(Murdoch’s Office: Dr. Murdoch writing in his book)

Dr. Murdoch – Because a vampire’s life spans many centuries, time, stretches endlessly before them. (Clock rings. Marty playing with knife, Drew writing, Karl drinking blood.)  Mortals conserve time, and hold it precious. While vampires often wish time would end. (Merrill sleeping) For like a stake through the heart, time ultimately becomes their enemy.

(Essie looks at herself in the mirror, she then looks at her hands they have spots all over them.)

Essie – What is this?

(Morning time: Sherry and Malcolm sitting together in the conservatory. Malcolm looking at picture of Sherry’s grandmother)

Sherry – I just spoke with her yesterday. She was telling me about the sunflowers in her garden. (Nick grabs picture from Malcolm.)

Nick – Who’s the grey-hair? (Sherry gets up and grabs picture from Nick and leaves) What’s with her?

Malcolm – Her grandmother died yesterday. They were pretty tight.

Nick – Oh, s-so the lady in t-the photograph?

Malcolm – Yeah.

Nick – Oh. (Grabs Malcolm in headlock and gives him a nugy) You could of told me, dork face. Huh? (Leaves)

(Night time In Office: Vampires are sitting at table and Murdoch is handing out clipboards and stopwatches.)

Dr. Murdoch – As vampires, (hands one to Drew) you know what it’s like to feel immortal.

Marty – (hands one to Marty and he pass’ it to Karl) Yeah, and uh, let’s just say it gets a little stale after awhile.

Dr. Murdoch – Exactly, and part of being truly human is understanding, that time is a gift. (Hands one to Merrill)

Karl – What’s this for?

Dr. Murdoch – It’s a stopwatch. Click it once, (Karl clicks it) click it again, it shows how much time has passed. (He sits)

Marty – Oh goody. What fun!

Dr. Murdoch – Using your time sheets, I want you to record how you spend each night.

Drew – What if we're not doing anything?

Dr. Murdoch – Then record that! Even simple conversations, who there with, what there about.

(Essie storms into room and sits beside Merrill)

Karl – Cold?

Essie – Merrill, could you please bring him up to speed?

Merrill – She’s going through “the withering.”

Karl – The withering?

Merrill – You haven’t experienced it yet.

Karl – Well, what is it?

Merrill – It’s a period of cellular regeneration when a vampire sheds its old cells and replaces them with new ones.

Essie – Yeah, it makes me sound like a bad science project, Merrill.

Merrill – Oh relax Essie, it only lasts for two days.

Essie – Always two days to long for me.

Karl – I still don’t get it. Why the gloves?

Essie – Hmmm! (Takes off glove and shows him her hand) Okay now will be a good time to wipe that revolted expression off your face, Karl.

Karl – I’m sorry.

Merrill – Symptoms include age spots, mostly in the hands and feet, and some minor wrinkling of the skin. Hardly noticeable really.

(We see stopwatches clicking and time going by really fast. Morning in the conservatory: Sherry and Malcolm sitting on couch and Sherry is playing with stopwatch)

Sherry – My dad carries one of these. He uses it to log the time he puts on his clients cases. I wonder if he’s gonna click (she clicks watch) in and out of my grandmothers funeral?

Malcolm – When are you leaving?

Sherry – Tonight.

(Malcolm writes on his time sheet and Sherry looks at him. She then spins the watch around in her hand. In the Cellar: Essie taking out boxes of clothes. Merrill is with her)

Merrill – I don’t know why you’re so upset about this?

Essie – I’m not upset.

Merrill – I mean, (stands up) you always tell me there’s no one around here worth impressing anyway.

Marty – Oh Essie! I bought you a present. (Hands her the jar)

Essie – Vanishing cream?

Marty – That’s right. (Puts on scarf) With today’s wide range of beauty products, there’s no reason why you should let your real age show.

(She hands the cream jar back to Marty and pushes him away. She then puts a wide brimmed hat on Merrill and puts a black hat on herself and then puts on long black gloves. Nighttime: Sherry on couch by herself. Drew is watching her on the TV. Nick shows up.)

Nick – Sorry for what I said about your grandmother.

Sherry – she asked me to come visit her a few weeks ago, but I said I was too busy with schoolwork and stuff.

Nick – You didn’t know.

Sherry – Look, I would rather not talk about this anymore, okay?

(Nick leaves. Drew zooms in on Sherry’s face and looks all sad too. Marty comes in.)

Marty – Oh! Don’t you just want to through (jesters the hug) your arms around her?! You know what they say; they say the best time to score a chick is either at a wedding or a funeral. (Sherry crying on TV. She wipes the tier away) Drew, she needs you. Now more then ever.

(Sherry gets up and walks down hall. Drew turns off TV. Marty leaves and Merrill joins Drew.)

Merrill – It’s hard isn’t it? Losing someone.

Drew – I did the right thing, letting her go. (She touches him on the chest. Marty returns.)

Marty – Hey! Um shouldn’t you be filling this out in you time sheet? No, no, no, allow me. (Gets sheet and writes) Abandoned love of my life in hour of need, 2… (Drew grabs board and leaves) …35.

(Essie sitting in front of her coffin. Karl enters room with chessboard)

Karl – Hey! I finally figured out a winning game plan.

Essie – I’m not in the mood, Karl. (He sits)

Karl – Come on! I got to put something else on my time sheet besides (takes chess pieces out) eating, sleeping and watching videos. Besides, it will get your mind of things.

Essie – What’s the point? I always win anyway.

Karl – That’s because you cheat!

Essie – No. It’s because you suck.

Karl – Come on, just one game.

Essie – Just go away! (He packs up stuff and leaves. She looks back to see him gone and she looks under her glove to see that her spots are worse.) Oh no!

(Morning: Stopwatches going. Malcolm in conservatory writing on his time sheet)

Malcolm – Did extra math homework, just for the fun of it. (Sherry shows up and drops stuff) Hey! You’re back. How’d it go? (She sits. He goes to her) You okay?

Sherry – Fine. (He sits back down) My dad yelled at me in front of all the guests for wearing a yellow dress to the wake.

Malcolm – Oh…

Sherry – Yellow is nana’s favorite color.

Malcolm – Then you did the right thing. You honored her memory.

Sherry – Do you believe in life after death?

Malcolm – I believe, when a person dies, their psychic energy is released into the universe. (She gets up) and, that energy can never be lost, only transferred.

Sherry – Nana had always promised me that, she’d send me a sign. So that, somehow… I’d know that she’s safe.

Malcolm – And?

Sherry – Nothing yet. (Grabs her stuff and leaves.)

(Stop watches going again. In cellar: Essie storms into room where Merrill and Karl are sitting)

Essie – Okay I’m telling you, something is wrong here. It’s supposed to have passed by now. Instead, it’s spreading like a disease. Look! Look! I never had anything like this on my face before.

Merrill – (stands up) Did, you try the milk bath?

Essie – Yes! And a triple dose of blood.

Marty – (Merrill gets book) Don’t worry Essie, women, they are like fine wine. They get better with age. W-Wait. (Smells her) Oh! I’d say you’re a Bordeaux vintage hmm… 1889.

Essie – If you don’t shut up! (Lunges at him)

Marty – Whoa, Hey! Don’t! (Karl goes to Essie)

Essie – God, I feel so weak.

Merrill – There’s gotta be something here about the withering.

Karl – What is it?

Merrill – It’s uh, Koharski’s vampire (shows book) anatomy. Dr. Murdoch gave it to me. Here! (Reading) “The withering.” A change of old for new, marked by sunrises, lasting 2, oh, listen. It has been such that, on certain occasions, the withering maybe prolonged…

Karl – There you go, nothing to worry about. It’s perfectly normal.

Essie – I’m going to lay down. Maybe when I wake up, this will be all over. (She leaves and Merrill elbows Karl)

Karl – What? (Reads) It’s been such on rare occasions the withering maybe prolonged, often ending in the Afflicted… final death.

(Murdoch's Office: Murdoch sitting at desk. Karl and Merrill at desk.)

Karl – She could die! (Puts book down in front of Murdoch)

Dr. Murdoch – I know, but death comes to us all Karl, humans and vampires. It might be Essie’s time.

Merrill – Couldn’t we at least summon the elders?

Dr. Murdoch – They refused to be involved in the natural order of things.

Karl – Great. Just great. (Hits desk and walks around)

Merrill – Karl!

Karl – What are we supposed to do just sit here and do nothing? I mean, that’s not very civilized is it?

Dr. Murdoch – I agree with you, Karl.

Karl – This experiment is a joke. (Leaves)

Dr. Murdoch – Talk to him.

(She picks up book and leaves. In the Cellar: Karl reading through the book. Marty shows up and walks back and forth behind Karl.)

Marty – I don’t think I’ve ever seen you read a book before. Your not going all scholar on us, now are you Karl?

Karl – I’m busy, Marty.

Marty – Vampire medical book. So what’s the prognosis Dr. Karl? (Goes to touch book but Karl hits his hand away)

Karl – Marty!

Marty – Worse then we thought, huh?

Karl – I got no time for you, all right?

Marty – That’s not exactly the best bedside manner to have if you intend on (Karl grabs Marty) s…

Karl – Marty, back off! (Pushes him away and goes back to reading)

(In Essie’s room: Karl is sitting on bed and Essie is walking around with the book)

Essie – When were they planning to tell me? When I’m six feet under?

Karl – It says there might be a cure.

Essie – Might? What might that cure be?

Karl – Well I didn’t understand it exactly.

Essie – What does it say? (Holds book to Karl)

Karl – Right here. (Points to page)

Essie – I can’t make out the words, you gonna have to read it to me. (Gives book to Karl)

Karl – (reads) It says, those who drink from the life of youth and beauty might loosen the grip of a tenacious withering.

Essie – (look up) Life of youth and beauty, isn’t that sweetly ironic?

Karl – Well, what do you think that means?

Essie – Means I have to feed on fresh blood. I’ll handle this.

Karl – I can help you Essie, if you want?

Essie – I said, I’ll handle this!

Karl – No Essie, look at me. Essie, I can help you with this.

Essie – Don’t you pity me. Don’t you dare. (Leaves)

(Sherry at piano taping the keys. Essie and Merrill are behind the mirror in Murdoch office. They are looking at Sherry. Essie is cover in clothes with a veil over her face)

Merrill – I know what you’re thinking.

Essie – I’ll just take a few sips. (Sherry gets up and walks away) I wont drain her.

Merrill – You can keep you blood lust in check? (Closes mirror)

Essie – (facing Merrill) I don’t want to die. Not again. I wanna live.

Merrill – You’re not going to die. Your gonna be fine.

Essie – Then tell me. (Lifts veil) does this look fine to you?

Merrill – (gasps and covers mouth)

(Night in Sherry’s room: Sherry is on bed playing with a snow globe.)

Essie – Sherry… Sherry… (Her shadow by the door) Sherry…

Sherry – Nana? (Gets up)

Essie – Sherry… (Walking down hall)

Sherry – Nana? Nana? (Essie hiding and Sherry walking down hall)

Essie – Sherry…

Sherry – Is that you?

Essie – Sherry…

(Sherry is near Essie but the phone rings and just when Essie is about to make her move Sherry goes back to room and Karl runs upstairs to Essie.)

Karl – Here, easy! (She leans on him)

Essie – Oh, I’m dying… (He picks her up into his arms and carries her down the stairs and lays her on the couch) Aw don’t look at me.

Karl – Essie, Essie! You’re beautiful. All right? You’ll always be beautiful.

Essie – Hmmm, I’m scared.

Karl – Don’t worry, everything’s gonna be okay.

Essie – Hold my hand?

Karl – Yes.

Essie – I’m so sorry.

Karl – (laughs) For what?

Essie – For always being so mean to you.

Karl – Don’t worry about it. (Marty is on top of staircase. And starts to walk down)

Marty – Ah yes! The final deathbed apology scene. (Jumps couple steps) Ha! Where the selfish vampire princess, repents all in her final hour. (Takes out scarf) Oh. Convincing performance, Essie. (Lays on the top of couch back) Really, I’m all choked up.

Karl – Give it a break.

Marty – So tell me Essie, how does it feel from going from the living dead to the (Karl’s gets up) just plain dead? (Karl grabs Marty)

Karl – Leave her alone!

Marty – It’s hard losing a loved one. Isn’t it! (Pushes him and Marty flies back) Oh bye Essie! Don’t forget to send us a postcard.

(Karl runs at Marty and Marty takes off. Karl then goes back to Essie and sits on couch)

Karl – Essie, I think I figured out a way out of this.

Essie – There’s no way out.

Karl – Essie, drink my blood.

Essie – What?

Karl – I said, drink my blood. It said in the book that you had to drink from life of youth and beauty, it didn’t say that life, had to be human. Well, I’m young, especially for a vampire. I’m not so sure about the beauty part but…

Essie – What if I can’t stop?

Karl – I’ll take that chance…

Essie – Come closer. (He gives her his neck and she drinks)

Karl – Essie, Essie, you have to stop. Essie, you have to stop, Essie! Stop! (Pushes her away and he stands far away from her)

(Morning: Murdoch at piano playing a sound. Sherry goes over to him and stands there. He then stops playing)

Sherry – Have you ever lost anyone you really loved?

Dr. Murdoch – Yes. She played the piano, loved Chopin. But that was a very long time ago…

Sherry – Do you think that after people die there spirits are still out there, watching over us?

Dr. Murdoch – Sometimes, I feel her.

Malcolm – Sherry… (He jesters her to come over to him) The card says for a Miss. Woods. (Gives her the flowers. She opens card)

Sherry – (reads) Dear Sherry, please know that I am safe and happy. Remember, life is a garden; you must cultivate your soil. All my love Nana.

Malcolm – It’s your sign. She must of planed it before so you know. I’ll put ‘em in water.

(Takes flowers and she cries. She holds the card close to her. In Cellar: Essie looking at her hands and face. Merrill is sitting on top of coffin.)

Merrill – How are you feeling? (Essie spins around on stool)

Essie – Ready to rumba.

Merrill – It says in my book, that once you drink of another vampire’s blood, you gain a deeper understanding of them.

Essie – So…?

(Karl in the background tossing the football in the air.)

Merrill – So…

Essie – Oh, come on, Merrill. You and I both know there’s not much to understand about Karl. (Laughs)

(Essie looks in mirror and looks at Karl and Karl looks back at her. Nighttime in the lobby in front of the fireplace. Essie and Karl playing chess.)

Dr. Murdoch – Vampires have nothing but time… time to learn about themselves, and each other. (Essie gets up)

Essie – Anytime now.

Karl – Yeah, okay, okay… (Does his move and pushes the timer button) There.

Dr. Murdoch – Time to look beyond the surface, to see things and people as they really are. (Essie looks at board and leaves)

Karl – Where are you going?

Essie – You won.

Karl – I did? Hey! (Goes to her) Wait a minute! You let me win. (At the stairs)

Essie – No, I didn’t.

Karl – Yes! You did. (She leaves)

Dr. Murdoch – That is the true gift of time. (We see a clock and it clock rings) And in the end… a vampires only blessing.