Revealed: the insane unmade rock-horror

An exclusive extract from the script for The Otherwise, the never-produced folk-horror co-written by The Fall’s Mark E. Smith

THE CONTEXT: British post-punk band The Fall, led by frontman Mark E. Smith (co-writer of the screenplay, and a character in the film), record an album in rural Lancashire — when supernatural forces, a Satanic biker gang and a time-travelling group of centuries-old Jacobites get in the way. In this climactic scene, Mark and the Jacobite leader Macfisk bid each other a strange farewell.

EXT. — YARD — DAY

MARK’S POV: As MACFISK walks across the yard towards them, the surroundings seem to phase in and out of register. MACFISK walks up close to MARK.

Suddenly — as happened earlier in the barn — an area of glistening light separates MARK and MACFISK from the rest of the yard. Through the light we can make out the oblivious PETER fiddling with his mobile. MARK addresses MACFISK in a friendly manner, seemingly unconcerned by the supernatural circumstances.

MARK: You alright, cock?

MACFISK: [shakes his head] Everything’s wrong. I’m away home.

MARK: Me too. Probably for the best.

MACFISK stares at him for a moment.

MACFISK: We don’t win, do we? The Jacobites.

MARK: [shakes his head] No. Yer come close though. For a while the Whigs are shitting themselves. But no.

After the Battle of Preston, the Jacobites dissipate.

MACFISK: [nods] Aye. I thought so.

MARK: You should go.

MACFISK: I wanted to fight, because I saw injustice against the ordinary folk o’ the land.

MARK: [nods] It gets a lot fucking worse actually. Better not to know.

MACFISK: Aye, I reckon you’re right.

MARK and MACFISK shake hands.

MARK: All the best, pal.

The dome of light disappears. MACFISK turns around and walks away, clambers over the wall and starts making his way up the hill.

[THE FALL GUITARIST] PETER: My toothache’s eased off.

MARK: Good.

Ed’s [Mark’s mate and driver] car drives up through the entrance, into the yard. MARK glances about the place, shakes his head and mutters to himself.

MARK (CONT’D): Fuckin’ countryside...

THE OTHERWISE: THE SCREENPLAY FOR A HORROR FILM THAT NEVER WAS BY MARK E. SMITH AND GRAHAM DUFF IS ON SALE FROM 13 JULY