EXT. FIELD- DAWN
FADE IN:  A tall figure in a wide brimmed hat and leather trench coat trots across a field of tall grass on a black stallion.  The sky is illuminated with pinks, purples, and golds through a thin layer of fog.  He pauses as he crests the top of a hill and sighs heavily, the weight of his job and mysterious past closing around him.  The grass behind him shudders.  The monster hunter turns his head, and the grass becomes motionless.  His gaze lingers for a moment then travels to the ground next to him; in a patch of mud is a huge lion paw print. Van Helsing looks to the sky.

VAN HELSING
I hope you know what you’re doing, this time.

His dark figure continues down the hill while the golden sun rises behind him.

EXT. FOREST- NIGHT
(Black and White) Deep in a sinister, thriving FOREST, the FULL MOON wafts overhead ominous trees and looming MOUNTAINS.  In the darkness figures lurking in the shadows can barely be seen.  Nothing stirs.  Several figures in 16th century clothing appear in the midst of the trees: one young woman and several men.

MAN
Ms. Windsler, are you positive this girl killed your eldest brother.

MARA
You saw all the blood on her yourself.

YOUNG MAN
Where is Horatiu, Mara?

Mara glares at him and holds a finger to her mouth.

MARA
SHHH!!

Mara motions them farther into the woods.  Muffled crying utters from a grove of nearby trees.  Between the foliage the figure of a YOUNG LADY in a long black cloak clutches an unmoving person in her arms.  From the shadows emits sounds of ruffling bushes, objects scrapping trees, and FOOTSTEPS.  Then everything is quiet.
HOWLS burst through the forest’s stillness. She looks around as the echoes fade.  Out of the forest plows a massive group of people sporting all sorts of potential weapons.  Some men sprint toward her and rip her away from the body as she releases an anguished cry.  She wrenches an arm free, reaching for the corpse.  A man approaches her from behind and snatches her arm.  Gathering into a semi-circle, the remaining people block any chance of escape. The men hold her openly to the group.  Mara strides in front of everyone and holds a short sword to the girl’s throat.

MARA
Why do you put on such a fearful façade?! You appeared out of the sky and killed my brother!  Did you think the town that loved him wouldn’t take action?!  Did you assume I wouldn’t?!

YOUNG LADY
I didn’t mean for anything to happen to Lucian.  I would never do anything to harm him.

MARA
Whatever you say does not matter!  At least, not any more.

Swiftly, everyone closes in with their weapons drawn; vengeance contorts their faces.  A wicked slicing sound resonances through the woods.   
Something perched in a tree with gleaming RED EYES snickers malevolently while the murder occurs.  FADE OUT.

BRITTANY, FRANCE 1889

EXT. ALLEY- NIGHT
(Color)  Next to a tavern we find our hero.  He walks toward the end of an alley.  On the cobble stone path is a dead man, a look of horror frozen on his face.  Next to the body, there is another paw print.  VAN HELSING kneels down to get a better look; his breath forms icy clouds in front of his face while he does the sign of the cross.
The man’s arm is extended, pointing past the stone and towards a gloomy forest.  Taking the hint, Van Helsing dashes into the woods.

EXT. CEMETERY- NIGHT  
We look upon a DESERTED, OLD, CEMETERY.  Dead LEAVES are scattered everywhere; lifeless, bare TREES and STATUES swathe the grounds.  A stone WALL encircles the property, and a rusting metal GATE squeaks open as our hero surveys the area.  He walks into the estate cautiously with a hand resting on his pistol. A bell in the distance tolls midnight.  A feminine voice resonates around the courtyard.

SPHINX (voice)
Midnight, twelve o’ clock,
As you enter do you hear the bell ring?
Will you make your presence known and knock,
Van Helsing?    

A twig snaps across the courtyard.  Van Helsing spins around.  The same voice reverberates behind him.

SPHINX
Finally I meet the murderer of my kind.

He turns to face the creature, which is adorned with gold jewelry containing RED GEMS and RED EYES (This sphinx has no wings, contrary to some myths).

SPHINX (cont’d)
Thought you had killed all of us,
But you obviously left me behind.
Now the only way for the sphinxes to be no more
Is if you can outwit my mind.

VAN HELSING
It’s been done before.

SPHINX
Yes, but I am the last.
So perhaps I’m the wisest,
Or perhaps the strongest,
Or maybe just fast.


VAN HESLING
True enough.

She leaps off the wall and pounces from statue to statue.  She scent rubs the head of a damaged angel sculpture.  Her eyes and expression taunt, “Just try to kill me.” She sits on the statue and puts her head on her forelegs.  She looks like a very bored teenager and lets out a jaded sigh.

SPHINX
You are, monster hunter, of an elite faction,
But, I must admit, I was expecting more action.

He whips out his PISTOLS and OPENS FIRE.   The sphinx leaps about the statues, evading every shot.  She bounds toward him and with a swipe of her great paw, sends him flying.  He rolls to a stop about 30 yards away from a TOMB.  Scratches embellish his face along with a wince.  The sphinx giggles softly.  She leers at him and slowly strolls forward.

SPHINX
What did you think would happen?  Did you actually think you could defeat me?
Of course not! So run along now; leave me to my job and let me be.

Out from his cloak, Van Helsing snatches a GLASS TUBE that is filled with GLYCERINE 48.  He chucks it towards the statues. BOOM!!  Mammoth pieces and tiny shards of stone propel through the air.   Smoke and dust hover around the area where Van Helsing was.  A number of whole statues have fallen and shattered.

SPHINX
Clever, Van Helsing, very clever.
Now killing you will be such a pleasure.

She strides to the wreckage on delicate feet.  After some smoke has cleared away she notices a few dismantled statues block her path.  A sly grin plasters her face.  She dashes toward it and jumps.  
Though kneeling against the stone is Van Helsing.  Immediately, he stands and fires.  The creature tumbles out of the sky and hits the ground, hard.   Cautiously Van Helsing approaches gun at the ready.  She pants; a bullet wound garnishes her chest.  

SPHINX (whispering)
It can keep you safe in the dead of night,
And when unwelcome visitors are at the door
To gain entry they would have to give a fight,
And without it, in your home will lurk the visitors or more.

Her heavy breathing ends, and she slumps on the ground.  He points his gun and fires several more rounds into her carcass.

INT. TOMB-NIGHT
One of the tomb’s doors creaks open as Van Helsing enters.   Everything is encased in dust and cobwebs, and is aged and dilapidated.  A wood staircase lies directly in front of him.  Chests filled with black sand surround the stairs and the rest of the small room.  Silently Van Helsing makes his way down the long descending stairs.

He enters a large room that is deep beneath the surface with a towering ceiling.  An enormous CHANDELIER is suspended from the middle of the ceiling; spider webs envelop it and it seems to not have been used for numerous years.  All around the room are more CHESTS; some are open and some are damaged with black sand in and around them; under the lighting fixture is a smaller chest in an open COFFIN.  He holsters his gun and proceeds toward it.   He lightly opens it to find the same substance.  He sifts his fingers through the fine material.  A look of surprise covers his face and he draws out a BIZZARE METAL OBJECT.  Before he can examine it, there is a slight “click.”  Van Helsing rolls backwards, springs to his feet as the chandelier crashes down.  He stands and gives it a wary look.

VATICAN CITY

ROME- DAWN
“The clock behind St. Peter’s Basilica chimes as Van Helsing trots his black stallion across the enormous Piazza San Pietro, lined with Bernini’s magnificent colonnades.”

INT. ST.PETERS- DAWN
“Gregorian CHANTING can be heard as Van Helsing strides through the greatest church in all Christendom.”   

INT. CONFESSIONAL- DAY
Van Helsing takes a knee inside an elaborate confessional.  He puts his head on his folded, gloved, hands. He remains frozen for a moment.

CARDINAL JINETTE
Are you not going to ask for clemency?

VAN HELSING
Can monsters be forgiven?
(Pause)
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.

A tiny screen door slides open.  

CARDINAL JINETTE
You are no monster, Van Helsing; what is troubling you to say such things?  

VAN HELSING
I just don’t know if I can keep doing this without getting any answers.

CARDINAL JINETTE
Be patient, the Lord works in mysterious ways

Cardinal Jinette looks at Van Helsing with concern.

CARDINAL JINETTE (cont’d)
Your memory will return in time.

VAN HELSING
In time?  Haven’t I spent enough time yet?!  How much longer till I can stop killing these monsters, for God’s sake!

Van Helsing looks away irate. The Cardinal pulls a lever, and the back wall of the confessional slides away, revealing a hidden staircase.  He shifts his harsh gaze toward the monster hunter.

CARDINAL JINETTE
I suggest that next time you blaspheme, try to keep your voice down.

The Cardinal stands and starts down the stairs, Van Helsing follows close behind.

INT. ARMORY- DAY
The Cardinal and Van Helsing enter the vast underground armory, which is, as usual, bustling with activity.

CARDINAL JINETTE
Was the sphinx guarding anything of great significance?

VAN HELSING
I don’t know about how important it may or may not be, but something, yes.

Van Helsing pulls out the BIZARRE METAL OBJECT.  Now we see it is rather like a giant metal L, almost like the side of a sword handle. From the horizontal line a C extends facing the opposite direction.  On the end opposite of the L is a strange symbol carved in the side.

CARDINAL JINETTE
Very intriguing, I have never seen something quite as unique as this.

Something across the armory catches Van Helsing attention, for no apparent reason.  A mysterious person in an exceedingly dark frock with the hood up stands at the top of a set of stairs and continues down into another section of the mammoth room.

VAN HELSING
Could you excuse me for a moment, Cardinal?

And without waiting for a reply he heads off into the direction that it went.

INT. ARMORY- DAY
In a lower part of the armory, the notorious, earnest friar, CARL begins to repair one of the many weapons in the Vatican detective’s arsenal.  

CARL
Everything can only endure so much wear and tear…no respect for anything….

The person comes right behind Carl.  He goes rigid at the muffled sound of a gun being cocked.  Carl gulps.  

MYSTERIOUS PERSON
Tell me where he is.
  
CARL (petrified)
Who?

MYSTERIOUS PERSON
Van Helsing.

(Pause)

VAN HELSING  
What do we have here?

Thank goodness for Carl, Van Helsing comes to the rescue.  He grabs the figure’s gun, which was located against Carl’s back.  He pulls the strings on the frock loose and removes it to expose a stunning blond with placid yet fierce sapphire eyes.  This is ARWAIA. She wears a bodice, a small CRUCIFIX on a metal chain, a sleeveless, black cloak, etc.  She appears no older than eighteen.  Instantaneously everyone in the armory ceases what they are doing and gazes at the young lady.  Everyone is silent.  Arwaia stares at Van Helsing; the friar and Van Helsing look around at the wide-eyed men.
Dropping the frock and placing a hand on her shoulder, Van Helsing guides her away from the awe-struck masses.

VAN HELSING
Why don’t we go somewhere more private…?                 

INT. SMALL CHAMBER- DAY
Inside a small room with a wooden door Arwaia sits; Van Helsing, Carl, and the Cardinal all stand around her.  Her gun occupies a table and several other weapons; including two crescent blades, a dagger, and more ammunition.  Van Helsing stands in front of her.

VAN HELSING
What is your name?

ARWAIA
Arwaia.

VAN HELSING
Why did you sneak in?

ARWAIA
Wouldn’t the question rather be how?

Carl looks very interested to hear how.  Van Helsing just looks at her.  She shrugs and sighs.

ARWAIA (cont’d)
Suit yourself.
(Candidly)
People would think me to be a raving lunatic if I said I wanted to find the secret society based under the Vatican, which has kept mankind safe from an unknown evil since time immemorial, so I could convince the most wanted man in Europe to help me kill a monster.  Wouldn’t you think I had lost all sanity and reason?  

She offers a devious smile.

CARL
I probably would.

Everyone gives him a look.

CARL
What?!

Van Helsing just shakes his heads, and then he gazes up curiously.

VAN HELSING
Wait, a monster?

ARWAIA
Yes.  The creature’s name is Lamia.

CARL
That sounds very familiar!  If I am correct, she is a serpent woman who drinks the blood of children and preys on young men.  

ARWAIA
Yes.  I have had the chance to see her once before and I believe she may attack a defenseless village again, soon.

VAN HELSING
Where?

ARWAIA
Transylvania.

INT. ARMORY- DAY
The Cardinal stands next to Van Helsing; the image of a young girl with curly brown hair and radiant green eyes with a mask that covers the right side of her face, mainly around her eye, projects onto the wall in front of them.

CARDINAL JINETTE
This girl should be able to help you; she lives in the town Lamia has focused on.  She is an orphan by the name of Annakuh Windsler.

They begin to walk toward the stairs to find Carl and Arwaia.  The Cardinal puts a hand on Van Helsing’s shoulder.  Van Helsing shrugs his hand off and leaves the Cardinal at the top of the stairs. Carl examines the bizarre metal object.  Arwaia silently gapes at all the weapons, somewhat like a child in a candy store, and fingers at the crucifix around her neck.  As Van Helsing walks over to Carl and Arwaia he glances at various groups of working men watching the girl; when they notice Van Helsing’s gaze they hurriedly go back to work.  He comes up next to Arwaia.  

CARL
Interesting…

VAN HELSING
Carl?

Carl looks away from the object like he was just shaken from a daydream.

VAN HELSING
You have anything to show me?

CARL
Yes, right over here!

He dashes over to a counter where there lies a new gun: it is a gas piston air gun.  He holds it up for inspection.

CARL
This is the result of my more recent innovations.  It is ideal for killing werewolves, and other vampiric beings.  The key is that it fires at rapid speeds.  Though, the shots are what make it exceptional.

Carl picks up a silver Diablo pellet and exhibits it.  The top of it is formed by a glass chamber.  Every so often, the contents of the chamber swirl around with a faint green color.

CARL (cont’d)
Here we have silver and silver nitrate gas.  Once the glass breaks the gas is unleashed and will cause havoc in whatever creature is hit.  Though you better be careful; if this gas touches your skin you’ll have a spot as dark as the new moon.

Van Helsing analyzes it with a look of intrigue.  Though, Arwaia’s expression has changed.  Now, she eyes it with caution and a look of distaste.

CARL
However, I doubt you’ll run into any werewolves on this mission.

ARWAIA
Werewolves aren’t limited to only Transylvania.  

CARL
Yes, well…

Van Helsing looks at him inquisitively to hear the response to Arwaia’s true, unyielding statement.  Carl looks fretfully about for a way out of the situation he put himself into.

CARL (cont’d)
Over here is something else!

Carl scurries around to another table.  On it is a box made of tiny squares, resembling a beehive.  Most of the squares are occupied by glass spheres filled with a dense black smoke.  He deftly pulls one out and displays it to Van Helsing, and Arwaia.  

CARL
This is the perfect cloaking device.  Once it breaks, the fog expands over a large area, but it doesn’t become less dense as rapidly as other substances; it appears as opaque as it is now. It’s made of a special glass that isn’t very thick or heavy, but can withstand a good beating.

VAN HELSING
Will it ever break?

CARL
I didn’t say that it was indestructible; you just need to apply the proper force.  Example.

Carl throws it to the floor.  The room instantly is filled by the smoke.

SEVERAL PRIESTS
Carl!

Out from the smoke Van Helsing grasps onto the friar’s arm.  Arwaia is right next to our hero.  He shoves a duffle bag into the Carl’s arms.

VAN HELSING
Come along, Carl, before you get us in any more trouble.

CARL
But, Van Helsing, I don’t want to go to Transylvania, again!