Year Zero: a Nine Inch Nails rock opera (rough draft)

YEAR ZERO

A Nine Inch Nails rock opera in three acts

Music and Lyrics by Nine Inch Nails

Book by dsubnet0@gmail.com

 

Act I

 

***

Street Preachers

Desc: Street preachers denounce the reign of G. John arrives and makes better arguments than them all.

 

 

EXT. A STREET IN THE GRITTY DOWNTOWN OF CAPITAL CITY

EVERY DAY IS EXACTLY THE SAME HERE: THE TRANSIENTS AND CITY FOLK MAKE THEIR DREARY WAY TO AND FROM THEIR OCCUPATIONS FIGHTING AGAINST MOBS OF CITIZENS AS BEAT DOWN AS THEY ARE.

 

SOME OF THE STREET FOLK HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THEIR PROBLEMS ARE DUE TO THE LEADER OF THE STATE, KNOWN ONLY AS “G”. THESE ARE THE STREET PREACHERS.

 

[Capital G]

STREET PREACHER 1

we pushed a button and elected him to office and uh

he pushed a button and it dropped a bomb

 

STREET PREACHER 2

you pushed a button and could watch it on the television

those motherfuckers didn’t last too long

 

WEALTHY MAN IN THE CROWD

i’m sick of hearing bout the haves and the have nots

have some personal accountability

 

STREET PREACHER 3

the biggest problem with the way that we’ve been doing things is

the more we let you have the less that i’ll be keeping for me

 

ALL

well we used to stand for something

now we’re on our hands and knees

traded in our god for this one

he signs his name with a capital G

 

JOHN ENTERS. HE IS THE UNOFFICIAL LORD OF THE STREET PREACHERS. HE IS HANDSOME AND INTELLIGENT. HE IS ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE ALICE AND HIS RIGHT-HAND MAN JAMES.

 

JOHN

don’t give a shit about the temperature in guatemala

don’t really see what all the fuss is about

ain’t gonna worry bout no future generations and a

i’m sure somebody’s gonna figure it out

don’t try to tell me how some power can corrupt a person

we haven’t had enough to know what it’s like

we’re only angry cause we wish we were in his position

now nod your head because you know that i’m right – all right!

 

ALL

well we used to stand for something

but forgot what that could be

there’s a lot of me inside you

maybe you’re afraid to see

 

well we used to stand for something

now we’re on our hands and knees

traded in our god for this one

he signs his name with a capital G

 

* * *

The press conference

 

INT. PRESS CHAMBER

G IS HOLDING COURT WITH THE REPORTERS FROM BEHIND A PODIUM. HE IS RELAXED AND FULL OF SMILES, EXCEPT WHEN SMILES WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE; THEN HE IS APPROPRIATELY CONSIDERATE.

 

FEMALE REPORTER

G, to what do you attribute your fantastic success in the political arena? How are you able to empathize with such a vast section of the population?

 

G

Ha ha, I don’t really know! I guess that…

 

[The Collector]

 

G (sings)

 

i pick things up

i am a collector

and things, well things

they tend to accumulate

i have this net

it drags behind me

and it picks up feelings

for me to feed upon

 

there are times, plenty of times

i wish i could let it go

but they start to breathe

and they start to grow inside me

 

G IS NOW SINGING TO HIMSELF. THE REPORTERS DO NOT HEAR THIS. THEY CONTINUE TO LOB QUESTIONS AT HIM AND LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS BEING GIVEN IN THEIR REALITY

 

there are times, plenty of times

i wish i could let it go

but they start to make me think

things i don’t want to know

 

i’m trying to fit it all inside

i’m trying to open my mouth wide

i’m trying not to choke and swallow it all

swallow it all, swallow it all, swallow it all

 

i am the plague

i am the swarm

all your hurt sticks on me

and i keep it warm

they make me stay

they won’t let me leave

there are so god damned many of them

it gets hard to breathe

i’m trying to fit it all inside

i’m trying to open my mouth wide

i’m trying not to choke inside

i am a good boy and i will swallow it all

swallow it all, swallow it all, swallow it all

 

G SNAPS BACK INTO REALITY AND BEGINS TO POINT AT REPORTS STRUGGLING TO ASK A QUESTION.

 

every last one, every last one

every last one, every last one

 

are you listening?

 

yes i am building something bigger than the world

 

TO HIMSELF

 

something terrible with all of this

 

* * *

The rape of Josephine

 

INT. BEDROOM IN THE EXECUTIVE PALACE

G’S WIFE JOSEPHINE ARRANGES HERSELF IN THE MIRROR. SHE IS EXTREMELY BEAUTIFUL, SEXY TO THE POINT OF UNREALITY, BUT THERE IS A TELLING CHARACTERISTICS IN HER MOVEMENTS THAT NOT ONLY IS SHE VERY UNHAPPY BEHIND HER WIFELY SMILE, SHE HAS STARTED TO COME UNDONE MENTALLY AS SHE TRIES TO THRIVE WITHIN THE OPPRESSIVE PATRIARCHY OF THE STATE.

 

G ENTERS

 

G

Hello, Josie, I’m sorry I’m late. The press conference ran long and then the Chief of the Guard talked my ear off about those street preachers again.

 

HE LOOKS UP TO SEE JOSEPHINE STANDING ACROSS THE ROOM IN A STRIKING, SEXY POSE. HE JUST SMILES AT HER AND CONTINUES TO EMPTY HIS POCKETS, GLANCING OVER PAPERS, CLEANING HIS NAILS AT THE VANITY, ETC.

 

G

He wants to mobilize four additional units just to prowl through Dirtytown looking for subversives, and I told him that that just couldn’t be justified.

 

JOSEPHINE HAS WALKED ACROSS THE ROOM AND KISSES HIM DEEPLY, OR TRIES TO.

 

G

I said, “If you want an excuse to show your big black boots in town, I can organize a parade for you, but I don’t want you out there just busting heads whenever you want.” I think he’s started drinking again and I don’t know what-

 

JOSEPHINE (realizing she has been too subtle)(sings)

[Vessel]

 

i let you put it in my mouth

i let it get under my skin

i let you pump it through my veins

i let you take me from within

You tell me what I can and cannot do

same thing I’ve heard a hundred times before

when i put you inside of me

none of that matters anymore

 

MUSIC CONTINUES WITHOUT CHORUS AS JOSEPHINE UNDRESSES G AND HERSELF AND THEY GET INTO BED.

 

my god

can it go any faster?

oh my god

i don’t think i can last here

my god

can it go any faster?

oh my god

i don’t think i can last here

 

JOSEPHINE

i am you and you are me

we will never be alone

i have finally found my place in everything

i have finally found my home

i can leave all of this flesh behind

i can see right through the whole facade

i am becoming something else

i am a turning into god

 

G HAS FINALLY GOTTEN INTO THE SWING OF THINGS (PERHAPS PLAYED OUT ABSTRACTLY), AND JOSEPHINE SINGS TO HERSELF AS SHE SATISFIES HER COMPULSION.

 

JOSEPHINE

my god

can it go any faster?

oh my god

i don’t think i can last here

my god

can it go any faster?

oh my god

i don’t think i can last here

my god

can it go any faster?

oh my god

i don’t think i can last here

my god

can it go any faster?

oh my god

i don’t think i can last here

 

* * *

 

John and Alice in bed

 

INT. A BOHEMIAN LOFT IN CAPITAL CITY’S “ARTISTIC” DISTRICT.

JOHN AND ALICE HAVE JUST FINISHED PLAYING OUT THEIR OWN VERSION OF G’S AND JOSEPHINE’S SCENE, EXCEPT THEIRS WAS ONE OF GREAT MUTUAL LOVE AND FIERCE PASSION FOR EACH OTHER.

 

BUT AFTERWARDS, JOHN IS MOROSE.

 

ALICE

What is it?

 

JOHN

I can see…where this is going…and I can see…I’m going to have to break some promises…in order to do the right thing.

 

ALICE

You know better than anyone else I’ve ever met what the right thing is. And if that’s what’s most important, why does it upset you?

 

[The Line Begins to Blur]

 

JOHN (sings)

there are things that i said i would never do

there are fears that i can not believe have come true

for my soul is too sick and too little and too late

and myself i have grown too weary to save

 

the more i stay down here

the more it’s not so clear

the more i stay down here

the more i disappear

as far as i have gone

i knew what side i’m on

but now i’m not so sure

the line begins to blur

 

is there somebody on top of me?

i don’t know, i don’t know

isn’t anybody stopping me?

i don’t know, i don’t know

well i’m trying to hold my breath

i don’t know, i don’t know

just how far down can i go?

i don’t know, i don’t know

 

as i lie here and stare

the fabric starts to tear

it’s far beyond repair

and i don’t really care

as far as i have gone

i knew what side i’m on

but now i’m not so sure

the line begins to blur

 

 

* * *

Josephine goes nuts

 

INT. PALACE MASTER BATHROOM AND BEDROOM

 

JOSEPHINE SITS BY TOILET IN THE THROWS OF MORNING SICKNESS

 

[Demon Seed]

 

JOSEPHINE (sings)

it keeps growing

and i can feel it breathe

i have been trying

to behave myself

it keeps growing

and i can feel it breathe

i have been trying

to tolerate you

 

well i am reaching the point

well i am reaching the point

well i am reaching the point

well i am reaching the point

 

i thought maybe

i thought this would go away

but it continues

the only constant

every day

stronger

 

i will use my voice

and i will use my fist

to destroy

everything i can

 

SHE BEGINS TO DESTROY THE FINE FURNISHINGS OF THE ROOMS

 

JOSEPHINE

i will use my voice

and i will use my fist

to destroy

everything i can

 

now i know

what this is all about

now i know

exactly what i am

 

now i know

what this is all about

now i know

exactly what i am

 

THE ROYAL GUARD ENTERS AND SECURES JOSEPHINE. SHE IS TAKEN TO THE INSTITUTION.

 

OUTSIDE THE ROOM, G AND THE DOCTOR

 

DOCTOR (spoken)

She hasn’t harmed the baby. But for the time being she must be kept here or else she will.

 

G (spoken)

Will she ever be the same?

 

DOCTOR (spoken)

That’s up to her.

 

INSIDE THE ROOM, IN A STRAIGHT-JACKET

 

JOSEPHINE (sings)

these is a seed

inside of me

that makes me

 

* * *

The Rebels are incited

 

[news of Josephine's "rape" and imprisonment. This is the last straw. John, James, and the rebels grab their guns.]

 

* * *

G’s realization

 

INT. PALACE OFFICE, NIGHT

G IS ALONE AND DRUNK, HEARING THE UNREST OUTSIDE AND IN THE PRESS

 

[Echoplex]

 

G (sings)

nice and high and far apart

just like they said

i built this place with broken parts

just like they said

you chip away the old version of you

you’d be surprised at what you can do

i’m safe in here

irrelevant

just like they said

 

my voice just echoes off these walls

 

you feel me breathe

i am watching you

i see it all

the many ways you can’t get to me

i see it all

i see the hell you put yourself through

oh the things i could do (if i wanted to)

 

my voice just echoes off these walls

my voice just echoes off these walls

i don’t need anything at all

my voice just echoes off these walls

 

and i just slowly fade away

 

you will never ever get to me in here

 

* * *

G’s conversation with John

 

Desc: John is captured and brought before G. They speak, but as they speak, the rebels silently invade and slaughter the royal guard, freeing John and casting G out onto the streets to be dealt with by the Street folk.

 

INT. PALACE OFFICE

THE ROYAL GUARD ENTERS WITH JOHN IN CHAINS

 

HEAD GUARD

We caught him trying to set charges in your bedroom.

 

G

Put him down. We need to have a talk.

 

[My Violent Heart]

(sings)

you and i we may look the same

 

JOHN (sings)

but we are very far apart

 

G (sings)

there’s bullet holes where my compassion used to be

 

JOHN (sings)

and there is violence in my heart

into fire you can send us

from the fire we return

you can label us a consequence

of how much you have to learn

 

G (sings)

you can try but you’ll never understand

this is something you will never understand

 

JOHN (sings)

can you hear it now?

hear it coming now?

can you hear it now?

 

on hands and knees

we crawl

you can not stop us all

you wear our bones

our skin

we will not let you in

 

G (sings)

you have set something in motion

much greater than you’ve ever known

standing there in your all your grand naivete

about to reap what you have sown

time will feed upon your weaknesses

and soon you’ll lose the will to care

when you return to the place that you call home

we will be there

we will be there

 

JOHN (sings)

on hands and knees

we crawl

you can not stop us all

our blood

will stay

we will not go away

 

THE REBELS ENTER AND SLAY THE GUARDS

 

JOHN AND THE REBELS (sings)

on hands and knees

we crawl

you can not stop us all

our blood

our grace

will never leave this place

 

THE REBELS SET UP G TO KILL HIM, BUT JOHN STAYS THEIR HAND, ORDERING THEM INSTEAD TO TOSS HIM UPON THE MERCY OF THE STREET FOLK.

 

 

 

Act II

 

 

 

John in office

 

Desc: John is faced with the day-to-day tasks of being in charge, and he finds himself poorly suited for it.

 

 

INT. PALACE OFFICE

 

JOHN SITS ASSAULTED BY THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNING. AIDES, POLITICIANS, AND REPORTERS SWARM AROUND HIM, ALL CLAMORING FOR HIS ATTENTION.

 

[Me, I'm Not]

 

JOHN (sings)

and it’s happening

never planned on this

you got something i need?

kind of dangerous

and i’m losing control

i’m not used to this

what you want from me?

i’m not used to this

can’t seem to shut it off

this thing i’ve begun

and it’s hard to tell – just

where it’s coming from

and it’s hard to see

what i’m capable of

and it’s hard to believe – just

what i’ve become

 

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

 

i can swallow it down

keep it all inside

i define myself

by how well i hide

feel it coming apart

well at least i tried

i should have won the war

by knowing not to fight

if i take it all back

some way somehow

if i knew back then

what i know right now

 

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

hey

can we stop?

me, i’m not

 

* * *

Alice consoles John

 

INT. PALACE

 

ALICE SEES JOHN SUFFERING HAVING ACHIEVED HIS ‘VICTORY’.

 

[Right Where It Belongs]

ALICE (sings)

see the animal in his cage that he built

are you sure what side you’re on?

better not look him too closely in the eye

are you sure what side of the glass you are on?

 

see the safety of the life you have built

everything where it belongs

feel the hollowness inside of your heart

and it’s all right where it belongs

 

what if everything around you

isn’t quite as it seems

what if all the world you think you know

is an elaborate dream?

 

and if you look at your reflection

is that all you want it to be?

what if you could look right through the cracks

would you find yourself – find yourself afraid to see?

 

what if all the world’s inside of your head

just creations of your own?

your devils and your gods, all the living and the dead

and you’re really all alone?

 

you can live in this illusion

you can choose to believe

you keep looking but you can’t find the woods

while you’re hiding in the trees

 

what if everything around you

isn’t quite as it seems

what if all the world you used to know

is an elaborate dream?

 

and if you look at your reflection

is that all you want to be?

what if you could look right through the cracks

would you find yourself – find yourself afraid to see?

 

* * *

Josephine’s revenge

 

Desc: Josephine, who has been freed from the institution, comes upon a beaten G crawling the streets.

Notes: We could use another verse.

 

 

EXT. STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY

 

G HAS SPENT THE TIME SINCE HIS OVERTHROW HIDING IN SHADOWS AND ALLEYS. WHEN HE IS RECOGNIZED, HE IS ABUSED.

 

IT IS IN SUCH A STATE THAT JOSEPHINE FINDS HIM. JOSEPHINE WEARS CLOTHES THAT INDICATE HER LAST RESIDENCE WAS IN THE INSTITUTION, HAVING BEEN FREED AT SOME POINT DURING THE REVOLUTION. BLOOD STAINS INDICATE SHE HAS EITHER MISCARRIED OR BRUTALLY ABORTED HER PREGNANCY.

 

[Piggy]

 

JOSEPHINE (sings)

hey pig

yeah you

hey pig piggy pig pig pig

all of my fears came true

black and blue and broken bones you left me here i’m all alone

my little piggy needed something new

 

SHE PERIODICALLY ABUSES G THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SONG, WITH THE HELP OF STREET FOLK THAT SHE HAS WON OVER TO HER LUNACY.

 

JOSEPHINE (sings)

nothing can stop me now

cause i don’t care anymore

nothing can stop me now

cause i don’t care

nothing can stop me now

cause i don’t care anymore

nothing can stop me now

cause i just don’t care

 

hey pig

nothing’s turning out the way you planned

hey pig there’s a lot of things i hoped you could help me understand

what am i supposed to do i lost my shit because of you

 

nothing can stop me now

cause i don’t care anymore

nothing can stop me now

cause i don’t care

nothing can stop me now

cause i don’t care anymore

nothing can stop me now

cause i just don’t care

 

JOSEPHINE BEGINS TO DANCE, JOINED BY HER FOLLOWERS

 

JOSEPHINE AND HER MINIONS

nothing can stop me now

nothing can stop me now

nothing can stop me

 

nothing can stop me now

nothing can stop me

 

nothing can stop me now

nothing can stop

 

* * *

James’s jealously

 

Desc: James reveals that he is both jealous of John’s power and jealous of Alice who gets to share a bed with John. G overhears.

 

 

EXT. STREETS SURROUNDING THE PALACE

 

JAMES IS DRUNK AND FIGHTING HIS WAY THROUGH THE ADORING CROWDS TO GET CLOSE TO THE BALCONY WHERE JOHN AND ALICE ARE GREETING THE CITIZENS. AT SOME POINT G ENTERS AND EAVESDROPS IN THE BACKGROUND.

 

[All the Love in the World]

 

JAMES (sings)

watching all the insects march along

seem to know just right where they belong

smears of face reflecting in the chrome

hiding in the crowd i’m all alone

 

no one’s heard a single word i’ve said

they don’t sound as good outside my head

looks as though the past is here to stay

i’ve become a million miles away

 

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

 

all the jagged edges disappear

colors all look brighter when you’re near

all the stars afire in the sky

sometimes i get so lonely i could

 

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

 

JAMES AND G

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

why do you get all the love in the world?

 

[POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL LYRICS:

why am i always watching from the outside?

on the other side of the glass behind glass

always watching everyone separate

watching always don't touch this is getting deeper

as time goes by the water's getting colder

here i am surrounded by people but still all alone

even with myself imprisoned in my head

and there doesn't seem to be any way to get out

and i am so fucking sick of here wish i was there

right beside is still a million miles away

behind these bars in a rut anyplace will do

 

hello? didn't think so

broadcasting only static coming in

no one can hear me when i'm in here]

 

* * *

G recruits James

 

Notes: We could use another verse.

 

 

EXT. STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY

 

G CATCHES UP WITH JAMES. HE HAS HEARD JAMES EXPRESSING HIS FRUSTRATION AND THINKS HE’S FOUND THE NEW FACE OF HIS RETURN TO POWER.

 

[God Given]

 

G (sings)

hey man

please don’t make a sound

take a look around

can’t you see what’s right in front of you?

have a little taste

no more time to waste

you don’t want to get left behind, because it’s all coming down right now

how hard is it to see?

put your faith in me

i sure wouldn’t want to be

praying to the wrong piece of wood

you should

get where you belong

everything they know is wrong

come on, sing along everybody now

 

god given

and he gives us sight

and we see the light

and it burns so bright

now we know we’re right

when his kingdom come

and thy will be done

we have just begun

we’re the chosen ones

 

i would never tell you anything that wasn’t absolutely true that hadn’t come right from

his mouth and he wants me to tell you

 

JOHN (sings)

wait

step into the light

how can this be right?

i’m afraid i’m going to ask you to leave

guess you can not win

with the color of your skin

you won’t be getting in to the promised land

besides

this is just another case

you people still don’t know your place

step aside, out the way, wipe that look off your face

 

G (sings)

we are the divine

separated from the swine

come on, sing along everybody now

 

god given

and he gives us sight

and we see the light

and it burns so bright

now you know i’m right

when his kingdom come

and thy will be done

we have just begun

we’re the chosen ones

 

and he gives us sight

and we see the light

and it burns so bright

now you know i’m right

when his kingdom come

and thy will be done

and the father and the holy son

we’re the chosen ones

 

i would never tell you anything that wasn’t absolutely true that hadn’t come right from

his mouth and he wants me to tell you

 

* * *

New Scene

[some scene revealing the growing counterrevolutionary movement from John's POV]

 

* * *

The counterrevolution

 

Desc: G and James incite the street folk to overthrow John.

 

 

INT. WAREHOUSE

A PEP RALLY FOR G’S AND JAMES’ COUNTERREVOLUTION. THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE SET ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE IN THE OPENING NUMBER. MANY IN ATTENDANCE ARE MEMBERS OF THE OLD REBEL MOVEMENT.

 

[The Hand that Feeds]

 

JAMES (sings)

you’re keeping in step in the line

got your chin held high and you feel just fine

because you do what you’re told

but inside your heart it is black and it’s hollow and it’s cold

 

just how deep do you believe?

will you bite the hand that feeds?

will you chew until it bleeds?

can you get up off your knees?

are you brave enough to see?

do you want to change it?

 

what if this whole crusade’s a charade

and behind it all there’s a price to be paid

for the blood on which we dine

justified in the name of the holy and the divine

 

just how deep do you believe?

will you bite the hand that feeds?

will you chew until it bleeds?

can you get up off your knees?

are you brave enough to see?

do you want to change it?

 

so naive to keep holding on to what i want to believe

and i can see but i keep holding on and on and on and on

 

will you bite the hand that feeds you

or will you stay down on your knees?

 

 

 

 

Act III

 

 

 

John says good-bye

 

Desc: John, on the eve of his final battle, dictates a letter to Alice.

 

 

INT. JOHN’S TENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD ON THE EVE OF THE GREAT BATTLE

 

JOHN SITS WRITING

 

 

["And All That Could Have Been"]

 

JOHN (sings)

breeze still carries the sound

maybe i’ll disappear

tracks will fade in the snow

you won’t find me here

 

ice is starting to form

ending what had begun

i am locked in my head

with what i’ve done

i know you tried to rescue me

didn’t let anyone get in

left with a trace of all that was

and all that could have been

 

A MESSENGER ENTERS

 

JOHN (sings)

please

take this

and run far away

far away from me

i am

tainted

the two of us

were never meant to be

 

EXIT MESSENGER WITH LETTER

 

JOHN (sings)

all these

pieces

and promises and left behinds

if only i could see

in my

nothing

you meant everything

everything to me

 

JOHN’S GENERALS AND ATTENDENDANTS ENTER TO HELP HIM SUIT UP FOR BATTLE

THERE IS A STRATEGY DISCUSSION THAT JOHN ONLY HALF-ATTENDS

 

JOHN (sings)

gone fading everything

and all that could have been

 

THE BATTLE IS JOINED. JOHN SINGS AS HE FIGHTS, AND HE BECOMES MORTALLY WOUNDED DURING THE BELOW VERSE. HE IS ABANDONED ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

 

JOHN (sings)

please

take this

and run far away

far as you can see

i am

tainted

and happiness and peace of mind

were never meant for me

all these

pieces

and promises and left behinds

if only i could see

in my

nothing

you meant everything

everything to me

 

* * *

James joins John

 

Desc: In the midst of the battle, James comes across John’s corpse and realizes that he brought this about. He commits suicide at his side.

 

EXT. BATTLEFIELD

JAMES IN THE UNIFORM OF THE COUNTERREVOLUTION COMES UPON JOHN’S DYING BODY. HE KNEELS AND TAKES JOHN’S BODY IN HIS ARMS.

 

JOHN

Alice? Is that you?

 

["Lights in the Sky"]

 

JAMES (sings)

she’s mostly gone

some other place

i’m getting by

in other ways

everything she whispered in our ear

is coming true

try to justify the things

i used to do

believed in you

 

watching you drown

i’ll follow you down

and i am here right beside you

the lights in the sky

have finally arrived

i am staying right beside you

 

i tried to stay away

you know

just in case

i’ve come to realize

we all have our place

time has a way you know

to make it clear

i have my role in this

i can’t disappear

or leave you here

 

JAMES CUTS HIS WRISTS.

 

JAMES (sings)

watching you drown

i’ll follow you down

and i am here right beside you

 

JAMES LIES AT JOHN’S SIDE.

 

JAMES (sings)

the lights in the sky

are waving goodbye

i am staying right beside you

 

* * *

The people decide to continue on.

 

EXT. THE STREETS OF CAPITAL CITY

 

["In this Twilight"]

 

ALICE (sings)

watch the sun

as it crawls across a final time

and it feels like

like it was a friend

if its watching us

and the world we set on fire

do you wonder

if it feels the same?

 

CHORUS (sings)

and the sky is filled with light

can you see it?

all the black is really white

if you believe it

as the time is running out

let them take away our doubt

we can find a better place

in this twilight

 

JOSEPHINE (sings)

dust to dust

ashes in your hair remind me

what it feels like

and i wont feel again

night descends

could i have been a better person?

if i could only

do it all again

 

CHORUS (sings)

but the sky is filled with light

can you see it?

all the black is really white

if you believe it

and the longing that you feel

you know none of this is real

we will find a better place

in this twilight