23
Scene 1 - Int. Police Station Corridor – Morning
Detective FRANKLIN HALL (mid 20s) is walking through the
corridor of the police station he works at. He is wearing a
shirt and tie. HALL is a moderately muscular man of average
height. The camera is behind his head but we get enough view
either side of his neck to see the surroundings. He takes a
sip of coffee. As he rounds a corner we see another man
looking through a small window into a rom. The other man
glances at HALL then looks back through window of the door.
HALL approaches the other man, Chief Inspector TITUS BRUCE.
BRUCE is a larger man, in his 50s. He has a file in his hands.
BRUCE
Hall.
HALL
Chief Inspector.
BRUCE scalds HALL
BRUCE
How many times, HALL. You call me BRUCE.
HALL
Erm, Bruce.
BRUCE (Chuckles)
Good to have you back, kid.
BRUCE extends his hand and HALL shakes it
HALL
Thanks, sir. Its good to be back… Some case, huh?
BRUCE
Yep, you ready?
HALL
As I’ll ever be
BRUCE opens the door and both men proceed inside. The door is
slammed behind them.
Scene 2 – Int. Police interrogation Room – Morning
The room is bare. There are 4 empty walls and a table in the
middle, 3 chairs, 2 on one side; the 3rd is on the opposite
side occupied by a hooded figure. The arms of the figure are
folded and the head is laid on them.
HALL throws his empty coffee in the bin in the corner and
takes a seat, BRUCE follows but remains standing and opens the
file and begins to read.
BRUCE (with authority, almost shouting)
Jennifer Whale, 38. Ryan Oslo, 19. William Thomas, 24. Simeon
Goodyear, 22. Ellen Saunders, 31. Mary Christie, 40. Alex
Brampton, 61. Shall I go on?
BRUCE throws the file on the table and slams his hands on the
desk. The hooded figure remains motionless. HALL casts a
glance at BRUCE and picks up the file and continues to read.
HALL
(Scans through file briefly before starting)
Benjamin Phillip En’Zolo. Son of Mia and Elijah En’Zolo. Born
and raised in Kyton. Ex-army, ex-fire-fighter (looks up from
file) and a serial killer… Any of this correct, Mr En’Zolo?
The figure remains silent.
BRUCE
You better answer the damn question!
Another short moment of silence. BRUCE reaches across the
table and grabs the hooded figure. He slams his head off the
desk. The figures head bounces off the table and flies back.
HALL
Mr En’Zolo?
The figure is silent still. BRUCE reaches across the desk
again. The figure grabs his arm, twists it and pins it to the
desk. BRUCE winces in pain. The figure then shoves him back
across the table. BRUCE stumbles back and grabs his arm. The
figure removes his hood. He is a male, completely bald.
EN’ZOLO
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie
down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still
waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of
righteousness. For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For
You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You
anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will
dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever.
HALL
What is that?
BRUCE
Psalm 23. So you’re a man of the Lord, huh?
EN’ZOLO
I believe, yes
BRUCE
What are you? Christian, Jehovah’s?
EN’ZOLO
I believe, yes, but I have no faith in religion.
HALL
Is that right?
BRUCE
You believe but we have you pinned for the murder of 21
people. Now I ain’t all that good at math’s but even I know
that doesn’t add up.
EN’ZOLO
Ha, usually the bad cop is the funny one, or at least the
strong on. How is your arm?
BRUCE looks angrily and flares nostrils
HALL
So, you’re not denying those murders were you?
EN’ZOLO
It is true. Those people died at my hands, yes.
BRUCE (yelling)
Listen Batman, you do realize you’re going to jail for a
damned long time. The hell’s wrong with you!?
EN’ZOLO
Wrong with me? Wrong with me?! You have bigger fish to fry, my
friend. I am one man in a city of sin.
HALL
You say you believe in God? I’m pretty sure one of his
commandment things is thou shalt not go around killing folks.
EN’ZOLO
You are as stupid as the rest… And you are as soft as He is.
Thousands of years ago, He sent floods and plagues; he felled
the monuments of the sinner. He was feared. Who is afraid now?
His rod and his staff comfort me, eh? Where is the rod, where
is the punishment, the consequence for sin.
BRUCE
You quote scriptures one minute and question God the next. Who
do you think you are, some kind of God?
EN’ZOLO
I am no God, I am his janitor. God gave man choice and man
threw it in his face. Fear, that is how why people follow. God
fearing people. God could end your life in an instant and
still nobody fears. Nobodies fears because they are unclean. I
cleanse those who are dirty.
BRUCE
And these people are unclean to you?!
EN’ZOLO grabs the file and points at individuals.
EN’ZOLO
She runs a criminally inhumane sweatshop, rapist, rapist, he
exploits old people out of their money. Shall I go on, Mr.
Bruce.
HALL is silent. BRUCE looks at the file for a few moments.
En’Zolo sits back in his chair.
BRUCE
So what happened to you?
EN’ZOLO
Excuse me?
BRUCE
What happened? You were so slick. You had the whole police
force running around after you, completely clueless. We had
nothing. And then errors, mistakes. A child could have traced
it to you. What the hell happened?
EN’ZOLO
A mistake? No Sir. There is sin everywhere. Corrupt cops.
What? You think they’re all as ‘noble’ as you? I needed a way
into here, (runs finger on desk) this place is filthy. And it
needs cleaning. Even the police are not sacred. I am the new
authority.
HALL (Stands up, slams hands on desk)
WE BRING PEOPLE TO JUSTICE!
EN’ZOLO (almost matching Hall’s rage)
I BRING PEOPLE TO JUSTICE!
HALL
YOU ARE SICK
EN’ZOLO (calm)
Am I? These people hurt people. They are a virus. I am the
immune system. Sometimes you have to get worse to get better.
Sacrifice the finger, keep the hand. Sacrifice the hand, keep
the arm. Sacrifice the arm, keep the man. Sacrifice the man…
Keep the many.
HALL clenches his fist, his arm shakes. He pounds the desk and
charges out the door, slamming it behind him.
Scene 3 – INT. Police Station Bathroom – Morning
HALL moves up into shot. HALL is in front of the bathroom
mirror washing his face. The camera is slightly askew.
HALL
Come on, Frankie. Get it together.
HALL
Maybe it’s too soon
BRUCE
Maybe it is, kid
HALL spins round, BRUCE is stood in the doorway.
BRUCE
It’s okay if you need more time. Nobody expects you to come
back to work so quickly.
BRUCE walks up and stands next to HALL. Goes to put his hand
on HALL’s shoulder than retracts it.
BRUCE
Go home, HALL. Rest up.
HALL
No! I need this. I need to get back to work.
HALL darts out the room
BRUCE
Hall! HALL! GET BACK HERE!
BRUCE goes to chase him.
Scene 4 – INT. Police Station Corridor – Day
HALL runs back to the interrogation room, BRUCE is trailing
behind.
BRUCE
FRANKLIN!!
HALL stops a few paces from the door and spins around
HALL
What! What is it! You told me I could be the best officer
you’ve seen… let me prove it.
BRUCE says nothing and sighs. HALL opens the door and goes
inside, BRUCE follows. Both men enters the room, EN’ZOLO is
not there.
Scene 5 – INT. Police interrogation Room – Morning
HALL
What the! Where is he!
BRUCE
Frankie, I…
HALL
BRUCE, what happened!
Flash back to interrogation after HALL had left. Filter.
EN’ZOLO
Every man and woman and child has choices, we all have
choices, but we don’t all make the same ones because we are
all so different. 46 chromosomes in human DNA. That code is
what makes you different to me, to your partner, to everyone.
Cut back to HALL and BRUCE
BRUCE
31 years in the force. I’ve had to put away so many people.
People who ruin lives.
Cut back to BRUCE and EN’ZOLO
EN’ZOLO
You want to know why I love Psalms 23 so much… I’ll tell you
anyway. I like it because it is so ironic. It asks you to put
all of your faith in God. The very same God who does so little
for us. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes
me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still
waters.” I am not a sheep, you make me in your image yet he is
the Shepard and we his flock. Yet he is too sheepish to tend
to his flock and protect them from the wolves. The wolves have
claimed so many innocent sheep. “You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies” My enemies, I would not have
enemies if they could be eliminated. You have the power to
make a heaven on Earth but he doesn’t do it… He is not the
only one with power… Use it, Mr. Bruce. Set your city free.
Cut back to HALL and BRUCE
BRUCE
You know as well as I do that we can’t catch them all. We have
rules to follow. Rules that slow everything down. Sometimes
the bad guys get away. They don’t get away from him. 21
criminals off our streets… Hall, think of how-
HALL
(Points at BRUCE) BRUCE, YOU HAVE JUST LET A KILLER LOOSE! YOU
HAVE JUST HANDED HIM HIS NEXT VICTIM! BRUCE, YOU’VE AS GOOD AS
KILLED A MAN! YOU’RE JUST AS MAD AS HE IS!
BRUCE
Frankie, he, he wants what we want.
HALL
What we want or what you want?
BRUCE
What we need.
There is a distant scream
HALL
Well, I NEED to go and catch a serial killer. Thanks a lot,
Chief
HALL runs out of the room leaving the door slamming the door
behind him.
BRUCE
Maybe the world needs a little mad
BRUCE pulls a crucifix from around his neck and holds it for a
second before dropping it on the floor.
BRUCE AND EN’ZOLO (Voice over)
Maybe the world needs a little mad.
Low camera angle as BRUCE opens the door and shuts it gently
behind him.

23 script og

  • 1.
    23 Scene 1 -Int. Police Station Corridor – Morning Detective FRANKLIN HALL (mid 20s) is walking through the corridor of the police station he works at. He is wearing a shirt and tie. HALL is a moderately muscular man of average height. The camera is behind his head but we get enough view either side of his neck to see the surroundings. He takes a sip of coffee. As he rounds a corner we see another man looking through a small window into a rom. The other man glances at HALL then looks back through window of the door. HALL approaches the other man, Chief Inspector TITUS BRUCE. BRUCE is a larger man, in his 50s. He has a file in his hands. BRUCE Hall. HALL Chief Inspector. BRUCE scalds HALL BRUCE How many times, HALL. You call me BRUCE. HALL Erm, Bruce. BRUCE (Chuckles) Good to have you back, kid. BRUCE extends his hand and HALL shakes it HALL Thanks, sir. Its good to be back… Some case, huh? BRUCE Yep, you ready? HALL As I’ll ever be BRUCE opens the door and both men proceed inside. The door is slammed behind them. Scene 2 – Int. Police interrogation Room – Morning The room is bare. There are 4 empty walls and a table in the middle, 3 chairs, 2 on one side; the 3rd is on the opposite side occupied by a hooded figure. The arms of the figure are folded and the head is laid on them.
  • 2.
    HALL throws hisempty coffee in the bin in the corner and takes a seat, BRUCE follows but remains standing and opens the file and begins to read. BRUCE (with authority, almost shouting) Jennifer Whale, 38. Ryan Oslo, 19. William Thomas, 24. Simeon Goodyear, 22. Ellen Saunders, 31. Mary Christie, 40. Alex Brampton, 61. Shall I go on? BRUCE throws the file on the table and slams his hands on the desk. The hooded figure remains motionless. HALL casts a glance at BRUCE and picks up the file and continues to read. HALL (Scans through file briefly before starting) Benjamin Phillip En’Zolo. Son of Mia and Elijah En’Zolo. Born and raised in Kyton. Ex-army, ex-fire-fighter (looks up from file) and a serial killer… Any of this correct, Mr En’Zolo? The figure remains silent. BRUCE You better answer the damn question! Another short moment of silence. BRUCE reaches across the table and grabs the hooded figure. He slams his head off the desk. The figures head bounces off the table and flies back. HALL Mr En’Zolo? The figure is silent still. BRUCE reaches across the desk again. The figure grabs his arm, twists it and pins it to the desk. BRUCE winces in pain. The figure then shoves him back across the table. BRUCE stumbles back and grabs his arm. The figure removes his hood. He is a male, completely bald. EN’ZOLO The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness. For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever. HALL What is that? BRUCE Psalm 23. So you’re a man of the Lord, huh?
  • 3.
    EN’ZOLO I believe, yes BRUCE Whatare you? Christian, Jehovah’s? EN’ZOLO I believe, yes, but I have no faith in religion. HALL Is that right? BRUCE You believe but we have you pinned for the murder of 21 people. Now I ain’t all that good at math’s but even I know that doesn’t add up. EN’ZOLO Ha, usually the bad cop is the funny one, or at least the strong on. How is your arm? BRUCE looks angrily and flares nostrils HALL So, you’re not denying those murders were you? EN’ZOLO It is true. Those people died at my hands, yes. BRUCE (yelling) Listen Batman, you do realize you’re going to jail for a damned long time. The hell’s wrong with you!? EN’ZOLO Wrong with me? Wrong with me?! You have bigger fish to fry, my friend. I am one man in a city of sin. HALL You say you believe in God? I’m pretty sure one of his commandment things is thou shalt not go around killing folks. EN’ZOLO You are as stupid as the rest… And you are as soft as He is. Thousands of years ago, He sent floods and plagues; he felled the monuments of the sinner. He was feared. Who is afraid now? His rod and his staff comfort me, eh? Where is the rod, where is the punishment, the consequence for sin. BRUCE You quote scriptures one minute and question God the next. Who do you think you are, some kind of God? EN’ZOLO I am no God, I am his janitor. God gave man choice and man threw it in his face. Fear, that is how why people follow. God fearing people. God could end your life in an instant and
  • 4.
    still nobody fears.Nobodies fears because they are unclean. I cleanse those who are dirty. BRUCE And these people are unclean to you?! EN’ZOLO grabs the file and points at individuals. EN’ZOLO She runs a criminally inhumane sweatshop, rapist, rapist, he exploits old people out of their money. Shall I go on, Mr. Bruce. HALL is silent. BRUCE looks at the file for a few moments. En’Zolo sits back in his chair. BRUCE So what happened to you? EN’ZOLO Excuse me? BRUCE What happened? You were so slick. You had the whole police force running around after you, completely clueless. We had nothing. And then errors, mistakes. A child could have traced it to you. What the hell happened? EN’ZOLO A mistake? No Sir. There is sin everywhere. Corrupt cops. What? You think they’re all as ‘noble’ as you? I needed a way into here, (runs finger on desk) this place is filthy. And it needs cleaning. Even the police are not sacred. I am the new authority. HALL (Stands up, slams hands on desk) WE BRING PEOPLE TO JUSTICE! EN’ZOLO (almost matching Hall’s rage) I BRING PEOPLE TO JUSTICE! HALL YOU ARE SICK EN’ZOLO (calm) Am I? These people hurt people. They are a virus. I am the immune system. Sometimes you have to get worse to get better. Sacrifice the finger, keep the hand. Sacrifice the hand, keep the arm. Sacrifice the arm, keep the man. Sacrifice the man… Keep the many. HALL clenches his fist, his arm shakes. He pounds the desk and charges out the door, slamming it behind him. Scene 3 – INT. Police Station Bathroom – Morning
  • 5.
    HALL moves upinto shot. HALL is in front of the bathroom mirror washing his face. The camera is slightly askew. HALL Come on, Frankie. Get it together. HALL Maybe it’s too soon BRUCE Maybe it is, kid HALL spins round, BRUCE is stood in the doorway. BRUCE It’s okay if you need more time. Nobody expects you to come back to work so quickly. BRUCE walks up and stands next to HALL. Goes to put his hand on HALL’s shoulder than retracts it. BRUCE Go home, HALL. Rest up. HALL No! I need this. I need to get back to work. HALL darts out the room BRUCE Hall! HALL! GET BACK HERE! BRUCE goes to chase him. Scene 4 – INT. Police Station Corridor – Day HALL runs back to the interrogation room, BRUCE is trailing behind. BRUCE FRANKLIN!! HALL stops a few paces from the door and spins around HALL What! What is it! You told me I could be the best officer you’ve seen… let me prove it.
  • 6.
    BRUCE says nothingand sighs. HALL opens the door and goes inside, BRUCE follows. Both men enters the room, EN’ZOLO is not there. Scene 5 – INT. Police interrogation Room – Morning HALL What the! Where is he! BRUCE Frankie, I… HALL BRUCE, what happened! Flash back to interrogation after HALL had left. Filter. EN’ZOLO Every man and woman and child has choices, we all have choices, but we don’t all make the same ones because we are all so different. 46 chromosomes in human DNA. That code is what makes you different to me, to your partner, to everyone. Cut back to HALL and BRUCE BRUCE 31 years in the force. I’ve had to put away so many people. People who ruin lives. Cut back to BRUCE and EN’ZOLO EN’ZOLO You want to know why I love Psalms 23 so much… I’ll tell you anyway. I like it because it is so ironic. It asks you to put all of your faith in God. The very same God who does so little for us. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” I am not a sheep, you make me in your image yet he is the Shepard and we his flock. Yet he is too sheepish to tend to his flock and protect them from the wolves. The wolves have claimed so many innocent sheep. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” My enemies, I would not have enemies if they could be eliminated. You have the power to make a heaven on Earth but he doesn’t do it… He is not the only one with power… Use it, Mr. Bruce. Set your city free. Cut back to HALL and BRUCE BRUCE You know as well as I do that we can’t catch them all. We have rules to follow. Rules that slow everything down. Sometimes the bad guys get away. They don’t get away from him. 21 criminals off our streets… Hall, think of how-
  • 7.
    HALL (Points at BRUCE)BRUCE, YOU HAVE JUST LET A KILLER LOOSE! YOU HAVE JUST HANDED HIM HIS NEXT VICTIM! BRUCE, YOU’VE AS GOOD AS KILLED A MAN! YOU’RE JUST AS MAD AS HE IS! BRUCE Frankie, he, he wants what we want. HALL What we want or what you want? BRUCE What we need. There is a distant scream HALL Well, I NEED to go and catch a serial killer. Thanks a lot, Chief HALL runs out of the room leaving the door slamming the door behind him. BRUCE Maybe the world needs a little mad BRUCE pulls a crucifix from around his neck and holds it for a second before dropping it on the floor. BRUCE AND EN’ZOLO (Voice over) Maybe the world needs a little mad. Low camera angle as BRUCE opens the door and shuts it gently behind him.