sib1x06
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

[ bottom ]
                                       TEASER

                                                               FADE IN:

         1     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - MAIN ROOM. NIGHT.                   1

               INSERT OVER - Sanguine Night Club, Hollywood.

               As Marilyn Manson's 'mOBSCENE' kicks in, we're looking down
               on the main dance floor of a packed goth night club, as the
               music pounds out of the extensive speaker system either side
               of the main stage. There are two mezzanine floors, and the
               main floor is absolutely rammed with dancing clubbers. 

               The stage holds the huge speakers and a DJ booth, flanked by
               two sets of dancers either side. Lights flash in time with
               the beat, and the whole place looks like it's somewhere you'd
               want to be.

         2     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - UPSTAIRS OFFICE. NIGHT.             2

               We pull back and through a tinted glass window overlooking
               the dancefloor, to find ourselves in a minimalist office -
               lots of wall scrolls with I Ching symbols, a bonsai tree, and
               a few tidy shelves with large, dusty books on them. 

               Standing by the door are DUDLEY and TYLER, two bodyguards,
               both wearing smart suits, hands folded.

                                   DUDLEY
                             (irritated)
                         I hate this music…

                                   TYLER
                         You serious? This is a killer
                         album!

                                   DUDLEY
                         I know, but… don't you get sick of
                         hearing the same stuff over and
                         over?

               Dudley glances across at Tyler, who is nodding his head along
               with the music. Dudley rolls his eyes.

               We move away from the two bodyguards and towards the back of
               the office, towards a heavy looking iron door.

         3     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - BACK ROOM. NIGHT.                   3

               We're moving along a darkened corridor, lit by the occasional
               light fitting, before we turn a corner into a large open
               room, lined on all sides by a library-sized section of
               bookshelves, stretching off into the darkness.

               Before us is BANNISTER, an elderly man dressed in simple,

               plain clothes, kneeling on the floor in the centre of a large
               pentagram. Candles mark out each point as he sits, head back
               and eyes closed, humming under his breath.

               Behind him stands GLOVER, a thin, nervous looking man holding
               a wooden tray covered with sticks of incense and piles of
               coloured powder.

               Dudley and Tyler walk into the room and take up positions
               either side of the corridor entrance, and we see Bannister
               open one eye and nod acknowledgement to them.

               He clicks his fingers, leaving his palm outstretched as
               Glover jolts into action, sprinkling a handful of copper
               coloured powder into his hand. Bannister quickly spreads the
               powder out before him, and with a FLARE it ignites as it
               touches the marked lines of the pentagram.

               The entire pentagram glows a deep red for a moment, before
               fading back to black except for one point, opposite
               Bannister.

               He opens his eyes and sees the glowing point and smiles.

                                   BANNISTER
                         Good. He has arrived.

         4     EXT. HOLLYWOOD BUS STATION. NIGHT.                       4

               And here's our dynamic duo, clambering down from a Greyhound
               bus and into the bus station. TWIST is wearing an 'I Love
               Hollywood' t-shirt and looking pleased as punch to be in the
               movie capital of America. 

               CHRIS hands her two bags and hefts up his own, larger bag.
               Twist waits for him and then walks into the main station.

         5     INT. HOLLYWOOD BUS STATION - INSIDE. NIGHT.              5

               The duo make their way through the few people inside the
               station, Twist pulling her leather jacket close against the
               cold and shivering.

                                   TWIST
                         Brr! What's the beef with our visit
                         to the Hollywood Hills then?

                                   CHRIS
                         We're here to find this man.

               He reaches into his coat and hands her a photo.

               It's a surveillance style black and white photo of Bannister,
               accompanied by his two bodyguards.

                                   TWIST
                         What, Colonel Sanders?

               Chris throws her a look, then walks off screen.

                                   TWIST (cont'd)
                         What? Oh, come on! That was funny!

               Neither of them notice the badly disguised man in shades,
               raincoat and hat watching them carefully from the far side of
               the station, before we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                    END OF TEASER
                                       ACT ONE

                                                               FADE IN:

         6     INT. TAXI. NIGHT.                                        6

               Sitting in the back seat as it darts through the evening
               traffic, Chris and Twist continue their conversation.

                                   CHRIS
                         His name's Bannister, a well known
                         local healer and librarian of
                         sorts, apparently keeps a well
                         stocked store of occult books that
                         would put the DuGarde Bibliotheque
                         to shame.

                                   TWIST
                         The Bibbly-o-what?

                                   CHRIS
                         A French archive of ancient texts.

                                   TWIST
                             (sarcastic)
                         Oh, yeah, that one.

                                   CHRIS
                         I had to head over this way anyway
                         to meet up with a blacksmith who's
                         holding some swords for me, so I
                         thought we'd pay Bannister a visit
                         while we were here.

                                   TWIST
                         Mmm, great, another road trip that
                         ends with me falling asleep
                         watching hotel TV while you stay up
                         all night reading very old books,
                         written on human skin in blood, or
                         something.

                                   CHRIS
                         No, that'd be the Necronomicon from
                         the 'Evil Dead' films. You really
                         must try to stop watching so many
                         of those things!

                                   TWIST
                         Meh, same diff.

               A blast of music from the cab makes Chris look up.

                                   TAXI DRIVER (O.S.)
                         Where to now then, sir?

               Chris leans forward into view as the Indian taxi driver
               continues to dodge through the night's traffic.

                                   CHRIS
                         Well, this is where I hoped you
                         could help me out, we're looking
                         for a nightclub somewhere in town,
                         but we're not sure where.

                                   TAXI DRIVER
                         Plenty of clubs round here, do you
                         have a name? Or perhaps a
                         particular style of music which you
                         are liking?

                                   CHRIS
                         I think it's a gothic place, the
                         name of it has something to do with
                         blood.

                                   TAXI DRIVER
                             (laughs)
                         Again, that could be many places! I
                         take you to nearest and you ask
                         there, see if they can help!

                                   CHRIS
                         That'd be great, thanks.

               Chris sits back down and notices that Twist is throwing a
               less-than-impressed look his way. He frowns, then raises his
               arms to say 'what?'

                                   TWIST
                         You've done it again, haven't you?

                                   CHRIS
                         Done what?

                                   TWIST
                         Dragged me out into yet another
                         stop off on your seemingly never
                         ending road trip, to find a guy you
                         don't know in a place you've never
                         been. Again!

                                   CHRIS
                         That's why our life is such a big
                         adventure! Thought you enjoyed it…

                                   TWIST
                         If 'adventure' means you spend half
                         your time not knowing where the
                         hell you're going, then yeah,
                         that's us!

               Twist stares gloomily out the window for a second before
               Chris leans forward to speak to the driver again.

                                   CHRIS
                         Change of plan. Drop us off at the
                         nearest bar, I think my lady friend
                         needs a little liquid refreshment.

                                   TAXI DRIVER
                         No problem, boss!

               Chris staggers and lands on the back seat as the taxi lurches
               to the left, parking by the side of the road.

                                   TAXI DRIVER (O.S.) (cont'd)
                         Nearest place to get drinks! Is
                         very good, tell them Punjit sent
                         you.

               Chris presses some bills into the driver's hand.

         7     EXT. HOLLYWOOD STREET - RONSTADT BAR. NIGHT.             7

               Twist steps out of the taxi and pops open the boot to get her
               bags. Chris joins her on the pavement as the taxi screeches
               away back into the traffic. A series of car horns sound off
               screen.

                                   CHRIS
                         Come on, you, let's get you fed and
                         watered. I owe you one for the
                         trip, I know you wanted to try and
                         catch that concert in Seattle.

                                   TWIST
                         Hmph. It's gonna take a lot of
                         owing to make up for me missing
                         Static-X again, mister!

         8     INT. RONSTADT BAR - BOOTH. NIGHT.                        8

               We're looking down at a now empty plate as Twist pushes it
               away from her. Three empty beer glasses sit on the table
               before her as she leans back in her seat.

               Chris has been scribbling in his notebook, jotting down
               numbers from the phone book on the table beside him, and
               looks up with a grin as Twist tries to drain the last few
               drops from each of the glasses.

                                   CHRIS
                         Is that better?

                                   TWIST
                         Much. The only thing that could
                         possibly top this is a nice warm
                         mug of the red stuff…

               Chris shakes his head.

                                   TWIST (cont'd)
                             (sighs)
                         And I know that isn't on the menu.

                                   CHRIS
                         Sorry. I'm trying to get you on the
                         patches till you quit.

               She pokes her tongue out at him as Chris turns the notebook
               round for her to look at.

                                   TWIST
                         Leads?

                                   CHRIS
                         It's definitely one of those three
                         places. All local, all looking like
                         they cater for the goth element of
                         the city and all in the right area.

                                   TWIST
                             (smiles hopefully)
                         Cool, are we going out clubbing?

                                   CHRIS
                         Strictly reconnaissance this time,
                         I'm afraid.

               Twist pouts, but Chris picks up on it for once.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         But, if you wanted to let your hair
                         down later… I'm sure we could work
                         something out.

                                   TWIST
                         Woo! Party time for the Twister!

                                   CHRIS
                         I've already got us a hotel nearby
                         so I say we book in to that, get
                         ready to go out and then make our
                         way to these three places.

                                   TWIST
                         Are you going to be getting all
                         dressed up?

                                   CHRIS
                         I hadn't thought about it. Why?

                                   TWIST
                         You are so British sometimes… look,
                         if we're going to be going
                         incognito at three thumpin' goth
                         discos, we need to be able to blend
                         in, right?

                                   CHRIS
                         Right…

                                   TWIST
                         And the best way to blend in is to
                         go all Dances With Wolves and dress
                         like the natives, correct?

                                   CHRIS
                         Correct.

                                   TWIST
                         So! What kind of thing are you
                         going to wear?

                                   CHRIS
                         Er…

               A long beat as Chris realises he hasn't put any thought into
               this - his plan was just to show up and ask questions! Twist
               grins and pats him on the hand.

                                   TWIST
                         Relax and let Auntie Twist be your
                         style guru for the evening, okay?

               Chris doesn't look so sure, but he knows that Twist's got the
               advantage on him this time.

         9     EXT. OUTSIDE SANGUINE CLUB. NIGHT.                       9

               We're at worm's eye level, looking over towards the outside
               of the club - a large building wedged in between two run down
               office blocks and lit by the variety of neon lit late night
               burger bars and pizza joints all round.

               The club is fronted by a large stylised skeletal head, red
               vortex lights in its eye sockets and the main entrance built
               into its gaping mouth. A long line of clubbers wait outside,
               coats pulled tight against the chill evening wind.

               A pair of chunky black PVC boots step into frame, followed by
               two more less extravagant looking boots. We pan slowly up to
               reveal Chris and Twist in their undercover outfits.

               A frontal shot to show off what they're wearing - Chris looks
               uncomfortable in a pair of black trousers with chunky pads, a
               black top with a stylised white frequency image on it, with
               his long coat over the top of it. Twist is dressed to the
               nines; fishnet stockings, PVC skirt, corset top with red
               ribbons and sparkling eye makeup.

                                   CHRIS
                         This is ridiculous… why do we need
                         to get this dressed up? Couldn't I
                         have just worn something dark and
                         wandered around out of sight?

                                   TWIST
                             (rolls eyes)
                         Don't be stupid, we need to make an
                         impression or we won't get noticed
                         by the guys we're looking for!
                         Easiest way to find someone is to
                         make them find you. Right?

               They start to walk across the street towards the club.

                                   CHRIS
                         I still say this is a bad idea…

                                   TWIST
                         You always do. Now be quiet and let
                         me do the talking. Another round of
                         my legendary doorplay is about to
                         kick off, and if you watch
                         carefully you might learn
                         something.

               The pair approach the large, bulky doorman, who looks over at
               them as they walk up, obviously cutting in front of about
               fifty people.

               She smiles broadly at him, fangs on display.

        10     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - MAIN FLOOR. NIGHT.                 10

               Chris and Twist walk inside as 'Circuitry' by Front Line
               Assembly plays over the club's PA. Blue neon strips overhead
               bathe everything in a pale blue glow, lighting up teeth and
               Twist's eyes.

                                   TWIST
                         See? Piece of cake!

                                   CHRIS
                         Twist, not wanting to put a downer
                         on your achievement, but the only
                         way I could replicate what you just
                         did would be to transfer myself
                         into the body of a twenty year old
                         girl!

                                   TWIST
                             (sly grin)
                         Don't say you never thought about
                         it…

                                   CHRIS
                         Let's just get to work, shall we?
                         You start by that bar, and I'll
                         take this one. We'll work round
                         back to each other. Bannister
                         probably owns this place, so he'll
                         be here somewhere.

               She nods, already starting to unconsciously bop from foot to
               foot along with the music. Chris looks like he's in his worst
               nightmare as the two split up.

               We follow Twist as she makes her way through the crowds of
               similarly dressed clubbers to the bar, the only bright thing
               in the gloom of the club. Occasional flashes of light from
               the main stage illuminate the scene. 

               She leans across the bar, snapping her fingers and calling
               the barman. He's a heavily pierced teenager called NICK.

                                   NICK
                         Yeah, what can I get you?

                                   TWIST
                         Two double vodkas!

               He nods and returns a moment later with the two shot glasses.
               Without pausing, she grabs them from his hands, knocks both
               back, belches and then leans forward again.

                                   TWIST (cont'd)
                         Perfect. Now you can tell me
                         something.

                                   NICK
                         Oh yeah?

                                   TWIST
                         I'm looking for the owner, guy
                         called Bannister. Know him?

                                   NICK
                         Old Man Bannister, yeah. Lives
                         upstairs. Private man, though,
                         doesn't like visitors.

                                   TWIST
                             (pouts)
                         Not even little old me?

                                   NICK
                             (grins)
                         I'm sure he'd make exceptions…

                                   TWIST
                         Damn straight! Where can I find
                         him?

                                   NICK
                         Ah, dunno. I never even know when
                         he's here, try asking around.

                                   TWIST
                         Groovy. Thanks, kid.

               She pats him on the cheek and moves away from the bar,
               leaving Nick with a soppy grin on his face until another
               customer calls him over.

        11     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - SIDE ROOM - LATER.                 11

               The side room of the club is less hectic, with much quieter,
               mellower music. Chris is propped against the bar looking
               relaxed, talking to an elegant looking goth girl with long
               scarlet hair extensions and a shiny PVC dress.

                                   CHRIS
                         No, I had no idea that the whole
                         rubber thing was so popular…
                         doesn't it chafe sometimes?

               Twist suddenly jogs into frame, a little flushed but looking
               pretty happy. She nudges Chris and he turns to see her, and
               when he turns back the pretty goth girl has moved away. He
               sighs and turns back.

                                   TWIST
                         Any luck?

                                   CHRIS
                         Sort of. I'm sure I've seen a few
                         vampires and demons lurking around
                         here, but then again it could just
                         be people's piercings and makeup. I
                         really can't tell. What about you?

               Twist waves the bar girl over as she speaks, pointing to the
               empty bottle in her hands and indicating for another.

                                   TWIST
                         You must be doing it all wrong!
                         I've found out from a few people
                         that our Mr. Bannister is indeed in
                         the building, he has his own
                         private suite upstairs.

                                   CHRIS
                         I wonder why he chose a place like
                         this as his base?

               The bar girl brings Twist a bottle over, and she sips it
               through a straw as she checks her watch. She mutters under
               her breath and drains the bottle in one gulp.

                                   TWIST
                             (belches)
                         Damn, gotta run!

                                   CHRIS
                         Run? Where to?

                                   TWIST
                         I'm on in two minutes!

                                   CHRIS
                         You've lost me. On where?

                                   TWIST
                         Oh, right. Well, you see, there was
                         this guy, and he was looking round
                         and asking people if they wanted to
                         be dancers, and he spotted me and
                         said 'oh, man! you have got to get
                         up there!' And so I said 'well, I'm
                         kinda busy, but just for a few
                         songs, alright,' and he says-

                                   CHRIS
                             (interrupts)
                         I assume there is a point to this
                         story, besides you rushing off
                         while we're supposed to be working?

                                   TWIST
                         Course there is! You dare doubt my
                         incredible talents?

                                   CHRIS
                         I can see most of your 'incredible
                         talents,' and I'm pretty sure
                         that's how you ended up being
                         recruited…

                                   TWIST
                         Just using the gifts I was given!
                         So, I ask this guy, I'm here
                         looking to speak to Bannister, and
                         he says, yeah, cool, I'll sort
                         something out.

               Twist waits, hopping from foot to foot excitedly as she sips
               at her drink, waiting for Chris to answer.

                                   CHRIS
                             (sighs)
                         Well done. I think.

                                   TWIST
                         Thanks! I gotta go dance now. Come
                         and watch!

                                   CHRIS
                         I'm quite comfortable here at the
                         moment, actually.

               Twist frowns and Chris rolls his eyes, knowing he can't say
               no to her.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         Fine. See you out there.

               Twist beams at him and hops away, and Chris knocks back the
               rest of his drink and follows a few moments later. 

               We stay looking at the bar as Chris walks off screen, to pick
               up Dudley standing silently at the end of the bar, watching
               Chris and Twist very carefully.

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

                                                               FADE IN:

        12     EXT. HOLLYWOOD STREET. NIGHT.                           12

               It's after the night out at the disco now, and Chris and
               Twist are heading back to the hotel. Chris has his coat
               wrapped around him and is walking along the road, while Twist
               follows, humming and dancing as she trots along.

                                   TWIST
                             (sings)
                         Da da dah… she's the greatest
                         dancer…

                                   CHRIS
                         Am I going to get this all the way
                         back to the hotel?

                                   TWIST
                             (smiles; nods)
                         Yup!

                                   CHRIS
                             (sarcastic)
                         Oh good, just checking.

               Twist catches up to him and throws an arm round him.

                                   TWIST
                         Aw, come on, you don't mean to tell
                         me you didn't enjoy yourself even a
                         teeny tiny little bit?

               Chris looks at her for a long beat.

                                   CHRIS
                         I refuse to answer that, on the
                         grounds that it may incriminate me
                         for many, mny years.

                                   TWIST
                         Ha!

                                   CHRIS
                         I lost sight of you after your
                         little dancing queen routine, did
                         you manage to speak to Bannister at
                         all?

                                   TWIST
                         Sort of, I got the DJ to arrange a
                         meeting between us tomorrow night.

                                   CHRIS
                         You did?

                                   TWIST
                         Yeah, if we get back there around
                         midnight, then you can go see him
                         and I can fulfil my part of the
                         bargain.

                                   CHRIS
                         Uh-oh… What was that exactly?

                                   TWIST
                         Well… you know how I like to mix a
                         lot of my own music, right?

                                   CHRIS
                         The eight million home made mp3s on
                         my laptop all shout 'yes' to that.

                                   TWIST
                         Well, I was talking to the DJ about
                         it, and he said why don't I do a
                         little set, maybe forty minutes or
                         so, while you're upstairs seeing
                         the old man…

               Chris raises an eyebrow but Twist is clearly looking forward
               to being the queen of the decks.

                                   CHRIS
                         You're really enjoying all this,
                         aren't you?

                                   TWIST
                         Hell, yeah! This is the most fun
                         I've had since that bar fight last
                         week.

               The duo walk off screen.

        13     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - DJ BOOTH. NIGHT.                   13

               The music is thumping - 'Slow' by Professional Murder Music
               this time - the crowd are dancing, it's business as usual. 

               We're walking up to the DJ booth from behind, seeing the
               current DJ, BENJI, hunched over the decks and nodding along
               with the beat. Benji turns as we join him.

               Twist steps into the small booth, a rectangular area walled
               off to soundproof it, with two sets of record decks in front
               and several shiny cases of CDs to the right. 

               Benji passes Twist a pair of headphones, which she puts on,
               the biggest grin of her life on her face.

        14     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - MAIN FLOOR. NIGHT.                 14

               Chris is waiting by a plain door marked 'Staff Only,' looking
               around through the blue tint of the lights overhead at the
               crowded club. He smirks as he sees Twist step up to the DJ
               booth, before someone clears their throat behind him and he
               turns round.

               Tyler has opened the door leading to the stairway beyond.

                                   TYLER
                         Mr. Bannister will see you now.

               He turns and heads back up the stairs and Chris follows.

        15     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - STAIRWAY. NIGHT.                   15

               We're at the top of the narrow staircase, looking down at
               Tyler and Chris as they head up towards us.

                                   TYLER
                         So what brings you to the hills,
                         Mr. Berkeley?

                                   CHRIS
                         I heard that Bannister was a good
                         chap to see if I was in the mood
                         for a spot of light reading.

                                   TYLER
                         Heh, hope you brought your glasses,
                         you're gonna need them!

               They reach the top of the staircase and Tyler holds open a
               door to the left for Chris to head through.

        16     INT. SANGUINE CLUB - UPSTAIRS OFFICE. NIGHT.            16

               Chris steps into the neat office we saw earlier, and Dudley
               is standing guard by the door as he comes in. Chris nods and
               smiles but the surly guard just grunts.

                                   BANNISTER (O.S.)
                         Ah, there he is!

               The old man walks over from one corner of the room, where he
               was sat on a large wicker chair watching the TV, and heads
               for Chris with welcoming arms wide open.

               A little taken aback by this show of hospitality, he accepts
               the warm hug from Bannister with a confused look.

                                   CHRIS
                         Uh, hello there… I don't believe
                         we've met?

                                   BANNISTER
                         No, no we haven't, Christopher, but
                         I know all about you. You and your
                         friend out there.

               Chris turns to look out through the tinted windows
               overlooking the stage, where we can see the DJ booth
               illuminated by the bright flashing lights all around it.
[ top | next ]

Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.