Shadow Stalker - 2.13 - Ira's Last Kiss

[Lex]

Series: Shadow Stalker
Episode: 2.13 – Ira’s Last Kiss
Writer: Lex
Editor: Alex Hart

I do not claim credit for any of Joss Whedon’s creation and the featuring of his characters and episodes in this series is simply for my pleasure and not at all for financial gain as I do all this for free! All characters not affiliated with Jossverse belong to me, as do the plot lines. Season Two starts alongside Season 7 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Season 4 of Angel and is in affiliated with Rogue Redemption, (Amber); Chosen, (Heather); BtVS Seasons 8 + 9 and AtS Season 6, (Alex Hart); Broken Destiny (Joe); and Wishful Thinking (Ben); Raven (Alexander Brown).

THERE IS NO “PREVIOUSLY ON SHADOW STALKER” FOR THIS EPISODE

TEASER

L.A
ALLEY – EXT.LOS ANGELES STREETS – NIGHT

TOOLE is walking down an alleyway. He’s wearing a large trench coat, and has a cell phone to his ear. He sighs, as the clouds loom overheard, threatening.

TOOLE: …I know.

He listens to the other end.

TOOLE: Lance I know, I was as shocked as you. Guess all we had to do was think and she’d find us…

He listens to his brother’s response again.

TOOLE: She used a telephone. I don’t think she’d ever used one before, she said she had to ask for help. (there is a reply on the other end) Well tell Xak I’m coming home now…I’m almost there…

He closes his phone and carries on walking until he is out of frame.


CUT TO – L.A
LOUNGE – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

TOOLE enters via the front door. He looks around to see MELODY sitting on ASHBY’S lap. They look down seriously. CATE is stood next to CHARLIE, her arms are crossed and CHARLIE’S clutching her throat, worried. She gives a glance to her bedroom where SIN has been sleeping for a few hours now. LANCE is stood slightly afar, clutching his cell phone. He looks at his brother as he enters, as does XAK who is frowning.

XAK: Where ya been?

TOOLE: Just fancied some air.

XAK looks at him and nods, suspiciously. He has reason to be…

XAK: Well now you’re here…we heard from Sephy earlier.

TOOLE looks surprised, the others do not. He’s already told them what she has said.

TOOLE: Well that’s good right? She’s found something?

XAK: (sighing) Yeah she found something, but it’s not good.

TOOLE: (looking around) Where is she?

CHARLIE: (glum) She can’t come back yet, she didn’t say why.

TOOLE looks around, confused.

TOOLE: What’s going on? What did she say?

XAK: Basically? She said that there are two traitors…Two people are either working against us or against Dante…

TOOLE: (incredulous) What?

XAK: That’s not all. One of her brother’s saw a war beginning…soon, very soon.

TOOLE gives a quick look to his brother worried that it is them who are the traitors. LANCE tries to avoid eye contact.

MELODY: (breaking the silence) I don’t get it. I mean why would people be working against Dante? That would be good for us right?

XAK: Well presuming it’s him that is being deceived…maybe someone doesn’t like the way he’s running things. Taking things into their own hands…if that’s the case, then it won’t be good for us at all. Two rogues trying to get their hands on Sin? (quietly) I don’t even want to think about it…

CATE looks at XAK incredulous, listening to what he just said in shock.

CATE: Xak…you can’t seriously think that one of us would try and steal Sin? We love that girl…

XAK runs his fingers through his hair. CHARLIE sighs agreeing with her, almost incredulous at the thought.

XAK: I know, it’s insane, but Sephy was adamant that it could be anyone…

ASHBY: Uh, not to bad mouth the goddess and all, but this is the woman who tried killing Sin right?

CHARLIE: I know, but she did what she thought was best. She knows what Sin is, what she could be…she’s trying to stop that. So are we…

XAK: We have to take what Sephy’s saying seriously, it’s too big. Plus things have been too quiet to not take notice of what she’s heard in the higher realms. Something’s gonna happen, and it will be soon, I assure you. We need to be ready…

CATE looks to TOOLE sadly. He returns the gesture.

CHARLIE: …Everyone needs to be ready…at any time.

MELODY: (worried) They didn’t happen to give a specific allocated time slot?

The camera moves over to XAK’S bedroom door…


CUT TO – L.A
XAK AND CHARLIE’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

It is dark in the bedroom but the outline of someone listening by the door to what is being said in the lounge can easily be seen, illuminated in the moonlight.

XAK (O/S): As handy as that would be, no…Sephy only told us now because she thinks that our enemies know where we are. I don’t know if this is because of these traitors or not. All I know is, we don’t have much time…

The figure is SIN. She looks scared, and looks at the floor. She looks to be aged around nine years of age. Growing more and more each day, and still no idea why, or what she’s growing into. Thunder claps outside. It scares her and causes her to run to her bed.


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.XAK’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

We’re looking through XAK’S bedroom at SIN running to her bed. She cowers under the covers as torrents of rain and thunderstorm through the city. The camera zooms away from the window and flies through the skies, over the countless skyline and eventually arriving at a roof…


CUT TO – L.A
ROOF – EXT.UNKNOWN BUILDING – NIGHT

The thunder claps once again, but then it seems to die down. The calm before the bigger storm…The camera stops moving suddenly on two figures masqueraded by the darkness.

FIGURE #1: So close…

FIGURE #2: Tomorrow.

The figures move closer to one another. The rain begins to fall once again.

FIGURE #1: He’s ordered no casualties…

FIGURE #2: Whatever. You do realise he’ll know after this…about us, about our lies…

FIGURE #1: Good. He deserves it, for making you doubt me, for everything.

FIGURE #2 laughs.

FIGURE #2: Oh he’ll get what’s coming to him, don’t you worry. It all starts tomorrow.

FIGURE #1: So uh, what can we do till then?

FIGURE #2: Well…seeing as you chose me…

FIGURE #1 pulls FIGURE #2 closer. They kiss passionately as lightning illuminates the figures showing them to be CHRISTIAN and LEIGH. The thunder deafens the skies and dominates Los Angeles as the assistants terrible plan is now only a night away from starting…

FADE TO BLACK

END OF TEASER


OPENING CREDITS

SONG: MUSE - HYSTERIA

The camera shows a full moon in the night sky with the caption “SHADOW STALKER” tattooed
across the view. The words streak across the scene with a slight red tint as the music starts up.

The camera then cuts to CHARLIE walking down the street in her red dress towards XAK. The camera shows several quick cuts of XAK transgressing and eventually him killing CHARLIE.

The camera then shows XAK in a suit leaving the Wolfram and Hart building then to him in an
alleyway, he looks dirty and unshaven and in dirty clothes. (The music below plays throughout)

“It's bugging me, grating me
And twisting me around”

CAPTION: MILO VENTIMIGLIA

The camera shows CHARLIE in her cell, scared and alone and then cuts to her standing in XAK’S apartment, and her eyes glowing a bright green.

“Yeah i'm endlessly caving in
And turning inside out”

CAPTION: ALEXIS BLEDEL

The camera then shows XAK and CATE both running down the streets of L.A desperately. The camera then focuses more on CATE and cuts to her in The Bronze serving drinks, and then to her standing next to MELODY, both their fists raised, in a battle-like pose. (The music below plays throughout)

“'Cause I want it now
I want it now
Give me your heart and your soul”

CAPTION: AMANDA SEYFRIED

The camera shows TOOLE punching someone to the floor and then to him looking through a barely opened door, his eyes widen. (The music below plays throughout)

“And i'm breaking out
I'm breaking out
Last chance to lose control”

CAPTION: ALAN TUDYK

The camera then shows DANTE sitting behind his desk smirking but quickly cuts to him holding something in both arms and looking out the window while the sun succumbs to darkness. (The music below plays throughout)

“Its hurting me, morphing me
And forcing me to strive”

CAPTION: CHRIS EVANS

The camera shows MELODY running through the prison in L’Azura and then to her sitting on a rock, sand surrounding her. (The music below plays throughout)

“To be endlessly cold within
And dreaming i'm alive”

CAPTION: ROSE MCGOWAN

The camera then shows LANCE sitting on the floor of the apartment laughing with someone and then to him clutching on to CHARLIE’S hand and shouting. (The music below plays throughout)

“And i want you now
I want you now
I feel my heart implode”

CAPTION: CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY

As the song comes to an end the camera shows various quick caps of CATE by a grave; SEPHY walking into the Underworld smiling; MELODY and LANCE falling through the L’Azura portal; DANTE staring into the darkness with black eyes, then finally to XAK walking through the graveyard at night. The camera moves up and shows a high angle shot of him walking away and the shape of the dragon streaking across the sky causing the screen to fade to black. (The music below plays throughout)

“I'm breaking out
Escaping now
Feeling my faith erode”

END OF OPENING CREDITS

[Lex]

ACT ONE

L.A
CATE AND MELODY’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – MORNING

CATE is lying on her bed fully clothed. She’s staring at the ceiling, day dreaming, and wondering worriedly about these supposed “two traitors”. The sound of voices from the lounge can be heard as TOOLE walks up to the doorway in her room. He looks at her and smiles.

TOOLE: Morning…

She shakes her head, snapping out of her daydream. He notices how vacant she is.

TOOLE: You ok?

CATE: Yeah I guess…are the others…

TOOLE: Discussing battle talk. Melody’s way too excited about axes.

CATE: Yep, she’s all about the axe…wait…(realising) Battle talk?

TOOLE: What with this attack supposedly happening soon, and since we don’t know who we’re protecting ourselves from, it’s guns, axes, magic and barmen on board.

CATE: (sighing) God…I just can’t stop thinking about last night and about what Xak said…

TOOLE looks around to check they’re alone, then enters, and walks towards her.

TOOLE: Yeah it was a bit of a kick in the Emory’s special area…

CATE shakes her head.

CATE: (quietly) It’s not you...

TOOLE: You don’t know that.

CATE: I do. He doesn’t know about that, no one does. I promise, I’ve told no one, and he’s got no reason to suspect otherwise.

TOOLE sits on the edge of her bed.

TOOLE: Well, after today there’s gonna be nothing to suspect.

CATE looks at him confused.

CATE: What do you mean?

TOOLE: The chick who took the link out of one of us back in Sunnydale is coming to complete the set. If Sephy does mean that these two traitors are me and Lance…then it’s over as of this evening.

CATE smiles.

CATE: That’s…

TOOLE: (cutting her off) …Relieving?

She nods.

TOOLE: I’m sorry you’ve had to keep this from your friends.

He puts a hand on hers. She places a hand on his too.

CATE: I’m sorry you had to too.

She looks up into his eyes, and exhales softly feeling her worries leaving her.


CUT TO – L.A
LOUNGE – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – MORNING

XAK, MELODY and ASHBY are sat around the sofa area. MELODY looks in immense anticipation about her choice of weapon.

MELODY: But I can hold the axe right?

XAK: I’m hoping you’ll do more than hold it.

ASHBY: (worried) Sure her and Cate are ready for these sorts of fights?

XAK: The kind where we have no clue when or where we’re fighting? No…but no outcome of a fight can be known till it’s over. Cate and Melody have been training for months now…they’re as ready as they can be. I’ve taught them everything I know.

MELODY: Yep, except how to be evil on occasions.

XAK: Shoot, I missed that off the lesson plans…

He rolls his eyes. MELODY laughs sarcastically. ASHBY looks annoyed at their relaxed nature; to him this is new and scary.

ASHBY: (infuriated) Shouldn’t we be focusing on who we’re fighting?

XAK: We’ve been over this…we don’t know who or what we’re fighting either. We have to be alert all the time because it could happen at any time.

ASHBY: But it’s probably this Dante guy right? I mean it’s likely he’s probably the rebellious type? As opposed to say your friends I mean.

XAK: Well he’s not exactly known to do things by the book, but that’s not “two” traitors and we’ve met no one else from Wolfram and Hart…

ASHBY: What about the blonde?

XAK looks to him confused.

ASHBY: You remember? The night you and him had that fight in The Bronze…there was that blonde? She tried to kill me…

MELODY: She sounds like a hoot.

XAK nods.

XAK: She was hardcore. Seriously messed up.

MELODY: In the unreliable sense?

XAK: I guess…She wasn’t there long enough to tell.

MELODY: Well is there anyone else from Wolfram and Hart you met? Like when you signed “the contract of doom”? Was there anyone close to Dante?

XAK thinks for a while, then shakes his head.

XAK: Just some whipped assistant…

MELODY: How do you mean?

XAK: Just this guy called Christian who did everything Dante said. It was kind of pathetic…

ASHBY: (as if formulating a plan of sorts) Hmm…another one who could snap, another unreliable associate of the enemy!

ASHBY looks pleased with himself at making this connection. XAK raises an eyebrow.

XAK: You seriously think this blonde chick and the assistant, both of whom we barely know anything about, are betraying Dante for some even more evil reason?

MELODY shrugs, ASHBY looks deflated.

MELODY: You’re right…it is stupid.

ASHBY and XAK sigh.

XAK: I wish it were that simple, but we have to face facts that we don’t know who we’re facing. I’m afraid it’s back to square one.

ASHBY: Again unprepared…

MELODY: Right, but the kind of unprepared where I get to hold the axe…right?

XAK rolls his eyes at one of his big guns.


CUT TO – L.A
MEETING ROOM – INT.WOLFRAM AND HART – AFTERNOON

There are over three dozen people sat around a large wooden table in one of the firm’s meeting rooms. On one side are burly, gun toting assassins, and on the other are a group of aged blind women. They are sat opposite one another and LEIGH is stood at one end near the blind aged women and CHRISTIAN is stood behind the assassins. Both of them wearing battle gear with bulletproof vests. DANTE moves in to frame and paces the front of the screen. Everyone looks bored.

DANTE: (seriously) I hope everyone is absolutely clear on this…

LEIGH rolls her eyes.

LEIGH: It’s hardly rocket science, which by the way is overrated in its difficulty.

DANTE: Good, I’m glad it’s that obvious Ms. Sinclair because that way, there’s no way for this to get messed up…

He smiles at her, she says nothing else. He turns towards the assassins stood with CHRISTIAN.

DANTE: We’re going to follow the link so willingly provided to us by Taylor Emory. He was last seen last night in a large jacket in the back alleys downtown, and could possibly be wearing it again when he’s out. I’ll track him via the laptop, and when we find him, we find them.

CHRISTIAN looks to LEIGH, she returns the look.

DANTE: So this is how it’s going to go…I want the sweeper assassins to do exactly that…swoop in and take the girl. But this is a must…no fighting, no casualties, no fatalities…

CHRISTIAN: Understood.

DANTE nods and then turns to LEIGH.

DANTE: Should there be any problems, which I’m expecting there to be. Thorn, Charlie and the goddess won’t want to give her up easily…

He indicates the aged women.

DANTE: …Then that’s where the elders come in. Their magic has proved useful in extractions before. Harmless but effective.

LEIGH: Done.

DANTE nods at her.

DANTE: Good.

He indicates the door.

DANTE: Right, well the extraction will commence in three hours time. At sunset we move out.

LEIGH and CHRISTIAN then move towards the exit of the meeting room and give one another a significant glance. Behind them the assassins and the elders follow. Before long, everyone but DANTE has left the room. He leans against the table in front of him wondering about what will happen in approximately four hours time…


CUT TO – L.A
XAK AND CHARLIE’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – AFTERNOON

CHARLIE enters the bedroom; she looks around holding a sandwich on a plate.

CHARLIE: Sin? Sweetie…

She hears a rustling under the covers of her daughter’s bed and a small SIN shaped lump can be seen underneath it. CHARLIE smiles and walks over to the lump, placing the plate on the table and kneeling beside the bed. She strokes the duvet.

CHARLIE: You ok?

SIN: (muffled, under the covers) Go away, I don’t wanna talk.

CHARLIE: Why?

SIN pokes her head out of the covers now.

SIN: Because I don’t like thunder!

CHARLIE: What thunder? You mean the storm last night?

SIN: Yeah.

CHARLIE runs her hands through her daughter’s hair which is now rather long and of the same colour as her mother and father’s.

CHARLIE: Oh, well I know it’s kinda scary but you know what I do when I’m scared?

SIN: What?

CHARLIE: I breathe deeply, I think of your father, of my friends and I just know…things are gonna be fine.

With this, CHARLIE passes SIN the plate with the sandwich on it. SIN looks at it.

SIN: Xak huh?

CHARLIE: (smiling ) Yeah.

SIN sighs and takes the plate. She breathes a sigh of relief, then looks out the window at the clear sky above her.


CUT TO – L.A
PARKING LOT – INT.WOLFRAM AND HART – AFTERNOON

CHRISTIAN and LEIGH are stood on the bonnet of a large van. Below them on the ground are the elders and the assassins.

CHRISTIAN: Everything you heard upstairs with Mr Turnpike, is a lie.

LEIGH: It will be disregarded by order of the Senior Partners, and you will answer to us only.

CHRISTIAN: The Senior Partners have issued us to get the girl by whatever means, by force if necessary.

LEIGH: And if you kill any of that pathetic bunch, all the better.

CHRISTIAN: We leave in an hour. Assassins, move to the armoury, and the elders should hone their magicks.

In an instant the assassins and the elders have left the parking lot to retrieve their specified powers. CHRISTIAN turns to LEIGH and he smiles. She does too, in an hour’s time, it will all be over…

FADE TO BLACK

END OF ACT ONE

[Lex]

ACT ONE

L.A
CATE AND MELODY’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – MORNING

CATE is lying on her bed fully clothed. She’s staring at the ceiling, day dreaming, and wondering worriedly about these supposed “two traitors”. The sound of voices from the lounge can be heard as TOOLE walks up to the doorway in her room. He looks at her and smiles.

TOOLE: Morning…

She shakes her head, snapping out of her daydream. He notices how vacant she is.

TOOLE: You ok?

CATE: Yeah I guess…are the others…

TOOLE: Discussing battle talk. Melody’s way too excited about axes.

CATE: Yep, she’s all about the axe…wait…(realising) Battle talk?

TOOLE: What with this attack supposedly happening soon, and since we don’t know who we’re protecting ourselves from, it’s guns, axes, magic and barmen on board.

CATE: (sighing) God…I just can’t stop thinking about last night and about what Xak said…

TOOLE looks around to check they’re alone, then enters, and walks towards her.

TOOLE: Yeah it was a bit of a kick in the Emory’s special area…

CATE shakes her head.

CATE: (quietly) It’s not you...

TOOLE: You don’t know that.

CATE: I do. He doesn’t know about that, no one does. I promise, I’ve told no one, and he’s got no reason to suspect otherwise.

TOOLE sits on the edge of her bed.

TOOLE: Well, after today there’s gonna be nothing to suspect.

CATE looks at him confused.

CATE: What do you mean?

TOOLE: The chick who took the link out of one of us back in Sunnydale is coming to complete the set. If Sephy does mean that these two traitors are me and Lance…then it’s over as of this evening.

CATE smiles.

CATE: That’s…

TOOLE: (cutting her off) …Relieving?

She nods.

TOOLE: I’m sorry you’ve had to keep this from your friends.

He puts a hand on hers. She places a hand on his too.

CATE: I’m sorry you had to too.

She looks up into his eyes, and exhales softly feeling her worries leaving her.


CUT TO – L.A
LOUNGE – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – MORNING

XAK, MELODY and ASHBY are sat around the sofa area. MELODY looks in immense anticipation about her choice of weapon.

MELODY: But I can hold the axe right?

XAK: I’m hoping you’ll do more than hold it.

ASHBY: (worried) Sure her and Cate are ready for these sorts of fights?

XAK: The kind where we have no clue when or where we’re fighting? No…but no outcome of a fight can be known till it’s over. Cate and Melody have been training for months now…they’re as ready as they can be. I’ve taught them everything I know.

MELODY: Yep, except how to be evil on occasions.

XAK: Shoot, I missed that off the lesson plans…

He rolls his eyes. MELODY laughs sarcastically. ASHBY looks annoyed at their relaxed nature; to him this is new and scary.

ASHBY: (infuriated) Shouldn’t we be focusing on who we’re fighting?

XAK: We’ve been over this…we don’t know who or what we’re fighting either. We have to be alert all the time because it could happen at any time.

ASHBY: But it’s probably this Dante guy right? I mean it’s likely he’s probably the rebellious type? As opposed to say your friends I mean.

XAK: Well he’s not exactly known to do things by the book, but that’s not “two” traitors and we’ve met no one else from Wolfram and Hart…

ASHBY: What about the blonde?

XAK looks to him confused.

ASHBY: You remember? The night you and him had that fight in The Bronze…there was that blonde? She tried to kill me…

MELODY: She sounds like a hoot.

XAK nods.

XAK: She was hardcore. Seriously messed up.

MELODY: In the unreliable sense?

XAK: I guess…She wasn’t there long enough to tell.

MELODY: Well is there anyone else from Wolfram and Hart you met? Like when you signed “the contract of doom”? Was there anyone close to Dante?

XAK thinks for a while, then shakes his head.

XAK: Just some whipped assistant…

MELODY: How do you mean?

XAK: Just this guy called Christian who did everything Dante said. It was kind of pathetic…

ASHBY: (as if formulating a plan of sorts) Hmm…another one who could snap, another unreliable associate of the enemy!

ASHBY looks pleased with himself at making this connection. XAK raises an eyebrow.

XAK: You seriously think this blonde chick and the assistant, both of whom we barely know anything about, are betraying Dante for some even more evil reason?

MELODY shrugs, ASHBY looks deflated.

MELODY: You’re right…it is stupid.

ASHBY and XAK sigh.

XAK: I wish it were that simple, but we have to face facts that we don’t know who we’re facing. I’m afraid it’s back to square one.

ASHBY: Again unprepared…

MELODY: Right, but the kind of unprepared where I get to hold the axe…right?

XAK rolls his eyes at one of his big guns.


CUT TO – L.A
MEETING ROOM – INT.WOLFRAM AND HART – AFTERNOON

There are over three dozen people sat around a large wooden table in one of the firm’s meeting rooms. On one side are burly, gun toting assassins, and on the other are a group of aged blind women. They are sat opposite one another and LEIGH is stood at one end near the blind aged women and CHRISTIAN is stood behind the assassins. Both of them wearing battle gear with bulletproof vests. DANTE moves in to frame and paces the front of the screen. Everyone looks bored.

DANTE: (seriously) I hope everyone is absolutely clear on this…

LEIGH rolls her eyes.

LEIGH: It’s hardly rocket science, which by the way is overrated in its difficulty.

DANTE: Good, I’m glad it’s that obvious Ms. Sinclair because that way, there’s no way for this to get messed up…

He smiles at her, she says nothing else. He turns towards the assassins stood with CHRISTIAN.

DANTE: We’re going to follow the link so willingly provided to us by Taylor Emory. He was last seen last night in a large jacket in the back alleys downtown, and could possibly be wearing it again when he’s out. I’ll track him via the laptop, and when we find him, we find them.

CHRISTIAN looks to LEIGH, she returns the look.

DANTE: So this is how it’s going to go…I want the sweeper assassins to do exactly that…swoop in and take the girl. But this is a must…no fighting, no casualties, no fatalities…

CHRISTIAN: Understood.

DANTE nods and then turns to LEIGH.

DANTE: Should there be any problems, which I’m expecting there to be. Thorn, Charlie and the goddess won’t want to give her up easily…

He indicates the aged women.

DANTE: …Then that’s where the elders come in. Their magic has proved useful in extractions before. Harmless but effective.

LEIGH: Done.

DANTE nods at her.

DANTE: Good.

He indicates the door.

DANTE: Right, well the extraction will commence in three hours time. At sunset we move out.

LEIGH and CHRISTIAN then move towards the exit of the meeting room and give one another a significant glance. Behind them the assassins and the elders follow. Before long, everyone but DANTE has left the room. He leans against the table in front of him wondering about what will happen in approximately four hours time…


CUT TO – L.A
XAK AND CHARLIE’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – AFTERNOON

CHARLIE enters the bedroom; she looks around holding a sandwich on a plate.

CHARLIE: Sin? Sweetie…

She hears a rustling under the covers of her daughter’s bed and a small SIN shaped lump can be seen underneath it. CHARLIE smiles and walks over to the lump, placing the plate on the table and kneeling beside the bed. She strokes the duvet.

CHARLIE: You ok?

SIN: (muffled, under the covers) Go away, I don’t wanna talk.

CHARLIE: Why?

SIN pokes her head out of the covers now.

SIN: Because I don’t like thunder!

CHARLIE: What thunder? You mean the storm last night?

SIN: Yeah.

CHARLIE runs her hands through her daughter’s hair which is now rather long and of the same colour as her mother and father’s.

CHARLIE: Oh, well I know it’s kinda scary but you know what I do when I’m scared?

SIN: What?

CHARLIE: I breathe deeply, I think of your father, of my friends and I just know…things are gonna be fine.

With this, CHARLIE passes SIN the plate with the sandwich on it. SIN looks at it.

SIN: Xak huh?

CHARLIE: (smiling ) Yeah.

SIN sighs and takes the plate. She breathes a sigh of relief, then looks out the window at the clear sky above her.


CUT TO – L.A
PARKING LOT – INT.WOLFRAM AND HART – AFTERNOON

CHRISTIAN and LEIGH are stood on the bonnet of a large van. Below them on the ground are the elders and the assassins.

CHRISTIAN: Everything you heard upstairs with Mr Turnpike, is a lie.

LEIGH: It will be disregarded by order of the Senior Partners, and you will answer to us only.

CHRISTIAN: The Senior Partners have issued us to get the girl by whatever means, by force if necessary.

LEIGH: And if you kill any of that pathetic bunch, all the better.

CHRISTIAN: We leave in an hour. Assassins, move to the armoury, and the elders should hone their magicks.

In an instant the assassins and the elders have left the parking lot to retrieve their specified powers. CHRISTIAN turns to LEIGH and he smiles. She does too, in an hour’s time, it will all be over…

FADE TO BLACK

END OF ACT ONE

[Lex]

ACT TWO

L.A
CATE AND MELODY’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – EVENING

MELODY and ASHBY are lying in bed. They’re naked and under the covers. ASHBY is clutching the covers and staring at the ceiling wide eyed. MELODY is also looking at the ceiling but appears to be more relaxed than he is. MELODY is smirking, but ASHBY looks embarrassed.

ASHBY: So…

He clears his throat.

ASHBY: …That was kind of embarrassing when your friends walked in just now.

MELODY: (laughing) Seeing that? That’s the most action they’ve got all month.

She looks at him, realising.

MELODY: (scoffing) Why do you always do that?

ASHBY: Do what?

MELODY: Say “your” friends. You always do it. They’re your friends too…

ASHBY: Yeah but you’ve known them longer.

MELODY: Uh well not much longer, I mean Lance and Cate maybe but I used to regularly pour coffee on to Charlie in high school and Xak barely talks to me…unless he’s mentioning how inappropriately I slay.

ASHBY nods.

ASHBY: Oh…

MELODY: Anyway, that’s all in the past now.

She turns to face him.

MELODY: What’s more important is what’s right here, right?

ASHBY turns and looks at her, more relaxed.

ASHBY: (softly) Yeah, sounds good to me.

He smiles, and she does too. They kiss one another, embracing lovingly.


CUT TO - L.A
TOOLE AND LANCE’S BEDROOM – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – EVENING

TOOLE, LANCE and CATE are stood in the bedroom with the door closed; they speak quietly to avoid being heard.

CATE: Are you sure this is safe?

TOOLE: Dementia’s totally harmless. Right Lance?

LANCE: I dunno, she kinda hurts my eyes and ears…

CATE rolls her eyes at this.

CATE: Where are you meeting her?

TOOLE: Well I’m gonna meet her at the bus station. She should be here soon.

CATE: (worried) Do you think it’s a good idea to go alone?

TOOLE: There’s no need for both of us to go. I don’t want anyone to be any more danger than they have to be. This whole mess is my problem…I hate that I could have put the whole gang in danger.

LANCE shakes his head.

LANCE: It’s gonna be fine. Remember; just call me when you get there. If it’s not you, tell her I’ll meet her tomorrow.

TOOLE: Right, got it.

He moves towards the door, then turns back to CATE and LANCE.

TOOLE: Oh by the way…

CATE: Don’t worry. We’ll do anything to keep you safe. I promise.

She smiles at him, and he smiles back. He grabs his jacket off the back of the door, then opens it. He exits into the lounge. CATE watches him leave and sighs. She stops for a second, then runs after him.


CUT TO – L.A
LOUNGE – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – EVENING

XAK is stood with CHARLIE by the kitchen. Both of them turn as they see TOOLE and CATE exit the apartment. XAK takes special notice of TOOLE leaving the apartment followed by CATE running after him. Where did TOOLE keep going, and why was CATE running after him…


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.XAK’S APARTMENT – EVENING

In the doorway to the building, TOOLE pulls on the jacket and walks into the alleyway. He ventures further into the winding depths of the city, CATE appears behind him.

CATE: Toole!

He stops and turns to face her.

TOOLE: Cate, what is it?

She just looks at him, worried.

CATE: Just be careful, please…

She almost jumps at him and hugs him. He smiles and holds on to her.

TOOLE: I will…

CATE: No, I’m serious! Don’t let anything happen. I don’t know what I’d do if…

TOOLE breaks the hug.

TOOLE: Hey, don’t think like that. I’ve had my close calls before but I know how to handle an old woman…

CATE smiles weakly.

CATE: She’s not the danger I meant…

TOOLE nods, knowing.

CATE: It’s just…thing’s were getting so good and now I just feel like it could all be taken away again.

TOOLE: It won’t…

CATE: How can you promise that?

TOOLE: I can’t but…

He leans in and kisses her.

TOOLE: (softly) …If it does, just remember that.

He smiles at her warmly once again and turns leaving the alleyway. He pulls the hood up on his large jacket hiding his identity. CATE watches him leave, and sighs.


CUT TO – L.A
LOUNGE – INT.XAK’S APARTMENT – EVENING

CATE re-enters the apartment. She closes the door behind her and leans back against the door. XAK and CHARLIE watch her. XAK looks to CHARLIE and she nods, walking over to CATE.

CHARLIE: Is everything ok?

CATE looks at her quickly, and smiles.

CATE: Oh yeah…everything’s fine. Don’t worry.

She smiles brightly at her, but CHARLIE doesn’t look convinced. CATE’S smile soon fades as LANCE enters the room. Both of them look awkward. XAK and CHARLIE both notice.

CHARLIE: Ok, seriously, what’s going on…

CATE shrugs her off and walks towards the kitchen.

CATE: Nothing, like I said everything’s fine.

XAK stands in her way.

XAK: No…it really isn’t…

CATE stops and looks up at him worried. LANCE watches, nervously. XAK looks at her frowning.

XAK: …We’ve found out that there could be two traitors, and they could be amongst us or the enemy. Either way we’re screwed because whatever’s going down, is going down soon.

He now looks over to LANCE.

XAK: Or have you not been aware with all these secret conversations and disappearing that you think I haven’t noticed…

LANCE looks down, as does CATE. She sighs, guiltily.

XAK: So tell me…what’s going on?

SONG: JAMES BLUNT – NO BRAVERY

The music begins as CATE looks sadly behind her to LANCE. They have to tell him, there’s too much at stake…


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.STREETS – EVENING

With dusk now behind him, and the evening finally here, TOOLE now ventures through the alleyways, masked in his large coat, to seek DEMENTIA, the woman to end the danger surrounding him and his brother. (The music below plays throughout)

“There are children standing here
Arms outstretched into the sky
Tears drying on their face
He has been here”


CUT TO – L.A
PARKING LOT – INT.WOLFRAM AND HART – EVENING

There are two vans. DANTE climbs into the drivers seat of one, and LEIGH takes a place next to him in the passenger seat. In the back of their van, the elders climb in and take a seat with dignity. In the second van CHRISTIAN takes the driver’s seat and the assassins pack into the back. Quickly, CHRISTIAN’S van drives away followed by DANTE and LEIGH’S. (The music below plays throughout)

“Brothers lie in shallow graves
Fathers lost without a trace
A nation blind to their disgrace
Since he's been here”


CUT TO – L.A
PARKING LOT – EXT.BUS STATION – EVENING

People are piling off of a bus, hurrying through the night to get home to their families. They look to be in a particular rush. Where the bus has come from is evident from the display above the windscreen…“SUNNYDALE”. The last person off the bus is DEMENTIA. She looks at the city with disgust. She senses danger. Knowing it is not safe, she puts the hood up on her large jacket and hurries down a nearby alleyway. As she disappears, one of the vans rushes past…(The music plays throughout)

“And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore
Only sadness
Houses burnt beyond repair
The smell of death is in the air”


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.STREETS – EVENING

As the darkness becomes even more increasing, we can see both TOOLE and DEMENTIA hurrying through alleyways. The camera cuts to both of them in different areas, but we don’t know which is which due to their large hooded jackets. Next to one of them, again not knowing whether it is TOOLE or DEMENTIA…the assassins from CHRISTIAN’S van, follow closely behind. (The music below plays throughout)

“A woman weeping in despair says
He has been here
Tracer lighting up the sky”

As the assassins advance closer down the alleyway towards one of the two people they’ve been following, the other person is pulled aside, into the shadows. (The music below plays throughout)

“It's another families' turn to die
A child afraid to even cry out says
He has been here”

With one of them already captured, the other one is attacked…The assassins launch on the person they’ve been following. They pull out knives and brutally stab the person repeatedly. They do it so quickly, the person doesn’t even have a chance to shout for help or utter their final words. (The music below plays throughout)

“And I see no bravery
No bravery in your eyes anymore
Only sadness…”

The music dies down as the assassins leap off the profusely bleeding corpse. Blood seeping through the fabric of the jacket.

MAN (O/S): Ok…stop.

The assassins turn to see a man walking out of the shadows. It’s CHRISTIAN. He defied DANTE’S orders…and killed. The assassins part as CHRISTIAN moves towards the corpse. He turns the corpse over to look at it’s deceased face. He sighs. He reaches for a cell phone.


CUT TO – L.A.
PASSENGER SEAT – INT.VAN – EVENING

DANTE and LEIGH are parked in their van a few alleys away from CHRISTIAN’S location. Her phone rings, she answers quickly, almost nervously excited. DANTE looks at her.

LEIGH: Christian?

CHRISTIAN (O/S): It’s just as we thought…

LEIGH: Emory?

CHRISTIAN (O/S): No, it was some old woman. The link is phony…

She sighs, and glares angrily.

LEIGH: I’ll sort it. I’ll call you back soon.

She hangs up the phone. DANTE looks at her, expecting news.

DANTE: Well?

LEIGH: The link was a frickin’ old woman!

DANTE looks at her confused. He pulls reaches underneath his seat and pulls out his laptop. He opens it and looks, the bleeping of the link can still be seen on screen.

DANTE: No, it wasn’t.

LEIGH: Huh?

DANTE: Emory is only a few blocks away…he’s alive. Christian found the wrong person…

LEIGH looks at DANTE, annoyed.

LEIGH: He followed your orders, god men really can’t follow directions can they…

DANTE: Hm…unless…

LEIGH: What?

DANTE: Well Lance should be linked with the company too…maybe they found a way to split the link, gave the power to someone else…

LEIGH: Is that possible?

DANTE: Oh it’s possible. I just thought Lance was keeping composed…not showing up on the radar.

LEIGH: Apparently not…

DANTE: Yeah…

He looks at her.

DANTE: I thought I told you to phone Christian back…

She rolls her eyes and nods. She opens her cell phone again.


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.STREETS – EVENING

Now we know it is TOOLE who was pulled aside in the alleyway, we can now see the struggle between him and his attacker. He punches the attacker in the face but the attacker slams him into the wall and a light falls on his face. It’s XAK. TOOLE’S eyes widen.

XAK: Hey buddy…

He glares at TOOLE angrily.

XAK: …I think we need to have a talk, don’t you?

He knows…

FADE TO BLACK

END OF ACT TWO

[Lex]

ACT THREE

L.A
ALLEY – EXT.WAREHOUSE – EVENING

CATE and LANCE are walking down an alleyway next to a large derelict warehouse. LANCE is holding a sword and CATE is holding no weapons. She is one. They both look nervous and worried.

CATE: I hope Toole is ok…

LANCE looks at her annoyed.

LANCE: I hope you know what you did back there.

CATE: I made a promise to Toole to keep him safe. If that meant telling Xak then so be it…

LANCE: (protesting) …But…

CATE: …Look! There’s been enough lies and secrets between all of us. Secrets which should never have been kept hidden.

LANCE looks down. The camera moves into CATE’S face, she looks determined.

CATE: I know telling Xak may mean Toole will hate me, but…I love him, and I only told Xak and the others because I thought it was the best thing for him, for me, and for everyone. I know Xak can help, we all can. Together we can make this work, we can change this. And if everything goes according to Xak’s plan…then we can end this…tonight.

She looks determined of this, and sure. LANCE sighs.

LANCE: Well let’s hope Dementia got to my brother before Xak did…

CATE nods.

CATE: I know…I hope so too. Do you think this will work?

LANCE: I don’t like the idea of being the maggot on the hook.

CATE: It won’t be dangerous. Besides, I don’t think we really get a call in the decision making of the group for a while…it’s because we kept this a secret that we’re in this mess.

She looks down sad about keeping it from her friends. LANCE looks at her, she looks at him now, and smiles weakly.

CATE: Look, try not to worry. You’ve got Melody and I covering you, and Charlie’s ready to send the flare guns blazing if any bad guys show…

LANCE: And if they don’t?

CATE sighs.

CATE: Then we wait…

They walk out of frame to show CHARLIE walking behind them. Next to her is SIN who is holding on to CHARLIE’S hand, reluctantly. SIN looks up to her mother, tired.

SIN: Where are we going?

CHARLIE: (worried) Just for a walk…we won’t be long, I promise…

SIN sighs, annoyed. CHARLIE uses her other hand to ready herself for an attack. Her hand ready to cast a specific spell at any moment, and her eyes scanning the alley for predators. Like CATE and LANCE, they too walk out of the frame to show MELODY and ASHBY walking behind them. ASHBY looks scared but is clutching a sword, and MELODY looks extremely happy with an axe in her hand.

ASHBY: So uh…

He gulps.

ASHBY: As if being caught in the act once wasn’t enough…they had to do it again…

MELODY rolls her eyes.

MELODY: To be fair, they had just found out Toole was the traitor.

ASHBY: We don’t know he is.

MELODY: If being linked to Wolfram and Hart isn’t treacherous…

She pauses.

MELODY: (sighing, softly) …I don’t know what is.

ASHBY: But you heard Cate, it could be either one of them, and they couldn’t help it, even if they tried to.

MELODY: Whatever…even if they aren’t the traitors Sephy meant, they still lied to us. Both of them. I mean Lance…he didn’t even tell me. I mean we shared a cell together and everything. He was my bitch…it’s a sad day when that comes to an end.

MELODY looks almost betrayed by this. She’s not angry, just disappointed that LANCE wouldn’t confide in her. ASHBY looks at her, then realises maybe he shouldn’t pry too much. He pauses for a moment.

ASHBY: (worried) So, uh, what’s the plan again?

MELODY looks glad to have the subject changed.

MELODY: Xak said to go to this warehouse he used to crash in when he want all bum-like last summer. He said he stayed there for weeks and was safe, no one disturbed him.

ASHBY: But why do we need to go there…

MELODY: Because if we’re attacked, we know Lance is the link. If he’s attacked, we know Toole is…either way we’ll know. If we’re attacked Charlie’s gonna send a spell into the air, something elaborate and pretty I hope. Xak won’t be too far and he’ll see. Then he’ll come running and save the day, and I expect there will be some sort of ice cream and cookie aftermath.

ASHBY: (doubting) It won’t be that simple. And just to clarify, I don’t like the sound of baiting friends. Sounds dangerous…

MELODY: That’s ‘cause it is, but they’ve left us no other choice. There has to be a final showdown someday. That’s what happens. I’d rather it be on our terms than the bad guys. We can do this.

ASHBY: No you and your friends can…I can’t.

MELODY rolls her eyes at him saying “your friends”, again.

MELODY: Well you can look after the kid, there’s a job you can do right?

ASHBY nods.

ASHBY: Ok.

He still looks nervous though, and as with CATE, LANCE, CHARLIE and SIN, they move out of the shot, now approaching the entrance to the warehouse.


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.STREETS – EVENING

XAK and TOOLE are stood with a distance apart from them now in the alleyway. TOOLE is breathing heavily and looks upset.

XAK: So I’ve been wondering you know how they would be able to find us…why Sephy would want to warn us about traitors and an attack…Never did I want to believe it was one of you guys…

TOOLE: How did you…

XAK: Cate.

TOOLE looks down, disappointed, hurt that she told XAK.

XAK: Don’t be angry at her for doing the right thing…

TOOLE looks up at XAK now.

TOOLE: I was trying to do the right thing.

XAK: By lying to us, and keeping secrets? We’ve seen where that’s got us before, The Fates, Hecate, Rack…what made you think this would be any different?

TOOLE: Because I knew, if I told you guys, you’d never look at Lance or me in the same way ever again. You’d always wonder who it was, which one of us had it. I can’t have that…

XAK: (sarcastically) What a burden for you.

TOOLE: Hey, don’t forget it’s a secret Lance chose to keep too.

XAK nods.

XAK: Oh don’t worry, he isn’t exactly feeling the group love at the moment…

TOOLE: (upset) I’m sorry…

XAK: It’s too late to apologise Toole. All of our lives are in danger now, and you knew…all along.

TOOLE: (quietly) I’ve tried to stop it, I tried to ignore it…

XAK: This is not something you can just hope will go away Toole. This is not something you chose to have either! This is something forced upon you! How could you think that I, of all people, wouldn’t understand that?

TOOLE shakes his head.

TOOLE: (softly) It doesn’t matter anymore does it? Nothing I say can change what I did…nothing can change how I treated my brother, my girlfriend or my friends…

XAK shakes his head.

XAK: You’re right…but you do have a choice in what you do now.

TOOLE looks him dead in the eyes now.

TOOLE: (slightly louder) I know, and I was trying. I was trying to take care of things.

XAK: Oh really…by meeting this Dementia woman? Didn’t you think we could help you?

TOOLE: It’s my problem!

XAK: No! It’s our problem! It may not have started out that way but because you, Lance and Cate have kept this hidden, you’ve given Wolfram and Hart the upper hand.

TOOLE: I know, I know this! I shouldn’t have kept it from you, Cate and Lance wanted to tell you guys but I was scared…

TOOLE sighs, stressed, almost shaking with nerves as the terrible truth of his deeds has become a reality. Everything he feared would happen, has. XAK looks at him disappointed.

XAK: Well if you were scared before…you’re in for a shock now…

TOOLE frowns, worried.

XAK: If any blood is spilt tonight…it’s on your hands.

There is a silence for a moment between them both, but TOOLE then moves away from the wall and begins walking in the direction he was walking before.

XAK: Where are you going?

TOOLE turns back to face XAK.

TOOLE: To take care of things. No blood is gonna be spilt tonight, I’m gonna make sure of that…

TOOLE looks at him expectantly, waiting for a response. XAK merely watches him, unsure.

TOOLE: Are you coming?

XAK pauses for a moment, then walks towards TOOLE.

XAK: Fine…

They begin walking down the alleyway together and they don’t say anything to one another. Suddenly the sound of multiple sets of footsteps can be heard approaching. XAK puts a finger to his lips; telling TOOLE to be silent. They stop walking and look around, worried, trying to find the source of the sound which is getting louder and closer every second. XAK looks at TOOLE.

XAK: (whispering) So it is you…

TOOLE looks confused.

TOOLE: (quietly) Huh?

XAK: (seething) Come on…

XAK pulls him away down one of the alley routes. The fear for CHARLIE, SIN’S and the other’s lives is greater than it’s ever been…TOOLE doesn’t protest…


CUT TO – L.A
MAIN AREA – INT.WAREHOUSE – EVENING

CHARLIE and SIN are stood in the middle of the warehouse. CHARLIE is checking the only exit and entrance for anyone who may enter. Nearby are MELODY and ASHBY who are also watching the doorway, as are CATE and LANCE on the other side of the room. The warehouse is empty, but around the edge is a balcony about ten feet above the ground. The sound of running footsteps approach the doorway. The gang ready their weapons, and a sparkling fire circulates CHARLIE’S hand. Two figures appear in the doorway…it’s XAK and TOOLE. The gang breathe a sigh of relief seeing them. CATE and LANCE especially look relieved to see that TOOLE is ok. XAK doesn’t look happy and TOOLE closes the door behind them and locks it. CHARLIE looks at them both expectantly.

CHARLIE: Well?

XAK moves away from TOOLE to CHARLIE and SIN. In the background we can see TOOLE moving slowly towards CATE and LANCE.

XAK: (to CHARLIE, whispering) Someone, or something is out there…I don’t know what but it sounded like we were being followed.

She nods, worried.

XAK: Are you ok?

CHARLIE: We’re fine…but…

XAK: But nothing. We’re gonna be fine.

CHARLIE: Well, what are we doing now?

XAK: We’ll wait…form a front, if anyone attacks we’ll fight.

CHARLIE sighs, almost shaking with fear.

CHARLIE: I can’t believe this is happening…

XAK: I know…

He smiles weakly and then holds her closely. She squeezes her daughter’s hand tightly.

XAK: …Nothing’s gonna happen to you both, nothing.

CHARLIE nods sadly and clutches on to his torso faithfully.

CHARLIE: I’m scared.

XAK: I know, I am too…

SIN looks up at them both curiously, as she finally realises they’re not just going for a quick walk…they’re saving her life, and ending this war over her custody. The camera moves away to CATE, TOOLE and LANCE nearby.

CATE: I’m sorry…

TOOLE: It’s ok…I know you did what you thought was best. How can I be angry with that?

She smiles weakly and touches his arm. LANCE watches them both.

LANCE: Did uh…Xak tell you what they’re doing?

CATE looks at TOOLE curiously.

TOOLE: (exhaling, deeply) Yeah, so we’re bait huh?

LANCE: Yeah, kinda sucks…but…can’t complain, given the circumstances.

TOOLE smiles at him reassuringly.

CATE: Do you think there will be an attack?

TOOLE: Someone was following us, well lots of people actually…we heard them all the way to here and then they stopped.

LANCE looks around.

LANCE: Sephy was right, it’s gonna go down…

CATE looks to TOOLE, suddenly remembering something

CATE: Did you find Dementia?

TOOLE: No…

LANCE looks down.

TOOLE: …Xak got to me first; I don’t know if that’s good or bad.

CATE: It’s good…trust me…

The camera moves away to MELODY and ASHBY who are stood in between CATE, LANCE and TOOLE, and XAK, CHARLIE and SIN. MELODY remains transfixed on the doorway but ASHBY is looking at TOOLE and LANCE.

ASHBY: Guess it didn’t matter whether this place was safe or not…

MELODY: Of course it didn’t…Xak knew that, he wanted a battlefield.

ASHBY: I’m scared Mel…

Quickly, she turns to him and touches his cheek.

MELODY: Please don’t be. I can’t fight and worry about you…you’ll be fine, we all will. If there’s gonna be any dying it’ll be on their side.

She sighs, and looks down.

MELODY: Anyway, I like you too much to let anything happen to you, stupid junior barman.

He looks at her and smiles, his smile soon fades…

ASHBY: (loudly) Guys!

Everyone looks at ASHBY and he motions to the doorway. The camera moves over to show LEIGH standing in the warehouse, the door open and surrounding her are the elders. TOOLE moves in front of CATE and LANCE, and XAK in front of CHARLIE and SIN. LEIGH smiles at everyone, and XAK and ASHBY share a look, recognising her.

LEIGH: Well there you guys are! You know you’ve all been incredibly hard to track down…

XAK: (sarcastically) Sorry to inconvenience you.

LEIGH turns to him.

LEIGH: That’s ok big daddy…

She turns to TOOLE and LANCE.

LEIGH: …We found you all in the end, after some of our boys hacked up some old woman, the link to Mr Emory was kinda more clear to us…

CATE looks at LANCE worried. TOOLE glares at LEIGH.

LEIGH: (friendly) Sorry, how formal of me. I really should be on first name terms, since I feel like I know you guys so well. After all, I’ve been tracking your every movement thanks to Taylor…

TOOLE’S face drops, it’s him. XAK looks over at him. LANCE looks down, and CHARLIE begins to move to XAK’S side, keeping SIN tightly hidden behind her.

LEIGH (O/S): …Or do you prefer Toole? I forget, what with all these strange names you guys have.

The camera moves back to her smirking and CHARLIE looks at her angrily. She finally moves in front of XAK. He tries to stop her but she shrugs him off.

CHARLIE: We don’t care what he and Lance inherited…none of us care because we’re family.

She walks forwards, towards LEIGH, determined, almost ignoring her fear.

CHARLIE: We look out for our own. Your own boss didn’t show, he just sent you and army of OAPs…(sarcastically)…scary…

With this, a green energy ball forms in CHARLIE’S hand. LEIGH doesn’t do anything except fold her arms and watch. CHARLIE’S eyes glow green as the energy ball shoots towards LEIGH. One of the elders holds up her hand, and a barrier forms in front of LEIGH. The energy hits the mystical barrier and ricochets back and hits CHARLIE dead on in the chest. She flies into the air and over XAK and her daughter. She lands on the other side of the warehouse, and lies there, unconscious. XAK turns to face her, grabbing SIN and keeping her face away from the sight.

XAK: Charlie!

CATE puts a hand to her mouth, scared. MELODY and ASHBY watch with horror as do TOOLE and LANCE. XAK turns back to LEIGH.

LEIGH: What? She started it…and for the record, I have much more than this army of hags…

The lights in the warehouse suddenly light up and blare through the room. The gang look around as now it is illuminated what is on the balcony. CHRISTIAN is stood there with the assassins, which surround the room and encircle the gang. XAK recognises CHRISTIAN and looks at him with anger. MELODY and ASHBY’S wild presumption…was correct. He looks back to LEIGH as he notices something in her hand. She’s holding a handgun.

LEIGH: Now peeps, there’s two ways this can go…you can just let us have the girl, or you can die like that old woman outside. Either way’s good for me, but as I’m a kind responsible kidnapper, I’ll let you decide…

XAK looks around the room, he breathes softly as he looks at CHARLIE lying on the floor, he can see she’s breathing and that she’s alive. She looks weak, and unable to move much. He smiles knowing she’s ok. He then looks to the others who seem to have made a decision. They’re all standing, ready to fight. Their weapons drawn. His smile grows as he looks back to LEIGH…

XAK: Bring it…

She smiles.

LEIGH: Thought you’d never ask.

She motions to her comrades. CHRISTIAN and the assassins jump from the balcony and the elders move to the sides of the room, forming a barrier around the edge. They don’t do anything however, they just stand, watching. XAK picks up SIN and runs to ASHBY.

XAK: (to ASHBY) Go…stay near Charlie, watch them both.

ASHBY: I will.

He smiles at XAK and takes SIN’S hand and hurries over to CHARLIE to check on her. SIN looks back at the commencing battle with fear for her father and friend’s lives. As ASHBY and SIN arrive at CHARLIE, and turn her over to check on her, the camera moves back to the gang. LEIGH circulates the room, her gun in hand, observing the situation. XAK sees CHRISTIAN heading towards CHARLIE and he attacks him. He throws him to the floor and kicks him in the stomach causing CHRISTIAN to fly into the warehouse wall, and falling upon one of the elders. A group of assassins circulate around CATE, TOOLE, MELODY and LANCE. The four of them watch as they advance closer and the gap between them and their attackers becomes smaller by the second.

CATE: (quietly) Any ideas guys?

MELODY: (whispering) I’m holding an axe and there are advancing assassins…do the math.

CATE: (quietly) You can’t take them all.

LANCE: We can fight, right bro?

TOOLE looks at LANCE and nods.

TOOLE: You bet.

With this CATE nods, and the four of them move forward. She punches one assassin sending him flying backwards and upper cuts another doing the same. MELODY uses the butt of her axe and jams it into the chin of one of the assassins. She pushes him down and then kicks another one in the crotch, soon eradicating him from battle. LANCE kicks one of them to the floor and jumps on him punching him in the face repeatedly. TOOLE charges through the enemies and flips one of them over.


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

The evening has passed now, and the deadly darkness of night has spread its way through the city. The two vans which held the attackers are parked outside. The sound of the fight can be heard clearly from outside. One of the vans is empty and the lights are off. No one is inside. The camera then moves to the other van and DANTE is sat in the drivers seat. He is clenching his fist angrily, hearing the fight. His orders have been disobeyed. He knows something is wrong; CHRISTIAN and LEIGH’S treachery is becoming more and more obvious to him.


CUT TO – L.A
MAIN AREA – INT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

ASHBY pulls CHARLIE up and rests her head on his knee.

ASHBY: Charlie…

She opens her eyes slowly and looks around dazed.

ASHBY: …Charlie? You ok…

CHARLIE: (weakly) Wh-what happened…Sin?!

She looks around panicking and sees SIN clutching on to ASHBY’S top, keeping her eyes away from the fight in the background. ASHBY smiles at her reassuringly.

ASHBY: She’s fine but you just had your first ever flying lesson…

CHARLIE: Huh…

ASHBY: Never mind, are you ok?

CHARLIE: Yeah I’m fine, where…

She looks around and stops talking as she sees the fight playing out in front of her. ASHBY turns and looks at it worried too. He clutches on to her hand. The camera moves away from them to the fight. MELODY and CATE are now tag teaming a group of four assassins. CATE launches at one of them, her fists raised but he stops her with baton. He hits her repeatedly with it and MELODY watches.

MELODY: Oh no you don’t…

She spins round and kicks the assassin she’s facing off with and then charges at the assassin which is hitting CATE with the baton. She punches him in the face and then grabs hold of his neck, breaking it. CATE looks at her with horror.

CATE: Melody…

MELODY looks back at her. She sighs.

MELODY: You gotta do what you gotta do to survive…don’t forget it…

CATE looks at her still horrified, and not answering. Before she has time to think another assassin slashes her face with a knife. She recoils and jumps to her feet ready to fight her next foe; worrying that MELODY’S “words of wisdom” will resonate in her mind. The camera moves over to TOOLE and LANCE who are struggling in their part of the fight. LANCE looks more equipped to fight and his time in L’Azura is proving useful in defending himself here. As TOOLE is punched making his nose bleed he tries to reply with a punch but it is blocked by the assassin he is grappling with. The camera now moves over to XAK and CHRISTIAN who are fighting viciously. CHRISTIAN goes to kick XAK but XAK grabs his leg and smashes him into the floor. CHRISTIAN groans in pain.

CHRISTIAN: You might be winning the fight, but you can’t stop us taking the girl…

XAK: Funny…

...

[Lex]

...

He kicks CHRISTIAN repeatedly in the stomach causing him to groan more and cough blood.

XAK: …Looks like I can do both…

The camera moves over to LEIGH. She’s standing by the doorway watching the fight with pleasure. She glances at CATE and MELODY and then looks over to TOOLE and LANCE. Finally she looks over to XAK and CHRISTIAN, and watches her partner in crime being beaten to a bloody pulp. She glares at XAK, her wrath growing...

LEIGH: (whispering) Begin…

With this word, the elders circulating the room begin muttering underneath their breath. They synchronise arm movements and begin their mysterious ritual. LEIGH looks at each of them and smiles. The camera pans down her body and shows the gun in her hand. She clicks the safety off…


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

The camera makes the same movement as before. It passes the first empty van and then passes over to the van DANTE was sat in before. The fight can be heard playing out in the background. As the camera passes over where DANTE was sat when we last saw him we can see that the door is open and he is no longer sat in the van…he’s gone…

CUT TO – L.A
MAIN AREA – INT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

ASHBY has managed to prop CHARLIE up against the wall. SIN is sat in her mother’s lap, hiding from the fight. ASHBY is stood in front of them both with his back to the fight, scared to look around. CHARLIE looks at her friends, and then looks at the elders, chanting. She shakes her head.

CHARLIE: I can’t just sit here…I have to do something…

She tries to move but she recoils in pain at trying to move.

ASHBY: You can’t Charlie…

CHARLIE: I can’t just watch this!

She holds on to SIN tighter.

CHARLIE: We have to do something…

ASHBY looks at her sadly, and then finally turns back to look at the fight. XAK seems to have regained the upper hand with CHRISTIAN once again, as CHRISTIAN seems to be suffering from repeated blows to the head with XAK but he’s managing to block a few of them. CATE is managing to fight back against the assassin who slashed her face with a knife. He makes several quick swipes through the air at her, but she backs away. Before long, she’s backed into a corner and trapped. She looks at two of the elders surrounding her and shoves one into the assassin. Unwittingly the elder is stabbed by the assassin and she collapses to the floor dead. The assassin also falls back and his head crashes into the hard ground keeping him dormant. The other elders don’t seem daunted by the loss of one of their own, and remain with their mysterious ritual. LEIGH looks over at what CATE has done, she glares and aims the gun in her direction. She grips the handle and the head of the gun aims towards CATE who has continued fighting another two assassins who have started on MELODY. Before LEIGH gets an opportunity to fire the gun she finds she is knocked back by one of the assassins. TOOLE and LANCE look happy with themselves as it was them who pushed the assassin into LEIGH, after noticing the gun. They give one another a high five.

LEIGH: Sorry buddy you’re not my type…

She doesn’t give him a chance to get off of her. Instead she breaks his neck and shoves him off of her. The gun is still in her hand and she stands, glaring at the brothers. She aims the gun in their direction, but it’s hard to see who she’s aiming at. TOOLE and LANCE’S smiles soon fade.

LEIGH: Think you’re pretty funny don’t you?

She smirks, and goes to fire the gun once again. Before she knows what has hit her, she is tackled to the floor. The gun slides along the floor and she tries to reach for it but whoever tackled her pulls her arm back.

LEIGH: Get off me you fu…

She looks at her attacker. It’s DANTE. He has her pinned to the floor, and her eyes widen realising her and CHRISTIAN have been rumbled.

DANTE: Remember what I said about simple orders?

LEIGH raises an eyebrow.

LEIGH: You should hear what I’ve said about your simple mind…

With this she kicks him of her. He falls backwards off of her and the camera moves away now to XAK and CHRISTIAN once again. XAK looks at DANTE.

XAK: Shouldn’t you ask him if he needs a coffee or something?

CHRISTIAN: Sorry, not part of the Ass’ Club anymore…

XAK: Coulda fooled me.

XAK tries to punch CHRISTIAN once again but riled by XAK’S taunts he summons up enough strength to stand, and dodge the attack, making XAK punch the concrete wall. CHRISTIAN then spins around and kicks him further into the wall. XAK falls to the ground…CATE, MELODY, TOOLE and LANCE all look over shocked, but are soon distracted by the final four assassins. The elders look like they’re coming to the end of their ritual…the camera moves over to CHARLIE. She looks horrified at XAK.

CHARLIE: (putting a hand to her mouth) Xak!

ASHBY turns to her.

ASHBY: He’ll be ok…I promise…

CHARLIE: What’s going on, I don’t get it. Why’s Dante fighting his workers…why…

She looks down, tears forming in her eyes.

CHARLIE: …Why is this happening, and why can I do anything to stop it…

ASHBY touches her arm.

ASHBY: Just take care of your daughter…everything will be fine I promise.

CHARLIE: You can’t promise that Ashby…

ASHBY looks round, realising they’re close to winning…

ASHBY: Yeah, I can…

He stands.

CHARLIE: Where are you going?

ASHBY smiles at her.

ASHBY: Gonna follow the yellow brick road, get some courage…

She smiles back appreciative. She holds on to SIN tighter now as the camera moves back to the fight between DANTE and LEIGH. She scrambles for the gun and manages to stand up. DANTE grabs her leg and tries pulling her to the floor again. She kicks him in the face.

LEIGH: Back off “boss”…

DANTE lies back on the floor and looks up at her, enraged.

DANTE: Why…why are you doing this…!?

She looks down at him, and waits, considering her answer.

LEIGH: It’s about power…

She aims the gun at him and goes to shoot. His eyes widen as she pulls the trigger. He closes his eyes awaiting his death. She fires the gun. An empty cylinder. DANTE waits, then opens his eyes again to look at her. He smiles.

DANTE: You really do suck at everything you do, don’t you?

She glares and goes to aim the gun again, hoping the next one is not empty. He’s one step ahead of her this time. He stands and begins grappling with her for the gun. The camera cuts to CATE and MELODY, constantly moving in front of one another in their battle with their final two assassins. The camera then shows TOOLE and LANCE who are also doing the same. We then pass around to XAK and CHRISTIAN, and on the way shows ASHBY walking towards the fight. Behind everyone, the elders are finishing their ritual. Finally the camera moves back to DANTE and LEIGH still grappling with the gun. They’re in a power struggle, and the gun is flailing around the room. One of their fingers is around the trigger, and in the struggle to come out on top, the gun fires…this time, it isn’t an empty cylinder…

FADE TO BLACK

END OF ACT THREE

[Lex]

ACT FOUR

L.A
MAIN AREA – INT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

The camera focuses on the gun. Smoke rising from the end of it. The camera then pans up to DANTE and LEIGH holding the gun. DANTE stares in shock at who they’ve just shot. LEIGH looks up curiously, seeing an opportunity…

SONG: SNOW PATROL – CHASING CARS

As the camera pans around to CATE and MELODY. It’s not CATE. She punches her final assassin in the chest and then in the face which causes him to fall to the ground. With no one left to attack, she looks at the victim. (The music below plays throughout)

“We'll do it all
Everything…”

Th camera pans around to TOOLE and LANCE who have just managed to team up and defeat the two assassins fighting them. It’s not them either…Together they look around, having clubbed their…their faces drop. (The music below plays throughout)

“On our own…”

XAK and CHRISTIAN stop their fight, hearing the shot. They look over at the victim... (The music below plays throughout)

“We don't need…”

We cut to MELODY, she steals the knife of the assassin attacking her and stabs him with it. He falls back as she looks over at the recipient of the bullet… (The music below plays throughout)

“Anything...”

The camera moves around to CHARLIE and SIN, passing ASHBY and focusing on SIN in particular. She hasn’t been shot, but she looks up to her mother who isn’t moving…we don’t see CHARLIE’S face…(The music below plays throughout)

“Or anyone…”

The camera now moves over to ASHBY. He looks around in shock at CHARLIE and SIN. The young girl looks from her mother to him and covers her mouth. The camera now moves up to CHARLIE’S face. Her eyes are wide with tears and staring ahead in shock…We follow her eye line to ASHBY. He puts his hand to his stomach, blood pouring out of a bullet hole through his torso. He breathes quickly, in shock and collapses to the floor…blood seeping from his wound. (The music below plays throughout)

“If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world…”

The moves back to CHRISTIAN who hurries towards LEIGH and DANTE. DANTE, who is still in shock and is staring at ASHBY’S corpse is pulled out of the doorway by CHRISTIAN. The camera then moves to the elders who’s ritual has now finished. Time has slowed down. Just as it has, we see MELODY trying to run towards ASHBY’S body. (The music below plays throughout)

“I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel…”

LEIGH is the only one who moves in real time. She strolls through the gang members who are all slowly trying to move towards ASHBY and the others. LEIGH approaches CHARLIE and SIN and pulls SIN by the scruff of her collar and drags her kicking and screaming towards the doorway. As LEIGH passes XAK she blows him a kiss; a kiss from the queen of wrath…As LEIGH and SIN exit from the doorway the elders disappear and time becomes more normal once again in the room. (The music below plays throughout)

“Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough…”

Now time is normal once again, MELODY approaches ASHBY’S body and holds him closely. She cries as she tries to stop the bleeding. CATE watches, crying herself. TOOLE and LANCE are even crying, realising it is their fault…They may have been the bait, but the predators stayed away from them. ASHBY’S blood may be covering MELODY…but it’s on their hands…(The music below plays throughout)

“If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world…”

The camera now moves to CHARLIE as she realises that SIN is not with her. She screams and stands. XAK looks over at her, horrified, realising SIN is missing too. Both of them turn to the door and run at full speed out of the building.


CUT TO – L.A
ALLEY – EXT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

LEIGH drags SIN into the van and throws her across the van floor. DANTE still in shock is thrown into the back too by CHRISTIAN who runs to the driver’s side of the van and jumps in. XAK and CHARLIE run towards the van, but it skids away just as they’re approaching it. (The music below plays throughout)

“Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own…”

CHARLIE cries profusely, unable to maintain decorum and a tear falls down XAK’S face as he watches his daughter driven away over enemy wheels at an alarming velocity. Too fast for them to chase…He turns to CHARLIE and puts an arm around her. She tries to fight him off but she’s weak and devastated. They collapse to the floor holding one another. (The music below plays throughout)

“If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world…”


CUT TO – L.A
MAIN AREA – INT.WAREHOUSE – NIGHT

The camera focuses on ASHBY’S peaceful face. MELODY continues to cry, her tears falling on to his body. She holds him close and whispers something in his ear. CATE tries to approach her, she puts a hand on her shoulder but MELODY declines. She turns and glares at CATE, TOOLE and LANCE.

“Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life…”

On this note she picks up ASHBY’S body and stands. She breathes deeply, tears still running like raging torrents down her face. The camera opts a high angle as she carries him towards the door. CATE, TOOLE and LANCE watch as the warehouse suddenly feels a whole lot more empty…(The music below plays throughout)

“All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes
I just couldn't see…”


CUT TO – L.A
DANTE’S OFFICE – INT.WOLFRAM AND HART – EARLY MORNING

The sun is beginning to rise in the distance and the camera opts for a close up view of DANTE stood, staring out the window of his office. Next to him is SIN who is holding his hand, shaking with fear. As the camera pans out we see several guns pointed at his head. One of them held by CHRISTIAN, the rest by more assassins. LEIGH approaches him with a smug smirk, he looks at her and sighs. He passes SIN’S hand to LEIGH who takes it and drags the child, screaming once again, out of the office. DANTE watches them leave and looks at CHRISTIAN who avoids eye contact.

“I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things
Will never change for us at all
If I lay here…”

As CHRISTIAN, LEIGH, SIN and the assassins leave the room, slamming the door behind them, DANTE resumes to looking out of the window in his office. A tear falls down his cheek as his whole world has fallen apart…he doesn’t want this…(The music below plays throughout)

“If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and just forget the world…”

CUT TO BLACK

END OF EPISODE


Cast:
MILO VENTIMIGLIA as XAK THORN
ALEXIS BLEDEL as CHARLIE ADRASTOS
AMANDA SEYFRIED as CATE RITTLE
ALAN TUDYK as TOOLE EMORY
CHRIS EVANS as DANTE TURNPIKE
ROSE MCGOWAN as MELODY HARP
CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY as LANCE EMORY

JAMIE BELL as ASHBY TORRENT

Special Guest Stars:
JULIAN RHIND-TUTT as CHRISTIAN MCARTHUR
RACHEL MCADAMS as LEIGH SINCLAIR
EILEEN BRANNAN as DEMENTIA

Special Mention:
JAMES BLUNT – NO BRAVERY
SNOW PATROL – CHASING CARS

[Lex]

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TRIVIA

THERE IS NO TRIVIA FOR THIS EPISODE…