VIVIAN INT. VIVIAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING VIVIAN is brushing her teeth in front of the mirror and glances quickly at her watch. INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING GREG steps up to the counter and places an order. INT. VIVIAN'S APARTMENT - MORNING Vivian is hurriedly pulling on one shoe while pouring food into her cat's dish. Some food spills on the floor, but the cat does not mind. INT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING Greg takes 2 coffee cups from the counter and makes his way to-- EXT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING Where he finds an empty table and sits down. EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - MORNING Vivian pushes the front door wide and walks quickly down the street, still pulling on her jacket. EXT. COFFEE SHOP - MORNING As Vivian approaches the coffee shop, she sees her friend Greg and waves. He is sitting at a small table in front of the shop. Two cups sits on the table and one empty chair beside it. GREG I almost gave up on you. Vivian pulls up a chair and sits at the table. She takes her cup and stirs in some sugar. VIVIAN I know. I'm late again. I just couldn't get moving this morning. I didn't get much sleep after this weird dream last night. There was this man... GREG Was he cute? VIVIAN Oh stop! I'm serious, this dream was really spooky. I was lost in this grey mist and all I could hear was this man calling me... DREAM FLASHBACK The world is a swirling grey. A voice calls in the distance. MAN'S VOICE Vivian! Vivian appears wandering through the swirling fog as her name is called again. MAN'S VOICE Vivian! She turns this way and that but seems literally lost in the fog which swirls around her. A tall man looms out of the fog. His long black hair frames his pale face. A jeweled collar button peaks from the neck of his black velvet trench coat. Long pale hand reaches forward beckoningly as he calls again -- MAN'S VOICE Vivian! Come to me Vivian! She turns to face him, startled. He comes toward her, reaching out but his hand closes on emptiness as the fog billows up and swallows him from sight. EXT COFFEE SHOP - MORNING VIVIAN It was really creepy. When I woke up I felt like I was supposed to go meet him, but I couldn't remember where. Is that weird or what? GREG And you didn't recognize the guy at all? VIVIAN No. I've never seen him before. But it seemed so real; like I have an appointment with him or something. GREG (grinning) Well, if he's cute, I volunteer to go meet him for you. Vivian grins as she finishes her cup of coffee and stands to leave. Greg does the same. GREG Dinner tonight? VIVIAN Sure, I'll call you when I get home. They each head off in different directions. INT. VIVIAN'S DEN - NIGHT Vivian sits at her desk, in front of her computer, typing as she cradles the phone on her shoulder. When Greg answers on the other end, she stops typing and grabs the phone with her right hand. Her cat, who had been sitting on the end of the desk, jumps down when she begins speaking. VIVIAN I've gotta cancel on dinner, I'm swamped with work. I brought a ton of stuff home and I just have to get some of it done tonight. (beat) Give me a call later. Maybe we can grab a drink. (beat) Bye. Vivian hangs up and goes back to work, but before long she's asleep with her head down on her desk. The man from her nightmare appears outside her window and calls dreamily -- MAN Vivian! (beat) Come to me Vivian! The man appears to be hovering in mid air just outside the window. Suddenly Vivian awakes, startled, and turns to the window just as he disappears. She throws open the window and leans out. EXT - VIVIAN'S APARTMENT BUILDING - NIGHT Her head appears through a third story window in the side of the building. There's clearly no one around, and no way anyone could reach her window from the ground. INT. VIVIAN'S DEN - NIGHT The phone rings and she shakes her head as she pulls it back in. She answers the phone distractedly -- VIVIAN Hello... (beat) Oh, hi Greg. I just had another dream about that man. This time I thought he was outside my window. (beat) I know I live on the third floor. He just seemed so real. Where does he want me to go? (beat) I must not be getting enough sleep. I'm gonna turn in. You wanna do dinner tomorrow night? (beat) OK, I'll see you then. (beat, smiles) Pleasant dreams to you too! Vivian hangs up and leaves the room. EXT. STREET - THE NEXT NIGHT Greg and Vivian walk down the street, past a row of businesses and store fronts with brightly lit signs. GREG You seem quiet tonight, Viv. Are those dreams still bothering you? VIVIAN Yeah, I just can't get that strange man out of my mind. I keep remembering these flashes. Like pictures of this place where he wants me to go. It gives me the creeps. GREG Maybe it's your subconscious trying to tell you to take a vacation and do some traveling. VIVIAN If that's it, it sounds like the vacation from Hell. Any other bright ideas? They stop in front of a shop advertising Madame Van Helsing -- Psychic. GREG No, but there's a psychic. (accented) You could consult a professional -- ask "Madam Van Helsing" to interpret your dream. VIVIAN Hey! That's a good idea! GREG Viv, I was just kidding. VIVIAN No, really. I've always wanted to have my cards read. Come on, we're going in. GREG (groans) They walk toward the psychic's shop and go through the door. INT. PSYCHIC'S READING ROOM - NIGHT Greg, Vivian and MADAM HOLLY VON HELSING sit around a small round table in a dimly lit room hung with drapes and tapestries. Candles of various shapes and sizes provide most of the light. A deck of Tarot cards wrapped in silk sits on the table within easy reach of Madam Holly. VIVIAN (concluding) ...but when I looked out the window, of course, there was no one there. Madam Holly nods sagely and pushes the cards across the table toward Vivian. HOLLY Let us begin your reading. Unwrap the cards and divide the deck into 3 parts. Vivian follows her instructions and Madam Holly retrieves the deck, then spreads the silk across the table between them. Holding the deck carefully in her left hand, she turns over the top card and places it in the center of the table. It is "The Empress". HOLLY You are represented here by the Empress. You are very important to someone -- perhaps to the man you described in your dream. VIVIAN But I don't even know who he is. GREG He isn't anybody, it was just a dream. HOLLY Wait, the cards have more to tell us. She turns another card over and places it at a 90 degree angle on top of the first one. This card is "The Devil". With a sharp intake of breath -- HOLLY You may not know him, but he is real and very powerful. I feel that someone has been watching you in real life just as in your dream. You should be very careful of strangers, I sense this man's intentions are quite evil. Another card turns and is placed below the 2 crossed cards. "The Hanged Man" leers from the face of the card. HOLLY This dark man you envision is a seeker. He has been searching for something for a long, long time. I fear he thinks he has found it -- in you. "The Wheel of Fortune" appears next and is placed to the left of the crossed cards. HOLLY The man once lost something of vital importance to him. Let us see what it was... She turns the card and places "The Lovers" above the other cards. HOLLY Now I see more clearly. This mysterious man has lost much in his life, including his one true love. When he saw you, he became convinced that she had been restored to him, and now he calls you to his side. Another card, "The Tower", completes the cross pattern. HOLLY I sense captivity, a trap. You are at the center of something very powerful and malignant, but you cannot perceive the dangers. You must use caution if you are to escape. VIVIAN So you actually think this man is real? That he's somehow contacting me through my dreams? HOLLY I am certain of it. And believe me when I tell you: he is evil. You must let me help you. Vivian opens her mouth to say something, then closes it. She looks visibly shaken. Greg puts his hand on her shoulder and says -- GREG Come on Viv, this was just supposed to be for fun... VIVIAN What if it's true? What if someone really is after me, Greg? GREG He's not after you! Dreams aren't real! Greg stands to leave and pulls Vivian to her feet. GREG Come on, you'll feel better tomorrow. HOLLY Please, I beg you, do not take this lightly. Your friend is in great danger. Here, please take my card. Call me when you realize you need my help. She pushed a business card into Greg's hand over his protests. Greg then turns and leads Vivian out of the room. INT HALL OUTSIDE VIVIAN'S APT - NIGHT Greg and Vivian walk up to her door. Vivian still seems shaken. VIVIAN Thanks for walking me home, that reading really shook me up. GREG Don't worry about that hocus pocus stuff. Tell you what. Why don't you keep a pen and paper by your bed and if you have another dream write it down when you wake up. Then in the morning you'll see how silly it all sounds. VIVIAN I think I'll try that. It can't hurt. Maybe it'll get this stupid thing out of my system. She gives Greg a friendly hug. VIVIAN Thanks. GREG Any time. (lilting) You know us girls have to stick together. (beat) Coffee tomorrow? VIVIAN See ya then. GREG Night. EXT COFFEE SHOP - THE NEXT MORNING Greg is sitting at the same table outside the coffee shop waiting for Vivian. He sips his coffee and reads the paper. After a few moments he checks his watch and drinks more coffee. A few more pages of the paper receive his perusal, and he finishes his coffee. With a final look for Vivian, then at his watch, he folds up the paper. He collects his empty and her untouched cups and throws them away as he walks off toward work. INT GREG'S OFFICE - DAY An address book lays open on Greg's desk, open to the page with Vivian's work phone number. Greg picks up the phone and dials. Only the sound of repeated ringing can be heard. INT VIVIAN'S OFFICE - DAY Her desk sits tidy, but empty. The phone rings, but there is no one there to answer it. INT GREG'S APARTMENT - EVENING Greg walks into his apartment, punches in his security code, puts down his brief case and goes straight to the phone. He dials and waits but no one answers. Frustrated, he hangs up the phone and goes into the kitchen. He opens a drawer and rummages around for a few seconds before extracting a set of keys. He turns and heads out the door, leaving without resetting the security system. EXT VIVIAN'S APARTMENT - EVENING Still holding the extra set of keys, greg walks up to the apartment door and knocks. GREG Viv! After waiting a few seconds, he used the keys to open the door. INT VIVIAN'S APARTMENT - EVENING It is dark inside as Greg enters and there's a small rustling noise. He turns on the light and looks around. Vivian's cat comes up to him and starts meowing loudly. Stepping into the kitchen and flipping on the light, he follows the cat to it's empty bowl. While glancing around for signs of anything out of place, he absently grabs the cat's food and overfills her bowl. The cat munches loudly as Greg moves on to search the other rooms. INT VIVIAN'S DEN - EVENING He flips on the light and looks around the office. The computer stares blankly back at him, but nothing seems out of place. INT. VIVIAN'S BEDROOM - EVENING The bed is neatly made, but Greg notices a pad of paper and pen sitting on the night stand. he picks up the pad and examines it. INSERT: PAPER Scrawled randomly are the words: Fear, Meeting, Mystery, Longing, Need. The number 36 is circled. In the center of the page a few lines sketch something not immediately recognizable. At the bottom of the page, underlined twice is the name Euclid. BACK TO SCENE Greg tears off the page, stuffs the paper in his pocket and quickly walks out. EXT STREET - EVENING Greg walks rapidly down the street, stops and looks up at a street sign which reads "Euclid", then turns onto that street. He walks along searching, and before long, he stops and pulls the paper from his pocket. The silhouette of the building across from him matches the line drawing on the paper. He crosses the street, heads into the building, climbs to the second floor and walks along the -- OPEN AIR LANDING until he reaches the door to #36. He knocks and waits anxiously. He knocks again, louder this time. A moment later the noise of several dead bolts being pulled back is followed by the door opening about half way. There is no light from inside, but a man's pale face looms in the darkness. greg Hi, I'm sorry to bother you but I'm looking for my friend Vivian, and... Before he can finish his sentence the man has thrown the door open, launched himself at Greg and pinned him against the railing on the far side of the landing. One pale hand with talon-like claws is at Greg's throat and glistening fangs appear in his mouth as he leans downward. Instinctively, Greg gropes for something and his hand finds a fire extinguisher. Without hesitation, he swings it with all his might, connecting with the vampire's head. The vampire staggers back and Greg runs for it without looking back. There is a large gash in the vampire's forehead, but already the blood has stopped flowing. He seems stunned for a moment, but even as he stands there, the wound is disappearing. When it is no longer visible, he shakes himself and heads after Greg. EXT THE STREET - EVENING Greg crashes through the gate to the apartment building and slams it after him. He tears down the street, around a corner and runs along behind a row of parked cars. Meanwhile -- THE VAMPIRE leaps to the street and lands outside the gate with his long black coat billowing around him. AROUND THE CORNER Greg looks over his shoulder as he continues his headlong dash. BEHIND THE PARKED CARS The vampire is moving past the same row of parked cars that Greg just ran past, but he doesn't seem to be running. He is just gliding along and gaining ground fast. THE BRIDGE Greg reaches a bridge over a fast moving stream and dashes across it. Glancing back from the half way point, he sees the vampire come to a halt at the edge of the bridge as if he had hit a wall. Greg continues to run while the vampire claws at the air, but comes no further. EXT TELEPHONE BOOTH - NIGHT Breathlessly Greg reaches an outside telephone and leans on it panting as he rummages through his pockets. He pulls out Madam von Helsing's business card, picks up the phone, drops in some change and punches the number. HOLLY'S VOICE Calm down Greg. GREG Whhaa? How'd you know it was me? HOLLY'S VOICE Something terrible has happened to your friend, I can sense it. You must meet me at my shop at once if we are to have any chance of saving her. INT. PSYCHIC'S READING ROOM - NIGHT GREG ...I thought he was going to get me but he just stopped at the edge of the bridge. HOLLY It appears the ancient legend is true. It is said that vampires cannot cross running water under their own power. GREG Vampires!? But there's no such... HOLLY You have seen one with your own eyes. Felt his claws at your throat. Can you doubt they exist? Greg's indignant disbelief vanishes.. Deflated, his only reply is to slowly shake his head. HOLLY Now we must prepare and you must do as I say if we are to have any chance of saving your friend. GREG OK. Anything. MADAM HOLLY First, I sense that your friend is his captive, but as yet unharmed. However, I feel sure that your visit will have caused the vampire to accelerate his plan. GREG His plan? MADAM HOLLY To turn Vivian into a vampire, so she can be with him always. But in order to do that, he must first feed. That will give us a chance to rescue her. GREG Wha, what do I do? The only weapon I can give you is this arrow carved from a hawthorn tree. She reaches down and pulls out a crossbow bolt and a hand held crossbow. GREG (desperately) That's it? MADAM HOLLY The only other way to destroy the vampire is to expose him to sunlight. Undoubtedly he will have spells on his windows to keep out the sunlight. GREG Spells? HOLLY Magical protection spells. These spells will also prevent my magic from opening the windows. But from inside, if you can destroy the physical manifestation of the spell, it will let my magic through. She gets up and places a small cauldron on the table and begins arranging ingredients. MADAM HOLLY Go now. I sense that he will be leaving to feed soon. You must get your friend out now, for if you do not, the vampire will surely make her one of his kind when he returns. EXT THE STREET - NIGHT Greg cautiously approaches the vampire's lair, keeping his eye on -- EXT OPEN AIR LANDING - NIGHT The door to the vampire's apartment opens and a dark shape slips out. EXT THE STREET - NIGHT Greg ducks into hiding for a moment to be sure the vampire is gone, then darts across the street and up the stair, carrying the small crossbow in one hand. EXT OPEN AIR LANDING - NIGHT The locked door to #36 bars Greg's way. He puts down the crossbow and looks around. The fire extinguisher he hit the vampire with earlier still lies nearby. He takes it up and begins to swing it against the door like a battering ram. After several mighty blows, the door jamb splinters with a crash and the door swings open. Greg exchanges the fire extinguisher for the crossbow and moves cautiously inside. INT VAMPIRE'S LAIR It's dark inside, and when Greg tries the light switch, nothing happens. A faint glow of candle light filters down the stairs, so Greg creeps slowly up the stairs. INT VAMPIRE'S BEDROOM At the top of the stairs he find a bedroom. The walls are hung with deep burgundy curtains and a 4 poster bed dominates the room. All light comes from a large candelabra in the corner. Vivian lies on the bed, deathly still, in a long white night gown. Her hands and feet are chained to the posters of the bed. Greg rushes to her side, fearing the worst, and gently turns her face toward him. Her eyelids flutter and she makes a small moan. GREG Viv. Viv, it's me Greg. Come on, wake up. We've got to get out of here. Vivian shakes her head and moans, struggling to overcome her delirium. Meanwhile, Greg has noticed the chains and cuffs that bind her to the bed. He begins to unbuckle one of her hands, but Vivian's delirious thrashing makes it difficult. VIVIAN Help me. He wants to make me a monster like him. GREG I know, I know. We have to get you out of these chains. We've got to get out of here! Vivian draws in her breath sharply and arches her back, reaching her free hand toward the doorway. VIVIAN He's coming... She faints and collapses to one side as a crash, followed by footsteps, echoes up the stairs. Greg crouches behind the bed across from the doorway, crossbow at the ready in his shaking hands. INT. PSYCHIC'S READING ROOM - NIGHT Madam holly adds ingredients to her cauldron and mutters under her breath. MADAM HOLLY e pluribus unim There's a flash in the cauldron and a puff of smoke billows forth. INT VAMPIRE'S BEDROOM The vampire appears in the doorway, looking taller and fiercer than before. Greg extends the crossbow and fires. The vampire throws up his hand and the bolt stops in midair, inches before his hand. As his fingers make slight movements, the bolt rotates until it points back at Greg. Sensing what's coming, Greg SQUEAKS and ducks behind the bed again as the vampire drops his hand and the bolt fires back into a pillow where Greg had just been. With the bravest roar he can muster, Greg lunges around the bed and rushes at the vampire, sending them both tumbling down the stairs. Greg leaps away and runs into another room. EXT THE CITY Day is dawning in the city as the sun slowly creeps above the horizon. INT. PSYCHIC'S READING ROOM - DAWN Madam Holly's chanting has grown louder, and the cauldron emits a steady stream of smoke now. INT VAMPIRE'S LIVING ROOM Greg is backing away from the vampire in the dimly lit living room. He looks wildly around the room and suddenly notices the magical ward sealing the sliding glass door. Just then the vampire lunges at him, sending Greg crashing into a book case. The vampire has him by the throat and Greg struggles to keep the fangs at bay with one arm. His other hand is feeling around in the book case, trying to get a grip on one of the hardback volumes. Finally, he gets one, and lobs it toward the glass door. It misses the ward, and they continue to struggle. INT VAMPIRE'S BEDROOM Vivian wakes up and begins using her free hand to unfasten the restraint on her other wrist. One handed and half delirious, she makes a few false starts, but finally gets free. INT VAMPIRE'S LIVING ROOM Greg manages to grabs another book. The fangs are coming ever closer as Greg makes one last attempt to break the ward. The heavy book sails across the room but misses again. Suddenly Vivian appears, her white gown flowing in a blur as she leaps at the vampire. He loosens his grip on Greg for a moment as he brushes her aside, sending her sailing across the room. Greg sees Vivian struggling up as the vampire turns toward him again. GREG The spell, you've got to break that thing on the window! Vivian looks at the window and seems to understand. She looks around herself for something to throw at it. Meanwhile, the vampire has captured Greg again and is going in for the kill. Just then Vivian hurls a candlestick at the window shattering the clay tablet on which the ward is written. INT. PSYCHIC'S READING ROOM - DAWN Madam Holly's chanting reaches a crescendo as a blinding light flashes from the cauldron. INT VAMPIRE'S LIVING ROOM - DAWN The storm shutters outside the sliding glass doors begin to rattle. The vampire turns to look and Greg uses the distraction to force his way free. Greg crashes to the ground, pulling Vivian with him. The vampire turns to follow just as the shutters pull wide open and the blinding light of a new day streams in on the vampire. Greg and Vivian hold each other trembling as they watch their foe turn to dust. VIVIAN Are you all right? GREG Come on, let's get out of here. Still holding each other, they pull each other to their feet and shuffle out. EXT THE STREET They push open the front gate, leaving it hanging open as they stagger onto the brightly lit street. Greg limps along half supporting Vivian who's white gown flutters about her. EXT COFFEE SHOP - LATER THAT DAY Madam Von Helsing sit's at a table with 3 chairs and 3 cups of coffee waiting expectantly. Before long, Greg and Vivian appear, now cleaned up from their strenuous morning. GREG Hi. (beat) How did you...? HOLLY Psychic, you know. She taps her head with a grin as Greg and Vivian pull up chairs. VIVIAN How can we ever thank you for all your help, Madame Von Helsing? HOLLY No need, you are the brave ones who fought that vile creature in it's own lair. GREG I don't even want to think about that. Two words, decorating nightmare. VIVIAN It was a nightmare, that's for sure. I still can't believe we escaped. GREG I'm just glad it's all over. I don't ever want to see another vampire again. VIVIAN (smirking) No? Not even if he's cute?