sib2x02 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[previous | bottom] ACT TWO
FADE IN:
12 INT. KAREN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT. 12
Looking at the front door as there is a KNOCK at it, and a
cleaned up Karen steps into frame. She's still clearly shaken
by whatever happened, but she takes a moment to compose
herself before she opens the door.
Twist grins at her old friend, Danyael hanging back in the
corridor outside.
TWIST
Karen! Ciao, darling.
Twist leans forward and kisses Karen on both cheeks, Italian
style, but her smile fades as she takes in Karen's worried
expression.
TWIST (cont'd)
Kay? What's up?
KAREN
Uh, you'd better... you'd better
come in.
Twist glances over her shoulder at Danyael, then notices
Karen is eyeing him warily.
TWIST
Oh, Danyael's cool. He's with me.
(beat)
Not with me, with me, he just
follows me around. Kinda like a
lost puppy.
DANYAEL
(offended)
Hey!
Twist smirks at him, then steps into Karen's apartment,
followed by Danyael.
Twist scans the interior, nodding, as Karen closes and locks
the door behind them.
TWIST
Nice. Always knew you'd land on
your feet after we graduated, but I
never figured you'd end up with
a...
Twist's eyes fall on the dead body on the carpet at last.
TWIST (cont'd)
... body.
(to Karen)
Why is there a body?
Wringing her hands, Karen walks over, joining Twist as she
stares down in shock at the dead man.
KAREN
Twist, I... I'm in trouble.
TWIST
Gee, ya think?
DANYAEL
What happened?
KAREN
He- well, me and him, we- I mean,
it just happened so-
TWIST
Alright, alright, Stutter Girl, we
get the picture. Did this guy break
in and attack you or something?
KAREN
(beat; nods)
Yeah, yeah, I came home after work
and found him in here, and when I
tried to defend myself, I...
Danyael crouches by the body, spotting the bloody knife and
taking one of his gloves from his jacket to carefully lift it
without leaving a fingerprint.
DANYAEL
Looks like you defended yourself
pretty well.
Danyael uses his other glove to lift the man's body up a
little, looking surprised as he takes in the multiple stab
wounds on the man's chest.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Really well...
TWIST
Okay, damage control. Did you call
the police yet?
KAREN
What? Oh, uh, no.
TWIST
Well... don't you think you should?
KAREN
(snaps)
I don't know, Twist, still kind of
in shock here!
TWIST
Okay, chill. Dan and I are used to
this sort of thing, we'll deal with
this.
Twist joins Danyael by the body, as a confused looking Karen
steps over.
KAREN
'This sort of thing'? But how? I
mean, I thought you were still out
of the country?
Twist and Danyael exchange a look, before they both stand.
TWIST
Ah, yeah, about that, see...
(beat; sighs)
Screw it. I lied. Doesn't matter
what I was doing, point is, I know
how to help.
(to Danyael)
You want to put a call out for some
help? See if you can get some
people in to clear this mess up.
Danyael nods, taking his phone and stepping towards the
kitchen as Twist places her hands on Karen's shoulders.
KAREN
'People'? What 'people'? Who is he
going to-
TWIST
Never mind. Now, I want you to tell
me exactly what happened.
Karen glances down at the body, then back at Twist, still
clearly on edge, before we cut over to:
13 EXT. ZEROMANCE CLUB/BACK ALLEY - NIGHT. 13
Vivian leans against a side wall near a back entrance to the
club, down a narrow, cramped alley. The music playing inside
the club can still be heard, muffled, through the walls, and
Chris watches Vivian carefully as Julie sits on a doorstep
set into another entrance in the alley.
VIVIAN
So where do you want me to start?
CHRIS
The beginning.
VIVIAN
Yikes. Okay, well, when my mom and
dad were in their twenties, my dad
got this mischievous look in his
eyes one day, and-
CHRIS
Vivian, please. This is no time for
games.
Vivian chuckles, and Julie raises a hand to get their
attention.
JULIE
I have a question, before she
starts her story.
VIVIAN
What's up, doc?
JULIE
Okay, where did you two-
(beat)
Wait, how did you know I was a
doctor?
VIVIAN
(shrugs)
Figured anybody dressed like you
going into a club like this had to
a professional of some sort, and
you just strike me as the medical
type. Must be the hair.
Thrown, Julie looks up at Chris.
CHRIS
(to Julie)
Ignore her. She gets a kick out of
winding people up.
VIVIAN
Hey, I learned from the best.
CHRIS
And how could I forget.
Vivian reaches into the front of her corset - and draws out a
crumpled pack of cigarettes and a lighter, sparking one up
and holding the pack out to Julie.
VIVIAN
Want one?
JULIE
Uh, no thanks.
Vivian shrugs and takes a deep drag, blowing the smoke back
out before turning her attention back to Chris.
VIVIAN
Okay, we'll skip the background for
later. I guess you want to know
what I've been doing since the last
time we saw each other, right?
CHRIS
Sounds like as good a place as any
to start.
(to Julie)
Vivian and I didn't exactly part on
the best of terms.
VIVIAN
(scoffs)
Now that's an understatement...
CHRIS
(eyes her)
We had a... disagreement about
something, but that's not important
right now. Let's just say, last
time I saw Vivian, it was from a
prone position on the floor as she
walked away from me, having just
sunk a knife into my chest.
VIVIAN
(wry smile)
You were asking for it.
Chris doesn't reply, and this suggests there's some truth in
Vivian's words. Julie watches them both, extremely curious.
VIVIAN (cont'd)
Since that falling out we had, I
decided to stick around NYC for a
while. I figured you'd be doing
your usual nomad routine and be
heading off soon as you pulled that
knife out of yourself, so I figured
I'd bed down, see what I could do
for myself round here.
JULIE
Wait, clear something up for me.
Chris called you his 'first
partner' when we were in there -
you mean she's like Twist?
VIVIAN
(intrigued)
Who's Twist? Got yourself a new
groupie now, Chris?
CHRIS
Never you mind. Carry on.
VIVIAN
Well, seeing as how you and I had
spent a few years ignoring every
cry for help that came our way
while you dragged me from one ass
backward part of the world to the
next, looking for your elusive
'cure,' I saw our break up as a
chance to start over, to do some of
the things I never got a chance to
when I was with you.
CHRIS
Such as?
VIVIAN
Stopping the bad guys, helping the
innocent, saving the day. You know,
all the stuff you always claimed
you were too busy to do. Got my own
little posse now, too, a bunch of
like-minded vigilantes who help me
keep the streets round here as safe
as we can. I reckon I've got a lot
of lost souls to make up for,
people who asked for help back in
the day that I ignored.
(beat)
Because of you.
Julie looks at Chris, and the dark expression he wears tells
her this is a story he'd rather she didn't hear.
VIVIAN (cont'd)
So that's pretty much what I've
done over the last...
(counts)
... six years. Whew, has it really
been that long? Feels like it was
just yesterday I tried to kill you.
Chris doesn't appreciate her humour, and motions for Julie to
stand and join him.
CHRIS
Julie, let's go, I've heard enough.
Julie stands and walks towards Chris, but Vivian pushes
herself off the wall and heads towards him, suddenly looking
serious.
VIVIAN
No, Chris... wait. Please, hear me
out.
CHRIS
Any why should I do that?
Vivian sighs and lowers her head.
VIVIAN
Because I could use your help with
something.
Julie throws a surprised look at Chris, as we cut back to:
14 INT. KAREN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT. 14
The body is covered by a bedsheet now, as Karen sits on the
sofa, Twist handing her a mug of coffee. Danyael walks back
over from the kitchen, tucking his phone away.
TWIST
Well? Is Tonto gonna come pronto or
what?
DANYAEL
There isn't much left in the way of
rebel vam-
(catches himself; glances
at Karen)
Uh, 'help' still left in NYC at the
moment, after what happened a few
months back. You know.
TWIST
Yeah, kinda hard to forget, what
with all the dead bodies and all.
Karen throws a shocked look up at Twist, but she ignores it
as Danyael continues.
DANYAEL
The local guys have regrouped a bit
since then, though, they're sending
a couple of people over to help
clean up the mess.
TWIST
Alright, good work, Spook.
Twist sits down next to Karen, who now looks thoroughly
bewildered.
KAREN
Twist? What's going on? What the
hell are you mixed up in? Are you
in a gang or something?
TWIST
That's not important. What matters
is getting you somewhere safe so
you can tell me what happened.
(off body)
This'll be taken care of when we
get back.
Karen opens her mouth to protest, but Twist stands and takes
one of her hands, pulling her to her feet.
TWIST (cont'd)
You know anywhere quiet we can go?
KAREN
Uh, y-yeah, yeah.
TWIST
Then let's go.
(to Danyael)
D'you wanna wait here until the
boys show up?
DANYAEL
(nods)
Sounds good. You two girls go catch
up and stuff.
Twist turns back to Karen and smiles.
TWIST
See? I always told you I've got
your back if you ever needed me.
Karen finally manages a relieved smile, and we cut back to:
15 INT. ZEROMANCE CLUB - NIGHT. 15
Back inside the club, but over in a quieter corner where the
music is less deafening and there are more lights, Vivian,
Chris and Julie sit round a small table.
VIVIAN
There's a new pack of vampires in
town, they moved in after all that
stuff at the Edgar Building a few
months back.
(raises eyebrow)
Which, by the way, had you written
all over it - was that anything to
do with you?
CHRIS
I may have been involved, yes, but
that's all I'm going to say on the
subject.
VIVIAN
(shrugs)
Suit yourself. Anyway, these new
vamps, they're pretty tough.
Taller, stronger than usual, twice
as mean and three times as ugly.
They've been taking my crew down
one member at a time, and things
are getting pretty bad. It's kinda
hard to try and police the streets
when your own people are getting
picked off.
CHRIS
So what do you want me to do about
it?
VIVIAN
And there it is again. 'Me,' not
'us.'
(off Julie)
Isn't she part of your team now?
Chris looks at Julie, who throws him a look right back -
that's a very good question!
CHRIS
Tell me what you want me to do
first, and I'll see if I can help.
VIVIAN
It's nothing major, I could just
use some added manpower to help
take these things down before they
get too big a stranglehold on my
turf. You in? Some good old
fashioned slice and dice action,
just like the good old days?
Chris considers her offer, then after a long beat slowly nods
his head. Vivian grins and takes a sip of her cocktail.
VIVIAN (cont'd)
You sure have changed, Chris!
(to Julie)
Back when we were a team, if
anybody ever asked Chris for help
like that, he'd say something
suitably cold like 'it's none of my
concern,' then turn and walk off
like nothing had happened.
(to Chris)
What made you grow a heart all of a
sudden, Chris?
Vivian's eyes fall on Julie, who shifts uncomfortably.
VIVIAN (cont'd)
Or should I say... who?
CHRIS
(stern)
Vivian.
VIVIAN
Alright, jeez! You're still as
stuck up and British as ever, I
see. You know, if it wasn't for us
Americans, you Brits would still be
busy saluting Mein Fuhrer today.
CHRIS
National stereotyping aside, where
can we find these new vampires of
yours? We're in something of a
hurry.
VIVIAN
Ah, well, y'see, that's the great
thing. They're right over there.
Chris frowns, but Vivian nods towards something off screen,
and Chris and Julie slowly and discretely turn round.
Up on the balcony overlooking the dance floor are three surly
looking men, all dressed in thick jackets and clothing,
swigging bottles of beer and sizing up the clubbers below.
VIVIAN (cont'd)
You see 'em?
CHRIS
(nods)
Three of them, first level.
(turns to Vivian)
Plan of action?
VIVIAN
(pretends to think)
Kill 'em?
CHRIS
Be serious, Vivian.
VIVIAN
(smirks)
Kill 'em real good.
CHRIS
(cross)
There are innocent people in here,
we can't just go blazing in and-
VOICE (O.S.)
Hey, Taylor!
The trio look up - and three more large, beefed up men are
standing a few feet away from their table, glaring down at
the trio and not looking happy to see them.
FIRST GUY
Thought I told you not to show your
face round here again?
VIVIAN
Well, shucks, Nick, I guess I'm
just kinda hard of hearing
sometimes. Must be all this loud
music I listen to.
FIRST GUY
(off Chris and Julie)
And who the hell are these two?
VIVIAN
Friends from out of town.
Chris gets out of his seat and stands before Nick, staring
him down quite easily.
CHRIS
Is there a problem?
NICK
That depends. One vampire in my
club is bad enough, but two? That's
just asking for an ass kicking.
Julie blinks and snaps round to look at Vivian.
JULIE
You're a...
VIVIAN
Vampire, yeah. Long story. Duck.
JULIE
(frowns)
What?
Vivian suddenly RIPS their table out of the floor and THROWS
it towards Nick and his two accomplices, sending them
crashing to the floor.
There are SCREAMS as frightened clubbers quickly bail out and
clear a space for the impending fight, and Chris glares at
Vivian as she hops to his side.
CHRIS
This is no place for a fight,
Vivian!
VIVIAN
What's the matter, old man? You
lost your sense of adventure?
One of the men starts to get up, and Vivian quickly KICKS him
in the face, her adrenaline surging.
VIVIAN (cont'd)
We're just getting to the fun part.
The other two men jump to their feet, and as their snarling
faces rush towards us, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
16 EXT. EMPTY OFFICE BLOCK - NIGHT. 16
Fade up on a tall office block, its lights off and its doors
closed for the night, as a trio of police cruisers speed
past, their sirens WAILING and their flashing lights
highlighting the scene.
17 INT. FIFTH FLOOR OFFICE SUITE - NIGHT. 17
A wide, open plan suite, full of plain cubicles, looking down
on the street below as we pull back, the entire floor wrapped
in darkness.
There's a tell, well built man standing, arms crossed behind
his back, as he watches the squad cars race past below - this
is CONNELY.
CONNELY
(softly)
It's been a long night for both of
us, I know. But it'll all be over
soon.
Pull back further to get a better shot of Connelly as a
POLICE HELICOPTER buzzes past the office block, its
searchlight swinging to and fro across the streets.
Connely is of average height, with a thin, wiry build and
short, spiked hair. He turns to address someone off camera,
and we see that his shirt is open, and his body is
crisscrossed with deep, ritual scars and marks.
CONNELY (cont'd)
I can only apologise for the
discomfort I have put you through
this evening.
Sitting on a chair, her arms and legs bound to it with thick
rope, is VIVIAN. She's scared out of her wits, trying to hold
in the sobs of fear but not doing a great job, her mascara
streaking her face, her cheeks wet with tears.
Connely turns and starts to walk casually towards her, a half
smile on his face as Vivian shivers with fear.
TITLE OVER - Brooklyn, 1993.
Vivian's breathing speeds up as Connely approaches her, but
he stops next to one of the nondescript cubicle desks a few
feet away.
Shining in the moonlight on its surface are two KNIVES, long,
almost surgical blades that are already spotted with blood.
Connely lifts one of the blades up and admires it in the dim
moonlight, and Vivian WHIMPERS.
CONNELY (cont'd)
When I use this to slice you from
belly to chin, and read the
messages that have been left for me
in your entrails, then we'll both
know.
(smiles)
You'll understand at last that you
were put here for a purpose.
He walks over to her, and she can't help but SOB in terror as
he stands inches away from her, gently pressing the smooth
knife blade against her cheek.
CONNELY (cont'd)
You were sent to earth to bring me
a message, a message hidden deep
inside this fleshy body of yours,
that will tell me what I have to do
next. For that, I thank you.
Connely tenderly strokes the trembling Vivian's hair.
18 EXT. EMPTY OFFICE BLOCK - NIGHT. 18
Back outside the office block, looking up towards it from
street level as the police helicopter sweeps past again -
before CHRIS steps into frame.
He looks the same as he does now - same hair, beard and
clothes - and the intense look burning in his eyes tells us
he's got a job to do.
He waits until the helicopter has moved away a little, before
striding across the street, his long leather coat flapping in
the breeze behind him.
19 INT. FIFTH FLOOR OFFICE SUITE - NIGHT. 19
Connely is removing his shirt, his back to Vivian as her eyes
flick left and right, looking for some way out.
She starts to slowly push her wheeled chair across the
carpeted office floor, but she doesn't get far before Connely
calls over to her, not looking round.
CONNELY
You'd never make it.
She stops, defeated, and the newly stripped to the waist
Connely steps over, his scars on proud display along with his
impressively toned body.
CONNELY (cont'd)
What good is a message, if the
person meant to read it doesn't get
to see it? You're a strange one,
Vivian.
VIVIAN
(pleading)
Please, just let me go, I haven't
done anything, I-
Vivian SHRIEKS as Connely suddenly grabs her hair, yanking
her head back and pressing the knife against her throat.
CONNELY
That's the point! You have to be
pure! If you're not clean, then I
can't see anything, and when I cut
you open, all I'll see is-
CHRIS (O.S.)
Blood.
Connely freezes, then slowly looks up. Chris is standing
boldly in the middle of the suite, his katana drawn and
ready, staring down Connely.
CHRIS (cont'd)
That's what all this is really
about, isn't it, Connely?
Connely GRUNTS in annoyance and punts Vivian out of the way,
her chair bashing into a nearby desk.
CHRIS (cont'd)
You kidnap these girls, torture
them until you consider them
'clean' enough for you, and then
what? Gut them? Slice them open,
stare into them and look for your
'messages'? We both know you've
never seen any messages.
CONNELY
(cold)
Shut up.
CHRIS
Oh, you keep hoping that one day
you'll see one, that your faith
will be rewarded and all the people
you've left dead will have been for
a reason, the day you look inside
your latest victim and see some
words from the divine, blazing out
at you in all their glory...
CONNELY
I said shut up!
CHRIS
But all you ever see is blood.
Chris is now just a few feet away. Connely is hunching down,
breathing hard, ready to spring, while Chris is still almost
casual.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Nobody's going to send you any
messages, Connely. Truth is, nobody
cares.
CONNELY
(furious)
Shut up! You don't know! You'll
never understand!!
He LEAPS to the attack, swinging his knife as he and Chris
spar, Chris' katana deflecting Connely's attacks. Chris
circles him, easily the better swordsman.
CHRIS
(off Vivian)
So who's this one? Another likely
contender?
CONNELY
Why do you care? I thought you
didn't give a crap about the
victims. It's all about the mission
with you, Chris!
CHRIS
I don't. But an awful lot of people
want you dead, Connely, and one of
them has something I want. So, we
made a deal - I bring him your
head, he gives me what I want.
The police helicopter is back, and this time its searchlight
shines right across the suite.
Chris is temporarily distracted - and Connely takes the
opportunity to LUNGE for Vivian, pulling her in front of him
and holding the knife to her throat.
CONNELY
You don't understand!
(getting emotional)
Nobody understands! I know they'll
come! I know they're waiting for
me, I just have to find them!
Chris sizes up the situation, glancing at Vivian who stares
back at him with wide, petrified eyes.
CHRIS
Let her go, Connely. She's no part
of this.
The helicopter is still hovering outside, and a voice shouts
out through its loudspeaker:
COP
(filtered)
Attention, this is the NYPD!
Connely, we have the building
surrounded! Release the girl and
stand down!
CHRIS
(grins)
Looks like you're out of time.
Connely glances over his shoulder at the helicopter, then
back to Chris, before we cut back to:
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