Knock Knock

FADE IN:

INT. PUB - NIGHT

This is a rather one of the underground pubs. Poor clients and poor liquor. Some people dance, some people drink.

A wretched MAN sits at the bar, quietly sipping his beer. Next to him stand JIM and MAX, both with their own emptied glasses.

JIM
Man, I hate these fucking
pranksters!

MAX
Mhm.

JIM
You're walking down the street, minding your own business and then all of the sudden some prick dressed as a bush or whatever fucking jumps at you, giving you a heart attack.

MAX
I get it Jim, but it's not something so dangerous.

JIM
Then imagine Max that you have a heart disease. You can die! For real.

MAX
Man, chill. It's just a joke.

The man next to Jim and Max stands up abruptly, and glares at them both with his eyebrows low. Beat of awkward silence.

JIM
Something happened sir?

THE MAN
Beware... Jokes are a powerful weapon.

Jim and Max look at each other with raised brows.

MAX
Yeeeeah. Sure old man.

Jim takes out few dollar bils from his wallet and leaves them on the counter. He leans towards BARTENDER.

JIM
Thanks for the drinks. We're gonna hit the road.

Bartender just nods. Takes the money and their glasses. Jim and Max glance at the stranger and leave the pub.

The Man stares at the distance aimlessly.

THE MAN
(whispering)
Irresponsible children.

Stranger sits down on his place and sips his beer.

EXT. DARK ALLEY - LATER

Dim narrow street just around the corner from the pub. Jim and Max lay back on the wall. Jim tries to light a cigarette.

MAX
(chuckling)
Well, that was something.

JIM
No shit.

From the shadows a ragged THIEF appears. Smiling, he takes out his pocket knife and points it towards the two.

THIEF
Do you have a spare?

Jim and Max tense. They prepare their fists and stand up against him, ready.

Behind the thief the other three emerges. Grin of the first one widens. Jim and Max look at each other. They're stiff.

THE MAN (O.S.)
(chanting)
Oh, Great Jester King from the everlasting Kingdom of Shaletr...

Everyone opens their eyes wide and moves their brows high. Jim and Max turn around to see the man from the pub. Stranger comes closer.

THE MAN
... Let this sacrafice satisfy your saddened soul.

Chanter gets between thieves and troubled pair and stops. He glares at the group of thugs.

THE MAN
Max.

Max staggers. Jim stares at the man.

THE MAN
Knock, knock.

Max lowers his brows. Still frozen.

MAX
Who's there?

THE MAN
Boo.

Thieves look at themselves. Max and Jim brake a little smile. They also cringe.

MAX
Boo who?

THIEF
What the fuck is that!?

The man drags his finger towards the thieves and gives one smug smirk.

THE MAN
Hey, don't cry!

JIM
This joke isn't even fucking funny man.

THE MAN
It does not matter.

He drops his hand.

THIEF
What does this shit suppose to do?

No one answers.

THE MAN
Thank you kindly, Max.

Stranger quickly paces away behind Jim and Max and leaves. Everybody looks at each other. Beat.

JIM
(whispering)
Wait, did he just leave?

MAX
I... I--

All of the thieves abruptly start to laugh. Jim's and Max's eyes widen. Thieves are screaming and suffocating. Grasping for their throats and for air.

They drop their knives. They too drop to the floor. Immobile. Dead. Beat. Jim and Max look at each other.

JIM AND MAX
(together)
Holy shi--

Jim and Max sprint into the direction of the man.

JIM
Hey!

MAX
Mister Joke Man!

They run further into the city.

FADE OUT: