connor101
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TEASER
FADE IN.
EXT. SKY - NIGHT
We're in midair following an AIRPLANE as it starts to descend
through the clouds. The Los Angeles skyline can be seen just
at the bottom of the frame.
CONNOR (V.O.)
My name is Connor. I guess I
should talk about who I am, what my
purpose is...
INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT
We FOLLOW the shapely rear end of a flight attendant as she
walks down the aisle.
CONNOR (V.O.)
On the other hand, forget all that
crap. I'm not even sure myself.
ARC AROUND to the front of the attendant as she stops at a
passenger a few seats in front of Connor and offers a drink.
PULL BACK to reveal CONNOR in the very back of the plane,
secluded from the rest of the passengers by a couple of empty
rows.
He's wearing an iPod and barely looks awake.
PILOT (O.S.)
(filtered through
intercom)
Ladies and gentlemen, we're
beginning our final approach to
LAX. We should be touching down in
about ten minutes. Temperature
tonight is a brisk 77 degrees. The
flight attendants will be around to
offer you any last minute
refreshments. Thank you for flying
with us today.
The attendant reaches Connor and lightly taps him on the
shoulder to get his attention. He removes his iPod
headphones.
ATTENDANT
Sir, can I offer you a drink before
we start our final descent?
CONNOR
No, I'm good. Thanks.
He reaches over to a bag in the seat next to him. PUSH IN
past the attendant to a close up on Connor.
ATTENDANT (O.S.)
Well, would you mind if I had one?
Connor looks back up at the attendant, standing in full VAMP
FACE.
CONNOR
(muttering)
Friendly skies...
He looks in front of him. Every passenger in the next four
rows are VAMPIRES too!
BACK ON the attendant as she growls and lunges at the camera.
INT. AIRPORT TERMINAL - NIGHT
Various passengers are exiting the tunnel leading to the
plane. They chatter amongst themselves, some of them greeting
people in the waiting area with hugs and kisses.
Connor comes out last. His hair is a mess. His clothes are
torn, and there's dust all over him.
A nearby RECEPTIONIST rushes up to him.
RECEPTIONIST
(alarmed)
Sir, are you alright?
CONNOR
Yeah, I'm good. You might want to
get a vacuum cleaner though.
He walks away, shaking some loose dust out of his hair. The
receptionist watches him, quite confused.
INT. AIRPLANE - SAME TIME
We TRACK through the empty plane. The first class area is
immaculate. Through the curtains to the coach area. The
front section looks fine.
When we get to the wing, we see a pile of DUST in the aisle.
Followed by several piles in seats. The very back of the
plane where Connor was sitting is coated in dust.
Several arm rests and drink trays are scattered on the floor.
Hell of a fight.
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
EXT. GABRIELLA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
A taxi pulls into frame. WRAP AROUND to Connor paying the
driver and getting out of the backseat. The driver also gets
out and retrieves Connor's luggage for him as Connor stares
at the house.
No car in the driveway. All the lights are off. It looks
deserted.
The driver finishes unloading Connor's stuff and with a
shared nod, he drives off. Connor walks up to the front door
and produces a KEY, the same one Gabriella gave him months
ago.
He tries it on the door with no luck. With a loud sigh, he
walks back down to the street where his bags sit. He stops as
he notices something to his right.
PAN OVER to a grass and a 'For Sale' sign. A 'Sold' banner
overlays it.
CONNOR
(to himself)
Wonderful.
He bundles his bags up in his arms and slowly walks away.
EXT. THE CHARON HIGH RISE COMPLEX - NIGHT
Establishing shot of this high rise condo building. The word
"Charon" is displayed prominently above the door.
INT. HALLWAY - THE CHARON - NIGHT
CLOSE UP on a peephole of a door. Connor's hand comes into
frame and knocks three times.
The door opens to reveal GABRIELLA HERON, slender, mid
twenties, long black hair, gorgeous.
Her face lights up as the camera rotates to show a haggard
looking Connor.
PULL BACK to the side to show Connor's luggage bundled up in
his arms.
GABRIELLA
(excited)
Hey you!
CONNOR
Hey.
GABRIELLA
What are you doing here?
CONNOR
Ah, nothing much. Got bored in
Europe, so I figured walking
through downtown Los Angeles in
eighty degrees carrying sixty
pounds of luggage would be much
more fun.
(beat; off luggage)
Not to intrude or anything, but
would you mind...
GABRIELLA
Oh God, I'm sorry. Come in.
She relieves him of two of the bags...the lightest ones.
Connor enters behind her.
INT. LIVING ROOM - THE CHARON - CONTINUOUS
Connor gets about three steps past the threshold and promptly
drops everything else he's holding, totally exhausted.
He takes in the surroundings. Just about every square inch of
wall space is covered with various pieces of artwork,
trinkets, and a massive bookshelf packed with thick, old
looking books.
The furniture is high quality leather. There's a huge
projection television with surround sound. It looks like a
guy's bachelor pad.
Gabriella's taken to stacking up a few magazines on her
living room table. Connor eyes her warily.
GABRIELLA
When did you get back?
CONNOR
(unsure)
Couple of hours ago.
She's fluffing the pillows on the couch now.
GABRIELLA
Was the flight okay? I bet it was
pretty long.
CONNOR
Couple of layovers. Killed a
couple dozen vampires. I kept
busy.
She's closing the blinds to her bay windows.
GABRIELLA
(not looking)
Can I get you something to dr-
CONNOR
(exasperated)
Gabriella!
Gabriella turns and meets Connor's eyes, trepidation written
all over her.
CONNOR
It's okay to hug me.
There's a beat. Gabriella slowly moves around the couch,
letting out a sigh.
GABRIELLA
(relieved)
Thank you.
She practically tackles him in a tight bear hug. Connor
returns the warm embrace.
CONNOR
(softly)
Think I left the door open.
Gabriella, whose back is to the door, reaches back and swipes
her hand through the air. The door closes immediately. She
pulls her arm back into the hug.
Clearly neither of them plan on letting this go anytime soon.
CONNOR
By the way...
Gabriella lets go and backs up a bit, holding Connor's
biceps. Connor holds her by the waist.
CONNOR
Thanks for the heads up on the
relocation.
GABRIELLA
(smiling)
Sorry about that. How'd you find me
anyway?
Connor touches his nose.
CONNOR
I could never forget that scent.
They finally let go of one another, Gabriella beaming from
ear to ear.
A low whimper out of frame diverts Connor's attention. PULL
DOWN to show a full grown Scottish terrier.
CONNOR
Hey, who is this?
Connor bends down and rubs the dog's head.
GABRIELLA
This is Lesi.
Connor looks back up at her.
GABRIELLA
It's umm short for...
CONNOR
Yeah, I get it.
GABRIELLA
(avoiding)
So how about that drink?
CONNOR
Well, I'm a little tired. Do you
have any coffee?
GABRIELLA
No, but there's a Starbucks around
the corner.
CONNOR
(pointing behind himself)
Yeah, I remember passing one on the
way over.
GABRIELLA
That way? I was talking about the
one-
(points in the other
direction)
-on that corner.
CONNOR
(smiling)
I missed this town.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT
Gabriella and Connor are walking down a faintly busy main
street, both holding cups of coffee.
GABRIELLA
You met the Buffy Summers?
CONNOR
You say it like she's some rock
star.
GABRIELLA
Well, to those in the know, she's
pretty famous.
CONNOR
I didn't think much of her. Nice
girl, but I don't go for blondes.
That's my dad's thing.
(winking at Gabriella)
I'm more a brunette kind of guy.
GABRIELLA
(rolls eyes)
Riiiight.
She says it as if the word were two syllables.
GABRIELLA
So it was a good trip then?
CONNOR
Sure, if you count the fact that I
ran out of money a week into it.
The Watcher's Council set me up
though.
GABRIELLA
I don't know how you put up with
those people for that long.
CONNOR
They weren't all that bad. Just
really...British.
GABRIELLA
They're a bunch of self important,
uptight, shady politicians posing
as the good guys.
CONNOR
Says the woman who worked for
Wolfram and Hart.
Gabriella scowls. That hit a nerve.
CONNOR
(bowing his head)
Sorry.
GABRIELLA
No, it's okay.
CONNOR
They weren't all bad though, just a
little weird. I felt like a 3rd
grade science project the way some
of them were gushing over me.
GABRIELLA
How much did you tell them about
your origins?
CONNOR
Not much. I mentioned The Destroyer
and they sort of ran with that. By
the way, you ever seen what that
thing really looks like?
GABRIELLA
In native form? Yeah.
They both shudder in disgust.
CONNOR
(wry)
I also casually mentioned that the
spell wiped out my college
registration and bank account.
Gabriella stares at him blankly, then her mouth opens in a
silent 'oh' as she gets it.
GABRIELLA
How much did they give you?
CONNOR
Enough. I'm not rich or anything,
but I'm set for awhile. Got some
forged diplomas and stuff, so I can
get back in school too.
GABRIELLA
Well, that's good.
CONNOR
Yeah.
(beat)
So...why the move?
GABRIELLA
(bows her head)
After that whole mess with Drusilla
and...yeah, I couldn't be there
anymore. Got a good price on the
house, enough to buy the condo.
CONNOR
Right.
He waits for her to continue, but she's done talking.
CONNOR
So...that's it?
GABRIELLA
Pretty much. Got a reception job
that gets me out of the house, so
I'm not a total hermit.
CONNOR
What about...Alessia's old shop?
GABRIELLA
(sighs)
Surprisingly, she listed me as her
benefactor. Insurance wrote all the
damage off as gang violence and
give me a check for the repairs.
Thinking I'm just going to sell it
though.
CONNOR
You sure about that?
GABRIELLA
I don't know.
(beat)
There's nothing there for me
anymore.
They come to a huddle of people at a street corner, waiting
for a light to change. An attractive older woman stands at
the front of the group.
A THIEF in a ski mask zips past the group, snatching the
woman's purse and necklace as he moves.
OLDER WOMAN
(shocked)
Hey!
Gabriella turns to the departing thief, her eyes starting to
sparkle yellow. She raises her hand, but Connor grabs her
wrist and puts it back down.
GABRIELLA
(surprised)
What?
Connor looks at the thief, then back to Gabriella, a pleading
look in his eyes.
Gabriella scoffs and rolls her eyes.
GABRIELLA
Fine. Go be a guy.
Connor grins and takes off running.
ANGLE ON our thief bumping into people, his breath coming in
ragged gasps.
ZOOM BACK TO Connor effortlessly ducking, dodging, and
weaving in and out of the crowd, never losing sight of his
target.
ON SCENE
The thief sprints across an intersection. By the time Connor
reaches it, the streetlight has turned green and cars are
zooming by.
ANGLE ON Connor watching the cars go by. In the distance, the
culprit is getting away. CLOSE IN on Connor as he smirks.
ON SCENE
Connor gets a running starts and LEAPS onto the hood of a
moving car.
CUT TO the interior of the car and a very startled driver
ducking his head as his roof sinks a back.
BACK TO Connor jumping to another moving car, almost playing
hopscotch as he crosses the busy intersection.
He takes one final huge bound, landing on the back of a van
as it turns on the street the thief is running down.
CUT TO a front shot of the thief. In the background, we see
the van gaining on him, Connor poised on all fours like a cat
looking to strike.
OVERHEAD SHOT as Connor leaps off the van, over a nearby
newsstand. He shoulder rams the thief in the back, knocking
him down.
ON SCENE
Connor rolls with the landing to his feet, turning and taking
the time to dust his shirt off. He has the ski mask in his
hand.
A crowd is quickly gathering around them, having seen
Connor's stunt. The thief scrambles to his feet, the contents
of his stolen purse spilling out.
He quickly scrambles to his feet and we get a good look at
him now. He's young, a few years younger than Connor, and
mightily pissed off.
THIEF
(irate)
You crazy bastard!
The thief rushes in and swings a wild haymaker at Connor, who
cuts an angle and counters with a perfectly timed left hook,
dropping his assailant to his back.
Connor quickly mounts him and triangles the right forearm
between his own left hand and right forearm.
CONNOR
(cranks the arm one way)
Broken fibula. Orthoscopic surgery.
About 3 months in a cast.
The thief howls in pain.
CONNOR
(cranks a different way)
Dislocated shoulder.
6 weeks in a sling. About a month
of rehab. Pick one.
He cranks harder to make his point. The thief squirms from
underneath, but without full control of his arm, he's not
going anywhere.
CONNOR
(matter of fact)
Or you can give the purse back,
apologize, and spend about a month
in jail. Sound good?
THIEF
(gritted teeth)
You. Don't. Understand.
Connor looks down at him, confused by that remark. PULL BACK
to show the now enormous crowd watching the whole thing.
Gabriella and the thief's victim push their way to the front
of the crowd, along with a couple of POLICE OFFICERS.
Connor releases the thief to the custody of the officers, one
of whom gives him a nods of respect as they drag him off.
The woman walks up and collecting her belongings. Connor
helps her as multiple cameras flash around them.
CONNOR
I am in Los Angeles, right? They're
taking pictures of us like crime is
a rarity.
WOMAN
Well it isn't, but good samaritans
such as yourself are.
(extends her hand)
Selene Alba.
CONNOR
(shaking it)
Connor.
ANGLE ON one particular piece of jewelry lying on the ground.
ANGLE ON Gabriella staring at it, a thoughtful expression on
her face.
BACK TO Connor and Selene standing back up. The cameras are
still flashing.
CONNOR
(agitated)
This is getting ridiculous.
SELENE
(exasperated)
I'm sure it'll make the headlines
tomorrow. Great fodder for my
opponent.
CONNOR
Come again?
SELENE
I'm running for a seat in the city
council.
She pulls out a business card and hands it to Connor.
SELENE
If you wouldn't mind, could you
stop by my headquarters tomorrow?
I'd like to show my gratitude.
CONNOR
You don't need to do that.
SELENE
Well, could you stop by anyway? In
the morning, I'm sure I'll have a
slew of reporters on my front lawn.
If you could just give your story,
it'd clear any negative press I
could get out of this.
CONNOR
Umm...sure. No problem.
SELENE
Thank you...er...Connor, is it?
Connor nods. Selene smiles and starts pushing her way through
the crowd, shielding her eyes from the cameras.
Gabriella approaches Connor, still looking deep in thought.
They both watch Selene and her traveling press conference
leave the scene.
GABRIELLA
You okay?
CONNOR
(distracted)
Yeah.
(looks at her)
What's with you?
GABRIELLA
Nothing, just...thought I
recognized something. Didn't get a
good enough look.
CONNOR
Mystical?
GABRIELLA
I don't know. My eyesight's
terrible.
CONNOR
Well, if it's any help...
(off Selene)
...she's not human.
INT. LIVING ROOM - THE CHARON - NIGHT
Lesi rushes up to meet Connor and Gabriella at the door.
Connor ignores the dog and heads straight for the bookshelf.
CONNOR
(looking at the books)
We need to find out what kind of
demon she is.
GABRIELLA
(petting Lesi)
A bit paranoid, aren't you?
Connor goes to pull one book out, but pulls his hand back.
CONNOR
Never take your chances with
demons.
GABRIELLA
Well there's not much to go on.
Unless your nose is a smellapedia
of demonic pheromones...
Connor is still looking through the volumes of books.
CONNOR
(agitated)
I'm being serious here.
GABRIELLA
So am I. There's about 10 million
citizens in the greater Los Angeles
area. Twenty five percent of that
is comprised of demons. You
randomly encounter one and all of a
sudden it's a jihad?
CONNOR
Oh, I see. Gotcha. So you must not
have been around when the sun was
blacked out of the sky. Or the rain
of fire. Or the other couple dozen
apocalypses...apocalypsi...apocali
..whatever.
GABRIELLA
And a chance encounter with a demon
when the human in the scenario was
the bad guy makes you think the end
of the world is coming? I think
you're being a little too jumpy.
CONNOR
(sighs)
You're probably right. Look, I've
had a long flight and I'm tired.
Just wanna grab a shower and get
some sleep.
GABRIELLA
(nodding)
Okay. Come on, Lesi. Dinner time.
She heads off towards the kitchen, Lesi trailing behind her.
Connor looks around the room confused.
CONNOR
(thinking out loud)
Bathroom...bathroom.
GABRIELLA (O.S.)
There's a shower in your room.
CONNOR
(surprised)
I have a room?
GABRIELLA (O.S.)
I figured you'd be back eventually.
Sprung for a two bed.
Connor smiles and shakes his head in disbelief as he heads
towards a nearby bedroom.
INT. BEDROOM - THE CHARON - CONTINUOUS
PAN AROUND the room. It's completely bare. The bed
immaculately made. No decoration to be found anywhere.
Connor heads to a walk in closet and opens it up.
ANGLE ON the closet, full of women's clothing and shoes.
He shuts the closet and a picture on the nightstand catches
his eye. It's of Gabriella with her deceased husband and
child.
This isn't his room.
GABRIELLA (O.S.)
Hey.
Connor turns to see Gabriella in the doorway, drinking a
bottled water.
GABRIELLA
(pointing behind her)
Your room's across the hall.
INT. CONNOR'S BATHROOM - THE CHARON - NIGHT
PAN ACROSS the drawn shower curtain, the silhouette of
Connor's upper body is visible through it.
CUT TO a close up of a soaking wet Connor as the shower water
runs down the back of his head and neck. He exhales deeply.
PAN UP to a small shower radio hanging on the wall. Connor's
hand comes into frame and clicks it on.
MALE VOICE
(through radio)
With the dissolution of the Los
Angeles branch of Wolfram and Hart,
many city developers are scrambling
to-
Connor tunes to another station.
FEMALE VOICE
(through radio)
-district race between candidates
Selene Alba and Adrian Combs comes
to an end this Friday.
The two candidates will have one
final opportunity to sway voters
with a public debate-
ANGLE ON Connor frowning as he tries again.
MALE VOICE
(through radio)
-veral local business owners are
pooling their resources in an
attempt to secure a stronger
footing in-
CONNOR
(frustrated)
The hell?
He turns the radio off. No chance for music to ease his
clouded mind.
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.