Dark Was the Night By Thomas ODowd

V/O THROUGHOUT FILM WILLIE Theres an old folktale here in Georgia, bout a man that fooled the devil. Lon was an old blacksmith; now, he wasnt really a pillar of the community, drinkin and gamblin was about all he was good for. There was an old witch lady that lived up in the mountains, she was about the only one Lon respected. One day she came down and visited Lon, seein as she needed her cauldron fixed. Lon knew that if he put up a fuss, she could strike him down without any thought, so he fixed it for her without complainin. This witch were so grateful for Lons help, that she granted him three wishes. First wish was that any man try to steal his tools would become stuck. Now, people kept movin Lons chair on his front porch, so his second wish was that anyone who tried to sit in his chair would become trapped. Third wish was that the money in his wallet would stay there until Lon commanded it, figurin that would help him control his spendin. Now, one day the devil came to take Willies soul, since he had not lived a good life. Willie told the devil that his work needed finishin, and asked if the devil could help him finish. The devil agreed, but straight away found himself stuck on Lons hammer... well, Lon told the devil straight up, you give me another 10 years, and Ill set you free. The devil had no choice but to agree. Now, the 10 years passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, the devil was back to take what was rightfully his. But Lon, being the tricky man that he was, told the devil "why dont you sit down for a minute, you must be awful tired", the devil agreed, and sat down. Again, the devil found himself stuck, and Lon again says "if you (MORE)

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WILLIE (contd) give me another 10 years, Ill set you free". The devil was, again, forced to agree with his terms. He let Lon alone for another 10 years. When he returned, he was deterimined to take what belonged to him. Lon told the devil, "how bout we fetch us a drink? I dont feel like goin with you sober". The devil agreed. "but I aint got no money, so how bout you use your powers to change into the money, hide in my wallet, and once weve paid the man, you can change into a moth and fly away?". The devil, always wantin to show off his powers, agreed. When he got inside Lons wallet, he, again, found himself stuck. Lon asked for another 10 years. The devil had to agree. Now, in these 10 years, Lon died of natural causes, see, and found himself at the pearly gates. However, saint Peter werent havin none of it, and turned him away. Lon went down to hell, but the demons there would not have him, since he tricked the devil 3 times. So Lon found himself stuck between heaven and hell unable to find nowhere that would take him. 2 EXT. FIELD. DAY. A dilapidated caravan sits in an empty field; discarded scrap lies strewn around. Half-grown plants cascade off the caravans filthy facade. A grizzled looking man, WILLIE, sits in a rotting deck chair, it is eerily quiet, the silence only broken by the grass, bristling in the wind. Music: Loud on a dobro guitar, and the clumsy vibrato of a metal slide. WILLIE V/O I was always told, aint no reason to fuss about this world, lordll find you, take you into his arms. Shit. No lord is gonna have my filthy soul. Music: Loud, abrupt, strums on the guitar. (CONTINUED) 2

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Title appears: DARK WAS THE NIGHT. WILLIE V/O Theres an old folktale here in Georgia, bout a man that fooled the devil. Lon was an old blacksmith; now, he wasnt really a pillar of the community, drinkin and gamblin was about all he was good for. There was an old witch lady that lived up in the mountains, she was about the only one Lon respected. One day she came down and visited Lon, seein as she needed her cauldron fixed. Lon knew that if he put up a fuss, she could strike him down without any thought, so he fixed it for her without complainin. This witch were so grateful for Lons help, that she granted him three wishes. First wish was that any man try to steal his tools would become stuck. Now, people kept movin Lons chair on his front porch, so his second wish was that anyone who tried to sit in his chair would become trapped. Third wish was that the money in his wallet would stay there until Lon commanded it, figurin that would help him control his spendin. 3 INT. CARAVAN. NIGHT. Willie is hunched over a tiny cooker, the cramped confines of the caravan dont look much better than the outside. Willie absentmindedly tosses the food in the pan. The loud screech of amplifier feedback fills the room, Willie stumbles back in agony. He is paralyzed with fear as a dark shadow slowly approaches, the figure is unfocused and indistinct, its heavy breathing getting louder. Willie snaps back, gasping for air, everything is as it was. His food is burning. WILLIE V/O Now, one day the devil came to take Lons soul, since he had not lived a good life. Willie told the devil that his work needed completin, (MORE) (CONTINUED) 3

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WILLIE V/O (contd) and asked if the devil could help him finish. The devil agreed, but straight away found himself stuck on Lons hammer... well, Lon told the devil straight up, you give me another 10 years, and Ill set you free. The devil had no choice but to agree 4 EXT. FIELD. DAY. The sun beats down on the withered grass, Willie stands, crooked, propping himself against the Caravan. WILLIE V/O Now, the 10 years passed in the blink of an eye, and soon, the devil was back to take what was rightfully his. But Lon, being the tricky man that he was, told the devil "why dont you sit down for a minute, you must be awful tired", the devil agreed, and sat down. Again, the devil found himself stuck, and Lon again says "if you give me another 10 years, Ill set you free". The devil was, again, forced to agree with his terms. 5 INT. CARAVAN. DAY. Willie pulls a guitar from beneath his bed, it is clearly very old, deep scratches etch its face. He lifts the instrument carefully into his lap, and blows some dust from the surface. He tunes his guitar, plucking at the strings, he moves with the grace of an expert, despite his weathered hands. He strums the guitar loudly, and runs a metal slide along the aging strings. Willie clutches at his chest in agony, we hear low rumbles combined with the high-pitched squeal of amplifier feedback. 5 4

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INT. CARAVAN. NIGHT. Willie holds an old tape recorder in his hands, he presses the record button, the machine clicks, and the tape whirs. He begins to speak. WILLIE When he returned, he was deterimined to take what belonged to him. Lon told the devil, "how bout we fetch us a drink? I dont feel like goin with you sober". The devil agreed. "but I aint got no money, so how bout you use your powers to change into the money, hide in my wallet, and once weve paid the man, you can change into a moth and fly away?". The devil, always wantin to show off his powers, agreed. When he got inside Lons wallet, he, again, found himself stuck. Lon asked for another 10 years. The devil had to agree. Now, in these 10 years, Lon died of natural causes, see, and found himself at the pearly gates. However, saint Peter werent havin none of it, and turned him away. Lon went down to hell, but the demons there would not have him, since he tricked the devil 3 times. So Lon found himself stuck between heaven and hell unable to find nowhere that would take him.

EXT. FIELD. DAY. Willie sits in his deck chair, he wields his guitar, plucking at the strings aimlessly. He looks out into the distance. WILLIE I know youre there. The wind howls. WILLIE If you want my soul, come and take it.

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The familiar sound of amplifier feedback is heard. Willie squints; we see the shadowy figure approaching. Willie strums on his guitar. The figure wavers, reacting to the sound emanating from his guitar. WILLIE I aint letting you take shit. The feedback sound grows louder and more fierce, Willie struggles to hold his guitar, straining against the piercing sound. Willie writhes in pain, but manages to play a couple of notes. The figure continues its approach. Willie, with newfound determination, wields his guitar like a weapon, he strums a steady tune, slowly getting louder. The feedback from death becomes more and more intense, the figure reaches for Willie, but this only increases his resolve. Willie strums a final, powerful chord, the wind howls and the scene becomes chaotic. The feedback fades, the figure retreats and disappears. Willie, exhausted, slowly fades into unconciousness, he smiles. Willie is slumped over in his chair, everything is quiet, the silence only broken by the grass, bristling in the wind.