The Atlas Vampire

A screenplay written in 2007

INT. CAR-NIGHT
BLAKE WILLIS, a well-respected detective in his mid thirties and on the job for twelve years, is driving his car in the streets of Atlas, St. Louis; a very dangerous community where many gruesome murders occur.

WILLIS (O.S.)
Vampires; creatures that roam in the dark, feasting on the blood of the innocent, their only fear is the nights end into sunrise. With no heart beat, and no soul they do not regret, and the only way to kill them is a stake in the heart, or beheading them. Thank God they don’t exist on earth. Well at least I think they don’t. Today got me thinking of taking those words back. Or maybe I’m just going crazy. But it’s hard to accept the fact that a human would kill Velma Delahan, a prostitute found in her hotel room with her skull crushed open and some of her blood drunken. Welcome to Atlas city, many gruesome deaths occur here, but not unusual like this. Whoever this sick b*****d is, I wanted to be the one to capture him. Or kill him. Right now though, I’m thinking of steak/stake. Not the wooden stick that you stab in a vampire’s heart, but the big juicy slab of meat waiting for me at home. 9pm, and I’m hungry, most people wouldn’t eat after what they’ve seen. Twelve years on the job. I’m used to it. The Atlas Vampire that is what they call the killer.


INT. 56 GREENPLY STREET-NIGHT
NANCY WILLIS, Jack Willis’ wife is in the kitchen washing dishes as Willis comes into the house.

NANCY
Finally home, about time!

Willis ignores her

NANCY
You should quit your job, it ain’t healthy you know. I mean, you’ve seen so much; doesn’t it ever get to you these days?

WILLIS
After a while you get used to it.

NANCY
That’s what scares me....
What happened this time?

WILLIS
He’s called the Atlas Vampire-

NANCY
Vampire? You are going crazy!! Why do you still do this?

WILLIS
You know why, I do it for him, Nancy.

NANCY
You do it for him? That’s Bull S**t! You never really cared for him. I was holding him in my arms when he died, one look and then you run away to catch the killer. You knew that b*****d’s face; you could have got him any day.

A long pause, as Willis contemplates his response.

WILLIS
Let me eat.

NANCY
Eat?! That all you can say? Pathetic. Ever since Johnny died, it’s all about catching the murderers. And half the time you end up killing em. Where’s the Jack I married?

Willis ignores his wife as she storms out of the room. Willis starts to cut into his steak. The meat is a little red, could’ve been cooked for a few more minutes. But it does not matter to him, Willis is hungry, and it can be shown in the way he eats, almost barbarically.

DISSOLVE TO



INT. CAFÉ-DAY
Willis is sitting in a café, eyeing one of the waitresses. She notices him and approaches him. Enter JACKLIN FROY

WILLIS
Jacklin, right?

JACKLIN
This ‘bout the murder?

WILLIS
Just a couple questions, sit down.

JACKLIN
Questions, questions, I shouldn’t have called y’all. What is it you want?

WILLIS
You’re pretty good friends with Velma, weren’t you?

JACKLIN
She brought me into the business.

WILLIS
Was she close with anyone?

JACKLIN
It’s her job; she fucked many guys, what kind of question is that?

WILLIS
Don’t s**t around with me, I don’t got time for mouths like yours.

JACKLIN
No time for my mouth, I’m sure you could use a good lil’ something, if you know what I mean.

Willis stares at her coldly

JACKLIN
And don’t give me the “I have a wife”. You and your wives, don’t y’all inspectors have any fun in life?

WILLIS
Keep avoiding the question, you looking like a suspect yourself.

JACKLIN
(sighs)
There was a guy named Maskin. A real handsome fella. Homeless though. He and Vel were really close, up until her death.

Willis gets up, rushing out of the cafe

JACKLIN
Eh! Where you goin’!? Got more answers if you’d like.

WILLIS (O.S.)
Maskin is definitely still in Atlas. The confirmation I needed. But what I didn’t know was that it was the confirmation I shouldn’t have heard.






INT. APARTMENT-DAY
Willis is knocking on the door of the neighbour of the victim. A man opens the door; enter MIRGY KUJINKS, late thirties, with a hunched back and thick glasses covering his eyes.

WILLIS
I’m detective Willis; just have a few questions on the murder of Velma Delahan. You’re Mirgy Kujinks, right?

KUJINKS
Ah, yes. It came true, haha! Can you believe it!? It came true.

WILLIS
What came true?

KUJINKS
A vampire! My belief in ‘em, one finally exposed itself. And right in the room beside me, ain’t that a fancy.

Willis stares at him with an awkward look.

KUJINKS
Come in, come in. I have to show you something.

Kujinks leads him into a room, one wall decorated with two large framed pictures of Bela Lugosi and Gary Oldman, both as Dracula.

KUJINKS
Don’t that look cool? I got it from a store down on Cagin street. Closed now, unfortunately.

WILLIS
I’m not here for a f*****g tour, I’m here to ask you a few questions.

KUJINKS
Of course! Of course! I’m sure you take pride in some of your collections. Thought I share mine, you know.

WILLIS
What were you doing on the night of February 25?

KUJINKS
February 25th....gotta think back on that one.

A short pause as Kujinks tries to remember

KUJINKS
A Saturday, wasn’t it?

WILLIS
Yes

KUJINKS
Every last Saturday of the month, I’m watching Dracula. Never get tired of it, never.

WILLIS
Did you hear any suspicious noises that night?

KUJINKS (Transylvanian accent)
I’ve come to drink your blood.

WILLIS
What? Answer the damn question.

KUJINKS
I didn’t hear nothing. Just myself and my movie.

WILLIS
Did you know the victim? She had any boyfriend?

KUJINKS
I rarely see her. Maybe once or twice. Those kind of clothing, whaddaya call it.

WILLIS
Prostitute?

KUJINKS
Yes, yes! Prostitute. When she was out at night, I’m in my room. But I did see one guy, his name was Maskin. Knocked on my door by accident, Velma called him into her room. That was like a month ago.

WILLIS
Maskin.

KUJINKS
Yes, a twenty something fella. Dressed so dark and different.
(MORE)
KUJINKS (CON’T)
His hair covered his left eye. Maybe it’s him, is that what a vampire looks like these days?

WILLIS
Just a coward...Thank you for your time.

KUJINKS
Hey, you watch your back now. Remember stake through the heart that is if you plan on hunting this vampire.

WILLIS (O.S.)
Maskin. That was what he called himself. Definitely heartless, but not a vampire. Unlike most killers, he changes his style of killings. He brutalized a helpless girl, and before that, my son.
DISSOLVE TO


INT. 56 GREEPLY STREET-DAY

WILLIS
It’s Maskin

NANCY
Maskin! What! You are NOT going after him.

WILLIS
Well waddya expect me to do? Let him run free?

NANCY
Exactly

WILLIS
He killed our son! I got a witness telling me that he’s still out there living on the streets. I will find him.

NANCY
So what, you’re saying that this is justice or something? Cleaning the streets of evil? A Vendetta? That this is for Johnny?

WILLIS
Yes, sick scums like Maskin should not have freedom.

NANCY
Heh, you’re not doing it for him, that’s just an excuse. You’re obsessed with bringing down killers like Maskin. Do you even know what today is?

WILLIS
Ah c’mon, Why you so uptight these days, huh?

NANCY
DO YOU KNOW WHAT DAY IT IS?

Willis is silent

NANCY
ONE YEAR SINCE JOHNNY DIED! YOU’RE SO OBSSEDED WITH YOUR VENDETTA AGAISNT MASKIN YOU CAN’T EVEN REMEMBER THAT!

Nancy is in tears

WILLIS
Oh...s**t, Nancy. Look. You know that ain’t me. I miss him a lot more than you think. He’s always the last thought before I sleep, you know that? Not Maskin. Johnny. But I need you to understand, I need to do this.
I can’t live knowing that that remorseless b*****d is still out there. I would never lie to you, Hun. I would never lie about him.

Nancy ignores him

WILLIS
Nan, c’mon.

NANCY
GO AWAY!

Willis takes out his cell phone as he walks out of the house.


INT. SALTA BAR-NIGHT
We follow Willis as he walks into a bar and approaches a man. Call him YANIK JUNG, an Asian, mid thirties, dressed in a suit and tie

WILLIS
Don’t sometimes you just want to give up, move out of Atlas? I mean it’s all prostitutes, homeless, crack dealers everywhere. It just ruins everything

YANIK
Well, unhappy is the land that needs a hero. This place is unhappy, this place needs a hero, Will; maybe more action and fewer words.

WILLIS
It’s just- sometimes I wonder do these people need any saving? To me, what most of people of Atlas need is some rehab.


YANIK
Haha, but who is crazy enough to come to Atlas to counsel? I suppose you’re going to provide that?

WILLIS
Yeah, don’t behave I’ll smack you on da head until you learn.

YANIK
Haha, I’m right there with you.

Silence for a while


YANIK
It’s your wife isn’t it?

WILLIS
Yan… It ain’t the same. I don’t know what to say anymore to Nancy. I don’t know how to make her understand. Maybe I am going crazy

YANIK
But she still there for you right?

WILLIS
Yeah, I don’t know how long

YANIK
Nancy loves you. And I know you love her too. As tough as it is, you experienced nothing compared to a lot of people in this world.

Willis is silent

YANIK
A vacation, that’s what you need. Work things out with Nancy. When that happens, and it will, I’m coming too, double couple.


WILLIS
Huh?

YANIK
I’m engaged! Got myself a woman. Been waiting to tell ya.

WILLIS
What!? Seriously?

Yanik shows him the ring.

WILLIS
Damn. Finally. You deserve it...

YANIK
Haha. But I ain’t completely happy till I see you happy. I need you to promise me, after you find this Maskin; I wanna see the confident Blake back...lookin’ good with Nancy n’ all.


WILLIS
Of course.

YANIK
If you need help-

WILLIS
I’ll call you...


YANIK
Cheers.


Yanik pats his good friend on the back leaving Willis to his thoughts

DISSOLVE TO


INT. APARTMENT-NIGHT
Willis is back at the apartment, knocking on the door of Kujinks’ room.

WILLIS
Kujinks, open up! Just have a couple more questions on Maskin.

No answer, as Willis knocks even harder.

WILLIS
Kujinks!?

He turns the knob of the door, it is unlocked. He enters the room; the T.V. is on, Dracula. A FIGURE of a man is sitting on the couch.

FIGURE
Quite a man, Kujinks is. Not many people ever dared to look me in the eyes

WILLIS
Get up and put your hands where I could see them

FIGURE
Do you like Dracula, Mr. Willis?

WILLIS
GET OFF THE F*****G COUCH

FIGURE
If you insist.

The man stands up, and raises his hands. He is garmented in all black, his hood covering his head. He turns around to face Willis, it’s MASKIN. His sleeves are rolled up, revealing cuts all over his arms and wrists. There is blood trickling down his left arm.


MASKIN
You know, Kujinks loved Vampires. When he saw me today, he called me a vampire yet he did not fear. He was excited, and invited me in. Hehe. Are you going to shoot me, Mr.Willis?

WILLIS
You killed my son, you sick b*****d. Drop the knife.

Maskin drops the knife, also dropping his hands back to his side.

MASKIN
Johnny was a brave boy. A fool, but brave. Twelve years on the job, where is that passionate hate? Is Willis getting old?

WILLIS
No matter how evil one is, there is always some good in em. Understand first, and then take action. My son said that

MASKIN
Aww that’s sweet, a family man, eh? Tell me, when you saw Velma’s body, did you flinch?

WILLIS
I ask the f*****g questions

MASKIN
Heh, most of you detectives in Atlas; you see all kinds of murders: decapitation, laceration from ear to ear, chopped up bodies. None of it bothers you at all. You’re just like us. You’re just like me. No problem with blood, with guts, with seeing death. Why I admire you.

WILLIS
I don’t mind blood, but I don’t kill.

MASKIN
If you’ve seen the darker part of life, you would understand. And not just losing a loved one, being rejected, being treated like a ghost, coming home to two strangers, WHERE THE CLOSEST TO LOVE IS IN THE GOD DAMN DICTIONARY.

WILLIS
So what now, trying to gain my pity?


MASKIN
You wanted to see the good side in me, that’s the good side.

WILLIS
That’s very nice. Oh yeah, another thing, I don’t drink blood either.

MASKIN
Ah, blood. Hehe. The adrenaline of it, flowing down my arm, the warmth.

Maskin takes a deep breath, as if enjoying fresh air.

MASKIN
And the taste of it

Maskin licks down his arm, past all the cuts and scars.

Willis stares in disgust

MASKIN
Did I tell you I wanted to be a vampire? That’s why I admire good old, Kujinks he saw me for who I am.

WILLIS
Where’s Kujinks?

MASKIN
In his bedroom, tied up. He doesn’t deserve an instant death. He and Velma were the only ones who saw me as an actual someone.

WILLIS
Velma, why did you kill her


MASKIN
I loved Velma a lot, I really did. I didn’t know love could be so complicated though. Things got out of hand.

WILLIS
Enough talk, puts your hands behind your back

MASKIN
So, you’re not going to shoot me eh? Getting weak, Willis? After what I did to your son, you’re just going to arrest me?

WILLIS
I’m not a killer

MASKIN
SHOOT ME!

With that, Maskin takes out another knife hidden in his pocket. He charges at Willis, Willis shoots once, twice, Maskin slashes the air, only cutting Willis’ arm, before he falls on his knees.

MASKIN
Heh, if only I was a vampire.

Maskin puts his hand over the bullet holes, blood seeping through his fingers. He licks his hand and laughs. He jumps at Willis as he is shot for a third time, killing Maskin instantly. Willis stares at Maskins dead body, trying to take in all that happened, before making his way to Kujinks’ room.

INT. KUJINKS ROOM-CONTINUOS

KUJINKS
It’s you again, where that’s vampire boy? I shouldn’t have invited him in. If I didn’t, he wouldn’t have been able to enter ya know?

Willis ignores him.

KUJINKS
HaHA! You killed him didn’t you? Stake in the heart?

CUT TO






INT. 56 GREENPLY-NIGHT

Willis comes home to see Yanik and his fiancé talking to Nancy. Nancy runs to him, and hugs him, as Willis looks up at a picture on the wall of his son. Willis is smiling.

FADE OUT
THE END