Fade
in:
EXT. city
street - nIGHT
A fading streetlight.
Bars on every window. Graffiti.
The kind of street no
sane person would be caught dead in at night.
A back alley. Four
figures, huddled together.
SANDY - 30s, a little
pale - shifts his feet nervously. He's here with EDDIE, 30s, much more relaxed.
Two THUGS stare them
down.
Thug #1
So you in or what? C'mon,
man, I ain't got all night.
Hesitation. Sandy eyes
look everywhere except at the thugs.
THUG #2
Shit, man, told you these
dudes was pussies.
Eddie
We're in, we're in.
Thug #1
What about your friend?
He don't look like he --
EDDIE
He's fine. He'll be fine.
(to
Sandy)
You'll be fine, right?
Sandy
Yeah.
Thug #2
Let's do this then,
motherfuckers.
Later
The four stand in the
shadows of the alley. Thug #2 on lookout.
Sandy leans heavily
against the wall. Breathing loudly -- too loudly.
Thug #1
(whispering,
to Eddie)
Man, you better shut his
ass up. You don't want me to do it.
Eddie
Please, Sandy, just calm
down. You've got to calm down.
THUG #2
All ya'll better shut the
fuck up. Someone's comin'.
Footsteps. Giggling.
A MAN and a WOMAN
approach. They seem drunk. Oblivious to where they are.
Thug #1
Get ready.
The man and woman are
almost to the alley.
SANDY
Oh shit oh shit oh
shit...
Thug #1 smiles. Reveals a
mouth full of long, sharp teeth.
The couple stumbles into
the opening of the alley.
All except Sandy burst
from their hiding place. Snorting, growling, howling.
The woman screams. The
man pushes her away, reaches into his coat --
Eddie and the thugs
pounce on him --
The whole area is flooded
with light.
Police cars barrel down
the street, skid to a stop at the scene. Spotlights blaze.
COPS spill out, aim their
guns -- and their crosses.
COP #1
Freeze, bloodsuckers!
The man brandishes a
crucifix. Eddie and the thugs cower, hissing and spitting.
A spotlight shines into
the alley. Sandy. He's a deer in headlights.
Man
There's another one! More
crosses over here!
It's fight or flight --
Sandy goes for flight.
His speed is incredible.
The cops pursue, hopelessly slow.
Sandy makes the end of
the alley. A superhuman leap. Lands on the fire escape three floors up.
Guns blaze --
But two more bounds and
Sandy has cleared the roof. He's gone.
InT.
courtroom - nIGHT
A few people in
attendance. Everyone looks tired.
Sandy sits in the last
row, close to the door. Careworn. Trying not to look too out of place.
Before the JUDGE stands
the defendant -- Eddie. His LAWYER next to him.
JUDGE
Mr. Carlson, how do you
plead?
EDDIE
Guilty, your honor.
Sandy squirms.
Lawyer
Your honor, my client has
no priors and wishes to throw himself upon the mercy of the court.
A glimmer of hope on
Sandy's face.
JUDGE
Very well... Mr. Carlson,
you know as well as I that being a vampire is not a crime. But being an
unregistered vampire is.
The BAILIFF eyes Sandy
suspiciously.
Sandy notices. Very
uncomfortable now.
JuDGE (cont'd)
And attacking a human
being with the intent to feed is an even more serious criminal offense. Do you
understand?
EddIE
Yes, your honor. I am
very, very sorry for what I did. And I know I should have registered myself, as
soon as I knew for sure.
Sandy pushes himself
slowly out of his chair. Edges toward the door.
The bailiff's hand inches
towards his sidearm.
JUDGE
Mr. Carlson, you are the
victim of a terrible, terrible disease. But I want you to know that there is
help for you. You have only to accept it...
Sandy exits quickly.
INT. apartment
hallway - night
The LANDLADY -- late 40s,
a human poodle - -bangs on Sandy's apartment door. A POODLE -- her twin -- yaps
at her feet.
Landlady
Alexander Marks! If
you're in there, open up!
INT.
sandy's apartment - night
Sandy sits on his couch.
Fidgety. Completely haggard now.
He works a pair of
Chinese hand balls furiously. Chews a mouthful of gum.
LandlaDY
(O.S.)
Are you in there? Do you
hear me? Answer the door if you're in there!
Sandy tosses the balls
away. Begins to pace. A caged tiger.
Landlady (cont'd)
Do you have any idea how
late on rent you are, mister?
He stops in front of the
door. Spits out the gum. Snarls.
LANDLADY (cont'd)
You're in there! I know
you're in there, I can hear you! Open this --
A shocking display of
force. Sandy dashes the door open -- springs upon her, teeth bared --
No time to scream. She
just collapses.
Fangs sink into her neck.
He begins to drink, desperately. Dragging her inside.
The poodle rushes after.
Yapping incessantly.
Sandy turns on the dog,
hissing -- it squeals once, then silence --
Except for the sounds of
flesh, tearing...
LATER
Sandy crouches over
something. Still feeding.
Something stirs on the
floor nearby.
He pauses, listening.
Head cocked liked an animal.
A moan. The landlady.
He stares at her. A total
blank. No idea what he's been doing.
Realization dawns.
Horror, then relief that she's still alive.
But the blood on his
hands, so much... he looks down. Sees what he's been up to --
Poodle pieces everywhere.
Bloody bits of fur. A carcass like a Thanksgiving turkey at the end of the
meal.
Repulsion. Fear.
Frustration. Sorrow. Sandy begins to weep.
Int.
Meeting room - nIGHT
A kind of Alcoholics
Anonymous, for vampires.
Sandy -- looking better,
but still pallid -- sits with several other MEMBERS in a circle.
One member -- LINDA, 30s
-- is standing. Bawling her eyes out. The group's FACILITATOR pats her on the
back reassuringly.
Many members wipe tears
from their own eyes. Noses are blown. Sniffles. Short sobs.
Facilitator
That was wonderful,
Linda. Yes. Thank you so much.
Linda sits.
FaCILITATOR (cont'd)
Now, is there anyone else
who would like to share with us this evening?
Sandy raises his hand
slowly. The facilitator checks her clipboard.
FACILITATOR (cont'd)
Yes, okay, Mister...
Marks, is it? Recently registered?
He nods.
FACILITATOR (cont'd)
Yes, good. Go ahead,
please.
Sandy stands. Scans the
faces of the people around him. Everyone so welcoming, so hopeful.
SANDY
Hello, I'm Sandy, and I'm
a vampire. It's been three days since I've had a drink.
Fade out