New chapters of this story will be posted Mondays and Fridays through Christmas Eve. Enjoy and, if so moved, please feel free to share your thoughts or pass it along to friends. Thanks!
EXT. MIDTOWN MANHATTAN - DUSK
Christmas Eve. The streets are crowded with people of all shapes and sizes, bundled in winter clothes, doing last minute shopping. A Salvation Army Santa Claus rings his bell on a street corner.
A light snow begins to fall.
EXT. GIMBEL'S DEPARTMENT STORE - CONTINUOUS
The biggest department store in Manhattan. Housed in a block-wide, seven story building that dates to the turn of the century. People are coming in and out by the dozens, while some simply stand around marveling and the window display.
INT. GIMBEL'S - BOYS' CLOTHING SECTION - CONTINUOUS
RICK (11, skinny, wearing a sweatshirt and jeans) and LAWRENCE (also 11, husky, wearing a knit sweater and slacks) run through the crowd, trying to get away from the boring clothes section.
Behind them are NATALIE, Rick's mom and hobbling beside her, leaning on his cane, JERRY (he's real old).
NATALIE
Slow down, boys!
RICK
Don't worry mom, we're right here.
JERRY
I don't think it would be a big deal if they got lost.
NATALIE
(laughing)
Funny, Mr. Irvine.
JERRY
It wasn't a joke.
NATALIE
Thank you for coming out. Richard and I really wanted to get you something for all you've done with Rick. He loves drawing and having a real life comic book artist taking time to teach him means a lot.
JERRY
Well, it's not like he gave me much of a choice.
NATALIE
You're too humble.
JERRY
No, really. Very imposing kids. But they're nice enough, I guess.
Up ahead Lawrence runs into a rack of clothes and sends shirts and pants flying. He and Rick look at each other then run farther ahead.
NATALIE
Slow down!
The boys stop and fall back.
LAWRENCE
What are you doing for Christmas, Mr. Irvine?
JERRY
I'm Jewish. I celebrate Hanukkah.
LAWRENCE
That's awesome, that's like seven days of presents.
RICK
You get enough presents from Christmas.
LAWRENCE
I know! That's the point! I get like eight presents. Times seven days. That's...
(does the math in his head)
Fifty-six presents!
RICK
I don't think it works that way.
They keep walking.
INT. GIMBEL'S - SANTA'S VILLAGE SECTION
Tons of little kids are lined up to take their picture with "Santa" (let's call him FAKE SANTA) and, more importantly, tell him what they want from Christmas.
Fake Santa looks exhausted, despite the chipper facade he's trying to keep up. Poor guy is ready to call it a season.
NATALIE
Rick, do you want to tell Santa what you'd like for Christmas?
RICK
Mom, I haven't believed in Santa Claus for years now.
JERRY
You think you know it all, huh kid?
NATALIE
They grow up so fast.
Lawrence starts pulling ahead again.
LAWRENCE
Come on, Rick. The video game section is just past this.
RICK
Nice!
The boys run through the crowd of kids, leaving Natalie and Jerry behind.
LAWRENCE
There's this new video game where you get to these laser bazookas and then you--
KA-BOOOOOOM!
Suddenly the ENTIRE SOUTHERN WALL is BLOWN UP, leaving a GAPING HOLE. Cold wind rushes in, throwing smoke and debris everywhere. Kids are screaming, parents and panicking, the whole place is complete pandemonium!
Natalie and Jerry are stranded on the west side of the store, Rick and Lawrence on the east, a crowd of confused people between them. Natalie yells to them.
NATALIE
Run, boys! Get to safety!
JERRY
What about us?
Lawrence pulls at Rick.
LAWRENCE
Your mom's right!
RICK
I won't leave them!
LAWRENCE
Think about it! It'll give you a chance to, you know, "change in your work clothes."
He points at Rick's pocket.
RICK
Good call!
Rick reaches into his pocket and pulls out THE OMEGA AMULET. He and Lawrence take off towards some fitting rooms, losing everyone else in the chaos...
EXT. GIMBEL'S DEPARTMENT STORE - CONTINUOUS
The pedestrains have stopped and look up at the huge hole in the store.
INT. GIMBEL'S - SANTA'S VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS
The crowd looks towards the demolished wall. Something is floating into the store. Through the smoke and debris it's unclear what it is, but it appears large and imposing at first. As the smoke clears the crowd sees:
ALFIE, the self proclaimed "World's Most Evil & Smart Baby" riding a gravity-defying baby walker that he controls with a mounted joystick. He's a feisty little toddler, decked out in baby blue footie pajamas and wearing a wool hat (to protect himself from the cold, of course). He's cackling maniacally.
Attached via a towing cable to Alfie's flying walker is a flying sidecar. Barely fitting into it is BLARGH, a giant, orange, furry monster with a mohawk.He's like an oversized rejected muppet from Sesame Street with a look of perpetual confusion on his face.
The pandemonium of the crowd is slowly replaced by a terrified silence. Only the sound of Alfie's continued laughter fills the air.
ALFIE
Behold! It is me! The World's Most Evil & Smart Baby! Tremble before me you dummies!
JERRY
(under his breath)
Great. This kid. Merrry Christmas.
CONTINUED IN PART 2!
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