Library e-Book : 978-1-5384-7318-4
Trade e-Book : 978-1-5384-7319-1
This digital document has been produced by Nord Compo.
CHARACTERS (in order of appearance)
BEAUREGARD – twenties. Betrayed fiancé who calls on The Dark Enforcer for revenge.
THE DARK ENFORCER – ageless demon spawned in the bowels of hell.
RODRIGO – twenties. Remorseful victim of The Dark Enforcer.
GWENDOLYN – twenties. Unfaithful fiancé of Beauregard.
PHIL – twenties. Nerdy but passionate defender of Swamp Thing.
DAVE CHERSKY – twenties. Quiet, nerdy comic book shop owner who becomes drunk with power when he finds a way to get back at anyone who ever bullied him.
MARTY – twenties. Geeky but fervent supporter of The Incredible Hulk.
DAN – twenties. New guy in town, Dark Enforcer fan.
LEON KELLER – thirties. Malicious, bullying mob enforcer.
DOUG ROCKEBRAND – twenties. Former high school tormentor of Dave’s.
NICK MONAGHAN – fifties. No-nonsense police detective.
SOUND:
Signature opening.
MUSIC:
Fangoria theme.
ANNOUNCER:
You can run but you can’t hide. It’s far too late for that. Welcome to the dark side, where the night never ends – as Fangoria presents. . .Dreadtime Stories. With your host, Malcolm McDowell. Tonight’s Dreadtime Story: “The Dark Enforcer” by Barry Richert.
SOUND:
Pounding footsteps—so heavy the ground rumbles—accompanied by wet, slobbery, breathing. The footsteps stop. Behind a door, we hear the muffled moaning of a couple engaged in passionate lovemaking. The dialogue that follows is all delivered in a slightly hammy, blood and thunder fashion.
BEAUREGARD:
There, my satanic friend! Behind that door my fiancé, Gwendolyn, lies with that scoundrel Rodrigo! Let us pay them an unexpected visit! Break down the door!
SOUND:
There is an unearthly growl, and the door is kicked open with an explosion
SOUND (cont’d):
of splintering wood. The lovemaking stops and Gwendolyn screams.
RODRIGO:
Beauregard! What is this beast you bring into my house?
BEAUREGARD:
This beast is your fate, you blackguard!
GWENDOLYN:
No, Beauregard!
BEAUREGARD:
Yes, Gwendolyn. I promise you—this will be the last time your loins stir with the flesh of this treacherous rogue. Go, my demonic servant. . .kill him!
SOUND:
The beast’s thundering footsteps lumber toward the bed as Gwendolyn screams.
RODRIGO:
No! No! I admit, I have done wrong, Beauregard! I shall make it up to you!
BEAUREGARD:
Too late for reparations, Rodrigo. You thought me a spineless worm. But you were mistaken.
RODRIGO:
No!!
SOUND:
Rodrigo’s screams are accompanied by the beast’s ferocious growls. We hear Rodrigo’s flesh rip as he is torn apart limb by limb. His screams eventually
SOUND (cont’d):
deteriorate into a sort of guttural wail.
BEAUREGARD:
(insane with madness) Yes! That’s it! Tear him apart! Let him feel the justice of your wrath! And now. . .kill the woman!
GWENDOLYN:
No! Beauregard, I beg of you!
BEAUREGARD:
Beseech all you wish, harlot! Your end is at hand!
SOUND:
The beast growls fiercely, then we hear the tearing of flesh and snapping of bones.
GWENDOLYN:
(screaming) NO-O-O-o-o-o!
SOUND:
Gwendolyn’s protesting screams gradually diminish as we hear the beast shred her into pieces.
BEAUREGARD:
(completely mad now) That’s it! Slake my thirst for vengeance! Vindicate me, my pet!. . . my minion. . . my (a beat) Dark Enforcer!
SOUND:
The beast’s slobbering and snarling continues under.
NARRATOR:
Its name is The Dark Enforcer. It was spawned in the deepest fathoms of hell.
NARRATOR (cont’d):
Its evil desires match those of its master. And it exists in a place frequented by only the most adventurous souls. . .between the pages of a comic book.
SOUND:
The creature’s snarling dissolves into the lively conversation of a comic book shop, which continues under.
NARRATOR:
It debuted in 1964 in issue number seven of “Gruesome Tales,” an anthology comic book that had, as the cover proudly boasted, “More Scares Than You Can Stuff In A Coffin!” Not long after, The Dark Enforcer earned his own monthly comic book. Although the title ceased publication in the late 70’s, it remains a literary masterpiece that continues to generate much controversy.
PHIL:
(fades up from an ongoing conversation) I know this is your all-time favorite comic and all, Dave—but it’s a bit antiquated, isn’t it?
DAVE:
Not at all—in fact, The Dark Enforcer transcends its time. It’s as fresh now as when it was first written!
PHIL:
I don’t know, man. . .I’m just not into that whole gothic style of writing. I mean, check out this dialogue. . . (faint rustle of pages). . .“Slake my thirst for vengeance”? Seriously, dude—when’s the last time anybody slaked anything?
DAVE:
(gradually fading) But you have to consider the dialogue in context. . .see, it’s a gothic setting. . .
NARRATOR:
As this debate rages, the parties on both sides of the argument would agree that there is one good thing about the demonic behemoth that populates the pages of The Dark Enforcer: it does not exist in the real world. But perhaps, with just the right amount of motivation. . .that could change.
ANNOUNCER:
Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories will continue in a moment.
ANNOUNCER:
Now back to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories and “The Dark Enforcer.”
NARRATOR:
It is a verifiable truth on the north side of Chicago that only the coolest of the comic book geeks hang out at Dave’s Dungeon of Comics. The proprietor, Dave Chersky, is a quiet fellow who rarely seeks any kind of attention. He comes out of his shell, however, when the subject of comic books is raised.
SOUND:
Fade up the sounds of conversation in the comic book store.
NARRATOR:
All the true comic book fans know that the new comics deliver on Wednesday. And so, that is the day when the experts, the authorities, and the connoisseurs assemble at “The Dungeon” to pick up the latest issues of their favorite titles and discuss the most pressing topics of the day.
MARTY:
Phil, think about what you’re saying. It just doesn’t make sense. . .there is no way that Swamp Thing could ever beat The Incredible Hulk!
PHIL:
But Marty, physical attacks can’t hurt Swamp Thing! He can grow back severed body parts! It makes him impervious to harm!
MARTY:
But The Hulk is propelled by anger! The madder he gets the more he could tear that puny weed-infested wimp apart!
PHIL:
(incredulous) Puny?!
DAVE:
The Dark Enforcer could take them both.
MARTY:
Oh, cripes, here we go again.
DAVE:
Seriously—if you’re looking for the ultimate power in the universe. . .
PHIL:
(interrupting) In the “Gruesome Tales” universe. He couldn’t touch anyone in the Marvel or DC
