sib4x02
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. GLOVER'S LIBRARY - STUDY - NIGHT 1
LYRA is pacing back and forth, agitated, as DANYAEL sits
nearby and flicks through the next in a large pile of occult
books.
DANYAEL
You know, wearing a rut into the
floor won't get him back here any
quicker.
LYRA
I know, I know, just...
DANYAEL
You're worried. I get that. Again,
pacing won't help.
LYRA
(snaps)
What am I supposed to do, Danyael?
He blinks, surprised by her tone. So, it seems, is she.
LYRA (cont'd)
I... I'm sorry, I didn't mean -
DANYAEL
No, no, it's cool. You do whatever
you have to do.
(off books)
I'm making sure I'm all caught up
in case he needs anything up here.
She returns to her pacing, but now Danyael senses something
else. He closes his book and turns to her.
DANYAEL (cont'd)
Syren -
LYRA
Lyra. Please.
DANYAEL
Lyra. Right. Sorry.
(beat)
Is there... something... I should
know about? Between you and Chris?
She freezes, a sudden look of guilt washing over her.
LYRA
What? N-no, no. There's nothing.
DANYAEL
Just that, y'know, you normally get
nervous when one of us is in
trouble, but this... I dunno, I'm
just picking up a vibe, is all.
LYRA
There's no vibe, Danyael. I'm just
worried. That's all.
DANYAEL
Well... okay, then.
He returns to his books, but keeps one eye on her as Lyra
resumes her pacing, and we CUT TO:
2 INT. BAR CHORD - UPSTAIRS - NIGHT 2
CHRIS is lying on a battered old sofa, the muted tones of
JAZZ floating up through the floorboards.
He stirs, blinking a few times as he comes round. He sits up
on the sofa, dislodging the jacket lying over him.
He takes stock - he's in a small, lounge-like room that's
currently empty except for him. BOOKCASES line one wall, CD
RACKS the other.
There's a small TV, an old GUITAR, a foldaway WARDROBE and a
TABLE AND CHAIRS nearby, a card game in progress on top.
Chris tries to STRETCH but finds his body still hurts in
plenty of places, WINCING as he tucks his limbs away.
The door starts to open, and Chris tenses up, eyes flicking
round to locate his katana.
He sees his FEDORA and DUSTER JACKET hanging on a hook on the
door - but it's too far to reach before the door opens.
In walks a young, pale woman with long, black hair and
rounded, attractive features. She's wearing a shimmering,
long-sleeved black dress, and carrying a MUG.
WOMAN
Ah. You're up.
She slinks towards him like Morticia Addams' younger sister,
offering the mug out to Chris.
He peers inside - it's full of BLOOD. He glances up at the
woman, raising an eyebrow.
WOMAN (cont'd)
Trust me, we have plenty of this to
go around down here. Didn't even
have to kill anyone for it.
Hesitantly, Chris takes the mug and has a sip.
WOMAN (cont'd)
I'm Booth, by the way. Welcome to
my club.
Chris takes a deep GULP, putting the mug down beside him and
slowly rising to meet BOOTH. She's about a foot shorter.
CHRIS
Chris Berkeley.
BOOTH
(nods)
I know. Stranger told me.
CHRIS
You call him that too?
BOOTH
His real name's harder to
pronounce. All consonants.
She sashays across the room, turning on a small stereo and
selecting some CDs from the racks.
CHRIS
How long have I been asleep?
BOOTH
A few hours. Your body heals up
pretty fast, considering you're not
all vampire.
CHRIS
Perk of the job.
She hits 'Play,' and dark, jazz-meets-electro music floats
across the room.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Speaking of the Stranger, where is
he? he said he'd help me find my
friend.
BOOTH
Oh, he'll be back, don't worry.
We've helped people like you
before.
She pulls up a chair opposite him, lazily crossing her legs
and looking him up and down. Chris shifts.
BOOTH (cont'd)
So what's your story?
CHRIS
Excuse me?
BOOTH
You were halfway back to
unconsciousness when Stranger
brought you in here. Didn't get
chance to say 'hello.'
CHRIS
You seem to already have me worked
out. I'm part vampire, and I'm down
here looking for a friend of mine.
She's... let's just say she doesn't
belong here.
BOOTH
(chuckles)
Heard that one before.
CHRIS
(narrows eyes)
She doesn't. And I need to find her
before...
He trails off - and at that moment, STRANGER walks back in.
His tall, lean frame makes him duck through the doorway.
STRANGER
Ah, Chris! Back with us? Good.
He shuts the door and heads over, flipping a chair round and
straddling it before Chris, who also sits back down.
CHRIS
Any news?
STRANGER
Plenty. Seems we had an escape not
long before you dropped in - some
lucky soul broke her way out of the
detention centre and into the city.
CHRIS
(sits up)
Was it Twist? Is she still -
STRANGER
(raises hand)
Easy.
Unfortunately, they caught her
quick and slapped her right back
into Ward 4-D not long after.
Booth grimaces, and Chris looks alarmed.
CHRIS
Ward 4-D? Is that... bad?
BOOTH
That's the Private Hell ward.
Individually tailored torments.
What did she do that was so bad she
ended up there?
CHRIS
That's not important. How do we get
there?
STRANGER
Well, knowing where she is and
getting in to find her are two very
different things, but... well,
lucky for you, I know a guy.
CHRIS
Then what are we waiting for?
He rises, shrugging off the pain.
CHRIS (cont'd)
Let's get moving.
Stranger GRINS, standing and gesturing towards the door.
Chris marches towards it, and Stranger shoots Booth a look.
She SIGHS, nods, and then follows, and Stranger brings up the
rear as the trio exit, and we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
3 EXT. HELL CITY - STREET - NIGHT 3
PUSH THROUGH the teeming hordes of the city before picking up
Chris, Booth and Stranger making their way down the street.
On all sides, the city is buzzing with activity - arguments,
fights, FLAMES burning almost at random - and misshapen,
bizarre VEHICLES of all sizes cruise up and down the road.
The walkways and gangplanks criss-crossing overhead are just
as busy - seems like everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere
else down here.
The trio stop at a corner, the road splitting off five ways.
In the background, the STONE TOWER rises into the red sky.
CHRIS
So where do we need to start?
STRANGER
Bars.
CHRIS
I trust that's for information, and
not for booze...
STRANGER
The two go hand in hand.
Chris throws an alarmed look to Booth, who rolls her eyes.
BOOTH
Stranger, c'mon. We know where this
girl's being held, so let's just
get moving.
STRANGER
Ain't that simple, Booth. We need a
way in, or our young friend here
won't be able to do anything but
watch.
BOOTH
So, what? You're just going to
waltz up and ask some guard for a
key to one of the most heavily
guarded zones of the whole city?
STRANGER
Pretty much, yeah.
He starts forward, heading towards a noisy BAR on the other
side of the road. Chris and Booth follow as we CUT TO:
4 INT. HELL CITY - FIRE & BRIMSTONE BAR - NEXT 4
Chris stands at a table with Booth, surveying the chaotic
scene all around.
The background atmosphere and noise is something like
Hieronymous Bosch meets Mos Eisley - daemons, imps, goblins,
zombies, monsters, humans, animals and ghosts milling around
like it was any other rowdy, popular watering hole.
From the bar, Stranger pushes his way over to the table,
before putting down a shot glass in front of each of them.
A tiny wisp of FLAME dances around on top of Chris' drink for
a few seconds, then jumps up and onto the table, pauses for a
moment then scampers away.
Stranger watches it go with disappointment, downing his own
identical drink before his flame gets away.
STRANGER
Chris, stay with it! You let the
good bit get away!
CHRIS
I'm sorry - what?
BOOTH
Stranger, we don't have time for
this...
STRANGER
Of course we do! This is all part
of the negotiations.
CHRIS
Because...
Stranger peers over his shoulder towards a large DAEMON
standing by the bar. He's built like the ones Twist escaped
from - red, bulky and mean.
STRANGER
See that guy right there?
Chris and Booth crane round to look.
STRANGER (cont'd)
(hisses)
Don't gawk at him like a coupla
tourists!
They quickly duck back.
STRANGER (cont'd)
He's one of the lower level guards
of Ward 4D. Says he can get us some
entry passes if we do him a favour.
CHRIS
Which is?
STRANGER
(beat; quickly)
Kill Hoof and his gang.
Stranger quickly DOWNS Chris' drink, reaching for Booth's
before Chris CLAMPS a hand on his arm.
CHRIS
I'm sorry, but it sounded awfully
like you want us to go and hunt
down a gang of thugs and kill them.
STRANGER
(nods)
'S right. They've been bothering
him for years, you see. Trying to
break in on his watch, causing
trouble... he just wants them taken
care of.
Chris GROANS, rubbing his temples, as Booth leans forward.
BOOTH
I could just ask him for the access
cards...
STRANGER
(shakes head)
Your magic touch won't work on this
one, darlin.'
Chris looks around at the bar - the characters filling it,
the minor bar brawls kicking off, the drinks of pure fire,
the TV showing wrestlers hacking each other with sharp
weapons, and the tiny winged imps taking drinks to people's
tables, and turns back to the Stranger with a raised eyebrow.
CHRIS
(resigned)
Alright. So where do we find this
'Hoof' character?
STRANGER
Well, you landed right in the
middle of his patch earlier, so
let's return to the scene of the
crime!
Chris steps away from the table, Stranger pausing to knock
back Booth's shot before he follows - seconds before a large
demon is hurled into their table, BREAKING it in half!
5 EXT. HELL CITY - ALLEYWAY - NEXT 5
The trio turn into a narrow, crooked alley, the overhanging
rooves of the two buildings either side forming a natural
archway above them.
Chris looks up - there's the CHURCH he made his descent down,
the damage caused by his arrival still visible.
CHRIS
This is the place. So how do we
find Hoof?
STRANGER
If we just stick around, he'll find
us. He's got a nose for
trespassers, see.
BOOTH
Encouraging...
STRANGER
Hey, Chris, you, uh... you got that
fancy sword handy?
Chris draws the RED KATANA from within his duster. The RUNES
etched into its blade still GLOW faintly.
BOOTH
(wide eyes)
Is that...
STRANGER
Thought I recognised it. That's
Kusanagi's sword.
CHRIS
The daemonslayer? You know him?
STRANGER
'Know' him? Chris... he's down
here!
CHRIS
But... hang on, how -
STRANGER
Let's just say that sword has a
price to pay for whoever uses it,
and you... well, I hope you're
ready to pay it.
Chris looks down at the sword, suddenly a little wary of it,
when he hears:
HOOF (O.S.)
The heaven is all this?
He looks up - it's the DAEMON THUGS he encountered on his
arrival, with their leader, HOOF, striding forward.
With a head stuck halfway between a bulldog and a rhino, he's
a few heads taller than Chris and twice as stocky.
HOOF (cont'd)
You back for another session,
little human?
Chris coolly steps forward, and Stranger puts himself before
Booth.
CHRIS
As I recall, you were the ones who
ran away last time...
Hoof SNORTS, a cue for his four comrades to join him.
HOOF
Nice. Smart. About as smart as you
comin' back, that is.
CHRIS
Let me rephrase that...
He strikes an offensive pose, WHIRLING the katana through the
air above him. It BURNS brightly as it spins.
CHRIS (cont'd)
... let's finish what we started.
With a bestial GRUNT, Hoof motions for his Thugs to rush
Chris, the foursome spreading out to charge him from two
sides.
Chris stays in pose, waiting until the first two snarling
Thugs are in range:
SWISH! One rapid SLICE sends a Thug's ARM flying from his
body, while a second, lower CHOP opens up the other's belly!
The Thugs stagger back, HOWLING in pain, while the next two
rush Chris head-on.
He HOPS up to avoid a low KICK from #3, twisting in the air
to land a KICK to the side of its head.
SPLASHING down in a puddle, Chris DUCKS and WEAVES as #4
throws several heavy PUNCHES his way.
Chris SLAMS both palms into #4's chest, sending him hurtling
backwards, before he spins his katana round and STABS back.
The blade RUNS THROUGH #3, looming up behind him to grab him,
and Chris quickly turns and KICKS the Thug in the face.
Grabbing the katana handle and SHOVING #3 back, Chris sends
the goon sliding to the floor before he turns to face Hoof.
Hoof looks pretty perturbed, having just seen his four boys
cut down in a matter of moments.
CHRIS (cont'd)
You look a little troubled, Hoof. I
don't suppose you'd like to ask for
a time out?
Hoof reddens, letting out a ROAR of anger before putting his
head down and CHARGING Chris!
Chris tries to DODGE to the side, but Hoof is lighter on his
feet than Chris expected - and his heavy, rhino-like HORN
hits Chris in the chest!
The wind is knocked out of Chris and Hoof keeps CHARGING,
running him straight into the alley wall with a CRUNCH!
Hoof hops back, letting Chris crumple to the floor before he
raises a foot for a STAMP.
Chris manages to GRAB his foot, but Hoof's much stronger than
he is, and Chris can't shove the foot away.
Hoof manages to plant his huge foot square on Chris' chest,
pinning him to the floor.
Further back, Booth starts, trying to join the fight, but
Stranger holds her back.
BOOTH
What are you - we have to help him!
STRANGER
No! We can't.
(turns to her)
I got my orders.
Booth frowns, not understanding.
Back to the fight, and Chris grimaces as Hoof presses down,
putting his considerable weight down on Chris' chest.
HOOF
You may have taken out my boys, but
I'm th boss round here, human!
Nobody takes me on and walks away!
CHRIS
Good job, then...
With a HEAVE, Chris grabs Hoof's boot and slowly starts to
PUSH it up, off his torso.
CHRIS (cont'd)
... I'm not human!
He TWISTS and PUSHES, unbalancing Hoof who falls to the side
with a THUD.
Chris drags himself up, woozy from the pain, realising he's
lost his katana in the melee.
He rushes for it but Hoof intercepts, RAMMING him at full
speed again and sending Chris FLYING back down the alley!
Chris hits the floor and SKIDS painfully along, recovering to
see Hoof grab the katana.
HOOF
Neat sword.
Hoof gives it a few experimental SWIPES, turning to Chris and
LEERING.
HOOF (cont'd)
Reckon it'll cut you up just as
good?
Chris struggles to his feet as Hoof advances, the heavy-set
daemon STOMPING over and launching into several CHOPS.
Chris has to dodge sharply to avoid the katana, which CLANGS
off the ground with every missed strike.
Hoof KICKS Chris in the shin, staggering him long enough for
Hoof to raise the katana with both hands over his head...
... but as he brings it down, Chris gets a hand up and
conjures a shimmering WALL OF ENERGY to hold it off.
Hoof strains, pushing down with all his might as Chris
struggles to keep the field up.
Hoof is winning, Chris' wall starting to fade as the katana
blade cuts slowly through it...
... and Chris has to DIVE to one side to avoid the blade as
it SLAMS into the ground, a mere fraction away!
Chris is up quicker, and a swift ONE-TWO stuns Hoof for a
beat, allowing Chris to GRAB the katana and WRENCH it away.
Hoof GROWLS, DUCKING Chris' next swing and driving his bowed
head up and into Chris' gut!
Chris is knocked back, clutching his chest in pain as Hoof
SNORTS, stamping his feet on the ground like a bull preparing
to charge!
Chris looks around, trying to find something to help - but
he's backing towards one wall. Nowhere to go.
Hoof BURSTS forward, feet POUNDING as he races towards Chris
at full pelt, horn aiming straight for Chris' heart!
Chris waits until he's almost on him - and then LEAPS up,
STEPPING off Hoof's horn and SOMERSAULTING through the air!
Hoof can't slow down and RAMS into the alley wall, rebounding
in a shower of DUST.
He staggers round - and Chris is ready with the katana.
CHRIS
Too slow.
SKNIT! He SLICES across Hoof's neck, and the burly daemon's
hands fly to his throat.
BLACK BLOOD oozes from his fingers, Hoof letting out a
horrible CHOKING sound as he staggers around.
He falls to his knees, still COUGHING and CHOKING, and Chris
stands over him, blade ready.
CHRIS (cont'd)
For what it's worth, this isn't
anything personal.
And he DRIVES the blade down through Hoof's skull. The
hulking thug JERKS for a few seconds, then goes still.
CHRIS (cont'd)
I just have something more
important than you to take care of.
He YANKS his katana free, and Hoof's dead body pitches
forward, landing face-first with a reverberating SLAM.
Chris turns to Booth and Stranger, Booth breaking ranks and
running up to him.
BOOTH
Are you alright?
CHRIS
I'm fine.
He WINCES, and Booth tugs at his shirt even as Chris tries to
gently push her away:
Chris has dark BRUISES up and down his torso, and what look
like CRACKED RIBS sticking out at awkward angles.
BOOTH
Like heaven you're 'fine'! Come on,
we need to get you back to the
club.
As Booth shoulders him, Stranger walks up to Hoof's body,
kicking it over onto its back.
BOOTH (cont'd)
Come on! We did what we came here
for, didn't we?
STRANGER
Not quite.
He reaches down, takes Hoof's ivory horn in both hands and
TWISTS - the hunk of sharpened bone coming loose.
Stranger PULLS the horn straight from Hoof's head, tucking it
under his arm as he joins the other two.
STRANGER (cont'd)
Okay, now we're done.
(off Booth's look)
This is what the guy wanted as
proof we'd taken care of Hoof.
Stranger takes Chris' other arm, helping the weary warrior
back out of the alleyway as we CUT TO:
6 INT. DETENTION CENTRE - WARD 4-D - NIGHT 6
DARKNESS. And from somewhere within, a faint SOBBING.
A LIGHT comes on, a single beam in the gloom, illuminating a
huddled shape curled up on the plain, white floor.
TWIST.
She slowly opens one eye, peering around her and seeing that
she's surrounded by darkness.
She sits up, hugging her knees and rocking back and forth,
wiping the tears from her eyes.
She SHIVERS, burying her face in her hands - she's going
through some severe trauma by the looks of her.
Gradually, the emotions subside, and she hesitantly releases
her knees, curling her legs beneath her.
She looks up, squinting against the light, then round at the
blackness.
And a sudden WHIRR sounds around the room, causing Twist to
tense up in fear once again!
TWIST
No...
More LIGHTS start to come on, CLICKING on one at a time like
stadium floodlights.
TWIST (cont'd)
No!
Twist stands, eyes wide and fists clenching. She's terrified.
TWIST (cont'd)
Please... no!
As more LIGHTS come on, the landscape around her starts to
take shape - a SUBURBAN STREET at night.
TWIST (cont'd)
Don't do this to me! I haven't... I
did enough! Please! I did enough!
The scene continues to build up - a long, quiet road, plenty
of trees and modest dwellings.
A group of MOTORBIKES stand outside one house, whose front
door is open.
A woman SCREAMS from somewhere within, and twist clamps her
hands over her ears.
TWIST (cont'd)
I did everything I could! Why
wasn't it enough?
She squeezes her eyes shut, but Twist knows the scene isn't
going away.
The SCREAM rings out again, and Twist opens her eyes to look
towards the house.
TEARS roll freely down her cheeks. She knows what she has to
do.
She takes a few steps forward, then breaks into a run and
SPRINTS forward, disappearing into the house as we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
7 EXT. HELL CITY - DETENTION CENTRE - NIGHT 7
Chris, Stranger and Booth stand before a huge, black building
rising up from the morass of sprawling architecture.
Obsidian windows, annexes and towers splitting off in all
directions, and absolutely no clear way in or out.
STRANGER
Well... time to see if Zagel's a
daemon of his word.
He brandishes the ACCESS CARD, offering it to Chris.
CHRIS
Are you sure this will work?
STRANGER
(beat)
Define 'work.'
CHRIS
(sighs)
Never mind.
He walks forward - the base of the centre is surrounded by a
featureless black wall twenty feet high.
CHUTES, like the ones running from scaffolding on building
sites, reach down from a distant point in the sky,
disappearing behind the wall.
Muffled SHOUTS and SCREAMS sound from within the chutes,
which SHAKE as bodies pass down them.
Ahead of Chris is a large set of GATES, the only thing set
into the wall for a good distance in either direction.
Chris walks up to the gates and finds a small LOCK waiting
for him. There's a slot for the access card, but also a
KEYPAD, an empty iron GAUNTLET, and even a huge DOOR KNOCKER
and BELL on the gate itself.
He looks back to Stranger - who helpfully just gives him a
thumbs up.
Chris turns back to the door and slips the card into the
slot. Waits. Nothing happens.
CHRIS (cont'd)
(turns)
Should I be -
VOICE
(booms)
Name and number.
The loud, echoing voice startles Chris, and he looks up to
see the head of a GARGOYLE peering down at him from the crest
of the gate.
CHRIS
Chris Berkeley, er... two-five
seventy-nine.
VOICE
Hold.
Nothing happens for another moment, and Stranger and Booth
both join Chris.
BOOTH
Shouldn't this be, you know...
opening?
STRANGER
It will, it will. Just give it a
sec.
Chris tenses, hand closing round the handle of his katana -
but Stranger shoots him a warning look.
STRANGER (cont'd)
Don't.
CHRIS
This isn't working.
STRANGER
Still, better stay cautious than
start waving a daemonslayer's sword
around, you never know what -
A loud CREAK sounds from the gate, and the trio step back.
BOOTH
That's good... right?
More CREAKS as the lattice gate starts to rise into the wall,
displaying the interior of the complex beyond.
The black centre has numerous entrances on various levels,
copying the same patchwork layout as every other building.
Chris glances to either side, then takes a step forward:
WHAM! He walks straight into an INVISIBLE WALL which SHIMMERS
as he bounces off it.
CHRIS
What the -
Two loud THUDS sound from beyond the entrance, and Booth
clutches Chris' arm, eyes wide.
BOOTH
We have to go.
CHRIS
What? But the gate's open, I just
need to -
BOOTH
No, I mean we have to go. Now!
She tries to tug him away, but Chris resists, turning back
towards the gate:
And two huge SHADOWS step into view, easily eight feet tall
and almost as wide.
Chris glances at Stranger, who is also backing up in obvious
fear.
STRANGER
Ah... crap.
More THUDS as the hulking creatures step forward, gradually
emerging from the shadow:
GARGOYLES. Winged, stone humanoids encased in silver armour,
dragon-like heads frozen in a vicious snarl. They're both
carrying stone SWORDS the size of boulders!
BOOTH
Chris, come on!
She manages to drag him back a step, but Chris intends to
stay and fight, shrugging out of her grip.
BOOTH (cont'd)
Don't! Chris, you can't beat them!
Chris stands firm, defiant as the Gargoyles STOMP slowly
towards him.
The first raises its sword high above its head, but Chris is
ready to DIVE to one side.
The sword hurtles down, CRASHING into the floor as Chris
leaps to one side.
He conjures a globe of ENERGY in one hand, snapping the green
light at the second Gargoyle.
It hits dead in the thing's face - and vanishes with a loud
PFFT. No good.
Chris hesitates - and the second creature swings its sword
round in a low arc, forcing him to LEAP into the air!
The first lunges a massive, clawed FIST round and SWATS Chris
out of the air, sending him to the floor with a CRASH!
Chris vaults up, katana ready as he charges forward, DUCKING
another attack and SLICING his blade across the Gargoyle:
And the katana SHATTERS on impact!
Stunned, Chris reels for a beat - and the Gargoyle lands a
PUNCH to his gut that sends him sailing back through the air!
He SLAMS into an adjacent building, clattering to the floor
in a shower of bricks and plaster.
Booth and Stranger hurriedly drag him to his feet as the
Gargoyles continue their relentless advance.
CHRIS
(dazed)
What... what are...
BOOTH
They're something you can't beat,
is what they are! Let's get out of
here!
Hauling him along, Stranger and Booth drag Chris away as the
Gargoyles stop, planting their feet into the ground and
watching the trio escape.
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