Darth Masq, Sith Lord of Philosophy (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} masqthephlsphr) wrote in ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} orlon_window,@ 2005-12-31 19:14:00 |
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| Current mood: |  pensive |
Who I Am, Part 1 (airdate April 20, 2005)
| Who I Am Part 1 (December 31, 2005) Written by: Masquerade |
| Teaser |
EXT. FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK - EVENING - ESTABLISHING
The Syndicate's business headquarters just after twilight.
EXT. REAR PARKING LOT
A black Jaguar XJ sedan idling at the rear door starts forward.
INT. JAGUAR
Slick black leather with wood-grain paneling. Seated behind the driver is a bespectacled woman with a stack of manila folders in her lap. The top folder is open. Next to her, gazing out the window, is ANTHONY, the Syndicate mob-boss. His expression is pensive and weary; he looks much, much older than eight.
I checked on the vampire's child, as you asked.
Anthony nods distractedly.
The woman gives him a significant look.
And I was right.
There are changes in our compiled
documentation on him,
(this gets Anthony's attention)
just like that passage in Vampires: A History--
the one that now says Darla died in childbirth?
The woman flips through the papers in her open folder.
So on a hunch, I consulted the files we retrieved
from Wolfram and Hart.
They had ways of getting around reality-altering spells.
(she glances up briefly)
And I found him there. Their records contain
an unadulterated history of a "Connor Angel",
son of the vampire Angel, starting with his birth
in 2001, a kidnapping by one of Angel's oldest enemies,
and childhood in a dimension called....
(flip, flip)
..."Quortoth"--
ANTHONY
(with a puzzled brow)
This wasn't in our records before?
The woman shakes her head.
Someone went to a lot of trouble to hide his true identity--
altering records, people's memories.
(she frowns)
But whatever they did, it's unraveling.
ANTHONY
(intrigued)
Why would they do that?
WOMAN
My guess? For his protection.
She hands him a sheet of paper. He takes it and stares down at it.
His Wolfram and Hart file notes that there
are a number of prophecies concerning
"The one sired by the Vampire with a Soul."
(another significant look)
Some which have already come to pass.
Now Anthony is very intrigued.
But no details.
WOMAN
No. But I can get them for you.
All I need is access to a text known as....
(she scans her notes and looks up)
"The Nyazian Scrolls."
EXT. AERIAL SHOT - the Jaguar drives south on the 405 freeway.
CUT TO LONG SHOT - EXT. RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION - WEST SIDE
The Jaguar glides down a street lined with bungalow-style homes and slows in front of a rather ordinary-looking house with French windows, a large front porch behind a railing, and an overhanging a roof. The garage door opens. The Jaguar pulls in. The door slowly shuts.
BLACK OUT.
 |  |  |
CONNOR REILLY walking to classes, killing a vampire
Vincent Kartheiser
FAITH THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, fighting in the SLAYER TRAINING ROOM with
Connor
and REPORTER AIDEN WALSH, pulling his CAMERA away from his face.
Sean Maher
David Boreanaz
Julie Benz
James Marsters
Elisabeth Rohm
EXT. TEMPLE LUNA GOTH CLUB - EVENING
Exorcising a demon's the easy part.
INT. NIGHTCLUB
LONG SHOT - Faith crosses the empty dance floor with the tall blonde witch KRISTA.
Figuring out what to do with the demon once it's out--
that's hard.
Most exorcisms banish it to a hell dimension
or trap it somewhere in our own dimension.
Krista stops at a door marked "Employees Only" just off the end of the bar.
But in our case, the Syndicate made a mistake.
They possessed a Slayer with a demon.
She opens the door. Faith follows her through the doorway.
INT. BACK HALLWAY
And Slayers already have demon in them.
(off Faith's frown)
I don't mean that you're possessed. Or half-breeds.
But your strength and endurance do have demon origins.
As does your instinct.
You use it to defend and protect, but it is what it is...
the instinct to kill.
They pass the open manager's office door. Faith glances inside.
Her POV - The room has been stripped of its books and computer. A healthier-looking Raleigh Mathers is slouched on the couch. Seated opposite him in the desk chair is CONNOR. They both glance up. The women continue on to the backroom.
So what we're suggesting isn't magic. It's slaying.
Kelly's been trapped inside her own body by a demon.
We need to get her to kill it.
FAITH
(looking startled)
How?
KRISTA
Psychic energy against psychic energy.
The whole battle will play out in her mind.
INT. BACKROOM
The windows are closed and the lights dimmed. Candles flicker on tables lined against the wall. The dark-haired warlock JULIAN stands at the edge of a four-meter wide CIRCLE OF SAND in the center of the room. In the circle, pacing a black exercise mat, is the possessed KELLY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. Kelly's golden eyes lock onto Faith as she enters the room. She saunters to the edge of the circle. Her voice is UNNATURALLY, SINISTERLY DEEP.
Whatever you're planning to do, it won't work.
Faith approaches her, coming to a halt just inches away.
I'm not some horned devil you can cast out
With crucifixes and latin curses.
FAITH
(gaze steady and unblinking)
That's not the plan.
She stares Kelly down for another beat, then returns to Krista. She leans in close.
(murmuring)
If this doesn't work....
KRISTA
The circle will keep the demon contained.
It'll have no choice but to re-enter Kelly.
Then we can knock her unconscious again.
The demon's essence will be limited by
her mental state.
Faith glances over at the Kelly one more time, then gives Krista a nod.
You sure?
FAITH
She's a Slayer.
We fight demons. It's what we do.
EXT. SYNDICATE HOUSE - WEST SIDE - CONTINUOUS
The bungalow-style house seen in the teaser.
INT. HOUSE
Anthony enters a hallway and stops at a keypad placed low on the wall. He taps in a code.
QUICK-CUT TO EXT. SHOT - A HAZY BLUE FLASH briefly encompasses the house.
He turns and walks towards a closed door at the end of the hall.
INT. BACKROOM - TEMPLE LUNA
Krista walks around the circle of sand.
Spirit of Sineya, we invoke your primal strength.
Kelly follows her with her gaze, lips curled in a defensive smirk.
Awaken your daughter! Give fire to her will!
Kelly suddenly WHIRLS around to find Julian behind her, his fingers dipped in a small clay bowl. He flings GRAY ASH in her eyes. She SCREAMS and staggers, her hands to her face. Her skin starts to BULGE and CONTORT as if something is writhing beneath it.
CLOSE-UP on Faith, who winces sympathetically despite herself.
FADE TO - INT. FAITH'S APARTMENT (FLASHBACK)
Faith and Rona stand beside Faith's bed, gazing down at an unconscious Kelly. Faith turns to -
Raleigh Mathers, who is seated on her kitchen floor.
How do we get this thing out of her?
MATHERS
I can't tell you that.
(he leans forward off Faith's look of frustration)
But here's what I can tell you.
The demons you've seen working for the Syndicate,
the human witches and psychics,
the vampires created from Special Ops soldiers--
they're nothing. Minions--psychopaths, victims,
or opportunists who've glommed on to the Syndicate
to gain wealth or power.
He points at Kelly.
It's the species possessing her that you want.
They are the Syndicate.
Faith gazes at Kelly for a beat, then looks back at Mathers.
What about the humans they're inside?
What happens to them?
Mathers shrugs.
That's your problem.
FADE BACK TO - INT. BACKROOM - TEMPLE LUNA
Kelly stands in the center of the circle GROANING AN UNEARTHLY GROAN as the skin of her face and arms continues to CONTORT.
CUT TO the DOOR. CONNOR enters. His brow knits warily at the sight of Kelly.
INT. BASEMENT STEPS - SYNDICATE HOUSE
LONG SHOT DOWN a flight of concrete steps. Anthony flips on an overhead bulb and clambers down slowly.
INT. BACKROOM - TEMPLE LUNA
Krista continues to circle.
Kelly, heed the voice from the deepest inside.
Wield the weapon that is your spirit.
Destroy that which has violated you!
Kelly stiffens, then starts to CONVULSE. Her knees buckle and she COLLAPSES.
Faith steps forward, eyes wide with concern. Krista stops her with a hand.
Don't cross the circle, or you'll break the barrier.
You have to trust her to know what to do.
CLOSE-UP on Kelly as she WRITHES on her back on the mat. Sweat breaks out on her forehead and around her lips. She pants and moans. Fighting an internal battle only she can see.
Faith compresses her lips, her expression pained but hopeful.
Fight, damn it.
INT. BASEMENT - SYNDICATE HOUSE
Anthony reaches the basement floor, turns, and starts down A FURTHER FLIGHT OF STEPS.
INT. BACKROOM - TEMPLE LUNA
Kelly continues to thrash.
Connor's uneasy gaze shifts to Faith as she kneels down near the edge of the circle.
You're a Slayer, Kelly.
Kill the fucker.
INT. SUBTERRANEAN STEPS - SYNDICATE HOUSE
Anthony descends, his small fingers brushing the drywall. Abruptly, the drywall ends, replaced by a glistening wet wall of rock, earth, and GOLDEN-BROWN SLIME.
INT. BACKROOM - TEMPLE LUNA
Suddenly, Kelly SITS BOLT UPRIGHT, groaning. A GOLDEN AURA appears on the surface of her skin. The aura writhes and twists, EXPANDING quickly and growing diffuse as it does. Finally, it FADES completely. Kelly crumples onto the mat. There is a moment of silence. Then, in CLOSE-UP, we see her BLINK.
INT. SUBTERRANEAN STEPS - SYNDICATE HOUSE
Anthony pauses on rock-carved steps and cocks his head uncertainly, as if hearing something. Then, after a beat, he continues downward.
INT. BACKROOM - TEMPLE LUNA
Kelly inhales shakily and takes in the room. Her half-focused eyes come to rest on Faith.
Kelly's POV, LOW VIEW - Faith smiles and extends a hand.
Kelly reaches out a hand in return.
Wait.
Both women pause. Julian kneels down beside Faith.
(to Kelly)
Sorry about this.
He reaches in his clay bowl and tosses a bit of ash into her face. Kelly winces and coughs. But otherwise, stays human.
CLOSE-UP on Faith's expression of relief.
Then CUT TO Connor's pensive stare.
EXT. FLEET BUILDING - LATE AFTERNOON
Five stories of concrete and glass.
SUPER LEGEND: The following day
INT. OFFICES OF THE WEEKLY ENQUIRER NEWSPAPER
WIDE SHOT - A CRAMPED NEWSROOM - typing and chatter; harried writers at cluttered desks. The smudged white walls are plastered with headlines past--"Is Your Fav Celeb Human? Hollywood's Demon Roster Revealed", "Powerful Vampire Cult Wiped Out; Arson Implicated."
We DOLLY forward towards an open doorway.
INT. OFFICE OF HAROLD FULLER
I don't think you were here when Annalise
came on board. She's our new copy-editor.
Harry is balding and fortyish. Seated on the far side of his desk is AIDEN and a slender brunette. Aiden shakes her hand briefly, then turns his attention to a collection of stapled pages in his other hand. He scans the top page with a sour expression.
The content changes are Harry's.
INSERT - Aiden's Syndicate article with notations in red ink.
(fiddling with his pen)
If you get them to us tomorrow,
we should be able to roll with this
in Saturday's issue.
Aiden flips over the page, scans it, then gapes up at him.
The deal was "as-is"!
(he stabs the page with a fingertip)
You can't leave out the references to the LAPD
and Army Special Ops!
They're authoritative sources that will
be forced to back us up!
HARRY
(cringing)
We've been having some trouble with
the public relations office at the LAPD.
Our publisher thinks--
AIDEN
It's not libel if it's true.
Aiden tosses the article down on Harry's desk, then stands up and stabs it again.
And this section on the paper trail...
I can't "pare this down." It's essential to my case!
In the last five months, nearly every occult-related
business in town has been destroyed or bought up
by holding companies that can be traced back to
the First International Bank of West Los Angeles--
HARRY
Aiden--
AIDEN
And in the same five-month period,
there's been a string of missing persons
from homeless shelters funded by
the exact same sources,
including a shelter that was the pet project
of Councilwoman Baker,
who "died under mysterious circumstances."
HARRY
Aiden--
AIDEN
And we've also seen a marked increase in
bizarre new designer drugs that scientists haven't
been able to analyze,
the resignation of politicians and high-ranking
corporate officers with no explanation given--
HARRY
Mr. Walsh!
Aiden closes his mouth sullenly.
I've read the story.
Harry sits back, raising his chin defiantly.
And frankly, the details are going to go over the heads
of three-quarters of our readers.
(he flashes a conciliatory smile off Aiden's glower)
I thought maybe you could play up these golden-eyed,
tattooed demons a bit more. Maybe give them a name.
Aiden gapes at him.
I don't know their name!
Aiden looks at Annalise in frustration. Her expression is enigmatic.
Look, I didn't just make this up!
This is news!
Harry frowns dismissively.
Then take it to the Times.
If you want it published by the Enquirer,
you'll have to make the changes indicated.
Or Annalise will.
Aiden steps back, stumbling into his chair. He eyes them anxiously.
Don't be stupid.
If you run it with these changes,
everyone will see it as a big joke.
Everyone except the Syndicate.
But if you print it factually and documented,
people will ask questions.
The Syndicate won't have time to cover everything up.
And the authorities will be forced to say something.
Harry chuckles.
You really believe the demon angle, don't you?
Aiden's only response is an expressionless stare.
(cautiously)
So tell me...if this "Syndicate"'s so dangerous,
why are you trying to get this published ?
AIDEN
Don't worry. They won't go after you.
It would be too obvious.
I'm the only one who's going to have to do
a Salman Rushdie here.
And it's not the Syndicate I'm afraid of.
Harry sits back. His fingertips shuffle back and forth across the surface of the desk.
Tell you what.
I'll run this by our publisher again
and see what he says.
I'll let you know what he decides.
Aiden gives him an uncertain nod.
O.K. But remember. It's "as-is" or not at all.
EXT. A-1 SELF STORAGE - JUST AFTER SUNSET
Row upon row of STORAGE GARAGES behind a chain-linked fence. The skyscrapers of downtown Los Angeles loom in the background.
I'm not saying I don't believe in prophecies,
I'm just saying I'm tired of having my chain
yanked by them.
INT. GARAGE NO. 142
WIDE SHOT - BOXES are stacked on the floor and atop elegant antique FURNITURE--a table, some chairs, and a chest of drawers. A rolled-up Persian rug is tilted in a corner and a statue of the bodhisattva Kwan Yin poses serenely in a slightly singed cabinet behind glass. ANGEL is kneeling beside a large trunk filled with WEAPONS--axes, knives, swords, stakes. Six SWORDS are scattered on the floor at his feet.
(gazing at them)
Tired of second-guessing what I should do
or shouldn't do.
You can't live your life that way.
CUT TO Faith, who is standing beside the open bed of Rona's truck. She yanks back the tarp lying across it.
I don't know. It just seems to me that if
something's your destiny, it's your destiny.
I don't see how signing a piece of paper's
going to make that go away.
ANGEL
Maybe, but what exactly is this "destiny"
I'm supposed to have?
He looks up as Faith enters the garage.
You know how many different, conflicting
translations of the Shanshu prophecy I've heard?
Faith comes to a halt beside him. She kneels down and picks up one sword, then another, then rises and carries them out of the garage.
All I know is, I'm finished trying to save
the world in one grand gesture so I can
win the toy surprise at the bottom of the box.
(he grabs up another pair of swords and stands)
That's not what the fight's about.
Evil's not going to just go away.
Faith lays the swords in the truck bed.
(murmuring)
"Our time is never up. We pay for everything."
Angel lays down the swords he is carrying beside them. They share a meaningful look across the truck bed. With a nod, Angel returns to his weapons trunk.
Faith saunters in after him, shoving her hands in her front jeans pockets. She takes in Angel's belongings, including the contents of a cardboard box sitting on the table.
Her POV - BOOKS; mostly older, hardback volumes.
Angel grabs up the two remaining swords and walks them to the truck.
I put all this in storage before we took on
the Circle of the Black Thorn.
If I didn't come back, well, then....
Faith turns away from the box. Her eyes fall on a gray antique URN.
Connor would have inherited a lot of weapons and books.
(she picks up the urn)
And whatever this is.
ANGEL
(glancing at it)
Resikhian Urn.
It's used to trap Granok demons.
A souvenir from another ancient prophecy.
Angel turns away from the truck bed. His eyes scan the interior of the garage.
None of this was going to go to Connor.
I'd already given him what I wanted him to have--
a family, a home.
(his gaze grows wistful as it lands on the weapons trunk)
Well, there was one thing....
Then he shakes his head.
Giving him this stuff would have just been
dragging him back into my world.
He grew up in a hell dimension fighting for
survival every day.
I wanted him to have a choice about what
he did with his life.
Faith regards him curiously.
What, you don't want him
"following in your footsteps"?
Angel smiles. The wistful expression again.
He shakes it off and crosses his arms.
Anything else you want? Books?
Faith shrugs.
I'm not sure yet.
That's why I want to get the brains together
tonight while the girls train.
(she eyes him uneasily)
I got...some ideas.
Nothing I can take to the cops, though.
ANGEL
Let's hear them.
Faith pulls her hands from her pockets and sits down against the edge of the table.
Well, for starters, taking back the Council offices.
I have the Luna coven working on a way to get past
the protection spell the Syndicate put on the suite.
(Angel nods)
And then there's Kelly. She says she remembers
everything the demon inside her did.
I'm hoping she'll give us some clue about how
to beat them--either with what she knows or
what she can find out for us.
This gives Angel pause.
You'd send her back in there to pretend she's
one of them? After everything she's been through?
FAITH
(defensively)
Hey, Angel, they did it to us.
ANGEL
Still, that's asking a lot.
Faith's gaze drops to a shoebox next to her on the table.
(uneasily)
She's a Slayer.
And besides, that's the only way to win sometimes.
We have to be willing to be as nasty as they are.
She lifts the shoebox lid and sets it on the table.
That's Wesley talking.
FAITH
(looking up at him)
And was he wrong?
Angel enters the garage, arms falling loose at his sides.
Faith, you can't win by playing their game.
You can't give them that advantage.
You have to be better than they are.
(he pauses, setting his hands on his hips)
Every time I think I've learned that that lesson,
I have to learn it all over again.
When we took on the Circle of the Black Thorn,
I thought I'd finally stopped playing
the Senior Partner's game.
(he shakes his head)
Then I let them suck me into their dimension so
I could get caught up in it all over again.
FAITH
(earnestly)
Because you didn't want to see innocent people get hurt!
Angel, they had a whole army of demons in that alley
that night, and they were threatening to--
ANGEL
(adamantly)
I let them push my buttons!
They might not have given me a choice about whether
I wanted to be dragged onto their playing field,
but that didn't mean I had to play.
(he stabs the air with a finger)
And it took my son clawing his way into hell
to knock some sense back into me!
CLOSE-UP on Faith, taking in this advice with an anxious brow.
Don't let the Syndicate push your buttons.
FAITH
Angel, I can't afford to fuck this up.
This time, it's my apocalypse to fight.
ANGEL
Faith, you can't worry about what Buffy,
or me, or anyone else thinks of you.
FAITH
(incredulous)
That's not what I--
Angel stops her with a LOOK.
Faith picks up the shoebox and rummages through it with a frown.
Too bad there's no ancient prophecies telling
me if I'm going to win or not.
Angel throws her a dubious look. Silence falls between them. He returns to his weapons trunk and draws up a large broadsword. He tilts it against a nearby wall, point down.
I lost my favorite broadsword in hell.
FAITH (O.S.)
Oh my god.
ANGEL
(looking up)
What?
Faith holds up a SNAPSHOT.
This is him, isn't it?
Angel's brow knits. He steps over to Faith and takes it from her.
INSERT - the SNAPSHOT - A joyful Angel, holding an infant high in his hands.
Angel looks perplexed.
Where'd you find this?
Faith lifts the box in her hand.
That wasn't in there when I--
Angel takes the box and rifles through it briefly. He pulls out another snapshot -
INSERT - Cordelia, holding an infant Connor.
He gazes at it, pained.
Dru's counter-spell must have brought them back.
Faith takes in his expression.
It's weird, you know.
Thinking of Connor being your kid.
Angel slips the snapshots back in the box and hands it to Faith.
It's the one thing I thought I'd never have.
Faith sets the box down and replaces the lid.
Angel kneels beside his weapons trunk. He closes it and snaps shut the padlock.
I'll meet you at the club.
He rises and digs in his pants pocket. He holds out a key to Faith.
The garage is mystically protected.
But you'll still need this to open it.
FAITH
(taking it)
Thanks.
(she pockets it)
Is Connor going to be at my meeting?
ANGEL
Yeah. He said he was headed over to the coven
after he sees his mother.
Faith looks uncomfortable at the mention of Darla.
How is she?
ANGEL
He stopped feeding her his blood.
It was making her stronger, but only delaying the inevitable.
Now...it's just a matter of...weeks, maybe.
Faith gazes down solemnly.
Damn, that's rough.
ANGEL
The irony is...
I think it's bringing Connor and I closer together.
After all those years of separation...
and disconnection,
the thing that's finally giving us a connection
is the thing that brought us together in
the first place.
...Watching his mother die.
FADE TO a CLOSE-UP of DARLA. Her hair is limp on her pillow and her gaze listless.
BLACK OUT.
INT. ROYAL VIKING MOTEL - ROOM 21 - EVENING
Connor sits at Darla's bedside, leafing through a newsprint BOOKLET.
Suddenly, Darla LURCHES UP and brings her legs around the side of the bed. Her momentum tilts her forward as her knees give out beneath her.
Connor leaps up just in time to stop her from falling.
Mom, what are you doing?!
His booklet falls instead, face down on the floor. INSERT - UCLA Schedule of Classes
Connor seats her back on the bed. She sways. She tries to stand up again.
(voice quivering with determination)
I want to go.
Connor grips her in place. His tone is patient but firm.
You can't "go" anywhere.
Darla's hands clench the bed sheets.
(jaw stiffening)
I'm not dying like this.
Like a human--flat on my back,
wasting away until I crumble to dust.
Connor's eyes dip solemnly. Gently, he grasps the back of her shoulders and head. Darla goes slack, allowing him to lower her to her pillow. She lies flat, staring into space for a moment.
Finally, her gaze focuses in on Connor as if she is just now noticing he's in the room. Connor reaches down for his catalogue, steeling his shoulders for what she might say.
You should never have existed.
Connor brings the booklet up, not looking at her.
(huskily)
Something worked hard to bring you into this world.
Connor's gaze rises to her. His expression is cautious, but curious.
What do you know about it?
Darla's hand slides across her abdomen.
Nothing.
It's just the sort of thing you think about
when you're pregnant and alone.
Or lying on your back, dying.
She goes back to staring into space. Her lips curl into a derisive smile.
What's more likely...that my child is a gift
from God to His vampire saint....
Or something created to bring more misery
into the world?
Connor's eyes sink to his catalogue. His fingers lace together on top of it.
It doesn't matter anymore.
The one who did it is gone.
This comment draws Darla's interest.
Connor notices and stares back down for a moment.
There was this...
(his brow knits)
I don't even know what she was.
(he looks up)
A Power? A god?
CLOSE-UP on his fingers, tightening until his knuckles are white.
She needed me to help bring her into the world.
Protect her.
She said...that she came to...eradicate all evil.
Darla chuckles.
And did she?
CONNOR
She wanted to give us everything.
(he frowns grudgingly)
Almost everything.
(beat)
I killed her.
Darla laughs.
You killed God?
(more laughter; she coughs)
That's something even your father and I
never managed to do.
She scrutinizes Connor as if seeing him for the first time.
I never thought I'd say this.
But I think I actually like you.
Connor looks away. He gazes down for a long moment.
Finally, he licks his lips anxiously.
Mom...
I need to ask you something.
(he looks up)
Where.... Where were you...
before the Syndicate brought you back?
Darla seems befuddled by the question.
What?
CONNOR
After you died giving birth to me.
Where were you?
Darla frowns with irritation and frustration.
What do you want me to say, Connor?
That I looked up at you from hell?
Kept an eye on my boy?
CONNOR
(adamantly)
You had to come from somewhere.
You couldn't just be here and not here
and then be here again.
DARLA
(wearily)
Why are you asking me this?
Connor slumps in his chair.
Because...there was a time...when I was confused.
And you came to me. And you tried to help me.
(pause)
You don't remember?
Darla parts her lips to reply, then seems to get caught.
I....
Her brow knits.
No.
But I don't remember half the things I did
when I had a soul.
She sighs, her voice taking on a bitter tone.
The universe jerks us around like puppets, Connor.
Gives life just to snatch it away again.
If you want answers from a world like that,
you'll just be disappointed.
HOLD on Connor's unsatisfied expression, then PULL AWAY to a TWO-SHOT - Connor at his mother's bedside.
EXT. TEMPLE LUNA - EVENING
INT. NIGHTCLUB
The Slayers stand along the edge of the dance floor, watching as three pairs of their number lunge and parry with SWORDS. Tushka paces beside them, keeping a careful eye on the clashing blades.
INT. MANAGER'S OFFICE
CLOCKWISE PAN - KELLY is curled up in the corner of the couch, looking pale and exhausted, clutching a glass of water to her chest. Vaughne is on the cushion beside her, and Aiden on the arm of the couch. Connor is standing against one of the empty bookshelves, arms crossed, his expression dour and brooding. Across from him, Rona leans against the corner of the desk. And Faith sits in the desk chair.
Anything you can think of.
Just take your time.
Kelly takes a deep sip from her glass and inhales.
They're called the "Hogath."
They come from...some place....
(CIRCULAR PAN of the others, listening)
...not physical, like our world.
Suddenly, the room BLAZES BRIEFLY WITH LIGHT as if a camera flash has gone off. Kelly winces.
Then blinks.
Her POV - the others--sitting, standing, eyes on her. No one appears to have noticed the light.
How did they get here? A portal?
Faith throws him a stern look, but Kelly shakes her head in reply.
I don't--
(her eyes dip with chagrin)
I mean, the Hogath that was inside of me...
didn't remember.
One minute it was there, in its own world....
She stares forward, brows knit.
QUICK-FLASH -
Rock, glistening with golden-brown slime.
And then it was ripped out of there,
and put in a...in a box, where it waited for a host.
(her eyes scan the others)
They need our bodies to get around on Earth.
But they only possess people who can get them
stuff they want.
FAITH
What do they want?
Kelly chuckles anxiously, gripping her glass.
Control. They get off on it.
I guess that's 'cause they live in a place where
they don't control things the way we do.
It's like they're...ghosts or something.
I mean, they're alive, but....
Aiden reaches in his backpack and pulls out his reporter's notebook and a pen.
What did they want from you?
KELLY
Us. They want all of us--the Slayers.
They want to use us to fight for them.
(she looks from Faith to Rona)
I don't know how they plan to do it,
but the demon inside me...it's job was
to distract you while they worked it out.
Mostly by throwing demons in your path
while you were out on patrol.
FAITH
Nothing we couldn't handle, though, huh?
(Kelly nods; Faith chuckles)
And I'll bet Drusilla made its job easy.
Connor's attention shifts to Faith.
Kelly shakes her head.
The Syndicate wants her dead.
(she glances over at Connor)
They want all those Aurelius vampires dead.
Connor's eyes dip away. Kelly looks back at Faith.
That's what they do with something powerful
they can't control.
Rona's brow knits.
I don't get it.
If they want to control us,
why don't they just possess all of us?
KELLY
There aren't that many Hogath here.
Maybe...a dozen, total?
This gets Faith's attention.
Aiden quickly jots down notes.
Faith, whatever they're gonna do,
it's happening soon.
They've just moved a whole bunch of restraints
into our old training room. They're for us.
Faith stands. She crosses her arms, then shakes her head adamantly.
Not gonna happen. We're taking that place back.
Before we do anything else--
KELLY
I wouldn't.
Everyone's attention shifts back to Kelly.
There's nothing left there that's worth it.
Our weapons, our books, the training equipment--
everything's gone.
Mostly, they've just been using the place
to store extra crap.
She gazes down. Her face crumples miserably.
I'm sorry.
FAITH
What?
KELLY
It's my fault.
They never could have taken it--
Faith sits down again. She reaches out and clasps Kelly's shoulder.
Hey, Kel. That wasn't you.
Kelly trembles and hugs her arms.
I know, but it still feels like....
She winces again. Another FLASH OF LIGHT fills the room.
IN THE LIGHT -
Faith's apartment. We see Faith, Rona, Connor, and Aiden speaking together through a detached, tunnel-vision lens.Kelly squeezes her eyes shut. When she opens them again, they are glistening.
(voice quavering)
I remember everything that thing thought...
everything it did....
(she shakes her head slowly)
Those other hosts...I can't even imagine
what they're going through.
At least the demon inside me didn't kill anyone.
FAITH
We're going to save them. I promise you.
Rona nods with agreement.
Then Faith's eyes dip thoughtfully for several seconds.
In fact...that's exactly what we have to do.
She glances around at the others, who are looking at her curiously.
Creepy Jeeves told me that the other demons
in the Syndicate are just minions.
It's these Hogath guys we have bring down.
Kelly nods with vigor.
Faith leaps to her feet again. She paces, thoughtful and agitated at the same time.
If we can trick them into jumping into us--
the Slayers--we can take them on from the inside.
Aiden looks at Faith, stunned.
Rona hops off the desk, hands up, fingers spread.
Whoa. Do you know how dangerous that is?
Faith turns to her, mouth opening in protest.
What if a Slayer can't kill it like Kelly did?
You'd be handing her power over to the Syndicate.
Not to mention our knowledge of how to kill them.
FAITH
Yeah, we'd be engaging them on their playing field.
(she taps her fingers to her chest)
But it would be our game.
(she turns towards Kelly)
What do you think, Kel?
Kelly stares down uneasily.
They won't expect it.
(she shivers)
But they'll fight it.
You just...have to forget it's all in your head.
You just have to fight like you always fight.
Faith nods.
Faith...
(Faith looks at him)
None of this is going to do any good unless
you figure out how they came over here
in the first place.
Otherwise, there'll just be more of them.
(he looks at Kelly)
Right?
FAITH
(to Kelly)
You sure that demon didn't know anything about that?
Kelly shakes her head.
QUICK-FLASH -
The glistening rock.
Just weird stuff it couldn't make any sense of.
Faith walks over to the desk chair opposite her and sits down. Her face is solemn.
Kelly, I need you to find out how they're doing it.
KELLY
(horrified)
You want me to go back to them?
(she shakes her head, eyes wide)
I--I can't.
FAITH
Kel, you're the only one who can.
And besides, they'll be expecting that demon
to report into them, won't they?
KELLY
No, I mean they would know!
They'd know I wasn't one of them!
FAITH
(with chagrin)
Are you sure?
Kelly nods. Faith gazes down, at a loss.
Damn.
AIDEN
So what happens if she doesn't report in?
Faith stares into space pensively for a moment. Then she stands up again and looks around at the others.
We gotta get off our asses and move.
Right now, they think we're clueless.
(her eyes shift to Kelly)
Kelly, do you know the names of the other
people they possessed?
Kelly nods.
Faith turns to Rona.
Rona, go get everyone seated.
I want to bring them up to speed.
RONA
(looking reluctant)
Faith....
FAITH
(brows rising)
Do you have a better plan?
Rona shakes her head and rises. As she exits the room, Faith turns back to Aiden.
Aiden, you've got all that Syndicate info.
(he nods)
There's got to be something in it that'll
give us a clue how they're getting over here.
Maybe a location for a portal or something?
AIDEN
(with uncertainty)
I'll look.
Faith's eyes drop to Vaughne.
And Vaughne, you guys have books.
(she glances at Connor)
So does Angel.
I need you to put your heads together
on this portal thing.
I'm giving us two days to firm up our plan.
AIDEN
(alarmed)
Two days?
He looks at her, aghast.
Faith glances at her watch, then peers over at Connor again with a frown.
Speaking of which, where the hell is Angel?
He went to get Spike. With my car.
Connor shrugs.
Faith sighs and crosses her arms.
Anyway, we kill the Caspers,
close their portal thing,
and then...we deal with their minions.
EXT. DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - EVENING
LONG SHOT down a trafficless backstreet in L.A.'s skid row - a grimy mix of warehouses, wholesale outlets, and residential hotels. Three THUG-LIKE DEMONS--two vampires and a bat-eared, noseless Hellion--stride down the sidewalk, eyes intent.
CUT TO further down the street. Two young human men are huddled there in a clandestine exchange. We see the three demons approaching them on the far side.
Faith's not going stake you for what happened
when you didn't have a soul.
SPIKE (V.O.)
(with a skeptical scoff)
How do you know?
CUT TO - INT. FAITH'S IMPALA
Angel grips the steering wheel. Spike is riding shotgun. Out the window, we see more of scenic skid row.
Because I would never be that lucky.
CUT BACK TO - EXT. STREET
The demon thugs cross the street. The Hellion RAISES A GUN. It glints under the street lights.
FRONT TWO-SHOT - The two human men look up. One of them gapes in shock. The other scrambles in his jacket for his own weapon.
CUT BACK TO - INT. FAITH'S IMPALA
Well, you know how some birds are
when it comes to sex!
ANGEL
Faith--
An explosive CRACK cuts the air.
Both vampires go on alert.
Hold on.
CUT TO - EXT. STREET
The second human man FALLS. The Hellion FIRES at him again. Then he turns and RUNS down the street. The first human man stumbles back in a panic, staring at the man at his feet. Then he looks up to see -
The TWO VAMPIRES, now in GAME FACE. One of vampires growls and bares his fangs. The man's eyes widen in fear.
CUT TO - Faith's Impala comes to an abrupt halt at a red light.
The Hellion charges across the intersection.
INT. FAITH'S IMPALA
Spike and Angel watch him pass.
Think he's....
Spike looks in the other direction. He leaps out of the car.
Spike--!
Spike waves him off.
Go, go!
Spike takes off towards the vampires.
QUICK-CUT TO - The Impala peels into a turn.
Spike reaches the vampires and yanks the human man away from them. One of the vampires snarls with irritation.
Who the hell are you?
Spike grabs him by the shoulders and shoves him head first towards the building behind them. The vampire careens forward into a boarded-up window.
*crack*
Wood splinters. Spike hauls the vampire back and grabs at a long shard of wood. He PLUNGES IT INTO HIM. The vampire EXPLODES in a skeletal figure of dust. The human's eyes bug. He backs away, then turns and bolts up the sidewalk. The second vampire jumps behind Spike and grabs his own shard from the window. Spike whirls around just as he raises it. Spike dodges the first thrust, then grabs him by the collar and STAKES HIM.
Spike turns and takes off in the direction the Hellion demon was headed.
CUT TO - INT. FAITH'S IMPALA
OVER-THE-SHOULDER-SHOT - Through the windshield, we can see the Hellion cut down a narrow alley.
EXT. SHOT - The Impala jerks to a halt at the mouth of the alley. After a beat, Angel leaps out and heads around to the trunk. He pops it open and pulls out the BROADSWORD from Act One. In the distance, we can hear the growing wail of sirens.
EXT. TEMPLE LUNA NIGHTCLUB PARKING LOT - EVENING
The BACK DOOR of the club flies open. Aiden strides out, holding his cell phone to his ear. He starts across the parking lot.
That's all right.
I'm actually...I'd like you to ask him
to delay publication for a week or two.
CLOSE-UP on Aiden's ear.
Why?
Aiden hurries around to the driver's side of his car. He lowers his voice and fumbles with his keys.
I've gotten word that there's going to be a major
shake-down of the Syndicate in the next few days.
I want to include that in the story.
INT. HOME OF HAROLD FULLER - SANTA MONICA
The living room of a moderate-income middle-aged bachelor - a leather couch, a television, and a couple over-stuffed armchairs. Harry's hair is wet. His dress shirt is half-buttoned, and his belt is hanging loose. He straightens some loose magazines on the coffee table.
A "major shake-down" by whom?
AIDEN'S VOICE
You know...the police. Special Ops.
Harry picks up a crushed can of beer.
I see. Well, um....
INT. AIDEN'S CIVIC
Aiden is now inside.
The Enquirer will still have the scoop.
But if it goes well, it'll make publication
of the story a whole lot safer for everyone.
We hear Harry chuckle.
I'll talk to him.
Aiden brings down his phone and disconnects it. He exhales raggedly and glances back at the club.
O.K., Faith. Do your thing.
I've kept the Slayers out of this.
Not that it'll make you kill me any less
when this comes out.
He pockets his phone, then reaches over to his book bag on the passenger seat. He unzips it and pulls out a PLANE TICKET. He gazes down at it solemnly.
INT. TEMPLE LUNA CLUB
PANNING - All the Slayers, including Rona and Kelly, sit at the red vinyl booths or on the edge of the dance floor. The East Indian Slayer, Isabel, brings down her arm from over her head. Faith nods at her, pacing the linoleum.
That's a good point.
(she turns)
Kel?
Kelly has a pen in her hand and a piece of paper on the table in front of her. She pauses in her writing and looks at Isabel.
The Hogath wouldn't be able to resist the temptation.
If they're forced out of their host,
they'll choose a Slayer over an innocent bystander.
FAITH
(nodding)
Good.
(she sets her hands on her hips)
O.K., so we have teams of two--
one Slayer doing the Ghost Busting,
the other keeping her partner from escaping
or hurting anyone.
Just keep in mind everything Kelly told you.
Faith looks around the room.
Any other questions or anything?
The Slayers glance at each other uneasily. There is silence all around. Faiths clasps her hands together.
O.K. I need you to hang here until you get
your assignments.
The girls start to rise.
And remember, you guys need to lay low!
We can't risk anyone who knows the plan
being possessed by one of these Hogath guys
and giving the plan away.
We need to hit them all at once.
Slowly, an uneasy chatter breaks out among the girls. Faith heads over to Kelly. Kelly hands her the piece of paper.
That's as good as I can do for names and locations
by memory.
Faith glances down the page.
(nodding)
Homeless shelter on Hill Street....
(a frown)
Psychic reader businesses....
(she looks up at Kelly)
A toy wholesaler?
KELLY
Used to be.
It's a mystical drug distribution center now.
Rona appears at Faith's side.
Selling drugs in a toy store?
Man, that's low.
Faith gestures Rona over to the rear door.
(to Kelly)
Thanks, Kel. You're doing good.
Kelly nods as the head Slayers walk away, then raises her fingertips to her forehead and closes her eyes briefly. Isabel and Stephanie, a pony-tailed blonde, approach her. Both have expressions of worry on their faces.
Are you sure about this, Kelly?
I think you should stay here.
Kelly glances around the club with a glower.
I spent last night in the Doom-and-Gloom Club.
The Syndicate's not going to come after me tonight.
I just want to sleep in my own bed.
CUT TO Faith and Rona. Faith hands Rona Kelly's list.
Make sure everyone's got a partner and an assignment.
I'll be in the back talking to Vaughne and them.
Faith heads through the rear door.
CUT TO - INT. BACK ROOM
A few of the witches stand at a table preparing a spell with various herbs, jars of powder, and a bubbling cauldron.
On the other side of the room, Raleigh Mathers sits slouched against the wall, watching them with a skeptical frown. Connor is seated on the edge of a table, watching HIM.
VAUGHNE sees Faith and crosses over to her.
(murmuring)
Here it is.
Psylis eucalipsis powder.
She holds up a small glass VIAL. Inside it is a PALE GRAY ASH.
This is the stuff that'll get the demons to jump ship?
VAUGHNE
Yeah.
Just blow a good dose of this in the face of the host.
Careful with it. It's pretty nasty if inhaled.
FAITH
Can you do me a favor and make sure each of
the Slayer teams gets as much of this as they need?
Vaughne nods and returns to the other witches.
INT. BACKROOM
Faith walks over to Connor.
(whispering)
I guess Angel's still not here.
CONNOR
Not yet.
Faith throws up her hands wearily.
Great. Can you give me a ride?
I want to swing by his storage garage.
I got an idea about how to tackle this portal thing.
BLACK OUT.
Part 2 (click here)
