AUGUST 14, 2003, TIME UNKNOWN
Hardcastle’s gun is aimed straight at Baker’s heart. Carreau steps in front of Baker immediately, holding out a restraining hand.
CARREAU: Put that down. What are you doing?
Novak takes the camera from Sophia and trains it on Hardcastle.
HARDCASTLE: Put that away.
NOVAK: No. Whatever happens here, it happens on camera.
He gives her an angry look.
HARDCASTLE: See this?
He reaches over to Vanya and yanks on her collar. She jerks away angrily, but not before the movement reveals a necklace of darkening bruises around her throat.
HARDCASTLE: She did that.
NOVAK: That’s impossible. She was with us the whole time.
CARREAU: The door was barred. She could not have gotten out.
BAKER: I haven’t done anything. I don’t even know what’s happening, please . . .
HARDCASTLE: She was out there. She was crying. We went to help her, but she sounded crazy. Babbling nonsense. We started to bring her back and she went along at first, but then she attacked Vanya. She would have killed her if I hadn’t—
KAPOOR: Will. They’re obviously not the same person. I mean, they are, but—
Novak’s hands are shaking, and so is the camera. Sophia whimpers beside her, clearly terrified.
CARREAU: Where did you get that gun, Will?
Hardcastle looks down at the revolver.
HARDCASTLE: I don’t know.
KAPOOR: You said you found it.
HARDCASTLE: I don’t actually remember picking it up. Did you see me pick it up?
Kapoor shakes her head. Hardcastle swears.
HARDCASTLE: What the hell is happening?
NOVAK: I’ll tell you what isn’t happening. No one is shooting anyone else. Put that thing away.
Hardcastle hesitates.
NOVAK: She was with us the whole time, Will.
He grunts. Reluctantly, he tucks the revolver into his belt. Baker lets out a sob of relief, digging her fingers into her hair.
Something bangs against the back wall. Everyone jumps; Baker scurries away from the altar. The bang comes again, and then comes a croaking, groaning voice, each syllable strained and stretched.
[UNKNOWN]: He waits.
Another bang. Another, each at a different point along the wall. The thuds come faster and faster until they’re like hail, striking at the roof and the sides of the building. The wood creaks and cracks. Sophia is screaming. They all draw back, away from the cacophony.
A huge crack spreads across the roof, splitting the mural in two. The walls bulge inward, splinters of wood flying under the unseen onslaught.
KAPOOR: It’s going to come down! We have to get out of here.
Novak reaches for Sophia. Carreau picks her up instead.
CARREAU: I’ve got her. Don’t worry.
The camera dangles by its strap from Novak’s wrist as she helps with the effort to unblock the door. The pew falls to the ground, momentarily drowning out the ferocious noise around them, and they scramble outside.
HARDCASTLE: Jesus Christ.
Novak gets a good distance away before she turns and, with shaking hands, lifts the camera to capture the sight before them. A roiling mass of terns fills the sky. One by one they plunge from the swirling cloud and plummet, striking full-force against the church. Black sludge drips from the walls, the roof, as the birds lose cohesion in death, reverting to that strange liquid.
All at once, the building collapses. The birds cease their assault, but continue to swarm up above. Their silence is somehow obscene.
Lightning flashes in the distance, illuminating a six-winged shadow.
HARDCASTLE: The bunker. We can take shelter in the bunker. Come on. Run!
Baker grabs Novak’s arm to help her, and they flee.