sib1x18
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. EVENT HALL - NIGHT 1
A moderately sized auditorium is packed full with spectators
who sit quietly in anticipation. People of all walks of life
and ages watch as an almost elderly man slowly paces to and
fro about the stage as 'Too Sick To Pray' by the Alabama 3
plays quietly in the background.
This is DUKES, and he is the faith healer that the crowds
have come to see. He seems to be deep in thought, as he
continues pacing the stage, rubbing his hands together and
occasionally looking towards the crowd as he speaks.
DUKES
Every person in this crowd tonight
deserves to live without infirmity,
whether it be physical or mental!
The crowd applauds.
DUKES (cont'd)
In my lifetime, I have helped
transform people; people who were
unable to help themselves make a
difference in their own lives. I
helped them to be happy. I helped
to free them from the chains that
bind. And there isn't anything that
I wouldn't do to help anyone in
this crowd to do the same here
tonight!
The crowd applauds once more.
DUKES (cont'd)
Now, I'd like to reach out to a
member of the crowd here tonight
and attempt to give them the kind
of "enlightenment" that I've been
able to give so many other people
throughout my life. So without any
further ado... I'd like to choose
my first worthy soul of the
evening.
He points to the right side of the room at a middle-aged man.
The man looks surprised and looks around to make sure that he
was referring to him.
DUKES (cont'd)
Yes, sir, you! Come on up!
The excited man jumps from his chair and heads to the stage.
Once upon the stage, he stands alongside Dukes.
DUKES (cont'd)
And your name is...
PARTICIPANT
Jerry.
DUKES
What seems to be troubling you,
Jerry?
JERRY
My mind isn't what it used to be. I
can't remember things. I can't
perform routine tasks anymore. I
also can't walk without severe pain
in my lower back.
DUKES
Well now, that's quite a few
problems!
The crowd laughs.
DUKES (cont'd)
Let's see what we can't do about
that.
Dukes moves closer. The man stands fast, awaiting his next
move.
Dukes places the back of his hand upon the man's forehead and
starts speaking in Latin.
The crowd begins clapping along, the atmosphere in the room
reaching a feverish pitch.
Increasingly dramatic music begins playing until it nears a
climax.
With a SHOUT, Dukes yanks his hands away from Jerry, who
reels backwards, and as we take in Dukes' rapturous
expression and the ROAR of the cheering crowd, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
2 EXT. IN FRONT OF EVENT HALL - NIGHT 2
TITLE OVER - Texas
The black Ford draws into frame, and CHRIS, TWIST and DANYAEL
exit the van and step into the warm, Texas night. Twist
examines her surroundings apathetically.
TWIST
Why are we here again?
CHRIS
(annoyed)
This has got to be the seventy
fifth time we've gone over this in
the past twelve hours!
TWIST
I know. Refresh my memory.
Chris shoots her a glare to make known that he isn't amused.
TWIST (cont'd)
Just once more.
(holding her hand up)
I swear.
CHRIS
This Dukes fellow is a supposed
faith healer, and he is also
supposed to be the real deal. If
so, he could prove useful. The
amount of information-
TWIST
(interrupts)
Right. That was just as boring the
seventy-four previous times.
CHRIS
(exasperated)
Why? Really, just... why?
DANYAEL
(walking past them)
Come on, you two. We haven't all
night to argue the finer points of
why Twist is Twist. God knows the
sun would kill us all, or two
thirds of us anyway, before we
could break ground.
TWIST
Thank you, Danyael.
CHRIS
I don't think it was meant as a
compliment.
Twist playfully sticks her tongue out before turning around
to follow behind Danyael. Chris watches her disappear into
the building, trying, though unsuccessfully, to keep from
breaking a smile.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(chuckles)
Women..
Chris head after them, and we cut to:
3 INT. EVENT HALL - NIGHT 3
Chris makes his way through the door. The room is jam packed
full of chattering citizens, all eagerly awaiting their
chance to be 'saved' by Dukes' healing hands. Chris scans the
room for Danyael and Twist, but has no luck.
He attempts to get closer to the front, but due to the size
of the crowd, the short stroll to the front of the room is a
seemingly impossible feat. Reluctantly, he leans up against
the wall in the back of the room. Chris struggles to see the
healer, but there are several heads obstructing his view.
As one head moves out of the way, so does another to finally
give him a view of Dukes who has come to rest in the centre
of the stage.
DUKES
So I say to you, why live your life
with any kind of ailment, when
someone amongst you has the power
to take that ailment.. and turn it
inside out?
The crowd applauds him.
DUKES (cont'd)
Now, who here tonight is in need of
such a "cleansing?"
Most every hand in the crowd is raised in unison. Some people
cry out in an attempt to get his attention, and after
scanning for a few moments Dukes points to the centre of the
crowd.
DUKES (cont'd)
How about you right there?
A man rises and graciously walks to the stage. He walks up
the stairs to the side of the stage and vanishes through the
maroon curtains that hang in the doorway only to reappear
from behind the stage a few moments later.
DUKES (cont'd)
Hello, sir.
HEALEE #1
Hello.
DUKES
Your name?
HEALEE #1
Ben.
DUKES
Okay, Ben. What troubles you
tonight, my son?
BEN
I suffer from chronic back pains
and as you could see from my walk
up here, I've got a bad left leg.
DUKES
That's terrible. And you shouldn't
have to live with that, should you?
BEN
I'd rather not.
The crowd laughs.
DUKES
Tonight is your lucky night then.
Close your eyes, Ben.
Dukes brushes the back of his right hand against the man's
face while uttering a few words in Latin.
DUKES (cont'd)
Open your eyes...
Ben does so.
DUKES (cont'd)
How do you feel?
Ben looks around for a moment, then takes a few steps across
the stage.
BEN
I, I... I'm not in pain! And my
leg... it's better!
DUKES
See that, ladies and gentleman? The
mere touch of my hand can cure
whatever may ail you!
Some people in the crowd clap without much conviction.
DUKES (cont'd)
Now, Ben, if you'll go backstage
for a moment, my assistant will see
that you get the proper attention.
Chris stares on sleepily. He is obviously not impressed.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Twist is by his side.
TWIST
My God!
CHRIS
(startled)
What?
TWIST
(sarcastic)
Did you see that? That was amazing.
That guy walked up there with a
limp and when he walked off the
stage.. there was no limp!
CHRIS
(wearily)
Twist...
TWIST
No. That was most definitely worth
driving fifteen hundred miles. Half
of which was in the daytime, I
might add. Suppose we would have
gotten pulled over and the Feds
made me get out of the car? Or
perhaps we had a wreck and I was
thrown directly into the sunlight?
I do worry about those things, you
know, but after seeing this, I
realise that it was all worthwhile,
because nothing is worth risking
your life over more than a half-ass
con artist tricking these backwater
hillbilly idiots out of their
money!
She storms off into the crowd. Danyael stands alongside Chris
having just walked up and caught the tail end of the
conversation. He stands with his arms crossed and a look of
confusion upon his face.
DANYAEL
You've been around a little bit
longer than I have, Chris. Do
vampires still have their periods?
Chris glances at Danyael with a look of bewilderment.
4 INT. EVENT HALL - NIGHT 4
Chris is on his way to find Twist and make his apology for
whatever it may be that he has or hasn't done. While
searching for her, however, his attention is shifted back to
the stage as Dukes continues the show.
DUKES
I know that wasn't the most
impressive or convincing miracle
you've ever witnessed, so we're
going to switch gears here.
(points)
You, sir. Would you like to come
up here on stage with me?
The man he is referring to is in a wheelchair shaking his
head, refusing to come on stage. Dukes beckons to him again,
flashing a warm smile.
DUKES (cont'd)
Come, my son.
MAN IN WHEELCHAIR
No thank you. I'm quite content as
I am.
Dukes begins making his way off of the stage and towards the
man until he comes into frame with him.
DUKES
There is nothing to fear, my son.
MAN IN WHEELCHAIR
I don't fear you. I just have no
need for your shenanigans.
DUKES
(calmly)
Shenanigans? That's a blasphemous
stance you're taking upon my
methods.
As he is talking, he has come to stand just before the
demobilised man, who now seems less certain.
MAN IN WHEELCHAIR
I just...
Before he can get the rest of his words out, Dukes THROWS him
from his wheelchair. The wheelchair comes to a loud halt
against the bottom of the stage. The crowd, in shock, has
gone silent.
MAN IN WHEELCHAIR (cont'd)
(yells)
What the hell are you doing?!?
As the DUKES walks towards him, his eyes glaze over
momentarily with a deep red colour, though no one sees this
aside from the man, who is now on the floor who screams in
desperation.
MAN IN WHEELCHAIR (cont'd)
Help me!!
He reaches out for someone in the crowd, but they recoil from
him, petrified with fear. Chris tenses up and starts towards
him.
Dukes kneels down beside him and runs his hand over the
terrified man's face, uttering something in Latin just as he
had before.
The man stops screaming and Chris, sensing the sense of
relief in the man, stops dead in his tracks. The man looks up
at the healer in disbelief.
DUKES
(shaking his head)
That's right, child.
The man slowly pulls himself from the ground and stands up.
Everyone in the crowd stares on in disbelief.
MAN IN WHEELCHAIR
I'm standing? I'm standing... I'm
standing!
The crowd sits in silence, not knowing how to react. The man
begins to steadily walk around the room, faster and faster,
before he lets out a cry of joy to which the crowd erupts
with applause. Chris stares at Dukes, who is bowing before
the crowd, in amazement.
5 INT. EVENT HALL - NIGHT 5
The show has concluded and there is a swarm of people
gathered around Dukes, asking questions or just paying
homage.
Chris, Twist, and Danyael stand along the back wall waiting
for the crowd to clear out. Twist is looking apologetically
at Chris.
TWIST
I guess I owe you an apology, that
last little bit was most definitely
not fake.
CHRIS
You sensed it too?
DANYAEL
I don't think you had to be without
a pulse to sense the fear in that
guy before the healer... well,
healed him.
TWIST
What I'm trying to say is...
She looks over at Danyael.
CHRIS
Danyael, could you give us a
minute?
DANYAEL
(nods)
Sure. I'll just go get a drink or
something.
Danyael leaves the vicinity.
TWIST
I'm sorry.
CHRIS
Twist, you don't have to apologise
to me!
TWIST
Yes I do. I've been really edgy
lately.
CHRIS
I hardly noticed.
Twist gives him an "I call bullshit" face.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(smiling)
Well, now that you mention it, I
have noticed maybe a smidgen of
hostility directed towards me...
TWIST
It's just that I sometimes feel
like this is a dead end, like what
we're doing is all being done in
vain. And when something like this
seems to be a fake, it gets me a
little upset because all it would
be doing is diverting our attention
away from another fight that needs
to be fought.
CHRIS
Do you feel like what we're doing
is right?
TWIST
What?
CHRIS
Do you feel like what we're doing
is the right thing to do?
TWIST
Of course I do.
CHRIS
Well then, that's all that matters.
There are going to be letdowns,
we're going to travel down dead end
roads, and when we reach the end of
such roads, we'll have to turn
around and pick back up from the
last place we knew was right. But
the journey down that road won't
have been in vain, because we're
not going to give up at the
slightest misadventure. It's simply
another small piece of the big
picture. This fight isn't easy. If
it was, everyone would be fighting
the good fight. And we'd be out of
a job!
TWIST
(smiling)
Yeah. You're right. I'm sorry I got
all emotional over nothing.
(holding her hand out)
Still comrades?
Chris bypasses the handshake and hugs her.
TWIST (cont'd)
(smirks)
Oh, I always knew that you had a
thing for me!
CHRIS
And she's back...
Twist laughs heartily for a moment.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Let's get Danyael and get out of
here. This mob of people is never
going to let up enough to allow us
to talk to this Dukes chap, I'll
come back tomorrow and try may hand
then.
TWIST
Hai. I call shotgun for a run to
get some burgers, and-
Chris's head snaps around suddenly, as if though he senses
something.
CHRIS
Hold that thought.
TWIST
What?
CHRIS
Something isn't right.
TWIST
Is this one of your "I can sense
the presence of evil" feelings or
"someone belched and offset the
overall feel of the room" feelings?
CHRIS
I'm not sure...
TWIST
It would be really helpful either
way, if you could figure it out.
CHRIS
I'm going to take a look around.
Get Danyael and meet me outside.
Chris heads off screen as we cut to:
6 INT. BACK ROOM OF EVENT HALL - NIGHT 6
Chris can't shake his sense of uneasiness as he walks about
the event hall in an attempt to find whatever has set his
senses off. He can't seem to find anything out of the
ordinary, however. Chris finds a side entrance to the hall
and exits through it.
7 EXT. BEHIND THE EVENT HALL - NIGHT 7
He walks around, still seeing nothing strange. He turns and
starts to head back around the building, but then hears
something. He turns back around to see that a large overhead
door has been opened.
Directly in front of the door sits a white van that's backed
into the bay area with its back doors open. Chris waits for a
moment to see who comes through the door.
He sees two men carrying something quite large wrapped in a
black bag, which they place in the back of the van. Chris is
some distance from the men, so he is unable to make out what
it is that they're carrying.
He slowly makes his way closer, staying alongside the
building in attempt to stay within the shadows. As he gets
closer, he hears more of them coming. He becomes still,
watching on.
The silence is then broken with a loud CRASH as a wheel chair
is thrust from the bay doors and comes to rest not more than
a few feet from Chris. Shortly thereafter two more men walk
out, carrying a similar package wrapped in trash bags.
Chris has come to the realisation that there is most
definitely a body within and starts to make his move to go
inside, but stops short when he sees several more men,
accompanied by Dukes, exiting through the door. They close
the door, pack into the van, and drive off hastily.
8 EXT. IN FRONT OF EVENT HALL - NIGHT 8
Chris meets back up with Twist and Danyael, who are sitting
on the Ford's hood waiting for him.
DANYAEL
Anything?
CHRIS
Something.
TWIST
What was it?
CHRIS
I saw several men loading what
appeared to be bodies into a white
van around back.
TWIST
You didn't stop them?
CHRIS
No. There were quite a few of them.
TWIST
Why didn't you come get us?
CHRIS
No time. No sooner did I see them,
than they had already taken off.
DANYAEL
There's another one of these things
tomorrow night, isn't there?
CHRIS
Yes. I'm going to do a bit of
research on the subject, and then
we'll come back and pay the good
healer a visit and see what he's
really up to.
TWIST
Sounds good to me. I could use a
shot of that spiritual healing!
Chris chuckles and Twist glares at him as the trio climb back
into the car.
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
9 INT. HOTEL - MORNING 9
Danyael and Twist sleep in a blacked out room. Twist, of
course, has the bed while Danyael sleeps on a small couch on
the opposite side of the room.
In the next room, Chris is reading one of his books. Several
other books are spread out around him appearing as though
he's been at it for hours. He is obviously in deep thought,
flipping pages occasionally. He comes to rest on one
particular page and he brings it closer to his face to
examine it. We dissolve to:
10 INT. HOTEL – EVENING 10
Twist and Danyael are awake now, peering at the book Chris
was reading.
TWIST
So he's a half demon?
CHRIS
Maybe, at the very least he's in
possession of demonic abilities.
TWIST
I shoulda known...
CHRIS
My thoughts exactly.
TWIST
Well, excuse me! I can't be off of
my game for one day?
CHRIS
I was talking about myself!
TWIST
Oh.
(smiles)
Carry on.
DANYAEL
Stop me if I'm behind the times,
but healing people doesn't seem
like a very demonic quality.
CHRIS
I agree, but according to
everything I could dig up, there
are a band of demons whose powers
lie within the healing of humans.
They usually do so in their own
interest, of course.
TWIST
So they heal people just to kill
them? Kinda counterproductive...
CHRIS
Not exactly. They use their powers
to lure people to them that they
could find to be useful.
TWIST
Useful how?
CHRIS
The readings weren't that specific.
DANYAEL
So we're going to kill it?
CHRIS
I'd rather not, this healer could
be extremely useful. If he can heal
humans, then maybe he can help to
find the cure.
DANYAEL
What are you going to do, then?
CHRIS
I tried to go back down there
today, but the hall was too well
guarded. We need to get close to
the guy, but there is no way
between the security and flocks of
people constantly surrounding him.
TWIST
So...?
CHRIS
We're going to have to get up on
stage with him.
TWIST
Why do I get the feeling that when
you say we, you mean me?
CHRIS
Actually, I mean Danyael.
TWIST
Thank God.
(to Danyael)
No offence. I'm just not good at
public speaking.
DANYAEL
Just so I'm clear, you want me to
fake a disability in order to get a
half demon to touch me?
CHRIS
Essentially.
DANYAEL
(beat)
Cool. I can do that.
CHRIS
When you get up there, try and get
him to meet with us somewhere.
Don't go into specifics about our
mission, but make known that we
could make it worth his time.
DANYAEL
What are we going to do? Offer him
money?
TWIST
Stop being so naïve! Just say 'I'll
make it worth your time.' End
conversation.
CHRIS
She's right... in a runabout way.
DANYAEL
Alright. So when am I on?
CHRIS
(looks at clock)
Dusk is in a little over an hour.
The show, I believe, starts at
10:00. So that gives us a good
three hours. In the meantime, I'm
going to see an old friend in town
and see if I can't get any more
information on this guy. I'll meet
you guys back here in about an
hour.
TWIST
Be careful.
CHRIS
Always.
Chris exits the room.
TWIST
He's always business.
DANYAEL
That's our boy.
TWIST
You want to get something to drink?
DANYAEL
I'd love to.
The duo stand to leave the room, and we cut to:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.