f1x06 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
[bottom] TEASER
FADE IN:
1 INT. CLUB - NIGHT 1
The club is empty. The dark blue of the low lights glints off
glitter and glasses left on the tables and floor. A GOSSAMER
RED CURTAIN flaps in front of a deep partition in the wall.
The kind of place one imagines private parties to be held.
In SILHOUETTE, the undulating curves and lines of WOMEN
dancing to the sensual MUSIC wafting through the club. The
curtain draws back.
A well-dressed, well-fed MAN, late thirties, leans back in
the couch, smiles at the beauties performing in front of him.
The women come dangerously close to being censored as they
use each other to stir the man further. Hungry eyes leer over
him. Thirsty lips lick themselves.
The man looks like his ship just came in. Our boy is getting
mighty turned on. He squirms in the couch.
One woman, REDHEAD, moves forward, away from the communal
dance. She leans low as she approaches the man, giving him
ample view, as well as allowing her to slide her hand up his
thigh.
Her onslaught is the first wave. Each woman turns and makes
their way over to him. Through lidded eyes, they use their
hands to explore.
MAN
(nodding with a Cheshire
grin)
Now this is more like it!
He smiles widely. Redhead returns the smile with a feral
grin. She moves over and starts to nibble his neck. He leans
back and enjoys the feeling; moans under his breath in sweet
ecstasy.
The women CRAWL all over him, pushing against him.
The man winces as their attentions become less enjoyable. He
opens his eyes.
MAN (cont'd)
Wait. Not like that. Wait...
He begins to struggle under their weight. He chuckles at
first, but his panic soon sets in.
MAN (cont'd)
Hey! Get off me! This isn't funny!
Redhead looks up, and grins.
MAN (cont'd)
Stop it. Stop it!
The bodies RISE upward like a wave of locusts, hiding the man
from view.
As the man starts to SCREAM in terror, we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
2 INT. CLUB - NIGHT 2
The club looks decidedly less disturbing under sickly yellow
lighting and bashing out the latest radio-friendly overplayed
DANCE MUSIC. PARTYERS shuffle and wiggle in time to the
music. Bevies of DANCING GIRLS shake their grove thangs on
the raised platforms.
The curtains from the partitions are drawn back. COUPLES are
making out on the couches. Here and there WAITRESSES try to
get their attention.
Standing near the entrance, looking distinctly unimpressed
and maybe a little afraid, is FAITH. She looks back to NOA,
GRINNING like a mad thing.
NOA
Isn't this great?
Faith sneaks a look to the side where some STUD sashays his
hips and impressing the pop-influenced, sheep-molded GIRLS
around him. Faith glances back at Noa, still wearing her
crazy, white smile.
FAITH
(sarcastic)
If by 'great', you mean being able
to make the Bronze seem like a good
night out, then sure... It's just
great....
NOA
See? I knew you'd like it.
The SONG changes. It's 'What You Waiting For' by Gwen
Stefani, even more poppy and radio-friendly. The PARTYERS let
out a collective WHOOP. Faith chokes on a moan.
Noa gives Faith the thumbs up and bobs to the music. The girl
can disco. Faith frantically scans all her choices. She makes
a break for it.
Noa dances on for a few beats before she realises Faith has
vamoosed. She looks around, then quickly follows.
Faith has negotiated through the crowds over to the bar,
where she stands in front of the butch BARMAN.
FAITH
Beer.
BARMAN
Will that be light, stout, fruity,
non-alcoholic...
(off her look)
Beer. Right.
He goes over to the fridge and takes out a beer. He places it
on the counter and is about to take the top off for her, but
she reaches over and grabs it before he can. She tosses him
some money and turns her back to him. He shrugs and pockets
the money.
He raises his eyebrows at Noa as she leans over the bar.
NOA
Aqua minerale, please.
He promptly returns with her BOTTLED WATER and takes her
money. She smiles and goes to sit next to Faith, who slugs
back some beer.
NOA (cont'd)
They're really creepy, don't you
think?
Faith follows her line of vision. Along the perimeter of the
club, above the heads of the dancers on the platforms, large,
gold SNAKES with DARK, RED JEWELS for eyes dot the wall at
sporadic intervals. Faith shrugs.
FAITH
Actually, they're the only bite
this place seems to have.
Noa frowns at the slight, but Faith doesn't notice. Noa
visibly braces her shoulders and puts a bright smile on her
face.
NOA
So... um. We should do this more
often. You know. Me and you. Out
doing the girly thing. Dancing,
making new friends... celebrating.
(she's fishing)
So how about it? Wanna come here
again. Say... tomorrow night?
Faith snaps out of visually dismissing everything there.
FAITH
What? Uh... I don't think so. This
isn't really my thing.
She takes a large gulp of her beer.
FAITH (cont'd)
My thing is out there. With teeth.
Fluid movement.
Faith winces at another dancer's moves.
FAITH (cont'd)
And probably... definitely better
taste in music.
She finishes her beer and dumps it on the counter.
FAITH (cont'd)
You coming?
Noa looks up from her water, doing her best to hide her
disappointment.
NOA
No, I'm good. I think I'll hang
around here for a while.
(holds up her bottle)
I'm not finished.
Faith shakes her shoulder and turns from Noa. She weaves
through the crowd and is soon lost in it. Noa turns in her
chair and faces the bar. She plops her water in front of her
and ruefully pouts.
3 EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT 3
Faith walks through nameless, unknown streets, alone, but
with a purpose. She pauses and LISTENS.
There is a small WHIMPER. Faith heads toward it. She pulls a
STAKE out of her jacket pocket.
FAITH
You know, I've been listening to
pop music all night.
She's disturbed a VAMPIRE, about to plunge its teeth into a
WOMAN'S neck. It is startled by Faith's appearance, and
glances between Faith and the girl, seemingly unable to make
up its mind.
FAITH (cont'd)
And I wasn't even on a plane.
Faith waits with a sly grin on her face. The vampire decides
and LUNGES for Faith. She side steps easily and brings her
arm around, whacking the bright spark into the alley wall.
The Woman gets up and runs past Faith and the vampire. Faith
watches her go, perhaps a little stung by the lack of thanks.
The momentary distraction allows the vampire to charge and
grab Faith around the midriff. Rather than fight it, she goes
with it and allows him to rush her backwards. They near the
wall of the alley on the other side.
She pushes back her legs and ramps back into the wall, using
it as a spring to somersault over the vampire's head,
bringing it crashing to the ground instead.
She STAKES it. It DUSTS, leaving her kneeling in the alley.
GABRIEL (O.S.)
That was cold.
Faith, still kneeling, turns to glare at him.
FAITH
I'd have offered him a hop in the
sack, but I think they only like
blonde slayers.
She gets up as GABRIEL walks out from the shadows.
GABRIEL
I wasn't talking about him. Do you
always blow off people trying to be
your friends?
FAITH
(folds her arms)
You're not my friend. You're my
stalker.
GABRIEL
I was talking about Noa.
He lets the name sink in. Faith frowns, a little unsure, but
quickly recovers.
FAITH
You know, I thought you'd just lo-
jacked me. Now I know.
(she gets up in his face)
You really do follow me everywhere,
don't you?
GABRIEL
(smirks)
I don't need to follow you, I just
follow your trail of destruction.
He turns around and walks away. Faith stares at his back for
a moment, fighting herself.
Clenching her fists, she follows him.
GABRIEL (cont'd)
It's not easy making friends in a
world this big. It's especially
hard when someone won't give you a
chance.
Faith doesn't get what he's shooting at.
FAITH
I haven't blown any chances if
that's what you're saying.
Gabriel stops and looks at her.
GABRIEL
Hmm. But have you given any?
FAITH
What are you talking about?
GABRIEL
It's not always easy to reach out
and try to share a person's life.
People who do are brave, but when
the other person thoughtlessly
dismisses them... well, makes me
wonder if the other person is worth
the effort.
FAITH
What has this got to do with Noa?
(figures it out)
Wait. You're saying I'm the asshole
in this? Because I don't like her
taste in music?
(rushed defensive)
I'm not the stuck-up slayer. I'm
party girl. I'm fun. I cut loose. I
make friends. Granted, the
friendships end pretty soon...
(deflated)
I'm the judgmental one now?
Gabriel smiles, not unkindly.
GABRIEL
Small steps, Faithey. Small steps.
Faith stares at her hands, not entirely happy.
FAITH
Okay. Fine. Whatever. So what
impending doom have you come to
warn me about?
She looks up. He's gone. Her eyes flicker against her
frustration. She storms out of the alley, not seeing the
activity to the side.
4 EXT. SIDE ALLEY - SAME 4
A BUM lies beside a cardboard box. He cradles an empty bottle
of some cheap, barely branded whiskey. His clothes are as
filthy as the litter scattered around him, perhaps more so.
A GLINT of GOLD shimmers to the side. The GOLD CANE looms
closer. The bum squints up at- ARKWRIGHT JONAS, early
forties, dressed in a holy-white suit, in stark contrast to
the dingy dark around him.
Arkwright crouches beside the bum, who stares at him like
he's a trip. Arkwright seems charming and sympathetic.
ARKWRIGHT
Come, friend. I know a place where
all manner of men are accepted. You
don't have to spend tonight out
here, it looks like it might rain.
Let me buy you a drink.
The bum beams up at the man, trusting and full of hope.
Arkwright uses his cane to lift himself up. The GOLD SNAKE
HEAD with the red eyes adorns the top.
5 INT. CLUB - NIGHT 5
Noa still sits at the bar. Her eyes have moved from the water
bottle to the snake above her. She bobs her head from side to
side, studying it.
BARMAN (O.S)
No. They don't actually follow you
around the room.
Busted. Noa grins sheepishly at the man.
NOA
How do you know? Have you been
keeping your eyes on them?
BARMAN
All the time.
Noa nods her shoulders and gives him a small grin, thankful
for the company but not seeming to know what to do with it.
BARMAN (cont'd)
Do you need another drink?
Noa stares down at her half-empty water bottle.
NOA
No, I'm good.
BARMAN
I meant a real drink.
NOA
Oh. As in alcoholic beverage? Um...
er, no. I don't really respond well
to things that make me more hyper
than I should be. Or rather, people
don't respond well to me being
hyper because of things that I
shouldn't respond well to.
(stops)
I'm babbling. Sorry.
(holds up her water)
See? Good thing.
BARMAN
(smiling)
You don't seem that bad to me.
NOA
Yeah, well. This is a bad night.
The barman leans over, and places his elbow on the bar.
BARMAN
I'm all ears.
NOA
(blinks)
Oh, I couldn't... isn't sharing
your problems with a bartender such
a stereotype?
BARMAN
I don't mind playing it. For you.
Ego fluffed, Noa straightens in her chair, back to a
reasonable facsimile of herself.
NOA
There's nothing much to tell,
really.
Her eyes wander for a moment, striving to appear aloof. It
doesn't work.
NOA (cont'd)
(fountain release)
I tried, you know. And it wasn't
just about me, I wanted to make her
feel welcome.
Which is stupid, she already is,
but I wanted it to be like... a
girl power thing. No boys, no hairy
trolls or rampaging demons...
(catches herself)
You know, guys who only want that
one thing? Devilish and um...
that's why we girls need to stick
together. To bond in holy misery.
But no, I guess I'm not powerpuff
material.
Her shoulders droop again.
NOA (cont'd)
I think I want that real drink now.
BARMAN
Coming up.
He starts mixing drinks.
NOA
You think I'm really shallow, don't
you?
He puts a sparkling red drink in front of her. She takes it
and sniffs it, wincing at the smell.
BARMAN
That's the farthest thing from my
mind.
Noa takes a sip, grimaces, takes another.
BARMAN (cont'd)
In fact, I think you must be a
special kind of person to want to
welcome someone into your life.
(looks at a door alongside
the bar)
A gentle, caring, sensitive person
who cares about the welfare of
others. You couldn't hurt a fly,
could you?
Noa curls her lip into an amazed question mark.
NOA
You get all that from one rant?
Damn. You're good. I don't think I
could ever be a bar-person.
BARMAN
I have a natural talent. I'm good
at reading people.
(eyes the space behind
her)
And I know how else to make you
feel like your worries don't exist.
NOA
(holding her booze)
Ooh, I don't think I can take
anything stronger than this.
BARMAN
(shakes his head)
The DJ is a personal friend, and
uh... those ladies up there don't
mind sharing some girl power.
Noa swirls in her seat and looks up at the podium. Cheerful
WOMEN, the same from the teaser, smile and beckon to her.
NOA
(frowns)
I'm straight.
BARMAN
So are they. They're friends.
Mostly. That's what you want,
right? Look. You feel better for
talking?
(off her nod)
I made a good drink?
(again the nod)
Then trust me. I'll get my man to
play you a special song. You'll
never look back. Kiss all your
troubles goodbye.
Noa downs her drink, shivers, and puts the glass back on the
bar.
NOA
Okay. Just one dance. Then I'm
outey.
(smiles widely)
Thanks. You've salvaged my bad
night.
BARMAN
I aim to please. Have fun.
Noa zigzags through the crowd. As she nears the steps to the
podium, the crowds part without seeing her. The women dancing
wave her up. She joins them and nervously waves back when she
is there. They greet her like she is an old friend.
The MUSIC changes. Faith would approve. The tribal beats pump
out. The women surrender themselves to it.
Noa watches them for a moment before her own body responds.
She moves her hips first, slowly in time to the heavy bass.
The music builds and as it does, her body increases its
tempo.
Redhead smiles at Noa. She smiles right back, it's almost
feral and wicked. She closes her eyes and lets the music take
her.
No one else in the club comes close to the passion the women
display as they dip and grind to the rhythm.
The barman stares at the podium, smiling at Noa's abandon. He
looks at the side door for a long moment, then up at the
snake above his head. Its eyes GLOW bright RED.
We're back with Noa, her eyes closed to the feelings. Her
hands move up her hair. Her eyelids shutter open. RED EYES
burn beneath.
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
6 INT. LAB - DAY 6
Faith wanders in. She takes notice of an unmade COT in the
corner. Pryor stumbles into the room from the back. He looks
like crap.
FAITH
Uh, is there some red demon alert
that I don't know about?
Pryor is slow on the uptake. He staggers over to one of the
counters. A small CAGE stands there next to a couple of EMPTY
BABIES BOTTLES.
PRYOR
Hmm?
(registers)
Oh, no, no. My friend in Armenia
sent me an Exykris egg. It hatched
last night. The first few days are
crucial. Regular feedings every
hour, on the hour.
Faith leans over the cage and looks inside. A tiny, cute
marmot-like creature with scales sleeps in a nest rigged like
a hammock. There is a perch from the hammock across the width
of the cage. A fine wire mesh covers the bottom of the cage
which is sloped at an angle, leading into a TUBE connected to
a HALF-FULL BOTTLE of neon green liquid under the cage. Faith
raises an eyebrow at this.
PRYOR (cont'd)
The Exykris demon secretes a
powerful curative agent. When taken
orally, it cures scurvy, the common
head cold and demonic possessions.
Very good at preventing them too,
which is always a good measure
considering the history.
FAITH
And by 'secretions' you mean...
PRYOR
(smirks)
Urine.
Faith grimaces and turns away.
FAITH
Right. Well, excuse me while I make
sure I take my vitamin C. Seen Noa?
PRYOR
Kitchen. It looks like her night
was worse than mine.
Faith walks past Pryor as he snaps on a rubber glove and
opens a jar of fish heads.
7 INT. LAB - KITCHEN. NEXT. 7
Noa nurses a glass of Alka Seltzer and flips through a
tabloid. She looks like she's partied much too hard. Faith
leans on the doorway. She's uncomfortable, but takes a deep
breath and puts on a happy face.
FAITH
You know, no good ever comes from
reading about freaky two-headed
cows.
NOA
Pryor watched 'Men In Black' once,
now he says this is the best place
to find good leads.
Faith walks over and reads over Noa's shoulder.
FAITH
'My boyfriend was melted by
aliens'?
(pulls a face)
Now what's 'good' about that?
NOA
(plainly)
He was cheating on her.
Faith and Noa shrug at the same time.
FAITH
So... we still on for tonight?
NOA
(confused)
Tonight?
FAITH
Club creepy snake?
NOA
You really want...
(shrugs)
Yeah, yeah. It's still on.
Noa smiles widely. It's a little too much for Faith, who is
trying to match the smile.
FAITH
Right. Later then.
She turns and goes. Noa is much more cheery. She resumes
reading.
INSERT: The picture in the tabloid that goes with the alien
story is of an opaque, red jello-like goo.
8 INT. ALLEY -DAY 8
QUINN scans the alley. Behind him, COPS tape off the area.
It's now a police crime scene.
At the far end of the alley, ONLOOKERS try to peer past the
police officers keeping them back.
Quinn shakes his head and moves down to the MEDICAL EXAMINER,
LESLEY, who stands up, perplexed.
QUINN
What we got?
LESLEY
Wish to God I knew.
Quinn frowns. Lesley explains. Lesley points down at the
COVERED BODY. Quinn bends down and zips open the cover.
The face, though appearing grossly distorted and slimy, is
definitely the face of the bum.
LESLEY (cont'd)
First glance, I'd say an animal
attack, but there's some problems
with that theory.
QUINN
(stands up)
Why's that?
LESLEY
Because it looks like that crazy
jilted lover we had ranting in the
station a few weeks ago might not
have been as off the wall as we'd
like.
QUINN
(laughs)
The redhead with the melted
boyfriend story?
LESLEY
Yeah, that's the one. Another
vagrant found a plain foot and got
him to call this in. No ident on
the vic, and no personal effects.
The poor schmuck was dumped here in
his birthday suit. By all accounts,
he should have nothing in common
with that missing banker - except,
it seems, this.
Lesley holds up an EVIDENCE BOTTLE with LIGHT RED GOO in it.
Quinn leans in to peer at it.
QUINN
What is it?
LESLEY
I don't know. Some industrial
strength acid, I'm guessing, though
it doesn't seem to be affecting
anything except the victim's body.
The body is lifted and carried away on a STRETCHER by a
couple of CORONERS in PROTECTIVE GEAR. Quinn and Lesley walk
after it. Police and forensics work around the scene.
QUINN
In what way?
LESLEY
Complete disintegration. We'll be
lucky we still have a body in a few
hours, much less any evidence. We
found some of this stuff where the
girl claimed her boyfriend had
melted. There was traces of protein
in it, but nothing acidic. If I
wasn't seeing this with my own
eyes, I wouldn't believe it.
The BODY BAG is lifted into the CORONER'S VAN. Lesley and
Quinn watch it. Some red goo seeps out from the zipper and
SPLATTERS on the alley floor. Quinn grimaces.
LESLEY (cont'd)
Whoever did this sure as hell
didn't want to leave any clues for
us.
(shakes head)
I'll know more once I run some
tests on this stuff. God I hope
there's a way to trace it.
Something like this, it's gotta be
hard to come by.
Quinn nods and glances at the spatter of red goo again.
LESLEY (cont'd)
Hey, you heard from Lehto yet? I
heard he hasn't showed up for work
for over a week or so now.
QUINN
Uh, no, we called round his place
but he wasn't there, we're gonna
contact his family, see if they
know anything.
LESLEY
Damn strange, is what it is.
Lehto's a lot of things, but he
ain't the type to just up and leave
like that, you know?
QUINN
(thoughtful)
Yeah... I'd better get out of here.
See you later, Lesley.
Lesley nods as Quinn walks away, but we follow Quinn for a
moment, the look on his face showing his concern as he thinks
about where his partner could be.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.