End of Nights, Part I/Transcript

In a desperate search to find her daughter, Helen Magnus obtains top secret files that give her clues to the Cabal's catastrophic plan for the Sanctuary Network and Ashley Magnus's devastating role in it.
== Cold open ==
=== Recap sequence ===
[Recap of episodes leading up to Revelations, Part II.]
MAGNUS:[voice over] Previously on Sanctuary....
MAGNUS:The Cabal are a powerful shadow organization bent on controlling all abnormal life on the planet.
DRUITT:The war has begun.
MAGNUS:Pitting humans against abnormals, deciding who lives and who dies, the Cabal has to be stopped. It's why I started this mission more than a century ago.
DRUITT:We were a part of something, something we called the Five, a small group dedicated to expanding our knowledge of the physical world. Your mother was able to procure a very rare sample of ancient, untainted vampire blood, blood that supposedly possessed miraculous properties.
DANA:Your mother and her colleagues will no doubt try to stop us. I promise you they'll fail. You're going to help us complete our plan.
ASHLEY:What did you do to me?
DANA:You're going to die today, Ashley.
WILL:Magnus! Magnus! It was a set-up. Something else is going on.
MAGNUS:We're too late.
DANA:Thank you, Ashley. You've been everything we could have hoped for. Welcome to your rebirth.
=== Teaser sequence ===
EXT. CAIRO, EGYPT - DAY
[Caption reads "SIX WEEKS LATER..."]
[A woman walks through a crowded street, carrying a wooden box. She approaches a man who is dressed in a business suit, sitting at a table in an outdoor café and reading a newspaper.]
ASSAM:Did you bring it?
[The woman sets the box on the table. Assam opens it to reveal a mass of writing snake-like creatures. Assam reaches in and one of the creatures winds itself around his finger. Assam eats it.]
ASSAM:Highest quality. You must be desperate indeed.
[The woman loudly sets a pistol on the table and sits down, revealing that she is Magnus.]
MAGNUS:Desperate was last month. This month means breathing the same air as people like you.
ASSAM:[sarcastically] And I am so honored. [Blinks several eyelids.]
MAGNUS:No games. What do you know?
ASSAM:Word is, you seek blood. But what kind? That of ancient vampires, or your own kin? And may I say, things have been so quiet for so many of us since Ashley's... departure. Silver linings and all that.
MAGNUS:If you're done enjoying yourself...
ASSAM:Hardly. But, to business. You wish to know Ashley's whereabouts, what the Cabal has done with her. Among other things.
MAGNUS:And if your information proves valuable, I'm willing to reward you handsomely.
ASSAM:Hmm. I do know... things. Trading is my trade. [gestures at the box] And this is a lovely token of your... desperation. But, as it turns out, I have nothing left to say to you.
[Assam gathers his paper and stands up. Magnus reaches for her gun and everyone sitting at the surrounding tables pick up automatic rifles to point them at her.]
ASSAM:You won't make it out of here alive if you try to harm me. Assalaam Alaikum. [Peace be upon you.]
[Assam bows slightly and walks away, leaving Magnus staring silently at the men with the guns pointed at her.]
----
EXT. ALLEY AWAY FROM THE CAFE, DAY
[Assam is walking away from the café, glancing over his shoulder to check behind him. He smiles and turns forward again when he sees that Magnus is not following. Assam stops abruptly when John Druitt materializes in his path. Assam backs away with his hands up submissively. Druitt advances menacingly, while he puts his hand on his chest in a gesture of greeting.]
DRUITT:Alaykumu s-salaam. [Hello; Peace be upon you.]
ASSAM:Please. Love of God...
[Druitt grabs Assam by the lapels and shoves him backwards into a wall.]
ASSAM:No problems! No problems!
[Magnus walks into view from the direction of the café.]
MAGNUS:Much nicer out here, don't you think? Less smokey. Easier for you to think clearly.
DRUITT:Unless you'd enjoy an express trip to somewhere very cold, I'd suggest you be a little more forthcoming.
ASSAM:Okay. Okay. No one knows much, but word is they control her mind completely. And that she is more than what she was before. [Looks at Druitt.] That she is like you.
DRUITT:We need a location.
ASSAM:I don't know.
DRUITT:[to Magnus] Which direction is true north?
ASSAM:[panicked] I'm not resisting! I'm not resisting. She is deep within their network. No one, not even the most trusted operatives, has access. And they are using her for something. A special project. Something only the most powerful people in the organization know about.
MAGNUS:John.
[Druitt grabs Assam by the throat and lifts him slightly higher.]
ASSAM:I have seen this before with those the Cabal claim as their own. She is a ghost. The girl you knew as your daughter... is dead.
[Druitt and Magnus share a pained but guarded look.]
----
EXT. MONTREAL, QUEBEC - NIGHT
INT. INTERPOL DATA FARM - SERVER ROOM
[A security guard walks into the room on his rounds. He swipes an access card to get past a secured door, pausing to look into the room where the servers are kept before continuing off-screen. A technician is checking something on one of the servers when a figure in black teleports in behind him and knocks him unconscious. The figure throws a shuriken at the security camera to disable it. She pulls the scarf off of her face to reveal that it is Ashley. Ashley walks over to one of the servers, smashes the glass case and pulls two sections as the alarm begins sounding. She steps between two of the servers and teleports away. Guards come running into the room.]
== Title sequence ==
== Act I ==
EXT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - WINDOWS LOOKING INTO LIBRARY - NIGHT
"END OF NIGHTS" PART I
[Camera pans from side of building to push through windows into...]
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - LIBRARY - NIGHT
[Will is sitting at a table with his laptop open.]
WILL:Clara... [sighs]... I, I- I can't do it. I won't do it, actually.
CLARA:[from laptop] Oh, c'mon Will. Just one nickname. It can be something manly.
WILL:Something manly. Like what?
CLARA:Huggy Bear.
WILL:[scoffs & laughs] Huggy- Okay. Now you're just mocking me, and that's not fair.
CLARA:No, this is a long-distance relationship. I mean, we need all the lovey-dovey cutesy crap we can get. Keep the fires burning.
WILL:[in affected accent] Do you know what? London has made you soft, darling. I think you should come back before you start thinking cricket is a real sport. It's not a sport, it's a little insect, makes a little song with its legs.
[Tesla walks in, holding a wine bottle and smirking.]
CLARA:I dunno... UK Sanctuary's kinda growin on me.
[Will notices Tesla. Tesla waves.]
WILL:[normal voice] Yeah, yeah, I heard. Um, I heard you were doing really well up there.
CLARA:I miss you. A lot.
[Will glances up at Tesla. Tesla is clearly listening in and still smirking.]
WILL:I, uh, I miss you, too.
CLARA:You sure you can't catch a red-eye to come out just for a few days?
TESLA:[whispering] Do it. Just do it. Do it.
WILL:Um, I'd love to, but I'm kinda minding the shop here. Listen, um, I- I- I gotta go.
CLARA:Okay. Be good.
WILL:You, too.
[Clara kisses her hand and touches the computer screen, so Will does the same.]
WILL:See ya.
[Will closes the lid and sighs heavily.]
TESLA:You know, actually, I'm fine to cover things here if you two wanna go moon over each other in Covent Garden. There's a, there's a lovely café where Churchill used to gorge himself on pastries.
WILL:Thanks, but, uh, I think I'll take a rain check.
TESLA:Young love is so...heartbreaking to observe, as a scientist. So passionate, so innocent, and yet, so utterly doomed.
WILL:Huh. So I'm guessing you've never been in love, then.
TESLA:Countless times, my friend. See, the difference is I recognize the emotion for what it is: An irrational, self-destructive impulse which is disguised as joy.
WILL:Was there something you wanted, or you just wanted to come in and ruin my-
TESLA:Yes. [slams wine bottle on table] Your shaggy friend is still refusing treatment and, frankly, I'm insulted.
WILL:Oh, right, yeah, because I forgot that this is all about you.
TESLA:[slaps hands on table] I have spent weeks creating a working treatment for the Lazarus virus, I spent weeks more traveling the earth, disseminating it to the affected abnormals, effectively stemming an outbreak and in the end, [yelling] the creep in the room with the hair doesn't wanna take his medicine! [calmly] It's personal, and we both know it is.
WILL:What do you want me to tell you? Henry is talking to him.
TESLA:Does your hirsute friend understand that's he's facing probably the most unpleasant, slow, lingering death in all creation?
WILL:I'm sure you made it abundantly clear.
TESLA:Also... [holds up empty wine bottle]... Huggy Bear. [sets bottle down next to Will] We're out of wine.
WILL:[fuming] That's not my nickname.
TESLA:[shouting from across room while walking away] Huggy Bear!
----
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - ISOLATION ROOM
[Henry is looking through the door window at Bigfoot laying on a bed in the middle of the room. Everything has been thrown about and the lights are mostly off. Henry opens the door and steps in.]
HENRY:Hey, Big Guy.
BIGFOOT:Leave me be, Henry.
HENRY:Yeah. Tried that, didn't really work for me. For any of us, actually. You know what I'm going to ask. C'mon, seriously. Who cares if that stuff was cooked up by a world-class jerk. Stuff works.
BIGFOOT:I will not take this treatment. No.
HENRY:Your cures aren't working. We have to keep you locked up.
BIGFOOT:If I take this human-made cure, my people will-
HENRY:Will disown you, I know, I know. But-
BIGFOOT:I will not betray who I am.
HENRY:You'd rather die like a diseased, psychotic animal instead? That's great, I get that. I get it.
[Henry backs out of the room and secures the door behind him. Henry watches Bigfoot through the door as he locks it.]
BIGFOOT:I know who I am. I know who I am. What I am. I know who I am...
----
EXT. CAIRO COURTYARD - NIGHT
[Magnus and Druitt are sitting in a courtyard with a series of toppled columns. Magnus and Druitt are sitting on separate columns some distance apart and facing mostly away from each other.]
DRUITT:We're running out of road.
MAGNUS:Something will turn up. It always does.
DRUITT:We've interrogated every Cabal-backed abnormal we can find, and we've learned nothing. Except that our quest may well be hopeless!
MAGNUS:[hotly] Are you quite finished? Assam mentioned this being an extremely rarefied project for the Cabal. They must be receiving some kind of support from one of their corporate connections. Drug companies, software divisions, there must be a chink in their armor somewhere.
DRUITT:[stands and approaches Magnus] So, what's our next move? Hmm? Terrorizing Fortune 500 executives? Helen? [Druitt reaches out to brush Magnus's hair behind her ear when she doesn't respond, but Magnus flinches away from his hand.]
MAGNUS:You're here because I need your help. And as Ashley's father, you have the right.
DRUITT:[stepping back slightly] Do I? There was a time you would have said the exact opposite. Just before trying to put a bullet in me.
MAGNUS:[glaring] Tesla may have shocked you into your senses, John. But nobody becomes what you were without a predilection for killing. I've no doubt you'd return to your murderous habits one day.
DRUITT:[starts to speak, stops, and glances away for a moment before leaning in and lowering his voice] I wasn't asking you out on a date. If that's what you were thinking. Hmm? [stands up and steps back] Perhaps I just... wanted to know where we stood.
[Druitt sits back down on the column opposite Magnus and looks at her. Magnus glances at him briefly before staring off into the distance.]
----
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - HENRY'S ARRAY
[Henry is sitting in front of his computers when Will walks in.]
WILL:Hey, what do you go?
HENRY:Slick-as-they-come heist at an INTERPOL data farm near Montreal. Someone swiped like 200 petabytes of data.
WILL:What kind of data?
HENRY:Classified kind. MI6 is involved in the investigation, which of course means British intelligence, but that's not why we care. [Henry pauses for a moment while Will looks at him expectantly.] Someone got in and out of there without tripping anything!
WILL:[dawning comprehension] Ashley.
HENRY:Yes! I would say that's a safe bet.
WILL:Can you get me in there?
HENRY:Yeah. Already had Magnus makes some calls to set it up. [hands Will a security badge] It's your new ID. All-access pass to Spookville. Comes with a free lunch and a decoder ring.
WILL:Well done, Henry.
[Henry grins, Will exits.]
HENRY:Thank you.
----
INT. INTERPOL DATA FARM NEAR MONTREAL
[A man in a suit is carrying a box of files through the same lab where Ashley stole the data. He walks up behind Will, who is sitting at a desk reviewing security tapes, and drops the box heavily on the desk beside Will. Will startles and stands up.]
AGENT:Hard copies of the stolen computer files. There's nine more of these, all to be remanded into your custody.
WILL:Great! Thanks.
AGENT:You know, I gotta tell ya. I'm very impressed. My boss? Very, very powerful guy. And he just bent over for yours.
WILL:[small laugh] Yeah, that happens a lot. You have to know her.
AGENT:Believe me, I tried. Did a little digging. See how a former profiler like yourself ended up with senior analyst credentials. Guess what I found. Nothing. Way beyond my pay grade.
WILL:Well, I been there.
AGENT:Hey, listen. Just, uh, off the record. Cuz I know they'd send me for a psych eval if I said this too loud, but the surveillance footage? I would swear she just... disappeared into thin air.
[Will looks silently at the agent with a half-smile, half-shrug.]
AGENT:[smiling] You're not really a senior intelligence analyst, are you?
[Will glances over his shoulder at the guard at the other end of the room, then leans in close to the agent.]
WILL:Off the record?
AGENT:[Nodding, leaning in closer] Yeah.
WILL:[grins, laughs, and slaps the agent on the arm] Not even close.
[Will picks up the box and walks away.]
----
INT. CABAL LABORATORY
[A Cabal scientist turns on Beethoven's 'Fur Elise' and starts walking around the lab, pushing buttons on equipment.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Can you believe it's Friday again? The weeks just fly by. We both work so hard during the week, we never get a chance to talk. But, then Friday comes along, and we can catch up. Unwind. Decompress.
[The scientist walks over and we see Ashley is unconscious on an inclined table in the middle of the room. The scientist smiles and brushes some of Ashley's hair out of her face. She continues to pet Ashley's hair as if she were a small child.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:So, how are you? Everybody's talking about your latest mission, by the way. Stellar work. Stellar. I know if you could feel... anything... you would feel like I feel, you would feel pride.
[Dana Whitcomb walks in and stands just inside the doorway.]
DANA:How is she, Doctor?
CABAL SCIENTIST:[startles and steps back from Ashley] Uh, top- top form. All systems go.
[Dana walks closer, nodding.]
DANA:Any sign of lapses?
CABAL SCIENTIST:Uh, well, no. She's been on the proper dosage of control medication for weeks now. And, uh, everything's five by five, as her latest work proves, I'm sure.
DANA:Yes, we're all very impressed.
CABAL SCIENTIST:Well... Well, she did all the heavy lifting. I just opened the gate and kind of pushed her out.
DANA:Begin phase two.
CABAL SCIENTIST:What? Well, I- I mean, I- I thought I'd have another month.
DANA:Yes, but your success accelerated the schedule. I want her ready for trials as soon as possible.
[Dana walks out.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Oh. Kay.
[The doctor takes out a needle and approaches Ashley with it.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Don't worry, hon. I am going to be with you every step of the way. And when I'm done here, you'll be better than you are now.
[The scientist injects something into an IV in Ashley's arm.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Ashley.
[Ashley's eyes snap open and she draws in a sharp breath. The camera focuses on her eye, where we can see an image of Ashley crying out, "Mom!"]
== Act II ==
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY / NEW CITY - NIGHT
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY
[Henry picks up and looks at a picture of Ashley. There are tears in his eyes. He sets it down again and walks out.]
----
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - ISOLATION ROOM
[Bigfoot is walking across the room slowly and with obvious pain. Henry crosses in front of the window and lets himself in, slamming the door against the wall.]
HENRY:Can you tell me why this is so important to you? Because none of this adds up! I have known you since I was a kid. And in that time, you have never once gone back home! And you're willing to die for them, but this is your home! We are your family!
[Bigfoot keeps facing away from Henry. Henry grabs him by the shoulder to force Bigfoot to face him.]
HENRY:Damn it, talk to me!
[Bigfoot spins around growling. Henry growls back, face starting to morph into a werewolf muzzle. They both growl for a minute before Bigfoot shoves Henry backwards and they both stop growling.]
BIGFOOT:I have never gone home because I can't. I am not welcome.
HENRY:Why?
BIGFOOT:Mistakes were made. I cannot go home! But I can live as my people do, be true to our ways. If that means death, then that is what I must accept.
HENRY:Ashley's gone. I can't lose you, too.
BIGFOOT:Oh. The end... comes to us all. Huh?
[Henry stands silently, tears in his eyes. Bigfoot comes over and holds him by the shoulders.]
BIGFOOT:I choose this. Yes.
[Bigfoot smacks Henry on the side of the head, then backs away, groaning in pain. Henry flinches and looks away.]
----
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - MAGNUS'S STUDY
[Will is reading files at her desk as Magnus walks in.]
MAGNUS:Burning the midnight oil?
WILL:[standing up] Hey! I didn't know you were back. I would've-
MAGNUS:Just arrived. Did you get what we needed?
WILL:Yeah. Yeah, I'm just going through it now. There's only one file that relates to you. Something called "Project Montana"? An MI6 off-book operation from twenty-five years ago?
MAGNUS:Dear God. Of course.
WILL:You remember this?
MAGNUS:Hard to forget. They were trying to modify the DNA of orphans, remove any defects. I was brought in after the project had been active for a couple years as a consultant for the British government.
WILL:Yeah, you recommended they shut it down.
MAGNUS:It was reprehensible, despite their lofty agenda.
WILL:I still don't know why the Cabal would want an old file like this.
MAGNUS:Then you believe it was Ashley who stole the data.
WILL:Yeah. It was her.
MAGNUS:At least we know she may still be alive.
[Magnus starts to leave the room.]
WILL:Magnus-
[Magnus turns back]
MAGNUS:I'm fine. Bring all this to my lab. I want Tesla to weigh in on it.
WILL:[nods] I was just going to say that... It's good to see you again.
MAGNUS:It's good to see you, too, Will.
[Magnus turns and leaves.]
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - NIGHT
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - MAIN LAB
[Magnus, Will, Druitt, Tesla, and Henry are reviewing the files from the MI6 experiment. Tesla is pouring himself another glass of wine.]
TESLA:And here I thought British intelligence had scruples.
DRUITT:[steals Tesla's wine glass] If you're going to help, do try to remain sober.
TESLA:Half-vampire! Alcohol doesn't affect me. Though since you showed up, god I wish it did.
MAGNUS:Explains why my wine cellar is now empty.
TESLA:Consider it payment for averting a global crisis.
[Magnus glares at Tesla.]
WILL:Okay, so... MI6 takes 6 orphans and performs this DNA-scrubbing procedure. Why? What's the end-game?
HENRY:Perfectly flawless DNA. Is that even possible?
MAGNUS:They came pretty close. The idea was to strip away any imperfections from their genetic make-up.
DRUITT:Almost Aryan in its aspirations.
MAGNUS:Exactly. It was far too close to a eugenics project for my liking.
WILL:After you shut it down, what happened to the test subjects?
MAGNUS:They became wards of the state. Eventually they were all adopted. Most of them would be in their thirties by now.
DRUITT:There must be something about this Project Montana that the Cabal needs.
MAGNUS:I agree, but it could be anything to do with genetics, a rather large field of study.
HENRY:Maybe this is all a fluke, maybe they wanted something else from the data farm?
WILL:Nah, I've been through the entire list of stolen files. Everything else has to do with geo-mapping and ice-flow charts, I mean, this has to be what they were looking for.
TESLA:Then perhaps I should remind us all that whatever the Cabal is up to, it has something to do with the source blood. Otherwise, why trick us into stealing it? Why turn Ashley into a teleporting delivery girl to hand it over to them? Now, tell me, what does the source blood do?
WILL:Uh, activates dormant abnormal DNA.
TESLA:But Project Montana creates six orphans with scrubbed DNA.
MAGNUS:They'd be completely unaffected by exposure to the blood. Why steal information about the only six humans in the world that the source blood wouldn't affect? And why do they need Ashley?
TESLA:There's your real mystery.
WILL:Well, whatever's going on, it's a good bet that these test subjects are in some grave danger.
MAGNUS:I agree. Henry, go through the list, find out where they all are now. We need to get to them before the Cabal does.
DRUITT:If they haven't been found already.
[Magnus nods grim acknowledgment and looks away.]
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
INT. CABAL LABORATORY
[The Cabal scientist picks up another syringe of the solution she injected into Ashley to start phase two. There are only 2 of the original 4 syringes left. She walks over to where Ashley is suspended in a tank of water, struggling against her restraints.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Don't fight it, Ashley, just let it happen. Oh, honey, I hate to see you like this. Rebirth is painful. But it'll be so beautiful.
[Ashley opens her eyes to glare at the scientist. Her eyes are a yellowish-brown instead of their normal blue. The scientist walks away, unconcerned.]
----
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - HALLWAY
[Henry is pacing in front of the elevator with a clipboard in his hands. Magnus and Will get off the elevator and they proceed down the hallway.]
HENRY:Good news first, or bad? Four of the six Montana test subjects are missing, disappeared over the last few days. I gotta say it's the Cabal.
MAGNUS:But two of them are still free.
HENRY:For now, but the window's gotta be closing.
WILL:Where are they?
HENRY:One's just outside of Vancouver, the other's in Essex, UK.
MAGNUS:Find John, we need to move quickly.
HENRY:Okay.
[Magnus and Will go around a corner, Henry turns back to run down the hall.]
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - ENGLAND - VALLEY IN ESSEX
EXT. BARN
[Druitt materializes off-screen and walks into the barn where a woman is standing next to a wheelbarrow.]
DRUITT:Ms. Kennair?
MS. KENNAIR:Um, yes. Can I help you?
DRUITT:Today is your lucky day.
----
INT. CABAL LABORATORY
[The scientist is writing while listening to Beethoven. Ashley is unconscious on the table in the background. Ashley snaps awake after hearing, or perhaps dreaming, her mother call her name twice. She looks around the lab, sees the doctor with her back turned, and cuts herself free of the restraints with her vampire nails. She sneaks up behind the doctor, claws extended, but stops before she strikes, apparently held back by something.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Those urges you're feeling are entirely normal, and they can be controlled.
[Ashley looks in horrified confusion at her hand as she tries and fails to move it. The scientist turns around with a smile and stands up to move up close to Ashley.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:See? [The scientist smiles and reaches out to cup Ashley's face in a comforting gesture] I told you you'd be better than you were before. Look at you!
[Ashley looks at her hand, clearly trying not to cry. The scientist brushes Ashley's hair behind her shoulders, patting her head and smoothing her hair.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - VANCOUVER SKYLINE - DAY
EXT. MARTIN WOOD'S HOUSE - DAY
[Magnus and Will get out of Magnus's car and walk up to the door. Magnus knocks. Magnus knocks again when there is no immediate answer. The door is opened while she's still knocking. A young woman stands in the doorway. It is Kate Freelander.]
KATE:May I help you?
MAGNUS:Is this the residence of Martin Wood?
KATE:May I tell him who's calling?
WILL:Helen Magnus and Will Zimmerman. He should be expecting us.
MAGNUS:It's urgent that we speak with him. May we come in?
KATE:Sure.
[Kate steps aside and holds the door while Magnus and Will enter. She gestures to the living room.
KATE:Have a seat. I'll let him know you're here.
WILL:Thanks.
[Magnus and Will walk into the living room, looking around. Will sees the entryway rug is rumpled and there is a chair knocked over in the dining room.
WILL:Magnus.
[Magnus sees the signs of a fight and spins to look out the window. A dark van is pulling out of the driveway. Will and Magnus start running toward the door.]
MAGNUS:Bloody hell. [into radio] Henry, follow the van!
EXT. MARTIN WOOD'S DRIVEWAY
[Henry follows the black van, driving a white SUV. Magnus and Will follow in Magnus's car.]
== Act III ==
INT. KATE'S VAN - DAY
KATE:[into radio] Zodiac, this is Freestyle One, package is on board, but I'll need some help shaking a couple of bogeys.
MAN:[voice-over on radio] Roger that, Freestyle, we're waiting at the docks.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT - DAY
[The vehicles are speeding through narrow alleyways in an industrial area, nearly hitting a couple of pedestrians and squealing tires around corners.]
INT. MAGNUS'S CAR - DAY
WILL:[radio] She's headed toward the river.
INT. HENRY'S SUV - DAY
HENRY:[radio] I'll take left.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT - DAY
[Exciting car chase continues. Henry splits off to take another route.]
INT. KATE'S VAN - DAY
KATE:[radio] I'm coming in hot, need to pull a touch and go.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT - DAY
[A semi-truck with sections of large metal pipes pulls in front of Magnus's car, blocking her from following where Kate's van just went. Magnus screeches to a halt.]
MAGNUS:Damn it!
INT. KATE'S VAN - DAY
KATE:[radio] Honey, I'm home.
EXT. INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT - DAY
[Magnus and Will get out of Magnus's car. Will gestures a pile of pipes.]
WILL:This way!
[Magnus and Will climb up over the pipes, both pulling their guns as they run. They circle around Kate's van, pointing guns at Kate when they see she is still inside it.]
MAGNUS:Get out!
[Kate gets out]
KATE:Can I help you?
MAGNUS:On your knees, hands on your head.
KATE:Okay! What have I got, a taillight out or something?
[Magnus glares at her.]
WILL:[off-screen] Magnus.
[Magnus moves off to meet Will. Henry has arrived and continues to cover Kate. Will is at the back of the van. Magnus joins him to see that the back is empty. Martin Wood is not inside it.]
WILL:She had help.
[Magnus and Will both turn when a motor starts. They see a small speedboat pulling away from the dock.]
KATE:Can I just say, this was really exciting!
----
INT. CABAL LABORATORY
[Ashley is back in the tank. The scientist is picking up the last of the 4 syringes.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:You know, when- when they first asked me to run this project, the subject of maternal feelings came up. [heavy sigh] You see, I... used to have a daughter. And she- she'd be about your age, had she lived. And I'd like to think that she's be a lot like you. A lot like you were. [soft sigh] Well. Goodbye, Ashley. This is the last time you'll feel any pain. I really will miss you.
[The scientist injects the needle into an IV hanging on the side of the tank.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:Yeah. I really will.
[Ashley opens her eyes in the tank. They are completely changed into an orange-yellow instead of her normal blue.]
----
INT. EMPTY WAREHOUSE - DAY
[Kate has her hands tied behind her back. Magnus shoves her down onto a chair. Will and Henry are watching.]
MAGNUS:Let's start with your name.
KATE:Let's start with a badge. Because kidnapping is sometimes, now and then, viewed as a crime.
MAGNUS:We know you're Cabal, you know who we are. Stop acting like a fool. Name!
KATE:Kate. Freelander. [everyone scoffs] And yes, that is my real name even though it sounds made up. For the record, I'm not Cabal.
WILL:So you're what, a freelance operative?
KATE:Yup. Dog walking, dinner reservations, I even do windows. Whoever pays me the most, gets my services.
MAGNUS:Where was that boat headed?
KATE:You guys aren't cops. You're not bad guys. You're not going to shoot me or arrest me. We're gonna go round and round and I'm gonna tell you jack, and then, I'm going to escape. It's a fun little game. Sure you wanna play?
MAGNUS:Whatever you've heard about me may not be entirely accurate. You may not be Cabal, but you can lead us to them. And you will.
KATE:Look. I would love to help you out, but business is business. Nothing personal.
[Magnus cocks her pistol and points it at Kate's foot.]
MAGNUS:Really.
KATE:[disbelievingly and unafraid] C'mon.
[Magnus fires the gun, Kate jumps and yells. Henry moves away from the wall and Will takes several steps toward Magnus.]
WILL:[to Magnus] Woah, woah! Take it easy!
MAGNUS:Nothing personal! They have my daughter! Now where was that boat headed?
KATE:Look, I have no idea!
MAGNUS:Get used to sitting more.
KATE:You're crazy!
WILL:Magnus!
[Kate holds very still and neither Will nor Henry move as Magnus continues to aim the gun at Kate's foot, glaring. Kate gasps in relief when Magnus lowers the gun and walks away out of the warehouse. Will follows Magnus. Henry unwraps a food bar.]
KATE:[to Henry] Must be fun asking her for a raise.
[Henry says nothing, just staring at Kate while he eats the food bar.]
EXT. WAREHOUSE - DAY
[Magnus and Will come out of the warehouse, both clearly irate.]
WILL:Hey!
MAGNUS:I don't want to hear it! She knows something.
WILL:I agree, but maybe let me see what I can learn first.
MAGNUS:Fine. [Magnus glares at Will and uncocks her weapon.] Either way, she'll talk.
WILL:You know, you might want to spend a little less time with Jack the Ripper? It's affecting your manners somewhat.
[Magnus sighs heavily and glares away from Will.]
INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY
[Kate is still sitting in the chair in the middle of the room, Henry is leaning on the wall while he eats.]
KATE:Nice gun. Can I see it?
HENRY:Sure.
[Henry lifts his jacket enough to show the gun in a holster on his belt, but he doesn't move away from the wall.]
KATE:Dude, lighten up. It's just a job. Can I have one of those? I'm beyond starving.
[Henry shakes his head and keeps eating.]
KATE:Look, you don't have to untie me, okay? I'll eat it hands-free. I'll make it look good, too.
[Henry stops eating and stares for a moment, then sighs and pulls a food bar out of his pocket. He walks over and sticks it in Kate's mouth. Before he walks away, she drops it in her lap.]
KATE:Oops.
EXT. WAREHOUSE - DAY
[Magnus and Will start running back inside when they hear sounds of a scuffle and Henry yelling.]
INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY
[The chair is knocked over and Henry is laying on the floor beside it as Will and Magnus run in. Will starts to stoop to check Henry.]
MAGNUS:Henry! [to Will] Go! Go!
[Will reaches the door in time to see Kate drive off in Magnus's car.]
HENRY:Oh, she's good.
== Act IV ==
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - CABAL WAREHOUSE - NIGHT
INT. HALLWAY WITH STAIRS
[The Cabal scientist and Dana are walking up the stairs.]
CABAL SCIENTIST:I've been monitoring her closely since the last treatment, and her DNA mutation levels are all exceeding expectations.
DANA:She's changing even faster than we'd hoped.
CABAL SCIENTIST:Yes! And without any cellular rejection. So, this is really going very well. We should be able to begin test in, oh, 48 hours.
DANA:Okay, well, the faster the better. The timetable on this has been accelerated by recent events.
CABAL SCIENTIST:Wuh- Why? Has something happened?
DANA:Yeah. We failed to acquire one of the Montana test subjects.
CABAL SCIENTIST:Oh. Well, one less subject shouldn't affect the viability of the operation.
DANA:Yes, I know it won't. It does mean we have to act more aggressively now.
CABAL SCIENTIST:You know, even if they put all the little pieces together, it would take them years to figure out what we're doing.
DANA:It's Helen Magnus and Nikola Tesla.
CABAL SCIENTIST:Right.
DANA:I've underestimated them before and I won't do it again. Forty-eight hours?
CABAL SCIENTIST:Uh, yeah. Forty-eight hours.
[Cabal Scientist turns to walk back the way they came and Dana watches her go for a moment before continuing on.]
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - NIGHT
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - MAIN LAB
[Magnus and Tesla are looking at medical test results.]
MAGNUS:How did things go with the test subject that John brought back from England?
TESLA:Swimmingly. Behold, images of a perfectly normal human being, and I do mean both perfect and normal.
MAGNUS:Not a single genetic defect or latent abnormality in her DNA.
TESLA:Makes me sleepy just looking at it.
MAGNUS:Assuming the other five test subjects are the same, what does the Cabal want with them? Genetic manipulation, obviously, but what kind? Effective gene therapy is hardly contingent on having flawless DNA.
TESLA:And they can't use the source blood to uncork their inner monster.
MAGNUS:So what the hell do they want with them? And what does it have to do with Ashley?
[Magnus paces a few steps away as Tesla runs his hand through his hair.]
MAGNUS:They're blank slates! And I mean literally.
TESLA:Right.
MAGNUS:I agree the Cabal's agenda revolves around using the source blood.
TESLA:Of course.
MAGNUS:Now, if they've used it to create some new kind of abnormal, what good is having only one?
TESLA:Flawless DNA would be easiest to overwrite.
MAGNUS:They're not trying to summon a latent abnormality in their victim's DNA...
TESLA:They want to insert a pre-existing pattern into their genetic code.
MAGNUS:They're making copies.
TESLA:And the question is, of what?
[Magnus looks at Tesla.]
----
INT. CABAL OFFICES
[Dana Whitcomb is walking down a hallway when her cell phone rings. She answers it.]
DANA:[into phone] Well, this is a surprise.
EXT. SIDE OF ROAD SOMEWHERE - NIGHT
[Kate is sitting on the side of the road in Magnus's car.]
KATE:[into phone] Really? Because I delivered the package to you, intact and at great financial and physical expense to myself, I might add. So. Stop screwing with me and let's talk about the distressing fact that no money has appeared in my account!
INT. CABAL OFFICES
DANA:Okay, what's distressing is that you allowed yourself to be captured and interrogated by Helen Magnus.
EXT. SIDE OF ROAD
KATE:C'mon, Dana, just give me a little credit. I am a professional.
INT. CABAL OFFICES
DANA:Nonetheless, as per our stringent policy regarding mission protocol, our business relationship is over, effective immediately.
EXT. SIDE OF ROAD
KATE:Dana! C'mon, you can't be serious!
INT. CABAL OFFICES
DANA:And, Kate, all the best in your future endeavors.
EXT. SIDE OF ROAD
[Kate freezes and looks down. Green tracer dots appear and Kate immediately gets out of the car.]
KATE:Oh, bite me hard!
[Kate jumps over a rock wall, pulls out her gun, and starts firing back at the snipers.]
INT. CABAL OFFICES
[Dana listens to the sounds of gunfire over the phone.]
EXT. SIDE OF ROAD
KATE:[to herself] I never liked that bitch.
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - NIGHT
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - UPPER LEVEL - FOYER
[There's a loud pounding on the door. Henry hobbles towards it.]
HENRY:Yeah, I'm coming! Hold on.
[Henry opens the door to reveal Kate. Kate steps into the doorway.]
HENRY:Oh.
KATE:Hey.
HENRY:what the hell are you doing here?
KATE:Powerbar Guy. It's nice to see you. It's freezing out there.
[Kate tries to push past Henry into the foyer, but Henry holds her in the doorway.]
HENRY:Yeah, wait a second. How'd you get past the gate undetected?
KATE:[scoffs] Your security's lame. And I really needed to use your, um- your um- oh no.
[Kate falls forward in a faint. Henry catches her and lowers her to the floor.]
HENRY:Oh! Um, uh... [Henry sees a large, wet bloodstain on her leg] Oh, God. Ah... [shouting down the hallway] A little help!
----
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - INFIRMARY
[Kate snaps awake to see Magnus and Will standing next to her. Kate is wearing a hospital gown and her left wrist is handcuffed to the bed railing. Kate rattles the cuffs in frustration for a moment before turning to Magnus.]
KATE:This how you treat all your patients?
MAGNUS:The Cabal. How do we find them?
KATE:I never make contact with them directly.
WILL:Really. I'd say you made direct contact with them recently.
MAGNUS:The Cabal put a price on your head, didn't they? You're here because you have nowhere else to turn.
WILL:We have leads. Unconfirmed intel, but nothing we can act on. You want to give us something, we can talk about amnesty for you.
KATE:From the Cabal? You're dreaming.
WILL:Then why'd you come here?
KATE:Well, I was running low on vital bodily fluids at the time, what do you think? Any port in a storm, right?
MAGNUS:This is a waste of time. Will, tell Henry to drive Ms. Freelander to Mercy General. Drop her at the emergency ward.
[Magnus and Will turn to leave. Kate laughs.]
KATE:Yeah, right, you're gonna do that.
[Kate sees that they're almost out the door and not slowing down.]
KATE:I went to one of their facilities!
[Magnus and Will both stop and face Kate.]
KATE:Once.
WILL:Where?
KATE:Just above the U.S. border, in Alberta. It was a way station where the Cabal kept goods until they could be moved elsewhere. Seemed like a pretty built-up operation, lots of personnel, cool tech.
MAGNUS:I'll have Henry run a trace of the region, check for anomalies in the local power grid pattern.
WILL:I'll talk to my contacts in the intelligence community, see if anything matches.
[Will and Magnus continue walking out the door.]
KATE:Hey! Hey! What about me?
[Will shuts the door behind them.]
KATE:You can't just leave me here! Do I at least get jello? [Kate moves her injured leg] Ow!
----
EXT. ESTABLISHING - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - DAY
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - HENRY'S ARRAY
HENRY:Having a ballpark location was key. There's only one spot in the area with a history of sucking up a ton of juice. See? Big spikes all triangulated here? That's just a large complex about 200 klicks from anything remotely populated. There's nothing else there.
WILL:Okay, well, at least we got something.
MAGNUS:Well done, Henry. Tell everyone we have a target. We leave immediately.
[Magnus and Will move to leave the lab. Henry resumes typing.]
== Act V ==
EXT. ESTABLISHING SHOT - OLD CITY SANCTUARY - DAY
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - MAIN LAB - DAY
[Magnus, Tesla, Druitt, and Will are standing in a circle, checking weapons.]
MAGNUS:Once we gain access to the facility itself, our first priority is any information leading to Ashley. If we find evidence leading to the kidnapped test subjects, even better.
WILL:Retrieve the source blood and it's a grand slam?
TESLA:One thing at a time, Doctor Expendable.
[Henry approaches the group.]
TESLA:For all we know, this could be a trap.
MAGNUS:Henry, stay in radio contact.
HENRY:Will do. Go kick some ass, people.
[Druitt walks forward and puts a hand on both Tesla and Will and teleports them away. Henry flinches from the closeness of the teleport to himself.]
HENRY:Carefully! [to Magnus] Have fun-
[Druitt reappears, grabs Magnus, and teleports away again.]
MAGNUS:- storming the castle.
INT. ALBERTA - WAY STATION - DAY
[Will peaks through a window, then opens the roll-up door next to it. Magnus, Druitt, Will, and Tesla all come through. Magnus and Will have their guns out. Will looks over and sees a motion detector on the wall and a video camera pointed at them. The warehouse is completely empty of goods, technology and people.]
WILL:What the hell is this?
MAGNUS:It's a set-up.
[Ashley teleports in, dressed all in black with her hair pulled back. Magnus and Will both initially raise their guns when they hear the teleport, but quickly lower them when they see who it is. Magnus smiles and starts walking towards her.]
MAGNUS:Ashley, thank God.
[Ashley teleports to stand right in front of Magnus. Magnus stops smiling and draws back slightly when she sees that Ashley's eyes are orange. Druitt also looks confused and suspicious, while Tesla looks alarmed.]
MAGNUS:What have they done to you?
[Druitt teleports to stand next to Ashley.]
DRUITT:It's time you came home.
[Druitt sets his hand on Ashley's shoulder. She grabs it and hits him. Druitt teleports to the other side of the warehouse. Ashley starts a roundhouse kick, teleporting to be next to Druitt when she finishes it. Druitt teleports back closer to the group. Ashley follows. Druitt tries to kick her, but she catches his leg and throws him across the room. He hits the ground and doesn't get up. Ashley turns to face Magnus again. Magnus takes a small step backwards.]
MAGNUS:Ashley. Listen to me.
[Ashley advances on Magnus, snarling and extending vampire nails. Tesla steps in front of Magnus and walks toward Ashley, nails out and eyes black.]
TESLA:Manners, young lady.
[Tesla tries to hit Ashley, but she hits him several times and knocks him across the room. He also does not get up. Ashley turns back toward Magnus. Druitt gets up, takes a running start and teleports next to the unconscious Tesla. He teleports them both out of the warehouse. Ashley raises her hand slowly to strike Magnus. Will pushes Magnus aside and raises his gun.]
MAGNUS:Will, no!
[Will shoots Ashley twice, once in each shoulder. Ashley staggers a few steps backward and then starts advancing slowly again as the wounds instantly heal themselves. Will lowers his gun and Magnus looks stunned. Just as Will raises his gun again, Druitt teleports in, grabs him, and teleports him away. Magnus keeps backing away as Ashley advances.]
MAGNUS:Ashley, please. Listen to me...
[Druitt teleports in, grabs Magnus, and teleports her away.]
INT. OLD CITY SANCTUARY - LOWER LEVEL - MAIN LAB - DAY
[Druitt and Magnus teleport in and Magnus whirls to Druitt, clutching at his lapels]
MAGNUS:[crying] No, please! John, take me back!
DRUITT:Helen.
MAGNUS:Take me back!
DRUITT:She would kill you! She'll kill us all!
WILL:Henry, get the EM shield back up, now!
MAGNUS:We had her! We found her!
HENRY:What the hell happened? You guys were gone for like ten minutes?
TESLA:It didn't go well.
MAGNUS:What in God's name have they done to her?
HENRY:[alarmed and confused] Will?
WILL:She was waiting for us, but it wasn't any Ashley you'd know.
TESLA:They used the source blood to change her. She's the only progeny of two source blood-altered abnormals. Smart move.
MAGNUS:It's not going to stop there. They'll use the Montana test subjects to make copies. There'll be more just like her very soon.
[Magnus storms out, still crying. Will follows. Druitt and Tesla exchange a look.]
INT. CABAL OFFICES
[Dana and a group of people come around the corner and walk down the hall.]
DANA:Phase three is now underway. I'm sure the results will please all of you. Six operatives are now ready for deployment. Their first mission will be the most vital to our long-term interests.
[The group comes to a door, which opens to reveal Ashley and five others standing beside her.]
DANA:The complete destruction of the Sanctuary Network.
[The six operatives, including Ashley, turn to face out the window. The camera pulls back through the window to show the building, then farther back to show the city.]
TO BE CONTINUED
== End credits ==
/Credits
Category:Season_2/Transcripts