- Opening crawl: In the corrupt shadows of Big City one light still shines: the Daily Gazette's rising star, Paula 'Peril' Perillo. But dark forces are at work tonight, and those who report the news may end up being the next headline.
- [first lines]
- Veronica Vilancourt: Everyone worth knowing is in this room tonight. The Countess DeFalco is one of our city's wealthiest citizens. Her decision to sell the Crystal Falcon is top news. I will finally get Paula off the front page and...
- [Vincent DeFalco strolls by]
- Veronica Vilancourt: Hello, there.
- [researching an ancient Celtic religion]
- Jimmy Smith: Beheadings, disembowelments, impalements... it sounds like my Friday night.
- Paula Perillo: He made the ultimate sacrifice to gain the favor of the goddess Empress Falc.
- Jimmy Smith: Ultimate sacrifice? It's a metal bird!
- Paula Perillo: He sacrificed every woman in the village and used their blood to make that metal bird.
- Jimmy Smith: Geez.
- Paula Perillo: Empress Falc was so pleased by the offering, she gave him the power to defeat Aurelius and his men.
- [DeFalco's henchman stuffs a gag in Veronica's mouth]
- Vincent DeFalco: That's enough of that, Miss Vilancourt . No one can hear you. Besides it's so... unbecoming.
- [to Veronica who is tied to a sacrificial altar]
- Vincent DeFalco: This is your fate. From your death emerges eternal life. Our destiny will be intertwined forever!
- Paula Perillo: At least he's not afraid of commitment.