(Sherry and Mimi’s room: They are Sherry’s bed with a divining board)

Sherry – I’ve never used a divining board before.

Mimi – You want an answer, this spells it out. This way you never have to make your own decisions.

Sherry – I don’t know I just feel kinda stupid using it to contact a…

Mimi - …spirit? Is the guy that shows up in your dreams real or not?

Sherry – Yes! He feels real.

Mimi – Then lets find out if he’s a ghost so you can stop obsessing. (Mimi puts her hands on board) Hey, put your hands right here.

Sherry – (sighs) (sherry puts hands on board)

Mimi – Ok. Now, ask the board if he’s here.

Sherry – Who?

Mimi – Santa Claus. Your dream-lover, who else?

Sherry – Are you here?

Mimi – I’m under whelmed.

Sherry – Ok, whoever you are, if you’re real, reveal yourself.

(Shows coffin and the roof shutters open. The board starts to spell out words)

Mimi – You’re pushing it.

Sherry – No, I swear it.

Mimi – Woah! (She takes her hands off) You must be!

Sherry – I…(shows coffin) am… I don’t (takes hands off) believe this…Re…Real.

Mimi – Oh man! (Coffin shakes)

Dr. Murdoch – Vampires experience phenomenon peculiar to their race. They’re at the mercy of instincts that can flare up at any moment. Condemning them to act out ancient urges. For this morning’s lesson, (in class Murdoch holding papers) I want to introduce you to an unusual man…a great man who dared to disagree with the authorities of the day…GALILEO. 1564 to 1642. Italian astronomer and physicists.

Malcolm – His first published work uh; dialogues concerning the two chief world systems was a best seller in 1632.

Nick – Yah. I’ll have to run out and buy it.

Dr. Murdoch – Excellent Nick. Then we’ll all look forward to your 10 minute oral report next Monday.

Class – Whoa…

Dr. Murdoch – Each of you will also work with a partner in order to discover why this young man, achieve greatness. I’ve taken the liberty of assigning teams. I’ll expect your results in 48 hours. (Murdoch puts up sheet on blackboard and class gets up) Oh! I’m sorry I forgot to mention, this assignment will be worth 30% of your term.

Nick – (nick at board) Guess what space cadet?

Sherry – I’m not up for guessing games.

Nick – Well Doc must have decided to throw us back together. This gotta be his way of playing matchmaker, don’t you think? I’ll meet you here after dinner, partner. Ok? (Leaves)

(Night Time: Vampires come out of cellar, all of them look sleepy and one by one sit at the table in Murdoch’s office)

Drew – What a rotten night.

Marty – Every night’s rotten, but here’s the best part; it’ll be that way forever. (He sits)

Dr. Murdoch – Your schedule has been moved up 5 hours, starting today.

Karl – Oh man, I knew I was short on sleep.

Essie – See I do require my set amount of beauty rest.

Marty – You just need to get your blood revved; I’m ripe and ready to do that.

Karl – (Laughs)

Dr. Murdoch – Speaking of revving…the Elders want to accelerate your study.

Merrill – Are they displeased?

Dr. Murdoch – On the contrary, they think you can be challenged even more.

Drew – So when’s our downtime?

Marty – Yeah, to drool over the day-school babes.

Karl – (laughs)

Dr. Murdoch – The lesson today is about someone who dared to disagree with everyone around him and to take his own path.

Marty – Would this be…Satan?

Dr. Murdoch – No.

Merrill – Mortal or one of our own?

Dr. Murdoch – Someone who was given a chance to become Vampire but chose mortality instead, so that he could study the wonders of the real world.

Karl – Somebody had a choice about being vamped?

Dr. Murdoch – His name was Galileo. And what he dared to believe changed the world.

Marty – Yeah well, I believe I’m hungry. So is this new schedule give us an early breakfast?

Dr. Murdoch – You’ll be fed at one o’clock, as always.

Vampires – Ohhh!

Marty – (sighs and then spins the clock hands to one)

Dr. Murdoch – Marty…(Marty gets up)

Marty – Time to eat.

Drew – Yeah. (They all get up and leave)

Dr. Murdoch – (laughs)

(Sherry and Mimi’s room: Sherry on bed with the board)

Sherry – I…have…come (Mimi looks at sherry from afar) …to take you…away! (Laughing)

(Office: Mimi knocks)

Mimi - I need to talk to you.

Dr. Murdoch – What is it, Mimi?

Mimi – It’s about Sherry. I’m worried. She’s been acting so strange.

Dr. Murdoch – How do you mean, “Strange”?

Mimi – (sighs) She’s having this thing…with a ghost!

Dr. Murdoch – What, why would you say that?

Mimi – It’s talk to her through a board.

Dr. Murdoch – Ah yes, I used to play those games myself. They could be very convincing.

Mimi – I saw this with my own eyes.

Dr. Murdoch – Yes, well, I will look after this, Mimi. I’m sure there’s a perfectly good…

Mimi – When?!

Dr. Murdoch – Very soon. Now will you please go back to your room. (Closes door and Vakaal show up) I did as you commanded, and moved their schedule ahead.

Vakaal – The moon has entered its 4^th quarter. During this period, should a sleeping vampire’s coffin be exposed to be early morning lunar rays, it can cause…

Dr. Murdoch – The “stirring”.

Vakaal – Yes. Moonlight of the 4^th quarter can generate an escalation of the metabolism. Which, in turn, can unleash ancient, and uncontrollable urges. Be alert for any signs. (He disappears)

(Down in cellar: Drew is watching Sherry on a tape. He rewinds it and play’s it. Marty shows up)

Marty – Why watch it on video, Drew, when you can have the real thing?

Drew – In case you’ve just joined us Marty, we can’t have the “real thing.”

Marty – Oh… (Touches screen) if I want it…I’m gonna get it.

Drew – Don’t even think about it.

Marty – Ah, Drew, what we have here then are those pesky double standards.

Drew – No, what we have here (stands) is me telling you to get the clear picture. Stay away from her.

Essie – (Essie arrives) Hmmm, male bonding. Gives me goose bumps.

Drew – Stay out of this, Essie.

Essie – I’m tempted to tell both of you to “grow up”, but since we know how long that takes for us, I’ll skip it.

Marty – Take a hike, Essie. (She slaps him across check and draws blood) Don’t start what you can’t finish.

Essie – Oh I can finish it.

(Marty touches his face and see blood. Drew has left)

Marty – Nice claw-work, Es.

Essie – And uh, (touches his scrap and licks it off her finger) if you don’t learn to behave yourself…there’s just gonna be blood between us.

Marty – Why Essie…you really care.

(Morning: nick walking up to a sitting Sherry.)

Nick – We’ve done diddly-squat on this project in 24 hours.

Sherry – I can’t concentrate.

Nick – Well hey, that’s great, I mean it’s only 30% of the term mark, so why-why should I get so upset, right?

Sherry – You’ve become studious now, have you?

Nick – well I just want us to do something together, and get it right, you know, for once.

Sherry – Maybe…I just need a new partner. (Nick takes his stuff. Sherry looks on book to see written “ I’m here…”

(Marty laying on table. Essie is standing above him)

Essie – What your doing?

Marty – Go bother someone else.

Essie – I’d rather bother you.

Marty – You’re hitting on me? (Gets up) I knew I was irresistible.

Essie – Don’t flatter yourself. I’m protecting you.

Marty – I don’t need your protection Essie.

Essie – Yes, you do. You’re lining up your next victim. You think I can’t sense that?

Marty – And this would be what? Vampiress intuition?

Essie – This would be me giving you fair warning.

Marty – Essie as home monitor…?

Essie – Leave the girl alone. Or you’ll suffer the consequences. As will all of us. I’ve warned you. (Leaves)

(Office: Murdoch and Sherry sitting across from each other)

Dr. Murdoch – How long has this spiritual communion been going on?

Sherry – Since the first night with the divining board.

Dr. Murdoch – And how would you describe this ghost?

Sherry – I didn’t say it was a ghost.

Dr. Murdoch – Okay…What is it?

Sherry – It’s a he. And, I haven’t actually seen him, I just felt him through messages.

Dr. Murdoch – And what have you learned through these messages?

Sherry – That he knows me. He knows my deepest thoughts, and desires.

Dr. Murdoch – And you believe all this to be true?

Sherry – You think I’m making this up, don’t you?

Dr. Murdoch – Sherry, did you know that Galileo had his first scientific breakthrough when he was crazy; until they found out he was right.

Sherry – So you believe me?

Dr. Murdoch – I believe that you believe. Let’s leave it at that for now. Goodnight Sherry.

Sherry – Thank-you. (Leaves)

(Marty stacking chairs with his mind. The others are at the table watching)

Karl – Testing the laws of gravity? (The chairs fall)

Drew – That’s Newton, not Galileo.

Marty – (throws chair) I’m playing.

Merrill – What’s wrong, Marty?

Marty – Oh, good question, Merrill. What’s wrong? I’m a cooped up vampire locked away to learn about truth, justice and the mortal way.

Karl – Hey Marty. I know what you’re going through…

Marty – NO YOU DON’T!!! None of you do. I’m gonna get some air.

Essie – No Marty, (stands up) stay here, with us. (Marty grabs a chair)

Karl – What’s up with him?

Essie – It’s a “stirring”, he can’t help it.

Drew – Who is he targeting?

(Marty starts to walk and essie looks at Merrill)

Merrill – Sherry. (Drew gets up)

Drew – Marty! What do you think you’re doing?

Marty – What I always do; my own thing.

Drew – Not with her.

Marty – She belongs to nobody, remember? That’s the way the game is played!

Drew – (grabs Marty) not anymore.

Marty – Think of the possibities, Drew: If I make her, she becomes one of us. Hmmm? Then you can have her forever.

(Drew goes at him and Marty flings chairs at him and then Karl)

Drew – Huh! (On ground)

Karl – Huh! (On ground)

Marty – It’s been fun. But Sherry awaits…she’s dying to meet me. (Leaves)

(Office: Murdoch is sitting in chair. Doors are shutting)

Dr. Murdoch – It’s begun.

(In Sherry and Mimi’s room: Sherry is asleep. A faded Marty appears at the end of her bed)

Marty – (Whispering) Sherry, Sherry…I’m here for you…Sherry…The one you’ve been waiting for. Come to me…now…(She goes with him)

(Downstairs: Marty is at piano playing a sound. Sherry walks down steps and stops)

Marty – Don’t be afraid.

(Sherry goes farther down steps)

Sherry – Are you real?

Marty – Oh yes…real enough.

(Office: Drew leaves cellar and walks fast for door. Murdoch looking for a book)

Dr. Murdoch – That’s it! Drew, no! (Drew stops)

Drew – I can stop him!

Dr. Murdoch – No you can’t, not alone. There’s a way we can stop him together but we have to join the others. (Marty goes Vamp) Come on! (The two head down to cellar)

(In lobby)

Sherry – It’s beautiful.

Marty – My undying pleasure.

Sherry – Who are you?

Marty – You know who I am.

Sherry – Then why am I afraid?

(In cellar)

Dr. Murdoch – (reading book) You, who are the many, must now become the one. Gather yourselves together in your places and join together. Repeating after me …Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay…(Puts book down) Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay… Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay (join hands and Vakaal face shows up) …Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay…

(In Lobby)

Marty – I’m about to make you one with the darkness. (She disappears and reappears someplace else)

(In cellar)

Together - …Oh Key Lay… Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay… Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay

(In Lobby: Marty goes to grab her but she disappears)

Marty – What’s this!? (Growling)

Together - Chay Kah Pah…

Marty – (Growling)

Together - …Oh Key Lay…

Marty – (Growling) Talk to me! Aaaaaah! Where are you? (Marty starts to spin)

Together - Chay Kah Pah…Oh Key Lay…

(In Cellar: Marty appears there spinning in circle)

Vakaal – Do not make us regret choosing you, for this experiment.

(Sherry and Mimi asleep. Everything from before this goes backwards and we see Sherry asleep)

Sherry – Who’s playing the piano?!

Mimi – No one…go back to sleep.

Sherry – Mimi…

Mimi – Yeah?

Sherry – Can you through out the divining board?

Mimi – With pleasure. (Mimi gets out of bed and gets the board and troughs it out of window) Done. (Gets back in bed)

Sherry – Thanks!

(In Cellar: Everyone at table except for Marty)

Dr. Murdoch – Marty… Will you join us please?

Marty – (at table) Ah…I feel a lecture coming on.

Dr. Murdoch – No! You were the victim this time. It was the “Stirring.” (Puts box on table)

Marty – So you’re saying it was just, stirred up. So then you’re cool with this? And Vakaal, is he cool with this too?

Dr. Murdoch – Not quite. For all our combined efforts to save the one. The one will now polish for the many. (They take out their shoes and put them on the table and leave)

Marty – Wait, guys…I don’t do shoes! I…

Dr. Murdoch – A vampire’s life is one of solitude and isolation where he learns to survive on his own instincts. Only trusting himself. Becoming human is about risking trust. Allowing yourself to be dependent on another. For then, and only then, common pursuit of that most precious gift of all. Life.