FADE IN:
OVER OPENING CREDITS:
Vignettes of SASHA dancing provocatively with and without a blade, then dissolving into LUCY doing the same. The screen washes with blood before another credit. All lighting red and blue filters, dark noir.
Mixed in is THOMAS, dancing with her, then Lucy and various men whom they’ve cut down. As it progresses, corpses pile up behind them, keep cutting between each progressive image and another credit. The sequence ends with a tight image of Thomas, Sasha on one side and Lucy on the other.
VOICE OVER
The world is horror and chewed over bones, dogs fighting for scraps. The remains of humanity exist in a handful of City States in what was once America. Seven Corporations rule over this graveyard, this ode to a life of narcissistic and nihilistic renaissance. Two of these entities stood as giants against the rest, The Godiva Corp. And the Osiris Consortium -- Fiends slathering over the left over pieces of war. They hunger for each other’s throats, to sink teeth to flesh, empty and hollow. Hope is a dwindling candle in heavy wind. Reality, a cadaver on it’s last breaths. Our story begins in the City of Blood.
GFX: map of the City of Blood.
SUBTITLE: “The City of Blood -- Year 2331”
TITLE: Blade and Blood
The targeting reticle zeroes in on the west side of city - “West Haven.”
INT. hospital - night
FREEZE FRAME on a man, LINCOLN, in a police uniform, sitting on a bench in a hospital hallway, head in hands. Two orderlies walk by.
UNFREEZE.
Everything is surreal shots: in and out of focus, a nightmare, dark lighting, dream-like. People’s face are somewhat distorted. P.O.V. From Lincoln’s standpoint. Lincoln stands up and starts pacing.
LINCOLN
Please let her be OK. Please, please, please. She’s all I’ve ever had in this shithole.
A DOCTOR in a blood covered surgeon outfit walks up. His face distorted out of focus, lights flickering. He is accompanied by two large looking ORDERLIES, both carrying stun BATONS. Their faces are extended, distorted. Lincoln looks curiously at the orderlies then at the Doctor in extreme worry. Creepy focus on doctor’s lips.
LINCOLN
Is she?
DOCTOR
Officer Eros, sorry to say(distorted, some words, missing). We couldn’t... your wife delivery, your daughter and city’s insurance plan for it’s civil servants (missing words)Class 3c, (Comes clear)didn’t allow us to utilize the procedures that would have saved her. We apologize but our hands are tied by Corporate law in this instance. Though there is good news. We were able to save your daughter.
Lincoln steps forward, fury painting his eyes and face. The orderlies move to either side of the Doctor. Lincoln eyes them, his hand reaching to his police issued stun mace.
ORDERLY
Officer Eros, if you don’t take your hand off that weapon we will put you down, hard.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Lincoln slowly moves his hand away, his fury still raging.
LINCOLN
You let my wife die ‘cause my fucking insurance didn’t cover it?
The Doctor looks nonplussed. Lights keep flickering, and doctor looks like a cadaver, blood stained and slender, emaciated.
DOCTOR
That is the law as you well know Officer Eros. You only have yourself to blame. You should of taken bribes like every other civil servant in this forsaken city. These men will escort you to see your daughter sir, to make sure there are no more incidents during your stay with us. Good day.
He seethes death at the Doctor.
LINCOLN
I don’t give a dog’s shit about my god damn daughter. I want my fucking wife breathing.
The Doctor turns back.
DOCTOR
Be that as it may Officer Eros, the child is lawfully your responsibility, so please be prompt in picking her up by tomorrow at 11 am. We wouldn’t want Corporate Enforcers paying a visit, would we?
The Doctor walks away as Lincoln collapses on the ground sobbing. The scene becomes a --
FREEZE FRAME of Lincoln on knees and the two orderlies looming over him.
GFX: map of city.
GFX: We pull out to a full map. The targeting reticle moves to the eastern side of city slightly south onto Shadow’s End. Zooms in on --
INT. House - living room - night
FREEZE FRAME on HECATE standing up, pregnant, hand in air berating JENSON. He has a smoke in his hand and holds his coat as if leaving. Close -- tight up shots of nervous man exhaling and inhaling smoke, chaining.
UNFREEZE.
HECATE
You can’t leave, The Goddess won’t allow it. (Her look, stern, unyielding)I carry our son.
Jenson laughs, chain smoking.
JENSON
You are one crazy god damn bitch. I actually feel a little sorry for the kid.
Hecate looks confused and hurt.
HECATE
What? What are you saying? The Goddess has for-ordained our union. It is written within her Womb.
He laughs more.
JENSON
That’s what I’m talking about woman. You and your goddess, cutting yourself in her name. Fuck, I only was with ya cause everyone in Shadow’s End knows you’s and your family got some money squirrelled away somewhere. And yet you live like a popper. And now you want me to be a father. Your out of your god damn mentals. I ain’t staying with your bat shit lala land. I’m gonna go find me a nice piece of ass that ain’t spewing old day Goddess shit and wet my willy without the headaches.
She looks at him incredulous.
HECATE
My grans, bless her spirit, brought what should last us generations in this new land if spent with wisdom and the Goddesses guidance. (her hand slides to her back, an ornate dagger) You can not be allowed to leave. No one leaves one of the Goddesses daughters.
He smirks and starts heading for the door throwing his cigarette on the ground.
JENSON
Good luck with that shite.
She first looks in shock and then anger. She then steps forward, an ornate DAGGER coming out from behind her back. She lunges at camera, the dagger falling. Blood covers the screen.
She looks directly at camera from the ground looking up, covered in blood. She picks up a pack of cigarettes and lights one, her hands shaking.
HECATE
I have been too soft, too lenient. I have forgotten the truth of the Maiden, the Matron and the Crone. Our son shall understand what it is to serve and protect the Goddesses servants, the true power of the world, women. I am a priestess of the Blood, let it flow.