Souled Out

Souled Out is the second episode of The Crow: Stairway to Heaven. It aired on September 30, 1998.

Plot[]

Mace Reyes is wheeled into his office, where is wife India is working, by a young nurse. India informs Mace that the board will take up the mission hills acquisition on Tuesday and Mace tells her that they can’t afford to take out the money, and tells her that she will sign a memo to that effect later in the day. Much to India’s discomfort, Mace requests that India help his nurse with his pet snake. Meanwhile, Mace is informed that Frank Voz is at the office to see him and Voz is allowed in. Voz informs Mace that there was an issue at the music dive, and Mason asks if it was at the club Black Out and Voz confirms while India helps the nurse drape the snake over Mace’s shoulders. Voz informs Mace that the owner of the club; Top Dollar, was hiring contract killers and that although he hasn’t been charged he’s sitting in a psychiatric ward restrained by a straight jacket. Mace tells India to go to the police station and speak to them. A crow flies up to the window, and Mace tells Voz to kill it. Voz shoots at the crow but fails to hit it but destroys two glass windows. Mace comments that crows are garbage birds and don’t often fly so high. As India hurries out of the room, Mace tells her to make sure that the windows get replaced and that they’re tinted.

Meanwhile, Eric is sitting on a fire escape of a building watching Albrecht from a distance as Eric remembers his encounter with Top Dollar and Top Dollar’s reasoning as to why Shelly was killed; someone wanted her boyfriend dead.

At Black Out, Albrecht is investigating a shooting and the lieutenant informs him that they have arrest warrants for some of the shooters, and one of them is in custody waiting to talk to a lawyer and he asked Albrecht on the state of Top Dollar. Albrecht informed the lieutenant that Top Dollar is in psychiatric ward and the staff there won’t let him question Top Dollar until later in the afternoon. The lieutenant said that he doesn’t want Top Dollar to use insanity as an excuse as he was sane enough to run the club just the night before. Just then, a band starts playing a song and when Albrecht questions why the band is there the lieutenant says they’re just doing a sound check. The lieutenant says that he loves the song and tells Albrecht to deal with it before leaving. Albrecht tells another officer to let the band play and make them leave after five minutes before he himself leaves.

Meanwhile, Eric is still sitting on the fire escape remembering performing with his band Hangman’s Joke as a young woman photographed them. While the woman photographed them, a man started harassing her and Eric intervened. The woman thanked him and tells Eric that the club wanted her to take some promotional pictures. Eric tells her that some people believe that if someone let their picture be taken, then their soul could be stolen. When the woman asked Eric if he thinks that, Eric tell her that he’s trying to figure out if he has a soul worth stealing, and she says he does. When Eric walks away as he was called back up to the stage, the woman introduces herself as Shelly. As Eric sits on the fire escape, Sarah approaches him on her way home from school asking if he was thinking about the previous night and Eric says he was thinking about a different night from the one before. Eric tells Sarah that he always thought that death was the end of everything and Shelly thought that death was the beginning of next thing. Sarah says that Shelly was right but Eric says she was right in regards to him. Sarah tells Eric that she actually went to school and that she looked up the subject of death. She had printed out some pages and one of them read “People once believed, that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead”. Eric, intrigued by this, gets off of the fire escape and goes to Sarah.

Meanwhile, Albrecht and a fellow officer are still investigating Black Out. Albrecht says that he has three witnesses that claim they saw a man in Halloween makeup toss a man from the lower floor through a window, although the witnesses weren’t exactly sober. The fellow officer says that they must’ve been sober enough as the glass is broken inside. The officer hands Albrecht what appeared to be carbonized blood, and Albrect says he had sent something like that to the lab the previous day. While they’re talking, India approaches Albrecht and introduces herself, saying that Top Dollar’s club is partially owned by her husband’s Corporation; Reyes International. She asks if Top Dollar has been charged, and Albrecht tells her that he will be, going on to say that he has a lot to answer for but currently is incarcerated at a psychiatric facility. Albrecht asks if India is acquainted with Top Dollar and she says that she’s not but that she went through his accounting statements from time to time and Albrecht says that he would like to see them. Albrecht questions India if her husband knew Top Dollar and she says that he didn’t as it was just a routine hire. India asks what the other officers are doing in Top Dollar’s “museum” and Albrecht tells her that Top Dollar collected souvenirs from his victims much to India’s horror.

Meanwhile, Eric continues reading the research that Sarah found, and it says “Sometimes something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can’t rest.” Sarah says that this sounds like the situation that Eric is currently in. Eric continues by saying, “Sometimes the crow can bring that soul back to put things right.” Sarah tells Eric that he has a pretty good start and Eric says that it’s only a start. They both hear music, and Eric says that the song that they’re hearing is his song. Sarah says that the band made it big with the song that they’re playing, and Eric says that the song that they’re playing is a song he came up with and he sang it for Shelly. Eric goes on to say that he never gave it to anyone else, he never wrote it down and he never sang it except for the day he and Shelly got murdered.

Eric walks into the club and confronts the lead singer asking where he got the song from. The lead singer doesn’t answer the question but instead asks Eric who he is. Eric asks the lead singer another question, asking him who does he look like. The lead singer tells Eric he knows what he looks like but continues to ask who he is. Eric asks the lead singer where he got the song and he refuses to answer. One of the other bandmembers tells Eric that he needs to get a life instead of dressing up like a dead man, going on to ask if he got plastic surgery. Eric tells him to stay out of it, and the lead singer tells Eric the same thing, telling Eric that his band got the rights to everything Eric wrote since Eric is dead, and if he has a problem he can take it up with the record company. Eric says “No worries man” and walks off. The lead singer says that Eric used to say that and yells at Eric as he walks away telling him that he’s sick. Albrecht notices Eric walking away and runs after him. Albrecht gets Eric’s attention and hold him at gunpoint. Eric tells Albrecht that he’s done dealing with him and Albrecht tells Eric that he will decide that after they finish their conversation at the police station. Eric tells Albrecht that he’s not going anywhere with anybody. Eric quickly disarms Albrecht. When Albrecht takes out his handcuffs he gets ready to arrest Eric before Eric disarms him again. As Albrecht tries to arrest Eric, he engages Eric in a fight with all of Albrecht’s attacks being ineffective. Eric grabs Albrecht’s gun and shoots the bullets randomly before walking away and telling Albrecht to leave him alone. Albrecht tells Eric that he has the video tape from the night Eric and Shelly were murdered.

Eric ends up going with Albrecht back to the police station. As they arrive, Albrecht tells the other officers to clear the room and tells Eric that the videotape was what was found at the crime scene. Albrecht plays the video tape for Eric. The tape shows Shelly and Eric talking to one another. Albrecht tells Eric that the man in the video looks a lot like him and Eric tells Albrecht that he is the man in the video. Albrecht tells him that’s hard to understand as he shows a portion of the clip where T- Bird and his gang break into Eric’s apartment and assault Eric and Shelly. Eric demands that Albrecht turn off the tape and Albrecht only turns it off after Eric is thrown out of the window. Eric asks Albrecht why did he need to see the tape and he says that Eric didn’t need to see the tape but that Albrecht himself needed to see it because he still doesn’t understand how the man standing in front of him could be Eric when Eric was very clearly killed. Albrecht acknowledges Eric’s love for Shelly and wants Eric to tell him what’s going on. Eric agrees but doesn’t want to talk at the police station.

Eric brings Albrecht back to the apartment that Eric used to share with Shelly. Albrecht tells Eric that he dug up his grave and it was empty. Albrecht tells Eric that as a cop, he has seen very bad things in the real world such as people scamming each other, and killing each other whether they’re entire families or children. Eric asks Albrecht if he wants him to prove he is who he says he is and Albrecht says that he does. Eric then gives Albrecht his own personal memories of his and Shelly’s murders. Albrecht, confused, asks about what he just saw. Eric told Albrecht that what he saw was what happened. Albrecht asks Eric what he is and Eric says that he doesn’t know. Eric says that he’s going to find the people that did this and Albrecht tells Eric that that isn’t his job but it’s Albrecht job. Albrecht tells Eric that the people that they’re chasing are hired hitmen, and they want the “top man.”

Eric and Albrecht end up outside of Reyes International. Albrecht tells Eric that all he has to do is just act natural. While Albrecht continues to explain Eric’s position, Eric sums it up as they’re not partners, they’re not friends and when everything is all said and done, Albrecht will probably arrest Eric, and Albrecht confirms this to be true. Albrecht tells Eric that things would probably be easier if he wore a wire and Eric tells Albrecht that wasn’t the deal. Before leaving the car, Eric tells Albrecht that Top Dollar isn’t crazy he’s just evil.

Albrecht goes back to the police station and asks about Top Dollar’s condition. He’s told that he could speak to Top Dollar, but Top Dollar had to be heavily sedated to be moved into a prison cell. He’s also told that Top Dollar claims to have been assaulted by one of his own victims who have come back from the dead. Albrecht tries to talk to Top Dollar but Top Dollar keeps mumbling and going off on random tangents. When Albrecht tells Top Dollar that he’s “in deep”, Top Dollar goes crazy and pins Albrecht against the wall and starts ranting. Top Dollar had to be restrained and sedated.

Meanwhile, back at Reyes International, Eric tells two producers that he has a problem with them stealing his song, and demands to know where they got it. One of the producers tells him that a claim of artist compensation can only come from the artist himself. Eric says that he is the artist of the song and the producer tells him that Eric Draven died, and Eric asks if he looks dead to her. Unbeknownst to Eric, he’s being watched by Mace who is sitting in his penthouse with India. Mace makes a remark saying that if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck it must be a crow and India is left confused. Mace wonders allowed if the man claiming to be Eric is really him or if he’s just dressing up like Eric. Mace tells India to get Eric to come to his penthouse because he wants to see for himself. Meanwhile Eric is asking the producers if they want to take his fingerprints to prove he is who he says he is. Another producer says that there is no reason to get defensive and the circumstances just seem unusual. Eric simply tells the producers that the situation is he was murdered, he went away and then he came back. Another producer says that the idea of a musician dying and coming back to life is really good for publicity especially the name of Eric’s band Hangman’s Joke. While they’re talking, Eric is called up to Mace’s penthouse.

While in Mace penthouse, Eric states that the song “Seven Circles” is a song that he wrote and he wanted to know how Reyes International ended up with it. India tells Eric that Top Dollar gave them the song, and they don’t know where he got it from. Eric says that he doesn’t believe her, and Mace says that he doesn’t believe Eric is really Eric Draven. India gets ready to write a check asking how much is it going to take and Eric says he just wants answers not money. Eric grabs India’s hand and they both get visions of India’s bleak future with Mace. Eric lets go of India’s hand and tells India not to fear Mace but she should leave him. India informs Mace that Eric doesn’t want money. Mace gets angry and accuses Eric of making brazen accusations in front of his wife and Eric is beaten down by Voz.

Eric is taken back to his grave and shot by Voz as Mace watches. Mace gives Eric some advice, if he doesn’t like something kill it, if it comes back, kill it again, and if it comes back after that then that’s something different. Mace and Voz leave Eric, who has seemingly died.

Later that night, Mace returns home to find India crying. India says that she’s fine but she doesn’t want to talk to him in front of his assistances. Mace says that his assistance are his arms and legs since he’s confined to a wheelchair. Mace has Voz give India a necklace that Mace had made for her and he puts it around her neck. When she doesn’t say anything, Mace asks if she’s going to thank him and she thanks him. Mace is tired although India says she isn’t and she wants to go for a drive. Mace agrees with her and says that sounds like a good idea and wants of Voz to drive her although India insists that she go by herself. Mace tells her not to go by herself as it’s too dangerous.

As Voz walks India to the car, India comments that she think she would be perfectly safe but Voz apologizes, saying that Mace was pretty clear in his instructions to not leave India alone. Suddenly, much to their surprise, Eric appears on the hood of their car, saying that Voz should let India have some fun. Voz, confused, says that he shot Eric twice and Eric tells him to try again. Voz takes out his gun but Eric quickly disarms him. Eric asks Voz if he was born bad or if he had to work at it and Voz sarcastically says that he is a natural and they continue fighting while India hides. Eric comments that he’s supernatural and makes quick work of Voz. India comes out of hiding and tells Eric that it seems apparent why Mace is afraid of Eric and Eric tells her that he has a funny way of showing fear. India tells Eric that Mace said he was a crow, and Eric says he’s been called worse. India expresses fear that Mace is going to kill her because he she knows and has seen too much. Eric assures India that Mace isn’t going to kill her or anyone else. Eric says that India needs to leave but he prevents her from getting back into one of Mace’s cars, and has her ride on his motorcycle with him. Shortly thereafter, Eric calls Albrecht and informs him of the situation.

India had been brought to Sarah and Darla’s apartment. Darla tells India that she would offer her a drink but they don’t keep alcohol in the apartment anymore. India doesn’t mind, saying that she should probably keep her head clear. Darla tells India that if she wants to go to sleep she can always sleep in Darla’s room but India tells Darla that she’s too afraid to sleep, and Darla decides to make India coffee instead. India questions if their apartment is safe, and Sarah tells her if she wants to remain anonymous she came to the right place. Darla tell Sarah to make herself useful and Sarah agrees to keep quiet. Darla questions India as to who brought her to their apartment, and India tells her that the man said he was Eric Draven but she doubts that’s true. Darla asks Sarah if Eric Draven is the same person who was murdered sometime ago, and Sarah dismisses it saying that the man has problems because no one can come back from the dead. India says it doesn’t really matter who he is because he helped her.

Voz returns to Mace saying that the person they killed a few hours ago came back and took India. Mace, not too upset by this, says that Eric is a good little crow and that things aren’t always the way they seem. Mace uses a tracking device to find India’s whereabouts as there is a tracking device in India’s necklace. Mace quickly locates India and tells Voz to bring her home.

Albrecht meets Eric at Black Out and Eric tells Albrecht that Mace Reyes was the person who ordered his murder. Albrecht asks Eric if he has any proof and Eric says that he doesn’t need any. Albrecht tells Eric that he does need proof if they want to do things the right way but Eric dismisses him saying that isn’t his problem. Albrecht tells Eric that he can’t support a vigilante. Eric pretty much ignores him, telling Albrecht that Mace’s wife India knows how much Mace paid Top Dollar and when he was paid, but she didn’t know how much he was paid until recently. Eric says that India will talk to them if she feels safe but India only trusts Eric and Eric only trusts Albrecht. Eric makes Albrecht promise that he will be investigating by himself and Albrecht agrees. Eric tells Albrecht that India is at Sarah’s apartment and demands that Albrecht go get her. Albrecht tells Eric that he doesn’t work for him and Eric tells Albrecht that India is Mace’s victim and that she needs Albrecht to help her. As he walks away, Albrecht asks Eric where he’s going and Eric responds with “I’m gonna go charm a snake”.

The next morning, India is sitting in the living room and is amused by the story Darla and Sarah are telling her about one of Darla’s ex-boyfriend’s. Darla says that her ex-boyfriend was never crazy about kids, and Sarah says that none of them were. India comments that Sarah has a lot of confidence but Sarah says that she doesn’t have confidence but just a big mouth. Sarah tells India that once everything is over she’ll be able to do whatever she wants. Sarah asks what India used to do before, India says that before she met Mace she used to run the music club Black Out. Sarah tells India that Black Out is “bad news” and India says that back in the day it was a great place to be. With everything that’s happening, Darla and Sarah remarked that they may be looking for a new manager and that might be India’s opportunity to go back to Black Out. Just then there’s a knock at the door; and Voz is telling India that her husband wants her home. India voluntarily leaves with Voz, leaving Darla and Sarah in their apartment. Darla expresses her sympathy for India while Sarah says that she’s just a little confused.

Meanwhile, Eric is back at his apartment healing after his previous encounter. Mace is in his apartment as well as Voz brings India to him. India promises not to leave again, and Mace ignores her while commending Voz for redeeming himself. After Mace dismisses Voz, India is shocked and horrified when Mace stands up from his wheelchair with the same pattern on his face that The Crow has.

When Albrecht arrives at Sarah and Darla’s apartment, he questions them as to who took India. Neither one of them saw or know the guy who took her, but Sarah tells Albrecht that the man asked her nicely to go and she did. Albrecht is pulled aside by another officer who tells him he doesn’t see a crime but Albrecht insists that India is a witness. As they talk, Sarah creeps up behind them but Darla pulls her back. The officer tells Albrecht that all he sees is a woman spending a night out with friends and a man that works for her husband picks her up and takes her home. He urges Albrecht to give him a statement if he knows different, but Albrecht denies this. Albrecht leaves, telling Sarah and Darla to stay in the apartment and lock their doors. Sarah questions Albrecht if he knows where India was taken and Albrecht says that he has a good idea. Sarah insists that she go too, but she is denied that request.

Eric is in Mace Reyes’ penthouse where he knocks out one of Mace’s assistances. He picks up a knife and has visions of when he first came back to life. Eric also has visions of India. Eric takes his motorcycle to the location he saw in his vision. Eric sees India and confronts Mace, and tells Mace that Shelly and Eric meant nothing to him. Mace disagrees, saying that two spirits joining together couldn’t be allowed to happen, as he would’ve been too powerful. Eric says that since Mace had him killed, Mace is responsible for making Eric the way he is and Mace knowledges that. Mace tells Eric he’s giving him the chance of a lifetime and explains how everything is going to work; if Eric tries to help India he’ll only be hurting Shelly. Mace tells Eric that Shelly is in purgatory and Shelly is stuck there since Eric is stuck in the real world. Mace tries to persuade Eric to kill India so he can be reunited with Shelly but Eric refuses. Eric takes the snake that’s draped around India in his hands. Eric hands India a knife and tells her to leave, instructing her to use the knife only if she has to. India takes the knife and leaves. Mace tells Eric that he knows the power of evil and can use it to either help Eric or destroy him. As Eric and Mace continue talking, Albrecht enters the room and holds Mace at gunpoint. Albrecht tries to shoot Mace but Mace catches the bullet. Eric runs towards Albrecht and punches him and knocks him down, but before he could continue, Eric intervenes and engages Mace in a fight. As they fight, India is hiding nearby watching. Mace manages to cut Eric, damaging his spirit. India stabs Mace’s snake, wounding him, allowing Eric the chance to defeat Mace. Eric checks on Albrecht who questions Eric as to what happened. Eric simply tells Albrecht that Mace probably saw the light. Eric tries to help Albrecht up, but Albrecht says that he’s tired of showing up just in time to clean up Eric’s mess. Eric tells Albrecht to arrest him, but Albrecht decides to let him go instead.

The following morning, India is at Black Out helping with the redecorating when Eric shows up. Eric says that India could always just have the place torn down, and India refuses, determined to turn Black Out into the place that it used to be; good music and good people. Eric tells India that he hopes it works out and he tries to leave but India stops him and asks, what happened, but Eric doesn’t answer. India asks if people really come back from the dead, and Eric says that he used to believe that people don’t. India asks Eric what happened to her husband, and Eric says that he believes that Mace is gone for good. Before Eric leaves, India tells Eric that if he ever needs to “not talk“ then he’s welcome to Black Out at any time.

Later that night, Eric is sitting in the window of his apartment. The wind blows and opens up the book with the voice of a woman saying “read to me”. Inside the book he finds a note that Shelly had written that says “I lived a thousand lifetimes to find a soul like yours. A soul so pure, a soul so brave, an angel takes my breath away.” He sees an image of Shelly sitting in the window and he hears her reading the rest of the note. He looks down at the note to finish reading but when he looks back, Shelly is gone. Eric goes back to sit at the windowsill while looking out over the city.

Cast[]

Main[]

Guest[]

John Pyper Ferguson as Top Dollar
Michael Tiernan as Frank Voz
Jarred Blancard as Kenny Jeffers
Zak Alam as Curtis Bilbao
Luke Doucet as Egan
Terry Jane Barclay as Hawkins
Colleen Wheeler as Melissa Rampling
Karin Title as Receptionist
Marilyn Norry as Dr. Jocelyn Ross
Paul Magel as Crandall
Enuka Okuma as Pissaro
Jason Boychuk as Dancer

Character Revelations[]

Top Dollar’s real name is Jason Danko
Shelly was a photographer

Trivia[]

When Sarah tells Eric about the information she found about death while at school she says “People once believed, that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead”. This is said word for word in the opening to the original 1994 film by Sarah (played by Rochelle Davis)