sa4x17
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        29     EXT. MOSCOW OUTSKIRTS - EVENING                         29

               Greg stands by two minivans, a small team of Council
               operatives milling around him. He speaks into his phone:

                                   GREG
                         We've got her. How's your side of
                         the plan going?

               IN THE JEEP, Skye glances at a GPS UNIT perched on the
               dashboard - a beeping RED DOT is on screen.

                                   SKYE
                         On our way back to you. Is she
                         alright?

               Greg looks across as somebody is led past, a blanket draped
               round their shoulders:

               It's MARIA! She looks pale and weak, but manages a nod and
               grin towards Greg.

                                   GREG
                         She's fine. Well, comparatively
                         speaking, I mean.

                                   SKYE
                         Any word from the Academy?

                                   GREG
                             (beat)
                         Not yet. Skye, Grace said that even
                         if they can't - 

                                                          END INTERCUT:

                                   SKYE
                             (interrupts)
                         Yeah, I know what she said. I don't
                         like it... but I get it.
                             (beat)
                         See you in ten.

               Skye hangs up, glancing at the others as we CUT TO:

        30     INT. CAMPUS - WORKSHOP - DAY                            30

               We're down to our last minute now. Tia hangs back, growing
               more frantic with every second.

                                   TIA
                         Patty, come on!

               Patty's elbow-deep in the bomb's workings, wire cutter
               clutched between her teeth.

                                   PATTY
                             (through mouthful)
                         Almost got it...

               The timer starts to BEEP shrilly - ten seconds to go!

                                   TIA
                         Patty!

               She GRABS Patty's arm - who does well not to slip!

                                   PATTY
                         There!

               She snatches the cutters from her mouth and reaches into the
               machine:

               And the timer STOPS with seconds to go!

               Patty leans back, exhaling. She grins, satisfied.

                                   PATTY (cont'd)
                         I thought as much. They'd given the
                         disarm wire a different colour to
                         throw me. Soon as I scrubbed some
                         of the paint off, I got it.

               She looks to Tia - who is white as a sheet, wide eyes fixed
               on the timer. Patty chuckles, amused. She pats Tia lightly on
               the arm.

                                   PATTY (cont'd)
                         Better go tell Grace that they can
                         all come back now.

               Tia nods, still shellshocked. She rises and glides out of
               frame, leaving Patty to look back at the bomb.

                                   PATTY (cont'd)
                         There. See? All better.

               She DUSTS her hands with a flourish, as we CUT TO:

        31     INT. CABAL JEEP - EVENING                               31

               A BEEPING sound leads Agent #1 to take a small device from
               his pocket - a RED LIGHT flashes on the surface.

                                   AGENT #2
                         Sir?

                                   AGENT #1
                         The bomb's offline.

                                   AGENT #2
                         What? But how could they - 

                                   AGENT #1
                         Doesn't matter.

               He looks into the back - Maria sits there, flanked by two
               more armed agents.

                                   AGENT #1 (cont'd)
                         As long as we've got you, eh?

                                   MARIA
                         Actually... 

               Maria smiles - and her features start to SHIFT, her body
               MORPHING to the agents' surprise - into RACHEL!

                                   RACHEL 
                         ... you don't. 

               She SWINGS left and right, attacking the surprised agents
               before making a GRAB for the wheel!

               The Jeep LURCHES to the side, RAMMING into the second and
               sending it veering across the road:

               And straight into oncoming traffic! It hits a TANKER head-on
               and EXPLODES into a bright fireball!

               Rachel keeps grappling for control, but with the element of
               surprise gone it's four on one now.

               She starts taking hits, fighting back against the grunts as
               they try to overpower her, as we CUT TO:

        32     EXT. STREET - NEXT                                      32

               Maria - the real Maria, that is - sits in the open side of
               one of the minivans, parked off the street. Greg sits next to
               her, rubbing her across the shoulders:

               As Skye's Jeep SCREECHES to a halt, Erika quickly jumping off
               and hurrying forward.

                                   ERIKA
                         Maria? Maria!

                                   MARIA
                         I'm here!

               Both sisters are so weak they can only hobble, but they soon
               find each other and embrace.

                                   SKYE
                             (to Greg)
                         Any news?

                                   GREG
                             (grins)
                         They're clear. Managed to defuse
                         the bomb before it could go off.

               Skye exhales, relieved, then shouts to the sisters:

                                   SKYE 
                         Warm fuzzies can wait, ladies!
                         Rachel bought us enough time to
                         pull this off, but they'll be back
                         on us before we can say - 

               A SEARCHLIGHT suddenly falls on the scene, everyone looking
               up - to see a HELICOPTER swooping towards them!

                                   SKYE (cont'd)
                         Helicopter?

                                   DELANEY
                         It's them! Go!

                                   SKYE
                         How do you - 

               GUNFIRE chews up the ground around the vehicles!

                                   DELANEY
                             (to Erika and Maria)
                         Get your asses in the Jeep, now!

               Delaney stands, a wave of her arm casting a BLUE HAZE of
               energy around the Jeep - deflecting some of the bullets.

               Erika shields Maria as they clamber into the Jeep. Skye
               throws Greg a last look, then floors it.

               The helicopter stays with them, following the Jeep as it
               tears back down the road.

               The two Council minivans start to turn in the road so they
               can join the pursuit.

        33     INT. JEEP - NEXT                                        33

               Skye keeps accelerating, jinking and weaving through the
               increasingly busy traffic.

                                   SKYE
                         How the hell did they find us so
                         fast?

                                   DELANEY
                         Maybe because we're still in one of
                         their Jeeps, and they most likely
                         fit all these things with tracking
                         devices?

                                   SKYE
                             (beat)
                         Oh, yeah.

                                   ERIKA
                         Skye...

                                   SKYE
                         Hang on to something solid, ladies!

                                   MARIA
                         What about Rachel? Is she okay?

               Skye glances at Delaney, their dark looks betraying their
               anxiousness as we CUT TO:

        34     EXT. WOODS - NEXT                                       34

               Bloodied, beaten and unconscious, Rachel is DUMPED onto the
               floor from the side of one of the Jeeps. Agent #1 scowls down
               at her.

                                   AGENT #1
                             (to others)
                         Let's go. We have a pursuit to
                         join. 

               The Jeep pulls away, leaving Rachel behind as we CUT TO:

        35     EXT. STREETS - NEXT                                     35

               Skye keeps glancing over her shoulder - the helicopter is
               still right on top of them. There's nowhere to lose it.

                                   DELANEY
                         We have to get off the road!

                                   SKYE
                         And go where? There's nothing but
                         road out here!

                                   DELANEY
                             (to Erika)
                         Where can we go? We need to get
                         some buildings for cover between us
                         and that thing!

                                   MARIA
                         Left! Go left!

               Skye does so, the Jeep SLIDING clumsily around a junction. It
               cuts off several other cars to a chorus of angry HONKS.

                                   MARIA (cont'd)
                         The business district's this way.
                         Lots of big buildings.

               Skye looks around - she's right. They're entering a block
               stuffed full of large buildings - when the Jeep's engine
               SPLUTTERS, and Skye looks at the dashboard:

               They're almost out of fuel!

                                   SKYE
                         Oh, come on!

               She looks back to the road, risking a glance in the rear-view
               mirror:

               Just as the other two Cabal Jeeps swing into view from side
               roads, right on their tail!

               She looks over her shoulder just in time to see the offending
               vehicle SLAM into their rear end, jolting everyone forward.

               Their Jeep veers off to one side, CLIPPING a parked car and
               sending SPARKS flying into the cabin.

                                   DELANEY
                             (eyes bulging)
                         Look out!

               Skye can't wrestle control back in time, and the Jeep PLOUGHS
               into a slow-moving van!

               The van's rear CRUMPLES at the impact, SKIDDING sideways -
               and blocking the path of one of the Cabal Jeeps.

               The other GUNS its engine, fishtailing the out-of-control
               Jeep and pitching it into a wide, lazy spin.

                                   SKYE
                         Ah, crap... hang on!

               SMASH! The Jeep CRASHES into a row of parked cars, almost
               tipping onto its side before it comes to rest.

               The Cabal Jeep SKIDS to a halt further down the road, the
               agents on board quickly jumping off.

               Bleeding from a bad cut, Delaney presses a hand to her head
               as she looks round, climbing out.

                                   DELANEY
                         Everyone alright?

               Skye's out cold, but Erika is already pushing Maria out of
               the Jeep - into Delaney's arms!

                                   ERIKA
                         It is not me they want - go!

                                   DELANEY
                         But - 

               And the SEARCHLIGHT falls on them again, forcing Delaney and
               Maria to take off into the maze of paths and streets.

               Erika watches them go as the first group of Cabal Agents get
               to her. They grab her and HAUL her out of the Jeep, and she
               can't do anything to stop them as we CUT TO:

        36     EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT - NEXT                           36

               Delaney races ahead of Maria for a few seconds before she
               realises her charge has slowed down. 

               Turning away, Maria RETCHES, and when she turns back she
               looks like death warmed up - without the warmed up part. 

                                   DELANEY
                         You okay? 

                                   MARIA
                             (grim)
                         I'm fine. We should... 

               A disturbance nearby startles them, footsteps, fast and
               heavy. They're close by too - and so is that helicopter.

                                   DELANEY
                         Come on. 

               She puts her arm around the Russian girl and helps her to
               walk, picking up the pace a little as we CUT TO:

        37     EXT. STREET - NEXT                                      37

               The two Council vans pull up by the ruined stolen Jeep, Greg
               one of the first out to rush over.

               Skye is just coming to as Greg reaches them, Erika left
               sprawled on the ground.

                                   GREG
                         What happened? Are you all alright?
                         Where are Delaney and Maria?

               Greg notices the two abandoned Cabal Jeeps.

                                   GREG (cont'd)
                         Oh, no...

               He turns to the Council team behind him - five men like
               himself, lightly armed.

                                   GREG (cont'd)
                         We can't let them get Maria! Fan
                         out and call in once you've found
                         them!

               The team hurry off, Greg staying to help Erika sit back up.

                                   GREG (cont'd)
                         Easy, easy. You've all taken a
                         beating tonight.

                                   SKYE
                             (slurred)
                         Rachel... where's Rachel?

                                   GREG
                             (grim)
                         We haven't found her yet. We'll
                         keep looking, but we have to make
                         sure Maria is safe first.

                                   ERIKA
                         She will be.
                             (smiles)
                         Delaney is with her.

               Greg rises, feeling a little helpless as we CUT TO:

        38     EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT - NEXT                           38

               Two Cabal Agents troop past, the whirr of the helicopter
               still loud overhead as its searchlight sweeps past.

               A moment later, Delaney peeks out from round a corner, making
               sure the coast is clear.

               She steals out, keeping to the shadows - Maria is following
               close behind her.

                                   MARIA
                             (whispers)
                         How are we gonna get out of here?
                         There's too many of them!

                                   DELANEY
                         There's always too many. The trick
                         is creating a diversion big enough
                         to cover our tracks.

                                   MARIA
                         Can you do that?

                                   DELANEY 
                         I could probably - 

               She's cut off by a loud ROAR - a huge DEMON is towering over
               them, one mighty paw swinging to SWAT Delaney aside!

               She CRASHES into a heap of trash cans, sliding to the floor
               and flailing for grip as the demon STOMPS towards her.

               Maria SCREAMS, stumbling backwards into the arms of two
               agents, who begin to drag her away!

                                   MARIA
                         No! Delaney, help me! Help!

               Dazed, Delaney registers the agents grappling Maria and tries
               to get up - but has to DUCK as the demon PUNCHES a hole
               through the wall, narrowly missing her head!

               She deftly weaves around the demon, closing in on the two
               agents as a blazing ball of ENERGY builds in her hand.

                                   DELANEY
                             (snarls)
                         Get away from her, you b - 

               SMACK! The demon CHARGES into her again, this time tackling
               her out of the way!

               She dodges a punch, returns with one of her own, but gets an
               UPPERCUT to the jaw as a reward. 

               She staggers back, reeling - and the demon grabs her in a
               BEAR HUG! It lifts her up off the floor, squeezing tight.

                                   MARIA (O.S.)
                         Delaney!

                                   DELANEY
                             (gritted teeth)
                         Hang on!

               Try as she might, this thing's stronger than your average
               bear and she can't break free. It SNARLS, drool running from
               its mouth. 

                                   DELANEY (cont'd)
                         Ah, to hell with this...
                             (beat)
                         Incurso! 

               A bright green BLAST of energy pulses from her body, sending
               the demon hurtling backwards and Delaney flying back through
               the air!

               The demon bursts into FLAMES, whining desperately as it tries
               to beat down the magical fire:

               While Delaney shoots back against a wall, her head CRACKING
               painfully off the bricks.

               She slides to the floor, stunned, and as she tries to stand
               she just collapses face down.

               DELANEY'S POV: 

               Everything is out of focus and the sound is also muffled, but
               we quite clearly hear the sound of Maria's CRIES as she's
               dragged away by dark, fuzzy figures. 

                                                         FADE TO BLACK:

               RUSTLING. Indistinct VOICES. CRYING. 

               We JOLT back to the land of the living, ON SCENE as Delaney
               stirs. There's no sign of the Cabal, or Maria for that
               matter. 

                                   DELANEY (cont'd)
                         Maria?

                                   SKYE (O.S.)
                             (subdued)
                         She's gone.

               Delaney turns - the sudden movement making her wince with
               pain - to see Skye crouching nearby.

               In the background, Greg stands with the battered Rachel, the
               other Council operatives nearby.

                                   DELANEY
                         She... she can't be 'gone,' where
                         did she go? They took her, I saw
                         them take her, I tried to - 

                                   ERIKA (O.S.)
                         This is your fault.

               Delaney looks round - and there's Erika, Facing away from
               her, arms crossed against her chest.

                                   DELANEY
                         What... what happened?

               Skye looks back to Greg, their heavy expressions only making
               Delaney more agitated.

                                   DELANEY (cont'd)
                         Somebody tell me, right now!

               Skye looks back - and Delaney is stunned by the TEARS in her
               eyes as we CUT TO:

        39     EXT. ROAD - DAWN                                        39

               The sun rises over the city as the Academy minivans drive
               back out of the city. There's no sound through the following
               scenes.

                                   JILHANDRA (V.O.)
                             (filtered)
                         I just thought I should call to let
                         you know that we're done with her.

               As the vans pass beneath us:

        40     INT. MINIVAN - NEXT                                     40

               PAN ALONG the bruised and defeated Slayers huddled together.

                                   JILHANDRA (V.O.)
                         You can come and get her, if you're
                         not too busy? I'll even give you
                         the full address, since you did me
                         such a big favour today.

               Rachel sits with Skye, who is checking over her wounds. No
               one speaks. Delaney sits by herself - as does Erika.

               Delaney can't take her eyes off Erika, sorrow etched into her
               features as we CUT TO:

        41     INT. CABAL FACILITY - EVENING (FLASHBACK)               41

               Though a little unfurnished and lacking any and all
               personnel, the sterile, cold environment makes it all to
               obvious where we are. 

               Skye, Rachel, Erika and Greg march down a corridor, Erika
               breaking into a run towards the doors at the far end. 

                                   JILHANDRA (V.O.)
                         And to think, we could have avoided
                         all this trouble if you'd only been
                         more... civil. 

               Erika trows open the doors, and sees Maria lying peacefully
               on an operating table in the next room along. 

               Though their team mate dashes inside, sensing her sister's
               presence, the others stop and turn to each other. 

                                   SKYE (V.O.)
                             (threatening)
                         If you're lying to me... 

                                   JILHANDRA (V.O.)
                         You have my word, Miss Underwood... 

        42     INT. OPERATING ROOM - CONTINUOUS                        42

               PUSH IN on Maria as Erika tries to wake her. She's cold and
               grey and not moving, but Erika tries anyway. 

               There are puncture marks all over her body, traces of blood
               sat on the skins surface and nearby equipment sports tubes
               with traces of blood inside. 

               Skye walks up to Erika, pulling her away from her sister
               whilst Rachel checks her vitals. She shakes her head. 

                                   JILHANDRA (V.O.)
                         She is in perfect health. 

               She's gone.

                                   JILHANDRA (V.O.) (cont'd)
                         Goodbye, Skye. I'm sure I'll be
                         seeing you soon enough. 

               Pull back as a SOBBING Erika cradles Maria's body, the others
               able to do nothing but watch as we DISSOLVE TO:

        43     INT. CAMPUS- INFIRMARY - MORNING                        43

               Sound has returned, but there's an odd sense of quiet here.
               Manu sits at a cluttered desk - clutching a small photograph
               of Maria laughing with a group of younger Slayers.

               PAN ROUND to reveal Fitzgerald stood not too far away from
               him. She looks just as distraught as he is - her red eyes
               give away the tears she's shed.

                                   MANU
                             (quiet)
                         Did they find anything? Anything
                         that can make this...

                                   FITZGERALD
                         No. Nothing. We're back to square
                         one. 

               Fitzgerald looks away - and sees an empty bed, the sheets
               sitting there waiting to be removed. 

                                   FITZGERALD (cont'd)
                             (sighs)
                         Such a waste... such a terrible,
                         awful waste. She was so young...

                                   MANU
                         I've seen plenty of death, Grace.
                         Both here and before I entered this
                         world. But this...

               He slowly lowers the photo, placing it face down on his desk.

                                   MANU (cont'd)
                         We cannot let this stand. The Cabal
                         must answer for Maria's murder.

                                   FITZGERALD
                         They will. I can promise you that.
                         The other girls, they're... they
                         need a little time. But they'll be
                         ready.

               Fitzgerald starts to leave, when Manu adds:

                                   MANU
                         I'm done with my research. 

               Intrigued, she turns. He hands her a piece of paper with test
               results printed on it. She scans it but is none the wiser. 

                                   FITZGERALD 
                         What am I looking at? 

                                   MANU
                         I believe I've found a serum, a
                         cure to the virus. 

                                   FITZGERALD
                             (gapes)
                         You... you have? Manu, that's -

               She registers his stoic expression, and realises there's
               another side to this news.

                                   FITZGERALD (cont'd)
                         What is it? 

                                   MANU
                         The cure will work, that much I can
                         guarantee. But it comes at a cost. 

               Preparing for the worst, Grace pulls up a chair. 

                                   MANU (cont'd)
                         The cure will only work on the
                         girls showing the signs of the
                         depowering process.
                             (beat)
                         Once we administer the serum, the
                         girl will lose her powers.
                         Permanently. The girls get to
                         live... 

                                   FITZGERALD
                         But they'd no longer be a Slayer.
                             (sighs)
                         We'd still be wiping out the entire
                         line.

               With a nod he presents to her the hardest question of her
               career. As Fitzgerald tries to come to terms with the
               impossible decision she has to make, we: 

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                   END OF ACT FOUR
                                      NEXT WEEK

                                   VICTORY (V.O.)
                         Next time, on Slayer Academy...

               EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - NEXT

               All of the students are standing in shocked awe as we PULL
               BACK to see what the emergency is.

               Nestled around the hills surrounding the town are VAMPIRES.
               More specifically, the SLAYVAMPS we've all come to know. 

               Snarling and waiting for blood but not moving as the
               townspeople gape at them.

               A figure moves to the front, with another figure at either
               side. The FEMALE on the left is CHANTING while purple energy
               flows over her and into the sky. 

               The clouds, completely blocking out the sun CRACKLE with the
               same energy.

               The figure in the forefront steps out into the natural, non
               lethal light - and it's VICTORY. 

               She SMILES, surveying the veritable feast before her and
               turns to JENDAYI, who smiles as well.

                                   VICTORY
                             (devilish)
                         I say we have a banquet on our
                         hands.

                                                                CUT TO:

               INT. CAMPUS - DORMS - SAME TIME

               Delaney is busily packing, a large CASE open and becoming
               rapidly full of clothes, spellbooks and other items.

               She stops, wiping a TEAR from her eye before cramming another
               book in. The doors open and Skye and Rachel enter.

                                   RACHEL
                         Delaney, please. Stop what you're
                         doing.

                                   DELANEY
                             (shakes head)
                         I can't, I can't stay here.

                                   SKYE
                         You did what you could! It's what
                         any of us would have done!

                                   DELANEY
                         None of you would have sacrificed a
                         young girl to the frickin' Cabal!
                         You all would have fought and died
                         for her!

                                   RACHEL
                         You fought, Delaney. But running
                         away from the fight, from us isn't
                         going to do anything, is it?

                                   SKYE
                         I've done my fair share of running,
                         girl. And Maria wouldn't want you
                         to do this. She'd want you to keep
                         fighting.

                                   DELANEY
                         I killed her, Skye. I may as well
                         have placed a gun next to her head
                         and pulled the trigger.
                             (beat)
                         You and I both know that. And I...
                         I just can't stay here.

                                                                CUT TO:

               INT. CAMPUS - INFIRMARY

               FITZGERALD walks over to MANU, his desk littered with NOTES,
               FOLDERS and REPORTS. She shakes his shoulder and he looks up.

                                   MANU
                         Grace.

                                   FITZGERALD
                         Manu. How is the... serum coming
                         along?

                                   TIA (O.S.)
                         Pretty good, from what I hear.

               Fitzgerald SPINS AROUND - as a surprisingly cheery TIA
               enters, a folder of notes under her arm.

                                   FITZGERALD
                             (to Manu)
                         How many Slayers did you tell about
                         the serum?

                                   MANU
                         Just Tia. I needed someone to help
                         me.

                                   TIA
                         Don't worry, I'm totally on the 'o
                         nay, alk-tay bout-ay the erum-say.'
                         I mean, it's only a more advanced
                         version of the antigen you made,
                         isn't it?

               Fitzgerald looks at Manu as Tia moves off, continuing to
               check Slayers' vital signs.

                                   FITZGERALD
                             (quiet)
                         You mean you haven't told Tia that
                         the serum is...

                                   MANU
                         A Slayer deprogrammer? No, of
                         course not.
                             (beat)
                         I only told her it was an
                         experimental serum to try and
                         alleviate some of the Virus'
                         symptoms.

                                   FITZGERALD
                         I thought you said that lies never
                         led to anything good.

                                   MANU
                         Sometimes, it's safer to lie than
                         to tell the truth. And I think
                         these girls need some safety in
                         their lives.
                             (beat)
                         I've managed to run up a test to
                         determine whether the serum is
                         necessary.

                                   FITZGERALD
                         I think it's pretty damn obvious
                         that it's necessary, Manu.

                                   MANU
                         No, it's a stress test. If we
                         release this, then any and every
                         Slayer will probably want to take
                         the serum just to be free.
                             (beat)
                         Imagine being free of the
                         Slayerdom, the responsibilities,
                         the Virus... any girl would want it
                         desperately.

                                   FITZGERALD
                         You seem to know a lot about what a
                         Slayer wants.

                                   MANU
                             (beat)
                         The serum will start to deactivate
                         the Slayer within a matter of
                         hours, but we can only use it if
                         she's already Depowering. If she's
                         losing her Slayer powers.

                                   FITZGERALD
                             (long beat; sighs)
                         I'll have to think about this,
                         Manu.

                                   MANU
                         What is there to think about,
                         Grace?
                             (beat)
                         I suspect that you're going to lose
                         your girls one way or another. The
                         only question is how.

                                                             BLACK OUT:



                                     END OF SHOW
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