Serlyng and the Courtier.
5/22/08
Serlyng and the Courtier-Spirit stand several feet away from each other. They stare at one another. Serlyng draws his five-barrel GUN. The spirit draws his RAPIER.
SERLYNG
I cannot think like this anymore… it’s too frustrating, and totally unsatisfying.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
It is so due to your lack of faith. Be patient, and die to yourself; put down your weapon…
SERLYNG
No! This is the only way I can get free, by having faith that my God can supply everything I need all I need by Himself… I stop following you and working like a dog to gain favor I have possessed since I was born.
WIDE shot of the desert and the rocky walls on both sides of Serlyng and the Courtier-Spirit. It is vast and extends for miles.
Serlyng looks at his gun in his right hand then sheaths it. Reaching to his left side, he partially draws his saber…
The Courtier-Spirit touches his right ear piece and begins dialing the keypad. The spirit crouches and holding his rapier in his left hand sequences his OMNI-RAY in his face-mask. Four rays of red light materialize over the surface of the mask, right around the single “eye” in the mask; the rays are situated like four points on a compass.
The wind begins to blow. The Spirit’s cape begins to billow.
Serlyng sights the rays…
The Spirit fires the beam from his “eye”.
Serlyng leaps TWENTY FEET into the air and continues to climb.
The Spirit adjusts his vision to the now airborne Serlyng and fires again.
Serlyng deflects with his saber, and swiftly descends, dashing to the right behind some boulders. He feels for his firearm…
The Spirit begins to fire rapidly at the boulders. Debris flies everywhere.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
This is the unction of God you fight with Serlyng, cease and listen to him, put away doubt and frustration.
Courtier-Spirit stops firing. The light glints off his “eye”.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Surrender to the will of the Lord, and PERFORM Serlyng. Do not be lead to believe that you “REST” in the Lord; it is IDLENESS. The CHRIST Himself performed as well, it is in the history books man. Rejoin me and you will discover the plan set for you and then, you can become as the Christ… you know it is His desire that you be more like Him… it is your purpose man. Become a history-maker!
Courtier-Spirit switches his VISION to XRAY and searches the rubble. His MASK tells him there are no life-readings.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Show yourself Serlyng! Do not hide; embrace this as you once did.
Suddenly Serlyng falls from above the Courtier-Spirit, his saber raised. His blade connects with the Spirit’s defending blade. He remains in the air a few feet above the Spirit of his own propulsion, putting considerable pressure on the Spirit‘s defense.
The Courtier-Spirit holds Serlyng at bay the best he can, but the CHRISTIAN man summons foreign might. With both hands wielding his weapon, the Spirit cannot go for his omni-beam in his mask.
Without warning, Serlyng whips his blade down nearly disarming the Spirit, whose blade veers to the right. Serlyng takes the opening and whips around roundhouse-kicking the Spirit, who sails several yards back.
The Courtier-Spirit crashes into the side of the rocky wall sending a cloud of dust in all directions.
Serlyng stands looking on, his long blonde hair blowing in the wind, his glasses reflecting the sunlight, and his WHITE attire slightly disheveled. He opens the blue buckles binding his coat to let the air in. He looks back towards the crash.
SERLYNG
Don’t you see Spirit? This is the only action I need to perform: fighting worthless, power-seeking performances.
Serlyng reaches into his coat and pulls a black BOOK from the inside pocket. He flips it open. Inside the book is gold badge with his name inscribed and a coat of arms. DETECTIVE is inscribed in big letters.
SERLYNG (smiling at the badge)
I achieved detective status because it was God’s plan for me, not because I had to prove myself to Him or to anyone else.
The dust settles where the Courtier-Spirit fell…
SERLYNG (continued)
I thought I had to PROVE that a Christian could be on the Force. I wanted to look amazing to my family, my church Body (when I could fellowship), but most of all I wanted to show the society that Christians walk quietly but still carry a big gun. I HAD to show them!
BOOOM!
The Courtier shoots straight up into the sky leaving destruction in his wake upon the land. He hovers, sword in hand, and starring down Serlyng.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
YES! Of course you had to show the world! It is mandated saint, “the light of the world”, it is written in the Word of God, and is thus your confirmation, now walk in it.
The Courtier bows himself.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Let me show you how.
The Courtier launches himself at Serlyng. A sonic boom is left in his wake.
Serlyng cannot dodge him in time, and is swept up by the Spirit. The Spirit’s grip is like iron. Serlyng finds himself suddenly flung at tremendous speed down towards the earth.
The Courtier stands in the sky watching.
Serlyng begins to glow whitish-blue, and at the last possible moment a BARRIER of the same hue overshadows him as he crashes into the earth.
The Courtier-Spirit flies down into the canyon SCANNING for Serlyng.
Serlyng emerges from a black hole made by his fall, a little shaken. The Holy Spirit softened his fall, but the impact he still registered a bit. He looks around for his glasses and his saber.
SERLYNG (searching)
Where are you…?
He takes up his sword, and brushes off his glasses. He puts them on, and sighs.
SERLYNG (smiling to himself)
Thank You Lord.
He goes back for his firearm and checks it. With new resolve he stands and presses forward in search of his rival.
From some hidden vantage point, the spirit observes Serlyng. Then, from atop a precipice reveals himself.
Serlyng sights the spirit atop the distant platform. He takes a readied stance with his sword, bracing himself for a rushed attack.
The Courtier-Spirit’s uniform begins to shift of its own accord, and as it does so, the spirit himself softly “walks” down from the cliff on the air itself. He suddenly sports a hairstyle identical to Serlyng’s, and his uniform, with cape and mask mimic the white color-scheme in Serlyng’s clothing. He looks identical to the Christian man, save for his retained imperial cloak and seals. He is as a spirit mirroring the flesh.
The Courtier-Spirit touches his left ear piece and presses a dial. He speaks.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
You see, Serlyng…
Serlyng gasps! His voice sounds so much like his own now, as if it is his voice.
COURTIER-SPIRIT (earnestly)
You don’t forget what GOD has done for you. Look upon me… I am a reflection of your spirit as it appears before God…it is righteous; we are the same and should not war any longer, submit to the WILL of God, put your SOUL in check, Serlyng.
The spirit leaps towards Serlyng, surprising him slightly, but he shows no aggression, his grip slack on the hilt of his weapon.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Your status is of God, you achieved it because of Him and His will for you, and now you may be a testimony to so MANY across this town, and maybe throughout this entire society. Think man: this is the beginning of the PLANS God has laid out for you since before you were formed in your mother’s womb. You enforce the LAW, now live by it. Do what is set before you, the sky is the limit, be encouraged to ACT out what lies within you, it is for His GLORY. First detective, then LIEUTENANT, then COMMISIONER, maybe even DISTRICT ATTORNEY and BEYOND! And all to the glory of God! Why do you war against what is natural to you?
Serlyng looks upon his doppelganger taking it all in: the likeness, the familiarity, the pressure to fulfill his destiny, the grandeur of the one standing before him, who IS him, and all of this MINISTERING unto him what God wants for him and the freedom to pursue it.
SERLYNG (softly)
I want to do what God wants me to do. I want to help people, and for that to bring me closer to Him, make us tighter than ever before. I want to always know that my skills are a gift from ABOVE and that what I do, I do for others out of the goodness of my heart and my desire to serve…
The spirit extends his hand.
Dead silence.
Then…
SERLYNG (steely)
I WILL do it, with patience and humility.
The Courtier-Spirit’s extended hand trembles…
SERLYNG
My decision is FINAL. And right.
The Courtier-Spirit clenches his fist, and a hiss comes from behind his facemask. He ROARS at the heavens, then fires a concentrated beam of searing red fire at his adversary.
Serlyng catches the beam and deflects it with his saber, then discharges the rest emanating from the blade into the sky overhead.
The Christian man sets his eyes upon the Courtier-Spirit with disgust. From within himself, he hears the Holy Ghost quote a comforting, yet powerful saying from the Living Word:
HOLY GHOST
“My burden is easy, and my yoke is light.”
The Courtier-Spirit begins to run at Serlyng, screaming and firing at him madly with his omni-beam.
Serlyng speaks calmly, deflecting each and every blast.
SERLYNG
I will not be persuaded by arrogance and anxiety to push myself further than where God can already carry me. Not frustration. Not glory. Not my family. Neither the shortcomings, nor the successes of my father and grandfather…
Serlyng sheathes his saber, and the power of the Holy Ghost manifests in the form of a blue barrier shielding him from the spirit’s onslaught. He puts his hand to his breast and feels his badge beneath his coat. He then reveals his five-barreled handgun and cocks it.
The Courtier-Spirit ceases fire and flies at Serlyng ready to strike with his rapier.
Serlyng runs to meet him, swift as the wind.
As he prepares to strike, the spirit roars:
COURTIER-SPIRIT
HIS WILL – DOOOOOO!!!
Inches from the enemy, Serlyng whispers:
SERLYNG
His will – I WILL BE.
The blue spirit-barrier falls from before Serlyng, instead engulfing his right hand, as he deftly swats the courtier-Spirit’s rapier blade to the side and out of hand. He leaps atop the spirit.
The Courtier follows his progress up.
Their faces are inches from each other.
And as Serlyng sails over the Courtier’s head, he aims his gun and fires FIVE bullets simultaneously into the Courtier’s face, shooting his mask off.
The spirit falls to the earth heavily, facedown.
Serlyng summersaults and lands perfectly.
The Courtier’s mask falls to the ground smoking with a gaping hole where the “eye” should have been.
Serlyng turns and walks towards the fallen form, gun at the ready.
He bends forward and turns the body over, aiming.
Starring down the five barrels is a twisted and contorted face, dry and black with age, eyes sunken into what’s left of the skull, and mouth frozen in a hideous scowl: the face of DEATH.
Serlyng closes his eyes, satisfied, and he hears the Holy One speak to his heart, saying:
HOLY ONE
Cease WORKS that are not enlivening you.
Point of view facing up from the ground at Serlyng and looking into gun barrels:
SERLYNG
Either the Lord will move, or move me!
Serlyng sheathes his firearm and walks past the corpse, the rays of the sun shine down on him warmly. He turns his face towards it, the light reflecting off his glasses –he smiles at the sun.
The ALARM CLOCK goes off. Serlyng wakes up to the morning sun shining through his apartment window and illuminating his white skin, his chest bare, hair messy; he turns off the alarm. He props himself up, and, putting on his glasses, looks down at his golden detective’s badge catching the light of day. Then he looks out his window, and smiles at the Son.
THE END
7/1/08
Serlyng and the Courtier-Spirit stand several feet away from each other. They stare at one another. Serlyng draws his five-barrel GUN. The spirit draws his RAPIER.
SERLYNG
I cannot think like this anymore… it’s too frustrating, and totally unsatisfying.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
It is so due to your lack of faith. Be patient, and die to yourself; put down your weapon…
SERLYNG
No! This is the only way I can get free, by having faith that my God can supply everything I need all I need by Himself… I stop following you and working like a dog to gain favor I have possessed since I was born.
WIDE shot of the desert and the rocky walls on both sides of Serlyng and the Courtier-Spirit. It is vast and extends for miles.
Serlyng looks at his gun in his right hand then sheaths it. Reaching to his left side, he partially draws his saber…
The Courtier-Spirit touches his right ear piece and begins dialing the keypad. The spirit crouches and holding his rapier in his left hand sequences his OMNI-RAY in his face-mask. Four rays of red light materialize over the surface of the mask, right around the single “eye” in the mask; the rays are situated like four points on a compass.
The wind begins to blow. The Spirit’s cape begins to billow.
Serlyng sights the rays…
The Spirit fires the beam from his “eye”.
Serlyng leaps TWENTY FEET into the air and continues to climb.
The Spirit adjusts his vision to the now airborne Serlyng and fires again.
Serlyng deflects with his saber, and swiftly descends, dashing to the right behind some boulders. He feels for his firearm…
The Spirit begins to fire rapidly at the boulders. Debris flies everywhere.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
This is the unction of God you fight with Serlyng, cease and listen to him, put away doubt and frustration.
Courtier-Spirit stops firing. The light glints off his “eye”.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Surrender to the will of the Lord, and PERFORM Serlyng. Do not be lead to believe that you “REST” in the Lord; it is IDLENESS. The CHRIST Himself performed as well, it is in the history books man. Rejoin me and you will discover the plan set for you and then, you can become as the Christ… you know it is His desire that you be more like Him… it is your purpose man. Become a history-maker!
Courtier-Spirit switches his VISION to XRAY and searches the rubble. His MASK tells him there are no life-readings.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Show yourself Serlyng! Do not hide; embrace this as you once did.
Suddenly Serlyng falls from above the Courtier-Spirit, his saber raised. His blade connects with the Spirit’s defending blade. He remains in the air a few feet above the Spirit of his own propulsion, putting considerable pressure on the Spirit‘s defense.
The Courtier-Spirit holds Serlyng at bay the best he can, but the CHRISTIAN man summons foreign might. With both hands wielding his weapon, the Spirit cannot go for his omni-beam in his mask.
Without warning, Serlyng whips his blade down nearly disarming the Spirit, whose blade veers to the right. Serlyng takes the opening and whips around roundhouse-kicking the Spirit, who sails several yards back.
The Courtier-Spirit crashes into the side of the rocky wall sending a cloud of dust in all directions.
Serlyng stands looking on, his long blonde hair blowing in the wind, his glasses reflecting the sunlight, and his WHITE attire slightly disheveled. He opens the blue buckles binding his coat to let the air in. He looks back towards the crash.
SERLYNG
Don’t you see Spirit? This is the only action I need to perform: fighting worthless, power-seeking performances.
Serlyng reaches into his coat and pulls a black BOOK from the inside pocket. He flips it open. Inside the book is gold badge with his name inscribed and a coat of arms. DETECTIVE is inscribed in big letters.
SERLYNG (smiling at the badge)
I achieved detective status because it was God’s plan for me, not because I had to prove myself to Him or to anyone else.
The dust settles where the Courtier-Spirit fell…
SERLYNG (continued)
I thought I had to PROVE that a Christian could be on the Force. I wanted to look amazing to my family, my church Body (when I could fellowship), but most of all I wanted to show the society that Christians walk quietly but still carry a big gun. I HAD to show them!
BOOOM!
The Courtier shoots straight up into the sky leaving destruction in his wake upon the land. He hovers, sword in hand, and starring down Serlyng.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
YES! Of course you had to show the world! It is mandated saint, “the light of the world”, it is written in the Word of God, and is thus your confirmation, now walk in it.
The Courtier bows himself.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Let me show you how.
The Courtier launches himself at Serlyng. A sonic boom is left in his wake.
Serlyng cannot dodge him in time, and is swept up by the Spirit. The Spirit’s grip is like iron. Serlyng finds himself suddenly flung at tremendous speed down towards the earth.
The Courtier stands in the sky watching.
Serlyng begins to glow whitish-blue, and at the last possible moment a BARRIER of the same hue overshadows him as he crashes into the earth.
The Courtier-Spirit flies down into the canyon SCANNING for Serlyng.
Serlyng emerges from a black hole made by his fall, a little shaken. The Holy Spirit softened his fall, but the impact he still registered a bit. He looks around for his glasses and his saber.
SERLYNG (searching)
Where are you…?
He takes up his sword, and brushes off his glasses. He puts them on, and sighs.
SERLYNG (smiling to himself)
Thank You Lord.
He goes back for his firearm and checks it. With new resolve he stands and presses forward in search of his rival.
From some hidden vantage point, the spirit observes Serlyng. Then, from atop a precipice reveals himself.
Serlyng sights the spirit atop the distant platform. He takes a readied stance with his sword, bracing himself for a rushed attack.
The Courtier-Spirit’s uniform begins to shift of its own accord, and as it does so, the spirit himself softly “walks” down from the cliff on the air itself. He suddenly sports a hairstyle identical to Serlyng’s, and his uniform, with cape and mask mimic the white color-scheme in Serlyng’s clothing. He looks identical to the Christian man, save for his retained imperial cloak and seals. He is as a spirit mirroring the flesh.
The Courtier-Spirit touches his left ear piece and presses a dial. He speaks.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
You see, Serlyng…
Serlyng gasps! His voice sounds so much like his own now, as if it is his voice.
COURTIER-SPIRIT (earnestly)
You don’t forget what GOD has done for you. Look upon me… I am a reflection of your spirit as it appears before God…it is righteous; we are the same and should not war any longer, submit to the WILL of God, put your SOUL in check, Serlyng.
The spirit leaps towards Serlyng, surprising him slightly, but he shows no aggression, his grip slack on the hilt of his weapon.
COURTIER-SPIRIT
Your status is of God, you achieved it because of Him and His will for you, and now you may be a testimony to so MANY across this town, and maybe throughout this entire society. Think man: this is the beginning of the PLANS God has laid out for you since before you were formed in your mother’s womb. You enforce the LAW, now live by it. Do what is set before you, the sky is the limit, be encouraged to ACT out what lies within you, it is for His GLORY. First detective, then LIEUTENANT, then COMMISIONER, maybe even DISTRICT ATTORNEY and BEYOND! And all to the glory of God! Why do you war against what is natural to you?
Serlyng looks upon his doppelganger taking it all in: the likeness, the familiarity, the pressure to fulfill his destiny, the grandeur of the one standing before him, who IS him, and all of this MINISTERING unto him what God wants for him and the freedom to pursue it.
SERLYNG (softly)
I want to do what God wants me to do. I want to help people, and for that to bring me closer to Him, make us tighter than ever before. I want to always know that my skills are a gift from ABOVE and that what I do, I do for others out of the goodness of my heart and my desire to serve…
The spirit extends his hand.
Dead silence.
Then…
SERLYNG (steely)
I WILL do it, with patience and humility.
The Courtier-Spirit’s extended hand trembles…
SERLYNG
My decision is FINAL. And right.
The Courtier-Spirit clenches his fist, and a hiss comes from behind his facemask. He ROARS at the heavens, then fires a concentrated beam of searing red fire at his adversary.
Serlyng catches the beam and deflects it with his saber, then discharges the rest emanating from the blade into the sky overhead.
The Christian man sets his eyes upon the Courtier-Spirit with disgust. From within himself, he hears the Holy Ghost quote a comforting, yet powerful saying from the Living Word:
HOLY GHOST
“My burden is easy, and my yoke is light.”
The Courtier-Spirit begins to run at Serlyng, screaming and firing at him madly with his omni-beam.
Serlyng speaks calmly, deflecting each and every blast.
SERLYNG
I will not be persuaded by arrogance and anxiety to push myself further than where God can already carry me. Not frustration. Not glory. Not my family. Neither the shortcomings, nor the successes of my father and grandfather…
Serlyng sheathes his saber, and the power of the Holy Ghost manifests in the form of a blue barrier shielding him from the spirit’s onslaught. He puts his hand to his breast and feels his badge beneath his coat. He then reveals his five-barreled handgun and cocks it.
The Courtier-Spirit ceases fire and flies at Serlyng ready to strike with his rapier.
Serlyng runs to meet him, swift as the wind.
As he prepares to strike, the spirit roars:
COURTIER-SPIRIT
HIS WILL – DOOOOOO!!!
Inches from the enemy, Serlyng whispers:
SERLYNG
His will – I WILL BE.
The blue spirit-barrier falls from before Serlyng, instead engulfing his right hand, as he deftly swats the courtier-Spirit’s rapier blade to the side and out of hand. He leaps atop the spirit.
The Courtier follows his progress up.
Their faces are inches from each other.
And as Serlyng sails over the Courtier’s head, he aims his gun and fires FIVE bullets simultaneously into the Courtier’s face, shooting his mask off.
The spirit falls to the earth heavily, facedown.
Serlyng summersaults and lands perfectly.
The Courtier’s mask falls to the ground smoking with a gaping hole where the “eye” should have been.
Serlyng turns and walks towards the fallen form, gun at the ready.
He bends forward and turns the body over, aiming.
Starring down the five barrels is a twisted and contorted face, dry and black with age, eyes sunken into what’s left of the skull, and mouth frozen in a hideous scowl: the face of DEATH.
Serlyng closes his eyes, satisfied, and he hears the Holy One speak to his heart, saying:
HOLY ONE
Cease WORKS that are not enlivening you.
Point of view facing up from the ground at Serlyng and looking into gun barrels:
SERLYNG
Either the Lord will move, or move me!
Serlyng sheathes his firearm and walks past the corpse, the rays of the sun shine down on him warmly. He turns his face towards it, the light reflecting off his glasses –he smiles at the sun.
The ALARM CLOCK goes off. Serlyng wakes up to the morning sun shining through his apartment window and illuminating his white skin, his chest bare, hair messy; he turns off the alarm. He props himself up, and, putting on his glasses, looks down at his golden detective’s badge catching the light of day. Then he looks out his window, and smiles at the Son.
THE END
7/1/08
