Army of Darkness

 

 

 

Screenplay by          Sam Raimi

               Ivan Raimi

 

Produced by          Robert Tapert

 

Directed by          Sam Raimi

 

 

 

Cast List:

 

Bruce Campbell        Ash / Evil Ash

Embeth Davidtz         Sheila / Evil Sheila

Marcus Gilbert         Arthur

Ian Abercrombie         Wiseman

Richard Grove       Duke Henry

Michael Earl Reid      Gold Tooth

Timothy Patrick Quill      Blacksmith

Bridget Fonda       Linda

Patricia Tallman         Posessed Witch

Ted Raimi         Cowardly Warrior

 

 

 

FADE IN:

 

 

GRAINY BLACK AND WHITE – CLOSEUP – A MAN'S DESPERATE FACE

 

This is Ash, mid twenties, square jaw firmly set and a pair of haunted eyes which dart about quickly in fear. Ash speaks to the CAMERA with urgency:

 

ASH

Why would you say that I am insane? I wouldn't say that I've lost my mind simply because I've heard the voices and seen the godless things moving in the woods. If anything, I think more clearly now than ever before. I know now that there is such a thing as a living Evil. A dark and shapeless thing that lives not in the spaces we know, but between them. In the Dark. In the night. And it wants the exact same thing as you and I: A chance at warm life on this Earth. It doesn't care that is already had that chance... once. Now listen closely because there isn't much time. Listen and believe, because it's all true.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

 

EXT. A LOG CABIN – NIGHT

 

Nestled in a dark forest. Through the window, we see the tiny figure of Ash picking up a book from a desk.

 

ASH (V.O.)

I first saw the damn thing at that blasted cabin. The Necronomicon. An ancient Sumarrian text, bound in human flesh and inked in human blood. It contained bizarre burial rites, prophesies... and instruction for demon resurrection. It was never meant for the world of the living.

 

DISSOLVE TO:

 

 

INT. CABIN – NIGHT

 

Ash flips through the pages from the BOOK OF THE DEAD.

 

ASH (V.O.)

The book awoke something dark in the woods.

 

 

SUPERIMPOSE:

 

BOOK OF THE DEAD – CAMERA PANNING STRANGE SCRIPT

 

Inscribed on the pages. Illustrations of demonic faces with white eyes.

 

 

EXT. WOODS – NIGHT

 

We take the point of view of a wind-like demon, swooping low through the woods toward the cabin. CAMERA rips through the cabin door and comes upon a SCREAMING ASH.

 

ASH (V.O.)

It got into my hand and it went bad.

 

 

CLOSE ONASH'S POSSESSED HAND

 

Twisting into a claw, before the flashing thunder clouds.

 

ASH (V.O.)

So I lopped it off at the wrist.

 

 

INT. CABIN – NIGHT

 

Ash severs his hand from his wrist with the chainsaw.

 

 

BLOOD RED CLOUDS

 

Sweep past the moon.

 

ASH (V.O.)

In order to rid myself of the foul thing, I read from a passage in the book that was supposed to open a hole. A hole in Time that would send the Evil back. And it worked.

 

 

A BANDAGED, ONE HANDED ASH

 

Recites the incantation from the Necronomicon.

 

 

EXT. CABIN – NIGHT

 

The Time vortex is created. Trees and a 1973 Delta 88 Oldsmobile are sucked up into the funnel cloud.

 

ASH (V.O.)

... I just didn't plan on coming along.

 

 

EXT. CABIN – NIGHT

 

Ash, now armed with shotgun and chainsaw, is swallowed by the funnel-cloud of the Time vortex.

 

 

INT. TIME VORTEX

 

Ash is rocketing through a funnel of swirling clouds. He is swept away from us, hand over foot, through the dark void of Time.

 

 

ANIMATION – A TENDRIL OF SMOKE

 

Swirls through blackness as a chorus of women's voices build to eerie crescendo, from a musical note to a SCREAM. The smoke swirls, pulls in upon itself, like a thing alive, and forms the words:

 

"BRUCE CAMPBELL"

vs."

 

The smoke is wisked away, then reforms as...

 

"THE ARMY OF DARKNESS"

 

The title billows past CAMERA REVEALING...

 

 

INT. TIME VORTEX

 

A GRANDFATHER CLOCK, its hands winding backwards at an insane rate, spins angrily past, revealing other debris that has been swept up into this funnel cloud. Tumbling weightless through this void we find...

 

 

ASH

 

He SCREAMS but there is no sound. No scream. Only the steady BEATING of his heart.

 

 

ANGLE ONASH FRONT SCREEN PROJECTION

 

He shields his eyes from a sudden bright light. The funnel cloud electrifies.

 

 

ASH'S BODY

 

RIPS at the fabric of Time.

 

 

EXT. CLOUDY SKY – DAY

 

All is quiet. Then, an electrical disturbance in the shape of a human body flashes briefly and is gone. A moment latter, Ash appears and tumbles from the sky, falling past CAMERA.

 

 

EXT. BARREN WASTELAND – DAY

 

ASH falls to the dust. His double barrelled shotgun lands beside him. The '73 Oldsmobile comes CRASHING to the ground a moment later.

 

 

ASH

 

Looks up from the dust to behold...

 

 

TWENTY-FIVE MOUNTED HORSEMEN

 

In 12th century armor ride up over a hill. They halt before Ash.

 

 

WARRIOR #1

 

Thrusts his longsword into the air, shouting:

 

WARRIOR #1

Hail to him who has come from the sky to deliver us from the terror of the Deadites! Hail!

 

 

ASH

 

Stares in confusion at the strange medieval figures.

 

 

TWENTY-FIVE WARRIOR

 

Join in the chant and hail Ash, but suddenly stop as...

 

 

ARTHUR

 

The muscular commander of the group, gallops his horse into frame, followed by FOUR HORSEMEN who are his lieutenants. Arthur lifts his iron visor and evaluates Ash.

 

 

ARTHUR'S POV

 

The Delta 88 Oldsmobile. The chainsaw, strapped to Ash's back. The handless stump of Ash's right arm. The Shotgun.

 

 

A FRIGHTENEDASH

 

Waves a shaky hand.

 

ASH

Take is easy now chief. I don't know how I got here and I'm not lookin' for any trouble.

 

 

WISEMAN JOHN

 

An elderly man, in a long black cloak, steps forward.

 

WISEMAN JOHN

My Lord Arthur, I believe he is the promised one, written of in the Necronomicon.

 

 

ARTHUR

 

Brings his sword down across Ash's chest. Ash cries out in pain as...

 

 

ASH'S CHEST

 

Is cut. A thin red gash.

 

ARTHUR

He bleeds. As a man bleeds. The one written of in the Book would not bleed.

 

 

ARTHUR GESTURES

 

And CAMERA PANS to four prisoners bound in iron shackles.

 

ARTHUR

Likely, he is one of Henry's men. I say to the pit with him! If he is truly the promised one... he will emerge.

 

WARRIOR #2 AND #3

Aye! The pit's a fair test!

 

GOLD TOOTHED WARRIOR

To the pit with the blackard!

 

 

GOLD TOOTH

 

Charges his horse at Ash. But he is met with the wooden stock of Ash's shotgun as it swings into frame, cracking against his jaw.

 

 

WIDE SHOT – GOLD TOOTH – STUNTMAN

 

He tumbles from the horse.

 

 

ASH

 

Leaps atop Gold Tooth's horse and jerks the reigns.

 

 

LONG SHOT – ASH'S HORSE

 

Rears up, kicking it's hooves into the air.

 

 

ASH

 

Gallops off as Warrior #2 runs at him. Ash kicks him in the face as he gallops past. The Warrior is sent reeling.

 

 

TRUCKING SHOT – ASH

 

Galloping over a hill. He is almost thrown by the horse, but manages to hang on for dear life.

 

ASH

Where the hell they put the stirrups on this thing!!??

 

 

CLOSE SHOT – ASH'S FEET

 

Grasping at the side of the horse, hoping to find some purchase.

 

 

LONG SHOT – ASH – STUNTMAN

 

He rides past CAMERA, almost falling from the horse.

 

 

ANGLE ON ARTHUR

 

ARTHUR

LIEUTENANTS! Fetch me the blackard.

 

 

TWO OF ARTHUR'S ARMORED HORSEMEN

 

Unsheathe their broadswords and gallop after Ash. The remaining Warriors watch for sport.

 

 

HIGH SHOT – TWO HORSEMEN

 

They are gaining an Ash.

 

 

ASH

 

Glances behind him.

 

 

ASH'S POV – TRUCKING SHOT – TWO HORSEMEN IN PURSUIT

 

They diverge to either side of CAMERA.

 

 

ASH

 

Whips his horse.

 

ASH

GIDDYPU!

 

 

THE FIRST HORSEMAN

 

Rides up alongside Ash and swings his Broadsword.

 

WHOOSH!!!

 

 

ASH

 

Ducks the blade.

 

 

THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Rides up alongside Ash's other flank. He swings and lands the flat part of his blade along Ash's back.

 

THUNK!

 

 

ASH

 

Ducks as the first horseman swings his blade again.

 

WHOOSH!

 

ASH looks left...

 

 

THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Winds up for another blow.

 

 

ASH

 

Yanks back upon his horse's reigns.

 

 

THE THREE HORSES

 

Running side by side. Ash's horse drops back suddenly.

 

 

THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Swings.

 

 

HIS BROADSWORD

 

Slams the First Horseman across the face.

 

 

THE FIRST HORSEMAN

 

Is knocked from his steed.

 

 

TRUCKING SHOT – THE FIRST HORSEMAN

 

Is moving fast when he hits the ground. His armored form tumbles end over end in the dust, clanging to a halt against a rock.

 

 

THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Turns around and gallops back toward Ash.

 

 

WIDE SHOT – ASH AND THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Ride at one another.

 

 

TRUCKING SHOT – THE SECOND SWORDMAN AS HE RIDES

 

Swinging his Broadsword.

 

 

TRUCKING SHOT – ASH AS HE RIDES

 

He inserts the stump of his right arm into the female end of his chainsaw arm bracket.

 

FOOMP! He twists his stump and the chainsaw bracket locks into place. CLINK!

 

He thrusts his chainsaw arm outward, pulling on the starter cord; PUTT-PUTT-PUTT... The engine won't turn over. He curses and yanks again.

 

 

THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Draws close. He leans from his horse and swings his Broadsword mightily. The flat portion of the blade connects.

 

THUNK!

 

 

ASH

 

Is knocked from his steed. He tumbles to the dust, narrowly escaping his own horse's hooves.

 

 

ASH

 

Rolls to his feet and spins to the sound of approaching hooves!

 

 

THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Charges and swings his broadsword.

 

 

ASH

 

Raises his chainsaw. CLINK! He deflects the blow. Ash swings the chainsaw in a roundhouse motion, clipping the Second Horseman as he rides past.

 

 

TRUCKING SHOT – THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Is knocked from his horse.

 

 

LOW TRUCKING SHOT – THE SECOND HORSEMAN

 

Bounces along the rocky ground, kicking up dust.

 

 

A SWORD HANDLE

 

Slams against the back of Ash's skull.

 

 

ASH

 

Crumples. He looks up in pain to...

 

 

ARTHUR

 

Above him. The sun over his shoulder.

 

 

EIGHT MOUNTED WARRIORS

 

Gallop up, dismount and surround Ash with swords drawn.

 

ARTHUR

Bring the prisoner!

 

The warriors surge upon Ash. His sawed-off shotgun and chainsaw are taken from him.

 

ASH

No!

 

 

GOLD TOOTH AND OTHER WARRIORS

 

Secure Ash to a set of iron shackles that painfully extend his arms. A collar forces his neck upward.

 

ARTHUR

To the castle!

 

 

WARRIOR #2 ON HORSEBACK

 

Prods Ash along with a rod attached to his spiked iron collar. The Warriors gallop off, forcing Ash and the other prisoners to run alongside them.

 

 

WISEMAN JOHN