The Dark Tower

The Dark Tower

Teaser

Story by Zahir al Daoud and the Watchers Staff
Written by Zahir al Daoud, Dan Joslyn, CN Winters, and Robert Kidman
Directed by Zahir al Daoud and CN Winters
Produced by CN Winters and Susan Carr
Edited by Dragonwriter17
Sounds by CSR
Art Direction by Zahir al Daoud and Robert Kidman
Artists – Robert Kidman, Zahir al Daoud, Isis, Mattxxx, Humaira and CN Winters

Fade In:
Int.
Calcutta – Council HQ – Day

The television screen showed an Asian face. All around him the CNN logo appeared – on walls, coffee mugs, and neckties. His own expression seemed nonexistent.

"I repeat," he was saying, "although details are still coming in at this time, it seems certain that no less than nine slayers were killed in Hong Kong earlier this afternoon. They were, according to official sources, attempting to rescue three-dozen school children taken hostage by what was described as, and I quote, 'a demonic cult.' Eleven slayers formed the rescue team. As of this hour, two are still alive. However, it deserves pointing out that every single child reported missing, as well as several others, managed to escape en masse within twenty minutes of the incident. Both surviving slayers are under intensive care…"

With a click, the television screen went black. Rakesh Bai stared at the screen for several moments, eyes blinking behind his thick glasses. With him was Dr. Farah Naidu, a much younger woman – barely into her middle age. Her hair was still black, unlike Bai's, which was mostly salt with very little pepper anymore.

Upon the wall was an inscribed version of the Watchers coat of arms – sleeping lion, three ravens, a bell, and the motto, "Expedia Est Potentia."

"Nine," breathed Dr. Naidu.

Bai nodded. "A terrible thing. And puzzling as well."

"Enemies capable of killing so many slayers are rare, but not unheard of. We should be able to…"

"That is not the puzzle, Doctor," said the much older man. "Yes, there are such foes. And yes, they are terrible. But the puzzle is…how did the children escape?"

She thought about it for a few moments. "I see…Perhaps Mr. Venugopal might have an idea?"

"I would look forward to asking him, but he is on a mission himself. The American Slayer Kennedy and her companion came, needing help. It was perhaps not the wisest course for him to see to their needs personally." He shrugged. "On the other hand, you and I were the only others available. Forgive me, Doctor, but you are not a watcher."

"Nor do I claim to be."

"True. And I, I am a very old man. Too old even to be targeted by the minions of the First Evil. No, Venugopal's mission may not be wise, merely inevitable. But I have asked all the slayers in the subcontinent to report in. There may be…What?"

Dr. Naidu was looking up. "Did you just hear something?"

"My hearing is not what it was."

"A mechanical whine, above. The roof, it sounded like." Now she looked at the door, where voices could be heard shouting and fast footsteps. Bai quietly pulled out a small pistol from his inside his coat pocket.

"Hopefully, this will not be needed."

Almost a full minute elapsed, while Dr. Naidu sweated and paced. Bai merely sat before the door, pistol in hand. Then, the door opened.

Rajiv Venugopal burst inside. "Doctor! You have patients!"

She blinked. "Who? Where?"

"The clinic. They're coming down in stretchers now. It is the American Slayer Kennedy and her…well, friend. Kadin Van Helsing."

"What happened?"

A man behind Venugopal answered, "They were hit by Tasers." All eyes turned to Jason Felix, who now stood there. "Three or four each. Kennedy was also struck in the leg by a metal baton. Both of them appear to be in shock."

Dr. Naidu swept out of the office as swiftly as she could manage. Felix noticed Bai, whose eyes remained on him and whose hand remained on the pistol. It wasn't pointed at anyone, but neither was it put away. Felix bowed slightly. "Jason Felix, at your service, sir."

Bai nodded his head. "Rakesh Bai."

"An honor."

Now a red-haired woman entered the room. "Sir," said Lori to Felix, "she's no longer responding to anything we say."

"I see." Felix turned to Venugopal. "Sir, if Bureau Nine can be of any assistance whatsoever, please do not hesitate to ask. My guess is we may need each other very soon."

He took out a cell phone as he headed through the door with Lori following.

Venugopal looked at Rakesh Bai. "One would assume," Bai said after a moment, putting his pistol away, "that was the head of Bureau Nine? Mr. Jason Felix?"

"Yes."

"And it has occurred to you, no doubt, that a Taser attack alone should not be of too much difficulty for a slayer to recover from?"

"I know. Especially given that it happened over two hours ago. Yet she is in severe shock and has suffered a serious bruise on the leg. A bruise that has not begun to heal after two hours."

The two watchers looked at each other for several moments.

"More is wrong than perhaps you realize," said the older man.

Cut To:
Int.
Bureau Nine – Dianna's Office – Same Time (Evening)

From her seat behind her desk, Dianna turned up the sound on the small television in the corner of her office. On the screen, Tally Atwater stood in front of a hospital entrance. A sea of flashing red and blue lights lit the scene behind her.

"What was being called the Wedding of the Century was suddenly cut short only hours ago, when the ship where the wedding was being held turned back to shore. Several Council members were then rushed by ambulance here, to St. Sebastian Medical Center. Hospital officials have confirmed that Willow Rosenberg was among those admitted here today. We don't have any kind of update about the nature or the seriousness of her condition…"

Dianna's office door opened without a knock. She muted the television and turned to see Cameron Kreswell standing nervously in the doorway. Dianna nodded and gestured for her to come in. Cameron obeyed, then produced a clipboard with several sheets attached and held it out. Dianna took it and glanced through the first few pages. Then she sighed and looked back up at Cameron.

"I'm not going to have the time to read all of this," Dianna said. "What's the situation?"

"We don't know," Cameron replied, sounding genuinely scared. "Every magic user in the building has fallen sick."

"I know that, Cameron," Dianna said. "I was hoping we could figure out what they were sick with. I've been examining the Codex Cluj, but there's nothing here that I can see about magical plagues or…" She dropped the clipboard on her desk with a clatter that made Cameron jump slightly.

There was a tense beat of silence.

"Well, it's not the same with all of them," Cameron offered. "Nicholas is barely staying conscious, but Kay Macchia says she's just a little woozy. And Ethan…" She trailed off.

"What?" Dianna asked. "Is he all right?"

"I don't know. He seemed ill, and I told him to go see the doctor, but he just left; said a doctor isn't the man who can help him…Dianna, something's really wrong, isn't it?"

Dianna looked up at her, but said nothing.

"Listen," Cameron began, "the phones are ringing off the hook out here. If you want to take a break from…"

"Any word from Jason?" Dianna interrupted.

Cameron bit her lip and began to shake her head. At that moment, Dianna's phone rang. She immediately picked it up.

"Yes?"

"Dianna, it's Jason," came the voice on the other end.

Dianna leaned forward in her seat, her body language on alert, as she pointed the phone out to Cameron. "Jason, what's going on? Something's happening to our magic users, and according to the news Willow Rosenberg's in the hospital – "

"I know, Dianna, I know," Felix said, his voice sounding very calm compared to hers. "Project Roland has…taken something of an unexpected turn."

Cut To:
Int.
Thornkirk – Hospital – Same Time (Evening)

Rowena sat in the emergency room waiting area, a Styrofoam cup of coffee in her hand and her foot bouncing up and down impatiently. Buffy and Xander sat on either side of her. Several wedding guests and family members stood around the room, waiting as well.

Giles was pacing, but he stopped and walked over to Becca, who was seated with Martin in her arms. He leaned down to her and in a soft voice whispered, "Will you take the children back to the hotel? Gather up our things? I'll call as soon as I hear anything, but I want to be ready to go on a moment's notice."

It seemed as if it took a few seconds for Becca to catch up to what he was saying, as if she was lost in her thoughts.

"Oh, yeah," she said as she nodded. "Let me just tell her goodbye," she added as she motioned to Rowena.

Giles took Martin from Becca's arms as the blonde woman walked over to Rowena.

"What the hell's taking so long?" Xander muttered in frustration as Becca walked over.

"Sweetie," Becca began as she bent over in front of Rowena. "I'm going to take the kids back to the hotel, but Rupert's going to call me if there's any news. If you guys need anything, just call me," she told all three of them.

They all nodded, and Rowena gave her a soft, "Thank you."

Becca gave her a kiss on the forehead and ran her hand over the back of Rowena's head. As she turned, she almost collided with her daughter.

"Whoa," Becca said as she tousled Elizabeth's hair. "Didn't see you there, Sweetie."

Elizabeth extended her arm toward Rowena as if to hand her something. Rowena opened her palm, and Elizabeth put two small seashells into her hand.

"Daddy say Will sleepy," Elizabeth told her. "When Will wake up, you give?"

Rowena closed her fingers around the shells. She sniffed dramatically and mustered a grin. "It'll be one of the first things I do. I promise," Rowena told her.

Elizabeth grinned widely until she heard her dad say, "Elizabeth?" and motion her toward him. She gave Rowena a wave and then toddled over to see Giles.

"Hang in there, Honey," Becca told Rowena as she patted the hand that held the shells. Then she too walked away.

Becca chatted briefly with Giles before she took Martin back. Rowena watched as they kissed each other. But she suddenly turned away, looking back down into her coffee cup. Becca motioned Elizabeth to follow her, and they slipped around the corner out of sight.

Across the small lobby sat Robin, Faith, and Andrew. Andrew had a wet paper towel around his neck.

"You should be back there too, ya know?" Faith told Andrew as she motioned to the emergency room. "You're not lookin' all that great."

"Not feeling real well either," Andrew replied. "But the good news is I don't think there's anything left in my stomach."

"I'm missing something here," Robin said.

"Like what?" Faith asked.

"Willow and Al are both high priestesses, and they're both unconscious. Andrew here's a high priest. Why is he still alert? Not wishing anything bad on you, of course," he said as he leaned around Faith to look at Andrew. "But it makes me wonder why you're not worse off than you are."

Andrew shrugged. "Maybe I'm just that powerful," he replied.

"Or not that powerful," Giles said, turning toward their conversation.

"What do you mean?" Robin asked.

Giles was on the verge of adding more when the doctor emerged from the doors and made her way over to Rowena. The watcher rose to her feet and moved quickly to greet the physician. Buffy and Xander followed her as the others gathered around.

"I wish I had something concrete to tell you," the doctor began to address them as they gathered around. "But we don't know precisely what's wrong yet," she said directly to Rowena.

"Are they awake?" she asked.

Sadly, the doctor shook her head. "No, unfortunately, but we have stabilized them, so that's promising. When they first arrived, Ms. Rosenberg's heart rate was rather erratic, and at one point Ms. Dimmons' heart stopped altogether. We resuscitated her, and as of right now they, along with Mr. Lindquist, appear to be in a comatose state…They're not getting any better, but the good news is they're not getting any worse."

Rowena bowed her head slightly and held back her tears as Mary Grace moved closer and took her hand.

"Doctor," Ira began, "is there anything more you can do?"

"Here, no," she replied. "But as I said, they are stabilized, so that means perhaps your doctors at the Cleveland Council, people familiar with magical illnesses, might be able to address the issue. This is simply beyond my scope of expertise."

"Thank you, doctor," Giles told her. "We'll start making arrangements on our end." The doctor nodded and walked away as Giles turned back to Rowena, who had unshed tears in her eyes. He took her by both arms, and the gesture got her full attention.

"We have work to do, my dear," he told her in a loving but firm voice.

Rowena took a deep breath to steady her nerves and gave a firm nod.

Fade Out.

End of Teaser

Act One

Starring:
Lacey Chabert as Skye Talisker, Gale Harold as Jim Pollan, Caroline Dhavernas as Grace Hatherley, Michelle Rodriguez as Kadin Van Helsing, Elijah Woods as Jeff Lindquist, Norika Fujiwara as Mia Nakata, Laura Pyper as Casey Pierce, Asia Argento as Marie, Rachel Hurd-Wood as Lorinda Sheparton, Steffani Brass as Shannon Matthewson, T.R. Knight as Jackson, Elizabeth Harnois as Jocelyn O’Hara, Thora Birch as Tracey Hausser, Helen Shaver as Becca Giles, and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

Guest Starring:
Elisabeth Sladen as Dianna Earl, Laura Prepon as Lori Carew, Robin Sachs as Ethan Rayne, Alexa Davalos as Gwen Raiden, Christine Romano as Hope Lehane, Mía Maestro as Isabel Ortiz, Jennifer Connelly as Althenea Dimmons, Evangeline Lilly as Marissa Stavros, Cote de Pablo as Amira Aziz, Mandy Musgrave as Hadley Ramirez, Ted Raimi as the Technician, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Cameron Kreswell, Carl Lumbly as Nicholas, Brittany Murphy as Luna, Mercedes McNab as Harmony Kendall, Renée Zellwenger as Mary Grace Allister, Sam Waterston as Ira Rosenberg, Sendhil Ramamurthy as Rajiv Venugopal, Alex Kingston as Thornkirk Doctor, Alecia Moore as Rachel Simms and Gary Oldman as Mr. Jason Felix

Fade In:
Int.
Cleveland – Building Basement – Night

In a simple basement room, several chairs had been arranged in a circle. Less than half were occupied. Those that were present wore the angular facial features of a vampire.

One of the vampires addressed the rest. "I have to say, I'm not very pleased with the turn-out tonight. These meetings are an important part of the road to recovery."

"They're not gonna recover, man," another vampire said. "You notice anything about who's missing? It's all the newbies. They've been dusting left and right, dude, just out of nowhere."

"Not just newbies," someone else said. "I was talking to Harvey when he just went poof, and he's been one of us thirty years now. 'Course, I kinda thought he'd fallen off the wagon, if you know what I mean."

"At any rate," the leader said, "we're still here, and we're here to help each other through this difficult time. Now, why don't we start by…"

"What's the point?" a large vampire asked, tattoos rippling on his biceps. "You've heard the rumors. All the slayers have lost their powers. If we're not gonna get slayed for drinking, why bother with the Twelve Steps?"

The leader looked around nervously as several of the vampires nodded and otherwise expressed their agreement with this statement. "We're not here because of the slayers, Bill, we're here because it's the right…"

"Are you kidding?" the large vampire, Bill, said. "That's definitely why I've been coming here." He stood up. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some things to catch up…"

At that moment, all of sudden, Bill turned to dust. His form collapsed into a small pile on the floor. The others stared at the spot where he had been standing.

"Well, I'm sure not gonna start drinking now," one of them said loudly.

"Me neither," said another. "Why start again when you've worked so hard to stop?"

"You said it," a third put in, nodding vigorously.

Cut To:
Int.
Watchers Council – Command Center – Early The Next Day

"Reports are coming in from all over the world," Jim told the small gathering of Buffy, Faith, Giles, and Robin. "Every slayer who has checked in has lost her powers, around the same time as the incident with Kennedy in India. Also around that time Shannon reported that Jocelyn collapsed here in the coven room. She's been unconscious ever since and on a ventilator to help her breathe. We realized our slayers were affected when Shannon couldn't lift Jocelyn to take her to the infirmary."