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.
