connor102
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                                       TEASER

               INT. GABRIELLA AND CONNOR'S APARTMENT - DAY

               ANGLE ON CONNOR sitting on the floor with his legs crossed
               and eyes closed, his brow furrowed in concentration.

               ANGLE ON GABRIELLA in the same position, her face completely
               calm.

               ON SCENE

               The two of them are sitting on opposite ends of a map, hands
               joined.

               From overhead, we see several LIGHTS materialize on the map.  

               Beads of sweat start to pour down Connor's face. LESI comes
               into frame and licks the side of his face. He smiles and
               opens his eyes, separating his hands from Gabriella.

               Gabriella's body slumps as she comes out of it. Her eyes fall
               to the map as the lights dissipate.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Damn it, Connor.

               Connor doesn't seem too bothered, ruffling his hands on
               Lesi's neck.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         A few more seconds and the
                         locations would've held.  

                                   CONNOR
                         So we'll do it again...later.

               Gabriella takes a sip from a nearby glass of water and gets
               to her feet.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         That's not the point.  You broke
                         the link.

                                   CONNOR
                         Still not seeing why you can't do
                         this on your own.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         I don't have that kind of latent
                         energy.

                                   CONNOR
                         Could've fooled me. I've seen what
                         you can do.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         All that flashy stuff comes through
                         years of training. Plus things like
                         telekinesis and barrier spells are
                         a one and done sort of thing. A
                         sustained effort is a hell of a lot
                         harder to keep up.

                                   CONNOR
                         So you have to siphon off me.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         If you'd pay better attention to
                         the instructions I've been trying
                         to give you, you'd be able to do
                         this spell on your own.

                                   CONNOR
                         I doubt I can pull off a spell you
                         can't do alone.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Your body's better equipped for it.

               Connor gives her a wry grin.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Not like that.  You were created by
                         higher powers. There's a latent
                         reservoir of mystical energy in
                         you. 

                                   CONNOR
                         I thought I was completely human,
                         minus that bug in my system.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         You are, but...how to explain this?
                             (beat)
                         It's basic physics. All magic
                         really is is training your mind and
                         body to tap into parts of the brain
                         that noone else uses and harnessing
                         your body's natural energy. You are
                         human, but your chemical make up is
                         still mystical, so it naturally has
                         more potential than my body does.
                             (beat)
                         Connor?

               Connor is flat on his back, lightly snoring. Gabriella gently
               kicks him in the ribs and he smiles.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (smirking)
                         Sorry to bore you. Seriously
                         though, You're gifted. Your body
                         has a natural affinity for magic
                         that you're blatantly ignoring.
                         When I first started, my nose bled
                         if I floated a pencil two inches
                         off the ground.

                                   CONNOR
                         I've already got you, so what's the
                         point of me learning magic?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         In the long run, it'll be
                         beneficial for you. What if one day
                         you're up against something you
                         can't swing a sword at and hack to
                         bits, no matter how hard you try.
                         What would you do then?

                                   CONNOR
                             (deadpan)
                         Swing harder. And we've been at
                         this for two days.

               Gabriella sits on her knees in front of him.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Well it's important. If we can-

                                   CONNOR
                         What's today?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Wednesday, why?

                                   CONNOR
                         Crap.

               Connor gets to his feet and heads over to the broom closet by
               the front door.

                                   GABRIELLA 
                         What are you doing?

                                   CONNOR
                         Something more important. 

               He digs through a jacket from the closet and gets his wallet
               out.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Uh...why?

                                   CONNOR
                         When's the last time you went out
                         when you weren't hungry, thirsty,
                         or going to work?
                             (beat)
                         There's this concept called fun.
                         That's F-U-N. Heard of it?

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (sarcastic)
                         Ha ha.
                             (beat)
                         Don't you think it'd be a better
                         idea if you were, oh I don't know,
                         fighting evil?

                                   CONNOR
                         I'm not going to spend my nights
                         rooftop hopping staking random
                         vampires. I'm not my father.

               He pulls out her (extremely small) purse and tosses it over
               to her a little too hard.

               Gabriella holds her hand out in front of her. The purse
               freezes in midair for a moment before slowly floating into
               her other hand.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (wry)
                         You're a real champion.

               Gabriella crosses the room in about three long strides to
               reach Connor. She looks him straight in the eye and her face
               softens.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Should I even bother pointing out
                         that I'm not good in crowds?

                                   CONNOR
                             (opens the front door)
                         You'll blend. If you don't, just
                         cast a spell or something.

               Gabriella rolls her eyes.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (walking out the door)
                         Fine, whatever. Tomorrow, we're
                         practicing locator spells again.

                                   CONNOR
                             (walking out after her)
                         That's cool. Gives me tonight to
                         come up with an excuse not to. And
                         I'll drive.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Like hell you will.

               The door shuts behind them.

               INT. KAROAKE BAR - NIGHT

               Pan across a surprisingly packed bar, stopping on the stage
               where a group of long haired grunge kids are finishing up a
               horrible rendition of Metallica's St. Anger.

               Connor is borderline violently bobbing his head to the song.
               Gabriella looks like she'd rather be dead.

               The kids finish up and the whole bar (of college students)
               erupts in cheers. Gabriella winces at the uproar.

               It dies down and the jukebox kicks in, playing Bob Dylan's
               cover of Ring of Fire. Connor looks over to Gabriella, who is
               about a half second from walking out.

                                   CONNOR
                         What?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Why the hell are we here?

               Connor points to a group of guys at another table.

                                   CONNOR
                         Those guys over there? Frat
                         brothers of mine. Every Wednesday
                         if we didn't have tests coming up,
                         we'd come down, get wasted, and do
                         some bad karaoke.

               Gabriella looks at the group of sweater vest wearing preps
               and raises an eyebrow.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Well that's cool, I guess...or
                         something.
                             (beat)
                         Why don't you go over and say hi?

               Connor looks at her like she asked why the sky is blue.

                                   CONNOR
                         Because they have no clue who I am
                         anymore?

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (catching up)
                         Oh. Right.
                             (beat)
                         Sorry.

                                   CONNOR
                         It's cool. Still though, always had
                         a good time here and I needed a
                         break.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Gotcha.

               Their server drops off a fruity looking martini for Gabriella
               and a tall beer for Connor. Connor guzzles half of it in one
               gulp.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (wry)
                         So...since when are you twenty-one?

               Connor burps...loudly, getting a grimace from Gabriella.

                                   CONNOR
                             (wiping his mouth)
                         Since I charmed this girl in the
                         Watcher's Council to make me a
                         fake.

               Gabriella smiles. Clever. She turns her head to the side,
               listening to the chorus of the song, and rolls her eyes.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         So are there ever any good
                         performers?

                                   CONNOR
                         What? I mean those last guys
                         sucked, but at least the song was
                         good.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         You call that good?

                                   CONNOR
                             (incredulous)
                         Metallica is great rock music,
                         what's wrong with you?

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Pft. You want great rock music,
                         I'll get you some Sammy Hagar.

               Connor gives her a blank look.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         What?

                                   CONNOR
                         We can't be friends anymore. Next
                         you're gonna tell me you don't like-
                             (points to the ceiling)
                         -this song.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Yeah, it's fine...when Johnny Cash
                         does it.

                                   CONNOR
                         Only if you can't sleep.

                                   MAN (O.S.)
                         Ladies and gentlemen!

               Everyone directs their attention to the stage where a man
               about Connor's age is standing there holding a shotgun. He's
               sporting full on vamp face.

                                   MAN
                         Tonight's amateur hour has
                         unfortunately been cut short, on
                         account of my needing to make rent
                         tomorrow.

               He cocks the shotgun and pans it around the room. Everyone
               sorts of shrinks away from it when it's pointed at them
               except the lone guy sitting at the frontmost table in the
               room, a scruffy looking guy in his late twenties.

                                   MAN
                             (to the man up front)
                         Tough guy huh?

               The guy casually pulls up his shirt, revealing a gun of his
               own.

               A GUN BLAST from the exit elicits a collective gasp from
               everyone in the room. Several more men with shotguns are
               standing there. They're all in full vamp face!

               ON Connor and Gabriella.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (whispering)
                         I'd like to thank you for this
                         wonderful night out.

                                   CONNOR
                         You packing?

               She produces two small stakes from her purse and hands one to
               Connor.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Always. Just say when.

                                   CONNOR
                         Waiting for a good moment.

               The vampire on stage hops down to the table as the lone guy,
               still sitting, draws his gun and aims dead at him (no pun
               intended). The vampire smirks.

                                   VAMPIRE
                         Come on, pal.
                             (pounds his chest)
                         Hit me right here.

               The man shrugs and shoots the vampire right in the heart. The
               vampire, shocked, looks down at his chest a split second
               before he DUSTS.

               ON Gabriella and Connor, both of them in shock, along with
               everyone else in the room.

                                   CONNOR
                             (shrugs)
                         Good enough for me.

               He springs out of his chair and land a heavy punch on the
               nearest vampire.

                                                             BLACK OUT.



                                    END OF TEASER
                                       ACT ONE

               FADE IN.

               INT. KAROAKE BAR - NIGHT

               Tables upturned and broken. Broken glass all over the place.
               The fight's long over.

               Several POLICE OFFICERS are taking statements from the
               customers. 

               Connor, Gabriella, and the gunman from earlier are sitting at
               the bar. The boys are having a beer while Gabriella is sizing
               the gunman up.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         So...wooden bullets, huh?

               The gunman nods and sips his beer.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Wow, that's pretty smart. So
                         uh...come here often?

               She's failing miserably at small talk here. Connor, who is
               sitting between them, gives her a look that lets her know
               that.

                                   GUNMAN
                             (extends his hand)
                         Oliver Pike.

                                   CONNOR
                             (shaking it)
                         Connor.
                             (nods to Gabriella)
                         Gabriella Heron.

                                   PIKE
                             (nodding)
                         No last name for you?

                                   CONNOR
                         It's a three part family name. I
                         don't like saying it.

               Pike smirks at Connor. A police officer approaches them at
               the bar.

                                   PIKE
                         Evening, officer.

                                   OFFICER
                         Evening, folks. Just need to get
                         your statement. We've been getting
                         crazy stories about halloween
                         masks.

                                   PIKE
                         Oh no, they were definite vampires. 
                             (off Connor)
                         This guy staked four and I got the
                         other ones. 

               The officer opens his mouth to respond.

                                   PIKE
                         And no we're not on acid or X or
                         anything. We're not hallucinating.
                         Oh and don't try the line about
                         goth high schoolers. That one's
                         just ridiculous.

               A beat.

                                   OFFICER
                             (beat)
                         I'm gonna need you to clear out of
                         here.

                                   PIKE
                         I didn't finish my beer.

                                   OFFICER
                         Now.

               Pike puts his half full beer on the bar.

                                   PIKE
                             (to Connor)
                         Come on, I've got more at my place
                         anyway.

               They get up and brush past the officer. Connor stops and
               turns back to him.

                                   CONNOR
                         I've always wondered, what do you
                         guys tell the media when stuff like
                         this comes up?

                                   OFFICER
                         I don't understand the question. We
                         always report the truth.

               Connor crosses his arms. Get real.

                                   OFFICER
                             (sighs)
                         Gangs, goth high schoolers,
                         suicidal businessmen. 

                                   CONNOR
                             (nodding his head)
                         Oh.

               He leaves with Gabriella and Pike.

               EXT. BAR - NIGHT

               Pike, Gabriella, and Connor smoothly move through the
               collection of police cars gathered outside the building.

               Pike, who's been digging in his pockets, suddenly stops and
               turns around.

                                   PIKE
                         Hey, catch.

               He tosses two items over to Connor and Gabriella, who both
               catch one. 

               ON Connor's hand as he opens it to reveal a small cross.

               ON Pike looking a lot more relaxed.

                                   PIKE
                         Good. Just checking.

                                   CONNOR
                         You thought I was a vamp?

                                   PIKE
                         I watched you stake four vampires
                         in about 90 seconds and you didn't
                         break a sweat. Also haven't seen
                         too many humans move that fast.

               Connor and Gabriella look at one another and shrug their
               shoulders. Fair point.

                                   CONNOR
                         No, completely human.
                         Just...gifted.
                             (off Gabriella)
                         Her too.

                                   PIKE
                         Right. Cool.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Wait, how do you know we're not
                         demons?

                                   PIKE
                         If you are, you are. Whatever. I've
                         just got a thing against vamps.

               He continues to walk, not looking back at them.

                                   PIKE
                         Just occurred to me that I've only
                         got a two seater, so I can't give
                         you both a lift.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         That's fine. We drove.

               Pike comes to a stop at a shiny motorcycle. He starts to
               unchain it.

               Gabriella is practically drooling over the bike. 

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Got a spare helmet?

               Pike holds a helmet out to her while putting his on.
               Gabriella quickly shuffles through her purse and tosses a set
               of keys in the air.

               Connor catches them and looks at Gabriella, confused as all
               hell.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Follow behind us.

               She quickly puts the helmet on and gets on the back of the
               bike, wrapping herself around Pike like a blanket.

               Pike starts the bike. Connor just looks down at the keys,
               still trying to figure out her change in attitude.

               EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT

               Establishing shot of a slightly run down building as Pike,
               Connor, and Gabriella approach it. There's a bunch of kids
               playing tag in front of it.

               Gabriella's noticeably got a bit more pep in her step, likely
               from the thrill of the ride over.

               One of them, no more than seven years old, runs up to Pike
               and leaps in his arms. Pike balances him on one arm and
               continues to walk.

                                   KID
                         Hey, Pike!

                                   PIKE
                         Sup, Alden. Where's your mom?

                                   ALDEN
                         It's House night. All the grown ups
                         told us to go outside for an hour.

               Pike laughs and lightly punches Alden's chin before putting
               him down. Alden falls into step with them.

                                   PIKE
                         Oh, remember that idea you gave me
                         a few months ago? I tried it out
                         tonight and it worked.

               Alden's eyes light up and he starts bouncing around the three
               adults.

                                   ALDEN
                         Really? You got a vampire with one?

                                   PIKE
                         Three, actually.

                                   ALDEN
                         Wow, that's so cool! Hey, when you
                         gonna let me shoot one?

                                   PIKE
                         As soon as you can show me a
                         driver's license. Now get out of
                         here! Go play.

               He pats Alden on the shoulder and pushing him back towards
               the crowd of kids. Alden detours back into the building.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         So you live here?

                                   PIKE
                         Well...yeah. I own the place.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Oh okay. It's...nice.

                                   PIKE
                         Thanks. Excuse me one second.

               He jogs over to a couple of boys rough housing in the middle
               of the street. Connor looks at Gabriella incredulously.

                                   CONNOR
                         You can pick your tongue up off the
                         ground now.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Am I that obvious?

               Pike breaks up the near fight.

                                   CONNOR
                         They can see it from space.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Give me a break. I'm out of
                         practice.

                                   WOMAN (O.S.)
                         Hey, sexy!

               PAN OVER to a slim, attractive REDHEAD about Gabriella's age.
               Pike smiles and moves towards her.

               Gabriella closes her eyes and crosses her fingers.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (begging God)
                         Please be his sister. Please be his
                         sister.

               The redhead and Pike wrap up in an embrace complete with a
               kiss.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (sighs)
                         Damn it.

               Connor smirks and walks up to the couple.

               The redhead still, wrapped up in Pike's arms, extends her
               hand to Connor.

                                   REDHEAD
                         Kaia Sincaid.

               Gabriella looks like she's biting her lower lip to keep her
               composure.

                                   PIKE
                         Babe, this is Connor and Gabriella.
                         We staked a few tonight.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         So...how long have you two been
                         together?

               Pike goes wide eyed. Kaia looks at him, waiting.

                                   KAIA
                         Come on, Pike. How long have we
                         been together? 

               Pike and Connor share a look.

                                   CONNOR
                             (rushed)
                         So Pike, how about that beer?

                                   PIKE
                             (frantic)
                         Yeah, follow me.

               Both men quickly enter the building to avoid the
               conversation.

                                   KAIA
                             (rolls her eyes)
                         Men.

                                   GABRIELLA
                             (calling out)
                         He's not really twenty one!

                                   PIKE (O.S.)
                         That's cool. Whatever.

                                   KAIA
                             (to Gabriella)
                         Oli and I have been together a
                         year, for the record.
                             (beat)
                         You up for a drink too? I make him
                         keep girly stuff in the fridge.

               They walk through the door, passing by a couple struggling
               with a staggering amount of groceries. 

               INT. PIKE'S BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

               Kaia stops at the door and holds it open. 

               ON Gabriella still walking forward until a FLASH from behind
               her gets her to turn around.

               She gasps and jumps as the same couple walks past her, only
               now they're DEMONS.

               Gabriella points outside the door, then back to the couple
               casually starting up the stairs.

                                   GABRIELLA
                         Wha...huh?

               Kaia puts her hand on Gabriella's shoulder and leads her
               towards the stairs.

                                   KAIA
                         You get used to it after awhile.

               CUT TO Connor and Pike climbing stairs. 

                                   PIKE
                         Sorry about all the stairs. That
                         elevator we passed is busted. It's
                         stuck on the top floor.

                                   CONNOR
                         No problem. I'm not out of shape or
                         anything.

                                   PIKE
                         I noticed.

               A small pale blue demon bounds down the next flight up and
               meets them halfway. He speaks with a familiar voice.

                                   DEMON KID
                         Hey Pike, my mommy wants you to
                         stop by later and tell her the
                         story about the wooden bullets. 

                                   PIKE
                         Alright, Alden. Tell her I'll come
                         by tomorrow. I've got company.

                                   ALDEN
                         Okay!

               He zips back up the stairs. Connor blinks twice and points
               towards the entrance to the building.

                                   CONNOR
                         Wasn't that the same kid from
                         outside?

                                   PIKE
                         Oh yeah. I tend to forget new
                         people don't know. 

               He continues to climb the stairs as he talks.

                                   PIKE
                         A buddy of mine hooked me up with
                         these three sisters who do magic.
                         They're kinda weird. You know that
                         bit where twins will finish each
                         other sentences. Picture that, but
                         with three girls...floating in the
                         air.

                                   CONNOR
                         Mmm hmm.

                                   PIKE
                         Anyway, I paid them to cast a spell
                         on the building. Any demon that
                         walks out the front door has a
                         glamor put on them to make them
                         look human. The spell drops when
                         they come back in.

                                   CONNOR
                         Wow. Umm...can I ask why?

               BACK TO Kaia and Gabriella further down the stairwell.

                                   KAIA
                         Well, the general public doesn't
                         react well to demons. All the ones
                         that live here are pretty normal
                         folks though. Just trying to get
                         by.

               Gabriella nods in agreement.

               BACK TO Connor and Pike.

                                   PIKE
                         Plus, a building three blocks from
                         us got torched last weekend.
                         Everyone in the neighborhood knows
                         it was another safehouse for
                         demons. I've had the spell in place
                         for about a year, but yeah, just
                         more reason to keep it going.

               They reach the top of another flight and come to a single
               door. Pike opens it to:
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Script created with Final Draft by Final Draft, Inc.