Post by fenris on Jan 26, 2006 13:05:32 GMT
Well, as we currently don't know if there's going to be a third season of Hex, I've decided to take the bull by the horns, put my money where my mouth is, let my imagination run riot, and write my own.
You'll notice that instead of writing line after line of dialogue, I've often just summarised what the characters are discussing. I've also sometimes described camera movements and the way scenes have been shot, in order to create a more visual feel, as though I was writing an unfilmed episode of Hex, as opposed to just a prose story set in the Hexverse.
Hope you enjoy my efforts. Any feedback - both positive and negative - is most welcome. More episodes to follow, time permitting.
Episode #1: The Shock of the New.
We see a pre-title sequence, consisting of footage from the climax of episode #13 of the second season: Medenham burning down, Roxy being sacrificed, Leon, Ella and Thelma fleeing. The screen fades to black. A caption reads ‘That was five years ago.’ Opening titles.
(Note: a gap of five years will enable some of the actors to play closer to their real ages, plus will also be advantageous regarding the fact that Thelma and Ella don’t age.)
The episode proper begins during the transmission of a TV chat show, being broadcast in front of a live audience. The host is introducing his first guest, telling the audience both in the studio and at home that nobody had heard of this individual five years ago, but now he’s a worldwide celebrity: he’s written several best-selling ‘self-help’ books, and has established his own ‘new age’ religion – The New Church of the Angelic Messiah - with himself as it’s guru. He has his own satellite channel that broadcasts his message across the world, 24 hours a day, and has built a network of churches, ‘inspirational centres’, and communes in several countries. Large corporations sponsor his stadium-filling evangelical tours, and the New Church has become fashionable amongst the famous, with various filmstars and pop singers becoming high profile members. The host announces that his guest is… Malachi Solomon.
Malachi walks onto the stage. He’s in a smart and conservative black suit, but is also wearing a colourful open-necked shirt, crocodile-skin boots, plus a chunky & expensive gold watch and jewellery (rings, neckchains, etc). He looks like a rock star unsuccessfully trying to pass himself off as an insurance salesman. Malachi and the host greet each other and sit down. The host mentions that Malachi had gotten married six months earlier, and asks how his wife is, how they’re finding married life, etc. After about a minute of this amicable chit-chat, the host suddenly announces that it’s time to bring on a surprise guest. He explains how this new guest came to public attention about a year ago, as the creator of a website which denounced the New Church as a brainwashing cult, and highlighted various discrepancies regarding the organisation’s finances. The smile vanishes from Malachi’s face as the host explains that the new guest has since become a minor celebrity himself, and has spent the last twelve months continuing his investigations and alleged exposures of Malachi and his followers, writing a series of articles about the New Church for several newspapers, and also being interviewed by an acclaimed journalist/film-maker for a high-profile documentary about questionable religions. The host introduces the guest as… Leon Taylor.
Realising he’s been ambushed, Malachi tries - and fails - to hide how uncomfortable he feels as Leon walks on and joins them on stage. Leon proceeds to confront Malachi with various allegations: that he’s amassed a personal fortune from the donations of his many gullable followers – money that’s been secreted away into off-shore bank accounts; of using funds that the New Church claim is going towards charitable works to personally acquire a substantial property portfolio; of buying second and third homes in foreign tax havens; that the New Church has invested in companies engaged in profitable weapons research and military contracts; and that members of the New Church indulge in secretive rituals involving sex and drug use. Leon also draws attention to the burning down of Medenham school five years earlier, claiming it was carried out by Malachi and his original followers, the ‘Medenham set’ who remain his inner circle.
During this face-to-face debate, the host of the the show stays mostly silent, aware that this is good television. Malachi fields Leon’s questions as best he can, trying to laugh off some of them, but getting increasingly flustered and angry. Eventually he breaks off the interview and storms off the set. Alex is waiting for him in the wings.
Outside the studio, Malachi and Alex climb into a waiting limousine, inside of which Jo is sitting. “Well, that was a disaster,” an extremely annoyed Malachi complains. “I couldn’t agree more,” replies Jo, switching off the onboard TV on which she’s been watching the show. From her tone of voice, Malachi realises she’s talking about his handling of the situation. As the limousine moves off through the streets, there follows a heated discussion, with Malachi pointing out that he’s been repeatedly insisting for the last twelve months – ever since Leon reappeared and started making trouble for the New Church – that they should just kill him (Leon). Jo coolly counters by reminding Malachi how clever Leon has been. By going public and making himself high profile, Leon has guaranteed his own safety: his sudden death or disappearance would cast further suspicion on the New Church.
As the argument continues, we learn that due to Leon’s exposures of the New Church, Malachi married Alex on Jo’s orders, in an attempt to improve his public image and reinvent himself as a family man. But in private he still has a harem of willing and nubile followers to keep him entertained, whom Alex has grown increasingly jealous of.
In addition, Jo is also getting angered by Malachi’s insistence on enjoying his wealth & fame - and indulging in alcohol & drug fuelled orgies behind the closed doors of his country mansion - instead of getting on with the serious business of using the power and influence of the New Church to help bring about the apocalypse. Jo is especially concerned that there’s been no sign of Ella – apart from a few rumoured sightings - for five years, but Leon’s reappearance a year ago indicates that Ella is also still active, merely laying low. Jo tells Malachi: “The only thing worse than having Ella Dee out there somewhere, making trouble, is Ella Dee out there somewhere and keeping quiet.”
The discussion eventually turns to Malachi’s latest mess, which Jo is having to clean up: still arrogantly convinced of his absolute power over women, a few days ago Malachi (despite Jo’s disapproval) permitted an attractive & naive female member of the New Church named Beth to join his inner circle – the first time someone from outside the ‘Medenham set’ had done so. Horrified by what she discovered, Beth tried to escape. “Imagine” says Jo sarcastically to Malachi, “learning that the man you idolise and worship is actually the Messiah of the Fallen Angels and his sole purpose on Earth is to bring about the end of the world. Who would have thought she wouldn’t take it well?” (Note: as this is discussed, we see a flashback. Beth, a frightened look on her face, is backing away from a smug and smiling Malachi. We next see a terrified Beth running down a corridor, only to be grabbed by two members of the Medenham set.) After being captured, Beth has been held prisoner in the New Church’s London headquarters, a soulless, hi-tech, glass and steel monolith.
The limousine arrives at said headquarters. Malachi tells Jo that he’s bored, and intends to amuse himself for a few days by trying to corrupt Beth. If he fails, or grows tried of her, Jo can do what she wants with her.
Meanwhile, Leon returns to the cramped flat that doubles as his home and office, where we are introduced to a new character: Midge, a girl in her late teens/early twenties who helps Leon run his website. Midge is chatting to two girls who have been waiting for Leon. They explain that they’re Beth’s college room-mates, and they haven’t heard from her in several days. Having failed to convince the police that something’s wrong – and having been already concerned about her membership in the New Church - they decided to contact Leon after seeing his appearance on TV. The two students tell him that the last time they’d seen her, Beth had told them she had been granted a private audience with Malachi at the New Church’s London headquarters. Leon takes Midge to one side and asks her if the girls are telling the truth. Midge tells him that the students’ auras are a bit wobbly, but that could be because of how worried they are. Midge suggests that they need a second opinion. They turn and look expectedly at Thelma, who’s sitting on a desk in front of the girls, wearing a cheerleader’s outfit, swinging her legs back & forth (Note: until this moment, Thelma hadn’t been visible, and the viewer was under the impression that only Leon, Midge and the two students were in the room. Now it’s clear that we were seeing the room through the eyes of the two girls, and Thelma’s actually been there all along.). Thelma says that the girls are on the level, adding that “the one on the left’s gagging for it.” Leon tells the girls that he’s can’t promise anything, but he knows some people who might be able to help their friend.
Cut to Malachi’s penthouse apartment in the New Church’s London headquarters, his home when he’s away from his country pile. It’s decorated in minimalist style: a few large, swept-back black leather chairs, various pieces of modern art either dotted about on the walls or positioned about the room. Malachi enters, wet from a shower and wearing just a towel. A female voice says “Hello Malachi”. He pauses, then turns, the look on his face indicating that he already knows who the speaker is. Roxy stands with her back to the penthouse’s picture window, still wearing the clothes she died in. The cityscape visible behind her. It’s dusk.
“As if I didn’t have enough women trouble,” mutters Malachi. “For the hundredth time Rox, I don’t want your forgiveness, I don’t want you trying to save my soul. It’s been five years. I would’ve thought you’d gotten the message by now.”
Roxy’s sad but patience expression doesn’t change. “There is still good within you, Malachi” she says, “I can feel it.”
Malachi manages a laugh: “The only thing of mine you’ve felt was the knive I gutted you with.”
Roxy ignores him, and says: “Your time to seek redemption is short. Soon I won’t be able to help you.”
“Good!” yells Malachi over his shoulder, as he wanders off towards the bedroom.
“Malachi” murmers Roxy, “She’s coming.”
Malachi stops in his tracks, and spins round, but Roxy is gone.
Back at Leon’s flat, Midge is showing the students out. Leon and Thelma discuss how they’ve spent the last five years covertly investigating how some of the New Church’s various charitable activites are merely a front for assorted schemes designed to accelerate the End of Days. They’ve got all the information they need to take the fight to them (the New Church), and have known for the last few months that they were merely waiting for the right moment to commence direct action. Leon tosses Thelma a mobile phone, and she rings a number on speed-dial.
Cut to a darkened room somewhere else. A figure can be seen in silhouette, sitting in the lotus position, meditating. A mobile phone propped up in the foreground lights up and starts ringing. While otherwise remaining perfectly still, the figure reaches out one arm, picks up the phone and brings it to the side of their face. We hear Thelma say “It’s me.” The camera pulls back, revealing the figure to be Ella. She opens her eyes and smiles.
We see the sun rise, indicating that it’s the next day.
Inside the New Church’s London headquarters, where Beth is being held, Jo walks down a corridor. Elsewhere in the building, Alex waits for an elevator: it arrives and she gets in. There’s someone standing to one side in the elevator, but Alex doesn’t pay them any attention. Meanwhile, Jo (walking towards the camera) passes someone going the other way. Suddenly Jo stops, a look of surprise on her face, as though having just realised something. She turns and looks at the other person, who’s still walking away from her. Sensing they’re being stared at, the other person slows, stops, and turns to look at Jo. It’s Thelma. She smiles at Jo and says “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” Elsewhere, the elevator stops and the doors open. The person standing next to Alex asks her “Is this your floor?” Alex glances in their direction and starts to say no, but stops when she realises the other person is Ella. Before Alex has a chance to react, Ella decks her. Alex falls against the wall of the elevator and drops to the floor. Elsewhere, Thelma runs off down the corridor while Jo contacts the New Church’s internal security on her mobile. Having realised instantly that Thelma’s appearance means an attempt is being made to rescue Beth, Jo orders security to move Beth to Malachi’s private mansion in the countryside immediately. Two members of the ‘Medenham set’ remove Beth from her room and – as she protests, struggles and demands to know where they’re taking her – manhandle her into the underground car park beneath the building, where they throw her into the back of a van and lock her inside. They are then ambushed by Ella, who – after a brief and very one-sided fight - knocks them both out, takes the keys for the van, and drives off. Several floors above, Jo has arrived in the building’s security room in time to see this on CCTV. She orders the car park’s shutters to be lowered, blocking all exits and entrances. As the heavy metal shutters start to descend, Thelma appears holding Ella’s Volta staff. She expertly unleashes a bolt of energy at the electrical junction box situated next to the main exit, frying the circuits and halting the shutters. “What was that?” yells the security co-ordinator, unable to see Thelma. Jo ignores him: “She’s been practising,” she murmurs. Jo watches as Thelma blows a kiss to the CCTV camera, and gets into the van. Ella drives out of the building at speed, the van’s roof scraping the shutter.
Cut to the bedroom of Malachi’s penthouse apartment on the building’s top floor. Malachi is lying on his vast black silk sheet covered bed. Four nubile young female followers in their underwear are sprawled either alongside him or across him, all asleep. The double doors of the room swing open unaided, and Jo walks in, followed by Alex – who’s holding a icepack to the side of her face and looking pissed off. Their entrance wakens everyone. Alex glares at Malachi’s bedmates. “Leave” she hisses. The girls hastily grab their disgarded clothes off the floor and scamper out. Still half-asleep, Malachi notices Alex’s swollen face. “What happened to you?” he asks.
Alex mutters: “Ella Dee.” Suddenly fully awake, Malachi sits upright and looks dumbstuck as Jo says: “She and her little dead friend came and took your plaything away.”
The camera has Malachi in close up. We hear Roxy’s voiceover: “She’s coming.”
Cut to Leon’s flat-cum-office. Leon, Midge, Thelma and Ella have a brief chat, from which we learn that by making use of various contacts, Leon & Midge have created a new identity in another part of the country for Beth, including all the documentation she needs, so she can permanently escape Malachi’s clutches. They decided it wouldn’t be fair for her to go public as Leon did, as she would never again have a normal life – at least not until Malachi and the New Church have been defeated, and who knows how long that will be?
Final scene: Jo sits in a visiting room in a mental asylum, telling a patient that Ella and Thelma are active again, briefly summarising what happened, and then mentioning that “there’s trouble brewing again in the Balkans.” The scene is shot so the viewer can’t see who the patient is.
You'll notice that instead of writing line after line of dialogue, I've often just summarised what the characters are discussing. I've also sometimes described camera movements and the way scenes have been shot, in order to create a more visual feel, as though I was writing an unfilmed episode of Hex, as opposed to just a prose story set in the Hexverse.
Hope you enjoy my efforts. Any feedback - both positive and negative - is most welcome. More episodes to follow, time permitting.
Episode #1: The Shock of the New.
We see a pre-title sequence, consisting of footage from the climax of episode #13 of the second season: Medenham burning down, Roxy being sacrificed, Leon, Ella and Thelma fleeing. The screen fades to black. A caption reads ‘That was five years ago.’ Opening titles.
(Note: a gap of five years will enable some of the actors to play closer to their real ages, plus will also be advantageous regarding the fact that Thelma and Ella don’t age.)
The episode proper begins during the transmission of a TV chat show, being broadcast in front of a live audience. The host is introducing his first guest, telling the audience both in the studio and at home that nobody had heard of this individual five years ago, but now he’s a worldwide celebrity: he’s written several best-selling ‘self-help’ books, and has established his own ‘new age’ religion – The New Church of the Angelic Messiah - with himself as it’s guru. He has his own satellite channel that broadcasts his message across the world, 24 hours a day, and has built a network of churches, ‘inspirational centres’, and communes in several countries. Large corporations sponsor his stadium-filling evangelical tours, and the New Church has become fashionable amongst the famous, with various filmstars and pop singers becoming high profile members. The host announces that his guest is… Malachi Solomon.
Malachi walks onto the stage. He’s in a smart and conservative black suit, but is also wearing a colourful open-necked shirt, crocodile-skin boots, plus a chunky & expensive gold watch and jewellery (rings, neckchains, etc). He looks like a rock star unsuccessfully trying to pass himself off as an insurance salesman. Malachi and the host greet each other and sit down. The host mentions that Malachi had gotten married six months earlier, and asks how his wife is, how they’re finding married life, etc. After about a minute of this amicable chit-chat, the host suddenly announces that it’s time to bring on a surprise guest. He explains how this new guest came to public attention about a year ago, as the creator of a website which denounced the New Church as a brainwashing cult, and highlighted various discrepancies regarding the organisation’s finances. The smile vanishes from Malachi’s face as the host explains that the new guest has since become a minor celebrity himself, and has spent the last twelve months continuing his investigations and alleged exposures of Malachi and his followers, writing a series of articles about the New Church for several newspapers, and also being interviewed by an acclaimed journalist/film-maker for a high-profile documentary about questionable religions. The host introduces the guest as… Leon Taylor.
Realising he’s been ambushed, Malachi tries - and fails - to hide how uncomfortable he feels as Leon walks on and joins them on stage. Leon proceeds to confront Malachi with various allegations: that he’s amassed a personal fortune from the donations of his many gullable followers – money that’s been secreted away into off-shore bank accounts; of using funds that the New Church claim is going towards charitable works to personally acquire a substantial property portfolio; of buying second and third homes in foreign tax havens; that the New Church has invested in companies engaged in profitable weapons research and military contracts; and that members of the New Church indulge in secretive rituals involving sex and drug use. Leon also draws attention to the burning down of Medenham school five years earlier, claiming it was carried out by Malachi and his original followers, the ‘Medenham set’ who remain his inner circle.
During this face-to-face debate, the host of the the show stays mostly silent, aware that this is good television. Malachi fields Leon’s questions as best he can, trying to laugh off some of them, but getting increasingly flustered and angry. Eventually he breaks off the interview and storms off the set. Alex is waiting for him in the wings.
Outside the studio, Malachi and Alex climb into a waiting limousine, inside of which Jo is sitting. “Well, that was a disaster,” an extremely annoyed Malachi complains. “I couldn’t agree more,” replies Jo, switching off the onboard TV on which she’s been watching the show. From her tone of voice, Malachi realises she’s talking about his handling of the situation. As the limousine moves off through the streets, there follows a heated discussion, with Malachi pointing out that he’s been repeatedly insisting for the last twelve months – ever since Leon reappeared and started making trouble for the New Church – that they should just kill him (Leon). Jo coolly counters by reminding Malachi how clever Leon has been. By going public and making himself high profile, Leon has guaranteed his own safety: his sudden death or disappearance would cast further suspicion on the New Church.
As the argument continues, we learn that due to Leon’s exposures of the New Church, Malachi married Alex on Jo’s orders, in an attempt to improve his public image and reinvent himself as a family man. But in private he still has a harem of willing and nubile followers to keep him entertained, whom Alex has grown increasingly jealous of.
In addition, Jo is also getting angered by Malachi’s insistence on enjoying his wealth & fame - and indulging in alcohol & drug fuelled orgies behind the closed doors of his country mansion - instead of getting on with the serious business of using the power and influence of the New Church to help bring about the apocalypse. Jo is especially concerned that there’s been no sign of Ella – apart from a few rumoured sightings - for five years, but Leon’s reappearance a year ago indicates that Ella is also still active, merely laying low. Jo tells Malachi: “The only thing worse than having Ella Dee out there somewhere, making trouble, is Ella Dee out there somewhere and keeping quiet.”
The discussion eventually turns to Malachi’s latest mess, which Jo is having to clean up: still arrogantly convinced of his absolute power over women, a few days ago Malachi (despite Jo’s disapproval) permitted an attractive & naive female member of the New Church named Beth to join his inner circle – the first time someone from outside the ‘Medenham set’ had done so. Horrified by what she discovered, Beth tried to escape. “Imagine” says Jo sarcastically to Malachi, “learning that the man you idolise and worship is actually the Messiah of the Fallen Angels and his sole purpose on Earth is to bring about the end of the world. Who would have thought she wouldn’t take it well?” (Note: as this is discussed, we see a flashback. Beth, a frightened look on her face, is backing away from a smug and smiling Malachi. We next see a terrified Beth running down a corridor, only to be grabbed by two members of the Medenham set.) After being captured, Beth has been held prisoner in the New Church’s London headquarters, a soulless, hi-tech, glass and steel monolith.
The limousine arrives at said headquarters. Malachi tells Jo that he’s bored, and intends to amuse himself for a few days by trying to corrupt Beth. If he fails, or grows tried of her, Jo can do what she wants with her.
Meanwhile, Leon returns to the cramped flat that doubles as his home and office, where we are introduced to a new character: Midge, a girl in her late teens/early twenties who helps Leon run his website. Midge is chatting to two girls who have been waiting for Leon. They explain that they’re Beth’s college room-mates, and they haven’t heard from her in several days. Having failed to convince the police that something’s wrong – and having been already concerned about her membership in the New Church - they decided to contact Leon after seeing his appearance on TV. The two students tell him that the last time they’d seen her, Beth had told them she had been granted a private audience with Malachi at the New Church’s London headquarters. Leon takes Midge to one side and asks her if the girls are telling the truth. Midge tells him that the students’ auras are a bit wobbly, but that could be because of how worried they are. Midge suggests that they need a second opinion. They turn and look expectedly at Thelma, who’s sitting on a desk in front of the girls, wearing a cheerleader’s outfit, swinging her legs back & forth (Note: until this moment, Thelma hadn’t been visible, and the viewer was under the impression that only Leon, Midge and the two students were in the room. Now it’s clear that we were seeing the room through the eyes of the two girls, and Thelma’s actually been there all along.). Thelma says that the girls are on the level, adding that “the one on the left’s gagging for it.” Leon tells the girls that he’s can’t promise anything, but he knows some people who might be able to help their friend.
Cut to Malachi’s penthouse apartment in the New Church’s London headquarters, his home when he’s away from his country pile. It’s decorated in minimalist style: a few large, swept-back black leather chairs, various pieces of modern art either dotted about on the walls or positioned about the room. Malachi enters, wet from a shower and wearing just a towel. A female voice says “Hello Malachi”. He pauses, then turns, the look on his face indicating that he already knows who the speaker is. Roxy stands with her back to the penthouse’s picture window, still wearing the clothes she died in. The cityscape visible behind her. It’s dusk.
“As if I didn’t have enough women trouble,” mutters Malachi. “For the hundredth time Rox, I don’t want your forgiveness, I don’t want you trying to save my soul. It’s been five years. I would’ve thought you’d gotten the message by now.”
Roxy’s sad but patience expression doesn’t change. “There is still good within you, Malachi” she says, “I can feel it.”
Malachi manages a laugh: “The only thing of mine you’ve felt was the knive I gutted you with.”
Roxy ignores him, and says: “Your time to seek redemption is short. Soon I won’t be able to help you.”
“Good!” yells Malachi over his shoulder, as he wanders off towards the bedroom.
“Malachi” murmers Roxy, “She’s coming.”
Malachi stops in his tracks, and spins round, but Roxy is gone.
Back at Leon’s flat, Midge is showing the students out. Leon and Thelma discuss how they’ve spent the last five years covertly investigating how some of the New Church’s various charitable activites are merely a front for assorted schemes designed to accelerate the End of Days. They’ve got all the information they need to take the fight to them (the New Church), and have known for the last few months that they were merely waiting for the right moment to commence direct action. Leon tosses Thelma a mobile phone, and she rings a number on speed-dial.
Cut to a darkened room somewhere else. A figure can be seen in silhouette, sitting in the lotus position, meditating. A mobile phone propped up in the foreground lights up and starts ringing. While otherwise remaining perfectly still, the figure reaches out one arm, picks up the phone and brings it to the side of their face. We hear Thelma say “It’s me.” The camera pulls back, revealing the figure to be Ella. She opens her eyes and smiles.
We see the sun rise, indicating that it’s the next day.
Inside the New Church’s London headquarters, where Beth is being held, Jo walks down a corridor. Elsewhere in the building, Alex waits for an elevator: it arrives and she gets in. There’s someone standing to one side in the elevator, but Alex doesn’t pay them any attention. Meanwhile, Jo (walking towards the camera) passes someone going the other way. Suddenly Jo stops, a look of surprise on her face, as though having just realised something. She turns and looks at the other person, who’s still walking away from her. Sensing they’re being stared at, the other person slows, stops, and turns to look at Jo. It’s Thelma. She smiles at Jo and says “You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.” Elsewhere, the elevator stops and the doors open. The person standing next to Alex asks her “Is this your floor?” Alex glances in their direction and starts to say no, but stops when she realises the other person is Ella. Before Alex has a chance to react, Ella decks her. Alex falls against the wall of the elevator and drops to the floor. Elsewhere, Thelma runs off down the corridor while Jo contacts the New Church’s internal security on her mobile. Having realised instantly that Thelma’s appearance means an attempt is being made to rescue Beth, Jo orders security to move Beth to Malachi’s private mansion in the countryside immediately. Two members of the ‘Medenham set’ remove Beth from her room and – as she protests, struggles and demands to know where they’re taking her – manhandle her into the underground car park beneath the building, where they throw her into the back of a van and lock her inside. They are then ambushed by Ella, who – after a brief and very one-sided fight - knocks them both out, takes the keys for the van, and drives off. Several floors above, Jo has arrived in the building’s security room in time to see this on CCTV. She orders the car park’s shutters to be lowered, blocking all exits and entrances. As the heavy metal shutters start to descend, Thelma appears holding Ella’s Volta staff. She expertly unleashes a bolt of energy at the electrical junction box situated next to the main exit, frying the circuits and halting the shutters. “What was that?” yells the security co-ordinator, unable to see Thelma. Jo ignores him: “She’s been practising,” she murmurs. Jo watches as Thelma blows a kiss to the CCTV camera, and gets into the van. Ella drives out of the building at speed, the van’s roof scraping the shutter.
Cut to the bedroom of Malachi’s penthouse apartment on the building’s top floor. Malachi is lying on his vast black silk sheet covered bed. Four nubile young female followers in their underwear are sprawled either alongside him or across him, all asleep. The double doors of the room swing open unaided, and Jo walks in, followed by Alex – who’s holding a icepack to the side of her face and looking pissed off. Their entrance wakens everyone. Alex glares at Malachi’s bedmates. “Leave” she hisses. The girls hastily grab their disgarded clothes off the floor and scamper out. Still half-asleep, Malachi notices Alex’s swollen face. “What happened to you?” he asks.
Alex mutters: “Ella Dee.” Suddenly fully awake, Malachi sits upright and looks dumbstuck as Jo says: “She and her little dead friend came and took your plaything away.”
The camera has Malachi in close up. We hear Roxy’s voiceover: “She’s coming.”
Cut to Leon’s flat-cum-office. Leon, Midge, Thelma and Ella have a brief chat, from which we learn that by making use of various contacts, Leon & Midge have created a new identity in another part of the country for Beth, including all the documentation she needs, so she can permanently escape Malachi’s clutches. They decided it wouldn’t be fair for her to go public as Leon did, as she would never again have a normal life – at least not until Malachi and the New Church have been defeated, and who knows how long that will be?
Final scene: Jo sits in a visiting room in a mental asylum, telling a patient that Ella and Thelma are active again, briefly summarising what happened, and then mentioning that “there’s trouble brewing again in the Balkans.” The scene is shot so the viewer can’t see who the patient is.
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