Lightning lit up the night like fireworks. It flashed on him like a strobe light as he
observed the scattered police and ran.
Ricardo: Alright, let's go! Now I want you to search every dreamhouse,
boathouse, lofthouse, warehouse, and cabin in the area until you find him...
Ruiz: Ricardo, this is nuts! We've gotta stop this wild goose chase. The guy's
like a mirage. We've been running around in circles for so long, I think Spence is
losing his mind!
Spence: Me?? Whatever, Oscar! You thought you saw him about 20 times too!
Ricardo: Dammit! Alright...we'll call it a night. But this isn't over, guys. Not by a
long shot. There isn't gonna be some vigilante nut in a cape running around in
this town on my watch!!
Spence: What's the matter, Ric? Don't want to share your self-appointed
superhero status with anybody else?
Ricardo: Ooooh... ouch, Spence, that hurts. Come on, man! You know exactly
what my motives are.
Spence: Well, not exactly. I mean, this guy has stopped robberies,
muggings...only problem is, he just kinda vanishes everytime!
Ricardo: But he's taking the law into his own hands. And how do we know that
HE'S not dangerous, anyway? We don't even know who he is. I'm telling you
man, he's mine. Exodus is mine...
Bette: (with tape recorder) This is the Queen of the Night, reporting live from the
the alley behind the Deep, where I've been working with the lovely Vanessa Hart
on the story of the millenium!!
Vanessa: Um, Bette...I know we're partners on this and everything, but could you
please keep it down??
Bette: Oh! Sorry, honey...anyway, I'm here awaiting a sighting of the mysterious
fly-by-night guardian angel of Sunset Beach who calls himself "Exodus." And
hopefully, if my pal Vanessa here can snap the first exclusive photo for the
Sentinel, Greggie might actually appreciate us for a change!
Vanessa: Oh, sure. Maybe instead of being "terribly underpaid," he'll promote
us to "very underpaid."
Bette: You said it, honey! Anyway, we got a hot tip that the enigmatic Mr. "Ex"
has been spotted in this very alley. All we've heard is that he's short on words,
and incredibly sexy, even with a mask on!!
Vanessa: Oh, please! Yeah, I'm sure he's a regular Michael Keaton.
Bette: Hmm...speaking of Michael, does he know about this, ahem...mission??
Vanessa: Are you kidding? Ricardo filled his head with paranoia about Exodus.
If he knew that I was out playing paparazzi tonight over someone so supposedly
"dangerous"...
Bette: So, you don't believe it either?
Vanessa: Well... the verdict's not in yet for me on the "sexy" part...but I definitely
think he's on our side!
The unmistakable sound of a pistol cocking.
Man: Alright, ladies. How about you hand your wallets over before YOU end up
the front page story?
Bette: Whoa!! Hey now, mister...this is the Queen of the Night you're pointing
that thing at!
Man: Lady, I don't care if you're the Queen of Spam--
Suddenly, a hand in a leather glove flew out of the shadows, lifted the goon up
by the neck and threw him against the brick wall! Vanessa was so startled, she
dropped the camera, and the pieces scattered across the ground.
Vanessa: Oh no! The camera!
Bette: Holy capicola... it's him!
Exodus emerged from the darkness. He was dressed all in black, with a cape
that draped behind the full length of his body. A mask covered the top half of his
face, but the irises of his eyes stared out like black coals. Dark tresses of hair
fell over the mask as he stared down the robber, cowering on the ground.
Man: You--y-you're that crazy wacko!! Get away!! Get away from me!!!
As the man sprinted away from the shadowy alley, Vanessa and Bette faced
their hero, speechless.
Bette: My God...how can we ever thank you, Mr. Exodus, uh, sir?? Or can I call
you Exie?
Vanessa:(whispers) Be-ette!
He spoke to them in a voice that was deep and mesmerizing....
Exodus: Sorry about the camera. I guess you'll just have to etch me into your
minds...
He kissed Vanessa's hand, then Bette's...the wind filled his cape, and he began
to walk away...
Exodus: See you around.
And as he seemed to vanish into the night, the two spellbound women were left
to wonder...
Vanessa: Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Bette?
Bette: That he had better be single?....
Exodus stood at the edge of the dock, watching the reflection of his face
disperse with the ripples in the water.
He had taken off the mask.
This is what I have to do....
I have to repent for my sins by avenging evil...
Deliver my spirit from the darkness...
Hide my pain behind a mask...
Be someone else...at least until the sun rises...
This is what you must do....Antonio....
