sib3x08
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. BAR - NIGHT 1
A cosy old downtown bar in the middle of the night, a handful
of people scattered around the place with all its warm red
and browns and soft, jazzy music - and DANAYEL and NAOMI
sitting in a booth facing one another.
A cluster of empty bottles and glasses fill the space between
them, the atmosphere very relaxed indeed. Danyael is pouring
the two of them half a glass of wine each.
DANYAEL
So after our mysterious necromancer
friend left, I realised she'd left
a little of this vino behind so I
figured I'd save it for a special
occasion.
NAOMI
I count as a 'special occasion'?
I'm honoured.
DANYAEL
(smirks)
Alright, I'll admit it. I'm glad I
let you talk me into this.
NAOMI
Of course you are.
DANYAEL
Not that I didn't want to see you
or anything, but still...
NAOMI
It's okay. I know how the kind of
things you and your team do can get
in the way of kicking back
sometimes.
DANYAEL
'My' team?
NAOMI
Aren't they?
Danyael chuckles, taking a gulp from his wine.
DANYAEL
No, no, they're not. I'm just, you
know... well, now I think about it
I'm not sure what I am.
Diego's the muscle, Julie's the
brains, Syren's the looks. Twist is
the...
NAOMI
Sass?
DANYAEL
Good answer. So as for me, I guess
that makes me-
NAOMI
The heart.
DANAYEL
(rolls eyes)
Oh, yeah. Sure.
NAOMI
That's important, you know.
DANYAEL
Tell that to that kid from 'Captain
Planet.'
(off her look)
Never mind.
NAOMI
Danny, look.
She drains her wine, then reaches across the table and takes
his hand.
NAOMI (cont'd)
You're meant for something special.
DANYAEL
Yeah, special ed.
NAOMI
I'm serious!
DANYAEL
I know. You're frowning.
NAOMI
(beat)
What?
DANYAEL
(grins)
Whenever you used to be getting all
serious about something, you'd get
these cute little frown lines.
NAOMI
(raises eyebrow)
'Cute'?
Danyael just keeps on grinning as he goes for another swig of
wine, realising his glass is dry.
DANYAEL
Ah, shoot.
NAOMI
You wanna get another round?
DANYAEL
(checks watch)
I should probably be heading back.
We're supposed to be shipping off
in the morning...
He looks up to see Naomi putting on her best puppy dog eyes.
NAOMI
(off expression)
Don't make me use this.
DANYAEL
You got anything in mind?
NAOMI
(feigned shock)
Danny!
DANYAEL
Kidding!
NAOMI
I just don't want you to go yet.
I'm having too much fun talking to
you. And believe me, 'fun' is
something I don't get a lot of.
She's still holding his hand, absently toying with his
fingers.
DANYAEL
Well... I guess you could crash
back at my motel room for a while
longer yet...
Naomi brightens up, and Danyael can't help but chuckle at her
as we cut to:
2 INT. MOTEL - CORRIDOR - NIGHT 2
Danyael leads Naomi back towards his motel room door,
fumbling in his pocket for the keys.
DANYAEL
There's something very post-prom
sleaze about all this.
NAOMI
We're two old friends enjoying each
other's company. Nothing sleazy
there.
DANYAEL
Yeah, you say that, but I can
already picture the look Twist's
gonna be giving me in the morning.
Naomi leans against the wall as she waits for Danyael to
unlock the door.
NAOMI
She has a lot of power over you
all, doesn't she?
DANYAEL
I wouldn't call it 'power.' More...
'influence.' She's just used to
getting her own way.
NAOMI
And being fairest of them all.
DANYAEL
You saying she might be jealous of
the competition?
NAOMI
(grins)
Should she be?
They hold each other's gaze for a beat. Oh, there's a spark
here, all right. Danyael finally gets the door open.
DANYAEL
Alright then. Welcome to my humble
temporary abode.
NAOMI
I'm already feeling like visiting
royalty.
DANYAEL
I did ask for a king size bed.
(beat)
Ba-dum-dum-tish.
She rolls her eyes with a chuckle, stepping over the
threshold, but as Danyael turns to follow, we suddenly:
WHITE OUT:
3 INT. VICTORIAN LONDON - TOWN HOUSE - NIGHT 3
And we're inside an early twentieth century inner city town
house, complete with gaslights, hanging portraits and dark,
muted decor as Naomi turns to the doorway.
Only now, she's dressed in high Victorian fashion, with a
prim little coat, a large, blossoming dress and a wide
brimmed hat, her hair tucked demurely beneath its brim.
NAOMI
(Cockney lilt)
I'm terribly sorry to bother you so
late, Mister Norton, only I didn't
know where else to go!
DANAYEL (O.S.)
(upper class Brit)
That's quite alright, my dear Miss
Vyra.
The door closes - to reveal Danyael in full Sherlock Holmes
gear, complete with deerstalker, overcoat and pipe!
DANYAEL
You've come to the right place.
Danyael grins, and Naomi manages a hopeful smile back as we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. VICTORIAN TOWNHOUSE - STUDY - NIGHT 4
Back with Sherlock Norton as he shows the meek Naomi into his
house's front room. A roaring log fire fills the room with
welcome warmth from the cold outside, and the walls are
filled with bookshelves and framed paintings.
Danyael shrugs off his coat and hat, depositing them on a
coatstand and offering to take Naomi's jacket.
She steps into the middle of the room, looking around
curiously as Danyael heads for a desk in one corner, putting
away several heaps of paper spread across it.
NAOMI
I've heard a lot about his place,
but I never thought it'd be so...
DANYAEL
Cosy?
NAOMI
Normal.
Danyael grins, reaching for his VIOLIN.
NAOMI (cont'd)
I mean, you're the great Sherlock
Norton, aren't you? The greatest
detective in all of London! I
always thought you'd live in a
great mansion or somesuch.
DANYAEL
You'll find things are rarely what
they seem, my dear.
Danyael noodles a few notes on the violin, before using the
bow to point to Naomi's outfit.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Do you not find that with your
short sight, it is a little trying
to do so much typewriting?
Naomi gapes in astonishment.
NAOMI
You've heard about me, Mr. Norton,
else how could you know that?
DANYAEL
I train myself to notice what
others overlook.
Danyael resumes playing on the violin, seeming to lose
interest in Naomi entirely until she clears her throat
loudly. He stares at her as though seeing her for the first
time, then puts the violin down.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
My apologies. After a long day, I
find it does one good to create a
little music.
NAOMI
That's quite alright, Mr. Norton.
I'd heard you were somewhat...
eccentric.
DANYAEL
If my eccentricities are what allow
me to solve the many and varied
cases presented before me, then I
welcome every one of them.
Danyael takes a set in a large, comfy armoire set by the
fire, motioning for Naomi to do the same.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Now then, Miss Vyra. What should
push you to seek my counsel at such
a late hour, apart from your
obvious alarm at something you have
witnessed this very evening?
NAOMI
How did you-
(shakes head)
Never mind. It's... I think
something dreadful has befallen my
neighbour, Mr. Norton.
DANYAEL
Could you elaborate?
NAOMI
I returned home from the office
just over an hour ago to hear the
most frightful noise coming from
next door. I fear...
(emotional)
I fear I may have overheard a
murder!
Danyael leans forward, his curiosity piqued.
DANYAEL
I see. Well, then! We must
investigate this straight away.
He jumps out of his seat, grabbing his hat and coat and
holding the door open for Naomi.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
We must examine the scene while the
evidence is still fresh, before the
well-meaning but regrettably clumsy
officers of the law trample over
anything that may be of use.
Naomi rises and heads outside, into:
5 INT. VICTORIAN TOWNHOUSE - HALLWAY - NEXT 5
Danyael's HOUSEMAID steps out of an adjoining door as Danyael
and Naomi head for the front door.
HOUSEMAID
Oh! Are you leaving again, sir?
DANYAEL
Just for a short while. I have a
feeling tonight may yet prove to be
one of interest after all!
Danyael swings his coat round and slides into it with
practised ease, and as he opens the front door we pan back
round to look at Naomi, but before we reach her, we cut to:
6 INT. SOUND STAGE - NIGHT 6
And suddenly, Naomi is glammed up as some kind of Fifties
starlet, her long black hair up in a beehive and her reserved
Victorian clothing replaced by a showy black-and-white
number, all frills and ribbons.
All around her, on various levels, stairways and platforms,
stand DANCERS, MUSICIANS and CHORUS GIRLS, all looking like
they've stopped dead in the middle of a huge musical number.
The set is 'Singin' In The Rain' as directed by Tim Burton -
classical, old school musical stylings with a contemporary,
almost gothic twist.
Naomi takes two slow steps forward, then as she launches into
a slow pirouette, the band spring to life, providing a slowly
rising, romantic melody timed to her movements.
She finishes the spin by landing in the arms of Danyael -
slicked back hair, sharp suit and big, beaming smile - and as
he launches her round into another spin, the rest of the band
kick in at last.
The dancers lining the stage around them erupt into life,
TAPPING and TWIRLING round to the music, the big band number
starting to build in volume and complexity.
A crescendo starts to build as Naomi and Danyael dance around
one another, all balletic twirls and swoons, before a single
SPOTLIGHT falls on them and Danyael pulls her close...
NAOMI
(sings)
You are my lucky star,
I saw you from afar,
Two lovely eyes at me,
They were gleaming,
Beaming,
I was starstruck...
DANYAEL
(sings)
You're all my lucky charm,
I'm lucky in your arms,
You've opened Heaven's portal,
Here on earth for this poor mortal,
You are my lucky star...
The two smoothly move into another dance routine, Danyael
leading as the two swoop up and down the stage like they were
born to do it.
Naomi pirouettes away from Danyael, who drops to one knee as
the music softens, a lilting strings melody supporting him as
he sings again:
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Beautiful girl, you're a lovely
picture,
Beautiful girl, you're a gorgeous
mixture,
Of all that lies, under the big
blue skies,
My heart cries...
Naomi beams a dazzling smile back at him, and as the camera
slowly pans upwards, one of the main studio lights burns as
brightly as the sun itself, forcing a cut to:
7 EXT. OPEN SEAS - DAY 7
And now the actual sun is before us, sitting in a clear blue,
cloudless sky.
We pan slowly down, taking in the glittering, gently flowing
waves of the sea before us until a MAST comes into view...
... followed by the JOLLY ROGER flag, flapping in the ocean
breeze!
Yup, it's a PIRATE SHIP, bobbing along on the waves without a
care in the world.
We swoop down onto the forecastle, the main deck a hive of
activity as various scurvy-looking PIRATES and HANDS clamber
about the galleon.
The sails FLAP overhead as more crewmen keep them tightly
reined in, a CABIN BOY swabs the decks, and from the deck
below the steady CHANTS of the oarsmen drifts up to us.
Continuing to push along the deck, past the thick trunk of
the main mast and up towards a flight of steps at the rear
deck, a brief glimpse into the captain's cabin is followed by
a climb up the staircase.
Standing with their back to us, looking out across the sea,
is the CAPTAIN. A long, tattered coat and well-weathered
captain's hat go with the whole Jack Sparrow chic - long,
ratty blonde hair and one hand on the rudder wheel.
An exhausted CREWMAN dashes up the steps, bare-footed and
panting for breath as they stand behind the captain.
CREWMAN
Cap'n!
CAPTAIN
(woman's voice)
Aye?
CREWMAN
Sail off the port bow, cap'n. Looks
to be one of the English fleet.
What should we do?
CAPTAIN
'Do,' lad?
The captain slowly turns round - and it's TWIST, eye patch
over her left eye and GOLD TOOTH sparkling in the sunlight.
TWIST
We'll do what we always do - run
'er down and take whatever we want
from her!
CREWMAN
Aye, sir. I'll get the lads moving.
The crewman turns and bellow out across the deck:
CREWMAN (cont'd)
All hands, make sail!
He clatters back down the steps as Captain Twist allows
herself a smirk - another great day to be a pirate.
Folding her telescope back down and tucking it into her
jacket, Twist swaggers over to the left of the rear deck,
pausing to fish in her pocket for some SEED, offering it up
to the PARROT perched on the railing nearby.
TWIST
Here you go, Berkeley.
The parrot CAWS appreciatively before digging into the seed,
and Twist looks up to see another figure facing away from her
at the edge of the deck.
Twist pours the rest of the seed onto the railing by the
parrot and approaches the figure, dusting her hands clean.
TWIST (cont'd)
What's your opinion on today's
little piece of action, First Mate?
The First Mate, also clad in a long, dark coat and sporting
long, straggly hair, turns to face her - it's DIEGO, sporting
an impressive beard.
Twist stands next to him, glancing up and around at the crew
scrambling all over the galleon to fluff up the sails.
TWIST (cont'd)
I'd say we're in for another
profitable afternoon's work. What
say you?
DIEGO
I have a bad feeling, captain.
TWIST
(scoffs)
That's what you always say! Have
any of your 'bad feelings' ever
been proven to be worth a damn?
DIEGO
(patiently)
No, captain.
TWIST
Exactly. Not since I plucked you
from that Spanish gaol, at any
rate.
(beat)
Well, then!
She SLAPS him heartily on the shoulder.
TWIST (cont'd)
Get yerself ready for some
plundering!
With a toothy grin, Twist strides back to the edge of the
deck, shouting out to her crew:
TWIST (cont'd)
Alright, lads! You know the plan by
now - pull 'er in good an' close,
let fly with the mooring handles
and let's have a look at what we've
got!
A chorus of 'Aye, cap'n!' replies to her, and with a proud
smile Twist takes her telescope back out again to spy on the
ship they're closing in on, off in the distance.
Diego turns to stare at her, watching Twist bark orders at
the crew as she gestures towards the distant ship, before we
MATCH CUT to:
8 EXT. FORT - OUTER WALL - NIGHT 8
The Diego that stares out is now significantly different -
dressed in a nineteenth-century US military uniform, his
beard shorter and neatly-trimmed, his skin streaked with
soot.
He's standing on a balcony at the edge of a tall outer wall,
the view beyond that of the Texan plains. The wall stretches
on for some distance in either direction, making up one side
of a mighty FORTRESS.
The moon bathes the rocky landscape with a pale glow,
illuminating the barren terrain. Diego turns and affords us a
view of the fortress behind him - a CHURCH stands proudly in
the centre of the ground, caged in by the main walls.
A further stockade stands behind that, and there are plenty
of SOLDIERS milling around - some making camp, others
cooking, others preparing their weapons.
The soldiers look weary from battle and fatigue, a fact that
is mirrored in Diego's tired eyes.
TWIST (O.S.)
Colonel Diego? Sir?
Diego turns to see Twist, now dressed in a uniform like his,
her long hair tucked under her cap and her tunic spattered
with dried BLOOD.
TWIST (cont'd)
We've, uh... well, the men, they've
bunked down for the night.
DIEGO
(nods)
Good. After that last attack, we're
all in need of a few hours' rest.
TWIST
I just hope they don't-
She's cut off as TRUMPETS start to blare from out in the
darkness, the sound rolling across the valley and echoing
round the rocky landscape.
TWIST (cont'd)
(sags)
... start that damned trumpeting
all night again.
DIEGO
They're trying to break our spirit,
lieutenant.
TWIST
Yeah, well, they're doing a damn
good job of it!
Diego turns and GRABS Twist roughly.
DIEGO
Don't ever let me hear you say that
again!
TWIST
(gulps)
Yes, sir! I mean, no, sir!
Diego SIGHS, releasing Twist and rubbing his eyes. She stares
at him for a beat, then reaches gingerly out to lay a hand on
his arm.
TWIST (cont'd)
We just need to hold out a little
longer, right, colonel? I know
Captain Kimbell didn't bring much
help, but more's on its way.
Diego looks up at Twist, his eyes betraying the truth.
TWIST (cont'd)
We can still survive this.
DIEGO
It may not be our job to just
'survive,' Lieutenant McFadden. We
need to stall the invaders until
Houston at San Jacinto can ready
his counter-strike.
SOLIDER (O.S.)
Colonel!
The duo turn to see another recruit, this one barely sixteen,
pointing out across the plains with wide, fearful eyes.
Diego follows his direction, and his heart sinks at the sight
before him:
Thousands of MEXICAN SOLDIERS are marching towards the fort,
their musicians still sounding their TRUMPETS, their wide
ranks clearly far outnumbering Diego's meagre forces.
TWIST
Oh, my God...
DIEGO
God will have little to do with
this fight, McFadden. It is all
down to us.
Diego reaches for his belt, drawing his SWORD and turning to
the other soldier.
DIEGO (cont'd)
Rouse the men. Tell them the time
for our final stand has come.
The youthful soldier nods and scampers back down a ramp into
the fortress grounds, as Diego turns back to view the
incoming army.
DIEGO (cont'd)
Let's hope today is a good day to
die.
Twist GULPS again next to him, and as the sound of a lone
HERALD calls the troops to arms, Twist turns to look at the
trumpeter. PUSH IN on him before a MATCH CUT to:
9 INT. SOUND STAGE - NIGHT 9
The herald is now a funky jazz trumpeter, cheeks red as he
blasts his way through a solo, the rest of the band crashing
around him.
Danyael and Norton clap and dance along, joined by more lines
of dancers and chorus girls, before the rest of the music
drops out, leaving only the trumpet.
He starts to play a slower, more mournful tune, and as
Danyael starts to sing Naomi presses a finger to his lips.
Stepping back, the lights around the stage start to dim, with
STARS starting to sparkle all around.
NAOMI
(sings)
Lips are turning blue,
A kiss that can't renew,
I only dream of you,
My beautiful...
She paces slowly up to him, wrapping one hand round his
shoulders and intertwining her fingers with his. They begin
to dance a slow waltz, their bodies pressed close.
NAOMI (cont'd)
(sings)
Tiptoe to your room,
A starlight in the gloom,
I only dream of you,
And you never knew...
She leans her head against his chest, the soft, sensual music
carrying on for another bar - until Danyael suddenly pivots
away from her, leaving Naomi standing.
He lands back on one foot to a STING from the band, a wry
grin spreading across his face as they step up the tempo, a
lively horn section backing him up as he sings:
DANYAEL
(sings)
I feel it coming and I've got to
get out of its way,
I hear it calling and I come 'cause
I can't disobey,
I should not listen and I shouldn't
believe,
But I do, yes I do...
It's the chorus, the band hitting a big refrain as Danyael is
accompanied by all the chorus girls:
DANYAEL (cont'd)
(sings)
She turns me on,
She makes me real,
I have to apologize,
For the way I feel...
(a little dance)
And nothing can stop me now,
There is nothing to fear,
And everything I'd ever want,
Is inside of here...
Beaming once again, Naomi dances back up to him, the two
whirling round in each other's arms as the music hits a giddy
crescendo, building to another freak out before:
A SPOTLIGHT falls on the far side of the stage, and the music
drops back down again. Danyael and Naomi join the chorus
girls, watching expectantly as a line of FLOWER GARLANDS are
pulled back out of the way, gradually revealing another
doorway onto the set, and:
SYREN is revealed, wrapped in a slinky red dress, her hair
falling in long curls and her makeup literally glittering.
She turns to face the waiting crowd, reaching out with her
hand as an old-fashioned MICROPHONE slides into view,
slipping neatly into her outstretched hand.
Drawing the mic close, she keeps her eyes down as the band
drop their volume to match her, but as she slowly lifts her
head to face the expectant crowd, we cut to:
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