sib1x05 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[bottom] TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. DARK ALLEY. NIGHT. 1
A young WOMAN hurries into frame, her urgent footsteps
echoing along the alleyway. She throws a nervous glance over
her shoulder, afraid that someone is following her.
We look down on her from above as she walks beneath a
flickering streetlight, steam rising from vents either side
of her. Perfect set up for an ambush.
BAM! A figure jumps down in front of her and she SCREAMS!
It's a VAMPIRE, fangs out and snarling.
She screams again and spins round to run, but bumps straight
into another VAMPIRE standing behind her. He grabs her and
whirls her back round to face the first vamp, who steps up
close to her, licking his lips.
VAMPIRE #1
Mmm, blonde, just the way I like
'em!
WOMAN
Oh god, no… please, I don't have
much money, but take it, please…
The vamp reaches into her handbag, digs out the wallet.
VAMPIRE #1
Hey, thanks!
With a grin, he leans in for the bite. The woman tries to
push him off, but he's too strong…
VOICE (O.S.)
Hey, Emil!
The vampire stops and looks behind him.
Two more VAMPIRES have just joined the scene.
NEW VAMPIRE #1
I told you to stay off our
territory?
NEW VAMPIRE #2
We don't want any of you damn trads
bringing trouble down on us!
The second vampire throws the woman to the ground and steps
alongside his partner, the two pairs of vamps facing off.
The woman backs up against one wall, watching the scene
before her with wide eyes.
VAMPIRE #1
Alright, you spoiled my dinner. So
how you gonna make it up to me?
NEW VAMPIRE #1
I'm going to make sure the only
thing you get to sink those teeth
into is the pavement, you jackass!
VAMPIRE #1
I'm gonna show you punks what you
should be doing instead of hiding!
The foursome step to the attack. The new vampires fight well,
but they're no match for the first pair, who weaken them with
a series of punches, and then slam them both into the alley
walls.
Vamp #1 spots an old chair sticking out of a dumpster next to
him and breaks off two of the legs, handing one to his
partner and using the other to stake New Vamp #2. Vamp #1
crouches down and pins the recovering New Vamp #1 against the
wall, stake raised.
VAMPIRE #1 (cont'd)
You and your kind are an endangered
species, pal!
He stakes him. Dropping it, he stands and turns back to the
cowering woman, frozen to the spot. Vamp #1 grins.
VAMPIRE #1 (cont'd)
I always prefer working up an
appetite before a meal…
The vamp lunges at us, and we hear her start to scream before
we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
2 EXT. SEATTLE - CITY STREET. AFTERNOON - OVERCAST. 2
A taxi pulls into frame, and CHRIS and TWIST step out.
TWIST
Welcome to sunny Seattle, the city
that always has a happy smile on
its face and a spring in its step.
She glances round at the miserable people shuffling past and
then to Chris, waiting for him to appreciate the joke.
CHRIS
Sarcasm duly noted.
TWIST
So, tell me more about this cop
friend of yours.
They pick up their bags and start to walk down the street, we
walk ahead looking back at them.
CHRIS
Detective Jack Estes, good friend
of mine after we ran into each
other over a rogue kahlia monster a
few years ago. He was investigating
what looked like a serial killer
operating in the city, and I was on
the trail of that thing because its
blood has amazing regenerative
properties.
TWIST
Two strangers meet over demonic
ooze… why, it's so romantic!
She wipes away a pretend tear as Chris continues.
CHRIS
I cornered the thing in a meat
warehouse and he followed it in, I
ended up killing it to stop it from
wrenching his head off.
TWIST
Always with the dramatic rescues!
CHRIS
He said he'd get back in touch if
he ever needed help with anything
paranormal after that, and that's
why we're here.
TWIST
So what does Officer Mulder need us
to help him with?
The two turn into another street, and we can see the imposing
building of Seattle Central Police Department up ahead as two
police cruisers roll past towards it.
CHRIS
I'm not sure yet, he had to be
quite vague because if his
superiors heard him on the phone to
a half vampire, asking for help
busting what may be a monster
running round his precinct, well…
it'd be a different kind of
institution we'd be visiting him in
at the moment.
TWIST
Must be desperate if he asked us
for help! And anyway, what happened
to that big speech the other week
about 'not getting distracted'?
CHRIS
This is different.
TWIST
How?
CHRIS
(beat)
Come on, we're already late.
Twist shakes her head as Chris starts to head up the stone
steps outside the police building.
3 INT. SEATTLE PD - RECEPTION. AFTERNOON. 3
Chris walks up to the reception desk of the modern, clean
looking police station. Twist follows, grinning at any good
looking cops that walk by. Chris waits for the desk sergeant
to finish a phone call before speaking.
CHRIS
Hello, my name's Chris Berkeley,
I'm here to see Detective Estes.
DESK SERGEANT
Alright, take a seat and I'll give
Jack a call.
Chris nods and heads for the rows of wooden seats to the left
of the desk. Twist joins him, shuffling up along the seat as
stray rays of sunlight start to creep in through the windows.
She nudges into a large, heavily tattooed biker who glares
down at her. She smiles back.
TWIST
Nice tattoos. Is that your mom?
Chris opens his mouth to excuse her but the desk sergeant
calls him.
DESK SERGEANT
Detective Estes will see you now,
Mr Berkeley. He's on the fourth
floor.
CHRIS
Thanks.
(to Twist)
Come on you, police stations aren't
the best places to make new
friends!
TWIST
(to biker)
Sorry. He gets very jealous.
Chris heads for the staircase leading up past the desk with
Twist in pursuit.
4 INT. SEATTLE PD - 4TH FLOOR. AFTERNOON. 4
They walk out onto a busy shop floor of the station, the open
plan desks surrounded by officers, phones ringing and people
talking. He spots JACK, who waves them over.
Twist pauses as she walks past a white board covered with
grisly crime scene photos and lots of scribbled notes.
TWIST
Ick! Now this is just plain nasty.
(points to a photo)
Hey, I think I know that guy…
Chris drags her along towards Jack's desk.
Jack Estes is a mid-thirties guy with short dark hair and a
day or two's worth of stubble, his shirt and tie loose round
the neck. His desk is covered with piles of folders and
photos, as well as a small model R2-D2 which his gun belt
hangs off. Chris takes a seat and drags another chair over
for Twist as the two boys shake hands.
JACK
How you doing, Chris?
CHRIS
Not bad. I was thinking of taking a
shower before I got here but five
minutes out there did the trick.
Jack looks out the window - rain is falling heavily now.
JACK
Welcome to Seattle.
CHRIS
This is my associate, Twist.
TWIST
Hey. Nice robot.
JACK
He's my mascot. Hero of the Star
Wars movies, you know!
TWIST
I thought that was supposed to be
the Skywalker brat?
CHRIS
Long story. Jack's film studies
course dissertation was all about
heroes in popular culture.
JACK
And speaking of which, here we both
find ourselves again!
CHRIS
So tell me why I'm out here, Jack.
Jack nods and sorts through the folders on his desk, finding
the one he wants and passing to Chris.
Chris lays it on his lap and opens it out, handing the photos
to Twist to flick through.
JACK (O.S.)
Series of pretty hardcore killings
in the main nightclub area of the
city over the past few months, same
M.O. each time. Same method of
attack too.
CHRIS
I'm assuming two puncture wounds to
the neck?
Jack lights a cigarette and blows smoke over the desk.
JACK
That's your starter for ten. The
sarge doesn't really like to hear
my theories whenever we get these
sorts of cases, but he's let me
take care of it for now.
CHRIS
Looks like your standard vamp nest.
TWIST
Not a very subtle one, either!
JACK
Exactly, and that's what bothers
me. I thought vampires liked to
keep hidden, strike when they
needed and lay low, avoid the
spotlight?
CHRIS
They do prefer to avoid
broadcasting their location these
days.
TWIST
So what do you think? You're the
detective here.
JACK
Beats me. What I do know is that if
I had to guess at a motive I'd say
gang territories. There used to be
four main street punk gangs who
worked those streets, but these
days there's only two. And only one
of those has given us any trouble
for a while now.
TWIST
Sounds like the Lost Boys moved in
and the normal guys moved out!
CHRIS
Any crime scenes we can look round?
An extra pair of eyes can't hurt.
TWIST
Especially when they're as pretty
as mine! And yours, Detective, now
I come to notice them…
Jack laughs as Chris sighs at Twist's incessant flirting.
CHRIS
Diana Dors has got nothing on you,
you know.
TWIST
(blinks)
Who?
CHRIS
I'll tell you when you're older.
JACK
Let's go, I've got a couple of
potential locations for a nest if
it's out there.
5 INT. ESTES' CAR. AFTERNOON. 5
The trio are in Jack's unmarked car, looking across the
street to an old building labelled as 'The Lounge Lizard.'
It's early yet so the place isn't open, and there aren't many
people on the streets nearby.
JACK
That's my main target, this place
seems to be at the centre of the
activities round here. That's what
my good old-fashioned police work
tells me, anyway.
TWIST
What, sticking pins in a map of the
city and seeing what's in the
middle?
A beat as Chris and Jack exchange a look. Twist grins.
TWIST (cont'd)
I knew all those Cagney and Lacey
marathons would pay off one day!
JACK
She like this all the time?
CHRIS
(sighs)
Every single day.
JACK
Anyway, if we're going to start
anywhere, I'd say here. Either the
nest is here, or members of the
gang hang out here, or someone in
that place is connected.
CHRIS
We'll go take a look round tonight,
see what we can find out. What sort
of place is it?
JACK
Kind of a themed open mic place,
lots of local singers and bands
most nights of the week. Quite low
profile, but the beer's cheap and
the police don't come round much,
so the dealers like to hang out
here too.
TWIST
Cool, I can work on my Linkin Park
karaoke!
CHRIS
Undercover work, remember? We do
actually do that sometimes…
Twist pokes her tongue out at him as Chris looks back out
towards the bar.
6 EXT. OUTSIDE LOUNGE LIZARD. NIGHT. 6
As the light darkens, the bar lights up, and we can see
through the windows that the place is filling up nicely.
Chris and Twist step into frame, exchange a nod and then
stride purposefully towards the club and the line of people
waiting to get in.
TWIST
Leave this to me, my British amigo,
my door play is legendary!
7 INT. LOUNGE LIZARD. NIGHT. 7
TITLE OVER: One hour later…
Chris and Twist finally make it inside the bar, Chris wearing
a dark look. He waits until they make it to the bar before
complaining.
CHRIS
'Legendary doorplay'? I'd have
gotten into Mount Olympus quicker
than that!
TWIST
Look, female bouncers are like
kryptonite to a girl like me, you
have to understand!
CHRIS
Alright, never mind. Get me a drink
in and I'll go look round the
place.
Twist nods and waves to get the barmaid's attention as we
follow Chris as he moves away, scanning the place for any
signs of trouble.
Tables full of young couples, groups of friends, single,
lonely looking middle aged men and women - all standard so
far. No vampire gangs.
He passes the stage and glances to his left - glittering red
curtains behind the circular platform and a spotlight
overhead, with black and white tiles covering the stage.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Looks like the bloody Moulin Rogue!
VOICE (O.S.)
Give it half an hour yet, the show
hasn't even started!
He spins round to see who spoke to him.
This is SPICE, a gorgeous blonde girl, slim and elegant, who
smiles at Chris from behind the bar. Chris blinks a few
times, taken aback by her looks.
CHRIS
Hello. I'm, uh… a first timer,
wondering what the fuss was about.
SPICE
Well, you're in the right place.
You singing tonight or just
watching?
CHRIS
Just watching. I do quite a good
Depeche Mode but I think I'll leave
it to the professionals tonight.
She smiles and holds out her hand, which Chris shakes.
SPICE
Hi. I'm Susan, but everyone here
calls me Spice.
CHRIS
I'm Chris. Everyone calls me names,
these days.
SPICE
(smiles)
I'll stick with Chris. You here by
yourself?
CHRIS
Ah, no, I'm here with a workmate,
the blonde at the end of the bar
who looks like trouble.
Spice looks back towards the direction of Twist, then back to
Chris with a wry smile.
SPICE
Good description! Well, seeing as I
work here, I'd better get ready.
CHRIS
You're one of the singers?
SPICE
Yeah, I inflict myself on the
punters as the warm up act each
night.
CHRIS
It'd take a lot for you to inflict
on anyone, I think…
Spice grins and so does Chris. She turns to leave through a
door set into the back of the bar, and calls to him.
SPICE
Don't forget to cheer for me!
CHRIS
I won't!
She goes. Chris waits a moment, takes a deep breath and walks
off screen to the left.
With two drinks in front of her, Twist is scanning the place
as well. Chris walks over, and she grins at him.
TWIST
'It'd take a lot for you to inflict
on anyone,' eh?
Chris blinks, not sure how she heard that.
TWIST (cont'd)
(taps ears)
Vampire senses. Smooth line, I can
hear Cary Grant turning in his
grave.
(beat)
So he can't hear you any more!
CHRIS
Women have never been my strong
point. I think that's why I ended
up with you.
TWIST
What, I'm your punishment?!?
CHRIS
No, you're my training.
She pokes her tongue out at him as the house lights go down
and the regulars cheer.
TWIST
Sounds like the show's starting!
Here, I got you a beer.
CHRIS
Cheers.
He takes a sip as the tannoy announces the first act, with
warm up music already starting to play behind it.
TANNOY
And now, ladies, gentlemen, boys
and girls, droogies, boozers,
strumpets and losers, the Lounge
Lizard is proud as always to
present our house act, the one, the
only… Spice!
Another cheer and a round of applause.
The spotlight picks out the red curtains as they ripple
expectantly, and the crowd get more rowdy. An industrial,
dirtily heavy version of 'Crazy' starts to play, sung by the
kidneythieves.
SPICE (O.S.)
(sings)
Crazy… I'm crazy for feelin'…
A cheer, and as the singing continues, the curtains slowly
pull aside to reveal Spice in her stage outfit - a black and
red Moulin Rogue style cabaret girl outfit, complete with
fishnet stockings, tassels and bodice, with a black fedora
tipped across her head. She struts forward to the front of
the stage, kicking a leg out over the heads of the cheering
guys down the front.
Chris' mouth falls open in shock at the demure girl he saw
earlier's transformation. Twist is singing along and nudges
him when she notices he's dumbstruck by her.
Spice's song continues, reaching the finale.
SPICE (cont'd)
(sings)
I'm crazy for tryin' and crazy for
tryin' and I'm crazy for lovin'
you…
The crowd give her a standing ovation as the music plays out,
and after blowing a kiss to the crowd she struts back off
stage, and the curtains fall behind her.
Still wearing the same shocked look, Chris starts to applaud,
before stopping, gulping down several mouthfuls of his beer
and then clapping again.
TWIST
So what do you think?
CHRIS
I think I like this place…
From the club filled with applause, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
8 INT. LOUNGE LIZARD. NIGHT. 8
It's after hours now, and the bar is mostly empty. A haze of
smoke drifts overhead, and the empty tables are littered with
glasses and bottles that clink as the bar staff gather them
up.
Chris and Twist are stood by the bar with Jack as Spice walks
over, back in her normal bargirl clothes. She heaves a crate
full of empty bottles onto the counter.
SPICE
If you guys are hoping for a lock
in, I'm afraid you're in for a
disappointment…
CHRIS
Actually, this is a business call.
Jack shows Spice his badge, and she sighs.
SPICE
Cops. I should've known.
JACK
Just me, not them. Detective Jack
Estes, how do you do.
SPICE
Not so bad, officer.
(to Chris)
So you're not with the police?
TWIST
Nah, we're freelancers.
CHRIS
Jack's an old friend of mine, he
called me in to help with his case.
SPICE
Which is?
She flips over some bar stools for them all to sit on.
JACK
You probably know about the murders
round here recently?
SPICE
Hard to miss, can't walk five
minutes without tripping over a
dead gang member these days.
JACK
Then are you aware that the crimes
seem to be centred around this
area? And more specifically, this
bar?
SPICE
So what, are you suggesting we're
hiding a gang of murderers? We're
just a singer's bar, detective.
CHRIS
I think what he means is that the
killer, or killers, may be regulars
here. We'd like your help in
tracking them down.
SPICE
What would I have to do? 'Cause I
gotta say, I really don't fancy
advertising the fact that I'll be
working with the cops.
JACK
At the moment, nothing. We'll be
staking the place out, keeping an
eye on the clients, and all we need
you and your staff to do is keep an
eye out for any suspicious
characters.
SPICE
(grins)
And you three don't count, right?
TWIST
We're not suspicious, we just stand
out because we're so cool.
(beat)
Well, I am, anyway.
Spice chuckles as Chris and Jack stand. There's a beat before
Twist notices and stands up too, trying to look professional.
JACK
We'll swing by tomorrow afternoon,
but I'm going to have an officer
left out here overnight just in
case. If you see or hear anything,
call the precinct and ask for me,
okay?
SPICE
Not a problem.
CHRIS
Here, you'd best get my number too,
just in case.
He grabs a beer mat and scribbles his cell's number down.
They leave, but Chris pauses by the door and throws a look
back to Spice, who smiles and waves. He smiles back.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.