(Office: Marty sitting in a chair. Merrill and Drew dancing together and Karl and Essie trying to dance together)

Marty – Does Murdoch really believe that Salsa is a civilizing influence?

Merrill – Dancing requires anticipating a partner’s movements, working together as one.

Marty – I can think of a lot of other ways to become one. (Karl stops dancing)

Essie – No Karl, look, it’s like this okay. Step back, 2, 3, Front 2, 3, 4, Back 2, 3, 4, front 2, 3… (Karl enjoying her dancing) Okay (they go back to dancing) Good. I used to moonlight as a ballroom dance instructor.

Karl – Really?

Essie – Han-han, now if I can get a convention full of orthodontists to sake their booties, I can teach you, come on. (They dance)

Karl – Hey… hey, hey… (Looks at feet)

Essie – Don’t look at your feet. (Karl counting) Look at me… look at me, look at me… Ah, (Karl steps on her foot) OUCH! (Marty gets up and goes over to them)

Karl – You told me not to look at my feet.

Essie – Well… okay.

Marty – Hey, hey, hey, hey, (steps in-between the two) let the master demonstrate.

Essie – No thanks, Marty.

Marty – C’mon, can’t the teacher learn a thing or 2?

Essie – We’re busy! (Karl pushes Marty way)

Karl –(laughs)

Marty – Fine… (Walks away) Slum it for all I care.

Essie – Okay.

Karl – Hey!

Essie – Hump.

Karl – (laughs)

Essie – It’s good… (Marty at secret door he uses telekinesis and stops the record player from play music)

All together – (they all stop dancing) Hey!

Drew – What’s with him?

Essie – Gee. (Marty goes into cellar.)

(Opening credits. The other 4 are dancing in Murdoch’s Office.)

Essie – (laughs)

Dr. Murdoch – It is part of human nature to select a mate. Not surprisingly, (Marty walking down stairs in cellar) natural pairing can leave some mortals lonely and heartbroken.

Marty – (Cries in anger and knocks books off table. Bangs his hands on the table)

Dr. Murdoch – But what does it do to a vampire? (Marty picking up books in Cellar)

Marty – Alchemist’s handbook… (Toss’ on table) Yawn… (Picks up book) History of the vampire from 400bc to the present… shnoose… (Toss’ it on table and picks up another book) Vampire Anatomy. (Toss’ it on table) Merrill, how can you read this crap…? (Picks up another book) Black magic? (Puts down the book on table and opens it) Now here’s something to do on a Saturday night.

(Conservatory: Malcolm sitting alone with two tickets in his hand. He keeps looking at this girl. He downs his orange juice and gets up from table and heads over to girl.)

Malcolm – Jennifer, you got a minute. (She looks at him)

Jennifer – Hum…

Malcolm – My old school, Wrenfield, is organizing a homecoming dance. And it’s tomorrow night I know its kind of late but huh… (She gets up and leaves) I guess that’s a no.

(In Cellar: Marty puts on an apron. Book is open on the table and there is all kinds of stuff on the table as well)

Marty – (reads in book) A strand of the desire’s hair. Very nice, right. (Goes into Essie's bag and gets brush and takes a hair and sticks it in pot) A petal of a flower rare. (Looks at flower) What do we got here?  Very nice. (Tosses petal in pot.) A jagged shard of antique mirror… hum, hum. (Takes Essie’s mirror and smashes it and puts glass in pot) And a single tear. (Trying to cry) Pfffst, mommy. 9stops) Ah forget it! (Spits in pot) Good enough. Hum – hum. Okay, here we go. (Takes spoon and stirs it and reads) For those who want their chosen heart to see them as god apart this spell will all flaws remove as so their view of me improve. Coming at you, Essie! (Laughs)

(In Office: The four still dancing. Essie and Karl go to the couch together and sit)

Karl – Ah I think I’m finally getting it.

Essie – Told you I was a good teacher.

Karl – Yeah. (Goes in for a kiss)

Essie – Marty.

Karl – (stops) Sorry - - Marty?

Essie – I was too harsh with him.

Karl – What are you talking about?

Essie – Well all he wanted was a dance and I pushed him away.

Karl – With good reason. The guy’s a jerk.

Essie – But he has intensity.

Karl – Like scratching a record kind of intensity? (Flash back to Marty when he got mad)

Essie – He feels rejected, Karl.

Karl – Well so do I… we’re sitting here talking. Getting along. I mean really getting alone. (Essie thinks about Marty) You felt something I felt something. Something special was about to happen here.

Essie – Marty’s a sensitive person. Sensitive people don’t handle rejection well. (Marty kicking table)

Karl – Essie. Jeez… with other girls, I know the right moment, but with you… okay. Essie, you’re beautiful. I’m very attracted to you and right now I’d like to kiss you. (Goes in for a kiss)

Essie – Karl, can we cut this short?

Karl – What?

Essie – Practice the dance (gets up) steps while I’m gone. (Walks by drew and Merrill) Okay?

Karl – Where are you going?

(In lobby: There’s a girl by mirror getting food and Malcolm is there talking to her. Nick is on couch with a girl.)

Malcolm – I wouldn’t call it a date. Think of it more as a… a time – share… you give me an hour or 2 of your time tomorrow night and in return I’ll - - (she leaves him without a word)

Nick – No, (Gets up) no, no, no, no, (walks over to Malcolm) you’re doing it all wrong. (Stops) Let me give you some advice.

Malcolm – You, advice? What is the hidden agenda?

Nick – No agenda, just the challenge. I hate it when one of us succumbs to one of them.

Malcolm – You – you’re talking as if they’re the enemy.

Nick – Well they are… ‘till you find their weakness. See that girl?

Malcolm – (looks over to girl) Yeah…

Nick – She needs you in her life.

Malcolm – She doesn’t even know I’m alive.

Nick – Trust me, she starves for it. But she doesn’t know yet.

Malcolm – Uh huh?

Nick – She’s gone in the library, she’s stared at the book covers and never read inside. That’s you, Malcolm.

Malcolm – I’m a book?

Nick – You’re sensitive, you’re intelligent and you’re rich in ways that she can’t even begin to appreciate.

Malcolm – So… how do I get her to… read inside my cover?

Nick – By being yourself. No-no-no frills, no gimmicks. Just let the true Malcolm come out. (Pats Malcolm’s back and he goes over to her. Whispers to him self) Oh – one last thing: aim high. ‘cause you can always work your way down.

(Murdoch’s Office: Merrill and Drew still dancing and Karl is just sitting there with his feet up on a small table, throwing paper balls)

Merrill – Relax - - we’re definitely improving. See. We’re getting it.

Drew – We can learn the steps, but we’ll never know the dance.

Merrill – What does that mean? (They do a spin)

Drew – Murdoch thinks dancing’s a metaphor for human relationships, right?

Merrill – Right…

Drew – That’s all it is; a metaphor. We can’t have the real thing. We’re vampires.

Merrill – (stops) You’re wrong... (They starts dancing again) vampires can fall in love just as humans do.

Drew – How can we? We can’t feel as humans do.

Merrill – We can if we can find ‘the one’.

Drew – Oh yeah, that myth.

Merrill – There are plenty of examples of vampires loving deeply and passionately.

Drew – Mortal love is the only real love Merrill.

Merrill – A vampire’s love can last for centuries.

Drew – It’s quality, Merrill. (Dips her and they stay like that for awhile) not quantity.

Merrill – A vampire’s love is both. (He straights up and leaves her)

(In Cellar: Marty is sitting there and blows papers off of table using his powers. Then he toss’ the bowl in the garbage by using his powers.)

Marty – I’ll just find somebody on the Web. (Essie walks in. She goes to Marty)

Essie – (stands up) You’ve been a very bad boy Marty…

Marty – What? What have I done?

Essie – You know.

Marty – Go back to your (takes off apron) lover boy Essie… leave me alone.

Essie – Cutting in on me and Karl? Some nerve.

Marty – I wanted to dance. It’s no big deal.

Essie – You know, Marty. Um, there’s been something I’ve been wanting to do for a very-long time.

Marty – Yeah, well-not tonight, Essie okay, I’m not in the mood - - (She turns him around and plants a kiss on his lips)

(Morning in Cellar: Merrill opens book and starts writing notes. Essie and Marty walking in each others arms past Merrill and Karl)

Marty – What do you say we cuddle up a little bit, watch a video. (They sit together) Yes… hum-hum.

Karl – I don’t understand…

Merrill – Did you guys have a fight or something?

Karl – No… one minute she’s telling me how much she likes me and next minute she’s playing tonsil hockey with (looks to them) creepo over there.

Merrill – You think… maybe you pushed too hard? You know how Essie feels about ‘commitment’.

Karl – She seems pretty committed right now… (Looks at them again and see’s them kissing)

Marty – Mmm… you know… this video thing ain’t cutting it. (Turns it off) What about a bath instead?

Essie – Sure. I’ll go run it for you. (Kiss’ him)

Marty – I meant with me…

Essie – Ouuu… mmmm…rrrr… you’re on. (Kiss and then she gets up)

Marty – You’d do that for me? (She turns around)

Essie – Well, normally I like to wait before sharing certain intimacies, but, with you, I know it’s right. (Starts to walk away)

Marty – Ooooh… oh,oh,oh,oh…

Essie – Mmm? (She stops and turns to him)

Marty – While you’re at it… could you mix up one of them bloody Mary’s? The real thing.

Essie – Coming right up, baby. (Blows him a kiss and leaves)

Marty – (All happy) The tougher they are… the harder they fall.

(In Sherry’s room: Sherry on her lab top. Her door is open a little. A knock on the door, in walks Malcolm holding some books.)

Malcolm – Hi, Sherry.

Sherry – Hey, Malcolm. What’s with the books?

Malcolm – Catching up on some light reading.

Sherry – Tomas Aquinas is hardly light.

Malcolm – Well… just don’t let the cover fool you, ‘cause within these pages…

Sherry - …save it Malcolm; Nick already tried that one on me.

Malcolm – He did?

Sherry – Yeah… everyone knows you’re looking for a date for the homecoming dance tonight.

Malcolm – They do?

Sherry – But, you’ve decided to aim high.

Malcolm – Han-han.

Sherry – Okay - - I’ll go with you.

Malcolm – W-w-what? You-you will?

Sherry – Uh huh.

Malcolm – Say- (starts to back up) this- this isn’t a pity thing right?

Sherry – Yeah…

Malcolm – Uh-fine. Meet you at eight. (Leaves room)

(In Cellar: Drew looking at a note he wrote for Sherry. Merrill slides him a book)

Merrill – It’s all there.

Drew – What is it?

Merrill – Countless examples of vampires who fell in love and lived happily ever after… I’ve marked the pages…

Drew – You’re really trying to make a point with this, aren’t you?

Merrill – Just read it Drew. We’ll talk later. (Leaves him and Drew looks at the book cover)

(Essie is rubbing Marty’s feet in her coffin)

Marty – Mmmm, that’s it Essie, just a little to the left, (Karl see’s them together) Mmmm, mmm.

Essie – Marty, I’ve been thinking.

Marty – Hmmm?

Essie – Chiffon, muslin or silk?

Marty – What are you talking about?

Essie – For my wedding gown. (Kicks his foot and she stops rubbing his feet and he sits up)

Marty – Wedding?

Essie – Yeah. I was thinking about (picks up book) 500 guests, not including our makers. It will be the event of the century.

Marty – Essie, we got a good thing going here… let’s not spoil it.

Essie – We must consecrate our love. It is tradition.

Marty – Okay, but let’s not (Merrill listening) go overboard here, okay?

Essie – Okay we’ll have the ceremony by the half-moon, we’ll chant from the ancient scriptures and we’ll dine on a feast of newborns. Newborns? (Merrill leaves) That might be a touch too savage for our current tastes.

Marty – Essie, I don’t think we should rush into things.

Essie – It’s taken me a century to find the one. I hardly call that rushing. (Essie walks a little and Marty jumps out of coffin and goes to her)

Marty – Just remembered you know… I have to use the little boy’s room. (Puts on shoes)

Essie – Okay well, I’ll be right here.

Marty – Mmm, I’m sure you will. (Walks away)

Essie – Mmm. I love you…

Marty – Mmmm, haaa… (Goes past Merrill whose sitting at table with book open. As he gets to the centre of the table she pushes the book to him. He stops)

Merrill – Black Magic? What were you thinking?

Marty – Look it was just a love spell. I don’t think she’d get into it like this.

Merrill – You can’t (walks over to him) mess with Essie’s feelings like this… (Essie watching them) Don’t you know you’re dealing with the most volatile of all emotions?

Marty – Spare me the lecture, Merrill. I just need to break the spell before Essie drives me completely crazy. (Merrill grabs his arm)

Merrill – I don’t know if I can. (They walk together) Why did you do this? Did you need her love that badly?

Marty – Love? Give me a break Merrill! (Essie watches them as they go up the stairs. She vamps out) It was just a game.

Merrill – Maybe for you. (They stop and Essie slides across the floor towards them)

Marty – look, Essie’s not about love, alright. She’s self-centred, domineering, and she deserves what she gets.

Merrill – Spoken like a true bastard. (Essie still sliding to them)

Marty – Sticks and stones, Merrill…

Merrill – Ahhh. (Essie has a knife and stabs Marty in the shoulder and then drops the knife.)

Essie – How could you betray me, Marty? How?

(Later. Essie sits in coffin and Merrill is taking care of Marty’s wound at the table)

Marty – Ouch!

Merrill – Don’t MOVE.

Marty – It’s still bleeding.

Merrill – That’s because the dagger was silver. Six inches lower - -

Marty - …I’d be on the fast road to hell. She’s totally flipped.

Merrill – She’s in love.

Marty – This isn’t love, it’s attempted homicide!

Merrill – For a vampire, it’s a crime of passion.

Marty – What am I gonna do?

Merrill – The spell made her see you as you wanted her to see you.

Marty - So she’s living an illusion. So how do we snap her out of it?

Merrill – (shows him the book) Get rid of the lie. (Reads) Only in the mirror’s reflection can the enchanted see her love for who he really is.

Marty – Mirrors? I can do mirror. (The camera flashes 3 times on Essie sitting in the coffin)

(In lobby: Nick and his date putting flowers on. Malcolm comes down stairs)

Nick – Ooohh. Looks like somebody’s got a date for the dance. So, who’s the dream girl?

Malcolm – (stops) Sherry. (Walks towards door)

Nick – How? I mean, she turned ME down.

Malcolm – What can I say? (Backs away) I’m a serious work of fiction and – you’re just a trashy best seller… have fun… (Leaves and Nicks date gives back flower and leaves)

(In Cellar: Merrill folding clothes and Drew comes in holding book)

Drew – The Book. It’s amazing.

Merrill – I told there could be hope (Drew sits) for our kind. Sometimes you can be so stubborn.

Yeah, yeah… here, on page 130, check this out. The footnote… see? Alright, it says here that in 17^th century in London, a male vampire and (Merrill smiles) a female mortal 9her smile fades away) fell in love… got married… the whole thing. And nobody got hurt. Do you know what this means? Me and Sherry. It’s possible.

Merrill –(mad) A whole book proving just the opposite and all you see is what you wanted to see. (Leaves)

(Nighttime in lobby: Marty comes into room and looks around and then looks into mirror. Essie is just sitting on a table looking straight ahead)

Marty – Essie. I’m so glad I found you. Come here.

Essie – Oh, Marty, I’m so sorry. (Looks at him) I can’t believe I did that. Does it hurt terribly?

Marty – It probably helped if you – tightened up the bandages a bit. Come here. (She gets up and goes to him) If you do it by the mirror, there’s better light… (She just looks at him. Marty looks in mirror) Wow… you should look in the mirror, I mean don’t you think we make a great couple?

Essie – I just want to look at you.

Marty – Terrific. (Looks at her) You should really look in the mirror, Essie…

Essie – Why sweetie?

Marty – Cause you have something in your teeth.

Essie – WHAT! (Looks in mirror) Marty? A manipulator, a liar. A short attention-grabbing clown always looking for a short cut.

Marty – What? (Looks in mirror. She pulls him back) Ow.

Essie – Completely selfish. Never doing things for others, only himself. Someone who thinks the only way to connect with people is by hurting them. Yeah… that is the real Marty. I could kill you. (Walks away)

Marty – Um. Already tried that, remember?

(She picks up a statue and throws it at Marty but he ducks and it hits the mirror. Marty stands back up and looks at the mirror. Essie leaves. Later we go back to Essie and Karl dancing.)

Essie – It was a spell, you know that?

Karl – Yeah.

Essie – Why, baby’s still hurt? How can Essie make it better?

Karl – I dunno, use your imagination.

Essie – My imagination?

Karl – Or ah you can use something else. (They stop dancing and kiss)

(Merrill and Drew on couch. She looks at him. He looks away. Marty goes over to Merrill)

Marty – Do you want to dance? (She smirks) I may be short, manipulative, attention-grabbing clown, but, what I lack in humanity, I- make up on the dance floor. (She gives him her hand and they do to the dance floor to dance)

Dr. Murdoch – Some people find their soul mate right away… others have to wait… They find pleasure and comfort in other things… like friend ship.