Dominion, episode 1.06 - "Afterlife"

[Allan]

Episode notes

And here we are with the sixth instalment of Dominion. And as I post this, it occurs to me that with this episode, we are officially over a quarter of the way through. There's tons more to come, but I'd like to thank Marie for all her hard work, and the readers, particularly Paul, who has stuck with this and provided great feedback with each episode.

Oh, and he also provided this awesome painting of Bob.

This episode has been the toughest one for me to write so far, and is quite different to anything I've written before. So any comments will be appreciated, even if they're mean.

This episode features one song:
UFO, by Sneaky Sound System.

Classification: M 15+ for violence, sexual references, some minor language, and adult themes (using the Australian classification system)

Pages: 41

Word count: 7,128

So... enjoy! As mentioned above, any comments, suggestions, etc, are appreciated in the feedback thread. Thanks!

[Allan]

Kalinka:
Previously on Dominion:

INT. COSMOS CASINO, LORNE’S DRESSING ROOM

Lorne begins to look uncomfortable.

Lorne lifts his hand in a “stop” motion.

LORNE:
Fred’s soul… It was supposedly destroyed.
(beat)
But there’s still a trace of it inside you. It’s getting stronger.

INT. COSMOS CASINO, LORNE’S DRESSING ROOM

Lorne sits in his chair and Illyria stands in front of him, looking very uncomfortable.

LORNE:
Well, I think you know the answer, Pumpkin. Fred’s a part of you, whether you like it or not.
(beat)
And she’s slowly getting stronger.

ILLYRIA:
How do I stop it?

Lorne shakes his head. He cannot believe what Illyria just said.

LORNE:
You don’t. Winifred Burkle was a close friend of mine, and you destroyed her. If she gets a second chance at life, good for her. She deserves it.
(beat)
And if that second chance comes at the cost of yours, Illyria, then I’m sorry. I truly am. But I don’t see that there is a single thing that you can do.

INT. GRIMMFAERIE DIMENSION, KINGDOM OF HEARTS THRONE ROOM

SHELL:
Come with us to our home.

JACK:
No. I must continue my fathers work.

BOB:
Don’t be stupid. You’ll die.
(beat)
Come with us, and I promise you we’ll find a way to stop the Queen without destroying Grimmfaerie.

INT. MOSAIC WELLNESS CENTRE – GROUP THERAPY ROOM

DR. RAY:
And last, but not least, Beck.

BECK:
Do I have to?

DR. RAY:
I’d recommend it if you’d like to make a full recovery.

BECK:
Okay… When I was six years old, I kinda bonded with this Fire Elemental. Anyway, a year or so later, my parents got angry with me. I threw a tantrum, and torched them… along with my three year old brother. I killed them.

INT. DOMINION BAR

The front door swings open, and Bob enters. The three behind the bar look up as he approaches.

KALINKA:
Is the world out there a little more exciting?

BOB:
Why don’t you go out there and see?

KALINKA:
To Earth? You cannot be serious.

BOB:
Then keep your snide remarks to yourself, or I’ll take you out there myself.

[Allan]

Teaser[/u]

INT. WOLFRAM & HART L.A., MAIN FOYER

The main foyer of the LA branch of Wolfram & Hart is frantically busy. Between the lawyers who are running around left and right, chatting on their phones, and meeting with clients, and demons who are visiting on official business, it’s a busy day. Amidst the chaos, ILLYRIA is standing alone with the world moving around her at a fast pace.

Suddenly the lights die and the foyer goes dark. Nobody seems to notice and carries on with their business in the dark. Illyria still stands there alone. She looks toward the ceiling as a spotlight shines down toward the floor.

Illyria looks toward the spotlight, and LORNE sits behind a piano. He starts to play it, however there is no sound. Lorne opens his mouth and begins to sing, and still no sound. The crowd surrounding Illyria stop their business and watch, enraptured in Lorne’s silent performance.

MALE VOICE #1 (O.S.):
Well, that’s strange.

MALE VOICE #2 (O.S.):
We really should investigate it.

Illyria turns around to see the two men standing behind her. The first man is CHARLES GUNN, dressed in a savvy business suit. The second is WESLEY WINDHAM-PRICE, dressed somewhat more casually, with about a week’s growth on his face.

ILLYRIA (confused):
Charles. Wesley.

The two men ignore Illyria and walk straight past her and toward the stage, as if she were invisible. They stand up on the stage beside the silent Lorne as he continues his performance.

Illyria shakes her head, then continues watching.

Lorne has inexplicably vanished from the stage and in his place are simply Gunn and Wesley. Gunn is dressed in a dress from the 1960s and a long black wig, and Wesley is dressed in beatnik attire with a short dark wig and a cheesy moustache. They are Sonny and Cher.

GUNN (singing):
They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow

WESLEY (singing):
Well I don't know if all that's true
'Cause you got me, and baby I got you
Babe

GUNN & WESLEY (singing, together):
I got you babe I got you babe

GUNN (singing):
They say our love won't pay the rent
Before it's earned, our money's all been spent

WESLEY (singing):
I guess that's so, we don't have a pot
But at least I'm sure of all the things we got

Illyria shakes her head. She was confused before, and this has since increased tenfold. She walks toward the stage.

Illyria steps up on the stage and looks toward the audience. At the very front, SHELL, BOB, CLEM and KALINKA watch.

BOB:
What is she doing?

SHELL:
It’s Illyria. Who knows?

KALINKA:
She’s weird. She scares me.

CLEM:
Guys, just enjoy the music.
(singing along, leaning in toward Kalinka):
I got you babe…

Illyria stands in between Gunn and Wesley who are both still singing. They lean in toward Illyria and sing directly to her.

WESLEY (singing):
I got you to hold my hand

GUNN (singing):
I got you to understand

WESLEY (singing):
I got you to walk with me

GUNN (singing):
I got you to talk with me

WESLEY (singing):
I got you to kiss goodnight

GUNN (singing):
I got you to hold me tight

WESLEY (singing):
I got you, I won't let go

GUNN (singing):
I got you to love me so

Shell, Bob and Kalinka continue to watch the show.

SHELL:
Wow, those guys really love her, huh?

BOB:
Yeah, but she’s a monster.

Onstage, Illyria slowly morphs into her true “Old One” visage. She grows to around thirty feet tall, with claw-like eagle feet, and five tentacles on each side of her humanoid torso, with flowing dark blue hair behind her.

KALINKA:
What could make you say that, Shell?

Lorne walks on stage and stands in front of the demonic Illyria. He stares directly at Kalinka.

LORNE:
Because, my dear Vengeance Demon, she is responsible for the deaths of those she cares for most.

CLEM:
She doesn’t care about anyone.

LORNE:
Doesn’t she?

On the stage, Gunn and Wesley lie dead. Illyria, in her Winifred Burkle form, is crouched down in front of them. She is crying and tears stream down her cheaks.

ILLYRIA (as Fred):
Charles…Wesley…
(beat)
What have I done?

INT. DOMINION BAR, ILLYRIA’S ROOM

P.O.V. ILLYRIA –

Illyria’s room is small and humble. She has no personal effects whatsoever. She steps out of bed and walks toward the mirror.

Illyria looks at the mirror, and the reflection is that of Winifred Burkle.

– END P.O.V.

ILLYRIA:
Not again…

Illyria morphs back into her usual form, and slowly walks toward her door, leaving her room.

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER.

OPENING CREDITS ROLL:

Theme: “Crash” by Static-X & Mephisto Odyssey

Starring:
Rachael Leigh Cook as Shell Moore
James C Leary as Clem
Laura Harris as Kalinka
With Amy Acker as Illyria
And Ron Pearlman as Bob

Guest-Starring:
Alexis Denisof as Wesley Windham-Price
J August Richards as Charles Gunn
Andy Hallett as Lorne
Callum Blue as the Jack of Spades
Natasha Gregson Wagner as Beck Richardson
Andy Umberger as D’Hoffryn
Bianca Lawson as Kendra Young
KD Aubert as Nikki Wood

END CREDITS.

[Allan]

Act One[/u]

INT. DOMINION BAR

Bob, Shell, Kalinka and Clem sit at the bar with their breakfast. Shell and Kalinka are dressed in casual pyjamas, Bob is dressed as per usual, and Clem is wearing flannelette pyjamas with fluffy bunny slippers. Shell and Kalinka are eating toast, Bob is eating green porridge, and Clem has a bowl full of wriggling worms in milk.

CLEM (with mouth full):
So, what are the odds of today actually being quiet? It’d be nice to not have a bar full of fairy tale creatures scared of an impending apocalypse.

SHELL (disgusted):
Clem, could you please not talk with your mouth full?
(beat)
Especially when they’re still wriggling?

Clem swallows his mouthful.

CLEM:
Sorry. Still, it is the breakfast of champions. It’s high fibre, too.

KALINKA:
On the upside, they were paying customers.
(beat)
So, is your friend staying long, Bob?

BOB:
Jack will be here as long as he wants. Besides, we could use the extra help.

KALINKA:
I’ve noticed how handy his sleeping in has been. Really.

SHELL:
Come on, Kalinka. He’s been through a lot.

BOB:
As a Vengeance Demon, I’m surprised that you’re not more sympathetic. He had his chance for revenge robbed from him.

JACK enters the bar dressed in a t-shirt and boxer shorts.

JACK:
Morning, all.

SHELL:
Hey, Jack. Can I grab you a bite to eat?

JACK:
I’m good, thanks, Shell. I might just grab an orange juice.

CLEM:
Orange juice?
(beat)
We’re a bar. We don’t sell orange juice.

JACK:
Then what do you mix the vodka with?

Illyria enters the bar, completely disregarding everybody else. She walks behind the bar and reaches for a bottle of vodka. She twists the lid off and sculls the entire bottle, to the stunned expressions of everyone else.

JACK:
Ah, so you’re heavy drinkers, then.

ILLYRIA:
Who are you to mock me?

JACK:
Oh, sorry. We haven’t met. I am the Jack of Spades.

ILLYRIA:
Royalty? That fails to impress me. I am Illyria, Old One of Vahla Ha’Nesh.

JACK (sarcastically):
Charmed. Truly, I am.

KALINKA:
Well, before you two become the bestest buddies who ever lived, is everything okay, Illyria? I’ve never seen you drink like that.
(beat)
Actually, I’ve never seen you drink.

ILLYRIA:
Why wouldn’t I be okay?

KALINKA:
Who knows? We rarely see you because you’re out wandering, and when we do, you don’t talk.

ILLYRIA:
Why should I talk to you? You’re human.

KALINKA:
I was human.
(beat)
But so were you.

ILLYRIA:
I was never human. Winifred Burkle was human.

Clem, Shell and Bob look at each other awkwardly at the tone of Illyria’s voice. Jack fails to notice the shift in tone.

BOB:
Guys, we have that stuff to do out the back.

CLEM:
Yeah, we’d better get it sorted before we open.

Clem, Shell and Bob stand up to leave the room. Jack remains seated.

SHELL:
Hey, Jack, maybe I should give you that tour.

JACK:
Oh, yeah, right. Now’s as good a time as any, I guess.

INT. DOMINION BAR, STOREROOM

Bob and Clem enter the storeroom, followed by Shell and Jack.

SHELL:
This is the storeroom. This is where we store…
(beat)
Clem, what do we store here?

CLEM:
Stuff.

SHELL:
This is where we store…stuff.

JACK:
Lovely. I’ll be sure to stop by here when I need…stuff.

BOB:
What’s up with Illyria?

SHELL:
Who knows? She’s a strange one.

JACK:
And a heavy drinker. Do you think all the alcohol’s responsible for turning her blue?

BOB:
I doubt it.
(beat)
She’s been acting strangely for the past few weeks, though. Stranger than usual.

INT. DOMINION BAR

Kalinka sits next to Illyria.

KALINKA:
Do you need another drink, Illyria? Ordinarily, I wouldn’t recommend multiple bottles before breakfast, but something’s up. Maybe you’ll tell me if you’re drunk.

ILLYRIA:
Alcohol doesn’t affect me.

KALINKA:
Right. We’ll just have to cut to the chase, then.
(beat)
What’s wrong?

ILLYRIA:
You were human.

KALINKA:
In a previous life, of sorts.

ILLYRIA:
You had emotions?

KALINKA:
I still do.

ILLYRIA:
Do they not frighten you?

Kalinka pauses before answering Illyria. She thinks about her answer.

KALINKA:
Sometimes they do. But they’re emotions. They make you feel good, they make you feel bad. Sometimes they make you feel sad, but other times they make you feel happy.
(beat)
And sometimes, they make you feel scared.

ILLYRIA:
But does having the emotions frighten you?

KALINKA:
Sometimes, they do.
(beat)
Look, I’m a Vengeance Demon, which means I’m all about emotions. They’re what we prey on.

ILLYRIA:
I ruled for millions of years and I have never felt emotion.

Kalinka slowly morphs into her Winifred Burkle form.

ILLYRIA (as Fred):
And then I return in this…this body.

KALINKA:
And?

ILLYRIA (as Fred):
I have these memories. Of Wesley, and of Charles. And they’re dead.
(beat)
Charles was my friend, and I loved Wesley. I truly did.

KALINKA:
It’s okay to grieve, Illyria.

Illyria morphs back into her standard form.

ILLYRIA:
Grief is for the weak and the fragile. And it accomplishes nothing.

Illyria stands up and walks toward the Dominion Bar’s front door. She turns back to Kalinka.

ILLYRIA:
I must accomplish something.

Illyria walks through the door. Kalinka runs toward the door and reaches it just in time for it to swing open, knocking her to the ground.

BECK RICHARDSON enters through the door and sees Kalinka on the ground.

BECK:
Oh my God, Kalinka! Are you okay?

KALINKA:
I’ll live.

BECK:
I thought there was some magic mojo happening in the bar that didn’t let people get hurt.

KALINKA:
Yeah, so did I.

INT. DOMINION BAR, STOREROOM

Shell looks at Bob angrily.

SHELL:
Okay, let me get this straight. Illyria acts a little strangely, so you want to kill her?

BOB:
I didn’t say that.

CLEM:
It sounded to me like you did, Bob.

BOB:
No, I didn’t.
(beat)
I just mentioned that she’s acting unpredictably. And she has a great amount of power that probably shouldn’t go unchecked.

SHELL:
And that we should kill her.

BOB:
No. I just said that I hope it won’t have to come to that. But it is possible that it might.

Shell shakes her head.

SHELL:
Well then, we’ll have to make sure that it doesn’t.

JACK:
Wow, and I thought life on Grimmfaerie was interesting.

The storeroom door swings open and Kalinka pops her head in.

KALINKA:
While I appreciate you guys giving me some privacy, we have a customer.

INT. DOMINION BAR

Shell, Bob, Clem and Jack enter the main bar area and spot Beck.

SHELL:
Beck! Hey, long time, no see.

BECK:
Hey, guys. Who’s the new guy?

JACK:
Greetings. I am the Jack of Spades.

SHELL:
Yeah, he’s royalty from a different dimension.

BECK:
And you’re staying in a dive like this?

JACK:
The bar has a great selection of drinks.

BECK:
Works for me.

Bob looks around the Dominion and notices that Illyria is missing. He signals to Clem and Kalinka, and the three of them walk to a corner, leaving Jack, Shell and Beck to talk.

BOB:
What happened to Illyria?

KALINKA:
I wish I knew. She told me that she’s having these memories from when she was human, and they’re getting to her.
(beat)
And then she just walked out.

BOB:
Damn. And you didn’t try to stop her?

KALINKA:
What was I going to do? Force her to the ground?

CLEM:
That would work out brilliantly with the Dominion’s protection spell.

KALINKA:
Actually…

BOB:
What is it?

KALINKA:
Well, remember how Willow was going to look into it?

BOB:
Yeah.

KALINKA:
Well, she got distracted fighting some demons, and then we never got it fixed.

BOB:
Brilliant.
(beat)
But right now, we need to find Illyria. Do you know where she could be?

Beck perks her ears, overhearing the conversation.

BECK:
Are you guys talking about the Blue Bird of Happiness?

CLEM:
You know something?

BECK:
Maybe. Spike told me over e-mail that she has this friend in Las Vegas. They were pretty close. A green lounge singer, of all things.

Bob turns to Clem.

BOB:
Up for a trip to Vegas?

CLEM:
Sure. And if we find Illyria quickly, maybe I can play some hands of kitten poker.

Bob grabs his trench coat and puts it on. He and Clem hurry out the door.

Shell turns to Beck.

SHELL:
Spike has e-mail?

BECK:
Yep. He even has a MySpace page full of bad poetry and everything.

INT. COSMOS CASINO – HALLWAY

Clem and Bob walk through the back hallway of the casino, approaching Lorne’s dressing room.

CLEM:
I’m feeling a little out of my element here.

BOB:
Relax. Vegas is full of demons. Nobody will notice.

Lorne’s SLEAZY MANAGER walks past the two of them, barely noticing their appearance.

SLEAZY MANAGER:
Hey, Lorne mentioned he was expanding his act.
(beat)
I can’t imagine that you two would be a major draw, and to be honest I was expecting some new Lornettes, but Lorne hasn’t been wrong yet.

CLEM:
Thanks, sir. This is a wonderful opportunity for me.

Bob looks at Clem and shakes his head.

SLEAZY MANAGER:
Don’t thank me, thank the green guy.

CLEM:
I’ll be sure to do that. Could you tell us where we can find him?

SLEAZY MANAGER:
Right down the hall.
(beat)
Catch you kids later.

The sleazy manager walks away, leaving Bob and Clem to find Lorne. Bob is still shaking his head. Clem places his hand on Bob’s shoulder.

CLEM:
Relax, big guy. This is Vegas.

INT. COSMOS CASINO, LORNE’S DRESSING ROOM

LORNE is sitting in his dressing room. His face is still bruised from his recent altercation with Illyria. Lorne is reading through some notes when he hears a knock at the door. He gets up, walks to the door, and opens it to reveal Bob and Clem.

LORNE:
Uh, hey, guys. If this is about that cute little Vinji demon from a couple of nights ago, I can explain. She told me she was single, we had a few, and next thing I knew copious amounts of custard was involved.

BOB:
We’re not here about the Vinji demon.
(beat)
May we come in?

Bob and Clem don’t wait for an answer and push past Lorne.

BOB:
We’re here about Illyria.

Lorne points to the bruising across his face.

LORNE:
Oh, the lovely not-so-young demon who did this?

CLEM:
That sounds like her.

LORNE:
What do you need to know?

BOB:
She’s been acting strangely. Even more strangely than your run-of-the-mill Old One bitter about losing her power.

LORNE:
Has she shown any emotion?

CLEM:
Sometimes.

LORNE:
In a nutshell, Illyria is growing a soul.

BOB:
Okay. Strange things do happen.

LORNE:
It’s the soul of Winifred Burkle, the lovely young lady whose body Illyria is inhabiting.

CLEM:
Was she weird?

LORNE:
Only in an adorable puppy dog kind of way.
(beat)
Anyway, she’s been struggling with thoughts of mortality.

BOB:
Which would explain her concerns about her dead friends. Thanks.

Bob turns to leave and Clem quickly passes Lorne a business card.

CLEM:
If you’re ever looking for a side gig, my contact details are on the business card.

Bob and Clem leave Lorne’s dressing room and walk back into the hallway.

BOB:
You’re an age-old demon with issues about the mortality of yourself and your friends. Where do you go?

EXT. HEAVEN

Music cue – “UFO” by Sneaky Sound System:
I just don't wanna be lonely
Cause the lights, were shining ever so bright
In my hand there's a pulse of my beating heart
Biting my tongue there's a plastic man on the telephone

Illyria stands in the most beautiful place imaginable. Clouds are flourishing and the sun seems to shine from nowhere. Celestial bodies walk around and are at peace with themselves and one another.

Music (continued):
Can you see the bright light? Shining, I don’t know
Can you see the bright light? Shining, shining, shining

Here, everything seems not only right; it seems perfect.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE.

[Allan]

Act Two[/u]

INT. DOMINION BAR

The bar is about half-full, with various demons of all shapes and sizes sitting down for breakfast. Kalinka enters from out the back, carrying a tray with what appears to be a gecko on a hot dog roll. She passes it to a demon sitting at a table.

KALINKA:
Enjoy your breakfast.

DEMON:
This gecko is under-cooked.

KALINKA:
Nonsense. Over-cooking it would dry it out, and lose all the nutritional value.

The demon simply shakes his head and accepts his meal.

Across the bar Shell, Beck and Jack are playing darts. Jack throws a dart, and scores a 3.

SHELL:
You know, for a highly trained warrior, your aim’s a little off.

JACK:
Yeah, I guess I’m still a little distracted by recent events.

SHELL:
Well, if you ever want to talk about it, I’m here for you.
(beat)
But right now, I’m going to open a can of whoop ass on your game.

Jack smiles to himself as he pulls the darts from the board and passes them to Shell.

BECK:
So, what was it like living in a fairy tale dimension?

JACK:
It was just life, I guess. It may be different from how you’ve lived, but it was just normal.

BECK:
Until your family was killed.

SHELL:
Beck!

BECK:
Sorry, I’ll be quiet now. Subtlety isn’t my strongest quality.

Shell throws her first dart at the board. Bullseye.

JACK:
No, it’s fine. I have to move past it after spending the last three years of my life obsessing.

Shell throws her second dart and scores another bullseye.

SHELL:
Yeah, but it can’t be easy for you.

BECK:
Like Mosaic was easy for you?

Shell scores her third bullseye.

BECK:
Nice work. That’s three in a row!

SHELL (to Jack):
Told you I’d open that can of whoop ass.
(beat, to Beck)
And no, Beck, as you know, the whole Mosaic thing wasn’t easy. But I’d hardly call it the same thing as what Jack went through.

JACK:
Mosaic is another dimension?

SHELL:
No…It was in another dimension. My home dimension.
(beat)
It’s an asylum of sorts.

JACK:
So, you’re crazy, huh?

SHELL:
Not exactly. My parents thought I was, on account of me seeing the First Slayer sometimes.

BECK:
She sees dead people.

Jack looks at Beck blankly.

BECK:
Ah, okay. Born in a different dimension and not up to speed on Bruce Willis movies…Got it.

SHELL:
That movie sucked.
(beat)
Jack, you’ll have to remind me to show you “Die Hard”. Now that is classic Bruce Willis.
(beat)
Anyway, I’m basically a reincarnation of the First Slayer. And her spirit sort of guides me. Or used to, I haven’t seen her in a while.

Beck throws a dart toward the board and misses it completely, lodging it in the wall.

BECK:
Frick!

Subconsciously, Beck’s hand becomes engulfed in flame.

KALINKA (yelling from across the bar):
Beck! Watch the flames!
(beat)
And what have you done to the wall?

SHELL (laughing):
Beck, just be glad that the protection spell’s not working. Or you’d have a dart lodged somewhere very uncomfortable by now!

The door to the Dominion Bar opens and Bob and Clem enter.

SHELL:
Hey, guys. Did you find anything out?

Kalinka walks toward her friends.

KALINKA:
How’d it go?
(beat)
Oh, that’s real nice handiwork, Beck.

BOB:
Not a lot. Illyria’s hurting. She’s losing herself to this girl whose body she’s inhabiting.

CLEM:
Yeah, and she’s really feeling the loss of some old friends.

SHELL:
Do we know where she went?

Bob and Clem shake their heads.

BOB:
No idea, I’m afraid.

JACK:
I know where I’d want to go if I was missing my loved ones.

CLEM:
Where?

JACK:
I’d want to go and find them.

EXT. HEAVEN

Illyria walks as she looks around her peaceful surroundings. She watches as ethereal figures pass her.

She continues walking past them until she sees a familiar figure in the distance – Charles Gunn.

Gunn also spots Illyria and his face lights up with joy. He runs toward her.

GUNN (calling):
Fred!

Illyria looks perplexed by Gunn’s reaction. Gunn keeps running before catching up to her.

GUNN:
Oh my God, Fred. How are you?

ILLYRIA:
Why do you keep calling me that?

GUNN:
Because it’s you! I can’t believe you’re here.

Gunn reaches to hug Illyria, to no avail. His arms fade right through her. Illyria looks relieved at the lack of physical contact.

GUNN:
Right. I’m incorporeal.
(beat)
But I can’t believe you’ve survived. They…they said your soul was destroyed.

ILLYRIA:
It was.

GUNN:
Fred, you’re obviously disoriented. You’re here.

ILLYRIA:
I am. I came here to find you and—

Gunn turns his head away from Illyria before she can finish her sentence.

GUNN (calling):
Wesley!
(beat)
I found her! I found Fred!

WESLEY:
What? It can’t be.

Wesley Windham-Price runs from the distance toward Gunn and Illyria.

WESLEY:
Oh, my…It really is you.

Wesley’s eyes well up with tears. He is ecstatic.

ILLYRIA:
Wesley.
(beat)
I missed you.

WESLEY:
I’ve missed you too, Fred. Even here, where everything’s perfect, I missed your presence.
(beat)
But you were gone. I don’t understand.

ILLYRIA:
My name is Illyria.

WESLEY:
No, it’s Fred. Winifred Burkle.
(beat)
You may be in Illyria’s body, but you have Fred’s soul.

ILLYRIA:
I don’t…understand.
(beat)
I’ve been having these…these feelings, and I had to see you.

GUNN:
It’s great to see you too, Fred.
(beat)
And for everything that happened at Wolfram & Hart…I’m sorry. I truly am.

ILLYRIA:
Don’t be. You weren’t to know.

A dark shadow begins to eclipse the blue sky above. Illyria, Gunn and Wesley look up. The worry on their faces is apparent. This should not be happening.

WESLEY:
Fred, something’s happening.
(beat)
You shouldn’t be here.

INT. DOMINION BAR

Bob looks at Jack with worry. He knows what Jack is about to say and he doesn’t like it. Everyone else remains expressionless, oblivious to where Jack is leading.

BOB:
When you say you’d want to “find them”…

JACK:
I’d do whatever it takes. I’d follow them to the afterlife.

SHELL:
You mean you can do that?
(beat)
Without killing yourself?

KALINKA:
It stands to reason. If you die and go to Heaven – or wherever – it’s just another dimension.

SHELL:
Cool.

Bob shakes his head.

BOB:
No, Shell, it’s not cool.
(beat)
We’re talking about a place where souls go to rest. Anything else should not be there.

CLEM:
So, we go and get her?

BOB:
No. You don’t. I don’t. Kalinka doesn’t. We’re demons, which means we have no souls.
(beat)
If we go, there’s no telling what might happen, and I’m guessing whatever it is would not be good.

SHELL:
So that leaves me, then.

JACK:
Me, too. And Beck.

BECK:
Hey, don’t look at me. I bonded with a Fire Elemental, so I’m in the same boat as everyone else.

CLEM:
A Fire Elemental isn’t a demon. It’s more of a…presence.
(beat)
Besides, Shell and Jack will need all the help they can get.

Shell looks toward Jack and Beck.

SHELL:
So, you guys are up for this?

JACK:
To be honest, I was going a little stir crazy, anyway.

INT. HEAVEN

Illyria looks at Wesley with a worried expression. Wesley returns her glance and Gunn continues to look at the sky, which is gradually becoming darker.

ILLYRIA:
I shouldn’t be here?

WESLEY:
No. This land is reserved for the dead.

ILLYRIA:
But Fred is dead.

GUNN:
But your body – as in Illyria’s – isn’t.

Illyria shakes her head.

ILLYRIA:
Then come with me.

Wesley smiles sweetly.

WESLEY:
I can’t do that. And neither can Gunn.

ILLYRIA:
Why?

WESLEY:
Our time on Earth has ended. We belong here now.

ILLYRIA:
And that’s because you’re dead?

GUNN:
To put it bluntly, yes.

ILLYRIA:
Winifred Burkle is dead. So does she not also belong here?

Wesley smiles sweetly.

WESLEY:
You have a second chance at life, Fred. You’re lucky.
(beat)
Don’t spend your remaining years dwelling on those who you’ve lost.

From high above, a flow of pitch black darkness swirls down toward Illyria, Gunn and Wesley. The three of them duck and the darkness flies above them.

GUNN:
What is that?

WESLEY:
I have absolutely no idea.
(beat)
I have never seen anything like it.

ILLYRIA:
I have to stop it.

GUNN:
No, you have to leave. Live your life, Fred. Don’t spend it fighting monsters.

ILLYRIA:
But I am a monster. And I will destroy this one.

Illyria tilts her head as she hears panicked screams in the distance. She runs in the direction of the screaming to find the darkness swirling around ethereal bodies.

ILLYRIA:
Leave them alone.

There is no response from the darkness. Illyria runs to it and reaches out to grab it. Her hand fades through it. Like everybody else here, it is incorporeal.

The darkness descends on an ethereal woman and envelopes her. A blue aura briefly forms around the darkness, before fading away inside it. The darkness drifts away, having swallowed the woman completely, and moves on to do the same to a man.

ILLYRIA:
What are you?

The darkness swallows the man before turning toward Illyria. Slowly it morphs into a pitch black ethereal version of Illyria.

DARKNESS:
I am you, Illyria…

ILLYRIA:
What?

DARKNESS:
You entered this plane, allowing your demonic essence to unleash me…

ILLYRIA:
How did this happen?

DARKNESS:
This land is pure. Souls are pure.
(beat)
But your demonic self is not. And that is what I represent…

Illyria looks at the darkness, angry.

ILLYRIA:
So this is my fault.

DARKNESS:
I wouldn’t feel too bad about it. Yet. Because I will not stop until I have devoured every soul here.

The darkness morphs back into its fluid state, expanding as it flies toward the sky above.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO.

[Allan]

Act Three[/u]

EXT. HEAVEN

Shell, Jack and Beck walk through Heaven’s vast exterior and are overcome by a sense of foreboding.

SHELL:
Wow. I thought this place was supposed to be…you know, peaceful.

BECK:
You’re sure this isn’t Hell?

SHELL:
I don’t think so.

JACK:
No, this place seems like it’s supposed to be peaceful.

BECK:
And with Illyria being a demon and all, she could be doing this.

SHELL:
Great. Now my friends are destroying Heaven.
(beat)
How did I ever end up in this life?

The party hears a high pitched screech from above and look up. Way above them the darkness swoops down and swallows another ethereal body.

SHELL:
We really need to find Illyria. We’d better split up so we can cover more ground.

INT. HEAVEN

Illyria turns to Wesley and Gunn.

ILLYRIA:
How do I stop this?

WESLEY:
I wish I could tell you.

ILLYRIA:
You’re the expert.

Wesley smiles.

WESLEY:
I don’t think they have many books on demonology here.
(beat)
It makes research a little more difficult.

Illyria looks toward Gunn.

ILLYRIA:
Charles?

GUNN:
Ordinarily, I’d suggest you hit it hard and fast.

ILLYRIA:
But…

GUNN:
But everything here is intangible. I don’t think that’d work.

ILLYRIA:
Something had better work.

WESLEY:
We’d best provide some assistance.

ILLYRIA:
No, you will not.
(beat)
I’m responsible for this, and I’m not going to let it destroy you too.

GUNN:
We’ll help. Stopping the big bads is what we do, remember?

ILLYRIA:
Fine.
(beat)
But if you get destroyed, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

GUNN:
So, where do we go from here?

WESLEY:
It headed south. I think.

ILLYRIA:
Then we go south.

Illyria, Wesley and Gunn turn south and begin to walk. As they continue, the sky gradually becomes blacker.

GUNN:
This place seems to be getting worse.

ILLYRIA:
Then we’re going in the right direction.

INT. DOMINION BAR

Kalinka and Clem clean up after the breakfast crowd, collecting dirty plates and cutlery. Bob reaches behind the bar and grabs a bottle of bourbon.

BOB:
I hate this.

KALINKA:
So you’re going to resolve it by drinking?

BOB:
Nope. No resolution; I’m just going to get drunk.

Kalinka glares at Clem.

CLEM:
Come on, Bob, put it down.
(beat)
We’re all worried about Shell and the others.

KALINKA:
I’m not.

BOB:
What?

KALINKA:
How many times has she saved the day?

BOB:
Honestly, Kalinka? Not that many.

CLEM:
But she’s capable of it, though.

BOB:
I hope so, Clem. I really do.

Clem and Kalinka take the dirty dishes out the back. Bob lifts the bottle of bourbon, looks at it, shakes his head, and puts it back behind the bar.

BOB (to self):
It’s too early in the morning, anyway.

Bob glances up as the front door opens and a figure walks in.

BOB:
We’ve stopped serving breakfast, sorry.

Bob doesn’t pay the visitor any more attention and begins to count the earnings from the morning shift.

VISITOR:
I’m sorry, but I think you misunderstand my intentions.

Bob looks up to see the visitor is none other than D’HOFFRYN.

D’HOFFRYN:
This is more of a social call.

BOB:
You’re not welcome here.

D’HOFFRYN:
Why, that’s not very polite. The Dominion Bar is open to all demons and the mystically inclined, correct?

BOB:
As long as they’re not here to harass my friends.

D’Hoffryn smirks as Bob extends the spikes from the back of his wrists.

D’HOFFRYN:
Come now, Bob. You know this bar is under a protection spell.

Bob smiles. D’Hoffryn sniffs into the air.

D’HOFFRYN:
Oh…something’s happened Ms. Rosenberg’s spell. That’s a shame.

Kalinka and Clem return from out the back.

KALINKA:
Bob, I hope you’ve explained that we are no longer serving breakfast.

Bob turns to Kalinka.

BOB:
Get back.

KALINKA (oblivious):
What?

Kalinka looks toward Bob and sees D’Hoffryn.

KALINKA:
D’Hoffryn. What brings you here?

D’HOFFRYN:
You’ve been a little quiet on the vengeance front lately, Kalinka.

KALINKA:
You know that I’ve given that up.

D’HOFFRYN:
I know you tried to resign. I also know that I refused to accept it.

KALINKA:
I’m not going to kill for you.

CLEM:
So why don’t you be a nice little middle manager and get the hell out of my bar?

D’Hoffryn smiles.

D’HOFFRYN:
I never knew your husband had it in him.

CLEM:
I’m serious.

D’HOFFRYN:
I’m sure you are.

D’Hoffryn looks toward the ground underneath Clem’s feet. The floor ignites with flames.

KALINKA:
D’Hoffryn! Stop it.

Clem rushes out the back and returns promptly with a fire extinguisher.

D’HOFFRYN:
You do know how fragile your loved ones can be, do you not?

In the background, Clem scrambles to extinguish the fire.

INT. HEAVEN

NIKKI WOOD looks up into the sky and runs toward a group of females. As Nikki approaches we see that this group is comprised of Vampire Slayers since passed from the mortal realm.

KENDRA YOUNG walks toward Nikki, followed by XIN RONG; RACHEL O’CONNER, an American from the 1930s; and ANNI SONNENBLUME, a German from World War II.

NIKKI:
We need to stop this.

KENDRA:
For all vee know, it is tee natural order of tings.

RACHEL:
Do you really believe that, Kendra?

ANNI:
Because standing by and watching always works so well.

KENDRA:
And how do you suppose vee defeat it?

Nikki stares into the distance and sees the outline of Shell.

NIKKI:
It’s her.
(beat)
The First Slayer.

Shell reaches the past Slayers and senses who they are.

SHELL:
You’re…Slayers, aren’t you?

RACHEL:
Yeah, and you’re the first.

SHELL:
I’m not exactly sure what I am.

ANNI:
You possess the power. You’re her.
(beat)
Did you bring this about?

SHELL:
No. I think it was because of a demon named Illyria.

NIKKI:
Then it’s simple. We kill it.

SHELL:
No! She’s a friend of mine.

KENDRA:
What is the world coming to? Slayers sleeping with vampires, Slayers making friends vith demons…

Shell shakes her head in disbelief.

SHELL:
I don’t give a rat’s whether you approve or not. But regardless, we need to stop this now.

NIKKI:
I agree. But what do you—

The darkness descends from the sky above, swallowing Nikki. The rest of the Slayers stand guard, ready for battle.

The darkness expands, enveloping the other Slayers and swallowing them. Among the chaos, Kendra’s voice can be heard quietly.

KENDRA:
You are not just a Slayer. You’re more. You have tee power to…

Before Kendra can say another word the darkness dissipates into nothing, leaving Shell standing alone. Slowly, the darkness forms into the black Illyria doppelganger.

DARKNESS:
You should not be here, Shell Moore. Leave me in peace.

SHELL:
Believe me when I say I have absolutely no intention of doing that.

INT. HEAVEN

Jack walks through the shadows with an expression of determination.

JACK (calling):
Illyria!

A figure of a regal man – the KING OF SPADES – Jack’s father, approaches from behind.

KING:
She shouldn’t be here, son. I believe she’s responsible for this.

Jack spins around at the familiar sound of his father’s words.

JACK:
Father!

The King gives a welcoming smile to his son. A tear runs down Jack’s cheek as he drops to his knees.

JACK:
I failed you, father. I apologise.
(beat)
I couldn’t destroy the Queen of Hearts.

KING:
Nonsense.

Jack’s sister the ACE OF SPADES, and his mother the QUEEN OF SPADES, approach from the distance. The King turns to his wife and daughter.

KING:
They’re just as beautiful as ever, aren’t they, son?

QUEEN:
My goodness, Jack. Look at how you’ve grown.

Ace looks at Jack as he begins to blush.

JACK:
A lot of time has passed, mother.
(beat)
I’ve missed you.

Jack looks back at Ace.

JACK:
And I’ve missed you too, Ace.
(beat)
But I failed you all.

KING:
You fought for the land, Jack. And if you’d succumbed to your emotions and destroyed the Queen, you would have destroyed what you fought to protect.
(beat)
What we fought to protect.

JACK:
How did you…

ACE:
We’ve been watching you, Jack.
(beat)
We’re all proud.

QUEEN:
But that doesn’t change the fact that you shouldn’t be here. Not yet.

JACK:
Illyria’s doing this somehow. I have to stop her.

The King smiles and reaches to place his hand on Jack’s shoulder. His incorporeal hand slightly fades through.

KING:
Well if anybody can, son, it’s you.

INT. HEAVEN

An UNKNOWN MAN approaches Beck from behind.

UNKNOWN MAN:
My goodness…Rebecca!

Rebecca swivels around as her hand ignites in flame. She recognises the man and the flames disappear.

BECK:
Dad!
(beat)
I…I killed you.

Beck’s father – MICHAEL RICHARDSON – smiles.

MICHAEL:
What’s done is done. It was an accident.

Michael signals to his wife MELISSA, and his three-year-old son STEVE. Melissa grabs Steve by the hand and rushes toward her daughter.

MELISSA:
Beck! What are you doing here?

Steve looks up at his mother.

STEVE:
But she’s still alive.

Beck breaks down as tears stream down her face.

BECK:
Oh my god, I am so sorry…
(beat)
I killed you all.

The darkness from above swoops down and engulfs Beck’s family. It slowly morphs into the dark visage of Illyria, standing alone with Beck.

BECK (yelling):
What have you done?

DARKNESS:
Simply what I am here to do.

Beck’s face fills with rage. Her eyes glow red and she suddenly becomes engulfed in flame. Beck’s flaming figure hurls fireballs at the darkness to no effect.

Behind Beck, Illyria can be seen running from the distance.

ILLYRIA:
You cannot stop it.

BECK:
I have to.

ILLYRIA:
No. I have to.

Illyria and Beck turn their heads as they hear a voice calling from the distance.

JACK (O.S.):
Illyria!

The flames disappear from Beck as she looks toward Jack in the distance.

BECK:
Jack! Over here!
(to Illyria)
How do we stop it?

ILLYRIA:
I do not know.

Illyria runs at the darkness with her full force. She attempts to ram into it, but instead simply runs through it.

DARKNESS:
Surely you should know better.

ILLYRIA:
What do you want?

DARKNESS:
Souls.

Illyria pauses. Slowly, she morphs into WINIFRED BURKLE. The look in her eyes shows that this is no act. This is really Fred.

FRED:
Then take mine.
(beat)
It’s the one you want.

The darkness smiles as Jack and Beck watch on, completely flabbergasted.

A blur can be seen knocking Fred to the ground. Fred pulls herself up, followed by Shell, who had taken her by surprise.

FRED:
What are you doing?

SHELL:
This is not the way.

FRED:
It is the way. It’s the only way.
(beat)
This is all my fault, and I will do what I have to to end this before it gets worse.

JACK:
Surely we can find another way.

Shell nods to Jack and punches Fred in the face, knocking her to the ground unconscious.

BECK:
Ouch!

SHELL:
Thankfully she doesn’t have that demon strength in her human form.
(to darkness):
You want her? Then come and get her.

Shell lifts Fred and throws her over her shoulder. She turns to Beck and Jack.

SHELL:
Which way is the access point?

Jack points to his right.

JACK:
This way. I think.

SHELL:
You’d better be thinking correctly, or I’ll make sure you’re here for eternity.

The darkness morphs into a cloud of blackness, engulfing Shell, Fred, Jack and Beck. Holding Fred over her shoulder, Shell runs as fast as humanly possible. Jack and Beck follow closely, as does the darkness.

INT. DOMINION BAR

Clem looks squarely at D’Hoffryn.

CLEM:
I’m serious. Get out.

Clem, Bob, Kalinka and D’Hoffryn are startled by the sound of the front door flinging open as Shell, Jack and Beck run in.

Shell rests Fred on a nearby couch.

KALINKA:
Who’s this?

SHELL:
It’s Illyria. Sort of.

D’Hoffryn’s eyes widen. He takes a step back. Bob grins.

BOB:
You’re not so fond of Old Ones, are you, D’Hoffryn?

D’HOFFRYN:
I can see that you’re all preoccupied. I’ll speak to you shortly, Kalinka.

D’Hoffryn turns to walk toward the exit when he is stopped in his tracks as the darkness begins to billow through the door.

JACK:
And here it is. What’s the plan now, Shell?

SHELL:
We have back-up.

Bob extends the spikes from below his wrists.

SHELL:
How do we stop this thing?

BOB:
We hit it hard. We hit it fast.

SHELL:
And if we can’t hit it?

Bob rolls his eyes.

BOB:
What do you mean?

JACK:
It’s intangible.

BECK:
Everything goes straight through it.

BOB:
Oh, it’s simple, then. We’re screwed.

The darkness morphs into its Illyria form. It smiles at Bob. Bob turns to the others.

BOB:
Okay, it has a new form. Is it still intangible?

SHELL:
I’m afraid so.

BOB:
Damn.

Kalinka is standing over Fred, tending to her. Kalinka smiles as Fred’s eyes open.

KALINKA:
She’s awake!

Clem runs over to Illyria.

CLEM:
I like this form. It makes you look friendlier.

Kalinka scowls at Clem.

CLEM:
But not as friendly as my beautiful wife.

Fred pulls herself up from the couch and sees the darkness.

FRED:
I wish this would just end!
(beat)
I wish all the damage was just undone.

Kalinka’s face morphs into her Vengeance Demon visage. It’s a truly frightening sight startling everyone save Clem, D’Hoffryn, and the darkness who seems oblivious.

KALINKA:
Done.

Kalinka stares at the darkness. She focuses on it as it morphs into a cloudy state and moves toward her. The darkness stops in its tracks, unable to move.

Kalinka keeps staring at it as it slowly compresses itself into nothing. Once it reaches the size of a pinhole it explodes before being sucked away into a miniature vortex.

Slowly, light blue balls of light slowly float out from the vortex before it disappears.

CLEM:
Cool. Can we keep them?

BOB:
What the hell are these things?

SHELL:
I think they’re souls.
(beat)
We’d better send them home.

Shell walks toward the door and opens it. Slowly, the balls of light follow her and float out the door.

A tear comes to Beck’s eye as she watches.

BECK:
And now you can go home, Steve.

Shell closes the door once all the balls of light have drifted back home.

D’Hoffryn slowly claps his hands.

D’HOFFRYN:
That was nice work, Kalinka.
(beat)
The lack of violence was rather disappointing, but the power it took to do that was impressive.
(beat)
Rest assured that I will return soon. It seems that you still have quite a lot of potential.

D’Hoffryn turns to leave and Kalinka morphs back into her human form.

KALINKA:
Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.

D’Hoffryn exits and Bob turns to Kalinka.

BOB:
Get Willow here now. I’m not going to risk D’Hoffryn coming back for you.

KALINKA:
I’m on it.

Kalinka rushes out the back and the others walk toward Fred. Slowly, Fred morphs back into Illyria.

SHELL:
Are you alright?

ILLYRIA:
No. I am not “alright.”
(beat)
Winifred Burkle’s soul has been fighting its way back into my body. I have done everything in my power to destroy it.

CLEM:
But is a soul necessarily a bad thing?

ILLYRIA:
I thought it was.
(beat)
And then I was almost responsible for destroying thousands more. Winifred Burkle deserves to live on.

BOB:
I’m glad to hear it. She seems like a nice girl.

ILLYRIA:
She was…is.
(beat)
But if she returns, what does that mean for me?

Illyria turns away from the group and walks toward the back room.

JACK:
Illyria—

Illyria doesn’t respond. She just keeps walking.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE.

CLOSING CREDITS ROLL.

Written by:
Allan Whatford

Story Editor:
Marie Menninga

Special Thanks:
Everyone who's managed to get through the episode, and is still reading after six episodes. Hope you're enjoying the series. If you have any issues with the episode, please let me know via feedback so I can continue improving this series.

Dominion © 2007 Allan Whatford[/i]

[Allan]

Next on Dominion:[/u]

Her name is Kalinka.

Witch, Vengeance Demon, loving wife.

This is her story…and her greatest fear.