ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. THE LEADER'S CHAMBERS - NIGHT - LATER
Mike and Tyler sit at the table across from each other. Tyler
is in mid-speech:
TYLER
...and then, boom.
He closes his fists together and then pops them open,
simulation an explosion.
TYLER (CONT'D)
The whole place exploded.
MIKE
Oh my God, did anyone --
TYLER
(shakes his head)
No, everyone was fine. 'Cept you.
We couldn't find you. Fletcher
thought the blast vaporized you,
and Vi thought you were just
hiding.
Mike smiles, despite himself.
MIKE
How'd we get from the diner
exploding to all this? Demons
roaming the street, underground
caves...
TYLER
No magic, no base, no connection to
the Sphere. We lost all our
advantages. That's when it all
started.
Tyler shifts in his chair.
TYLER (CONT'D)
Right after the base was destroyed,
the army moved in with a bunch of
super-strong soldiers and declared
martial law. It's like they had
been waiting for the chance to take
over.
(beat)
They walled off the entire town. No
one was allowed in or out.
Mike nods, taking it all in.
TYLER (CONT'D)
While the army was doing their
thing, a gang of just incredibly
powerful demons took over what was
left of the command center.
(beat)
The army was no match... Half of
the town's people were killed in
the battle.
Tyler hangs his head.
MIKE
The demons got the Sphere?
Tyler nods.
MIKE (CONT'D)
Jesus. So then you guys built this
place?
TYLER
Yeah. Our little resistance.
Mike looks around.
MIKE
So, where's everyone else? Vi and
Tamsin and --
But Tyler's cold look stops him before he can finish.
MIKE (CONT'D)
What?
(beat; insistant)
What?
TYLER
(sighs)
Frank cut Tamsin loose. Told her to
get Jamie the hell out of here,
'cause he was just a kid, you know?
She feeds news from the outside
world when she can.
MIKE
Did Fletcher go with them?
TYLER
Fletch... got torn apart by a pair
of Clathor demons. He was
distracting them so we could all
get underground. We went back
later, but... there wasn't much
left.
Tyler's head drops as he trails off. Mike rubs his face with
his hands.
MIKE
Tell me Frank's still around, at
least. He's immortal. Right?
Tyler doesn't laugh at Mike's joke-ling.
TYLER
Frank's dead.
Mike frowns. After a beat-
MIKE
How many did he take with him?
TYLER
(quietly)
None.
MIKE
I don't understand.
Tyler is clearly having a hard time talking about his uncle.
TYLER
He uh... the hospital burned
down... we couldn't treat him.
He...
Mike opens his mouth to press the issue, but the tears
welling up in Tyler's eyes stop him. Mike waits a minute to
think of something to say.
MIKE
Vi. You haven't even mentioned her.
TYLER
Vi's gone.
MIKE
What happened --
TYLER
Vi's gone. We don't talk about it.
Okay?
The toughness of Tyler's tone scares Mike into submission.
MIKE
Okay. Okay.
Tyler stares at his friend for a long moment.
TYLER
You look exactly the same. I can't
believe it.
MIKE
I took the interdimensional
shortcut.
TYLER
I had to take the long road around.
Mike smiles.
MIKE
(joking)
Did you miss me?
TYLER
(sincere)
Oh, yeah. Till you showed up, it
was just the two of us left.
FOOTSTEPS in a tunnel signal the approach of another party.
MIKE
Two of you?
TYLER
Oh, yeah, me and my wife.
Mike grins.
MIKE
Wife? Callie's still around? God, I
think it's great that you two --
He stops talking as CORRINE steps into view. She doesn't
appear to have heard Mike, bending down to kiss Tyler on the
top of his head.
CORRINE
Hey baby.
(regards Mike)
So, you finally decided to show up.
Mike looks back and forth between Tyler and Corrine for a
second before managing to pull together a response.
MIKE
Sorry. Being caught in a magical
time vortex throws off the
schedule.
Corrine raises her eyebrow questioningly.
TYLER
I'll explain it later, honey. I'm
still working out the details
myself.
Corrine turns back to Mike.
CORRINE
Well, I'm glad to see you. We're
going to need your help.
She looks back at Tyler, lovingly rubbing his shoulders.
CORRINE (CONT'D)
I'm going to go check in with the
group, okay?
TYLER
Sure. I'll come down in a bit.
Mike smiles at Corrine. She walks away. As she's leaving,
Mike's smile disappears and he starts on Tyler.
MIKE
What the hell was --
(lowers his voice)
--what the hell was that?
TYLER
Calm down, it wasn't --
MIKE
She's like fifty years old, dude, I
mean --
TYLER
-- you seriously need to --
MIKE
She used to be your boss!
TYLER
I remember that!
MIKE
What happened to Callie, dude?
(beat)
Oh.
Tyler looks away.
MIKE (CONT'D)
Man, I'm -- I'm sorry, I didn't...
TYLER
It's fine. It's okay.
(sighs)
We were the only two members of the
team left, you know? We just got
closer and closer until...
He shrugs.
MIKE
And you've been fighting all this
time?
TYLER
Till the day I die.
MIKE
Frank would be proud.
They sit in silence, two old friends enjoying the company.
A tiny orange light begins to BLINK on Tyler's watch. It's
accompanied by a SHRILL, INTERMITTENT CHIRP. Tyler stands up.
MIKE (CONT'D)
What's that?
TYLER
Warning system. Someone triggered
an alarm.
He motions to Mike and heads for the main cave. Mike follows,
interested.
CUT TO:
INT. MAIN CAVE - NIGHT
EVERYONE'S TAKING ACTION.
All the orange badges on everyone's clothes are blinking and
chirping, making the cave sound like an aviary. Overhead, the
string of lights have started FLASHING RED.
As Tyler and Mike enter the room, Cole approaches.
TYLER
What we got, Cole?
COLE
We think Alex tripped his button in
Sector 4.
TYLER
Oh, come on.
MIKE
What?
TIFFANY
That stupid idiot knows S4 is off
limits.
MIKE
Why?
COLE
Sheba.
TYLER
Okay, we're going to go get him.
Cole, get your guys, we'll meet at
Stairs 4 in two minutes.
Cole nods and hustles off into the crowd of people.
MIKE
What's a Sheba?
TYLER
You really don't want to know.
He sighs.
TYLER (CONT'D)
Wanna come help us out?
Mike grins.
MIKE
Like you need to ask?
Tyler smiles.
CUT TO:
INT. STAIRS 4 - NIGHT
One of the many underground staircases, with a large "4"
scratched into the wall.
Tyler, Mike, Corrine, Tiffany, Cole, and Max are all gathered
in the stairs, armed to the teeth -- except Mike, as usual.
TYLER
Listen: We're here to find Alex.
Not kill a bunch of demons. Not
slay a dragon. There is exactly one
thing we are going topside to do.
TIFFANY
He was supposed to be patrolling
around King Street, so we should
probably start there.
Tyler nods.
TYLER
Okay. Two-Three-One, guys.
He points two fingers at Max and Tiffany, who begin to climb
the stairs. When they reach the top, they SLIDE OPEN the
doors and step topside.
A quiet beat.
MAX (O.S.)
All's clea-- oh shi--
BANG BANG BANG!
Tyler looks up, concerned, moves for the stairs. Corrine lays
a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
MAX (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Okay, now all's clear.
Tyler chuckles and starts up the stairs. Corrine follows,
dragging Mike along.
CUT TO:
EXT. HELL'S GATE - NIGHT
The middle of an empty street. The trapdoor is open in the
ground, Max and Tiffany guarding either side.
Tyler, Corrine, and Mike climb up. Mike looks around. Notices
a demonic anteater's corpse lying on the ground near the
trapdoor, its torso having been blown apart by revolver
blasts. He looks up and sees Tiffany reloading her gun.
Tyler leans down into the hole.
TYLER
Cole!
With a GRUNT, Cole hauls himself up, sweeping around with his
shotgun raised.
CORRINE
King Street, you said?
Tiffany nods.
TYLER
Let's go.
The group gets moving, Cole constantly turning round to watch
their back.
CUT TO:
EXT. HELL'S GATE - KING STREET - NIGHT
The six stand on the corner of King Street, looking around.
The buildings here are in ruins, crumbled all over the
ground.
In the distance, something HOWLS. Cole shudders.
MIKE
Whatever you guys are looking for,
I don't think it's here.
TIFFANY
No. He's long gone.
She GROANS.
TIFFANY (CONT'D)
Idiot. Always tell people where
you're going.
MAX
Maybe he had to run. Maybe there
was no time to drop us a letter.
TYLER
Assume he isn't dead. Where would
he go?
(to Tiffany)
You know Alex. How does he hide?
Tiffany sucks her cheeks in and thinks. Cole and Max keep
paranoid eyes on the horizon.
Finally:
TIFFANY
Somewhere small. One door. So he
can defend it. Probably alone.
TYLER
Good. Now, is there anyplace around
here like that?
MAX
(over his shoulder)
A used-to-be pawn shop couple
blocks away. Real small place. I
think we stripped it for guns a
while ago.
TYLER
Okay. Let's go.
CUT TO:
EXT. HELL'S GATE - PAWN SHOP - MOMENTS LATER
The pawn shop is falling apart. It does indeed have one
sturdy-looking door, no windows. No paint. It's on the corner
of the street, tucked away from any other buildings.
The group approach the pawn shop, guns raised.
TYLER
Alex!
No reply. Tyler motions to Tiffany.
TIFFANY
Alex. It's Tiffany. Come out here
now, dammit, I'm hungry and it's
cold out here.
MIKE
(to Tyler)
I like this one.
TYLER
She gets things done.
A LOW GROWL from inside the building.
TIFFANY
That sounds bad.
Tyler nods, slowly.
TYLER
Okay. I'm going in.
CORRINE
Tyler, you can't, it's --
TYLER
I'm not gonna just leave him there.
Max! Cole! Cover the building. Rest
of you, watch the perimeter.
(beat)
Wait.
He turns to Mike.
TYLER (CONT'D)
Wanna come with?
Mike grins.
CUT TO:
INT. HELL'S GATE - PAWN SHOP - CONTINUOUS
The door opens. Tyler and Mike enter and close the door
behind them.
It's dark. Tyler takes a small flashlight out of his pocket
and flicks it on. The shop is almost completely empty.
MIKE
You guys sure did clean this place
out.
TYLER
Had to. They take an inch, you...
steal a bunch of guns.
MIKE
So where is this guy?
ANOTHER GROWL and a SCREAM from the back room. Tyler raises
eyebrows and thumbs towards the door. Mike nods.
CUT TO:
INT. HELL'S GATE - PAWN SHOP - BACK ROOM - CONTINUOUS
ALEX -- a young, thin man who's scared shitless -- is
cornered in the back by a VAMPIRE.
VAMPIRE
Nowhere to go, hmm?
ALEX
Please...
He looks around.
ALEX'S POV.
A sharp wooden stake lies across the room, completely out of
reach.
BACK TO SCENE.
ALEX (CONT'D)
(again)
Please.
As the vampire BARES HIS TEETH, the door to the back room
BURSTS OPEN.
Tyler and Mike stand in the doorway, ready for action.
TYLER
Alex!
The vampire SHOVES Alex down and turns to Tyler, fists
raised.
MIKE
Want me to blast him?
TYLER
Nah. I got this one.
Mike does a double-take. What?!
The vampire RUSHES FORWARD. Tyler SIDESTEPS and GRABS the
vamp's arm, SWINGING HIM FORWARD.
The vamp SMASHES into the far wall, shakes his head to clear
the confusion, and turns back. Tyler has entered the room
fully now. Mike runs to Alex's side.
MIKE
Are you okay?
ALEX
Yeah, I'm fine.
MIKE
I'll get you out of here, just--
ALEX
Trust me, you're going to want to
watch this.
He points. Mike looks.
Tyler DUCKS one of the vampire's punches, CATCHES the other
fist, and pulls the vamp forward, connecting with a HEADBUTT.
The vamp staggers back and Tyler FLIES FORWARD, shoving into
the vampire's stomach with his shoulder. He follows up with a
KNEE to the gut and an ELBOW to the back of the head.
The vampire falls, but SPRINGS BACK UP and swings a fist at
Tyler yet again. Tyler doesn't move -- he LOOPS HIS ARMS
around the vampire's arms, locks his hands around his
opponent's shoulders, and PUSHES DOWN.
The vampire's spine CRACKS. It SCREAMS. Tyler drives his full
weight onto the vampire's broken back, pinning him to the
ground. He grabs the stake and DRIVES IT INTO THE VAMPIRE'S
HEART. It DUSTS.
Tyler stands up, BREATHING HEAVILY, wipes the dust off
himself. He tosses the stake to Alex.
Mike sits back against the wall, mouth hanging open.
TYLER
What?
MIKE
(beat)
Dude! You kick ass!
TYLER
What? That? That was nothin'.
MIKE
You gave it the UFC beatdown!
TYLER
Just takin' care of business.
He looks down at Alex.
TYLER (CONT'D)
You okay?
ALEX
Yes, sir.
Tyler grabs Alex's hand and pulls him up.
TYLER
Good. Let's get the hell out of
here.
EXT. HELL'S GATE - KING STREET - DAWN
Everyone is back together, walking towards the trapdoor that
leads to the underground base.
TYLER
(to Alex, quietly)
How'd it go?
ALEX
Perfect. Everything is in place.
TYLER
Sure?
ALEX
Yeah. We can go in hours, if you
want.
Tyler nods and motions him down the stairs. Tiffany and Max
have already gone down. Alex quickly follows. Mike and Tyler
proceed down as Corrine and Cole stand guard.
CUT TO:
INT. STAIRS 4 - CONTINUOUS
Mike and Tyler descend the staircase.
MIKE
What was that about?
TYLER
What?
MIKE
"Everything's in position, we move
in at midnight, follow the money."
Tyler smiles.
TYLER
Oh. That. It's the endgame.
MIKE
Endgame?
Mike looks at Tyler -- for the first time, we can see his
weariness.
TYLER
This... war. I'm sick of it. We're
all sick of it. We're living in
goddamn caves, we've lost
everything we had.
They're standing in the MAIN CAVE now, and Tyler takes Mike
aside so they can have privacy.
TYLER (CONT'D)
I have a plan. A way to finish the
whole thing.
MIKE
What is it? What's going on?
TYLER
Corrine found a spell a few months
ago. In one of Fletcher's old
books. I can use it to blow up the
Sphere. Completely destroy the
demons' power center.
MIKE
Awesome!
(beat)
But why are we being all whispery?
This is good news. You won.
TYLER
(slowly)
Yeah...
He looks away.
TYLER (CONT'D)
I wouldn't call it "winning," so
much.
MIKE
What do you mean?
TYLER
You heard what I said, right? "Blow
up the Sphere?" That wasn't a
metaphor -- it's what I'm actually
going to do.
Mike still doesn't get it.
TYLER (CONT'D)
It'll wipe out everything left in
the city. Everything.
Comprehension dawns.
MIKE
Oh my God. Oh my God, dude! You're
gonna kill --
TYLER
Shh!
MIKE
(quiet)
You're gonna kill yourself?
TYLER
And anyone that goes along with me.
And every demon in this hell-hole
of a town.
MIKE
What? That's crazy, you can't just
blow yourself up! You're a suicide
bomber now? What the hell!
TYLER
Mike. I'm tired. You know what my
life has been since you left? Ten
years of war. I want... to go back.
You know? Back to watching TV and
reading comics and... Callie.
Mike isn't sure what to do, so he settles for shifting
nervously. He stares hard at his grim-face friend. Slowly, he
starts to GRIN.
TYLER (CONT'D)
What? What's the -- that wasn't
dark comedy.
MIKE
No, dude. I think I got it.
TYLER
(confused)
Got what?
MIKE
What if you could go back? Back to
how things used to be.
TYLER
Well, that'd be great, but --
MIKE
I think I can do it.
TYLER
(sarcasm)
How?
MIKE
The Sphere still exists, right?
Tyler nods, still not understanding what Mike has in mind.
MIKE (CONT'D)
If you can get me into the cave...
I think I can use the Sphere to go
back and stop all this from
happening. Save the world.
TYLER
Again.
MIKE
Old habits.
(beat)
I've been biting my fingernails
since I was twelve.
Tyler half-chuckles.
TYLER
Okay. I'll get you in. But there's
gonna be a fight. We'll need a lot
of help. A lot of volunteers...
MIKE
"Human fighter looking for group.
Must be willing to escort human
wizard on suicide time travel
mission."
TYLER
God, I've missed the Internet.
MIKE
Seriously, though. What'll you tell
them?
TYLER
(beat)
That we're going to war.
BLACKOUT.
END OF ACT TWO
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