NURSE
 Oh. You're his daughter!
 (low)
 I'm really sorry about your father last 
 night. I heard he was involved in an awful 
 incident.

 BUFFY
 (chews lower lip)
 Is he okay?

The nurse types away on her keyboard. Information flashes up on 
screen.

 NURSE
 He suffered a serious head contusion. He's 
 been in a coma since the blow, but don't 
 worry. His colleagues believe he'll pull 
 through just fine --

Buffy is gathering every ounce of strength left within her body to fight off tears.

 NURSE
 Room 223. You should go up there quickly.

Buffy nods her thanks and moves off. She crosses the lobby, and 
to the elevators. It's high up in the upper floors and slowly 
making its way back to the main floor. Buffy frowns and looks 
around at her surroundings. More activity. A doctor passes by in 
mid conversation with another about genetic defects.

Buffy looks ahead to the three people in front. TWO MEN and ONE 
WOMAN are waiting patiently for the elevator to arrive. Some 
strange feeling forces her to shift her gaze up to their necks.

BUFFY'S POV: Not just skin alone, but a small tattoo of some kind 
on the back of each neck. Some form of symbol.

DING!! The ELEVATOR DOORS open and the three enter.

ON BUFFY as she follows them into the elevator. She turns around 
and looks ahead. She is completely nervous. The door closes.

INT. ELEVATOR - DAY

Silence, the uncomfortableness of an elevator ride magnified 
tenfold. Buffy can FEEL the eyes of her fellow passengers upon 
her. Finally succumbing to paranoia, she hazards a glance. One of 
the men turns to Buffy.

 MALE STRANGER
 How you doin'?

Buffy surreptitiously fishes the "vampire mace" from her pocket, 
clutching it -- and now the women turns to look at her, nodding.

INT. HOSPITAL - HALLWAY - DAY

The elevator doors open. Buffy hurries out, heads left, finds 
herself in a deserted hallway. She looks back ---- then skips a 
heartbeat as the trio also step out! As Buffy raises the canister 
of mace --

-- the trio turn and head down to the right.. Buffy breathes a 
sigh of relief, shakes her head.

 BUFFY
 Get a grip on yourself, girl.

INT. HOSPITAL - ROOM 223 - DAY

Buffy enters quickly, closing the door behind her. She exhales 
deeply, trying to relieve all of the past 24 hours of stress. In 
front of her, an unconscious HANK SUMMERS is there in a hospital 
gown in bed in deep repose. 

ANGLE ON BED. Buffy walks over to her father. 

 BUFFY
 Hi, daddy.

She pulls up a nearby chair and sits. A shaft of BRIGHT sunlight 
streams in through a window. Buffy forces herself to look at it 
and winces, shielding her eyes. Again, she brings a hand to the 
bandaged wound on her neck. She gets up and moves to the window, 
pulling the shade down, worried.

She sinks down into the chair again to wait, setting Whistler's 
vampire mace aside. Then she shuts her eyes, massaging her 
temples. We SEE --

a brief flash of

Quinn, his mouth opening wide, saliva dripping from his fangs. 
His pupils pulsating hypnotically. We rush into his gaping maw 
and --

WHAM! We're back to reality. Buffy wakes with a start, looks to 
the windows -- time has passed, the sun is starting to set. She 
looks back at her father -- -- still in his deep coma. Buffy rubs 
her eyes and exhales slowly. It's been one bad day. 

 CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL GARAGE - EVENING

We're in one of the upper floors of the huge multi-level parking 
lot of the hospital. We pass a dozen or so parked cars there, we 
also see Jehonas' Olds parked there. 

Jehonas is standing at the side of the lot, staring below at the 
busy street. It's fairly early in the evening, but plenty of 
shade in the lot.

JEHONAS POV: Cars and buses moving by, suits and ordinary joes 
and janes walking to and from places, a hobo sitting at the 
corner of the street looking for change.

A SOFT SOUND of an approaching vehicle distracts him. He turns 
his head and sees a large jet black STRETCH LIMO pulling up near 
him. Its windows all protected with tint from the sun if it were 
to move during the day. 

The limo pulls to a stop. We see the license plate EREBUS. 
Jehonas removes his shades, eyeing the limo with scrutiny. One of 
the doors opens and a barrel-chested guard in a suit steps out 
from the limo, gives a quick glance at the Day-walker. From the 
other side, none other then Dragonetti steps out. 

 JEHONAS
 You don't consider me a threat?

 DRAGONETTI
 I consider you an abomination. 

 JEHONAS
 Goes both ways. 

We see the vampire guard trying to place himself between them. It 
brings a smirk from Jehonas, and a noticeable frown from 
Dragonetti. He waves him away.

 DRAGONETTI
 Lucian, you may leave us.

The guard heads back into the limo uneasy, not taking his eye off 
of Jehonas.

 JEHONAS
 They truly care for your well-being, maybe
 you should take a hint.

 DRAGONETTI
 I know you, Jehonas. You're not one of the
 mindless barbarians Slayers are. I have my
 respect towards your livelihood. You serve
 as an importance to our society.

Jehonas stares and moves back to the ledge, returning back to his 
watch below. We see Dragonetti hesitate, then follows, keeping a 
wary eye despite himself.

 DRAGONETTI
 I say you are important because you handle
 affairs I wouldn't have the privilege of 
 doing myself.
 (beat)
 Which is why I am here.

Jehonas narrows his eyes, he can kind of guess where this is 
going.
 
 DRAGONETTI
 I understand you're looking fairly hard 
 for a member of my clan, Deacon Frost?

 JEHONAS
 Looking isn't the word I would use.

 DRAGONETTI
 He has been a menace to both worlds, yes. 
 Everything he has done, the way he thinks, 
 lead me to believe he will become Sabbat, 
 the antagonists of our kind.

 JEHONAS
 You don't believe he already has? There 
 are a lot of things that go on right under
 your nose.

 DRAGONETTI
 He is a childe of an elder under the House
 of Erebus, my House. She answers to me and
 so does every kindred under her.

 JEHONAS
 Then why are you here?

 DRAGONETTI
 Unfortunately, Deacon Frost was a mistake. 
 I intend to correct it, but not by my 
 hands.

 JEHONAS
 If you think I'm here to keep that seat of
 yours safe and sound --

 DRAGONETTI
 We both want the same thing. We both want 
 a peaceful co-existence between our kind 
 and the humans. 

 JEHONAS
 Why not declare a Bloodhunt yourself, and 
 order his death?

 DRAGONETTI
 He has committed --
 (beat)
 -- minor infractions, in reference to our 
 customs. An order of death to any kindred 
 is a serious charge. I know you are aware 
 of the laws of the Masquerade.

 JEHONAS
 It is a crime, even to yours, to harm a 
 human --
 (beat)
 -- and Frost has done plenty.

A moment of silence between the two. Dragonetti wanting to get 
this over with but unable to bring himself to speak, Jehonas 
decides to finish.

 JEHONAS
 So you're afraid that if you were the one 
 to order the death of a kindred within 
 your own ranks, it would leave an ugly 
 stain on your reputation. The other clans 
 will see you aren't capable of handling 
 your brood. You have insubordinates, makes 
 your position vulnerable. This plants 
 ambitious thoughts in their minds -- 

 DRAGONETTI
 There is always a slight sense of paranoia
 whenever you are in a position of power 
 like myself.

 JEHONAS
 Let me remind you, I want Frost for my own
 reasons. Your politics means nothing to 
 me. However, if you are available at my 
 disposal --
 (beat)
 -- give me Frost and his creator. 

 DRAGONETTI
 That is not possible. To reveal another's 
 lineage to anyone outside the House, even 
 in this situation --

 JEHONAS
 What are you really here for, huh? Could I
 persuade you further with a cup of tea? 
 Quit being an old woman and face this. You
 can't avoid the inevitable.
 
If his face could only get any kind of darker shade of white, 
Dragonetti reaches into his long coat and reveals a card, a card 
key of some kind. He hands it to him.

 DRAGONETTI
 Here. This will give you access to one of 
 our archives. The one in particular Frost 
 has been spending much time in. No doubt 
 he will be sending one of his brood to 
 track down this girl of yours. I trust you 
 can handle the rest.

Jehonas takes the card, looks it over and pockets it. 

 DRAGONETTI
 Find out what he is up to, it concerns all
 of us.

 JEHONAS
 You just hope Frost is down there. 

Dragonetti nods, then turns away to his limo making sure to give 
one glance back. 

ON JEHONAS smiling, watching Dragonetti enter the limo, and then 
it moves off down a ramp and out of sight. He gives one more look 
outside then readjusts his long coat, and heads for the Hospital.
 
INT. HOSPITAL - ROOM 223 - EVENING

Buffy is pacing back and forth in the room, in deep thought when 
suddenly someone is KNOCKING at the front door. Startled, Buffy 
reaches for the vampire mace, then moves to the door. She 
listens, cautious.

 BUFFY
 Who is it?

INT. HOSPITAL - OUTSIDE ROOM 223 - EVENING

A POLICE OFFICER stands in the hallway -- 30s, handsome, a knight 
in shining armor for the distressed.

 KRIEGER
 Officer Krieger. I'm looking for a Miss 
 Summers. I'm here regarding last night's 
 incident.

INT. ROOM 223 - EVENING

BUFFY visibly relaxes. She opens the door and steps aside, 
allowing Krieger to enter.

 BUFFY
 Um, I'm Buffy Summers -- the daughter. If 
 you're looking for the --

 KRIEGER
 No, no. Actually, I was sent to find you.

Krieger smiles, takes a quick glance around the room, then 
studies Buffy's face, the bandages on her neck.

 KRIEGER
 Are you all right?
 (off Buffy's nod)
 I'm glad you're okay, Ms. Summers, we've 
 been anxious to get a hold of you. You 
 disappeared on your folks for a while. 
 Your father said you were kidnapped last 
 night.

 BUFFY
 I know. I'm fine. Listen -- I was with 
 this guy named Owen last night. He was 
 attacked --

 KRIEGER
 Oh, right. I'm sorry to inform you, we 
 found two bodies at the morgue. One of 
 them turned up as Owen Thurman. Bad mess 
 last night.

Truth finally sets it on her, she turns away, rubbing her arms up 
and down, suppressing a tear.

 KRIEGER
 (chuckling)
 Hey, at least your safe. You should've 
 heard your father --

 BUFFY
 Stop it, I -- wait a sec -- the nurse 
 downstairs told me my dad was in a coma 
 the entire time. How could he have known 
 I'm here?

 KRIEGER
 (matter of fact)
 Maybe he won't know.

Krieger's smile vanishes as he goes to unholster his gun.

 KRIEGER
 Because you're gonna be dead too!

Buffy GASPS. She has a half-second to act! Just as Krieger 
unholsters his gun, Buffy swings her arm up, swatting the firing 
hand away and triggers a spray of vampire mace into Krieger's 
face. Krieger stumbles back, blinded, cursing, rubbing the heel 
of his palm against his eyes.

 KRIEGER
 Damn it! You little bitch!!

Maybe what Jehonas said was true. Day and night doesn't matter 
here. Buffy waits for the usual pyrotechnics -- but the end 
result is little more than an annoyance. A second later, Krieger 
is simply blinking, sniffing his fingers, confused.

 KRIEGER
 Garlic?

 BUFFY
 Yeah, it should work against vampires.

Krieger bursts out laughing.

 KRIEGER
 Vampires? Who said I was a vampire, huh?

 JEHONAS (O.S.)
 No one.

Krieger tries to bring his pistol around -- but Jehonas grips the 
man's hand and squeezes. Krieger tries to scream -- his bones 
snapping like kindling as the pistol falls from his grasp -- but 
Jehonas quickly MUFFLES his cry with a hand. He throws him, face 
first, to a wall. He SLAMS into it hard and crumples. Not at all 
satisfied, Jehonas casually grabs Krieger by the back of his 
uniform, and tosses him like yesterday's garbage to another wall. 
Buffy frowns.

 BUFFY
 You want me to go scream for help?

 JEHONAS
 Not a soul in sight.

Jehonas spins Krieger around, fires his fist into his gut, and 
then a knee up to his chin, and then a hard backhand blow to the 
nose, then flings the officer across the room, sending him SMACK 
into another wall. Bleeding, battered, Krieger struggles to 
stand.

 BUFFY
 Is all that really necessary?

Jehonas is all over him, kicking the shit out of the rogue cop 
until he sinks to the floor in a half-conscious haze.

Jehonas stands over Krieger's limp form, fists clenched, touching 
down after his adrenaline high. Finally, he looks to Buffy.

 JEHONAS
 By the way, you okay?

Buffy nods, glances at Krieger.

 BUFFY
 How did you know?

 JEHONAS
 Figured they'd send someone after you. 
 Thought I'd wait around and see who showed
 up.

 BUFFY
 You used me as bait?!

 JEHONAS
 It worked, didn't it?

She absolutely fumes.

 BUFFY
 That's my father over there! He could've --

 JEHONAS
 He wouldn't.

Jehonas kneels next to Krieger. He turns the man's head, inspects 
the neck, the skin on the back of the neck.

 BUFFY
 But he's a policeman.

 JEHONAS
 He's a familiar actually.

Jehonas smacks him upside the head.

 JEHONAS (CONT'D)
 A human who works for vampires. See this 
 mark?

Jehonas pulls down the collar of Krieger's shirt, revealing a 
small, cryptic symbol tattooed into the man's skin. The same as 
the three Buffy encountered in the elevator.

 JEHONAS
 That's a glyph, kind of like a vampire 
 cattle brand. That means Officer Friendly 
 here is someone's property. Any of the 
 other vampire's try to bleed this little 
 hooker, they'll have to answer to 
 Friendly's owner --
 (studying the glyph)
 This glyph belongs to Deacon Frost. We've 
 been tracking him for a while now.

 BUFFY
 Why does anyone want to work for them?

Just then, Krieger MOANS. Jehonas roughly pulls him to his feet.

 JEHONAS
 Because they're vampire wanna-bes. If 
 they're loyal, if they prove themselves, 
 then their masters will turn them.

Jehonas throws Krieger against the wall again. Buffy flinches as 
she hears body and wall collide.

 BUFFY
 Live forever, never get old. The ultimate 
 high, huh?

 JEHONAS
 Right.

Jehonas grabs the officer again.

 JEHONAS
 Rise n' shine, Officer! You a good little 
 bloodhound?

Jehonas pats down on his body -- searching -- and feels a wallet. 
He pulls it out, flips it open. Krieger vainly tries grabbing it 
back but Jehonas launches a fist to one cheek, knocking him flat.

 BUFFY
 Oh that's nice. You're going to rob him 
 now? You want to rob my dad and me, too?

Jehonas inspects through the contents, moving through bills. Then 
he finds what he's looking for. A silverish credit card. Jehonas 
waves it to Buffy. 

 JEHONAS
 Access key.

 BUFFY
 Access to what?

Jehonas pockets the card, then drags the unconscious man up, 
slapping him awake.

In the back, Hank is still in his coma - oblivious to what 
transpired in his room.

 CUT TO:

INT. HOSPITAL GARAGE - DUSK

Jehonas and Buffy are now standing by Krieger's cruiser parked in 
the Hospital Garage. Place seems empty. Jehonas shoves Krieger 
against the hood of the cruiser. He finds Krieger's keys, moves 
to the trunk, opens it --

IN THE TRUNK: A sophisticated medical cooling unit for 
transporting organs. Jehonas opens the unit, coolant vapor hisses 
out. Inside are plastic bags containing blood.

 JEHONAS
 Looks like our friend here was 
 blood-running.

Buffy looks in with Jehonas.

 BUFFY
 Plasma bags?

 JEHONAS
 From a blood bank owned by vampires. Like 
 any grease joint, they always deliver.
 (to Krieger)
 So, delivery boy, where were you taking 
 it?

Krieger mumbles through a split lip and chipped teeth.

 KRIEGER
 I don't know what you're talking about --

WHAM! Jehonas plants Krieger's face into the hood of the car. 
Krieger GROANS, coughs.

 JEHONAS
 I'm only going to ask you one more time. 
 Where were you taking it?

 KRIEGER
 (gasping)
 Go fuck yourself.

 JEHONAS
 You've got one dirty little mouth there. 
 Maybe if I knock off a few more of your 
 teeth permanently.

Jehonas releases him, then reaches for his Eagle .44.

 BUFFY
 What are you doing?

 JEHONAS
 Preventive medicine.

Buffy steps in front of Jehonas, shielding Krieger.

 BUFFY
 You can't do this, he's human, it's 
 murder!

 JEHONAS
 It's war, now get the hell out of the way!

Buffy grabs Jehonas' arm, wrestling with him, using her own 
Slayer strength, trying to push his hand away. As the two of them 
struggle, Krieger makes a break for it, stumbling across the 
pavement. Jehonas pushes Buffy aside, takes aim --

-- but Krieger ducks into a corner pillar and down a ramp, 
disappearing from sight. Jehonas spins on Buffy, enraged --

 JEHONAS
 Idiot!!! Do you have any idea what you 
 just did?!

But Buffy's defiant, she's not backing down.

 BUFFY
 You were going to kill him! Last time I 
 checked in my slayer handbook we're 
 supposed to be killing vampires, 
 not people!

Jehonas tears off his glasses, infuriated. Buffy gasps --

JEHONAS' EYES aren't human, nor are they vampire. They're 
something else -- emerald green, laced with swirling flecks of 
red.