Lux-ferre
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twas grace that taught my heart to fear
and grace my fear relieved
**
IN LIMBO
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - DARK
Faint sounds - a rustle of feathers and the occasional brush of cloth over metal. The voice of the FALLEN LUCIFER cuts the dark, musical but resigned, and weary.
EXT. HEAVEN - DAY
A white marble path leads from a white marble forum out into a vista of meadows and orchards. The ANGELS - paragons of innocence - walk amongst the flowers, pick the fruit, and chase one another above the trees. An almost invisible glow radiates from the entire landscape.
A lattice of leaves move against the sky, and sunlight filters through each gap.
EXT. HEAVEN - SUNRISE
The horizon sky is red around a dark gold sun, just beginning to rise.
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - DARK
Sounds of effort. A pale light grows, outlining a hand pressed hard against a mirrored wall, nails bitten right down and trails of blood dried on each finger. With an expulsion of breath, the light dies.
EXT. MEADOW, HEAVEN - DAY
The meadows and orchards are abandoned, but still gleam as if lit from within; the afternoon sun casts a yellow tinge. A seven-year-old angel's feet walk through the grass the YOUNG LUCIFER, green and revelling in sunshine. At his every footfall, narcissus flowers sprout, blossom and wilt. A breeze stirs the plants and the feathers of the angel's wings.
He stops. Flowers continue to bloom around his feet.
Around a pool of water, clusters of narcissus buds have grown wild.
YOUNG LUCIFER runs. The flowers at his feet shrivel and die.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - DAY
Kneeling by the pool, the child's fingers stroke a bud into opening. The blossom stretches to his touch; the petal plucks itself from the stem and flutters down into the water.
Ripples briefly obscure the child, staring at the surface of the pool, at the long red hair and golden eyes. A breeze disturbs the water and lifts his hair the angel recoils slightly.
YOUNG LUCIFER has never seen his reflection before.
Gradually, the boy's curiosity draws him back; tracing the contours of his face, he studies his reflection.
YOUNG LUCIFER's hand reaches out, outlining his image in the water and marring it.
The pool's surface smoothes itself before the angel's eyes. Staring, his lips lift in an almost-smile.
EXT. MEADOW - DAY
Several years later. The meadows and orchards have not changed, nor have their occupants. The ANGELS are at their tasks: tending the orchards; growing flowers; lining clouds. One plays a lyre.
A trail of wilted narcissus lead to LUCIFER, sitting by the pool of water. Every so often he grows another flower, but for the most part gazes at his reflection. He does not sing.
Several ANGELS glance up from their tasks to stare at the boy. Their faces are concerned.
LUCIFER shifts to catch the full sunlight on his shoulders; golden eyes stare back at him from the pool. A flower in hand, he skims its petals across the surface of the water, sending ripples over his reflection.
A soft chuckle and another ripple.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - DAY
LUCIFER lies on his stomach, chin propped over his hands, lips moving. His eyes remain fixed on the water.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - NIGHT
Leaning over the surface, LUCIFER strains to see in the darkness.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - SUNRISE
LUCIFER sits by the pool, three fingers combing back and forth in the water, watching the sky turn all the colours of morning.
The morning star blinks and dwindles as the sun begins to rise; the angel basks in light and the first full glimpse of his reflection for the day.
EXT. OUTSIDE THE FORUM - DAY
THE SUMMONS, with no more to him than his message, walks off the steps of the forum and makes his way toward the meadows.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - DAY
LUCIFER's reflection. Its lips mime his words.
EXT. MEADOW - DAY
THE SUMMONS walks through the grass
and crushes a wilted narcissus flower underfoot.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - DAY
The reflection's lips mime.
LUCIFER looks up from the pool.
THE SUMMONS stares down at LUCIFER from across the pool, his shadow falling across the angel's reflection. The two stare at one another.
LUCIFER continues to stare.
THE SUMMONS stares, surprise slipping briefly over his features, before smoothing back into blankness.
He is not used to being questioned.
LUCIFER stares at him.
A pause.
LUCIFER's reflection stares back at him.
LUCIFER's reflection shakes his head slightly.
A stronger shake of the head.
LUCIFER stares down into the water, shaking his head continuously.
LUCIFER looks up.
EXT. POOL OF WATER - NIGHT
Lying on his stomach, perpendicular to the pool, LUCIFER gazes at his reflection. His fingers lightly trace the image in the water.
He leans further over the pool and touches his features to his reflection's...
Its forehead...
And mouth.
FADE TO:
INT. HALL OF JUDGEMENT - LIGHT
GOD sits on his throne and THE SEVEN Angels of the Revelation sit below.
Standing before them, flanked by a GUARD, LUCIFER shouts at all and sundry.
GOD and THE SEVEN appear impervious to the angel's words.
The FIFTH ANGEL signals to the GUARD, who knocks LUCIFER to the ground.
As the verdict is given, THE SEVEN bow their heads; LUCIFER's GUARD hauls him to his feet.
INT. HOLDING CELL - SEMI-DARK
A white wall. Sounds of a chained struggle, interspersed with gagged screams. A line of blood hits the wall.
The ARCHANGEL MICHAEL stands straight and blank.
Kneeling, LUCIFER's ankles are manacled to the floor, his shoulders strain, his wrists are tied over his head. His back arches. A large amount of blood trails down his body and is matted in his hair.
The Archangel takes a cross-shaped brand from a raised fireplace.
The sound of burning flesh and agonised screams. LUCIFER's back convulses violently.
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - LIGHT
FALLEN LUCIFER is thrown into a room. He raises himself up long enough to see that he is surrounded by mirrors, before the room is plunged into darkness.
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - DARK
The sound of a lock being turned and many bolts sliding into place.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - DARKNESS
FALLEN LUCIFER kneels where he was thrown.
In silence, he shouts and hits the walls.
Tearing at his wings and hair in desperation, FALLEN LUCIFER sobs wildly on the floor.
Exhausted, he collapses into sleep.
(pause) Do I still love you? ... I don't know.Wings enclosing him, FALLEN LUCIFER huddles in a corner, head buried against his knees.
His head jerks up.
EXT. FIELD OF ARMAGEDDON - LIGHT
The ANGELS of God and the daevas of the Beast in battle.
A small host of ANGELS cut through the last ring of guards and slay the Beast. The mostly slaughtered army of daevas wither into dust.
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - DARKNESS
Once more, the FALLEN LUCIFER sits huddled in a corner. His wings are loosely drawn around him, and his head rests back against the wall.
A pause.
A sound.
EXT. DOOR - LIGHT
On the door is a depressed handprint, covered in runic symbols. A hand presses against the lock and begins to turn it with some difficulty.
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - DARK
The sound of receding bolts.
The door is pushed open. The flood of reflected light blinds.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. MIRRORED ROOM - LIGHT
A YOUNG ANGEL stands hesitant in the doorway, staring.
On the floor, amongst ancient feathers and bits of torn cloth, FALLEN LUCIFER gradually pushes himself to his knees, eyes fixed on his reflection in the mirror before him.
Studying the image, his fingers trace the contours of his face it is severely scarred. Eventually, he presses his forehead branded with the cross to the mirror, staring into the gold eyes.
Beat.
FINIS
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