Scribblers
"Meltdown"
by Steffan Alun
1 EXT. THE SCRIBBLE PIT - Day. 0945.
The TRANS-JET flies into the hangar entrance, piloted by LYRIC and AMITY.
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2 INT. PIT HANGAR BAY - Day.
AMITY and LYRIC are escorting WILDFIRE - young woman, glowing orange skin, tough armour - who's handcuffed. FINESSE approaches to meet them.
FINESSE
Good work, you two.
AMITY
She wasn't easy to catch.
WILDFIRE
What am I doing here? Not dumping me straight in prison?
LYRIC
I'm afraid not, Wildfire. See, we like to be up-to-date on new villains.
WILDFIRE
I'm no villain!
AMITY
I'm not happy about the new housing estate either, but terrorism isn't the answer.
FINESSE
You may want to use your time in custody to consider your role in society. Either way, we need to know the extent of your powers.
WILDFIRE
I'll help in any way I can. I'm not a crook.
AMITY
I know you're as good as your word. I can sense your emotions. You don't have the seething rage of most criminals.
WILDFIRE
If you can sense my emotions, surely you see the pain these cuffs are causing me.
AMITY
I know. Honestly, I know how it feels to be deprived of sensory powers.
LYRIC
We can't take the cuffs off. Standard regulations - it's out of our control.
AMITY
Don't worry - they won't affect your powers. They just redirect them, like an earth wire.
FINESSE
We'll make this as quick as we can.
Finesse leads them out. Wildfire glaring at the Scribblers, Amity avoiding eye contact.
CUT TO:
3 INT. PIT MEDICAL BAY - Day. 1148.
WILDFIRE is on a table, still handcuffed. AMITY is prepared to examine, LYRIC next to her holding a dictaphone, FINESSE taking notes on her PDA.
LYRIC
Time is eleven forty-eight. Examination of subject Wildfire. Present are Finesse, Lyric with Amity conducting.
As Amity speaks, she presses Wildfire's skin, examines readouts on her PDA, shines lights in her eyes and so on.
AMITY
Blood pressure twenty per cent above normal. Skin temperature is twice normal. Brain scans indicate increased activity in the occipital lobe.
FINESSE
That's her sensory power. She can perceive moisture.
LYRIC
Moisture perception? Why the big fuss about the handcuffs if that's all you lose?
WILDFIRE
Just because it's not that useful doesn't mean you don't miss it when it's gone. I feel like I need glasses - the world's missing something.
AMITY
I'll make this quick. The melocrine glands produce fuel that burns when exposed to air.
FINESSE
She can shoot this fuel, but I'm struggling to identify how she prevents this from burning her own skin.
AMITY
Presumably the skin. Assuming it isn't natural, if Finesse can't be specific.
WILDFIRE
It's not natural. Do I have to tell you all the details?
LYRIC
It'd definitely look good in court.
WILDFIRE
The fuel burnt my skin when I was twelve years old. Five years later, a doctor from the Dinas Medical Institute developed a procedure to help me.
AMITY
Do you have a name for this doctor?
WILDFIRE
Martin Danford.
AMITY
I know him. Go on.
WILDFIRE
He created synthetic skin which was immune to the fuel. Previously, they'd only used it on ordinary burns victims, and I'm assured it looks like real skin.
AMITY
But on you, it glows. Showing the layer of fuel under your skin.
WRAITH runs in.
WRAITH
Problem!
LYRIC
Is it an emergency?
WRAITH
Yes. Chronal's power thingy's made the lights go red.
They stand up and start to follow Wraith outside.
LYRIC
That red light's never good. Where is Chronal?
FINESSE
Still guarding the Prime Minister with Shift.
CUT TO:
4 INT. PIT POWER ROOM - Day. 1200.
FINESSE leads LYRIC, AMITY and WRAITH into a room with a huge power reactor. The light is red. Amity is using her communicator.
LYRIC
Could be worse. At least the horrible siren's not going off.
FINESSE
It should be. Chronal forgot to renew the batteries.
AMITY
I've tried getting in touch, but no luck. Why does the Prime Minister need guarding again?
FINESSE
The president's bringing some American heroes on his visit.
AMITY
That's terrible. He doesn't need good heroes for that - why not ask the Rejects?
LYRIC
Hey! My cousin's on that team.
AMITY
Sorry.
Finesse approaches a large console and starts typing.
FINESSE
It's overheating.
WRAITH
Lame. It's going all X-Box three-sixty on us.
FINESSE
Not just us. We've got loads of power stored here. This could take out the entire city.
LYRIC
It won't come to that. We'll just turn it off.
FINESSE
That'd mean turning off our defences with a supervillain in the building.
AMITY
She's hardly a supervillain! She has one crime to her name, and that was in protest.
LYRIC
Regulations. We could be in deep trouble if we release her.
AMITY
Fine. We'll just have to make sure she's secure.
She dashes out of the room.
CUT TO:
5 INT. PIT MEDICAL BAY - Day. 1210.
AMITY rushes in. WILDFIRE is still on the bed.
AMITY
You need to come with me.
WILDFIRE
I assumed Scribblers policy was to leave criminals to die in case of emergencies.
AMITY
It's fine. We just need to turn off the power supply, and everything will be fine.
WILDFIRE
Why do you need me?
AMITY
You have to stay with us.
WILDFIRE
In case I destroy your base or something? Yes, fine, I'll come.
Amity helps her up, and leads her out of the room.
CUT TO:
6 INT. PIT POWER ROOM - Day. 1215.
FINESSE is typing furiously at the console. LYRIC and WRAITH are examining the reactor itself.
LYRIC
Jesus, Chronal, you could try leaving the instructions somewhere obvious. I don't know the first thing about reactors.
WRAITH
Can you make new fans?
LYRIC
How would I link it up? We don't have enough time to learn the ins and outs of this thing.
AMITY enters with WILDFIRE.
AMITY
I've got her. Turn off the machine.
Lyric approaches, muttering as he does so.
He creates a second set of handcuffs, with which he cuffs Wildfire's ankles.
WILDFIRE
Great. These will be a great help when I need to escape from your nuclear meltdown.
FINESSE
It's not nuclear. This building's run entirely by renewable energy, and this reactor stores and amplifies the power.
LYRIC
Developed by the finest minds of Arden Industries. It's completely safe.
FINESSE
And ... now it's off.
WRAITH
Why's the light still red?
FINESSE
Because it's a stupid light, probably. It shouldn't even be on. Wait. No, the machine's still receiving power.
AMITY
How can it?
FINESSE
Something's seriously overloaded the system.
LYRIC
Everyone get out.
AMITY
No! Not when you're using your self-sacrifice voice.
LYRIC
The reactor needs to be cooled down. If there's one thing I can create in bulk, it's water. But I'll need the room to be watertight.
FINESSE
Alright. But don't go overboard. You don't need to fill the room to the ceiling.
LYRIC
That's fine. I can swim.
FINESSE
Right. Good luck, then.
She heads out, taking Wildfire with her. Wraith follows.
AMITY
I'm staying with you.
LYRIC
What's the point? You can't influence a machine.
AMITY
Your emotions are going mad. I don't know what you've got planned, but I'm not letting you do it alone.
She heads for doors, and presses an emergency button on the side. Reinforced shutters close over the doors.
LYRIC
I'm not doing this with you here.
AMITY
Too late now. We can't open these with the power disconnected.
Lyric looks at her, like he's feeling sick. He turns away, facing the reactor. Strong for her sake.
LYRIC
Yes, alright, great. Nice to have some company. Right! Cooling time.
He starts to mutter under his breath -
- and droplets of water appear in front of him, like rain -
- falling heavier, onto the ground -
- starting to fill the room.
CUT TO:
7 INT. PIT CORRIDOR - Day. 1225.
FINESSE is examining her PDA. WRAITH is watching WILDFIRE.
FINESSE
I'll try to get in touch with Chronal again. See why it's overheating this much.
WRAITH
Strong gust of wind?
FINESSE
A wind that strong, and we'd have bigger questions to answer. Like, "why is our building horizontal?".
WRAITH
Shouldn't stopping the power should have worked, though?
FINESSE
I thought it would. We're not receiving any power from the windmills or solar panels now. Only emergency equipment's still receiving power, like the lights.
WILDFIRE
Can't we just get out? We can't do anything on this side of the door.
FINESSE
I need to make sure the others are alright. They're both good swimmers, but I'm worried I'm overlooking something.
A moment, and then she stops using her PDA. Looks up in horror.
FINESSE
Oh. God, no.
CUT TO:
8 INT. PIT POWER ROOM - Day. 1230.
The room is now half-full with water, with two-thirds of the reactor submerged. Steam rises around the reactor. LYRIC is still muttering, water pouring out from in front of him. Both he and AMITY are treading water.
AMITY
It's getting a bit stuffy in here.
LYRIC
Yes.
AMITY
So ... um ...
LYRIC
Once this thing's underwater, I'm going to need to get us out of here. I'm not sure how yet - these are reinforced walls. I don't know if I can create something strong enough.
AMITY
Lyric, what's wrong with the air?
LYRIC
The ventilation system ...
AMITY
Oh. Right. No power.
She looks up at the mechanical ventilation device. Reinforced.
AMITY
Well. That's fine. We'll save the entire city.
LYRIC
We won't give up.
AMITY
No. Course not.
She shivers in the water. Wraps her arms around herself.
AMITY
Still, there are worse ways to go. Man in Black died trying to prevent embezzlement. Much better to be saving a million lives.
Lyric looks over at her. Stops talking, then starts again. Pieces of metal and plastic appear in his hands, twisting and curling into a screwdriver.
LYRIC
Nothing electric in the water, sorry. Can you try to get to that ventilation shaft?
AMITY
No worries.
Smiling bravely, she takes the screwdriver and swims towards the shaft.
CUT TO:
9 INT. PIT CORRIDOR - Day. 1235.
FINESSE has her hands on the door. WRAITH is still with WILDFIRE.
FINESSE
I can feel the water. It's filling up.
WRAITH
Can we get the ventilation working?
FINESSE
That's plan A, but I need the all-clear from Lyric. While we can hear the water running, we've got to assume he hasn't finished.
WRAITH
What's plan B, then?
FINESSE
Breaking our way in through the top. We'd have to go down from the armoury, which we can't get into while the power's down. Retina scans and such.
WRAITH
So, we need the power back on for both plans. Lame.
WILDFIRE
Why is it still overheating?
FINESSE
Something's generating enormous amounts of energy. Something other than our normal power sources, since we've switched those off.
WRAITH
Could be anything. Maybe Chronal was working on a new energy supply. Maybe it's sabotage.
WILDFIRE
Could it be these?
She holds up her hands - showing the handcuffs.
FINESSE
No. We're talking huge amounts of power. I can feel yours. It's ... not ... Hang on. That skin.
WILDFIRE
It contains the fuel. Stops it leaking.
FINESSE
... and blocks the signal!
She dashes for Wildfire, searching for keys, undoing the cuffs.
FINESSE
I'm only sensing a fraction of your power. It's miraculous I can sense it at all if that stuff's as powerful as it feels. Which means -
The cuffs come off.
FINESSE
It was you. You overloaded the machine.
WRAITH
And we still need to get it turned back on to save the others.
WILDFIRE
Maybe.
She aims a wrist at the cuffs on her ankles -
- and a jet of flame shoots out like Spider-Man's webs -
- melting the cuffs.
WILDFIRE
If this is my fault, I'm getting them out.
CUT TO:
10 INT. PIT POWER ROOM - Day. 1240.
AMITY and LYRIC are both by the ventilation. The reactor is completely submerged.
AMITY
There's nothing here. Nowhere I can get the screwdriver into.
LYRIC
I'll make something else. We can break through.
AMITY
Let's breathe slowly. Give the others some time to work something out.
LYRIC
Good idea. Scratch breaking through - I'm going to try creating oxygen. Buy us some time.
He starts muttering quickly.
LYRIC
I don't know if it's working. I hate making invisible things.
AMITY
Keep going. I'm sure you can do it.
Suddenly, the wall above the door begins to melt -
- the thick steel wall dripping and scorching, solidifying in the water -
- and WILDFIRE's face can be seen through the gap.
WILDFIRE
Come on, you two! Finesse says she needs to drain the room.
CUT TO:
11 INT. PIT CORRIDOR. 1240.
FINESSE and WRAITH are holding WILDFIRE up to the hole. They release her, and shortly, AMITY climbs through the hole, followed by LYRIC.
AMITY
You saved us!
She throws her arms around an alarmed Wildfire.
LYRIC
That was very big of you. Thanks.
WILDFIRE
It was my fault anyway.
FINESSE
Ours. We never thought you'd be as powerful as you are.
WILDFIRE
Does this mean I get pardoned? For saving the Scribblers?
LYRIC
I'm sorry. No, it doesn't. But it'll look great on your record.
AMITY
You didn't just save us - you saved the city.
FINESSE
I can put you in touch with the right people - you could be a great asset, if you're interested.
WILDFIRE
Thanks. I'm not sure that's what I want, but I'm glad you realise I'm not just a criminal.
CUT TO:
12 INT. THE PIT - Day. 1645.
FINESSE is sat on the sofa with a hot chocolate. AMITY is writing on her laptop, LYRIC and WRAITH are drawing. Finesse's PDA beeps.
FINESSE
Chronal and Shift are on their way back.
LYRIC
Get Chronal to sort out his potentially deadly technology when he gets back.
FINESSE
Will do. I've sent a message to Mr Arden to see if he's still got a copy of the plans for the machine, but I'm not hopeful.
WRAITH
Maybe we shouldn't have the reactor in the building.
AMITY
Think it's time to redesign the place?
FINESSE
Could be a fun project. Something to do with our copious amounts of free time.
Lyric stands up.
LYRIC
That reminds me. Shed time.
He leaves.
AMITY
(calling after him)
Remember to learn oxygen tanks.
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5 comments:
If only they'd had Vegeta's power scanner from the off, eh?
"Finesse! What does the scanner say about her power level???"
"It's over nine-THOUSAND!!!!!"
Brillo Pads.
Hey! Cool! Really enjoyed this one! Also, couldn't work out who wrote it until the end! Yeah, loving all the character interplay, and Wilfire is really cool!
Not sure how I feel about the Scribblers taking people with powers in and analysing them in a lab. Doesn't seem like the sort of thing we'd do, and I'm not clear on why we can't just ask Finesse. We could just sit them down for a chat, couldn't we?
Loved the dramatic water set-piece, and the characters.
Best line: "Otherwise we'd have bigger questions, like, 'why is our building sideways'?" Ha ha!
Thoroughly enjoyed it, as usual! :-)
I wanted to jump straight into this one, so I skipped into the middle of the story, which may have made the set-up confusing.
The way I see it, the Scribblers don't routinely take powered people in to catalogue them, but they're required by government regulations to check criminals over. It's in the medical bay rather than a lab - this is like a dentist appointment rather than an operation. It's not compulsory for criminals to undertake these tests, but it'd look good in court. Someone like Wildfire, who broke the law in protest, is far more likely to agree with the authorities than, say, Sintaro.
As for why we can't ask Finesse, I imagine that she can sense the powers, but can't accurately measure them. Like, if we see strangers, we can guess their height, but we'd need tools to get a correct reading. Finesse is there to clarify the finer points, of course, which is why I imagine the government would want the Scribblers themselves filling in the criminals' power descriptions.
(The same reason is why a chat wouldn't suffice - a doctor doesn't ask you for your lung capacity; there's a test for it.)
OK, cool!
Oh, I interpretted it differently. Finesse would just know straight away, but you don't want someone's official record to be set on the word of one person. The tests are for officially proving it so no one can say Finesse lied later down the line. This would be much akin to why the authorities don't just get Amity to say whether someone committed a crime or not; there's nothing to stop her saying 'Yeah, he totally did it, the Tory scum.' Other than her own morality, of course.
Ah, some nobly self-sacrificing Lyric, eh? He is totally getting a bollocking from Finesse once this is over. I may write the vignette of it.
And oh, I agree with Blossom! I nearly killed myself laughing at "Otherwise we'd have bigger questions, like, 'Why is our building horizontal?'" Supurb! Ooh, and a Pit redesign! Is this because we all have wildly different mental pictures of it? That would be fair.
Although I also killed myself laughing at Blossom wanting to substitute the scientific exam for a nice chat and a cup of tea. I knew she would. I just knew it.
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