Frost motions and Quinn drags Buffy away -- INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT Frost leads Quinn and their captive, Buffy, down a dirt covered hallway in mid conversation. QUINN Oh you're going to love this -- FROST You would've figured this guy would turn, right? QUINN No man, this guy couldn't make it through! FROST No, he turned into some kind of zombie! Quinn shoves Buffy forward into an open doorway, and then starts to do a poor imitation of a stereotypical Hollywood zombie, shifting and moaning. INT. BONE PIT ROOM - NIGHT Frost drags Buffy to the mouth of one of the open pits. The mouth of a pit some forty feet deep, its lichen-encrusted stone walls worn smooth over time. As Frost gestures to the yawning darkness beneath them, Quinn forces Buffy towards the edge. FROST We call this the Bone Pit. It's where we keep our mistakes, the ones who couldn't successfully make the transition from human to vampire. QUINN Yeah man, they're complete scum. They'll feed on anything -- rats, animals, corpses, and sometimes, they'll even eat other vampires. BUFFY Oh that's a plus. FROST And bearing that in mind, I like you to meet an old friend of yours. Frost nods. Buffy struggles against Quinn, but it's no good. In a manner of seconds, she's falling INT. THE BONE PIT - NIGHT -- making a decidedly rough landing on a heap of bones far below. She GROANS, taking stock of her battered body. up above, Deacon watches from the lip of the pit. FROST It's too bad. I kind of liked you. You've got spunk. What a waste. And with that, he's gone, stepping away from the pit. Buffy rises, wary, taking in her shadowed surroundings. HEAPS OF HUMAN BONES are piled against the pit walls -- skulls, rib-cages, femurs, tibias - all picked clean of flesh. Some of the skulls have large, canine-like fangs - the remnants, no doubt, of long- deceased vampires. Suddenly we hear a WHISPER of sorts, the soft CLINKING of bone fragments grinding together - Buffy spins, trying to place the source of the sound. Then she hears the SOUND again. Behind her now, closer. VOICE (O.S.) I do not feel obliged to belieeeeve that the same God who -- who whaat? Endowed? No, no, no. That'sss not it. Buffy looks up with a growing sense of dread. A FACE emerges from the darkness. Pallid, cadaverous, shedding its desiccated flesh. Lidless eyes like black marbles slick with Vaseline. A mouth like a raw wound. REVENANT In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there isss. Buffy backs away, realizing who she's standing before. BUFFY Owen?! OWEN REVENANT Buffyyyyyy -- Buffy staggers back, confused and frightened. BUFFY Oh my God, Owen -- OWEN REVENANT Bufffyyyyyy. I never thought I'd see you againnnn. What used to be Owen SNARLS, knocking Buffy back into the drift- pile of bones. It pins her to the ground, kneeling above her, gurgling through its gutted trachea. OWEN REVENANT Tell, me, Buffyyyy - ever have second thoughts - about us? Buffy SCREAMS, trying to force the revenant away from her, but it lunges closer, lolling its distended tongue over her mouth in a pathetic approximation of a French kiss. OWEN REVENANT Better a fair heartsss than a fair facccce, don't you think? She fumbles behind her, choking, grabbing hold of a human femur, blindly swinging it upward -- CRACK! The blow shatters the Owen-thing's jaw. It rears back, falling to the side. Buffy crawls out from under its weight, swinging the femur again and again -- CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! Buffy pummels the howling horror, driving it back until the femur actually splinters in half. The creature's head hangs at an awkward angle now, its neck broken - but still it advances, dragging itself back up. Sobbing, Buffy retreats, clutching the splintered femur like a makeshift dagger. Owen charges at her, a blur of slashing claws. At the last moment, Buffy ducks, thrusting the bone dagger up into Owen's chest -- Owen impales himself, right through the heart. For one split- second, his eyes widen in surprise - -- and then he goes into a death-spasm, vomiting up a spray of caustic vampire blood-bile, spattering Buffy. She sinks to her knees, GASPING, as the thing that used to be Owen shrivels up, melting away into burbling puddle. After a beat, Buffy rises and moves to the pit wall, running her hands over the lichen-slick surface, searching for a way out. The mortar between the brickwork is ancient, crumbling. Buffy looks to the ground, reaching for one of the splintered femurs. She pounds it into the mortar between two bricks - and it holds, working as a makeshift piton. Buffy reaches for another broken femur, lodging it a foot above the first. She hauls her body up now, suspending her weight from the two makeshift pitons. Again, they hold. Trembling from exertion, Buffy pulls the right piton free, hanging solely from her left hand now. Though her handhold is precarious, she manages to swing the right hand up again, pounding that piton another foot above the left. In this slow, torturous manner, Buffy begins to climb her way up out of the pit. INT. TEMPLE OF NIGHT - BLEEDING CHAMBER - NIGHT We are in a small, elevated antechamber which is situated above the main vampire sanctuary. Jehonas now weakened to the point of collapse, is being stripped of his vest. Alyssa walks up to Jehonas with a switchblade in hand. With a slight motion, SNICK! It fully extends. Carefully, she slides the length of the knife up his black tanktop, slicing the cloth in two. The vampire goons move efficiently, quickly securing him to a large sarcophagus-like chamber. A coffin made of black obsidian stone. When they are through, the straps to his wrist and neck tighten -- effectively pinning him into the small chamber. Jehonas WINCES as the leather straps are drawn tighter. Alyssa watches quietly as they finish with her son. As soon as they do, she draws up close to Jehonas, reaching out her hand and feeling his body, his sweat. Jehonas tries his best to keep his strength together, ignoring his mother touching him -- ALYSSA Poor child. So sick -- so thirsty. JEHONAS Don't touch me. Alyssa stands on her toes, eye to eye with Jehonas. ALYSSA Jehonas, my son, look at me. Jehonas looks down, focusing now on Alyssa. Jehonas stares at her. As terrible as his physical torment is, his mother's betrayal is infinitely worse. ALYSSA There's no use fighting us. JEHONAS How could you be a part of this? ALYSSA Jehonas, vampires are my people now. I'm one of them. JEHONAS You can't be. ALYSSA You don't understand. I was corrupted by human reasoning long ago, but that's all been changed. She draws closer, caressing her son's face. There's just a hint of creepy eroticism in her action, a dash of incest. ALYSSA I've killed, I've hunted, and I've enjoyed it. How about you? I know you have. I wish you could see the world as I do. Sooner or later, the Thirst always wins. Jehonas struggles to turn his head away, forcing himself to leave his mother's gaze, shaking with hatred. We PAN BACK as Alyssa turns away and comes to a small sphere-like switch on the floor. She turns back, regarding her son one last time before stepping on it with the heel of her high tops. The lid of the black chamber slides forward towards Jehonas' sarcophagus and in an instant, seals the chamber with the Day- walker inside. The SOUND, frightening, echoing throughout the temple. CUT TO: INT. THE TEMPLE OF NIGHT - NIGHT Quinn is kneeling with a large cigar in hand as the sounds of Jehonas' chamber closing up echoes into the main atrium of the temple. He looks up to the sound. It has begun -- Down below, Mercury leads her cohorts and the elders of the House into a different area. pull back to reveal THE RITUAL ARENA A large circular room, the perimeter of which is lined with recessed alcoves housing the remains of the vampire ancients, set into the sanctuary walls like the cells in a hive. In the center of the room is a large raised platform surrounded by a moat of emptiness, a vast pit with an island. MERCURY Spread them out. One on each tomb. Make it perfect. The vampire goons roughly position each of the elders in each tomb, tying them down with leather straps just like Jehonas. In moments, each of the tombs are occupied with each Elder. CUT TO: DEACON FROST standing on the highest chamber, looking around, also hearing the sound of the lid slamming shut on Jehonas' chamber. FROST It's starting. Bring up the elevator! CUT TO: INT. TEMPLE OF NIGHT - BLEEDING CHAMBER - NIGHT TIGHT ON one of Jehonas' hands within the chamber. We SEE sharp steel blades were on each of the wrist area of the lid and when they joined, methodically cutting deep into each of his wrists -- opening up the cephalic and basilic veins for bleeding. Blood wells up from the fresh wounds, running down Jehonas' fingers, collecting in a cistern beneath his feet. His hands, shuddering violently from the pain -- JEHONAS' POV: Through a slit in the lid, where Jehonas' eyes could see from his chamber, we SEE Alyssa walking into view looking back at him. We see what appears to be pity in her expression. She turns her head away. TIGHT ON THE CISTERN beneath his boots. We follow the blood which has collected there as it flows into a crude drain and -- INT. SANCTUARY - NIGHT -- emerges from the ceiling of the sanctuary below. The stream of blood is directed down the channels of the ceiling, into smaller channels leading to each of the twelve tombs below. CUT TO: THE ELEVATOR, really a working man's scaffold for skyscrapers. Frost and Quinn are being lowered down into the main ritual arena. There's an excitement in the air, a sense that something remarkable is about to happen. FROST Tonight, the Age of Man comes to an end. ON QUINN, laughing with glee as he ponders what a wonderful future it'll be. We can also SEE the blood slowly coming down from the channels within the walls. QUINN We're gonna be Gods! Frost looks back, not as amused, but somewhat confident. FROST Of course we are -- QUINN I'm gonna be naughty. I'm gonna be a naughty vampire God! Frost nods in silence as the elevator makes its final descent. CUT TO: THE RITUAL ARENA The elders are very nervous and very afraid. Meantime, the vampires have taken noticed of the blood and bellow out a CHORUS OF CHEERS, their voices resonating off the stone walls like thunder. Mercury leading -- CUT TO: INT. TEMPLE OF NIGHT - BONE PIT - NIGHT Buffy's hands appear over the lip of the bone pit. She heaves herself up, collapsing onto the floor - -- but there's no time to rest. Even now she can hear the VAMPIRES CHEERING. She drags herself to her feet, careful and looking for Jehonas. CUT TO: THE RITUAL ARENA One of the struggling Elders, Slavic, tries his own brand of reasoning with Mercury nearby. BAVA You stupid girl. What do you think is going to happen? LaMagra? It's nothing but a fairy tale for petty little vampires. Mercury hearing this, moves intimately close to the Slavic Elder. MERCURY Then why are you quivering, old fang? Are you afraid of diablerie? Afraid we're going to take your blood? (beat) You should be. Read the prophecy. Mercury backs up and points accusingly at all of the Elders. MERCURY It's about time you fucks contributed something to the cause. PALLINTINE (O.S.) Even if Frost was right -- We SEE Pallintine Elder, who isn't strapped to any tomb. Apparently, he was the odd figure. PALLINTINE Do you think he would care about you? You're going to die, just like the rest of us. In a flash, Mercury unsheathes Jehonas' sword and SKEWERS Pallintine, silencing him. The Elders watch with shock as Mercury screams and kicks the Elder, sending him flying back into a wall. The sword IMPALES into the concrete wall, Pallintine EXPLODING into ashes and bits. CUT TO: INT. ANTECHAMBER - NIGHT Buffy slips around a corner, searching. She SEES it's empty, and a large BLACK CHAMBER alone in the center, quiet. Buffy notices the swivel system in the chamber, and with her strength starts to rotate the sarcophagus around. In an instant, the lid flies open and back into the wall, startling Buffy. She looks around and SEES Jehonas, seemingly lifeless. BUFFY Jehonas! She sees the straps, runs around to the back and unbuckles each of them. Jehonas crumples to the floor, lying still. Buffy is at his side in an instant -- BUFFY (whispering, urgent) Oh my God, Jehonas. Jehonas! Jehonas doesn't answer nor move. Buffy starts to break down as she heaves his body into her arms, cradling him. BUFFY (desperate) Don't leave me, please. Then, Jehonas' eyes flicker open, fixing on her. Inhuman. He's shaking like an alcoholic going into delirium tremens. INT. TEMPLE SANCTUARY - RITUAL ARENA - NIGHT Frost hops off the elevator, sees the blood slowly making its descent down on each of the tombs. He is enthralled, excited -- FROST (grinning) Is everybody thirsty?! I hope you're all very fucking thirsty! As soon as he finishes, the lids of every tomb SLAMS shut on each tomb, sealing off the SCREAMS of each Elder. CUT TO: INT. ANTECHAMBER - NIGHT As before. Jehonas tries to sit up, gripping Buffy's wrist. JEHONAS Get out of here -- BUFFY I'm not leaving without you! JEHONAS You don't understand. The Thirst -- He convulses in Buffy's arms, experiencing phenomenal pain. JEHONAS (gasping) -- tearing me -- apart. Buffy examines one of his wrists, she sees the deepness of the cut, flesh and blood exposed. His body, growing alarmingly less warm as his strength continues to dwindle away. BUFFY You're bleeding to death. JEHONAS I know. Without the serum - I can't heal. You - better go - now. Suddenly, Buffy's face changes in expression. It's as if she's making a quick life and death choice. She pulls her hair away from her neck, revealing the BANDAGES and peels them off. There are still some remnants of the original bite wounds. Having made up her mind, Buffy pulls up Jehonas closer to her. BUFFY Jehonas, listen to me. She can feel him getting heavier, sagging. BUFFY Listen to me. I - I want you to take some of my blood. JEHONAS No. I won't -- BUFFY It's the only way. You know that. We'll never get out of here alive if you don't. Jehonas suppresses a shudder. Simply keeping himself from attacking her takes every ounce of his resolve. JEHONAS I can't -- I won't be able to stop -- BUFFY Don't give me that. The human side of you is stronger. I know it is. Look at me, please. Buffy matches Jehonas' gaze, steeling herself. The truth is, she's terrified. Jehonas stares back at her. At this moment, he wants what Buffy is offering more than anything he's ever desired. And so he rises -- CUT TO: INT. TEMPLE OF NIGHT - SANCTUARY - NIGHT Mercury rips open Frost's shirt, kissing him hungrily as the blood is gathering at one focal point high above them. She steps away, charged and ready to see it begin. Frost looks up to the ceiling, his arms beseeching, calling -- THE CEILING full of the channels of blood as it gathers to a mass in the center. A silent whispering starts, voices of the ancients chanting in the b.g. Mercury, Riven, Quinn and the other vampires are alarmed at the sudden introduction of the chants. They look around, searching for the origin of the voices, but there are none. It's all around, the chant LOUDER and LOUDER, wind starting to pick up from an unknown source, swirling around the arena. And as the vampire incantation reaches a fevered pitch, we SEE the stone tomb tablets off the vampire ancestors beginning to judder -- as if some force within were trying to break free -- CUT TO: INT. ANTECHAMBER - NIGHT Buffy and Jehonas are locked in a deep passionate embrace. Their lips together, tongues entwining. Then, Buffy turns her head to the side, baring her neck, offering herself to Jehonas. Jehonas opens his mouth. His canines elongate. He lowers his head -- -- and starts to feed. Buffy involuntarily stiffens as Jehonas' teeth puncture her skin and we -- CUT TO: INT. TEMPLE SANCTUARY - THE CEILING - NIGHT The blood finally reaches a point where it is all drawn together, finishing with one mass, then the blob becomes a large drop, forming from the mass and then in the slow motion, falls downwards. WE FOLLOW TO Deacon Frost with his arms outstretched, welcoming it. It lands onto his forehead and a sudden loud CRASH OF THUNDER rocks the room. Frost shakes, possessed by an unseen force. The wind picks up, swirling about the chamber, accompanied by a new and strange HUMMING. Suddenly, one of the tombs BURSTS OPEN. A WRAITH-LIKE SPIRIT rushes outward in a fountain of light, penetrating Frost's body. Then ANOTHER TOMB SPLITS APART. Then ANOTHER, and ANOTHER - until a torrent of SPIRIT-WRAITHS are surging into Frost, buffeting him about like a scarecrow in a cyclone. Mercury, Riven, and the other vampires back away, apprehensive. The wind starts to cycle, gathering in speed. Quinn SCREAMS as he sees all of the wraiths circling all about. He FLEES to a safer distance. Mercury, Riven and the others follow suit, hiding behind the large pillars. They can HEAR the cries and wails of the wraiths louder and louder. CUT TO: INT. ANTECHAMBER - NIGHT Jehonas moans, sinking his teeth deeper. Buffy's head rolls back. Her eyes open -- glassy, unseeing -- as a wave of ecstasy overtakes her. She shudders, her breath quickening, falling into a synchronous rhythm with Jehonas'. Her fingers dig deep into his back, clawing downward, tearing into him -- She's not Buffy the Vampire Slayer anymore -- she's a red blood cell, an erythrocyte, spinning in a river of plasma, roaring up Jehonas' femoral artery, racing towards the pumping chambers of his heart which beats like the deafening breath of God, which blots all other sounds out of existence and we're -- CUTTING BACK AND FORTH NOW between Frost's transformation and Jehonas', each of them growing stronger by the second, caught in an ever-increasing feedback loop of expanding energy until -- JEHONAS NO!!!!
