Chapter Text
EXT. THE GRAND CANYON, ATOP A BARREN PLATEAU.
JOSHUA GRAHAM is on his knees, hands tied behind his back. He looks murderously at the two CENTURIONS holding TORCHES, flagging his side.
ENT. CAESAR (nee Edward Sallow) Joshua's eyes move to meet his own. If looks could kill...
Caesar approaches him and stops, never breaking eye contact. He squats, and grabs Joshua's chin with his left hand. Joshua sneers, and Caesar backhands him with his Powerfist.
Joshua falls to the packed earth, never making a sound. He spits blood into the dirt.
CAESAR
(Smirking)
You will die like the martyrs of your past, Malpais.
He turns to a DECANUS behind him and nods. The Decanus comes forward, carrying a bucket.
CAESAR
Cover him.
The Decanus tips the bucket upside down over Joshua's fallen figure. Nothing happens.
He shakes the bucket. Still nothing.
He puts the bucket over his own head and peers into it, shrugging. He moves the bucket back over Joshua, holding it aloft.
CAESAR
WELL!?
DECANUS
Uhhhh... Any minute now, my Lord.
CAESAR
What? WHAT DO YOU MEAN “ANY MINUTE NOW”?!
DECANUS
Well, my Lord... it's just... very thick.
CAESAR
Let me see that!
He rushes forward and snatches the bucket off the Decanus. He dips his un-gloved hand in, and removes a finger, covered in a thick, viscous, black goop.
CAESAR
Oh for the love of... DECANUS GO GET A BRUSH!
DECANUS
A... brush, My Lord?
CAESAR
DID I NOT MAKE MYSELF CLEAR? I FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ON THE VERGE OF A CRUCIFIXION!
The Decanus’ eyes widen before he runs off.
Caesar - bucket still in hand - tries to shake the tar out. He sighs angrily and goes to drop the bucket. It is stuck to his pitch covered left hand. He yells a slew of profanities while flailing around with the bucket stuck to his hand. The pitch is still not budging.
Joshua in this time has righted himself, and watches the ensuing scene with a smug expression, despite the blood dribble on his chin.
Eventually the bucket comes off and clangs to the ground. The pitch still doesn't budge. Caesar sits cross legged on the ground in a huff. The Centurions exchange nervous glances. Some RECRUITS have started to mill around curiously.
Eventually the Decanus returns, smiling. Caesar leaps up.
CAESAR
Well!?
The Decanus brandishes a small watercolour brush. Caesar shrieks with rage, and power fists him over the canyon lip. We hear the Decanus SCREAM ALL THE WAY DOWN.
DISTANT SPLASH
Joshua laughs.
Caesar rounds on Joshua with murderous intent, grabs the bucket and shoves it down on Joshua's head.
He snatches the lit torch off one of the Centurions and throws it into Joshua’s lap. His jeans start to smoke slightly.
The Centurions both look pointedly the other way as it STARTS TO RAIN. Joshua continues to laugh, the noise amplified by the acoustics of the bucket.
Caesar screams again and kicks Joshua off the cliff.