Tuesday 31 March 2009

Scribblers: Fashion Police

Scribblers
"Fashion Police"
by Steffan Alun

1 INT. PIT MEDICAL ROOM - Day. 0920.

AMITY is examining SUPER SKELETON, in her red cape and golden crown.

SUPER SKELETON
Thanks for helping me out, Amity.

AMITY
Any time you need it, Ms Skeleton. I know going private's a big expense these days ...

SUPER SKELETON
And local GPs just don't have the resources for my condition.

Amity lifts Skeleton's leg, examining the joint. CHRONAL enters.

CHRONAL
Hi, Amity. Mind if I have a word when you're not busy?

AMITY
Absolutely. I'll be done in ten minutes.

SUPER SKELETON
Don't mind me. I wouldn't want to stand in the way of official Scribblers business.

CHRONAL
Thanks, ma'am. It's just, I'm worried about our costumes.

AMITY
This couldn't have waited until later?

CHRONAL
Lyric's off to his shed for the day, so if I want a new costume this morning, it'll have to
be soon.

AMITY
Why would you want a new costume?

CHRONAL
It's just that I've noticed a lot of villains wear green. The number's really high. And hardly any heroes do. Are we breaking some unspoken rule that heroes don't wear green?

AMITY
I can't think of many villains who wear green. Most of our enemies wear black.

CHRONAL
Well, most of Super Skeleton's villains are in green. The Human Apple, Toxic, Alien Dave, Babel - even Blood Girl, and you'd have thought she'd be in red.

SUPER SKELETON
If I may. A lot of my enemies wear green because of my red cape. Blood Girl does wear red when she fights, say, Weird Lady or the Rejects. And Toxic fights in purple when she's up against Got His Powers With Chemicals Man, because he wears yellow.

CHRONAL
Are you saying your enemies choose their costume colours based on your cape?

SUPER SKELETON
They seem to, yes.

AMITY
That's mental. Do they choose their costume and then come looking for you, then?

SUPER SKELETON
I get a lot of tip-offs from anonymous sources. If you ask me, they don't really want to rob banks or set off doomsday devices. What they really want is a fight.

CHRONAL
So, I don't need to change my costume. Villains will choose to wear red if they want to fight me personally.

AMITY
Mr Arden wore a red shirt when I went to negotiate with him.

CHRONAL
We may be on to something here.

Looking thoughtful, he leaves the room.

AMITY
Have you ever considered changing your cape?

SUPER SKELETON
Of course not. I don't want to clash either.

AMITY
You even match your doctor! What a coincidence!

SUPER SKELETON
Ah. Yes. That is a coincidence, yes. Definitely.

CHRONAL returns, wearing a brown version of his costume.

CHRONAL
Operation: Fashion Police is complete! Now enemies will spend so long working out what looks good with brown, I'll have the upper hand.

SUPER SKELETON
Surely most colours match brown. That's why heroes avoid it. Attracts too much attention. That's what killed Man in Black in the end.

CHRONAL
I've got a lot to learn.

AMITY
There you go, Ms Skeleton. A clean bill of health.

SUPER SKELETON
Thanks, sweetheart. If you ever need a team-up, you know who to call. You too, Chronal.

CHRONAL
Thanks!

SUPER SKELETON
But for pity's sake, put your old costume back on. I don't want us clashing.

Tuesday 24 March 2009

Communal Psychic Part 3

In the Dinas Sewers. It is pitch black and the walls creak and drip with moisture. Shift, in the guise of a rat is scurrying down a pipe.

SHIFT: Sqeyke! I know you’re down here. I need your help.

She scuttles towards a crevice in the wall from which a low snuffling noise is emerging.

SQEYKE: I’m not in.

SHIFT: Come out right now, or I’ll eat you.

SQEYKE: You really know how to charm a fella. You’re not in season are you?

SHIFT: I’ll season you in a minute. And then eat you and enjoy it.

SQEYKE: Alright, I’m coming, keep your tail on.

A fat grey rat squeezes itself through the wall and perches on the edge of the pipe. He starts to clean his whiskers, which are long and dark and droop, sort of like a handlebar moustache.

SHIFT: I want information.

SQEYKE: Who doesn’t?

SHIFT: Look, I need some information on a character who goes by the name of “Antihero.” Do you have anything for me or don’t you?

SQEYKE: I may do, I may not. What’s in it for me?

SHIFT: I won’t eat you.

SQEYKE: You wouldn’t eat me anyway. I’m a rat. Full of diseases.

SHIFT: How about a Mars Bar?

Sqeyke squeaks with excitement.

SQEYKE: You’re on! What do you need to know?

SHIFT: Who is the Antihero?

SQEYKE: Big man, metal suit. Thinks he’s better than other humans. Total arsehole.

SHIFT: What are his powers?

SQEYKE: Powers? Hard to say.

Sqeyke casually scratches his ear.

SHIFT: A finger-of-Twix hard-to-say, or do you just not know?

SQEYKE: I can find out. For two fingers of Twix.

SHIFT: You’ll get fat.

SQEYKE: Good. Anything else?

SHIFT: Where can I find him?

SQEYKE: He moves around a lot. He was up north, where the tunnel rats converge with the water rats. But that was a few hours ago.

SHIFT: Then that’ll be a good place to start.

SQEYKE: Don’t forget my chocolate. Usual drop-off point.

SHIFT: You’ll have it once I’ve chased this lead. It’s time for a bit of hunting…

She bears her little rat teeth and her eyes glitter.

SQEYKE: No cats in the sewer. You know the rules.

SHIFT: No cat would be seen dead down here.

SQEYKE: That’s not true. I’ve seen several.

SHIFT: I’m going above-ground for this one anyway.

SQEYKE: Good hunting. And don’t forget my chocolate!

Shift whips around and scuttles back down the pipe and up onto the surface. Sqeyke continues to lurk on his pipe, his beady eyes following her exit.

SQEYKE: Squeak?

A host of glistening eyes appear, dotted around the tunnel. A cacophony of squeaking greeted his question.

SQEYKE: Squeak.

….

In da Pit. Lyric and Wraith are in the garage of Super-Amazing Transportation Devices.

WRAITH: You’re not getting me on that thing.

LYRIC: It’s the fastest thing in here.

WRAITH: I’m not getting on any vehicle held together by the quality of your syntax.

LYRIC: You’ve never questioned things I’ve made before.

WRAITH: Why can’t we just take the car?

LYRIC: Because that’s boring.

WRAITH: At least we won’t be dead.

LYRIC: You won’t be dead if we take the bike and we’ll be there much faster.

WRAITH: Are you sure about that?

LYRIC: Come on, trust me!

WRAITH: If we die, I’m entirely blaming you.

LYRIC: Fair enough.

Lyric sweeps onto the bike in a stylish manner and pulls on a crash helmet.

WRAITH: If we aren’t going to die, then why the padded hat?

LYRIC: Because it looks cool.

Wraith reluctantly climbs aboard the bike. Lyric hands him another helmet.

WRAITH: This’ll never fit over my hair.

LYRIC: Stop complaining.

Wraith pulls the helmet on. His hair blocks out the visor.

WRAITH: I can’t see.

LYRIC: Good, good. Let’s go!

He kicks the bike into life and roars out of the garage of Super-Amazing-Transportation-Devices.



In da Pit. Chronal and Finesse are busy on the computers.


A phone rings.

FINESSE: I’ll get it.

SHIFT (via phone): Hello!

FINESSE: How are you!

SHIFT: I’m ok! How are you!

FINESSE: I’m fine!

SHIFT: Oh, good! Look, I’ve got something on the Antihero. The rats place him on the edge of the city a few hours ago. I’m about to head there now.

FINESSE: Brilliant! Anything else?

SHIFT: Apparently it’s a man in a metal suit. Big ego. Not very evident powers. At least, the rats didn’t recognise what he could do.

FINESSE: Do you need some back up?

SHIFT: Nah, it’ll take to long. Plus others will mess up the scent. I’ll keep you informed.

FINESSE: Ok, let me know the minute you have anything.

SHIFT: Laters.

The phone cuts dead.

FINESSE: Did you get all that Chronal?

CHRONAL: Yep, I’ve made a list.

FINESSE: Brilliant. Armoured villain is it? That adds a new spin onto what his powers are likely to be.

CHRONAL: I’m cross-referencing it now.

The two of them set about their work again with new vigour.



At a Den of Iniquity. Lyric and Wraith pull up on the swish motorbike and park near the entrance. Wraith immediately jumps off and takes off his helmet.


WRAITH: Urgh. Never again.

LYRIC: Come on, it’s not that bad!

WRAITH: It’s not exactly an inconspicuous way to arrive.

LYRIC: And you love the inconspicuous.

WRAITH: It comes with the territory.

They enter the Den. It is dingy and ominous looking. They approach the dark, sinister bar. It is being manned by a tall, baleful man.

LYRIC: Do you find yourself using more adjectives than necessary in here?

They reach the bar. The baleful man glares at them.

LYRIC: We need information.

BALEFUL BARKEEP: ‘M no grass.

WRAITH: ‘M Batman.

BALEFUL BARKEEP: (growling) What?

LYRIC: The Antihero. What do you know?

BALEFUL BARKEEP: I don’t know nothing.

Lyric puts a wad of cash on the bar.

LYRIC: Antihero. Anything?

The Baleful Barkeep pockets the cash and scribbles something on a piece of tissue. Lyric pockets it quickly and signals to Wraith to leave. They walk back out into the overbearingly sinister street.

LYRIC: Destination: run-down factory. Better call it in.



In da Pit. The phone rings.

CHRONAL: Hello?

LYRIC (via telephone): We’ve got a location.

CHRONAL: That was quick.

LYRIC: I know a Baleful Barkeep. And he knows everything else.

FINESSE: Let’s mobilise the team. Shift will be out of contact for a while, so we’ll have to make do with the five of us.

LYRIC: Scribblers Assemble!

FINESSE: You know, I think you like saying that more than I do.



On the edge of Dinas City, where the river runs close to the sewer. Shift, in the form of a bloodhound, is sniffing the ground. Eventually she picks up a scent and begins to track.

VOICE: Time to hunt.

Shift continues to track, getting faster and faster, her breath snuffling against the ground.

VOICE: I have you now.

Shift pauses and whines, looking all around herself. She transforms back into human, crouching low to the ground.

VOICE: I have you now.

Shift shivers and flails, as if trying to shake off swarms of parasites. With a ear-splitting scream, she collapses backwards onto the ground.

SHIFT: I have you now.

Shift slowly stands up, rotating and flexing her muscles. She looks down at her hands and smiles, a vicious gleam in her eye.

SHIFT: Now it’s my turn.

To be continued...

Communal Psychic Part 2

A science lab; white, sterile, with harsh metal work surfaces. The light is bright and penetrating.

FINESSE: Come on, we’re got to find it before it’s too late!

SHIFT: This place is like a maze! No matter which way we turn, we always seem to end up back in the same room.

An alarm sounds. It is very loud. And alarming.

SHIFT: Shit! We’ve tripped the alarm! Come on! We’ve got to hurry!

FINESSE: There it is! Can you see it?

Finesse gestures at a large red button on the wall. Shift begins to move towards it, but slowly, as if stuck in tar.

SHIFT: I can’t… I can’t reach it!

The scene blurs and darkens and Shift flails against unseen bonds pressing against her.

VOICE: You have to reach it. Stay with us Shift!

SHIFT: I can’t…

VOICE: Stay with us!

Shift struggles in the darkness.

SHIFT: I…

VOICE: Stay!

With an almighty flail Shift hauls herself upright in the dark. In her bed. For a moment she is confused. The alarm is still ringing, but with the less distressing and more annoying tones of a phone alarmclock.

SHIFT: Urgh.

She swats the alarm onto snooze.


SHIFT: That was weird.

Enter Amity, in a hurry.

AMITY: Are you alright? I felt your distress from all the way over in my room!

SHIFT: Fine, I think. I just had a bit of a weird dream.

She rubs her forehead.

SHIFT: It feels like… I don’t know. Like I can’t quite wake up. Like it’s trying to pull me back.

Shift shudders.

AMITY: Would you like me to help you?

SHIFT: Yes please.

Amity generates a wave of soothing emotions.

SHIFT: Thanks! Much better.

AMITY: You need to take it easy. We still don’t know what damage that weirdo clown has done to your mind.

SHIFT: Tell me about it.

Both pause in contemplative silence for a while.

AMITY: If you’re ok now I might try and go back to sleep.

SHIFT: Yeah, go for it. I think I’ll stay up and read for a while.

AMITY: Give me a call if you need me.

Shift smiles and nods as Amity leaves the room.

VOICE: Its so cold out there. So cold.

SHIFT: What was that?

VOICE: So cold.

SHIFT: Amity? Did you say something?

She pauses and listens.

SHIFT: Apparently not.

She shivers and pulls the covers up around her. She picks a book up from the table next to her bed and starts to read.

VOICE: So tired. So very tired.

Shift’s head droops forward as she reads, the pages fluttering shut. She pulls herself upright with a jerk.

SHIFT: Damn! I’ve lost my place. Oh screw it, I’ll just go to sleep again.

She puts the book back on the table and huddles under the covers.

SHIFT: I’ve really got to stop talking to myself.

She turns out the light and closes her eyes.

VOICE: Sleep now. Sleep…

***

Later that day, in da Pit. CHRONAL is typing rapidly into complicated series of computer screens, which every now and then make the odd beeping noise. AMITY is talking animatedly on the phone, a big smile on her face. WRAITH is nowhere to be seen, not unusually.

Enter FINESSE and heads straight towards CHRONAL’s complicated computer system.

FINESSE: How’s the search going?

CHRONAL: Not great. There’s some buzz around, but nothing in our area.

FINESSE: Anything on that godsdamn creepy clown?

CHRONAL points at one of the screens, showing the “Events” page on a community website. One of the events listed is a “Virtual Reality Simulator.”

CHRONAL: This is all I’ve got. Could be a match; he’d have to change his name to keep him from super-hero detection.

FINESSE: Hmmm… perhaps we should go pay this “Event” a visit.

CHRONAL: Ah… there is one problem. It’s not actually in town until next week.

FINESSE: Next week? Lame. And there’s nothing else on the radar?

CHRONAL: Not really, I’m afraid.

FINESSE: Well, I suppose that’s a good thing.

CHRONAL: I suppose it is.

Both look disappointed.

WRAITH: (quietly) Miaow.

FINESSE: Whatever.

WRAITH: How on earth do you do that? I was invisible and everything.

FINESSE: Well, firstly, my eyes are for seeing, not hearing. And second of all, because it is one of my rarely-mentioned-because-it’s-not-particularly-useful powers.

CHRONAL: Like your directional sense.

FINESSE: Hey, my directional sense is mighty useful.

CHRONAL: Well, I didn’t mean it like that…

WRAITH: Fail.

FINESSE: Hey, you can’t backtrack now.

Amity finishes her phone conversation and joins them.

AMITY: Are you guys alright? You seem a bit tense.

FINESSE: Chronal’s dissing me.

CHRONAL: Am not!

AMITY: I see… and this has nothing to do with lack of villains to fight?

CHRONAL: Ooh! Which reminds me, we’ve found something!

AMITY: Really? How exciting!

FINESSE: There’s a catch.

CHRONAL: Yes… unfortunately we can’t follow it up until next week.

AMITY: I know what we could do until then…

FINESSE: A game, perhaps?

AMITY: Well, if you’re asking!

FINNESE: How about Fake-Bear-Alphabet?

AMITY: Ooh! I don’t know that one!

FINESSE: You’ll love it.

***

Outside on the roof of the Pit. It is a warm, sunny day. There are chairs and tables set out in a haphazard manner and a stereo is playing a local radio station. LYRIC is sunbathing whilst reading a book. A pigeon flutters down and lands on the floor nearby.

LYRIC: Shift? That you?

The pigeon looks at him sideways and bobs.

LYRIC: Or am I talking to a bird?

The pigeon pecks aimlessly at the ground.

LYRIC: Do you need me to get Finesse?

He shuts his book and stands up, causing the pigeon to panic and scurry away in a clatter of flurrying wings.

LYRIC: Perhaps not.

SHIFT: I can’t believe you mistook me for Bin Bags.

LYRIC jumps and looks around. SHIFT is crouching on the ground on the edge of the roof.

LYRIC: Jesus! You made me jump.

SHIFT: Sorry.

LYRIC: Have you been here all this time?

SHIFT: Not here exactly. I was catbathing on top of that ledge.

She gestures over her shoulder.

SHIFT: I came down when I heard you talking to Bin Bags.

LYRIC: Bin Bags?

SHIFT: Don’t ask me. I didn’t name him.

LYRIC: Have you been talking to pigeons again?

SHIFT: Well, sort of. Fascinating gossip, you know. But I’ve been trying to keep my distance as of late. I’m not particularly pleased that he’s found out where I live. Now I’ll never get any peace.

LYRIC: You should be more careful- it could be a security risk.

SHIFT: Who’s he going to tell? The pigeon police?

LYRIC: Your wit stuns me.

Shift stands up straight and stretches out, yawning.

SHIFT: Good book?

LYRIC: Yes, actually. It’s nice to read something for fun for once.

SHIFT: Well I’ll let you get back to it then.

She shifts back into cat form and pads across to a sunny bench. She jumps onto it and lies down, stretching out luxuriantly.

LYRIC: Being a cat always looks so comfortable.

SHIFT lazily winks one eye. LYRIC sits back down with his book and starts reading again. The radio is playing Coldplay’s Viva La Vida.

RADIO: One minute I held the key…

VOICE: To take control…

Shift sits up suddenly and looks around.

RADIO: Next the doors were closed on me…

VOICE: So close…

Shift returns to human form.

SHIFT: Did you hear that?

LYRIC: What?

RADIO: Upon pillars of salt, pillars of sand…

SHIFT: On the radio, there was another voice. It was talking over the music.

She turns the sound up and down on the radio.

SHIFT: Can you hear it?

LYRIC: No, I didn’t hear anything. Other than Coldplay, of course.

SHIFT: Weird. It must be picking up mixed signals or something.

LYRIC: Freaky.

SHIFT: Yes. Well, I think that’s put me off music for a while. I’m going in.

She stalks into the house.

LYRIC: You’re stalking!

SHIFT: (calling back from the staircase) That’s what you would say!

…………

Inside the Pit, Chronal is back on the computer again. Wraith is actually absent this time (supposedly). Amity and Finesse are playing the Fake-Bear-Alphabet game.

FINESSE: Melodious Bear!

AMITY: Ooh…hmmm. Nutritious Bear!

Enter SHIFT.

SHIFT: Octopus Bear!

FINESSE: Nice one.

There is a sudden Alarm.

CHRONAL: I’ve got something!

FINESSE: No kidding. The alarm was a bit of a clue.

AMITY: What is it?

CHRONAL: New supervillain on the scope. We’ve received this message in from Lightstreak.

He plays a video on one of the many screens.

LIGHTSTREAK: Hello! Got some serious news, I’m afraid. There’s been reports of a supervillain going by the name of Antihero…

WRAITH: Lame.

CHRONAL: Jesus! You made me jump.

FINESSE: You know, we should really call Lyric in on this.

CHRONAL: Ok, let me just pause this.

AMITY: (into a comlink) Lyric, it’s Amity here. Can you come down please? We’ve got a supervillain report.

LYRIC: (from Amity’s comlink): On my way.

Chronal rewinds the message to the beginning.

Enter Lyric.

LYRIC: What’s the situation?

FINESSE: We’re just about to find out.

Chronal plays the film.

LIGHTSTREAK: Hello! Got some serious news, I’m afraid. There’s been reports of a supervillain going by the name of Antihero. He seems to be touring the country and targeting specific superheroes. We’re not sure of exactly what his powerset actually is because no hero has yet returned to tell the tale. From what we know, it is likely that he’ll be heading your way soon. It would fit in with his pattern. I’ve attached all the information we’ve so far been able to collect. I’m sorry about how sketchy most of it is. That’s all we have I’m afraid.

The message cuts out and two little icons pop up. One is labelled Antihero and the other is labelled Shift.

CHRONAL: Do you want me to open your message?

SHIFT: Might as well, it’s probably about Mum’s birthday.

Chronal clicks on the icon.

LIGHTSTREAK: Hello sis! I’m going shopping for Mum’s birthday present this weekend, so give me a call and we’ll synchronise! We don’t want to buy her the same things, do we? And remember what I tell you this time! We don’t want that whole card fiasco all over again! (She looks sternly into the camera) Bye for now!

The message ends.

SHIFT: Fiasco’s a bit strong.

Chronal deletes the message and opens up the one labelled Antihero. Long lists of information stream into the computer.

CHRONAL: Right. I’ll get on with reading all of this and get back to you.

Chronal blurs out of time.

FINESSE: Card fiasco?

SHIFT: Don’t ask.

CHRONAL: Ok. Basically we’ve got a nutter. Officially.

AMITY: That’s not very PC.

CHRONAL: No, but it’s fair. He leaves calling cards, challenging or threatening heroes into duels. And then those heroes are never heard from again.

WRAITH: Lame.

FINESSE: Indeed. So, can we find this loser, or do we have to wait for invitations?

CHRONAL: Hard to say. There really is nothing to go on.

SHIFT: Has anyone actually checked the post today?

They all pause to look at each other.

FINESSE: Apparently not.

CHRONAL: I’ll check.

Chronal disappears and reappears a few inches to the left, his hands full of post.

CHRONAL: Ok everyone, time to check post.

He hands each of them a stack of envelopes. They all start opening letters in a flurry of paper-based activity.

AMITY: Hang on guys, I think I have something.

FINESSE: What is it?

AMITY: It’s an invitation to a charity gala, but something feels… wrong.

SHIFT: You think it’s a trap?

AMITY: Feels like it.

FINESSE: Could be worth checking out. When is this supposed gala?

AMITY: This Saturday from six onwards. It’s an evening event.

LYRIC: Sounds dodgy.

FINESSE: I think we’ll all have to pay it a visit.

SHIFT: Good thinking, B...

FINESSE: Don’t even think about finishing that sentence.

SHIFT: I think not. Ok, let’s put together a plan until then.

CHRONAL: I’ll start a search, see what I can pull up online.

SHIFT: Good. I’ll do the same with some of my contacts.

FINESSE: Or “familiars” as I like to call them.

SHIFT: Whatever, loser.

AMITY: I’ll phone around and see what I can dig up.

FINESSE: If only we knew what his powers were… it would make him so much easier to trace.

SHIFT: Why don’t you look back over the heroes missing-in-action to date? See if there’s a common pattern of types that he targets?

FINESSE: If I could just meet him, I’d know straight away.

WRAITH: What should I do?

SHIFT: Spy mission I think. Time to visit some Dens of Iniquity. Take Lyric with you while you’re at it.

LYRIC: Hey, I don’t like the implication in that statement.

SHIFT: Oh, as if you don’t love Dens of Iniquity. Besides, it’s much safer to use a buddies-system on missions like that.

LYRIC: Buddies system? How old are we again?

SHIFT: Quiet you.

FINESSE: Ok, everyone!

They all look at Finesse.

FINESSE: I think we all have a few ideas as to what we should be doing. I suggest we start getting on with them. Chop chop.

They continue to look at her.

FINESSE: I said, chop chop.

They all scatter except Chronal, who starts typing away furiously. Shift turns into a sparrowhawk and slips through an open window. Amity grabs her phone and skips upstairs to her room. Lyric and Wraith head in the direction of the garage of Super-Amazing Transportation Devices.

FINESSE: Right.

She dusts her hands off and nods with satisfaction. She sits at another terminal connected to Chronal’s maze of screens.

FINESSE: I’m going to be working from here. I may borrow you from time to time.

CHRONAL: Borrow away, leader.

He smiles at her. They both set about their work.

To be continued…

Saturday 21 March 2009

Scribblers, Going Solo - Part Two.

EXT. ZOO - PANDA ENCLOSURE. DAY.


SHIFT is watching a PANDA eat a wadge of Bamboo. She's in PIGEON form and is doing the the twitchy side-ways looking thing that pigeons do. Pigeons are weird.

She flutters over a bit closer and carries on watching the Panda.


SHIFT
As un-Pandas go, you're a pretty UN-Panda.

GARY
Cheers. It's an art form.

SHIFT
What? Being a pointless animal that lives a pointless lifestyle?

GARY
Says the Pigeon.


BAPS, CHIPS and BIN BAGS appear, and flutter down to where Shift is sitting.


BAPS
That un-Panda better not be dissing us.

BIN BAGS
Yeah, you tell him. We'll get all pecky in his face and that.

SHIFT
Be quiet!

CHIPS
Oooh! Hand bags at dawn!

BIN BAGS
What did you say about my mother?

CHIPS
Uh? Nothing?

BIN BAGS
You sure? Sounded awfully like you were dissing my mother.

CHIPS
What's he talking about? I'm lost.

BAPS
His Mam's name is Hand Bags.

CHIPS
Oh. Right.

SHIFT
Seriously!!! Be quiet!!!


Shift transforms back into HUMAN form and the PIGEONS scatter in fear.


BAPS
Oh Gods, she was an un-Pigeon all along!


Shift calms herself.


GARY
Never could stand Pigeons much.

SHIFT
Is that all you've got to say?

GARY
What?

SHIFT
I've just transformed in front of you and all you can do is comment on the pigeons?

GARY
I'm a talking Panda. Very little surprises me.

SHIFT
Point taken.

GARY
You seem a little wound up, you should probably relax a bit more. Take it easy.

SHIFT
I have questions.

GARY
Ah. Questions lead to answers.

SHIFT
Shite philosophy aside, I assume you're reluctant to be interviewed.

GARY
Something like that.

SHIFT
Just one then. Are you like me?

GARY
Insofar as, can I transform? No. I can't.

SHIFT
Oh.

GARY
Sorry. I'm just a talking Panda.

SHIFT
Called Gary.


Gary shrugs.


SHIFT
The name kind of implies you weren't always a Panda.

GARY
What's wrong with a Panda named Gary?

SHIFT
Aren't they normally called Wu and Shu and Pu???

GARY
Probably racist, you know.

SHIFT
Sorry.

GARY
Look love. You can stand there and get irate and ask questions all day, but I'm not really going to tell you the things you want to hear. I'm just a lazy bastard who prefers living like a Panda.


Shift looks downhearted. She really wanted Un-Panda to be cool.


SHIFT
Argh! Fucking anger get!


Shift transforms into an EAGLE and soars into the heavens.


INT. OFFICE. DAY.


The city of Dinas is sprawled beyond enormous floor to ceiling windows. Soaking up the commanding view of the city is a SILHOUETTE, sitting at a desk.

NEMESIS-KUN appears at the door then crosses the space between the door and the desk sheepishly. He's pulling on a jacket and adjusting a tie. He doesn't look very much like a emo Chan lurker any more.

Now he is SECRETARY-KUN.


FEMALE VOICE
Did you get anything?

SECRETARY-KUN
Not really.

FEMALE VOICE
He spends an inordinate amount of time online. Surely he's doing something iffy?!

SECRETARY-KUN
I'm not sure that's how it works.

FEMALE VOICE
Silence!!!


The chair the silhouette is sitting in spins around to reveal FOXGLOVE. She looks nuts.


FOXGLOVE
Do not question my logic! I need something on those Scribblers and I need them a week ago.
(beat)
Literally!

SECRETARY-KUN
Pardon?

FOXGLOVE
You heard me. Find something. Fast. If you can't find anything on the invisible one then try one of the others!


INT. JONES INDUSTRIES - LAB. DAY.


On the outskirts of town, in a secluded woodland is a state of the art bio-development facility.

FINESSE and DOCTOR KAYLEIGH JONES, HEAD OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, are standing in front of a BANK OF CONSOLES surveying their own handiwork.

FINESSE
Damn we're good.

DOCTOR JONES
Oh yeah.

FINESSE
Like, really good.

DOCTOR JONES
Stupidly good.

FINESSE
Bio-degradable carpets.

DOCTOR JONES
Money that literally grows on trees.

FINESSE
Or at least paper.
(beat)
We should probably super-patent that one as soon as.

DOCTOR JONES
Too right. I'm looking forward to a day when money has my face on it.

FINESSE
Right. I think we're going to have to have another chat about who gets to have their faces on money.

DOCTOR JONES
(oblivious and excited)
Oh! And our super-cultured food farms.

FINESSE
Argh. I'd forgotten about our “food that's basically fungus, but tastes nicer (apparently)” plan. Still not sure about that one.


GEOFFREY enters the room. He's dressed in a lab coat and is carrying a box full of SAMPLES.


GEOFFREY
I've got your samples from the poisoned reservoir.

DOCTOR JONES
Excellent. Well done Geoffrey.

FINESSE
Sorry, poisoned reservoir? What-what?

DOCTOR JONES
Didn't you hear about it in the news?

FINESSE
Apparently not. Nobody tells me anything.

DOCTOR JONES
Well, a reservoir got poisoned the other day. Which is awful, obviously. However, it's the latest in a string of poisonings and the like. Arson attacks on farms, polluted rivers, etcetera.

FINESSE
Wow, I am Finesse's barely contained rage.

DOCTOR JONES
Quite.

FINESSE
And what are we doing about it?

DOCTOR JONES
Well, I've been keeping track.


Kayleigh calls up an image on the screen. It's a map of Dinas and its environs.


DOCTOR JONES
At first I thought the attacks were random. Then I made this pretty overlay.


She clicks a button and a load of red MARKERS appear on the screen around the city.


FINESSE
Looks like they're attacking natural resources around the city. How bizarre. I hope to God they don't attack the Hydro-Wave, we spent bloody ages on that.

DOCTOR JONES
I don't think they will. Look at this.


She clicks another button and it calls up a list of places that have been attacked.


DOCTOR JONES
These are the places that have been attacked. And these -
(clicks another button)
are the ones that haven't.

FINESSE
All owned by the same company. Good work Doctor Jones.


She pulls her SCRIBBLERS COMMUNICATOR off her belt.


FINESSE
Calling all Scribblers. Or at the very least some of you. We have a crisis.

WRAITH (V/O)
What, like the world is going to come to an end, all loose ends are going to be tied up and everyone's plotlines are going to be streamlined and a bit more zeitgeisty? Like that kind of crisis?

FINESSE
No Wraith, this is a general crisis. I'm just trying to avoid saying “Scribblers Assemble!”.

LYRIC (V/O)
But we all know you kind of want to say “Scribblers Assemble!”.

FINESSE
Quiet you. I have constant tampering.

LYRIC (V/O)
Fair enough.

FINESSE
Seriously though. I'm talking eco-terrorism. And you all know that's my least favourite form of terrorism.


Finesse puts her communicator away, a little wound up.

In the background Geoffrey trips over his own feet causing a farcical sequence of mouse-trap style disaster.

BANG! CRASH! WHALLOP! ETC!


FINESSE
God dammit Geoffrey!!!


EXT. ROOFTOP. DAY.


LYRIC is sitting on top of a gargoyle looking out over the city. In his hands is a small Moleskine notebook. He's looking contemplative and self-absorbed.


ZIMBARDO (O/S)
Lyric.

LYRIC
You know sinister exposition of names is never sinister, it just makes you sound like a Power Rangers villain.

ZIMBARDO (O/S)
So you say.

LYRIC
I do. Can I help you?

REVEAL: ZIMBARDO sitting on another gargoyle not too far away, his coat flapping in the breeze.


ZIMBARDO
Does the name Marionette ring any bells?

LYRIC
Are you the creepy P.I. from the Hare Krishna charity den?

ZIMBARDO
She was brutally murdered. By a Cape.

LYRIC
You know I don't have a cape, yeah?

ZIMBARDO
I'm interviewing everyone.

LYRIC
Did the person who did the murdering wear a cape? If so, you should probs start with those Heroes.

ZIMBARDO
Hang on. I'm not allowed to use the term Cape, but you're allowed to call yourself a Hero?

LYRIC
Ergh...

ZIMBARDO
What are you writing?


Lyric hastily puts the notebook away.


ZIMBARDO
“Turbine physics”?

LYRIC
Damn, that's good eyesight.

ZIMBARDO
Are you writing a book of instructions?
(beat)
Lyrics, if you will?


Lyric blushes.


LYRIC
Something like that.

ZIMBARDO
And you want to create something with turbines? Ambitious.

LYRIC
Weren't you trying to ask me about a murder?

ZIMBARDO
Oh yeah. You don't happen to have a set of claws that you use, perchance? I know you have a sword.

LYRIC
You're an idiot.

ZIMBARDO
But she was mauled!


Lyric leaps off the gargoyle.


LYRIC (O/S)
(muted)
Stop!


There's a bang and crash below.


INT. DA PIT. LATER.


Lyric gets back to the Pit.

Something is wrong. His instincts are pricked. He pulls YSTRYDEBOL out of her scabbard. Lo and behold, it's GLOWING.

He walks across the central living space to where two figures are hunched. It's really dingy, he can't see much beyond the glow.

CHRONAL sits up suddenly.


CHRONAL
Aha! You're back.

LYRIC
Gods man, what are you doing?

CHRONAL
A load of Goons attacked Amity and I on our way back from the park.

LYRIC
Oh.
(beat)
So you brought one back here?


Lyric looks down at the comatose form of a GOON. AMITY sits up.


AMITY
Yup!

CHRONAL
He didn't register on the Scribble-corder database.

AMITY
We'll let him go when we're finished.

LYRIC
You make him sound like a trapped butterfly. What if he wakes up?

CHRONAL
He won't. Time bubble. Too complicated to exposit.

LYRIC
Okay. What have you learned then?

CHRONAL
His equipment doesn't register on the Goon database and neither does he - so we've done some digging. The equipment's all privately manufactured.

LYRIC
Not even Sintarro bothers manufacturing his own Goon equipment.

AMITY
Quite. The interesting thing is the fact that he isn't a member of Goon-ion. He's actually a docker.


Chronal and Lyric snigger. Amity ignores them.


AMITY
Lost his job four months ago. Imports have dried up. No work.

CHRONAL
Which means, someone's employing their own little private army of disenfranchised dockers. Haha.


The door of the pit slams open and FINESSE appears.


FINESSE
Verily, 'tis Assembled!
(beat)
Hang on, where are Wraith and Shift?


Wraith appears out of thin air on the sofa eating a flapjack.


WRAITH
Miaow.

FINESSE
Whatever.

AMITY
How long have you been there?

WRAITH
Ages.

AMITY
Oh.


Finesse wanders over to the wall and pokes the eyes of a bronze owl. The wall instantly opens up to reveal a bank of computers.

She tip-taps away on a keyboard.


FINESSE
Rightio folks. This is footage from the dam where the last poisoning attack took place.

CHRONAL
When was this?

FINESSE
Last week. When we were on the Hydro-wave, speaching and that.

CHRONAL
Cheers.


He wanders off.


LYRIC
What's the plan then wuss?

FINESSE
Don't call me “wuss”.

LYRIC
Sorry 'ard.

FINESSE
Cease and desist!

AMITY
Do we know her?


AMITY looks at the screen where Foxglove can clearly be seen on the edge of the dam overlooking the water.


FINESSE
New one. Chronal will want to start a new file.

AMITY
Goodness, there's another one.


PATHOS appears on the screen.


WRAITH (O/S)
Er. Guys. You know giant Japanese style dinosaurs don't exist. Right?

FINESSE
What?

WRAITH
Well, there's one outside.


Finesse, Wraith, Amity and Lyric look out of the window.

Lo and behold, stomping around the bay is a GODZILLA-like dinosaur thing.

There's a SWIRLY-WIRLY WOOSHING behind them which nobody notices thanks to the Godzilla-like distraction.


FINESSE
Oh great. It's Shift.

WRAITH
She looks Giga-annoyed.

FINESSE
Fab. That's all we need. Where's Chronal gone?

AMITY
Err...


Amity is pointing at the screen.

Chronal is standing next to Pathos and Foxglove on the screen.


FINESSE
What on earth - ?


EXT. YSTRAD DAM. LAST WEEK.


RECAP:

FOXGLOVE
Is it done?

PATHOS
Yes, mistress.

FOXGLOVE
Excellent.


She tips the poison into the water of the dam.

Overhead, stormclouds are brewing.

Pathos appears behind her.


FOXGLOVE
Let's go. I've got to go and see a Panda about a loan.

CHRONAL (O/S)
I wouldn't bother. Pandas are rubbish.


REVEAL: Chronal, looking heroic and holding a green, techy WAND. Behind him is a swirly-wirly door of ENERGY.


FOXGLOVE
A Scribbler? How did you know we'd be here?

CHRONAL
(waves dissmissively)
Timey-wimey. Now. Because my hi-tech gizmo has just drained my batteries, this is going to have to be very low-tech.


Chronal runs forward and pushes Pathos over. He then dashes over to Foxglove and pulls her mask off.


CHRONAL
Yoink!


It's SAMANTHA SEDGE. The new Mayor.


FOXGLOVE
Argh!!!

CHRONAL
Argh!!!
(beat)
Glad I didn't vote for you!


INT. DA PIT. NOW.


There's a swirly wirly WHOOSHING as CHRONAL re-appears in the room.


CHRONAL
Da-na-na-naaaaa!!! Plot twist get.

FINESSE
What?

CHRONAL
Sedge is the villain.

AMITY
The Mayor?

CHRONAL
Oh yeah.

FINESSE
Never trust a woman called Samantha.

CHRONAL
The wonders of me!!!


Chronal waves his wand around.


WRAITH
What's that? Like, Time Wang or something?

CHRONAL
Time and Space Wang, more like! Opens doors. It's pretty bitchin'.

FINESSE
I can't believe you just dashed through a time door and pulled off her mask. It's so...

CHRONAL
Brilliant?

LYRICS
Surely masks are an un-written rule. You don't pull off masks.

CHRONAL
Needs must.
(beat)
Why's there a dinosaur in the bay?

WRAITH
Shift's blowing off steam.

CHRONAL
Where has she been all this time? I haven't seen her in ages.

FINESSE
Says the man who spends his time in a Duck Lair!

CHRONAL
Touché.

LYRIC
There's only one problem with going back in time to solve the plot.

AMITY
Oh dear.

CHRONAL
Yup. She's spent a week knowing about this and is probably fairly annoyed.

WRAITH
FAIL.

FINESSE
Which probably means she has some kind of plan. Great, I hate plans which aren't mine. Or ours. I meant ours.


EXT. DINAS BAY.


Clouds darken overhead in a clear example of pathetic fallacy.

Shift roars into the sky.


To be continued...

Digital paintingz!


Friday 13 March 2009

Scribblers: Deviations

EXT. IOREK AVENUE. DAY.


It's a beautiful day in Dinas City. The sun is shining, everyone's out for a nice walk in the park.


High above the trees and the road, sitting along a telephone wire are a flock of PIGEONS.


CHIPS

... AND, as I have been saying all along, the only way to outwit a cat is by full-scale attack. Shock and awe tactics. It's the only way.


BIN BAG

It's a travesty that it's come to this though. Stealing food from cats?! It's absurd. I've never a seen a city this clean before. My Aunt Chip Fat from down Pentref way gets fed. By a lady in the park, no less.


BAPS

I remember the days when we'd flock down to the statue around midday and get fed. There's nothing like the taste of stale bread. Now we've got to make do with loitering around the back of PaddyBurger. And everyone knows I don't like leprechauns.


Baps shudders.


BIN BAG

There, there.


CHIPS

It's all this new Mayor's fault. Blinking 'Clean Up Dinas', my tail feathers!


Baps starts to laugh uncontrollably.


CHIPS

Are you okay?


Baps stops laughing enough to stammer...


BAPS

We'll have to stage a Coo!


Baps begins laughing so much that she chokes and falls off the wire, plummetting in a frenzy of feathers.


SHIFT (O/S)

Wow, that's an awful pun. You should meet my friend Lyric.


SHIFT, in pigeon form, lands delicately on the wire and settles down next to the others.


BIN BAG

Hey. How's tricks?


SHIFT

Not too bad. I've just spent the last half hour wrestling a stray dog for a Caesar Salad though.


CHIPS

Nasty.


SHIFT

In the end it got confiscated by a Clean Up Patroller.


BIN BAG

Sounds familiar.


SHIFT

I'm starving now.


CHIPS

Arg. We should go and attack some cats.


SHIFT

Pardon?


BIN BAG

It's nothing. We've been discussing the merrits of guerilla food-runs.


SHIFT

Oh.


Baps flutters back onto the wire.


BAPS

Did someone say Gorrillas?


SHIFT

'Guerrilla'.


BAPS

Are they like Spanish Gorrillas or something?


SHIFT

Wow. You're on fire.


BAPS

Shit! Where?


BIN BAGS

Gorrillas... hmmm.


SHIFT

Feeder line much?


BIN BAGS

What? Sorry. Miles away. The Gorrillas get fed around about htis time of day, don't they?


SHIFT

What Gorrillas?


CHIPS

The one's in the park zoo.


SHIFT

Hang on. You aren't suggesting we try and steal food from Gorrillas, are you?


BIN BAGS

Needs must, I'm afraid. Look. I'm not saying it's a good idea, necessarily.


BAPS

I don't like bananas though.


SHIFT

They don't just eat bananas.


CHIPS

But unless they eat stale bread, Baps isn't really going to be interested.


BAPS

Hey, we could drop by and see Un-Panda while we're there. He's always game for a laugh!


SHIFT

Sorry, Un-Panda?


BAPS

He's this guy we know. Looks like a Panda, lives like a Panda but chategorically isn't a Panda.


SHIFT

How do you know that?


BAPS

Says his real name's Gary.



EXT. PARK ZOO - DUCK SANCTUARY. LATER.



A flock of pigeons flutters overhead.


Below, FINESSE, is walking through the network of ponds and streams. Around her, to-ing and fro-ing are buggerloads of DUCKS.


In the centre of the maze of Ducks is a shed. She walks over and taps on the door.



INT. DUCK SANTUARY SHED. NEXT.


Finesse opens the door gently to reveal a staircase.


CHRONAL (O/S)

Come on down!


INT. CHRONAL'S SECRET LAIR. NEXT.


Finesse descends the stairs. At the bottom the space opens out to reveal a CAVERN filled with scientific equipment, curios and gadgets. On the walls are pictures of ducks.


FINESSE

How did you know it was me?


CHRONAL

You have a very distinctive knock.


Chronal is sitting at a workbench fiddling with something elaborate and sciency-looking. Leaning against the wall in the corner of the room is a stout, wooden DOOR.


CHRONAL

You also have very distinctive knocke-


FINESSE

Utter another word and I'll trap you in a time loop.


Chronal smiles and pulls off his sciency goggles.


CHRONAL

Time to rejoin the real world yet?


FINESSE

Not necessarily. I just wanted to remind you about the opening of the Hydro-Wave tomorrow.


CHRONAL

How's the speech coming along?


FINESSE

Not too bad. Can't say I'm the biggest fan of bombastic rhetoric, but it's necessary. We have to send a clear message.


CHRONAL

True.


FINESSE

I've got a copy if you have time to glance over it.


CHRONAL

I've always got time. Especially for you.


FINESSE

Correct answer.


Finesse gives Chronal the SPEECH and he blinks.


He hands it back.


CHRONAL

Nice. Very sincere. I like the bit about responsibility. Sounds appropriate. Works on levels, you know.


FINESSE

Yes, I like that bit too.


Chronal leans across the table and lifts up a long PARCEL.


CHRONAL

Could you give this to Lyric, if you see him?


FINESSE

Aha! This would be the new sword?


CHRONAL

Re-forged, in a manner of speaking, by yours truly. I've added some special features. After that run-in with Eraser I thought he could do with something a little more permanent.


Chronal wiggles his fingers.


CHRONAL

Sometimes I think these hands have a mind of their own. Since they were grown back I've had so many ideas.


FINESSE

It's an age-old pattern. Man loses hands, man has hands grown back, man builds fortress of solitude, man builds secret things.


CHRONAL

(grins)

They won't be secret for much longer.


FINESSE

Good. Because the suspense is killing me.



EXT. PARK. DAY.



AMITY is sitting on a picnic blanket, surrounded by a group of people. All are munching on pita bread and hummus. Oh, and there are flasks of tea.


AMITY

(to the group)

I think we'll wrap up for this week. Thank you all for coming. It's been lovely talking to you.


The group leaves, talking softly to one another.


Amity starts to pack up the picnic.


A shadow passes over her and she looks up.


DAVE

Hello. Hope I'm not invading your personal space.


AMITY

No, you're fine.


She stands up. Dave is mid-twenties, tall and slightly blank-looking. He's wringing his hands.


AMITY

Is there anything I can help you with?


DAVE

I'm not sure.


AMITY

Strange, I can't read you.


DAVE

That may be the autism.


AMITY

Possibly.

(beat)

I didn't see you ealier. In the group.


DAVE

I was watching, from over there. People find me unnerving.


AMITY

Oh. You should have joined us. We're all here to help each other.


DAVE

As I understand it, you are here to help us.


AMITY

Yes, well. It's a bit more complicated than that.


DAVE

I was told it had something to do with ego.


AMITY

(bristling)

Yes, well. Was there anything specific you wanted help with?


DAVE

The emotions. How do you cope, when you're overwhelmed?


AMITY

Experience, I suppose. Sometimes it's euphoric, sometimes it's terrifying.


DAVE

How do you put it all to one side? How do you move on?


AMITY

Now you're invading my personal space.


Dave takes a step back.


DAVE

I apologise.

AMITY

Look. It seems to me you're trying to wrap your mind around something abstract. Emotions are an intimate experience.


DAVE

Intimacy...


He looks at her intently.


AMITY

Look. It sounds you need some specific help. These sessions were only ever meant to be general.


DAVE

Oh.


Amity, feeling uncomfortable.


AMITY

Maybe I can put you in contact with a colleague -


DAVE

Like I said. Unnerving.



INT. 'THE CENTRE FOR LIMINAL ABODE' - DOWNTOWN. LATER.



Wraith is standing in line with a ladle. Around him, helping him serve food, are HARE-KRISHNAS.


One of the Hare Krishnas appears behind him and speaks softly in his ear.


HARRY

Now. Any more questions?


WRAITH

I think I get it. Homeless people come in and we serve them food. Job done. Phone soon.


HARRY

Yes, well. No need to be sarcastic.


WRAITH

Soz.


HARRY the Hare Krishna walks off looking a bit grumpy.


The homeless people start to stream in through the doors, moving listlessly towards the food counter.


Wraith starts slopping creamed potatoes onto trays as the homeless people pass.


One man, dressed in a long brown coat and a bowler hat stops.


ZIMBARDO

They told me you'd be here.


WRAITH

And you are?


Zimbardo pulls out a photo and waves it in front of him.


ZIMBARDO

Have you seen this Cape?


WRAITH

What's a Cape?


ZIMBARDO

A hero. Super-powered, traditionally.


WRAITH

No.


ZIMBARDO

Oh.

(beat)

You sure?


WRAITH

Don't know him.


ZIMBARDO

It's a woman. In drag.


WRAITH

Oh.


ZIMBARDO

She often gets confused as a man.


WRAITH

Sounds familiar.

(beat)

Look. Start making sense or I'm going to coat you in potato mush.


ZIMBARDO

Her name's Marionnette, she was murdered in Prif a week ago.


WRAITH

And this has something to do with me... why?


ZIMBARDO

I'm investigating her murder. I thought I'd question all the Capes first.


WRAITH

For the record, I'm not a 'Cape'. Do you see a cape anywhere? Only Goloids wear capes.


ZIMBARDO

I'll be in touch.


Zimbardo stalks off mysteriously.


The next tramp holds up his tray.


The tramp is a floppy-haired emo type with skinny-fit jeans and a scruffy t-shirt. He doesn't look very homeless.


NEMESIS-KUN

'Sup OP?


WRAITH

Pardon?


NEMESIS-KUN

You are Wraith, yes? THE Wraith? LOLZ this is so sweet.


WRAITH

Sweet Christ it's like a fairground in here.

(beat)

You aren't from the Chans are you?


NEMESIS-KUN

Yeah OP! I'm Nemesis-Kun. The infamous.


WRAITH

Hang about, you're that camwhore who was dissing me!


NEMESIS-KUN

Yeah guy! I'm your number one fan.


WRAITH

Hang on. You're my fan? But you were perma-banned. I'm talking b. a. n. d. banned! That counts in real too, you know!


NEMESIS-KUN

Tracked you down man. I needed to meet you in person.


WRAITH

I'm glad you did. Because now I'm going to break your legs.


NEMESIS-KUN

You're so funny. I love it when you say aggro shit like that. You sound just like my Mom.


Wraith screams.


Then he hurls potato mush in Nemesis-Kun's face.



EXT. ROOFTOPS. NIGHT.



Lyric is sitting on a rooftop ledge overlooking the city. In his lap is an open copy of Grey's Anatomy.


Under his breath he's reading out lists of ligaments and tendons.


Below, a BIKE pulls into an alley.


Lyric looks down. It's Finesse.


He closes the book and jumps off the ledge.


When he's a foot a away from the ground he shouts -


LYRIC

Stop!


There's a sonic-boom like noise and a cloud of dirt.


FINESSE

Swish.


LYRIC

Yeah, well. At least it didn't break my legs.


FINESSE

I'd never have thought 'stop' would work.


LYRIC

Gets the job done. It's often the simplest words that are the most effective. Precision and conscise-ness-iosity are key.


FINESSE

Right.


She pulls something off the back of the bike.


FINESSE

Chronal wanted to give you this.


LYRIC

I take it he's still doing the 'evil genius' thing.


FINESSE

Yes. Much like you're doing the 'broody rooftop prowler' thing.


LYRIC

Touché.


Finesse tears the brown paper off the sword and hands it to him.


FINESSE

Chronal said he'd tweaked it.


LYRIC

Yup. He's put a timey-wimey hex on it. It exists a micro-second out of synch with the rest of the universe. Means Eraser can't erase it.


FINESSE

Wow. Woolly technobabble aside, how are you?


LYRIC

Better. Working on my biology. I wan't to be able to use my powers to heal.


FINESSE

Makes sense. Remember. My party is tomorrow?


LYRIC

The hydra-thingy?


FINESSE

Yes. The hydra-thingy. You're either there or you're on borrowed time.


LYRIC

Loud and clear.


FINESSE

In other news, why's the sword glowing?


LYRIC

New feature number two: glows when goons are nearby. Oh, and her name's Ystrydebol.


FINESSE

Give me mercy.


At this point, GOONS appear from nowhere, dressed in Ninja outfits and wielding clubs.


The Goons try their hardest but they aren't much of a match for Finesse and Lyric.


When the brief encounter is over Finesse leans over one of the guards.


LYRIC

Professionals?


FINESSE

Not a shred of evidence to connect them with anyone.


LYRIC

Odd. Normally they're all ordered from Goons dot com, aren't they?


FINESSE

Indeed. Though nowadays everything's so clean I expect the Mayor has clamped down on goons for hire based shenanigans.


LYRIC

Still feeling iffy about endorsing one of Sedge's little projects.


FINESSE

I don't like her. I'll be honest. But I like the Hydro-Wave.


Finesse looks uncomfortable.


FINESSE

I'm going back to the Pit. Keep your eyes peeled.


She walks over to the bike.


LYRIC

How do you like the Trans-bike?


FINESSE

It's no Trans-jet, but it'll do. To be honest, it's a bit side-kicky. On the subject of which - got yourself a boy-bitch yet?


LYRIC

No such luck.



EXT. HYDRO-WAVE. DAY.



The Scribblers are lined up on the enormous HYDRO-WAVE barrier. A tidal power generator in the bay around Dinas. It's huge.


Finesse is standing at the podium next to SAMANTHA SEDGE, the new Mayor of Dinas.


SEDGE

Today sees a significant step forward in our city's development. This Hydro-Wave is a technological and environmental tour-de-force. The power it will generate will be more than enough to power the city, so much so that we'll be one step closer to becoming truly self-sufficient. We don't need outsiders to protect our interests. We are fully capable of being responsible for ourselves.

(beat)

Now, I would like to introduce Finesse, of the Scribblers.


There's a ripple of applause.


Finesse steps up to the podium.


FINESSE

This technology is a landmark. Investment in environmentally friendly technology is an investment in our future. Responsibility is a bit of a super-hero buzzword, but in reality it applies to everyone.



INT. YSTRAD DAM - SECURITY ROOM. LATER.



A tv in the corner is showing highlights of the speeches - Finesse is still mid-flow.


FINESSE (V/O)

... We have a responsibility to protect each other and a responsibility to preserve what we value. Super-heroes protect the people from harm, from super-villains, from super threats. But we can all protect each other by investing in this kind of technology.


GUARD 1

Turn that crap off.


The tv goes blank.


GUARD 2

Hey! I was watching that! That Finesse, she's a real hotty!


GUARD 1

You think? I prefer the one who turns into animals.


GUARD 3

You would. Pervert.


Mid bawdy conversation the doors of the security room burst open and a man in a supervillain costume strides in. It's a black one piece which hides his face.


PATHOS

Good evening gentlemen.


He holds out his arms and the room goes cold. The Guards look as if they're having their souls sucked out.


The guards gasp and then their faces go blank. Pathos's costume changes colour, shifting from black to blue.


Pathos shudders with energy.


PATHOS

Wondrous naughty, gentlemen. Which way is the dam control room?


The guards point, blank-faced at the next door.


PATHOS

Thank you.



EXT. DAM WALL. LATER.



Standing on the edge of the dam is a woman in a purple supervillain costume. In her hand is a vial of, what we can comfortably assume is, poison.


FOXGLOVE

Is it done?


PATHOS

Yes, mistress.


FOXGLOVE

Excellent.


She tips the poison into the water of the dam.


Overhead, stormclouds are brewing.


Pathos appears behind her.


FOXGLOVE

Let's go. I've got to go and see a Panda about a loan.


The two walk back across the dam as lightning flashes in the distance.




To be continued...

Tuesday 10 March 2009

Scribblers: Vignettes

So, I thought I'd just write a series of these, as they occur to me. If I remember to actually do them they'll mostly be about just small moments in the Scribblers' lives, done in prose rather than script. The tone in each will probably differ wildly, but there we are. Other people should feel free to add to these.




It was a friendship forged almost out of necessity, really. Her mother was Allergic to animals and so wouldn't have them in the house; therefore the first time Shift ever absorbed the genetic sequence of another creature it was both accidental and a squirrel in a complicated anecdote involving the playground antics of Year Nines. Fortunately, no one else was around when the shock of suddenly having the excess DNA caused Shift to spontaneously transform both body and mind and scamper wildly up the nearest tree to tremble and think about acorns except Finesse, so the biggest headache was averted right there. Unfortunately, Finesse's own powers were still unrefined at the time, and she required physical contact to activate them. Saving Shift, therefore, became an entertainingly complicated ordeal in which Finesse had to rather hurriedly refine her tree-climbing powers, and ultimately both were only saved by the pile of gym mats Finesse had wisely thought to place beneath the tree.


Ultimately both learned the fine details of their powers, but the friendship stuck anyway. Shift was somehow immune to the usual tinnitus people developed after listening to Finesse's opinion on something, while Finesse's ears seemed somehow permanently attuned to the uniquely quiet wavelengths of Shift's voice. It was a working system.


Also they were united by their theory that the school was being run by a terrorist cell posing as the Deputy Heads, a theory that was erroneously dismissed until its tragic conclusion a few years later. Conjoined smugness makes a wonderful glue for friendship.

Wednesday 4 March 2009

Scribblers: Missing

Scribblers
"Missing"

by Steffan Alun

1 EXT. ARDEN INDUSTRIES – Day 2. 1200. 1

Big, intimidating tower, ARDEN INDUSTRIES written in a flashy, corporate logo, with the subtitle CREATING A BETTER WORLD. In a business area, all skyscrapers, suits and expensive cars.

CUT TO:

2 INT. ARDEN SECURITY – Day 2. 1200. 2

An airport-style security room, with a conveyor belt and metal detector. Three SECURITY GUARDS – including head of security, ROKER - are checking AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH, who are in costume, Amity carrying a rucksack. Lyric has already been checked in, and is using his communicator.

LYRIC
We've just arrived.

INTERCUT WITH:

3 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1200. 3

Room full of computers and filing cabinets and large, open windows. CHRONAL and SHIFT are working at the computers, with FINESSE surveying.

FINESSE
Great. Should be easy enough. Mr Arden's a good guy, but he's a real businessman.

LYRIC
We've got Amity. She should be able to help us out.

FINESSE
He's got government backing, Lyric. He knows all about Amity.

LYRIC
Hey, it's diplomacy. This is her gig.

Wraith has been checked through, but one of the guards is holding a black SCI-FI DEVICE, like a barcode scanner.

ROKER
I'll need to take your powers away while you're in the building.

WRAITH
What? No.

ROKER
We have no means of ensuring that you're not smuggling anything in.

Wraith looks livid. He nods, however, and Roker holds up the device. It flashes red. Wraith holds his hand in front of his face for a moment.

WRAITH
This really sucks.

Amity has now been led in.

ROKER
You too, I'm afraid.

AMITY
You can't! I really need my power. It's like ... eyesight.

ROKER
Believe me, if your eyesight could influence our director's emotions, we'd blindfold you.

Amity looks from Lyric – embarassed, unsure where to look - to Wraith – still trying to makes his hand invisible. She lowers her head.

AMITY
Alright.

The device flashes again, and she gasps.

ROKER
Now. Follow me.

He leads them into the building. Amity's shivering, and Lyric places an arm around her as they walk.

CUT TO:

4 INT. MR ARDEN'S OFFICE – Day 2. 1215. 4

A large boardroom with an oval table. MR ARDEN – 60s, black, expensive suit and red shirt – is sat with a briefcase. AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH are led inside by ROKER. Mr Arden stands.

MR ARDEN
Scribblers! What a surprise. My secretary tells me nothing.

He shakes hands with the three of them in turn. Roker stands back, manning the door, as the others sit.

LYRIC
Did you get a chance to check over our request?

MR ARDEN
Request?
(realisation)
Penny. She really is appalling. I must have her replaced.

AMITY
(shakily)
Our offer's very generous. I've got a copy to hand ...

She opens her rucksack and retrieves a document. Her hands are shaking. She hands it over.

MR ARDEN
Are you alright, Amity?

AMITY
(snappily)
I'm fine. Considering.

WRAITH
What's the point of this anti-powers rule, then?

MR ARDEN
We develop technologies for superheroes. Needless to say, we're a very visible target for criminals.

He flicks through the proposals. A lot of pages.

MR ARDEN
I'll need time to read over these. Shall I pencil you in for next week?

LYRIC
Mate, we sent you these two weeks ago.

AMITY
Look, Mr Arden, we've been using the Trans-Jet a lot lately, and we really need more tech support. We love what you're doing here, and I know eco-friendly cars for civilians are just as important as superhero kits, but we've made time to be here today.

MR ARDEN
Trust me, I truly understand the importance of your work –

A siren! The lights turn red.

MR ARDEN
What the devil?

All four stand up. ROKER jumps into action.

ROKER
Down into the cellar. Follow me.

He marches out again. Mr Arden follows, with his briefcase, along with Wraith. Lyric waits for Amity, but she motions him ahead.

AMITY
I'm fine.

LYRIC
You've lost your powers. I can help you.

AMITY
You can help yourself.

He nods, and marches on. Amity takes a deep breath, and follows confidently.

CUT TO:

5 INT. ARDEN SECURITY – Day 2. 1225. 5

Siren and red light here too. MR ARDEN and ROKER pass through, with AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH behind them.

MR ARDEN
What's going on exactly?

ROKER
No idea. We're trying to locate where the alarm was set off.

WRAITH
Could be a false alarm or something.

AMITY
That'd be nice.

CUT TO:

6 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1230. 6

A large room, like an underground ballroom, full of EXECS and BUSINESSMEN, and the two other SECURITY GUARDS from Scene 1, all pacing, jabbering. Panic. ROKER leads MR ARDEN inside, and AMITY, LYRIC and WRAITH follow.

MR ARDEN
If we could follow standard procedure ...

The sound dies down as they line up by department.

MR ARDEN
Alright, Penny – have you got the staff roster?

He looks at the crowd. All nicely lined up.

MR ARDEN
Penny?

AMITY
She must still be inside.

MR ARDEN
We'll have to wait now. We need to wait for the all-clear.

AMITY
She might be in trouble. I'll go and find her.

LYRIC
No! I mean no offense or anything, but without your powers, you're just a civilian. And it's worse for you, because you're not used to it. I'm the only one here with powers.

WRAITH
Think we're the only ones on the team?

He turns on his communicator.

WRAITH
Finesse? Can you hear me?

INTERCUT WITH:

7 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1231. 7

FINESSE receives the call, with SHIFT and CHRONAL still working in the background.

FINESSE
Wraith? What is it?

WRAITH
Siren's just gone off in the building. Can you find out what's wrong?

FINESSE
Leave it to us.

She turns off the communicator, and turns to face the others.

FINESSE
Chronal. Can you check on Arden Industries?

Chronal starts typing.

CHRONAL
What am I looking for?

FINESSE
I'm not sure. Wraith just said a siren went off ...

CHRONAL
That's strange. Some of the cameras are down ...
(frown)
All of them. Every CCTV in the area. There's no feed.

SHIFT
Have you tried checking a satellite feed?

CHRONAL
Doing it.

CUT TO:

8 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1232. 8

LYRIC is pacing, MR ARDEN keeping up with him. AMITY's looking concerned, WRAITH has sat in a corner.

LYRIC
We need Amity and Wraith repowered. Have we got any of those devices down here?

MR ARDEN
Gentlemen?

He looks at the SECURITY GUARDS, who shake their heads.

LYRIC
What about designs? Patents?

Mr Arden opens his briefcase, searching through papers.

MR ARDEN
I think so. Here.

Lyric takes them, and reads them carefully.

MR ARDEN
But what good are they?

AMITY
Lyric can only influence what he understands. If he knows how the devices work, he might be able to undo what they did.

LYRIC
They're complicated.

MR ARDEN
State of the art.

AMITY
I'm going back up.

They turn to look at her.

AMITY
If the secretary's still up there – if anyone's still up there. I can't be here.

WRAITH
We're no good, Amity. We're useless.

AMITY
Why? Because we haven't got powers? We've got to help them. I'm going.

She turns, and walks off. Wraith follows.

WRAITH
Hang on. At least wait until we hear back from Finesse.

CUT TO:

9 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1234. 9

FINESSE and SHIFT are looking at a map of the city on a large monitor.

SHIFT
We wait and see what Chronal finds. Then we go, if we need to.

FINESSE
But it could be anything. Fire alarm, burglar alarm ...

SHIFT
We'll be fine. We've got the upper hand. Half the team's already on the site.

FINESSE
Thanks.
(beat)
Just ... My first mission as leader didn't go so well.

SHIFT
Don't be stupid. That's no reflection on you.

Finesse smiles.

CHRONAL
Finesse. You need to see this.

Finesse crosses over to CHRONAL at the computer. On the monitor, an aerial image of the business area in Scene 1, the south of the city. Zooming, sharpening.

CHRONAL
I know it's still blurry. But it looks like ...

FINESSE
It can't be.

CUT TO:

10 INT. ARDEN STAIRCASE – Day 2. 1235. 10

AMITY marching up the stairs, WRAITH following.

WRAITH
I swear, Amity, if you get us killed, I'll be properly annoyed.

AMITY
And how will you feel if half the building's staff die while three superheroes hide in the cellar?

WRAITH
I'm not a superhero without powers!

AMITY
So, powers are all that make you a hero?

WRAITH
Yes!

We stay with Wraith as Amity walks up the stairs, out of the cellar, and out of shot.

AMITY OOV
Good God.

WRAITH
What is it?

He chases up after her.

CUT TO:

11 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1236. 11

FINESSE and SHIFT watching CHRONAL's monitor.

SHIFT
What am I looking at?

CHRONAL
There. That's where they've gone.

He points at an empty block of soil.

SHIFT
But – where's the building?

CUT TO:

12 EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT – Day 2. 1236. 12

WRAITH joins AMITY, walking out of the stairwell and into a large, empty rectangle of soil.

AMITY
It's gone. The whole building. Just gone.

Wide shot – the empty space among the skyscrapers.

CUT TO:

13 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1240. 13

FINESSE is talking on her communicator, CHRONAL still by the computer.

FINESSE
You're sure it's not just invisible?
(beat)
I'll be in touch. Bye.

She turns around to see SHIFT enter; she's wearing an armoured version of her costume.

FINESSE
What are you doing?

SHIFT
I'm going to the site.

FINESSE
We'll all go once Chronal's finished scanning the area.

SHIFT
We can't. We've just lost the Arden Building. You know what that means – if the Trans-Jet is damaged, no replacement parts.

FINESSE
Damn. Of course. Alright. You get there as fast as you can. We'll do what we can from here.

SHIFT
Make sure you check personnel records. The siren went off several minutes before the building disappeared.

FINESSE
Someone knew it was going to happen. Good point. We'll check. Good luck.

Shift runs for an open window and dives out. Seconds later, a PEREGRINE FALCON shoots into the distance.

CUT TO:

14 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1245. 14

LYRIC sitting on the floor, PAGES of designs laid around him. Absorbing every detail.

WRAITH approaches, and sits near him.

LYRIC
I thought you'd gone to look for the secretary.

WRAITH
I can't do anything.

LYRIC
I know the feeling.

WRAITH
You can take anything.

LYRIC
An entire building's disappeared. I don't know what's done this, but I doubt very much I can take it.

He picks up one of the pages.

LYRIC
Best thing I can do now is concentrate on getting you and Amity back in action.

CUT TO:

15 EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT – Day 2. 1246. 15

AMITY walking around the buildings surrounding the empty space. Feeling the walls; constantly touching things.

Spots somethng up above –

- an empty metal frame, a CCTV camera missing from it.

A PEREGRINE FALCON swoops down, transforming into SHIFT.

AMITY
Shift!

SHIFT
How's it going?

AMITY
I'm still trying to make sense of it. It's so weird. It's not like they blew it up or something. It's like they just took it.

SHIFT
Did you feel anyone preparing themselves for it? We think it might be an inside job.

Amity avoids eye contact. Concentrates on the walls.

AMITY
I didn't notice anything.

SHIFT
Right.
(beat)
Because you'd have noticed someone preparing to steal a building.

AMITY
Yes.

SHIFT
And thinking about it, you were surprised to see me. Like you didn't already know I was coming.

Amity turns slowly. Caught.

AMITY
They de-powered me when I arrived.

SHIFT
Then you can't be out here!

AMITY
Yes I can. If I had no powers, I'd be helping anyway.

SHIFT
You're not expendable, Amity. If something happens to you, we lose our only ...

She frowns. Transforms into a BLOODHOUND. Sniffs.

AMITY
What is it?

The bloodhound dashes onwards, sniffing as she goes. Amity follows.

CUT TO:

16 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1250. 16

CHRONAL is typing at the computer.

CHRONAL
Finesse?

FINESSE marches over.

CHRONAL
Shift was right. We've got an insider.

FINESSE
Who is it?

CHRONAL
Penny Parker. She's the secretary. She has all the appropriate clearance, even an advanced CRB check, and you know how thorough Mr Arden is.

FINESSE
But she's a fake?

CHRONAL
Penny Parker doesn't exist. These details aren't real.

FINESSE
Mr Arden didn't notice.

CHRONAL
I know. She can't be an amateur. She's got resources.

FINESSE
(on her comm)
Shift? You were right. The secretary's the insider.

CUT TO:

17 INT. OFFICE CORRIDOR – Day 2. 1251. 17

SHIFT, human, and AMITY are walking through a brightly-lit grey corridor. Shift whispers thoughout.

SHIFT
I think I've found where she's hiding.

FINESSE V.O.
She had a hiding place prepared?

SHIFT
Oh, yes.

INTERCUT WITH:

18 EXT. CAR PARK – Day 2. 1251. 18

An abandoned car park, covered in graffiti. In the middle, a BUILDING, the size of a Center Parcs cabin. It's one of the upper floors of the Arden Building, part of the logo on it, as though cut out and placed carefully in the car park. Inside, we see that there are offices leading from doors in the corridor.

FINESSE V.O.
Good work finding her.

SHIFT
Easy enough. I followed her scent.

Shift and Amity reach the end of the corridor – a door.

FINESSE V.O.
(dawning horror)
Hang on. How do you know her scent?

Shift opens the door ...

CUT TO:

19 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1251. 19

... to a large office area - cubicles, computers, water coolers. A RED-HEADED WOMAN is working by a computer, her back to the door.

The woman turns to face SHIFT and AMITY. Her eyes are blank.

SHIFT
Eraser.

ERASER
Scribblers!

She stands, wearing her designer-cool black costume.

Shift dives towards her –

- becoming a WILDCAT in mid-air –

- landing on Eraser's face, claws extended.

ERASER
(an echo effect on her voice)
Tail.

With a CRUNCH, the wildcat's tail vanishes –

- she lands on the floor, on her side –

- Amity runs towards her.

AMITY
Transform back. Focus on my voice. Don't lose yourself.

ERASER
That won't be a problem.

Eraser is holding a DEPOWERER, as seen in Scene 3 –

- shoots the wildcat –

- who transforms back into Shift, blood soaking her lower back.

ERASER
I'm impressed you still had your powers at all. Considering Arden's security.

AMITY
Wait. That's how you got in. You used the device on yourself.

ERASER
That's what I love about these things. Absolutely reversible.

AMITY
Which is how you made the building vanish ... Because that's what you do. You make things vanish. Permanently.

ERASER
This floor is all that remains of Arden Industries. Billions of pounds of technology, and I took it all away.

She smiles. Loving it.

ERASER
That's what I do now. I take things away. Because I can.

Her smile fades as she sees something in Shift's ear.

ERASER
No!
(echo)
Communicators.

Shift's communicator fades from her ear –

- as does Amity's.

CUT TO:

20 INT. PIT CONTROL ROOM – Day 2. 1253. 20

FINESSE marches towards CHRONAL, who's still by the computer.

FINESSE
She's gone. Eraser must have realised Shift was still broadcasting.

CHRONAL
That's fine. I've got their co-ordinates.

FINESSE
Proud of you.
(on her comm)
Lyric? We've found them.

INTERCUT WITH:

21 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1253. 21

LYRIC is on his feet, pages in hand, ready to leave. WRAITH and MR ARDEN lurking in the background.

LYRIC
Great. Send me the co-ordinates. Are they safe?

FINESSE
No. Lyric, it's Eraser. She took away the building.

For a moment, no response. Lyric closes his eyes, puts a hand to his forehead.

LYRIC
Okay. Fine. Is she with her whole team?

FINESSE
Not unless they've met up since. Penny Parker was the only false employee we could find.

LYRIC
I'll do my best. Keep in touch.

He hangs up. Takes a moment. Then, time for action.

LYRIC
I'm off.

MR ARDEN
You've found Penny?

LYRIC
There is no Penny. You had a mole, Mr Arden.

MR ARDEN
No. No. I can't - I've been so careful.

LYRIC
Oh, yes. Good work, Mr Arden. Don't bother keeping your appointments with superheroes. Don't worry about saving the world. As long as you're protected.

He thrusts the pages towards him.

LYRIC
How much did these depowerers cost? Bernalium costs a pretty penny. Not to mention that nations are at war over it.

Mr Arden takes his designs. Ashamed.

LYRIC
"Creating a Better World". Great slogan. And after all your precautions, the enemy got in anyway.

MR ARDEN
I believe that. Making the world better. That's all I've ever wanted to do. My company ... My building. Where is it?

LYRIC
It's gone. Literally.

MR ARDEN
Where?

LYRIC
You're not listening. It's literally gone. It doesn't exist any more. Anything that was in that building has been permanently erased.
(to Wraith)
You coming?

WRAITH
I keep telling you. What's the point?

LYRIC
Finesse and Chronal will be on their way soon, but without the Trans-Jet.

WRAITH
I'll guide them. Give me the co-ordinates.

CUT TO:

22 EXT. BUSINESS DISTRICT – Day 2. 1300. 22

LYRIC stands in the middle of the rectangle of soil. Muttering rapidly.

In front of him, pieces of metal appear in mid-air, combining, threading –

- screws attaching the pieces –

- rubber tubes appear, inflating –

- connecting with the metal –

- sleek, black metal covering the lot –

- until it becomes a MOTORBIKE.

LYRIC
... galea flip visio protego ex glare.

As he finishes, a motorcycle helmet matching his costume's design materialises around his head.

CUT TO:

23 EXT. ROAD – Day 2. 1302. 23

LYRIC on the motorbike, his face determined.

CUT TO:

24 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1305. 24

AMITY and SHIFT have been tied to office swivel chairs. ERASER is typing at her computer again.

ERASER
I'll have to sort you out properly after my great escape.

AMITY
You mean you'll kill us.

ERASER
Why would I do that? You're powerless. You're a gift for my friends.

Eraser closes the computer and approaches her two prisoners. Shift flinching in pain. Amity still defiant. Angry.

ERASER
But you were already powerless. No powers, and you thought you could beat me?

AMITY
I'll stop you.

ERASER
I can wipe out the city with a single word. What can you do?

LYRIC OOV
Volatilis telum!

Eraser turns to see LYRIC standing standing at the opposite end of the offices, his mask on instead of the motorbike helmet -

- many small DARTS appearing in mid-air in front of him –

- which fly towards her.

ERASER
(echo)
Darts!

The darts fade before reaching her.

ERASER
All I need is a single word now. None of this muttering for half an hour –

LYRIC
Sword!

An elaborate sword materialises in his hand.

ERASER
(echo)
Sword.

The sword fades. Pause. Then, they start speaking rapidly, creating and erasing everything they name, with an echo on everything Eraser says.

LYRIC
Ropes.

ERASER
Ropes.

LYRIC
Bullets.

ERASER
Bullets.

LYRIC
Dagger.

ERASER
Dagger.

LYRIC
Gag.

ERASER
Mask.

A gag materialises around Eraser's mouth as Lyric's mask disappears.

Lyric turns away, hiding his face –

- and Eraser calmly removes the gag.

ERASER
Superheroes. So arrogant. Ooh, mustn't let them see my face.
(echo)
Big toe.

Lyric HOLLERS, falling to the ground, clutching his foot.

ERASER
See, you're all born with powers, you lot. You don't appreciate them. You think you deserve them.

She lifts the depowerer from her desk.

ERASER
You don't prepare. Let me guess. You've never tried to create a big toe for yourself.

She calmly walks towards him.

ERASER
That's the difference between us. You're reactive. Prepared to a point, until someone takes your eyes.

Lyric curled up in pain.

ERASER
I win.

CUT TO:

25 INT. ARDEN CELLAR – Day 2. 1310. 25

WRAITH talking on his communicator.

WRAITH
Where are you now?

INTERCUT WITH:

26 INT. CAR – Day 2. 1310. 26

FINESSE and CHRONAL in a Ford Focus. Finesse driving, Chronal tracking co-ordinates on a handheld screen.

FINESSE
Five minutes away. Have you heard from Lyric?

WRAITH
No. I didn't want to contact him in case it gives away his position.

FINESSE
I'm sure he'll be in touch if there's a problem.

CUT TO:

27 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1311. 27

ERASER standing over LYRIC, blood soaking his shoe. SHIFT and AMITY in the background.

ERASER
Don't be so boring. You haven't even TRIED to make yourself a new toe. Go on.

LYRIC
Ice ...

A small amount of frost appears on his toe.

ERASER
Useless.

AMITY
Leave him alone.

ERASER
No. He's mine.

She leans over, turns Lyric's head to face her, and kisses his forehead.

ERASER
My nemesis. I was chosen for him.

She turns to face the other two.

ERASER
You two mean nothing to me.

AMITY
But you knew we were coming. You were the secretary.

ERASER
Lyric can't use his powers for espionage. He has to speak to use them. Security could take care of him. Which leaves my Lyric complete, with his friends impotent.

AMITY
This was a trap.

ERASER
No. That's silly. I'm glad you're here and all, but my life doesn't revolve around you.

She walks back to her computer. Typing again.

ERASER
Does that surprise you? I have other goals. These powers are a means to an end. You know nothing about me. I'm a complete mystery to you. But I know all about you.

CU of the monitor – a radar of the area, a blob coming nearer.

ERASER
Your friens are coming.

CUT TO:

28 INT. CAR – Day 2. 1313. 28

FINESSE and CHRONAL driving along.

CHRONAL
You alright?

FINESSE
I'll be honest. I'm worrying a bit.

CHRONAL
We took care of her before.

FINESSE
When her powers were new. She can take away an entire building in less than a minute. That's terrifying.

CHRONAL
If it makes you feel better ... I've got a plan.

She turns to look at him. Big smile on his face.

CUT TO:

29 INT. ARDEN OFFICES – Day 2. 1315. 29

ERASER by the computer, SHIFT and AMITY tied up and LYRIC on the floor.

FINESSE and CHRONAL enter.

FINESSE
Nice to see you again.

ERASER
You've arrived.

She tries to speak, but can't force out the words.

FINESSE
No, no. Don't speak. I have nothing I wish to give you.

Eraser grabs the depowerer –

- shoots at Finesse –

- and the world slows down.

Chronal walks towards Eraser and takes the depowerer.

CHRONAL
Mine.

The world speeds up again.

CHRONAL
(to Finesse)
Did she get you?

FINESSE
Yes. This is weird.

AMITY
It's reversible.

Chronal checks the controls.

ERASER
(echo)
Depowerer. Hands.

The depowerer fades, as do Chronal's hands.

CHRONAL
My hands!

ERASER
Go on. Freeze time. You can enjoy every single second of the pain. Ow. No. Ow. Your hands. I'm so sorry. I can't ... I didn't mean it to hurt so much. And ... Lyric, your toe. Why? You were perfect. I broke you.

She sinks to her knees. Behind her, Amity stands. Not tied up any more.

AMITY
I've just received some very good news.

Eraser is crying.

AMITY
Turns out the depowering isn't permanent.

Floods of tears. Eraser falls to the floor, unable to control herself.

AMITY
And now I can do whatever I like.

Finesse grabs Eraser, and places HANDCUFFS and a GAG on her.

CHRONAL
Good work.

AMITY
Empathy's a lovely emotion. Unless you discover it too late.

She crosses over to Lyric. Places her arm on his.

AMITY
You're okay. I'm increasing your adrenaline. I did the same thing to Chronal.

LYRIC
(recovering)
And how did you untie yourself?

WRAITH OOV
That was me.

Wraith fades into view.

WRAITH
I got my powers back when I was in Arden's cellar, so I knew Amity would be recovering too.

FINESSE
Right. Back to the Pit, via the police station. We have limbs to reattach.

CUT TO:

30 INT. PIT MEDICAL ROOM – Day 2. 1700. 30

CHRONAL is sitting on a medical bed, checking his hands. AMITY and LYRIC have been working on him.

AMITY
How do they feel?

CHRONAL
Odd. They're fine, but ... Are they really my hands? Or brand new ones?

LYRIC
A bit of both. Completely new skin, bones, blood, but bodies renew themselves naturally anyway.

CHRONAL
They feel like they're mine. Thanks.

He smiles, and leaves, flexing his fingers.

AMITY
How's your toe?

LYRIC
Completely fine. You did a great job.

AMITY
You did the hard bit. You created the toe.

LYRIC
I suppose.
(beat)
She was right, wasn't she? I just react. I can make weapons, rope and stuff, but against her, I can only ever replace the stuff she takes away.

AMITY
There's something else you could do. You read the designs for the depowering guns. You could make us a set of them.

LYRIC
I considered that. But they're too powerful. If anyone turns them against us, we're dead. But I should be more proactive. Not just doors and swords. I can make anything. I could build us the perfect weapon.

AMITY
A weapon that can't be used against us?

LYRIC
I've got some ideas.
(beat)
We're going to have to be careful with the Trans-Jet now. Arden Industries have collapsed now. No more repairs.

AMITY
Last of the Trans-Jets. Wow.

Lyric smiles.

LYRIC
Shall we put the kettle on?

Amity grins. He puts an arm around her shoulder as they leave.