VILLAINOUS Elizabeth H. Vu

Transcription

1 VILLAINOUS by Elizabeth H. Vu Elizabeth H. Vu

2 FADE IN: INT. BEDROOM - DAY Rays of sunlight beam through the blinds and onto (28). The specks of dust falling from the old ceiling doesn't bother her as she remains asleep. Sounds of people running and jumping permeate the walls. Luna's eyes flick open and search around the room. She bolts upright and tries to take in the unfamiliar setting. Luna looks to herself. Inspects her clothes. Checks for a wallet, keys, anything that can verify her identity, but there's nothing. She gets up and walks towards the closed door. Luna opens it and peers out into a long and empty hallway. INT. HALLWAY - DAY Luna steps out of the room and closes the door behind her. She walks towards the sounds and they become clearer. The sounds of feet on a hardwood floor. Running. Jumping. And fighting. She comes to a doorway, the only escape route for all the noise, and looks inside. INT. TRAINING ROOM - DAY Twenty or so SHADOWERS, black uniforms and masks, run, jump, twirl, and engage in body combat. It's a beautiful sight. Luna's eyes widen at the art in motion. Most of the Shadowers don't notice her. (32), the only Shadower without a mask, disengages himself and walks towards Luna. What is this place? Where am I? He gives her a quick once over, and then brushes past her into the hallway. Follow me. Luna watches him make his way down the hallway. She follows him. Hey! I'm talking to you!

3 2. She catches up to him and grabs his arm, stopping him. Where am I? (CONT'D) Chann removes her hand from his arm. Apathetic and stoic. Follow me and you might find out. He continues to walk down the long hallway. Luna looks at him, defeated. She goes after him as he turns the corner. INT. MEDITATION ROOM - DAY There's a large Buddha statue in the room. (26) sits cross-legged on the floor before it. Her eyes are closed. KNOCK! KNOCK! -- Lady Solana's eyes open and dart to the door. Come in. The door creaks open. Chann stands there. He pushes the door wide open, revealing Luna beside him. I don't want to disturb you, but- Lady Solana gets up. It's fine. Chann looks at Luna and gestures for her to come in. Luna takes a step inside the room. Chann leaves down the hallway, closing the door behind him. (CONT'D) Walk towards me, child. Child? I'm pretty sure I'm older than you so you can drop the honorifics. Lady Solana smiles to herself, amused. Luna circles her. I'm assuming you have some questions you want to ask.

4 3. I do. Then ask. Luna stops circling. What is this place? It's a dojo for individuals with unique fighting abilities, although it's more of a home than anything else to them. Luna's beyond confused. Unique fighting abilities? Then, why am I here? You really don't remember anything, do you? Poor child. Don't call me that. Then, what should I call you? Luna thinks. Her face grows frustrated. (CONT'D) Luna. Your name is Luna. Luna? Lady Solana nods. It's a beautiful name, isn't it? I don't believe you. That it's a beautiful name, or that it's yours? Luna's lost for words.

5 4. EXT. GARDEN - DAY (CONT'D) Why would I lie about your name? I mean, what's in a name really? How did I get here? It's a long story. I'm not going anywhere. Well then, let's go for a walk. Luna and Lady Solana walk side by side through a small garden. Luna watches the woman next to her with curiosity. She notices a ring on Lady Solana's hand. It's in the shape of the sun. Have you heard of Lady Blood Moon? Lady who? Blood Moon. Luna shakes her head. (CONT'D) She's a very powerful martial artist who resides in the east side. What does she have to do with me? Lady Blood Moon and her students, the Howlers, kidnapped you in order to use your special talents. What special talents? I don't have any special talents. Lady Solana looks at her.

6 5. Lady Blood Moon believes that you do and that's a dangerous thing. Why? Is she a bad person? The baddest. She looks up ahead to the setting sun. (CONT'D) She likes the shop owners to pay protection money. Protection money? Protection from who? From her. Luna stops and thinks. Wait. Lady Solana stops walking and turns around. (CONT'D) If she's Lady Blood Moon, then who are you? Lady Solana. Lady Solana? And your students are, let me guess, the sunshiners? Shadowers. She walks to Luna. Ah. Makes sense. I know it's hard to understand. You still haven't told me how I got here.

7 6. The Shadowers saved you from Lady Blood Moon. And in the process, I guess you knocked your head pretty bad. What now? Where do I go? You don't have to go anywhere. We have a room set up for you and everything you need. You can stay here as long as you like. Luna's eyes narrow, suspicious. Why are you being so kind to me? Lady Solana looks up into the sunset again. Kindness is like the sun. Without it, the world would be a dark, dark place. INT. DINING HALL - NIGHT There's a long wooden bench on the floor with all sorts of food on it. Shadowers sit around it on pillows and feast. At the end of the table sits Chann. He fills small bowls with rice and passes it along to the Shadowers. Lady Solana walks to the door. Everyone looks up. SHADOWER 1 Come join us. Not tonight. But there's someone else who will. She moves aside, revealing Luna behind her. (CONT'D) This is Luna. The Shadowers just stare at Luna for a moment, and then they smile. SHADOWER 2 Sit here, Luna.

8 A few Shadowers stand up and escort Luna to sit down. Luna looks around, grateful. 7. Thank you. Lady Solana and Chann look at each other. Lady Solana looks back to Luna. Make sure she eats a lot, and then Chann will escort her to her room. She leaves down the hallway. Shadower 1 hands Luna a bowl of rice and a pair of chopsticks. Chann watches Luna. INT. MEDITATION ROOM - NIGHT Lady Solana sits as before with her eyes closed. KNOCK! KNOCK! (eyes still closed) Come in. The door opens. Chann comes in with a tray of food. He closes the door behind him. You're always in here these days. Lady Solana doesn't move. Chann puts the tray of food on a table. Where's Luna? I showed her where everything was, and then I took her back to her room like you said. Good. She opens her eyes. Chann turns for the door. Chann. (CONT'D) Chann stops. (CONT'D) I have a gift for Luna.

9 8. Chann turns around. (CONT'D) See that she gets it. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Luna sits on her bed in the dark. The door creaks open, letting in a strip of light fall into the darkness. Luna looks up at the door way. Chann stands there. He reaches in and flicks on the light. He holds a large black box in his hands. This is from Lady Solana. Luna stands up. Chann hands her the box. What is it? Why don't you open it and find out? Luna puts it on the bed and opens it. There's a large black mask on top of a folded uniform. Just the Shadower's. She picks up the mask and looks at it in awe. Luna looks at him. Why did she give this to me? So you can become one of us. But I can't fight. A Shadower doesn't just fight. We deal with the darkest things in life, within reason of course. Luna looks back to the mask. He turns to leave. (CONT'D) Why don't you try it on? You might like it. What's your name?

10 9. Chann looks at her. Chann. Like Jackie Chan? Chann can't help but laugh. Chann with 2 n's. It means wolf. If it means wolf, then I think you're on the wrong side. Maybe I am. He leaves. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT (LATER) Luna stands in front of a full length mirror. She wears the Shadower's uniform. She holds the mask in her hands. After a peaceful second, Luna raises the mask before her face. And then puts it on. She secures it in place. Then the sounds of people fighting pierce in the air. It's different than before. It doesn't sound like training. It's more violent. INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT The masked Luna comes out of the room, cautious. The sounds of fighting become louder. She walks towards them. INT. GARDEN - NIGHT The Shadowers, without masks, engage in battle with the HOWLERS, white uniforms and masks. They're jumping everywhere. It's brutal, raw body combat. Windows break. Bones break. It's electrifying. INT. DOJO - NIGHT Luna comes to a large doorway and peers out into the garden of fighters. Suddenly a large wooden chair comes flying towards her. SOMEONE grabs Luna and pushes her out of the way, kicking the chair in half in the process.

11 10. Luna falls to the floor. She looks up and sees a masked Chann. Lady Solana walks in from the hallway. What is this? They attacked us from nowhere. Lady Solana heads out the door. Chann and Luna follow. INT. GARDEN - NIGHT The brutal fighting continues. Lady Solana walks through the fighting martial artists, stunning each Howler with a quick move as she goes. As Luna watches, HOWLER 1 grabs her from behind and throws her out into the garden. Howler 1 throws punches at her as she lies on the grass. Luna throws her arms over herself and does her best to defend herself. Lady Solana grabs Howler 1 off of Luna and holds him by the throat. She pulls his mask off. Luna sits up and watches. Look into my eyes. Howler 1 tries to look away. Lady Solana grabs his face and pulls him closer. His eyes finally meet hers. It's a tense moment. A ring falls out of Howler 1's pocket onto the grass. Only Luna notices it. She quickly snatches it up. When Howler 1's eyes widen and he screams in horror, Lady Solana drops him to the ground. Howler 1 covers his eyes in pain. HOWLER 1 I can't see! The other Howlers stop fighting. Two of the Howlers pick up Howler 1 and head for the gates. Lady Solana looks around, her eyes fierce. Let that be a lesson to all of you! All the Howlers climb over the gate and run out into the streets. Lady Solana looks at Luna sitting on the grass, the only one with a black mask.

12 11. INT. TRAINING ROOM - NIGHT The Shadowers sit around, tending to their wounds. Chann watches them. We should have seen this coming. We'll be more prepared the next time they come. And they will come. SHADOWER 3 What if we just hand her over to them? Everyone looks at Shadower 3. SHADOWER 3 (CONT'D) I mean, before we took her in we were safe. SHADOWER 4 He's right. It's been a long time since we've had a personal attack on this place. Chann looks at the other Shadowers. Is that how you all feel? The Shadowers look amongst each other and nod in agreement. (CONT'D) Well, it's not up to you. It's not up to any of you. This is Lady Solana's plan and we're going to see it through. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Luna pulls off her mask and puts in on the table. She looks at her face in the mirror. Inspects every corner of it. Then something catches her eyes. Under the corner of her jaw is a pink round mark. A imprint. A scar of some sort. The door opens. Luna looks to it. Lady Solana stands there. They were after me, weren't they? Yes. Are you hurt?

13 12. No. Lady Solana looks at the mask on the table, and eyes the uniform on Luna. It suits you. Don't you think? I still can't fight. You can. You just don't remember how. What good is that? Chann will start training you tomorrow. She's about to leave. Lady Solana. Lady Solana stops. (CONT'D) What did you do to that Howler? I blinded him. Temporarily, of course. If you can do that, what can Lady Blood Moon do? Much worse. She leaves, closing the door behind her. Luna waits, and then pulls out the ring from her pocket. It's moon shaped. Luna looks at it, curious. INT. TRAINING ROOM - DAY The Shadowers stand in lines of five. Luna stands at the end. Chann stands at the front and instructs them to fight, move by move. Luna follows. Well, tries to.

14 Chann stops when he sees Luna in the wrong stance. He goes to her. Not like this. He holds her arms and corrects her. 13. Like this. (CONT'D) Luna nods. INT. TRAINING ROOM - DAY (LATER) The Shadowers sit around and watch as two Shadowers engage in body combat. Luna sits and watches with Chann. Stop. The two Shadowers stop. Chann looks at Luna. (CONT'D) Who wants to fight Luna? He stands up and leads Luna into the middle of the fighting space. The two Shadowers sit down. No one says anything. Chann looks at her. (CONT'D) What? No one wants to fight a woman? Maybe it's because they're all gentlemen. And I'm not? Luna looks taken aback. What? You're going to fight me? Chann cracks his knuckles and his neck. Someone has to. He attacks her. Luna scrambles backwards. Chann grabs her arms and positions them to block.

15 14. Block. (CONT'D) He changes position. Block. (CONT'D) He changes again. Block. (CONT'D) Luna suddenly slips backwards on the mat and Chann tumbles on top of her. They look at each other. Looks like we're making progress. Luna and Chann look to the doorway where Lady Solana stands with KINGSTON (40s), thick glasses and beard. Chann gets off of Luna. Luna picks herself up. She notices the sun ring on Lady Solana's hand. Lady Solana disappears down the hallway. Kingston follows. Chann looks to the Shadowers. Lunch. He heads for the doorway. Luna follows him. Who was that? Who was who? That man with Lady Solana. Kingston. INT. HALLWAY - DAY Chann walks down the hallway with Luna following behind him. I think I've seen him before. Does he live here? Is he a teacher? He's our weapons engineer.

16 15. Luna follows him to... INT. DOJO - DAY They go out into... EXT. GARDEN - DAY Weapons? I've never seen the Shadowers fighting with weapons. What kind of weapons are they? Chann stops abruptly. Luna comes to a halt behind him, surprised. Chann whips around. You ask a lot of questions. And as a good host, I think you should answer them. Go back inside. It's dangerous for you to be out here. He walks off into the garden. INT. TRAINING ROOM - NIGHT Some Shadowers and Luna train. Other sit around and talk. After being thrown around and throwing around Shadowers, Luna heads for the doorway. I'm just gonna get a drink. INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT Luna stops at a water dispenser tucked away in a small corner. She grabs a plastic cup and fills it up. Then drinks. The sounds of talking floats down the hallway. Luna drinks the rest of her water, then chucks it into a bin. She follows the sounds of talking. It leads her to the meditation room. The door's slightly ajar. Luna looks through the crack. In the room, Lady Solana sits down at a table with Kingston. Kingston passes a small box to her. Lady Solana looks at it.

17 16. I don't want that thing in my dojo. KINGSTON I know, but you might need it again. Lady Solana stands up. I'm certain I won't. Kingston opens the box and pulls out a taser-like device. KINGSTON Do you know how villains become heroes? INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT FLASHBACK TO: Kingston stands over an UNSEEN BODY. He holds the device in his hand. He kneels down and readies to press the button on the device. BUZZ! END FLASHBACK KINGSTON Do you know how villains become heroes? (beat) They don't. INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT Luna's eyes widen at the sight of the device. Chann appears behind her. What are you doing? Lady Solana and Kingston look at the door and see Luna peering through. Nothing. She scrambles down the hallway and heads for her room. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Luna lies in her bed. She reaches up in her pillow. Pulls out the moon shaped ring. Luna puts it on her index finger.

18 17. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT (LATER) Luna sleeps. The door opens. SOMEONE slips in. The door closes. INT. DOJO - DAY FLASHBACK TO: FATHER (60s) sits at a small coffee table. Next to him is a TESTATOR (40s). Opposite them sits Lady Solana. They chat inaudibly. SOMEONE comes in behind them. They notice the Testator's shoes. On it is a symbol of a phoenix. Lady Solana, Father and the Testator turn to the Someone. They look shocked. END FLASHBACK INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Luna tosses and turns in her sleep. She finally stops and opens her eyes. A MASKED FIGURE stands over her. Luna sits upright. They engage in battle. The Masked Figure attacks with swift moves, while Luna only blocks. After more fighting, Luna starts to fight back. The Masked Figure blocks and dodges efficiently. They eventually find themselves in a lock. Luna pulls off the Masked Figure's mask. It's Lady Solana. Luna's eye widen. Lady Solana. She lets go of Lady Solana. Lady Solana dusts herself off. I told you, you could fight. Yeah? Well, a warning would've been nice before you beat the crap outta me. INT. TRAINING ROOM - DAY Chann instructs the Shadowers how to fight. Luna joins in.

19 18. INT. MEDITATION ROOM - DAY Lady Solana sits at the table and inspects the taser-like device in her hands. The atmosphere is ominous. INT. DINING HALL - DAY The Shadowers, Chann and Luna eat. EXT. GARDEN - EVENING (SUNSET) Lady Solana stands by the garden. She watches the sun set. Luna comes out from the dojo. Chann said you wanted to see me. Lady Solana keeps her eyes on the sun set. We're infiltrating the Howlers' den at dawn. Get ready. Is Lady Blood Moon going to be there? Lady Solana looks at her. Are you afraid of her? I don't know. I haven't met her yet. INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT Luna sits on her bed with her knees bent under her arms. Moonlight shines through the blinds and onto her face. She looks at the ring on her finger. The moonlight reflects off it. INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY Twenty something masked and uniformed Howlers train, some with wooden sticks, some with nunchakus. There's no sign of Lady Blood Moon yet. Through the door walk the Shadowers in full body combat attire. The Howlers stop training and see them. HOWLER 2 The Shadowers!

20 19. HOWLER 3 What do you want? HOWLER 4 You've already taken everything from us! The Shadowers stop. They part to reveal Lady Solana. Beside her is a masked and uniformed Luna. Not everything. She pulls out the taser-like device from her robe. Luna stares at it. Intrigued. (CONT'D) Shadowers, attack! The Shadowers engage in combat with the Howlers. Howlers attack Luna. She fights them off. This time effectively. Lady Solana, once again, attacks and deflects in fluid moves. While Luna is fighting on one side of the warehouse, Lady Solana pins a Howler to the ground on the other. (CONT'D) Hold him down. Two Shadowers grab his arms and hold him still. Lady Solana grabs her device and brings it to the Howler's forehead. Luna stops and watches. Curious. Ahh! HOWLER His eyes widen. He screams in agony, and then becomes unconscious. Lady Solana takes the device away. One down. She looks around and continues fighting. Luna's too shocked to move. She's suddenly grabbed from behind and her mask falls off. It rolls on the ground away from her. The Howlers see her face and stop fighting. Lady Solana turns around, surprised. Our Lady! HOWLERS They all get on their knees. Luna stands up and looks around. Confused.

21 20. Lady? She looks to the moon shaped ring on her finger. INT. DOJO - DAY FLASHBACK TO: Father sits at a small coffee table. Next to him is Testator. Opposite them sits Lady Solana. SOMEONE comes in behind them. It's Luna. Father, the Testator and Lady Solana look to her. Luna. FATHER I must say father, I'm a little disappointed to be the uninvited one at this party. She eyes the papers on the table. (CONT'D) Getting your things in order? Let me guess, you're giving everything to princess sunshine here. She looks at Lady Solana. Father stands up. He coughs. FATHER Luna, please understand. Understand what? That you don't even care one-tenth the amount for me that you do for her? FATHER That's not true. You know it's not. Father. She tends to him. The Testator stands up. His face is expressionless. He brushes past Luna to leave. Luna notices his shoes. The symbol of the phoenix.

22 21. FATHER I'm alright. Lady Solana glares at Luna. You should leave. Luna swallows a ball of bitterness. It may say what is says on paper, but don't forget, Solana, this place will belong to me. She gives her father one last look and then leaves. INT. DOJO - DAY A photo of Father sits on top of a shrine. There are bowls of fruit around it. Lady Solana holds incense sticks and bows. Her cheeks are tear-stained. Chann and the other Shadowers stand around her. EXT. GARDEN - DAY Luna stands behind the door and looks into the dojo. She stares at the photo of Father. Her eyes water. INT. WAREHOUSE - NIGHT The Shadowers fight the Howlers in the background. Lady Solana throws Luna onto the ground. She pins her down. The Shadowers, including Chann, hold her down. You bitch! She spits. It hits Lady Solana's face. There's a flash of anger in Lady Solana's eyes. She balls her fist up and hits Luna in the face. Her sun shaped ring leaves a round mark on Luna's jaw. Kingston watches. He holds his taser-like device. Shows it to Lady Solana. KINGSTON Do you want to do the honor? Lady Solana looks at him.

23 22. You do it. I might mess it up the first time. Very well. KINGSTON He stands over Luna's body. Kingston holds the device in his hand. He kneels down and readies to press the button on the device. KINGSTON (CONT'D) Do you know how villains become heroes? (beat) They don't. He brings the device to Luna's forehead. KINGSTON (CONT'D) But this might help. BUZZ! -- Luna screams in horrible pain. END FLASHBACK INT. WAREHOUSE - DAY Luna's still staring at her ring. She looks around. Her mouth is agape. (realizes) I'm Lady Blood Moon. Her innocent demeanor suddenly changes. She stands up straight with her head held high. She looks to Lady Solana. You! She's back. Get them! LADY BLOOD MOON HOWLER 2 LADY BLOOD MOON The fighting resumes. Lady Blood Moon fights through the crowd to get to Lady Solana. The two sisters finally engage and fight one-on-one. Lady Solana raises her device and turns it on. LADY BLOOD MOON (CONT'D) Oh, no, you don't.

24 23. She kicks the device out of Lady Solana's hand. They fight. Lady Solana tries to grab the device several times, but Lady Blood Moon hinders her. Lady Blood Moon steps on the device, breaking it. No! Lady Blood Moon smirks. LADY BLOOD MOON Does it hurt to lose? That device was our only hope. She picks herself off the ground. LADY BLOOD MOON Only hope for what? Shedding some light onto your miserable life. They fight and talk in between hits and blocks. LADY BLOOD MOON (strikes) I don't need light. The darkness is where it's most fun. (blocks) Do you think I like fighting you? LADY BLOOD MOON (punches) Well, I don't think you hate it. (dodges) You're wrong. She finally gains the upper hand. Lady Solana grabs Lady Blood Moon and looks her in the eyes. LADY BLOOD MOON Gonna burn me like the others? You know that trick of yours doesn't work on me, right? She pushes Lady Solana off of her and then gets on top of her.

25 24. LADY BLOOD MOON (CONT'D) Now, it's my turn. She grabs the sides of Lady Solana's head. Holds it steady in her hands. She concentrates. LADY BLOOD MOON (CONT'D) What was it you said before? That I'm much worse than you. Well, you're right. I am. Don't do this. Please. Lady Solana's eyes water. (CONT'D) Please, Luna. You're my sister. I love you. Lady Blood Moon's hands loosen. Just a little. (CONT'D) And so did father. Lady Solana reaches a hand up to Lady Blood Moon's face. Tears suddenly well up Lady Blood Moon's eyes. She gets off of Lady Solana. Lady Solana picks herself up. Lady Blood Moon looks around at the fighting Shadowers and Howlers. (CONT'D) We can stop this, Luna. We can stop all this fighting. LADY BLOOD MOON What if I don't want to? I know you do. You're capable of great things. But not this. Not all this fighting and hurting innocent people. A tense moment. Lady Blood Moon walks past Lady Solana. Stop! LADY BLOOD MOON Everyone stops fighting. They look to Lady Blood Moon and Lady Solana.

26 25. We're done. LADY BLOOD MOON (CONT'D) HOWLER 2 What do you mean we're done? Look what they did to you! HOWLER 3 He's right. They made a fool out of you and us. Lady Blood Moon looks to Lady Solana, and then back to the Shadowers and Howlers. LADY BLOOD MOON Kindness is like the sun. Without it the world would be a dark, dark place. Lady Solana walks beside her. LADY BLOOD MOON (CONT'D) From today, Lady Blood Moon will be no more. Some Howlers look panicked. HOWLER 3 No more Lady Blood Moon? HOWLER 4 What are we going to do? LADY BLOOD MOON Well, I know there's a dojo for individuals with unique fighting abilities, although it's more of a home than anything else. Lady Solana smiles to herself. LADY BLOOD MOON (CONT'D) Lady Solana will take care of you. Lady Solana looks to the Shadowers. Take off your masks. All of you. The Shadowers obey. Lady Blood Moon looks to the Howlers. They do the same. (CONT'D) Take a good look around. You're all the same.

27 26. Lady Blood Moon heads for the exit. Shadowers and Howlers start talking with each other. Lady Solana watches her sister go and then follows. EXT. WAREHOUSE - DAY Lady Solana catches up to Lady Blood Moon. Hey, wait. Lady Blood Moon turns around. (CONT'D) Thank you for that. Lady Blood Moon nods. She heads for the driveway. (CONT'D) Where are you going now? You're not leaving, are you? LADY BLOOD MOON I'm going back to your dojo. I thought you were going to disappear again. LADY BLOOD MOON What? On an empty stomach? Lady Solana smiles. Their joyous moment is cut short when a black car pulls up at the curb. The two sisters stop walking. Were you expecting someone? LADY BLOOD MOON I don't know. You zapped me, remember? The car door opens and out steps PHOENIX (40s), a man in a suit and tie. He looks familiar. Phoenix walks up to the two sisters. PHOENIX I'm looking for Lady Blood Moon.

28 27. On his shoes is a symbol of a phoenix. FADE OUT. THE END