This is the script for the first episode/webisode...whatever you want to call it, of a Werewolf By Night series I am writing. It isn't in script format because I typed it on my phone, but it shouldn't be TOO hard to read. And, for those Moon Knight fans out there who read this and are outraged at his character during his brief appearance at the end of this episode, rest asured, he comes back later, as the Moon Knight we all know and love (that'd be at the end of episode three)...
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Open on
EXT. BACK YARD--(DAWN)
Jack is laying, tangles in his own limbs, on the grass in the back yard, his hands and face covered in blood. He stirs.
JACK (V.O.)
A month ago...I hit what they call a "milestone" in my life...
cut to
EXT. BACK YARD--(DAWN)
angle on:
Door knob, a bloody hand reaches out and turns it, opens the door.
cut to
INT. HALL--(DAWN)
Jack's feet pass through frame.
JACK (V.O.)
I turned eighteen...
cut to
INT. BATHROOM--(TIMELESS)
Angle on
Bathroom mirror, Jack walks in and sees himself covered in blood, he only looks mildly shocked. He turns on the water and washes his face and hands, coughing up bits of whatever the blood came from.
JACK (V.O.)
But I've never heard of anyone turning eighteen quite as violently as this...
Opening Credit Montage.
cut to
INT. DANE'S HOUSE--(MORNING)
Dane Whitman is reclining in his chair, he is watching the news on his television, the light from the tv set illuminates Dane's face. we hear the newscaster rambling on about a religious cult called "The Third Moon".
NEWSCASTER (V.O.)
(filtered)
The Third Moon...cult of darkness, or path to enlightenment? Their arrival in our area has been met with both open arms and the proverbial torch-and-pitchfork...some even believe them to be behind the recent string of cattle mutilations, including those discovered earlier this morning...
(beat)
we got a hold of--
a knock is heard at the door. Dane gets up to answer it, camera follows him, he opens the door, it's Jack.
NEWSCASTER (V.O. CONT'D)
(filtered)
--leader, Marc Spector...let's listen to what he has to say...
DANE
(confused)
Jack...?
(pause)
What're yuh doin' here...?
Jack steps into the house. He looks around, mildly cautious.
DANE
shoes off...remember...?
Jack looks up...
JACK
(awkwardly)
Oh...yeah...sorry...
Jack removes his shoes and sets them by the door. He follows Dane into the living room.
MARC (V.O.)
(filtered)
--just like any other religion...we're awaiting our messiah...
Dane grabs the remote and turns the television off. He plops down in his chair, Jack continues to stand.
DANE
(casually)
So...
(beat)
what's up...?
JACK
(awkwardly)
I...I think I'm a werewolf...
DANE
a werewolf...?
JACK
(awkwardly)
Y...yeah...
DANE
Is that like...slang for something...
(beat)
like "bear"...?
JACK
(confused)
What...?
(getting it)
No!
(calmer)
No...I mean like a...y'know...like Oliver Reed or Lon Chaney Jr...
DANE
Ooookaaaay...?
(beat)
look...I'm sure it's just like the time you were "sure" you were the reincarnation of the Queen of England...
(beat)
it'll pass...
(beat)
just--
Dane looks over at the table next to his chair, he sees a dvd box from a rental place, his eyes widen.
DANE
Oh crap!
JACK
Huh...?
Dane holds up the dvd box.
DANE
Late fees!
Dane stands up and walks toward the door with the dvd, Jack follows, he hurriedly puts on his shoes as Dane walks out the door.
cut to
EXT. CITY STREET--(DAY)
Jack and Dane are walking down the street toward the video store.
DANE
I'm just saying...it kinda sucked...and I don't wanna pay extra for the privilage of watching an awful movie...
JACK
Well...I guess that--
just as Jack begins to talk, they pass by a woman sitting on a bench. The woman, Topaz, reaches out and grabs Jack by the arm. Jack whips around and they stare at one another, seconds later, Dane turns around after he realizes that Jack isn't walking beside him anymore. Jack twists his arm free of her grip and she stands up and puts her hand on his shoulder as he attempts to walk away.
TOPAZ
(worried)
Mister Russell
(beat)
Wait...!
Jack whips around again. this time he looks a little confused and frightened.
JACK
How...how did you know my name...?
TOPAZ
I've been expecting you, Jack...
(whisper)
and I know about the beast...
Jack's eyes widen. He turns to Dane.
JACK
Go on...
(beat)
I'll catch up with you later...
Dane shrugs and walks off. Jack looks over his shoulder to make sure Dane is gone. He turns and faces Topaz again.
JACK
(pseudo whisper)
how do you know...?
TOPAZ
it's a gift...
(beat)
I also know...that what you're looking for...is a lot closer than you think...
JACK
(To self)
Oh, great...first werewolves...now psychics...
(to Topaz)
Whadaya mean "what I'm looking for"?
TOPAZ
A cure...
cut to
montage of shots of "The Darkhold" a la evil dead...
TOPAZ (V.O.)
Twenty or so scrolls, bound into a grimoir by ancient mystics...The Darkhold Tome has been through Hell and back more times than anyone should care to imagine...it holds the key to breaking your curse...
cut back to
EXT. CITY STREET--(DAY)
JACK
yeah...about that...
(beat)
don't yuh have to be "bitten" or something...?
TOPAZ
To become a werewolf...?
(beat)
normally...yes, but you...
(beat)
your blood is tainted...as was your father's...and your father's father...and after eighteen years...it finally takes hold...and you claim your birthright...
JACK
(confused/taken aback)
What birthright!?!
TOPAZ
(annoyed)
Haven't you been listening...!?!
(pause)
at any rate...centuries of bookburning and superstition have taken most of the tomes from us...the only surviving copy is held by Marc Spector...a rather odd individual who spends his time collecting cursed books and other occult objects...
Jack looks off in the distance, as if he is thinking about the name Topaz has just said.
JACK
Spector...
(beat)
The..."Third Moon" guy...?
TOPAZ
The same...
(beat)
and you should probably hurry...moonrise isn't as far off as you think...
Topaz taps her wrist, indicating a "ticking clock".
cut to
EXT. CHURCH DE LA LUNA--(LATE DAY)
A man stands at the door of the "church de la luna", another man, Jack, approaches.
WALT
Good afternoon...
(beat)
come to partake in the feast of Lupercal...?
Jack looks unsure for a moment.
JACK
Uh...
(beat)
Yeah...
Walt steps aside and opens the door, as Jack walks past him, Walt notices that he doesn't recognize Jack, and stops him.
WALT
(paranoid)
I don't think I've ever seen you around here before...
Jack looks as if he's trying to think up an excuse, but he looks at his watch, hesitates, then elbows Walt in the face, knocking him out. Jack steps through the door and cautiously closes it.
cut to
INT. CHURCH DE LA LUNA--(LATE DAY)
Jack walks into a hall-like room, a few people are seated around the room and on the far end stands a tall figure with his back turned to Jack, he is cloaked in a white robe. His name is Marc Spector.
cut to
Close-up on Marc Spector, he is lighting some candles that are on a table which is covered in books. We see Jack over his shoulder.
JACK
(clears throat)
Spector turns quickly to face Jack.
cut to
"cowboy" close-up of Jack
JACK
Not to interrupt the...cool-aid session...
(beat)
but...I was told that you have something I need.
MARC
(calmly)
Of course.
(beat)
Lupercal offers help to all...
JACK
(annoyed, impatient)
Not what I was talking about.
Jack reaches into his jacket pocket with a trembling hand, he pulls out a revolver.
JACK
The book.
(beat)
Darkhold.
(beat)
I need it.
MARC
(unshaken)
We do not allow weapons in the temple.
Jack pulls the hammer back on the revolver and aims it, once again, at Marc.
JACK
(wicked)
Give me--The book.
MARC
(sigh)
Fine.
Marc turns and fumbles around with something on the table, his back is to the camera and he is hunched over.
MARC (Cont'd)
But this is all that's left...
Marc spins around and tosses a few loose, burnt pages on the ground at Jack's feet. Jack releases the hammer on the gun and lowers it. He bends down to pick up the pages, the camera follows him. As he grasps the paper, a knee hits him hard in the face and knocks him back. He looks up and sees Marc standing over him. Marc picks up Jack's gun.
MARC
(wicked)
This is a house of worship--
Marc pulls the hammer back on the gun and lines up the shot with Jack's head.
MARC (Cont'd)
(wicked)
And your blood will consecrate the altar.
Just as Marc is about to pull the trigger, a beeping noise is heard, it is the alarm on Jack's wristwatch. Marc looks a bit confused.
JACK
(wry)
...sorry...
Jack fumbles with his watch and tosses it to the side.
Closeup on his hands as they twist into claws
closeup on his now wolf-like face.
Wolf-Jack stands up and moves toward Marc with blinding speed, Marc is frozen with fear.
abrupt cut to black.
over the black screen we hear what sounds like a man being mauled by a werewolf. after the sound fades,
CREDITS.