HELLBOY: RISE OF THE BLOOD QUEEN
Screenplay by Andrew Cosby
Revisions by
Christopher Golden, Mike Mignola and Andrew Cosby
Current draft by Andrew Cosby
Based on the comic book series by Mike Mignola
November 16, 2016
Lawrence Gordon Productions 12011 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 350 Los Angeles, CA 90049 310-472-4786
FADE IN:
A BAND OF CELTIC WARRIORS thunders past on horseback, silhouetted against the blood moon. Dangerous looking men, faces painted for war, covered in scars and runic tattoos.
They slow as they come to a loose collection of stone houses with thatched roofs. A once prosperous medieval village, now a graveyard. Bodies in the streets, covered in sores, tongues black and swollen. These people died screaming, victims of the devastating plague sweeping through Europe.
The Celts survey the gruesome scene, cold dead eyes staring back at them as they ride on, heading for the forest.
Following a trail of rotting trees, the Celts head deep into the dark wood. Shafts of moonlight filter through craggy branches, casting clawed shadows upon the forest floor. Flickering firelight beckons from up ahead...
In a small clearing at the foot of an isolated hill, a COVEN OF WITCHES makes camp for the night. Dozens of them, pale, lifeless things with hollow eyes and empty souls.
And at the center of it all, lit by a blazing bonfire and wearing a CROWN OF THORNS, is their leader, THE BLOOD QUEEN, an otherworldly beauty, both ancient and terrible. She holds court from the trunk of a sprawling cypress:
On that note, the witches let loose a fearsome battle cry that echoes through the night. The Blood Queen just stands there, looking out over her flock, smugly triumphant.
Then, she catches sight of something GLINTING in the surrounding forest. Her expressions falters as -- THWAP!
An arrow hits the Blood Queen in the chest. Dead center. She’s unable to hide her surprise as she stares down at the shaft protruding from her chest.
THWAP! THWAP! THWAP! More arrows erupt from the tree line, pincushioning the Blood Queen, forcing her back against the tree. But still she does not fall.
With a wave of her clawed hand, the edge of the forest wilts. THREE CELT BOWMEN tumble out, dead before they hit the ground, consumed by her supernatural plague, which seems more like a living thing than any disease known to man.
The Blood Queen smiles and pulls out one of the arrows, realizing too late that this was merely a distraction...
With an epic battle cry, a huge CELT WARRIOR lunges from the woods to drive his spear through the Blood Queen, impaling her against the cypress.
The other witches flee into the woods. The Blood Queen HISSES, more from rage than pain, exhaling her plague breath in the warrior’s face. He staggers, tears off his helmet, clawing at his eyes and throat as he’s consumed by disease. A second warrior steps forward, strong and unafraid.
He removes his helmet to reveal the steely grey eyes of a born leader, ARTUR, years of hardship etched upon his scarred visage. Unlike the others, he is covered head to toe in intricate arcane symbols.
Three WITCH SISTERS step forward to stand alongside Artur. The eldest, GANEIDA, can barely lift her head to meet the Blood Queen’s shocked gaze.
A druid appears, MYRDDIN, young and fierce-looking, with long dark hair and a patch over one eye, cloaked in a robe of bones and raven feathers. He’s flanked by Celts carrying stout WOODEN CRATES etched in ARCANE RUNES.
She pulls the spear from her chest, freeing herself.
Artur brandishes the sword, which gleams unnaturally in the moonlight. The Blood Queen waves a hand, but her dark magic washes harmlessly over him, absorbed by the mystic runes.
With a flash of steel, Artur chops off her hand. The Blood Queen falls to her knees, losing her crown of thorns in the process. She clutches the bloody stump, staring in disbelief.
While Artur and his Celts are distracted, Ganeida grabs the discarded crown and quickly retreats back into the forest, along with the other witches. Myrddin picks up the Blood Queen’s severed hand. It writhes in his grasp.
Artur raises the sword high. The Blood Queen SCREAMS.
PULL BACK from the Blood Queen’s SCREAMING FACE to reveal we are now looking at her SEVERED HEAD inside one of the wooden crates. Her screams cut short as the lid is nailed shut.
The remaining body parts are placed into separate crates. SIX IN TOTAL. Sealed tight. Each strapped to a different horse.
SIX BRAVE CELTS mount up and ride off in different directions, taking the remains of the Blood Queen with them to the far corners of England.
The most low-rent bar on the worst street in the sketchiest part of Tijuana.
SUPER: TIJUANA, MEXICO. PRESENT DAY.
Through the windows of the cantina, we see a HULKING FIGURE in a trench coat and hoodie, drinking and carousing, having a good time before stumbling over and smashing through a table.
No one moves to help him as he drunkenly rises back to his feet and stumbles out the door.
ACROSS THE STREET - two very TOUGH-LOOKING MEXICANS watch with keen interest as the hulking figure heads off, turning down a dark alley.
The Mexicans approach from behind as the hooded figure reaches the end of the alley. He suddenly stops, speaking to them without turning around, a deep resounding voice:
He turns, revealing the demonic red face and stubby horns of our titular hero, HELLBOY.
As Hellboy steps forward menacingly --
MEXICAN #1 You are the one they call the Hellboy, no?
MEXICAN #2 We have heard the stories and are very much in need of your help.
MEXICAN #1 Please, Señor. We would not ask if it were not muy importanté.
MEXICAN #2 For months now, our brother Hector has been disappearing. Only for a few days, but then he returns with no memory of where he was been or what he has done.
MEXICAN #1 Always, we hear of terrible things. I fear for what may happen if something is not done.
Hellboy glances up at the FULL MOON.
MEXICAN #1 Sí, señor.
Hellboy considers this a long beat.
A rundown Lucha Libre arena on the outskirts of town. Vendors selling everything from stale churros to colorful Luchador masks. The CHEERS of a lively crowd rising from within.
MASKED LUCHADORES square-off center ring, a four-man tag-team match, entertaining a packed house with an impressive display of acrobatics and choreographed moves.
EL TORO waits outside the ropes, while the masked CRUSADER gets double-teamed by the villainous VASCO BROTHERS.
The banners around the arena and fan t-shirts make it apparent that Crusader is a hometown favorite. He plays to his audience, drawing CHEERS from the crowd. But then falters, falls to one knee, in the throes of some spasm.
The Vasco Brothers look to one another, not sure what to do. A hush falls over the crowd. The REFEREE leans down to check on their fallen hero, whose eyes suddenly pop open, fiery yellow and bloodshot.
Crusader grabs the referee by the throat, forcing the Vasco Brothers to break character in an attempt to rescue the ref. The crowd cheers again, thinking it’s just part of the act.
Crusader glares at El Toro with INHUMAN EYES. He tosses the referee aside and lunges at El Toro, teeth gnashing, CLAWS bursting through his wrestling gloves.
Crusader stops and turns as Hellboy climbs into the ring. The crowd CHEERS again, assuming Hellboy’s some new masked wrestler there for their entertainment.
Crusader lunges. Hellboy catches him in a headlock, sees the fiery yellow eyes and fangs hidden behind his wrestling mask.
Crusader growls and swipes at Hellboy with razor-sharp claws. Hellboy grabs the arm and pulls up Crusader’s sleeve to take a look at the FANG MARKS hidden there.
Fans continue to cheer as the Crusader twists out of Hellboy’s grip, then leaps on top of Hellboy, teeth snapping. Hellboy throws him off. Crusader circles like a predator.
Crusader grabs Hellboy, lifts him over his head and SLAMS him down to the mat, crushing his face into the canvas.
Hellboy kicks Crusader away and scrambles back to his feet, then strips out of his trench coat and waves it like a Matador’s cape. (Cue MARIACHI GUITAR)
The crowd grows silent, breathless with anticipation. Crusader lunges again. Hellboy pivots out of the way with a flourish of his coat, sending Crusader into the ring pole.
Crusader roars and tears his shirt off, revealing that he’s transformed into some kind of hideous BAT/WOLF CREATURE. The CROWD GOES WILD! They’re loving this, leaping to their feat, turning over chairs as many of them rush the ring.
Crusader lunges at one of the fans, but Hellboy dives between them, taking a big bloody gash across his back. Hellboy cries out, dangles the coat again. When Crusader charges, Hellboy whips it away to reveal his HUGE STONE FIST.
CRACK! A devastating uppercut sends Crusader flying back into the ring pole, putting him down for the count. The unconscious Crusader begins a reverse-transformation, reverting back to human. His brothers look on in horror.
MEXICAN #1 What did you do to Hector?
Hellboy shakes his head and climbs out of the ring.
Before the brothers can respond -- SMACK! Hellboy is struck from behind by a crumpled BEER CAN. He spins to see the crowd has turned on him. They’re an ANGRY MOB now, throwing trash and yelling obscenities, completely out of control.
Hellboy exits the arena beneath a hail of garbage... runs headlong into a couple of B.P.R.D. AGENTS waiting for him beside a sleek black SUV.
Hellboy looks back at the angry fans emerging from the arena.
He climbs into the back of the SUV, which sinks low, groaning beneath his tremendous weight. The Agents take one look at the angry mob headed their way and decide Hellboy’s got the right idea. They jump in and speed away.
Heading down a dusty road, angry mob receding into the distance.
AGENT #2 What happened back there?
AGENT #1 We never lost you.
AGENT #2 The Professor likes us to keep close tabs on all our assets.
AGENT #2 Sorry, I meant --
Hellboy lies back, pulling up his hood.
On a snow-capped mountainside, a low-slung, modern complex juts up from the surrounding rock, the exposed tip of a much larger structure buried beneath.
SUPER: BUREAU FOR PARANORMAL RESEARCH AND DEFENSE
A bustling high-tech facility adorned with all manner of arcane artifacts: cryptid skeletons, freakish things encased in formaldehyde, period weapons, etc. Etched into the floor is a symbol of a hand holding a sword, with the words: IN ABSENTIA LUCI, TENEBRAE VINCIUNT.
Various B.P.R.D. PERSONNEL steal wary glances at Hellboy as he and the two agents stroll through the main corridor.
Hellboy suddenly stops and doubles-back... eyes lighting when he sees a muscular fish-man, ABE SAPIEN, in the midst of dissecting a giant MUTATED FROG CREATURE.
Hellboy moves in for a big awkward hug.
Hellboy lets go to take a closer look at the frog creature.
A slap on the shoulder nearly knocks Abe over.
As Hellboy heads off, Abe goes back to work on the frog monster, switching on an ELECTRIC BONE SAW.
The sound of the bone saw becomes GRINDING METAL, taking us through a HUGE VAULT DOOR and into Hellboy’s living quarters. A total wreck. Beer cans and pizza boxes piled high. Clothes and comics strewn everywhere. Punk Rock posters covering the walls. Multiple electric guitars with all the strings broken.
The grinding grows louder as we PUSH INTO the bathroom, where Hellboy, fresh from the shower with a beach towel wrapped around his waist, stands in front of the mirror, shaving his horns with a BELT SANDER.
Satisfied, he switches off the sander and takes a long, hard look at himself in the mirror, closely inspecting the shaved horns and his other demonic attributes. His expression darkens. He PUNCHES the mirror with his big stone fist.
More museum than office. Bookshelves filled with dusty tomes and ancient artifacts. A distinguished older gentleman, TREVOR “BROOM” BRUTTENHOLM, sits at a desk, studying an illuminated manuscript with a pair of multi-lensed goggles.
Hellboy peeks his head in, already seeming more subdued than we’re used to. Broom looks up, removing the goggles to don his spectacles. The tension between them is palpable.
Broom returns the manuscript to retrieve another.
Broom opens the book to an old tin-type photo of a group of dour-looking BRITISH OCCULTISTS gathered around an Egyptian tomb. He shows it to Hellboy.
Broom opens a drawer to retrieve a diplomatic passport.
Ouch. Hellboy looks stung, just stares at his ridiculous passport photo, not wanting to meet his father’s gaze.
A Medieval monastery nestled deep in the Devonshire valley. An impressive monument made of stone, brick and mortar.
SUPER: HAILES ABBEY, DEVON, ENGLAND
The nave extends from the entry to the chancel, flanked by lower side-aisles, where a small number of MONKS bow their heads in silent prayer.
Closer to the altar, we find an elderly ABBOT and his young NOVICE, lighting prayer candles and preparing to join their brethren, when the silence is suddenly broken by a THUNDEROUS POUNDING at the chapel door.
The monks share curious glances. Its an odd hour for visitors. Two of them go to investigate --
MONK #1 I’m afraid we’re closed for the evening.
MONK #2 You’ll have to come back in the --
BOOM! The huge chapel door suddenly EXPLODES inward, crushing the two monks, killing them instantly.
THE GRUAGACH steps through the threshold. A hideous demonic creature with razor sharp teeth and vaguely porcine features, its face made all the more frightening by a jagged burn scar.
Upon seeing this, the Novice ducks for cover behind one of the pews. He cowers there, listening to the sounds of HEAVY HOOVES on stone, followed by SHOUTING AND SCREAMING.
A monk’s corpse lands next to him. The Novice peeks up from behind the pew to find the other monks dead, their broken bodies strewn across the abbey floor. Only the Abbot remains. The hulking figure looming over him.
The Gruagach turns his gaze to the cowering Novice.
Gruagach snatches the Abbot up, jaws opening wide.
Light floods in from above as the Novice opens a secret entrance, leading the Gruagach down into a crypt, filled with the tombs of the previous Abbots. Gruagach TAKES A TORCH from the wall and lights it, shoving the Novice ahead of him. They stop at an IRON VAULT with an intricate locking mechanism set into the stone wall.
The Gruagach roughly shoves the Novice aside and grabs both sides of the vault door with his clawed hands, RIPPING it from the wall. Inside is one of the BLOOD QUEEN’S CRATES, wrapped in chains, covered in runes and wards. The Gruagach drags the crate out and drops it to the ground next to the Novice.
The Novice stares at the box, hopeless.
The Gruagach hangs his head in a huff, then picks up the crate with both hands and hurls it at the wall, where it SHATTERS, wood and contents thumping to the stone floor.
The novice CRIES OUT, scrambling away from the Gruagach on the floor, then turns as he realizes he’s close to the shattered crate. We see his eyes widen in shock and terror.
The Gruagach SNAPS the Novice’s neck.
The Gruagach smiles, lifts his torch to reveal the BLOOD QUEEN’S SEVERED HEAD, lying in the ruin of the crate. Her eyes suddenly pop open, wide and staring. Still very much ALIVE.
A security gate trundles open and a hackney cab is waiting to come through.
A middle-aged, thick-mustached GUARD in hunting tweed stands blocking the drive with a shotgun casually laid across his arms. He studies the cab, then steps aside.
SUPER: SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND
The cab rumbles up the long driveway past a dozen luxury cars, where chauffeurs await their respective employers.
In the backseat, Hellboy looks out his window. His DRIVER eyes him in the rearview mirror.
All eyes on Hellboy as he steps out of the cab, complete with trench coat and utility belt.
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a crumpled wad of cash, when the driver is suddenly right there next to him, cell phone out for a quick selfie --
Without waiting for an answer, he snaps an awkward photo. Hellboy couldn’t look less interested, but the driver is thrilled.
He grabs the cash, jumps back in the cab and speeds away.
A BUTLER appears at the front door.
Hellboy follows the butler, pausing to take a look around, soaking in his surroundings. Second thoughts abound.
The Butler ushers Hellboy into the Victorian parlor of a stuffy English gentlemen’s club. Lots of leather and antiques, various framed prints and paintings on the walls.
Three men stand together in the corner, drinking, smoking, talking in hushed, conspiratorial tones: LORD ADAM GLAREN, handsome and austere; DR. CARP, heavyset and slightly drunk; and AUGUST SWAIN, frail and bird-like.
They approach with the arrogance of the rich, taking Hellboy’s measure.
Hellboy wanders around the room, perusing weird occult artifacts and engravings, all related to witchcraft and demonology. He picks up a small stone effigy, which looks remarkably similar to Hellboy.
The noblemen share knowing looks. Lord Glaren moves to a bookshelf and flips a hidden lever, revealing a classic SECRET DOORWAY and a set of stairs leading down...
As they descend, Lord Glaren takes a candle from one of the wall sconces to light their way. It glows mysteriously, more brightly than it should, revealing old suits of armor lining the halls, along with various paintings and tapestries.
They reach the bottom, an antechamber from which several hallways branch. TAPESTRIES hang around the chamber.
We glimpse one tapestry, which shows the arrow-riddled Queen of Blood getting her hand chopped off by King Arthur.
Lord Glaren shines the candle down a long corridor, where DOZENS OF GIANT HEADS are mounted, along with portraits of past hunting parties down through the ages. Always with a prominent central figure in a CEREMONIAL HEADDRESS made from the head of an ELK stag, adorned with a huge RACK OF ANTLERS.
WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.) In a manner of speaking...
The light lands upon an elderly blind woman, LADY HATTON, sitting at a table with a cloudy CRYSTAL BALL. She’s creepy and pale, with the air of a Victorian medium.
She lifts her blank gaze to get a better “look” at Hellboy. An OTHERWORLDLY EYE peers out from within the crystal ball.
As she runs her fingers over the crystal, colors and dark figures begin to appear. Hellboy stares into it, becoming mesmerized, the sounds of war echoing in his memory...
A storm rages above Tarmagant Island, just off the coast of Scotland. NAZI OCCULTISTS gather inside a STONE CIRCLE, where a robed figure, GRIGORI RASPUTIN, performs an arcane ritual.
The ritual builds to a climax. Lightning strikes the center of the circle. A brilliant, blinding FLASH. But nothing happens. Just a big smoldering crater, nothing more. The Nazis turn on Grigori, angry and disappointed.
Inside the decaying ruins of an old church, another group of OCCULTISTS has gathered, waiting for something. LADY HATTON is among them. As is PROFESSOR BRUTTENHOLM. Both younger, more vital looking.
A ghostly wind suddenly whips up, sending dust and debris whirling about the room. Followed by an EXPLOSION that knocks everyone off their feet. When the dust settles, Broom gropes for his glasses, shocked to see a frightened LITTLE HELLBOY staring back at him, stone fist too big to carry.
The Professor smiles kindly, holding out his hand. Little Hellboy gingerly reaches for it...
BACK TO PRESENT
The crystal ball becomes cloudy again. The connection broken.
Hellboy just stands there, stunned.
As Hellboy reels from this new discovery, Lord Glaren takes him by the arm and continues down the hall. Hellboy glances back at Lady Hatton, who “watches” him go, her expression grim and unreadable.
Lord Glaren ushers Hellboy into a large chamber decorated with a huge mural of Herne the Hunter. More OSIRIS MEMBERS are here, dressed for the hunt, equipping themselves with ELECTRIC LANCES attached to retro-tech backpacks.
Still deciding, Hellboy notes the traditional ELK HEADDRESS sitting on a nearby pedestal.
Lord Glaren, wearing the elk headdress and dressed in hunting garb, joins the other HUNTSMEN as they prepare their mounts. Hellboy just stares at his horse.
Lord Glaren tests his lance, which CRACKLES with electricity.
Hellboy raises his big ass HAND CANNON.
As Lord Glaren and the others mount up, Hellboy turns to his horse. Neither of them happy about the arrangement.
HOOVES SLAM into the earth, kicking up dirt as the WILD HUNT thunders through the forest on horseback. Hellboy holds on for dear life. Lord Glaren leads. He raises his hand as they come upon a path of BROKEN TREES. The pack slows, moving carefully now, following the path of destruction.
The Wild Hunt emerges from the woods to find a small cottage, its roof partially crushed. A truck out front has been torn in half. Debris everywhere, like a tornado came through.
While the huntsmen check the cottage and surrounding area, Hellboy climbs down from his horse to inspect a huge set of FOOTPRINTS, much larger than any man’s.
One of the huntsmen exits the cottage --
Lord Glaren squats, showing Hellboy the footprints.
Hellboy shudders as Lord Glaren and the other huntsmen mount up, arming themselves with their electric lances as they follow the giant prints into the forest, along a path of broken trees.
Hellboy and the huntsmen dismount as they approach an OLD STONE BRIDGE. Lord Glaren sidles up to Hellboy, points out over the raging river.
As Hellboy starts to turn around -- ZZZAPPPP!! One of the other huntsmen rides up behind him, driving his lance into Hellboy’s back, sending a powerful surge of ELECTRICITY through him.
Hellboy CRIES OUT and reaches for his gun as MORE HUNTSMEN ATTACK, charging with their lances, shocking him into submission. He falls to his knees, dropping the gun into the river.
Lord Glaren looms over him, a smug expression.
A kick to the ribs sends Hellboy tumbling downhill and into the water. The others dismount from their horses and join Glaren as he casually marches down toward the riverbank.
Lord Glaren arrives at the water’s edge.
He looms over to the fallen Hellboy, DRAWING HIS SWORD.
Hellboy tries to stand, but then collapses back into the river, too weak to fight. The huntsmen all gather around to watch, laughing as Hellboy slips beneath the surface.
HELLBOY’S UNDERWATER POV -- Lord Glaren raises his sword for the killing blow, and is suddenly tackled out of frame. His severed head, still wearing the elk headdress, splashes down into the water, eyes wide with shock and terror as it floats by Hellboy.
This is followed by MUFFLED SCREAMS and distorted glimpses of the violence unfolding above as the remaining huntsmen are attacked by some unseen enemy.
Hellboy sinks into darkness and eerie silence. Around him, the water turns red with blood. A horse falls in. Body parts floating past.
Hellboy abruptly resurfaces downstream, sucking in a lung full of precious air. He drags himself to shore, one of the lances still sticking out of his back.
Yanking it out, Hellboy pulls himself up onto the riverbank, wounded and bleeding. A look upriver, toward the old stone bridge shows no sign of the Hunt or anyone else.
But then Hellboy makes a face, sniffs the air... catching a FOUL SCENT on the breeze. Slowly, painfully, he lumbers off in the direction of the odor.
Hellboy peeks up from behind the bridge to find TWO GIANTS crouched on the hillside. Disgusting, malformed creatures, streaked in blood and viscera. They huddle over the fallen members of the Wild Hunt, gnawing on their mangled remains.
A shadow falls as the missing GIANT slowly rises behind him.
The THIRD GIANT roars, throwing a punch. Hellboy sidesteps and hammers him with his stone fist, knocking the giant to the ground. The other two come thundering toward him. One has an axe, the other a massive club.
Axe Giant is in the lead, already swinging. Hellboy hurls himself out of the way as the giant’s axe comes down, burying itself in the Third Giant’s skull. Hellboy cracks a little smile... That’s one down.
While the Axe Giant tries to pry his weapon loose, Hellboy scrambles back to his feet, his injuries making every movement a symphony of pain. But before he can respond --
WHACK! -- Hellboy is batted into the woods by a massive club, sending him smashing through several trees before finally hitting the ground in a deep furrow.
Club Giant rushes the defenseless Hellboy, who, at the last possible second, lifts one of the BROKEN TREES and uses Club Giant’s own momentum to impale him. Sliding down the tree with a sickening sound, the giant exhales a putrid last breath right into Hellboy face.
Hellboy shoves the dead giant off as Axe Giant finally frees his weapon. He stalks toward Hellboy, furious. The two collide with bone crunching force.
Hellboy blocks blows from the axe with his stone fist, resulting in a SHOWER OF SPARKS. He’s finally able to grab the giant’s axe and crushes it. The enraged giant wrestles Hellboy to the ground. Together, they roll down the riverbank and into the water.
Hellboy is losing blood by the pint. In his weakened condition, it doesn’t take long for him to succumb to the giant’s relentless assault.
Finally, the giant grabs Hellboy by the throat, shoving his head into the river. Hellboy struggles for air, bubbles coming from nose and mouth. But the giant is just too strong.
It looks like it’s all over... but then Hellboy sees something... HIS DISCARDED GUN lying in the river bed.
Hellboy suddenly comes up for air, aiming the hand cannon right in the giant’s face.
CLICK! SPUTTER! Misfire. Water dribbles from the gun barrel.
The giant bats Hellboy thirty feet across the forest floor. Then charges, picking up speed with every step.
Hellboy slowly recovers, looking back over his shoulder. He smiles. Then, just as the giant is about to slam into him, Hellboy casually steps out of the way to reveal a HUGE TREE STUMP. The giant slams into it, getting his head stuck.
Hellboy grabs the giant by one arm and leans back, twisting with all his might to SNAP the giant’s neck.
Exhausted, Hellboy turns to walk away, leaving a trail of blood in his wake. He staggers, reaching down to the wound on his back. Then collapses. Barely conscious, he fumbles for his B.P.R.D. belt buckle, triggering its HOMING BEACON. The buckle flashes, giving off a faint beeping noise...
As Hellboy slips into unconsciousness, it’s not clear if he’s hallucinating, but he sees a FIGURE approaching... Then all goes black.
BEGIN DREAM SEQUENCE:
As the darkness gives way to flickering hellfire, Hellboy is assaulted by images from the night he came into this world. The flames grow white hot, becoming thunder and lightning, providing brief flashes of Grigori’s ritual, the Nazi Occultists, the ruins of Bromwich Church, Lady Hatton’s empty gaze, and at long last the face of Hellboy’s earthly father, Trevor Broom. Hellboy reaches for the Professor as he is swallowed by shadow, only to have Grigori emerge, laughing maniacally. Good and evil struggling for dominance in this nightmare vision.
Hellboy wakes with a start inside a dark bedroom. He’s been cleaned up, wounds freshly bandaged. His utility belt slung over a bedside chair, HOMING BEACON still blinking.
Hellboy stumbles into the front room, which has been converted into what appears to be a PSYCHIC READING PARLOR, complete with fortune table, tarot cards, crystals and all the usual accoutrement.
Among the esoteric trappings, Hellboy finds a photo of a YOUNG GIRL & HER PARENTS. They seem oddly familiar, but before he can put his finger on it, he’s distracted by the sound of someone rummaging around in the kitchen...
WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.) Keep your knickers on, I’m making us some breakfast.
Moments later, ALICE MONAGHAN steps from the kitchen with a mismatched tea setting and tray of burnt scones. She’s street smart and tough, 20’s.
She sets it all down on the reading table. Hellboy recognizes her immediately.
Hellboy picks up a business card: ALICE MONAGHAN. MEDIUM AT LARGE. He reads it, gives Alice a raised eyebrow.
She gestures to a PAIR OF URNS on the mantle, next to a framed photo of Alice’s MOTHER and FATHER. Happier times. Hellboy stares blankly as Alice pours him a cup of tea.
FOUR UNMARKED TACTICAL VANS screech to a stop outside the council house. ARMED SOLDIERS file out, dressed in heavy assault gear, rifles at the ready.
Taking point is MAJOR BEN DAIMIO, rugged military type with cold, calculating eyes, close-cropped hair and three jagged scars raked across his grizzled face.
A few dangerous-looking LOCALS glare as Daimio and his men make their way into the building. This is a very low-rent, high-crime section of London, and these people have seen their fare share of police raids.
SMASH! Daimio and his soldiers kick in the front door and rush into the room, guns drawn, taking aim at Alice and Hellboy as they sit there, awkwardly having tea.
Hellboy just arches an eyebrow, lifts his tea and scone almost in a toast.
Professor Broom, with Abe by his side, pushes through the scrum of soldiers, visibly relieved to see Hellboy still alive and in one piece.
Daimio finishes securing the room, speaking into his radio:
Hellboy looks Daimio up and down, not liking what he sees.
Abe waves it off --
Alice clears the tea setting so Abe can use the table to set up a HOLOGRAPHIC PROJECTOR, which he controls with a little handheld computer tablet.
She takes a seat, arms crossed defiantly.
This strikes a familiar chord in Broom.
Abe taps his computer tablet. A 3-D holographic projection of the abbey appears, filling the space between them.
TAP: The hologram shifts to one of a rune-carved box.
TAP: The hologram becomes an illuminated manuscript showing the Blood Queen with a green fog coming from her open mouth.
Hellboy turns back to Abe.
TAP: the hologram shifts to a tapestry of the Blood Queen being hacked to pieces by a group of barbarians.
TAP: The hologram becomes a crude wood-cut illustration of a blood-stained, rune-engraved crate. Broom steps in to close out the briefing.
A gathering crowd of BYSTANDERS collectively GASPS as Hellboy and Abe exit the building, soon followed by the others. They’ve all heard the stories, but nothing prepares you for the real thing. Someone in the crowd yells “FREAKS!”
As they reach the tactical vans, Broom pulls Hellboy aside and signals one of the FIELD AGENTS, who hurries over to present Hellboy with a case. Hellboy opens it to reveal another HAND CANNON.
Broom is taken aback. He’s been dreading this moment since the day he took Hellboy in.
Hellboy softens. Broom puts a loving hand on his shoulder.
Alice peeks out from behind the group. We didn’t even know she was still with us. Daimio looks annoyed.
Daimio looks around, incredulous --
She pushes past him and climbs into the van’s front passenger seat. Abe can’t help but admire her moxie.
Hellboy and Abe climb in the back of the van.
ROCK MUSIC suddenly blares from inside the van. Daimio just shakes his head and climbs in behind the wheel.
Broom watches as the van speeds away, a grim expression. There’s more going on here than meets the eye.
The van arrives at the Osiris Club, where the front gate has been ripped wide open. Following the trail of destruction, we come to the main entrance. A splintered hole where the door used to be. Hellboy and the others step out of the van, taking in the scene.
Daimio draws his gun and chambers a round.
Hellboy draws his hand cannon.
He pushes past Daimio and heads inside. Alice follows. Daimio looks to Abe.
It’s dark in here. The team’s flashlights cut through the gloom to reveal the place is a wreck. Dead servants everywhere. Overturned furniture. Shattered lights blinking.
A sobering thought. They all exchange wary glances. Abe takes out his own sleek, high-tech pistol as they continue deeper into the club, stepping over bodies as they go. Alice eyes the bodies.
Nobody bothers to answer. Hellboy finds a trail of blood.
The blood trail leads into the parlour, disappearing beneath a familiar bookshelf. Hellboy pulls the hidden lever triggered earlier, and the shelf slides away to reveal --
On guard, they step cautiously through the doorway.
Alice tucks in behind Hellboy as they descend into the catacombs. An ominous, hollow SCRAPING NOISE comes from somewhere down below.
They continue onward, eventually coming to the hallway lined with mounted giant heads. The scraping noise grows louder as they continue down the corridor. Alice stops to examine one of the GIANT HEADS more closely.
Alice is STARTLED as a DEAD BODY tumbles out from between the trophies. She stumbles back, bumping into a another CORPSE, which falls from the shadows, landing next to the first one. Hellboy recognizes them immediately: AUGUST SWAIN and DR. CARP.
Hellboy considers this, then looks around and realizes...
They stare down both ends of the corridor. Abe is nowhere to be seen. Once again, we hear the strange hollow scraping sound. The group shares uneasy looks and races off in that direction.
As they turn the corner, Hellboy and the others find Abe standing over the LADY HATTON’S CORPSE, lying twisted on the floor, head turned all the way around, faced locked in a petrified scream. Her CRYSTAL BALL circles the body with a life of its own, the source of the strange scraping noise.
Alice walks over and bends to touch it. The ball stops dead just inches from her hand.
She closes her eyes and concentrates.
Daimio rolls his eyes, not buying into all this hocus pocus nonsense. Looking around, he spots a couple of SECURITY CAMERAS.
Daimio heads off.
Alice kneels down next to Lady Hatton’s corpse, eyes it.
Hellboy and Abe do as ordered. Alice takes a deep breath and reaches for the corpse. She makes contact.
There’s a beat and the body FLINCHES. Alice’s eyes roll back and she sucks in air, reacting to something, and then-
-An ectoplasmic version of LADY HATTON’S GHOST emerges from the corpse, an opaque, looming, dreadful specter.
She trails off.
The ghost stiffens and shudders, stricken with fear.
The ectoplasm that makes up the ghost starts to WARP out of shape, stretching horrifically. She looks at Hellboy.
Lady Hatton’s features twist horribly, stretching out of shape. Her ectoplasmic form doubles over, SCREAMING in pain. The crystal ball SHATTERS. The screams turn to LAUGHTER, and when she looks up again, it’s not Hatton’s face we see, but that of the Blood Queen.
Hellboy draws his gun.
WHAM! The Blood Queen’s ectoplasmic form lashes out, knocking the gun from Hellboy’s hand and swatting him across the room.
In cramped security room with a wall of monitors, Daimio scans the recorded footage, stunned by what he sees.
WHAM! -- Something slams into the other side of the wall, hard, cracking the foundation, sending dust raining down.
Daimio returns to find the bizarre scene unfolding -- the Blood Queen bats Abe aside and snatches Hellboy up by the throat, pulling him in for a closer look, curious...
BLOOD QUEEN’S POV: A GHOSTLY IMAGE OF HELLBOY WITH A FULL SET OF HORNS, FLAMING CROWN AND EYES BLAZING WITH HELLFIRE.
BLAM! A shot rings out, followed by a PUFF OF ECTOPLASM as the bullet passes harmlessly through the Blood Queen’s ectoplasmic form, ricocheting of the wall behind her.
She turns her furious gaze to Daimio, who fires again, but the bullets continue to have no effect. The Blood Queen lunges. Daimio deftly dives out of the way, tucking, rolling, dropping the gun to draw two hidden blades.
Realizing he’ll never reach Daimio in time, Hellboy heads straight for Alice, to wrestle her away from Lady Hatton, breaking her connection with the corpse.
As the Blood Queen leaps at Daimio, her form suddenly collapses, raining sticky ectoplasmic residue down onto him.
While Hellboy and Abe tend to the unconscious Alice, we STAY ON Daimio, whose hands are shaking. Making sure no one is looking, he reaches into his vest to take a couple of PILLS, instantly relaxing his nerves.
Alice finally opens her eyes. Hellboy helps her to her feet.
While Hellboy and Daimio continue bickering, Abe notices a LARGE WALL TAPESTRY depicting an heroic image of KING ARTHUR SLAYING THE BLOOD QUEEN has been torn in half. Upon closer inspection, he discovers it was concealing a HIDDEN VAULT. A Blood Queen crate inside, smashed open and empty. As he examines one of the rune-engraved pieces --
Hellboy and Daimio stop arguing and look over at Abe.
Hellboy, Alice and Abe huddle around Daimio as he shows them the security footage.
ON-SCREEN: As chaos erupts all around, the Gruagach steps into frame, carrying the severed head of the Blood Queen. Daimio pauses the footage.
Reactions all around. Hellboy looks to Alice.
Dimly lit by the flickering flames of a drafty fireplace. In the corner is an antique crib.
The floorboards creak as Hellboy enters the room, ALICE’S PARENTS just behind him. We recognize them from the photo we saw earlier in Alice’s flat. They look like they haven’t slept in weeks.
The mother nods, her eyes haunted.
Hellboy follows the mother’s frightened gaze to a crib in the corner of the room. He cautiously approaches to find a sweet little BABY GIRL staring up at him.
The baby coos softly.
Hellboy whips out a HORSESHOE. Dangles it over the crib. The baby SCREECHES, face contorting horribly. Hellboy is hurled backward by some invisible force, slamming into the hearth. The impact makes him drop the horseshoe.
ALICE’S FATHER What in the name of --
The parents cower, as the baby transforms into a tiny, scrawny version of the Gruagach. It springs from the crib, latching onto Hellboy, clawing at his face.
Hellboy gropes for the discarded horseshoe, just out of reach. Instead, he finds the rack of fireplace tools and grabs a pair the IRON TONGS.
Hellboy grabs at the Gruagach with the tongs, BURNING its face. It SHRIEKS and staggers back, skin smoking and blackening from contact with the iron.
Gruagach tries to run, but Hellboy uses the tongs to snatch it up by its ankle.
The Gruagach spits in Hellboy’s face, momentarily blinding him. Then twists free of the tongs and races away.
The Gruagach darts into the fireplace and up the chimney. Hellboy races after it, but the loathsome creature spits into the fire, causing it to erupt into a sudden blaze.
Flames belch from the hearth, catching parts of the living room on fire. Hellboy, immune to the heat, remains unaffected as he stamps out the blaze.
When the smoke clears, Hellboy is left standing there, covered in soot and thoroughly pissed off.
A sudden KNOCK on the front door. Hellboy turns toward it, draws his gun...
Hellboy opens up. Nobody is there. Until he looks down...
BABY ALICE is cooing on the doormat.
Hellboy quickly holsters his gun, picks up Alice. He steps out, looks down the hall. In the dark, he catches just a shadow of the FEY FOLK retreating. He looks back down at Alice, smiles. He heads inside, shuts the door.
BACK TO PRESENT:
Daimio stares up at Hellboy in disbelief.
CLOSE ON - Gruagach trudging through the forest carrying the BLOOD QUEEN’S HEAD, her SEVERED HAND tied to a rope and slung over his shoulder.
They reach the outskirts of a little ENGLISH VILLAGE.
Gruagach stalks into town, carrying the Blood Queen’s head.
Hellboy heads for the van. Abe, Alice and Daimio follow.
The B.P.R.D. van pulls up out front a dilapidated FISH & CHIPS SHOP in London’s East End warehouse district. Hellboy looks around, disappointed --
As Hellboy, Abe and Alice exit the van, Hellboy realizes Daimio’s not getting out.
Daimio speeds off. Hellboy and the others turn to head inside.
Hellboy, Abe and Alice enter, taking a look around. A handful of rough-looking locals stare back at them.
At second glance, Hellboy realizes the “locals” are actually B.P.R.D. AGENTS in disguise. Among them, the two agents who picked him up in Mexico, both dressed as fisherman.
PHIL looks up from his plate, gives a sheepish wave.
The agent shrugs as the WOMAN behind the register relaxes her grip on a concealed MACHINE GUN, then presses a small red button. The wall behind her slides open to reveal a hidden elevator.
Hellboy heads over, grabbing Phil’s chips as he goes.
The elevator opens on an high-tech underground facility, bustling with B.P.R.D. PERSONNEL busily setting up work stations and computer terminals.
Hellboy steps out, stuffing his face with chips.
Broom appears, toting an armful of old texts.
He hands Abe one of the larger books.
Broom ushers Hellboy and the others to a table piled high with books, scrolls, manuscripts and parchment maps. Various wall monitors display dozens of different HISTORICAL & RELIGIOUS LANDMARKS all over England.
Hellboy looks out over the crowded table as if he’s allergic to the materials laid out there.
Hellboy grumbles as Broom hands him a stack of manuscripts:
Inside a laboratory marked: M-11 Personnel Only, Daimio, SCIENTISTS and HOODED PRIESTS watch as a FRAIL LITTLE MONK finishes pouring a smoldering blend of ARCANE INGREDIENTS into the casing of a silver bullet, engraved with occult symbols. The monk screws the bullet onto it.
The monk places the MAGIC BULLET into a tiny silver box.
The room is a mess. Books and maps strewn everywhere, covered in sticky notes and handwritten annotations.
Hellboy, Broom, Abe and Alice sit around the conference table, bleary-eyed and exhausted, poring over research. They’ve been at it all night.
Alice marks the page, then tosses the book onto a growing stack of similar tomes. Hellboy looks discouraged. He checks his watch, then rises and stretches, making a big show of it.
He heads for the door. Abe watches him, curious.
Hellboy heads straight for the elevator. But just as he presses the button --
Hellboy turns to find that Abe has followed him.
Busted, Hellboy drops the pretense --
Abe’s eyes go wide --
Startled, Hellboy turns to find Alice standing there now.
DING! The elevator arrives. Hellboy steps inside. Alice tries to follow, but he stops her at the door.
His silence speaks volumes. They share a little moment.
Hellboy smiles as the elevator doors slide shut.
WIDE ESTABLISHING SHOT of a salvage yard on the outskirts of London, surrounded by vacant lots and abandoned warehouses. Not a living soul in sight.
With a BURLAP SACK slung over his shoulder, Hellboy sneaks through a labyrinth of gutted cars and towering heaps of scrap metal, eventually coming upon an old RUSTED SHACK.
He peeks through a cracked window and sees the SHACK IS EMPTY, then pushes on the wall, checking the building’s structural integrity.
Satisfied, Hellboy rifles through his sack to find a handful of RUNES and CHARMS, which he scatters along the base of the shack’s doorway, whispering a quiet INCANTATION.
The ground beneath him trembles. Hellboy takes a deep breath and cautiously opens the door...
As Hellboy enters, the shack’s interior transforms into the luxurious parlour room of some 18th Century Russian palace. Much bigger inside than out.
A tense beat as Hellboy peers into the dimly lit space. A WOMAN’S VOICE rises from out of the gloom, speaking with a thick Slavic accent:
VOICE (O.S.) You dare to show your face here?
BABA YAGA appears, crouched in a wooden mortar, holding a large pestle like a staff. A monstrous creature from a forgotten age, ancient and terrifying. FLIES buzz around her hideously deformed face. One eye a vacant, fleshy hole.
She drifts closer. Hellboy reaches into his utility belt to retrieve something from one of the pouches: a RUSSIAN NESTING DOLL. He thrusts it out, like a cross to a vampire.
Baba Yaga HISSES and retreats back into the shadows. As the scene continues, she drifts in and out of sight, trying to get at Hellboy, who brandishes the doll to keep her at bay.
Every time she gets close, a layer of the wooden nesting doll withers away, exposing the smaller dolls beneath.
Another layer of the nesting doll burns away.
She laughs with wicked delight.
As Hellboy turns to leave --
Hellboy hesitates, trying to come up with some other way to appease Baba Yaga. Another layer of the nesting doll withers away. He’s running out of time. Baba Yaga looms closer.
The last nesting doll withers away to nothing, leaving Hellboy defenseless. Baba Yaga is about to lunge, when --
She smiles, revealing iron teeth sharpened to points.
Hellboy takes a deep breath. He has what he came for.
Baba Yaga drifts toward Hellboy, pulling out a DAGGER.
As she goes to carve out his eye, Hellboy grabs her wrist.
He gives her a smug look and steps back toward the door.
Baba Yaga explodes with fury. She opens her mouth impossibly wide, unleashing a billowing SWARM OF FLIES. They fill the room, biting, buzzing, choking Hellboy, obscuring his vision.
Baba Yaga springs from the pestilence, CRACKING Hellboy in the head with her giant wooden pestle. He reels from one blow after another as Baba Yaga darts in and out of the swarm, using it to camouflage her attacks.
Hellboy hits the ground hard, struck from behind. And that’s when he finally catches sight of the exit.
With his last ounce of strength, Hellboy ducks one final attack and leaps back through the doorway.
Baba Yaga SCREAMS, darting for Hellboy as he scatters the runes and charms, destroying the mystical connection between the two worlds.
Hellboy’s left lying on the front stoop, staring into an empty shed. Baba Yaga’s angry cries fading into the distance. Slowly, painfully, he drags himself back to his feet.
Daimio confers with Broom, while Abe and Alice continue poring over research materials.
They look up as the battered Hellboy staggers into the room. Alice leaps up to give him a big awkward hug. Hellboy winces. Everything hurts.
Hellboy grabs one of the maps off the wall --
Daimio escorts everyone to the vacant parking lot across the street, where they find a sleek MILITARY HELICOPTER waiting.
Daimio climbs into the cockpit, slips on a flight helmet and starts his pre-flight checks, revving up the engines.
As the others climb aboard, Broom pulls Hellboy aside.
ANGLE ON BROOM - watching anxiously as the helicopter lifts off and heads out over the city.
High atop a small mountain are the remains of an ancient stone chapel. In the shadow of its crumbling tower, Gruagach carries a heavy cauldron. The Blood Queen’s severed head rests nearby, silhouetted against the dying sun, peering into the distance.
The Gruagach stops what he’s doing, looks skyward, worried --
The Helicopter lands in an open field. Hellboy, Abe and Alice get off, look around.
Abe checks the map, points --
They trudge uphill through the dense forest, Abe checking the map as they go. Hellboy takes point, clearing a path with his stone fist.
As Hellboy continues on, Alice sidles up to Daimio.
Alice considers his jagged scars.
We hear the distant sounds of SCREAMING and GUNFIRE from Daimio’s memory as we --
A YOUNGER BEN DAIMIO hits the dirt, BLOODY GASHES running down his face. He and a team of heavily-armed SOLDIERS are being attacked by a vicious JAGUAR BEAST.
The jungle fills with SCREAMS and GUNFIRE as the soldiers are yanked into the overgrowth and torn to shreds.
The beast turns on Daimio, who barely manages to raise his gun - BLAM!
BACK TO SCENE:
Daimio shakes off the memory.
Before Alice can respond, Hellboy tears some more brush away, startled by the sudden appearance of a DEMONIC VISAGE carved into an moss-encrusted stone.
Hellboy pulls back more brush to reveal more demonic effigies.
A NOISE like creaking branches. Hellboy looks up into the trees to find PREDATORS EYES glinting back at him. UNDEAD WITCHES. Dozens of them. Hideous undead things.
Out of nowhere, one of the witches SWOOPS DOWN, clawing at Hellboy as it passes.
A witch lunges. Daimio shoots, blowing it away mid-air. ANOTHER BURSTS UP FROM THE GROUND beneath Hellboy’s feet, clawing its way out of the grave.
He crushes it with a swing of his stone fist.
One of the witches leaps onto Daimio, clawing at him viciously. Alice grabs the witch, trying to pry her loose.
Desperate, she balls up her fist and punches the witch as hard as she can, accidently knocking the WITCH’S SPIRIT right out of her. The disembodied spirit flees SCREAMING off into the night, while her corporeal form crumbles to dust.
Alice spins to find a witch rising from the grave. She punches her soul out, amazed by her newfound ability. Daimio is seized by a violent cramp, forcing him to stop fighting long enough to take another pill. Meanwhile, Hellboy and Abe fight back-to-back, blasting witches.
They form the defensive column once again, taking turns firing and reloading, working like a well-oiled machine. Daimio notices that Hellboy’s shots cause the witches to burst into clouds of fiery ash.
Another witch leaps at them. Hellboy blows it away, ash clearing to reveal the FULL MOON above. Abe sees it too.
Hellboy gives his old friend a nod, then takes off up the hill, blasting witches as he goes. We can just make out the ruins of ST. OSYTH’S CHAPEL in the distance. Abe, Alice and Daimio keep fighting. Daimio slaps in another clip.
The battle continues. A witch swoops past. Alice spins around just in time, punching the soul right out of her.
Alice takes a stance as the remaining witches close in.
Portions of wall and archways are missing, but the chapel is still mostly intact. Where the altar once stood, there is now a WIDE PIT surrounded by large OVERTURNED CAULDRONS.
Gruagach stands by the pit, holding a flickering torch. He tips the last of the cauldrons over, pouring its contents into the pit, which we now realize is filled with BLOOD.
VOICES rise from the darkness in response, thick and gravely.
Gruagach’s torch reveals stooped, leathery TROLLS hunched in the shadows. All shapes and sizes, each more grotesque and malformed than the last.
One by one, they approach the pit with the BLOOD QUEEN CRATES, withdrawing the various body parts, shriveled with age but still moving and twitching, very much alive.
They toss the parts into the pit. The Gruagach watches with grim satisfaction as each sinks down into the pool of blood, then tosses his torch in after them.
WHOOSH! The blood pool ignites, becoming a whirling column of fire. The trolls CHEER! Gruagach shields his eyes from its intensity as --
BOOM! A shot rings out, echoing through the chapel. The troll closest to the Gruagach suddenly EXPLODES, splattering the changeling with bits of gore and viscera.
All eyes on HELLBOY as he steps into view, gun smoldering.
Gruagach ducks for cover behind one of the cauldrons as Hellboy fires again, killing the troll standing behind him.
The BLOOD QUEEN steps from the fiery pit, whole again, a dark goddess drenched in blood and draped in living shadow.
She cranes her neck, bending, flexing, testing her newly restored form.
Hellboy takes aim and fires, but the Blood Queen casually deflects the shot with a wave of her hand. He tries again -- CLICK...CLICK...but he’s out of ammo.
The trolls close in, cutting Hellboy off from the Blood Queen, holding him at bay.
She gestures to the trolls, who swarm over Hellboy, clawing, punching, kicking, biting. Gruagach emerges from hiding, pleading with the Blood Queen as they move away.
She spins on him with a look of mad fury --
Gruagach looks to Hellboy and growls with impotent rage, wanting so badly to finish it here and now. The Blood Queen turns from him to draw shimmering occult symbols in the air, opening a MYSTICAL PORTAL.
She steps through the portal, followed by Gruagach, who pauses to glare at Hellboy one last time. Hellboy manages to fight his way from beneath the trolls and lunges just as the portal collapses.
As Hellboy is tackled out of frame --
Abe, Daimio and Alice are backed into a corner, desperately trying to hold their own against the remaining witches closing in on them. Suddenly, the witches stop and flee screaming off into the night, leaving Daimio, Abe and Alice standing there, confused.
They wait a long beat. When the witches don’t return, everyone breathes a collective sigh of relief. Daimio continues up the hill toward St. Osyth’s.
Alice, Abe and Daimio arrive just as Hellboy finishes off the last of the trolls.
Hellboy glares at Daimio, then marches into the woods, back the way they came. Daimio turns to find Alice and Abe leering at him.
Alice pushes past Daimio and into the forest. Abe shoots him a look and follows.
Nestled in the valley below Pendle Hill we find the ancient CYPRESS TREE upon which the Blood Queen was impaled by Artur.
Dark clouds gather, thunder rumbles as a MYSTICAL PORTAL suddenly opens. The Blood Queen and Gruagach step out, portal closing behind them.
She makes her way over to the tree, the grass beneath her feet withering in her wake as her disease spreads, radiating outward.
PSYCHIC FLASH: Quick, nightmarish images. Pin-cushioned by arrows, the Blood Queen is impaled by a spear and nailed to the tree. Blood flows as she is hacked to pieces, seeping into the ground below.
Sensing a presence, the Blood Queen tilts her head toward the surrounding forest.
The CREATURES OF DARKNESS reveal themselves, representatives from all the different tribes: goblins, witches, trolls, dark elves. Among them, Ganeida and her two sisters.
Ganeida steps forward, removing her CROWN OF THORNS to present it to the Blood Queen.
With a gesture, Ganeida’s sisters crumple to the ground, every bone in their bodies broken. Ganeida falls to her knees, pleading:
The Blood Queen floats up into the air, so that all may see.
The gathered crowd mumbles in agreement.
This last pronouncement is punctuated by another CLAP OF THUNDER and a CHEER from the creatures of darkness. Rain begins to fall. The creatures disperse, vanishing back into the forest. Ganeida tries to slink away unnoticed, but --
Ganeida turns back hesitantly, afraid of what comes next. The Blood Queen takes the crown of thorns, magically transforming it into a lethal-looking BARBED ARROW, coating its tip with her vile plague.
She hands the arrow to Ganeida, then draws the shimmering symbols in the air, opening another PORTAL.
Hellboy and the others make their way through the dense forest, retracing their steps back to the helicopter. An annoying songbird follows, SINGING loudly.
Alice and Daimio exchange surprised looks.
Daimio interrupts --
Hellboy suddenly stops, draws his gun.
He’s right. It’s dead quiet now. Abe and Alice look around, instantly on alert. Daimio doesn’t get it.
THWAP! Alice is suddenly struck in the shoulder by an arrow. She stares down at it, startled and confused, before collapsing. Abe catches her as she falls.
Hellboy and Daimio spin to find Ganeida standing by a tree, holding a bow. She tries to escape, Hellboy lunges, grabbing her by the throat with his giant stone hand.
Abe pulls out the barbed arrow, coated in vile rot. The disease already spreading in thin black tendrils.
Hellboy glares at Ganeida, grip tightening around her neck --
We can hear the bones in Ganeida’s neck cracking.
Hellboy loosens his grip enough for Ganeida to speak:
Hellboy considers this... let’s go of Ganeida, who falls to the ground, gasping for air.
But Hellboy’s mind is already made up. He takes a ROSARY from his belt and wraps it around Ganeida’s neck, like a leash.
Before she can take a single step, Daimio draws his gun, leveling it at Ganeida’s head.
Hellboy steps menacingly closer.
Daimio considers this for a long beat, then lowers his gun.
He grabs Ganeida’s leash and jerks her away. Hellboy lifts Alice, cradling her in his arms. She looks up, barely conscious and in pain, but still manages a weak smile. They move off, following Ganeida into the woods.
Hellboy carries the unconscious Alice as the group inches along a precarious sea wall, following Ganeida’s lead. They eventually come to a hidden CAVE ENTRANCE, ancient runes etched all around it.
Hellboy, leading the group, heads into the cave.
They move beyond the cave entrance, descending a stairway carved from the surrounding rock. More runes here, along with ancient battle scenes etched in bas relief.
The group emerges into an impossibly large cavern, bisected by a MOAT OF FIRE. A stone bridge leads across it, to the IRON GATES of a massive UNDERGROUND PRISON.
She sets out across the bridge --
CRACK! A stone hand suddenly reaches out from the shadows and SNAPS Ganeida’s neck, killing her instantly. She falls aside to reveal a HUGE STONE SENTRY forming itself from the surrounding rocks.
Fire flickers in its empty eye sockets, glowing through cracks in its stoney flesh. Slowly it turns to the others, taking a position between them and the iron gates beyond. Hellboy sets Alice aside and steps up to face him.
Hellboy punches the Sentry with everything he’s got, but the huge stone guardian doesn’t even flinch.
The Sentry snatches Hellboy up by the neck. Abe and Daimio try to intervene but are easily swatted aside.
The Sentry squeezes. Hellboy fights with all he’s got, but it’s no use. As he starts to black out --
The Sentry suddenly lets go of Hellboy, who falls to his knees, gasping for air.
With a loud CLANKING SOUND, the Iron Gates begin to open.
The Sentry steps aside, its inner fire waning as it is once more absorbed into the surrounding stone. Hellboy shares a look with the others, then retrieves Alice and continues across the bridge.
As they enter the prison, Daimio tries to turn on his flashlight, but the beam spreads no more than a couple of feet before being swallowed by the impenetrable darkness.
A single candle flickers to life, revealing a withered old man with long, filthy gray hair and a patch over one eye. It’s MYRDDIN, from the opening scene.
More candles ignite, hundreds of them, illuminating the main chamber of a seemingly endless stone dungeon. Myrddin steps forward, taking a closer look at Alice’s wound, stunned by what he sees --
Myrddin turns back to Alice, plucks a feather from his cape and brushes it against her lips, then gives it a whiff, inhaling deeply.
MONTAGE
-- Myrddin prepares the ritual that will save Alice from the Blood Queen’s poison.
-- Hellboy lays Alice down inside a magic circle, while Myrddin surrounds her with candles and burning sage.
-- Abe and Daimio watch in rapt wonder as Myrddin performs his magic over the unconscious Alice.
-- Alice convulses, inky black poison seeping from her wound.
-- The poison becomes like a living thing, hovering above them. Myrddin banishes it with a wave of his hand.
When it’s over, Alice’s eyes open. She’s well again. Hellboy leans over, giving her a loving smile. Abe and Daimio hover in the background, giving them a moment alone.
Myrddin smiles warmly, takes Alice by the hand.
ON ABE as he realizes --
Myrddin pulls Hellboy away from the others. Daimio starts to protest --
-- when, with a wave of Myrddin’s hand, a wall suddenly THRUSTS UP from out of nowhere, sealing off the room. Daimio pounds on it in frustration.
Myrddin leads Hellboy through the prison corridors.
Myrddin stops at an alcove to pick up a dusty leather tome, flipping through its parchment pages.
He shows Hellboy a list in the book, written centuries ago, his finger on the last name: SARAH HUGHES.
Myrddin turns the page, revealing an archaic woodcut print of a YOUNG HELLBOY.
Myrddin closes the book and sets it back in the alcove, which magically slides away to reveal a massive iron door.
As he leads Hellboy away --
Ominous storm clouds gather overhead as Gruagach and the Blood Queen make their way through a small township. Frightened locals run screaming, then drop like flies, consumed by the Blood Queen’s plague. A trail of death and destruction in her wake. As she continues onward, TILT UP to reveal the London skyline looming in the distance, a beacon to guide their way.
Myrddin brings Hellboy to a large chamber, where a wellspring feeds a huge underground pool. At its center rises a huge stone with a GLEAMING SWORD sticking out of it.
Hellboy stares, transfixed, wading into the pool, drawn by the sword’s irresistible pull. Unconsciously, he reaches out to grasp it...
FWOOSH! As soon as he connects, the sword ignites, becoming awash in flame. At that same moment, Hellboy is seized by a horrific vision --
FLASH: Hellboy becomes THE BEAST OF THE APOCALYPSE, wielding a flaming sword, a fiery crown upon his brow. His horns grow to full length, eyes blazing with hellfire.The underground chamber becomes an APOCALYPTIC LANDSCAPE, a city in ruins. Fires rise from cracks in the earth, raging out of control. Huge TENTACLED MONSTROSITIES as big as skyscrapers stalk the terrain. Death and destruction as far as the eye can see.
Hellboy yanks his hand away. Everything is back to normal. No apocalypse. No sword of fire. Just Hellboy in a dark cavern with a very angry Myrddin.
But Hellboy has made his decision. He steps back from Excalibur. The sword in the stone slowly sinks back into the pond.
With every word, Myrddin ages, withering to a husk as the years rapidly catch up to him.
With a final, rattling breath, Myrddin’s corpse crumbles to the ground. A LARGE GRAY MOTH, his immortal soul, climbs out from beneath his eye-patch. Hellboy stares as it flits away... only to be snatched from the air by the Stone Sentry, who appears from out of nowhere.
He crushes the moth, then vanishes back into the rock wall.
Abe, Daimio and Alice await Hellboy’s return when a low rumbling begins to build. The prison shakes. Stones fall from the ceiling. The whole place begins to crumble. Hellboy enters, in a rush, heading straight for the exit.
They race across the bridge as it collapses behind them, barely making it to the other side as the prison sinks down into the molten lake of fire.
Lightning FLASHES as ominous storm clouds gather over London, churning in a reddening, ever-widening maelstrom.
Professor Broom confers with a FIELD AGENT. All around them, bureau personnel work furiously at their computer stations, monitoring the spread of the Blood Queen’s plague. NEWS FOOTAGE of its spread coming in from all over England.
The agent hands Broom a print-out.
Broom absorbs the news like a physical blow as they arrive at the wall monitors displaying various NEWS PROGRAMS of the chaos erupting in wake of the epidemic: SCENES of the sick and dying, panic in the streets, hospitals overflowing.
An ANCHORWOMAN report on the situation in dire tones:
ON-SCREEN - jittery camera-phone footage showing a brief, blurred glimpse of the Blood Queen moving down a city street before the camera is dropped, ending with a plague-riddled face falling into frame.
Suddenly, an ALARM SOUNDS. GUNFIRE and DISTANT SCREAMS come from somewhere inside the facility.
ON-SCREEN - THE GRUAGACH brutally kills several B.P.R.D. AGENTS as he moves deeper into the facility.
The team pulls itself up and over the top of the bluffs. The helicopter in the distance.
Hellboy hesitates, then --
Abe, Daimio and Alice react, surprised and elated by what they assume to be good news.
Hellboy holds up his big stone fist.
Before Hellboy can answer, they arrive at the helicopter to find a RED LIGHT FLASHING on the control console, and an ALARM SOUNDING.
The others share worried looks as Daimio ducks his head into the cockpit to check the onboard computer. He returns moments later with a worried expression.
Hurricane winds buffet the helicopter as they fly over London, which is being assaulted by an unprecedented supernatural storm. Daimio struggles with the controls.
Daimio keeps fighting with the controls. Abe leans forward from the back --
Suddenly, it begins to HAIL, first in small pellets, then in GREAT BIG CHUNKS. One of them cracks the chopper’s cockpit windscreen. An alarm sounds. Daimio switches it off.
Up ahead, B.P.R.D. Headquarters comes into view. Daimio puts both hands on the throttle and does his best to bring them in for a safe landing. Hellboy stares out of the chopper, a concerned expression.
Hellboy, Daimio, Alice and Abe enter, horrified to find the place has been ransacked. A few UNDERCOVER AGENTS from before lying dead on the floor.
Hellboy shares a worried look with Abe --
Deep underground, Hellboy races through the maze of ruined corridors, past more broken corpses of B.P.R.D. agents, until he finally comes to --
Hellboy enters to find the body of the FIELD AGENT slumped over the computer, her neck snapped. Professor Broom is nowhere to be scene.
Abe, Alice and Daimio arrive to find Hellboy staring at something just off-screen.
Abe follows Hellboy’s gaze to the shattered wall monitors, where a LARGE CROSS has been painted in blood, along with a single word: SOUTHWARK.
Bristling with rage, Hellboy turns and makes for the exit.
Amidst the raging storm, tanks and military vehicles roll down the streets. Whole sections of the city are being cordoned off. Martial Law in full effect.
A handful of POLICE OFFICERS take cover behind their cars outside the church, weapons trained on the Blood Queen, who stands atop the steps, looking out over the city as the epidemic unfolds, reveling in the chaos.
They open fire, but the Blood Queen casually waves off the attack, then SENDS HER PLAGUE SWEEPING THROUGH THE OFFICERS, who fall to the ground screaming as they’re consumed by boils and pustules. Onlookers flee in terror.
And from those shadows, the Gruagach emerges with Professor Broom in tow. Broom stares up at the Blood Queen defiantly -
The Blood Queen turns to Gruagach, lovingly caressing his cheek with her hand, nails long and lethal.
Daimio roughly sets his chopper down outside Southwark Cathedral. Hellboy and the others jump out. A gunshot ricochets off the wall. Hellboy spins angrily at the cops just now arriving on the scene --
As Hellboy storms off toward the church, the others share worried glances. They’ve never seen him so close to the edge.
Daimio flashes his M-11 badge at the officers.
Hellboy kicks open the doors, ready for anything... only to met by an eerie silence. The church is empty. No sign of the Blood Queen.
They move farther into the nave, on alert, checking pews as they go. But nothing seems out of the ordinary. Hellboy stops when he reaches the altar, confused.
Startled, they all turn to find the Gruagach standing in the shadows of the cathedral’s southern transept.
Gruagach steps into the chamber, fully revealing himself, already in mid-transformation. Bones popping and cracking, muscles bulging, shifting beneath roiling flesh. Growing larger by the second.
They watch in mute horror as the Gruagach continues his grotesque metamorphosis into a larger, even more monstrous version of himself, covered in thick plates and spiny protrusions. Daimio opens fire, but the bullets just ricochet off the Gruagach’s armored hide.
Hellboy steps between Gruagach and the others, covering their retreat.
The collide like a couple of prize fighters, trading kicks and punches. But this time, Hellboy is heavily out-matched.
Gruagach snatches Hellboy up in his powerful claws and slams him through one of the columns. The cathedral shakes from the impact, shattering stained glass windows and cracking stone support beams.
Alice, Daimio and Abe cover their heads to protect from falling glass and debris as they circle back to the entrance.
The LINTEL suddenly SNAPS. Daimio dives, shoving Abe out of the way as the stone archway comes crashing down, trapping Daimio’s leg and triggering another violent seizure.
While Abe and Alice Abe try to lift the heavy stone slab, Daimio reaches into his vest for his pills, pops the top but then hesitates... looks across the church to Hellboy, fighting a losing battle. The Gruagach is just too big, too strong. Hellboy’s getting tossed around like a rag doll.
Daimio puts the pills away without taking one.
Their confusion turns to shock as DAIMIO BEGINS TO CHANGE. His eyes go fiery red, with the elongated pupil of a cat. Hair sprouts from the scars in his face, growing thicker, spreading outward in irregular patterns. His skin ripples, bulging as the muscles and bones beneath reshape themselves, teeth elongating.
As Abe and Alice back away, we go --
BACK ON HELLBOY AND GRUAGACH
They trade one vicious blow after another. Hellboy takes the brunt of the damage, keeping one eye on his companions, trying to force the action deeper into the church.
WHAM! The Gruagach tackles Hellboy through a wall and into the adjoining chamber. Hellboy kicks him off, draws his hand- cannon and fires -- BOOM! The Gruagach staggers backward into another support column. As it starts to give way, Hellboy raises his gun and takes aim --
BOOM! He fires again, taking out the column and bringing the whole ceiling crashing down on top of the Gruagach. Hellboy rolls out of the way, barely escaping being buried himself.
Hellboy looks up to find Alice and Abe standing over him. They help him up.
Before she can finish her thought, the GROUND SHAKES. They back away as the GRUAGACH RISES FROM BENEATH THE RUBBLE.
Hellboy steps protectively in front of Alice and Abe as the Gruagach stalks closer.
Hellboy hauls off and hits the Gruagach with a mighty uppercut from his huge stone fist. But the Gruagach doesn’t even flinch. Then returns the blow with a haymaker of his own, sending Hellboy flying.
Abe attacks from behind while Alice tries to Spirit Wrack Gruagach. Both get swatted away with ease.
Then Gruagach turns his attention back to the fallen Hellboy, leaping on top of him, pinning him to the ground. Hellboy struggles, but he’s just too weak.
The Gruagach grabs a heavy chunk of rubble and prepares to crush the defenseless Hellboy. As he’s about to deliver the fatal blow --
A MASSIVE JAGUAR BEAST tackles Gruagach from behind. They tumble away, tearing at one another in a whirlwind of fangs and fur. The Jaguar Beast ROARS! Gruagach rages, ripping the beast off and tossing him into the wall next to Hellboy, who’s just now regaining his bearings.
The Jaguar Beast narrows its eyes with dim recognition, then turns back to the Gruagach. Hellboy does the same.
Hellboy and the Jaguar Beast attack as a team. While the Jaguar Beast rakes the Gruagach with its claws, Hellboy delivers one stone-fisted haymaker after another. The Gruagach backs up, overwhelmed by the two-front assault.
Gruagach lashes out wildly, catching Hellboy underneath the chin. With Hellboy staggered, the Gruagach presses his advantage, raining down blow after blow, until Hellboy is left on his knees, beaten and bloodied.
The Jaguar Beast leaps onto Gruagach’s back, trying to draw his attention. But Gruagach reaches up and grabs the Jaguar Beast, smashing it against a wall, knocking it out cold.
He then returns to the business at hand, pulling Hellboy’s head back to expose his throat. Jaws opening wide --
THE BLOOD QUEEN APPEARS, floating high above them, at the precipice of the wide gap torn through the ceiling.
A wet, rasping cough chokes off the rest of his sentence. The Gruagach staggers, catching himself on a nearby column. He shoots a stunned, betrayed look at the Blood Queen as her plague and the horrible realization washes over him.
She moves closer, whispering:
The Gruagach falls to his knees and begins to shrivel, plague blisters appearing across his withered flesh.
Eyes silently pleading, the Gruagach coughs black blood and falls over dead. Hellboy glares at the Blood Queen, rising unsteadily back to his feet.
She gestures, magically lifting Hellboy up off his feet, then violently SENDS HIM CRASHING THROUGH THE FAR WALL, which crumbles and gives way to reveal a HIDDEN TOMB.
INSIDE THE TOMB
Hellboy slowly, painfully recovers, looks up to see he’s lying at the base of a HUGE STONE SARCOPHAGUS covered in pagan symbols and Celtic runes. An image of a LION WEARING A CROWN stares back at him, carved into its lid.
The Blood Queen appears at the edge of the tomb --
Another wave of her hand, and the sarcophagus’ heavy stone lid EXPLODES, revealing ARTUR’S SKELETAL REMAINS resting within, EXCALIBUR clutched firmly in his bony grasp.
CLOSE ON HELLBOY - staring at Excalibur, mesmerized by it.
Hellboy slowly, almost unconsciously, reaches for the sword. The Blood Queen’s eyes light with anticipation.
Hellboy is about to grasp the hilt, but then stops.
He turns to face the Blood Queen --
She holds up her hand. A bound PROFESSOR BROOM flies into it.
With that, the Blood Queen scrapes one of her long nails down Broom’s neck, infecting him with her plague.
As she lets the Professor fall, Hellboy rushes from the tomb, catches him, cradling him in his arms. The disease quickly spreads, consuming Broom right before Hellboy’s eyes. He reaches out to gently touch Hellboy’s face, taking one last, long look at his son before breathing his last, dying breath. Hellboy clutches Broom to his chest, drowning in sorrow.
Alice and Abe both arrive just in time to witness the gut- wrenching scene.
Hellboy glares at her, eyes filled with hate.
Setting Broom down, Hellboy rises, jaw set, firsts clenched.
That’s it! Blinded by rage, Hellboy turns and marches back into the tomb, taking hold of Excalibur. Without a moment’s hesitation, he yanks the sword away from Artur, who crumbles to dust.
As Hellboy holds Excalibur aloft, the BLADE CATCHES FIRE, just like in his vision. Hellboy then spins to face the Blood Queen with an expression of savage fury.
As he stalks toward her, the Blood Queen smiles victoriously, closing her eyes in anticipation of the blow... welcoming it.
SLASH! HELLBOY CUTS OFF THE BLOOD QUEEN’S HEAD.
It tumbles to the cathedral floor, coming to rest not far from where Hellboy stands. Still very much alive, she watches, enraptured, as Hellboy begins to change. Horns growing to their full length, a FIERY CROWN appearing above his head. He is becoming the THE BEAST OF THE APOCALYPSE.
An inhuman ROAR echoes across London. The ground trembles and splits open, fires blazing. People flee in terror as hideous HELL BEASTS claw their way up through the cracks. Everywhere, the CREATURES OF DARKNESS begin to emerge. GIANT TENTACLES rise from the Thames, wrapping themselves around London Bridge, tearing it down. It’s the beginning of the end.
Hellboy’s transformation continues, turning him into something both god-like and demonic. The Blood Queen’s severed head rants, revelling in her victory.
Meanwhile, Alice desperately tries to revive Broom, while Abe searches through the rubble to find Daimio, who’s changed back into his human form but is still too weak to move.
He pulls his ankle gun and gives it to Abe.
Abe looks at what Hellboy has become, then reluctantly takes the gun and makes his way across the cathedral, leveling it at Hellboy as he approaches. Hellboy just stands there, staring. No recognition there. No humanity left.
As Abe’s finger tightens on the trigger --
VOICE (O.S.) This isn’t you. You’re better than this.
Abe stops and lowers the gun, turning toward the familiar voice to find THE GHOST OF PROFESSOR BROOM emerging through the smoke and fire. An ectoplasmic trail leads back to Alice, who kneels next to Broom’s body, eyes shut, focused and concentrating. The same thing she did with Lady Hatton’s corpse at the Osiris Club.
BROOM’S GHOST Your whole life has been leading to this moment. But what happens next is entirely up to you.
Hellboy cocks his head, not sure what to make of this little ghost.
Broom ignores her, walks right up to Hellboy --
BROOM’S GHOST She thinks she can use you, make you into something you’re not. (MORE)
BROOM’S GHOST (CONT'D) But I’ve always encouraged you to be your own man. And if that’s half the man I think you are, then you have it in you to choose for yourself.
BROOM’S GHOST I told you that you’d always have choices. Now’s the time to choose. Not who you are... but who you are going to be. (beat) So choose.
Hellboy looks to the Blood Queen, then down at the sword in his hand, its flames growing even brighter. Shaken from his reverie, his brow furrows with anger. He turns back to Broom, Abe and Alice, raising the sword high, as if to strike them all down with one mighty blow...
...then plunges Excalibur deep into one of the broken stone columns, lying on the ground.
Through the cathedral’s crumbling walls, we can see the storm subsiding. Rays of sunshine punch through the dissipating cloud cover, and the creatures of darkness flee in terror.
The Giant Tentacles recede into the River Thames. And the hell beasts slip back into the cracks in the earth, which begin to seal shut behind them.
Hellboy, becoming his old self again, reaches up and takes hold of his horns, snapping them off at the base. He tosses them aside and picks up the Blood Queen’s severed head...
...THEN DROP KICKS it out of the cathedral and into one of the remaining hell cracks, which seals shut, taking the Blood Queen’s fading cries with it.
Off to one side, Alice and Abe watch as Hellboy turns back to the Professor’s ghost, which is already beginning to fade. Its an emotionally charged moment, knowing this is the last time they’ll speak to one another.
Broom continues to fade. Hellboy reaches out, desperate to hold onto the moment. But his hand passes right through him.
Broom’s ghost vanishes, leaving Hellboy standing over his father’s body, filled with pain and heartache.
Knowing Hellboy needs a moment alone with his grief, Alice goes to check on Abe, who’s still standing there in shock, holding the gun.
Alice and Abe go to extricate Daimio from the rubble. Once he’s back on his feet, Abe hands him the gun.
Daimio ejects the magic bullet, unscrews it and scatters its arcane contents to the four winds.
Abe pats Daimio on the back as they go to comfort Hellboy, who’s still kneeling next to Broom. Alice puts a loving hand on his shoulder. All of them silhouetted against the fading sun. Excalibur sticks up out of the stone next to Broom’s body, forming a makeshift cross, like a gravestone.
Hellboy stands at the gates of an imposing Gothic castle sitting high atop a hill overlooking the Danube River.
SUPER: CASTLE GIURESCU, AUSTRIA - SIX MONTHS LATER
CLOSE ON - Hellboy speaking into some kind of handheld radio:
Still nothing. Hellboy puts the radio away and turns to look back down over the mountainside. Checks his watch, an impatient expression.
REVEAL - Abe and Alice, dressed in matching B.P.R.D. field jackets/uniforms.
Daimio appears, also dressed in a B.P.R.D. uniform, only his seems different, made from some sort of stretchable material.
SMACK! Hellboy slaps him hard across the face. A stunned Daimio GROWLS in response, instantly transforming into the WERE-JAGUAR.
As they turn to head into the castle, Alice stands on her tiptoes to give Hellboy a little peck on the cheek.
She smiles and plants one on him, a real barn-burner of a kiss. Abe politely looks away, rolling his eyes.
They wait...
...and wait.
The Daimio/Were-Jaguar GROWLS impatiently.
PUSH IN on the lingering kiss as we --