“Blessed be Itzakh, who has given a dwelling-place to his people according to all that he has promised.” ‑Bloodletter: Hand of Itzakh.
A post-Armageddon priest leads the remnants of humanity in a rebellion against their vampire overlords.
An excerpt from the script:
Bloodletter
By
Ben Andrews
Ben James
Vincent Orduna
Inspired by Lucien Flynn and David Barbosa
Copyright: 2010 Ben Andrews
253-861-7755
FADE IN:
CAPTION ON BLACK SCREEN:
"And in those days the sun will be
turned to darkness and the moon to
blood." -Revelation 6:12
EXT. RUINED AND BURNING CITY - SUNSET 1
LILITH(VO)
The apocalypse foretold by the
Apostle John came not at the hand
of god, but that of man.
A burning city reflects in eyes of an infant ROAN. He is
held in his mother’s arms as families flee with other
refugees.
LILITH(VO)
Their inheritance lost, the remnant
of humanity that survived this
Armageddon emerged to a world no
longer theirs.
CAPTION OVER A BLOOD RED MOON:
"Blessed be Itzakh, who has given a
dwelling-place to his people
according to all that he has
promised." -Bloodletter: Hand of
Itzakh.
A shattered city, dead, covered by a cloudy, foreboding sky.
LILITH (VO)
This darkened world became the
promised land for a race thought to
exist only in myth. But the
Bloodletter, their holy scriptures,
foretold dominance over more than
just the earth. In time one would
arise who would hold the key to
heaven itself.
CAPTION ON A BLACK SCREEN:
2067
2.
EXT. MASADA FORTRESS - NIGHT 2
A strange fortress stands alone in the midst of a dead city.
Welded girders tie together the remaining buildings of the
block. Sharpened steel on all sides resemble a massive
square porcupine.
A large, floodlit killing field surrounds the fortress. A
massive ramp of rubble leads to the entrance.
A large sign covered in graffiti hangs above the entrance.
It reads: MASADA
INT. MASADA FORTRESS - NIGHT 3
The streets are medieval and bare. Dozens of soldiers
prepare for battle. They are adorned in patch work leather
and metal armor. Crossbows, crude swords and other weapons
are dispersed.
GIDEON, a heavily scarred warrior with crimson slashes
painted across his pauldron, and DANIEL, a hardy hunter with
an open face, stop and address a group of boy soldiers.
DANIEL
Remember, reapers aren’t your
ordinary vampire. They’re mean,
fast and strong. They’re also
greedy. If they smell blood they’ll
go berserk. They’ll make mistakes.
Get in your ranks squires!
The boys scatter to their lines leaving Daniel and Gideon
alone.
DANIEL
We need sentinels for this battle
not squires.
GIDEON
I know you get attached to these
boys, but you can’t mother em
forever.
DANIEL
They’re putting us in camps,
Gideon. A victory here could keep
your children from growing up in a
blood farm.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.
COMMANDER CALEB, powerful, dark-eyed and grave, enters the
compound followed by his entourage. The army gathers around
him.
COMMANDER CALEB
Brothers. Today we send a message:
We will not be their cattle. With
Jah at our side we cannot fail. We
shall send the spawn of the serpent
back to Gehenna. Today we take the
head from Goliath!
HUNTERS
Praise Jah! Praise Jah!
Daniel turns back to the boys.
DANIEL
Remember your training. One to the
heart, one to the head.
The hunters fall into ranks.
ROAN, fifteen, skinny, awkward, pushes to his place in line.
He pulls a two foot wooden stake, with a sharpened point
from his backpack. Nervous, he drops it.
XAN, fourteen, tall and lean, too pretty to be a boy, sneaks
up behind Roan.
XAN
You should leave it. You swing a
striker like my sister.
Beside Xan is DEVON, 16, more rugged, imposing.
DEVON
Yeah, but she sucks harder than a
vamp.
XAN
True, but not as hard as your
auntie. Such a naughty auntie.
ROAN
What’s happening?
XAN
Don’t know. Something about a sneak
attack on the suckers.
An ornate pendant, multifaceted, heavy, with a single, blood
red jewel, hangs around Roan’s neck.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
XAN (CONT)
Dude, is that your mom’s necklace?
ROAN
My father gave it to me last night.
DEVON
Did he braid your hair too? Dude,
your dad’s fruity.
Xan clasps his hands together, simulating prayer.
XAN (CONT)
(sarcastically)
Wait on god my children...He will
provide an answer...
ROAN
Shut up.
DEVON
Yeah, preaching that pacifist
Christian shite.
ROAN
I said shut up!
DEVON
Relax! Don’t get mad at me because
your dad’s a coward.
Roan shoves Devon. Xan steps between them.
XAN
Alright ladies...
Daniel and three intimidating hunters with crimson slashes
on their armor pass by checking the ranks.
DEVON
(whispering)
Sentinels.
XAN
Did you see that? He has seven
kills.
DEVON
Just wait, they’ll anoint me a
sentinel after my first battle!
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
XAN
More like anoint your arsehole.
Daniel breaks off and approaches. The three straighten.
DANIEL
Get along boys. You’re going to
need each other. C’mon.
Xan and Devon follow Daniel.
Roan catches someone in his peripheral vision. Standing in
the shadows along with several old men, women, and children
is ROAN’S FATHER, a priest in his mid fifties. He stares at
Roan.
INT. ANCIENT CORRIDOR - NIGHT 4
ALEXANDRA, beautiful, unearthly and ageless, walks a
torch-lit path. Several statues depicting pagan demigods
line the corridor.
Two tall, powerfully built REAPERS with over-sized jaws and
clad entirely in black stand at a massive oak door. They
move to let her pass.
INT. ALTAR ROOM - NIGHT 5
The inner sanctum is lined with columns and tapestries aglow
with the reflection of the fire burning in the center.
The idol of a pagan god dominates the room: A statue of a
man, his arms outstretched to either side of a glowing
brazier. Cuneiform writings cover the entirety of the idol.
An ancient vampire, MELEK, white haired and powerful, chants
at a stone podium. Attendants in sacrificial robes drape
vestments upon his shoulders and prepare utensils.
A nod from Melek gives Alexandra a place at the ritual.
MELEK
Itzakh is not a patient god.
ALEXANDRA
How long will you indulge his
greed?
Alexandra kneels as Melek takes incense from an attendant.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.
MELEK
Mighty Itzakh, giver of the
Bloodletter, bringer of night, we
praise your holy name.
The incense flares as he throws it upon the brazier.
MELEK (CONT)
The reapers revere him. His
ambition is our salvation.
Melek throws a dark liquid into the flame.
ALEXANDRA
Our ruin.
MELEK
Enough!
ALEXANDRA
Your reapers shall drink our
salvation dry.
Attendants bring forth a HUMAN WOMAN. Melek takes a
sacrificial knife.
EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT - PRESENT 6
The hunters move in small groups, securing each street.
The landscape is a memory of the past: garbage, destroyed
cars, collapsed buildings.
Roan observes all of this.
INSERT- NECKLACE
The necklace hangs heavy on Roan’s throat. We hear VOICES.
RETURN TO SCENE
INT. ROAN’S BEDROOM - THE PREVIOUS EVENING 7
Roan’s room is sparse: A dresser and bed.
Roan bites his lip.
ROAN’S FATHER (OS)
Your mother bit her lip when
something was bothering her.
Roan’s Father stands in the doorway.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
ROAN
I knew you wouldn’t underst...
ROAN’S FATHER
They took her from my arms. They
just laughed.
ROAN
At least you can remember her.
ROAN’S FATHER
I don’t know what tomorrow
brings...
Roan’s Father holds an intricate box.
ROAN’S FATHER (CONT)
Your mother felt that heirlooms are
the voices of our ancestors.
He pulls a pendant out of the box.
ROAN’S FATHER (CONT)
Your mother was an angel. She would
have wanted you to have this.
A picture of Roan’s mother sits on his dresser. In her late
20’s, pretty, with a kind smile. She wears the pendant.
INT. ROAN’S BEDROOM - LATER THAT EVENING 8
Roan sits on his bed, drawing. He sketches the face of an
angelically beautiful woman.
The pendant rests against his chest. VOICES fill his head
and build in intensity.
Roan throws the pad. The VOICES go silent.
EXT. COVEN ENTRANCE - NIGHT 9
Caleb’s unit stops in front of a massive doorway that is
anachronistic, yet strangely fitting: a portcullis of a
medieval castle.
From the side street a secondary detachment appears.
Daniel, Roan, Xan and Devon pull up, yards from the
entrance.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
LILITH (VO)
(whispers)
Roan.
Roan turns to Devon.
ROAN
What?
DEVON
I didn’t say anything.
Caleb signals.
KABOOM!
The sound echoes like a thunderclap. Smoke fills the air.
COMMANDER CALEB
Go! Go!
HUNTERS
Move! Move!
A dozen men disappear into the opening.
LILITH (VO)
(whispers)
You’re in danger.
Spinning, Roan looks around.
ROAN
You hear that?
XAN
The massive explosion? No I missed
it, moron.
DANIEL
Keep your heads down and your eyes
wide. Go!
Roan’s team disappears through the smoking hole.
INT. COVEN - NIGHT 10
Moving through corridors, they approach a large hall. Two
huge doors hang inward. The room is massive.
Commander Caleb, Daniel, and SAMPSON, a hulking sentinel
approach a table. A small package sits with a note attached.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
SAMPSON
"For the one called Caleb."
Caleb grabs the box and rips it open. There is another note.
COMMANDER CALEB
"When the shepherd is away...."
They look at each other in confusion.
DANIEL
Defensive positions!
COMMANDER CALEB
Masada!
A SCREAM, followed quickly by another.
DANIEL
It’s a trap!
COMMANDER CALEB
To arms!
SOUNDS of battle erupt all around.
EXT. STREET BATTLE - NIGHT 11
Chaos reigns. Men FIRE at rooftops and into the darkness.
COMMANDER CALEB
Fall back to Masada!
Shadowy Figures rip hunters into the darkness.
DANIEL
Form up! Tighten that line!
ROAN
Look out!
Roan grabs Daniel.
A black-armored Reaper swings where Daniel was.
Devon charges.
DANIEL
No!
The reaper lifts Devon from his feet.
Daniel attacks but is batted aside.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
ROAN
Leech! Is this what you want?
Roan makes a cut near his throat. Blood trickles.
The reaper drops Devon and lunges.
Roan ducks and thrusts his striker into it’s heart.
DANIEL
Come on! We have to move.
Stunned, Roan stares at his hand. The pendant pulses.
DANIEL (CONT)
Roan! Snap out of it. Move!
EXT. STREET BATTLE - MINUTES LATER 12
Flames from Masada reach into the night sky.
Pressed on all sides, the hunters flee towards Masada.
EXT. MASADA GATE - NIGHT 13
The gates are torn open. The city has been razed. Hunters
rush through the gates.
Roan enters, followed by the survivors of the raid.
ROAN
Father...
Hunters call for their families.
SAMPSON
They’re all gone.
DANIEL
Where is Caleb?
Daniel puts a makeshift bandage on Roan’s neck and eyes him
curiously. The blood spattered PENDANT shines.
SAMPSON
I saw him fall.
XAN
Now what?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.
DEVON
Daniel?
LUCAIN, a lean, intimidating vampire in magnificent black
armor emerges, dozens of Reapers behind him.
LUCAIN
I did knock.
More reapers surround them.
LUCAIN (CONT)
I have no qualms slaughtering you
cattle, but there are those who
view it as wasteful.
Daniel aims his crossbow.
With supernatural speed, Lucain beheads Daniel. Blood
splatters Roan’s face.
LUCAIN (CONT)
Do you wish to see your families
again?
Lucain locks eyes with Roan.
FADE TO BLACK