Blade II Page #8

STEVENS (CONT'D)

All that unseemly business with LaMagra.

You did us a favor.

(offering his hand to Blade)

Carter Stevens.

As Blade and Stevens shake, Blade notices a vampire glyph

poking out from beneath the familiar's shirt cuff.

BLADE:

You're human.

STEVENS:

(with a smile)

Barely. I'm a lawyer.

ASAD:

Mr. Stevens works with the National

Institute of Health.

(off Blade's look)

Given that they monitor the nation's

blood supply, a strategic alliance

seemed prudent.

STEVENS:

We also finance a number of humanitarian

organizations -- the National Institute

of Infectious Diseases for one, the

Human Genome Project...

BLADE:

Why?

NYSSA:

Survival.

Blade and the others turn to Nyssa, who uses a complex

mechanical key to activate a holo-projector mounted above the

table. As she focuses the image, a 3-D DIORAMA of vampire

viral nucleocapsids swirls into view. The nucelocapsids

begin attacking human red blood cells.

NYSSA (CONT'D)

As you may know, Vampirism is an

arbovirus, one that's spread through the

saliva of parasitic organisms --

(motioning to the hologram)

In this case, vampires are the vector.

The virus replicates within the human

bloodstream, evolving its host into an

entirely new life-form.

(beat)

Unfortunately, viruses evolve too --

As Nyssa talks, one of the viral nucleocapsids changes,

mutating from its original, elegant design into a harsher,

more menacing form.

The mutated nucleocapsid begins feeding on the original

vampire capsids, causing a chain-reaction of mutation. In

seconds, the holo-image is filled with throbbing, microscopic

horrors which then mutate into --

NYSSA (CONT'D)

We've dubbed this new virus the Reaper

Strain. And like any good pathogen, it

appears to have found a carrier -- a

"Patient Zero".

A rotating 3-D image of Jared Nomak's face. Eyes red, his

skin in full "blood mode" blush.

NYSSA (CONT'D)

His name is Jared Nomak.

DAMASKINOS:

Thiavolos, as we used to say in Greece.

The Devil. Pure Thirst. Nothing more.

He was born a vampire, but he is an

anomaly.

(to Blade)

Like you. Unlike the rest of us,

however, he feeds on not just humans,

but vampires as well.

BLADE:

Seems like he's doing me a favor, then.

NYSSA:

You're missing the point. Their vampire

victims don't die. They turn. They

become carriers. If the Reapers

continue unchecked, there could be

thousands of them before the month is

over. Do the math.

Blade turns to Damaskinos.

BLADE:

(vampire dialect; subtitled)

You want me to hunt them for you.

DAMASKINOS:

(vampire dialect; subtitled)

Not alone.

ASAD:

We've been training a small tactical

unit -- the Bloodpack. We want you to

lead them.

WHISTLER:

Just how long has this little social

club of yours been together?

NYSSA:

Two years.

BLADE:

Then they weren't created to go after

your "patient zero".

NYSSA:

No. They've been training to hunt you.

CUT TO:

INT. SCUD'S WORKSHOP - DAWN

Blade, Whistler and Scud enter through the loading elevator.

Blade turns to Whistler.

BLADE:

What do you think?

WHISTLER:

Sounds like a plan.

BLADE:

What do you really think?

WHISTLER:

(lighting a cigarette)

These guys are shitting bricks cause

they're no longer on the top of the food

chain. They're going to f*** us the

first chance they get.

Whistler moves away. Blade shrugs off his jacket, begins

putting away his weapons. Scud lingers, apprehensive.

SCUD:

So you're going to do this?

BLADE:

Keep your friends close and your enemies

closer. Isn't that how the saying goes?

Scud follows Blade's gaze, watching Whistler, who has

collapsed into a chair at the far end of the workshop. The

grizzled hunter pulls off his leg brace, then massages his

bum knee. Scud nods in Whistler's direction.

SCUD:

I'm worried about him.

(off Blade's look)

Look, I know he's your friend, but just

watch him, okay? Nobody goes cold

Turkey from the Thirst in a night.

BACK ON WHISTLER

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