Destiny-1DV03
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     25     INT. JAKE'S DORM ROOM - NIGHT.                             25

            The room is dark except for the light of one small lamp.

            TRACK ACROSS THE ROOM

            to see that Jake is wrapped up in bed, with Suzi sitting next to
            him, brushing a hand through his hair and looking like this has
            already been one of the longest nights of her life.

                                SUZI
                      Why did you go over there without
                      us? Damn it, Jake, you know you
                      can't go within ten feet of any
                      trouble without getting wrapped
                      up in it...

            She presses a hand to his forehead to check his temperature,
            then wraps the bed clothes a little tighter around him.

                                SUZI (CONT'D)
                      I don't know if you can hear me
                      or not, but either way I want you
                      to know we're going to sort this
                      out. We're going to find out what
                      did this to you, and then Dawn's
                      going to kick its ass until it
                      brings you back again. If I could
                      figure something out myself, I
                      would, but...
                          (sighs)
                      I'm just not that strong yet.

            She places a hand tenderly against his cheek, smiling as she
            strokes her thumb across his cheekbone.

            PUSH IN ON SUZI

                                SUZI (CONT'D)
                      Nothing else is going to happen
                      to you while I'm around. I
                      promise.

            Suzi bites her lip, trying to fight back a tear, and continues
            to stroke Jake's cheek.

     26     EXT. ALPHA EPSILON PI FRAT HOUSE - NIGHT.                  26

            Back outside the frat party, which is still in full swing - the
            party-goers appears to be blissfully unaware of the condition
            Jake was left in.

            Leaning against a tree at the end of the path leading to the
            front door is Dawn, her jacket on and zipped up. However long
            it's going to take for the people behind this party to make an
            appearance, she's prepared to wait.

     27     INT. HOWARD-TILTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY - NIGHT.               27

            Nearly deserted right now, the library's only occupants are some
            sophomores cramming for an exam and Tori, researching demons.

            CLOSE ON: TORI

            Glasses on and notebooks out, Tori is leafing through another
            book.

            AMY INTO FRAME

            A large knapsack slung over one shoulder.

                                TORI
                          (looks up)
                      Oh, Amy! Thank God you're here,
                      I'm still having no luck with any
                      of-

            Tori stops as Amy upends her knapsack over the table - and a
            cascade of books pile out of it. These look new and fresh, a
            contrast to the yellowed pages of the leather bound books back
            in her office.

                                AMY
                      Sorry it took me a while to get
                      back to you, I was still at home
                      when you called digging these
                      out.

            Tori grabs a book and starts to leaf through it, her face
            lighting up.

                                TORI
                      These are perfect! Are they all
                      recent?

                                AMY
                      Every one printed in the last few
                      years. There's generally not much
                      call for them, since we had Buffy
                      and then the slew of new Slayers.
                      Any new demons and evil in the
                      world hasn't had much chance to
                      last long enough to get written
                      into any new books!

                                TORI
                      These will still be a huge help.
                      Thank you.

            Tori gets to work, then notices that Amy is hanging round.

                                TORI (CONT'D)
                      Uh, was there something else?

                                AMY
                      Yes, actually - is Dawn around?

                                TORI
                          (evasive)
                      Oh, uh, she's, ah...

                                AMY
                          (penny drops)
                      She doesn't know you asked me to
                      help, does she?

                                TORI
                          (guilty)
                      Um...

                                AMY
                      It's all right, Victoria. Dawn's
                      not taking her destiny sitting
                      down. She's quite determined to
                      live a normal life and not be a
                      slayer. From what I've heard, she
                      takes after her sister more than
                      we'd like in that respect.
                      Unfortunately, fate has habit of
                      catching up to people, whether
                      they like it or not.

                                TORI
                      I'm sure she-

            Amy takes a seat, continuing to speak and not paying much
            attention to Tori.

                                AMY
                      I mean, it's not like I was never
                      a teenager, I remember what the
                      exuberance of youthful rebellion
                      felt like, but what I don't
                      understand is why she's making
                      everything so very difficult! Do
                      you know what I mean?

            Tori blinks, then fixes on an innocent smile as we cut to:

     28     EXT. ALPHA EPSILON PI FRAT HOUSE - NIGHT.                  28

            Ben and Jason are leaving the house, waving their good-byes to
            the remaining party goers inside, backpacks slung over their
            shoulders and beers in each hand.

            They turn and start walking down the path towards us, looking
            satisfied with their night's work.

                                BEN
                      And that, my friend is how you
                      run a first class-

                                DAWN (O.S.)
                      Party?

            Ben and Jason freeze as Dawn steps out of the shadows before
            them, folding her arms and looking like she means business.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                          (stern)
                      I need some answers, and you guys
                      are going to give them to me. 

            Ben and Jason exchange a look - then burst into LAUGHTER.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                          (pouts)
                      Hey! Stop that!

                                JASON
                      Sorry, you just...

                                BEN
                      Are you trying to be, like,
                      threatening or something?

                                DAWN
                          (beat; fidgets)
                      Yeah...

                                JASON
                      Okay. Bonus points for inventive
                      use of shadows, but you lose
                      marks for overall scariness
                      because, well... you're just a
                      girl! Love the hair, though.

                                BEN
                      Yeah, maybe she'll try-

            Ben GULPS as Dawn lashes forward, grabs him by the front of his
            shirt and lifts him off the ground!

            Jason staggers and trips, landing on his ass as Dawn smiles
            sweetly up at Ben, who she's holding a few inches off the floor.

                                DAWN
                      I'm sorry, maybe I didn't make
                      myself clear. I'm going to ask
                      some questions, and you're going
                      to answer them. Are we all on the
                      same page now?

            Ben rapidly nods his head, and after a beat Dawn sets him back
            down. Jason stands, both boys staring at Dawn, wigged.

                                JASON
                      Damn! That's some good upper body
                      strength you've got there...

                                DAWN
                      Thanks.

                                BEN
                      Hey, wait, I know you - you're
                      that Summers girl, right?

                                DAWN
                      Uh, yeah. Why?

                                BEN
                      I saw you at last night's party,
                      was going to come over and say
                      hello, but then we had that thing
                      with the kid in the coma, and...

            Jason slaps Ben on the arm to shut him up.

                                DAWN
                      Don't worry, I know all about
                      what happened.

                                BEN
                      You do?

                                DAWN
                      Yup. And my friend and I are very
                      interested to find out about this
                      'special' home made beer we heard
                      was being given out.

                                JASON
                      'Friend'? What friend...

            Jason trails off as Pete steps out of the shadows, standing by
            Dawn's side and folding his arms. Jason GULPS loudly.

     29     INT. HOWARD-TILTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY - NIGHT.               29

            A plastic cups of takeaway coffee have materialized before Amy,
            and Tori is busily checking through the books as Amy continues
            to speak, not realizing Tori isn't listening.

                                AMY
                      But I don't think she's ever
                      going to really understand. I
                      mean, who does?
                      The duties of the Slayer aren't
                      the kinds of things you can
                      explain to someone in a few
                      weeks, it can take years of-

                                TORI
                      Got it!

            Amy jumps, blinks, then tucks the rest of her rant away for
            another day as Tori turns the book she's reading round and
            points to an illustration.

                                TORI (CONT'D)
                      That's what we're after.

                                AMY
                          (studies it)
                      A Bucknall demon, yes, of course!
                      They secret a fluid that's prized
                      as a highly addictive narcotic
                      substance, fetches a fortune on
                      the black market. Overuse can
                      leave its victims comatose, and
                      they can pass themselves off as
                      human with ease.

                                TORI
                      I can remember Jake telling us
                      about this new brand of alcohol
                      they were giving out at the frat
                      house, and that he told Brett to
                      drink some - maybe that's what
                      we're looking for?

            Tori takes a sip from the glass of water next to her as Amy
            continues to read from the book.

                                AMY
                      That makes sense. The Bucknall
                      demon clans have become very rich
                      down the generations by
                      extracting the fluid from
                      themselves and selling it on the
                      black market, so I'd imagine a
                      university kegger would be an
                      ideal place to make some easy
                      money!

            Amy closes the book and stands.

                                AMY (CONT'D)
                      We should let Dawn know, it'll
                      help her narrow down what she's
                      looking for, and how to stop it.

            Amy heads out of frame, and Tori starts shoving the new books
            back into Amy's knapsack.

            As she reaches for one of the books, her elbow nudges the glass
            of water, which tips onto its side and spills its contents. Tori
            huffs with annoyance and stands it upright again.

            She leans over as she places the knapsack down on the floor,
            then sits back upright again.

            INSERT - GLASS OF WATER

            The glass is full of water again! Tori stares at it, confused.

                                AMY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
                      Come on, Victoria!

            Startled out of her thoughts, Tori gets up, grabs her bag, and
            with a last, curious look at the glass of water, follows Amy.

     30     EXT. HOWARD-TILTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY - NIGHT.               30

            Dawn and Pete are on their way back to the library.

                                PETE
                      They gave that guy up pretty
                      fast. If this was a cop show,
                      it'd have taken us at least two
                      montages of roughing up suspects
                      to get his address and a
                      description.

                                DAWN
                      Wouldn't you give in, getting
                      threatened with an ass kicking by
                      two fearsome young warriors like
                      ourselves?

                                PETE
                          (chuckles)
                      Whatever you say, Dawn. I was
                      just there to look tough, you did
                      all the work.

                                DAWN
                      Yeah, I guess I did.

            Dawn smiles at him, but the smile soon fades when she sees Tori
            and Amy heading over.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                          (to Tori)
                      What's she doing here?

                                TORI
                          (guilty)
                      I, uh, asked her for some help,
                      because...

            Tori trails off as Dawn glares at her, but Amy clears her throat
            to get Dawn's attention.

                                AMY
                      We've identified our culprit,
                      that's the important thing.

                                DAWN
                          (to Tori; ignores Amy)
                      So what are we looking for?

                                TORI
                          (checks note pad)
                      We think it's a, uh, Bucknall
                      demon. Looks human, but produces
                      an addictive chemical secretion
                      which would tie up with the
                      special beer Jake said he saw
                      Brett drinking.

                                DAWN
                      You think this demon's poisoning
                      the students? Why would it do
                      that?

                                TORI
                      No, not poisoning them, it's like
                      a drug.

                                PETE
                      The frat boys splash out to get a
                      brew with some extra pep to liven
                      up their party, huh?

                                AMY
                      That's what we've theorized so
                      far. Of course, it may be
                      something else entirely, but-

                                DAWN
                          (interrupting)
                      It's our best lead for now. We've
                      got a dorm address for the guy
                      the party organizers say was
                      bringing that beer along, let's
                      grab Suzi so she can help see if
                      it's our guy.

                                PETE
                          (corrects her)
                      Demon.

                                DAWN
                          (beat)
                      Whatever.

            The three students head off. After a beat, Amy follows.

     31     INT. DORM HALLWAY - NIGHT.                                 31

            It's a quieter part of the campus, and the group don't pass any
            other students as Dawn and Suzi lead, with Pete, Tori and Amy
            bringing up the rear.

                                DAWN
                          (to Suzi)
                      Are you getting anything?

                                SUZI
                          (nods)
                      Same kind of scent. The trail
                      went cold not far from here when
                      I followed it earlier, but it's
                      much stronger round here.

                                DAWN
                          (turns to others)
                      Alright, let me handle this. If
                      it is a demon, it could be
                      strong, and I don't want any of
                      you guys getting hurt.

                                AMY
                          (annoyed)
                      Aren't you forgetting something?
                      A weapon, perhaps?

            Dawn glances round her - then reaches towards a fire axe sealed
            inside a glass cabinet. A tug at the lock breaks it off, and
            dawn swings the door open and grabs the axe.

                                DAWN
                      There. All weapon-y and better.

            She turns back to Suzi, who nods towards the next door along.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                      This one?

                                SUZI
                      Yeah. 

                                AMY
                      Make sure to keep it quiet. We
                      don't want to-

            SLAM! Dawn KICKS the door open and steps into the darkened room
            beyond. Amy sighs  - Suzi follows her inside.

     32     INT. GREGOR'S DORM ROOM - CONTINUOUS                       32

            The room is empty as Dawn paces inside, and as Suzi flips on the
            lights, we can see that Gregor has packed up and cleared out -
            the bed and walls are bare, and the wardrobe is empty.

            Following her nose, Suzi starts to pull open the chest of
            drawers, soon finding the secret compartment and the small
            fridge hidden inside it.

                                SUZI
                      Hey, check this out.

            The others head into the room as Suzi opens the fridge - it's
            empty, but as Suzi scans around she spots something.

            Reaching under the bed, she retrieves one of the jars full of
            purple fluid.

                                SUZI (CONT'D)
                      Looks like our boy left this in
                      his rush to leave town.

            She opens it and takes a sniff, grimacing and coughing as she
            hands it to Dawn.

                                SUZI (CONT'D)
                      That's the stuff. That same
                      smell's all over Jake, and it's
                      what I've been picking up all
                      day.

                                DAWN
                      I don't get it, why leave now?
                      There's still four more parties
                      he could sell his... whatever
                      that stuff is at.

                                AMY
                      Perhaps he was alerted to our
                      investigation?

                                PETE
                      Does feel like we've questioned
                      half the campus today.

                                DAWN
                      No, something's not right about
                      this.

            She studies the fluid for a beat, then turns and tosses the jar
            to Tori, who only just manages to catch it.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                      Let's find out what this stuff is
                      and if we can make some kind of
                      cure for Jake out of it.

            She stands and brushes past Amy, who looks like she's about to
            say something. Dawn ignores her and heads out of the room. The
            others follow.

     33     INT. DORM HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS                             33

            Dawn steps back out into the hallway, Suzi at her side, dawn mid
            sentence.

                                DAWN
                      ... so I was thinking we-

            FWIP!

            Dawn's hand snaps up and grabs something out of the air - it's a
            crossbow bolt! 

            Dawn managed to catch it an inch away from Suzi's face, and as
            Suzi shivers, wide eyed, at the close call, Dawn turns and
            glares down the hallway, raising the fire axe.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                      Nice shot. You want to try that
                      again?

            A figure starts to walk towards us out of the darkness at the
            other end of the hallway, lowering a crossbow.

                                VOICE
                      My apologies. I mistook you for a
                      demon.

                                DAWN
                          (frowns)
                      Nikolai?

            The figure walks under a light - and it's NIKOLAI! The tall
            demon hunter doesn't look particularly apologetic as Dawn stomps
            over to him.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                          (quietly incensed)
                      What the hell are you doing? You
                      could have killed Suzi!

                                NIKOLAI
                          (shrugs)
                      But I didn't. Lucky for all of us
                      that you were here, eh?

            Nikolai glances at the rest of Team Dawn, then turns on his
            heels and starts to walk away.

                                DAWN
                      Wait!

            Nikolai pauses, takes a deep breath then turns to face her.

                                NIKOLAI
                      What do you want?

                                DAWN
                      You say you're after a demon, and
                      you ended up the same place we
                      did - doesn't that tell you
                      something?

                                NIKOLAI
                          (pretends to think)
                      That you're always getting in my
                      way?

                                DAWN
                      No! I mean we're after the same
                      thing you are. The only
                      difference is...

            Dawn turns to look at Suzi with a grin.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                      ... we know just how to find it.

            Suzi looks from Dawn to Nikolai and back, not feeling too
            convinced, and off her look, we:

                                                                 BLACK OUT:

                                  END OF ACT THREE
                                      ACT FOUR

     34     EXT. GARDEN DISTRICT - NIGHT.                              34

            Nikolai and Dawn, weapons concealed, are following Suzi as she
            walks through the bustle of the party quarter of New Orleans,
            negotiating the crowds and keeping her senses sharp.

                                NIKOLAI
                      I've been tracking the Bucknall
                      demon since it entered the city a
                      week ago. If it's anything like
                      others of its kind I've hunted,
                      it's going to be using the
                      current batch of rich and
                      impressionable freshmen to make a
                      small fortune before moving on.

                                DAWN
                      And most likely leaving a string
                      of coma patients in its wake,
                      right?

                                NIKOLAI
                      That's not my problem.

                                DAWN
                          (scowls)
                      Yeah, well, it's one of mine. A
                      good friend of mine is hurt
                      because of this thing, so until I
                      know it's dead, you're stuck with
                      me.

                                NIKOLAI
                          (eyes her)
                      There are worse people to be
                      stuck with.

            Dawn double takes - was that a compliment?

                                NIKOLAI (CONT'D)
                          (smirks)
                      But not many.

            No, it wasn't. Dawn rolls her eyes and jogs ahead to catch up
            with Suzi.

                                DAWN
                      Still on the trail?

                                SUZI
                      Yeah, I think so. Following a
                      magical scent's different to a
                      regular smell, it doesn't get
                      blown away by the wind or mixed
                      up with a bunch of other scents.

                                DAWN
                          (looking around)
                      Which is probably a good job!

            Suzi stops at the edge of the sidewalk, staring at something
            across the street. She points off camera when Nikolai catches up
            with them.

                                SUZI
                      Trail ends there.

            ANGLE - THEIR POV

            Across the street is the Pontchartrain Hotel, a place where the
            rich and reckless go to let off some steam. The front balconies
            are filled with enthusiastic guests, laughing and fooling
            around.

                                DAWN
                      In there?

                                NIKOLAI
                      Then that's where we go.

            Nikolai starts to cross the street, but dawn reaches out to grab
            him and stop him.

                                DAWN
                      Wait a second, Schwarzenegger, we
                      can't just go walking in there
                      and ask 'excuse me, have you seen
                      any demons lately?'

                                SUZI
                      Besides, that's one of the top
                      hotels around here, they don't
                      just let people in off the street
                      unless they're carrying some
                      serious spare change.

                                DAWN
                      That counts us out, then...

            Nikolai reaches into his jacket, takes out his wallet, and as
            the girls watch draws out a thick bundle of Ben Franklins

                                NIKOLAI
                      Will this do?

                                DAWN
                          (wide-eyed)
                      Where did you-

                                SUZI
                          (snatches money)
                      That'll do. Come on, Dawn!

            Suzi is already heading across the street before Dawn's brain
            has had chance to catch up.

     35     EXT. PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL - PENTHOUSE - NIGHT.              35

            We're looking in on one of the hotel's luxury suites from
            outside, next to the balcony. We...

            PUSH IN TO:

     36     INT. PONTCHARTRAIN HOTEL - PENTHOUSE - CONTINUOUS          36

            The huge penthouse - which takes up the entire floor is
            spectacular. A fire blazes in a fireplace and the luxury
            furnishings are beautiful.

            Across the suite, large windows with draped curtains command a
            spectacular view of downtown New Orleans. Nearby is a huge four
            poster bed next to a long leather sofa, which faces a huge TV
            and stereo system.

            The room is slammed with people grooving to the jazz blasting
            out of the speakers, but this is a different class of reveller
            to those we found at the frat house - the immaculately dressed
            ladies all look to be wearing a few kilos of diamonds and
            jewelry each, and the neatly tailored men carry on the fashion
            model ethos of the party.

            Which is why Dawn and Suzi stick out a square mile as they step
            into the suite, scanning the room for anything suspicious.

                                SUZI
                      Remind me, what are we looking
                      for again?

                                DAWN
                      Not 'look,' 'smell.' Do that
                      tracking thing that got us here,
                      and find the demon we're after.

                                SUZI
                      Dawn, I said I'm not a sniffer
                      dog already, okay? I can't just
                      breathe in and find-

                                SUAVE GUY
                      Ladies!

            Teeth glinting, hair gel glistening, a Suave Guy steps into
            frame, dark-haired and handsome with a cocktail glass filled
            with purple liquid in each hand.

                                SUAVE GUY (CONT'D)
                      I couldn't help but notice that
                      you two treats for the senses
                      were lacking some of the fine
                      liquid refreshment this venue has
                      to offer!

                                SUZI
                          (blinks)
                      What?

                                DAWN
                          (nudges her; to Suave Guy)
                      No, we don't, just got here! Are
                      you going to make sure we have a
                      good time?

                                SUAVE GUY
                      You betcha! You girls get started
                      on these, there's plenty more
                      over there when you're ready for
                      another hit.

            Suave Guy passes a cocktail to each of them, then spots someone
            else worthy of his attention and slinks away.

            Dawn watches Suzi as she takes an experimental sniff of the
            cocktail, grimacing.

                                DAWN
                      Is that it?

                                SUZI
                      That's it. This stuff smells like
                      bad oysters rolled in glue, Dawn. 
                      Tell me we're going to kill this
                      thing tonight so I never have to
                      smell it again!

                                DAWN
                      Relax. We're here to find this
                      guy and kill him, and...

            ANGLE: DAWN'S POV

            Dawn spots Gregor on the other side of the room - he's made
            himself look totally different with a strategic wardrobe change,
            but the fact that he's standing by a punch bowl full of purple
            fluid, serving it to the guests, gives him away.

                                DAWN (CONT'D)
                          (motions toward Gregor)
                      That's our guy. Get him talking
                      and get him to follow you into
                      that little side room over there.

                                SUZI
                      Okay.
                          (beat)
                      Wait, how do I-

            Suzi turns, but Dawn has already gone. With a sigh, Suzi looks
            back towards Gregor, then starts towards him.
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