sib2x03
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        23     INT. UNDERGROUND NETWORK - TEMPLE - DAY.                23

               The lead vinnlan ushers the team into the large ruined
               temple, holding a tall wooden staff with a smaller but
               equally bright version of one of the glowing spheres from the
               bridge on its tip.

               Chris and Julie look suitably impressed as they examine the
               temple - before it fell into disrepair, it was clearly an
               impressive monument, with the remnants of mosaics, statues
               and ornate dioramas spread around.

                                   CHRIS
                         What is this place? Or, rather,
                         what was this place?

                                   VINNLAN
                         Opening of evil.

               Twist opens her mouth to make another wisecrack, but a shake
               of Danyael's head silences her.

                                   VINNLAN (cont'd)
                         Beings from other worlds, dark
                         places, they would use this place
                         to enter our world, try to destroy
                         and control it.

                                   JULIE
                         And have your people always been
                         here to stop them?

                                   VINNLAN
                             (nods)
                         Many more places like this, all
                         built around thin points in the
                         walls between dimensions. 

               The vinnlan walks towards one of the larger mosaics, which
               depicts a great battle in which many vinnlans are being
               slaughtered by a monstrous, scorpion-like creature.

                                   VINNLAN (cont'd)
                         The battles have been many, and my
                         people are now few in number.

                                   CHRIS
                         But I imagine the weak spots in the
                         world are still just as common?

               The vinnlan nods, heading towards the remnants of a wide
               altar at the far end of the temple.

                                   VINNLAN
                         My ancestors left temples like this
                         to make sure the openings could
                         always be guarded, leaving packs of
                         my people sleeping here to defend
                         them, but now the humans on the
                         surface have taken away the things
                         we need.

                                   TWIST
                         Those objects in Manon's back room,
                         right?

                                   JULIE
                         That fits - maybe they're artefacts
                         that the vinnlans used to keep the
                         dimensions sealed up?

                                   CHRIS
                         Quite possibly. The point is that
                         they can't stay as trophies in
                         Manon's private collection, they
                         need to be down here where they
                         belong.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Do you think he took them on
                         purpose?

                                   CHRIS
                         I'm starting to think our friend
                         Monsieur Manon knows a lot more
                         than he's letting on.

                                   TWIST
                         See? Told you! Evil.

               Chris looks over to the vinnlan, who is sighing heavily - the
               creature looks like there's a whole world of responsibility
               on his shoulders. Chris turns back to Julie.

                                   CHRIS 
                         And I think I know just how to get
                         him to tell us what he's up to.

               Chris grins, and a bemused Julie raises an eyebrow before we
               cut back to:

        24     INT. MANOR - STUDY - DAY.                               24

               Manon watches one of his servants finish sweeping up the
               broken glass from the raid on his study earlier. There is a
               KNOCK at the study door, and Manon heads over.

               He opens the door to Julie, who is wide-eyed and frantic,
               covered with cuts and scratches as she nearly faints into his
               arms.

                                   MANON
                         Madame Kingston? Julie! Can you
                         'ear me?

               Manon carries her over to his high-backed leather chair and
               sets her in it, turning to the servant.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         Water, rapidement!

               The servant nods and hustles out of the room as Manon gently
               pats Julie's cheek, trying to rouse her. She moans and stirs,
               her eyelids fluttering as she turns to him.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         What 'appened? Where is
                         Christopher?

                                   JULIE
                             (groggy)
                         We were... attacked.. More of
                         those... creatures...

                                   MANON
                         Merde. Has anyone been killed or
                         hurt?

                                   JULIE
                             (shakes head)
                         I don't think so... they said they
                         were leaving... I think they took
                         Chris, Twist and Danyael with
                         them...

               Julie sits up, an intense look in her eyes as she grabs Manon
               by the shoulders.

                                   JULIE (cont'd)
                         You've got to help them! I managed
                         to get away, but...

                                   MANON
                         Do not fear, madame. I will take
                         some of my security team and go
                         down there myself to bring your
                         friends back. You are quite sure
                         the creatures are gone?

                                   JULIE
                             (nods)
                         All of them. That whole place is
                         empty now.

               Manon stands, stepping back as the servant bustles back into
               the room with a large glass of water which Julie gratefully
               sips from.

                                   MANON
                         Bon. I must go.

               Manon turns to leave, but Julie jumps to her feet.

                                   JULIE
                         No! I'm coming with you.

               Manon slowly turns back round, raising an eyebrow as Julie
               throws him a pleading look.

                                   JULIE (cont'd)
                         I have to know if they're alright,
                         or if...

                                   MANON
                             (beat; nods)
                         Very well. 

                                   JULIE
                         Don't worry about me. I can field
                         strip an M-16 with my eyes closed.

               Manon stares at her for a beat, then cracks open a broad grin
               and laughs.

                                   MANON
                         And yet for some reason, I am not
                         surprised! Come.

               Maon motions for her to follow as he leaves, and as Julie
               heads across the study we cut to:

        25     INT. UNDERGROUND NETWORK - DAY.                         25

               Manon leads ten of his security guards, all of whom are armed
               to the teeth with rifles and submachine-guns, all carrying
               torches to cut through the darkness of the abandoned
               corridors. Julie walks by Manon's side, carrying a handgun.

                                   JULIE
                             (points)
                         This way. They came from over here
                         and overwhelmed us.

               Julie leads the group towards the stone archway as the
               security team's torches pick it out. Manon hangs back to talk
               to one of the team, DREW, as Julie heads out of frame.

                                   MANON
                         Did you bring everything we will
                         need?

                                   DREW
                             (nods)
                         Yes, sir.

                                   MANON
                         Good. Make sure we are ready, in
                         case those things decide to come
                         back.

               Drew glances down at the bulky shoulder bag he's carrying as
               he and Manon join the others in front of the archway.

                                   JULIE
                         The vinnlans took Chris and the
                         others through there. I didn't get
                         to see what happened after that,
                         I'm afraid running and getting help
                         was the only choice I had.

               Manon lays a comforting hand on her shoulder as he steps past
               her, staring into the darkness beyond the archway.

                                   MANON
                         You did the right thing, Julie.

               Manon turns to his men, loading his rifle with a loud CLICK
               and waiting as they all follow suit.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         Be on your guard, monsieurs, these
                         creatures are fast and tough. Like
                         Drew's mother.

               Manon grins as the rest of his team chuckle at his joke,
               before he turns and steps through the archway.

        26     INT. UNDERGROUND NETWORK - CHAMBER - CONTINUOUS.        26

               The assembled torch beams make out some of the bridge and the
               temple beyond, but the entire chamber is deserted this time
               round.

               Julie follows Manon as he leads the team across the bridge,
               heading straight for the temple.

        27     INT. UNDERGROUND NETWORK - TEMPLE - DAY.                27

               Manon is the first through into the high-ceilinged, dusty
               temple, lowering his rifle and sweeping the temple walls with
               his torch as his men file in behind him.

               Julie watches them, confused, as they start to set down their
               weapons and backpacks, taking out a variety of strange
               looking objects and placing them at set points around the
               room.

                                   JULIE
                         Uh... what's going on? What are
                         they doing?

               Manon looks at Julie and smiles - but it's far from friendly,
               and she takes a wary step backwards.

                                   MANON
                         Now that those monstres 'ave gone
                         and left us in peace, I can finally
                         let this temple do what it was
                         supposed to do.

               Julie looks round at Manon's men again - they're moving with
               organised efficiency, obviously knowing exactly what to do as
               they continue to slot things into place around the room. 

               Stone tablets are pressed back into gaps in the mosaics,
               statues are twisted back into place on the podiums, and Drew
               takes five of the small glowing spheres from his bag, placing
               them into five circular holes across the surface of the
               altar.

               Julie looks around in alarm as the spheres flare to life,
               quickly filling the whole temple with yellow light. She
               rounds on Manon.

                                   JULIE
                         Alright, what the hell are you
                         doing down here?

               Manon steps towards her menacingly, and she raises her gun at
               him as she takes another step back.

                                   MANON
                         As I said, madame, this place was 
                         built for a task, and I intend to
                         make sure it can perform that task
                         at last.

               Julie thumbs the safety off her handgun and aims it squarely
               at Manon's head, but he doesn't flinch, taking a step closer.

                                   JULIE
                             (serious)
                         Call your men off. I don't need to
                         know what they're doing to know
                         that it's wrong.

                                   MANON
                         Are you going to shoot me, Julie?

                                   JULIE
                         If I have to.

                                   MANON
                         Then go ahead. I'm not going to
                         stop unless you kill me.

               Julie stares him out for a beat - then swiftly aims at his
               arm and pulls the trigger - but nothing happens. Manon
               chuckles and deftly snatches the gun from her hands.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         You think I would give you a gun
                         that actually works? 

               Julie backs up as Manon advances on her, finding herself
               trapped against a stone pillar as he closes in.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         Your little ruse back at my manor
                         was quite effective, for a moment I
                         was fooled. You are quite the
                         actress!

                                   JULIE
                             (defiant)
                         Yeah, well, I have many hidden
                         talents.

                                   MANON
                         A shame, then, that I will not 'ave
                         the chance to discover them all.

                                   JULIE
                             (blinks)
                         What?

               Manon LUNGES for her, and despite Julie fighting back with
               all she's got, he's too strong for her, wrenching her arms
               round behind her back to restrain her.

                                   MANON
                             (to Drew)
                         Is the altar ready for the
                         sacrifice?

                                   DREW
                         Yes, sir.

                                   JULIE
                             (horrified)
                         The what?!?

               Manon shoves Julie towards the altar, as Drew readies a set
               of wrist and ankle restraints to hold her down.

               Julie doubles her efforts to break free, but Drew shuts her
               up with a hard SLAP across her cheek.

               Manon glares at him, then PUNCHES Drew with his free hand.

                                   MANON
                         Idiote! What do you think you are
                         doing?

                                   DREW
                         I-I'm sorry, sir, I thought-

                                   MANON
                         I do not pay you enough to think!
                         Now continue with the preparations!
                         I 'ave waited too long to 'ave-

                                   CHRIS (O.S.)
                         Oh dear, oh dear.

               Manon freezes, then spins round.

               Chris, Twist and Danyael have walked into the temple, all
               armed, and Chris is wagging a scolding finger at Manon.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         You don't hit one of my friends,
                         Manon. That's not the kind of thing
                         I can just forget about in a hurry.

               Manon glances down at Julie, who smirks triumphantly back up
               at him.

                                   JULIE
                         So do I get my Oscar yet?

                                   CHRIS
                             (to Twist)
                         What would you sat our Gallic
                         friend's first error was?

                                   TWIST
                         I'm going to go with 'thinking we
                         wouldn't suss out he was evil,'
                         chief.

                                   CHRIS
                         That's right. And his second?

                                   DANYAEL
                         Thinking we wouldn't work out how
                         to stop him.

                                   CHRIS
                         Absolutely.
                             (to Manon)
                         See? They're quite clever, really,
                         when you give them chance to show
                         it.

                                   MANON
                             (laughs)
                         I 'ope you brought more backup than
                         your two vampire friends,
                         Christopher! When I complete the
                         ritual and bring the Skorpione back
                         into this world, then we will see
                         where all of your posturing gets
                         you!

               Chris SNAPS his fingers as though just remembering something
               important.

                                   CHRIS
                         Backup! Ah, yes, I knew I'd
                         forgotten something.

               He nods to Twist, who puts her fingers in her mouth and
               WHISTLES loudly.

               The whistle ECHOES around the temple for a few beats - then
               out of the shadows behind Chris and the vampire duo, a large
               pack of the vinnlans slowly strut into the temple. The
               creatures HISS threateningly at Manon and his team, looking
               ready for a fight.

               Manon's security team grab their rifles and quickly back up,
               raising their weapons to try and cover the growing number of
               vinnlans stalking into the temple.

               Manon fixes Chris with a cold stare as Chris beckons to him.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         As Twist is so fond of saying...
                         bring it on.

               Manon's face creases up with anger, and from that we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                  END OF ACT THREE
                                      ACT FOUR

                                                               FADE IN:

        28     INT. UNDERGROUND NETWORK - TEMPLE - DAY.                28

               It's a stand off. Chris, Twist and Danyael backed up by the
               army of vinnlans, facing off against Manon and his six
               heavily armed security guards, the captive Julie still held
               tight by Manon.

                                   CHRIS
                         Let her go, Manon.

                                   MANON
                         And why would I do that?

                                   CHRIS
                         Because if you do, I'll only take
                         one of your arms.

                                   MANON
                             (smirks)
                         You show a lot of spirit,
                         considering what you're about to
                         face!

                                   TWIST
                             (mocking)
                         Yeah, yeah, waah waah 'you'll never
                         defeat me,' heard it! Last guy who
                         used those lines on us ended up
                         having to work out what order to
                         put his organs back into his body.
                             (twirls bat)
                         How's your biology these days?

                                   MANON
                         There is power in this place, just
                         waiting for a man like myself to
                         'arness it.

                                   TWIST
                         Using those portal things, right?
                         The weak points in the fabric of
                         the world, or whatever they are?
                         Yeah, we know.

                                   MANON
                         Then you know what I plan to do.

                                   TWIST
                         What do you think's on the other
                         side of those gateways, Frenchie?
                         It ain't all sunshine and hollow
                         chocolate bunnies, you know.

                                   MANON
                         Oh, believe me...

               Manon reaches into his backpack and draws out a golden staff,
               which has a stylised, monstrous scorpion on its tip.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         ... I know.

               Manon turns to Drew as Chris keeps his eyes fixed on Julie,
               trying to send her a silent message.

                                   MANON (cont'd)
                         Is everything in place?

                                   DREW
                         Ready to begin, sir.

                                   MANON
                         Good, good.
                             (to Chris)
                         Well, it was a pleasure to meet
                         you, Christopher, but I'm afraid
                         our time together 'as come to an
                         unfortunate end.
                             (to his men)
                         Kill them all.

               The security team OPEN FIRE, spraying the assembled vinnlans
               with bullets, but Chris quickly waves his hand through the
               air before him, creating a ripple of blue energy that stops
               all the bullets dead in their tracks.

                                   CHRIS
                             (to vinnlans)
                         Now!!

               With a mighty HOWL, the assembled vinnlans CHARGE towards
               Manon and his crew, who keep up the barrage of gunfire.

               Many of the creatures fall under the onslaught, but by sheer
               weight of numbers they manage to swarm the nearest two of the
               security team, who disappear beneath a wave of dark green
               flesh with final SCREAMS of terror.

               Chris, Twist and Danyael race forward as Manon drags Julie
               back towards the altar where Drew is waiting, Julie still
               fighting back every step of the way.

               The vinnlans are starting to lose the momentum as more hails
               of gunfire rake across their numbers, and despite Chris
               slicing a nearby guard's rifle in half and then knocking the
               man to the floor with a swift punch, the creatures start to
               fall back.

               Over by the altar, Julie's eyes widen in horror as Drew
               produces a large, curved sacrificial dagger from his bag, and
               Manon grabs her arm, stretching it out over a symbol etched
               into the altar's surface - that of a huge scorpion.

                                   JULIE
                         No! Chris!!

                                   MANON
                         Quiet! I promise I will make this
                         quick if you do not fight back!

               Julie throws a stone cold glare at Manon - then ELBOWS him in
               the chest as hard as she can.

               Manon splutters and staggers backwards, and as Drew lunges
               for Julie with the dagger, she manages to dodge out of its
               path, the razor-sharp blade catching her arm and taking a
               slice out of it.

               Twist floors another guard with a well-timed swing of her
               bat, but looks up to see another training his gun on her.

               As he opens fire, she plants her feet against the nearest
               stone pillar and FLIPS gracefully back through the air,
               arcing over the trail of bullets to land neatly on her feet
               again - and SMASH her bat against the guard.

                                   TWIST
                         Learned that one from Chun Li,
                         baumgartner!

                                   DANYAEL (O.S.)
                         Twist!!

               Danyael DIVES into frame and shoves himself and Twist to the
               ground as another volley of bullets tears past them, missing
               the duo by inches.

               Twist blinks as she looks up at Danyael, lying awkwardly on
               top of her.

                                   TWIST
                         Uh, bullets can't actually kill us,
                         you know!

                                   DANYAEL
                         Well, no... but they hurt.

               A beat. Twist nods, then the two of them spring back to their
               feet and dive back into battle.

               Chris marches straight towards Manon, pausing to dodge a
               clumsy attack by one of the guards, grabbing the guard and
               flipping him up and over to SLAM him back down to the floor.

               Manon is recovering from the blow to his chest and draws a
               handgun from a shoulder holster, squeezing off three shots in
               quick succession as Chris closes in.

               Chris recoils with each hit, but keeps striding forward,
               raising his sword and chopping down, missing Manon by a
               fraction as Manon falls backwards, out of the way.

               Julie and Drew are chasing one another round the altar, Julie
               trying to make a break for safety but finding Drew cutting
               her off every time.

               Finally, Julie manages to dash for freedom, but Drew is too
               fast and tries to tackle her. She turns and SHOVES back
               against him, and Drew GULPS, his body freezing.

               Julie looks down to see that she's managed to turn his dagger
               round and press it into his gut, and before she can react
               Drew falls backwards, sprawling across the altar.

               Chris aims his katana at Manon's throat, as the French
               villain tries to shuffle backwards, away from him.

                                   CHRIS
                         It's over, Manon. Whatever you were
                         trying to do here, I think we can
                         safely say you failed.

               Manon looks round to see Twist and Danyael double team the
               last of his security team, punching him to the ground. Bodies
               of his men and the vinnlans litter the floor of the temple,
               but a handful of the lizard-like creatures are still standing
               as the smoke gradually clears.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         You're coming with us. I know
                         people who take care of messes like
                         you, and I think they'll be quite
                         pleased to get their hands on-

                                   JULIE
                             (interrupts)
                         Chris?

               He turns to see Julie staring down at Drew's body.

                                   JULIE (cont'd)
                         I think we may have a problem.

               Chris looks back to Manon, but as Twist and Danyael arrive in
               frame to keep an eye on him, Chris steps over to Julie.

                                   CHRIS
                         What is it?

               She points to the altar's surface - and we see that the blood
               from Drew's fatal wound has pooled across the altar,
               gathering in the scorpion symbol, which is now PULSING with a
               baleful red light.

                                   JULIE
                         On a scale of one to ten on the
                         'Not Good' chart, I'm thinking this
                         is at least a seven.

                                   CHRIS
                         More like a nine...
                             (turns to others)
                         Get back, all of you!

               Chris quickly pulls Julie away from the altar - just as there
               is a FLASH of white light, and a deafening sound like the
               tearing of metal.

               Everyone claps their hands over their ears - except Danyael -
               and stares upwards as a jagged line of white energy starts to
               form in the air over the altar.

               Manon begins to LAUGH, and a furious Chris reaches down to
               grab him, dragging him back to his feet.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         What have you done?

                                   MANON
                         It's coming! It's finally coming!

                                   CHRIS
                         What is? Manon, what have you-

                                   VINNLAN
                             (weakly)
                         The Skorpione!

               Chris turns to see the lead vinnlan, covered with battle
               wounds, is standing beside him, staring up at the growing
               energy disturbance.

                                   VINNLAN (cont'd)
                             (looks to Manon)
                         This human has succeeded in opening
                         a wound between the dimensions.
                         Soon, they shall return.

                                   TWIST
                         What, already?!? Will somebody tell
                         us what the frig a Skorpione is?

               Twist is answered as a colossal ROAR rips through the temple,
               shaking the very foundations, and all eyes turn to the
               energy.

               It looks like a literal rip in the air itself, gradually
               widening to reveal some kind of hellish landscape beyond -
               and a huge dark SHAPE that moves past, too quick to get a
               good look.

               Chris shakes the still laughing Manon.

                                   CHRIS
                         How do we stop it?

                                   MANON
                         You can't! The energies cannot be
                         destroyed!

               Chris desperately looks round - and then spots that all of
               the objects Manon and his men brought back into the temple
               are GLOWING, most noticeably the four stone tablets pressed
               into the mosaics. Chris points to them, forced now to shout
               over the rising volume of the HOWLING the tear is making.

                                   CHRIS
                         The stones! Smash the stones!

               Twist nods, grabbing Danyael and racing towards the nearest
               mosaic.

                                   DANYAEL
                         What do we do?

                                   TWIST
                         What else? Use brute force!

               She rears back and SLAMS her bat into the tablet - but it
               doesn't break.

                                   TWIST (cont'd)
                         Friesacher! Now what?

               She turns to Danyael to see he's grabbed one of the security
               guards' rifles, and as Twist quickly ducks back he OPENS
               FIRE, shattering the tablet in a storm of bullets.

               As soon as the tablet explodes, the tear of energy starts to
               fluctuate, shaking violently in the air as whatever's on the
               other side ROARS again.

                                   CHRIS
                         The others! Quickly!

               Danyael turns and FIRES at the other mosaics - his aim isn't
               so good at distance, but he manages to take out two more,
               leaving the portal gyrating wildly in the air.

               Danyael turns to the last one and squeezes the rifle's
               trigger - but it clicks. No more bullets. He quickly drops it
               and grabs another - also empty.

               Panicking, he tries to find another gun - but Twist calmly
               steps into frame, aiming a shotgun at the final tablet.

                                   TWIST
                         Sayonara.

                                   MANON
                         No!!

               Manon takes advantage of the distraction to break free of
               Chris' grip, racing towards Twist to stop her.

               Chris reaches for him - but with a sudden CRACK like thunder,
               a gargantuan CLAW pushes through the portal, looking like an
               oversized scorpion's claw as it SWIPES through the air.

               Manon is only a few feet away when Twist FIRES - and the
               tablet EXPLODES into fragments.

               The portal instantly SWELLS with unleashed energy, and Twist
               looks round to see a streak of white energy zap out from the
               portal, heading straight for her!

               She barely has time to GASP - but as Manon races towards her,
               the bolt suddenly diverts towards him, striking the staff in
               his hand and enveloping him in BLUE ENERGY.

               Twist recoils, and just has enough time to register what
               happened before Manon is torn back towards the portal at
               blinding speed, and with another FLASH of white light, the
               tear vanishes.

               The severed claw of whatever was trying to get through
               CRASHES to the temple floor, narrowly missing Julie.

               The team take a few moments to catch their breath as the
               HOWLS of the creature missing its arm fade away, Chris
               heading for Julie.

                                   CHRIS
                         Are you alright?

                                   JULIE
                             (examining wounded arm)
                         I'll be okay, nothing too major.
                         What just happened?

                                   CHRIS
                         I'm not entirely sure...

                                   VINNLAN
                         The human was taken to the beast's
                         realm.

                                   TWIST
                         'Beast'? I think whatever that
                         thing was with the big ass
                         scorpion's claw, it qualifies for a
                         more dramatic word than plain old
                         'beast'!

                                   VINNLAN
                             (to Chris)
                         There are more of them. Many more.
                         All waiting for an opportunity to
                         break free of their world, and
                         plunder ours.

               Chris looks down at the huge severed claw, nodding.

                                   CHRIS
                         Then we'd better make sure that
                         doesn't happen, hadn't we?

               The vinnlan bows its head respectfully, and Chris returns the
               gesture. Twist wanders over to inspect the claw.

                                   TWIST
                         Can I keep it?

                                   CHRIS
                         No.

                                   TWIST
                         Why not?

                                   CHRIS
                         Because its' a bloody great
                         scorpion monster's claw, that's why
                         not! What on earth would you do
                         with it?

                                   TWIST
                         I dunno. But I figure, how many
                         chances are you gonna get to have
                         one of these things? There's got to
                         be something I can use it for.

               Chris throws a despairing look at her, then reaches for
               Julie, lays an arm round her shoulders and leads her away.

               Twist looks round, then reaches down and tries to heave the
               claw away. It's too heavy to budge, and after a few strained
               attempts to move it, she gives up with a defeated HUFF.

                                   TWIST (cont'd)
                         Nobody ever lets me have anything
                         cool.

               Twist turns on her heel and walks away, and we cut to:
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