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,@ 2006-02-06 23:44:00 |
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| Current mood: |  confused |
Heart of Darkness, Part 1 (airdate May 4, 2005)
| Heart of Darkness Part 1 (February 6, 2006) Written by: Masquerade |
| Teaser |
EXT. ISOLATED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA - MORNING
A gentle PIANO INSTRUMENTAL begins.
CRANE SHOT - the morning sun shines pale through clouds onto a string of SINGLE-STORY OFFICE BUILDINGS surrounded by trees and hedges. We slowly DESCEND IN on one building in particular, and then dolly forward
INT. ABANDONED OFFICE
in through the door and along the concrete ground, past the sticky masses of what last night were red-robed demons, past a circle of unlit candles, and into an ADJOINING ROOM. The DOLLY continues over strips of torn carpet and cardboard until we come upon FAITH in her jeans and t-shirt, sitting up and tying the laces of her Doc Martins.
Connor is stretched out behind her on his side clothed only in his trousers, asleep.
Faith leaps up and exits the room.
CUT TO - EXT. ABANDONED BUILDING
With a wince, she emerges into the daylight. She glances over the asphalt, snatches up her SHREDDED JEAN JACKET, and fishes her cell phone, keys, and a small GLASS VIAL out of it. She tosses the jacket aside and looks at the phone display, stuffing the keys and vial in her front pants pockets.
INSERT - CELL PHONE DISPLAY - 4 unheard messages
INT. THE ADJOINING ROOM
Connor sits up, blinking. He gazes around.
Faith?
He reaches for his shirt and stands.
EXT. ABANDONED BUILDING
Faith is pacing. CLOSE-UP on the phone at her ear.
(in a panic)
They know we know about the Hogath!
Whatever you're going to do,
you have to do it now!
FAITH
Shit....
We hear a tiny beep, beep.
Faith, where the hell are you?!
I don't know if you've talked to Aiden or not, but....
(pause)
Damn it, I don't know what to do!
If I send the girls out after the Hogaths,
it might....
(a long sigh)
I'm sending them out.
Call me as soon as you get this.
Faith brings down the phone. She looks stunned.
Then someone catches her eye.
Connor is standing in the doorway barefoot, one shirt sleeve missing, holding his shoes. He is caught by the expression on her face.
What's wrong?
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
Elisabeth Rohm
Indigo
Teri Polo
SUPER LEGEND: Three hours earlier
EXT. THE LOS ANGELES TIMES BUILDING - BEFORE DAWN
FIRST STREET ENTRANCE - Two coroner's attendants exit, drawing a gurney carrying the COVERED BODY OF A WOMAN out onto the sidewalk. Her slack left hand falls limp over the side.
The Slayers INEZ and TUSHKA saunter forward as the attendants stop to open the back of their van. Tushka grabs up the woman's hand.
(seeing)
Hey!
CLOSE-UP - a TINY CURVING TATTOO just above the crease between her thumb and forefinger -
CUT TO - ELSEWHERE DOWNTOWN
RONA and the pony-tailed Slayer BRIDGET race down the middle of a side street.
We're blocks from the shelter now.
I think she's long gone.
RONA
Unless....
Rona's determined expression turns to horror. She cuts over to the sidewalk and stumbles to a halt.
Her POV - A TINY FIGURE lies slumped in the gutter.
Rona kneels down beside her and turns her over gently.
It's the SIX-YEAR OLD GIRL from the homeless shelter in episode 20.
Rona stares up at the approaching Bridget, crest-fallen.
The demon jumped. Again.
Rona's despondent gaze shifts down the long street.
It could be anyone now.
EXT. OLYMPIC BOULEVARD WAREHOUSE DISTRICT
THERESA stands at the door of the three-story warehouse, KICKING IT REPEATEDLY. A filthy, intoxicated VAGRANT lolling against the wall several meters away frowns at her.
(in a slurred voice)
Thas ullegal, y'know.
The DOOR FLIES OPEN. Theresa and an African-American Slayer, JUDY, enter the warehouse. Theresa fumbles for the light switch.
Thunk - the LARGE ROOM IS FLOODED WITH LIGHT.
Their POV - EMTPY shelves rising to the ceiling; pallets scattered across the floor, also EMPTY.
Wasn't this supposed to be a major
distribution center?
THERESA
According to Kelly, it was.
EXT. WHOLESALE DISTRICT - DOWNTOWN
IN FRAME - A day-glo pink STRIP MALL, at least during the day. Round security lights line the roof. In center frame is a store with the words "TOY TIME" bouncing in playful block letters above the glass front door.
INT. WHOLESALE TOY STORE
A long, narrow, dimly-lit retail space with rows of packaged toys. We DOLLY down one aisle towards the back of the store. Suddenly, the Slayer Misha SAILS INTO THE FRAME and CRASHES into a shelf, knocking the shelves askew. The merchandise tumbles to the floor.
Menacing her is the SHOPKEEPER, a pudgy middle-aged Latina woman with GLOWING GOLD EYES. She hovers over Misha. Her glow EXPANDS and RISES over her head, swirls for a beat, then SHOOTS DOWN. Misha steels herself for it, her chin rising and stiffening as the energy coalesces around her and SINKS BENEATH HER SKIN.
Slowly, Misha rises to her feet, EYES ABLAZE. She SLAMS the shopkeeper away with one hand, then circles around.
REVERSE ANGLE - her partner, the short, dark-haired Slayer LIZ, gazes back at her warily.
EXT. ISOLATED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA - MORNING
Connor crosses the wide parking lot that stretches away from the abandoned office building.
Half the people who were possessed are dead.
I haven't heard back from Misha and Liz.
And Faith...Kelly's missing, too.
A troubled Faith walks briskly ahead of Connor, on the phone.
REVERSE ANGLE - CONNOR'S CAR is where they left it the night before, parked under trees.
CUT TO - INT. HILL STREET SHELTER DINING HALL - CONTINUOUS
Rona is standing off to the side. Behind her, we see shelter residents lined up for breakfast and eating at folding tables.
I've got Isabel and Stephanie tracking her down.
FAITH'S VOICE
I should go with them.
RONA
Let them take care of that!
Faith, if the Syndicate has Kelly,
then they know our plan now.
Which means we have to come up with
a new one!
EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Faith reaches Connor's car, grabs at the locked driver's side door handle, and stops. She slaps her palm against the roof of the car.
What the hell tipped them off in the first place?
Connor appears, his keys out. He unlocks the door. Faith opens it and starts to climb in.
Maybe I should drive?
FAITH
(stopping; distracted)
Right, O.K.
(she focuses in on him)
But I need your car. Angel still has mine.
Connor pauses awkwardly.
I'll...I'll just drop myself off at home,
then you can have it.
Faith nods and heads around to the passenger side.
Connor watches her for a beat.
INT. CONNOR'S CAR
Then he gets behind the wheel.
(still outside; muted)
Rona, the new plan is that we're following
the old plan.
Faith climbs in the car and shuts the door. Connor starts up the engine.
We only know one way to kill these guys.
The girls are just gonna have to track
down their targets.
The car starts forward.
I don't know how.
Figure something out.
I'm on the portal thing.
Faith stabs her phone off and gazes out the front windshield for a moment, agony growing on her face. Connor glances at her uncomfortably.
Suddenly, Faith SLAMS her fist down on the dashboard, CRACKING it.
Fuck, fuck, FUCK!
QUICK EXT. SHOT - the car bounces to a halt halfway across the parking lot.
INT. CONNOR'S CAR
Connor gazes at her with concern.
Faith's hand slides over the cracked dashboard.
They're dead. Those people are dead because of me.
Because I let myself get distracted last night!
She pushes herself away from the dashboard and bounces back against the car seat.
Connor's eyes dip away. He grips the steering wheel.
You didn't know.
Faith gapes over at him.
Didn't know!
She jabs a finger at the building they were just in, drawing Connor's attention back to her.
I should have seen what happened last night
for what it was!
A bunch of demons show up at Angel's garage,
right where the Slayer is, acting hella suspicious?
She brings up her fist again, ready to smash something else, then stops herself.
And I fell for it!
CONNOR
But we saved that man--
FAITH
How do we know he was even their prisoner?!
Last night was a set-up!
Faith looks away, brooding darkly.
Connor aims his gaze forward again. His lips compress.
The car heads out of the parking lot, then down the street.
After a moment -
(quietly)
I need your help.
Connor looks over.
With what?
FAITH
Misha and Liz went after a demon
running drugs out of a toy store at
Fourth and South Los Angeles.
The host's name is Carlos Guerrero.
No one's heard from them. If you could
go down there and find them....
CONNOR
Sure.
Faith sits back, digging in her front pocket.
If you run into the demon first, though,
you're gonna have to kill it.
(she hands the GLASS VIAL to him)
You know what to do, don't you?
Connor looks at it.
CLOSE-UP - Inside is a PALE GRAY ASH.
(uneasily)
I got the basic idea.
FAITH
Throw that stuff in the host's face to get
the demon riled up. Then get it to possess you.
Once you do, well...Kelly said fighting one
of those things in her head felt real--
like a real fight.
Only she was a demon, fighting a demon,
you know what I mean?
CONNOR
I...think so.
FAITH
It should work, right? You've got demon in you.
CLOSE-UP on the rear-view mirror. Connor's blue eyes glance up at his reflection.
Yeah. I've got demon in me.
Faith nods, then brings her cell phone back up. We hear a tiny beep, beep as she goes back to playing messages.
Faith, where are you? And where the hell's Connor?
CUT TO ANGEL in GAME FACE.
INT. SEWER TUNNEL - MORNING
FULL SHOT - With a growl, Angel LEAPS BACK from a column of sunlight cutting through a vent in the ceiling. His newly-returned BROADSWORD dangles from one hand.
Spike glances up from behind him.
Watch it, mate.
This tunnel is laced with limpets like that.
Angel glares up at the offending vent. Spike walks around him.
Well that's it, then.
We've got to pack it in for the day.
LONG SHOT - Angel follows Spike down the tunnel.
The irony is, if Connor were here,
he'd find himself in a minute flat.
He's a better tracker than both of us.
SPIKE
(voice fading away down the tunnel)
If you want to try giving Faith another bell,
there's basement access not too far from here.
INT. CONNOR'S CAR - MORNING
Connor is driving, his gaze distant and brooding. Faith is still on the phone. Through the windshield we can see a freeway on-ramp.
The number you are trying to call,
555....
FAITH
(muttering under her breath)
Damn it.
Beeep.
C'mon, Aiden, where are you?
(she sighs)
Call me. Pronto.
Faith hangs up and stabs out another number on her phone.
Connor throws a searching glance at her.
Faith catches it, but turns her attention ahead again as we hear the familiar beep, beep of her voice mail.
(British accent)
Faith, this is Rupert Giles.
I realize you have your hands full,
but this is of up most importance.
The Scythe of the Slayer was stolen
yesterday from the vault in Rome.
Willow was injured trying to protect it.
I don't have to tell you that the Scythe
could be very dangerous in the wrong hands.
If you have any idea who might want it and why,
contact Buffy or myself immediately.
Faith hangs up, looking overwhelmed.
Damned right I have my hands full.
Connor takes in her anxious glare discreetly.
Faith looks over at him. She lets out a deep sigh and licks her bottom lip awkwardly.
O.K.
Her fingers fidget with her phone.
Look, about last night.
Connor glances between her and the road.
When I got pissed at being "distracted",
I was pissed at me. I'm not blaming you.
Connor nods with forced casualness.
I know.
FAITH
So we're cool, right?
Everything's cool?
CONNOR
Yeah.
EXT. SHOT - His car recedes down the freeway.
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - TEMPLE LUNA NIGHTCLUB - MORNING
The camera PANS AROUND until we are looking across the street at a long diagonal. We see a FIGURE lurking in a receded storefront, staring across at the club.
CUT TO a CLOSE-UP - it's AIDEN. He's unshaven and there are fatigue circles under his eyes. He glances around the neighborhood surreptitiously, then cuts across the street.
CUT TO - TEMPLE LUNA PARKING LOT
LONG SHOT - a few cars, none that we recognize.
Aiden knocks on the rear door--a single rap, followed by three quick raps. He repeats the knock. After a moment, the GOTH-GIRL CLUB MANAGER answers the door, a MOP in her hand. She frowns.
I've had calls coming in for you.
What'd you do, turn your cell off?
INT. BACK HALLWAY
A LOW CHANTING is coming from somewhere inside. Aiden enters. The manager shuts the door and locks it.
I've been, um....
He is stopped short by the sight of the hallway -
The floor is smeared with BLOOD and GRIME. Three large trash barrels line the wall with heavy-duty plastic bags tucked into them.
Aiden wanders down past them, stunned.
(British accent)
Watch out for the toad guts.
Aiden looks up to see -
Raleigh Mathers emerge from the backroom, wearing latex cleaning gloves.
Aiden stifles a smirk and heads into the OFFICE.
INT. MANAGER'S OFFICE
Vaughne and another witch are ensconced in piles of books. Vaughne smiles wanly at Aiden and slaps shut the book in her lap.
Grab a chair.
She sets the book aside.
Aiden gestures towards the hallway.
What happened out there?
Vaughne and the other witch trade a troubled glance. Vaughne grabs another book and sets it in her lap.
Things got a little hairy last night.
She points at a pile of books on the desk.
See if there's anything about the Hogath
and their dimension in any of those.
Aiden gazes down at the books, then back at Vaughne.
Have they found Kelly yet?
Vaughne, eyes intent on her book, shakes her head no. She only looks up again when -
Aiden turns and exits the room.
CUT TO - INT. CLUB
Dark except for the faint green exit signs. Aiden walks behind the bar and through a swinging door.
INT. KITCHEN
LIGHT suddenly SWEEPS the room. Aiden is holding open the door to a large industrial REFRIGERATOR.
INSIDE - bottles of white wine, cherries, lemons, and perishable cocktail mixers.
He reaches behind them and pulls out a small corked FLASK containing a MURKY LIQUID. He gazes at it.
CLOSE-UP on the LABEL - SCO counter-prot - 05/03/05
His hand closes around it.
It might not work, you know.
Aiden whirls around.
Vaughne is standing at the kitchen door.
Why not?
He opens his fingers and stares down at the flask.
The Slayer Council office may originally've
been under Faith's protection,
but the Syndicate re-sealed it. Her blood
may not have the power to get you in there.
AIDEN
I have to try.
Vaughne gapes at him, aghast.
Do you know what they're turning that place into?
Aiden nods and pockets the flask in his jacket.
Vaughne sighs, resigned.
There's an incantation you'll need.
FADE TO - INT. FORMER SLAYER COUNCIL TRAINING ROOM - MID-MORNING
PANNING DOWN - A FLAT RESTRAINING BOARD is tilted against the wall. A still-semi-comatose KELLY is strapped to it from forehead to feet. A hand SLAPS her HARD across the face. She moans softly.
The hand belongs to the Hogath-possessed man from episode 20.
She's almost awake.
WOMAN (O.S.)
In a few hours, what she knows won't matter.
CUT TO the Syndicate witch MIRANDA, standing behind him. We see her from the waist up. Her blonde hair is in a tight bun. A BURLY DEMON with bat-like ears passes behind her, carrying a BOX.
Well, most of what she knows.
WIDE SHOT - Surrounding her on the wood laminate floor are row upon row of RESTRAINT CHAIRS AND BOARDS, waiting to be used. The boxes that previously lined the long mirror are nearly gone. Miranda turns. We follow her out into the hallway.
INT. HALLWAY
LONG SHOT - The demon exits left out the front door with his box. Miranda continues on to the suite office.
INT. OFFICE
The blinds are closed. The room glows with the flickering of dozens of candles.
Miranda halts before the DESK that used to be Faith's. A stern-faced Italian witch draped head to toe in black stands on the other side. The desk between them has been transformed into an ALTAR. Lying across it on a gray cloth is an AX with a long crimson and silver blade - the SCYTHE OF THE SLAYER.
Surrounding the Scythe are murky crystals, scattered piles of soot and crushed bone, severed desiccated human fingers, metal talismans in the shape of skulls and pentagrams, bound dried herbs, burning incense, an animal's horn, and a CIRCULAR GARLAND made of long red HUMAN HAIR.
She gazes down at it.
INT. UNDERGROUND LAIR OF THE GRANOK - MID-MORNING
Faith stands in the dim round chamber, flickering torchlight reflecting off her face. A book bag dangles from her fingers.
C'mon. The Syndicate's the major player in town.
Of course you're opening portals for them.
A LONG-HAIRED DEMON with a wrinkled face and black robes sneers at her and STROLLS RIGHT THROUGH one of the stone pillars.
You think I'm an idiot?
If you really believe that,
you're not going to just let me go after I
(his voice dips comically)
"tell you what you want to know."
So why should I tell you anything?
Faith scowls briefly, then shrugs.
Guess that's true.
She reaches into the bag.
The Granok raises his arms up wide, but before he can speak, his incorporeal body TWISTS into a THIN, COILED WHISP and is SUCKED UP into the bag.
Faith yanks out a RESIKHIAN URN and corks it.
Shit.
CUT TO - EXT. SIDE STREET NEAR THE GRANOK LAIR
The morning has become overcast. Faith stalks down the sidewalk, the book bag slung over her shoulder. Her cell phone rings. She fishes it out of her back jeans pocket.
Hello? Angel.
She stops. Listens.
Then shakes her head wearily.
Long story.
(pause)
We're dealing with it.
But I don't know what I'm going to
say to the cops.
(pause; she looks uneasy)
One o'clock, huh?
She continues to Connor's car.
Yeah, I'll be there.
(beat)
Oh, and Connor's down in that area right now,
looking for some Slayers who haven't checked in.
CUT TO - INT. GREYHOUND BUS STATION
Angel is at a pay phone. Bus passengers pulling suitcases pass by in both directions.
Tell him to be careful.
The Syndicate still owns that neighborhood,
police station or not.
EXT. DAY-GLO PINK STRIP MALL - DOWNTOWN WHOLESALE DISTRICT - MID-MORNING
Connor enters the toy store.
INT. TOY TIME
His POV - an empty counter, and AISLES OF TOYS - action figures, toy trucks, wooden blocks, board games, ship and airplane models, stuffed animals, children's books and videos.
A strangled SOB echoes through the store.
A woman's voice is wailing, thick and slurred -
¡Está muerto! ¡Está muerto! ¡Lo maté!
MAN'S VOICE
(cooing)
Mamá...mamá....
No mataste a Papá.
Connor hurries forward.
¡Yo tenía un cuchillo!
(beat)
Y había una chica....
MAN
¿Que chica, Mamá?
WOMAN
¡Intentó de pararme!
Connor exits the aisle at the back of the store.
A twenty-something LATINO MAN stands there, comforting the SHOPKEEPER from Act One. The woman's pudgy fingers clutch his arms. She looks shell-shocked. The man looks up to see CONNOR. His eyes are red.
Sorry, we're closed.
CONNOR
(gesturing back)
The front door was unlocked.
He gazes at them both uneasily.
Uh...I don't mean to disturb you.
I'm looking for...Mr. Rodriguez.
The woman breaks out into fresh sobs. The man's eyes dip.
Connor takes in the sight of them - a mother and son, in grief.
He backs up a few steps.
I'm sorry...you obviously....
He turns and heads back the way he came.
Sorry.
CUT TO the front of the store. Connor pauses at the door and pulls out the VIAL OF GRAY ASH Faith gave him. He turns around and looks back towards the rear of the store uncertainly. Then with compressed lips, he re-pockets the vial and exits.
EXT. STRIP MALL
Connor's eyes scan the street. He breaths in the air. His head turns to the right.
His POV - a narrow ROADWAY cutting between the building next to the strip mall and a warehouse opposite it.
He lopes towards it.
CUT TO - EXT. ROADWAY
Connor jogs down the road, searching. Then his eyes widen. He picks up his pace, heading towards -
An old TRUCK filled with scrap metal just ahead. As Connor comes around the rear of the truck, he sees a FIGURE slumped against the corrugated metal wall of a warehouse, half-covered in scrap. Connor quickly tosses aside the debris.
It is the Slayer LIZ. Her eyes are closed. She has scrapes and cuts on her face and arms and a large, dark BRUISE on her forehead.
Connor kneels and checks her neck for a pulse. Blood smears on his hand. Liz stirs and moans.
Mish....
CONNOR
Liz, it's me, Connor Reilly.
Keep talking. Tell me what happened.
SLAYER
Misha....
Jumped in...her....
Connor slips a hand around Liz's shoulders and reaches his other arm down towards her knees.
I'm going to pick you up and take you
somewhere where I can make a phone call.
Her lids sink heavily. She sags in his arms. Connor momentary releases her.
C'mon Liz, stay with me.
Suddenly, we hear the thud, thud, thud of heavy-booted feet. Connor lurches around to see -
A STREET GANG strolling towards him--goatees, tattoos, and brassy bling.
BLACK OUT.
INT. FAITH'S FORMER OFFICE - MID-MORNING
Miranda lifts the garland of red hair and sets it on her head like a crown. Then she gathers up a smidge of the crushed bone and sprinkles it over herself. She stands before the Scythe, holding her hands out over it, palms down. The Italian witch circles around the desk and walks to the other side of the office behind her.
Blessed Scythe.
Forged of the Will of the Guardians.
Source of the Essence of the Slayer.
The Scythe starts to quiver on the desk surface.
Miranda smiles in triumph.
Let your deadly metal melt beneath my fingers.
The Scythe continues to rattle, growing more and more AGITATED.
Bend to my desire!
It shifts on the desktop.
Miranda's smile fades. She looks taken aback.
Let your purpose be at one with my Will!
Rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle, rattle....
Miranda stares at it in alarm, then steps back.
The Scythes shifts back and forth.
Eyes wide, Miranda THROWS HERSELF DOWN to the floor. As she does, the Scythe FLIES INTO THE AIR where she stood.
CUT TO the witch behind her. She stands stiff, eyes open, the Scythe's blade BURIED IN HER FACE.
Miranda gapes up at the sight, her face twitching with genuine fear.
The dead witch slumps to the ground.
EXT. SIDE STREET - MID-MORNING
Connor's Camry is parked at the curb. Faith is behind the wheel.
INT. CAMRY
She turns the key in the ignition. But instead of the rumble of the engine starting, we only hear the click, wreeench of the passenger side door opening. Faith jolts in her seat. The blue-haired MISTRESS MEERNA seats herself and shuts the door in her breezy, business-like way.
Visiting the Granoks, I gather.
FAITH
Yeah. What are you--
(then, puzzled)
Angel said you skipped town.
The Syndicate was after you.
Meerna's eyes scan the street.
Well, "skipping town" for me is no
different from crossing a room.
Faith chuckles.
Meerna looks at her.
I've had my hands full.
There's been an upsurge in inter-dimensional
cross-overs in the past few months.
FAITH
So the Granoks are working for the Syndicate.
MEERNA
(nodding)
Opening portals, yes.
FAITH
Did they open a portal to the place where
the Hogath demons come from?
Meerna shakes her head.
No. The Hogath dimension is too different from ours,
you can't simply open a portal to it like it was a door....
Her eyes wander thoughtfully.
But maybe....
FAITH
Maybe what?
MEERNA
(looking up at her)
There's a convergence under the city
I've been investigating.
Meerna pauses, eyes on Faith.
Do you know what a "mystical convergence" is?
(before Faith can answer)
Of course you do, you lived near the Hellmouth
in Sunnydale for a while, didn't you?
I believe it was under a public high school.
FAITH
(chuckling)
Oh yeah, I had plenty of fun in that place.
MEERNA
(nodding)
This is similar--an indigenous source of
radiated dark mystical energy.
FAITH
We've got one of those here?
MEERNA
(hedging)
Well...the one in Sunnydale was like a geyser.
From time to time, it would "blow",
significantly altering the metaphysical
landscape around it.
This convergence is more like a leaky faucet
--a slow, intermittent drip.
In its normal state, anyway.
Meerna gives Faith a grave look.
But something's been amplifying it.
And if what I'm suddenly thinking is true,
the Syndicate is responsible.
That would explain why their demonic essences
were able to cross into our dimension and
inhabit human bodies.
FAITH
So we just have to stop up the leak.
MEERNA
(shaking her head)
No.
She compresses her lips off Faith's baffled expression.
"Leak" is the wrong word--it's a "natural flow"
for lack of a better term.
FAITH
"Natural"? But I thought you said this "dark"--evil.
MEERNA
(with pensive frustration)
How do I explain this.
Mystical power isn't neutral. All sources
of mystical power have a tendency towards
either what we would call "good" or "evil."
(she sighs)
But even those are the wrong words.
So are "darkness" and "light."
The point is, these are two complimentary
oppositions that together make up
the foundation of everything there is.
You need both if you're to have any
sort of world at all.
Faith gazes at her, utterly lost.
Meerna smiles weakly.
Think of it this way. Demons are,
by their very nature,
creatures drawn to darkness or evil.
(she gestures at Faith)
But Slayers have demon in them,
and that's not a bad thing.
It gives you strength, and the instinct
to fight and kill that you use to
defend the innocent--
FAITH
(nodding)
Yeah, I've heard all about it.
MEERNA
This convergence I'm talking about
is a natural flow of dark energy.
But right now, the flow is excessive.
We need to restore the convergence
to the state it was in before
the Syndicate started using it.
FAITH
And how do we do that?
MEERNA
That's what I'm not sure about.
FAITH
This "flow" thing. Where is it?
MEERNA
Under a house on the west side.
But I can't get at it.
I've tried transporting myself to its location,
but it has powerful magicks around it.
FAITH
If you worked with the Temple Luna witches,
do you think you could find a way to get to it
and restore it or whatever?
Meerna nods slowly.
They have some expertise that I don't.
Faith starts the car engine.
I'll drive you there--
But the car door is open again. Mistress Meerna is GONE.
Faith frowns and shakes her head.
FADE TO - EXT. SYNDICATE HOUSE - WEST SIDE - MID-MORNING
The sweet, homey bungalow seen in episode 20.
INT. HOUSE
NOT-SO-STEADICAM SHOT in the POV of someone walking down the hallway. Our view rises and falls in a jerking motion as we close in on the BASEMENT DOOR. It is ajar.
LONG SHOT down the narrow basement stairs. The staircase landing marks the bottom of our line of sight. Murky shadows shift there from deeper below.
DISSOLVE TO - INT. SUBTERRANEAN BASEMENT
PANNING - A CAVERN - Water drips. Weak torchlight flickers over slime-covered stone and earth. The PAN ends at a rock face, where ANTHONY stands, his down-turned face scowling darkly. Behind him, the dirty gray-gold stone EBBS AND PULSATES, simultaneously and neither solid nor liquid nor gas.
PULL BACK TO a LONG SHOT of this view, looking over the shoulder of someone perched on carved stone steps.
The exchange is finished. But--
Anthony's voice is edged with bitterness.
Two of the Hogath are dead.
An ELDERLY HUMAN WOMAN with a cane stands on the steps, her eyes glowing gold. She nods solemnly.
We've yet to figure how the Slayers are doing it.
The human Kelly poisoned herself with a nearly full dose
of Nirvana rather than let us penetrate her mind.
ANTHONY
(voice rising with urgency)
Tell the others not to engage the Slayers.
We have Miranda's spell for that!
We should concentrate on the soldiers.
And the witches, if necessary.
The woman nods again and moves to go, then hesitates.
You should exchange yourself,
just to be on the safe side.
CLOSE-UP on Anthony's petulant child-face. He finally glares up at her.
It's not about "safety."
EXT. WHOLESALE DISTRICT ROADWAY - MID-MORNING
Five gang-bangers SURROUND CONNOR. He peers around at them. Before he can move, one of them steps in and DRAGS HIM UP and AWAY from the unconscious Liz. Another approaches her. Connor YANKS himself out of his captor's grip.
Stay away from her!
He ELBOWS the first man and lunges after the second. The first man stumbles back, wincing and clasping his ribs. Connor SHOVES the man now hovering over Liz aside.
Click.
CLOSE-UP a formidable-looking HANDGUN. Without hesitation, Connor whirls around and KICKS it out of hand of the man holding it.
The first gang member leaps at Connor and takes a swing at him. Connor blocks the punch with a hand. CLOSE-UP on their teeth-gritting expressions as Connor holds the man's fist at bay. The fist TREMBLES.
With his free hand, Connor PUSHES HIM AWAY. The man sails across the pavement and lands HARD on his ass. The other gang members gape and guffaw. The man glares up at Connor.
What the hell is he? It's daylight!
The man with the gun retrieves his weapon and POINTS IT at Connor.
Not caring.
Connor DIVES INTO A SUMMERSAULT before the man can fire a shot. As he leaps to his feet, the first gang member struggles up to standing and CHARGES HIM FROM BEHIND. Connor head-butts the man, then reaches back and FLIPS HIM over his shoulder into the metal wall.
Twing, twing!
Connor twists and gapes, grabbing at his thigh. He looks down. There are two small HOLES in the fabric of his pants. His knees wobble and slowly give way. He collapses to the pavement.
The second gang member returns to Liz. He checks her pulse, then raises an eyelid.
(looking up and back)
She's got a concussion, and she's unconscious.
CUT TO a WIDE SHOT of the gang. A fourth man turns away from the others and raises a cell phone to his ear.
The fifth man walks over to Connor yanking an antennaed PDA from his belt.
Connor doesn't move, but he's awake. We can see CONFUSION in his eyes.
(to Connor)
It's a paralytic. It'll wear off.
The fifth gang member pokes at the PDA and blinks in surprise.
He reads humano, man.
The first gang member groans from his position against the wall.
Can't be!
He rolls over and sits up, wincing.
(still hovering over Liz)
This contusion was made by a fist.
Connor's head wobbles a little.
I..din..don....
In the distance, we hear the WAIL of a siren.
If he reads human, man, we've got to follow--
FIRST GANG MEMBER
Screw procedure!
(he points at Connor)
This... thing knocked me flat on my ass, twice!
We have discretion to by-pass due process if
we deem a subject "unnaturally dangerous."
He lurches up to standing, looking around at the others.
I say we take him to Los Alamitos.
There are nods and mutters of agreement from the rest of them.
And I say we cover our asses and take him to Central!
If the Lieutenant thinks he should go to the base,
she can transfer him.
More mutters of agreement. The first gang member finally nods grudgingly. He pulls out a small leather billfold.
INSERT - an ID with his picture and the seal of the United States Army Special Ops.
(to Connor)
Listen up.
You have the right to remain silent.
(one of the other "gang members" guffaws)
If you give up that right, anything you say can
and will be used against you in a court of law.
You have the right to an attorney....
CLOSE-UP on Connor, blinking up at him.
INT. SLAYER COUNCIL TRAINING ROOM - MID-MORNING
CLOSE-UP on KELLY's face. Her eyes flutter open and gaze around dully.
You're awake.
I trust you had a pleasant stay in paradise.
MEDIUM SHOT - Kelly is still strapped to the restraint board. Her glassy eyes loll to the right.
Her POV - The HOGATH walks towards her. His eyes GLOW GOLD.
Anthony thinks we should let the witch
protect us from the Slayers.
(he grasps her strapped-down chin)
I don't.
The glow in his eyes BRIGHTENS and EXPANDS, then rises.
Kelly's lips tighten. Her eyes squeeze shut. The demonic energy SHOOTS INTO HER. She shudders and lets out a defiant moan as it SINKS BENEATH HER SKIN.
EXT. THE ALLEY BEHIND THE FORMER SLAYER COUNCIL SUITE BUILDING - CONTINUOUS
Aiden slinks down the alley, a baseball cap pulled low over his face and his gym bag slung over his shoulder. He slows and grimaces as his anxious gaze falls on -
The CORPSE of a skeletally-armored Nezzla demon, lying dead on the ground by the back door.
He steps over the demon and reaches for the doorknob. The door swings lightly in its frame. He pushes it open cautiously and enters.
INT. ELECTRICAL ROOM
Dimly lit. A long corridor heads off into the depths of the building.
(stage whisper)
Aiden!
Aiden looks right.
ISABEL and STEPHANIE emerge from the shadows by the water heater. Isabel is holding a small DAGGER.
(murmuring)
You guys can't pick a dead-bolt?
Isabel shrugs.
I suppose you can.
Aiden grins.
I'm a reporter.
Then his smile fades.
You really think Kelly is here?
AIDEN
Somewhere the Syndicate can hold a Slayer indefinitely?
You got any better leads?
Isabel and Stephanie trade grudging frowns. Then Stephanie crosses her arms and pins Aiden with a steely-eyed gaze.
O.K. We scoped it out.
There are two guards in the halls,
and who knows how many in the suite.
You can do the spell to get us in,
but you hang back until we say, O.K.?
Aiden nods, then follows the two of them down the dark, narrow hallway.
QUICK-CUT TO - INT. FIRST-FLOOR FOYER
A beefy human-looking guard stands there.
EXT. SECOND-FLOOR CORRIDOR
And a BULKY GRAY, HORNED DEMON is positioned by the suite door.
ANGLE - the stairwell door at the far end of the corridor cracks open. CLOSE-UP - Isabel peers out. She gestures the others forward. Stephanie and Aiden exit after her.
The demon looks up and JUMPS TO ALERTNESS.
Isabel FLINGS HER DAGGER at it. It imbeds itself in the demon's throat. The demon clutches at it, staggering and groaning.
The Slayers start down the corridor. Aiden hangs back, digging into his bag. He pulls out the FLASK containing the ANTI-PROTECTION SPELL.
The human-looking guard from the foyer appears at the top of the stairs. Stephanie charges and KICKS HIM, sending him stumbling back down. She races after him.
CUT TO - The suite door opens and a HAIRY, THUG-LIKE DEMON bolts out. Isabel lunges for the now-dead gray demon. The thug sees Isabel's DAGGER still imbedded in its neck, grabs it up, and LEAPS FOR HER. She dodges him.
Then a new figure appears in the suite doorway. It's MIRANDA. She scans the fight. Her eyes fall on Aiden. She sweeps out towards him. Aiden steps back, gazing at her warily. She closes in, then FLINGS OUT A HAND. A RED SWIRL OF MYSTICAL ENERGY hits him. Aiden's head weaves as if he's been stunned.
Isabel, still fighting the thug-demon, doesn't notice.
Miranda's hand CLAMPS DOWN ON AIDEN'S SCALP. He sways in place.
CUT TO a series of CLOSE-UPS - Her BONY fingers tighten. Her eyes bore into his. Aiden trembles, eyes wide.
TWO-SHOT - Miranda slowly smiles.
That might work!
Aiden sways helplessly, but the scowl on his face is unmistakable.
Miranda chuckles.
(murmuring)
You've already betrayed her twice.
What's one more?
INT. THE SLAYER COUNCIL TRAINING ROOM
WIDE SHOT - Kelly is still strapped upright, SHUDDERING IN THE THROWS of another internal battle. The man who was possessed sits on the floor amongst the rows of RESTRAINTS, looking bewildered.
INT. FIRST-FLOOR FOYER
Stephanie battles the human-looking guard with fists and feet.
INT. SECOND-FLOOR CORRIDOR
Isabel's opponent SAILS INTO THE FRAME and falls dead on the linoleum.
Isabel runs over the open suite doorway, stops short of it, and raises a hesitant hand. It hits an INVISIBLE WALL.
(despairing)
Shit!
Aiden!
INT. FAITH'S FORMER OFFICE
The room is still shuttered and candle-lit, but now BATHED IN A RED GLOW.
...Let your purpose be at one with my Will!
ANGLE ON the corner by the door. Aiden cowers there, his body tensing as he struggles impotently to move.
By the hand of the last of the Chosen....
His POV - MIRANDA is poised before the desk-altar, her fingers spread out above the Scythe, which is GLOWING RED and quivering on the surface of the desk. Nearby, amidst the other magic objects, is the FLASK, uncorked and empty.
...let those who chose their fate be frozen!
FRONTAL SHOT - Her eyes are wide. Her body is rigid with intensity.
Loyal Slayers, True and Brave,
'Tis your Will I shall enslave!
Miranda raises her arms up wide. RED LIGHT BLASTS FROM THE SCYTHE.
EXT. SHOT - THE FORMER SLAYER COUNCIL BUILDING - IT BLAZES through the walls, SHOOTING OUT IN ALL DIRECTIONS.
CUT TO - INT. SECOND-FLOOR HALLWAY
And BLASTS Isabel back from the suite door. She HITS the wall.
Slowly, she rises, looking dazed. She staggers back to the doorway. She raises her hand again. It PASSES THROUGH UNOBSTRUCTED.
Stephanie limps up the stairs, just in time to see -
With a look of caution, Isabel ENTERS THE SUITE.
(with confusion)
Iz?
INT. SUITE HALLWAY
Stephanie follows her inside.
(whispering)
I thought this place had a protection spell on it.
Isabel gives her a glance, then rushes towards the sound of soft MOANING.
INT. THE SLAYER COUNCIL TRAINING ROOM
Stephanie follows Isabel inside. Isabel is stopped short by -
WIDE SHOT - the rows of RESTRAINTS on the floor.
(eyeing them)
I don't think they're afraid of us getting in anymore.
Her gaze turns to Kelly.
Kelly is still strapped to the board, but is now alert and struggling in her bonds.
Isabel hurries over to her. Stephanie heads over to the man.
INT. FAITH'S FORMER OFFICE
The red glow is gone.
Aiden slowly rises to standing.
His POV - Miranda, exhaling. She looks at him.
You have until sunset.
Aiden walks forward, his eyes on the Scythe. CLOSE-UP on his face. We see a struggle there, a terrified resistance. He reaches out a trembling hand, grimacing, and SNATCHES UP THE SCYTHE. Then he turns and scuffles past Miranda. He opens the office door and exits. She follows him with a smile.
EXT. CENTRAL COMMUNITY POLICE STATION - DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - EARLY AFTERNOON - ESTABLISHING
INT. BOOKING ROOM
BEHIND A BARRIER - police officers sit at desks processing suspects and writing reports. Phones ring. A uniformed officer steers a handcuffed suspect into a back hallway.
On the near side of the barrier by the main entrance, FAITH sits in one of the visitor's chairs, once again on the phone.
Liz is in the hospital.
I guess when Misha had the demon in her
it gave Liz a concussion.
The demon's dead now, but Misha's not
the one who took Liz in.
Some Special Ops guys found her.
I haven't heard from Connor.
FAITH
What about Kelly?
RONA
She's all right!
Steph, Iz, and Aiden found her in the Council suite--
FAITH
(incredulous)
What was Aiden doing there?
And why isn't he answering his phone?
RONA
I don't know.
And I guess he took off again.
But Faith, I don't think the Hogaths know
how we're killing them. Kelly says--
Faith looks up as -
A UNIFORMED COP at the barrier gate gestures her forward. She stands.
Gotta go. Keep me posted.
She disconnects her phone and walks over to the gate. The officer steps through and holds out a shallow plastic tub.
Remove all metal from your person, please.
With an edgy glance around the room, Faith dumps her keys, cell phone, and loose change in the tub. Then she slides off her thick leather belt. The officer runs a wand over her briefly.
Satisfied, he lets her through the gate. Faith fetches her belongings and follows him through the booking area to the rear corridor.
CUT TO - INT. LAPD ORGANIZED CRIME TASK FORCE OFFICE
ANGLE ON the door - the uniformed cop points Faith in the direction of -
KATE, who is seated at her desk, intent on her computer screen.
Faith walks over and comes to an awkward halt. Her POV - Kate's mouse glides over a sheet of paper on which we see the words "Suspect Report" in upside-down letters.
Kate nods at the chair beside Faith without looking up. Faith sits down. Kate says nothing for a long moment, still working.
Finally -
(conversationally)
Brass wants to know why my civilian "specialists"
include a demon, two dozen minors, and an ex-con.
Faith's eyes dip reflexively.
Then rise again.
Angel arranged this meeting so we could coordinate
our strategy--
Kate releases the mouse and sits back in her chair, staring Faith down.
Your fingerprints were all over that man's den.
Not only that, but you confessed and plead guilty.
Faith doesn't blink.
And yet, three years later, after you violently
break out of jail, they let you stay out.
"New evidence" exonerating you appeared just like...
(she shrugs)
I don't know, magic.
Faith sits forward, narrowing her eyes.
(voice low but firm)
Cut the crap, O.K.? We both know I'm guilty.
And if you want to consider that my new confession
and lock me back up, go ahead.
(she throws out her hands)
I'll go back to rotting in prison for
twenty-five-to-life. I deserve it.
She sets a hand on the desk.
But you might want to wait until we stop
the Syndicate.
'Cause that's what I'm here to do,
not listen to your moralizing-cop crap.
QUICK-CUT to Kate's expressionless gaze.
But if that's not good enough for you,
think of it this way....
(she taps her collar)
Being a Slayer is a life sentence without
possibility of parole, and I'll probably
never see the other side of thirty.
A uniformed police officer stops at Kate's desk, causing both women to look up.
No driver's license, Lieutenant. Only the school ID.
Here's the tape I mentioned.
He sets a VHS VIDEO TAPE down on her desk. Kate looks up at him with frustration.
Sorry, but that's all I found.
Half his records are screwed up or missing.
Kate picks up the tape with a frown.
His parents' lawyer's on his way down.
KATE
Thanks, Tom.
The officer wanders off.
Kate turns over the tape in her hands, then stands.
Excuse me.
She walks away, leaving Faith staring after her. Faith stews for a moment, irritated. Then her eyes fall on the report Kate has lying there. Her brows knit. She snatches it up and turns it upright.
INSERT - a BIO SHEET on -
REILLY, CONNOR
384 Weyburn Ave., apt 26
DOB: Nov 19, 1984
Faith's fingers tighten on the sheet of paper. She stands.
WIDE SHOT - Faith scoots around her chair and strides over to Kate, who is standing before a cart with a television and VCR on it. The tape is playing.
Faith stops behind her.
THE TV SCREEN, over Faith and Kate's shoulders - a grainy security video from a retail store. We see exercise equipment and clothing racks. People are seated on the carpet with small tanks strapped to their chests. Wires pass between them. An adolescent boy crosses in front of the camera and stares straight up at it.
Faith gasps.
BLACK OUT.
Part 2 (click here)
