Destiny-1DV01
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18 EXT. CITY PARK - NIGHT. 18
City Park is all dolled up for the big beginning of semester
mixer. Torches are set up around the beautifully manicured trees
and gardens and round tables are set up for eating. A Jazz Band
is playing JAZZ MUSIC from a white trellised bandstand and
couples are dancing on the dance floor in front of it.
ANGLE: A PROFESSOR AND A STUDENT
are involved in an intellectual debate next to the buffet table.
The professor of anthropology and medieval lore, AMY REYNOLDS,
is a rather tall, brown haired British woman of middle age. She
has a calm reserve about her, as if nothing could bother her.
Her teaching assistant, JESSAMINE PITOT, is a fairly tall Junior
from New Orleans. She has dark-blonde hair and brown eyes, and
is heatedly debating a point with her professor.
ANGLE: DAWN
is dancing with Jake on the dance floor in a type of swing
number. She's really good, and though Jake is a surprisingly
good dancer, he has a hard time keeping up.
The song ends and Dawn and Jake head off the dance floor to one
of the round tables where Suzi, Tori, and Pete are busy talking
and eating. They look up to see Dawn walking towards them.
TORI
(impressed)
Look at you dance. You never said
you had moves.
DAWN
It really wasn't anything
special.
Jake sits down huffing and puffing, trying to catch his breath.
JAKE
In that case... I really don't
want to dance with you when it's
special time. Isn't the guy
supposed to lead?
PETE
Jake, bud. You need to grow a
pair first. Then we'll think
about letting you lead.
JAKE
Ha-ha, very funny...
Jake's eyes go wide as he sees something near the bandstand that
the other's, engrossed in their conversations, obviously don't.
JAKE (CONT'D)
Dive!
SUZI
What's that Jake?
Jake jumps up and yells:
JAKE
I said Dive!
He pulls Suzi and Pete down to the ground, while Dawn does the
same to Tori.
CRASH!
A manned motorcycle smashes down in the middle of the table,
right where the gang had been a moment before.
Chaos erupts as a gang of BIKERS start gunning their engines and
terrorizing the students.
THE BUFFET TABLE is flipped over - the food goes flying.
STUDENTS try to flee, but are stopped by more bikers.
ANGLE: DAWN
is in the process of getting up when she stops, an expression of
utter disbelief mingled with fear etched across her face.
ANGLE - HER POV
In the middle of the chaos, a biker - his helmet now off - is
revealed to be a VAMPIRE. His fangs bared, he pulls one of the
students aside and bites into his neck, draining all his blood.
CLOSE ON: THE LEAD VAMPIRE
He's standing on the raised bandstand, clad all in black leather
with the remnants of the band behind him. A barely conscious
girl slumps next to him - held up only by the vamp's hand on her
collar. Pure maniacal glee washes across his demonic face before
he speaks in a Southern accent:
VAMP LEADER
Now what y'all running from. This
party's just getting started.
With that, he lifts the girl up, and like a ritual sacrifice,
bites into her neck.
On Dawn's SHOCKED EXPRESSION we...
BLACK OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
ACT TWO
19 EXT. CITY PARK - NIGHT 19
Dawn's exactly where we left her - standing next to the
shattered remains of her table - trying to make sense of the
situation.
ANGLE: TORI
She's pulling herself up off the ground, trying to get her wits
about her. Suddenly, a hand grips her by her throat and hoists
her up into the air and down on to her feet. The Vamp Leader
roughly takes Tori's arm and pulls her to him.
VAMP LEADER
Wanna dance darlin?
Tori tries to say no and pull away, but the vamp's too strong.
VAMP LEADER (CONT'D)
I love it when they fight.
The vamp pulls Tori's head to one side - he's going to bite
her...
THUD!
A wooden table leg smacks into the side of the vampire's head,
making him stagger a few feet and drop Tori. He spins, GROWLING
with anger, to face:
DAWN SUMMERS
looking rather surprised at her own strength.
DAWN
Don't you guys ever get it? When
a girl says no...
Dawn swings the table leg at his face. It connects with a
sickening THWACK and sends the vampire flying. He SMASHES into a
table, which BREAKS under him. Dawn's even more surprised at
this show of force.
DAWN (CONT'D)
She means no.
SMACK!
A BOOT, belonging to VAMP #2, hits dawn in the back of her head -
sending her FLYING into the trunk of a nearby tree.
VAMP #2
(mockingly)
Aww shucks. I always thought that
meant she wanted more.
ANGLE: DAWN
picks herself up from the base of the tree and looks around -
she's being surrounded by vampires. Scared, Dawn's eyes flit
around the vamps, trying to find a way to escape.
DAWN
You know. This has all been a big
misunderstanding.
VAMP #1 lunges at her. Just then, something in Dawn clicks, and
instantly the fear is gone. Dawn's eyes narrow as she barely
dodges the lunge and KICKS VAMP #2 into VAMP #3 - sending them
both FLYING.
ANGLE: WILLOW ROSENBERG
is running towards the chaos, MAGIKING a vampire out of her way
as she runs.
WILLOW
(out of breath)
Dawn! I came as soon as I felt...
But she doesn't finish her sentence. She just stares at Dawn,
who's actually holding her own against the vampires.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Well...
DAWN
is elbowed from behind by VAMP #4 and STAGGERS into VAMP #5, who
holds her in a headlock while #4 punches her in the face - that
hurts.
Dawn KICKS #4 in the gut with both legs, spins around and tries
to punch #5, but he grabs her and wrestles her down to the
ground.
THE VAMP
is inches away from Dawn's neck. She's valiantly struggling,
looking every which way for some sort of weapon to fight with.
INSERT - THE TABLE LEG
now splintered like a stake, is on the grass next to Dawn.
Reaching with all her might, Dawn grabs it and STAKES #5 through
his back - she dusted him. #4 moves quickly, trying to jump on
Dawn, but she positions the stake so that he falls on it,
dusting him.
Dawn shakily gets up to fight VAMPS #2, #3, and the LEADER
ANGLE: JAKE AND JESS
are being pinned to a tree by another VAMP. Jake struggles as
fangs come within inches of his neck. Suddenly, the Vamp
EXPLODES into dust and all the stunned pair can see is Professor
Reynolds with a stake in her hand.
JAKE
(trying to make sense of
everything)
Ummmm... Ahhh!
He sees something over Amy's shoulder.
AMY
Get a hold of yourselves. Now is
not the time to dawdle. Your
friends are...
She notices that Jake is pointing over her shoulder. She spins
around and is BACKHANDED by an angry vampire. Amy staggers into
Jake and Jess, sending them both to the ground, Amy on top of
the other two.
After a moment:
JAKE
Dawdle, huh?
JESS
(light N'Awlin's accent)
I think you have to be British to
do it.
Jake, who's looking up, again sees something that makes his eyes
widen in terror.
ANGLE - HIS POV
The vamp is advancing on them, SNARLING like a feral animal. But
before he can pounce, an blue energy-like force PROPELS him
directly into a tree. He looks down in amazement at the branch
sticking out of his chest as he EXPLODES into dust.
ANGLE: SUZI
is surrounded by rapidly dissipating BLUE ENERGY - she obviously
just did something supernatural. Amy rolls off the other two and
they all notice Suzi's glow.
JAKE/AMY/JESS
Huh.
ANGLE: DAWN
is getting the living daylights beaten out of her by VAMP #2. He
pins her against the bandstand GROWLING with rage and BACKHANDS
her, sending her sprawling onto the bandstand.
VAMP #2 jumps up and grapples Dawn, but she KNEES him in the
groin and STAKES him in the chest - he stares down in amazement
at the stake in his heart as he staggers back and TURNS TO DUST
all over the fallen instruments.
VAMP #3 starts to spar with Dawn. She's holding her own, but
barely manages to get out of the way of his kicks and punches.
SWISH
An axe blade nearly hits dawn in her arm. She gasps in pain and
clutches her arm as bright red blood begins to trickle down from
the axe scrape in it. She stares up at:
THE VAMP LEADER
Now brandishing a shiny axe, he tries to decapitate Dawn, but
ends up decapitating his buddy, #3 as Dawn drops to the ground
and kicks his legs out from under him, sending the axe and the
VAMP to the ground.
The LEADER sprawled on the floor, looks around for his axe, but
he can't find it - it's gone.
ANGLE: A PAIR OF BOOTS
stand in front of the vamp's face. We TRACK UP to see Dawn,
brandishing the axe threateningly in her non injured arm. Her
other arm is still bleeding, but the cut isn't too bad.
DAWN
This belong to you?
She doesn't wait for an answer. Dawn brings the axe down on the
lead vamp's neck. He's DUST.
An eerie quiet settles over the park, broken only by the heavy
breathing of the remaining combatants - the fight's over.
As if emerging from a trance, Dawn drops the axe, clutches her
arm and sinks down to the ground in utter exhaustion. She
finally glances up and looks around, not sure what's going on.
DAWN (CONT'D)
What just happened?
Willow walks over, bends down next to Dawn, and puts her hands
on Dawn's shoulders, reassuringly.
WILLOW
Dawnie, you just dusted five
vampires by yourself.
Dawn looks at the vamp dust at her feet, then at Willow.
DAWN
Me...? But How...?
Amy, looking much more disheveled than before, walks over and
regards Dawn.
AMY
Because...
(catches his breath)
You are a Slayer.
On Dawn's BEWILDERED EXPRESSION as we...
SMASH CUT TO:
20 INT. AMY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT 20
It's a nice room in a nice house. The decorations are tasteful,
if uninventive. The woman's British, so we'll cut her some
slack. A sofa, two chairs, and a coffee table sit in the center
of the room, while the walls contain shelf units filled with
antiquities and books.
The whole gang's here - Dawn, Willow, Tori, Suzi, Jake, Pete,
Jess, and Amy - all in various states of disarray. Jake's
tending to a cut Suzi has on her forehead and everyone, except
Dawn and Willow, is listening intently to the current
conversation.
Dawn, however, is standing by a bookcase in one corner of the
room staring out a nearby window - lost in thought. Willow
stands next to her, attending to the cut on Dawn's arm, while
talking in a quiet voice and trying to provide some sort of
comfort.
JAKE
So Dead? As in not living?
(beat)
Dead dead?
AMY
Well if you want to be technical
about it, vampires are undead.
JAKE
You realize that we are having an
actual conversation about
vampires.
AMY
Yes... Right. Those bikers who
were trying to rip your head off
were really the neighborhood
chess club out for a night time
stroll.
JAKE
It could have been... uh... a
gang on PCP.
SUZI
Whose members explode into dust
when jabbed in the heart by a
sharp, wooden, object?
Jake just realizes something and stares at Suzi.
JAKE
Hold it. When exactly did you
become a witch Suz? 'Cause I
think I missed that episode.
SUZI
Jake, now is really not the time.
JAKE
Yeah. It's never the time. When
did I step into Bizarro world?
Jake stands up, walks over to the far side of the room, and
leans against the wall in defeat.
JAKE (CONT'D)
(to himself)
Why did it have to be vampires
and magic? Couldn't it have just
been Republicans?
PETE
(to Amy)
Hold on. Put it in reverse.
A second ago you were all
'vampires haven't been seen in
New Orleans for a century.'
Something change?
Amy stands up and starts to pace.
AMY
That's what I'm afraid of. The
reappearance of vampires in New
Orleans suggests that something
very significant has happened.
TORI
So putting the whole 'vamps are
real' thing with the 'magic is
real' thing means that some crazy
voodoo is at work here.
AMY
Something like that. Whatever was
previously holding mystical
occurrences away from this city
is now gone. We need to find out
why.
JAKE
(to Amy)
Could you please stop pacing?
It's making me very nervous.
Amy stops pacing.
AMY
Oh... Right.
SUZI
Hold on. What exactly has Dawn to
do with any of this?
JESS
And for that matter, what role do
you play in all this, Professor
Reynolds?
AMY
As I said, Dawn is a Vampire
Slayer and I have been assigned
to be her Watcher.
TORI
You're being about as helpful as
a tourist during Mardi Gras -
which is to say not at all.
AMY
(right?)
For as long as there have been
vampires, there have been those
who hunt them.
(off her look)
Watchers train these slayers.
Guide them. Hone their skills.
Amy glances over at Dawn before continuing:
AMY (CONT'D)
This is obviously a bit much for
Dawn to take in right now. What
with vampires and magic and...
Dawn's had enough of this. She wheels around, interrupting:
DAWN
(staring at Amy)
Can we not talk as if I wasn't
here? This has obviously been a
really big misunderstanding. I'm
not a slayer. Buffy, my sister -
she's a slayer... The Slayer.
I'm... I'm nothing special.
WILLOW
Dawn, that's not true. You were
the key... OK, not helping.
JESS
Listen, hon. I may not know a lot
about vampires, but I certainly
saw you make short work of a
bunch of nasties that were using
(re: Pete)
big, bad, and muscled over there
as a chew toy. Nothing special?
DAWN
(backing up a few steps)
I... I need to go.
Before anyone can object, Dawn turns and run out of the house -
her shape briefly visible as a blur through the windows before
she's out of sight.
Amy immediately reaches for her jacket, intending to go after
Dawn, but Willow stops her.
WILLOW
Amy. Let me take care of this.
She just needs some alone-time
right now.
She grabs her jacket and heads to the door.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
Find out what's going on... and
call Giles. He needs to know
about this.
(beat)
And whatever you do, don't let
him tell Buffy until we know
more. One wigged slayer is bad
enough. We don't need two.
And she leaves.
21 EXT. CITY PARK PLAYGROUND - NIGHT 21
The playground has all the usual stuff - jungle gym, see-saw,
swings. Dawn's sitting in one of the swings - rocking gently and
staring out at the ruins of the party over in the distance.
Willow walks over and sits in the swing next to Dawn, not saying
anything - just looking out at the park.
After a moment:
DAWN
How'd you find me?
WILLOW
I know you. And I could feel you.
Xander would say you had your
very own warp signature.
Dawn manages to smile at this, if barely.
More silence.
DAWN
Will? How could this have
happened? I wasn't a potential,
remember? Amanda was. When you
did the spell that activated all
the slayers, nothing happened to
me. Why now?
WILLOW
I wish I could be explain-o-girl.
But that spell - it was the
hardest thing I ever tried - and
I still don't know all of its
side effects.
(beat)
But I promise we'll get to the
bottom of this. Okay?
Dawn doesn't answer.
WILLOW (CONT'D)
So, are you going to tell me what
courses you're taking or what?
This is classic Willow - and it cheers Dawn up, at least a
little bit. ON THE PAIR as we PULL BACK.
22 INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY 22
It's the first day of classes and this one, Professor Reynolds's
Introduction to Medieval History, is just finishing up. Dawn and
Tori sit about halfway back in the hall intently taking notes.
AMY
You'll have to take good notes
and keep up with the readings -
do that and you'll be just fine.
A word of warning: If facts scare
you, the registrars office is
right across the quad - I'm sure
that English one-eleven will be
more to your liking. Have a
wonderful day.
Her demeanor changes - as every professor's does when the
lecture is done and the housekeeping starts. The class gets this
and starts to pack up and file out.
AMY (CONT'D)
(holding up a clipboard)
Those petitioning for the course
please write your name down on
this sign-up sheet here.
Amy starts to pack, then notices Dawn, conversing with Tori.
AMY (CONT'D)
Dawn. Can I see you for a moment?
Dawn glances up from her bag - she can't get out of this.
DAWN
(to Tori)
I'll catch up with you later.
Tori nods and heads out, while Dawn slings her backpack across
her back and walks to the front of the lecture hall.
DAWN (CONT'D)
Yes Professor?
AMY
(pulls her aside)
Dawn, I'm convinced that your
being here in New Orleans at the
same time that vampires reappear
for the first time in a century
is no coincidence. I...
DAWN
(interrupts)
Yeah. I've heard the whole fate
thing. Giles gave it to Buffy many
times. Get this - I don't care.
She turns and runs out of the lecture hall.
23 INT. COLLEGE HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 23
Dawn emerges into the hallway, and then exits the building.
Dawn's gone by the time Amy emerges from the lecture hall. She
gets stuck in the door and all her books and papers go FLYING.
AMY
Oh... Great!
24 INT. THE BOOT BAR & GRILL - EVENING 24
Dawn's sitting at one of the coffee tables on the upper level,
drinking a cup of coffee and staring blankly at the pool games
going on below.
ANGLE: A MAN
Dressed all in black, sits at the opposite end of the balcony,
watching dawn. Every time she tries to catch his eye, though, he
looks away.
Finally, Dawn's had enough - she stands and walks purposefully
over to his table.
DAWN
Look creep-o, enough of the...
But HE'S GONE, and Dawn's stares at the empty table, perplexed.
Sighing, she turns around but stops, seeing something
downstairs.
ANGLE - DAWN'S POV
Professor Reynolds has just entered the club, and she's
obviously not here to get drunk. She looks around for Dawn, and
when she doesn't see her, walks to the bar and starts to
question the bartender.
Dawn quickly walks down the stairs to the main level of the club
and tries to slip out the side door unobtrusively. The bartender
gestures towards the side door just as Dawn exits - Amy thanks
him and rushes out.
25 EXT. ALLEYWAY NEXT TO THE BOOT - EVENING 25
Dawn is walking towards us into the ever darkening shadows of
the alleyway when Amy exits the club in the background and
begins to walk towards Dawn.
AMY
(shouts)
Dawn.
Dawn keeps walking, pretending not to hear.
AMY (CONT'D)
You cannot run from this. It's
your destiny.
Dawn stops.
DAWN
(icily)
And what do you know about
destiny?
AMY
Dawn, I know this must be hard
for you, but...
Dawn turns around to confront Amy.
DAWN
(interrupts)
You don't know me. Let me tell
you a bit about destiny. Destiny
ruined my sister's life. Destiny
killed her - twice.
Destiny sucked my entire hometown
into hell. So please, tell me
about destiny.
She starts towards us. WE start to PULL BACK slowly.
AMY
Dawn...
Dawn catches up and walks right into us, forcing a:
MATCH CUT TO:
26 INT. VOODOO TEMPLE - NIGHT 26
Someone is walking into us again, but this time passes us by. We
find ourselves in a Hounfour - a Voodoo Temple - somewhere in
New Orleans' French Quarter. It's dimly lit by torches stuck
into brackets on the walls and an eerie CHANTING can be heard in
the background - kinda creepy.
An alter, elaborately decorated with lit candles, pictures of
saints, and symbolic Voodoo items sits in the center of this
room. MAMA TAMARA, a Voodoo mambo - or priestess - is kneeling
in front of the alter, quietly CHANTING something.
A Haitian woman at the end of middle age, Mama Tamara commands
great respect in the Voodoo community. Her face, lined with
wisdom, shows why.
A sliver of brighter light suddenly shines on the floor as a
door is opened - it widens and then is obscured by someone's
shadow, before narrowing and then disappearing as the door
closes.
Mama Tamara doesn't stop until her ritual is finished. She then
slowly rises and faces Jessamine, who's here in the temple.
MAMA TAMARA
(Caribbean accent; smiles)
Jessamine. I have not seen you in
a very long time.
JESS
Mama Tamara. I'm sorry. School's
been keeping me very busy.
The pair embrace - very mother and daughter like, but they're
not related.
MAMA TAMARA
So did you come all the way over
here on a weeknight to say hello
to an old lady?
JESS
I wish it was that simple.
Mama Tamara motions Jess to come sit at a nearby bench. They
both sit down.
MAMA TAMARA
Come child, tell me what is
wrong.
JESS
(hesitates)
Mambo, in city park last night, a
bunch of us were attacked.
(beat)
By vampires.
Mama Tamara's face goes deadly serious.
MAMA TAMARA
Are you absolutely sure?
Jess nods.
MAMA TAMARA (CONT'D)
Then I know what I must do.
Jessamine, you must leave me. I
must prepare the ritual.
Jess stands up and walks towards the door. Before leaving, she
turns around and says:
JESS
Mama Tamara, good luck.
Jess leaves and Mama Tamara pulls out an old tome, opening it to
a page with a diagram of a ritual circle on it.
MAMA TAMARA
We will all need it.
WE PUSH IN on the diagram of the ritual. We suddenly...
DISSOLVE TO:
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