connor101
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               INT. LIVING ROOM - THE CHARON - NIGHT

               Gabriella runs her finger across the spines of the various
               books on the shelf. She settles on one and pulls it out.

               INT. CONNOR'S BATHROOM - THE CHARON - NIGHT

               ANGLE ON the water faucet as Connor's hand turns it off.

               ANGLE ON the towel being wrapped around his waist.

               CONNOR'S POV

               The shower curtain hangs in front of us.  Connor's hand
               reaches up and pulls it aside to reveal DARLA leaning
               casually against the door.

               ON SCENE

                                   CONNOR 
                             (startled)
                         Jesus!

                                   DARLA
                             (waving)
                         Hey.

               Connor blinks, still in disbelief.

               INT. LIVING ROOM - THE CHARON - NIGHT

               Gabriella is sitting in the lotus position on the couch, her
               eyes closed, her breathing coming in slow, controlled heaves.
               The book she grabbed earlier lies open on the coffee table in
               front of her.

               A low gust of wind seems to come from nowhere, billowing
               through her hair. PULL AWAY from her as she starts to
               LEVITATE off the couch.

               INT. CONNOR'S BATHROOM - THE CHARON - SAME TIME

               Judging by Connor's heaving shoulders, he's still recovering
               from being startled.

                                   CONNOR
                         Wha?  Huh?

                                   DARLA
                             (rolling her eyes)
                         We going to go through this every
                         time I show up?

                                   CONNOR
                         Sorry. I haven't exactly adjusted
                         to getting visits from my dead mom.

               Darla moves over to lean against the sink.

                                   DARLA
                         The trip's not so pleasant on my
                         end either. You think you have jet
                         lag right now?

               Connor holds up a hand to stop her.

                                   CONNOR
                         Please, can we just get to the
                         point?  I've had a long day.

               Darla looks a little hurt by that comment, but quickly
               regains her composure.

                                   DARLA
                         The higher ups are a little
                         concerned that you don't completely
                         understand what it is you're meant
                         to do.

                                   CONNOR
                         Thought it was pretty
                         straightforward. Some omnipotent
                         ancient being shows up and I kick
                         its ass.  Lather, rinse-

                                   DARLA
                         So you really think you're meant to
                         save the world?

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm a-
                             (makes airquotes)
                         -champion right?  Isn't that what
                         I'm supposed to do?

                                   DARLA
                         Save the world from what exactly?

                                   CONNOR
                             (unsure)
                         The...the bad guys.

                                   DARLA
                         Well I know where you got the
                         naivete from. Connor, you're not
                         meant to save the world. Quite
                         frankly, it doesn't need saving.

                                   CONNOR
                         This really couldn't wait until I
                         was out of the shower?

                                   DARLA
                         This world's been around for
                         billions of years. Comparatively
                         speaking, the existence of mortals
                         like us is like a miniscule second. 
                         Do you really think any single
                         power is capable of destroying it?

               Connor leans against the wall opposite his mother as he takes
               that in.

               INT. LIVING ROOM - THE CHARON - SAME TIME

               We rotate around Gabriella, still in lotus position with her
               hair lifting and tossing from an invisible wind. She's a good
               six feet off the ground now. The room is only lit by the
               white swirling energy radiating from her body.

               CLOSE IN on her as we hear multiple WHISPERS. Her eyes slowly
               open, realization clear on her face. The energy fades slowly
               away.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Oh crap.

               She falls out of frame, yelping in shock.

               INT. CONNOR'S BATHROOM - THE CHARON - SAME TIME

               Back where we left them.

                                   CONNOR
                         So if I'm not meant to save the
                         world, then what the hell do...
                             (points to the ceiling)
                         they want with me?

                                   DARLA
                         Just because the world can't be
                         completely destroyed doesn't mean
                         it can't be changed.

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm supposed to change the world?

                                   DARLA
                         No.

               Connor throws his hands up. He's completely lost now.

                                   DARLA
                         Some events, some people, some
                         things are meant to happen. Change
                         the world and push it along its
                         natural evolution. Then there's
                         stuff that isn't supposed to
                         happen. There's a balance to be
                         maintained. You, my darling boy,
                         are supposed to be the keeper of
                         that balance.

                                   CONNOR
                         Who determines what is and isn't
                         meant to happen? The Powers and the
                         Senior Partners?

                                   DARLA
                         There's negotiations and this and
                         that. It's all very bureaucratic.

                                   CONNOR
                         And how am I supposed to know? You
                         going to show up and lay it out for
                         me?

                                   DARLA
                         Nope. You'll get some hints here
                         and there. May want to pay
                         attention to the radio more often.

                                   CONNOR 
                         Damn. I was hoping it'd be as easy
                         as someone bursting in and saying-

               Gabriella swings the door open, nearly out of breath. A
               frightened Connor drops his towel.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         We've got a problem!
                             (looks at Connor)
                         Gah!

               She averts her eyes and covers them with her hand.  Connor
               looks back in Darla's direction.  She's not there anymore. 
               He pulls his towel back up.

                                   CONNOR
                         How big of a problem?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         It's...pretty big.

               Off Gabriella still covering her eyes, we:

                                                         FADE TO BLACK.



                                     END ACT ONE
                                       ACT TWO

               FADE IN.

               INT. LIVING ROOM - THE CHARON - NIGHT

               Connor is fully dressed now. Both he and Gabriella are seated
               on the couch with a stack of Gabriella's books scattered
               across the table.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         One of the things that fell out of
                         Alba's purse was a gem I knew I
                         recognized.

                                   CONNOR
                         So you just looked it up?  I
                         thought we were dropping this.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (looking at Connor)
                         You had a feeling.  That's enough
                         reason to look into it.

               She points to a picture of a drawing in the book.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Scion's Pendant.

                                   CONNOR
                         How'd you know it in the first
                         place?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         It used to belong to Wolfram and
                         Hart.  

                                   CONNOR
                             (sighs)
                         Of course it did.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         We...they kept all sorts of
                         talismans, artifacts, and scrolls
                         in their archives.  When your dad
                         took down the local office, all
                         that stuff was auctioned off on the
                         black market.

                                   CONNOR
                         What does it do?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         I'm not sure, but there's more.

               Connor looks at her questioningly.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         I tried this thing Alessia taught
                         me. See, every person, human or
                         demon, has a...a flow I guess. It
                         connects them to their native
                         dimension and binds their physical
                         presence to their spiritual one.

                                   CONNOR
                         Meaning?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         When I looked into hers, well, her
                         body is still human, but it's
                         basically a shell.  The spirit
                         residing within, the demon, wasn't
                         tied to this physical plane.

                                   CONNOR
                         So the human girl is possessed?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Or it's simply a very good glamour
                         spell.  Either way, that demon
                         isn't supposed to be here.

                                   CONNOR
                         And you did all this just because I
                         had a bad feeling?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         That and I was bored. You take long
                         showers.  Whatever the case, if she
                         went through all that trouble, she
                         has an agenda. Like any good
                         politician, knock on wood, she
                         can't be trusted.

               Connor nods in agreement.

               EXT. LAPD PRECINCT - NIGHT

               The front doors open and our thief from earlier emerges. 

               ANGLE ON a stretch limo waiting outside for him. The window
               rolls down and a stern faced man in his mid forties stares a
               hole right through our thief. This is ADRIAN COMBS.

                                   THIEF
                         Dad, I-

                                   ADRIAN
                         In the car, Colin.

               Colin climbs in, not looking too happy about it.

               INT. LIMO - NIGHT

               Colin hangs his head in shame. This sort of detachment is
               something he's experienced before.

                                   COLIN
                         I'm sorry.

                                   ADRIAN
                         Not as sorry as I am. I ask you to
                         do one simple thing that actually
                         plays to your delinquent tendencies
                         and you can't even do that for me? 

               Colin opts to look at the fine scenery outside his window,
               trying to tune out the berating.

                                   ADRIAN
                         I'm behind in the polls already and
                         Alba's sure to use this debacle to
                         get more media on her.

                                   COLIN
                         Maybe they'll think it's a
                         publicity stunt?

                                   ADRIAN
                         If I want your opinion, I'll tell
                         you what it is, so you can repeat
                         it back to me. Your screw up messed
                         up the whole strategy.

                                   COLIN
                         Stealing her jewelry and using it
                         to blackmail her into dropping out? 
                             (sarcastic)
                         Great plan dad.

               Colin recoils as Adrian's hand snaps up, almost striking him
               in the face. Adrian calms himself and hands Colin a file
               folder instead.

                                   ADRIAN 
                         These are photos of the kid who
                         caught you. According to a tape of
                         the conversation he had with Alba,
                         his name is Connor.

                                   COLIN
                         Connor...?

                                   ADRIAN
                         Just Connor. That's all he said. 
                         Alba asked him to meet her at her
                         campaign office. Stake it out,
                         follow that kid, get me some dirt.
                         Alba will spin this disaster into a
                         PR bouquet for her. I need to
                         counteract that.  

                                   COLIN 
                         Isn't this something you hire like
                         a P.I. for or something?

                                   ADRIAN
                         It always shows up on the books,
                         even if you pay someone under the
                         table. Consider this your segue
                         into the political world.  

                                   COLIN
                         By stalking a guy and getting dirt
                         on him?

                                   ADRIAN
                         It's how we all got our start. What
                         do you think prosecutors do when
                         they're not in courtrooms?

               Father and son share a smile. It's forced on both ends.

               ANGLE ON the sky. TIME LAPSE SHOT of the sun rising in the
               sky.

               INT. ALBA HEADQUARTERS - DAY

               Connor and Gabriella step into a political jungle. There are
               signs, banners, hats, t-shirts, all bearing Selene Alba
               propaganda.  

               The lady herself is in the middle of an interview. She
               catches Connor out of the corner of her eye and motions for
               the reporter and cameraman to follow her.

                                   SELENE
                             (beaming)
                         Cameron!

                                   CONNOR
                             (bitter)
                         Connor.

                                   SELENE
                         Connor. Of course.
                             (turns to the camera)
                         This is the wonderful young man who
                         stopped that boy last night from
                         getting away.
                             (to Connor)
                         I can't thank you enough for your
                         help. It's fine young men like you
                         that serve as an example for the
                         children of our fair city.

               Gabriella looks like she's about to choke on all the
               bullshit. Selene is obviously playing to the cameras.

                                   SELENE
                         Connor, do you have anything you
                         would like to say?

               ANGLE ON Connor as the camera, complete with blinding light,
               turns to him. Literally a deer in headlights.

                                   CONNOR
                             (nervous)
                         Um.  No.

                                   SELENE
                         He's so modest too. The mark of a
                         true hero.

               Gabriella can't help but let out a laugh of disbelief.

                                   SELENE
                             (to the reporter)
                         Thank you for coming by today.
                             (to the camera)
                         And to all you voters out there,
                         remember this Tuesday is the big
                         day.  

               She shoos the cameraman and reporter away, visibly sagging
               once the little red light isn't on anymore.

                                   SELENE
                         Thanks for stopping by.  Let me
                         show you around a bit.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         I can't imagine the amount of
                         resources you must need to run a
                         campaign like this.

                                   SELENE
                         I'm sorry Miss?

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (haughtily)
                         Oh where ARE my manners?
                             (extends her hand)
                         Gabriella Heron.

                                   SELENE
                             (shaking hands)
                         Yes, Miss Heron. It does a lot to
                         pull this sort of thing off.
                         Sometimes it's a matter of knowing
                         the right people.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         That how you got your hands on
                         Scion's Pendant?

               Now it's Selene's turn to look like a deer in headlights.

                                   SELENE
                             (nervous)
                         Umm...would you mind if we spoke in
                         private?

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (fake smile)
                         Not at all. Lead the way.

               Selene turns sharply and walks towards a private office. 
               Connor and Gabriella trail behind her.

                                   CONNOR
                             (whispering)
                         Nice subtlety there.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (whispering)
                         I'm a master of it.

               They follow Selene into:

               INT. SELENE'S OFFICE - ALBA'S HEADQUARTERS - CONTINUOUS

               Selene quickly locks the door behind her. She makes sure all
               the blinds are closed before turning to the duo.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         We already know you're not human
                         either, so let's skip all that
                         ambiguity.

                                   SELENE
                         You're not going to try to cut my
                         head off?

                                   CONNOR
                             (caught off guard)
                         No.

                                   SELENE
                         Forgive me, but my experience with
                         your kind has never been pleasant.

                                   CONNOR
                             (deadpan)
                         Well, decapitation doesn't always
                         work on demons anyway. Sometimes it
                         takes a bit more hacking. Fire
                         every now and then.

               Selene stiffens a bit at that. Not the answer she wanted.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         What are you anyway?  

               Selene sighs and closes her eyes. An ethereal grey energy
               surrounds her, growing in intensity until it blankets her
               whole body.

               The light dissipates to reveal Alba's true form. Same height
               and weight, blue skin, solid green eyes, dark blue lips, and
               spiked red hair.

               Gabriella looks almost in awe. Connor tries to fight a
               snicker and fails miserably.

                                   SELENE
                         Something funny?

                                   CONNOR
                         Sorry. You just look like the
                         receptionist from Beetlejuice.

                                   SELENE
                             (incredulous)
                         I'm Smyrnic.

                                   CONNOR
                         That near France?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Smyrnic? I wasn't aware there were
                         any of you in this dimension.

                                   SELENE
                         A small group of us migrated here
                         just a few months ago.  
                             (taps the pendant)
                         My home dimension wasn't conducive
                         to raising a family.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         And now you're running for office?
                         How are you even qualified to do
                         this?

                                   SELENE
                         Got my law degree through online
                         courses over the past few years. 
                         Back home, T3 LAN lines are pretty
                         cheap.  

                                   CONNOR
                         I don't get it though. Why are you
                         running?

                                   SELENE
                         When Wolfram and Hart packed up and
                         moved out of Los Angeles, a power
                         vacuum was left. That law firm had
                         a hand in everything in this city. 
                         Now with a void left there by their
                         departure-

                                   CONNOR
                             (catching on)
                         Every mogul and their mother wants
                         a slice.

                                   SELENE
                         Precisely. God forsaken company
                         wasn't the paragon of good, but
                         they were fairly accepting of the
                         demon world. There are other
                         sources of power in this city that
                         aren't quite as...open minded I
                         guess you could say.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Like Adrian Combs?

                                   CONNOR
                         Who?

                                   SELENE
                             (nodding)
                         My opponent. 

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (to Connor)
                         He's infamous in the demon world
                         for being something of a tyrant. 
                         About a decade ago, he supposedly
                         referred a horde known as the
                         Scourge here to wipe out a part of
                         the demon population.

               Connor looks back and forth between them.

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm supposed to feel bad about
                         this?

                                   SELENE
                         I beg your pardon?

                                   CONNOR
                         Sounds like he's doing the world a
                         favor.

                                   SELENE
                             (snapping)
                         How dare you!

               Her eyes flash with the outburst. Connor recoils and
               instinctively gets his hands up to defend himself. Selene
               quickly calms herself.

                                   SELENE
                         I'm sorry, I just...I'm a demon,
                         yes, but Combs is a monster. Look,
                         I own a halfway house for wayward
                         demons that Combs has been trying
                         to get rid of for the last year.
                         Part of the reason I'm running is
                         to keep it open. 

                                   GABRIELLA
                         How noble and charitable of you.

                                   SELENE
                         Don't patronise me. Look, just come
                         down and see the place. It wouldn't
                         kill you to see how the other side
                         lives.

               Gabriella and Connor share a look. They're both asking the
               same question to one another. Connor sighs and turns to
               Selene.

                                   CONNOR
                         When and where?

               A flash of light returns Selene to her human form.

               EXT. ALBA CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS - DAY

               Pull away from a shot of the front door to the interior of a
               car across the street.  

               ANGLE ON Colin Combs on his stakeout.

               EXT. CITY STREET - EVENING

               Establishing shot of a street corner in a rundown part of
               town now. Connor and Gabriella are leaning against her car,
               both drinking coffee.

                                   CONNOR
                         So...

                                   GABRIELLA
                         You thinking trap too?

                                   CONNOR
                         Pretty much.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         So why'd we come?

                                   CONNOR
                             (shrugs)
                         Morbid curiosity?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Do I have to say it?

                                   CONNOR
                             (shaking his head)
                         I never liked cats anyway.

               A transit bus pulls into frame. ARC AROUND the bus to show
               passengers departing, including Selene, she smiles and waves
               goodbye to the passengers.

               Gabriella and Connor share a confused look before waving her
               over.

                                   CONNOR
                         The bus? Shouldn't you be in a limo
                         or something?

                                   SELENE
                         Public transportation gets me
                         closer to the people. I get more
                         votes that way.

               Gabriella rolls her eyes. Oh please. They start walking down
               the street, Selene leading the way. Connor looks around at
               the run down buildings surrounding them.

                                   CONNOR
                         Not exactly the safer confines of
                         downtown LA.

                                   SELENE
                         The lower class neighborhoods are
                         more in the know about the demon
                         population.  Most of the demons in
                         this town squat here...

               She trails off as something in front of her catches her
               attention.  

               ARC AROUND to a large apartment building in front of her, a
               raging fire burning inside it.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Oh no.

               Gabriella whips out a cellphone and dials 911.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (into phone)
                         Yes.  I want to report a fire at-
                             (to Selene)
                         What's the address here?

               Selene doesn't answer, her attention fully on the fire in
               front of her. Gabriella grabs her arm and shakes her back to
               reality.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Address!

                                   SELENE
                         2727 Lansdowne Drive.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (into phone)
                         2727...Connor!

               PULL BACK to show Connor has already taken off towards the
               complex.

               ZOOM AHEAD to a ledge on the building to show a young female
               demon perched on the window sill. Smoke pours out of the
               window and the room itself seems to be completely ablaze.

               Connor cups his hands to his mouth as he runs, never breaking
               stride.

                                   CONNOR
                             (yelling)
                         What room are you in?

                                   DEMON
                             (yelling)
                         230.

               Connor picks up the speed, busting through the front door
               into:
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