sa5x06 Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.
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INT. CAMPUS - CANTEEN - DAY
Reiko is at the buffet section of the cafeteria, scooping up
several packaged items for later.
MELA (O.S.)
Um, Reiko?
She turns - Mela stands behind her.
MELA (cont'd)
Before you say anything... I know
about the 'problem' you have with
me and Fran being together.
Reiko opens her mouth to reply, but Mela continues:
MELA (cont'd)
And I know this because Miss
Fitzgerald and I had a long talk a
few days ago about it. She told me
about your concerns, and how you
asked for me to be transferred.
REIKO
I'm not -
MELA
I know this isn't a... I don't
know, gay thing or whatever. You
think that us being a couple could
influence our decisions in the
field. That's why she gave me this.
She produces a sheet of PAPER and presents it to Reiko, who
starts to scan down it.
MELA (cont'd)
It's an evaluation form. She wants
you to complete one of these after
each mission, to make sure my
performance is up to standard. I'm
technically on probation for the
next six months.
(beat)
Is that okay?
REIKO
Um... yeah. I guess.
MELA
Great. Thanks. See you out front.
Mela walks away, leaving the bemused Reiko behind her, and
meets back up with Fran, who'd been waiting nearby.
FRAN
How'd she take it?
MELA
I think we're okay.
FRAN
Cool.
(beat)
And... us? Are we... okay?
MELA
(frowns)
Why wouldn't we be?
FRAN
After your little... freak out
thing last week, I mean.
MELA
(puzzled; shakes head)
I didn't 'freak out'. I'm fine.
We're fine.
She smiles, and then pecks Fran on the cheek.
MELA (cont'd)
See you in a minute.
She heads off, but Fran's expression darkens as Mela walks
away, not convinced by her words at all before we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
14 INT. CAMPUS - IT SUITE - DAY 14
DANNY is at one of the terminals, scrolling through a series
of street maps and typing co-ordinates into another terminal
when Skye enters.
SKYE
Oh, sorry. Didn't know you were
busy in here.
Danny looks up, rolling back on his chair to call after her:
DANNY
Skye? Got a second?
SKYE
Not really, but try me anyway.
DANNY
I heard about what happened in the
gym earlier. Wondered if you felt
like talking about it.
SKYE
Uh-huh.
(beat)
I don't.
She tries to leave again, but he adds:
DANNY
You need somebody to talk to about
this stuff, Skye. You can't keep
bottling it all up.
SKYE
Oh, because you're the expert on
me, aren't you? How could I forget.
DANNY
I'm saying that as a friend.
SKYE
No, you're saying it as somebody
who keeps looking at me and seeing
a little folder marked 'thesis'
walking around.
DANNY
I prefer to think of it as having a
unique perspective on things.
SKYE
On me, you mean. And I'm not
interested.
With that, she stalks out. Danny SIGHS, wheeling back to his
desk and picking up a mobile phone. He dials and waits:
DANNY
(into phone)
Oh, hello, Reiko. The maps you need
should be uploading now.
He turns to watch a progress bar creep across his screen, a
map displayed behind as we MATCH CUT TO:
15 EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - DAY 15
A GPS UNIT, the map scrolling down as it loads in. PULL BACK
to find Reiko watching the download. She looks up, scanning
the buildings around her:
She's in a quiet business district, very little activity but
plenty of boarded up and closed down warehouses and offices.
She taps a finger to the BlackBerry earpiece she's wearing:
REIKO
You guys found anything?
ON FRAN AND MELA, in another part of the same district,
similarly deserted.
FRAN
(to earpiece)
Zip over here too.
MELA
Is this all because of the
recession?
FRAN
I wouldn't know. I stopped reading
newspapers when they started
talking about me.
MELA
All these closed down places, I
mean.
FRANKIE
(filtered)
Mela, sweep the area magically, see
what you can find.
MELA
Will do.
She closes her eyes, inhales and stretches her hands out
before her.
She's lit by a GLOW from beneath, her hair buffeting as a
breeze kicks up around her.
Fran watches, a grin spreading, as Mela slowly turns on the
spot, her head tilting as though listening.
Finally, she opens her eyes and the magical glow fades away.
She turns to Fran, shaking her head.
FRAN
Marvel Girl's got nothing.
ON MALLORY, who is perched atop a rooftop and using
binoculars to peer into an ABANDONED WAREHOUSE up ahead.
REIKO
(filtered)
Are we sure this is the right
place?
FRANKIE
(filtered)
Absolument. Based on their recent
patterns of movements and judging
by likely 'iding places nearby,
this is the most logical place to
find them.
FRAN
(filtered)
Yeah, because Slayers have always
been so obsessed with logic.
REIKO
(filtered)
Mallory, what about you?
(beat)
Mallory?
Mallory hesitates, looking towards the warehouse again before
pressing a finger to her ear.
MALLORY
Maybe got something. Two lanes over
from where Reiko is.
She lifts the binoculars again as she continues.
MALLORY (cont'd)
Looks like an old mail order goods
warehouse or somesuch. Shut down
from the outside but still plenty
of stock inside.
It'd be a pretty nifty place to lay
low, plus lots of stuff to trade,
sell or use for those home-made
weapons they're so fond of.
FRANKIE
(filtered)
Alright, go and take a look. The
rest of you, convene on Mallory's
position.
Mallory crouches, eyes narrowing as she scans the warehouse,
before we CUT TO:
16 INT. CAMPUS - CANTEEN - DAY 16
DADE sits opposite Huang, the former devouring an overstuffed
baguette as Huang picks neatly at a bowl of noodles.
DADE
(mouth full)
So then, after, like, months of
trying to get anybody on the course
to listen to me, I finally find a
way in when I catch one of the TA's
sneaking into the principal's
office one day, and turns out he'd
got the keys to the chief's drinks
cabinet and was sneakily helping
himself to -
HUANG
Dade, please.
She nods towards the baguette, then back to Dade. He blinks -
then gets it, chewing and swallowing before he continues.
DADE
Sorry. Lots to catch up on, and I
never know how long I'll have you
for.
HUANG
I would hope long enough for me to
finish my lunch.
DADE
Round here? No guarantee of
anything.
He checks his watch.
HUANG
Do you have somewhere else to be?
DADE
Officially yes, I'm supposed to be
feeding B Squad some field intel
while they look for those Slayer
bank robbers.
HUANG
You should not be neglecting your
duties just to spend time with me,
Dade.
DADE
I'm not. Danny can handle it. And
besides, like I said, I never know
when -
KIRA (O.S.)
Ah, there you are.
Dade looks up as KIRA approaches, and his face falls before
she even reaches their table.
HUANG
Yes?
KIRA
Business. Come on.
HUANG
I am eating my lunch and talking to
my son, Kira. 'Business' can wait
until then.
KIRA
Ordinarily, I'd say 'no, it can't,'
but even by my usual standards, no -
it can't. Time sensitive
opportunity for cross-dimensional
communication. These things don't
really respect people's lunch
breaks.
Huang looks to Dade, who nods, head down.
DADE
Go. I understand.
HUANG
You are still a very bad liar.
DADE
Or maybe I just don't want to make
a scene for once?
(beat)
Seriously. Go do... whatever.
KIRA
(dry)
You're very gracious, Dade, to let
your mother take time off from her
busy schedule of listening to you
use up all the room's oxygen.
HUANG
Kira, please.
(to Dade)
We'll continue this later.
DADE
We both know that won't happen. But
thanks for saying it anyway.
Huang nods, conceding the point. She tidies her lunch away
and rises, reaching over to lay a hand on Dade's shoulder.
HUANG
We have only reached the middle of
your first term at university.
There is plenty of time to hear the
rest of your life's story so far.
He nods again, not looking up. Huang hesitates, but gets the
hint and follows Kira away from the table.
Dade finally looks up to watch them go, his face a picture of
annoyance as he takes another bite of his lunch.
DADE
All the damn time in the world.
He drops the last of his baguette, no longer in the mood to
eat as we CUT TO:
17 EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - DAY 17
B Squad and Frankie are now all together on the roof
overlooking the suspect warehouse.
FRAN
How are we gonna play this? Walk up
and knock?
MALLORY
Not a bad idea. Shows we come in
peace.
MELA
Except we don't.
MALLORY
Aye, but they don't know that, do
they?
REIKO
I say we split up. Frankie and I'll
take the front door, you three get
up on the roof, find another way in
and have our backs in case they
attack.
FRANKIE
Agreed.
They head for the edge, checking their weapons and getting
ready to climb down.
FRAN
(to Mallory)
What's with you?
MALLORY
Hmm?
FRAN
You've got this faraway look in
your eyes, same as that time I
accidentally clocked you with a
girder on that run in Lebanon.
MALLORY
(shrugs)
Nothin' really.
(points)
That's our way in.
They follow her finger - she's located a wide SKYLIGHT
accessible by ladder up the side of the warehouse.
MALLORY (cont'd)
Good coverage of the floor below,
including the entrance. Shouldn't
be hard to jimmy it open and slip
inside.
MELA
Won't the place be alarmed?
Mallory shoots her a wry grin, and Mela remembers who she's
talking to, nodding her head and blushing as we CUT TO:
18 INT. WAREHOUSE - NEXT 18
PAN ACROSS the rows of uneven stacked boxes scattered across
shelves and pallets. Many are opened, shrink-wrapped contents
and discarded bubble wrap littering the floor.
PUSH IN on the main staff access door, next to larger cargo
bay shutters, as the two girls outside KNOCK three times.
After a beat, the handle turns, the door opening as Reiko
peeks cautiously inside.
REIKO
(calls out)
Hello?
She steps in, Frankie following. Both girls scan the
warehouse for any signs of activity - there are two mezzanine
levels and offices against the far wall.
REIKO (cont'd)
We, uh, we're not here to hurt you.
Frankie taps her shoulder, indicating they should split up
and spread out. Reiko nods, the girls heading off in separate
directions.
REIKO (cont'd)
We know about what you've been
doing recently, but that's not why
we're here. We just want to talk.
(beat)
Anyone?
UP ABOVE, Mallory, Fran and Mela can be seen through a panel
of the filthy skylight moving into position.
Mallory produces a small GLASS CUTTER and etches a hole in
the glass, reaching through for the skylight latch.
ON FRANKIE as she paces between rows of stacked shelves,
looking up and all around - and seeing nothing but boxes.
REIKO (O.S.) (cont'd)
We're from a place where plenty of
girls like you live. Somewhere
you'll be safe, especially from the
press and police.
MOVEMENT behind Frankie makes her turn - but there's nothing
there. She frowns and carries on.
ON MALLORY as she dangles halfway through the skylight,
silently lowering herself to the walkway below.
Her eyes flick from side to side, and she turns to push the
panel open fully for Fran - then freezes.
FOCUS on a WIRE running from the top of the panel to a wad of
EXPLOSIVES alongside. Near that, SIGILS and SYMBOLS have been
painted on the wall, an added layer of occult protection.
Mallory holds a hand up to stop Fran, then deftly flicks the
detonator off to disarm the trap.
She waits as Fran and Mela clamber through, pointing out the
bomb as an incentive to stay sharp. She peels off, leaving
them behind.
ON REIKO as she keeps walking, looking round - then we're
watching from behind a pile of BOXES on a higher shelf.
REIKO (cont'd)
All we want to do is talk, so if
you just say you're here we can
stop hiding and start -
CLICK. She stops, looking down - and she's got one foot on a
well-hidden PANEL on the floor.
REIKO (cont'd)
Uh...
VOICE (O.S.)
Don't move.
Reiko does as she's told, hearing MOVEMENT from the next
level but not daring to even turn her head.
REIKO
I'm not here to fight.
VOICE (O.S.)
Damn straight, you're not, or you'd
have been a lot more careful.
Reiko gingerly tilts her head - and sees SKINNY aiming her
crossbow at her from the next level.
SKINNY
No time for twenty questions - that
pressure-sensitive panel you're on
has a thirty second detonation
timer and we've already used half
of that. I can deactivate it, but
only if you turn around and walk
straight out of here when I do.
Otherwise -
She tenses up - PULL BACK to reveal Frankie, with her rapier
pressed into the small of her neck.
FRANKIE
Actually, I think you should
deactivate it now, and then we can
start making our demands.
Skinny just smirks - then WHIPS ROUND, snapping her crossbow
up to knock Frankie's rapier away!
REIKO
Uh... guys?
Skinny is fast, swinging the heavy crossbow bluntly and
forcing Frankie back.
Frankie spots a REMOTE CONTROL on the girl's belt and dives
for it, but is TRIPPED UP for her trouble.
Frankie tries to land on her feet and roll, but Skinny KICKS
her in the side, knocking her clean off the shelf!
Frankie hits the deck with a THUD, right by the still frozen
Reiko.
REIKO (cont'd)
Frankie!
VOICE (O.S.)
Oh, she's the least of your
problems.
Reiko turns - the Pale Blonde is before her, a HANDGUN aimed
right at her!
REIKO
(rapid)
We're not here to fight, we just -
But the girl SHOVES Reiko back off the panel, jumping back
herself before the thing EXPLODES in a cloud of smoke!
ON FRAN as she reaches the edge of the walkway, seeing the
altercation below - and the other three girls from the
robbery moving to intercept Frankie and Reiko!
FRAN
Mela! Covering fire, ground floor!
With that, Fran VAULTS the walkway, sailing down to land with
a THUMP next to the Asian girl.
Fran goes for a SPIN-KICK but the Asian ducks underneath it,
GRABBING Fran's outstretched leg and SHOVING her to the
walkway floor.
ON MELA as she lifts her hands, muttering an incantation as
she conjures a sphere of BLUE ENERGY in the air.
She lets the sphere fly free - FOLLOW it down to the ground
floor, where it's a moment away from striking Skinny when
something STREAKS through it, dissolving the energy:
ON BLONDE as she straightens back up, reaching for another
BOLA from her belt and starting to spin it round.
DOWN BELOW as a coughing Reiko helps Frankie up - just as
three CROSSBOW BOLTS thud into the ground by her feet!
REIKO
(shouts)
Hey! I said we come in peace!
Reiko turns - and the Native American emerges from the smoke,
spinning a KATANA round her hand.
Reiko GULPS, reaching for the razor fans strapped across her
back - but the girl DARTS to one side and hits a button on
the shelf next to her.
Reiko looks up - as several huge BOXES are dislodged from a
higher shelf, falling straight for her!
She throws a hand up to shield herself - but Frankie TACKLES
her out of the way, the boxes CRASHING down behind them.
They get up, Reiko opening her mouth to speak when the boxes
burst into FLAMES!
REIKO (cont'd)
Would you hate me if I yelled 'fall
back' right now?
FRANKIE
Non.
REIKO
(yells)
Fall back!
The duo head for the exit - but not before FIREWORKS come
screaming out of the fallen boxes towards them!
They duck and cover, SPARKS sputtering all around them as the
makeshift missiles whizz past.
ON FRAN as she picks herself up - the Asian girl is nowhere
to be seen, only Mela as she offers a hand.
MELA
Time to go.
FRAN
But we haven't -
Mela shuts her eyes - the two girls GLOW brightly and then
simply FOLD out of sight, vanishing with a POP.
19 EXT. WAREHOUSE DISTRICT - NEXT 19
And with another POP, they teleport right back out on the
same rooftop where they started.
FRAN
- even gotten started yet!
Mela looks round - sees Reiko and Frankie fleeing the
building, smoke and noise chasing them out.
MELA
Little late for that.
(frowns)
Wait... where's Mallory?
She looks back towards the warehouse as we CUT TO:
20 INT. WAREHOUSE - NEXT 20
PAN DOWN from the flaming boxes, the fireworks exhausted as
the group of girls reconvene.
SKINNY
We're going to have to find
somewhere else to hang.
BLONDE
Or we could just defend this place
a little better.
SKINNY
Won't matter. They know we're here
now, only a matter of time before
they -
MALLORY (O.S.)
Could I make a third suggestion?
The five girls spin round - there's Mallory, hands raised.
MALLORY (cont'd)
You let me join your gang, and I'll
help you fight them off next time.
The girls swap surprised looks, to which Mallory just smirks
before we:
BLACK OUT:
END OF ACT TWO
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
21 INT. WAREHOUSE - OFFICES - DAY 21
PAN ROUND from behind Mallory, seated and bound to a chair
inside the gutted office block at the back of the warehouse.
The girls are gathered in a circle a few feet away, hushed
voices debating something quite intensely, until:
MALLORY
You know, you could just try asking
me what you want to know.
They stop, exchange glances, then let Skinny walk forward.
MALLORY (cont'd)
I mean, I let you tie me up, didn't
I?
SKINNY
You didn't 'let' us do anything.
MALLORY
(smirks)
Didn't I?
PALE BLONDE
Oh, for heaven's sake...
She marches forward, closer to Mallory.
PALE BLONDE (cont'd)
What's your name?
MALLORY
Mallory Spencer.
PALE BLONDE
Good. I'm Jem, my flamboyantly
coutered friend here is Alana -
ALANA hisses at JEM to cut her off.
ALANA
No names!
JEM
This isn't 'Legends of Earthsea,'
sweetie. Knowing what passes for
our names these days won't give her
any special advantage over us.
MALLORY
Nice to meet you both.
JEM
Back there we have Eva, Miya and
Luyu, and now you know the whole
gang.
EVA (Blonde), MIYA (Asian) and LUYU (Native American) swap a
few glances at being outed so carelessly.
JEM (cont'd)
As for us, however, what we'd like
to know is why you turned your back
on your Slayer chums without so
much as a backwards glance.
MALLORY
I never said they were my 'chums.'
Or anything else.
JEM
No, but you showed up here with
them and helped them break in past
our defences - which will need
updating somewhat...
Jem shoots a sly look over her shoulder at Luyu.
JEM (cont'd)
... so we'll need a little more
convincing than that charming
brogue of yours to make us think
you're ready to swap sides.
MALLORY
(shrugs)
Name your price.
ALANA
This isn't about money.
MALLORY
Figure of speech.
ALANA
Still not being convinced.
Alana's hand drums lightly on the hilt of a DAGGER sheathed
on her belt. Mallory glances down, getting the hint.
MALLORY
Let's start by saying I know what
it's like for the five of you.
EVA
(snorts)
I doubt that.
MALLORY
Always on the run, never having a
firm place to so much as close your
eyes, let alone sleep. Having to
steal just to eat. Learning how to
hotwire junction boxes for power.
Diverting heating pipes for warmth.
(beat)
Am I getting warm?
EVA
How could you possibly know any of
that?
MALLORY
(nods to her right)
Army surplus sleeping blankets.
Warmer than average but lighter to
carry.
(off ceiling)
Half those cables and pipes have
the logos of buildings next door.
(to her left)
More of those home-made traps,
ready to deploy. Easy way to make a
nailbomb, using a tin can and a
roll of -
JEM
(cuts her off)
We get the idea. You're very
observant.
MALLORY
Like I said - I know what it's
like.
ALANA
(narrows eyes)
Go on.
MALLORY
Not so long ago, I was just like
any one of you. Out for myself, not
caring who I had to screw over to
get what I wanted. Then, like all
of you, just over a year ago I got
sick. Really sick.
MIYA
We remember.
(off looks; bows head)
There used to be more of us.
MALLORY
The Academy, they -
LUYU
The Slayer Academy? So it is real?
MALLORY
Real as this place. Not as homely,
but -
ALANA
Yeah, yeah, you're a master of
comedy. Get to the point.
MALLORY
They took me in even after I pulled
a fair few stunts on them, gave me
somewhere to belong. Just one
problem.
JEM
You never felt like you deserved
it.
MALLORY
Exactly right. They benched me for
months, kept me under house arrest
while they decided what to do with
me.
MIYA
Yes, but they obviously let you out
eventually.
MALLORY
Watching me like a hawk to make
sure I wasn't lifting from anyone's
pockets, yeah. Do you know what
it's like to be welcomed with open
arms only to find you're treated
like an even bigger risk than
before?
Alana and Eva exchange meaningful looks.
MALLORY (cont'd)
With how crazy life's been getting
for us past twelve months, not too
long ago I thought screw it. First
chance I get, I'm out of here.
(grins)
Then you lot came along.
ALANA
How convenient.
MALLORY
Hey, I wouldn't trust me either. So
let me do something to prove it.
JEM
Such as?
MALLORY
I'm a wanted girl - on some of my
identities - in half of Europe. You
find me something.
Jem and Alana look to one another, then call another huddle
as the girls discuss what to do with her.
Mallory looks around, taking in some of the details around
her - sleeping bags, food cartons, weapons - when the huddle
breaks, Alana approaching her again.
ALANA
We've got a job for you. Small
start, but if you pull it off
clean, then we'll start talking
about your long-term prospects
round here.
MALLORY
Sounds good.
(beat)
So do I get out of this chair
first, or what?
Alana smirks, drawing her dagger with one fluid SHINK, and we
CUT TO:
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