Reflection 7: Demon Dogs

MUSIC CUE

INTERIOR HOSPITAL ROOM AMBIENCE

WOMAN

You have to remember there are no guidebooks for these sort of things. There are no flow charts to show you the pitfalls in dealing with demons. There are no tutorials on dark magic. How were we to know we had let them out? One by one they entered our world because we left the gate open. But unlike the neighbor’s dogs we never saw them until it was too late. What we soon discovered was that they liked the taste of our world and they had no intention of going back to theirs.

MUSIC THEME

ANNOUNCER

This is 13 Reflections.  Reflection 7: Demon Dogs

MUSIC CUE DARK MAGIC

NARRATOR

Ray lowers the red cabinet off the dolly then gives it a shove against the recently painted wall. Ray rubs his chin as if forgetting what he was just in the midst of doing then he opens the cabinet doors. He leans in and peers into the dragon mirror.

RAY

Polly? You in there?

FINGER TAPS ON MIRROR

SILENCE

SILENCE

RAY (CONT'D)

Hey. You need to let Polly go.

RAY (CONT'D)

Come on. Let’s make a deal.

RAY (CONT'D)

Well fuck you then.

THE CABINET DOORS CLOSE FOOTSTEPS

EERIE WHOOSH A THUD

SOFT CLAWING ON WOOD

RAY (CONT'D)

Huh? You change your mind?

CABINET DOORS CREAK OPEN

RAY (CONT'D)

Nothing? Not even a rat?

LEATHERY WINGS FLUTTER AWAY

RAY (CONT'D)

What was that?

CLAWS SCUTTLE

SMALL DEMON CHITTERS

CUT TO

MUSIC CUE SHERIFF SHERIFF STATION AMBIENCE RADIO CHATTER

SHERIFF GROANS

SHERIFF

You got any ibuprphen?

Headache?

DEPUTY

SHERIFF

That or an alien is playing drums on my temples.

DEPUTY

You’ve been working too many hours and not getting enough sleep. You need to switch that genius mind off.

DRAWER OPENS

PILL BOTTLE RATTLES

SHERIFF

How can I? I gotta missing child. A college kid missing an arm, her roomie is missing her heart and the boyfriend missing his marbles.

DEPUTY

You are missing my point.

SHERIFF

What I’m missing is more help.

DEPUTY

What about that FBI agent?

SHERIFF

Yeah a big help. All the clues go in but nothing comes out but hot air.

DEPUTY

I did a little checking on Agent Lee.

SHERIFF

Really? What did the google say?

DEPUTY

The google said squat but I’ve got a cousin that works in the justice department and he just sent me this email.

SHERIFF

Don’t tell me Harvard?

No. Oxford?

DEPUTY SHERIFF

DEPUTY

No. MIT. Then UCLA law school top one percent.

SHERIFF

No way.

DEPUTY

All that education before the FBI.

SHERIFF

Impressive.

DEPUTY

Not as impressive as catching a serial kidnapper, breaking a sex trafficking ring and negotiating three hostage situations. Hmmm that’s odd my cousin also says she’s also a hottie.

SHERIFF

She? You mean he. And no he’s not all that hot.

DEPUTY

My cousin wrote she. Look read it yourself.

SHERIFF

He seems like a he/him.

DEPUTY

Gender is a social construct.

SHERIFF

Or there are two Agent Kelly Lee’s in the FBI.

CUT TO:

MUSIC CUE ASHLEY'S HOUSE

NARRATOR

Polly is crashed out in her bedroom. Ray and Ashley peek in from the hall.

RAY

So you just pulled her out?

ASHLEY

Sounds less terrifying when you put it that way.

RAY

But she’s okay?

ASHLEY

She’s fine, like her old self. Not a care in the world. I guess it’s like after having a nightmare, the more you wake the more you forget.

FOOTSTEPS ON CARPET FOOTSTEPS DOWN STAIRS

RAY

So, is it over?

ASHLEY

I hope so.

NARRATOR

Ashley points to the mirrored medicine cabinet door leaning against the bottom of the stairs. The hinges are bent. A crowbar lies on the bottom step.

RAY

Good job eliminating the threat. A little rough, but effective.

REFRIGERATOR DOOR OPENS BOTTLES CLINK

BOTTLE CAPS HISSES OPEN

BOTTLE CAPS TINKLE ON THE COUNTER CHAIRS SLIDE BACK

BUTTS HIT SEAT CUSHIONS

ASHLEY

I guess I didn’t need that cabinet after all.

RAY

Yeah, about that.

ASHLEY

About what? You didn’t open it did you?

RAY

I did but only to asked it to let Polly out.

ASHLEY

You asked it? But You didn’t touch the 13th reflection? Ray?

RAY

Of course not. I might have tapped it to get its attention and said let’s make a deal, but nothing happened.

I wonder.

ASHLEY

NARRATOR

Ashley glances at the medicine cabinet door leaning against the wall. Something moves behind Ray.

RAY

The crew have installed most of the windows on the front of the building.

NARRATOR

Ashley stares at the mirrored cabinet door then glances around the room looking for the source of her growing concern.

RAY

Ashley?

FLUTTER OF LEATHERY WINGS

ASHLEY

Yes?

RAY

I wanted to get the windows up on the front entrance so we won’t delay Einhorn’s photo shoot.

ASHLEY

Oh. Good thinking.

MONSTER CHITTER CLAWS ON WOOD

RAY

Brrr. Is there a window open? I’ve got a sudden chill.

NARRATOR

Frost creeps up the beer bottles on the table.

Ashley glances back at the mirrored medicine cabinet door.

In the reflection a dog sized creature covered the skin of a crocodile, horns of a goat, eyes of a snake and teeth like needles climbs down the wall behind Ray.

Ashley snaps her head back to Ray. She looks over his shoulder.

There’s nothing there.

Ashley snaps her gaze back to the mirrored medicine cabinet door, the creature climbs on top of unopened moving boxes.

RAY

What’s wrong?

MONSTER CHITTER DEMON DOG GROWL

NARRATOR

Ray looks at his now frozen beer bottle.

The creature leaps onto Ray’s neck. Ray grabs at the invisible creature. Blood sprays.

Reflected in the mirrored medicine cabinet door, Ashley can see the creature digging its claws into Ray’s shoulder. It raises its head and bites into Ray’s neck.

When Ashley looks directly at Ray the creature is invisible.

(MORE)

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

Without thinking Ashley grabs a frozen beer bottle and hurls it at the mirrored medicine cabinet door. The frozen bottle cracks the mirror.

GLASS BREAKS MONSTER YOWLS DARK CLOUD PUFF RAY GROANS

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

In the reflection the creature explodes into a cloud of black dust.

Ray grabs at his neck. Blood seeps from deep scratches and bite marks.

ASHLEY

Hang on Ray. I gotta find something to stop the bleeding. Stay with me.

CUT TO:

CITY AMBIENCE SPARSE TRAFFIC DOG BARKS DISTANT SIREN

NARRATOR

Just moments before, across town, in an alley outside the China Blue dance club, a young woman stumbles out to the street. Light from a neon sign illuminates her face. It is Mina. Her right arm is missing at the shoulder.

FOOTSTEPS ON CONCRETE MINA MOANS AND GROANS

STUMBLING FOOTSTEPS ON ASPHALT

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

She stumbles into the middle of the road.

At the end of the street is a hospital. Mina staggers to the entrance and collapses.

A TRUCK PULLS UP SKIDS TO A STOP CAR DOOR OPENS

ASHLEY

Someone. I need help.

SLIDING DOORS OPEN FOOTSTEPS RUN FORWARD

RAY

I’m okay. I can walk.

ASHLEY

Polly stay with me honey.

POLLY

I’m right behind you, mom.

HOSPITAL EXTERIOR AMBIENCE ORDERLIES MUMBLE

MINA MOANS

ORDERLY

Hey. Who’s that?

ORDERLY (CONT'D)

We got another one. Over here on the ground.

Gurney on wheels rolls forward HOSPITAL INTERIOR AMBIENCE

ORDERLY (CONT'D)

Hey she’s missing an arm... but she’s not bleeding.

ORDERLY DIALOGUE FADES AWAY WE STAY WITH RAY AND ASHLEY

RAY

I’m okay really.

Ray moans.

BODY THUD

ASHLEY

He’s lost a lot of blood.

ORDERLY

Can you sit...hey.

ASHLEY

Ray? Ray!

ORDERLY

He passed out. Let’s get him into room 7. Call Doctor Vanderhorn.

VANDERHORN

I’m right here.

WHEELCHAIR ROLLS FOOTSTEPS

DOOR OPENS

VANDERHORN (CONT'D)

Let’s clean this with saline. Give him a pint of O just to be on the safe side.

NURSE FOOTSTEPS TUBING UNCOILS NEEDLE INSERTED CLOSE 3RD PERSON

POLLY

Is this because of me?

ASHLEY

Something came out of the mirror but this is not your fault.

DISTANT 3RD PERSON

RAY MOANS

VANDERHORN

He’s going to be fine. Well, except for maybe a scar.

RAY

I’m okay. What happened?

ASHLEY

You are not okay. You passed out.

RAY

I was just resting my eyes.

NEEDLE INTO STAINLESS STEEL BOWL SCISSORS CUT THREAD

IN UNISON

VANDERHORN

These are pretty deep. What attacked him?

ASHLEY

Raccoon.

RAY

Cat.

ASHLEY

Actually I don’t know.

RAY

I couldn’t see it. I mean it came from behind me so I could have seen it. I just didn’t.

DOCTOR

In any case I think I should treat you for rabies.

ASHLEY

Good idea.

THE DOCTOR EXITS THE ROOM

RAY

So? Just what did attack me?

ASHLEY

I don’t know. It was only visible in the reflection.

POLLY WHISPERS

POLLY

Soul Taker.

NARRATOR

Three rooms away, Mina lies bleary eyed on an exam bed with and IV in her arm and wires to an EKG. A monitor displays her vital statistics.

A nurse checks the saline bag. She shudders and rubs her own shoulders as she exits the room.

Mina’s breath begins to frost. The curtains move by an invisible presence.

Mina turns her head towards the monitor. Ice crystals form at the edge of the glass screen.

Mina’s blurry eyes grow wide.

In the reflection a creature climbs on the foot of her bed.

Mina looks at her feet but sees nothing.

She snaps her gaze back to the monitor’s shiny screen. In the reflection a demon dog creature with horns of a goat, eyes of a snake and teeth like needles crawls towards her.

THE BEEPING FROM THE HEART RATE MONITOR QUICKENS AS MINA’S HEART RATE CLIMBS

MINA

Help. Someone help.

NARRATOR

Mina attempts to sit up.

In the reflection off the monitor screen Mina watches in horror as the creature leaps onto Mina’s chest and rips at her sternum.

MONSTER GROWL CLAWS RIPS FLESH MINA SCREAMS

Ashley, Polly and Ray snap alert at Mina’s SCREAMING. FOOTSTEPS RUN PAST THE DOOR

POLLY

Mom! We have to go.

ASHLEY

What is it?

POLLY

We have to go. Now.

LEATHERY WINGS FLAP

ASHLEY

It’s okay the doctors will take care of that woman...

CLAWS ON TILE MONSTER CHITTER

RAY

She’s right I think we have to go.

ASHLEY

What?

RAY

Look at the monitor, it’s frosting up.

SCREAMS IN THE HALL FOOTSTEPS RUN OFF MONSTER CHITTER CLAWS ON TILE LEATHERY WINGS FLAP

HOSPITAL INTERIOR AMBIENCE IN CHAOS RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON TILE

SLIDING DOORS OPEN

RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ON ASPHALT CAR DOORS OPEN

RAY GRUNTS BUTTS IN SEATS

KEYS INTO IGNITION ENGINE STARTS

SEAT BELTS CLICK

Mom hurry.

ENGINE ROARS TIRES SPIN

POLLY

NARRATOR

Ashley’s red truck dives up and off the curb and into the main road.

Polly peers out the window. She watches the reflections of the truck in the windows of the parked cars they pass. She sees nothing unusual and settles back into her seat.

ASHLEY

I thought we killed it.

RAY

Could there more than the one?

ASHLEY

What are those things?

POLLY

Freddie calls them Soul Takers. They’re the demon’s pets.

RAY

Like dogs?

POLLY

Yeah but with wings.

RAY

How are they getting out?

ASHLEY

The mirror.

NARRATOR

Polly’s breath begins to frost in puffs. Like thousands of micro spiders weaving webs ice crystals crawl up the side windows of the truck.

POLLY

Mom.

ASHLEY

There’s something I need to do.

RAY

And what’s that?

ASHLEY

I don’t think I closed it. The gate.

Mom!

POLLY

NARRATOR

Ashley glances in the rearview mirror. The clawed hand of the raccoon sized demon grasps the headrest above Polly’s head. Its horns lift from behind the seat. Its snake eyes leer down at Polly.

ASHLEY

Polly!

NARRATOR

Ashley grabs her cell phone and bangs on the rearview mirror.

As cracks spread across the reflection, THE DEMON SCREECHES.

IT EXPLODES INTO BLACK DUST.

NARRATOR (CONT'D)

Ashley skids to a halt in front of her house.

TIRES SKID CAR DOORS OPEN FEET RUN

RAY

What are you doing?

ASHLEY

Closing the gate.

RAY

How do you know it’s still open?

THUNK

RAY GRUNTS BODY THUD

ASHLEY

Where else are they coming from?

NARRATOR

Ashley reaches for the crowbar that she left next to medicine cabinet door but it’s gone.

ASHLEY

Where’s the crowbar?

POLLY SQUEALS

NARRATOR

Ashley slowly turns. Billy Hazelbob stands at the foot of the stairs holding Polly by the neck with one hand and in the other hand he holds snub nosed revolver.

BILLY

She's got to go back in.

FOOTSTEPS UP THE STAIRS POLLY SQUEALS

No. Wait.

ASHLEY

BILLY

If she goes back in, everything will be back to normal, then we can close the gate.

NARRATOR

Billy places a hand mirror on the bathroom counter creating endless reflections in the larger bathroom mirror.

ASHLEY

We can close the gate, but she doesn’t need to go back.

BILLY

She's got to go back in. She’s been chosen. Look.

NARRATOR

Behind Billy in the large bathroom mirror, Polly's reflection is sharp and clear but Billy's reflection is thin and blurry.

BILLY

Things are out of balance.

BILLY FORCES POLLY'S HAND TOWARD THE MIRROR

BILLY (CONT'D)

For one of them to live out here one of us has to die in there.

A FIN SWIMS ACROSS THE MIRROR

ASHLEY

You don’t know that. Let her go.

BILLY'S REFLECTION FADES OUT

ASHLEY (CONT'D)

Look.

NARRATOR

Billy turns toward the mirror. His eyes are now the only thing visible of his reflection. Suddenly Billy's reflected eyes are replaced with Demon's eyes.

A clawed hand whips out of the mirror and digs into Billy's chest. Billy is yanked toward the mirror but he still holds Polly’s arm.

The REVOLVER drops and SPINS on the floor.

Polly is pulled closer.

Ashley dives for the gun. Ashley rolls onto her back and shoots. The bullet plunges into the mirrored jell-O surface with no effect.

Ashley fires again with the same results.

The overhead light flickers. Ashley raises her aim and pulls the trigger over and over.

The overhead light explodes.

GLASS TINKLES

SILENCE

MAIN THEME

Polly?

ASHLEY

ANNOUNCER

13 Reflections.