(Nighttime in front of fireplace. Merrill is sitting on couch. Marty is sitting in a chair close by Merrill. Drew is on the other side and Karl is sitting beside the staircase. Essie comes in walking)

Essie – Alright listen up! I need volunteers to help me with the banners.

Drew – (looking at pledge paper) Everybody’s making such a big deal about the (sarcastic) pledge.

Merrill – It’s not every day we get initiated in the convocation. I’ll help you Essie.

Essie – Great. (Sits) Any other takers? (Karl turns from one side of chair to the other) Okay, I guess that’ll just be “a girl thing” then. (Picks up pledge paper)

Marty – I gotta memorize all this?

Drew – Yeah, but only if you successfully complete the 1^st term of the experiment, Marty. (Looks back to paper)

Marty – Well, hey, I’m half-human now.

Drew – No you’re not! We’re still vampires. We’ll always be vampires.

Merrill – You’re saying we haven’t changed? Will that be the thrust in your speech?

Drew – What are you talking about?

Essie – Oh see, Murdoch chose you (points to him) to address the class.

Drew – What?!

Marty – Yeah, well, he was supposed to tell you himself ‘cept, uh… some of us aren’t so good at keeping secrets. But hey, if you’re the slightest bit hesitant to make the speech, I nominate (stands up and points to Karl) Karl to do it. I can just see him now… (Gets on coffee table and bad acts like Karl) Lord Vackal, Oh! Sorry, I mean, Lord Vakaal… um, Dr. Murdoch, fellow vampires… when I realize how far I’ve come on the difficult journey to become human… (Others are laughing. Marty weeping) I mean, I mean… it’s irrelevant that I’ve only been a vampire for a year, and it’s irrelevant that I’ve only fed on one human… it’s even irrelevant that I’m not really a vampire at all! (Karl goes to leave) Ahh-hou-hou-houuu…

Essie – Come on Karl, we’re just joking. (He stops. Then we hear glass smash)

(The vampires speed away to where the noise came from. In the library a rogue vampire is crouch on the floor. Window smashed behind her. Vampires surround her. She stands up, we hear sirens. Vampire has blood all down her chin.)

Bridget – (panting) Hide me! Oh, please!

(Murdoch’s Office: Murdoch grading papers and making the percentage in his book)

Dr. Murdoch – It’s difficult to break habits, even more difficult to over come primal instincts. Yet my vampire students have shown remarkable progress over their 1^st training period… Karl, a newly made vampire, is harder to assess… as he has yet to confront his own darkness… (Merrill comes into office)

Merrill – Dr, Murdoch we got big trouble.

(In cellar: Bridget is in a cage. Vampires around her. Murdoch with them, he walks back and forth in front of the cage)

Bridget – Is this how you treat your own kind?

Dr. Murdoch – I’ll ask you again. Who are you and where are you from?

Bridget – I’m just trying to survive.

Dr. Murdoch – Government agents are after you.

Bridget – YEAH! Caught me feeding. Almost blew my head off.

Dr. Murdoch – (stops in front of cage) How did you find us?

Bridget – (smells) I can smell a vampire a mile away… (Murdoch looks like he’s hiding something and he looks to other vampires and backs away from cage) Haaaaa… will you let me out? (Murdoch walks around)

Dr. Murdoch – No! You’ll stay put until I check you out.

Bridget – Haah… I’m not gonna to hurt anybody! (Marty enters with paper in hands) I don’t feed on my own kind.

Marty – Well, what harm can she do? There’s 5 of us.

Dr. Murdoch – No… until I say so, you’ll have no contact with her. (Starts to leave)

Bridget – ‘Her’ name is Bridget. (Murdoch turns around)

Dr. Murdoch – Is that understood… by everyone? Good. Now, I want you to continue preparations for the pledge… and do it somewhere else. (Karl looks into Bridget’s eyes and she look into his from afar)

Marty – I gotta memorize all this? Could I get some cheat notes or something? (Vampires pass Bridget’s cage in file. Karl is against wall.)

Bridget – (whispers) Will you help me? (Karl looks at her) Look, come on! I didn’t do anything wrong…

Marty – Ha… (Hits Karl in stomach a little to leave her. Karl does leave and she does wild in the cage)

(Morning at school: Mimi and Dillan are sitting on the couch eating sandwiches. Mimi takes a really big bite)

Dillan – That used to be alive you know.

Mimi – (mouth full) But now it’s dead. Ain’t I lucky?

Dillan – It’s still all bloody. How can you eat that?

Mimi – How can you eat…grass?

Dillan – H, ha… This is good for me.

Mimi – Well, this is good for me. (Guy walks by looking at them.) The hottie count here is like, way low.

Dillan – Right now I’d settle for someone with a heartbeat. (Another guy walks by looking at them)

Mimi – (laughs) Your bar’s way too high… Gimme your list.

Dillan – Smart… great eyes. Someone who can’t be fooled. Who knows how things really are. And sexy!

Mimi – No one here even comes close.

(Nighttime in library: Drew is sitting at table and Merrill is reading his speech while walking around.)

Merrill – It’s definitely you.

Drew – Why?

Merrill – (reads) We are all vampires. Driven by dark desires afraid of the light, we are told we must deny our instincts and reach for the sun. Why? To be burned? Is this pain the cost of our humanity? (Stop walking and puts down paper on table) You’re questioning the whole experiment.

Drew – Mm-hmm.

Merrill – is that how you really feel?

Drew – That’s how we all feel.

Merrill – No we don’t. Otherwise we’d be out there living from kill to kill like Bridget.

Drew – This whole thing (gets upset) is do stupid…! (Packs up stuff and storms off dropping his speech on floor. Merrill watches him go)

(Dawn approaching in library: Dillan see’s the paper and goes down to pick it up and reads it)

Dillan – (reading) We are all vampires. Driven by dark desires, afraid of the light… (Stands up) Now, this is sexy.

(In Cellar: Karl sitting reading pledge far away from Bridget. He has to watch her. In other room Essie is getting the banners ready, Merrill is helping her. In steps Marty with his patch.)

Merrill – Hey, we’ve been waiting for you. What’s your clan symbol going to be?

Marty – Try this (toss’s patch) for my blood-sucking clan…

Merrill – (picks it up) Marty…

Marty – What, it’s a happy face. Hey, there’s something I don’t get. (Has pledge with him and reads) In the name of the convocation we pledge ourselves to battle darkness in others and ourselves…(stops reading) Does that mean (pulls back curtain) we gotta ‘wack’ Bridget? (Merrill gets up and goes over to Marty)

Essie – I think Murdoch’s gone overboard locking her up like that.

Marty – Yeah, what’s with the no blood rule anyways?!

Merrill – Blood would only feed her powers. She could be a fury plant.

Marty – Yeah, like I’m scared.

Essie – look guys, she’s just a dirty little street vamp looking for a place to sleep. That’s all.

Merrill – Well it’s too late. She knows about the experiment. (Goes back to work)

(Night: Bridget in cage sitting there. Karl still sitting in his chair reading the pledge paper)

Bridget – D’you talk… (He look to her) won’t talk. What are you doing? (He looks to her)

Karl – I’ve been assigned to watch you.

Bridget – Watch me. (Stands up) Are you my guardian angel? What’s your name?

Karl – Karl.

Bridget – I really like that name.

Karl – Next you’re gonna wanna know my sign.

Bridget – Ah-haa…woops. Busted. (Chuckles) You know… if you come closer, I promise not to bite. Look ma, 9puts up her hands) no fangs.

(Karl throws down paper and walks over to Bridget. He gets right up to the cage. She kind of looks him up and down. He looks at her necklace.)

Bridget – You like this? (She touches it) You know it’s welded on. I’d have to cut off my head to get it. You know it’s 1000 years old. You wanna touch it? Don’t be afraid. (He goes puts his hand through bars to touch it and she goes for the key around his waist but he caches her wrist)

Karl – I don’t have the key.

Bridget – You’re quick.

Karl – So are you.

Bridget – Worth a try. (He lets go and starts to walk away but she still has his hand. He rips his hand away) Look Karl… Ha, I’m really hungry. The agents showed up before I fed.

Karl – I can’t…

Bridget – Who’s gonna know?

Karl – That’s not the point.

Bridget – Please… (Karl looks to see where the others are and gets her some blood) That’s my boy.

(Night still in front of the fireplace: Nick is playing golf and Dillan is lying on the floor reading Drew’s speech.)

Nick – Yesssss! (In comes Malcolm and Mimi with food)

Malcolm – Ha, Check this out. (They put the food down) We scored big time.

Nick – Yeah! Our very last cram session deserves a pig out. (They all sit down and eat)

Dillan – (This is great. Listen to this. (Reads) We are all vampires. Driven by dark desires afraid of the light, we are told we must deny our instincts and reach for the sun. Why? To be burned? Is this pain the cost of our humanity?

Mimi – Vampires?

Dillan – It’s a metaphor, Mimi. Who ever wrote this is talking about our life at Mansbridge Academy.

Mimi – It’s romantic.

Dillan – Mm.

Mimi – Especially the “dark desires” part.

Nick – You want dark desires? I’ll show you dark desires.

Malcolm – Hah, I doubt whoever wrote this knows anything at all about vampires.

Nick – Why?

Malcolm – Because they love the dark…?

Dillan – I have a feeling a guy wrote this. Definitely a guy.

Nick – Ah well, not me. (Mimi laughs) What?

Mimi – Well, no guy I can imagine from around here. That’s for sure.

Malcolm – Whoever it is, it’s some heavy stuff.

Nick – Oh, yeah, a vampire getting a sunburn? Whoooh… That’s heavy.

Dillan – There’s someone around here who’s not what he seems. I want to meet him.

Mimi – How?

Dillan – I’ll write him back. (Writes on Drew’s paper.)

(In Cellar: Karl and Bridget together. Karl is still drinking his plasma.)

Bridget – Ahhh. I gotta tell you this is awful stuff. Is this all they feed you around here?

Karl – Yeah.

Bridget – But you’re allowed to hunt on your own?

Karl – No.

Bridget – Why not?

Karl – Well, the whole experiment is about trying to be more human.

Bridget – Human…! Well judging from the way I’ve been treated I’d say it’s failing. But don’t you miss the kill? (Karl walks away a little) How long have you been a vampire, Karl?

Karl – Long enough.

Bridget – How many kills, Karl?

Karl – One.

Bridget – Come here. (He turns around. She holds out her hand) I want to show you something. (He takes her hand and she guides his hand across her necklace) One notch… for every kill.

Karl – Really…?

Bridget – It’s no big deal… If humans always notched every hamburger they ate… you know what the best part is? (Touches his face) Mmm, when you’re so hungry, you can barely hold back your fangs… aaahh, (gets excited) you smell the blood, your hear it pounding so loudly you wanna scream… (Rushes back to where he stands) and the rush when you let go and you sink deep into the warm… sweet nectar… (Walks away) and everything is quiet. You’re at one with yourself. (Has his eyes close then he opens them) I’m a vampire, Karl. And so are you. Don’t run away from who you really are.

(In the Library: Drew all worried about where he left his speech. He looks around room)

Drew – I must have left my speech in here… (Spots it on a chair) Yes! (Goes to it and picks it up. He see’s someone has written on it and looks around. He reads) Meet me tonight in the library to discuss a metaphor. (Smiles) Merrill likes it.

(In cellar: Karl is sitting up against the cage with Bridget sitting in the cage close by)

Karl – I’ve always known that I was different from the others.

Bridget – You are, Karl.

Karl – I don’t fit in.

Bridget – You’re better than they are.

Karl – How?

Bridget – You looked me straight in the eye. They ran away.

Karl – Yeah.

Bridget – You’re fearless.

Karl – Sometimes I get a sense (turns around to her) of what I could be…

Bridget – I can help you. Trust me, Karl. You must choose. This… prison! Or who you truly are.

Karl – What do I do? (She pushes up sleeve and holds out her arm)

Bridget – Listen to your heart… (His hand slides across her arm) Pounding… beating… stronger and stronger in your chest. (Cuts her wrist with a sharp fingernail ring. Blood running down wrist) The blood is calling you… warm…alive… (Karl’s eyes change and his fangs show. He looks at her and licks her wrist and bites into her wrist) This is who you are… blood is your life. (She’s enjoying this)

Essie – (walks in but doesn’t see what he’s doing) Okay Karl, we need to know, which crest is yours so we can - - (she then see’s what’s he doing) Karl, what are you doing? KARL!! (Karl lifts his head from Bridget and he has blood down his chin)

Karl – (laughing)

Essie – Oh my God, Karl…!

(In Office: Karl is sitting in chair and Murdoch is walking back and forth all mad)

Dr. Murdoch – What where you thinking?

Karl – All I know is it felt right.

Dr. Murdoch – She tricked you, can’t you see that?

Karl – I see that everyone thinks they know better than me.

Dr. Murdoch – (stops) Is this about Essie? You’re angry because Essie refused your declaration of love. Is that what this is about?

Karl – You don’t know me at all.

Dr. Murdoch – I know you got taken in by a rogue vampire. That’s not supposed to happen! (Goes down to him) Has it occurred to you… that she might be fury? (Stands up) The Elders are after her. They want her. (Walks around) They want to know where she’s been. They want to know who she is… They want to know… who she’s feasted on. (Stops) There’s a possibility her blood could be tainted

Karl – Look, I’m vampire. I was hungry, I fed. That’s how it works.

Dr. Murdoch – Karl, listen to yourself.

Karl – No! (Smacks the desk and stands up) You listen to me. It’s time I stopped pretending I can change when I haven’t even begun to live!!

Dr. Murdoch – A vampire’s life is not… living.

Karl – That’s the only life I’ve got. (Storms off)

(In cellar: Bridget sitting in cage, Karl comes down stairs and is mad. She stands up)

Karl – I can’t stand it anymore.

Bridget – What are you going to do about it?

Karl – I’m changing my life… I’m gonna make a run for it.

Bridget – You wouldn’t last a day out there.

Karl – You’re coming with me. (Grabs key off wall)

Bridget – Yes! (He opens door) Can I trust you out there?

Karl – Of course you can.

Bridget – Show me.

(They go up stairs. In library: Dillan sits on table in the dark waiting for Drew.)

Dillan – (looks at clock) C’mon mystery man, I’m waiting…

(Karl and Bridget on top level of library looking down on Dillan.)

Karl – (sighs) you want me to drain her?

Bridget – I though I could trust you.

Karl – You can.

Bridget – Not until I know you can kill. Other wise we’ll never survive out there. Now go!

Karl – I don’t know.

Bridget – They’ve really messed with your mind, Karl. (Touches his face) Look at her… you remember how good it was with me… trust me. Human blood… tastes better.

Karl – I’m not sure…

Bridget – Oh! Was I wrong about you? Are you just like the others… Weak?

Karl – I am not weak!

Bridget – Oh… then show me! (She stands back. Karl looks at Dillan’s neck and then jumps down. Dillan eventually see’s him.)

Dillan – Not quite what I expected… (Karl looks kind of scared) But hey… (She stands up and walks to Karl) Not talking, mister creature of the night? “Afraid of the light…” I love your work.

Bridget – (Karl looks up at her) Haaaah!

Dillan – So, what else are you afraid of? (Walks around him) Oh come on… I won’t bite. (Karl looks at her neck and he has a flash back when he sucked Bridget’s blood. He fangs out) What the…? (Karl goes for her neck) Aaaaaggh! Aah, aahhh, ahhh! (Dillan on ground with Karl on her. Bridget gets excited and jumps down)

Bridget – (growls. She sucks into Dillan’s wrist. In walks Drew he see’s them and drops stuff)

Drew – Nooo!! (Bridget looks up. Drew’s eyes go red and he shows his fangs. Bridget looks up at balcony and jumps up out of window.) KARL!!! (Kicks him off of Dillan) Are you out of your mind?!! (Karl just laughs)

(In cellar: Karl is locked in the cage. Essie goes up to him)

Essie – D’you have any idea what you’ve done? How COULD YOU?!!!

Karl – Aarrghh! Leave me alone! (Essie goes into room. Dillan is on coffin bed)

Essie – What are we gonna to do?

Merrill – We can’t just let her die.

Drew – Murdoch’s on his way.

Marty – She ain’t gonna make it through the night… Karl did a bang-up job.

Merrill – Where’s Bridget?

Drew – She escaped.

Merrill – Good riddance.

Essie – Think she might sell us out to the Fury? (Karl bangs in cage)

Marty – Let’s hope for everybody’s sake the Elders find her first.

(Karl banging back and forth in cage. The others look at him. Drew has his hand on Dillan’s forehead.)

Dr. Murdoch – Change is never easy for vampires. When it comes, it is always slow and painful. And, all too often… dangerous.

Karl – (Banging in cage) Aarrghh!