6x05
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.

[ bottom ]
                                       TEASER

                                                               FADE IN:

         1     EXT. LA – STREET. NIGHT.                                 1

               A dark alleyway. FOOTSTEPS sound as a pair of feet and the
               accompanying shadow walk down the street, before pausing at
               the entrance to an alleyway. The walker turns and disappears
               down into the alley.

         2     EXT. LA – ALLEY. NIGHT.                                  2

               The figure is now seen to be a young man in his late teens,
               and as he passes through a patch of light thrown across the
               alley, he's revealed as CONNOR.

               He pauses, glancing up and down the alley, as though he's
               waiting for someone. Nobody's around, and Connor pulls his
               jacket tight around him, his breath misting in the cold
               evening air.

               A shadowy figure drops silently down from a fire escape
               overhead and into the alley behind Connor, but they've only
               taken a few steps when Connor tenses up, his keenly-developed
               senses picking up on the intruder.

               He grins, slowly turning round just a little.

               The intruder closes right up, and reaches a hand out to grab
               Connor's shoulder…

               And Connor spins round snatching the wrist out of the air. He
               smiles and shakes his head.

                                   CONNOR
                         Sorry, got to try harder than that!

               SONIA sighs, and rolls her eyes with a smile as Connor
               releases her hand and she steps back. She's dressed mainly in
               black, but her long blonde hair is worn loosely round her
               shoulders.

                                   SONIA
                         That was creepy. How the hell did
                         you hear me? I didn't make a sound!

                                   CONNOR
                         I've had… practice. At least when
                         it comes to things sneaking up on
                         me. Long story.

               The duo start to walk back towards the city street.

                                   SONIA
                         So! Been here long?

                                   CONNOR
                         No, just got here, like you asked.
                         I made sure nobody saw me sneaking
                         out, doubled back to shake any
                         tails too.

                                   SONIA
                         Not even Angel?

                                   CONNOR
                         He's in Cleveland, somebody sent
                         him this old scroll or something a
                         few days ago, and he said it had
                         something to do with Buffy, so he
                         took a flight out to go see her. I
                         think he'll be back just now, but
                         not until the morning.

                                   SONIA
                             (cheeky grin)
                         So… just us, then, huh?

                                   CONNOR
                         Looks that way, yeah.

                                   SONIA
                         Cool!

               Sonia beams back at Connor, as we cut to:

         3     EXT. LA – STREET. NIGHT.                                 3

               Sonia grabs Connor's hand and starts to jog towards the
               bright lights of the city centre, laughing. It's an
               infectiously bubbly laugh, and Connor can't help but smile
               back at her.

                                   CONNOR
                         What's so funny?

                                   SONIA
                         Oh, you know! Youthful rebellion.
                         Reminds me of sneaking out and
                         going partying with my girlfriends
                         when I was younger!

                                   CONNOR
                         Where are we headed?

                                   SONIA
                         Wherever the mood takes us! Come
                         on!

               As the duo race away from us, we crane upwards to take in a
               wider shot of the city, it's lights glaring as we dissolve
               to:

         4     EXT. LA – STREET/HYPERION. LATER.                        4

               Connor and Sonia are walking away from a street burger
               vendor, chowing down on their hot dogs and still chatting,
               and we pick up their conversation.

                                   CONNOR
                         So then, next thing I know, I've
                         put an axe in this demon's skull!
                         It was like my body just took over
                         and told me what to do, I was just
                         along for the ride.

                                   SONIA
                         Wow. I mean, how do you get your
                         head round something like that?
                         Suddenly finding out you're, like,
                         a superhero, or something!

                                   CONNOR
                         Well, I wouldn't say that, just-

                                   SONIA
                         Uh-oh, time to split. We're almost
                         back at your place.

                                   CONNOR
                             (disappointed)
                         Oh, yeah… Well, I had fun tonight.
                         Thanks, Sonia.

                                   SONIA
                         No problem. Let's do this again
                         real-

               They both whip round as a SCREAM echoes up the street towards
               them. They share a look, then Sonia grins and they race off
               screen.

         5     EXT. PARKING LOT. NIGHT.                                 5

               A young WOMAN is cowering on the floor as a spiky DEMON
               lumbers up to her. She's already cut and scratched, and
               raises a hand defensively as the Demon looms over her.

               The Demon ROARS – and is cut-off mid-roar as Connor BARGES it
               to the ground.

               Sonia helps the woman to her feet as Connor starts fighting
               with the Demon, but it's pretty tough, shrugging off his
               blows and tossing him to one side.

               The Demon jumps to its feet and advances on Sonia and the
               woman, Sonia standing protectively before her.

                                   SONIA
                         Alright, freak, time to-

               SMACK! The Demon swats her to the floor without breaking
               stride. The terrified woman SCREAMS again as it reaches out a
               claw for her…

                                   SONIA (O.S.) (cont'd)
                         Hey!

               The Demon spins round – and is staring straight down the
               barrel of Sonia's gun.

               Without a word, she FIRES four times into its head, and the
               Demon judders, collapsing to the ground with a sigh.

               Connor picks himself up and hurries over, looking from the
               dead Demon to Sonia and back, startled.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                             (holsters gun)
                         Yeah, I know. Tougher than I look.

               As she steps forward to help the woman back up, we push in on
               Connor's expression of surprise before we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                    END OF TEASER
                                       ACT ONE

                                                               FADE IN:

         6     INT. HYPERION – CONNOR'S ROOM. MORNING.                  6

               We fade in on Connor's neatly-kept room, with a rumple of
               bedclothes and one arm showing us where Connor is sleeping.
               With a GROAN, he slowly sits up, blinking with bleary eyes
               and looking round.

               As Connor yawns and then grimaces and presses one hand to his
               head, there is a female GROAN from the other side of the
               room, and Sonia sits up from beneath a pile of coats and
               shirts, scratching her head.

               There's a moment as their eyes meet.

                                   CONNOR
                         Uh… hi.

                                   SONIA
                         Hi.

                                   CONNOR
                         So… what the hell happened last
                         night? I remember you shooting that
                         demon, then you got all excited,
                         and-

                                   SONIA
                             (rubs eyes)
                         And I took you round a few of my
                         favourite bars, and then…

               There's a beat as they both freeze, check under their
               bedclothes and sigh as they realise they're still clothed.
               They look up again and chuckle.

                                   CONNOR
                         Well, that's one potentially
                         embarrassing thing we avoided!

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah, not sure how we'd explain
                         that to your dad!

               There's a KNOCK at the door, and Sonia dives out of sight
               beneath the coats and shirts.

                                   CONNOR
                         Uh… hello?

                                   NINA (O.S.)
                         Connor? You up yet? Angel still
                         isn't back, so I went ahead and
                         made us some breakfast.

                                   CONNOR
                         Oh, okay, I'll be, er, down in a
                         minute.

               He waits as Nina's footsteps fade away, and Sonia peeks back
               out again.

                                   SONIA
                         I should probably get going,
                         Taylor's probably already sent
                         people out looking for me. I've
                         missed about three check-ins
                         already!

                                   CONNOR
                         Um, yeah, sure.

               She stands, hands wrapping her hair in a loose ponytail. She
               realises Connor is watching her and grins at him. He blushes
               and gets up, grabbing a shirt and pulling it on.

                                   CONNOR
                         So, uh, you want to grab something
                         to eat? I don't think Nina would
                         mind that you're here, she's pretty
                         cool about stuff like that.

                                   NINA (O.S.)
                         About stuff like what?

               Connor and Sonia whip round – and NINA is standing in the now
               open doorway, arms folded and a wry grin on her face.

                                   CONNOR
                         Nina! How did-

                                   NINA
                             (taps nose)
                         Sense of smell. What's the matter?
                         You afraid I'm gonna tell Angel?

                                   CONNOR
                         Well, we, uh-

                                   SONIA
                         It was my fault, we went out and
                         took out a demon last night, then
                         we got a bit carried away, and-

                                   NINA
                             (sniffs)
                         Plenty of beers, with a few vodka
                         and coke chasers! I just hope
                         neither of you got carded, you're
                         not twenty-one yet, are you, honey?

               Connor slumps, defeated, and Sonia lets out a quick giggle as
               she makes her way across the room.

                                   NINA (cont'd)
                         Come on, breakfast's ready. And my
                         cooking kicks ass, now I can
                         actually see what I'm doing again…

               The girls exit, leaving Connor alone. He looks round the room
               for a moment, then as a smile starts to creep across his
               face, he stands and follows them out.

         7     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. MORNING.                          7

               Nina and Sonia walk down into the lobby of the hotel, where
               Nina has set up a makeshift dining table across the reception
               desk.

                                   NINA
                         You wait here, I'll go get
                         everything. I got carried away and
                         made up eggs, bacon, sausages – I
                         wasn't sure what anybody wanted, so
                         I made everything!

               Nina pats Sonia on the arm as she heads away, then pauses and
               turns back round. Sonia pauses, wondering why Nina looks so
               concerned all of a sudden.

                                   NINA (cont'd)
                         Are you feeling alright, Sonia?
                         Your arm… well, it was ice cold.

               Sonia presses a hand to her forearm, frowns, then presses
               another to her head.

                                   SONIA
                         Huh, that's odd… I mean, I've got a
                         headache hanging round the back of
                         my skull, but other than that, I
                         don't feel too bad…

               Connor heads into the lobby and picks up on Sonia's concerned
               look.

                                   CONNOR
                         What's up?

                                   SONIA
                         Oh, nothing, I just feel a little,
                         well… cold.

                                   NINA (O.S.)
                         Let me see what I can do about
                         that!

               Nina walks back into frame with three plates loaded with a
               man-sized cooked breakfast each. Sonia's eyes light up and
               she grabs a fork, greedily wolfing down a rasher of bacon as
               a bemused Connor watches.

                                   CONNOR
                         Anybody's think Taylor didn't let
                         you eat properly!

                                   SONIA
                         He has some pretty out there ideas
                         about rationing and survivalism. I
                         tend to sneak home for a good meal
                         whenever I can! As long as he
                         doesn't-

               She's interrupted by her pager BEEPING. With a guilty look,
               she checks the number and looks to Nina.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         Um, can I use the phone? I think
                         I'm in trouble.

                                   NINA
                         Sure, go for it.

               As Sonia disappears into Angel's office, Nina watches Connor
               eat for a moment before Connor blinks and looks back up at
               her.

                                   CONNOR
                         What?

                                   NINA
                         So!

                                   CONNOR
                             (wary)
                         Uh-oh…

                                   NINA
                         Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask for
                         details. I can tell you two had a
                         good night, so that's between you
                         two. Just glad to see you with
                         someone, you know? I was kinda
                         thinking you might be feeling a bit
                         weird about me staying here.

                                   CONNOR
                         What? No. I mean, what you and
                         Angel do isn't any of my business,
                         but you make him happy, so that's
                         fine by me.
                             (beat)
                         But not too happy, else…

                                   NINA
                             (sighs)
                         Yeah, I know.

               A beat as they carry on eating, before Connor glances toward
               the office then leans forward, speaking quietly.

                                   CONNOR
                         There was one thing about last
                         night that was kind of weird,
                         though.

                                   NINA
                         What?

                                   CONNOR
                         We found this demon attacking
                         someone not far from here, and we
                         ran over to help, and Sonia, she
                         just pulled this gun, and-

                                   SONIA (O.S.)
                         Hoo boy…

               Connor leans back quickly as Sonia enters the scene and sits
               back down.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         I'm in trouble. I'd better go.

                                   NINA
                         You got enough time to stay and
                         finish breakfast?

                                   SONIA
                         Yeah, I think I'll…

               Sonia trails off, staring blankly down at her plate for a
               moment. She looks a little spaced out, and then shakes her
               head and blinks.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         I'm suddenly not that hungry… uh,
                         sorry, but you two are gonna have
                         to finish this. I've gotta split.

               She hops down off the stool as Nina throws a puzzled look at
               Connor.

               Sonia heads up the steps to the front door.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                             (to Connor)
                         So, I'll see you soon, right?

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah, hope so.

               With a last smile, she turns and leaves. Connor turns back to
               Nina, now sharing her puzzled expression.

                                   NINA
                         Something wrong with my cooking?

                                   CONNOR
                         No, it's great, which makes that
                         all the more weird. She didn't stop
                         eating last night, I think she's
                         got the metabolism of a humming
                         bird!

               Nina frowns, then shrugs and carries on eating.

                                   CONNOR (cont'd)
                         Oh, did Angel get chance to speak
                         to mom and dad before he left? He
                         said he was going to so he could
                         explain about me staying here, you
                         know, to make sure they were cool
                         about it.

                                   NINA
                         Yeah, Angel went to see them,
                         explained what was going on, and
                         they wanted you to stay here so
                         Angel can help you understand your
                         powers better. Advantage for him
                         being he's gone through it all with
                         you once already! They said any
                         time you want to swing by, you can,
                         but they're cool about you being
                         here.

               Connor nods, satisfied, and finishes his breakfast. He throws
               one last glance towards the door before we cut to:

         8     INT. SONIA'S PARENTS' HOUSE – BATHROOM. MORNING.         8

               Sonia combs her hair, a towel wrapped round her and still wet
               from the shower. She finds a knot and tugs at it, trying to
               pull it clear.

               She freezes, and slowly moves her hand away – and she's
               pulled out a clump of her hair. Looking down at it with wide
               eyes, she leans forward and starts checking the rest of her
               scalp in the mirror – and more hairs are starting to come
               away.

               She steps back, starting to get pretty freaked out, and
               dashes back into her room.

         9     INT. BEDROOM. MORNING.                                   9

               Sonia's room is a modestly furnished and fairly girly place,
               but the affluence of her parents stands out in the quality of
               the décor.

               Sonia sits down on the bed and carries on picking at her
               hair, more and more strands falling away as she looks on in
               horror.

               She's hyperventilating, and presses a hand against her chest
               to steady herself.

               A beat, before she registers more surprise, and starts moving
               her hand across her chest as though searching for a
               heartbeat.

               Now very freaked out, she reaches for the bedside phone and
               quickly dials in a number.

        10     INT. HYPERION – LOBBY. MORNING.                         10

               Connor steps into frame to answer the phone.

                                   CONNOR
                         Hello?

                                   SONIA
                             (filtered; through phone)
                         Connor? Connor, can you come over?
                         Something… something weird's going
                         on, and I don't know what to do!

                                   CONNOR
                         Hey, slow down. What's the matter?
                         Are you okay?

                                   SONIA
                         No, I'm not okay! Look, it's too
                         weird to explain, you've just gotta
                         come over, okay? Bring Nina if you
                         want, I just… I can't call Taylor,
                         I don't want him to find out where
                         I was all night!

                                   CONNOR
                         Okay, okay, we'll be right over.

               Connor hangs up and glances across to Nina.

                                   NINA
                         What is it?

                                   CONNOR
                         Sonia's in trouble. Come on, we'd
                         better head over.

                                   NINA
                         Now? But don't you want to wait for-

                                   CONNOR
                         Angel'll be back later, I can't
                         wait that long!
                             (beat)
                         Alright, you stay here, I'll go.
                         I'll call you when I get there.

                                   NINA
                         Alright, Connor, watch yourself.
                         Call me if you need any help.

               Connor scoops up his jacket and races towards the doors.

        11     INT. SONIA'S ROOM. MORNING.                             11

               Sonia, dressed now but still with damp, messy hair, looks at
               her reflection, her breathing heavy as she fights off the
               panic.

               She notices something else and leans forward.

               Close up on the mirror, and she's breathing directly onto the
               mirror, looking for something – the mirror should be misting
               up from her breath, but nothing is happening.

               She takes a step back and cups her hands over her mouth,
               breathing in and out deeply, then takes her hands away,
               closes her eyes and holds her breath.

               After a few beats, she opens her eyes – and realises she
               isn't breathing. More to the point, she doesn't have to.

               Which, of course, just makes her panic all the more, pacing
               urgently up and down her room.

               She's startled by her mother calling her from downstairs.

                                   SONIA'S MOM (O.S.)
                         Sonia? Your friend Connor from work
                         is here to see you!

                                   SONIA
                         Okay, mom, send him up!

               Connor's footsteps clatter up the stairs before he bursts
               into the room, heading straight for her.

                                   CONNOR
                         What is it? What's wrong? You
                         sounded really freaked on the
                         phone, and I-

               She doesn't answer, she just grabs his hand and holds it
               against her chest. Connor doesn't know where to look.

                                   CONNOR (cont'd)
                         Uh… Sonia? Is this-

                                   SONIA
                         Ssh! Listen.

               Connor shuts up. After a beat, he looks back at her.

                                   CONNOR
                         I can't hear anything…

                                   SONIA
                         Nothing? Like, oh, I don't know,
                         maybe a heartbeat?

               Connor frowns and checks again, then pulls his hand back and
               steps away from her. Sonia's wringing her hands now.

                                   CONNOR
                         What the- when did that stop?

                                   SONIA
                         I don't know! I felt weird when we
                         woke up, and I thought I was just
                         hungover, because, you know, we did
                         drink a lot last night, but when I
                         got back here, first my hair
                         started falling out, and then I
                         can't find a pulse, and then… I'm
                         not breathing either!

                                   CONNOR
                         You're not?

               Sonia shakes her head. Connor rubs his chin thoughtfully.

                                   CONNOR (cont'd)
                         Have you called Taylor?

                                   SONIA
                         No. That's why I called you, we
                         need to find out what's happened
                         here without him working out I was
                         out with you all night! He'd… he'd
                         kick me out.

                                   CONNOR
                         Of the UTF? No, he wouldn't do
                         that… would he?

                                   SONIA
                         I, uh… sneak off a lot. To fight
                         stuff. It's kind of a danger thing.

                                   CONNOR
                         Yeah, I got that last night, what
                         with your Trinity move shooting
                         that demon point blank…

               Sonia sits on the bed, holding a weary hand to her head.

                                   SONIA
                         What're we gonna do?

                                   CONNOR
                         We'll figure it out. Stay cool.

               Connor hesitates, then lays an arm gently round her. Sonia
               leans closer in to him, looking lost.

        12     INT. DARKENED ROOM.                                     12

               A small DOLL is held in frame, next to a flickering candle,
               by a scarred man's hand.

                                   MALE VOICE
                         Let the will slip away… and let her
                         come to me.

               And from that, we:

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

                                                               FADE IN:

        13     INT. SONIA'S ROOM. MORNING.                             13

               Sonia is at her computer now, rapidly typing away as Connor
               paces behind her. She pauses and turns to him.

                                   SONIA
                         Connor? Can you not do that,
                         please?

                                   CONNOR
                         Sorry, I… it helps me think.

                                   SONIA
                             (sighs)
                         It's okay. Just getting
                         increasingly strung out over here,
                         that's all.

                                   CONNOR
                         What have you found?

                                   SONIA
                         Well…

               Connor leans in for a closer look as the screen comes into
               view – several busy-looking windows are open.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         I've used my back door into
                         Taylor's files to see if I can find
                         anyone locally who may be able to
                         help. I mean, LA's full of mystics,
                         shamans, warlocks, wiccas and other
                         mystical beings like that, chances
                         are there's one of them near here
                         who could help figure out what's
                         happening to me.

                                   CONNOR
                         You can do that? Get into his
                         system?

                                   SONIA
                         Course! Having my daddy buy me such
                         an expensive PC was a good head
                         start, but a few old friends who
                         are retired hackers showed me some
                         basic stuff, decryption software,
                         wireless devices to crack into
                         phone lines, that kind of thing,
                         and then I learnt the rest myself.

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm impressed!

                                   SONIA
                         I'll be more impressed if I can
                         find…
                             (beat; reads off screen)
                         Aha! There.

               She points – she's opened an address book and has scrolled to
               the name 'Roland, Corrin R.' and a sub-heading that reads
               'Necromancer.'

                                   CONNOR
                             (raised eyebrow)
                         A necromancer?

                                   SONIA
                         Best thing I can find. He's
                         downtown, we can catch a bus and be
                         there in about half an hour. You
                         coming?

                                   CONNOR
                         Hadn't you better at least report
                         in before we head off? I mean,
                         Taylor doesn't need to know
                         anything was wrong, but the longer
                         you're gone, more chance he'll
                         contact Angel, and then we're
                         busted.

                                   SONIA
                         Okay… good point. Go wait
                         downstairs, I'll call him.

               Connor straightens up and leaves the room as Sonia takes a
               deep breath and reaches into her jacket for a bulky-looking
               walkie-talkie. She thumbs the transmit switch.

                                   SONIA (cont'd)
                         Base, this is Bombshell, come back.

               A beat, before a crackle of static and the reply:

                                   TAYLOR
                             (filtered; through
                              handset)
                         Base here, Sonia, where the heck
                         are you? I've got two teams
                         sweeping the city looking for you!

                                   SONIA
                             (cringes)
                         Um… would you believe I overslept?

                                   TAYLOR 
                             (beat)
                         Not really, no. Where are you?

                                   SONIA
                         Still at home. I had a bad
                         migraine, and I tried to sleep it
                         off, and forgot to check in.

                                   TAYLOR
                         For twelve hours?!?

                                   SONIA
                         It was a really, really bad one.

               She bites her lip, hoping Taylor will buy the excuse.

                                   TAYLOR
                             (sighs)
                         Alright, whatever. Come in soon as
                         you feel you can, we've got plenty
                         to do today. Base out.

               Sonia sighs and tucks the handset back into her jacket.

                                   SONIA
                         He so did not buy that for a
                         second…

               She runs her hands through her hair, and tries to gather her
               thoughts, then reaches under her bed and pulls out a sports
               bag.

               Heading over to her wardrobe, she opens it and pops a hidden
               switch, and a panel slides up to reveal a variety of weapons
               – guns, tasers, stakes and the like.

               She selects a few items and throws them in the bag, before
               zipping it up, throwing it over one shoulder and heading back
               downstairs.
[ top | next ]

Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.