"Now And Dead" "Angel Street"

"NOW AND DEAD" TREATMENT BY MIKE COLONNA Bruce Davis, a recent graduate of Michigan State University and his young girlfriend Dana drive down a rural eastern Michigan road in an older two door pick up truck. Their two year old German Shepherd is sitting quietly in the short bed. The weather is cool and we see the two having an intense conversation from the side windows. Their conversation becomes very animated. They are not paying attention to the road. While they travel at a high rate of speed we see Bruce making an exaggerated point while looking at Dana, his companion.

Dana appears to be preoccupied texting. They've driven through a roadblock that posts "Dangerous Cliff Ahead." Road Closed." They have no idea what lies ahead. Bruce is still focused arguing with Dana, he notices something peculiar outside of her window, unworldly creatures hanging from a trees. As the truck moves faster down the road, more of these creatures are hanging from trees.

Theyresemble, half human, wolf looking, vampires, flashing fangs and claws of lycanthropic beasts. Daylight turns to darkness. The wind begins to howl. Basko, their German Shepherd, begins making strange noises. Rain begins to pour, hail pelts the pickup truck. Visibility is close to zero. As the truck keeps moving forward, the creatures multiply. Bruce motions Dana to look outside. Dana sees the unbelievable, she's shocked.

Fog is settling in, rain begins to pour, some of the vampire-like creatures are morphing their appearance. Their eye sockets are filling with ocular fluids and the creature's muscles and cartilage can be heard adjusting and forming into whole vampires. Basko is howling, Bruce tries to slow down, but too late. The rain is blinding, and Bruce cannot slow the truck down, the pedal is stuck. The truck catapults off a 100 foot cliff.

Basko manages to leap out before the truck hits large trees. As the truck slams into large branches breaking it's fall, we see the young couple bouncing around the inside of the cab. As each branch breaks the trucks fall, the couple moan and groan with pain. Blood is everywhere. The pickup finally slams into the side of a large tree. A small fire starts up under the hood. We hear screaming and moaning. Two young hikers witness the crash, they call 911 and rush to the scene of the crash. The couple is moved by helicopter to a local Michigan Hospital.

We see the two lying in hospital beds in life threatening condition. The doctors have operated on both using the latest life saving techniques that include transplanting cadaver bones, marrow and fluids from the local Medical University's cadaver bank. Dana dies on the operating table after losing too much blood. Six months after the operation his personality has changed and now Bruce day dreams about Dana, the crash and the creatures that rushed past them before the horrible event.

He acquires the records from the accident and researches the donor of the bone transplants. Bruce discovers the cadaver bones belonged to a professor at the Sandusky's Medical repository. They donor a Professor Irving Shamsky. He died two months before Bruce and Dana's accident, under strange circumstances. The professor, was in his late 50's, was born in Eastern Europe, he studied Vampirology and received a PHD at Bucharest's University of Medicine in Romania. His studies in Bucharest were in researching ancient Rumanian burial caves that were allegedly inhabited by Vampires.

Bruce is now sure that he and Dana were received Shamsky's cadaver bones and body fluids. Months of sleepless nights and visits by strange creatures hanging from the ceiling dripping blood would haunt Bruce's dreams. The dreams turned into nightmares. Bruce, must get to the bottom of his nightmares and find out if there is a connection between Professor Shamsky and his accident. Bruce travels to Eastern Europe. When he arrives in Bucharest he investigates Professor Shamsky's past. He finds two students that graduated from Shamsky's classes.

Ivanna, a young attractive, former student and now a producer for a local TV station, and Koman, who now teaches Vampirology and Folklore at another local university in Romania. Bruce is intent on finding out why his nightmarish visions tie into Professor Shamsky's cadaver transplants. Before Shamsky left Romania he was researching sightings of local residents rising from the dead. They took on traits that resembled Vampires, they were walking among the living.

Bruce discovers that many of the murders of suspected men and women that rose from the dead were mysteriously killed during Professor Shamsky's tenure at the University. Bruce learns that Shamsky was a professor by day, and butcher by night. Local Rumanian police investigating local murders were tracking Shamsky to the dead and missing.

A few days before he would be charged, Shamsky left Romania. He revised his resume applied for and was admitted as a full professor at the Medical Hospital in Sandusky, Michigan. Bruce together with Ivanna and Koman begin to search grave sites of Shamsky's alleged victims. Most of the missing or murdered were residents that lived while Shamsky was a professor at the University. Bruce, and Ivanna, would wait till midnight to visit the cemeteries where the Shamsky's alleged victims were buried. The dead people they found were in excellent condition. Their skin was fresh, their lips were vibrant, their eyeballs were black, and their teeth were coated with blood.

When the bodies were touched they would hiss, and bare fanged teeth. Bruce, Ivanna and Koman discovered underground tunnels where the dead bodies were buried. Bruce, had crawled through many of these tunnels, finding bones and other human remains. DNA and pictures were used to identity of the dead.

One night, while secretly digging Bruce, Ivanna and Koman observed Vampire like creatures, floating around the cemetery, hanging from trees, morphing from skin to bones, howling...., their black webbed wings fluttering. Interviews with family members of the dead revealed many of their loved ones were students at the University's Medical Center. And Shamsky was one of their professors. All fingers pointed to Shamsky's as the butcher responsible for their death. Further investigation of Shamsky revealed DVD's of interviews he filmed of himself. He discussed his need for human blood, described the taste and aroma, and how he chose his victims. After each kill, he would tape the event, describe how he lured his victims and then buried them alive. Bruce and Ivanna watched hours and hours of Shamsky's DVD's each interview described the horrific details of each death and burial.

The DVD's  map out where each body was buried. At night Bruce and Ivanna would dig up grave sites they found dead bodies that appeared recently buried. Their bodies seemed to still have the ability to be brought back to life. Through it all, Bruce and Ivanna became close friends. The end of their investigation shocked Ivanna and Bruce. During their grave digging they discover Shamsky's body in perfect condition. Breathing!

Dark spittle pooled behind Shamky's lower lip and dribbled down his chin. Shamsky drank his own blood, he was drawn to the scent of animals, small pigs. Their blood had a tantalizing aroma, rich and pure.

Angel Street Laquinta Writers Guild St. Peter’s Bar The bar was dark except for the multiple twisting neon signs. “Coors,” “Corona” and “Closed” all buzzed to create a surreal, mystic glow. A long counter ran the width with 20 bar stools lined up waiting for patrons. The polished mirror reflected colorful glass bottles. Blue gins, golden bourbons and clear vodkas lined the shelves. Polished black granite counters sparkled with the neon’s reflections and clear well-shined glasses stood in formation. In the corner a curled-up ball of a man began to move. His leg straightened and his hand crept up to his head as a loud moan escaped from his lips. Disheveled and confused he unfolded and sat up slowly, grabbing at a chair with one hand and his head with the other. MAN “What the...”. He said, wincing. Slowly turning, he took in his surroundings. “Where the hell...?” His voice was dry and hoarse. Blinking to focus, he slowly stood, one hand on a table for balance. Glancing down, he noticed a gold watch on his wrist. 3:05 The watch seemed unfamiliar to him. Again, he blinked while holding his forehead, pressing on the pounding pain that muddled his brain. Unsteady, he took a few short steps towards the bar counter, shuffling his polished leather shoes along the tile floor. Reaching for a bar stool to sit he began to check his pockets for a phone. MAN “A suit?” He thought, “When did I get a suit?” Dressed in a charcoal grey Hugo Boss two button, he patted and dug though the pockets when he spotted a phone on the floor. Picking it up he discovered the batteries were dead. “Shit!” As his brain began to clear he patted his pockets for a wallet and pulled out a gold money clip engraved with JB 01 – 01 – 07 Five 100’s and four 50’s were neatly folded inside along with two cards. The first was a glossy black with white writing and said simply: James Blonde The second was white, engraved with gold writing and read: St. Peter’s Bar #1 Angel Street Shifting his weight on the bar stool the man felt a jab at his side. Reaching, under his jacket he felt a leather case and cold metal.

MAN “Holy shit! A gun! Why do I have a gun?” He cried, jumping off the stool. It was then the man realized, “Wait...who am I? I don’t know who I am. What’s my name?” He shook his throbbing head. “How the heck do I not know my name? What day is it? No, what month? Where the hell AM I??” Panicked, he began to search the bar for clues. Picking up a menu, it read: St. Peter’s Bar Last stop before Union Station Happy Hour All Day. 11 am – 2 am The well-dressed man looked to the door with the red “Closed” neon. He crossed the floor and unlocked the latch, turned the lever, pushed and stepped out into the brisk night air.

07-07-1997 It was like every other damp evening that summer. The gardens and trees of San Francisco were lush due to so much rain; the streets were wet from an afternoon thunderstorm. The forecast for tomorrow said clear skies, but James knew that the weather was the only facet of his life that would improve. As he crossed the street where the neighborhood drug store stood, he scratched his head and wondered, not for the first time, how had he gotten himself and his two business partners in such a precarious situation? MAN “What was I thinking? And, for God’s sake, why did I accept their money and make promises I had no way of keeping? It was a long shot, but I had enough moxie to think I could pull it off.” From the corner, he looked up and saw the lights on in the second-floor apartment he shared with his fiancé. “How am I going to be able to share this with Lauren, the love of my life?” He couldn’t face her…not right now. He ducked into the local tavern to: A. Get a drink. B. Contemplate his predicament. C. Get another drink. D. Continue drinking until he felt impervious to the fear gnawing at his gut.

As he sat, hazily, looking at the clock on the wall of the bar, he reminisced on one of his happiest nights, ever. That night he was with his best friend, Angelo Garozzo, He had known Angelo since they were new kids in high school their freshman year. They became fast friends while being seated in alphabetical order every class that first semester. Angelo came from a large Italian family. Four brothers and one sister. He was never quite sure what Angelo’s father did for a living. He always found it odd that while they lived in a modest house in the neighborhood, and they seemed to always have plenty of cash. And then there was the matter of the new Cadillac Angelo’s father bought every fall. When he went to their house for dinner Angelo’s mother, Sofia, always referred to James as her fifth son.

James was an only child being raised by a single mother. His father had left before he was born. James had never met the man. However, it was not because he hadn’t tried to find him. His mother was brutally honest and at the same time evasive with him about the situation; She said it could have been one of several men she “knew” that fall. The night that James was recalling so fondly was when he was sitting at a San Francisco 49’ers game with his best friend. The evening was perfect. The 49’ers kicked a field goal to beat the Cowboys in over-time. Suddenly, his back was drenched from the idiot behind him who couldn’t hold on to a cup of beer. MAN “What the hell?” FEMALE VOICE A female voice answered. “Oh, my gosh; I am so sorry. I am such a klutz. Let me buy you another beer!”

James took one look at her and decided he would very much enjoy letting her buy him a drink. Angelo sized up the situation very quickly and decided to help his buddy out. He quickly said good-bye and left with Lauren’s girlfriends. They decided to leave the stadium and walked to Kelly’s Tavern, the oldest bar in the city. The place was filled with a diverse group of patrons. Football fans, neighborhood regulars, and groups of eager young women, who wanted to meet the players that frequented the bar after home games. He scanned the room and saw two barstools at the far end of the bar. They sat down next to a man who looked like he had just left an AA meeting. He was disheveled and was nursing a club soda with lime. It struck him as odd that the man pulled out a gold money clip with an abundance of large bills folded inside. Jim and Lauren had a strong chemistry between them. The attraction was instantaneous. They laughed at the same things, liked the same music, and had easy-flowing conversation. This auburn-haired, blue-eyed beauty came from a small family in Kansas City. Catholics from way back- Catholic grade school and high school. She attended college at Marymount, and had a master’s from University of California, Berkley. Lauren had accepted a job with Google in Mountain View. Her sizable salary allowed her the luxury of a small studio apartment in a relatively safe neighborhood. But the commute was a pain.

They became inseparable from that night on. As they became more intimate, they shared their hopes and who they wanted to become. Lauren was quite talkative, and shared things with James that she had never shared before. She loved her job at Google. She was leading a team that was developing programs that analyze people’s internet surfing habits and their historic Google searches. But get this: the program was being funded by a “government agency.” How odd. James eventually proposed to Lauren, and they enthusiastically started making plans for the rest of their young lives together. Back to reality…James had reached the level of intoxication he desired. Now he HAD to go home and face reality with Lauren. How was he going to explain this debacle? Would she ever forgive him? Should he fall on his sword and beg forgiveness, or use his God-given persuasion talents to get her to help? The conversation he was about to have with Lauren would likely determine the trajectory of the rest of his life.

He paid his tab and stumbled the short distance out into the dark humid air toward their apartment. Summoning up all the courage he could muster, he pushed the elevator button. “Maybe the elevator will get stuck and give me more time to think,” Alas, the elevator door opened and delivered him to the second floor. He shakily inserted the key to his apartment. The door opened, and he was stunned by what he saw… When the apartment door banged against the door stop, Lauren jumped and spun around. Her mouth was open, but no words were coming out. Her clothes were disheveled, her make-up was smeared, her hair was in disarray, and her face held a look of both surprise and fear. Buzzed up and fuzzy headed, James froze, struggling to make sense of the scene before him.

MAN “Lauren? Wha, wha, what’s going on? Without speaking, she angrily stared at James and began to straighten her clothes and button her blouse. He repeated, “Lauren? Just then, his friend Angelo came walking out of the bathroom, tucking in his shirt as he entered the room. Angelo stopped, looked at James and with a smug smile said, ANGELO “Well good buddy, now you know what can happen when you don’t honor your commitments.” Meanwhile, Google’s head of security was grilling the Special Projects team assigned to work on a highly classified project for the NSA, trying to determine how some of the proprietary algorithms found their way to the “dark web”. The six team members had agreed to take a polygraph test, all except Stefano Barbieri. Stefano, likely the most brilliant member of the team with an undergraduate degree in computer science from MIT and a PhD in Math from Cal Tech, was a savant when it came to writing code. When Stafano was assigned to the Special Projects team, his security clearance process revealed that Enzo Garozzo, a third cousin living in New Jersey, was identified as a member of the North Jersey Mafia. However, Enzo was never charged or convicted of any crime, and Stefano’s contact with him ended when they left for different grammar schools. Following the required in-depth background investigation, including a polygraph, Stefano was granted the clearance. The FBI’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force is chasing several leads trying to determine if there are dots that could connect Stefano, the New Jersey Mafia, and the dark web. Back at the apartment, the shock of James’ discovery helped to sober him up. Just as Angelo was beginning to leave, he stopped, looked at his childhood friend and said,

ANGELO “Jimbo, there’s nothin’ I can do. This ain’t about friendship. It’s about business. You have exactly one month to pay back the three million bucks, with interest. If you don’t, more bad things are going to happen to you -- and to your family. Consider my visit a final warning.” LAURE After the door closed, Lauren pleaded, “James, I couldn’t stop him. He said you owed him a lot of money and he was here to get a down payment -- from me. That it was this, or you’d get an unfriendly visit from a couple of his goombahs.” James took Lauren’s hand and walked her over to their white imitation leather Ikea couch. Without speaking, they sat. Finally, James sighed and, with tears and a quaking voice, he explained the mess they were in and that they were about to lose everything. JAMES James went on excitedly explaining that, not realizing it was Mafia money, he had borrowed three million dollars from his buddy Angelo and his dad to invest in a Social Media start-up. A start-up that couldn’t lose. In fact, Kleiner Perkins and Sequoia Capital, two of Silicon Valley’s premier venture capital firms, were major investors. The business model was to create an integrated internet site for seniors offering a single platform for “one stop shopping”. There were planned links for posting messages, photos and videos, banking and investing, tele-med services, online shopping, online bingo, hook-ups for single seniors, golf lessons, pickleball and bocce instruction, recipes for “cooking for one”, home healthcare and a lonely-hearts club. As a bonus, the site would make available confidential home delivery of pharmaceuticals, such as Viagra, KY Jelly, Celebrex and laxatives, along with personal enjoyment devices, walking canes, orthopedic shoes, “help me I’ve fallen” necklaces, and wheelchairs. It couldn’t miss. But it did. It flopped big time and never got off the ground. Who could have predicted that old people didn’t want to be categorized as seniors or as too old to have an active, independent life.

James and Lauren forgave each other and quickly moved on to franticly thinking of how they could possibly raise three million dollars. Then, they heard a noise at the door. Expecting more trouble, James grabbed a pistol and silently motioned for Lauren to move into the bedroom. He tiptoed to the door and waited. Nothing. Total silence. Then, an envelope, making a scuffing noise appeared as it slid between the door and the carpet. James cautiously peered through the peephole and saw an old, disheveled man shuffling away toward the elevators. He quietly picked up the envelop, walked over to their Ikea couch, and gave Lauren the “all clear” sign. They stood next to each other and opened the unaddressed envelope. There was nothing but a glossy black business card with a name in white lettering: J. B. Blonde James and Lauren turned the card over and were puzzled, then frightened by a hand-written note: NOTE You are in danger I can help St. Peter’s Bar – Angel Street Tomorrow 7:00 PM

JAMES I can handle this, I've got a few ideas, we'll see what Mr. Blonde is all about. In the meantime I have some unfinished business with my former best friend Angelo. Lauren wraps her arms around James, they kiss, Louren begins nibbling on Jim's neck, and their kissing becomes very passionate, Lauren unzips Jim's pants, she begins massaging and stroking, you know the rest. After indulging in passionate love making, they move to the bedroom, where they continue to arouse each other. The two slip under the covers, her head on Jim's shoulder they both nod off to sleep. About 3am Lauren had a premonition, her laptop was sitting on her desk facing the living room. Could she have left it open when Angelo busted into her apartment? Was the whole event recorded? Lauren turned on her laptop, and there was Angelo, trash talking and forcing himself on a non-willing, soon to be, rape victim. Bingo, I'll keep this in a file when the time is right, I'll show it to Jim. She remembered Angelo was very curious about a "secret project" she was working on, a special Google Unit called Chronicle. Chronicle was a "top secret" project that not only tracked nerve agents from space that could kill entire populations on earth from outer space but had its roots in China's space program. Angelo was probably interested in part of "Chronicle" that traced smuggling rings that transported diamonds worth millions from Africa to America. Chronicle was intertwined with stealing government information implicating certain individuals connected to organized crime. Could it be connected to the "FBI's Anti-Terrorism Task Force, chasing leads into Enzo Garozzo's New Jersey Mafia connections. Lauren was tired, went back to the bedroom, slid under the covers and snuggled next to James.

The alarm went off at 6:30, James was a physical exercise freak, he jumped out of bed, layed on the thick bedroom carpet and began doing pushups. Lauren hopped on James' back, he strained to keep his composure, finally with Lauren on top, turned facing Lauren, and their love fest continued. Lauren started breakfast, while she was preparing Jim's scrambled eggs and bacon, they began chatting about this odd fellow named J.B. Blonde. JAMES I don't know anything about this guy except our chance meeting at St. Peters bar. He wasn't drinking but he pulled out a gold money clip, with a stack of folded Benjamin Franklyns. Laid one on the bar for the bartender. I had this odd feeling he was shadowing me, I must have had too many. The afternoon went fast, I spent time behind my desk at my office, wondering how and why my internet website did not take off. And I decided to call my old buddy, old pal Angelo Garozzo, the phone rang three times, I was about to hang up, when Angelo answered.

ANGELO "Hey Jimmy, what's shakin?" JAMES I'll tell you what's shakin, are you standing or sitting? "It doesn't matter, what do you want Jim." Well Angelo, you "banged" Lauren, my future wife, I'm hoping you didn't give her any of your famous diseases, I checked her out, she looked clean, but I just wanted you to know, Lauren means everything to me. ANGELO Angelo replied after clearing his throat, "Hey Jimmy, old pal, Frankly she was just another piece of ass. Don't take it seriously. JAMES "Hey Angelo, Lauen, who you affectionately call another piece of ass, just cost you every penny of that three million I owe you and your "Paisans." And if you don't agree with that, we're looking at a rape case that will cost you at least three million to go away. Got it pal?" And if that doesn't work, I've already drawn a target on your back. You don't know what you've gotten yourself into, asshole, there was no price tag on "banging" Lauren, your ass is mine!" It was approaching 7pm, I called Lauren, she asked me to be very careful.

JAMES "Honey, do not worry, I can handle myself." St. Peter's Bar was a happening place at 7pm during "happy hour." Ton's of gals and guys hooking up, I could have made my Web Site a multi-tasking destination, a site that would instantly give you the directions to any Bar, Pub, Restaurant offering "happy hours" all over the world. Not a bad idea. I looked down the crowded bar, at the end sat an older fellow, his trench coat wrinkled, his tie and white shirt disheveled, sitting having a soda, "I presume you are Mr. J.B. Blonde?" I sat into the empty bar stool, next to J.J. "So what are we here for Mr. Blonde?" JB BLONDE "I understand the Mob, specifically one Angelo Garzzo. Is blackmailing you for 3 million. JAMES James looks at J.J. How did you know that? J.B. smiles, JB BLONDE "I know a lot about you and Loren, your lives are in danger, but I've got a plan to make this all go away." Blonde asks James about Lauren and her co-workers at Google. Has Lauren ever mentioned the name Stafano Barbieri? I have reason to believe he is trying to recruit your wife by copying her Top Secret algorithms connected to a secret government project named, ShapeX. That program tracks underworld activity around the world including the testing of new satellites that can fire nerve agents from space. The satellites are designed to kill entire populations eventually creating new civilizations in space. Barbieri together with his crime family are stealing information from Google and plan to hold our government hostage until they pay billions for the information for the stolen "top secret" information.

James confides in Blonde, JAMES "I have a score to settle with one of these "mooks" and I have no doubt that I'll be meeting with the brains of this Mafia Family in New Jersey." JB BLONDE Blonde informs James that he's a target and there's a bounty on his head. Blonde hands James a dossier of the New Jersey mobs family tree. Blonde and James shake hands, and James leaves through the back door of the bar. He walks down the alley, walks to the corner and hails a cab. James believes he's being followed after he's dropped off, James walks down a gangway two doors down from his apartment, circles back through backyards, enters his home from a second floor stairway. LAAUREN "Well, how did it go? " I've got something for you to look at Lauren." He gives Lauren the folder, while she's perusing the different files, James goes to his bedroom closet, opens a safe above his jackets, and pulls out two revolvers. "What's your plan James, I don't feel safe here anymore." James presses the metal from his new found friends Smith and Wesson against the inside of his belt, and smiles at Lauren, JAMES "I'm going to start from the bottom and work my way up to the top." LAUREB Lauren asks, "are you thinking?" JAMES "Well Lauren, back in the day one of my favorite actors was a guy named Charles Bronson. His goal was to get rid of street punks. I think I'll start with Angelo what, work our way through your pal at Google, and see where that takes me."