The Stand, Part IV: The Stand

[In his cell in Las Vegas, Glen muses on a cockroach skittering around the prison floor.]

Glen Bateman:
You're quite a piece of work, Mr. Cockroach. We could take a lesson from you, especially in light of recent events. I have an idea that… I'll be gone, come this time tomorrow. But you'll still be trucking, won't you? Running your little roach errands.

[Suddenly a boot stomps on the roach. Pan up to reveal a grinning Flagg.]

Randall Flagg:
That's a wrap on the roach.

. . .

Randall Flagg:
Actually, uh… I've decided to let you go.

Glen Bateman:
Really? Marvelous. Of course, I couldn't go without my friends.

Randall Flagg:
Oh, of course not! No, you'll all go together. Tomorrow morning. Tonight, if you prefer. And, uh… once again, all you have to do is ask. Only… for a favor of this magnitude… I really think you ought to do it on your knees.

[Bateman bursts out in tremendous laughter.]

Randall Flagg:
Stop it. Stop laughing at me!

Glen Bateman:
Sorry! It's just that… it's just that we made such… such a business of you, and it turns out you're nothing more than another cockroach, scurrying around, running little roach errands! Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

Randall Flagg:
Shoot him.

Lloyd Henreid:
What?

Randall Flagg:
You heard me!

[Lloyd pulls out his gun, then looks back at Flagg.]

Randall Flagg:
SHOOT HIM, YOU IDIOT! SHOOT HIM!

Lloyd Henreid:
He's an old man.

[Flagg starts to move toward Lloyd, who casually fires into the bars without effect.]

Randall Flagg:
Can't you do anything RIGHT? HE'S STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT O' YA!

Glen Bateman:
If you really feel you must shoot somebody, Mr. Henreid, I suggest Flagg. His world is crumbling, and we both know it. I think we also both know he can do a lot of damage on his way down. You could change that.

Randall Flagg:
Well, shoot one of us, anyway.

. . .

[Lloyd finally puts several shots into Glen, point-blank. Glen falls, then turns back toward Lloyd.]

Glen Bateman:
It's all right, Mr. Henreid. You don't know any better.