The Strain: Another Season
Episode 2

Night Hero Part 2
Chapter One

Fet's place Red Hook, Brooklyn - The Present

Setrakian, Fet, Eph and Nora are gathered around Setrakian's passenger manifest on a large table, working out where to go first.

Fet pokes the first name. 'OK. Are not. Arnotte?' he tries.

'Arnot,' smirks Eph.

'Definitely not,' says Setrakian glancing at Eph and Nora.

Fet looks around at everyone, not understanding. 'Barbour,' he says.

'Only the children survived,' says Eph, 'and they're better off with their aunt.'

Nora is thoughtful. 'Perhaps we should check the survivors' families first,' she suggests. 'The disease had a slower progression in them. Their Loved Ones might have had more time to realise something was wrong and escape or fight back.'

'OK,' says Eph. 'So…' He twists the manifest out of Fet's hands. '…Bolivar? That'd be an emphatic "No".'

'That leaves Luss and Redfern,' says Nora.

'Doyle?' says Eph. 'Well, we watched his deterioration ourselves – sooo…' Eph raises his head to look at Nora. '…that means that dreadful Luss woman,' he grimaces.

Fet regains the list and, reading with a finger, says, 'Bronxville. That's a long way out.'

Dutch is sitting apart, still at the laptop. 'Erm, what about Nikki?' she asks. 'Our apartment is really close.'

'We've already been there remember,' says Eph impatiently. 'Straight after the raid on the pawnshop. There was no one. It had already been several days since she ditched you at the gas station.'

'She went back and stole my stuff,' says Dutch not letting go. 'She survived that night. She might've come back or left a message.'

'Or she might have been turned after you separated,' says Setrakian. 'We shouldn't leave loose ends.'

Dutch bridles at that and starts to protests but swallows it, perhaps because she's getting what she wants.

'You and Vasiliy will come with me to your apartment at first light,' says Setrakian. 'Then we'll all head to Mrs Luss' house. Now, we should get some rest. I don't think anyone slept properly last night, scattered as we were about the floor. I know I didn't.'

'Should we post a guard?' suggests Fet.

'Good idea,' says Setrakian, approvingly. 'Two people should stay awake for a couple of hours at a time.'

'I'll take the first watch,' volunteers Dutch. 'I want to stay up and search for your Latino Boy-Buffy.'

Everyone looks blankly at her.

'The Vampire Slayer? Buffy the Vampire Slayer?' says Dutch incredulously. 'One girl in all the world…? Mum never let me watch it, which of course made it irresistible. Geez you are all so old.'

'Hey!' protests Zack from the floor in front of the television.

'Or too young,' she says. Then, as if realisation dawns, 'Oh. Of course, Angel and Spike…'

'Huh?' says Fet.

'I've been wondering why there've been all these zombie movies on FinchTV and yet no vampire ones,' she explains. She gestures at the television where Zack is half-watching a zombie being pithed with a golf club.

Setrakian is catching the idea. 'Vampires in popular culture are often depicted as charismatic figures of power,' he says. 'Capes, evening dress, castles - stylish and gothic.'

'Nowadays, it's more pale and gorgeous,' says Dutch. 'Hot teenagers with six-packs, telling you how lonely they are or promising a journey of sexual awakening. I'd've thought Palmer would want to tap into that and sell an image of a vampire that's not gonna turn you into a mindless blood junkie.'

'The zombie movies are actually much more realistic aren't they?' says Nora. 'Fet just referenced them when he was telling those off duty cops how to kill vampires.'

Eph is unconvinced. 'Do you really think this Finch guy isn't helping Palmer and the Master – that he is, in some way, helping spread the truth?' he says. 'Look at that chat show earlier – the host was ripping that homeless guy to shreds over his description of "monsters" in the subway.'

'Yeah, but at least the story was on TV,' says Dutch. 'The public can make their own minds up. If Palmer's watching Finch's output, it would be the only way he could get the info out there. Think about it.'

'She's gotta point,' says Fet. Then he says to Dutch, 'I'll stay up with you.'

Eph says sarcastically, 'Of course you will.'

Dutch shrugs a "whatever".

'Can Dad and I take a shift together?' asks Zack.

Eph is delighted. 'Sure, Z,' he says. 'We can do the middle of the night shift.' Then he turns to Fet. 'Oh yeah, where are we all sleeping?' he asks.

'I thought you two could share the box room and the girls could take the spare room, leaving you…' he nods at Setrakian, '…mine. I'll take the couch in the basement.'

'That's a most generous offer but I can't say an unwelcome one,' says Setrakian.

Fet shrugs.

'I'll try not to wake you when I get to bed,' says Dutch to Nora. 'We'll have to have that naked pillow fight some other time.' She nods at Fet, smiling sarcastically.

Setrakian asks Nora, 'I hope you don't mind waking me at four?'

'As long as you don't sleep in the nude,' she says and, without waiting for a reply, she jogs blank-faced upstairs.