sib4x05
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                                       ACT TWO

               FADE IN:

        16     INT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT                                   16

               A light rain is falling. The akercocke and team have gathered
               under shelter in an alleyway near the ruin of their home.

               The van is parked across the entrance to block it off, while
               Danyael hands round food and drinks from the team's supplies.

                                   TWIST
                             (sulky)
                         Those were meant to be for us.

                                   CHRIS
                         Hush up. You know very well only
                         you and Lyra actually eat.

               Chris sits down before the woman who seems to be the group's
               leader as she gulps down a bottle of water.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         Perhaps we should start again. My
                         name's Chris.

                                   MEGAN
                         Megan.

                                   CHRIS
                         Nice to meet you, Megan. My
                         colleagues here are Twist, Danyael,
                         Vivian and Lyra.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Hey.

               Megan motions towards her fellow nonhumans:

                                   MEGAN
                         Ade, Tracy, Ruben, Tristan and Kit.

               Nods and mumbled greetings come back from them.

                                   MEGAN (cont'd)
                         So you know about the soldiers who
                         attacked us?

                                   VIVIAN
                         Plenty.

                                   MEGAN
                         What do they want us for?

                                   VIVIAN
                         Probably - 

                                   CHRIS
                             (over her)
                         That's less important than finding
                         your friends and bringing them back
                         safely.

                                   ADE
                         Yeah, but to where? Did you miss
                         the fact that our home is gone?

                                   TRACY
                         Ade, that shack wasn't 'home.' It
                         was just a place we were staying at
                         before we moved on.

                                   MEGAN
                             (to Chris)
                         This isn't the first time this has
                         happened to us.

                                   LYRA
                         Parker's come after you before?

                                   TRISTAN
                         Is that his name? The guy behind
                         all this?

                                   RUBEN
                         Plenty of times. Not just our clan
                         either - he's gone after clans
                         across the country.

                                   KIT
                         And anything goes as far as he's
                         concerned.

                                   TWIST
                         So there are different... varieties
                         of you guys?

                                   ADE
                         If you mean other nonhumans, then
                         yeah. Lots.

                                   TWIST
                         How come?

                                   ADE
                             (to Megan)
                         We don't have time for this...

                                   MEGAN
                         Adrian, please.
                             (to Twist)
                         Generations ago, our ancestors'
                         village was poisoned by something
                         magical. It got into the food, the
                         water, even the air. For a long
                         time, nobody noticed anything had
                         changed, until our children started
                         being born looking more and more
                         like...

               She indicates herself.

                                   KIT
                         We couldn't stay where we were, so
                         our families just packed up and
                         moved on...

                                   TRISTAN
                         ... and that's the story so far.
                         Until about a year ago, when this
                         Parker guy's soldiers started
                         dragging us out of every hiding
                         place we tried to find.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Is there anything you guys can, you
                         know... do?

                                   RUBEN
                         Such as?

                                   CHRIS
                         He means, do you have any abilities
                         that might make you valuable to
                         Parker.
                             (off looks)
                         He's into genetic research. If your
                         DNA has something useful to him,
                         then he'd want to investigate it.

                                   MEGAN
                         Nothing we know of. What you see is
                         what you get.

                                   ADE
                         Yeah, well, obviously this Parker
                         guy doesn't think that.

               Vivian taps Chris on the shoulder, drawing him away from the
               conversation.

                                   VIVIAN
                         I've got the stuff I need here to
                         run some basic blood tests, see if
                         there's anything unusual.

                                   CHRIS
                             (surprised)
                         You know what to do?

                                   VIVIAN
                             (shrugs)
                         Quick study. I've got the scanner
                         in there triangulating which known
                         bases are in range, given the ETA
                         we heard and the direction of the
                         tire tracks we found, so - 

               Something starts BEEPING inside the van.

                                   TWIST
                             (blinks)
                         Is that my phone?

               Vivian looks to Chris, who nods. She steps back into the van
               as Chris rejoins the others.

                                   CHRIS
                         Alright, here's what we'll do.
                         Vivian here thinks she's located
                         the place where they're keeping
                         your friends, so some of us are
                         going to head out and scout it out.

                                   ADE
                         Do we get to be a part of your
                         'some'?

                                   CHRIS
                         Makes sense for a couple of you to
                         come. You may be able to help us
                         sneak inside.
                             (beat)
                         I'd also like to get some blood
                         samples so we can do a quick
                         analysis, perhaps work out what it
                         is Parker's looking for.

                                   KIT
                         I'll stay.

                                   RUBEN
                         Yeah, and me. Tristan?

                                   TRACY
                         Me and Tristan'll stay too.

                                   ADE
                         Suits me.
                             (nudges Megan)
                         You up for this?

                                   MEGAN
                         We have to get Duncan and the
                         others back.
                             (to Chris)
                         I'm in.

                                   DANYAEL
                         We've got weapons and things if you
                         guys need them...

                                   ADE
                         No need.

               He grins, CRACKING his knuckles. Danyael involuntarily puts a
               hand to his bruised jaw.

               Vivian exits the van with two cases of medical equipment.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Got it. There's only one base in
                         this region they could have gotten
                         to in that time. I've circled it on
                         the map on the dashboard.

               She looks around, then walks over and leans against the fire
               door of another empty building making up the alley, opening
               it and stepping inside.

                                   MEGAN
                             (rising)
                         Alright, all of you staying put...

               She motions towards the open doorway. Kit and the others
               troop through.

                                   CHRIS
                             (to Lyra)
                         Stay here with them. Keep an eye on
                         things for me.

               She nods, giving his arm a quick squeeze as Chris turns to
               Megan and Ade.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                             (off van)
                         Shall we?

               They climb inside the van as Danyael follows, sliding the
               door shut behind them.

                                   TWIST
                         So we're leaving Vivian behind?

                                   CHRIS
                         She's given us the base's location.
                         I think she's done her part.

               Twist doesn't look like she likes this plan, but climbs up
               into the passenger seat without another word.

               With a last look round the alley, Chris walks round the cabin
               and enters the van, as we DISSOLVE TO:

        17     EXT. LAB FACILITY/INDUSTRIAL ESTATE - NIGHT             17

               PAN DOWN from a road leading up to a cluster of small, flat
               buildings, SEARCHLIGHTS and WIRE FENCING surrounding them.

               There's plenty of activity - WORKERS load crates on and off
               trucks as ARMED GUARDS patrol the grounds.

               The base is nestled within an otherwise dark industrial
               estate, isolated from the nearby city limits.

               PULL BACK to find the van parked behind one of the other
               buildings on the lot, the team observing round the corner.

                                   CHRIS
                         Looks like a pretty standard set-up
                         to me.

                                   TWIST 
                         Are you sure? There doesn't seem to
                         be much there.

                                   CHRIS
                         This is just the entrance. The main
                         complex will be underneath us, like
                         they always are.

                                   TWIST
                         Oh. Right. I knew that.

                                   MEGAN
                         This is what we're up against?

                                   DANYAEL
                         You've never seen one of these
                         bases before?

                                   ADE
                         Hey, when the guys with guns turn
                         up we start running. We don't stop
                         to ask them what colour their
                         wallpaper is, you know?

                                   CHRIS
                             (beat)
                         Let's go.

               The group scamper forward, using the long shadows and wide
               buildings for cover as they approach the access road.

               They watch as another CARGO TRUCK arrives at the gates, which
               roll slowly open to let the truck pass.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         And now, for our next trick... we
                         work out how to get past all that
                         lot.

                                   DANYAEL
                         I got an idea.

               He looks round - more TRUCKS are approaching, and as he steps
               out of frame we CUT TO:

        18     EXT. LAB FACILITY/ROAD - NEXT                           18

               OVERHEAD as one of the trucks rolls into frame, waiting in
               line as several others queue up ahead of it.

               Emerging from the cover of darkness, Danyael crawls quickly
               across the road and ROLLS underneath the truck.

               Twist and Chris follow his lead, rolling under a second truck
               whilst Megan and Ade clamber underneath a third.

               The trucks start to pull away, leaving an empty stretch of
               road behind.

        19     EXT. LAB FACILITY - NEXT                                19

               The truck reach the gates, waiting as the barriers slide
               across to allow them in.

               PAN DOWN to the underside of the truck as it enters the base -
               and Danyael, clinging to its undercarriage!

               The trucks manoeuvre their way over to a loading bay,
               reversing until their rear hatches face a set of dock doors.

               As the trucks come to a stop, the team silently drop down,
               roll aside and scurry for cover before more WORKERS show up
               to unload the truck's contents.

        20     INT. LAB FACILITY - CORRIDOR - NEXT                     20

               A hatch door swings open as Chris carefully leans inside,
               checking that the coast is clear.

               Twist and Danyael follow, then Megan and Ade, before Chris
               carefully shuts and seals the door behind them all.

                                   ADE
                             (to Danyael)
                         Pretty slick, for a vampire.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Thanks.
                             (blinks)
                         Wait, what?

                                   CHRIS
                         Now. They'll probably have security
                         cameras and tracking spells in
                         place before we find a way down to
                         the base proper, so I made up a few
                         of these.

               He digs into his jacket pocket and produces several small
               POUCHES stuffed with herbs, each the size of a locket and
               mounted on a length of cord.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         Slip them round your neck and they
                         should create just enough
                         interference to stop anything on
                         the system picking us up, magical
                         or otherwise.

               Twist gingerly SNIFFS her pouch with distaste as Danyael
               loops his over his head.

                                   TWIST
                         Jeez, Chris, these things smell
                         like ass!

                                   CHRIS
                             (terse)
                         Oh, I'm sorry, shall I go back and
                         make you one that smells a bit more
                         pleasant?

                                   TWIST
                             (holds out pouch)
                         Yes, please.

               He glares, and she gets the point. With a scowl, she puts her
               amulet on. The protected team finally get moving.

                                   MEGAN
                         Alright, which way do we go?

                                   CHRIS
                         According to Vivian, all these
                         little annexes over the main lab
                         entrances follow a standard layout,
                         so we just need to go down...

               He trails off, taking several corners and junctions in the
               labyrinthine layout as the others follow close behind, and we
               CUT TO:

        21     INT. OLD BUILDING - NIGHT                               21

               Back with Vivian, Lyra and the other akercocke, as Vivian
               checks over her small setup of lab equipment taken from the
               van.

                                   KIT
                         So how long should we wait before
                         we start getting worried?

                                   LYRA
                         There's nothing to be worried
                         about. Chris will make sure
                         everyone is alright.

               Vivian stands, holding a SYRINGE in one hand.

                                   VIVIAN
                         We've got other things to think
                         about. Roll up your sleeve.

               Kit shoots a look at the others, who just shrug. With a roll
               of her eyes, she pulls up her sleeve as Vivian moves in.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         You'll feel a little pinch.

               She jabs the syringe into a vein, Kit wincing as she draws
               back a sample of thick, dark blood.

               Vivian rises, examining the contents of the syringe as she
               absently passes a swab of cotton wool to Kit.

                                   TRISTAN
                         What are you hoping to prove?

                                   VIVIAN
                         That you guys are more special than
                         you realise.
                             (beat)
                         You next.

               Tristan GULPS, looking away as Vivian takes a fresh syringe
               and draws a sample of his blood.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         See, my theory is that Parker's
                         game is moving up a few gears, and
                         that he'd only be after species he
                         could get some kind of tactical
                         advantage out of.

                                   TRACY
                         Such as? We're just us. We're not
                         soldiers or anything.

               Lyra COUGHS as Vivian heads over to the lab equipment,
               placing one tube of blood into a machine and setting it off,
               while she opens another, draws out a sample and drips it onto
               a slide, pushing it under a microscope.

               The akercocke can't help but stare as the machines RATTLE and
               WHIRR noisily in the background.

               Lyra tries to distract them, wiping a hand across her brow.

                                   LYRA
                         Maybe it's your strength? Danyael
                         told me one of you hit him pretty
                         hard.

                                   RUBEN
                         Always thought it's cause our bones
                         are a little tougher.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Then maybe that's all this is.

               She peers at a LAPTOP as results starts to scroll down it.
               She follows down several lines - and then stops.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         Or maybe not...

               The others swap nervous looks as we CUT TO:

        22     INT. LAB FACILITY - TUNNELS ENTRANCE - NIGHT            22

               Chris steps into a circular chamber, a large ELEVATOR in the
               middle of the room, descending into the floor.

                                   CHRIS
                         This is it.

               He heads for the control panel as Twist looks around - and
               freezes as she spots a SECURITY CAMERA pointed right at her!

                                   TWIST
                             (hisses)
                         Chris!

               She nods towards the camera, but as Chris looks up it scrolls
               past them, sweeping the room and giving no signal that it's
               seen them.

                                   CHRIS
                             (grins)
                         As if you could ever doubt me.

                                   TWIST
                         Yeah, whatever. Let's just get out
                         of here. That thing's making me
                         nervous.

               The team hear VOICES from nearby as Chris activates the
               elevator platform with a BUZZ.

                                   CHRIS
                         All aboard!

               He ushers the others onto the platform, hitting the 'Down'
               arrow.

               A HATCH beneath them opens up, revealing a lift shaft that
               drops into darkness.

                                   DANYAEL
                         That looks like kind of a long way
                         down...

               Megan grips the platform's railings nervously as the rattling
               elevator starts to descend slowly, and we CUT TO:

        23     INT. OLD BUILDING - NIGHT                               23

               Kit, Ruben, Tristan and Tracy crowd round Vivian as she reads
               the test results off the screen.

                                   KIT
                         What is it? What'd you see?

                                   VIVIAN
                         Not sure yet...

               She moves to a centrifuge, slotting a blood sample into it
               and switching it on.

               She steps back to the laptop, the akercocke glued to her
               side, and after a few moments more results scroll down the
               screen.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         Oh, God...

                                   TRACY
                         What? What?

                                   RUBEN
                         Are we dangerous? Is that it?

                                   VIVIAN
                         I don't - 

                                   LYRA (O.S.)
                             (weakly)
                         Vivian?

               She turns - and sees Lyra is sagging, slumped half against
               one wall, pale and sweating.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Lyra?

               She starts to walk over - and Lyra suddenly VOMITS BLOOD onto
               the floor, collapsing into a heap and RETCHING!

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         Lyra!

               She dives to her side, turning Lyra over. Lyra's face is
               blotchy, the rash spreading down her arms.

                                   KIT
                         Is... is she okay?

               Vivian looks back to the akercocke as they back away, scared,
               and sternly answers:

                                   VIVIAN
                         It's your blood. Your blood is
                         toxic to the living.

               Lyra COUGHS again, Vivian trying to keep her head supported
               as the shocked akercocke cling to one another and we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT TWO
                                      ACT THREE

               FADE IN:

        24     INT. UNDERGROUND LAB - NIGHT                            24

               The elevator lowers itself into frame, coming to a halt under
               a beam of light.

               The team cautiously disembark, faced with an atrium chamber
               and three doors.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Should we split up?

                                   TWIST
                         Yeah, 'cause that always ends so
                         well.

                                   CHRIS
                         Danyael's right. We have a lot of
                         ground to cover, and I can't say
                         for certain how long these charms
                         will stop us being noticed.
                             (to others)
                         Megan, go with Danyael. Twist, you
                         take Ade. We'll take a door each.

                                   MEGAN
                         How will we stay in touch?

               Danyael takes out his cell phone - which starts BUZZING.

                                   DANYAEL
                             (checks caller ID)
                         It's Vivian.
                             (answers)
                         Hello?

                                                         INTERCUT WITH:

        25     INT. OLD BUILDING - NIGHT                               25

               Vivian and Lyra are alone in the room now, with Lyra wrapped
               up in blankets and resting, COUGHING weakly.

                                   VIVIAN
                             (into phone)
                         Danyael, put Chris on.

                                   CHRIS
                             (takes phone)
                         What is it? Did you get your
                         results back?

                                   VIVIAN
                         I did, and...

                                   CHRIS
                             (sighs)
                         I'm not going to like this, am I?

                                   VIVIAN
                         The akercocke's blood contains some
                         kind of toxic element. I only
                         exposed a little of it to the air
                         when I took the samples, but it was
                         enough to almost knock Lyra out.

                                   CHRIS
                             (concerned)
                         Is she alright? What happened?

                                   VIVIAN
                         She had some kind of severe
                         allergic reaction. I think I've got
                         her stabilised, but I can't say for
                         sure.
                             (beat)
                         You figured out what this means
                         yet?

               Chris turns to Megan and Ade.

                                   CHRIS
                         Parker's making a biological
                         weapon.

                                   VIVIAN
                             (nods)
                         And if he's rounded up enough of
                         these people, then he's got all the
                         raw material he needs to make as
                         many damn bombs as he wants.

                                   CHRIS
                         Then we'll make sure we shut his
                         operation down. Keep me posted.

               He hangs up, passing the phone back to Danyael.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Everything alright back on the
                         ranch?

                                   TWIST
                         Yeah, you look kinda pale.
                             (beat)
                         Paler.

                                   ADE
                         I'm sorry - what was that about a
                         'biological weapon'? Couldn't help
                         but notice that!

                                   CHRIS
                         Let's just say we have a much
                         shorter time frame here than I
                         anticipated.

               With that, he turns and marches over to the first door,
               pushing a button to open it and slipping through.

                                   MEGAN
                         He doesn't give much away, does he?

                                   DANYAEL
                         You get used to it.

               The other two teams take a door each as we CUT TO:

        26     INT. UNDERGROUND LAB - CORRIDOR - NEXT                  26

               With Chris first, padding stealthily down one of the long,
               circular corridors that interlock the various segments of the
               base.

               He reaches an access door and peers inside - there's a
               WEAPONS RANGE set up, with white-coated TECHNICIANS firing
               weapons big and small across a target range.

               Chris moves on, pausing at a T-junction and looking both ways
               for a clue where to head next.

               He ducks back as he sees two female LAB ASSISTANTS emerge
               from a doorway down the hall to his left.

               Waiting for them to turn a corner, he jogs up to the door
               they exited, peering in through the small windows to see:

               A large, white room with several huge VATS fixed to the rear
               wall.

               Chris draws his KATANA as he pushes the door open and steps
               inside, and we CUT TO:

        27     INT. UNDERGROUND LAB - WALKWAY - NEXT                   27

               Twist and Ade are standing out of sight on a walkway that
               runs over a hangar of sorts, a replica ALLEYWAY set up below
               them.

               They watch as three black-clad TROOPERS pad down the
               alleyway, fitted up with laser-sighted weapons and night
               vision goggles.

               TARGETS suddenly pop up from doorways and windows, and the
               trio of soldiers OPEN FIRE.

               Their high-calibre weapons SHRED the targets in seconds, the
               smoking remains clicking back out of sight.

                                   ADE
                         Suddenly I'm starting to think
                         maybe we should have brought some
                         weapons.

               Twist throws him a look, then starts to move on. Ade pauses
               to watch the troopers as they OPEN FIRE again, before
               following Twist as we CUT TO:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.