sib4x01 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[previous | bottom] ACT TWO
FADE IN:
10 INT. HELL - ADMISSIONS OFFICE 10
Twist hurries along after Clipboard, still trying to read the
scroll.
They're moving through some kind of sprawling office suite,
with desks partitioned off in some approximation of a cubicle
farm - only in Hell.
Here, daemons sit behind the desks while smaller IMPS flutter
around overhead, picking up and dropping off message tubes.
Sad-eyed lost souls wait on endlessly long pews and aisles,
shuffling along one at a time as they're processed.
TWIST
Wait a second...
(looks up; louder)
I said wait!
Clipboard calls back over his shoulder, without stopping:
CLIPBOARD
We don't have time to wait! This
appeal is a limited offer only, and
once it expires, you -
He stops dead as Twist GRABS his arm.
TWIST
Okay - one, let's assume that I
don't want to hear about what could
happen to me, Ever again. Clear?
CLIPBOARD
Will you remove your hand if I say
yes?
TWIST
I promise to at least consider it.
CLIPBOARD
Yes.
TWIST
Good.
True to her word, she lets him go.
TWIST (cont'd)
Two - am I gonna get any kind of
time to work out what I'm supposed
to actually do in this thing?
Or is the plan to just throw me to
the wolves in there and see how I
deal?
CLIPBOARD
The 'plan,' such as it is, will be
for you to stand before a Judge and
answer for your sins.
TWIST
Oh.
(beat)
See, I've kind of got a lot of
those, so I was hoping there might
be something else...
CLIPBOARD
(huffs)
If you don't mind moving along,
then I'll be able to tell you the
rest once we're there!
TWIST
(pauses; nods)
Lead on.
The duo hurry back through the suite. Twist's gaze is drawn
to the various unfortunates packing the place out - some
sitting before desks, others heading in lines through
unmarked doors.
Clipboard reaches one such door, rattles in a long code on
the numeric keypad and UNLOCKS it. He holds the door open for
Twist, and she warily steps into:
11 INT. HELL - COURTROOM - NEXT 11
For all intents and purposes, a normal wood-panelled
courtroom. With a few subtle differences.
The JUDGE is a monstrously tall creature all in black, a hood
covering its features. Skeletal hands are clasped before it.
The JURY, meanwhile, are twelve GHOSTS, shimmering spectral
figures who flicker as Twist gapes at them.
CLIPBOARD
(nudges her; whispers)
Don't stare at them. They don't
like that.
She shuts he mouth, following Clipboard as he guides her into
another long aisle seat.
She's about fifth in line, four more people with daemons of
their own in the queue before her.
PROSECUTOR (O.S.)
Ladies and gentleman, dearly
departed of the jury...
Twist looks up - the PROSECUTOR has risen from his desk, one
of two stood before the Judge's high plinth. He's a tall,
stately figure, JET BLACK the same as his suit.
TWIST
(whispers)
Guy looks like he was carved out of
coal or something!
CLIPBOARD
(whispers back)
That's because he was.
Twist blinks, peering at the Prosecutor again as he
approaches the Jury.
PROSECUTOR
Before you stands Edward Dean
Buggins, a loathsome human being
through and through. In his brief
life on Earth, he was a felon for
such crimes as theft, vandalism,
assault and, finally, a single
count of murder.
The target of the Prosecutor's attention, BUGGINS, is a
nervous-looking teenager who clearly woke up on the wrong
side of the tracks and decided to stay there.
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
After publicly displaying his
recently-acquired firearm at a
nightclub crammed with innocent
civilians - if there is such a
thing...
The Jury CHUCKLE at his wisecrack.
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
... he proceeded to demonstrate how
good a shot he was by gathering a
group of his friends in an
alleyway, and shooting at a passing
stray cat.
Twist's face creases in horror, and she throws a filthy look
at Buggins.
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
Had he been as good a shot as he
claimed, then he would doubtless
have been the toast of his 'posse.'
As it was, his bullet clipped the
skull of passing student Penny
Lancaster, eighteen, who died
instantly.
Buggins sinks his head into his hands. His own defence daemon
rolls his eyes.
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
It was whilst fleeing the scene of
this heinous act that he was struck
by a speeding police car, flung
twenty feet down the road and
deposited his soul into the sorry
mess you see before you.
Buggins turns as the Jury squint malevolently at him - and
Twist sees that one half of his face is CAVED IN, his cause
of death on clear display!
JUDGE
(booms)
Spokesman for the Jury, have you
made your decision?
One of the Jury rises.
JURY
We have, your honour.
JUDGE
What is your verdict?
JURY
Guilty.
Buggins lets out a SOB, and his daemon pats him
sympathetically on the shoulder.
JUDGE
Edward Buggins... arise.
His chest heaving as he continues to weep sadly, Buggins
slowly gets to his feet.
JUDGE (cont'd)
For the crimes you committed in
your mortal life, the punishment in
your afterlife is... Private Hell.
Buggins throws a look to his daemon, who shakes his head
sadly. Buggins GULPS loudly.
JUDGE (cont'd)
(to Guards)
Take him away.
Two hulking GUARDS - seven feet tall, four feet wide and made
almost entirely of granite - step forward to lead Buggins
away.
The line shuffles along one place, and Twist frantically tugs
at Clipboard's sleeve.
TWIST
But... but... isn't he supposed to
get someone to speak in his
defence? Or even make a plea?
CLIPBOARD
That's not how we do things down
here.
TWIST
Looks like a normal Judge Judy
kinda room to me.
CLIPBOARD
Your perception of this place is
built around your own expectations.
Everyone here will see this a
little differently.
TWIST
So, what, the stick of charcoal
there reads out your rap sheet, and
then that's it? Judge and Jury send
you away?
CLIPBOARD
Did you forget where you are again?
If you're here at all, then you're
clearly someone not pure enough for
the higher place. That means no,
you don't get any defence. That
part stops being an option the
second you emerge from that chute
and into our Collections area.
TWIST
But -
CLIPBOARD
We've been doing this for a long
time, Miss McFadden, and as a
result we're considerably quicker
on the turnaround than our
counterparts on Earth.
Twist GROANS, resting her head against the back of the aisle
in front.
CLIPBOARD (cont'd)
Your case will be a little
different - you'll be permitted to
say a few words before the Jury
make their decision.
TWIST
(lifts head)
I will?
Clipboard consults his notes, leafing through the pages.
CLIPBOARD
You have a large number of
karmically sound deed to your name,
and that's something that will hold
you in good stead.
TWIST
That's good!
(beat; suspicious)
Right?
CLIPBOARD
Well... it might help.
Twist sinks her head back down to the pew's headboard with a
loud 'bok,' and we CUT TO:
12 INT. GLOVER'S LIBRARY - STUDY - NIGHT 12
Chris is drawing another magic circle, this time consulting
over a dozen texts spread out around him.
Syren is the only other person in the room, and she glances
over her shoulder to make sure they're alone.
SYREN
You're really going ahead with
this, aren't you?
CHRIS
I don't exactly have much choice.
And you have to admit that this is
a far less risky option than going
hunting for one of these beings
ourself.
She shrugs, only half following the sentiment.
SYREN
I just... maybe...
He rises, walking over to her and placing his hands on her
arms.
CHRIS
It'll be alright. Between you, me
and Danyael we're more than a match
for whatever appears inside that
circle.
SYREN
And if we're not?
CHRIS
I try not to think about negatives
too much. Spending a few years
stuck in an alternate future will
do that to you.
She manages a faint smile. He pulls her closer, and she wraps
her arms around him.
SYREN
I just don't want to lose you the
way Danyael lost Twist.
CHRIS
She isn't 'lost.' She's just not
here yet.
SYREN
You know what I mean. Like how
Twist lost Diego. Or you lost
Julie.
Chris steps back, head down. Syren reaches for his face,
cradling it in her hands.
SYREN (cont'd)
(soft)
Don't make me have to lose you too.
He takes her hands, placing them within his own.
CHRIS
I'm not going to leave you. Not
ever again.
He KISSES her once on the forehead.
CHRIS (cont'd)
You're the one who brought me back,
remember? Without you, I'd still be
gone.
She nods, looking down - TEARS in her eyes.
SYREN
There's... something else.
CHRIS
What is it?
SYREN
It's my name.
CHRIS
I don't understand.
SYREN
I don't want it. I don't want to be
'Syren' any more. 'Syren' is the
lost, lonely girl you found on that
island. 'Syren' is the girl who
doesn't know who she is or where
she came from. 'Syren' is the girl
who was grown in a vat.
CHRIS
Don't say things like that.
SYREN
But it's true! It's true, all of
it. And that's why... that's why I
want to be the person I remembered
being, back when Sueno helped me
look back.
(beat)
I want to be Lyra Morley again.
Chris studies the determination in her face - and with a
grin, leans in to KISS her.
CHRIS
Pleased to meet you, Lyra.
And LYRA smiles back, returning with another KISS.
LYRA
And you, too.
(beat)
Now get back to work.
CHRIS
Yes, ma'am.
He heads back down to resume working on the magic circles -
just as Danyael enters with another armload of books.
DANYAEL
Hey, uh, I found some more of
these, hope they'll...
(off Lyra's smile)
Did I miss something?
LYRA
No, not really.
She turns and heads out of the room. A bemused Danyael raises
an eyebrow at Chris.
CHRIS
I'll explain later. Could you bring
those books over?
Danyael starts to walk over, but Chris snaps:
CHRIS (cont'd)
Carefully.
Danyael looks down - he was about to smudge a particularly
delicate section of the circle with his boot.
DANYAEL
Sorry.
He heads over, depositing the books by Chris. He steps back
to watch Chris work.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
You really think this'll work?
CHRIS
We've got enough layers of binding
and entrapment on this thing to
stop the Devil himself from getting
out.
DANYAEL
(gulps)
That's not who we're calling, is
it?
Chris shoots him a look. Danyael sighs, relieved.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Oh, and, uh, Glover said he got
that thing you wanted.
CHRIS
Good.
Chris returns to work, but a few moments later sits up,
surveying the circle before him.
CHRIS (cont'd)
We're ready.
(to Danyael)
Fetch the others.
Danyael nods, giving the circle a wide berth as he exits the
room. Chris stares down at the circle, oozing a sense of
foreboding as we CUT TO:
13 INT. HELL - COURTROOM 13
Twist is next in line now, watching as the size zero BLONDE
waits to hear her verdict:
JURY
Guilty.
The Blonde lets out a WAIL of distress as the two Guards move
in to take her away.
CLIPBOARD
(nudges Twist)
You're on.
Twist warily rises, taking a few steps forward.
PROSECUTOR
Ah, Miss McFadden.
TWIST
Guilty.
(quickly)
No, I mean, that's my name, I don't
mean that I am guilty or -
PROSECUTOR
(over her)
A vampire, spectres of the jury,
and one with a colourful history.
Turned on Earth in 1999, she
embarked on a wilful spree of
mayhem for several years, before
her own lover executed her - death
by sunrise.
TWIST
I wouldn't say 'wilful,' more...
She hears a PSST and turns - Clipboard is shaking his head
sternly. No talking.
TWIST (cont'd)
(coughs)
Sorry.
PROSECUTOR
After her second death, McFadden
arrived here in Hell, and was duly
processed and shipped off to her
Private Hell without any need for
trial or consideration.
TWIST
Yeah, why was that, exactly?
(off Prosecutor's look)
Never really got chance to ask last
time.
PROSECUTOR
As a vampire, Miss McFadden, you
are not subject to the same
privileges as a mortal soul.
(beat)
You're worth less to us, if that
makes more sense.
TWIST
(offended)
You don't say.
PROSECUTOR
She proceeded to escape from us
through a manner that remains
currently unidentified...
Twist shoots a comedy shrug at the Jury. They stare back,
impassive.
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
... and after that, her time on
Earth was spent doing... good.
Twist folds her arms, as if that statement is all that needs
to be said.
The Prosecutor takes up a wad of paper from his desk,
flicking through sheets as he reads:
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
She assisted in the defeat of the
crime lord Malkuth, then again in
the downfall of Jacques Manon, and
most recently she was instrumental
in thwarting the schemes of the
current incarnation of the Trinity,
an act for which she paid with her
life.
(beat)
Again.
TWIST
What can I say? I've been busy.
PROSECUTOR
However...
He flicks to another page, savouring the moment.
PROSECUTOR (cont'd)
In the pursuit of these goals, she
has been responsible for more
deaths, property damage, robbery,
assault and arson, and her actions
have almost cost countless souls
their mortal lives. All in the name
of 'saving the world.'
(to Twist)
What do you have to say for
yourself?
Twist realises this is her moment, and she takes a moment to
choose her next words carefully.
TWIST
I did it all for the nookie.
The Judge stiffens, insulted by her flippancy, so she quickly
recovers:
TWIST (cont'd)
Sorry! Sorry. I'm sorry. I just...
Y'know. Saw an opportunity and went
for it. Won't happen again. Sorry.
(crickets)
I did it because it was the right
thing to do. I did it because
nobody else could or would step up
and take those bastards down. And I
did it because there'll always be a
life that needs protecting, a world
that needs saving and a debt that I
have to repay to the universe.
So... if that still doesn't count
for anything, then I honestly don't
know what the frick else I can do.
She looks round to Clipboard, who gives her the thumbs up -
good speech. She smiles and turns back.
JUDGE
Spokesman of the Jury, have you
made your decision, taking into
account the evidence before you?
JURY
We have, your honour.
JUDGE
What is your verdict?
A long beat. The Jury spokesman turns to look at Twist, who
offers a hopeful smile. Finally, the ghost looks back to the
Judge.
JURY
Guilty.
TWIST
(explodes)
What?!?
Twist reels as the Jury sits, and the Judge addresses her:
JUDGE
Twist McFadden.
Twist isn't even listening - her mind is spinning.
JUDGE (cont'd)
While the work you did in your
second afterlife has helped ease
the burden on your soul, the fact
remains that you have a great deal
to repay. And so, I have no
alternative but to sentence you...
to Private Hell.
TWIST
(wails)
No! No, please!
JUDGE
(nods to Guards)
Take her away.
TWIST
You can't! You can't do this! Not
again! Please!
The Guards grab her, Twist struggling and squirming in their
stony grip. TEARS run freely down her face.
TWIST (cont'd)
I did everything I could... I did
the best I could! Please! It has to
be enough! It has to be!
She's literally dragged, kicking and screaming, from the
courtroom. Clipboard watches her go sadly.
She's hauled through an open door, her cries fading before
the door finally SLAMS shut behind her, and we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
14 INT. GLOVER'S LIBRARY - STUDY - NIGHT 14
The team are assembled around the huge, intricate magic
circle. CANDLES burn at all of its many points.
Chris looks to Danyael and Glover, both of whom are holding
huge occult books open. Lyra waits near Chris, clenching her
fists nervously.
CHRIS
Remember, everyone, this isn't
going to be some common or garden
creature we're dealing with here.
This is going to be the physical
manifestation of a real live
daemon.
He starts to pace round the circle, double-checking every
symbol, line and marking again.
CHRIS (cont'd)
It's going to be powerful, loud,
ugly and very, very upset. It will
try all manner of tricks to get us
to break the circle and let it out.
It may even try to bludgeon its way
out through sheer brute force - of
which it will have a considerable
amount.
DANYAEL
Remind me - is this supposed to be
making us feel better?
(off Chris' glare)
Sorry.
GLOVER
I have to echo your friend's
sentiments, Christopher. I'm still
not convinced that we've done
enough to -
Chris holds up a hand to silence him.
CHRIS
Once I complete the incantation,
the daemon will appear within the
circle, and after that we'll have a
short window to get what we need
from it before I send it back.
LYRA
What do we need? Its blood?
CHRIS
As a last resort.
DANYAEL
Because that means going into the
circle, doesn't it?
CHRIS
(nods)
My plan is to draw enough power
from it into this.
He stoops and picks up a large glass URN, decked out with
porcelain engravings.
CHRIS (cont'd)
This vessel will contain the magics
we need to open the portal to Hell.
He hands it to Lyra, who clutches it close. Chris takes a
breath, rolling up his sleeves.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(to Glover)
You know what to do?
Glover holds up a ruby red CRYSTAL and nods.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(nods)
So let's begin.
Chris closes his eyes, composing himself.
When he reopens them, they've gone BLOOD RED - and Chris
bares his FANGS, the sight making Glover start.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Vidyam cavidyam ea yas...
The circle starts to LIGHT UP, the lines of power GLOWING and
PULSING with energy.
CHRIS (cont'd)
... tad vedobhayan saha...
Chris hands start to GLOW too, a cloudy haze of YELLOW ENERGY
forming around them.
A low HUM rises into volume, getting louder with every
second.
LYRA
Chris?
CHRIS
... avidyaya mrtum neiva...
Chris clenches his fist, muscles tight with concentration as
the magic around his hands starts to disperse downwards.
Coruscating threads of energy flow down to various points on
the circle, which GLOWS ever brighter.
The room starts to SHAKE, and a sudden gust of WIND blows
through, buffeting the pages in Danyael and Glover's books.
DANYAEL
Woah!
CHRIS
... yidyayamrtam asmite...
The circle BLAZES once with light - and then turns a deep
RED, bathing the room in scarlet.
LYRA
(scared)
Chris! This... this is getting too
strong!
The SHAKING and HUM continue to intensify, with bookshelves
against one wall CRACKING, depositing their contents to the
floor.
GLOVER
Oh, no - the Bueller Memoirs!
DANYAEL
(yells)
Chris! It is now officially up to
eleven! Let's do this!
CHRIS
... indriyebhyah... pavum... mano!
Chris finally snaps his hands away - and the circle is now
PULSING with red energy.
A huge PENTAGRAM starts to form out of the lines on the floor
- which promptly bursts into FLAMES!
CHRIS (cont'd)
This is it!
Lyra GASPS, backing up to the wall.
LYRA
Something's coming...
There's a tremendous sonic BOOM that knocks Danyael and
Glover off their feet, the books skittering from them.
CHRIS
Get those books!
Danyael scrabbles for his, scooping up Glover's and tossing
it back over to him.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(grimly)
It's here.
A swirling, black VORTEX opens up in the centre of the
circle, a whirlpool sucking straight down through the floor.
A thick, murky plume of BLACK SMOKE shoots up from the
vortex, rising in a column towards the ceiling...
... and it hits an invisible BARRIER with a burst of light,
the smoke quickly spreading out to fill the area above the
circle.
Only it isn't smoke.
DANYAEL
(squints)
What the hell...
Thousands and thousands of FLIES, great black insects like
nothing on Earth, swarming and BUZZING through the air.
Lyra, her hair swirling around her in the thick gusts
blasting through the room, is breathing rapidly - she can
sense the evil in the circle, and she is terrified.
DEEP VOICE
Who daressss....
Chris looks to Danyael and Glover and nods. They look to
their books, quickly finding the right pages and starting to
CHANT aloud.
DEEP VOICE (cont'd)
(roars)
Who daressS?!?
CHRIS
Show yourself!
DEEP VOICE
You do not command me, vampire!
CHRIS
Show yourself, or I'll make sure
your trip back is a thousand times
worse than your journey here!
The flies are racing round the bounds of the circle, held in
place by an invisible dome of energy.
Chris looks to Lyra, who is reeling with the dark energy
washing over her. He grabs her hand.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Stay with me, Lyra! Fight it!
LYRA
I'll... I'll try...
Chris returns his attention to the circle.
CHRIS
Show me what you are, daemon. Give
me what I want, and this ends
quicker for all of us.
The voice SNARLS, so loud that Chris has to clamp his hands
over his ears.
The flies suddenly swarm back into the centre of the circle,
once again forming a solid, flowing column.
With a THUNDERCLAP and a blinding FLASH of light, they start
to pour into a shape - humanoid, but eight feet tall.
Chris watches, trying not to lose focus, as the mass of flies
takes on the mockery of a human form, a leering visage
looking down at him from what passes for the head.
DAEMON
Thisss is what you wisssh to sssee?
It speaks with a myriad of voices like a hundred razors
scraping across metal - deep and scratchy all at once.
CHRIS
It'll do.
The daemon thrusts forward a black hand, POUNDING against the
edge of the circle's protection.
DAEMON
Why have you trapped me?
It HAMMERS at the magical shield, which holds - for now.
CHRIS
You have something I want!
DAEMON
You order me to ssserve you?
CHRIS
I need safe passage down to Hell!
The daemon LAUGHS, a raspy sound befitting the bugs its
throat is composed of.
DAEMON
There is no 'sssafe passsage' to
where you sssek...
CHRIS
And that's where we differ.
Chris glances at Danyael and Glover, both keeping up the
chanting.
CHRIS (cont'd)
All I'm asking for is a sliver of
your power, enough for me to make
the journey myself, and then I'll
let you go. If not...
Chris raises his hands - and globes of RED ENERGY pop into
the air around them.
CHRIS (cont'd)
... then I can make this a lot more
unpleasant for you.
The spheres of magic float down towards the edge of the
circle.
As each one lands, a ripple of FLAME shoots through the
circle, making the daemon HOWL, its body rippling and
splitting with each fresh attack.
DAEMON
Enough!
Chris lowers his hands, stopping the attack.
DAEMON (cont'd)
You mussst have lossst sssomething
very preciousss to want to travel
to the inferno, vampire...
CHRIS
That's none of your business.
The daemon CHUCKLES now, a booming sound that echoes around
the study.
DAEMON
All sssin isss my busssinesss...
CHRIS
(roars)
Give me what I want!
He raises a hand again, and the daemon GROWLS in anger.
DAEMON
Alright! Alright...
Chris looks to Lyra, gently leading her towards him.
CHRIS
(off urn)
Here is the vessel. Make the
transfer, and I will release you.
DAEMON
Very well...
It holds up one hand, the flies spiralling outwards until the
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