Huge basalt temple, massive columns. Steps half-hidden under the red sand.
Wind blows, the only sound is rustling of sand grains.
EXT. TEMPLE ROOF - SAME
MR. JOHNS (late 30s) timidly looks down. The DEVIL stares at Mr. Johns.
DEVIL
Don"t you believe in me, son? Jump down and legions of my minions will carry you on their wings to the kingdom of eternal glory.
JOHNS
Er...It"s an important decision, isn"t it? I mean I need some time to think it over.
DEVIL
(sneering)
There is no place for weakness and hesitation in my dominion. You must make your decision now.
Johns takes one indecisive step towards the roof"s edge, when a shrill cry snaps him back to:
EXT. ROOFTOP, BRIXTON- DAY
Dilapidated building, attic windows shattered, window frames wrapped in cobwebs. Pigeon droppings and all sorts of trash.
Mr. Johns balances on the edge of the roof. MRS. JOHNS (30s), his wife, glares at him.
MRS. JOHNS
What do you think you are doing, you old fool? You wanna dump me like this, with a full load of kids and a bank balance of zero? Don't even think about
it! Gimme some money; and then jump off the roof as much as you please.
She rushes to Johns and tries to snatch his hand, he steps back along the roof edge. He trips and regains his balance with difficulty. Mrs. Johns blanches.
MRS. JOHNS
Alright, alright, old man, I was just kidding. Kidding. I don"t want you to jump. No, please don"t do it. We used to have fun. Remember good old days? We had lots of fun then.
Johns stares at her dully.
MRS. JOHNS (CONTD.)
Remember how I fell in the lake out of the boat and you tried to drag me in and you tumbled in, too? You remember that, do you?
John stares.
MRS. JOHNS
Now come on. Let"s go home. Home. Come on, get offa this roof.
She reaches for him, he steps backward.
JOHNS
My father told me to jump.
MRS. JOHNS
(infuriated)
You father? Old mean bastard? He told you that? He must go and stick his crazy head up his ass, that"s what he must do!
JOHNS
He promised that billions of his angels would carry me on their wings to eternal glory.
Mrs. Johns glares, her hands on her hips.
MRS. JOHNS
Eternal glory. Hah. He didn"t even help us with mortgages, that"s why we are stuck in this slum. So much for his eternal glory! Tell him go and fuck himself!
EXT. TEMPLE ROOF - DAY
Devil paces the roof impatiently. Johns turns to him, blinking slowly
JOHNS
She told me to tell you you should go and fuck yourself.
DEVIL
Women!
JOHNS
May be I shouldn"t jump after all.
DEVIL
Bugger. I told you- you shouldn"t have married her in the first place.
EXT. ROOFTOP, BRIXTON- DAY
Johns faces his wife, his forehead wrinkled.
JOHNS
He told me I shouldn"t have married you.
MRS. JOHNS
Yeah. Right. And leave me with child, that"s what he means? That"s what you wanted to do? You scum!
JOHNS
You shouldn"t call me that name, Martha, I"m of noble stock, I am, I ain"t gonna listen to you calling me names.
MRS. JOHNS
Scum! Bastard! Trash! Mongrel!
JOHNS
Shut up, Martha.
He steps up to her swiftly and slaps her across the face.
Mrs. Johns pushes him in the chest. He stumbles and falls off the roof, screaming.
MRS. JOHNS
Go to Hell!
EXT. TEMPLE ROOF - DAY
Johns falls off the roof, howling.