Sertainty

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This thing damn near killed me last night. I don't really care what mark I get now, I'm just glad it's done!
It's the treatment-stage document for a feature length film. It's about angels and junk. Enjoy.
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‘Sertainty’

Darkness. A voice over starts talking about the Seraphim – the highest caste of angels. It says that they are God’s chorus, and his messengers. Images of events in which these angels have participated fade in and out whilst the voice speaks. It explains their role in the major events that are pictured – as the heralds of apocalypse; the ends of ages. It also says that none of them bore their task easily, but as their duty dictated, they complied.

A bright, circular courtyard. It is lit by an almost divine light source – shadows scurry from its intensity. A pair of weighty-looking doors on one side burst open, as if weighing nothing, and a SERAPH strides out. He is clad in brilliant white. Through the door stands a blurred figure – METATRON - similarly clad.

The doors swing shut with a bang, and the Seraph descends some steps into the courtyard. His body language betrays that he is deeply troubled. We follow him as he crosses the courtyard to a path on the opposite side. He makes his way along it until he disappears in the misty haze of the horizon.

A city park. BELLA stops for a cigarette. She sits next to the Seraph, who is clad in regular clothes. There is a ‘perfect day’ feeling in the people and the place around them. They speak, and although she learns that he has a problem, she does not learn exactly what. They warm to each other. Seeing the beauty of humanity, the Seraph resolves save them.

Seraph returns to heaven and speaks to Metatron, the voice of God. Metatron tells the Seraph that God has tired of humanity, and he will allow Earth to fall to Lucifer. Lucifer will find the Antichrist, who will in turn bring forth the final apocalypse. The fact that humanity will wiped out is driven home. Metatron is cold and uncaring.

The Seraph decides to find the human vessel of the Antichrist first. He goes to question ABADDON; one of the angels cast out with Lucifer (and also a rival for Lucifer’s throne). The Seraph journeys to see Abaddon. His realm is not one in which angels are meant to tread – he sees many things that shock his innocent mind. The kingdom is a swarm of activity, as Abaddon’s demons make preparations for war against Lucifer.

Abaddon is initially hostile towards the Seraph, but upon learning of his intentions begins to see advantages in helping him. Whilst Lucifer does not trust Abaddon, and as such has not revealed the whereabouts of the Antichrist to Abaddon, Abaddon does know one of Lucifer’s agents on Earth – BELHOR – would know the location. Abaddon tells the Seraph that Belhor resides in New York City.

New York City; night-time. Belhor - in the guise of a dirty human – shuffles along the sidewalk carrying groceries. Everything about him is generally repulsive. He walks up the steps to his house.

Inside, he is startled by the Seraph sitting in his shabby front room. He snarls and dives for the Seraph, but the Seraph is ready, and throws him off balance. Pinning him to the floor, the Seraph interrogates him, but Belhor tells the Seraph nothing. Instead, photographs and notes on the table betray the Antichrist’s identity - it is Bella. Reeling at this, the Seraph departs.

The Seraph returns to the park where he met Bella to collect his thoughts. Lo and behold, she appears again. Sympathetic that his ‘mysterious’ problem is still not resolved, she gives him the address of the bar she works at, tells him to visit later, and leaves.

When she is gone, Abaddon suddenly appears. He suggests the Seraph should kill the Antichrist to halt the impending Armageddon – but she is the reason he wanted to save humanity. Abaddon suggests he decide quickly – once Lucifer controls the Earth, Abaddon will not have the strength to stand against him.

That night, the Seraph stands in the street outside a bar, looking at the piece of paper Bella gave him. Just as he is about to leave, she walks out of the bar, locks up and starts to walk off without seeing him. He follows silently, a tear rolling down his cheek and a blade glints in his fist. Before he reaches her, however, a dark shape swoops down and barrels into him, catching the Seraph off guard and carrying him off.

The winged attacker releases the Seraph and flies away. Disorientated, the Seraph lands on a building. After collecting his thoughts, he drops his blade on the rooftop and flies off.

Returning to Abaddon’s realm, the Seraph questions whether the information Belhor had was right – how could such a good-natured person be the Antichrist? Abaddon explains that she is merely a vessel. She will not bring about the apocalypse wilfully – she is but a tool. When he is ready, Lucifer will send for her. With this revelation, the Seraph vows to protect her from Lucifer’s agents, rather than kill her. Abaddon curses his nature, but the Seraph leaves resolute.

The Seraph returns to the park to find Bella. Instead, Metatron is waiting. He warns the Seraph that he is naive, and that what he is doing is blasphemy - he will be cast out if he continues. Fighting Lucifer is a just cause, but not when it goes against God’s will. The Seraph resolutely ignores him, walking away.

Bella’s workplace. She is not there. The Seraph is told she didn’t turn up for work today. Given her address, he checks it out. Nothing.

The Seraph returns to Belhor’s house to question him, but instead finds Bella bound and gagged. He rips away her bindings, but is ambushed by Belhor. A vicious fight ensues. A naked flame is knocked over. The Seraph slays Belhor. As Belhor dies, the Seraph says he’s sorry – it pains his very nature to have had to do it. Belhor says they will never get away – one more powerful than he is already on his way to get her.

Bella is scared and confused. They ascend the building to escape the fire whilst the Seraph explains to her who she is, and her role in events to come. She is struck dumb with the magnitude of the situation. The Seraph goes to whisk her away, but as they get out onto the roof they are confronted by TEMELUCHUS.

Temeluchus, a powerfully built demon, wreathed in flame, is one of Lucifer’s most powerful lieutenants. He commands the Seraph to hand Bella over. The Seraph refuses. Titanic battle is joined between them. Although he fights valiantly, it is clear from the outset that the Seraph is hopelessly outclassed by Temeluchus.

Beaten and bloodied, the Seraph lies beaten. He cries as Temeluchus advances on Bella. She shakes her head and backs away as the demon advances. He tells her not to be foolish, but as she nears the edge of the roof it dawns on the demon what she is doing. Before he can stop her, Bella throws herself off the roof. The Seraph cries out. He has failed her.

Temeluchus sees Bella’s body lying broken on the sidewalk below. He snarls and goes for the Seraph, but at that moment Metatron lands on the rooftop. With a word, he banishes the demon, before approaching the Seraph. He tells him that he was warned, and now he must face the consequences. He is banished from Heaven. He may now spend time amongst those he wished to save, and perhaps in time will understand why God tired of humanity. Metatron flies off into the night, leaving the Seraph weeping on the rooftop.

The park. The Seraph sits on the bench where he first met Bella. He is a rambling mess, and drinks from a non-descript brown paper bag. The stress of being cast out has emotionally destroyed him. A mother and child walk past. The mother shoos her child past, giving the Seraph a dirty look.