Announcement

**Lex** · 08-07-08, 11:29 PM

ACT ONE

OPEN ON ? UNKNOWN
EXPERIMENTAL ROOM ? INT.UNKNOWN BUILDING ? UNKNOWN

SIN is pacing the room, her eyes searching the machine in the centre of the room as if it will give her what she needs.

The machine is developing. It should be finished soon. It wasn't exactly the way it was supposed to be. The Wolfram and Hart original doesn't compare to this. Not yet anyway.

She looks around the machine, staring at every part of it.

SIN: (whispering) It must be here... I know them...

URSULA (O/S): You're scum.

SIN ignores her. The camera moves slightly to show that URSULA is tied up on the floor once again.

URSULA: (quietly) We had hoped at one point to save you... but now they know what you did, they'll never take you alive.

SIN sighs.

SIN: Shut up old woman! Your words mean nothing to me; that's one of the great things about having no conscious.

URSULA shakes her head.

URSULA: How do you expect them to forgive you now?

SIN: (roaring, angrily) Shut up!

The room shakes slightly with her anger. URSULA is silent now.

SIN: How am I supposed to remember how to raise my army with you barking incessantly like some mundane chat show host?

URSULA is silent now and SIN resumes her pacing.

SIN: (whispering to herself) I know I'm close...

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ELISE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

SHELTER is sat on ELISE'S bed looking through some of her old notes with her. Suddenly an idea hits her and she waves her hand to gain ELISE'S attention.

SHELTER: (signing) Did you ever find anything on my father?

ELISE shakes her head.

ELISE: (signing) We didn't even know he had a daughter, in fact no one really spoke about him much at all. Only the Elders and some of the other parents knew him well.

SHELTER considers this for a moment.

SHELTER: (signing) So you didn't know my mother either?

ELISE: (signing, slightly infuriated) No!

She sighs, regretting.

ELISE: (signing) I'm sorry. I am. It's great you know this stuff, it is... and I want to be able to get excited for you and maybe even help look into finding your mother but...

SHELTER: (signing, cutting her off) You need to find out your part of the secret first.

ELISE looks sad and nods.

ELISE: (signing) I'm so sorry you have to put up with me being like this... but I don't have answers like you have. I know it's selfish but it is killing me not knowing. It's all I think about...

SHELTER looks sad, it's clearly disturbing her friend.

SHELTER: (signing) I know how much this pains you, I can see you're not yourself.

She pauses.

SHELTER: (signing) If there's anything I can do, anything to alleviate...

ELISE looks to contemplate this for a second.

ELISE: (signing) No, I don't want to drag you down with me. I just need to focus on this. It's what I need to do...

She pauses.

ELISE: (signing) Especially now.

SHELTER pauses next, wondering whether to bring up this next point or not, knowing it is a raw subject with everyone in the base.

SHELTER: (signing) Is this to do with Constance?

ELISE doesn't answer this.

SHELTER: (signing, continuing) Because we've all been a bit recluse since it happened and it is ok to feel...

ELISE: (signing, avoiding the question) I should probably just get on with this. Thank you though...

SHELTER: (signing) Ok...

ELISE: (signing) I'll catch you later though?

She looks at her smiling weakly. SHELTER looks at her in return and just nods, accepting that sometimes some people just need to do certain things to get through each day.

No matter how soul destroying it may be and how hard it is to witness.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
KITCHEN ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

XAK is making a coffee and CHARLIE is stood next to him clearly disturbed and confused by what she saw on the news.

XAK: Macie? As in... Macie?

CHARLIE: I know, it's insane.

XAK: So what were they saying?

CHARLIE: That this Corinne La Fame was murdered in an alleyway in New York City a few months back and that due to an identity mishap it took a while to properly associate the body with this starlet.

XAK: Well I guess it does fit the timescale of when Macie died but if this Corinne girl disappeared during the filming of her fifth film, how are they so certain that over a decade later that Macie Coombs is actually the same girl?

CHARLIE: I know, it seems like a stretch but at the same time it oddly works.

XAK: You think this could be important don't you?

CHARLIE: Macie was killed before her time but before she died she did all she could to help us. How can we be so sure that we met her by chance?

XAK considers this.

XAK: Talk to Cate, see what she remembers about her from her childhood. With the Intelligence Unit down, we're low on resources.

CHARLIE nods.

CHARLIE: Ok.

She goes to leave but then stops and turns around to look at him.

CHARLIE: Are you ok?

He nods.

XAK: I'll be fine. I just need something solid, something to hold on to.

CHARLIE: What do you mean?

XAK: (hesitating) I don't know... Everything that's happened recently: Lance, the kidnapping, Constance and now this Macie thing, it's all so unstable. I can't help but feel it's all linked to one piece of a puzzle that we need to find for stability, and when we know what it is... we'll finally be able to stop Sin.

CHARLIE begins walking back towards him.

CHARLIE: I love you so much.

He looks confused as to her response.

CHARLIE: Only you could be troubled by exactly the same thing I am.

He looks at her.

XAK: I miss her Charlie.

CHARLIE: I know you do.

XAK: We left on such bad terms, I hate that we did...

CHARLIE: Shh...

She hugs him tightly and he holds her back. They don't tell each other they can't sleep and he doesn't tell her how much it kills him that their daughter killed his childhood friend.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
INTELLIGENCE UNIT ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

DANTE is sat in front of a variety of hard drives while SOFIA is sat sipping a mug of coffee nearby. She looks down at DANTE with an eyebrow raised.

SOFIA: Do you actually have any idea what you're doing?

DANTE: I have some idea on what to do with wires, but there's nothing wrong with them.

SOFIA: What do you mean?

DANTE: The wiring isn't fried or anything like that. All the connections are still strong... it doesn't make sense.

SOFIA: Not if it's magic knocking out the network.

DANTE: Then I guess it's magic.

He sits back and sighs looking down. It's weighing on his mind.

SOFIA stands and walks towards the coffee machine.

SOFIA: Well at least the coffee machine is working.

She reaches the machine and goes to pick up another mug for DANTE.

SOFIA: Do you want...

DANTE (O/S): (cutting her off) I kissed Lance.

She stops and doesn't turn around. Her mouth still parted mid-sentence.

DANTE (O/S): Well... he kissed me. It wasn't planned or anything, but it happened.

SOFIA: Why are you telling me this?

DANTE moves into shot now as he walks closer to her.

DANTE: I thought you should know.

She turns to look at him. She looks slightly angry.

SOFIA: You thought I should know? You think I care about the ins and outs of the sexually confused Lycan?

DANTE: You seem mad, so I'll go with yeah.

SOFIA: I'm not mad Dante. You kissed me. You kissed Lance. Clearly we're reliving old ground...

He sighs and rolls his eyes. She points her finger at him, annoyed.

SOFIA: (angry) Do not roll your eyes at me Dante Turnpike. You know I'm right. Now, you need to make a decision. Me and that boy are even now, so it's the next move you make that's the decider...

She storms past him now and rushes to the door. He looks dead straight ahead. He knows she's right.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ELISE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

ELISE is sat on her bed and she's looking through all the documents on the Elders. She has a separate pile for each of them. Her parents, SMITH and ARIA. URSULA and her husband WALTER and JETHRO ELM. URSULA'S pile is the shortest. There's no information on her and all information there is shows at least a year of her life is undocumented.

SEPHY approaches ELISE'S door and enters. She catches ELISE'S eye who looks up nervously, feeling worried as to what SEPHY'S response will be to her research.

SEPHY looks around at the documents.

SEPHY: (signing) Is this all the information you have so far?

ELISE is stunned that SEPHY can sign.

SEPHY: (signing) Elise? Is this all there is on Ursula's secret?

Despite being stunned she manages to nod at the goddess. SEPHY smiles.

SEPHY: (signing) Good. Bring it to my quarters later today and I will look over it tonight.

ELISE looks confused as to why she should do this.

ELISE: (signing) Why?

SEPHY: (signing) Because tomorrow, you and I will discover this secret together.

And with this SEPHY turns and leaves the room. ELISE watches her leave, completely thrown by the offer. She had wanted to work alone but how could she turn down the help of a goddess?

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CATE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

CATE is folding some of her clothes on her bed and CHARLIE is sat on it listening to what she knows about CORINNE LA FAME.

CHARLIE: How do I not remember her?

CATE: Well Rack wasn't big on the television front if I remember rightly.

CHARLIE: Right, so how did she start out?

CATE: She was doing cereal commercials for like two years as a kid and then she made a break into Hollywood. She had a really pushy dad, you know the sort. I think it's because Corinne was an only child and he had big aspirations for his "darling little princess".

CHARLIE: How do you know this?

CATE: It was in all the papers at the time. They were all saying he put too much stress on her and that any pictures of her showed her to be exhausted and run down. I think even social services intervened.

CHARLIE: My god, the poor kid.

CATE: I know it's awful. To be pushed to breaking point as a child. It makes me sick...

CHARLIE: So what happened next?

CATE: Well she landed the lead in "The Littlest Princess" and then bam. I mean think Dakota Fanning on speed... except without the child drug reference...

CHARLIE smiles.

CHARLIE: Yeah I get the picture. So what happened then?

CATE: She reigned as the starlet queen, or should I say Princess, for five years. The fifth film was being produced and she disappeared. No one heard anything about her since. Until today that is...

CHARLIE: What about her dad?

CATE: He disappeared with her.

CHARLIE: Could he be at this memorial service?

CATE: Well, if Macie Coombs is really Corinne La Fame, then judging by the way he was with her... I think it's safe to say he will be.

CHARLIE: Then we need to get into that memorial service...

CUT TO ? UNKNOWN
EXPERIMENTAL ROOM ? INT.UNKNOWN BUILDING ? UNKNOWN

The scene opens on SIN'S face. She opens her eyes and gasps.

SIN: I remember...

She knew how to raise the army that could decimate the world.

CUT TO BLACK

END OF ACT ONE

**Lex** · 08-07-08, 11:30 PM

ACT TWO

OPEN ON ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
XAK AND CHARLIE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ - MORNING

SONG: DUFFY ? I'M SCARED

The music starts up again as the camera pans up XAK and CHARLIE'S bed. They're lying under the covers together and she has her head resting on his chest and his arm is around her. They look as if they don't know the other is awake, that is until she looks up to him and he looks at her. Today could be the day they get some answers. They could find that piece of the puzzle. (The music below plays throughout)

"The blank pages of my diary
That I haven't touched since you left me..."

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ELISE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? MORNING

ELISE picks up as many of the most important documents as she can. She breathes heavily and walks towards the door, heading to SEPHY'S room. (The music below plays throughout)

"The closed blinds in my home
See no light of day..."

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CATE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ - MORNING

CATE is in her training clothes and her hair is tied up already. She looks at herself in the mirror, wondering what today could bring for her, or more importantly... what she can bring to the day. (The music below plays throughout)

"Dust gathers on my stereo
?Cause I can't bear to hear the radio..."

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
SEPHY'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? MORNING

There is a knock at SEPHY'S door. She breathes deeply as she approaches the door and opens it. ELISE is there who beams nervously at her. SEPHY smiles back and gestures to her to walk in. ELISE obliges and SEPHY watches her walk in. She hopes she can find some answers for ELISE, if not for the deaf woman's sake, then for hers: to give her some clarity of usefulness. (The music below plays throughout)

"The piano sits in a shaded space
With a picture of your face..."

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
INTELLIGENCE UNIT ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? MORNING

The song dies down as we see SOFIA pacing the room. She looks angry and irate and she has a phone in her hand. She's tapping her nails against the phone cover.

SOFIA: (whispering) Ring me. I don't know what to do. Ring me...

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
BROGAN'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? MORNING

The song starts up again as the camera cuts to BROGAN lying in his bed. His stubble is longer, though it's barely noticeable and he doesn't care. She was still dead and he couldn't move. (The music below plays throughout)

"I'm scared to face another day
?Cause the fear in me just won't go away
In an instant, you were gone and I'm scared..."

KAIA (O/S): Please.

As with yesterday, the music dies down to show KAIA sitting on the edge of his bed. She looks to him helplessly and as like yesterday she has some food with her in some vain attempt to raise his strength.

KAIA: You know today could be important. We could really use your help.

BROGAN continues to not respond, but KAIA is convinced she can reach him.

KAIA: I've got a plan you know, and it looks like the others have a lead too.

Once again he doesn't respond.

KAIA: We won't ever forget her, but...

She gulps. There was no word to add on to that sentence to comfort him. So she leaves.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
MEDICAL WARD ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? MORNING

CATE is sat on the side of a bed and TRAFFORD is checking her heart with a stethoscope. She looks at him, having put up with the last five minutes in unbearable silence.

CATE: How are you holding up?

TRAFFORD: (avoiding the question) Have you been training harder?

CATE: Kinda, but don't avoid the question. Are you ok?

TRAFFORD smiles weakly as he writes down some numbers on a sheet of paper and then removes the stethoscope. He stands and she stands too.

TRAFFORD: Shouldn't I be asking you that?

CATE: You know I'm fine. It's been a month since I kicked it, and emotionally and physically I'm in tip top shape. You know that, you've helped me get there...

He stops and leans on the counter, trying to avoid eye contact with her.

CATE: You on the other hand have just lost your childhood friend.

TRAFFORD: (quietly) I'm fine...

CATE: Ok you're a terrible liar, especially when I told that lie much better... or not, depending how you look at it.

TRAFFORD: What do you want me to say Cate? That dealing with the reality of what we're doing is tougher than dealing with the reality that my friend is dead.

CATE: I just want you to be true to yourself! You're a good man and I've seen you, your sister and your friends bypass your own grief for the sake of other projects. You're good people, and I don't want you all to suffer in silence like I did.

TRAFFORD: It isn't easy.

CATE: I know it's not, but you have each other and you need to embrace that.

She looks at him and smiles. He looks at her briefly before looking away.

TRAFFORD: I'll be fine, I will. I have a soft spot in my heart for her, and I always will. Right now I just need to do things to take my mind off it all...

CATE: Ok, I understand that.

She smiles at him and then she gets an idea.

CATE: I don't know how it quite factors into the way you were thinking of taking your mind off everything... but there is something you could do today, something that could help everyone big time.

TRAFFORD looks intrigued, pleased at the prospect of a distraction.

TRAFFORD: What is it?

CATE: Well first of all... you do have a black tie, right?

His intrigue turns to confusion.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
MEETING ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? MORNING

XAK, CHARLIE, CATE, KAIA, TRAFFORD and ECHIDNA are all stood in the Meeting Room. Everyone looks contemplative at what KAIA is telling them.

XAK: When you say missing?

KAIA: I mean it's gone, just like we saw. One minute there was a building there, and I know that much from being held captive inside it, the next... nothing.

ECHIDNA: What about a locator spell?

KAIA: First thing I tried. Any trace of Sin, Ursula or that building is gone.

ECHIDNA: (doubtful) Are you positive?

CHARLIE: Echidna, have some faith...

She smiles weakly at KAIA ? they'd been through a lot the other day. KAIA is touched by her affirmation.

ECHIDNA: How can you be so sure?

CHARLIE: Because I think Kaia and I are on the same wavelength about this.

KAIA nods.

KAIA: The building is gone, but it's still there somewhere... we just can't see it.

CHARLIE clearly agrees with this theory.

XAK: What do you think has happened to it then? It's hiding?

Then he figures...

XAK: Oh... It's hiding.

CHARLIE nods.

KAIA: I think its possible Sin could be using Rack's tricks against us; his magic abilities would already be instilled into her via blood.

CHARLIE (O/S): It makes sense.

CHARLIE looks to be considering something. She looks at all of them glum.

CHARLIE: (continuing) I don't think she actually banked on either Kaia or I escaping.

They look at her.

CHARLIE: I think it was all some kind of sick joke to get us hopeful... this could be her contingency plan.

Everyone looks glum at this thought.

TRAFFORD: (trying to remain hopeful) Ok, so how do we go about finding her now she's untraceable?

KAIA: Well I have a suggestion...

Everyone looks at her.

KAIA: I forgot about it until yesterday, until Sephy said something.

XAK: Forgot about what?

KAIA: There's a spell I've been working on. It's a tough one to get right but with the right amount of concentration and channelling I think it could work.

CHARLIE: A spell?

KAIA nods.

KAIA: It's a spell Ursula and I were working on when we came here. It would literally lift the veil from a property and reveal its true location.

XAK: Why would you and Ursula have been working on a spell like that?

KAIA: Rack's home was a danger at times, we could see that. We thought if you needed us, if something were to happen then we could find you quicker. Of course, the one time you did... we were too late; we hadn't mastered the spell in time.

CHARLIE smiles weakly, touched at the thought. CHARLIE eyes KAIA, she'd read her completely wrong when she first met her... First impressions aren't everything in their world.

ECHIDNA: It does sound like an admirable plan. I will inform Persephone of its imminence once she is finished researching with the young Artair girl.

XAK nods and he looks to CHARLIE who looks back at him, both of them desperately searching for that one answer that will click into place, just where it should. This could help.

He turns to his wife.

XAK: Do it. We need to take anything we can, but are you sure you can handle it?

KAIA: Yeah I need to do this. I can't stand watching Ea the way he is. I don't care how hard and deep the magic is. I'll find it...

XAK: Well if it helps, I will see to it that no one disturbs you when you are working.

KAIA smiles, glad to be helping. Glad to be keeping her mind off things.

KAIA: Thanks.

She turns and leaves the room. XAK watches her.

CHARLIE: Right, well with Kaia working on that, Cate and I have a plan for getting into this memorial service...

TRAFFORD looks at CATE who is smiling, pleased with their plan.

TRAFFORD: Well I guess that's one way to take my mind off things...

CATE smiles at him and nods.

CATE: You got it in one.

ECHIDNA clears her throat.

ECHIDNA: I sense I'm involved somehow?

XAK hurries out of the room before we can hear the rest of the conversation.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CORRIDOR ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

KAIA is walking down a corridor when XAK rushes to catch her up.

XAK: Kaia, wait...

KAIA stops and turns back to him.

XAK: I haven't had a chance to thank you.

KAIA: (awkward) You have no reason to thank me.

XAK: You could have just given up when you saw Constance, but you didn't. You kept going, for Charlie. I appreciate that.

KAIA looks down.

KAIA: I won't lie, it wasn't easy. But I just had to do what anyone of you would have done in my situation...

XAK: Well, I appreciate it. It makes me believe we can be friends.

KAIA: Yeah, maybe one day.

She avoids eye contact with him as she turns and leaves.

XAK: Hey...

She turns again and looks to him.

XAK: Brogan will be fine, he's strong. He's got us...

KAIA pauses.

KAIA: (quietly) And what about the rest of us?

He looks at her and thinks about what she's just said.

XAK: Maybe one day.

She nods, finding it difficult. She turns and leaves and XAK watches her before turning back himself.

SONG: BASEMENT JAXX ? U DON'T KNOW ME

The beat of the music begins as XAK turns and...

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
ENTRANCE ? EXT.CENTRAL PARK ? AFTERNOON#

Cameras flash on what looks to be a red carpet leading from the sidewalk into the park. There are quick cuts to dozens of celebrities, young women in designer dresses, men in suits and sunglasses and even the occasional Chihuahua. They smile and flirt with the lenses and the men behind them. (The music below plays throughout)

"You think you know me
Know what I do
But all you think about is what it all means to you..."

It was a perfect day for a photo opportunity, and as they flood into the sunny park and the large gazebo near the lake. It was so perfect everyone had forgotten what they were there for.

The police were holding people back and two people, a MAN and a WOMAN, are protesting the event with a large banner. They look physically hurt and emotionally destroyed by what is happening. Who are these people? (The music below plays throughout)

"I got so much, so much to give
All you gotta do is be
Ready, ready to live
You think you know a lot
About my kinda woman
But you don't know nothing ?bout me..."

A car pulls up to the red carpet and out steps a beautiful blonde woman in a green dress. She has sunglasses on and smiles lavishly at the cameras. A man in a tuxedo steps out and smiles adoringly at the crowd. He doesn't have anything concealing his identity. He doesn't need to, no one would know him. It's TRAFFORD. (The music below plays throughout)

"You don't know me
You don't know me
You don't know anything about me
You don't know me
You don't know me
You don't know anything about me..."

It soon becomes apparent who the woman standing next to him is as she removes her sunglasses. It's ECHIDNA.

ECHIDNA: (quietly) I find tinted glass tiresome on my retinas.

The music dies down and plays quietly in the background as the faux-celebrities take centre stage in the unnecessary limelight.

TRAFFORD: Just play it cool ok. We need to act like we belong...

He waves at the crowd and smiles as she looks to him worried.

ECHIDNA: Are you sure you're ok performing for this task? I would understand considering the setting and recent events...

TRAFFORD: (cutting her off) I'm fine. This is a mission and I've been assigned. It's the way war works, right?

ECHIDNA: It is... Unfortunately, it is.

TRAFFORD: Then let's do this.

She goes to say more but knows nothing will matter right now. They walk down the red carpet together and put on a brave face.

The cameras flash at them both, even though it's clear the photographers don't know who they are they continue to snap.

A young female reporter shoves a microphone in ECHIDNA'S face. She looks unsettled by the gesture

REPORTER: (shouting loudly) I love your dress! Who are you wearing?

ECHIDNA: (angrily) Excuse me?! Are you implying I would wear human skin as clothing?!

The REPORTER looks stunned.

REPORTER: Uh...

ECHIDNA looms closer.

ECHIDNA: Do you know who I am?

TRAFFORD swoops in now and separates ECHIDNA from the reporter.

TRAFFORD: Ok, that'll be all for questions now.

He pulls ECHIDNA away, while some of the photographers stop and stare.

TRAFFORD: (whispering, sarcastically) Well done, keep it low key...

ECHIDNA: Did you hear what she said?

TRAFFORD: Look maybe we should worry more about the police... How are we going to get past them?

ECHIDNA: Do not fret. This why I am accompanying you...

As they both approach the police she stares the one closest to them in the eye. He makes visual contact with her and her eyes flash green at him. He is momentarily paralysed and due to the hustle and bustle, the other policemen do not notice. They slip past and ECHIDNA smirks at the petrified policeman.

They're in and make their way to the marquee.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
MARQUEE ? EXT.CENTRAL PARK ? AFTERNOON

Inside the marquee are waiters carrying glasses of champagne and pictures all over the area of CORINNE LA FAME in all her movies. There is even a buffet. It looks to be more of a photo opportunity for the living than a memorial of the dead. As TRAFFORD and ECHIDNA enter, it's clear they are angry at the exploitation of a woman's death.

ECHIDNA: Well, I suppose we should do what Cate described as "mingling".

TRAFFORD looks around the room as ECHIDNA moves away. He spots a LARGE WOMAN in cheap clothes who seems to stand out from the others. She's crying and clearly drunk, but she wasn't a celebrity. She was a relative.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
SEPHY'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

SEPHY and ELISE are sat on the bed. SEPHY is quickly browsing through all the information ELISE has gathered. ELISE doesn't bring herself to look at it again. SEPHY sighs and looks up at ELISE.

ELISE: (signing) Shouldn't goddesses know everything?

SEPHY smiles softly.

SEPHY: (signing) They should, but our powers seldom allow mental penetration unless forced.

ELISE: (signing) I'm right though, aren't I? There's something there.

SEPHY nods.

SEPHY: (signing) And she told you she wished to tell you the secret before the kidnapping?

ELISE: (signing) Yeah, she said it was killing her, which is why I want to know... I don't want her to die with the burden of keeping it from my brother and me.

SEPHY: (signing) Ursula will not die. I promise you that... so don't for a second presume that I am here to alleviate her of a burden before her time. I am not. I am here to cull her ache and hope that in doing so, we shall find her and stop my granddaughter's plans.

Seeing the majestic sweeping of SEPHY'S signs causes ELISE to feel a sense of relief. Maybe at last, all the pain would be over for ELISE and for the woman keeping it from her.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CORRIDOR ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

XAK, CHARLIE and CATE are walking down a corridor. They look troubled.

XAK: I hate not being able to do something.

CHARLIE: I know, Sephy and Elise are looking into Ursula's secret.

CATE: Kaia's trying to create this spell.

XAK: And now Trafford and Echidna are doing the reconnaissance mission.

CATE: It sucks...

CHARLIE: I know. It should be me at that memorial service. Not someone who's grieving as bad as Trafford...

CATE: (optimistically) I think he's doing ok, well he claims to be. When I told him about the memorial service he wanted to do it. No one forced him to go. Besides, it's not as if we could have gone, the manhunt is still going on in the city. We'd be locked up before we got near the place...

XAK: True. Well, maybe it'll help him, but I don't know. I can't help but shake the feeling that everyone is just trying to keep busy with tasks they know probably won't help, but will stop the pain.

CATE smiles weakly at him.

CATE: It's hard, but they will get there. Everyone's dealing with her death in different ways but they'll soon realise what they need to do to get to the next stage. They're not alone...

Then it hits her. She stops and she looks at the other two.

CHARLIE: You ok?

CATE: I just have somewhere to be.

CHARLIE: What do you mean?

CATE: I need to get to my next stage. I need to help...

She hurries off and they watch her but are soon distracted by the sound of someone walking towards them. It's SOFIA. A door opens near her and LANCE exits into the corridor. They stop and look at one another.

Another door opens and DANTE emerges. He looks at them both and for a moment, everyone is silent. XAK and CHARLIE watch the scene. Soon the m?nage a trois go their separate ways in silence.

XAK looks to CHARLIE, perplexed.

XAK: Ok, what is up with those three? They've been acting weird for a while now.

CHARLIE: God you're so male. Just go talk to Lance... I'll see to Sofia. Cate's right, we need to help. If there's nothing we can do outside the base right now then there's certainly some damage control we can do on the home front.

CHARLIE hurries after SOFIA now but XAK looks on confused.

XAK: But what am I supposed to help Lance with?

CHARLIE turns smiling.

CHARLIE: Isn't it obvious?

He still looks oblivious.

CHARLIE: It's Dante...

She disappears now and gradually in XAK'S mind, everything clicks into place.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
MARQUEE ? EXT.CENTRAL PARK ? AFTERNOON

The camera focuses on the LARGE WOMAN that TRAFFORD identified earlier. She is now propped up at the bar drinking sherry. She sniffs. She is played by Sharon Gless.

TRAFFORD (O/S): Would you like a tissue?

He extends his arm into shot to give her a napkin. She smiles, clearly a bit intoxicated.

LARGE WOMAN: Why thank you young man.

She takes the tissue and dabs at her nose and eyes.

TRAFFORD: Can I sit?

LARGE WOMAN: Oh I'm sure you've got some young girl's heart to break in the crowd somewhere.

He smiles.

TRAFFORD: Not likely.

LARGE WOMAN: How did you know Corinne?

TRAFFORD: (lying) I was in her second film.

LARGE WOMAN: "A Royal Mishap"? Oh were you that nice young Scandinavian Prince with the funny gold hat?

TRAFFORD: Yeah that was me.

LARGE WOMAN: Gosh, haven't you grown.

TRAFFORD: Age tends to do that. How did you know Corinne?

LARGE WOMAN: (crying again) Oh I'm her big Aunt Becky.

TRAFFORD: Oh. I'm very sorry for your loss...

The LARGE WOMAN/AUNT BECKY begins to weep as TRAFFORD knows this woman could tell him what he needs to know. Was CORINNE LA FAME actually MACIE COOMBS?

AUNT BECKY: You know all this ballyhoo could have been so avoided, but my darned brother just had to push her...

TRAFFORD: You mean Corinne's father?

AUNT BECKY nods.

AUNT BECKY: I told him not to. I begged him to leave that little girl alone... She was so young but he always had such big plans for her. He even christened her by her stage name. I don't even remember what it was they wanted to call her.

She finishes her sherry in one foul glug.

AUNT BECKY: Mind you considering all the complications with her birth, it's a miracle she even got to live for as long as she did...

TRAFFORD: Complications?

AUNT BECKY: Oh dear, I probably shouldn't be talking about this. I don't even know you.

TRAFFORD puts his hand on hers.

TRAFFORD: I'm here if you need to listen. I was very close to Corinne when I was younger.

He didn't like to lie, but he was probably closer to her than most of the other celebrities in the room.

AUNT BECKY looks deep into his alluring eyes and can't help but be captivated by his chiselled looks. She blushes slightly.

AUNT BECKY: You're sweet.

She pauses for a moment and then leans in to talk to TRAFFORD more quietly.

AUNT BECKY: (quietly) When she was born, she stopped breathing for ten minutes. We all thought she was dead, but then out of nowhere she just started again.

TRAFFORD: God that must have been horrible.

AUNT BECKY: It was, but when we saw her little face coughing up all that air we knew we knew she was gifted. She was special, unique even. That's why my brother pushed her for the spotlight. He said she had something the others didn't have: the talent to survive death.

TRAFFORD knew that wasn't true, but nods at the grieving woman nonetheless.

TRAFFORD: So then what happened?

AUNT BECKY: Well as you know she shot to stardom but it all went wrong during the fourth film. "A Prince Come True"... but no one knows why. No one in this room except for me to be more precise...

She leans closer and looks him in the eye.

AUNT BECKY: (whispering) Corinne was claiming that she was having visions. She said she saw all these horrible things. Mostly it was about the ground tearing open underneath a library in a place called Sunnydale. She told us everyone was going to die.

TRAFFORD'S brow furrows, listening intently.

AUNT BECKY: One of them happened in the filming of the fifth film... my brother said he had to do something. He was going to be losing money if she couldn't perform you see. So he had her sectioned...

TRAFFORD: What?

AUNT BECKY: He locked her up and told everyone she'd disappeared. He fed on all the money she'd deservedly earned while the nation searched endlessly for her. Then he took it, and ran. I never saw my brother again, and as far as I knew that poor girl was still in that asylum...

She breaks down into tears again.

TRAFFORD: Becky, I'm sorry. It must be awful to go through this.

She doesn't listen and just continues to cry and while he doesn't want to ask, TRAFFORD knows he has to.

TRAFFORD: Do you know a woman called Macie Coombs?

She stops crying instantly and looks outside at the MAN and the WOMAN protesting the memorial service. Then she looks back to him. She looks angry.

AUNT BECKY: You're with them, aren't you?

TRAFFORD: I...

AUNT BECKY: Those beasts that say we're burying the wrong woman?! How dare you sully my niece's name like this! I didn't want to believe she was dead at first but now I'm coming to terms with it I have to deal with people like you!

She begins to draw attention to herself. The Chihuahua's look alert.

TRAFFORD: Becky, I didn't mean to...

AUNT BECKY: (shouting) Security! Security!

TRAFFORD looks around nervously, then back to AUNT BECKY.

TRAFFORD: (whispering) I'm sorry...

AUNT BECKY: (roaring) SECURITY!

With this some of the security make their way over to the troubled AUNT BECKY but TRAFFORD rushes to make a quick exit.

CUT TO ?

In another area of the area, ECHIDNA is standing by herself looking daunted by the flirtatious women. She looks around at a SLEAZY MAN with a cigar hanging out of his mouth. He looks drugged.

SLEAZY MAN: Hey little lady, got an agent?

She looks him up and down with disgust, completely confused by the being in front of her.

ECHIDNA: What on earth are you?

TRAFFORD arrives on screen and grabs ECHIDNA'S arm.

TRAFFORD: We have what we need, come on.

ECHIDNA: Thank goodness.

They hurry off screen as AUNT BECKY, the SLEAZY MAN and security watch on as the faux celebrities leave the memorial service.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
ENTRANCE ? EXT.CENTRAL PARK ? AFTERNOON

TRAFFORD and ECHIDNA hurry out of the memorial. The duped policeman has recovered and merely watches them as they leave. The photographers flash.

The MAN and the WOMAN continue to picket them angrily with their banner.

"SHE'S NOT WHO YOU THINK SHE IS!"

CUT TO BLACK

END OF ACT TWO

**Lex** · 08-07-08, 11:31 PM

ACT THREE

OPEN ON ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
KITCHEN ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

SOFIA is sat at one of the tables in the kitchen looking glum and CHARLIE brings over two mugs of tea. She hands one to SOFIA who smiles weakly.

SOFIA: I bet you never thought you'd be making me tea.

CHARLIE smiles.

CHARLIE: True, but then I would never have guessed I'd be chilling my heels under the ocean with my boyfriend's wife and Dante Turnpike.

SOFIA'S smile fades slightly and CHARLIE observes this.

CHARLIE: That's who all this is about, isn't it? Dante.

SOFIA: It's complicated.

CHARLIE: It always is, especially when there's a third wheel.

SOFIA: So I guess our little love triangle hasn't gone un-noticed.

CHARLIE: Well Xak was oblivious, but he's not very observant on those things. Us girls though, we see a lot and say little. Tell me what's going on?

SOFIA sighs softly.

SOFIA: Dante's just doing what he always does. He likes someone, that person likes him and somehow he attracts another and likes them too. It happened with me and Christian and it's happening again.

CHARLIE: I have to say I was surprised about Lance, but he's always been a bit of a mystery. However, I am starting to feel I know Dante well. I've seen him make the wrong decisions but I've seen him learn from them too. He is trying to be a good man Sofia. I've seen him save our lives and turn his around on numerous occasions.

SOFIA listens to her closely.

CHARLIE: I do not know how he is going to make his decision, or why he'll make it. All I know is it'll be the right one.

SOFIA: But what if that's not me?

CHARLIE: Then that'll be best for both of you.

SOFIA is suddenly conscious of the phone in her pocket. It's vibrating. She looks down and then looks CHARLIE dead in the eye.

SOFIA: I'm not sure I can accept that.

CHARLIE is silent now, noting the almost angry tone in SOFIA'S voice.

The door opens. ECHIDNA enters. She looks at them both. CHARLIE turns to see who it is.

ECHIDNA: (to CHARLIE) There you are...

CHARLIE: What happened? How did it go?

ECHIDNA: Come. We must converse.

CHARLIE looks back to SOFIA.

SOFIA: Go. The mission is more important than this.

CHARLIE nods.

CHARLIE: If you need anything, you know where I am.

She smiles and then stands walking towards ECHIDNA and with the goddess they leave SOFIA and her phone alone.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
DANTE AND LANCE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

LANCE is lying on his bed and XAK is stood leaning against the wall nearby, clearly at a loss for words.

XAK: Is that it? Everything?

LANCE nods.

XAK: I have to ask considering...

LANCE: What? The past?

XAK nods.

LANCE: I'd never do anything to hurt you guys, not ever again.

XAK: I just want to be sure, I mean the Lycan thing was a bit of a shock...

LANCE: I thought I'd suppressed it. I guess I don't really do a good job of that...

XAK sighs.

XAK: I don't really know what to say. I mean, I didn't know you were... you know, gay.

LANCE looks to him sharply.

LANCE: I'm not!

XAK: But you kissed Dante? Kinda seems that way.

LANCE: I...

XAK: Look Lance, you don't need to answer to me. I've hardly been in control of my feelings for most of my life so if you're finding it impossible to tell me how you feel about this, then trust me, I understand.

LANCE: I just don't know what to do...

XAK: All you need to figure out is where certain things fit into your life. We all need to figure that out in the wake of how our lives have turned out recently. With you at the moment you need to figure out where Dante fits. You'll know when it feels right...

XAK considers this further.

XAK: It's like a puzzle, with things missing... you'll find where he fits.

LANCE: I hope so.

The door opens and it's CHARLIE.

CHARLIE: Sorry to interrupt, it's just...

XAK: Are they back?

CHARLIE nods.

XAK looks to LANCE.

LANCE: Go on go...

XAK: You're sure?

LANCE: I'm sure.

XAK: I'm always here for you Lance.

CHARLIE smiles and then they leave together.

LANCE stares at the ceiling.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
SEPHY'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

SEPHY is looking through URSULA'S laptop, curiously. ELISE waves her hand to get SEPHY'S attention. She looks worried.

ELISE: (signing) Am I selfish?

SEPHY: (signing) My dear no! What on earth would make you presume so?

ELISE: (signing) I lost my temper with Shelter today. She was only trying to help and I just... I lost it. All because I was too wrapped up in this.

SEPHY: (signing) At times like this Elise, it is natural to feel conscious about the extent of your own selfishness. You just need to understand that your needs are just as important as the needs of others. This is a war but it is also your life. You must live it how you see fit and make choices to further your life in a positive manner.

ELISE smiles at the goddess.

SEPHY: (signing) We will always be here for you Elise, and you will always be here for us ? preferably with crossbows and grenades if I was informed correctly.

ELISE laughs.

SEPHY: (signing) So don't worry your pretty little head over this. Your needs are just as important. Remember that.

ELISE: (signing) I just feel... Constance died, and I'm doing this.

SEPHY considers this.

SEPHY: (signing) Would she not have wanted you to be happy?

ELISE thinks about this and what her dead friend would think.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CORRIDOR ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? AFTERNOON

CATE is stood opposite a door. She breathes deeply and goes to walk up to it.

She stops herself.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
MEETING ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? EVENING

XAK, CHARLIE, TRAFFORD and ECHIDNA are stood talking about the memorial service.

XAK: So what did this Aunt Becky say?

TRAFFORD: Well it seems Corinne's father had her institutionalised.

CHARLIE: What? Why?

TRAFFORD: Apparently there were some complications with her birth and ever since then she was having visions.

XAK: Visions of what?

TRAFFORD: The ground opening underneath a high school library... sound familiar?

CHARLIE: (figuring) Sunnydale High, the hellmouth.

XAK: What else did this woman say?

TRAFFORD: That her dad ran off with all of Corinne's money and the last the Aunt heard she was still there, until now of course.

CHARLIE looks at XAK and sighs.

CHARLIE: What are you thinking?

XAK: I'm thinking that we're missing a big chunk of this girl's life and it's the one part that can link it to Macie.

ECHIDNA: How do you propose we uncover the rest?

XAK: By going to the only place that could prove that institution turned Corinne La Fame into Macie Coombs: her apartment.

CHARLIE: (protesting) No. No, it's too dangerous outside. Think about what Cate said, that was the only reason we sent Trafford and Echidna to the memorial service.

XAK: But it's dark now, and there won't be police stationed outside her door like at the service. Besides we did it before.

CHARLIE: Yeah, I heard... and last time Misty was killed. We can't take the chance.

TRAFFORD: It is dangerous out there Xak. Charlie's right, we can't lose anyone else...

XAK: I'm going. I just don't think meeting Macie Coombs was by chance... There's something about her. Something she's done...

CHARLIE still looks unsure.

CHARLIE: I don't know.

XAK: I'm not going to let good women die and I'm not gonna sit by and disregard the fact that I can prove their lives contributed in some way to stopping the woman that killed them.

There is a pause.

XAK: I'll be back before sunrise...

He looks to CHARLIE.

XAK: With answers, at last.

She is lured by the prospect of stability.

CHARLIE: Be careful...

He nods and with this he turns and leaves.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
STOCK IMAGES ? EXT.SKYLINE ? NIGHT

The camera shows the sun completely setting, leaving nothing but the darkness of night and emergence of the shadows.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
APARTMENT BLOCK ? EXT.UPPER WEST SIDE ? NIGHT

Under the cover of night, XAK approaches the apartment block he approached all those months ago. When everything didn't seem safe at the time but would be a welcome change to how things were right now.

He looks up at the window that looks in on MACIE'S lounge. The light is on.

He looks at it and then he is drawn to the front entrance of the building as one of the residents leaves. As the resident vacates the area, XAK rushes towards it to stop the door from shutting and he slips silently into the building.

He'd made it.

But he hadn't made it un-detected. Someone was watching him enter the building.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
MACIE'S APARTMENT ? INT.APARTMENT BLOCK ? NIGHT

The door to MACIE'S apartment is open and the sound of people inside it can be heard. XAK approaches the door and opens it.

XAK: Hello?

The camera pans around to show boxes everywhere. Two people are packing boxes. They are the MAN and the WOMAN who were picketing the memorial service earlier. They are played by Senta Moses and Logan Bartholomew. They turn from their packing and look at him.

MAN: Can we help you?

XAK: Sorry, I was just... Is this Macie Coomb's apartment?

WOMAN: It is. Well, it was... I'm sorry, who are you?

XAK: Uh... new owner.

The WOMAN moves forward now and extends her arm.

WOMAN: Oh god, of course. We weren't expecting you till tomorrow. My name's Fran Rosenbaum, this is Tanner Abbott. We're just packing up her stuff.

She smiles at XAK as we learn this is FRAN, the woman on the phone to MACIE when MACIE'S life was turned upside down by witnessing a massacre and TANNER, the potential love interest of the dead woman.

XAK turns to TANNER now, the potential love interest of MACIE. He looks shaken and upset by the whole ordeal but he shakes XAK'S hand nonetheless.

TANNER: I have to say, it's refreshing to hear someone call her Macie. At least you're not one of those media injected freaks thinking she's this Corinne La Fame.

XAK smiles nervously.

XAK: (acting oblivious) Uh, yeah right.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
DANTE AND LANCE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

LANCE is still lying on his bed when DANTE enters. He stops.

DANTE: Oh... I didn't think you'd be here.

LANCE: You have to choose Dante.

Clearly not expecting for him to say this, DANTE is struck with silence.

LANCE: I don't know how you'll choose or why but I have never felt this way before.

DANTE looks away.

LANCE: So choose... and put one of us out of our misery.

He turns over now, his back to DANTE.

DANTE looks away before walking towards the bathroom and closing the door.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
MACIE'S APARTMENT ? INT.APARTMENT BLOCK ? NIGHT

While FRAN and TANNER continue to pack up some things, XAK takes a look around.

XAK: So what happened to the woman, MACIE, who lived here before?

FRAN and TANNER look at one another confused. Did he not know?

FRAN: Uh, she was killed...

XAK: I'm sorry for your loss.

TANNER: (beat) Thanks.

XAK: Did they ever catch the guys who did it?

FRAN looks at TANNER who looks at her as it dawns on them that this man in their dead friend's apartment may not be the next owner. They stop packing and look at him.

TANNER: That's a lot of questions you ask.

XAK turns to face them.

XAK: That's because I knew her.

FRAN: Macie?

XAK: (nodding) I was with her when she died.

TANNER stands.

TANNER: What?!

XAK: Look I'm so sorry for your loss and I mean that because she was a good woman, she died trying to protect this world.

FRAN: You've made a big mistake coming here. You've clearly got the wrong place. Our Macie... She was an accountant. She lived a quiet life in the city and she had her job and she had us.

XAK: And before that?

TANNER: (infuriated) Not this again...

FRAN: I knew it was too good to be true...

XAK: Have you even considered the fact that Macie may in fact have been Corinne La Fame?

FRAN: Don't you think she would have mentioned it to us?

XAK: Not if she was running away from her past.

FRAN looks away now and runs a hand through her hair.

XAK: Did you know her father had her institutionalised as a child because she was having visions, visions of an apocalypse? She was special and he locked her away and quite possibly decimated any gift she had.

TANNER: You call that a gift? You'd wish that sort of gift on someone? Honestly?!

XAK: No, but...

TANNER: Exactly. Now I don't know what happened to Macie but all I know was she was happy, and if you had anything to do with her death then...

He walks towards XAK with his fist clenched. XAK doesn't move but FRAN intervenes, a phone in her hand.

FRAN: Tanner no!

She begins dialling and looks at XAK.

FRAN: I'm calling the cops, so I think you better leave...

XAK doesn't want to move but knows these grieving people aren't bluffing.

FRAN: Now!

XAK nods reluctantly and walks towards the door.

He'd got nothing. No answers.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CORRIDOR ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

CATE is sat opposite the door she wanted to enter before. She looks at it intently and breathes deeply.

CATE: (to herself, annoyed) Come on Cate. You could do this once...

TRAFFORD (O/S): Do what?

CATE looks up to see TRAFFORD still in his tux. She smiles.

CATE: Well hey there mister dapper. How was it?

TRAFFORD: Infuriating, those celebrities are something else. But I think I managed to help.

CATE: That's so good, and you're ok?

TRAFFORD: Enough about me Cate, what are you doing?

She sighs, wishing he could open up a bit more.

CATE: I'm trying to help.

TRAFFORD: Harder than it seems isn't it?

CATE nods.

CATE: It's just a matter of trying to remember how.

They pause.

TRAFFORD: Well, you know where I am if you need me.

CATE: Yeah, same goes to you.

He smiles and continues to walk on.

She stands now and watches him leave. As he turns a corner she walks towards the door and reaches for the handle.

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
SIDEWALK ? EXT.STREETS ? NIGHT

XAK is keeping to the shadows of the sidewalk. It's darker than usual and the streets are empty in the lonely hours of the morning.

As he passes an alleyway the camera stops. XAK doesn't. We focus on the empty alleyway and then XAK moves back on to screen. He looks around at the mouth of the alleyway. The floor, the walls of the building and the streets.

He realises.

XAK: (whispering) This is where it happened. This is where she died...

FLASH TO ? NEW YORK
ALLEY ? EXT.STREETS ? NIGHT

The colours on the screen are blurred, as is the whole image, it looks static.

This was night MACIE COOMBS died.

MACIE: Great. I'll keep that in mind.

XAK smiles, standing near to the entrance of the alley and looking around in case anyone approaches. The camera moves back to CHARLIE who sits in the centre of the floor and places her shoulder bag down on the ground next to her. The camera opts for a bird's eye view of CHARLIE sitting which is super imposed over the image of SIN slaughtering the men from last night. Eventually the murder fades and CHARLIE sits silently and quietly. She breathes softly.

CHARLIE: (whispering) For those mortals who were bloody slain, for a mothers woe and a fathers pain?show us the cause through her who watched in vain.

CHARLIE opens her eyes and instinctively she raises her hands and arms to where MACIE is stood. CHARLIE'S whisper begins to repeat and echo ethereally through the night air and it fills the sky. Gradually a green magical film surfaces to CHARLIE'S hands and they blast towards MACIE as raw energy. MACIE gasps as it hits her and after a few seconds MACIE points in an easterly direction. She turns her head towards XAK who is staring at them both in awe, and shock.

MACIE: (demonic) Look?to?the?eastern?sky.

And with this the light dies down and CHARLIE and MACIE fall to the floor. XAK looks at them both as they rouse quickly. MACIE looks at them both, hopefully.

MACIE: Did it work?

FLASH TO ? NEW YORK
SIDEWALK ? EXT.STREETS ? NIGHT

The colours return to normal as a sudden wash of realisation rush through XAK.

XAK: Charlie's spell... it awakened her visions. "Look to the eastern sky"...

He walks to the spot where MACIE was stood.

XAK: Ok, so she was facing south... and she pointed to what she thought was the eastern sky...

He points in the same direction as MACIE was and the camera rotates to show the front of XAK and thus the mouth of the alley.

XAK: Which means she was pointing west.

He looks up into the western sky. He's distracted by the fact someone approaches him silently from behind.

XAK: (whispering) What did you see out there Macie?

The person approaching from behind places a hand on XAK'S shoulder. XAK, instantaneously snaps out of his trance-like state, and spins around slamming the person into the alley wall. It's a MAN.

MAN: Woah...

XAK: Who are you?

He holds the MAN close to the wall.

MAN: Don't you remember me?

He brings his face forward into the light.

It's CARL REED, father of the dead vampire, JESSE.

CUT TO BLACK

END OF ACT THREE

**Lex** · 08-07-08, 11:32 PM

ACT FOUR

OPEN ON ? NEW YORK
ALLEY ? EXT.STREETS ? NIGHT

XAK'S eyes widen as he sets his eyes on CARL REED once again.

XAK: (angrily) What the hell do you want?!

CARL: Look, I'm sorry! I know what I did was horrible but I promise that I didn't kill your friend...

XAK relaxes his grip slightly.

CARL: I looked into what makes those bumps in the night and I found the big bump...

He raises an eyebrow.

CARL: Your pride and joy.

XAK: You know about her?

CARL: I do, and I know you need my help...

XAK: Oh and how exactly do you think you can help me?

CARL smirks.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
SEPHY'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

While ELISE endlessly trails through some more notes, looking tired, SEPHY trudges through more files on URSULA'S laptop. Her eyebrow raises as she finds a file she'd never found before. The answer.

Her eyes widen.

SEPHY: Oh my...

ELISE looks up sensing a change in SEPHY'S posture.

ELISE: (signing, curiously) What is it?

SEPHY looks to her and closes the laptop.

SEPHY: (signing) Nothing. Look I've exhausted all avenues Elise...

ELISE looks surprised.

ELISE: (signing) What? You can't have...

SEPHY stands and begins ushering ELISE to her feet, who gathers up everything she can of her notes.

SEPHY begins rushing the girl to the door. ELISE, now outside the door to SEPHY'S room turns back and looks to her, incredulous...

SEPHY: (quietly) I'm sorry...

And she closes the door. She turns her back on the door and breathes deeply, looking at the closed laptop.

SEPHY: (to herself) Oh Ursula... how could you keep that from them.

Despite her power, SEPHY could never be the one to tell ELISE that news.

CUT TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
XAK AND CHARLIE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

CHARLIE is sat on her bed, biting her nails nervously. The door opens and XAK enters. He looks silent and troubled but CHARLIE stands and looks to him expectantly.

CHARLIE: Xak?

He looks at her but doesn't say anything.

CHARLIE: Xak, what did you find out?

XAK: Corinne... She is Macie, well she was at least. Before she gave us a clue to what's gonna happen.

CHARLIE: She did? How?

XAK: It gets better...

CHARLIE looks slightly overwhelmed.

CHARLIE: It does?

XAK: When Sin brings on her apocalypse... we're gonna be ready, because she won't be the only one with an army.

CHARLIE is at a loss for words.

CHARLIE: Tell me everything, from the beginning...

CUT TO ? NEW YORK
MACIE'S APARTMENT ? INT.APARTMENT BLOCK ? NIGHT

FRAN, despite being shaken is just taping up one of the last boxes. She sighs.

FRAN: Tanner, can you get the last box in her wardrobe.

TANNER emerges out of MACIE'S old bedroom with a box in his arms. He looks troubled.

FRAN looks at him.

FRAN: What is it? Is that the box?

TANNER looks upset.

TANNER: I think we were wrong...

FRAN looks confused and jumps to her feet. She walks towards him and grabs the box from him. She moves to the table and begins taking things out. A tiara, a childhood picture, a princess dress and a dozen videos. She looks upset.

FRAN holds one of the videos and looks to TANNER.

FRAN: What is this?

TANNER: Look at the box...

On the box is a label. It reads, "The possessions of Corinne La Fame" There is a doctor's signature underneath.

FRAN: But it can't be? She'd have told us...

TANNER moves towards the box and he takes the video in FRAN'S hand. He turns on the television set and places the video in the recorder, pressing play.

Both TANNER and FRAN sit, shaken in front of the television watching what comes on screen.

The screen shows this.

There is a white room. In the white room is a chair and on that chair is a patient. It's CORINNE. It's MACIE. Both the same woman, played by Jewel Staite. The video of her sat willingly on the chair is filmed behind a screen. She looks younger.

DOCTOR (O/S): Corinne?

CORINNE looks up to the screen and smiles.

CORINNE: Yes?

DOCTOR (O/S): How are you feeling?

CORINNE: I feel good. I feel stronger...

DOCTOR (O/S): Good. You know this is your third review? Do you think you're ready to leave us?

CORINNE: No. I don't think I'll ever be ready. But it's been a year since my last vision... I've shut that part of my life off. The world has forgotten about me, and I want to live my life in peace.

She looks away.

CORINNE: And I want to live it. I want to live.

The DOCTOR pauses.

DOCTOR (O/S): Next week you are 21. You've been part of this institution for too long now Corinne. It's time you left.

CORINNE: I don't want my father to find me. Not again.

DOCTOR (O/S): I agree. Your father was a bad influence Corinne. He turned you into a creature that was morphed by her visions into a shell of a human. We shall not inform him of your new identity.

CORINNE: Identity?

DOCTOR (O/S): It is the only way for you to live peacefully. We have a position lined up for you, an apartment in New York City and a new name.

She smiles softly, happy.

DOCTOR (O/S): Do you like the sound of that?

CORINNE pauses and looks directly into the camera as if by instinct.

CORINNE: What is my name?

The tape ends.

TANNER and FRAN are crying as they watch it end. They hug one another.

Their friend MACIE COOMBS really was CORINNE LA FAME, the movie starlet. But that Princess existed once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away from the land that they nurtured her back to life in.

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

The door opens. It's the door CATE was troubling herself over. She walks into the darkness of the room and looks at something.

CATE: Everyone's too scared to come here. I don't know why... maybe you scare them in this state.

There is no reply.

She walks closer and sits down on the edge of what looks to be a bed.

CATE: You know, I was thinking to myself what I could do today. Originally I thought I should do something to help with my rehab, then I thought of helping you guys, and that's when it dawned on me. To do both of those things, I had to talk to you.

She pauses.

CATE: I know you may not care for my opinion or anything I have to say. I've not been admirable and I don't presume that in doing this I suddenly become "the" Slayer. I just have to tell you a few things... and you have to listen.

FADE TO - ATLANTIC OCEAN
XAK AND CHARLIE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

We see, in mute, XAK talking to CHARLIE about what he's learned. She's watching him avidly, wild with curiosity.

CATE (V/O): We're all guilty of what I'm about to tell you, everyone one of us.

She pauses as the camera moves closer to the couple.

CATE (V/O): We fill our days with pointless conversations. We say things we don't mean to say and even try to help those we wouldn't normally help... why? Because it's easier.

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ELISE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

ELISE storms into her room and looks at all her notes. She begins tearing them to pieces, tears falling from her eyes. Everything is muted, all we can hear is CATE.

CATE (V/O): It's easier than facing the reality that we can do nothing without answers to why things are the way they are. But what if you can never find those answers... ever?

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
MEDICAL WARD ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

TRAFFORD is lying on one of the hospital beds in his tux. A tear falls from his eye as he stares at the ceiling; remembering everyone's he's ever lost and imagining everyone he's ever going to lose.

CATE (V/O): It's hard to accept. But it's something you have to do. We've lived too long thinking we need answers to get by, but if you do that then you're ignoring the fact that you're human deep down. We have emotions that need to be shown...

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
SEPHY'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

SEPHY walks towards her safe with URSULA'S laptop in her hand. She opens it and places the laptop inside.

CATE (V/O): We need to accept a loss of power to our humanity. It's what separates us from the demons and those hell gods that are trying to take everything from us.... It's what separates us from Sin.

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
DANTE AND LANCE'S BATHROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

DANTE has a towel wrapped around his waist. He looks up into the mirror. The shower is running.

CATE (V/O): We need to let ourselves feel. It's natural. It's what helps us move on...

He drops his towel and walks into the shower, drawing the curtain behind him.

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

We end up back where we began. Back in the room with CATE.

She smiles softly, realising how far she's come.

CATE: (softly) And that's all I have to say...

VOICE (O/S): You're right.

She looks to the source of the voice; the person she's been talking to. It's BROGAN.

He snaps out of his catatonia. He turns and looks at her.

BROGAN: It just. It hurts so much. I don't know how to cope... I don't know how to do this...

CATE moves closer and sits next to him. She holds her hand and squeezes his, supportively.

CATE: I don't think there's any strict way to do it. You just sort of do it...

BROGAN: Together?

CATE: We're all in this together.

He sits up and he hugs her. He starts to cry and she hugs him too. She smiles at his release of his emotions.

The door opens and laden with notes on her spell, KAIA enters. She looks at the scene, slightly aghast.

CATE looks in her direction and motions for her to take her place. KAIA furrows her brow and drops her notes. She walks over and CATE transfers BROGAN to her. KAIA holds him as he grips on to her tightly.

SONG: DUFFY ? I'M SCARED

The song starts up again as CATE watches them for a moment and then she walks towards the door and walks out.

Her work was done.

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
XAK AND CHARLIE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

Once again, XAK and CHARLIE lie in bed. She is asleep now, lulled by the vague sense of some of the answers on the promising horizon.

XAK is not. It has not helped. He knew the end was coming but not how, when or what it will be... After all, the fate of his murderous creation could hang in the visions of dead women.

A tear runs down his face as in his insomnia, he silently grieves the death of CONSTANCE KYLL. (The music below plays throughout)

"The blank pages of my diary
That I haven't touched since you left me..."

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
ELISE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

ELISE continues tearing up all her notes. Nothing matters, it was over. What was the point?

SHELTER appears in the doorway and watches the scene with a broken heart and a few fallen tears. She moves towards ELISE and stops her, holding her tightly and they both fall to the floor crying. (The music below plays throughout)

"The closed blinds in my home
See no light of day..."

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
CATE'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

CATE lies in her bed, her duvet wrapped around her and her mattress soft. She was really getting there but she can't help reliving what she said to CHARLIE earlier:

"We're just friends, I promise"...

(The music below plays throughout)

"Dust gathers on my stereo
?Cause I can't bear to hear the radio..."

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
SEPHY'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

SEPHY sighs as she locks the safe door. ECHIDNA opens the door to her bedroom and begins walking towards her. The goddesses share a look.

They know they have to do better. They need to be better.

"The piano sits in a shaded space
With a picture of your face..."

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
DANTE AND LANCE'S BATHROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ - NIGHT

The water runs over DANTE and washes him clean. He inhales the steamy air with his eyes closed as the two names run through his mind, alternating with every drop of water that touches him. (The music below plays throughout)

"I'm scared to face another day
?Cause the fear in me just won't go away
In an instant, you were gone and I'm scared..."

FADE TO ? ATLANTIC OCEAN
BROGAN'S ROOM ? INT.KALIPSO SYNDICATE HQ ? NIGHT

KAIA continues to hold BROGAN as he cries into her. She allows a few tears to fall too, feeling his pain and instigating what was left of hers. (The music below plays throughout)

"I'm scared to face another day
?Cause the fear in me just won't go away.
In an instant, you were gone and now I'm scared..."

FADE TO ? NEW YORK
MACIE'S APARTMENT ? INT.APARTMENT BLOCK ? NIGHT

FRAN and TANNER walk towards the front door of the apartment with the final box in their hand. The box that links MACIE to CORINNE.

They'd personally see to it that the link is never discovered. They turn the light off and leave together. (The music below plays throughout)

"I'm scared to face another day
?Cause the fear in me just won't go away.
In an instant, you were gone, now I'm scared..."

FADE TO ? NEW YORK
ENTRANCE ? EXT.CENTRAL PARK ? NIGHT

The party was still going on. The memorial was a distant memory. The entrance of the park blows with a soft wind, allowing FRAN and TANNER'S banner to float aimlessly against the railings.

"SHE'S NOT WHO YOU THINK SHE IS!"

(The music below plays throughout)

"In an instant you were gone and I'm scared..."

The music comes to an abrupt end as we hear the sound of laughing.

CUT TO - UNKNOWN
EXPERIMENTAL ROOM ? INT.UNKNOWN BUILDING ? UNKNOWN

It's SIN laughing.

She runs a hand through her hair.

SIN: I cannot believe it. It's so simple...

She looks to URSULA.

SIN: You may have failed in your original use, but I will prove your worth one way or another.

URSULA: I will not assist the raising of your army.

SIN: I wasn't asking.

SIN blasts her with powerful magic from the depths of her hands and the fathoms of the being. URSULA screams in pain as the energy hits her.

The energy forces all the magical power out of URSULA and the room is filled with a portal. It's black and dark but the moans and groans of an army on the other side cause SIN to look.

She smiles through URSULA'S painful screams as she watches the scene unfold before her.

SIN: Come on now.

The army obey and the first few soldiers take a step from their plane into ours through the portal.

SIN: It's time...

CUT TO BLACK

CAPTION: In loving memory of all those taken before their time... and the confused space they leave behind.

END OF EPISODE

Cast:
MILO VENTIMIGLIA as XAK THORN
ALEXIS BLEDEL as CHARLIE ADRASTOS
AMANDA SEYFRIED as CATE RITTLE
CHRIS EVANS as DANTE TURNPIKE
CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY as LANCE EMORY
JENSEN ACKLES as EA BROGAN
EMILIE DE RAVIN as KAIA THORN
and SUMMER GLAU as SIN

Special Guest Stars:
BECKI NEWTON as ELISE ARTAIR
PATRICIA ARQUETTE as SEPHY
MORENA BACCARIN as SOFIA ROSE
BLYTHE DANNER as ELDER URSULA LAKE
GABRIELLE UNION as SHELTER ELM
PAUL WALKER as TRAFFORD ARTAIR
ALI LARTER as ECHIDNA
SHARON GLESS as AUNT BECKY
SENTA MOSES as FRAN ROSENBAUM
LOGAN BARTHOLOMEW as TANNER ABBOTT
JOHN SCHNEIDER as CARL REED
JEWEL STAITE as CORINNE LA FAME aka MACIE COOMBS

Special Mention:
DUFFY ? I'M SCARED
BASEMENT JAXX ? U DON'T KNOW ME

**Lex** · 08-07-08, 11:33 PM

If you would like to give me feedback on Shadow Stalker, visit my thread here! I'm always happy to hear from you and I usually comment on the feedback as well!

TRIVIA AND RANDOM FACTS FOR "3.14 ? CORINNE LA FAME"

- A lot goes on in this episode, I hope it isn't too confusing. I wanted to not move on too quickly past Constance's death and I wanted to show how everyone is dealing with it differently and everyone is trying to deal with things they don't usually manage. I did this mainly to show variety and add that extra dimension to their characters as well as showing basically that these people are a big family. Death brings people together, and with Charlie and Kaia sort of reconciled, it's a perfect time for them to band together as best as they can. I also had to progress the plot in this episode massively and focus on Macie/Corinne so this was a very hard episode to write in many respects.

- So did you think there would be more to Macie than meets the eye? You must understand I rarely introduce a character into the series, even if it seems like they're only in it for one episode, unless they have a greater importance! Look at Carl Reed? he has more to him. Can you think of anyone else I have yet to re-introduce? Petrina Rae perhaps?

- In between 3.13 and 3.14 I attended the life changing music festival, Glastonbury. Best experience ever, if you manage to get a chance to do it? DO IT! It was just jaw-dropping! Anyway I managed to see Duffy who's song "I'm Scared" plays repeatedly in this episode. She was fabulous, I really recommend her music.

- The original episode name was "Look To The Eastern Sky" as it obviously relates to what Macie said. I think I prefer the new name better as it's quite enigmatic before you read it. The original episode title and therefore the line from Macie's "vision" is related to a line from the musical "Wicked" where in a song called "Defying Gravity" Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, sings: "So if you care to find me, look to the western sky". It's vaguely linked as I will gladly exploit any opportunity to bring in stuff from that musical and book series!

- You may have noticed the weather girl at the beginning had a surname of Chant? Also Corinne's Aunt Becky? This is a small thank you to my friend Becky Chant who has been an avid reader of the series recently and even put off Uni work to catch up on the series! See, it pays to be my friend.

- Things are coming to an end. Can't you feel the anticipation? Next episode is huge. Everything you know gets turned upside down as some HUGE things are revealed. Next episode is called "Thorn In My Side" and is a Xak centric episode. It deals with people he's killed, or does it? Expect to find out something shocking about Shelter and Dante does actually finally make his decision as to whether he wants Lance or Sofia which I know a lot of you will be happy to hear! The banner boasts a new character played by none other than Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey. Who could he be?!

Announcement

Shadow Stalker - 3.14 - Corinne La Fame

Shadow Stalker - 3.14 - Corinne La Fame

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