TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. PASSENGER PLANE - EVENING. 1
A moderately-sized, half-full jet liner, the usual cross
section of businessmen, tourists and families spread across
the seats.
Staring glumly out through one of the windows is DANYAEL, his
headphones on as he listens to something at a noticeably loud
volume. Trying unsuccessfully to doze in the seat next to him
is JULIE.
She shifts back and forth a few times, then finally gives up,
opens her eyes and nudges Danyael to get his attention. He
pauses his CD player and slides the 'phones down.
DANYAEL
What?
JULIE
How can you hear anything at all
with it on that loud?
DANYAEL
Was it on loud?
JULIE
Er, yeah, just a little. The pilot
made an announcement, says air
traffic control have made a
complaint about the noise up here.
Danyael chuckles, switching the CD player off.
DANYAEL
Sorry, it's just-
JULIE
Your hearing, yeah, I know. I've
never met a vampire with a hearing
problem before.
DANYAEL
One of a kind.
Danyael starts looking up and down the plane's aisles, and
Julie watches him with a smirk.
JULIE
She's towards the front.
Danyael looks - and sees TWIST, her head bobbing as she mimes
along to whatever songs she's listening to via the in-flight
stereo.
DANYAEL
I was just-
JULIE
You just wanted to keep an eye on
here, I know. Is she still giving
you the frosty treatment?
DANYAEL
'Frosty' ain't the word I'd use.
More like 'new Ice Age' kind of
cold.
JULIE
Well, you will go around kissing
strippers...
DANYAEL
(protests)
It was just the one!
He looks up - the passenger in the next seat along is eyeing
him curiously.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Well, it was!
JULIE
Look, if you're worried about it,
just go talk to her. You know
Twist, the best strategy is to
apologise first and worry about
who's actually to blame later.
Danyael slumps a little and turns to stare back out through
the window as CHRIS steps into frame.
CHRIS
Are you two alright up here?
JULIE
Oh, yeah, we're good. You might
want to check on Twist, though, she
looks about two bars away from
bursting into song.
CHRIS
(sarcastic)
And what a remarkable change that
would be for her. Is Danyael
alright?
JULIE
(covering)
He's fine. Just a little jetlagged,
you know.
CHRIS
Right. I'd better get back to my
seat, we'll be landing soon. Oh,
and remind me never to ask Twist to
book our seats again - that way, we
may actually get to sit together
next time.
JULIE
And you didn't stop to think that
she sat far away from us because
she's till mad at you about Vivian?
Chris pauses, then heads back down the plane, just as Danyael
turns from the window, unbuckling his seat belt with a
determined look.
JULIE (cont'd)
Need to go?
DANYAEL
I'm gonna go talk to her.
JULIE
Good. Do you remember what to say
at least?
DANYAEL
(beat)
No. But like Chris keeps saying,
I'm sure I'll think of something.
JULIE
Just remember, apologise first.
Danyael nods as he steps past Julie and out into the aisle,
heading towards Twist up at the front of their section.
He's surprised to find her engrossed in conversation with a
handsome stranger, well groomed and smartly dressed. There
are several empty wine glasses before them both.
TWIST
And so then, we're trying to get
out of this cave but the water
keeps flooding in, right, and-
DANYAEL
Uh, Twist?
She turns slowly to look at him, her bubbly expression
hardening in seconds.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
I, uh, just, you know, wanted to,
uh, come over and say, er...
TWIST
Can this wait? Chad and I are kinda
busy.
DANYAEL
(beat)
Chad?
The stranger, CHAD, reaches forward and offers Danyael his
hand.
CHAD
Hey there. Pleased to meet you.
TWIST
(proud)
Chad's in pharmaceuticals, his
company just went up on the stock
exchange.
CHAD
Oh, Twist, stop. I'm not one for
boasting!
Danyael looks down at Chad's hand and finally shakes it,
grimacing a little at Chad's extra firm grip.
DANYAEL
(to Twist)
So, uh, about that-
TWIST
Dan, we're gonna spend the next few
days in Detroit stuck together,
whatever you've got to say to me,
it can wait. Alright?
Danyael stares at her for a beat, and then finally takes the
hint, heading back to his seat.
Julie looks expectantly at him as he sits back down and
retrieves his CD player from within his jacket.
DANYAEL
(beat)
I suck.
He puts the 'phones back on and stares back out through the
window, and as Julie sighs, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
2 EXT. DETROIT METRO AIRPORT - NIGHT. 2
The team, with baggage slung over their shoulders, step out
of the airport terminal and into the brisk Michigan air.
Chris scans the sidewalk for a taxi as Danyael hangs back to
talk to Twist, who is busy fiddling with her new cell phone.
DANYAEL
So, uh, Twist? You got a minute?
TWIST
(without looking up)
Hang on.
She finishes clicking the buttons, then tucks the phone away
and looks up.
TWIST (cont'd)
Alright, you have my fairly
undivided attention. What's up?
DANYAEL
Oh, uh, you know, nothing serious,
I just wanted to-
CHRIS (O.S.)
Danyael? Twist? Are you two coming?
Danyael looks round - Chris and Julie are waiting by a cab.
Danyael turns back to speak to Twist but she's already on the
move, and with a SIGH he follows.
3 INT. TAXICAB - NIGHT. 3
Twist rides shotgun as the other three fill the back seat,
Chris unfurling a map.
CHRIS
(to driver)
Can you get us to Maple and 17th?
DRIVER
Not a problem, sir.
The cab pulls away as Julie takes her laptop out of her
flight bag, powering it up.
CHRIS
Alright, you two, pay attention.
This is what we're here for, and
the reason we had to fly instead of
taking the more leisurely option of
driving out in the van.
Julie turns the laptop round to show Twist and Danyael the
screen - it's a news article with a photo of some old scrolls
kept securely inside a glass case.
TWIST
Some people go to a lot of effort
to keep their diary safe, don't
they?
CHRIS
These are the Scrolls of Dirjan, a
fifth century Arabian mystic who,
as far as I can make out, was
closely involved with the original
construction of the healing device.
JULIE
The scrolls are currently right
here in Detroit, as a professor
from Wayne State University
discovered them on a recent dig.
CHRIS
Now, as far as the general public
is concerned, these are just a rare
archaeological find that's being
kept here for study temporarily
before going on to the American
Natural History Museum in New York.
TWIST
Let me guess. Our bold plan is to
intercept the scrolls and steal
them before they're shipped
somewhere with much tighter
security, right?
CHRIS
(beat)
Yes.
TWIST
(snaps fingers)
Hai! Criminal genius, at your
service.
Chris glances at the cab driver, but he isn't paying the
group any attention as he speeds through the traffic.
JULIE
The scrolls contain lots of
information about the device -
assembly details, the locations of
several components, possibly even
some of the failsafes and how to
avoid them.
DANYAEL
'Failsafes'? Why am I not liking
that word?
CHRIS
The device was built with several
defence mechanisms to make sure the
only people who ever used it were
those who had been fully instructed
in its use.
TWIST
Which currently doesn't include us.
CHRIS
Quite. With these scrolls, we'll
have a huge headstart on actually
putting the thing together and
getting it up and running.
DANYAEL
Sweet.
TWIST
Yeah, I'm seeing a flaw in our plan
so far, though.
JULIE
Like what?
TWIST
Well, breaking and entering has
never been a strong point of mine.
I tend to get stuck at the
'breaking and' part. Ask Chris.
CHRIS
Don't worry, I've accounted for
that. Danyael and I will be
retrieving the scrolls from the
university, with Julie helping to
get us past the security systems.
JULIE
You're just going to be backup.
TWIST
(raises eyebrow)
'Backup'? Moi?
DANYAEL
She means you get to stand guard
and hit anything that moves that
isn't us.
TWIST
Oh.
(grins)
Now that I can do.
CHRIS
So we're all clear? I'll fill you
in on the specifics once we get
there, unless there are any...
Chris trails off as he sees Twist raise her hand.
CHRIS (cont'd)
At the risk of great personal
affront... yes, Twist?
TWIST
How long are we going to be out
tonight doing this?
JULIE
If what I've worked out from the
schematics I hacked is right, then
we should be in and out inside ten
minutes.
TWIST
Okay. Good.
CHRIS
(suspicious)
Why?
TWIST
No reason! Jeez, I gotta have an
excuse for everything?
CHRIS
Yes.
JULIE
Yes.
Danyael chuckles as we cut to:
4 EXT. WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY - NIGHT. 4
The foursome step into screen and look towards the frontage
of Wayne State University, a tall, Gothic-architectured
building set just off a main road.
The campus floodlights are on but the main car park is empty
as the team stroll towards the campus entrance.
JULIE
Okay, I'm going to go find
somewhere I can patch into the
security systems, make sure we can
get in and out quietly.
CHRIS
Twist, go with her, then once the
alarms are down, cover our exit.
TWIST
(salutes)
Roger roger.
DANYAEL
Uh, what about us?
Chris grins as he unzips his bag, revealing a bewildering
array of lockpicks, crowbars and other tools of burglary.
CHRIS
As Twist would say, we're doing a
MacGyver on this one.
TWIST
I have never said that.
CHRIS
(beat)
Really?
TWIST
Really. If you're going to just
make up stuff and put my name to
it, at least make sure it's
something cool, alright?
CHRIS
(weary)
Julie?
JULIE
(smirks)
I'm on my way. C'mon, Twist.
TWIST
(as she walks away)
I mean, come on! 'MacGyver'? How
old does he think I am?
Danyael fishes out a cigarette as he and Chris stand before
the university, Chris scanning the car park for CCTV cameras.
DANYAEL
So, uh, Chris, mind if I ask you
something?
CHRIS
As long as it doesn't take too
long. We're on a tight time window
here.
DANYAEL
Is Twist still mad at me?
CHRIS
I know she's not happy with me
after learning about Vivian, but I
wasn't aware she was angry with you
too. Why, is there something I
should know about?
DANYAEL
Well, y'see, it's just that after
we saved those girls the other
week, and the one, you know, showed
her gratitude...
Danyael trails off as Chris grins.
CHRIS
One thing I've learned about Twist
is that she's hopelessly protective
of her boys, Danyael. I'm sure
she'll get over it.
DANYAEL
(not convinced)
Hmm.
Chris glances up as a breeze rustles through the tall trees
lining the car park, and fixes his glare on one of the CCTV
cameras - as its red light flicks off.
CHRIS
We're up. Come on, Danyael, stay
close and keep your ears...
(beat)
Just stay close.
The duo scurry towards the nearest entrance as we cut to:
5 INT. CAMPUS - MAINTENANCE HUT - NIGHT. 5
Julie has wired her laptop into a circuit bay inside a small,
dimly lit caretaker's station, and she busily types away as
she brings up a window on her screen to cycle through the
various CCTV feeds.
Twist is leaning in the doorway, looking back out across the
campus grounds as she fiddles with her phone again.
JULIE
Alright, Twist, I need you to keep
an eye on these monitors for me
while I disconnect the alarms
around the exhibit, alright?
TWIST
(without looking round)
Uh-huh.
JULIE
If you see any security guards on
patrol, make sure you let me know
straight away.
TWIST
Got it.
Julie steps away from her computer, studying the circuit
board and using a small crowbar to pry open another wall
panel, crouching and getting to work on another exposed
circuit board.
Twist sighs, obviously bored, and decides to dial a number
into her phone.
TWIST (cont'd)
(into phone)
Oh, hi, is that Chad?
(beams)
Hey! Yeah, it's Twist, you know,
blonde chick from the plane.
(giggles)
Yeah, I know, but I'm not staying
here long so I couldn't do that
whole 'two day rule' thing, ya
know?
(listens)
Nah, nothing important. So... what
are you up to later?
Twist is quickly engrossed in her phone call and doesn't spot
the two security guards walking into frame on one of the CCTV
feeds, as we cut to:
6 INT. UNIVERSITY - ARCHAEOLOGY WING - NIGHT. 6
Creeping through the darkened hallways and not having to use
flashlights to see where they're going, Danyael follows Chris
as the duo head for an office door.
Chris waits as Danyael starts to fiddle with the lock,
quickly popping it open with a CLICK.
CHRIS
Wait here. I'll fetch the scrolls
and be right back out.
Danyael nods as Chris disappears into the office. Danyael
looks round the corridor for a moment, admiring the wall
displays and relics mounted in cabinets, when approaching
FOOTSTEPS get his attention.
DANYAEL
(hisses)
Chris!
No answer. The footsteps get closer, and Danyael tenses up as
he sees torch beams approaching from down the corridor.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Chris! We've got guests! Chris!
Danyael looks back towards the approaching security guards,
ducking out of sight behind a cabinet as their torch beams
reach the office.
Danyael waits, staying perfectly still - but Chris steps out
of the office, scrolls under his arm, and straight into view
of the guards.
GUARD
Hey, you! Hold it right there!
Chris glances at Danyael, then at the two guards as they jog
over, fumbling for their guns.
CHRIS
Oh, sh-
7 EXT. WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY - NIGHT. 7
ALARMS start to blare across the whole campus.
8 INT. CAMPUS - MAINTENANCE HUT - NIGHT. 8
Julie leaps to her feet as she hears the alarms going off.
JULIE
What the-
She darts over to her laptop, and sees Chris and Danyael
racing away from the two guards.
JULIE (cont'd)
Damn it, Twist! You were supposed
to...
She turns - and Twist is gone.
JULIE (cont'd)
Twist?
Worried, Julie steps outside the hut:
9 EXT. CAMPUS - NIGHT. 9
Twist is caught red-handed, her phone in her hand. She bites
her lip as Julie glares at her.
TWIST
Um... I may have gotten just a tiny
bit distracted.
CHRIS (O.S.)
Girls! Run!
They look round to see Chris and Danyael tearing towards
them, with the guards in hot pursuit. Julie curses as she
starts to hear police sirens on their way in.
JULIE
(to Twist)
You are in trouble.
Twist looks suitably guilty as the girls start running.
10 INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT. 10
Chris tosses the scrolls down onto the bed and rounds on
Twist, who stands sheepishly behind him.
CHRIS
What the bloody hell were you
playing at? You were supposed to
watch the exit!
TWIST
I'm sorry! I got caught up!
CHRIS
Doing what?
TWIST
Girl stuff!
CHRIS
'Girl stuff'?
JULIE
(stepping in)
Alright, everybody calm down. Look,
it could have been worse, okay? We
got away with the scrolls.
CHRIS
Just.
TWIST
But I-
JULIE
(interrupts)
And we didn't get caught. So, worst
case scenario thankfully avoided.
Now, Twist, what the hell were you
doing that got you so distracted?
TWIST
(quietly)
I was talking to Chad.
CHRIS
Who?
DANYAEL
Chad the guy from the plane, Chad?
TWIST
(nods)
We're, uh, gonna go hook up after
we're done here.
Chris stares at her in utter disbelief as Danyael slinks back
into the corner of the room.
CHRIS
(incredulous)
You almost got us all bloody
arrested because you were setting
up a date?!?
TWIST
Hey! Don't get all moral on me just
'cause you haven't gotten any
lately.
CHRIS
(beat)
That's not the point! Twist, we
were seconds away from having to
fight our way past the police to
get away with these things!
TWIST
(shrugs)
Which would have been fun.
CHRIS
'Fun'?
TWIST
Yes, fun! That thing we're supposed
to be able to do once in a while to
stop us all getting so... so...
JULIE
Reckless?
TWIST
British!
JULIE
Huh?
TWIST
When was the last time any of us
went to a club when it wasn't on
business? Or spent a few hours in a
bar without having to meet some guy
to talk about trading him some
thing?
DANYAEL
Uh...
TWIST
Exactly! Now, Julie's right. Yeah,
I messed up, but we got away with
the goods, so, case closed.
Twist marches over to the door, scooping up her jacket.
TWIST (cont'd)
Now, I'm going out for a drink with
Chad, and when I come back I hope
you guys have all learned how to
cool down a little.
She steps past Danyael and SLAMS the door on her way out. He
blinks, scratching the back of his head.
DANYAEL
Anyone else think that was kind
of...
CHRIS
Out of character?
DANYAEL
Yeah.
JULIE
It's not like her to jeapordise a
mission like that.
(beat)
Not on purpose, anyway.
CHRIS
Danyael, think you can keep tabs on
her tonight without being seen?
DANYAEL
I'll give it a shot.
CHRIS
Good. Follow her, see what this
Chad character's all about. Call us
if you see anything suspicious.
DANYAEL
No problem.
He opens the door and steps outside. Julie flops back onto
the bed with a weary SIGH.
JULIE
Okay, that was weird.
CHRIS
I'd have to agree. Since we took
care of Malkuth, Twist has been
remarkably focused on every mission
we've taken part in, which makes
tonight all the more unusual.
JULIE
And you sending Danny off like that
means you think this guy on the
plane has something to do with it?
CHRIS
He's a pretty obvious candidate for
outside interference, wouldn't you
say?
JULIE
(beat)
What if she's right?
CHRIS
About what?
JULIE
What if she really did just want to
have some fun? Tonight could have
just been, I don't know, a mistake?
We all make those, you know. Even
you.
Julie gets up and heads over to the bathroom, leaving Chris
to his thoughts.
He look down at the scrolls, and as Julie turns on the
shower, he sits down on the edge of the bed and gathers them
up, ready to start work on them, and we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
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