Sunday 29 November 2009

Scribblers: Overload


Scribblers
"Overload"
by Steffan Alun

1 EXT. THE PIT – Day 3. 0800. 1

AMITY, CHRONAL, LYRIC and WRAITH are on the sofa, playing cards. A SUPERHERO materialises in the room, wearing a navy costume and a red peaked cap, a sack of letters in his hand.

AMITY
Hi, Post-Man.

POST-MAN
Morning, guys. Three for Finesse – can someone sign for them? And one for you, Amity.

AMITY
Cheers.

Chronal takes the parcels for Finesse as Amity receives a blue envelope. She sits back down to open and read it.

WRAITH
Why is it only ever Finesse and Amity who get post?

CHRONAL
Amity's the only one who sends letters. Finesse is the leader, so she gets what's known in the trade as bumf.

LYRIC
I order loads of stuff, though. I'm still waiting for my anatomy textbooks.

Chronal peels a glove back to examine his hands. The new skin is still pink.

CHRONAL
That'd be handy. The more you know the better.
(beat)
Oh, wait. That came on Tuesday. I put it in your shed.

LYRIC
Mate.

CHRONAL
Sorry.

Lyric glares and marches out.

CHRONAL
I'd better take these to Finesse before I forget.

He leaves.

WRAITH
Who's the letter from? Sorry – don't answer that.

AMITY
I don't mind. It's from Kyle, an old mate from home. I try to meet up with him when I can, and he says he can come and meet me in town!

WRAITH
Cool. Does he know you're a superhero?

AMITY
Absolutely. Once, when I was just starting to develop my powers, I accidentally made myself cry for an hour. He found me, and managed to calm me down.

WRAITH
Wow.

AMITY
He's great like that. He's so happy – he can cheer people up better than I can!

SHIFT enters.

SHIFT
Who's this?

AMITY
My mate Kyle. He's coming to visit me soon. Actually ... I'd like you all to meet him.

SHIFT
Ooh, new people.

WRAITH
Can we not bring him here? Last time we had guests, Chronal had me concealing everything embarassing.

AMITY
That's fine. I was thinking of taking him to La Batte's – shall I get a table for seven?

SHIFT
Yay, meal! I might wear a dress.

WRAITH
We'll need to be anonymous.

SHIFT
I'll wear it with a mask.

CUT TO:

2 EXT. PIT BALCONY – Day 3. 0805. 2

FINESSE is surveying the land. CHRONAL enters with three parcels.

CHRONAL
Parcels for you.

FINESSE
Brilliant!

She opens them – they contain various engine parts.

FINESSE
I tracked down as many parts for the Trans-Jet as I could from indie dealers.

CHRONAL
Good idea.

FINESSE
I'm trying to get hold of a full set of plans for Lyric to memorise, but Mr Arden was very protective of his patents.

CHRONAL
I'm still trying to get in touch with him. I'm sure it'll be fine.

FINESSE
This is horrible. We really can't afford to leave the Trans-Jet in storage.

CHRONAL
It's survived this long. It's very reliable.

FINESSE
People know Arden's gone now. It won't be long until criminals start targetting our ship. God, how did you manage when things went wrong?

CHRONAL
I handed leadership over to you.

FINESSE
I'll check to see if Amity's interested.

CUT TO:

3 EXT. LA BATTE'S - Day 3. 1900. 3

Posh restaurant – like the Ritz – in an upmarket area full of trendy wine bars and expensive flats.

CUT TO:

4 INT. LA BATTE'S DINING AREA – Day 3. 1900. 4

AMITY, CHRONAL, FINESSE, LYRIC, SHIFT and WRAITH enter, wearing posh dinnerwear versions of their costumes. The restaurant is full of SUPERHEROES. They are greeted by LA BATTE – a French waiter crossed with Batman.

LA BATTE
Ah! Scribblers! Welcome back.

FINESSE
Lovely to see you again, La Batte. How are the kids?

LA BATTE
They are magnificent! My youngest, she wants to be just like you.

CHRONAL
So sweet. Showing any powers yet?

LA BATTE
Alas, not yet. The boy, he has started flying in his sleep. I must tie him down!

AMITY
Tell them we said hello.

LA BATTE
Thank you. It will mean much to them. I will take you to your table now.

He leads them to a large round table by an enormous window with a view of the huge Llyn Dinas lake. They take their seats, leaving one empty.

LA BATTE
I shall give you a moment.

He leaves, and the Scribblers take their seats.

AMITY
Kyle won't be long.

SHIFT
That's fine. Gives us more time to choose.

She takes the menu, and La Batte returns with two bottles of wine – one white, one red.

LA BATTE
Courtesy of Super Skeleton.
(to Lyric)
To thank you for the team-up incident, he says.

LYRIC
Pass on my thanks. Although, Super Skeleton is female.

LA BATTE
I am humiliated! What an error.

He marches off to apologise to SUPER SKELETON, who's wearing a crown and cape. At the door, KYLE arrives – dressed to the nines, permanently grinning.

AMITY
Kyle!

KYLE
Hi guys! I can't believe I'm meeting the Scribblers.

They all say their hellos and shake hands –
- but Finesse frowns, and closes her eyes, as though trying to hear a faint sound.

KYLE
Amity's told me a bit about you.

He takes the spare seat.

WRAITH
Even me?

KYLE
Of course! You're amazing! I wish I could become invisible. That'd be literally the best thing ever. Literally! Well, okay, proverbially! It'd be amazing, though!

CHRONAL
Wow, nice to see someone enthusiastic about powers! We get a lot of angsty villanous types in these parts.

KYLE
I love heroes! My friends are so jealous I know Amity. Got to be careful not to give anything away, of course.

FINESSE
No powers of your own, then, Kyle?

KYLE
Nope, not me! I'm just completely ordinary.

FINESSE
I wouldn't say that. You're extremely jolly.

KYLE
Oh, I know! I wind people up, I know I do.

LYRIC
Maybe that's your power. You could be called "the Key".

Kyle laughs ferociously. Struggles to breathe as he speaks.

KYLE
The Key! Because I wind people up! That's amazing. That's the funniest thing I've ever heard.

LYRIC
Seriously?

Finesse nudges Amity.

FINESSE
Excuse me one moment. Just popping to the loo.

Amity looks confused, but gets up too.

AMITY
I'll keep you company.

CUT TO:

5 INT. LA BATTE'S BATHROOM – Day 3. 1910. 5

FINESSE is leaning against a sink, AMITY against a toilet cubicle.

FINESSE
There's something wrong with that guy.

AMITY
He's lovely.

FINESSE
Amity. He's damaged. He's not right.

AMITY
He has some learning difficulties, but he's fine. He gets on with everyone, he enjoys life.

FINESSE
He doesn't have learning difficulties. Amity, I could see the damage using your powers. How can you not see it yourself?

AMITY
I know, I know. He has unusually high seratonin levels. But that's what he's always been like.

FINESSE
He's high on it. And ... Well, why would his seratonin levels be so high?

AMITY
He was born like that. Produces too much.

FINESSE
Amity.

AMITY
It's fine. He's great. He's an amazing bloke. Always happy.

FINESSE
Always? As long as you can remember?

AMITY
He's upset sometimes.

FINESSE
And when did you last see him upset?

AMITY
He's happy now.

FINESSE
In school?

AMITY
Maybe.

FINESSE
Before you developed your powers.

Amity avoids eye contact. Then glances up.

Finesse places an hand on her shoulder.

FINESSE
I know what it's like. You've been affecting him without realising it. Subconsciously cheering him up when he's upset. Everyone wants their friends to be happy.

AMITY
I didn't know.

FINESSE
He got too much too early. It's damaged his brain. It's hindered his cognitive development.

AMITY
But he's fine! He's great company, he's got a steady job ...

FINESSE
He has powers. Did you know that? They've never activated, but the gene is there. Dormant.

AMITY
Can we fix him?

Finesse smiles, and gives Amity a hug.

FINESSE
Of course we can.

CUT TO:

6 INT. LA BATTE'S DINING AREA – Day 3. 1920. 6

SHIFT is mid-story, CHRONAL, LYRIC, WRAITH and KYLE laughing.

SHIFT
He was there for literally twenty minutes, thinking I was the ghost of his dead cat. Tried getting me to come out for Kit-e-Kat!

WRAITH
I didn't know that stuff was still around!

AMITY and FINESSE arrive back, taking their seats.

SHIFT
Thing is, this was around the time they recalled loads of pet food because of the renal failure thing. No way was I eating his creepy food.

LYRIC
What did you do in the end?

SHIFT
When he looked away, I changed into a calico. Skulked away, and he just froze, looking like an idiot.

CHRONAL
Bless him.

SHIFT
My back-up plan was to become a dove in front of him and fly away.

Kyle bursts out laughing, his face red, tears streaming down his face.

Amity looks at him sadly.

Kyle keeps laughing, laughing, pounding the table.

CUT TO:

7 EXT. ORMAN COTTAGE – Day 4. 1200. 7

An idyllic cottage, complete with straw roof and ivy, surrounded by lawns and trees. KAYLEIGH is outside, in her lab coat. The TRANS-JET lands on the wide lawn, and out walk AMITY and KYLE, followed by FINESSE, CHRONAL, LYRIC, SHIFT and WRAITH.

KAYLEIGH
Hi, all.

AMITY
Hi, Kayleigh. How are you?

KAYLEIGH
Great, thanks. Desparate for a paned, though.

LYRIC
Lead on, McDuff.

She leads the way through the front door of the cottage ...

CUT TO:

8 INT. ORMAN LABORATORY – Day 4. 1200. 8

... into a glossy, modern laboratory, full of plants, with tables full of equipment and plenty of seats. KAYLEIGH enters, followed by KYLE, AMITY, FINESSE, CHRONAL and LYRIC.

KAYLEIGH
Kitchen's through here.

She leads the way, followed by all except Kyle, Amity and Finesse.
They reach a security door, Kayleigh typing in the code.

KAYLEIGH
Bit of a faff, sorry – security’s tight here.

AMITY
Even the kitchen?

KAYLEIGH
Especially the kitchen! Someone could steal the tea!

AMITY
God, you’re right.

The door slides open, and they enter.

FINESSE
Let's sit, guys.

They take their seats, Finesse directly opposite Kyle, with Amity by his side. Kyle still grinning constantly.

FINESSE
I'm going to talk you through the procedure. I need you to concentrate, because we'll need your consent.

KYLE
It all sounds great to me!

FINESSE
Well, yes, but it's a tough decision, and I'm not sure you're in the best position to judge.

KYLE
Fair enough. Go ahead.

FINESSE
We're going to be depleting your seratonin levels. Slowly, and in stages – we'll need to monitor your progress carefully, because it'll be a bit like giving up drugs. Your brain will change. Your emotions will change.

KYLE
Sounds exciting.

AMITY
I'm really sorry, Kyle. This is my fault, and ... well, with such high seratonin, it makes it trickier to decide not to do things. You don't get the negative reinforcement that most people do, because you're chemically incapable of being upset.

KYLE
All the more reason to fix me, then!

FINESSE
There's another thing. You have powers, Kyle.

KYLE
Seriously? That's incredible.

FINESSE
Most people discover their powers when they're teenagers – like Amity. Activiating yours this late might be a bit of a shock.

AMITY
We're all here for you.

KYLE
Do you know what my powers are?

FINESSE
Yes, actually. Comes with the manipulating-powers thing. Want to know?

KYLE
Ooh, like knowing the gender of your baby. Go on then!

FINESSE
You have energy manipulation. You can increase and multiply power levels exponentially.

KYLE
And what does that mean?

FINESSE
You'll be able to make light bulbs brighter, energise people who feel tired, speed up vehicles ... endless possibilities.

KYLE
Amazing.

AMITY
With ... adult learners, we usually pair them off with a mentor who possesses similar powers.

KYLE
A superhero mentor! Fantastic! Who'd be mine, then? Who else has energy manipulaion.

FINESSE
That'd be me.

CUT TO:

9 INT. ORMAN OPERATING THEATRE – Day 4. 1330. 9

KYLE is lying on a table, attached to monitors and devices. AMITY, FINESSE and KAYLEIGH are standing in preparation.

FINESSE
We’ll be conducting this operation purely through Amity’s powers.

KAYLEIGH
The machinery’s just in case of problems.

AMITY
There won’t be any problems.

KAYLEIGH
But if there is, you’re safe.

KYLE
Sounds great.

Finesse nods to Amity, who places her hand on Kyle’s forehead.

FINESSE
We’re going to be as gentle as we can. I’ll be keeping an eye on your powers - in case of surprises.

AMITY
You’re going to be fine, Kyle.

KYLE
When will I actually get my powers?

FINESSE
You’ve always had them. They’ll probably kick in at random after the operation.

KYLE
Like Amity’s when she was young.

Amity looks pained. Finesse gives her a smile.

FINESSE
I think we’re ready to start now.

AMITY
Alright, I’m taking hold. I’m in.

FINESSE
I’ve got you.

AMITY
Lowering seratonin levels.

Kyle flinches and moans.

AMITY
Oh, god, I’m so sorry.

KYLE
It’s fine. Feels strange.

FINESSE
We can stop if you want. Leave it there for now.

KYLE
No, it’s fine. I can take it.

AMITY
I’ll take it really slowly.

She closes her eyes in concentration.

AMITY
Hang on. That's not right.

FINESSE
Let me see.

Finesse crosses over, places a hand on Amity's arm.

Suddenly, Kyle’s eyes are wide open –

- his fists clenching -

- and a spark flies from his mind to Finesse’s!

Finesse cries out –

- snapping her arm back from Amity -

- who grips Kyle’s head hard.

KAYLEIGH
His seratonin’s right down!

Kyle starts to bellow in agony.

FINESSE
Son of a –

AMITY
What happened?

FINESSE
I overloaded! Hang on – I’ll sort it out.

She reaches out for Amity –

- but a spark shoots from Kyle’s mind to a light bulb above -

- which shatters, raining glass below.

KAYLEIGH
His mind’s a mess, guys.

AMITY
Kyle, can you –

KYLE
No stop make it stop go away it hurts stop it get away.

Sparks shoot from his mind, causing instruments to explode and break.

LYRIC and CHRONAL enter.

LYRIC
What’s going on?

CHRONAL
We need a minute here.

The action slows down –

- Chronal remaining at normal speed, glancing around quickly.

Kyle slowly turns his head, seeing Chronal –

- and a spark shoots from Kyle’s head to Chronal’s -

- speeding up the action, like a CD skipping.

KYLE
(voice skipping)
Yo – pl – ya – but – do – coo –

Chronal holds his hands up –

- and the world slows down to normal.

LYRIC
I’m really sorry for this, Kyle.

He starts to mutter –

- and he’s hit by a spark from Kyle -

- which blows up a hole in the wall.

AMITY
Wait, Kyle.

Kyle’s running for the hole –

- jumping, desperate -

- and away.

CUT TO:

10 INT. ORMAN CORRIDOR – Day 4. 1215. 10

FINESSE, AMITY, KAYLEIGH, CHRONAL and LYRIC are in a corridor, waiting for a security door to open.

FINESSE
Okay, bullet points. He can boost our powers, in short, sharp bursts.

AMITY
That’s what he did to you?

FINESSE
Yes. That’s why I pushed you too hard.

CHRONAL
We’ll have to be careful with our powers, then. Especially you.

He indicates Finesse.

CHRONAL
You’ve already got a terrifying power. No need to make it worse.

AMITY
I’ll have to stand back too. His mind’s a mess – I can’t risk making it worse.

The security door slides open; they dash to a door on the opposite side.

LYRIC
There’s something we really have to do if we’re going to take this guy. We need to move the Trans-Jet.

FINESSE
Good call, Lyric. Amity and I will move the jet. We’ll contact Wraith and Shift on the way.

AMITY
And guys – be careful with him. His brain is full of rage, and he hasn’t experienced negative emotions in nearly a decade.

The security door opens, and they’re through.

CUT TO:

11 EXT. ORMAN COTTAGE – Day 4. 1220. 11

KYLE is on the lawn, clutching his head, various SCIENTISTS observing, keeping back. KAYLEIGH, CHRONAL and LYRIC leave the cottage, along with FINESSE and AMITY who run straight for the Trans-Jet.

KAYLEIGH
I’ll get the evacuation started, then meet you back here.

CHRONAL
Sounds good.

Kayleigh dashes towards the scientists as Chronal and Lyric approach Kyle slowly.

LYRIC
Kyle? Do you mind coming back inside with us?

KYLE
It hurts.

LYRIC
You're injured, of course it hurts. We can make you better.

KYLE
How can you stand it? How can the world stand it?

He stands, shakily.

Lyric steps forward, but Kyle lifts a hand to stop him.

A blast of wind blows around Kyle -

- Lyric and Chronal blown back -

- Kyle lifted into the air.

KYLE
Look what I can do.

CHRONAL
That's really good, Kyle. We can help you develop those powers.

KYLE
By breaking my mind again? Happiness makes me weak.

Kyle opens his mouth to speak again, but is overcome by the pain. He SCREAMS.

CHRONAL
You're still broken. We can make you better.

KYLE
But ... people, other people feel like this sometimes?

LYRIC
Yes. Some people do, and they get through it. Counselling can help.

KYLE
Counselling?

He holds up his hand -

- and Chronal is blown to the ground.

KYLE
I like this feeling.

LYRIC
It's hurting you.

KYLE
God, yeah. Hurting so much.

He's grinning through the pain.

Behind him, vines are gowing upwards, silently, from the ground -

- Lyric looks back and spots Kayleigh, keeping her distance.

KYLE
When I was twenty, I was mugged. I didn't care. I let it happen. Now I can fight back.

The vines grow rapidly around his ankles and wrists.

KYLE
Get the hell off me!

He struggles, as Kayleigh walks forwards.

KAYLEIGH
I'm sorry. I really need you to come back inside.

The wind dies down, and Kyle falls to the ground -

- more vines growing around him.

Chronal puts his hand to his ear.

CHRONAL
Finesse? Kayleigh's got him under control.

INTERCUT WITH:

12 EXT. SKY ABOVE BATTLE FIELD - Day 4. 1222. 12

FINESSE and AMITY are travelling in the Trans-Jet.

FINESSE
Good work. Be really careful - you need to gather as many scientists without powers as possible. Any power is a weapon he can use against you.

CHRONAL
As you know better than anyone.

FINESSE
He can use his powers tied down, remember. He has to co-operate on his own terms.

Behind Chronal, the vines are starting to glow purple.

CHRONAL
Quickly, then - what do I need to know? He can boost people's powers, yes?

FINESSE
He can also convert energy. No refinement - but he can take energy and use it to cause explosions.

KAYLEIGH
Guys, some help please.

Chronal turns, walking towards the glowing vines.

CHRONAL
Right - he used Lyric's words to blow up the wall.

FINESSE
I don't think he can direct the explosions -

The vines around Kyle are suddenly absorbed into his body -

CHRONAL
Got to go!

- and an explosion from Battle Field shakes the Trans-Jet.

AMITY
That was down on the field.

Amity's hit by overwhelming pain.

AMITY
Someone's hurt! Really, really badly.

FINESSE
I'll take us down. Hang on - I can feel him. Just vaguely. It's someone with powers.

The Trans-Jet heads down.

CUT TO:

13 INT. The Pit - Day 4. 1225. 13

The furniture in the pit has been rearranged like an obstacle course - chairs in a row, delicately balanced pyrmids of tins on tables, big webs made of tinsel.

WRAITH is standing on one end, wearing his hover boots, with SHIFT holding the stopwatch.

WRAITH
Three, two, one -

A beep in his ear. His face falls.

WRAITH
Hello.

CHRONAL
Wraith, we need you this second at Orman Cottage.

WRAITH
Don't tell me. Something's gone wrong, and now you're in trouble.

CHRONAL
Well, yes.

WRAITH
I really hate medical stuff.

CHRONAL
Fine - come right now, and I won't make us watch Casualty any more.

WRAITH
Wins!

SHIFT
That's fine. We'll just have to agree that my time is clearly unbeatable.

WRAITH
No! Loses!

A beep in Shift's ear. She frowns.

SHIFT
Hello?

FINESSE
Hello, I'm okay, how are you, oh good - we need you to get the medical room ready.

SHIFT
We've just had a message from Chronal asking for help at Orman labs.

FINESSE
Send Wraith. You don't want to get animal powers involved with that fight.

SHIFT
Sad. Okay, see you in a second.

CUT TO:

14 EXT. BATTLE FIELD - Day 4. 1226. 14

FINESSE standing in a damaged part of the field. In front of her, AMITY is attending to a MAN, seriously injured - we don't see much for the sake of decency.

AMITY
It's really bad. He's lost an arm and both feet, he's lost the skin on his chest and a few ribs ... How on earth is he still alive?

Finesse is visibly upset.

FINESSE
He's using his powers. This is complicated. Looks like he's ... keeping himself in place.

AMITY
Then we can move him?

FINESSE
We have to.

Amity slowly turns him over, and picks him up. His face is covered in a red mask made of heavy cloth. His eyes are open wide, looking at Finesse.

FINESSE
This is going to be complicated.

CUT TO:

15 EXT. ORMAN COTTAGE - Day 4. 1230. 15

CHRONAL and LYRIC are on the lawn, watching KYLE fly on the winds above their heads.

LYRIC
You know what? I'm really not interested in villains who can fly.

CHRONAL
We've got Wraith on the way. I really hope Kyle gets tired soon. This must be taking a lot out of him.

LYRIC
Hope so. But if he can just create energy ...

CHRONAL
I don't reckon he can. He just uses energy that already exists. I don't think he can use that to energise himself.

LYRIC
We'll need to work out the nerdy details as soon as possible.

KAYLEIGH walks out of the cotage, holding a chunky black-and-silver sci-fi gizmo.

KAYLEIGH
New plan - I grow some moss to cushion his fall -

LYRIC
Tell me that's not a transendence oscillator.

KAYLEIGH
It's an emergency.

LYRIC
Nobody should have transendence oscillators.

CHRONAL
What does it do?

LYRIC
It makes the body think it's under attack. It can make you vomit or pass out -

KAYLEIGH
Which we obviously won't do.

LYRIC
But if you've got powers, it can make your body use all that energy to try fixing the problem.

KAYLEIGH
He won't be able to use his powers.

LYRIC
And he could rupture something. He's powerful, Kayleigh.

KAYLEIGH
He's a danger to himself and others.

She holds out a hand, and the lawn grows longer, longer, flowers and moss growing with it.

She turns on her device, placing it on the ground.

LYRIC
This really isn't on.

KAYLEIGH
He'll hurt people. He can't help it.

LYRIC
He's far too strong. Maybe even as strong as Finesse.

KAYLEIGH
And if Finesse was a danger to the public, I'm sorry, but I'd use this in a second.

Suddenly, Kyle falls from the sky.

The grass and plants beneath him grow tallers still as he falls -

- landing softly in the foliage.

KAYLEIGH
Let's get him inside.

CUT TO:

16 INT. PIT MEDICAL ROOM - Day 4. 1235. 16

An operating table has been set up, and SHIFT is preparing monitors and instruments. FINESSE marches in, helping AMITY carry the INJURED MAN. They take him to the table.

AMITY
We need Lyric as soon as possible.

Finesse is not herself - she's distant, unclear.

FINESSE
For now, we'll have to treat the wounds as permanent. We'll assume we can't replace the limbs, and work from there. Survival's the most important thing.

AMITY
Gotcha.

Shift puts a hand on Finesse's shoulder, pulling her to one side.

SHIFT
What's going on?

FINESSE
There was an explosion -

SHIFT
You're not happy.

FINESSE
Of course not.

SHIFT
You're really not happy. Tell me what's going on.

FINESSE
The basics? This guy's a superhero. He can't talk, but in the Trans-Jet, he managed to write a few basic messages. He said people wouldn't trust him. He intends to leave as soon as we've helped him. And one more thing - his superhero name. It's "the Monk".

Shift removes her hand from Finesse's shoulder, frowning.

CUT TO:

17 INT. ORMAN LABORATORY - Day 4. 1240. 17

KYLE is in a bed set up in the middle of the lab, KAYLEIGH keeping an eye on the sci-fi gizmo. LYRIC is standing back, sulky. CHRONAL is checking monitors.

KAYLEIGH
Kyle - we want to turn the device off.

KYLE
It's making me feel ill.

KAYLEIGH
I know. Help us, and we can turn it off.

KYLE
I always liked being ill. A personal challenge to overcome. But illness isn't like that, is it? It feels like I'm rotting.

CHRONAL
Can we chain him up?

LYRIC
Damn straight. We're turning that thing off now.

KAYLEIGH
Not yet. He'll be full of energy. Bear in mind it's going into him now.

LYRIC
Great. What a brilliant piece of kit.

CHRONAL
Wait. You need to turn it off.

KAYLEIGH
Like I said -

CHRONAL
Right now. Before -

Dawning realisation on Kyle's face.

KYLE
It works on energy.

CHRONAL
Turn it off!

KYLE
So I can change it.

He sits up, and purple sparks surround his head.

WRAITH floats in on his hover boots.

WRAITH
Hey, losers.

Purple lightning strikes him down -

- fade to white.

FADE TO:

18 INT. PIT MEDICAL ROOM - Day 4. 1241. 18

SHIFT and FINESSE are still mid-discussion, AMITY is attending to the MONK.

SHIFT
The Monk doesn't exist, though. Amity and I searched everywhere.

FINESSE
It doesn't matter. I know he's trustworthy.

SHIFT
We've known each other long enough - if you trust this guy, he must be fine. But the others will need a reason. Especially after Spoiler Man told us the Monk would lead us to destruction.

FINESSE
New rule - we do the opposite of what evil soldiers from the future tell us to do.

AMITY
Guys.

Amity is looking through the window.

AMITY
You need to see this.

Shift and Finesse join her, looking out.

FINESSE
Jesus.

SHIFT
That's where the labs were.

FINESSE
More than just the labs. That's half the city.

We look out of the window. Half the city has been replaced by an enormous crater, completely empty.

FINESSE
Half the city's disappeared.

3 comments:

Blossom said...

Wow, you've opened the door to the dark places. Love it. It's awesome, genuinely really upsetting. It's amazing really - I really feel it when the Scribblers are put in genuine peril. Love it that you managed to put in some internal conflict wihtout damaging anyone's character. Good job with voice too - I really felt everyone spoke as they would.

I really hope they find someone with a time machine...oh, hang on, can Kyle give Chronal more advanced powers so he can go back in time, or something? Because it looked like they killed off Wraith, so I think something pretty drastic needs to happen...

Quoth the Raven said...

I think of everyone Blossom is the most like her superhero character. I love that you genuinely find these things upsetting. Although not because you're upset, of course. That makes me sound like some kind of psychopath.

Awesome! I want to draw everyone in their posh dinner costumes. La Batte is genius, I adored Wraith and Shift's obstacle course and The Things They Get Up To When No One Else Is Around (tinsel webs? What on earth are they going to do?), I loved the Post-Man, Kyle is a brilliant villain, although well done Amity you've KILLED US ALL.

See, this is why she's terrifying. And she thinks she's Anne.

Oh, laughed like a loon at:

KAYLEIGH: Security's high.
AMITY: Even the kitchen?
KAYLEIGH: Especially the kitchen! Someone might steal the tea!
AMITY: God, you're right.

And Monk! The Monk is here! I'm so excited! And I have a theory about him, but I shan't say in the name of Not Ruining it. But the Monk!

Excellent. And now it's time for a Girls' Day Out, since the womens managed not to get exploded. Excitement!

Jom said...

Really liked the character work. Also, really like the idea that different strands of story are being developed at the same time.

Brillo Pads.