Aberyswyth, Wales, 31 October 1898
Monday

KOUDELKA [title screen]

[The hooded woman knocks at the door of the abbey. When there is no answer, she guides her horse to the side of the building, where she finds some abandoned luggage and a rope leading up to the roof. The woman -- Koudelka -- pushes her hood back and smiles. She climbs up the rope and reaches the roof, where she can see the empty courtyard of Nementon Monastery spread out a long distance below her.]

[Koudelka gingerly climbs along the roof, but when a decorative spike breaks off under her hand, she nearly slips off the edge. She grabs onto the roof, but her necklace breaks free and falls into the courtyard below. Koudelka pulls herself up and kicks in a window.]

[Koudelka jumps down into the torch-lit room, where she finds a bloody man slumped against a door. He opens his eyes at her approach and focuses them with difficulty.]

EDWARD: 're too early, angel. I'm not dead yet. [He tries to lift his pistol]

KOUDELKA: [sneering] Not yet, but it looks like you're going to die soon. [She fingers a dagger behind her back.]

EDWARD: Maybe, but you'll have to pardon me while I tend to some unfinished business first. [He lifts his wavering pistol to point at Koudelka.]

KOUDELKA: Business? What can you possibly accomplish in your condition? You can't even hold your gun steady.

EDWARD: Won't know unless I try. That thing ain't going to die unless I shoot it two or three times.

[As Koudelka stares at him, a humanoid form with lots of fur and big teeth (a werewolf?) appears behind her. Koudelka turns in surprise and stabs it with her knife, but the monster flings her away. She crashes into the ground with a scream. Edward shoots helplessly at the monster.]

EDWARD: Here, use this! [He tosses her the pistol.]

[Koudelka and the monster battle it out. After killing the monster, she approaches Edward and turns away.]

EDWARD: Hey! What about him?

KOUDELKA: He's dead.

EDWARD: Really? Thank you. So I guess my time is up. Hey, angel? I'm not going to ask you to take me to heaven, but will you pray for me at least?

KOUDELKA: Are you out of your mind? There's no bloody way I'm going to pray for you. But...I guess I owe you because you saved me too. [She kneels next to Edward.] Payback time.

[Koudelka begans waving her hands over Edward's head as he groans in agony.]

KOUDELKA: Keep it down!

[Koudelka finishes and pants in exhaustion before standing up.]

KOUDELKA: Okay, let's go.

[Koudelka takes a step forward, but Edward remains seated, staring at his arm.]

KOUDELKA: Stand up, or I'll leave you here!

EDWARD: What happened? It doesn't...it doesn't hurt any more. I'm cured!

KOUDELKA: Yeah? And? So I cured you, so what?

EDWARD: You...you cured me? But--but I was almost dead! I'm confused. So, you really are an angel?

KOUDELKA: Don't be foolish. You really think that there are angels on earth? I'm no angel. I'm just a medium with a little curing power.

EDWARD: I'm--I'm Edward J. Plunkett. I know I look pretty shady...but you don't look too wholesome yourself, right?

KOUDELKA: No. I'm not like you, and this is no place for people like you. Why did you come here?

EDWARD: I heard a rumor.

KOUDELKA: A rumor?

EDWARD: I heard something in London. That the son of some rich family bought an old monastery. Spend a ton of money to convert it into a house. I heard he brought quite a lot of harlots there. Seems like he was having a great time.

KOUDELKA: So, where is this monastery?

EDWARD: That's what I want to know! I came all this way to put a poor man's fear of God into this rich bastard. So far, I haven't found anything. Then this monster attacked me; I almost got killed! If you'd come any later, no doubt I'd be singing hymns in his stomach right now.

KOUDELKA: [to herself] I shouldn't have bought such a good horse, she's too--

EDWARD: Too bad you won't be hearing me singing those hymns. When I was a boy, I was a pretty good soprano.

KOUDELKA: If you don't stop talking, I'll leave you here! ...My name is Koudelka, and I'm only going to say this once, so don't forget. If you want to get out of here alive, I suggest you stick very close. Got it?

[Koudelka offers Edward her hand and pulls him to his feet.]

EDWARD: Charmed, I'm sure.

[Koudelka pulls her hand back in revulsion.]