f4x13
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TEASER
FADE IN:
1 EXT. ASYLUM - NIGHT 1
Rainswept as a STORM crashes and bangs overhead. The Asylum
stands before us like something out of a pulp novel.
PULL BACK as Jerry's JEEP slows to a stop by the sidewalk,
disgorging first FAITH and VI.
They shut the doors and stand before the Asylum, looking up
as LIGHTNING flashes overhead.
FAITH
Hell of a night.
VI
Yeah...
A long beat. Faith glances towards the back of the Jeep -
where a BODY lies, covered in sheets.
FAITH
We should, uh... we should get her
inside.
VI
Right.
They head for the back doors, opening them as we CUT TO:
2 INT. ASYLUM - INFIRMARY - NEXT 2
Faith and Vi carry the body in between them as NOA waits by
one of the unused beds.
She's silent, trembling slightly as the Slayers lay the body
down.
NOA
Did she - I mean... was it quick?
VI
I... maybe. I guess.
FAITH
She bled out in seconds. She
wouldn't have had time to feel
much.
Noa's head sinks into her hands.
NOA
I can't believe this...
Faith reaches for the sheets - and reverently draws them back
to reveal RUTH.
FAITH
Believe it.
She stares down at Ruth's pale, peaceful body.
FAITH (cont'd)
Pryor's turned. And even though
we... it doesn't matter what we
used to think about him. He's not
Pryor any more.
VI
So, what, he's just another one of
the enemy now? Is that it?
FAITH
Evidence speaks for itself, Vi.
VI
It can't be that simple... it just
can't!
DAWN (O.S.)
Hey, guys, what's with all the...
The girls turn - DAWN has popped into the room. Her jaw hangs
as she stares at Ruth's body.
DAWN (cont'd)
Oh... my... God...
NOA
Dawn, you'd better -
DAWN
What happened? Who did this to her?
(hands go to mouth)
Was it Pryor? Has he gone evil?
Like, properly evil now?
VI
We don't know -
FAITH
(snaps)
We do know!
Faith turns to face them all.
FAITH (cont'd)
He killed one of us. He had a
chance to surrender, and he didn't
take it.
VI
We didn't exactly give him a
choice.
FAITH
He tore her throat out and jumped
off a building to get away from us.
I'd say he made his choice.
VI
(grimaces)
Can you stop being your usual self
for, like, a minute here? I'm
trying to say that maybe Ruth did
have all this under control before
we barged out there and attacked!
NOA
Wait - Ruth was talking to him?
Before you guys got there?
FAITH
That's not - we didn't -
NOA
So... so you not only let her go up
against him alone, but then both
steamed in half-cocked and probably
got her killed?
A look of awful realisation flashes between Faith and Vi.
FAITH
There's... there's no way we coulda
known. We had to assume he was a
threat!
NOA
Like Ruth did?
She turns her chair round and exits, leaving a frost on the
air behind her.
Faith sits on one of the other beds, running a hand through
her hair.
VI
What if she's right?
FAITH
Don't say that.
VI
No, seriously - what if we got Ruth
killed? Maybe she was about to talk
him down and we screwed that up?
FAITH
We can't let ourselves think that.
VI
Because I might be right?
FAITH
Because you might be wrong. What if
Pryor was just about to bite her,
whether we showed up or not?
DAWN
(nods)
Could've been playing you both.
FAITH
Pryor's smart. He knows how we
think. How we react. Even if he
hadn't gone all the way vamp when
we found him, he'd still know
enough to set us up. To make us
think we messed up, so we'd sit
around blaming ourselves instead of
getting back out there to find him
again.
A beat. Vi isn't sure what to say - but Dawn suddenly perks
up, glancing over her shoulder.
DAWN
Someone's coming.
VI
No-one else is here, Dawn.
DAWN
No, I mean outside. Someone...
She frowns - then BLINKS out of sight! With a sigh, Vi nods
to Faith, who rises from the bed.
3 INT. ASYLUM - RECEPTION - NEXT 3
Faith and Vi enter the reception to find Dawn already
waiting, looking out into the stormy night.
FAITH
Well? Who is it?
DAWN
Not sure. They stink of magic,
though. Like old eggs and soup.
VI
(blinks)
That's what magic smells like?
DAWN
(shrugs)
Depends.
She squints, trying to make something out - and a MAN falls
hard against the glass doors!
The girls jump, startled, and get a better look as LIGHTNING
illuminates the new arrival:
He's a scrawny, wild-haired man who looks like he's been a
POW for the last twenty years.
The girls hurry forward as the weak man slides down the
doors, ending in a heap on the sidewalk.
FAITH
Get him inside!
Vi hits a button to open the sliding doors, the girls hauling
the man inside before they close again.
FAITH (cont'd)
(to Vi)
Get me some blankets, water and a
first aid kit.
Vi nods and hurries off, as Faith helps the weary man up.
FAITH (cont'd)
Are you okay? What happened?
MAN
(croaks)
I... I escaped...
He SMILES, trying to laugh before he slips into
unconsciousness, going limp in Faith's arms.
She looks back to Dawn, who shakes her head - as confused as
Faith is - before we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
4 INT. ASYLUM - PRYOR'S LAB - NIGHT 4
Faith appears at the doorway to find Noa inside, tidying up
some of the mess as best she can.
Faith gently KNOCKS on the door, but Noa doesn't stop or turn
round.
FAITH
Need any help?
NOA
No.
A beat. Noa continues to struggle - she can't reach far from
the chair.
FAITH
Noa, come on -
NOA
I said 'no,' Faith. Just leave me
alone.
Faith folds her arms, leaning against the door frame.
FAITH
And this helps us how, exactly?
NOA
It helps me.
FAITH
Noa, all you're doing here is..
Actually, I don't know what the
hell it is you're doing.
Noa finally turns, a scolding look in her eyes.
NOA
I'm trying to restore a little
order to the chaos around here. I
mean... look at this place.
She indicates the wrecked lab, smashed window and so on.
NOA (cont'd)
Pryor locked himself away in here,
turning into something monstrous
day by day, and what did we do?
She angrily TOSSES a heap of burned papers into the bin.
NOA (cont'd)
We let him do it. We carried on
being wrapped up in our own lives,
and our own problems, and we didn't
even bother to find out what was
becoming a new problem right under
our damn noses.
She stops at last, letting out a heavy SIGH.
NOA (cont'd)
Some 'team' we turned out to be.
Faith heads over to her, crouching before her. Noa keeps her
head down, fighting back fresh tears.
FAITH
Pryor didn't ask for help. That's
what you do when you're in a team,
Noa. You help each other out.
NOA
He shouldn't have to ask!
(beat; corrects)
Shouldn't have had to ask.
She SNIFFS loudly, wiping her eyes. Faith rises, casting her
eyes over the accumulated junk of the lab.
FAITH
Look, we don't need to do this now.
There's a ton of stuff in here,
half of it I don't even have the
name for yet.
NOA
I know, I know, I just... I had to
do something.
FAITH
We got a sick escaped prisoner
resting up in the infirmary. Once
he comes to and tells us where he
escaped from, maybe we can go find
the rest of 'em. That'll be
something to do.
Noa manages a half smile, looking up.
NOA
Stop trying to cheer me up.
FAITH
(grins)
Stop letting me.
Faith heads for the door.
FAITH (cont'd)
C'mon. I'll let you lead the first
round of questions.
With a last look round the ruined lab, Noa turns and follows
Faith out, as we CUT TO:
5 INT. ASYLUM - INFIRMARY - NEXT 5
Faith and Noa enter to find Vi at the bedside of the man,
cleaned up and sleeping fitfully.
Vi rises and heads over to join them. The man fits and turns,
his sleep far from peaceful.
FAITH
He say anything?
VI
Nothing yet. Lots of mumbling.
Something about a prison, maybe
a... dark... thing that was eating
the prisoners. It's all still kinda
vague at the moment.
NOA
Should we get Dawn up here? Maybe
she can help? I mean, she picked
him up half a mile away, after all.
FAITH
I've got Dawn downstairs at the
Gateway, looking for Pryor.
NOA
(blinks)
Oh. Were you... gonna tell the rest
of us about that?
FAITH
If she found something, yeah.
Faith ignores their exasperated looks and heads over to the
man's bedside. She pulls up a chair, studying him.
His body is marked with scars and wounds, but also TATTOOS,
symbols and markings she doesn't recognise.
She sees one that looks familiar, and moves a hand to brush
his long, matted hair aside for a better look:
And the man GRABS her wrist!
Faith reacts, leaping to her feet - but manages not to attack
as the man carefully releases her.
MAN
Sorry. Can't be too careful.
He swallows weakly, and Faith brings over a glass of water.
He sips delicately.
MAN (cont'd)
Am I here? Is this the sanctuary?
FAITH
Depends who you ask. You're at the
Constantine Asylum.
(beat)
And I just realised, I never said
the name out loud before... huh.
MAN
(nods)
I am here. Here is where I need to
be. She will not find me here.
FAITH
Who won't find you? And what's your
name? We're putting you up here and
we don't even know who to bill yet.
He looks across - she smirks. Joking. He relaxes a little.
MAN
My name is Ennis. I'm a warlock
from the East Side. My grandparents
came to America from Holland. From
Amsterdam to New Amsterdam.
FAITH
Sounds like you didn't move around
much, then.
ENNIS grins and nods. Faith nods Noa and Vi over.
FAITH (cont'd)
This is Vi, that's Noa. We pretty
much run this place.
ENNIS
Ladies. I thank you for saving me.
VI
Don't thank us yet - we don't know
what we saved you from.
ENNIS
A prison. Unlike any other.
He sits up, with difficulty, Faith placing pillows behind his
back to support him.
ENNIS (cont'd)
Thank you.
(beat; sips water)
I was captured by agents of the
Unascended, who -
NOA
Wait, the who?
FAITH
(twigs)
The Mayor.
(off looks)
Long story. Sunnydale thing.
ENNIS
They locked me in a jail with many
of my fellow mages, male and
female, young and old. Some of us
were forced to perform rituals and
spells that the boundaries of our
ethics would not allow, while
others...
(shudders)
Others were fed to her. The Dark
One. She Without Form. She would
pace up and down our cells like she
was selecting a puppy from a pet
store, and those of us she chose...
He turns away, recalling memories too gruesome to ever be
spoken again.
FAITH
Wait a second... are you talking
about Ambrosia?
(Ennis looks round)
Five one, perfect teeth, looks like
she just stepped out of a Disney
flick?
Ennis holds her gaze, then drops his head and nods. The girls
step back, processing this information.
VI
Didn't we interrupt one of her
feeding sessions already?
FAITH
(nods)
At that Domovian place, yeah.
(to Ennis)
How often does she come by to feed?
ENNIS
Once a week. At first. Lately it
has been more often.
FAITH
Something's making her use up her
juice quicker.
NOA
So if we bust out the rest of the
prisoners before her next visit...
VI
... then we put her out of action!
FAITH
Ennis, can you tell us where this
prison is? We'll need to know how
to get in, how many guards there
are, anything like that.
ENNIS
I will do what I can.
NOA
How did you escape?
(off looks)
What? Someone had to ask.
ENNIS
In truth... I'm not sure. There was
a... disturbance caused last time
the Dark One fed. I believe my cell
was unlocked due to the energy she
was displacing. Her feedings have
become increasingly... violent.
FAITH
Then we'd better get moving.
She heads for the door. The others don't follow.
FAITH (cont'd)
What?
VI
Hadn't we better keep looking for
Pryor? I mean, he could be anywhere
right now, and we don't -
FAITH
We can sit here and wait for Pryor
to show up, or get out there and
kick one of our other problems
right where it hurts. I know what
I'm doing.
She exits. Vi glances at Noa - and then follows. Noa looks
back to Ennis, offers a comforting smile, then to the window
as LIGHTNING flashes again:
MATCH CUT TO:
6 INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE - NIGHT 6
The Mayor's plush downtown office, where the same bolt of
lightning finishes flaring.
PAN ACROSS the broad desk, taking in the framed photographs
and mounted artefacts, to find PRYOR.
He's crammed into the chair as though trying to hide in it,
chewing anxiously on his nails.
The door opens and Pryor jumps a mile - but it's just MAYOR
WILKINS. He grins as he heads for his desk.
WILKINS
Looking a little jumpy there,
fella.
PRYOR
Can you blame me?
WILKINS
I've got something that'll calm
your nerves. If you're interested,
that is.
He opens up a cabinet, revealing a FREEZER, and takes out a
glass of fresh BLOOD from within.
WILKINS (cont'd)
Always keep a few drops of the
stuff on ice. You never know who
might pop round for a visit.
He places the glass down before Pryor, who stares at it like
he still doesn't know what to do with it.
WILKINS (cont'd)
Well?
Pryor shoots him a look - then SWATS the glass away.
WILKINS (cont'd)
(frowns)
I hope that gesture wasn't meant to
impress me, sport. I'm more alarmed
by the mess you just made on my
Axminster than your attempt to
appear aloof.
PRYOR
Beware Greeks bearing gifts, they
say.
WILKINS
Yes, but I'm not from Greece.
(beat)
Shall we get down to business, or
would you rather spill a little
more food first? I can have
Gretchen bring you some burritos if
you really want to hurt my
feelings.
PRYOR
What exactly is it you want from
me?
WILKINS
Who says I 'want' anything?
PRYOR
Come on. You wouldn't shelter me
from Faith and the others without a
damn good reason, and you wouldn't
be keeping me alive if you didn't
have a use for me. So come on. Out
with it.
WILKINS
(grins)
A man with presence. I like that.
Wilkins lazily opens up a folder, flicking through it.
WILKINS (cont'd)
A man of your talents deserves to
be given all the resources he needs
to carry out his work, whatever
direction that 'work' may lead him.
He turns the folder round to face Pryor. Pryor hesitates,
then edges closer to take a look.
WILKINS (cont'd)
What I'm putting - literally - on
the table here is a state of the
art laboratory and research
facility, right here in New York
City. The finest equipment money
can buy, and even a few things it
can't.
PRYOR
Why?
WILKINS
Why? Why do you think? I want you
to work for me. Back at your old
little lab, you were always finding
new ways to take on vampires and
demons, kill 'em deader than dead
in half the time it takes to boil
up a kettle.
PRYOR
(scoffs)
I'm expected to believe you want me
to go on finding new and improved
ways to kill your people?
WILKINS
Creatures of war are governed only
be fear and respect, Pryor. With
your help, I can ensure I have a
healthy supply of both.
Pryor looks up, then back at the folder - and finally sits,
taking it for a closer look.
WILKINS (cont'd)
(leans back)
I can supply you with any and all
raw materials you may need.
Chemicals, mystical ingredients...
even live test subjects.
Pryor glances up - but keeps on reading.
WILKINS (cont'd)
Of course, there'll be other
projects I'll need you to pursue
from time to time, but I'll make
sure you get plenty of free time to
follow your ultimate goal.
PRYOR
Which is? Seeing as you seem to
know me so well, I mean.
WILKINS
Simple.
(beat)
You want to know what you are.
Pryor pauses, looking away but still listening.
WILKINS (cont'd)
You want to understand what you've
become, test your limits, catalogue
every detail of your existence...
and maybe find a way to turn
yourself back.
Pryor looks sharply across at him.
PRYOR
And you'd let me do that?
WILKINS
Quid pro quo, Pryor. You help me,
I'll help you.
(beat)
Do we have a deal, or would you
like to see the facility itself?
Pryor muses for a beat, then puts the folder back down.
PRYOR
Show me. Everything.
WILKINS
(smiles)
Right away.
Wilkins allows himself a smug moment as we CUT TO:
7 EXT. BUILDING - NIGHT 7
An old, abandoned building with boarded up windows and
missing doors, this is clearly a very rough part of the city.
A TRAMP sits in a doorway opposite, mumbling indistinctly to
himself. He looks up, squinting, as Faith and Vi approach.
Vi's got a bulky spots bag over one shoulder, Faith's talking
on her cell phone:
FAITH
(into phone)
So there's no news?
INTERCUT WITH:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.