I See Me, Oracle 1 – an excerpt and a giveaway

Oracle_1_eBook“There’s that guy again.” Sprawled facedown over the black vinyl chair, I had a perfect view of West Broadway through the storefront window of Get Inked.

“What guy?” Tyler muttered as he hunched over my bare shoulder with his two-coil tattoo machine. Someone had to come up with a better name for that, other than ‘tattoo gun.’ Most ink artists hated calling it that.

“That guy … from the pizza place two days ago. The guy who tried to buy me a slice of pepperoni, like I eat meat.” I didn’t point. I wasn’t stupid enough to move my shoulder and risk ruining the ink.

All Tyler had to do was look up and he’d see the guy drinking a venti Starbucks and leaning against the pockmarked concrete wall of the convenience store across the street. A tall, skinny guy wearing black jeans and a knit hat in an attempt to look like a hipster, but really just hiding stringy, dirty blond hair. I was serious about the ‘dirty’ part, as in actual dirt. If the guy let his teeth yellow any worse, they’d match his hair. At least he hadn’t actually smelled when he sidled up to me a couple of days ago.

“The daisy would look so much cooler with some color,” Tyler muttered. He wasn’t easy to distract once he had the two-coil in hand. Normally I liked that about him.

“Red … pink?”

“It’s a peony.”

“What?”

“A peony. And daisies aren’t red.”

“Fine. I’ll stick with the boring black, as usual.” Tyler snapped a used cartridge out of his tattoo machine and plugged in a new one. Then he started filling in the edges of my newest design.

I’d copied my peony sketch onto transfer paper about two hours ago, and Tyler and I had argued over its placement for another hour. It had taken me three months to get the flower design exactly right — as perfect as I’d seen it in my head — and ready for its permanent place on my shoulder.

I had a tattoo of barbed wire with various things snagged in the spikes running up my left arm. The ‘things’ were eclectic — keys, spiders … even a black-and-white Canadian flag. With the addition of the peony, I was getting Tyler to extend the tattoo over my shoulder now. Eventually, it would meet and intermingle about two-thirds of the way across my back with the ivy leaf pattern that ran up my right arm.

“I don’t like him,” I said. The guy across the street was playing with something, rolling something silver around in his hand. Pedestrians were steadily passing by him in either direction, but he hadn’t once bothered to glance up from his phone.

West Broadway was a major artery through this part of the city. It ran all the way from Burnaby up to the University of British Columbia, which was pretty much as west as it got without running into the Pacific Ocean. As was typical for January in Vancouver, the day was gray.

Despite the cloud cover, I kept catching flashes of silver when the light hit whatever the guy was fooling around with. It was probably some creepy magic trick with coins or something.

“He tried to talk to me.”

“He must be insane then. Who would want to talk to you?” Tyler was joking, but it wasn’t that far from the truth. I could count my friends on one hand. If I included my social-worker-of-the-day, I’d have to use my thumb.

 – I See Me (Oracle 1), Chapter 1

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(tentative) Release Day: Thursday, November 6, 2014 – but only if I have it available everywhere

Want to be the first to know? Make sure you’ve signed up for the new release mailing list.

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GIVEAWAY

First person to answer the following question correctly wins an advanced ebook copy of I See Me (Oracle 1). Leave me your answer in the comments below (and make sure to fill in your email address, so I can contact you).

Warning: this is probably only winnable by people who have read the Dowser books fairly recently or someone with a wicked memory.

Who is the creepy guy that Rochelle sees across the street?

Answer (supplied by Becky first): HOYT

I See Me, Oracle 1 – Synopsis

Oracle_1_eBookThe day I turned nineteen, I expected to gain what little freedom I could within the restrictions of my bank account and the hallucinations that had haunted me for the last six years. I expected to drive away from a life that had been dictated by the tragedy of others and shaped by the care of strangers. I expected to be alone.

Actually, I relished the idea of being alone.

Instead, I found fear I thought I’d overcome. Uncertainty I thought I’d painstakingly planned away. And terror that was more real than anything I’d ever hallucinated before.

I’d seen terrible, fantastical, and utterly impossible things … but not love. Not until I saw him.

(tentative) Release Day: Thursday, October 30, 2014

Want to be the first to know? Make sure you’ve signed up for the new release mailing list.

Oracle 1 – Cover Reveal

It’s my birthday today. To celebrate, I thought I would share the cover of  I See Me, Oracle 1 with you as a treat.

I’ll have a synopsis and release date for you next week (hopefully), but for now, you (and I) will have to make do with your first glimpse of Rochelle:

 

Oracle_1_eBook

 

This gorgeous art is the combined-genius of Irene Langholm and Elizabeth Mackey. I’m truly blessed that both of these talented ladies agreed to work together to launch the Oracle Series.

More treats to come …

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, INDEED!!

What do you think?

Throwback Thursday: Sunshine’s Night of Darkness, Scene 16

SCENE ONE (and an explanation of what the hell is going on with these posts)

——————-

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS

Synopsis:  It’s Sunshine’s first day of work in security at the P.U.R.E Corporation and all she wants to do is make it through orientation, but first she’s got to fill out a name tag requisition form, fit her uniform, meet a cute computer geek … oh, and save her fellow employees from genetically-mutated, blood-lusting vampires.

Notes: All work is registered with the WGC & the WGA.

– Scene Sixteen –

INT. HUMAN RESOURCES/EXT. IRMA’S OFFICE – LATER

The group waits as Irma crosses back out of her office. Human Resource EMPLOYEES bustle around desks and computers and the assistant continues to bind booklets. Irma hands a form to Sunshine and a binder to Huxley.

IRMA

Your name tag requisition.

SUNSHINE

Thanks.

HUXLEY

(re: binder)

Oh, that’s okay. I have one.

Irma just stares at him.

HUXLEY (CONT’D)

I like to keep up on the homework if I miss a class, and study ahead.

CALLIE

(sarcastic i.e. undermining Irma)

I totally knew it, there is going to be a test!!

Sunshine snorts.

IRMA

(just trying to get through it)

P.U.R.E continually looks to build a dedicated team. You’re encouraged to better yourselves both physically and mentally. To this end, the spa and other facilities can be accessed off hours for an employee rate, as outlined in your orientation manuals. We offer a comprehensive dental and medical plan…

sunshine(etc) poster

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SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS – a screenplay by Meghan Ciana Doidge

SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE

SCENE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN

SCENE TEN

SCENE ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, & FOURTEEN

SCENE FIFTEEN

SCENE SIXTEEN (above)

Throwback Thursday: Sunshine’s Night of Darkness, Scene 15

THINGS ARE GETTING CRAZY THIS WEEK!!!

SCENE ONE (and an explanation of what the hell is going on with these posts)

——————-

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS

Synopsis:  It’s Sunshine’s first day of work in security at the P.U.R.E Corporation and all she wants to do is make it through orientation, but first she’s got to fill out a name tag requisition form, fit her uniform, meet a cute computer geek … oh, and save her fellow employees from genetically-mutated, blood-lusting vampires.

Notes: All work is registered with the WGC & the WGA.

N.B. – O.S stands for off screen

– Scene Fifteen –

INT. LAB 17, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, P.U.R.E CORPORATION – LATER

Leila’s heart monitor flat lines.

Dixon freaks. He shuts down the program and the blood drains back into Leila. He tries shocking, through the monitor pads already attached, Leila’s heart, but it doesn’t respond.

He pulls a needle and a stimulant out of the cupboard and injects Leila. Nothing happens. Dixon throws the needle on the counter in despair.

He paces and then crosses to a computer panel by the door. He taps the touch screen to call up the security menu, starts to speak but then stops himself. He then inserts his key and opens a private channel.

DIXON

Dixon, Head of Research to Head of Security. Priority, Lab 17.

Dixon waits.

Leila moans and Dixon’s head snaps to her. The heart monitor is still flat-lined. He steps to Leila.

Leila reaches up and begins to disconnect herself from the machines. Dixon, who is overwhelmingly confused, cannot speak.

Leila unsteadily stands, pulls her hair away from her face and stumbles to the mirrored glass that divides the lab from an observation room. In the mirror: She is transformed, her skin rejuvenated, her hair full and shiny, and her eyes blindingly blue.

LEILA

Oh! It’s me, only better.

She laughs; young, free and delighted.

LELIA

(a little ominous)

Wait, just wait until everyone sees me.

TARO (O.S.)

(through computer panel)

Taro, Head of Security. Please indicate nature of the priority, Lab 17?

Leila grimaces, pained. She cups her face, as her skin begins to pull back from her eyes, her mouth, and her nose like a sponge rapidly drying out.

Dixon moans and Leila turns to him in utter disbelief.

LEILA

My face! My skin! What have you done!!

Dixon scrambles towards the computer and, in his panic, manages to jab himself with the discarded needle. He yells and yanks the needle out. Blood swells from the deep puncture in his hand.

Leila moans at the sight of his blood and, instantly, she is by him; she lifts his hand to her mouth and sucks on his wound. He howls in horror and tries to pry her off his hand, but she clamps down harder and blood begins to spurt.

He swoons in a mixture of pleasure and pain, and grasps at Leila’s bowed head. His knees buckle and she follows, still feeding, as he collapses.

sunshine(etc) poster

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SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS – a screenplay by Meghan Ciana Doidge

SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE

SCENE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN

SCENE TEN

SCENE ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, & FOURTEEN

SCENE FIFTEEN (above)

SCENE SIXTEEN

Throwback Thursday: Sunshine’s Night of Darkness, Scene 11, 12, 13, and 14

SCENE ONE (and an explanation of what the hell is going on with these posts)

——————-

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS

Synopsis:  It’s Sunshine’s first day of work in security at the P.U.R.E Corporation and all she wants to do is make it through orientation, but first she’s got to fill out a name tag requisition form, fit her uniform, meet a cute computer geek … oh, and save her fellow employees from genetically-mutated, blood-lusting vampires.

Notes: All work is registered with the WGC & the WGA.

This week’s excerpt opens with a montage:

– Scene Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen & Fourteen –

INT. ACCOUNTING, OFFICE LEVEL, P.U.R.E CORPORATION – LATER

DATA TRANSLATORS crunch numbers into computers.

INT. PUBLIC RELATIONS, OFFICE LEVEL – CONTINUOUS

A GRAPHIC DESIGNER mocks up a P.U.R.E magazine advertisement: with the byline: it’s young, it’s fresh, it’s the newest you.

INT. HUMAN RESOURCES, OFFICE LEVEL – CONTINUOUS

An ASSISTANT slices bundles of paper in a hefty cutter and then binds them into information booklets.

INT. HALLWAY, OFFICE LEVEL – CONTINUOUS

Irma leads the group as they pass by various administration offices filled with EMPLOYEES.

IRMA

Administration is the heart of the P.U.R.E CORP, without it the facility would cease to function –

A sweet-looking man, LIONEL, 35, wanders passed with a coffee.

LIONEL

Hi Irma.

IRMA

Lionel, from accounting. We just visited your office, Lionel.

LIONEL

Too bad I missed you.

He nods to the group and moves on down the hallway.

Irma pauses at a gold-brushed wooden box mounted by a door.

IRMA

The suggestion box. A mainstay of human resources, we want to hear from you! Oh, but this is not to be used for payroll inquires, correspondence, or form submission. Suggestions, only.

CALLIE

Will there be a test? Because no one else is taking any notes and I didn’t realize –

IRMA

No test, Callie. Just the accumulation of knowledge for knowledge’s sake –

CALLIE

Not grades?

Irma spins away, swipes her ID by a computer panel and, when the door opens, crosses into Human Resources. Callie, having deliberately wound Irma up, smirks.

CALLIE (CONT’D)

She really shouldn’t frown like that, it mars.

SUNSHINE

People’s personalities can’t be contained within a constructed façade forever.

CALLIE

(almost gleeful)

You think she’s had work done? No, you’re right. It’s better to radiate, be radiant, you know, see the good inside parts on the outside.

RASHID

Bottle that and you’d put P.U.R.E out of business.

HUXLEY

Can’t be done, unless we lock all the good people up and continually harvest them to medicate the bad.

RASHID

And a virulent virus always overwhelms wholesome cells, unless you have huge quantities at inception.

SUNSHINE

And who would decide? Who was good enough?

sunshine(etc) poster

————————–

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS – a screenplay by Meghan Ciana Doidge

SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE

SCENE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN

SCENE TEN

SCENE ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, & FOURTEEN (above)

Throwback Thursday: Sunshine’s Night of Darkness, Scene 10

SCENE ONE (and an explanation of what the hell is going on with these posts)

——————-

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS

Synopsis:  It’s Sunshine’s first day of work in security at the P.U.R.E Corporation and all she wants to do is make it through orientation, but first she’s got to fill out a name tag requisition form, fit her uniform, meet a cute computer geek … oh, and save her fellow employees from genetically-mutated, blood-lusting vampires.

Notes: All work is registered with the WGC & the WGA.

– Scene Ten –

INT. LAB 17, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, P.U.R.E CORPORATION – LATER

Leila sits hooked into various machines, one of which looks like it cycles blood. Dixon toggles through a series of windows and programs on a laptop computer.

DIXON

… DNA can be resequenced. It remembers its original pattern, so we reshuffle to reflect … thirty?

LEILA

Twenty-five.

DIXON

(still a little unsure)

Right … and refresh and recharge all your blood. We have to wait for reabsorption –

LEILA

I’m not interested in details just outcome.

DIXON

Well, it’s important you understand –

LEILA

Youth, beauty, sex, money, power. I’m only missing the former, and I expect you to provide it without cluttering my mind with your science.

DIXON

Ummm … all right. Well … Side effects?

LEILA

(bored)

Continue.

DIXON

Sensitivity to light. Um, your eyes and skin could be sensitive to sunshine, heat, so stay out of direct contact. And, ah … well, death.

LEILA

I do read your reports, whether I like to or not.

DIXON

Oh, good, good –

LEILA

The treatment?

DIXON

Yes.

Dixon hits the space bar and a sequence runs on the computer.

DIXON (CONT’D)

You should feel drowsy and then …

Leila’s eyes bat close. Blood fills the cycling canister and then pumps through various tubing into various machines until a bloody web of plastic tubing forms around Leila.

sunshine(etc) poster

————————–

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS – a screenplay by Meghan Ciana Doidge

SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE

SCENE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, TEN

SCENE TEN (above)

SCENE ELEVEN, TWELVE, THIRTEEN, & FOURTEEN

Writer Wednesday – Ella Medler

Let’s welcome author Ella Medler to Writer Wednesday on the blog!! I haven’t been doing these posts regularly for while, but when Ella mentioned her novella ‘Not Juliet’ to me I knew I had to tell you all about it  plus an excerpt and a new recipe – YAY!

Made by Ella Medler

Easy-make, flourless, low-fat macaroons

In a bowl big enough to make a salad put 4 egg whites.
Whip them until stiff, adding 4 spoonfuls of sugar as you go.
Add any flavorings (I like a dash of extra almond).
Now add in equal quantities shredded coconut and ground almonds (almond meal) until the mix reaches dropping consistency.
You want to be able to drop sloppy spoonfuls of this on a baking sheet.
Bake for about ten minutes – or until firm to touch.
Cool on a cooling rack.
Drizzle melted chocolate for a luxury finish.
low-fat macaroons
Meghan’s note: make sure the egg whites are room temp. Also, I adore adding ground almonds to my macaroons – YUM!

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Not Juliet

Not Juliet book cover

Synopsis:  Riella Smith, an unconventional Romany Princess, travels to Tuscany on the trail of her father’s challenger, to delay him and prevent unnecessary bloodshed and humiliation. What she expects is trouble from a fearsome rival. But life is rarely that easy. The trouble she finds is of a different kind. Soon, she faces the toughest decision of her life – again – though it should really be a no-brainer. All she has to do is choose between her people and a myth. After all, there’s no such thing as love at first sight.

Excerpt: Luca buried his face in her hair, trying to save his eyesight. Riella was lethal. She would have made a very successful cage fighter.

“I begged you to leave him alone. I begged you on my knees!”

“He knew it,” he shouted, trying to still her. “He gave up his life to protect yours.”

She still fought, but he could feel her tiring, grief weighing her down. Deep sobs erupted from her chest, replacing her will to fight.

“Come on.” He pulled her to her feet and towed her into the darkness, farther away from the fire and shootings.

They made it to the last trailer just as he heard the grenade launchers.

“Fuck. We need to run like you’ve never run before. Over to that line of trees. Ready?”

“No. Wait. I can barely stand up.”

“Tough. You can complain later. C’mon.”

Luca grabbed Riella’s hand tight in his hand and started for the trees. They ran for their lives, while behind them the campsite turned to churned mud and fire. Trailers and cars alike blew up, and the few people who hadn’t already taken cover ran away into the darkness.

As soon as they were hidden by the first line of trees, Riella pulled her hand out of his and dug her heels in. “Wait!”

“Riella, we’re not safe here. We need to get farther in.”

“I don’t give a shit! You stop and answer me one question, Luca Anziano, or you may as well kill me here and now.”

Luca stared at her for a split second. Dogged determination was shining in her eyes. Hell of a gene to inherit from her father. Why couldn’t she just have his color eyes, or same shape chin instead?

Riella stood, hands on hips, hair wild and twisting in the wind, outlined against the conflagration that had been her and her people’s home, like some avenging angel come to rid the world of its canker.

“Luca,” she panted, “when you told me you loved me… I just need to know… Were you lying to me?”

The metallic whizzing of several simultaneous barrels resonated over the crackling of the fire. Sprays of bullets showered the already destroyed site, catching any stragglers unawares.

“Who the hell sold him a metal storm? The guy’s nuts!”

“Answer me!”

“I’ll answer you on the go.”

Luca grabbed her in his arms and ran. The bullets kept coming and Riella was shouting something over the noise, but not loud enough for him to make out individual words. He ran, mind focused on one thing, and one thing only: to get her away from the danger, to make her safe.

The forest floor was uneven, and it would have been difficult terrain even without having to carry a struggling woman in his arms; with her added weight, Luca felt like he was wrenching each step through a vat full of treacle. His thigh muscles burned, his lungs were on fire, but now he could see the road, and parked to the side, the truck in which Karalius must have brought over his arsenal designed to teach Goliath’s people who’s boss.

Escape was in sight.

From in front, someone opened fire, and Luca stumbled. Before he could work out why, he hit the ground and knew no more.

BUY ON AMAZON

Ella Medler author photoBio: Ella Medler is a U.K. author and free-lance editor. She writes fiction in more than one genre in a seemingly vain attempt to slow down her overactive brain enough to write non-fiction on subjects she knows a thing or two about. She also does not believe in the starchy use of English and ignores the type of rule that doesn’t allow for a sentence to be finished in a preposition. Her books are action-driven and well-developed characters are her forte. Loves: freedom. Hates: her inner censor.

To keep up to date with her current writing and future projects, visit her website at http://ellamedler.wordpress.com/

Throwback Thursday: Sunshine’s Night of Darkness, Scene 6, 7, 8, 9

SCENE ONE (and an explanation of what the hell is going on with these posts)

——————-

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS

Synopsis:  It’s Sunshine’s first day of work in security at the P.U.R.E Corporation and all she wants to do is make it through orientation, but first she’s got to fill out a name tag requisition form, fit her uniform, meet a cute computer geek … oh, and save her fellow employees from genetically-mutated, blood-lusting vampires.

Notes: All work is registered with the WGC & the WGA.

– Scene Six, Seven, Eight, Nine –

INT. SPA, TREAMENT ROOM, P.U.R.E CORPORATION – LATER

A WOMAN, swathed in plastic, gets a facial.

INT. SPA, MUD ROOM – CONTINUOUS

A MAN soaks in a mud-filled, marble soaker tub.

INT. SPA, SUN BED ROOM – CONTINUOUS

A YOUNGER WOMAN lies tanning in a U.V. tube-filled coffin.

INT. FOYER, SPA – CONTINUOUS

A waterfall runs down one granite wall and over a grouping of river rocks. The group follows Irma, who acknowledges the pretty girl, MIKI, behind the granite front desk.

IRMA

Miki.

MIKI

Hi, Irma. Hello new people. Callie.

CALLIE

Hi!

HUXLEY

(looking around)

Swank.

IRMA

Yes. We are the top rated spa in the country. This is P.U.R.E’s most public face and its soul. Each client is treated like royalty in their own home. P.U.R.E Prompts the Ultimate Revitalization of Energy with its pristine spa.

Huxley offers Sunshine a mini eye roll and grin at Irma’s continual use of acronyms, but Sunshine has her nose buried in her orientation folder. Irma gestures and moves towards a set of ornate double doors. Rashid follows.

IRMA (CONT’D)

Through here we –

A sign-clad PROTESTOR bursts in through the main doors. His signage screams of P.U.R.E’S animal testing, shady morality, and promotion of unnecessary plastic surgery, and he screams as BUZZ, a security officer, yanks him back by his hair. BUZZ is closely followed by another security officer, PHIL.

PROTESTOR

P.U.R.E promotes pernicious, obsequiously risky, engineered, arggg –

Phil hits the Protestor with a stun gun and he falls. Sunshine, hoping to help, steps forward.

BUZZ (to Phil)

Watch it with that.

(noting Sunshine)

Hello, darling. Lost?

SUNSHINE

I thought… you might need help?

Phil hauls the rather limp Protestor to his feet and turns back towards the door.

BUZZ

(snorting)

Right! You’re the Sunny everyone’s talking about. A little girl in security. Well, it’ll be a hell of a ride … for us.

He turns his back on Sunshine and exits. Rashid and Callie look a little put off by the Protestor while Huxley glares after Buzz.

HUXLEY

(concerned, to Sunshine)

Hey, I think you –

SUNSHINE

Nevermind.

Irma, imperturbable through out the incident, prompts:

IRMA

Shall we?

SUNSHINE

Ummm, yea.

Irma continues further into the spa. They all follow.

CALLIE

(whispering)

What was that?

SUNSHINE

(shrugging)

You read his sign.

HUXLEY

(rhetorical)

Why do you think they need so much security?

CALLIE

Their high-end clients –

HUXLEY

Ask Rashid. If he’ll talk about it. He knows what they really do here.

SUNSHINE

What we need to do here is our jobs, nothing less.

Huxley and Callie look a little chastised. Irma looks back and raises her voice to prompt the others to focus/follow.

IRMA

The treatment rooms are luxury personified, and the sun beds –

CALLIE

Are just the thing if you want to forgo your leather jackets and just wear your own skin.

Sunshine snorts and Callie giggles, glad to have broken through Sunshine’s ice. Irma is not pleased.

sunshine(etc) poster

————————–

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS – a screenplay by Meghan Ciana Doidge

SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE

SCENE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE (above)

SCENE TEN

 

Throwback Thursday: Sunshine’s Night of Darkness, Scene 5

SCENE ONE (and an explanation of what the hell is going on with these posts)

——————-

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS

Synopsis:  It’s Sunshine’s first day of work in security at the P.U.R.E Corporation and all she wants to do is make it through orientation, but first she’s got to fill out a name tag requisition form, fit her uniform, meet a cute computer geek … oh, and save her fellow employees from genetically-mutated, blood-lusting vampires.

Notes: All work is registered with the WGC & the WGA.

– Scene Five –

INT. LAB 17, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, P.U.R.E CORPORATION – LATER

Leila, still in sunglasses, crosses her ankles and perches on a chair while Dixon paces.

DIXON

Leila, I really must caution –

LEILA

You have.

DIXON

The animal tests have not been conclusive … and … and … your multiple surgeries … perhaps compromised immune system … don’t make you an ideal –

LEILA

What makes me ideal is my signature on your paycheques and the generous, shall we say, grants that keep your department top-of-the-line.

DIXON

Of course, I meant –

LEILA

We also wouldn’t want the government catching wind of any of your … experiments, which I, for the sake of P.U.R.E’s dedicated clients, would have to disavow any knowledge of. In fact, to the board your grants could look a little like … embezzlement?

DIXON

But –

LEILA

Were some of the trials successful?

DIXON

Well, yes. But –

Leila removes her sunglasses. Her eyes (and her face) are stretched almost beyond that of a recognizable human.

LEILA

I need this.

DIXON

– not yet on humans!

LEILA

I refuse to go on this way. I know the risks and the rewards … I have a dinner party tonight, and many of my guests, my wealthy friends would pay many, many hundreds of thousands if you can do what you say you can.

DIXON

I … I –

LEILA

– could open your own lab on your own private island with your percentage. That is, if you ever wanted to leave P.U.R.E.

DIXON

Never. I would never want to leave.

LEILA

Good. So, I sit in that chair over there?

sunshine(etc) poster

————————–

SUNSHINE’S NIGHT OF DARKNESS – a screenplay by Meghan Ciana Doidge

SCENE ONE

SCENE TWO

SCENE THREE

SCENE FOUR

SCENE FIVE (above)

SCENE SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE