THE RUNE-BEARER
ACT FIVE
By DragonWriter17
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer/Spoilers/Pairings: Not applicable. This is an all-original piece.
My Website: http://www.dragonwriter17.net/
Feedback: Yes, but only if it’s of the non-flamey variety: DragonWriter17@aol.com
Distribution: Only here. (If you are interested in posting this on your site, please contact me first for permission.)
Author’s Notes: This story is in screenplay format, not in fiction format. NOTE: This screenplay is protected by registration with the Writers Guild of America, East: R14442-00.
Number of Chapters: 7
Complete: Yes
Summary: The Rune-Bearer is a two-hour Movie-of-the-Week that can also serve as the pilot for a one-hour weekly fantasy/drama series. It features a female private detective who is suddenly bestowed with supernatural powers after a chance encounter with the dying victim of a serial killer. She uses her skills and her new powers to fight evil and to solve mysteries in Memphis, Tennessee. It's like Witchblade, only lighter and funnier.
ACT ONE
ACT TWO
ACT THREE
ACT FOUR
ACT FIVE
INT. POLICE STATION - HOMICIDE DIVISION - DAY
Pete and Liz are both on their phones. Pete is fidgeting nervously, listening. Then he slams the phone down and groans in frustration, running his hand through his hair.
PETE
Anything?
LIZ
Nope.
Liz pulls off her glasses and starts cleaning them. Pete stands up and starts pacing.
INT. CASEY'S HOUSE - DAY
Frederic looks to each side of himself again, then kicks the front door open.
He cautiously enters the house.
Frederic creeps slowly through each room, looking for Casey. But he doesn't find her.
He growls and stomps out the front door.
EXT. STREETS TO POLICE STATION - DAY
Casey and Mitzi are walking down the sidewalk, headed away from Casey's parked SUV and toward the police station. Casey is on the outside next to the curb; Mitzi is on the inside next to the buildings. They are clearly arguing.
MITZI
The police?!
Are you outta your
freakin'
mind?
CASEY
According to
you, I'm not.
MITZI
I changed my
mind. You are
crazy!
You can't
trust 'em. They ain't gonna
believe a
word of this.
CASEY
Pete will.
MITZI
Oh, Pete
will. So what if he does?
Whatdaya
think he's gonna do? Arrest
Johan, put
him in jail? You really think
that's gonna
stop this guy? I'm tellin'
ya: The only
thing that's gonna stop him
is a knife
through his chest -- his knife.
Casey makes a worried face and looks straight ahead, thinking hard.
A young couple walks toward Casey and Mitzi on the sidewalk. The BOY is on the outside; the GIRL is on the inside.
CASEY
Look, I'm not
sure what the police can do,
but Pete
needs to know what he's up against.
I can't let
him go into this thinking Johan's
just a normal
guy.
MITZI
I know, but
--
The young couple reaches Casey and Mitzi. As they cross paths, the boy passes right through Mitzi like she's not even there. Mitzi and Casey both stop in place.
MITZI
(shuddering in disgust)
Ooook, I hate
it when that happens!
CASEY
You mean...
MITZI
That's right.
No one can see you but me.
CASEY
Huh?
MITZI
Sorry.
No one can see me but you.
CASEY
Oh.
EXT. POLICE STATION - DAY
Pete walks out of the police station in a hurry, with Liz right on his heels. They start down the sidewalk toward their car.
PETE
We have to
find Casey.
LIZ
I know, but
where are we going?
PETE
I don't know.
Her office maybe.
She might be
on a case. If we can
find out who
she's working for,
maybe we can
--
Pete looks up and sees Casey walking down the sidewalk toward the station. She appears momentarily to be talking to the empty space beside her, but Pete doesn't notice.
PETE
(yelling)
Casey!
Pete pushes past Liz to run down the sidewalk. Casey looks up at her name being called. She smiles when she sees Pete.
CASEY
Hey, Pete --
Ooooofff!
Casey is surprised when Pete scoops her up in a tight hug.
PETE
Oh thank god
you're all right.
CASEY
Gee, you're
taking this whole
"police
officers are your friends"
campaign very
seriously, aren't you?
Liz folds her arms across her chest and scowls slightly.
LIZ
Really.
Pete releases Casey from his hug. He fidgets, straightens his tie, clears his throat. Unseen, Mitzi grins in amusement.
PETE
No...I'm
just...concerned about the
safety of a
key witness in a murder
investigation. As any good homicide
detective
would be.
MITZI
This is Pete,
huh? I think he's sweet
on you.
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
Shut up.
PETE
What?
CASEY
Nothing.
Ummm...why are you so
concerned all
of a sudden? Has
something
happened?
INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Pete and Liz are sitting on one side of the table. Casey is on the other, with Mitzi behind her. The box of tissue is still there.
LIZ
Ms. Callahan
--
CASEY
"Casey,"
please.
LIZ
Casey...I'm
afraid we've got some bad news.
CASEY
What is it?
PETE
We
think...we're pretty sure that Johan
knows who you
are and how to find you.
CASEY
Oh my god.
MITZI
I knew this
was gonna happen!
CASEY
How did he
find out?
MITZI
Freakin'
cops, can't trust 'em.
LIZ
He hacked
into the central computer.
MITZI
Freakin'
computers, can't trust 'em.
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
Will you shut
up?
Pete and Liz watch Casey yell at empty space.
CASEY
(to empty space)
I am trying
to find out what the
hell is going
on.
Pete and Liz look at each other in disbelief.
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
And I can't
do that with you ranting
in my ear!
MITZI
Oh-kay
already! I won't say another word.
CASEY
Good.
Casey turns around to find Pete and Liz looking at her like she's crazy for talking to an empty space in the room. Casey is embarrassed, and she chuckles lightly.
CASEY
You're
probably wondering who I was
talking to,
huh?
Pete and Liz simply nod silently.
CASEY
Ah-yeah.
It's Mitzi.
Pete and Liz look at each other uncertainly and then back at Casey.
CASEY
See, ha, it's
kinda funny how it happened,
her ghost
came to me last night, well actually,
I saw her
before that, but last night was the
first time we
really talked and -- god, I
sound like a
total lunatic.
Mitzi starts to say something, but Casey cuts her off.
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
Not a word.
Casey turns back to Pete and Liz.
CASEY
Look, let's
just back up a minute and
pretend that
you don't think I'm crazy,
okay?
(to Pete)
Did you tell
her about the mark?
PETE
No, not yet.
CASEY
(to Liz)
You know that
mark the ME found on the
victim's
body, the Rune?
LIZ
Yes, what
about it?
Casey pulls her shirt down and shows Liz the mark.
LIZ
What the
hell? How -- That wasn't
there before.
CASEY
(to Pete)
See, I told
you she could verify it.
(to Liz)
No, you're
right, it wasn't there before.
Not yet
anyway. Remember the spot that
was itching
me so bad? It was starting
to form then.
(pointing at Mitzi)
Mitzi did
this to me, before she died.
She somehow
transferred her mark to me.
LIZ
But...how?
CASEY
Magic.
LIZ
Magic?
PETE
Liz, I know
it sounds crazy, but...
LIZ
(to Pete)
What?
Are you buying into this?
Pete, she is
clearly delusional, and
you've got
such moon eyes for her,
you can't
even see it.
PETE
Moon eyes?
I do not have moon eyes!
MITZI/LIZ
(to Pete)
Do too.
MITZI
(to Liz)
Jinx!
PETE
Then how do
you explain the Rune?
Liz yanks off her glasses.
LIZ
She did it to
herself, after she was
released.
PETE
How did she
know what it looked like?
The ME
couldn't even see it clearly
without
special lighting.
Liz looks for something to wipe her glasses with, but she doesn't have anything with her. She starts awkwardly using the corner of her suit's jacket.
LIZ
She saw it on
the woman's body; it must
have been
visible then. Or maybe she's
the one who
hacked into the computer.
PETE
That's
ridiculous!
LIZ
More
ridiculous than "magic"?
Casey uses her TK to float the box of tissue over to Liz.
CASEY
Tissue?
Liz takes a tissue from the floating box without thinking and starts using it on her glasses.
LIZ
Thanks.
Then both Liz and Pete jump with fright as they realize that the box of tissue is floating. Casey and Mitzi just smile smugly.
INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Liz is now seated, facing Casey, leaning on the table top, with a very weary look on her face. Mitzi is standing in the corner by the door. Pete is standing at the table between Liz and Casey.
LIZ
So let me get
this straight. The Rune
used to
belong to Mitzi Howard, but she
gave it to
you before she died?
CASEY
Correct.
LIZ
Because she
didn't want Johan to steal
it from her
with his magic dagger?
CASEY
Right.
LIZ
And Mitzi is
still around as a ghost,
and she talks
to you, but only you can
see her and
hear her?
CASEY
Uhh-huh.
LIZ
And now you
have powers, like you can
sense things
before they happen and you
can move
objects with your mind.
CASEY
Yes.
LIZ
Are you sure
you're not related to Sister
Ruby over on
Summer Avenue?
CASEY
Arrgghh!
Casey throws her head back in disgust and gets up; she thought she was getting through to Liz.
PETE
Look this is
getting us nowhere. It
doesn't
matter what we each believe
about
Casey's...situation. There is
one fact we
can't dispute: Johan is
coming after
Casey. We have got to
get her into
protective custody and --
CASEY
Protective
custody? What are you talking
about?
MITZI
No, no!
Don't trust them! They can't
protect you!
PETE
Casey, we'll
take you to a safe house --
Casey stands abruptly.
CASEY
No! You are
not taking me anywhere.
PETE
What?
CASEY
I'm not going
to hide away somewhere
and wait for
this bastard to come find
me and kill
me.
PETE
Casey, it's
the only way. First, we
get you safe,
then we find Johan.
Casey starts to object, but doesn't. She crosses her arms angrily.
CASEY
Fine.
INT. POLICE STATION - TRAINING ROOM - DAY
Casey has removed her outer shirt and is working out in just her jeans and tank top. She's at the heavy punching bag, giving it a good pummeling. She's covered in sweat, having been at it for some time.
Other cops are lifting weights in the background.
Pete comes in, watches Casey for a while, clearing enjoying what he sees. When Casey stops for a breather, Pete joins her by the punching bag.
PETE
Hey.
CASEY
Did you get
it worked out?
PETE
(nods)
Safe house
assignment made. We're ready
to go when
you are.
Casey turns back to the punching bag and sets herself. She cocks her fist back, lets out a small roar, then punches the bag with all her might, putting a big TK whack behind it.
The punching bag is knocked completely off its chain and lands halfway across the room, startling the weight lifters.
Casey then turns back to Pete, who's looking on in total shock.
CASEY
(grimly)
I'm ready.
As Pete stares back and forth between Casey, the chain, and the punching bag, Casey picks up her shirt and begins walking toward the door.
EXT. THE MOTEL 6 - BACK PARKING LOT - DAY
Pete pulls the car into a parking space. Pete, Liz, Casey, and Mitzi get out and walk to the stairwell. Pete and Liz go up first, followed by Casey and Mitzi.
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
The Motel 6?
MITZI
(to Casey)
What's wrong
with the Motel 6? It's
better'n the
Red Lantern, I can tell
you that.
Once upstairs, Pete and Liz stop before two doorways. Liz opens one door, and Pete opens the other.
INT. THE MOTEL 6 - LIZ AND CASEY'S ROOM - DAY
Liz and Casey enter the room that they will share, trailed by Mitzi.
MITZI
Hey, look.
They really do leave the
light on for
ya.
Liz immediately goes to the adjoining door and opens it. Shortly, Pete opens the adjoining door on his side and enters the room. Casey plops on the side of the double bed.
CASEY
So...what
now?
LIZ
Well, I think
the first order of business
is to eat.
I don't know about the two
of you, but
I'm starving.
Mitzi is in the background trying unsuccessfully to punch the power button on the front of the television.
PETE
I could eat.
Casey, what about you?
CASEY
Yeah, sure.
LIZ
What's your
pleasure? Pizza, burgers, Chinese?
MITZI
Oooo!
Pizza!
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
Mitzi, you
don't eat.
MITZI
Oh, yeah.
Bummer.
Mitzi abandons the TV and walks behind Pete to stand between him and Liz.
CASEY
(to Liz)
Pizza's cool.
Just don't get any veggies
on it.
PETE
What?
No onions or peppers?
CASEY
No. And
no mushrooms either.
PETE
You're
leaving off all the good stuff!
CASEY
You'll live.
MITZI
Good answer.
No onions and peppers
means better
kissing.
Mitzi makes a seductive kissing face at Pete. Casey makes a you-better-shut-up face at Mitzi, who merely grins. Liz catches Casey's facial expression.
LIZ
(smirking)
Anything
else?
CASEY
(quickly)
Sodas.
Gotta have sodas.
LIZ
All right.
I'll be back in a bit.
Don't go
anywhere.
Liz leaves. Pete sits down on the side of the other and faces Casey. They don't speak. The silence becomes awkward. Mitzi sighs and rolls her eyes.
MITZI
Hey, Cas.
Tell your boyfriend here
to turn on
the TV in his room, and
I'll leave
you two alone. I'm missing
Jerry anyway.
CASEY
(to Mitzi)
He's not
my...
(to Pete)
Ummm...Mitzi
wants you to turn on
the TV in
your room so that she can
watch Jerry
Springer.
PETE
Oh.
Sure. I can do that.
Pete gets up and goes into his room. The TV can be heard coming on, and the channels being changed. Pete returns.
PETE
All set.
Mitzi leaves and goes into Pete's room. Pete turns back to Casey. He wrings his hands nervously. Pete sits back down, this time beside Casey.
PETE
How're you
holding up?
CASEY
I'm okay.
I just hate all this waiting!
Pete puts his hand on Casey's back. Casey enjoys the caress for a moment, then stands abruptly and stomps toward the door.
Pete walks around to stand in front of her. He puts his hands on Casey's shoulders and squeezes.
PETE
We'll find
this guy, Casey. And we'll
put him where
he belongs.
CASEY
Promise?
PETE
Promise.
They hug. When they pull back from the hug, they look into each other's eyes. They lean in to kiss. They slowly move closer, and their lips meet. They kiss passionately until...
...the motel room door is blown completely off its hinges, hitting Pete in the back and knocking them to the floor.
Pete takes the brunt of the blow and goes down on his stomach under the broken door. Casey lands on her back, with her legs caught under Pete.
When Casey looks up, she sees Frederic standing in the doorway. A look of utter terror crosses Casey's face.