TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. ALLEY/THE LAB – DAY 1
The sun shines on the city of New York. Pedestrians stroll
along the sidewalk just a few feet from the Lab's back door.
PRYOR (V.O)
It does not!
2 INT. THE LAB - EXAMINATION ROOM – DAY 2
PRYOR is in his lab coat, doing some tests with various
liquids. NOA is standing by the cabinets, pulling random ones
open and sniffing them.
NOA
It so does! People in China know
it!
PRYOR
A slight over-exaggeration, I
think.
NOA
No way, I'm telling you, this place
stinks like --
(seeing)
Faith!
FAITH enters. Pryor hasn't noticed her yet.
PRYOR
This place stinks like Faith?
FAITH
Gee, thanks. And I thought you two
liked havin' me around, too…
PRYOR
Oh, no… um, that's what Noa said.
NOA
No, what I was actually saying was,
this place is getting ripe.
PRYOR
(protests)
It's the chemicals!
NOA
It's the dead demons in the storage
containers!
FAITH
I've gotta agree. Demon flesh is up
there with used cat litter in the
Bad Stink stakes.
Noa SMILES, as if winning the argument.
PRYOR
Fine. I'll get some air fresheners.
(beat)
Faith, we've got some news.
FAITH
Slay related?
PRYOR
As always. We've had some dead
bodies turn up. Human, this time.
NOA
Not just dead, either. They were,
like, totally ripped and shredded.
FAITH
Nice. So, what have you got?
PRYOR
My contact revealed some very
unusual details about the killings -
it looks like the bodies have been
cleaned out, their organs just
boiled away. Not the usual killings
we see round here.
NOA
And the best part? The victims are
always together.
FAITH
(raises eyebrow)
That's the 'best' part?
NOA
Well, no, but what I meant was, the
dead people are always in a certain
position when they die. We have
photographs.
(to Pryor)
Show her the photos!
Pryor does, passing some Polaroids to Faith. She looks them
over, then looks back to them.
FAITH
Where did you get these?
PRYOR
My, uh, contact.
NOA
(brightly)
He has a friend who's a cop!
PRYOR
Hey! I was trying to maintain a
vague degree of secrecy and…
(off their looks)
… and I should stop pretending I'm
'cool' at all and start dealing
with this case.
NOA
Okay. And I'm all onboard here and
everything, but I'm not staying in
here another second until this
place is completely stench free.
She GRABS her jacket and EXITS. Faith turns to Pryor.
FAITH
Girl's got a point. I've smelt
worse, but even that wasn't every
day.
PRYOR
(defeated)
I'll sort something out.
He returns to his work.
3 INT. CAVES - NIGHT - 1573 A.D 3
We cut away to another time and place, inside a dark cave
entrance. The caves are eerily silent, not a whisper in the
wind. The walls are alight with burning lanterns.
Suddenly, there is a FLASH OF BLUE AND RED as a vortex opens.
Two figures are thrown out of the vortex, which quickly
dissipates after their arrival. They are DEMONS, ugly, big,
and holding hands.
They turn to each other, a longing gaze into each other's
eyes. Then --
TWO MEN enter the caves, brandishing swords. The demons
exchange a look before OPENING THEIR MOUTHS WIDE.
An energy is released, which funnels into the men. They
STAGGER back, until the energy is completely inside.
They turn to each other, smiling, their eyes glowing RED. On
this, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. PRYOR'S APARTMENT - KITCHEN – DAY 4
Pryor is making his way around the kitchen, tidying things
up. He turns to Faith in the doorway, and throws her a
nervous smile, obviously not used to having ladies round.
PRYOR
It's messy, I know, but truth be
told, I don't really get a lot of
visitors. I guess it's the work I
do.
FAITH
Sure can't be your way with the
ladies.
(beat)
So this kitchen is right above the
examination room, right?
PRYOR
Yes, yes it is.
FAITH
So that's what that smell is.
PRYOR
Sorry?
FAITH
Nothing. Just saying… it's a great
apartment.
PRYOR
Just redecorated. Took me a while,
had to do it alone. Noa turned down
the overtime, I don't think
decorating is her forte somehow!
FAITH
No family round here?
PRYOR
My Mom is back in Florida and,
well, I don't see my father. How
about you? Parents? Siblings?
FAITH
Got a cat. He's about all I need.
Great thing about cats is you just
feed 'em and leave 'em. When they
want company, they come back, when
they don't, they go. I can identify
with that.
PRYOR
(beat)
Sorry, did I touch on a bad subject
there?
FAITH
My Mom cared more about herself and
her life than me and my Dad, well,
I don't even know who my Dad is and
couldn't care less. So… yeah.
PRYOR
That must have been tough growing
up. I mean, not having the
stability.
FAITH
I got through it.
(beat)
So how about you? This demon
business isn't the kind you get
from a job agency, how'd it end up
being your gig?
PRYOR
I'm making up for things I should
have done a long time ago.
FAITH
Yeah, you said before. Guess we're
not so different after all.
PRYOR
I bet you've got some stories, with
you being the Slayer and
everything.
FAITH
A Slayer. There's a lot more of us
runnin' round now.
PRYOR
There is?
FAITH
Yeah. Big spell. All the potential
Slayers got their power, went and
saved the world. It was quite a
ride, shoulda been there.
PRYOR
Wow. I mean… that's gotta even it
out a bit, right?
FAITH
You'd think that, but instead it
put things off balance, and… let's
just say it ended with a death.
(beat)
Actually, a couple of 'em.
PRYOR
So that's what you meant when you
said you'd seen too many people
killed. I get it now.
FAITH
Don't take this personal, Pryor,
but you don't. I'm not really into
the whole sharing feelings thing,
so-
(sees)
What's this?
She picks up some test tubes, with an orange liquid in it.
Pryor quickly takes them from her.
PRYOR
Instant fire. New invention, smash
one of these on the ground and
you'll have yourself some flames -
well, only for a short time. I
haven't worked out how to prolong
the effect.
FAITH
Oh.
(beat)
So, you got Tivo? I keep missing
'Lost' and you strike me as the
kind of guy who tapes it in neatly
numbered boxes.
She peers into the lounge at the TV, then back to Pryor, who
looks guilty as his secret Tivo habit is revealed.
5 INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT - 1618 A.D 5
We pan the room until we come across an AGED MAN. He's
coughing in his bed, looking like death itself.
He turns to see a second older MAN walk through the door, who
comes to the bed, taking the other one's hand.
OLD MAN #2
I have one, finally! He is young
and ripe, and he will-
OLD MAN #1
No… there must be two…
OLD MAN #2
I have been searching high and low,
but to no avail. At least this one
will save you.
OLD MAN #1
I will not transfer without you… it
would not be right.
OLD MAN #2
But you could die here if you do
not!
OLD MAN #1
I would rather die by your side
with us both this aged, than watch
you die without a face to match.
OLD MAN #2
This is not how it is to end. I
will not lose you to this mortal
disease.
OLD MAN #1
Then keep looking, my love. Keep
looking for a pair, whose hearts
are open and will allow us inside.
OLD MAN #2
Your words are beauty in its rarest
form. I will fulfil the quest and
we shall live on. Always together.
OLD MAN #1
As the creator himself intended.
They share a tender moment before Old Man #2 pulls away,
grabbing an ax from the wall and EXITING.
6 INT. THE LAB - EXAMINATION ROOM - DAY 6
Faith is alone in the lab, looking over some papers. She
turns and walks into the back office, sitting down at the
desk, catching some shuteye.
GABRIEL (O.S.)
Long day?
She turns to see GABRIEL standing just a few feet away from
her. Rolling her eyes, she responds with added sarcasm.
FAITH
Oh good, it's you.
Gabriel grins back at her, the remark bouncing off him.
GABRIEL
Expecting someone else? Come on,
you should know by now I come and
go at times that aren't always
appropriate.
FAITH
Whatever. What do you want?
GABRIEL
Geez, anyone would think you didn't
like me!
(beat; serious)
I'm here is because something is
going down tonight.
FAITH
Great. So, are you gonna tell me
what or just hand me a bunch of
riddles like last time?
GABRIEL
People are dying.
FAITH
Yeah, happens every day. Not a lot
I can do about that.
GABRIEL
Innocent people.
FAITH
(scoffs)
No such thing.
GABRIEL
I get that you're not the most
willing champion, but you have a
job to do.
FAITH
I know. Which is why I'm gonna get
on with it. Got loads of samples to
sort --
GABRIEL
Not the job I was talking about,
Faith. The deaths are supernatural.
So, as always, you will have to
intervene.
FAITH
And here's me thinking I'd just get
a front row seat and some tacos!
Look, Gabe, there are plenty more
Slayers out there now, most with a
lot less baggage than me. Why fix
on me?
GABRIEL
(ignores the question)
Pryor won't find the reasons. He'll
need to look deeper.
FAITH
(eyes him)
O-kay. So, any more cryptic clues
while you're here, or does the
Sphinx want them back?
GABRIEL
Look down the ages.
Faith waits for him to continue, but he's said his piece.
Finally she stands, looking him over.
FAITH
So what are you anyway? Some kind
of sucky guardian angel?
GABRIEL
(grins)
All good things come to those who --
FAITH
Cut the crap here. Okay? I'm
through with taking it from you.
Just tell me what you want from me.
GABRIEL
I've told you before. To make sure
you stay on the right path.
(beat)
Faith, you've done a lot of good in
your life already, but that's not
enough. You must believe in
yourself. Only then will you be the
champion you've dreamed of
becoming.
FAITH
(raises hands)
Whoa. I ain't been dreaming of --
GABRIEL
You can't fool me, Faith. I see it
all. Your hopes, dreams… your soul.
Yeah, you still have a soul,
despite your best efforts to act
like you don't. It's time you
proved that.
FAITH
(beat)
I can try, but-
GABRIEL
Do, or do not. There is no try.
A beat, then Faith groans and Gabriel chuckles.
GABRIEL (cont'd)
Sorry, couldn't resist that. Try is
all you can do. Just believe in
yourself.
FAITH
So… down the ages, huh? That means,
like, a timeline, right?
NOA (O.S.)
Faith?
Faith suddenly JOLTS AWAKE. She'd been sleeping. She turns to
see Noa standing right beside her.
FAITH
Damn it!
NOA
Are you okay? You looked… well, you
were talking in your sleep.
FAITH
(disorientated)
Yeah, I'm… timeline! I have to tell
Pryor to look down the timeline.
NOA
O-kay…
(then)
So anyway, I got some major
cleaning stuff to get this place
back on the health and safety chart
'cause seriously, it's way off the
radar, you know, with the dead
demons and everything.
Faith is a little confused still, but quickly rushes out of
the back office, to find Pryor just ENTERING.
FAITH
Pryor, I've got some info on what's
killing these people.
PRYOR
You do? From where?
FAITH
We have to look back over the
years, I think there's been more
like this.
PRYOR
How do you know that?
FAITH
Let's just say I got a message.
On Pryor's bemused expression, we cut to:
7 INT. THE LAB - EXAMINATION ROOM - LATER 7
Pryor is at the computer, while Faith and Noa are at the
desk, looking over some old newspapers.
NOA
So you really have someone who
comes to you and tells you about
the bad stuff?
(beat)
Is he cute?
FAITH
He's an annoying jerk! Like he's
been specifically chosen to piss me
off, you know? Tells me these
things then 'pfft!' He's gone!
Doesn't even stick around for-
NOA
(raises eyebrow)
Coffee?
FAITH
(stern)
Hey. Dangerous ground, sister. Back
away from the vehicle.
NOA
If he's a hottie and a good guy,
why not mix a little business with
pleasure?
FAITH
Because… just no. Not jumping on
that horse again.
Noa notices her almost sullen expression.
NOA
Your last relationship, what
happened to him?
'Cause, you know, I don't need my
psyche exams to know there's what
we call 'history' there.
FAITH
He… let's just say I wasn't there
for him when he needed me the most.
NOA
He died?
Faith nods and looks back at the papers, suddenly sombre.
NOA (cont'd)
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push.
FAITH
'S cool. It was a long time ago.
NOA
Yeah but still… I'm sorry, you
know.
PRYOR
(calls)
Girls!
Faith and Noa quickly jump up, rushing over to the computer
where Pryor is sitting.
FAITH
Found something?
PRYOR
I think so. It took a while but
there's cases like these spanning
over five hundred years.
NOA
So it's a serial killer.
(confused)
Wait. A five hundred year old
serial killer? Are there a lot of
those? Something doesn't add up.
FAITH
It does if it's a demon.
NOA
(sighs)
Demons. Demons. Demons. It's all I
ever hear about these days! Aren't
there any other kinds of monsters
out there? You know, for a bit of
variety?
Faith concentrates on the PC, leaving Noa to her thoughts as
we dissolve to:
8 EXT. LAKE - 1659 A.D 8
A RED HEADED WOMAN and TEENAGE BOY sit in the fields by a
beautiful lake, laying down, looking at the sun.
RED HEAD
This is beautiful, Odan. Everything
I've dreamed of.
TEENAGER
I would do anything for you, Unia.
I would pluck the stars from the
sky.
RED HEAD
Just you. That is all I wish for.
That is all I have ever wished for.
To hold you, touch you, feel you as
if your skin were my own.
(beat)
It is but a shame we cannot be in
our own skin.
TEENAGER
Yes, but sometimes the world works
in mysterious ways and we cannot
always have what we dream of.
RED HEAD
But we do. Now, we do.
TEENAGER
Unia…
(beat; sad)
Soon these bodies will cease to
hold us. Our power is too strong.
RED HEAD
Yes. Do not fret, my love, I have
already lined up more hosts.
TEENAGER
(smiles)
You think of everything.
RED HEAD
I only think of you. You are my
always.
The Red Head leans forward and the two are soon locked in a
passionate embrace, and we start to pan away from them.
As the camera PANS, we see two people, a BALD MAN and a
NOBLEWOMAN, tied up, bound and gagged.
As they struggle for freedom, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
9 INT. THE LAB - PRYOR'S OFFICE - DAY 9
Pryor is on the phone. Faith, waiting in the seat opposite,
looks bored and impatient. Finally he hangs it up.
PRYOR
He can't tell me anything more.
FAITH
That's some contact you've got!
PRYOR
Well, without knowing the exact
details, I'd say we're pretty much
in the dark. Except, we know it's a
demon… which was pretty much a
given anyway.
Noa suddenly BURSTS through the door.
NOA
We're in!
PRYOR
Ah! Excellent.
(to Faith)
We thought that maybe we could get
into the police station if we posed
as reporters.
FAITH
Police station --?
PRYOR
I've already made some fake I.D.
for us, it'll be like a piece of
cake. I'll distract them long
enough for you to get into the case
files and --
FAITH
(shakes head)
Woah, woah, back up there, Cagney
and Lacey. I… I can't go into a
police station.
NOA
What? But… do you know how long I
had to lie to get us in there?
PRYOR
Faith, this is the only shot we
have of tracking this demon and
stopping it from killing anymore
innocent people.
FAITH
I know but… I just can't. It's a
long story, me and cops don't mix,
okay?
NOA
(curious)
And you don't mix because…?
FAITH
(changes subject)
You two can handle it, right? I
know a few places and people I can
try to get some news out of, maybe
they'll help more than your cop
contact.
NOA
But --
PRYOR
(interrupts)
That sounds like an excellent plan.
FAITH
I'll get started, see you both
later.
And with that the Slayer gets up and EXITS.
NOA
What's her deal?
PRYOR
I don't know. That girl undoubtedly
has a past she'd rather we didn't
know too much about.
NOA
We all do, it's what generally
comes with living. You know,
living? That stuff that happens
outside of work?
PRYOR
No, I mean… it doesn't matter. We
should be getting ready to
infiltrate the station.
NOA
Yeah. It's almost dangerous.
(beat)
Are you scared?
PRYOR
(beat)
A bit. Just pretend we're on a TV
show or something.
Noa nods in understanding.
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