Sarcrament-an Unfinished Script
This is an unfinished movie I have been writing. It will be here soon!
SACRAMENT
by James Elliott
Fade from black onto The City with a Gothic-New York feel. Gotham from the first Tim Burton Batman or a turn of the century London at night is most appropriate. It is nighttime but the streets are active, as though it were daylight. Indeed, for the denizens of this world, nighttime is the time for activity. As we sweep down into the City, Bach's Troccata and fugue in D Minor plays. The following voice-over occurs as we swoop down, over the music. We see a montage of street scenes: A vampire feeding off the homeless, a magician (a real one, not a charlatan) performing for a crowd, and a man being mugged and shot dead only to get back up after the muggers run off.
ERIK (V/O)
Things sure have changed in the last three years since the Vampire Citizenship Act. Life for us normals has gone down the toilet. The guy next door drinks blood out of a six-pack, the magician upstairs chants too loud, and the stiff I left in the alley last night is up and walking again. I'll be lucky if I live long enough to collect my dues from the Guild.
We come to an apartment building of brick and stone. Follow up the windows to the third story and in through a window. Focus on an alarm clock that clicks to 8:00 pm, setting off the radio, which plays Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party." A hand comes down, shutting it off. Pull back as Erik Sable, every inch the tough-as-nails P.I., something like Bogart with a touch of Douglas Fairbanks, gets up and heads for the bathroom. As we follow, the camera lazily pans over his room, lingering on the coat rack from which hangs a gray trenchcoat and a gray fedora. The sound of a shower running fills the room.
Cut to the door. The bolt lock slides back and the door chain falls loose. There is a click and the door swings open. We see a woman enter from the neck down, wearing a simple black dress that screams attractive without showing it. The shower no longer runs but the sink does.
Cut to the bathroom. Erik is brushing his teeth, a towel around his waist. There is shaving cream on his ear. The woman comes to the bathroom door, just out of his line of sight. We see her face, and she is indeed attractive. This is Ariana, one of the Guild's foremost magicians. She smiles, amused at the prospect of catching Erik off guard.
ARIANA
Hello, Erik.
Erik starts but waits a moment to wipe his mouth, not wanting to give her the satisfaction.
ERIK
Ariana. Still haven't mastered knocking, I see.
ARIANA
And miss this cute picture? I think not.
ERIK
So, what brings the boss's pet magician to my humble abode?
This tweeks Ariana, and she winces. Erik smiles at having scored a hit. We get the impression that this banter is a long-standing tradition, and though they may not particularly like each other, there is no real animosity.
ARIANA
There has never been anything humble about you, Erik.
ERIK
True. Still doesn't answer the question.
ARIANA
Gabriel wants you at the Guildhouse in one hour.
ERIK
Couldn't you just use the phone like any normal person? Besides, Tuesday's my day off.
ARIANA
He thinks its important. He...he needs his best.
ERIK
(Triumphantly) And that means me.
ARIANA
(The admission is not easy for her) Yes.
ERIK
All right, I'll be there.
ARIANA
Good. Oh, and Erik...
ERIK
Yes?
She touches her earlobe, indicating the shaving cream still on his ear. She smiles and turns to leave as he curses and turns back to the mirror.
Cut to the front door of the apartment building. Erik exits the building wearing the trenchcoat. He places the fedora on his head. Off he goes, passing bums and revelers and all sorts. The camera mimics Erik's eyes as he walks by, flitting from person to person. The camera will rest on certain people longer, like the magician, and a vampire that is tormenting a hapless couple. These few will stand out brighter than the people in the background.
When we come to him, the vampire tormenting a couple, the camera stops, as does Erik. He regards the scene silently for a second and then approaches, face set.
ERIK
Excuse me, but I don't think these nice people appreciate your interrupting their evening.
VAMPIRE
And I don't like your interrupting mine, so fuck off.
ERIK
Oh come on, wouldn't you much rather play with something in your own league, like a cockroach or something?
VAMPIRE
Buddy, you're getting to be a nuisance, so why don't you just fuck off and DIE!
On these last words, the vampire swings at Erik's head, but he is no longer there. He catches the vampire's arm in a lock and swings him about, stopping him at about an inch from a rusty pipe at roughly the spot where his heart should be.
VAMPIRE
You saw me move!
ERIK
That and more, asshole. Now, you gonna leave these people alone?
VAMPIRE
Yes!
ERIK
Good.
Erik tosses the vampire aside and continues on his way, a self-satisfied smile flitting across his features.
He comes to an old, run-down cathedral and goes up the steps, pausing only to greet the doorman.
ERIK
Evening, Tommy.
TOMMY
Good evening, Mr. Sable. They're all in the back room. (smiles) You're late.
ERIK
Well, you know me.
Cut to a room with a long table in the middle. Five men sit around the table. Gabriel, an older, austere gentleman, stands at the head. Ariana stands by the door. Erik enters and drops into a chair next to his friend Marc.
GABRIEL
Well, now that you're all here I guess we can begin. Perhaps you have all heard about that madness at city hall, where several vampires tried to eliminate the mayor and caused widespread carnage. Well, we have located their den, on the East Side. The city and the Guild Council want these miscreants eliminated. Tonight.
MARC
Just out of an overwhelming curiosity, how many is "several?"
GABRIEL
Four.
MARC
Four?! And only six of us? What brand of stupid are you?
ERIK
Oh that was tactful. And they call me the loudmouth.
GABRIEL
As I was about to say, before I was so rudely interrupted, these four fed very heavily last night. All indications from previous vampire behavior show that it will be almost impossible for them to stay half-conscious today. Now, pay attention...
Cut to an old townhouse as two nondescript cars pull up. The music is suitably hardcore, perhaps Prodigy's "Narayan" or Life With the Thrill Kill Kult's "After the Flesh". Out of them pours the Guildmen, wielding various grisly implements of vampiric death, including crossbows and even a flamethrower. Without any preamble, the door is kicked in. As the Guildmen rush in, we see a pale and inhumanly cold-looking woman descending the staircase.
WOMAN
Who... What the hell?
She gets no farther as Marc launches a crossbow quarrel into her chest, dropping her. Erik rushes past, and the man behind him pauses to decapitate the vampiress. What follows are the efficient deaths of two more vampires. The fourth, which we shall know as Lucian, proves to be a harder kill. The chase ends with him being caught by the flamethrower and hurtling his flaming body out the window, disappearing in the billows of smoke.
Cut to the building front. The Guildmen are departing, ignoring the small crowd that has formed.
GUILDMAN #1 (to Marc)
That last one must have been pretty old to have just disintegrated like that, huh, guys?
MARC
Yeah, well we got lucky then. Who's up for a few rounds at Harry's? Erik's treat.
This meets with general approval. Erik merely shakes his head, glances back at the townhouse and then leaves.
Cut to Harry's, an old-fashioned bar of the forties type. The Guildmen are enjoying a few rounds. Everyone except Erik is doing a good job of getting properly inebriated. He just sits at the bar, facing the door, nursing his drink.
MARC
What's got you in such a pissy mood, Erik?
ERIK
It's that last vampire, Marc. It was too easy. Nothing just disintegrates like that. Believe me, I know.
MARC
There's a first time for everything. Come! Drink! Be merry!
Cut to the door opening. Music plays: it is Beethoven's Egmont Overture.
Cut to a very drunk Guildman #1.
GUILDMAN #1
This party's private, pal.
Cut to Erik's head lifting, almost like it was in slow-motion
Cut to the door as the figure becomes more distinct. It is Lucian, revealed in the clear-cut way of the vampires illuminated by Erik's vision earlier on. He is charred and in a rage.
Cut to a shocked and rapidly sobering Guildman #1.
Cut to Lucian leaping for the Guildmen, hands distorted to talons, roaring his fury as he efficiently butchers the four unnamed Guildmen.
Cut to Erik reaching for his gun, only to realize he's not packing. Cursing, he grabs Marc and makes for the back door. The Guildmen are too drunk to fight and Erik knows this. He and Marc run away, followed by the victorious howl of Lucian.
Cut to the Guild Cathedral as Mac and Erik stagger in, eyes red from weeping.
MARC
Shit, Erik! They're all dead. Fuck, but we should be too. How'd you know it was him?
ERIK
I didn't know it was him. Just that it was something.
MARC
How?
ERIK
I always know. Always have.
Gabriel comes out of the back room, followed by Ariana. Neither is aware of what has come to pass.
GABRIEL
Erik! Marc! What is the meaning of this? Where are the others?
ERIK
They're dead, Gabriel. All of them.
GABRIEL
How? You're phone call said all had gone well.
Ariana, meanwhile, shocked to the core, has sat down next to Marc and put an arm around him.
ERIK
So we thought. The last one was more resourceful than I thought. Why didn't you tell us an elder was in that pack?! Christ, Marc and I are lucky to be alive.
GABRIEL
We didn't know. How is it you are still alive? Is the elder dead?
ERIK
No. We ran.
GABRIEL
What?
ERIK
My decision. He didn't follow us, and that was his mistake. Mine was assuming he was dead. Well, I survived my mistake; he won't.
GABRIEL
Erik, our first priority has to be bringing down this elder. I don't care how, but he must be stopped. We can't let a cloud of failure hang over the Guild.
MARC
Failure?! How about our dead friends. I think their DEATHS get first priority here!
ERIK
I have free rein then?
GABRIEL
Yes. I'll place some calls, see if I can get some help.
ERIK
Fine. Marc? You in?
MARC
Hell, yeah, I'm in.
ARIANA
Me too.
ERIK
Sure you want to get dirty like that?
ARIANA
Yeah, I'm sure, Erik.
GABRIEL
One more thing. Hannibal wants to talk to you.
ERIK
Can't he wait?
GABRIEL
It's about tonight.
ERIK
News travels fast. He'll keep.
GABRIEL
Erik.
ERIK
He'll have to wait!
Cut to Erik's apartment interior. He sits, loading clips with silver bullets, a recently cleaned gun beside him. Marc reclines on the couch, drinking water. The music is Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Erik has just finished the last clip when a knock sounds at the door. Marc rises to answer it, but is stopped by Erik.
ERIK
No buzzer.
Marc nods and pulls a fighting knife from under his jacket. He places himself to one side, out of sight. The knock comes again, more insistent.
VOICE
Mr. Sable? We know you're home. pause. Hannibal would like a word with you, sir.
MARC
How do we know they're from Hannibal?
ERIK
We don't.
Erik flings the door open, revealing two surprised vampires.
ERIK
Hi. He sticks his gun in the face of the nearest one.
VAMPIRE
Um...hi. We...uh...we have a car waiting. Hannibal would like to see you.
ERIK
I'll see him when I have the time. I'm fairly busy right now.
VAMPIRE #2
Mr. Sable, one does not refuse a summons to the Regent of a city, no matter who you are. Please put down your quite useless weapon and come with us.
Erik merely smiles and cocks back the hammer.
VOICE (O/S)
Erik, please put your gun down.
And Hannibal steps into view. He is middle-aged and very handsome, every inch the modern European aristocrat. His suit is amazingly tasteful, every wrinkle and crease seems like it was meant to be there, all of it complimentary.
ERIK
Hannibal. I figured you'd be around.
HANNIBAL
You really are quite rude, you know. It is quite unseemly for the Regent to have to come and visit a mortal, instead of the opposite. Think of what you're doing to my reputation if it gets out.
ERIK
You'll live.
HANNIBAL
May I come in?
ERIK
I didn't think your kind had to ask.
HANNIBAL
We don't. I was being polite.
ERIK
Well then, please, come in.
Erik tucks his gun into his shoulder holster. As Hannibal enters he sees Marc detaching himself from the wall and tucking the knife away.
HANNIBAL
He was there the whole time? Humph. Hello, Marc.
MARC
Hello, Hannibal.
ERIK
We're very busy, Hannibal.
The two flunky vampires do not appreciate someone speaking to their boss this way, and they approach menacingly. Hannibal raises his hand and stops them.
HANNIBAL
You know how I feel about your Guild killing my kind unsanctioned, Erik.
ERIK
We were within the charter boundaries. We- (he is interrupted by the sound of loud chanting from above. He is forced to raise his voice.) Christ Paul, it's four in the fucking morning!- We handle what the police can't. You know that. It's all very legal.
HANNIBAL
Legal or not, it has always been common courtesy to tell me first. If you had...
MARC
Why don't you take this up with Gabriel?
HANNIBAL
...if you had, your comrades' deaths might have been avoided.
MARC
What are you talking about?
ERIK
You know who the elder is? Tell us.
HANNIBAL
I merely meant that I might have been able to find out who they were, and thus you would have been better prepared.
MARC
Who was he?
HANNIBAL
I don't know.
ERIK
You're lying.
HANNIBAL
I beg your pardon?
ERIK
You are lying.
HANNIBAL
I will not be addressed in such a way...
ERIK Then get out.
HANNIBAL
I believe I will depart now. (and he does)
ERIK
Don't let the door hit you on the ass as you leave.
One of the vampires looks murderous, but he merely follows Hannibal out.
MARC
And you call me impulsive. Pissing off the Regent of the city. God, I don't have the nads to do that, and I'm one hell of a sarcastic SOB.
ERIK
Yeah, well I'm impulsive like that.
MARC
What's our next move, kemosabe?
ERIK
We'll swing by the Guildhouse at eight this evening and then head over to Dreamland.
MARC
Dreamland? To see Liz? I'm all for last good-byes and all that, man, but don't you think we'll be a little busy making sure it's not a last goodbye. We don't have time for true love, dude.
ERIK
Liz is a vampire and she owns the premiere gathering spot in the city. What do you mean true love?
MARC
Oh come on. You know exactly what I mean.
ERIK
She's a vampire. I kill vampires. Ain't that one hell of a conflict of interest?
MARC
It's not like you'll ever have to kill her. Besides, who said love made sense?
ERIK
Shut up and go to sleep. I'd offer you the bed, but you're a guy and you just pissed me off, so there's the couch.
MARC
Yeah, who's closer to the bedroom?
So saying, he bolts, making it in and shutting and locking the door in Erik's face.
Fade to black.
It is now late afternoon, and we see Marc and Erik heading up the steps to the Guildhall.
MARC
What's the matter, Erik? Didn't sleep well?
ERIK
Fuck you. That couch is damn uncomfortable.
MARC
I know.
They acknowledge Tommy as they pass into the Guildhall. Gabriel is seated at the head of the table, his smile seems fixed.
GABRIEL
Marc. Erik. Please sit down. (They do.) I have been up all day tracking down the name of that elder, given your description of him. All I could get from the database was a name.
ERIK
Well?
GABRIEL
His name is Lucian. He's a known vampire, but that's about it. Nothing on his past, his allegiances, or his whereabouts.
MARC
Well, I'd say we know a little bit more than that. He's in town, he doesn't like the current government, and he sure as hell is pissed at us!
ERIK
That's putting it mildly. This guy needs a takedown real fast. So, who have we got to go after him?
GABRIEL
That is problematical. I was forced to send most of our hunters to Los Angeles to deal with the current insurrection there. Our recent losses have left Vagassia incredibly understaffed. I contacted the Council, and they seem to feel all we have is a "little" problem compared to Los Angeles. And with the "Slayer of Radu" here…
ERIK
I knew that reputation was going to bite me in the ass someday.
GABRIEL
The Council feels that we have enough to handle the current situation. They are sending someone, at my insistence.
MARC
SomeONE? Oh great, I guess then we're all set! Let's go kill us a madman vampire capable of ripping four hunters to fish bait!
Ariana enters the room and takes a seat across from Erik.
ARIANA
Calm down, Marc. Panic won't get us anywhere.
MARC
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