Sleepers/Transcript

Teaser Sequence
'''EXT. - FOREST - NIGHT'''

[A couple, husband and wife, are driving, when they see a car that went over the side of the road.]

THOMAS: That doesn't look good. I'm going to go check it out. Just stay here.

THOMAS: I think somebody just went over!

[Husband goes to investigate, leaving his wife in the car]

ZOE: Honey, be careful!

THOMAS: Hey! Anybody in there?

[He sees Chad's body.]

THOMAS: Oh, God.

THOMAS: [to Zoe] Hey, call 911! There's a dead guy down here!

[He turns back; the body has disappeared]

THOMAS: What?

[Chad attacks him.]

Act I
"SLEEPERS"

'''EXT. - FOREST - NEXT DAY'''

WILL: I pulled some strings with the local cops. If anyone asks, we're Feds.

MAGNUS: -Any special unit?

WILL: -Narcotics.

WILL: Hold on a second, guys.

WILL: Though I doubt drugs has anything to do with what's in this body bag.

MAGNUS: -Don't you mean who?

WILL: -Not so much.

MAGNUS: Oh, dear God.

WILL: Yeah. That's all that's left of one Thomas Rayburn. Sliced and diced. His wife's body was found over this way.

[They walk to the other corpse, Will shows Magnus the wife's wounds.]

WILL: The wound pattern's the same as her husband's. The cuts are uneven, some deep, some superficial.

MAGNUS: The attack was fierce, frenzied.

WILL: Yeah. Doesn't look like she had much time to put up a fight.

MAGNUS: (Do) You think we could spin this as a wild animal attack?

WILL: I don't know. There's no tracks around here, just footprints.

[They arrive at the car.]

WILL: Okay, so the way I figure it, husband and wife spot this wreck, husband goes to investigate, and when he doesn't come back, wife follows.

MAGNUS: It was her voice we heard on the 911 call. She said her husband found a dead body.

WILL: Now, judging from the blood spatter, I'm guessing major chest wound. Steering column probably punched right through the heart.

MAGNUS: Death would be instantaneous.

WILL: Yeah. So then where's the body?

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PARKING LOT - SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE'''

CHAD: Yeah, what's up, man?

DARRIN: Hey, come on.

CHAD: Hey, you look like you've seen a ghost, brother.

[Chad strangles Darrin.]

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY - DAY'''

[Magnus reacts to Darrin being killed.]

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PARKING LOT - SECURITY CAMERA FOOTAGE'''

[The teen puts his friend, now unconscious, in his car's trunk, then leaves.]

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY - DAY'''

[The camera pulls back from the footage playing on the computer, revealing the rest of the room from Magnus's perspective.]

WILL: Hey, did you get that link I emailed you of the security camera footage of that parking lot in New City?

MAGNUS: Yeah, I just finished watching it. Is the killer who I think it is?

WILL: Well, Henry's facial recognition software caught a hit, and I pulled a frame from the video.

MAGNUS: Huh.... Chad Spencer, our missing car-crash victim. 24 years old and clearly very much alive. He's a trust-fund baby on his fourth ivy league tour.

WILL: Ah... Who walks away from a crash like that? Actually, what am I saying? We know a lot of people who walk away from a crash like that.

MAGNUS: The question is, why hasn't he been in touch with his family or any of his friends?

WILL: He has.

[Will hands Magnus another picture.]

WILL: This is Darrin Wilson, the other guy in the footage. Reported missing two days ago. Darrin is Chad's roommate.

MAGNUS: From another wealthy family, and yet it's not a kidnapping scheme. There've been no ransom demands.

WILL: Okay, so what've we got? We got a dead man. Walks away from a crash, becomes homicidal.

MAGNUS: Run the data again. There's obviously a common denominator we're overlooking. See if anyone else has disappeared.

WILL: Yeah.

WILL: Hey, you know, this would be a lot easier with Henry's help.

MAGNUS: He's unavailable.

WILL: Why, again?

MAGNUS: He's on a mission of utmost importance. I was sworn to absolute secrecy.

WILL: Wait a second. San Diego Comic-Con? That's the mission of utmost importance?

MAGNUS: You did not hear it from me.

WILL: Where's the Big Guy?

[Magnus shakes her head].

WILL: He's with him?

MAGNUS: It's one of the few places he actually blends in.

WILL: Okay, great, so they're fan boys. I'm working with fan boys...

'''EXT. - NEW CITY - STREET - ALLEY - DAY'''

LAURA: Darrin! What the hell? I got your text. Where have you been?

DARRIN: Don't worry about it. It's all good.

LAURA: Your parents have been calling me. They're freaking out.

DARRIN: I'm sure they have. Let's go.

LAURA: What are you doing? Take it easy. Darrin, this is not...

LAURA: Chad? Holy crap.

CHAD: Well, it's nice to see you, too, Laura.

LAURA: Okay, but I... I went to your memorial service.

CHAD: Yeah. It's a shame I had to miss it. I heard it was nice.

DARRIN: Oh, it was beautiful, Buddy.

LAURA: Okay, you guys are really freaking me out.

CHAD: Just relax. We're all friends here.

LAURA: What the hell's going on?

CHAD: That's what I wondered, too, at first, but then I remembered that week that we had spent at that Mexican clinic.

LAURA: And?

CHAD: And... I'm just saying... Then it all made sense.

[He takes out a gun]

LAURA: Oh, my God. Oh, my God...

[Chad shoots her. She dies, the guys change worried looks, then Laura comes back to life, now having black eyes.]

DARRIN: Hi.

CHAD: Welcome to the club.

'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - DAY'''

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - WILL'S OFFICE - DAY'''

KATE: Any luck so far?

WILL: Just had a report of another missing kid.

KATE: And?

WILL: That common denominator that Magnus was looking for...

KATE: You found it?

WILL: Well, out of sheer desperation, I ran the names through the North American Security Institute.

KATE: You don't seriously think they're terrorists?

WILL: No, but check this out. The NASI also monitors customs and immigration, and it looks like all these missing kids recently spent time in Mexico.

KATE: On vacation?

WILL: Just the opposite.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - RESIDENTIAL HALLWAY - DAY'''

WILL: So they checked into a drug clinic, very expensive, very exclusive.

MAGNUS: Headed by the noted Viennese scientist Doctor Heinrich Baumschlager. Never heard of him.

WILL: Well, the place is called La Casa de la Nueva Vida.

MAGNUS: Ah, The House of New Life, and it appears to be living up to its name.

'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - MEXICO - COASTLINE - DAY'''

'''INT. - MEXICO - CLINIC - LOBBY - DAY'''

NURSE: I'll tell Dr. Baumschlager you're here.

WILL: Thank you. Gracias.

MAGNUS: [touches plant] Plastic.

WILL: Why do I get the feeling we're going to sit through a timeshare pitch?

MAGNUS: Because there's something a tad dodgy about all of this.

WILL: Yeah, well, the crash forensics came up zilch. Right now we have nothing. None of this makes any sense.

NURSE: El doctor will see you now.

MAGNUS: On the contrary, now it makes perfect sense.

TESLA: Hola, amigos!

Act II
'''EXT. - MEXICO - CLINIC - FRIENDSHIP LANAI - DAY'''

TESLA: And right over here, we have our friendship lanai. It's a small, intimate space for sharing...

MAGNUS: Nikola, we're not here for the tour.

TESLA: [German accent] I notice you do seem a bit on edge. Might I suggest one of our green-tea detox massages? It makes you feel 100 again.

MAGNUS: We know what's going on here.

TESLA: And I don't like the tone of your voice.

WILL: And we don't like being lied to, so...

TESLA: Why are you people always so ready to think the worst of me? You've seen my facilities for yourself.

MAGNUS: You don't honestly expect us to believe that you are running a detox clinic?

WILL: Yeah, you're, uh, you're not exactly the philanthropic type.

TESLA: I never said I wasn't making a profit, but in return, I provide a public service.

MAGNUS: I'm waiting.

TESLA: Wealthy parents ship their drug-addled teenagers to me. They arrive, their poor little bodies wracked by the best designer drugs trust funds can buy. It breaks your heart, but then after one week of my treatment, I send them home to mater and pater completely cured of all addictions.

WILL: Whoa, whoa, whoa, one week?

TESLA: Mm-hm.

WILL: That's impossible.

TESLA: Which part of "I'm a genius" aren't you getting?

MAGNUS: -Less ego, more facts, please.

TESLA: -All right. Do you remember that weapon I invented to combat the Cabal's super abnormals?

MAGNUS: Yes, all too well.

TESLA: [to Will] This may go over your head. Just try to play along.

TESLA: Suffice it to say, I redesigned the biotechnology core, creating a blood matrix scrubber -with selective protein inhibitors...

MAGNUS: -Enough! Whatever you've done to these young people, Nikola, -they're disappearing.

TESLA: -As in...

WILL: Something's killing them and stealing their bodies.

TESLA: You don't say.

MAGNUS: Come on, out with it. I want to hear you say the words.

TESLA: All right. I... I may have... -sort of...

MAGNUS: -Spill it, Nikola.

TESLA: ...turned them into vampires.

'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NEW CITY - DAY'''

[The camera zooms across the city, honing in on a rooftop penthouse apartment.]

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - DAY'''

[Chad shoots two more of his friends, turning them into vampires.]

FEMALE VAMPIRE: Amazing.

GEOFF: Solid.

'''EXT. - MEXICO - DETOX CLINIC - FRIENDSHIP LANAI - DAY'''

TESLA: Admittedly, I was too impatient with my previous experiments. They were... imperfect.

MAGNUS: They were homicidal.

TESLA: Semantics. This time it's different.

MAGNUS: How? You would still have had to use your own blood.

TESLA: Yes, but I programmed the little tykes' DNA for a time release of the vampire gene...30 years minimum for the metamorphosis to complete.

WILL: Time release? We're talking about ancient vampire blood here. It's not cold medication.

TESLA: Same principle, junior. I thought that if I slowed down the genetic mutation, I'd sidestep the antibody rejection which was plaguing my former subjects.

MAGNUS: Well, clearly, something went wrong.

TESLA: Clearly.

MAGNUS: How many subjects did you treat here?

TESLA: Oh, man... Enough to raise a little hell.

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - DAY'''

LAURA: I can smell your blood.

CHAD: You want to taste me?

LAURA: [licks Chad's neck] Yummy...

DARRIN: Chad! You gotta see this, man.

CHAD: Yeah, um... Now is... now is not a good time.

DARRIN: Would you hear me out, please? So, listen, I hired this hacker to break through Dr. Frankenstein's firewalls, right, and most of what we found were medical journals, records of his experiments, that kind of stuff, but then I also found this.

LAURA: What is it?

DARRIN It's a history of vampires, Laura, but nothing like I've ever heard before.

CHAD: What does it say?

DARRIN: "Vampires were once the best and brightest race on the planet. So many of the great minds were bloodsuckers."

CHAD: The humans bowed down to us? We were immortals? Kings.

LAURA: King of the world. I like the sound of that.

CHAD: Yeah. So do I. I think it's time to rebuild the empire.

'''EXT. - MEXICO - CLINIC - FRIENDSHIP LANAI - DAY'''

TESLA: I don't know. I don't get it. I adhered to all the protocols. Have a look for yourself.

MAGNUS: And yet the incubation period was drastically truncated.

WILL: Instant vampires.

TESLA: So maybe there's some sort of environmental variable I didn't take into account.

WILL: What, like weather, or diet, lifestyle?

MAGNUS: Death.

TESLA: Death?

MAGNUS: Death would be the last thing that an immortal would think of.

TESLA: This first kid died in a car accident.

WILL: And then showed up two days later, alive.

MAGNUS: Chad Spencer.

TESLA: Yes, I remember him. Alpha-male type.

MAGNUS: If a human, having undergone your treatment, dies...

TESLA: The vampire gene would kick in. It was programmed to survive at all costs.

WILL: Okay, so Chad comes back to life and starts rounding up the other patients.

MAGNUS: And killing them, thereby triggering their vampire genetics.

TESLA: The little bastard.

TESLA: This was supposed to be my party! Nobody hijacks Nikola Tesla!

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - DAY'''

STEVE: You guys must be high. Are you using again?

DARRIN: We are clean, my friend.

STEVE: What's with the eyes? They don't do that on True Blood.

CHAD: Look, this isn't a TV show, okay? This is real.

LAURA: So, what do you think? Are you in?

STEVE: I don't know. I mean, I didn't get to do spring break at the clinic like you guys did.

CHAD: Well, now's your chance. Be part of the group. That is, of course, if you're up for it.

STEVE: Immortality?

CHAD: Yeah.

STEVE: You're serious?

CHAD: Oh, I'm very serious... But you better be sure about it, because there's no going back.

STEVE: What do I need to do?

LAURA: You just leave everything to me.

STEVE: Whoa.

[Laura bites him and sucks his blood, Steve collapses on the floor.]

LAURA: What's going on? Why isn't he coming back to life?

CHAD: Wow. Not cool.

LAURA: Oh, my God. I... I killed him.

CHAD: Look, what the hell happened?

LAURA: No, I mean, I really killed him.

CHAD: Look, it's not your fault, okay?

LAURA: What do you mean it's not my fault? I bit him on the neck and now he's dead!

CHAD: Well, it's not supposed to happen like this.

DARRIN: I don't get it. I mean, everyone knows that's how you make more vampires.

CHAD: Yeah, well, clearly they're wrong.

DARRIN: Clearly, Chad.

CHAD: You know, for the superior race, we're not doing so hot.

DARRIN: Okay, so, what do you want to do now?

CHAD: Look, this is... this is ridiculous. Why are we trying to figure this out on our own? We know exactly who did this to us.

LAURA: That doctor in Mexico.

CHAD: Yeah. That's exactly where we're going to find the answers.

DARRIN: Yeah, Chad, I'm starting to get a bad feeling about all this.

CHAD: What, are you going to bail just because of one screw-up?

DARRIN: That's what you call dead Steve?

CHAD: Look, come on, man, okay? That quack down south did this to us, but we have a chance now to take our power back. If we nail this... There isn't anybody on earth that can push us around anymore.

DARRIN: Okay... We're good.

CHAD: What about you? You going to be okay?

LAURA: [sad tone] I've never killed anything in my life, so how can I feel so sad, and at the same time, so...

LAURA: [hungry tone] Hungry?

CHAD: We are what we are.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - HALLWAY - DAY'''

KATE: [into cell phone] Hey there. How are things in the land of the 65-cent Margarita?

'''EXT. - MEXICO - CLINIC - STREET - DAY'''

MAGNUS: [into cell phone] Well, the phrase "bloody awful" comes to mind. We're on our way back. In the meantime, I've emailed you a list of patients who spent time at the clinic. Find out all you can about them.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - HALLWAY - DAY'''

KATE: [into cell phone] Okay. Am I looking for anything in particular?

MAGNUS: [over cell phone] Vampires.

KATE: [into cell phone] Come again?

'''EXT. - MEXICO - CLINIC - STREET - DAY'''

MAGNUS: [into cell phone] Yeah, it seems Nikola's been up to his usual selfish tricks.

TESLA: Oh. Oh, I'm selfish?

[Magnus ends the call.]

MAGNUS: Shocking, I know.

TESLA: Because I tried to save my race from extinction?

MAGNUS: Because you used innocent children in a potentially deadly experiment.

WILL: There was that.

TESLA: Professional jealousy.

MAGNUS: You've no idea what you've unleashed!

MAGNUS: Ah, let me guess. This must be your graduating class.

TESLA: Incredible... it worked.

CHAD: You're coming with us.

TESLA: But you didn't even say please.

MAGNUS: Nikola, what the hell are you doing?

TESLA: Crude, yet magnificent.

[As Magnus captures Laura, Tesla is kidnapped by the Vamps.]

MAGNUS: Dammit!

Act III
'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - ROOFTOP - NIGHT'''

'''EXT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - ROOFTOP BALCONY'''

CHAD: It's an honor to welcome the source of our greatness.

LAURA: You're like our own personal Obama.

TESLA: What the hell are you playing at?

CHAD: Look, this isn't a game, okay? We both know that.

TESLA: Don't read me the rule book, sonny. I wrote it.

CHAD: What's your problem? This was your idea, remember?

TESLA: No, no, no, no. The spontaneous generation of vampires decades ahead of schedule was not my idea. I had a plan, an intricate, ingenious design, and, strange as it may sound, it did not involve you blowing away your friends and taking over. Do you have any idea what you've become?

DARRIN: Well, that's why you're here, to fill in the gaps for us.

TESLA: Sanguine vampiris. The preeminent race on the planet. Born for greatness, bred to rule. Kings and pharaohs. There was a time when we sighed, and the world trembled.

LAURA: We know. We read your journal.

CHAD: Look, let's just cut to the chase, okay? You chose us not because of who we are, but because of who we'll become.

TESLA: How astute.

CHAD: Our parents have more money than God, and they hold positions of power and influence all over this world.

TESLA: And in a few decades' time, you would have stepped into their shoes, creating a new ruling class, returning us to the old ways.

CHAD: So let's bring it on. Now, and if anyone stands in our way, they'll die.

TESLA: Nice. All the subtlety of brain surgery with a chainsaw.

CHAD: But why wait? We're here right now.

TESLA: Oh, and you think that your 24 years' experience has prepped you for ruling the Earth?

CHAD: What are you saying?

TESLA: I'm saying you'll blow it. You've turned what was supposed to be a symphony into rock and roll! French-Canadian rock and roll.

CHAD: You know, I was hoping you'd be a little bit more cooperative.

TESLA: Yeah, well, life's a bitch, and then you don't die.

TESLA: Oh, what, we're going to do this old-school? Is that it? You're not facing Magnus. This is me.

TESLA: [vamped out] Bring it on, kiddies.

'''EXT. - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - STREET - NIGHT'''

[The vamps throw Tesla over the edge, he falls onto the roof of a car parked below.]

TESLA: I hate them. I hate them...

TESLA: Okay... Let's talk. You know, I almost broke a nail on the way down.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - HOLDING ROOM'''

MAGNUS: Should counteract the sedative we gave her during transport.

WILL: Yeah, just tell me the straps are going to hold.

MAGNUS: Titanium webbing, vampire-proof.

[Laura starts to wake up.]

KATE: Hmm, rise and shine.

LAURA: Where am I?

MAGNUS: I'll be asking the questions now.

LAURA: And who the hell are you?

MAGNUS: Where have your friends taken Nikola? Dr. Baumschlager?

LAURA: Wouldn't you like to know?

MAGNUS: I don't have time to play games.

LAURA: You know, Chad's not going to be cool with this. If he finds out where you're holding me, he's going to whip some serious vamp action on your ass.

MAGNUS: You have no idea what you've become. Insolence will only make things worse.

LAURA: Yeah? Why don't you bite me, bitch?

WILL: Why don't you go get an Earl Grey and let me take a shot?

[Magnus leaves the room.]

LAURA: Hey, cute boy.

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - NIGHT'''

TESLA: Ow! This is unconscionable, even by my standards.

CHAD: Yeah, well, I wanted to do it the easy way, but you forced my hand.

TESLA: So you steal my equipment, my research, my blood?

TESLA: Hey, Biff!

DARRIN: Darrin.

TESLA: Whatever. Take it easy with the centrifuge, please. It's not a toy.

DARRIN: I'm just following your notes.

TESLA: It's not paint by numbers. It's a highly sophisticated biochemical process.

DARRIN: Huh.

TESLA: Does this chump even know what he's doing?

DARRIN: Well, looking through your data, I saw that you were able to create a single strand of recombinant DNA based on your vampiric genetic pattern, then using a restriction endonuclease, you were able to cleave the DNA strands onto chromosomes number four, seven, and eight sequentially, then reintroduced this third strand back to the separated double-helix matrix and spliced it in, which, of course, ultimately created a stronger, super-triple DNA helix within these chromosomes.

CHAD: Um... Darrin was pre-med.

TESLA: Was?

DARRIN: Dropped out.

TESLA: Why?

DARRIN: I don't know, the parties were lame?

[Tesla growls at him then struggles in the chair.]

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - HOLDING ROOM'''

WILL: Look, Laura, you know that we're only trying to help you, right?

LAURA: Mmm, blah, blah, blah... Who's your cute little friend in the thrift-store wardrobe?

[Kate approaches Laura as if she wants to hurt her.]

WILL: [to Kate] Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. We're cool, right? [winks at Kate] Right?

WILL: I mean, look, I get it. You were brought to that clinic under false pretenses, and you were experimented on without your consent...

LAURA: I checked in a meth-head. I checked out a vampire. Bonus.

WILL: Look, if you tell us where the others have taken Tesla, we might be able to reverse the process.

LAURA: That's your pitch?

WILL: Yeah.

LAURA: Rat out up my friends, I get to go back to being an addict? I'm not telling you anything, and you can't make me.

WILL: Okay. Well, have it your way. Kill her.

KATE: About time.

LAURA: What are you going to do, shoot me? I'll just heal again. I'm immortal.

KATE: If this gun was loaded with regular bullets, you'd be right, but these, sweetheart, are solid silver, blessed by a priest with holy water from the Vatican.

WILL: Yeah, only us sanctified monster hunters get 'em. It's...

KATE: I pump just one of these babies into your heart... And wham!

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY - NIGHT'''

KATE: We found out where they're holding Tesla.

MAGNUS: Oh, good. So the psychological approach worked?

WILL: I had my doubts.

KATE: But, hey, result.

WILL: Yeah. Uh, did you find anything interesting in Laura's blood?

MAGNUS: Perhaps. Her mutated DNA shows a triple helix.

KATE: Translation, please?

MAGNUS: Well, if I can find a way to break the peptide bond, I might be able to detach the third strand and undo Nikola's handiwork.

WILL: Tesla said he used the biotech developed for the super abnormal weapon. You think we can adapt it in some way?

MAGNUS: Without Nikola's research, I'd be flying blind. We can't take that risk.

WILL: But you may be able to reverse the process.

MAGNUS: "May" being the operative word. Nikola's really done it this time. His creations are better, stronger, even deadlier than he is. Conventional means of control are no longer sufficient.

KATE: What if we can't put the genie back in the bottle?

MAGNUS: These people know what they are, and now they have Nikola.

WILL: Wait, you think they're going to start pumping out vampires?

MAGNUS: I do, and unless we find a way to stop them immediately, we could be looking at a full resurrection of the deadliest race of abnormals ever to roam the Earth.

Act IV
'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - NIGHT'''

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY - NIGHT'''

MAGNUS: I know how Tesla thinks. He would never create something that he couldn't destroy, or at the very least, control.

WILL: So you're saying there's a failsafe somewhere?

KATE: Like a kill-switch that'll un-vamp the vamps?

MAGNUS: It makes sense. He'd never let his work get compromised.

WILL: Right, but what is it?

KATE: And where is it?

WILL: Didn't Tesla say the timeline for the vampires was, like, 30 years or something?

MAGNUS: So he'd have to have hidden it somewhere that he could be certain would still be around then.

WILL: Right, someplace solid, secure, like a... a bank.

KATE: Or a vault.

MAGNUS: A Sanctuary.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - LIBRARY'''

MAGNUS: Dammit, that was the last Borges, and I was positive. Nikola so loves Jorge's "A New Refutation of Time."

WILL: Hey, what about Trollope?

MAGNUS: No, it's not his taste. Try Whitman. He went through a free-verse phase for a while.

KATE: So that's Curie, Einstein, and Hawking down.

MAGNUS: Nothing?

KATE: No. No hollowed-out compartments, no hidden failsafe schematics, just a bunch of wine stains on the first editions. Looks like fang-boy's a real slob.

KATE: Hey!

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - WINE CELLAR'''

KATE: Not to be a Debbie Downer, but isn't this one hell of a long shot?

MAGNUS: And the alternative?

KATE: I don't know.

MAGNUS: Exactly. Keep looking.

WILL: Hey... Over here.

MAGNUS: What did you find?

WILL: It's what I didn't find. Dust. Squeaky clean.

MAGNUS: The '45 Bordeaux. Bastard. That was a gift from Winston.

MAGNUS: Churchill. D-Day. Long story.

[Magnus shakes the bottle.]

WILL: Either that's a lot of sediment, or...

[Magnus breaks the bottle and pulls out some sort of glass stick from it.]

KATE: Yeah, baby.

WILL: Great. What is it?

MAGNUS: Must be some kind of weapon, knowing Nikola.

KATE: So how do we figure out how to use it?

MAGNUS: Well, that's quite simple. We ask the inventor.

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - NIGHT'''

CHAD: Look, I know that you're pissed that we messed up your plan, but you gotta give us some credit. You know, thanks to what we've learned from your blood sample, it, uh... Well, it looks like we've cracked the code.

TESLA: Well, forgive me if I don't applaud.

CHAD: You know, by duplicating your experiment, I could turn anyone I want into a vampire. Unstoppable army, anyone?

TESLA: God help us all.

CHAD: I don't get you. Isn't this what you wanted, the preeminent race reborn?

TESLA: On my terms, not yours. See, kid, you've stolen my life's work, and you've destroyed my dream, but really, what's worse than all that, you little punk, is the arrogance to presume that you even have a clue what you're doing.

CHAD: You still don't get it, huh, gramps?

TESLA: Mm-mm.

CHAD: We are your dream.

TESLA: No, you're my nightmare.

CHAD: You know, I really wanted us to work together. I did. You'd be my mentor, teach us the ways of the race, but all you want to do is bitch and moan. You know, you're just like my dad, my coaches, and my profs. There's no sense of possibility. You know, you may be immortal, but you died a long time ago.

TESLA: Do you have any idea who you're talking to here, huh?

CHAD: Oh, right, the uh... The king of vampires. You're nothing but a giant pain in the ass.

CHAD: I'll see you next century.

TESLA: What do you want? I mean, clearly, you're the man with the plan, so...

'''EXT. - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - STREET - MAGNUS'S CAR - Night'''

KATE: You call this a plan? Whatever happened to the good old stake through the heart?

WILL: Doesn't work.

KATE: What about all those movies like Buffy...

MAGNUS: Misinformation propaganda spread by the vampires themselves... confuse the enemy, preserve the race.

KATE: What about exposing them to sunlight or garlic...

WILL: All you get is tanned vampires with bad breath.

MAGNUS: Besides, we don't want to kill them. We want to help them.

KATE: No, I'm thinking kill them.

WILL: Yeah. Trust-fund vampires? I'm thinking she's right.

MAGNUS: Granted, but it wasn't their choice. They may be rich, spoiled, insolent children, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't save them.

MAGNUS: That's a terrible sales pitch.

KATE: Yeah. So it's just us against a bunch of badass blood-sucking immortals, huh? Well, it's a good thing we have our magic glass stick that we don't know how to use. Otherwise, I would be worried.

WILL: All right.

'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT'''

'''EXT. - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - ROOFTOP - NIGHT'''

KATE: You ever done this move before?

MAGNUS: Are you kidding? I invented it.

[Both Magnus and Kate run to the edge, grab the railing, fling themselves over, and land on the penthouse rooftop balcony down below.]

'''EXT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - ROOFTOP BALCONY - NIGHT'''

[Magnus and Kate split up.]

'''INT. - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - OUTSIDE PENTHOUSE TWO'''

[In a hallway, Will picks a door lock, then enters.]

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA'''

TESLA: Bram Stoker? Alcoholic Irish hack. Bats, indeed.

TESLA: Helen...

MAGNUS: Nikola.

TESLA: Struggle and he'll break your arms.

FEMALE VAMPIRE: Look what we found.

TESLA: Well, well, well, the appetizers have arrived.

MAGNUS: Well, this is the last time I come to your rescue.

TESLA: I'm sorry to say that's true.

TESLA: [to Vamps] Tie them up. And no feeding until I say.

TESLA: It's good to be king again.

Act V
'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - NEW CITY - APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT'''

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - CLOSET'''

KATE: If we ever get out of this alive, I'll kill him.

WILL: Me first.

MAGNUS: Both of you, back of the line.

MAGNUS: Well, it's about time!

TESLA: Before you thank me...

MAGNUS: Thank you?!

TESLA: You're welcome. I just saved all of your lives.

WILL: Really? You expect us to believe that?

TESLA: What, you didn't believe that little display out there, did you? No, that was just melodrama for the peanut gallery.

MAGNUS: Well, then, let's end this stupidity right now.

KATE: Yeah, untie us.

TESLA: What is it with kids these days?

TESLA: All right, where is it? My failsafe? The '45 Bordeaux, tell me you brought it.

MAGNUS: You were taking an awful chance that we'd actually find it.

TESLA: Yes, but, Helen, we've known each other for 100-plus years. I think I know your mind by now.

MAGNUS: Left side.

TESLA: I've often wondered what this moment would be like. Me...You tied up. [Whispering] It's a shame you brought the children.

MAGNUS: Focus, Nikola.

TESLA: Ah...

WILL: Okay, so what is that thing?

TESLA: I call it... The de-vamper!

KATE: You're a genius, and that is the best name you could come up with?

TESLA: Watch it.

MAGNUS: If this is some sort of weapon, what's its power source?

TESLA: You're looking at him.

MAGNUS: Fascinating. Now untie us.

TESLA: No, you're safer tied up here.

MAGNUS: What are you going to do?

TESLA: I'm going to teach those kids some manners.

[Tesla leaves.]

MAGNUS: Oh, dear. I think Nikola's about to bite off more than he can chew.

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - NIGHT'''

FEMALE VAMPIRE: Hey.

TESLA: You know, you have such command of the Queen's English.

[Tesla de-vamps her.]]

TESLA: This thing works like a charm.

FEMALE VAMPIRE: What happened?

TESLA: You're fired.

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - CLOSET'''

WILL: Oh, this is driving me nuts.

WILL: Okay, look, why don't you, uh, why don't you try to reach...

KATE: D... don't.

WILL: Just reach down...

KATE: No.

WILL: Can you... can you feel it?

WILL: Oh, crap.

WILL: Magnus...

MAGNUS: I'm trying.

KATE: Faster is better.

MAGNUS: Ah... Ah, yes.

[Magnus frees herself.]

WILL: Hey, well done.

KATE: So, any time.

MAGNUS: Right.

'''INT. - NEW CITY - PENTHOUSE TWO - LIVING AREA - NIGHT'''

[Tesla is fighting the vamps. Magnus shoots Chad.]

TESLA: Unnecessary, but appreciated.

MAGNUS: You're welcome.

[They continue fighting the vampires, Tesla devamps Geoff.]

GEOFF: What the hell did you do to me?

TESLA: You'll thank me in the morning.

TESLA: Sit! Stay!

[Magnus fights Darrin and throws him to Tesla, who de-vamps him]

TESLA: You should have stayed in med school.

[Tesla punches Darrin out cold.]

MAGNUS: Nicely done.

TESLA: [vamp voice] It's all in the wrist action.

[Chad walks in with Kate held hostage.]

CHAD: Hey! Toss it over or I'll kill her.

TESLA: [vamp voice] Oh, not that old Chestnut.

CHAD: Put it down.

TESLA: [vamp voice] Trust me, son, this will all end in tears.

CHAD: Do it!

TESLA: [vamp voice] Helen, I'm famished. Do you think you could light the barbecue?

MAGNUS: Doubtful. They're only tranqs.

TESLA: [vamp voice] Pity. Perhaps I could help?

MAGNUS: How very gracious of you.

KATE: Magnus, shoot him!

CHAD: Shut up. Listen to me. I'll slice her, man.

TESLA: [vamp voice] Hey, hey, hey, Chad, my man, my bro. We can work this out. It's not too late to hit rewind.

CHAD: Don't mess with me.

TESLA: [vamp voice] I'm sensing there's some anger here.

CHAD: So... We were going to rule the world together, huh?

TESLA: [vamp voice] See, the thing is, I'm more of a one-man show.

CHAD: So this was all some sort of set-up, huh?

TESLA: [vamp voice] Well, what can I say? Never trust anyone over 130.

TESLA: [vamp voice] Helen...

MAGNUS: Yeah.

[Tesla jumps up and grabs a light fixture; throwing it into the fireplace behind him. The gas ignites causing an explosion that knocks Chad and Kate apart. As Tesla then de-vamps Chad, Chad pulls Tesla down towards the device, de-vamping Tesla as well.]

TESLA: I... I can't... I can't...

MAGNUS: Nikola.

TESLA: I can't... Well, I hope you're all happy now. I'm ordinary.

'''EXT. - ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - NIGHT'''

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - MAIN LAB - 10:00 PM'''

WILL: Hey, there you are. I was looking for you.

MAGNUS: I'm sorry, Will. You must be holding dinner for me.

WILL: Yeah, except it's 10:00 [PM]. You've been in here for six hours.

MAGNUS: Oh.

WILL: Have you gotten anywhere, at least?

MAGNUS: I'm afraid not. I've been trying to splice together Nikola's DNA with the abnormal strands from Laura. It's just not working.

WILL: Well, why don't you use his research to help?

MAGNUS: I have been. His cells are rejecting the synthetic vector he created. Quite simply, there's no way to reverse the effects of his de-vamper, speaking of which...

WILL: He's in the lab with Laura. He's trying to cobble together an energy source with enough juice to power the de-vamper, now that he can't do it himself.

[The power to the main lab reduces temporarily then restores itself.]

WILL: And I'm guessing he figured it out.

MAGNUS: Well, I guess I better break the news to him. Could you send him to my office, please?

WILL: Yeah, sure. Hey, are you okay?

MAGNUS: Hmm?

WILL: This really bothers you, doesn't it, the fact that you can't get his powers back?

MAGNUS: It's not that.

WILL: Well, I should hope not. I mean, the guy's been a thorn in your side for what, a century? Why are you working so hard to turn him back into a vampire?

MAGNUS: Nostalgia, perhaps? With Watson and Griffin dying, John's departure, and now Nikola...

WILL: You're the last of.

'''INT. - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY - NIGHT'''

MAGNUS: So?

TESLA: Yes, it's done. Laura is back to her snivelling, spoiled self.

MAGNUS: This may cheer you up.

TESLA: Oh, the Premier Cru? You must be feeling guilty.

MAGNUS: You can't seriously blame me for this?

TESLA: Forgive me, Helen. It's just my soul-crushing depression talking. I'm not myself.

MAGNUS: On the contrary. You are your real self again... human, mortal.

TESLA: Watch your language.

MAGNUS: I'm sorry, Nikola, but it's true. I've tried everything I can think of. There's simply no way to re-vamp you.

TESLA: You see how this puts a crimp in my plans for world domination? Not to say I won't keep trying.

MAGNUS: I would expect nothing less.

TESLA: Very well. If this is to be a wake, then let's do it properly. Join me in a toast.

TESLA: To happier times. To those halcyon days of bloodlust now gone, plus you gotta admit, vampires are just plain cool.

MAGNUS: Amen.

TESLA: Here's to the glorious vampire race, once mighty, now extinct.

[As he puts his wine glass down on the table, a nearby metal platter slides towards Tesla's hand. As he then holds his hand over the platter, it rises up off the table to stick to his hand by magnetic force.]

TESLA: Mmm... Well... I can work with that.

End Credits
In Memory of Azra Young and Phoebe and Fergus Conway /Credits