The Sandman (Vertigo) Page #3

The acolytes are hushed, amazed.

ACOLYTE:

We did it. I don't believe it. We did it --

BURGESS:

No. We failed. This isn't Death. Damn it

to hell.

Silence from the others as Burgess considers the figure.

BURGESS:

Even so ... strip him.

The Acolyte nods, reaches across the circle --

-- and SCREAMS as his arm TWISTS violently, torqued by some

unseen force. Burgess shoves him away from the circle.

BURGESS:

Fool! If you'd broken the circle, he

could have escaped!

He grabs Elspeth by the hair, slashes with the knife --

6.

Elspeth's head lolls to one side. Burgess catches her before

she collapses.

ACOLYTE:

My god --

Burgess lets Elspeth fall to the ground. He holds his hands

up like a surgeon. They are stained with Elspeth's blood.

Careful not to break the circle, Burgess steps close to the

captured FIGURE. With bloody hands he strips off the cloak.

He takes the ruby.

He takes the pouch.

And then he removes the helm --

The face revealed is bone white, framed by jet black hair. An

aquiline nose and high cheekbones, a face carved from finest

marble -- save the eyes. These are obsidian, deep as the

universe -- and staring directly at Burgess.

He is the personification of dream.

He is SANDMAN.

Burgess draws back, unsettled.

BURGESS:

(shaken)

... I think, at day's end, this will have

been a very profitable evening's work.

With a gesture, he orders the acolytes out. Burgess continues

to stare at Sandman as he backs out of the room.

The door to the room pivots on an axis; the other side is

brick. It is clearly a secret room. The door swings shut.

Sandman lies on the floor, unmoving. And then --

-- a single, small tear slips down his cheek --

From somewhere in the empty room comes the SOUND of water

DRIPPING, slowly. In the corner, a drop of water slips from a

pipe, courses down the wall to the floor.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. THE WORLD - VARIOUS

A scratchy recording of 'Dream a Little Dream of Me' fades in

and out. We see images, drifting, dreamlike, drawn from news

reels, photographs, drawings: A bread line. Gandhi. Astaire

and Rogers, dancing. Flagpole sitting and dance marathons.

Hitler at a rally ...

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