f4x01
Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT 1
Dark, dirty and away from the chatter and noise of downtown
NYC, a LAMPPOST casts a pool of dim light.
A woman's feeble GASPS of pain and the hungry GRUNTS of some
unseen creature can be heard.
PAN ACROSS the alleyway to find a VAMPIRE with its prey, a
young, blonde woman, pushed up against the wall as it
greedily SLURPS blood from her neck.
The woman's too weak to fight back as the vamp squeezes the
life out of her, its powerful arms crushing her like she was
a piece of fruit. That is, until:
VOICE (O.S.)
Hey!
Someone WHISTLES, and the vamp tears itself from its food.
BLOOD dribbles down its chin as it SNARLS:
And FAITH strides casually into the scene, a cocky smirk on
her face.
FAITH
No means no, man.
The vampire ROARS at her, tossing the woman to one side where
she hits the ground with a THUMP.
The vamp HISSES, flexing its claws as it paces towards her,
body tense like a coiled spring.
Faith, on the other hand, absently picks at her nails as she
waits for the vamp to close in.
FAITH (cont'd)
Almost thought tonight'd be a
bust...
With a final GROWL, the vampire LUNGES at her, almost LEAPING
into the air as it surges forward:
But Faith GRABS it in mid-air, using its own momentum to HURL
it bodily against the alley wall!
The vampire connects with a THWACK, sliding to the floor and
tipping over a garbage dumpster.
FAITH (cont'd)
... and then I thought to myself,
'hey, what about the alley?'
The stunned vamp flails through the stinking black refuse
bags as it tries to stand.
Faith walks over, hand reaching into her jacket.
FAITH (cont'd)
'Cause, you know, you can always
count on a good alley...
She withdraws her hand - and she's holding a STAKE.
FAITH (cont'd)
... to give you plenty of chances
for some -
WHAP! The vampire SWATS the stake out of her hand, surprising
her.
It's quick to LUNGE for her, Faith and the vamp careening
backwards as it ROARS into her face.
Struggling against it, Faith is pushed back into the alley
wall with a THUD, pulling her head away from the vamp's
SNAPPING jaws.
FAITH (cont'd)
Hey, damn it!
She KNOCKS its arms up and off her, driving a PALM into its
throat and bringing up her leg to KNEE it in the gut.
FAITH (cont'd)
I was talking!
POW! She socks it hard across the jaw and the vamp drops to
one knee.
FAITH (cont'd)
Don't you know how rude that is?
She KICKS it in the chest, FLIPPING it over and sending it
SKIDDING back across the floor.
Faith takes a moment to strip off her jacket, tossing it
aside as she CRACKS her knuckles.
The woozy vamp rises, shaking its head, as Faith starts to
circle it.
FAITH (cont'd)
You just made sure I'm really gonna
enjoy this...
She launches into a fresh barrage of PUNCHES, one in the
stomach, one to the face, a HAMMER FIST across the back of
its neck...
... as we PULL BACK to take in the entrance to the alleyway,
where another young woman stands, watching the fight.
She SLURPS from a super size soda, her beanie hat atop long,
braided red hair.
Hello, VI. She glances at her watch, not seeming too fazed by
the kicking Faith and the vamp are giving each other.
Faith finally lands a DROP KICK to the vampire, sending it
sprawling backwards.
Scrambling to its feet, the vamp decides to turn tail and
run, and Faith gleefully follows as she calls out:
FAITH (cont'd)
Vi, grab my jacket, will ya?
And she's gone. Vi SIGHS, taking another slurp of her drink
as she fishes out her CELL PHONE.
She dials a number and holds it to her ear, watching as Faith
clambers a wire fence in pursuit of the vamp.
INTERCUT WITH:
2 INT. ASYLUM - OFFICE - NIGHT 2
Inside the bustle of one of the Asylum's many admin suites, a
CORDLESS PHONE rings from its home on a long desk.
JERRY reaches into frame and picks it up, answering:
JERRY
Hello?
VI
Oh, hey, Jerry. It's me.
JERRY
Vi! Good to hear from you.
Everything alright?
Vi watches as Faith finally disappears from view.
VI
Five by five. Apparently.
Jerry heads for the exit, and we CUT TO:
3 INT. ASYLUM - CORRIDOR - NEXT 3
He strolls down one of the building's long, white corridors,
passing open doorways into larger areas.
JERRY
How's the patrol going? Any saves
for tonight?
Vi glances to her side as the blonde who escaped the vampire
races past her, HYPERVENTILATING as she clutches her neck.
VI
A few.
Jerry grins, passing the STAFF ROOM and glancing inside:
4 INT. ASYLUM - STAFF ROOM - NEXT 4
RACHEL stands at the head of the room, next to a whiteboard
showing an illustration of a vampire.
She's facing a small crowd of ORDERLIES, men and women young
and old, all paying rapt attention.
RACHEL
Now. Who wants to tell me one of
the best ways to kill a vampire?
5 INT. ASYLUM - CORRIDOR - NEXT 5
Jerry moves on as he continues to talk:
JERRY
I'll just go see if Pryor's free to
talk, alright?
VI
Okay, cool.
JERRY
How's Faith.
VI
Oh, you know... doing her Alpha
Slayer thing.
JERRY
If she didn't think you were up to
the job, she wouldn't keep taking
you out with her.
VI
I know that, it's just...
(sighs)
I just feel kind of surplus to
requirements all the time, you
know?
Jerry's arrived at the MAIN OFFICE:
6 INT. ASYLUM - PRYOR'S OFFICE - NEXT 6
He pushes open the door to find PRYOR knee deep in paperwork,
poring over reports and files.
VI
Sometimes I don't really think
anybody's -
JERRY
Pryor?
He looks up, and Jerry offers the phone to him.
Back in the alley, Vi rolls her eyes.
Pryor takes the phone, cradling it against his chin.
PRYOR
Webb.
VI
It's me. I'm just wondering -
PRYOR
Ah, Vi. Excellent. Are you and
Faith almost done for the night?
VI
Pretty much. Quiet night. Why?
PRYOR
I've managed to skip dinner again,
and I was wondering if you could
grab me some food on the way home?
VI
(beat)
You want me to get dinner?
PRYOR
If that's alright.
He checks his wallet, sorting through the notes.
PRYOR (cont'd)
I'll pay you when you get back?
VI
(exhales)
Okay, sure. Whatever.
PRYOR
Great. A three-course meal from
that Cantonese place by Washington
Square station, and...
(to Jerry)
Jerry? Anything?
JERRY
(shrugs)
Few spring rolls and a round of
crackers for me.
(pats stomach)
Trying to watch what I eat.
PRYOR
(into phone)
Did you get all that?
VI
Yup. See you later.
END INTERCUT:
7 EXT. ALLEYWAY - NIGHT 7
Vi hangs up, sliding the phone back into her pocket. She
shakes her cup, confirms that it's almost dry and takes a
final SLURP.
She takes aim and TOSSES the empty cup towards the nearest
dumpster - and it sails cleanly inside.
VI
Woo!
A beat. Vi soberly sees how empty that little celebration
was.
Stuffing her hands in her pockets, she turns and heads back
out into the night as we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
8 INT. ASYLUM - RECEPTION - NIGHT 8
The glass panel front doors SLIDE OPEN as Vi walks into the
foyer, two brown bags in one hand, a jacket in the other.
She nods to HILARY, the middle-aged receptionist, who smiles
back as Vi heads down one of the three main corridors.
9 INT. ASYLUM - FITNESS ROOM - NEXT 9
Vi slows as she nears the Asylum's exercise room, hearing the
sounds of PUNCHING from inside.
She reaches the door and peers in - there's Faith, dripping
with sweat, pounding the heck out of the hanging punchbag.
Vi KNOCKS on the door to get Faith's attention, stepping
inside.
VI
You made it back, then?
Faith beams, her whole body bounding with energy.
FAITH
(buzzing)
Aw, man! It was intense. After I
caught that first vamp, I saw two
more running, so I figured they
were all part of the same nest,
right? So I chased 'em both down
and took them out, only to realise
I was on the other side of the
city, so I just started jogging to
see how fast I could get back, and -
VI
(raises hand)
I get it. You had a good one. Yay.
FAITH
You got my jacket?
Vi does indeed - she tosses Faith's leathers over to her.
FAITH (cont'd)
What about you? Where'd you
disappear to?
Vi holds up the bags.
VI
Food run.
Faith closes her eyes and INHALES deeply.
FAITH
Mmm... that lemon chicken?
She heads over, reaching for the bags, but Vi quickly
snatches them away.
VI
Get your own!
Still beaming, Faith hops back over to the punchbag and
SHADOWBOXES next to it.
Vi takes her leave, the fizzing Faith throwing her all into
even this activity as we CUT TO:
10 INT. ASYLUM - LARGE ROOM - NEXT 10
Vi pauses by another doorway and peers inside to find RUTH
standing a few feet away.
RUTH
(addressing someone off
screen)
Alright, let's try this again.
Remember... concentrate.
VOICE (O.S.)
I'm trying to fricken concentrate!
PAN ROUND to see that the otherwise empty room has been
turned into a makeshift obstacle course - tables, chairs,
boxes and other obstacles scattered all around.
On the far side of the room, blindfolded, stands DAWN,
looking a little tetchy.
DAWN
It doesn't make any difference if I
clear my mind or not, you know?
Sometimes it works, sometimes it
doesn't, and that's that.
RUTH
Come on, Dawn. We've been making
some good progress these last few
months.
(checks watch)
Just once more tonight, okay?
Dawn HUFFS, folding her arms like the sulky teenager she no
longer is.
DAWN
Alright. One more.
She takes a deep breath, Ruth watching her carefully.
Dawn lifts her head slightly, raising her hands out before
her like a blind woman checking her path.
And in a sudden BLINK of light, she's suddenly several feet
forward, having somehow teleported past several obstacles!
RUTH
Good... keep going.
Another BLINK and she's taken a few more boxes out of her
path, and another POP sees her only a few yards from Ruth.
She BLINKS out again - but reappears back on the far side of
the room!
Ruth SIGHS, and Dawn tears off her blindfold to see (much to
her annoyance) that she's back at square one.
DAWN
Damn it!
She THROWS the blindfold away, STAMPING her foot.
RUTH
Don't be so hard on yourself, Dawn.
You were doing great -
DAWN
Yeah, until my stupid spazzy powers
blew a fuse again! How many times
are we gonna go through this until
you and Pryor realise I have no
control over... it! Whatever 'it'
is!
She stomps round the room, heading for the doorway and
noticing Vi at last.
DAWN (cont'd)
Oh, hey. You back already?
(over shoulder; to Ruth)
We done?
RUTH
Yes... that's all for tonight.
DAWN
Cool.
(back to Vi)
Let's get out of here.
The two girls exit, and as Ruth picks up a CLIPBOARD, marking
down some results, we CUT TO:
11 INT. ASYLUM - CORRIDOR - NEXT 11
Dawn and Vi walk on, Dawn busily chattering away:
DAWN
So anyway, Ruth keeps telling me
how I'm 'making progress' and all
kinds of vague teacher-y things
like that, but all I keep finding
is that this thing I can do,
'matter transference' or whatever
Pryor's calling it this week, it,
like, only works when I
subconsciously need it to. Like
when I'm in trouble. And even then
not all the time.
VI
Is Pryor any nearer to figuring out
why it started happening? I mean,
it's been a while now.
DAWN
All he can think of is that it's a
combination of residual energy in
my system from my Key days, to,
well...
She rolls up one sleeve and raises her arm - displaying her
KEY TATTOO in all its elegant, artistic glory.
DAWN (cont'd)
... my other Key days.
(beat)
Oh, and about that, got something
cool to tell you.
They're almost at the Staff Room, just in time to see Pryor
about to head inside, a bundle of files under his arm.
PRYOR
Ah, girls. Good. Just in time.
(nods to doorway)
Staff meeting.
(spots bags)
Ah! Is that my dinner?
Vi offers the bags, which Pryor grabs with a grin as he
enters the room. Dawn follows, leaving Vi to emit another
weary SIGH before she enters:
12 INT. ASYLUM - STAFF ROOM - NEXT 12
Vi is the last to enter, Pryor already digging into his
dinner as Vi and Dawn join the crowd of white-coated
orderlies filling the room.
Dawn and Rachel sit together with a shared smile of greeting,
while Vi finds Faith.
PRYOR
Alright, thanks for coming,
everyone.
FAITH
Hey, not like it's voluntary.
A chuckle ripples through the room. Pryor either doesn't hear
or chooses not to as he turns to a large BLACKBOARD.
It's covered with diagrams, illustrations and words, with
depictions of Dawn's tattoo alongside other mystical symbols.
PRYOR
Now then. I know progress on this
particular issue has been slow of
late, but Dawn and I think we may
have come up with something. Dawn?
He motions for her to step up, and she joins him at the head
of the room. Pryor quickly finishes his mouthful.
PRYOR (cont'd)
We've been doing a lot of work with
Dawn and the Gateway to see what
kinds of other abilities it gives
her. We've documented several
useful applications already, but -
DAWN
Can I tell them this part?
(off his look)
Oh, come on. It's too cool.
Pryor nods, motioning for her to speak as he fishes out
another spring roll.
DAWN (cont'd)
Okay. So. I can lock onto different
dimensions for a few different
reasons - I can seal them off, work
out the proper sequence for Faith
to put into the control room -
FAITH
Once we get it working again.
DAWN
Yeah, that. But we've also found
out that I can send a kind of scan
over multiple dimensions at once,
almost like a radar sweep.
RACHEL
So you can look in lots of places
at once for Noa, right?
Pryor nods, stepping forward again.
PRYOR
We're confident that when we
perform the first test this
evening, Dawn will be able to
access up to a hundred different
dimensions at a time.
JERRY
How will she know Noa's in any of
them?
Pryor steps to the blackboard, tapping one passage next to a
series of complicated chemical symbols.
PRYOR
Trace elements that build up after
Gateway travel. Harmless,
microscopic residue, but it sticks
for some time after a person passes
through a Gateway portal, and in
theory Dawn will be able to sense
this from right here in the Asylum.
RUTH
Is six months too long?
Several people turn to her. She rises.
RUTH (cont'd)
I'm just playing devil's advocate
here.
(beat)
Is that the right phrase?
FAITH
You're thinking there may not be
any of this stuff left on Noa.
RUTH
What I'm saying is that in all
these months of plan after plan,
one search effort after another,
we've never even discussed the
possibility that even our best
attempt may not be enough to ever
find her again.
Silence falls for a moment. Ruth looks around, trying to find
some support.
FAITH
We don't give up. And we don't
leave our people behind. Even if
we're just bringing a body home.
She glances at Vi, the two sharing a moment of understanding.
PRYOR
As I said, we'll try the first
phase of this new strategy tomorrow
night and see where it leads us.
Over time, Dawn may be able to
increase the range of her sweeps.
Ruth sits back down, sensing that nobody wants to discuss the
possibility that Noa may never be found again, and we CUT TO:
13 INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE - NIGHT 13
Over at City Hall, the newly-inaugurated MAYOR WILKINS sits
behind his desk, fingers interlaced.
The wall behind him is covered with a mix of framed photos of
social events and tribal, arcane artefacts.
Before him sits a DEMON, one crammed into an otherwise smart
suit despite its fish-like appearance.
MAYOR
I just don't see what the big old
problem is with our arrangement,
Svartsot. It's been working ust
dandy the last few months.
The fishy demon, SVARTSOT, makes a GRUNT of impatience.
SVARTSOT
My people are starting to question
if you can keep your promises to
us, Wilkins.
MAYOR
I've kept every promise I've made
so far, haven't I? To you and to
the wonderful non-demon population
of this fair city.
SVARTSOT
So why do the Slayers keep
disrupting our plans?
The Mayor pauses, leaning forward and SIGHING.
MAYOR
Faith and her allies are a thorn in
my paw, I'll concede that much.
SVARTSOT
Not just yours - all of us!
MAYOR
I am, however, working on a new
strategy that should put her out of
business for good. We've tried the
old-fashioned way, so now I'm
thinking of something a little
more... modern.
He grins enigmatically, and there's a KNOCK at the door.
MAYOR (cont'd)
Come in?
The door swings wide to reveal AMBROSIA, all blonde curls and
baby blues. She strides into the office.
MAYOR (cont'd)
Ah, Ambrosia. Is it that time
already?
She doesn't speak, only crosses her arms and nods.
MAYOR (cont'd)
Svartsot, old boy, I'm afraid our
time has come to an end. But I want
to give you my assurances that your
next shipment will come in without
a hitch. You have my word.
Svartsot rises, making more odd GRUNTS as it does so.
SVARTSOT
That had better be enough.
The demon spins on its heel and marches out of the door, its
damp, bare feet SQUELCHING on the plush carpet.
Once it's gone, the Mayor peers over his desk at the damp
FOOTPRINTS left behind, grimacing.
MAYOR
I need to put some rugs down in
here for when he next comes to
visit. Or maybe a bath mat.
Ambrosia takes a seat before the Mayor. For a dead girl, she
looks in remarkably good shape.
MAYOR (cont'd)
Or maybe I should just set up a
great big fishbowl right where
you're sitting and see if that
makes him feel more at home, huh?
He chuckles at his own joke - but his laughter dies away at
Ambrosia's blank expression.
MAYOR (cont'd)
Oh, come on, now. She laughed at a
couple of my jokes, at least.
Ambrosia's eyes suddenly GLOW red for a beat - and when she
speaks, it's with a deep, booming voice not her own:
AMBROSIA
I do not find you amusing.
The Mayor reclines, idly playing with a letter opener.
MAYOR
I think you're forgetting the terms
of our agreement, Ereshkigal.
Ambrosia looks away haughtily - or, rather, THE DARKLING
does.
MAYOR (cont'd)
I supply you with all the energy
you need to maintain your physical
presence here on Earth, in whatever
form that 'energy' needs to be, and
for that you do me the small favour
of at least keeping up the
masquerade of being the girl whose
body you're doing such a fine job
of imitating.
Ambrosia looks towards him, meeting his gaze. The Mayor
raises his hands, as if to say 'well?'
Ambrosia lowers her head - and when she looks back up, she
speaks with the voice we're used to:
AMBROSIA
Is this better?
MAYOR
(smiles)
Perfect.
He sits up, leafing through a file on his desk.
MAYOR (cont'd)
Now, then. Your next assignment is
in at last. Take a look at this.
He passes her a few PHOTOS, which DARK AMBROSIA (as we'll
call her) scans over.
MAYOR (cont'd)
My... moist friend Svartsot has a
shipment of rare and irreplaceable
magical items coming into Pier 39
tonight, and he'd like us to
arrange some protection for said
supplies, in case a certain little
Slayer and her friends try to break
up the party.
DARK AMBROSIA
You want me to stand guard?
MAYOR
If it's not too much trouble. Take
a few of the boys along if you feel
you need them.
She rises, dropping the photos back onto the Mayor's desk and
heading for the door, when the Mayor calls out:
MAYOR (cont'd)
You know...
She stops and turns.
MAYOR (cont'd)
I'd appreciate it if I didn't have
to keep reminding you to act like
her. It sort of... breaks the
illusion, you know?
DARK AMBROSIA
This level of deceit is not
something I am used to.
MAYOR
Oh, I can tell that. All I'm asking
for is that when I take you along
to any pep rallies or public
appearances, I can trust you to
behave like a young girl and not
some millennia-old killing machine.
Is that too much to ask?
Dark Ambrosia hesitates, then turns to the Mayor with a wide,
toothy smile.
DARK AMBROSIA
(sweetly)
Of course not. Whatever you say,
boss.
The Mayor smiles as she turns and leaves, but he doesn't see
her smile fade the moment her back's turned as we CUT TO:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.