Dark Inheritance
Warning: Mature themes discussed
INT – DARK AREA, TIME AND PLACE UNKNOWN
FADE IN shows a brilliantly lit moon surrounded by 16 bright stars. The stars swirl slowly at first, then rapidly line up in front of the moon, pointing towards the camera shot. The light they emit increases in intensity. Suddenly, they shoot forward towards the camera in a quick, stabbing motion, blinding out the view, before slowly fading to black.
CUT TO:
INT – CAR BACKSEAT, EARLY EVENING
JC REINHARDT, a young boy of about 16, wakes up with a start. Next to him sits JUDITH REINHARDT, a young girl of about 16, looking at him with concern. The car is driving normally down the road.
JUDITH
Are you okay, bro? You look a little spooked.
JC shakes his head.
JC
I had that dream again. Third time this week.
JUDITH
"Sixteen stars and the moon align, then blast through you like a lance."
You don't think it has anything to do with our birthday today, do you?
JC
I don't know. Maybe the pressure is getting to me.
JUDITH smiles and puts her hand on his shoulder.
JUDITH
It's probably nothing. Still, it's kind of weird the way mom and
dad behaved yesterday, isn't it?
JC
Why would they want us to come straight home after school?
They sounded serious.
JUDITH
And then we find a car waiting to take us as soon as we step out of the building.
Like a personal chauffer. When did we ever require such treatment?
The twins are silent for a bit.
JC
Speaking of dreams, what about the one you've been having?
JUDITH
The one where there's two bright stars, surrounded by hundreds of smaller stars,
all bowing down before them? I've had that one again as well. Only…
JUDITH looks down with a worried expression.
JUDITH (cont.)
It was different last time. As the other stars bowed to the two, one of the bright
ones was suddenly…gone. Like something had pulled it away. Then all the smaller
ones seemed to dim at the loss. It was a little scary.
JC looks worried as well. Slowly a smile comes to his face.
JC
Not the best conversation for our sweet sixteen, isn't it?
In your case, though, "sweet" isn't the word I'd use…
JUDITH smiles and playfully punches her brother's shoulder.
JUDITH
Keep up that talk and maybe I'll forget your present!
JC laughs at this. A look of realization crosses his face.
JC
I wanted to wait until later, but I honestly can't wait.
JC pulls a small case out of his pocket and gives it to JUDITH.
JC (cont.)
Happy birthday, sis.
JUDITH takes the box and opens it. A look of pleasant surprise spreads across her face as she takes out the contents: A neck chain with a small, golden medallion displaying the zodiacs.
JUDITH
You remembered this from the store? Thank you so much!
JUDITH takes out a similar package and gives it to JC.
JUDITH (cont.)
Happy birthday, bro.
JC opens the box and smiles. He takes out a similar medallion, only silver in coloring.
JUDITH (cont.)
We both thought they would be perfect for each other.
The two put their respective necklaces on then hug each other as best as possible. Shortly thereafter the car stops. The DRIVER, previously not viewed, turns to them.
DRIVER
We've arrived. Everyone's waiting.
CUT TO:
EXT – OUTSIDE LARGE MANSION, EARLY EVENING.
JC and JUDITH exit the car and look around. The mansion is large and imposing. Several cars are parked out front including a van. The sky is overcast.
JC
Why is everyone meeting here? Is Uncle William
having some kind of party for us? That's not like him.
JUDITH
Yeah, he usually keeps to his own business. Lately,
he's been contacting mom and dad a lot.
CUT TO:
INT – INSIDE MANSION, EARLY EVENING
JC and JUDITH enter the house and climb up a large staircase in the foyer. Waiting at the top is WILLIAM REINHARDT, a well-dressed man in his early fifties. As the two approach, he smiles and hugs them in greeting.
WILLIAM
It's so good to see you two! You've grown a lot.
JC
Yeah, It's been a while Uncle Will. How have you been?
WILLIAM
Never better. I could do without the old age creeping in,
though. Come, the others are waiting.
JUDITH
Others? Who else is here?
WILLIAM
Everyone is, my dear. This is a very special occasion.
WILLIAM leads them down some hallways. The twins look around and at each other nervously. Eventually the three come to a set of doors. WILLIAM opens them, revealing a large conference room with a long table and chairs. Several other people are seated, smiling at their arrival. Plates of food are on the table before them. Several doors lead out from the room.
WILLIAM (cont.)
The guests of honor have arrived! Now the party can begin.
The other guests applaud. JC and JUDITH smile and wave, mouthing "thank you" at the crowd. Two people, JAMES and SARAH REINHARDT, stand up and hug their children. Soon, the applause stops.
JUDITH
Mom, dad, is this why you wanted us to leave right away?
Just to have a party for us?
SARAH
Yes, sweetheart. This is a very special occasion. The whole
family wanted to celebrate.
JAMES
(Jubilantly)
Come on, we have a party to start! Take a seat you two.
JC and JUDITH take seats at the end of the table, while everyone else resumes their own seats. Two people bring out a plate of food for each of the twins, placing them in front of them on the table.
JAMES
Happy birthday, kids!
JC and JUDITH pick up their meals. JC starts to eat first. After the first bite, he looks at the food as if something is odd. After another bite, he starts looking woozy. A look of horror spreads across his face as he looks at JUDITH, who is about to bite into her food. Which a strong effort, he reaches over and shoves the food out of her hands before falling to the floor, semi-conscious. JUDITH immediately kneels down and tries to help him.
JUDITH
JC! Are you okay?! Someone call an amb—
Her words are cut off as the other people run over and grab her and JC. JUDITH screams and tries to get free but is overpowered. The people pull her out of the room while others start to pick up JC.
MAN 1
It figures the brother would interfere. Guess we
have to do this the hard way after all.
A sound of a struggle is heard outside the room where JUDITH was taken. The people grabbing JC stop and exit towards the sound, leaving JC alone on the floor. JC manages to focus and slowly drags himself over to a different door and manages to open it. He exits the room and struggles to his feet. He turns and throws up in a discretion shot. He shakes his head, looking coherent again, and quickly locks the door behind him. JC runs down a few corridors until he hears people approach. Quickly he ducks into a nearby closet and closes it as two men round a corner and run past him.
MAN 2
Let's look this way, he couldn't have gone far.
The men run past and disappear around another corner. JC peaks out and, after making sure the area is clear, exits and continues. Suddenly another MAN comes from off camera and grabs JC around the neck.
JC
Let go of me, you jerk!
JC bites down on the MAN's wrist, causing him to let go in pain. JC steps closer and head-butts the man, causing him to stagger back. He follows up with a heel kick to the MAN's diaphragm that knocks him back against the opposite wall with a loud impact sound. JC stands there in disbelief for a second before he takes off, faster than ever. Eventually he comes to a room where WILLIAM and two armed men stand opposite him, blocking his escape. The men's guns are pointed at him. WILLIAM has a worried look on his face.
JC
What's going on here?! Why are you doing this?
WILLIAM
Just calm down JC, there's no need to resist.
JC
Where's Judith? What did you do with her?
WILLIAM
She's safe. She's being taken to a secure location. We need
to get you to one as well. There's no need to be afraid.
JC
I'm not going anywhere until –
A shot cuts JC off as a surprised look comes across his face. JC looks down and blood is seen spreading across his lower abdomen. WILLIAM looks angrily at one of the men.
WILLIAM
You idiot! You weren't supposed to hurt him!
JC falls to his knees with a dumbfounded look on his face. His breathing increases in speed and the sound of a heartbeat gets louder. Flashes of some type of energy flicker across his body, increasing in frequency. Suddenly, JC shouts loudly as a burst of energy explodes from him, blinding out the scene.
FADE OUT