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TPM: Twelve Past Midnight

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Death, Is Only the Beginning. In this hybrid fantasy/sci-fi action horror series, a group of undead human souls known as the Uneventful's will be thrust into a cosmic conflict that effects all of the Fringe, a wayward station in the nexus or all creation, run by delegates from Heaven and Hell, which borders the Underworld and all the creature inhabitants who make up the city..

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Season One Episode One: Pilot
A TOKEN OTHER GUYS, INC PRODUCTION TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT AKA (TPM) THE SERIES. INT= Interior EXT-Exterior V.O.=VOICE OVER O.S.=OFF SCREEN EPISODE ONE: PILOT FADE IN SHANE: So let's say one minute you’re driving...and you're not quite paying attention, and then in the next moment...bam, A car hits you, but not just one car...dozens of cars. EXT. HIGHWAY A 47 CAR PILE UP can be seen as smoldering metal and dazed and confused men and women get out from the wreckage. SHANE:(O.S.)Now let's say that you didn't die in this pile up.... SHANE gets out of his car, a gash on his head as he looks confused just as a SEMI slams into him, pinning him against his car, adding to the already intense wreckage. SHANE:(O.S) But you did die from a fuckin' Semi Truck hitting you. Would you ask yourself...what happens next? INT. AUDITING ROOM SHANE takes a deep breath as he looks around as he is sitting at a desk in the middle of a crowded room, SHANE watching as a LARGE WOMAN comes over and drops a stack of papers onto his desk. LARGE WOMAN: Fill that out, do not skip any questions, and time is of the essence you have fifteen minutes, thank you. The LARGE WOMAN hurriedly walks away as she gives the same responses down the line as SHANE just looks frustrated and confused as he looks at the papers with the words TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT emboldened in large text across the top as SHANE begins fumbling through the papers. SHANE: (O.S.) I don't know why, but I felt the urge to do this... SHANE raises his hand as the LARGE WOMAN looks over at him as everyone else is focused on finishing their paperwork. The LARGE WOMAN comes over to SHANE as SHANE clears his throat. SHANE: Umm, If I may ask, what the hell is this? LARGE WOMAN: You're dead sugah, please fill out the questions truthfully and leave through the door. The LARGE WOMAN hurries off as SHANE looks rocked. SHANE: (O.S.)And just like that, everything I already knew was confirmed by a very fat and ugly woman, in a room full of very disgruntled and somber looking people. Dead. D.E.A.D. The big goodbye. f*****g lame. SHANE begins flipping through the file as he begins to fill out the paperwork. SHANE: (O.S.) It was all so trivial. My name, my birthday, favorite memory, food, TV shows. It was like I was filling out some sappy and extremely lame door to door questionnaire. But within five minutes I was done, and out the door. SHANE hands the papers to the LARGE WOMAN who ushers him towards the only door in the room, SHANE stepping out of it as he looks about to see a large line branching off in six different directions. SHANE:(O.S.) Then everything changed...again. VOICE: (O.S.) Hey, you must be TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT? SHANE looks around as a man stands by the door, SHANE looking at him as the MAN checks a note and holds it up as it reads TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT. SHANE looks at him skeptically as the MAN holds his hand out towards him. CHARLES: Sorry, the TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT thing is your death name, basically your time of death. SHANE: Is that why I had that on my files in there? CHARLES: You seem pretty calm about all this, most people are more panicky, upset and freaked out. SHANE: Oh I am...I just don't know how or why and where or when to displace it all. CHARLES: I'm sure we'll find out in time. SHANE: So I died at 12:12? CHARLES: Seems like. SHANE: You have a name too? CHARLES: CHARLES. CHARLES REID. SHANE: You have a death name also? CHARLES: We all do. I go by 22 past 7. SHANE: SHANE YATES. The TWO shake hands as CHARLES motions for him to follow him as SHANE watches all the people getting into lines. SHANE: Shouldn't I be getting into one of these lines? CHARLES: Normally. But you're not meant to go where those people are going. SHANE: Where is that? CHARLES: Heaven. Hell. Valhalla. Wherever their souls need to be. SHANE: Souls? CHARLES: Yes. That's what we are. We have a body, flesh, so it feels, so it seems to the eye, but this, this is you. Your essence. What you were, that was just your soul being kept on ice. SHANE: So why am I not going to... CHARLES: Do you like Jazz? SHANE: What? CHARLES: Jazz, did you ever listen to Jazz when you were alive? SHANE: Not a whole lot. CHARLES: I love JAZZ, I don't know why, I just do. It's soulful, it's...beat and rhythm, intertwining in a way that at first doesn't make a lot of sense, doesn't fit...but then you get lost in it...and then it starts to make sense...starts to fit. It's all free form, just play. SHANE: Yeah... CHARLES: That's kinda like life. Like life used to be. Free form...never ending waltz of souls and persons, making memories...sharing laughs...leaving impressions. SHANE: I suppose so. CHARLES: That's why you're not in the line. SHANE: Come again? CHARLES: I don't want to tell you this without at least feeding you, I'm just kinda, laying out the feelers. You know? SHANE: Uh... CHARLES brings SHANE towards a PAIR of DOUBLE DOORS. CHARLES: What you're going to see is going to be different. Because for the time being, this is gonna be your home. Your...world now. Mr. YATES, TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT, or whatever you call yourself. Welcome to the FRINGE. CHARLES pushes the double doors open as SHANE hesitantly looks about before he walks out. EXT. STREET SHANE looks about as he watches the SPRAWLING METROPOLIS lay out before him, SHANE looking about awe struck as he watches a few VAMPIRES walking hand in hand, as a STRANGE TENTACLE like CREATURE was selling something from a stand as a CORPSE was chatting away with a normal looking MAN as SHANE was flabbergasted by the sight, CHARLES coming over as he lays a hand on his shoulder. CHARLES: Crazier then dying? SHANE: I don't know...but it's pretty f*****g close. CHARLES: Yeah, I felt the same way. SHANE: What the hell is this? CHARLES: It's the FRINGE. SHANE: The FRINGE? CHARLES: Think of it as beta earth, or Purgatory, or as we all call it, The FRINGE. A space between the living world, heaven, hell, and everything and all in between. It's just like how Earth was, there's movies, restaurants, booze, fuckin', jobs, government. It's just...with a slightly different kind of occupants. SHANE: Vampires...? Monsters? CHARLES: And people like us, mostly people like us. And ANGELS and DEMONS. SHANE: ANGELS and DEMONS? CHARLES: They run the place, well the big cheeses do, behind the scenes, it's mostly low level DEMONS and ANGELS doing clerical work and things of that nature, We'll have all the time to get into fringe politics I'm sure. SHANE: What are we? CHARLES: We're dead, rather UNDEAD. Souls giving a pseudo second chance if you will. Come on, I know a really good place with a hell of a burger. SHANE is bumped into by a FLY LIKE MAN/CREATURE, SHANE looking him over suspiciously as CHARLES continues to walk and talk without a glance back. CHARLES: A lot of people view death as a finite thing, but it's really not. There are infinite ways your soul continues on afterwards. SHANE: You still haven't explained why I'm here, and not back in those lines...? CHARLES: I'm getting there. CHARLES huffs as he stops and turns and touches SHANE on the shoulder. INT. RESTAURANT. CHARLES holds up his menu as SHANE looks confused as he is sitting across from him. CHARLES: Order the DOUBLE DECKER BACONATOR with jalapenos, it's the bomb. SHANE: How did we...? CHARLES: I have a limited but very fun little undead perk of being able to cross town whenever I feel like it, took about a hundred years to master, but it's working out rather well now. SHANE: A hundred years? CHARLES: I've been dead a while, bud. You pick up things. SHANE: So UNDEAD, that's what we're called? CHARLES: Well I mean, we're dead, physically. But this, our essence, that's still kicking, so we're living, in a sense. It's just easier going with UNDEAD. SHANE:And this all this is...a place where dead things go? CHARLES: Our kind of dead, yes. Or the things that you've seen that make up the area. SHANE: The monsters. CHARLES: Don't call them monsters, they're normal people, most of them, just trying to make a living, and be left alone, monster is a derogatory term, it's like calling a black man the N word, it wouldn't be wise. SHANE goes to speak but is cut off by a BEAUTIFUL WAITRESS who looked seemingly human, SHANE smirking as she smiles at him. WAITRESS: CHARLES. CHARLES: CINDY, I'd like the usual, but an iced tea to drink. CINDY: Not a problem, and you, you look new. SHANE: I am. CINDY: Recently dead, nice. What would you have? SHANE: I guess whatever he's having. CHARLES: Just the meal, let him choose his drink. SHANE: Uhh...Dr. PEPPER? CINDY: Sure thing. CINDY quickly jots it all down and heads off as SHANE looks at CHARLES. SHANE: They have DR. PEPPER here? CHARLES: I told you, we're not so different here as we would be back in the living, it's just...occupied differently. SHANE: I guess that's pretty neat. CHARLES: It's an easier transition for the newly UNDEAD, a lot of advances made over the past few hundred years to make it more bearable for us human souls. SHANE: So are you going to get to why I'm here or not? CHARLES: Wait for the meal. SHANE: I really wanna know why the f**k I'm here! Some creatures and other UNDEAD turn and look at him as SHANE looks foolish from his outburst as CHARLES shrugs and nods. CHARLES: I suppose you would. The reason why you didn't get into any of those lines is because your soul is unreadable. SHANE: Unreadable? CHARLES: Yes, you lived a very...horizontal life. You weren't inherently bad, or good, and you didn't do enough of either or to make the choice easier for those keeping tabs. You didn't hold a specific or proper belief structure, and therefore had no afterlife plans to attain. Unreadable. SHANE: What's so bad about that? CHARLES: For most people, hearing you lived an uneventful life is...troublesome, for your soul. I mean that's all you are. Just a soul, so your emotions, and feelings, they're way more in tuned then they ever were. SHANE: Uneventful? You never said Uneventful. Just that it was a bee line. CHARLES: No, my friend. Your life was Uneventful. That's why you're here with me. SHANE: I don't understand...? SHANE stops as CINDY sets their food and drinks down, CHARLES smiling at her as SHANE looks at the burger. SHANE: Okay so back to what... CHARLES: Take a few bites first. SHANE watches as CHARLES digs in and takes a large bite of his BURGER, CHARLES closing his eyes as he nods as SHANE takes a bite, SHANE savoring it as he looks at CHARLES with the same in love expression, the two nodding as they take a few more bites. SHANE: That tastes...like an angel giving me handy. CHARLES: Your soul is being fed directly, you're not just feeding a body to keep your soul happy, you're feeding your actual soul, so things smell, taste, and feel better...or worse. Depending on the situation. SHANE: Back to what you were saying though? CHARLES: Sure you don't wanna finish eating that first? SHANE: I'm not hulking out over anything you've said yet, I don't see why that would start. CHARLES: Death leaves an imprint, an impression on people, your family, mom, dad, siblings, or a wife, kids, lover, whatever you fancy. In most people, you leave an imprint, an event in their hearts...and souls, something that makes them always remember you, good or bad. When you live a life the way you did...sometimes impressions don't stick... SHANE: What are you saying to me? CHARLES: You're here with me...because you left no impression on anyone who lives. Eventually, all the ones whom you left behind, friends, family...they...won't even remember you existed. SHANE: You're lying. CHARLES: Afraid not. SHANE: That's bullshit! CHARLES: It is. SHANE: My mom would never forget me... CHARLES: It's not that they forget...it's that in death, their death, or their life...you don't share a prominent enough place to...come up. Nothing you've done in your life, will be brought up in a meaningful way, you've done nothing. SHANE: Your saying my life was so...meaningless I don't even... CHARLES:Yes, so you don't dwell too hard on the thought. SHANE: Well...well that f*****g sucks. CHARLES: Yeah. SHANE: Is that why you're here? CHARLES: That's why we're all here. SHANE: So your life was meaningless? CHARLES: I don't think life is meaningless, especially mine, or yours. It led us here. SHANE: What is here? A sad existence in creature feature land. CHARLES: No. RECLAIMERS. SHANE: RECLAIMERS? CHARLES: That's why you're here. You fell into a category that not a lot of us UNDEAD have. SHANE:You said all UNDEAD were here because... CHARLES: No, all UNDEAD are here because their souls were unreadable, but you're here, with me, because of the specificity of your death. UNEVENTFUL. That's what we are. My crew. We are UNEVENTFUL. SHANE: What the hell is a RECLAIMER? CHARLES: It's a job. A multi purpose one. We dabble in all sorts of things. SHANE: Like? CHARLES: Bounty hunting, enforcement, mainly killing off bad people. We collect things, money, artifacts, for employers. Even REAPING. SHANE: REAPING? Like grim reaping? CHARLES smirks as he takes a few bites, SHANE doing the same as he wipes his mouth with a napkin as CHARLES continues. CHARLES: We're UNDEAD, we've got a magic touch, though you have to go through some paperwork fillings, get passes, decoy bodies, it's a hassle but everyone chomps at the bit to get back home. Though I don't know why. SHANE:That's what RECLAIMING is? CHARLES: In a nutshell. I get the jobs, I give them to my crew whom I feel can take care of it the best, and I collect the money. SHANE: We get paid for this reclaiming? CHARLES:I do. You get a bonus, or a small percentage based upon a multitude of factors. SHANE: Like? CHARLES:I guess you'll find out when you start working. SHANE: I never agreed to work for you. CHARLES: You don't have a choice, you were assigned to me. SHANE: Assigned? CHARLES: UNEVENTFUL. Not a whole lot of crew's you could have joined. SHANE: I get it...I'm UNEVENTFUL, you don't have to keep throwing it back into my f*****g face. CHARLES: Lose the attitude okay, that's just what we're called, get used to it. SHANE: You called your group the UNEVENTFUL'S? CHARLES: You wear it as a badge of honor, no one can ever use it to hurt you, now, finish your burger, we got places to be going. SHANE: Can't you just zap us around. CHARLES: You need to learn and familiarize yourself with the area, I won't be expected to hold your hand throughout everything. SHANE: What's with the snippy attitude all of a sudden. CHARLES: My snippy disposition comes from the ungrateful free burger eating newly minted dead f**k who thinks he can speak to me however he wants because he's a little upset over the use, and I stress minor use, of one word. SHANE: It's been said quite a bit the last few minutes. CHARLES: A fact I am quite aware of, now if you don't fuckin' mind, I think I'm a keep using it till I decide it's not merited, agreed? SHANE: Sure. CHARLES: I don't want to start this new relationship on the wrong foot, so let me establish this early, so that there won't be much room for debate, or arguing down the road. You work for me, you were assigned to me based upon the complete and utter lack of life you lived when you were alive. You're getting a chance, a second chance, to prove to those who are still watching that your life has some meaning. You will become a RECLAIMER, you will be called an UNEVENTFUL, you will do the jobs that I assign you, you will follow my lead and my orders, and you will never question my authority, am I understood? CINDY brings the check over as she smiles at them but she notices their tense gazes as they were fixated onto one another, CINDY quickly hurrying off as CHARLES pulls his wallet out and drops some multi colored currency on the check. SHANE nodded. SHANE: I guess I don't have much of a choice, now do I? CHARLES: No you really don't. SHANE: Sorry. CHARLES: Don't be sorry, you just died. Just understand my temperament, and my...patience only runs so far. SHANE: I'll be sure to remember that. CHARLES: Come on, I got some people to introduce you too. CHARLES gets out of the booth as he heads off as SHANE quickly takes a final few bites of his burger before he follows after, SHANE moving out of the way of a hurrying THREE HEADED BEAST as it was running towards the BATHROOM. EXT. STREET CHARLES looks back as SHANE hurries forward to catch up. CHARLES : I understand that things are a bit...volatile because of the recent bit of information you have gotten. SHANE:I'm over it. CHARLES: No you're not. I mean, maybe for now, sure. But in small doses, throughout the first few months of you being here, it'll creep itself up and I'll have to again put you in your place, and teach you a lesson about the merits of this world. SHANE: That for certain about it? CHARLES: You're no different than the guys you're about to meet. I think I'll take you to AUSTIN first. SHANE (O.S.): AUSTIN BLACK...This dude's a trip. EXT. AUSTIN'S APARTMENT CHARLES knocks rapidly three times, SHANE looking about as the NICE HIGH RISE APARTMENTS were seemingly quite exclusive.CHARLES watches as the DOOR opens and a lean, tall, muscular man answers with a towel wrapped around his waist as he looks as if he just came out of the shower. SHANE: (O.S.)AUSTIN...I'll always remember these words. AUSTIN: I think I have a STD, CHARLES. CHARLES: I'm not doing this again, AUSTIN. AUSTIN: Will you just look... CHARLES shakes his head as AUSTIN opens his towel, SHANE looking at it for a moment before looking away, in appalling awe and surprise. SHANE: Dear god... AUSTIN:Fuckin' huge I know, who the f**k is that? CHARLES: That's TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT, or SHANE. Will you put your f*****g c**k away, wrap up will you. AUSTIN: Did you at least look at it? CHARLES: AUSTIN, we've been over this, wear a goddamn c****m. AUSTIN: I'm dead, CHARLES. A perk of this life is that I get to f**k without consequence. CHARLES: An STD would be a consequence. AUSTIN: A kid is the ultimate consequence, and seeing how dead people can't reproduce, I think the c****m will stay off. CHARLES: Then I will say this for what feels like the tenth time, and what will ultimately be the last. If you're not going to give a s**t about it during the act, stop complaining and worrying about it afterwards. Either wear the goddamn c****m, or shut the f**k up about. AUSTIN : Boss, most of my clientele don't want me to wear a c****m. CHARLES: Then your problem is solved, keep your d**k out of my line of sight. SHANE: What are you? Some kind of a man w***e? AUSTIN: Male ESCORT, and I'm sorry man, I don't think we've been properly introduced. Name's AUSTIN BLACK, or ELEVEN PAST THREE. CHARLES:Great now that that's out of the way, SHANE you're going to tag along with AUSTIN for a little bit, I've got some things to go take care of in regards to your registration. SHANE: The hell? AUSTIN: Your pawning this guy off of me, we just fuckin' met? CHARLES: He's an UNEVENTFUL, AUSTIN. AUSTIN: Oh. f**k, we haven't had a new member in...longer than I thought. CHARLES: Yeah, so make him feel all warm and fuzzy, keep your d**k in your pants, and be sure to take him to the TAVERN. AUSTIN:What's at the TAVERN? CHARLES:Something you have to do. SHANE, good luck, learn, listen, try not to follow his lifestyle. SHANE:I don't think I could If I wanted too... CHARLES: I'll see you later. CHARLES turns and heads off as AUSTIN pats SHANE on the shoulder. AUSTIN Welcome to Mi CASA. INT. AUSTIN'S APARTMENT SHANE looks about the LAVISH and DECORATED APARTMENT as AUSTIN shuts the door. SHANE:So this is the lavish living of a RECLAIMER? AUSTIN:Haha, f**k no. We don't make hardly s**t RECLAIMING, unless it's a particularly nasty and or difficult job. SHANE:Then how do you...ah, the man w*****g. AUSTIN:Pays the bills, and pays the expensive tastes I have. SHANE: I'm sure it helps having the anaconda between your legs too. AUSTIN: I like to think it's more about my rugged good looks and my interpersonal skills, but the beast helps out. I'm a go put some clothes on, look around if you like, but try not to break anything. SHANE:I'm not a klutz. AUSTIN: I didn't say you were, But you're a brand new undead person whom I have the grand honor of knowing for only three fuckin' minuets, so until I deem you touch worthy, don't touch a goddamn thing. SHANE:Moody fuckin' lot you guys are. AUSTIN: Oh my new friend...you have no idea. AUSTIN heads off towards the BACK as SHANE begins looking around the apartment, noticing the fine art, the lavish entertainment systems, and the GRAND PIANO sitting alone in the corner. SHANE comes over to it and studies it for a while as AUSTIN reappears a short time later, finely dressed as he comes over towards the GRAND PIANO, SHANE looking at him before gazing back at the beautiful musical instrument. SHANE:You play? AUSTIN:Yeah. I was pretty good when I was alive. SHANE:Damn If I were chick I'd probably f**k you. AUSTIN:Yeah, get in line pal. SHANE:How long...have you been dead? AUSTIN:Freshly minted always want to know. In due time my friend, that's a very personal question to ask a new buddy. Come on, I'll pour you a drink. AUSTIN heads towards his BAR as SHANE looks at the nice set up as AUSTIN grabs two glasses. AUSTIN:Poison? SHANE: Whiskey, straight. AUSTIN:Good man. AUSTIN quickly pours him his glass as the two tap glasses and gulp the liquor down. AUSTIN: So did CHARLES take you to that little diner restaurant, the one with the burger? SHANE: Yeah, he does that with you? AUSTIN: No, the burger place didn't come till a few years after I joined up. SHANE: You got to join the UNEVENTFUL'S? AUSTIN :Well, no not really but I feel I've done my just service well enough that I can say join and not...forced. SHANE: I just don't get it man. AUSTIN: You're going to feel that way a lot I'm afraid. SHANE: No, I mean...look at you man. AUSTIN shakes his head as SHANE smirks as he swirls the ice in his glass. SHANE: I just can't believe that someone like you lived an uneventful life. How did you leave no impression on anyone? AUSTIN :I wish I knew. But I didn't. SHANE: Damn. AUSTIN: You know I shouldn't tell you this, because It fuckin' sucks to learn this. But I think you can handle it. SHANE:That seems to be the consensus. AUSTIN: In life, you didn't know these answers. You just...lived and did what you did, and waited till this point. And now you're behind the veil, behind the curtain, and you know some answers...but the ones that really matter, the ones that you need for...closure. Those answers are filed away, locked up in some angel or demon's work cubicle. The answers for everything so close...and yet farther away than you could ever know. SHANE: That does suck. AUSTIN pours them another glass full of whiskey as they quickly take it down.AUSTIN taps the bar top as he walks around it. AUSTIN: Let's go man. SHANE: Go where? AUSTIN: I've got a job to do, you're going to help me out. SHANE:A job? Already? AUSTIN:Yeah, it should be fun. AUSTIN smirks as he pats SHANE on the shoulder and grabs his KEYS, SHANE finishing his drink as he follows. INT. THE TAVERN AUSTIN comes in like a well loved regular as SHANE looks around to notice the EXOTIC DECORUM of the JAZZ BAR as “CRUISIN” by SMOKEY ROBINSON was playing as SHANE comes up to AUSTIN as AUSTIN touches the face of a few BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. SHANE: They play normal music here? AUSTIN:What did you expect? SHANE: I don't know...something like from STAR WARS. AUSTIN: It's a JAZZ BAR night, most of the time this place looks like a classic dive bar, but the TAVERN changes with the clientele. SHANE:Spiffy. AUSTIN: Small perks. AUSTIN leads SHANE to the BAR TOP as they take a seat, a BEAUTIFUL UNDEAD WOMAN in a SNAZZY DRESS comes over. BARTENDER: Hey, AUSTIN. AUSTIN :EMMA, meet SHANE. EMMA: Hello, SHANE. SHANE: Hey. EMMA: What are you guys getting? AUSTIN: Whiskey and Coke for me. SHANE:I'm fine. EMMA:Simple enough, gimme a sec? AUSTIN:Always do. EMMA walks down the bar as she goes towards the next couple of MEN as AUSTIN eyes over towards a few MEN in the back in fine suits, SHANE ogling EMMA'S curvy petite frame as AUSTIN nudges him, SHANE looking at him as AUSTIN nods over towards the MEN as SHANE eyes them. SHANE: And they are...? AUSTIN: VAMPIRES. SHANE:Terrific. AUSTIN: Yeah... EMMA sets his drink down as AUSTIN takes it as SHANE smiles at EMMA as she winks at him before heading back down the BAR, SHANE watching as AUSTIN takes a sip as he sets it down. AUSTIN: The VAMPIRES here have to stay registered, it's part of the SYSTEM'S requirement in order for them to stay. SHANE:The SYSTEM? AUSTIN: It's the GOVERNMENT here. Everyone calls it the SYSTEM cuz nobody really knows what and or who runs the damn thing. The ANGELS and DEMON moxie over a 50/50 split of the SYSTEM, but it's run by things much much more powerful and transcendent then we are, at least that's what CHARLES always says. SHANE: So these VAMPIRES...? AUSTIN eyes them as a few of them begin to laugh as they were drinking blood from champagne glasses, AUSTIN taking a few drinks as EMMA eyes SHANE, SHANE not noticing though. AUSTIN: Most VAMPIRES, stay to the SYSTEM, drink the blood from the blood banks or blood letting businesses such as this fine establishment. They can't feast on human blood, or our blood, because it's not life, sure we bleed, but it's not vital, that's not what keeps us going. SHANE: Good to know. So what are they doing wrong? AUSTIN : They're knocking over blood banks, taking excess amounts of blood and selling high quantities to vampire junkies, basically vamps who are gorging themselves on a blood high. SHANE:Seems pretty heavy duty. AUSTIN: It is. SHANE:So what do we do? AUSTIN: We? No sport, you're just a bystander taking lessons from a master. I specialize in BOUNTY HUNTING. SHANE: So these VAMPIRES, are they DEAD or ALIVE? AUSTIN:The more you bring in alive, the better the pay, I mostly bring in DEAD though. SHANE: How do we kill these guys? AUSTIN: Decapitation works well...Stake through the HEART is also a nice touch, problem with that is that these VAMPIRES here have about a six inch thicker chest wall, makes stabbing through their heart damn near impossible. SHANE:Sunlight? Garlic, Silver? AUSTIN: No effect on them here man, Sun, Moon, Sky, all artificially simulated thanks to the SYSTEM. Here there is no concept of time, no days, weeks and months, but the SYSTEM just implements it to make everything flow, allows everyone new and old to adapt easily. SHANE: I see. AUSTIN: Follow me, don't speak, and make sure none of them get away. AUSTIN finishes his drink as he sets it down and slides it towards the back, EMMA nodding as she comes over and takes it as SHANE eyes her before he follows AUSTIN who begins laughing as he wraps an arm around SHANE, SHANE a bit caught off guard as SHANE watches the VAMPIRES eye them as they were drawing closer, SHANE suddenly catching on as he begins laughing with AUSTIN as they come closer towards the VAMPIRES. AUSTIN:...And I said, I said you either take the long way or you take the... AUSTIN side steps away from SHANE and kicks the FIRST VAMPIRE in the chest, knocking him over the table they were by as the other THREE VAMPIRES quickly hiss and jump towards him, AUSTIN drawing a SILVER JAGGED EDGED MACHETE as he spins and CUTS ONE'S HEAD CLEANLY OFF, as the patrons of the TAVERN just minded their own business as the casual violence was taking place, SHANE watches one of the VAMPIRE'S bolt, SHANE extending his arm and clotheslines the VAMPIRE across the FACE as AUSTIN headbutts the other and punches his face in repeatedly , watching as his FANGS begin to fall out of his mouth before AUSTIN slices his head off as the VAMPIRE that SHANE knocked down grabs SHANE by the leg and tosses him into the air, SHANE screaming as he hits the CEILING as the VAMPIRE makes a run for it, but AUSTIN runs and knees drops the VAMPIRE in the back, sending it flying as SHANE begins to stand as he winces in pain as AUSTIN stabs the MACHETE into the VAMPIRES HEART that he kneed, AUSTIN looking over as the VAMPIRE he kicked was on his knees, AUSTIN coming over to him preparing to decapitate him but SHANE grabs his arm, AUSTIN looking at him with crazed eyes but seems to come down from it. SHANE: Extra money if you keep him alive… AUSTIN: Good thinking. EMMA comes over as she looks at the scene around them, SHANE wincing as she pats him on the chest. EMMA: Nice going new meat, you managed to take your first real blow like a man, and get AUSTIN to actually keep someone alive. SHANE: Uh... AUSTIN: SHANE, TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT, this is EMMA LAIN, Seventeen Till Dawn. She's one of us. An UNEVENTFUL. EMMA: Yep yep. SHANE: Nice to meet you...again. EMMA: Pleasure's actually all mine new blood. You two go ahead and do what you have to do. AUSTIN: Actually I think I'm pawning him off to you now. EMMA: What? I'm still working, AUSTIN, my shift doesn't end for another few hours. AUSTIN: CHARLES didn't exactly state when he was going to be coming back for this guy so I figure you two can get along for a little while, while I go turn this guy in. EMMA: Fine, Go. AUSTIN taps SHANE on the shoulder as SHANE winces as AUSTIN grabs the VAMPIRE by the back of the neck and shoves him towards the entrance.SHANE looks at the bodies of the VAMPIRES and the SEVERED HEADS as EMMA goes around the BAR, SHANE limping towards it as she fixes him a drink. EMMA: Rum and Coke sound okay? SHANE: Yeah...what are you guy's going to do about those bodies...? EMMA: It takes longer with the other beings, but they'll take care of themselves in a moment, I would guess. EMMA goes down and checks on her guests as she mixes a few more drinks as SHANE looks at the BODIES as he watches as they suddenly begin to emit a DARK LIGHT, before a BRIGHT LIGHT begins to float out of the bodies before dispersing in a bang of light, SHANE closing his eyes as he opens them after a moment, watching as speckle dust of the light could be seen, but nothing of the VAMPIRES, no bodies, heads, or blood could be found.SHANE looks transfixed as EMMA comes back down towards him, SHANE not sure what to say. SHANE:What uh... EMMA:The energy that composes their souls is basically supernova’s when they die, so their souls compress into these balls of light, and then poof, gone. Leaving behind...nothing. SHANE: When we die, our souls come here...or...heaven or hell...so what happens to the soul when it expires...here? EMMA:I don't know. Some people say it goes to where it really belongs, others say it goes nowhere, that it just...vanishes into oblivion. SHANE:What do you think? EMMA: Haha, hun, I don't know, and frankly I don't want to. I may be dead, but I plan on living in this world a lot longer than I did back home. SHANE:You're...beautiful. EMMA: Thanks. SHANE:So was AUSTIN. EMMA:Uh, that was weird. SHANE:Just...saying. SHANE takes a drink. SHANE: I get why I didn't leave an impression... EMMA:Oh... SHANE: I don't mean to upset you. EMMA:It's okay. I've learned to cope with it. SHANE: So... EMMA: No offense, new meat, but I take some time to open up in regards to that portion of my life. Not me trying to be a b***h but... SHANE:Trust me, it's okay. EMMA smiles as she looks around at her patrons who were all speaking to one another. EMMA:Can I ask you a question? SHANE:Now that seems a little unfair from where I'm sitting. EMMA:I never said it was going to be fair. SHANE: I'm starting to get that. EMMA: What's your story? What do you remember? SHANE:I remember everything. The car crash, the fuckin' semi... EMMA: Car accident huh? SHANE: Yeah, unglamorous, UNEVENTFUL. EMMA:Nice. SHANE: I try. SHANE finishes it off as EMMA pours him another one. SHANE: So you're a bartender, AUSTIN'S a man whore...diverse jobs. EMMA:You should start thinking about a profession you're going to want to try and get into, I mean, RECLAIMING pays, but not enough to live off of. Besides, you're not going to be able to crash at very many of our places for long, so the sooner you look into getting a job, the better off you'd be. SHANE: Thanks for the heads up. EMMA:Woulda helped me out. SHANE: Thanks. EMMA: No problem, New Meat. EMMA touches his hand as he smirks at her, EMMA heading off as she goes to meet some new patrons as SHANE smirks and takes a drink as he listens to the jazz music that is playing. EXT. BUILDING AUSTIN lights a cigarette as a DEMON scans the VAMPIRE before it is tagged and cuffed and brought inside, AUSTIN and the DEMON exchange a few words before AUSTIN hands him a cigarette as the DEMON nods and heads inside. AUSTIN takes a drag as he looks over to see CHARLES appearing, CHARLES coming over as he has his hands in his pockets as AUSTIN nods. AUSTIN: He's good. Intuitive, a little green, but nothing our training couldn't help fix. How'd you land this guy? CHARLES: Same way I landed all of you, sheer luck and good will. AUSTIN: And a pathetic life. CHARLES: Something is different about this one. His demeanor. His casualness towards death. AUSTIN: For now, We broke at different times, remember? CHARLES: I'm sure he will. But I don't think it'll be as hard to corral him back. AUSTIN: Where do you wanna hold him up? CHARLES: I think tony's should do it for now. AUSTIN: ANTHONY'S? CHARLES: You wanna do it? AUSTIN: Hell no, just saying. CHARLES: Anthony's will be fine for now. He shouldn't have a problem finding his own place in time. AUSTIN: We haven't had a new member in a long time. It's nice to shake it up a bit, huh? CHARLES: You could say that. CHARLES hands AUSTIN an envelope as AUSTIN checks it and whistles as he smiles. AUSTIN:Just for keeping one VAMPIRE alive? CHARLES: Incentive perk to just keep a few more people alive per bounty, besides, the extra isn't for you. AUSTIN:Oh come on... CHARLES: I assume it wasn't you that decided to take the guy alive? AUSTIN: Well... CHARLES: Give him his cut, we need to help ease him into this life. Because the punches are gonna keep coming. AUSTIN: Always do. CHARLES: Call me later. AUSTIN: Yes, sir. CHARLES disappears as AUSTIN looks at the money and heads off. INT. THE TAVERN SHANE and EMMA share a laugh as the TAVERN was pretty dead, EMMA sitting beside SHANE now at the BAR as SHANE hands her a bottle which she uses to pour her drink. EMMA: So he just fell off of his ladder? SHANE: Yeah, we had a cooler of beer set in between the four of us, and the drunker we got, the more we would wobble when we were reaching over, and just finally...he fell. EMMA: Wow, Texas boys are crazy. SHANE: Texas raised, not Texas born though. EMMA: Oh? SHANE: Yeah, I was born in... AUSTIN: Hey, party people. The TWO look over as AUSTIN comes up in between them, AUSTIN handing SHANE some multi colored money. SHANE:The hell is this, monopoly money? AUSTIN: No, just money. Green is a buck, Blue is 5, Yellow is 10, Purple is 20, and BLACK is 100. SHANE: No 50s? AUSTIN: Humor me, EMMA, drink? EMMA: Off the clock, pour your own. AUSTIN:Fine by me. AUSTIN hops over the counter as EMMA shakes her head as AUSTIN looks through the extensive collection and pours himself a drink as SHANE shifts through his bills. SHANE:Two grand? For what? AUSTIN:Think of it as helping you on your feet, while passing GO. EMMA: Cute. SHANE: Seems like a lot..? EMMA: Haha, SHANE, you'd be wrong , 2000 will keep you fed and afloat for a while, but that ain't nothing to brag home about, hell just tonight I made about 9,000 easy, but that'll only pay for a week, maybe two. SHANE: What the hell, is this place just all inflation? AUSTIN: It is what it is my man, here you go...here you go. AUSTIN pours them both shots as EMMA leans her head back as she scoffs but takes it anyways as SHANE, clearly a bit plastered takes it. AUSTIN: To being...UNEVENTFUL. EMMA: Lame. SHANE: Haha. The THREE tap SHOT GLASSES before they each take the shot. SHANE reeling as the other two shake it off. AUSTIN: Alright, champ, let's go, you got more places and people to meet. SHANE: I don't think I can walk. AUSTIN: I can zap you there. EMMA:You're wasting your one trip every few months to zip over to who's? AUSTIN: Tony's. EMMA:Lemme just drive him over there. SHANE: You guys have cars? EMMA: Yes we do. AUSTIN: Quicker this way, you could drive over there and pick me up though. EMMA: Grr, fine, but I am not happy about this. AUSTIN: Awe, that's why I love you. EMMA: You don't even know what that word means. AUSTIN: I can learn though? EMMA:Shut up and go. AUSTIN smiles as he kisses EMMA on the back of her head as he grabs SHANE, who drunkenly staggers as he tries to stand as AUSTIN grabs him and the two suddenly disappear as EMMA grabs her keys and heads out. INT. ANTHONY'S APARTMENT AUSTIN and SHANE appear in a lushly furnished apartment with a lotta hemp and incense burning as SHANE coughs instantly as AUSTIN seems pretty resistant to it. ANTHONY: Whoa. AUSTIN and SHANE turned as ANTHONY was sitting at a DESK, a pair of working glasses on as he was in a pair of wool pajamas as he was typing on a computer. AUSTIN: ANTHONY, how's it going buddy. ANTHONY: Fine, why'd you zap in here with some guy? AUSTIN: SHANE, this is ANTHONY aka 35 after 1. ANTHONY: Why does everyone insist on using those dead names? AUSTIN: He'll be hearing his enough, might as well know ours. ANTHONY: A weak excuse. May I ask why you felt the need to bring the new guy here... SHANE turns and vomits into a nearby bin, AUSTIN smiling as ANTHONY takes his glasses off as he looks at SHANE who was on his left knee, his face still halfway buried into the bin. ANTHONY: To throw up in my work bin, who is this guy!? AUSTIN: He's the new guy, TONY. TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT. An UNEVENTFUL. ANTHONY: No f*****g way? AUSTIN: Way. ANTHONY:Hmm. I would offer him more to drink...but it seems you all beat me to it, how much could he hold? AUSTIN: Surprisingly, a lot more than we ever did, he's got a fast tolerance to this place. ANTHONY: Hm. AUSTIN: (To SHANE)How are you doing there sport? SHANE mumbles something as he waves AUSTIN off as he was still on a knee as AUSTIN smirks as ANTHONY stands and comes around his desk, leaning on it as he crosses his legs and arms. ANTHONY:I'm guessing CHARLES is wanting me to babysit him for a few days? AUSTIN:Look at you all smart and what not, you deserve a nickel. ANTHONY: Wouldn't that me make me a whore...like you? AUSTIN: You wish you could be a w***e like me, when you've got choking wood tucked away like a half rolled up piece of salami. ANTHONY: Didn't need the dried meat visual. AUSTIN: Oh but I think you did. ANTHONY: Get out of here. AUSTIN: Can't yet, waiting to get picked up by EM. ANTHONY: How is she? AUSTIN: You should stop being a b***h, and talk to her more often. ANTHONY: It's...complicated. AUSTIN: It's really not. ANTHONY: What do you expect me to say, AUSTIN? I can't just… AUSTIN: Look, we've been over this, we all have with you, if you're not going to do anything about it, then stop...talking about it, you're torturing yourself, and trust me, EMMA'S awesome, but she's not worth this. ANTHONY: That's easy for you to say. AUSTIN: It is, but just...if you don't want to be hurt, or, if you want the hurt to go away quicker, that's the best way to do it. We work together, often, just say more than a few things to her, get personal, you know where she works, just be coy though. ANTHONY:Me, coy? AUSTIN: Yeah, forgetting things with you is an act in futility. ANTHONY: Using big words, I am so proud of you! AUSTIN: d**k. SHANE tries to stand but drops back down to his knees as he continues to vomit. AUSTIN and ANTHONY watching him with a gleeful look before AUSTIN hears the sound of two distinct HORN HONKS from a CAR, ANTHONY looking at AUSTIN as AUSTIN nods at him and heads towards the door, ANTHONY looking a bit disheveled as he comes back over to the hurling SHANE. ANTHONY: It's alright...let it all out...there ya go... SHANE: I think they poisoned me... ANTHONY:No they didn't... SHANE:They f*****g poisoned me... ANTHONY: Can't poison a dead person... SHANE: I'm f*****g dying...poison dying... ANTHONY:That...didn't even make sense. SHANE: Please just end it... ANTHONY: Hey now, stop being melodramatic, it's just a super strong purging, you consumed a very large amount of alcohol that hits your soul, or your body in this world a lot harder than it would back in the living world. So you're just...reeling a bit. SHANE: Fuck... ANTHONY:Lemme get you some water. ANTHONY crosses his LIVING ROOM and into his KITCHEN as SHANE turns onto his back on his a*s as he looks around to notice the apartment was even more expensive looking then AUSTIN'S though it was filled with a lot of movie posters to movies he never heard of like “Nightmare Disaster Part V”, “THE FORGOTTEN ONES”, “STAKE FEVER”. ANTHONY comes over and hands SHANE a tall glass of iced water, SHANE drinking most of it as he grabs his head and moans as ANTHONY leans down and sits beside him as SHANE grabs the BIN and pulls it closer to him. SHANE: So what the hell do you do? I mean this place is even more bitching than AUSTIN'S pad. ANTHONY: I am in the film business. SHANE: There's movies here? ANTHONY: Movies, music, and TV. MUSIC crosses borders, you'll always find new and original music from our world and the living world. MOVIES and TV here, all one hundred percent FRINGE financed only. SHANE:So all these POSTERS all over the place...? Are they...? ANTHONY: Movies I've directed, yes. SHANE: Directed? You're a director? ANTHONY: s***h writer, s***h producer, yeah. SHANE: Damn. How many? ANTHONY: OH, a few hundred. SHANE:A Hundred?! ANTHONY: Yeah, like 345...46, something around there. SHANE: Dear lord. ANTHONY:Hey, when you've got hundred of years to work with you can accumulate a lot of work. SHANE: How old are you? ANTHONY:Oh, I've lost count. Died back in '64. What year is it now? SHANE: Here, I don't know. When I died, it was 2013. ANTHONY: f**k. SHANE:What's the time difference here? ANTHONY: It's always in flux, sometimes it's a year here for a day there, or a week here, for an hour there, the system decides. SHANE: That SYSTEM seems...like an interesting thing to be in charge. ANTHONY: It's cosmic man, what can you do, argue with it? SHANE: So you're some George Lucas kinda guy huh? ANTHONY: George Lucas? SHANE: Oh don't even play. ANTHONY: I'm not, who is that? SHANE: Oh... SHANE grabs ANTHONY as ANTHONY reaches over quickly and pulls the bin up as SHANE vomits harder into the bin, ANTHONY cringing as SHANE takes a few moments to gather himself as he raises his head up. SHANE: How do yo not know who fuckin' George Lucas is?! He made STAR WARS! ANTHONY: What the hell is STAR WARS?! Why are you getting so angry? SHANE: What is...STAR... SHANE almost rolls his eyes but ANTHONY catches him from fainting over as ANTHONY smacks his face a few times as SHANE looks dazed. ANTHONY; Hey, yo, new guy, snap out of it, the hell is wrong with you? SHANE: I just feel a little dizzy right now. ANTHONY: Look man, If it was made or created anytime after 1964 I do not know enough about it, perhaps I have heard of it when I visit the living sometimes, but man I'm sorry, I don't know what it is. SHANE: Do you have time to spare? ANTHONY; I guess... SHANE; I'm about to tell you a story...a grand story....one that will take some time. I'd grab snacks. ANTHONY: Uh..Okay. SHANE nods as he begins speaking as ANTHONY shuts up and listens. EXT. LOFT CHARLES stands outside of a nice loft apartment complex in a very clean and well patrolled area as CHARLES notices a few MEN stare him down on their routine strolls as CHARLES nods at one after a few moments as he paces back and forth as he is waiting for someone for an unspecified amount of time. CHARLES smirks as he notices the LIFT to the LOFT begin to move as it is coming down, CHARLES watching as a GUARD watches him again before heading off as a BLONDE WOMAN comes out of the LOFT. The beautiful middle aged woman looked about before coming over to CHARLES quickly, her walk was business and strict, as her face was also displaying seriousness. TERESA COLPAERT, an ANGEL, stops in front of CHARLES clearly agitated. TERESA:You have a lot of nerve coming here after hours, at this time of night. CHARLES:Security seems to have picked up since the last time I dropped by. TERESA: If I recall, the last time you showed up involved three sets of unauthorized explosions, followed by fifteen deaths in a firefight that your men instigated, that I'm still hearing flack for from the other OVERSEER'S. CHARLES: I've apologized for that, and I will continue to do so until you forgive me and get over it, besides I took the demerit so it wouldn't register against your record, you're still clean and spotless. TERESA: You and yours are more hassle than you are worth. Spotless record or not, I am coming down with a reputation of overseeing a group of bombastic and increasingly costly misfits and malcontents. Now, I answered your call, and responded to your request to meet outside for the sole purpose because you said it was work related, and so now let us get to that so I may go back to bed, because I have another long day of processing ahead of me. CHARLES: Right. I just need to know a few things about the new guy we got. TERESA: What is there to know? He was registered as an UNEVENTFUL and they shipped him to me to send to you, how is this important? CHARLES: This one is different, TERESA. He's...more In tuned here then most UNDEAD I've ever seen. TERESA: Some people can process being dead quicker than others. CHARLES: I just need to know if there was anything in his file that stood out, perhaps something that was questionable but maybe overlooked...? TERESA: Are you trying to say that I overlooked a finite detail about someone that is now in my employ? I think this conversation has reached its c****x, goodnight CHARLES. CHARLES: TERESA. TERESA: What? CHARLES pulls her into a kiss, TERESA is caught off guard but she quickly stops resisting as CHARLES opens an eye as he can't believe she was still kissing him back, CHARLES noticing one of the GUARDS watch him confused as CHARLES smirks at him as he closes his eyes and focuses on the kiss for a few more moments before she pulls away.The TWO say nothing for a long moment before CHARLES goes to speak but TERESA touches her lips, a perplexed look on her face as CHARLES huffs. CHARLES: Still awkward? TERESA: I am an ANGEL, and an OVERSEER, and you are an employee, this...shouldn't still be happening. CHARLES: Still can't stop yourself? TERESA: Why do you insist on coming here and torturing me? You know this...whatever it is...can't happen... CHARLES: Because of the SYSTEM...or because of you? TERESA: Both. I work for the SYSTEM, I was sent here from HEAVEN, to help make sure the SYSTEM runs and gets what it needs, I can't...afford or want things for myself. CHARLES: TERESA... TERESA: I didn't miss anything from your new man's file. He lived an uneventful life...he died at 12:12 AM, and he works for you. If you need any other personal inquiries about your employees, I suggest you ask them. Please don't come back. CHARLES: TERESA. TERESA: Goodnight, CHARLES. CHARLES goes to say something but stops himself as TERESA heads back into her lift and disappears behind the sliding panel doors, CHARLES nodding as he puts his hands in his pockets and turns and walks down the street. INT. ANTHONY'S APARTMENT ANTHONY looks enthralled as SHANE was clearly sobered up, a good SIX HOURS have passed as SHANE has some tears in his eyes, as does ANTHONY. SHANE:...And then...it ends. ANTHONY:f**k. SHANE: You died well before your time, sir. ANTHONY: Goddamnit, that's awesome. SHANE:The greatest motion picture saga ever created, and think about it, TONY. You could bring that to life...here. ANTHONY: I could. Enough people who died after it's release will want to come and watch it, and the creature viewers who've never even dreamed of something like this...my my, SHANE, I think you're onto something. SHANE: Don't ever say I never gave you nothing. ANTHONY:You're not too bad of a guy, I'll give you that. How about this, once I finish the picture I'm shooting, I'll make STAR WARS my next project, you can be my co writer, s***h, producer. What do you say? SHANE: I thought you were more of a loner. ANTHONY: Two thirds my friend. Inspiration is my one true gift here, but even I can't come up with work on a consistent enough basis. I'm offering you a chance to break into show business here son, you best be seriously thinking about the implication to your social life by doing so. SHANE: Any chance to bring STAR WARS to life to the masses of those UN initiated will always have my blessing and involvement, so yeah, count me in. ANTHONY holds a hand out as SHANE smirks and shakes it. ANTHONY: I think me and you are gonna do big things. SHANE: I think so too. So what are you working on? ANTHONY: My action masterpiece, a gritty and explosion filled shoot em up, with a noir like flare for the dramatic, a dark drama coupled in with the copious amounts of violence unseen in FRINGE cinema before. SHANE: Film got a name? ANTHONY: Yep. BULLET EXPRESS. SHANE: Are you shitting me? ANTHONY: No, why would I? SHANE:Your dark drama action opus, is called BULLET EXPRESS? ANTHONY: You do 345...46...movies and then tell me how easy it is to come up with a title. I work with what I got. SHANE: Alright. ANTHONY: It's not my best, but it has a flare to it though, don't you think? SHANE: Sure. ANTHONY grimaces as he thinks as SHANE yawns as he stretches. ANTHONY: I got a guest room in the back left corner there, past the KITCHEN, whenever you're ready to crash you're more than welcome to. I like you SHANE, you seem pretty genuine for a new guy. Most of the others will slowly ease up to you, but I'm not the others, I go all in or all out at once. SHANE: Cept with EMMA...? SHANE eyes ANTHONY for a reaction as ANTHONY looks at him quizzically. SHANE: I may have been vomiting into a bin, but I am still here. What's your story with that? ANTHONY: We hooked up a while back,around the time she started with the group. She has a funny way of expressing herself to people she meets. SHANE: That being? ANTHONY: She sleeps with you. SHANE:No s**t? ANTHONY: No s**t. So heads up, when you two are alone, and now knowing that you're part of our little family from here on out...she'll put the moves on you, and you'll succumb, we all do. Cept for CHARLES. SHANE: If she means that much to you dude, I won't... ANTHONY: Thanks, but you really don't have much of a say in that, she is really convincing, you've seen her. Talked to her. She's a goddess. SHANE: You got sprung huh? Got a little booty, and never got over it? ANTHONY: Now you sound like AUSTIN. SHANE: No, man trust me I get it. But I do think he's right about one thing, if she does mean something to you, you should tell her, you bottle that s**t up man and you'll always feel...regret. ANTHONY:No offense, SHANE. But I think I'll play my cards to the chest with this one. SHANE:I didn't mean to bring it up and make you... ANTHONY:No, trust me I get the intention. Thanks. SHANE:Yeah. ANTHONY:Look, you're welcome to stay here as long as you like, but CHARLES is gonna push you to be out on your own sooner rather than later, but if you need an emergency place to crash once all that starts occurring, my home's open to you. SHANE: Thanks. I mean that. ANTHONY: Yeah, don't let me regret that. SHANE: I won't. I think I'm calling it a night, are you...? ANTHONY:I got some writing to finish up, maybe start up on a draft on EPISODE ONE. SHANE: Don't get too far in, as a Co-writer I wanna be able to look over the work and add...and subtract...let's not forget about JAR JAR... ANTHONY:Oh god. SHANE holds a hand out and ANTHONY shakes it as SHANE stands and heads towards the back guest room as ANTHONY smirks as he stands and goes back around his DESK, towards his computer. THE NEXT MORNING INT. RESTAURANT CHARLES smirks as SHANE comes in, neatly dressed in some new clothes as CHARLES motions for him to sit across from him as CINDY touches his shoulder and smiles at him, SHANE ordering quickly as CHARLES nods. CHARLES:Man finds out he died yesterday, already got a new favorite diner meal and some digs. You're acclimating nicely. SHANE: The money from AUSTIN helped with this, I figured walking around like a sore thumb for a few days wouldn't be too good for anyone looking to make an example of some new guy. CHARLES: Good thinking. How was ANTHONYS? SHANE: It was nice, thanks for hooking me up there, he's a good guy. CHARLES:ANTHONY'S...different.Eccentric and good hearted, but not the best RECLAIMER, not with the heavy stuff. He was the first UNEVENTFUL member I ever had, and the only one who's been here with me since the beginning of my run as lead. SHANE:How many have come and gone? CHARLES: A lot. The crew I have now has been the most intact I've had, the TRIBUNAL'S are pretty rough, the choices they give you are too tempting sometimes. Can't be blamed. Some were just careless. SHANE: I saw what happens when something dies here. CHARLES: Interesting little light show huh? SHANE: Is that what happens to us? CHARLES: Yes. SHANE:How can...we die? CHARLES: The eyes. Destroy our eyes, we go with it. SHANE: Our eyes? CHARLES: Windows to the souls. Get rid of that buffer, that barrier, and our souls literally burst forth from us, rendering us into...an abstract ball of white light and then nothing. SHANE: Protect the eyes, sounds good. CHARLES: You'll still take a hell of a beating, can get put into coma, broken bones, severed limbs. These things heal, but not like a rapid healing, it's a slowly liveable but merciless pain. I once saw a guy had to hold his arm in place for sixteen days straight before his body fully reattached itself, course he could've went to the hospital and gotten it sewed back on and it would've healed up on it's own in about two days, but even in death, hospital bills are a high b***h. SHANE: Why are we meeting here? ANTHONY said you had something you wanted to go over with me about? CHARLES: I just wanted to see how you were progressing through your first night. And I think I've got my answer. SHANE: Good or bad? CHARLES; I think you're ready to be an UNEVENTFUL. CHARLES pulls up a I.D. And a g*n that looks like a CROSS between a 9MM and a .357 MAGNUM. SHANE: Hello, hello. CHARLES: The I.D. Never leaves your persons, it's SYSTEM issued, and is your only viable way to identify yourself and provide information on yourself. SHANE looks at the ID that was completely blank other than his Death name. SHANE: It's blank? CHARLES: The information that those checking to see will appear to them. SHANE: And those that shouldn't be looking? CHARLES: Won't get a damn thing. SHANE: Neat. CHARLES: The g*n is a standard issue RECLAIMER PISTOL, no catchy name or make and model, you can nickname it if you want, everyone else does. Modifications cost money, if you wanna go around the higher fees talk to AUSTIN, but do not get caught, acquiring acquisitions through black markets and backdoor channels is a big no no, but I'm all for little things here and there if it helps me in any way. The g*n has a DNA sensor, it'll only fire with your touch, and will only allow others to fire from it with your permission via a voice match modulator that is built into it. There are bigger, scarier and better weapons in the FRINGE, but for now, this is what you start with. How you obtain or acquire the others, is up to your transgressions, lest it's something that has to be turned in for extreme illegality, and or if it's a retrieval case, am I understood so far? SHANE: Crystal. CHARLES: I am entrusting you on the second day of you being here, with things that the others had to take weeks to earn. I'm doing this because you are an Enigma, SHANE. I don't know what, or why that is, but you are a special individual, even if you, me or anyone else can't see it for now. I don't want you to forget these words, because we may need to reflect back on this day years down the road and both ask ourselves this one question. Who is TWELVE PAST MIDNIGHT? SHANE looks a bit confused as CHARLES nods and scoots out of the booth. CHARLES: Meals on me. And kid. SHANE looks up at him as CHARLES smiles and pats him on the shoulder. CHARLES: I think we're in for one hell of a ride, don't you? CHARLES puts his shades on and heads out as CINDY brings SHANE his drink, SHANE looking around as he notices a WEREWOLF was feeding a small WERE CUB in a high chair as a TRANSLUCENT BEING was having a conversation with another UNDEAD PERSON, SHANE looking over the vast creatures and the tranquility and strange normality of it all as SHANE smirks as he nods and leans back a bit, taking a sip of his DR. PEPPER. SHANE:(O.S.)Yep...A hell of a ride indeed.. FADE OUT END OF EPISODE

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