“House of the Rising Sun”

INT. BAR NEW ORLEANS - 12:30AM(OCTOBER 29TH

The crowd is mostly college kids. You can tell even with the costumes. Two nights before Halloween and the freaks are out early. The bar scene is the usual hosh posh of frat house type debauchery, other than the fact it’s being perpetrated by Frankensteins, Draculas, and Wolfmen.

Loud music plays and a group of the girls are on what passes for a dance floor. The monsters watch the fairies dance like they’re dancing in the moonlight.

EXT. BAR - CONTINUOUS

The street the bar occupies is strangely quiet and empty for a Saturday night. The concrete and metal shine from a recent rain and the wind blows paper trash around like autumn leaves.

Across the street from the Bar’s parking lot sits a lone police car. We cannot yet see inside but it is assumable it is waiting for the eminent flow of drunken rowdy college students towards the parking lot.

EXT. PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

A very pretty and slightly tipsy young girl, somewhere in her 20s, storms through the parking lot. She pauses momentarily to puzzle over a large UHAUL truck parked in the lot. It seems completely out of place in this environment. Then she seems to remember where she is and starts back towards her car.

Seconds later a burly young man, younger 20s, with his Dracula mask turned backwards on his head is CHASING after her. He calls to her.

(CONTINUED)

SHAMUSHey! Hey wait up!

She goes around the driver side of a black SUV six or seven cars down. -we see Shamus come running up to catch her just before she unlocks the door of the SUV.

He says nothing but turns her around and presses her against the door they make out HEAVILY.

After a few moments the girl pulls back and pushes the Shamus away.

From our voyeurs position we can BARELY HEAR-

GIRL(out of breath)

I told you I’m leaving! If you’re not the kind of man that can give me what I want I’ll find somebody that can. Got that?

SHAMUS(drunk)

Come on, girl. Shamus can give you whatever you want. Just not in the booth with all those people around. I told you I’ve got girlfriends all over.

She looks impatient, annoyed, unimpressed..

SHAMUSSince we’re here, let’s hop in the back of the truck and I can show you properly-

She suddenly looks through the windows of the car behind him like she heard a noise-

He caresses a finger down her arm and she looks into his eyes again.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

2.

GIRL(seductively)

You really think you can give me what I need? Right now?

he pulls her up and they kiss again.

the guy in the SKI MASK breaks the moment when he strolls up and smashes Shamus right over the forehead of his backwards Dracula mask. Shamus drops like a stone.

the SKI MASK then claps a GLOVED hand over the girl’s open mouth.

We are safely in the shadows when the SKI MASK drags the GIRL out of the picture and back towards the bar... A few seconds later there is a THUMP and the sound of a slide door closing.

For a while we stay on the body of Shamus, no doubt bleeding out on the dirty concrete. The loud music plays on from inside the bar.

Then we FADE to darkness ourselves...

INT. POLICE CAR - CONTINUOUS

A young policeman, 30 Johnny Walker, sits in the patrol car staring down at a horror comic book. A radio host is talking about the kids in town celebrating Halloween early because there is a hurricane predicted in the coming days-

Johnny rolls down his window and immediately we hear the loud music from the college bar down the street. He shakes his head with a bit of sympathy. Then he checks his dash clock and rolls the window back up. He flips through the stations on his hand radio til he finds the same station the bar radio is tuned to. he flips the page in his comic book as he bobs his head to the tune.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

3.

A few moments pass and a UHAUL truck exits the parking lot behind his patrol car.

Johnny sees it in his rearview mirror and notes the strangeness of it, just as the kidnapped girl did earlier--

He watches as a custom painted El Camino pull up to his stop sign at the intersection before the Uhaul gets to his. The Camino starts across but the UHAUL never even slows for it’s own stop sign. It continues into the intersection. The two vehicles come to a screeching halt just before impact and the Camino blares it’s horn.

The UHAUL disregards and continues.

Johnny makes a disgusted face.

JOHNNYA drunk UHAUL driver. Halloween really is early this year.

He looks down at his watch, sighs, then pops a candy in his mouth and turns the ignition-

JOHNNYTrick or Treat.

speeds off. Business as usual

EXT. STREETS - CONTINUOUS

Johnny’s cruiser turns the corner and lights up the siren as the UHAUL cruises through the next intersection --

The UHAUL continues for another block before it finally pulls over-- Cruiser pulls behind it--

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

4.

Johnny gets out, unlatches his gun holster, and walks cautiously to the driver window of the UHAUL--Business as usual-- most of his tension melts when he sees the nice looking college kid with a BIG smile behind the wheel .

Johnny smiles back despite himself, surprised the kid isn’t in a mask.

JOHNNYGonna have to ticket, ya.

KIDYeah, I kind of figured.

The kid hands Johnny his license which the cop takes with approval. He starts to write out the ticket.

JOHNNYYou know why I’m siting you, I guess?

KIDYeah, sucks driving these things. Sights all fucked up.. Orders, ya know.

Johnny looks up a little sharply at the curse and the kid’s toothy smile has changed to one that says “fuck you”.

Johnny finishes the ticket and hands the kid his license. -When he does he notices the black leather gloves and the handheld camera on the passenger seat. The kid is wearing all black.

JOHNNYCan you uh, hop out and open your cargo door, please.

The kid’s smile falters and Johnny sees it.

DRIVERYeah, sure.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

5.

That fake toothy smile again- Kid opens the door and SHOOTS Johnny twice in the chest. Then he quickly closes the door and takes off--

Moments later A CAR passing by, stops, and the woman motorist jumps out and goes to check on Johnny. She falls to her knees and yanks out her cell phone-- She’s just starting to yell into the phone when Johnny’s motionless body suddenly jerks back to life. He rolls over onto his stomach and struggles to his feet as the 911 caller stares incredulous from her knees.

CUT TO:

INT. PATROL CAR - CONTINUOUS

Johnny rips the driver door of his patrol car open and tosses the used vest across the seat. He jumps in, still heaving, and furious he hits the gas; and lights up the siren.

-skirts a right at the next block;pure instinct. -LOOKS left as he passes the intersection and catches a glimpse of the UHAUL backlights -WHIPS the cruiser in that direction and takes off behind it- UHAUL takes another right and is out of sight--

Johnny passes intersections looking in both directions every time he passes one. He fears he’s lost the truck and hits the gas again in anger-- passing another intersection He catches a blurred glimpse of UHAUL headlights and has to whip the cruiser around into a uturn-- HORNS blaring and breaks screeching--

-the UHAUL is stopped beside a row of parked cars-

Johnny screeches to a halt and gets out. He sees the sliding trailer door is already open and remembers--

JOHNNY(into his talkie)

701 to base. Requesting assistance at 5th and Union.

CONTINUED: (2)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

6.

Driver shot me in the goddammned vest and took off. Just caught up with him and-

The sound of a car door opening and johnny cuts the transmission short. He raises his weapon and steps from behind the patrol car door--

As he gets closer, GUN poised this time, the cargo trailer looks empty.

He steps up to the driver side and promptly gets his second shock of the night. The driver’s head slumped on the door jam, his throat roughly slashed, and bled out. There is a small, bloody corkscrew bottle opener on the passenger seat.

He notices the passenger door is wide open, but there was no one else in the cab when he pulled the kid over.

-Johnny takes a few steps back and aims--

He scans the area but the block, which he now sees is made up of warehouses, is empty and quiet. He can still hear the traffic and the sounds of the city in the distance. He heads around to the cargo door--

There is a sound from somewhere near the front of the truck and Johnny starts. He looks around to see it was nothing, engine dying.

He scans the inside of the trailer more closely but there is Nothing-- The dark shadows of the trailer look empty, but Johnny senses something is there.

He squints as the darkness starts to swim in front of him like a nightmare- The engine TICKS again and it breaks him from his gaze into the darkness--

When he turns back there are EYES staring at him from the shadows. Inhuman eyes; shiny black liquid metal.

CONTINUED:JOHNNY (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

7.

Johnny starts to lift his GUN but before he can something snatches him off his feet and into the trailer.

CUT TO:

EXT. HOTEL LOBBY - LATER

Police and ambulance are on the scene as Johnny opens his eyes. He recognizes the inside of the ambulance and sits up to wave the MTs away.

As he gets out of the back he sees a sizeable crowd is gathered behind the police barrier.

He half wobbles towards the UHAUL and a tall policeman dressed in plain clothes comes over and puts a hand on his shoulder.

LT. LANCERYou, lucky dick.

Johnny looks over, still disoriented.

LT. LANCER(laughing)

Did you make a deal with the Devil or something because somehow you just “blasted” your way to a promotion, pal. Hell, they might offer you my job. Happy Halloween.

Before Johnny can reply he sees a CSI team casing the inside of the UHAUL-

OVER at the ambulance a very pretty girl is having the pupils of her very pretty eyes examined.

When they’re done she happens to look over and catch eyes with Johnny. Something passes between them.

REPORTER (V.O.)How was the kidnapper killed, Officer Walker?

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

8.

Johnny snaps towards the question confused and then he sees the body on the ground beside the cab of the UHAUL.

JOHNNYI didn’t kill him this time.

LANCEROf course not. And I think it’s “Detective” Walker, now-- And you can print that. We’ll catch you after we file the report, Jasper, okay.

Jasper calls him and asshole as Lancer throws an arm around Johnny’s neck and leads him away.

JOHNNYI didn’t kill that guy.

LANCERWhat? What are you talking about? I know you didn’t. Not unless you’re the Wolfman this Halloween. Listen buddy, when they found you, you were layed out just like this asshole. MT’s say you must have gotten a concussion when you hit the ground after he shot you. That’s probably why you fainted. That and some blood loss. He got you pretty good in the shoulder you know. It’s a miracle you stayed conscious long enough to catch up to him.

Johnny steps over to look at the sheet covering the body of the dead driver.

LANCERGuys throat was slashed with that corkscrew on the seat. No fingerprints. And the coroner says some blood is missing, but hey, it’s a victimless crime right.

JOHNNY What about the passenger door?

LANCERWhat about it?

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

9.

JOHNNYIt was open when I got here.

LANCERListen bud, we found you “resting your eyes” so as far as i’m concerned you could have dreamed this bedtime story. But you stopped the bad guy and saved the girl without getting yourself murdered. Couldn’t write it any better-- At least there’s some good news with this storm coming.

Johnny tries to look back at the woman in the ambulance but Lancer throws an arm around his shoulders and pulls him further away from the reporters.

LANCERLook, all I’m saying is its okay if you don’t remember clearly what happened but it’s clear from the evidence that you’re the hero in this. So you better goddamn well act like you know it.

Johnny turns back to the girl in the ambulance.

JOHNNYWas it her?

LANCER(low)

You didn’t know?... She was wrapped up like a present back there, my friend. A UHAUL has to be the best kidnap vehicle ever; GENIUS. You “must” be a little fuzzy if you don’t remember her. She had just come to when we got here and screaming like baby. You’d think we were the kidnappers. She says she was drugged but the MT’s don’t know what it was and they say they can’t find anything in her system. They’ve sent her blood to the lab. Wonder how many more people this creep could’ve fit in the back of that van.

CONTINUED: (2)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

10.

The CSIs say there’s other blood types stained on the floor-

JOHNNYShe wasn’t back there when I opened it.

LANCERHey, you gotta stop talking in absolutes, brother. How about “I can’t recollect”.

JOHNNY(firmly)

She wasn’t in there, Derrick!

A few people around notice his tone and look over.

Lancer looks serious for the first time.

LANCERThe door was closed when we got here. So unless you opened it and then closed it back before you walked over and passed out I’d chalk it up to the concussion.

Johnny suddenly pushes passed Lancer and heads back over to the covered body. Before Lancer can stop him he pulls the sheet and there is a collective groan as the crowd and the reporters view the dead kid.

Johnny is relieved to see the kid’s neck is slashed just like he remembers; the only thing he seems to remembers-

Lancer catches his wrist, takes the sheet and throws it back over the boy’s face.

LANCER(quietly)

What the fuck, Johnny. That kid’s face is the only thing that’s not good for us right now. I’ll see you at the office.

JOHNNYLieutenant

CONTINUED: (3)LANCER (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

11.

LANCERMy office, Johnny.

(louder)We’ll talk about that promotion.

INT. LIEUTENANT’S OFFICE - LATER

Johnny looks like he’s been waiting a few hours.

Lancer walks in and starts around his desk.

JOHNNYHere’s the rundown, Derrick, I don’t care what the Mt’s or CSI’s or any other experts told you but there is something strange going on that we need to talk about-

LANCERHow about we just considering the mess you’ve gotten this department into the last two years I would think this is a win-win for you. You killed two people last month and let’s not forget the kid you assaulted last year because the media hasn’t!

JOHNNYHe was sixteen! And he was robbing a 7-11!

LANCERYou broke his arm! And his jaw! If it wasn’t for your father-- look all i’m saying is it’s not exactly a bad thing you’re the one who got shot this time. Balances things out in the mind of the sheeple. So just go with it okay?

Lancer’s cellphone rings and he interrupts johnny with a hand to answer it. He listens intently, his face growing more annoyed by the second. When he’s done he aims the finished expression at Johnny.

JOHNNYWhat is it?

CONTINUED: (4)

(CONTINUED)

12.

LANCERSomething’s wrong with her blood.

JOHNNYShotgun.

Lancer heads back out the door and Johnny follows him.

CUT TO:

INT. LAB - LATER

Johnny and Lancer enter to find the Lab Tech waiting for them. He wears a look of sarcastic cynicism and he speaks in a heavy russian accent to match.

KRUEGERI don’t know what this is but I don’t like jokes. Jeb put you up to this?

LANCERNo “JEB” didn’t,

(eyes name tag)“Krueger”-- We’re “police officers”.

JOHNNYWhy?

KRUEGERCuz if this isn’t a joke it is some serious shit.

He turns back towards his work area and starts to type a keyboard.

KRUEGERJeb is my brother in law over at the college. He’s a geneticist. I’ve gotta send him this.

LANCERWell, what the hell is it?! Black Plague?

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

13.

KRUEGERThese red blood cells are going through a state of decomposition and recomposition I’ve never seen before. They’re constantly breaking themselves down and replicating at the same time. It happens naturally but not at this rate. I’ve never seen anything like this.

The two cops exchange looks and then at the technician.

KRUEGERRed blood cells are produced in the bone marrow by stem cells. They don’t replicate on their own and the circulation through the body usually takes something like 120 days. At this rate I’d say these last about a week. It’s like they’re burning themselves out.

LANCERThe guy that snatched her. They said he injected her with something.

KRAMERNo. There’s nothing foreign in this blood and there’s nothing known that could get in and out of the blood that fast. I just can’t believe you got this from a human being. If you did she’s gotta be a really sick lady.

Johnny and Lancer exchange looks again.

INT. HOSPITAL - LATER

Johnny talks to a nurse near the front desk. Lancer stands off to the side in a corner talking into his cellphone.

NURSEYeah, she checked out. A few of you guys questioned her and when they were done she asked to leave.

CONTINUED:

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

14.

They didn’t exactly give her an answer and she didn’t exactly wait for one, if you catch my drift. Turned and turned back and she was gone. Didn’t even stay to get her blood back.

Lancer comes back from his call, still annoyed.

LANCERDo-

NURSE-I have an address? Probably not.

She goes around to check the computer.

A few clicks later and

NURSEWhat do ya know. An honest citizen. 525 LeBonton’ Pl.

Johnny starts to leave.

JOHNNY(to Lancer)

Stay and wait for the blood test. Find a doctor and tell him what Krueger told us.

He turns and hurries off.

LANCERYou’re not the boss of me!

Johnny doesn’t turn back.

LANCERThat’s great.

He pulls his cell from his coat.

CUT TO:

CONTINUED:NURSE (CONT'D)

15.

EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Johnny hurries to Lancer’s car.

He looks all around trying to see the row they parked in. He’s not looking where he’s going and bumps passed a guy on his way in the opposite direction.

The guy walks on rudely as if he meant to do it.

Johnny finds Lancer’s car unlocks the door-

Before he can open it he’s slammed violently up against it. And a pair of trained lips are at his ear.

MAN(fake raspy whisper)

You leave her ALONE, alright. She’s not for you.

Johnny presses back against the man just enough to know he can’t get away.

JOHNNY(calm)

Who’s this?

The guy seems to ponder this for a moment or two.

MANYou can call me the Superman.

JOHNNYWell, can you get off my ASS, Superman!

The man laughs and relaxes a little but still like an iron slab against Johnny’s back.

MANThis whole country is full of peasants. My father told me this before we came but I did not believe it. In my home you are just food, nothing more, hu.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

16.

(closer)We’d rip out your throats and drink you dry.

JOHNNYThat’s what you did to that kid?

The guy yanks Johnny’s arm up to his shoulder blade and slams his head into the car. He laughs in Johnny’s ear.

MANPeasant. You don’t know anything. Do you?

Johnny grits his teeth.

JOHNNYI know if you don’t kill me, i’m going to take you down.. And now you know that too.. So the question is--

MANI could kill you, yes.. But “someone” wants you alive a little longer.

JOHNNYYour father, hu. And why does Daddy want me alive? Or are you still too “wittle” to know Daddy’s plans? Not a big boy yet?

Johnny tries to push off the car but his assailant holds fast. Someone yells his name from somewhere in the distance.

MANSoon.

The assailant slams his head against the car and the lights go out.

INT. LANCER’S CAR -(OCT 30 3:00AM)

Johnny wakes up in the driver’s seat of Lancer’s patrol car.

CONTINUED:MAN (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

17.

He shakes his head to clear it and notices Lancer slumped over in the passenger seat. Blood can be seen smudged on the side of his neck and head.

Lancer’s face is turned away and Johnny reaches over dreading to touch Lancer’s shoulder, knowing there is no life left in it. Just as Lancer’s face starts to become visible there is a loud RAP at Johnny’s window. He jumps violently at the sound and turns to see the girl from the ambulance earlier. She is furious.

She raps at the window again and he starts to open the door.

GIRLI thought I told you people to leave me alo--

The words get stuck when she sees who it is.

Beat

JOHNNYI’m sorry.

GIRLWhat are you doin here? Did they send you to-

She notices Lancer for the first time.

GIRLWhat’s wrong with him?

Johnny looks over remembering about Lancer.

JOHNNYI- He’s dead, I think.

She takes a step back.

GIRLOh shit. What did you-

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

18.

JOHNNYI didn’t.

Her steps stop again and her eyes open wider. Her hand fails at trying to cover the “O” of terror on her mouth.

GIRLIt’s “them”.

Johnny opens the car door. He’s halfway out of the car when Lancer’s hand suddenly grips his wrist.

Johnny snaps around in terror to see Lancer’s half eaten FACE pulling itself towards him.

Lancer’s mouth opens releasing blood and spittle-

LANCER(dead)

What did you do to me, Johnny?

Johnny tries to pull away but Lancer holds him fast.

LANCERWhy did you-

A hand squeezes Johnny’s shoulder.

GIRLHey.

Lancer is just a corpse again. Slumped over against the dark passenger window.

Johnny’s terror becomes shock.

GIRLIf he’s dead we need to get out of here.

JOHNNYDid you see that?

GIRLI see a dead guy and I see you.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

19.

Johnny looks over at Lancer realizing he doesn’t really want to see his face after all. Instead he puts a hand on the bigger man’s shoulder.

JOHNNYWe need to get out of here.

GIRLLet’s go.

She turns and heads for her car across the street.

Johnny shoots one more look back at Lancer, half expecting him to speak again.

GIRLCome on!!

Johnny turns and follows her-- - she tosses him the keys.

GIRLYou drive.

He opens the door and sees all the bags in the back seat. Then looks back at her over the top of the car.

GIRLI’m already gone.

Johnny almost smiles then hops into the driver seat. The girl gets in too.

They take off into the night.

EXT. CAR - LATER

Johnny pulls over to the side of the road but leaves the engine running. He opens the door and gets out then closes the door behind him.

From inside the girl watches him throw a fit; cursing at the night. Something catches her eye the floor under s seat.

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

20.

She reaches down and slides out the horror comic book from earlier-- She drops it back when He slams his fists against the trunk-- finally he comes back around to the driver door.

He calmly opens the door gets in and closes it. The girl is quiet through all of this.

He runs his hands through his hair and then plants his forehead on the steering wheel.

JOHNNYWHAT IS GOING ON?

After a few moments he lifts his head and looks “in control” again. He stares directly out the windshield.

JOHNNYWhat’s your name-

Before he can get the question completely out she is on him. Straddling him and clawing at his shirt HER mouth is HOT on HIS drinking him in hungrily. with dreamy speed her jeans are off and tossed to the side He at first tries to stop her but she’s too strong He surrenders to her and when she raises up to open his pants he bites at her neck and breasts She moans in ecstacy--

Ten or eleven fiery thrusts and she slams her half closed fists down on his shoulders releasing her climax-- they are both done--

She slips off of him just as expertly as she had gotten on and starts sliding on her pants.

Johnny lies his head back on the seat closes his eyes and gives a long hard sigh; the first time he’s relaxed since he pulled the UHAUL over.

GIRLI’m Lenore.

He looks over at her for the first time.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

21.

JOHNNYI’m Johnny. Johnny Walker.

She smiles slyly as she places his name.

Familiar with this response he turns the keys in the ignition and tears off into the night.

CUT TO:

INT. CAR - LATER

Johnny drives with his eyes focused forward but it’s clear he’s not just seeing the road.

Lenore turns from staring out the window towards her own troubles.

LENORESo what happened?

JOHNNYI have to tell you something?

LENOREI’d rather hear what happened to your friend back there.

Beat

JOHNNY(sigh)

Some guy jumped me from behind in the hospital parking lot... He said “someone” wanted me to stay alive a little longer; his father. Last thing I remember is Lancer calling my name from somewhere behind me then the guy puts me out. I wake up in front of your house with a zombie in the passenger seat. His throat was slashed the same way as the kid who grabbed you--

Lenore’s face hardens at the mention of her kidnapping.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

22.

JOHNNYIt’s not just that. Something’s off. There was no one near me in that parking lot. And this guy was a kid but he had me pinned like a tack. It didn’t even seem like he was working hard. It was like he was-

LENOREToo strong.

JOHNNYYeah. I mean Derrick was the toughest guy I knew. And he was armed. I just don’t understand how it could have happened.

Beat

LENOREShamus, the guy I was with when they took me, was a class A meathead. You know the type of guy who would do shots for punches in the face? But this guy just dropped him like a sack of shit. I mean, how could someone do that?

Johnny looks over at the sudden curse but she is staring out the windshield, remembering.

LENOREHe just-- hit him. And then there was just so much blood.

JOHNNYDid you see the kid that was driving?

LENOREThat was no “kid” in that ski mask.

Johnny pulls to a stop light, the first he’s acknowledged since they started driving.

JOHNNYSo what are we trying to say?

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

23.

This time when he turns to her she turns back to her window. She looks at the night for a long time and he starts to drive again.

LENOREI’m saying Shamus was a fucking animal but this guy.-- He was a beast.

Johnny eyes the road ahead again making sure not to turn his head and show the uncertainty of his own expression.

LENOREIf you hadn’t chased him off I don’t know what would’ve--

She breaks down and starts to cry a little. Then she steadies herself, a feat that obviously took practice.

LENOREThank you.

Her hand is on his arm, lightly, and he stops even though the light is green this time. He looks at her again and they share a moment of silence.

His phone rings and breaks the moment.

After a few more seconds he checks the missed call.

JOHNNYIt’s the lab.. There’s something else you need to know.

CUT TO:

INT. LAB - LATER

It’s obviously after hours in the large lab area. The overhead lights are off which doesn’t matter much because of the lights from all the monitors and lab equipment.

All the chairs are empty except four gathered in the middle of the room near a workstation.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

24.

Johnny and Lenore sit opposite two scientist in lab coats. One of them is Krueger, the lab tech Johnny and Lancer talked to earlier. The scientists look positively exuberant while Johnny and Lenore are clearly in shock.

JEBWell, like I said on the phone, at first we thought the red blood cells were devouring each other, which is impossible enough, but now we think they aren’t red blood cells at all.

JOHNNYWhat do you mean?

KRUEGERWell, technically they were red blood cells but they’re being mutated by some kind of.. Virus--

JEBUh, we think.

Lenore looks weak and uses the desk behind her to hold herself up.

KRUEGERWe’re not sure. See, somehow this guy injected you with something that mimics red blood cells on a molecular level. Except these guys carry plasmids.

Both Johnny and Lenore look lost.

JEBPlasmids are special pieces of DNA that can move between cells. They’re ancient; like prehistoric. They’re supposed to have evolved into what we call the “virus” of today.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

25.

KRUEGERAnyway, since the fake red cells resemble the normal red cells so much they are able to infect the normal red cells very easily using the plasmids as a catalyst. The plasmids, which reproduce independently, somehow metabolize the hemiglobin and overthrow the normal red cell, actually rewriting it’s chromosomal DNA. It in turn becomes a fake red cell and continues the process. It’s like a vamp-

JEBLike a virus.

Johnny looks over at Lenore who is shrinking further into the into the floor.

JOHNNY(to Jeb)

So what happens to the person?

JEBThat’s the interesting part.

KRUEGERWe don’t know.

JEBBut we postulate, after the fake red cell infects a normal cell with it’s plasmids it decays using a form of thermonuclear fusion. See, during nuclear fusion massive energy is released by heating plasma enough for the nuclei of the atoms to collide and-

KRUEGERThe blood cells burn faster and release more energy into the body.. In other words, super strength, super speed, crystal clear thinking, maybe, heightened senses..

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

26.

Both Krueger and Jeb are looking at Lenore while they impart this information. When it gets too quiet Lenore finally looks up at they’re expectant faces.

LENOREWhat? So I’ve been injected with the Superman virus?

KRUEGERAre you feeling any of that?

LENOREJust the opposite actually I think I’m going to faint.. And throw up

She starts to swoon and Johnny steps over to steady her.

JEBAnyway we’d like to keep you here.

LENORE(suddenly lucid)

What!? No!.. Absolutley not!

JEBListen, this is-- HUGE. I mean no one has ever seen anything like it. And as far as we know you’re the only “living” carrier.

KRUEGERAlso this “thing” could be contagious. And you could be the only living host we get to study-

LENORESo you want me to be your lab rat?

KRUEGERMore like our patient “0”.

JEBThere’s something else-- Well, imagine running your car on regular gasoline for years and then suddenly switching to “premium plus”. Then driving top speed everywhere-

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

27.

KRUEGERIt could be causing your body to burn itself out. Using up too much energy in too short an amount of time. You should really let us try to find out what it is and how to stop it now.

Lenore finally looks up and it is directly into johnny’s eyes--

JOHNNYThe lady stays with me guys.

Lenore looks relieved. The scientists look deflated.

Beat

KRUEGERCan we at least take some of your blood?

This time Johnny gives Lenore a reassuring nod. Jeb excitedly goes to get a needle ready and Lenore goes over to oblige him.

When they are alone.

KRUEGERHey, is your name really “Johnny Walker”?

Johnny gives another long sigh.

EXT. LAB - LATER

Johnny walks out of the lab’s front door and notices dawn coming.

Lenore bounds out a few seconds behind him.

LENOREWhere are you going?

CONTINUED: (4)

(CONTINUED)

28.

JOHNNYI’m gonna get this guy.

LENOREWell, i’m coming too. You can’t leave me here with Eyegore and Dr. Frankenstein.

Johnny whirls on her suddenly furious.

JOHNNYAre you serious? You saw what he did to your boyfriend. I saw what he did to Lancer. The same thing is either going to happen to me or him. What do you think you could possibly do to help?

LENOREListen, It’s my blood that’s-- infected. And I got you into this.

She looks down guiltily, thinking of the morning’s earlier indiscretion.

JOHNNYReally?

Beat

LENOREThat’s right I could have run! I should have. I mean God help me for what happened to Shamus but he was there of his own free will and so was I.... But you.. You and your friend Lancer didn’t have anything to do with it. You were just trying to help. And.. I’m sorry.. About your friend.

Beat

Johnny turns.

JOHNNYHe wasn’t my friend.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

29.

He reaches in to his pocket, brings out a candy and pops it into his mouth as heads for the car. She follows.

When he goes to open the driver door she goes to open the passenger.

LENORECan we please get something to eat first? I’m starving.

He gives her a stale look over the hood.

She gets in before he can make a comment.

INT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

Johnny reaches into his pocket and pops another candy into his mouth starts up the car.

LENOREShamus wasn’t my boyfriend either. He was my ex.

Johnny looks at her for another moment and proceeds to open his door and unlock hers.

JOHNNYHe is now.

INT. FAST FOOD JOINT - LATER

Johnny and Lenore walk through the seating area towards the line in front of the counter.

LENOREI say i’m starving and you assume that means desperate?

JOHNNYWhat do you mean? The food here is perfectly nutritious. Plus it’s “fast”.

He pops another candy.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

30.

LENOREEat fast, die young.

Johnny boldly pricks a fry from the plate of a kid at a table.

JOHNNYI’d feed my kids this stuff. They love it.

LENOREGee, that’s good information.

Now standing in line Johnny notices an out of place pair of men enter the building. Instead of getting in line they take seats in a booth closest to the door. They don’t take their eyes off johnny.

JOHNNYHey, uh, either those guys are with the board of health or we’ve been followed.

Lenore’s eyes widen when she sees them.

LENOREIt’s him!

QUICK as a snake Johnny draws the handgun from his waist and fires a shot at one of the men. The bullet hits the THUG1 squarely in the chest and he slumps to the side- Customers scream and try to cringe behind their seats, they’re stuck between the men and johnny’s gun--

Johnny swings the weapon on THUG2 who is already out of his seat and moving swiftly towards them. THUG2 ducks behind the mom of the kid with the fries, preventing Johnny from firing--

While Johnny tries to get an angle on THUG2 he sees THUG1, the dead man, suddenly sit up in the seat he was previously slumped in- THUG1 wipes absently at the wound in his chest and then starts to get up-

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

31.

-a CELLPHONE , belonging to Fry Kid’s mom, is suddenly cutting through the air, end over end, like a knife toward- Johnny, who ducks it at the last moment- but by the time he’s recovered THUG2 is too close for him to get off a clean shot--

Just as THUG2 reaches Johnny, Lenore steps between them and catches THUG2 shirt--

Both men wear equally dumbfounded expressions as Lenore uses both hands to lift THUG2 and throw him across the restaurant. The fry kid’s mom has too duck to avoid being hit by the flying THUG2--

There is no time to wonder as THUG1 is now hopping over tables to reach them. Johnny fires once- Twice and THUG1 is knocked down on his back--

THUG2 gets up and manages to scramble back out the double door before johnny can get off a shot in his direction- Many of the customers follow him shortly after--

Johnny walks slowly over to THUG1 who is lying in the walkway of the Burger joint dying for a second time.

There are five bullet wounds in the man’s chest but there is very little blood. He struggles to get up despite his obvious injuries. He resembles a bug trying to flip off it’s back and Johnny stares down at him as such.

Lenore steps up and takes the GUN from Johnny’s hand.

LENOREMotherf-----

BLAMMM!

She plants one in THUG1 head and he stops moving.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

32.

Johnny looks over at her and she hands the GUN back to him.

LENOREYou didn’t see what it did to Lancer but I was awake the whole time for what it did to Shamus. I won’t let them take me again.

Johnny stares down at the zombie. The restaurant is now empty and sirens sound in the distance.

JOHNNYStill hungry?

INT. HOTEL ROOM - LATER

Johnny searches the television for news stories on himself. Lenore tears into room service like a mad woman.

LENORE(mouth full)

Oh my God. Oh my god. This is orgasmic. Now “this” is food. I feel like i haven’t eaten in years.

JOHNNYHow can you eat after something like that?

She stops and looks up at him.

LENOREI’m hungry.

JOHNNYI was expecting something along the lines of “terrified”, maybe--

LENOREAre you terrified, Johnny?

JOHNNYNot exactly-- Am I disturbed, yes. Am I annoyed, yes.

CONTINUED: (3)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

33.

But mostly i’m perplexed because I’m smack dab in the middle of this nightmare and I still don’t know what the hell is going on. They’ve shot me twice and left me lyin on the street for dead, killed my boss right before he was about to give me a promotion, and i’m pretty sure they have ruined any future experience I will have at that restaurant. Not to mention, oh yeah, “they” are shaping up to be a bunch of assholes injected with a super zombie virus from the planet Krypton. I mean, it’s times like these a man has to ask himself, “Am I in the Twilight Zone?”.

LENORE(still eating)

You know it is Halloween.

JOHNNYYeah, that band-aid just makes it all better.

Lenore stops eating abruptly as if she’s lost her appetite.

LENOREWhy don’t you read one of the half dozen police reports from when they took me?

JOHNNYOh thanks for reminding me about the icing. I’m probably wanted for murder about now! My own guys are gonna be looking for me so there goes any help I would have had. I’m a detective on a deadline with only one clue-- You.

LENOREWell, what do you want from me?!

JOHNNYWho are you, for starters?! And why did they pick you!? If you were random they wouldn’t be following up this hard.

CONTINUED:JOHNNY (CONT'D)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

34.

You’ve got to be connected somehow? So I’ll ask you one more time. WHO ARE YOU and WHAT DO YOU KNOW!?!

LENORE(near tears)

I’m NOBODY OKAY! NOBODY!-- I moved here 6 months ago with 500 dollars to my name and a shit load of baggage from my last life! Shamus was just a nice guy at first. A college guy. I liked that. He was a dick, but i guess i sort of liked that too. He wasn’t so caught up in rules and traditions like my family. We were in the bar with all these drunk college kids and he wants to “do it” right there in the booth in front of everyone. It was our first time and i couldn’t believe he could be so un-romantic so i left. He caught up with me in the parking lot and we were talking and then-- All I saw was a guy in a ski mask.

JOHNNYDid Shamus mention being in any trouble before? Were you in any trouble.

LENORENo. I can take care of myself.. Shamus-- I don’t think so. He argued with this guy at the Fun House a couple of nights ago but--

JOHNNYThe Horror Carnival? Great. Those guys are bad news. They’re like gypsies passing through. Nobody knows where they came from or what they’ve done-

LENOREIt wasn’t one of the workers. It was just some guy

CONTINUED: (2)JOHNNY (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

35.

INT. “JUNGLE GYM”-ER4FGVF STRIP CLUB - LATER

Johnny and Lenore sit in the parking lot.

JOHNNYThis does not look like a gambling club. Maybe strip poker.

LEOREI’m coming in with you.

JOHNNYThat’s okay.

Lenore opens her door.

LENORENo, i insist.

INT. JUNGLE GYM - CONTINUOUS

Johnny and Lenore walk into a very exotic and busy looking strip club. As the name suggests, the place is decorated to look like a jungle complete with costumes and bamboo stripper poles.

Johnny gives an awestruck whistle.

LENOREWow.

JOHNNYYeah.

Johnny looks around at the costumed employees, taking care to notice the security guards in black suits around the room. He finally settles on the one employee that isn’t in costume; A large bald woman with many tattoos and piercings.

LENOREWhere do we start?

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

36.

JOHNNYLet’s go talk to the gorilla.

They stroll casually over to the woman standing and facing away from the bar. She downs a shot and glares at the strippers and the customers more like a hawk than a gorilla.

When Johnny gets there she doesn’t turn.

WOMANFuck do you want?

JOHNNYI want what everybody else wants.

She turns to him with a nasty glare.,

WOMANThen what the fuck are you standing here clockin me for? The bartenders got change. Get to trickin’.

She turns back top her previous view.

JOHNNYWell, see that’s the thing. I think I’ve got a little something to trade. Boss man around?

This time her look is a bit less hostile.

She looks hard at Lenore and then one for Johnny.

WOMANWe don’t do trade ins. And the “Boss” picks his own girls.

(nasty laugh)Likes ‘em “special”, see.

JAREDThis little piece don’t look “special” to you?

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

37.

He spreads his hands to present her. Then he makes her turn around so the lady can see.

WOMANShe’s too old. Likes ‘em fresh. Plus the Boss ain’t here. During the night hours I’m the Boss. And I think, if you ain’t payin you’re leaving. And that

She cracks her knuckles and looks over at security, who is staring at the scene anxiously.

WOMANIs something I “can” help you with.

Johnny looks at her for a few more moments and then smiles. He notices the “back” area is locked off.

JOHNNYThat won’t be necessary. Don’t exert yourself on my account. I’ll just come back when the boss “man” is around.

She eyes him with real hatred as he backs a few steps then turns and heads fopr the entrance, with Lenore in tow.

EXT. JUNGLE GYM - CONTINUOUS

Johnny smiles as he leads Lenore to the parking lot.

LENOREYeah thanks that was fun.

JOHNNYSorry but I had to improvise.

LENOREUh hu, something tells me that was from the old Jared playbook.

JOHNNYRegardless it worked. This is definitely the place.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

38.

LENOREHow do you know?

JOHNNYThe security guards and the assholes chasing us shop at the same suit store.

Just then a probable employee exits from a side door of the club. Johnny heads over without a word.

JOHNNYExcuse me. Your name isn’t Carla is it?

The stripper doesn’t look at him as she heads to her car.

STRIPPERNah. And if you don’t have an appointment i can’t talk to you.

JOHNNYI just want to ask you something.

STRIPPERIf i scream the security guard is gonna really mess you up. Does that answer your question?

Johnny stops and throws up his hands.

JOHNNYJust a question.

The stripper stops and finally turns to look at him. Then she looks over and sees Lenore standing against the car glaring at her.

STRIPPERWhat.

When she turns to him he notices a pair of marks on her neck. Like scars from being bitten by fangs.

JOHNNYWhat’s your boss like?

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

39.

The stripper laughs.

STRIPPERWhy? You trynna steal me away? You couldn’t pay me enough and besides

(lights a cigarette)The Boss would kill me.

JOHNNYOh, that type hu?

STRIPPERYeah, he real protective over his “investments”.

She looks over at Lenore again, who is still glaring.

STRIPPERSYou might be able to talk me into a few hours though. If you can pay the rent.

JOHNNYThat’s okay. My “investment” is pretty protective over me.

The stripper shrugs; “suit yourself”.

She walks off to the parking lot without another word.

Johnny gives Lenore an evil smile as he gets back to the car.

LENOREWhat’d you say to her?

JOHNNYNothing. Definitely the right place though.

Suddenly the strippers corvette burns rubber out of the parking lot.

JOHNNYCopy that. Let’s go.

They get in the car.

CONTINUED: (2)40.

INT. CAR - MORNING

Johnny and Lenore sit in the car parked o a quiet residential street.

LENOREWhere are we?

JOHNNYOkay, soo the story is, you’re a graduate student and I’m just helping you with your homework.

LENOREWhat? Okay, who’s mom am i meeting?.

Johnny stares out the window clearly uneasy.

LENOREOh my God, you brought me to your mom’s house! Are you crazy?!

She flips down the visor mirror(almost rips it off), and tries to fix her hair.

LENOREI’ve never met anyone’s mom before.

JOHNNYWell, I’ve never brought anybody to meet her so we’re in the same boat.

LENOREHow is a girl supposed to see

Lenore suddenly stops cold and looks over at him.

LENOREWait. Nobody?

Johnny replies by opening his door.

JOHNNYThis isn’t a date.

(CONTINUED)

41.

He gets out and closes the door behind him.

EXT. SUBURBS - CONTINUOUS

Johnny and Lenore walk up the pathway to the house.

LENORESo why are we here again?

JOHNNYI need access to a computer that can get into the police database. Or at least the DMV.

They get to the front door and Johnny starts to straighten his clothing.

LENOREI can’t believe I’m about to meet the woman who named her son “Johnnie Walker”.

Johnny’s finger freezes on the doorbell.

JOHNNYJonathan. She named me Jonathan.. And don’t bring that up.

LENOREOhh, I get it now. A momma’s boy.

Jonathan gives her one more look before he rings the doorbell.

LENOREGrumpy-- And I’m hungry.

INT. FRONT DOOR(HOUSE) - CON

An older lady goes to answer her front door. From the back we see her bath robe and gray hair in a tight bun.

When the door opens she sees Lenore and Johnny standing there.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

42.

Now from Johnny and Lenore’s perspective we see Johnny’s mom from the front. She holds a pristine looking 12-gauge pump shotgun diagonally across her chest. Her expression is “not surprised”.

LENORETrick or Treat.

INT. HOUSE CONTINUOUS

The old woman now leads Johnny and Lenore into her study.

MOMI really can’t believe this, you know.

JOHNNYYou always said you could have been one of the top hackers in the world if Dad wouldn’t have made you an “honest woman”.

The lady stops and gives Johnny a foreboding look.

Johnny counters with an innocent looking “what?”.

MOMWhat I can’t believe is that you actually found an excuse to come and see me. God knows it’s been ages and of course you expect a miracle-

JOHNNYLook, mom, i know it’s been a long time since you-

Johnny’s mom opens the door to her “bedroom” and Johnny’s sentence suddenly jumps back into his throat. Before him is a veritable hacker’s paradise.

The walls and corners are barren of any normal bedroom furnishings. In the center, where the bed should be, is a high tech hub. A curved, ergonomically correct chair is attached to a shatter proof glass desk with a built in keyboard. Rising from the back of the desk are six cpu monitors mounted 2X3 on top of each other.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

43.

The monitors play stock numbers, news, and one of them even plays an episode of Sex in the City.

MOMSorry I’m just at the part where Samantha announces she has cancer.

LENOREThat part was sad.

MOMWasn’t it.

Johnny ignores them walking over to the large apparatus in disbelief.

JOHNNYMom what the hell are you-- How did you pay for all this?

MOMYour father’s pension.

(walks over proudly)And the stock market isn’t exactly like playing the Lotto now is it.

JOHNNYMom, you--

MOMI’m one of the world’s best hackers. And I’m ranked number 50 in the world at video poker!

LENOREImpressive!

MOMThank you.

She ushers Johnny to the side and plops down in her ergonomically correct chair.

MOMSo, what do you need.

JOHNNYIyuh--

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

44.

LENOREWe need to break into the FBI database.

Johnny shoots her a furious look.

MOMWell now, that’s what I figured.

JOHNNYMom, i-

MOMI do still watch the news, Johnny. I know you’re in trouble. And i figured-- No i “hoped” you would need my help.

JOHNNYMom-

She turns to the keyboard, cracks her knuckles and taps a button. All the screen go black except the one in the middle.

MOMWhat can I do for you?

Johnny gets over his last few moments of awe.

JOHNNYOkay, I need everything you can get me on the Jungle Gym. It’s a-

MOMStrip Club-- your father was a policeman for thirty years in this city.

LENOREWell, Miss walker, would you by any chance have-

MOMSandwiches in the fridge, dear.

She is already clicking away as Lenore slips out of the room like a cat.

CONTINUED: (2)45.

INT. MOM’S ROOM - LATER

Johnny watches intently as his mother hacks into the FBI database. They wear identically concentration expressions. Suddenly-

MOMYou know, son, you should come over more often.

She doesn’t shift her eyes or miss a beat as she says this.

JOHNNYI try, Mom, but you know the job keeps me busy .

MOMThat’s bollix. You’ve been avoiding me since your father passed.

The truth hangs in the room loudly over the keyboard strokes.

JOHNNYMom, I have-- I just-

MOMI’ve got cancer, Johnny.

She stops typing this time but continues to stare into cyberspace--

Johnny is dumbfounded but suddenly his mother’s warm hand is on his. She looks up at him.

MOMYou should come by more often.

JOHNNYI will.

She goes back to her typing.

JOHNNYI’m uh- i’m gonna check on Lenore.

(CONTINUED)

46.

MOMOhh, Lenore. Nice to finally be introduced. I like her.

Johnny stopsat turns back to look at his mother. He stares at the back of her for a few moments until tears well in her eyes. Then he slips out.

INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS

Johnny walks in as Lenore is just finishing a sandwich. She gives an embarrassed smile with her mouth full. He smiles back for the first time.

LENOREYou come to make sure I save your mom some sandwiches.

JOHNNYJust passing through. Gonna catch some air.

He hurries out the back door.

Lenore stares after him knowing something is wrong. She thinks to go outside but instead she goes towards his mom’s room.

INT. MOM’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Lenore walks in and stands behind Johnny’s mom. They both stare at the Matrix-like code on the screen.

MOMI’ve never seen a security system this sophisticated. Think i’ll need my “old lady” glasses.

She hops up and smiles warmly at Lenore before she leaves the room. Lenore smiles back and then turns back to the screen when she leaves.

Sure she is gone, Lenore stares at the screen concentrating.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

47.

Her EYES track the characters as they stream across the screen. We realize her eyes ar moving fast. Too fast.

She reaches down with out looking and starts to key, much faster than johnny’s mom was-- a few seconds later she stops and smiles as the code breaks and the screen clears to reveal the FBI database.

Johnny’s mom comes back in with her glasses on. When she sees the opened screen she has to take her glasses off and give them a polish with her robe.

Her face is incredulous when she looks up at Lenore.

MOMWell, how did you--

She plops back down in her chair.

MOMOh, i do like you!

They both giggle.

CUT TO:

EXT. BACKYARD - CONTINUOUS

Johnny stands in the cold night looking up at the stars. He has just finished crying and wipes his eyes with the back of his hand.

He stares a few moments long then he turns back to the door- In a flash he whips around aiming the pump shotgun as he does. There he stands teeth gritted shotgun pointed at the shadowy trees near the side of the house. It is DEAD quiet.

Suddenly there is an evil titter from the shadows.

VOICEJohnny Walker. Such a famous name.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

48.

Another titter.

Johnny pumps the shotgun.

JOHNNYToo bad yours won’t ever be.

VOICEReally, Johnny? You’re not a hero. You never were. You don’t even want to be here right now. You’d rather be sitting in your patrol car, reading a comic book. What’s your favorite? The scary ones i bet. Well, i’ll tell you something now. This isn’t a story, Johnny. This isn’t a comic book. The forces you’re dealing with are as old as time; older than man. This is real life.

He steps into the light and we see he’s the runaway thug from the fast food restaurant. Even though he wasn’t shot the man now looks half dead. His grayish skin sinks into his sunken cheeks. And his lips are black with blood. His smile doesn’t show the slightest bit of discomfort.

Johnny aims the gun more accurately.

CREEPYou can’t kill me with that. You’ll only get one shot before i rip your throat out and feed on you.

Johnny takes a step back and the Creep takes a step towards him.

CREEPAnd then i’m going to go in and take Lenore. And FEED on whoever else is in there.

Johnny takes another two steps back and the Creep another two forward.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

49.

CREEPYou know what happens to heroes in real life don’t you?

Johnny’s expression answers for him.

CREEPAhh, you do. In real life johnny, HEROES DIE!

The Creep starts takes another step.

CLOSE on Johnny

JOHNNYYou think villains live forever.

He whips his aim to the side and aiming at the propane tank beside the Creep.

CREEPMotherf-

Johnny pulls the trigger and the tank EXPLODES.

Johnny is thrown backwards by the blast. He lands against the fence half knocking it down.

The Creep lies 10 feet away missing his right leg and the hip and side torso that go with it.

As johnny is getting up Lenore and his mom come out the back door.

MOMJohnny are you okay?

LENOREWhat happened?

JOHNNYMom, maybe you should go back in the house. You don’t wanna see this.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

50.

MOMNonsense. Your father was on the force for 30 years- Oh my god. Who is that.

Lenore looks afraid.

LENOREThat’;s the guy from the burger place . How did he find us?

JOHNNYI don’t know.

MOMWhat aren’t you telling me, johnny.

JOHNNYYou don’t wanna know. Dad’s closet still in the garage?

MOMWell, of course it is. But there’s only more trouble in there.

Johnny heads towards the side of the house.

His mom waves her hands in surrender.

MOMJust like his father.

EXT. GARAGE - MOMENTS LATER

Johnny and Lenore stands as the garage door rises. The garage inside is nothing special.

LENOREWhat do you need a socket wrench?

Johnny smiles and heads inside.

He walks around the half restored Chevy towards the back of the garage. When he’s there he reaches down and raises the rug.

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

51.

Underneath is a trap door with a padlock. Johnny opens it quickly and raises the door, that sounds like it hasn’t been raised in a while.

Inside is darkness.

LENOREWhat’s this the dungeon?

INT. DAD’S CLOSET - CONTINUOUS

Johnny and Lenore take the stairs down into the darkness.

Johnny flips on the light to show they are standing in a large armory that looks like it was built of stainless steel. The room is surgically clean except the array of military grade weapons that line the walls and shelves.

LENOREOk wow. Your Dad is Rambo.

JOHNNY“Was”.

She quiets, sorry for the joking as Johnny starts to shop like he’s at Walmart. He snatches a burlap sack from the corner and starts to fill it.

Johnny notices her silence and turns from his shopping, holding a custom M16.

JOHNNYWhat?

LENOREYou said “was”.

JOHNNYYeah, but he was a copy. It wasn’t the biggest surprise when he died.

(turns back to the wall)

It was his job.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

52.

Cynthia looks at Jared again, for the first time. She smiles a little.

LENOREYeah, imagine if you could never die. How boring would life be after hundreds of years. No family. No children.

Johnny checks out a 9mm glock that looks like it may have been his Dad’s.

JOHNNY(facing the wall)

You know this might actually be a good place for you to lay low while this gets ironed out. I know you want to help but it’s too dangerous. I’ve got the training obviously and--

He turns to see why she’s still so quiet.

She stands looking directly at him with a .45 In each hand and a pair of bandoliers criss-crossing her chest. She smiles satisfaction at his flabbergast.

LENOREIt’s your job right? Well, it’s my life. And i’m not gonna give it up that easy.

Johnny smiles inspite of himself.

JOHNNYYour dad?

LENOREHe was a Lieutenant in the Spanish Navy.

JOHNNYSo I take it I don’t have to show you where the safety is?

LENORENo

(turns to the wall)

CONTINUED:

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

53.

But you can reach and grab me that sexy beast.

She points up at a deadly looking sniper rifle on the top row.

He whistles as he walks over.

JOHNNYYou know, I might actually be falling for you.

LENOREHa. That could be dangerous.

He tip toes to reach it and hands it over to her.

JOHNNYMaybe I’ll take my chances.

They both smile at each other.

EXT. GARAGE - LATER

Jared and cynthia slip back out the window and head towards the street.

CYNTHIASo, if it’s your dad’s garage why don’t you have a key to anything.

JAREDI do. But i’d rather stage a break in than have my mom find out I was in there for something.

Before Cynthia can repaly a voice comes from the bottom of the driveway.

IVANI hear you’re looking for me.

They both snap towards the shadowy area the voice came from. Cynthia pulls one of the .45’s And aims.

CONTINUED: (2)LENORE (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

54.

IVANI figured I’d make things easier for everybody.

Jared points the M16.

IVANOh no. You don’t really want to start a fight in front of your mother’s house do you?

JAREDShe’s used to it.

IVANAhh, in a cop family i bet she is.

JAREDWhat are you?

IVANWell, I haven’t exactly decided yet. But i can tell you what i’m not. “Human”.

Jared cocks the machine gun as the shadow seems to waver and move closer to them.

IVANI’m not vulnerable to guns anymore. I’m not under the law. I don’t have to live by any of your rules.

Cynthia pulls a silenced pistol and aims at the shadow.

CYNTHIALet’s see.

She pulls the trigger once. And again. and again. Emptying the clip.

There are a few moments of silence and then laughs from the shadows to the left of them now.

IVANI told you didn’t I? You know I think I like Ivan the terrible.

CONTINUED:

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

55.

That has a nice ring. And since you threw something at me allow me to retort.

Suddenly something flies out of the dark towards them and smacks against the garage door with a sickening thud. niether of them would have had a chance to dodge it if he had actually been aiming at them.

Cynthia looks down and sees the bloody severed head of the professor sitting beside her left shoe. She looks up at the big blood splatter on the white garage door and can’t stop the screaming erupting from her throat. She manages to get her free hand up to stifle it before he can pass her lips.

Jared glances down, already sure of what’s there but keeps his muzzle trained on the area of the voice.

JAREDWhat do you want?

IVANOh, I want the same as my maker wants.

Jared considers it.

JAREDAnd what’s that.

Suddenly lips are at his left ear. RIGH at his ear.

IVANBLOODDD.

Before Jared can reacted Ivan swats him and he is flung back against the garage door violently. He falls in a heap and his chin lols to his chest.

Ivan steps over to cynthia who is still in shock from the professors head and can’t move.

IVANOhh Cynthia, how long i’ve waited for this moment.

CONTINUED: (2)IVAN (CONT'D)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

56.

Shamus was such a weakling. He never had the balls to follow through. I wanted you from the first moment i laid eyes on you. The maker wanted you too but Shamus didn’t want to give you up. So i killed him. I killed him for you. I had to hav you for myself and so I did what was necessary.

He brushes the hair back from her neck.

IVANI won’t let the maker have you either. You’re mine.

He opens his mouth to show shark like teeth dripping hungry saliva.

Just as he is about to bite her he sees it. Two small bite marks on her shoulder. He pulls back as if slapped.

IVANWhat? The maker bit you?

He takes a step back.

IVANBut why would he choose you?

Ivan’s face turns into a grotesque mask fury.

JARED MOM (V.O.)Sic him Gary!

There’s is a guttural growl and Ivan turns just as the dog is upon him. It clamps his lower leg and starts ripping at it.

IVANNo!

He tries to shake it off and-- BLAM

CONTINUED: (3)IVAN (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

57.

Jared is suddenly standing over him firing point blank shots with a shotgun. BLAM

The second shot brings him to his knees.

Ivan rips the dog off with one hand and flings him into the yard. He gets to his feet and goes for Jared.

JARED MOMNO!

THOOM the shotgun sounds again but Ivan takes it standing this time. He smiles and Jared pumps the shoptgun again.

Suddenly Ivan is being hit from the other direction. Cynthia is now firing at him with both pistols.

Jared fires again and Ivan is finally knocked backwards. He growls like an animal and bares his teeth. Then with ridiculous speed he charges and a moment later he has both Cynthia and Jared pinned to the garage by their necks.

He laughs up at them

IVANI told you it wouldn’t work. I can no longer be killed by you weaklings.

At that moment he feels a heavy thump in his chest and his laugh catches in his throat... The thump comes again.

IVANWhat?!

Another heavy thump and he has to drop Cynthia and grab his own bleeding chest.

Cynthia land on her side gasping for air.

CONTINUED: (4)

(CONTINUED)

58.

IVAN(to himself)

This is impossible...WHHHAAAT!!

He tosses Jared to the side and turns towards the street losing all interest in the fight. He staggers topwards the street holding his chest.

When he gets to the sidewalk he falls to his knees for the last time.

IVANIM--Possible.

He looks down at his bloody hands.

IVANHe said i couldn’t--

He looks up at the full moon. And then lets out a roar as if the evil spirit inhabiting him is pouring out into the night air.

Then he falls face down into the street.

Jared’s looks over at his mom standing safely in the doorway and then goes to check on Cynthia. She is sitting up rubbing her bruised neck and staring at the monster lying in the street.

CYNTHIAA lot of difference all that training did?

Jared looks out at the street and then back at her.

JAREDWe took our chances.

JARED MOM(from behind him)

Is this your new girlfriend. I like her.

CONTINUED: (5)

(CONTINUED)

59.

Jared laughs a little and plops down to sitting.

JAREDMom this is Cynthia. Cynthia; Mom.

CYNTHIAHi, mom.

Jared’s mom’s smiole turns into a frown when she looks at the street.

JARED MOMAnd your friend. What was that?

Sirens in the distance.

JARED MOMNo time I guess. You have to go. Give me those.

She gestures to the guns they fired.

They hand them over. She takes them and fires first one and then the other into the air. then she looks back down at them.

JAREDWhat about the shotgun?

JARED MOMYour father had at least 10 of those things. Looks like this guy’s friend got away with one.

JAREDAfter he shot his partner with it.

JARED MOMHe knew it was over for him and didn’t want to get snitched on. I know the story Jared. Been telling it since before you were born.

Jared smiles a humorless smile.

JARED MOMWell, go grab another one and get the hell out of here.

CONTINUED: (6)

(CONTINUED)

60.

She turns back to the fronmt door but looks back at them.

JARED MOMBe careful, son.

(to Cynthia)It was nice meeting you, dear. Let’s try a nice dinner next time though.

With that she heads for the door looking like a much older woman.

CYNTHIAI like her.

JAREDLet’s go.

INT. CAR - LATER

CYNTHIAWhere to now?

JAREDBack to where we came from. Ivan said he had a maker. There’s only one person it could be. The one character who hasn’t shown himself.

CYNTHIAThe boss.

JAREDYeah. King of the jungle..

CYNTHIAPull Over!!

JAREDWhat!?

Cynthia is holding her stomach and looking sick.

CYNTHIAPULL OVER!

He does.

CONTINUED: (7)

(CONTINUED)

61.

She immediately opens the door and runs for the trees. Jared gets out and tries to follow.

In the woods now Cynthia throws up violently between her knees. When she’s close to done she looks down at the dark blood that is splattered there and cringes.

JARED (V.O.)Cynthia!

CYNTHIANo! Don’t come over here!

JAREDWhat! Are you okay?

CYNTHIA(with her back to him)

Yes.

She convulses and throws up a little more.

Jared finally breaks through the trees and sees her. She holds up a hand to say stay back.

JAREDWhat’s wrong?

CYNTHIANothin-

Her eyes suddenly go wide as she SCREAMS at the sudden pain in her chest.

Jared starts over.

CYNTHIANO!

She clutches herself as if something will explode out of her at any moment. Then she screams again and hans to put a hand oin the ground to stay up.

CYNTHIAGo, Jared!

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

62.

JAREDWhat are you talking about? What’s wrong?

CYNTHIAJust go! You have to get away from here. Away from me!

She starts to cry.

Jared inches closer with his hand aimed at her crouching shoulder.

When he’s almost there she turns on him and he sees. The whites of her eyes are pink and her tears are blood. Her mouth scowls to reveal huge vampire fangs.

Jared’s turn to scream as he falls back from her, his hand still outstretched but in a defensive gesture.

She gains control and turns her face back away from him crying again.

CYNTHIA(sobbing)

Just go.

She falls to her knees and throws up more blood. Then falls on her side exhausted.

CYNTHIAJust go.

Jared sits staring at her and then he notices the sun is dawning over the trees. It’s morning.

JAREDThe sun.

He jumps up and runs over to scoop up cynthia. she can only muster the strength toi fight him with her words as he carries her back to the car.

CYNTHIANo. I said Go.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

63.

JAREDI’m not leaving you.

EXT. CAR - CONTINUOUS

Jared pops open the back door and gently slides her onto the backside where she lays.

CYNTHIA(low)

I’m a monster.

Jared looks at her and smiles through the open back door.

JAREDI’ll take my chances.

EXT. LAB BUILDING - LATER

Jared pulls to the curb in front of the building.

Cynthia now writhes on the backseat moaning in pain.

Jared gets out and gets her in his arms then heads for the building.

EXT. ELEVATOR - CONTINUOUS

The elevator doors open and Krueger stands before them with wide unbelieving eyes.

KRUGERWhat the hell is this? What’s wrong with her?

Jared gets out of the elevator and brushes passed him.

JAREDI don’t know.

He heads to the closest lab table and brushes everything to the floor before he lays her down.

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

64.

Kramer comes running.

KRAMERWhat the bloody hell, man. You didn’t say you were bringing anyone with you.

Jared look up at both of them

JAREDLook! She needs help.

KRAMERJared, we’re not Doctors.

JAREDGood. because i don’t think that’s what she needs.

KRUGERWhat do you mean. she’s sick obviously.

JAREDShe’s not that kind of sick. She’s the one who was infected.

Both doctors take a big step back.

KRUGERWhy would you bring her here. We’re scientists.

Kramer edges a little closer as the girl tries to convulse.

KRUGERI mean, we don’t even know what the thing is. Or wether it’s contagious.

Kramer is now leaning over the table trying to check her pupils.

KRAMERI think i do.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

65.

KRUGERWhat are you talking about, man. This is reality! We’re not in some horror flick-

Suddenly and without warning Jared’s 45 is out and pointed right at Kruger’s face.

JAREDYou want horror?

Beat

KRUGERBe rational, will you.

JAREDShut up.

(at Kramer)Keep talking.

KRAMERWell, we analyzed the sample you left us and were able to virtually synthesize a part of the genetic code.

KRUGERBut the computer had to be wrong. It’s impossible!

JAREDYou know, I heard that a lot tonight. And yet here we are.

KRAMERIt’s a parasite.

JAREDWhat?

KRAMERIt enters the hosts blood and then uses the hosts own gentic code to repliucate red blood cell structure. This keeps it from being rejected by the body and allows it to quickly devour real red blood cells and replace them with it’s own version.

CONTINUED: (2)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

66.

The thing is the parasite cells are much more efficient than real red blood cells so in theory the host should be much more efficient than a human. Enhanced abilities and so forth.

JAREDSo what happens when all the red blood cells are gone?

KRAMERWell real red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. So even if the parasite were to devour all of the cells in circulation it would have a constant supply coming in. It’s a symbiotic relationship. As to how the host would react to the replacement of all real red blood cells in circulation with the parasite cells.

He looks down at Cynthia again.

KRAMERWe don’t know.

JAREDI’m not sure if I’m picking up exactly what you’re putting down.

KRUGERVampires.

They both turn to look at him.

KRUGERHe thinks they’re vampire cells.

They all look at Cynthia sweating profusely and convulsing like she’s inside a very bad nightmare.

INT. LAB - LATER

Kramer injects Cynthia with a hypo and they all watch as she starts to relax on the table.

CONTINUED: (3)KRAMER (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

67.

Kramer looks over at Kruger.

KRAMERLooks like I was right.

KRUGEROh great. Guess what you’ve won.

JAREDCan you stop it?

KRUGERAre you mad!?

KRAMERWell, since we have a live subject we can run better tests... At best we’ll know more about it.

Cynthia now sleeps peacefully on the table.

Jared turns and heads back towards the elevator.

KRAMERWhere are you going?

He runs to follow.

At the elevator Jared pushes the button and turns to Kramer.

JAREDThanks for helping her.

KRAMERWhere are you going?

JAREDI’ve gotta stop this guy.

KRUGERDo you still believe it’s a guy that you’re dealing with?

Jared doesn’t answer.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

68.

KRUGERLook I still think this is some man made virus produced bvy the army or something but if it is it would have to be a very smart man who created it. Much smarter than Kramer or myself. And that’s just it. Nobody’s “this” smart yet. We just don’t know enough about the human genome yet.

JAREDWell, i don’t need to know about the human genome. It’s Halloween. We’re huntin’ monsters tonight.

He steps in the elevator as it opens.

Kruger watches as it closes.

KRUGERBloody idiot.

(turns back to the lab)

All of us.

EXT. JUNGLE GYM - LATER

Jared sits in his car sitting low and watching the people leave the building.

His eyes start to feel heavy as he waits and watches.

Finally they close.

EXT. JUNGLE GYM - HOURS LATER

Jared is startled awake by a loud rapping on the window.

He looks over to see the same stripper that he asked questions before. He rolls down the window.

STRIPPERAre you stalking me?

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

69.

JAREDUh, no. But i did want to ask you something else.

The stripper notices the pump shotgun on the seat and tries to turn and run.

JAREDDon’t do it.

She stops cold. Then she turns to him with her hands up.

STRIPPERLook, if you think I’m getting in that car with you, you got another thing comin’. You’d have to shoot me first.

JAREDOh, i don’t want you to get in. I want you to get me in.

She looks confused.

EXT. JUNGLE GYM - CONTINUOUS

Jared and the stripper walk towards the back door side by side.

STRIPPERYou must really love your kid brother.

JAREDYeah. So what’s he like?

STRIPPERWho?

JAREDYour boss.

STRIPPEROh, he’s the devil.

Jared stops and stares at her. She notices and stops to.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

70.

STRIPPERYou know those kinds of guys that somehow know how to get what they want from people without makin a mess. Well he’s the epitome.

Jared marvels for a moment at her word use.

STRIPPERI mean don’t get me wrong. He’s a killer. Like most men.. but it’s like nature to him. Like it’s just all a part of his plan and he just doin the do, you know. Yeah, he a natural.

JAREDSounds like you admire him.

STRIPPERHe makin me rich.

They get to the door and she opens it.

JAREDNo locks.

She looks back at him.

STRIPPERFor what?

They walk into the strippers’ dressing room. The few half dressed women in attendance don’t seem too shocked at the man following one of their coworkers with the pump shotgun raised. Most regard him with mild interest and some even with amusement.

Jared brushes passed her when he sees the entrance.

JAREDWhat’s through here?

STRIPPERThe champagne room.

He looks back at all of them.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

71.

STRIPPERSomebody gotta do it. And the Boss got a way of makin it where you don’t even remember after.

Some of the girls giggle at this.

Jared spares them one last look and then heads through the curtain.

INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Jared finds himself in a long blacklit hallway with a row of neon purple doors on either side of him.

He walks slowly, shotgun at the ready.

He keeps his eyes fixed on the door at the end of the hall.

A door suddenly slams open behind him and he wheels the shotgun around just in time to see what looks like a homeless man dirty and smiling exiting the last door beyond the curtain he came in through. The man where’s an apron much cleanber than himself and pushes a maid’s cart.

He leers at Jared for a few moments as if Jared will spoil his fun. Then he turns and shuffles through the curtain.

Jared waits a few moments before he turns back and heads for the door.

He touches the knob and checks it’s unlocked and then puts his ear against it to listen.

When he’s satisfied he turns the knob and walks through.

CONTINUED: (2)72.

INT. JUNGLE GYM BAR AREA - CONTINUOUS

Jared enters the main room gun aimed. All the patrons are gone and all the chairs are empty.

There is one lone stripper dancing awkwardly to the music while the “gorilla lady” from before watches like a judge.

There is a different bartender than the night before Jared notices.

The “gorilla lady’s” back is to him so he creeps twaords her.

The stripper sees him first and yelps a little clinging to the pole.

The “gorilla lady” turns aroundand glares at him. Thge bartender continues clean glasses.

WOMANOh, I see you brought a better bitch this time.

Her voice is dangerous and it causes the stripper to turn and skitter out the door behind the curtains on stage.

JAREDI’m not here for you. I only wanna talk to one guy.

The woman stands from her chair unafraid.

WOMANThe boss.

JAREDYeah. Why don’t you point me to him.

WOMANOh, you won’t be meetin with the boss. You ain’t worthy of him.

(CONTINUED)

73.

JAREDI know what you are.

She smiles a mouth full of shark teeth.

WOMANDo you.

Suddenly Jared whips the gun around to the bartender who is still wiping out a glass.

When he does the big woman prepartes to charghe but a look from the bartender stops her.

The bartender then raises his hands... and starts to clap loudly.

He looks over at Jared and smiles.

BARTENDERNice job! Looks like there’s a detective in the family.

JAREDHow do I save Cynthia.

BARTENDEROhh, and straight to the point. None of that passive agressive bullshit that you humans so love these days. No small talk. No questions. I respect that. I do. But. How can you be so sure what I did wasn’t curing her in the first place. I mean did you see what happened to Ivan?

Jared expression falters a little.

BARTENDEROf course you did. But that won’t happen to her. See, I gave her a gift far greater than I gave those idiot. A gift I don’t give out very often.

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

74.

He looks over at the big woman who is still bearing her teeth.

BARTENDERWhat I gave them was truly something of myself.

Jared turns the gun and blasts the big woman knocking her flat.

JAREDDo I look like I’m in the mood for poetry?

The bartender smiles again presenting two rows of perfectly human teeth.

BARTENDEROh, but it’s all poetry isn’t, Jared. The yells of triumph. The screams of passion.. Or murder.. The cry of a baby being born. A billion hearts beating simultaneously. The sound of life itself. I hear it all. Since the beginning of time. I’ve heard it all.

Jared hears a table screech as the big woman gets back to her feet.

BARTENDERI’ve seen it all, Jared. I’ve done it all. I’m the oldest being on this planet by far. Now do you really think I’d be killed by you and your shotgun?

The big woman is across the room ijn amatter of moments and knocks Jared into a wall.

BARTENDERYou see i cured her from the real disease. The thing that makes every person on this planet a walking disease; their humanity. the only reason i haven’t wiped you out is that you’re “good” to eat.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

75.

He starts to pour himself a drink.

BARTENDERI am something of a parasite you know. More like a single indestructible bacterium in human form.

He downs thew drink.

BARTENDERBut I like you, Jared. So I’ll give you a choice. You see, like I said, I don’t usually give much of myself to people. If I give a little blood it’ll make you stronger, invulnerable for a while. But it’s something like a drug because once you take a hit you’ve gotta have another. If you don’t the parasite will eat you alive. That is unless you keep coming back to me and getting more. Ha. That’s how I get ‘em hooked.

JAREDThat’s what yoiu did to those guys. To Ivan.

BARTENDERYes. Yes, but I wouldn’t say I did it exactly. They were practically begging me for it. Most willing henchmen.

JAREDWhat did you need them for?

BARTENDERGirls of course. Girls for strippers. Girls for food. And some girls are special.

JAREDLike Cynthia?

BARTENDERCorrect. You really are good at this.Sadly, I don’t think you’re gonna accept my offer are you?

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

76.

JAREDNo.

BARTENDERAhh, too bad.. Eat him, Martha.

MARTHAWith pleasure.

Jared reaceor the gun and aims it a her.

MARTHADo your worst Mr. Officer.

Jared points the gun behind him at the painted window above where he is sitting.

BARTENDERNo!

Jared pulls the trigger.

The shot shatters the glass and the sunlight floods in catching Martha in it’s light.

She screams as the light burns her flesh.

The light also catches a part of the bartenders face and he quickly moves away and hisses baring his fangs.

Marttha continues screaming from her knees as she combusts int a smoking mound f flesh.

Jared rolls to his feet and aims twoards the bar but the bartender is no longer there.

JAREDShit.

He gets up and looks around the room but there is no one. He goes over to the bar and checks behind it, muzzle first.

CONTINUED: (4)

(CONTINUED)

77.

He turns back and sees the pile of ash that used to be Martha. He also notices the sunlight fading as the sun is starting to go down outside.

He checks his watch and curses again. Then he turns towards the door to the hallway.

It’s yanked open and he uses the gun barrel to get through.

All the doors in the hallway are open now and Jared starts towards the curtain, checking each one.

They are empty until he comes upon the last one. Inside is the nhomeless man and one of the stripper. They are both dead with gaping neck wounds.

Suddenly there is a scream from behind the curtain.

WOMAN (V.O.)NOO!

Jared turns from the rooma and pokes his shotgun through the curtain.

When he gets through the scene is more horrible than than the one before it. All the strippers he saw earlier are thrown about the room like rag dolls with identical neck wounds.

The only one left, the stripper that got him in, crouches in the corner in terror.

JAREDWhere?

STRIPPERI don’t know.

JARED(growling)

WHERE?!

CONTINUED: (5)

(CONTINUED)

78.

STRIPPER(crying

I don’t know. My eyes were closed. He said to tell you-- To tell you--

JAREDTELL ME WHAT?!

STRIPPERYou’re too late.

Jared runs to the door and kicks it open bounding out into the dusk.

He swings the barrel of the shotgun back and forth checking the parking lot.

JAREDDammit.

Then he runs for his car.

EXT. LAB BUILDING - LATER

Jared skids to a screeching stop half on the curb and hops out leaving the engine running and door open. He heads for the door.

INT. LAB - CONTINUOUS

When the elevator doors open Jared steps out. All the buildings main lights are off again and there is only the meager glow from the monitors.

Everything is quiet as he approaches.

He rounds the corner to the other half of the room and sees the bartender holding Kruger by the head and drinking ravenously from his throat.

Jared pumps the shotgun and the bartender stops. Drops Kruger to the ground.

CONTINUED: (6)

(CONTINUED)

79.

BARTENDERYou’re late. I’m afraid i ate your friends.

Jared pulls the trigger and there is a dry click as an empty chamber fires.

The bartender smiles.

Jared pulls his pistol and fires.

With lightning quickness the bartender dodges the shot.

Jared fires two more. Three.

The bartender dodges them all and is suddenly gripping Jared’s wrist tightly. It squeezes and Jared drops his gun with grimace.

The bartender uses his other hand and lifts Jared off the ground by his neck.

BARTENDERYou know, i don’t think i’ll give you a clean death. I won’t drink you. That’s virtually painless. And besides I’m full already. I think i’ll pull your heart out and let you watch me eat it for desert. How’s that sound?

JAREDFattening.

The bartender starts to laugh.

BARTENDERAhh that was a good one. Gotta give you the prize for “best last words”... Bye now.

He reaches for Jared’s neck--

CONTINUED:

(CONTINUED)

80.

Out of nowhere, Cynthia stabs the bartender in the back with a handful of syringes filled with the same liquid Kramer injected her with.

The bartender screams in sheer pain and fury. He drops Jared and knocks Cynthia backwards. Then reaches to pull out the needles in his back.

BARTENDERAHHH

He falls to one knee as his heart thumps hard. He manages to pull the needles free and he stares down at them in disgust. He drops all but one which he lifts to his nose and smells the tip. He pulls it back down quckly and looks over at Cynthia.

BARTENDERYou didn’t!

CYNTHIAGarlic, you asshole.

BARTENDERAhhh

He tries to stand.

THOOM

Jared puts a blast into his back and he goes dowm on both knees.

He manages to sit up and Jared blasts him in the chest knocking him flat on his back.

Jared and cynthia both come to stand over him.

Cynthia reloads again and pumps, pointing the muzzle at the bartender’s head.

BARTENDERWithout me how will you save yourself? You’ll be a monster.

CONTINUED: (2)

(CONTINUED)

81.

He coughs up his own blood.

CYNTHIAI’ll take my chances.

THOOM

She pulls the trigger and the blood splatters her face.

She looks down for a few more moments and then goes to check on Jared.

CYNTHIAYou okay?

Jared grimaces.

JAREDMy back hurts. But that’s not so bad because I can’t feel my legs at all.

She looks down at his legs sadly.

Jared laughs.

JAREDAt least I don’t have to find worry about getting my job back.

He laughs painfully.

Cynthia cradles his head.

CYNTHIABefore, you said you were falling in loive with me. Did you mean that are were you joking?

JAREDJokes are only funny if they’re true.

She smiles down at him.

CONTINUED: (3)

(CONTINUED)

82.

CYNTHIAThen trust me.

JAREDTo do what?

She looks into his eyes and he can see the glimmer of the shining power within her.

CYNTHIATo save you.

JAREDWha-

And before he can protest she sinks her teeth into his neck.

Jared gasps at first and then slowly relaxes, staring up at the cieling...

EXT. TELEVISION SCREEN - PROLOGUE

The news plays on the screen.

ANCHORSo the bloody rampage that began at a college pre-Halloween party, seemingly, ended today amidst confusion. 12 people are dead and two are still missing as authorities continue the investigation into the events of the last 2 days. A frat house, a strip club, and a science lab, were just three of the places police found bodies connected to this case. The lead suspect an as yet unidentified man that was the proprieter of the “Jungle gym” strip club was found murdered at the Lexicon Science building early this evening. Intial kidnapping victim Cynthia Hayes and Police Officer Jared Samuels are still missing. Police have no suspects and the search as well as the investigation coninues.

CONTINUED: (4)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

83.

Here with us we have the only known survivor who was rescued from the Lexicon building earlier. He is geneticist Randal Kruger...

The news report fades out as the interview begins.

EXT. SKYSCRAPER - NIGHT

Jared stands on the very edge of the building staring across the horizon at the setting sun.

JAREDToo bad i’ll never see the sun “rise” again.

Cynthia steps up beside him.

CYNTHIAEhhh, you seen one, you seen ‘em all.

Jared laughs and takes her hand.

They watch the sun go down.

JAREDYou sure about this?

CYNTHIAI’ll take my ch-

Jared stops her with a finger to her lips.

JAREDI love you.

She smiles.

They kiss.

END

CONTINUED:ANCHOR (CONT'D)

(CONTINUED)

84.

NT. VAN - LATER

The HANDHELD flicks on and we are inside the back of a UHAUL truck witnessing the SKI MASK tie a gag around the terrified GIRL’s mouth- She doesn’t look as if she needs one.

The SKI MASK then meticulously ties her hands and feet. Then IT stops to catch it’s breath.

SUDDENLY but SLOWLY it turns and looks directly at us, still breathing Heavily.

Our view ZOOMs slowly towards the SKI MASK like a tractor beam to the Deathstar- until we can see the SKI MASK’S eyes. We can see those cold eyes clearly now and tell the mouth underneath is smiling warmly, maniacally.

SKI MASK(slightly muffled)

Oh, yes! It could happen to “you”.

He points a SHINY BLACK finger at the CAMERA on “you”.

The picture is frozen for a few more moments as if the handheld gets stuck. THEN-

The gloved hand reaches up and pulls off his mask allowing us to see the handsome “college guy” face underneath.

When the girlfriend sees she tries to start screaming- hence the gag.

The “college guy” doesn’t even look at her. He just looks at us and finally smiles, revealing a mouth full of razor teeth.

CONTINUED:85.