Serendipity: I
by teacosy
(Open on a shot of a girl in her late teens, running through some undergrowth outside a school. She has dark hair, and an olive complexion, and is dressed up in an evening gown, which is slowing her escape from the two vampires which are pursuing her. She arrives in a secluded picnic area, just as one of the vamps tackles her to the ground. She kicks free, and scrambles under a picnic table. The vamps circle the table, grabbing at her trying to pull her out.)
VAMP #1 – Come on out, girlie.
(NIRA screams, as VAMP #2 pulls her clean out from under the table. Temporarily, she stops struggling, looking in terror at VAMP#1 who approaches).
VAMP #1 –We’ll share. It’ll be over real quick.
(He advances on NIRA. ..Until, suddenly, she flips VAMP #2 over her shoulders and onto the picnic table, which shatters upon the impact.)
VAMP #1 –Slayer.
NIRA – (Genuinely confused) What?
(VAMP #1 advances on her, and she stumbles backwards over some stray planks of wood. VAMP#1 lunges forward. They grabble for a while, until suddenly VAMP#1 explodes into a cloud of ash. Close up shot of NIRA, holding one of the stray slats of wood in a position which would have formerly been in VAMP#1’s chest. She’s coughing up ash, and looks to be in shock. VAMP#2 stirs amidst the wreckage of the table).
NIRA – What just happened?
(CU on VAMP#2’s face. CU on NIRA’s face. Then, VAMP#2 hightales it.)
NIRA – (Scrambling to her feet) Really? I- what just…I….
PROM GIRL – (Off Camera) Nira!
(NIRA turns, to see another girl all done up for the Prom Night)
PROM GIRL –Where have you been? Oh my God, look at the state of you!
NIRA – I…
PROM GIRL – Never mind, you can tell me inside. We have to get a move on. Sharon’s boyfriend, the one who didn’t wear the tinted moisturiser, is totally eyeing me up which means, Sharon, like, hates me, which means you have to dance with him because her dad’s cousin’s babysitter is there too, and if it gets back to my daddy that I have been, not that I have….
(The twittering continues as she brings NIRA inside the school. CUT TO: INT School Hall, all decked out with prom decorations, full of revellers.)
PROM GIRL – Here’s our prom queen!
(Clapping begins. We get a close up on NIRA’s face. She looks overwhelmed by what just happened. PROM QUEEN deposits a rather tacky looking tiara on her head. The camera pans closer to her face, and the clapping reaches a crescendo. NIRA collapses on the floor).
(CUT TO: EXT An elevated shot of a car park, nighttime. The clapping sound blends into the sound of the torrential rain, which is lashing the tarmac. Shadowy figures are gathered in two clusters, restraining two people. CU on one of the people being restrained, RUBY. She’s a young woman in her early twenties, slight, pale and blonde. She looks highly distressed. OC there’s a snarling noise.)
RUBY – Please. Please don’t. Just-
(A figure walks up behind her, and grabs her hair, pulling her head back. He leans in by her neck: his face is contorted into a vampiric form, with a pronounced, contorted forehead, cat-like eyes, and prominent teeth. He leans in, looking as if he’s about to take a bite. O C: A snarl, this time more aggressive. The vamp backs off).
RUBY – (Tearing up now) Please.
(The sound of bone snapping.)
RUBY – NO!
FADE TO BLACK.
(INT. Lecture theatre, daytime. The lecture theatre is large, one of those characteristically American ones, which has the chairs on varying tiers overlooking the lecturer at the front).
LECTURER – Serendipity: anyone care to profer a definition?
(CUT TO : NIRA and TIFFANY. TIFFANY's is every bit the valley girl princess. NIRA dresses a simillar way, though more toned down. TIFFANY looks deeply bored, until NIRA nudges her out of her stupor, nods in the direction of the lecturer).
STUDENT – (O.C.) Something fortuitous, the knack of lucky things happening to you.
(NIRA’s POV, looking at the guy in front and a few seats along from her. He's called OWEN, and is a boy of her age, cute, but much, much geekier. Dress is not even pretending to be cool: simple khaki trousers and a non-descript long-sleeved t-shirt. He’s not listening but is leant over his notebook, sketching what looks to be a vampire. C U: picture. Reaction shot, NIRA, perturbed)
LECTURER – Nicely put. Now, if you’ll turn to the bibliography for this course….(continues to talk, though our attention is drawn to the area in front of where the girls are sitting. A boy, jock-stereotype, square-jawed and all-American, is craning his neck round, looking at them. TIFFANY nudges NIRA, nodding towards the jock.)
(CUT TO: Post-lecture. TIFFANY and NIRA make their way down the steps from their seats. NIRA watches the boy who was sketching, who is ahead of them)
STUDENT – (O.C) Owen!
(OWEN responds and heads towards the voice).
TIFFANY –So…
NIRA – So…?
TIFFANY – Guy checking you out.
NIRA –Not really interested. He looked too wholesome.
TIFFANY – The healthy glow of wealth will do that for you. (Off NIRA’s expression) Frederick Beaumont! His family are, like, royalty. And he was checking you out. You could get married, had have lots of little babies.
NIRA –Did we wander into a Jane Austen novel without me noticing…?
TIFFANY – Money. Babies.
NIRA – Money babies?
BEAU/jock guy – Just so you know, I’m right behind you.
(NIRA closes her eyes, embarrassed. TIFFANY beams.)
TIFFANY – (Leaning so only NIRA can hear, though we catch it too). Money. Babies. (She heads off down the stairs.)
BEAU – It’s Beau. Just Beau. (He reaches out a hand, and NIRA shakes it).
NIRA – Nira.
BEAU – So…Nira. How are you?
NIRA – Tired.
BEAU – Yeah, you look it. (pauses) That sounded better in my head.
NIRA – Really?
BEAU –Actually, yeah. So, you tired because your brain got fried by all the literature?
NIRA – I like literature. I just..I’ve not been much with the sleeping recently.
BEAU – Bad dreams?
NIRA – You could say that. I take it you just don’t want to be here.
BEAU – That’d be a no. Books aren’t my thing.
NIRA – And yet you’re in a Literature class
(CUT TO: Foyer, outside the theatre, NIRA and BEAU exit together).
BEAU – Yeah, but only as a minor. My dad wanted me to be “well rounded”, whatever that means. So…Nira
NIRA – Beau.
BEAU – Seeing as you’re having trouble sleeping..Want to have drinks with me tonight?
NIRA – (Glances over at TIFFANY, who is talking to another group of people, but peering over at them. Bluntly:). Um, no.
BEAU – (Looks surprised , this clearly is a first for him) Oh. OK.
NIRA – I’m just not…right now…
BEAU – No, it’s OK.
(He slopes off. TIFFANY comes over).
TIFFANY – Are you insane?
NIRA – Excuse me?
TIFFANY – You heard me. I think he’s cute. And nice.
NIRA – I did kind of shut him down.
TIFFANY – No kidding.
NIRA – Ugh. You know what? I don’t care. I’m exhausted. I’m going to go home and take a nap.
TIFFANY – Agreed. You need to sort out those dark circles.
NIRA – Yeah. Thanks.
(CUT TO: Running feet. The Camera pans back, we see a young girl dressed in period costume circa 1700, running through some woodland in the darkness. A tree obscures our view and when she emerges she’s now Native American. Taking a right towards some lights she’s a transformed into a hippie. The hippie takes us to the lit area. CUT TO: her point of view, a car park, with rain lashing down. CU: On the girls face. Camera circles her once, and by the time it’s returned to the front, she’s transformed into a girl dressed in modern attire, aged around 15. RUBY comes up behind her. As she draws closer, she turns her palms forward. They’re illuminated, as if in each she’s holding a bright light. She thrusts one of her hands into the girl’s back. The girl calls out in pain, her eye sockets and mouth now illuminated with the light, and she falls to the floor. CUT TO: The two of them sinking to the floor, only now the girl in question is NIRA. NIRA is now lying on the tarmac, with RUBY sat beside her, cradling her body).
RUBY – (Shakily, soothing). Be still, it’ll be OK. It’ll be OK. Shh, it’ll be OK…Come on, love.
(CUT TO: NIRA, waking up in bed. It is dark outside. She glances over at the clock by her bed. CU Clock, which reads 8.30. CUT TO: Nira getting out of bed. Her room is an implausibly large dorm room complete with bathroom sink. The décor is pretty standard preppy girl fare, with a few Eastern touches. CU: on the answerphone sat on her desk. The light is blinking, Nira presses the button).
NIRA’s father and mother - Hello!
MOTHER - Just thought we’d try and leave you a message.
FATHER - This is your dad and mum.
MOTHER- …yes, I think she knows that.
FATHER –It could be a wrong number.
(Reaction shot of Nira: smiling. She walks over to the sink and runs some water, and listens to the message. )
MOTHER - ..We’ve called the number before. Anyway, did you know your brother got a new car?
FATHER – Tell her
MOTHER – Of course I’m going to tell her.
FATHER – Well, then, why are you rambling?
MOTHER –It’s called being friendly.
FATHER – It’s a phone message.
MOTHER – Listen, Nira, I know we were coming to visit this weekend, but we have to taken a business trip. We’re just heading out to Saudi for a couple of weeks.
(Reaction shot/NIRA’s reflection. Her expression is disappointed but unsuprised. This has happened before.)
FATHER – We’re really sorry, sweetie.
(NIRA splashes water on her face, when she looks back at her reflection this time she’s regained what little composure she lost. She drains the water and dries her face. CU on the answerphone).
MOTHER – But we’ll be back really soon and-
(We see NIRA’s hand press the DELETE button).
(CUT TO: EXT. Campus bar. Night time. The bar is noisy and inviting. NIRA walks up to the entrance, dressed to the nines, a look which is the stereotype of a girl in the in-crowd, closer to something TIFFANY would wear than her attire before. She has an air of ‘do not f*ck with me’.)
(CUT TO: INT. Campus bar. The music is loud, generic pop-rock passing for alternative. The atmosphere is boisterous, but friendly. Camera follows NIRA through the bar, looking for familiar faces.)
OC: Whoops!
(NIRA walks into OWEN, who spills the drink he’s carrying down her.)
NIRA – Do you mind?
OWEN – Oh, God, I’m sorry. (He pulls his sleeve over his hand, and makes to try and dry her off).
NIRA – What the hell are you doing?
OWEN – I’m sorry. I mean, I was just…
BEAU – (Coming up behind them) There a problem?
OWEN – No, really, no I was just trying to-
NIRA – There’s not. (She takes BEAU’s hand, pushes past OWEN as if he may as well not be there).
OWEN – I’m fine, by the way. Yeah…just…fine.....
(Camera follows NIRA and BEAU through the crowds to an area with seating, on the edge of the dancefloor. TIFFANY is sat there, along with an array of jock-types, who appear to be friends of BEAU).
TIFFANY – (At BEAU) Beau! You’re back? Avec les margaritas? (See’s NIRA) Nira!
BEAU – I saved her from some freaky guy at the bar.
(BEAU leaves them to it).
NIRA – Just thought I’d come down and see what was going on. (Raises eyebrow) Apparently, a lot.
TIFFANY – What? You didn’t want him. So I just figured I’d keep him…
NIRA - …warm?
TIFFANY – Company. Freaky guy?
NIRA – Not really. Just that quirky guy in our Lit class.
TIFFANY – Hadn’t noticed.
NIRA – I was kind of mean, again. I tore him a whole new-
(She cuts off, distracted by something in the bar. CUT TO: NIRA’s POV: The young woman from her dream, RUBY, is walking through the crowds, apparently looking for someone. She doesn’t look like she’s dressed to stay: dressed more for comfort than for style, with her jacket still on. She looks up, sees NIRA watching her, then shyly bows her head.)
TIFFANY – Nira.
NIRA – What?
TIFFANY – What is it?
NIRA – Nothing. Sorry. Nothing.
(NIRA’s POV. RUBY has gone).
NIRA – So, what are the plans for tonight?
(CUT TO: Same location, some time later. NIRA is sat a little away from the group, who have Tiffany at their centre. They’re playing some kind of frat-boy drinking game, with one of them downing a gigantic pitcher of beer).
JOCKS – CHUG CHUG CHUG!
(CU: On NIRA, looking deeply bored. She glances over at TIFFANY, who seems to have forgotten she’s there. NIRA gets up and begins to work her way through the crowds, making for the exit. BEAU notices and follows.)
(EXT. Bar. NIRA is now a distance away, walking swiftly into a slightly quieter area of campus. BEAU jogs up behind her, taps her on the shoulder making her jump. She spins round, and punches him square in the face).
NIRA – Oh, God, Beau
BEAU – (Holding a hand to his nose) No, it’s OK, it’s.. I’m good.
NIRA – Is it bleeding?
BEAU – When I get the feeling back, I let you know.
NIRA – I’m so sorry!
BEAU – I’m fine really. (He pulls his hands away. His nose is bloodied, but otherwise in tact). Where did you learn to punch like that?
NIRA – Nowhere.
BEAU – Seriously?
NIRA – It’s just something I’ve always been good at.
BEAU – Punching people?
NIRA – Sticking up for myself. You may want to reconsider sneaking up on women in the dark.
(BEAU laughs, and winces).
NIRA – Actually, you may want to reconsider sneaking up on women full stop.
BEAU – I know you can take of yourself, but do you want me to walk you back?
NIRA – That’d be nice.
(They walk further, approaching a more secluded part of the campus).
BEAU – What I was going to ask was: Are you leaving already?
NIRA – Uh..Yeah. Yeah, I’m tired.
BEAU – Yeah, you look…(Sincerely) You look really beautiful. I’m sorry about before.
NIRA – No, I am. I’m just in a weird mood. Which involves me emotionally and physically eviscerating, all men I come across, apparently.
BEAU – (Looks to not have entirely understood what she just said, but recovers) Why don’t you come back? I know they can be idiots, but they’re good guys.
OC/HUGO- No, they’re not.
(They turn. Behind them, HUGO stands in the shadows, he’s tall and slender, in a long coat and well fitted, almost bespoke, clothing. He steps forward into the light. His face is pale, and drawn, but he exudes confidence in his abilities, and a complete lack of fear.)
HUGO- They’re idiots. All of them. Boys pretending to be men.
(CU on BEAU).
HUGO (cont’d) – Pathetic, boorish, useless bags of bones and blood. (His eyes shift to NIRA). Afraid that someone might be stronger them.
(CU on NIRA)
HUGO (cont’d) – Hoping she won’t notice she is.
BEAU – (Walking towards HUGO) Look, buddy, why don’t you just…
(Not taking his eyes off NIRA, HUGO simply snatches out his arm, and grabs onto BEAU’s neck, lifting him clean off the floor.)
NIRA – Get off him! (She runs forward, trying to grapple with HUGO, but he strikes her. She stumbles back onto the ground).
HUGO – (His face morphs into vampiric form: teeth protruding, eyes catlike) Look how fragile he really is, how weak. Look how easily he breaks.
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