sib1x14
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. SKY - DAY 1
Serene. Peaceful. A warm summer's day. Not a cloud in the
sky. A plane soars through the clouds.
2 INT. PLANE 2
CHRIS talks on the phone, looking like this has already been
a long day.
CHRIS
Yes, we handle the cases no one
else will handle… yes, it is a
catchy slogan… no, we won't work
for scale… maybe because our
business doesn't have such a thing
as scale… look, I must insist that
we're paid half up front… no, I'm
not being untrusting… extenuating
circumstances must be taken into
account… you must understand that
there aren't many who will gladly
take on the threat of a pack of
angry jertaks, especially seeing as
the summer is in full bloom… okay…
we'll collect $2,000 up front, and
$2,000 when we complete the job.
Thanks.
(hangs up)
God, I hate this part of the job.
TWIST sits next to Chris.
TWIST
It's a necessary evil, chief.
CHRIS
True. These people are evil.
TWIST
How many more contacts?
CHRIS
One. Bobby Ridge. Used to be
involved with some warlocks in
Oklahoma, until I put him in
traction for it.
TWIST
What's he doing in San Francisco?
CHRIS
Tanning.
TWIST
Right. I'll leave you to it, then.
Chris nods and dials another number.
CHRIS
Bobby? Hi, it's Chris Berkeley.
Beep. Bobby hangs up on Chris. Chris turns to Twist, forcing
a grin.
CHRIS (cont'd)
I think he remembers me.
Chris dials again, and this time Bobby answers. Chris & Bobby
talk, but our attention shifts to Twist. She starts flicking
through a magazine, the latest copy of SFX. On the cover is a
photo of the new Dr. Who series.
Twist turns around in her seat to face DANYAEL, the sun blind
tightly shut in the window next to him.
TWIST
Hey, Danny boy!
DANYAEL
Yeah?
TWIST
What do you think about 'Dr. Who'?
DANYAEL
Hmm. The Daleks are cool, I used to
use their sound effects, like
"exterminate," on my show a lot. I
like the theme song too. Never a
big fan of the show though. You?
TWIST
Too camp. Give me 'Mystery Science
Theatre: 3000' any day.
DANYAEL
Corny sci-fi is my idea of Hell.
Both laugh. A beat, then:
DANYAEL (cont'd)
What's Hell like?
Twist freezes. She doesn't know how to react, but slowly the
words come to her.
TWIST
Hell is perception. It's pure fear.
In a nutshell, take the most
horrific thought you have and then
magnify it by ten. Imagine it so
real that your skin starts to boil,
that you can feel your worst
nightmares becoming real all around
you. That's Hell.
Danyael nods. He kinda understands.
TWIST (cont'd)
I don't really want to talk about
it. Gives me the creeps, ya know? I
spent way too long down there
already.
DANYAEL
I understand. Sorry.
TWIST
That's ok. It's a fair question, I
just… I just don't want to think
about it again just yet.
Twist goes back to reading her magazine, and Danyael taps his
CD player. He ponders something and looks at Twist.
DANYAEL
What about 'Highway To Hell'?
TWIST
Good song.
DANYAEL
I think it's a great song. It
speaks volumes about life. Are we
simply moving towards an end-date
with Hell? Can we really do enough
good to make sure that we don't
slip into the fiery netherworld? Or
are we doomed to end up there, no
matter how much we do up here?
TWIST
Check out Mr. Profound over here!
As for an answer, I'm not sure. I
think Led Zeppelin had it right…
you know, with 'Stairway To
Heaven.' I think that doing enough
good brings with it its own
rewards.
DANYAEL
Certainly something to think about!
They stare ahead, lost in thought, as we pan back across to
Chris as he hangs up his phone.
CHRIS
Well, that went better than
expected…
TWIST
Did Bobby agree?
CHRIS
Yes, after a fashion. He wants us
to move his P.I. office out of the
hotel he works from into a removals
truck. He's moving to New York, he
says evil is coming.
TWIST
Give the clever man ten points.
CHRIS
What were you two talking about?
DANYAEL
We were using songs at metaphors
for our personal opinions on the
afterworld for Vampires. Religious
undertones were the order of the
day.
CHRIS
Reminds me of the time Twist said
life was like a continuous episode
of 'Little House On The Prairie'…
Chris & Danyael laugh. Twist starts to join in, but her smile
drops suddenly and she stares around, her eyes scanning the
plane around her.
Twist's viewpoint suddenly drops into slow motion. Children
horse around, adults drink alcohol, flight attendants joke
with passengers.
Everything becomes blurred, indistinct, as though we're
looking through a thick, dirty pane of glass.
This lasts a beat, before we cut back to the scene as before,
with Twist looking thoroughly confused.
TWIST
(quietly; dazed)
What the hell was that?
CAPTAIN
(filtered; through
intercom)
Attention ladies and gentlemen, we
are nearing the landing site, so
please remember to fasten your
seatbelts before we land. Thank you
for travelling with Easy Jet.
Twist comes to, shaking her head to clear it.
TWIST
Memo to self: in flight food is not
recommended...
She smirks. The vision still baffles her, but she's managing
to put on a positive face. Chris & Danyael stop chattering
and turn to her. Chris smiles at her, Twist smiles back,
albeit in a forced manner.
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 EXT. REVOLUTION HOTEL – EARLY HOURS 3
It's a glamorous joint, haunt of many a rock star who passed
through San Francisco. A neon sign flashes ominously as
Chris, Twist & Danyael approach. Each carries suitcases, but
in addition to his suitcase, Chris carries a Judo Bag.
BOBBY RIDGE is standing on the steps. He's a short, balding
figure in a dull grey suit. He greets them.
BOBBY
Chris. Twist.
(re: Danyael)
New guy.
(off look)
How… nice… to see you again.
Chris & Twist share a wry look - they know better. Danyael
goes with the flow, unassuming.
BOBBY (cont'd)
(forced civility)
Can I take your suitcases?
Chris & Twist laugh. Shaking their heads, they carry their
bags up the steps. They walk past Bobby, entering the hotel.
Bobby is about to enter, when:
DANYAEL (O.S.)
Hey!
Danyael taps him on the shoulder. Bobby turns round to face
him, looking disgruntled. Danyael smirks back at him and
holds out his suitcase.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
You can carry mine, if you like…
He bundles his suitcase into Bobby's arm and walks off. Bobby
struggles to carry the suitcase up the steps and shoots
Danyael a foul look.
4 INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE 4
Danyael enters first and looks around in awe. Imagine the
nicest, most poetically beautiful hotel room ever, and then
add a widescreen TV and a PS2.
DANYAEL
Wow.
He walks in, Chris & Twist follow. They regard the room with
equal awe.
With an offscreen THUD, Bobby falls over in the doorway, the
suitcase landing an inch away from his head.
BOBBY
Ow!
All eyes turn to Bobby. He looks at Danyael with disgust.
DANYAEL
Are you okay?
BOBBY
(angrily)
You're a vampire, I'm a human. You
do the math, bloodsucker!
Chris picks the suitcase up effortlessly, throwing it to
Danyael, who catches it just as effortlessly. Chris helps
Bobby up, and he dusts himself off.
BOBBY (cont'd)
Why did I give you such a nice
room?
CHRIS
Because you're a generous person.
BOBBY
Really? See, I thought it was
because you threatened me… again.
Chris laughs and pats Bobby on the back. Bobby winces.
CHRIS
'Threaten' is far too strong a
word, Bobby. I'd be happier with
'gave an added incentive.'
Chris walks across the room to Twist & Danyael. Twist is
staring outside through the window. It's a great view, and
thankfully the sun is obscured by cloud.
BOBBY
You can't stay more than two
nights. I need to move out ASAP.
No reaction. Bobby scowls and leaves the room, and as soon as
he does:
DANYAEL
That guy is a creep.
CHRIS
That he is. He'll sell us out first
chance he gets.
Danyael ponders this. Slowly he looks at Chris & Twist - that
comment baffles him.
DANYAEL
Uh, isn't that a bad thing?
CHRIS
(to Twist)
Should I tell him?
TWIST
No, I will.
Chris nods and Twist walks over to Danyael, laying an arm
round his shoulders.
TWIST (cont'd)
Chris and me have one rule - never
kill a human.
DANYAEL
(beat)
And?
TWIST
And nothing. That's the rule.
(whispers)
But, we figure some dumb vampire
will turn Bobby one of these days…
and then it's hunting season.
Twist laughs, Elmer Fudd style, and Danyael grins. The idea
isn't without merit.
5 EXT. BALCONY – TWILIGHT 5
Twist stands by the edge, staring into the bright lights of
the city. It's a fantastic view.
Visible in the room behind her is Chris, doing some one-armed
push ups as the terminally lazy Danyael gets stuck into the
Playstation, several empty bottles from the minibar by his
feet.
She sighs happily as a light breeze blows over her, before
turning and stepping back into the room.
6 INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE - TWILIGHT. 6
Twist waits for Chris to finish his round of push ups, then
plops down onto the bed as he lies back, catching his breath.
TWIST
So, what's the score, Chris?
DANYAEL
There is a reason why we're here,
right? I mean, not that I'm not
glad of the luxury room or
anything…
TWIST
(hopefully)
Has Malkuth strolled through town?
Do we have to kick some ass? Please
say we do!
CHRIS
(shakes head)
No, he's still recovering after our
little voodoo experiment.
TWIST
Then what is it?
CHRIS
Not 'what,' 'who.'
Twist & Danyael stare at him.
CHRIS (cont'd)
We are here to pay a visit to an
art dealer.
DANYAEL
That's… unusual, and much less kung
fu than I was expecting.
CHRIS
I know this is a different kind of
mission for us, but stay with me a
second. The man we're is Herbert-
7 INT. RECEPTION 7
Bobby speaks into a phone.
BOBBY
… Rengler?
8 INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE 8
CHRIS
He's a big-time art dealer, famous
even, known throughout the Western
Hemisphere. His parents are the
equally renowned entrepreneurs
Maurice and Danielle Rengler.
Made a killing in Texas selling
oil, moved to San Francisco at
fifteen, earned fifty-seven million
when he turned eighteen due to a
trust fund that his doting parents
set up. Now worth thirty billion,
he's an entrepreneur, a wheeler and
dealer.
Twist raises her hand like a schoolgirl.
TWIST
Do we really need his life story?
Chris sighs, but she has a point.
CHRIS
No, I suppose we don't. I was just
trying to give you both a bit of
background info. Thought it'd help.
DANYAEL
Why is he so important? I mean, if
we're looking for him, he can't
just be a normal art dealer…
CHRIS
He has certain items that I
require. As I said, this isn't a
usual job.
Off Twist's look, we cut to:
9 INT. RECEPTION 9
Bobby is still on the phone, looking a bit more flustered
than we left him.
BOBBY
No, I won't hold, damn it, let me
speak! Oh, for the love of…
Bobby presses a tired hand to his forehead as the
unmistakable strains of muzak drift out of the handset.
10 INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE 10
Danyael's eyes flit between Chris and Twist. Something major
has obviously just been discussed, and the two vampires don't
know what to make of it. Twist stares dead ahead. She tries
to understand, but fails. Chris waits patiently. A beat,
then:
TWIST
Are you out of your fricken mind?
CHRIS
No.
TWIST
Are you sure? Because, you know, in
our time together I've heard my
fair share of ker-azee ideas from
you… are you absolutely sure?
CHRIS
Yes.
Beat. Twist is at a rare loss for words.
DANYAEL
She has a point.
CHRIS
Oh, will you two… Look, I'm sure!
(mellows)
I'm not talking about hurting
Rengler…
TWIST
True.
(stands up)
You're talking about stealing,
Chris.
CHRIS
Don't get moral on me, Twist. We've
done this type of thing before.
TWIST
Yeah. To vampires, and to demons,
but not to humans. That crosses the
line.
Silence for a beat before Danyael pipes up.
DANYAEL
Uh… I'm not into stealing, Chris.
It isn't really my thing, you know?
CHRIS
Alright, allow me to elaborate. I
have been following Rengler for
years, ever since I attended a
private exhibition he held in his
French penthouse. Trust me, he is
not a good guy.
TWIST
What allows you to make that call?
CHRIS
(with conviction)
I'll tell you. While at that
exhibition in France, I saw that he
had a knife. Not an ordinary knife,
but a sacrificial knife belonging
to a cult in Africa, who used to
massacre mortals to their God.
Through my sources, I found out
that Rengler had some unscrupulous
figures steal that knife from its
temple in the centre of Africa.
(smirks)
I want to retrieve that knife.
TWIST
Why? What's so special about it?
CHRIS
Because Malkuth wanted it, and
still does. He sent a gang to
Africa to retrieve it, and luckily
they showed up late, but unluckily
Rengler got the knife instead.
DANYAEL
What's the harm in this Rengler guy
having the knife?
CHRIS
The cult who placed the knife in
the temple put a curse upon it. If
it is not returned within a year of
being removed, then the currently
long-dead cult's god will be
summoned from within the grave, and
wage unholy war and slaughter on
all in their path until they
retrieve it.
DANYAEL
Oh. That's pretty bad, right?
TWIST
(shrugs)
Just another day at the office.
DANYAEL
And why does stealing from a human
bother you so much?
TWIST
It's all a question of good karma,
Spook. Which I sure need lots of.
11 INT. RECEPTION 11
Bobby is still on the phone, but appears to be talking to
someone this time, instead of just holding.
BOBBY
Hello, Mr. Rengler, it's Bobby
Ridge. I have some information for
you.
12 EXT. RENGLER ESTATE – TWILIGHT 12
An old fashioned style Manor. A bevy of luxury saloon cars
are parked outside. Everything has a nice and tidy classic
feel, you could say.
RENGLER (V.O.)
Really, Mr. Ridge?
13 INT. RENGLER MANOR 13
Inside the manor is as dripping with wealth as the exterior
would suggest. We walk along, through a huge hallway and up
towards a thickly-carpeted stairway.
RENGLER (V.O.)
I was of the impression that this
town bowed to me.
We take a left, up another, smaller staircase towards the
first floor, passing a row of framed portraits.
RENGLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
After all, I don't bow to anyone.
Slowly ARM up the stairs.
RENGLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
This city wouldn't survive without
my influence…
Move across the hallway at the top of the stairs.
RENGLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
But I would survive without this
city.
At the end of the corridor – a door is ajar.
RENGLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
Now, that is a funny thought.
Approach the door.
RENGLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
Darwin said that society is all
about "the survival of the
fittest".
Stop just short of the door, it leads to a study.
RENGLER (V.O.) (cont'd)
But that gets me to thinking. Don't
you need a variety of people to
have a society? And if this is
true, then survival of the fittest
can't apply, because people need
people to survive.
14 INT. RENGLER MANOR - STUDY 14
RENGLER sits on a chair, phone to his ear, his back to us.
From the back, he has dyed black hair.
RENGLER
Yet this doesn't apply to me…
Rengler spins around on his chair to face us at last.
RENGLER (cont'd)
(smirks)
Seeing as how I'm not fully human.
The words he just uttered not instantly true: Rengler looks
distinctly human. He looks forty, but a real youthful forty,
no wrinkles in sight.
RENGLER (cont'd)
I know what you know, but I also
know more. Do me a favour. Call me
when those miscreants leave the
nest, and until then, keep quiet.
He hangs up the phone and thinks for a second, before turning
his head to talk to someone off screen.
RENGLER (cont'd)
This could cause a problem, if what
I know is correct…
Pan across to REMINGTON, a big, scary looking vampire.
REMINGTON
What would you have me do?
ARM back over to Rengler. He's fiddling with a shotgun.
RENGLER
Nothing. Yet.
Remington looks worried - he knows something we don't, but
tries not to show his concern to his boss.
15 EXT. SKY – DAWN/DAY/EVENING 15
In a series of quick images, and to the tune of 'Payback
Time' by the Dysfunctional Psychdedelic Waltons, we see the
sun rise to mark the start of a brand new day, and the sun
set to mark the beginnings of a hollow eve.
16 EXT. REVOLUTION HOTEL – EVENING 16
Against the backdrop of the Hotel, Chris, Twist & Danyael
walk away from the Hotel, ready for work.
17 EXT. RENGLER ESTATE – EVENING 17
Chris' black Ford pulls up across the road from Rengler's
mansion, and Chris leans across the steering wheel as he
peers towards the high gates at the end of the drive.
He turns back to Twist and Danyael, Twist dressed unusually
smartly in a sharp suit, with glasses and her hair pulled
back in a neat ponytail.
CHRIS
Do you two know what to do?
TWIST
(nods)
Occupy him with my hastily crammed
knowledge of artists come and gone.
DANYAEL
Stay outside, look suspicious, keep
their attention away from you two.
CHRIS
Great. I'll sneak around the back,
he won't be expecting anyone else.
I made this late appointment for
you to see him, so he thinks you're
just a rich art critic looking for
someone to write a feature on.
TWIST
Art critic. Check. I'll just have
to say 'yah' and nod a lot…
With a shared nod, the trio exit the Ford.
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
18 INT. RENGLER MANOR - MAIN HALL 18
Rengler opens his front door to reveal Twist, who beams
brightly back at him and holds out a hand.
RENGLER
Hello? To what do I owe this
pleasure?
TWIST
Oh, I'm Susannah Harker, the art
critic from 'Times Of Yore'
magazine? I'm here to get started
on that feature we're writing about
you.
(checks watch; chuckles)
I know I'm an eensy bit late, so if
this is a bad time…
She smiles hopefully at him, and Rengler smiles warmly back,
not wanting to turn this attractive woman away.
RENGLER
No, no, come in, of course. I was
having a quiet evening in, anyway.
Rengler clicks his fingers and Remington stands guard by the
door, and Twist takes him in quickly, making sure she doesn't
give herself away. Twist steps inside.
TWIST
Wow. Great. Thanks for this, we're
actually up to almost three million
readers per month now, so this
article should bring a lot more
publicity to your collection!
RENGLER
(not really listening)
Fascinating…
They walk out of frame. When he's sure that they're gone,
Remington opens the door.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.