The Final Battlefield Read online

  the way backwards until they were over his head.

  SOUND:

  THE SQUEAKING STOPS.

  DANIEL (cont’d):

  (his voice trembling with emotion) The Hangman would leave the guy suspended there while he interrogated him. Kim was yanked up off the ground so hard that his shoulders dislocated. But The Hangman left him up there anyway. When he didn’t get the answers he wanted – he’d cut off a part of the prisoner’s body. If the guy looked at him funny, he’d cut out his eye. . .if he talked back, he’d cut out his tongue. I heard a story of one guy who was reckless enough to give him the finger. . .

  PA:

  (with disgust). . .so he cut it off.

  DANIEL:

  His hand, Pa. . .the Hangman cut off his whole hand.

  PA:

  Dear Lord.

  DANIEL:

  He’d quote some Bible verse to justify why he was doing it. . .which was ironic considering he looked like the devil himself wielding that blade.

  PA:

  And Kim?

  DANIEL:

  His foot. His right foot. . .because he tried to escape once. It didn’t come off cleanly either. It was horrible, Pa. There was blood everywhere.

  PA:

  Did Kim live?

  DANIEL:

  He lived. . .but I don’t think he survived. He wasn’t the same after that – the light had gone out of his eyes. You could tell it was a struggle for him to just get through each day.

  PA:

  Thank God you never had to go through that.

  DANIEL:

  But what I saw last night. . .Pa, it was him. . .The Hangman. And he was right out there in that field. (scared) I can’t get away from him, Pa!

  PA:

  Daniel. . .you’ve been through an unthinkable, horrifying experience - something no human being should ever have to endure. But the mind has a way of coping with these things. Trust me - you will come to realize it’s in your

  PA (cont’d):

  past. (a beat, then gets an idea) You know what I think?

  DANIEL:

  What?

  PA:

  I think you need to put your mind on something else. . .empty your head of all those bad experiences and start filling it up with. . .well, with your life again. You should go into town tomorrow and talk to Merle Bass about getting a job at the hardware store.

  DANIEL:

  Merle Bass. . .he’s a veteran, isn’t he?

  PA:

  Korean War.

  DANIEL:

  I remember they always had a big article on him in the paper every Veterans Day. I had his wartime experiences memorized by the time I was in high school.

  PA:

  Spent some time in a POW camp himself. Eventually led missions for the Navy Seals rescuing our guys from the camps.

  DANIEL:

  (chuckles) When we were kids, we used to call him “Bass The Hard-Ass.”

  PA:

  Yeah. . .adults used to call him that too. But I’ll tell you what: hard-ass

  PA (cont’d):

  or not, Merle’s a fair man. He’ll treat you right if you work hard.

  DANIEL:

  What if he’s not looking for help?

  PA:

  Well, Merle owes me a favor. Little matter of a poker loss he couldn’t make good on. (chuckles) Just drop my name and I think you’ll see the “Help Wanted” sign come out whether he’s hiring or not.

  DANIEL:

  Okay. I guess it’s a start. Thanks, Pa.

  PA:

  Hang in there, kiddo. Your nightmares will be over soon.

  MUSIC:

  TRANSITION.

  NARRATOR:

  The next day, Daniel goes into town to see Merle Bass about a job at the hardware store. It’s Daniel’s first trip into town since his return, and he finds the familiar sights and sounds comforting. Bass is just as Daniel remembers him – yet another thing about being home that he finds comforting. . . and a little intimidating.

  SOUND:

  MERLE MOVING BOXES AS HE MOVES INVENTORY AROUND.

  DANIEL:

  Uh, excuse me. Mr. Bass?. . .

  MERLE:

  (breathing heavily) Yeah?

  DANIEL:

  Hi, I’m Daniel Conway. I’m looking for a job. . .

  MERLE:

  Sorry. Not hiring.

  DANIEL:

  Uh, my pa said he thought you might have something for me. . .

  MERLE:

  What’s your pa’s name?

  DANIEL:

  Frank Conway.

  MERLE:

  (a beat) No shit. (chuckles with some contempt) That sneaky old bastard.

  DANIEL:

  I’m sorry?

  MERLE:

  Your dad’s a helluva poker player. I know, ’cuz he likes to remind me every time he comes in here. (a beat) So you’re Conway’s boy. Just came back from Viet Nam, didn’t you?

  DANIEL:

  Yes, sir.

  MERLE:

  Yeah, you’re a veteran all right. . .none of these punks in town ever calls me “sir.” See a lot of action over there?

  DANIEL:

  Yes, sir. More than my share. At least until my platoon got captured. . .ended up in a POW camp.

  MERLE:

  Saw the inside of a couple camps myself in Korea.

  DANIEL:

  I know.

  MERLE:

  I’m sure you do. That damn article they print every Veterans Day. Told them not to make a big deal out of it. I’m not the only one to survive the camps.

  DANIEL:

  If you don’t mind my saying so, sir, you are a hero.

  MERLE:

  (his anger rising) Balls! They should be writing about the guys who died over there. They were heroes!

  DANIEL:

  (not sure what to say) Yes, sir.

  MERLE:

  (recovering, he grunts as if to say, “So there!”, then. . .) So, can you start tomorrow?

  DANIEL:

  (surprised, but pleased) Uh, yeah. . .sure! Tomorrow’s great!

  MERLE:

  Good. Delivery truck comes at 6:15. Be here at 6. . .AM. You can work a half day. We can talk about your pay after I see how well you unload the truck.

  DANIEL:

  Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it! You won’t regret it.

  MERLE:

  Make sure I don’t. (a warning) 6:00. . .no later!

  DANIEL:

  (going off-mic as he exits) Yes, sir! I’ll be here!

  MUSIC:

  TRANSITION.

  SOUND:

  FADE UP ON PA HAMMERING, UNDER.

  DANIEL:

  (fading up to an ongoing conversation). . .and then he offered me the job! Said he wants me to start tomorrow!

  PA:

  Well, that’s just fine, Daniel. I told you he’d be willing to hire you.

  DANIEL:

  Yeah. (a beat) Doesn’t seem like he’s changed much.

  PA:

  Still a hard-ass.

  DANIEL:

  (laughs) Yeah.

  SOUND:

  HAMMERING INTENSIFIES, THEN STOPS.

  DANIEL:

  You need help fixing this fence?

  PA:

  (a bit winded) That’d be great. You mind going down to the cellar and getting me some nails?

  DANIEL:

  Sure thing, Pa.

  SOUND:

  DANIEL WALKING AWAY.

  PA:

  (calling after Daniel) They’re on the workbench. . .

  DANIEL:

  (off). . .in empty baby food jars. I remember.

  MUSIC

  TRANSITION.

  SOUND:

  BASEMENT DOOR CREAKING OPEN AND DANIEL WALKING DOWN BASEMENT STAIRS, UNDER.

  NARRATOR:

  The lack of windows always makes it dark in the cellar regardless of the time of day. But Daniel knows the basement by heart, and reaches up instinctively into the inky blackness t
o turn on the bare bulb over his father’s workbench.

  SOUND:

  THE LIGHT CLICKING ON.

  NARRATOR (CONT’D):

  It throws a dim light, still leaving much of the cellar in the dark.

  DANIEL:

  (to himself) Well, nothing much has changed down here - still a mess! Let’s see, those jars should be over here. . . (a beat) yup, right where they’ve always been!

  SOUND:

  DANIEL PICKING UP JAR AND TAKING OUT NAILS, UNDER.

  DANIEL (cont’d):

  A dozen should be enough. I’ll bet we could get the rest of that fence repaired by. . .

  SOUND:

  THE OMINOUS SQUEAL OF THE PULLEY.

  DANIEL (cont’d):

  What the hell. . .

  SOUND:

  THE NAILS JINGLING ONE BY ONE ON THE FLOOR AS DANIEL DROPS THEM IN SHOCK.

  DANIEL (cont’d):

  It can’t be! It’s impossible!

  NARRATOR:

  Although the far end of the cellar is obscured by old furniture and stacks of boxes, there’s no mistaking what Daniel sees. Suspended from The Hangman’s dreaded rope and pulley is his old cellmate, Keith Molloy. As Daniel’s confused mind tries to take this in. . . The Hangman himself walks into view!

  MUSIC:

  STING

  ANNOUNCER:

  We’ll return to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories – after these few words.

  ANNOUNCER:

  Now back to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories and “The Final Battlefield.”

  SOUND:

  FOOTSTEPS OF HANGMAN WALKING AROUND ROOM, UNDER.

  NARRATOR:

  A hysterical Daniel Conway stands in his basement in Clover Ridge, Iowa, watching a frightening scenario unfold in front of him. . .a scenario from his days as a POW in Viet Nam. His blood running cold, he looks on as his old cellmate, Keith Malloy, prepares to be tortured by a vicious Viet Cong officer called The Hangman.

  DANIEL:

  This can’t be happening! It’s an illusion!

  HANGMAN:

  My sources tell me that you are a spy, Sergeant Molloy.

  KEITH:

  (with difficulty) That’s a lie.

  HANGMAN:

  I doubt that. My sources very reliable!

  KEITH:

  Of course they are - once you’ve jammed enough bamboo splinters under their fingernails!

  HANGMAN:

  (laughing derisively) Bamboo splinters? You read too many comic books. Bamboo splinters old school! We very modern here.

  KEITH:

  Oh yeah. . .this medieval rope and pulley setup you’ve got is real state-of-the- art.

  HANGMAN:

  I no like your sarcasm. You a very disrespectful prisoner! You look me in the eye like we equals. . .this offend me. We not equals; I better than you. (a beat) You read the Bible, Sergeant Molloy?

  KEITH:

  Not lately. Guess the Gideons forgot to leave one in my cell.

  HANGMAN:

  One of my favorite verses is in New Testament. Matthew 5:29. . .”And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out. . .”

  KEITH:

  I’m afraid I’m not familiar with that verse.

  HANGMAN:

  Then allow me to offer Sunday school lesson.

  SOUND:

  THE SHRIEK OF METAL AGAINST METAL AS THE HANGMAN UNSHEATHS HIS KNIFE.

  HANGMAN (cont’d):

  Your eye offend me. But I not going to “pluck” it. . .I cut it out with this knife! Much easier than “plucking.” Guard! Lower him!

  SOUND:

  THE PULLEY SQUEAKING, UNDER.

  KEITH:

  (struggling a bit) Stay away from me!

  HANGMAN:

  Better not struggle! You dislocate shoulders!

  KEITH:

  Get away!

  HANGMAN:

  Guard! Hold him!

  SOUND:

  THE GUARD WALKING OVER TO KEITH.

  KEITH:

  (begging now) No! Please!

  HANGMAN:

  No worry. . .I try not to leave scar.

  KEITH:

  (increasingly panicked) No!. . . Wait!!. . .Stop!!. . . (and he screams bloody murder as his eye is cut out)

  DANIEL:

  I’ve got to get out of here!

  SOUND:

  DANIEL RUNNING THROUGH BASEMENT AND UP STAIRS, KEITH’S SCREAMS GRADUALLY FADING. DANIEL COLLIDING WITH PA AT TOP OF STAIRS.

  PA:

  Whoa!. . .Easy, son! The fence isn’t that urgent. . .where are the nails? Daniel? Are you okay?

  DANIEL:

  (breathless, panicked) He’s here, Pa. . .he’s here!

  PA:

  Who’s here?

  DANIEL:

  The Hangman! He was just in the cellar!

  PA:

  Daniel, you know that can’t be!

  DANIEL:

  But it’s true! I saw him with my own eyes! He was torturing Keith! He cut out his. . . Oh, Pa - it was horrible! (sobbing) He did it, Pa. . .he won. The Hangman got inside my head!

  MUSIC:

  STING, THEN TRANSITION, UNDER.

  SOUND:

  HAMMERING, UNDER.

  NARRATOR:

  The next morning - after a sleepless night - Daniel is out back behind the house fixing the fence he and his father were working on the day before. Despite countless assurances by Daniel’s father that what he saw in the basement was some kind of stress- induced hallucination, Daniel remains convinced that what he saw was real. He works feverishly on the fence, as if it has the ability to shield him from some unseen, malevolent force. Awakened by the hammering, Daniel’s father comes out to see if he’s okay.

  PA:

  Daniel! I’m surprised to see you out here so early.

  DANIEL:

  Couldn’t sleep. Figured I might as well finish fixing this fence. . .especially since it was my fault we never finished it yesterday.

  PA:

  That wasn’t necessary, son. Why don’t you come inside? I’ll make something to eat. A healthy breakfast will help you put your best foot forward on your first day of work.

  DANIEL:

  I guess.

  PA:

  Come on. We can both finish the fence later.

  MUSIC:

  TRANSITION.

  SOUND:

  THE OCCASIONAL CLANGING OF POTS. DANIEL’S FORK SCRAPING A PLATE.

  PA:

  That enough eggs?

  DANIEL:

  (his mouth full) More than enough.

  PA:

  How about a slice of bread to sop up that egg yolk? You used to love to do that when you were little.

  DANIEL:

  I’ll pass on that, thanks. I ate almost nothing but bread and water in the camp. It may be a while before I get a taste for bread again.

  PA:

  Well, I’ll leave it out here in case you change your mind. (a beat) You know, there’s something I’ve been planning to give you since you got back. Under the circumstances, I think this is the perfect time. Do you remember how I used to tell you about a guy in my platoon who was an American Indian?

  DANIEL:

  Sure.

  PA:

  Then you probably remember what he gave me the day we shipped home.

  DANIEL:

  The dreamcatcher. You used to put it in my room when I was little if I was having nightmares. You said it would catch all the bad dreams so I wouldn’t have to worry about them.

  SOUND:

  PA OPENING DRAWER AND TAKING OUT DREAMCATCHER.

  PA:

  Here.

  SOUND:

  THE DREAMCATCHER RATTLES A BIT AS PA HANDS IT TO DANIEL.

  DANIEL:

  Haven’t seen that in a while.

  PA:

  I’m not sure I believe all the mystical stuff that’s supposed to be attached to it, and I know you’re not a little kid any more. . .but I do know it’s helped me through some tough nights. Sometimes you jus
t need something solid to hold onto. . .something that gives you hope.

  DANIEL:

  Thanks, Pa. (a beat) Do you think I am just having nightmares?

  PA:

  What else could it be?

  DANIEL:

  But why am I having them in the middle of the day?. . .When I’m wide awake?

  PA:

  The mind is a funny thing, Daniel - especially when it’s been traumatized. It can fool you into thinking something’s there when it’s not. Best thing you can do is fix your mind on the fact that the danger’s over. . . you’re home now. (a beat) Hey, look at the time - you better go get cleaned up. You don’t want to be late on your first day of work.

  SOUND:

  THE CHAIR SCRAPING ON THE FLOOR AS DANIEL GETS UP.