What

are you doing to that kid?

The priest does not respond, but lunges toward the man, hisright hand stretched out in front of him, his left hand

holding the child tight to his body. Chris tries to scream,but he is muffled by the priests grip.

#

Back at the police station, Kane has told Hirsch his

speculation. So, you think our guy is Lt. Ezekiel Stone,

N.Y.P.D., killed in the line of duty in June of 83? Okay,Hirsch paraphrases.

I know it sounds crazy, Kane argues, But Ive got atheory. Seven months before Stone was killed, his wife got

raped. They caught the guy, Gilbert Jax, but couldnt put acase together against him, so he got off.

And?

And, two months before Stone was killed, Jax turns up dead,

Kane says.

How? Hirsch asks.

It was a drug overdose, ruled accidental. The guy was anhabitual user, real piece of scum. End of story.

Except...

Except I.A. doesnt think its the end of the story. They

start an investigation against Stone, but before they can puta case together, he turns up dead, half his face shot off.

ID had to be made using forensics and departmental records.

So what are you telling me? Hirsch demands.

So what Im telling you is Stone killed Gilbert Jax, andmade it look like an OD. Internal Affairs is closing in on

him, after the rape, his marriage is on the rocks, his wholelife is going to Hell. Hes got no reason to stick around

and risk going to jail. So, he found a way out.

So you think he faked his own death?

Makes sense, Kane replies.


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Thats fine detective work, Will, except for a few things

that dont make sense. Like, what is he doing back now? Whyis he in an alley, chasing a priest? And what is a hero cop

doing killing little altar boys? Even if he was alive, whichhe isnt.

Hirsch walks off, and Kane is left to consider this.

#

Ezekiel Stone returns to the church he visited the night

before. It is nearly deserted, and he walks down the aisleand approaches a priest near the front. Father Horn? he

asks.

Yes?

Detective Ezekiel Stone, N.Y.P.D. I need to ask you some

questions about the priest who was working the confessionallast night. Stone holds out his badge, and we see that thepriest is blind.

Would you hand me your badge, please? Father Horn asks.

Stone does, and the priest feels it before responding. Thatwould have been Father Solinas. May I ask what this is

about, Detective?

#

In Father Solinass room, Stone looks around. Father Horn is

having trouble believing the charges. These accusations areridiculous. I cant believe Father Solinas had anything todo with this.

Edward Solinas had a whole other life you know nothing

about, Father. You spend all your time with God, Solinaskeeps different company.

"Don't think because I'm blind, I don't know what goes on

outside these walls, Father Horn tells him. Six years ago,I was walking home from the grocery store late at night when

a man dragged his wife out on the street and started beating

her head against the sidewalk -- what you police call a

domestic dispute. I tried to stop him; I didn't know he had agun. Luckily, he was drunk at the time and his aim was a

little off. The bullet shattered the bridge of my nose andgrazed one eye. Muzzle flash took care of the other."

While Father Horn is speaking, Stone is searching for clues.

He turns on a lamp, but Father Horn doesnt react.Brightest light youve ever seen. Think youre going to

heaven then you wake up someplace else.


10/21

How do you know that?

I knew someone who was shot in the face.

Did he survive?

Nope, Stone says, going through Father Solinas wardrobe.

What happened to the woman? As the priest answers, hecomes across some old coins.

"Heard she testified on her husband's behalf. At first, I

thought it might be a blessing, not to have to look humanevil in the face again. But I was wrong. In the end it just

made it harder to believe, to keep faith in the justice ofGod's universe. And it gets worse every day."

Stone seems torn about what to say next, but finally decidesto ask, "Did you ever want to make him suffer?"

"I struggled with that, Father Horn replies. But what goodwould it have done? It wouldn't bring my sight back."

"There is justice, Father, Stone tells him, walking by him

as he heads for the door.

Detective Kane bursts in, his gun drawn. How you doing?

Sorry about the nose, Stone says, nonchalant.

I should go to church more often, Kane says, pleased with

himself. Put your hands on the dresser. Stone looks athim, and Kane shoves him, Come on, over there.

Father Horn is unable to observe this interaction, and asks,Detective Stone, whats happening here? Do you know this

man?

Hes not a detective, Father Kane tells him. Notanymore. Hes a suspect in the disappearance of those two

altar boys. Father, I want you to go to your office and callmy partner, Detective Charlie Hirsch. Eleventh Precinct.

Youre wrong. Whatever this man is, hes not a criminal,

Father Horn says.

Father, go to your office and call the police. Now. Kaneturns his attention back to Stone. And you, spread em.

Spread em!

Stone bows his head. Do what he says, Father.

Father Horn begins to exit the room, but as he approaches


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Detective Kane, he shoves him, pushing him into the corner.Stone takes advantage of the distraction, and leaves the room

the quickest way he can - by jumping through a stained glasswindow. He heads to the roof.

#

On the roof, Kane appears behind Stone. Freeze! he yells.

Stone looks back over his shoulder at him, then continueson. With superhuman abilities, Stone jumps to the next

building.

Kane runs after him. He looks down into the alley below - heis far above the street. Panting after the chase, Kane

decides to imitate his suspect and leap across. Stonewatches as Kane backs up, hopping several times to psyche

himself up. With a yell, Kane charges and leaps.

Instead of easily clearing the alley like Stone, Kane almost

falls short, but manages to grab onto the fire escape. Hetries to pull himself up, but is unable. Stone approaches,shaking his head sadly as Kane struggles. Stone leans over

and grabs Kane by the wrists, but Kane fights.

The sequence is similar to something Stone has done before,and it triggers a flashback for him. Two months before he

died, hed struggled with Gilbert Jax almost the same way.Both times, the other man had had a panicked look in their

eyes. Stone recalled the way hed held the needle, how hedpinned Jax to the bed just before injecting him with the

overdose.

Kane struggles, but Stone effortlessly pulls him up and overthe fire escape. When he lands, Kane staggers, trying to

catch his breath. "You saved my life," he says, stunned.

"Maybe I'm not the bad guy you think I am."

"I know who you are. You're Detective Lieutenant EzekielStone. You broke the Saint Mark's strangler case in 81. You

solved the Levy brother's double homicide in 83. You wereone of the most decorated cops in Manhattan South. Stone

looks at him, surprised to be recognized. Kane continues,

Then one day, your wife got raped, and you snapped. You

killed a suspect."

Stone, who had begun to walk away, stops. He turns andmarches right for Kane. Kane tries to pull his gun, but Stone

gets right in his face and answers, "He was guilty."

"Wait, so are you. Tell me what you know about this case."

You wouldnt believe me if I did.


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Why not?

Because you seem like an intelligent man.

You know what? Kane demands, Maybe Im not as bright at I

look. Try me.

"The man behind this is Edward Solinas, a priest who startedseeing the four living creatures from the book of Revelations

here on earth."

"Four living creatures'? What is that?" Kane asks.

"Chapter four, verse six. The four holy beasts who havesomething to do with the second coming of Christ, only

there's a catch: they can't play their role unless they're in

heaven. Solinas started seeing the four creatures in thefaces of children, altar boys to be exact." Stone pauses as

he turns away from Kane. "He killed sixteen kids in Italybefore he was finally forced to escape. Ended up here in theUnited States, in 1896." Kane clearly does not believe this,

but Stone continues anyway, "where he killed 8 more kids.Right here, in this city, before he was stopped. Now he's

back, for more."

"1896 - that's crazy."

Stone continues, "The only thing going for these kids is thathe sends them all back to heaven together. He won't kill one

till he has all four. Which means theres time."

As Stone walks away, Kane says "Wait a minute."

This prompts Stone to turn and clarify what Kane had saidearlier, "Oh, yeah, theres one more thing: I wasn't one of

the most decorated cops in Manhattan South, I was THE mostdecorated."

Stop it, you know what, I want the truth.

I told you the truth.

You stop, or Ill blow your legs out from under you.

Stone shrugs as he continues to walk away. Kane fires three

times, striking him in the legs, but Stone doesn't stop, justjumps off the roof and keeps going. Kane peers over the

edge, where Stone is casually jogging away.

ACT THREE


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Kane arrives at the museum, lights flashing in his squadcar. Wheres it at? he asks.

#

In the museum bathroom, Hirsch is there, along with a team

scouring for evidence. Hey, sorry Im late, I got here asquick as I could, Kane says.

Hirsch fills him in what has happened. We got a third one

missing, Christopher Logan, age 11. We also got this here.Kane looks at the imprint in the door, and the trail of ooze

that leads to a body. Look behind the stall, Hirsch tellshim.

Kane opens the door, careful to use his elbow as not to leave

fingerprints. Whoa! Looks like someone burned their hand

right through his head.

Looks like.

What about the boy?

Teacher says he was last seen with a priest.

Kane looks at the ooze. Whats all this stuff?

Found it all over the floor and on the body. Hirsch tosses

Kane a sample. Here.

Three out of four, Kane says to himself.

What?

What do you know about the Bible?

What part? Hirsch asks.

Revelations, chapter four-

Sorry, wrong bible. Im the old testament. You go yourway, I go Yahweh.

I think those kids are still alive, Kane says.

#

In his pawn shop, Irwin Dollinger is looking at the coins

that Stone brought in. He puts down the magnifying glass andlooks to Stone. Forget about paying for the kids college

with these, my friend. You might get a few bucks from amuseum.


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What are they?

Subway tokens, circa 1900, give or take a few years. Bit ofa collectors item, but not really valuable. He hands the

tokens back to Stone.

Thank you.

#

In the eleventh precinct, Kane is on the phone. Hey, itsthe lab, he tells his partner.

So what was that stuff? Hirsch wonders.

Sodium chloride, its a H2SO4Na(Cl2)2 compound.

What do I look like to you, Mr. Science? What does itmean?

It means that whoever was in that bathroom has a hell of aglandular problem. Hirsch shoots him a questioning look,

and Kane continues, That stuff on the window sill? Itshuman sweat, but two thirds of it was made up of sulfur.

#

Here you go, its the earliest one we have, the museum

curator tells Stone as she hands him a map.

Great, thank you, Stone says, as he takes another paper

from his pocket and lays the translucent sheet over the map.It shows streets and subway lines.

The curator watches, coming around her desk to stand next tohim. What is it youre looking for?

The east fork of the original Lexington Avenue line, no

longer in use. With a red felt pen, he makes marks on themap.

What are those?

Churches. Both within a couple blocks of the line.

Are you looking for a place to pray? she wonders.

Do you have any idea what year this part of the line was

shut down?

Um, it was probably during World War One, when they wereexpanding into the outer boroughs.


15/21

What did they do with the old tunnels?

Theyre still there. They didnt fill them in, just sealedthem up with bricks and mortar.

Can I borrow this?

She laughs. No, thats museum property, its very

valuable. I can make you a copy.

Thatd be great. Also, I wanted to, donate these to the,uh, to the museum. Stone takes the old tokens from his

pocket and hands them to her.

Um, thanks, says the curator. She pauses, building upcourage say something else. You know, Detective, the museum

closes at six. If youre not doing anything, I could tell

you more about the history of New Yorks underground, say,over a drink?

Im very, uh, flattered, Stone replies slowly, but Immarried.

Well, she says, Its too bad.

As she walks away to make a copy of the map, Stone adds, Not

to mention dead.

#

Stone visits the house that he used to live in with Rosalyn.

Its a nice looking two-story brick house. The front door isunlocked, and he walks in. He looks around, his memories oftheir life contrasting with the redecorated house.

In the kitchen, it is clean and white. Stone runs a hand

over the counter, summoning an image of Rosalyn cooking. Hewatches as she takes a turkey from the oven, and walks past

him, smiling.

He walks to the back of the house. He remembers Rosalyn whenshe put up the wallpaper in the den: now, its just painted

blue.

Upstairs, in their master bedroom, he hears the sound of theshower running. Rosalyn steps out and sees him watching.

She drops her towel and smiles at him. Stone knows she isnot really there, and he picks up the towel from the floor.

Cut to Stone sitting on the front steps, thinking. Finally,

he stands, and heads back to work.

#


16/21

In the police basement, Detective Kane is reading through old

files. He finds a picture of a man in a hangmans noose - itis Father Solinas. Guilty on all eight counts, he says to

himself, reading the text of the accompanying article.Sentenced to death by hanging. Sentence carried out

November 21st, 1906.

A hand falls on his shoulder, and he reacts violently.Geez!

Its Hirsch, and hes just as surprised by Kanes reaction.

Will you calm down, Will?

Come on, Kane protests.

Youre going to give us both a heart attack! What are you

rifling through all this crap for? These files have beendead since before both of us were born.

Kane hands him a file. I got a name, and it wasnt in thesystem. Then I remembered the computerized system only goes

back to 1945. Anything before that, you have to come downhere and get your hands dirty.

Hirsch gives the file a cursory glance. What do you mean,

before that?

Here, listen to this, Kane says, pulling out a Bible.Its Revelations, chapter four, verse six. I was in the

spirit. And there before me was a throne in heaven, and in

the center, around the throne were four living creatures.

Kane hold the Bible out to his partner, but Hirsch doesnt

move. Yeah, I heard you.

#

In the old subway tunnel, Solinas has the three children tiedup. He places animal heads on the children, speaking over

the sounds of the subway trains rumbling by in thebackground. And the first living creature was like a lion,

he says, placing the mask onto Christopher Logan. He blesses

him before continuing, The second living creature was like a

calf. The third living creature had a face like a man. Andthe fourth living creature will be revealed unto me tonight.

ACT FOUR

Stone uses the old maps to find the entrance to the subway.Inside, he walks the tracks, looking at the graffiti and

making his way to the old subway line. He comes across more


17/21

tokens like the ones he found earlier. As he stoops toexamine them, he hears a child moaning.

His gun drawn, Stone finds a locked door leading further into

the tunnel. He searches inside, watching for any sign ofFather Solinas. As he shines the beam of his flashlight

around the room, he spots the missing children.

Its okay, its okay, he reassures them. Im apoliceman. Im not going to hurt you, all right? He removes

the animal heads. Are you guys all right?

He cuts their ropes, and asks Chris, You. The man who didthis to you, did you see where he went?

He went to get another kid, Chris answers.

All right, this is what were going to do, Stone says.Were going to get you out of here as fast as we can.

#

Look, Will, theres got to be another explanation, Hirschsays, as the two ride through the rain in their squad car.

People do not come back from the dead.

How do you explain the physical evidence, huh? Kanecounters, What about the photograph?

Theres nothing that says that this priest is anything but

another run-of-the-mill psycho. As for the 100-year-old

photograph, so what? I see people all the time that lookalike. My cousin looks like Lee Harvey Oswald; does thatmean he shot Kennedy? I dont think so.

#

Stone helps the children up onto the street. All right,

remember, Detective Kane, you ask for Detective Kane, right?he tells them.

Right.

Say it, Stone says, watching them climb up the ladder.

Detective Kane, a child repeats.

Thats it. Hang on now. Hang on.

#

What about the eight bullets I pumped into Stones leg, huh?

How do you explain that?


18/21

Kevlar leg armor, Hirsch responds. I saw it last month in

Soldier of Fortune Magazine. $69.99 a shin.

Unit Seven, respond, the police radio crackles.

Yeah, this is Unit Seven, go ahead, Hirsch says.

We just received a 911 call from Lexington and 21st. Theyasked for Detective Kane by name.

Yeah, Hirsch confirms. He rolls down his window and puts a

flashing red light on top of the car, and speeds up as thesiren wails.

#

In the subway, Stone is waiting in ambush.

#

Unit Seven arrives on the scene. Kane spots the children

first. Look, look, right there, there they are. Itsthem.

My God, Hirsch says, unbelieving.

Its okay, Kane says, leaping from the car and striding

toward the children. They step back in fear, but hecontinues, No - no, its okay, were police officers. You

guys okay? Hirsch takes off his jacket, and Kane follows

suit. You guys cold? Come here.

The two men wrap up the children with their coats. Put this

on. Whered you kids come from? Hirsch asks.

Down there, Chris says, pointing at the grate leading intothe subway.

Okay, dont move. Im going to go, Hirsch says.

Im going with you, Kane announces.

No youre not. You call E.M.S., and you call for backup,

Hirsch tells him. You stay here with these kids untilsomebody comes. Keep them safe.

Kane nods, addressing the kids briefly Hirsch walks away.

Hey, you guys, dont move, all right? Ill be right back,Im going to the car. Dont move. Hirsch disappears into

the ground, and Kane comes back from the car carrying afolder. He opens it up, and shows them the 1906 picture of

Father Solinas. Is this him?


19/21

Yeah, its him, the children say.

Chris has something else to say. There was another man. A

policeman.

Policeman?

The one who saved us. The one who said to call you.

Kane considers this.

#

Beneath the streets of New York, Detective Hirsch finds thesame hole in the brick wall that Stone used to cross into the

abandoned tunnel. He uses his lighter to see, but as he

crosses through the wall, a breeze blows it out. He flicksit once, twice, three times to light it again. Hirsch turns

and finds Father Solinas standing there. Before he canreact, Solinas plunges a cross into his chest. Hirsch dropshis lighter, then collapses from the fatal blow.

#

Stone is still waiting in ambush for Father Solinas. He

hears a noise, and trains his gun. Someone steps out intohis view, and Stone sees it is the fourth child, hands tied

and his mouth gagged. From behind Stone, Solinas appears andclubs him with a meter long lead pipe.

I know who you are, Solinas says as Stone falls to thefloor. You are a soldier of Satan, one of those whoconspired to cast me down into the pit. Each sentence is

punctuated by another blow with the lead pipe. One whowould try to prevent me from my holy task, he shouts. But

I am a soldier of God! Solinas tosses the pipe away, andkneels beside the weakened Stone. You can never stop me! I

will find them again, and send them back to heaven. Solinastakes out the cross that he killed Hirsch with, and we see it

that the horizontal bar is sharpened on one end. Solinasrepeats, I will send them all back to heaven. He draws

back with the cross.

Kane arrives, pushing the child to safety. Dont move! heshouts, training his gun on Solinas. They lock eyes for a

moment, and then Solinas, chuckling, prepares to bring thecross crashing down into Ezekiel Stones eyes.

Unable to wait any longer, Kane opens fire, striking Father

Solinas in the chest twice. There is no effect, even whenKane fires three more times. Ignoring him, Solinas again

aims for Stones eyes with the cross.


20/21

Out of options, Kane runs and tackles Solinas, knocking him

off of Stone. They fight on the floor. Stone tries to letKane know about the weakness of damned souls, calling out

Eyes. Eyes, in a low, raspy voice. Kane hears, andcontinues to struggle with the damned soul. When Solinas

throws him off, Kane jumps on his back. Solinas tries to getfree, and resorts to ramming Kane through a brick wall. The

two men fall back into live subway tunnel, Kane landing flaton his back with Solinas on top of him.

The sound of a subway train is growing louder, and Kane sees

it bearing down on them. He manages to roll Solinas off ofhim and jump up. Solinas staggers to his feet, but it is too

late. As the subway reaches them, Kane presses himselfagainst the tunnel wall. The train rams Father Solinas at

full speed.

Kane watches the subway go by. After it passes, he looks at

Solinass dead body on the tracks. Unfortunately, FatherSolinas is not slowed down by something as insignificant as atrain accident, and he stands up unharmed, smiling and

chuckling. Behold, I am coming soon, my reward is with me,and I will give unto everyone according to what he has

done. He raises his hand, ready to burn through Kanesface.

Behind him, Stone appears at the hole in the wall that they

crashed through. He trains his gun, and as Solinas finishesspeaking, Stone gets his attention by speaking his name.

Solinas.

Father Solinas slowly turns, and Kane, seeing the gun andrealizing he is in the line of fire, ducks. As soon as Stone

has an opening, he takes it, destroying Solinass eyes withtwo well placed shots.

Solinas screams as a maelstrom of supernatural energy sucks

his soul back into Hell. Kane and Stone watch from oppositesides off the tunnel. When it is clear, Stone crosses over

to Kane and helps him up. Lets go. Come on.

As Kane rises, Stone cramps up in pain. He pulls his left

sleeve up, and sees smoke rising from the runic tattoo there.

As the two men look on, it disappears. Kane shakes his head,trying to comprehend.

#

Back on the street, Kane stand silently, watching as more

police cars pull up to the intersection where the childrenwait. Stone comes up behind him and asks, You okay?


21/21

I dont think so. You know, everything you told me, allthis, he laughs wryly, its insane.

Its not as insane as interleague play, Stone observes.

What?

Listen, Im, um, sorry about your partner.

Yeah. You know, at least the kids are okay. He pauses. I

don't know if it matters," Kane says, "but I was goingthrough your file and your wife is still collecting your

death benefits. I mean, she lives in California someplace. Idon't remember the address exactly. I just..." he trails off.

"Oh, uh," Stone says, hailing a taxi. "what you said to me on

the roof of the church, about me being guilty? Maybe if, I

was in the same place, same moment, if I had it to do allover again... I don't know."

After a pause, Kane asks, "Hey, what happens now? You justkeep tracking these guys down?"

"Beats burning in hell," Stone replies smiling, getting into

his cab.

"Hey," Kane says, waiting for Stone to look back at him,"knowing all this...you know, how it works... it's all

right." He begins to walk away.

"Kane," Stone calls, "knowing is the easy part." Kane thinks

over what Stone says, and gives him a wave as the taxi pullsout into the night. Out of the thousands of cabs andmillions of faces in the city, how many are occupied by

damned souls?

Only time will tell.

End Of Show

brimstone television pilot

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