sib2x05
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - DAY. 1
We're inside a standard, economy class train carriage as it
rattles across the Texan desert, bright sunlight playing
across any windows that don't have the blinds pulled down.
A few passengers sit around tables, some dozing lightly as
others read, play cards or just chat, passing the time.
The scene is tranquil and relaxed for a few beats - until
with a SLAM, the door to the carriage is kicked open and a
frantic looking TWIST and DANYAEL race inside, the two
vampires weaving and ducking between any rays of direct
sunlight.
TWIST
Is it still out there?
DANYAEL
(looks over shoulder)
Uh...
TWIST
Danyael! Not a difficult question!
He opens his mouth to reply - and then there is a
terrifically loud SCREECH from somewhere outside the
carriage, and a huge black SHADOW buzzes past the windows.
TWIST (cont'd)
(beat)
I'm guessing that's a 'yes.'
DANYAEL
C'mon, we need to keep moving!
The duo hurry on again, skipping over stray pieces of luggage
and pushing past startled passengers, as the train's
occupants press themselves against the windows to get a
better look at whatever the heck just flew past.
TWIST
What's the plan, exactly? We can't
really go outside to help, can we?
DANYAEL
I don't know! Just do what Chris
always does.
TWIST
Tell us off for being stupid?
DANYAEL
No, think of something!
There's a loud CLUNK as something hits the roof of the
carriage, and the whole train cart rocks violently from side
to side, throwing people from their seats.
The SCREECHING sound rings out again, and Twist and Danyael
exchange a look before racing towards the door at the end of
the carriage.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Where is Chris, anyway?
TWIST
Where do you think?
Danyael glances upwards again, as we cut to:
2 EXT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - ROOF - DAY. 2
Hanging on for dear life as the train rockets through the
wilderness is CHRIS, one hand grabbing a hand rail running
across the roof of the carriage, his other holding his
katana.
He manages to pull himself forward a few steps, but as we
hear the SCREECH again he throws himself flat against the
roof - and a huge, winged CREATURE swoops past him, missing
him by an inch.
Chris looks back up, and we get a brief glimpse of the thing
as it circles round for another run - it resembles an
oversized vulture, its skin grey and mottled and its beak
SNAPPING as it sizes up its next meal. Which would be Chris.
He narrows his eyes and lines up his katana as the beast
divebombs towards him, and as it SCREECHES again and opens
its jaws, he SLASHES across it with his sword.
The flying beast HOWLS and flaps up and away, feathers
shaking loose and spiralling away as it climbs.
Chris grins, pleased with himself - then his eyes widen as he
sees the creature line up for a kamikaze run, soaring at full
speed towards him.
CHRIS
Oh dear...
Chris tries to steady himself, his katana ready, but the
creature's at terminal velocity - if it hits, it's going to
spread them both across the roof and he knows it.
He stares the beast down as it closes in, gripping his sword
tightly and preparing to strike.
The creature opens its jaws and SCREECHES one last time, and
Chris gets ready to swing...
BLAM! A loud GUNSHOT rings out, followed by five more in
quick succession.
The creature HOWLS, swooping up and over the carriage,
missing Chris by inches and SLAMMING into the desert floor in
a cloud of dust.
Chris blinks and turns round - and sees JULIE, a smoking,
large bore shotgun in her hands, having finally made it up
onto the roof. She looks across at Chris and smirks.
JULIE
You always gotta do things the old
fashioned way?
Chris exhales gratefully, and we cut to:
3 INT. TRAIN CARRIAGE - NEXT. 3
Chris and Julie step back into the carriage as Twist and
Danyael hurry into frame.
TWIST
Hey! You're back! Did you get it?
CHRIS
We-
JULIE
(interrupts)
I got it. Chris here was about to
go one on one with a two hundred
pounds vulpek doing about seventy
miles an hour. Head on.
Twist SLAPS Chris on the arm, and he winces.
TWIST
What have I told you about doing
that?
Chris rolls his eyes and sits down, grimacing and clutching
his left arm.
DANYAEL
You okay?
CHRIS
I'll be fine. Hitting that thing
felt like punching a very feathery
sack of concrete, I think I've
fractured a bone or something.
JULIE
We can fix you up when we get to
our next stop. Which should be...
The train's brakes SQUEAL as it starts to slow down, and a
train platform scrolls into view through the windows.
JULIE (cont'd)
... right about now.
TWIST
Well, yee-fricken-haw.
DANYAEL
Uh, what are we going to do about
the sunlight?
CHRIS
I had someone drive the van over
once it'd been repaired, it'll be
waiting in the parking lot for us.
I'll bring it round to the station.
JULIE
How the hell did you manage to flip
it driving down a straight road,
anyway?
Twist looks very guilty all of a sudden, squirming as Chris
glares at her.
TWIST
Um... speed bumps?
CHRIS
Never mind that now, it's fixed.
Again. Just don't forget those
books, or our meeting with the
magus is going to go south quicker
than we have.
TWIST
(salutes)
Spokey dokey.
The train comes to a stop, and the team start to gather their
luggage, Twist retrieving a battered leather satchel from the
overhead rack.
The team disembark, the shadow of the station giving Twist
and Danyael the freedom to scoot indoors, as we stay inside
the carriage for another beat.
A tall, thin man steps into frame, watching Chris and his
team head into the station through the windows, smirking to
himself about something.
He reaches into his jacket pocket and retrieves a cell phone,
flipping it open and letting it dial a number.
MAN
(into phone)
It's me. They're here.
(listens)
Yeah, I'll get the merchandise,
don't worry. I'll call you when
it's done.
He SNAPS the phone shut, and as a sinister smirk creeps
across his face, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. BLACK VAN - DAY. 4
Chris drives with Julie in the passenger seat, as Danyael
watches Twist playing on her GameBoy Advance in the back half
of the van.
JULIE
You really think this guy we're
meeting has got what we're looking
for?
CHRIS
That's what he led me to believe.
JULIE
Yeah, but still - trading off three
of your spell books for one piece
of that healing device? Seems like
a bit of an uneven trade to me.
CHRIS
I'd have to agree with you. But
we're not really in a position to
negotiate. He has something we
need, and he named his price so we
have to honour that.
TWIST
Can't we just give him the books,
get the doobrie and then kill him
and get the book back?
Chris and Julie both turn to give Twist a surprised look, and
she rolls her eyes.
TWIST (cont'd)
Joke! Jeez... Jules, you know I
love you, but I think Chris' lack
of a funny bone is starting to
infect you too.
JULIE
Hey, I can still do funny, thank
you very much! Remember that story
I told you about the guy, with the
thing, and...
She trails off as twist deadpans her, and Julie settles back
in her seat with a sulky look. Chris grins to himself.
DANYAEL
So what's this magus like?
CHRIS
His name's Warwick Burke, he's a
mid-level magic user who prides
himself on excavating and
collecting magical items and
selling them on to fund his chief
interest.
JULIE
Which is?
CHRIS
You'll find out when we get there.
Julie raises an eyebrow, and as Chris glances across at her,
we cut to:
5 EXT. PEPPERMINT RANCH - EVENING. 5
It's later in the day as the van drives up a dusty dirt road
towards a tall black building, standing alone against the
backdrop of the desert.
The front of the building is lined with red neon, and a
large, stylish sign displays its name in ten foot high
letters - 'Peppermint Ranch.'
The winking bunny girl next to that hints at what kind of a
place this is. The car park is fairly full, and lights flash
out from the dance floor downstairs.
6 INT. BLACK VAN - EVENING. 6
Twist stares in disbelief at the building as Chris heads for
a parking space.
TWIST
It's a skin joint!
CHRIS
Not all of it, there's-
TWIST
You've taken us to a strip club!
CHRIS
Well, not really, there's-
TWIST
(mischevious)
Alright, Chris! We're gonna finally
make a man out of you!
Julie LAUGHS as Chris sighs and shakes his head.
DANYAEL
So this is the place that Warwick
guy runs?
TWIST
Selling magic goodies and trinkets
to run a strip club? Sounds like a
good business to me.
CHRIS
We're just here to make the deal,
not take part in any...
JULIE
(sly)
Fun?
CHRIS
You know what I mean.
JULIE
(teasing)
Actually, no, I don't. What were
you going to say?
Chris struggles to find the right word, saved when Twist
nudges Danyael and slides the van doors open.
TWIST
C'mon, Spook, let's go look at the
chicks in there and make sure none
of them are prettier than me.
CHRIS
Hang on just a minute!
Twist pauses, half in, half out of the van.
TWIST
What?
CHRIS
The books. You do have them, don't
you?
TWIST
(pats satchel)
'Course I do! What, you thought I'd
forget them?
Chris doesn't need to answer that one, and Twist huffs as she
steps outside.
CHRIS
Twist, you're with me. We'll go
meet Warwick, make the switch and
come back out.
JULIE
What about me and Danyael?
CHRIS
Wait at the bar for us, we
shouldn't be long.
Julie looks at Danyael, who doesn't look too upset at the
dual prospect of beer and dancing ladies to look forward to.
Chris opens his door and exits the van, and as Julie does the
same we cut inside to:
7 INT. PEPPERMINT RANCH - MAIN FLOOR - EVENING. 7
'Trick Me Twice' by Kelis blasts out through the club's PA as
the foursome step inside.
The main floor splits into two sides around a central raised
platform, with the customary pole and customary long haired
STRIPPER gyrating round it. There's a bar on either side of
the platform, and a selection of tables and chairs arranged
round the platform. The club's half full, a few more scantily
clad girls patrolling the tables for clients.
CHRIS
(to Julie)
Just get a drink and sit tight.
There's no need to talk to anyone.
JULIE
(to Danyael)
That means 'no private dances.'
CHRIS
Absolutely not.
DANYAEL
Not even-
CHRIS
No.
TWIST
No.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
(scowls)
Fine.
Julie leads Danyael towards one of the bars, as a WAITRESS
heads over to Chris and Twist.
WAITRESS
Howdy, and welcome to the
Peppermint Ranch. Can I get you
folks anything?
CHRIS
We're here to see Mr. Burke. My
name's Chris Berkeley, we have an
arranged appointment.
TWIST
(taps nose)
We brought the stuff.
The Waitress eyes her, then nods to Chris.
WAITRESS
I'll go tell him you're here.
Chris nods a thanks to her as she heads off, then rounds on
Twist, who is peering round at the various girls.
CHRIS
Do you have to do that?
TWIST
Do what?
CHRIS
Make everything we do sound like a
bad gangster movie!
(mimes tapping nose)
'The stuff'? What does that even
mean?
Twist grins and pats him on the chest.
TWIST
Oh, sweetie, you just don't let
yourself have any fun at all, ever,
do you?
(points)
Is she prettier than me?
Chris follows her gesture to see the girl dancing on stage -
currently hanging upside down from the pole, about eight feet
up in the air. Chris' jaw hangs open.
CHRIS
Blimey...
TWIST
Hey! Stop looking at her boobs and
answer the question.
CHRIS
Er, well, she's...
WAITRESS (O.S.)
Mr. Berkeley?
Chris quickly turns to the waitress as she steps into frame.
WAITRESS (cont'd)
Mr. Burke will see you now, follow
me please.
She heads off towards a staircase leading up behind one of
the bars, and Chris reaches back to take Twist's arm, making
sure she follows him.
We move over to pick up Danyael and Julie at the opposite
bar, Julie watching Chris and Twist head upstairs as Danyael
pays for two beers, handing one to Julie.
JULIE
Thanks. So what do you make of this
place?
Danyael takes a swig of his beer, then grins at a passing
dancer as she strolls by, allowing himself a moment to check
her out.
DANYAEL
I think this is the kind of place
guys lie me go to when they die.
JULIE
Makes a change not having Twist
around to keep you in line, huh?
DANYAEL
She doesn't keep me in line... does
she?
JULIE
(smirks)
Don't play dumb, Danny. I've seen
the way you look at her.
DANYAEL
(guilty)
Uh... you have?
JULIE
Are you going to say anything to
her?
Danyael SIGHS heavily, taking another gulp of his beer.
DANYAEL
I wouldn't know where to start. I
mean, I'm not even sure what I'd
say to her.
JULIE
Do you like her?
Danyael nods, and Julie smiles as she nudges him.
JULIE (cont'd)
That's where you start.
DANYAEL
I doubt it'd be that simple.
JULIE
You won't know till you give it a
shot, will you?
Danyael raises an eyebrow at her, and as a still-grinning
Julie sips her drink, we cut upstairs to:
8 INT. PEPPERMINT RANCH - BACK ROOM - EVENING. 8
Chris and Twist are shown into a dimly lit, velvet-walled
lounge area, slower, more ambient music piping out and three
more girls dancing on small podiums at points across the
room.
Sitting at a table, watching one of the nearby girls with a
sleazy grin, is WARWICK, an overweight man with stubble and
long, greying hair.
One of the sharply-suited bouncers shows Chris and Twist over
to Warwick's table, Chris pulling a chair back for Twist to
sit before joining her.
WARWICK
Hey there. Chris, right?
CHRIS
That's me. This is my associate,
Twist.
Warwick leans forward to shake her hand, quickly looking her
up and down.
WARWICK
Pretty appropriate name. Bet you
could twist all night long!
He laughs, a deep, throaty rasp born of years of cigarettes.
TWIST
(innocently)
Why, Mr. Burke, I'm sure I don't
know what you could mean.
CHRIS
We're here about the artefact.
WARWICK
You bring the books?
Twist lifts the satchel and nods, and Warwick gestures to
another of the bouncers. He leans down as Warwick whispers
into his ear, then the bouncer nods and walks away.
Twist is staring at the dancing girls, and Warwick notices
her attention with a grin.
WARWICK (cont'd)
You know, you ever consider a
career change, I could hook you up
with some real classy business, no
problem.
TWIST
(scoffs)
Please. I am way too pretty to end
up in a place like this.
Chris clears his throat, trying to hint to her that maybe she
should be a bit more diplomatic about their environment.
TWIST (cont'd)
(covering)
But... I'm sure this place'd manage
just fine without me!
She laughs nervously, and Warwick chuckles as he sees Chris'
weary expression.
WARWICK
She's a handful, ain't she?
CHRIS
You have no idea!
TWIST
Hey! Sitting right here!
The bouncer returns with a small wooden box in his hands, and
he passes it to Warwick.
WARWICK
Alright, Chris, let's talk
business. Let me see the books, and
then you can take this.
He turns the box round, and inside its cushioned interior is
another small brass component, this one looking like a long,
thin pencil with nails sticking out from each end.
Chris' eyes light up at the sight of it, and he motions for
Twist to pass him the satchel.
CHRIS
I think you'll find that everything
is in...
Chris trails off as he opens the satchel. There are books
inside, but they're not the spell books he was expecting.
There's an 'Essential Spider-Man' comic book collection, a
'CSI' graphic novel and a copy of 'Prozac Nation.'
CHRIS (cont'd)
Er... just excuse us a moment.
Chris quickly tries to cover his surprise, leaning across to
whisper into Twist's ear.
CHRIS (cont'd)
What the hell is this? Where are
the books?
TWIST
Whaddya mean? They're in there!
He shows her the satchel's contents, and Twist's hand goes to
her mouth in shock.
TWIST (cont'd)
Friesacher!
CHRIS
What the bloody hell happened?
Where are my three very rare,
irreplaceable and priceless spell
books?
TWIST
(beat)
Somewhere else?
WARWICK
Is there a problem, folks?
Chris and Twist exchange a look, then turn back round to face
Warwick. More bodyguards seem to have appeared from out of
nowhere to stand behind him.
CHRIS
(deep breath)
I'm afraid we may have a little
problem.
Warwick raises an eyebrow, as we SMASH CUT to:
9 INT. PEPPERMINT RANCH - MAIN FLOOR - EVENING. 9
CRASH! The doors leading to the private rooms at the top of
the staircase fly open, and Chris and Twist come flying out
of them.
Quickly scrambling to their feet, they race down the stirs as
five of the muscular bouncers chase after them.
Danyael and Julie exchange a look, then quickly make their
way towards the next set of doors. Luckily for them, nobody
pays them any attention.
Danyael BUMPS into a dancer on his way out. He turns to
apologise, but she's already gone, and Julie quickly pulls
him out of frame.
One of the bouncers catches up to Twist as she passes the
dancing platform, but a quick SPIN KICK knocks him over. She
SLAMS her palm into the nose of the next, but Chris drags her
away before she can take on any more.
TWIST
What're you doing? Lemme at 'em!
CHRIS
Never mind that! Let's just get out
of here!
The duo shove through the swing doors and out into the foyer,
and as the bouncers follow, we cut to:
10 EXT. PEPPERMINT RANCH - PARKING LOT - EVENING. 10
Chris and Twist burst through the entrance and race across
the lot, as the black van swings round to stop before them.
Danyael slides the side door open, and the duo dive into the
van as Julie hits the gas and it speeds away in a cloud of
dust.
The bouncers come to a stop, watching the van tear off into
the distance before readjusting their shirts and ties and
walking back into the bar.
11 INT. BLACK VAN - EVENING. 11
Chris and Twist are in the middle of a furious argument as
Julie drives on.
CHRIS
You could've gotten us all killed!
TWIST
Me?!? They're your books, when did
they become my responsibility?
CHRIS
When I told you to look after them!
TWIST
I did!
CHRIS
So where are they?
He upends the satchel, and Danyael reacts as the very non
spell book like books drop onto the floor.
DANYAEL
Woah, what happened?
CHRIS
(darkly)
Twist lost the books.
TWIST
(protests)
I didn't!
CHRIS
So where are they?
TWIST
I don't know! Maybe somebody took
them?
CHRIS
When could they have done that? I
told you not to let them out of
your sight!
Twist thinks for a beat - then bites her lip as she remembers
something.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(groans)
Oh, no...
TWIST
Er, thing is...
CHRIS
When did you leave them?
TWIST
On the train, when that big flying
bird thingy attacked us. Spook and
I went to help.
CHRIS
I told you I had it under control!
TWIST
Big flying bird thingy! Almost took
your head off! That's not saying
'under control' to me!
CHRIS
That's not the point, I told you
not to leave them, even for a
second! Do you have any idea how
valuable they are?
Chris and Twist continue to argue as Danyael shuffles towards
the back of the van, reaching into his leather jacket for his
cigarettes.
He frowns as he finds something unexpected in there, and
removes his hand to reveal a napkin from the strip club. He
turns it over to see there's a message written on the back in
big, bold letters - 'Please help us!'
Danyael frowns, then looks back up Chris and Twist as they
continue to yell bloody murder at each other.
Deciding now's not the time to interrupt them, he discretely
tucks the napkin back in his jacket, and as he finds his
cigarettes at last and lights one, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.