LORD OF ILLUSION

CHAPTER 17

INT. SWANN'S MANSION- STUDY-- NIGHT:

Dorothea pours herself a drink, while Harry spreads the PHOTOS and the PAPERS from the repository on the table. HARRY Nix ran some kind of cult, right? Some kind of Charlie Manson deal? DOROTHEA It was more than that, I think. HARRY He was the real thing, right? DOROTHEA Swann said he could do stuff, yes. HARRY Stuff?

DOROTHEA He could get into people's heads. Make them see things. Terrible things. And he could levitate. Juggle fire. HARRY He taught all this to Swann? DOROTHEA Some or it.

INT. SWANN'S MANSION - HALLWAY OUTSIDE STUDY - NIGHT:

Valentin is listening at the door.

INT. SWANN'S MANSION- STUDY-- NIGHT- HARRY:

So Swann was performing magic. not illusions? (Dorothea nods) And what? You thought he should be using it to cure cancer, not making millions. DOROTHEA I told you -- HARRY Too much fame. Yeah, I guess that'd turn anybody's head. Including yours. DOROTHEA No.

HARRY You said you weren't with him for love. DOROTHEA I wasn't. HARRY What then? DOROTHEA I was grateful to him. I owed him my life. And he loved me. He couldn't always show it, but he felt it. HARRY He thought Nix was coming back, didn't he? Dorothea is pouring herself another drink.

The glass slips from her hand. It SHATTERS. Harry goes to help her. They stoop together, very close. The sexual attraction is almost palpable. Dorothea cuts herself on a shard of glass. DOROTHEA Shit! They are very close to each other. HARRY (reassuring) It's okay.

DOROTHEA No it isn't. You can't help me. HARRY (tenderly) I'm here, aren't I? He kisses her. She kisses him back, hard. HARRY Nothing's going to happen to you. DOROTHEA (seductive) Nothing? HARRY (smiles) Nothing you don't want. They kiss again, passionately.

INT. SWANN'S MANSION - LOBBY - NIGHT :

Valentin breaks into the shadows, as Harry and Dorothea cross the darkened lobby and head upstairs. Then Valentin crosses to the phone and dials.

INT. SWANN'S MANSION - DOROTHEA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT:

A room of illusions. Walls lined with mirrors, and warm, flattering lighting, bathing the naked forms of Dorothea and Harry as they make love, sitting on the floor. It is a deeply passionate, but slow, sensual coupling.

INT./EXT. SWANN'S MANSION - LOBBY - NIGHT :

Valentin opens the front door. There's a wind blowing. The palms churn against the night sky... INTERCUT Roiling, wind-filled pains with the glistening, urgent bodies of Harry and Dorothea.

INT. SWANN'S MANSION - DOROTHEA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT:

Harry cradles Dorothea in post-coital languor. DOROTHEA (whispers) I was so afraid. HARRY Don't be. Nix can't hurt you now. DOROTHEA Are you sure? HARRY I'm sure. (kisses her) He's dead. DOROTHEA I know. I'm the one who shot him.

ON HARRY. He's startled, to say the least. DOROTHEA I was twelve. Nix took me hostage, to get Swann to come to him. HARRY (realizing) And they all came... DOROTHEA Yes. HARRY Quaid and Jennifer-- DOROTHEA And Pimm and Swann. Only Nix was ready for them.

There's a NOISE downstairs. DOROTHEA (nervous) What was that? HARRY It's okay. Harry slips out of bed.

INT. SWANN'S MANSION - STAIRS - LOBBY - NIGHT:

Harry descends the stairs, buttoning up his trousers (which is all he wears). He has his gun. HARRY Valentin? Dorothea appears behind him. DOROTHEA Harry? Wait! Harry's at the bottom of the stairs now. Across the hall, in a passageway, an eerie SILHOUETTE. We can make out no detail of clothing or face. HARRY What the hell-? Suddenly, the shadowy FIGURE comes at Harry.

A BLAST of ENERGY bursts against Harry's face. As it breaks against his skin, we see (for three frames or so) a glimpse of Harry's skull. HARRY (in pain) Aah! Harry FIRES at the figure. The shadows fold up around the Stranger like an origami puzzle. He's gone.

DOROTHEA It's him! It's Nix! Harry goes out into the passageway. HARRY Valentin! Get some lights on! As if in reply to the command, a burst of vivid white FIRE erupts behind Harry. He swings round to see the Stranger "unfolding" out of the shadows again, defying physics and physiology to do so.

The FIRE is at his feet, like a serpent writhing on the ground. It comes at Harry. Harry FIRES at it, but it comes at him faster still, rising to burn Harry's leg.

He retreats, the FIRE racing after him. He makes for a door, and flings it open. He's in