(INT. Student Halls, the same NIRA and OWEN ran into, but sometime later. NIRA and OWEN are sat in a lobby area: rows of chairs facing each other stretch the length of the room, punctuated by small coffee tables, a dead looking plant and a soda machine in the corner. NIRA and OWEN set opposite each other, NIRA with her legs on the chair, arms wrapped around her knees.)
NIRA – It’s been quiet for a while. You think he’s gone?
(OWEN shrugs)
OWEN- Or he’s waiting. We’re safe here until sunrise. I think.
(He goes to listen at the door)
OWEN (cont’d) – So…that was a vampire
NIRA - Yep
OWEN – And you’re a slayer.
NIRA – Looks like.
OWEN- And that, well, that was a vampire.
NIRA – (Softly) You said that already.
OWEN – I’m sorry, it’s just that this is…everything that you think might be real, that you like to pretend is real. It’s really out there. It really exists. That’s kind of cool.
(NIRA says nothing, then: )
NIRA – It isn’t. He killed someone. Someone like me.
OWEN – I’m sorry.
NIRA – It’s OK.
OWEN – How do you know..?
NIRA – He told me. He was bragging.
OWEN – The vampire?
NIRA – Are you going to get tired of saying that anytime soon?
OWEN – Sorry. But it is cool…
(NIRA looks at him)
OWEN – Hear me out: it’s cool because I saw you standing up to him. I don’t think I’ve seen anything that brave. That’s pretty…
(CU: On NIRA’s reaction shot, for the first time, she smiles sadly. It’s what she needed to hear.)
OWEN – (Trailing off, and going a little shy) …cool.
NIRA – You were pretty brave, too.
OWEN – Yeah, not really. Just…
NIRA – What was that book anyway?
OWEN – A bible. Holy things are supposed to burn them. I took it out of the library, I guess part of me-
NIRA – Wanted to be a hero.
OWEN – Yeah.
(NIRA smiles)
NIRA – What about your friends?
OWEN – What?
NIRA – You said you were walking back with friends.
OWEN – (Blushes, fumbles for words) Oh. Yeah. Well, they’ve gone home, and I-They didn’t mind so much if I – (He trails off, rubs the back of his neck awkwardly).
NIRA – It’s OK.
OWEN – It’s not that I don’t-
NIRA – It’s OK…You know, I don’t even know your name.
OWEN – Owen.
NIRA – Mines-
OWEN – Nira.
NIRA – You know my name?
OWEN – I’d say most guys with a pulse know- (He trails off, and blushes again). I know your name.
(NIRA smiles again, and goes quiet. OWEN turns back to the door. After a few beats, NIRA walks over to the pot plant, and pulls out the stick of bamboo which is holding up the plant)
OWEN – What are you-?
NIRA – You know how you said I was cool…?
OWEN – Yeah. You know what’s cooler? Not getting dead.
NIRA – You can stay here. (She snaps the bamboo cane in half, looks at it a little despairingly.)
OWEN – I can’t let you go outside on your own. Which is a dumb plan, by the way.
NIRA – There are people...He might kill someone.
OWEN – You don’t have to go out there.
NIRA – I do.
OWEN – The book might be wrong. How do we even know you’re a slayer?
(NIRA hesitates for a moment, then walks purposefully towards the door)
NIRA – I know.
(She puts her hand on the door knob)
NIRA – This is what I’m meant to do.
(She opens the door. CONNOR is standing in the doorway. Both NIRA and OWEN scream).
(INT. RUBY’s bedroom. RUBY is lying in bed, but tosses and turns, rather than sleeping. The curtains are drawn but not completely, so a gash of orange street-light shines into the room. Rolling over, she tries to get comfortable but is unable to. She moves a little, and the light falls on her face. Frustrated, she gets out of bed and walks to the window, roughly pulling the curtains shut and knocking some things off the windowsill in the process. Stooping to get them, she finds a greetings card on the floor under her desk. She picks it, up, half-smiling, and sits on the bed. It has a simple design of a cat on the front. CU on the inside of the card: in childlike writing: TO MY TEACHER. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! LOVE ELOISE X. She traces the writing with her fingers.)
(CUT TO: CONNOR’s POV: NIRA, brandishing a bamboo stick, then OWEN, who has put his index fingers into a cross shape).
CONNOR – For future reference. Fingers don’t really work.
(He steps into the room)
OWEN- (To NIRA) He’s not…?
NIRA – I don’t think so.
OWEN – You don’t think so?
NIRA – Yes.
OWEN – No offense, but I think that’s something I like you to be sure about the in future.
CONNOR – Even if I were… (Points at the fingers, which OWEN lowers). Yeah, it really doesn’t work.Bamboo works OK. (He walks towards NIRA, who has the bamboo raised high. He slowly reaches into his jacket pocket, and pulls out a stake) Stakes work better, though. (He holds it out for NIRA to take. She does so, hesitantly.)
NIRA – We thought you were…
CONNOR – Hugo.
NIRA – Yeah. He chased us in here. Owen saved me.
CONNOR – (Nods at Owen) You took on a vampire?
OWEN - Yeah. (Smiles) I guess I did.
CONNOR – Cool. (To NIRA) We weren’t sure you’d take the warning about nightfall seriously. (His face breaks out into a smile). I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay indoors.
(CUT TO: EXT. Campus, NIRA and OWEN walk with CONNOR swiftly along)
NIRA – So you can just…
CONNOR – Just…
NIRA – Fight like that. Normally. You’re not a slayer, are you?
CONNOR – (Smiles) No. You don’t get guy slayers.
NIRA – But you have a watcher.
CONNOR – She’s a friend.
NIRA – Your friend – Ruby. Her slayer was killed.
CONNOR – Yeah. Yeah, she was.
NIRA – And he did it. Hugo.
CONNOR – Yeah.
OWEN - -the vampire? (Off NIRA’s look) I’m sorry. It really doesn’t get tired.
CONNOR – Well, that’s down to Nira.
NIRA – It is?
CONNOR – Want to go find some?
NIRA – On purpose?
CONNOR – (Beaming) Yeah. On purpose.
(CUT TO: Back alley of a bar, still nighttime. Loud, industrial metal pumps out from the bar, providing the back drop to the scene. NIRA, OWEN and CONNOR walk along.)
NIRA – So you’re not a slayer.
CONNOR – Nope.
NIRA – Then what are you?
CONNOR – I’m special.
NIRA – Special how?
CONNOR – Because I’m pretty.
(NIRA rolls her eyes. A couple of goth types walk past).
NIRA – We’re here because the people who think they’re vampires really are?
CONNOR – No, we’re here because they’re interested in vampires – and vampires like a free lunch.(He stops, looking at something in the distance). Wait here. (He walks of, further down the alley, and disappears into the darkness.)
OWEN – I know this place. I read about it.
NIRA – Why would this place make news?
OWEN – There was a murder here, the police thought it might be a ritual killing. Nira, are you sure you can-?
NIRA – He saved my life.
OWEN – Look at where we are. We’re down a dark alley..
NIRA – You didn’t have to chaperone me.
OWEN – A dark alley. With someone who we don’t know. With strange powers. And the real kicker? It’s a murder scene!
NIRA – I’m sure he wouldn’t take us anywhere that wasn’t-
(She’s cut off by the now-familiar roar of a vampire, who comes running, but limping towards them, having been flushed about by CONNOR, who is giving chase).
CONNOR – Stake!
NIRA – What? Oh!
(NIRA , cottons on, just as the vampire throws himself at her. The music piping out from the club swells, provides the backdrop to the scene, as the vamp wrestles her to the floor.)
OWEN – HEY!
(He runs towards her to help but NIRA kicks the vampire away. She gets to her feet and strikes the vampire, hard. The vampire strikes her across the face, sending her reeling. The two face each other. NIRA looks him up and down. CUT TO: NIRA’s POV, scanning down his body to the leg on which he’s limping. The vampire lunges at her but this time she ducks out of the way, kicking him in the back of his weak leg. The vampire yells in pain and stumbles over. He scrambles up, now very unsteady on his feet and lunges at her again. She moves out of the way again, turning and swiftly staking him in the back as he passes. The vampire disappears in a cloud of ash.)
(CU On Nira, drawing her breath, looking shocked but somehow satisfied. CONNOR walks up behind her.)
NIRA – That was…
OWEN – (Now crouched down) …A vampire.
NIRA – Uh-huh
OWEN – And you…
NIRA – Yeah.
OWEN - …Slayed him.
NIRA – Yep.
OWEN – That’s a verb, right? ‘To slay’?
CONNOR – It’s a verb.
OWEN – You sent him right at us!
CONNOR – I gave him the limp first. (To NIRA) Are you OK?
(NIRA walks over to the pile of ash. She rubs her foot in it, absently).
NIRA - Never better.
INT. Ruby’s house, living room. CONNOR walks in, alone, to find Ruby sat on the sofa with stacks upon stacks of books on the coffee table in front of her).
CONNOR – You were supposed to be getting some sleep.
RUBY – I tried to. I can’t right now.
CONNOR - It’s been three nights since you got any decent rest.
RUBY – I’ve napped.
CONNOR – That’s not the same.
RUBY – I’ll get some sleep, Connor, I promise. Did Hugo turn up on campus?
CONNOR – Uh, no.
RUBY – (Turns back to her books, forces a casual tone into her voice) And our slayer?
CONNOR – Fine. I mean, I guess, since Hugo was a no-show.
RUBY – She stayed indoors?
CONNOR – (Looks guilty) Once sunset came, she must have holed herself up in her room.
RUBY – (Looking guilty also) Good.
CONNOR – Ruby, I-
RUBY – (Interrupts him) I’ve been looking at this amulet you took from Donnelly. (She picks up a book, hands it to Connor) Page 11, look familiar?
CONNOR – Yeah, this is it.
RUBY – I think we might have got lucky.
CONNOR – It’s a demon thing?
RUBY – A demon amulet. No important magical powers, just a protective item, but it has a high monetary value in the human world, probably the demon one as well.
(CU on the amulet)
CONNOR – That’s an emerald.
RUBY – Yes.
CONNOR – That’s a big emerald.
RUBY – It’s a family heirloom, from what I can tell. Senior clansmen from the M’adamesh wear them, as a sign of status. They wouldn’t part with them.
CONNOR – So somebody killed one for it?
RUBY – It seems unlikely. It’s a luxury item but not worth killing for.
CONNOR- They’re good fighters?
RUBY – No more than humans. It’s just…It’s expensive but not unobtainably so,
there are bigger prizes out there that could be gained through much less effort.
CONNOR – So they gave it away?
RUBY – I…(she runs a hand through her hair). I don’t know. Its value is personal, so there would have to be a compelling reason.
CONNOR – These M’ada-
RUBY – M’adamesh.
CONNOR – They’re local?
RUBY – Now, what a coincidence, they are.
CONNOR – So I’ll pay them a visit today.
RUBY – Sounds like plan. I’ll bring the smaller axe.
CONNOR – No, I think I should do this one alone…
RUBY – Seriously?
CONNOR – Yeah. Look, you need…
RUBY – Sleep. Yes. I know. You’re a fine one to talk, anyway.
CONNOR – I’ve had more than you. Anyway, superpowers, here.
RUBY – (Sighs) OK, alright. I’ll try. Again. But be careful?
CONNOR – If they’re not big fighters, like you say, then it shouldn’t be too hard.
RUBY – Yeah, but just...Be safe.
CONNOR – I will.
(INT. Lecture theatre, the same one we saw NIRA in earlier, though class is ending. OWEN looks back at NIRA’s seat. It is empty. TIFFANY walks down the stairs by his seat.)
OWEN – Excuse me?
TIFFANY – (Shooting him a disapproving glance up and down) Uh-huh?
OWEN – Have you seen Nira today?
TIFFANY – No, why?
OWEN – I just wondered where she was, is all.
TIFFANY – I’ll bet.
(She heads down towards the exit. OWEN looks back at her seat, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone.)
(INT. Beau’s hospital room, morning. A privately funded, expensive looking clinic room. NIRA is perched on the edge of the bed, BEAU is sat up in bed, looking bruised but otherwise healthy. NIRA’s phone rings.)
BEAU – You’re not meant to have those in here. I think it’s the eighth deadly sin.
NIRA – Sorry. (She hangs up).
BEAU – Don’t you have classes?
NIRA – Thought I’d give them a miss today. I’m tired.
BEAU – So, I’ve not been missing anything which isn’t worth missing?
NIRA – (Grinning) Classes. Work. Beer. The usual.
BEAU – The beer part I miss. What is it?
NIRA – What?
BEAU – You. Smiling.
NIRA – I’m allowed to smile.
BEAU – I like it. I just don’t know why.
NIRA – I’m just smiling. I’m a happy person. What?
BEAU – Seriously, what gives?
NIRA – Nothing! Anyway, it’s nice to see you smile, too.
BEAU – Yeah. (Pauses. Then) They don’t know yet—the police. They don’t know who he is. Maybe a drug addict. I’m a big guy, and he just lifted me up…
NIRA – (Loses the smile) I know. (She reaches over and takes his hand).
BEAU – I’m sorry.
NIRA – For what?
BEAU – Not being able to defend you. When he hit you-
NIRA – Oh, hey, Beau…
BEAU – I should have known what to do.
NIRA –It’s not your fault.
BEAU – I should have…
NIRA – You couldn’t have.
BEAU – I don’t know, isn’t that kind of what I’m meant to deal with? Be the tough guy?
NIRA – Not stuff like that. That shouldn’t happen to anyone.
BEAU – You sound like my dad. Except without so much of the anger.
NIRA – He’s bound to be pissed.
BEAU – He really is. He’s making a lot of phonecalls, which is never a good sign. He thinks-
NIRA – What?
BEAU – He wants to know why the guy didn’t hurt you. And who those other people were.
NIRA – I don’t know what to tell you.
BEAU – He doesn’t trust you. He thinks you might have had something to do with it.
NIRA – I-
BEAU – If you knew more, you’d tell me, right?
NIRA – Beau…
BEAU – Right?
NIRA – Yes. If I could tell you any more, I would.
(EXT. Hospital, NIRA walks out of the entrance, looking perturbed. Her phone beeps, and she stops, and reaches into her bag. CU Phone. The message is from Connor, and reads LEAD ON HUGO – WANT TO COME WITH? NIRA smiles, looks back at the hospital and goes on her merry way)
(EXT. Downtown street, daytime. CONNOR and NIRA walk side by side.)
NIRA – These aren’t vampires?
CONNOR – No. Slayers also fight demons.
NIRA – I have to fight a demon?
CONNOR – Well, ask them a few questions.
NIRA – Sounds dangerous.
CONNOR – Comes with the job. You are a chosen one.
NIRA – A chosen one. There are….it’s a plural deal?
CONNOR – You need a watcher in the worst way.
NIRA – Last time I checked, the only watcher in town hates me.
CONNOR –She doesn’t hate you.
NIRA – Yeah, did you even tell her I was coming with you today?
CONNOR – She lost a lot. Before her slayer, a lot of her family died. They were watchers like her.
NIRA – What happened?
CONNOR – More slayers were made, not long ago, to fight a war. You’re one of them. But wars have casualties on both sides. New slayers, and their watchers. That includes lots of people she cared about.
NIRA – Then her slayer?
CONNOR – I found her.
(FLASHBACK: The rainy car park from NIRA’s dreams. RUBY is kneeling, as in the first dream, but now looks as if she’s numb, free of emotion. Her face is grim and weary. HUGO crouches in front of her, and grabs her face with his hand. RUBY doesn’t react, save for a tiny flicker of anger.)
HUGO – Slowly or quickly, how do you like it?
(RUBY meets his eyes, but says nothing.)
HUGO – I prefer slowly.
(There’s a cry of pain, and ash scatters over the both of them, as the vampire stood behind RUBY goes poof. RUBY tries to get up, but HUGO strikes her in the face. CUT TO: RUBY’s point of view, which is blurry, and out of focus. We see a shot of her slayer, lying on the ground, dead. The camera pans slowly up, and we see a figure fighting off the vampires.)
VO CONNOR – After they’d killed her slayer.
VO NIRA – You saved her.
(CONNOR helps a semi-conscious RUBY to her feet. He looks over at HUGO, who grins)
HUGO – Another time, maybe.
VO NIRA- Connor?
(PRESENT DAY: )
NIRA – (Hesitantly) I think I dreamt about it.
(CONNOR looks a little surprised)
NIRA (cont’d) - Sometimes they’re muddled, sometimes I’m myself, sometimes I’m someone else. But in the mix…
CONNOR – Is Ruby?
NIRA – Sometimes. And once she…
CONNOR – What?
NIRA – It doesn’t matter. You didn’t answer my question, anyway.
CONNOR – No. No she doesn’t hate you.
(They’re both silent for a few moments)
NIRA - So, what about you?
CONNOR – What about me?
NIRA – Are you a demon?
CONNOR – Kinda.
NIRA – A demon of vagueness?
CONNOR – My parents were vampires.
(NIRA stops and stares, CONNOR continues walking for a few paces, until he realises she isn’t following him).
CONNOR – See, this is why I don’t like telling people.
NIRA – Vampires…? You couldn’t tell me last night?
CONNOR – In my defence, you were holding a…bamboo stick. It didn’t seem like the right time to tell you.
NIRA – Owen doesn’t trust you.
CONNOR – Yeah. I might not trust me too. Do you trust me?
NIRA – I know I could cause you some major physical harm if I changed my mind.
(They start walking again).
(INT. Demon Bar. CONNOR and NIRA enter. The bar is half-empty, with a few demons sat at the bar. The demon serving, and a group of 6 demons sat at the booth are all M’adamesh, including CRISTO, the demon we saw talking to HUGO. One of the demons at the bar sees them, and leaves.)
BARMAN DEMON – A slayer? And a…(he eyes CONNOR) a you.
CONNOR – We’re looking for your chieftain.
BARMAN – Heh. Haven’t heard that in a long time. The boss is over there (indicates CRISTO).
(CONNOR and NIRA walk over to the booth)
BARMAN – You’re welcome.
CRISTO – Who are you?
CONNOR – She’s a slayer, and I’m a me.
CRISTO – (Looks at NIRA) Pretty thing. Why are you bringing your dates to dives like this one?
NIRA – Dinner, dancing, demons. What girl could resist?
CRISTO – Cute and funny.
CONNOR – She’s a keeper. (He steps forward).
CRISTO – I don’t want trouble.
CONNOR – Neither do I. (He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the amulet).
CRISTO – (Greedily eyes it) What do you want?
CONNOR – A vampire called Hugo. (He dangles the amulet in front of CRISTO). He got hold of this, and from what I’ve been told this is a family heirloom.
(CRISTO reaches out to grab the amulet but CONNOR snatches it away, throws it to NIRA, who puts it in her pocket).
CONNOR – You get it back when you tell me what you were paying him off to do.
CRISTO – He was a way of getting the job done without drawing attention to myself. All I want is a quiet life. Can’t protect myself, I don’t belong in the big leagues. So I asked for help.
CONNOR – From a vampire…?
CRISTO – From a killing machine. I need to send a message. This Hugo, he comes strutting into town offering his services. It’s mutually beneficial. I get a warning shot, and he gets money and a free meal.
CONNOR – A free meal?
CRISTO – Money, and…
CONNOR – You sent him after a human?
CRISTO – Well, yes. Yes, I did. Vampires can move more freely in their world.
CONNOR – (To NIRA) We’ve got to go.
(CRISTO stands. The BARMAN goes between NIRA, CONNOR and the door.)
CRISTO – You don’t understand. I want a warning shot, a big bloody mess of one. What are two more, if they get in my way?
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