"Fate 1x12: Shadows and Light"
by
Roonblah
Based on characters created by Joss Whedon
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. JASON'S APARTMENT, LOUNGE - DAY
SAMUEL and HUGHLY amicably play a game of chess over the
kitchen counter. The game looks like it is quite far along.
DAWN and JASON sit on separate couches engaged in their own
activities.
Dawn leans over a giant MAP plotting Xs on it. She's
surrounded by pens, markers and stationery.
Jason wears reading glasses and buries his head within the
pages of a newspaper, THE HOUSTON SUN.
JASON
Hey! The musical version of Lord
of the rings is putting on a
little show outside the theatre
district for the kiddies tonight.
DAWN
(without looking up)
Wasn't your dragging me to the
stage version punishment enough?
JASON
(shrugs)
Well, we've seen everything else.
("eureka"; claps hands)
How about we go to my granddad's
ranch? Horse-riding!
Dawn leans back and stares at him.
DAWN
Isn't that ranch forty miles away?
JASON
Yeah. But I'm bored.
Dawn crosses her eyes at him over the map. She startles and
looks back down at the map, squinting at it. She grabs a
RULER from the side.
DAWN
I don't think it's random.
2.
Samuel turns to them and stands. Jason joins Dawn on the
couch. He looks at the map.
INSERT: MAP OF HOUSTON
Dawn has crossed out numerous scattered POINTS on the map.
She draws lines of best fit through the points to form a
three-point triangle.
BACK TO SCENE
JASON
But Nadya says there's no trace
of magic at the sites we've been to.
DAWN
I know. Maybe she's right. Maybe
it is
trying to find its way to
others. It's just... I couldn't
really feel
the key in any of
those places. But there was
something
.
Samuel stands to the side of the map.
SAMUEL
What did you feel? Is it similar
to anything else you've experienced?
DAWN
It's almost like the last key we
got. A misfire or a--
(emphatic movement of
hands)
Have you ever stood at one side
of the door and just known,
without hearing or seeing, that
someone else was on the other
side? I feel like I'm wearing a
blindfold and it's right there in
front of me.
Samuel considers and comes to a conclusion.
SAMUEL
Dawn, I think there's a way. I
have a theory--
BANG
NADYA (OS)
Blast it!
3.
Nadya storms out of an open doorway, the training room. She's
only slightly comical in her appearance, though it is obvious
she's been on the wrong side of a small explosion.
She still wears the AMULET KEY.
Jason leaps to his feet and runs over to her. Samuel and
Dawn aren't particularly affected by either display.
NADYA
(overly trying to be
calm)
I give up. I've tried everything
I know and even a few things I
don't.
Jason holds her shoulders.
JASON
Don't worry. It might be your
lucky day.
He slings an arm around her shoulder and pulls her to his
side. He raises eyebrows at Samuel: now would be a good time
for the grand reveal.
SAMUEL
(nodding)
I think there's only one person
with the abilities to retrieve
this key.
Nadya's face falls.
Samuel smiles sagely at Dawn. She squares her shoulders and
puts on a brave face.
SAMUEL
But I'll help you. Are you ready
now?
The question refers to more than just timing. Dawn nods.
DAWN
I am.
They smile at each other. Even Jason and Hughly seem proud.
Nadya is perplexed.
NADYA
Uhm. Excuse me. Why Dawn?
4.
It's everyone else's turn to look confused.
FADE OUT.
END TEASER
5.
ACT I
FADE IN:
INT. LOUNGE - DAY
NADYA'S FACE
More than a little disbelieving.
NADYA
Dawn
is the Key.
The others glance amongst themselves, puzzled. Nadya is
grappling with something inconceivable.
NADYA
Are you sure?
(waves a hand over
Dawn)
Because any vibe I got from you I
just put down to being a slayer's
sister. Devon's vibes were
always... are you sure
?
DAWN
Pretty sure.
(uncertain)
It hasn't been a secret... for a
while.
Jason CLICKS his fingers, deducing.
JASON
Right. You weren't there for the
show.
(off Nadya's look)
It was amazing. She made the bad
guys--
(gestures outward)
-- go away
.
He sees that Nadya isn't particularly impressed or happy.
JASON
(subdued)
Of course, nothing beats lightning.
He wiggles his fingers like he's performing magic, sees it
isn't helping so falls back into line beside her.
6.
NADYA
(all business to
Samuel)
How can we use her to find the
last key?
SAMUEL
Have you ever heard of a sorcerer
named Cloutier?
Dawn shrugs. No clue.
NADYA
Heard of him, but never found
much use for his methods. Too
many trances.
SAMUEL
Well yes. He was an avid believer
that one's own mind was all the
power one needed. Many of his
spells dealt with sight, or
specifically one's inner sight. I
believe Dawn will be able to
access her unique connection to
these keys and see
where it is.
DAWN
Yay. Magic.
(self-conscious)
Can I do
that?
SAMUEL
You are neither a witch nor you
have undertaken the same
concentration drills that your
sister would have, but luckily
Cloutier liked having many
disciples. He wanted his
particular branch of magic to be
the most prominent, but as you
can imagine, not everyone is
naturally suited to long hours of
concentration.
Nobody has the slightest idea why he's expositing this.
SAMUEL
(realising they're
bored)
I'll use another of his spells to
guide you towards the state of
seeing.
7.
Dawn nods.
DAWN
Okay. Just tell me what to do and
I'll do it.
SAMUEL
I must be honest. There is some
risk involved. You will only break
out of the trance once you have
found what you are looking for. I
have no idea how this will affect
you.
DAWN
("oh great")
So what are we waiting for?
INT. TRAINING ROOM - LATER
Dawn sits cross-legged on the floor. Nadya pours a circle of
red powder around her.
Dawn looks briefly at the MOVIE POSTER with the safe hidden
behind it (episode 10).
DAWN
It's almost over.
NADYA
(non-committed)
Mmm hmm.
Dawn notices Nadya's silence.
DAWN
I'm sorry you didn't know. About
me. I didn't mean to keep it from
you.
Nadya stands and looks down at Dawn.
NADYA
I know. I'm just... I should
have
known.
DAWN
I'm so sorry--
NADYA
No. I don't mean you should have
told me. I should have sensed it.
I can't think why I couldn't.
8.
She looks at the painting where the safe is. She gets a notion.
NADYA
(more to herself)
Regeneration.
DAWN
Pardon?
NADYA
Just a theory. But it doesn't
really matter, does it? This all
means there's one less problem to
deal with.
Dawn frowns; she doesn't know why. Nadya smiles.
NADYA
There's no reason to go looking
for Devon anymore.
EXT. BACK DOORWAY - DAY
DEVON stands against a wall; it is a gray granite wall in
good condition. It's not a bad part of town, wherever she is.
The door opens, but the person opening it can't be seen.
A GLOVED HAND reaches out from the door.
Devon pulls a VIAL of SWIRLING, GREEN MILKY liquid out of
her coat. She gives it to the gloved hand.
The door closes.
Devon turns and walks away.
INT. TRAINING ROOM - LATER
Dawn and Samuel sit opposite each other on the floor. He is
not encircled by any powder. Their eyes are closed.
Pale RED SMOKE wafts around Dawn. She keeps her eyes closed,
but her face shows a variety of "I'm bored" expressions.
Covertly, she squeezes an eye open and squints at Samuel.
SAMUEL
(eyes still closed)
Dawn.
Dawn quickly shuts her eye.
Samuel calmly focuses. Dawn concentrates hard; a mammoth task.
9.
INT. LOUNGE - SAME
Jason sits on the couch. He leans on his hands as he stares
at the closed door to the training room.
NADYA(O.S.)
That's the problem with those
types of spells.
She slips onto the couch beside him, and slides an arm across
his back.
NADYA
No amount of wishing makes them
go any faster.
He leans toward her and smiles.
JASON
How long do you think it'll take?
Nadya shrugs. She looks around.
NADYA
Where's Mister Brown?
JASON
Not here.
She grins and pulls herself into his lap.
JASON
Oh. You think it's going to take
that
long.
Nadya arches over and starts nibbling his neck.
JASON
Uhm Nadya.
(chuckles)
Is this a good idea? Here? Now?
Nadya leans back on his legs.
NADYA
We're very rarely alone. Is there
a better time?
He gestures at the closed door to the training room.
10.
JASON
There's smelly magic going on and
we have one more toy to fish out
of the cosmos. There's still work
to do.
NADYA
One key. One. Not a dozen or ten
or five. One
. I'd hardly call
that work.
JASON
I never count my favours until
they're received.
Nadya runs a finger alone the edges of his frown.
NADYA
You worry too much.
She moves forward again, snaking her hands down his back. He
pushes gently on her waist. Sighing, she stops.
NADYA
Jason...
JASON
Look, when this is over, I'll
take you to a sunny beach or a
cosy cabin, I just--
She stops him with a KISS.
NADYA
Nothing is going to wrong. I
guarantee it.
With more force, she shoves him back against the sofa.
NADYA
Now. Make me happy. That's an order.
There's no fight in Jason.
JASON
Yes ma'am.
Smoochies.
NADYA
(mumbling against him)
Everything's perfect.
11.
INT. PILLARED AREA - DAY
Not much can be seen of the area. The floor is bare concrete;
the pillars are raw, INDUSTRIAL STEEL. It's very brightly lit.
Dust, leaves and small pieces of paper scurry along the
concrete, as if there is a strong breeze. There is also the
SOUND OF MACHINERY - drills, grinders, drivers.
Another sound, reminiscent of fabric being torn is soon
followed by a high-pitched electric whine. The already
brightly-lit area gets strobed by an intense white light.
It's a PORTAL.
VARJEN, the self-proclaimed empress from episode 2, steps
through, followed by four turbaned SLAVES. The slaves bear
BLACK TATTOOS on their faces.
She nods at someone directly in front of her, OFF CAMERA.
VARJEN
Is this the world that will
tremble before me?
(lifts a hand to quiet
the person before her)
Yes. The terms of the arrangement
please me. Show me where she is.
INT. TRAINING ROOM - DAY
Dawn sways unconsciously with the smoke; caught in some force
that is greater than her.
Samuel is absolutely still, but there are beads of sweat
running down is face.
Dawn's eyes flicker open. She's dazed, very much out of it.
HER POV
The room is SHIMMERING around her. The sounds are both
muffled and loud.
It's as though she can hear the smoke HISSING as it SLOWLY
SEPARATES ITSELF FROM THE POWDER.
She can hear Samuel's STEADY BREATHING. He doesn't stay in
focus. There's almost a motion to him.
Dawn looks down at herself. She can hear her own BREATHING
ACUTELY, as well as her HEART BEAT.
12.
DAWN
(muffled; drunken)
I'm gonna be sick.
She can't take it anymore. She drunkenly shoves her hands
against the ground to lift herself up. She staggers forward,
trying to exit the circle of powder. She falls and--
Samuel's eyes shoot open.
SAMUEL
Dawn? Dawn!
He frantically scans the room.
He is ALONE.
INT. TRAINING ROOM, GREEN - SAME
Dawn lies face-down on the carpet. Moaning, she lifts herself
up to see--
She's alone. There's no smoke. No powder. No Samuel.
The major difference is that the colours in the room are all
washed by a distinctive GREEN hue.
OFF Dawn's fear.
FADE OUT.
END ACT I
13.
ACT II
FADE IN:
INT. JASON'S APARTMENT, LOUNGE - DAY
Samuel, Nadya and Jason meet up in the centre of the room.
JASON
She's definitely not here. Okay.
Other options?
SAMUEL
Given the nature of keys, she may
have moved across a great distance.
JASON
Or maybe even another world.
SAMUEL
It's possible.
NADYA
Are we sure she's still alive at
all?
Samuel and Jason stare at her; what the hell kind of a
question is that?
NADYA
What? A master key is essentially
energy. How do we know that Dawn's
reaction to higher thought isn't
to evolve herself back into her
natural state?
Samuel is floored.
INT. LOUNGE, GREEN - SAME
Dawn runs over to the exact same spot where the others are
in the normal universe. She's in a bit of a panic.
DAWN
Okay. They're not here. But it's
okay. It's okay. You've been alone
before. Just focus. And breathe.
And try not to remember that you
are alone, by yourself, without
help... in a bizarro Matrix world.
14.
She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath.
DAWN
Have key. Have way home.
She nods and marches to the door, yanks open the door--
INT. LOUNGE - SAME
THE DOOR
It is still shut.
Jason stares at it, like something's wrong.
JASON
Did you...
He heads toward the door, completely ignoring the others.
NADYA (O.S.)
Well I can't feel her.
SAMUEL (O.S.)
That doesn't mean that she no
longer exists.
Jason opens the door and peers out. It's small, barely
discernible, but there is a SLIVER OF BRIGHT GREEN LIGHT
heading down the hallway. DAWN'S SHADOW moves along the
opposite wall as the light shines.
JASON
She's here!
He runs out the door.
Samuel and Nadya stare at the empty doorway for a moment.
They decide to take his word for it, lacking anything else
to believe.
Nadya walks a short distance away. Samuel watches,
disapproving of whatever he sees.
She returns with a BAG, clutched tightly to her side.
SAMUEL
You still haven't told me what
they are.
NADYA
(bored)
Yes I have.
15.
SAMUEL
Your answer was as vague as any
distraction.
Nadya turns to face him, chillingly slow.
NADYA
I have no more cause to answer
you than Jason or Dawn... or
Devon
... have to on their choices.
You are not a Watcher and we are
not your charges.
She shakes her head.
NADYA
I have no doubt you will stop
questioning my methods once I
save your lives again.
(thinks about it)
Actually, I think it would be
better if you forget the matter
right now. We have more pressing
things to concern ourselves with.
Don't you think?
Samuel blankly regards her.
SAMUEL
Yes. We have things to do.
Nadya smiles.
EXT. GRAY BUILDING, GREEN - DAY
Dawn steps outside. The large swing door slowly and silently
closes behind her. There is an underlying, but subtle, sound,
almost like WHITE NOISE.
Even here, she is alone. The street is empty; devoid of life,
cars, litter.
It's intimidating, and Dawn feels it.
The green hue exists here too. She views the sky. It could
be day, but the clouds and sky are dark green hues too. The
sun itself isn't visible. There is no light source that
doesn't seem a tone of green.
Which is how she notices it.
IT is a WHITE LIGHT, stark against the green. It shines from
the top of a tall building a fair distance away.
16.
For a moment, the white noise intensifies. It sounds like
WHISPERS... coming from behind her. Getting louder. Closer.
She turns--
INSTANT SILENCE
Dawn shakes it off. There's work to do. She puts on her
resolve face and heads in the direction of the light.
EXT. GRAY BUILDING - SAME
Jason exits the building and comes face to face with a forest
of PEDESTRIANS.
The sun is bright. The cars are shining. It mostly annoys
Jason.
He peers through the crowd, looking for a sign. A sign that
doesn't seem to be there. He studies each gap; a frustrating
process.
NADYA
(quickly out of the
door)
What exactly are we looking for?
JASON
(distracted)
Dawn.
NADYA
Yes, you said that already.
Samuel joins them.
JASON
I saw...
(seeing something)
There. There!
He points. Nadya and Samuel both look but can't see anything.
NADYA
Are you sure?
JASON
Yes. Look, just trust me. It's
her. She's going that way.
He charges off. Samuel shrugs and follows. Nadya frowns and
looks around. Something's not right. Eventually, she follows
too.
17.
NADYA
(to herself)
A bloody ghost hunt.
INT. BOOKSTORE - DAY
Devon stands at a desk, pouring over a few opened books;
cross-referencing. She has an open journal and pen;
occasionally she jots something down.
The bookstore in general is of the second-hand variety.
Various browsers mull over titles in the narrow rows of the
store. There's barely room to swing a cat. There is a large
window to a bustling street outside directly across from her,
but she's so far from it that it's difficult to gauge
anything else.
A nerdy, mid-thirties store owner (Jitters) approaches her,
holding a STACK OF BOOKS. He places them on the edge of the
desk.
JITTERS
Okay, I've got these, which are
close...
Devon looks up.
JITTERS
(admits)
But not
the one you were looking
for. I can put in a special order.
We get a lot of that kind of stuff
from LA. This town isn't really
big on... well, you know.
Devon doesn't particularly react. Jitters smiles too wide,
and looks down at what she's reading.
JITTERS
I could help. If-if you wanted.
I'm pretty uh good at... reading.
He realises that he sounds like a complete moron. It might
be her expression. Then again, it's probably because he's
staring googly-eyed at her.
Devon gives him a polite, tight smile and moves her eyes
back to the books. Spotting something across from her, she
lifts on of the books and flips to the next page.
JITTERS
(backing away)
So I'll just uh... put an order
in and uh...
18. He stops, mortified, as his back collides with another stack of books, which comes tumbling to the ground. The interruption causes Devon to look up again. She seems something in the street. WARCRY, the muscle from episode seven, walks past the store. Only this time, he is wearing a WELL-TAILORED SUIT and a YELLOW CONSTRUCTION HAT. Without missing a beat or taking her eyes off the window, Devon packs her journal and pen into her bag and easily navigates around customers, book piles and Jitters. He watches her exit the store; a little dejected. He starts clearing up her books. EXT. BOOKSTORE - SAME Devon steps out of the store and looks down the street. Warcry would be noticeable with his large frame, but the yellow hat makes him easier to find. Devon heads in the same direction; not rushing, not concerned. She looks like she's out for a stroll. The crowd of pedestrians just seem to part for her. Warcry is unaware. EXT. STREET, GREEN - DAY Dawn hugs herself. It's very bleak and more-than-a-smidge creepy. There's a WHISPER-- Dawn shudders to a halt. She searches behind her. Nothing. Her breathing is heavier, but she's going to be brave if it kills her. Keeping her eyes around her, she starts forward again, only to walk straight into-- A DARK SHAPE A cow-shaped shape. Dawn yelps and steps back. It's ominous, scary and looks like it could become the psycho, bovine star of a scary movie at any moment. Dawn is thoroughly freaked out by it. She side-steps and keeps going.
19.
As she nears an intersection, the whispers GROW LOUDER.
Within the intersection, there is a perceived motion created
from SHADOWS and LIGHT. For a moment, Dawn sees a MAN ON A
CELLPHONE surrounded by shadows. He's almost ghostlike - as
though made from the shadows and light around him.
The VOICES instantly become very LOUD but virtually
decipherable. Dawn clutches her ears in pain. She can't stand
it, and turns into the street left of the intersection rather
than go through it. She stumbles away into a long, dark alley.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Warcry crosses the intersection.
Devon strolls, unworried, behind.
Something catches her eye to the side.
A COW
It's cartoony, standing upright and holding a sign that gives
the shop's latest specials.
Devon grimaces at it - an eyesore.
She reaches the intersection. She steps into it while the
traffic light is still green.
A few steps behind her--
THE MAN ON THE CELLPHONE enters the intersection. The lights
flash red.
MAN
No! I've already put my name
behind this damn charity. I'm not
putting another cent into it.
(listens)
Well if you can find a way to
drum up free publicity. Be my
guest.
(shakes phone)
Hello. Hello! Stupid cellphones.
Impatient, the man glares at the back of Devon. How dare she
be in his way. He takes one step to the right--
THWACK
A car SKIDS into him, having skipped the lights. The car
NARROWLY MISSES Devon, who turns calmly and watches it scream
to a halt and crash into set of robots nearest her.
20.
The driver stumbles out, heart-broken.
DRIVER
Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.
Pedestrians form a huge crowd around the intersection
immediately.
ON WARCRY
A short distance ahead. He looks back at the commotion - but
sees nothing of interest and moves on.
DEVON sees--
The driver sobbing in desperation--
DRIVER
The brakes failed. The brakes
failed. Don't you hear me? I
couldn't control it!
The accident-victim is very much dead; blood already pooling
on the street.
Devon watches the driver as he bends down and checks the
victim's pulse; pulling out a cellphone.
There's nothing more to do. Devon turns around; back on her
original mission.
EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE - SAME
A corrugated iron, six foot wall almost circles the entire
block. Warcry opens the corrugated gate and steps inside.
Devon reaches it and looks up. It is the shell of a
skyscraper. There are floors, construction elevators and
pillars, but not much in the way of walls or windows,
especially on the upper floors.
Devon spies a sign at the edge of the gate. It lists
miscellaneous company and contractor names for the
construction - nothing of importance - but they all fall
under one logo that resembles THREE CLAWS (seen in episode 1
and 7).
The sign lists the name of the building as: "THE CITADEL"
Devon studies it for a moment, before opening the gate. She
shuts the gate behind her.
21.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Jason quickly passes the cow and reaches the intersection.
There is a large crowd and the way is blocked.
AMBULANCE SIRENS grow closer.
Worried, Jason tries to see past the people. He sees the man
lying in the street, with the driver frantically pacing.
Samuel and Nadya catch up.
JASON
I can't see her. She's probably
gone straight across.
Nadya concentrates.
NADYA
I don't think so.
JASON
What? You can feel her now?
NADYA
(smiles)
I think so.
She heads left into the alley.
EXT. CITY - DAY
The gang exit the alley into a huge forgotten hole of the
city. Ignoring the lack of carnivorous plants and dinosaurs,
let's call it the Lost World.
EXT. LOST WORLD - SAME
There are buildings bordering each side with alleys in-
between. Overhead, there is a motor-way with support pillars
providing handy nooks for the drugged out runaways, lounging
underneath.
It is everything you'd imagine from a typical, ignored part
of a bustling city: litter, miscreants, rude graffiti and
people with nowhere else to go.
At the far end of this depravation is the corrugated iron
railings - closing off the construction site. They are on
another side of it, with no obvious entrances.
Samuel looks back at the shiny city - a small light at the
end of this littered, open tunnel. He's really worried and
showing it.
22.
SAMUEL
I hope she is safe.
Jason glances at a teenage girl spaced out beside a cardboard
box. She has tracks along her arm. It's not a pleasant sight
for any of them.
JASON
(trying to convince)
Oh yeah sure. She can take care
of herself. It's probably just a
walk in the park for her.
(to Nadya)
Right?
NADYA
Of course. If Dawn is in a
sidelong universe, then there is
probably nothing to worry about.
Everything will be absolutely fine.
VARJEN (OS)
Are you referring to yourselves?
All three stop and stare at the sight in front of them.
Varjen dominates the alley, surrounded by her four lackeys.
VARJEN
Because I am quite sure your
circumstances are about to change.
She smiles.
FADE OUT.
END ACT II
23.
ACT III
FADE IN:
EXT. LOST WORLD - DAY
It's a rabbit-in-the-headlights standoff. Varjen is perhaps
the last person they ever expected to see again; not even a
blip on the brain-scan. Varjen relishes their stunned silence.
VARJEN
I see your numbers have diminished.
Perhaps then, so has your luck.
Nadya is the first to recover; she's shocked, but not afraid.
NADYA
I didn't need luck to beat you.
Varjen gives a sharp laugh.
VARJEN
Oh come. Does that not sound as
much a lie in your ears as it is
to mine? We barely made a proper
introduction. But I know your roles.
Her eyes briefly move to Samuel.
VARJEN
You. Reader of signs.
(sharply to Nadya)
You left your mark on my world.
There are no longer signs to be
read.
(back to Samuel)
Is there any use for you at all?
She seems to be truly pondering the question. It's a chilly
threat to Samuel.
Varjen turns a darker gaze on Jason. The type of look makes
Nadya very, very uncomfortable.
VARJEN
My brother meant to mark you as a
favour. A fit concubine to
safeguard frivolous profit.
24.
Varjen's studies Jason in excruciating detail. Jason wisely
chooses to keep his mouth shut. Nadya tightens her grip on
her bag.
VARJEN
Perhaps I shall bend you to me
instead. It seems you are a
pleasing slave.
NADYA
(chilly)
Go.
It takes Jason a moment to realise she's talking to him.
JASON
I don't think it's a good-
NADYA
Go. Now. Both of you.
There is no mistaking her command. Jason starts backing away
immediately. Samuel falters.
NADYA
You are no good to me. Go!
Samuel turns and runs with Jason.
Varjen simply smiles widely at Nadya - neither breaking eye
contact. Varjen's slaves run out from behind her, pursuing
Jason and Samuel.
VARJEN
There. Let the motes of dust
collide as they will. It is time
I finally wiped an ill stench
from my boot.
(deadly cold)
You were wrong to make an enemy
of me.
Nadya doesn't flinch.
EXT. LOST WORLD, GREEN - DAY
Dawn scurries along - heading toward the light at the end of
the open space. The graffiti and litter play with moving
shadows: a scary combination.
A sound, very much like a TRAIN SCREECHING PAST ON METAL
startles Dawn. She ducks and rolls as LIGHTNING TEARS A
JAGGED SEAM in the atmosphere above her.
25.
She crouches, both terrified and fascinated, as the bright
scratches of light claw fading, disjointed patterns in the air.
DAWN
Stop. Being. A baby.
Forcing herself to ignore the light show, she gets up and
steadily walks to the corrugated barrier between her and the
inside of the site. There is a door, but it is CHAINED SHUT.
Where there's a will... Dawn searches around her and finds a
steel rebar. She palms her weapon; nothing will stand in her
way.
She shoves it in between the chain and gives it a good twist.
And then again and again. She lacks the requisite strength
that would make this look easy.
DAWN
(mimicking)
Don't worry, Buffy, I don't need
any super-strengthed slayer help;
I'm a girl with a plan.
(throwing the rebar
away; annoyed at
herself)
I'm a girl with girly arms.
Looking for another plan, she sees something and smiles.
DAWN
Then again Buffy, guess who's
taller.
She reaches a section of the wall where it meets one of the
overpass pillars on a slope. She braces her leg up against
the pillar and pulls herself up and unsteadily over the wall.
EXT. CONSTRUCTION SITE, THE CITADEL, GREEN - SAME
Dawn's feet land on dirt gravel. She looks ahead, proud of
herself.
Now that there are no obstructions, she can see how mammoth
the building is. It reaches up to a dark green and black sky,
which gives the impression of night, though the surroundings
are still clearly visible.
The top of the building, while unfinished, seems to curve
into a dome. The pure white light that she was following
comes from there.
Dawn heads across the empty site and reaches a construction
elevator. She opens the cage and steps inside.
26.
DAWN
Come on Xander. Be my Yoda.
(spies something)
Aha!
She presses a control button. Nothing happens. She jabs her
finger at it a few more times, really hoping it doesn't mean
what she thinks it does.
She's resigned. She steps out and heads to metal stairs off
to one side. She peers up the stairwell...
A LONG WAY UP
DAWN
Great.
Dragging her legs, she starts walking up the steps.
INT. THE CITADEL, UPPER FLOOR - DAY
Devon emerges from the construction elevator. She wears baggy,
dusty OVERALLS, rolled up at the legs and the sleeves. Her
hair is tucked under a hard hat. She doesn't look like she's
trying to blend in, but none of the CONSTRUCTION WORKERS
going about their business give her a second glance.
Their is a gaping hole in the centre of the building. The
balconies overlooking the long-drop have not been erected yet.
Ignoring everyone, she reaches a pair of CLOSE-BY CONCRETE
PILLARS (there seem to be plenty of the support pillars to
choose from) with exposed wires spilling out from a panel.
She grabs some nearby tools and wedges herself between the
two pillars. She starts working with the wires, as if she's
familiar with the job.
WARCRY stares out at the city. The windowless and wall-free
floor gives a full three-sixty degree view of the horizon.
He seems annoyed.
A construction worker approaches him warily.
CONSTRUCTION WORKER
Sorry. Sir?
The worker ducks as Warcry fixes him with a steely glare.
WARCRY
What?
CONSTRUCTION WORKER
He's on his way up.
27.
Warcry nods curtly.
WARCRY
You may all work on the other
side of this floor now.
The construction worker opens his mouth.
WARCRY
Now! This building must be
complete on schedule!
Nodding his head, the worker scurries off; calling the other
workers to join him. Devon remains hidden by the pillars.
They race around the central elevator shaft as--
-- a DAPPER MAN in a suit steps off. He is armed with a
briefcase.
Warcry folds his arms as the man approaches.
DAPPER
I'm--
WARCRY
I don't care.
The man doesn't seem surprised and looks around the building.
DAPPER
Do you like the design? I've been
assured by our architects that it
meets her requirements.
He waves over two semi-circular granite tables - an altar.
Above him, a narrow landing is met by two curved metal
staircases. At odd angles - to align with the four corners
of the world, their are short platforms overlooking the long
drop.
This is the top of the building. There are metal frames in
place to create a curved roof: something like the top of a
jewelled sceptre.
WARCRY
I neither know, nor care. Why
have you called this meeting?
Dapper moves to the nearest altar and opens his briefcase.
He pulls out a folder.
28.
DAPPER
We at Wolfram and Hart grow...
wary of the brothers' promises.
We wish to make our union more
official.
WARCRY
As you can see, they are not here.
Dapper smiles; he has the look of someone who never gets upset.
DAPPER
Yes, I wasn't expecting you. Where
are they?
WARCRY
The brothers have more
responsibilities than pandering
to the will of Wolfram and Hart.
DAPPER
Oh yes, but they would do well to
remember who has helped them all
these years. This throne for their
mother is simply one of many
generous gifts. What we ask is
small.
WARCRY
You are asking the wrong people.
DAPPER
I think not. Melarna will be
weakened for a time. Time enough
to realise that our request is
not unreasonable. She can rewrite
the entire state of Texas. We'll
even give her Los Angeles. But
the rest of the world is ours
until the seeds of our labour
become rotten fruit. After that,
she can dance on the bones of
armies, if that is her wish.
WARCRY
It is not for me say what she
will or will not wish. I'm only
paid my silver to deal with
annoyances.
DAPPER
(still smiling)
You do not want Wolfram and Hart
to become an enemy.
29.
Dapper snaps the suitcase shut. He calmly walks over and
hands Warcry the folder.
DAPPER
Tell them to sign it in blood. It
will save them countless...
annoyances.
He gives a finale sickening smile and heads to the elevator.
Warcry looks across and sees workers watching the man.
WARCRY
Get back to work!
He looks at the folder, and shaking his head, tosses it onto
the altar--
INT. BOOKSTORE, BACK - DAY
BANG
A book hits the floor. Samuel crouches down to pick it up
and nervously places it back in the shelf.
Jason leans against the bookshelf, sporadically staring
through the gaps in the books to the front of the store. He
breathes out heavily.
JASON
This is so
very wrong.
SAMUEL
Well, I suppose worse things have--
JASON
We have no weapons. We're naked
in public.
Samuel is about to say something, but-
JASON
But then we're not meant
to have
weapons. Not here
.
(holds his forehead)
Why did I leave her?
SAMUEL
She was right. There was nothing
we could do there.
30.
JASON
I shouldn't have left. I... don't
know. I just felt I had to and
now... I shouldn't have left.
(thumps his fist
against the bookshelf)
This shouldn't be happening. Not
here. It's never meant to come...
SAMUEL
Home.
He smiles. Jason nods.
JASON
My parents - when they died -
there was so much talk about the
things they did. Mostly what they
said was wrong... mostly. My
granddad would've hated that. Our
name was important to him. I'm
the last one. I thought the least
I could do was keep my real life
away from here.
SAMUEL
It isn't easy packaging oneself
neatly into boxes. When events in
one box spiral beyond your control
and into the open, it is very
difficult to pick up the pieces
and move them into the next box.
You eventually discover, too late,
that the other box may have
emptied and you've lost more than
you can imagine.
Jason notices the sadness.
JASON
So when you were a Watcher--
SAMUEL
I was also a husband, a father. I
devoted so much time to my calling.
And then she died. And I had
nothing.
(small smile)
My daughter has not spoken to me
in nine years.
There isn't really anything else they can say.
31.
JASON
So your advice to me is to stop
giving a damn about the family name?
SAMUEL
No. My advice is to cherish all
you love equally.
Jason humorlessly smiles.
JITTERS (O.S.)
Uh excuse me.
Jitters peers at them around the corner. He waves over the
bookshelves.
JITTERS
(cont.)
Can I help you find something?
JASON
(sighs)
Not unless you can have a book
about why the stars are aligning
to screw with my day--
JITTERS
(chuckling)
Actually, it's funny you mentioned
that. I just put an order in--
Jason isn't actually listening.
JASON
Look, do you have a back entrance?
JITTERS
(slowly)
No.
(eyes darting)
Should I need a back entrance in
a next five minutes?
JASON
Don't worry about it. Be out of
your hair in seconds.
Jitters stands and stares.
32.
JASON
You know what. I do need help.
I'd really love to read Harry
Potter and the uh...
(snaps his fingers)
You know, the last one.
JITTERS
Oh that's in the front. Big seller.
(off Jason's look)
Let me get it for you.
He turns and skedaddles. Jason looks through the books to
the front door again.
JASON
Okay. New plan. These guys have
got markings on their faces, so
chances are Bavmorda is controlling
them through some sort of mind
voodoo.
SAMUEL
It makes sense. Powerful families
often have similar strengths. So
what do you suggest?
JASON
Odds are they're wired to return
to the one controlling them. So,
the plan is, we stop them from
hurting anyone and eventually
they'll go away.
SAMUEL
(trying to be
supportive)
That's your plan?
JASON
Nadya's probably kicking that
chick's ass anyway. We're just
tying up the dangling ends.
He spots something on a bookshelf ahead of him, and smiles.
JASON
I think I just figured out how.
Samuel looks at the book: LORD OF THE RINGS. He doesn't get it.
EXT. LOST WORLD - DAY
Nadya hides behind a pillar. She's hurt and breathing heavily.
33.
The area surrounding her is not faring much better. There
are fires and scorch marks. Runaways are crying and hiding.
There doesn't appear to have been any concern over being
subtle or discreet.
Varjen walks unhurt and unconcerned amongst the pillars -
unhurriedly looking for Nadya.
VARJEN
And thus the truth is revealed.
You were never my equal.
Nadya ignores her and places her hand into her bag. She
brings out a SPHERE and begins to mumble under her breath.
VARJEN
What is this? Silence. Has the
truth stunned you so completely?
Varjen laughs; a deep, rich insult. Nadya continues to mumble
but there is a anger to her words.
VARJEN
How could you believe otherwise?
The weakest stone among great
monoliths.
Nadya pauses briefly.
VARJEN
I know of them. Your family. And
of your shame. Confess to me. Do
you truly believe that you have
eluded them with your defiance?
You are a child with as little
control over your delusions as
the gifts given through your blood.
NADYA
Edo edi essum, voro...
(louder)
anima!
The SPHERE FLARES with RED ENERGY and Nadya's eyes instantly
BURN TO BLACK. The sphere crumbles in her hand, falling to
the ground as a silvery POWDER.
VARJEN
(disgusted)
How do you even allow yourself to
exist; to wallow in the stench of
your weakness?
34.
Nadya steps out from behind the pillar. Varjen sees her,
right before she's bit by a massive chain of lightning. She's
knocked flying, crashing THROUGH THE BARRIER TO THE
CONSTRUCTION SITE.
Nadya smiles.
NADYA
Oh, I get by.
INT. THE CITADEL, STAIRWELL, GREEN - DAY
Dawn soldiers up the stairs. The floors are more or less
lacking walls.
DAWN
Forty-six bottles of beer on the
wall. Forty-six bottles of beer.
If a vampire takes. Grab your
stake-- hello?
Dawn pauses and goes down a few steps until she reaches the
floor. She steps away from the stairs.
INT. THE CITADEL, 46TH FLOOR, GREEN - SAME
The floor is a concrete forest. A breeze ruffles Dawn's hair
as she stares at something ahead of her; something disturbing,
something that reflects a glimmering light on her face.
DAWN
Buffy?
A lone FIGURE with long hair stands at the edge of the floor.
Hanging midair, the maw of a growing portal lies horizontal
with the floor. For a moment, the figure turns and looks at
Dawn.
DAWN
Buffy? Buffy. No!
The figure takes off running toward the portal. Dawn doesn't
hesitate, she runs forward, desperate. She is nowhere near
the figure as she makes a perfect swan dive into the portal.
DAWN
No!
She doesn't stop running--
Reaches the edge of the building--
Stops
35.
The toes of her shoes peek over the edge.
A bone-crunching drop.
No portal.
Dawn fumbles backward, breathing heavily. Distraught, Dawn
looks ahead and grows cold at what she sees.
ON THE HORIZON
The sun, obscured as it already is, is low behind the
cityscape. The usual city lights are nowhere to be seen;
it's deathly silent. But, like maggots in a grave, SHADOWS
AND LIGHT CRAWL all over the city. Some fast, some slow,
some disappear like flashes in a pan.
Dawn stares in growing confusion as a small parcel of shadows
and light move as one across the sky - like a twinkling
airplane in the dark.
The whispers start to grow.
FADE OUT.
END ACT III
36.
ACT IV
FADE IN:
EXT. THEATRE DISTRICT - NIGHT
Jason peeks out from behind a wall. Their are crowds of
TOURISTS blanketing the landscape in front of him. Everyone
is having a jolly old time.
Through the crowds, Jason spots Samuel walking slowly amidst
the throng. Behind him, entering from another side, the
slaves follow; swords drawn, hunting. They are slowed by the
freakishly unfamiliar surroundings.
AN ORC JUMPS OUT
The slaves freak out and bring up their weapons. The orc
SINGS. Children laugh. The slaves can't reconcile the very
different reactions.
ORC
(singing)
I must admit my mother never fed
me fish.
THWAP
A shape rushes in-between them. One slave is missing a weapon.
He and his companions dart around frantically, but all they
see is SINGING ELVES, boxing them in.
ELF
(singing)
What a dish to miss.
WHACK
Two slaves collide. A staff knocks their weapons out of their
hands. Quick-stepping dancing warriors boogie the swords
across the crowds and out of sight. Stage crew run through
and pick up the swords, along with other discarded "props".
The remaining slave moves forward through the crowd, angry
and looking for a kill.
Hopping hobbits part ways and--
JASON
Hi there. Enjoying the show?
37.
He punches the slave in the face--
The slave brings his fists up--
Jason is gone.
The slaves scan each face, each musical monster, unarmed and
out of their world. Not knowing what else to do, they turn
around and head away from the crowd quickly.
Jason and Samuel watch from a distance. Looking across at
each other, they nod and follow.
INT. THE CITADEL, 46TH FLOOR - NIGHT
Dawn stumbles forward; one hand searching around her, the
other trying to block the BUZZ of angry noise attacking her.
She's surrounded by a swirling soup of nebulous phantoms.
Dawn cuts off a SCREAM as she almost lurches right off the
edge of the building again. She scrambles backwards and tries
to find a clear path through the muck.
The noise SCREECHES at her, like a freight train. It's almost
a physical force and knocks her to her knees. She wraps both
her arms around her head, covering her eyes and ears.
DAWN
What do you want!?
The noise abruptly muffles, like someone put a pillow over
the speakers.
Dawn pulls her arms away from her face. Her breath stutters
out. Perhaps it would have been better to deal with the noise
alone. Beneath her knees and hands--
SKULLS
made of shadow and light; ethereal and shimmering.
Dawn jumps to her feet, frantically looking for a path, but
the ENTIRE FLOOR is covered in SKULLS AND BONES. At the
centre of the floor, A THRONE MADE OF BONES.
Dawn shakes her head. No nightmare could be this real.
MULTIPLE VOICES
Dimensions bleed. Order overthrown.
Chaos. Dark. Forever.
DAWN
(trying to convince)
That's not what I am.
38.
A BRIGHT GREEN LIGHT FLICKERS in front of her - she has to
shield her eyes against it. It's a PORTAL - or at least a
reasonable shadow and light induced facsimile of one.
Dawn startles as the skulls and bones have been replaced by
a looming STONE ARMY. They stare at the portal through dead
stone eyes. Something moves on the face of the nearest soldier.
Steeling herself, Dawn moves forward slowly to see what it is.
ON THE SOLDIER'S FACE
Tiny flakes of the smooth skin PEEL OFF and get sucked
towards the portal. Dawn steps backs. Larger chunks of the
soldiers start breaking off, all flying toward the ravenous
portal. The more soldiers that decay, the more she can see
beyond them.
MOUNTAINS, OCEANS, LAND
BREAK UP and gets drawn into the portal. Slowly, as if the
portal was a disease.
Dawn is horrified. She's almost to the point of tears.
DAWN
That's not who I am!
The WHISPERS INCREASE once more to painful levels. Dawn
clutches her head. The WORLDS and SOLDIERS DECAY FASTER. The
shadows and light CRAWL around her.
DAWN
(barely heard)
Stop it! Please stop it!
PFFFFFFFTT
The noise sounds like it's been sucked into a vaccuum.
GENTLE VOICE
Fate is what I make it.
Dawn searches... there--
THE SHAPE OF A WOMAN
It has no definitive features. It is simply the absence of
shadow or light.
The woman drifts backward through the mist without actually
moving. It parts the way through the nebulous cacophony for
Dawn. She follows.
39.
INT. THE CITADEL, UPPER FLOOR - NIGHT
Construction workers continue soldering under portable lights.
Warcry paces in front of some workers.
WORKER
Two weeks is not enough time for
this whole building.
WARCRY
Then finish here first. You do
not want to face the owner's wrath
when she arrives. Increase your
fees. Don't go to the union again.
Get it done.
Warcry shakes his head and walks away from the mutinous
workers.
WARCRY
(under his breath)
Thirty pieces of silver each. We
should have bought slaves.
Devon walks behind him, and reaches another pillar. She yanks
open an electric circuit, and without much concern, removes
a portion of the insulation from the wires with wire clippers.
She jams a crocodile clip into the panel.
Briefly, she looks across at some other panels. Each have
been set up similarly.
ON HER EYES
They freeze to WHITE.
ON THE PANEL NEAREST TO HER
A shimmer of energy - almost like a heat haze - builds and
grows. The wires seem to twitch until--
EACH AND EVERY ELECTRICAL CONDUIT EXPLODES
All the POWER GOES OUT.
There are some murmurs and questioning yells from the workers,
until the backup generate juices up the red emergency lights
by the stairs.
WARCRY
What is the meaning of this?! Who
is responsible for...
40.
He is distracted by the same thing that is now holding the
attention of the workers. There should be total darkness,
but instead, WHITE LIGHT is growing from below. Some of the
workers move to the edge to see what it is--
A SNAKE OF LIGHTNING licks at their feet. Curiosity turns to
fear, as the lightning trails grow larger.
Warcry moves to the edge of the building as the workers turn
tail and flee down the stairs.
WARCRY
(shaking his head)
They will definitely head to the
union now. Doomed to failure.
Not a happy camper, he also turns toward the stairs. As he
leaves, Devon steps out of the shadows. She peers over the
edge at--
EXT. THE CITADEL - SAME
Varjen collapses to the ground, bloodied. Nadya walks around
her - at a cautious distance - but she is almost giddy.
NADYA
What was that you were saying
about weak?
Varjen pulls herself up. She wipes some blood from her mouth
as she looks at Nadya, who appears quite triumphant. Varjen
smiles.
NADYA
What?
Varjen lashes out with her hand. The bag around Nadya snaps
and spills open. The SPHERES fall out at her feet.
NADYA
(doesn't get it)
Was that it?
VARJEN
Tell me, have I truly
underestimated you?
NADYA
I'd say that was obvious.
Varjen gets slowly to her feet. It's obvious she's taken a
whallop that has weakened her. Nadya is no longer threatened.
She seems high.
41.
VARJEN
No I don't think I have. I am
willing to wager you deny your
guilt by pretending you had no
hand in their
deaths.
She kicks at one of the spheres. Now Nadya gets it. She's
knows exactly what Varjen is talking about.
VARJEN
You are one of those pitiful
pretenders to power who bargain
with themselves that they are
righteous. One life for many. One
evil to conquer one greater.
(laughs)
You are worse than weak. You are
a facade, a pretense, and
emptiness that will fade from all
sight and memory. I doubt you
have ever spent a soul that had
real power. These are probably
nothing more than--
The wind is thoroughly knocked out of her as she is thrown
to the ground.
NADYA
You don't know as much about me
as you think. I only use the best.
Varjen looks up and sees--
A GLOW AROUND NADYA'S HAND
NADYA
I bet your soul has a hell of a
kick to it.
Varjen actually looks afraid. Nadya notices.
NADYA
What? It's not like you actually
use your soul. You killed your
own brother. That's straight to
hell. This way, I'm doing you a
favour--
SLAVE
Mistress. Mistress.
The FOUR SLAVES RUN INTO THE SITE. Not far behind them, Jason
and Samuel.
42.
NADYA
(under her breath)
Consider yourself lucky.
As the slaves near, Nadya angrily clutches the amulet around
her neck.
A PORTAL OPENS
When it closes, Varjen and the slaves are gone. Nadya stoops
a little as Jason nears her. Her grabs her head in his hands,
looking at her wounds.
JASON
Are you okay?
NADYA
I'll be fine. I'm just a little
winded.
She leans against his heavily. He tucks her under his shoulder.
JASON
(to Samuel)
I don't think there's much we can
do for Dawn. Let's just head back.
Recoup some.
(to Nadya)
Well done. But do you think the
royal witch in the ass will be back?
NADYA
No. I really don't.
(wrapping an arm around
him)
Let's just go homes.
He nods and guides her out. Samuel stares at the spheres,
still laying on the ground. There is the hint of a glow to
them, but he still can't fathom them.
NADYA
(looking back)
Samuel?
He shakes his head for a moment; distracted. A moment later,
it's all gone.
SAMUEL
Yes. Yes, of course.
He turns to follow.
43.
NADYA
Bring them for me.
He hesitates, a little befuddled.
SAMUEL
Yes, yes of course.
He turns back to retrieve them and put them into the broken
bag lying beside them.
Nadya and Jason continue to the front gate. As she passes
through, Nadya notices the THREE CLAW MARKS on the sign of
the site. She takes one last look at the building, looking
up at the jagged spire in the darkness.
INT. THE CITADEL, UPPER FLOOR, GREEN - NIGHT
Dawn reaches the floor below the landings. The room is well
lit by the BEACON on one of the altars: the last key.
She walks in between the two altars - mindful of the massive
gaping hole between them. She looks down and sees the many
floors below.
DAWN
Creepy.
Tired, she reaches out and touches the light. It solidifies
in her hand.
The light flickers and weakens. She looks down at herself
and realises that she is flickering too.
INT. THE CITADEL, UPPER FLOOR - SAME
Devon watches as Dawn solidifies--
THEN DISAPPEARS
Devon smiles.
INT. TRAINING ROOM - NIGHT
Dawn squeezes her eyes against the sudden glare of the light
in the room. She sees the red circle of powder at her feet
first.
DAWN
(weary)
There's no place like home.
A door UNLOCKS. Dawn looks toward the door, but that's when
she notices-
44.
SCORCH MARKS on the wall. The movie poster in front of the
safe has been completely blasted apart, revealing it though
it seems untouched. The room seems a wreck.
Jason looks into the room.
JASON
Oh. Hey, look who's back...
He takes in the destruction.
DAWN
It wasn't me.
INT. TRAINING ROOM - LATER
Dawn hands Jason the demystified last key. He places it in
the safe, where the other keys all reside, save the one
around Nadya's neck. She clutches it thoughtfully as she
leans on the doorway.
JASON
Well, at least we know for sure
the safe is as good as advertised.
(looks around the rest
of the room)
What a mess.
HUGHLY
There's always a good excuse for
redecoration. I never liked that
movie anyway.
He smiles forcefully, handing Nadya and Dawn two sherry
glasses.
DAWN
Ooh. Adult-drinkies.
She takes a glass as they all leave the room.
INT. JASON'S APARTMENT, LOUNGE - CONTINUOUS
Samuel mulls over a book on the sofa.
HUGHLY
Yes, you've had a testing day,
and I missed it all.
JASON
Rather absent than dead. That was
a little too close for my liking.
(claps his hands)
But hey, it's over.
45.
SAMUEL
Not quite.
(looking up from the
book)
We still don't have everything we
need to complete the ritual.
JASON
Okay, so we improvise and use
gasoline. It's just a fire.
SAMUEL
It's more than that. We're
stripping these keys of their
inherent power so that they cannot
be reforged or regenerated. We
cannot have this threat hang over
Dawn any longer.
DAWN
Amen.
(takes a sip)
Bleeughh.
SAMUEL
I fear they've just been waiting.
Their timing is impeccable. How
they knew...
(to Dawn)
Did anything strange happen when
you found the key? You said
earlier that you felt it had been
purposefully moved.
DAWN
I still agree with that. But I
don't think it was anything to do
with whoever was here.
NADYA
Why not?
DAWN
The place I was is the world
inside this world. I think...
(falters; will they
think she's nuts?)
I think it's where fate is made.
Where things are decided.
NADYA
Decided for who?
46.
DAWN
All of us. Free will seems like a
cosmic joke, these things...
shadows and light... they twist
what you see and feel. But I think
they wanted me to see what they
are, what they do.
JASON
(quietly)
Why?
Nadya looks uncomfortable.
DAWN
I don't know. Maybe to show me
that I have no choices. That none
of us do. I just don't know. What
I felt when they finally noticed
I was there...
She shudders.
NADYA
So it's some sort of evil
dimension housing the Powers That
Be.
DAWN
That's what's so scary. I think
it was both of them. Good and
evil. Endlessly pushing pieces on
a chess board to see what happens.
Top see who gets the prize.
NADYA
What would that be?
DAWN
Control. Of you, of me, of the
puppy crossing the street. It
doesn't matter which side they
say they are, they both want it
all. And they'll use who you love,
what you hate, how you were born
and what you fear to do it. I
feel like--
Dawn freezes.
NADYA
(insistent)
You feel what? Dawn?
47.
She looks closer, Dawn has literally frozen - no movement
whatsoever. Everyone else in the room is similarly STUCK IN
TIME.
Nadya clenches her jaw; she doesn't seem surprised.
NADYA
So it was
you behind today's
surprise guest.
VOICE #1
You had to know...
VOICE #2
(almost identical to
#1)
You couldn't hide forever.
Nadya turns--
CZAR and CAESER, two blond, virtually identical twins, early
30s, smile at her. They are almost ethereal in their grace.
Nadya folds her arms and begins idly playing with the amulet-
key around her neck.
NADYA
I'm hardly hiding.
CZAR
Oh? Yet today was the first time
you've truly opened yourself
since...
CAESER
You turned yourself against us.
CZAR
Curious.
Czar walks around the others.
CZAR
(cont.)
Mere mortals, yet they have the
resources to achieve what we could
not.
CAESER
(nearing Jason)
This insignificant one had the
means to keep us from the the keys.
48.
NADYA
(almost gloating)
The keys I found.
CZAR
(not impressed)
Yes.
NADYA
It took you over twenty-five years
and I achieved it within months.
You never believed in me.
CAESER
(disgusted)
Short-cuts. No discipline. No
ritual--
NADYA
Perhaps if you hadn't been so
caught up in ritual, you wouldn't
have lost the keys in the first
place.
CZAR
Lost? You aided the human Key.
Strange, since you went to so
much trouble to thwart us and
destroy it. What changed your
mind that day?
CAESER
We saw your handiwork with the
train, felt your presence. Yet...
the Key lives. Which is it?
He closely studies Jason.
CZAR
No. She has special interest in
this one. It is not simply a tool
to her.
(looking at Samuel and
Hughly)
What use would a key be at the
end of its lifespan? It is this
one.
He approaches Dawn.
CAESER
Come sister. It is time to restore
Mother to her rightful place. She
has waited for us.
49.
NADYA
Give it up. She was immortal not
invulnerable. She's been dead
since she was taken.
CAESER
How could you dare give up! She
is--
NADYA
She wanted to destroy the world.
She got what she deserved.
CAESER
Sister, tell me you are not still
attached to these...
(he waves a hand over
Jason)
She will despise your lingering
weakness. Do not make her hate
you for your betrayal. Set aside
this foolishness. Return to us
with the keys. We can begin the
first rite tonight, and in
thirteen nights, we will be whole
again.
Nadya shakes her head.
NADYA
You never listen. I have no--
CZAR
This is not the same one.
Caeser and Nadya both turn to Czar. His hands hover over Dawn.
CAESER
Regeneration could make it seem
different.
CZAR
No. This one's energies have been
depleted, yes, but it is not ours.
(concentrates)
And there is something else grown
within it.
CAESER
It is no matter. Our servants
found it by chance, and that is
all the good fortune we need. We
can worry about the other later.
It is time to bring Mother home.
50.
The twins seem pleased, and are including her within their
celebrations. Nadya is not pleased.
CZAR
(considering)
She will not be pleased if she
cannot continue what she started.
Do you suppose its energies are
replenished enough to reach the
deeper dimensions?
Nadya grabs the amulet strongly.
NADYA
Let's find out.
Her eyes blaze BLACK. Light shoots from the amulet toward
Dawn. As it connects, the entire room turns white - too
bright to actually see what's happening.
The colours return - the twins are gone.
Nadya smiles to herself.
NADYA
I guess the answer is yes.
Movement returns to the room.
Dawn abruptly staggers. She shakily leaves her drink on the
nearest surface and sits down on a chair.
SAMUEL
Dawn? Are you alright?
DAWN
(unsure)
Yeah, I think so. I guess I can't
handle my liquor.
HUGHLY
Tea and hot chocolate all around?
Jason and Nadya shake their heads. Samuel and Dawn nod.
Hughly walks off to the kitchen.
EXT. ROOFTOP - NIGHT
From a higher vantage point, someone looks into--
JASON'S APARTMENT
Jason wraps his arm around Nadya's waist. Dawn smiles with
Samuel over something Jason has said.
51.
INT. THE KITCHEN - NIGHT
Hughly stands in front of two steaming porcelain cups of tea,
and one very zany, colourful mug of hot chocolate. Discreetly
checking behind him to make sure none of the others are
looking, he swiftly slips something out of his jacket.
THE VIAL OF GREEN FOGGY LIQUID
He pours a few drops into the cups of tea. He excludes the
hot chocolate.
EXT. JASON'S APARTMENT, ROOFTOP - SAME
Devon watches as Hughly walks across the apartment and gives
Samuel a cup of tea and Dawn the hot chocolate.
Nadya and Jason laugh together.
OFF DEVON WATCHING.
FADE OUT.
END SHOW
Sophocles Screenplay Software 2007
www.sophocles.net