BLACK:

LEGEND: SPRINGFIELD COLORADO, CHRISTMAS EVE

FADE IN:

EXT. THE TOWN OF SPRINGFIELD ' NIGHT

Snow flurries drift in the air over the quiet Midwestern town. The wind howls softly, a hint of the winter's chill. Somewhere in the town, chimes arouse a faint, unintentional musical sound.

INT. MCKEASY RESIDENCE - NIGHT

Little SUZY sneaks out of her room into the dark hallway and treads delicately

DOWN STAIRS.

She enters the kitchen and with some effort manages to open the fridge door. She reaches inside for a bottle of milk.

She moves to the counter, and stands on her tiptoes as she pours a full cup of milk to its brim, not without spilling vast amounts on the counter. The milk drips on the white tile.

DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

Leaving the bottle of milk, she takes a plate of cookies in with her right hand and the tall cup on her left. She heads for the table next to the Christmas tree.

A SOUND provokes a response from little Suzy, it came from the fire place. She stands agasp. She stares intently into the hollow brick structure. The ash at the bottom of the fireplace swirls in anticipation.

Another SOUND arises and Suzy gets ready to meet Santa Clause.

SUZY
SANTA?

Falling like a stone Santa lands on his back. Firewood and ash fly in all directions creating a cloud of chaos. He holds a M16A1 rifle with a 30 round magazine and a 40mm M203 grenade launcher attached and looks hell-bent on using it.

SANTA
GET DOWN!

Suzy hardly has time to react before three ELF-LIKE CREATURES crash through the windows invading the house. She screams in terror and gets down as instructed. Cookies and milk litter the floor.


SANTA(cont'd)
Sons of BITCHES!

He aims through the sites and begins to fire. One of the creatures immediately goes down. The other two grab cover behind furniture and walls and fire back.

Santa rolls out of the fireplace and slams his back to the couch, grabbing Suzy on the way. She continues to scream over the sounds of gunfire. Santa reloads and cocks his weapon and hands it to Suzy.

SANTA
Point it over the couch and just
fire towards their position, you don't
have to anything honey don't worry.

He bravely reaches for two of the stockings, making himself vulnerable for a short time. Before he is able to return to the safety of the couch he's right arm is grazed by a bullet.

SUZY
SANTA!

SANTA
(falling next to Suzy)
It's on darling I'm okay. Keep
shooting.

She bravely returns fire He empties the stocking on the ground and fills it with some metal objects in his jacket pocket. He closes the stocking tightly and throws it over the couch. And starts doing the same with the next one.

One of the creatures sees it and JUMPS on it. He explodes.
The other one sees his comrade's act of selflessness and reacts accordingly. He throws down his weapon and runs straight for Santa.

SANTA
RUN SUZY!

Santa drops the stocking and the fight begins. First the roll on the floor each trying to get the upper hand.
Finally Santa is able to get up and rip some of the lighting from the tree. He uses it to strangle the creature.

CREATURE
Your mine Fat man!

The creature grabs a COMBAT KNIFE from his boot and uses it to slice Santa's hand causing him to loosen the grip and the creature to become free.

SANTA
You think you can scare me with
a little blood?

The creature throws itself at Santa and tries desperately to stab him.

Suzy stands all the way back in the kitchen; she begins inching forward towards the rifle on the floor. She takes it up in her tiny arms and mistakenly cocks the Grenade launcher. Santa and the creature look at her and jump out of the way.

She fires, blowing the front wall out of the house, Suzy flies backwards from the force. The creature gets up in a cloud of smoke, he cannot see what's around him.

CREATURE
Look how stupid these creatures are
fat man.

Santa's figure appears in the smoke. He breaths heavily.

SANTA
MY name, is Santa.

They run at each other and fight one last time. Santa manages to break the creature's wrist and take the knife away from him.

The creature struggles holding his hand on Santa's hand but to no avail. Santa is able to slowly move the knife forward into his chest plate.

CREATURE
No, no no, wait'¦
SANTA
SHH, SHH. It's ok. You're ok.

The creature dies. Santa gets up and walks to Suzy, who's standing in the kitchen. She holds the handle of the rifle but lets the barrel sit on the floor. Santa takes it.

SUZY
Is it over?

SANTA
You did a good job kid. It's all over
for you but it's just starting for me.

He cocks the gun and starts walking way, and then turns back.

SANTA(cont'd)
Oh I forgot, I got you that pretty
pink bike you asked for but I used
the handles as batons. I'm sure your
mom and dad will get you something
just as special.

He leaves through the gaping hole in the wall. A cold wind blows in carrying with it light snow flakes.

INT. REYNOLDS RESIDENCE ' NIGHT

DAVID REYNOLDS, 16, is on the phone with his mother.

DAVID
Ma you said you'd be here by now,
I have plans.

INTERCUT:

LAW OFFICE - NIGHT

KATHARINE REYNOLDS sits in a dark and quiet office; the light from her computer screen illuminates her features.

KATHARINE
You have plans to go out on Christmas
eve?

DAVID
You're working on Christmas eve.

KATHARINE
That's different-

DAVID
He won't listen to me, I told him
to shower and pick up his toys hours
ago, I don't wanna take care of some
baby all night while my friends-

KATHARINE
Get drunk?

DAVID
He's YOUR accident not mine!

David hangs up the phone. SAM REYNOLDS, 7, stands next to him; tears of anger fill his eyes. David immediately regrets his words.

DAVID
I didn't mean it.

Sam takes off running; David gives chase but can't reach Sam before he enters the bathroom and locks the door.

DAVID
Open the door Sam!

SAM
Go away!

A puppy runs out from Sam's bedroom and stops at the bathroom door, he begins to bark.

DAVID
Sam this dog's gonna be barking all
night.

SAM
Good!

DAVID
Brat. Santa's not coming this year.

SAM
He forgot about us along time ago.

BEAT

DAVID
Sam, the Santa that used to come was
just dad in a fake Santa suit. That's
why he hasn't come back. The real Santa
will only come if your nice.

SAM
I'd rather dad came back in a fake suit.

DAVID
Dad left us with no money. That's why mom
has to work on Christmas eve.

SAM
Go away!

Frustrated, David leaves the door. He mutters angry words to himself. The dog continues to bark at the door. David pours himself a glass of soda.

The barks become whimpers.

Something moves behind a shaded window in the kitchen, David catches a glimpse and investigates. He moves the shade and looks outside, snow falls silently.

A SOUND of GLASS BREAKING averts his attention back to the bathroom door, he stands in front of the window for a moment listening.

DAVID
Sam did you just break-

A TREMENDOUS CRASH shakes the entire house and sends the puppy running back into the bedroom. David looks around confused, it's as if a plane has crashed on the house but he can see no damage.

DAVID
SAM!

He runs to the bathroom door but it's still locked. Without hesitation he breaks it down. His bathroom has been ripped from the house, the sink lies on the street, the bathtub slides on the snow. Water spills from all broken pipes.

Looking up David sees his Sam, who seems to be flailing in the arms of yet another elf creature. They climb the night sky, sickly reindeer leading their way.

DAVID
SAM!

David breathes clouds of steam as he watches the black sky.
He races

OUTSIDE

to the closest house and pounds on the door.

EXT. PEATRY RESIDENCE

Soon he sees KATIE, 9 and ALLAN, 6 coming down the stairs. Katie opens the door.

KATIE
Dave? What's wrong?

DAVID
Katie, I need help I need to talk to
your mom and dad now!

KATIE
We were sitting around the fire and they
fell asleep.

DAVID
Where?

Katie point to the living room.

INSIDE

David walks in the house and moves to the two adults, who've seemingly fallen asleep unintentionally.

DAVID
Mister and misses Peatry I'm sorry
but I have an emergency'¦

He pauses but there is no response. Awkwardly David bends down and nudges Mr. Peatry who snores loudly in response.

Shaking harder it becomes clear that the more David tries to wake him the more intense the sleep. He walks to Mrs. Peatry but to no avail.

KATIE
What's wrong with them?

DAVID
I don't know. Where's your phone?

Katie point to the kitchen. David jogs, quickly grabbing the phone and instinctively dialing 911. The phone rings and ring but there is no answer.

INT. DISPATCH CENTER ' 12:05 A.M

Men and women with headsets on lay facedown on their desks, all of them asleep.

INT. LAW OFFICE ' 12:05 A.M

Katharine Reynolds sleeps on a keyboard, her phone continuously ringing.

PEATRY RESIDENCE ' 12:06 A.M

David hangs up and turns to Katie.

DAVID
When did they fall asleep?

KATIE
A little while ago.
DAVID
Did you hear the noise from my house?

ALLAN
I saw the sleigh!

DAVID
Allan, did you see who made the noise?

ALLAN
Santa's helpers!

DAVID
And your mom and dad fell asleep before
they came?

ALLAN
They fell asleep when it turned Christmas.

DAVID
Christmas?

KATIE
Yeah, our clock rings the bell ever hour.
When it turned Christmas they feel asleep.
Then your house exploded.

The sound of hoofs and jingling bells turns their attention to the window, facing David's damaged house. They cautiously move closer and see Santa and his reindeer parked in the street, gun in hand.

Allan stays back a few feet frozen and astonished.

SANTA
GODDAMN IT! I'm too late!

Katie's eyes bulge with excitement.

KATIE
SANTA!

Santa hears her but takes no chance and takes cover behind the sleigh. David puts his hand over her mouth and ducks beneath the window. Allan is left standing, still frozen.



DAVID
SHH! Don't make a sound. Allan, get down
here!

Santa moves to his red sack and takes out a new rifle with a laser sight. The red light penetrates the window and reflect on Allan's open eyes.

SANTA
Come out!

David Hesitates for a second then gets up. He charges

OUTSIDE

with his hands up. Santa aims the red laser at his heart.

SANTA
Stop there!

DAVID
They took my brother!

SANTA
Are you the Reynolds?

DAVID
How did you know?

SANTA
Your brother was on the naughty list.

DAVID
What? Look do you know where they're
going?

SANTA
Yeah. I do.

DAVID
I'm coming with you. I'm getting my
brother back.

SANTA
I'm too pressed for time to argue.

David climbs of Santa's sleigh.
Beofre getting on Santa walks to Katie and Allan. He takes little caramels from his pocket and gives them both one.

SANTA
Sorry I couldn't do better.

EXT. SKY OVER SPRINGFIELD ' NIGHT

David helps slides a magazine into a Desert eagle and hands it to Santa who put sit in his shoulder holster.

DAVID
What's this list? Why's my brother on
it?

SANTA
The naughty list. Your brother's been
miss behaving for a long time.

DAVID
That's not his fault. Our parents were
divorced.

SANTA
I know'¦ Look David I don't know why
you wanted to come with me, there's
a chance you or I won't make it back.

DAVID
He's my brother. Why did they take him?

A missile roars by from behind narrowly missing the sleigh.

SANTA
Sons of Bi-

Santa maneuvers 180 degrees facing the enemy's rotten old sleigh. Before the enemy sleigh can fire another rocket Santa charges it.

The reindeer collide kicking and biting each other. The elves hold Sam at knife point.

CREATURE
Back off Santa.


DAVID
Sam!

Santa pulls his reindeer back.

CREARURE
Don't follow us fat man. Or the kids
all die.

The old sleigh flies away into the night and disappears.

SANTA
They're going back to their base.

DAVID
What're they doing with those kids?

SANTA
I don't know, but whatever it is,
Santa does not approve.

DAVID
How ill we find them now?

SANTA
I got one more trick up my sleeve.

INT. MAGIK THE GATHERING NIGHTCLUB ' NIGHT

People bounce on the dance floor as music pumps out from every corner of the place. Santa pushes his way through the crowd, David follows behind.

A woman with a skimpy metal suit of armor in a second floor office watches as Santa walks to her.

Santa climbs the stairs two bouncers stand in front of the door. The woman opens the door and whispers something to the bouncers who move out of the way.

The woman's name is SELENIA.

SELENIA
Come on in boys.

They come in and close the door drowning out the nightclub music.
SELENIA
Drink?

SANTA
No. We can't stay.

SELENIA
That's too bad. You two look like you
could show a girl a nice night. Then
again I prefer naughty.

SANTA
You're the only place not effected by
the spell.

SELENIA
(giggling)
You mean adult sleepy time?

DAVID
You bitch! Where'd they take him?

Santa hold David back.

SELENIA
Hold your doggy or I'll have to
cut this meeting short.

SANTA
Look, whoever you gave that spell
to, they're using it for a bad cause
and we need to know where you delivered
it to.

SELENIA
Why should I help?

SANTA
You owe me.

SELENIA
Ha. You remembered. How sweet. Ok.
I'll give you the address. But I don't
to be looking over my shoulder. When
you get there. You kill them all.

SANTA
That's the plan.

She reaches to a drawer and takes out a piece of paper.

SELENIA
Here. Now we're even.

DAVID
Thank you.

EXT. SKY OVER MAUI ' NIGHT

LEGEND: HAWAII, ISLAND OF MAUI

The sleigh flies down and land in the middle of the woods.

DAVID
You think they'll see us?

SANTA
Even if they do they won't be ready.

DAVID
Why are they in Hawaii?

SANTA
It's the furthest thing from the north
pole. Can you use this?

Santa holds up a sniper rifle. David nods.

SANTA
I'll go in first, you stay back and
cover me with that. Maybe I can talk
some sense into them.

DAVID
How would you be able to do that?

SANTA
I know these guys David. They were
all my helpers once.

He cocks a magnum and slides it in the back of his belt. He reaches for a shotgun and starts putting the shells in one by one.

DAVID
They worked for you?

SANTA
They were like my children.

He puts the last shell in. A tear rolls down his check. He cocks the shotgun.

DAVID
Is that all the weapons you're taking?

SANTA
It's all that's left. Go to the top of
the hill. Aim a the cave bellow. Don't
come any closer. I'll get your brother.

DAVID
Please'¦ Don't let him get hurt.

Santa starts walking down the wooded hill toward a cave.

INT. CAVE ' NIGHT

Lanterns line the walls of the cave. Elfish creatures walk around working, carrying wood and bags of cement back and forth.

The children and all in a separate room in the back of the cave strapped in chairs facing a large TV which shows images of war and parents spanking kids. Their eyes are taped open.

Santa stands at the mouth of the cave. No one takes notice of him yet. He takes a grenade from the strap in his chest and throws it inside.

BOOM. The walls shake and dirt showers down from the ceiling. A dust cloud covers the edge of the cave.
Before they have time to react Santa runs in with his shotgun and pumps round after round into the creatures.

One of the creatures is able to get a semi automatic rifle and blind fires toward Santa's location.

Santa dives behind a rock and the bullets spray all round him.

Another creature sneaks behind the rock with a knife. When the creature with the rifle runs out of ammo, the knife wielding elf jumps over the rock.

Santa catches his hand and tries to force it away but the creature is to strong.

POP.

The elf is shot in the head by a sniper bullet.

Santa pulls the body over the rock and uses it as a shield. He stands up with the body and takes out his magnum.

The semi auto rounds hit the body making its blood platter on the lanterns on the wall. Santa aims his magnum at the creature and squeezes the trigger.

More creatures pour out from all the nooks of the cave. Santa rolls out of the way of the oncoming bullets and grabs the dead creature's gun.

He dives behind a rock. He rests his back on the rock and points the gun over the rock and blindly fires.

SANTA
You sons of BITCHEEEES!

EXT. HILL ' SAME TIME

David can no longer se the fighting because it has gone too deep into the cave. He picks up the rifle and trots down the hill.

Cautiously he walks to the mouth of the cave.

The fighting has ceased. No more shots are being fired. The cave seems to breaths as the wind rushes in with a howl.
David holds the sniper rifle in front of him as he walk. Looking down he sees the unnatural blood of the dead elves.

DAVID
Santa?

From the darkness footsteps ring out.

SANTA
Ho ho ho'¦

Santa comes out with a crowd of kids behind him. He carries Sam in his arms.

DAVID
Sam!

David runs to him and grabs Sam.

DAVID
I'm so glad you're okay. I'm
sorry I yelled at you.

SAM
Don't worry about it. I'm not.

David squeezes him harder. Santa gives little caramels to the children all around him.

Sam looks to Santa who has his back turned and winks at one of the kids. He reaches in his socks while still being hugged by his brother and takes out a thin metal blade.

SAM
Merry Christmas.

He stabs David in the back of the neck. They both fall to the ground.

Before Santa can react the other children all take out blades and point it at Santa.

SANTA
Children'¦What're you-

The sound of CLAPPING emerges from a dark part of the cave. A tall elf walks out of the black. His features look cleaner than the other elves. He is RAPHAEL.

SANTA
Raphael? Why? You were my-


RAPHAEL
Favorite little worker bee?

SANTA
You were like my son.

David gasps for air. Sam rolls from his brothers arms and stands next to Raphael.

RAPHAEL
If I were your son you'd realize
what you were doing to us.

SANTA
What do you mean?

(looking at David)

Raphael David is going to die.
He's got nothing to do with this
let him go and you can do
whatever you want with me.

RAPHAEL
He's got nothing to do with it?
Who was I making toys for all those
years? Kids like him! Let him die!
These kids here'¦

(He looks to the children
all round him)

The ones who wouldn't be bossed
around'¦ the ones with stood up
against the meaningless orders
of their parents. They are my
kin. They are my little soldiers.

SANTA
You can't possibly-

RAPHAEL
I will raise them as my own and
when they are ready, we will take
over your precious Christmas eve.

SANTA
You can't do this. These kids have
people that care about them'¦ You can't
brainwash them like this.

RAPHAEL
The king is dead. Long live the king.
The kids surround Santa.

SANTA
No you can't'¦

They get closer and closer until he has no more room to move.

A RED LIGHT shines in from the mouth of the cave. RUDOLF stands there holding a Kalishnikov ready to fire. He takes a drag from his cigarette and spits it out.

RUDOLF
Fuck off Ralph.

RAPHAEL
You red nosed little'¦

RUDOLF
You know how I feel about kids.
Pull them off or you all die.

RAPHAEL
Alright kids drop your knifes.

The metal blades hit the rocks with a CLINK and a CLANK.

RUDOLF
Should I finish him?

SANTA
Not like this.

RUDOLF
He'll be back. SO will the kids.

SANTA
We'll deal with them. Let them go,
we need to take care of David.

Rudolf motions for Raphael to go.

RAPHAEL
Come on kids. We'll be back
when we're ready.

They leave through the back of the cave. Santa runs to David who's unconscious.

SANTA
What took you so long?


RUDOLF
I was in Shanghai. I don't work
for you anymore remember? I'm
freelance now.

SANTA
Now you work for me.

Santa takes a rolled up bunch of hundred from his pocket. Rudolf takes it.

Santa rips a piece of cloth from his jacket and ties it around David's neck. He picks him up with both arms.

SANTA
Where's your ride?

RUDOLF
Right out here.

They leave the cave. Rudolf put another cigarette in his mouth and lights it.

David GASPS and wakes up.

SANTA
Wait! Stop!

He puts David down on the grass.

SANTA
David! Can you hear me?

DAVID
Where's Sam?

SANTA
We're taking you to a hospital.

DAVID
No don't lift me. I'm not
gonna make it. I just want to talk
to Sam.

SANTA
David'¦ Sam is the one who did this to
you.

DAVID
What? No'¦ He wouldn't' do that'¦

SANTA
He was brain washe-

DAVID
(sobbing)
Sam'¦ It's my fault. I blamed him.
It's all my fault.

SANTA
None of this is your fault. We're
going to get Sam back.

DAVID
Don't hurt him. Don't hurt the
other kids either. Please. Santa.
It's not their fault'¦

David struggles to breathe.

SANTA
David!

DAVID
Sam'¦ I'm so sor-

His eyes widen and he exhales for the last time. Santa looks at him with dread but it soon turn to vengeance.

RUDOLF
Sorry.

Santa picks up David's body and walks to Rudolf's sleigh, which runs with two jet engines rather than reindeer.

SANTA
We'll take care of him first then
deal with the rest.

Rudolf gets in the sleigh.

RUDOLF
You still have elves on your side
right?

SANTA
Yeah. I do.

The Jet engines fire up and the sleigh takes off into the night sky.


INT. LAW OFFICE ' NIGHT

Katherine Reynolds wakes up in her office. Booted footsteps echo in the hall.
KATHERINE
Who's there?

Santa appears from the darkness. His face beaten and suit torn.

SANTA
Katherine Reynolds'¦ I remember when
you were just a kid. You wanted
Barbies. Always Barbies.

KATHERINE
I'¦ I don't'¦

SANTA
All he wanted was to help his
brother'¦

A look of realization flashed in her eyes, followed by dismay.

KATHERINE
David'¦

SANTA
I'm sorry.

EXT. ROOF ' NIGHT

Rudolf and Santa sit on the roof of a building overlooking the city.

RUDOLF
You know, sometimes you have to
ask yourself why these things are
happening to you. Is it all them
or did you have a part in bringing
this thing about.

SANTA
I know I had a part in it. All
Raphael ever wanted was to be
acknowledges.

RUDOLF
So you really never told him he was
your son?

FADE OUT:

THE END.

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