106
MARISSA
(pointing at the document)
And here is your place, right?
MOTHER
Magnificent. True clairvoyance.
(pointing at the document)
Now when you're here, you'll feel the soft embrace. The hearts of your servants
slowly dance your way towards the altar, and allow the gentle touch of the
chosen few to unite with your grace...
(pointing again)
...over here.
MARISSA
And then?
Mother, taking Marissa's hand in hers. Marissa sees edge of bracelet showing beneath Mother's sleeve.
MOTHER
Then you will become one of us in spirit and...
Marissa pushes back Mother's sleeve and exposes bracelet engraved with inscription: "SHINE OR DIE."
MARISSA
(looking at bracelet)
Shine or Die?
MOTHER
The first words of the Book of Orders. To turn away from the Healing Light means death. We both understand. You're with us, aren't you?
The two women stare deep into each others eyes.
MARISSA
Let's go.
Sue, Nanci and other helpers reappear. Mother herds Marissa toward door. Sue approaches Theo, who holds painted mask.
SUE
Theo, sweetheart, wait here. I'll be back soon.
She kisses him, quickly turns around, catches up to Mother and Marissa who're exiting. Other helpers follow.
107
Theo waits until everyone leaves, then darts forward, losing himself in tail end of procession.
CUT TO:
INT. DARK HALL
Mother, Marissa and rest of procession enter. Light is dim, VIRTUAL REALITY IMAGES of tropical plant appear on either side. Sounds of BIRDS, WILD ANIMALS. Mist rises as in jungle.
MARISSA (V.O)
The air was chilly and damp. It seemed to weaken my courage. Where was I, anyway?
Mother, Marissa and group stop. Impenetrable darkness stretches out in front of them. JUNGLE NOISES cease. Black door slides open slowly, revealing huge chamber.
CUT TO:
INT. SACRED CHAMBER
Gigantic room is flooded with misty smoke and blue light. Procession moves forward. Spectacular virtual reality effects flash on and off in different places. Low MURMURING of voices. Room is filled with people in long robes who open up path for Mother, Marissa and helpers.
MARISSA
Ahhh!
MARISSA stops, refuses to move on. Gertrude and Sue try to pull her forward.
MARISSA'S POV --- HUGE SHE-WOLF SCULPTURE.
can be seen in front of her. Animal is exactly like one in Marissa's Paintings. Its huge mouth is open, with shart teeth and yellow eyes that glow like torches.
Gertrude and Sue hold Marissa.
SUE
Don't be afraid. She protects us.
GERTRUDE
She's beautiful.
MARISSA
I've painted this.
108
Mother moves forward and sits at foot of monument in throne- like chair. Sue and Gertrude guide Marissa to spot several feet from altar. Glowing eyes of she-wolf shed light on faces of disciple who gather around Marissa.
MOTHER
Hail! Ultimate Light!
DISCIPLES
Hail, Ultimate Light!
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY CANYON -- DAY
Jeep jumps up and down on dirt road. Rik's driving. Robbie studies map.
ROBBIE
Wait, wait, slow down. I can't read it. I'm getting sick.
RIK
There are no signs here. How the hell do you know where we're going?
ROBBIE
(running his finger along map)
I think this is it. Here. Turn left at first road you see.
Jeep comes to fork in road, turns left, follows narrow dirt road that is even bumpier.
RIK
Shit. This is ridiculous. Am I dreaming this, or what?
ROBBIE
You're starring in a comic strip called "In Love With A Killer"...wait...stop!
Road ends. Up ahead are hills covered with long grass and bushes. Behind them looms ROCK FORMATION Marissa painted. Rik and Robbie stop and stare at it.
CUT TO:
INT. SACRED CHAMBER.
Sound of CONGA DRUMS. Other instruments join in. Crowd of disciples sways to music. Among them are Bruce, Simon, and Luke. Elated and smiling, they get into spirit of ritual.
109
Virtual reality effect of shooting stars with rainbow tails and flowers float in air above them.
Marissa is walking slowly towards altar. Older FEMALE DISCIPLE is holding her hand as they sway together.
FEMALE DISCIPLE
(to Marissa)
We love you.
Female disciple leaves. Younger MALE DISCIPLE comes up from other side and takes Marissa's hand.
MALE DISCIPLE
We love you.
Several OTHER DISCIPLES approach with devotion and angelic smiles. Among them is Nanci.
OTHER DISCIPLES
(whispering)
We love you.
They come up to her and leave, some touching her very gently. They sway around her. Shooting star- and rainbow effects are so intense that Marissa feels blinded by them.
MARISSA(V.O)
It was beautiful, wonderful. I was happy. Was I a prophet? I started to believe...
Music stops. Marissa stands in front of Mother, who sits on throne smiling. Mother rises, extending her hands to Marissa.
MOTHER
We love you.
Marissa looks at Mother smiling.
In bg. Little figure of Theo pops out from dark corner of chamber. Clasping mask Marissa painted for him, he scurries across to altar and hides behind it, unnoticed.
Two disciples place TRAY in front of Mother. Tray has several KNIVES on it. Mother picks one up, raises her arms, faces she wolf sculpture. Touches its jaw with knife. Murmurs something. She steps down.
Disciples take a few steps back, revealing shafts of blue light which illuminate TWO COFFINS on either side of altar each containing a CORPSE.
110
Marissa watches as Mother moves toward first body on right Kisses Knife. Murmurs prayer.With the knife she makes two parallel cuts in forehead of corpse.
MOTHER
May your soul join the prophet as she merges with the Ultimate Light.
VIRTUAL REALITY IMAGES of June Chun appears in mid-air above coffin. She is artist Marissa saw on CD-ROM. Smoke flows through image.
Marissa recoils in shock, tries to free herself from Gertrude and Sue.
MARISSA
Oh, no, this is horrible. Oh, God, let me go.
Luke and another male disciple rush up and help Gertrude and Sue subdue Marissa.
Mother raises knife, brings it down, cutting forehead of next corpse.
MOTHER
May your soul join the prophet as she merges with the Ultimate Light.
VIRTUAL REALITY IMAGE of Sheila Morandi, whom we saw killed in opening sequence appears above coffin. Her face floats in the air, changing shapes.
Marissa struggles to work herself free of disciples who have grabbed her. She is being held by Gertrude, Sue, Simon and some others. Crowd watches.
Mother raises knife, slowly approaches Marissa.
MOTHER
Our hearts are open to receive your power.
Marissa resists in terror, throwing off balance disciples who hold her.
SUE
Please, be calm. Accept Mother's gifts of love.
Mother laughs and slashes Marissa across her body with Knife. Marissa SCREAMS.