sib4x16
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        14     EXT. STREET - NEXT                                      14

               The VAN drives at speed along down a street as we hear the
               BEEPING of the device.

                                   VIVIAN (PRELAP)
                         Left here.

               The van spools left, turning down another road.

        15     INT. VAN - NEXT                                         15

               ON Vivian's device, a signal FLASHING as it continues to beep
               - which grows steadily faster.

                                   CHRIS
                         How much further?

                                   VIVIAN
                             (studying device)
                         We're closing in.

               She looks up, sees a CAR PARK entrance coming up.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                             (points)
                         Turn off here!

                                                                CUT TO:

        16     EXT. CAR PARK - NEXT                                    16

               The van VEERS OFF right into a desolate car park. PAN UP to
               see behind it a tall, abandoned OFFICE BUILDING on the edge
               of the financial district of the city.

        17     INT. VAN - NEXT                                         17

               Parking up near the front of the building, Chris looks toward
               Vivian as her eyes remain focused on the device.

               In the back, the others look at the office through the front
               windscreen.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Looks completely dead.

                                   TWIST
                         Hey, we're living proof of how
                         awesome that can look.

                                   DANYAEL
                         I mean, there's no power. No
                         electricity. Unlike the rest of the
                         block.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Not quite.
                             (off the device)
                         I'm getting a hit of electricity
                         from within the building.
                         Localised.

                                   CHRIS
                         That must be our girl. She's gone
                         to ground.

                                   LYRA
                             (nods)
                         In the one building without any
                         kind of power running through it.
                             (cocks her head)
                         Neat.

                                   CHRIS
                         Then let's get her out of there
                         before Parker's footsoldiers do.

               Danyael, Lyra, Marcus and Vivian all respectively step out of
               the van. Twist goes to do the same, as Chris sees:

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         Twist, you stay here.

                                   TWIST
                             (frowns)
                         What? Wh -

               Chris looks at Sophia, sitting cross-legged nearby, still
               toying with her slinky.

               As Twist realises why, Chris steps out and closes the van
               door behind him.

               Twist SIGHS a little but then smiles a hint when she sees
               Sophia's sweet face, off which we CUT TO:

        18     EXT. OFFICE BUILDING ENTRANCE - NIGHT                   18

               From a distant BINOCULAR shot, we see Chris and his team
               striding toward the main DOOR.

               As the binoculars lower, we see who have been watching them.
               This is SQUAD THETA.

               Six very burly mercenaries dressed up like soldiers in
               tactical camouflage gear, packing some serious hardware.

               A seventh is their commander - the imposing THETA LEADER -
               who holds the binoculars and steps forward a little out of
               car park shadows disguising them.

                                   THETA LEADER
                             (gravelly voice)
                         Doctor Parker wants the specimen
                         alive. Let's not disappoint him.

                                   THETA #2
                         And any external threats to her
                         recovery?

                                   THETA LEADER
                             (give it a beat)
                         Neutralise them.

               Off that ominous order, as a familiar BEEPING cuts in, we CUT
               TO:

        19     INT. OFFICE BUILDING - FOURTH FLOOR - NEXT              19

               Vivian, eyes on the BEEPING device in her hands, moving
               through the abandoned floor of the building - the interior in
               total, chaotic disrepair.

               Chris follows close behind, hand on his sword hilt, while
               Lyra hovers just behind him with a gun-toting Danyael, the
               highly alert Marcus taking the rear.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Please tell my aching calves she's
                         on this floor.

                                   VIVIAN
                         She's on this floor.

               As Danyael looks relieved, Vivian suddenly stops - the others
               following suit.

                                   CHRIS
                         What is it, Vivian?

                                   VIVIAN
                             (off the device)
                         This isn't good.

               Chris approaches her, looking at the device.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         I'm getting six distinct new
                         electrical signatures, approaching
                         fast. Not as powerful. I'd say it's
                         coming from weaponry.

               ON THE DEVICE as six more overlapping BEEPING flashes begin
               appearing, flanking out.

                                   CHRIS
                         It's Parker.

                                   MARCUS
                         Then we'd better move.

               Tracking the girl's unique signature, the team head off.

                                                                CUT TO:

        20     INT. OFFICE BUILDING - STAIRWELL - NEXT                 20

               Squad Theta are pulsing up the stairs, using their own GPS
               trackers to head for the fourth floor.

               They have advanced TASER weapon LASER-SIGHTS aimed and ready
               to fire.

                                                                CUT TO:

        21     INT. FOURTH FLOOR - STORAGE ROOM - NEXT                 21

               A door bursts open and as the BEEPING reaches a crescendo,
               Vivian rushes in with the others in tow.

               All stop inside a cramped storage room with a few TABLES and
               SHELVES, pretty much in almost pitch darkness.

                                   VIVIAN
                             (whispers)
                         She's in here...

               All five creep through the gloom, looking around - only the
               BEEPING audible.

               Suddenly, they hear a GASP from one of the dark corners,
               WHIPPING AROUND to see the shadow of someone crouching.

                                   DAWN
                         Please...

               Marcus pulls out a TORCH, shines it straight at Dawn - her
               hoodied, terrified form visible, she blinking in the light.

                                   DAWN (cont'd)
                         Please leave... leave me alone...

               Lyra steps forward slowly.

                                   LYRA
                         We're not here to hurt you. We came
                         to help.

                                   DAWN
                         You can't... you can't help me...
                             (shakes her head)
                         No one can.

                                   LYRA
                         We're not just anyone.
                             (smiles)
                         My name is Lyra. What's yours?

                                   DAWN
                             (long beat)
                         D- Dawn...

                                   LYRA
                             (nods)
                         Come with us, Dawn. We can -

               PFFFFFTT! A hail of machine-gun bullets come flying,
               shattering windows looking out into the main floor area!

               In formation, Squad Theta have weapons raised - Theta Leader
               leading the barrage.

               Our team and Dawn hit the deck - Danyael catching a bullet in
               the back of his leg! He SPASMS for a beat as he hits the
               floor.

                                   DANYAEL
                         Ah, damn it!

               Vivian looks at his wound.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Electrical stun bullets. You're
                         lucky you're already dead.

                                   DANYAEL
                             (dry)
                         Believe me, I feel lucky.

               PFFFFT! More bullets rage in, our team keeping down, but then
               Lyra notices Dawn is up, shaking her head.

               She's backing away towards one of the PLAIN-GLASS WINDOWS
               overlooking the cityscape.

                                   LYRA
                         No, Dawn! Get down!

                                   DAWN
                             (shakes her head)
                         I can't let them... get me...

               Lyra looks horrified as suddenly, the window behind Dawn
               EXPLODES INWARD, glass flying everywhere!

               Three mysterious, BLACK-CLAD FIGURES rappel down from outside
               - pushing Dawn to the floor as they fire machine guns back at
               Squad Theta!

               Chris looks totally confused as Theta Leader barks for them
               to take cover, they hitting the deck and diving behind broken
               furniture!

               Theta #4 and Theta #6 are hit - one hitting the wall in an
               explosion of bullets, the other collapsing from one in the
               head!

                                   CHRIS
                             (shouts)
                         What the hell is going on?

               Lyra spots the rappelling Figures proceed to grab a SCREAMING
               Dawn, hands wearing protective gloves, dragging her out the
               window!

               She gets up, despite the danger, runs toward the window!

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         Lyra, no!

               Lyra's too late however - the Figures proceed to WINCH
               UPWARDS swiftly, carrying the screaming Dawn with them!

               Getting to the open window, Lyra looks up - sees a HELICOPTER
               hovering above the building, winching them in.

               And as it flies away at speed, Lyra's face is a mask of
               worry.

                                   LYRA
                         Dawn!!

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

               FADE IN:

        22     INT. OFFICE BUILDING - STORAGE ROOM - NIGHT             22

               As before. Lyra stares at the helicopter as it flies away
               into the night sky.

                                   LYRA
                         Chris! They've taken her!

                                   MARCUS
                         But who exactly are 'they'?

               Before they can ponder the question:

               PFFFT! More gunfire from the recovered Squad Theta, Lyra
               hitting the deck to avoid bullets, as do the others.

               Except Chris - who draws his KATANA and races out toward
               Theta Leader, deflecting BULLETS incoming with swipes of his
               sword!

               Taking the cue, Danyael gets behind a cover spot and begins
               FIRING at the team!

               Chris keeps on barrelling toward them, sword swiping away and
               ducking the bullets!

               He finally reaches Theta Leader, SLICES HIS GUN IN HALF and
               then grabs him by the collar, SLAMMING him hard up the
               nearest wall!

               Theta's #1, 2, 3 and 5 all turn and square their GUNS at
               Chris's head...

               ... but on cue, Danyael appears and aims his gun at Theta
               #1's head.

                                   DANYAEL
                         I believe that's checkmate.

               A GROWL prefigures Marcus, now menacingly in half GAROU form,
               prowling around the Theta's training weapons on Chris, ready
               to slice them up.

               A standoff.

                                   CHRIS
                             (to Theta Leader)
                         Right, now things are equalled,
                         time you answer a few questions.
                             (beat)
                         You were sent by Angus Parker. He
                         wants this girl, Dawn. What you're
                         going to tell us is why.

               He nods towards the feral Marcus.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         Or my friend here is going to
                         fashion himself a new set of
                         toothpicks from whatever's left of
                         you.

               A fairly long beat, Theta Leader assessing his options.

                                   THETA LEADER
                         She's a specimen. She escaped your
                         pillaging of Doctor Parker's lab.

               It dawns on them all - as a shocked Lyra approaches.

                                   LYRA
                         She was one of them. One of the
                         inhumans!

               Chris looks back at Theta Leader with a frown - his silence
               confirms it. Vivian approaches, head as ever in her device.

                                   VIVIAN
                         I've rejigged the settings. I've
                         got a beat on that chopper but not
                         for long.
                             (looks at Chris)
                         We need to scoot. Now.

               An angry Chris looks at Theta Leader, clearly not happy at
               leaving these mercs be.

                                   MARCUS
                         Chris.
                             (off Chris' look)
                         We should fight one battle at a
                         time.

               Wise words, which Chris knows - and after one last stern look
               at Theta Leader, he let's him go. The standoff remains for a
               beat.

                                   THETA LEADER
                             (to his men)
                         Lower your weapons.

               Reluctantly... the Theta's do as ordered and with that, Chris
               strides off and his team swiftly follow, Danyael leaving the
               Theta's with dirty looks.

               Once they're gone, Theta #1 approaches Theta Leader, watching
               them go.

                                   THETA #1
                         Should we kill them, sir?

                                   THETA LEADER
                         No, they're useful. Besides...
                         Parker wants them alive.

               Theta #1 nods and off Theta Leader's stern expression, we CUT
               TO:

        23     INT. VAN - NEXT                                         23

               A very bored-looking Twist, nodding her head to 'Got You By
               the Balls' by AC/DC which cranks loudly out of the radio.

               She's TWIRLING Duggan around in her hands, clearly itching
               for some kind of battle.

               Behind her, Sophia sits reading a comic-book '8th Wonders' -
               but looks up, curious at seeing the twirling baseball bat.

               She climbs up toward the front next to Twist.

                                   SOPHIA
                         Why do you have a baseball bat?

               Twist grins, twirling the bat once more before presenting it
               reverently to Sophia.

                                   TWIST
                         Honey, this is no mere bat. This...
                         is Duggan.

                                   SOPHIA
                         'Duggan'?

                                   TWIST
                         Probably my best friend. Never
                         let's me down, always there when I
                         need him... and he can kick
                         almighty ass.

                                   SOPHIA
                             (confused)
                         But it's... just a piece of wood.

               Twist looks at her, smiles sympathetically - she's too young
               to grasp the concept.

                                   SOPHIA (cont'd)
                             (after a beat)
                         What do you all do? What are your
                         jobs?

               Twist opens her mouth to answer... but she considers it,
               doesn't know quite what to say.

               She's saved by the van doors SLIDING OPEN - Danyael, Marcus
               and Lyra jumping the back while Chris and Vivian enter the
               front.

                                   TWIST
                             (looks around)
                         No Electro Girl?

                                   LYRA
                             (to Marcus)
                         She got that from me.

                                   TWIST
                             (ignores her)
                         So where is she?

                                   CHRIS
                             (beat)
                         That's what we'd like to know.

               Off Twist's puzzled look as the van speeds off, we CUT TO:

        24     EXT. CARGO FREIGHTER - NIGHT                            24

               A huge freighter, docked on the side of a river, it's top
               deck patrolled by some very nasty-looking South East Asian
               MERCENARIES with big guns.

               TITLE OVER: HUDSON RIVER, NEW YORK CITY

               The helicopter is approaching through the night as we CUT TO:

        25     EXT. TOP DECK - CARGO FREIGHTER - NEXT                  25

               On a helipad at the end of the freighter, the chopper lands
               as a rather smug Indonesian guy - LEUNG - arrives to greet it
               with two heavies.

               The door opens as two of the black-clad Figures bundle the
               scared Dawn off, even more disturbed at how lasciviously
               Leung regards her.

               He gets a bit too close to Dawn for her comfort.

                                   LEUNG
                         I'm Leung. There's a man who'd like
                         to see you, Dawn.

               Leung TAKES HER HAND while giving her a creepy smile - he
               noticeably wearing protective gloves - and escorts Dawn
               across the top deck.

               She passes numerous mercs all wearing ARMBANDS bearing the
               symbol of a glowing, or perhaps shining, sword - as does
               Leung. We CUT TO:

        26     INT. BRIDGE - CARGO FREIGHTER                           26

               The door opens, Leung standing near it as he guides Dawn in,
               she facing several heavies on the spacious bridge overlooking
               the deck below.

               One man, quite well-dressed in smart-leather, has his back to
               her. It's obvious he's in charge.

                                   LEATHER MAN
                             (deep voice)
                         It's a pleasure to have you here,
                         Dawn.

                                   DAWN
                             (frightened)
                         I think... I think you have the
                         wrong person.

               Leather Man shakes his head as he turns - revealed to be
               early 40's, close-cropped hair, chiselled jaw.

                                   LEATHER MAN
                         I don't think so.
                             (smiles)
                         My name is Gabriel Macer. And I
                         know who you are.

               GABRIEL approaches where Dawn nervously stands.

                                   GABRIEL
                         I know about Angus Parker. I know
                         about his labs. I know what he did
                         to you. What he made you capable
                         of.
                             (chuckles)
                         In fact, I was about to break in
                         and take you for myself, but then
                         my job became a lot easier when you
                         escaped after it was destroyed. I
                         really should thank whoever did
                         that.

                                   DAWN
                             (beat)
                         How do you... know all this?

               Gabriel gets up CLOSE into her face, not a little creepy
               himself.

                                   GABRIEL
                         I know... because once upon a time,
                         Doctor Parker was my boss.
                             (off Dawn's surprise)
                         And once I help these guys strike
                         at the greed-filled heart of this
                         country, you, Dawn are going to
                         help me do that Scottish son of a
                         bitch some real damage.

               Off Dawn's concerned look at this declaration, we CUT TO:

        27     EXT. RIVERBANK - THE HUDSON - DAWN                      27

               The van pulls up on a remote, tree-lined section of the
               famous river - the looming shadow of New York City visible in
               the distance.

               Vivian is the first out, BEEPING device in hand, moving
               toward the edge. Chris is close behind her.

                                   VIVIAN
                             (nods)
                         Dawn's signal is pretty clear.
                         Definitely coming from there.

               She points toward the FREIGHTER - visibly parked a few
               hundred metres off shore.

               Twist hears this as she approaches with Sophia - Marcus, Lyra
               and Danyael close behind.

                                   TWIST
                         Oh, great. Easy. We just go for a
                         swim out there, and no wait we
                         can't because of the Sun.

                                   CHRIS
                         I might be able to create a
                         teleportation spell, if we can get
                         a concrete lock on Dawn's signal.
                             (looks at all)
                         We're dealing with powerful magic
                         here so I'll probably only be able
                         to take two.

                                   TWIST
                             (raises hand eagerly)
                         Ooh ooh! Over here!

                                   CHRIS
                         Marcus, you join Vivian and I.
                             (off Twist's crestfallen
                              look)
                         The rest of you, get the van ready
                         for a speedy departure. This spell
                         is only one way and we'll have to
                         get Dawn off that ship the old
                         fashioned way.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Screaming and flailing our arms?

               The others begin returning to the van, Twist giving Chris a
               frowning look, as Lyra pulls him aside.

                                   LYRA
                             (concerned)
                         Chris, this spell... please tell
                         me, is it...

                                   CHRIS
                             (patient)
                         Lyra. It is not dark magic.
                             (off Lyra's unsure look)
                         It's simply a rarely-used spell,
                         quite arcane. Trust me.

                                   LYRA
                             (beat)
                         I do trust you. I just don't trust
                         that magic any more.

               Chris gathers Marcus and the device-holding Vivian near him.

                                   CHRIS
                             (to both)
                         You ready?

                                   VIVIAN
                         Beam us up, Scotty.

                                   CHRIS
                         I'll, uh... take that as a 'yes'.

               Vivian grins and as everyone watches, Chris begins chanting
               an arcane language, invoking the spell.

               A strange VORTEX appears around he, Vivian and Marcus...
               before as Chris climaxes the chant, it sucks them right in
               and they disappear in a blink!

               Off the reactions of Twist, Danyael, Lyra and Sophia.

                                   SOPHIA
                         That was cool. Can we go next?

               Twist throws her a weary look as we CUT TO:

        28     INT. MAINTENANCE ROOM - CARGO FREIGHTER - DAWN          28

               The VORTEX reappears, shimmering... before in a blink, Chris,
               Marcus and Vivian appear out of nowhere!

               As the vortex collapses behind them, all three show signs of
               wooziness - Vivian having to hold onto a BULKHEAD to keep
               steady.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Damn, I can see why no one uses
                         that often. I feel as though
                         someone just scrambled my
                         intestines!

                                   CHRIS
                         Yes, definitely a once in a blue
                         moon spell, for sure.

               They survey their surroundings - a standard maintenance room
               for storage, several TANKERS lying around.

                                   MARCUS
                             (to Vivian)
                         What does the device say? Which
                         way?

               Vivian checks the device - now rapidly BEEPING.

                                   VIVIAN
                         If this is right... Dawn should be
                         here. The spell was pinpointed to
                         the electrical signal.

               All three look around - it's a small room, no sign of Dawn
               visible anywhere.

                                   CHRIS
                         Hmm. Odd.
                             (beat)
                         Fan out. Look around. See if you
                         can -

                                   MARCUS
                         Wait.

               They look in Marcus' direction as he spots something GLOWING
               slightly in a corner... soon pulling out a piece of makeshift
               ELECTRICAL WIRING, charged up.

                                   MARCUS (cont'd)
                             (holds it up)
                         I think we've been had.

                                   CHRIS
                             (nods)
                         A simulator. Designed to replicate
                         Dawn's signal.

               Frustrated, Vivian switches off her device and pockets it.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                             (sighs)
                         Which means we're dealing with
                         someone who knows the methods we're
                         using here.

               Vivian takes the 'simulator' from Marcus and PULLS IT APART
               with a little grunt!

                                   VIVIAN
                         Who the hell are these guys?

               She plants her hands on her hips as we CUT TO:

        29     INT. CORRIDOR - CARGO FREIGHTER - MOMENTS LATER         29

               Striding down a corridor in the freighter bowels now, Chris
               has his katana ready, Vivian wields TWIN-GUNS and Marcus
               looks ready to 'wolf out' any second.

               All look around as they move through... but they come across
               no one.

                                   MARCUS
                         Where did everybody go?

               It's a question Chris can't answer as he leads them on,
               towards:

        30     INT. BRIDGE - CARGO FREIGHTER - NEXT                    30

               Opening the door, Chris is the first in - poised for battle,
               Marcus and Vivian close behind...

               ... but it's completely empty. Surprise, surprise.

                                   VIVIAN
                             (realises)
                         Those sons of guns abandoned ship.
                         Dawn's gone.

                                   MARCUS
                         Leaving us with no clear way of
                         tracking her.

               A beat - before Vivian spots Chris looking through a door at
               the back of the bridge.

                                   VIVIAN
                             (approaches him)
                         Chris, what is it?

               ON CHRIS, who stands looking through into what we CUT TO see
               is a treasure trove of information - a small 'ready room'
               filled with stuff.

               Vivian looks surprised to see it, as does Marcus.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         Xanadu!

               Chris steps into the sub-room, we seeing what he does - the
               'Sword' symbol again, MAPS of New York City dotted around the
               walls - Wall Street in particular.

               There are detailed SCHEMATICS of the Federal Reserve Bank
               too, taking up a large proportion.

                                   MARCUS
                         Whoever these people are, the
                         information here suggests one doozy
                         of a plan they're cooking up.

                                   CHRIS
                             (looks at a wall)
                         I know this place...

               He moves closer to a nearby wall - containing more SCHEMATICS
               of numerous lab facilities, as well as corresponding CD's and
               DOSSIERS.

                                   CHRIS (cont'd)
                         These are Parker's labs. There must
                         be a dozen here, all mapped out.
                             (shakes his head)
                         This is incredible.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Whoever does have Dawn, they
                         clearly know who she is and where
                         she came from.
                             (fingers a dossier)
                         We got ourselves a trove here,
                         Chris. All this stuff could be
                         invaluable.

               Chris nods in agreement, still studying the maps.

                                   MARCUS (O.C.)
                         Look at this...

               Both turn to face him - see Marcus hold up a recorded DVD
               marked 'STATEMENT - COPY 2.'

                                   CHRIS
                         Play it.

               CUT TO moments later - Marcus having now set up the DVD onto
               a wall-mounted screen, playing it as he, Chris and Vivian
               watch.

               The screen fills with static... before Gabriel appears,
               facing into camera, sitting before a large drape of the
               'Sword' symbol.

                                   GABRIEL
                         My name is of no importance. All
                         you need to know is that I
                         represent the Shining Sword.
                             (blank looks from Chris
                              and co.)
                         By now, you'll be aware of our
                         position. Wall Street is facing an
                         economic crisis that has crippled
                         the exorbitant West, allowing the
                         freedom fighters of the world to
                         defeat the corporate Shaitan that
                         is America...

               Gabriel keeps ranting through the TV as:

                                   VIVIAN
                         Jesus, this guy get a bad case of
                         the Bin Laden's, or what?

                                   CHRIS
                         Ladies and gentlemen, I think we've
                         found our -

               BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The device in Vivian's pocket begins to
               rapidly cycle as she pulls it out, getting a signal.

                                   VIVIAN
                         What the -

               She follows the signal as Chris and Marcus watch... right to
               an ELECTRICAL EXPLOSIVE which has now activated, planted on
               the back of the DVD player!

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         Bomb! Bomb! We got a bomb!

               Chris races over... sees the explosive timer counting down...

               ... 27 ... 26 ... 25 ...

                                   MARCUS
                         We have to get out of here, now!

               He and Vivian are already halfway out the door, but turn to
               see Chris YANKING the maps off the walls, gathering up
               dossiers.

                                   VIVIAN
                         Chris, what are you doing?!? We
                         gotta go!!

                                   CHRIS
                         We need this, Vivian! All of this!

                                   VIVIAN
                         We also need to be alive! Or
                         undead... whatever, let's just go!

               Chris continues trying to gather the Parker information.

                                   VIVIAN (cont'd)
                         Christopher Berkeley! You get your
                         tight British ass out here now!!

               The sharpness in Vivian's voice alerts Chris and as he sees
               the anger in her face, he relents.

               The trio bolt out the door as we rest on the explosive...

               ... 8 ... 7 ... 6 ...
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